Man Sentenced for Running Child Obscenity Website

A California man was sentenced today to 33 years and nine months in prison for multiple obscenity crimes involving children.

According to the indictment, Ron Kuhlmeyer, 65, of Santa Rosa, operated a website that globally distributed stories about the rape, murder, and sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Law enforcement determined that Kuhlmeyer was running his obscenity website from Belize. Kuhlmeyer wrote many of the stories himself but also published the works of other offenders, including stories that had been previously published on Mr. Double, another website dedicated to publishing writings that detail the sexual abuse of children. Some of the stories on Kuhlmeyers website described the rape, torture, and murder of children, while others were accompanied by lifelike computer-generated images of prepubescent children being sexually abused.

On June 13, Kuhlmeyer pleaded guilty to five counts of importation or transportation of obscene matters and one count of distributing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Kuhlmeyer was previously convicted of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child in Sonoma County, California, in 2008 and served six years in state prison.

In June 2021, Thomas Arthur, the owner of Mr. Double, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBIs Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement.

HSI and the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the government of Belize.

Trial Attorneys Austin M. Berry and Adam Braskich of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Young for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This story has been published on: 2023-10-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China, Europe forge deeper ties via thriving maritime trade routes

Xinhua) 08:23, October 10, 2023

HANGZHOU/BERLIN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- In late September, the Cosco Shipping Virgo, a 20,000-TEU ultra-large container ship, once again returned to the Port of Hamburg, the largest port in Germany and the third largest in Europe.

This impressive vessel, measuring 399.8 meters in length and 58.6 meters in width, embarked on its journey from China's Tianjin Port on Aug. 12. Before arriving in Hamburg, it made stops at various ports, including Dalian, Shanghai, Ningbo, Singapore, Piraeus, and Rotterdam. Right now, it is heading back to Shanghai.

The container ship Cosco Shipping Virgo calls at Meishan port area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Yijun)

In command of this colossal ship is Captain Mo Weidong, a seasoned mariner with over three decades of shipping experience. It is Mo's fifth year sailing on this specific route.

"Having sailed back and forth on the route between China and Europe, I have indeed witnessed the transformative effects of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," the 54-year-old captain told Xinhua reporters, as the ship called at Ningbo Zhoushan Port.

From the vantage point of the ship's bridge, perched dozens of meters above the deck, a bustling scene unfolds at the port. Containers are being impeccably stacked in precise rows by the gantry cranes used adeptly to handle them, ensuring an efficient and seamless workflow.

"Since the beginning of this year, we've seen a notable increase in cargo volumes on this shipping route," said Mo, while adding that there has been a surge in the exports of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells.

Captain Mo Weidong operates the radar at the bridge of the container ship Cosco Shipping Virgo on its way to Rotterdam Port, in the Mediterranean Sea, Sept. 15, 2023. (Xinhua)

Mo also revealed that aircraft parts will now be shipped weekly from the Port of Hamburg to the Tianjin Port via this route, further attesting to the thriving trade and economic exchanges between China and Europe.

At present, the Port of Hamburg is directly connected to major Chinese ports via 15 regularly scheduled liner services. Approximately one-third of the containers processed at the Port of Hamburg either originate from China or are bound for China.

Jens Meier, CEO of Hamburg Port Authority, underscored the significance of cooperation between the Port of Hamburg and Chinese ports. "We are actively sharing knowledge and strengthening the corridors, particularly in maritime supply chains, as well as land-based corridors," Meier explained.

A container ship of China's COSCO Shipping calls at the Port of Hamburg in Germany, Aug. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

In late August, the COSCO Shengshi, a ship used to carry vehicles, arrived at Germany's Port of Bremerhaven, where it unloaded 530 commercial vehicles from China, marking the successful maiden voyage of the liner.

On its way to Bremerhaven, a total of 3,731 Chinese-made commercial vehicles, including over 2,700 new energy vehicles, were loaded onto the ship at the ports of Shanghai and Xiamen.

Following its departure from Xiamen, the COSCO Shengshi navigated across the Indian Ocean and passed through the Suez Canal, making stops at ports in the UK and Belgium before finally reaching Germany. This 43-day journey spanned approximately 9,900 nautical miles.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past few years, the flow of trade between China and Europe has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Mo observed an increase in trade volume, noting that it now takes two days to unload at Piraeus Port in Greece, compared to one and a half days previously.

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 19, 2022 shows a terminal of Piraeus Port in Greece. (Piraeus Container Terminal S.A./Handout via Xinhua)

In 2022, China and the EU, who are each other's second-largest trading partners, achieved record bilateral trade flows of 847.3 billion U.S. dollars, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.4 percent. This equates to over 1.6 million U.S. dollars worth of trade conducted on average every minute. Simultaneously, the two-way cumulative stock of direct investment had exceeded 230 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2022.

BRI cooperation has significantly enhanced maritime connectivity, fostering flourishing China-EU trade and economic partnership. COSCO Shipping, for instance, now operates 181 container liner routes and allocates over 50 percent of its container capacity to BRI partner countries. The company has also invested in 57 ports within these nations.

In 2016, COSCO Shipping acquired a 67-percent stake in Piraeus Port and took over the port's management and operation. In May 2023, COSCO Shipping Ports, the company's ports operator, acquired a nearly 25 percent stake in one of Hamburg's terminals.

With the investment from China, Piraeus Port has become a leading European port. Data from the port revealed that in the fiscal year of 2022, its profit after tax had stood at 52.9 million euros, achieving a remarkable 43.9 percent increase from the previous year.

This photo taken on Aug. 21, 2023 shows containers loaded on the container ship Cosco Shipping Virgo at Meishan port area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Wei Yijun)

At Ningbo Zhoushan Port, situated some 12,000 km from Piraeus, crane operators efficiently controlled busy gantry cranes from an operation room located 3 km away.

Drawing from his decades of experience in the shipping industry, Mo highlighted that continuous infrastructure upgrades at Chinese ports have significantly improved their operational efficiency, providing solid support for the smooth flow of global trade.

"I am expecting the BRI will bolster cooperation among countries and deliver more benefits to their peoples," Mo said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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The Nalanda University has announced the creation of a special corner for writings by Indian Diplomats at its library on the occasion of the 77th Indian Foreign Service Day. A list of books written by Indian diplomats since the creation of the Indian Foreign Service has been prepared over the years by poet-diplomat Abhay K which is available in the public domain. Nalanda University is an international university located in Rajgir, Nalanda, Bihar that hosts a rich library where international students, presently from more than 30 countries are studying. Speaking about the importance of creating a corner of books written by Indian diplomats, Prof Abhay Kumar Singh, the Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University said, "We are delighted to announce on the occasion of 77th Indian Foreign Service Day to create a special corner for writings by Indian diplomats. I think while we are enriched with the wealth of knowledge and experience of our diplomats, this could be the best tribute we can offer to our distinguished cadre who have held our country's pride all over the world in the international arena." Speaking about this welcome initiative of Nalanda University poet-diplomat Abhay K. said - "Indian diplomats have contributed significantly in creating a better understanding about India in the world and a better understanding of the world in India through their writings. As we celebrate the 77th IFS Day today, it's especially heartening to learn that Nalanda University, which is located in my hometown of Rajgir in Bihar has decided to create a special corner at its library to honour the rich legacy of writings by Indian diplomats." Nalanda University University came into being on November 25, 2010 by a special Act of the Indian Parliament and has been designated as an "institution of national importance", and functions under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs. Nalanda is inspired by the academic excellence and global vision of its historic predecessor and aspires to meet and set global standards of academic excellence and research and enable capacity building in all areas of higher learning. The University is being supported by all the Member States of the East Asia Summit and Intergovernmental Memorandums of Understanding to that effect have been signed by 17 countries. Previosly, the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has also dedicated a place for writings by Indian diplomats. (ANI)
Delhi police has arrested a person for allegedly killing a man in the city's Dev Nagar area to settle his old score with him, said Delhi Police on Tuesday. The alleged killing happened on the intervening night of November 4-5. According to the police, the accused shot the man dead in revenge for the "public humiliation" that he suffered from the latter. Delhi Police said that in the intervening night of 04-05.10.2023, at about 1.50 AM, a PCR call was received at Police Station Prasad Nagar wherein the caller informed that his friend was shot at outside Gali No. 1, Krishna Nagar, Dev Nagar, Delhi. Immediately, Police teams rushed to the spot and found that the injured person had been shifted to BLK Hospital. The victim was identified as Keshav Kakkar, 32 who succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the hospital. The police team enquired about the details of the incident from the friends of the deceased and through thatthe name of Vishal emerged as the alleged accused. Thereafter, the team gathered more information about the alleged accused Vishal through technical surveillance, local informers and by scanning of his previous criminal record. On the basis of available information, local informers were activated. According to the police, the cumbersome efforts of the team yielded positive result soon as a secret information was received by the team that alleged accused Vishal alias Pawan was making an effort to escape from Delhi and in that process, he was going to meet one of his friends in the area of Zafrabad. After waiting there for hours, the team noticed the presence of Vishal and acting swiftly apprehended him. On sustained interrogation, accused confessed to his crime and disclosed that he had a tussle with deceased, Keshav Kakkar, who faced criminal cases registered at Prasad Nagar Police Station and was involved in cases of murder and extortion. Keshav Kakkar had allegedly humiliated him publicly last year and it was the reason he was nurturing vengeance against him. Delhi Police also made efforts for the recovery of the weapon of offence, but the same is still to be found. Vishal was produced before the Court and he was sent to judicial custody, said Delhi police. (ANI)
A curtain-raising event dedicated to the 9th edition of the 'India International Dance and Music Festival' and the International Kullu Dussehra Festival 2023 was jointly organized by the Himachal Pradesh government and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi on Tuesday. Chief Parliamentary Secretary of Tourism, Sunder Singh Thakur, who is also Chairman of the International Kullu Dussehra Festival Organizing Committee, launched the teaser and released a booklet on the occasion to provide a peek into the grand celebration of the festival. While interacting with the media on the occasion, Thakur informed them that the International Kullu Dussehra Festival, which dates back to the 17th century, will be organized from October 24 to October 30 at Kullu this year. He said that the celebrations will commence with the famous Lord Raghunath ji's Rath Yatra, and more than 300 local deities will participate in the mega event. He further added that the major highlights of the festival will be the International Carnival on October 25 and the Kullu Carnival Fest on October 30. The International Cultural Festival is a major attraction of the International Kullu Dussehra Festival, in which cultural troupes from over 20 countries, including Russia, Israel, Romania, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Panama, Iran, the Maldives, Malaysia, Kenya, South Sudan, Zambia, Ghana, and Ethiopia, have been invited to participate in the Dussehra festivities this year. He said, "The state government is making efforts to make the festival a global event and added that the "state is recovering from the aftermath of the disaster and is now ready to welcome the tourists to Kullu and Manali. He gave credit for the expedited efforts of restoration and rehabilitation to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after the natural calamity. He said that travel time from Chandigarh to Kullu has been reduced from six hours to four hours and added that 13 out of fifteen tunnels were open to commuters. The flights from Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Delhi to Kullu were operating to facilitate tourists, said Thakur. Anu Ranjan Dy. Director General, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, detailed the support being provided by the ICCR and cultural troupes performing in the festival.Shashi Pal Negi, Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner Kullu, welcomed the guests and briefed them about the background of the event. Special guests from embassies, Nandita Gupta, Advisor, Government of Himachal Pradesh, and Sh Sushil Kumar Singla, Principal Resident Commissioner, were present on the occasion. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court here has pronounced accused Adnan Hassan guilty in the case related to the ISIS Abu Dhabi module. The court has convicted him under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. "The case pertains to the criminal conspiracy involving three Indian nationals - Sheikh Azhar Al Islam Sattar Sheikh, Mohammed Farhan Mohammed Rafiq Shaikh, and Adnan Hassan. These individuals are members of the proscribed terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), along with other unidentified associates. Their conspiracy aimed at identifying, motivating, radicalizing, recruiting, and training susceptible youth for the planning and execution of terrorist attacks," the NIA said in a statement. The NIA Special Court, in the national capital, on October 9, 2023, sentenced accused Adnan Hassan, in the above-mentioned ISIS recruitment and funding case. Hassan has been sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment for his active involvement in the matter, under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In addition to the prison term, he has been fined Rs 4000. Initially, NIA registered a case on January 28, 2016, under relevant sections of the IPC and UA(P) Act, as per the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The investigation has revealed that accused Adnan Hassan used a variety of online platforms and methods, including posts, news articles, comments, videos, images, and the commentary of Islamic scholars, to motivate individuals to join ISIS. He also provided financial support to the accused Abdullah Basith and other associates. Accused Adnan Hassan was arrested on January 29, 2016, for his affiliation with ISIS and furthering its activities in India. Subsequently, on the basis of evidence, a Charge sheet was filed on July 25, 2016, against accused Adnan Hassan under relevant sections of the UA (P) Act and IPC before the NIA Special Court, New Delhi. (ANI)
In a bid to send a strong message to China, the Indian army and the Assam government have jointly organized East Tech-2023 in Guwahati and showcased the modern, advanced operational equipment, weapons, technology, robotics, drones used by the Indian army. As many as 198 companies and start-ups have participated in the East Tech-2023, organized for the first time in Guwahati. Lt General RP Kalita, GOC of Eastern Command, Assam Industries & Commerce Minister Bimal Bora inaugurated the East Tech - 2023 event. East Tech-2023 is a pivotal event dedicated to catalyzing innovation and transforming the technology landscape in the heart of Northeast India. This event promises to be a celebration of cutting-edge advancements and a platform for networking with industry leaders and Indian Start-Ups. East Tech-2023 is a collaborative effort between the Eastern Army Command and the Assam Government and its primary objective is to identify and embrace cutting-edge technologies that can effectively address operational challenges within the Eastern Theatre and the broader Indian Army. The initiative is laser-focused on providing comprehensive solutions to enhance Battlefield Transparency, Command and Control Architecture, Communication Systems, Information Dominance, Electronic Warfare, Nano-Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Unmanned warfare systems, Mobility, Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear (CBRN) Defence, and Advanced Weapon Systems, especially in the context of Counter Insurgency operations. This event is poised to mark a significant milestone, ushering in a new era of self-reliance in the development and deployment of specialized technologies within the Defense Sector. It also stands as a catalyst for bolstering the 'Make in India' initiative. Lt General Manish Erry, GOC of Gajraj Corps told ANI that, this event has been organized in technologies is being used by the Indian army. "Transformation of Indian army is underway. The biggest pillar of transformation is in a fusion of technology in the way to fight a battle to move ahead and upgrade our equipment. We are also promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat and technology has been developed under Make in India," Lt General Manish Erry said. He further said that, through this event Indian army can upgrade its equipment purchasing plan for next year. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking about Atmanirbhar Bharat and many companies, Start-Ups have shown their Make in India products in this event. This event will also encourage the new generation," Lt General Manish Erry said. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked CBI why it was not objecting to the repeated extension of interim bail granted to former ICICI Bank CEO-cum-MD Chanda Kochhar and her businessman husband Deepak Kochhar in a loan fraud case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, that the accused were granted interim bail in January for two weeks and asked him why the agency not objecting to the repeated extension. The Bombay High Court on January 9 granted interim bail to Kochhars. It had pulled up the CBI for arresting the couple in a "casual and mechanical" manner and "clearly without application of mind" in the loan fraud case and granted them interim bail. The CBI arrested the Kochhars on December 23, 2022, in connection with the Videocon-ICICI Bank loan fraud case. The apex court hearing the appeal of CBI against the interim bail order of the High Court order posted it for hearing on October 16 and asked ASG to seek instruction on what needs to be done. The apex court told ASG, "This order is of January 9 and interim bail was granted for only two weeks. Why have you not resisted? Why are you permitting it to continue for such a long period? According to us, this plea has become infructuous because the impugned order was for only two weeks. You should have moved an objection there (High Court)." After the Kochhars approached the High Court challenging their arrest, saying it was illegal and arbitrary. They had sought their release from jail on bail by way of an interim order. The High Court had said the Kochhars' arrest was not in accordance with the provisions of law and they were entitled to be released on bail, pending the hearing and final disposal of their petitions. Apart from the Kochhar couple, the CBI has also arrested Videocon group founder Venugopal Dhoot in the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against the Kochhar couple, Videocon Group promoter Venugopal Dhoot, and others for allegedly causing loss to the ICICI Bank by sanctioning loans to the Videocon Group of companies in contravention of the bank's policies. The central agency had alleged that ICICI Bank had sanctioned credit facilities to the tune of Rs 3,250 crore to the companies of the Videocon group in violation of the Banking Regulation Act, Reserve Bank of India's guidelines and credit policy of the top private lender. Chanda Kochhar was ICICI Bank CEO and MD from 2009 to 2018. (ANI)
A man was arrested in Delhi on Tuesday for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to gangsters based in Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, said the police. According to the police, 28 single-shot and semi-automatic pistols and ammunition were recovered from his possession. "Lalit Baghpat, who is the supplier and has his manufacturing unit in Loni has been arrested. During the raid, 28 single-shot and semi-automatic pistols and ammunition were recovered. Interrogation has revealed that he supplied country-made weapons to many gangsters in Delhi, western UP and Haryana", said Sagar Singh Kalsi, DCP, North Delhi. More details are awaited. (ANI)
Deciding to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh "with full strength", the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said that the opposition parties' INDIA bloc has been formed to save democracy, but it doesn't mean that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel gets the liberty to have a mining scam in the Congress-ruled state. The AAP and Congress are part of the opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, but both parties have not cleared their stance about a pre-poll alliance in the poll-bound states including Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh AAP incharge Sanjeev Jha took potshots at Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel-led government saying that the INDIA alliance has been formed to save democracy, but it doesn't mean that Baghel gets the liberty to have a mining scam here. "I think that the country is going through strange times today. When we speak of the INDIA alliance, why has it been formed? Because now the question is about the Constitution of the country, the constitutional system of the country...INDIA alliance has been formed to save democracy. But it doesn't mean that in Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel gets the liberty to have a mining scam here, sand scam...So, I think this is a fight for the honour of Chhattisgarh and AAP is fighting for the same," Jha said while speaking to ANI. Earlier on Monday, hours after the dates for the year-end Assembly elections in five states were announced, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that his party will fight with 'full strength' in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. When asked whether his party will contest the elections as part of the INDIA bloc, he said that "whatever happens will be apprised". The Election Commission on Monday announced the schedule for assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana. Elections will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. With this, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Telangana is expected to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and BJP. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nitesh Rane on Tuesday flagged "Love Jihad" threat during upcoming Navratri events and called on organisers to ensure "only Hindus" attend Dandiya events. Rane, who is an MLA from Kankavli suggested that during Navratri events the organisers must check the Aadhaar cards of attendees at all venues. "It is the demand of the entire Hindu community that when Navaratri begins and Dandia is played, participants should be from the Hindu community," Rane said adding, that incidents related to "Love Jihad" and religious conversion come to the fore during such events. "Hindu women are lied to and lured," he pointed asserting further that, "People who do not belong to our community come to such events wearing saffron and other attires and call themselves Hindus". Rane while speaking to ANI in Mumbai said, "We have urged the organisers that if they check the Aadhaar cards of everyone coming in, at the entrance, and allow only Hindus, the Hindu women will not face any difficulty." He further said, "We have a plethora of evidence indicating cases of Love Jihad. We hope that organisers of the events consider our appeal". "Why do people belonging to different communities come to Dandiya events? What is their intention? If they want to join Navaratri celebrations, we will convert them into 'Hindus'. So, only Hindus should participate in Dandiya events", Rane added. Nitesh Rane, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, represents the Kankavli Vidhan Sabha constituency in the Maharashtra legislative assembly. (ANI)
The Patiala House Court of Delhi on Tuesday sent NewsClick's Founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty to 10 days of judicial custody. They were arrested last week by Delhi Police in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that News Portal NewsClick received huge money for pro-China propaganda. The Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur after hearing the arguments at length, allowed the Delhi Police plea seeking 10 days of Judicial custody of Purkayastha and Chakravarty in the matter. Special Cell of Delhi Police on Tuesday produced Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty in the trial after the end of their remand period. Appearing for Delhi Police, Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava submitted that as of now they don't require their further police remand and requested the Court to send them in 10 days Judicial custody While opposing the Delhi Police application, Advocate Arshdeep Singh appearing for Prabir Purkayastha apprised the trial court... that we have challenged in Delhi HC the arrest of both accused and also challenged the remand note granted earlier in the case. The Delhi HC had yesterday kept the order. He submitted that this is a case of multiple investigations and all issues have already been examined by the income tax department, ED, EoW etc. The lawyer argued on behalf of Prabir Purkayastha that "I was questioned, and I answered all their queries. In the matter of EoW (Delhi Police) and ED, I was protected by the Delhi High Court in 2021, whose orders are continuing even today. I submitted that the allegations made in FIR are absolutely absurd. There is no allegation that I used bomb dynamite or any other explosive substance. There is no allegation that I used any criminal force or that I caused the death of any public functionary. How can by reporting, by acting or by having a profession as a journalist, can I commit a terrorist act? If I through the article raised questions over Central Govt COVID policy, is this an act of terrorism?" The lawyer further submitted that "My client is a journalist of repute and he is a renowned person for independent voice. But they (the Agency) filed an FIR under stringent sections of UAPA. The agency's allegation is that I'm associated with Gautam Navlakha who is facing UAPA charges. And since he is facing UAPA charges, you also face UAPA charges. Mere association with someone has become a crime? He is a fellow journalist. I have known him since 1991. Now you are suddenly targeting me because of this association." Advocate Rohit Sharma appeared for Amit Chakravarty HR Head, saying "I am not a journalist and Editor. I didn't write any article. I am a poor person and responsible for my family. I am a handicap man. Since 2021 I have been summoned by agencies on various occasions and a lot of my information about bank accounts, emails - everything has been seized. I've never been arrested. I'm not responsible in any way for the content that is published on the website and I perform administrative tasks... but I don't know if I have been suddenly arrested in the case." The Delhi Police's Special Cell in its FIR against news web portal NewsClick's founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha stated that People's Dispatch Portal, owned and maintained by M/S PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd has been used for intentionally peddling false narratives through paid news in lieu of crores of Rupees of illegally routed foreign funds as part of the conspiracy. Delhi Police FIR further stated that foreign funds in crores have been infused illegally in India by Indian and foreign entities inimical to India in pursuance of conspiracy with the intention to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, to cause disaffection against India and to threaten the unity, integrity, security of India. Foreign funds in crores have been infused illegally in India by Indian and Foreign entities inimical to India in pursuance of conspiracy with the intention to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, to cause disaffection against India and to threaten the unity, integrity, and security of India, stated in FIR. (ANI)
The Government of Bihar marked a significant milestone with the successful organization of Bihar Business Connect, Investors Summit in Bengaluru. This summit served as a pivotal platform for fostering investment opportunities in the state. Pankaj Dixit, Director, Dept. of Industries, Govt. of Bihar said, "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the esteemed participants and dignitaries who made the Bengaluru Investors Summit a resounding success. Your overwhelming response is a testament to the immense potential and opportunities that Bihar offers to the business community. We look forward to forging enduring partnerships that will contribute to the growth and prosperity of the state. We urge the aspirational investors to come to Bihar and experience a change in perception and then decide whether to invest in Bihar. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Minister, Dept. of Industries Samir Kumar Mahaseth, Government of Bihar for his guidance and presence amongst us on this historic occasion." Later on, during his speech, the Minister emphasized on how Bihar has progressed tremendously over the years and has focused on the growth of women entrepreneurs as well. "The Govt. of Bihar is also continuously trying to liaison with banks and financial institutions to ensure overall growth of the industrial sector of Bihar. We would like to extend a grand welcome to the investors, their friends and families to come and invest in Bihar," he added. The Summit witnessed an overwhelming response, with participation from key stakeholders representing approximately 50 leading companies, including industry giants such as Britannia, IBM, UST Global, Synopsis, Shahi Exports, Gokuldas, Raymond and Arvind Lifestyle, among others. In addition to corporate leaders, the summit was graced by distinguished delegates from prominent industry associations, including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) and The National Association of Software & Service Companies (NASSCOM). The presence of Industry Minister, Samir Kumar Mahaseth, Government of Bihar, added a further layer of significance to the event, underlining the government's unwavering commitment to fostering a conducive business environment in Bihar. The Department of Industries, Bihar has been continuously trying to encourage potential investors in plenty of ways like providing various incentives under the high-priority sectors of Leather and Textiles, Food Processing, IT, ESDM and E-Vehicles. In addition to this, the department is also offering Plug & Play facilities and handholding support to the companies willing to set up industries in Bihar. The success of the Investors Meet in Bengaluru is a testament to the Department of Industries, Bihar's steadfast dedication to creating a vibrant ecosystem for investment and economic growth in the state. (ANI)
Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's barbs targeted at K Chandrasekhar Rao led BRS government in Telangana, state minister and Chief Minister's son KTR on Tuesday said that misleading people won't work in the poll-bound state and that this time more than 110 of Bharatiya Janata Party's candidates will lose their deposits in the November 30 polls. This comes after Amit Shah while addressing 'Jana Garjana Sabha' in Telangana's Adilabad came down heavily on the KCR government. Shah said that KCR's goal is to make his son KTR the Chief Minister of the state. In response to it, KTR said, "We would like to ask Amit Shah (to) name one state in India where per capita income grew by over 300 per cent. Show me one such BJP-ruled or Congress-ruled state. Telangana is one state which is making unprecedented development...Show me one BJP-ruled state that has performed better than Telangana." He said that coming here again and again, giving speeches and misleading people won't work. "Coming here again and again, giving speeches and misleading people won't work in Telangana. Their (BJP) party did the same in 2018 and out of their 119 candidates, 108 lost their deposits...Nobody in Telangana takes seriously what Amit Shah or Narendra Modi say. Once again more than 110 of their candidates will lose their deposits," KTR added. Moreover, accusing the KCR government of running on the instructions of AIMIM, Shah, during his address said that the steering of BRS' car is in the hands of Asaduddin Owaisi. "His (KCR) election symbol is an ambassador car. But the steering of that car is with Owaisi," the Union Home Minister said. Taking exception to it, KTR said, "The steering of our party lies in our hands and those of KCR. But unfortunately, BJP's steering has gone into the hands of Adani. Amit Shah should take note of this." Moreover, Shah also attacked Congress, saying that when elections come, Congress people come wearing new clothes. "Rahul Gandhi has also started visiting here. I would like to ask him - when there was UPA Government, in 2013-14 what was the budget for tribal welfare? Only Rs 24,000 Crores. By 2023-24, PM Modi increased the budget for tribal welfare to Rs 1,24,000 Crores," he had said. Amit Shah on Tuesday addressed 'Jana Garjana Sabha' public event in Telangana's Adilabad saying that CM KCR goal is to make his son KTR the Chief Minister. "The CM (K. Chandrashekar Rao) has just one goal - to make his son KTR the Chief Minister. Our goal is to provide employment and education to every tribal youth in Adilabad and water in the farms of farmers," Amit Shah said while addressing a 'Jana Garjana Sabha' public event in Telangana's Adilabad. Continuing his attack against the KCR government, Amit Shah asked the public whether they wanted to bring the KCR government once again or the government of lotus (Kamal ki sarkaar). "Election Commission announced the dates for the Telangana election yesterday. Tell me do you want to bring KCR government once again? Do you want to bring the 'Lotus government' under the leadership of PM Modi? Your answer says that BJP government is going to be formed here on 3rd December," Amit Shah said. He further promised that if BJP forms the government, all districts of the state will celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day on September 17. The BJP is leaving no stone unturned for the upcoming Assembly polls in Telangana. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced that the Telangana Assembly polls are scheduled to be held on November 30. The counting of votes will be done on December 3, the poll body added. Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS managed to win 88 seats out of 119 and had a dominant vote share of 47.4 per cent. Congress came at a distant second with 19 seats. Its vote share was 28.7 per cent (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday announced that his party, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), will organise the annual Dussehra rally at Cross Maidan instead of Shivaji Park. "This year the rally will take place at Cross Maidan and Azad Maidan since the MMRDA ground at BKC has been given for the bullet train project", Shinde said while speaking to reporters in Maharashtra's Mumbai. Shiv Sena (Shinde group) and Shiv Sena (UBT), last year, locked horns over organising the annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, where the party has been holding the rally since 1966, indicating the significance of this venue for both of them. However, the Bombay High Court had ruled in favour of the Shiv Sena and allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. This came after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) refused to give permission to the two factions to hold the rally, based on the local police report, which said that the event may cause law and order issue in the area. The event is significant as Sena is now divided into two factions and the rally was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, Eknath Shinde led a group of Sena MLAs against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, resulting in MVA losing its majority in the state. This also led Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to step down as CM ahead of a floor test. The new Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra won the floor test by a 164-99 margin, proving his government's majority and cementing his position as chief minister of the state. 164 votes were polled in favour of Shinde, while 99 votes were polled against the newly formed BJP-Shinde camp coalition. (ANI)
As rescue operations in flood-hit Sikkim are underway, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has postponed his planned visits to Gangtok and Salugara until further notice. "In view of the recent disaster in Sikkim caused by floods and the ongoing focus of the state machinery in relief efforts, the planned visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Gangtok and Salugara scheduled from October 16 to 22 has been postponed until further notice," said the office of the Dalai Lama in a statement. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Our prayers are with the people and state of Sikkim," it added. The Indian Air Force airlifted 149 civilians stranded in Lachen and Lachung villages of Skikim's Mangan District on Monday, said a press release. The airlift came after six days of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in South Lhonak Lake, which created havoc across the Teesta basin in Sikkim and North Bengal, according to the official statement. The airlift was carried out by the Indian Air Force using M8, F4, F7, C2, MI 17 and Chinook helicopters after the weather in North Sikkim cleared on Monday, added the official statement. According to the press release, the rescued airlifted civilians included 29 people from Chaten Village in Lachen, while 120 people were rescued from the Lachung village. The official release further mentioned that Lachen-Mangan MLA, Samdup Lepcha, also reached Chaten on Monday along with Mangan District Magistrate, Hem Kumar Chettri, and Superintendent of Police, Sonam Dechu Bhutia, where they met Lachen Pipons (local panchayats) and village elders. SP Bhutia informed that a total of 523 tourists were left stranded in Lachen and 60-80 civilians including tourists and locals will be evacuated tomorrow. According to the official release, the Mangan SP further said that the people in Lachen are facing LPG cylinder shortages and there is no electricity supply. (ANI)
Israeli actor Lior Raz, known worldwide for the television series 'Fauda' which he drew on experiences in Israel Defence Forces (IDF), took to the front lines of Israel's war against Hamas by joining a group of volunteers 'Brothers in Arms'. From the southern Israeli town of Sderot, the actor shared a video on social media that showed him accompanied by the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner, and journalist Avi Yissascharov. "Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families," posted Raz on social media platform, X. In the video, they can be seen witnessing a rocket attack on Israel by Hamas. Notably, Israel has begun its retaliation after a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning which led to the death of as many as 700 Israelis and 2,300 others were injured. In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that though Israel did not start this war but will finish it. As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. "Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. The Israeli military is going on the offence against Hamas with a force "like never before," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed. Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN. (ANI)
America's premier investigating agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said on Tuesday that they were probing any possible threats to the security of citizens in the United States in the wake of the terror attacks on Israel by Hamas. In a message posted on its official handle on X, the FBI stated that they wouldn't hestitate to change their "security posture", if so needed, to protect the lives of American citizens. "While the FBI does not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel, we are closely monitoring unfolding events and will share relevant information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners to ensure they are prepared for any impacts to public safety. We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people," read the FBI post on X. "We are closely coordinating with our counterparts in the region as well as other international partners," the agency added in its post. It added that its Legal Attache' office in Israel was actively working with partners on the ground to locate and identify US citizens afftected by the terror attacks. "Through our Legal Attache' office in Israel, FBI personnel are working with our partners on the ground to locate and identify any impacted Americans. Reports of deceased, injured, or missing Americans are being treated with the utmost urgency and aggressively investigated. The FBI's Victim Services Division is coordinating with the Department of State to assist, as necessary, with family engagement," the FBI stated. Even as Israel continued its aerial assault on Gaza, while also launching a ground offensive, the toll from the multi-pronged terror attacks by Hamas went past 900 on Tuesday, with the injury count reported to be at 2400, The Times of Israel reported. Meanwhile, Israeli fighters struck 1707 Hamas targets in Gaza since Saturday, including 475 rocket systems, 73 command centres, 23 strategic infrastructure sites and 22 underground targets. In retaliation to the terror attacks, Israeli forces have, so far. killed over 400 people in the besieged Gaza Strip. As part of the counter-offensive, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed of the mobilisation of forces, saying the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours." This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. (ANI)
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday choked up while discussing the gloomy images from Israel, reported Al Jazeera. He tried to hold back his tears during a CNN interview as he spoke about the images of Israeli victims who either died or are still suffering in the deadly attack by Hamas. "It's very difficult to look at these images," John Kirby choked up. Earlier Kirby told reporters that the US has no intention to join Israel's war against Hamas. "There is no intention to put US boots on the ground," Kirby said. He added, "The human cost. And these are human beings. They are family members, they are friends, they are loved ones," according to Al Jazeera. Moreover, the White House on Monday night was illuminated with blue and white light to show support for Israel following the attacks by Hamas on Israel that left as many as 800 people dead, The Hill reported. The action came after a call by Sen Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) as a symbolic support as Hamas continued to attack Israel. "White House in White and Blue tonight. We stand with Israel," White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, posted with a photograph of the lights. Additionally, the notable landmarks in the US and other cities of the world have been lit up in the colours of the Israeli in a show of solidarity. These include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York City and a giant screen that was put up in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Meanwhile, the US, Germany, France and Italy have issued a joint statement condemning the "appalling acts of terrorism" by Hamas and extended their "steadfast and united support" to Israel. US President Joe Biden said 11 Americans have been killed and the US has moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support and was working with its key ally on "hostage recovery efforts". Moreover, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Monday said that its emergency shelters in Gaza are at 90 per cent capacity with more than 137,000 people taking cover from Israeli strikes. More than 680 Palestinians have died and more than 3,700 were injured, according to Gaza's health ministry cited by CNN. At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after the Hamas attack on Israel. A war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza. It also shared that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces retaliated and hit 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. (ANI)
Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday claimed that Israel has "suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence," Iranian News Agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. The Iranian leader however said that Tehran was not involved in the Saturday attack by Hamas on Isreal. "But those who say that the recent great event is the work of non-Palestinians are making miscalculations" Khameni was cited in the IRNA report. Khamenei made the remarks while attending the joint graduation ceremony for the cadets studying in the academics of Iran's Armed Forces. Since the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, "the occupying Zionist regime has suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence," Khamenei said as cited by IRNA. Khamenei then noted that while everyone talked about the "defeat", he would emphasize the "irrevocability" of it. "I say that this devastating earthquake has managed to destroy some of the main structures of the occupying regime's rule, which cannot be rebuilt so easily," the Iran leader said in his remarks that were televised. "We kiss the foreheads and arms of the resourceful and intelligent designers [of the operation] and the Palestinian youth," Khameni said in his first speech since the weekend attack on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza strip. So far at least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,616 people injured in the attack, according to The Times of Israel. A recent Wall Street Journal report had said that.Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the attack on Israel. According to senior members of terrorist groups Hamaz and Hezbollah, Iran gave approval for the assault at a meeting held in Beirut last Monday, according to the WSJ report that was cited by the Israel Foreign Ministry statement on X app. The attack was planned to coincide with Israel's internal political turmoil surrounding Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. In addition, the attack was planned to disrupt the rapidly progressing US-brokered negotiations aimed at normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a development considered as a threat by Iran, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, Wall Street Journal reported. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Hamas has grown stronger with Iran's support in recent years. However, he also mentioned that there is no direct evidence of Iran's involvement in the specific Hamas attack on Israel, ABC News reported. In an interview with ABC News, Blinken said, "There's a long relationship between Iran and Hamas. In fact, Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support that it's gotten over many years from Iran. We haven't yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack is involved, but the - the support over many years is clear." Meanwhile, earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stressed that the military has regained full control of the Gaza border after Hamas terrorists blew up sections of the border fence during the attack on Saturday, reported The Times of Israel. Adding to this, he noted that not even a single terrorist entered via the fence. According to the Israeli Air Force, fighter jets have been striking numerous terror targets belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Overnight, dozens of fighter jets struck over 200 targets in Rimal and Khan Yunis. (ANI)
Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday lauded Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership which has guided India and Tanzania relations to greater heights. Pradhan was present at the event held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in the national capital to confer Tanzanian President Hassan with an Honorary Doctorate by the JNU for her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations. "The leadership provided by you and PM Modi guides India and Tanzania relations to greater heights. Tanzania, the key African partner of India we count on your support to amplify the concern and aspirations of the global south," he said. Sharing on his social media 'X', Pradhan further expressed gratitude to be present at the conferment of Honorary Doctorate to Hassan. "It's an honour and privilege for me and my colleague EAM @DrSJaishankarji to be present at the conferment of Honorary Doctorate to President H.E. Dr. @SuluhuSamia," the post said. He further congratulated President Hassan and stated, "Congratulate President Dr Suluhu Samia Hassan and special compliments to JNU for this thoughtful gesture to recognise the efforts of the Tanzanian President towards bringing our two countries closer than ever before." Pradhan also said that under the guidance of PM Modi and the Tanzanian President, the friendship between the two countries will grow stronger. "It is befitting that JNU has conferred this honour to the President of Tanzania, particularly in the backdrop of Hon. PM @narendramodi working tirelessly to include the African Union as part of G-20. I am confident that under the valuable guidance of President H.E. Dr. @SuluhuSamia and Hon. PM Modi ji, - friendship will grow stronger and education, skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and empowerment will be the cornerstone of our Strategic Partnership," the post further stated. https://twitter.com/dpradhanbjp/status/1711636372476563926 Union Minister Pradhan also highlighted the opening of the IIT Madras campus in Tanzania. "This institute will prove to be a milestone in educational cooperation between our great nations and continents,' he said. Moreover, he noted that students from African countries will be provided access to all-class engineering and technology education. "We provide students from Tanzania and other African countries with access to all-class engineering and technology education which will help in nation-building and will drive economic growth, technology, development, research and innovation in Africa,' he added. President Hassan on receiving the Honorary Doctorate by the Jawaharlal Nehru University said that the honour will be forever etched in her memory as it is the first award to her in a foreign country. Speaking at JNU's Special Convocation ceremony conferring the Honorary Doctorate to her, President Hassan expressed her gratitude for the honour, which she termed added "colour" to her life history. Incidentally, Hassan became the first woman to receive an honorary award from the university. In his address, Jaishankar said, "It is a matter of great pride for us to confer the honorary doctorate on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan today from the JNU. I take particular satisfaction in this as an alumnus of this university." He said education and capacity building are important facets of ties between the two countries. The External Affairs Minister pointed out that over 5,000 Tanzanian nationals have been trained in educational institutions in India. Jaishankar added, "India also plays host to several Tanzanian students who study in India and in our universities, young minds brim with confidence as they shape, India's future through startups, inventions and innovations." Noting that 70 students have been finalized for the first batch, he said that classes for the first batch are scheduled to begin this month at the first IIT Madras campus opened in Tanzania. Tanzanian President who is in India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. (ANI)
As the Israeli retaliation against the Hamas attack entered the fourth day, the Israeli Air Force has launched an extensive attack against terror targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "The Air Force continues to attack terrorist targets of the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip with great intensity", the IAF posted on X (formerly Twitter). As per the Israeli Air Force, the fighter jets attacked a number of terrorist targets of the terrorist organization Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip. Among other things, the planes attacked a military compound and a weapons warehouse. Also, a combat management room in Western Jabaliya was attacked which was used by the terrorist organization Hamas to direct terrorism against the State of Israel, it added. At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7. In a war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas. As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours. "This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. The Israel Defense Forces said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip, 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped. On Monday Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked several targets of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The aircraft attacked a building used by Hamas in investigations and an operational infrastructure located inside a mosque. In addition, an underground tunnel shaft of the terrorist organization and military infrastructures used by the Hamas were also attacked. (ANI)
Just like a bad sore that never heals, the truckers and other misfits are back in Ottawa.

They are apparently asking the RCMP to arrest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for treason, for imposing COVID-19 restrictions and mandatory vaccines on Canadians. Still, that same old argument.

The world saw a worldwide pandemic outbreak in 2020, that despite many people believing it was fake, caused millions to die or become extremely sick, and it is still with us.

My brother had COVID-19 twice, and everyone of my co-workers had it. I have been fortunate so far because I have had five vaccines (shots), and will get as many as needed.

Vaccines are not evil, they have saved millions of lives and eliminated numerous diseases, yet now people believe quacks on the internet that vaccines are unsafe.

We still must be aware of possible infection. As for the mandatory vaccines, well, that's wrong. People had a choice to be vaccinated or not, but private business or medical facilities could impose restrictions as a requirement of the job, which for medical professionals seems like a no-brainer, working in places where patients are sick and COVID-19 could make them worse.

I am tired of these people who are selfish and believe they do not need to follow our societal expectations because they think it violates their rights.

Our governments were not perfect during (the pandemic) but they did a lot more for Canadians than the United States' president at the time, Donald Trump, who totally ignored it and called it a hoax. He even refused to wear a mask.

His lack of leadership and vanity helped kill more than one million Americans.

As for the Ottawa protesters, they have every right to protest peacefully but the previous protest was far from that and the police won't tolerate a repeat of it this year.

Also, as a former resident of Ottawa, I hope it gets extremely cold there soon to deter them from wasting everyone's time for too long.

But, if you choose to stand outside all day in Ottawa during the winter, I guess you're not very smart.

A Mullins
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned the decision of Israel to order a "full siege" of Gaza, and also pleaded with "states with influence" to defuse the situation, Al Jazeera reported. The UN High Commissioner has also condemned Israel's ban on food and water towards Gaza. In a statement, Volker Turk pleaded with states with influence to defuse the situation and stressed upholding international and humanitarian law. "We are faced with an explosive powder keg situation. We know how this plays out, time and time again - the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives and incalculable suffering inflicted on both communities," Turk said. "All parties must respect international humanitarian law. They must immediately cease attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects," Al Jazeera quoted Turk as saying. He further added that sieges that hurt the lives of civilians are "prohibited under international humanitarian law". "The world cannot afford more polarisation. We need to find solutions guided by the full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law," he added. This comes after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel reported. "I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed," Gallant said. "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," he added. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women, a ministry spokesperson said. In addition to this, at least 18 people have also been killed and around 100 were injured in the West Bank region since Saturday, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, at least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7. In another update, the Times of Israel reported that the Israeli military is allowing foreign journalists to cover the scenes of Hamas' massacres in towns on the border with the Gaza Strip. The footage shows dozens of reporters from international media outlets being escorted by the army to Kfar Aza, a kibbutz close to the border. However, the IDF has not allowed Israeli media to approach the area, as per Times of Israel. (ANI)
As the ongoing conflict between Israel and terrorist group Hamas grows tense, the spokesperson for Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, has threatened the Israel's coastal city of Ashkelon with a major rocket barrage in the coming hours, The Times of Israel reported. The Hamas leader has also asked the residents to leave their homes in order to not fall victim to the attacks. "In response to the enemy's crime of displacing our people and forcing them to flee their homes in several areas of the Gaza Strip, we give the residents of the occupied city of Ashkelon a deadline to leave before 5 p.m.," Abu Obeida said on his Telegram channel, according to The Times of Israel. Over 770 Palestinians have been killed in air raids after Israel launched a strong retaliation after the 'surprise attack' by Hamas, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday. The Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women, a ministry spokesperson said. In addition to this, at least 18 people have also been killed and around 100 were injured in the West Bank region since Saturday, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, at least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7. In a war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas.Earlier in the day, in a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it". "Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. (ANI)
Bhutan's Chhukha recently conducted training on strategies to enhance the well-being of students to strengthen mental health support in schools, The Bhutan Live reported. The training in Phuentsholing was attended by teachers, counsellors, well-being teachers and principals of 13 schools from the lower part of Chhukha. During the session, participants were trained in skills and strategies needed to help address mental health issues. They were also trained in mentor and mentee programmes, peer helpers programmes and screening for wellbeing and a safe school environment among others. A facilitator, Sushma Thapa, said: "Mental health is so important and, in this generation, we are giving more importance to mental health so that the mental health of our students is well-taken care of at the basic root level in the school. That way, we can provide early intervention and necessary support and services at the right time." "In the due process, this structure will support the students academically. This is because, as they learn, they are made to understand that stress, tension and sad emotions are part and parcel of their lives. And once that is built in their learning process, they will manage to cope up," said Principal DEO of Chhukha Lhama Tshering, as per The Bhutan Live. Moreover, the facilitators said that some programmes for tackling mental health issues are now being taken to primary schools. "One example can be the peer helper's programme. We had this in the middle and higher secondary schools but now we are taking it to the primary schools. The peer helper's programme is where the students come out as peer helpers to help their friends around. They are like the bridge between the counsellors or the focal teachers and the students," said Sushma Thapa, as per The Bhutan Live. She added that, sometimes students don't feel comfortable sharing issues with the teachers. In such situations, the facilitators said, the students will be able to share it with their friends. The initiative of the appointment of well-being focal teachers in every school is also expected to help the students in addressing mental health issues. (ANI)
The locals of Nepal's Tinau Rural Municipality have been protesting against a Chinese crusher plant set up around a month ago near the Tinau River in Ward 3. The locals allege the plant has been operating by flouting the safety standards set by the government, The Kathmandu Post reported. According to the chairman of the Tinau Rural Municipality Prem Shrestha, the crusher plant was set up by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the contractor of the Siddhababa Tunnel Project. The locals of Dobhan village, the site of the crusher plant, have been protesting, claiming that it harms the environment. Shrestha claimed that the plant's operators did not conduct the mandatory Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before bringing the plant into operation. Shrestha said the crusher plant has been set up within a 50-metre radius of the Tinau River, a local forest, a suspension bridge, and a concrete bridge. It is also within 100 metres of the Siddhartha Highway. According to the federal and provincial government rules, crusher plants cannot be operated within 500 metres of bridges and highways. "After the locals launched a petition against the plant demanding that it should be shut down immediately, we asked the company to submit the IEE or EIA reports, but they did not have any. We then asked them to provide us with approval documents from related government agencies but they did not have those either," said Shrestha. "Later a tripartite discussion was held between the construction company, the locals, and the rural municipality, in which we gave the company some time to submit the necessary documents and continue work in a way that would not harm the environment." The locals, however, were unhappy with the new arrangement and launched a social media campaign against the crusher plant. Raju Pandey, a local of Ward 3 of Tinau, said that the crusher plant has continued excavations in violation of the tripartite agreement. He claimed that the agreement was that the company would stop operation until it submitted the approval documents, but they have still been using heavy machinery, excavators, and tipper trucks, among others. "If we let them continue the work, it will have an adverse and irreversible impact on the river, forest, the bridges and human settlements. The rural municipality should not have agreed to let them continue the excavations without proper documents and assessments. We are against the local unit's decision." According to government guidelines related to the excavation of riverbed materials, the use of excavators and loaders is prohibited during excavation in national forests, parks, reserves, buffer zone areas, protected areas, and other sensitive areas like the Chure (one of the three major hill systems in Nepal). The crusher operators can use only those equipment, machines, and vehicles approved in the EIA or IEE reports. (ANI)
Condemning the joint statement issued by five countries -- US, UK Germany, France and Italy over the deadly attack on Israel, Hamas termed the reaction as "double standards" and their "blatant bias" towards "Zionist occupation", Times of Israel reported. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, has slammed the joint statement issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy. "These positions once again confirm the double standards of these countries, and their blatant bias towards the Zionist occupation...and provide it with a cover and encouragement to continue and escalate its crimes against our defenceless people," Times of Israel quoted al-Rishq as saying. The Hamas group has also called for mass rallies in the West Bank, Jerusalem and throughout the Arab and Muslim world on Friday in support of its fight against Israel. Hamas also extends an appeal to Palestinians in the diaspora, as well as "the free people of our Arab and Islamic nation all around the world," to gather in "the closest point to Jerusalem" in order to show their solidarity with them and stop the "Israeli plans to Judaize Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa", Times of Israel reported. In the statement on Monday (local time), the leaders of the five countries wrote: "Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage." In a statement on Monday, the US, the UK, Germany, France and Italy condemned the "appalling acts of terrorism" by Hamas and extended their "steadfast and united support" to Israel. "Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage," said the statement by top leaders of these nations. "All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed," the leaders said. Stating that the "terrorist actions" of Hamas have no justification, the leaders affirmed commitment to ensure that Israel is able to defend itself. "Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region," they said. "We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned," the statement added. At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7. In a war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. Meanwhile, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women, a ministry spokesperson said. In addition to this, at least 18 people have also been killed and around 100 were injured in the West Bank region since Saturday, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
The San Francisco police on Monday fatally shot a driver who crashed into the visa office at the Chinese consulate in the city, The New York Times reported citing police department. The officers responded to the crash near Geary Boulevard and Laguna Street at around 3 pm, where they "found that the vehicle had come to rest in the lobby of the Chinese Consulate," according to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department. The police said the shooting took place after the officers made contact with the suspect. Officers and paramedics who arrived at the scene rendered aid before transporting the suspect to a nearby hospital, where the person died, according to the police. At the time of the incident, about 20 people were in the waiting area of the visa office, said Sergii Molchanov, a graduate student at Stanford Medicine who was there to apply for a visa. He said the driver was a man who appeared to be in his 30s. Molchanov, 32, said: "This guy comes out of the car shouting and saying, 'Where is the CCP.'" He said the driver used an expletive before "CCP," which is a commonly used abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party. Molchanov said the driver tried to go back to his car, at which point security personnel restrained him and people started running out of the building. "Why on earth would someone drive a car into the consulate? He seemed very angry," Molchanov said. Images circulating on social media showed part of the consulate building covered with a white tarp and cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. Another video posted to social media appeared to show people running from the building, where the car, a blue Honda, remained, as per The New York Times. The investigation into the episode is continuing, and the authorities have not released the name of the suspect. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said in a statement that the driver had crashed into an area where consular documents are handled, "posing a serious threat to the life and safety of staff and people on site." "Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibilities related to the incident," the consulate said. This comes as San Francisco looks forward to hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where diplomats are hoping that China's top leader, Xi Jinping, will meet with President Biden. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, is in China this week leading a bipartisan congressional delegation that is meeting with top leaders. Xi met with Schumer on Monday and said he hoped for a "peaceful coexistence" with the United States. The Biden administration has been trying in recent months to stabilize its relationship with Beijing amid rising geopolitical tensions over the status of Taiwan, which China considers a part of its territory, and trade between the two countries. (ANI)
The Chandigarh University has organized a Global Education Summit 2023 on the theme 'India: Voice of Global South', in which international dignitaries deliberated on how India's global image was enhanced under the nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the summit, the academic leaders of over 40 top universities said that "India has emerged as an emphatic voice of the global south that has raised the pressing concerns and issues affecting developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America," The international conference was organised by the NID foundation at Chandigarh University (CU) campus on Tuesday. The academic leaders were mainly from G20 countries and applauded India's successful G20 presidency which they said was a watershed moment as the country helped in shaping several global issues. They also hailed the efforts of PM Modi to make the African Union as a permanent member of G20. "With the resounding success of the G20 summit, India emerged as an architect of the global agenda and led the world to embrace 'One Earth One Family One Future'," the leaders said. Professor Rachael Jesika Singh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor University of Limpopo in South Africa, expressed her gratitude to have been associated with India, PM Narendra Modi, and Chandigarh University. "India under the leadership of PM Modi is playing a vital role across the world, particularly in the Global South. Through India's G20 Presidency, he has bridged the gap between the Developed and Developing World by addressing their concerns and issues. PM Modi emerged as a leader and voice of the Global South during the G20 Summit," she said. She added, "Today, the academic leaders from universities and Higher Education Institutions across the world are talking about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For the achievement of SDGs, we need to eliminate hunger, and poverty, and deal with climate change for everyone as One Family, One World, One Future. We must listen to the Female Voice and encourage Women-led development and Female Leadership." Professor Nanda Bahadur Singh, the Vice-Chancellor of Mid-West University Surkhet, Nepal, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only the leader of India but of the Nations across the world, in particular, the leader of Global South". "PM Modi has given new impetus to the World Community through India's Presidency of G20 that focused on addressing various global issues. He has inspired the idea of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' across the world and advocated the need to understand the fact that despite being separate Nations, we are all interconnected," he added. NID Foundation Chief Patron Satnam Singh Sandhu said, that India's momentous G-20 presidency under the leadership of PM Modi has "reshaped the global order". "PM Modi has given the message of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' for addressing global issues like climate crisis, environment protection, and poverty. Through the consensus of G20, which has been adopted unanimously by more than 126 Nations of the world, PM Modi has emerged as the Global Protagonist," he said. He further said that Prime Minister Modi not only worked for the better future of India and the Indians but also contributed to establishing peace, inclusive growth in the developing world and a better future for Humanity, as a 'Global Statesman'. "During the G20 presidency, India emerged as the Voice of the Global South and raised concerns and issues faced by the Developing nations. Due to the consistent efforts of PM Modi, the African Union has gained permanent membership of G20, which now represents around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population," Sandhu added. Yhing Sawheny, Deputy Director, International Affairs, SIAM University Thailand, said that PM Modi has great visionary leadership skills and is really the best leader that we all in the world look up to. "He is a great example for the world and has also worked at lot for the betterment of the country. Through the G-20 summit he has shown the roadmap to the whole world about how we can achieve peace and prosperity," she said. Dr Nakayama Tomokazu, Professor from Japan said, " Benefits of such meeting includes, we can a lot from other delegates and also at the same we can look for Universities to do partnerships with" Professor Sibrandes Poppema, the President of Sunway University, Malaysia, said, "PM Modi has shown through the resounding success of India's G-20 presidency that Asia can be taking a leadership position in the world which is important because I think it is the end of the western dominated world. PM Modi promoted multilateralism - which means that the world should not be dominated by one or two powers." Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Founder and Chairman of Daffodil International University, Bangladesh said, "The vision of India, PM Narendra Modi, and even the G20 has focused on the need to develop a platform that contributes to the society. India is a country that portrays professionalism and respect to others in its true sense, and the best part is that Indians are highly devoted to their motherland". "In this context, we can say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very focused in the progress and economic development of the country," he added. (ANI)
This is Jaishankar's second visit to Sri Lanka this year.

"EAM will attend the 23rd Council of Ministers' (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on October 11, hosted by Sri Lanka, the current IORA Chair," Ministry of External Affairs said in a release.

At the meeting, India will assume the Vice-Chair role of IORA for 2023-25, leading to chairship in 2025-27.

The Council of Ministers will review IORA's recent activities and outline future cooperation.

"Glad to be back in Colombo. Thank Dr. Suren Raghavan, State Minister for Higher Education for welcoming me. Will be attending the 23rd IORA Council of Ministers meeting," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

During the visit, Jaishankar will also have bilateral meetings in Colombo.

The External Affairs Minister visited Sri Lanka earlier in January this year, where he met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and discussed bilateral cooperation, including transport and education.

Jaishankar had said that it is natural for India to stand by Sri Lanka during its difficult time.

Sri Lanka, which has battled economic difficulties, had in January thanked India for issuing guarantees sought by the IMF for unlocking USD 2.9 billion bailout package. (ANI)
Hours after issuing a warning, terrorist group Hamas launched a rocket attack at the southern coastal city of Ashkelon in Israel on Tuesday, The Times of Israel reported. As the barrage of rockets pounded the coastal city, sirens sounded in the city and other nearby towns. The terrorist organisation had earlier issued a warning that it would attack Ashkelon at 5 o'clock in retaliation for Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The spokesperson for Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, had threatened the Israel's coastal city of Ashkelon with a major rocket barrage in the coming hours, The Times of Israel reported. The Hamas leader has also asked the residents to leave their homes in order to not fall victim to the attacks. "In response to the enemy's crime of displacing our people and forcing them to flee their homes in several areas of the Gaza Strip, we give the residents of the occupied city of Ashkelon a deadline to leave before 5 p.m," Abu Obeida said on his Telegram channel, according to The Times of Israel. As Israel is subject to rocket assaults from both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the approaching rocket sirens are once more audible in the western Galilee and the southern coastal city of Ashkelon, The Times of Israel reported. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the attacks. Over 770 Palestinians have been killed in air raids after Israel launched a strong retaliation after the 'surprise attack' by Hamas, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday. The Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women, a ministry spokesperson said. In addition to this, at least 18 people have also been killed and around 100 were injured in the West Bank region since Saturday, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, at least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7. In a war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas. Earlier in the day, in a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it". "Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. (ANI)
A sexual assault lawsuit brought by a former ABC Good Morning America producer against news executive Michael Corn and the network has been settled.

Previously dismissed and then reinstated on appeal, the 2-year-old lawsuit was resolved Friday with a stipulation of dismissal filing, and no definitive ruling on the facts of the case.

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Kirstyn Crawford filed the lawsuit in August 2021 in New York state court, alleging Corn, while he was executive producer of ABCs top-rated morning news show, groped and kissed her during a trip to Los Angeles to cover the Academy Awards in February 2015.

The lawsuit also alleged Corn, who now heads Chicago-based NewsNation, harassed her and created a pervasive toxic work environment at ABC News, according to the complaint.

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In June 2022, New York State Supreme Court Judge Barbara Jaffe dismissed the lawsuit, ruling the alleged sexual assault was outside the three-year statute of limitations and Corns alleged subsequent actions did not support the hostile work environment claim.

But in May, the Appellate Division overturned much of the decision, reinstating the hostile work environment and sex discrimination claims as timely and ruling the alleged facts comprised a single continuing pattern of unlawful conduct extending into the (limitations) period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint.

A settlement in the matter was then negotiated before ABC filed for the dismissal Friday in New York state court.

In a joint statement, ABC News and Crawford said they have resolved their dispute and the lawsuit was concluded. The network thanked Crawford for courageously speaking out about her experience at ABC News, while Crawford thanked ABC News for its prompt response to her formal complaint in 2021, the statement read.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Milton Williams, a New York attorney who represented Crawford in the lawsuit, declined to comment Monday.

Michael Corn, former senior executive producer for ABC News' "Good Morning America," is president of news for Chicago-based cable network NewsNation. (Nexstar Media/Nexstar Media)

The lawsuit alleged Corn, who left ABC in April 2021 and joined NewsNation as president the following month, sexually assaulted at least two female employees during his 18 years as a rising producer at ABC. It also claimed ABC swept the alleged sexual assaults under the rug to protect its brand, allowing Corn to land at NewsNation.

Corn denied the allegations in an August 2021 statement issued through his attorney, calling Crawfords claims demonstrably false. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

In an October 2021 motion to dismiss, ABC said an internal investigation determined that it was more likely than not that Corn violated ABCs policies and he was promptly terminated by the network.

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A NewsNation spokesperson declined to comment Monday.

NewsNation, formerly WGN America, was reinvented as a cable news network in September 2020 under Dallas-based owner Nexstar Media Group. It bought WGN America in 2019 as part of its $4.1 billion acquisition of Chicago-based Tribune Media.

Under Corn, the startup cable news channel added former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo to its prime-time lineup last fall, and expanded to 24/7 news programming in April, but its ratings are still lagging its more established competitors.

Cuomo was fired by CNN in December 2021 for allegedly violating network standards by advising his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he navigated sexual harassment allegations. The longtime news anchor is seeking $125 million in damages in an ongoing breach of contract arbitration action against CNN.

NewsNation ranked 66th among all cable networks in prime time during the week of Sept. 25, with an average of 94,000 viewers, according to Nielsen. Fox News ranked first in prime time with nearly 2.2 million viewers, MSNBC was third at more than 1.5 million viewers and CNN ranked eighth with 574,000 viewers.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expressing solidarity with Israel at a time when the country is at war. He expressed gratitude for supporting Israel and said the nation gets so much support from "our Indian brothers and sisters." In a post on social media platform X, Gilon said, "Thank you again PM @narendramodiJi. Since we get SO MUCH support from our Indian brothers and sisters, I'm unfortunately unable to thank each and every one of you personally." "Please accept this as my gratitude to all our friends," he added. The Israeli envoy's response came in response to the recent conversation between PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. Amid the onslaught by Israeli forces on Gaza following Hamas attacks, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and provided him with an update about the ongoing situation. PM Modi said in a post on X that the people of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. "I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," PM Modi said. On Saturday, expressing solidarity with Israel in the wake of the deadly rocket strikes by Hamas, Prime Minister Modi said that the thoughts of people were with the innocent victims and their families. "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," PM Modi posted on X. At least 900 Israelis have been killed in the Hamas attacks, while over 2,616 were injured, according to the latest reports. In a war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel and Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. An IDF spokesperson confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas. As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, according to The Times of Israel. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], October 10 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, today witnessed the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Georgia. The CEPA aims to double non-oil trade from USD 481 million to USD 1.5 billion in five years. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, always seeks to build bridges of friendship and cooperation with all countries that share the same vision with us to build a bright future for current and future generations. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said: "The Partnership Agreement with Georgia reflects our consistent approach to stimulating economic growth and trade and investment exchange with friendly countries, in a way that contributes to reviving international trade and helping the global economy face current challenges." He added: "In the UAE, we have a firm belief that constructive international cooperation and sustainable economic growth are capable of achieving stability and peace and enhancing the quality of people's lives". Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia expressed his gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for the invaluable contribution made to the advancement of cooperation between the two countries. The Prime Minister of Georgia also expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the contribution made to the advancement the bilateral relations. Garibashvili added: "I am delighted that a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is signed today between Georgia and the UAE, as it will pave a sound foundation to the development of a more solid and consolidated trade and economic relations between our two nations". Irakli Garibashvili said: "It is our key priority for us to strengthen relations with one of the leading states of the world - the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has always been at the avant-garde of innovations and progress, which is a significant precondition of future hope and optimism. We are confident that this new stage in the relationship of our two countries made for the benefit of our people will facilitate the intensification and simplification of trade and economic relations". The agreement was signed during a virtual ceremony by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Levan Davitashvili, Georgia's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. The latest CEPA signed to date under the UAE's global economic agreement programme, the agreement is set to deepen trade and investment ties, accelerate growth in priority industries, create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and streamline market access across the Middle East, Asia and Europe for UAE and Georgian businesses. Through the removal or reduction of tariffs on 95 per cent of product lines, the deal is expected to boost the value of non-oil trade beyond USD 1.5 billion in the next five years. The new deal builds on growing UAE-Georgia economic relations that resulted in non-oil trade beyond USD 225 million in the first half of 2023, with 28 percent growth on H1 2022. Total non-oil bilateral trade reached USD 481 million for the full year of 2022, up 115 percent on 2021. The UAE now accounts for over 63 percent of Georgia's trade with Arab countries. The UAE is also Georgia's sixth-largest global investor, representing five percent of its total FDI, while investment between the two countries exceeded US$1 billion by the end of 2021. Through the implementation of targeted working groups, the CEPA is expected to accelerate capital flow into high-priority sectors such as tourism, retail, logistics and manufacturing. On the signing, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said: "The UAE-Georgia CEPA unites two countries that have complementary strengths - both nations are strategic crossroads for trade, both possess dynamic, rapidly-expanding service economies and both share a similar vision for attracting FDI - with policies that welcome business and promote robust growth. This agreement lays the path for a new era of cooperation and will fast-track opportunities between private sectors on both sides, delivering a range of benefits to both country's exporters and manufacturers." Levan Davitashvili, Vice Prime-Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia said: "I strongly believe that the establishment of a free trade regime between Georgia and UAE will be of benefit for both countries. Namely, Georgia can serve as a best gateway for the UAE companies to the region, with the geographic location and business environment it offers. On the other hand, the FTA will provide extended opportunities to promote and develop different industries in Georgia and increase the scope of export products". The UAE-Georgia CEPA is the latest agreement signed under the UAE's new foreign trade agenda, which seeks deeper ties with strategic allies around the world to accelerate economic recovery and secure vital supply chains. Previous deals have been signed with India, Indonesia, Israel, Turkiye and Cambodia. Following the ratification process on both sides, the UAE-Georgia CEPA is expected to enter into force early next year. (ANI/WAM)
A group of political activists from Bangladesh, who are living in Europe, gathered at the monumental sculpture 'Broken Chair' in front of the United Nations in Geneva to condemn the religious extremism and terrorism perpetrated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh. They held a demonstration and banner campaign during the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday here. Organised by the Forum for Secular Bangladesh, the theme was 'Zero tolerance against religious extremism and terrorism in Bangladesh'. European Freedom Fighters Associations Bangladesh and Switzerland Chapter of Bangladesh also joined these activists and raised slogans accusing BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami as collaborators of terrorism. They termed them as human rights violators who were responsible for killing secular Bangladesh Army personnel during their rule. Nazrul Islam, president of Switzerland Awami League, said, "We are here to recognise the genocide of 1971 and we are demanding the United Nations and other international community to recognise the genocide in Bangladesh, and Pakistan's brutal army have to apologise Bangladesh." Khalilur Rehman, a Bangladeshi human rights activist living in Switzerland, accused the West of backing Khalida Zia-led BNP party. He said, "We are observing in Bangladesh that the United States is backing Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP to destroy the country. We gained independence in 1971 by a revolution and we will not allow any such conspiracy." The demonstration was also joined by former Dutch MP, Harry Van Bommel. He addressed the protesters and said, "No matter the extremism and terrorism comes from groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and even backed by the Pakistan government. Pakistan has a bad track record when it comes to state terrorism as it was shown in 1971 by carrying genocide." (ANI)
A man was taken to the hospital after a Monday evening shooting in Raytown, according to police.

Officers were dispatched shortly before 5 p.m. to the reported shooting with one injured in the 7800 block of 86th Street, police said in a written statement. The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to police.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the severity of the mans injuries. No one was in police custody Monday night.

Raytown police were asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
(FOX 2) - While no one scored the massive Powerball jackpot over the weekend, a ticket awarding its buyer a million dollars was sold in Macomb County Friday.

Since the Powerball jackpot reset last July, Michigan Lottery players have purchased 24 million tickets in hopes of scoring the big one. The jackpot has since risen to $1.55 billion with another drawing scheduled for Monday, Oct. 9.

While no ticket matched all six numbers, there have been some smaller winning tickets that have been bought. During the current cycle, nearly $13 million in prizes have been dished out to Michigan Lottery players.

That includes five $1 million prizes and one $2 million prize which was purchased online, the lottery website said.

The most recent $1 million ticket was sold at Northview Wine Shoppe, which is located at 23015 21 Mile Road in Macomb.

RELATED: Woman lands lottery jackpot while buying ticket for husband

Powerball drawings happen at 10:59 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. They can be viewed online here.
Love it or hate it, souvenir shopping is a big part of many travelers itineraries.

Its natural to want to bring home a special memento from your vacation to commemorate the experience and perhaps inject a piece of that travel magic into your day-to-day life. But whether youre buying for yourself or searching for a gift for loved ones back home, the vast souvenir offerings at tourist shops can feel overwhelming and inauthentic.

To avoid filling your house with random knickknacks devoid of meaning, consider taking a more mindful approach and selecting items that will be used or otherwise appreciated.

To inspire your choices, HuffPost asked people who work in the travel industry to share the one souvenir theyre always sure to bring home when they go on a trip. Here are their picks:

An Article Of Clothing

I usually buy clothes as a souvenir when I travel! Clothes are functional and practical. And, because I can wear the clothes all the time, they serve as a constant reminder of the trip, helping the memories and lessons of the trip live on in my mind even when Im at home. Gabby Beckford, travel expert and founder of Packs Light

Local Grocery Items

I love going to local supermarkets and outdoor markets and getting condiments, chocolates and wines. When I visited Greece, I fell in love with Greek honey and bought several jars. In Spain, I love bringing back tinned seafood like mussels and octopus. When I travel back home to Puerto Rico, I buy copious amounts of locally produced coffee. I also find my friends prefer receiving food and beverage items more than a mug or T-shirt!  Jessica van Dop DeJesus, founder and editor at The Dining Traveler

If Im buying gifts for family and friends who love to eat, I tend to go to a local grocery store to find different and unique items we wouldnt be able to find at home. For example, during my last trip to France, I bought every flavor of chips you cant typically find at home. Poulet roti, or roast chicken, was a huge hit!  Katy Nastro, spokesperson for the flight alert service Going

A Postcard

I always buy a postcard and then write my favorite memories on the back. I try to find one or two that resonate with me from the trip. Whether its a photo of a place I went to or just a beautiful post card that reminds me of the destination. Its a really nice way for me to look back and remember the small things that made me appreciate each trip. Esther Susag, travel blogger

A Piece Of Art

To me, the best souvenirs are those that capture the spirit of a place. Thats why I always look for local artisanal crafts. They not only support the local economy but also provide a tangible connection to the culture and traditions of the destination. I particularly like items that represent traditional art forms such as pottery, hand-painted tiles, weaving or wood carving. These are things that often have a story and remind me of my travels in the place.  Sean Lau, travel blogger

The best souvenirs tend to be ones that simply cant be found back home or easily ordered online. Think handmade items that can only be found in your destination. I love choosing art by local artists. Laura Motta, digital editorial director at Lonely Planet

A Magnet

I always buy magnets when traveling. This includes magnets of states, cities, national parks and even countries. Its a fairly cheap souvenir, and it is a great reminder of my many vacations every time I open my refrigerator. While I have also purchased souvenir cups and shot glasses, magnets are the much better choice in my opinion. One of my favorites is my Yosemite National Park magnet, which showcases Half Dome. I did the over 15-mile hike a few years back, and looking at the magnet always brings me back to that awesome experience.  Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer

Beyond finding beautiful crafts at local markets, one of my favorite travel souvenirs is a magnet. It fits perfectly in your personal item, every destination has one, its affordable and each time you open your refrigerator to grab a snack, youre reminded of all of the incredible places youve been. The fridge is the Louvre of the home, after all.  Melissa DaSilva, president of Trafalgar, North America

A Snow Globe

I always make it a point to collect snow globes when I travel. They have this charming way of encapsulating the essence of the places I visit, making for perfect mementos of my adventures.  Elie Michaels, vice president of operations at Advantage Rent a Car

Local Jewelry

If its a souvenir for myself, I try to buy jewelry from a local boutique. Earrings or a necklace are easily packable, and finding something from a local artisan not only makes the piece more special but also contributes to the local economy in a more purposeful way.  Nastro

Related...
Smithfield Foods will close its Charlotte processing plant, which affects 107 employees, officials with the company announced on Monday.

2018 ARTICLE: Smithfield Foods closing meat distribution center

The production will be transferred to its facility in Tar Heel, North Carolina, to increase efficiency and better utilize existing capacity.

The company will provide financial and other transition assistance to those employees.

There will be a financial incentive package for hourly employees to remain at the Charlotte plant until the final day of production in December.

Providing transition support to our Charlotte employees is our No. 1 priority, said Doug Sutton, chief manufacturing officer for Smithfield Foods. We appreciate their commitment to producing good food responsibly, and we hope many of them will continue in roles at other Smithfield locations.

Smithfield employs nearly 40,000 people in the U.S. and more than 10,000 in North Carolina.

VIDEO: Waffle House collaborates with brewery to come up with Bacon & Kegs
Residents of Myanmar's flood-hit Bago city salvaged food and belongings from their waterlogged homes on Tuesday after record rainfall triggered floods that authorities said have displaced 14,000 people.

The rainy season typically brings months of heavy downpours to the Southeast Asian country, but scientists say man-made climate change is making weather patterns more intense.

In eastern Bago city residents waded down streets through waist-deep water or floated along in boats or on rubber tyres, as ripples lapped at shuttered shops and houses.

"This is the first time my house has been flooded in my life," Phwar Than Hme, 101, told AFP from the monastery where she was taking shelter.

"I was standing on a chair while my house was being flooded.

"My neighbour and rescue people told me not to stay at home and to go to the camp. They carried me on their backs and brought me here."

On Sunday authorities reported that 200 mm (almost eight inches) of rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours in Bago region northeast of commercial hub Yangon -- a record for October.

Heavy rain continued through Monday night.

"I didn't expect this level of water here," said Chit Nyunt, 69, told AFP as he waded down the street holding a pair of sandals and an umbrella.

"I have never seen anything like this."

State broadcaster MRTV said 14,000 people had been displaced across Bago region, northeast of commercial hub Yangon.

Almost 5,600 people were being accommodated in local government temporary relief centres, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar.

The lower floors of Bago's general hospital had been flooded, a resident told the newspaper, and three of Myanmar's four telecoms providers were not working in the area.

Flooding began in July and has affected nine of Myanmar's states and regions, including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen, Mon and Chin.

Myanmar is in the grip of a bloody civil conflict between the junta, which ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and armed groups opposed to its coup.

bur-rma/pdw/ssy
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. - In a recent incident at North Forsyth High School on Oct. 3, threatening messages were discovered scrawled on a bathroom wall. Local authorities, including the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, Forsyth County School Safety, and North Forsyth High School administrators, promptly launched an investigation into the matter.

Taking such threats seriously, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office assigned additional deputies to North Forsyth High School during the investigation. While the initial concern was the potential harm posed by these messages, it was later determined that there was no planned or intended harm towards any students or staff members at the school. However, the messages did create a disruption on campus, causing students to feel uneasy.

After hours of reviewing video surveillance footage and conducting interviews with numerous students, law enforcement officials identified a 16-year-old suspect. During the course of the interview, it was established that the suspect's motive for the threat was to simply shut down the school.

As a result, the 16-year-old student has been charged with Felony Terroristic Threats, Disruption of Public School, and Trespass. The student is set to be transported to a Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville.
A Parker County woman is in critical condition and a man stable after they were stabbed by a woman just before 1 a.m. Monday, according to a news release from the Parker County Sheriffs Office.

The female victim was stabbed multiple times in the neck and spinal region. She was airlifted to a Fort Worth hospital, where she is listed in critical but stable condition, according to the news release.

The man, who was stabbed in the bicep, was treated at a Fort Worth hospital and released.

Patricia Anne Mills, 39, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the sheriffs office said she stabbed the man and woman during a fight over their relationships. She was arrested at the scene in the 2500 block of Zion Hill Road on Monday.

Mills is being held in the Parker County Jail on $50,000 bond, according to the sheriffs office. The investigation into the stabbings is ongoing.

>> BREAKING NEWS <<

Today's other top stories in Fort Worth:

 Fort Behavioral clinic closes after Star-Telegram investigation

 Group dressed like Nazis served at Torchy's Tacos in Fort Worth

 Skeletal remains found behind west Tarrant County business

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Evgenia Simanovich runs to the family home's reinforced concrete shelter, moments after rocket sirens sounded in Ashkelon, Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023. (Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times)

What? Again?

Such was the stunning sense of surprise that rocked the world as the Palestinian militant resistance group Hamas delivered a devastating blow to Israel and the reputation of the nations globally respected intelligence services.

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What went wrong? For Israel, it seemed, just about everything. Crucial warnings were not heard, perhaps because Hamas was avoiding forms of communication such as mobile phones that easily could be detected. Israels vaunted Iron Dome missile defenses were overwhelmed by a barrage of cheaper missiles fired toward Israeli targets.

An old military saying, attributed to a range of historically famous commanders, goes, No plan survives contact with the enemy.

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Many comparisons with 9/11 were made, especially by those of us who remember that day. So were comparisons with the Yom Kippur War, which happened to occur 50 years ago the same week as the Gaza attack.

Or many of us were reminded of the Tet Offensive, an unexpected setback in the Vietnam War or, of course, Pearl Harbor.

In short, surprises matter. Many questions have yet to be raised and debated about what went wrong for Israel in Gaza. But what stands out are hard-learned lessons about expecting too little from ones enemies and presuming too much from tactics and information that may have worked before but become seriously outdated after enough conditions change.

[ Editorial: A horrific day for Israel ]

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have been surging for months, along with warnings about the risk of an all-out war.

The Gaza attack came a few weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a somewhat self-congratulatory speech at the United Nations to announce the establishment of a new Middle East centered around Israel and its new Arab partners.

Speaking to an audience largely composed of seats left empty by delegates protesting Israels policies, the prime minister held up a map at one point titled The New Middle East, which conspicuously omitted any mention of Palestine. The illustration showed only the West Bank and Gaza within the boundaries of Israel, which is not the vision shared by the Palestinian Arabs.

If that was not enough reason to spur Hamas to its more recent bloody action, it certainly didnt help matters move any closer to a peaceful reconciliation of a decades-old conflict.

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Whether Iran may have played a role in the Gaza attacks is not clear but is widely believed to have led to it. Hamas has a strong interest in derailing the peace talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and various sources say Iran does too.

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[ Daniel DePetris: How will the Israel-Hamas conflict affect US policy? ]

Palestinians have been fighting to liberate their homeland, in their view, from 75 years of Israeli oppression and terrorism. In short, they have been fighting a war, and its still going on. At the same time, the Netanyahu government has been shifting further right in its own era of polarization, which also provides an opening for Iran to drive more wedges between Israelis and Arabs.

The biggest tragedies are the kind that catch hundreds or potentially thousands of innocent civilians in the middle, as we saw when peaceful neighborhoods and a music concert became scenes for bloody massacres and hostage-taking.

Im not taking sides in a battle that has been going on for decades, except to say that the world needs to keep our eyes on the prize of peace for this region, where sadly we undoubtedly have more pain and surprises to come.

We need to talk.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @cptime
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A genetic profile established for a previously unknown man nearly 20 years ago has positively identified a suspect, leading to charges in the aftermath of a 2003 St. Paul attack.

Shawn Phillips Skie, 48, of St. Paul is charged with first-degree criminal sexual assault for his role in an attack that occurred in late December 2003.

According to charges, on Dec. 29, 2003, a woman contacted the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD) to report she believed she had been sexually assaulted during the early morning hours in a parking lot on the 100 block of Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul.

She told police she had met Skie at a bar on Stryker and Dodd avenues the previous evening to say goodbye before he moved to California. The victim reported having two drinks during a three-hour period. After the second drink, began to feel "lightheaded and disoriented," according to charges.

Later, inside Skies car, she reported an attack that, "Seemed like a dream and [she was] physically unable to fight back."

St. Paul Police initially opened an investigation into Skie after the attack but couldn't find him. Authorities pended the case in February 2005.

A DNA sample taken from the victim helped create an unidentified male profile that was then entered into the Minnesota DNA and National DNA Index System databases for periodic profile searches. In August 2023, as part of the Statewide Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, a match came back from a periodic search that confirmed Skies DNA in the sample taken in 2003, charges said.

According to court documents, the victim, "would like to proceed with charges against Skie, as the incident has ruined her life."

Skies next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 2, and he is currently considered a "high risk to public safety," according to charges.
FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE)  The Tulare Police Department says they received a 911 call regarding an assault with a weapon that occurred in the parking lot area of the Country Estates near 900 E Rankin Ave on Tuesday.

Officers say they responded to the scene and learned that a 20-year-old woman was stabbed multiple times. The woman was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition.

Investigators say through the investigation, detectives learned there was a physical altercation between two people.

Police say a separate but related physical altercation occurred between the 20-year-old woman and the suspect. The suspect stabbed the woman multiple times and fled the scene. According to police, the suspect is unknown at this time.

Tulare County Police say the investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Tulare Police Department, German Brrios at (559)685-2300 ext. 2152.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
ATLANTA - It is now believed that a 21-year-old man reported missing from Loganville in Gwinnett County is dead, according to Atlanta Police Department.

Police say that Flynt told someone that he was going to pick up a car part in Atlanta on July 29.

He was reported missing in Gwinnett County on Aug. 1 and the Gwinnett County Police Department had reason to believe Flynt was in Atlanta.

On Aug. 17, the Homicide Unit for the Atlanta Police Department and GCPD executed a search warrant at an apartment at 214 Colonial Holmes Drive NW in the Buckhead area.

APD says that "items of evidentiary value" were collected from the apartment and based off the circumstances of Flynt's disappearance and the evidence collected, the Homicide Unit believes Flynt is dead.

APD has not released any information about possible suspects or possible motive.


A correctional officer monitors an entrance to the Waupun Correctional Institution on Sept. 19 in Waupun.

A 30-year-old prisoner died last week at Waupun Correctional Institution amid the ongoing lockdown.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections confirmed the death of Tyshun L. Lemons on Tuesday. The DOC said the cause of death is still under investigation by the Dodge County Medical Examiner's Office.

Dodge Medical Examiner PJ Schoebel said the manner of death, whether it was a suicide or homicide, was also under investigation. He estimated the investigation would take at least three months.

Lemons died on Oct. 2 and is the second prisoner death at Waupun since the lockdown began on March 29. The other death occurred in July and was ruled a suicide by authorities.

It's been more than six months since the DOC initiated "modified movement," which limits prisoners access to certain services, including in-person visits and communal gatherings. Prisoners refer to the ongoing situation as a "lockdown," in messages to the Journal Sentinel, saying they are typically locked in their cells 24 hours a day and living in inhumane conditions.

The Waupun Correctional Institution is shown Sept. 19 in Waupun.

DOC spokesperson Kevin Hoffman said Tuesday that the prison remains in modified movement, "but the facility continues to assess this status on a weekly basis and has incrementally been increasing movement in areas safe to do so."

More than half of the full-time corrections officer positions remain unfilled at Waupun, which prisoners and officials alike have said is exacerbating the situation.

The DOC will investigate Lemons' death, as well as the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, per standard protocol.

Lemons was serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of armed robbery and first-degree recklessly endangering safety in 2014.

Messages to Lemons' family were not immediately returned.

CORRECTION: A previous edition of this article had Lemons' age listed at 29. He was 30 when he died.

Drake Bentley can be reached at DBentley1@gannett.com or 414-391-5647.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 30-year-old prisoner dies at Waupun Correctional Institution
For acclaimed cellist Maya Beiser , the weekend attacks in Israel by Hamas militants brought up painful memories from her childhood.

Beiser was raised in a small kibbutz, or communal settlement, in the Galilee region, roughly 85 miles from the Gaza Strip. She vividly recalls growing up in the aftermath of the 1974 kidnapping and killing of school children carried out by a small band of Palestinians in the town of Maalot. The latest incursion, she said, awakened a kind of childhood PTSD.

On Monday, Beiser drew parallels between the two events, and vented her despair over the massacre in a post on social media, asking, How are humans capable of such deliberate horrific acts?

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Yahoo News spoke with Beiser at her home in Massachusetts, where she was preparing to record a follow-up to her latest album, Infinite Bach. Some of her responses have been edited for brevity.

Can you expand a bit on what you experienced as a child growing up in Israel during the attack in Maalot?

I remember every night going to sleep and worrying whether the terrorists would come. That attack was so horrific because all these kids were at an elementary school and [the terrorists] kidnapped more than 100 of them, and in the end they killed 25 of them, cold-blooded, before the Israeli special forces were able to rescue the rest. It was something where you think there will never be anything worse than that. This was a time of constant threat and war. We grew up with this constant fear that we would be annihilated.

Every night we would put our clothes next to our bed in case there would be an alarm and we would go to the shelters. I actually loved going to the shelters because I felt safe there. At the same time, I grew up in a very socialist, liberal kibbutz and my father was friends with many Arab neighbors, including Palestinians. It was a very different time in Israel. There was a sense that there would be peace, that there would be a solution. This kind of religious radicalism that exists now  on both sides  was not there.

Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Getty Images (2)

You mentioned in your post that you know people whose children attended the Tribe of Nova music festival and who are still missing. What more can you tell us?

I know people who were there who managed to escape and were saved. But some others managed to escape and went to the kibbutz Beeri, which was where one of the worst massacres happened. Nobody knows where they are now. They vanished. There are a lot of people who dont know what happened to their children. Its just hard to imagine what these people are going through now. The majority of the attendees were in their 20s. It was like a rave party, like Israels Burning Man, that kind of thing. And many of them fought for Palestinian rights in Gaza.

It is such a huge movement, whats been going on in Israel over the past six months since this very radical government  the most radical right-wing government in Israels history  took over. So many people I know have been on the street demonstrating every week against this government, not just the judicial reforms, but also the policies in the West Bank.

One of the horrible things that happened is these people [at the festival] were not protected. All these thousands of people were there, and people who were in those villages in the towns on the border [with Gaza] while the army were all up in the West Bank, protecting the radical settlers. Thats the truth that a lot of people dont like to point out. Something like 80% of the Israeli army was [in the West Bank] and they kind of left these people to have to defend themselves. There was a well-known guy in a kibbutz called Kfar Aza, who ended up dying fighting against the terrorists. He was an outspoken person against the policies in Gaza. A lot of the people who lived in that area and some who went to the festival worked on trying to better the lives of the people living in Gaza.

Hamas is a small, radical, religious monster movement, just like ISIS, who are not representing the Palestinians. Im getting a lot of reactions [to my post], people saying, Well, this is the fault of the Israeli government and the treatment of Palestinians. But its a false equation to say that. Nothing that was done  and there are a lot of bad things that have been done, a lot of mistakes and terrible things done to the Palestinians  but nothing justifies this kind of atrocity.

In your post you said you used to believe that artists can change the world and can help moderate and root out the evil forces among us, but now youre no longer convinced. Can you elaborate?

Im worried because I dont see a solution to this radicalism that is going on everywhere  on all sides, really. Its religious zealotry. I still believe as deeply as ever that to create art is the essence of the meaning for my life. I want to hope that maybe it will change somebody, but I dont know. I think, What would I have done in that moment in front of these people? Would I have taken the cello and played for them? That wouldnt have changed anything. They would have murdered me. Im not able to understand this kind of behavior. There were a lot of people who would have done anything to appeal to their humanity.

It was instilled in me when I grew up that we have to work as hard as we can to spread love and peace, and that Israel will bring peace and find common ground with the people that surround us. We lived in our little utopian world, hoping against all odds that wed be able to change things, but its very hard to see its going somewhere good because this kind of violence creates other kinds of violence, and the escalation is just so horrific. I dont want to end on that horrible note. I think we need to keep creating our own meaning every day, no matter what happens. For me, thats being an artist and a musician.
Tired of eating at the same restaurants?

South Carolina has a few establishments off the beaten path you might not know about yet.

Three restaurants in South Carolina are among the best hidden gems in the U.S. for 2023, according to Tripadvisor. The American online travel company recently listed the restaurants as winners of its Best of the Best Travelers Choice awards for 2023. In all, 25 restaurants were chosen as the best hidden gems in the U.S. for the annual awards.

According to TripAdvisors website, the awards are the companys highest honor and winners are among the top 1% of the companys 8 million listings. The awards take into account the quality and quantity of reviews the restaurants receive by travelers over a 12-month period.

Below are the three South Carolina restaurants that earned their under-the-radar status.

Cru Cafe

Cru Cafe at 18 Pinckney Street in Charleston  ranked 9th overall on the Tripadvisor list  is in a classic 18th Century Charleston single-style home. The restaurant offers upscale comfort food, indoor and outdoor porch seating, a wine list tailored to the varied menu and scrumptious desserts. From its famous four cheese macaroni to Thai seafood risotto, Cru Cafe should have something for everyone.

The Jazz Corner

Coming in at 14th on the list, The Jazz Corner opened in Hilton Head in 1999 and is the brainchild of the late jazz luminary and historian Bob Masteller. He created The Jazz Corner to provide a classic jazz club experience with great sound quality and a great culture after being inspired by similar clubs he frequented in the Northeastern U.S. when he was young.

Besides providing two shows a night, seven nights a week, the spot has a delectable menu, from bacon wrapped pork tenderloin to blueberry BBQ duck. Theres also a solid selection of cocktails to sip on as you chill to a night of jazz.

42nd Street Bar and Grill

The 42nd Street Bar and Grill in Myrtle Beach, ranked 19th on the list, offers modern high-end dining, with a variety of chef inspired dishes to suit all tastes. According to its website, the restaurants chef and owner has more than 20 years of experience cooking in the finest establishments.

The restaurants menu includes a nice selection of seafood entrees, from scallops and white beans to lobster Mac and cheese. Other entrees include beef and mushroom Wellington pan seared duck breast.
Police vehicles appear on the street in Manhattan, New York.

Police vehicles appear on the street in Manhattan, New York.

Three teenagers were arrested Monday following an LGBTQ hate crime against a 72-year-old man in New York City.

The boys, ages 16, 14 and 13, are charged with gang assault, hate crime assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

On Sept. 15, four males assaulted a 72-year-old man while using anti-LGBTQ slurs, according to the New York Police Department. They punched and kicked his head and body, and then fled the scene on foot. The man went to a local hospital, where it was determined that he had a broken jaw and lacerations to his face and hands. The NYPD said its Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident.

According to FBI statistics for 2020, over 20% of reported hate crimes were related to sexual orientation, and roughly 3% were about gender identity.

Related...
Russian forces launched 36 Shahed attack drones over Ukraine at night, shooting down 26 of them, 39 combat clashes took place at the contact line over the day, and Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 30 attacks from different directions.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 10 October

Quote from General Staff: "Thirty-nine combat clashes took place over the past day. In total, the enemy launched 1 missile and 63 air strikes, fired 47 times from MLRSs both on the positions of our troops and civilian targets of our state. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure facilities were destroyed and damaged."

Details: In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 5 attacks of the Russians near Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Lyman front, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 7 attacks near Makiivka in Luhansk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian troops repelled four Russian attacks near Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast. In turn, the Defence Forces continued their assault operations south of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. They had partial success in the area of Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian forces, and consolidating their positions.

In the zone of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational-Strategic Group on the Avdiivka and Mariinka fronts, the Russians carried out more than 15 unsuccessful attacks in the areas of Mariinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Shakhtarske front, Ukrainian troops repelled an attack near Staromaiorsk in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian defenders are holding back the Russians near Levadne in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

The Ukrainian defence forces continue to advance on the Melitopol front, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian forces, consolidating their positions and exhausting the invaders.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, the Defence Forces are conducting counter-battery fire, destroying storage points and successfully hitting the Russian rear.

In the zone of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation remains without significant changes.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the Russians are maintaining a military presence in the border areas and are actively conducting subversive activities to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to threatened areas.

Over the past day, Ukrainian Defence Forces aircraft carried out 10 strikes on areas where Russian forces personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated.

Missile troops struck a command post, an ammunition storage point, 2 clusters of personnel, weapons and military equipment, and an electronic warfare station.

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Nine months into his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor in North Carolina, Attorney General Josh Stein held his first campaign rally on Tuesday at an HBCU in the area where his primary opponent, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan, lives.

Steins event was held at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown and southeast Raleigh.

Morgan announced his run in September, long after Stein made his campaign official in January. Stein was joined at Shaw by his former boss, Roy Cooper , himself a Democratic attorney general turned governor, who endorsed Stein just before Morgan made his run official.

Morgan stepped down from the state Supreme Court about a week before he started his campaign.

Stein is in his second term as attorney general, following in the footsteps of Cooper, who spent two terms in the job. Cooper cant run for reelection.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary is likely to face Republican frontrunner Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has four primary-election opponents.

Here are five significant takeaways from Steins first rally:

1. Justice Morgan lambasts location of event

Morgan entered the race as the underdog, as most Democrats had already endorsed Stein while Stein was running unopposed.

Morgan called Steins event an orchestrated, manufactured gathering disguised as a rally, on Shaws campus, saying it was created for television and social media.

The Steins camp has developed this pop-up mirage in an obvious response to my recently announced candidacy in order to create an impression that I dont have sufficient support in my own community to win the race, Morgan said in a statement. However Southeast Raleigh has been my home for 39 years: living here, worshipping here, shopping here, volunteering here, serving here.

Morgan went on to say theres a difference between him and Stein when it comes to credibility and authenticity among the people to whom this rally is aimed.

Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Michael Morgan is running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina governor in 2024. Hes pictured here at his Raleigh home on Sept. 11, 2023 as he talked about his campaign.

Shaw, on the southeast edge of downtown, is in a historically African American neighborhood. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a major organization in the Civil Rights Movement, was founded at Shaw in 1960. Morgan is Black; Stein is white.

Steins event drew a few other elected officials beyond Cooper, including Raleigh Democratic Rep. Rosa Gill in the audience and state Sen. Natalie Murdock, who took the stage to introduce Cooper and Stein.

Stein did not talk to reporters at the event, and his campaign did not have a comment about Morgans statement.

2. Stein as legacy of Gov. Cooper

In his speech, Cooper said Stein will continue his administrations progress.

I know that the key to our progress moving forward, we need the right person to take it over when I leave, Cooper said, adding that Democrats need a person with integrity and grit who will work hard and has experience.

We need a person who can win, and that person is Josh Stein, Cooper said.

Steins speech touted North Carolina while also criticizing the Republican-dominated General Assembly and listing some of its legislation this year, from restricting abortions to upcoming redistricting.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, and Attorney General Josh Stein share a moment backstage as Stein prepares to kick off his campaign for governor during a rally at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

Stein said Democrats have to build on Medicaid expansion and get hospital and drug prices under control. Now, none of us should have to worry whether our kids are safe when theyre at school or at play in the neighborhood. Or our loved ones are safe when theyre at work or at worship. So we must make our community safer: tackle violent crime, confront the fentanyl crisis and recruit and retain well-trained law enforcement officers to serve our communities.

He also listed several controversial comments by Robinson, ranging from anti-LGBTQ remarks to those about banning abortion.

All of it is backwards. All of it must be stopped and it is on us. It is on us to defend our home and fight for the people of North Carolina, Stein said.

3. Steins early endorsements standing by him

Stein lined up many endorsements, from state lawmakers to progressive groups, while he was the only Democrat in the race for eight months.

Murdock, a Durham Democrat, said she stands by her early endorsement of Stein. Murdock worked in communications and outreach for the attorney generals office before she ran for Senate.

She said she endorsed Stein early on because I really think were going to have to look at it as a continuation of the work that Gov. Cooper has done. We all know that Mark Robinson, more than likely, will be the nominee on the Republican side, and we have got to win. We have got to win.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, top left, and Attorney General Josh Stein, center left, wait backstage as Stein prepares to kick off his campaign for governor during a rally at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

Asked about Morgan entering the race, Murdock said that shes talked to Stein about his plan to run for governor for years and wants to honor her endorsement. She said Stein having a campaign event at Shaw shows his support for HBCUs, and that hes going to make his case to voters.

Demetrius Heggie came to Steins event along with other Communication Workers of America union members to show support. Heggie, of Holly Springs, said he works for AT&T and is just now becoming active with CWA.

The North Carolina State AFL-CIO, which is the states largest group of unions, endorsed Stein in June. State AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan said at the time that they were endorsing Stein because he has always fought to protect working people. He has always had our back, and in his battle to lead North Carolina toward a better future for all, we will have his.

McMillan was also at the event Tuesday, with Stein thanking her as he took the stage.

4. Looking to defeat Mark Robinson

Shaw Universitys marching band performed songs while marching in and out and on stage.

Stein and Cooper had sent supporters several emails over the past few weeks asking them to come. While the event drew just 100 to 200 people, supporters have donated millions of dollars to his campaign.

Among those in the chairs set up in Shaws gym was Nathaniel Dibble of Raleigh, who said he came because he signed up to support Stein and volunteer with him once his campaign really kicks off. I also wanted to come see if this was really something that I want to volunteer for, see what it was all about.

Dibble told The N&O that he supports Stein because at this point for me, its about not having Mark Robinson win, which means supporting Josh Stein.

[Robinson] has a horrible anti-queer history  just as the remarks he makes and the actions he wants to take place. He wants to destroy public school funding. Yeah, hes just not a great person, Dibble said.

North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson arrives for a rally where he announced his candidacy for governor of North Carolina on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Ace Speedway in Elon, N.

Robinson has made many insulting comments about LGBTQ people and public school teachers, including in a July speech at a church where he also questioned climate change and called white privilege a foolish concept of the political left.

Robinsons opponents in the Republican gubernatorial primary are State Treasurer Dale Folwell, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, former state Sen. Andy Wells and retired health care executive Jesse Thomas.
Charlique Rolle, right, along with Vershawn Sanders-Ward, left, announce the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago has been re-branded as the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago during a kickoff event for Black Arts Month on Oct. 9, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

How Blood Go, What to Send Up When It Goes Down, Welcome to Matteson  each is the title of a recent work that Congo Square Theatre produced, centered on the Black experience in America on a national or local level  productions that were created with Charlique Rolle as the executive director of the theater company. Its a role she holds in conjunction with being the local and national associate director of the August Wilson New Voices Competition.

Now, the arts administrator, artist, choreographer, director, curator, writer and producer is the new board president of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago (formerly the African American Arts Alliance). Founded in 1997 by a group of Black creatives and Black arts organizations, the nonprofit is dedicated to supporting Black artists working in the performing, visual, literary, technical and design art forms. The Alliance also highlights their accomplishments by way of its annual Black Excellence Awards.

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Rolle takes over the leadership role from Black Ensemble Theater founder and Alliance co-founder Jackie Taylor. Red Clay Dance Company founding artistic director and CEO Vershawn Sanders-Ward joins Rolle as vice president.

We spoke with Rolle about her plans for the 26-year-old service organization. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

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Charlique Rolle, center, mingles with guests during a kickoff event for Black Arts Month at Black Ensemble Theater in Chicago on Oct. 9, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Q: What will your new role with the Alliance entail?

A: Really helping to guide the vision of where we go next. We dont have an executive director. So thats definitely something that we are looking to do, really trying to cultivate more community. Our founders have been incredible in creating the space and now we have a new generation of artists and storytellers that is so broad ... me and Vershawn are excited about what it looks like for us to build the Alliance as a hub where Black artists, Black arts organizations, can come and find home, space, community, but also find resources that they need to thrive as an artist in Chicago. Think about what it takes for Black artists to thrive in Chicago, but also to help support the development of the economy. ... The Alliance is very Chicago-centric. We want to see more individual and independent artists, yes, but also more artists who feel empowered to create things, to create businesses, to create partnerships that are continuously viable. Also that artists have autonomy and flexibility to flex wherever they want, wherever they are in the spectrum theyre able to have the resources they need to feel supported, and that it continues to expand.

Q: Is that the reason for rebranding the name?

A: Its an Alliance for the next generation and African American is a very specific term. We want to ensure that the group encompasses the diasporic representation in Chicago. For example, I dont identify as African American because I wasnt born in America, but I am a Black woman, and just being able to have a space where people can identify more specifically without feeling like maybe, I guess I fit here, but knowing that this is a space for us.

Q: Jackie Taylor is an institution unto herself, is stepping into a role she cofounded intimidating?

A: It is very exciting. It is intimidating to take over something that has been an institution built by an institution herself, and built by these founders who carry these profound legacies, but it also is very humbling and honoring to say that they felt strongly enough to pass this on to us and to say that we were the right people for this moment. ... I really am excited, I think as evidenced in my work with Congo Square, Im really passionate about how we continue to tell Black stories, even outside of theater across all art genres and being able to do that and also to help focus on specific genres but also to bridge more gaps across genres as well.

Q: What can we do as laypeople to help Black arts thrive in the long term?

A: Were building partnerships ... thinking about resources that we can offer to our artists, whether that is legal support, financial support, medical support, insurance  those big picture long-term things that we have to strategize around. Creating more opportunities and finding connections for artists, our goal and intention is that we want to be around the city, but also we want to support Black-owned businesses  even the culture part. How we can build, thrive, and help society. The power of the arts in society is such a vital thing.

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Q: What does the programming look like going forward?

A: We do a lot of professional development, whether that is mentorship programs, workshops for arts organizations, leadership development, and professional development resources. Another type of programming that we have been doing, we call our Black United series, which goes throughout the year and we started back in 2020. What it does is it helps to bring specificity and focus on Black theaters or Black dance companies, giving artists an opportunity to connect with them. We had one full day of workshops and panels for the artists of that genre. On another day, artists got the opportunity to audition for all of the Black theaters, all of the Black dance companies, whomever opted in, all in one space. Bringing people together to say here are people that you want to work with. Theres a lot of artists that are working in other places who dont know what other theaters or directors are out there. Being able to create that space for them ... we did theater and dance thus far. Our goal moving forward is to do a similar Black United program for each of the genres represented that is specific to some of the things that they need. What does that look like for visual artists, for musicians, for writers? To give them access, opportunities to connect, and help expand their portfolio, they may need additional resources. For actors and dancers, thats an audition to get a gig but for visual artists that might be opportunity to present in a gallery.

Q: How will the new role impact your creative schedule as an artist?

A: Every season has its ebbs and flows, so sometimes theres a lot happening at once. I try to help build the schedule around that. Making space to continue to make art ... for me, what Im really exploring and leaning into right now is what leading and working and living from a place of rest looks like. And what that means. Rest is Resistance, that book has been a powerful moment in my own ethos, and how I can find support within that to take care of myself as Im supporting everyone else.

The Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicagos Black Excellence Awards takes place 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. This year, the event will honor inaugural Black Arts Hall of Fame inductees; more information at www.bacachi.org

drockett@chicagotribune.com
About 450 Ukrainians have contacted the operational headquarters of Ukraines Foreign Ministry as they are unable to leave Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Source: Oleh Nikolenko, Spokesman for Ukraines Foreign Ministry, during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "Speaking about Ukrainians who contacted the operational headquarters as they cannot leave Israel due to the flights cancellation, there are about 300 citizens on the territory of Israel, as well as 150 Ukrainians in the Gaza Strip, who said they want to leave."

Details: Nikolenko added that the situation regarding the killed or injured Ukrainians has not changed. Information about the possible death of three Ukrainians, two in Israel and one in the Gaza Strip, is being confirmed.

Quote: "Over the course of three days, the operative headquarters of Ukraines Foreign Ministry, which was created to help Ukrainians in Israel, processed over 700 appeals from our citizens. In the past day, Ukrainian diplomats found seven Ukrainians in the countrys south, who were previously considered missing. They are safe now.

Also, our embassy helped six families find temporary housing in Israel. In addition, diplomats are currently dealing with the case of a Ukrainian boy rescued yesterday at the combat zone. Doctors are providing him with treatment and psychological support, and we are preparing to bring him back to Ukraine."

Background:

Two Ukrainian citizens died in Israel. Measures are being taken to organise the repatriation of their bodies.

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Its no secret fewer Americans are choosing to go to college, with many turned off by eye-popping costs and student debt that eats into any increased earning potential a degree offers.

Post-pandemic, an enticing labor market and concerns about ideological bias within higher education are further eroding faith in a college degree as a golden ticket to the middle class.

Even in Fayette County, home to the University of Kentucky, the states flagship school, only about 45% of people age 25 or older have a bachelors or other advanced college degree, U.S. Census figures show.

While many middle-income jobs are still gated behind bachelors degrees, there are some opportunities within Kentucky state government open to applicants with a high school diploma.

Weve rounded up five that are currently hiring, and the deadline to apply for some is arriving soon.

Its worth noting that, while these job listings dont advertise having a college degree among their education requirements, applicants may still be expected to have relevant certifications or a certain amount of experience in some cases. And in most of these jobs, college education can be substituted for work experience year-for-year.

Heres a quick look at five state government jobs currently open in Kentucky. Be sure to check each job posting for instructions about how to apply.

Agency: Kentucky Department of Parks

Wage: $18.20 hourly

Location: Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park

Advertisement closes: Oct. 17

Responsibilities:

This position requires performing the typical duties of a front desk clerk, and the job largely revolves around interacting with the public. Some responsibilities from the job description include:

Performing front desk clerk duties. Overseeing and ensuring that all guests are checked in/out in a friendly, efficient and courteous manner

Be able to think on your feet

Be capable of handling contentious situations, such as guest complaints and problems

Have initiative and be able to work independently to handle what needs to be done before it becomes a problem.

Minimum requirements:

Candidates should have a high school diploma and at least two years of experience running the front desk in an accommodations and hospitality setting.

Any additional education the candidate has beyond high school can be used to substitute for work experience year-for-year.

Agency: Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction

Salary: $3,506.06 monthly

Location: Varies

Advertisement closes: Oct. 14

Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities from the job description include the following:

You must learn to inspect, in your assigned territory, new building construction for compliance with building codes. This includes referenced standards in the areas of structural assembly, energy conservation, mechanical, fire protection and life and fire safety. Must consult with superintendents, construction managers, owners and other officials concerning building construction

Schedule inspections and prepare new construction inspection reports

Research building codes and referenced standards to develop working knowledge of building codes

Regularly work with local building officials, other field inspectors, and field supervisors.

Preferred knowledge, skills and abilities:

Knowledge of the construction industry

The ability to read and interpret construction documents

Knowledge of or the ability to develop knowledge of building codes

The ability to work independently and self-manage

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills.

Minimum Requirements:

Along with being a high school graduate, the candidate must have two years of experience in drafting or preparing building construction documents or in the supervision of building construction.

An associates degree in architecture, engineering, drafting and designing technology or related fields can be substituted for experience on a year-to-year basis.

Agency: Department of Corrections

Salary: $39,127.68 annually

Location: Roederer Correctional Complex

Advertisement closes: Oct. 15

Responsibilities:

Core responsibilities from the job description include:

Enforcing rules and regulations, policies and procedures in order to maintain safety for inmates, staff and the general public

Supervise inmates in housing units, dining areas, recreation and work areas

Attend to the medical, visitation, personal property and recreational needs of the inmates

Inspect and patrol the grounds for contraband, unauthorized persons and other security risks

Complete required daily reports and logs

Conduct inmate counts, security rounds and searches for contraband.

The ideal candidate for this position will have the following skills:

Strong communication skills

Observation skills

Be a team player

Attention to detail

Ability to work under pressure.

Minimum Requirements:

This position requires a high school diploma, but no previous work experience is required.

The candidate must be at least 20 years old, however, and will be required to complete the Department of Juvenile Justice Training Academy within six months of being hired. The candidate will also be required to maintain any licenses, certifications or other credentials for the job during the length of employment, and a drivers license is required as well.

It should be noted the work environment is hazardous and you may be exposed to hazards or dangers while on the job, according to the jobs description.

Agency: Kentucky Department of Education

Salary: $3,311.75 monthly

Location: Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB)

Advertisement closes: Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. eastern

Responsibilities:

Key job responsibilities from the description include:

Provide training for new houseparents on transition skills which will eventually lead students to the independent program

Act as a resource for other houseparents with routine questions. Assist and act as a resource for other houseparents for student disciplinary problems

Work with the student program supervisor to develop and implement eligibility criteria which mirrors KSB policies for students applying to the transition and independent dorm programs

Ensure student accountability and safety in the independent dorm program by conducting bed checks, monitoring cooking and supervising students during off campus recreational activities

Work with the dorm program supervisor to develop and implement expanded core curriculum based on biannual data which reflect individual needs

Interpret and apply school policies/code of conduct for KSB residential students

Maintain communication with parents including the weekly independent dorm program schedule posted to the KSB website.

This position works the second shift from 3:30-11:30 p.m., and there is a 10% shift differential.

Minimum Requirements:

The candidate must be a high school graduate and possess at least three years of experience working with the visually or hearing impaired in a dormitory setting.

Any college experience you possess may be substituted for work experience on a year-for-year basis.

Agency: Kentucky Department of Highways

Wage: $15.57 to $19.75 hourly

Location: Erlanger/Boone County

Advertisement closes: Oct. 15

Responsibilities:

According to the jobs description, holders of this position will need to complete tasks such as:

Operate equipment for snow and ice duties

Painting road layouts and pavement markings

Install complex signs and assemblies

Responsible for all signs, striping, delineator installations and maintenance for the district.

Holders of this job will obtain the following skills:

Organizational skills and multitasking skills

Computer skills

Sign maintenance and maintenance techniques

Traffic control.

Minimum Requirements:

This role requires a high school education and at least four years of experience with construction or highway maintenance.

An associate or bachelors degree can be used to substitute for experience and any college coursework can be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.

The candidate must be 18 years old, have a drivers license and their Class A commercial drivers license with tanker endorsement to qualify for this job.

If hired, the employee will be required to complete a training program within one year on the job. Any required licenses, certifications or other credentials must be maintained during the life of the job.
Fifty years and one day since the beginning of the 19-day-long Arab-Israeli War of 1973, Israel faces conflict once again.

The war began on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and on the 10th day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

It was a culmination of three prior conflicts between Israel and Arab countries in 1949, 1956, and 1967.

The 1973 Arab-Israeli War  also often referred to as the Yom Kippur War, the October War, or the Ramadan War  began as a concerted attack by Egypt and Syria on Israel on October 6, 1973.

The attack was a two-pronged approach by the two Arab nations to take back the lost territories in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, both of which had been captured and occupied by Israel six years earlier during the Six-Day War of 1967.

In total, the conflict lasted 19 days before ending due to a UN-backed ceasefire. During the course of those three weeks, Israel suffered thousands of casualties, Syria lost considerable land, Egypt inched closer to peace talks, and the United States and the Soviet Union headed toward potential nuclear conflict.

On October 6, 1973, Syria and Egypt conducted a coordinated attack on Israel on the holy day of Yom Kippur.

Tanks roll over the sandy hills of Sinai. William KAREL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Six years prior, during the Six-Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states, Israel had occupied control of territories, including part of Golan Heights, which had been captured from Syria, and Sinai Peninsula, which was captured from Egypt.

After a series of failed attempts at peace treaties and looking to rectify the losses of the Six-Day War, then-President of Egypt Anwar Sadat and then-President of Syria Hafez al-Assad came together and began planning their attack.

Egypt attacked from the south, crossing the Suez Canal into Israeli territory.

Egyptian soldiers cross the Suez Canal to bring supplies to allies on the other side of the canal. GABRIEL DUVAL/AFP via Getty Images

The Syrians attacked from the north, aiming to retake the Golan Heights region.

Israeli tanks are positioned near the Syrian frontline on the Golan Heights. -/AFP via Getty Images

They chose to attack on Yom Kippur as there were no radio or television broadcasts in Israel in observation of the holy day.

Syrian soldiers assault an Israeli position on Mount Hermon. -/AFP via Getty Images

The attack also took place on the 10th day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. As Boaz Atzili, a professor at American University, explained, Israeli officials may have also believed an attack from Arab forces during Ramadan to be unlikely.



While the Israeli Defense Force had small reserve armies in this area whose jobs were to hold off initial attacks until the IDF reserve forces were able to reach the front lines, the lack of media coverage and phone communication during Yom Kippur may have made Israeli mobilization slower.

The attack also came as a surprise to the rest of the world. Later, then-President Richard Nixon said, "As recently as the day before, the CIA had reported that war in the Middle East was unlikely."

The US, a staunch supporter of Israel during the conflict, helped Israel regain lost ground via drops of military supplies.

US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stands next to Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. -/AFP via Getty Images

Operation Nickel Grass was a major airlift of military supplies and equipment to Israel, which played a crucial role in enabling Israel to regain momentum.

On the other side, the Soviet Union supported Egypt and Syria by providing arms, advisors, and diplomatic support.

Soviet-built Egyptian SAM II anti-aircraft missiles. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The opposing support of the Soviet Union and the United States pitted the two against each other and put them on the brink of conflict for the first time since Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Ten days after the war began, the fighting came to a stalemate as Israel penetrated Syrian and Egyptian defenses, turning the tide of the war.

Israeli artillery in the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War on October 9, 1973. Jean-Claude FRANCOLON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

After three weeks of fighting and severe casualties on both sides, the UN passed a cooperative ceasefire resolution on October 25, 1973.

A Syrian 57mm anti-aircraft gun and ZIL truck are abandoned on the Syrian frontlines. GABRIEL DUVAL/AFP via Getty Images

In total around 2,500 Israelis were killed during the Yom Kippur war, more than twice the number killed in the Six-Day War.

Mourners gather at the fresh graves of Israeli soldiers killed during the Yom Kippur War. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Israel lost an average of 115 lives for each day of fighting. Egypt reportedly lost 7,700, while Syria lost around 3,500 people.

For Israel, after a swift and efficient victory in 1967, the casualties faced during the Yom Kippur conflict pointed to their vulnerabilities.

A broken down tank on the side of the road. Fred Ihrt/LightRocket via Getty Images

The war was disastrous for Syria, which ended up losing more of the Golan Heights territory to Israel.

Syrian prisoners at the Israeli/Syrian border in the Golan Heights. Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

In turn, Syria was one of the countries that voted Egypt out of the Arab League in 1979.

Although Egypt suffered military defeat, they were able to negotiate a peace agreement and regain portions of the Sinai Peninsula.

Prisoners during the Yom Kippur War around the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. Harry Dempster/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Five years after the war, Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978.

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, US President Jimmy Carter, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin stand for the three countries' national anthems. Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

The accords paved the way for an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, and in 1982 Israel fulfilled the peace treaty and returned the last segment of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.

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On Saturday, Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel by land, sea, and air.

The opening salvo saw hundreds killed at the Tribe of Nova festival, not far from the Gaza border.

The son of a man who vanished trying to rescue his daughter from the festival is scrambling to locate him.

This first-person, as-told-to-story is based on an interview conducted by Insider's correspondent Reed Alexander with Gilad Peretz, 26. Peretz's father, Mark, 51, went missing Saturday shortly after Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, attacked Israel.

Mark Peretz vanished after attempting to reach the site of the Tribe of Nova festival, a large gathering featuring live music and dancing where his daughter Maya had gone with friends. At least 260 bodies were found at the site following Hamas' incursion. Since then, Gilad Perez says that Mark's whereabouts are unclear, and it is unknown whether he is hiding, is dead, or may have been taken hostage by Hamas.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

We woke up on Saturday morning at about 6:30 a.m., to bombs and rockets and alerts that we needed to go to our shelters and hide.

I live in a house about 20 minutes south of Tel Aviv, Israel, with my wife and family, including my parents. That morning, my father knew that my little sister Maya was not in the house and tried contacting her. She was at the Tribe of Nova festival, where she had been since about midnight with some friends. We called her. She was very scared. My father thought that, if we didn't do something, she could be kidnapped by Hamas.

So he decided to start driving south. The music festival was about 40 miles away. At this point, we started getting news reports that Hamas terrorists were breaking through the border and coming from the air on parachutes, and by the sea. It was really shocking. Nothing and nowhere was safe, and my father was already reaching the danger zone.

I called him and tried to convince him to come back, but he's very stubborn. When it comes to anything related to his kids, he never gives up. So he continued to drive.

'I'm Israeli, I'm Israeli. Don't shoot me!'

By 8:48 a.m. on Saturday, we had lost contact. The last thing I heard through the phone was my father's voice, screaming: "No, I'm Israeli, I'm Israeli. Don't shoot me!"

Then there were gunshots, and the line went dead.

We wondered if Israeli soldiers were shooting at him. But we figured out much later that some Hamas terrorists had dressed in uniform as Israeli soldiers, so we wondered if that was the case. We couldn't be sure.

From that moment on, the only thing we've tried to do is find my father. We have no idea what happened. It could be that he was taken to the hospital, but we've been to the hospitals and haven't found him anywhere. There are still a lot of missing people and we don't have a full list of all the hostages. And there are a lot of people in the hospitals that we can't recognize.

My sister managed to get away from the festival  she made it back to us safely  but we cannot find my dad.

What happened is a mystery

It is too dangerous to travel to the southern part of the country yet, so we've tried tracking him through his devices. We did succeed in tracking his phone to a gas station not far from where he went missing. The assumption is that maybe he tried to escape there on foot.

His route would have started by going south to the music festival to try to reach my sister, by which point we think he recognized that the party was shut down and a lot of attendees had found ways to get away. Then he would have turned around to go back north, reached the gas station, and then we don't know what happened after that. We're not sure if he went into hiding, if he died  we just don't know.

Local authorities are telling us that we need to be patient and understanding  that this situation is huge. I served in the Israeli army for seven years and the events we're seeing now are new to all of us.

We're approaching anyone and everyone we think might have seen him, publishing his face and photos with symbols like the bracelet he wears or the scars on his body to help identify him. We keep hoping maybe someone will recognize him.

Everything looked so different hours before the attack

My father is a family guy who loves us all and has a big heart.

I hope he isn't alone right now. I hope he's with someone so he's not going through all these terrifying things by himself. I hope he's hiding somewhere, taking care of himself, finding something to eat, something to drink, just waiting for all this to be over. Then, perhaps, the army will rescue him.

On the news, we spotted his car  a white Audi A4 sedan. One of our friends was brave enough to go to the site for us and confirmed that it was his car. My dad, of course, was nowhere to be found.

When I think back to Friday night, before all this began, the situation looked completely different by about 180 degrees.

We all sat at home together. There were no talks of war. My sister got ready for the party with her group of five or six friends. My parents sat in the living room, watched a movie, and went to sleep. That was it. And then everything changed.

'We love you and we're waiting for you to come home'

My sister is trying to digest the whole situation and is working with us to track my father. We try to make sure she doesn't have any feelings of regret about attending the Tribe of Nova festival  it's not her fault.

My mother Nirit is handling this situation well. She's a strong, positive person and understands the situation. A lot of people are coming to support us. People from my father's company have come to our house to let us know they're here and available all the time, and to hug us. That's what we need right now  people to be with us. We need friends.

But we are going to be okay. We are a strong nation, and we're not sitting in the house crying. We have hope. Everyone in this country is here for one another, and everyone just wants everyone to be safe.

I remember the last conversation I had with my dad. We talked earlier on Friday afternoon about normal things. He asked me how I am; we caught up.

If I could talk to my father right now, if he could hear my voice, I would tell him: You are strong. We know that you are alive. I'm taking care of my siblings and everything here is going to be alright.

We love you, and we are waiting for you to come home.

Are you affected by the crisis in Israel and Gaza, or do you know someone who is and is willing to share their story? Reed Alexander can be reached via email at ralexander@insider.com or SMS/the encrypted app Signal at +1 561 247 5758.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Forensic experts have identified 53 people killed in the Russian missile strike on the village of Hroza in Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast. The number of casualties may still rise.

Source: Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the Kharkiv Police Investigation Department, at a briefing on 10 October, quoted by Suspilne

Quote Bolvinov: "As of now, we have identified 53 people who were killed. Therefore, we can say that today the number of dead has increased. Given the still unidentified body parts and missing persons statements, the final number may increase further."

Details: The police spokesman noted that police received a total of 22 missing persons reports. All applications were worked through.

"Four statements were not confirmed because we found people. We identified 13 of them among the corpses. Five are now missing," said Bolvinov.

According to Bolvinov, forensic scientists conducted 288 DNA tests.

Quote: "We are collecting the remains of civilians without a break. From the first minute, despite the difficult psychological conditions, we collected the remains of those killed in the village of Hroza and identified these people. Mutilated bodies had to be collected in pieces. We examined 135 remains. We are still doing it. DNA laboratories have been working around the clock for the fifth day. Forensic experts and investigators too."

More details: Bolvinov also reported that Oleksandr Nechvolod, the head of the Petropillia district, was among those killed as a result of the missile attack on the village of Hroza.

He was 60 years old.

"I will be able to explain later how he [the body] was identified. The missile tore some people into such pieces that we have to put them back together now. You can imagine an Iskander [missile], capable of destroying houses, aimed at a crowded place. We are conducting DNA analysis on the recovered parts. We know that this is a person, based on a part of a hand, a finger. That is why it is so difficult, it is very painstaking work," Bolvinov said.

Background:

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers.

Next week on Home and Away, Felicity seeks closure following her ordeal by meeting with Jeremy.

Elsewhere, Harper faces a frightening police quiz over Dana's whereabouts, while Mali questions Rose's decision about her father Samuel.

Here's a full collection of eight big moments coming up.

1. Felicity meets with her attacker

Channel 5

Felicity visits the police station for a meeting with Jeremy, which is part of a Restorative Justice programme. This starts off badly when Jeremy fails to take the process seriously and avoids answering Felicity's direct questions.

Felicity considers abandoning the idea, but she finds the strength to confront Jeremy and she ultimately leaves him humiliated.

2. Tane struggles with Felicity's decision

Channel 5

Tane is shocked when he hears about Felicity meeting Jeremy and he storms down to the police station with the intention of stopping her. Eden intervenes by pointing out how important this day is to Felicity.

Although Tane tries his best to support Felicity, he questions her on why she didn't speak to him about her decision, feeling hurt that she did it when he was away and out of the picture.

3. Kirby receives a shock

Channel 5

Remi defies Forrest by performing a Lyrik track while busking outside the Surf Club. A crowd gathers and enjoys every minute, but Forrest is also watching and warns Remi that he can expect a lawsuit if he pulls a stunt like this again.

Kirby remains confused over why Remi and Eden are behaving so coldly towards her following her departure from the band. The pair ultimately drop a bombshell on Kirby, explaining that Forrest has made legal threats and has blocked them from performing their own songs.

4. Kirby confronts Forrest

Channel 5

Kirby quizzes Forrest on why he issued a legal warning to her former bandmates without consulting her. Forrest refuses to back down, insisting that his job is to act in her best interests.

Forrest does eventually apologise for not keeping Kirby in the loop, but she remains unsettled over the trouble he has caused. When Kirby consults with Justin, he encourages her to give Forrest a second chance but set some ground rules for next time.

5. Harper is called in for questioning

Channel 5

Harper is unsettled when corrupt cop DS Madden summons her to the police station to question her about Dana's whereabouts.

Madden is keen to put pressure on Harper, but she stays in control by insisting that Cash accompanies her during the interview. Under the interrogation, Harper calmly lies that she doesn't know where Dana is.

6. Madden shows his agenda

Channel 5

Harper, Dana and Cash realise that CCTV footage from a restaurant could prove Dana's alibi in the drugs case. Cash heads off to retrieve the footage, but Dana slips up by calling her scheming ex-boyfriend Olly and taunting him about the evidence in her favour.

By the time Cash arrives at the restaurant, Madden has already turned up to secure the footage for himself. Although disappointed by the setback, Cash points out that this proves Madden and Olly are connected.

7. Mali is shocked by Rose's decision

Channel 5

Rose's biological father Samuel visits her in the Bay, leaving her annoyed as he didn't give her any prior warning. Although Rose spends the day with Samuel, she later tells him that she doesn't want to establish a relationship with him.

Rose's decision annoys Xander, who questions why she stirred up so many emotions by visiting Samuel in the first place.

As Samuel heads out of the Bay, he asks Mali to pass on a message to Rose and shares that his door will always be open to her. Mali questions whether Rose is making the right decision.

8. Roo's return is confirmed

Channel 5

Roo's loved ones want to spend more time with her as she continues to recover following the explosion. Alf asks the hospital about the possibility of securing a day pass, which would allow her to be temporarily discharged for short periods of time.

Marilyn questions whether she should be involved in these visits, as she still feels responsible for Roo's injuries. Leah reassures Marilyn that Roo hasn't said anything bad about her since the accident.

Later, Alf reveals that Roo won't need a day pass after all because the hospital in the city has agreed to transfer her back to the Bay.

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5.

Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage



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"90 Day Fiance" star Leida Margaretha was arrested in Wisconsin on charges of theft and wire fraud.

Arrest and charges: Margaretha, a 34-year-old Indonesian native, is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her workplace, glass bottle decorating company Loggerhead Deco, where she worked as a bookkeeper, according to the Portage Police Department.

Margaretha is facing charges of theft from a business setting, fraudulent data alteration, forgery and wire fraud against a financial institution. She was booked at the Columbia County Jail last Friday.

Portage police investigation: The investigation revealed that Margaretha made fraudulent payments and withdrawals using the companys account information, according to police. Victims of her alleged crimes include businesses and customers in Wisconsin and in surrounding areas.

More from NextShark: Watch: Japanese driving school holds test featuring real drunk drivers

Margarethas association as a co-owner of a business in Arkdale was found to have facilitated the alleged crimes. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses and more victims are identified. Anyone with information regarding Margaretha can contact Lt. Ben Neumann of the Portage Police Department at 608-742-2174.

About Margaretha: Margaretha rose to fame from her appearance on season 6 of the TLC reality show 90 Day Fiance, where she married Eric Rosenbrook. Their relationship was marked by drama, particularly involving Rosenbrooks daughter, Alari Stark, which led to Margaretha seeking a restraining order against her stepdaughter. However, the restraining order was eventually dropped, and Margaretha expressed her desire for family harmony.

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Harvard Universitys president on Tuesday condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas in Israel, days after student organizations at the school signed a controversial joint statement holding Israelis responsible for all recent violence in that country.

Harvard President Claudine Gay in a statement distanced herself and university leadership from the students statement which drew harsh criticism from congressional leaders and others, including Congressmen Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss, who are both Harvard alumni.

Three dozen student organizations at Harvard signed a joint statement holding the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

On this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership, Gay said in a statement on Tuesday.

Over 1,550 people are dead and thousands more are wounded after Hamas launched surprise attacks in Israel on Saturday. Israel responded with massive airstrikes on Palestinian Gaza, which have killed hundreds more. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that at least 14 Americans have been killed in Israel, and at least 20 U.S. citizens are believed to be missing. Officials have confirmed that Americans are among the people taken hostage by Hamas militants.

This is an act of sheer evil, Biden said during a news conference at the White House. More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered  not just killed, slaughtered  in Israel.

The joint statement from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups was signed by 35 organizations early Sunday, including Amnesty International at Harvard, Harvard Jews for Liberation, Harvard Divinity School Muslim Association, Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine, and Harvard Graduate Students for Palestine.

Moulton on Monday blasted the university following the controversial statement from Harvard students.

Terrorism is never justified nor someone elses fault. As hundreds of Israelis and others, including several Americans, remain kidnapped, injured, or dead, the 31 Harvard organizations that signed a letter holding Israel entirely responsible for Hamas barbarous terrorism should be condemned, as should Harvard leadership for whom silence is complicity, Moulton said in a statement Monday afternoon. I cannot recall a moment when Ive been more embarrassed by my alma mater.

Whats happening at Harvard right now is intellectually weak and morally repugnant, Moulton added.

Gay called the surprise attacks on Israeli citizens over the weekend abhorrent.

As the events of recent days continue to reverberate, let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas, Gay said. Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region.

In a statement on Monday, Gay said the violence in Israel hits all too close to home for many at Harvard.

Some members of our community have lost family members and friends; some have been unable to reach loved ones. And, even for people at Harvard who have not been affected directly by the fighting, there are feelings of fear, sadness, anger, and more that create a heavy burden, Gay said. We have heard from many students, faculty, and staff about the emotional toll that these events are taking.

The university is sharing available resources with students and colleagues, Gay said.

We have no illusion that Harvard alone can readily bridge the widely different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but we are hopeful that, as a community devoted to learning, we can take steps that will draw on our common humanity and shared values in order to modulate rather than amplify the deep-seated divisions and animosities so distressingly evident in the wider world, Gay said Monday. Especially at such a time, we want to emphasize our commitment to fostering an environment of dialogue and empathy, appealing to one anothers thoughtfulness and goodwill in a time of unimaginable loss and sorrow.

On Tuesday, the university president called for less inflammatory rhetoric as war unfolds in the Middle East.

We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame, Gay said. And I appeal to all of us in this community of learning to keep this in mind as our conversations continue.

A rally is planned for Wednesday at the nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where attendees will express support for Israelis as their war with Hamas rages into a fifth day.

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Abortion on demand: These 6 states allow women to get pregnancy-ending drugs by phone or online

California recently became the sixth state to make it legal for health care providers to offer abortion, contraception and "gender-affirming" care to out-of-state patients via telehealth.

With Gov. Gavin Newsoms signing of SB 345, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024, people who live in other states where these services are not legal will be able to get health care and medication from a California doctor via videoconference.

Women can also have medication  including abortion pills  shipped to them from a California pharmacy, according to a press release from the California State Senate.

ABORTION CHATBOT CHARLEY HELPS WOMEN END THEIR PREGNANCIES: 'LET'S GET STARTED'

The bill also protects California doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care providers from any criminal or civil actions  and prevents them from losing their license or malpractice insurance, the release stated.

"With SB 345, California doctors, midwives, pharmacists and others can continue to provide the essential reproductive and gender-affirming care their patients need, regardless of where their patient is located, confident that California is protecting our medical professionals from malicious prosecution," said Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), who introduced the bill.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Last week, California became the sixth state to make it legal for health care providers to offer abortion, contraception and "gender-affirming" care to out-of-state patients via telehealth.

For "gender-affirming care," SB 345 references existing state law that defines it as "medically necessary health care that respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the patient," said a press secretary from the Californian State Senate in an email to Fox News Digital.

This may include interventions to "suppress the development of endogenous secondary sex characteristics," to "align the patient's appearance or physical body with the patient's gender identity" or to "alleviate symptoms of clinically significant distress resulting from gender dysphoria," the law states.

Also, last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that abortion pill prescriptions are available by telephone or online in the state.

The city has launched telehealth abortion access through Virtual ExpressCare, an online scheduling system that allows patients to speak with a health care provider by video or phone.

PREGNANT WOMAN WITH BRAIN CANCER REFUSES ABORTION: KILLING MY BABY WOULDNT HAVE SAVED ME

"If clinically appropriate and prescribed, patients will be able to receive a medication abortion kit at their New York City address within a few days," stated a press release on the official New York City website.

NYC Health + Hospitals will also offer abortion medications via telehealth appointments  although patients must attest to being in New York City when requesting and taking the prescribed drugs .

NYC Health + Hospitals will also offer abortion medications via telehealth appointments  although patients must attest to being in New York City when requesting and taking the prescribed drugs.

"Medication abortion prescribed during a telehealth appointment is available to clinically eligible patients who are up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy," the release stated.

In a statement, Mayor Adams said the following: "Here in New York City, we will not allow the far right to continue its crusade to strip women of their reproductive rights," in reference to the June 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.

MATERNAL DEATH RATE IS ON THE RISE IN THE US, THE CDC REPORTS

Abortion care will now be available "from the comfort of one's home," he said, adding that telehealth abortion care is about "protecting the ability for women to control their own bodies, their choices and their freedoms."

This is the most recent of several abortion-protective initiatives Mayor Adams has rolled out, including an online "Abortion Access Hub," free abortion medications at sexual health clinics and other laws designed to protect abortion rights in the state.

An ultrasound exam ensures that the pregnancy is within the uterine cavity and not outside the uterus, which is classified as an ectopic pregnancy and can be very dangerous, an OB/GYN noted.

The other four states that allow practitioners to mail abortion pills are the following:

Massachusetts

Washington

Colorado

Vermont

There are two medications that can be used to trigger an abortion: mifepristone and misoprostol, according to the Planned Parenthood website.

The first pill, mifepristone, blocks the production of the hormone progesterone, which keeps the fetus from growing.

ABORTION IS 'GRUESOME SIGN' OF WHAT SOCIETY HAS FORGOTTEN, SAYS CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP

Next, the second medicine, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus.

Planned Parenthood compares it to a "heavy, crampy period  very similar to an early miscarriage."

Kecia Gaither, M.D., an OB/GYN and director of maternal-fetal medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, said that relying exclusively on a telehealth visit for a pregnancy termination can be "risky for several reasons."

While these virtual visits may be appealing in terms of cost, quick access to information, flexibility of appointment times, and options for areas where there are restrictions, Gaither said, they also have several key limitations.

Mifepristone, also known as RU-486, is a medication typically used in combination with misoprostol to bring about a medical abortion during pregnancy and manage early miscarriage.

"A full history and physical exam are necessary to ensure gestational age, pregnancy location and any pertinent medical or surgical history, which may preclude the type of termination procedures offered," she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

An ultrasound exam ensures that the pregnancy is within the uterine cavity and not outside the uterus, which is classified as an ectopic pregnancy and can be very dangerous, Gaither noted.

There could also be data security or privacy concerns with telehealth abortion services, she said.

"A full history and physical exam are necessary to ensure gestational age, pregnancy location and any pertinent medical or surgical history, which may preclude the type of termination procedures offered," an expert told Fox News Digital.

"For some individuals, there may also be a lack of access  some households don't have smartphones or computers, representing a health inequity," Gaither said.

"Telehealth appointments may also appear to be a convenient way for LGBTQ patients to access care," she added.

"But again, pending the medical issue presented, an in-person visit with a health provider may be warranted," she said.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health .





Original article source: Abortion on demand: These 6 states allow women to get pregnancy-ending drugs by phone or online
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) warned city residents to beware of lone wolves in the wake of the deadly attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas over the weekend.

Adams said at a press conference Tuesday alongside city officials that law enforcement will be monitoring social media sites for threats against religious communities as the fighting in Israel and Gaza continues. He said statements posted on social media platforms may exacerbate the issue, noting that lone wolves could be radicalized online.

I think it aggravates the problem and dont underestimate lone wolves, Adams said. You know, people who are who are being radicalized online. And when you put out statements that I have read on some of these sites, you can motivate terrible behaviors.

When asked what New Yorkers should look for in terms of a lone wolf attack, NYPDs Chief of Patrol John Chell reiterated that the police department is moving resources to religious communities and institutions.

Saturday morning, the team is on a phone early morning coordinating our response, moving an incredible amount of resources to protect our Jewish community, all churches and religious institutions in the city, Chell said. We have multiple community calls with faith leaders from the Jewish religion, the Muslim religion. Very well received, getting everyone on the same page as to what were doing.

Adams also urged city residents to be on high alert and to inform a law enforcement officer if they see something suspicious.

If someone is hanging around a synagogue or you know, you see some within the community that is suspicious, see something say something do something, Adams said. This is an important time. If you have a law enforcement person whos assigned to your synagogue or to your synagogue, they should be positioned and enough to observe whats going on inside.

Were the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. And we want our synagogues, our personnel to be extremely conscious, he added.

Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend. An Israeli military official confirmed Tuesday that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel  making it the deadliest militant attack in the nations history. Israels retaliatory action in Gaza has left at least another 830 people dead.

The New York FBI bureau said in a statement Tuesday that it is increasing its focus on potential threats as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas. The agency urged residents to report anything suspicious to the FBI.

We remain in constant contact with our federal, state, and local partners, to include the NYPD, and our community partners. While we dont have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to our city, we encourage the public to remain vigilant, the FBI said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Dorothy Hoffner, 104, greets supporters after becoming the oldest person in the world to skydive, Oct. 1, 2023, at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

In the days before Dorothy Hoffner was scheduled to break the world record to become the oldest skydiver ever, she dreamed she was in free fall. The sensation woke her up, she said.

A week after setting the record, the 104-year-old has finally landed. She died peacefully in her sleep Monday, her close friend Joe Conant told the Tribune.

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The death of the dear friend he called grandma came unexpectedly, he said.

She was just indefatigable. She just kept going, Conant said.

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He remembered Hoffner, a lifelong Chicagoan, for her lively spark and eagerness to talk with other people. She was witty and with it in her old age, he said.

And, indeed, the world met her indomitable spirit last week. News of her record skydive spread alongside pictures and video of her jump. She smiled as she fell, goggles protecting her determined eyes.

[ Chicagoan sets record for oldest skydiver at 104 years old: Age is just a number ]

When Hoffner landed from the 13,500-foot fall, she popped up quickly, grabbed her walker and shuffled over to the crowd that had just cheered on her historic achievement.

Age is only a number, ya know? she told reporters.

The incredible feat gave Hoffner the perfect opportunity for one of her last pranks. The day after she jumped, family came to visit her at her Brookdale Lake View senior living community. She hadnt told them anything about her skydiving.

When they arrived, Hoffner handed them a copy of the Chicago Tribune. She was on the front page, parachuting to Earth in a large photo.

Chicagoan sets record as oldest skydiver, the headline read.

Dorothy, you never told us you went skydiving! her family said, according to Conant.

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Well, you never asked! Hoffner replied.

Millions of people heard of Hoffners story. A viral sensation, the centenarian became the subject of a New York Times article, the target of a late-night TV joke and a darling of cable morning shows. She appeared in a story written by a Chinese outlet and appeared on a Mexican broadcast.

Dorothy Hoffner, 104, gets up after her jump on Oct. 1, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

The media attention at first irked Hoffner. She told the Tribune weeks before her jump that she planned to bring a cold steak to Skydive Chicago. She planned to sock Conant in the eye for spreading word of the record attempt, and hed need to ice it, she joked.

She wasnt doing it because of the world record. She was doing it because she wanted to go skydiving, Conant said.

But although Hoffner may have struggled to understand how far her inspiring story spread  after all, she didnt own a smartphone  she savored her newfound popularity, Conant said. Each interview became an opportunity for the people lover to chat and make a new friend.

She was getting requests for around five interviews per day. A German magazine had flown a reporter and photographer to Chicago and planned to have dinner with her Monday, Conant said.

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Hoffner was raised in Garfield Park, where she lived for 50 years before moving to Jefferson Park and finally spending her last decade at Brookdale Lake View. She worked for Illinois Bell, beginning in 1938 as an operator. She had been retired as long as she had worked, according to Conant.

The self-described unclaimed treasure never had any husbands or children  an essential ingredient she in part credited for her long, healthy life. The other main ingredient, she told the Tribune before the jump, was God.

He kept me really going. I cant say that Ive ever had any real terrible pain, she said. My life has been very dull.

She first sky-dived at 100 years old. She quickly talked herself into it after hearing Conant planned to go. The experience was so peaceful, she said, encouraging others to try.

Floating down, its so smooth, she said.

Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

The facility where Hoffner broke the record, Skydive Chicago, wrote that it was deeply saddened by her passing, but honored to have been a part of her grand finale.

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Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tuck away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that its never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime, the facility wrote in a statement with the U.S. Parachute Association.

The 104-year-old hadnt seemed to age at all in the last decade, Conant said. She never napped or canceled plans.

It came as quite a shock, he said of her death. She gave an incredible amount of her spirit and life to all of us, and it inspired all of us.

Conant had expected her to keep living. He had even hoped theyd sky-dive again, he said Tuesday morning.

But when asked after her jump what she hoped to do next, Hoffner shared a desire to ride in a hot-air balloon. She wanted to go up.

Funeral arrangements are expected in early November, Conant said.
Afghans clear debris of damaged houses after an earthquake that hit Herat province's Zenda Jan district (Mohsen KARIMI)

Thousands of Afghans who survived a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,00 people were bracing for a winter of homelessness on Tuesday, as rescuers made last-ditch efforts to find survivors.

Volunteers have worked with spades and pickaxes in Herat province since Saturday's deadly magnitude 6.3 quake -- followed by powerful aftershocks -- while others dug graves instead.

The United Nations said more than 12,000 people, from some 1,700 families, are estimated to have been affected.

It said "100 percent" of homes were destroyed in 11 villages of Zenda Jan district.

Zareen, in the village of Nayeb Rafi, where 11 of his family members were killed in the crush of falling masonry, said aid tents would not withstand the winter storms.

"If the government doesn't take us away or help us, we will be stuck here," the man in his 70s told AFP.

Providing shelter on a large scale will be a challenge for Afghanistan's Taliban authorities, who seized power in August 2021, and have fractious relations with international aid organisations.

"Not a single house is left, not even a room where we could stay at night," said 40-year-old Mohammad Naeem, who told AFP he lost 12 relatives including his mother.

"We can't live here anymore. You can see, our family got martyred here. How could we live here?"

- Discharged patients homeless -

In the provincial capital of Herat city -- 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of the quake epicentres in hard-to-reach Zenda Jan district -- Doctors Without Borders said the injured now faced a new ordeal.

"More than 340 patients discharged yesterday don't want to leave the hospital as they have no homes to return to," the charity said on social media site X.

Local and national officials gave conflicting counts of the number of dead and injured, but the disaster ministry has said 2,053 people died.

"We can't give exact numbers for dead and wounded as it is in flux," said disaster management ministry spokesman Mullah Janan Sayeq.

The UN said Tuesday the death toll stood at nearly 1,300 with nearly 500 more still missing, the majority of them women.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by deadly earthquakes, but the weekend disaster is the worst to strike the impoverished country in more than 25 years.

- 'Crisis on top of crisis' -

Taliban authorities have banned women from working for UN and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan, making it difficult to assess family needs in deeply conservative parts of the country.

Amnesty International said the Taliban government should ensure that rescue and relief efforts are carried out "without discrimination" and guarantee unrestricted access to the affected regions to humanitarian agencies.

"It is critical that all assistance meets the needs of the most at-risk groups who often face compounded challenges in crisis situations, including women," said South Asia regional researcher Zaman Sultani.

Most rural homes in Afghanistan are made of mud and built around wooden support poles, with little in the way of modern steel reinforcement.

Multi-generational extended families generally live under the same roof, meaning disasters such as Saturday's quake can devastate local communities.

Afghanistan is already suffering a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Taliban's return to power.

Save the Children called the quakes "a crisis on top of a crisis".

Herat province -- home to around 1.9 million people on the border with Iran -- has also been hit by a years-long drought that has crippled many hardscrabble farm communities.

The country is prone to quakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in June last year after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the impoverished province of Paktika.

More than 4,000 people died in a magnitude 6.5 quake that struck Takhar province in 1998.

bur-jts/ecl/sco
An Afghan man mourns next to the grave of his wife who died due to an earthquake, in Zenda Jan district in Herat province, western of Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Saturday's deadly earthquake killed and injured thousands when it leveled an untold number of homes in Herat province. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

ZINDA JAN, Afghanistan (AP)  Clinging to hope that finding survivors was still possible, Afghan rescuers and villagers kept digging through rubble in western Herat province on Tuesday, three days after one of the deadliest earthquakes in the region left more than 2,000 dead.

Elsewhere in Herat, people were digging graves for loved ones killed in Saturdays 6.3 magnitude quake. On a barren field in the district of Zinda Jan, a bulldozer removed mounds of earth to clear space for a long row of graves.

It is very difficult to find a family member from a destroyed house and a few minutes to later bury him or her in a nearby grave, again under the ground, said Mir Agha, from the city of Herat, who had joined hundreds of volunteers to help the locals.

Across kilometers (miles) of dusty hills, there was little left of villages besides rubble and funerals.

In Naib Rafi, a village that previously had about 2,500 residents, people said that almost no one was still alive besides men who were working outside when the quake struck. Survivors worked all day with excavators to dig long trenches for mass burials.

Janan Sayiq, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban government's national disaster authority, said the quake killed and injured thousands but couldnt provide a breakdown for the casualties. Earlier, Taliban officials said more than 2,000 had died across Herat.

The epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Several of the aftershocks have been strong, including one on Monday that caused residents of the city to rush out of their homes once again.

The United Nations said the Zinda Jan district was the worst-affected area, with 1,294 deaths and 1,688 injuries. In addition, 485 people  191 men and 294 women  are missing. Six schools are also reported to have been destroyed, said the U.N.

Nearly 2,000 houses in 20 villages were destroyed, the Taliban have said. The area hit by the quake has just one government-run hospital.

As winter approaches, the new disaster is likely to make it even harder for people to meet basic needs, such as shelter, food and medicine, aid groups have warned.

It is not clear how much foreign aid has reached Herat since Saturday. The global response has been slow. Much of the world is wary of dealing directly with the Taliban-led government and focused on the deadly escalation between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday.

Pakistan has pledged to send blankets, tents, and medicines, and China is reported to have offered cash and other forms of emergency humanitarian assistance.

Other foreign governments said they will work with aid agencies on the ground to help with rescue and recovery, and Afghans have launched fundraising campaigns.

Authorities in Kabul did not respond to questions about how much aid has arrived from overseas.

In a statement, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies urged the media not to turn away from Afghanistan. Your reporting can bring back attention to Afghanistan and the Afghan peoples untold stories of resilience and need, an IFRC statement said.

Afghanistan needs you  now, more than ever. Please, lets not add forgotten to the long list of tragedies that this resilient nation has already endured, IFRC spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa said in the statement.

The Talibans justice ministry has urged national and international charity foundations, businesses and Afghans to gather aid for the province.

Due to the extent of damages and casualties caused by this incident, a large number of our compatriots in Herat province need urgent humanitarian aid, the ministry said in a statement.

The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team visited the quake-affected region on Monday to deliver immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable and accurate distribution of aid, authorities said.

During his trip, Baradar assured a gathering of officials and elders that the government has mobilized all available resources.

Various ministries and departments are working tirelessly to provide urgent assistance and build shelters for those who have lost their homes, said Baradar. He highlighted their commitment to transparently distributing the collected aid to deserving individuals, including the establishment of a dedicated commission.

Baradar also appealed to international aid institutions and agencies to provide all possible assistance, emphasizing the urgency of their support during this profound tragedy.

The Talibans supreme leader has made no public comments about the quake.

Top U.N officials in Afghanistan also went to Zinda Jan to assess the extent of the damage. In neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food, medicine, tents and blankets.

Vital infrastructure, including bridges, was destroyed and emergency response teams have been deployed to provide humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee said.

More than 35 teams from the military and nonprofit groups are involved in rescue efforts, said Sayiq, from the disaster authority.

Afghans are still reeling from other recent disasters, including the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March that struck much of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, and an earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, flattening stone and mud-brick homes and killing at least 1,000 people.

___

AP writer Rahim Faiez contributed to this report from Islamabad.
The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) released a statement expressing its solidarity with, support and condolences for Israel.

We stand with Israel during these tragic times and want to be clear that these hateful, terrorist actions have no legitimacy and must be condemned, AAMA President and Mount Vernon, New York Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said in the statement Tuesday. We cannot sit back and watch innocent civilians be victimized by senseless and heinous acts of violence.

The Black and Jewish communities must stand together in resistance to this cruel and hateful behavior, the association added. We have a long history of fighting bigotry, racism, and extremism, and we will continue to stand with Israel to support them against these acts of terrorism.

AAMA, founded in 2014, is an organization dedicated to representing over 500 African-American mayors in the United States.

The organizations remarks comes as Israeli officials said Tuesday that the countrys death toll surpassed 1,000 from the attacks by Hamas that began Saturday.

Authorities in Gaza and the West Bank said that 850 people have been killed in fighting there, with military officials noting hundreds of Hamas fighters are among the dead in the West Bank and Gaza.

Israeli officials also said that Hamas and other militant groups are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage.

Israel has launched counterattacks on Gaza and rained down hundreds of strikes on the area, as Hamas, Gazas governing authority, continues to fire rocket missiles into Israel.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said forces from his country will exact a huge price against Hamas for the attack, as the U.S. and Western allies have pledged their support for Israel.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism, President Biden said in a joint statement alongside four Western European leaders late Monday. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.

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

NAIROBI  The escalation of hostilities between Israel and Palestine following an unprecedented large-scale attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas has elicited a wide range of reactions from African countries. Leaders are trying to walk the line between strongly-held principles, diplomatic expediency, and empathy in the wake of unfolding carnage in the region.

Kenya and Ghana issued some of the most strongly worded statements in support of Israel. Kenyas President William Ruto , seen as a key Western ally, called for the international community to take action against perpetrators, organizers, financiers, sponsors, supporters and enablers of what he described as criminal acts of terrorism. Ruto also called for a ceasefire but his statement did not go down well with sections of the Kenyan public, some of whom expressed support for Palestine.

Ghanas foreign affairs ministry stated that it unequivocally condemns attacks by Hamas, and called for the group to withdraw its fighters from Israel. Rwanda issued a similar statement condemning the attacks and said: The current situation is worrying and needs an urgent deescalation.

But South Africas department of international relations, while decrying the escalation of violence, stated that the conflict had arisen from Israels continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.

South Africa offered to lend its mediation and conflict resolution expertise as it pushed for a credible peace process that delivers a two-state solution.

Meanwhile, the African Unions (AU) Chairperson Moussa Faki cited the denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly that of an independent and sovereign state, as the main cause of tensions between Israel and Palestine. The AU also called for an end to hostilities and dialogue to ensure a two-state solution.

Know More

Several other African countries, such as Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, were more guarded in their statements, calling for an end to hostilities and voicing support for dialogue.

The breakout of renewed violence in Israel- Palestine is regrettable. Why dont the two sides implement the two States Solution? posed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who also condemned the targeting of civilians.

Martins view

The reactions of different African countries are informed by their historical experiences, as well as their modern-day economic realities and alignments with various global powers.

South Africa has long held the most strident position on the Palestine question among sub-Saharan African governments because of its more recent history of apartheid which only ended in the early 1990s. It still has key government leaders who were part of the anti-apartheid struggle. This is why it was not a complete shock last year when it called for Israel to be declared an apartheid state. It pointed to what it called glaring examples of violations of international law towards the Palestinians and drew parallels with its own experience of apartheid.

Dr. Frank Lekaba, a senior lecturer at Wits Universitys School of Governance, told Semafor Africa that South Africa had been extremely consistent in support for Palestine.If theres one foreign policy issue South Africa has been clear on, it is this one, he said. Sanusha Naidu of the Pretoria-based Institute for Global Dialogue further argued that besides the historical apartheid experience, modern-day South Africa resonated with unresolved issues around land and its redistribution, a key crux of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Kenya, on the other hand, has positioned itself as an important African ally of Israels biggest backer, the United States. Instructively, Kenya and the United States are currently negotiating a landmark trade deal. It emerged in 2020 that the US had set as one of its conditions for the deal that Kenya support Israels political and commercial interests.Kenya also has a history of supporting Israel, including during the infamous Entebbe raid of 1976  when Israel sought to rescue hostages captured and held in Uganda after a Palestinian-led hijacking of an Air France flight.

African countries are reacting based on their interests, said Dr. Xavier Ichani, an international relations, conflict and strategic studies researcher at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. He said while Kenya had historically maintained a cordial relationship with Israel, Rutos choice to look West for economic growth opportunities, more so than previous administrations, meant the country would back Israel.

Room for Disagreement

Why people expect Africa to have one position still puzzles me, wrote Ugandan writer and journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo in a post on social media website X.

Notable

Israels mounting war on Hamas poses risks for the U.S., Europe and Ukraine, writes Semafors Jay Solomon.
HACKENSACK  When Ray Guidetti took over the city's Police Department as director a little more than a year ago, he pledged to reform a troubled agency that had been plagued with turmoil, infighting and controversy.

Guidetti was appointed director by the City Council in August 2022 and has since made sweeping changes to the department. He has introduced technology such as drones and mapping systems and is working to build public trust in the department through more community engagement.

However, his tenure has also sparked lawsuits against the city from several members of the department, most of them ranking officers, who have accused Guidetti of overstepping the bounds of his position and abusing his authority.

This has not been my first time coming into an organization to implement change, he said. Regardless of the organization, theres always going to be some resistance to change, theres other folks who raise their hands up, and then you have the majority of people on the sidelines waiting to see if the change is good. Progress is being made, but things dont happen overnight.

A new Police Department director

Guidetti was given a three-year contract with an annual salary of $195,000 on the recommendation of a report by Robert Anzilotti, the retired Bergen County Prosecutor's Office chief of detectives, who was paid $60,000 in early 2022 to conduct a review of the department through his company, R3 Strategies and Solutions.

The scathing report revealed that some of the department's ranking officers were padding their pockets with hours of unscheduled overtime, compensatory time and extra-duty traffic details.

Arrests dropped by 85% in the last eight years, and city detectives had a clearance rate of just 11%. Morale within the department had cratered, the report said.

Anzilotti advised city officials to hire an outside police director to run the 107-officer force because it said those now in command "seem more focused on enhancing their own compensation."

The damning assessment was the latest blow for the department, which over the past 15 years had faced a slew of controversies, lawsuits, infighting, administrative complaints and officer arrests.

More: What does New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy do all day? A look behind the scenes

Hackensack has not had a chief since Ken Zisa, who was forced out of the position after being charged with fraud and official misconduct in 2009. He was later reinstated to the post for a month in 2018 so he could collect his pension after his conviction was overturned on appeal. More than 20 officers filed suits against the chief and the city during Zisas tenure, eventually costing the city more than $8 million in settlements.

More recently, the city has been involved in a lengthy and costly legal battle to strip two city police officers of their jobs. The officers were among those accused in 2016 of illegally entering a Prospect Avenue apartment without a warrant, mishandling evidence and falsifying reports.

Who is Ray Guidetti?

Guidetti arrived in Hackensack with a long resume and a pledge to reform the beleaguered department.

The law enforcement veteran began his 25-year career with the state police in the 1990s. After 9/11, he was assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force and worked with the prosecutorial team investigating the 9/11 hijacking of Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field, killing all 44 passengers and crew members on board.

In 2006, he testified in the trial of Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, who was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Guidetti then became deputy director of the state Regional Operations & Intelligence Center, which works to share information and intelligence across law enforcement, counterterrorism and homeland security departments. He rejoined the state police in 2014, eventually rising to deputy superintendent of investigations.

Guidetti said he saw the R3 report as a road map to follow as he looked to make changes this past year.

Changes made to the Police Department

One of the first changes Guidetti made was to address the overtime concerns raised in the report. The department now uses an outside system called Jobs4Blue to manage extra-duty scheduling in a fair and transparent way, Guidetti said.

Technology is being used to collect data and measure the effectiveness of police response. Mapping systems are helping to pinpoint problem areas and determine where officers are most needed on patrol.

If you want to be smart with resource allocation, you have to be able to visualize it, Guidetti said. And when you make changes, you want to know if theyre effective. Or did we move the problem somewhere else?

The plaque on the wall behind the desk sergeant in the Hackensack Police Department.

Closed-circuit cameras are being used around the city to aid in investigations. The department has expanded its use of body cameras.

Drones are being dispatched as a first response to minor incidents, such as an illegally parked car, when officers are busy with other calls.

In a perfect world, there are no other calls, and you are going to send an officer, Guidetti said. But what happens if all the officers are tied up? You can send a drone to see if there is still a problem.

More: Grand and contentious, the world's largest Hindu temple is opening in NJ

The drones will be operated by trained officers, and drones will assist in search-and-rescue missions, accident and crime scene documentation, searches for suspects and other police calls.

Guidetti implemented an emergency services unit to respond quickly to threats, including active shooters. Officers are also walking the beat up and down Main Street to engage with the community, as development downtown continues to grow and has brought thousands of new residents to the city.

Is the Hackensack Police Department improving?

City Manager Vincent Caruso said under Guidettis leadership the department has made significant strides in instituting the reforms recommended in the R3 report and has raised our standards of law enforcement.

Our officers are more effective, responsive and community-oriented than ever, and we look forward to continuing to build toward a stronger and safer Hackensack for all, he said.

Lt. Al DeLeon, a 22-year veteran of the department, said Guidetti is helping to rebuild trust between the police and the city administration, a relationship that had grown strained after years of turmoil and turnover at the top.

The city has been reluctant to appoint a chief because they have been looking for the leadership, DeLeon said. I am for having a chief; I believe the director is also. Hes not going to be here forever. Hes bringing us to a place where the department is ready and the City Council is ready to appoint a chief.

Officer Robert Carucci said that for most of his two-decade career, the department was in a state of flux.

Every time we got a new director or new boss, it would be destroy, rebuild. It was constant, he said. You have to be able to grow and not just keep rebuilding from the ashes. Now you can see theres thought and reasoning behind the changes.

Most officers have been receptive to the changes and are eager to remake the department as a model for other agencies across the state, Guidetti said.

But not everyone has been happy under the new leadership.

Lawsuits against the department

The first lawsuit brought against the city by an officer after Guidettis hire came in November. Lt. Anthony DiPersia accused the police director of retaliation and hostility after he protested his appointment. In the suit, DiPersia said his complaints about Guidetti overstepping his civilian role in violation of state law were ignored.

Four more lawsuits filed by veteran police officers making similar allegations of retaliation have followed.

Over the past year and change, officers who have spoken out against the police director have repeatedly been disciplined, the subject of internal affairs investigations, reassignments and diminution of authority within the department, said Robert Tandy, an attorney who is representing all of the officers who have filed suit.

More: Struggling to hire enough officers, Clifton agrees to increase size of Police Department

These highly decorated officers, who have been forced to file suit, are in many cases second-generation officers who have dedicated their lives to the citizens of the city, he said Now, all of a sudden, since August 2022, all of these highly decorated officers have become persona non grata in the department. Highly decorated officers with little or no prior disciplinary action throughout their decades of employment in the city.

DiPersia, who is the head of the Hackensack police supervisors' union, called the R3 report one-sided and said the reviews findings failed to account for the challenges of a decline in manpower, the pandemic and the decriminalization and eventual legalization of cannabis, instead attributing low morale and declining arrests to supervisors overtime and extra-duty details.

He suggested that a lot of problems could have been avoided if instead of hiring an outside agency to review the department there was more communication between the city administration and police.

When I hear comments that morale is high and productivity is much more efficient from this director, Im reminded of the old phrase people will defend a false narrative to the death when their very existence is so invested in the lie,' DiPersia said. Simply a cursory polling of our departments membership will reveal a far less rose-colored evaluation of his performance.

Prosecutor's Office, attorney general will weigh in

City officials said a recent independent audit of the departments overtime, compensatory time, extra-duty details and record-keeping practices backs the earlier reports findings of overtime abuse by senior officers and affirms the need for police reform.

The audit, compiled by Presage Integrated Solutions, a team of former law enforcement and fraud investigators, looked at 17 of the departments highest-ranking officers and found that between January 2020 and July 2022, the officers engaged in behaviors that appeared to reflect a concerted effort by many of these individuals to generate extra income for themselves notwithstanding the public safety needs of the city.

During that period, the officers worked nearly 1,800 extra-duty traffic details and earned an estimated extra $1 million, the audit said. Among the troubling practices the report noted were splitting shifts, changing schedules to maximize the number of extra-duty details worked and double dipping by overlapping shifts where officers were paid for working both extra-duty details and their regular assignments at the same time.

Officials said the city will hand the report to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the state Attorney General's Office for them to independently investigate the findings.

Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse speaks during the celebration held by Fairleigh Dickinson University for the historic 2022-23 seasons of the Knights' men's and women's basketball teams in Hackensack on March 27, 2023.

The data in this report confirms what we already knew about the major lack of accountability and oversight within some at the upper ranks of our Police Department that contributed to an atmosphere of disregard for its core mission, Mayor John Labrosse said in a statement. We have the utmost confidence in our new Police Director Raymond Guidettis ability to spearhead the ongoing reform effort within the department to ensure the people of Hackensack are provided with the public safety they deserve, and the progress that has already been made is helping restore trust in the community.

DiPersia, who is one of the officers named in the audit, said the report was misleading, cherry-picked the people it targeted and is more evidence of retaliation by department leaders against those who have spoken out.

The city spent $60,000 dollars on this assessment, which reviewed the overtime of 17 supervisors, leaving out some supervisors within the current administrations inner circle, he said.

That selectivity and the citys earlier decision to refer only five supervisors to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office for official investigation, which ended in their exoneration of the allegations, shows further retaliation to those who complain about the director acting outside his scope, DiPersia said.

Guidetti said he sees his role as building the department back up and creating opportunities so eventually it will have a police chief as its leader again.

Theres always going to be resistance to change. My job and my challenge is to bring folks on board, Guidetti said. This department has had a troubled history for many years, and we need to move past that. We have a long-term vision here. I know were not going to get there right away, but well get there.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hackensack NJ police director Ray Guidetti talks first year
Artificial intelligence companies are power hungryin more ways than one.

A new commentary published Tuesday in the journal Joule argues that AI bots such as OpenAIs ChatGPT or Googles Bard may one day soon use as much energy as a small country. The increase in AI demand, as well as the resources necessary to power them, will further exacerbate climate change issues due to the greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking at the growing demand for AI service, its very likely that energy consumption related to AI will significantly increase in the coming years, Alex de Vries, founder of digital trends watchdog Digiconomist and sustainability at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, said in a statement.

From the very beginning of its development, AI consumes an ungodly amount of energy. Some research has estimated that simply training ChatGPT required 1,287 MWh of energy. Thats more than what 120 U.S. households use in an entire year. AI lab Hugging Face reported that training its own AI chatbot required roughly 433 MWh, which is the equivalent to 40 U.S. homes.

How Astronomers Are Using AI to Finally Find ET

And remember: Thats just to train these models. Others have estimated that ChatGPT might use up to 1,000 MWh each day. Thats roughly the same as 34,000 U.S. households annually.

De Vries notes the energy consumption is likely to worsen as more and more companies begin to incorporate AI models into their products. For example, Google recently announced a host of AI tools to its products such as Gmail and Google Sheets. Its also begun to roll out an AI-assisted search engine for its nearly 9 billion search queries a day. De Vries estimates that Google alone will require 29.2 TWh of power annuallythe equivalent of the annual power consumption of Ireland.

By 2027, he says, AI power consumption will increase by as much as 134 TWh, meaning these systems will be consuming as much energy as countries like Argentina, the Netherlands, and Sweden each year.

Interestingly, even though companies are attempting to make their AI systems more energy efficient, demand will simply increase as a resultso theyll become even more energy intensive. The result of making these tools more efficient and accessible can be that we just allow more applications of it and more people to use it, de Vries said.

The Alarming Way Big Tech Wants to Power AI Chatbots

This great need for energy is the reason why companies like OpenAI and Microsoft are beginning to explore alternative sources of power such as nuclear energy. These energy systems will no doubt become more and more relevant as the need for power grows with the AI boomwhich climate scientists fear will have a disastrous impact on the environment.

However, de Vries and other experts believe that the most effective way to address this growing need for energy is to be much more judicious about how we use our AI systems.

The potential growth highlights that we need to be very mindful about what we use AI for, he said. Its energy intensive, so we dont want to put it in all kinds of things where we dont actually need it.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Department of the Air Force plans to expand oversight and add new training in a push to strengthen its domestic-violence prevention efforts, following a monthslong review of its support services for abuse survivors.

The Sept. 29 announcement, set to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, is the Air Forces latest attempt to reform how reports of abuse are handled in a system that critics say has much to do to adequately address the problem.

There is no place in our Air Force and Space Force family for domestic violence or interpersonal violence in any form, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in a press release. We must do more to establish trust and build a foundation of respect, responsiveness and support for survivors of violence.

New DOD survey delves into the good and bad of military relationships

In response to the 90-day review that launched in January, the Air Force said it will hire more victim advocates at its bases to support survivors and command teams, as well as additional civilian staffers in the departments Family Advocacy Program headquarters.

A new steering group within Air Force headquarters, led by the Air Forces civilian personnel chief and staffed by officials from the legal, security forces, medical and other communities, will meet quarterly to plan the departments future domestic violence prevention and response strategy.

The changes include multiple efforts to bolster training for airmen across the ranks to better identify and address instances of abuse, such as an annual exercise to teach local communities how to respond and to better equip commanders to handle cases within their units.

The Air Force also plans to tweak its policies around how it handles aspects of domestic violence cases to mirror those of sexual assault.

We listened to survivors and are deeply appreciative of the candid insights they provided, Kendall said in the release. Their candid perspectives have informed our efforts as we work to create more effective solutions to this heart-breaking issue.

But multiple domestic violence survivors who spoke to Air Force Times said the changes dont go far enough to stop abuse from happening or to prosecute perpetrators.

Carol Thompson, an attorney representing multiple victims of domestic abuse who are suing the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, noted in an email that the Air Force had pledged to take a closer look at potential administrative actions that could be taken in cases that dont result in criminal prosecution.

That is conspicuously missing from the recommendations made by the 90-day cross-functional review, and the decisions made by the Secretary, Thompson wrote. It shows the Air Force is less concerned with holding individuals accountable  a promise they have repeatedly made.

Survivors believe the service can do more to protect victims from their abusers and to enforce restraining orders.

Critics say the Air Force fails to adequately track airmen who have faced allegations of domestic violence, potentially putting more people in harms way. They also argue that the Air Force has mishandled its own rules and processes in responding to domestic violence and can do more to consider how the policies themselves fall short.

How bad is DOD's domestic abuse problem? Unclear, auditors say

The Pentagon said Oct. 3 it recorded nearly 15,500 reports of domestic abuse in fiscal 2022. About half of those met the departments criteria for abuse, according to the Defense Departments latest report on child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse in the military.

For the fourth consecutive year, domestic abuse findings are mixed, the Pentagon said.

The number of abuse allegations has trended down over the past decade, but Defense Department data showed those reports, including those confirmed as domestic abuse, have been rising again each year since 2020.

Fourteen people died as a result of domestic abuse in fiscal 2022, including incidents that involved five known abusers, the Pentagon said. Four victims had reported abuse in the past.

The report does not specify how many incidents of domestic violence occur in each branch of the military.

Nineteen troops in the Department of the Air Force, which includes airmen and Space Force guardians, faced court-martial for domestic violence under Article 128b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in fiscal 2022, according to the Air Forces online court docket. Fourteen were found guilty of at least one charge of domestic violence and five were acquitted.

More than a dozen upcoming domestic violence-related cases were listed on the docket as of Tuesday.

Air Force officials have launched myriad studies and initiatives in recent years in repeated attempts to curb abuse and harassment.

The service said last month that a six-month pilot program that aimed to make support resources more accessible to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of abuse led people to report incidents 100 days sooner than in the past.

The pilot ran from August 2022 to January 2023 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Misawa Air Base, Japan; and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Officials found that bringing a range of advocacy, legal and religious support resources together made people more likely to seek them out, and reduced the number of times they needed to recount their story to various staffers to get help.

The burden shouldnt be on the victims and survivors to know where to find resources, sexual assault and harassment response policy analyst Lisa Surette said in a Sept. 27 press release.
The Russians attacked Ukraine with 36 Shaheds on the night of 9-10 October, with 27 being shot down.

Source: The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote from Air Force: "On the night of 9-10 October, Russian occupation forces attacked the south of Ukraine with 36 Shahed attack UAVs. The launches were carried out from Cape Chauda (temporarily occupied Crimea)."

Details: It is reported that 27 Russian drones were destroyed within Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
An Alabama man was ambushed by police before being shot and killed, following a confrontation with a tow-truck driver, representatives for his family have said.

Steve Perkins, 39, was shot at his home in Decatur on September 29 after a worker trying to repossess his truck returned with police. The force said Mr Perkins turned a weapon on officers, though his family have questioned the account.

In surveillance camera footage belonging to Mr Perkins neighbour, an officer is heard shouting police, get on the ground  with multiple shots heard almost immediately after in rapid succession.

Mr Perkinss family said in a previous statement that the truck was not in repossession and that Perkins was shot seven times.

Speaking to NBC News on Monday Brenton Lipscomb, spokesman for the family, said: "From the immediate footage that were seeing, it looked like an ambush of him not even knowing who was in his yard.

"They were in uniform, but its a very dark neighbourhood. No police cars were in front of the house, they were parked down the street, hiding in neighbourhoods yards, hiding around the house.

Family attorney Lee Merritt, added: It doesnt matter whether he had a weapon or not. He was never given an opportunity to comply or not. He had a weapon [but] he was well within his rights to carry a firearm.

Hundreds of people gathered outside of Decatur City Hall on Thursday night in a vigil for Mr Perkins, and protests have occurred in the north Alabama city daily since his death.

His older brother Nicholas Perkins, said the incident was a case of cold-blooded murder.

Speaking at the vigil, he told crowds: Not only was I his brother, but I was his friend. You have no idea how it feels to be born a protector, and the job is taken away from you, unjustly, and unwarranted.

He later told NBC News: What hurts the most is that we dont have answers. This family needs answers. This community needs answers.

(Courtesy of Dr Brenton Lipscomb)

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which is investigating the shooting, said on Friday that it did not have any additional information to release to the public. The agency said it opened a tip line for information.

We continue to ask for everyones patience as ALEAs SBI conducts what must be a very thorough and methodical investigation, the agency said in a statement.

The thing that has been consistent is looking for answers. We understand that. That is something everyone wants and they want answers now. Unfortunately, we dont have control of that, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling told news outlets.

A GoFundMe page, set up by Mr Lipscomb, described Mr Perkins as a family man and a girl dad  with two daughters aged 14 and 7.

He was a devoted husband, gym enthusiast and a hard-working employee at JM Smuckers pet food manufacturer, the page stated.

Steve dreamed of one day opening his own gym where he could continue to pursue his love of fitness while providing a safe space for community growth and development. He kept his nose clean telling his close friends he only harbored a single fear as a Black man- being killed by the police.

As of Monday, the page had raised almost $60,000.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Will Rainess Holmes, one of the suspects accused of shooting and killing a Rhodes College student two years ago, be back on the street soon? Thats the question some have after they got a text alert this week.

In October 2021, Rhodes College student Drew Rainer was shot and killed and others inside the house were left injured during a violent home invasion on North McLean. The shots were fired over an iPad.

After an extensive search, U.S. Marshals arrested 36-year-old Rainess Holmes for first-degree murder.

PREVIOUS: Accused killer in Rhodes robbery appears in court

Its a case that rocked the community.

The case has not even gone to trial, so imagine the surprise some got when this text alert came this week, saying Holmes is scheduled for release on January 4, 2024.

The alert seems to have come from the victims network that alerts crime victims when suspects are about to be released. We did some digging and did find Holmes on the site. It showed he had a parole hearing August 28 and is set for parole January 4 of next year.

Drew Rainers aunt, Missy Rainer, spoke to WREG when the search was on for suspects in the case.

Search continues for 3 gunmen who killed Rhodes College student

When this happened, we realized how much evil there is in this city and for Drew to be taken from us in such a matter when he was doing nothing wrong, she said.

WREG reached out to the court system. They said Holmes is set for trial on February 12 of next year on the murder charge, and they dont have anything about him being released in January.

We also contacted the Board of Parole to find out if Holmes is in fact being released and on what charges since his murder charge has not gone to trial.

Woman arrested in Rhodes students death

The Board of Parole said Rainess Holmes had a parole hearing August 28 related to previous charges of burglary and theft and not the pending murder case. The board voted to continue the hearing for further evaluation and scheduled a review for March 2024.

Meaning, the notice families received doesnt appear related to the shooting of Drew Rainer. But for those, still dealing with that brutal crime, the text message put them in fear of what an early release could mean.

We will continue to follow the Rainess Holmes case and let you know if anything changes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A police officer looks on as dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside State of Illinois offices at 555 W. Monroe on Oct. 27, 2023. The protesters chanted for a free Palestine as they locked arms outside several of the entrances to the building. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Streeterville resident Michael Traison sought cover Saturday night in the inner core of his second home. The one overseas, in an emerging war zone.

The Israeli neighbors he sheltered with at his apartment building in Chicagos sister city of Petah Tikva were anxious, he said. But even as the countrys complex missile-detection system warned of incoming artillery, the neighbors were surprisingly calm.

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Even the children were taking it in stride, Traison said.

Its a way of life, he said. Theyre used to that. But nobodys used to the massacre that took place.

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Following Hamas attack on Israel Saturday and Israels following declaration of war, Traison and others among the estimated 325,000 Jewish people living in Chicago have organized vigils and grieved those killed.

And both sides of the conflict have been evident here, along with the pain of whats happened. A mother and daughter from Chicago are among those missing in the Hamas attacks, according to a statement from Deerfield High School. Eleven Americans are believed to have been killed, according to American authorities.

Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan were in Nahal Oz, near the Gaza strip, visiting family over the weekend. The kibbutz was attacked by Gazan militants Saturday, according to CNN.

Family members havent heard from the pair, and fear they are among those being held hostage, according to the schools statement.

My daughter has been captured, Natalies father, Uri Ranaan, said in a Facebook post. He could not be reached by the Tribune for comment Monday.

Many among the similarly large community of Palestinian people who call Chicago home face all-too-similar fears for faraway loved ones.

Around 2,000 people marched Sunday through downtown Chicago and rallied outside the Israeli Consulate in support of Palestine, march organizers estimated. They sought to bring attention to living conditions in Israeli-occupied Gaza, where Hamas fighters crossed border walls to launch their attack.

People attend a rally near the Israeli Consulate in Chicago to protest the ongoing Palestinian and Israeli conflict on Oct. 8, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Free, free Palestine, they chanted while waving Palestines green, white, black and red flag. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

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On Monday, dozens of University of Chicago students held a Uniting for Israel vigil on the universitys quad. Another vigil was set to take place later at Northwestern Universitys Deering Library.

The Jewish United Fund of Chicago will host a solidarity gathering at Glencoes North Shore Congregation Israel on Tuesday morning, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker expected to speak. JUF President Lonnie Nasatir said he was feeling sadness, heartache, anger and disbelief after the attacks.

Im mostly just grieving the loss of innocent lives, he said. Were grieving in a very personal way.

Last year, Nasatir visited a settlement where Hamas fighters killed 18 people over the weekend, he said. The JUF plans to raise funds and push for political support as the conflict continues, he said, adding praise for the U.S. governments support of Israel.

We are as committed as ever, he said. This is an unbelievably heinous act against innocent people simply because they happen to live in the Jewish state.

Nasatir acknowledged supporters of Palestines allegations that oppressive living conditions created by the Israeli government helped spark the violence. The relationship between Israel and Palestine is a complex issue, he said.

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But whats not complex is what happened this weekend. A group of terrorist thugs broke into a country and wreaked havoc on innocent civilians. And thats the issue that we need to focus on, he said.

Chicago is home to the largest Palestinian population in America, said Hatem Abudayyeh, who chairs the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and organizes other Palestinian community groups in the city.

His family lives in a West Bank village near Jerusalem, where Israeli occupation has created widespread poverty, he said. Most young men dont have jobs, he added.

Its the reason why this escalation happened, Abudayyeh said. The Israeli settler movement, under cover of the Israeli government and military, have been attacking Palestinians with impunity.

His loved ones fear fighting and crackdowns will spread. Gaza has experienced bombardments that have killed hundreds since Saturday, he said.

Abudayyeh called the support of Israel from Illinois politicians including Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth disgusting. A coalition of Chicago groups supporting Palestine plans to continue to demonstrate in an effort to halt the U.S. military support of Israel, he said.

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When asked about Hamas attacks on civilians, he insisted most of the Gaza forces targets were Israeli military and described the attacks as self-defense spurred by decadeslong oppression.

We wont dont want anyone to die. We dont want anyone to be killed, Abudayyeh said.

Major U.S. airlines American, United and Delta suspended service to Israel as the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for the region citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest, and many airlines in Europe and Asia also put flights on hold, according to The Associated Press.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 71 Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, near the U.S. embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 18, 2023. (Hassan Ammar/AP)

In Chicago, United Airlines was scheduled to operate 36 flights between OHare International Airport and Tel Aviv  18 each way  in October, according to flight schedule data from Cirium.

Chicago attorney Steve Greenberg was flying away from Israel just as the attacks were unfolding. Greenberg, who represents R. Kelly, had been visiting Israel as the country celebrated Jewish holidays.

People had just been filling vibrant city streets to celebrate Sukkot, he said. He was shocked to learn of the attacks when his plane landed in London on Saturday afternoon.

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The Israeli people had really felt that they had reached a level of peaceful coexistence, Greenberg said. And I think that sense of safety is just gone forever.

Gone forever too is the Gaza home that Fidaa Elaydi visits on trips to see her family. The Bridgeview resident said the home of her uncle was destroyed by Israeli bombs Saturday.

Her family had anticipated the Israeli attack and left the building before the air raids came without warning, she said. The home had housed three generations of her family.

There were sunflowers and a huge jasmine tree. Her children were with her when they visited last year. They saw the goats, sheep, rabbits and pigeons an uncle raised there, she said.

They would call it the house with the zoo, Elaydi said.

She hopes for a cease-fire, a de-escalation of tensions and prisoner exchanges that will free the thousands of detained Palestinians, she said. Hundreds of relatives live across all parts of the Gaza Strip because they were forced out of their villages by Israeli settlers decades ago, she said.

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Im scared to death, she said. Every moment is agonizing.

Palestinian families are just as afraid as Israeli families, she said.

They are living in sheer horror, she said. Every day I go to sleep and I wake up and I fear that I will receive the worst news.

People in Gaza typically get around four hours of electricity per day and face sky-high unemployment, she said. Each time she visits, she gets sick because there isnt clean drinking water, she added. Once extremely rare, suicide has become more common there, Elaydi said.

Its a very difficult way to live. And its completely, 100% man-made, she said. At a certain point, people just cant really tolerate it anymore.

At Northwestern Hillel, a center point for Jewish life at the Evanston university, one staff member working while on a fellowship from Israel received a request for voluntary military service over the weekend. He returned to the country Sunday, said Michael Simon, Northwestern Hillels director.

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Other university graduate students have also had to return to fight, he said.

Its very real, Simon said.

The busy streets of Tel Aviv have become empty as people stay in and hundreds of thousands of citizens are called into the Israeli army, said Traison, who sits on the board of several Jewish attorney groups.

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Were holding our breath for what comes next, he said.

He played over the possibilities of what might come next, fearing other countries with more sophisticated weapons might join Hamas and attack Israel. Residents were told to have three days supplies in their bomb shelters, he said.

Traison likened the attacks to pogroms and the Holocaust, noting how the attacks affect a people sensitive to unimaginable historical atrocities.

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All of this is psychologically very, very, very disturbing, he said. Israel is simply trying to exist and protect its population.

Traison heard the missile-warning sirens at noon Monday while driving into Tel Aviv for a meeting, he said.

He pulled over to the side of the road. He lay down next to his car. An explosion sounded far away. He kept driving.

Tribune reporters Nell Salzman and Sarah Freishtat contributed.
Alex Jones intends to resist efforts by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to compel him to testify in this months trial of two Donald Trump co-defendants, his attorney said Tuesday.

Norm Pattis, an attorney for the far-right broadcaster, said Jones has nothing to offer in the trial  and that even if a court were to order him to testify, he would simply plead the Fifth, as he did when subpoenaed to testify to the House Jan. 6 select committee last year.

Were not going to help Fanis fantasy life come true any more than we did that of the J6 committee, Pattis said.

Willis indicated her intent to compel Jones testimony in a court filing posted publicly Tuesday. The filing indicated that Jones had contacts with Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who helped craft Trumps last-ditch strategy to upend Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election and keep Trump in power. Chesebro and attorney Sidney Powell are slated to go on trial Oct. 23, the first batch of Trumps 18 co-defendants in an alleged racketeering conspiracy to face jurors.

[Jones] possesses unique knowledge concerning communications between himself and Kenneth Chesebro and other known and unknown individuals involved in the multi-state, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 3, 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere, Willis wrote.

Recently unearthed videos show Chesebro walking alongside Jones entourage on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, in the restricted area of the Capitol grounds, but its unclear if the two had any previous communications.

Jones, a far-right conspiracy theorist with a massive following on InfoWars, was a prominent booster of Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and he attended Trumps speech on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021. He helped lead a massive crowd from the speech to the Capitol, which had been breached by the time he arrived. Jones has not been charged for his actions that day but a close associate, Owen Shroyer, who accompanied him on Capitol grounds, was recently sentenced to 60 days in jail for his actions.

To obtain Jones testimony  along with dozens of other potential witnesses who reside outside of Georgia  Willis must seek permission from both a judge in her district and in the courts where the witnesses reside. Jones, she noted, lives in Travis County, Texas. His resistance to Willis effort to compel his testimony portends a potential wide array of legal fights that could result from Willis effort to put on a massive case against all of the alleged co-conspirators.

For example, Willis also signaled on Tuesday that she intends to seek testimony from Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. And last week, she indicated plans to call Trump legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, several Republicans who falsely posed as presidential electors in 2020 and attorney Lin Wood.

Willis fought similar battles to obtain testimony during her year-long special grand jury investigation into the matter, initiating legal processes that helped make public the witnesses she was targeting across the country. Some of those witnesses  including Trump allies Mike Flynn, Lindsey Graham, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and Chesebro himself  resisted those efforts. But all ultimately lost local and federal court battles on the matter.


Kenneth Chesebro, left, confers with is lawyer Scott Grubman, as Judge Scott MacAfee presides as the lawyers of Sidney Powell and Chesebro appear during a motions hearing in the election subversion case Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. Powell and Chesebro, indicted in August along with Trump and others, are accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Donald Trump, the Republican incumbent, had lost to Democrat Joe Biden. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP)

ATLANTA (AP)  The Georgia prosecutor who has accused former President Donald Trump and others of trying to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state is seeking to call Republican Party Chair Ronna McDaniel and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones as witnesses in a trial for two of the defendants scheduled to begin later this month.

Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August along with Trump and 16 others, accused under the state's anti-racketeering law of participating in a wide-ranging illegal scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. The two attorneys are being tried separately from the others because they invoked their right to have a speedy trial. A group of 450 potential jurors has been instructed to show up on Oct. 20 to begin the process of seating a jury.

All 19 defendants initially pleaded not guilty, but one pleaded guilty to lesser charges last month after reaching a deal with prosecutors.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has been holding hearings on pretrial motions, including one Tuesday, and has more scheduled as the trial date approaches. Separately, the parties have begun to disclose the names of possible witnesses in the case.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Monday filed paperwork required to compel the testimony from an out-of-state witness, documents that function like a subpoena, for three people  McDaniel, Jones and Andrew Hitt, who was chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party in late 2020. She had filed similar paperwork for six other people last week, including Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn and Lin Wood , a prominent defamation attorney and ardent Trump supporter who publicly disputed the outcome of the 2020 election.

Powell is accused of participating in a breach of election equipment in rural Coffee County. Shes alleged to have hired and paid a computer forensics team that copied data and software from the election equipment without authorization.

Chesebro is accused of working on the coordination and execution of a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors.

Prosecutors allege that McDaniel participated in a December 2020 phone call with Trump and another defendant, lawyer John Eastman, during which she was told the importance of the RNC helping the campaign gather contingent electors. She also forwarded an email to the then-president's executive assistant including a list of Six Contested States, including Georgia and the electoral votes that had been cast for Trump in each one, prosecutors wrote.

Jones participated in a Stop the Steal rally at the Georgia state Capitol on Nov. 18, 2020, and in a march on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, along with members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, prosecutors said in a court filing. Video shows Chesebro marching on the U.S. Capitol with Jones, prosecutors wrote.

Norm Pattis, an attorney for Jones, said his client intends to resist the subpoena and would assert his Fifth Amendment right if called to testify.

The others whose testimony is sought include others who were involved in the so-called alternate electors plan in multiple swing states that Trump, the Republican incumbent, lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

In filings with the court, Chesebro's attorneys have indicated they could call witnesses including journalists, attorneys, Trump campaign officials and Republicans who signed the certificates claiming they were Trump electors. His list includes some of the people prosecutors are seeking to call, including McDaniel and Wood.

At a hearing Tuesday, McAfee heard arguments on several motions filed by Chesebro. One seeks to dismiss the indictment as a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause. A second argues Chesebro's actions outlined in the indictment were protected by the First Amendment, so the indictment should be dismissed. The judge didn't immediately rule on either motion but indicated that the arguments advanced by Chesebro's attorneys may be procedurally improper for pretrial motions.

A third motion argued that any legal memos or correspondence between Chesebro and the Trump campaign, which was his client in the aftermath of the 2020 election, should be excluded. McAfee grilled the lawyers for both sides on this issue and asked them to provide additional information to help him make a decision.
FILE - Schoolchildren attend a class in the Ben Omar district of Algiers, Algeria, on Sept. 19, 2023. More than a year after Algeria launched a pilot program to teach English in elementary schools, the country is hailing it as a success and expanding it in a move that reflects a widening linguistic shift underway in former French colonies throughout Africa. (AP Photo, File)

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Amid broad debate about French language's place in France's former African colonies, Algeria is denying that efforts to force Francophone private schools to adopt the country's national curriculum constitute hostility toward French.

Education Minister Abdelkrim Belabed said that no languages were being targeted in Algeria and noted that multilingualism was among the education system's major achievements.

All languages are welcome, he said Saturday..

Algeria has more French speakers than all but two nations  France itself and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nearly 15 million people out of the countrys population of 44 million speak it, according to the International Organization of the French Language. But Algeria is among the many nations throughout Africa placing a greater emphasis on English and Indigenous languages and, in the process, reevaluating French's role in school and society.

Neighboring Mali changed its constitution to remove French from its list of official languages and Morocco made English classes compulsory in high schools.

This year, Algeria is expanding English language courses in elementary schools and doubling down on efforts to enforce a law requiring that private schools  including ones that have taught almost exclusively in French  abide by the predominantly Arabic national curriculum.

Enforcement efforts against private schools that prepare students for higher education in French aren't new. They date back to 2019. But authorities hadn't until this year aggressively pursued enforcing them. Their efforts provoked headlines and outcry in French media and among Algerian families who can afford tuition.

Belabed said the law's critics were describing the country's efforts without context and reaffirmed Algeria's position that private schools had to teach the national curriculum, which he called a vehicle for our societies identifying values.

Though French remains widely used in Algeria, the language has been subject to political questions since the country wrested its independence from France after a brutal, seven-year war more than 60 years ago. Langauge has become closely tied to Algerian nationalism since that era, when political leaders adopted the slogan Algeria is my country, Arabic is my language and Islam is my religion.

There are only 680 private schools in Algeria, which educates more than 11 million students. Few operate in French or try to teach double curriculums in both languages to prepare students for higher education.

The effort to crack down on French and private schools teaching outside the nationally mandated curriculum comes as Algeria adds English language courses in elementary schools.

Public universities are making English part of their core curriculums this year as part of a move to transition to the language in science classes.
Holly Willoughbys exit from This Morning has been met with an outpouring of love and support from across the UK television industry.

On Tuesday (10 October), the 42-year-old presenter, who had appeared alongside Phillip Schofield, 61, for 14 years before his exit earlier this year, announced her decision to leave in a statement posted to Instagram.

To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what weve done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you, Willoughby wrote.

Willoughbys exit comes shortly after she had reportedly been on indefinite leave from the show after news emerged of an alleged kidnap plot against her last week.

On Friday 6 October, Gavin Plumb, 36, of Potters Field, Harlow, was charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap.

I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family, Willougby added in her statement, although she did not refer directly to the alleged incident.

This is a very sad day ! Love You, wrote fellow This Morning star Alison Hammond in the comments section.

Former BBC anchor Rebecca Lowe wished Willougby all the luck for your next chapter.

The Only Way Is Essex star James Argent added: Sending you all my love.

Wishing you and your family peace and strength in what must be a very difficult time after the news of last week Holly x, Carol Vorderman commented. From my time on TM, I know that the team will miss you very much. Take care.

Regular This Morning guest Vanessa Feltz added: We will miss you so very much my darling.

Responding to the sad news another The Only Way Is Essex alum, Ferne McCann, said: You have been brilliant, beautiful and always so welcoming.

Willougbhys decision also comes five months after it emerged that her co-presenter Schofield had, had an affair with a younger colleague.

The presenter admitted he had lied to his employers, Willoughby, his agent and his family about the nature of his relationship with his colleague, calling it an unwise but not illegal affair.

Willoughby said she felt shaken, troubled, let down, and worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of whats going on.
Two days after the surprise deadly holiday attacks by Hamas in Israel, many members of Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky's synagogue in Manhattan were still in disbelief. Somehow, he said, he had to summon the strength to support them.

"They can't imagine that this is what's happened," Rogosnitzky, who oversees Park East Synagogue in New York, said Monday. "I mean, there were parents in the school who came today to the services who said, 'I feel like this is a nightmare. When am I waking up?'"

Across the country, Melissa Chapman of Oakland, California, said there are almost no words to describe the deep heartbreak and devastation thats being felt within Jewish and Israeli communities throughout the nation.

Theres an unspoken deep bond and connection that no matter where we are, we have this shared pain, said Chapman, chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Center in neighboring Berkeley. Were always worried about our safety. Here and abroad.

Ripples of fear for their own safety, tears and countless prayers for an end to the violence traveled through Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian-linked communities in the United States this week following the onslaught by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas Saturday morning. Some groups held prayer meetings, while others worried about local attacks, immediately beefing up security and urging community members to be vigilant as the death toll overseas from the battle climbed above 1,600, including at least 11 Americans.

Osama Abu Irshaid, executive director of the Virginia-based nonprofit Americans for Justice in Palestine, said he was not surprised by the attack, widely seen as the worst escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict in at least 50 years, saying tensions had been "accumulating over decades and decades."

Irshaid said Palestinians, particularly those in Gaza, are demanding to live free lives. They have been prevented from basic human rights, Irshaid said. "Of course, we want to see this come to a peaceful resolutionbut the history cannot be ignored."

Rabbis and congregations mourn death toll in Israel

The attacks came toward the end of Sukkot, a weeklong celebration marking the time Jews lived in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. As news of the tragedy spread, many Jewish and Israeli communities in the United States shifted from celebrating to holding vigils, gatherings and protests.

Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, a Jewish faith leader retired from Congregation Beth Ohr in Studio City, California, said three Muslim friends who had shared his Shabbat table in the past reached out Monday to share their sympathies.

"From the Palestinians that I know, there's a sadness. There's no celebration," he said.

In Palm Beach County, Florida, Rabbi Alon Levkovitz, who leads Temple Beth Am in Jupiter, said the news horrified his community, which was preparing to celebrate Simchas Torah, a holiday marking the completion of the annual reading of the Torah.

"I am devastated," said Levkovitz, whose family lives in Israel. "Nothing like that has happened before. There were many terrorist attacks, but nothing like that. Only God knows what happened."

Rabbi Gregory Marx said his Philadelphia-area synagogue, Congregation Beth Or, would convene extra prayer sessions in response to the crisis. On Sunday, about 500 people gathered in the sanctuary in support of Israel and the community.

"For the next five days, we will have services of prayer and reflection and support, and then I will speak about Israel on this coming Shabbat Friday night," Marx said.

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza.

His synagogue is also encouraging people to attend a rally on Tuesday sponsored by the nonprofit United Jewish Appeal Federation in front of the United Nations. The synagogue is also doing a toy drive for children whose homes have been devastated and who lost their parents in Israel.

"We're generally out there tapping into the feelings of the community to be supportive one-on-one, but also as a whole community to rally with Israel," Rogosnitzky said.

American Jews worry for family, friends in Israel

When Lior Zisser-Yogev woke up Saturday morning in her Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, home, her phone was filled with texts and WhatsApp messages from family and friends in Israel.

The country was under attack, but it wasn't initially clear what was happening and the scope of it, recalled Zisser-Yogev, who used to live in Israel. Her parents had been visiting southern Israel at the time of the attacks and got trapped trying to drive back home.

"My parents were stuck," Zisser-Yogev said. "They were on their way back home from the southern region of Israel. But they were told by the police, that they shouldn't keep going because there's something going on, they didn't really know what it was. ... Thank God they were able to go in a different route and reach home."

Zisser-Yogev, who works at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit as a program and education director, said she has friends in Israel who had children at a music festival that was attacked by Hamas. She said she also has another friend who's a teacher with several students who are missing.

"I just hope that this will end soon, and with as few casualties as possible," Zisser-Yogev said.

Rabbi Shmuel Gancz of the Chabad Jewish Center of Suffern in Montebello, New York, was working Monday to find out information about a community friend who was among the kidnapped and working to support reservists who were being called up as Israel shifted into war. Gancz said he was also working to get more supplies to the returning soldiers.

"We firmly believe that every good deed that one of us over here has a drastic effect of saving lives in Israel," he said. "Adding more goodness and kindness to this world.

Ryan Brown, of Chicago, woke up on Saturday morning to a phone filled with notifications from his family and friends, alerting him to the situation in Israel. Brown has many friends in Israel and lived there for several months on two separate occasions. He has visited more than a dozen times.

I was just in shock and horror and disbelief that this is real, the 30-year-old says. It was such a grave attack that it was hard to really understand that this is happening.

Jews in his community feel sad and helpless," he said. His social media feed is where he gets a lot of his updates, but they are hard to watch.

Its jarring to see the videos," he said.

People attend a vigil for Israeli victims at the Stephen Wise Temple, in Los Angeles on Sunday after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

Jews worry about hate attacks on US soil

Some communities are also increasing their security as a precaution. Marx said Phildelphia's Congregation Beth Or increased security measures over the weekend amidst heightened fears.

The Jewish community is always concerned when hostility and anger and hate raise its head, said Marx. Unfortunately, we're living in a world where we need to have security at our synagogue. That was not the case when I became a rabbi, but it is certainly the reality now."

Chapman said her community center in Berkeley will be taking similar measures, but declined to get into specific details. She believes similar facilities in Jewish communities nationwide will also take appropriate security steps as it has become the norm.

Last year saw the highest number of antisemitic incidents against Jewish Americans ever recorded by the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group that has been tallying attacks on the Jewish community since 1979.

Antisemitic incidents have hit record highs across the United States in recent years, according to an annual audit from the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group. Most of these incidents involved harassment, assaults and antisemitic vandalism.

In Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest school district said in an email to students and parents that in addition to taking "appropriate and immediate action to respond to any and all threats," it also laid out how it will talk about the conflict with students.

"We incorporate discussions about global conflicts, including the recent development in Israel, into our curriculum in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner," the district said. "With these open discussions in safe places, we can empower our students to become informed global citizens."

At the University of California, Berkeley, Rabbi Gil Leeds said there will likely be more security this week as vigils and protests over the conflict will emerge. "I dont want to think about what its going to look like here and, on campuses across the country. Its already been uncomfortable in past years. Its not promising," Leeds said.

Violence in Israel 'didn't just start yesterday'

Many Palestinian rights supporters from various communities throughout the United States said they were horrified by the violence and also wanted peace.

Palestinian citizens inspect the damage to the Al-Sussi Mosque and their homes following Israeli air strikes in the Al-Shati Palestinian refugee camp on Monday in Gaza City, Gaza. Almost 500 people have died in Gaza after Israel launched sustained retaliatory air strikes after Saturday's attack by Hamas.

Janan Najeeb, president of the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition, said Palestinians have been "constantly killed and oppressed" and the war stems from decades of Israeli oppression.

She criticized Israel for cutting off water, food and electricity to Gaza since the war began, saying it amounted to "ethnic cleansing."

On Monday, Najeeb heard of two Milwaukee men whose relatives in Gaza had been killed. One lost his sister and another lost his cousin. Both were civilians, she said.

"We mourn the lives of every Israeli and every Palestinian because every life is equal, and every human deserves the right to live in peace and in dignity," Najeeb said.

Rania Mustafa, executive director of the Palestinian American Community Center in New Jersey, said that while she does not support violence, she said she believes the weekends escalation of violence was the result of Israel's occupation.

For Palestinians, things didn't just start yesterday or the day before, she said. Palestinians want liberation."

Palestinian Americans she has spoken with are anxious and fearful of retaliation against Palestineans from Israel throughout the Middle East.

I spoke with a friend today 15 members of his family were killed in Gaza, she said. Its very scary and were only expecting more to come.

Muhammad Sankari, of the Chicago-based United States Palestinian Community Network, said local Palestinian families have been searching for news of their loved ones in Palestinian territories.

There are numerous people in our community who are terrified, waiting, trying to contact family members in Gaza, trying to contact family members in other areas, hoping that they don't receive the news that they've been killed, he said.

Nadim Ali, the imam at the Community Masjid of Atlanta, said the sentiment among the many Palestinian Americans he has spoken with since Hamas attack on Israel has centered on peace and prayer for innocent lives.

Were worried that so many people, innocent people, will be killed, Ali said. It doesnt have to be that way.

'Complete siege' Israeli retaliation to be felt 'for generations'; Hamas threatens hostages: Live updates

A timeline of the conflict: Why the 2023 Israeli-Palestinian fighting is among the most brutal in years

USA TODAY Network reporters Valentina Palm of the Palm Beach Post in, Florida; Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press; Nancy Cutler of the Journal News in New York; and Sophie Carson of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As war in Israel grows, Jews and Palestinians in US fear more violence
FIRST ON FOX, JERUSALEM  Palestinian terrorists are holding hostage an unknown number of U.S. citizens in the Gaza Strip, U.S. authorities said Tuesday, with local media reports estimating that the number might be more than a dozen.

Some of the people hold dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, authorities said.

"My mother Adrienne Neta, who was born and raised in California and moved to Israel in the early 1980s, was kidnapped on Saturday morning," her son, Nahar Neta told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. "We do not have any confirmed information, it is total chaos, but we think she was taken from her home on Kibbutz Beeri."

Neta said he was talking to his 66-year-old mother on the phone early Saturday morning when the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip was first reported.

"I left to put my kids to bed," said Neta, who now lives with his own family in California. "But my siblings were on the phone with her when the terrorists entered the house and heard her screaming."

TOP US GENERAL HAS MESSAGE FOR IRAN ON ISRAEL: DO NOT 'GET INVOLVED'

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American citizen Adrienne Neta, a 66-year-old grandmother, was likely kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

Neta, who arrived in Israel yesterday to help his family search for his mother, said they are almost certain that she is not among those killed on the kibbutz, which was held hostage by terrorists for at least 10 hours on Saturday. Israeli rescue agency Zaka reported on Monday that 100 bodies had been recovered from the kibbutz, which sits five miles from the border with the Palestinian enclave.

"She is a mother of four and a grandmother of seven and she is a U.S. citizen," said Neta, adding that she worked as a nurse for the past few decades at the nearby hospital in Beersheba.

"We dont believe she is among the dead, but everything is a blur and no one has any concrete information," he said.

Neta said his family had been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Israel and that there are multiple other U.S. citizens who are missing and presumably among an unknown number of hostages being held by Hamas and other terrorist groups.

AMERICAN WOMAN SAYS FAMILY HAS BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS IN ISRAEL: 'ANY PARENTS WORST NIGHTMARE'

American citizen Adrienne Neta, a 66-year-old grandmother, was likely kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

"We are working with the embassy and other arms of the administration to get them, and all the other Israeli hostages freed from Gaza," he said. "This is a very tough time for us, but my mother is a very strong woman and I have confidence that if she is still alive, she will overcome this."

More than 900 people were killed in Saturdays brutal attack, Israels Health Ministry said on Tuesday and a further 2,800 have been injured. Israeli authorities, however, were still unable to give an accurate number for how many people were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday President Biden said there were at least 14 U.S. citizens among the dead. He also noted for the first time that hostages were being held by the terror group, "We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas," he said.

'PEOPLE OF ISRAEL NEED OUR PRAYERFUL SUPPORT,' SAY US FAITH LEADERS FROM COAST TO COAST AS WAR CONTINUES

President Joe Biden speaks on the attacks on Israel by Hamas.

The State Department has been working to provide consular assistance, as well as updated security alerts to U.S. citizens in Israel and commercial flights out of the country are still available.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a U.S. citizen who grew up in Connecticut but who has lived in Israel since the early '80s, told Fox News Digital that no American authorities had been in touch with him regarding the disappearance of his son, Sagui, 35.

"Sagui was born in Israel," Dekel-Chen said. "We both live on Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border and our kibbutz was attacked at 6 a.m. on Saturday. As a result of that attack, several dozen members of our community were taken or are now missing; among those is Sagui."

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE EAST'S HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS GROUPS?

Sagui Dekel-Chen, who holds U.S. citizenship, is believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

Dekel-Chen said some of the missing kibbutz members were last seen being led away by terrorists, but for others, such as Sagui, their whereabouts remain a mystery.

"They vanished without a trace," he said, adding that his wife, who is pregnant, and his sons two young children incredibly survived.

"Sagui was born in Israel and has lived his life here but has always maintained his U.S. citizenship," said Dekel-Chen. "I hope that it will make a difference and I think it will definitely help if the U.S. government gets engaged."

MOTHER OF AMERICAN-ISRAELI SON 'DRIVEN AWAY BY HAMAS' SHARES LAST TEXTS SHE RECEIVED: 'I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY'

"The U.S. government has come out strongly condemning the attacks, but it still remains to be seen what kind of actions they can and should take," he added. "All we, the families of the missing, can do is to make sure that the U.S. government is aware of it and request their aid in doing whatever they can to help."

At a press conference from the families in Tel Aviv earlier today two other missing Americans were revealed.

The mother of 23-year-old Hersh Golberg-Polin, Rachel, told reporters that the last time she received text messages from him was on Saturday morning and that she has not heard from him since.

Hersh Golberg-Polin's mother said the last time she heard from her son was on Saturday morning when he sent two text messages.

"There were two texts in a row from Hersh at 8:11. The first one said, 'I love you.'... also, it said, 'I'm sorry'. And so I knew immediately, wherever he was, it was a terrible situation," Rachel Golberg said.

Itay Chen's father pleaded with President Biden to help his family find their son.

The father of the fourth missing American, 19-year-old Itay Chen called on President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, "to do what they can to make this end and for us, as soon as possible, to become family, whole again."

Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report.





Original article source: American families in Israel in agony as fears of loved ones kidnapped grow
The last text message Rachel Goldberg received from her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin on Saturday morning was I love you and Im sorry.

Goldberg says Hirsh is believed to be among the hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, kidnapped after the group launched a surprise assault into Israel, infiltrating dozens of small communities bordering the Strip and attacking a music festival with hundreds of partygoers, at least 260 of whom were killed on the spot.

I knew immediately wherever he was, it was a terrible situation. I took it to mean I love you and Im sorry because whatever is going to happen is going to cause you a tremendous pain and worry, Goldberg, a dual Israeli-American citizen, said at a Tuesday press conference in Israel.

She was one of six dual citizens who spoke to reporters in Israel and pleaded for President Biden and the Israeli government to do everything possible to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas into besieged Gaza.

The number of those kidnapped is likely to exceed more than 100. The Biden administration is assuming there are Americans among them, but it has not confirmed a specific number. The families present represented at least five dual Israeli-American citizens, but they said they are in touch with at least 10 families with dual citizenship who believe loved ones are being held hostage in Gaza.

While more than 1,000 people are believed killed in the assault that began on Saturday, a key prize for Hamas was the taking of hostages that leaders in the group have said they will use as bargaining chips to free Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Theyve also threatened to broadcast executions of hostages in retaliation for Israeli counter-strikes on the Gaza strip.

The American-Israeli families who spoke to the press Tuesday pleaded for the Israeli and U.S. governments to do everything possible to secure the release of their loved ones.

Goldberg said she and her husband have been able to put together a picture of Hirschs last moments in Israel  that he took refuge in a bomb shelter with other partygoers, which was then attacked by Hamas terrorists who threw in grenades and shot inside with machine guns.

Weve spoken to eyewitnesses, we know that he was injured in a gun battle. I mean, they were all civilians at a music festival. They were fish in a barrel sitting in this bomb shelter, she said.

Hirschs arm from the elbow down was blown off, Goldberg said, and he tied a tourniquet around his arm with his shirt. The family said eyewitnesses told them that Hirsch and his friend Amer Shapira saved peoples lives in the bomb shelter by tossing out grenades that had been thrown in.

Hamas came in after the gunfire settled down and said anyone who can walk, stand up and walk out. We are told that he was completely calm. I think he was probably in shock, Goldberg said.

And he got up and he walked out with five other young people from the music festival. Two young women, three other young men, they were put on a pickup truck and driven away by Hamas. And then the police told us one thing they knew is that the last known cell signal from his phone was on the border with Gaza.

American citizen Nahar Neta, whose 66-year-old mother Adreinne Neta is believed kidnapped from the southern Israeli community of Beeri, said the Israeli and U.S. governments have a responsibility to bring back all the hostages kept by Hamas.

President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken  theyre responsible to bring the U.S. citizens back home safe and sound, Neta said, struggling to speak after describing how his family was on the phone with their mother when they heard her screaming as Hamas terrorists barged into her home.

My mom used a little bit of Arabic that she picked up working as a nurse in the hospital in Sorokov for 20 years to calm down the terrorist, Neta continued.

And it is our hope, which is a bit ridiculous at this stage to say that the optimistic scenario here is that shes held hostage in Gaza and not dead, on the street of the kibbutz [community] where we grew up.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the president had directed his team to work with Israel on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, an American citizen who lived on the kibbutz Nir Oz that was attacked in the early morning on Saturday, said his 35-year-old son Sagui Dekel Chen is missing. The kibbutz  typically a tight-knit, farming community  was destroyed, of 400 residents there are 160 confirmed survivors, he said.

Kibbutz Nir Oz is no more.  It was destroyed in a barbaric inhuman attack, in which dozens of my friends, my neighbors were killed. Many dozens more are either known to be hostages or missing, he said.

The survivors call this a pogrom, Dekel-Chen said, using the term for an organized massacre where Jewish communities have been historically targeted.

Dekel-Chen, originally from Connecticut, appealed for people the U.S. government and Congress to do what they can on the side of good here.

Were waiting for Sagui to come home. We do not know what fate he met.

The families represented at the press conference said their loved ones likely held by Gaza include young men, fathers, Nettas mother Adreinne, and uniformed Israeli soldiers.

Ruby Chen, whose son Itay is an Israeli soldier missing in action, appealed for the U.S. and Israel to pressure the international community to demand military hostages be treated as Prisoners of War.

The last time that we heard from him was Saturday morning, where he said that they were under attack, Chen said of contact with his son.

With no confirmation that Itay is alive, wounded or dead, Chen is assuming he is being held in Gaza and then he is by definition, POW, a U.S. citizen, an Israeli citizen.

What we are asking  for the U.S. government, as well as from the captives Hamas is to treat him as a POW, should be treated according to international law, meaning having someone visit him, have a doctor to see him, have a U.N. representative see him as well.

Chen, who has family living in New York and New Jersey, told the group of journalists not to think of Itay and the other families as a headline, and described how his son had volunteered to stay on his military base on the Gaza border over the weekend of Oct. 7 so he could be with his extended family the following weekend to celebrate the bar mitzvah of his younger brother.

And as I said before, we want to go back to being a family. We want this to end as soon as possible, Chen said.

We still hope that that celebration with my sisters and my family will happen in the near future.

Sharon Udasin contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Adrienne Neta, a 66-year-old native of California, was sitting on the front porch of her home in Israel speaking to her kids by phone when Hamas militants arrived without warning on Saturday.

The last thing Nahar Neta heard was his moms screams.

It is our hopewhich is a little bit ridiculous at this stage to saybut the optimistic scenario here is that shes held hostage in Gaza and not dead on the street of the kibbutz where we grew up, Nahar told CNN on Tuesday.

Like dozens of other American families, the Netas have been left in the dark, largely forcing them to rely on cell phone footage and survivors accounts to try and piece together Adriennes potential fate. The Israeli rescue agency Zaka said Monday that 100 bodies had been recovered from the kibbutz where Neta lived, Fox News reported.

We dont believe she is among the dead, but everything is a blur and no one has any concrete information, Nahar told Fox News.

An Israeli soldier stands among cars damaged by rockets in Israel. Reuters/Ronen Zvulun

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday afternoon that the American death toll in the war had reached 14a startling number that is projected to only grow in the coming days, multiple U.S. officials have said. At least 20 Americans are missing, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Feared to be among the dead or hostages are Judith Ranaan, 59, and her daughter, 18-year-old Natalie Ranaan, who left their Chicago home to celebrate the Jewish High Holidays with loved ones in Israel and havent been heard from since Hamas first infiltrated Israel.

According to sources, American citizens Natalie Raanan & her mother Judith are both missing & believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. They were visiting family members in Southern Israel, where they were last heard of. @POTUS @SecBlinken @StateSPEHA @usembassyjlm pic.twitter.com/U17t6jL7ns  Hostage Aid Worldwide (@HostageAid) October 10, 2023

The pair seemingly vanished around noon on Saturday, family members told the Chicago Sun-Times. Theyd reportedly been staying in Nahal Oz, a kibbutza small agricultural townabout 1.5 miles from the Gaza border, where Hamas surprise attack quickly overran Israeli defenses, leaving many unarmed Israelis and tourists vulnerable to murder or abduction.

Confirmed among the dead were Deborah and Shlomi Matias, a couple killed as they shielded their 16-year-old son from gunfire inside their home in Israel, their family said in a statement to the Boston Globe. Deborah, 50, was raised in Missouri but lived in Southern Israel.

Deborahs dad, Ilan Troen, told the Globe his daughter and son-in-laws death wasnt merely an attack, but a pogrom. He said the couple had received a phone alert warning that a Hamas missile strike may hit near them in 45 seconds. They survived that blast and called Troen, who recalled his daughter saying she heard Arabic being yelled and gunfire ringing out.

Troen said he never heard from his daughter again. She was able to save her son Rotem in her final moments alive, however, with Troen saying Rotem survived a shot to his abdomen thanks to his parents sacrifice.

Rotem reportedly texted his grandpa that he survived after hiding for 12 hours under his parents dead bodies and under a bed. He remained in the building despite it being set on fire by Hamas militantsa tactic Troen speculated was used to flush out survivors from the building so they could be shot dead.

The U.S. citizens Deborah and Shlomi Matias were killed in Saturday's Hamas attack against Israel.



Their 16-year-old son Rotem was covered by his mother's body and survived the attack despite suffering a gunshot wound to the stomach.



He was rescued 12 hours later



 pic.twitter.com/Rxhu7e0GY8  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 10, 2023

Troen said rescuers found Rotem hiding under a blanket, covered in gray and black soot from smoke.

The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old originally from Virginia who also previously lived in California, said they were fearing the worst after hearing eyewitness accounts of their sons arm being blown off by Hamas gunfire.

Goldberg-Polin is believed to have been kidnapped at a music festival and taken hostage after using any resources he could to repel Hamas attackers, according to his mom, Rachel Goldberg, who spoke to CNN on Tuesday.

The festival was one of Hamas first targets in Saturdays assault, with Israeli officials saying as many as 260 people were massacred at the site near the Gaza borderwhere a day of dancing, drinking, and music quickly turned into a nightmare. Danielle Ben Senior, a 34-year-old Israeli-American, was also missing from the same music festivalwith all calls to her phone going unanswered since Saturday, her family told CNN.

Goldberg-Polin, who moved to Israel in 2008, was reportedly celebrating his birthday and completion of his mandatory military service. Once Hamas infiltrated the festival, he took off running with other festival-goers and hid in a bomb-shelter, dodging bullets and grenades along the way, his mom said.

Hersh Golberg-Polin. The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook

Hersh and his good friend were trying to throw grenades back out of the bomb shelter, Goldberg said. They were fish in a barrel, sitting in this bomb shelter.

Survivors told Golderg-Polins relatives that he remained calm amid the death and destruction. His final texts to his parents were Im sorry and I love you.

Hayim Katsman, a 32-year-old academic who held a Ph.D. in international studies from the University of Washington, was identified by friends and family as another American killed in Israel. He was reportedly shot dead as he hid in a closet near the Gaza border, where hed been conducting research.

Avital Alajem, a friend who was hiding in the same closet, said she was captured by Hamas fighters along with two children, but were later released. She credited Katsman with saving her life in an interview with CNN.

Hayim Katsman. University of Washington

Francis Abugbilla, a former classmate and roommate of Katsman, told the Seattle Times he believes he texted Katsman just moments before he was gunned down.

On Saturday morning, I texted him, Hey Hayim, I hope you are OK amidst the current situation, Abugbilla said. He read it, but I didnt hear back from him.

The family of Itay Chen, a native New Yorker who is feared to have been captured by Hamas while fighting on the front lines, have diverted their anger directly to U.S. officials in Israel.

The Independent reported Tuesday that theyd joined a protest outside the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem to demand answers about the whereabouts of their 19-year-old sonwho was officially deemed missing in action by the Israel Defense Forces.

We are asking the president to do what he can in order to bring our kids back safely home, Ruby Chen told USA Today. Biden needs to step up for all childrenall citizens deserve protection, and kids need to know that the United States is behind them 100%.

Itay Chen. YouTube via NBC News

Ruby told CNN that no one had seen Itay in a hospital or a morgue, making him believe his son is a prisoner of warand he fears Hamas wont treat him as required under international law.

I think that the U.S. at a minimum needs to demand that any POW needs to be treated according to international law, which states that you need to take care of the prisoner, you need to identify him, you need to allow the Red Cross or the U.N. to visit and see what is the status of that prisoner, he said. We unfortunately do not get that treatment at the moment.

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The mother of the Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin has detailed her sons chilling final moments of freedom before he was snatched from a music festival in Israel. Citing eyewitnesses, Rachel Goldberg told CNN on Tuesday that her 23-year-old son was struck by gunfire as he tried to flee the event as it was raided by Hamas. His arm was blown off from his elbow down, she said. He tourniqueted his own arm. Goldberg-Polin said festival-goers hid in a bomb shelter, but still had to dodge gunfire and grenades. Hersh and his good friend were trying to throw grenades back out of bomb shelter, she said. Goldberg-Polin was subsequently captured and hasnt been heard from since. His final text was to say I love you and Im sorry, his mom said. Goldberg-Polins parents said theyre holding out hope he turns up aliveeven as President Joe Biden delivered the grim news Monday that 11 Americans were confirmed dead in the conflict. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the death toll is expected to grow.

Read it at New York Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
An American woman who had five family members were taken hostage during Hamas' attacks on Israel told CBS News about the experience and the moment she and her family realized their loved ones were missing.

Abbey Onn said that she was in her Israel home, north of Tel Aviv, when she and other family members got messages from relatives in southern Israel. Her five family members  Ofer Kalderon, 50, Sahar Kalderon, 16, Noya Dan, 13, Erez Kalderon, 12 and Carmela Dan, 80  lived in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in the area. It was one of the towns that was attacked by rocket fire, land incursions and more on Saturday in a series of violent attacks that have killed hundreds of people.

"We last heard from them on WhatsApp in the middle of the day on Saturday," Onn said. "We got messages throughout the morning that Hamas was in the kibbutz, that there was gunfire, and that they were in their homes, that they had overturned everything in their house and that they were afraid for their lives."

Onn, who moved from Brookline, Massachusetts, to Tel Aviv eight years ago, according to CBS affiliate WBZ, said that she believes the Israeli army eventually told them to stop using their phones, so the family members stopped communicating. But when other family in the area "came out of the bomb shelters, after Hamas had burned and murdered half the kibbutz, they understood that these five members were not there," Onn said.

Abbey Onn's family members. / Credit: Abbey Onn

It wasn't until the next day that they understood what had happened to the missing relatives.

"It was on Sunday that we saw on Instagram, on social media, the video of Erez in the hands of Hamas, which made us understand that they had been taken captive and that they're being held hostage in Gaza," Onn said.

Onn said that her family members have been in the Nir Oz area for generations. Carmela Dan's father moved to Israel a century ago and built the kibbutz "literally from the ground up," Onn said. Dan moved to the kibbutz "60 years ago," Onn said.

"Since then, she's become the matriarch of a major clan of people," Onn said. "They are family oriented, they love the land, they're deeply, deeply connected to Nir Oz and to this area and to peace. Carmela was the mother and grandmother not only to the people in these pictures, but to a much larger community. They loved the simple things, they loved celebrating things, they loved where they lived."

Onn said that beyond her family's loss, the kibbutz has been destroyed.

"Nir Oz is no longer," she said. "It is an unthinkable atrocity that from one day to the next, that could happen."

It's been confirmed that hostages have been taken, with the Israeli government saying that more than 100 people have been taken captive. That number includes women, children and the elderly. Hamas previously vowed that the group would kill one of its Israeli hostages in retaliation for any Israeli strikes against civilian infrastructure carried out without warning. American citizens are believed to be among those taken.

Since the violence broke out, Israel has tightened the blockade around the Gaza Strip, where 2 million Palestinian people live. CBS News' Holly Williams reported earlier Tuesday that Israel is planning a ground invasion of the area, which has been hammered by airstrikes since Saturday's violence.

Onn said that she is hoping for a diplomatic solution.

"This is not the first time this country has been up against this kind of challenge," said Onn. "And they have an army and a government that knows how to solve this. And they just need to do that. ... These are civilians who are being terrorized and we want them brought home."

What would a ground invasion of Gaza look like?

Israel music festival survivor recounts escape from Hamas

Witness testifies Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to commit fraud
Much like the rest of Chicago, over the last few years my West Town neighborhood has become speed hump-happy. (Speed bumps, on the other hand, are the shorter and, for lack of a better word, bumpier installations bolted down in parking lots and alleys.) Even Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed support for speed humps.

However, the state of Illinois does not officially recognize speed humps as a traffic control device, which is why several cities and towns dont even consider them. Though we widely implement speed humps across Chicago, there are better ways to make our side streets safe.

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Im not knocking the effectiveness of speed humps. Im all for slowing down traffic and secretly wish any driver who dares go more than 30 mph fall victim to some of the larger speed humps in my neighborhood, namely what I like to call the Leavitt Liftoff and Wolcott Whopper. So, please, dont write this off as some anti-speed hump screed from a 30-year-old going on 90.

Speed humps, however, are rife with problems that our wards already acknowledge: They slow emergency vehicles and equipment, increase traffic noise, may cause serious accidents and increase the citys liability for those accidents, along with being difficult to resurface and maintain. Several wards require that 70% to 90% of affected residents sign petitions prior to implementation, which makes sense because changes in street conditions may also affect property values. My ward, the 1st, is addressing traffic safety through the Complete Streets project, but it apparently no longer uses petitions for speed humps, seemingly content to bump-ify streets by sending an email with a desired location without regard to a specific blocks input.

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There are several disadvantages to speed humps that aldermanic petitions fail to disclose or clarify. Upticks in fossil fuel emissions due to accelerations harm the environment, and speed humps potentially create drainage issues. Importantly, emergency response vehicles lose up to 10 seconds per hump; an ambulance going over a speed hump can aggravate injury in patients and make intervention by health professionals more difficult in transit. One study done in Turkey suggests that more people die of sudden cardiac disorders due to delays produced by traffic-calming conditions.

Aside from being an obstacle to emergency response vehicles, the design of our speed humps, often with rough entry and exit gradients or abrupt transitions, are not bike-friendly. And, superficially, they are downright ugly to look at.

In the winter, when our streets are slushed or chalked with salt residue, they can be difficult to spot, even with painted warnings, making them a wintertime hazard. Too many of our humps are pockmarked and poorly maintained.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Heres the thing: There are other solutions furnished by the Chicago Department of Transportations Tools for Safer Streets Guide that are not plagued by issues pertaining to emissions, noise pollution, maintenance or emergency response times that we could use instead. Further, these other effective traffic-calming measures contribute to our residential streets with natural beauty and water management, instead of just plopping asphalt atop asphalt.

For example, curb bump-outs, bump-outs or chicanes  which are staggered midblock bump-outs  reduce speed and traffic, accommodate emergency vehicles, and can be infilled with landscaping, though these measures reduce parking. Neighborhood traffic circles or mini-roundabouts  circular islands that dot intersections of residential streets  also calm traffic while permitting foliage to grow in their centers.

The bonus: Adding foliage to traffic-calming measures may also increase property values while having an ameliorating effect on crime. Additionally, these alternative designs allow for more permeable surfacing, which mitigates stormwater runoff, an increasingly severe threat to the citys stormwater system.

Instead of continuing to raise speed humps on residential streets, we should petition for effective, sustainable and visually appealing traffic-calming conditions at our disposal that accommodate emergency response vehicles and cyclists. Traffic-calming applications generally require residential approval or stem from participatory budgeting.

For those blocks that have already achieved consensus with speed humps, it may be nice, in this age of fractured community ties, to once again meet our neighbors and smooth things out, so to speak.

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Tony Walner, a Chicagoan, is a recent graduate of the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Abbey Onn, an American whose family has been living in Israel for eight years, said several of her loved ones were brutally abducted by Hamas, a terror group that invaded Israel over the weekend snatching up men, women and children as hostages.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends First Tuesday morning, Onn said one of her missing family members is a 12-year-old  the same age as her own child. Onn said the family later saw a video of the 12-year-old being dragged away by a Hamas terrorist, describing the situation as a "parents worst nightmare" and adding that she is "heartbroken."

"I feel heartbroken," Onn told host Carley Shimkus. "I have a child the same age in the other room. It is any parents worst nightmare. It is inconceivable that this is happening in this day, in this time in Israel."

"As an American that is here [in Israel] I feel proud to be an American and Israeli. I want people to understand this isnt political. These are humans. These are peoples grandparents and children, and husbands and wives."

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES IN HAMAS' ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Abbey Onn, an American whose family has been living in Israel for eight years, says several of her family members were brutally abducted by Hamas.

Onn said her 80-year-old cousin, Carmela Dan, was taken alongside her son-in-law and three of her grandchildren who were living with her at the time. They were later identified as Ofer Kalderon, 50, Sahar Kalderon, 16, Erez Kalderon, 16, and Noya Dan, 12.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Onn said she called her family members that were living near the Gaza border just moments before Hamas terrorists invaded the area and surrounded their apartment.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES MASSIVE AIRSTRIKES ON DOWNTOWN GAZA CITY, NETANYAHU SAYS: 'WE HAVE ONLY STARTED'

"We woke up Saturday to sirens and began communicating with family members in the south and very quickly had learned that Hamas had entered the country on foot, and in many other ways, and that there were thousands of terrorists," Onn said, noting she later heard news reports that the building where her family was staying had been burned and destroyed.

"We understood terrorists were in the house. They could hear gunfire and we lost contact with them," she added. "It was a day later that we saw a video of our 12-year-old cousin in the hands of Hamas."

Onn said she was trying her best to "stay optimistic" but said she was aware of Hamas threats to start executing hostages.

"Were doing everything we can to work with the [U.S.] government and the State Department. I have amazing friends and family who are making sure we are following the protocol, but I am listening to the news and hear what is being said about the release of hostages. I am trying my best to stay optimistic and believe that there will be some kind of diplomatic solution to this."

She added: "I am going to hold out hope until there isnt any."

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Hamas is believed to have taken more than 130 hostages since their surprise attack on Saturday morning. Subsequent rockets fired into Israel from Gaza killed at least 1,000 Israelis with more than 2,000 wounded.

The rocket attacks targeted several different cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.





Original article source: American woman says family has been taken hostage by Hamas in Israel: 'Any parents worst nightmare'
WASHINGTON  The vast majority of Democratic lawmakers and top party officials are united in their support for Israel following the devastating terror attack by Hamas over the weekend that has taken the lives of more than 1,000 Israelis and counting.

President Joe Biden, speaking at the White House on Tuesday, called Hamas actions pure unadulterated evil and compared them to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group.

We must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel and we will make sure it has what it needs to defend its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack, Biden said, confirming that 14 Americans are among the dead.

Congressional Democrats were quick to issue statements of support for Israel over the weekend as harrowing stories about Hamas brutality emerged. They include the murders of hundreds of attendees at a music festival in southern Israel, indiscriminate shooting of civilians and the kidnapping of Israeli women and children.

On Tuesday, 390 lawmakers co-sponsored an overwhelmingly bipartisan resolution in the House denouncing the barbaric war launched by Hamas and reaffirming Israels right to self-defense.

The outpouring of support for Israel in Congress included leading progressives who have been vocal advocates of an independent Palestinian state and the rights of all Palestinians.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) condemned the attack and said, There is no justification for terrorism ever, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) did the same and further warned that innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in condemning a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square on Sunday that was connected to the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Some at the rally chanted, Resistance is justified when people are occupied.

The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, Ocasio Cortez said in a statement to Politico. It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.

Democrats pro-Israel stance is notable given that sympathies within the party have trended more with the Palestinians in recent years: Many on the left have long criticized Israel for its treatment of Palestinians in territory controlled by Israel, which groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called apartheid. According to a Gallup poll conducted in March, 49% of Democrats said they sympathized with Palestinians versus 38% who said they sympathized with the Israelis, an 11-point increase over the past year.

The U.S. provides billions of dollars a year in financial and military aid to Israel, including munitions for its Iron Dome missile defense system that protects Israeli skies from rocket attacks.

Still, not every Democratic lawmaker is staunchly backing Israel in the wake of the attacks.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the Houses only Palestinian American, drew harsh criticism for referring to Israel as an apartheid state and calling for the U.S. to cut funding to the country.

The path to peace in the region must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance, Tlaib said in a lengthy statement issued on Sunday. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) went a bit further, calling on Saturday for ending all U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.

Their statements didnt sit well with Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), who accused both congresswomen of making reprehensible and repulsive comments following the attack on Sunday.

Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, Torres said in a statement. It is reprehensible and repulsive.

Aides to Tlabi and Bush did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the responses theyve gotten to their statements.

At least 830 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israels retaliatory airstrikes and thousands more have been wounded, according to authorities there. More than 200,000 have fled their homes, according to the United Nations.

The Israeli government has vowed to launch a ground operation into Gaza in order to eliminate the threat from Hamas, likely leading to the death of more civilians.

In his speech on Tuesday, Biden drew a distinction between Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, and the plight of the more than 2 million Palestinians who live there.

Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self- determination, said the president. Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed, with no regard to who pays the price.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the conflict in Israel, in Washington

By Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Until last weekend, the Biden administration was counting on the Middle East to remain relatively calm while it quietly pursued its main policy goals there: brokering Israeli-Saudi detente and containing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Those hopes were shattered when Palestinian Hamas militants infiltrated from Gaza and rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, killing hundreds and abducting scores more. Israeli forces have retaliated by pounding the coastal enclave, killing hundreds and imposing a total blockade there.

After keeping the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict at arm's length, President Joe Biden now finds himself thrust into a crisis likely to reshape his Middle East policy, and into an uneasy alliance with far-right Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is dispatching U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Israeli leaders this week in a show of support.

It is a politically risky situation for a president seeking re-election in 2024, one that could have significant implications for world oil prices and pull U.S. resources and attention away from what until now has been his defining foreign policy challenge - Russia's war in Ukraine.

The surprise attack by Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the United States, has dealt a blow to Biden's efforts to broker a landmark normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia and complicated Washington's approach toward Iran, Hamas' longtime benefactor.

While U.S. officials say that their bid to establish ties between longtime foes Israel and Saudi Arabia can survive the crisis, many experts take a more pessimistic view.

Quite simply, all efforts at normalization are on hold for the foreseeable future, said Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, contradicting the official U.S. government line.

Bringing together Washingtons two most powerful allies in the region was seen in the U.S. administration as a way to bolster a bulwark against Tehran and counter China's inroads in the oil-rich Gulf.

White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters he would not go so far as to say normalization talks had been paused or were on the back burner but that Washingtons focus for now was on helping Israel defend itself.

Jonathan Panikoff, the U.S. governments former deputy national intelligence officer on the Middle East, said the Arab street is not going to be supportive of normalization after an extended war in which Israeli strikes destroy much of Gaza.

Echoing that sentiment, a source familiar with Saudi thinking said it would be difficult to "talk normalization during another Arab-Israeli war."

The crisis has also stirred criticism of the Biden administration's Israeli-Saudi diplomatic effort for what has been widely seen as setting aside the Palestinians' quest for statehood.

Khaled Elgindy, a former Palestinian negotiations adviser, accused the U.S. of leading a normalization process that bypassed the Palestinians.

That sort of neglect is part of why we're seeing what we're seeing, said Elgindy, now at the Middle East Institute.

Hamas was in part delivering a message that the Palestinians could not be ignored if Israel wanted security and that any Saudi deal would slam the brakes on the kingdoms recent rapprochement with Iran, according to Palestinian officials and a regional source.

U.S. officials have said the time was not right to attempt a resumption of long-suspended Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, due largely to the intransigence of both sides.

Longer-term, Riyadh might return to the negotiating table for U.S. security guarantees to safeguard against Iran, Panikoff said.

The Biden administration - even while helping Israel battle Hamas and free scores of hostages, including Americans  could try to craft a strategy to keep alive the option of Palestinian statehood, analysts say.

But Netanyahu, who has already resisted compromises with the Palestinians sought by both Washington and Riyadh, will be loath to make concessions, given the rising death toll and the hostage crisis he faces.

WHITE HOUSE CAUGHT OFF GUARD

The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a little more than a week ago at a conference, signaling the administration could focus more on priorities such as the Ukraine conflict and Chinas growing clout in the Indo-Pacific.

Bidens aides who had been driving the effort to normalize Israeli-Saudi ties, in return for a U.S. defense pact that Riyadh is seeking, were caught off guard by the Hamas onslaught, U.S. officials said. The initiative was already being questioned in Congress, largely because of the Saudis human rights record.

The Hamas assault is already drawing the administration into deeper engagement in the volatile Middle East, with Biden promising to rush additional military assistance to Israel and deter any entity from exploiting the situation.

At the White House, Biden spoke of the "pure unadulterated evil" unleashed by Hamas and described in graphic detail atrocities committed against Israelis. "We stand with Israel," he vowed.

The immediate challenge is preventing the war from spiraling into a regional conflict, administration officials say, especially preventing the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah from opening a second front on Israel's northern border.

Biden aides since have been disappointed by the Saudis failure to denounce the Hamas attack, a U.S. official said.

The United States pressed for Saudi condemnation, most likely in a phone call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Prince Faisal bin Farhan, but the Saudi foreign minister pushed back, according to the source familiar with Saudi thinking.

"Saudi is not close to Hamas, but they cannot ignore how Israel blockaded Gaza for years and what they have been doing in the West Bank," the source told Reuters.

By contrast, the United Arab Emirates, which along with Gulf neighbor Bahrain recognized Israel in 2020 under a deal brokered by the Trump administration called the Abraham Accords, labeled the Hamas attack a grave escalation."

Citing mutual national interests, Ebtesam Al Ketbi, the president of Abu Dhabi-based think tank Emirates Policy Centre, said the two Arab states' budding relations with Israel had endured previous rounds of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and they will probably endure the current one.

AN EMBOLDENED IRAN?

In the wake of the attack, the U.S. may also be forced to review its approach to Iran, which lauded the Hamas assault but denied a direct role.

Since taking office, Biden's policy toward the Islamic Republic has been marked by a failed effort to negotiate a return to the Iran nuclear deal. Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon.

U.S. officials said Iran was complicit in the attack because of its longstanding support for Hamas but they had no evidence directly implicating Tehran.

Iran could be emboldened to step up its shadow war with Israel after seeing a militant raid pierce the Israeli militarys reputation of invincibility, and use its regional proxies to target U.S. interests in the region, analysts said.

Iran may be less deterred nowadays, rightly or not, because it views the administration as less willing to engage in a military conflict or take actions that risk one, said Panikoff, now at the Atlantic Council think tank.

Biden has also had to fend off Republican criticism of last months prisoner swap with Iran, which U.S. officials suggested could be a confidence-building step for further discussions, and the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds restricted to humanitarian purposes.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland in Washington; Alexander Cornwell and Parisa Hafezi in the Dubai and Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh; writing by Matt Spetalnick. Editing by Heather Timmons, Howard Goller and Gerry Doyle)
By James Pomfret, Joe Cash, Chen Lin

HONG KONG/BEIJING/SINGAPORE (Reuters) -When China announced a surprise deal restoring ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran this year, it signalled Beijing's desire to be a diplomatic heavyweight in the Middle East.

The crisis in Israel and Gaza threatens to expose the limits of that ambition.

After the March Saudi-Iran agreement, which China brokered, Chinese media hailed Beijing's rising profile in a region long dominated by Washington. Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, said the country would continue to play a constructive role in handling global "hotspot issues".

But after the killings of more than 900 Israelis in coordinated assaults by the Islamic group Hamas, China's response was muted.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman repeatedly stopped short of condemning Hamas, instead calling for de-escalation and for Israel and Palestine to pursue a "two-state solution" for an independent Palestine. China's leader Xi Jinping has been silent on the issue.

"Certainly it does poke a hole in the type of propaganda ... of China being this kind of massive player in the Middle East," said Bill Figueroa, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and an expert on China-Middle East relations.

China's neutrality has drawn criticism from U.S. and Israeli officials, with some saying it undermines Beijing's claims to be an unbiased peace broker in the region.

That should not come as a surprise, say analysts. Chinese diplomacy has long been risk-averse, and the spiralling conflict between Israel and Hamas puts its diplomats in a difficult spot, given China's historic support for the Palestinians and its rivalry with the United States.

We have made it clear that China is highly concerned about the continued escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and urges all parties concerned to immediately cease fire and stop fighting. China is willing to maintain communication with all parties and make unremitting efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East," Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday.

PALESTINE SENSITIVITY

Since the end of China's nearly three years of COVID lockdowns, Xi has launched a diplomatic push aimed at countering the United States and its allies, who he says seek to contain and suppress his country.

Beijing has deepened alliances with non-Western led multilateral groups such as the BRICS bloc of nations, while hewing more closely to Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine and strengthening ties with countries in the Middle East and the Global South.

Although there is a chance to build on its Iran-Saudi success, China is unlikely to engage deeply in the current crisis.

One factor is a longstanding policy of non-interference that can sometimes clash with China's aim of acting as a great power on the global stage.

"China under Xi (Jinping) wants to be respected and admired everywhere, including in the Middle East, but it is ultimately unwilling to do what it will take to resolve the really hard regional security issues," said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London. "It goes for the low-hanging fruits and basically stops there."

China has previously worked on Israel-Palestine issues.

China's special envoy on the Middle East, Zhai Jun, has engaged officials from Israel and the Palestinian Authority - which governs in the occupied West Bank - as well as the Arab League and EU in the last year to discuss a two-state solution and recognition for Palestine at the United Nations.

But China's longstanding regional relationships, including with the Palestinians, limit its options.

Some Chinese scholars recently criticised the marginalisation of the Palestinians and a U.S.-led deal to normalise ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as root causes fuelling the crisis.

"The most important external factor behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the United States' attempt to enforce the Abraham Accords," wrote Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Institute for Middle East Studies of Shanghai International Studies University, in an interview published by a Chinese media outlet. "The achievement of peace in the Middle East region and the just settlement of the question of Palestine are inseparable."

A LIMIT TO RISK TAKING

Condemning Hamas could also put China at odds with Russia and Iran.

"It is unclear who is behind Hamas, and it very possibly is Chinas partner(s)," said Yun Sun, Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington. "Russia benefits in the sense that the U.S. will be distracted, and Iran is a likely candidate. For China to denounce the attack also means China will be obligated to take actions if and when the culprit is named.

Although China is one of the few countries with leverage over Iran - it has nearly $400 billion of planned investments in the country in the coming decades - there is scepticism in Israel that Beijing will step up.

"China doesn't use its voice, its heft on the international stage to change things for the better," said Tuvia Gering, a China researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel.

The Asian giant's oil imports and investments in the Middle East, including telecoms and infrastructure as part of Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, means Beijing desires peace, but there are clear limits to Xi's willingness to take risks.

"China is very successful in a stable environment in the Middle East when it's possible to broker reconciliation agreements between Saudi Arabia and Iran," said Jean-Loup Samaan, Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore.

"But when it comes to conflict management, that's a very different situation," Samaan added. "And I don't think China ever wanted to play that role."

(Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee and Gerry Doyle)
Angela Rye reacted to Sexyy Reds public support of Donald Trump by sharing facts about his past actions, which she called racist. She is calling on Black Americans who support the former president in his bid for the 2024 general election to familiarize themselves with his record.

To Sexyy Red and everyone else whos found themselves in the camp for Blacks for Trump, I would invite you to look into his record, Rye said in videos posted on social media. I would invite you to look beyond barbershop conversation, people who are just shooting a breeze  or as some people say, shooting the sh*t.

If thats what youre gonna do, let at least the sh*t be facts. Let it at least be fact-checked, she added. Let it at least be associated with his actual record. When you look and see what Donald Trump actually accomplished for Black people, are you satisfied with that?

Words are powerful and declarations? Even more so. When folks say it with their chests, loud and proudit must be true, RIGHT?! NAH. Donald Trump is no different than Christopher Columbus. Two lost white men telling you they accomplished something the didnt. In this two pic.twitter.com/6JlMAVuynf  a. rye (@angela_rye) October 6, 2023

Rye cited several instances in which Trump has stood in opposition to members of the Black community. She gave the case of the Central Park Five, later called the Exonerated Five, as an example.

In 1989, the former president placed full-page advertisements in four New York City newspapers, including The New York Times, calling for the state to adopt the death penalty for killers. He said at the time that this was an opinion stated in reaction to the rape and assault of Trisha Meili, a woman who had been jogging in Central Park. Five Black men were wrongfully convicted at the time and later exonerated.

In 2019, Trump said he would not apologize for his comments about the Central Park Five.

You have people on both sides of that, he said, according to The New York Times. They admitted their guilt.

This echoed his comments on a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, during which a counter-protestor was killed.

This is Part 2 for #SexyyRed and other Blacks for Trump: what in the hell do you have to lose? EVERYTHING. I heard yall on the stimulus piece. I have something coming on that ASAP, but I wanted you to get this history first.  pic.twitter.com/QmQCD8AywM  a. rye (@angela_rye) October 8, 2023

Rye also cited Trump settling after the Department of Justice sued him for housing discrimination in 1973. The lawsuit was based on evidence collected by the New York City Human Rights Division, which alleged that Black people were told no apartments were available when they went to Trump buildings. At the same time, their white counterparts were offered units, according to NPR.

Rye also shared Trumps comment about Black accountants working at Trump Castle and Trump Plaza.

Laziness is a trait in Blacks. It really is, I believe that. Its not anything they can control, he was quoted saying in John R. ODonnells 2016 book entitled Trumped! The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump  His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall.

Rye also mentioned Trumps track record in questioning Barack Obamas citizenship and Kamala Harris qualifications in politics. Her videos were posted in reaction to rapper Sexyy Red, who voiced her support for Trump on an episode of Theo Vons This Past Weekend podcast last week. She referred to pandemic relief stimulus checks approved by Congress and his sense of humor as reasons why she supports him.
A social media influencer in Angola has had her prison sentence increased to two years for "insulting" President Joao Lourenco on TikTok.

Ana da Silva Miguel, popularly known as Neth Nahara, was initially sentenced by a court to six months in August.

However, an appeals court ruled that the sentence was too lenient and raised it to two years.

Ms Miguel accused the president on her TikTok account of "anarchy and disorganisation", local media reported.

She also blamed the president for the lack of schools, housing and employment in the oil-rich southern African state.

President Lourenco was re-elected for second term in August last year in a closely fought election that extended the ruling MPLA party's decades-long dominance.

It has been in power since independence in 1975, and is accused of leading a repressive regime.

The appeals court in the capital, Luanda, said that Ms Miguel had used offensive words against the president, and the fact that she had the ability to influence public opinion made her conduct "more objectionable".

She had pleaded for leniency on the grounds that she was a first-time offender, a mother of young children, and regretted her remarks.

But the court dismissed her plea, and went further to order her to pay President Lourenco $1,200 (1,000) for the "damage" caused to his reputation.

Judge Salomao Raimundo Kulanda described the president as "sovereign", and said the TikToker was aware of this.

Ms Miguel has more than 230,000 followers on TikTok and her videos attract thousands of views.

Her lawyer told Portuguese news outlet, Lusa, that this was the first time a person had been convicted in Angola for something they had posted on TikTok.

The lawyer added that the ruling was final. An appeal to the Supreme Court could not be made for a sentence that was less than three years.

The state prosecutor had asked for a harsher punishment, saying the initial six-month sentence was too "benevolent" and Ms Miguel was likely to put similar posts on social media again.

Angola is one of Africa's biggest oil exporters but most of its people live in poverty.

It has recently been hit by a wave of protests over the rising cost of living.

In August, campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the security forces of unlawfully killing at least 15 people, mostly government critics, since the beginning of the year.

President Lourenco in June sacked the economic minister following deadly protests over a reduction in a fuel subsidy, which led to a spike in prices.
Theres now a third choice in the United States for an updated COVID-19 vaccine, from Novavax.

The federal government signed off in mid-September on new shots from Pfizer and Moderna that target a recently circulating variant of the coronavirus. But final authorization for the similarly updated Novavax vaccine didnt come until last week.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Oct. 3 that anyone 12 and older can get the updated Novavax shot, as long as they havent already received an updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

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Those whove never gotten vaccinated against the virus will need two doses of Novavax, the FDA said, and the immunocompromised may need more. Dosage also varies for the Pfizer and Moderna shots, which have been approved for anyone 6 months and older.

Novavax, a more traditional, protein-based vaccine, offers an alternative to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that utilize new mRNA technology that teaches cells to make the proteins needed for an immune response.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions advisory panel that discussed the updated vaccines highlighted the urgent need for a protein-based option, John C. Jacobs, Novavax president and CEO, said in a news release.

Data collected by the company shows between 25% and 30% of people prefer a protein-based vaccine, Silvia Taylor, Novavaxs chief corporate affairs and advocacy officer, told CNBC.

We look forward to meeting this demand and more in the wake of new variants and rising COVID cases, Taylor said in a statement to the business news channel. Novavax reportedly started shipping doses Monday.

With the end of the national pandemic emergency, COVID-19 vaccinations are now commercialized. That made for a rocky rollout for the Pfizer and Moderna shots, which have not been widely available or always covered by insurance as required.

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Wall Street analysts see Novavax as able to catch up and compete this fall with Pfizer and Moderna, CNBC said, even though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said around 4 million updated COVID-19 vaccinations were received in September.

The reason for their optimism is that Novavaxs updated vaccine received broader authorization than previous versions, CNBC reported. Last years Novavax booster shot was limited by the CDC to those 18 and older who cannot or will not receive mRNA vaccines.

This time, the CDC said there was no need for an additional review by its advisory panel.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said the updated Novavax vaccine addresses currently circulating variants to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.

Marks said the FDAs authorization of Novavax provides an additional COVID-19 vaccine option that meets the FDAs standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization.
Former All-American swimmer Riley Gaines , an outspoken critic of including transgender women in female sports, recently blasted Penn State on social media for canceling her on-campus speech and violating her First Amendment rights  an announcement that apparently caught the university by surprise because it said that never happened.

No event featuring Riley Gaines has ever been canceled at Penn State, the university said in a written statement.

After Gaines allegations spread on several right-wing news sites, Penn State issued a written statement to explain the hosting student organization did not meet the deadline for submitting the required reservation documents. (Penn State repeatedly declined to say when the deadline was.) University leaders said they did not know until Monday night that Gaines planned to speak Tuesday at University Park, and they did not hear from the organization until Tuesday morning.

According to Penn State, the organization did not have confirmation as late as last week that Gaines would attend the event.

The recognized student organization, Turning Point USA at Penn State, did not immediately respond to a CDT message seeking comment. Gaines said via X, formerly known as Twitter, that she did not wholly believe Penn State.

A public relations official with Gaines sent the CDT some 20 pages of an email chain between Gaines team and Penn State, purporting to show confirmation of the event. However, at several points, Penn State officials referred to the events status as a tentative confirmation. A university spokesperson later clarified to the CDT that Gaines team received confirmation of a reservation request, not a confirmation of the booking.

Gaines, a recent 23-year-old graduate from the University of Kentucky, gained prominence for speaking against the inclusion of trans women in womens sports. In 2022, she swam against open trans swimmer Lia Thomas from UPenn and has spoken about her unease in sharing a locker room. (The two tied for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at nationals.)

Gaines has spoken at a Donald Trump rally, endorsed anti-trans legislation and has started The Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, which seeks to create courageous leaders to protect women in America.

The university said Tuesday that staff were in contact with the student organization to take steps to create a safe environment for the event, and Gaines was seen speaking from a megaphone late Tuesday afternoon from the lawn of the HUB-Robeson Center.

Centre LGBT+ posted that its trans affirming space in its center at 204 E. Calder Way, Suite 304, will be open between 4-7 p.m. Tuesday.
NEW YORK  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday condemned what she called antisemitism and bigotry at a controversial pro-Palestinian rally held in Times Square over the weekend.

The firebrand progressive lawmaker, who is a harsh critic of Israel, said supporters of the Palestinians did their cause a disservice by failing to condemn the horrifying Hamas terror attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli citizens.

It should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it. That is a core tenet of solidarity, Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement about the rally.

Ocasio-Cortez denounced some of the protesters who she suggested glorified the attacks.

The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, she said in the statement, which was first reported by Politico.

The controversial rally was promoted by Democratic Socialists of America, a leftist group that has been one of the strongest supporters of Palestinian rights.

Ocasio-Cortez and several other DSA-backed New York elected officials scrambled to distance themselves from the explosive anti-Israel rhetoric as the Jewish state reeled from the worst terror attacks in years.

(The rally) did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation, Ocasio-Cortez said.

In a statement Tuesday, the DSA-NYC chapter said it promoted the rally on X in advance in solidarity with Palestinians.

We understand why many, including our colleagues, were shocked by the timing and tone of this message in a moment of profound fear and grief, said the chapter in a statement. We are sorry for the confusion our post caused and for not making our values explicit.

The DSA-NYC statement went on to call for what it saw as the occupation of the West Bank.

The Queens/Bronx lawmaker and several members of her progressive Squad in Congress have come under intense criticism in the past for slamming Israel as an apartheid state and denouncing the half-century occupation of Palestinian lands.

They have called for a ceasefire and deescalation even as Israel ramps up retaliatory strikes and prepares for what could be a bloody ground assault.

But even many pro-Palestinian lawmakers were scrambling to stay away from the Times Square rally even as they reiterated their criticism of Israel and its retaliatory attacks on Gaza.

My support for Palestinian liberation should never be confused for a celebration of the loss of civilian life, said Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Queens progressive.

_____
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) condemned the Democratic Socialists of Americas New York City chapter for promoting a pro-Palestine protest on X, formerly Twitter, in Times Square on Sunday. Amid the Israel-Hamas violence in Gaza, some protesters shouted antisemitic chants, and stomped on and burned an Israeli flag, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to tell Politico on Monday night that they showed bigotry and callousness. She continued, saying, It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation. NYC-DSA Steering Committee Member Nadia Tykulsker explained that the group supported the gathering because we believe in equality and justice for all Palestinians and Israelis, and we know that war will take more lives. In a separate statement on Monday, Ocasio Cortez called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation to protect civilian lives. In a late Tuesday afternoon response, the NYC-DSA apologized for the timing of their post in support of the rally, and maintained their position regarding an immediate cease-fire, end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the siege on the Gaza Strip, and halt of U.S. military aid in support of apartheid.

Read it at Politico

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Sometimes the best laid plans have to be revisited.

The budget presented last week by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle contained no new taxes or fees. Were pleased, of course, but it would have been shocking to see any of those revenue sweeteners, given the hundreds of millions in federal cash the county government still has at its disposal.

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Of the roughly $1 billion the feds gave the county in response to the pandemic, Cook County has used about $300 million to cover its operations. The remaining $700 million is slated for a host of initiatives  more than 70  aimed mainly at confronting social and economic inequities that have persisted for decades.

Among these are Preckwinkles prized guaranteed-income pilot, which is paying $500 monthly to 3,250 low-income families over two years. Some $42 million of the $700 million is covering the cost of that program.

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Thats just one high-profile example of the dozens of programs the county government painstakingly compiled over more than a year as it decided what to do with that $700 million. Many others wont get off the ground until next year.

Most municipalities quickly spent their federal pandemic funds. The county tried to be thoughtful about how to spend its windfall, most of which is budgeted for the three-year period beginning next year. Preckwinkle takes pride in contrasting her approach to that of other municipal leaders around the country.

We agree. When it comes to spending taxpayer money, thoughtfulness is a laudable attribute. It doesnt happen all that often.

The risk, though, when sitting on a giant pile of cash for this long a period is that emergencies will surface in the interim begging for resources to address. So it is that, while the county government has methodically developed its equity-focused spending blueprint, Chicago and the region are grappling with how to house and take care of busloads of migrants  now a full-blown crisis.

Preckwinkle has proposed budgeting just $10 million for additional costs tied to providing health care to the growing migrant population. Cook County Hospital and other county facilities essentially are the only source of care for families that in many cases are suffering from afflictions related to their arduous journeys or simply havent had the luxury of tending to lingering health problems while fleeing their homelands.

Officials acknowledge the $10 million wont nearly be sufficient based on what theyve been seeing over the past several weeks. The total could be tens of millions more.

Of course, the county is but one local municipality dealing with this humanitarian and fiscal crisis. The city of Chicagos budget hit is expected to be considerably worse  at last word, $300 million or more. Perhaps there will be an even higher estimate tomorrow when Mayor Brandon Johnson presents his budget. Weve invited him to come and discuss these issues with us.

Preckwinkle, who joined us Thursday, told us the county is in early discussions with the city about providing help with sheltering the migrants. But she was clear that the county considers its primary responsibility to be providing health care. In her view, other governments can handle their own loads.

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And, like Johnson, she is calling on the feds to help out more, both with money and a more permanent immigration solution. Shes right to do so. This is a federal responsibility, and the feds under both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed abysmally in addressing border issues festering for decades.

Immigration now looks like a hot-button issue in next years election. But thats over a year from now. Local officials cant wait for D.C. pols to get their immigration marching orders from the voters before acting. Pragmatist that she is, Preckwinkle must know she cant count on the feds to ride to the rescue anytime soon.

So our local governments have to plan for the worst. And right now, we dont see enough evidence of the kind of cooperation that will be needed to see the region through this quagmire. Much is riding on getting in gear, not the least of which is calming what appears to be an increasing number of Chicagoans openly seething about plans or proposals to house the newcomers in their neighborhoods.

Which brings us back to the $700 million the county has earmarked for its equity agenda. Weve asked about what those resources could be used for besides the 72 programs Preckwinkle and Co. are pursuing.

Property tax relief, whether broad-based or targeted? Its complicated, but the answer in some other states has been yes. County staff say the answer to that question is maybe. Preckwinkle was firm regardless. Were not going to do it, she told us.

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A break on property taxes, even for a few years, would be most welcome and could be framed as an equity investment, since no small number of city and suburban homeowners are struggling to afford to stay in their homes in the face of rising taxes and utilities.

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As to redistributing some of the cash earmarked for the 70-plus projects in order to help with the migrant crisis, county staff again hedged on whether thats allowed under the federal rules. Its hard to imagine, though, that a way couldnt be found to help out and also comply with federal guidelines.

Given that we have a full-blown crisis on our hands, Madame President, how about huddling soonest with the mayor and suburban officials and talking about how the county could provide more help outside of its relatively narrow health care mission?

The county surely could do more on the housing front for starters. There are hundreds of millions yet to be put to use.

Preckwinkles equity blueprint contains admirable projects clearly close to her heart. But flexibility is whats needed now.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) criticised the Times Square rally organised in support of Palestine following the attack on Isreal by Hamas, which has killed more than 1,000 people in Israel.

The Sunday rally led to a mountain of criticism against the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which promoted the pro-Palestine rally. Chapter leadership said on Monday that the DSA didnt organise the rally and now several lawmakers connected to the DSA are criticising what was said at the event.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez is one of six DSA members in Congress. She said in a statement shared with The Independent that it should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it. That is a core tenet of solidarity.

The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, she added. It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.

Nadia Tykulsker, a member of the Steering Committee for the New York City DSA, told Politicos New York Playbook that the DSA promoted the rally at the request of a coalition partner because we believe in equality and justice for all Palestinians and Israelis, and we know that war will take more lives.

Ms Tykulsker noted that the group is against targeting civilians.

It is shameful that politicians in our state are exploiting this moment to target a socialist organization and divide the vibrant left in New York  whose sole aim in politics is to grow the power of working people for freedom against exploitation and oppression  instead of focusing our attention where it should be: on the atrocities and tragic loss of life in the region, she said.

Backing Israel is at the core of politics in the Empire State, which has the largest number of Jews outside of Israel in the world. Political leaders in the state often travel to Israel as part of their work to forge connections with Jewish voters at home, Playbook noted.

But the DSA asked candidates for City Council in 2020 to commit to not travel to Israel, which prompted criticism. None of the elected officials connected to the DSA attended the rally.

Queens Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York Assembly and of DSA, told Playbook in a statement that my support for Palestinian liberation should never be confused for a celebration of the loss of civilian life.

I condemn the killing of civilians and rhetoric at a rally [on Sunday] seeking to make light of such deaths, he added.
Judge Charles Simms held a hearing for Brooks Houck who is being charged in connection with Crystal Rogers disappearance at Nelson County Circuit Court. Oct 5, 2023

Brooks Houck's legal defense has filed an appeal to Nelson County Circuit Court judge's decision to keep his bond at $10 million.

The appeal will be taken to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

In an emergency motion filed by Houck's legal team, attorney Brian Butler argued $10 million is "excessive, punitive, and serves no purpose other than to punish Mr. Houck by keeping him incarcerated while this matter is pending."

He had asked for Houck's bond to be reduced to $500,000 with GPS monitoring.

During Houck's arraignment last week, prosecutor Shane Young said Houck had family members record secret grand jury proceedings in 2015. Young also said investigators had recovered a gun sold by Houck's brother under an assumed name that could be a match with the weapon in the killing of Rogers' father, Tommy Ballard.

In his Monday decision, Chief Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III cited the need to "adequately protect cooperating witness(es) and other individuals associated with this case."

"The Court is gravely concerned for the safety of any such witness(es) and any other individuals connected to this case," the order stated.

In that order, the judge cites Houck's access to "substantial financial resources" as well as the underlying flight risk of most defendants who face severe penalties such as multiple decades, or life, in prison. In addition to describing concern for witnesses, the judge referenced the Houck family's recording of grand jury testimony.

Houck is charged with murder "by intentionally or under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life wantonly causing the death of Crystal Rogers," along with tampering with physical evidence.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Houck was Rogers' boyfriend around the time she went missing from Bardstown in 2015. He previously told officers he'd last seen Rogers alive when they visited his family's farm the night before she disappeared.

Rogers, 35, was a mother to five children who is presumed dead though her body has never been recovered. Houck is the father of her youngest child.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Appeal filed for bond in Brooks Houck court case
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Arlington Police Department released new dash and body camera video from a car dealership shooting.

Police said former sales employee Abbas Al-Mutairy had a rifle and started shooting outside Vandergriff Honda late last month.

Security cameras captured images of the 25-year-old when he briefly entered the sales showroom and the service bay area before police arrived.

"Based on everything Ive seen, this, it could have been much different, it couldve had a more horrific outcome," said Arlington police chief Al Jones on Monday.

Jones gave his initial assessment of the department's response and addressed some commands officers can be heard saying on the video.

"Guys, do not let him break, somebody needs to take a shot. Where is he? Now hes going to run, where is he?" officers can be heard saying in the video.

"Pretty much we had a perimeter, and we didnt want him to start making his way through the city of Arlington holding a rifle and whatever we already knew he fired some rounds," Jones said.

In another moment, officers lose sight of Al-Mutairy.

"Where is he in the parking lot? Guys, hes pointing the rifle at us, we need to take a shot!" an officer is heard saying.

Video previously obtained by FOX 4 from a neighboring dealership shows him running through the parking lot with his gun. Gunshots can be heard in the video.

When police arrived, they found the 25-year-old former dealership employee in the parking lot still shooting.

Dash camera video provides the clearest overview of what happened next.

Several officers can be seen approaching the parking lot with their weapons drawn.

"He's got a rifle," an officer says.

The video shows the officers taking cover behind a vehicle as gunshots ring out.

Three officers fired shots critically-injuring the suspect.

Only two minutes passed from the time officers arrived to the moment they took down the shooter.

There were customers and employees at the dealership at the time but no one was hurt besides Al-Mutairy.

"I truly believe this incident could have ended much differently and more tragically than it did," Chief Jones said. "Im extremely relieved it did not. Im also incredibly grateful that no officers or innocent bystanders were injured."

Al-Mutairy is now charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and deadly conduct.

Police haven't been able to interview him yet because he is still in the hospital in critical condition. So, they are still not sure what his motive was.

Chief Jones would not speculate on a motive and would not share specific details about why Al-Mutairy was terminated.

Two investigations are underway: One looking into the suspect's actions and possible motive, and a review of the officers' actions to stop him.

They are also working with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine where the rifle came from.

Vandergriff Honda reopened four days after the shooting because the sprinkler system went off during the chaos and caused some water damage.
A man who was allegedly armed with a gun when he ran from police in Wilmington last week was hospitalized after coming into contact with a police dog, authorities said Monday.

The incident unfolded around 9:45 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of M Street and Watson Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Gang officers were in the area when they spotted the suspect, 19-year-old Dion Johnson, in an alley.

Officers believed, based on body movements, that Johnson was armed with a gun. The suspect ran after seeing the officers, police said.

A helicopter and a K9 unit responded to the scene to help search for Johnson and he was eventually found hiding in the 1100 block of East Robidoux Street.

Thats when the police dog was used and K9 contact occurred, police said without elaborating.

Johnson eventually complied and was taken into custody. He was transported to a local hospital for his unspecified injury.

A loaded Polymer 80, model PC 940sc, 9mm black semi-automatic pistol was found at scene and booked as evidence, police said.

No other injuries were reported.

The incident is being investigated by the LAPDs force investigation division

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Soldiers aiming to get their stripes will soon need to brush up on their map-reading skills and grid plotting.

The Army plans to increase the length of its Basic Leader Course, or BLC, in fiscal 2026, which starts in October 2025, Sgt. Maj. Jason Stadel, a service spokesperson told Military.com. Among the plans is adding about three days to the school, fundamentally shifting the course from mostly sticking to academics and policy to reintegrating combat training, with land navigation taking center stage.

"It builds personal confidence when you go out in the woods, and you got to use the old stuff," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer told Military.com in an interview.

Read Next: 'Last Stop USA': How the Army Is Trying to Fill in for a Broken Education System

The Army cautioned on Monday that the plans were still being finalized, and the total number of days added to the BLC could change.

The move has long been in development for the service because adding even just a few days to a school course creates significant financial costs. The change also makes it more difficult for part-time troops in the National Guard or reserve to attend as they juggle civilian jobs.

Service leaders have been aiming to add fieldcraft and combat tactics to the training as part of a larger effort to get non-combat arms troops brushed up on basic soldiering skills.

Land navigation has been central to that effort, tasking soldiers with plotting points on a map with a protractor and finding spots in the woods using a compass. Even for noncommissioned officers in support units, land navigation is a critical task for resupply and other basic logistics.

The now 22-day BLC is a requirement for soldiers to be promoted to sergeant. It marks a key career transition toward holding leadership roles and effectively being responsible for the professional development and well-being of others.

Currently, virtually all of that required schooling is spent in the classroom learning writing skills, how to process awards and Army regulations.

The Army tested out bringing back land navigation to BLC in the spring of 2022. Out of roughly 900 soldiers in that pilot, half failed.

"[That] confirms to me, the soldiers aren't doing it in their units, or they're not doing it to the standard," Weimer said, highlighting the relatively low use of fundamental land navigation without GPS during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"When you keep going back to the same valley, and you're driving the same route, and the same vehicles, and you're using the same GPS technology  you've got first sergeants, battalion [command sergeants major] that have never actually used land nav."

Army officials have reported a degradation in the quality of land navigation skills from units going on Combat Training Center, or CTC, rotations. Land navigation is also among the top reasons soldiers fail elite courses such as Ranger School and Special Forces Assessment and Selection.

Even for soldiers in combat arms roles, such as infantryman or cavalry scouts, using a map and compass has become less prevalent since the Global War on Terror conflicts saw the heavy use of GPS tools. But those may be less useful in a conventional war, with cyber attacks expected to play a key role in disrupting units.

The Army has made several major recent efforts to make combat skills training a higher priority, especially for soldiers who are not in combat roles.

The service introduced the Expert Soldier Badge in 2019, which requires the same test infantrymen have been taking for years to measure proficiency in basic combat skills such as land navigation and weapon competency. This year, those badges have become more valuable in terms of points toward promotion.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on X @StevenBeynon.

Related: Have Soldiers Forgotten How to Use a Map and Compass?
WASHINGTON  U.S. Army networking experts want to rejuvenate software with decades of history that helps troops coordinate mortars, guided missiles, close air support and more on the battlefield.

The services Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical is embarking on our modernization strategy for the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, or AFATDS, according to Mark Kitz, the offices leader.

Its been one of those programs thats been out there so long, but its really a software application to do fires. I want to stimulate a robust industry involvement, Kitz said. Update it, modernize it, ground-up deliver a new capability.

The automated AFATDS program  meant to shrink the sensor-to-shooter timeline while also boosting accuracy  fuses situational awareness and targeting data in near-real time. It is a digital cornerstone of several ventures with the Long Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team, including the Extended Range Cannon Artillery and the Precision Strike Missile program.

Leidos in 2017 won a contract worth tens of millions of dollars to work on the software, promising to improve functionality, update the user interface and simplify training modules. The Virginia-based company is the 16th largest defense contractor in the world by defense revenue, according to Defense News Top 100 list.

The program executive office in February issued a request for information concerning the overhaul of AFATDS, which interfaces with more than 80 other systems, including some owned by the Air Force and Navy. The technology has been employed in one way or another since before the 2000s.

The Army is prioritizing networking and communication enhancements as the Pentagon pursues Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control, a state in which forces across land, air, sea, space and cyberspace are interlinked and supportive of one another.

Kitz did not provide a potential dollar amount for the effort.
In the aftermath of Spc. Vanessa Guillen's murder, a damning investigation found that the command climate from the platoon level all the way to senior positions at Fort Cavazos, Texas -- previously known as Fort Hood -- had "major flaws," including a systematic mistreatment of junior troops, particularly women.

A dozen Army officials were fired, but the major question pressed on service leaders was, "How can another Fort Hood be prevented?"

Part of the answer was Cohesion Assistance Teams, or CATs, which were first stood up in 2020 and have since been fine-tuned to help commanders with the culture of their formations. The teams are dispatched to brigades at a higher command's request to compile climate information, such as retention rates and soldier interviews. The goal is to give brigade leadership a bird's-eye view of the health and welfare of their team and then work on potential solutions.

Read Next: Army Basic Leader Course Will Soon Be Longer and Have Graded Land Navigation

Maj. Gen. John Kline, commander of the Army's Center for Initial Military Training, or CIMT, which oversees the program, was quick to note these aren't legal teams sent to sharpshoot command teams, and no one is losing their jobs after surveys are complete.

"No matter how comfortable you think your climate is, it's good to get an outside set of eyes to show you a much broader view of what's going on out there," Kline told Military.com on Monday during the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, D.C. "Otherwise, you live in ignorant bliss."

Commanders already have access to numerous metrics, such as instances of sexual assault, but the CAT surveys are among the only instances where all of that information, as well as elements that can't be tracked by numbers on a spreadsheet, are consolidated.

The review goes beyond the traditional command climate survey, which produces results that can be vague and out of context. The CATs can also get feedback on how soldiers are feeling through more detailed questioning, such as how safe they feel in their barracks or whether they feel valued.

The CATs and their surveys are focused on organizations, not individual leaders, and are separate from inspector general probes and 15-6 investigations, which can also involve interviews and collection of information and evidence.

The surveys are already scheduled for Army brigades throughout next year and into 2025 -- a signal that commanders are not being singled out because formations can have leadership changes between a CAT survey being scheduled and completed.

So far, 12 CAT surveys have been done, with the goal of conducting six every year.

The CAT includes a lieutenant colonel; multiple senior noncommissioned officers; behavioral health professionals; legal officials; and a chaplain, among other experts in fields such as health care. During the survey, between 50 and 100 soldiers are interviewed, often in group settings.

The soldiers are chosen to be statistically representative of a brigade's demographics. A team from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also surveys soldiers before and after the CAT conducts its review of the command climate, asking its own questions about health and welfare.

The CAT findings can illuminate particular issues cropping up in brigades. For example, Military.com reviewed a leaked copy of findings for 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, which found that excessive drinking is likely pervasive among the ranks. In the harsh Alaska climate, soldiers frequently see drinking as the only indoor recreation.

In other cases, survey teams can get more granular and highlight things commanders are too detached to see on a normal day, such as funeral details often being isolated from their units if they are performing those duties for extended periods of time.

Once the survey is complete, units are able to develop plans of action to address any troubling findings. For example, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, was eyeing a three-day training program on sexual assault and prevention for soldiers ranging in rank between private and sergeant.

"After Fort Hood, I think the mindset was, where else might we have high-risk indicators where we can see something like that again? Yeah, we've got to make sure that doesn't happen again," Kline said.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on X @StevenBeynon.

Related: Catcalling, Racist Comments, Burnout: Alaska Troops Eyed as Prestigious Arctic Force Face Problems in First Year of Service
Correction: This article was updated to correctly reflect the official who announced Maj. Gen. Eldon Reguas new position.

WASHINGTON  When it comes to Army recruitment, California is in a deficit.

The service is experiencing problems with bringing in new soldiers, but one way leadership aims to get more young people exposed to and involved with the Army is through ROTC and JROTC programs.

If you want to compete, youve got to compete where the people are, Mario Diaz, the Armys deputy undersecretary, said Oct. 10 at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual meeting.

As an example, Diaz compared the percentages for Texas and California, noting there is one person in the military for every 600 eligible Texans. For California, that number is one for every 1,000.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Munera, head of Army Cadet Command, said he oversees 274 Army ROTC college programs. Minor tweaks in those types of programs and other outreach efforts could turn the numbers dial for a mostly untapped population, both Diaz and Munera said.

The Army has 1,734 JROTC high school programs across the country. Munera said his command was recently approved to add 50 more JROTC programs over the next five years.

But of the 300 high schools across the United States on the wait list for a JROTC program, only four are in California. The ROTC program provides much of the Armys officer corps and JROTC is an avenue that often exposes high schoolers with an early exposure to the military.

Analysis shows most youth in JROTC programs are qualified to serve in the military. Cadet Command shared numbers with Army Times in 2019 that showed students who attended a high school with a JROTC program were twice as likely to serve in the military as students at schools without the programs. And that likelihood of service was whether the individual student participated in their schools JROTC.

JROTC participation flows into ROTC participation, and that matters for Army recruiting because 70% of all Army officers come from ROTC programs. Approximately 5,000 new second lieutenants each year join the services ranks. That number is higher than new officers from the service academies as well as Air Force and Navy ROTCs combined, officials have said.

There are currently 64 ROTC programs in California, accessing 600,000 students across the nations most populous state with nearly 40 million residents. Texas follows with slightly more than 30 million, based on 2022 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Beyond adding more programs, officials are taking new approaches to how the military is viewed in communities without a large military presence.

Lorenzo Rios, a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, a resident of Central Valley, California, and an Army veteran, told the audience at the AUSA conference that hes set up signing days similar to ceremonies in which college scholarship athletes and Ivy League school candidates announce the schools theyve selected to attend.

Rios said such celebrations also include large banquet-style, 500-plate dinners where each new recruit is seated at a table with their parents, a local veteran, a Blue Star mother and a currently serving military member.

The idea, he said, is to create a connection for the recruit and a network for their family when they leave for training.

Diaz announced at the presentation that hed selected retired Army Maj. Gen. Eldon Regua to coordinate outreach efforts with California schools for such events.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  If the Army is going to be successful both in garrison or on deployment, the service must ensure its units work together and soldiers trust their leadership.

Leadership failings, toxic command climates and disengaged soldiers can lead to a host of problems  from poorly trained forces not ready for their next mission to reduced re-enlistment, misbehavior and even suicide.

A recently developed group, the Cohesion Assistance Team, or CAT, now goes to commands either on request or by assignment and spends 10 days in a combination of one-on-one interviews with junior and senior enlisted and officers within the unit.

But this is not an investigation or an audit. Its a way for an outside team of experts to help commanders find blind spots, looking for patterns or risk factors that could create a toxic climate or ineffective unit.

Maj. Gen. John Kline, commander of the Center for Initial Military Training, shared an overview of what the teams have learned over the past year and ways theyre refining the process at Tuesdays annual Association of the U.S. Army Meeting and Exposition.

The two-star emphasized the assistance part of the teams work.

If we dont leave a unit in a better end state than when we got there, then we are probably not doing our mission, Kline said.

Following the tragic murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), Texas in 2020, the unit and installation went through an independent review. Out of that review, the Army created a cohesion assessment team. The team, working through the People First Task Force, began conducting reviews of various units, identifying weak spots and warning signs for leadership.

This past year that interim project became permanent when Army Secretary Christine Wormuth approved the creation of a reworked version of those teams, the Cohesion Assistance Teams, now under the Center for Initial Military Training at Training and Doctrine Command.

The 13-soldier staff has conducted its assess/assist mission at six separate units across the force in the past year, Kline said.

The team consists of a colonel, two experienced lieutenant colonels, an operations officer and a master sergeant.

They assess 15 specific areas through a series of focus groups, one-on-one conversations and interviews with leadership. The process begins 90 days ahead of the visit, when Klines team calls the division commander and briefs the leader on the process, also asking for areas where they believe the unit might need a look.

After collecting much of the assessment data, Kline said, the CAT then deciphers the root causes of potential unit problems. Some may sound simple, such as how the unit handles presenting awards or whether the equal opportunity reporting process is seen as fair and reasonable.

Common trouble spots:

Reception, acceptance and team building in new or junior soldiers

Failure to integrate newcomers and build a culture of proper work-life balance

Perceptions of unfairness and lack of engaged leadership

Lacking professional development, counseling and mentorship

Breaking teams to make teams

Learned helplessness from leaders when responding to potential harmful behaviors.

Source: Center for Initial Military Training

One example from the trouble spots list involved breaking teams to make teams. Kline said the unit his team assisted was assigned funeral ceremony detail duties.

The unit pulled individuals from various units to create the funeral detail team. But that process didnt look closely at the soldiers being pulled.

The move created a sense of isolation for some and compounded problems for others who had off-duty challenges in addition to these new tasks. The same team was often assigned three funeral details a week. That meant they were frequently preparing for, conducting or returning from a funeral all week, each week.

We learned that those funeral details are not necessarily maintaining unit integrity, Kline said. The members were not well screened and the constant exposure to mourning and death didnt help.

But the team does more than simply point out trouble spots. They work the process much like a unit commander would see on a combat training center rotation. The CAT team operates as the observer-controllers do  pointing out flaws and watching as the unit formulates its own solutions, with some guidance.

Paratroopers assigned to 82nd Airborne Division Artillery took part in September 2023 in a Culminating Training Exercise designed to prepare, train, and execute mission measures of readiness and lethality through assaulting elements and sling loading. (Army)

Some commanders only have themselves and their senior staff in the meetings, others have brought in junior and senior enlisted to gauge their response to some of what the CAT team has discovered, Kline said.

The next steps break down a plan with the battalion commander, laying out what areas will be quick hits, meaning minor changes that could produce immediate results. That might mean conducting regular, unit-wide awards and decorations ceremonies consistently across ranks and formations.

The CAT team will also highlight areas that may take longer to change and require more work, such as improving communication.

Kline shared some results from a review of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

From the assessments, the command found that they needed to share assessment results with the unit, build support networks that included fellow unit commanders, chaplains, Holistic Health and Fitness cadre and other soldier-focused organizations.

The brigade then added in a series of changes, some of which included a Mountain Mentor Program that trained corporals, specialists and sergeants on leadership expertise, a Patriot Standards Book specific to the unit that laid out the expectations for soldiers in 3rd Brigade, the Patriots.

The unit also began airing monthly 15-minute Patriot Points through a YouTube video session.

One of the key trends in well-performing units is good communication, Kline said. Those units where soldiers had clear communication from both their command and across the formation had better measures of unit cohesion.

Effective communication also gave soldiers some predictability in their schedules. When they knew what they were doing day-to-day or week-to-week, it helped reduce family and work stress, he said.

The work goes beyond the CAT Team. The final step involves another team from the Walter Reed Army Institute Research, which visits the unit 90 days after the CAT Team to see what theyve done to implement recommended changes.

Currently, the CAT Team has a six to eight-unit annual capacity, next years schedule is finalized and the 2025 schedule is under review, Kline said.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has recalled having to bite a dead vulture while filming action movie Conan the Barbarian.

Schwarzenegger, 76, played the titular character in the 1982 John Milius-directed flick and performed a number of his own stunts.

The Austria-born actor and former California governor reflects on this experience in his upcoming book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, which sets out the seven rules he claims that have helped him gain international success.

I learned to ride horses and camels and elephants. I learned how to jump from large rocks, how to climb and swing from long ropes, how to fall from a height, he writes in the book.

I basically went to another vocational school, this one for aspiring action heroes.

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan The Barbarian in 1982 (Twentieth Century Fox)

Then on top of that, Milius had me doing all kinds of terrible s***. I crawled through rocks, take after take, until my forearms bled. I ran from wild dogs that managed to catch me and pull me into a thorn bush.

He then goes on to detail having to bite a dead vulture several times for a scene in which Conan is tied to a tree.

I bit a real, dead vulture that required I wash my mouth out with alcohol after each take. (Peta [the animal rights organisation] would have a field day with that one.), he jokes.

Elsewhere, Schwarzenegger recently told how he once threw his daughters shoes in the fire to teach her a life lesson.

The Terminator star has four children with ex-wife Maria Shriver including Katherine, 33, Christina, 31, Patrick, 30, and Christopher, 26.

He is also dad to Joseph Baena, 25, from his affair with housekeeper Mildred Baena.

In a new interview he told People magazine how his bossy and tough approach has worked wonders in raising well-rounded kids.

He explained that he took drastic action after daughter Katherine failed to put her shoes away multiple times, saying: As a matter of fact, Katherine comes over with [her three-year-old daughter] Lyla and she says, Lyla, I told you already not to put the shoes there.

Keep your shoes on or you put them away, but you dont leave them there by the stand in front of the fireplace because you know what Daddy did? When I left my shoes there twice? The third time, he burned them in front of me and I cried.

Claiming that his daughter now uses the same methods she cried and complained over.
A lifetime behind the lens: The inspiring journey of veteran photojournalist Ru Suichu

08:47, October 10, 2023 By Cui Can ( China.org.cn

Ru Suichu, a 91-year-old veteran photojournalist, has dedicated his life to capturing the perfect shot. His passion has taken him to the remotest corners of China, documenting the country through his evocative images.

In his career spanning over seven decades, Ru braved inhospitable environments like the snowy mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and took the world's first photos of the sources of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, China's mother rivers. His extraordinary journey has not only left a mark in the history of photography, but also inspired generations of Chinese photographers to push the boundaries of their craft.

Ru Suichu, a 91-year-old veteran photojournalist who took the world's first photos of the sources of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, sits among his lifetime of work in his study in Beijing on Sep. 12, 2023. [Photo by Sun Tao/China.org.cn]

An unbreakable bond with photography

In 1949, Ru began as a print journalist at the Northwest Branch of Xinhua News Agency. Initially, he had many doubts about his abilities as a reporter.

"I didn't have much education or social experience," Ru said in his home in Beijing as he recalled the start of his career. "Moreover, my slight frame made me look like a child, which affected my confidence in conducting interviews."

Fortunately, Ru saw an opportunity to learn photography when the newly established photography department was looking for personnel. Ru approached the then editor-in-chief Lin Lang and expressed his desire to join, and Lin agreed on the condition that Ru would not quit at whim.

"I assured him that I would not quit," Ru said. "That brief conversation changed the course of my life, creating an unbreakable bond between photography and myself."

Capturing China's mother rivers

In 1954, Ru started working as a photojournalist in China Pictorial, a publication under China International Communications Group. Over time, he journeyed throughout China's frontiers and ethnic regions. He made more than 10 trips to Xinjiang, each lasting between three to 15 months, bringing back images from the Altay Mountains to the Tarim Basin to readers around the country.

"I want to go where hardly any reporters have been, to dig up the stories that people are eager to know but just had not heard about yet," Ru said.

His crowning achievement came in 1972, when he had the opportunity to capture the source of the Yellow River.

With horses and yaks carrying equipment and supplies, Ru's exploration team ventured deep into the marshland area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over a span of 29 days. Reflecting on their time traversing the plateau, which has an average elevation exceeding 4,000 meters, Ru said that the most formidable challenge they faced was the region's extreme weather.

"The plateau's climate was harsh and unforgiving," Ru said. "Skies could change from clear to overcast in minutes. Intense ultraviolet rays scorched the skin, while wind and snow could transform the grasslands into a vast, white expanse."

The rivers presented another major obstacle, as the rainy season made the currents unpredictable and risky. Before crossing the water, the Tibetan militiamen in the team would be the first to enter the water on their horses to look for a safe path, and then led the others across one at a time. They also carried boxes filled with photography equipment on their shoulders to walk across the river.

Ru said that, without the help of the experienced and strong Tibetan militiamen who lived in the wild, his team would have had a hard time carrying out that exploration plan.

After traveling west through Gyaring Lake and Ngoring Lake, Ru and his team entered the Yogu Zonglie Basin. It was at the southwestern edge of the basin that they finally discovered a spring gushing forth from the earth.

"The surging spring formed a stream less than a meter wide, which turned out to be precisely the source of the Yellow River," Ru said. "As I gazed at the meandering stream stretching into the distance, I was in awe of the fact that the mighty and turbulent Yellow River had its humble beginnings right before my eyes."

Despite experiencing altitude sickness and fatigue from the journey, Ru quickly jumped off the horse and took advantage of a ray of sunlight that came through the clouds to capture the breathtaking landscape at the source of the Yellow River.

The trip to the Yellow River's source has become a significant chapter in Ru's photojournalism career, instilling in him immense confidence. It also made him realize the importance of documenting China through photography.

Four years later, Ru traversed deep into Qinghai on another expedition for the source of the Yangtze River. Bracing freezing temperatures at an elevation of 6,000 meters above sea level, he took the first photos of the Yangtze's headwaters. The team's discovery helped to confirm the Yangtze as the third longest river in the world.

A legacy of excellence and preservation

Over the past 70 years, Ru's photographs have been shown in national and international exhibitions. They have captured the essence of China's natural beauty and reflected the remarkable transformation of the country. Ru received two gold awards at global photography exhibitions as early as 1959. In 2015, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golden Statue Award for China Photography.

Even after retiring, Ru's passion for photography has remained unwavering. Recognizing the urgent need to preserve the legacy of photojournalism in China, Ru initiated the establishment of a website dedicated to the works of China's esteemed photographers in 2008.

To date, the online platform has exhibited the works of over 180 renowned photographers, spanning different eras and themes, with the earliest photo dating back to 1920.

With a sparkle in his eyes, Ru said he looked at the photos he took over his career as precious relics. "Our society is developing fast, and today's reality will be tomorrow's history. History cannot be repeated, and that's why these old photos are valuable. They offer a rich, authentic, and immersive glimpse into the past, making history come alive in the most real sense."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
A west suburban man was charged on Tuesday with stalking Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker after allegedly throwing rocks at the governors Gold Coast home, breaking three windows, according to authorities.

Adam Dabash, 38, of Villa Park, was charged with two felonies, stalking and criminal damage to property.

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The Illinois State Police said the man left letters at one of the billionaire governors homes on two occasions in August.

After his arrest on Monday, Dabash was held for a time at the Chicago polices Near North District station, where authorities say he damaged a mattress in the jail lockup before being cited for criminal damage to city property in the incident. But Cook County Criminal Court Judge William Fahy denied the states attorneys offices petition to detain Dabash on the felony charges while he awaits trial, and ordered him released from custody on electronic monitoring while the charges are being adjudicated.

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Dabash made disparaging remarks about Pritzker upon being arrested, according to a Chicago police report, but his alleged motives remained unclear.

Pritzker on Tuesday blamed increasing political divisions for the number of violent threats against public figures in the last few years. But the governor downplayed what happened at his home compared with other incidents involving public officials.

We have all seen where Republicans and Democrats, even when we disagreed on everything, nobody resorted to violence, Pritzker told reporters during an unrelated event. That was not a normal thing. Now youre seeing it regularly.

About 9:40 a.m. Monday, state troopers assigned to the governors executive protection unit responded to a disturbance at his home. The troopers searched the area with Chicago police, who arrested the suspect after identifying him through city surveillance camera footage, state police said.

The governor and first lady were home at the time of the incident, according to the Illinois State Police. No one was hurt.

According to a Chicago police report obtained by the Tribune, the suspect made excited utterances without being questioned, and stated we have a mother f----- for a governor. The report notes that the responding officers had not mentioned to the suspect that the vandalized home belonged to the governor.

Mondays incident comes nearly six months after a threatening message for Pritzker was made in a phone call to the Governors Office of Constituent Affairs, state police have said. An Aurora man was later charged with one felony count of threatening a public official for allegedly leaving the message, in which he threatened to kill Pritzker, officials said.

The governor also received a number of threats during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

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Earlier this month, a man brought a loaded handgun into the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison and demanded to see Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, who was not in the building at the time. Authorities said the man returned later that night with a loaded assault-style rifle after posting bail, but the building was closed for a couple of hours at that point.

He reportedly again demanded to see Evers before being taken into custody a second time.

Last year, it was discovered that Evers was on a gunmans hit list when the gunman was suspected of shooting and killing a retired judge in his home in Wisconsin. Others on that list included Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. In 2020, Whitmer was targeted in a kidnapping plot.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com
It takes a village to raise an artist, and a new initiative hopes to bring that notion to life.

UnitedMasters and Bulleit Frontier Whiskey set their sights on Houston as a part of their latest initiative to uplift the next generation of talent by hosting a touring boot camp. It was created to help artists on their respective musical journeys by teaching them touring skills like booking, producing, performing and more.

Through our ongoing work with UnitedMasters, weve learned there is a great demand and desire for mentorship and resources amongst up-and-coming and independent artists, Jesse Damashek, Diageo North America senior vice president of whiskeys and liqueurs, told Blavity. The 100-Hour Commitment is our response to wanting to address those needs and help this community with tangible support and tools where it matters the most.

Whats more, an artist like Miss Kaniyah, who made her way to Houston by way of Washington, D.C., said she believes programs like this can be the recipe to success for an artist like herself.

Photo: Brian Vogel Photography

It means a lot because personally, for me, I dont perform often. Im not really a performing artist, Miss Kaniyah told Blavity just minutes after gracing the stage in the Texas city. Im trying to get more into that, but right now it just comes naturally. So to be able to perform out of state and move around, its very important to me.

Just as leaders of the 100-Hour Commitment were intentional about selecting various talented individuals for the program, the collective said putting serious thought into the location was just as important.

Houston proved to be an ideal location, as it ranks as the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country and is sometimes overshadowed by music hotspots like Atlanta, Memphis and Miami, Andre Howard, UnitedMasters head of commerce, told Blavity.

Howard additionally served as a mentor during the event, helping artists like Tarik Trotter learn the business side of the industry.

Theres a ton of takeaways that I could tell you from today, right? Trotter, a New York native, told Blavity. I literally have a list in my notebook of different things that Im going to be applying to my career, but even more than that, I think just being around these people and hearing them talk and the way that they think and assess problems, opportunities, issues, challenges and the way that they attack them, its so advanced.

He continued, Theyve obviously been doing it for a while and so they talk at a very high level, and its helpful to be pulled out from being an aspiring musician, to be like, No, heres what I need to be doing. This is what the pros are doing. If I cant do exactly what theyre doing, let me extract the things that I can and do that now.

Looking ahead, Damashek said the goal is to ensure that artists like Tarik Trotter and Miss Kaniyah are equipped with not only the resources but also the knowledge and opportunities needed to take their careers to new heights.
The inaugural Republican presidential Town Hall forums in Exeter, New Hampshire begin Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. with Asa Hutchinson, a two-term Arkansas governor and three-term congressman who has been an outspoken critic of frontrunner Donald Trump . Doors open at 4 p.m.

This is an important week for the New Hampshire presidential primaries as the filing period for candidates opens on Oct. 11 and will run through Oct. 27.

Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is introduced at Fiserv Forum during the first 2023 Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. He will appear at Exeter Town Hall in New Hampshire at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Hosted by Seacoastonline, USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network, the presidential forums will be held at the historic Exeter Town Hall on Front Street, an iconic location that has long been a favorite of presidential candidates. It's where the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, spoke in March 1860, shortly before launching his successful campaign.

Exeter makes a strong claim to being the birthplace of the Republican Party, as 170 years ago this month, Amos Tuck, a friend of Lincoln's, gathered like-minded anti-slavery political leaders and began the work of creating a new American political party.

Hutchinson served the maximum two terms as governor of Arkansas, from 2015 to 2023. He announced his presidential run in April.

Ahead of tonights town hall, here are five things to know about Asa Hutchinson:

A popular two-term governor

Hutchinson, 72, served two terms as Arkansas governor, from 2015 to 2023.

In 2018, he was re-elected with 65% of the vote, having received more votes than any other candidate for governor in the states history, according to his National Governors Association biography, where he served a term as chairman. He won recognition for the state as a leader in computer science education, cut taxes by over $250 million and signed a law that exempts the retirement pay of veterans from state income tax.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Hutchinson said, I not only balanced the budget, but created record surpluses. Im deeply concerned about our nations $32 trillion debt. We have to stop living off borrowed money.

He was a leader at DEA and Homeland Security

Hutchinson served as a U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas under Ronald Reagan and in 1996 won the first of three terms to the U.S. House. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and in 2003 as an undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for border security.

"I served as head of the DEA and Im prepared to provide real solutions for the Fentanyl crisis our communities face when it comes to securing our border, Hutchinson said in a video announcing his candidacy. I had that responsibility under President Bush, and I know what needs to be done.

He's a strong supporter of Israel and Ukraine

Following Hamas' attacks on Saturday, Hutchinson, who visited Israel both as governor and while in Congress, issued a statement of support for Israel and also took a shot at the Biden administration.

"Todays horrific attacks on Israel, on the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, are symbolic of the times we find ourselves in with weak leadership in the White House. America has lost standing on the world stage. We must stand with Israel. We must stand for freedom and democracy. We must stand to face evil head-on."

In a second Facebook post, Hutchinson implicated Iran in the attacks.

Hutchinson has also been steadfast in calling for America to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Following Russia's invasion Hutchinson said: The people of Ukraine are proving to the world that they are willing to do whatever is necessary to defend their country, their families, and their liberties from Russian aggression. We must do everything we can to ensure that (Vladimir) Putin and his enablers pay for their actions.

He prosecuted white nationalists

While working as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, Hutchinson "successfully prosecuted a white supremacist group known as the Covenant, the Sword and Arm of the Lord," according to The Forward. "The group set fire to the Beth Shalom Jewish Religious and Community Center in Bloomington, Indiana in 1983."

"In the 1980s, as a U.S. attorney, Hutchinson put on a bulletproof vest to negotiate the end of a standoff with a white supremacist group in the Ozark Mountains," the Associated Press reported.

Following the violent, racist and anti-Semitic "Unite the Right" march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, which resulted in a fatality, Hutchinson wrote on Facebook: "White supremacy has no place in America. When it turned violent in the 80's, I prosecuted them as U.S. Attorney."

Calls Trump 'morally disqualified' from presidency

Hutchinson has been critical of former President Donald Trump, urging him to drop out of the race. At the first presidential debate in Milwaukee in August he was one of only two candidates not to commit to supporting Trump even if he is convicted in a court of law if he is the party's nominee.

"Donald Trump was morally disqualified from being president again, as a result of what happened on January 6," Hutchinson said. "More people are understanding the importance of that, including conservative legal scholars."

Hutchinson first said Trump should quit the race, if he faced criminal charges, in a USA TODAY interview in March, prior to the former president's first indictment.

"It's out of respect for the institution of the presidency of the United States. And, that's a distraction that is difficult to run for the highest office in the land under those circumstances," Hutchinson said at the time.

How do the Exeter Town Hall forums work?

The forums are free and open to the public on a first-come, first serve basis. Following brief opening remarks by Governor Hutchinson, voters will have the opportunity to ask him questions and he will respond directly.

Following Hutchinson's appearance the following candidates are scheduled:

Nikki Haley , Thursday, Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m.

Nikki Haley, Republican presidential candidate, makes her first New Hampshire campaign speech for 2024 at Exeter Town Hall Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Former South Carolina governor and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley will appear on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.

In announcing her candidacy for president Haley, 51, called for a new generation of leadership to rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border and strengthen our country, our pride and our purpose, drawing a contrast between herself and former President Trump, 77, and President Joe Biden , 80.

Noting that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections, Haley declared: That has to change.

Joe Bidens record is abysmal. But that shouldnt come as a surprise. The Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again.

Haley served as South Carolina governor from 2011 to 2017, stepping down in 2017 to take the role of ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration. She announced her presidential bid in February, citing her record of economic growth as governor and deep knowledge of world affairs garnered during her time as UN ambassador.

Haley has been surging in the polls both in New Hampshire and Iowa, prompting Trump, the frontrunner to divert his attacks to her from a fading Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Love this, Haley tweeted in response. It means we are in 2nd and moving up fast. Bring it!.

In her campaign announcement Haley anticipated Trumps attacks.

You should know this about me, she said. I dont put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if youre wearing heels.

Doug Burgum , Friday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks during the FOX Business Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will meet with voters on the morning of Friday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.

Elected governor in 2016 with little political experience, Burgum, 67, won his second term in a 40-point landslide in 2020.

On the campaign trail, Burgum talks about his small town roots and values and the challenges his family faced when his father died when Burgum was a freshman in high school. Burgum mortgaged the family farm to start a software company he later sold to Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion.

I believed then and I believe now that unlimited opportunity exists everywhere in America, Burgum said when announcing his candidacy. I literally bet the farm to help turn a small startup into a billion dollar company in North Dakota.

On his campaign website, Burgum asks the question: Why Doug?

His answer: Doug Burgum is a governor and a business leader. His top priorities: the economy, energy and national security. Make no mistake, Dougs a conservative on other important issues too, but he knows if we get the economy, energy and national security right, we will unlock the best of America and improve every American life.

Mike Pence , Friday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m.

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the FOX Business Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

On the campaign trail, former vice president Mike Pence, 64, has acknowledged hes known well but not well known. Hell do his best to change that when he meets with voters on Friday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m.

Before being elected the 48th vice president of the United States in 2016, Pence was a lawyer, a radio talk show host, a six-term conservative member of the U.S. House. In 2013, he became governor of Indiana.

As governor, he enacted the largest income tax cut in Indiana history, lowering individual income tax rates, the business personal property tax and the corporate income tax in order to strengthen the States competitive edge and attract new investment and good-paying jobs, according to Pences biography in the National Archives. Due to his relentless focus on jobs, the states unemployment rate fell by half during his four years in office, and at the end of his term, more Hoosiers were working than at any point in the states 200-year history.

On Jan. 6, Pence was thrust into the spotlight when he declined to illegally interfere with Congresss counting of presidential delegates, drawing the ire of President Trump and his supporters but also praise both from colleagues, scholars and voters he meets on the campaign trail.

Now the amount of chutzpah it took to do that, to stick to your principles, honor our country and its Constitution and then also go through the grief that he has gone through since then as a result of doing his damn job; I want to personally thank you, former ambassador Scott Brown told Pence at a recent campaign event in Rye, New Hampshire.

When announcing his run for president, Pence stated: I know we can bring this country back. We can defend our nation and secure our borders, we can revive our economy and put our nation back on a path to a balanced federal budget. We can defend our liberties and give America a new beginning for life.

In his opening remarks in Rye, Pence told the crowd: Im a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.

Vivek Ramaswamy, Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy greets the crowd during a campaign stop on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Hampton, N.H. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha)

Businessman and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, of Ohio, will bring his campaign to Exeter Town Hall on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.

In his first run for political office, Ramaswamy has gained traction with Republican primary voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and across the nation. On the campaign trail Ramaswamy points to 10 Truths: God is real; there are two genders; human flourishing requires fossil fuels; reverse racism is racism; an open border is no border; parents determine the education of their children; the nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to mankind; capitalism lifts people up from poverty; there are three branches of the U.S. government, not four; the U.S. Constitution is the strongest guarantor of freedoms in history.

At his events, Ramaswamy asks: Do you want reform or revolution? I stand on the side of revolution. Were not just running from something. Were running to something.

Ramaswamy graduated from Harvard with a degree in biology, and he has a law degree from Yale. At 38 years old, Ramaswamy made his fortune starting the biotech company Roivant Sciences, which developed five therapies that gained FDA approval. After leaving Roivant he launched the asset management firm Strive in 2022.

He is the author of three books: Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate Americas Social Justice Scam, Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence, and Capitalist Punishment: How Wall Street is Using Your Money to Create a Country You Didnt Vote For.

In his books and on the campaign trail Ramaswamy argues that so-called woke values are undermining Americas values and economic strength.

Faith, patriotism, and hard work have disappeared, only to be replaced by new secular religions like COVIDISM, climateism, and gender ideology, Ramaswamy said when announcing his campaign. We hunger to be part of something bigger than ourselves, yet we cannot even answer the question of what it means to be an American. Today the woke left preys on that vacuum. They tell you that your race, your gender, and your sexual orientation govern who you are, what you can achieve and what you're allowed to think.

An aerial view of the historic Exeter Town Hall, the location of the Republican Candidate Town Hall Forums presented by Seacoastonline and USA TODAY Network Oct. 10-15.

More: New Hampshire debate watchers have a message for Chris Christie - Poll

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 5 things to know about Asa Hutchinson before Exeter NH town hall
Whether the water at your local beach is being roiled by nasty weather or is a perfectly calm expanse of blue, theres always a great deal going on under the surface. The ocean is composed of various currents and water masses; those currents flow around the world through what is called thermohaline circulation.

This circulation drives the distribution of heat, salinity and nutrients throughout the worlds oceans, ensuring that our whole planet is habitable for life.

The Atlantic leg of this circulation is called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The Atlantic Ocean is situated between the Americas, western Europe and the western margin of Africa. The AMOC distributes heat away from the tropics northward, ensuring that tropical regions are not overheated, which would cause an imbalance in climate. It, like other oceanographic systems, varies annually, over decades and centennially. Scientists study these oceanographic systems over a longer time period to understand how they work and to make predictions on how they will function in future and what their impact may be.

In July 2023 two Danish academics  physicist Peter Ditlevsen and his sister, the statistician Susanne Ditlevsen  published a paper in which they stated that the AMOC was in decline and would likely shut down mid-century. That would bring dramatic consequences: rising sea levels, global heating, shifts in marine ecosystems, and seriously compromised food security. It could also seriously affect the upwelling marine ecosystem along the western margin of South Africa and Namibia, which is the most productive upwelling system in the Atlantic.

In the Ditlevsens scenario, Europe could see massive cooling of around 5 to 10 and the tropics could become overheated. Certain areas around the world would experience severe droughts and flooding. And the oceans would become more acidic.

The paper has generated controversy in the scientific community. As a geologist whose research interests include oceanographic change, I dont find the article surprising. Research has shown that the AMOC has not been a stable feature of the ocean over millions of years and is sensitive to climate change. However, I agree with the general scientific consensus: the shutdown of the AMOC will not be as abrupt as the paper claims; it will instead be more gradual over the coming centuries.

Constant shifts

The Atlantic Ocean is not the only part of the oceans thermohaline circulation that is experiencing shifts. In the South Indian Ocean, the Agulhas Current is also weakening due to changing distribution in heat and freshwater from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean.

And in the Pacific Ocean, west of the Americas, El Nino events  the warming of that specific ocean  are intensifying.

The Ditlevsens based their findings largely on sea surface temperatures. The paper does not consider other factors such as which carbon dioxide (CO) levels in the atmosphere (and take-up by the oceans), coupled with temperature changes, would be the tipping point for the AMOC to shut down, or the state of deep water generation  water of specific density, salinity and temperature  at the source regions in the North Atlantic for the functioning of the AMOC.

The broad consensus among scientists is that, while the AMOC is weakening, the probability of it completely shutting down in this century is low.

Read more: Atlantic collapse: Q&A with scientists behind controversial study predicting a colder Europe

Its also important to point out that ocean currents and circulation change over time. The AMOC has strengthened and waned pre-human history over geological time, particularly in response to colder or warmer periods. For example, studies along the western margin of South Africa have found that the AMOC in the South Atlantic is sensitive to changes in the global climate cycle.

Previous research has also indicated that the AMOC weakened or shut down before, thousands of years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum. That happened under different conditions than what we are experiencing today. During that time the climate was much colder and the ice sheets were at a maximum position, although a warming phase led to the retreat of ice sheets afterwards.

Perspective

This large body of evidence suggests that the AMOC will continue to weaken as currents fluctuate over time, driven by different environmental factors. But scientists have not yet accepted that a total shutdown of the system will occur over the next few years or couple of decades.

However, the paper thats caused so much controversy shouldnt be dismissed entirely. For one thing, its a good conversation starter on this very important topic. It also provides a timeline for when the AMOC could shut down  anywhere between 2025 and 2095. While the consensus is that this isnt accurate, its a useful starting point from which other scientists could generate scenarios and models for further study.

In doing so, our collective understanding of the AMOC system will deepen, which should influence policy decision-making.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

It was written by: Eugene Bergh, North-West University.

Read more:



Eugene Bergh receives funding from the National Research Foundation South Africa.
President Joe Biden offered empathy and promises of enduring support in response to the assault on Israel this weekend, saying the U.S. partner must defend itself and urging against seeing Palestinian militants as reflective of the entire Palestinian cause.

We stand with Israel, and we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, to defend itself and to respond to this attack, Biden said in Tuesday remarks at the White House. This is what they mean by human tragedy: an atrocity on an appalling scale ... Our hearts may be broken, but our resolve is clear.

The president repeatedly condemned the militant group Hamas, which led fighters in a shocking attack on Israeli towns on Oct. 7 that killed hundreds of people.

The brutality of Hamas... brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS, Biden said. Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination ... Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed, with no regard to who pays the price.

At least 14 Americans were killed in the Hamas offensive, and the group is detaining some U.S. citizens, Biden said.

Since Saturday, Israels military has pummeled Gaza  the Palestinian territory where Hamas is based  with airstrikes, and has pledged a larger offensive that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would reverberate... for generations.

Biden hinted at concerns about the civilian toll of Israels operations, saying he told Netanyahu that democracies like Israel and the U.S. are stronger when they follow international norms about targeting only combatants.

Terrorists purposely target civilians and kill them. We uphold the laws of war, Biden said. It matters. Theres a difference.

From being Israels chief supplier of military equipment to acting as its longtime security guarantor in a part of the world where many question its right to exist, the U.S. is the countrys most important foreign friend. The Biden administration has deployed additional forces to the region recently to show solidarity with Israel, but it has ruled out the prospect of deploying American troops to participate in the fighting.

The death toll on both sides as of Tuesday exceeded 1,700 people. Israel is widely expected to launch a ground invasion of Gaza soon.

The U.S. is working to expedite weapon transfers to Israel, a Defense Department official told reporters on Monday. Lawmakers are urging consistent demonstrations of American support for the longtime U.S. partner, with top Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives announcing Tuesday that they will soon pass a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas.

On Oct. 9, the White House was illuminated in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag.

On Oct. 9, the White House was illuminated in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag.

The GOP is seeking to exploit the crisis to bash Biden politically. Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel described the moment as a great opportunity to call the president weak, and many candidates for the partys 2024 presidential nomination have claimed that Biden helped empower Hamas by failing to pressure Iran, its top backer.

Biden on Tuesday argued that the moment calls for Americans to come together beyond partisan politics.

Speaking about the shock of suddenly losing loved ones, the president alluded to his own losses, saying: A lot of us know how it feels. It leaves a black hole in your chest when you lose family.

This is a moment for the United States to come together to grieve with those who are mourning, the president continued, with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken flanking him.

Biden also noted concerns that the flare-up in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will cause anger and possibly violence among communities in the U.S.

Local law enforcement is monitoring that risk, he said, adding: There is no place for hate in America  not against Jews, not against Muslims.

Biden hopes to cooperate with Congress on continued aid for Israel, he said.

The United States has Israels back, the president concluded. We will make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow, as it always has.

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JERUSALEM  Since its founding, Hamas has declared that Israel has no right to exist, that there are no Israeli civilians and that every Israeli citizen is a soldier of the state and thus a legitimate target.

Still, if Western nations considered Hamas a terrorist organization, they also thought that it was preoccupied with governing Palestinians crammed into Gaza. Hamas provided social services. It was even thought of as a restraint on what were considered even more radical groups.

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In Israel, successive governments cut quiet deals with Hamas, hoping to keep a form of stability in the Gaza Strip, which the group controls, especially after the Israelis withdrew unilaterally from the territory in 2005.

But the assault launched by Hamas this weekend, with more than 900 Israelis listed as killed so far and more than 150 believed taken as hostages and human shields into Gaza, has now stripped away any remaining illusions about the group or its intentions. The attack by Hamas into Israel proper is notable for its terror, targeting not only uniformed soldiers, but also civilians, including women and children.

Senior Israeli officials now say Hamas must be crushed, both to restore stability in Gaza and credibility for Israel as an ineradicable part of the Middle East.

We must admit that the conception was wrong; we cant hide behind it, said Tamir Hayman, a retired major general and managing director of Israels Institute for National Security Studies.

There is much the same disillusionment in the West, especially among Europeans who have provided significant aid to Gaza, some of which has always been siphoned off by Hamas. The horrors of the weekend now cast Hamas in a new light, one which is likely to have a major effect on events going forward.

The European Union, like the United States, has labeled Hamas a terrorist organization and officially boycotts it, but many Europeans see the group as freedom fighters struggling against an Israel that is slowly making a Palestinian state impossible.

For many in the West, especially the young and those on the left, Gaza is a one-word argument for Israels brutality toward a blockaded enclave living in miserable conditions, said Natan Sachs, director of the Center for Middle East Policy of the Brookings Institution.

Hamas, for them, was fundamentally a nationalist resistance movement in the context of Gaza. That view was shattered for some, if not all, on Saturday, he said.

In Europe, there have been uniform official condemnations of the attacks and of support for Israel. But tellingly on Monday there was confusion in Brussels, when an EU official, Oliver Varhelyi, announced that 691 million euros, or about $730 million, in aid to the Palestinians would be put under review, an announcement quickly softened to say that humanitarian aid would continue.

In Israel, the military had few illusions about Hamas, considering it among the most extreme of the Palestinian armed groups and recognizing that it would never accept any form of recognition of Israel, unlike Fatah, the heart of the Palestinian Authority, Hayman said in an interview.

The Authority, set up after the Oslo accords of the 1990s, controls the West Bank, and Israel has tried to strengthen it while working with the Authority to weaken Hamas in the West Bank.

Yet for Israeli leaders, Hamas was useful, too. It was someone in control of Gaza to talk to, Hayman said, that could help keep stability, which is why Israel had refrained from a full-scale assault in Gaza, he said. This conception has failed.

Yaakov Amidror, a retired major general who served as national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an earlier government, agreed.

Its a huge mistake that I did, believing that a terror organization can change its DNA, he said. I thought that Hamas, because of its responsibility and because its not only a terror organization but also an organization with ideas about the future, a small branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, is more responsible, and I learned in the hard way that it is not so, that a terror organization is a terror organization.

Amidror, now a senior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies, said bluntly: We dont want to make the same mistake again. Hamas, he said, should be killed and destroyed.

Hayman also foresees a strong, prolonged Israeli response. The context right now is after a brutal, unyielding terror activity of a kind Israel has never seen, worse than the atrocities of ISIS, with the slaughtering of people, the torturing of women and abducting children and old people, he said, referring to the Islamic State group. This is a kind of madness which we never imagined.

The Israeli military has launched a number of retaliatory strikes into Gaza since Saturday morning. Already, more than 680 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israeli strikes, Gazan officials say.

Israel did not see the strategic meaning of the rhetoric of Hamas, said Shlomo Avineri, a former Israeli official and a political scientist. It was dismissed as rhetoric, without considering how vulnerable Israel is, with all the kibbutzim near Gaza.

When Hamas said that every civilian is a soldier, this was not rhetoric but identifying the vulnerability of the Israeli communities inside Israel, he said. Instead, he said, the army was focused on individual terrorism in the West Bank and the government on its controversial efforts at judicial reform.

For many Palestinians, Hamas was a military organization using the only means it had to resist a far superior Israeli military and Israeli occupation, including terrorist acts, suicide bombings and rocket attacks.

For Israelis, Hamas brutality was clear from the suicide bombing campaign of the 1990s and early 2000s, and Gaza is a one-word argument for the danger of unilateral withdrawal and trusting in Palestinian rule, Sachs said.

Much will now depend on how the international community reacts to the inevitable deaths of civilians in Gaza, a tightly packed space where Hamas has had time to prepare its defenses.

Much will also depend on whether Hezbollah joins the fight from Lebanon, as it did in 2006. After Israels cautious effort to hurt Hezbollah then, few expect many limits this time on either side. With Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, reportedly regretting his attack on Israel in 2006, but also equipped by Iran with far more sophisticated rockets, mutual deterrence may yet win out.

But if Amidror is correct, Israel will pursue its war against Hamas with little regard for Western opinion and criticism. It is the last time that we can allow Hamas to be strong enough to attack Israel, he said.

If Israel succeeds in destroying Hamas, he said, it will show that when there is a real test, Israel is ready to pay the price, ready to fight and ready to make the difference. I think that we will be more appreciated by everyone in the Mideast, not just the Saudis. If the reaction of Israel will not be strong enough, we might lose some support in the Middle East.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Attorneys for former Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro want the court to dismiss the charges against him in the Georgia election interference case.

Chesebro came to Atlanta for a motions hearing Tuesday where his attorneys argued that he simply gave legal advice, not commit a crime.

[SPECIAL SECTION: The Georgia Election Investigation]

His attorneys contend you cant prosecute someone for legal advice even if that advice is wrong.

Channel 2s Richard Elliot was reporting live from the courthouse during Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m. when Chesebro and his attorneys walked out, but they refused to answer any questions and walked away.

[PHOTOS: Kenneth Chesebro appears in court for first time in person over election interference case]

This is the first time Chesebro attended one of his pretrial hearings. The Jan. 6 Commission said Chesebro was one of the legal architects for the false or alternate electors scheme.

Elliot was inside the room on Dec. 20, 2020, as those false Republican electors met in a second-floor room of the state capitol and cast their ballots for Donald Trump, even as the legal electors were meeting one floor up casting their ballots for Joe Biden.

RELATED STORIES:

Chesebros lawyers tried to convince a judge that he simply gave Georgia Republicans and the Trump campaign legal advice and was not part of a criminal conspiracy.

His attorneys showed evidence they said showed that Chesebro was simply acting as an attorney giving what he thought was sound legal advice.

You can ask 10 attorneys for an opinion, youll get 20 different answers. Thats how lawyers are, Chesebros attorney Scott Grubman said.

That, they contend, is not something the state can prosecute.

Fulton County prosecutors say what was presented Tuesday showed a crime and an attempt to interfere in the Georgia presidential election.

Speech that constitutes fraud, or harmful lies that threaten to deceive the government, or speech thats integral to criminal conduct, is not protected by the First Amendment, prosecutor Will Wooten said.

Chesebro and Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell are scheduled to go on trial in about two weeks.

RELATED NEWS:
VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria is arranging an evacuation of its citizens from Israel by military transport aircraft on Wednesday, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Tuesday.

Roughly 200 Austrians have so far informed the Austrian authorities that they wish to leave Israel, Nehammer told Puls 24 television on a trip to Turkey. The Foreign Ministry later asked Austrians in Israel who want to take up the offer of the evacuation flight to contact the Austrian embassy in Tel Aviv.

"It is happening in cooperation with the Austrian armed forces. A transport aircraft is available and the mission will begin tomorrow," Nehammer said, adding that the flight would be to Cyprus.

A spokeswoman for Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg confirmed media reports that the military transport aircraft was a C-130 Hercules and that the flight's destination would be Cyprus.

Austria said earlier on Tuesday that three of its dual citizens are missing and suspected to be among the prisoners taken into Gaza by Hamas.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; editing by Christina Fincher)
A Lexington council committee opted not to pass a ban that could keep landlords from discriminating against tenants who use other sources of income, including federal housing vouchers, to rent apartments.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councils Social Services and Public Safety committee will take up the issue again in November.

Councilman David Sevigny, one of the sponsors of the ordinance, said source of income can mean a lot of different things but most of the discussion has centered around vouchers. But this issue is more about choice and discrimination.

People who use vouchers are being redlined into a very small section of the rental market, Sevigny said. Redlining, the result of federal policies in the 1930s, kept many minorities from purchasing homes in certain areas.

So many people showed up Tuesday to watch council debate the source of income ban, additional seating had to be set up outside the council chamber.

Councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds, who chairs the Social Service and Public Safety Committee, said there will be a public hearing for landlords and tenants to weigh in at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at city hall. No public comment was taken during Tuesdays meeting.

Renting difficult for those with federal housing vouchers

Only 4% of 557 rental listings on Sept. 14 accepted Housing Choice vouchers, previously referred to as Section 8 vouchers, Housing Advocacy and Community Development Commissioner Charlie Lanter told the committee Tuesday.

Housing Choice vouchers pay for all or portions of peoples rents, depending on renter income.

Although Lexington Housing Authority data shows a 99% success rate across Lexington housing voucher use, the citys most vulnerable populations often struggle to find landlords that accept not only housing vouchers but other federal funding  including rapid rehousing money, which helps those who are unhoused find rental units.

Between January and July 1, 215 new vouchers were issued but 18% were returned, Lanter said. Its unclear how many of those returns were due to an inability to find housing.

Weve had people homeless for longer than 120 days with voucher in hand because no one will rent to them, he said.

People who are experiencing homelessness are now waiting much, much longer to be housed, creating a backlog in the homeless system, Lanter said. The average time in the homeless system is now 100 days, according to city data. That also means more taxpayer dollars spent housing those people in emergency shelters and other city-supported homeless services.

People live on the streets or in shelter with a housing voucher in their hand, Lanter said.

Lanter said the vast majority of those who have vouchers arent white, he said.

That does not mean that landlords are discriminating based on race, Lanter said. That is likely unintentional bias due to those people having vouchers.

Dispelling myths about source of income bans

Landlords have pushed back against the effort, alleging rents will increase, among other arguments.

Landlords whose rents do not qualify for vouchers will not have to participate in the program. Moreover, there is a lot of misinformation about what a source of income ban will do, Lanter said.

No one is forcing anyone to lower their rents, Lanter said.

Those rents that are higher will not have to take housing vouchers, he said.

Several landlords previously told the Herald-Leader they had problems with the Lexington Housing Authoritys inspection process. Thats one of the reasons they opposed the source of income ban.

Lanter said landlords would have to participate in the inspection process for a federal housing voucher.

Landlords, however, would not be required to:

Repair items that fail inspection if they wouldnt have repaired them for another renter.

Wait unreasonable amounts of time. Landlords can tell a prospective renter the program is taking too long but they must attempt.

A ban on source of income would also not:

Prevent landlords from using credit, eviction or criminal history, or any other commercially reasonable and nondiscriminatory practice in making a rental decision

Require landlords to make repairs or alterations to units if their unit does not pass inspection for acceptance into the Section 8 or any other assistance program

Change or restrict any landlord rights to enforce compliance with a written lease agreement once executed.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority central office on New Circle Road. Beth Musgrave/bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

Lanter said one study showed 21 states and 119 cities or counties, including Louisville and Cincinnati, have some form of law addressing source of income discrimination.

Studies in those areas have shown bans on source of income give tenants more options in more neighborhoods. Studies also show rents dont dramatically increase after bans take effect, he said.

Its opening access to more units, Lanter said.

It also helps people get access to high-performing schools and more jobs, he said.

Multiple landlords have said rents will rise if the city enacts a ban on source of income. To opt out of the program, landlords will raise rents above fair market value, making units ineligible for federal housing vouchers.

After Louisvilles ban took effect, he said, data showed rents there did not go up as dramatically as they did in Lexington.

Rent is driven by the market, Lanter said.

Lanter also showed council a map of rental units that take federal vouchers. All but one were one were north of Main Street, the map showed.

LDG Development held a ribbon cutting Tuesday, June 20, 2023, to officially open its 201-unit affordable housing complex off Russell Cave Road in Lexington, Ky., Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

Council raises questions about rents, enforcement

Councilwoman Whitney Elliott Baxter said several landlords have contacted her to say a source of income ban will raise rents. Lanter said thats not what data shows.

Baxter said landlords have also claimed staffing at the Lexington Housing Authority would have to increase if the ban would take effect, which would increase taxes. Lanter said the housing authority is not funded through property taxes. The majority of Lexington Housing Authoritys budget comes from the federal government.

This would just prevent a landlord from refusing an application? Baxter said.

Yes, Lanter said.

Another common complaint: federal vouchers dont keep up with fair market rent, Baxter said. Thats determined by the federal government, housing authority officials said during Tuesdays meeting.

There are approximately 700 landlords currently participating in the housing voucher program, housing officials said.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority Executive Director Austin Simms said he would like to work with landlords that want to work with the housing authority, he said. Simms said he would like to see additional money or incentives for landlords.

Simms said the housing authority has also cracked down on not using federal housing vouchers for substandard housing. Thats why inspections are so important, he said.

How the ordinance would work

Under the proposal, the city would add source of income to the citys fairness ordinance, which bans discrimination based on age, sex, race and sexual orientation.

Lexington Human Rights Commission would be tasked with investigating complaints. Lanter said there would likely be a one year grace period. Louisville had a similar year-long grace period.

The idea is to open the market up, Lanter said.

Baxter said she still had concerns but understands the intent of the ban and the need for it.

Councilwoman Tayna Fogle said she doesnt think landlord should be forced to take a voucher but, I dont expect them to be discriminatory because they have a voucher either.

Fogle said she knows people who have turned in their housing vouchers because they are forced to live in high-crime areas. They wanted better living for their children or grandchildren, Fogle said.

Fogle said she hopes they can find a middle ground.

Councilwoman Shayla Lynch, one of the sponsors of the legislation, worked in fair housing for more than a decade. Lynch said she saw a woman who also depended on alimony and child support to pay rent. However, that woman struggled for months to find housing.

She couch surfed for months, Lynch said. The womans two children suffered while their mother tried to find housing, she said.
WASHINGTON  One of the Armys defining features is its uniformity. But when it comes to installations and quality of life, maybe one size doesnt fit all, argued the head of Installation Management Command.

Lt. Gen. Omar Jones, who leads the command, explained that garrisons need to provide a common experience for services like childcare while simultaneously providing tailored solutions in other quality-of-life areas that fit each unique installation.

As examples, Jones discussed public transit and privatized barracks  two areas where the service is weighing improvements or expansions in order to address shortcomings that are impacting junior troops Army experience.

Army bases need better public transit, services chief of staff says

At Fort Cavazos, Texas, he said, the service recently approved an intergovernmental agreement with the neighboring city of Killeen that will establish city-administered public transit on the Texas installation. But not every post will need internal public transit, Jones said, emphasizing the need to tailor that to the local environment.

In his previous role leading the Military District of Washington, Jones oversaw one of the services five privatized barracks facilities at Fort Meade, Maryland. He argued that the project, which consists of apartments for mid-grade and senior noncommissioned officers, works because it was tailored to Meades unique community.

You have a combatant command there with [Cyber Command], you havea higher population of mid- and senior-grade people to support the other organizations that are at Fort Meade than maybe some other organizations in the Army, he said. Jones also cited the areas high cost of living as a key factor.

So when it comes to establishing more privatized barracks, he said, service policy officials will ask questions like, Does this model make sense for this installation, given the local community, the on-post community [and] the units?

Jones philosophy contrasts with some historical projects, such as the construction of VOLAR-style barracks across several installations in the 1970s, that imposed identical programs without regard to factors like geography.

The general said the shift in thinking  which he noted has also been pushed by Gen. Randy George, the services new chief of staff  is emblematic of a broader sea change in how the Army perceives quality of life concerns compared to when he first entered the military.

Taking care of people improves the Army; it improves readiness and what the Army does for the country, he said. Thats a conversation that Im not sure was happening 30-plus years ago  at least that Lt. Jones was aware of.
Clive Myrie has admitted that he grew up watching ITV News because his family saw the BBC as too posh and too poncey.

The presenter first joined the BBC in 1987, rising through the ranks from local radio to a regular face on BBC News and the host of Mastermind.

But Myrie has now admitted that, growing up in Bolton, his Jamaican immigrant parents chose to watch ITV News instead.

The BBC was too posh, too poncey and they didnt have any Black people on it, he told the Radio Times. ITV had Big Trev. It was more human the way ITV did the news.

I hope the BBC has now got to that level, but in those days it was like handing down tablets of stone. This is public service broadcasting, these are your greens. Whereas ITV was like, Lets stick a bit of chocolate cake in there.

The presenter, who recently released his memoir Everything Is Everything: A Memoir of Love, Hate & Hope, has previously spoken about his parents emigrating to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.

In 2017, it began to emerge that hundreds of Commonwealth citizens, many of whom were from the Windrush generation, had been wrongly detained, deported and denied legal rights.

Discussing the Windrush scandal in the book, Myrie, 59, claimed that one of his half-brothers, Lionel, had been denied benefits and healthcare.

Myrie joined the BBC nearly 40 years ago (BBC/Hat Trick)

He was able to prove that he was in a school choir due to a pre-1971 Bolton Evening News photograph, but according to Myrie, was still awaiting both compensation and a British passport.

Another half-brother, Peter, was unable to travel to Jamaica with his daughter and died before he could go following a prostate cancer diagnosis, Myrie wrote.

In the book, the journalist said he was angry and also ashamed of my own country as a result of the experience.

Were all agreed that what has happened is a complete and utter disgrace  the question is: what do you do about it?

Im still hoping society understands what happened and tries to rectify it. You know, these people need restitution and that hasnt happened yet  even though we all agree that something needs to be done.

In July, a Home Office spokesperson said that our determination to right the wrongs of the Windrush scandal remains as strong as ever and the Government department added it is committed to robust and proportionate policies.
For more than 50 years in Clarendon Hills, Fire Prevention Week has meant an annual open house during which residents are invited to visit the villages fire station, which has been located for several years at 316 Park Ave.

About 800 residents showed up Saturday for a variety of activities related to fire prevention.

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Firefighters gave out information about fire prevention, demonstrated auto extrication, using a junk car, removing the roof and doors using hydraulic rescue equipment. Children attending had the opportunity to use a real fire hose and had a visit from Sparky the Fire Dog.

Lieutenant Joe Skyrpek speaks to attendees of the Clarendon Hills Fire Departments Open House during a demonstration on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)

We want people to get the message about fire safety in the home and at work and school, Clarendon Hills Fire Chief Brian Leahy said. We promote the use of fire sprinklers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and we also want people to have an escape plan and to practice it.

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The Clarendon Hills Fire Department provides fire protection services and ambulance services as well as fire safety and inspections. Other than Leahy, the department is entirely part-time, made of professional firefighter/paramedics from other departments and local residents for firefighting duties.

The Department has a Fire Insurance Classification Rating of 3, which is determined by inspections of the fire department, water department, and dispatch center by the Insurance Services Offices of Illinois. The ISO uses a rating scale of 1 being the best and 10 being the worst.

Clarendon Hills firefighters Tom Jung, left, Lieutenant Joe Skrypek, center right, and Lieutenant Chris Fennell, right. take the roof of a car during a demonstration at the Clarendon Hills Fire Departments Open House on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)

The National Fire Protection Association has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in the country, according to the NFPA.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage, killing more than 250 people, leaving 100,000 homeless, destroying more than 17,400 structures, and burning more than 2,000 acres of land, according to the NFPA.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

Below are more photos from the open house.

Lieutenant Joe Skyrpek takes a question from Reid Slocum, 5, during Clarendon Hills Fire Departments Open House on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)

Lieutenant Joe Skyrpek speaks to attendees of the Clarendon Hills Fire Departments Open House during a demonstration on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)

Zachary Brown, 6, climbs down from the roof of a Clarendon Hills Fire Department truck during Clarendon Hills Fire Departments Open House on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)

Maddie Laurinaitis, 10, tries on a firemans helmet while sitting in one of the Clarendon Hills Fire Department trucks during an open house on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)

Taylor Barnes, 5, and Riya Palenchtd, 5, watch a demonstration during the Clarendon Hills Fire Departments Open House on Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. (Troy Stolt/Chicago Tribune)
Hops is what gives beer its refeshing bitterness, but a study finds climate change is hitting both yields and the potency of the key ingredient to the popular beverage (LINDSEY PARNABY)

Climate change threatens the cultivation in Europe of aromatic hops which gives beer its bitterness, according to a study published Tuesday in Nature Communications.

European varieties of hops are prized and used by brewers around the world, but rising temperatures and less rain are reducing yields and the concentration of the compounds that provide beer its refreshing tartness.

The researchers observed this trend by analysing data from five sites in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia, which along with Poland are the primary hops growers in Europe, study co-author Miroslav Trnka said.

Yields fell between 9.5 and 19.4 percent at four sites and were stable at a fifth when data from 1995-2018 was compared with 1971-1994.

Meanwhile the concentration of the bitter compounds, alpha acids, decreased.

Extrapolating from the data, the researchers predicted a drop in yield of between four and 18 percent, compared with 1989-2019 while the concentration of alpha acids could drop between 20 and 31 percent as temperatures rise and rainfall is impacted.

With droughts expected to increase in central and southern Europe "it will be necessary to expand the area of aroma hops by 20 percent compared to the current production area to compensate for a future decline in" potency and yields, said the study.

It called for "urgent adaptation measures to stabilise international market chains" such as moving crops to more suitable areas or irrigating.

Hops farmers are trying to adapt, but Trnka said their options are limited as "hops needs a specific combination of climate and soil" and the introduction of genetically modified plants designed to better support warmer temperatures and drought is prohibited in Europe.

Brewers can also try to modify their methods to adapt to the reduced bitterness in hops.

jum/rl/gw
A Fairfield County woman has been charged by Columbus police with importuning for engaging in sexual solicitation messages with a 12-year-old boy who attends an education center in Dublin.

Mackenzie Sokol, 34, of Commercial Point, works as a behavioral specialist at Reach Education Service, which offers therapy and tutoring services for students with disabilities, police said.

In Franklin County Municipal Court records, police accuse Sokol of sexting the boy on the Facebook Messenger app beginning in April, including exchanging "suspected nude photos" and discussing meeting to have sexual intercourse on three occasions.

On April 20, the two discussed a location in the Grove City area where they could possibly have sex, the legality of doing so, and how they could avoid being discovered, police said in an affidavit.

Dublin police provided information to the Columbus Police Exploited Children Unit about the inappropriate relationship. A search warrant was obtained for the boy's Facebook Messenger app texts which revealed what was happening, police said.

The incident is the second arrest announced by Columbus police involving a woman with a working position of authority over a young boy in less than a week.

Payton Shires, 24, a licensed social worker who worked as a counselor with youth, was arrested on Friday and charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to police records. She was taken into custody after a woman contacted police on Sept. 27 and reported that she found text messages on her 13-year-old son's cellphone between him and Shires.

The woman believed "something inappropriate was happening between her son and Shires after seeing messages asking if he had deleted the videos and asking if his mom had seen the videos or messages."

A forensic examination of the phone by police revealed Shires had been having sex with the boy, police said.

jwilhelm@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Police: Dublin behavioral specialist solicited sex with 12-year-old
A cat was left to fend for herself after her owner died  and now she needs a new home, a North Carolina animal rescue said.

Ivy the mama cat and her two kittens first received care from the Ashe Humane Society four years ago. Though Ivy was adopted into a loving home at the time, her situation recently took a turn after her owners death, the rescue wrote on Facebook.

The owner had Ivy and a dog, which both ended up at Ashe County Animal Control until family members could pick them up. But the womans family only took the dog from the shelter, meaning Ivy was left behind, Amy Mogler, who volunteers with the humane society, told McClatchy News in an Oct. 10 email and phone interview.

Luckily, there were neighbors who knew how much Ivy was loved  and that she was adopted from us  and reached out to us, the organization wrote.

Ashe County Animal Control also contacted the humane society, which was eager to have Ivy back. So after first caring for Ivy in 2019, the humane society said it recently added her to its foster-based program again.

As of Oct. 10, Ivy is available for adoption. Shes described as a loving, affectionate, friendly, curious cat who is comfortable with being held and might prefer to be the only feline princess in her new home.

Ivy would be a great introduction for someone who has never been owned by a cat before, since shes pretty (easygoing), the organization wrote, adding that anyone interested in adopting her can visit ashehumanesociety.org/adoptions.

Though Ivy is set to start her next chapter, the humane society calls her journey a cautionary tale.

If you have pets, and want them cared for after youre gone, make sure you have a plan in place; preferably in a will, the animal rescue wrote. Ivys human probably assumed that both of her beloved pets would be cared for after her passing. Regrettably, that didnt happen.

Ashe County in the mountains roughly 90 miles northwest of Winston-Salem.

Note left with cats begged NC shelter to find them home. Mommy cant take care of me

Dogs disappearance had North Carolina shelter worried sick. Now, she has a new home
A bicyclist was killed in Palm Desert in a crash with a deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, whose headquarters are shown. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A cyclist was killed early Tuesday after a crash with an on-duty Riverside County sheriff's deputy.

The deputy was driving his department-issued car at the time of the crash, which occurred near Country Club Drive and Eldorado Drive in Palm Desert, according to the Sheriff's Department.

"The deputy was not operating his vehicle in an emergency response mode at the time of the collision," Lt. Christopher Ternes said in a news release.

Sheriff's deputies "immediately" provided aid to the cyclist, who died at the scene, according to the release.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Biden administration on Tuesday formally declared that the military takeover in Niger was a coup  a determination that will keep a significant amount of US military and foreign assistance to the West African nation on hold.

The decision was made because weve exhausted all available avenues to preserve constitutional order in Niger, a senior administration official said Tuesday.

Niger  once a key partner to the US  saw a breakdown of democratic order in late July when military putschists seized power and placed President Mohamed Bazoum under house arrest.

In the months since, US and international partners have urged the military junta, which calls itself the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP), to restore democratic leadership, but those efforts have been rebuffed.

CNN first reported last week that the formal coup determination was expected.

As a result of Tuesdays decision, the foreign assistance programs to the Nigerien government that were paused in August will remain suspended. In addition, $442 million in Millennium Challenge Corporation funding has been halted, the senior administration official said.

Humanitarian assistance will continue, the official added.

In addition, counterterrorism operations will remain paused, a second senior administration official said, as will US activities to build the capacity of the Nigerien armed forces through security cooperation programs. Other security cooperation that is not subject to restrictions because of the coup determination will also remain suspended until the coup leadership takes action towards restoring democratic governance, this official said.

However, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations out of Agedaz Air Base will continue focused on force protection, monitoring for threats to our forces, including threats from violent extremist organizations, another official said.

The second official noted that the US military presence in Niger had already been consolidated into two locations, and there are not plans at this time to change the force posture.

US Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon, who arrived in the country in August, will remain, the first official said. She has not presented her credentials but she is engaging in informal discussions with CNSP leaders, mainly to protect our staff and our interests and to handle logistical issues, they said.

Weve informed the CNSP already of our need to suspend certain assistance programs due to the coup designation, the official said.

On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Bazoum. The first official said they have no indication of when Bazoum might be released from house arrest, but indicated he may have to leave Niger.

In the weeks following Julys military takeover, there were some concerns that Russian mercenary groups like the Wagner Group would try to take advantage of the situation, particularly given their presence in neighboring Mali.

Im sure that they (the Wagner Group) would like to try and look for openings in Niger to see if they could take advantage, the first official said Tuesday.

So far, we have not seen any evidence that they have succeeded, and I think largely because the CNSP recognizes that there would be nothing positive that could result from their involvement, they said.

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FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about Affordable Care Act and Medicaid at the White House in Washington

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden 's popularity was near the lowest level of his presidency this month as Americans' concerns over immigration rose to their highest level since 2019, before he took office, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

The three-day opinion poll, which ended on Sunday, showed 40% of respondents approved of Biden's performance as president, down marginally from 42% a month earlier. The poll had a margin of error of about three percentage points.

While the economy is the perennial top concern among U.S. voters, in October the share of poll respondents who rated "immigration" the No. 1 problem rose to 14% from 8% in September.

That was the highest measure of concern about immigration since December 2019, when 15% of respondents cited it as their top concern.

A larger share - 19% - said the economy was the top concern, down from 23% in September. By comparison, 11% cited crime and 7% cited the environment.

Concerns among Republicans over immigration grew the most, a sign the issue could become a rallying cry for the party in the 2024 presidential contest when Biden, a Democrat, is seeking re-election.

Republicans - including former President Donald Trump , the frontrunner for his party's nomination - have persistently criticized Biden for failing to stave off crossings from Mexico.

Trump, who was U.S. president from 2017-2021, has pledged to do more to stem illegal immigration if voters return him to the White House.

Trump has led supporters to chant "build the wall" at his rallies and in a recent interview with The National Pulse, a right-leaning website, Trump said illegal immigrants were "poisoning the blood of the country," language that Trump's critics decried as racist.

A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in September found that a majority of Americans - 54% - agreed with the statement that "immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans." Some 73% of Republicans and 37% of Democrats surveyed agreed with that statement.

The Republican focus on immigration does not necessarily portend winning at the ballot box. When concerns over immigration also ran high in 2018 and Republican politicians pledged tough measures to thwart border crossings, Democrats nonetheless seized control of the U.S. House of Representatives in that year's elections.

Biden's administration has struggled with a record number of migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border that hit new highs in September, putting a strain on U.S. cities at the border and further north.

The administration said last week it will add sections to a wall on the southern border to stave off migrant crossings, carrying forward one of the signature policies of Trump's presidency. One of Biden's first actions after taking office in January 2021 was to issue a proclamation pledging that "no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall."

The administration said it did not deviate from Biden's proclamation because money that was allocated during Trump's term in 2019 had to be spent now.

Biden's public approval rating has held below 50% since August 2021, and this month's rating was close to the lowest levels of his presidency - 36% - seen in mid-2022.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses online from 1,029 adults, using a nationally representative sample.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Grant McCool)
President Biden on Tuesday harshly condemned the abhorrent terrorist attacks over the weekend by Hamas as the death toll in the region climbed, vowing that the U.S. would fully support the Israeli people.

The president also confirmed that Americans are among those being held hostage, with officials saying as many as 20 Americans are unaccounted for.

Both Biden and his top national security adviser backed Israels right to respond with force, as Israeli forces prepared to go on the offensive, and signaled an upcoming push for Congress to provide additional support.

In this moment we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel, Biden said in remarks from the State Dining Room. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

Biden recounted the violent images coming out of Israel in recent days, referencing parents being killed as they tried to protect their children; young people being massacred while attending a music festival, babies being killed, women being raped, and grandparents being ripped from wheelchairs.

Its abhorrent, Biden said. The brutality of Hamas  brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism. But sadly, for the Jewish people, its not new.

In addition to the Israeli casualties, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza amid relentless bombings by Israel, which vowed retaliation for the unprecedented attack. More than a dozen American citizens have been killed, according to the White House.

Biden has spoken three separate times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Saturday, including a call Tuesday. Biden has met with his national security team each day since the crisis began Saturday, and the U.S. and European allies put out a statement Monday affirming support for Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Israel this week.

The Biden administration has also repositioned military assets in the region to assist Israel and started sending munitions and interceptors to the Israelis to ensure their Iron Dome defense system has enough supplies. The administration is not currently planning to put U.S. forces on the ground, officials said Tuesday.

Biden confirmed Tuesday that American citizens are among those being held hostage by Hamas and said that the number of Americans killed in the terrorist attacks had risen to 14.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the U.S. doesnt know the exact number of Americans being held hostage but that 20 or more Americans are currently unaccounted for in Israel. U.S. officials had previously warned that Americans were likely among those being held by Hamas.

Biden administration officials have consistently defended Israels response to the attacks by Hamas, including Tuesday.

The president in his remarks said Israel has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks.

Sullivan also dismissed the suggestion that Israels response should be categorized as retaliation and instead was defending itself.

This is about providing support to Israel as it seeks to defend its territory and deal with an ongoing imminent threat from Hamas terrorists who, as I said before, are acting a heck of a lot like ISIS terrorists in their barbarity and cruelty, Sullivan said.

Im not here to draw red lines, or issue warnings, or give lectures to anybody, he added in response to a question about whether Biden suggested that Netanyahu exercise any restraint.

The White House has stressed the personal nature of the attacks on Israel as well. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby got choked up Monday discussing the images on the ground in a CNN interview, and the White House lit up in blue and white for the Israeli flag Monday evening, following a call from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to do so.

Biden on Tuesday said he will ask Congress when it returns from recess to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners.

This is not about party or politics. This is about the security of our world, security of the United States of America, he said.

Biden is expected to package funding for Israel with additional funding for Ukraines war effort, which the White House has struggled to pass with an increasing number of House Republicans not supporting it.

Administration officials have also said they have existing appropriations and authority to support Israel without additional congressional action if needed.

Potentially complicating matters is that the House is without a Speaker after Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted from the role last week in a move led by a small number of Republicans. A minority of Republicans have expressed opposition to providing more aid to Ukraine, but support for Israel has faced no such resistance in the GOP-controlled House.

Updated at 4:15 p.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Washington  President Biden on Tuesday condemned the Hamas militant group's bloody attacks on Israel that took place over the weekend, calling them an "act of sheer evil" and forcefully declaring that "we stand with Israel."

In remarks delivered from the White House alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the president said the people of Israel experienced "pure, unadulterated evil" at the "bloody hands" of Hamas, which has long been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.

"This was an act of sheer evil," he said.

The president revealed that at least 14 Americans are among the more than 1,200 people killed in Israel, and American citizens are also among those being held captive by Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said after Mr. Biden's remarks that while he could not confirm the precise number of U.S. citizens who are hostages, there are 20 or more Americans missing.

"We will work hour-by-hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans, or to confirm exactly the number of Americans held hostage," Sullivan said. "We do not know the number of hostages we have at this time."

Mr. Biden emphasized that "in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel."

"And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, to defend itself and to respond to this attack," Mr. Biden said. "There's no justification for terrorism. There's no excuse."

President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, makes remarks after speaking by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in Israel following Hamas' deadly attacks, from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, October 10, 2023. / Credit: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

Mr. Biden compared the assault on Israel by Hamas to the "worst rampages" of the Islamic State and denounced the "brutality" and "blood-thirstiness" of the group.

"This is terrorism," he said.

The remarks from the president came after Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, launched its surprise assault on Israel early Saturday morning, which the Israel Defense Forces has since said left at least 900 dead and roughly 2,700 wounded. Israeli authorities said dozens of people are being held captive by the group.

The death toll in Hamas-run Gaza is at least 900, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, though it is expected to rise as Israel continues to launch airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. Another 4,500 are wounded.

Mr. Biden has repeatedly expressed unwavering support for the Jewish state since the terrorist attack, and reiterated in his latest remarks that the U.S. will "stand united, supporting the people of Israel who are suffering unspeakable losses and opposing the hatred and violence of terrorism."

"Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond, indeed has a duty to respond, to these vicious attacks," he said.

The White House on Monday night was lit in blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag, as a symbol of "the ironclad support and solidarity of the American people with the people of Israel in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas," according to the White House.

Mr. Biden, along with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, also issued a joint statement condemning Hamas and "its appalling acts of terrorism."

"Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities," the leaders said Monday. "We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage."

They added, "All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed."

Ahead of his remarks, Mr. Biden met with his national security team to receive an update on the situation in Israel. He and Harris also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss U.S. support for Israel, the White House said.

The U.S. has already moved to provide the Israeli military with additional equipment and resources, including munitions, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday. He also ordered a carrier strike group to move to the Eastern Mediterranean to strengthen regional deterrence efforts.

The munitions being sent to Israel include small diameter bombs and artillery rounds, according to U.S. officials.

In addition to surging military assistance to Israel, including ammunitions and interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome, Mr. Biden said he has directed his administration to share intelligence with the Israelis and deploy government experts to consult with and advise on hostage recovery.

The president said he will also ask Congress to take "urgent action" to fund the national security requirements of U.S. partners. The House has been in recess since Tuesday following the unprecedented removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the Senate is set to return to Washington next week.

"This is not about party or politics. This is about the security of our world, the security of the United States of America," he said.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that the first tranche of security assistance is on its way to Israel.

"We fully expect that there'll be additional requests for security systems from Israel as they continue to expand munitions in this fight, and we will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that we're filling their needs as best as best we can and as fast as you can," he said.

Ellee Watson contributed to this report

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President Joe Biden condemned the attacks by Hamas on US ally Israel as "sheer evil" in an emotional speech Tuesday and said Washington is ready to deploy more military assets to the region.

The Palestinian militant group had carried out atrocities including murders of entire families and rapes of women, an indignant Biden said from the White House, also mentioning "stomach-turning reports of babies being killed."

"There are moments in this life -- I mean this literally -- when a pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world," he said in a hushed voice during a televised speech.

"This is an act of sheer evil."

Biden also confirmed that at least 14 Americans had died in the surprise attacks on Saturday, and that a number had been taken captive by Hamas, which has threatened to kill hostages if Israel does not warn civilians of upcoming attacks on Gaza.

At least 20 US citizens were still missing, although that was not the total number of hostages, Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

Hamas retorted that Biden's comments were an "attempt to cover crimes" by Israel.

- 'Sickening' -

Biden's remarks were his clearest show of support for Israel yet as the death toll surged above 900 in the "sickening" attack by Hamas. Gaza officials have also reported 900 people killed in Israeli air strikes.

Flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden pledged that "we stand with Israel and we will make sure it has what it needs."

The 80-year-old president also underlined his message with unusually graphic descriptions of the carnage in Israel.

"Parents butchered, using their bodies to try to protect their children," Biden said during the 10-minute speech. "Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace. Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies."

As fears grow of a regional conflagration, Biden was equally direct about long-term foe Iran, which backs Hamas as well as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

"To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: don't."

The president's remarks were delayed by more than an hour while he and Harris spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time since the attacks.

Netanyahu said he described the attacks in that call as "savagery never seen since the Holocaust."

Biden earlier posted a picture of himself in the secure White House Situation Room meeting top national security officials to discuss the crisis.

- 'This is personal' -

The United States was now "surging" assistance for Israel including missiles for its Iron Dome interceptor system, Biden said.

Washington has ordered its largest aircraft carrier to move closer to Israel and Biden said he was ready to move "additional assets" if needed to deter Israel's adversaries.

But the United States does not yet have evidence of direct Iranian involvement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, even if US officials said they were still scrutinizing intelligence on the issue.

Blinken would be visiting Israel to show "solidarity and support" on Thursday, the State Department said.

The White House meanwhile showed no sign of calling for restraint by Israel as the death toll mounted on both sides.

"I'm not here to draw red lines," Sullivan told reporters. "We're going to support them for as long as they need to ensure that Israel is safe and secure."

The United States was deploying hostage experts to Israel to help, but Sullivan said that "we are not currently sending forces to Israel, and I'll leave it at that for now."

Biden's response is being closely watched at home ahead of next year's US election where Republicans accuse the Democrat president of being soft on Iran.

Sullivan insisted on the president's commitment to Israel, saying recent days had been an "emotional" time for Biden, who had known Netanyahu for four decades.

"I'm sure you heard the president's voice," he said. "This is personal for us."

dk/sst
President Joe Biden on Tuesday decried the brutal Hamas attack that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians as an act of sheer evil, and confirmed American hostages were among those taken in the assault.

In a nod to the lengthy conflict ahead, he also appealed to Congress to support aid for the U.S. ally.

When Congress returns, were going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners, Biden said, acknowledging a demand for aid for both Israel and the ongoing war in Ukraine. This is not about party or politics. Its about the security of our world. The security of the United States of America.

The White House address marked the presidents second public response amid the eruption of violence in Israel, and came shortly after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the administrations support for the nation. Since Biden first delivered remarks on Saturday after Hamas surprise assault on the country, ghastly images have surfaced from the attacks and Israels forceful counterattack, fueling fears the conflict might spiral into a larger war.

The carnage has also directly touched the United States: The president, flanked by Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said at least 14 Americans were among those killed in Israel  an increase from the previously announced toll of 11.

There are moments in this life  when a pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. People of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend. The bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas, a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews. So as an act of sheer evil, more than 1,000 civilians slaughtered in Israel, Biden said.

Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach-turning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people were massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace, to celebrate peace. Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies ... This is terrorism.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan later told reporters that the administration believes at least 20 Americans remain missing in the wake of the attacks. Some were taken hostage, although the U.S. is unsure precisely how many.



Sullivan described joint U.S.-Israeli efforts to find those who are missing or being held hostage as a foremost priority, and he said the administration is sharing intelligence and has deployed government experts to advise Israel on its hostage recovery efforts.

This is personal for us, Sullivan said. This is personal for the American people.

The White House plans to formally ask Congress for funding to aid Israel in the coming days, as well as renew its request for more money to support the war in Ukraine, though Sullivan would not provide details .

The administration is also pressing the Senate to confirm Jack Lew, Bidens nominee for ambassador to Israel, as soon as possible following senators return to Washington next week.

Speaking from the State Dining room, Bidens speech represented one of the gravest public addresses of his presidency. At times, Biden appeared to take some effort to contain his fury over an attack he compared to the worst rampages of ISIS.

And it comes as the crisis piles on to a growing list of pressures facing the president  posing yet another delicate foreign policy challenge as he seeks reelection, while largely pinning his case on his ability to remain a steady head during times of turmoil.

The president and his top advisers over the weekend held calls with dozens of foreign leaders and allies, pulling together a response while fielding Israels requests for aid. The Biden administration surged weapons to Israel on Monday, sending air defenses and munitions.



So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, respond to this attack, Biden said.

But Bidens vows of support also come as the administration navigates growing turmoil at home, with the House lacking a speaker and any coherence for how to rapidly deliver the help that may be needed abroad.

The White House and some Senate lawmakers, including Republican leader Mitch McConnell, have suggested the possibility of folding aid to Israel into a pre-existing funding package for Ukraine. But House Republicans skeptical of sending more money to Ukraine have already signaled theyd oppose such an effort, and there is likely little that Congress can accomplish overall until the GOP settles on a new leader.

The White House has kept in close touch with Senate and House leaders and appropriators, though officials said theyve not yet settled on a specific path forward for passing any aid. The administration does not expect that Israel will need Congress to approve any additional aid for at least the next several days, giving senators time to return to Washington next week and negotiate its next steps.
Josh Jury, 17, a senior at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, went to sleep Friday night in Jerusalem after a night of celebrating the Jewish holiday Simhat Torah and woke up Saturday to the sound of alarms.

Jury, who is scheduled to be in Israel through December for a semester aboard program, said he was startled awake at 8:30 a.m. Saturday to the sound of a siren. He asked his roommate what he thought the sound was. His roommate, still half asleep, told him it was probably a loud ambulance.

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Id never heard something like it before, Jury said. A few minutes later, there were counselors banging on our doors telling us we had to run down to the bomb shelter. It felt really unreal. My reality was changed in seconds.

Hamas militants stormed through the blockaded Gaza Strip Saturday, initiating a surprise land and air attack on Israel. Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the country is now at war.

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Jury said he and the other students, some wrapped in towels after jumping out of the shower, left the bomb shelter after 10 minutes of silence outside. Twenty minutes later another siren went off, so the students ran back into the bomb shelter, he said.

Sirens went off eight times Saturday, he said, which required them to run down the stairs from the third floor of the building and another five flights of stairs into the bomb shelter.

It was extremely chaotic. It was really overwhelming, Jury said.

Jury arrived to Israel Aug. 22 as a student at Heller High, which is a semester-long, fully accredited high school educational experience for Jewish sophomores, juniors and seniors to learn in Israel, according to the program website.

Students in the program attend and live on the Alexander Muss High School campus in Hod HaSharon, which is located outside of Tel Aviv, Jury said. To celebrate the Jewish holiday, Jury said the students took a bus to Jerusalem and had planned to stay until Sunday.

On Friday night, Jury said he had a wonderful time eating, singing and dancing during the celebrations.

I texted my mom that night telling her it was one of the highlights of the trip for me and it made me actually want to consider living here when Im older, Jury said.

Saturday was supposed to be a day of rest, Jury said, with more celebrations scheduled in the evening. But by Saturday night, Jury said he and his classmates were bused back to the campus.

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Once on campus, Jury said the students were eating pizza for dinner when they heard the sounds of Israels defense system blocking a missile a few miles away.

It sounded like thunder and the ground was shaking below us. It was sort of like this dystopian moment, Jury said. We hadnt really seen or experienced it until that moment, like what was actually happening around us, but then it really felt close to home.

Jury said the students were leaving a schoolwide meeting Monday when their phones alerted them about missiles getting closer to their location.

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We started to head in the direction of the bomb shelter and then we heard a missile get intercepted. It was extremely loud and everyone started panicking and running, he said. Then the sirens came back on. We stayed in the shelter for about 10 minutes again. It was really scary.

The majority of classes have been canceled, Jury said, and the students have focused on helping with humanitarian efforts. They packed more than 1,500 bags with toiletries, snacks and notes of support for displaced families, he said

The students have attended history class to learn about modern history between Palestine and Israel, he said.

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Jury said his biggest takeaway from the lesson is that it is a complicated issue.

At the end of the day, theres a lot of innocent Israelis and innocent Palestinians who are being killed, Jury said. You have to differentiate the terrorist group Hamas with the Palestinians who are in Gaza.

Jury said school officials are trying to find flights home for students, the majority of whom live in the United States. It would be difficult for him to leave, Jury said, because hes been enjoying his semester in Israel.

Even though were in the middle of a war, this feels like my home. Its really hard to leave, Jury said. Everything is up in the air.
President Biden on Tuesday confirmed that American citizens are among those being held hostage by Hamas in the wake of an unprecedented coordinated attack by the militant group over the weekend that killed more than a thousand people in Israel.

The president also said in remarks at the White House that the number of Americans killed in the attacks had risen to 14.

We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas, Biden said.

Ive directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, he said. Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the U.S. does not know the number of hostages at this point, and the U.S. does not have information about their condition.

He added that the U.S. believes there are 20 or more Americans who are missing at this point, but that number is those who are currently unaccountable for and does not necessarily mean there are 20 or more American hostages.

U.S. officials previously warned it was likely that Americans are among those being held by Hamas but were working to confirm Monday. John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security issues, told reporters on a call Monday that there were still many Americans who are unaccounted for.

So I cant say definitely that we know Americans are being held hostage, he said. That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that some are.

Biden added on Tuesday that he will call on Congress to take urgent action to provide funding to Israel.

This is not about party or politics, this is about the security of our world, security of the United States of America, he said.

Biden also called the attacks in Israel an act of sheer evil and said we must be crystal clear, we stand with Israel.

Updated at 3:02 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden is facing mounting Republican pressure to take action against Iran in the wake of the latest violence in the Middle East, even as U.S. officials say they dont have a smoking gun proving that Tehran played a direct role.

More than a dozen GOP senators are leading the charge, calling on the Biden administration to refreeze the $6 billion in funds released to Tehran in a prisoner exchange deal last month. The administration also faces calls to impose new sanctions on Iran or even take military action against Iranian targets.

Republicans note that Hamas, the militant group that staged a stunning attack on Israel over the weekend, has long been militarily supported by Iran. Israel is now retaliating against Hamas. More than 1,800 people have died so far in the fighting.



Giving Iran $6 billion  even if for humanitarian aid  allows them to reallocate other funds to supporting terrorism, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) tweeted Tuesday morning. Especially given Irans involvement in the Hamas attacks, Biden must immediately freeze the transfer.

Twenty Republican senators, including Blackburn, sent a letter to the White House on Monday criticizing the administration for claiming that the funds are only available for humanitarian use.

Money is fungible, and there is significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel, they wrote.

The Biden administration has repeatedly denied the $6 billion could be diverted by Iran for nefarious purposes, noting its use will be highly restricted and monitored. Still, the deal has come under persistent pushback from conservative lawmakers since it was first announced.

The Republican demands for new pressure on Iran come as many hawks suspect Tehran is the true culprit behind the attacks that began this weekend. But there have been conflicting reports about what role Iran may have played, and Biden administration officials say they do not yet have evidence that Iran directed the attack.

While its widely known that Iran supports and supplies Hamas militarily and in other ways, Hamas maintains a degree of independence from Tehran. It may be difficult to find a smoking gun proving Irans culpability.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated on Tuesday that the U.S. doesn't know if Iran helped plan or knew about the attacks, but said Tehran is "complicit in a broad sense" either way.

Iran has "provided the lion's share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas. They provide training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over the years and years," Sullivan told reporters. "All of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen now."

Earlier on Tuesday, Irans top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, denied accusations that Tehran was involved. But he applauded Hamas actions and blamed Israels attacks on the Gaza Strip in past years for the recent violence.

"We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime," Khamenei said on television, Reuters reported Tuesday. The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster.

Still, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) repeated the claim that Iran was directly involved and that the prisoner exchange deal fueled the attack against Israel.

Iran knew they had $6 billion coming their way, and that windfall freed up resources to plan & execute the heinous terrorist attack from Hamas against our greatest ally in the region, Braun tweeted Tuesday morning. The U.S. should freeze these funds immediately & permanently.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also called for an investigation into the $6 billion deal and a hearing for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to detail any gaps in Iranian sanctions.

GOP Rep. Brian Mast of Florida has called for new sanctions on backers of Hamas. Some hawks have gone even further, calling for U.S. military action against Iran.

"The only way you're going to keep this war from escalating is to hold Hamas and Iran accountable. It is now time to take the war to the Ayatollahs back yard," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted Tuesday afternoon.

That came after a more direct statement by the group United Against Nuclear Iranon Monday: "We call on our government in Washington, together with Israel, and our allies around the world to launch strikes against military and intelligence targets in Iran, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, and missile and drone bases, where Irans proxy and partner network is trained."

UANIs chair is ex-Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Connecticut Democrat who later became an independent.

Many of the accusations that Iran played a role stem from The Wall Street Journals report on Sunday that Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the surprise assault and ultimately gave the greenlight. The paper cited senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group.

But many analysts and Israels military have been unwilling to embrace the claims.

We have no evidence or proof that Iran was behind it, but Israel also didnt have intelligence to see the attack coming, Maj. Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, told POLITICO on Monday.

We are 100 percent sure that the Iranians were not surprised, Dinar said. Just because you dont have that evidence doesnt necessarily mean Iran isnt behind it.
President Joe Biden was interviewed across two days in the special counsel inquiry into his handling of classified documents, the White House said late Monday.

He voluntarily submitted to the interview, which began Sunday and ended Monday, according to a statement from the presidents office.

For months, special counsel Robert Hur has been investigating the president over sensitive records discovered at Bidens home in Delaware and at an office in Washington, D.C.

The interview  carried out as Biden was faced with an explosion of violence in Israel and Gaza  could signal that the investigation is nearing its completion.

As we have said from the beginning, the president and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, White House spokesman Ian Sams said in a statement.

Sams added that the interview was conducted at the White House, but provided few other details, referring further questions to the Justice Department.

The DOJ did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

In January, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur to investigate Biden.

At the time, the AG said the appointment showed the Justice Departments commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters.

Hur, a New York-born lawyer who worked in the Trump administration, has been registered as a Republican, according to public records. He was the U.S. attorney for Maryland from 2018 to 2021.

The White House has said classified papers from Bidens time as vice president were unearthed in a garage and adjacent room at the presidents home in Wilmington, Delaware.

Government documents were also found in Bidens office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington last year, according to the White House.

Biden has maintained that he takes classified material seriously.

_____
President Biden was interviewed as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents by Special Counsel Robert Hur, the White House counsel's office said.

The interview was voluntary and concluded Monday, White House Counsels Office spokesperson Ian Sams told Fox News.

"The voluntary interview was conducted at the White House over two days, Sunday and Monday, and concluded Monday," he said.

BIDEN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS STORY LIGHTS UP SOCIAL MEDIA: 'WATCH HOW FAST THIS DISAPPEARS'

President Biden address a campaign rally in Washington D.C. The president was interviewed as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents by Special Counsel Robert Hur.

The investigation is being led by Hur, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the probe.

"As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation," Sams said.

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"We would refer other questions to the Justice Department at this time," he added.

The interview played out as war broke out in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas. Biden was speaking with foreign leaders about the matter and meeting with his national security team.

LIBERAL MEDIA ROASTED FOR EXCUSING BIDEN DOCUMENT SCANDAL: WHEN WILL THE FBI RAID HIS HOME?

The probe stems from a batch of records from President Biden's time as vice president, including a "small number of documents with classified markings," that were discovered at the Penn Biden Center by the president's personal attorneys on Nov. 2, 2022.

The documents were found in a locked closet while preparing to vacate office space at the center, which the president used from mid-2017 until he began the 2020 campaign. The National Archives were notified of the finding and took possession of the documents on Nov. 3, 2022, Sauber said.

Special counsel Robert Muellers team negotiated with lawyers for then-President Donald Trump for an interview but Trump never sat for one. His lawyers instead submitted answers to written questions.

President George W. Bush sat for a 70-minute interview as part of an investigation into the leak of the identity of a CIA operative. President Bill Clinton in 1998 underwent more than four hours of questioning from independent counsel Kenneth Starr before a federal grand jury.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Biden interviewed by special counsel about classified documents
President Biden sat this week for an interview with the special counsel overseeing an investigation into his handling of classified documents from his time as vice president, the White House confirmed Monday.

Biden met Sunday and Monday with special counsel Robert Hur, who was appointed earlier this year to handle the probe into classified documents found at Bidens home and an old office.

The President has been interviewed as part of the investigation being led by Special Counsel Robert Hur, spokesperson Ian Sams said in a statement. The voluntary interview was conducted at the White House over two days, Sunday and Monday, and concluded Monday.

As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation, Sams added. We would refer other questions to the Justice Department at this time.

The New York Times first reported that Biden sat for an interview with Hur.

Biden had said as recently as August that there had not been a request for an interview from the special counsels office. The interview with Hur marks a significant step in the probe, however, and is a sign officials may be nearing the conclusion of their investigation.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur in January as a special counsel. Hur is investigating why documents from Bidens time as vice president with classified markings were found at his Wilmington, Del., home.

Documents with classified markings were also found at a University of Pennsylvania office in Washington, D.C., that Biden used after the end of the Obama administration. Those documents were found by officials clearing out the office last November, but the discovery was not publicly disclosed until January.

Biden has maintained he did nothing wrong, and his team has repeatedly noted that his lawyers quickly notified and cooperated with the Justice Department after discovering the documents.

A separate special counsel had already been appointed to oversee the investigation into former President Trumps mishandling of records after roughly 300 records bearing classified markings were discovered at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Trump was charged in June by the Justice Department over his retention of those documents. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which allege he violated the Espionage Act and obstructed justice in taking classified records from his presidency and refusing to return them.

Former Vice President Mike Pence in January also disclosed classified documents were found at his Indiana home after conducting a search in the wake of the Biden discoveries. The Justice Department later concluded their investigation of the matter without any finding of wrongdoing.

Updated

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden has been interviewed by Department of Justice prosecutors whove been looking into how documents with classification markings ended up at his Delaware homes and a Washington, DC office he used while out of government, the White House has said.

In a statement, White House spokesman Ian Sams said the voluntary interview, which started on Sunday and finished on Monday, was part of the probe being overseen by Robert Hur, the former Maryland US Attorney who was tasked with investigating the documents at locations linked to Mr Biden.

Mr Hur, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland this past January, has spent the last nine months interviewing various figures connected with Mr Bidens term as vice president, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a former assistant, Kathy Chung.

Both Mr Blinken and Mr Chung played roles in packing Mr Bidens office in late 2008 and early 2009 during the transition between the Obama administration and the Trump administration.

Mr Sams, the White House spokesperson, referred questions from The Independent to the Department of Justice while noting that Mr Biden and the White House have cooperated fully with Mr Hurs efforts.

He added that the White House has provided relevant updates publicly while being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation.

The probe began last year after Mr Bidens personal attorneys notified the Department of Justice that they had discovered documents with classification markings at a Washington, DC office used by Mr Biden during the period he was out of government between 2017 and 2021.

Mr Bidens personal attorneys later discovered similar documents during a search of the presidents two residences in Delaware, leading Mr Garland to appoint Mr Hur to oversee the investigation.

Thus far, the president is not understood to be a target of the investigation, but the fact that Mr Biden has been interviewed could be a strong signal that the probe is nearly complete.

Mr Hur, a Republican, has not charged anyone in connection with his nine-month investigation, but Mr Garland has suggested that the veteran prosecutor will submit a report that will eventually be made public.

His relatively low-key investigation has stood in stark contrast to the special counsel probe of Mr Bidens predecessor, former president Donald Trump.

While Mr Biden and his aides have stressed that they have cooperated fully and willingly with the probe, Mr Trump has characterised the investigation as an illegitimate witch hunt.

The former president allegedly resisted honouring the terms of a grand jury subpoena compelling him to turn over documents with classification markings that hed hoarded at his Palm Beach, Florida beach club and residence.

FBI agents later found scores of documents with classification markings at Mr Trumps residence during an 8 August 2022 search of the property, and in June the ex-president was indicted on charges of unlawfully retaining national defence information, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

He has pleaded not guilty and is expected to be tried in a South Florida federal court next year.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
President Biden has been interviewed by the office of special counsel Robert Hur, who is overseeing an inquiry related to the discovery of documents with classification markings at Mr. Biden's Wilmington home and former private office.

Ian Sams, the spokesman for the White House counsel's office, said in a statement that the interview was conducted at the White House over two days, on Sunday and Monday. It was "concluded Monday," he said.

Sams went on to state that the president and White House are cooperating with the probe. Other questions were referred to the Justice Department.

Multiple sources confirmed to CBS News that Hur personally conducted the interview with the president. According to a person familiar with the investigation, the special counsel's interview with Mr. Biden had been scheduled for weeks.

Hur is the second special counsel appointed to oversee an investigation into sensitive documents, after Jack Smith, was tapped to take over the probe into former President Donald Trump's handling of sensitive government documents.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur hours after the White House confirmed the discovery of a second set of documents in a garage at Mr. Biden's Delaware residence. Garland said the government first learned about the initial group of documents that were found in an office Mr. Biden used upon leaving the vice presidency last November, and the FBI began an assessment of potential mishandling of classified information several days later. Garland revealed the documents in Mr. Biden's garage were subsequently discovered on Dec. 20.

A spokesperson for the president's personal attorney, Bob Bauer, has declined comment.

Hur's office also declined to comment.

Robert Legare and Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report.

What would a ground invasion of Gaza look like?

Israel music festival survivor recounts escape from Hamas

Witness testifies Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to commit fraud
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Biden meets with Israel's President Netanyahu during UNGA in New York City

By Steve Holland and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden , his voice gripped with emotion, condemned the deadly attack against Israel by the Hamas militant group as "an act of sheer evil" and stressed U.S. support for Israelis mourning the slaughter of more than 1,000 people.

A visibly upset Biden, in remarks at the White House, voiced concern for any Americans who may be held hostage by Hamas, the Iran-backed group that launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on Saturday.

At least 14 Americans died in the attack. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the U.S. believed 20 Americans were missing but that it remained unclear if they were being held hostage.

Biden said Washington will share intelligence with Israel and deploy additional experts on hostage recovery. Sullivan said no American forces would be deployed on the ground.

Biden stopped short of an overt plea to Israel to show restraint to avoid Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel girds for a possible ground offensive against Hamas.

But he said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call on Tuesday, that militants intentionally target civilians while democracies like the United States and Israel are "stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law."

"There are moments in this life, and I mean this literally, when the pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend," Biden told reporters at the White House.

Biden described what he called "stomach-turning" reports of "parents butchered," "babies being killed," "entire families slain" and "women raped, assaulted and paraded as trophies."

Biden said Hamas had threatened to execute hostages, including survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, in violation of "every code of human morality." He said the group's brutality and "blood thirstiness" was a reminder of the "worst rampages of ISIS."

"This is terrorism, but sadly for the Jewish people, it's not new," Biden said.

The incident had brought to the surface memories of antisemitism and the genocide of the Jewish people, he added.

In an apparent reference to Iran and Iranian-backed groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, Biden said he had a message for any country or organization thinking of taking advantage of the situation - "I have one word: don't."

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday with the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year-old conflict with the Palestinians, razing whole districts despite a threat from Hamas militants to execute a captive for each home hit without warning.

BIDEN PROMISES ISRAEL SUPPORT

Biden spoke after his third phone call in four days with Netanyahu, telling him if such an attack happened in the United States "our response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming."

Biden outlined the U.S. military assistance being sent to help Israel in its fight and said he would ask Congress to take urgent action. The White House is considering submitting a request to Congress that would include military aid to both Ukraine and Israel, said a person familiar with the matter.

The White House on Monday said it expected to fulfill additional security requests from Israel as quickly as possible. Biden promised replenishment of interceptors used by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system as well as ammunition in addition to redoubling U.S. military presence in the region.

Biden also offered support for American Jews and said they should be allowed to worship in peace in the United States. Biden said last month that antisemitism in the United States had risen to record levels.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000, dwarfing all modern Islamist attacks on the West since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Nandita Bose; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Trevor Hunnicutt and Howard Goller)
Between the bongo drums and saxophone, the guy hawking buttons featuring a shirtless Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Fit to Be President!), the men darting around in dark suits and sunglasses (stand-ins for the Secret Service detail Kennedy has still not received), the throngs of jubilant supporters, and the giant tour buses bearing the candidates grinning countenance, the entire spectacle would have made a convenient diversion for anyone planning an elaborate heist of the Declaration of Independence.

Unfortunately, Philadelphias National Constitution Center was selected for a different reason: to serve as a corny metaphor. On cue, a man hurried past, muttering into an earpiece: I need the screensavers to not say Declare Your Independence yet. The message, which had been blaring from twin jumbotrons beside the stage where Kennedy was scheduled to make an important announcement later that day, was replaced by a TV test pattern  even as a giant banner bearing the same slogan hung across the back of the stage.

By then, the worst-kept secret in U.S. politics was out: Kennedy, heir to the most recognizable name in Democratic politics, was ditching the party and mounting an independent bid for president. For months, itd been clear this moment was imminent. Kennedy  who commanded as much as 20 percent of Democratic primary voters support earlier this summer  had been steadily collecting compliments and cashing checks from high-profile Republicans, making pilgrimages to the border and appearances on both conservative and conspiracy-curious podcasts.

At a certain point, the question was no longer whether Kennedy would launch a third-party bid. The question was which presumptive major party candidate his independent candidacy would hurt more: Joe Biden or Donald Trump.

Its been decades since a candidate from outside the two-party system has launched a credible bid for president, but with more than half of voters holding negative opinions of the presumptive candidates, and support for a third party at historic high (63 percent in favor), a third-party candidate  whether its Kennedy, or ex-Bernie Sanders surrogate Cornel West, or West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin running on the No Labels ballot line  is poised to have a seismic impact in 2024.

For that reason, four of Robert Kennedys siblings publicly denounced their brothers decision  calling it dangerous to our country  before he had even finished his speech on Monday. The implication was clear: His bid, in their view, increased the likelihood of a second Trump term.

Republicans, meanwhile, seem unconvinced they would be the beneficiaries: Semafor reported that Trumps campaign is concerned enough that it is readying lines of attack against Kennedy, and the Republican National Committee cobbled together a list of 23 reasons why conservatives shouldnt support Kennedy. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel even put out a statement sniping that a Democrat in Independents clothing is still a Democrat.

But apocalyptic warnings like those were shrugged by the hundreds of Kennedyheads who crowded Independence Mall on Monday. Many described themselves as former Democrats of the recent or distant past who found their way to Kennedy during the pandemic, drawn in by his activism around vaccines.

Irene Coller drove to Philadelphia from Texas with her husband, their three kids, and their goldendoodle: I felt a calling with this, she says. Coller first became interested in Kennedys message when she and her family still lived in L.A. during the pandemic. Back then, she explains, We had a hiking trail at the end of our street and they caution-taped it shut  an early Covid-era precaution that ultimately drove the family to pack up their belongings and move to Texas. Coller says they havent looked back.

A former Democrat, Coller says she registered with the Green Party prior to 2016. Ive voted for the lesser of two evils my whole life. Im sick of it. Im ready for something else, she puts it plainly.

Linsey Hurley first began paying attention to Kennedy during the pandemic too. He was making a lot of sense, Hurley says. When the vaccine rolled out and they said it was mRNA, I just knew. I avoid GMO foods. Why would I want a GMO injection?

Ive been a strong Democrat all my life, Hurley says. The Democrats held the values that I believe in, which is for peace, for freedom, bodily sovereignty  thats what Democrats were about. And now theyre all saying: You gotta get the jab.

Bennett Weiss, the button merchant, was a Bernie Sanders supporter in 2016 and 2020. For that reason, he says, he wouldnt have dreamed of supporting Kennedy if he had stayed running as a Democrat. There wasnt a chance in the world they would let him [win]. They rigged it against Bernie twice. [Kennedy] had even less of a chance.

He says he told Kennedys campaign manager, the former Congressman Dennis Kuccinich, as much while selling his buttons at a different Kennedy event earlier this year. I said, Youre insane [for running as a Democrat]. Youre wasting peoples time and money  Youre gonna get a bad case of fleas if you lie down with those dogs.

His enthusiasm for Kennedy was somewhat dampened by the candidates statement in support of Israel this weekend  Weiss called the sentiment hideous  but he added, The importance of getting rid of this duopoly trumps even that.

If he gets anything north of even 10 to 15 percent, I think it sends a powerful message that voters are starting to wake up and realize that these two parties are mirror images of each other, that the whole thing is a farce.

Peter Pantazis, who started volunteering his time for the campaign this summer, cited a 2014 Princeton study when explaining why hes backing Kennedy. The study concluded the average voter has virtually no influence at all on U.S. policy  only organized groups and economic elites do.

Bobby Kennedy is the only person Ive seen that actually is addressing the number one issue in our country today, which is corporate government collusion and corruption, Pantazis says.

Like the others, Pantazis says he used to identify as a Democrat. Im socially liberal, meaning Im anti-war, anti-corruption  But now Id probably be considered a right-wing extremist because Im anti-war, Im pro-free speech.

Bud McClure is a retired college professor who splits his time between Minnesota and Florida. He voted for Biden in 2020, but these days he says, I dont see any difference between the president and his predecessor. He doesnt see a scenario in which Kennedy actually makes it to the White House, but he sees him as a hero on a heros journey.

In his speech, Kennedy acknowledged the obvious dynamics. The Democrats are frightened that Im gonna spoil the election for President Biden. The Republicans are frightened that Im gonna spoil it for President Trump. The truth is, theyre both right, he quipped. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.

If Mondays event was any indication, though, Kennedys base is largely made up of voters who the Democratic Party lost somewhere along the way.

In the end, I only found two Republicans in the crowd: Craig Kinard described himself as a big Trump supporter. He and his son, Noah, made the trek from Connecticut to see Kennedy because he wanted to make sure he had a nice turnout today.

Kennedys message, Kinard said, resonated with him. Were being almost told to hate each other, and I dont like it. I think its destructive. I love America, he says. He sees a similarity in the coverage of Trump and Kennedy. All you gotta do is just basically look at the way theyre both treated by the media  and Rolling Stone is probably one of the worst offenders, by the way.

Unlike the ex-Democrats on the mall that day, though, Kinard hadnt been pushed to the point where he was ready to switch horses yet.

Id vote for him over several Republicans that are on the debate stage, he says of Kennedy. But he still plans to support Trump in 2024: If they threw him in jail, Id probably still vote for him.

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President Biden was heavily criticized by conservatives on social media for not mentioning Iran, a state sponsor of Hamas, in an address to the nation Tuesday when he reacted to the terrorist groups attack on Israel that left more than 1,000 Israelis dead.

Speaking from the White House and flanked by Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken , Biden vowed that the U.S. "has Israel's back" as it prepares for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip just days after the Hamas terrorist group crossed the border and slaughtered Israeli civilians, including women, children and babies.

"We must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack," Biden said.

Conservatives took to X, formerly Twitter, after Biden's speech and slammed him for not mentioning Iran.

WHITE HOUSE SPOX PRESSED ON IRAN'S $6 BILLION IN UNFROZEN FUNDS AFTER HAMAS UNLEASHES TERROR IN ISRAEL

President Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House while flanked by Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Oct. 10, 2023.

"Biden spoke for 10 minutes and 12 seconds, then turned his back and shuffled away," a social media account associated with the Republican National Committee posted on X . "He did not even mention Iran."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

After the president's speech, Fox News contributor Joe Concha posted on X , "14 Americans are dead. An unknown number have been taken hostage. President Biden just spoke for 11 minutes before quickly walking away without taking any questions. No mention of Iran whatsoever. Utterly irresponsible and weak on both fronts."

IRAN-LINKED TERRORISTS, GUERRILLAS SURROUND ISRAEL: HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM

"After a weekend of BBQs &  days, Joe Biden has ZERO answers," Republican Sen. Roger Marshall posted on X. "Shows up over an hour late to his Address to the nation, Confirms 14 Americans are dead & more Americans are being held hostage, Gives ZERO strategy to save them, Makes no mention of Iran, Takes NO questions."

"Biden gives a speech on attack on Israel and does not even mention Iran!" Marc Thiessen, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a Fox News contributor, posted on X .

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

"No mention of Iran in Biden's remarks and restrained verbal response to the murder of Americans," Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich posted on X . "Weak."

"Biden forgot to mention the word Iran," Rich Sementa, producer for the Mark Levin radio show, posted on X.

"ZERO mention of Iran from President Biden," Fox News contributor and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany posted on X . "You cannot sever the terrorism against Israel from the actions of Iran."

TOP US GENERAL HAS MESSAGE FOR IRAN ON ISRAEL: DO NOT 'GET INVOLVED'

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Iranian security officials approved Hamas' plan to attack Israel during a meeting in Beirut on Oct. 2. Hamas and Hezbollah leaders said Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas since August on air, land and sea attack plans.

A European official who works as an adviser to the Syrian government corroborated the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders' claims, according to the Wall Street Journal, though U.S. officials say they have not seen evidence of Iran's involvement in the attacks.

"We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CNN on Sunday.

During a televised speech Tuesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, "We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack."

Khamenei, who was wearing a Palestinian scarf and delivering his first broadcast remarks since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Saturday, also said Tehran was not involved, according to Reuters.

"This destructive earthquake has destroyed some critical structures [in Israel], which will not be repaired easily. ... The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster," Khamenei reportedly said.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a press conference Tuesday that while Iran is "complicit" in the attack given its financial and material support of Hamas in recent years, there is not yet evidence that it helped organize the attack.

"Now, as to the question of whether Iran knew about this attack in advance or helped plan or direct this attack, we do not, as of the moment I'm standing here at the podium, have confirmation of that," Sullivan said.



Fox News Digital's Emma Colton and Greg Norman contributed to this report.





Original article source: Biden ripped for not mentioning Iran by name in speech on Hamas attacks: 'Utterly irresponsible and weak'
"Explorer," an eight-foot bronze sculpture interpretation of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable has just been revealed on Oct. 8, 2023 in Evanston. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

There is a new face in town, at least, for one year.

A large turnout on Oct. 8 officially welcomed Explorer, an eight-foot bronze sculpture interpretation of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. The monument is installed on the northeast corner of Church Street and Orrington Avenue, adjacent to the Evanston Main Public Library.

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"Explorer," an eight-foot bronze sculpture interpretation of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable is revealed on Oct. 8, 2023 in Evanston. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

The Evanston Arts Council announced the arrival and unveiling of the sculpture.

Born in Haiti, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable was a prosperous fur trader who settled along the north bank of the Chicago River in the 1780s, making him the earliest recorded non-Native resident in the area. He is widely regarded as the first permanent resident of Chicago and has been given the title Founder of Chicago.

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Explorer will have a 12 month stay in Evanston before being shared and moved to other venues, including the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago.

Public art is an opportunity for us to come together in appreciation of aesthetics, come together in appreciation of joy, come together and grow together, and learn together, and especially to educate ourselves, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss told the audience.

Right, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss is here for the reveal of "Explorer," an eight-foot bronze sculpture interpretation of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable on Oct. 8, 2023 in Evanston. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

He said the bust teaches those who see it about the erasure of minority groups in our countrys history and gives the city the chance to reverse some of that and start conversations.

Its just the best of what art is meant to be and what art is meant to do, he said.

Explorer is the work of sculptor Erik Blome of Crystal Lake, a former Evanston resident. Blome was raised in Deerfield and is of Deerfield High School Class of 1985.

Erik Blome, a former Evanston resident and currently of Crystal Lake, addresses the audience at the reveal of "Explorer," an eight-foot bronze sculpture interpretation of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable on Oct. 8, 2023 in Evanston. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Blomes inventory of works include life-size bronze sculptures of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. Blomes bronze bust sculpture of DuSable on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, commissioned by Evanston resident Lesly Benodin in 2009, served as inspiration.

For this project, Blomes wife helped to find a hired model for DuSables likeness and found the right person unexpectedly at a McDonalds.

I turned him into DuSable, the artist told the audience about the model.

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Due to the lack of photographs from the time period, there isnt exact depictions of what the fur trader would have looked like.

But what we do know is what they said about him (DuSable), we know that he had a scruffy beard, we know a few things, and we know some sketches that exist from not long after his death, right, memories that people put down.

All art is a guess, Blome said. Art is an interpretation. This is mine.

Joyy Norris of Evanston, cultural arts coordinator with the City of Evanston, also spoke.

It is my hope that children and adults of similar heritage, curiosity and spirit of exploration here in Evanston and around the Chicagoland and beyond are inspired by this beautiful piece of work, Norris said.

Etzer Cantave, president of the DuSable Heritage Association of Chicago, told the audience that DuSable was an entrepreneur who mirrored many trades known today.

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Etzer Cantave, president of the DuSable Heritage Association of Chicago, speaks to the audience. On right is the left eye of "Explorer," an eight-foot bronze sculpture interpretation of explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable on Oct. 8, 2023 in Evanston. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Today in Evanston, a giant step has been taken to advance the cause of the full and unfettered recognition of Black historical figures in Chicagoland and the Midwest, Cantave said. This sculpture literally says it all.

Morris Dino Robinson, Jr. of Evanston, former executive director and now a board member of Evanstons Shorefront Legacy Center, spoke of how DuSables timeline is relevant today.

I think for me, historically, its like correcting, making a more accurate history, Robinson said. For a long time, his name was always recognized but it seemed like his name was always diminished as to the role he played in basically creating what became Chicago.

In addition to the unveiling on Oct. 8, the Evanston Arts Council is planning a series of activities throughout the year.

Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday that Americans are among the hostages held by Hamas, and that at least 14 U.S. citizens have been killed in the ongoing war between Israel and the militant Palestinian Islamic organization.

Biden addressed the nation from the White House on Tuesday, stating that the American lives were lost at the bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas, a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews.

This is an act of sheer evil, Biden said. More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered  not just killed, slaughtered  in Israel. Among them, at least 14 American citizens killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach-turning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a music festival.

BREAKING: "We now know American citizens are being held by Hamas," President Biden says.



"I've directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts  to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts." pic.twitter.com/pHPMlkukGo  NBC News (@NBCNews) October 10, 2023

On Saturday, Hamas militants launched a large-scale, surprise attack on Israeli targets, including the killing and hostage-taking of civilians. Shortly after, the Israeli cabinet formally declared war against Hamas, a militant group designated a terrorist organization by the United States, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since the 2007 Battle of Gaza. More than 1,000 people in Israel, and 500 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed since the attack on Saturday, with the death toll expected to rise among both civilians and military personnel as the conflict continues.

On Sunday, Israels U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan reported that dozens of Americans had been kidnapped by Hamas, and were being held hostage within Gaza. Biden said on Tuesday that he has directed his team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

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President Biden avoided any calls for de-escalation while addressing the nation Tuesday with regard to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking from the White House, flanked by Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the president vowed that the U.S. "has Israel's back" as it prepares for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip just days after Hamas militants crossed the border and slaughtered Israeli civilians, including women, children and babies.

"We must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack," Biden said.

ISRAELI COUPLE CLAIMS COOKIES, SONGS DISTRACTED HAMAS INVADERS FROM LETHAL SWAT TEAM RAID: REPORT

President Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House while flanked by Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Oct. 10, 2023.

"Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse. Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people," he added.

Biden declared that Israel has a "right" and a "duty" to respond to the attacks and said the U.S. will "make sure" the country has what it needs to fight back, including keeping its Iron Dome missile defense system operational.

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The president confirmed that 14 Americans have been killed in the attacks and that a number of others are being held hostage in Gaza. He added that the U.S. will work with its Israeli counterparts to safely free them.

NYPD, IN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR, SAYS IT HAS SURGED RESOURCES TO SENSITIVE LOCATIONS

"Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israels back," Biden said. "Were with Israel. Lets make no mistake."





Original article source: Biden shuns calls to de-escalate, vows US 'has Israel's back' as it prepares for ground war with Hamas
The White House was illuminated in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night (Brendan SMIALOWSKI)

The White House said Tuesday it was taking Hamas threats to execute hostages seriously, as US President Joe Biden prepared to deliver remarks about Israel's war with the militant group.

Biden has not spoken in public since Sunday, and while the 80-year-old has staunchly backed Israel, his response to a possible hostage crisis and threat of a regional war is under the microscope.

The president has said that Americans were likely among those abducted and taken to Gaza by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in its surprise attack Saturday on Israel, while at least 11 US citizens were dead.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were due to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday morning after meeting their national security teams, the White House said.

With Netanyahu they would "discuss our support for Israel" and efforts to "deter other hostile actors from exploiting this attack on Israel" -- an apparent reference to Iran, which backs Hamas, and the militant group Hezbollah operating from southern Lebanon.

Biden was then due to deliver remarks at 1 pm (1700 GMT) from the White House.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the country's 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far in Israeli air strikes.

Hamas has held around 150 hostages since its ground incursion, among them children, elderly and young people who were captured at a music festival where some 270 died.

- 'Barbarity' -

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House was closely watching the situation after Hamas warned it would start killing hostages every time Israel strikes a civilian target in Gaza without warning.

"You can't take a threat like that lightly," Kirby told CNN. "You've got to take it seriously because of the barbarity that Hamas has already shown that they're capable of."

The United States had offered Israel intelligence and "hostage recovery expertise," Kirby said.

He cautioned however that it was not yet confirmed that US citizens were among those held by Hamas, and that even if it was, it would be difficult to extract them from an active war zone.

Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war is being closely watched at home, where Republicans accuse him of being soft on Iran, Hamas's sponsor, opening up a new front in the US election campaign.

But it is also being scrutinized in the region, as the US pledges its full support for Israel.

The US military at the weekend ordered its largest aircraft carrier to move closer to Israel in a show of support, along with other warships and a host of fighter jets.

Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said on Monday that there was "no intention to put US boots on the ground" in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

But he added that the "president will do what he has to do to look after our national security interests there and elsewhere."

Iran, which also backs Hezbollah, has denied any role in the attacks but looms large in the region.

dk/dw
The White House is standing by President Biden's statement earlier this year that climate change poses the largest threat to humanity, even as thousands of people have been killed or wounded after a radical Iran-backed terrorist group unleashed violence across Israel over the weekend.

John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, reaffirmed Monday that the president and his administration still believe climate change is the largest threat facing the U.S. and world since it is capable of "wiping out all human life." His comments came as thousands of people, including hundreds of innocent civilians, have been killed or injured during the conflict triggered over the weekend after a series of unprovoked attacks by the Hamas terrorist group.

"Absolutely he does," Kirby told Fox News when asked whether Biden stands by his comments on the risks posed by climate change. "Climate change is an existential threat. It actually threatens and is capable of wiping out all human life on earth over time."

"The president believes wholeheartedly that climate change is an existential threat to all of human life on the planet. That's just science," he continued. "But it doesn't mean that we turn our back on the other challenges facing this country and our allies and partners around the world."

BIDEN'S DEPLETION OF EMERGENCY OIL STOCKS COMES BACK INTO FOCUS AMID ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR, PRICE SURGE

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during a daily White House briefing in July.

Biden remarked in January that climate change poses the "single-most existential threat to humanity weve ever faced, including nuclear weapons," adding that it is a "real big problem." Months earlier, he said global warming is "literally an existential threat to our nation and to the world" and posed a clear and present danger to the entire world.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

POMPEO TORCHES KIRBY AS WH SHIFTS BLAME TO TRUMP FOR AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

Since taking office in early 2021, Biden has pursued an aggressive climate change agenda, pushing for a rapid transition to green energy while issuing regulations to curb the future use of fossil fuels which generate the vast majority of power across U.S. sectors.

Meanwhile, of those reported dead as a result of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, at least 11 were confirmed to be American citizens.

President Biden speaks at the White House last month.

Overall, the escalating conflict has claimed the lives of at least 1,600 people, including at least 1,000 Israelis, according to the latest information.

BLINKEN DELETES POST CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE

"We have only started striking Hamas," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address. "What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations."

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli warplanes unleashed an aerial bombardment of downtown Gaza City, and the nation is considering sending its troops on the ground into Palestinian territories.

"Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage," the governments of the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and Italy said in a statement Monday.

"Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region," they added.

Fox News Digital's Lawrence Richard and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.





Original article source: Biden stands by claim climate change is greatest threat as Hamas unleashes terror across Israel
President Joe Biden confirmed Tuesday that at least 14 Americans had been killed in a series of bloody attacks on Israel by Hamas over the weekend, adding that an unspecified number of American citizens were also believed to be among those taken captive by the militant group. In remarks from the White House on Tuesday, Biden also impassionately affirmed the United States alliance with Israel, condemning the incursions as sheer evil. In this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel, he said. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said after Bidens speech that he could not confirm the exact number of American hostages in Gaza, but said that there were at least 20 citizens missing. We will work hour-by-hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans, or to confirm exactly the number of Americans held hostage, Sullivan said.

Read it at CBS News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
President Biden's decision to drain the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to its lowest level in decades is back in the spotlight amid the war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which has caused oil prices to surge.

On Monday, the Brent crude index, the worldwide oil benchmark, and the U.S. WTI index both surged more than 4% and inched closer to $90 a barrel as a result of volatility created by the Middle East crisis. According to analysts, the conflict  triggered over the weekend after a series of unprovoked attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis  may lead to large amounts of global oil supplies being withheld.

"If the conflict envelopes Iran... up to 3% of global oil supply is at risk. And if a wider conflict eventuates that ends up impacting transit through the Strait of Hormuz, around 20% of global oil supply could be held hostage," energy analyst Saul Kavonic said in an interview with Reuters.

"Timing is everything and the attacks almost certainly postpone any Saudi-Israeli rapprochement, along with any high probability expectation of Saudi Arabia reducing or eliminating its extra 1 million [barrel per day] cut if prices resume their recent fall," analysts with Citibank added in a note.

BIDEN ADMIN SLOW-WALKING GAS PIPELINE SUPPORTED BY LABOR UNIONS THAT WOULD EXPAND ENERGY ACCESS

However, the Biden administration has depleted the SPR, which contains an emergency oil supply and was established for emergency scenarios, to its lowest level in four decades. The SPR currently contains 351.3 million barrels of oil, 44% lower than it was in January 2021 when Biden took office and a level last recorded in September 1983 prior to this year.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Since taking office, Biden has ordered the Department of Energy to release a total of about 260 million barrels of oil stored in the SPR to combat high fuel prices that hit consumers in late 2021 and mid 2022. While the administration has recently initiated the process of refilling the emergency reserve, Republican lawmakers and energy experts have warned its actions make the U.S. vulnerable to short-term supply shocks.

WHITE HOUSE PROHIBITING OFFICIAL TRAVEL TO FOSSIL FUEL CONFERENCES, INTERNAL MEMO SHOWS

President Biden announces his first Strategic Petroleum Reserve release since taking office at the White House on Nov. 23, 2021.

"There are a lot of reasons why the Biden administration should not have used the SPR to try to bring down prices  one of which is that the SPR then isn't available if something serious happens. We're facing that right now," Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "The point was for the nation to have an emergency oil supply."

"And it's especially foolish given the backdrop of this administration's hostility to domestic oil production," he added.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in March that it could take years to refill the emergency reserve to its previous level.

In addition, earlier this year, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member John Barrasso, R-Wyo., requested a Government Accountability Office investigation into how the administration's SPR releases may indirectly threaten national security.

"DOEs mismanagement of the SPR has undermined Americas energy security, leaving the nation more vulnerable to energy supply disruptions, and increasing the ability for OPEC and Russia to use energy as a geopolitical weapon," the GOP leaders wrote.

The SPR has a total capacity of 714 million barrels of oil and consists of four storage facilities in Texas and Louisiana. The 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which established the reserve, prohibits the release of any SPR stocks unless there is a severe domestic supply shortage, an act of sabotage or natural disaster.

Prior to 2021, the most recent SPR emergency release took place during another Middle East conflict, the Libyan civil war in 2011, when then-President Barack Obama tapped the reserves as Middle Eastern oil supplies were cut off. Before that, it was tapped during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the first Gulf War in the early 1990s.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.





Original article source: Biden's depletion of emergency oil stocks comes back into focus amid Israel-Hamas war, price surge
FILE - President Joe Biden speaks on student loan debt forgiveness, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Oct. 4, 2023, in Washington. Biden's second attempt at student loan cancellation is moving forward as a group of negotiators meets Oct. 10 to debate what a new proposal might look like(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Bidens second attempt at student loan cancellation moved forward Tuesday with a first round of negotiations to help guide the administration to a new plan.

The Biden administration vowed to try again after the Supreme Court rejected an earlier plan in June. In opening remarks at Tuesday's hearing, Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said the debt crisis threatens to undercut the promise of higher education.

Student loan debt in this country has grown so large that it siphons off the benefits of college for many students, Kvaal said in prepared remarks. Some loans made to young adults stretch into retirement with no hope of being repaid. These debt burdens are shared by families and communities.

Biden directed the Education Department to find another path to loan relief after conservatives on the high court ruled that he couldnt cancel loans using a 2003 law called the HEROES Act.

The latest attempt will rest on a sweeping law known as the Higher Education Act, which gives the education secretary authority to waive student loans, although how far that power extends is the subject of legal debate.

The Education Department hopes to settle the dispute by adding federal rules that clarify when the secretary can waive student loans. To change those rules, however, the department is required to assemble a committee of outside negotiators to help hash out details.

The first day of negotiations, held virtually, lasted more than five hours but appeared to bring the department no closer to clarity. Much of the discussion centered on the shortcomings of existing student loan cancellation programs or problems caused by student loan interest.

Department officials repeatedly intervened to say those problems don't fall under the scope of the current process.

The negotiators all come from outside the federal government and represent a range of viewpoints on student loans. The panel includes students and officials from a range of colleges, along with loan servicers, state officials and advocates including the NAACP.

Its unclear who will be eligible for forgiveness under the new plan and how much relief they would get. Those details will be decided after the administration takes input from the negotiators, who meet in a series of sessions scheduled to continue into December.

Responding to suggestions from the panel, administration officials said they aren't considering blanket cancellation.

We are not looking at a broad-based debt cancellation where we are going to wipe off debt in its entirety. We are looking at individual ways that the secretary can exercise the authority to grant waivers, said Tamy Abernathy, who leads a policy group in the department.

She later clarified that the department's next proposal could cancel some borrowers debt completely, but it could not cancel all borrowers debt completely.

At the end of the process, negotiators will vote on a proposed rule drafted with input from their discussions. If they reach consensus on a proposal, the department will move forward with it. If they dont, the agency will propose its own plan, which can be finalized after a public comment period.

The Education Department routinely uses negotiated rulemaking to enact federal regulation, and its required for any regulation related to student financial aid. It can be a long and painstaking process, and it often finishes without consensus among negotiators.

Biden has called for a new plan to help as many borrowers as possible, but its unclear whether it will be as expansive as his first proposal. That plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for borrowers with incomes below $125,000 or couples below $250,000.

Republicans rallied against the cancellation, saying it would add an unfair benefit for college graduates at the expense of millions of taxpayers who didn't attend college. In 2022, about 47% of Americans age 25 or older had at least an associate degree, along with 15% who went to college but had no degree, according to the Census Bureau.

The administration plans to finalize the new rule sometime next year, but Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has declined to say if it will be in place before next falls presidential election. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, he said hes working as quickly as possible.

He also noted that the courts ruling will have to factor in to the steps we take moving forward.

Some legal analysts see the court's decision as a rejection of any mass cancellation without action from Congress. The court concluded that the education secretary has power to make modest adjustments and additions to existing provisions, not transform them.

As a starting point for negotiators, the Education Department published an issue paper outlining some of the primary questions that will be up for debate. It offers few clues on the departments vision for loan cancellation, but it identifies five groups of borrowers who may be in need of relief.

Negotiators are being asked how the agency should help:

 Borrowers whose interest grows so much that their balances exceed what they initially owed;

 Those who are eligible for loan cancellation under existing income-driven repayment plans but have not applied for those programs;

 Those who borrowed loans to attend college programs that didnt lead to jobs with enough earnings to repay their loans;

 Borrowers with older loans taken out before Congress created benefits meant to ease the burden of student debt;

 Those who face hardships that the current student loan system does not adequately address."

It also asks negotiators to discuss the types of factors that would merit loan cancellation. The paper notes that, when deciding whether to collect on debt, some other federal agencies consider whether it would be against equity and good conscience, or if it would impose financial hardship.

At a White House briefing last week, Biden drew attention to the problem of ballooning interest. Many college graduates have been making payments for years, he said, but because of interest, they still owe more than they originally borrowed.

My administration is doing everything it can to deliver student debt relief to as many as we can, as fast as we can, Biden said.

The negotiators will meet virtually for two-day sessions on Nov. 6 and Dec. 11.

___

The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
When Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced this year that his office planned to take at least $42 million from state money and use it to fund corporate research for an experimental psychedelic addiction treatment, he caught many people off guardincluding some of the officials tasked with allocating that money.

The proposalto fund development for the alternative therapy ibogaineand the continuing mystery of Camerons decision, immediately became a flashpoint in the state. Democrats and addiction specialists are particularly puzzled why Cameron and his allies are so insistent on studying ibogainean obscure, unproven, and possibly perilous plant-based treatment that makes you violently ill and whose advocates include military veterans, Melissa Etheridge, Lamar Odom, and the original Wolf of Wall Street.

The $42 million grant is due to come out of the states landmark $842 million settlement that Kentucky won last year from opioid manufacturers, after their addictive products precipitated hundreds of thousands of opioid deaths in America.

He Wants to Be Kentucky Guv. He Was a Ghost in His Toxic Office.

The state administers its cut of the money through a group called the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, which is housed under Camerons AG office. Cameron appointed a majority of the commissions 11 members, including its chair, state attorney W. Bryan Hubbard. After a series of public and private hearings on the ibogaine project, the commission is set to vote on the proposal next month.

Adding to the mystery is why the members who Cameron appointed to the commission have taken so quickly and stolidly to this specific treatment.

While a number of advocates with no clear Kentucky political connections have invested time and energy in the effort, there are other players with clear financial and political tiesfor an experimental psychedelic drug that surprisingly leaped to the front of the line for the commissions exponentially largest grant yet.

The politics of the issue are unavoidable. Ibogaine didnt appear to be on the opioid commissions radar until Cameron and Hubbard announced the grant proposal on May 31in one of the most conservative states in the country, where Republicans (including Cameron) reluctantly got behind legalized marijuana just this year.

No one on the commission had even discussed the ibogaine idea with members appointed by Camerons political opponent, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear , until Cameron and Hubbard held a press conference proposing the deal in late May.

A person with knowledge of Beshears thinking told The Daily Beast that the ibogaine proposal was a shock to the governor and his staff, and it came against the wishes of the stakeholders in the state most familiar with these treatments.

Cameron came out of the blue with this, and it caught everybody off-guard thats close to the issue, this person told The Daily Beast. And the individuals running recovery facilities are behind the scenes very opposed to taking those funds away from the facilities.

Its blood money, and those funds were intended and committed for those people working every day in the recovery field. There was never any talk of the money being used for corporate R&D, the source continued. That money, we understood, was for groups working every day to help people recover.

But The Daily Beasts investigation into the people and entities behind this project revealed an intricate nest of political and corporate ties. Those ties include a sitting U.S. Senator, a top GOP strategist, and a billionaire Republican megadonor who recently put millions of dollars into a group backing Camerons faltering gubernatorial campaign.

That megadonor, longtime conservative financier Jeff Yass , stands to reap massive profits from the development of ibogaine, which, despite its controversies and health drawbacks, has begun to attract a niche following of devoted patients and investors as a potential miracle cure to break opioid addiction.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron delivers a live address to the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Yass firm sharply increased its investment in ibogaine research around the time of Camerons announcement, and executives at two of the firms Yass is invested in have rallied openly for the Kentucky program, including in public hearing testimony this summer.

Today, the gubernatorial election and that $42 million research grant are both barreling towards votes this fall. But while the public will get to decide Camerons fateand his hopes have dimmedthe corporate grant still looks poised to sail through. Thats in part because those voters are all on a government commission, and the majority of them were personally appointed by Cameron.

About a week after Camerons ibogaine announcement, Yass gave $3 million to a super PAC that has recently pumped out at least $1.2 million worth of ads backing Camerons candidacy, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That donation has accounted for roughly 98 percent of the groups total reported fundraising this year.

And while the commission has already allocated a number of grants, this one stands out.

The OAAC has so far distributed its grant money to grassroots enterpriseslocal municipal programs, law enforcement organizations, addiction and recovery centers, faith-based groups, frontline workers, and the like. But this grant would be a public-private partnership with a pharmaceutical firm, subsidizing corporate research and development, with the firm matching the $42 million.

Notably, this single grant is also much larger. According to the commissions website, the panel has so far distributed $32.5 million, scattered across 59 groupsor about $10 million less total than it plans to give to a single ibogaine corporate partner. The largest single allocation to date is $1,000,000. The ibogaine grant would provide $7 million a year for six years.

Perhaps more importantly for the firms, however, the partnership with Kentucky would give them a state where they could conduct clinical trials for a drug that is currently illegal in all 50 states and every country but Mexico and New Zealand.

Those factscombined with the GOP-led commissions striking decision not to consult its Democratic members about the proposal ahead of timeimmediately rang alarm bells for Democrats, especially for Beshear.

The opioid commission has never clarified the origins of the proposal. Its chair, the Cameron-appointed Bryan Hubbard, has claimed sole credit. But the political and corporate connections are difficult to ignore.

The Daily Beast sent detailed comment requests to Camerons campaign and office, as well as to Hubbard.

Hubbard, who works in the office of attorney general, declined to answer questions on the record. After an off-the-record phone call, Hubbard texted The Daily Beast the email address of Brett Waters, the head of a nonprofit that has been closely involved in the ibogaine project from the beginning.

Waters is co-founder and executive director of Reason for Hope, a group whose CEOa former Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appointeejoined Hubbard and Cameron at the May 31 press conference.

Kentucky Dems Ask Feds to Probe Daniel Cameron Donations

Days earlier, Reason For Hope had retained the lobbying firm run by former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) to advocate on the federal level for the Breakthrough Therapies Act, Politico reported.

Reason for Hope is, as Waters told The Daily Beast, deeply committed to advancing the safe and effective development of alternative therapies to help untold millions of Americans struggling with trauma and addiction. The group has no corporate backers, Waters said. He also called Hubbard an incredibly positive figure in this process, one who ensured that diverse voices contributed to the discussion, including indigenous voices. (The commission features one non-white membera Cameron appointeeand has been called out for lack of diversity; Cameron, meanwhile, has attacked workplace diversity initiatives throughout his campaign.)

He is genuine in his desire to help people break free of substance use disorder, and this is a brave proposal, Waters said of Hubbard.

A spokesperson for the AGs office provided a 264-word statement expressing confidence in the commission and promoting the Kentucky Opioid Symposium, which takes place Monday and Tuesday. While the statement touted the $32.5 million in previously allocated grants, it did not address almost any of the detailed information and questions we provided as the focus of this article. The office did not respond when offered the chance to follow up.

However, the statement said the planning and co-hosting for this conference required that certain agenda items be pushed until the Commissions November meeting, apparently in response to the question of why the vote on the grant was pushed back to Nov. 15a week after the election, and more than a month after the symposium. (The Daily Beast has since learned that opposition researchers in recent weeks have requested records from Camerons office related to the ibogaine program.)

The statement also noted that Hubbard had invited every member of the Commission to the May 31 press event. The criticism from the members, however, was not that they hadnt been invited to a press conference, but that they had not discussed the proposal at all before Cameron made his fait accompli announcement, as one Democratic member of the commission described it.

Yassthe fourth-largest megadonor in the country and the wealthiest person in the state of Pennsylvania with a net worth estimated over $25 billionstands to profit massively from ibogaine, especially in the long run.

Yass investment firm, Susquehanna International Group (SIG), currently holds around $5 million in ground-floor stakes with four biopharmaceutical firms focused on developing psychedelic addiction treatments. More than $4 million of it lies with two entities leading the charge on ibogaine, according to SIGs August filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While it may be natural to downplay those numbers in the context of SIGs sprawling $491 billion portfolio, those pharmaceutical companies are currently trading low. If treatments like ibogaine gain traction with the publicand more importantly, with regulatorsthat niche market, and those holdings, will explode. As The Daily Beast previously reported, the entire purpose of the Kentucky program is to help ibogaine receive federal approval as a breakthrough therapy, which would accelerate the regulatory pathway for legal status nationwide.

As it turns out, the Kentucky opioid commission has tapped Yass-backed corporate entities to help make the case for ibogaine investment.

In July, the commission held a public hearing where health experts and scientists touted the benefits of ibogaine. Two of those scientists, however, were also engaged in a joint corporate venture involving ibogaine.

And yet, the meeting agenda published by the OAAC only discloses the corporate background of one of themDr. Srinivas Rao, co-founder of German biopharmaceutical firm ATAI Life Sciences. The other person in the joint venture, Dr. Deborah Mash, was only identified as professor emerita at the University of Miami School of Medicine, not in her capacity as founder and CEO of DemeRxwhere ATAI holds majority control, according to SEC filings.

Yass has stakes in ATAI, which is heavily backed by another billionaire Republican megadonor, Peter Thiel. DemeRx is an ATAI subsidiary, and ATAI also owns a considerable share of another one of Yass psychedelic investments, Compass Pathways.

Kentucky GOP Star Daniel Cameron Offers a Tortured Defense in Cash Scandal

According to an SEC quarterly filing submitted in August, after ditching the stock entirely months earlier, Yass firm upped its ATAI investment significantly between April 1 and June 30. That filing also shows about $3.6 million in a company called Mind Medicine, which has been conducting ibogaine opioid abatement trials. All of these investments would stand to give SIG exponential returns if regulatory gatekeepers begin to clear the way for ibogaine developmentand a partnership with a state government is a major step along that path.

But its not just Yass. The opioid commission and its work on the issue so far bears a number of ties to a man named Rex Elsass, an influential longtime GOP strategist and media buyer who has performed millions of dollars of work for Yass-aligned groups.

Elsass son, Reid, died tragically of an overdose, and his family created a nonprofit called the REID Foundation dedicated to recovery efforts, including emergent therapies. Last month, Elsass, an Ohio resident, spoke movingly at a public hearing in support of ibogaine, reportedly describing himself to the commissioners as your neighbor next door without apparently disclosing his long and unavoidably political background.

A partner organization of Elsass nonprofit, called Reason for Hope, also provided officially sanctioned testimony in the same hearing, and their CEOa former Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appointeetook part in the May announcement.

Days ahead of that announcement, Reason for Hope brought on a top federal lobbyistDaschleto advocate for the Breakthrough Therapies Act. The nonprofits CEOretired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Martin Steelehad been previously appointed to a federal veterans health care commission by Camerons political mentor, McConnell.

Additionally, a former adviser at Elsass company, The Strategy Group, named Sally Hauser, now heads a group called the Kentucky Ibogaine Initiative, according to her LinkedIn. The nonprofit just registered with Kentucky this year. (Hausers position with the group disappeared from her LinkedIn page at some point after The Daily Beast sent out comment requests.)

Elsass told The Daily Beast in a phone call that, to the best of his knowledge, he had never met Jeff in person, and that he had been first tipped to Kentuckys potential by the Etheridge Foundation, started by folk-rock LGBTQ icon Melissa Etheridge. He explained that his ibogaine advocacya miracle medicine that needs to be researchedis rooted in deep, personal loss and a desire to help mitigate tremendous future tragedy.

The solutions just werent there, and I was desperate for new methods to help my son. So we looked for other means, and as a result, he ended up in Peru, he said, referencing where his son received his first iboga treatment. Plant medicines helped him and extended his life for several years, and left me with a mission.

President Donald Trump listens to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron during a roundtable discussion with law enforcement. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Ibogaine, which is derived from the iboga plant, found in West Africa, has shown anecdotal promise for curbing opioid use disordera notoriously difficult medical problem that often frustrates and frequently appears to defy treatment. However, ibogaines U.S. clinical trials have been marred by the drugs tendency to cause heart attacks. Today, ibogaine is illegal in almost every country, including the United States, where its classified as a Schedule I substancethe same level as heroin, cocaine, and LSDmeaning it has no accepted medical benefits and carries a high risk of abuse.

Ibogaine, like cannabis, psilocybin, and MDMA, has begun to attract attention as an alternative therapy, but with the caveat of what TIME magazine described as perilous health risks. The drug, like other psychedelic treatments, is said to help patients contend with trauma, which many addiction and behavioral scientists believe to be at the root of a large portion of drug addiction and abuse cases. (Some military veterans credit ibogaine with managing their PTSD, and a few testified to that effect this summer in Kentucky.)

Along with that attention, of course, comes a lot of money. But most institutional research shut down years ago, after clinical trials delineated a clear correlated increase in risk in cardiac events. There isnt a wide body of sanctioned research on the drug, and many of the recent studies have drawn from small sample sizes.

While the medical, social, and financial benefits from a miracle drug to combat opioid usewhich claims about 100,000 American lives a yearmight be immense, they wont certainly wont be immediate. Even with a massive funding push and a smooth run of trials, Food and Drug Administration approval might still be 10 years away, according to the CEO of ATAI Life Sciences.

Of course, the Kentucky proposal is designed to help with that. Kentcuky would become the first state in the country to legalize ibogaine trials, a major and necessary step on a path towards deregulation. As Hubbard said in May, a key component is to incubate, support and drive the development of ibogaine all the way through the FDA approval process.

He added that Kentucky would also work to create the platinum standard model for ibogaine recovery treatment, which the state would do by hosting multi-site clinical trials right here at home.

Still, the drug has a committed base of support. Advocates include military veterans, addiction survivors and families, and political players like former Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry. Last year, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) teamed up with conservative Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to introduce a bill that would make it easier for patients to access controlled substances for medical treatment, starting with psilocybin and MDMA. (That news caught the eyes of investors in the small but burgeoning psychedelic stock trendas did Camerons Kentucky plan.)

Paul, it turns out, also goes way back with Yass.

Last October, the Louisville Courier-Journal said Paul was Yass favorite politician on the national scene. The relationship also runs deep, with Yass pouring more than $15 million into the Paul-aligned Protecting Freedom super PAC since 2017, according to Federal Election Commission data. Protecting Freedom also contracts with Elsass, with one of his entities as its top vendor in the 2022 cycle, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Kentuckys Risky Million-Dollar Bet to Fight the Opioid Crisis With Psychedelics

It also turns out that Yass made his largest-ever contribution to that very same super PACa flat $3 millionon June 8, about one week after Camerons ibogaine announcement. Then, in August, as Camerons polls dropped, the super PAC put that money toward a series of political ads supporting Camerons campaign and attacking Beshear. Another Yass-funded super PAC, called School Freedom Fund, also began pumping out ads around the same time, the Kentucky Lantern reported.

Paul is another late-comer to the pro-Cameron camp. He didnt make an endorsement in the primary, but after the Protect Freedom ads went up, Paul began speaking up for the AGand appearing at events with him.

But even without the political intrigue, which has not yet been reported, Camerons announcement raised a number of eyebrows. Thats in part because he hadnt consulted members of his own commission in advance, but also because it was difficult for some Kentuckians to understand why, with so many urgent needs in the addiction and treatment communities, Cameron seemed so intent on funding research into this singular alternative therapywhich likely wont even be authorized for medical use within a decade, according to the commissions own expert testimony. (Again, Cameron only embraced legalizing marijuana in March, after years of hedging on the issue.)

In 2022, Camerons office won a long-fought court battle against opioid manufacturers, carrying on the work of his AG predecessor and now political rival Gov. Beshear. The legislature then tasked Cameron with managing the fruits of that victory, an $842 million settlement paid out by opioid manufacturers whose products have ravaged the state for decades.

Half of that $842 million went directly to Kentucky cities and counties, with the oversight and allocation of the states remaining half falling to the advisory commission. The $42 million in the research grant, Hubbard has claimed, would correlate to the same amount the legislature recently allocated to an alternative release program that reroutes qualifying criminal offenders with mental health and substance use issues to community support programs, covering 11 counties. (The offices of Kentuckys governor and attorney general are both the subject of a Justice Department investigation into whether the state subjects adults with serious mental illness in the Louisville area to unnecessary institutionalization, as opposed to community programs; Louisville is in one of the counties that wont receive benefits from the alternative release bill.)

While the OAAC is a bipartisan group, the legislature empowered Cameron to pick the chair of the 11-member commission, along with five other members, giving Cameron majority control.

After Camerons surprise announcement in May, Beshears two political appointees on the commission pushed back immediately, questioning the opacity of the proposals origins and expressing skepticism about subsidizing a corporate partner on what appears to be a narrowly-tailored moonshot.

The lone academic representative, Dr. Sharon Walsh of the University of Kentucky, also pushed back in a June preliminary hearingand put her finger squarely on what she said was a clear conflict of interest.

Walsh asked Hubbarda state attorneywhy the focus on ibogaine specifically, as opposed to other proven treatments.

Im not sure why we need other drugs to target opiate withdrawal, Walsh said. Hubbard replied that there are others who argue its a worthwhile option.

Walsh then singled out Mash, the DemeRx CEO.

So shes going to come and talk to us about the development of this with it, you know, with the hope of getting money. Theres a clear conflict of interest from a person who has ownership of a company whose sole purpose is to get the drug to market, Walsh said. Thats why Im asking for balance.

The Sex Harass Scandal Inside a Rising GOP Stars Office

Walsh resigned from the commission this month, and her name is no longer on the website. Two people familiar with the events told The Daily Beast that she stepped down in protest of funding ibogaine, which does not have FDA approval. (The AGs statement to The Daily Beast thanked her for serving on the Commission, and said that she and her tremendous expertise will be missed.)

While these connections have not been previously reported, the ibogaine proposal was so out of the ordinary that it almost immediately raised questions of potential pay-to-play.

In June, longtime Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Linda Blackford raised the specter of political influence.

To make such a splash over one civil servants research into one drug looks strange, especially when that civil servants boss is running for governor, Blackford wrote, referencing commission chairman Hubbards impassioned support for ibogaine. Blackford also searched Kentucky and federal filings for evidence that Mash, the DemeRX CEO who testified at the first public hearing, had contributed to groups supporting Cameron.

Blackford didnt find any donations, and The Daily Beasts review of campaign finance filings shows Mash is, if anything, a committed Democratic donor. Even so, Blackford wasnt convinced.

If you have better information, let me know, she wrote in her column.

The ibogaine controversy comes after reporting of financial conflicts of interest between Cameron and political donors with business before his AGs office. While the Yass-funded super PAC entered the fray as Cameron was absorbing major losses to Beshear in both polls and fundraising, the air support hasnt been able to reverse that negative trend.

And while the commission will decide the fate of the ibogaine funding on Nov. 15, Kentucky will have already elected its next governor.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Bill Ackman is calling on Harvard to release the names of students who are part of groups that signed a letter solely blaming Israel for the crisis in Gaza.

The billionaire says he and other CEOs want to know so they don't "inadvertently hire any of their members."

The letter has drawn backlash from many Harvard alums, including Ackman, for its staunch position.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has called on Harvard University to release the names of students who are members of organizations that signed a letter saying Israel is "entirely responsible" for the violence unfolding in the region.

The reason? So he and other CEOs don't hire them.

"I have been asked by a number of CEOs if Harvard would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas' heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members," Ackman tweeted. "If, in fact, their members support the letter they have released, the names of the signatories should be made public so their views are publicly known."

Ackman was responding to an original post by Ian Bremmer, a political scientist and the president of the consultancy Eurasia Group. Ackman declined to comment to Insider.

The letter in question is a joint statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups that was released on Sunday.

"We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," the letter starts out, before saying that "the apartheid regime is the only one to blame" for the violence Hamas inflicted over the weekend.

The letter was originally published with more than 30 student group signees, though the names of the organizations were removed today "to protect the safety of affected students," an Instagram post from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee says.

The letter drew almost immediate backlash, including from Larry Summers, the former Harvard president and US Treasury Secretary, and politicians on both sides of the aisle, like Harvard alums Representative Seth Moulton and Senator Ted Cruz.

"Let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hama," Harvard president Claudine Gay said in a statement on Tuesday. "While our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership."

Ackman attended Harvard for both his undergraduate and MBA degrees. In fact, his thesis explored the Jewish experience in Harvard admissions. He now runs Pershing Square Capital Management and the Pershing Square Foundation, which donated $17 million to Harvard in 2014.

Since violence broke out this weekend, the activist investor has been tweeting his support for Israel. In addition to giving to his alma mater, Ackman has donated millions to Jewish causes like the Center for Jewish History, as well as a variety of organizations like the Innocence Project, Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Watch, and Teach For America.

His request to release students' names has received a mixed response on Twitter  certainly not everyone agreed. Some people said singling out college students for being members of an organization wouldn't be fair, as they may not even agree with the statement

Several CEOs voiced agreement with Ackman on X, such as Jonathan Newman, the co-founder of salad fast food chain Sweetgreen.

"I would like to know so I know never to hire these people," Newman wrote in a comment on Ackman's post.

"I second this," commented Jake Wurzak, CEO of Dovehill Capital Management.

"We are in as well," wrote Michael Broukhim, co-CEO of gift box membership company FabFitFun.

Harvard and the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee did not reply to requests for comment from Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Cannabis dispensaries in California won't be able to convert their businesses into cafes where they can sell food and host live concerts anytime soon.

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Sunday that would have legalized Amsterdam-style cafes in the state and provided the cannabis industry an opportunity to host customers in a more inviting lounge setting.

Although it's technically not illegal for customers to consume cannabis at a dispensary, it is illegal for a dispensary to sell non-cannabis products such as coffee or food. Assembly Bill 374, referred to as the Cannabis Cafe Bill, wouldn't have cleared the way for dispensaries to serve alcohol, but it would have allowed them to move away from a pharmacy-like business model.

In vetoing the bill, Newsom cited California's long-standing smoke-free workplace protections.

"Protecting the health and safety of workers is paramount," Newsom wrote in his veto message. "I encourage the author to address this concern in subsequent legislation."

Read more: Legal Weed, Broken Promises: A Times series on the fallout of legal pot in California

The American Cancer Society's nonpartisan advocacy group applauded Newsom's decision.

We commend Governor Newsom for prioritizing public health and protecting Californians right to breathe clean, smoke-free air," Jim Knox, managing director of the society's Cancer Action Network in California, said in a statement. "The cancer-causing substances found in marijuana smoke pose numerous health hazards to the individual using and others in their presence. Additionally, secondhand marijuana smoke can pass THC, exposing non-users to its psychoactive effects."

The bill's author, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), said voters have already approved smoking inside dispensaries and the bill would have allowed those businesses to serve food and drinks to their customers.

"I appreciate and respect the governor's concerns about workers health," Haney said in a statement. "And Im looking forward to working closely with his office and with labor leaders to make sure we get this right when I introduce the bill next year."

Read more: Nobody knows how widespread illegal cannabis grows are in California. So we mapped them

The bill was meant to give the legal cannabis industry a chance to compete with the black market, Haney said, because legal businesses have higher costs to produce and sell their products while illegal growers sidestep safety regulations, product testing and do not pay taxes.

"Its really about fairness and supporting businesses that follow the rules, Haney said in a statement. If we keep allowing unnecessary regulations to strangle Californias legal cannabis businesses, were just encouraging illegal drug sales and all of the problems that come with that.

Prior to Newsom's veto, Haney explained that the cannabis industry was missing a key social component. While it is legal to smoke cannabis in a dispensary, it is still technically illegal to smoke in public in California.

Theres just a huge opportunity to bring people into these establishments to consume cannabis safely and legally, and to create community and culture at the same time, Haney told The Times last month when the bill passed the state Assembly with a 66-to-9 vote and the Senate in a final vote of 33 to 3.

Read more: 'The War on Drugs Part II: California taxes, rules are killing small legal weed farms

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9, 2023 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn (5300 W. Touhy Ave.). (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Members of the greater North Shore Jewish community filled a ballroom to capacity at the Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn in response to Israel declaring war after Hamas militants launched border attacks.

Over 5,000 miles away in Skokie, while the wars death toll increases overseas, flags were prevalent in a hotel conference room. One person held a large Israeli flag on a flagpole. Others wore small Israeli flags tucked in shirts or wrapped themselves in large American or Israeli flags.

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Wearing the flag is Ilan Elliott, 13, of Skokie at the Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9, 2023 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Rabbi Meir Moscowitz of Northbrook, regional director of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, coordinated the evening of prayer and solidarity in an event hosted by Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois and Chicagoland Chabad centers.

This is an unfathomable tragedy and crisis, Moscowitz said. In my lifetime, Ive never seen something like this.

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As a community, we know that weve got to come together to encourage each other, to find strength within each other and to find some good actions that we can do from our side to combat all of the negative that we hear coming out from the terrorist side, Moscowitz said.

Moscowitzs children Zalman, 13, an eighth-grader and Leibel, 11, a sixth-grader, attended. Leibel said it is important to, focus on the good.

Zalman said to youth, I think that the kids should know that you need kindness.

Kindness is the only thing that we have to do to help Israel, Zalman said.

Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein of Evanston, executive director at Lubavitch Chabad of Evanston, was among clergy and served as Evanston Police chaplain for nearly four decades.

Right, Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein of Evanston, executive director at Lubavitch Chabad of Evanston says words of prayer at the Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9, 2023 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn (5300 W. Touhy Ave.). (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Its extremely difficult right now, Klein said. Israel was attacked indiscriminately by terrorists, people who decided that they wanted to go and kill Jews in the most barbaric type of a way.

Ive led over 50 groups to Israel, Ive been on the border with Gaza, and its really a wonderful, wonderful community that lives there who just wants to have peace and tranquillity and to be able to live their lives without having rockets coming down on them, Klein said, calling the crisis, beyond horrific.

Klein called the war an attack on the entire Jewish community and the world as a whole should feel violated.

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Klein spoke of an Evanston resident and a grown daughter, Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan, who were on a trip and are missing in Israel and feared to be hostages.

I can only imagine the type of abuse they must be going through right now, Klein said. This touches home because were talking about Evanston, an Evanstonian  this is part of Evanston, this is part of who we are here on the North Shore.

The room became full shortly after the program started. An adjoining room was opened to accommodate the overflow and improve ventilation for the elderly and families with small children.

Prayer during the Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9, 2023 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn (5300 W. Touhy Ave.). (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Police officers had vehicles parked strategically at outdoor access points around the hotel and directed traffic at parking lot exits. One officer was seen holding a rifle outside of the entrance. Security circulated indoors too.

Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein of Wilmette, co-director of Chabad of Wilmette Center for Jewish Life and Learning, said he, never expected Israeli war in his lifetime.

This is a very dark time, Flinkenstein said.

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Flinkenstein spoke of overcoming darkness with light and to not to be intimidated by darkness.

Theres more good in the world than darkness and evil, he said. The good has to overcome the darkness, the light has to overcome the darkness. The very nature of light is it overcomes darkness but sometimes were afraid to strike the match because were so overwhelmed by darkness.

Rabbi Moshe Teldon, also of Chabad of Wilmette, said, When it hurts, we get together with family and thats what were doing here.

A prayer book. The Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9, 2023 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn (5300 W. Touhy Ave.). (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

It hurts like hell.

In the audience was Rabbi Sholom Wolberg of Chabad of Glencoe. Wolberg and his wife Deena Wolberg sent a joint statement via email to Chabad of Glencoe subscribers.

Our thoughts and prayers are deeply rooted in the pain and heartbreak, the Wolbergs said. Innocent lives are being taken and the anguish is immense.

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Third from left, Rabbi Sholom Wolberg of Chabad of Glencoe during moments of prayer at the Show Up For Israel gathering on Oct. 9, 2023 in Skokie at the Holiday Inn (5300 W. Touhy Ave.). (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Our Torah teaches us the sanctity of just one life, and now, we witness the loss of hundreds of lives in these trying times, the Wolbergs wrote.

He called to those living in Glencoe to help the people of Israel spiritually even if it isnt possible to physically take up arms.

We must add light, goodness, and kindness in their honor and for their safety, he said. Our family is under attack.
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1958-present

Latest News: Bill Watterson Releases First Book in Years

Bill Watterson, 65, has a new book out. The Mysteries, released on October 10, is his first major book since Calvin and Hobbes. Written in partnership with caricaturist John Kascht, Wattersons new work is described as a fable for grown-ups about what lies beyond human understanding. It tells the story of a long-ago kingdom afflicted with unexplainable calamities, prompting the king to dispatch his knights to investigate, only one of whom returns.

Shop Now The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht amazon.com $17.99

[table-of-contents] stripped

Who Is Bill Watterson?

Cartoonist Bill Watterson is best known as the creator of Calvin and Hobbes. While attending Kenyon College, Watterson drew political cartoons for the college paper, leading to a short-lived position at the Cincinnati Post. He worked odd jobs while developing Calvin and Hobbes, a cartoon about a rambunctious boy and his imaginary toy tiger friend, which was syndicated in 1985. The beloved comic strip ended a decade later. A famous recluse, Watterson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since then. He released a new book, The Mysteries, in October 2023.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: William Boyd Watterson II

BORN: July 5, 1958

BIRTHPLACE: Washington, D.C.

SPOUSE: Melissa Richmond (1983-present)

CHILDREN: Violet

ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer



Childhood and Education

Bill Watterson was born William Boyd Watterson II on July 5, 1958, in Washington, D.C. When he was 6 years old, Watterson moved with his parentshis mother, Kathryn, and his father, Jim, a patent attorneyto Chagrin Falls, Ohio. After the family settled in, Kathryn soon won a seat on the village council. James also served on the Chagrin Falls Village Council but not until some 30 years later.

As a child, Wattersonunlike his creation Calvinnever had imaginary animal friends, he later remembered. I generally stayed out of trouble, I did fairly well in school. He developed an early interest in drawing and was inspired by classic cartoonists like Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Krazy Kat cartoonist George Herriman, and Pogo illustrator Walt Kelly. Often spending time alone and drawing, he created his first cartoon at age 8.

In 1976, Watterson enrolled at Ohios Kenyon College, where he spent four years drawing political cartoons for The Keyon Collegian campus newspaper. One of his college strips featured Spaceman Spiff, a parody of Buck Rogers, and one of Calvins future alter egos in Calvin and Hobbes. His drawing talents werent limited to the newspaper. During his sophomore year, he painted a copy of Michelangelos Creation of Adam on his dorm room ceiling.

Early Career

Following his 1980 college graduation, Watterson was immediately offered a job as an editorial cartoonist at the Cincinnati Post. His editors were initally unimpressed with his work, and less than a year later, Watterson found himself unemployed and living back home with his parents. He decided to abandon political cartoons (he was not particularly interested in politics, anyway) and return to his first love: comic strips.

The next few years proved mostly discouraging. Watterson sent his strips to countless newspapers and received nothing but rejection slips. For a time, he took an unhappy job designing advertisements for car dealerships and grocery stores.

This period in his life was important, he later said, because it proved to him that the substance of his work mattered more than money. To endure five years of rejection to get a job requires either a faith in oneself that borders on delusion or a love of the work, he told the 1990 graduates of his alma mater in a commencement speech. I loved the work.

Calvin and Hobbes

Getty Images

After experimenting with several different characters, Watterson developed a strip called Calvin and Hobbes. It starred Calvin, a rambunctious first-grader who sounded like a 6-year-old psychotic on Ritalin one day and a Yale lit grad the next, as one journalist put it, and Hobbes, a stuffed tiger who came to life only when alone with Calvin. Watterson named the main characters after theologian John Calvin and philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

Universal Press Syndicate bought the strip in 1985, giving Watterson, then just 27 years old, a national audience.Readers loved Calvin and Hobbes, including Calvins flights of wild imagination, often undertaken while clad in rocket-ship underpants; Hobbes wry observations; and the sensitive, wise, literary voice of the strip itself. In 1986, Watterson became the youngest cartoonist ever to receive the National Cartoonists Societys Reuben Awardthe industrys highest honor.

Shop Now The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury by Bill Watterson amazon.com $11.89

With the strips popularity exploding, Universal Press Syndicate was eager to produce and sell Calvin and Hobbes merchandise. Watterson refused. Merchandising, he said, would turn my characters into television hucksters and T-shirt sloganeers and deprive me of characters that actually expressed my own thoughts. Thats why there are no official Calvin and Hobbes toys or t-shirts, though unauthorized reproductions of the characters still abound. I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo, Watterson once quipped, referring to the popular bootleg car window decals.

Watterson pushed for changes in the format of Sunday newspaper comic strips, feeling the typical layout was restrictive, and the habit of newspapers to cut out the top two panels when necessary to make room forced him to waste time with throwaway jokes in those panels that had little to do with the rest of the cartoon. Watterson successfully convinced some newspapers to adapt a new, larger format, which drew criticism from both the publications and other cartoonists who were forced to adapt to the change. Watterson also strongly advocated for the legitimacy of comic strips as an art form, rejecting the idea of high art and low art, and instead arguing they each had equal value.

After 10 years of writing delighting readers, Watterson announced in 1995, to the heartbreak of fans, that he was ending the strip, saying that he had done all he could with Calvin and Hobbes. The final cartoon ran on December 31, 1995. In it, Calvin and Hobbes excitedly bring their toboggan outside after a fresh nights slow, and they sled away as Calvin says, Its a magical world, Hobbes, ol buddy. Lets go exploring.

Watterson has said he has no regrets about ending Calvin and Hobbes when he did. Its always better to leave the party early, he said, via email, in a rare interview with The Plain Dealer in 2010. If I had rolled along with the strips popularity and repeated myself for another five, 10 or 20 years, the people now grieving for Calvin and Hobbes would be wishing me dead and cursing newspapers for running tedious, ancient strips like mine instead of acquiring fresher, livelier talent. And Id be agreeing with them.

All the Calvin and Hobbes comics have been published across dozens of books released since 1987, including The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, a collection of every comic strip, which was published in 2005.

Later Career: Cartooning for Charity and New Book

Watterson has remained largely out of the public eye since the Calvin and Hobbes, rejecting most interview requests and largely maintaining his privacy. However, he has contributed artwork or writings for various cause and publications over the decades. When his hero Charles Schulz died in 2000 at age 77, Watterson broke his postCalvin and Hobbes public silence to pen a tribute to his hero for The Los Angeles Times, describing how Schulz disregarded cinematic visual styles in favor of simple but expressive artwork that reveal a deep understanding of cartoonings strengths.

Watterson took up painting after the publication of Calvin and Hobbes, largely keeping those works private, spending time creating landscapes of Ohio woods with his father. He did participate in a public art exhibition in 2011 that featured an oil portrait of Petey Otterloop, an 8-year-old character from the comic strip Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson. Thompson, who had Parkinsons disease, established an art exhibit and auction in support of the Team Cul de Sac charity for Parkinsons research, and Watterson was one of more than 100 cartoonists who contributed original art for the cause.

Watterson provided what he called a few sentences of voiceover remarks for Stripped (2014), cartoonist Dave Kelletts documentary about comic strips. He also illustrated the poster for the film, which featured a cartoonist who literally leaps out of his clothes in surprise while reading about the demise of newspapers. Watterson said: Given the movies title and the fact that there are few things funnier than human nudity, the idea popped into my head largely intact.

Also in 2014, in another effort to raise money to fight Parkinsons disease, Watterson secretly collaborated with cartoonist Stephan Pastis on three strips of Pastis comic Pearls Before Swine. In the strips, a second-grader schools Pastis on how to properly draw. It was Wattersons idea to be Pastis secret guest cartoonist, and his involvement wasnt publicly revealed until after the strips were published that June. After having read a previous Pearl Before Swine cartoon that referenced Calvin and Hobbes, Watterson said, I thought it might be funny for me to ghost Pearls sometime, just to flip it all on its head. The money they raised supported Team Cul de Sac and the Michael J. Fox foundation.

Watterson released his first major book, entitled The Mysteries, since Calvin and Hobbes in October 2023. Written in partnership with caricaturist John Kascht, Wattersons new work is described as a fable for grown-ups about what lies beyond human understanding. It tells the story of a long-ago kingdom afflicted with unexplainable calamities, prompting the king to dispatch his knights to investigate, only one of whom returns.

Personal Life

Watterson and his wife, Melissa, live in Cleveland, where he keeps a low profile and declines most interview requests. The Washington Post described him as the J.D. Salinger of the strips, and he was included on Times list of the most reclusive celebrities. He would like it all to fade away, Wattersons father, Jim, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1998. He doesnt get his kicks by being famous. He was just doing something he enjoyed doing.

Watterson and his wife have a daughter named Violet.



Quotes



To endure five years of rejection to get a job requires either a faith in oneself that borders on delusion or a love of the work. I loved the work.

Its always better to leave the party early.

A real job is a job you hate.

Its surprising how hard well work when the work is done just for ourselves.

Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us!

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A new Frasier might be set to premiere on Paramount+ this week, but true fans of Kelsey Grammers irascible radio host know that he already found a new audience years ago on social media. Dr. Cranes Must-See TV neighbors Friends and Seinfeld have generated endless reams of articles, blog posts, and BuzzFeed quizzes, along with a few books, but in their own way, the internets ongoing fascination with uncanny, often dark Frasier memes illustrates a truth that devotees of the sitcom have long recognized: Frasier has always been the most powerful of them all.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any TV series with a somewhat respectable following will eventually become viral social media chum, but Frasiers memes stand a dank cut above the rest. For years, fans have contributed some of Instagram and Weird Twitters most bespoke work. In 2018, Priscilla Frank explored the phenomenon for HuffPost and posited that perhaps millennialsspecifically, millennial mensaw themselves in Frasiers portrayal of generational disconnect, particularly as it pertains to masculinity. (Also, as The New Yorker so kindly pointed out in 2020, many millennials also live with their dads.)

Still, how do we explain the utter weirdness of some of these memes? Take, for instance, Frasier Looking at Video Gamesan account on X (formerly Twitter) that often superimposes video game imagery onto various stills from the show.

frasier looking at yahar'gul, unseen village pic.twitter.com/baBlEeqEkp  frasier looking at video games (@frasier_looking) September 7, 2021

pic.twitter.com/At67KCfBU8  frasier looking at video games (@frasier_looking) August 31, 2023

pic.twitter.com/7R2D99Fgvy  frasier looking at video games (@frasier_looking) November 18, 2022

The punchline underpinning these images speaks to an aspect of Frasier's reputation that makes it so meme-able: Given that our favorite radio host is also a creaky snob who would likely have little use for video games or social media (beyond promoting his own work) its inherently amusing to foist them upon him anyway. The contrast between the shows grainy presentation and the sharp video game images only enhances the contrast.

That juxtaposition is key. With its jazzy intro and use of piano music throughout, Frasier cultivated a distinct feel from younger-seeming contemporaries. Frasier and Niles obsession with taste above all else shaped the shows muted, carefully curated lookunintentionally creating a perfect foil, visual and thematic, for the online worlds ephemeral flashiness.

When asked why fans mightve latched onto Frasier as a source of memes, Dr. Sulafa Zidaniassistant professor of media studies at Northwestern Universitys Communication Studies departmentnoted that the internet loves authenticity, particularly when its expressed through imperfection. Who could be more imperfect than the pretentious, stubborn, utterly self-important dolts Frasier and Niles Crane?

NBC

Frasier Crane wants more than anything to be perceived as an authoritative intellectual who has things all figured out. But in practice, Zidani said, hes failing at all of these things. Hes constantly unable to find a partner; hes getting into trouble at work with his family and his relationships.

Frasier and his brothers flaws are often on full display, which makes them all the more meme-orable. As Zidani put it, Theres like an attraction to what we would consider to be like a normal or relatable human being.

But theres something going on here beyond viewers personal affinity (or disdain) for the characters; Frasier memes also seem to scratch at something darker within the human psyche.

Often, the best entries in the Frasier meme canon make little sense at all; they might be as simple as ominously edited images or, in the case of Twin Peaks and Scrambled Eggs, an unsettling mash-up that, among other jokes, superimposes Frasier quotes over Twin Peaks imagery.

The disconcerting streak that pervades these mash-ups illustrates another defining trait thats set Frasier apart: As much as the internet loves authenticity, Zidani said, it also adores absurdist and parodical content. In Frasier, this is so evident because its like, hes having an existential crisis all the time, Zidani said. They dont shy away from these topics, but theyre presented in a comedic way.

In other words: As well as Frasiers wry sense of humor works on screen, it might speak to the internet even more profoundly.

Spend enough time scrolling through Twin Peaks and Scrambled Eggs on Instagram, and you might conclude that there's more common ground between the NBC sitcom and David Lynch's unnerving mystery series than meets the eye. Yes, both shows take place in Washington state, but they also share other qualities, like a bleak weariness and marked skepticism toward the American Dream. At the same time, Zidani noted that a humor studies concept called incongruity theory might also help explain why mash-ups like these can be so successful: People laugh at the unexpected.

At this point, the online Frasier fandom has stretched its creativity beyond meme accounts. In addition to Paramount+s new series, which debuts Oct. 12, theres also Our Frasier Remakean animated collaboration made by more than 100 Frasier fans that remakes seconds-long chunks of the shows Season One finale, My Coffee With Niles.

As previously reported by the AV Club, Jimmy Kimmel Live director Jacob Reed created the project, and contributors include the BAFTA-winning animator Steven Kraan, Robot Chicken director Harry Chaskin, and KC Greenaka, the artist who gave us the This is fine dog.

The project is set to premiere on Oct. 11one day before the official reboot begins. The remakes trailer teases, Before they can mess with the show we love, were doing it first.

But the projects dont end there. If a completely immersive and surreal Frasier experience is what you crave, you can also join a Frasier-themed Dungeons and Dragons gameor watch a mash-up of Frasier and the video game Cyberpunk 2077 featuring a cover of the song Never Fade Away, rewritten to be about tossed salad and scrambled eggs. The videos creator, social media user Major Frasier, has been at this for a whilecreating mash-ups and edited episode clips that often defy explanation through their utter peculiarity.

More than anything else, however, it might just be the performances themselves that have made Frasier memes so prolific and enduring.

Every time I revisit this series, the genius of Grammer and David Hyde Pierces performances stands out more. Grammers mannered vocal expressions work like a time machine; each bug-eyed stare and catastrophic Dear God! hits harder than the last. And then, theres Pierce, who plays Niles as a perfectly insufferable, ineffectual prig. (Speaking of whichfor those hoping to expand their vocabularies, theres also an online Frasier Dictionary that provides definitions for words like prig alongside clips from the show for demonstration.) How could you not make memes about these two goofuses and their big, big suits?

As Zidani notes, memes lean heavily on the viewers pre-existing knowledge to imbue them with meaning. Memorable performances can create richer humorous landscapes, allowing memes to blossom. Every time that we look at an image from the show, we are thinking of that scene, or we are thinking of the words that were said.

In other words, as Zidani put it, if an actor is able to make their performance truly singular, like one Dr. Crane, It makes them memorableand thus, meme-able. Maybe thats why his fans online, at least, never stopped listening.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week in show of support for the country amid its conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas, the State Department confirmed Tuesday.

Blinken will travel to Israel in the coming days to engage with Israeli leaders about the situation on the ground, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

Miller said the expectation is for Blinken to leave Wednesday and arrive in Israel on Thursday. Asked about the secretary of states plans while in Israel, Miller said the trip is still being put together, though further announcements could come later Tuesday afternoon.

Our support for Israel is unwavering and the Secretary looks forward to meeting with senior leaders in the Israeli government and continuing the the discussions he and the president have been having with them since the initial attacks on Saturday, Miller said during the State Departments daily press briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, President Biden condemned the abhorrent attacks on Israel by Hamas, vowing the U.S. will provide full support to the Israeli people.

Biden said he wants to make it crystal clear the U.S. stands with Israel.

And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism, Biden said Tuesday. Theres no excuse.

Over 1,000 Israelis have been killed since last Saturday, when Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, launched a multi-pronged attack on Israel, invading multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air.

Israel quickly moved on its counteroffensive against Hamas, sending airstrikes into Gaza since Saturday. At least 830 people have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Biden confirmed Tuesday that the number of Americans killed in the attacks had risen to 14.

Hamas has reportedly captured over 150 hostages, including some Americans. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday the U.S. believes there are 20 or more Americans who are missing at this point, though that does not necessarily mean there are 20 or more American hostages.

Since the onset of the crisis Saturday, Biden has met with his national security team each day while his administration has repositioned military assets in the region to assist Israel and start sending munitions and inceptors for Israels Iron Dome.

In addition to assistance being directed to the Israel Defense Force (IDF), Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday that an American carrier strike group was moved closer to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster regional deterrence efforts.

The Ford carrier strike group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navys most advanced aircraft carrier, along with multiple missile cruisers and missile destroyers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel later this week in a show of support for its government, the State Department said Tuesday.

The trip, announced by spokesperson Matthew Miller at a Tuesday press briefing, will see Blinken land in Israel on Thursday. While Miller did not provide additional information about logistics, saying that this is a trip were still putting together, he affirmed that it was intended to show U.S. support for Israel.

It will be a message of solidarity and support, Miller said on Tuesday. Were there to support them as they fight against these brutal terrorist attacks, to talk about what additional assistance we can provide them.



Blinkens visit would be a major sign of U.S. support for the Israeli government as Israel wages war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The intensified fighting came in the wake of an unprecedented surprise attack on Saturday by Hamas militants who stormed the border walls around Gaza, launched rockets toward Israeli cities, and entered settlements and towns in southern Israel, killing and kidnapping Israeli civilians and military personnel.

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since fighting began over the weekend. Fourteen American citizens have been killed and 20 American citizens are missing and unaccounted for, national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed at a White House press briefing on Tuesday. The U.S. believes that some Americans are among the hostages in Gaza.

Miller said the U.S. government was engaging with airlines to secure repatriation flights for American citizens stuck in Israel. Many airlines have suspended flights to Israel in response to the conflict.

We have been in discussions with carriers, urging them to consider whether they want to resume travel, Miller said, adding that American citizens should take advantage of flights and other routes out of Israel.

Sullivan said the Biden administration wasnt planning to send troops to Israel as part of efforts to free hostages.

That is not something under planning, Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday. What we are focused on when we talk about sending experts, it is people who can work on intelligence, who can work on overall planning, who can work on coordination with the Israeli government.

The U.S. has rapidly increased its flow of military assistance and weapons shipments to Israel in response to the attack, and the Navy has moved warships closer to Israel in the Mediterranean Sea. The Biden administration has also urged Congress to provide additional aid to Israel.
Indian writer Arundhati Roy smiles during a conference at the Bogazici University in Instanbul, Turkey in 2008 (HOCINE ZAOURAR)

Booker Prize-winning Indian novelist Arundhati Roy could be prosecuted for a 2010 speech about Kashmir after a top official signed off on the move, local media reported Tuesday.

Roy, 61, is one of India's most famous living authors, but her writing and activism, including her trenchant criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's government, has made her a polarising figure at home.

A criminal complaint accusing her and several others of sedition had languished in India's notoriously glacial criminal justice system since it was first filed in 2010.

But on Tuesday, Indian media reported that V.K. Saxena, the top official in the administration governing New Delhi, had given approval for the case to proceed before the courts.

Saxena's directive said there was enough evidence for a case to proceed against Roy and her codefendants "for their speeches at a public function" in the capital, The Hindu newspaper reported.

The original complaint accuses Roy and others of giving speeches advocating the secession of Kashmir from India, which partly governs the disputed region and claims it in full, along with neighbouring Pakistan.

Kashmir is one of the most sensitive topics of public discussion in India, which has fought two wars and countless skirmishes with Pakistan over control of the territory.

Tens of thousands of people, including Indian troops, militants and civilians, have been killed in Kashmir since an insurgency against Indian rule broke out in 1989.

Roy's home in New Delhi was besieged by protesters in 2010 when her remarks from the panel discussion became public.

Two of her codefendants have died in the 13 years since the case was first lodged.

Roy became the first non-expatriate Indian to win the prestigious Booker Prize for her acclaimed debut novel "The God of Small Things" in 1997.

She is also known for her passionate essays on the plight of the poor and dispossessed in India, occasionally earning the ire of the country's elite.

In recent years her work has marked her as one of the most high-profile critics of Modi's government, which has been accused by rights groups and others of targeting activists for criminal prosecution and working to suppress free speech.

Reporters Without Borders warns "press freedom is in crisis" in India. Since 2014, India dropped from 140 to 161 on its rankings of media freedom, including 11 places since last year.

ash/gle/md
Just as Bowie State University students, alumni, and faculty were enjoying a fun-filled weekend of homecoming activities, it was ruined by a shooting that injured two people.

On Saturday, local police responded to a shooting around 11:30 p.m. at Henry Circle, a large area of green grass at the Maryland HBCU campus. While the identity of the two people injured has not been revealed, early investigations have led authorities to believe that two 19-year-old men were the victims of the shooting.

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But in an unfortunate case for Bowie State and Morgan State students who planned on participating in the festivities, the Saturday night shooting cut it short.

Bowie State leadership canceled classes on Monday and made counseling available for students.

During a press conference on Sunday, Maj. Kenny Brown, assistant bureau chief of the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division, made it clear that there is no connection between the shootings that happened at the two HBCU campuses. He also revealed that the two victims shot are not students at Bowie State or Morgan State University.

He also revealed that investigators will continue to be on the Bowie State campus to investigate what happened on Saturday night.



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A 12-year-old boy has been found guilty of the fatal shooting of a fast-food restaurant worker with an assault-style rifle in Texas.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested following the incident at the Sonic Drive-In in Keene, near Dallas, earlier this year.

After a three-day trial, jurors at Johnson County court delivered the verdict of delinquent, the equivalent of guilty. He is due to be sentenced on Thursday.

Officers from Keene police responded to reports of a shooting at 9.40pm on 13 May 2023. The incident occurred following a confrontation between two adults in the restaurant carpark, which then became physical, police said.

The 12-year-old boy then got out of the vehicle and fired multiple shots, striking the victim, whom Keene police later identified as 32-year-old Matthew Davis.

The 12-year-old along with his adult aunt and uncle fled the scene, but were later located by officers in Rio Vista, where the boy was taken into custody. The force said several firearms were also recovered at the scene.

The investigation led officers to a location in Rio Vista where they located the boy and took him into custody. Police also recovered several firearms at the scene.

The force said that it could not offer further information due to the suspect being a minor and the possibility of additional charges and trials in the future.
A U.S. District judge sentenced a Bradenton man to four years in federal prison for firearms trafficking, the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Tuesday in a press release.

Kranston Algeno Rolle, 33, pleaded guilty on June 14 after prosecutors say Rolle, as a felon, trafficked in and received multiple firearms on Dec. 30, 2022. The firearms included a Smith & Wesson Model SD9 VE 9mm caliber pistol, a Glock Model 45 9mm caliber pistol and a GForce Arms Model GF2P semi-automatic shotgun.

Rolle had multiple prior felony convictions including robbery, grand theft of a motor vehicle, felony battery and fleeing and eluding a police officer, according to the release.

As a felon, Rolle is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Prosecutors say Rolle went on to shoot the firearms at a shooting range in Palmetto and also purchased a box of shotgun shells at the shooting range before signing a liability release form where he knowingly misrepresented his status as a convicted felon.

The Manatee County Sheriffs Office served a search warrant at Rolles home on March 17, 2022. There, they found two firearms that prosecutors say matched the types used by Rolle at the shooting range in December.

Rolle told investigators he was the man in a video recording that showed him firing the firearms and also said it was him in a photograph that showed him posing with one of the pistols, according to the release.

Prosecutors say Rolle later admitted to using the pistols at the shooting range and having unlawfully received and fired the shotgun.

After pleading guilty, Rolle was sentenced to four years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington in Tampa, the release says.

The case was investigated by the Manatee County Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys David W.A. Chee and David P. Sullivan.

The case was part of the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Floridas Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that aims to bring together law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
Somers Republican Dan Branda wants to unseat Vedat Gashi, D-Yorktown, who has chaired the Westchester County Board of Legislators during a tumultuous term, which saw its former chairman deposed, and the resignation of its majority leader.

But Gashi, who is seeking his third term, says his accomplishments this past term should resonate with voters. That includes Gashis leadership in reducing the countys tax levy, plus a county law that requires restaurants to train employees in the dangers of food allergies.

Westchester Board of Legaislators Chair Vedat Gashi, D-Yorktown, is seeking his third term.

So it goes in the hard-fought battle for leadership in the countys District 4, which includes parts of Somers, Yorktown and Ossining.

Branda, 44, said its time for new ideas in county government.

Branda is a veteran in the trenches of New York public affairs. He worked as an aide to state Assemblyman Greg Ball, worked in the communications office of former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and served as policy director for Reclaim NY, a right-leaning state watchdog organization.

Branda has proposed doubling the countys $25 million contribution to Westchester Community Colleges budget to lower tuition costs, funded through the elimination of an estimated 250 vacant jobs whose salaries and benefits are funded by county taxpayers.

Branda: Shortage of IRS employees hurts taxpayers

Among his proposals is a change in the county charter to create the elected position of county comptroller to provide more oversight on the spending of Westchesters $2.6 billion budget.

Dutchess, Nassau and Suffolk counties all have comptrollers, said Branda. It provides another person accountable to the voters who would have oversight over county finances.

Gashi, who grew up Yorktown, returned here in 2017 after living in Manhattans Upper West Side. He was elected to the county board in 2019 and re-elected in 2021. A Yorktown-based real estate attorney, Gashi also is part-owner of a 25-unit apartment building in the Bronx. He wants the county to do more with infrastructure to address the demands of climate change, facilitate economic development by improving working conditions, and reduce sources of pollution.

Somers Republican Dan Branda will face Westchester Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi, D-Yorktown, in the Nov. 7 election.

Gashi spokesman Reggie Johnson questioned Brandas plan to eliminate yet-to-be-specified vacant county positions to fund the boost in taxpayer support for Westchester Community College.

Community college funding has increased substantially during Gashis tenure, said Johnson. The fact that Branda intends to cut funding to first responders and other essential services for the sake of yet another campaign gimmick underscores the reality that he is not ready to lead.

Branda, however, said he has not proposed cutting funding to first responders.

He said he has targeted the lard in County Executive George Latimer's $2.6 billion budget. County spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi says Westchester has 507 job vacancies  representing 10% of the county workforce. Taxpayers get dinged for an estimated $50 million of tax levy in budgeted salary and benefits that are never paid.

Cut Latimer's phantom army in half, says Branda, and apply the savings to tuition aid at Westchester County College.

"Intentionally vacant jobs left in the budget to hold money  thats the definition of fat," said Branda. "If you haven't filled them in a year, what are your plans to fill them?"

Gashi: New York City probes Upper West Side co-op

Did county taxes go up or down?

Gashi is among the Westchester elected officials who like to say that they are cutting taxes.

Gashi touts the $6 million reduction the tax levy for the county's operating budget as proof that taxes are going down.

Said Gashi: "As chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I made sure every budget reduced property taxes without reducing services and earned upgrades to our county bond ratings."

Branda, however, said that Gashi fails to add in the $19 million increase in the county property tax levy for its long-starved sewer and water districts. These are essential regional public service infrastructure that serves as the backbone of Westchester County.

That increase raised the overall property tax levy from $716 million to $724 million in 2023, according to budget documents.

"Vedat is saying something that is fundamentally not true," said Branda. "County taxes did not go down. The special districts matter. It's a piece of the county tax levy and it's a county service that touches the most lives in Westchester."

Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns.

David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Branda, Gashi clash in race for Westchester County Board of Legislators
A childs birthday should be a special day, but its hard for a family that is also experiencing loss from the loss of a loved one to be festive.

Thats when Shiaka McIntosh steps in with a one-woman show she created called Parties from Above.

At no cost, she stages elaborate parties for children whove lost a parent to things like violence or an overdose.

On a recent Saturday, she transformed a community center in Dorchester into a Barbie-themed paradise for Lani who was turning two. Her mother Dejah Jenkins-Minus was murdered in a domestic situation.

Latoya Minus is now raising her granddaughter. It means a lot. It means a lot for her, not having a mom or dad. So the help is very much appreciated.

The family would have celebrated Lanis birthday, but it probably wouldnt have included a towering cake, a hopping DJ, or such extensive decorations.

The vision is to bring happiness to children, McIntosh said. I know I can never fill the void of their mom or dad, but at least I know I can make them smile for that day.

McIntosh understands what these families are going through. My sons father Marcus was murdered, and my son was there at the time. I always made it important to overload my son with joy on his birthday. Birthdays are a big thing for me.

Big is an operative word for McIntosh when she plans a bash, even though she relies on donations.

Her goal is to create a world where kids can be kids, and hopefully be free from bad memories while make making some new special ones.

I want kids to have fun and celebrate and not have to focus on such things as not being with their mom or dad.

For the adults, its also a chance to remember someone they loved, and lost.

Theresa Roberts was Dejah Jenkins-Minus godmother. She just enjoyed life in general. She always said to me once she gave birth, God-mommy, Im so in love with her.

On this day, Lani was certainly feeling the love.

Thats a mission accomplished for McIntosh.

I just want to see my kids smile. I want to see other kids smile on their birthday.

To learn more about the organization or to help out, click the link below.

Children whose Mom or Dad have passed away

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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A police officer looks on as dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside State of Illinois offices at 555 W. Monroe on Oct. 27, 2023. The protesters chanted for a free Palestine as they locked arms outside several of the entrances to the building. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Family and friends are desperate for the return of a local mother and daughter believed to be held hostage by Hamas following weekend attacks in Israel and Gaza that left more than 1,500 Israelis and Palestinians dead.

Natalie Raanan and her mom, Judith, were reported missing while visiting family in Israel during the surprise attack, according to a Facebook post by Chabad of Evanston, where Judith is a longtime congregant.

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I want them back, said Uri Raanan, Natalies father, his voice breaking as he spoke to the Tribune. Its been a very bad time.

Natalie and Judith were visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah.

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The kibbutz, located near the Gaza border, was attacked by militants Saturday, according to CNN.

Violence broke out following Hamas attack on Israel and Israels declaration of war. The death toll has surpassed 1,500, with thousands more injured or missing. Retaliatory strikes by Israel have left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, sending tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing to United Nations shelters, according to The Associated Press.

Since Uri Raanans daughter went missing, he has been in contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and local family in Israel, he said.

[ Chicagoans tied to Israel and Palestine react to Hamas attacks, brace for war ]

Rabbi Meir Hecht of the Evanston Chabad said Judith had been talking about the trip for weeks and was very excited to return to her place of birth for the holiday season.

Judith is the kind of person who always loves to celebrate with others, Hecht said. Shes a really caring, giving, committed and generous soul. Shes someone whos always there to help others.

Hecht added that the congregation is greatly distressed and pained, and concerned for the welfare of Judith, Natalie and all the citizens of Israel.

Deerfield High School Principal Kathryn Anderson sent a letter to the school community expressing concern for the fate of Natalie Raanan, who graduated in the spring.

It is with great sadness that I share we have received word that DHS alumna, Natalie Raanan (Class of 2023), who was visiting family in Israel, has been reported missing, Anderson said in the letter. Her family fears that she has been taken hostage by Hamas.

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We keep Natalie and her family in our hearts, along with all the innocent lives lost, wounded and impacted by the terrorist attack, the principal wrote.

Anderson noted in the letter that counseling services are available to all students.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, said that over the weekend she had received the horrifying news that two of my constituents, who were visiting Israel for the Jewish holidays, are missing, and are believed to have been abducted.

[ Israel pounds downtown Gaza City, vowing punishing retaliation for weekend attack ]

She said her office immediately reached out to the U.S. State Department to tell officials about the missing constituents and State Department officials quickly responded, letting us know that they are looking into the case.

I remain in close contact with the family and friends of my missing constituents and will continue to do all I can to ensure their safe and immediate return, Schakowsky added. We must all stand united and unequivocally condemn the vicious attacks carried out by Hamas.

In an address Tuesday, President Joe Biden called the Hamas attack an act of sheer evil.

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Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children, he said. Stomach-turning reports of  babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace  to celebrate peace.

Biden also said 14 Americans have been killed in the fighting, up from 11 previously reported. He confirmed that U.S. citizens are being held hostage by Hamas. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said U.S. officials dont know exactly how many Americans have been taken hostage, according to The Associated Press.

So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel.  And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack, Biden said. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.

Yinam Cohen, consul general of Israel to the Midwest  who is based in Chicago  said his office has been in contact with the Raanan family.

Because of the large-scale violence in the region over the last few days, government officials are still gathering information on names of the casualties, wounded and hostages held in Gaza, he added.

The past four days have been devastating for Israel, Cohen said. The death toll continues to rise.

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The Associated Press contributed.

chilles@chicagotribune.com

eleventis@chicagotribune.com
TEL AVIV  Outside the U.S. embassy in Israel, the parents of a kidnapped American-Israeli dual citizen stood in protest Monday pleading for action from President Joe Biden to save their son following the weekend's stunning Hamas attacks in Israel.

Itay Chen, a 19-year-old member of the Israel Defense Forces born in New York City, is believed to be among the 130 or more people kidnapped from Israel by Hamas terrorists now being held captive in the Gaza Strip.

"We are asking the president to do what he can in order to bring our kids back safely home," said his father, Ruby Chen, standing alongside other family members and supporters.

They wore T-shirts that read Help Find Itay, with a photo of a grinning Itay Chen, and held signs that said, "USA protects its citizens!" "Bring Itay Home Now," and "Help find Itay."

Outside of the United States embassy, the parents of a kidnapped American-Israeli dual citizen stood in protest in the hopes of gaining the attention of US President Joe Biden Monday. People gathered wearing shirts that read "Help Find Itay," with a photo of 19-year-old IDF soldier Itay Chen, who is believed to be held captive by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. embassy sits facing the Mediterranean Sea, the very same one Hamas fighters infiltrated to launch their deadly offensive.

An emotional Ruby Chen, holding hands with his wife, called on the Biden administration to reach out to Hamas leaders who kidnapped his son and other Americans to demand the militant group follow international laws for protected war prisoners.

Attempts to reach son go unanswered

Corporal Itay Chen serves in Israels Armed Corps and was on the Gaza border during Saturday mornings attack.

He was raised in New York, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each day and cheering on American sports. Itay Chen grew up a Los Angeles Lakers fan who adored Kobe Bryant while his dad rooted for the hometown New York Knicks.

"That's how kids are," Rudy Chen told CNN. "They always are rebellious."

Rudy Chen later moved his family to Israel, where he resides with his wife and three children Netanya, north of Tel Aviv. Ruby remains a U.S. citizen and U.S. taxpayer.

After attempts to contact their son after this week's Hamas attack were unsuccessful, Ruby and his wife Laity Chen made their way to the Lahav 433 center for identifying the missing after the first day of the Israel-Hamas war, named by Israeli forces as Operation Swords of Iron.

There, his parents were officially notified of his status as Missing In Action - or MIA. The Israeli Defense Forces defines a person as MIA when no officer has identified him in the last 36 hours. This means he was not found in any hospital, had not been identified as deceased, and in this context, had a high probability of currently being held in Gaza.

Chens parents and the IDF believe that there is enough evidence to suggest he is a Prisoner of War.

White House not sure how many hostages are Americans

At least 11 Americans were killed in Hamas' stunning weekend attacks on Israel. The Biden administration has confirmed U.S. citizens are unaccounted for but not said how many Americans are being held hostage.

"While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas," Biden said in a statement Monday. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis."

Biden said that includes sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the U.S. government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

John Kirby, a White House spokesman on national security matters, said the U.S. does not know how many Americans are hostages. "We're in constant touch with the Israeli officials right now to try to get a sense of the whereabouts of all the unaccounted Americans," Kirby said in an interview on Fox News.

A State Department spokesman declined to comment to USA TODAY when asked about the whereabouts of Itay Chen and whether the U.S. is tracking him.

Hamas has claimed that four hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes and pledged to kill additional hostages if Israel doesn't stop bombing civilian areas in Gaza.

Abu Obeida, spokesman of Hamas armed wing, said Monday the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

'Step up for our children,' father says

Outside the U.S. embassy in Israel, Chen told USA TODAY that the government of the United States needs to stand up for all Americans  including those living in Israel and abroad.

Kids need to know that the U.S. is behind all of its citizens, he added.

Itay Chens younger brother, Alon, was set to celebrate his bar mitzvah this coming Saturday, expecting to share it with his family. We are still hopeful that we will be able to celebrate together as a family, Chen added.

Saturday's attacks marked the deadliest incursion into Israeli territory since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. Israel responded with attacks on Hamas infrastructure in Gaza.

The death toll on both sides from the three-day war rose to about 1,600 on Monday, including 900 in Israel and more than 680 in Gaza.

With each passing moment, the Chen family only grows more concerned for their son, adding fuel to the fire of what their mission is. What about liberty, justice, and freedom for all? his father asked.

Biden needs to step up for all children  all citizens deserve protection, and kids need to know that the United States is behind them 100%.

Joanie Margulies reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Joey Garrison is a White House correspondent based in Washington.

Reach Joanie Margulies and Joey Garrison on X, formerly known as Twitter as @JoanMargulies @joeygarrison.

Outside of the United States embassy, the parents of a kidnapped American-Israeli dual citizen stood in protest in hope of gaining the attention of President Joe Biden Monday. People gathered wearing shirts that read "Help Find Itay," with a photo of 19-year-old IDF soldier Itay Chen, who is believed to be held captive by Hamas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hamas' hostages include US citizens: These parents plea for a return
New Mexico is a state with abundant natural resources: the most integral, while also scarce, is our water. Water brings life to a sleeping desert, as migratory birds flock and landscapes turn green when the Rio Grande runs. It irrigates crops and provides drinking water for New Mexicos communities, as well as opportunities for recreation, experiential learning and connectivity with nature. And for many of us who live on the frontera here in Southern New Mexico, water is deeply rooted in our culture. During Hispanic Heritage Month we want to bring attention to the water crisis here to help our elected officials understand how important making water issues a priority is for our communities.

Those of us who grew up in Southern New Mexico remember when the Rios waters once flowed year-round throughout the state; however, due to drought, a warming climate, and an increase in consumptive uses by extractive industries, the river remains dry for the majority of the year in Las Cruces - depriving the community of these integral experiences regularly and leaving the landscape asleep until water arrives.

Water is a finite resource, and while the State has made small gains on tackling water issues, the crisis requires us to take more immediate action. New Mexico is enjoying a budget surplus and this should be a green-light to spur long-term planning to help our communities survive and thrive. Water issues affect every New Mexican, yet without making this a top priority, the long term effects will be costly and more devastating. We can work toward ensuring that our communities not only survive but thrive in the face of water challenges.

To kick off Latino Conservation Week earlier this year, Nuesta Tierra cultivated community and celebrated the flowing waters of the Rio, partnering with New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) and Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) for a community floating event down the Rio Grande. We had dozens of community members from all over New Mexico, West Texas, and even from Colorado, travel down to Las Cruces to take advantage of our prized resource, create shared memories, eat good food, and practice the long tradition of enjoying our flowing River.

Last week, we were proud to share a recap of this event with members of the state Water & Natural Resources Committee during their meeting in Las Cruces. We sought to give them a break from the technical issues and remind them about the people behind their decisions, in hopes that when the legislative session convenes in Santa Fe, they remember how communities like ours are especially impacted.

When water arrives in Southern New Mexico, it provides a special opportunity for communities to enjoy the unique amenities and recreational possibilities that the flowing river brings only for those few short months the river runs. Families gather to celebrate life events and hold bonfires along the riverside, kids float the waters alongside their friends, and the city becomes green with vegetation fed by groundwater stemming from the Rio.

Agua es vida for the communities of Southern New Mexico and as water supplies continue to diminish in these ever changing growing seasons, it is essential that our water is preserved for all.

In making decisions about the future of water resources in the state of New Mexico, we must consider and prioritize the needs, experiences, and lives of Southern New Mexico communities, starting now, because water cant wait.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Bringing attention to water crisis in NM
The chances of a new round of mobilization in Russia before the upcoming presidential election in March 2024 are low, the British Ministry of Defense wrote on Oct. 10.

Such a move would likely be unpopular, and although elections in Russia are tightly controlled, they are still "a core tool of political legitimization."

Previous rounds of mobilization caused hundreds of thousands of Russians, perhaps more than a million, to flee the country to avoid being drafted. They also sparked protests and other signs of public discontent at home.

The Kremlin aims "to minimize unpopular policy moves" ahead of the election, the Ministry wrote, and another large-scale mobilization would possibly upend attempts to insulate Russians from the impacts of the war.

Instead of officially calling for a new round of mobilization, Russia has so far tried to incentivize voluntary service. There have also been attempts to recruit foreigners and exploit Central Asian migrant workers in Russia by offering fast-track citizenship in exchange for military service.

Although Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has not officially announced he will seek reelection, there has been speculation that he will publicly declare sometime in November.

It is unclear if other candidates will nominally participate, but if Putin decides to run, his victory is all but assured. Freedom House, a nonprofit advocating international democracy, gave Russia a 0/4 score in its 2022 report card on political freedoms in the country.

"Russia has never experienced a democratic transfer of power between rival groups," described Freedom House. Any meaningful opposition is prevented from having a fair chance at winning elections, creating "an authoritarian political system (that) is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin."

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia provides Hamas with Western weapons captured in Ukraine, Kyiv says

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BROCKTON  A Brockton man found guilty of rape and human trafficking of a female victim has been sentenced to state prison, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced.

After a two-day trial at the end of September, a jury found Steven Weaver, 40, of Brockton, guilty of one count each of trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, rape and deriving support from earnings of a prostitute, according to a written statement from Cruz's office.

More: Brockton man charged with human trafficking in prostitution sting

The exterior of Plymouth County Superior Court in Brockton on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. (Marc Vasconcellos file photo/The Enterprise)

On Oct. 6, Weaver was sentenced to serve no less than 5 years and no more than 7 years on the rape charge and no more than 5 years and no less than 6 years on the human trafficking charge. Weaver will serve these sentences consecutively for a total of no more than 13 years in state prison.

For the earnings of a prostitute charge, Judge Robert Gordon sentenced Weaver to serve no less than 2 years and no more than 5 years in state prison.

According to the DA's office, a female victim reported to the Brockton police that she was being trafficked and abused by Weaver in August 2021, prompting an investigation.

My office continues to aggressively prosecute those who manipulate, abuse, and sell human beings for profit, Cruz said in a 2020 statement. At the same time, we work just as hard to provide access to trauma informed services to help victims recover and return to a healthy and safe life.

More: These people make a difference in the lives of Brockton-area domestic violence crimes

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Justice Programs awarded the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office and Health Imperatives, a victims-services nonprofit in Brockton, with $1.5 million in funding to help improve public awareness, survivor outreach and investigations of human trafficking cases.

The grant included $750,000 to create a Plymouth Country Human Trafficking Task Force.

Julia Kehoe, CEO of Health Imperatives, an organization that works to prevent domestic violence and provides support to victims and survivors, speaks to the gathering at Brockton City Hall during a ceremony to raise the LGBTQ+ flag on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.

"We are seeing increasing numbers of human trafficking victims across our programs and services," said Julia Kehoe, president and CEO of Health Imperatives. "This grant allows us to put a spotlight on this critically important issue and work together with the District Attorneys office to identify strategies that will increase awareness of human trafficking in our community and deliver much-needed services to victims."

Just last year, another man, Matthew Engram, 35 of Brockton, was found guilty of recruiting and trafficking three "vulnerable" women between the years of 2009 and 2015 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2022.

In 2021, a 26-year-old Wellesley man was arrested for allegedly attempting to sex traffic two East Bridgewater minors online.

Also in 2021, Jean Jeffry Vilno, 31, of Whitman, was sentenced to 6 to 8 years in state prison on human trafficking charges.

Enterprise staff writer Amelia Stern can be reached by email at astern@enterprisenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton man found guilty of rape, human trafficking, sent to prison
A mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service was robbed at knifepoint in Brooklyn, police said Tuesday.

The 26-year-old postal employee was making deliveries on Hendrix St. near Pitkin Ave. in East New York on Sept. 30 when a man approached her just before 3 p.m., cops said.

Give me the keys, the crook demanded as he pressed a knife against the victims stomach, police said.

After the mail carrier handed over the postal keys, the thief took off.

She was not injured during the robbery.

Police are still looking for the man, who they described as about 5-foot-8 and in his 40s. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

Last year, a postal worker was pistol-whipped during a robbery at a Bronx post office.

The robber made off with $112,000 in cash and 10 boxes of money orders at the Castle Hill Ave. branch.
The death of a 13-year-old girl while in the care of a nurse from a Fort Lauderdale area home healthcare company brought a state administrative complaint against the nurses license.

But the Sept. 14 complaint against Coral Springs Linda Rosembert also appeared to criticize Lauderhills Sierra Lifecare for assigning Rosembert even though [Rosemberts] resume did not demonstrate experience in care of medically-fragile, ventilator-dependent adolescents or children.

The Florida Department of Health filing, depending on the violation and the history of the nurse, can end with anything from no punitive action from the state Board of Nursing to license revocation.

Revocation was the consequence for another Sierra nurse, Miramars Elayna Bash, just over a year ago. The state Board of Nursing accepted as fact the administrative complaints that Bash slept while on an in-home assignment taking care of a 4-year-old with a seizure disorder and then used force against that child. Bashs license was revoked on Sept. 7, 2022.

As for the complaint against Rosembert, she had no comment when reached by phone. A phone call and emails from the Miami Herald to Sierra Lifecare havent been answered.

What the Florida Department of Health says happened

The complaint says that on Aug. 26, 2019, Sierra sent Rosembert to provide home and school nursing care for a 13-year-old girl who required a wheelchair and was nonverbal, ventilator-dependent and fed by a gastrostomy tube.

Despite what the complaint said about Rosemberts resume, she had cared for the girl almost 10 months earlier.

This time, as she and the 13-year-old were on a school bus, the complaint said, bus video demonstrates that the ventilator audio alarm sounded on multiple occasions.

Each time, Rosembert could be seen reaching behind the ventilator, at which time the alarm became silent. On interview, [Rosembert] stated that the ventilator did not have a reset button, but had a silence button, which she denied using.

The complaint said Rosembert failed to assess or document the presence, character or absence of [the girls] breath sounds. Also, she didnt check the girls blood pressure, oxygen saturations and other vital signs other than one instance in which [Rosembert] noted ... oxygen saturation to be 94%, after [Rosembert] reportedly reconnected a ventilator filter.

As Rosembert pushed the girl into class, the complaint said, the ventilator alarm was sounding. The teacher told Rosembert to take the girl to the school nurse.

The girl was pale with discolored lips and no pulse when they got to the school nurse, the complaint said. The nurse started CPR and called 911.

EMTs took the girl to the hospital, where she died at 9:13 a.m. that day.

The complaint says Rosembert:

 Shouldnt have accepted the assignment because the 13-year-olds needs were beyond Rosemberts abilities.

 Should have documented the girls vital signs, oxygen saturation and breath sounds when the ventilator alarm sounded.

 Should have checked and noted the ventilator settings.

 Ensure the presence and condition of a bag-mask valve at all times when caring for a ventilator-dependent patient.

 Provided ventilation by bag-mask valve if theres a question whether the ventilator was functioning correctly.

 Notified the girls mother and physician of the girls condition change.
[Source]

BTS member Jimin takes center stage in the Dior Men's Spring 2024 campaign.

Dior's Spring 2024 stunner: Jimin showcases his timeless charm in sleek suits and cozy sweater vests in a photoshoot captured by Alasdair McLellan. The campaign, art directed by Ronnie Cooke Newhouse and styled by Ellie Grace Cumming, marks Jimin's debut with the French luxury brand since being unveiled as its global ambassador in January 2023.

Effortless style: The collection, which celebrates Kim Jones' fifth anniversary as Dior's creative director, features Jimin donning a range of outfits. The K-pop star exudes elegance wearing sleek tailored suits, chunky cable knit sweaters and Dior's signature accessories.

More from NextShark: BamBam releases debut album, joins WeBridge K-pop festival lineup

In the natural backdrop, Jimin is seen sporting a light blue twisted turtleneck sweater and regal navy suit adorned with Dior emblems, along with a backpack featuring the label's CD rhomboid motif.

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Timeless fashion: The campaign aims to take fashion enthusiasts on a journey through time, drawing inspiration from Dior's iconic designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferre and Marc Bohan. The overall visuals offer a striking contrast between monochromatic photographs of Jimin in sleek suits and preppy attire and vibrantly colored images set in a picturesque forest.

DIOR PRINCE JIMIN  Oh, he is breathtaking!  #JIMINxDIOR

DIOR GLOBAL AMBASSADOR JIMIN pic.twitter.com/XF21ouxgYx  Jimin Global (@JiminGlobal) October 9, 2023

BTS ambassadorship: In addition to Dior, Jimin is also a brand ambassador for Tiffany & Co., as part of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Other BTS members have secured prestigious brand ambassadorships with leading fashion houses: RM fronts Bottega Veneta's spring 2023 campaign, J-Hope represents Louis Vuitton, V is the ambassador for Celine and Cartier, Suga collaborates with Valentino and the NBA, Jungkook stars in Calvin Klein campaigns and Jin recently hinted at future luxury fashion collaborations.
Flag of Bulgaria

Bulgarian law enforcement has shut down a criminal network that supplied dual-use goods to Russia, which were then used in the war against Ukraine, Bulgarian outlet The Sofia Globe reported on Oct. 10.

Read also: Bulgaria becomes seventh EU state to ban cars with Russian license plates

At least 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.

Five of the detainees are foreign nationals, including three Russians, one Belarusian, and one Albanian, according to Bulgarian Interior Minister Zhivko Kotsev.

The head of the State Agency for National Security, Plamen Tonchev, said that his agency received information regarding the export of dual-use goods, leading to the discovery of a "complex network of illegal supplies."

The criminal network has been operating in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Veliko Turnovo since early 2021.

Read also: Bulgarian parliament approves transfer of defective S-300 missiles to Ukraine

The network was primarily comprised of Russian citizens who financed the supply of goods; they were not permanent residents of Bulgaria.

Supplies were delivered through various companies, one of which is based in Plovdiv. Goods were sent to Plovdiv, where they were packaged, then transported to Sofia, and from there, the shipments were airlifted to Russia. The operation had a cash flow of nearly EUR 2 million.

Read also: UAE may limit exports of goods Russia uses for weapon production  report

The weapons were not for the regular Russian army, but for the special forces operating on the territory of Ukraine, the report reads.

Bulgarias Deputy Prosecutor-General Maria Pavlova said the exported technology includes various types of dual-use goods, such as optical sights and aviation radio equipment.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
According to Gallups State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report, employee stress remains at a record-high level post-pandemic with 44% of employees reporting they experienced a lot of stress the previous day.

The newest generation to enter the workforce is looking for concrete ways to combat this stress. In fact, according to a 2022 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey 82% of Gen Z employees want mental health days  and burnout and lack of work-life balance is a key reason why they would quit their job.

Another small survey found that baby boomers are the most likely to feel that mental health days are absolutely necessary, suggesting that the desire to take a day off to press pause and reset is something that spans the generations.

But wanting to take time off to focus on your mental health and actually doing it are two different things.

A recent Pew survey found that while 62% of employees say its extremely important to them to have a job that offers paid time off, almost half of them are leaving paid time off on the table.

If you feel like you're too busy to take time off or your PTO is limited, know that even a single day can feel like a break, and summer is an ideal time to get a day to yourself on the calendar. Here's how to spend a mental health day to maximize the benefits.

Why are mental health days important?

When you work without breaks youre busy, but not necessarily productive. Its important to have opportunities to rest and reflect and recharge. Its a mistake to think that more hours worked equals more productivity, says Leah Weiss, Ph.D., author of How We Work and a Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer. Our bodies and minds are not meant to push constantly  even elite athletes need to have rest as part of the process of becoming stronger.

Tara OSullivan, chief creative officer at PepTalk, compares time off to sleep. Sleep is when everything repairs itself and allows the body to recover. You need to allow your thought process to do the same, she says.

Sacrifice your need to recharge and ultimately you sacrifice your health. Youre not doing anybody any favors if you give up your mental health for a job. The healthiest people are the ones who take time for themselves and their families, says Katherine Nelson, an instructor in the human resource management department at Temple Universitys Fox School of Business in Philadelphia.

5 ways to make a mental health day happen

The demands of work will always be there. But with planning you can push them away for a day.

Start with your calendar. Does your work cycle have slower and busier periods? Pick a slower day and youll be more likely to stick with your plan.

Make a commitment. If you think youll be tempted to cancel your day off and come into work, plan something you wont want to give up. Sign up for a seminar, buy tickets to a concert or sporting event, book a spa day or make plans with a friend.

Enlist your colleagues . Ask them what they think theyll need when youre out, so you can prepare. Set parameters  maybe they will call your cell phone if something truly critical comes up. That way you free yourself from checking email and texts.

Send a strong out-of-office message. Provide email addresses and phone numbers of colleagues people can contact while youre out. Chris Dyer, author of The Power of Company Culture, recommends asking people to resend their messages after your return day, and deleting all the emails that came in while you were out. Really.

Trust your team. The world wont end if you take a day off. We all think were indispensable, but none of us are. If you got hit by a truck tomorrow your boss would figure out a workaround, Nelson says.

How to spend a mental health day to get the most benefit

It might be tempting to just keep the day wide open, but thats a mistake. You wont be rejuvenated if you feel like you wasted the day watching Netflix. And dont tackle a to-do list, either. This is not a day for oil changes and dentist appointments. Think about what you need, and design your day ahead of time.

Know what makes you feel better. For a lot of people, top choices are spending time outdoors, movement and social connection. Plan activities where you get lost in the flow, says Kristina Hallett, Ph.D., a board-certified clinical psychologist and author of Own Best Friend: Eight Steps to a Life of Purpose, Passion, and Ease.

Learning can be restorative, so if learning isnt part of your job try using this day for expanding your brain. Practice an instrument, take an art lesson or attend a workshop.

Not sure what you would like to do? Ask yourself what kinds of things you would do if you had six months to live, says Karissa Thacker, Ph.D., author of The Art of Authenticity. Is there a scaled-down version of those things you could do in a free day? If travel is on your list, see a nearby city or attraction. If its spending time with your kids, consider pulling them out of school for a trip to the zoo or a ball game.

One day off here and there can be a fantastic reminder of life outside of work. There is always another perspective. You just have to move to see it, OSullivan says.

Benefits of mental health days

Some benefits of taking a mental health day include:

Helping you feel less burnt out and boosting productivity

Improving your mood

Helping you feel more resilient and able to bounce back from challenges

Reducing the likelihood of having a mental health crisis in the future

Feeling better physically

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is a time to honor your mental health needs and to raise awareness of the importance of quality mental health care. In the United States, an estimated 65 million Americans live with a mental illness, but about 60% of these people don't receive treatment for it. The 2023 theme for World Mental Health Day is "Our Minds, Our Rights," emphasizing the importance of treating mental health as a human right.

Taking a mental health day is an excellent way to honor World Mental Health Day. You can also share about your own mental health struggles in person or online with #WorldMentalHealthDay. Other ways to celebrate World Mental Health Day include exercise, meditation or any other activity that makes you feel connected to yourself and improves your mental wellbeing.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
New BYU-Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith makes a heart sign next to his wife, Jennifer, after he was formally installed by Elders Ronald A. Rasband, left, and D. Todd Christofferson at the BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. | BYU-Idaho livestream

Charging him with preserving Brigham Young University-Idahos student-centered, teaching-focused culture, Latter-day Saint leaders formally installed Elder Alvin F. Trip Meredith III on Tuesday as the universitys 18th president.

The event combined the academic dressing of a presidential inauguration with the guidance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a hallmark of BYU-Idaho since its founding in 1888 and its decades as Ricks College.

I charge you, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said to President Meredith, with the responsibility to be the universitys chief moral and spiritual officer, this being the most important and most demanding of all your duties as president of the university, and charge you to align Brigham Young University-Idaho with its prophetically inspired direction.

Elder Christofferson, who is also chairman of the executive committee of BYU-Idahos board of trustees, announced President Merediths appointment on May 16. President Meredith, 53, began his tenure on Aug. 1.

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BYU-Idaho is a unique and sacred and set-apart place, with a prophetically inspired heritage, President Meredith said. By remaining Christ-centered and prophetically directed, continuing to strengthen our teaching focus, preserving the spirit of Ricks and amplifying our message and extending our reach, we will preserve our birthright and continue on the steady, upward course that the Lord established for this university.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and BYU-Idahos board of trustees speaks at the inauguration of President Alvin F. Meredith at the BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. | BYU-Idaho livestream

Elder Christofferson and Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles represented the officers of the board of trustees  the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ, which founded, sponsors and guides the university through the Church Educational System.

The BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho, was packed for the inauguration. The audience included three past presidents of BYU-Idaho and the presidents of the other Church Educational System universities and colleges.

You have been brought by divine design to this wonderful institution at this season of your lives, Elder Rasband said to President Meredith and his wife, Jennifer.

The vice chairman of the executive committee of BYU-Idahos board of trustees, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks at the inauguration of the schools 18th president, Elder Alvin F Trip Meredith III, in Rexburg, Idaho, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. | BYU-Idaho livestream

In coming to this role, your name, President Meredith, along with Jennifers, was approved by the First Presidency and the full board of trustees of BYU-Idaho, he said. We love and trust you both and know your service here will amplify BYU-Idahos mission to build disciples of Jesus Christ, who will become leaders in their homes, the church and their communities.

Elder Christoffersons charge to President Meredith

Elder Christofferson noted that he had known President Meredith since the new president was a teenager. He charged President Meredith with preserving BYU-Idahos unique culture and the spirit of Ricks, and to as the universitys chief executive officer, institutional spokesman and overseer of its assets.

I charge you to exemplify the foundational modesty and frugality that are a hallmark of this institution, which cultivates the spirit of innovation and revelation, he said.

Elder Christofferson said the board of trustees is led by President Russell M. Nelson, the prophet-president of the church, and will safeguard you through an increasingly challenging landscape and point the way to academic and spiritual success.

I charge you to preserve Brigham Young University-Idahos student-centered, teaching-focused culture. Help students to develop the whole person, even the eternal person, both in and out of the classroom. Help students and employees to realize and magnify their divine identity as sons and daughters of God and as disciples of Jesus Christ who can lead in their families, the church and their communities.

After President Meredith responded to the charge, Elder Christofferson spoke again.

BYU-Idaho violin professor Rebecca Roesler performs Savior, Redeemer of My Soul with the BYUIdaho Combined Choirs and Symphony Orchestra at the inauguration of President Alvin F. Meredith at the BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. | BYU-Idaho livestream

My prayer for everyone associated with Brigham Young University-Idaho is that you may attain true and lasting conversion to Jesus Christ and his gospel, he said. May he and your Heavenly Father be your first loyalty, and their commandments your highest priority. May you model your life after the Masters life.

As President Nelson recently said, in all your decisions, think celestial, so that in eternity you may live in Gods celestial kingdom with a celestial, resurrected body and with those you love most.

Elder Rasband called both the charge and BYU-Idahos governance structure a tremendous advantage for the school, for President Meredith and its faculty, staff and students.

The distinctive characteristics of being student-centered and teaching-focused, coupled with its innovative roots will continue to direct this institution in accomplishing its design, destiny and purpose, Elder Rasband said.

The inauguration was conducted by one of BYU-Idahos past presidents, Elder Clark G. Gilbert, now a General Authority Seventy and commissioner of the Church Educational System.

This is this institution with a sacred and set-apart purpose to be a university in Zion, where the Lord is pouring out his blessings on this educational community and through it across the entire church, Elder Gilbert said.

Elder Gilbert and President Meredith worked together in student government while students at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Jennifer Meredith places a medallion around the neck of her husband, new BYU-Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith, after he was formally installed by Elders Ronald A. Rasband, left, and D. Todd Christofferson at the BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. | BYU-Idaho livestream

The other past presidents who attended were the man President Meredith replaced, Henry J. Eyring, who has returned to work at BYU in Provo, Utah, and Elder Kim B. Clark, an emeritus General Authority Seventy.

President Merediths response

Henry Jr. Eyring, my immediate predecessor, led this university with honor and compassion, President Meredith said. He was a guardian of the spirit of Ricks. Thank you, President Eyring.

President Meredith said Eyring recently encouraged him to take BYU-Idaho to higher places.

His words were an echo of his father, President Henry B. Eyring, who promised we can follow a steady, upward course in a world of change without fear, welcoming the opportunities.

President Henry B. Eyring was a president of Ricks College and is now a member of the First Presidency and second vice chair of the board of trustees.

President Meredith shared four ways he wants BYU-Idaho to maintain a steady, upward course.

One, intentionally resolve to remain a Christ-centered, prophetically directed university.

The board sets the direction and strategy for this university, he said. They also have a great love and concern for the rising generation. We must fortify our efforts to stay perfectly aligned with the teachings of living prophets and apostles. We must be purposeful and diligent about maintaining doctrinal purity in every nook and cranny of this university.

Two, continue to strengthen BYU-Idahos core-teaching mission.

Three, focus on preserving BYU-Idahos unique culture and the spirit of Ricks.

Four, teach and amplify BYU-Idahos message so students, parents and church members understand BYU-Idahos value and impact on the students and the church.

As we move forward, we must vigilantly preserve the timeless values and quest for discipleship that characterize BYU-Idaho. This is a unique place and we must keep it that way, President Meredith said.

The inauguration was attended by BYU President Shane Reese, BYU-Hawaii President John Keoni Kauwe, BYU-Pathway Worldwide President Brian Ashton, Ensign College President Bruce Kusch and Chad Webb, administrator of the churchs Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.

Other members of the executive committee of the board of trustees who attended were Elder Paul V. Johnson of the presidency of the Seventy; President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society general president; and Brother Steven J. Lund, Young Men general president.

Who is Elder Alvin F. Meredith III?

President Meredith is a former business executive. In 2018, he had been named internally as the new CEO of Asurions Asia business. The day before his role was to be announced publicly, President Henry B. Eyring extended a call to for him to serve as a mission president for the church.

Elders Ronald A. Rasband, left, and D. Todd Christofferson congratulate new BYU-Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith and his wife, Jennifer, at his inauguration at the BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. | BYU-Idaho livestream

Elder Meredith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on July 22, 1970, to Alvin Frazier Meredith Jr. and Mary Smart Meredith. He married Jennifer Denise Edgin on June 6, 1998, in the Salt Lake Temple. They have six children.

His nickname, Trip, is for triple, because he is the third Alvin Frazier Meredith.

He served in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission as a young man. He was president of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission when he was called as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021.

During his business career, he worked for GE Capital, Boston Consulting Group and Asurion in Tennessee, Hong Kong and Singapore

He earned a bachelors degree in psychology from Brigham Young University in 1994 and an MBA from the University of Chicago in 2001.

Elder Meredith and Sister Meredith kissed at the podium between their remarks on May 16, and he promised the students they would see much more of that. On Tuesday, they kissed twice after she placed the university medallion around his neck at the podium.

That wasnt in the notes, Elder Christofferson said to laughter.

This office comes with a few privileges, President Meredith said. One is to kiss my wife in front of all of you.
Celebrate Highwood shipped in more than 20,000 pumpkins, and hoped a well-publicized B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) campaign to set the stage for topping the 30,581 spontaneously lit pumpkin world record. (Gregory Harutunian/Lake County News-Sun)

It wasnt for a lack of effort that the organizers of the 13th-annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival were unable to set the world record for spontaneously lit jack-o-lanterns over the weekend.

Celebrate Highwood shipped in more than 20,000 pumpkins, and hoped a well-publicized B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) campaign to set the stage for topping the 30,581-pumpkin record.

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But the BYOP effort fell short, and warm temperatures last week turned thousands of carved orbs into mush, leaving 16,000 pumpkins available for the jack-o-lantern lighting.

The "Great Wall of Pumpkin" took up nearly a half-block near Everts Park. The display was part of the 16,000 lit pumpkins during last weekend's 13th-annual Highwood Great Pumpkin Festival. (Gregory Harutunian/Lake County News-Sun)

Organizers said they were nevertheless thrilled by the effort, the communitys response and the festival itself.

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An estimated 100,000 people attended the three-day event for the music, food and displays. And despite falling short of the world record, four downtown parks and sections of Sheridan Road were glowing from the light of the 16,000 pumpkins on Sunday night.

At Everts Park, The Great Wall, a nearly half-block line of scaffolding, eight rows high and stacked with carved pumpkins, created an impressive sight.

We encouraged donations, having the participation, Celebrate Highwoods promotions director Illyse Strongin said. Its all about community.

Wed have people carve them at home and bring them for display, Strongin continued. Grow their own. Purchase them at stores or from farms. Schools would carve them. People would donate pickup trucks filled with pumpkins and drop them off.

The world record for jack-o-lanterns all lit at the same time was set in Keene, New Hampshire in 2013. Community support helped push the New England town to the record of 30,581. It no longer holds its festival, opening the door for a place like Highwood to beat the mark.

While the Guinness Book of World Records was not engaged for the attempt, because of the depleted stock of pumpkins, there was still one big question left to answer  how to light thousands of pumpkins at the same time.

Lots of volunteers  lots, volunteer Tom Babbington explained. Theyre all lit with votive candles, but we used some battery-powered lighting since they last longer.

The "Great Wall of Pumpkin" took up nearly a half-block near Everts Park during last weekend's 13th-annual Highwood Great Pumpkin Festival. (Gregory Harutunian/Lake County News-Sun)

The volunteers included festival workers, families and anyone who wanted to help illuminate the orbs. Everything was focused on the big Sunday night lighting.

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This is community, Strongin said. People were just coming up and asking to help. All these candles, when lit, are mesmerizing, awe-inspiring and so moving  not only for the kids, but the parents. Everybody looks forward to this event each year.

Also featured were the Skeletons on Display, including rock n roll themed musical groups with a Halloween twist, which will be on display all month at Painters Park on Sheridan Road.

This years artists enthusiastically took the rock n roll theme and ran with it, creating some amazing displays for the public to enjoy, said James Lynch, the centers executive director.

The rock n' roll through history-themed "Skeletons on Display" included a tribute to The Beatles. (Gregory Harutunian/Lake County News-Sun)

Everts Park was also home to Pumpkin Town U.S.A., a first-time installation depicting an entire village with a city hall, general store, library, and movie theater.

You could sit in a chair next to a skeleton, and wander around this pumpkin village, said Jennifer Ashley, who attended the festival with friends. They renovated Everts Park last year, so this was a great space.

This years event was a welcome return, as Strongin said Celebrate Highwood officials made no attempts at the jack-o-lantern record over the past few years. Instead, they worked on fundraising efforts for different nonprofit groups.

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Last year, they provided funds for the Highland Park Community Foundation in the wake of the July 4 mass parade shooting.

The festival grounds were scattered throughout Highwood at the City Hall, Everts Park, Painters Park and the Highwood Metra parking lot, Strongin said. There are so many people to thank, and we gave (the world record) a good shot. Theres always next year.
On Friday night, Fox News discussed Hillary Clinton s comments on former President Donald Trump and his supporters and MSNBC spoke on book banning and how it is a Republican-led effort.

Fox News  Hillary Clinton's MAGA comments

On Hannity Friday night, Pete Hegseth spoke to Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce about Hillary Clintons interview on CNN, where she said we need a formal deprogramming of MAGA cult members.

When you have a leading Democrat, which she is, setting into motion the demonization of tens of thousands of Americans, what do you think is going to happen? Bruce said.

Bruce emphasized that Democrats are doing whatever they can to drown Donald Trump but are only making him more popular with Republicans while also losing popularity within their own party.

Bruce, who previously identified as a Democrat, continued: Believe them when they say these things. They dont say things they dont mean. We dismiss a lot of what they say because its nuts, but this, in fact, is a remarkable statement about effectively what they are going to do.

Hillary does not speak for herself. This is the Democrat playbook at this point, Bruce added.

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MSNBC  Book banning: Similar to Fahrenheit 451

Ali Velshi was joined by literacy advocate and actor LeVar Burton on The Last Word Friday to discuss books in public libraries and schools.

Velshi claimed that over 3,000 books were banned in the past school year and added that this is happening primarily in Republican-led states like Texas and Florida.

I would never have guessed that in 2023, this would be the thing that were fighting, banning books, Velshi said.

Burton related the issue of book banning to the dystopian society in Fahrenheit 451.

He added, Literacy is an incubator for empathy, and absent to exposure to a wide variety of literature, you grow up in an echo chamber, in a very narrow silo of information and experience.

I really believe this is all being motivated by a sense of fear. A panic thats going on in a certain sector of the population that sees that the world is changing before their very eyes, and they are desperately trying to fight that change, Burton said.
The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on law enforcement to investigate a possible hate crime Tuesday.

According to CAIR, the word Nazis was recently discovered spray-painted on a sign for the Islamic Seminary of Boston and the Palestinian Cultural Center for Peace on Quint Avenue.

CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud denounced the act of vandalism.

We urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this disturbing incident as a hate crime, said Amatul-Wadud in a statement. All Americans, whatever their faith or ethnicity, should be free from acts of intimidation and hate.

Tuesday night a Boston Police cruiser was standing guard as the civil rights unit has taken over the case. And news of what happened has quickly spread through the neighborhood.

The sheer ignorance and hatefulness of something like this hits close to home, said a woman who lives nearby the center. As a fellow Allston-ite, as a Jew and someone who prays for the liberation of all peoples, I wanted to express my own sorrows that you were targeted in such an ignorant and racist fashion.

A spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorneys office told Boston 25 News that no one has been arrested yet but the incident seems to fit the criteria for hate crime consideration.

Boston police is investigating the incident.

On Tuesday, CAIRs national office in Washington, D.C., urged houses of worship and human rights activists engaging in protests regarding the ongoing Israel-Palestentian conflict to take security precautions.

Israels military said that it had regained effective control over its south and the border with the Gaza Strip four days after Hamas fighters stormed into the country and brought gunbattle to its streets for the first time in decades.

A combined death toll of both people in Israel and Palestinians in Gaza has climbed to nearly 2,000.

Israel-Hamas war: At least 14 Americans among those killed, Biden says (Live updates)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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(FOX40.COM)  The Placer County Superior Court officially handed down Californias first sentencing for a fentanyl-related murder on Tuesday.

Nathaniel Cabacungan was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison which will be served in concurrence with a nine-year sentence for a separate charge, according to the court.

20-year-old woman stabbed in Tulare, police say

In July, Cabacungan became the first person to be convicted for a fentanyl-related murder by a California court in connection to the death of Jewels Wolf, 15, of Roseville in June 2022.

Though this victory does not bring my precious daughter back and I am stricken with a lifetime of grief, I am honored to know that Jewels story is going to help save so many lives going forward, Jewels mother Regina Chavez said during a news conference following the sentencing.

In August 2022, Cabacungan was arrested by a partnership of several Placer County law enforcement agencies including the Placer County Sheriffs Office.

The multi-agency investigation found that Cabacungan was the dealer that sold the deadly drug to Jewels.

He had the opportunity to help, he had the opportunity to intervene and he had the opportunity to save her life and he chose to watch her die instead, Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire.

During Tuesdays news conference, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo shared his condolences with Jewels family, his appreciation to all those involved in the case and also served a warning to those planning to deal fentanyl in Placer County.

As the sheriff of this community, to anybody who is going to spread this poison, to our constituents, I will use every resource at my disposal to gather the evidence and put a criminal case together and refer that case to the district attorney and make sure you are held accountable, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo.

Placer County launched their 1 Pill Can Kill campaign against fentanyl following the death of 17-year-old Whitney High School student Zach Didier when he died of a fentanyl overdose from a Percocet he purchased from a dealer on Snapchat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Yes, gasoline prices in California  which have been nearly a dollar per gallon higher than in any other state  should come down soon and fast.

Its going to end rather quickly, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, which tracks price trends, told The Bee.

California regular gasoline prices have been flirting with $6 per gallon, but De Haan posted on X, previously known as Twitter, last week that California will easily fall $1/gal by Thanksgiving,

The fix could be temporary, because California is subject to several factors unique to the state. Its summer blend gasoline, designed to meet tough environmental standards, is more costly. Refinery shutdowns, which tend to be routine, disrupt supplies and its difficult to find ways to replace their products.

And the war between Israel and Hamas could have a ripple effect on oil prices, which jumped Monday.

For now, the price relief could last a while, as refineries engage in robust production and political and economic pressure promise to keep prices stable, said Sanjay Varshney, professor of finance at Sacramento State.

We have an election year next year and one way pushing the economy into a recession is having gas and oil continue to trade higher, he said.

And, De Haan posted Monday, the down trend will continue this week, even if oil rallies due to the attacks on Israel..

While OPEC Plus, which includes Saudi Arabia and its allies, has been limiting supply, oil producers could soon be motivated to lower or stabilize prices, he said, as slower growing economies mean less demand.

Gasoline prices in California averaged $5.80 for a gallon of regular gasoline Monday. While thats down from $6.06 a week ago, its up from last months $5.41, and is the highest price in the nation.

Next is Washington state at $5.02. The national average is $3.70.

A major culprit has been the summer blend gasoline, which is more costly to produce. Around this time of year, refineries begin producing the winter blend, which is usually less expensive.

The northern part of the state tends to switch to the winter blend around Oct. 1, while Southern California makes the transition at the beginning of November.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 27 directed the state Air Resources Board to take whatever steps are necessary to allow for an early transition to winter-blend gasoline to be manufactured, imported, distributed, and sold in California.

He said the change could quickly increase fuel supply and provide critical liquidity on the spot market, and act as a much-needed safety valve.

Supply and demand

Experts also saw supply become more in line with demand.

My thinking is theres only so much Saudi Arabia and OPEC can squeeze the rest of the world before it hurts them, Varshney said. Those countries made voluntary cuts in production through the end of the year.

Oil prices peaked at the end of September at about $93 a barrel, and have since dropped to roughly $82 a barrel because of concern about lower demand.

Refinery maintenance has also affected California prices. Because of the states environmental requirements, and its location far from Gulf Coast refineries, any shutdown for maintenance tends to have serious consequences. And refineries back in operation could help push prices down.

Any timetable is difficult to predict, said Gokce Soydemir, Foster Farms endowed professor of business economics at California State University, Stanislaus.

It would depend on how long the refinery turnaround would take, from a few weeks to a few months, he said.

De Haan was more upbeat.

You could say Christmas is coming early: California should quickly see prices fall back below $6, and once all refinery snags are addressed and maintenance complete, I would not be surprised to see prices even fall below $5 there later this year, he wrote on his blog.

California refineries produce a cleaner product that meets state environmental regulations. That means the states refineries operate at or near full capacity because of strong demand and a lack of interstate pipelines that could bring products into California.

Refineries in the state often operate at or near maximum capacity because of the high demand for those petroleum products and the lack of interstate pipelines that can deliver those cleaner fuels into the state, said an analysis earlier this year by the federal Energy Information Administration.

When unplanned refinery outages occur, the lack of  deliveries available from interstate pipelines means replacement supplies of (California gasoline) come in by marine tanker from out-of-state U.S. refineries or from other countries. It can take several weeks to find and bring replacement motor gasoline from overseas that meets Californias unique specifications.

De Haan was concerned that even if prices fall this winter, the same spikes could reoccur next year.

California, he said, needs to get together with other Western states so they can produce the same sort of products.

There are all these little pools of refineries producing different blends, he said. Its a complex, maddening situation.
California liquor store worker fatally shot trying to stop robbery; police seeking 2 persons of interest

A liquor store worker in Southern California was shot and killed Sunday night when he confronted two suspects stealing merchandise, authorities said.

The shooting happened just before 9 p.m. at Big Bob's Liquors and Market on West Puente Avenue in West Covina when two males entered the store and began to steal items, the West Covina Police Department said.

"The victim attempted to confront the individuals, and was shot during the confrontation," police said.

Bystanders raced to render aid to the victim and called 911 for help, while the suspects fled in a light-colored SUV of an unknown model following the shooting, according to authorities.

SUSPECTS RIP OFF VINTAGE STORE, BUT OVERLOOK GLARING ISSUE WITH WHAT THEY TOOK

Police are seeking two persons of interest described as Hispanic males in their late teens to early twenties.

Responding officers found the 34-year-old clerk suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso. The victim was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The 34-year-old victim was Karan Singh, his family told FOX11 Los Angeles. Singh was the store owners brother-in-law and had been working in the U.S. for less than a year to save money to bring over his wife and 12-year-old son from India.

Police said that two males are believed to have shot the clerk when he confronted them over stealing merchandise.

No arrests have been made as of early Tuesday.

HOUSTON ROBBERY SUSPECTS SNATCH MONEY BAG FROM DISABLED MAN IN WHEELCHAIR AFTER STALKING HIM: POLICE

Police released surveillance photos of two persons of interest, describing them as Hispanic males in their late teens to early twenties.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Authorities asked anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8500 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-8477.





Original article source: California liquor store worker fatally shot trying to stop robbery; police seeking 2 persons of interest
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

CALIFORNIA POLS RESPOND TO HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Californians joined others around the world this past weekend in watching the shocking and horrifying events unfold in Israel, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an all-out, coordinated attack that has led to a death toll currently in the hundreds. It is the worst violence to occur in the region in five decades.

The California Legislative Jewish Caucus released a statement Saturday that members were heartbroken and horrified by the devastating terrorist attacks against Israel.

The caucus said that members have visited Israeli communities ravaged by indiscriminate killings and kidnapping and have friends and family in the country huddling in bomb shelters.

Nothing can justify this brutal and grotesque violence, the caucus said in the statement, adding that Israel has the right and responsibility to defend its civilians.

Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, joined other Jewish members of the House of Representatives in extending condolences to the families of those killed by Hamas.

We are united in standing with and supporting our ally Israel as it responds to terrorist attacks from Gaza. Hamas has declared war on Israel and her people. Our alliance with Israel is unbreakable; our commitment to Israels security is ironclad, they said in a statement.

The issue brought a rare bipartisan consensus, as California Republicans joined in condemnation of Hamas actions.

Not since the Holocaust has this large a number of Jews been killed in a single day. There is no justification for this appalling violence. Our hearts go out to those under fire, harmed, kidnapped, and murdered by terrorists. We are praying for peace and security, the Senate Republican Caucus said in a statement sent to The Bee.

Israel has every right to defend itself and must secure the region by all means necessary. Hamas must be defeated and pay for their war crimes, the statement said.

POET LAUREATE LAUNCHES OUR CALIFORNIA CAMPAIGN

Sacramento, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

OK, so maybe we should stick to our day job. But if youre feeling inspired by your community, nows your chance to get in touch with your artistic side. California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick has launched a new statewide project, in partnership with the California Arts Council, seeking peoples poems about their city or state, exploring what they love about it, what joy they find in it, what they would change about it, or what they hope for.

The project, titled Our California, is inspired by one of Herricks poems,My California. All Californians are invited to participate, regardless of their age, origin, gender or background.

According to the website, the goals of the project are threefold:

To encourage Californians to write poetry, to think about their communities, and to realize that their voice is important.

To inspire Californians to write poetry that uplifts all people through awareness of social justice or civic engagement.

To elevate poetry writing as a way to explore ones creativity and relationship to place.

I hope you will consider joining the chorus of Californians writing about our state. Our California is open to all Californians: all ages, all poetry experience levels, documented or not, free or not. We want to hear your unique voice, Herrick said in a letter promoting the project.

The poem can be in any form, up to 50 lines, and can be submitted here.

AD CAMPAIGN TARGETS VULNERABLE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS

California Reps. John Duarte, Mike Garcia, Young Kim, Michelle Steel and David Valadao are among the 18 Republican congressmembers targeted by a seven-figure, months-long digital ad campaign against members whose districts President Joe Biden won in 2020.

The ad, from the Congressional Integrity Project, lambastes the GOP lawmakers for focusing on the impeachment effort against Biden instead of their constituents

Even after the disastrous first impeachment inquiry hearing, nine months of investigation resulting in absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever, and multiple nationwide polls demonstrating impeachment is not a priority of most Americans, the MAGA House will not give up on this charade, said Executive Director Kyle Herrig in a statement.

The ad cites constitutional scholars who were called as Republican witnesses in the Biden impeachment effort, including Jonathan Turley and Bruce Dubinksy.

You can watch the ads here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The worst person in California right now is whoever it is whispering in Gavin Newsom s ear that he has a legitimate chance to be President.

- Tulane University Professor Stan Oklobdzija, in response to Newsoms veto of a bill that would have made free condoms available to all public high school students, via Bluesky.

Best of The Bee:

California will create a new statewide alert system said to be the first in the nation specific to help find missing Black children and young Black women, via Darrell Smith .

Starting next year, California businesses will be prohibited from using hidden fees to attract customers with seemingly low prices, via Brianna Taylor .

For some, it might look like an adolescents drawing of a car brought to life or an alien spaceship disguised as a car. But to others, its a stainless steel gem gracing their hometown streets. One of Teslas latest models, the Cybertruck, has been spotted throughout California, including on Sacramento-area streets, via Hanh Truong .

The city of Sacramento has temporarily shut down a large cannabis manufacturing facility, swiftly prompting an explosive council meeting and a lawsuit, via Theresa Clift and Randy Diamond .

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation late Sunday night that would have made undocumented seniors eligible for Californias cash assistance program, via Mathew Miranda .

Before March 2020 remote work in California government was a rare luxury reserved for a small segment of the workforce, via Maya Miller and Phillip Reese .

Oil companies will have a harder time passing off old California oil and gas wells to smaller firms that cant afford to clean them up, under a measure Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Saturday, via Ari Plachta.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. could be forced to pay a $45 million in state fines and penalties for the Dixie Fire, which burned nearly a million acres and destroyed more than 1,300 homes and buildings two years ago in five Northern California counties.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Monday issued a staff proposal that seeks approval from the regulatory agencys commissioner for a $45 million penalty against PG&E in connection with the 2021 Dixie Fire, the agency announced in a news release.

The proposal would ask for PG&E to pay a $45 million shareholder-funded penalty that includes a $2.5 million fine to the California General Fund, a $2.5 million payment to tribes affected by the Dixie Fire for remediations and $40 million for capital expenditures to transition records to electronic format.

PG&E officials have said they accept Cal Fires finding that a tree falling into a PG&E power line caused the fire, but the utility company believes it acted as a prudent operator. PG&E officials said there is no evidence that PG&E consciously and willfully disregarded a known risk with regard to the ignition of the Dixie Fire, and it followed CPUC requirements when inspecting, maintain and operating its system.

PG&E is committed to making it right and making it safe for our customers and hometowns, according to a PG&E statement sent to The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday. We resolved civil claims with Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama Counties regarding the 2021 Dixie Fire and entered into long-term agreements with the counties to strengthen wildfire safety and response programs, and to work with local organizations affected by the fire to help rebuild their communities. We have reached settlements with numerous individuals and families. In addition, we are working hard to make our system safer every day.

The Dixie Fire, which started July 13, 2021, burned 963,309 acres in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama counties. The wildfire  the largest of 2021 and the second largest in Californias history  destroyed 1,329 structures during a three-month rampage. It devoured much of the tiny Plumas County town of Greenville.

In January 2022, Cal Fire officials said investigators determined that a decaying tree fell and contacted PG&E power lines caused the Dixie Fire. The Cal Fire investigation found that the tree contacted electrical distribution lines owned and operated by PG&E west of Cresta Dam along the Feather River in Plumas County.

The state commissions proposed penalties will be on its Nov. 16 voting meeting agenda. The commission may adopt, reject or modify the proposal.

The commission has already penalized PG&E for $150 million in connection with the 2020 Zogg Fire, $1 million for the 2019 Easy Fire and $125 million for the 2019 Kincade Fire.
California Sen. Laphonza Butler is defending Vice President Kamala Harris.

Butler says Harris's detractors need to "cut the bullshit" and are being "disrespectful."

Butler is a longtime political ally of Harris and worked on her 2020 presidential campaign.

It remains unclear how long Laphonza Butler will be serving in the Senate, but one thing is clear: She's a staunch defender of Vice President Kamala Harris.

In an interview with the New York Times before being appointed as California's new US senator, Butler said that detractors of Harris need to "cut the bullshit."

"It's disrespectful," said Butler. "And the thing that makes it more disrespectful is that we're talking about a historic VP who has been a high-quality partner and asset to the country at a time when everything is at stake. Right now is the time to respect what she's done and what she brings."

The former president of EMILY's List, Butler is a longtime political ally of the vice president, dating back to when Harris first ran for Attorney General of California in 2010. Butler also served as a senior adviser on Harris's 2020 presidential campaign.

Butler was sworn in by Harris last week following the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. In appointing Butler, Gov. Gavin Newsom followed through on his pledge to nominate a Black woman to the seat, and she is the only Black woman currently serving in the Senate. She is also the first LGBTQ woman of color to serve in the chamber.

While she is certain to serve the remainder of Feinstein's term, which ends in January 2025, it remains unclear whether Butler will seek a full six-year term. Several candidates  including Rep. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee  have already spent months raising money and campaigning across the state.

Asked by a reporter last week if she would run, she repeatedly said: "I can share that I've had a great day."

Harris has long been dogged by criticism of her tenure as vice president, and she's argued that she's faced more media scrutiny than prior vice presidents.

And as reporters have asked Democratic lawmakers in recent months whether Harris remains the best running mate for President Joe Biden, some have stopped short of saying so outright.

"[Biden] thinks so, and that's what matters," former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on CNN last month.

"That's President Biden's choice. And I think she's an excellent running mate for President Biden," Rep. Jamie Raskin later said on the same network.

Read the original article on Business Insider
When House Republicans in January chose Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker, that was bad enough: The highest ranking official under the Capitol dome was someone whod been complicit in then-President Trumps stoking the worst attack on that very building since its burning by the British in 1814.

Replacing the Bakersfield Republican with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan would be so much worse.

Heres the key difference between them: Trumps My Kevin McCarthy played along as the defeated president spun up his MAGA militia with false claims of Democrats election steal. But Jordan  he plotted along with the insurrectionist in chief.

Jordans name appears 44 times in the final report of the House committee that investigated the tragedy of Jan. 6, 2021, and the conspiring that led up to it. The report documents his White House meetings and repeated calls with Trump, including during the Capitol attack, and his contacts before and after with Trumps lackeys. The committee recommended that the Justice Department investigate Jordan, along with McCarthy and several other House Republicans, and that the House Ethics Committee consider sanctioning him for ignoring its subpoenas.

Read more: Calmes: McCarthy flopped, but blame the chaos on the entire Republican Party

You read that right: The man who wants to lead the House refused to voluntarily tell one of its committees what he knew about its desecration, then scorned a subpoena and trumpeted his defiance in a fundraising campaign.

Jordans effrontery is pretty rich. Now, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee and its anti-Biden weaponization of government subcommittee, hes been only too happy to subpoena people, including Biden Cabinet chiefs and administration officials.

But what could be ahead is more egregious: If Republicans choose Jordan over the other speaker candidate, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise , the person second in line to the presidency would be a guy who actively sought to overturn a presidential election that even Trump administration officials deemed "the most secure in American history."

Read more: Column: Republicans plan to choose a new speaker with a party-line vote. How'd that work last time?

Two days after the 2020 election, Jordan starred at a Stop the Steal rally at the Capitol in Pennsylvania, one of the pro-Biden states central to coup plotters scheming. On TV, he repeatedly claimed that the election was stolen. He was in cahoots with Trump officials about goading then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject some Biden electoral votes when Pence presided over the certification of the election in Congress on Jan. 6. Jordan attended a pivotal White House planning meeting on Dec. 21, and that month Trump cited the fighter Jordans support in haranguing Justice Department leaders to back the false voting fraud allegations.

Theres more: On Jan. 2, 2021, Jordan led  led!  a conference call with Trump and a few other Republicans to strategize about the certification vote as well as a social media effort to mobilize a simultaneous MAGA march to the Capitol. Trump and Jordan then spoke privately for 18 minutes.

In the hours after the insurrection, with several people dead and scores of police injured, Jordan continued to coordinate with Trump and Co. to upend the election certification. And after Jan. 6, he spoke with Trump advisors about pardons for implicated Republicans.

Read more: Trump endorses Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to succeed Kevin McCarthy as House speaker

On Jan. 11, Trump cheapened the esteemed Presidential Medal of Freedom, intended to recognize "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States," by privately awarding it to his accomplice, Jordan.

You can read it all in the Jan. 6 committee report, thanks to other Republicans sworn testimony, texts and phone records. No thanks to Jordan: The loudmouth remains uncharacteristically mute about his and Trump's roles on Jan. 6. The would-be speaker wont speak.

As former Rep. Liz Cheney, the Republican vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee, told a Minneapolis audience last Thursday: Jim Jordan knew more about what Donald Trump had planned for Jan. 6 than any other member of the House of Representatives.

Read more: Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg sues Rep. Jim Jordan over Trump indictment inquiry

Should Republicans choose him as speaker, Cheney added, There would no longer be any possible way to argue that a group of elected Republicans could be counted on to defend the Constitution.

Of course Trump, the would-be Terminator of the Constitution, has endorsed Jordan.

You might think that the moderates among House Republicans  there are a few  would be repelled by that endorsement and, fretful of a backlash in their swing districts, unite to prevent Jordan from winning. Why not take a page from the eight McCarthy mutineers, who allied with Democrats to oust him?

Read more: Column: McCarthy's fall was sudden, but a long time coming

Instead, indications are that the so-called moderates will fall in line behind Jordan if he wins most other Republicans votes. The caucus could vote Wednesday. However, to avoid a repeat of the partys embarrassment in January, when it took 15 ballots to select McCarthy, Republicans say they wont hold a full House vote until theyre sure that Jordan, Scalise or someone else  on Monday, McCarthy said he'd be open to being recycled as speaker  has the necessary majority to win.

The wrangling to get to that point could take days. At the same time, the international crisis ignited by the war between Israel and Hamas has given Republicans a sense of urgency to pick a leader, as unleadable as they are. Until they do, the headless House is all but paralyzed.

After the 2006 congressional elections that brought Jordan to Washington, I met with a top aide to the House Republican leadership for a background briefing on the newcomers. He quickly brought up Jordan: Watch out for that guy, hes bad news. His reputation as a self-promoting attack dog in Ohios Legislature preceded him.

Neither I nor my source could have imagined back then that Jordan might one day be the favorite for House speaker. And after hed joined an effort to overturn a presidential election.

What? Overturn an election? We were such innocents.

@jackiekcalmes





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ventura County Sheriff's officials investigate a body found in the dumpster of a Camarillo apartment complex in June 2022. David Hoetzlein was later arrested for the murder of his mother.

A judge has ordered a man accused of murdering and dismembering his mother to be sent to a state psychiatric hospital to prepare him to stand trial, finding the jail-based program in which he's been enrolled inadequate.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kristi J. Peariso told sheriff's officials to take defendant David Hoetzlein "forthwith" to California's Department of State Hospitals.

"He is to be transported to a locked forensic facility where he will get the help and treatment he needed and should have gotten nine months ago," Peariso said at a competency hearing in late September in a Ventura courtroom. It marked the third time the defendant has been found incompetent to stand trial by the courts and ordered to a state hospital, but he has never been admitted.

The institutions have hundreds more people qualified for admission than they can hold, according to figures provided by the state hospital agency. A total of 610 patients deemed incompetent to stand trial were awaiting placement in the last week of September, when the judge gave the order.

California operates four state hospitals that accept patients deemed incompetent to stand trial: Atascadero, Metropolitan, Napa and Patton. But Metropolitan's website says the Los Angeles County hospital does not accept inmates with criminal histories that include murder.

David Hoetzlein

Hoetzlein is suspected of strangling his 62-year-old mother, Tomoko Hoetzlein, after an argument and cutting up her body into pieces that were found in a trash receptacle outside the Camarillo apartment they shared, court documents show. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into county jail on June 3, 2022, and has been held there the 15 months since.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office obeys court orders but cannot take the defendant to a state hospital when there's no bed available, said Capt. Dean Worthy, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency.

Hoetzlein, 26, has been treated intermittently in what's called Early Access and Stabilization Services or EASS, a multi-county, state-sponsored program provided in detention facilities. EASS provides treatment while someone is waiting to get into a hospital or can replace it, Worthy said.

Staffed with nursing, mental health and law enforcement personnel, the Ventura County program offers counseling, medication and instruction in the court process, Worthy said. The defendant was enrolled twice for a month each time, ending in May. EASS deemed him competent to stand trial at the end of both enrollments, based on the findings of a licensed psychologist, but judges with authority over the case found him incompetent.

Faced with legal requirements for prompt treatment and growth in demand, California has expanded options for providing competency services outside state hospitals. Of the 610 defendants awaiting placement in a state hospital, about a fifth were being treated in an EASS program, state hospital officials said.

Hoetzlein appeared at the latest hearing on Sept. 29 and looked into the corner of the courtroom where three family members sat. His father, Tom Hoetzlein, agreed with the judge's order in a brief interview after the hearing.

"What his mom always wanted was for him to be kept in a hospital," his father said.

Defense attorney Bailey Fowler asked the judge to order the transfer.

"He has been waiting almost a year," she said.

David Hoetzlein insists that if there is any evidence against him, it's because law enforcement has used a device he calls a reality augmenter to change the facts, said Marc Levi, an investigator for the defense. Hoetzlein has been unable to answer questions about the facts of the case, Levi testified.

Prosecutor Erin Meister did not oppose the request for transport to a state hospital.

"It seems EASS is not the answer in this situation," she said.

Kathleen Wilson covers crime, courts and local government issues for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at kathleen.wilson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0271.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo murder suspect awaits state hospital spot like others
A New Mexico police officer was charged with voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement in connection to the deadly shooting of a Black man last year, according to a news release.

Attorney General Raul Torrez made the announcement on Oct 3. Brad Lunsford of the Las Cruces Police Department was hit with the charges.

Attorney General Raul Torrez (left) has announced that Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford is charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of Presley Eze (right). (Photo: NBC News/ Youtube screenshot)

It stems from an August 2022 incident when Lunsford responded to a 911 call about a man, identified as Presley Eze, accused of stealing a beer from a local gas station, per the news release detailing the incident.

Trending Today:

When Lunsford arrived at the scene, he approached shirtless Eze  who was unarmed and confronted him. The officers were not able to verify his identity at the time. The statement alleged Lunsford and his colleague are said to have forcibly removed Eze from his car, resulting in a scuffle as he resisted arrest.

Eze ended up on the ground, on top of one of the responding officers. During the ongoing struggle, Eze placed his hand on the second officers Taser though it was not cycled or deployed against either officer, the news release claimed, adding that Lunsford then drew his service weapon and shot Eze on the back, left side of his head at point-blank range.

Local news reported that Lunsford surrendered, was taken into custody, and was released. He is also currently on paid leave. The other responding officer wasnt criminally charged.

Harrowing body camera footage and bystander video obtained by NBC News appears to show the officer placing the gun in the back of Ezes head. Attorney General Torrez called the incident a tragedy and yet another example of poor police tactics resulting in an unjustifiable use of force.

Watch video leading up to the deadly shooting here.

You shoot somebody in the head, you want you dead. So, he came out that day to kill my son, Ezes father, Isaac, said at a press conference, KOAT-TV reported. His family filed a lawsuit against the city of Las Cruces in May, alleging the city tried to cover up the shooting and withheld public information.

Civil rights attorney Shannon Kennedy previously told KRQE about how Ezes death has impacted the family, especially his child.

He was a father to a 2-year-old boy who will now have to grow up without one. His wife is shattered; his family is shattered, Kennedy said to the outlet. He is from a large family back east [and] came to New Mexico to serve this community as a nurse.

The local NAACP chapter president, Bobbie Greene, championed Torrezs decision to hold the officer accountable.

The New Mexico shooting of Eze is reminiscent of the April 2022 execution-style shooting of Patrick Lyoya by former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder, but his attorneys have filed an appeal with Michigans appellate court, arguing that the lower courts were mistaken in sending the case to trial.
Demonstrators hold pictures of people they say disappeared in Syria outside the World Court, where preliminary hearings opened in a case in which the Netherlands and Canada are suing Syria at the International Court of Justice, or World Court, the United Nations' highest judicial organ, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, accusing Damascus of massive human rights violations against its own people. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Syria boycotted a hearing at the United Nations' top court on Tuesday where the Netherlands and Canada accused Damascus of a years-long campaign of institutionalized torture against its own people.

The hearing was focused on a preliminary Dutch and Canadian request for the court to impose orders  known as provisional measures  on Syria to halt torture immediately to protect potential victims while their case accusing Damascus of breaching the torture convention proceeds through the International Court of Justice.

Every day counts, said Dutch government lawyer Rene Lefeber.

The persistent and recurring practice of torture in Syria only serves to underscore the pressing need for the court to indicate provisional measures to manifest threats to life and bodily and psychological integrity, Lefeber said.

Syrias conflict started with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assads government in March 2011 but quickly morphed into a full-blown civil war after the governments brutal crackdown on protesters. The tide turned in Assads favor against rebel groups in 2015, when Russia provided key military backing to Syria, as well as Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Canadian government lawyer Teresa Crockett underscored the request's urgency, saying that Syria has systematically committed torture and subjected its population to other ill treatment on a massive scale. Since 2011, tens of thousands of have died while in Syrian custody.

If left unchecked, Syria will continue its violations, she added.

As the case opened in the court's Great Hall of Justice, the 15-judge panel was faced by a row of empty white seats reserved for Syria's delegation.

The court regrets the non-appearance of the Syrian Arab Republic, the court's president, Joan E. Donoghue said.

The head of Canadas legal team, Alan Kessel, told judges that Syrias decision not to participate in todays proceedings does not shield it from the courts directives.

We have given Syria an opportunity to be here today. They chose, regrettably, to be absent," Kessel told reporters outside the court. This doesnt mean that the world is absent.

Both Canada and the Netherlands "are of the view that the Assad government must respond and stop the torture that is rampant in that country, he added.

A group of Syrians gathered outside the court ahead of the hearing, carrying photos of people they claim are victims of torture and enforced disappearance, and holding banners emblazoned with the text End torture now! and Where are they.

Among them was 43-year-old Yasmen Almashan, who said she lost five brothers in Syria.

We just asked for freedom, she said. Assad's regime is criminal. This trial maybe (will) bring a little bit of justice.

In a written filing to the court in June, the Netherlands and Canada said torture in Syria includes severe beatings and whippings, including with fists, electric cables, metal and wooden sticks, chains and rifle butts; administering electric shocks; burning body parts; pulling out nails and teeth; mock executions; and simulated drownings.

Lefeber highlighted another torture method known as dulab, in which a victim is forced into an car tire and beaten, sometimes for hours. He also noted the use of sexual and gender-based violence as an instrument of torture targeting women, girls, men and boys.

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said the case "provides an important opportunity to scrutinize Syrias long-standing heinous torture of countless civilians.

Lefeber said that the institutionalized nature of torture in Syria was clear from the number of victims and the striking consistency of the methods of torture" throughout Syria.

"In view of the country-wide patterns of recurrent torture and other ill treatment, there can be no question that this practice extends from the highest levels of the Syrian government.

Orders by the court are legally binding, but are not always adhered to by countries involved in proceedings. Last year, the judges issued such an order in another case calling on Moscow to cease hostilities in Ukraine.

Canada and the Netherlands are accusing Assad's administration of breaching the United Nations Convention Against Torture and argue that the convention's conflict resolution mechanism gives the Hague-based court jurisdiction to hear the case.

The war in Syria has so far killed half a million people, wounded hundreds of thousands and destroyed many parts of the country. It has displaced half of Syrias prewar population of 23 million, including more than 5 million who are refugees outside Syria.
The Canadian company that wanted to build an underground energy storage plant along Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County has withdrawn its application nearly two years after the project was proposed.

On Friday, the California Energy Commission terminated the proceeding for energy company Hydrostors Pecho Energy Storage Center.

The energy storage center was proposed to be constructed in the shadow of Hollister Peak on farmland off the scenic highway between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

The site would have turned 300 acres of farmland into an industrial site to store 400 megawatts of energy by using excess electricity to compress air in caverns deep underground. Releasing the air would have spun turbines that would then generate electricity to be sold for use on the grid.

The facility was proposed to include a 100-foot-tall, 65-foot-wide and 1,075-foot-long building housing the power generators and air compressors, along with many other above-ground structures to facilitate the unique energy storage method. A 27-acre, 40-foot-deep water reservoir would have also been located on the proposed site.

Deemed by Hydrostor to be a fossil-fuel-free and efficient way for storing electricity on the grid, the Pecho Energy Storage Center would have also helped California meet energy storage and clean electricity needs.

Hydrostor, a Canadian company, wants to build a 400-megawatt compressed air energy storage plant in San Luis Obispo County, between Highway 1 and the base of Hollister Peak in the scenic Chorro Valley.

Coastal Commission blocks Hydrostor test drilling

However, the energy storage plant faced challenges right off the bat.

In the notice of withdrawal of its application, Hydrostor said that general pre-development data collection restrictions applied within the coastal zone.

The company was likely referring to its attempt to survey the projects proposed site by drilling monitoring wells deep underground to then scan the geology and confirm it would be suitable for the compressed air caverns.

Immediately after beginning the drilling work in early 2022, neighbors complained of the loud noises and bright lights it caused.

The California Coastal Commission then sent a letter to Hydrostor in February 2022 noting that such drilling work would need permitting from the state. Hydrostor had only obtained permits from San Luis Obispo County.

Without the state permits, the Coastal Commission threatened to fine Hydrostor if it continued the drilling work.

Because of this, Hydrostor said in its notice of withdrawal that the company has been exploring alternative project configurations to ensure maximum benefits for the Central Coast electrical grid.

Hydrostors senior vice president of commercial affairs, Curt Hildebrand, told The Tribune in a statement that the company has not completely abandoned its idea for a San Luis Obispo County energy storage project.

Hydrostor is examining options to optimize the site location, he wrote in an email. We continue to explore alternative options to develop an energy storage resource to serve the Central Coast community.

Hydrostor has proposed building a 400-megawatt compressed air energy storage plant in San Luis Obispo County. The new technology works by bringing in excess energy from renewable energy or the grid to then compress air and store it underground in large caverns. When energy is needed, the compressed air is then released through a turbine that produces electricity.
Editor's Note: This story was updated on Oct. 11, 2023, to clarify that Susan Baracchini was sharing her personal views and not those of the village association she is a member of.

As Massachusetts continues to see an influx of migrants, several state and local leaders are urging Congress to pass legislation to ease the demands on the shelter system and reform the nations immigration laws.

State Rep. Steven G. Xiarhos, R-Barnstable, joined several lawmakers in signing a federal legal immigration reform letter to President Biden and Congress, emphasizing two national crises: an overwhelmed emergency shelter system and a labor shortage. With more than 22,000 migrants in the states shelter system lacking work authorization, and about 240,000 open positions among employers nationally, lawmakers are pushing the federal government to quicken the process for asylum seekers in hopes of an improved system.

A national crisis 'New normal': High number of migrants crossing border not likely to slow

On Cape Cod, more than 100 shelter units have been tapped for migrants, including units that range from apartments to motels. With 62 families, Joint Base Cape Cod is at capacity, adding to the strain the state is experiencing  more than 5,600 families are living in state-funded shelters, 80% higher than a year ago.

Right to Shelter: narrowing eligibility to U.S. citizens

Xiarhos filed a bill to amend the Massachusetts Right to Shelter Act, a law that guarantees emergency housing to homeless families and pregnant women, but not homeless individuals. The law has been tested recently in terms of the eligibility of migrant families.

The act defines a resident as "any person in the Commonwealth, even if they didn't intend on staying permanently." Under these terms, U.S. citizens qualify with documentation, and noncitizens qualify if they are "lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the U.S."

Xiarhos bill would narrow eligibility to U.S. citizens by adding the following sentence: Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the emergency housing assistance program established herein shall be available only to residents of the commonwealth who are citizens of the United States.

In his recent guest column, Xiarhos explains how this law is meant only to shelter citizens of our nation in time of need, not to play politics with federal immigration failures. He thinks that the Cape Cod community should not be expected to support migrants, especially if they are not taxpayers or documented immigrants. He added that housing migrants in hotels and motels could be a threat to public safety in terms of health.

'We have responsibility to treat them humanely'

Matthew Lee, a partner of Tocci & Lee, LLC, a Cape Cod and Boston-based human resource law firm that provides services to global businesses in immigration and employment law, said the term citizen is "a little bit overly broad because you have people here that are lawful permanent resident green card holders that would be excluded from this fair housing law."

"You're also excluding other people that are lawfully entitled to live in and work in the United States, one of which is lawful permanent residents," he said, "so I think it's overly broad to include only U.S. citizens.

He added that a part of the solution could include spreading the burden among other states, reassessing the countrys asylum system and creating more work visas.

I think we as a country need to assess whether we're going to allow asylees and refugees, Lee said. It's my understanding that we've signed on to international treaties and U.N. resolutions, we've agreed to participate in asylees and refugees and until that changes, we have responsibility to treat them humanely, have a process.

Evan Horowitz, executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, agrees that protections should apply to more than U.S. citizens.

A lot of protections we have, legal protections, are not just civil rights, they are for people, Horowitz said. This is true of the U.S. Constitution, it's true of state law, it's true of our criminal justice systems like we don't say that only citizens get the things we do.

Xiarhos bill supporter: 'I believe he's doing the right thing.'

Others support Xiarhos bill and blame the states housing shortage for the crisis.

I support 110%. I believe hes doing the right thing said Susan Baracchini of Pocasset. We don't have affordable housing and the entire Cape is losing workforce capabilities, so on one hand if they were all coming legally, that's great because they could join the workforce, but we don't know what skills they're coming with and what areas they could fill the jobs, so it's a work shortage, an employee shortage and a housing shortage.

Baracchini also spoke out about local motels on the Cape that were asked to kick out people in order to house migrants coming into Massachusetts. In response, several protests were held, including in Yarmouth and Dennis.

One of our local motel owners spoke out, saying he had to kick out people who were paying summer dollars, summer rates, tourist rates to reduce his income ability in a season where this is his prime income time, Baracchini said. If they are not paying their way, they can't come and stay."

She thinks migrants must "go through the process to get here" before they can come live in the United States and that it's in the government's best interest "to stop allowing this.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod lawmaker files bill to address migrant crisis
The layoffs at Capital Public Radio were bad enough  then emerged a series of devastating blows detailing financial peril. And, at the center, remained employees battered by the turmoil.

An audit showing unpaid bills. More than half of CapRadios board later resigned. Potential conflicts of interest came to light. News from competitors  which was how staff members said they often first learned about each instance  painted a public broadcasting institution in dire straits.

Sadness, worry and exhaustion poured out from employees who recently spoke with The Sacramento Bee from their campus studios. They said they were maintaining their focus on the work and who it serves  a supportive Northern California listening community  to keep moving forward.

These last 10 days were extraordinary, said Aram Sarkissian, the managing editor of the broadcasters news and talk formats, which includes the four-day-a-week Insight program. Thats really the word  extraordinary. And, exhausting.

This is tough

Sarkissian began texting Insight host Vicki Gonzalez after learning late Wednesday night that 13 of CapRadios board members resigned.

The journalists who produce the public affairs show talked about their approach now. It included reporters refraining from going to staff meetings and speaking with Sacramento State President Luke Wood and Tom Karlo, the stations interim general manager, he said.

Sacramento State holds the license for most of the stations CapRadio operates, including NPR affiliate KXJZ-FM (90.9) and classical music station KXPR-FM (88.9). The broadcaster is an auxiliary of the university.

No one reviewed their questions or dissuaded him from speaking with both leaders, he said.

Capital Public Radios Aram Sarkissian, managing editor of its current affairs program Insight, reflects in his office at the station on Friday about his emotions from the past week. Its been very rough. Its been a long summer and hopefully, God willing, this last week was a major turning point because really there is only one way to go, and thats up, he said.

Its uncomfortable, Sarkissian said of CapRadios reporting on themselves. But, very necessary.

But the emotional toll of hearing about fiscal troubles  which could include to CapRadios insolvency by January  caused Sarkissian to worry about everyones future. He said he has compartmentalized every emotion while working.

I thought the layoffs were the worst day, he said. This is as tough, if not (a) tougher week.

For classical musical host Jennifer Reason, the constant news has taken a toll mentally and physically. But, the midday host said she is trying to move forward one day at a time.

The communitys reaction to their uninterrupted programming has instilled hope in her, she said.

I had a woman come sit next to me and say that CapRadio saved my life, Reason said.

Capital Public Radio midday classical host Jennifer Reason, sitting in one of the stations broadcasting booths on Friday said she is emotionally, mentally, and physically tired because of concerns over the stations financial issues. Its been very tough. We have an amazing staff of people here who are deeply, deeply invested in this station and what we contribute to this community and we are showing up everyday because of that, she said.

Capitol Public Radios Andrew Garcia, a weekend and fill-in host and program assistant for news programming, records announcements on Friday for listeners over the weekend before talking about the stations financial situation in an interview. I think it has felt like maybe were finally getting to a point of some stability with management changes, and most recently with the board and Sac State having a more direct role, he said.

The situation, which is expected to be further detailed in a forensic audit come January, has meant CapRadio is operating on bare bones, staff said. In addition to hosting, Reason produces her show on old equipment. Sarkissian said hes had producers leave, but is looking forward to welcoming a new employee this week.

Moving forward for staff members comes in a variety of ways, including focusing on their programming and the journalism, as well as rallying around their colleagues.

For Andrew Garcia, an on-air host and program assistant, his love for public radio and creating his work has carried him through the devastating news. Some days are harder than others, he admitted.

Chris Campbell, the on-air local host of Morning Edition, noted his co-workers have stayed focused in part because of their leadership and executive teams.

Its the people who make this place what it is, he said.

Capital Public Radio Morning Edition host Chris Campbell said at his desk on Friday that the stations staff has stayed focused and encouraged each other amid the layoffs and negative news about the stations finances. Its really the team, the people here  thats the CapRadio experience. All this other stuff, that will come and go, he said.

Looking ahead

Engagement member coordinator Rachael Cowan held up at least four yellow notepads filled with callers details while talking about the situation.

Numerous calls and emails started pouring after the announcement of layoffs last month. It started with listeners and supporters expressing their dismay at canceled programs which then morphed into challenging calls seeking answers about what happened, Cowan said.

They were angry and frustrated, Cowan said of listeners.

Member engagement associate Rachael Cowans eyes fill with tears on Friday as she talks at her desk at Capital Public Radio about the reaction from the community to the stations financial issues. They clearly very much care. They love these programs, they love these hosts, they love what the programs do for the community, she said.

Despite each shocking revelation, staff members expressed hope that better times were ahead. Perhaps the audits release next year would be a turning point, bring the university and the station closer together, employees said.

What will CapRadio look like 6 months from now? Sarkissian wondered. Or, a year from now?
Police investigate at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on Monday after a fatal shooting. (Jane Tyska / Bay Area News Group)

Police in San Francisco shot dead a person accused of ramming a car into the Chinese Consulate on Monday afternoon, according to local officials.

Officers responding to the scene found that the vehicle had come to a stop inside the lobby of the consulate. Witness video and local TV footage showed a blue Honda sedan with California plates inside the building, with people fleeing out a nearby door.

Police encountered the driver and opened fire, an officer said during a San Francisco Police Department news conference Monday.

The individual died after being transported to a hospital, the official said.

Read more: Man in custody after scaling Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel and claiming to have a bomb

In a statement, a spokesman for the consulate said the Chinese government was "demanding that the truth be quickly ascertained and dealt with seriously in accordance with the law."

Officials said an investigation was being conducted with the help of the U.S. State Department but didn't immediately provide additional details.

Although it's unclear whether Monday's crash was intentional, the consulate has previously been a target. On New Year's Day 2014, two buckets of gasoline were dumped on the front entrance of the building and set ablaze.

Read more: What are those web-like clumps falling from the sky around the Bay Area?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Redding City Manager Barry Tippin has made his selection for new police chief.

Now he will ask the City Council to approve the appointment at its Oct. 17 meeting.

Tippin is recommending Redding police Capt. Brian Barner succeed Chief Bill Schueller, who will retire in November.

If appointed, Barner would be the citys third police chief in six years.

I have worked closely with Captain Barner for his entire career as we rose through the ranks together. He is an integral part of my leadership team and a close friend. I am confident that Captain Barner will lead the Redding Police Department as it continues to grow and expand programs that benefit our community, Schueller said in a news release.

Barner has worked for the Redding Police Department for more than 30 years.

He started in 1992, two years before he graduated from Shasta High School, as a police explorer before becoming a cadet in 1994. He was hired as a police recruit in 1997.

Barner has been a corporal, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, traffic sergeant, patrol lieutenant, administrative lieutenant and a patrol and administrative captain.

Brian Barner

I am extremely honored and humbled to be appointed as the next chief of police for the city of Redding, Barner said in a news release. I look forward to working with our outstanding police department, city staff, law enforcement partners, area businesses and especially this great community of ours.

Tippin added that Barners many positions and years of experience with RPD made him the right choice for the job.

"His professionalism, he's really passionate for the community as well as the department, which comes with living here and working here," Tippin told the Record Searchlight. "And he's just a solid individual, good character, honest and I think his motivations are pure."

Tippin said they narrowed a pool of 60 applicants to 15 before deciding to interview three finalists. The finalists were interviewed by Tippin, a community panel and a law-enforcement professional panel.

Barner comes from a family of public safety professionals.

His grandfather, Charlie, retired as the assistant fire chief for the San Francisco Fire Department. His uncle, Gary, retired as a captain with the Novato Police Department and his father, Tom, retired as a detective with the Shasta County Sheriffs Office. Between them, they had more than 90 years of public service.

More: Shasta Sheriff: Oak Run mom arrested on charges of attempted murder, domestic violence, DUI

After graduating from Shasta High School, Brian Barner attended Shasta College. He left Redding to attend Sonoma State University but returned when he was hired by the late Redding Police Chief Bob Blankenship as a police officer at age 20.

Redding police Capt. Bill Schueller

Barner has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Southern Oregon University and masters in public administration from National University.

Schueller announced his retirement last summer.

Here's what Bill Schueller plans right after he is named Redding's new police chief

Redding police officer recruitment, body cameras: A conversation with Chief Schueller

He has been police chief for four years and has worked for the department for nearly 30 years.

Schueller was promoted from Redding police captain to chief in September 2019 to replace the retiring Roger Moore, who had spent 31 years in law enforcement.

Moore also was promoted from captain in Redding to the chiefs position.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter, @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Barner primed to become new Redding police chief
By all accounts, Caroline Ellison hated her job at Alameda Research, the hedge fund where she has now pleaded guilty to helping Sam Bankman-Fried siphon billions of dollars of FTX customer money.

She cried on her first week at the job, according to journalist Michael Lewis, after learning the company was much less stable than Bankman-Fried had told her. She entered into a relationship with the crypto golden boy, which he refused to acknowledge despite her multiple pleading memos. Now, in his criminal trial, her former boss and lover is attempting to blame the downfall of his operation on her.

But on Tuesday, Caroline Ellison got her revenge.

Wearing a gray blazer and pink dress, Ellisonwho has already pleaded guilty to her role in the alleged fraudtook the stand in a downtown Manhattan courtroom as possibly the most important witness in the trial. And she did not hold back.

Early in her testimony, a federal prosecutor asked Ellison, 28, if she had committed any crimes during her work at Alameda Research, Bankman-Frieds hedge fund. Yes, she answered. We did. Specifically, she said, she had engaged in fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and money laundering.

He directed me to commit these crimes, she said.

Jurors Told SBF Is Bumbling Math Nerdand Scheming Thief

Ellisons questioning was briefly delayed when a prosecutor asked her if she recognized Bankman-Fried in the courtroom. Because of her short stature, she was forced to stand up, then spent roughly 30 seconds scanning the area, evidently unable to see or recognize him. Bankman-Frieds recently shortened hairdo may have been to blame.

After identifying her former boyfriend, Ellison further detailed the crimes they allegedly committed together. In all, she said, she and her co-conspirators misappropriated $14 billion in customer deposits to pay off loans and fund investments, though she said they were able to repay some of those assets.

Ellison further claimed that, at Bankman-Frieds direction, she compiled misleading balance sheets that hid Alamedas true risk profile from lenders. At the same time, she claimed, he worked to obscure his involvement with Alameda, hoping to avoid public relations issues if people came to realize the hedge fund was closely intertwined with FTX. (Ellison said that Bankman-Fried nonetheless remained the ultimate decision maker at Alameda.)

Ellison described her former boss as risk neutral, saying he would be more than willing to bet and lose $10 million if hed had the chance at earning slightly more than a $10 million return.

She recounted him once offering up a hypothetical coin flip: If the coin turned up tails, the world would be destroyed. If it turned up heads, human life would get at least two times better. Bankman-Fried said he would take the bet.

For her services at Alameda, Ellison said she was given large bonuses twice per year, though she never received an equity stake in the hedge fund. (She did receive equity in FTX.) The largest individual bonus amounted to $20 million, she said.

Bankman-Fried, meanwhile, funneled some of his vast wealth into political races, believing that he could garner large amounts of influence through relatively modest donations, she alleged. She recalled him once declaring that he had a five percent chance of one day becoming president.

Kevin OBrien, a former federal prosecutor, told The Daily Beast that Ellison may be the most important accomplice witness in the case.

She probably has more detail and more knowledge than any of the other accomplices who had a purely business relationship with Mr. Bankman-Fried, OBrien said, adding that the romantic dynamics between the two could make her testimony even more compelling to the jury. This kind of subcurrent of human interest is what feeds their interest in a way that financial transactions often dont, he said.

A former Alameda employee told The Daily Beast he wasnt surprised that Bankman-Frieds top lieutenant and former lover decided to testify against him.

Out of that entire inner circle friend group, I think Caroline and [former FTX executive Nishad Singh] might have had the best intentions, the former employee said, requesting anonymity because of ongoing legal proceedings. Their crime was playing along for way too long and not speaking up.

Before she flipped on her former lover in federal court, Ellison was a stereotypical nerd who lived for math competitions and fan fiction. In many ways, her story mirrors Bankman-Frieds: a preternaturally gifted child raised by two academicsBankman-Frieds parents are Stanford law professors, Ellisons teach economics at MITwhose intelligence often isolated her from her peers.

Former classmates describe Ellison as quiet and shy, if somewhat aloof. A high school classmate told The Boston Globe that Ellison would leave school early, telling everyone she was going to classes at MIT. (She wasnt humble, the classmate quipped.) At Stanford, where she majored in math, she sailed through her classes with ease, according to former classmates who spoke to Fortune. Her haughtiness continued into higher educationwhen asked by a Forbes interviewer in 2021 what she hadnt learned in college that would have helped her later, she replied: "Pretty much everything. Taxes?"

Despite her ego, classmates agree that none of them saw their socially awkward, math-champion peer as a future international scammer. When I picture her, I still picture Caroline as this petite, reserved, shy girl doing something low-energy or sedentary, a Stanford classmate told Fortunenot, this classmate added, as the Elizabeth Holmes of our class year.

That changed in December, when Ellison pleaded guilty to seven counts in what prosecutors say was a Bankman-Fried-directed scheme to illegally funnel FTX customer money to Alameda.

He was the one who set up these systems, she said in court on Tuesday.

According to Lewis book, Going Infinite, Ellisons involvement with the FTX scandal started with, if not a lie, a grave omission. Over coffee in 2017, Bankman-Fried told Ellison he was building an exciting, secretive new trading firm that centered the aims of effective altruismthe niche philosophy to which both subscribed. When she arrived at the hedge fund, having ditched her multimillion-dollar job at a conventional hedge fund, she found a fledgling startup at war over a missing $4 million. According to Lewis, she called her mother crying her very first week.

10 Juicy Nuggets From the New Sam Bankman-Fried Book

Alameda eventually bounced back, and Bankman-Fried took a back seat to focus on FTX, naming Ellison the hedge funds co-CEO in his wake. By most accountsincluding her ownthe role did not suit her well. In a Google Doc from April 2022 reviewed by The New York Times, Ellison wrote, in characteristically analytical style: Running Alameda doesnt feel like something Im that **comparatively advantaged at or well suited to do. In various other documents, she admitted to weaknesses in leadership and decisiveness and expressing broad disagreement with people, particularly men.

The former Alameda employee told The Daily Beast that Ellison was quiet and shy and very much not the typical boss person.

She didnt strike me as a person who would enjoy a position of power, maybe even the opposite, this person said via the messaging app Telegram. She enjoyed numbers and hard problems, not titles.

At the same time, Ellison was engaged in an on-and-off romantic relationship with Bankman-Friedif one can call it that. In an attempt to get her boss to acknowledge their relationship, Ellison sent him a Google Doc about her pretty strong romantic feelings for him, diplomatically laying out the pros and cons of the two dating. He responded by telling her that In a lot of ways I dont really have a soul and relocating the entire company to Hong Kong. After yet another of their breakups, in April 2022, Ellison wrote that their relationship had significantly decreased my excitement about Alameda because it felt too associated with you in a way that was painful.

That fall, Bankman-Fried started talking to employees about shuttering the hedge fund altogether, and he invested $400 million in a different trading company run by another of his exes, according to the Times. He did not tell Ellison.

By November, Bankman-Frieds true love, FTX, was bankrupt, and some $8 billion of customer funds was missing. In court last week, Bankman-Frieds lawyers attempted to pin some of the downfall on Ellison, claiming she failed to enact safeguards at Alameda that would have kept it from losing money so quickly. According to prosecutors, however, Ellison acted at the direction of Bankman-Fried, who was still calling the shots at Alameda and using his former girlfriend as a front.

In December, Ellison became one of the first two employees to flip on Bankman-Fried, pleading guilty to wire fraud, securities and commodities fraud, and money laundering. At a court hearing later that month, Ellison said she knew that what she was doing was wrong, and said she was truly sorry.

Former prosecutor Nick Akerman told The Daily Beast it might not matter to jurors that Ellison had already pleaded guilty to multiple crimes.

The question is not whether you like her, he said. The question is whether shes telling the truth.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Et Tu, Caroline?

Caroline Ellison , the former CEO of Alameda Research and ex-girlfriend of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, came to court with guns blazing as she began her testimony against her erstwhile boss-slash-lover.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, Ellison told the court at the start of her testimony that SBF ordered her to illegally doctor Alameda's finance documents.

"He directed me to commit these crimes," the youthful trader, who pleaded guilty to her own spate of financial crimes, told prosecutors.

As Coindesk added in its own live coverage of the trial, Ellison also said she "sent balance sheets at the direction of Sam that made Alameda's balances look less risky to investors."

To make the appearance all the more theatrical, Ellison apparently took her time to find Bankman-Fried when asked to identify him in the courtroom.

"Everyone in the overflow room I was with was laughing in disbelief," The Block's Zack Abrams tweeted of the slapstick performance. "Is it the haircut? The suit?"

Shine Bright

Ellison's testimony in this headline-grabbing trial followed that of Gary Wang, who co-founded FTX with Bankman-Fried and also, like the former Alameda CEO, pleaded guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence and information about their alleged crimes at the end of 2022.

Considered the star witness of the government's case against the former crypto king, Ellison has for months become deeply intertwined with the collapse of FTX and Bankman-Fried's landmark trial  especially since Bankman-Fried decided to leak her diary entries to the New York Times in July, which effectively landed him in jail ahead of his trial.

In a bombastic new book about SBF released just in time for his fraud trial, star biographer Michael Lewis included a number of shocking admissions from Ellison about her time at Alameda and with the FTX co-founder. In one particularly wild anecdote, she apparently recounted that Bankman-Fried once gave her a list of reasons why they shouldn't date, and among those reasons was the jarring claim that he doesn't "feel happiness."

With Ellison making such incendiary remarks at the very start of her testimony, there's no doubt that there will be more bombshells to come  and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled.

More on FTX: Sam Bankman-Fried's Friend Says He Was Exaggerating How Much He Slept on His Bean Bag Chair
On 13 September 2021, five-year-old Allie Hart was doing something ordinary - riding her bike on a pedestrian crossing near her home in Washington, DC.

When the driver of a transit van hit her, she died instantly.

For Allie's mother, Jessica Hart, "My whole world was shattered." Yet, she says, nothing changed in the outside world to safeguard people like Allie.

The gap between business-as-usual and her grief prompted Ms Hart to become a crusader against traffic deaths. Now a member of the campaign group DC Families for Safe Streets, she advocates for better-designed streets, more attentive drivers, and safer vehicles.

She believes that the safety of people outside of cars is typically an afterthought when someone decides to buy a car. "For most people, it just comes down to price, preference, and then their perceived safety [for the driver and passengers]."

Technology abounds that can help keep vulnerable road users (VRUs) safer. VRUs include pedestrians, wheelchair users, cyclists, motorcyclists and scooter riders. Together they are the majority of people killed by cars globally.

Yet some well-established safety features are not always integrated into new vehicles, safety ratings and regulations.

One reason is cost. Drivers might, in theory, be keen on extra safety features, but if they make the car significantly more expensive, would they actually buy them?

Alex Thompson has given that question a lot of thought. He is the principal safety engineer for Thatcham Research, a nonprofit automotive risk intelligence company funded by insurers.

Thatcham Research tests a variety of cars at its research centre

Much of Mr Thompson's job involves crash testing.

Mr Thompson says that, as the technology matures, costs tend to come down. "You don't want the most safe vehicle to always be the most expensive vehicle," he says.

A relatively simple design transition has been toward more flexible materials, including smoothing out areas of the bonnet where struck pedestrians are likely to hit their heads. "Anything stiff is bad for a pedestrian," Mr Thompson explains.

Along these lines, front bumpers need to be very rigid, but new models have foam padding or other materials under the bumpers to absorb some of the energy of impact.

Certain challenges remain in this regard. Windscreen pillars (A-pillars) are designed not to collapse on collision, and Mr Thompson says that vehicle manufacturers still find it challenging to integrate safety for VRUs.

"As a pedestrian, if you hit that, it's probably the worst place in the vehicle where you can hit." The top of the windscreen is a particular danger point for cyclists.

It's this zone that Volvo targeted back in 2012, when it introduced pedestrian airbags to its V40.

According to the company, "The purpose of these airbags was to help protect pedestrians in certain situations when they impact the bonnet, and the area around the windscreen wiper recess and A-pillar, where there may be a risk of serious head injuries."

However, rollout of this innovation has been slow across other models.

Volvo has developed an airbag to help protect cyclists or pedestrians in a collision

Another passive safety feature is a pop up bonnet, which uses sensors to detect when a person has been hit, then uses pyrotechnic charges to lift the bonnet. This reduces the impact of the collision. Mr Thompson says that this feature depends for instance on the size of the engine and amount of available space.

Passive safety is no substitute for active safety features. "You can make a vehicle as benign for pedestrians as possible. But it's better to prevent that crash in the first place," Mr Thompson points out.

For active safety, a key preventive technology is automatic/autonomous emergency braking (AEB). This system automatically applies the brakes when a vehicle's cameras and sensors detect a pedestrian at risk.

AEB has become common for new cars in Europe. It's not a perfect technology; it works best at low speeds, and performance can suffer at night or with darting movements of pedestrians. But it's becoming more sophisticated and varied.

Car manufacturers are increasingly using lidar (light detection and ranging) alongside radar as AEB sensors. They're also fitting a variety of AEB systems targeting not just pedestrians, but also other VRUs.

These include cyclists. Thatcham Research is a test facility for the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which from 2023 has incorporated dooring into its safety assessments. Dooring refers to opening a car door onto an oncoming cyclist. Technology systems now exist to warn people inside a car of a cyclist near a door, or to prevent the door from being opened.

The European New Car Assessment Programme tests how safe cars are for vulnerable road users

Speed is also a critical factor in the severity of impacts. The risk and extent of an injury go down with lower speeds, notes Mike McGinn, the executive director of the advocacy organisation America Walks. The EU has mandated intelligent speed assistance (ISA) systems, which warn of high speeds or automatically reduce speeds, on new cars.

As well as speed, the size of cars is an important factor.

The increasing popularity of larger passenger vehicles like SUVs, in the US and elsewhere, is worrying for the safety of people on the street.

"They're heavier, but there's also blunt force impact," Mr McGinn says.

In addition, "as the cars have gotten larger, their ability to see what is in front and behind has just gone down".

Certain cities have attempted to discourage SUVs by charging owners more to park or register them.

More broadly, vehicle regulation to improve safety for vulnerable road users has been varied.

US authorities are assessing pedestrian automatic emergency braking systems

In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering a change to its own New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) to factor in pedestrian protection.

"This is the first time that vehicles in the US are potentially being rated or regulated with regard to their safety for pedestrians," says Mr McGinn.

The NHTSA is also mulling over a safety rule for pedestrian automatic emergency braking. According to the agency, this has "an estimated safety potential to save hundreds of lives annually".

More technology of business

Commercial vehicles are already subject to stricter regulation. For example, the EU and Japan require direct vision on heavy goods vehicles. In other words, lorry drivers need to be able to see vulnerable road users directly, without needing to depend on mirrors. London has also now made it mandatory for lorries to reduce blind spots.

Ultimately, Ms Hart points out, preventable tragedies from traffic violence don't just affect non-drivers. "Everyone gets out of their car, no matter where they live."

"Nobody is immune. So one thing we have to do is think about how we design vehicles, and one way to do that is through regulation."
CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil opened up about his experience of having two children and his ex-wife in Israel amid the countrys ongoing conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas, telling viewers it was a roller-coaster weekend.

I have an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old who live in Israel, they live there with their mother  my ex-wife  they are safe, but just as a father I think people can understand: If somebody, anybody, is firing rockets in the direction of your children without regard to whether they are struck or not, youre going to feel a thing or two, Dokoupil said Monday on CBS Mornings. So its been a roller-coaster weekend.

Dokoupil said he has been sad,  angry and disgusted watching the situation unfold in Israel.

Were talking about the direct, close-range murder of more than 700 civilians in their cars, in their homes, at a festival, and then the kidnapping and then the hostage-taking and then the evidence of rape, Dokoupil said. And I think theres enough moral clarify in the world to say that this is wrong, its terrorism, and if its being done in your name, speak up.

Pointing to Hamass history of violence, Dokoupil said there is understandable fear on behalf of the Israelis, specially with regards to the hostages.

Maintaining he approaches the topic fairly as a journalist, Dokoupil noted he is also a father, which cannot be separated from his job at times.

I also just wanted to be clear with our viewers that I come to this fairly and as a journalist, but Im also a father and you cant separate those two at a certain point, he said.

Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, which is recognized as a terroist organization by the U.S. government, raged on for the third day Monday after Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel over the weekend.

Hamas forces invaded multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air Saturday, as well as launching a barrage of rocket fire into Israel from Gaza. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly declared the country at war against Hamas, and the country has since launched several retaliatory airstrikes into Gaza.

The total death toll continued to rise Monday to a total of around 1,600 people, The Associated Press reported. About 900 people, including 73 soldiers, were killed in Israel, according to state media.

In Gaza, more than 680 have been killed so far, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Hamas has claimed to have taken more than 100 hostages in the conflict, including both Israeli soldiers and civilians. The militant group pledged to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted Gaza civilians without warnings, the AP reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Clark County School District has announced it is accepting applications for students interested in attending one of the Districts magnet schools for the 2024-2025 school year.

The application window will remain open until Jan. 9, 2024.

Any student currently residing or planning to reside in Clark County may submit an application to attend a Magnet School of their choice. There will be a lottery conducted for any program when there are more qualifying students than available seats.

CCSD Magnet programs offer learning opportunities related to various themes. Students from across the District can apply to any Magnet program, however, transportation is only provided to students living within the designated transportation boundary for the program.

The purpose of Magnet programs are to improve student achievement, promote diversity, and create an awareness of career opportunities relative to the fields of study in which students may be interested, a release from the District said.

Information about application criteria can be found at this link.

The District has also received $15 million dollars from the Magnet Schools Assistance Program to open two full-school Magnet programs at Carroll M. Johnston Middle School and Lyal Burkholder Middle School.

Having grown Magnet programs to 42 schools since 1994, its a testament to the strength of our choice options to receive this $15 million grant from MSAP, said Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara.

The grant will allow each school to offer a rigorous, STEM-infused curriculum to students in grades 6 through 8, focusing on the environment, using experiential and project-based learning through its revolutionary STEMvironment Project.

CCSD continues to lead the state in school choice options, and this award enables us to grow our STEM offerings to more middle schools so our students and their families can choose the future they want and pursue their dreams with us in CCSD.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.


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Armed with big budgets and access to some of the best skincare experts and makeup artists in the industry, it would be safe to assume that any celebrity beauty routine costs a small fortune. While this can definitely be true for some, many of our favorite stars have been known to reach for affordable products that you can find on sale on Amazon during Prime Big Deal Days, happening today and tomorrow, October 10-11.

Whether youre looking to target dark circles using drugstore eye creams, moisturize dry hands, or achieve va-va-voom lashes, Amazon has exactly the A-Lister-approved products you need. In Amazons October Prime Day sale, we found Jenna Bush Hagers body oil, Demi Moores mascara, Kate Middletons face oil, and Kate Hudsons splurge-worthy night cream on markdown. To help you upgrade your self-care routine for less, weve rounded up a dozen of the best deals on Amazon celebrity beauty products below, many of which we found on Firstfinds, our trend-spotting site where users can share celebrity-approved products and Amazon deals.

In addition to celebrity endorsements, these skincare, haircare, and makeup favorites also have thousands of glowing customer reviews on Amazon, so you can feel even more confident that youre investing in quality products. Some of the items even made Prevention's best of lists, according to dermatologists, beauty editors, and experts. Grab these 17 products while theyre on sale for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, and we guarantee people wont stop asking you what your beauty secrets are. The Amazon sale event ends tomorrow at midnight, so you'll need to act fast!

Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara

Demi Moore shared in a recent interview that she often uses Lancome's Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara in her everyday makeup routine. Amazon reviewers rave that it doesn't clump, smudge, or flake while providing serious volume. So why not grab the mascara celebrities use while its 30% off during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

Shop Now Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara www.amazon.com $21.00

Drying Lotion and Drying Patches

Made with soothing calamine and acne-fighting salicylic acid, Mario Badescus drying lotion is one of Hollywoods favorite ways to get rid of zits. Jennifer Aniston, Heidi Klum, Khloe Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, and Gwyneth Paltrow have all shared they use the product to stop breakouts.

Shop Now Drying Lotion and Drying Patches www.amazon.com $11.85

Hydrating Liquid Lipstick

In a breakdown of her beauty routine, Nina Dobrev said, Honest Beauty makes a really pretty lip color. This one has a little bit more color. I put it on, and I use my fingers sometimes to spread it out. It gives you this deeper, sort of matte color. It should come as no surprise that Jessica Alba, the brands founder, is a big fan too.

Shop Now Hydrating Liquid Lipstick www.amazon.com $6.88

Hope in a Jar Smooth Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer

Though its been over a decade since Oprah included philosophys Hope in a Jar in her Ultimate Favorite Things List, its still just as popular with Amazon reviewers and Oprah fans today. A combination of glycolic and hyaluronic acids helps hydrate, smooth, and brighten dull skin.

Shop Now Hope in a Jar Smooth Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer www.amazon.com $34.30

Skincare Set for Scars, Stretchmarks and Dry Skin

Celebrity fans of Bio-Oils bestselling skincare oil include

Jenna Bush Hager, Kristin Chenoweth, Natalie Portman, and Kourtney Kardashian. Its hero ingredient, Vitamin E, helps to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and dark spots. Orange is the New Blacks Danielle Brooks raved on Instagram about the product reducing pesky hyperpigmentation. I went through a period of time when I had a ton of breakouts and dark spots on my face, she wrote. I love all of my melanin, and Bio-Oil does too!

Shop Now Skincare Set for Scars, Stretchmarks and Dry Skin www.amazon.com $27.33

Lip Sleeping Mask

On the hunt for beauty gifts? The viral Laneige lip sleeping mask will please anyone and everyone on your list! In addition to 76 million TikTok views and 27,000 five-star Amazon reviews, its won over Kate Hudson, Nina Dobrev, Brooke Shields, and Sydney Sweeney (a Laneige ambassador), too.

Shop Now Lip Sleeping Mask www.amazon.com $16.80

Eau Thermale Facial Mist

Countless celebrity makeup artists use a quick spritz of Avenes Eau Thermale facial mist to prep their clients faces before applying red-carpet glam. In a Vogue Italia video, Irina Shayk shared that the hydrating and soothing face spray is a part of her morning beauty routine.

Shop Now Eau Thermale Facial Mist www.amazon.com $13.30

Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with SPF 30

Kim Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, and Quinta Brunson (note, the latter two are Olay ambassadors) have all shared that Olays Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is a key part of their skincare routine. Its formulated with Vitamin B3 and hyaluronic acid to hydrate dry skin and speed up cell turnover, earning it Preventions pick for the best anti-aging cream. The addition of SPF makes this version an excellent day cream for fall.

Shop Now Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with SPF 30 www.amazon.com $21.00

Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer

Offered in 17 shades, Maybellines Instant Age Rewind Concealer has a mind-boggling 134,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. But its not just Amazon shoppers who love the affordable beauty product on sale for under $10 during Prime Big Deal Days. Numerous celebrities use it too! Bethenny Frankel, for one, said its super-concentrated and covers and smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Shop Now Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer www.amazon.com $7.73

Pro-Collagen Night Cream

Amazon isnt just for drugstore beauty. The retailer has dozens of luxury skincare brands that celebrities use. Example A: Elemis. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Victoria Beckham, Kate Hudson, and Suki Waterhouse are all known to be fans of the brand. And this Pro-Collagen Night Cream thats 20% off during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is part of Kate Hudsons red carpet prep.

Shop Now Pro-Collagen Night Cream www.amazon.com $135.20

Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil contains several vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids that minimize fine lines, even skin tone and texture and support overall skin health. This cold-pressed, certified organic face oil from Trilogy is said to be used by Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham.

Shop Now Certified Organic Rosehip Oil www.amazon.com $13.07

Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream

Victoria Beckham once called Weleda Skin Food her body secret in an interview, describing the all-natural, plant-powered formula as thick and buttery... like my skins had a good drink. While its great for dry hands, elbows, and feet, the multi-purpose beauty product can also be used as a face moisturizer when you need a serious dose of hydration. Other celebrity fans include Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hailey Bieber, and Carrie Underwood.

Shop Now Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream www.amazon.com $14.99

High-Grade Tique Vegetable Pomade Hair Stick

Sarah Jessica Parker shared in an Allure interview that this affordable Tancho hair stick has been her secret to a perfectly slicked-back bun, for maybe 15, 20 years. A few strokes of the Japanese hair wax is all thats required to tame frizz and keep fly-aways and baby hairs locked in place. Its amazing. It has a smell like heaven. And one [tube] can last you three, four, five years, said SJP.

Shop Now High-Grade Tique Vegetable Pomade Hair Stick www.amazon.com $8.12

All-Purpose Skin Cream

If you love a good multipurpose product, this Kate Hudson-approved cream is sure to please. The 43-year-old star has mentioned she slathers it on after a long flight or a day of wearing heavy makeup, and her kids even use it to soothe scrapes, cuts, and dryness. The key to its magic? A blend of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant-rich ingredients like bee propolis, bee pollen, beeswax, honey, olive oil, and royal jelly. It also has a unique texture that Hudson and thousands of customers appreciate: It starts out as a balm, then turns into a nourishing oil as its rubbed into the skin.

Shop Now All-Purpose Skin Cream www.amazon.com $31.99 Egyptian Magic

Rapid Firming Collagen Triple Lift Face Serum

Kerry Washington called this eye cream a total game changer in an interview, saying its made her morning routine so much better by reducing her need to use concealer. The eye cream is powered by a blend of peptides that help brighten dark circles, soothe puffiness, and smooth fine lines on delicate areas like under the eyes and on the neck. (To note, Washington is a Neutrogena ambassador, but thousands of customers also rave about this product on Amazon.)

Shop Now Rapid Firming Collagen Triple Lift Face Serum www.amazon.com $25.09 Neutrogena

Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

Neutrogena ambassador Jennifer Garner has said that the brands Hydro Boost Gel-Cream is the key to her radiant complexion, especially during the fall and winter months when the dry air and cold temps can wreak havoc on skin. Also backed by over 38,000 customer reviews, the moisturizer contains a blend of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin B5 for plumping and hydrating effects.

Shop Now Hydro Boost Gel-Cream www.amazon.com $19.97 Neutrogena

Original Pink Blender

Earlier this year, Christie Brinkley shared an Instagram video revealing her top seven beauty tips for women over 50, and the original Beauty Blender made an appearance. The award-winning makeup tool is water-activated, which allows it to pick up just the right amount of product so you can evenly apply foundation to create an airbrushed finish. For the best results, Brinkley suggests first wetting the blender and squeezing out the excess water, then stippling on a lighter color of foundation under the eyes and a warmer formula under the cheek area using the tool. Then, I just use a little bit of whatever is left and apply it down the neck, down the decolletage, and over the forehead, she said.

Shop Now Original Pink Blender www.amazon.com $17.00

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In Central Florida, Jewish leaders and law enforcement pledged their support for Israel as the third day of the war with Hamas came to a close.

At a vigil in Ormond Beach Monday night, the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties committed to sending $100,000 in reserve money to aid Israel.

Meanwhile, law enforcement in several local counties has increased security and patrols near synagogues and Jewish facilities because of the conflict.

At Monday nights vigil, Ormond Beach Police, as well as Volusia County sheriff deputies, were present.

Read: Israel-Hamas war: Biden says at least 11 US citizens killed (Live updates)

Law enforcement volunteered to provide extra security as a group of religious leaders and community members gathered inside Temple Beth Els sanctuary.

Officers wanded down anyone entering, and a sniffing dog was also present before the event.

The vigil opened with remarks from Rabbi Dr. Rob Lennick, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties.

Our Jewish community near and far is resilient, and we will continue to be, said Lennick.

Read: Central Floridians share their concerns for family, friends in Israel

It was a space for prayer, reflection, and solidarity Monday night, with leaders from Christian churches also offering words of support.

Christians are with you and behind you. You are the roots; we are the branches. We pray for you every day, said one pastor.

Since Saturday, Rabbi Rob Lennick says its been difficult to watch live coverage of what has unfolded after Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli civilians and took several captive.

For Israel, we pray for the soldiers strength, for the captives freedom, for the mourners comfort, said Lennick.

On Monday, the death toll was nearing 1600 on both sides of the conflict, including 11 Americans.

Read: Israel-Hamas war: Professor was on phone with daughter when she was killed

With more than 6,000 miles of land and sea separating Palm Beach resident Alexander Polyak from his family in Israel, he told us he felt compelled to attend the vigil Monday.

Unfortunately, I am not there today, but in my heart, I am with them, said Polyak.

It was a sentiment echoed by dozens of others, with law enforcement leaders telling the community that they would continue to have their backs.

Youre safe at your place of worship. Youre safe when you send your kids to school here. Youre safe when you go food shopping, said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. We will continue to fight for, protect, and serve our Jewish community.

On Monday, the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties asked the community to match their $100,000 donation.

So far, leaders say they have raised $11,500.

A bicycle was targeted and two young Palestinian militants were killed near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

A paramedic helps an injured man near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

Palestinian citizens stand near an Israeli enclave seized from the Israeli occupation near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

A young man carries an injured man on his bicycle near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war.

Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday.

Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

A rocket from the Gaza Strip struck a street in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday.

Palestinian militants drive back to the Gaza Strip with the body of an Israeli soldier on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday.

Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday.

Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

A column of smoke rises from the south of Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

Residents look at damage after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel.

A column of smoke rises from the south of Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

Israeli soldiers head south near Ashkelon, Israel, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response.

A building was damaged after being hit by a rocket fired from Gaza strip on Saturday in Tel Aviv.

Israeli security forces work at the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building on Saturday in Tel Aviv.

A man passes the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building in Tel Aviv.

Smoke and flames rise on the Gaza Strip after being attacked by Israeli forces on Sunday.

Palestinians fire rockets in response to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces strike targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble.

Israeli rescue members work at a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister.

Rockets were fired towards Israel on October 8, 2023 at Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble.

Israeli rescue members work at a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday in Gaza City, Gaza.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes after Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Sunday in Gaza City, Gaza.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes and business after Sunday's airstrikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli airstrikes caused extensive damage in Gaza City on Sunday.

Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday.

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Sunday.

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For many in Central Florida, the pictures and videos of the war in Israel are not just of a war abroad. Its their home--- or their friends and familys home.

Some University of Central Florida students gathered at Hillel, a center that many Jewish students call home. Instead of the typical Monday morning conversation discussing their weekend, they expressed how they felt after seeing the images that surfaced from the war.

My main thoughts and feelings at first you know are hurt, sadness, and anger, said Zachary Landes, student president of Central Florida Hillel. You see these videos of terrorists coming in and kidnapping and killing men, women, children, little babies. Its just kind of its hard to see you know.

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Landes has friends who were called up to fight this weekend. His brother and grandparents are still in Israel--both near Tel Aviv.

I definitely am worried the more I hear that things get closer to the places they live, but I just kind of have-to-have trust in God. Thats the best I can do, Landes said.

While some in Central Florida are waiting to hear word from their families in Israel, Eric Rahamim is one of the fortunate ones. His parents and sister planned to travel from Israel to visit him in Florida - celebrating the birth of his child this week. They all managed to travel from Israel with his sister landing in Florida Monday morning.

Read: Mans body pulled from Banana River in Cocoa Beach

But the majority of my friends still have family over there. People were trying to evacuate, family and friends as much as possible, Rahamim said.

Rahamim served in the Israeli military between 2010 to 2013 -- including at the Gaza border -- before moving to the Orlando area. He says seeing the images from the war in his home is devastating.

As a person that served there is just, its, its unbelievable, Rahamim said. Its heartbreaking. And everyone I know, here abroad, is feeling the pain even though were not physically there.

Read: Deputies identify man, 26, fatally shot at busy Orange County shopping center

Rahamim says not everyone is trying to evacuate. Many, including some of his friends, are staying to fight. He said hes hopeful Israel will win the war.

Theres a saying that if Israel put down puts down their weapons there will be no Israel. But if Hamas puts down their weapons, therell be peace. So take it as it is, Rahamim said. We owe it to our people, the people that live in Israel to fight.

Landes said in the U.S., its a waiting game to hear updates on how his friends and family are doing. He says hes doing what he can for his friends on campus and at Hillel.

Read: Bodycam video shows Orange County deputies kill man who shot at them in his backyard

Theres obviously the feeling of helplessness here. So whether its reposting, educating, and you know, thats something that I tried to do you know, as the President I want to make sure that students all feel comfortable saying things and being heard, but also knowing they have a safe place to be, Landes said.

Hillel plans to hold a candlelight vigil to remember the lives lostthis Wednesday at 7. No word yet on where it will be on campus.

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AUSTIN, Texas - Central Texans are showing their support for Israel. Thousands of people gathered for a vigil in Northwest Austin Monday night, where Gov. Greg Abbott and others denounced the attacks by Hamas.

"We are them, and they are us," said Neil Blumofe, senior rabbi at Congregation Agudis Achim.

It was standing room only at Congregation Agudis Achim on Far West Boulevard. People wore "stand with Israel" t-shirts, others wore Israeli flags.

"We have a large and growing Israeli community here and every single person that's here is impacted by these horrific incidents that have taken place," said Rabbi Daniel Septimus, CEO of Shalom Austin.

About 2,000 people packed into the synagogue and overflow rooms, with another thousand joining the solidarity gathering online, many with a personal connection to the violence overseas.

"Many people Ive spoken to have cousins who have been murdered, friends who are missing, it affects us all," said Blumofe.

The event was hosted by Shalom Austin and the Israeli American Council. Organizers called for healing for those whove lost loved ones, and a united front against terrorism.

"We have a very diverse group of people coming from all political spectrums, coming from various walks of life, who recognize that loss of life, and loss of life of non-combatants and civilians is intolerable," said Blumofe.

"I think it's important to understand that there's no moral equivalency between what Hamas, a terrorist organization, continues to do, and what the Israelis are going to have to do in response," said Septimus.

That message was echoed by a host of federal, state and local leaders, who reaffirmed support for Israel, and condemned the attacks by Hamas.

"Let there be peace. We stand with Israel," said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.

"It is like the Holocaust. There is no other side. There are no alternative facts. It must be eradicated," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett.

MORE STORIES:

"It is an act of war, to which Israel has the right to self-defense," said Abbott.

At the ceremony, Abbott announced more than $4 million in funding to beef up security at Texas synagogues and Jewish organizations, and ordered state agencies not to purchase goods from the Gaza Strip or from groups tied to Hamas.

"Texas joins the world in grieving with Israel," said Abbott.

Abbott also ordered Texas flags to be lowered to half-staff beginning Tuesday morning, in memory of the lives lost in Israel.

Meanwhile, on the University of Texas at Austin campus, a second gathering was held to show support for Israel Monday evening.

More than 600 students took part in a vigil on the South Mall near the UT Tower. Attendees lit candles, stood in silence, and sang "Oseh Shalom".

The event was organized by Ben Sherman and Nurit Pesel, and featured several speakers from the local Jewish community. Organizers called for peace in Israel, and for university officials to stand in solidarity with Israel.
Brian Chesky says Barack Obama gave him some post-breakup advice, saying he didn't need another relationship.

Instead, the former president said what he needed was friends.

Chesky said the advice made him realize he wasn't really connected with the people in his life.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he received a piece of advice about love and friendship from the former president after a breakup in 2021.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast on Monday, Chesky recounted how he sought advice from Obama in 2021.

The two have known each other since at least 2015, when Obama named Chesky a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. Chesky also joined Obama during his historic visit to Cuba in 2016.

To add context to why Obama was giving him advice, the Airbnb CEO said during the podcast that Obama had long taken a personal interest in him and that he saw the former president as a mentor.

"I remember I was single, got out of a relationship, and I kind of felt lonely, and I remember telling him: I think I need to be in another relationship," Chesky told podcaster Steven Bartlett.

"And he said: I don't think you yet need to be in another relationship, I think what you need are friends," he added.

The former president told the CEO he had "15 people in his life," many of whom he met before being elected as the country's top executive, and who he was "totally connected" with, according to Chesky.

Chesky said Obama's advice made him realize that though he had many friends a phone call away, he didn't have these same connections.

"And if you have someone in your life that if you have to call them and text them and get them up to speed, then you're not connected," he said.

Chesky cofounded Airbnb in 2007 and now has a net worth of $10.4 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. In 2022, Chesky donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation to fund scholarships. The two recently announced the second cohort of their Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service in August.

To be sure, the Airbnb CEO isn't the only one feeling the sting of modern loneliness.

US surgeon general Vivek Murthy said loneliness was an epidemic in a public advisory in May, writing, "Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health."

And a systematic review of research on loneliness published in 2021 in the journal Psychological Bulletin found that levels of loneliness appear to have increased every year from 1976 to 2019.

The loneliness epidemic also appears to be driving investments in new solutions, like AI companions and startups trying to facilitate more group activities, Insider's Rebecca Ungarino reported.

Chesky and Obama did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Once high-flying Clean Juice is facing a franchisee revolt.

More than 51 stores  roughly 45% of the Charlotte-based organic juice chains current footprint  could close this year with many franchisees pursuing legal options to exit their agreements.

They claim dwindling sales, mounting losses and questionable accounting practices with a major shift in the companys juicing strategy are driving their concerns.

Clean Juice CEO Landon Eckles disputes many of the claims. He says the company isnt responsible for the struggles of individual franchisees. He and wife Kat Eckles launched Clean Juice as the first and only U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic juice bar, later expanding it to offer healthy foods. They went from a solo location in Huntersville in 2015 to the first franchise opening in 2017. Clean Juice now has 112 locations after 32 stores closed in the last 12 months.

ALSO READ: Bojangles CEO steering restaurant chain out of the chicken business

Thirty-plus franchisees are now engaged in mediation with the chain, says Leon Hirzel, an attorney for the Independent Association of Clean Juice Franchisees, a group of current and former franchise owners that came together to discuss issues and pursue possible recourse.

Some franchisees recently spoke with the Charlotte Business Journal under agreement that their names would not be published for fear of retribution. CBJ also caught up with Eckles, several successful franchisees and a franchise consultant whos not connected to the conflict for an in-depth look at whats happening.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Bojangles CEO steering restaurant chain out of the chicken business
A couple of over 50 years leans on a tradition of using special numbers for the Maryland Lottery  birthdays and addresses they lived at when they started dating.

Their dedication paid off in a $100,000 Powerball win on Oct. 2, Maryland Lottery officials said in an Oct. 6 news release.

When they checked their $15 Powerball ticket, they noticed some of their numbers.

We thought at first that wed won $50,000, they said. It was so exciting!

Then they checked their ticket with the lottery app and realized they added the Power Play multiplier that doubled their winnings to $100,000.

We couldnt believe it. We were both crying, they told lottery officials.

The Baltimore couple described themselves as childhood sweethearts and have played the lottery as long as either of them can recall, they told lottery officials.

Weve won plenty of times over the years, but never anything like this, they said.

The couple plans to retire soon, so they told officials this windfall is a wonderful relief.

After their good luck, theyre hoping theyve hit a lucky streak and are eyeing that billion-dollar Powerball jackpot, they told lottery officials.

The Powerball jackpot is estimated to reach $1.725 billion on Oct. 11, making it the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history.

Playing Powerball

To score a jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.

The odds of scoring the jackpot prize are 1 in 292,201,338.

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state.

Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.

Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

$1 million Powerball ticket just misses top jackpot in California. Where was it sold?

Husband worries when he sees wife crying in car. Shed just won a big lottery prize

Retiree who plays every Powerball game starts day with big win. A nice way to wake up
Having children is saving the world, Hungarian President Katalin Novak recently declared before a crowd at Brigham Young University. The first woman president of Hungary traveled to Utah to warn Americans of the demographic ice age threatening the West. Aging populations and declining fertility rates, she said, are signs that we are about to give up on our future.

Novaks speech came on the heels of an address at the United Nations General Assembly and meetings with Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Elon Musk. During her U.S. tour, she has been touting Hungarys family policies and urging others to follow suit  all while somewhat burying the lede that this once-promising post-Soviet democracy has become a bastion of nativism and anti-LGBTQ reactionism under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Hungary has chosen to aggressively subsidize child-rearing while also doing its utmost to deter migrants from outside of the European Union (EU) and to cultivate a hostile environment for those already in the country. The state has erected a menacing, electrified fence topped with razor wire along portions of its southern border. The Orban government has repeatedly fought EU institutions on its anti-migrant policies. This year, the European Court of Justice found a Hungarian law requiring asylum seekers to file their applications in embassies outside the country  regardless of whether or not they had already arrived in Hungary  to be in violation of EU law.

Aside from migration, the Hungarian government has promoted a highly restrictive view of what constitutes a healthy family. LGBTQ Hungarians have been consistently cut out from this definition. At this years Budapest Demographic Summit, Jordan Peterson  who joined a participants list that included Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and self-styled postliberal Gladden Pappin  declared that the proper encapsulating structure around the infant are united and combined parents, man and woman. Hungarian law and political culture certainly reflects the same sentiments. Same-sex couples cannot adopt, and the Hungarian constitution was amended in 2020 to state that based on marriage and the parent-child relation. The mother is a woman, the father a man. Orban himself took to the stage to insist, We need a change in the political course. We have to make sure that family-friendly, conservative powers take over in as many European countries as possible.

The Orban governments generous support for traditional, heterosexual families and its hostility to both LGBTQ rights and foreign immigration offers a clear example of a country that sees its path to growth in starkly ethno-nationalist terms. And this willingness to use the state to promote a sort of nativist idyll is part of why so many self-styled postliberals and other authoritarian-curious American intellectuals have flocked to Budapest in recent years.

In the U.S., even with the Supreme Courts Obergefell decision still standing, right-wing scholars and activists have continued to attack the validity of same-sex marriage. Arguments like the one put forth by Jason Carroll of BYU-Provo and Walter Schrumm of Kansas State place reproduction at the center. In a 2016 article in the Ave Maria Law Review, they wrote: Because of the critical role opposite-sex marriage plays in perpetuating and maintaining the vital conceptual link between marriage and procreation, it warrants the exclusive recognition, promotion and protection of the state.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, I argued that the Dobbs decision had opened up a new landscape wherein we saw right-wingers fusing anti-immigration politics with a call to seize on the momentum of abortion restriction and promote family policies. It struck me then as a poisonous cocktail. Today, with Vivek Ramwaswamy running on a platform in which he refers to the nuclear family as the greatest form of governance known to mankind while also advocating for ending birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented migrants, I am even more alarmed.

During a 2022 Dr. Phil discussion on procreation, on which I was a panelist, things quickly turned in the direction of hard-right policies around family planning. One of the most extreme co-panelists, Jesse Lee Peterson, exclaimed that we definitely need white babies! For my part, I stressed that there are really two big tools that countries have for fighting population decline and aging: incentivizing birth and increasing immigration. What I find worrying is when advocates opt only for the former and totally abandon the latter. Unfortunately, this combination is increasingly common, and Petersons politics can no longer be said to be strictly fringe. Just last week, Donald Trump expressed similarly ethno-nationalist anti-immigrant views in the most noxious terms possible, telling an interviewer that undocumented immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country.

Immigration offers an obvious means of increasing the overall population simply by adding residents. Moreover, it can help combat aging trends. In many cases, migrant populations across the EU are younger than native-born populations. Per Eurostat, as of 2021, the median age of immigrants in member states was 30 years, compared to the EUs total population median of 44.4 years as of Jan. 1, 2022. Fertility rates among foreign-born mothers are rising across the EU, accounting for 21% of live births across the EU in 2020.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

And, as I noted at the outset, here in the U.S., the fall of Roe and the rise of more aggressively pro-natalist rhetoric has put a decidedly nativist style of politics at the center of our own debates about population growth and aging. The staunchly anti-immigration Tucker Carlson has leaned heavily into the far-right "great replacement" theory precisely because he sees Americas demographic changes combined with low native-born fertility rates as a plot to replace the current electorate. 2022 Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters flirted with backing bans on contraceptives as he and other hardliners looked to seize on the Dobbs decision. Masters, of course, argued for immigration restrictions and accused Democrats of seeking to import voters via refugees and illegal immigrants.

Yet immigrants remain an engine of American growth. In 2017, the fertility rate of foreign-born women in the U.S. stood at 2.18, a whopping figure for a world in which multiple European countries are seeing overall rates below 1.5. Overall population growth in the U.S., already sluggish before the pandemic, ground to record lows in 2021 and 2022. Analysis from Brookings stresses how immigration largely filled the gap in the little growth that was seen.

So there is real cause for concern when it comes to fueling the next generation of growth in the United States. Offering state support for childbearing and families can, of course, be a liberal and even progressive policy. It is a national embarrassment how many Americans face potentially knee-buckling hospital bills just for giving birth. But family is also a fraught concept that the right has regularly sought to define down to its narrowest attributes. In a post-Dobbs landscape of receding reproductive rights, that restrictive definition begins to appear more like a straight jacket. Paired with hostility to foreign immigration  the very thing that could supercharge American growth for the 21st century, and which only stands to rise amidst the changes of a warming world  such politics only offers illiberalism and decline. It becomes clear that when the hard right argues that having children will save the world, they mean only the narrow, exclusionary world that they inhabit.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's National Bureau of Statistics will conduct a nationwide sample survey in November to help better plan population policies, in an unexpected poll as authorities struggle to boost the country's flagging birth rate.

Concerned about China's first population drop in six decades and its rapid ageing, Beijing is urgently trying an array of measures to lift the country's birth rate including financial incentives and boosting childcare facilities.

The survey's scope on population changes will focus on urban and rural areas throughout the country, according to state media reports on Tuesday.

The plan will help to "accurately and timely monitor China's population developmental changes and provide a basis for the Communist Party and the government to formulate national economic, social development and population related policies," the bureau said.

China last conducted its once-in-a-decade census in November 2020 which showed it grew at the slowest pace since the first modern population survey in the 1950s. The number of people who will be surveyed was not specified.

The survey will take place from Nov. 1 when a government surveying agency will go to households to collect the data or ask respondents to fill out the questions online.

Population development has often been linked to the strength and "rejuvenation" of the country in state media amid the declining birth rate and widespread concerns by citizens on the difficulties of raising children.

High childcare costs and having to stop their careers have put many women off having more children or any at all. Gender discrimination and traditional stereotypes of women caring for the children are still widespread throughout the country.Authorities have in recent months increased rhetoric on sharing the duty of child rearing but paternity leave is still limited in most provinces.

The country reported a drop of roughly 850,000 people for a population of 1.41175 billion in 2022, marking the first decline since 1961, the last year of China's Great Famine.

(Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill)
As war rages in Israel and Gaza, Chinese social media users have come out in support of Palestine.

Their criticism of Israel on Weibo emerged in tandem with barbed comments aimed at the US.

The heavily moderated Weibo is often a sign of what's allowed to spread in China's thought spaces.

On Sunday evening, the Israeli consulate in Guangzhou published a social media post to its 264,000 followers, describing reports of a Chinese-Israeli woman seized by Hamas.

"A Chinese-Israeli girl born in Beijing was kidnapped by Hamas and taken to the Gaza Strip yesterday," the consulate wrote on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. A photo was attached to the post that appeared to show a woman being whisked away on a motorcycle.

Hundreds of cynical comments followed. "Don't even use the word 'China,'" one user threatened.

Some commenters compared Israel to Japan, which is heavily disliked in China due for its brutal regime in World War II. Others brazenly accused Israel of being a Nazi state.

Many raised the memory of Du Zhaoyu, a 34-year-old Chinese lieutenant colonel who was killed in a 2006 Israeli air raid while on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

Officially, China has called for calm as the militant group Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in decades, and as Israel responded with a flurry of strikes and a siege of Gaza.

But on Weibo, which says it has nearly 600 million users, a wave of antisemitism and anger toward Israel has emerged. The heavily moderated platform is rarely a true reflection of consensus in China, but offers a glimpse at the narratives and sentiments allowed to flourish in the country's thought spaces.

Amid the deluge of posts and sneering comments, an oft-reposted message hints at a deeper reason for some anti-Israel posts  blaming the United States.

"Emotionally: sympathy for the Palestinian people. Position: understanding Israel. Politically: disliking the United States. Fundamentally: longing for peace. Conclusion: opposing war means opposing the United States," the copy-pasted message reads.

'Palestine is fighting for survival'

Like in the rest of the world, discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict has surged on Weibo. The three most popular hashtags related to the fighting have collectively been viewed over 1 billion times, per data seen by Insider.

On the biggest posts, support for Palestine is clear. "Normal people will support Palestine. It's evident that Palestine is fighting for survival. It is almost at the end of the line," said the top comment in a report by state media agency Xinhua.

"Israel can win the war with the support of the United States, but it will never get the support of the world's righteous people," another person wrote.

Antisemitic comments, not directed at Israel but at Jewish people, abounded on Weibo as well, as of Tuesday morning Beijing time.

Notably, the Israeli Embassy in China has received positive comments and well-wishes. But its account has also locked comments on several of its recent posts about the conflict, including one that had more than 1,100 responses. On other posts, the account has enabled a function that allows it to highlight supportive comments.

The Israeli Embassy in Beijing has locked comments on some of its posts. Screenshot/Weibo

Undertones of animosity toward the US could be seen in almost every topic discussion about the conflict.

"America, Britain, Israel. The Earth's three major troublemakers. Without these three nations, the world would be much more peaceful," wrote the blogger Wenxiao Vincent on a topic of a Shanghai woman who was in Tel Aviv during the Hamas attacks.

In his commentary on the Israeli siege of Gaza, renowned columnist Hu Xijin pointed out that former US ambassador Nikki Haley  who is vying for the GOP presidential nomination  had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "finish them" in an October 7 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"They should have hell to pay for they have just done," Haley wrote, posting a video of her calling for the end of Hamas.

Hu accused Haley of making a post "full of murderous intent." He was formerly Chief Editor of the staunchly pro-government outlet, The Global Times.

Blaming the US for war is a common theme on Weibo, where users see Washington as a cabal of Imperialist warmongers that has a hand in all world conflicts  in line with propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry has urged Israel and Palestine to work toward a two-state solution, which would see an independent state of Palestine formed to co-exist with Israel. Beijing declined to condemn Hamas, but said it was against all forms of attacks against civilians.

Read the original article on Business Insider
China has so far taken a soft stance on the Israel-Hamas war, focusing on Israels long-standing blockade of the Gaza strip.

Chinas foreign ministry said in a statement over the weekend that the fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The statement has angered Israeli officials, who expect a harsher condemnation of Hamass attack.

The relative silence from Beijing prompted U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to call for more support for Israel from Xi Jinping.

The unwillingness to call out Hamas directly may stem from China's fear of alienating friends in the developing world, political scientist Wen-Ti Sung told Nikkei. Beijing "doesn't want to be seen as betraying its developing world friends  especially when that friend is engaged in hostilities against a leading U.S. ally, namely Israel."

Coverage from Chinese state media has focused on Israel's retaliation against Hamas. So far, the media has avoided showing footage of scenes from the Israeli side of the border, or reporting on Hamas militants' attack against hundreds of music festival attendees, Jordan Schneider writes in his China Talk newsletter. The segment which ran on news channel CCTV "creates the airy illusion that Israel just starting bombing Gaza to smithereens out of nowhere for no particular reason (and targeting emergency vehicles) because thats what Israel does."

Support for Palestinians is widespread on Chinese social media. On Weibo, antisemitic messages have surged. While the heavy moderation of the social media app means its not necessarily reflective of Chinese citizens' sentiments, the views expressed there are crucial to shaping China's preferred narrative, Matthew Loh writes for Business Insider. Users are directing their anger at Israel as well at the U.S. As Loh notes: "Blaming the US for war is a common theme on Weibo, where users see Washington as a cabal of Imperialist warmongers that has a hand in all world conflicts  in line with propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party."
A 52-year-old woman from Chino was arrested late last month after authorities allege she had been embezzling public funds from a local elementary schools parent teacher organization.

In July, detectives at the Chino Police Department initiated an investigation into Nicole Lanter, an employee of the Chino Valley Unified School District, for possible theft of funds from the PTO at Newman Elementary School.

After the months-long investigation, Lanter was taken into custody on Sept. 22 and booked at the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department West Valley Detention Center on charges of misuse of public funds.

L.A. County DA investigator and wife killed in violent crash in Downey

Authorities did not release any details on the amount of money the 52-year-old is accused of misappropriating or how she came to the attention of investigators.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Officer Myles Mason with the Chino PDs Criminal Investigations Bureau at 909-334-3087 or by email.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Chipmaker Nvidia canceled its AI Summit in Tel Aviv which had sessions on topics like AI and LLMs.

Israel is in a state of war after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday, killing hundreds.

Some Israeli tech CEOs and VCs are even volunteering for military service to help out in the war.

Chipmaker Nvidia had to cancel an AI conference scheduled in Tel Aviv, Israel next week due to safety concerns about the ongoing conflict in the country, the company announced on its website .

"We hope this message finds you safe and well. We regret to inform you that due to the current situation in Israel, we have decided to cancel AI SUMMIT, which was scheduled for October 15th and 16th," the message on its website reads.

"Our hearts go out to all those affected by the situation. The safety and wellbeing of our participants are our top priority, and we believe this is the best course of action to ensure everyone's safety."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war on Saturday after militant group Hamas staged a surprise attack. According to the Israeli embassy in the US, at least 1,000 Israelis, most of them civilians, have been killed.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing over 700 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang was supposed to deliver a keynote at the conference to discuss the company's latest plans for generative AI and cloud computing, CNBC reported . Most of the planned speakers were executives from Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Lenovo, and Snowflake.

The summit, described as "the #1 conference for developers, business leaders, and AI researchers," on its website, was going to have 2,500 attendees including developers, researchers and tech workers.

On its website, Nvidia highlighted over 6,000 startups in Israel with investments from VCs, which makes it "one of the world's most vibrant technology hubs."

The event was supposed to have 60 sessions on topics about AI, LLMs, cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles and more.

Insider reached out to Nvidia for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Some Israeli tech CEOs and VCs are volunteering for army service to help out in the war against Hamas. This includes CodiumAI's CEO Itamar Friedman who reported for reservist duty and cofounder of VC firm Target Global, Shmuel Chafets.

"I think as an Israeli, it's my duty and all of our duty to come and protect our country," Chafets told Bloomberg TV .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Civilians in Gaza worry they may run out of food in as little as six days.

With 210,000 Gazans already internally displaced, they say they don't know where to take shelter.

Israel is engaging in a counterstrike against Gaza after Hamas' deadly attack on Saturday.

Civilians in Gaza fear they could run out of food in as little as six days as Israel launches counterstrikes on the Gaza Strip and invokes a "siege" of the region in response to Hamas' deadly attacks in the south of Israel on Saturday.

"Our colleagues in estimates and Gaza say within four to six days, they don't know if they will have essential supplies and essential food to survive," Ivan Karakashian, the head of advocacy in Jerusalem for the NGO Norwegian Refugee Council, told Insider on Tuesday.

"I hear from our staff that basically, they go down to their corner stores to try and get basic goods, whether it be flour, milk, eggs, those kinds of things. And the corner stores have all been depleted," he added.

As of Tuesday, Karakashian said about 210,000 Palestinians have been "internally displaced" as destruction from Israeli counterstrikes ruins their homes.

"It seems every half hour, that number jumps by about 10,000," he told Insider, and those Palestinian civilians don't know where to go to take shelter from the bombings.

"Our staff is reporting in Gaza, and what they're reporting that they're seeing are civilians, women and children with their belongings on the streets having left their homes, but unsure where to go for safety," Karakashian said. "So you walk out on the streets of Gaza, you see all these families there carrying their belongings, wanting to seek shelter somewhere, but not sure if there's anywhere that's safe in Gaza."

Israel has been warning civilians in Gaza to evacuate to safety from areas they intend to hit with bombs, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

Karakashian said: "The short answer is nowhere safe in Gaza."

He added that there are concerns in Gaza over whether there is enough fuel available to power electricity throughout the region.

Karakashian said colleagues in Gaza reported there is enough fuel to last until Wednesday but that fuel imports that were about to enter through the Rafah crossing were turned back after Israel bombed the area.

Gaza is already operating with only four hours of electricity every 24 hours, Karakashian told Insider, relying on "the sole turbine and the sole power plant, and Gaza can continue operating," he said.

Karakashian added: "The minute that stops because of lack of fuel, then they won't get any electricity at all. And that includes hospitals and such places. So the situation is just extremely dire for Gaza right now. "

As of Tuesday, 830 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the Gaza Ministry of Health said.

The Israeli death toll has surpassed 1,000 people since Hamas invaded Israel on Saturday, Israeli officials said. Hamas is also holding Israelis hostage  the militant group said it had about 100 people captive in Gaza. According to NBC News, the Israeli Defense Forces estimated the number to be over 30.

Read the original article on Business Insider
BOWIE, Md. - Police are still searching for multiple shooters after gunfire erupted during homecoming festivities at Bowie State University.

Bowie State Campus Police and Prince Georges County police are working alongside Maryland State Police, which is the lead investigative agency.

They say two 19-year-olds were shot and believed to have non-life-threatening injuries. Police said they were not students at the school.

The campus was packed Saturday night when the shots rang out at 11:30 p.m. at the Center for Business and Graduate Studies. There was already a large pre-planned police presence on campus for homecoming festivities, Butler saysthey responded to the scene quickly.

An alert went out letting campus know about the shooting with a shelter-in-place order in effect from 11:30 p.m. when the shooting happened until about 3 a.m.

"I saw a bunch of students running, taking shelter. You know. I followed after them as well, because I didnt know what was going on," senior Nianna Perkins told FOX 5. "[Were] a little shaken up, but everyones ok."

To the campus community, it was a tragic end to what they said was a great weeks worth of homecoming festivities.

"Our campus community is very much a peaceful community," Bowie State President Aminta Breaux said. "This is not normal for BSU."

The law enforcement agencies investigating gave a briefing alongside Bowie State Public Safety and administrators Sunday morning. Right now, police say theyre still piecing together their investigation.

"Investigators will be on campus through the coming days to conduct follow-up of interviews, of witnesses as well as interviews of neighbors, as well as conduct any and all leads to apprehend and find the individuals who were responsible for this particular incident," said Maryland State Police Major Kenny Brown.

They did recover a gun, but havent said much about what it looked like or who it belonged to, nor did they release a description of what the shooters looked like. Law enforcement is now asking anyone with information that could help the investigation to come forward.

"We understand students may have some social media video that is important. Please contact the tip line and provide that information to the Bowie State police department," Brown added.

Law enforcement officials say this appears to be an isolated incident and they have no reason to believe there is a continued danger to the campus but classes were canceled Monday. Counseling services will be available for students and a community conversation is being held on the campus at 2 p.m.

Dear BSU Family,

We are deeply saddened by the recent campus incident. To heal and reclaim our community spirit, join the Community Conversation on Mon, Oct 9, at 2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. https://t.co/x1qzGXnvSM pic.twitter.com/iOTBEyB9yp  Bowie State University (@BowieState) October 8, 2023

This marks the second shooting on an HBCU campus in our area in a week. Five people were shot in an incident on Morgan States campus Tuesday. All five are expected to recover, and the search for shooters continues in that case.

At this time police do not believe these shootings are connected but after Morgan State canceled its homecoming festivities following the shooting on their campus, the Bowie State community invited those students and alumni to come out for its homecoming.
A team of 12 experts studied the link between the extreme weather and climate change over the 10 hottest winter days in a region encompassing Paraguay, central Brazil and regions of Bolivia and Argentina (AIZAR RALDES)

A wave of unusually extreme heat at the end of South America's winter was made 100 times more likely by climate change, according to a study published Tuesday.

"While many people have pointed to El Nino to explain the South America heat wave, this analysis has shown that climate change is the primary driver of the heat," said Lincoln Muniz Alves, a researcher at the Brazil National Institute for Space Research who participated in the study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group.

From Buenos Aires to Chile, and parts of Brazil, people found themselves in T-shirts at the height of the Southern Hemisphere winter in August and September, with temperatures shooting above 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit), and reaching 37 degrees Celsius in some cases, breaking records.

The WWA study found that while the naturally occurring El Nino warming phenomenon had some impact, climate change was the main culprit, driving temperatures up between 1.4 and 4.3 degrees.

A team of 12 experts studied the link between the extreme weather and climate change over the 10 hottest winter days in a region encompassing Paraguay, central Brazil and regions of Bolivia and Argentina.

"The scientists found that these extreme heat episodes in South America outside the summer months would have been extremely unlikely without human-caused climate change," read a statement on the study.

"Heat episodes like these will become even more frequent and extreme if greenhouse gas emissions are not rapidly reduced to net zero."

In Sao Paulo, the biggest city in Latin America, four deaths were attributed to the heatwave.

"Heat kills, particularly in spring, before people are acclimatized to it," said Julie Arrighi, a director at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

"Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in early spring are incredibly extreme and while we are aware of just four heat-related fatalities, it's likely the true number is much higher."

The heatwave came during a winter and early spring marked by extreme weather phenomena, from torrential rains in Chile, to cyclones in southern Brazil and a drought which pushed Uruguay's potable water supply to the brink.

The heat also led to increased forest fires in the Amazon.

Unseasonable warm weather was not limited to South America, with last month dubbed the hottest September on record by the European Union climate monitor.

The El Nino phenomenon -- which warms waters in the southern Pacific and stokes hotter weather beyond -- is likely to contribute to 2023 becoming the hottest year on record in the next three months.

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(Bloomberg) -- As mayor of Mexico City, a job she held until June, Claudia Sheinbaum rarely let her attention to detail slip. While being driven to meetings in her Chevy, shed snap photos of traffic jams or clogged taxi ranks and send them to the citys mobility chief, Andres Lajous, asking him to sort them out. She once urged him to visit the site of a planned bus line extension, insisting he had to see it himself to manage the project, Lajous recalls.

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Now Sheinbaum, 61, is a top contender to become the next president of Mexico, and the ideological successor to leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or AMLO. Some view her as Latin Americas Angela Merkel: a politician with the rigorous mind of a scientist. Like Merkel, Sheinbaum holds a Ph.D. (Merkels is in quantum chemistry; hers is in energy engineering) and began her career in academia. Not only has she published a raft of scientific papers, shes contributed to two landmark reports by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the worlds premier body of climate science.

During almost five years in city hall, Sheinbaum oversaw the electrification of Mexico Citys buses and covered the huge Central de Abasto food market with solar panels. Her work as a scientist and as a government official make her look like a climate president in the making. But the politics are far from simple.

Mexico, the worlds 11th-biggest oil producer, is the only Group of 20 country with no net-zero emissions target, and climate policy experts say its gone backward in recent years. Lopez Obrador has directed billions of dollars to prop up the indebted state-owned oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), seeing it as essential to national sovereignty. His government just opened a refinery in Tabasco state, and its tried to dissolve the National Institute for Ecology and Climate Change as an austerity measure. In part because of policy changes that bolstered the national power utility, private investment in renewables has dropped since AMLO took power in 2018.

The technocratic Sheinbaum is a protege of the president, whos so popular in Mexico that vendors sell dolls, balloons and mugs with his grinning face. Shes unlikely to deviate from her mentors policies as the race gets underway. And its not clear she would make climate and clean energy top priorities even if she beats her competitor from a center-right coalition, the entrepreneur Xochitl Galvez, next June. (If either wins, Mexico will be led by a woman for the first time.)

When talking to voters, Sheinbaum has tried to pitch herself as a progressive rooted in the populist nationalism of her party, Morena. In Michoacan, a hub for avocado and lime growers, she said, We are going to keep advancing with renewable energies and with the protection of the environment, but without betraying the people of Mexico. Sheinbaum declined to comment for this article.

Mexico is the worlds 15th-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, and its emissions are expected to keep rising through 2030, according to Climate Action Tracker. If Sheinbaum were able to reverse that trend, it would be significant in the global fight to rein in climate change.

The main thing standing in the way is politics, says Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States & Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. Sheinbaum will be forced to defend current policy or begin to break away from Lopez Obrador, and it will be interesting to see if shes capable of doing it, he says.

Luis Zambrano, an ecologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, isnt hopeful. Shes shown herself to be someone who has always followed the president, he says. At some point, she opted for politics, instead of opting for science.

Oil has long been key to state revenue in Mexico, and Pemex, a major employer, is also an object of national pride. At an event in March right before the anniversary of Mexicos nationalization of oil production, Sheinbaum spoke carefully when asked about the countrys energy future. Of course, we all want to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases that provoke climate change, and we all want cities that dont have contaminated air, and that this be done through the production or use of cleaner energies, she said. But that doesnt mean that that has to come before everything else.

Long before she was running for president, Sheinbaum was a student obsessed with the energy efficiency of wood-burning stoves and lightbulbs. In graduate school she did a research stint at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. I dedicated myself to modeling the consumption of energy in Mexicohow its used, what its used for and which sources of energy allow you to meet peoples needs, she recounted at a recent campaign stop with university students in Nuevo Leon state.

She has a really keen curiosity, an intense motivation to understand data and trends, says Lynn Price, a retired Berkeley Lab scientist whos collaborated with Sheinbaum on papers going back to when they worked together in the 1990s. Even then, Sheinbaum was interested in how data could be applied to public policy, Price says.

Raised in Mexico City by Jewish scientistsher grandparents left Europe for Mexico in the first part of the 20th centurySheinbaum entered politics full time in 2000, when Lopez Obrador, then mayor of Mexico City, appointed her his environment minister. She was elected leader of Tlalpan, a borough of Mexico City, in 2015 and then mayor of the city in 2018. In that post, she set a goal of planting millions of trees, piloted home rainwater collection and ordered her employees to plug the citys rampant water leaks. She stepped down in June to seek Morenas nomination as its presidential candidate. She won it in September.

She has a reputation as an exacting boss. Everyone Ive ever talked to who has worked for her says that her principal virtue and her principal defect is micro-managementthe obsession for detail, for the technical parts, says Carlos Perez Ricart, who teaches international relations at the Center for Research & Teaching in Economics in Mexico City.

Sheinbaum got her share of criticism as mayor from environmentalists who said she prioritized urban growth over conservation. And the problems she would inherit as president are bigger than bus lanes and traffic jams.

Mexico has pledged to cut emissions 35% by 2030. Power generation is Mexicos largest source of carbon dioxide emissions; about 72% of its power comes from fossil fuels. The government is building a sprawling solar farm near the US border, but analysts say the next president will need to ramp up a lot more clean energy to make a real dent.

The goliath Pemex has a notoriously poor environmental and safety record. Researchers last year reported two enormous methane leaks from one of its offshore fields. Lenders have threatened to cut off investment unless it cleans up its act.

Meanwhile, climate-fueled extreme weather is posing an increasing danger to Mexicos citizens. Brutally high temperatures have contributed to the deaths of almost 400 people since March and put further stress on the already struggling national grid. Drought conditions regularly affect swathes of the country and leave cities without water. Rising seas have swallowed coastal homes.

Sheinbaums rival, Galvez, has said she can make fast environmental improvements with the help of the private sector. Sheinbaum has insisted progress will be driven by the state.

Other left-leaning leaders in Latin America who have pushed for a greener future havent had an easy time. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has campaigned against fossil fuels on the world stage but made few inroads in his plan to boost wind and solar domestically. In Chile, President Gabriel Boric has so far declined to bail out renewables companies that complained they werent making any money.

Sheinbaum, in the name of Mexican energy security, could pressure Pemex on methane releases from flaring and argue the gas should be captured for consumption. If she leaned into renewable energy partnerships with the private sector, it wouldnt necessarily be read as stepping on the toes of the state utility.

She has the opportunity to be more friendly toward the private sectorto have a less stringent and hostile view on private participation. That would be important for the climate, says Diego Rivera Rivota, a research associate at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. But bold action comes with trade-offs.

Middle-income countries such as Mexico must try to expand their economies and improve living standards while also curbing emissions. Its a tricky issue to navigate for any political leader. For many developing countries, for the development to happen, there will be some emissions. Over time it can be reduced, says Joyashree Roy, a professor at Thailands Asian Institute for Technology and a lead author of IPCC report chapters on industry to which Sheinbaum contributed. Because Sheinbaum knows what environmentally responsible growth that raises living standards looks like, she will be able to argue for it, Roy says.

Nobodys sure exactly how she would do it. At the city level, she did interesting things, says Bernardo Baranda, the Latin America director for the nonprofit Institute for Transportation & Development Policy. I think she believes in what shes doing and the ideas of the president. But many people are waiting to hear her own voice, and thats the great unknown. 

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One of four South Carolina men charged in the largest fentanyl seizure in York County history has pleaded guilty in federal court, documents show.

Javaris Latrey Johnson, of Clover, pleaded guilty in Columbia Thursday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, records show.

York County and federal drug agents seized more than 60 pounds of fentanyl in October 2022 from a mobile home near Lake Wylie, which federal indictments said was a secret drug lab.

Johnson faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, according to the plea agreement signed by him and federal prosecutors, the public record plea agreement shows.

Johnson also agreed to forfeit his Clover property to the federal government, according to the agreement.

Charges remain pending against three other men arrested in the case: Quonzy Lanard Hope, Thomas Anthony Perry, and Timario Martez Gayton, federal court records show.

The four men were arrested in October 2022 when agents raided a home along Lake Wylie.

The seizure

Federal and local drug agents and prosecutors say the operation along the lake that straddles York and Mecklenburg counties was a cartel-connected clandestine lab operating in the Southeastern United States.

Several pill presses were seized, along with pounds of drugs, guns, and more than $50,000 in cash, according to documents filed in the case.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA says fentanyI is inexpensive, widely available, highly addictive  and lethal.

Federal, state, and local officials have said fentanyl-related overdoses have spiked in the region in recent years.

In York County in 2022, 90 of 111 overdose deaths were attributed to fentanyl, according to information released publicly by the York County Coroner.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have seen a 20 percent jump in overdose deaths in 2023 with fentanyl the main culprit, the Charlotte Observer reported in August.

The four defendants were initially charged in South Carolina state court in October 2022, then indicted by federal authorities.

After the 2022 seizure, local, state and federal officials at a news conference the seizure showed a need for a fentanyl trafficking law in South Carolina state courts. A fentanyl trafficking state law took effect in South Carolina earlier this year.

What happens now?

Johnson remains in federal custody. No date has been set for sentencing.

The other three defendants who have pleaded not guilty also remain in custody pending court dates.
Only BRI truly meets infrastructure needs

08:50, October 10, 2023 By Ong Tee Keat ( China Daily

[Photo/Xinhua]

The 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative marks its coming of age amid rising geopolitical tensions. The ambitious global endeavour of an unprecedented scale has weathered through its first decade with much vigor despite the immense challenges.

The multitude of orchestrated disinformation designed to discredit it with such malicious labels as "debt trap" has failed to hamper the Belt and Road Initiative's momentum. The incessant insidious vilification of the initiative by the West has failed to slow its progress in infrastructure development. As of June 2023, China has signed more than 200 agreements with 152 countries and 32 international organizations, including the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, under the Belt and Road framework.

As the Belt and Road Initiative makes new inroads in Latin America, once dubbed the "backyard of the US", the post-pandemic Southeast Asia is now on the threshold of economic recovery with an escalating demand for infrastructure development. The latter's rail links are projected to grow by 20 percent with an extension of more than 1,350 kilometers by the end of 2024 as compared with that on January 2023, according to a Nikkei analysis of projects in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

While the BRI skeptics in the West continue to cast aspersions on the BRI infrastructure projects, little did they anticipate China-ASEAN goods trade volume in 2022  the year when the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement came into force  has posted an impressive increase of 15 percent year-on-year.

Alongside a respective increase of 26.7 percent and 15.5 percent in both the sea-borne and air-cargo logistics involved in the China-ASEAN trade, the whopping increase of 197.6 percent in rail logistics stands out to be the most remarkable. In this context, the China-Laos railway service inaugurated in December 2021 has its fair share of contribution to the quantum leap in the rail logistics.

These RCEP statistics mirror the compounding impacts of the RCEP implementation alongside the logistical connectivity provided by the BRI. The trillion dollar worth mega-endeavour is truly a game-changer in its own right as it seeks to transform the landscape of regional, if not, global connectivity in all respects.

A case in point is the China-Laos rail link. At one time, it was deemed a near insurmountable challenge in the pan-Asian railway project. Now it has emerged as the forerunner in setting the pan-Asian railway into momentum. Its immediate impact is that it has transformed Laos, a land-locked ASEAN member state, into a land-linked country, thus enhancing the economic competitiveness of the nation.

When the world is still reeling from the pandemic-induced floundering economy, the US-led West set their sights more on the number of new BRI projects rolled out and were quick in drawing the conclusion that the Global Development Initiative, among others, was rolled out at the expense of the BRI. The latter was said to be left at the back burner with fewer projects hogging the international limelight.

Yet, the truth lies in that the GDI serves as an enabling platform to make the BRI outreach multi-dimensional. The complementarity of both the BRI and GDI simply evades the radar screen of the critics as seen in the case of how the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership delivers the economic dividends by riding on the BRI's logistical connectivity.

When the endeavour goes global, cultural differences rooted in the existing civilizational disparity between China and the rest of the world have to be bridged in the interest of confidence building. Effective communication to promote mutual understanding remains central to the successful implementation of the BRI.

In this regard, intensified vilification against the BRI by the doomsayers is certainly not the least anticipated. Though the venomous "debt trap" conspiracy theory has been pronounced unfounded, it is still being resurrected repeatedly to satisfy the insatiable greed for egoistic pride among the "sore losers". The unnecessary disdain displayed is simply "sour grape" at work.

Be that as it may, new "mini-lateral" groupings, ostensibly sponsored by the US, are now entering the ring of infrastructure development, purportedly to help bridge the gap of global infrastructure finance which requires an additional $3.2 trillion or 2 percent of the global GDP annually to realize the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The new kid on the block is the "India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor", which was launched at the recent G20 Summit in New Delhi. It has been projected as a transnational rail and shipping route spreading across Asia, the Middle East countries and Europe.

Prior to this, the kick-off of the BRI in 2013 has sparked off a litany of fresh initiatives for infrastructure development that are touted as viable alternatives. The low- and medium-income countries in dire need for infrastructure development seem to have made an ideal ground for showering hopes and promises.

The "Expanded Partnership for Quality Infrastructure" promised by Japan in 2015, followed by the launching of the "Asia-Africa Growth Corridor" by India in 2017 were both remembered to have slid into another promise of harmonizing their initiatives with their QUAD partners, namely the US and Australia in 2020 on the platform of Blue Dot Network. This was further eclipsed by the "Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment" rolled out by the US and its allies in G7 in 2022.

Prior to this, the European Union was joining the fray when it launched the "Global Gateway" program in 2021 with a commitment to deliver a "values-driven, high-standard and transparent" infrastructure partnership to meet the global infrastructure development needs.

All these initiatives shared the same purpose of funding infrastructure projects in the Global South. But none has yet had anything substantive to showcase the promised model of high-quality infrastructure on the horizon.

From the global perspective, no party should ever be paranoid of healthy competition in the interest of humanity. The BRI has proven its prowess by delivery of projects on-schedule. After all, proof of the pudding is in the eating. Amid the rising politics of infrastructure, no amount of empty hubris and rhetoric could ever reshape the global infrastructure connectivity, but sincere commitment certainly does.

The author is president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for the Asia-Pacific, and former transport minister of Malaysia.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Nic Robertson was visibly emotional while describing a bloodstained bunker he visited in Israel.

The bunker was located near the music festival that was attacked by Hamas on Saturday.

Robertson said militants had killed those hiding in the bunker "in calculated, cold blood."

CNN correspondent Nic Robertson choked up on air while recounting a harrowing experience visiting a bloodstained bunker in Israel amid the nation's ongoing war with Hamas.

Robertson told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview that aired on Monday about his visit to a rocket shelter near the music festival that Hamas attacked.

The Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza. Fighters from Hamas massacred civilians attending the Tribe of Nova Music Festival on the same day. At least 260 bodies have been recovered from the music festival attack.

"The smell when you step into a shelter is kind of what hits you first," Robertson told Tapper, adding that people had sought refuge in these shelters when Hamas attacked.

"And you realize that this stuff on the floor is what you fear it is," Robertson added. "It's blood, and you realize in an instant, looking at the strewn shell casings on the floor, looking at the bullet holes in the concrete in front of you, and you can understand what happened."

"Hamas had gone in there with guns and quite literally shot them in calculated, cold blood as they were cowering there on the floor," Robertson said. "And the blood's on the wall, and the blood's on the ceiling, and the bullet holes are in the concrete wall."

The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) October 10, 2023

Robertson was not the only one who got emotional on live TV while discussing the attacks.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also choked up when he spoke to CNN's Tapper about the grisly images being circulated online.

"Sorry. It's very, excuse me, very difficult to look at these images and the human cost. These are human beings, they're family members, they're friends, they're loved ones, cousins, brothers, sisters," Kirby told Tapper while holding back tears.

Israel declared a state of war on Sunday, with officials saying their goal was to vanquish Hamas and take complete control of Gaza.

Civilian deaths and injuries have been reported on both sides. Israeli authorities said that more than 900 Israelis have been killed. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the war has claimed at least 687 lives in Gaza, with thousands more injured.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. Coast Guard called off its search for a missing Florida Keys boater over the weekend.

The agency said in a statement Saturday the search is suspended pending new information. Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez identified the man as Jay Hegeman, 74.

Hegemans family said he lives in Islamorada.

Hegeman rented the 20-foot center console boat on Thursday and was expected to return the vessel at 5 p.m. that day. Around 10 p.m. when he still had not returned to the dock, the rental boat company reported him overdue to the Coast Guard, Rodriguez said.

Although the search for Hegeman has ended for now, the Coast Guard is still asking people with possible information about his whereabouts to call Sector Key West at at 305-292-8727.

This story has been updated with the correct first name of the boater.
The cost of heating a home and keeping the lights on was a major burden on many families last winter. This year, prices for heating are expected to remain high across the country, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

Heating assistance will start providing benefits on Dec. 1 this year. But Granite Staters can apply now  and Ryan Clouthier from Southern New Hampshire Services said residents should apply soon, instead of waiting for the first cold snap.

Cold weather is around the corner. Heres how to apply for help with heating in N.H.

When the temperatures drop, we'll see an increased call for appointments, he said. Its better if we can start that process now.

Clouthier said his agency has already seen an increase in the number of households applying for assistance this year.

Documents needed to apply for heating assistance

Here are three main things to know if you're applying:

The place to start is your community action agency. They administer heating and electricity assistance programs, and can help you figure out if youre eligible.

Energy assistance is available for residents making under 60% of the statewide median income through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Apply even if you think you may be over the income limit; community action agencies can figure that out with you.

Renters can qualify for assistance.

How to apply

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, also known as LIHEAP, is the largest source of help for Granite Staters. Its federally funded, but its distributed by New Hampshires community action agencies.

The first step to take when applying for assistance is to reach out to the community action agency that serves your area.

The community action agency will help determine your eligibility for the program. Granite Staters can get assistance through LIHEAP if they make less than 60% of the statewide median income.

A state-funded emergency assistance program aimed at Granite Staters who arent eligible for LIHEAP funds was available last year for people who make between 60% and 75% of the statewide median income, but that program is not available this year.

Renters are able to qualify for LIHEAP even if heat is included in rent; in that case they would get a voucher. There could be exceptions for people already receiving rental assistance.

When applying for help, Granite Staters should be prepared to bring along these documents.

If there are multiple people in the household, residents should bring copies of social security cards for each member of the household, and a copy of 2021 tax returns and proof of income for each adult.

Applications should be processed within 30 days. Energy assistance can be retroactive, and Granite Staters can apply until April 30th to get help with this winters bills.

What energy assistance can help with

Depending on the household, LIHEAP can provide between about $240 to $2,400 in assistance with heating bills. The average benefit is $1,530, according to the state.

Those funds can be used for any kind of heat  whether its natural gas, propane, wood, electricity, fuel oil, or something else. The money will be paid directly to the vendor.

Community action agencies can also help with emergency heating assistance, helping people get a delivery within 24 hours if it is cold and someone has no heat.

Disconnections

New Hampshire has some protections from utility disconnections in the winter. From Nov. 15 to March 31, utilities arent allowed to disconnect your service if you use electric or gas heat and owe less than $450. For electric customers who arent using the service for heating, that limit is $225, and for gas customers who arent using that service for heating, the limit is $125.

In addition to a notice of disconnection, the utilities are required to notify customers in person or by phone a minimum of two days before a disconnection. If they arent able to notify a customer, they must seek approval from the Department of Energy to disconnect.

The department is not allowed to approve a disconnection if a customer has a financial hardship and has made a good faith effort to make payments on their bill. Utilities also need permission from the department to disconnect the service of residential customers who are 65 years or older. They are not allowed to disconnect customers who have a certificate of medical necessity for utility service during the winter.

Customers with a financial hardship must notify their utility every year about their situation, state rules say.

Other assistance options

Agencies might connect residents in need of emergency assistance with the Neighbor Helping Neighbor program, which serves people who dont qualify for other programs.

There are no income guidelines for Neighbor Helping Neighbor; residents are eligible if they have received a disconnect notice and are having some kind of financial emergency or hardship. That program is funded by New Hampshires utility companies and ratepayers who elect to contribute.

The community action agencies also run an electricity assistance program, which gives customers a discount on monthly bills. That can range from 8% to 76%. Residents can apply at the same time they apply for fuel assistance.

New Hampshires utility companies also offer payment plans that can reduce the amount customers owe on their bills or offer a fixed monthly rate. The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative also has payment arrangements for people who have fallen behind on bills.

Community non-profits like LISTEN Community Services in Lebanon, The Grapevine in Antrim, and the Contoocook Carry Community Fund may also provide some energy assistance to community members.

Longer-term solutions

Energy efficiency efforts like insulation can lower heating bills in the long-term by reducing the amount of energy a household needs to use to stay warm.

The community action agencies run a weatherization assistance program, which can help Granite Staters with things like installing insulation and sealing air in with caulking or weather stripping.

Residents can apply to be put on the waiting list for that program when they apply for fuel or electric assistance. Once off the waiting list, an energy auditor will come to their home to determine what energy efficiency improvements can be made. Then, if their home is qualified, those improvements will be made.

Editors note: This is an updated version of a story from January 2023.

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Heres how to apply for help with heating in NH.
DENVER (KDVR)  A Colorado artist spoke with FOX31 after fleeing Israel in the midst of this weekends attacks.

Topher Straus flew to Israel for the first time of his life on Saturday. He said he wanted to immerse himself in Israeli sights and culture while working on a painting for the Jewish National Fund.

No warning, just booms in the air: Colorado-raised woman caught in attack on Israel

Upon arrival, he quickly experienced terror and fear as missiles started flying above him.

People are scared, people are very angry

Straus shared video from the beach on Saturday after just landing in Tel Aviv, about an hour northeast of Gaza. In it, explosions can be heard and missiles seen in the sky.

As an American, Ive never experienced  weve never experienced  anything like this, Straus said.

Being called into pharmacies as the air raid sirens are going off and people saying, Come, come, and being rushed down below two stories into a bunker where theres gas masks. To say that the atmosphere in Tel Aviv was tense is an understatement. It was. People are scared. People are very angry. People are confused, Straus said.

Straus captured tensions and emotions at the local airport in Tel Aviv. People can be seen in his video arguing at the ticket line and signs showing many cancellations.

I bought three different tickets. It wasnt until my third attempt that I was able to get out, Straus said. That the airport was so crowded. When we took off, the lights in the airplane were turned off, and we just went straight high. I realized that was because we needed to get to a safe air level.

Emotions high after escape from war in Israel

Landing safely in Italy three days after arriving in Israel, the artist said he is embracing gratitude beyond belief.

Being an artist, I opened my heart and I feel things, Straus said. And as we landed over the landscape of Italy, and I knew that I was coming to a safe country, I cried. A lot of people on the plane cried, and a lot of people have suffered a lot more than what I felt. They have lost family members and were escaping their home.

We have to continue to stand by ally Israel: Colorado leader chimes in on war in Israel

Straus immediately started pouring this emotion into a painting from the safety of his hotel room in Italy. He plans to work on a number of paintings encompassing the pain, emotion and history he saw in Israel and donate money from his artwork.

Im so excited to come back home to my Colorado and to create art, Straus said. Its amazing how much this experience has changed my life forever and my perspective forever. Its times like these when we realize how lucky we are as Americans.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
A Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his wife in March pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

Authorities say James Toliver Craig allegedly poisoned his wifes protein shakes with arsenic he ordered online, after making a number of internet searches  including how to make poison  in the weeks leading up to her death.

Angela Craig, 43, died March 15 after being hospitalized several times for severe headaches and dizziness, according to the Aurora Police Department.

James Craigs trial is set for April 19, 2024, with a special panel for jury selection. Testimony likely will begin the following week. CNN has reached out to Craigs attorney, Andrew Ho, but did not immediately hear back.

In March, investigators alleged in an arrest warrant application, Craig has shown the planning and intent to end his wifes life by searching for ways to kill someone undetected, providing her poisons that align with her hospitalized symptoms, and working on starting a new life with another woman.

The affidavit says Angela Craig died after going to the hospital for the third time in March. After she arrived the final time, she had a severe seizure, was placed on a ventilator and was declared medically brain dead soon after, it says.

In the weeks before her death, James Craig used a computer at his dental practice to research multiple undetectable poisons and make internet searches including how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human and YouTube searches for how to make poison and Top 5 Undetectable Poisons That Show No Signs of Foul Play, according to the affidavit.

The husband also used a new email account to order arsenic online, the affidavit says.

According to the affidavit, Angela Craigs sister told investigators the couples marriage was tumultuous and she was told by Angela that James Craig had previously drugged her because he was planning to attempt suicide and didnt want his wife to be able to stop him.

After Angela Craigs death, her sister told investigators James Craig told her he did not want an autopsy to take place.

James said he felt if they couldnt figure out what was wrong with her when she was alive he wouldnt let them poke her more when she was dead, reads the affidavit.

CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe also contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A 36-year-old Columbus man was arrested last week and charged with making a false report of a bomb at Mississippi State University in August.

The incident occurred Aug. 25. Four buildings on campus were evacuated as first-responders searched for an alleged suspicious device.

MSU Police Chief Kenneth Rogers said Isaac Terrell Pryor was taken into custody without incident Thursday. Pryor could face additional charges, Rogers added.

Mississippi State University Police Chief Kenneth Rogers

The arrest came after an investigation by MSU Police, Mississippi Office of Homeland Securitys Analysis and Information Center, Oktibbeha County Sheriffs Office and Starkville Police Department, MSU officials said in a news release.

Mississippi State University police received an anonymous threat via text message at 6:24 p.m. Aug. 25. Maroon Alert emergency notifications were sent out and Hathorn, Hull, Nunnelee and Sessums halls were evacuated for a few hours. The buildings were inspected and cleared, but no device was found.

Maroon Alert Starkville: A Suspicious Device reported. Evacuate Hathorn, Sessums and Hull Halls. Responders are on scene.  MSU Maroon Alert (@maroonalert) August 25, 2023

While the university is thankful that there were no injuries or damage from this incident, it caused fear and alarm among our campus community and among the families of our students, MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter said in an email. The university incurred financial losses and had to call on law enforcement partners for assistance.

If convicted, Pryor faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, according to Mississippi code.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Columbus man charged for bomb threat at Mississippi State University
Insider recently spoke to award-winning cookbook author and TikTok star Joanne Molinaro.

Known as the Korean Vegan, Molinaro frequently shares her Korean recipes and family stories.

Molinaro shared her recipe for Gamja Jorim, Korean braised potatoes, with Insider.

If you've ever been on TikTok, you've likely come across the massively popular videos by Joanne Molinaro, more famously known as the Korean Vegan.

Molinaro has amassed more than 3 million followers with her videos, in which she makes Korean dishes while sharing stories from her life and family. She's also published a successful cookbook, which won her a prestigious James Beard Award in 2022.

It's an impressive resume for the Chicago attorney, who recently sat down with Insider to share her story  along with some of her favorite recipes. And we couldn't resist getting the scoop on Gamja Jorim, one of Molinaro's most popular dishes.

Gamja Jorim, also known as Korean braised potatoes, is one of Molinaro's "favorite recipes on the planet." Molinaro's aunt made the traditional Korean banchan dish for every birthday and holiday, and she shared it with Molinaro when she first went vegan. Molinaro said she could easily eat it every day, and now she's sharing the recipe with Insider.

Ingredients for Joanne Molinaro's Korean braised potatoes

Molinaro's Korean braised potatoes. Courtesy of Avery/Penguin Random House

To make Gamja Jorim for four, you'll need:

4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into bite-size chunks

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

 cup chopped red onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

 cup chopped red bell pepper

2-3 Korean green chilies or jalapenos, chopped

2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup

1 tablespoon brown rice syrup or maple syrup

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 cup vegetable broth or water

 tablespoon sesame oil

 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Pro tip: Molinaro says you should avoid using russet or Idaho potatoes for this recipe as they "turn to mush no matter how attentive you are!"

"Stick to the waxier varieties and that'll give you a leg up," she writes in her cookbook, "The Korean Vegan."

How to make Korean braised potatoes

Molinaro recommends serving Gamja Jorim with some of the sauce over a bowl of rice for a trickle-down effect that is "absolutely delicious!"

Read the original article on Insider
Basic rooms, similar to the one pictured, are provided for survivors while they and their families stay at the domestic violence shelter.

CHILLICOTHE  Last year in Ohio 9,886 domestic violence survivors were given safe shelter across the state. Ross County Community Action hopes to increase this number with the new local domestic violence shelter.

The shelter, which opened in September, is already at capacity keeping several survivors and their families safe.

Community Action took over the domestic violence shelter after the dissolution of the Ross County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Executive Director Julie Bolen said there was a gap in local DV services.

"It's a critical resource in the community," said Bolen.

To prepare to take over services Community Action went through an over year-long process of getting approved by other statewide organizations and finding funding through grants and resources.

During this time the group received over 15 calls for support, so they were not surprised to already be at capacity. Community Action believes DV support is a much-needed resource for the community, since the organization already helps people connect with resources it made sense for Community Action to be a part of the shelter in Ross County.

Currently, the shelter offers safety and support from domestic violence advocates who can help survivors find support and the resources they need. Community Action also has a DV hotline, that people can call or text for support, open 24/7 at 740-637-1610.

Those interested in helping Community Action, which is a nonprofit, and the shelter can do so by donating online or by donating socks and canned goods to the office, at 250 N Woodbridge Avenue in Chillicothe, to be taken to the shelter.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Community Action's domestic violence shelter already at capacity
On the second floor of the Walter E. Washington convention center in the District of Columbia sits a robot tanklet, designed to hunt drones. The uncrewed vehicle is the TRX SHORAD, and it is part of the display from defense giant General Dynamics Land Systems, assembled alongside the wares of over 650 other exhibitors for the annual Association of the United States Army meeting and exhibition. The TRX SHORAD suggests a future of robot-assisted combat, where attacks by drones are met with the automated speed and power of a companion robot built to destroy quadcopters.

TRX SHORAD is a composite name. TRX is the category name for General Dynamics 10-ton tracked robots , a platform that can accommodate a range of payloads including cargo and weapons. SHORAD is a military acronym for Short Range Air Defense, a category that is somewhat vague but broadly includes finding and destroying threats such as drones, helicopters, low-flying planes, and more.

https://twitter.com/SydneyFreedberg/status/1711441346844557392

The TRX SHORAD is designed to bring a new dimension of combat power in SHORAD battalions and provides autonomy within a tiered, layered air defense, reads the description from a General Dynamics video of the vehicle .

[Related: The Armys new 42-ton assault vehicle has a compelling backstory ]

In the video, a blurred-out quadcopter with the rough contours of a DJI Phantom is spotted moving over a field. The TRX SHORAD tracks the drone across the sky, then pivots its turret, aiming what appears to be rockets and a large caliber gun at the drone. With a powerful ka-thunk, the robots turret fires on the quadcopter, and the still-blurred drone falls after a cloud of smoke. In a second demonstration, a similarly blurred-out quadcopter erupts into a smoke cloud and plummets. Unblurred, in the background of the video, is a drone that appears to be patterned like a DJI Inspire, which was likely used to capture much of the mid-air footage.

This is a kind of aerial warfare, but it takes place in the low sky, the space immediately above the heads of soldiers and vehicles. Its a space previously occupied largely by projectiles, rockets and mortars and missiles. Drones, which offer greater scouting possibilities while also carrying weapons and facilitating attacks, change the fundamental dynamic of aerial threats to armies.

What is most crucial about the range of threats these weapons are designed to stop is that they exist at a cost, operational profile, and likely even altitude that is hard for the jet fighters of the Air Force to intercept and destroy in a timely way. In other words, a quadcopter can launch, scout, and return before a jet can be launched to respond. The Army used to maintain dedicated units called Air Defense Artillery to protect against aerial threats, but, as a report from the Congressional Research Service notes , in the early 2000s, these ADA units were divested from the Army to meet force demands deemed more critical at that time. Decisionmakers accepted the increased risk that threat aircraft might pose to ground forces and other critical assets because they believed the U.S. Air Force could maintain air superiority.

What has changed since the early 2000s is the preponderance of drones used by militaries. Since 2005, potential threats from air and missile platforms that could threaten U.S. ground forces have significantly increased. The use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) has increased, and UASs have been used successfully by both sides in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the CRS report notes.

These drones come in a range of sizes and variable threats. Small, hobbyist or commercial drones, like the DJI Phantom models used for anti-drone target practice , can carry cameras and be flown by anyone in minutes. In the summer of 2022, Russian infantry reported that moving in battle without quadcopters was like fighting as  blind kittens . These drones can also be adapted to carry small bombs , the size of grenades or so. With a first-person view, or cameras allowing remote pilots to steer the drone as though they are on board, cheap drone bombers have been used to devastating effect in battle.

While commercial drones are commonly used in battle, drone scouts the size of small planes can fulfill a role once taken on by human-piloted aircraft, carrying weapons and intelligence missions at a greater distance than the short-range drones flown by infantry squads. Self-detonating drones, used as cheaper alternatives to cruise missiles, are abundant and deadly enough to constitute yet another new threat on the battlefield.

All of these threats pose a risk that is hard for an air force to directly address. This is the layer of layered defense that vehicles like the TRX SHORAD, or other SHORAD vehicles , are designed to fill. With bullets for small drones, larger projectiles for bigger and faster threats, and sensors to detect and track the movements of aircraft, TRX SHORAD could accompany soldiers, trucks, and tanks on maneuver, offering another line of defense against the crowded low skies of modern warfare.

Watch a video of TRX SHORAD below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa3nQ9caw9s
Overnight developments in Gaza: Earlier today, Israel regained control of the towns near Gaza that had been invaded by Hamas, in addition to full control of the Gaza fence.

This past weekend, the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel and breached the border wall, catching the Israeli army off guard on a holiday. Hamas massacred, raped, and tortured hundreds of civilians, in many cases recording the killings and posting them on social media. At least 11 Americans have been killed over the last few days by Hamas, in addition to at least 900 Israelis, most of them civilians. More than 260 were killed when Hamas invaded a music festival, and 100-plus hostages have been taken, including children and the elderly.

In response, Israel ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza, cutting off their access to electricity, food, water, and fuel from Israel. A blockade has already been in place for 16 years, enforced by both Israel and Egypt. "The blockade restricts the import of goods, including electronic and computer equipment, that could be used to make weapons and prevents most people from leaving the territory," reports The New York Times.

Hamas says that, with each air strike that Israel rains down without warning, they will slaughter a hostage in retribution. The Israeli military claims to conduct "precision strikes" only, attempting to take out Hamas commanders and critical sites, not civilians. The military also frequently warns Gazans when offensives are coming. "Palestinians say that strikes on heavily populated areas amount to a collective punishment and that civilians have been targeted," per The New York Times.

In Gaza, roughly 2 million peopleso the entire populationlive in squalor. Half of adult Gazans are unemployed. The median age there is 18, compared to 28 worldwide (the Gazan fertility rate is extremely high; Hamas pressures women to have lots of children allegedly so they can have a larger army). Up until now, Israel had offered work permits, allowing many Gazans to flow across the border in search of jobs in agriculture, construction, and auto repair. Now, that lifeline is gone, and conditions have gotten a lot worse for inhabitants of the Strip, which includes almost a million children (or about half the population).

By the numbers: More than 150 Israeli hostages are currently being held in Gaza though Hamas doesn't seem certain as to the number. The total death toll for the conflict tops 1,500 with nearly 6,000 reported wounded. Israel is working to mobilize 300,000 army reservists, with those who had been traveling or living abroad getting priority flights home via El Al. The United Nations reports that 180,000 Gazans have been internally displaced due to the fighting.

A senior defense official in the U.S. says the military is "surging support" to Israel, including air defenses and munitions. "Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he has ordered American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas' unprecedented, multi-fronted attack on Israel," per CBS News. Israel has been "the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II," according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, receiving $104.5 billion in military aid from the U.S. since 1947.

"Under discussion among some national-security hawks this weekend was a potential legislative package that lumps Israel aid in with a big Ukraine package that Congress is still trying to pass," reports Punchbowl News.

Under no circumstances do you have to hand it to Hamas: Many American leftists, from Harvard student groups to members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), seem to be gravitating toward disturbingly simplistic narratives that minimize the atrocitiesmassacres, rapes, and kidnappings, with many deaths livestreamed to Facebook pages and uploaded to TikTokcommitted by Hamas.

"We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," reads a recent statement issued by more than 50 Harvard student groups. "The apartheid regime is the only one to blame," they say.

"It's the easiest thing in the world to criticize Israeli policies toward the Palestinians, and to view the occupation of the West Bank and the isolation of Gaza (the result of a combination of Israeli policy, Egyptian policy, and the fact that Hamas rules Gaza) as fundamentally unjust, while also condemning the murder of civilians," writes Jesse Singal, criticizing the recent DSA rallies and statements.

"If basic moral principles aren't enough to sway groups like DSA toward decency, they should consider the impact their disgraceful performance will have on their ability to accomplish their own goals," adds Singal.

Scenes from New York:

At JFK Airport in Queens, the El Al counter is busy with Israeli army reservists checking in for flights back home to fight against Hamas. Some Brooklynites are tending to fellow Jews by providing food and donated supplies for those who must return to Israel.

QUICK HITS

Simplistic colonizer narratives don't make sense here:

I think this is very poorly understood outside of Israel: something around half the population is full or part mizrahi. This is neither pure American-style settler colonialism, nor the British Raj. A lot of folks have mental models of Israel that are still stuck in the 1970s. https://t.co/Pfy6uo2Pbd  Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) October 9, 2023

No, Elon isn't the real Hamas:

well i'm glad they finally found the man responsible for all of this pic.twitter.com/7YfuIFID6q  Mike Solana (@micsolana) October 10, 2023

"Facing one of the most sophisticated surveillance states on the planet, Hamas simply went dark," write Peter Martin, Katrina Manson, and Henry Meyer for Bloomberg.

Are we experiencing a century of bad art? "To pay attention to culture in 2023 is to be belted into some glacially slow Ferris wheel, cycling through remakes and pastiches with nowhere to go but around."

"Imagine trusting your life savings to a group of strangers you know only via WhatsApp," writes Lulu Yilun Chen at Bloomberg. "Some affluent Chinese people are willing to make that gamble to get part of their wealth out of the mainland."

A beautiful immigration story from former Rep. Justin Amash (IMich.).

Groundhog Day in the House of Representatives?

Heartwarming: the worst people you know are all fighting (RFK Jr. vs. the nouveau L.P.).

How performing charity is a First Amendment right.

The post Complete Siege appeared first on Reason.com.
WORCESTER  A Worcester District Court judge held a Connecticut man without bail Tuesday afternoon after deeming him dangerous to a 19-year-old victim who the man allegedly shot in the abdomen during a party Sunday evening.

Juan Carlos Hernandez Villegas, 34, of Danielson, faces one count of armed assault to murder, among other charges, for allegedly shooting the teenager Sunday evening after she had physically fought with his wife, according to Assistant District Attorney Alexander Van Den Eynde.

Police said in an earlier report on Tuesday that the woman was treated at the scene and transported to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

"She said that she is afraid that he's going to come back," read Van Den Eynde during Villegas's arraignment. "She is afraid that it will happen again."

Villegas was arrested Sunday around 11 p.m. at a large party on Young Street, a small street not far from where Main and Stafford streets meet in the Main South area.

Van Den Eynde said that Villegas had a loaded gun but did not have a Massachusetts license to carry with him.

Dressed in a dark purple suit, Villegas leaned toward a Spanish interpreter, listening intently as Judge Steve Power read the numerous charges against him, among them unlawful carrying of a firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm without a license.

Villegas has pleaded not guilty. He is due to appear in court for a dangerousness hearing on Friday.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 19-year-old woman shot in Worcester; Danielson, Conn. man charged
Law enforcement first called it a shootout. But it wasn't.

The full report about a fatal encounter between a constable and a tenant after a 2022 eviction in Phoenix changed significantly from what authorities initially laid out.

After smashing through a sliding glass door on the patio, it was the constable who fired multiple times at the tenant.

The Maricopa County Sheriffs Office investigated the death of Marcus Mungeam, a 33-year-old tenant in the citys Arcadia neighborhood, who died in July 2022.

The initial incident report about the shooting said Mungeam had fired a gun at a deputy constable, prompting a shootout that ended when he took his own life. The full unredacted report, however, shows he wasnt facing the constable when he was shot and was holding a gun to his own head in his apartment bedroom. And Mungeam never shot at the constables.

While the constable fired his weapon five times, investigators found only one shell casing from Mungeams gun. He had shot himself.

The deputy constable was on site with two other constables days before the shooting to evict Mungeam. Constables are elected by county voters, but deputies are not. Both serve warrants and process paperwork. When Mungeam did not leave, the deputy came back with one of the elected constables to physically remove him, which is outside of their job description.

The initial report released to the public was challenged in court by Judicial Watch, a conservative-leaning watchdog judicial organization. The Sheriffs Office was forced to privately release the full 366-page report, which was obtained by The Republic. The office also released a copy of the full report to The Republic after a public records request, but it contained redactions that the other did not.

The full report also shows protocol was not followed in allowing someone on the scene of an incident who was not law enforcement.

The Maricopa County Attorneys Office has had the full report since February but has yet to decide whether to take any action against the constables involved.

One of the constables involved has since resigned, while the other was promoted with a pay raise.

A picture of Marcus Mungeam from his Instagram account. Mungeam was shot twice July 12, 2022, when Maricopa County constables attempted to serve an eviction order.

What happened  and didn't happen  during eviction shooting

At 9 a.m. July 12, 2022, constables Steven Perkins and Doug Clark arrived at the El Camino Apartments at Thomas Road and 46th Street.

Clark and Perkins devised a plan to break in through the back sliding glass door, announce themselves and then remove Mungeam.

According to the full report, Clark brought along a ballistic shield that he wasnt authorized to have or trained to use and handed it off to Perkins. Clark popped the door with a sledgehammer and Perkins used the shield to smash through the now spiderwebbed glass door.

I think there was a  a communication problem right then, Clark said during his interview with the investigators from the sheriffs office. The next thing I see is (Steve) is punching the glass out with the shield. And he  he went in and I  that was not my intention. My intention was hey, let's  let's get it clear and  and then see if we can get him to come to us. But he walked through.

Cowboy constable: Maricopa County constable involved in deadly shooting pulls gun on another evicted tenant

Clark said he saw Perkins walk in and he heard a bang.

I'm like, f--k bad guy just shot at us. And then (Steve), I think he cranked probably maybe four rounds off, Clark said. I said, 'What the f--k is goin' on.' He goes, Man, he  he had the gun, he pointed it right at me. And then he  he either said he put it in his mouth or he pointed at his head. And that  that was it.

Mungeam did have a gun. And Clarks story mirrors the first publicly released version of events, which said that Mungeam shot first.

But the Maricopa County Sheriffs Offices investigation  and even Perkins interview that was part of it  contradicts the narrative that was told to the public.

Deputy Constable Perkins described Mungeam as standing between the bed and the east wall of the bedroom, facing east towards the wall, and was holding his arms up but bent at the elbow and out from his shoulders, the report reads. Deputy Constable Perkins described giving multiple commands to drop the gun but then heard a distinct click, that sounded like the trigger being pulled with a malfunction or an empty chamber. Deputy Constable Perkins stated he then fired.

Perkins said he tried to shoot the gun out of Mungeams hand, a skill he said he learned in training. The Republic could not confirm if officers are trained to shoot items out of suspects hands.

Perkins said Mungeam shrugged and went to rack his gun. As he moved it up toward his head, Perkins said he believed the gun was pointed his way and he shot again.

The inaccurate initial reports claimed Mungeam fired at least two shots: the first at the constables and the second at himself.

Perkins, though, fired five rounds: three ended up in a neighboring apartment, one went through the neighbors opposite wall and then outside and one hit Mungeam in the neck. No one was injured by the stray bullets.

An investigator working with the Mungeam family in gathering evidence for a civil lawsuit told The Republic that its likely Mungeam shot himself after Perkins bullet hit his neck.

Perkins said it was Mungeam himself who made the fatal shot.

Rick and Capri Mungeam, Marcus parents, said they have unanswered questions since seeing the report and wonder why they werent told what actually happened.

There's a whole lot of confusion about the number of shots and who shot who and what, said Capri Mungeam. There was only one bullet casing on the floor in his bedroom. So then how did he possibly shoot twice?

How constable shooting investigations are supposed to be handled

Constables are not governed by any law enforcement body, such as a sheriffs office or police department. However, state law requires constables to refer to sheriffs protocols or regulations in instances where there is a legal liability.

Because they are elected, constables answer mainly to voters. Their role as law enforcement, though, is murky legal territory, and judges and attorneys general have tried to clarify what exactly they are allowed to do.

According to Maricopa County constables regulations, the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office must investigate any incident involving a firearm, independent of other law enforcement agencies. The sheriffs investigation can determine if officers are allowed to carry their weapons, but is not required. The policy does not detail when constables can or should use lethal force.

Clark immediately went back to work with his weapon and a month later pointed his gun at someone who was trying to restrain their dog from attacking him. Perkins was reissued his weapon the same day as the shooting, according to the sheriffs report. He returned to work a month later after a psychiatric evaluation, according to constable records.

Arizona constables behaving badly: Records show dangerous driving, threatening behavior

The constable badge is similar looking to the sheriff's, but constables are not actually police. They are only allowed to "act as peace officers" during the course of their duty, which is to process paperwork by the court.

Clark has since resigned from his position, after The Republics previous reporting that showed he falsified reports and had a history of breaking the law and using government materials for personal reasons, including finding dirt on political rivals.

Perkins, however, was promoted to a position within the Maricopa County constables and received a pay raise from $25 an hour to $27 an hour, along with supervisory duties over the countys deputy constables, who are appointed to their positions and certified through AZPOST, the agency that trains state law enforcement.

And while police interviewed Perkins after the shooting, police reports showed that a man named Christopher Sumner, who was elected and sworn into office in January, nearly five months after the shooting, also was at the scene impersonating an elected constable and in possession of investigatory documents.

I took custody of the crime scene log for this investigation by Maricopa County Constable C. Sumner, read the police report, adding that Sumner did not have a constable ID number, which identifies him as law enforcement. Mr. Sumner advised me had no serial number assigned to him at that time.

One month behind: Phoenix man police say shot himself during eviction had been behind one month of rent

Video recordings show that he was allowed to stick around. The Sheriff's Office redacted information about his presence in the report they released via the public records request.

The Maricopa County constable's office said Sumner was there as part of a ride-along but would not provide documents showing he received approval to ride in the county vehicle. Records also show that Sumner was serving warrants alongside constables months before he was sworn in and had worked alongside constables for the entire month of July serving warrants.

But the bigger question is whether constables should have returned to Mungeams apartment at all.

Clark and Perkins "should never have been there to begin with, said Luke Palmer, a constable in Gilbert. Not involving local law enforcement when things go outside our scope of office is a huge risk, we should not be venturing into this area of handling and transporting people experiencing a mental health emergency. We are peace officers, not first responders.

Constables in Arizona

What is a constable?

A constable is one of two elected officials in local courts. The other is the Justice of the Peace. There are 62 constables in the state, each belonging to their own precinct court. Their main duty is to serve paperwork, such as warrants, writs and notices, on behalf of their courts.

What can a constable do?

Their duties have shifted over the years, from gunfighters to paper-pushers. Constables are considered peace officers, but only in the course of their duties, per state law. They are not on-duty as a police officer might be, who can make arrests whenever they see a crime.

What qualifications do they have?

No law enforcement training or background is required to be elected constable. Once elected, however, constables are allowed to get trained and certified by the police academy to carry a firearm.

Who oversees constables actions?

Though the Constables Ethics, Standards, and Training Board is supposed to review all complaints made, little can be done except for probation and urging constables to resign.

It's a dangerous job, with less pay and low qualifications

In Arizona, constables are used primarily for serving writs and court warrants, including evictions. And that part of the job is increasingly dangerous in an unstable housing market, where more people face evictions from their homes.

In the past two years, one constable in Tucson was shot and killed while trying to enforce an eviction. The safety of people serving eviction paperwork has led some counties across the nation to task local sheriffs with the job, alongside their other civil duties.

Constables are required to call in local police to remove people if they are unwilling. They can also call in other constables if they feel unsafe.

For some, that safety risk comes at a salary below even the states average salary of $52,000 a year.

In Mungeams case, there are questions that his parents both have about training. For one, why did Perkins shoot first if Mungeam was facing away? And what training did the other constable have in clearing a home without the support of local police?

Why did they do it? Rick Mungeam said. There's got to be some strategy to why they were doing this.

He and Capri Mungeam both believe the constables have tried to make the case go away quietly.

I believe that's what they're attempting to do, Rick Mungeam said. That's why we haven't heard anything from the Sheriff's Office. And we haven't heard anything from the attorney's office.

Marcus parents have filed a civil suit against the Maricopa County constables but said all they want is accountability for the officers.

I dont know, Rick Mungeam said. These guys are all just a bunch of cowboys.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Report sheds new light on shooting death of Phoenix man after eviction
Braid, a four-year-old startup that aimed to make shared wallets more mainstream among consumers, has shut down.

Founded in January 2019 by Amanda Peyton and Todd Berman (who left in 2020), San Francisco-based Braid set out to offer friends and family an FDIC-insured, multi-user account that was designed to make it easy to pool, manage and spend money together. Users could create a cash pool toward a collective goal of, say, saving for a trip to Europe and then spend it on airfare or lodging using a branded debit card.

Braid raised a total of $10 million in funding over multiple rounds from Index Ventures, Accel and others, according to Peytons LinkedIn page.

In a blog post, Peyton said that Braid closed its doors in September and outlined her experiences in building the company, ultimately realizing that it wasnt going to be a viable business venture. In the post, Peyton took responsibility for Braid's demise, but stressed her belief that it was important to share her story of what happened.

I have no regrets," Peyton said in an interview with TechCrunch. "We did it the right way: Every customer dollar was cashed out; every employee was treated with care. There is magic in failure too, if you squint a bit. We were given the opportunity to take a big swing and its important to recognize how rarely that happens in life."

She added of the shutdown: "It was terrible, it totally sucks...But it's part of the life cycle. I think it's just part of what you sign up for. And it's part of why we do this...I did YC in 2010 and that is one of those things that sticks with you forever. Part of their whole thing is there just needs to be more startups -- we just need to do more. There needs to be more than more people starting startups. There needs to be more opportunities...But [failure] -- it's this part of that cycle. And I think it's the part that people don't talk about a lot, but it's just as important as the seed round or the launch."

Also in her blog post, Peyton described the struggles that Braid faced after having issues with a sponsor bank that led to the company effectively [being] in a coma from July 2022 to January 2023. Without a sponsor bank, the company was in limbo.

"It was bleak -- we were a payments company processing $0 in payment volume," she wrote.

Despite finding a new sponsor bank, Braid continued to struggle. One of the biggest takeaways from her experience, Peyton said, was that leveraging third-party software would not necessarily help the company move faster and focus on its core offering.

She wrote: What we found, instead, was every additional partner had the potential to break big, important parts of our stack. Building a multiplayer offering meant we had to be as close to the metal as possible, because a lot of our UX didnt really exist off-the-shelf. After several painful migrations, our distaste for contractual and technical lock-in grew dramatically. By the end, if there was something we could build ourselves in Retool, we did. In addition, building mostly in-house was the only way our unit economics worked. Theres a lot of great fintech software out there, but if that software eats your entire margin, youll end up dead regardless.

Looking ahead, Peyton noted that she, post shutdown, purchased the intellectual property for Braid in an auction.

"I Iove fintech," she told TechCrunch. "I love payments. I think there's enormous, humongous opportunity here."

Prior to co-founding Braid, Peyton worked at Google and Etsy. She also started another company called Grand St., a marketplace for creative and indie technology products that was acquired by Etsy in April of 2014 for an undisclosed amount.

Peyton also started another e-commerce company that wasn't venture-backed, as well as a mobile messaging company that went through a YC cohort and that the founder noted also "failed."

Want more fintech news in your inbox? Sign up for The Interchange here.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 55-year-old man was found shot to death inside a crashed vehicle in Cookeville Monday.

Officers initially responded to a singe-vehicle crash on Skyline Drive.

Domestic situation leads to deadly officer-involved shooting at Antioch home

Cookeville police reported 55-year-old Rodney Morgan, of Cookeville, was found dead inside the vehicle.

Morgan had suffered injuries consistent with an apparent gunshot wound, according to Cookeville police.

No additional information was released and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information into the circumstances of Morgans death is encouraged to call Detective Charlotte Austin at 931-520-5370.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Editors note: This article is part of an occasional series  Middle Georgia Delicacies  bite-size homages to fine food offerings, from the unsung to the iconic, at eateries across our region.

The simple slaw dog somehow has its detractors: Those who draw the line at bun and wiener meeting salad. Also those who deem slaw dogs too ewww, too soggy, a topping faux pas. Those naysayers are perhaps the same frankfurter fancy-pantses who declare ketchup uncouth.

But they are wrong.

Doggone wrong.

For when done right, slathered in the green-tinged glory of mayonnaise and chopped cabbage, the slaw dog is a Southern fast-food deity.

Shoot, it even sounds country: Slaw dawg.

There may be no more perfect topping. The slaw is at once delicious and gravity-defying. It adheres to the hot dogs cylindrical dimensions with a condiment clinginess as inseparable as ketchup and mustard. It makes for a no-spill picnic in your palm.

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue vamps for the camera a bit as he bites into a Nu-Way hot dog at Macon Day at the state capitol during his final term more than a decade ago. The governors hot dog toppings were slaw, mustard and a little bit of chili.

The wiener wizards at Nu-Way Weiners in Macon, in business since 1916, began serving slaw dogs in the early 1980s. Their version of the cabbage-laden franks has been hailed far and wide, including in the New York Times, which 20 years ago declared Nu-Ways slaw dogs the acknowledged king of said creations.

A few years back, Atlanta Magazine mentioned Nu-Way in a piece about slaw dogs in general and how once you acquire a taste for them, theyre easy to covet.

Slaw dogs are believed to have been around for a century or so. But the first reference to them in print locally only dates to 1982 when The Telegraph ran an ad for a place called the Billy Boy Sandwich Shop, which, during a grand opening special, sold slaw dogs for 59 cents each.

A doctor who frequented Nu-Way once told a Telegraph reporter that for lunch he liked the eaterys chili dogs and its slaw dogs. But he was careful about his order.

If I had to see many patients, Id get a slaw dog, the doctor said. People could tell if you had a chili dog about four hours after you ate it.

Nu-Way president and owner Jim Cacavias recently recalled how his family, including his father, John, experimented with menu offerings in the early 1980s. It was around the time slaw dogs crept onto the scene in these parts. However, the restaurants brain trust was not sure about adding them.

The iconic Nu-Way slaw dog.

Finally they decided, Yeah, lets do something, Cacavias said. So dad, being the cook that he was, kind of whipped something up with the Marzetti cole slaw dressing and putting the green in there also to kind of give it a little color. But they didnt want carrots or any raisins, none of that.

Two decades later when the Times declared Nu-Ways slaw dogs king, Cacavias presumed his father would be ecstatic.

Dad, Cacavias said, look at this article. Its about our slaw dog!

His father, ever nonchalant, glanced at the write-up and said, How bout that, and went on his way.

The beauty of the slaw dog, in part, is that it is at once warm and cool. (Cole slaw, by the way, is a pairing of the Dutch words kool, which means cabbage, and sla, which means salad.)

Nu-Ways slaw dogs appeal especially to blue-collar patrons, tradespeople who work outdoors, who Cacavias said seem to prefer eating lighter during the hottest months.

The majority, he said, and Im talking about eight or nine out of 10, switch in the summer from a chili dog to just a slaw dog.

Cacavias said Nu-Way has a loyal following for its flaky ice. Fans also are devoted to Nu-Ways thicker-cut fries, its burgers, its breakfast fare and, of course, its beloved chili dogs.

But the slaw dog, to me, he said, is just always growing in popularity.

The famous neon Nu-Way sign on Cotton Avenue, pictured here in 2009, in the years before the legendary eatery was destroyed in a fire.
Closing arguments are expected to begin Tuesday in the trial of one current and one former Aurora, Colorado, police officer charged in the death of 23-year-old massage therapist Elijah McClain in 2019. The officers have pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and assault.

In Washington, jurors in the trial of three Tacoma Police Department officers are expected to hear more testimony in the case of 33-year-old Manuel Ellis, who died in 2020 after telling officers multiple times he couldn't breathe during a struggle that was captured on camera. The officers face second-degree murder or first-degree manslaughter charges and have pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, five former Memphis police officers charged in the beating and death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols in January are waiting to learn when they will stand trial in state court. The officers have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges in the case.

Across the United States, the number of police officers charged with violent on-duty crimes, including murder, manslaughter and assault, has increased in recent years in part because of increased public scrutiny, new technology and legal changes that have helped make prosecutions possible. Still, such charges for police officers remain rare and convictions are rarer still, data shows.

"There's a demand for criminal prosecution," said Kate Levine, a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. "And so prosecutors are looking to charge police officers when they wouldn't have in the past, and/or because of police bodycams or citizens taking videos, evidence comes up to contradict these claims, where it may not have in the past."

Former officer Jason Rosenblatt and Aurora Police Officer Randy Roedema attend an arraignment at the Adams County Justice Center. A trial for two of the officers charged for Elijah McClain's death began last month.

Are more police officers being charged with murder?

Police kill more than 1,000 people each year, according to databases created by the Washington Post and civil rights organization Campaign Zero.

Since 2005, 185 nonfederal law enforcement officers have been arrested on charges of murder or manslaughter as a result of an on-duty shooting, according to Philip Matthew Stinson, a professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State University in Ohio who tracks the criminal arrests of nonfederal police officers.

Stinson's data shows the number of officers charged in on-duty fatal shootings has generally increased, from a low of one in 2011 to a high of 21 in 2021. But Stinson said he doesn't consider that a remarkable shift in part because the number of police killings has also increased in recent years.

According to The Washington Post, fatal police shootings increased from 995 in 2015 to a record high of 1,096 in 2022. The Mapping Police Violence database created by Campaign Zero found police killed a record-high 1,250 people last year, up from 1,099 in 2017.

"The number of officers charged in terms of a percentage has stayed flat, it's still under 2% of the cases ... so from where I sit things have not changed," Stinson said.

Since 2005, 59 officers charged with murder or manslaughter in connection with an on-duty shooting have been convicted of a crime, but only six were convicted of murder, according to Stinson's data. The criminal cases of 45 officers arrested on charges of murder or manslaughter after an on-duty shooting are pending.

The data doesn't reflect officers charged in non-shooting deaths, such as in the deaths of McClain, Ellis, Nichols or George Floyd, who was murdered in Minneapolis in 2020.

Defense attorney Casey Arbenz, defense attorney Anne Bremner, Tacoma Police officer Timothy Rankine, defense attorney Mark Conrad and Tacoma Police officer Matthew Collins watch still images from a video on a computer of the arrest of Manny Ellis during the trial of Collins, Rankine and Tacoma Police officer Christopher Burbank.

What has changed, according to Stinson, is the number of officers arrested for other violent crimes, such as assault. He said the most recent data he has analyzed, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, shows that from 2014 to 2018, there was a significant increase in officers arrested in connection with other on-duty violent crimes.

Stinson said that spike could be the result of an increase in cameras, including cellphone, doorbell and body-worn cameras, as well as increased scrutiny of police use of force sparked by the 2014 killings of Tamir Rice in Ohio and Michael Brown in Missouri, which helped fuel the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Their on-duty violence is being more closely scrutinized by prosecutors and their own agencies," Stinson said.

Is it getting easier to prosecute police officers?

In most cases, on-duty fatal shootings are determined to be legally justified.

On Friday, for example, officials in Georgia announced the state troopers who shot a 26-year-old environmental activist who was protesting the construction of a police and fire training center near Atlanta will not face criminal charges because their use of deadly force was "objectively reasonable."

In Philadelphia, former police officer Mark Dial was initially charged with murder, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangering of another person, and official oppression in connection with the shooting of 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry on Aug. 14. But last month, a judge agreed with the defense's argument that Dial acted in self-defense and dismissed the charges.

When cases do make it to trial, Stinson said, juries are still "very reluctant to second-guess the split-second decisions of on-duty police officers in potentially violent street encounters."

But as public scrutiny has increased, some states have made changes to laws surrounding the use of deadly force by police.

In 2018, voters in Washington approved Initiative 940, which removed the requirement that prosecutors prove an officer acted with malice before murder charges can be filed  something no other state required. Ellis' case marked the first time the state's attorney general's office criminally charged police officers with the unlawful use of deadly force and the second time an officer has been charged in a homicide in Washington since the change took effect.

"What 940 established doesn't make it easy  I think it's really important to say that  but it establishes the possibility of holding police criminally accountable for negligent behavior," said Martina Morris, a member of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability.

Seven states also have changed laws governing when police are justified in using deadly force, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. When California in 2019 changed the standard for which a police officer can use deadly force from when its reasonable to when its necessary," Robert Weisberg, law professor and faculty co-director of the Criminal Justice Center at Stanford University in California, told USA TODAY the change moved "the law in the direction of making it more feasible to prosecute officers for homicide."

Abdul Nasser Rad, managing director of research and data at Campaign Zero, said it's still unclear what the impact of those changes has been.

"The jury's still out on that," he said.

Because it can take years for internal investigations and subsequent criminal cases to be resolved, it's difficult to determine whether it's getting easier to prosecute police officers, Rad said.

"I don't think it's fair to say whether it's gotten worse or better. It's such a small number, and there's so many missing values."

Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is it easier to prosecute police killings? Why not much has changed
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG)  A Memphis pastor who was in Israel when the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas militants started is sharing his story.

Pastor Kenneth Whalum Jr. with New Olivet Worship Center in Cordova had been touring Israel for a week and was scheduled to leave the day the first rockets struck.

What to know as war between Israel and Hamas militants rages on for a third day

There was a moment of calm Wednesday night as people of all backgrounds, religions, nationalities came together to hear Bruno Mars perform in Israel for the first time. Among them was Pastor Kenneth Whalum Jr., whose son plays in Brunos band.

You know they dont speak English, but they were singing, Just the way you are! They were singing the same words Bruno was singing, Thats the way I like it,' Whalum said. Ive never heard Bruno perform so pristinely as he did.

That calm was shattered days later when Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel. Pastor Whalum said he woke up Saturday morning to sirens.

Israel strikes and seals off Gaza after incursion by Hamas, which vows to execute hostages

It wasnt like the sirens you hear around Memphis, the tornado warnings and whatever. It was a much deeper kind of sound, and it almost literally shook the ground while it was going off, he said.

He said he learned from a driver while on the way to the airport to head back to Memphis what was going on.

He was so calm. He said, We have to deal with this all the time. We live under a constant threat of violence, but never had it ever been like this,' Whalen said.

He said hes thankful to be alive and home safely.

As Israel now declares war, Pastor Whalum said the experience has given him a new perception on the issues we face in our city. He thinks of the war on crime were facing in Memphis.

Israeli survivors recount terror at music festival, where Hamas militants killed at least 260

When you see 11-year-olds carjacking and murdering people, its out of a sense of hopelessness. And the Hamas attack is an extreme example of what can happen when people feel hopeless, when they feel rejected, when they feel like theyre not being heard. Thats what stands out in my mind, he said.

Whalum said he isnt sure what the answer is, but he thinks the power of prayer can help us figure it out.

Meanwhile, the devastation in the Middle East is also felt throughout the Memphis community, with several organizations, including Temple Israel, hosting vigils and prayers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Cornel West, a former star Harvard professor and current independent presidential candidate, said he disagreed with a controversial statement put out by student activists at the university that solely blamed Israel for the deadly attack by Hamas this weekend.

But, he added, that was mainly because he believed their statement lacked nuance.

In an interview with POLITICO, West said that Israel and [the] United States are primarily responsible for the violence that took place near the Gaza strip that has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and hundreds more in retaliatory strikes. But, he added, Hamas must take responsibility for killing innocent folk."

"The United States bears some responsibility, no doubt about that. And I think that Hamas and jihad bear responsibility for killing innocent people, he said. Palestinians have a right to defend themselves in the same way that Israel has a right to defend itself. There's no doubt about that. But neither has a right to kill innocent people.

He added that the state of Israel has been doing that for 75 years.



Wests remarks come on the heels of a statement issued by more than 30 student groups at Harvard, many of them pro-Palestinian organizations, which held the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. That statement has been widely criticized by other Harvard alumni, many of whom have called on university brass to distance itself from it.

Larry Summers, a past Harvard president, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter: The silence from Harvards leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a Harvard Law School alumnus, said on X, What the hell is wrong with Harvard?

Harvard University president Claudine Gay in a statement on Tuesday condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. She added that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership.

West, a Harvard alum, said that he believes that what the student groups were trying to say was that the state of Israel bears most of the responsibility. He said, I would agree with that.

West also took a shot at Summers, saying that his criticism of the Harvard students is part of a double standard.





You've got war crimes committed decade after decade against Palestinians, and they can't say a mumbling word. And then you get war crimes committed against Israelis, and they're up in arms, he said, referring to Summers and Alan Dershowitz, a lawyer and former Harvard Law School professor. Now a war crime is a war crime. The killing of an innocent, precious Israeli has the same value as a killing of a precious, innocent Palestinian."

West left Harvard in 2002 after a high-profile feud with Summers, then president of the university. He was invited back in 2016 but left the university again in 2021 after not being granted tenure, a result, he said, of being a socialist and outspoken supporter of Palestinians.

West is currently running for president as an Independent after having left the Green Party recently. He is viewed in Democratic circles as a potential spoiler candidate because, in part, of his appeal to youth voters who trend more liberal in their politics.
This is a breaking news story. Check back to idahostatesman.com for updates.

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An Idaho man died after his kayak flipped over on the Boise River, the Meridian Fire Department said in a news release.

The agency said firefighters responded to a water rescue call around 2:55 p.m. Monday along the Boise River, near the 2200 block of West Duck Alley Road, after two kayaks struck a tree and flipped over. Eagle resident James Laughlin died after he was trapped underneath a log inside his kayak, according to the fire department and the Ada County Coroners Office.

Ada County sheriffs deputies arrived at the scene and attempted to free Laughlin, but the force of the water was too powerful, according to the Fire Department release. By 4 p.m. firefighters were able to reach Laughlin by removing enough vegetation, but hed already died. He was 69.

According to the Coroners Office, Laughlin died from drowning. His death was ruled an accident.

Yesterdays tragedy is a stark reminder that this stretch of the river is extremely dangerous and not meant for recreation, the Fire Department said in the news release, adding that the untrimmed trees make rescues incredibly dangerous for first responders.

Unlike the Boise River near Barber Park, this stretch is not maintained and can be extremely dangerous to individuals trying to recreate, including swimming and kayaking, the department continued.
The Merced County Sheriff Coroners Office has identified a woman killed in an apparent stabbing in Merced on Sunday, as 33-year-old Catina Sandoval of Merced, according to Deputy Michael Domingue.

Authorities said officers responded at about 4:10 p.m. Sunday, to an apartment complex int the 1100 block of D Street for a report of a disturbance. Arriving officers located the woman outside on a porch suffering from what appeared to be a stab wound to the abdomen.

Paramedics responded to the scene to render medical aid to the woman who was pronounced deceased a short time later, according to police. Authorities said the stabbing appears to have occurred during some sort of domestic incident. Police have not released the name of an adult male suspect who was arrested at the scene.

The homicide remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Merced Police Detective Alicia Gorman at 209-385-6912.
SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Rica and Honduras slapped each other with visa requirements for travelers from the other's country on Monday, with Costa Rica first implementing the measure citing security reasons.

Costa Rica had initially announced the measure last week, later postponing it. Honduras at the time had called the measure "surprising."

Costa Rican Security Minister Mario Zamora told journalists the visa requirement was "adopted at an opportune moment... for security reasons."

Costa Rica's foreign minister told his Honduran counterpart that the visa requirement came after "an increase in criminal groups" in the coastal town of Limon and "the arrival of Honduran hitmen," Honduras Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said.

Hours after Costa Rica launched the measure on Monday, Honduras imposed a similar requirement "based on the principle of reciprocity."

Both countries' requirements will take effect on Tuesday.

So far this year, 25,900 Hondurans have entered Costa Rica, according to government data. However, most do not stay in the country, with just 353 Hondurans requesting asylum last year.

The visa will not be mandatory for Hondurans in transit, Costa Rica's migration institute said in a statement.

(Reporting by Alvaro Murillo in San Jose; Additional reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland)
Boxes of Marshmallow Peeps are lined up at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., on April 2, 2003. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Oct. 7, 2023, making California the first state to ban four chemicals from food and drinks. It bans red dye No. 3, a food coloring used in candy like Peeps. | Rick Smith, Associated Press

Some of your favorite candies and other foods must soon undergo a recipe change or they will be banned in California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of four chemicals that may be in as many as 12,000 food products. Food manufacturers have until 2027 to give companies time to change their recipes.

While the bill was referred to as the Skittles ban, USA Today points out thats inaccurate. Titanium dioxide, used in Skittles, was removed from the bills list of banned ingredients. The popular candy got a pass.

But the other chemicals that are banned are used in many food products, including cereals, sodas and various candies.

California lawmakers recently passed Assembly Bill 418. At issue was red dye No. 3 and three other chemicals sometimes used in food that may contribute to cancer, memory loss and other health issues.

According to a press release from Jesse Gabriel, the bills sponsor, his effort is the first legislative proposal in the country that would ban the sale of processed foods that contain dangerous chemicals that have already been outlawed in 27 European nations. There, the food items have been reconfigured to be sold without those ingredients.

Per the release, Assembly Bill 418 would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any food product in California containing Red Dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben. Each of these chemicals is currently banned in the European Union due to scientific studies that have demonstrated significant public health harms, including increased risk of cancer, behavioral issues in children, harm to the reproductive system, and damage to the immune system.

Gabriel notes that thousands of chemicals are added to food to make it last longer, taste better and appear more enticing. But he notes that most of the chemicals have not been evaluated in decades, if ever, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine if they pose health risks.

Related

According to ABC News, With the exception of red dye No. 3 used in candied cherries, regulators in Europe previously banned the other four substances outright. In the U.S., such a move would set a precedent for processed food safety going forward. California is the first state to impose such a prohibition.

Dr. Stephanie Widmer, an ABC News medical contributor who is board-certified as an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist, told ABC that consumers should be aware of chemicals in food, but not make themselves crazy over exposures  especially small ones.

The article said she earlier told Good Morning America that you cant go nuts trying to track down everything in your food.

While signing the bill, Newsom said the law is a positive step forward and urged the FDA to set national regulations on the use of the four additives.

Rebuking the misnomer of the Skittles ban for the law, Newsom pointed out in his statement that the popular candy continues to be sold in places like the European Union despite existing bans on a number of chemical additives and colorants, USA Today reported.

The food industry is capable of maintaining product lines while complying with different public health laws, Newsom said. Californians will still be able to access and enjoy their favorite food products, with greater confidence in the safety of such products.

Just Born, which manufactures Peeps, said the dye is not banned by the FDA. And it told the Associated Press that it is looking for other dye options.
Despite having several years to learn about their quarry, most of the media never really figured out how to cover Donald Trump . Some journalists got better at it, sure: It became obvious that you couldnt breeze past a follow-up question or forgo a fact-check; by the end of his presidency many reporters had learned to tap reserves of discipline theyd never previously plumbed. And Trumps superhuman ability to short-circuit the news cycle had lessenedthough only to a degree.

Somehow, the press pulled a silver lining out of the January 6 insurrection, in that it ended with Donald Trump going away, in numerous ways. Chief among them was the way the aftermath resulted in his most powerful tool, his Twitter account, slipping from his hands. Trump was, in many ways, in exile. Literally, he ensconced himself at Mar-a-Lago, where he Colonel Kurtzed himself among sycophants and boxes of purloined documents; metaphorically, he was increasingly at a distance from the news. And it helped that he didnt have much in the way of new material: He has continued to utter the same bombastic lies. For most of the last two years, he has largely been ignored.



That is all starting to change, and quickly. Theres one arena that Trump never really departed fromhe remained the most powerful figure in Republican Party politics even during his quasi-exile. This has helped him to finally reenter our orbit as a presidential aspirant with a commanding lead in the GOP presidential primary. None of his rivals, at this stage of the contest, seem to have any chance of defeating him. Indeed, most of them seem to be sticking around hoping that he will simply pull out of the race, leaving them the beneficiary of either some future health concern or his present role as a defendant in numerous trials.



We have seen some improvement on the slop mess the media made of his 2016 campaign: There is little of the endless, breathless coverage of Trumps every move that defined that race, in both the primary and the general election. There are no hours-long shots of empty lecterns, no fawning coverage of his supposed populism. Even the reliable chatting-with-Trump-voters-at-the-diner stories have all but disappeared.



Nevertheless, it is not clear at all that the press has an understanding of how to cover Trump as what he truly is: a singular threat to American democracy. Somehow this is a fact that either evades reporters or remains something they refuse to accept. But its a critical thing to grasp: Even though much of the coverage of Trump can be considered negative, this is the missing piece that might make that coverage vital.



And while the press has shed itself of some of its worst habits, new ones have emerged. Most notably among these is the tendency to both-sides Trumps many scandalshis numerous felonies, calling for the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to be executed, a plan to destroy the federal government as we know itas the equalizing counterpoint to a faux impeachment push from House Republicans. President Biden is only three years older than Trump, and yet his age is treated as a grave national security concern, whereas Trumpsalong with his general temperamentis largely ignored or explained away.



Its still early in the 2024 race. Much can and will change. But on Wednesday, October 11, Ill be sitting down with three journalistsTara McGowan, Don Lemon, and Jay Rosento discuss how the press is covering Trump and how it should be covering Trump. We so hope to see you there or on the livestream.


Cruise passengers were met by a crowd of around 80 protesters as their ship docked in France.

Travellers aboard the World Traveller liner were greeted with shouts of shame on you, go home and youre not welcome as they arrived into the port of Douarnenez in Brittany on Sunday.

The vessel, which has a capacity of 196 passengers, sailed into the Breton port as part of a 10 day cruise from Dublin, Ireland, to Lisbon in Portugal, priced from 8,048 per passenger, reports Euronews.

Many of the demonstrators were dressed up as animals, including polar bears and sea lions, as well as Venetian carnival goers, to protest against the environmental impact of cruising. One 25-year old protester said she is fed up with luxury and expedition trips.

These boats spend their time going back and forth between the poles to do last-chance tourism: see the last penguins, the last polar bears, the last icebergs. Its indecent, she told news agency AFP.

Les 200 passagers du World Traveller, paquebot en escale a Douarnenez ce dimanche, ont ete accueillis par un concert de casseroles organise par 60 a 70 manifestants anti-croisieres pic.twitter.com/0xcAuyv1Ex  Dimitri L'hours (@DimitriLhours) October 8, 2023

Another protestor said that their demonstration was partly in support of the polar fauna which is suffering from climate change and all the consequences of our way of life in this society.

One said that we dont need this industry, adding: We are simply denouncing this industry which has no reason to exist.

Several cruise ship disembarkations have had to be cancelled or organised under police escort in Douarnenez in recent months, reports AFP.

A report earlier this year found that cruise ships were responsible for more than four times the sulphuric emissions into Europes atmosphere than all the continents cars last year  equivalent to 50,000 flights between Paris and New York.

Expedition voyages to the poles brings their own complications. Research by the Nature Communications journal found that each Antarctic tourist effectively melts 83 tonnes of snow.

The 196-passenger World Traveller in the port of Douarnenez, western France (AFP via Getty Images)

The Independent has contacted Atlas Ocean Voyages, which operates World Traveller, for comment. The cruise line operates a number of itineraries through the Arctic and Antarctica.

On its website, the Florida-based firm says its ships feature the latest hybrid power management and propulsion systems, maximising fuel efficiency and consuming as low as one-fifth the fuel compared to conventional cruise-ship systems, reducing our impact on the environment.

One of the tourists arriving into the French port, Eric Scott, said it was a useful educational experience.

Thats one of the reasons we travel  to get perspectives from other places, he told AFP.

The Italian city of Venice has long been at the centre of the anti-cruise movement but other European port cities have also placed restrictions on larger vessels, including Santorini, Palma de Mallorca and Dubrovnik. The mayor of Barcelona has previously called on the regional government to curb the number of ships allowed in the citys port.
Louciana Johnson thought his corporate wellness jobs move to Merchandise Mart downtown would ease his commute, allowing him to take the Brown Line instead of paying for ride-shares.

Johnson remembered trains once arriving nearly back to back during rush hour. If one train was too crowded, it was easy enough to wait until a less crowded train arrived.

But that is no longer the case. Early one recent morning, Johnson, 43, arrived at the Western Brown Line station to find train trackers that provided only an approximation of wait times, and the approximation was wrong. After waiting nearly 20 minutes, worried about running late to meet a client, he left and took a ride-share downtown instead  something he said has become a common occurrence.

Johnson is now considering moving his job to Evanston. The struggle to get downtown, combined with fewer potential clients in Loop offices, isnt worth it. If he has to take a ride-share anyway, its easier for him to justify paying for a 15-minute ride to the nearby north suburbs, he said.

Its gotten ridiculous, he said. I am still trying to figure out at this point how the Brown Line can work in peoples travel schedules. It makes no sense.

CTA riders across the city have complained of long wait times, crowded buses and trains and conditions on public transit. But Johnsons commute might be particularly frustrating: Weekday Brown Line schedules were cut by 32% compared with pre-pandemic schedules, more than any other train line, a Tribune analysis of CTA data shows.

As the CTA has cut back on schedules, facing a shortage of bus and train drivers that limits the amount of service it can run, the Tribune analysis of CTA data and a separate analysis of federal data by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning show exactly how much service has been cut, and where the CTA is trimming schedules the most.

The problem is not unique to Chicago, but other cities have tried various approaches to addressing public transit service and some have begun to add back to their train schedules, public transit experts said. Key to adding back more service will be hiring more bus and train operators, and some have pointed to pay, working conditions and hiring policies as key to attracting and retaining employees.

CTA President Dorval Carter has acknowledged running less service, saying he called the schedule changes optimizations because they are intended to help scheduled service better reflect the reality of how often buses and trains are actually running.

It is not the service that we were providing prior to the pandemic, he told board members during a June update on service reliability. We do not refer to it as a service cut because it is our intention to restore that service once we get our workforce up to a level that allows us to do that.

In the meantime, the repercussions of running fewer CTA trains and buses are reverberating throughout Chicago.

Chicagos comparative advantage versus other cities in the United States  except New York  is that it has a very large and strong downtown that is only possible because it has a large transit network, said Yonah Freemark, a researcher at the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute who focuses on land use and transportation. And when you diminish the quality of that transit network, you are making it very difficult for that downtown to prosper. So it seems very important for the city.

The amount of bus and train service the CTA is running will be down roughly 15% in 2023 compared with 2019, according to a CMAP analysis of federal data showing the number of hours trains and buses spend on passenger routes. That includes a nearly 14% cut in train service and a 16% cut in bus service.

Bus service is expected to tick upward slightly this year from 2022, but train service is projected to fall, according to CMAP, which projected existing data forward to estimate what service for the full year would be.

A different set of data about CTA schedules, obtained by the Tribune through an open records request, shows every line saw cuts to the number of train runs scheduled on both weekdays and weekends, except for the Yellow Line on Saturdays and Sundays, which had the fewest trains scheduled to run but had seen no reductions. The data tracked train schedules from October 2019, the last schedule in effect before the COVID-19 pandemic sent ridership plummeting, to the schedule in effect from spring through fall 2023.

New schedules took effect Sunday that further cut the number of daily trips on some lines because of ongoing construction on the Blue Line, the CTA said. The agency said the reductions will be temporary and by mid-November, when construction is complete, schedules will return to the levels in effect earlier in the year.

Click each bar to see the exact percent change in scheduled trains for that line.

Under those schedules, the weekday Brown Line, which runs from the Loop to Albany Park, saw the highest rate of scheduled cuts since 2019. Weekday Orange Line schedules to and from Midway Airport also saw high rates of cuts, with schedules slashed by 27%.

Other lines cut by more than a quarter were Saturday schedules on the Red and Brown Line, which were also reduced by about 27%.

Weekday service on the systems two busiest lines, the Red and the Blue, were both cut by about 20%.

The Tribune analysis reflects only scheduled service, not the number of trains or buses that are actually running. The CTA struggled through much of the pandemic to run all of its scheduled trains and buses, effectively cutting service and leading to the phenomenon known as ghosting.

But since the agency began trimming schedules in late 2022, the schedules have more accurately matched how often trains and buses are running. In August the CTA reported running 90% of all scheduled trains and 96% of scheduled buses.

The results show similar trends as data analyses published by Brandon McFadden, who works with the commuter advocacy group Commuters Take Action.

Both me and the other organizers at Commuters Take Action, we want the CTA to succeed, he said. But to do that they of course had to pull schedules down so they could run closer to 100% of scheduled service. And we want them to be truthful about that.

CTA officials said in a statement the lines with the highest cuts are, generally, the lines with more frequent service, and times of day and ridership are also factored in. They determined reductions on routes with more frequent service would affect riders less, and said reductions during off-peak hours, when trains run less frequently, are more noticeable.

Click the points to see the number of scheduled trains for that line.

CTAs ultimate goal has been and continues to (be to) find the delicate balance of providing the most consistent and reliable service with the current available workforce while also accommodating ridership demands throughout the day, the agency said in a statement.

The CTA has pegged service challenges on a shortage of bus and train operators. As of August, the CTA had about 3,400 bus operators, up 6% from the 3,200 drivers employed in September 2022. On the rail side, it had 722 L operating employees in August, down slightly from the 724 employed in September 2022.

The CTA has held hiring fairs, raised some salaries and offered financial incentives intended to attract and retain employees. Still, the numbers of both bus and train operators remained below the number of drivers the CTA budgeted for this year  3,707 bus drivers and 839 rail operators. And the number of positions the CTA is aiming for this year was below the target numbers set before the COVID-19 pandemic.

CTA officials said in the statement they have hired more rail employees this year than in recent years  161 through August, according to agency data  but a key problem has been attrition.

The training process to become an operator is complex and simply cannot be expedited, they said. Operators are promoted from within the ranks of existing rail employees, and training can take three months as they learn the ins and outs of train and signal operations, spokesman Brian Steele said. The small size of a rail cab also limits how many people can be trained in a railcar at once, he said.

We will not let expediency circumvent safety and comprehensive training of rail operators, he said.

A class of 16 new rail operators graduated recently and will go to work on the Blue, Red and Brown lines, CTA officials said in the statement, and another class is set to graduate in December.

The CTA has, on the other hand, had more success hiring bus operators, which is one reason the agency has been able to add back slightly more bus service this year, Steele said.

Agencies nationwide have reported operator shortages, but some are adding back rail service. Freemark, from the Urban Institute, pointed to New York City, where authorities have begun to increase subway service thanks to an influx of state funding.

In San Francisco, hard hit by the decline of office commuters and where transit riders faced 30-minute wait times on nights and weekends, BART has also begun to increase rail service.

The Washington, D.C., Metro is running trains over more miles of track than ever before after a new train line was completed. The agency is also running trains more often than during the depths of the pandemic, reflecting returning ridership and the return to service of rail cars that had been sidelined because of a defect. A spokeswoman said train service was not yet at pre-pandemic levels, but bus service was nearing 2019 levels.

In Chicago, the situation is disappointing, Freemark said.

It seems like other major cities are really taking the initiative to expand transit availability in the post-pandemic context, Freemark said.

But bus ridership can pose a different problem for transit agencies.

Philadelphias SEPTA, which operates trolleys, subways, buses and commuter rail, aims to run 90% of pre-pandemic bus service, but some runs are skipped when operators are not available, CEO Leslie Richards said. Subways are set to run around 85% to 90% of pre-pandemic service, but have faced equipment issues, she said.

The agency has also struggled with operator shortages, lower ridership and a budget cliff looming next year when federal pandemic aid runs out. SEPTA hired more than 1,000 bus operators last year, but after departures ended up with a total addition of only about 125 operators, Richards said. She is grateful the agency was able to roughly break even.

To keep bus service running at its current levels, bus operators have had to work mandatory overtime. If mandatory overtime were to end, which could come up during the next round of union contract negotiations, the agency would have to hire at a faster pace than it is now to maintain bus service, and increase training classes to keep up. If it is unable to do so, SEPTA will have to consider cutting bus service, Richards said.

At this point we could not add service because of the workforce, she said. So we really have to get more operators on board before we could add any more service.

Some transit agencies, like those in Los Angeles and Boston, have had success hiring more bus operators by raising salaries, said Chris Van Eyken, director of research and policy at the New York-based TransitCenter. But others, like the King County Metro, which operates transit around Seattle, continue to cut bus service, he said.

One key problem is how operators feel they are being treated on the job, by both the public and their bosses, Van Eyken said. Drivers face upticks in aggressive passenger behavior, sometimes unpleasant work hours and tough working conditions, like difficulty finding a bathroom during a short turnaround time between bus runs.

Along with raising wages and trying to address safety concerns, transit agencies can ease lengthy application processes, he said. Though not a quick fix, adding bus lanes to city streets can also make driving a bus through traffic easier, helping to improve employee retention. It also helps drivers complete a route faster, potentially allowing them to make more runs during one shift, he said.

People are just less likely to consider the position when they dont feel safe and comfortable every day, Van Eyken said.

That was the explanation of CTA rail mechanic and employee organizer Eric Basir, who said he was also a former train operator. He described the difficulty of one person simultaneously operating the train, keeping an eye on the doors down the length of the cars and interacting with riders, who can be drunk, unruly or unpredictable.

Operators sometimes work in cabs that are dirty or have human fluids in them, he said. Operators who start as part-time employees must work their way up to get some improved benefits, he said. And always, there is the nagging need to make their schedules.

Mark my words: It will never be able to hire enough people because the working conditions are so horrible, he said.

Steele highlighted measures the CTA has taken to boost safety, such as installing bus driver shields and adding police, security and cameras to trains and stations.

Schedules are developed to provide operators enough personal time between runs, he said. Still, the job can be difficult.

Aundra Thompson, a retired bus driver who said he worked a variety of South Side routes over decades with the CTA, saw a marked increase in disrespect from the public in recent years. He felt he had little recourse to handle passengers who refuse to pay fares.

Over the course of his career, the time between bus runs seemed to him to shrink. Where once operators had time to use the bathroom at the end of the line or smoke a cigarette, they now have only minutes. They used to be able to use the restroom in a business near their route, but during the COVID-19 pandemic many businesses stopped allowing them in, he said.

But an operator will do what they need to do during their break. Then, they might leave late, and lag throughout their route. And a late bus only gives customers another reason to get upset, he said.

Its just getting too rough at the CTA, he said.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
NICOSIA (Reuters) -Cyprus is ready to help with the evacuation of citizens of third countries who might want to leave Israel, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday, after an unexpected assault by Hamas militants on Israel over the weekend.

A Cypriot ministerial committee on Tuesday activated the repatriation scheme known as Estia, which offers temporary accommodation and assistance to European Union and third-country nationals fleeing areas of crisis.

"In this context, the Republic of Cyprus intends to offer facilities for the repatriation of foreign nationals from Israel through Cyprus," the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Eighty five citizens of Portugal and Spain arrived in Cyprus from Israel on the first evacuation flight early Tuesday on a Portuguese air force plane, a foreign ministry spokesperson said. A second flight was planned for later in the day.

Separately, several thousand Israelis living in Europe and elsewhere have been using Cyprus as a transit point to return to Israel since the crisis began on Saturday.

Thousands of westerners were evacuated through Cyprus during the war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah in 2006. The island was also used as a transit point for the evacuation of mainly British nationals from Sudan earlier this year.

(Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Standing by Israel in the wake of this past weekends horrific attacks was the right thing for the Biden administration to do. Hamas committed massive, appalling crimes against humanity that require a resolute and unflinching response. However, whether Americas ultimate goal is greater security for the people of Israel, peace and stability in the region, or justice for the people of Palestine, it is essential that our support for Israel is not perceived to be a blank check by the Netanyahu government.

The U.S. and our international allies must use all the means at our disposal to ensure that the response of the Israelis to the crimes of Hamas is proportional, consistent with international law, and, most difficult of all, that ultimately it breaks the cycle of violence that has caused so much carnage for so long.

That, in turn, means sending a clear message that we will actively oppose extremist policies that are certain to lead to future violence from either Hamas or the Israeli leadership.

Hapless Netanyahu Was Totally Unprepared for Attack

As we have seen, extremists seek extreme opposition. It is why, for example, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would prefer having Hamas in charge among the Palestiniansbecause their radical policies justify his radical policies in response. It is why Hamas was also believed to prefer Netanyahu to his rivals.

It is what Osama bin Laden hoped to and did achieve in 2001. Our overreaction to the 9/11 attacks fueled terrorist recruitment across the Middle East, did untold damage to Americas reputation around the world, and made Americans far less willing to support U.S. military interventionwhether in Ukraine or the Middle East.

It is time we realized that the solution to the death and heartache in Israel and the Palestinian territories is not more violence, it is the strength and stability born of reason.

There are already clear signs that the Netanyahu government believes it can once again act with impunity in its attacks on Gaza. They have already initiated a siege, cutting off water, electricity, and food to Gaza, which is in violation of international law because it indiscriminately exacts a toll on innocent civilians. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Hamas fighters as human animals, a none-too-subtle way of dehumanizing the greater Palestinian population.

A destroyed car that was attacked by Palestinian militants lies by the road side on October 10, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel. Amir Levy / Getty

The attacks on Gaza, a tiny enclave of 2.2 million, half of whom are children, are already exacting a brutal toll. And much darker days ahead are promised.

Some of this may viscerally feel right to Israelis who have lost relatives or watched as innocent civilians, children, and the elderly were dragged off and are being held hostage. But as the past decades have shown, retribution is not a strategy. It does not achieve security. If it did, the attacks of this past weekend would not have happened.

Israeli soldiers remove the bodies of civilians killed days by Hamas terrorists on this kibbutz near the border with Gaza, on October 10, 2023 in Kfar Gaza, Israel. Amir Levy / Getty

Because America and Americans should be guided by our national interests and our commitments to our allies, it is essential we recognize that our first duty is to our fundamental valuesvalues that so many of us associate with the region of the world in which the current fighting is taking place. It is by serving our values rather than formal ties to foreign governments or the rhetoric of alliances or even what we feel in our hearts in the heat of a moment, that we best advance our long-term goals of peace and justice.

While those ideas may seem simple enough, to implement them we have to recognize that for far too long we have ignored them. Too often the policies and actions of the United States, of Israel, and of the Palestinians in this conflict have been driven by other, more dangerous impulses. It is time to admit that all of our nations have historically valued the lives of our own people and those of our allies ahead of the lives of others. In one way or another, we have accepted either explicitly or by implication via our actions the kind of dehumanization of our adversaries or rivalsmuch in the same way Israels defense minister shamefully has.

It is those perverse rationalizations that during the 2014 Gaza war led to 2,251 Palestinians being killed, about half of whom were believed to be civilians and 551 were children; 66 Israeli soldiers and five civilians died in that conflict. How will that math work itself out this time?

The loss of at least 900 Israelis senselessly murdered on Oct. 7 is shocking. And yet, the loss of nearly half that number of Palestinians in the past couple of years (prior to this war) in West Bank violence barely registered in many U.S. policy circles.

The shock of the attacks may be greater, but the heartbreak, the loss to families, and the damage to the soul of the region were equally great in either case.

The nearly 3,000 people who died on 9/11 were not worth so much that the crime against them justified killing as many as 600,000 Iraqis in our misguided war against that country. There is no formula by which the death of innocent Palestinians justifies the deaths of innocent Israelis or vice versa.

Gaza Horrified by Hamas ISIS-Style Threat to Kill Hostages on Camera

In the past, when such flare-ups in the cycle of violence have occurred, the United States has followed a policy that amounted to, in the words of one former Israeli diplomat, 24 hours or a day or two of statements of solidarity followed by giving the Israelis roughly 96 hours to do whatever they felt they had to do, followed by calls for restraint.

Not only is that approach flawed because it does not work, but it is wrong because it implicitly accepts the idea that our friends are entitled to a little overkill because their lives are worth more than those of their attackers. That wrong is then compounded when the U.S. government continues supporting and funding Israeleven as a government like Netanyahus comes into office intent on deepening that countrys apartheid, illegally seizing more settlements, gutting that countrys already shaky democracy, enforcing brutal racist policies, and doing so at the behest of a cabinet that includes people actually convicted by Israeli courts of terrorism.

Our failure to send a clear message to the Israelis that annexing more territory, deepening apartheid, and committing or tolerating crimes against Palestiniansespecially our failure to follow such actions with concrete steps like withholding aid and materiel supporthas actually contributed to the conflagration that has been sparked in Israel and Gaza this week.

While it is absolutely right that the abuses of the Netanyahu government do not justify the wholesale slaughter and kidnapping of innocent Israeli civilians, it is also certainly true that those abuses helped create the tensions that led to those crimes.

President Joe Biden speaks on the terrorist attacks in Israel alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 7, 2023. Samuel Corum / Getty

It is also likely true that the Israeli-Saudi normalization agreement did little to remedy the injustices committed against Palestinians and helped set the stage for the attacks. Just as it was true that Iran no doubt supported the attacks because they would destabilize Israel and possibly derail that normalization deal that they see as a threat. Just as it was also trueand we must remember all these things can be and are truethat the Hamas terrorists who carried out the attack were guilty of monstrous crimes and must be held to account.

The lesson that comes from understanding the above is that the U.S. looked the other way when Israel was guilty of overkill in the pastour tradition of allowing them to kill or inflict suffering on Palestinians so long as it was slow enough not to attract headlines in the U.S. has helped bring us to where we are. Should we now, in the midst of the understandably heated emotions of this moment, allow them to follow these patterns again, we know where that will lead.

They may kill the leaders of Hamas. But new leaders will emerge, new radicals will be born from the rubble of Gaza. And we must recognize also that to some degree, this is just what the extremists in charge of the Israeli government seek, because it justifies their extremism. And it is what the leaders of Hamas are counting on.

The past eight decades have proven conclusively that there are no military solutions to the Israel-Palestine question. They have also proven that no other states in the region will step up to help solve that problem. This means it can only be addressed when both sides once again embrace and empower governments to seek political solutions.

That seems a long way off. But one way it can be made a more realistic objective is if the U.S., our allies, and other nations that care use the economic and political pressure at their disposal to say we will not tolerate or help to support in any way the abuses of the past.

Do Hamas Brutal Tactics Do Anything to Help Palestinians?

If Hamas attacks Israelis, they and their sponsors will be and should be targeted and we should insist that they pay the full price that international law permits. By the same token, however, if Israelis strip away the rights or lives of Palestinians, they should see aid flows suspended. If extremists are empowered, we will work with them as practical considerations dictate we must, but we should not in any way support them. Further, if political solutions are sought, we should also commit to mobilizing the resources of the worlds leading nations to help reward those who are actual peacemakers and to invest in whatever peace may follow.

In the wake of atrocities, it is hard to be rational. But the failure of rationality in precisely moments like these that begets future atrocities. It does not help the Israeli people, nor does it advance U.S. interests to show solidarity by supporting, defending, or even simply tolerating the bad acts or instincts of the most incompetent, corrupt, and vile government in Israels history. Such a position dishonors the victims of Hamas and the rest of the people of Israel if it compounds the crimes with more crimes that make more senseless bloodshed more likely. It is not loyal to increase the likelihood of more, not fewer, October 7ths.

Standing with Israel, in fact, means both supporting forceful targeted actions against the Hamas terrorists responsible for the nauseating horrors of this past weekend and also taking a stance against actions by the Israeli government that make peace less likely. In fact, because only a political solution that grants full right of self-determination to the Palestinian people grants Israelis real security, standing with the people of Israel means standing with the people of Palestineand, given their records to date, against both the Hamas and Netanyahu governments.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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On October 10, 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns in disgrace after pleading no contest to income tax evasion. UPI File Photo

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was formally opened at Fort Severn, Annapolis, Md., with 50 midshipmen in the first class.

In 1886, Griswold Lorillard of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., fashioned the first tuxedo for men.

In 1928, Chiang Kai-shek became chairman of the Republic of China. Following two civil wars, separated by a World War, Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang party would head into exile in 1949 following defeat at the hands of the Communists.

In 1933, a United Airlines Boeing 247 is destroyed by sabotage, the first such proven case in the history of commercial aviation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President George W. Bush speak to the media after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on May 3, 2006. On October 10, 2005, Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany after her Christian Democrats won the parliamentary election. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI

In 1956, no sign of compromise seen in Suez Canal dispute. Egypt had been pressing for a negotiated solution, "consistent with Egyptian sovereignty," though there were no signs that the Egyptians or the British and French were ready to compromise.

In 1971, having been sold, dismantled and moved to the United States, London Bridge reopens in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Malala Yousafzai attends at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in The Spektrum in Oslo on December 11, 2014. On October 10, 2014, the Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, children's rights activists. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI

In 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns in disgrace after pleading no contest to income tax evasion.

In 1985, movie legend Orson Welles, whose innovative Citizen Kane of 1941 was regarded by many as the best American-made film of all time, died of a heart attack at the age of 70.

On October 10, 1928, Chiang Kai-shek, pictured in 1970, becomes chairman of the Republic of China. UPI File Photo

UPI File Photo

In 1995, Israel freed about 900 Palestinian prisoners and pulled its troops out of four towns as the second phase of a peace plan was implemented on the West Bank.

On October 10, 1997, tobacco companies agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit by 60,000 flight attendants who said second-hand smoke made them ill. File Photo by John Angelillo

In 1997, major tobacco companies agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit by 60,000 flight attendants who said second-hand smoke made them ill. About a week earlier, tobacco executives admitted that tobacco causes lung cancer and other diseases.

In 2003, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Iranian lawyer Shurin Ebadi for her work in promoting democracy and human rights in Iran and beyond. She was the first Muslim woman to win the award.

Graduating Midshipman throw their hats in the air at the conclusion on the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on May 26. On October 10, 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was formally opened. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

In 2005, Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany after her Christian Democrats won the parliamentary election.

File Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI

Salesman Michael Nobel adjusts a colorful tie on a tuxedo display in the window at Mister Guy Clothier in Ladue, Mo., on November 25, 2005. On October 10, 1886, Griswold Lorillard of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., fashioned the first tuxedo for men. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

In 2014, the Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, children's rights activists. Yousafzai, the youngest Nobelist in history, became a household name after Taliban militants shot her in the head in Pakistan, bringing attention to her cause -- education for girls.

In 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall on Mexico Beach, Fla., as a Category 5 storm. Michael directly caused 31 deaths and more than $25 billion in damage.

In 2020, Poland's Iga Swiatek won her country's first major singles title, beating American Sofia Kenin in the French Open final.

In 2021, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said her government would not "bow to pressure" from Beijing in response to China's call for "reunification."

File Photo courtesy of Office of the President of Taiwan
Palestinians in the densely packed Gaza Strip continued to face the fury of Israel's military Tuesday as it exacted the first phase of its revenge for the Hamas militant group's unprecedented, bloody weekend assault on the Jewish state. The Israel Defense Forces said airstrikes targeted some 200 targets in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory overnight, fewer than the previous evening's barrage, but it was increasingly clear that the missiles were just an opening salvo for what Israel has promised will be a devastating blow against Hamas.

Israeli families were still reeling Tuesday from the brazen ground, air and sea assault launched Saturday by Hamas. The scale and brutality of the attack, which Israel said had claimed more than 1,000 lives, left some 2,500 more people wounded and more than 100 held captive by Hamas, appeared to take not only the Israeli people but their government by surprise.

At least 14 U.S. nationals were among the dead in Israel, and an unclear number were also among the hostages held by Hamas. The Biden administration has said that while Iran is "broadly complicit" in supporting Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, it has seen no clear evidence that Tehran had a role in planning or orchestrating the Saturday attack on Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with full-throated backing from his country's most vital ally, the United States, said Hamas had started a war, but he vowed that "Israel will finish it." He's said Israel will not stop until the terror group is deprived of any capacity to plan or conduct further operations in Gaza.

"Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they've made a mistake of historic proportions," Netanyahu said Monday. "We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come."

A map shows Israel, with Jerusalem and other major cities labeled, along with the Palestinian territories of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto

The first part of that effort has been the relentless airstrikes. As of Tuesday morning, the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said those strikes had claimed at least 900 lives, including at least 140 children. The ministry said 4,000 more people were wounded.

Israel insists it only targets militants, and it has long accused Hamas and other groups of positioning both fighters, bases and weapons in packed apartment buildings, mosques and even schools  all of which have reportedly been hit in the IDF strikes over the last couple days.

Israel also declared Monday that its long-standing blockade of the Palestinian territory would be tightened, with no food, water, medicine, electricity or water allowed into the enclave, and it blames Hamas singularly for any pain brought upon civilians in Gaza.

But the blockade of Gaza and the expectation of more violence to come led the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, to warn Tuesday that "international humanitarian law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks."

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. / Credit: MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty

Volker also suggested Israel's strict blockade of the Palestinian territory could be an illegal act in and of itself.

"The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law," he said in a statement.

But with thousands of Israelis in mourning and scores more desperate to learn the whereabouts and condition of loved ones missing since Hamas' brutal siege, Israel appeared poised Tuesday morning to enter a new phase of its war on Hamas, not to ease its attack.

Soldiers and tanks are seen near the southern Israeli town of Sderot amid an Israeli military buildup around the Israel-Gaza border, Oct. 9, 2023. / Credit: Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance/Getty

Israel's military says it has massed 35 battalions  tens of thousands of soldiers and dozens of tanks  around the border with Gaza.

Hamas' military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, warned Israel that, should that next phase involve the widely-anticipated Israeli ground force entering Gaza, the Palestinian faction was ready to fight back, "for a very long time."

Al-Qassam's Abu Ubaida also said in his Monday night video statement  after another Hamas spokesman said the group would kill one of its Israeli hostages in retaliation for any Israeli strikes against civilian infrastructure carried out without warning  that the IDF strikes were putting the hostages' lives at risk.

Israeli soldiers stand near the body of a Palestinian militant in Kfar Aza, in the south of Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip, Oct. 10, 2023. / Credit: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty

"Our fighters captured a very large number of prisoners from the different front lines," Abu Ubaida said, repeating an earlier Hamas claim that some of the captives had already been killed by Israeli strikes.

He also ruled out any talks with Israel over the hostages' fate, while Hamas remains "under fire, and while the aggression and the war is still raging."

A propaganda video released by Hamas shows its militants training for their unprecedented assault, including on the paragliders they used to fly over the Gaza border into Israel, where they slaughtered and kidnapped civilians.

There are still big questions about how Israeli intelligence failed to detect and disrupt the planning and preparation for such a massive, well-coordinated attack, right under its nose  and about why Hamas chose to launch such an unprecedented operation now.

There have also been deadly exchanges of fire between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where that other Iran-backed group is based.

A senior U.S. defense official told CBS News that Washington was deeply concerned about the possibility of that becoming a second front in this conflict.

Prosecutors indict George Santos on new criminal charges

What would a ground invasion of Gaza look like?

Israel music festival survivor recounts escape from Hamas
The Ukrainian military has partially succeeded in Andriivka, south of Bakhmut, consolidating their positions.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled four enemy attacks near Klishchiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

In turn, the Defence Forces continue their assault operations south of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. They have had partial success in Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy and consolidating their positions."

Details: In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of troops on the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, Russia carried out more than 15 unsuccessful attacks in the areas of Marinka and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Editor's note: Peking opera, a performing art that integrates singing, reciting, dancing, acting and acrobatics with instrumental accompaniment, is regarded as China's national opera. In 2010, it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.









Peking opera originated about two centuries ago in Beijing, which was then the capital of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). It derives its name from the city, and its development was centered there. The Chinese characters  ("jing"), signifying a capital or a shorthand name for Beijing, and  ("ju"), meaning theatrical work, drama, play, or opera, are the keywords for Peking opera.

Peking opera is believed to have developed from several ancient local operas. In 1790, a local opera troupe named Sanqing, backed by a prosperous businessman, traveled from Anhui in east China to Beijing to perform for Emperor Qianlong's 80th birthday celebrations. The performance was a great success, drawing more Anhui opera troupes to come and perform in the city. By blending the different performing techniques of these troupes and adopting artistic styles from Han opera, Kunqu opera, and Shaanxi opera, Peking opera gradually developed its unique style.

Although Peking opera is widely practiced throughout China, its main performance centers are in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The opera is sung and recited primarily in Beijing dialect, and its librettos are composed following a strict set of rules that emphasize form and rhyme.

Performers use the medium to narrate stories about history, politics, society, and daily life, aiming to inform or entertain audiences. According to UNESCO, the music of Peking opera plays a vital role in determining the show's pace, establishing the atmosphere, defining characters, and guiding the progression of the stories.

All roles in Peking opera are defined according to gender, age, personality, profession, and social status. Today, audiences are familiar with four types of roles, including sheng (male role), dan (female role), jing (painted face male role), and chou (clown). The well-known Peking opera master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) was celebrated for his performances in the dan role and founded the Mei school. During the 1920s and 1930s, he was invited to perform Peking opera in Japan, the United States, and the Soviet Union, significantly enhancing cultural exchanges between these nations.

Peking opera has many prominent schools, including the renowned Tan School, Mei School and Cheng School. These schools were named after their master performers  Tan Xinpei, Mei Lanfang, and Cheng Yanqiu, respectively  as the artistic success of Peking opera is often gauged by the achievements of its leading performers.

Different schools concentrate on various types of roles and have their own signature artists. For example, the Tan School is known for specializing in the role of the older man (lao sheng), while the Mei and Cheng schools are focused on the woman's role (dan).

Based on these role types, facial makeup and costumes are designed specifically for each type of role. Audiences can discern the personality of a role through the colors and painting patterns of an actor's facial makeup. For example, a red-faced character signifies valiance, loyalty, and positivity, while yellow-faced and white-faced characters are viewed as sinister, treacherous, and hostile. Additionally, a distorted face, drawn with asymmetrical lines, generally represents a vicious villain or accomplice.

Costume designs reflect the social rank of the role. For instance, royal families wear yellow robes, and high-ranking officials wear purple or red dresses, all with rich embroidery, while lower-ranking officials normally wear blue and simple-patterned clothes.

During the over-200-year development of Peking opera, more than 1,000 plays were created, many of which have become classics beloved by generations. However, in the second half of the 20th century, Peking opera witnessed a steady decline in popularity due to changing musical tastes and lifestyles. In response, Peking opera circles began to reform this classic art in the 1980s, making efforts to increase performance quality and incorporate modern elements to attract more audiences.

Today, several units remain dedicated to the protection and development of Peking opera, such as China's National Center for the Performing Arts, National Peking Opera Company, and Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, among others. They conducted bold experiments by introducing Western symphony into performances, video recording and broadcasting classic opera productions, pairing the sound records of late artists with the performances of today's outstanding performers, and producing Peking opera films.

"Peking opera is transmitted largely through master-student training, with trainees learning basic skills through oral instruction, observation and imitation. It is regarded as an expression of the aesthetic ideal of opera in traditional Chinese society and remains a widely recognized element of the country's cultural heritage," UNESCO described.

Find out more about China's intangible cultural heritage and their keywords:

China's 43rd UNESCO's ICH element: Traditional tea processing

China's 42nd UNESCO's ICH element: Wangchuan ceremony



China's 41st UNESCO's ICH element: Taijiquan

China's 40th UNESCO's ICH element: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa

China's 39th UNESCO's ICH element: Twenty-Four Solar Terms

China's 38th UNESCO's ICH element: Abacus-based Zhusuan

China's 37th UNESCO's ICH element: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers




On 10 October, Rustem Umierov , Ukraines Minister of Defence, held a telephone conversation with his Belgian counterpart Ludivine Dedonder, discussing the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Source: press service of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry

Quote: "We discussed the provision of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and the training of our pilots.

We also synchronised our positions ahead of the upcoming meeting in the Ramstein format and the NATO-Ukraine Council."

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Delta Airlines is canceling flights to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport through the end of the month after the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants over the weekend that has led to the deaths of nearly 1,600 people on both sides, including Americans, and prompted a declaration of war by the Israeli government.

Israel has since increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for the bloody incursion. Hamas also escalated on Monday, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.

Officials at Delta released the following statement to KTLA:

As Delta continues monitoring events in the region, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our [Tel Aviv] flights through Oct. 31, 2023. Our hearts are with those who are impacted as our people work to find safe alternatives for customers trying to depart [Tel Aviv]. Notifications to customers about their specific flight will be communicated via the Fly Delta app, and contact information in their reservation; customers can also reach out to Delta Reservations for support. Delta will continue to explore options for customers to safely exit [Tel Aviv] via seats that become available on our partner airlines.

Exasperated, shaken travelers arrive at LAX from Tel Aviv

The airline added that some flights may show as operating between now and Oct. 17, but that Delta is canceling those flights.

Customers are encouraged to go to the airlines website to find available seats on partner airlines, which will be visible and bookable on the schedule.

Delta said its continuing to work with the U.S. government to assist citizens who want to return home to the United States.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A Delta plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. The FAAs authority over federal aviation programs has been extended through Dec. 31 as part of the stopgap legislation to keep the government open that President Joe Biden signed on Saturday, narrowly averting a lapse as long-term reauthorization remains tied up in disagreement over pilot training. Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Delta Air Lines announced Monday that the company would be canceling all flights to and from Tel Aviv-Yafo for the rest of the month citing the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Delta says all customers who planned to travel between now and Oct. 31 must reach out to the company to rebook their flights and fly on the reissued tickets by Nov. 30, 2023.

.@Delta has made the difficult decision to cancel all its flights to and from Tel Aviv through Oct. 31. Details for customers here: https://t.co/avqFotRcjD  Delta News Hub (@DeltaNewsHub) October 9, 2023

Anyone who books after may be subject to a difference in fare. They have outlined all the details for rebooking online.

This story was reported out of Atlanta.
A crowd at a pro-Israel rally booed Sen. Ed Markey on Monday after suggesting violence should be de-escalated in the Middle East nation's war against Hamas.

Hamas "are violent extremists," Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, told the crowd. "They gain support when there is a crisis."

"That is why the United States and the international community must keep pushing for diplomacy and the ending of civilian casualties on all sides," Markey continued. "There must be a de-escalation of the current violence."

Boos erupted, and the lawmaker briefly paused his speech.

WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE

Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israel using sea, ground and air troops in tandem with a barrage of thousands of rockets, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. Israel declared war against the Gaza-based group Saturday night in response and began a retaliatory assault in Gaza.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

As of Monday afternoon, nearly 1,600 people have been killed, including around 900 in Israel.

Sen. Markey, a Democrat, was booed on Monday at a pro-Israel rally in Boston.

Rallies supporting either side have cropped up throughout the U.S. in the days following, including in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a fellow Massachusetts Democrat who also spoke at the Boston rally, rebuked Markey's call for de-escalation.

ISRAEL RECAPTURES AREAS NEAR THE GAZA STRIP OVERRUN BY HAMAS

"De-escalation is not possible when they are taking hostages," Auchincloss told the crowd. "And Israel did not ask America to de-escalate on September 12, 2001."

"Hamas is an internationally recognized terrorist organization that is executing and raping civilians," he continued. "Israel is a liberal democracy with the right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens."

Israel needs moral support from Americans and the U.S. should not be ambiguous in their support for their Middle Eastern ally, Auchincloss added.

Hamas, as part of its attack, seized hostages, including women, children and older civilians. The terrorists said they would broadcast an execution of a hostage every time an Israeli airstrike hit a Gaza target without forewarning.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will finish the war that Hamas started.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his country on Monday amid his military's fight against Hamas.

"Israel is at war," Netanyahu said. "We didnt want this war."

"It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way," he said. "But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it."





Original article source: Dem senator booed at pro-Israel rally after suggesting a 'de-escalation of the current violence'
Last night the White House was lit up in blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag, a bold visual reminder by President Joe Biden of his unflinching support for one of Americas closest allies and a clear sign about how he sees the conflict.

Away from the lights, Democrats in Washington are deeply concerned that the outpouring of goodwill toward Israel in the wake of the horrific attacks by Hamas may be fleeting.

For the last couple of days we've seen all the pictures of girls who were killed at this festival and the children and the parents and the Holocaust survivor and the elderly, and the hundreds of people who are dead and the stories about them being raped, said one Democratic lawmaker, who like others, was granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive internal politics.

That's over. Okay? The media is going to turn from all of that real soon. And the only images we're going to see for the next couple of weeks are dead Palestinians, the member added. So that's when the Progressive Caucus will get all ginned up.



Earlier this year, Gallup reported on an important public opinion milestone: After a decade in which Democrats have shown increasing affinity toward the Palestinians, their sympathies in the Middle East now lie more with the Palestinians than the Israelis, 49% versus 38%.

Biden, who has been defying that trend for years, will now have to defend Israel against skeptics in his party the same way he has been defending Ukraine against skeptics in the GOP. Hell have his first chance when he speaks about the conflict on Tuesday afternoon.

Bidens relationship with Israel stretches back much farther than that of most living Democrats. He first visited the country as a freshman senator in 1973, and often likes to tell the story of how the hour he spent with then-prime minister Golda Meir, a few weeks before a surprise Arab attack on Israel started the Yom Kippur War, was one of the most consequential meetings Ive ever had in my life.

His vice presidency and presidency have coincided with the most strained period of relations between the Democratic Party and the Israeli government, yet Biden has generally resisted the advice of younger aides who have urged him to snub Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

During a trip to Israel as vice president, Netanyahu seemed to purposefully embarrass Biden by announcing an expansion of housing in East Jerusalem, but Biden declined to retaliate by leaving the country early as some aides wanted.



The relationship has been further tested in his presidency. The key episode to revisit is Israels May 2021 incursion into Gaza after a major Hamas rocket attack. Biden backed Netanyahu unequivocally: Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory, he said.

But with each passing day of the conflict, as violence in Gaza mounted, the criticism from some Democrats in Congress escalated, and Biden felt more pressure in his private conversations with Netanyahu to push for a ceasefire, which came 11 days after the initial attack.

The scale of Hamass attack on Saturday is far greater and more barbaric than any recent violence against Israel, but several House Democrats we spoke to last night are convinced that this political cycle will repeat itself.

The most pro-Palestinian Democrats already see the conflict in starkly different terms from Biden and are using language that equates the Hamas attack and the Israeli response. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), for instance, decried lives lost on both sides following attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli border towns and Israeli military bombardment of Gaza.

She joined a handful of others on the left in calling for a ceasefire and de-escalation rather than reinforcing Israels right to retaliate and prevent future attacks.



A second Democratic member said that such views remained on the fringe but could easily spread, the same way that Ukraine aid skeptics went from the GOPs fringe to its mainstream.

Everyone just presumes that they're going to play to type and say what they're going to say. I don't think anyone's surprised about that. The key is making sure that it doesn't grow and metastasize, that lawmaker said. The question is, a week from now or five days from now, what are we looking at when the counterassault begins in earnest?

This tension among Democrats between backing Israel unequivocally and calling for restraint exists not just in Congress but within the Biden administration, as well. Secretary of State Antony Blinken deleted a tweet urging a ceasefire on Sunday, while States Office of Palestinian Affairs deleted a tweet urging all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks.

That tension also hangs over Bidens fragile legislative strategy that started to take shape on Monday, as several news outlets reported, of potentially tying aid to Ukraine with aid to Israel.

Currently, there are a lot more Republicans who are hostile to financing Ukraines defense than there are Democrats who are hostile to financing Israels defense. Daring Republicans to vote against a combo package seems to make sense. But one pro-Israel Democrat warned that the administration had better think through the strategy carefully.

I will not hold up funding for Israel if that becomes a vote problem, the lawmaker said. Then I will support decoupling them.

The timing of any new Israel aid package is up in the air. White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on a call last night that theres enough money in the pipeline right now.

We have existing authorities and existing appropriations to continue to support Israel, Kirby said. If we need  and it's an if  if we need to go back to Capitol Hill for additional funding support for Israel, we will absolutely do that.

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For the record:

6:42 p.m. Oct. 10, 2023: An earlier version of this report said Assistant Sheriff Sergio Aloma spoke this month about fire safety in jails. He spoke last month.



Two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies suffered third-degree burns Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in a tractor-trailer used as a mobile shooting range in Castaic, authorities said.

The blaze started around 9:30 a.m. in the trailer next to the men's jail at Pitchess Detention Center. The facility is used for law enforcement training but is not related to the jail, Sheriff's Department Communications Manager Nicole Nishida said.

Two deputies were inside the 53-foot trailer when the fire broke out, sheriffs officials said. One was taking a department-mandated recertification test, and the other  the range master  was supervising.

Both were initially taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where they were listed in critical but stable condition. They were later taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center "for further medical treatment," according to sheriff's officials.

Other firing ranges across Los Angeles County were closed Tuesday as authorities worked to determine how the fire started. Part of the investigation will include interviewing the deputies, but officials said their medical care was the top priority.

"It is extremely early in the investigation to determine the cause of this fire," Sheriff Robert Luna said during an afternoon news conference. "We need to know why this happened and get to the bottom of it so we prevent it from happening again."

Read more: LAPD detective hit in head by shrapnel at police academy shooting range

This is not the first time a Sheriffs Department mobile shooting range has caught fire. According to local media reports, firefighters put out a flaming trailer in Marina del Rey in 2019. No injuries were reported at the time, and a department official on Tuesday did not respond to a request for more information about what caused that blaze.

The department's arson explosives team will investigate Tuesday's fire, Luna said, but only after it's clear that the ammunition inside the mobile range has cooled.

The blaze continued to burn hours after the fire broke out as crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department continued to douse the flames inside. Firefighters were able to stop the blaze from spreading to a nearby building and trailer, Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Ewell said.

Sheriff's officials said the two deputies were the only people in the trailer when the fire began. Although both were critically burned, they are expected to survive, officials said.

Medical personnel at the hospital did not disclose any details about the deputies' conditions because of privacy laws, but said their injuries were consistent with a fire.

Luna declined to identify the pair, noting that sheriff's personnel are still contacting family members, but said both are veteran members of the department. One has served Los Angeles County for 21 years and works at the jail; the other is assigned to the Sylmar courthouse and has been with the department for 17 years, Luna said.

Thomas Ferguson, vice president of the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said the union was "saddened to learn that one or more of our members have been seriously injured in a mobile range training accident" and that the organization was working to support those who had been injured and their families.

"At this point, there is only preliminary information, and the focus is on providing medical care to the injured and safeguarding the accident location," Ferguson continued. "In all situations where a department member or member of the public is injured or killed in law enforcement operations or training, ALADS will insist on a full investigation. The department has stopped all mobile range training. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims."

Luna could not answer whether initial reports about an explosion were accurate and said those details would be part of the probe into the fire. Investigators are examining the trailer's air ventilation system and whether it was off, something that may have led to a lack of circulating air and caused the blaze to ignite.

Honestly, we still do not know at this time everything that happened. Our arson investigators will be investigating everything from A to Z, and well figure it out," Luna said. "At the end of the day, we have two deputies that have significant injuries. We do not want this to happen again."

Emanuel Kapelsohn, a firearms and use-of-force expert who runs the Peregrine Corp. consulting firm, said mobile ranges are commonly used by law enforcement agencies across the country.

There are many types of trailer ranges, he said. Some are used just for simulations with electronic systems where you fire laser beams or other projectiles. Some are used for regular ammunition.

The latter requires good ventilation, he added.

Unlike traditional shooting ranges, Kapelsohn said that mobile ranges have the advantage of offering flexibility in training locations because the trailers can easily be moved. They also offer the ability to fire weapons in a variety of lighting conditions, allowing law enforcement to practice dim-light firing during the daytime.

Read more: In Mens Central Jail, fires are common, smoke alarms are not: Smells 'like a campfire'

Tuesday's blaze comes weeks after The Times published an investigation into fire safety at another of the county's facilities, the decrepit downtown lockup known as Men's Central Jail.

For decades, The Times learned, men detained there have used batteries and razors to spark fires to heat food, boil water, smoke drugs or stay warm.

Though the aging facility was built to code in 1963, that code did not require smoke detectors or sprinklers in inmate housing areas. Without automatic alarms, its up to jailers to spot fires and manually activate an alarm inside one of the deputy booths.

All of our jails adhere to both fire marshal and Board of State and Community Corrections regulations and guidelines related to fire safety, Assistant Sheriff Sergio Aloma said last month. We do, however, continue to assess best practices related to facility safety and remain open to new emerging technologies that can make our facilities safer.

It was not immediately clear what fire safety measures were in place at the range trailers where Tuesday's blaze occurred.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Des Moines man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the shooting death of Kaydee Bobbitt, who was hit by gunfire while driving through Des Moines' Drake neighborhood three years ago.

Derrick Glenn Smith Jr., 33, entered an Alford plea Monday to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon as a felon. The plea means he admits there is enough evidence to convict him, but he maintains his innocence.

Smith faces a minimum of five years in prison before he is eligible for parole and must pay $150,000 in restitution. He also lost his right to own a firearm.

Catherine Bobbitt, 33, was killed on April 3, 2020, after being hit by gunfire while driving through Des Moines' Drake neighborhood. It as the eighth homicide of 2020.

Bobbitt was driving with her 17-year-old daughter westbound on Kingman Boulevard on April 3, 2020, when gunfire rang out as they approached 33rd Street just before 4 p.m.

Bobbitt, 33, was shot. She died about two hours later at a hospital.

More: 'Fly high, baby': Kaydee Bobbitt memorialized with afternoon balloon vigil

Investigators obtained surveillance videos from neighbors for their investigation, Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said at the time of the shooting. Neighbors said they heard several gunshots.

Police believe Smith is the person who fired the shots that killed Bobbitt.

Smith originally was charged with first-degree murder and intimidation with a deadly weapon. He was arrested after he was injured in a downtown Des Moines shooting in 2022, according to police.

Smith was known to the Bobbitt investigation for "quite some time," Parizek said after the arrest. He said the shooting Smith was injured in was unrelated to her killing.

Antonio Markez Hodges, 31, also was charged with first-degree murder and intimidation with a deadly weapon in Bobbitt's death. He was charged February 2021.

Hodges also took an Alford plea to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and will spend a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to court documents.

More: Mother of homicide victim speaks out against gun violence, hopes to find answers

Police believe Hodges was driving the vehicle used in the shooting, according to a criminal complaint.

Bobbitt was described by friends at the time of her death as an empowering, hard-working mother to four children.

"Kaydee was a good person. Anybody who knew her ... she'd give the shirt off her back," Sugar Clarke previously told the Des Moines Register. "If you needed somebody to talk to, she'd never judge or criticize you. She'd be right there."

She'd frequently volunteer around the city. She was a jokester, the peacekeeper and the life of the party, Clarke said.

Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Man sentenced in Kaydee Bobbitt's 2020 shooting death in Des Moines
The Florida Capitol will be lit in blue and white "in solidarity with our ally, Israel," directed Gov. Ron DeSantis.

TALLAHASSEE  While criticizing the Biden administrations response to the Hamas attack on Israel, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will expand Florida sanctions against Iran for its support of terrorist organizations throughout the Mideast.

During a Tuesday appearance at a Surfside synagogue, DeSantis condemned the barbarians conducting the assault, which has killed more than 1,600 on both sides, while another 150 Israeli soldiers and civilians are being held hostage by Hamas militants.

We shall use all available means to choke off money going to the Iranian regime, DeSantis said at The Shul of Bal Harbour synagogue.

Iran celebrated the attack, which began Saturday, but has denied claims that it supplied Hamas with military aid or intelligence.

DeSantis said hell ask the Florida Legislature to expand the states prohibition on investment in Iranian businesses to include such industries as finance, construction, shipping, ports and more. Hed also bar any investment by local governments in Iran.

USA reacts to Hamas attack Thousands across US gather for vigils, protests over Israel-Hamas war: 'Broken the hearts of many people'

DeSantis sought Jewish support with laws DeSantis signs legislation sought by Florida Jewish leaders, blisters U.N.

State law already restricts state-level government contracts or economic development incentives for individuals and entities associated with several foreign countries of concern, including Iran.

DeSantis cited the states history of having steered $18 million for security at Jewish day schools in Florida, along with its long-held opposition to boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel for its Palestinian policies.

The governor also went to The Shul synagogue two years ago to sign legislation authorizing a moment of silence requirement at schools and another advancing a volunteer ambulance service used by conservative Jewish communities.

The Shul is a conservative Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue, whose members sought the legislation.

The governor said Tuesday he has instructed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other agencies to be on heightened alert for any anti-Semitic activities that could extend to fund-raising for Hamas or other terrorist groups.

If youre doing that in Florida, youre going to be held accountable, DeSantis said.

DeSantis on Monday ordered flags at public buildings in Florida lowered to half-staff and the state Capitol lit in blue and white in honor of the at least 900 Israeli civilians and soldiers killed so far.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and Rabbi Sholom Lipskar participate in a moment of silence, Monday, June 14, 2021, at the Shul of Bal Harbour, a Jewish community center in Surfside, Fla. DeSantis visited the South Florida temple to denounce anti-Semitism and stand with Israel, while signing a bill into law that would require public schools in his state to set aside moments of silence for children to meditate or pray. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

DeSantis, whose bid for the Republican presidential nomination is dimming in the long shadow cast by frontrunner Donald Trump, also managed to take swipes at President Biden over the attack on Israel.

DeSantis criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for posting on X a statement calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, then deleting it. Blinken later posted that Israel has the right to defend itself, rescue any hostages, and protect its citizens.

DeSantis, though, said you wonder what theyre doing.

If Israel lay down its arms tomorrow, that would result in the destruction of the Jewish state, we know that, DeSantis said. For having the administration do anything other than a unified voice saying that Israel should be able to defend itself and that we support that, was honestly not surprising but its still very, very disappointing.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis condemns attack on Israel; wants new Florida sanctions on Iran
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said during an appearance on MSNBCs  Morning Joe  that Hamas needs to be no more in the aftermath of the Palestinian militant groups attack on Israel.

DeSantis said Tuesday that videos and images that have emerged in the days following the initial invasion by Hamas militants are absolutely disgusting and that Israel has a right to defend itself.

You have to uproot the terrorist infrastructure, these networks, and Hamas needs to be no more, the Florida governor said.

He said he is concerned that what often happens in similar situations is people say Israel has a right to defend itself and respond, then two weeks later, people start to blame Israel.

Theres no moral equivalence between Hamas terror and an Israeli civilian, DeSantis said.

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for more than 15 years, launched its attack on Israel Saturday, just a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, in which Israel was invaded by several of its neighbors.

The fighters have sent rockets into various parts of Israel, invaded towns, killed civilians and taken soldiers and civilians as prisoners.

Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and several other countries.

Israel has said it has retaken the area that Hamas invaded, and the government has launched retaliatory strikes into Gaza. Hundreds have been killed in both Israel and Gaza.

Israel formally declared war on Hamas, and the attack has sparked speculation that Israel may conduct a full invasion of Gaza in response.

DeSantis said the Hamass invasion was a clearly orchestrated attack.

He said an impulse has existed against Israel taking care of Hamas once and for all because the country would receive international criticism. So I think there was that practical, political consideration that maybe caused some Israeli leaders to hold back, he said.

DeSantiss appearance on Morning Joe is the latest in a few appearances he has made with outlets less traditionally frequented by conservatives. He appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher last month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Tuesday that the state would be increasing sanctions against Iranian businesses after the country celebrated the attacks on Israel conducted by Palestinian militant group Hamas that have left more than 1,000 people dead.

The Iranian government rejected allegations that it assisted Hamas with its preparations for the attack, but U.S. officials have acknowledged that Iranians are indirectly complicit in training, funding and support of the group.

DeSantis was joined by members of the Florida Legislature and leaders of the Jewish community at the Shul of Bal Harbour, a synagogue in Surfside, to introduce his new proposal. He said the proposal shows that as we stand with Israel, we sanction Iran.

Introduced in the next legislative session, the proposal will increase sanctions on Iran and block Iranian businesses in the state of Florida.

Our proposed legislation will of course reinforce Floridas commitment that we dont do business with state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran, he said.

Its going to expand the prohibition on state investment in Iranian businesses to include the financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, technology, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding and port sectors.

The proposal builds upon a bill that DeSantis signed in May that restricts property ownership for citizens from China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Were gonna prohibit state and local governments from contracting with any company on this expanded sectors list, and we will not lift the sanctions until both the president and the U.S. Congress certify that Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism and seeking to  acquire weapons of mass destruction, DeSantis said.

Both Hamas and Iran have publicly acknowledged a partnership in the decades-long conflict with Jerusalem, with Hamas seeking an end to Israeli occupation of Palestine and Iran seeking greater regional influence and the destruction of Israel.

Florida has among the highest Jewish populations in the U.S.

Florida has a very special relationship with Israel, Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R) said in a statement. While we cherish the alliance between our governments, we also recognize the bonds of family and friendship that link so many Floridians to the Israeli people.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Prominent pipa virtuoso Wu Man (R, Front) performs with members of the Bard East/West Ensemble during the opening concert of the sixth annual China Now Music Festival at Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, on Oct. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China.



Titled "The Orchestra Now Celebrates the Music of Chen Yi and Zhou Long," the concert featured major symphonic works by this legendary couple, two of the most influential Chinese-American composers and their renowned teacher at Columbia University, Chou Wen-chung, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2019.

With the addition of two pieces by their young students -- Zhou Juan, a student of musical arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City and Li Shaosheng, a composer in residence at the China National Symphony Orchestra and Guangxi Symphony Orchestra, the program linked three generations of composers to highlight the generational musical bridge that Chen and Zhou have built between the United States and China.

Chen Yi and Zhou Long, both born in 1953, embarked on their musical odysseus during the 1980s at Columbia University under the tutelage of composer Chou Wen-chung, whose compositions, characterized by their deep connections to both Eastern and Western traditions, left an indelible mark on Chen and Zhou.

Inspired by their mentor's fascination with exploring the intersection of diverse musical cultures, Chen and Zhou have, over the decades, seamlessly blended their cultural heritage with contemporary compositional techniques, spawning a unique and captivating musical language that resonates across borders.

The concert was presented by The Orchestra Now, a graduate-level training orchestra based at Bard College, conducted by Jindong Cai, artistic director of the festival, and Chen Bing, a professor in the Conducting Department at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM).

Before the performance, Cai, also director of the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, observed: "Music is a reflection of society. We want our own stories and music to be heard. We want our own culture and history to be shared with the rest of the world through music."

This sentiment eloquently encapsulated the spirit of the event, as the audience thronging the theater embarked on a transcendent musical journey.

The celebration also extended beyond the realm of music, marking a pivotal moment in the history of cultural exchange between the United States and China.

"Today, we also celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China in 1973 as the first American orchestra to perform in China under the conduct of Eugene Ormandy," said Cai.

Since that historic visit, The Philadelphia Orchestra has made 11 visits to China, with its latest in 2019. The orchestra's unwavering commitment to connecting people through the universal language of music has fostered profound and lasting connections with the Chinese people, transcending concert halls, educational institutions, and municipal settings.

In between the performances, the audience was treated to the announcement by Yu HongMei, CCOM's professor and director of the Chinese Music Department, of Chen Yi's prestigious recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the world of music.

The concert concluded on a heartwarming note, as The Orchestra Now band serenaded the audience with a rendition of "Happy Birthday," celebrating Chen and Zhou's 70th birthday, a fitting tribute to the artists whose music has struck a chord with people around the world.

The China Now Music Festival is a joint endeavor by Bard College's U.S.-China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music in China.

Since its inception in 2018, it has been dedicated to building a cultural bridge between the United States and China through music. Each year, it hosts a series of thematic concerts and lectures, presenting exhilarating contemporary Chinese musical works.

Previous editions of the festival have attracted over 10,000 live attendees, with nearly 80,000 participating in online events.
Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed legislation in Florida on Tuesday that he says will strengthen sanctions on Iran in light of the recent attack by Hamas on Israel and had sharp criticism for President Biden over his administration's appeasement of Iran ahead of the attack.

"I was sad to see the response from the administration be, at some rate, just absolutely you just throw your hands up and you wonder what's going on," DeSantis said during a Tuesday event unveiling more Iran sanctions in Florida.

"They have, immediately after the attack, they had to delete a tweet from one of the State Department bureaus that said there should be no response and then Blinken sent out a tweet calling for a cease-fire."

DeSantis was referring to a deleted post from Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for "cease-fire" that caused an uproar online.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES MASSIVE AIRSTRIKES ON DOWNTOWN GAZA CITY, NETANYAHU SAYS: 'WE HAVE ONLY STARTED'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

"The Biden administration made a decision to loosen sanctions on Iran that caused a lot more oil money to go filling the coffers of the ayatollah and the regime," DeSantis said about the Biden administration's recent move to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for American prisoners.

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"If Hamas and Hezbollah and any Palestinian Arab simply lay down their arms tomorrow, that would result in peace," DeSantis continued. "If Israel laid down its arms tomorrow, that would result in the destruction of the Jewish state. We know that. And so for having the administration do anything other than a unified voice saying that Israel should be able to defend itself and that we support, that was honestly not surprising."

"But it's still very, very disappointing. Now's the time for leadership. Now's the time for the president to be out there to be talking about how important it is that we're unified in the fight against terrorism. They should be talking about how it's wrong to support policies that enrich the Iranian regime."

DeSantis added that Israel not only has the "right" to defend itself but the "duty" to defend itself and ensure that Hamas is "eradicated from the earth."

"What we witnessed this weekend was one of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of not just Israel, but in the modern world," DeSantis said on Tuesday. "You have barbarians from Hamas funded by the Iranian regime, murdering elderly, children, raping women, doing things that are really indescribable. It's important that we say as Americans and as Floridians, We stand with the people of Israel and we stand with the state of Israel in this dark hour."

"We should have no tax dollars going to the Iranian regime in the form of ransom payments, whether they're airlifting cash like they did under Obama," DeSantis added. "Never, ever should your tax dollars go to that despicable, evil regime. We also should not be sending tax dollars to Gaza."

President Biden and former President Barack Obama

"Who?" White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said, responding to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about Desantis' comments.

"The governor is wrong and its an irresponsible claim to make. Not a single sanction has been lifted on the Iranian regime," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "The United States has taken actions to hold Iran accountable  imposed sanctions on Iran for its support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations. We will continue to take actions to hold Iran accountable for its support for terrorism as well as continue our support to Israel in its fight against Hamas."

The spokesperson added, in reference to the tweets, that "the tweet didnt match the actual language of the call readout with his Turkish counterpart."

"It was quickly deleted because it did not reflect our policy," the spokesperson said. "The tweet from the Palestinian Affairs Unit was not approved and also does not represent U.S. policy. The United States condemns the terrorist attack against Israel and unequivocally supports Israels right to defend itself, as the president and secretary have both made clear."

DeSantis said his proposals will strengthen the "iron clad" relationship between Florida and Israel by reinforcing Floridas commitment to not do business with state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran.

The legislation, according to a press release, "expands prohibition on state investment in Iranian businesses to include the financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, technology, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding and port sectors."

Additionally, the legislation "prohibits state and local governments from contracting with companies on the expanded sectors list."

In order for any sanctions to be lifted, the legislation requires that both the president and Congress certify Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism and also requires that all U.S. sanctions are first lifted.

HAMAS ARMED WING WARNS IT WILL START KILLING ISRAELI HOSTAGES FOR ANY NEW BOMBING OF HOMES WITHOUT WARNING

"We did the first trade mission of my administration in 2019," DeSantis said. "It was the biggest trade mission in Florida history to Israel. We ended up developing great economic ties. We furthered academic ties, cultural ties, and it was a great experience for many people who went on that trip, who had never been to Israel before and we've made sure to build off that commitment during the time I've been governor."

DeSantis also said he has instructed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to "collaborate" with Attorney General Ashley Moody to "send a memo to law enforcement agencies across the state reminding them of Florida's laws that protect our Jewish community."

"It's reminding all law enforcement and prosecutors that any action that harbors terrorists are not lawful in the state of Florida and that includes fundraising for Hamas or other terrorist groups. If you're doing that in Florida, you're going to be held accountable."

ISRAEL RECAPTURES AREAS NEAR THE GAZA STRIP OVERRUN BY HAMAS

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to members of the media after an event on July 27, 2023.

DeSantis touted steps he has taken since becoming governor to strengthen support of Israel, including "fighting back against the BDS movement" by prohibiting Florida from investing in companies that discriminate against Israel and enacting legislation to combat antisemitism.

DeSantis has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, dating back to his time in Congress when he introduced a bill to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

"This is from almost a decade ago but the point is more relevant today: Israel must destroy Hamas and its terrorist infrastructure," the DeSantis presidential campaign posted on social media Sunday along with a clip of then-Congressman DeSantis railing against Hamas on the House floor.

"Half-measures will just guarantee more attacks in the future."

The fighting continues against Hamas terrorists based in the Gaza Strip who launched a surprise attack on Saturday, killing more than 900 Israelis. More than 2,700 have been injured since Saturday.

Israel's military laid siege to Gaza, pummeling the densely populated area with fierce airstrikes to eradicate Hamas forces.

Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report





Original article source: DeSantis rips Biden's appeasement of Iran ahead of Hamas attack: 'Airlifting cash like they did under Obama'
Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a town hall at Refuge City Church, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. | Jim Slosiarek, Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Iran-backed Hamas attack on Israel was personal to him, referencing his time serving in the U.S. military in Iraq.

During an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Tuesday, DeSantis referenced his time deployed with the U.S. Navy in Iraq, during the 2007 troop surge.

Most of the casualties U.S. troops were suffering were at the hands of Iranian-backed Shia militias. They killed hundreds of our troops in Iraq, probably over 1,000, DeSantis said. So Iran has a lot of American blood on its hands.

DeSantis served as a legal adviser for a SEAL commander. After his service in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Related

Iranian allies helped Palestinian militants plan the surprise attack on Israel for over a year, The Washington Post reported. A spokesman for Hamas later confirmed this with BBC.

DeSantis called for sanctions on Iran, saying the U.S. should turn every screw so Iran is not getting any money flowing into its coffers.

The Biden administration recently freed $6 billion in blocked Iranian funds in exchange for the release of American hostages. White House officials have said the money given to Iran has yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs, AP reported. But critics, including many Republicans, have noted that money is fungible, and the deal frees up Iran to spend other funds on terror campaigns.

I think Bidens administration thought that there could be a rapprochement here, DeSantis said. They eased off on some of the sanctions. Theres been a lot of discussion on the $6 billion; I think that was a mistake, but theyve been getting a lot of money leading up to this.

An Israeli embassy spokesperson said Monday that Israeli casualties have surpassed 900, with another 2,500 wounded. Palestinian officials say over 800 Palestinians have been killed and another 4,250 have been injured. Over 150 Israeli civilians have been taken hostage into Gaza.

President Joe Biden confirmed that at least 11 U.S. citizens were killed in Israel.

DeSantis comments are the latest in a string of statements from Republican presidential candidates about the Israel-Hamas war. In recent days, both DeSantis and former President Donald Trump have used the war to push their immigration policies, claiming that the U.S. should respond by increasing security along the southern border with Mexico.

DeSantis has claimed that increased border security would ensure we are in a position to better protect Americans here at home from these real threats. Trump has claimed that the same people that attacked Israel are crossing the U.S. southern border from Mexico.

While U.S. border agents have apprehended an increasing number of individuals on the FBIs terror watch list this fiscal year, the data are largely commensurate with the uptick in total border crossings. No evidence exists of Hamas terrorists who participated in last weeks attack on Israel crossing the southern border of the U.S.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that he plans to roll out new sanctions against Iran during Floridas upcoming legislative session, adopting the disputed position that the theocratic regime in Tehran was involved in orchestrating a terror attack over the weekend in Israel in which Hamas militants killed hundreds, including more than a dozen Americans.

Speaking at a Surfside synagogue, DeSantis placed blame for Hamas brutality in Israel squarely on the government in Tehran and called on other U.S. states to harden economic penalties against Iran in an effort to choke off funding to Hamas and other militant groups in the region.

We need justice and I think the justice needs to be so severe that they wont think about doing this ever, ever again, DeSantis said, standing in the Shul of Bal Harbour behind a sign that read Stand with Israel, Sanction Iran.

DeSantis said the forthcoming legislation  intended to show support for Israel  would expand prohibitions on state investment in Iranian businesses to include nearly a dozen sectors, ranging from finance and technology to construction and shipbuilding. It would also ban state and local governments from contracting with companies on that expanded sectors list.

All federal sanctions against Iran would have to be lifted before Florida removed its proposed penalties against Iran.

The announcement came days after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing civilians and taking hostages in a wave of violence that has sparked concerns about a regional conflict. Militants entered residential communities and descended on a music festival, where they left more than 250 attendees dead.

Israel launched retaliatory attacks on Gaza and declared war.

The fighting has so far killed more than 1,500 people on both sides. Speaking from the White House on Tuesday following a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden said that at least 14 Americans have been killed in the attacks on Israel and that U.S. citizens are among the hostages being held by Hamas.

The brutality of Hamas  this blood-thirstiness brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS, Biden said, referring to the Islamic State group, a militant organization that has terrorized large swaths of the Middle East for years. This is terrorism.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a Tuesday press briefing that there are at least 20 Americans who are currently missing, but cautioned that that doesnt necessarily mean that all those Americans are hostages.

Iran is designated by the U.S. government as a state sponsor of terrorism and has helped Hamas in the past, providing funding, weapons and training to its paramilitary force, according to a 2021 U.S. State Department report.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Iran helped to plot the attack, but a spokesperson for Irans foreign ministry denied Tehrans involvement and a top Hamas official told The Associated Press on Monday that that neither Iran nor the Lebanese Hezbollah played a role.

Yes, Iran was involved in orchestrating this attack against Israel, DeSantis said. We know that. Its been reported. They deny it, but were smarter than that.

Sullivan reiterated on Tuesday that the U.S. did not have any evidence linking Iran to the attack on Israel, but said that officials would continue to look into the matter. He said that Iran was complicit in the attacks, because of the funding, training and support that Tehran had provided to Hamas over the years.

As I stand here today, while Iran plays this broad role  sustained, deep and dark role  in providing all this support and capabilities to Hamas, in terms of this particular gruesome attack on Oct. 7, we dont currently have that information, he said.

Sullivan also said that the U.S. had begun surging military assistance to Israel and was moving a U.S. aircraft carrier into the eastern Mediterranean Sea as a warning to adversaries that might seek to take advantage of the war.

Let me be clear: we did not move the carrier for Hamas, Sullivan said. We moved the carrier to send a clear message of deterrence to other state or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war.

Many Republicans  including DeSantis, whos also seeking the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination  have criticized Biden and his administration for taking what they say is a weak stance against Iran. DeSantis accused the Biden administration on Tuesday of easing sanctions on Iran and cast himself as a counterweight to the president.

Now is the time for leadership. Now is the time for the president to be out there and talking about how important it is to be unified in the face of terrorism, DeSantis said, calling Iran the clearing house for terrorist financing in the Middle East.

The war between Israel and Hamas is the latest in more than seven decades of tensions and violence. The conflict has long posed one of the most difficult foreign policy and security challenges for the United States and other world powers.

The central formula proposed for resolving the conflict has been a two-state solution that would create both an independent Israeli state and independent Palestinian state, though the exact contours of such a proposal are the subjects of intense disputes.

The U.S. has long endorsed a two-state solution, with John Kirby, the National Security Councils coordinator for strategic communications, reaffirming the Biden administrations commitment to such a solution during a Tuesday interview on CBS.

DeSantis, for his part, rejected the notion of a two-state solution in an interview with the conservative outlet Newsmax on Monday, saying that extremism within Palestinian society had effectively made it impossible for the two states to coexist.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, who joined DeSantis at Tuesdays news conference in Surfside, echoed that sentiment.

There are no two sides on this issue. There simply can be no willingness to concede, she said. There is no two-state solution that we will ever accept, and if you are capitulating or providing a justification, you too are part of the problem.
Cuba was reelected Tuesday to the United Nations Human Rights Council despite criticism from several advocacy groups and activists about the island governments imprisonment of over a thousand peaceful protesters and dissenters.

Notably, Russia, which was kicked out of the council last year after its invasion of Ukraine, could not win its seat back.

Cuba received 146 votes, and Russia only 83. The council members are elected by the 193 U.N nations with a simple majority of 97 votes for a three-year term. Candidates are selected by region.

The Cuban government quickly celebrated the diplomatic victory on social media.

The reelection of Cuba to the Human Rights Council is a recognition by the international community of the humanist work of the Revolution, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on X. We will continue on our path towards building a more just society for all.

The election of Cuba and other authoritarian nations like China adds to the debate over the councils fairness and its real power to hold human-rights violators accountable.

Nikki Hailey, a Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Hailey, weighed in after the vote, calling the council a farce.

China and Cuba are some of the worst human-rights abusers in the world, and today they won reelection to an entity that is supposed to protect human rights, she said in a statement. Ive said it before, and Ill say it again: the U.N. Human Rights Council is a sham and an organization that is not worthy of its name.

Cuban leadert Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (at the podium and on the screens) delivers a speech at the General Debate of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2023. Xinhua/Xinhua/Sipa USA

Ahead of the vote a joint report by U.N. Watch, Human Rights Foundation and the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, three non-government organizations that promote human rights around the world, highlighted that authoritarian governments have used the seat at the council to protect abusers and have failed to advocate for the victims.

The report deemed Cuba, Russia, China, Burundi, and Kuwait as unqualified to be part of the council. The last two countries also won their seats on Tuesday.

Cuba is an authoritarian, undemocratic, one-party communist state [that] continues to quash all dissent, prohibit independent media, and severely restrict basic civil liberties, the report says. Cuba commits serious human rights violations, including unlawful or arbitrary killings. torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of political dissidents, detainees, and prisoners by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrests and detentions.

Cuban exiles and activists had called on the international community to reject the countrys candidacy.

Naming Raul Castro and his puppet Miguel Diaz-Canel to sit on the worlds human-rights body would be like placing Jack the Ripper on the committee to end knife violence in London, said John Suarez, the executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba.

If Cuba is reelected to the Human Rights Council, it will be with the support of complicit states, Cuban activist Carolina Barrero said on X. We Cubans, human rights organizations and activists, condemn the reelection of a bloody dictatorship that has plunged our country into misery and oppression.

As a current member of the Human Rights Council, Cuba has opposed resolutions speaking out for human-rights victims in Iran, Syria, Belarus, Burundi, Nicaragua and Venezuela, the joint report says, and has not supported resolutions to support victims in Ukraine.
Israel is hammering Gaza with airstrikes, hitting hundreds of targets and reducing neighborhoods to rubble, as new atrocities are uncovered in its territory after a devastating surprise attack by Hamas militants.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had more or less secured the border with Gaza by Tuesday, after Hamas sent fighters pouring into Israeli territory on Saturday. At least 1,200 people were killed in Israel and thousands more injured in the militant groups onslaught, according to public broadcaster Kan.

During an inspection of the front line along Israels border with Gaza on Tuesday, Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he has released all restraints for the IDF troops in their fight against Hamas.

They will regret this moment - Gaza will never return to what it was, Gallant said

As Israeli troops regain ground, details are gradually emerging of the horror unleashed during the weekend attack. More than 100 bodies have been found in the Israeli kibbutz Beeri, a farming community near Gaza, which was one of first places targeted by militants on Saturday. Bodies were also found at the nearby Kfar Aza kibbutz, according to an Israeli general.

I have heard during my childhood about the pogroms in Europe, the Holocaust, of course. All my family came from Europe, they are survivors. But I never thought I would see in my eyes pictures and things like that, Major Gen. Itai Veruv told CNN.

Israel, which has formally declared war on Hamas, is now battering the densely-inhabited strip with air strikes that have killed at least 900 people, including hundreds of children, women, and entire families, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. It said thousands more had been injured.

Hamas launched a salvo of rockets from Gaza towards the Israeli city of Ashkelon, October 10, 2023. - Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli officials have also pledged to cut off food, water and energy to the impoverished coastal enclave, which Hamas controls, in a complete siege ahead of an expected ground incursion. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to obliterate Hamas strongholds.

The strikes have already damaged Gazas medical infrastructure, say Palestinian officials, and have forced more than 187,500 Palestinians to flee their homes, the United Nations said.

The full scale of Israels response is still unclear, but complicating its retaliation operations are 150 army and civilian hostages  including American citizens according to US President Joe Biden  believed to have been taken to Gaza by militants.

Israel has saturated its southern border with troops, and the entire length of fence along the border with Gaza is covered with tanks and air coverage, the IDF told CNN. Israeli forces have evacuated civilians close to the border, and more than 300,000 Israeli reservists have been called up, it said.

Fears of a wider conflict

There are rising fears of Hezbollah entering the conflict, potentially opening a second front in the war. The IDF said Tuesday that it has added tens of thousands of additional troops to its northern border with Lebanon in anticipation of an attack by the Iran-backed group.

A US carrier strike group is headed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which officials say is intended to deter Hezbollah in Lebanon and other militants groups.

Lebanese media outlet Al Manar reported Tuesday that rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel. The IDF said that it responded with artillery fire after launches were identified from Lebanese territory toward Israeli territory.

Smoke rises over buildings in Gaza City on October 9, during an Israeli air strike. - Sameh Rahmi/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Rockets were also launched from Syria into Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday, adding that they landed in open areas.

Meanwhile, attacks have continued by Hamas, whose fighters have sought to breach the border with Israel in order to launch suicide missions, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said.

A firefight erupted between IDF troops and Hamas militants near the southern town of Mefalsim on Tuesday evening, multiple IDF troops on the ground told CNN.

Israel accused of deliberately targeting civilians

Scenes of desperation have emerged from Gaza amid Israels bombing campaign as the Palestinian health ministry accuses Israeli forces of deliberately targeting civilian neighborhoods, health facilities, and notably, medical and rescue crews, as well as ambulance vehicles.

Asked whether Israeli forces were distinguishing between civilian, governmental and military targets, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the distinction was not so simple.

In buildings where people are living there could be a weapons store there could be a Hamas kingpin living there, he said Tuesday.

Homes, schools, medical institutions, dozens of schools and government buildings were flattened in Gaza, the Palestinian Ministry of Information said Tuesday, forcing displaced people to 70 shelters in the city amid continuing airstrikes.

A total of 168 buildings, including 1,009 residential units were completely destroyed, the statement said, adding that 12,630 units were partially destroyed.

Ten medical institutions, including seven hospitals, were bombed, while 12 ambulances have been directly targeted, it added.

Most of those arriving at hospitals in Gaza have sustained second- and third-degree burns and amputations, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Health Ministry, Ashraf al-Qidra, told Palestinian news outlet Shihab Agency on Monday. Many have also sustained shrapnel injuries, al-Qidra said.

Those seeking hospital care are mainly women and children, al-Qidra said, adding that this is a result of Israelis directly targeting residential houses and buildings.

Israeli soldiers take position near the border between Gaza and Israel on October 9. - Oren Ziv/AP

The UNRWA said its emergency shelters in Gaza are at 90% capacity with more than 137,000 people taking cover from Israeli strikes. It also said that one UN school housing displaced families was directly hit, without giving further details. Its unknown how many people were in the shelter at the time of the strike.

The only border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been closed after an Israeli strike on Tuesday.

Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles.

It has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years, when Hamas seized control, prompting Israel and Egypt to impose a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing. Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said late Monday it has been forced to close all 14 of its food distribution centers in Gaza and as a result half a million people have stopped receiving vital food aid.

More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, with nearly 80% of its population relying on humanitarian assistance.

CNNs Richard Allen Greene, Lauren Izso, Nada Bashir, Ibrahim Dahman, Kareem Khadder, Abeer Salman, Eyad Kourdi, Oliver Briscoe and Amir Tal contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Two Wilmington teenagers facing murder changes made appearances in juvenile court Tuesday.

One of the teens was a 17-year-old male defendant who was making his first appearance from jail via video link before juvenile court Judge J. H. Corpening II.

The boy, whose name is not being published because of his age, was arrested over the weekend and charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of 34-year-old Adriana Hall, who prosecutors say was related to the defendant. He was also charged with armed robbery and auto larceny and is being held without bond.

Prosecutors said the victim was a nurse who worked for Novant Health.

Police did a welfare check on Hall Sunday morning because family members had not heard from her and she had not shown up for work. Police found Hall dead of a gunshot wound in her home in the 3000 block of Adirondack Way.

In the courts: Wilmington police: Juvenile charged with murder in death of relative

According to prosecutors, there were no signs of forced entry. Later, police arrested the 17-year-old defendant after they found him driving the victim's vehicle while four passengers rode with him.

According to prosecutors, the boy had threatened the victim in the past when she had not allowed him to use her vehicle. Prosecutors say he entered the victim's house while she was sleeping, took her car keys from a bag where she was known to keep them and at some point shot the victim dead.

A New Hanover County Department of Social Services (DSS) employee told the court the juvenile had been in DSS custody and the department was seeking a home for him because his mother's house "isn't an appropriate place for him to stay."

Until he was arrested, the employee said, "we had no idea of his whereabouts" and he had been considered a runaway. Corpening set a so-called "transfer hearing" for Nov. 7, when the boy's case will likely be remanded to superior court, where he would be tried as an adult, with a Nov. 28 hearing to determine probable cause.

In North Carolina, murder charges involving 16- or 17-year-old defendants are almost always sent to superior court after a juvenile court hearing.

That's what happened Tuesday during another juvenile hearing held before Corpening, this one involving a 16-year-old Wilmington boy who had his case transferred to superior court, barring an appeal. He has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a 17-year-old girl, identified as Maykayla Shaniya Gibbs, and also charged with possession of a firearm by a minor. His name is not being published because of his age.

In the courts: Wilmington teen charged with murder in connection with shooting death of 17-year-old

According to an obituary listed on the website of John H. Shaw's Son Funeral Home, "In high school Maykalya loved to dance, do hair and make TikTok videos. She had so much love for life. All her friends would agree that she was very playful and goofy. Her smile lit up any room she walked into. She cherished the time she spent with her loving daughter."

Prosecutors said the 16-year-old who was charged gave inconsistent stories to police, in one instance saying Gibbs, with whom he had a young child, shot herself in the bathroom of a home at at 515 Meares St. while he played video games. Prosecutors said blood evidence indicates Gibbs had been shot in the front of the house and taken to the back.

Prosecutors said the defendant disposed of the gun in a nearby yard, where it was later found, and that a video from a Ring security camera captured him telling an acquaintance that Gibbs had shot herself, a statement that caused the acquaintance to express disbelief. The defendant then asked the acquaintance to help him move Gibbs' body, prosecutors said, but the acquaintance declined.

Prosecutors also said a 14-year-old witness told police she saw the defendant with a gun and that he had pointed it at both her and Gibbs while the gun was loaded. Prosecutors added that they have pictures of the 16-year-old who was charged pointing the loaded gun at an unidentified male.

Prosecutors said the gun was purchased by an adult while the juvenile in question was present. New Hanover County DA Ben David said it's possible more charges are forthcoming.

The 16-year-old appeared in juvenile court in leg shackles, hunched over a table and occasionally looking back into the audience. He was represented by Jennifer Harjo, chief public defender for New Hanover County.

Harjo said the juvenile in question has been "pleasant, respectful and non-violent" in her presence. She said he is being held at the New Hanover Regional Juvenile Detention Center "which is no place for anyone to be held," citing lack of education, "insufficient beds" and nowhere to meet privately with her client.

She said her client suffers from "extreme anxiety" and depression and has been prescribed medication for both.

Harjo added that her client and the victim "loved one another" and that "he's at a loss," terming the incident "a horrible accident."

Prosecutors asked that the 16-year-old be given a $1 million bond. Corpening ultimately gave him a $500,000 secured bond with the stipulation that he be held on house arrest under electronic monitoring if he's able to post bond.

The next court date for the defendant has not been set, and he has the opportunity to appeal the decision to transfer his case to superior court, where he would be tried as an adult.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington teens charged in shooting deaths appear in juvenile court
Thirty-three-year-old Michael Griffin spent 14 long years in prisons across the state of Michigan for a crime he didnt commit.

He underwent physical attacks by other prisoners, spent countless days in solitary confinement, and, at times, he said he was deprived of food from 4 in the afternoon until 5 the next morning. The experience, he said, was pure hell. But the worst part, he said, was being labeled as the father who killed his 1-year-old daughter.

There was a female officer I used to tell hi every day and one day she just flipped on me, Griffin said. She was like You think Im stupid? I read your case. Youre in here for killing your daughter. Youre a baby killer.'

It was the worst feeling ever.

Eric Anderson, co-founder of the Organization of Exonerees.

Griffin, a Flint native, is the latest wrongfully convicted person to be exonerated in the state of Michigan. He was first let out of prison on bond on May 5, 2023, after Mike Morse, a personal injury attorney in Michigan, was referred to his case by the Michigan Innocence Clinic and filed a motion on his behalf for a new trial  pro bono. Griffin was put on home confinement until Sept. 13, when the Genesee Prosecutor's Office said it would not be retrying the case. Since then, Griffin has been trying to decide what he is going to do with his life now, in terms of what type of work he wants to do and transitioning back into society. His first stop to get assistance with these things, he said, is with the Organization of Exonerees.

The Organization of Exonerees is a nonprofit organization founded in Detroit by people who have been wrongfully convicted in the state of Michigan. Its mission is to advocate for the innocent by talking with members of the criminal justice system about people sitting in jail for a crime they didnt commit, said Eric Anderson, a co-founder of the organization.

From 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Organization of Exonerees is hosting its inaugural fundraiser at the Huntington Tower in Detroit to help bring more awareness to community members about wrongful convictions. Members of the organization will speak about their stories, what life was like after getting exonerated and what people can do to help others avoid their same fate.

Anderson, who went to jail at the age of 20, served nine years in prison for a robbery he didnt commit. He was exonerated in 2019 after new evidence supported that Anderson was not at the location of the robbery and that he instead had been shot in the foot at a different place and therefore could not be the person that committed the crime.

Wrongful convictions: Michigan man cleared of killing 2 hunters to get $1 million for wrongful convictions

The University of Michigans Innocence Project, along with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Offices Conviction Integrity Unit, assisted Anderson with his relief and he says without them he may not have ever gotten out.

I am so thankful to what they did for me, Anderson said.

Now, Anderson, along with the other exonerees that are a part of the organization, says he is committing his time to helping others who shouldnt be in jail today, but dont know what to do to get out.

We try to be what we didnt have, Anderson said. We didnt have anyone out here who came home early from wrongful convictions trying to help the other wrongfully convicted get out, too.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $125. And there are four sponsorship categories available: Justice Champion for $10,000, Freedom Fighter for $5,000, Integrity Protector for $2,500 and the Truth Seeker for $1,000. To RSVP for the event, email organizationofexonerees2022@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Organization of Exonerees hosts fundraiser for wrongfully convicted
What is the difference between the Middle East's Hezbollah and Hamas groups?

The Israeli government faces another potential threat on its northern border: Lebanon's Hezbollah. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel Sunday, joining Hamas' offensive attacks.

Hezbollah has previously clashed with Israel, leading to fears that the terror group may join the war with Hamas.

Hamas and Hezbollah, both considered terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, share a goal of Israel's destruction, but they are not the same group.

Hamas is an Iranian-backed Palestinian group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Hezbollah is a militant Lebanese group with a stronghold in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is also backed by Iran.

HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH SAY IRAN HELPED PLAN DEADLY ATTACK ON ISRAEL: REPORT

While both groups have a shared mission to eradicate Israel, Hamas primarily focuses on establishing a Palestinian state. Hezbollah has a broader goal of bolstering Iranian objectives.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

They also follow different sects of Islam. Hamas is mainly Sunni, and Hezbollah is a Shiite group.

Ali Barakeh, a senior Hamas official, has acknowledged that Hezbollah and Iran have helped Hamas in the past but claimed the group has worked alone on training fighters and building rockets since the 2014 Gaza war, according to the Associated Press. Barakeh said that as an ally, Hezbollah will join with Hamas if needed.

Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine claimed solidarity with Hamas in a statement following Saturday's attacks, "Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you."

WHAT IS HAMAS? AN OVERVIEW OF THE ISLAMIC GROUP THAT ATTACKED ISRAEL

Lebanese television station Hezbollah-run Al-Manar praised Hamas' attacks against Israel as "crowned with triumph and divine assistance."

Although not officially part of the war, Hezbollah fired 12 rockets into the highly disputed area of Mount Dov Sunday, according to senior Hezbollah official Hashim Safieddine. The shots followed Hamas' attack on Israeli towns Saturday during Shemini Atzeret, a Jewish celebration marking the end of Sukkot.

ISRAEL AT WAR: SEE THE PHOTOS, VIDEO OF THE ATTACK AND AFTERMATH

Israel responded with shots into southern Lebanon, with no casualties reported.

Amir Avivi, CEO of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), told Fox News Digital that the rockets were a "pinpointed" message from Hezbollah.

Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said the shooting seemed less like a declaration of war, but more of a vow of solidarity with Hamas. She said, "But there might be a temptation to take advantage of this opportunity."

Hezbollah was founded during the 15-year Lebanese Civil War that started in 1975. Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) provided funding and training to the group of Shiites who began fighting against Israeli forces. The group became known as Hezbollah, which means "The Party of God."

The party's original objective was to remove the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from southern Lebanon. Although Israel withdrew its troops in 2000, Hezbollah justified its ongoing conflict based on Israel's presence in Shebaa Farms, an area within the Lebanon-Syria-Israel border region.

WORLD LEADERS CONDEMN HAMAS FOR UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK AS IRAN, HEZBOLLAH PRAISE TERRORISTS

A 1985 manifesto consecrated Hezbollah's mission to expel Western influence from the Middle East and destroy the Israeli state. The manifesto listed Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iranian Islamic revolutionary, as its leader. Khomeini ruled Iran as its Supreme Leader from 1979 until his death in 1989.

Hezbollahs reach extends beyond the Middle East. The group is responsible for attacks and plots across Bulgaria, Peru, Cyprus, Thailand, Argentina and elsewhere. While Hezbollah has not succeeded with a terrorist attack in the United States, the group attempts to develop the ability to do so.

Hezbollah operates networks inside and outside Lebanon to execute various criminal activities, including a series of attacks against U.S. interests. These attacks included the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. 241 United States Marines were killed in these suicide bombings; the deadliest day for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Currently led by Hassan Nasrallah, the militant group has a history of carrying out terrorist attacks to support its mission stated in the manifesto. Tensions remain high after Hezbollah fought Israel in 2006, according to the CIA World Factbook. The war began when Hezbollah kidnapped two Isreali soldiers.

The Israeli military is prepared for confrontations with Hezbollah.





Original article source: What is the difference between the Middle East's Hezbollah and Hamas groups?
WASHINGTON  Division staff and the units that support brigade operations will be getting dirty.

Exercises where a commander can simply simulate a water resupply or fueling station for long-range helicopter assaults are great for planning but miss the realities of actual fighting  weather, downed vehicles and the hands-on skills of individual soldiers.

Simulations help but can hardly predict or provide the friction of actual combat, or even some aspects of training, Gen. Andrew Poppas, head of Army Forces Command told Army Times.

Thats a dynamic you have to refine only in the dirt, Poppas said.

The potential threat of fights with advanced militaries, like those of Russia and China, whose battlefield capabilities far exceed the terrorist organizations that dominated the past two decades, has shifted the principal tactical focus from the brigade to the division.

We didnt fight that fight for the last 20 years, Poppas said. We trained it. I was a division commander, and we did division Warfighters. Now its going to be a divisional fight, so we have to build that level of competence.

And the combat training centers, such as the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, or the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, have been long-standing stress tests for brigades. Theyll be undergoing modernization during the next decade in ways that will revamp realistic peer adversary training, giving commanders threats theyve never faced.

But those centers are built for brigades, not divisions. For comparison, a single brigade holds between 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers depending on its configuration. A division carries three times that number, with 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers in its ranks.

But beyond size and numbers, the division holds assets, such as electronic warfare gear, cyber experts, and satellite-driven reconnaissance and communication, that brigades need to access.

Part of that is theyre fighting in domains they didnt previously fight  space, cyber, [special operations forces] integration, he said. The Warfighter is great for the divisions to refine their staff competencies.

The 101st Airborne Division has twice put the entire division into the field, with their logistical support units for nearly a month, Poppas said. Though they couldnt run cyber or electronic warfare systems because those would disrupt civilian networks, they could practice moving gear, supplies and troops around.

On the first go, not everything went smoothly.

One of the units ran out of water and they needed an emergency resupply. In a simulation, a commander would simply hit a button and problem solved. But in the real world, commanders found out that not all the trucks were ready to roll, and they had to go find water to get it to actual thirsty soldiers, Poppas said.

The same is true for combat roles. With a division fighting the battle, the ranges are father and the responsibilities broader than theyve been in recent years.

An example Poppas shared involved a division planning air attacks at distances greater than 75 miles. That will require refueling, which requires a forward arming and refueling point.

Again, in a simulation, that means checking a box on a computer screen and, voila, a FARP is in place and operating smoothly. But in reality, the commander must decide whether to put that unit into position before or after the helicopters reach their objective.

Put it in early, and it could be spotted and struck. Put it in too late, and helicopters are hovering while low on fuel and ammunition.

And does your FARP unit have enough soldiers to run it? Do they know how to conduct the FARP? Are the actual pilots getting shot at?

It makes a difference. While that part is simulated, it is done so while in flight, not on paper or a screen.

Setting up the flight profile for the pilots today [is] very different than Afghanistan, Poppas said.

Those kinds of considerations make the planning part of the division Warfighter exercises, which are largely simulated, more concrete for the division staff that manages all these assets. Theyve got to respond to the demands flowing up from the battalions and brigades while also coordinating everything on a tight time schedule.

Thats what allows you to build tempo, is the speed in which you can execute multiple battles, and multiple battles turn into a campaign, Poppas said.

The next steps will involve overlaying an Army corps staff atop the division so that the corps and division staff will also coordinate on a much larger battlefield.

And thats happening at a warfighter scheduled for January, Poppas said.
Nearly a month after shutting down its entire border with Haiti, the Dominican Republic says that it is ready to reopen for business, but Haitians will continue to be banned from entering the country.

The commercial corridor between the two countries will be under strict military controls and mandatory biometric checks to facilitate the trade of essential Dominican products such as food and medicine, especially for infants. While residents of the two nations will be able to trade, the Dominican National Security Council said Haitians will continue to be barred indefinitely.

The council also announced that among other measures the Dominican Republic will indefinitely extend the suspension of the issuance of visas to Haitian citizens and will ban the export of electronics, cement, rebar and other construction materials to prevent structures from being built that threaten our environmental assets.

President Luis Abinader has said that the border cannot and will not be the same, the council said in a statement Monday. For this reason, these measures will continue to be the new normal on the border until we achieve a return to governance in Haiti. Our priority will continue to be the defense of the national interest and the security of our citizens.

The decision follows weeks of tension and calls by the international community, led by the United States, for the two neighbors to resolve an ongoing dispute over the construction of a canal on the Haitian side of the border on the Massacre River, which straddles the two countries. In addition to calls for a resolution, the U.S. and United Nations asked the Dominican Republic to allow humanitarian aid to cross the border to Hait.

But Abinader, who is seeking re-election, doubled down on the closure and defended his decision. But in recent days pressure has been building as angry Dominican business owners along the border complain about being unable to sell their products and textile factory owners weigh laying off workers.

In its decision Monday, the National Security Council continued to defend the border closure, saying it has been successful in keeping out Haitian gangs and reducing the flow of undocumented migrants. The Dominican military, the council announced, will continue to control border access to make it even more difficult for gang members to cross.

On Sept. 11 the council suspended visas for Haitians and threatened to close the border if Haiti and the Dominican Republic were not able to resolve the dispute over the canals construction. Days later, Abinader made good on the threat.

The presidents office said the border was shut down to protect national security in the face of the political and social instability caused by gangs in Haiti and to protect the environmental integrity threatened by the unilateral construction of a canal on the river.

With the closure of the border we keep Haitian gangs out of our territory; we stimulate the voluntary return of thousands of immigrants; the entry of undocumented immigrants is reduced; we control the smuggling of weapons and prohibited substances; and, most importantly, we show the international community our firm opposition to any Dominican solution to the Haitian problem, the council said. Thousands of Haitians have reportedly voluntary returned to Haiti from the Dominican Republic since the border closure.

In the weeks since the dispute, Dominican authorities have moved to cut access to the waters of the Massacre River.

Dominican Republic security forces stand guard on a border bridge between Dajabon, Dominican Republic, and Haiti, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. The president of the Dominican Republic announced Thursday that he would close all borders with neighboring Haiti starting Friday in response to the construction of a supposed canal on Haitian soil that targets waters from the Massacre River, which runs along the border shared by both countries.

The Haitian government said it plans to discuss the latest Dominican measures at a cabinet meeting, but in a statement reiterated its position that it believes the best way to resolve the diplomatic tensions is through dialogue. It also congratulated the people of Haiti, who have continued to help build the canal in northeast Haiti near the border of Ouanaminthe and Dajabon.

The government of the Republic of Haiti congratulates the population for their calm, serenity and patriotism in the face of the disproportionate measures taken by the Dominican authorities. It continues to conduct consultations and make appropriate arrangements in the interest of Haitians, the statement said. The government reaffirms the inalienable right of Haitians to equitably use the river water.

Any attempt to divert the waters of the said Massacre River, Haiti said, would deprive Haitians of its use and violate a 1929 agreement between the two countries.

The Government of the Republic of Haiti believes that an outcome will only be considered suitable if it allows the equitable sharing of water resources, the normalization of relations between the two countries and a return to the movement of people and goods of the two sides, as was the case between the two Republics before the unilateral closure of September 15, the Haitian government said.
The illustrated "Chinese Brief History Ballad" has been recently published in simplified Chinese, which condenses 5,000 years of Chinese history in 144 lines with 1,440 Chinese characters.

The book, authored by Gan Kaiwan, a Chinese New Zealander, has been warmly welcomed by Chinese both home and abroad as it helps promote the Chinese culture, especially to children who were born or live overseas.

The 11-part vividly illustrated, elaborately annotated book allows children to learn about Chinese culture through easy-to-understand rhyming texts, with Chinese Pinyin as the learning pathway.

At the launch of the book on Monday in New Zealand, Gan said many overseas Chinese children cannot speak good Chinese and do not understand Chinese history well, so the book was to help them learn better.

The book also meets the needs of passing on the Chinese culture overseas, and helping foreigners understand the Chinese civilization, Gan said.

Holding a doctorate in chemistry, Gan spent three years writing the book after his retirement, which vividly presents the important events and people in Chinese history in the form of a catchy five-character ballad.

"How can we call ourselves Chinese if we don't know about Chinese history?" Gan said the use of the five-character ballad form, which is catchy and like the Three Character Classic, makes it easy for children to read. But it was not easy to create, especially with 5,000 years of history highly condensed into a five-character sentence pattern.

Chinese Consul General in Christchurch He Ying said the book's total of 1,440 Chinese characters in the 144 lines, which reproduces the 5,000 years of glorious history, have been extracted from a vast number of history books, and the painstaking work involved can be imagined and is admirable.

The book is a successful attempt by Gan to teach his grandchildren living in New Zealand how to learn and understand the 5,000-year civilization and how to inherit and promote the profound Chinese culture, she said.

Kevin Grounds, who teaches Chinese at Burnside High School, said the book provides an interesting way to introduce some history to young students.

"It is very concise, just one (historical) period for one or two pages, which is very simple for students to learn some history," Grounds said.

Although most New Zealand high school students would struggle with understanding the Chinese poems in depth, they would understand individual words with some help, he said, adding that the poems are short enough that students could memorize some and the history can be taught.

Gan was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013.
Nine-year-old son Oskar Hillerstrom, who has Down syndrome, lives with his parents in Lexington

Nine-year-old son Oskar Hillerstrom, who has Down syndrome, lives with his parents in Lexington

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - When Lianor da Cunha Hillerstrom of Lexington, Massachusetts, learned her now 9-year-old son Oskar had Down syndrome, she was concerned but not panicked.

As a child, Lianor lived for a time in Santo Amaro de Oeiras, Portugal, near her aunt Teresa who had Down syndrome, which causes intellectual disability. Had Lianor, who is 47, stayed in Portugal, she would have witnessed her aunt decline and then die at age 60 of Alzheimer's - the most common cause of death for people with Down syndrome.

Now, Lianors husband and Oskars father, former biotech executive Hampus Hillerstrom, 46, is leading an effort to gain parity with neurotypical adults for his son and others with Down syndrome.

That means being able to get them promising new drugs like Eisai and Biogen's recently approved Leqembi and Eli Lilly's experimental donanemab, as well as inclusion of people with Down syndrome in clinical trials of treatments for Alzheimer's.

"The goal is to make sure we get access," he said. "Ideally, we needed to be part of these trials from the beginning."

Reuters interviewed five top neurologists who recommend against immediate use because the drugs are untested in this population, whose unique predisposition to Alzheimers could pose extra safety risks. This puts Hillerstrom, chief executive of the Down syndrome research organization LuMind IDSC, and other advocacy groups in the unusual position of being odds with prominent experts in the field.

Reuters has learned that advocacy groups have taken their message directly to the U.S. government Medicare health program, seeking changes to written policies they believe could disqualify people with Down syndrome from reimbursement for the treatments.

Down syndrome affects 400,000 people in the United States and more than 6 million globally. People with the condition inherit a third copy of chromosome 21, giving them an extra helping of a gene that causes them to overproduce a protein called beta amyloid.

By age 30, most individuals with Down syndrome have abnormal clumps of amyloid in their brain, and many show signs of dementia in their 40s and 50s.

Clinical trials of Leqembi and donanemab, which is expected to win U.S. approval later this year, have shown that removing beta amyloid can slow cognitive decline in people with early-stage Alzheimers. Patient advocates and three neurologists interviewed by Reuters believe the same may be true of people with Down syndrome.

However, the drugs can cause brain swelling and bleeding, a risk that is especially high among people with a condition called cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) which affects nearly half of Alzheimers patients. In an extended portion of Eisais main Leqembi trial, CAA was associated with one death.

People with Down syndrome, who were not included in either Eisai or Lillys late-stage trials, have higher-than-average rates of CAA, and neurologists are concerned that removing amyloid with a drug like Leqembi could weaken artery walls, leading to bleeding in the brain.

'THE DIGNITY OF RISK'

Hillerstrom said the groups are "very strongly" lobbying Eisai and Lilly to conduct the safety trials in Down syndrome, and said he has been meeting with the companies to push them to design such trials. Because of the unique risks, LuMind and others advise families to wait for the data.

With such trials only in planning stages, it could be three or four years before they yield answers, so advocates and others on the front lines also want barriers to FDA-approved drugs removed.

Emily Largent, a bioethicist and health policy expert at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, said when faced with a fatal disease, people with Down syndrome should be allowed to weigh the risks and benefits of treatment, which she referred to as "the dignity of risk."

Part of that entails convincing Medicare to change language in its national coverage policy, advocates including Hillerstrom say. That would involve including validated cognitive assessment scales to detect memory changes in people with Down syndrome, three expert sources told Reuters.

LuMind and a coalition of six other advocacy groups made their case in a July 25 meeting with Medicare. They stressed that all other treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available to people with Down syndrome, even when they had not been tested in people with the condition, sources who attended the meeting told Reuters.

A Medicare spokesperson said current coverage policy does not prohibit people with Down syndrome from accessing Leqembi, but did not respond when asked if the agency is considering changes to the Alzheimers registry requirements.

Already, doctors are fielding requests for the drug. Dr. Beau Ances, a neurologist at Washington University in St. Louis, said he will not offer the treatment until it is shown to be safe and is following published guidance from leading neurologists.

But he is frustrated by the wait. "I've lost a number of patients this year alone," Ances said. "I'm tired of giving hugs. I really want to give a therapy."

Instead, Ances asks patients to join a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute on Aging that has been screening potential patients using cognitive tests designed to measure changes in memory, language and attention specifically in people with Down syndrome.

They also undergo genetic testing, brain scans and other tests necessary to take part in a treatment trial, and provide informed consent themselves or through a legally authorized representative.

So far, 19 specialty clinics including Washington University have enrolled 180 volunteers. Dr. Michael Rafii, a University of Southern California neurologist who is leading the trial, said he is negotiating with drugmakers about testing one or more anti-amyloid treatments in a placebo-controlled safety and efficacy trial starting next year.

Lilly declined to comment on whether it is considering either a safety trial or taking part in that study. An Eisai spokeswoman said the company "has no immediate plans" to conduct clinical trials of Leqembi in people with Down syndrome.

'LIVING LONGER'

Alzheimers is a relatively recent worry for people with Down syndrome. Advances in care have resulted in a more than doubling of life expectancy, from an average age of 25 in 1983 to 60 currently. That longer lifespan has brought with it the near-certainty of developing Alzheimer's.

Dr. William Mobley, a neurologist at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said people with Down syndrome have come far since the 1950s, when standard medical advice was to send infants to an institution.

"They're living longer, but almost all of them are dying of Alzheimer's disease when they get beyond age 60," he said.

Mobley and many other neurologists and patient advocates agree on the importance of safety trials, and the inclusion of people with Down syndrome in trial designs for future drugs, rather than waiting years until they are approved.

"Clinicians want to see that kind of safety information before they can prescribe in our population," Hampus Hillerstrom said.

Dawn Brooks, Lilly's global development leader for donanemab, said in a statement that the company did not explicitly exclude people with Down syndrome. Because Alzheimer's typically occurs in people with Down syndrome by their mid-50s, it was challenging to find people who could take part in the main donanemab study, which enrolled people starting at age 60.

The company is collaborating with LuMind in a study gathering data on how Alzheimer's manifests in people with Down syndrome.

Margot Rhondeau of the National Down Syndrome Society, whose daughter, Hannah, 5, has the condition, said that for some families whose adult children are showing signs of dementia, safety data is too far off.

"At the end of the day," she said, "our belief is that a physician and a family should have the right to decide what is best for them."

Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with our newsletter Reuters Health Rounds. Sign up here.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)
The downtown Columbia city parking garage is set for renovations soon, which will result in temporary closures estimated to last 120 days.

The downtown Columbia parking garage, located next to Columbia Police Department on North Main Street, is being prepped for renovations later this year.

Jon Morrison of Morrison Engineering presented the project to Columbia City Council earlier this month, which included details of its timeline and how the updates will improve the facility, which originally dates back to the 1830s.

"Our scope of work for this parking garage is basically a lot of waterproofing ... with a polyurethane traffic coating on approximately two-thirds of the garage, everything that is basically elevated," Morrison said. "It will create good traction for traffic going up the ramps and prevent any water intrusion. Underneath that coating we'll have to clear out any calking joints, since everything has deteriorated pretty far in the garage currently."

Cost and duration of the project

The contractor for the project is N&S Waterproofing, of which the $675,790 bid contract will appear as part of the council's consent agenda this week for approval.

The garage will also receive a heavy-duty pressure wash clean, as well as a new paint job and rejuvenating areas of the top level, which Morrison said has begun to "flake off" in parts due to moisture accumulation over the years.

"The brick, especially on the east side of the garage is flaking off on the surfaces, and we are losing horizontal bank joints," he said. "We'll have to replace those ... and after that repair is done, we'll come back with a waterproofing clear coat all over the brick surfaces to prevent moisture from coming in that way."

The downtown Columbia city parking garage, which once served as City Hall and now sits next to Columbia Police Department, is set to receive renovations.

Steel surfaces, including drainpipes, fencing and other structural barriers will also be recoated to prevent further deterioration. Once the main bulk of the renovations are complete, the garage will then be restriped as it is today. The project is also estimated 7-10 years of life to the building, depending on its usage.

"As long as the police department and city employees aren't doing burnouts on the traffic coating, you should be able to exceed that timeline pretty easily, just based on how much I've seen the garage used, and it's not a heavy-trafficked area," Morrison said. "After that time, you would just have to put another topcoat over it to protect what's below, and you wouldn't have to go through this extensive repair and remediation again."

City Manager Tony Massey asked how long Morrison estimates the project would take to complete, at which he said 120 days, per the bid contract. However, if there are no weather delays it could be closer to 75-80 days. The goal, he said, is to start by Nov. 1.

"There is one small caveat to that, which in the state of Tennessee there is a document about how many weather delays you might anticipate in a certain month, and we are getting into the months that have a lot of weather delays," Morrison said. "Between the beginning of November and the end of February, there are 51 anticipated weather delays, and so 75 days and 51 weather delay days puts us at over the 120-day project goal."

How will it affect downtown parking?

One of the main concerns expressed by council members was how the project would affect city employees who utilize the parking garage, police vehicles and other downtown drivers.

Morrison said the parking garage will have to be shut down during the project's duration, primarily due to access needed by workers, as well as safety.

"We need to get everybody and everything out of the parking garage so we can push through to get this completed," Morrison said. "Along with that, a plan is being developed to commandeer the parking lot between the garage and City Hall. It also gives our workers the ability to store dumpsters and try and keep the area clean."

Massey added that CPD will still utilize the garage as needed, as well as those with parking stall leases using the 17 spots located on the first floor.

"Public works is going to stripe the old parking lot on East 6th Street across from the Fuzzy Duck, and that will pick up about 30 spaces for city employees to park," Massey said.

"The police department is also going to install a 'guard shack' at the entrance to the garage, and our parking attendants will be regulating anyone coming in and out to make sure it's folks that we designate it for. But due to those 69 parking spaces being temporarily not available, we're going to relax the three-hour enforcement downtown during the duration of this project. So, folks can still park downtown without worrying about getting a ticket."

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Downtown Columbia parking garage to undergo extensive renovations
Paraguay's Government Palace has been lit in the colors of Israel in a sign of solidarity following Saturday's attack by Hamas. Photo courtesy of Presidencia Paraguay

(UPI) -- Dozens of foreign nationals in Israel have been reported dead, missing or abducted by Hamas following its surprise, multi-pronged attack from the land, air and sea on Saturday.

Many were reportedly at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel where Zaka Search and Rescue confirmed its personnel have recovered some 260 bodies.

As of Thursday morning, day six of the war between Israel and Hamas, the combined death toll has climbed to nearly 2,300, with Palestine's health ministry stating 1,100 of its citizens have been killed and the Israel Defense Forces saying more than 1,200 Israelis are dead.

Here is what foreign nations are saying about the status of their citizens in Israel.

Argentina

The Eiffel Tower is illuminated with the colors of the Israeli flat and its Star of David in support of the Jewish State in Paris, on Monday. France has said that two of its nationals have been killed in Israel. Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI

Argentina's Embassy in Israel said Monday that seven Argentinians were dead and 15 others were missing.

Among the dead was Rodolfo Fabian Skariszewski, who lived in Moshav Ohad, the embassy said in a statement. It called him a "compatriot."

People gather outside of the The White House as it is illuminated in blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag, in support of Israel on Monday in Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden said Wednesday 22 Americans were among those killed in Israel. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI

"We send our condolences to his family and friends."

A total of 625 citizens of the South American nation have also requested to be evacuated from the Middle Eastern country, it said.

An Israeli flag was illuminated on the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament on Monday night in a show of solidarity with Israel. Canada has said that at least one national was reportedly killed in Israel and three others are missing. Photo courtesy of Speaker of the House of Commons/Twitter

INFORMACION HASTA LAS 16HS 625 argentinos solicitaron ser evacuados en Israel. Hay 7 argentinos muertos y 15 connacionales con busqueda de paradero. Mail de registro de evacuados: consultasargentinosisrael@mrecic.gov.ar Argentina en Israel (@argenisrael) October 9, 2023

Austria

Austria's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that one of three missing Austrian-Israeli dual citizens has been found dead.

"He is one of the countless victims of the brutal large-scale attack on #Israel by the terrorist organization #Hamas," the ministry tweeted.

It was informed of the death by his family.

"We condemn the barbaric terror of #Hamas in the strongest possible terms," it said. "Our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy go out to his family and friends."

Brazil

Brazil's foreign ministry reports that three Brazilian nationals have been reported missing in Israel.

So far, its embassy in Tel Aviv has heard from 1,700 Brazilians, mostly tourists in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, who have "expressed interest" in being repatriated, the ministry said in a statement.

On Monday, its air force tweeted that it was in the process of organizing six evacuation flights, one of which had already landed in Rome, Italy, en route to Israel.

Britain

Jackson Carlaw, a British member of Parliament for Eastwood, announced via tweet on Monday that Bernard Cowan was "murdered on Saturday by Hamas."

He said the family confirmed Cowan's death.

"Our heartfelt condolences to his family as we respect their privacy in their grief," Carlaw said. "May his memory be a blessing."

There are reports that several other Britons have been killed and others were missing.

In a Tuesday statement to UPI, Britain's foreign secretary James Cleverly confirmed that "a significant number of British-Israeli dual nationals" have been affected by the violence.

"A lot of the figures are yet to be fully confirmed and I don't want to speculate," he said. "We stand ready to support families who are concerned."

Citing an unnamed official British source, the BBC on Wednesday reported that at 17 Britons, including children are either missing or dead.

We stand with pic.twitter.com/dFtOngg4ju Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 8, 2023

Cambodia

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said one Cambodian student in Israel had died in the Hamas attack.

Canada

Canada's foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly told reporters Wednesday that two Canadians are confirmed dead and a third missing is presumed dead. Officials have not disclosed the identities of the deceased, stating they first need to get in contact with the families.

Three other Canadians are missing, she said.

To honour those whose lives have been cut short by Hamas' terror attacks against Israel, we're lighting the Peace Tower in blue and white - and we've lowered the flags on the Peace Tower, at the Prime Minister's Office, and across Parliament Hill. Canada stands with Israel. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 8, 2023

Chile

Chile's ministry of foreign affairs has confirmed the deaths of three nationals -- Noa Glasberg, Tomer Shpirer, 37, and Gina Pak, 90.

At least two Chilean nationals are missing.

Chile's minister of foreign affairs Alberto van Klaveren late Monday said he had spoken with Danny Garcovich, the father of missing Loren Garcovich. She and her husband, Ivan Illarramendi, a Spaniard, were reportedly among those kidnapped by Hamas.

Comunidad Judia de Chile, which represents Chile's Jewish community, tweeted the couple lived in a kibbutz near the Gaza border and that their home had been destroyed.

"The temperance and clarity in his words is admirable," Klaveren said of his conversation with Danny Garcovich. "We will not stop supporting your search."

China

China foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters during a press conference Thursday that three Chinese nationals are confirmed dead, two are missing and several are wounded.

On Wednesday, Israel's foreign ministry had said that one Chinese national had been taken hostage.

Colombia

Two Colombian nationals, reportedly named Ivonne Rubio and Antonio Mesias Motano, have been missing since attending the Supernova music festival.

Israel's ambassador to Colombia said he is praying that the couple are found safe, healthy and soon.

"Our thoughts and solidarity with your family and friends," he tweeted.

France

France's foreign minister Catherine Colonna told France Info on Wednesday that 11 citizens had been killed in the Hamas attack.

It is a drastic increase from Tuesday, when France's foreign ministry said in a statement that its death toll in Israel has risen to four.

It also said Tuesday 20 others were unaccounted for, including "some of whom have most likely been kidnapped."

On Monday, it had said 14 were believed to have been abducted by Hamas, including a 12-year-old child.

In a statement it was mourning the death of a second citizen who died in Hamas' attack.

France's foreign ministry told reporters in a statement that it has nearly 62,000 French nationals registered at the Consulate General in Tel Aviv and 25,000 at its Jerusalem station.

Germany

Israel foreign ministry said Wednesday that one Germany citizen has been killed and "some" are unaccounted for.

Italy

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Wednesday that three Italian Israeli citizens have gone missing. He named the third as Nir Forti.

Mexico

Mexico's secretary of foreign affairs Alicia Barcena announced via a tweet on Sunday that two Mexican nationals, a man and a woman, are believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas on Saturday.

Late Monday, she announced that a third Mexican initially thought to have been taken hostage by Hamas had been found safe.

Mexico has also sent two planes to evacuate nationals from the country.

Barcena had earlier said 500 Mexican citizens in Israel had registered with the federal department for emergency assistance.

Nepal

Nepal's foreign ministry said in a statement Monday that it was in the process of repatriating the bodies of 10 Nepalese students who had been killed by Hamas at Alumim Kibbutz in southern Israel.

In a sign of respect for those killed, Nepal declared a national day of mourning and will fly the national flag at half-mast at all government offices and Nepalese missions abroad.

It added that one Nepalese remained missing in Israel and that it was working to repatriate those wishing to return home.

Paraguay

Paraguay's ministry of foreign affairs has announced that it has been informed that two Paraguayan citizens who reside in Israel are missing.

"We are in permanent contact with local authorities to locate them," it said on X, the social media platform formerly know as Twitter.

"We will continue to inform you as we have official data from the government of Israel."

En la vispera, el Palacio de Gobierno se ilumino con los colores de Israel, en solidaridad por los ataques que sufrio su pueblo en los ultimos dias. El Paraguay mantiene su conviccion de que ninguna diferencia puede ser dirimida por medio de la violencia y el terrorismo. pic.twitter.com/UKC8m44tJ8 Presidencia Paraguay (@PresidenciaPy) October 11, 2023

Peru

At least two Peruvians -- Brando David Flores Garcia and Daniel Levi -- were killed in the attack, its ministry of foreign affairs said Tuesday, leaving two others missing.

Israel described Levi as a "hero that was murdered for saving others."

It said he was killed by Hamas militants when they invaded the southern Israel kibbutz where he lived with his family.

"Daniel, who was a doctor, insisted that his family flee without him while he stayed to help and treat the wounded," Israel said in a statement.

Following the Saturday attack, the ministry had said four nationals were missing.

"The consular section reported the cases to the Israeli authorities for their search and location while maintaining permanent contact with the families of our compatriots to provide them with all the necessary support," it had said in a statement late Monday.

As of Tuesday night, 16 Peruvian citizens have left Israel through commercial flight, with 131 more expected to join them in the coming days, it said.

Philippines

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday that a third Filipinos has died in Israel.

Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega identified the victim to reporters during a press conference as a 49-year-old woman.

The other two victims have been described only as a man and a woman.

Three other Filipinos are believed to be missing, he said.

The announcement comes after the Philippine Embassy in Israel said Tuesday that an additional Filipino national, a woman, has been found safe, reducing the number of its citizens missing since Saturday's strike to six, two males and four females.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs had said that 29 Filipinos were initially reported missing, but 23 of them, consisting of one male and 22 females were rescued by Israeli forces. The man remains hospitalized for moderate injuries he sustained during the rescue operation.

The embassy said it is looking into reports of a "likely death of one Filipina" who was earlier reported missing in an Hamas attack on a kibbutz.

Russia

A Russian embassy in Tel Aviv spokesperson told Russian news agency TASS on Wednesday that four Russian citizens with Israeli citizenship have been killed and that six others are missing.

Spain

Spanish President Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday confirmed the death of citizen Maya Villalobo Sinvany.

Thailand

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced Thursday that another Thai worker in Israel has died, lifting the total of Thai nationals killed in the Middle Eastern country to 21.

On Monday, Thai officials had said that 18 Thai nationals in Israel are dead but they are still waiting for verification. The number of deceased increased from Sunday when the foreign ministry said 12 Thai nationals had died.

Nine others were injured and 11 had been taken hostage, officials said Monday in a press conference, adding that hundreds in high-risk areas near Gaza have been evacuated.

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Sunday that at least two Ukrainians were killed in Israel.

United States

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during a joint press conference Thursday in Israel with its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that at least 25 Americans had been killed in fighting amid the conflict.

The number was up from three the day before and a drastic increase from Tuesday when President Joe Biden said at least 14 had been killed.
A person accused of ramming a car into the lobby of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, California, Monday evening is dead, according to San Francisco police.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was inside a car that came to rest inside the lobby of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China, the San Francisco Police Department said in a media briefing on Monday. When SFPD officers entered the building and made contact with the suspect, gunfire erupted and the suspect was shot.

Officers rendered aid to the suspect until paramedics with the San Francisco Fire Department arrived for transport to the hospital, where the suspect later died.

"In spite of the lifesaving efforts of the police officers, firefighter/paramedics, and personnel at the hospital, the suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital," SFPD said.

ALLEGED SEAFARING BANDITS NABBED ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY AFTER SERIES OF BOAT RAIDS

San Francisco Police tape off an area after a man drove his car in to the Chinese consulate building on Monday, Sept. 9, 2023.

The investigation into the incident remains open and the department said it is "working and coordinating" with U.S. State Department investigators.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Earlier in the evening, the San Francisco Police Department posted on social media just before 7 p.m. advising citizens to avoid the area of Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard because of ongoing police activity.

FOX 2 in San Francisco reported a large presence outside the Chinese consulate. Witnesses at the scene told the outlet they saw a man, who was bloody, loaded into an ambulance and taken away. Witnesses also reportedly heard multiple gunshots.

2 CHILDREN DIE IN POOL AT CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL DAYCARE

Local news organization, The San Francisco Standard, spoke with Stanford student Sergii Molchanov, who was submitting documents to get a visa when the vehicle crashed into the building.

Molchanov told The Standard the drivers head was bleeding, and when he got out of the car, he shouted, "Wheres the CCP?"

SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE RUNS OVER, PINS WOMAN IN SAN FRANCISCO; OPERATOR CLAIMS HUMAN HIT HER FIRST

He was quickly approached by security guards who held his arms back, and while the student told the news organization he did not see a weapon on the driver, security guards were holding a knife.

"He looked at me, and I was a little bit scared because I didnt know if he had any gun or something," Molchanov told The Standard.

People were seen fleeing the building on video captured by Molchanov. Also seen on video is the suspect, who appeared disheveled and bloody.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Molchanov also told The Standard he heard two gunshots.

Police were reportedly worried the suspect had an explosive device in the vehicle, and several police vehicles and emergency vehicles responded to the scene, along with bomb-sniffing dogs.





Original article source: Driver who rammed car into San Franciscos Chinese consulate building shot, killed by police
Police say the identity of the motorist and what precipitated the crash is not yet known - NATHAN FRANDINO/REUTERS

Police officers fatally shot the driver of a vehicle that ploughed through the Chinese consulate in San Francisco and into the lobby of the buildings visa office on Monday, city police said.

Official details of the incident were unclear, and police said the identity of the motorist and what precipitated the crash were not yet known. There was no mention of anyone else being injured in the incident.

I dont know how many people were inside the visa office at the time of the collision, Sgt Kathryn Winters, spokesman for San Francisco Police Department, told reporters at a news briefing hours later.

When officers arrived here on scene, they found the vehicle had come to rest inside the lobby of the Chinese Consulate. Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred, Sgt Winters said. The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. This is an open and active investigation.

Police were coordinating with investigators from the US State Department, she said, adding: Theres very little information that we can give at this time.

The car ploughed into the document hall of the Chinese embassy - SERGII/via REUTERS

The Chinese diplomatic post in San Francisco issued a statement saying an unidentified person drove violently into the document hall of the consulate, posing a serious threat to the safety of the staff and people at the scene, and causing serious damage to the facilities and property of the consulate.

The consulate went on to say that it strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibility for the incident.

The consulate said it would temporarily close its consular certificate hall from Oct 10, in a statement released on its WeChat account. The consulate said it would inform the public when services will resume.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the incident.

An ABC television affiliate station in San Francisco reported its news crews observed a man covered in blood being carried away from the scene on a stretcher and rushed into an ambulance.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's war with Hamas is not expected to have much impact on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' business performance, the company said on Tuesday.

Teva said sales in Israel account for just 2% of global revenue, while production in Israel constitutes less than 8% of total global manufacturing in dollars terms.

"We currently dont expect a meaningful impact on our business and/or our financial and operational performance," Teva said in an email.

The world's largest maker of generic drugs said production remains largely unaffected and that it maintains contingency plans with backup production locations for key products, "much like our operations during the COVID pandemic and previous instances of security unrest."

Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after gunmen on Saturday burst across the fence from Gaza in the deadliest incursion into Israeli territory since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago.

Israeli media said deaths from the attacks had reached 900, mostly civilians gunned down in homes, while scores of Israelis and some foreigners were taken to Gaza as hostages. Israel has responded with fierce air strikes into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Teva said it was saddened by the attacks on Israeli citizens, particularly women and children.

"As an Israeli company we condemn this appalling assault and Teva stands with Israel in this time of great loss and challenge," it said.

"We are focusing now on the support, care, and the wellbeing of our employees in Israel while closely monitoring the situation and ensuring business continuity to deliver our medicines to the millions of patients around the world who count on us."

Teva is expected to report third-quarter financial results on Nov. 8.

Last week Teva said it would collaborate with French drugmaker Sanofi to develop a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease it hopes will become a blockbuster drug.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Jan Harvey and Bill Berkrot)
Things are about to change dramatically in British politics. At least thats how it felt in Liverpool, where the opposition Labour Party held its annual conference this week.

In front of a packed hall, Labour leader Keir Starmer gave an upbeat speech painting the ruling Conservatives as the party of national decline and Labour as the party of stability.

Starmers speech  which was glitter-bombed early by a protestor  may have been light on detail, but its intent was best summed up with dig at the Conservative government: Turn our back on never-ending Tory decline with a decade of national renewal.

Unlike the governing Conservative Partys meeting, which took place in Manchester last week, the speeches and events in Liverpool this week have been packed with excited members, lobbyists and reporters.

While waiting for a keynote speech  one of many which saw lines of people snake around the venue  a party member told CNN: Its like the Magaluf strip, but filled with policy nerds.

That comparison to one of Europes best-known party destinations might be a bit of an overstatement for what is essentially four days of too many people crammed into small rooms talking about thrilling subjects like taxation and infrastructure. But there is something in the air.

A protestor throws glitter over Labour party leader, Keir Starmer during the leader's speech at the Labour Party conference on October 10, 2023 in Liverpool, England. - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

A buoyant mood

These conferences are usually stressful slogs where attendees dash from one event to another trying to see all of the raw politics on display  particularly the warring party factions holding pointed fringe events attacking one another, or actually engaging in open conflict in front of delegates.

Then theres the after-hours private parties, where the real gossip spills into the small hours of the morning.

This years conference season is particularly stressful as it is likely the last before the next general election, which typically would make the events busier and the rhetoric wilder.

But inside the Liverpool conference zone in northern England, corporate lobbyists, reporters, business executives, Labour members and Conservative Party spies searching for dirt (yes, really), are congenially drinking outside the main conference hotel in which leader Keir Starmer and his top team are staying.

Those mingling are largely in agreement that, barring some major disaster, Labour is the next party of government.

This is a long way of saying that this unusual level of certainty and unity means that the mood among the Labour faithful is buoyant.

And why wouldnt it be? The party is, as things stand, the clear favorite to win the next general election after 13 years in opposition. Highlights of those 13 years for Labour include: three election losses; a hard-left takeover of the party; and losing traditional voters because of Brexit and accusations of antisemitism.

After former leader Jeremy Corbyn took over in 2015, he and his supporters moved the party significantly to the left. He was warned many times that his radical political history  nuclear disarmament, calling terror groups including Hamas friends, inviting Northern Irish terrorists to the UK parliament  would make the party unelectable. He consequently lost two general elections as Labour leader.

The party was bitterly divided after the election loss of 2019, which forced Corbyns resignation.

When Starmer took over from Corbyn, he oversaw a slow purging of the left. Corbyn was thrown out of the party after a report blamed him for antisemitism growing in the party under his leadership.

For all Starmer has stabilized Labour and brought it back to the mainstream, the reversal in its fortune also owes some thanks to the Conservatives self-destruction: Boris Johnsons Partygate scandal, Liz Truss chaotic handling of the economy and an internal war  a clear sign of a party aware its time in power could be ending.

For that reason, it was expected that Labour and its leader, Starmer, would simply try to get through this week without rocking the boat. If you are winning by default, why take any risks?

That assumption has largely held true. Very little explicit policy has been announced in Liverpool. Rather, there were a series of speeches aimed at those who would have run a million miles from the party just a few years ago. This is no hard-left rabble, they want to project, but competent professionals who can be trusted with the nation.

Government in waiting

It was also assumed that the party would try to put some flesh on the bones of Starmers personality. He has been criticized by a vocal minority in his party for being too boring and lacking conviction. What about this dull man with no real opinions is supposed to inspire me, said a former Labour adviser.

Starmers background is impressive  aspirational, even  but not exactly thrilling. As a clever child, he went to a selective state school, rather than a private school like so many at the top of British politics. Unlike many of his counterparts, he got an undergraduate degree in law at the University of Leeds, rather than studying politics or economics at Oxford or Cambridge.

He became a successful lawyer, eventually rising to one of the top legal positions in the country: Director of Public Prosecutions. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014 for services to law and criminal justice.

Starmers advisers insist that his background appeals to British voters, according to their focus groups, and that they had initially intended to use this conference to paint their leader as a man of integrity  in stark contrast to the Conservative leaders of recent years.

On Sunday night, that seemed to be what was happening. Shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, told a private reception full of party members stories of the Starmer he has known for years.

He described private conversations that took place during a period when Starmer was investigated by police for a potential breach of Covid rules. Lammy told Starmer he shouldnt tell the public in advance that he would resign if found guilty; Starmer ignored him, because hed called on Johnson to do exactly the same thing months earlier. Starmer was ultimately found innocent, while Johnson was fined by police for breaking his own lockdown rules.

However, as the conference went on, a different story began to emerge  one that is not just focused on Starmer.

Usually at these events, the main stage is a place for stuffy keynote speeches from the partys senior figures mostly ignored by the delegates in favor of more exciting, boozy parties and fringe events.

While this years keynote speeches werent exactly exciting, they generated plenty of excitement. When Starmers shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke on Monday afternoon, not only did the line of attendees snake around the conference center, but those who couldnt get in the room stood around screens applauding.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves makes her keynote speech during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on October 9, 2023. - Peter Byrne/AP

This was in stark contrast to Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunts speech in Manchester last week, which was poorly attended due to former prime minister Truss and several of her acolytes holding a rival event during which they essentially trashed their own partys economics policy.

Theres no such disunity here in Liverpool. The fringes are largely on message (even the ones on the Israel and Hamas conflict attended by Corbyn fans) while the majority of the party is laser focused on not messing up and throwing away an election that they should win.

The story Labour is telling right now isnt just the story of Keir Starmer, leader in waiting, but Keir Starmer and his political allies, who are the government in waiting.

They are serious about leading Britain into a new future and they will not take the responsibility of office lightly. You wont get ill-considered policy, internal spats and leadership challenges, they are saying, you will get serious politicians who want to restore some normality to a country that has been governed by vandals for more than a decade.

Labours election to lose

Not everyone is happy with this slow and steady approach. Critics on the left of the party told CNN that the conference was a micro-managed festival of nothing run by a man who will end up being a placeholder prime minister then hand it back to the Conservatives after five years.

Another critic on the right of the party said that Starmer can bore his way into power, but look at how that worked out for Biden in America, where Trump is coming back, and in Germany where the far-right is growing.

However, even his critics  marginal voices in Starmers Labour  concede that he is likely to be the next prime minister. Going into this weeks conference, that was something that made some Labour members nervous, as they slowly came to terms with the next election being theirs to lose.

And to be clear, they still could. Sunak and the Conservatives still have a very real chance of turning things around.

But this week in Liverpool, the carefully controlled message coming from Labours top team convinced supporters that, rather than Starmers good fortunes being down to luck and the Conservatives incompetence, his steady hand is a deliberate tactic.

And right now, it seems possible large parts of the country are ready for it.

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Environmental pressure group Extinction Rebellion said Tuesday it was ending its daily blockade of a major motorway in The Hague, after Dutch MPs voted to examine ways of scrapping fossil fuel subsidies.

"Civil disobedience works," the group said in a statement following 27 consecutive days of blocking the A12, a major artery into The Hague, resulting in regular confrontations with police.

A majority of Dutch MPs earlier requested Prime Minister Mark Rutte 's outgoing government to come up with a concrete plan to phase out subsidies to fossil fuel industries, estimated at between 39.7 to 46.4 billion euros ($42-49.5 billion).

"Although fossil subsidies have not yet been abolished, the significance of this step cannot be underestimated," said XR spokeswoman Tessel Hofstede.

A routine had taken hold in The Hague, with protesters blocking the road daily at noon, to be removed eventually by police who sprayed them with water cannon.

Demonstrators deployed umbrellas to shield themselves from the water and wore swimming costumes, when the Dutch weather allowed.

Thousands were briefly arrested, only to return the next day, although numbers dwindled from the initial protests in early September that attracted some 25,000 people.

"Of course, we'll look carefully at what happens from here," said XR. "If politics fails again, we will be back with even greater force."

ric/jm
In the latest developments of Floridas book-banning boom, much attention has been paid to the hours-long pornothons organized by Moms for Liberty chapters at select School Board meetings across the state.

Its comedy gold, to be sure. Ultra-right wingers rattling off lists and counts of naughty words, or reading steamy prose in robotic tones: and were kissing watering tongue springy lips tugging pulling and we lay down and she peels off my shirt chanted one Moms for Liberty member at the Sept. 19 school board meeting, reciting what sounds like a fairly poetic passage in the grim tones of a juror reading a guilty verdict. (Suspiciously, only a few of them provided the titles of the books they claimed were available in public school libraries.)

But its the other voices  the testimony of sex-abuse victims, memories of high-school friends struggling with issues no teenager should have to face, painful recitals of the fear and isolation felt by members of sexual minorities  that really resonate. During Banned Books Week, which wrapped up Saturday, its shameful that the nation is looking to Florida as an example of what might happen if narrow-minded bigotry is allowed to barricade young minds from voices exploring the trauma, racism, sexual pressure and anguish many are facing on a daily basis in real life.

The dirty truth

Banning is about looking at the face of authors and telling them that their story doesnt matter. That they dont matter, because theyre different. They dont matter because their color might be different, their sexual orientation might be different, they might be gender non-conforming or not identify with gender at all. Their viewpoint on life is different and thats a good thing, said Renee Davis, a Brevard County resident attending the Seminole meeting.

Thats the fundamental truth here. While Moms for Liberty clearly mined their naughty bits passages wherever they could find them  including some romance novels that probably didnt possess all that much literary merit  their real focus has been clear from the start from the lists of books theyre going after. Books like The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, which explores critical themes such as the Caucasian-focused beauty standard that undermine the confidence of many young women while recounting shattering experiences such as incest and child molestation. Judy Blumes classic Forever, which recounts the heated obsession of teens in their first relationship. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, a book of prose and poetry centered around sex and romance.

At a Broward County School Board meeting Sept. 20, Moms for Liberty members and others initiated a shadow play of mass deception, pretending they were there to talk about a teacher-union agreement but then delving into steamy prose from these books  only to be cut off again and again. This was their goal: To get as much smut on the public record as possible, then claim the martyrdom of the silenced. Ironic, given their blatant and brutal attempts to silence others.

Some defend, some cave

Voters in Broward and Seminole counties can be proud of the way their board members stood up to the barrage, even though they chose different methods  the chairman of the Broward board shut down the steamy prattle as soon as the speakers veered off-course, while Seminole County board members sat impassively as each Moms for Liberty member approached the podium.

But there are disturbing signs that these messages are taking hold  with one chilling example from Charlotte County in which the school boards general counsel confirmed that books with LGBTQ characters should be stripped from school shelves. These characters and themes cannot exist, said a leaked training document obtained by Florida Freedom to Read and shared with a Florida news site. In Indian River County, where book-banners unleashed another steamy barrage of excerpts in late August, Treasure Coast newspapers reported that upwards of 120 books have been pulled from shelves. Both districts say they are following standards set by the Legislature in the name of parental rights.

Thats why it was good for school boards to hear from people who remember growing up and realizing they were different from other students  but had nowhere to turn to get a frame of reference for their experiences.

I want to let you know you are not dirty. Your story is not dirty. You are powerful. You are loved and you are cared about, one member of the anti-censorship group Womens Voices said at the Seminole School Board meeting. I found solace finding and figuring out that I was not the only one.

Floridians can be proud of groups that are stepping forward to protest the attacks on intellectual freedom, particularly the dogged documentation provided by Florida Freedom to Read. That group has focused its firepower on digging out the real evidence, in the form of public record, that proves the agendas behind the salacious chicanery in public forums. Their work is a powerful rebuke against state lawmakers and local officials who are using vulnerable teens for target practice, heedless of the pain their bigotry provokes.

Dont believe the hype: Parents have plenty of ways to control the materials their children read in public schools. Its about suppressing any mention of humans that a group of narrow-minded people believe are unworthy of a voice. Its about reviving a culture where LGBTQ people could be arrested just for being who they were. Where sexual abuse, incest and bigotry were shoved into the shadows, along with the immeasurable suffering they caused.

Banning books isnt about literature. Its about denial. Repression. Erasure. And every Floridian who believes this is wrong should speak out  and say that here, we no longer tolerate that.

____

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com.
On Wednesday, elected leaders in Elk Grove need to finally get serious about approving desperately needed affordable housing in the heart of the city. Theyve already been sued by California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, for violating Senate Bill 35, which streamlines the construction of affordable housing in cities and counties that dont build enough of it.

Its sad but true that Elk Grove fits this description.

Thats why Bonta sued them. Thats why Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized them. Thats why Elk Grove city council members led by Bobbie Singh-Allen need to stop playing games and comply with state law.

California is in an affordable housing crisis which is a major factor in a homelessness crisis. We are here because cities like Elk Grove spend their time caving to NIMBYs and using their talent and resources to slow-walk affordable housing projects or to kill them. Thats why SB. 35 was passed in the first place, why Bonta sued Elk Grove, and why the governor targeted them.

Cities like Elk Grove have proved that when left to their own devices, they defer, deflect and deny affordable housing.

Just consider the recent actions in Elk Grove:

Opinion

After Bontas lawsuit and a suit from the developer, Excelerate Housing, the city decided it would revisit the rejection of a ready-for-construction, privately financed affordable housing project in the Old Town area of the city. At its Sept. 27 meeting, after passionate public testimony on both sides, the city decided to take no further action. The council did, however, decide to discuss and possibly vote again at its upcoming, Oct. 11 meeting.

Most tellingly, city staffers who originally recommended denying the project have now completely reversed their opinion since the litigation began, citing the financial burden to the city in defending itself against multiple lawsuits.

While the city formally disputes the claims and allegations of the pending cases, as with any litigation, there is a risk of loss, which must be considered in evaluating how to proceed, wrote staff in its report. To mitigate the impact of the litigation and risk of loss on the city, city staff, including the Citys legal counsel, recommend that the city reconsider approval of the project as discussed in this staff report.

To review: Elk Grove is being sued by the state, the developer and its own staff are telling the elected officials to approve the project.

That means the Elk Grove City Council is putting the city at risk should they continue to defer, deflect and fight..

Called Oak Rose, the project that Elk Grove tried hard to kill would be the first affordable housing complex in the city to provide permanent housing and services for low-income families who have previously been homeless. It would be favorably close to bus lines, city services, and shopping for residents who may not have the benefit of a car.

This editorial board visited Elk Grove in May. We found leaders to be sincere about their enthusiasm for its limited affordable housing efforts to date. The problem is that Elk Grove has not done nearly enough, and it is hardly alone. The homeless crisis is first and foremost a housing crisis that gets solved with more housing like this project. Mayor Singh-Allen kept talking about the importance of cities maintaining local control. Yes, but too many California cities have killed affordable housing projects while screaming local control.

Bonta, in announcing his offices lawsuit in May, said Elk Grove left us no choice. That fact is becoming increasingly obvious  and increasingly embarrassing  for everyone involved. Come on, Elk Grove, Do the right thing. Your city, and our state, needs more affordable housing.
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 22, 2023 shows the cruise ships "Mediterranea" and "Dream" docked at a port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. [Photo/Xinhua]

Boasting Mediterranean-style decor, global cuisine and boutique shopping, the cruise ship "Mediterranea" left north China's Tianjin on Sept. 30 for Sasebo and Fukuoka in Japan, among other spots, providing an ideal holiday getaway.



Guo Jia, director of business development of Adora Cruises, which operated the cruise, said that the ship carried more than 2,500 passengers on departure, which was close to full capacity.

"The 'Mediterranea' will make four voyages in October to meet the demand of tourists from north China," Guo added.

A tourist surnamed Xu decided to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday on the cruise, together with his family. "It's the first time that our family has spent a holiday on a cruise, which is a special experience for us," explained Xu.

One tour-group leader said that the resurgence of China's cruise tourism industry has attracted many new and old customers, most of whom travelled as a family unit, with more elderly people and children taking part.

On Sept. 19, China's Ministry of Transport announced the full resumption of international cruise ship transport to and from ports in the country.

The ministry said in a notice that local transport authorities at the ports where cruise ships dock should formulate plans for restoring international cruise transportation and proceed with the work of resumption after obtaining approval from local governments.

The voyages now being undertaken by many cruise ships demonstrate the rapid post-pandemic recovery of China's cruise tourism industry.

On Sept. 27, the cruise ship "Dream" left its home port of Tianjin for a voyage to the island of Jeju, the Republic of Korea. On Sept. 29, the cruise ship "Blue Dream Star" set sail from Qingdao, carrying nearly 1,000 passengers on a journey to the island of Jeju and east China's Shanghai.

"China's international cruise tourism sector is fully recovering step by step," said Ye Xinliang, deputy dean of the School of Management, Shanghai University of Engineering Science.

Chu Jiayi, head of Tianjin Nebula Holiday International Travel Agency, said that once the cruise-operation plan for the "Mediterranea" was released, they cooperated with the cruise company and booked some of the tickets in advance for sales. "We sold all of our booked tickets in early September. Most of the tourists came from outside Tianjin," Chu said.

As the largest cruise home port in northern China, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port has received over 880 international cruise ships and handled more than 4.26 million inbound and outbound passengers.

Dong Zichen, deputy general manager of Tianjin International Cruise Home Port Co., Ltd., said that from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6, the home port received five international cruise ships and about 12,000 tourists.

According to the Tianjin General Station of Immigration Inspection, with the full recovery of the city's cruise tourism, 30 international cruise ships will dock at and depart from Tianjin port by the end of December this year. The total number of crew members and tourists is expected to reach 100,000.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says that the cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry. The number of ocean-going cruise passengers is expected to reach 31.5 million in 2023, and 39.5 million by 2027.

Some international cruise companies have expressed their confidence in the Chinese cruise market.

Liu Zinan, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Asia, said the company launched the 2024 international cruise line from Shanghai on June 29. The number of bookings for cruise tickets on the first day was twice the previous high. After a month and a half, the direct sales channel had already met the previously set annual sales target.

"It took less than two months for the travel agency channel to complete the ticket booking and advance payment for all voyages sailing during 2024 and 2025," Liu said.

Zheng Weihang, executive vice president and secretary general of the China Cruise & Yacht Industry Association, said that after two to three years of recovery, China's cruise market will usher in the "second golden development decade," showing the common development of the whole industry chain.

"We look forward to taking the resumption of cruise ships as an opportunity to accelerate the attraction of international shipping capacity, the development of cruise lines, the innovation of cruise products, the expansion of cruise ship supply, and the competition for attracting passengers, to promote the high-quality development of the cruise industry in Tianjin as well as the northern region in China," Dong said.
Were learning more about a Georgia escaped inmate who has been on the run since Saturday.

Carlton Gillis, 37, escaped from a detention officer on Saturday while in custody at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany.

According to an incident report obtained by WALB-TV, it said Gillis jumped a fence in a construction site near the hospital and hopped in a car being driven by his mother and stepfather.

The report said Gillis stepfather was driving the car, Gillis was in the back seat and his mother was also a passenger in the car.

An officer noticed the car and pulled them over. When the officer recognized Gillis, the report said the officer tried to take him into custody, but Gillis then forcefully took the wheel with his stepfather still in the front seat.

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His stepfather was able to get out of the car before Gillis sped off with it, WALB-TV reported.

Thats when police said they started chasing Gillis, with speeds going upwards of 80 mph. The report said Gillis drove into oncoming traffic before police were able to stop him.

Police said they eventually found Gillis mother in the car, who told them that she tried to get out of the car and that Gillis drove off with her still in the car against her will.

In Georgia, anyone that assists someone to commit a crime can be charged with that same crime as a party to the crime. So potentially anyone that aids him or abets him could also face the same penalties that he faces. We have multiple officers actively looking, searching for his whereabouts, and there is an investigation underway, Dougherty County Jail Director John Ostrander told WALB. We dont reveal too many details of the investigation, but we are looking into friends, family, known contacts, known places where he has frequented in the past, previous addresses, all of those things. Both here and in Terrell County.

Gillis was originally charged with burglary, criminal damage to property, interference with government property, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and probation violation.

He is now facing additional charges of kidnapping, robbery by force, fleeing and attempting to elude, and reckless driving, WALB reported.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Divisions and confusion roiled EU member states over aid to Palestine a day after the European Commission said it would review the EUs assistance amid the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The disarray between member states began Monday after a Hungarian commissioner for the bloc  who affiliates with a party allied with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  announced that the European Commission was immediately suspending all development aid to Palestinians.

This unilateral decision by Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi was opposed by Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Portugal, while Austria and Germany said they had independently suspended aid to Palestine.

The Commission said Tuesday that Varhelyi made the announcement without consulting with other commissioners. The Commission clarified that payments had not been suspended, but that the bloc would conduct an urgent review of the aid.

The EUs top foreign minister, Josep Borrell, urged Israel not to cut off food, water, and electricity to Gaza, adding that most EU countries opposed suspending aid because not all the Palestinian people are terrorists.

"One man's unilateral proclamation on something he doesn't have the authority to do" raises the question of whether "we end the system of mandating [the European Commission] to have 27 commissioners, one per member state," writes EU politics journalist Dave Keating. Varhelyi acted unilaterally to push forward Hungary's national policies, defying the commission's rules. "[Commissioners] are forbidden from taking instructions from their home country. But that doesn't stop them," Keating says.

Once seen as a key player in the Israel-Palestine issue, the EU has now been "sadly reduced to little more than a passive bystander" in the region because of internal divisions, said Shada Islam, an EU political analyst. The bloc's "cautious approach" hasn't won the EU any favor either with Palestinians, who want more vociferous European support of their rights, or with Israel, where EU diplomats have failed to obtain high-level meetings. While the EU still has leverage over both sides, it has yet to use that leverage to realize its objective of creating a two-state solution, "which currently seems a distant fantasy," said Shimon Stein, the former Israeli ambassador to Germany.
The EU's election observer mission to Sierra Leone cited a disproportionate use of force by security agencies prior to, during and after the June election (JOHN WESSELS)

The EU's election observation mission to Sierra Leone on Tuesday highlighted statistical inconsistencies, intimidation and political violence in its final report on the June vote, recommending a string of measures to boost transparency, safety and freedom of expression.

"Voters' trust in the credibility of elections was undermined by (a) lack of transparency during critical stages of the process," the mission said in the report, which it presented to President Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday.

"Tabulation and announcement of results proved to be the tipping point for the credibility of the elections. The entire process was opaque, meaningful observation was impeded and the declaration of winners was not followed by publication of disaggregated results per polling station."

Bio was re-elected for a second term in the first round of voting on June 24, with 56.17 percent of the ballots, according to results released by the electoral commission.

The opposition All People's Congress (APC) has disputed the results and refused to participate in local or national government, with most MPs boycotting parliament.

"Following the declaration of the results of the parliamentary elections... it was clear that result totals published by the (election commission) showed several statistical inconsistencies and mathematical improbabilities," the EU mission said.

It also cited political violence in the weeks leading up to the polls, including at least 17 violent attacks.

"Political activism was also discouraged through a demonstrative and disproportionate use of force by security agencies prior to, during and after election day," it said.

"Live ammunition and tear gas was fired outside the main opposition party's headquarters in Freetown twice... In each case one person was killed."

The mission said Bio's Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) had blurred the line between governing and campaigning, with ministers participating in rallies and extensive campaign messaging published on government websites and social media accounts.

- Intimidation -

On August 31, the US State Department announced visa restrictions on those "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Sierra Leone", including through vote rigging or intimidation of observers.

The names of those targeted were not made public, and visa decisions are confidential under US law.

In September, Bio accused the US of pressuring him to interfere in the election count, speaking during an event in Washington.

The election commission, he said, "had done all their calculations, collations, all the processes. I was now requested to stop them from calling the result by the United States. So I don't know who is accusing who of interference."

The EU mission on Tuesday flagged what it described as public intimidation "by state and non-state actors" of a citizen observer group that published a parallel vote tabulation challenging the electoral commission's figures.

It said that intimidation, "punctuated by a disinformation campaign, aimed to clamp down on voices of dissent and clouded future perspectives for genuine, non-partisan civic activism".

It also criticised a 2021 cyber crimes act, which it said "puts undue restrictions on freedom of expression".

sb-prc/giv
A top European Union official is warning Elon Musk about the spread of misinformation on X amid the Israel-Hamas war. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton sent Musk an "urgent" letter about the companys handling of misinformation and its responsibilities under the Digital Services Act.

The letter comes as researchers and fact checkers have warned about a wave of misinformation on X in the wake of the Hamas attacks in Israel. While Musks recent move to strip headlines from links shared on the platform has made it more difficult to find news, verified users have also been sharing viral clips of completely unrelated content purporting to be scenes from the unfolding conflict.

Following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, we have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU, Breton wrote in the letter to Musk. Let me remind you that the Digital Services Act sets very precise obligations regarding content moderation.

Following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against , we have indications of X/Twitter being used to disseminate illegal content & disinformation in the EU.



Urgent letter to @elonmusk on #DSA obligations  pic.twitter.com/avMm1LHq54  Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 10, 2023

In particular, Breton called out the spread of fake and manipulated images and facts circulating on your platform in the EU, such as repurposed old images of unrelated armed conflicts or military footage that actually originated from video games. He also flagged the companys newly-changed public interest policy, saying that the change left many European users uncertain about what type of content the platform allows.

Breton also suggested X was not responding appropriately to requests to deal with potentially illegal content, on its platform. When you receive notices of illegal content in the EU, you must be timely, diligent and objective in taking action and removing the relevant content when warranted, Breton wrote. We have, from qualified sources, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on your service despite flags from relevant authorities.

X didnt respond to a request for comment, but Musk issued a brief reply on X. Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports, Musk wrote . Please list the violations you allude to on X, so that that [sic] the public can see them.

The company, which recently removed its misinformation-reporting tool and cut safety teams tasked with handling disinformation, has pointed to its crowd-sourced fact-checking tool, Community Notes, as its primary way of addressing misinformation.

In an update posted shortly after Breton shared the letter, the company said that more than 500 unique notes had been created over the last three days, including notes addressing fake videos made with game simulators and other out of context and unrelated footage. X added that its actively working on changes that will help automatically show notes on even more posts with matching video and images and that its scaling up notifications for people who previously engaged with content later fact-checked with a note. The company didnt say how many users have received such notifications.
The European Union reversed course on Monday after one of its top officials posted on social media that aid to the Palestinians had been suspended because of the attack on Israel by Hamas, which caused confusion and outrage from other EU countries that the official had overstepped the boundaries.

Oliver Varhelyi, of Hungary serves as the EUs commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, and on Monday, he posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, that the European Commission was putting all its development aid for Palestinians, worth 692 million Euros, or $729 million, under review.

He added that all payments to the Palestinians were "immediately suspended."

LIBERAL WRITER ARGUES THE WORD TERRORISM IS A SLUR THAT SHOULD BE RETIRED AS HAMAS ATTACKS ISRAEL

Gunmen from the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, during an anti-Israel military march in Gaza City.

The post created concerns from other governments, which questioned if Varhelyis commission could take such action, and raised concerns whether freezing the aid would hurt Palestinian civilians.

Earlier in the day, officials said the aid would be discussed on Tuesday during an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers.

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Some countries reportedly raised concern about the freezing of aid behind the scenes, while others like Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg and Ireland publicly voiced their concerns.

ADL LEADER VENTS ON MSNBC OVER NETWORK'S COVERAGE OF HAMAS TERROR AGAINST ISRAEL: WHOS WRITING THE SCRIPT?'

"Our understanding is that there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner, and we do not support a suspension of aid," Irelands foreign ministry said.

The Commission said more than five hours after Varhelyis post, that it held an aid review and declared, "as there were no payments foreseen, there will be no suspension of payments."

Josep Borrel, the EU foreign policy chief, further confused matters when he said the EU would not suspend "due payments" after the Commission said no payments were foreseen.

ISRAELI EYEWITNESS TO TERROR REELING OVER DEVASTATING SURPRISE ATTACK: FAILURE OF MASSIVE PROPORTIONS

Demonstrators attend an "emergency rally for Gaza" outside the Israeli Consulate in New York City, New York on Monday, October 9, 2023. Supporters of both Palestine and Israel clashed at the event as Israel remains at war with Hamas.

The Commission did not explain the mismatch in information, but stated humanitarian aid would continue.

It added that the review to ensure no aid benefits or enables any terrorist organization in their attacks against Israel would continue.

Hamas militants killed about 900 Israelis and abducted dozens in the deadlines incursion in 50 years, which prompted Israel to retaliate with its heaviest bombardment of Gaza, which killed over 680 people.

Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: EU official's announcement freezing aid to Palestinians causes confusion before officials backtrack
A top European Union official on Tuesday warned Elon Musk to get a handle on misinformation and other harmful content being distributed on X (formerly Twitter) amid escalating hostilities between Israeli armed forces and Hamas militants. In response, Musk demanded that the European Commission identify specific violations of EU internet regulations on X so that the public can see them.

Thierry Breton, who manages internet policy as Commissioner for Internal Market of the EU, shared his letter to Musk on the platform, outlining several areas of concern. Breton explained that with X being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the union, the platform was at risk of failing to comply with the Digital Services Act. These new guidelines, which compel tech companies to more strictly moderate hate speech, misinformation, and other harmful material, took effect on Aug. 25.

Breton noted that X needed to be transparent about its terms and enforce them adequately, alluding to violent and terrorist content that appears to circulate on your platform. He also said X had to be timely, diligent and objective in taking action by removing such content. Finally, Breton stressed the need for effective mitigation measures in dealing with disinformation, such as repurposed old images of unrelated armed conflicts or military footage that actually originated from video games. (Amid the violence in the Middle East, trolls on X have successfully presented clips from the hyper-realistic combat game Arma 3 as video from the front lines of the conflict.)

Commissioner Breton further urged Musk to be in contact with European authorities on efforts to address these problems and mentioned that he would be following up on other DSA compliance issues as well. I remind you that following the opening of a potential investigation and a finding of non-compliance, penalties can be imposed, he concluded. The terms of the DSA state that companies with more than 45 million active users may be fined up to 6 percent of their global revenue.

Following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against , we have indications of X/Twitter being used to disseminate illegal content & disinformation in the EU.



Urgent letter to @elonmusk on #DSA obligations  pic.twitter.com/avMm1LHq54  Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 10, 2023

Musk responded casually to the prospect of a regulatory showdown in Europe. Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports, he tweeted in reply to Breton. Please list the violations you allude to on X, so that that the public can see them. Merci beaucoup.

The terse exchange follows months of friction between Musk, who has overseen the notoriously lax moderation of X while gutting trust and safety teams, and the EU, which is seeking to impose greater control over online platforms that can be abused. An early sign of trouble came in May, when Musk pulled X out of the unions voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. At the time, Breton tweeted to the company, You can run but you cant hide, thanks to the DSA. Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under DSA as of August 25. Our teams will be ready for enforcement.

Then, in June, Breton met with Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino during a series of consultations with tech leaders in Silicon Valley to assess their readiness for the new rules, and found that X still needed to get up to speed. With two months to go before the new EU regulation kicks in, work needs to continue for the systems to be in place and work effectively and quickly, Breton said after observing a stress test of Xs moderation systems.

But by September, after the DSA had become law, Musk himself was practically daring the EU to step in, personally amplifying a campaign against the Anti-Defamation League that was organized by notorious white nationalists and rife with antisemitic content. Still, it wasnt until Musk was endorsing another antisemitic account to follow for real-time updates on the Israel-Hamas war that Breton saw fit to remind him of his obligation to clean up the website.

Instead, Musk seems busy enjoying how the horrific geopolitical situation is playing out there. Responding to a belligerent back-and-forth on Tuesday between Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, and the official government account of Israel, Musk tweeted, Wow. In another reply to these tweets, each a promise of retaliatory mass violence between nations, he added, Amazing to see this exchange!

Amazing to see this exchange!  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 10, 2023

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Eurostars chief executive says Kents two currently disused stations on the high-speed line to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam will only reopen once we can afford it.

Speaking at the brand launch for Eurostars merger with rail firm Thalys, Gwendoline Cazenave said her priority was on ensuring the passenger experience at London and Paris is the best it can be.

Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International were part of the original High Speed 1 plan connecting London St Pancras International with the Channel Tunnel.

Ebbsfleet is close to the M25 and A2 in north Kent, providing a park-and-ride facility for travellers from locations outside London. Ashford is the main rail hub for east Kent, with links from Maidstone, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, Hastings and Tonbridge.

Before the Covid pandemic, both stations had direct services to Continental Europe. But they closed swiftly as the virus spread. Eurostar has never committed to a firm reopening date, though the company has successively said it would be no earlier than 2022, 2023 and  most recently  2025.

Ms Cazenave said: It has not been an easy decision to make not to stop in these stations anymore.

As you know, we are getting through operational issues, financial issues.

Eurostar was harder hit by the pandemic than almost any other transport provider. While it kept a skeleton service running between London and Paris, often travel restrictions meant that only a handful of passengers were on board each train  with numbers falling below 1 per cent of normal levels.

Eurostar, which is majority owned by SNCF (French Railways) lost hundreds of millions of pounds during the pandemic.

While demand has picked up very strongly, capacity is limited by post-Brexit passport control issues: the UK asked to be treated as a third country by the European Union, meaning that London St Pancras now houses a hard EU border where British passports must be inspected and stamped.

Some Eurostar trains are capped in the number of passengers they can carry in order to reduce the pressure on French passport control.

Ms Cazenave said the Kent stations will reopen when we can afford reopening, having enough resources in Ashford and Ebbsfleet to cross the borders. This would involve investing in eGates as well as paying for Eurostar and French Police aux Frontieres staff at both stations.

We dont want to put at stake the borders at St Pancras or Paris Nord, where the number of customers are really much, much bigger.

We still have a lot of challenges in front of us.

The much-delayed EU Entry Exit System, which the UK also asked to be subject to, requires British passengers to have facial biometrics and fingerprints taken. This will have to happen in the very constrained Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras.

Ms Cazenave added: We very often meet Ebbsfleet and Ashford people. But she did not give an estimate for reopening the stations.

Meanwhile passengers from Kent who wish to travel by train to France must take a domestic train  often on the High Speed 1 tracks  to London St Pancras, only to return on the same line an hour or two later.

Eurostars merger with Thalys will provide UK passengers with better connections to destinations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany through the hub at Brussels Midi station.
My sole experience of the train operator formerly known as Thalys was distinctly odd, and involved my inadvertently becoming The Man Who Didnt Pay His Way.

These were the circumstances: it was near the end of the first day of last summers amazing 9 travel-anywhere deal on German Railways. I had boarded my first train shortly after midnight on 1 June, and had travelled far and wide.

But, during the evening, the regional express schedules I depended upon had started to unravel badly. At around 11pm I found myself in Essen, with no coherent strategy for covering the last 40km from my appointed night-stop in Dortmund.

Several platforms away, I spotted an eastbound express drawing in: a Thalys train from Brussels, which was heading my way. Such a luxury conveyance was certainly not covered by my 9 ticket. A very brief discussion with the train crew established that, yes, I could buy a ticket on board. I jumped aboard.

From my point of view, the next few minutes started badly but swiftly improved.

The bad news: the fare for such an impromptu trip was 39. The good news: after several attempts by the on-board team to connect to the internet in order to process my credit card, they admitted defeat. Since the train was already racing along the Ruhr and they could not sell me a ticket, the staff graciously invited me to travel with the compliments of Thalys.

During the ensuing 20 minutes I assessed the Thalys product. Not worth 1-per-kilometre (except, as in my situation, when desperate). And strangely rooted in the 1980s from a design point of view. The decor  a subtle mixture of red, purple and fuchsia  felt drab and tired (as, coincidentally, did I).

The seats looked and felt as though they had been bought at an airline clearance auction of 1980s business class. Yes, I did feel ungrateful as I wrote my notes.

Sixteen months on, Thalys is no more. Nothing to do with me: it has merged with, and adopted the name, Eurostar.

The Thalys network is an odd one. The core artery is from Paris via Brussels to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The other main line connects the Belgian capital with Liege, Aachen, Cologne and Dusseldorf  with that Ruhr extension from which I benefited, to Essen and Dortmund.

Thalys was never the strongest brand in travel. According to Railtech.com, the word has no particular meaning. Marketeers coined it as a brand name that could be pronounced in all the languages of the countries served.

Au contraire, Eurostar is known around the world. Eurostar means cross borders; means European sustainable travel; means care for customers. So says Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of the newly expanded enterprise.

We had to decide which brand would we go for. The thing is: Eurostar is very well known overseas. In the United States when a tourist wants to travel by train in Europe, 50 per cent of them connect to the Eurostar website. They know us very well. So this is why we kept the Eurostar brand.

Whats in the new name, though, for British travellers? Francois Le Doze, chief commercial officer at Eurostar, says its all about connectivity.

If we talk about France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, we can already improve and invest in those connecting experiences, help customers, guide them and make sure that they are taken care of all along the way  and also when things go wrong.

I think what people fear when connecting trains is when things go wrong, they usually think about What if I miss my train?

We really want to reassure them that we want to be there for them and work with other operators so that we really take care of the end-to-end journey.

There is huge potential. Rather than sending trains further out, we can play on those trains that are there already but improve that connectivity.

Cheap(ish) through tickets are already available: from London via Brussels to Essen, I am seeing plenty of seats in the weeks and months ahead for 65 one-way. The journey is scheduled for seven hours  because the morning connection at Brussels is over two hours. Sharpen that up, and Ill be on board. Only this time Ill pay.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Israel has the right to defend itself but some of its decisions would breach international law, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters on Tuesday.

In response to the attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday no electricity, food, water or fuel would be allowed into Gaza.

"Israel has the right to defend (itself) but it has to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law, and some decisions are contrary to international law", Borrell said after a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers in Muscat, Oman.

"Some of the actions - and the United Nations has already said that - (such) as cutting water, cutting electricity, cutting food to a mass of civilian people is against international law," Borrell said.

(Reporting by Andrew Grey, Bart Meijer, Charlotte Van Campenhout; editing by Grant McCool)


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Nearly 28 years since the final strip of his wildly popular Calvin and Hobbes last graced newspaper comics, Bill Watterson is back in the headlines with his first new book since that wildly popular comic strip.

Shop Now The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht amazon.com $17.99

Watterson has partnered with caricaturist John Kascht on The Mysteries, which released Tuesday. Described as a fable for grown-ups about what lies beyond human understanding, it tells the story of a long-ago kingdom afflicted with unexplainable calamities, prompting the king to dispatch his knights to investigate.

Its a rare new release for the famously private artist. Watterson has largely kept out of the public eye since ending Calvin and Hobbes 10-year run in 1995. Described by The Washington Post as the J.D. Salinger of the strips, Watterson gives few interviews, rarely releases new artwork publicly, and made Time s list of most reclusive celebrities .

He would like it all to fade away, Wattersons father, Jim, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1998. He doesnt get his kicks by being famous. He was just doing something he enjoyed doing. Wattersons mother, Kathryn, added: He definitely wants to disappear.

Needless to say, Wattersons fans are overjoyed about his first major book since Calvin and Hobbes, especially because new material has been so rare for nearly three decades. Heres what Watterson has been up to since Calvin and Hobbes ended.



A Tribute to Peanuts Charles Schulz

Getty Images

Watterson had long described Peanuts creator Charles Schulz as one of his greatest influences. He was a hero to me as a kid, and his influence on my work and life is long and deep, Watterson wrote of the legendary cartoonist behind characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

When Schulz died in 2000 at age 77, Watterson broke his postCalvin and Hobbes public silence to pen a tribute to his hero for The Los Angeles Times . He described how Schulz changed the format of newspaper comics and disregarded cinematic visual styles in favor of simple but expressive artwork that reveal a deep understanding of cartoonings strengths.

Comic-strip cartooning requires such a peculiar combination of talents that there are very few people who are ever successful at it, Watterson wrote. Of those, Charles M. Schulz is in a league all his own.

His Painting Hobby

Shortly after Calvin and Hobbes ended, Watterson took up painting, spending time creating landscapes of Ohio woods with his father. He studied a variety of artists, from the expressionist Willem de Kooning to the Italian Renaissance master Titian, according to Nevin Martells book Looking for Calvin and Hobbes.

But Watterson declined to publicly exhibit his work, telling Mental Floss : I dont paint ambitiously. Its all catch and release: just tiny fish that arent really worth the trouble to clean and cook. In fact, Martell described a rumor that Watterson was such a perfectionist that he burned his first 500 paintings because he felt they werent up to his standards.

Comic historian Richard West said he didnt know if the 500 number was accurate, but its not far from the truth; hes destroyed many more paintings than hes saved, according to Martells book. Nevertheless, West called Watterson an extraordinarily accomplished painter [who] has the fundamentals of composition, coloring, and technique down to a fine art.

First Public Art Exhibition

Watterson unveiled one of his paintings to the public for the first time in 2011, and the subject was an unusual one: an oil portrait of Petey Otterloop , an 8-year-old character from the comic strip Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson.

When Thompson, who had Parkinsons disease, established an art exhibit and auction in support of the Team Cul de Sac charity for Parkinsons research, Watterson was one of more than 100 cartoonists who contributed original art for the cause.

I was reluctant to goof around with Richards creation, so I had trouble thinking of an approach that interested me until I got the idea of painting a portrait, Watterson told The Washington Post. I thought it might be funny to paint Petey seriously, as if this were the actual boy Richard hired as a model for his character.

First New Cartoon Since Calvin and Hobbes

Watterson has given few interviews in his life, but he provided what he called a few sentences of voiceover remarks for Stripped (2014), cartoonist Dave Kelletts documentary about comic strips. Afterward, Kellett asked Watterson if he would also draw the films poster.

It sounded like fun and maybe something people wouldnt expect, so I decided to give it a try, Watterson told The Washington Post . Dave sent me a rough cut of the film, and I dusted the cobwebs off my ink bottle.

The poster features a cartoonist who literally leaps out of his clothes in surprise while reading about the demise of newspapers. Watterson said: Given the movies title and the fact that there are few things funnier than human nudity, the idea popped into my head largely intact. The film is a big valentine to comics, so I tried to do something really cartoon-y.

Watch Stripped on Prime Video

Surprise Pearl Before Swine Artist

Getty Images

In June 2014, three strips from the Pearl Before Swine comic featured its artist Stephan Pastis being schooled by a second-grader on how to properly draw. The childs drawings were a different style than Pastis normal work, and it was later revealed that Watterson had been the one behind them.

It was Wattersons idea to be Pastis secret guest cartoonist. After having read a previous Pearl Before Swine cartoon that referenced Calvin and Hobbes, Watterson said I thought it might be funny for me to ghost Pearls sometime, just to flip it all on its head, according to The Washington Post .

I thought maybe Stephan and I could do this goofy collaboration and then use the result to raise some money for Parkinsons research in honor of Richard Thompson, Watterson added. It just seemed like a perfect convergence. According to the same Post article, Pastis compared being approached by the famously reclusive Watterson like getting a call from Bigfoot.

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Tourists visit Xiangdong Street of Xinhua County, central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 2, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China experienced a tourism surge during the recent extended "golden week" holiday, underscoring the country's economic vitality and resilience. Millions of people took to exploring the country, traveling to destinations ranging from the popular to the offbeat.



This year's eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday brought about the most robust travel season seen in recent years, with tourist trips and revenues both surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 826 million domestic trips were made in China during the holiday, an increase of 71.3 percent from last year and 4.1 percent from 2019.

The total revenue of the tourism sector increased 129.5 percent year on year to 753.4 billion yuan (about 104.9 billion U.S. dollars) during the period, reflecting 1.5 percent growth from 2019, the ministry said.

The travel rush is further substantiated by data from the transportation sector.

A daily average of 57.28 million passenger trips were made during the eight-day holiday, surging 57.1 percent from the National Day holiday last year, official data shows.

On Sept. 29, the country's railways saw a record single-day peak of over 20 million passengers.

Xu Bin, who works at China Railway Shenyang Group Co., Ltd. in northeast China's Liaoning Province, said that despite the addition of 100 return train services and 540,000 seats during the holiday period, some popular routes were still in high demand.

Air trips averaged 2.14 million a day during the holiday period, skyrocketing 195 percent from a year earlier, official data shows.

Xie Yue, senior manager of the operations control center at Beijing Capital International Airport, noted that daily passenger volumes over the first five days of the holiday doubled from last year. The airport facilitated a surge in domestic flights, with the number of flights during the holiday surpassing the 2019 figure.

Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, received a total of 12.2 million domestic tourists during the holiday, exceeding the city's permanent population. Some tourist attractions in the city were obligated to implement emergency crowd control measures.

According to the research arm of China's major online travel agency Trip.com, the return of crowds signals that the recovery of the tourism industry is becoming the new normal. This reflects China's economic vitality and strong consumer market.

Simultaneously, the recovery of China's outbound tourism is set to boost the economies of destination countries and revitalize the global tourism industry.

On the first day of the 2023 golden week holiday, outbound travel orders surged 11 times from the same day last year and 54 percent from the May Day holiday this year. Popular international destinations for travelers from China included Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom.

The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC's) Economic Impact Report 2023 predicts that China's travel and tourism industry will contribute 1.48 trillion U.S. dollars to the national economy by the end of 2023, representing growth of more than 150 percent from 2022.

"Chinese travelers want to explore the world once again and international travelers are eager to return to this amazing country, rich in culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm welcomes," Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, said in a press release from the organization.
Former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld , the one-time political star who aspired to be mayor, was sentenced to 16 months in prison Tuesday on federal corruption charges.

Sittenfeld will remain free, however, while he appeals his conviction on the charges of bribery and attempted extortion. U.S. District Judge Douglas Cole said he will not order Sittenfeld to report to prison until at least Dec. 1, giving him time to begin the appeal process.

P.G. Sittenfeld, former Cincinnati City Council member, walks out to a car after being sentenced for bribery and attempted extortion at Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

The judge, who also ordered Sittenfeld to pay a $40,000 fine, rejected arguments for a more lenient sentence that would not include prison, saying a prison term was necessary to deter misbehavior by public officials.

"We will not tolerate corrupt people," Cole said.

An emotional Sittenfeld, who has maintained his innocence since his indictment in November 2020, read a brief statement in court before he was sentenced, saying he regretted "moving too fast and being too ambitious." He did not admit guilt but said he'd handle things differently today.

"The person I was when this case first began is not the person who stands before you today," said Sittenfeld, breaking down in tears. "I've grown and I've changed a lot."

Sittenfeld, 39, who is married with two young children, said he's changed most as a husband and a father.

Prosecutors had requested a longer sentence of between 33 and 41 months. But after Tuesday's hearing, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said in a statement that the sentence was justified and should discourage public officials from acting as Sittenfeld did.

"Sittenfeld earned today's prison sentence," Parker said. "He must be accountable for his actions. Not only did he break the law, but he also violated the public's trust."

P.G. Sittenfeld, former Cincinnati City Council member, walks out to a car after being sentenced for bribery and attempted extortion at Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

Sittenfeld's attorney, Charles H. Rittgers, said his client will keep fighting. The next step is pursuing an appeal of Sittenfeld's conviction at the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the federal appeals court based in Cincinnati. Before deciding the merits of Sittenfeld's appeal, the 6th Circuit must first decide whether to allow him to remain free for the duration of that appeal, which could take a year or more.

"This case isn't over," Rittgers said.

Sittenfeld's attorneys had asked Cole to impose a sentence that included no incarceration, suggesting community service or a year of house arrest.

His attorneys also had said that if Cole decided against sending Sittenfeld to prison, the sentence should fall somewhere between 15 and 21 months.

P.G. Sittenfeld, former Cincinnati City Council member, walks with his wife Dr. Sarah Coyne after being sentenced for bribery and attempted extortion at Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

'This is corruption': Prosecutors seek prison for ex-Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld

Former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld enters federal court on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, for his sentencing on bribery charges. At left is wife, Dr. Sarah Coyne.

Other former Cincinnati city councilmembers prosecuted on corruption charges

Sittenfeld is now the second city council member in recent years to go to prison for corruption. Tamaya Dennard  who once worked as Sittenfelds chief of staff  ended up serving a year in prison.

A third former council member, Jeff Pastor, has pleaded guilty but is still awaiting sentencing.

Sittenfeld was found guilty in July 2022 of the two charges and acquitted on four other counts. The convictions involved $20,000 in payments from undercover FBI agents to his political action committee.

Former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld enters federal court on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, for his sentencing on bribery charges. Sittenfeld arrived with his wife, Dr. Sarah Coyne, and his mother Elizabeth Curtis.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Sittenfelds actions "were part of a broader strategy to use his position of power within local government and his prospects for higher office to extract financial contributions out of individuals who regularly conducted city business.

In doing so, Sittenfeld made clear that his support for their city business was tied directly to their contributions to him, prosecutors said. This is not faithful public service or even 'politics as usual'  this is corruption.

His attorneys say the prosecutions theory of the case "erased the clear line between everyday campaign contributions and felony corruption."

PG Sittenfeld: What to know about former Cincinnati City Councilman's sentencing Tuesday

PG Sittenfeld: As Sittenfeld heads into sentencing, a timeline of his political career

Former Cincinnati City Councilman PG Sittenfeld and his wife, Dr. Sarah Coyne, enter Potter Stewart United States Courthouse for Sittenfelds sentencing on bribery and extortion, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

Who is PG Sittenfeld?

Sittenfeld's sentencing is the culmination of a years-long corruption investigation that derailed his once-promising political career.

In 2011, Sittenfeld became, at 27, the youngest person ever elected to Cincinnati City Council. With degrees from Princeton and Oxford and a prominent Cincinnati family behind him, Sittenfeld soon began building connections that would help him achieve his political ambitions.

He established himself as one of the city's most popular politicians, leading a vanguard of new young leaders at City Hall and winning more votes than any other council member in back-to-back elections in 2013 and 2017.

Sittenfeld, a Democrat, became the odds-on favorite to win Cincinnati's mayoral election in 2021 and had amassed a campaign war chest of more than $700,000.

But just as he ramped up his campaign for mayor, a federal grand jury indicted him on the corruption charges in November 2020. Sittenfeld said he was innocent and vowed to stay in the mayor's race, but he dropped out three months later.

A 'sliding door moment' for Cincinnati: How PG Sittenfeld's arrest altered the future

Attorneys: PG Sittenfeld should remain out of prison while he appeals convictions

Attorneys for former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld arrive at Cincinnati's courthouse for Sittenfeld's sentencing on corruption charges on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: PG Sittenfeld sentencing: Former councilman sentenced to 16 months
Former Republican Rep Will Hurd has suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and endorsed former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Mr Hurd, a former undercover CIA operative who spent time in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, entered the race as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump but never managed to get a foothold, failing to qualify for the two debates held so far.

In his announcement that his campaign was ending on Monday, he argued that the Republicans needed to come together and back one candidate to beat President Joe Biden, but also to take out Mr Trump.

Ms Haley now has two strong debate appearances behind her and she has seen a bump in the polls, but all the candidates, including Ms Haley, remain far behind Mr Trump.

In a lengthy statement on X, Mr Hurd said he was aware that he had been a dark horse candidate when he joined the race in June.

In 14 short weeks, my team and I matched the accomplishments of many of the other candidates in the race who had significantly higher name ID and cash advantage, he wrote.

Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign, he added, writing that its important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden.

I urge donors, voters, and other candidates to unite around an alternative candidate to Trump. Otherwise, we will repeat the same errors as in 2016, he argued. If the Republican party nominates Donald Trump or the various personalities jockeying to imitate his divisive, crass behavior, we will lose.

Will Hurd dropped out of the GOP presidential race on 9 October (REUTERS)

Mr Hurd said one of the reasons he joined the race was because not enough people are talking about real, achievable solutions to the generation-defining challenges that are in front of us, including artificial intelligence, our new Cold War with China, and the complexity of the ongoing crisis at our southern border.

Throwing his support behind Ms Haley, he wrote that the US deserves a leader who can unite us and navigate the complex challenges we face, particularly when it comes to our national security.

I believe Ambassador Nikki Haley is the best person in this race to do that, he wrote. Ambassador Haley has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy. I wholeheartedly endorse Ambassador Haley and look forward to supporting her for the remainder of this race.

When he launched his campaign in June, Mr Hurd, 46, said that the soul of our country is under attack, seemingly echoing the language used by then-candidate Biden as he campaigned to beat Mr Trump in 2020. Mr Biden often said that the election was a battle for the soul of the US.

Mr Hurd becomes the second GOP candidate to leave the race, following the exit of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who dropped out in August. Mr Hurd had been polling at around 0.2 per cent, according to the polling average put together by FiveThirtyEight.
MUNCIE, Ind.  An expired license plate on his vehicle led to a young Muncie man facing two drug-related felony charges, including dealing in a narcotic drug.

Dajuan L. Pounds, 22, was charged Friday in Delaware Circuit Court 5 with the dealing count, a Level 2 felony carrying up to 30 years in prison, and possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony with a maximum 30-month sentence.

A Muncie police officer reported on the night of Oct. 2, he pulled over a Dodge Avenger, driven by Pounds, along East Kirk Street because its temporary license tag had expired.

In the vehicle, police reported finding a plastic bag containing marijuana, and Pounds reportedly told officers he had smoked the substance "within the last 20 minutes."

Outside the vehicle, investigators found another bag, containing several "pressed fentanyl pills," weighing a total of 24.2 grams.

More: Two arrested on meth-dealing charges after Muncie traffic stop

Pounds denied an allegation by a witness that the Muncie man had thrown that bag out of his vehicle as officers approached.

In addition to the felony drug charges, Pounds was also charged Friday with two misdemeanors  driving while suspended and driving while intoxicated.

The Muncie man continued to be held in the Delaware County jail on Tuesday under a $64,000 bond. An initial hearing in his case is set for Oct. 17.

A passenger in Pounds' vehicle, 18-year-old Antron D. Young of Muncie, has been charged with possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony with a maximum 30-month sentence, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.

According to an affidavit, Young was carrying pills, determined to be prescription pain medications, at the time of the traffic stop.,

An initial hearing in his Delaware Circuit Court 4 case is set for Nov. 6.

Young was already facing a total of eight charges in two other cases pending in Circuit Court 4  conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug, dangerous possession of a firearm, dealing in a narcotic drug, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of a narcotic drug, resisting law enforcement and two counts of possession of marijuana.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Expired plate leads to Muncie man's arrest for dealing fentanyl
U.S. President Biden makes remarks on the situation in Israel following Hamas' deadly attacks, in Washington

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to bolster military support for Israel following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants that has killed more than 1,000 Israelis and prompted an intense retaliation against the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip.

His promise raised questions about whether Washington can ramp up defense aid to Israel without jeopardizing aid for Ukraine, especially given Republican lawmakers' ouster of House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy and failure so far to name a replacement.

Biden administration officials insist Washington can absolutely do both, but acknowledge there will be challenges.

WHY DOES IT MATTER THAT THERE IS NO HOUSE SPEAKER?

The U.S. Congress controls spending, so Biden must convince the Senate and House to pass legislation authorizing additional funding. These spending bills generally originate in the House, where the Speaker - the elected leader of the majority party - controls what legislation is put to a vote.

Republicans hold a narrow 221-212 majority in the House, which made it possible for just a handful of their members to oust McCarthy last week, the first time in U.S. history this has happened.

Because McCarthy's ouster was unprecedented, it is not clear whether Representative Patrick McHenry, who is serving as temporary speaker, can legally call a vote on any aid legislation.

Further complicating the issue, many of the hard-right members who ousted McCarthy oppose aid to Ukraine, including Representative Jim Jordan, a frontrunner in the Speaker's race. House Republicans refused to include aid to Ukraine in a last-minute spending bill passed last month to avert a government shutdown.

Support for Israel is far stronger, with Republicans closely tied to conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Biden administration is considering tying a request for assistance to Ukraine to more money for Israel.

HOW MUCH DO ISRAEL AND UKRAINE'S NEEDS OVERLAP?

Israel is a major long-term recipient of U.S. military assistance and enjoys a steady stream of U.S. aid. The two countries agreed in 2016 on a 10-year deal with $38 billion covering annual grants to buy military equipment and a $5 billion missile defense appropriation.

In the current phase of the conflict, Israel's major need is for small arms for its infantry and air defense interceptors to protect its civilian infrastructure and military command and control centers.

It is unlikely Israel has burned through its small arms ammunition this early in the conflict.

On the missile defense side, Israel uses the Iron Dome system, developed with U.S. backing to provide air defenses. Iron Dome is not designed to fire the same interceptor used by the U.S.-made Patriot system and other missile defense units deployed in Ukraine.

Ukraine's major needs are ammunition, missile defense systems and ground vehicles as it fights to take back territory from Russian invaders who launched an offensive in February 2022.

The United States has sent $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the invasion started, asking Congress for several tranches of assistance, the last one approved in December 2022.

The two countries - and other recipients of weapons aid like Taiwan - would benefit if Congress approves funding to boost the permanent manufacturing capacity of U.S. defense contractors. This would also ease concerns that shipments of U.S. weapons overseas is depleting U.S. stocks at the potential risk to national security.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Biden on Tuesday said his administration had already begun sending Israel additional military assistance including interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome. He said that when Congress returns, the administration will ask lawmakers to take "urgent action to the national security requirements of our critical partners."

There are a few ways that additional aid for Ukraine - and Israel - could become law.

Congress could consider a standalone spending bill combining the two, along the lines of a spending request Biden made in August combining Ukraine, disaster relief and border security money.

Funding for both also could be included in a larger spending bill, which Congress must pass later this year to keep the federal government open when the stopgap spending measure expires next month.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Mike Stone; editing by Humeyra Pamuk and Rod Nickel)
Hot off the heels of the success of The Boys comes Gen V, a spinoff set in the same universe. Its like The Boys, but with more raging hormones: The new Prime Video series follows Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), a freshman at Godolkin University specializing in crime fighting. The university is fiercely competitive, right down to its widely publicized rankings to see which superheroesknown in Gen V as supesare best-in-class. And what better way for these teens to relieve all that stress than through some wild sex?

The Boys cinematic universe has never been one to shy away from sex scenes. But Gen V takes the fornication to the next level in the fourth episodeand thats saying a lot, since Season 3 of The Boys opens with a character practically exploding his partner's penis, killing him. But Gen V brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, as coined by showrunner Michele Fazekas, cocksplosion. And instead of just being a wild sex scene, its also a powerful way to tell a sexual assault story.

(Warning: Disccussions of sexual assault and spoilers for Gen V ahead.)

Superhero Spinoff Gen V Is Just as FunWith Just as Many Penisesas The Boys

Theres a lot going on in Gen Vs fourth episode. Marie is trying to find her roommate, Emma (Lizzie Broadway), whos helped an extremely powerful supe escape from Godolkins secret underground laboratory. Theres one supe at Godolkin that can help Marie: a clairvoyant named Rufus (Alexander Calvert).

Rufus isnt one of those mediums on television who uses generic questions to fake their way to the top, but an actual, bonafide psychic who can actually pinpoint Emmas location. But Rufus behavior is creepy from the jump. He makes multiple passes at Marie before agreeing to help her out of kindness, though onlooker Jordan (a bigender supe with the hots for Marie) is clearly suspicious of Rufus. It turns out that she was right to be: Moments later, Marie finds herself waking up in Rufus dorm room. Jordan, who smartly followed Marie after she met up with Rufus, bangs on the door, demanding Rufus open up. He refuses, and we see that Rufus is facing away from Marie in nothing but a robe, revealing his naked body. Between that and Spandau Ballets True playing, its abundantly clear that this is exactly what she thinks it is: Rufus is about to sexually assault Marie.

But Rufus has woefully underestimated his desired victimsurprising, given that he mentions Maries high ranking, but thats unabashed male chauvinism for you. Maries ability to manipulate blood has proven her to be an incredibly powerful foe. The show makes it clearer than ever in this scene, with the big cocksplosion.

Rufus is shocked to discover that his penis is growing. And its not going from flaccid to erect, mind you; his penis is rapidly engorging. This naturally terrifies him, and not just because his freaking penis is blowing up like a balloon, but because the complete control he thought he had over the situation has completely reversed.

Marie after ... ya know. Prime Video via YouTube

It doesnt get better for Rufus (and frankly, it shouldnt): When Jordan finally breaks down the door, Marie makes Rufus penis explode, sending blood flying all over the place, most of which lands on Maries deeply disturbed face. With Rufus lying on the floor crumpled over in agony, Jordan helps Marie out of the roombut before leaving, she drops one hell of a one-liner, calling Rufus a piece of dickless shit.

In true Gen V fashion, Rufus rapidly expanding dick isnt merely suggestedits shown in extreme close-up. We see the penis grow and explode, the camera refusing to cut away and protect us from the gruesome image. Its hard to make a scene where someone tries to sexually assault another person funny, but Gen V does it brilliantly. And thats because it isnt trying to make you laugh, but the reality of a cocksplosion is so thoroughly ridiculous that one cant help but laugh at itwhich helps distract from the scenes disturbing context.

Producer Eric Kripke explained it well in an interview with Variety, published after the episodes premiere last week. You have to treat your characters with empathy and humanity, Kripke said. In life, theres gallows humor, and people make jokes so they can cope. The cocksplosion sequence allows us to feel Maries fear, and Jordans desperation to help Marie.

In Gen V, Gender Fluidity Gets the Epic Portrayal It Deserves

The rape-revenge narrative is a common one, made famous by the 1978 film I Spit on Your Grave. (Roger Ebert famously called it a vile bag of garbage.) These stories often confront the audience with a graphic sexual assault, before exploring how the victim (usually a woman) gets takes on her assailant. It can be a deeply distressing experience for those watching, particularly viewers who have their own experiences with sexual assault. But prevents the assault entirely and immediately empowers Marie to save herselfallowing the utterly shocking eruption of genitalia to be incredibly gross, tremendously funny, and even a bit cathartic.

While still acknowledging the awfulness of sexual assault, Gen V uses the moment to explore uncomfortable power dynamics at play, and how Rufus ignorance leads to a dramatic shift in that power. And all it took was a literal penis explosion.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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CNNs Clarissa Ward and her team took cover in a ditch from a massive barrage of rockets during a live report on Monday from near the Israel-Gaza border.

As the crew ran for cover, one team member can be heard in a clip reassuring others, Youre fine, youre fine, youre fine, youre OK, youre alright.

Ward, the networks chief international correspondent, caught her breath and then continued her report while lying in the roadside ditch.

Are you seeing our situation, guys? she asked, adding fuck, fuck, as more loud explosions were heard.

Forgive me, Im in a slightly inelegant position, but we have just had a massive barrage of rockets coming in here, not too far from us, she said.

CNN team ducks from 'massive barrage of rockets' near Israel-Gaza border https://t.co/DVVXw844RXpic.twitter.com/UHRBYmz7CS  CNN (@CNN) October 9, 2023

She said they were about five minutes from Gaza, and we came to this location because this was ground zero for this entire operation of carnage.

Hamas militants came on a pickup truck. This was the first place where they breached that border wall. And they basically drove down this strip, just spraying lead wherever they went, she continued.

NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel and his team were also forced to take cover from mortar fire on air while reporting near the Gaza border.

Hamas militants on Saturday morning launched a surprise attack on Israel, breaching the countrys border fence, laying siege on civilian communities near Gaza and taking hostages back to the Palestinian enclave.

Israel formally declared war on Sunday and retaliated with force, bombarding Gaza with missiles.

More than 1,500 people, including many civilians, have been killed on both sides. Thousands more are wounded.

The Israeli military said early Tuesday it had restored full control over the border, although infiltrations could still be possible, according to the Associated Press.

Watch Wards report below.

Related...
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Peace between Taiwan and China is the only option, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday, while strongly asserting the self-governing islands defenses against Beijing's threats to invade.

Tsai said in a National Day address that the international community views stability in the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable component of global security and prosperity.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has been increasingly sending ships and warplanes across the Taiwan Strait in an effort to intimidate the population of 23 million, who strongly favor the status-quo of de-facto independence.

Tsais Democratic Progressive Party will seek to maintain power in elections next year against the Nationalists, who officially support unification between the sides that divided amid civil war in 1949.

"Let me reiterate that peace is the only option across the Taiwan Strait," said Tsai, who will step down after two terms in office. Maintaining the status quo, as the largest common denominator for all sides, is the critical key to ensuring peace.

Neither side can unilaterally change the status quo. Differences across the strait must be resolved peacefully, Tsai said.

Tsai also referred to Taiwan's recent launch of a home-built submarine as a major breakthrough in efforts to re-energize the domestic arms industry,

We took a big step forward in our national defense self-sufficiency and further enhanced the asymmetric capabilities of our military, she said.

The ceremonies with marching bands from Taiwan, Japan and the U.S. also underscored Taiwan's split personality as a self-governing democracy whose national symbols and state institutions were founded on mainland China after the Manchu Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1911. The Chinese Nationalist Party under Chiang Kai-shek moved the government to Taiwan in 1949 following the takeover of mainland China by the Communist Party under Mao Zedong following a yearslong bloody civil war.

Now in the opposition, the Nationalists continue to support China's goal of eventual unification between the sides. Former president and party leader Ma Ying-jeou and other Nationalist politicians boycotted this year's ceremonies because the government used the term Taiwan rather than the official name of the Republic of China in English references to the occasion.

China cut off most communications with Tsai's government shortly after she took office in 2016. Vice President William Lai is favored to win the presidential election, potentially laying the groundwork for further tensions between the sides, which retain close economic and cultural ties despite the massive gap between Beijing's authoritarian one-party system and Taiwan's robust democracy.
Claim:

A 1947 photograph shows a ship full of Jewish refugees attempting to enter a port in Palestine holding a banner reading, "The Germans destroyed our families & homes  Don't you destroy our hopes."

Rating:

Rating: True

Following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in early October 2023, social media accounts dedicated to history began posting photos highlighting the geopolitically complex history of the region. One such post, labeled "Jewish refugees arriving in Palestine, 1947," shows hundreds of people on the deck of a ship with a banner reading, "The Germans destroyed our families & homes  Don't you destroy our hopes."

This was an accurate description of the photograph. More specifically, the photo shows a ship named the Theodor Herzl, which was used in a campaign to transport, illegally, Jewish refugees from Europe to a geopolitical entity controlled at the time by the British, known as Mandatory Palestine. The photo shows the refugees detained at a port, Haifa, in what is now modern-day Israel.

That effort, known as Aliyah Bet, saw tens of thousands of Jewish refugees attempt to enter Palestine. Between August 1946 and May 1948, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, "the British government intercepted more than 50,000 Holocaust survivors seeking to resettle in Palestine," and "interned these survivors in detention camps established on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus."

The voyage of the Theodor Herzl was one of many attempted Aliyah Bet emigrations intercepted by the British government. Noted Holocaust survivor and memoirist Alicia Appleman-Jurman was among its over 2500 passengers. In her book Alicia: My Story, she described the ship being overtaken by British ships:

Doggedly our ship plowed forward, trying to get as close to shore as possible before the frigates surrounded us completely. But ours was only a leaky old cargo ship: the frigates were the products of modern warfare. It didn't take long for them to bring us to a halt. I had learned enough English to understand every word suddenly coming on from a bullhorn. I knew they were announcing their intent to board us. A few moments of silence followed the British announcement. Then we heard the voice of our captain speaking note the loudspeaker. "This is the ship Theodor Herzl," he said in English. The people on board are Jewish survivors of the Nazi concentration camps. They wish to return to the land of their ancestors. There are many children on this ship who are sick; most are orphans. They wish to rejoin their people. Let us come home."

Several reports of the Theodor Herzl's detention made international news, and several photos of the banner at issue in the photograph are in the Getty Images library and tie it to the ship's April 1947 detention in Haifa. An April 14, 1947 report in the Manchester Daily News in the U.K. described the event this way:

Refugees aboard the illegal immigrant ship Theodor Herzl destroyed the ship's engines when [their] resistance to a Royal Naval boarding party was useless off the Palestine coast early today. Destroyers had to tow the ship into Haifa. Six of the wounded refugee Jews interviewed in hospital today said that there was some opposition when they were intercepted by a British destroyer off Tel Aviv. The refugees tried to throw the first two British sailors climbing up to the captain's bridge back into the sea but they did not succeed. The boarding party, they added, used tear gas and fired several shots which wounded some of the refugees. They said they believed two were killed, but this was not confirmed from other sources.

After a brief detention in Haifa, the refugees were taken to Cyprus. "No matter what the British called it, although it was not a Nazi camp, it was a concentration camp and it was a prison," Appleman-Jurman wrote in her memoir.

The formation of the State of Israel brought an end to the Cyprus detention camps. "For most of those survivors interred on Cyprus, the experience only served to strengthen their resolve to reach Palestine," the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum wrote, "which they almost all did following the creation of Israel in May 1948."

Because the picture genuinely shows a well-documented instance in which Jewish refugees pleaded for entry into Palestine in 1947, the claim is True.

Sources:

Appleman-Jurman, Alicia. Alicia: My Story. Random House Publishing Group, 2011.

British Soldiers Force Jewish Refugees from Aliyah Bet (illegal Immigration) Ship "Th... https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/photo/jewish-refugees-from-the-aliyah-bet-ship-theodor-herzl. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Cyprus Detention Camps. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/cyprus-detention-camps. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Refugee Ship Theodor Herzl Prepares to Dock. Alicia Appleman-Jurman Photographs, Apr. 1947, https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/alicia_appleman_jurman/9.

Refugees Destroy Ships Engines. Manchester Evening News, 14 Apr. 1947, p. 3. newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-refugees-destroy/133220730/.


Claim:

During the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Iranian officials said that if Iran were attacked, it would respond with missile strikes on Israel from Lebanon, Yemen and Iran, and send Iranian fighters into Israel from Syria.

Rating:

Rating: Unproven

Context:

The only cited source for this claim, which appeared in a Wall Street Journal exclusive report, was an anonymous Iranian official. As such, we cannot independently verify whether such a threat was sanctioned by the Iranian state. We will update this story as more information comes to light.

On Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of more than 900 Israelis in the days following. Israel subsequently launched attacks on Gaza and blockaded the region, including banning the transport of food and water, resulting in a death toll of at least 830 Palestinians in Gaza, as of this writing. Hamas' attacks came after a surge in settler violence against Palestinians and months of routine raids on Palestinian cities on the West Bank by Israeli military forces, resulting in the killings of numerous Palestinians.

Israel has blamed Iran for backing Hamas, even if indirectly, in the attacks. The Iranian government has publicly denied this, despite historically supporting the militant group.

An Oct. 8 tweet from The Spectator Index, a profile that appears to do news aggregation on X, claimed that Iranian officials said, if their country is attacked, there will be strikes on Israel from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq [sic], as well as the sending of fighters from Syria.

BREAKING: Iranian officials say that if their country is attacked, there will be strikes on Israel from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, as well as the sending of fighters from Syria.  The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) October 9, 2023

That tweet appeared to rely on the statement of one anonymous Iranian official cited by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in a report published Oct. 8, 2023, titled Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an anonymous Iranian official addressed any threat of retaliatory attack on Iran in response to its reported backing of Hamas attack: The Iranian official said that if Iran were attacked, it would respond with missile strikes on Israel from Lebanon, Yemen and Iran, and send Iranian fighters into Israel from Syria to attack cities in the north and east of Israel. (The quote in the WSJ does not mention Iraq, unlike the above tweet from The Spectator Index.)

Relying on unnamed senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah as sources, the report also stated that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack in Israel and gave the green light for an assault during a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, the week prior.

However, Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, told the WSJ the attack had been planned on its own. This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision, he said.

Meanwhile, Iran has also publicly stated it was not behind the attacks on Israel, though it has historically backed Hamas. The WSJ reported that after the attack, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi talked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Oct. 8.

Irans highest authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also said Iran supports Palestinian resistance, but was not behind the attack: We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime, he said in a televised speech. "This destructive earthquake [Hamas' attack] has destroyed some critical structures [in Israel] which will not be repaired easily [...] The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster.

Even U.S. officials said they have so far not found evidence of Iranian involvement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on Oct. 8: We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack [...] Thats something were looking at very carefully, and weve got to see where the facts lead.

According to a Reuters report on Oct. 11, 2023, U.S. intelligence learned that Iran likely knew of planned operations by Hamas militants but some Iranian officials were taken by surprise by the militant groups attack into Israel from Gaza. Such officials would normally have been informed of the planned attack by Hamas, according to an unnamed U.S. official who spoke to Reuters.

Iran has a number of paramilitary allies in the region. In addition to its long history with Hamas, it has documented ties with Lebanons armed Shia group Hezbollah, and has backed pro-Iran militias in Syria. Iran has also backed the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

While an unnamed Iranian official reportedly made the claim in question in a Wall Street Journal exclusive, the Iranian government has officially distanced itself from the attack, and the U.S. government has not assigned blame to Iran. As such, we are unable to independently confirm that Iranian officials threatened to attack Israel from Iran's neighboring countries in response to any Israeli retaliation against Iran. We therefore rate this claim as Unproven until more information comes to light.

Sources:

"Israel-Hamas War in Maps and Charts: Live Tracker." AJLabs. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Bertrand, Natasha and MJ Lee, Jim Sciutto, Pamela Brown, Katie Bo Lillis,. US Still Seeking to Determine Irans Connection to Israel Attack | CNN Politics. CNN, 8 Oct. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/08/politics/us-intelligence-iran-connection-israel-attack/index.html. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Ebrahim, Nadeen. Hamas and Iran Are Longtime Allies. Did Tehran Help with Its Attack on Israel? CNN, 9 Oct. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/09/middleeast/hamas-iran-israel-attack-analysis-intl/index.html. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Factbox: Iranian Influence and Presence in Syria. Atlantic Council, 5 Nov. 2020, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/factbox-iranian-influence-and-presence-in-syria/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

How Much Influence Does Iran Have in Iraq? Council on Foreign Relations, https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/how-much-influence-does-iran-have-iraq. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Irans Khamenei Says Tehran Was Not behind Hamas Attack on Israel. Reuters, 10 Oct. 2023. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/irans-khamenei-says-tehran-was-not-behind-hamas-attack-israel-2023-10-10/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Kalin, Stephen, and Summer Said, Benoit Faucon. WSJ News Exclusive | Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks. WSJ, https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Landay, Jonathan, and Matt Spetalnick. Hamas Attack Surprised Some Iranian Leaders, Says US Source, Citing Initial Intelligence. Reuters, 11 Oct. 2023. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/initial-us-intelligence-shows-hamas-attack-surprised-iranian-leaders-ny-times-2023-10-11/.

"Palestinian Killed in Israeli Settler Attack on West Bank Town." Al Jazeera, Oct. 6, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/6/palestinian-killed-as-israeli-settlers-attack-west-bank-town-of-huwara. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Two Palestinians Killed during Israeli Military Raid in West Bank Refugee Camp. PBS NewsHour, 24 Sept. 2023, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/two-palestinians-killed-during-israeli-military-raid-in-west-bank-refugee-camp. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

War in Yemen. Global Conflict Tracker, https://cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-yemen. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

We Support Palestinian Resistance, but Those Saying Recent Operation Is Done by Non-Palestinians Are Wrong. Khamenei.Ir, 10 Oct. 2023, http://english.khamenei.ir/news/10159/We-support-Palestinian-Resistance-but-those-saying-recent-operation. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

What Is Hezbollah? Council on Foreign Relations, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hezbollah. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Wrona, Aleksandra. Video Shows a Pro-Hamas Demonstration in Barcelona in October 2023? Snopes, 9 Oct. 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pro-hamas-demonstration-spain/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Updates:

Oct. 10, 2023: The story was amended to note that the quote from the WSJ article is slightly different from the tweet, which mentions Iraq.

Oct. 12, 2023: The story was updated to include the latest U.S. intelligence reports detailing the responses of some Iranian officials.
Claim:

An image shared on Oct. 10, 2023, authentically depicted the Gaza Strip left in ruins by Israeli reprisal attacks.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

The image is authentic and was captured by Hassan Eslayeh, a journalist from Palestine.

After Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel by air, sea and land, social media users shared numerous photographs and videos on the topic. On Oct. 10, 2023, a photo was circulated online allegedly depicting "what the Israeli army have done in the Gaza Strip."

A look at what the Israeli army have done in the Gaza Strip in a very short time pic.twitter.com/VPdaPaYDsN  Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 10, 2023

Our investigation confirmed that the photograph is authentic.

We first tried finding the source of the photo using the Google and TinEye reverse-image search functions, receiving no results. Most probably this indicated that the image wasn't shared until quite recently and was not yet catalogued by the search engines.

We continued our research by identifying the text visible on the video. Google Translate recognized the text as "  ", which translated to "The picture of Hasan Aslih." Searching for "Hasan Aslih" we found an X account with a handle @hassaneslayeh. It turned out that this account was the first one to post the in-question image, with the caption (we translated it using Google Translate), "Al-Rimal neighborhood in the central Gaza Strip."

     pic.twitter.com/vvBFchElgp    | Hassan (@hassaneslayeh) October 10, 2023

The @hassaneslayeh account's bio read "      ," which translated to "Hassan Eslayeh, journalist from Palestine, Gaza Strip," and had over 258 thousand followers. We also found Eslayeh's profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. Moreover, the author of the photograph in question shared a video showing the same spot, with the description "Al-Rimal neighborhood," further demonstrating the authenticity of the image.

  pic.twitter.com/2vM4KXAU4q    | Hassan (@hassaneslayeh) October 10, 2023

"This is the Beverly Hills of Gaza. This is where all the leaders of Hamas have their palaces. Or should I say, had their palaces," other X user captioned the video. Drone footage shared by news outlets such as The Guardian and Reuters that documented similar damage in the Gaza Strip was consistent with what the in-question photograph showed. The Guardian's material, with the title "Large parts of Gaza City left in ruins after night of heavy bombardment," read:

Drone footage from Gaza City shows buildings reduced to burnt-out shells and rubble after one of the fiercest nights of Israeli airstrikes across the besieged strip. Fighting crossed into a third night on Monday, as Israel increased the intensity of its response to a Hamas attack launched on Saturday

Since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Snopes fact-checked multiple videos on the topic. For instance, we debunked a video allegedly showing five Israeli or Palestinian children being held prisoner in chicken coop cages. Moreover, we explained the story behind a video posted on X purportedly showing a pro-Hamas demonstration in Barcelona. On Oct. 9, we clarified that a Tiktok video allegedly showing a "Hamas terrorist" making fun of a kidnapped Jewish girl was miscaptioned.

Sources:

Editorial, Reuters. Drone Reveals Damage in Gaza after Israeli Strikes | Reuters Video. https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/drone-reveals-damage-in-gaza-after-israe-idRW860810102023RP1. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Ibrahim, Jordan Liles, Nur. Does Video Show Children in Chicken Coop Cages in Israel-Hamas Conflict in October 2023? Snopes, 9 Oct. 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/children-cages-video-israel-hamas/.

Kasprak, Alex. Does Video Show Hamas Terrorist with Kidnapped Jewish Baby Girl in Gaza? Snopes, 9 Oct. 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/terrorist-with-lost-girl/.

Large Parts of Gaza City Left in Ruins after Night of Heavy Bombardment  Video. The Guardian, 10 Oct. 2023. www.theguardian.com, https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/oct/10/large-parts-of-gaza-city-left-in-ruins-after-night-of-heavy-bombardment-video.

WhatsApp Blocks Accounts of Palestinian Journalists in Gaza. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/25/israel-blocks-whatsapp-accounts-of-gaza-journalists. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Wrona, Aleksandra. Video Shows a Pro-Hamas Demonstration in Barcelona in October 2023? Snopes, 9 Oct. 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pro-hamas-demonstration-spain/.
This aerial photo taken on July 18, 2023 shows a China-Europe freight train bound for Hamburg, Germany waiting for departure at Putian Station in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Participating countries will continue to facilitate trade, investment, and financial integration through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, said a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

The white paper, titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future," said that as its scope expands, the BRI has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation, with the broadest coverage.

Facilitating trade and investment is a major task in building the Belt and Road, said the white paper. The participating countries have worked hard to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, remove investment and trade barriers, and improve the business environment within the region and in all related countries.

Efforts have been made to build free trade zones, broaden trading areas, improve trade structure, expand areas of mutual investment and industrial cooperation, establish a more balanced, equal and sustainable trading system, and develop mutually beneficial economic and trade relations, to make the "pie" of cooperation bigger.

Trade and investment are expanding steadily, according to the white paper. From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and other BRI countries reached 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. The cumulative two-way investment between China and other BRI countries reached 380 billion U.S. dollars, including 240 billion U.S. dollars from China.

By the end of August 2023, more than 80 countries and international organizations had subscribed to the Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation Along the Belt and Road, proposed by China. China had signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions.

Financial integration is an important pillar of BRI cooperation, said the white paper. Participating countries and relevant institutions have carried out multiple forms of financial cooperation, created new models, expanded the channels, diversified the parties involved, and improved the mechanisms for investment and financing.

They have promoted policy-based finance, development finance, commercial finance, and cooperative finance to support BRI cooperation, and worked to build a long-term, stable and sustainable investment and financing system that keeps risk under control.

The financial cooperation mechanisms are maturing, said the white paper. China Development Bank (CDB) has promoted the establishment of multilateral financial cooperation mechanisms such as China-Central and Eastern Europe Interbank Consortium, the China-Arab Countries Interbank Association, China-ASEAN Interbank Association, the ASEAN Plus Three Interbank Cooperation mechanism, China-Africa Interbank Association, and the Association of China-LAC Development Financial Institutions.

The channels and platforms for investment and financing are constantly expanding, it said. China has funded the establishment of the Silk Road Fund (SRF) and established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with other participating countries.

The SRF specifically serves BRI cooperation. By the end of June 2023, the fund had signed agreements on 75 projects with committed investment of about 22 billion U.S. dollars; the number of AIIB members had reached 106, and the bank had approved 227 projects with a total investment of 43.6 billion U.S. dollars.
FILE PHOTO: Human Rights Council meeting at the United Nations in Geneva

GENEVA (Reuters) - Russia missed out on a bid to return to the United Nations' top human rights body on Tuesday, losing a vote to Albania and Bulgaria at the General Assembly in New York.

Here is that the U.N. Human Rights Council does:

- The United Nations Human Rights Council has 47 voting members from five regional groups. They are elected for three years for a maximum period of two consecutive terms.

- Members are voted on by secret ballot by the General Assembly in New York.

- In this vote, 17 countries competed for 15 seats starting from 2024-2026.

- The body was created in 2006 and is responsible for "promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner".

- It replaced the Human Rights Commission which was dissolved partly due to a controversy over membership.

- New rules were created on eligibility meant to prevent major abusers getting voting rights.

- It meets three times a year at the U.N. in Geneva in sessions attended by diplomats, ministers, presidents, civil society and human rights victims and activists.

- It also holds regular peer review sessions where countries scrutinise each other's human rights records.

- The body does not have legally binding powers but its meetings raise scrutiny and it can mandate investigations to document abuses, which sometimes form the basis for war crimes prosecutions.

- Russia was suspended in April 2022 following a U.S.-led push after its invasion of Ukraine. Council suspensions are rare.

- The United States under former president Donald Trump walked out of the body in 2018 over an alleged chronic bias against Israel. It has since rejoined and is a voting member.

- The council opened an investigation in March 2022 into the Ukraine war and has accused Russian forces of violations that may constitute crimes against humanity. It also appointed an investigator into Russia's domestic rights record last year.

- Other ongoing probes include an international investigation into repression in Iran and an inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
The political battle over what books should be on library shelves, usually focused on schools, has spread to the city level in a central Iowa town.

Voters in Pella, a town of about 10,500 residents 45 miles east of Des Moines, will be asked in a ballot proposition whether they support changing the structure of the Pella Public Library Board of Trustees to limit the board's authority over the library and give the City Council more control over policies and decisions.

The question comes after some community members attempted to restrict access to Maia Kobabe's controversial LGBTQ memoir "Gender Queer" at the Pella Public Library nearly two years ago. The library board ultimately voted to keep the book on the library's shelves.

Pella's library board, like most in Iowa, holds independent control of the library: While the Pella City Council appoints members to the board and approves the library's budget, the board has exclusive control over the library's affairs, how the money is spent and who is hired as its director. It also decides whether to keep books if community members challenge them.

More: Election Day in Iowa is approaching. Your guide on Des Moines metro candidates, issues

If voters approve the referendum, the library board could become an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the City Council and has no formal authority to approve policies or spending or make decisions on hiring and books. Such changes would give the library a similar status to other city departments.

Even if voters approve the change, however, the City Council is not required to implement the new rules under Iowa law.

Supporters and opponents believe the principles at stake resonate far beyond Pella's borders, involving such fundamental issues as potential censorship, the interests of underrepresented communities, taxpayers' control of how their money is spent and the need to protect children from harmful material.

Here's what you need to know about the proposition in Pella, known as Resolution 6442, before the election Nov. 7.

More: How to vote in Iowa's 2023 city and school elections, including early voting and absentee ballots

What do supporters and opponents of the Pella library referendum say?

Opponents of the referendum say the changes would erode a necessary and long-standing independence that ensures libraries can offer diverse materials that enlighten and reflect the community, free from political interference. They say the changes would amount to censorship that could erase stories about underrepresented groups.

"There isn't pornography in the library," said Anne McCullough Kelly of Vote No to Save Our Library, a group that opposes the referendum. "There are books that people might personally object to because it's not aligned with their values, books whose content might make them uncomfortable for different reasons. But there isn't any actual pornography in the library."

Opponents say that parents should decide what books are appropriate for their children, including books they might check out from the library, and that book restrictions could run into murky constitutional waters.

"Our librarys role is to provide opportunities that will allow individuals to freely examine subjects and make their own decisions," a statement from the seven-member board, posted on the city's website, says. "The Library does not endorse particular ideas, beliefs, or views. While individuals are free to reject for themselves materials of which they do not approve, they cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others."

But supporters of the referendum say the changes would give Pella taxpayers more say in how their dollars are being spent at the library and give the City Council more power to address potential issues. They also frame the proposal not as a ban on books, but as a way to keep material they view as pornographic and harmful away from children's eyes to protect them.

"None of this prevents parents from getting a hold of what they want," said state Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, and chair of Protect My Innocence, a group that supports the referendum. "All they have to do is go on Amazon and click buy."

But, Hayes said, there's a question of "taxpayer-funded dollars being spent on material that is very sexually explicit, for minors. For children." She said she believes voters should have more of a say.

Why is the Pella library referendum on the ballot?

In late 2021, the library board considered formal concerns from residents who believed Kobabe's "Gender Queer"  a coming-of-age illustrated memoir that explores the author's real-life journey with sexuality and gender that includes frank sexual images  should be removed or placed behind the checkout counter.

Parents have challenged the award-winning book eight times in school districts across the state from August 2020 to May 2023, according to a Des Moines Register review of book challenges. Most have said they believe the book is pornographic.

More: Books challenged in Iowa schools frequently tell stories of LGBTQ, Black and brown people

In Pella, "Gender Queer" was housed in the adult section, according to city documents. The library bought the book after a patron requested it.

The library board ultimately voted to keep "Gender Queer" on the shelf. Because of the library board's independence under city code, that decision was final.

Under Iowa law, making changes to a library board's structure requires voter approval. Either the City Council can put a proposal on the ballot, which it declined to do in April 2022, or organizers can gather signatures and petition for a referendum.

A petition circulated that summer, and the library referendum was set for the November 2023 city election.

What would happen if residents vote yes on the Pella library referendum?

If a majority of voters vote yes on the referendum, that would mean they authorize a change in city code to make the library board less independent. The City Council could alter or repeal library policies, and the city administrator would oversee staff. The board also would lose control over its funds.

However, the referendum is not binding. While voters are required to authorize the proposed changes to city code under Iowa law, the City Council is not required to make them.

What would happen if residents vote no on the Pella library referendum?

If voters don't authorize changing the structure of the Pella Library Board of Trustees, the board will continue to operate as is.

The proposed changes could not go before voters again for at least four more years, under Iowa law.

More: In 3 years, 60 books have been challenged in Iowa schools. A new law could ban far more.

Have there been other book challenges in local city libraries?

While the Register has tracked book challenges in Iowa's 327 school districts, it has not undertaken a similar project for challenges at city libraries, though they appear to be relatively rare.

The Register is aware of a small number of book challenges at city libraries in the Des Moines metro in recent years, including one over "Let's Talk About It" by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan at the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library in October 2022, and one over "The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish" by Lil Miss Hot Mess at the Altoona Public Library in February 2022.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 'Gender Queer' dispute could lead to Iowa library losing independence
FAIRVIEW  The Fairview School Board on Monday tabled action on a separation agreement with schools Superintendent Erik Kincade.

"Due to changing circumstances and on the advice of our solicitor, we've decided to table that motion to a later date," board President Jim Lyons said at the beginning of the board's Monday night committee-of-the-whole meeting.

The meeting followed a 5:30 p.m. executive session held "for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter involving the superintendent, specifically the separation agreement," Lyons said.

Kincade announced to staff Oct. 3 that he plans to retire as superintendent on Oct. 31 for "a new career opportunity."

Lyons declined to comment on the "changing circumstances" following Monday's School Board committee-of-the-whole and business meetings.

Kincade did not attend Monday's public meetings but is working in the district, Lyons said. Monday's public meetings were led by Justin Zona, the district's director of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Lyons thanked the public for attending the meetings and read a brief statement at the beginning of the board's business meeting:

"As a school board, we are aware that many rumors and allegations have circulated over the past several months regarding a personnel issue within our district. Given that this is a personnel matter, the school board by law is not at liberty to comment further.

"Over the past two weeks, many of us have put our work and home lives on hold to deal with the fallout that this disruption has engendered. Please know that every member that you have elected to the current board has taken an active role in this process that we are at tonight.

"Your voices have been heard. The interests and welfare of all Fairview School District students and staff will remain our top priority," Lyons said.

The sign is on the Fairview School District campus.

Retirement announcement causes discord

There's been some disagreement between Kincade and school directors concerning his retirement announcement and the purpose of a two-and-a-half-hour School Board executive session on Oct. 2 to discuss personnel matters concerning the superintendent.

Kincade told the Erie Times-News on Oct. 3 that he previously had planned to retire at the end of this school year and informed the board president of that decision.

"I made the decision to retire at the conclusion of this school year, and I shared that with the Board President over the summer," Kincade said in an email. "Other opportunities have emerged that made me want to move up that date."

Lyons later told the Erie Times-News that he had no such notification.

Kincade told the Erie Times-News that the Oct. 2 executive session was held to discuss his request that the School Board waive a clause in his contract requiring six months' notice before retirement, so that he could retire after just one month's notice with all benefits earned.

Lyons told the Erie Times-News that the executive session included discussion of a "personnel issue involving the superintendent," as stated in the legal advertisement for the meeting, as well as the contract clause.

At Monday's School Board meeting, Fairview taxpayer Kim Burns urged school directors to hire an outside consultant if needed to resolve personnel issues.

"The integrity of our school district needs protected. Our School Board needs protected," Burns said. "Whatever is going on is a complete public embarrassment to this district."

Burns applauded the board for honesty, integrity and transparency and said, "But this is uncharted water for you."

Former Fairview School Director Andy Foyle praised Kincade's work and leadership in the district during his 14 years as superintendent. Foyle served on the School Board from 2006 to 2019.

"Dr. Kincade has developed the Fairview School District into one of the premiere school districts in northwestern Pennsylvania," Foyle said.

Kincade additionally fostered civility throughout the district, improved relationships with school unions and has "taken the high road" in handling his coming retirement.

"I urge this board also to take the high road. Nothing is to be gained by sullying the reputation of the man who has led this school district so well," Foyle said.

Kincade has led the Fairview School District since September 2009. Before he was Fairview schools superintendent, Kincade was the district's director of curriculum development, instruction and assessment for three years. He came to Fairview from the Oswayo Valley School District in Potter County, where he was a school principal, in July 2006.

'Opportunities ahead': Fairview schools superintendent plans to retire Oct. 31

Kincade seeks early retirement: Board president says move was surprising

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fairview School Board tables superintendent's separation agreement
After hearing sirens blaring throughout her Jerusalem neighborhood Saturday morning, Rachel Goldberg knew she needed to check on her adult son, Hersh, who had been camping at a desert rave with a friend. As Goldberg fumbled to turn on her phone, two text messages suddenly appeared from him: I love you and Im sorry.

Both messages were sent at 8:11 that morning and Goldberg said she hasnt heard from him since. Soon after, Goldberg found out that Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched a devastating surprise attack that morning, slaughtering hundreds of innocent partygoers at the outdoor Israeli music festival.

Hersh, who turned 23 last week and was born in California before moving to Israel at 7, was at the festival. Goldberg heard from an eyewitness that her son had his arm blown off from the elbow down and was taken hostage by Hamas militants. Police told Goldberg that her sons last phone ping came from near the Gaza border. The family is hoping that he is still alive, but thus far, they havent gotten any updates.

[Hes] our only son, Goldberg said Tuesday afternoon at a press conference at the Carlton Hotel in Tel Aviv. She sat alongside her husband and three other families of Americans that remain missing more than three days after the Saturday morning attack, all of them pleading for updates or information about a plan of action by officials to rescue their family members.

Nahal Neta, son of Adrienne Neta, 66, holds a photo of the nurse living in Kibbutz Be'eri missing since a Hamas surprise attack near the Gaza border. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) (AP)

All we ask from the Biden administration and the Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken is to act for the immediate release of all hostages and remember that the U.S. government has direct responsibility to the lives of U.S. citizens that are held hostage by these terrorists, said Nahar Neta, whose 66-year-old California-born mother, Adrienne Neta, was also taken by Hamas. Do whatever any government needs to do to make that happen, please make that happen.

Desperate, angry and broken

Anchors from CNN, who broadcast the emotional presser, described the families as desperate, angry and broken, so distraught that they are begging for help. So far, the families said they have had zero communication from either the Israeli government or the U.S. government.

The State Department has designated Hamas a terrorist organization. Hamas has said it was motivated to launch the attack over anger thats been built up over decades of Israeli policy, including the treatment of Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Part of the site of the weekend attack of the Supernova desert music festival by Palestinian militants near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

According to the Israeli Embassy in the U.S., more than 1,000 people were killed in the weekend massacre and at least 3,418 were injured. At least 14 U.S. citizens were among those killed, with many others that remain unaccounted for.

Those missing include three volunteers from ELEM, an NGO in Israel serving youth in distress. Tragically, the group was onsite at the music festival Saturday to provide assistance to youth under the influence of drugs and those experiencing emotional distress.

Were praying for the safety of everyone in Israel, a statement posted to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, from the organization read.

President Biden on Monday said it is likely that some Americans are among those being held hostage by Hamas.

President Biden delivers remarks on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Tuesday. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

New York-born Rubi Chen, whose son Itay, a U.S.-Israeli dual citizen, has also been missing since Saturday, pleaded with government officials in Israel and the U.S. to do what it takes to bring their loved ones back home safely.

Think of us not as a headline, Chen said. We are people.

We are fighting human animals

Saturdays attack marked the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, a three-week conflict that began as a surprise attack on Israel by Egypt and Syria and claimed the lives of more than 2,600 Israeli soldiers in an eventual victory for Israel.

In response to this weekends ambush, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas, with Israeli officials calling for a complete siege of Gaza after launching several airstrikes from land and sea into the strip, an area of 140 square miles, from which the 2.3 million people who live there are unable to flee. At least 200,000 civilians have been displaced and eight healthcare facilities have been damaged in Gaza since Saturday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Tuesday.

There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. We are fighting human animals and are acting accordingly.

A rally held in solidarity with Israel at Bellecour Square in Lyon, France, Oct. 10. (Jeff Pachoud/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Its just running for your death

Jerusalem resident Gaya Kalderon last heard from her family just before 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Already fearing the worst, it wasnt until the following day that she saw a video on social media that appeared to show an Israeli child being shoved down a path by Hamas militants. As she looked closer to the video she realized she knew the child.

I am looking on Instagram, and I see a video, Kalderon told the New York Times. And its my brother.

Her brother and four other members of Kalderons family are feared to be among an estimated 150 Israelis whove been taken captive by Hamas. The hostages include young and elderly people, soldiers and civilians that were stripped from their homes, jobs or anywhere that Hamas could take them.

American-Israeli families whose loved ones are missing and believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza speak at a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Debbie Hill/UPI/Shutterstock) (Debbie Hill/UPI/Shutterstock)

Noa Kalash, who survived the Hamas attack at the music festival by hiding in a bush with her boyfriend for eight hours, told the Associated Press that shes still unsure how many friends she lost.

I started seeing things in the sky, just hearing bombs, Kalash said. [My boyfriend] told me theres no way were running with them. Its just running for your death. Theyre going to shoot at us. All of us. He takes my hand, he takes me back and we get into the first bush we saw.

Thumbail credit: Debbie Hill/UPI/Shutterstock
Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, took dozens of Israelis hostage, Israeli officials said.

It's unclear precisely how many hostages were taken and what their condition may be.

Insider spoke to family members of those believed to be kidnapped to understand what happens now.

When Hamas militants crossed into Israel on Saturday morning in the opening series of attacks that a unleashed war that has claimed hundreds of lives in both Israel and Gaza, they targeted Israeli citizens as hostages. More than 100 were taken back to Gaza as captives, the Israeli government has said.

"These are numbers that were up until now unimaginable," Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, said. "This will shape the future of this war."

In the days since Hamas' attack, Israeli families have turned to the international community  telling stories about their missing loved ones in press conferences, television interviews, and on social media  in a bid to garner support.

One family in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel not far from the Gaza border, saw five members captured by Hamas, Abbey Onn, a cousin of those now assumed to be hostages, told Insider via a phone call.

Onn, an American who lives in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, told Insider that five of her family members, ranging from age 12 to 80, were believed to have been kidnapped. But since Saturday, the family has received no up-to-date information on their well-being, she said.

Among those kidnapped were three children between the ages of 12 and 14; a 50-year-old father; and an 80-year-old grandmother, she said. Onn said it was possible that Hamas may have set their home on fire to lure them outside.

"I feel devastated because I understand that Israel is going to do what it needs to protect the majority of its citizens," Onn said. "I don't know what the solution to this will be. I don't know what the outcome is."

Spokespersons for the US State Department, Israeli government, and Israel Defence Forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Hamas has threatened to kill civilian hostages should Israel target civilian sites in Gaza "without warning," a representative for the group said. That's likely to create difficult conflicts for Israel in the days ahead, as its government balances concerns for the hostages' safety with the swift and punishing response it's promised to deliver.

"As the Israeli military responds to what's happened, obviously ensuring that it does so while also safeguarding the Israelis who have been taken captive becomes imperative," Ted Deutch, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee and former Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Florida, told Insider on Monday.

He added that the American Jewish Committee's offices in Jerusalem and the US were actively "responding when we receive calls from family members" about missing loved ones. "We try to get them in touch with the appropriate people in Israel who can be helpful."

The captors close in

Onn said her loved ones were terrified when Hamas came to their home.

"We started getting WhatsApp messages from family members that Hamas was in the kibbutz," Onn said. "They could hear Hamas in the house. They could hear gunfire, and we understood that they were afraid for their lives. They didn't know if they would get out."

Some members of Onn's family, including Hadas, the children's mother, escaped Hamas militants. But, as for those who were taken, Onn said the family has to hold on to hope during an excruciating time.

"You try to stay one notch above the emotions and try to push through and do anything you can to make sure that the world sees this and understands," she said. And she said that there is a distinction between the Palestinian people and Hamas, which she called a "terror organization" that's distinct from civilians in Gaza.

Hamas' goal in taking hostages back to Gaza remains unclear, but some have speculated that they could be used to bargain in an eventual negotiation or prisoner swap with Israel. Reuters reported Monday, citing a source briefed on the talks, that Qatari mediators had "held urgent calls" to try to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli women and children in exchange for 36 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails.

Hamas may also be hoping that the presence of Israelis will deter Jerusalem from pressing a full-scale attack inside Gaza, though recent reports suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is readying a large-scale ground invasion.

The abductions also stand to deal a painful, long-term psychological blow to Israel, Kenneth Quinn, an American high school English teacher who's lived in the country for more than three decades, told Insider.

"Israelis are extremely, extremely sensitive to hostages being taken," Quinn said, adding that the country had engaged in prisoner swaps over the years, leading to the release of numerous operatives to groups known to engage in terrorist activity.

A plea from loved ones

Information about missing loved ones has been hard to come by, people in Israel told Insider on Sunday and Monday. Some families are speaking with international media outlets to share their stories.

"We know that the government and the military are working their channels, but we don't know much more," Onn said.

"We're optimistic that, if we can raise the level of urgency on this in the international community, that there'll be enough pressure that these people will be released," she added, noting that her family was also trying to liaise with the consulates of the French and American governments because some of her loved ones hold more than one passport.

Meanwhile, numerous other families have taken to public forums to plead for the hostages to be released.

Families of kidnapped Americans gathered for a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday afternoon, where they appealed to Washington for help. Nahar Neta, an American citizen born in Israel whose mother Adrienne Neta was captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza, said that families had received "zero communication from the Israeli government."

"All we ask from the Biden administration and the Secretary of State Blinken is to act to the immediate release of all hostages, and remember that the US government has direct responsibility to the lives of the US citizens that are held hostage by these terrorists," Neta said during the televised conference. "So whatever any government needs to do in order to make that happen, please make that happen."

Rubi Chen, whose son Itay is missing following the attack, added during the media event that his family had been in contact with the State Department and US embassy in Israel. He said the Israeli government had given his family an "indication" that Itay was considered "missing in action," he said.

Chen said there had been "no formal or concentrated attempt to talk to us as a group and updating us about what they are doing in this matter" when asked at the press conference by NBC News anchor Lester Holt about whether the families had been contacted by government authorities. He said he thought it would be a "legit request" for State Department representatives to advise families on "what they are planning to do."

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, told reporters in a Monday night briefing that the US government was in "direct communication with Israeli officials" about the hostage crisis, and had also "been hearing from many family members."

"The President has directed his team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," Kirby said, according to a transcript.

'I just want my baby, my son back'

In a televised interview Monday night with CNN, Shelly Shem Tov, an Israeli mother whose 21-year-old son Omer was taken hostage, said she just wants her family to be whole again.

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper, Shem Tov recounted the call she received from Omer before he was kidnapped.

"He was in panic. He told us that they are shooting guns," she told Tapper. The family tracked Omer's location on his cell phone, she added, and said they watched as his signal showed him crossing the border into Gaza. They haven't spoken since, she said.

Shem Tov said that the family didn't have information on Omer's condition, but, hours after he was abducted, they received a Telegram video showing a young man lying down on the bed of a pickup truck, handcuffed, who they believe is Omer. He appeared unhurt, Shem Tov said, but added that she'd received no new information in the following days.

"I just want my baby, my son back," Shem Tov said. "The thing that I want  it's only that he will come back home."

Are you affected by the crisis in Israel and Gaza, or do you know someone who is and is willing to share their story? Reed Alexander can be reached via email at ralexander@insider.com or SMS/the encrypted app Signal at +1 561 247 5758.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TEL AVIV  Relatives of U.S. citizens feared to have been taken hostage by Hamas urged the Biden administration Tuesday to help free their loved ones, saying they had yet to receive "formal communication" from the White House.

Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, said at a news conference here that the last words she received from her son came in a message telling her he loved her and that he was "sorry."

Goldberg-Polin was among thousands of revelers when Hamas terrorists descended on a music festival Saturday, leaving at least 260 people dead and taking an unknown number of attendees hostage.

Goldberg said she heard from witnesses that part of her sons arm was "blown off" before he was taken by the militants, who ordered anyone who could to "stand up and walk."

The U.S. cannot 'take a back seat'

On Tuesday, Goldberg and members of three other families called on the Biden administration and the Israeli government to do whatever they could to ensure that their loved ones are freed as they also called for more information about efforts to rescue their relatives.

The U.S. cannot "take a back seat," said Ruby Chen, whose 19-year-old son, Itay Chen, was believed to have been taken hostage Saturday while he was on active duty for the Israeli military, which he joined less than a year ago.

Seated from left: Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen from Nahal Oz; Ruby Chen, father of Itay Chen, 19, a soldier in the armored corps; Ayala Neta, daughter, and Nahal Neta, son of Adrienne Neta, 66, a nurse living in Kibbitz Be'eri; Rachel Goldberg, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who was attending the music festival, and Jonathan Polin, Hersh's father. (Maya Alleruzzo / AP)

The grief-stricken Chen told NBC News that he and other relatives of U.S. citizens feared to have been captured by Hamas had so far received "no formal communication with the U.S. government."

We heard from a person from here in the Tel Aviv embassy, but beyond taking note that we filled out forms and defined him as missing, theres been no formal communication to me as an individual or to us as a group communicating what do they know, what do they plan to do," Chen said.

He and other families at the news conference expressed feeling left in the dark, with little information coming from both U.S. and Israeli officials.

He said he hoped the U.S. would play a role in helping track down his son and other hostages. "It has the power, it has the resources, it has the influence to do more," he said.

Biden : U.S. citizens held hostage are highest priority

President Joe Biden stressed at a news conference Tuesday that his highest priority is to secure the safety of U.S. citizens taken hostage and that he is directing his team to share intelligence and consult with Israeli counterparts to aid in hostage recovery efforts.

The State Department and the Israeli government press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Chen said he believed the U.S. is able to do many things that can be different than what the Israeli government could do.

We are asking on behalf of my family for President Biden to reassure his heart is in the right place when it comes to Israel and secretary of state to do what they can to make this end for us as soon as possible to become family wholly again, he said.

Nahar Neta, who participated in the news conference held by family members, said his 66-year-old mother, Adrienne Neta, who was born in California and now lives in Israel, was abducted by militants from a shelter in her home. He said it was important for the families to speak out, because "without a strong public address, the situation of hostages is usually not quickly addressed."

"I don't think it is my place to tell the policymakers and decision-makers how to go about this process, he said. "I care about the result, and the result that I care about is for my mom to come home and for me to be able to hug her. I trust these people to do what they need to do in order for that to happen."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The man who Fayetteville police said shot himself last week while in custody and handcuffed died Friday, according to an obituary.

On Tuesday, the Fayetteville Police Department confirmed in a news release that Artis was pronounced dead at 11:39 p.m. Friday. An autopsy was conducted by the office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Meanwhile, the death of Lawrence Treyshoun Artis was discussed during the public hearing section of the Fayetteville City Council meeting Monday night. And City Councilman Mario Benavente proposed that the city seek permission from Cumberland County Superior Court to make public the body camera video recordings from the officers who were arresting Artis.

Artis, 29, died at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, his obituary says. The Police Department said last week that officers arrested Artis early Oct. 2 in a parking lot at or near the 6900 block of Cliffdale Road after the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system reported gunfire in that area.

More on ShotSpotter debut: Fayetteville ShotSpotter had a rocky start. How did a handcuffed man end up shot?

Spokespersons for the Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation  which is investigating the shooting  could not be reached for comment Monday night.

At the request of Benavente, the City Council on Monday night voted 8-1 to have the council have city staff to request the release of the police body camera footage from Artis shooting. The motion passed 8-1, with Councilwoman Kathy Jensen voting in opposition. Councilman Derrick Thompson was not present due to the death of his mother, Mayor Mitch Colvin said.

Under state law, police body camera videos may not be released to the public without the permission of a Superior Court judge.

How does a handcuffed person end up harming themselves, apparently to death? Benavente said in an interview after the council meeting. We work for the community. We work for the people. And if theyre demanding an answer to these questions, and we have body cam footage that can reveal those answers, then I think it behooves us as a city council to make that available to the people.

The police report of the shooting

The Police Department last week said in news releases:

The citys new ShotSpotter system, a network of audio sensors that monitor the area for gunfire and indicate a location where the gunshots came from, reported gunfire in the 6900 block of Cliffdale Road in western Fayetteville.

Officer Justin DeHaan, Officer Trent Folk and Officer Ryan Hirschis went to the area and found Artis walking through a parking lot. He was detained and searched, and a gun was found.

Artis was a convicted felon. When the police officers realized this, they began to arrest him for being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a gun.

The police officers searched Artis further, and Artis, in handcuffs, pulled another gun from his pants. The police said he shot himself with this gun.

The three officers were moved to administrative duties while the shooting is under investigation, the Police Department said last week.

Activists call for transparency

The City Council had its regular public forum on Monday, and several community activists called for the city and Police Department to share with the public details and reports of what happened when the officers stopped Artis and arrested him.

Shaun McMillan was critical of the Police Department and Police Chief Kem Braden for not publicly reporting that Artis had died three days prior.

We expected transparency, but unfortunately this city, time and time again, has shown an aversion to honesty and transparency, McMillan said. He called for the city to shut down the ShotSpotter system.

Angela Tatum Malloy expressed doubt on the Police Departments description of what happened. She called for the release of the body camera video and said the Artis shooting proves ShotSpotter will not make Fayetteville safer.

What it proves is that ShotSpotter will increase unnecessary shootings of Black folks as a result of its use, she said.

Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and pwoolverton@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville man who police said shot himself while in handcuffs dies
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

A speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Romanian parliament scheduled for the evening of Oct. 10, has been canceled, Romanian news agency Digi24 reported.

The reason for this was possible disruptions by MPs with pro-Russian sympathies. In particular, Romanian politicians blame Senator Diana Sosoaca, who threatened to make a "show" during Zelenskyy's speech, for the cancelation.

Read also: Zelenskyy to visit Romania on October 10  report

"He is the president of a state in conflict after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His program is changing," said Alfred Simonis, president of the Chamber of Deputies, giving the official explanation for the change of plans.

Zelenskyy arrived in Romania on his first official visit since the start of the full-scale invasion on Oct. 10. He has already met in Bucharest with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis , and is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Read also: Ukraine-Romania ferry crossing closed after Russian kamikaze drone attack

According to Zelenskyy, the agenda includes the development of aviation and other defense coalitions, strengthening air defense, security in the Black Sea region, and relations with allies.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FILE - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff speaks to the media outside of Fort Gordon gate six on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. On Tuesday, Ossoff announced nearly $100,000 in federal funding to fight violent crime in Augusta and Coastal Georgia.

The Augusta area and coastal Georgia is getting nearly $100,000 for a Department of Justice program designed to reduce violent crime.

On Tuesday, Sen. Jon Ossoff announced $98,657 in annual federal funding for a program to address violent crime in Augusta as well as Savannah and Brunswick. The funding comes through DOJ's Project Safe Neighborhoods.

The local task force will have sites in all three cities to monitor data on violent crime, gun crime, and other metrics to identify areas with particularly high gun violence, according to the press release. They will work with the Georgias Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the U.S Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

Violent crime is impacting Augusta and communities across Georgia, Ossoff was quoted as saying in a news release. Better coordination between law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels can help us protect families from gun violence and gang activity.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta, coastal Georgia gets DOJ money to fight violent crime
A 29-time convicted felon who shot down a Lake County Sheriffs Office $30,000 high-tech drone in 2021 has pleaded guilty in federal court to being a convicted felon with a firearm and could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison.

A sentencing date has not been set for Wendell D. Goney, 52, of Mount Dora, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Sheriffs deputies responded to a burglary call on July 11, 2021 at a 10-acre warehouse and greenhouse complex in Eustis.

They decided to launch the drone equipped with infrared cameras and other high-tech gear. Some of the other drones are less sophisticated, but still cost $4,500 or $15,000, deputies told the Daily Commercial.

In this file photo from July 2021, Lake County Sheriffs Deputy Joey Rempel flies a drone as Deputy Matthew Drennan watches during a training session at the Lake Technical College Institute of Public Safety weapons and driving range in Tavares.

Sgt. Chris Stevens told the Daily Commercial that year that he heard the first shot.

It sounded like a firecracker, but a .22-caliber rifle can sound like that. When I heard the second shot, someone yelled, Someones shooting at your drone!' 

The drone made a sharp turn, fell on the gutter of a building, and burst into flames.

It fell on a metal building, so it didnt cause any damage. I was grateful for that, Stevens said.

Goney claimed the drone was harassing him, but later admitted that he was not allowed to have a firearm, according to law enforcement.

He has 29 felony convictions in Florida, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, illegal drug possession, burglary, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon under federal law, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

He was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a joint state and federal agency initiative aimed at reducing violence crime.

Lake County Sheriffs Lt. John Herrell said Monday that the drone was later replaced, thanks to an insurance payout, but a new federal law has grounded all but four of the 17-drone fleet.

The law banned the use of drones manufactured by countries of concern, Herrell said. That includes China.

The good news is that the sheriffs office is going to be able to sell 13 such drones to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Friday and buy new, approved drones with state grant money.

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The drones have been credited by the sheriffs office with stopping an armed man from committing suicide, rescuing people lost in the woods, and helping firefighters find hot spots.

Use of the drones is also cheaper than firing up the sheriffs helicopter.

Several deputies carry the drones in their patrol cars for quick use.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 10-year prison sentence possible for shooting down sheriff's drone
GAYLORD  The Ferry family has had a presence in the Gaylord area for many years, dating back to their grandparents.

"Our family has a cottage over at Five Lakes Road and it has been in our family since our grandparents were little kids. We had always vacationed here," said Len Ferry IV.

In 1995, Len Ferry III and his then wife Karen, decided to move their sons and daughter from suburban Detroit to Gaylord. "They moved us up here to get out of the city," said Courtney Ferry, Len IV's sister.

Eventually the family which also included another son named Derak, started Alpine Transmission and Service in the early 2000s. They outgrew their first shop located on M-32 West and relocated to its current location at 2240 South Otsego Ave.

Around 2017, a family friend, Jason ORourke, bought Alpine from Len III and his now ex-wife Karen. Derak and his wife, Janise, opened Ferry Transmission and Service in Grayling, while Len IV and Courtney continued working at the shop which became known as Alpine Auto Repair.

Len Ferry IV and his sister Courtney, at Northern Baer Auto Repair in Gaylord. Since 2006, the Ferry family has been involved in the auto repair business in the area.

In 2021, Len IV, took a year break to start his own business, Northern Michigan Auto Repair out of his home. Northern Michigan Auto Repair was growing fast, and Len IV knew he had to make some changes. After discussions with O'Rourke, Len IV and Courtney reached an agreement to reacquire Alpine.

In May, Len IV and Courtney brought the business back into the Ferry family. To honor their late mother Gloria Ferry, they renamed the company Northern Baer Auto Repair to include her maiden name.

"Serving the community is a big thing for us ever since we started. We have had very dedicated customers for many years," said Courtney.

Most customers are from the area.

"We do get some that come from Kalkaska and Alpena," said Len IV.

Automotive repair is a part of the Ferry family DNA. "We've been doing it all of our lives. Since we were 18 working on our own and friends' vehicles. Then we started getting jobs in auto repair and got certified and we decided to make money for ourselves instead of other people," he said.

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Courtney handles a lot of the back-office tasks associated with a repair shop. While in high school she worked at the old Nelson's drug store in downtown Gaylord.

"Now I just focus on everything in the back office  making sure credits are being applied, labor warranties, and parts that are coming and going," she said.

Technology has become a major part of every vehicle now, said Len IV.

"Everything has a module, and everything is done though computer data lines that all focus and operate through a main hub," he said, noting that all of this tech doesn't make it any easier to diagnose what is not operating right.

The shop does general light-duty repairs. "We focus on one-ton pickups and below. We don't try to get into anything bigger, especially diesels. We stick to what we know and do proper repairs. We are not just trying to repair a vehicle, we are repairing the vehicle," said Len IV.

 Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Ferry family returns to Gaylord automotive repair business
This is a photo of school buses in front of a school.

This article was originally published in https://alabamareflector.com/2023/10/05/less-than-half-of-alabama-school-buses-h.

The Alabama State Board of Education may ask the Alabama Legislature for money to add air conditioning to state school buses, most of which lack it.

At the September 14 Board meeting, members of the state Board considered asking for a one-time supplemental bill to add buses to districts most in need.

One of the things we might encourage on top of the budget is to say, You know what, wed like to have another one-time flow of money into fleet renewal with a focus on getting rid of buses that dont have air conditioning, said Eric Mackey, state superintendent.

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Only 48% of buses in the state have air conditioning, according to Alabama State Department of Education data. Chad Carpenter, transportation specialist for the ALSDE, said in a phone interview that buses can get 20 degrees hotter than the air outside.

Carpenter compared school buses to passenger cars and said that, when he was a kid, his parents had options between buying cars with or without air conditioning. Many people bought cars without air conditioning because it was cheaper. Then, as technology advanced, air conditioning became cheaper and then standard.

I wouldnt be real surprised if air conditioning on school buses doesnt become pretty standard in the next few years, he said.

Related

LAUSD School Bus GPS Tracking a Great Idea but Not Always Accurate, Parents and Drivers Say

Last summer was the hottest season since 1880, according to NASA. Josh Willis, climate scientist and oceanographer at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, attributed the heat to long term warming and marine heat waves in combination with the weather pattern known as El Nino, in which the surface waters in central and eastern Pacific are warmer than usual.

Alabamas hottest summer, until 2023, had been in 1883, according to Weather Underground.

Mackey said at the board meeting that all special education buses in the state are legally required to have air conditioning and that has been the law for some time.

Its not a new requirement, he said. I wont say for sure theres not one somewhere, but Id be really surprised if theres a special ed bus in the state that is not air conditioned.

According to data provided by the Alabama State Department of Education, only a few school districts or charter schools had zero buses on route with air conditioning in the 2022-23 school year.

Daleville City, with 14 routes, has no buses on route with air conditioning. Elba City has four bus routes and no buses with air conditioning. Fairfield City has seven bus routes and no buses with air conditioning. Jacksonville City has 16 bus routes and no buses with air conditioning. Orange Beach City has three bus routes and no air conditioning on buses. Troy City has two bus routes and no buses with air conditioning. Tuscumbia City has zero buses with air conditioning and one bus route. Life Academy has three bus routes and no air conditioning.

Under Alabama law code, city school systems can purchase school buses, but county school systems must provide transportation. City school systems and charter schools are only required to offer transportation for students served by special education, according to Al.com.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education committee, said that he has not heard any talk of supplemental funding for buses yet.

At the legislative level, because were one of the last along the line of the appropriations process, its a little early to know whether thats going to be a high priority request from the education community, he said.

Mackey told board members they were able to get a one-time supplemental appropriation last year of around $130 million to buy new buses. Two districts, Wilcox County and Shelby County, were given the most funds to buy air conditioned buses, based on need. ALSDE data shows that Shelby has 18.73% of their buses air conditioned currently, or 59 on 319 bus routes. Wilcox has 62.16% of their buses air conditioned, or 23 on 37 bus routes.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
Eleven years after the meticulous and monumental transportation of Space Shuttle Endeavour along the streets of Los Angeles, another piece of the puzzle will make its way to the California Science Center.

Beginning Wednesday morning, two large Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) will be transported along the 110 Freeway, before navigating surface streets as it makes its way to the museum.

They are expected to arrive at the California Science Centers ceremonial finish line at 39th Street around 8:45 a.m. The public is invited to watch their arrival in person and take part in the celebration.

In their original lifetimes, the SRMs were part of the propulsion system that was responsible for producing 6 million pounds of thrust and launching the shuttle into space. After burnout, the Solid Rocket Boosters would be jettisoned from the craft and left to fall into the ocean where they would be recovered, refurbished and then reused, officials said.

The SRMs have been in storage at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Kern County and were a gift from Northrop Grumman. They are the final components needed for the California Science Centers ambitious plans to display the Endeavour upright, 20 stories high, complete with the Solid Rocket Motors and a massive orange external fuel tank.

Once completed, it will be the only authentic ready-to-launch space shuttle stack in the world.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is slowly moved along a city street October 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

In October 2012, the American public and Los Angeles residents watched with anticipation as Endeavour arrived at LAX and was transported to the museum on the campus of USC. The space shuttle, which flew 25 missions between 1992 and 2011, navigated trees, traffic signs and parked vehicles along its historic journey.

In 2016, the last surviving Space Shuttle external tank was transported to the California Science Center from New Orleans via the Panama Canal. It then arrived at Marina del Rey where it navigated a 16.5 mile journey to the museum.

NASA's only remaining space shuttle external tank makes its way through the Panama Canal, in Panama City, on April 26, 2016 during its journey to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)

Endeavour, the SRMs and the external tank will be mounted together and elevated into a vertical position inside the soon-to-be-built Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. The publics last chance to see the Endeavour in its current horizontal display is Dec. 31.

Eleven years after Endeavours memorable crosstown journey, were delighted to invite the public to join us once again to be a part of this next historic arrival, said Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO of the California Science Center. The arrival of the SRMs will propel us one step closer to the completion of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which will serve as a launchpad for creativity and innovation and will inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers.

The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will be expand the California Science Centers footprint by 200,000 square-feet, and will allow for twice as much exhibition space. When it opens, it will include 100 authentic artifacts and 100 new interactive exhibits.

The project has a price tag of at least $400 million, most of which has been acquired through fundraising. The project still has $50 million to go to reach its fundraising goal, officials said.

Those wishing to witness history and see the final Endeavour components arrive in person, should plan to arrive to Exposition Park early. The SRMs are expected to exit the 110 Freeway around 7:30 a.m., and the public can see them up close until only 9 a.m.

Parking will be available at the California Science Centers Blue parking structure, but spectators are encouraged to take public transportation. The Los Angeles Metro E Line stops at the Expo Park/USC station everyday with trains coming in 10-minute intervals.

The museum will also open early on Wednesday as part of a continued celebration. For more information, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Wealthy Chinese often send money to Hong Kong, where capital flows are less tightly controlled. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Some wealthy citizens in China are turning to underground money handlers to move cash, Bloomberg reported.

Moving money through these quasi-banking systems is risky and can result in jail time.

Some Chinese underground banks settle transfers using funds generated by criminal groups, the report said.

China's economy has endured broad headwinds over recent months stemming from its troubled property sector and the lack of post-pandemic rebound. According to a Bloomberg report on Sunday, wealthy Chinese citizens have been finding unusual, sometimes illegal ways to move money overseas to keep their cash safe amid the uncertainty.

Funds can move through an informal, underground banking system known as "hawala," the Bloomberg report said, which isn't regulated and is largely contingent on faith. Advisers to the rich have reported a surge in demand for backup options like these as Beijing tries to gain control over the financial tumult in the country.

Wealthy and middle class families feel the need to keep money outside of China, either for the sake of diversifying or to build a nest egg for future immigration.

Yet, per Bloomberg, opportunities to move cash without breaking any rules are limited, and individuals can typically wire no more than $50,000 a year overseas, and emigrating only offers a one-time chance to move money.

"These agencies have sprouted to meet soaring demand," Joel Gallo, an adjunct professor of finance at New York University Shanghai, told Bloomberg. "They act as quasi-banking firms, yet operate without the scrutiny of one and adroitly engage in regulatory arbitrage by standing in a gray zone."

The size of these furtive systems isn't known for sure, but they are global and pervasive. One report from 2021 saw an operation that spanned 75.6 billion yuan in assets spread across five organizations and 8,000 banks.

Citing the UK's National Crime Agency, Bloomberg reported that it's highly likely these underground banks have pools of funds ready in key locations in order to users to get their money quickly in local currencies.

Story continues

Still, those who choose to skirt the rules in order to move cash around are putting themselves at risk. Those caught using illegal exchange services in mainland China are typically fined 30% or more of the total amount that they had attempted to transfer. For larger volumes, serious jail time is also a risk, the report said.

What's more, to rely on this system, individuals risk associating with criminals. According to Bloomberg, Chinese banks that ultimately settle exchanges with hawala routinely use cash generated by criminal groups that participated in drug trafficking or human trafficking.

In any case, the demand to move money remains high. UBS' wealth report found that 6.2 million Chinese had assets worth more than $1 million at the end of last year. In August, the real estate consultancy Juwai IQI said it expects more than 700,000 Chinese people to emigrate in the coming two years.

Should Beijing crackdown further on cash transfer laws, experts told Bloomberg the demand will remain high, with a source telling Bloomberg that as much as $150 billion is expected to exit the country this year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
An Israeli military vehicle burns after being hit by Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated southern Israel. Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/REUTERS

Oil prices jumped Monday, with traders worried that Hamas' attack on Israel could disrupt supply.

Hedge fund manager Pierre Andurand expects the conflict to benefit Saudi Arabia, which recently started pumping out less crude.

"The market will eventually have to beg for more Saudi supply," he said in a post on X.

Hamas' surprise assault on Israel will drive up oil prices and force global energy markets to "beg" Saudi Arabia to reverse its recent production cuts, according to Pierre Andurand.

The legendary commodities trader said Saturday that the militant group's raid will disrupt longer-term supplies, with Riyadh unlikely to start pumping out more crude until Brent hits $110 a barrel.

"As the Levant is not a large oil producing region, it is unlikely to impact oil supply in the short term," he wrote in a post on X. "And therefore one should not expect a large oil price spike in the coming days. But it could eventually have an impact on supply and prices."

"Global oil inventories are low, and the Saudi and Russian production cuts will lead to more inventories draws over the next few months," the Andurand Capital founder added. "The market will eventually have to beg for more Saudi supply, which I believe, will not happen sub $110 Brent."

Oil prices jumped Monday as traders fretted that major producer Iran could become embroiled in a wider conflict, with Brent climbing 3% to just over $87 a barrel. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Iranian security officials had helped Hamas to plan its attacks.

"As Iran is also behind Hamas' attacks on Israel, there is a good probability that the US administration will start enforcing those sanctions on Iranian oil exports more tightly," Andurand wrote. "That would further tighten the oil market."

Crude benchmarks slipped last week on fears of a global slowdown in demand, but are still up around 16% since the end of June, driven higher by the leaders of the OPEC+ cartel electing to pump out less crude.

Saudi Arabia slashed its output by 1 million barrels a day back in July, while Russia started curbing its exports by around 300,000 barrels a day the following month. Both countries said last week that they planned to keep up the cuts until the end of 2023.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Finlands Foreign Ministry announced on Oct. 9 allocating an additional 92 million euros ($97 million) to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine, Moldova, and other countries affected by Russias war.

In Ukraine, the assistance will address needs in the health, transport, energy, agriculture, housing, and social security sectors, according to the ministry.

The funds will contribute to the Crisis Facility launched by the World Bank Groups International Development Association (IDA) earlier this year.

Finland will send 62 million euros to Support Programme for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery, from which 12 million will be allocated as a grant and 50 million as a loan, reads the announcement.

Read also: Kenneth Rogoff: Europe must lead Ukraines reconstruction

In Ukraine, the program aims to improve access to healthcare services, increase the availability of services to address acute energy shortages, repair infrastructure and housing as well as support agricultural activities.

It will also accelerate long-term efforts to support Ukraines recovery and the reconstruction of critical sectors, the ministry wrote, adding that special attention will be paid to the rights of women and people with disabilities.

In Moldova, the IDA Crisis Facility will mainly help cover the costs of hosting Ukrainian refugees, as well as finance development programs and ensure preparedness for crises.

Finland said the remaining 30 million euros will be provided in loans to countries affected by Russian aggression to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, among other efforts.

Read also: The dead villages: Hope and despair side-by-side in the liberated south

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- Finland is on alert as it suspects a gas pipeline leak in the Baltic Sea was caused by a deliberate act of destruction, fueling concerns about the safety of Europes energy infrastructure.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The gas pipeline connecting NATO members Finland and Estonia started leaking at the weekend, and people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday the investigation is proceeding on the basis that it was sabotage. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said it was caused by an external source as he declined to speculate who may be responsible.

It makes sense to increase our security of supply, secure critical infrastructure, Orpo told reporters in Helsinki. The wise prepare. If something like this, so far inexplicable, happens, then it can also happen again.

European gas prices jumped, as the leak revived concerns about the vulnerability of energy infrastructure particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine. Following the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines from Russia to Germany last year  for which responsibility has yet to be determined  European countries have stepped up defense of their key assets.

While the rupture of the pipeline is not significant for the wider European gas market, it raises questions about security of supply just as Europe goes into winter. Russia halted gas flows to Finland in May 2022, about a week after the Nordic country said it would apply for NATO membership in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The Most Vulnerable Sites

Finlands President Sauli Niinisto spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, and the group said its sharing information and stands ready to support its allies. The Estonian and Finnish ambassadors to NATO briefed allies. An undersea telecoms cable between the two countries has also been damaged.

NATO members have increased monitoring of energy assets using satellites, aircraft, ships and submarines, with sites in the North Sea and Baltic Sea seen as among the most sensitive. NATO also created an undersea infrastructure coordination cell earlier this year to deepen ties between governments, military and industry.

Read More: NATO Turns to Underwater Drones and AI in Bid to Deter Russia

Finlands National Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal case into the pipeline incident, and said the size of the damage points to it being intentional.

The pipeline lies about 60 meters (197 feet) deep, according to Estonian officials, and the leak was detected in the Gulf of Finland. Its in Finlands so-called exclusive economic zone that spans 200 nautical miles from the coast but outside its territorial waters  a distinction that may prove important as countries weigh their response.

The Balticconnector was put into use just over three years ago to link a new liquefied natural gas import terminal in Finland with Estonia. The region now increasingly brings liquefied natural gas from the US, even as gas accounts for just 3.5% of Finlands energy mix.

Gasgrid Finland estimates that it will take months to repair.

--With assistance from Elena Mazneva, Leo Laikola and Anna Shiryaevskaya.

(Updates with further comments from Finlands government from fourth paragraph.)

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Ukraine's First Lady urges mental health focus in face of conflict  Let's talk about it!

As Ukraine and the world commemorated World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, First Lady Olena Zelenska of Ukraine delivered a poignant message, emphasizing the critical significance of prioritizing mental well-being, particularly in the midst of ongoing conflict and adversity.

In a video message shared on social media, Zelenska once again emphasized the significance of preserving one's mental health. She stressed that to safeguard the resilience of the nation, it is crucial to maintain personal resilience as well.

"Due to the Russian invasion, Ukrainians live with daily stress, said Zelensk.a Caring for our mental well-being is as essential as our physical safety.

We often use the word 'resilience' when speaking about Ukraine and its defenders. It is one of the components of mental health  the ability to endure challenges and live fully and qualitatively.

Therefore, to preserve the resilience of the country, we must each preserve our own. Learn not to remain silent but to analyze your feelings and talk about them. Do not hesitate to seek help.

Read also:

In her message, Zelenska also reminded the public about the nationwide mental health program "How Are You?", which was created to ensure that everyone can seek assistance when they need it.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Five people were injured Monday night at the University of Florida after a loud noise disrupted a United with Israel vigil and sent the crowd into a panic.

The University Police Department said in a statement that someone in attendance fainted, which prompted calls for 911. The call was misunderstood by the crowd, which dispersed in a panic, it added.

A number of local news reports said a loud noise apparently sparked the panic, with initial accounts suggesting there were fears it was a gunshot.

I gave a speech and a girl screamed, then everyone started running. Noam Levi, a speaker at the vigil, told local ABC affiliate WCJB. We didnt hear a gunshot but we heard some sort of noise and then everyone started running.

The Gainesville Sun reported that someone dropping a water bottle or some other item on the ground may have caused the loud noise.

The police statement said officers immediately secured the area, but that at least five people were injured in the crowd rush. Those individuals were treated on the scene by first responders, it added.

Attendees who left behind their belongings in the panic were escorted back to the scene to retrieve them, police said. Gainesville police and the Alachua County Sheriffs Office also responded to the area to assist.

We have no reason to believe that there was a malicious intent behind this incident. It was an accident that was misinterpreted by the crowd that led to panic, campus Police Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick said in a statement.

Hundreds of students assembled at Turlington Plaza on University of Floridas campus to condemn the recent invasion of Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against the group Saturday after it launched rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack.

The violence has inflamed tensions on college campuses across the country between between pro-Zionist and pro-Palestinian student groups.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
While the immediate focus is on how Israel will survive this gravest existential threat in its 75 year history, we examine five lessons that the U.S. and the world should learn from this conflagration.

1. The dangers of domestic disunity

By Hamass own admission, domestic disunity in Israel contributed to the timing of Hamass invasionwith the Israeli government distracted by fierce political battles and daily protests arising from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus effort to undermine bribery and corruption charges against him, while placating far-right elements focused on expanding Israeli settlements on the West Bank. Israels own defense minister warned that Hamas was poised to exploit Israels domestic disunity, but his counsel was ignored in the lead-up to the invasion.

Read More: A Surprise Attack Upends Israel and the Middle East

2. Overconfidence breeds complacency

Just last week, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan declared the Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades, merely days before the Hamas attack. Similarly, it appears the Israelis fell for their own myth of military invincibilitynot just superioritywhich was meant to deter aggressors but ended up lulling Israel into a false sense of complacency. Former Mossad espionage chief Efraim Halevy told CNN, an attack from Hamas of this scale was beyond our imagination.

Now that invincibility has been shattered. It was the most hardline government in Israels history that failed to prepare for the first invasion of Israeli soil since the War of Independence in 1948. Even in the Six Day War of 1967, enemy armies did not advance into Israeli territory while Israel captured the huge Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. And in the Yom Kippur War, exactly 50 years ago, the enemy armies only briefly seized pieces of the territories Israel had captured in 1967.

This is particularly galling given the context of the disputed territories Israel held after 1967. Just after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon withdrew all Israeli settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, new Israeli towns were built nearbyinside pre-1967 Israel. The region was named Otef Aza, which is Hebrew for Gaza Wrap, referring to the areas within 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of the Gaza Strip border. The 70,000 Israeli citizens living in the Otef Aza became accustomed to mortar shells and cheaply made rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, but now we see there was no plan to repel a land invasion by Hamas.

Israeli overconfidence led to oversights and mistakes which were easily avoidable in hindsight. Technology was not a shield from danger. The unique Iron Dome missile-defense system has worked very well, taking out 90% to 95% of Gaza-based rocket attacks on Israel, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimates. But despite that, and spending over $1 billion to build a high-tech security fence and wall sealing Gaza, the insufficient number of Israeli soldiers stationed there were unable to stop rudimentary Hamas bulldozers from ramming right through. Likewise, despite sophisticated hi-tech intelligence systems, Hamas planners somehow evaded all Israeli detection.

3. Isolationism is not a choice in todays world

In the days before Hamass invasion, there was a fresh surge of isolationism among U.S. politicians on both the extreme left and especially the extreme right. The dangerous forays into isolationism ignore the fact that, whether we like it or not, there are foreign adversaries seeking to harm the U.S. and our allies, and our withdrawal would only embolden their aggression, whether in the Middle East, Central Europe, or anywhere else.

Read More: Israels President: Our Darkest Hour Casts a Shadow on the Entire World

Perhaps todays isolationists ought to learn from one of their ideological predecessors. Republican Senator Arthur Vandenberg arrived in the Senate in 1929 as one of the most fervent isolationists in the lead-up to World War II. But not only did he reverse his own positions after the outbreak of war, he used his perch as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to lead his caucus away from isolationism, shepherding the Marshall Plan, NATO, and funding for the Cold War through the Senate. Half the Republican-controlled House, or at least Jim Jordan, needs the same epiphany in realizing that America First does not mean America alone.

4. Warfare messaging rivals military might

Through artful propaganda and intensive use of media, villains can conflate their identities with the genuine victims. For now, a strong bipartisan consensus has emerged in the U.S., supporting Israel and its right to respond mightily, with some voices calling for the full-scale destruction of Hamas.

This remarkable bipartisan unity was driven in part by the horrific pictures and videos of slaughtered civilians, kidnapped grandmas, panicked toddlers, and highways strewn with corpses, just as how the horrific pictures of dead Ukrainians in Kyiv and Bucha helped catalyze western support for Ukraine 18 months ago. Military campaigns are never purely military, as they depend on the building and sustaining of popular support over long periods of time. Moving forward, it is likely that the messaging war will be as important as the military war, especially since, as Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned, Israel is preparing for a long and challenging conflict with no easy solutions to the future of Gaza even if Hamas is destroyed.

5. The historic quicksand of lineage and land battles

Despite Hamass transitory adrenaline boost, with the streets of Gaza full of celebration that the Zionist enemy has been humiliated, glorification of violence is now giving way to the hard reality of massive destruction. The cost to Gazans immediately includes hundreds of thousands of them displaced or fleeing, and the loss of thousands of work permits for higher paying jobs in Israel and border-crossing papers for excellent medical care. This is just the latest in a long string of self-destructive decisions by Hamas, whose leaders have thrust Gaza deeper into poverty since their takeover in 2007, while destroying infrastructure ranging from power plants to greenhouses that Israel had handed over when it withdrew two years earlier. This drew criticism from even the Palestinian Authority, but the Fatah-led PA lost a civil war with Hamas and was ejected.

Hamass exploitation of historical and territorial grievancesplunging Palestinian society backwardsstands in stark contrast to how other groups and nations have forged more forward-looking postures from the crucible of grievances: balancing aggrievement, however well or ill justified, with a heavier dose of pragmatism. In Hamass own backyard, there are key elements in the rival Palestinian Authority that are embracing the potential fruits of Saudi-Israel normalization that Hamas opposes. Yes, we are not unaware that the P.A. has their own challenges but they do not normalize terrorism.

Read More: Which Israel Will Emerge After the Hamas Attack?

The lost opportunity from potential normalization hurts the Palestinian people the most. At an opening summit for the Abraham Accords in Bahrain, the heads of all Gulf states alongside Palestinian businessmen discussed 190 specific projects aiming to increase Palestinian export revenue from 17% to 40% of GDP; ensure reliable electricity; double the drinkable water supply; connect more schools to high-speed data services; increase womens participation in the work force; and generate a 500% increase in foreign direct investment in key industries such as tourism, agriculture, digital services, housing, and manufacturing, in addition to significant infrastructure enhancements. All these projects were contingent upon diplomatic normalization and now seem less likely to happen.

Jews and Palestinians are equal descendants genetically of the 15 ancient tribes that roamed this contested land. At some point, boundaries are drawn and sovereignty declared. Fully 18 million Indians and Pakistanis were displaced when those lands were divided in 1947, a year before more than 1 million Jews and Palestinians were displaced in the region following Israels creation, but persistent bitterness has not normalized barbaric kidnappings of grandmas from their homes and slaughter of teenagers at music concerts. For centuries, until the end of World War II, half todays Ukraine was part of Poland, but no one disputes those borders now. So how far must we go to adjudicate potentially rightful claims? When wars end, treaties can be settled, boundaries drawn, and life can go forward.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
China unveils action plan for computing power infrastructure development

Xinhua) 08:57, October 10, 2023

Visitors learn about AI servers during the 2023 World Computing Conference in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have unveiled an action plan for the high-quality development of computing power infrastructure, amid the country's push to foster its digital economy.

China aims to achieve a total computing power of over 300 EFLOPS by 2025, according to the plan issued by six authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Education and the People's Bank of China.

EFLOPS is a unit of measurement for a computer's speed. A 1 EFLOPS computing system can complete 1 quintillion floating-point operations per second. In August, MIIT said that China's computing power had reached 197 EFLOPS, ranking second globally.

The country's data storage capacity is expected to exceed 1,800 exabytes by 2025, according to the plan.

Computing power infrastructure is a bedrock resource for the development of the digital economy. Among a raft of measures to boost computing power infrastructure in China, last year saw the launch of a mega project involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
In an ongoing crackdown on telecom fraud originating from northern Myanmar and affecting Chinese citizens, 706 more suspects have been transferred from Myanmar to Chinese custody, the Ministry of Public Security announced Monday.

The suspects, including 26 fugitives, were handed over to public security authorities in the cities of Lincang and Pu'er of southwest China's border province of Yunnan between Sept. 25 and Oct. 7.

Chinese authorities have pledged to thoroughly investigate the suspects' criminal activities and crack down on telecom fraud with strict adherence to the law. They also plan to delve into related domestic crimes in order to ensure a comprehensive crackdown throughout the entire chain of criminal activities.

The number of telecom fraud cases has declined significantly in recent months, with a total of 2,317 suspects to date captured and transferred to China from Myanmar, according to the ministry.

Public security authorities have vowed to continue their efforts to crack down on telecom fraud and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people.
The world is reeling as it watches events in Israel and Gaza.

As of Monday afternoon, around 800 Israelis had been confirmed dead as a result of Hamass surprise attack. Around 700 Palestinians had been killed in response.

The crisis has no immediate end in sight. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it.

Netanyahu also contended, in relation to Hamas, that Israel will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israels other enemies for decades to come.

For its part, Hamas said that it would execute hostages  and broadcast the executions  in response to future bombings of civilian housing by Israel.

The grim situation has big implications for American politics, too.

Beyond the devastating human toll in the Middle East, here are some of the biggest questions confronting Washington.

Was Iran behind the attack?

This is one of the biggest questions. It has not yet been answered in a definitive way.

Iran is a key supporter of Hamas, and of several other Palestinian armed groups.

But backing for the overall cause does not necessarily translate into knowledge of the specifics of the plan to invade Israel.

The most concrete report of Iranian involvement so far came in a Wall Street Journal story on Sunday.

The Journals reporters wrote that Iranian security officials had given the green light for the attack at a recent meeting in Beirut.

The story also included the claim that officers of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had worked with Hamas since August to conceive the invasion.

The Journals most dramatic claims were sourced to unnamed senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. But it also included denials, both from a Hamas official and from a spokesperson for the Iranian mission to the United Nations, that there had been coordination.

Notably, neither the American government nor the Israeli government has stated definitively that Iran was involved.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) told Politico on Monday that we have no evidence or proof Iran was behind the attack, though he added that Israel was certain the Iranians were not surprised.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship.

The question of Iranian involvement is so vital because, were it to be proven, both Israel and the United States would be obligated to take some kind of action against Tehran  which in turn could enlarge the conflict.

How big are the political dangers for President Biden?

Republican presidential candidates have been lining up to bash President Biden for what they contend is his weakness on the international stage.

In particular, theyve been condemning the deal reached in August that unfroze $6 billion in Iranian funds in return for the release of five Americans.

Former President Trump said Biden had whittled away at Middle East peace at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on social media that Iran has helped fund this war against Israel and Joe Bidens policies that have gone easy on Iran have helped fill their coffers.

And former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that Blinkens claim that the $6 billion could not have been used in the attack  since it is restricted to humanitarian purposes  was irresponsible.

On one level, the attack on Israel plays into the Republican attack line that Democrats in general, and Biden in particular, are too soft with American adversaries.

Versions of this argument have been used in relation to China, as well as Iran, throughout the Biden presidency.

Still, there is no certainty that voters will blame Biden for events on the other side of the world that even Israels vaunted security apparatus failed to see coming.

In addition, Bidens experience can appeal to voters in moments of international crisis.

His response to Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the way he assembled a coalition to resist it, won plaudits in the months afterward.

Could the conflict affect aid to Ukraine?

Events in Israel and Gaza could have an effect on the war in Ukraine in at least two ways.

In big-picture terms, there are questions about whether any increased American commitments to Israel could sap American public will for aid to Ukraine.

Public support for Ukraines effort to repel the Russian invasion has dipped over time. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week, only a narrow plurality of adults  41 percent to 35 percent  supported America continuing to arm Ukraine. In May, a poll from the same organizations found Americans favored arming Ukraine by a wider, 17-point margin.

It seems plausible that requests for additional aid to Israel could make Americans even less willing to countenance heavy spending for Ukraine.

However, in terms of the congressional process, there is already some talk about putting both aid to Israel and to Ukraine into any new spending deal.

Such a deal will need to be agreed upon by Nov. 17, otherwise the government will shut down.

Putting aid for both nations into a must-pass package could be one way for advocates of such aid to overcome resistance.

How will it impact Congress and the race for Speaker?

It is a bad look, by any reasonable standard, for the House to be without a Speaker in the middle of an international crisis.

Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) holds tightly circumscribed powers, limited mainly to facilitating the election of a proper replacement for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was toppled as Speaker last week.

In essence, the situation leaves the House frozen.

The immediate effects are more symbolic than substantive  for example, it makes it more cumbersome for the House to pass a resolution condemning Hamas.

If the House were to spend prolonged time without a Speaker, it would hamper the fulfillment of any Israeli request for supplemental help, beyond the $3 billion-plus of aid the U.S. already provides.

The lack of a Speaker is also one more example of the dysfunction that has caused the nations politics to seize up in recent years.

The net effect could nudge House Republicans to select a Speaker more quickly than they otherwise would do this week.

A vote could come as soon as Wednesday, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as the only two declared candidates.

McCarthy has become a bit of a wild card, however.

Twice on Monday  during an interview on Hugh Hewitts radio show and at a Capitol Hill press conference  he held the door ajar to a possible return to the Speakership, even while stopping well short of announcing a candidacy.

Could the Jewish American vote shift anytime soon?

Republican attacks on Biden play well with GOP primary voters, but its a lot less clear whether they will bring about any major shift in the Jewish vote.

Jewish Americans have traditionally been a strong pillar of Democratic support. There is little evidence that increased GOP efforts to win Jewish voters have had a major impact.

A Pew Research Center survey published in 2021 found that 71 percent of American Jews identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, while 26 percent favor Republicans.

Jewish voters chose Biden over Trump by almost 40 points in 2020  69 percent to 30 percent  according to a voter analysis commissioned by The Associated Press and Fox News. The 69 percent Biden won was exactly the same figure as that won by then-President Obama in his 2012 reelection win over GOP nominee Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah).

Its possible, of course, that the seismic shock of the Hamas attack could force some kind of realignment, especially if new details emerge that are damning of the Biden administration.

Still, Jewish support for Democrats has proven resilient for decades.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A floating village now lies stranded on a lakebed in Brazils Amazon as severe drought leaves communities struggling to access food, fresh water and fuel.

Dramatically receding water levels in Lake Puraquequara, east of Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas, have left boats and floating buildings marooned in the mud.

It is the latest example of the devastating impacts of heat and drought on this part of Brazil  earlier this month more than a hundred river dolphins washed ashore dead as water temperatures soared  and authorities say the situation is set to get worse.

Lake Puraquequara is part of the Rio Negro river system, which has been near record-low since the end of September, according to the states civil defense authority. Declining water levels are having a profound impact, a spokesperson for the authority told CNN.

Some residents have resorted to digging wells in the cracked lakebed in an attempt to reach water.

Our shops have no customers. We are isolated, boats cannot enter or leave the lake, local resident Isaac Rodrigues told Reuters. Were going to be here until God sends us water.

Ivalmir Silva digs a well to obtain water at Lake Puraquequara in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, on October 6, 2023. - Michael Dantas/AFP/Getty Images

The severe drought extends across the state. Forty-two municipalities of the 62 in the state were in an emergency situation with more than 300,000 people affected, the civil defense authority told CNN Monday.

And the situation is expected to get worse. Around 500,000 people and 50 municipalities are likely to be affected over the next several weeks, since we are still predicting a few months with reduced rain levels, the spokesperson for the state authority said.

In late September, Amazonas Gov. Wilson Lima declared a state of emergency and announced a package of assistance measures, including providing food to those most affected by the drought.

There are many people already having difficulty accessing food, food security, drinking water and other important inputs, he said in a statement at the time.

Boats and houseboats stranded on Lake Puraquequara in Manaus, Brazil, October 6, 2023. - Bruno Kelly/Reuters

The drought is also devastating wildlife in the states rivers.

Scientists believe the unusual deaths of more than 100 dolphins in Lake Tefe, west of Manaus, at the beginning of October may be linked to the searingly high water temperatures.

Its still early to determine the cause of this extreme event but according to our experts, it is certainly connected to the drought period and high temperatures in Lake Tefe, in which some points are exceeding 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit), the institute said in comments carried by CNN affiliate CNN Brasil.

Lake Puraquequara in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, on October 6, 2023. The drought has dried up the rivers and made it difficult to travel between cities in the state of Amazonas. - Michael Dantas/AFP/Getty Images

Stranded boats on Puraquequara Lake, October 6, 2023. - Bruno Kelly/Reuters

It is currently the dry season in the Amazon, but the drought has been exacerbated by El Nino, a natural climate pattern that originates in the tropical Pacific Ocean and affects weather around the world.

Underlying El Nino is the long-term trend of global warming that is leading to more frequent and more severe extreme weather events, like drought and heat.

Swaths of South America, including Brazil, have been gripped by severe and deadly heat as the region moves from winter into spring.

This heat in August and September  during which Brazil experienced temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit)  was made at least 100 times more likely by the human-caused climate crisis, according to a study published Tuesday by the World Weather Attribution initiative.

CNNs Duarte Mendonca contributed reporting.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens as Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody speaks during a press conference in 2022.

On Monday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) submitted a court filing to the state Supreme Court claiming a proposed ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state does not satisfy the legal requirements for ballot placement. The proposed amendment in question, led by Floridians Protecting Freedom, would prohibit state restrictions on abortion viability. Currently, abortion is banned at around 15 weeks in the state; Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a six-week ban earlier this year which is currently blocked in court.

Florida abortion rights advocates began working to collect the 891,523 required signatures to get this proposed measure on the Nov. 2024 ballot in May, shortly after DeSantis signed the six-week abortion ban into law. Floridians Protecting Freedom has until Feb. 1 to collect the signatures, and Moodys court filing comes as the group has hit nearly the halfway point, submitting 402,082 validated signatures as of Monday afternoon.

Read more

Fetal viability is the point when the fetus can supposedly survive outside the womb, appraised by lawmakers as around 24 weeks. The term isnt at all as arbitrary as anti-abortion politicians make it out to be. Yet the issue of viability has become increasingly weaponized by anti-abortion politicians, who know that the issue is broadly popular, and who rely on misinformationlike the bonkers lie that Democrats support abortion up until birth, which is literally just feticideto attack abortion rights. Most abortions take place in the first trimester but later abortions do happen, sometimes as a result of extreme fetal conditions or delayed access to abortion. Later abortion seekers, as Mother Jones has pointed out, tend to be among the most vulnerable, including children and abuse survivors.

Viability in the abortion context has always meant the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures, Brenzel wrote. This is how the state of Florida itself defines viability. This is how the United States Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court still define viability. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and doctors also define viability this way in the abortion context. She continued, This is a disingenuous argument by a politician desperate to block Floridians from voting on this amendment.



In September, Ohios state Supreme Court ruled largely in favor of an inflammatory summary written by the states anti-abortion secretary of state to appear on ballots for a proposed abortion rights measure. The summary refers to embryos and fetuses as an unborn child and claims the measure would always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of viability. This is despite how Ohio advocates proposed amendment explicitly states that it would allow abortion only until viability. Similarly in Missouri, top Republicans have tried to block a proposed abortion rights ballot measure by claiming it would somehow cost voters $12 billion and allow abortion up until live birth. (A judge last month moved to block the latter language from appearing on ballots.) All of this is intentionally jarring terminology used to stigmatize later abortions.

Brenzel told Jezebel she has faith that Floridians will ultimately see through Moodys dishonest characterization of their proposal: Voters know what viability means and they will see right through this effort to silence their voice.

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Florida elected officials on Monday evening joined hundreds rallying in support of Israel in Aventura two days after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a deadly attack against the country.

Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez, U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson , Aventura Mayor Howard Weinberg and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Micky Steinberg all spoke to the large crowd waving Israeli flags at Waterways Shoppes, 3575 NE 207th St.

The event included a rabbi-led prayer for the Israel Defense Forces, during which the crowd was asked to raise candles or lit-up cellphones and say the names of IDF soldiers who will be fighting in the war.

Attendees openly grieved alongside members of the South Florida Jewish community and allies who gathered at the Waterways Shoppes in Aventura to support Israel in its war against Hamas on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Carl Juste/cjuste@miamiherald.com

READ MORE: Supporters of Israel and Palestinians hold opposing protests in Fort Lauderdale

Recent events in Israel are shattering Jewish communities all over the world, including in Florida, said Wilson, who represents parts of Miami-Dade and south Broward counties.

She reflected on a story her father told her about a Jewish man who loaned him money during segregation, when banks werent giving out loans to Black people. Thanks to that man, she said, her family became one of the first Black homeowners in Liberty City.

This is not a distant conflict, Wilson told the crowd.

Attendees openly grieved alongside members of the South Florida Jewish community and allies gathered at the Waterways Shoppes in Aventura to support Israel in its war against Hamas on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Carl Juste/cjuste@miamiherald.com

In her speech, Nunez said that Gov. Ron DeSantis will use every state resource available to support Israel. She also touted the governors pro-Israel policies, such as the states fight against Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a Palestinian-led movement.

We will not stand by and watch this occur, Nunez said.

Jeffrey Daniels, a 66-year-old Aventura resident and son of a Holocaust survivor, told the Miami Herald he attended the rally to let the Israeli people know they have American support.

Its an incredible sad situation, he said. It brings back awful memories.

Leila Stricker, 33, said she feels hopeless as her father, brother and cousins live in Israel.

This is very real to me, she said. We are all brothers and sisters no matter where we live in the world.

Attendees waved flags and held signs alongside members of the South Florida Jewish community and allies who gathered at the Waterways Shoppes in Aventura to support Israel in its war against Hamas on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Carl Juste/cjuste@miamiherald.com

War death toll rises

The assault from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian exclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, has killed over 900 people since Saturday, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades, local officials have said. According to Palestinian authorities, Israels retaliation has killed at least 560 in Gaza, where Hamas has governed since 2007.

Among those killed are 250 people whose bodies were found at a music festival near the Gaza border in Israel, 11 United States citizens and at least 33 Palestinian children in Gaza, authorities said. Thousands more have been injured and at least 100 civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage by Hamas, Israeli officials said. As of Sunday, over 120,000 Palestinians had been displaced in Gaza, the United Nations reported.

Hours before the Aventura rally and a day after Israel declared war, Israel Katz, the countrys minister of energy, said the water supply from Israel to Gaza would be immediately cut off  adding that electricity and fuel services were discontinued Sunday.

The United States and European Union have designated Hamas a terrorist organization. The tension between Palestinians and Israelis has increased in recent years as Israeli settlers push further into Palestinian areas.
Florida has been playing fast and loose with COVID data for years, stonewalling on public records requests and shifting the way it counts cases. Now, finally, Floridians will have a chance to see whats really happening in our state.

A settlement in a lawsuit filed by the Florida Center for Government Accountability on behalf of former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith in August 2021  and later joined by the Miami Herald, other news organizations and the First Amendment Foundation  means the state will have to let the public see the records it tried so hard to keep hidden as the Delta variant tore through the state.

Access denied

For the past two years  as Gov. Ron DeSantis laid the groundwork for a presidential run, relying heavily on his free state of Florida COVID response  Florida had denied that detailed COVID-19 data relating to 2021 infections and vaccines existed. On Monday, DeSantis and the state Department of Health agreed to disclose coronavirus data on the DOH website.

That means no more obfuscation. No more changing the way information is reported so no one can really keep track of cases or trying to deflect by accusing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on social media of publishing incorrect numbers. At long last, the state will have to let the public see the data, including case counts, vaccinations and deaths, broken down by county, age and gender. The settlement requires that the DOH provide the data for the next three years.

This is no small thing. Floridians have always needed to know what the state is doing  or not doing  in such an important public health fight. According to the New York Times, at least 87,000 people have died of COVID in Florida so far. Thats one in 246 residents, a shocking figure.

Smith, an Orlando Democrat, said the states actions resulted in downplaying the COVID threat, which cost lives. DOH spokesperson James Jae Williams III  who seems to have missed the point of the settlement  kept fighting: It is unfortunate that we have continued to waste government resources arguing over the formatting of data with armchair epidemiologists who have zero training or expertise.

On our dime

And yet, why wouldnt the state simply provide all the information to the public? Yes, it reports information to the CDC. But it also changed how it did that, making a surge look less serious, and then undermined the CDCs number with an unfounded attack on Twitter.

The settlement also means the state will have to pay $152,250 in attorneys fees to those who filed the suit. Is DeSantis paying that money? No, of course not. We are. DeSantis has shown repeatedly that hes more than happy to go to court and fight for any number of nonsensical ideas emanating from Tallahassee as long as we, the taxpayers, are footing the bill. Thats like gambling at the blackjack table using someone elses money, except the people of this state didnt sign up to be DeSantis sugar daddy.

This settlement never should have been necessary. If the state had been transparent, instead of attempting to circumvent state public-records laws, we would have known all along just how bad the outbreaks were. We also would have $152,000 to spend on some other need in the state.

Instead, Florida went to court.

And that happened right around the time that DeSantis became a serious contender for the GOP presidential nomination, based largely on his defiant attitude about COVID.

Its no coincidence that the state settled now, either. DeSantis has learned  the hard way  that COVID is no longer the hot-button issue it was a couple of years ago. He tried to capitalize on it during his sinking campaign and saw that his freedom spiel no longer resonated with voters.

So now the state settles. Now well start getting the data. Now we can better assess our own risks. Thats great. But it shouldnt have taken a lawsuit, one that we will pay for, to get here.

Click here to send the letter.
Florida cops says theyre probing what led a 32-year-old man to fatally stab his parents before flooding their home and killing himself in a bathtub. The grisly scene was discovered Monday night in Wesley Chapel, a Tampa suburb, where concerned neighbors called in a welfare check after spotting water suspiciously pouring out of the homes garage and front door all weekend. Inside, officers found a 70-year-old man and 63-year-old woman dead in the living room from days-old stab wounds, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. Elsewhere in the home, which the Tampa Bay Times reported was inundated by several inches of water, Nocco said cops discovered the body of the couples 32-year-old son lying in a bath tub with the water running. Nocco said the son had died from self-inflicted stab wounds, but he didnt identify the son or parents. This is a sad situation, Nocco said, adding that a motive was unclear.

Read it at Tampa Bay Times

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A former pastor has been accused of running an organized crime ring based on selling stolen Home Depot items online.

Robert Dell, from Pinellas County is facing charges after he made millions through the alleged crime ring, which include racketeering and dealing in stolen property.

According to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody , Dell worked with multiple accomplices to steal name-brand items from Home Depot stores in several Florida counties and then sell the items on eBay. The items included Milwaukee and DeWalt products.

In Florida crime news: Florida family sentenced to prison for selling bleach mixture as COVID cure

Who was the pastor accused of stealing from Home Depot?

Robert Dell, 56, is a former pastor of The Rock Church and former director of a halfway house serving those recovering from drug addiction in St. Petersburg, Florida.

According to the press release by Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Pinellas County pastor took advantage of his position at the recovery house and reportedly threatened recovering drug addicts to make them steal for him.

He would then recover the stolen items from them and resell them via his eBay account, which was named Anointed Liquidator, officials said.

What Florida Home Depots were targeted by Dell?

Officials said the Home Depot stores targeted were set in a radius that spanned several hundred miles, specifically throughout Citrus, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties.

How much did Robert Dell steal from Home Depot?

A six-month investigation enacted by Moody's office documented roughly $1.4 million in losses from these stores. Home Depot suspects Dell operated this scheme for more than 10 years, resulting in the loss of more than $5 million.

When was Robert Dell arrested?

Robert Dell was arrested on Aug. 7, 2023.

According to the press release, Dell is facing charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property as an organizer.

Who else was arrested for stealing from Home Depot?

Four other people were arrested back in August in relation to the thefts, including Dell's wife and mother.

Authorities identified Jaclyn Dell, Robert Dells wife and Karen Dell, Robert Dells mother, as conspirators, assisting in the collection, shipment and payment of the stolen goods. Jaclyn is facing a charge of conspiracy to RICO while Karen was charged with dealing in stolen property.

Co-conspirators, Daniel Mace and Jessica Wild were also arrested. They are accused by state investigators of stealing the majority of the merchandise and, on average, victimized stores five to six times a day. They then delivered the merchandise to Dells house to be sold.

How was Pastor Robert Dell caught?

Moody said that this case is another successful example due to the implementation of FORCE, which is a taskforce meant to fight back against "organized retail theft and prevent lawlessness in Florida."

Due to the success of FORCE, another retail theft crime ring is dismantled, and our Statewide Prosecutors continue to file charges against organized retail thieves. This pastor clearly skipped over the commandment  thou shall not steal," Moody said.

"Our FORCE taskforce shut down his criminal operation stealing millions of dollars worth of merchandise from Home Depot stores across the state to resell the items on eBay. We will not tolerate organized retail theft in Florida and my office will continue to combat these criminal organizations.

Since 2019, Moodys statewide prosecutors have filed more than 90 cases and charged more than 300 defendants in cases involving organized retail theft. The Office of Statewide Prosecution has a nearly 100% conviction rate for organized retail theft cases.

What has Dell's Church said about his crimes?

The Rock Church refuted Moody's claim that Dell was still a pastor at the church. They have since put up a statement on their website about him, that said:

"Just to clear the record. Robert Dell is not the pastor of the rock church. He wasnt the founding Pastor Either. He was the Pastor when it was named the Rock Community Church and Transformation Center, and hasnt been a Pastor for the last 2 1/2 years."

What has Home Depot said about the thefts?

Home Depot has yet to issue a formal statement on Dell and the incident. However, the chain's vice president of asset protection Scott Glenn told The Wall Street Journal that the number of thefts in Tampa had dropped since Dell was charged.

Somebody else will rise up and probably start doing this in the absence of this group that was busted, he said.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Home Depots in Florida target of pastor's theft ring, prosecutors say
Florida's Department of Health agreed to a settlement requiring it to provide more detailed COVID-19 data, after a group sued in 2021 for the release of records during the state's COVID-19 surge.

The new data will detail vaccination counts, case counts and deaths. It'll be aggregated weekly for the next three years, grouped by county, age group, gender and race.

The department provides more general COVID-19 data every two weeks.

"COVID-19 data will shift from the previously published Biweekly Reports and now solely be available on Florida CHARTS alongside all other public health data," Jae Williams, the department's press secretary, said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis watches as nurse Christine Philips left, administers the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 to Vera Leip, 88, a resident of John Knox Village, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in Pompano Beach, Fla. Nursing home residents and health care workers in Florida began receiving the vaccine this week.

The court did not order the state to display the data but the department decided to do so, he said.

The department will also have to pay $152,500 in legal fees. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included former Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando; the Florida Center for Government Accountability; the USA TODAY Network; the Miami Herald; the Associated Press; Scripps Media Co.; The New York Times; The Washington Post; the Sun-Sentinel; the Tampa Bay Times and the First Amendment Foundation.

All Floridians have a constitutional right to public records and the right to receive critical public health data in a timely manner in order to make informed decisions impacting the health and safety of their families," Smith said in a Monday press release.

"The Department lied about the existence of these public records in court and did everything to restrict information and downplay the threat of COVID even while the delta variant ripped through Florida  a decision that cost many lives," said Smith, who is running for a state Senate seat. "The DeSantis Administration settled in our favor because they knew what they did was wrong."

The governor's office referred a media request to the Florida Department of Health.

Williams, the department's press secretary, called Smith's news release a "political stunt" and its characterization strange, pointing to a line in the settlement agreement that reads it "is not and shall not in any way be construed as an admission by any Party of any wrongdoing or any violation of any law."

"It is unfortunate that we have continued to waste government resources arguing over the formatting of data with armchair epidemiologists who have zero training or expertise," Williams told the USA TODAY Network in an email. "While some individuals may continue to grapple for political relevancy and disregard providing the public with the truth, we will continue serving Floridians by executing our core mission of protecting, promoting, and improving the health of all people in Florida. "

What spurred the lawsuit?

An Orange County Board member requested Smith gather data from the state Department of Health on pediatric hospitalizations and cases. This happened as the state was the epicenter of the COVID-19 surge during the summer of 2021 from the delta variant and ranked No. 1 in pediatric cases.

The department denied Smith's request, stating in part, that the data for Orange County is "confidential and exempt from public disclosure under Florida statutes and rules.

The nonprofit watchdog organization Florida Center for Government Accountability made the same records request for all of Florida's 67 counties and the request was denied for the same reasons.

Employees of the Miami-Dade Public Library System distribute COVID-19 home rapid test kits in Miami on Jan. 8, 2022.

The watchdog group and Smith filed suit. Several major news media companies, including the USA TODAY Network, joined the suit. So did the First Amendment Foundation.

The department claimed in court that the requested records didn't exist, according to a press release. But the department released the records in March following a state appellate court order.

The parties agreed to a settlement after the watchdog group informed the department that those records satisfied the public records requests made almost two years before, according to the release.

Michael Barfield, director of public access initiatives at the Florida Center for Government Accountability, said the department hid the records to validate a narrative the state was open for business.

Transparency and accountability are not negotiable. The Constitution mandates it, he said.

A pharmacist administers a Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine last month at a drug store in Cypress, Texas.

DeSantis uses COVID-19 record to build support

The settlement comes during Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign. The Republican has used his COVID-19 record to try and gain more support in his White House bid.

He rose to conservative stardom early in the pandemic in large part due to his COVID-19 policies, such as penalizing mask and vaccine mandates.

His administration, at the same time, slow-walked or refused coronavirus-related public information requests, drawing controversy and lawsuits, such as those by Smith and the Florida Center for Government Accountability.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the FOX Business Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

He picked Joseph Ladapo as Florida's surgeon general. Ladapo, who's also named in the lawsuit, frequently defies medical consensus to boost vaccine skepticism.

Attempting to chip away at some of the MAGA vote, DeSantis has elevated coronavirus and vaccine skepticism conspiracies and attacked Trump for the COVID-19 restrictions that happened during his presidency.

"Why are we in this mess? Part of it, and a major reason is because how this federal government handled COVID-19 by locking down this economy," DeSantis said during the first GOP presidential primary debate. "It was a mistake. It should have never happened. And in Florida, we led the country out of lockdown."

News sources joined lawsuit: USA TODAY Network, other Florida news organizations join public records lawsuit

How it started: Two months later, finding Florida COVID data by county can be frustrating  but possible

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

Reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DouglasSoule.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida releasing more COVID-19 data after settling records lawsuit
Around 450 Ukrainians remain in Israel and Gaza amidst intense fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said in a press conference on Oct. 10.

According to Ukrainska Pravda news outlet, around 300 Ukrainians in Israel and 150 in Gaza contacted the temporary headquarters set up by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry and said they wanted to leave.

Nikolenko added that more than 700 appeals had already been processed. It is unclear if that means they have already been evacuated.

Further information about the total number of Ukrainians dead and wounded is still forthcoming. On Oct. 8, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel confirmed that two Ukrainians had been killed, and Nikolenko said there could be an additional third death.

The Palestinian armed group Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, using missiles and soldiers who infiltrated Israeli territory. Fighting in Israel, as well as in Gaza, was still underway. As of Oct. 10, more than 900 Israelis and almost 700 Palestinians have been killed, and thousands more wounded.

There is a large Ukrainian community in Israel, estimated by the Foreign Ministry as being around 500,000, most of whom left Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The vast majority of them are Jews from Ukraine.

In addition, some 15,000-40,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Israel since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It is unclear what their status is, or how many have stayed in the country.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia provides Hamas with Western weapons captured in Ukraine, Kyiv says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Bellevilles former city engineer, who left abruptly this summer without giving a reason, has been hired for the same job in Mascoutah.

Mascoutah Mayor Pat McMahan said Monday that Sal Elkott will start work on Oct. 16. The city has been without an engineer since December, when Tom Quirk left for Fairview Heights.

McMahan said he feels lucky to have recruited someone as highly regarded as Elkott in the profession.

Hes going to be a valuable asset, Im sure, said McMahan, who also is a local real-estate broker. Hes very knowledgeable and experienced. Were looking forward to that.

Mascoutah City Council approved the mayors appointment of Elkott at its meeting on Oct. 2.

City engineers plan for projects related to infrastructure, such as streets and sidewalks, including budgeting and contracting. Elkott will earn $120,000 a year, the same as his Belleville salary.

For the past nine months, Mascoutah has been contracting with private firms for engineering services while trying to find a replacement for Quirk, according to the mayor.

We were getting by, but its not the same as having your own engineer, McMahan said.

Elkott, 62, of unincorporated Belleville, emailed his resignation to Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory on Aug. 25, effective immediately, after two years in the position. Again on Monday, he declined to publicly give a reason, saying he wanted to move forward.

Elkott has worked 35 years in engineering. He formerly served as Stookey Township highway commissioner and founded his own engineering firm in 2004. Its now limited to forensic engineering, consulting and providing expert testimony in court cases.

Elkott said he didnt seek out the Mascoutah job but agreed to meet when the mayor called.

Im looking forward to it, Elkott said. I really am. Mascoutah is a different animal (than Belleville). Its a growing community. I have a better chance of making a bigger impact.

Gregory asked Assistant City Engineer Scott Saeger to replace Elkott, and Belleville City Council approved his promotion on Sept. 18.

Saeger is a Belleville West High School graduate who worked as a project engineer for Alberici Constructors from 1996 to 2003, assistant city engineer for the village of Shiloh from 2003 to 2006 and city engineer for the village of Smithton from 2006 to 2023.

Sal had a lot of projects set up that are already in the pipeline, Saeger said last month. So thats kind of the focus right now, making sure that those projects keep moving forward.
Hong Kong's talent-related initiatives have received enthusiastic response since implementation, with over 100,000 talent admission applications approved by the end of September, an official said Monday.

Approximately 60,000 approved talent visa holders have arrived in Hong Kong, surpassing the target of bringing in at least 35,000 talents annually, Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, told a forum.

Hong Kong is willing to work hand in hand with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), strengthening collaborative efforts in talent development, and contributing to the development of the GBA and the nation, he said.

As of the end of September, Hong Kong's various talent attraction programs received approximately 160,000 applications, of which about one-third were applications for the "Top Talent Pass Scheme."

The scheme seeks to attract top talents with rich work experience and good academic qualifications from all over the world to explore opportunities in Hong Kong. These top talents include high-income talents and graduates from the world's top universities.

Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the HKSAR government proactively trawls for talent to create a strong impetus for Hong Kong's growth. A series of talent attraction measures announced in the Policy Address has been implemented since Dec. 28, 2022. They include introducing the top talent scheme as well as enhancing existing talent admission schemes.
Former conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser is advising a top Republican in the Badger State against pursuing a potential impeachment against a liberal justice on the states high court.

Republicans have been mulling impeaching recently elected liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz after she made comments ahead of her April election for a seat on the states high court in which she criticized the states election maps. Members of the GOP said she should recuse herself from several redistricting cases directed to the state Supreme Court.

But Prosser said in a letter to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) dated Friday that he did not believe Republicans should consider impeaching Protasiewicz, saying in part that she has not been accused of any crime or misdemeanor, according to documents obtained in a records request by the left-leaning watchdog group American Oversight and first published by The Associated Press (AP).

I do not see any evidence of corrupt conduct after Justice Protasiewicz took office as a member of the Supreme Court, Prosser wrote, noting later that corrupt conduct is not a term that is open to a mere political grievance.

To sum up my views, there should be no efforts to impeach Justice Protasiewicz on anything we know now. Impeachment is so serious, severe, and rare that it should not be considered unless the subject has committed a crime, or the subject has committed indisputable corrupt conduct while in office,' he added.

Prosser is among three former Wisconsin Supreme Court justices that Vos has tapped to consider impeachment criteria, according to the AP. The identities of the other two are not known.

The letter came on the same day that the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on the states election maps. Protasiewicz, whose election in April flipped partisan control on the court to a liberal majority, said she would not be recusing herself.

Recusal decisions are controlled by the law. They are not a matter of personal preference. If precedent requires it, I must recuse. But if precedent does not warrant recusal, my oath binds me to participate, she wrote.

That move sparked backlash from Vos, who argued in a statement that the liberal justice should have recused herself.

Justice Protasiewicz is asking to be taken at her word that she will apply the law. Given the Wisconsin Supreme Court is limiting its review of the redistricting case to two questions, legal contiguity and separation of powers, applying the law should be straightforward. The Wisconsin Supreme Court addressed these very questions less than two years ago, and the law remains the same, he said.

The Hill has reached out to Voss office for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two former employees are suing Delta College for discrimination and retaliation, alleging they were subject to "intolerable working conditions" at the institution.

"Intolerable working conditions" at San Joaquin Delta College could force the school to dole out millions of dollars to two former employees who claim a racism-fueled culture went unchanged despite warning after warning.

The employee accused of "repugnant actions" remains at the college while school officials said details from their investigation into the matter won't be released. While citing personnel privacy as the reason they won't speak out, they may not be able to hide behind that in response to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of plaintiffs Neelab Ibrahim and Dawn Kendrick, was filed on July 18 in San Joaquin County Superior Court. The women are asking for $2 million in damages.

Overworked, underpaid

Ibrahim was hired as a fiscal technician at Delta College in 2017. The lawsuit claims that during her time working in the college's fiscal services department, Ibrahim faced rank discrimination by her employer, was denied opportunities for promotion, and forced to work "out of class" or above her pay grade without extra compensation.

The complaint also alleges that Ibrahim, a native of Afghanistan, was subjected to racial discrimination by Vanessa Rodriguez, director of Fiscal Services. The plaintiffs claim that the college's human resources department turned a "blind eye ... towards Rodriguez's repugnant actions" when made aware of the discrimination.

Over the course of a two-year period, Ibrahim applied for higher positions in an effort to be compensated for the work she was already performing, the lawsuit states. The suit describes four instances in which Ibrahim was denied of a promotion, including in November 2020.

"Ms. Ibrahim applied for a Level 4 (Fiscal Analyst) position, for which there were now two vacancies. Ms. Ibrahim had been doing Level 4 work for years at Delta College, but she was not getting compensated for it," the lawsuit states.

"Having not heard anything for four months after she applied, Ms. Ibrahim reached out to Ms. Rodriguez. Ms. Rodriguez falsely told Ms. Ibrahim that she did not meet the minimum educational requirements for the Level 4 (Fiscal Analyst) position. This was not true," the document claims.

Ibrahim obtained a degree in accounting and finance from Kabul University, and worked for a decade at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, according to court records. She later received a master's degree in public administration from California State University, East Bay. These experiences made her "perfectly qualified" for the position, the lawsuit states.

"When Ms. Ibrahim reached out to human resources about this issue, Vanessa Rodriguez yelled at her, and gave her a write up without notifying the union," the lawsuit alleges.

'Sick of this f---ing b---h'

Kendrick, Ibrahim's direct supervisor, had multiple conversations with Rodriguez regarding Ibrahim's role, according to the lawsuit. In a 49-minute conversation on June 7, 2022, the lawsuit alleges Rodriguez "unleashed a salvo of personal attacks against Ms. Ibrahim."

Then, on June 14, 2022, the lawsuit states Kendrick participated in a "2.5-hour team call" with Rodriguez to discuss whether Ibrahim was qualified for a promotion.

"It was during this conversation that the extent of Ms. Rodriguez's vitriol against Ms. Ibrahim became apparent," the lawsuit claims. "In a heated frenzy, Ms. Rodriguez said of Ms. Ibrahim, 'Neely [Ibrahim] has a false sense of self, and thinks she is better than everyone else. She even applied for my job! Can you even imagine, Dawn?'"

"Ms. Rodriguez then began shouting at Ms. Kendrick, 'She is from Afghanistan! You know how those people are from that country! They are violent and live in chaos, and they push and push until they get what they want. Neely is just like that!" the document claims.

Kendrick reported the conversation to Theresa Truly, director of human resources, and told her that Rodriguez's statements were "blatant discrimination of [Ibrahim's] nationality, culture and race." She added that Rodriguez was sabotaging Ibrahim's career and provided Truly with a timeline listing the positions she applied for and the reasons why they were denied, according to the lawsuit.

"The head of human resources took no notes, asked no questions, and as far as Ms. Kendrick could tell, conducted no follow-up with her or anyone else," the lawsuit claims.

The suit claims Rodriguez's discrimination against Ibrahim continued, even after human resources became involved.

In a four-hour phone call with Kendrick on June 28, 2022, Rodriguez allegedly went on a hate-fueled rant after she found out Ibrahim filed a complaint to human resources against her as well.

"Ms. Rodriguez made a point, again, of noting that Ms. Ibrahim was from Afghanistan, 'and that is where she received her education, and you know, foreign degrees don't mean s--t in our country ... Afghanistan and that region of the world is violent and chaotic, and those f----d up Middle Eastern people bring that s--t here to the United States and expect us to give them everything! I cant stand it, and she is just like the rest of them! I am sick of this f---ing b---h! She doesnt even belong in our department!'" the lawsuit claims.

Later that summer, Ibrahim requested reclassification due to the more advanced "out of class" work she had been doing, but not getting compensated for, the lawsuit states. Kendrick was instructed by human resources that, as Ibrahim's direct supervisor, she would have to review Ibrahim's submission for reclassification and validate that she had been doing out of class work.

Kendrick submitted the form to human resources and noted that Ibrahim had been misclassified for years dating back to her hire in 2017. A week later, Kendrick was told that her assignment at Delta College had been terminated.

"No reason was given as to why it was terminated," the lawsuit alleges. "Ms. Kendrick had received no prior complaints, write ups, or concerns whatsoever regarding her work."

Ibrahim resigned this June, noting that from her first day she had been working outside of her classification and she applied for promotion and advancement multiple times, always to be told the position was "on hold."

Sacramento-based attorney Kellie Marie Murphy will represent Delta College in the lawsuit. A case management conference has been scheduled for Jan. 16.

Still employed, no comment

Alex Breitler, a spokesman for the college, confirmed that Rodriguez and Truly are still employed by the institution and provided a statement to The Record on Monday.

"As a general rule, Delta College does not comment in detail on pending legal matters in order to preserve the integrity of the process," Breitler said. "We can confirm that the college has investigated the allegations, but cannot discuss that investigation as this is a personnel matter."

"Delta College is firmly committed to diversity in the workplace and to ensuring that employees from all backgrounds and walks of life are welcomed into our college community and treated respectfully."

Emails to Rodriguez and Truly seeking comment were not immediately returned on Monday.

This comes as Delta College released its annual campus climate survey, which found that some employees experienced microaggressions at work, particularly African American/Black employees.

"African American/Black employees shared stories of microaggressions they had experienced at Delta, including being demeaned or humiliated by campus police, being treated inferiorly as a result of wearing casual clothing versus professional attire, and receiving irrelevant and ignorant comments about Black hair," the report states.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Former employees sue Delta College alleging discrimination, retaliation
A former Haitian senator pleaded guilty Tuesday in Miami federal court to conspiring with others in Haiti and South Florida to kill his countrys president, including attending a key meeting with Colombian commandos on July 6, 2021  the day before authorities say they assassinated Jovenel Moise.

The former senator, Joseph Joel John, who had been detained in Jamaica before being brought to Miami last year, acknowledged to FBI agents that he had met with some co-conspirators just before they embarked on the mission to kill President Moise at his suburban home outside Port-au-Prince, according to court records.

John, 52, admitted that he helped obtain rental vehicles, made introductions to Haitian gang members and tried to get firearms for the co-conspirators operation targeting Haitis leader, according to a factual statement filed with his plea agreement. Josephs goal was to become the prime minister under Moises successor following the leaders removal from office.

John pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to kill Haitis president, providing that support, and conspiring to kill or kidnap a person outside the United States. He faces up to life in prison at his sentencing on Dec. 19 before U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez, but he is cooperating with federal prosecutors and could receive less punishment down the road.

John is the third defendant out of 11 charged in the Haiti assassination case with either conspiring to assassinate Moise or with playing a supporting role in an FBI-led case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Florida.

The two other defendants who previously pleaded guilty to the murder conspiracy are:

Retired Colombian army officer German Alejandro Rivera Garcia, aka Colonel Mike, 45, admitted last month that he met with several co-conspirators from Haiti and South Florida before leading a group of former Colombian soldiers to the Haitian presidents home to kill him. Rivera faces up to life in prison at his sentencing later this month.

Also, Haitian business man Rodolphe Jaar, 51, admitted to providing weapons, lodging and money in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitis president. A dual Haitian and Chilean citizen, Jaar was sentenced in June to life in prison but is hoping to get his prison term decreased with cooperation. Previously, he was also convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.

John, who also goes by the name John Joel Joseph, was transferred in May 2022 to Miami from Jamaica, where he had been jailed on an immigration violation. John served in the Haitian Senate from 2009-15 and worked as a political and security consultant.

After Johns transfer and arrest in Miami, his wife and two sons were allowed to come to the United States, according to his defense attorney, Brian Kirlew.

Theyre here in the United States, and theyre safe, Kirlew said after the plea hearing. The hope is they can remain here.

John, according to a Haitian police investigative report, rented five vehicles for the deadly mission five weeks before the murder plot was carried out. He was joined by a powerful gang leader, Vitelhomme Innocent, and a former rebel leader known as the Torturer, Miradieu Faustin.

John also attended meetings in South Florida and Haiti with key suspects and tried to acquire weapons and ammunition for them, according to his signed factual statement and other court records. Hes believed to have been an interlocutor between the various groups. On the night of the killing, he was in communication with several main suspects.

READ MORE: Made in Miami. Who was involved in killing of Haiti president Jovenel Moise?

John was part of the plotting in the run-up to the presidents killing, prosecutors say.

In April 2021, John joined other co-conspirators at the Doral office of Counter Terrorist Security, including the companys CEO, Anthony Intriago, another CTU employee, Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, who was also an FBI informant, James Solages, a Haitian American who also worked for CTU, and Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian American physician who aspired to replace Haitis president in a planned coup.

John also attended another meting that month at the Weston office of Walter Veintemillas Worldwide Capital Lending Group, which provided $173,000 in funds for the groups plot to remove Haitis leader by force. Others attending the meeting were Ortiz, Intriago, Solages and Sanon.

At meeting, the group spoke about financial opportunities to invest in Haiti after the removal of President Moise, according to Johns factual statement.

John was also present at meetings in Haiti where the operation to kill the countrys leader was discussed, including one gathering at Jaars home the day before the assassination. Among those attending that critical meeting: Solages, Jaar, Rivera, Joseph Vincent, a Haitian American from South Florida who previously worked as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, a Colombian commando who is accused of being involved in the assault on the presidents home.

At that time, Solages told John and others present, in substance, that the operation was going to result in the assassination of President Moise, according to Johns statement.

The following day, July 7, 2021, Johns co-conspirators attacked the presidents residence and fatally shot him and wounded his wife.
FILE - Haiti's President Jovenel Moise speaks during an interview at his home in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 7, 2020. A former Haitian senator pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in the United States to charges related to the 2021 assassination of former President Moise. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MIAMI (AP)  A former Haitian senator pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the United States to charges related to the 2021 assassination of former President Jovenel Moise.

John Joel Joseph made his appearance at a Miami federal court and changed his plea after reaching an agreement with the government.

Federal judge Jose Martinez set his sentencing for Dec. 19. Joseph faces a possible life sentence, but the U.S. government would recommend reducing it if he cooperates with the investigation, according to the 11th page plea agreement.

The former senator was extradited from Jamaica to the U.S. in June to face charges of conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and providing material support resulting in death, knowing or intending that such material support would be used to prepare for or carry out the conspiracy to kill or kidnap.

Joseph, a very well known politician and opponent of the slain president's Tet Kale party, is one of the 11 people facing charges related to the killing in South Florida. Another two people also pleaded guilty and one of them, Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar, was sentenced in June to life in prison. The sentencing for former Colombian soldier German Alejandro Rivera Garcia is set for Oct. 27.

Eight more defendants are waiting trial in the United States.

According to the charges, Joseph and others, including about 20 Colombian citizens and several dual Haitian-American citizens, participated in a plot to kidnap or kill Haitis president, who was slain at his home in Haiti on July 7, 2021.

President Moise was killed when assailants broke into his private home in Port-au-Prince. He was 53 years old.

The former senator was arrested in Jamaica in January, and in March he agreed to be extradited to the U.S.

The Haitian government also arrested more than 40 people for their alleged roles in the murder.
(Bloomberg) -- Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said he hasnt ruled out running for president in 2024, noting that the vast majority of Americans want an alternative to President Joe Biden or GOP frontrunner Donald Trump .

Most Read from Bloomberg

However I can serve, Im still trying to figure that out, but Im not walking away, Hogan said at an event at Bloombergs office in Washington.

I dont want to run a race and nibble around the edges, he added. If I thought there was a path to success to win the race, then I just said I wouldnt shut the door to that opportunity.

Hogan is an honorary national co-chairman of No Labels, a centrist activist group thats laying the groundwork for a third-party presidential bid in 2024. No Labels calls the plan an insurance policy in case the major parties nominate Biden and Trump for a 2020 rematch.

An April NBC News poll indicated that 60% of Americans dont think Trump should run again, compared to 70% for Biden.

For now, however, Hogan said his primary focus is trying to get the Republican Party back on track amid discord in Washington that led to the ouster last week of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and lingering divisions over Trump.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is on the ascent and could still emerge as an alternative to Trump, Hogan said, adding that she was a stronger candidate than Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis has continued to fail throughout the campaign. He started out with all the advantages, he said.

Hogan said he was disgusted by the infighting among House Republicans that forced McCarthy to surrender the speakers gavel, calling Florida Representative Matt Gaetz  who engineered McCarthys ouster  a cancer on the party and on the Congress.

Its a train wreck. I mean, its embarrassing, and I think its terrible for the Republican Party. I think its terrible for Congress and for the country, he said of the current dispute over the speakership.

Hogan, 67, was a two-term Republican governor in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, leaving office as one of the nations most popular chief executives in January because of term limits. He served as chairman of the National Governors Association in 2019 and 2020.

Hes so far declined to run for the Republican nomination, saying in March he had no desire to put my family through another grueling campaign just for the experience.

Hogan said its probably too late for another governor  like Virginias Glenn Youngkin or Georgias Brian Kemp  to get in the race. Thats not going to happen, he said. I mean, theyve missed the deadlines already.

And Trumps lead over the rest of the Republican field has almost tripled since Hogan decided not to run as a Republican, from 16 points in March to nearly 45 points today in national polls.

No Labels has been conducting polls and focus groups with independent voters to decide how best to mount a third-party challenge. The group will hold a national convention in Dallas next April, at which it will decide whose name  if anyones  will occupy the lines it plans to secure on state ballots.

Democratic-aligned groups have complained that a No Labels bid would only serve to peel off anti-Trump moderates from Biden, helping to ensure a Trump victory. Biden himself has said that No Labels has the democratic right to field a candidate but warned that it would be a mistake.

And the list of minor candidates is only growing. Progressive academic Cornel West and environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have both announced independent bids in the past week, complicating the path to victory in competitive battleground states.

Read more: Kennedy Leaves Democrats to Run Against Biden as Independent

Four states were decided by less than a percentage point in 2020: Michigan, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania  and a Trump victory in those states would have changed the outcome.

--With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
 See Also: Lawyer: Tyre Nichols had stolen items, hallucinogenic drug in car when Memphis Police pulled him over

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Binghampton man said police arrested him on felony charges for something he didnt do. Months later, the Shelby County District Attorneys office threw out his case along with dozens more, because the officers involved are now charged with the death of Tyre Nichols.

Davarius Wrister said he spent two days in jail, while his anger mounted. He says police planted evidence on him.

Last December, Wrister said he was meeting a buddy in Binghampton when all of a sudden, Memphis police pulled up, and he tried to walk away.

We were just hanging out on Red Oak Street. Just chilling. I really had just got dropped off, he said. Where are you going? Where are you going? I said I was fixing to walk off, because I havent done nothing.

He admitted he was scared.

They didnt touch me. I was so scared. I just got into the car, he said.

Wrister said police found a stolen gun and pinned it on him.

And he said, You fixing to get charged with this gun. I said, How are you going to charge me with the gun, and theres three more other folks over here? You didnt charge them. You charged me. How did that happen? he said.

Wrister was slapped with being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, theft and a marijuana charge. He said his brother had to find $4,000 to bond him out. It was money he said his brother didnt have.

Go check the fingerprints, see if I touched this gun! he said. They didnt want to do none of that. They just took me down to charge me with it.

Twenty days later, Wrister saw some of the officers again  this time on the news. They were charged with killing Nichols during a traffic stop.

DA reviewed Scorpion Units cases

WREG Investigators uncovered criminal court records showing three of the five officers charged played a part in Wristers arrest, as well as three more MPD officers. They were all working a detail together that night as a part of the Scorpion Unit, a now-disbanded crime suppression team created to target gangs, drugs and auto theft.

The officers wrote their version of events in a sworn affidavit. They claimed individuals were standing in the middle of the street. They heard a loud metal sound of something dropping into a trash bin, and when they looked, they found a stolen gun. They detained two men, Wrister and his friend, for trying to walk away from it.

Officers stated they also smelled an extremely strong marijuana odor from a nearby vehicle and arrested four people inside the car for drugs.

Former MPD officers federally charged in Nichols case enter not guilty pleas

One of those people was attorney Art Hornes client. She received a felony drug charge that disrupted her life.

Very conflicting. I mean, basically, the pills were not found in her purse, Horne said. Ms. Williams had to have this case hanging over her head. Had to go through background checks for her jobs and other things while this case was pending.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy says his office reviewed about 100 cases connected to the Scorpion Unit and the officers charged with Nichols death. It came down to credibility. The DAs office says they lowered charges in about a dozen cases and dismissed 39.

Are these officers needed as witnesses? And if they were, those are cases that had to be dismissed, Mulroys Deputy DA Paul Hagerman explained. We also looked at issues, you are probably asking about, is this a simple traffic offense that needlessly escalated or whatever the situation was? We tried to be cognizant of those things.

Horne said his clients case was dismissed.

Ms. Williams was innocent, and fortunately, her case was dismissed. The sad part is she had to go through this for almost a year, he said.

WREG uncovers SCORPION Unit cases dropped by DA

Wristers case was also dismissed.

Really, I could have gone to the federal penitentiary, because of stuff I didnt do, he said.

Some cases have since been expunged, meaning wiped from the persons criminal record.

Of the cases we were able to access, court records show a majority started as a traffic stop just like what happened to Nichols. Ninety percent arrested were men, and of those cases, 90 percent were African American. Most resulted in drug charges.

Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis has since scrapped the Scorpion Unit.

You saw a lot of arrests. You saw them fighting crime, but you also saw a lot of innocent people getting wrapped up in those arrests. Its unfortunate that many of those people are African Americans, Horne said.

As for Wrister, he said his anger hasnt faded.

I am glad everything is over with, he said. I dont like the police at all. I never liked the police.

 DO YOU NEED A STORY INVESTIGATED? WREG Investigators want to hear from you! Call our tip line at 901-543-2378. You can also send an email to newstips@wreg.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Former Trump adviser Steve Cortes has stepped down from his position at the super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis s (R ) presidential bid Never Back Down, according to a statement from the group.

Steve launched his own show and left his role as a spokesman for Never Back Down, said Erin Perrine, communications director for Never Back Down. He will continue to support Governor DeSantis in his personal capacity.

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Cortess exit from the pro-DeSantis group comes as former President Trump continues to dominate Republican presidential primaries roughly three months out from the Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis has yet to gain traction in most primary polling. The Real Clear Politics average shows the former president at 57.4 support, while DeSantis comes in at 12.6 percent.

Cortes endorsed DeSantis in May before the governor formally announced his presidential bid. He previously served as a senior adviser to former President Trumps 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns and was a frequent pro-Trump voice on cable news.

Governor Ron DeSantis represents the best possible option to win the presidency in 2024 and to govern as a highly capable, patriotic populist leader, Cortes wrote in a Newsweek op-ed announcing his endorsement earlier this year.

I have worked as a dedicated spokesman and advocate for Donald Trump for much of the last seven years, so I do not arrive at that conclusion flippantly, Cortes added. But our America First movement has always been bigger and more important than any one individual, and heading into this crucial election, our activism and our votes must be guided by a clear-eyed assessment of recent failures and potential future successes.

Cortes acknowledged in July that DeSantis was way behind Trump during a Twitter spaces event, but said he did not believe the race was an unwinnable battle by any stretch.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - This June 6, 2011 photo shows Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser posing a question to Dane County Circuit Court Representative Marie A. Stanton during a hearing at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Prosser announced his retirement Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in a news release from the court. There should be no effort to impeach a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice based on what is known now, a former justice advised the Republican legislative leader who asked him to review the issue. That is what Prosser advised Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in an email. (AP Photo/John Hart, Pool, File)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  There should be no effort to impeach a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice based on what is known now, a former justice advised the Republican legislative leader who asked him to review the issue.

Some Republicans had raised the prospect of impeaching newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she did not recuse from a redistricting lawsuit seeking to toss GOP-drawn legislative district boundary maps. On Friday, she declined to recuse herself, and the court voted 4-3 along partisan lines to hear the redistricting challenge.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos had asked three former justices to review the possibility of impeachment. One of those three, David Prosser , sent Vos an email on Friday, seemingly just before Protasiewicz declined to recuse, advising against moving forward with impeachment. That was after a state judiciary disciplinary panel rejected several complaints lodged against Protasiewicz that alleged she violated the judicial code of ethics with comments she made during the campaign.

Prosser turned the email over to the liberal watchdog group American Oversight as part of an open records request.

To sum up my views, there should be no effort to impeach Justice Protasiewicz on anything we know now, Prosser wrote to Vos. Impeachment is so serious, severe, and rare that it should not be considered unless the subject has committed a crime, or the subject has committed indisputable corrupt conduct while in office."

Vos on Monday made his first comments about Protasiewicz since she declined to recuse from the case and Vos got the email from Prosser. In his statement, Vos did not mention impeachment. He did not return text messages Monday or early Tuesday seeking further comment.

Vos raised the threat of impeachment because he argued that Protasiewicz had prejudged the redistricting case when during her campaign she called the current maps rigged and unfair. Vos also said that her acceptance of nearly $10 million from the Wisconsin Democratic Party would unduly influence her ruling.

Protasiewicz on Friday rejected those arguments, noting that other justices have accepted campaign cash and not recused from cases. She also noted that she never promised or pledged to rule on the redistricting lawsuit in any way.

Other justices, both conservative and liberal, have spoken out in the past on issues that could come before the court, although not always during their run for office like Protasiewicz did. Current justices have also accepted campaign cash from political parties and others with an interest in court cases and haven't recused themselves. But none of them have faced threats of impeachment.

In his email to Vos, Prosser said he did not think Protasiewicz had met the standard for impeachment, which is reserved for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors.

She has not committed a crime or corrupt conduct, Prosser said.

In my view, corrupt conduct is not a term that is open to a mere political grievance, Prosser wrote. If that were the case, legislative bodies could be trading questionable impeachments with considerable frequency.

Prosser cautioned that using impeachment to delay or affect the outcome of any single case will be viewed as unreasonable partisan politics.

Prosser, a former Republican Assembly speaker, was the only one of the former justices who came forward to say they were on the panel created by Vos. But the records he turned over to American Oversight show that he was also apparently working with former Chief Justice Patience Roggensack on looking at impeachment.

The group has filed a lawsuit alleging that the panel Vos created is breaking the state open meetings law.

Justice Prossers opinion letter demonstrates why Speaker Vos secret panel needs to operate in public," said Heather Sawyer, American Oversight's executive director, in a statement. "We still dont know everyone involved or what other work has been done, and will keep pressing to ensure that the people of Wisconsin have full transparency and accountability regarding the Speakers impeachment plans.

Vos announced the formation of the impeachment review panel on Sept. 13. Vos refused to say who he asked and Prosser also would not tell a judge when asked during a court hearing on the American Oversight lawsuit last month.

Text messages from Roggensack to Prosser on Sept. 14 show her asking if Prosser is free for a meeting. Prosser also released a voicemail from Roggensack left that same day referring to the text and asking to speak with him on a matter that I thought we were going to look at together.

Prosser, during that Sept. 29 hearing, denied the claim made by American Oversight that the panel was a governmental body subject to the states open meetings law.

In a voicemail he released from Roggensack from Oct. 2, Roggensack says she wants to talk with him about why we, whatever we are, are not a governmental body.
FILE - Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., answers a question during a debate with New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, as they face off during a New York governor primary debate at the studios of WNBC4-TV, Thursday June 16, 2022, in New York. Suozzi is launching a campaign, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, to retake the New York congressional seat held by Rep. George Santos as the besieged Republican congressman faces criminal charges on money laundering and lying to Congress.(Craig Ruttle/Newsday via AP, Pool, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi on Tuesday launched a campaign to retake the New York congressional seat held by Rep. George Santos as the besieged Republican congressman faces a sprawling list of criminal charges.

Suozzi had represented the 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Long Island and northeast Queens, before an unsuccessful campaign for governor last year.

The Democrat announced the congressional bid in a statement on X, formally known as Twitter, and said a formal campaign kickoff will come after local elections next month.

Today Im filing a committee to run for Congress in November 2024, he said. The madness in Washington, D.C., and the absurdity of George Santos remaining in the United States Congress is obvious to everyone.

A handful of candidates have emerged to vie for the seat in what is expected to be part of a group of competitive congressional races in New York that could determine party control of the House. Santos' seat is seen as a key target for New York Democrats who are trying to reverse a series of unexpected losses in last year's congressional elections.

Santos has so far resisted calls to resign following a federal indictment filed in May alleging he duped donors, embezzled money from his campaign, lied in financial disclosures submitted to Congress about being a millionaire and received unemployment funds when he wasnt eligible. He has pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Santos on Tuesday, alleging he also stole the identities of his political donors and used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges.

Santos did not immediately return a text and phone message seeking comment on Tuesday. He has previously denied defrauding anyone.

Last week, Santos' ex-treasurer pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge and implicated Santos in a scheme to embellish his campaign finance reports with a fake loan and fake donors.

After his election, news outlets revealed that Santos had fabricated large parts of his background, including making up stories about where he went to college and where he worked, telling people he was a Wall Street dealmaker with a real estate portfolio when he was actually struggling financially and had faced eviction from multiple apartments. Santos also lied about his heritage, saying he was Jewish when he wasnt.

He has acknowledged embellishing his resume but says people are overreacting.

Suozzi, an accountant and lawyer, was elected to Congress in 2016 and survived a tough reelection in 2020. He previously served as mayor of Glen Cove from 1994 to 2001, and as Nassau Countys elected executive from 2002 to 2009.
Fort Behavioral Health, a residential treatment center in Fort Worth, is halting its adolescent programs, which have been cited by state regulators for dozens of violations this year.

The center in southwest Fort Worth has several programs to treat adolescents with autism, substance use disorders and other diagnoses, as well as a separate adult unit. Fort Behavioral began notifying families last week that the adolescent programs would be closing, according to two employees and a parent whose child was being treated there.

The facility has not publicized the closure and executives have not responded to repeated requests for comment.

[Read the Star-Telegram investigation into Fort Behavioral Health]

The closure is the second one at Fort Behavioral this year. In late January, the state temporarily shut down the facilitys adolescent unit over concerns of abuse and neglect, but then allowed it to reopen on a one-year probation.

The latest closure does not appear to be state-mandated, and comes on the heels of a Star-Telegram investigation into the facility. That investigation showed that Fort Behavioral had been cited repeatedly by the state for incidents where children were harmed or abused, and also uncovered issues with understaffing and underreporting.

The Star-Telegram investigation, which was published in late September, also included concerns from former employees about whether the facility could become safe for children even after its reopening under probation. Fort Behavioral CEO Stephen Mallick denied that the facility was unsafe; in email responses to the Star-Telegram in September, he said that investigations and allegations are a part of the daily lives of residential treatment centers.

Fort Behavioral Health, off of Oakmont Boulevard, is shutting down its adolescent programs.

On Monday, a recently laid-off Fort Behavioral employee said that the adolescent programs had indeed continued to have problems since its reopening. The former employee requested to remain unnamed in fear of retaliation, but her identity and employment has been confirmed by the Star-Telegram.

Administrative staff at the facility told employees in September that they were halting new adolescent admissions, the former employee said. Then, she said, the facilitys administration called another meeting last week and notified staff that the adolescent programs were closing. Fort Behavioral staff then began notifying parents and families of the closure, and told them their children needed to be picked up this upcoming Wednesday.

Another employee  who also requested anonymity but whose identity and employment have been confirmed by the Star-Telegram  said she was similarly called into a meeting last week and told about the closure. Direct care workers, she said, have not been formally told whether they still have jobs as of early this week.

They have not told us anything beyond this meeting, she said. Higher-ups have not confirmed anything at all.

One parent, Carla Egbert, said Fort Behavioral called her late last week and told her she needed to pick up her son, who had been admitted to the facilitys autism program Camp Worth. She said she was told she had to pick up her son from Camp Worth no later than this Wednesday. (Fort Behaviorals Camp Worth program is separate from and unrelated to the recently closed Camp Worth facility on East Seminary Drive.)

When the Star-Telegram called Fort Behaviorals admissions line on Monday morning, an employee said the facility was not accepting new adolescent patients and that existing adolescent patients were being sent home. The employee did not answer additional questions, and instead forwarded the call to an administrators voicemail.

Egbert and the former employees were given somewhat different reasons for the closure. Its unclear how long the facilitys adolescent programs will remain shuttered, or if they might reopen later.

The Star-Telegram has repeatedly requested comment from Fort Behaviorals executives, including owner Bobby Patton and Mallick the CEO. The executives have not responded to those calls and emails. Additionally, Fort Behavioral attorney Craig Crockett, reached by phone Monday afternoon, declined to comment.

In September, Patton directed questions about the facilitys violations to Mallick but added, I dont know much except that it doesnt seem very profitable.

Its clear, though, that this closure is different from the facilitys temporary shutdown in January.

That 30-day shutdown was ordered by the state Health and Human Services Commission. This time, HHSC said that it did not issue any type of closure order to Fort Behavioral. Instead, the closure appears to be the facilitys choice.

After the January shutdown, the Star-Telegram reported on families difficulty in finding alternative treatment for their children. At least two of the children displaced by that closure ended up in the emergency room as a result.

Egbert said its a struggle that shes now facing, too. After picking up her son from Fort Behavioral over the weekend, Egbert said she hasnt yet found a treatment center that has a bed available and takes insurance. And private pay options can cost tens of thousands of dollars up front, she said, which isnt an option for her.

Its like, you really want your kid to get help, Egbert said. And parents need help, too.

A spokesperson for HHSC said on Monday that the state has not received any notice of Fort Behaviorals closure of its adolescent programs. Under state statute, the facility is required to notify the state as soon as possible, but no later than 10 days after the closure.
Chinese authorities have unveiled an action plan for the high-quality development of computing power infrastructure, amid the country's push to foster its digital economy.

China aims to achieve a total computing power of over 300 EFLOPS by 2025, according to the plan issued by six authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Education and the People's Bank of China.

EFLOPS is a unit of measurement for a computer's speed. A 1 EFLOPS computing system can complete 1 quintillion floating-point operations per second. In August, MIIT said that China's computing power had reached 197 EFLOPS, ranking second globally.

The country's data storage capacity is expected to exceed 1,800 exabytes by 2025, according to the plan.

Computing power infrastructure is a bedrock resource for the development of the digital economy. Among a raft of measures to boost computing power infrastructure in China, last year saw the launch of a mega project involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters.
A UN aid worker is among four British nationals to have been released from detention in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office said "we welcome and appreciate" the release of the men, held over allegedly breaking the country's laws.

Two of the group were named online as Kevin Cornwell, a 54-year-old UN aid worker, and Miles Routledge.

The Presidium Network, which has been supporting some of the group, said two men would likely need medical help.

The Foreign Office said the UK government "regrets this episode".

It said: "On behalf of families of the British nationals, we express their apologies to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country."

It is understood the men travelled to the country for personal or professional reasons.

The Foreign Office did not provide any detail on the identities of those released, what specifically they were detained for, their whereabouts, or their health.

The Presidium Network, a UK non profit organisation that supports people in crisis, said one of those freed was Mr Cornwell - a paramedic from Middlesbrough who had been working for UNHCR in Kabul when he was detained in January.

The second person it named as being freed - Mr Routledge - is a former Loughborough University student from Birmingham, known for travelling to dangerous countries and posting about it on social media.

In August 2021, he was evacuated from Afghanistan by the British armed forces in the month that the Taliban swept back into power in the country. He said at the time he was "exhausted but relieved" and thankful to those who had helped get him out.

He chose to travel to Afghanistan because he enjoys "dark" and "extreme" tourism, he said.

Miles Routledge previously said he had travelled to Afghanistan because he enjoyed "extreme" tourism

The organisation is representing Mr Cornwell and his family, along with a second unnamed man.

They have "started their journey back to the UK" and efforts to reunite them with their families have begun, it said.

A week ago, the Presidium Network posted on X that Mr Cornwell remained "seriously ill" and the health of a second Briton had also deteriorated.

Its co-founder, Scott Richards, told BBC News Mr Cornwell had contracted sepsis multiple times and the fear the two men may not come home was "very real".

He said: "The relief we feel, and the relief of the families is indescribable, just knowing the men are on a plane home.

"We are all deeply thankful for the efforts of the Foreign Office as well, and we are pleased the Taliban finally permitted these men their liberty, and for their families to be reunited."

Mr Cornwell's detention was understood to be over a weapon that had been in a safe in his room.

Mr Richards told the BBC earlier this year the weapon was being stored with a licence issued by the Afghan interior ministry but that the license was missing.

Mr Richards posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday: "Mr Cornwell and the three other British nationals which includes Miles Routledge have been released and have left Afghanistan. They are coming home!

"Thank you to everyone for their support of these men during this difficult period. We are all relieved."

He added their families "will likely need some time together before speaking with the media, and two of the men will likely need medical assistance".
The loss of these buzzing creatures could have disastrous consequences, the Center for Biological Diversity said.

So, the center says it will sue the United States government for the protection of four species of bees, according to a pending lawsuit.

The center announced Oct. 5 its intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services over their failure to respond to petitions to list the four species on the Endangered Species Act.

The agencies declined to comment to McClatchy News.

The Biden administration has failed to step up for pollinators, but we wont let them go extinct without a fight, said Jess Tyler, a scientist at the center.

The center seeks protection for the American bumble bee, the Southern Plains bumble bee, the variable cuckoo bumble bee and the blue calamintha bee.

FWS is supposed to issue an initial finding 90 days after a petition is filed to list a species as endangered, according to Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act. If the finding yields evidence suggesting the species is endangered or threatened, the agency has 12 months to issue a finding determining whether the species will ultimately land under the protection of the act.

Your parents generation may have seen American bumble bees all over their yards, but now trained biologists spend their summers looking and cant find any, Tyler said. The loss of one of our most common bumblebees is a scary prospect.

The findings for all four species are past due, the center says. One petition was filed in 2015, two were filed in 2021, and the fourth was filed in July 2022. The first three have been awaiting results of the 12-month finding, and the fourth petition is awaiting results of a 90-day finding.

Its been over two years since FWS said it would issue a 12-month finding on several species, including the American bumble bee. The service said it would conduct that finding on Sept. 29, 2021.

The American bumble bee population has seen a near 90% decline in recent decades relative to other bee species, mostly affecting the northern edges of their range, according to FWS.

The loss of this species on the landscape could have devastating impacts on pollination of the many native plants they are known to use, as well as agricultural crops, FWS said.

As pollinators, bees are important players in the food crop cycle. Pollinators add an estimated $18 billion in value to crop production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Pesticide use, habitat loss and disease contribute to declining bee populations, the center says.

The Endangered Species Act establishes protection and recovery programs for species listed as threatened or endangered, according to FWS.

FWS has failed to make sure these four species of bees were timely protected to avoid an increased risk of extinction, the center says.

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The owner and developer of several downtown Fresno buildings is on track to add the former University Medical Center property to his portfolio.

Sevak Khatchadourian was the lone bidder for the Fresno County-owned, 30-acre hospital property at Kings Canyon Road and Cedar Avenue. Khatchadourians sealed offer, opened Tuesday morning at the Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting, was for $6 million  the minimum price that had been set by county supervisors earlier this year.

It has a lot of potential, and I have some great ideas for it, Khatchadourian told The Fresno Bee moments after county supervisors unanimously accepted his bid. But Khatchadourian added that it will take some time  perhaps six to eight months  working with his consultants before he finalizes how he wants to proceed.

Khatchadourian has invested in buying and renovating a number of properties in the heart of downtown Fresno, including the Pacific Southwest Building and the Helm Building, both on Fulton Street, and the former Radisson Hotel on Van Ness Avenue.

The purchase hinges on finalizing a sale agreement, as well as lease agreements for at least two county agencies  the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Social Services  to continue using some of the outlying facilities aside from the main hospital towers. A staff report to county supervisors indicates that the two agencies expect to vacate those leased spaces by the end of 2025.

Sevak Khatchadourian, owner of the Helm Building, in background, and the Pacific Southwest Building, both at Fulton and Mariposa streets in downtown Fresno, was the lone bidder Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, for the former University Medical Center in southeast Fresno.

Prior attempts to sell former hospital complex

This isnt the first time that the 30-acre hospital campus has been for sale. In 2019, Fresno County had a $4 million agreement to sell the facility to Fresno-based CNG Construction Management Inc., in alignment with the city of Fresno. The plan at that time was to convert the former hospital complex into affordable housing, but that deal fell apart in 2021 in the wake of conflict-of-interest concerns that prompted the city to revoke its agreement to regulate the affordable housing.

CNG Construction Management has a lawsuit pending against the city and Fresno County over the collapse of the 2021 deal.

Later in 2021, the county restarted a sale process when it declared the property as surplus and set a minimum sale price of $6 million. By 2022, negotiations to buy the property were under way between the county and the city of Fresno, but those efforts proved fruitless.

The county reissued its surplus declaration in April. Various government agencies were notified of the sites availability for purchase, including the city of Fresno; the Fresno County Office of Education; Californias state natural resources, parks and transportation agencies; and the city and county Housing Authorities. But none expressed interest in buying the site, county officials reported.

Hospital property in Fresno dates back to 1889

The sale draws to a close the countys ownership of the property, which had been the site of a hospital since 1889. Thats when a 75-bed hospital was built to replace an 1870s-era facility at Mariposa and R streets. The 1889 incarnation was destroyed by fire in 1900, and a new hospital on the site was completed in 1904 at a cost of $24,000, The Bee reported in 1996..

In the modern era, the current north tower of the hospital was built in 1955, and the south tower was constructed four years later, according to Fresno Bee archives. What was originally known as Fresno County General Hospital was renamed Valley Medical Center in 1970.

The last major construction on the primary hospital buildings happened in 1978, when a tower link was built and the emergency room and outpatient clinic were enlarged.

In 1996, a merger with Community Hospitals of Central California got the county out of the hospital business, turning over the operations to Community. At that time, the name was changed to University Medical Center. Nine years later, in 2007, the hospital was closed as Community shifted the remaining operations to its new Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno.

About 20 buildings on the site, from the main hospital towers to an array of smaller structures, occupy about 620,000 square feet, said Christopher Jones, a principal staff analyst with the countys Internal Services Department.

While Khatchadourians plans are gestating, its going to be a mixture of things, he told The Bee. Hopefully a lot of the existing structures we will keep. I think they are beautiful buildings.

Im willing and ready to work with the community, he added. I think its a great, forgotten asset. It has a bright future.
This photo provided by Samantha Rose Photography LLC shows North Dakota Sen. Doug Larsen, second from left, with his wife, Amy, and their two sons, Christian and Everett, on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2023, at Papago Park in Phoenix, Ariz. All four of them died the following day, Sunday, Sept. 30, in a plane crash near Moab, Utah. (Samantha Brammer/Samantha Rose Photography LLC via AP)

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  Mourners gathered at a red-brick church in North Dakota on Tuesday for the funeral of a state lawmaker and his family who were killed in a plane crash last week, describing a selfless couple whose young boys inspired people around them.

State Sen. Doug Larsen, his wife Amy and their two sons, 11-year-old Christian and 8-year-old Everett, died on Oct. 1. Their single-engine aircraft went down near Moab, Utah, shortly after stopping to refuel on the way home from a family gathering in Arizona.

The plane was piloted by Larsen, 47, who flew Black Hawk helicopters and mobilized twice during his 29 years with the North Dakota Army National Guard. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on the crash is expected sometime next week.

Four Black Hawk helicopters in missing-man formation flew through a cloudless autumn sky as the family was laid to rest at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

During the earlier church service, mourners sang How Great Thou Art as the four caskets were wheeled to the front of the sanctuary. A military honor guard escorted Doug Larsen's flag-draped coffin.

His sister, Rebecca Hoglund, said Doug wanted to help out where he could  whether it was a fellow American stranded in France who he met backpacking in the 1990s, or a tiny kitten on the side of the road.

He was by my side for some of my hardest times in life, she said, for major surgeries, to the death of a child, to my career changes and my house flooding, and the list goes on and on.

Chantel Southam said her sister Amy was an empathetic and patient addiction counselor who made a difference for children, including Chantel's niece.

She just could walk in people's shoes, Southam said. Amy is survived by her adult son Dylan Stevens, who was listed as a casket bearer.

Teacher Marleigh Buechler called Christian an extraordinary student and person who gave 110% to his relationships, academics and friendly competitions.

I admired the way that at such a young age, he was able to appreciate the differences in people. He would often discuss with me and our class that if we were all the same, the world would be a boring place, Buechler said.

Everett's speech pathologist, Anne Bry, said the 8-year-old had worked hard to overcome childhood apraxia of speech, going from not speaking at age 3 to speaking in good sentences as he entered kindergarten  confidence to speak because of his parents' support.

He was the most amazing, sweetest little boy who fought so hard in his life to speak, and by golly we did it, Bry said.

Larsen, a Republican, was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020. He chaired a Senate panel that handled industry- and business-related legislation.

Doug and Amy Larsen owned businesses that included a hotel and a company that builds homes. Larsen had recently earned his commercial pilots license, with hopes of one day flying for a major airline, state Sen. Jim Roers told The Associated Press.

A lieutenant colonel, Larsen was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Service Star and Army Aviator Badge, among other honors. He logged about 1,776 total military flight hours, according to a Guard spokesperson.

Federal Aviation Administration records show that Larsens Piper PA-28-140, popularly known as a Cherokee, was built in 1966. Its airworthiness certificate was renewed in June through 2030, indicating it had passed a safety inspection. The weather at the time of the crash was mild, with scattered light showers, wide visibility and gentle winds in the area around the airport, according to the National Weather Service.

Mourners have left flowers on Larsens Senate desk at the state Capitol since the crash. Fellow lawmakers gathering for routine meetings at the Capitol have also observed moments of silence for the Larsens and offered remembrances. Dozens of state lawmakers attended the funeral.

District Republicans will appoint a successor to fill the remainder of Larsens term, through November 2024. His Senate seat is on the ballot next year. Larsen represented a district that encompassed Mandan, the city across the Missouri River from Bismarck.

A large photo of the Larsen family will be placed in the Senate chambers through the 2025 legislative session, said Senate Republican Caucus Leader Kristin Roers. Larsens Senate desk will be kept empty during an expected, upcoming session of the Legislature, and his appointed successor will sit elsewhere, she said.
In the weeks leading up to his $250 million civil fraud trial in New York, Donald Trump and his legal team had privately accepted defeat and agreed that fighting the case on appeal was their best bet, sources told Rolling Stone. Those beliefs resulted in their development of a courtroom strategy defined by cacophony and chaos instead of efforts to win the case on the merits, an approach one source close to the former president dubbed "Fyre Festival strategies."

That method  lets just do it and be legends" per the failed festival's founder  famously led Fyre Fest to be a scandal-laden catastrophe. Trump and his lawyers, however, are hoping that as a legal strategy, the approach will transform the proceedings into a "media circus," Rolling Stone reports, by boosting the former president's public relations, shaking the table, angering the judge and gratuitously smearing some of the witnesses.

While the strategy likely aligns with Trump's typical approach, it also risks undermining his team's legal work in defending the business empire that elevated him to celebrity status and the Oval Office long term as its future hangs in the balance.

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron has already fined Trump's lawyers $7,500 each for repeatedly rehashing legal arguments he's already dismissed. Trump, however, has privately suggested in recent weeks that his attorneys should "worry" about getting further court sanctions for their planned antics, the sources told Rolling Stone.

In light of those instructions, the legal team has concocted an aggressive trial game plan that includes what one Trump advisor called "below the belt" attacks on witnesses, prosecutors and the judge, alongside possible threats of retaliatory lawsuits against some of those people. Trump's trial lawyers  which include Chris Kise, Alina Habba and Jesus Suarez  have also taken to a number of delay tactics meant to upset Engoron during trial, which is scheduled for three months. One such tactic, which they debuted during the trial last week, involves pelting witnesses with lengthy, drawn-out questions and consistently repeating arguments the judge has already thrown out, the sources said.

A lot of this is just begging for sanctions, one attorney whos known Trump for years told the outlet. It is not how Id do it, but  maybe thats a reason Im not on the [legal] team.

In the weeks before the trial, Trump specifically discussed with some of his legal and political advisors how much he looked forward to his attorneys making his former fixer, Michael Cohen, "cry" on the stand, a person familiar with the situation told Rolling Stone. The former Trump lawyer is now listed as a witness for New York Attorney General Letitia James' office and was slated to go toe-to-toe with Trump in a lawsuit the former president had filed against him before Trump dropped it last week.

Trump hopes to relentlessly go after Cohen's character, intelligence, professional acuity, federal criminal charges and personal life, encouraging his attorneys to "fight rough and fight dirty, if you got to with his former lawyer and others during the trial, a person close to Trump told Rolling Stone, paraphrasing what he said. The source, who has repeatedly spoken to the former president about this case, added that Trump gets especially worked up when discussing Cohen.

Cohen, however, told Rolling Stone that he is unfazed.

I have provided a hundred hours of testimony before members of Congress, law enforcement agencies, and committees whose, on behalf of Donald, primary goal was to denigrate me, discredit me, and harass me. None of it has worked, and it wont work now when I take the stand in the [New York attorney generals] case, Cohen said. I am certain Judge Engoron will not allow Donalds legal team to make a mockery of his court and allow these antics to occur.

But if Trump's legal team sticks to their plans, Engoron's interventions won't stop them from repeatedly trying.

Suarez already provoked the judge last week with a lengthy questioning of former Trump accountant Donald Bender. As the attorney tried to probe Bender with a series of lengthy and repetitive questions pertaining to nearly a dozen years of Trump's financial filings, Engoron erupted over what he deemed a "ridiculous" line of questioning that he said would "waste time."

The strategy is textbook Trump, geared toward generating PR buzz as "the Fox News set," one of the sources briefed on the plans described. It's also an approach that the judge appears to have caught onto. Who are you talking to  me, the press, or the audience? Engoron said to Trump's lawyers during the second day of the trial.

Even then, among Trump's slates of attorneys, the method is not without its faults. Trump's legal teams, including ones litigating the high-stakes civil and criminal cases against him, are fraught with infighting, betrayals, power grabs and resignations. Some Trump legal counselors also believe the strategy could easily blow up in their faces, result in too many costly sanctions and ultimately make an appeal harder to achieve, people with knowledge of the matter told Rolling Stone. There are other Trump attorneys who believe that if the current approach fails, the former president will harshly blame and reprimand his legal team despite it being his preferred methodology to begin with.

There are few, if any signs of an imminent overhaul on the horizon for Trump's civil fraud trial legal team, but Trump is leaving his options open. In the past two weeks, he has discussed with some of his longtime associates other possible defense attorneys he could ask to join his New York legal squad, two sources with knowledge of the matter told the outlet. Some of those names were of attorneys who didn't have a background in the kind of law necessitated by this trial.

The trial, which entered its second week Monday, represents the beginning of the culmination of James' yearslong investigation into allegations against the Trump organization. She launched the probe in 2019 and filed a suit against Trump in 2022, accusing Trump, the organization and its other key executives of committing fraud by drastically inflating or deflating the value of its assets by millions of dollars on financial filings.

Late last month, Engoron ruled that the former president and his sons were liable for defrauding banks and insurers and ordered the dissolution of some of his businesses, a move an appellate court paused last week.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

That order prompted Trump, who often chooses to skip his legal proceedings, to make a rare public appearance at the start of the trial last week. He took the opportunity to shore up publicity surrounding the case by calling for the judge to be disbarred, pushing baseless claims about the court clerk and earning himself a limited gag order for attacking court staff.

Sources who have spoken to Trump have told Rolling Stone that he has repeatedly underscored that his attendance in court was motivated by a desire to publicly defend his business reputation, his net worth and claims about the value of his assets, all of which the case has brought into question.

The sources added that Trump is especially sensitive to allegations he and his business overvalued his properties and has long placed a lot of emotional value on his status on Forbes' list of the richest Americans. In a sign of how much the case has affected Trump, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told the outlet that in the past month, the former president has  unprompted  interspersed comments about his wealth in the middle of unrelated conversations, in addition to making complaints that people are "lying" about his personal and corporate network and the value of Mar-a-Lago.

Trump has also indicated that he wants to testify in the case. At the appropriate time I will be, he told reporters last week in New York.

James has also signaled a desire to get Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and his daughter Ivanka on the stand. She listed all four in a proposed witness list, the Daily Beast first reported.

Though the former president has earned a reputation for saying he'll take testify during an investigation or court proceeding, his attorneys often later belabor the process with delay tactics, in part, because they fear he'll lie or possibly incriminate himself under oath.

Of course that remains an issue, as always, said a source familiar with the Trump teams internal discussions on the matter, adding. But we have a while to go before he would even [possibly] take the stand.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is leading both former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake (R) and Sen. Krysten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in a hypothetical three-way race for Sinemas Arizona Senate seat, according to a new poll.

A poll from the Democratic-leaning firm Public Policy Polling, which was commissioned by Gallegos campaign and first shared with The Hill, shows Gallego receiving 41 percent support, Lake receiving 36 percent and Sinema receiving 15 percent in a hypothetical three-way matchup. A separate 8 percent of respondents said they were not sure.

Gallego also polls ahead in several other hypothetical three-way matchups. Between Gallego, Sinema and Republican Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, the Arizona Democrat received 40 percent, Lamb received 31 percent, Sinema received 16 percent and 13 percent said they were not sure.

Between Gallego, Sinema and former Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters (R), Gallego received 41 percent, Masters sat at 31 percent and Sinema received 17 percent; 11 percent were not sure.

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The poll found, however, that a match-up between only Gallego and Lake would be tighter  Gallego sat at 48 percent, Lake at 43 percent, and 9 percent said they were undecided. The polling difference between Gallego and Lake is just outside of the polls margin of error, which is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

Lake is expected to announce later Tuesday that she will be running for the Arizona Senate seat, while Sinema has largely stayed mum on her plans. The incumbents political team reportedly circulated a prospectus outlining the voting blocs among Democrats, Republicans and independents that could be pieced together to create a pathway to reelection.

But the polling suggests that Sinemas pathway will be no easy feat. The Public Policy Polling poll found that while 23 percent said the Arizona independent should run for reelection, while 58 percent said she should not.

Sinemas favorable rating sat at 26 percent, compared to an unfavorable rating of 52 percent. Gallegos favorable rating is at 38 percent, with an unfavorable rating of 27 percent, while 35 percent said they arent sure  suggesting the Arizona Democrat may largely be unknown to some voters in the state.

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The polling also highlights similarly low views that respondents hold of both former President Trump and President Biden in the Grand Canyon State. Biden has a job approval rating of 41 percent, and Trump has a favorable rating of 39 percent. Trump and Biden look increasingly likely to be headed toward a rematch in 2024.

The Arizona Senate is largely looking like a wild-card race for both parties in the battle over the Senate majority. Though Democrats and Republicans are closely watching the elections of West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, where three red state Democrats are up for reelection, Arizona is among a handful of key swing states that will determine control of the upper chamber in 2024.

The Public Policy Polling, commissioned by Gallegos campaign, was conducted Oct. 6-7 with 522 Arizona voters surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill to provide high school students with free condoms.

The bill, written by state Senator Caroline Menjivar, would have required all public schools in California to make condoms free for high school pupils. The legislation would have also prohibited retailers from asking for proof of age or identification when minors buy condoms or nonprescription contraception.

The governor insisted the bill was vetoed for financial reasons to make up for a $30bn shortfall in the states budget.

In a statement, Mr Newsom said that while providing condoms is important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health, he claimed the bill would have created an unfunded program that was not supported by the states budget.

With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure, he said.

However, Mr Newsom said the state legislature has approved multiple pieces of legislation that, if enacted, would result in nearly $19bn of unaccounted costs for the state of California.

Senator Menjivar said the veto was a setback in the fight to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and curb teen pregnancy rates in California, the Los Angeles Times reported.

We spend millions of dollars on [sexually transmitted infection] health care every year when prevention costs far less than treatment, she said. This is a youth-led bill, and we need to meet high school students where they are to properly address the STI crisis in California.

The bill prompted scepticism from some conservative groups. The California Policy Council argued that handing out free condoms perpetuates a hook-up culture in which sex is meaningless and done for fun with multiple partners.

However, others have argued that the legislation would have served an important purpose in helping to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases amongst young people in California, particularly people of colour.

According to the bills analysis, five in 10 chlamydia cases in California are young people, disproportionately affecting people of colour.

In 2016, the California Healthy Youth Act was passed, requiring that students in grades 7-12 receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education at least once in middle school and once in high school.

Mr Newsom has led somewhat of a social revolution in California with his progressive policy agenda.

In September last year, Mr Newsom signed into law a bill to stop other states from punishing children who come to California for transgender surgeries and other gender-affirming care.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill to provide high school students with free condoms

The legislation, which will take effect in January, will include hormone therapy to suppress secondary sex characteristics and other treatments to align the patients appearance or physical body with the patients gender identity.

However, it is not clear if the bill will survive a challenge in court.

Meanwhile, last year, Mr Newsom signed laws to make California a sanctuary for women in other states seeking abortions now that the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade.

In September, Mr Newsom signed several bills into law aimed at bolstering Californias protections for LGBT+ people.

The governor also signed legislation that requires schools serving first through 12th grade to have at least one gender-neutral bathroom available for students by 2026.
Smoke billows over Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt its only one that bypasses Israel following an Israeli air strike (SAID KHATIB)

Gaza's sole border crossing with Egypt, the only entry point not controlled by Israel, was hit by an Israeli air strike Tuesday for the third time in 24 hours, an AFP photographer and an NGO said.

The third strike against the Rafah crossing consisted of "four missiles" which targeted the Palestinian side of the crossing, local Egyptian group Sinai for Human Rights reported.

Witnesses had said the second strike hit the no-man's land between the Egyptian and Palestinian gates, damaging the hall on the Palestinian side.

Contacted by AFP, the Israel military said it could "neither confirm or deny" any strike on the crossing "at this point".

Sinai for Human Rights said Tuesday's strikes had prompted the closure of the crossing, but there was no immediate confirmation from either side.

Witnesses said Egyptian employees at the border post had been evacuated while "dozens of Palestinian families" who had tried to enter Gaza were turned back towards the Egyptian town of El Arish.

It was the second day the crossing had been hit since Israel launched a ferocious bombardment of Gaza in response to a shock attack by the territory's Hamas rulers on Saturday that left more than 900 people dead in Israel.

Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far.

The first strike on Monday had briefly halted passage through the crossing, a security source and witnesses said.

Palestinian officials at Rafah were told by their Egyptian counterparts "to evacuate the crossing immediately due to threats of strikes," according to Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for Gaza's interior ministry, led by Hamas.

There has been no comment from the Egyptian authorities.

Israel has announced "a complete siege" of Gaza, cutting off food, water, fuel and electricity supplies to the territory's 2.3 million people.

The United Nations said Tuesday that the siege was "prohibited" under international law and called for the establishment of "a humanitarian corridor".

Jordan's King Abdullah II directed officials Tuesday to "send urgent humanitarian and medical aid to our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, in full and prior coordination with our Egyptian brothers".

Travel through the Rafah crossing is restricted to humanitarian cases and requires often time-consuming authorisations.

Egypt has jointly blockaded Gaza alongside Israel since 2007.

The first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1979, Egypt has long played the role of intermediary between Hamas and Israel.

On Tuesday, high-level Egyptian security sources claimed there were attempts to "settle the people of Gaza in the (Egypt's) Sinai Peninsula," state-linked private television Al Qahera News reported.

"Egypt has rejected and will reject this matter, which was also rejected by the Palestinian people," the sources said.

Israel has denied pushing Palestinians towards Egypt.

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There are no prepared medical supplies left in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, after days of fighting with Israel has killed at least 750 Palestinian people.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jazarevic told The Associated Press that despite emergency procedures to ration supplies, hospitals are beyond their capacity. The organization has moved $1 million to purchase additional supplies locally, Jazarevic said.

The ongoing and escalating fighting in Israel and Gaza, which began early Saturday, has killed at least 1,600 people on both sides of the conflict and injured thousands more.

Israel mobilized its reserve military forces on Tuesday and ramped up missile strikes on Gaza, a 140 square-mile strip home to 2.3 million people.

More than 180,000 residents of Gaza have been displaced from their homes, the United Nations said, though there is no way to leave the territory as of early Tuesday. The only open border crossing, in Rafah on the Egyptian border, was closed due to Israeli air strikes, Hamas said.

Israel also cut off power to Gaza on Saturday, leaving many hospitals in the dark as the territorys power supply struggles to handle demand.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to completely wipe out Hamas, a goal which has seen the backing of the countrys Western allies, including the U.S.

All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble, Netanyahu said. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that a long siege of Gaza would mean utter disaster for those in the territory.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told the AP. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The tony Rimal district of Gaza City, an important gathering spot for Hamas leaders, has been reduced to rubble by Israeli air strikes while the sleek city of Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion airport came under a large-scale Hamas rocket barrage on Tuesday.

The main strike conducted last night targeted the Rimal area in Gaza, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a briefing on Tuesday. The area is a symbol of luxury in the center of Gaza and has very significant meaning to senior Hamas leaders and operatives.

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Hamas unleashed rockets north toward Israels metropolitan center on the Mediterranean. They also claimed an attack on the airport, though it is unclear how much, if any damage was inflicted in either case.

Al-Qassam Brigades bomb Tel Aviv in response to targeting civilians, Hamas said Tuesday on its Telegram channel. It offered the same message about the airport and promised to wipe out the coastal city of Ashkelon about seven miles north of the Gaza border.

https://twitter.com/YWNReporter/status/1711728109932691539 https://twitter.com/palkisu/status/1711744378773889480 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1711805867014684689?s=20

"If the occupation does not stop the policy of displacing civilians, the Qassam Brigades will continue to demolish the city of Ashkelon until it is displaced, then it will move on to displace another city," Hamas vowed.

https://twitter.com/YWNReporter/status/1711746691445993604

As this latest Israel-Hamas war careened into a fourth day, there were other strikes by both sides as Israel continued its preparations for a massive incursion into the densely populated Gaza Strip. To the north, the border area with Lebanon is once again a hotspot, sparking fears of a wider conflict with Hezbollah.

"In response to the launches identified from Lebanese territory toward Israeli territory, IDF soldiers are currently responding with artillery fire," the IDF reported on its Telegram channel shortly before 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. eastern).

Following the initial report regarding launches in northern Israel, "approximately 15 rockets were launched from Lebanese territory," the IDF said. "The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted four rocket launches. 10 launches fell in open areas."

In response, "IDF tanks struck two observation posts belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The IDF is prepared for all scenarios in all arenas, and will continue to operate in order to protect the civilians of the State of Israel."

"Sirens sounded in the border communities of Metzuva, Betzet, Shlomi, Hanita, Achziv and Liman in the western Galilee area," the Jerusalem Post reported . "A rocket was reported to have fallen in Shlomi, but no injuries or damage were reported."

https://twitter.com/Jerusalem_Post/status/1711756619099304386

Today marked the third day in a row that there was an exchange of fire at the Israel-Lebanon border. Yesterday, after an incursion into Israel by a small group of militants, Israel responded with artillery and helicopter attacks. Hezbollah responded with a limited exchange of fire and later said four of its fighters were killed by Israeli shelling. You can read more about this in our initial reporting here .

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On Sunday we told you that the Navy was sending the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the Hamas attacks. Now it appears that the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group may join it, according to The Wall Street Journal.

That would mark "an escalation of the U.S. military effort to deter regional powers from joining the war between Hamas and Israel," the publication reported.

The Eisenhower strike group was scheduled months ago to sail this week for the Middle East. They are expected to reach the Middle East in roughly two weeks, defense officials told the Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. last had two carriers in the region in 2020 after a deadly rocket attack on Camp Taji in Iraq killed two American troops and one British service member.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1711789252038582382

On the southern front, the IDF said it has "more or less" restored full control over the border fence with Gaza.

https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1711677974674632921

Israel has shifted to a different counterattack method and is striking in waves, Hagari said. Tens of [Israeli Air Force] IAF aircraft have struck aerially every four hours over the past 36 hours. These strikes on thousands of terrorist targets using thousands of munitions. We are using every piece of intelligence to maximize damage to meeting spots for terrorists planning to invade Israel, houses belonging to senior Hamas commanders, terrorist operational centers and headquarters and terrorist infrastructure.

After striking Rimal, the IDF struck further targets in Khan Yunis, including terrorist intelligence infrastructure, apartments used for operational purposes and a spot where terrorists have been gathering before attacking Israeli territory, Hagari said. Hundreds of Hamas terrorist organization operatives have been neutralized during these strikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNZoBY5fAp4

The Israeli Navy is also engaging Hamas.

Terrorist operatives have attempted to dive, swim and utilize boats to attack through Israels Zikim Beach, Hagari said. They have failed. There are tens of neutralized Hamas terrorists from the Hamas naval force on the Beach or on boats.

The Israeli Navy is also striking targets beyond the coastline with naval gunfire and Spike missiles , as seen in the video below.

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Israel also bombed Gaza's Rafah border entry point into Egypt, one of the few ways in and out of the strip.

https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1711721465194680554

Though the IDF initially suggested that was one way for Gaza residents to escape the bombardment, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman, amended that.

https://twitter.com/LtColRichard/status/1711626142472343796

As Israel pounds Gaza, the death toll is rising. The Palestinian Health Ministry on Tuesday said that 765 citizens have been killed and 4,000 others wounded.

https://twitter.com/MOH_PR/status/1711688797534986317

The number of Israelis killed from the Hamas attack Saturday and ongoing bombardment is also increasing, with at least 900 Israelis, killed, most of them civilians. Another 2,600 were reported wounded, ABC News reported Tuesday .

A report Monday by Israel's I24 News showed one of the most devastating results of the Hamas attacks, as Israeli authorities removed upwards of 200 bodies from a kibbutz near Kvar Aza in southern Israel.

Israeli soldiers at the scene reported that they found decapitated babies and families gunned down together.

https://twitter.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/1711697093151056355?s=20

Several refrigerator trucks were on hand to take the remains to take the bodies to a forensics institution for identification before the families are notified.

https://twitter.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/1711754956699500702?s=20

Israeli authorities got some good news about nearly three dozen people who had not been heard from since the initial Hamas attack.

Monday night at about 9 p.m. local time, Israeli authorities managed to locate and rescue 30 people considered missing at Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha in southern Israel, the IDF said Tuesday on its Telegram channel.

...a distress call was received at the situation room regarding a group of missing civilians. The situation room verified the details of the incident, and using coordinates were able to locate the missing persons. At 9:52 p.m. IDF tactical squads arrived at the kibbutz and managed to rescue the 30 missing persons who were there, the IDF reported.

https://twitter.com/IsraelWarRoom/status/1711717173477961838

Intense video emerged of Israeli soldiers being attacked by Hamas using a stolen bulldozer.

https://twitter.com/Heroiam_Slava/status/1711265088982720938?s=20

Yesterday we told you that the White House could not corroborate The Wall Street Journal claiming Iran "helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday."

Today, Amwaj Media says that Iran's Supreme Leader also denies his nation's involvement in the planning of that attack.

"Irans supreme leader has strongly rejected any involvement in the Hamas movements surprise attack on Israel. The public maneuvering, which involved Ayatollah Ali Khamenei strikingly repeating his rejection of an Iranian role three times in a 90-second span, follows controversial claims in US media that Tehran helped plan the Oct. 7 blitz."

https://twitter.com/mashabani/status/1711729778791723508

New video emerged of Hamas fighters training to breach the fence surrounding Gaza. That included using explosives-filled tubes along the lines of the Bangalore torpedoes used as a breaching tool during the First and Second World Wars.

https://twitter.com/JanR210/status/1711683368734097793?s=20

CNN reporter Clarissa Ward and her crew scrambled to seek cover from a Hamas rocket barrage while she was doing a live broadcast. The video below shows the challenges of reporting from this war zone.

https://twitter.com/huffpostpol/status/1711675532608254446?s=12

Former head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency Ami Ayalon gave an exclusive interview to the French La Figaro newspaper, talking about the problems inside Israel's political, military and intelligence communities that allowed Hamas to carry out its attack.

"Q: Do you think the events of the weekend would have been avoided if the Palestinian question had been resolved with the creation of a Palestinian state?

A: Yes, of course. Look at our concept of security in Israel. Until the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, we preferred land to peace, because peace was not important to us. Our goal was security. It wasn't until the shock of the Yom Kippur War that we came to the conclusion that to have security, you need peace. We only made peace with Egypt because of the trauma of Yom Kippur, and we only started negotiating with the Palestinians in Madrid, and then in Oslo, because of the first Intifada. Finally, we left Lebanon only because of Shiite terror and suicide bombings. We withdrew from Gaza only because of the second Intifada. The international community played a major role in all these cases. Today we are living through a tragedy and nobody cares. We can't blame anyone. No one can save us in spite of ourselves."

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This is a developing story. We will update this post when more information becomes available.

Update: 2:55 PM EST -

In a forceful speech at the White House, President Joe Biden on Tuesday vowed continued support for Israel and increased security for Jewish citizens at home in the wake of Saturdays terror attacks by Hamas.

Here are some key highlights:

More than 1,000 civilians [were] slaughtered in Israel. Among them, at least 14 American citizens [were] killed.

From the moment this crisis began, we are surging additional military assistance [providing] ammunition and [Tamir] interceptors to replenish [the] Iron Dome [air defense system]. We are going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend cities and its citizens.

We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas and I directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts, hostage recovery and recovery efforts. As President, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.

In addition to already sending the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean, Biden said, we stand ready to move in additional assets as needed.

We're also taking steps at home in cities across the United States of America. Police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life. The Department of Homeland Security [and] Federal Bureau of Investigation are working closely with state local law enforcement and Jewish community partners to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks.

Update: 3:51 PM EST -

The IDF says that a number of unspecified "launches" were detected from Syria.

"Some crossed into Israeli territory and presumably fell in an open area," the IDF said on its Telegram channel. "IDF soldiers are responding with artillery and mortar shells toward the origin of the launching in Syria."

https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/1711828037220565263

The IDF says that in the last hour, its soldiers, backed by a helicopter and drone, conducted an exchange of fire with a number of terrorists in the Ashkelon Industrial Area. The soldiers killed three terrorists and are continuing to conduct searches in the area. A fire broke out in the area during the incident, and fire forces are on their way to the scene.

Ashkelon is about seven miles north of the Gaza border and, as we reported earlier, Hamas promised to level it in response to ongoing Israeli airstrikes.

The IDF said it engaged in a firefight with Hamas in Ashkelon, about seven miles north of the Gaza border. (Google Earth image)

Video is emerging on social media purporting to be a clash at the Leonardo Hotel in the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod, about 10 miles north of Ashkelon.

The incident has not been confirmed by official sources yet and the extent of the damage or injuries sustained is unknown at the moment.

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Boeing accelerated deliver of 1,000 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) to Israel in wake of the Hamas attack, Bloomberg reported Tuesday .

The delivery is part of an existing 2021 contact, Bloomberg reported.

From our previous reporting : The SDB was designed from the outset as a low-collateral-damage weapon and also one small enough that multiple examples can be carried, boosting the magazine depth of fighter aircraft. SDB provides a standoff fire and forget precision attack capability, again using inertial and GPS guidance. Depending on launch height and speed, the SDB can hit fixed targets as far as 60 miles away.

https://twitter.com/ColbyBadhwar/status/1711799678528893112

Update: 4:29 PM EST -

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

The forces that have arrived include the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), with its eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, aircraft, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80)."

Efforts to augment U.S. posture continue, including the rapid movement into theater of U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s, to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region.

"The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation," said Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander U.S. Central Command.

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1711834088187826528

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
TechCrunch

The European Union has expanded its warning about illegal content and disinformation targeting the Israel-Hamas war circulating on social media platforms to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Yesterday the bloc's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton, published an urgent letter to Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter) -- raising concerns the platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and spread potentially harmful disinformation in the wake of Saturday's surprise attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists based in the Gaza Strip.
As the Israeli army mounted its response to the massacre of hundreds of civilians by Hamas this weekend, it sent tanks and troops not only to the scene of the atrocities, but to its northern border with Lebanon.

It was a recognition, borne from experience, that an all-out offensive against Gaza is unlikely to be contained there. To Israels north lies a much more formidable foe, and ally of Hamas, the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.

Recent skirmishes on the border have heightened the possibility that Hezbollah could enter the fray and widen the conflict beyond Israels borders. The group is significantly better equipped than Hamas, with an arsenal of tens of thousands of sophisticated rockets, according to Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute and expert on Iran-backed militias.

Israel says the Hamas attack involved about 1,500 commandos entering Israel: Israel has assessed that Hezbollah has a 45,000-strong regular army, he told The Independent. Hamas fired about 3,300 missiles and drones so far: Hezbollah has around 150,000 munitions ready to fire.

The entry of Hezbollah into the conflict would mark a dramatic escalation in an already devastating war between Israel and Hamas, which has seen the death of more than 1,000 Israelis and 800 Palestinians as of Tuesday.

Such an eventuality would ensure a regional war that would almost certainly cause massive civilian casualties in Lebanon and Israel, and potentially draw in other Iranian-backed groups throughout the region.

At stake is the balance of power in a regional proxy war between rivals Israel and Iran. The Islamic Republic has spent years building a network of allied militant groups opposed to Israel, which it collectively calls the resistance. Those groups  Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Houthi rebels in Yemen and various Shia militant groups in Iraq and Syria  have been furnished with military training, financial support, missiles, and the ability to make their own missiles.

The consequences of that alliance were demonstrated in 2006, when Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war that led to the deaths of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers. In that confrontation, which was sparked when Hezbollah fighters attacked an Israeli army convoy patrolling the border, killing three soldiers and taking two hostages, Israel pummelled civilian infrastructure across Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut. Hezbollah fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel, killing dozens of civilians.

The 2006 war ended with a United Nations-brokered ceasefire in August of that year. In the aftermath, despite suffering significantly more casualties, Hezbollah claimed a strategic victory because it maintained its ability to continue firing rockets.

Since then, Israel claims Hezbollah has drastically increased its stockpile of missiles, most of them unguided , which could wreak havoc across Israel. The group also gained valuable battlefield experience by sending thousands of its fighters to join Syrian government forces in that countrys civil war.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Anticipating that Hezbollah may be preparing for such a move, the US, Israels most staunch ally, sent an aircraft carrier strike force to the Eastern Mediterranean in what a defence official described as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who were weighing joining the conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, US president Joe Biden appeared to reinforce that signal. Although he did not mention Hezbollah by name, he issued a warning to any country, any organisation, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation.

The question that now lingers over the residents of Lebanon and Israel is what precisely would initiate Hezbollahs entry into the conflict? The answer depends on a complex cat-and-mouse game played out with missiles and artillery in the restless border region.

Despite intermittent skirmishes, both sides have gone to great lengths to avoid another widespread outbreak of hostilities in the intervening years. Firas Maksad, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, told The Independent that an unwritten understanding has developed between the two sides, which determines which actions are permissible without sparking an escalation.

In terms of the delicate rules of engagement between Israel and Hezbollah, I think its important to remember that the two parties have had a 40-year history of confronting each other across both sides of that border, which has also lent itself to a better understanding of each others intentions and objectives, he said.

The big question here, in the coming days, is whether there is going to be room for misunderstanding and miscalculation. Tensions are definitely very high, Maksad added.

And will Hezbollah flat out come to the rescue of Hamas, should Benjamin Netanyahu make good on his threat to commence a total ground invasion of Gaza? Maksad asked. My educated guess is that itll be very difficult for Hezbollah and Iran, their regional sponsor, to sit idly by and watch the Palestinian leg of the Iranian axis be dismantled.

These established rules of engagement between Hezbollah and Israel have been tested in recent days. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired at three Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms area. Monday was the deadliest day on the Israel-Lebanese border since the 2006 war. Fighters from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which has a presence in Lebanon, attempted to infiltrate Israel, resulting in the death of two of its members and the killing of an Israeli officer. Hezbollah fired at two more Israel military posts near the border, and the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanons south also said a number of rockets were launched near the Lebanese city of Tyre. Hezbollah said three of its fighters were killed in Israeli shelling that came in response.

An Israeli army Merkava tank blocks one of the entrances to the northern Israeli kibbutz of Misgav Am near the border with Lebanon on 10 October 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Hezbollah maintains tight control of the border region with Israel, making it almost impossible that the actions taken by Palestinian groups in Lebanon were carried out without its approval.

As Israel stepped up its bombardment of Gaza on Tuesday, another barrage of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, and Hezbollah fired a guided missile at an Israeli military vehicle.

Hezbollahs aim, according to Maksad, is to dissuade Israel from carrying out a full ground invasion of Gaza.

I think we can expect more of that in the coming days, he said. I think [Hezbollah] will use third parties like Palestinian militant groups on Lebanese land to have them claim these operations, but with the understanding that theyre operating with Hezbollahs approval.

They will find creative ways to try and harass and deter Israel from an all out operation, Maksad said.

But this delicate game of deterrence carries with it risks of an explosion. Should Israel invade Gaza, as it has promised, and Hezbollah enters the war from the north, the US may also be dragged in.

The messaging is that Israel, together with the United States, might retaliate not only against Hezbollah, but also against their ally, the Syrian regime in Damascus. The message is we are going to exact revenge from Irans Palestinian arm, and should Iran and Hezbollah try to come to the rescue, we will also then destroy your Syrian arm, Maksad said.

Were seeing a game of attempted mutual deterrence. Its dangerous because while both sides are arguably trying to deter each other and dont want to see a full-scale regional conflict, that kind of posturing might lead to that regional conflict that all sides dont want to see.

As Israeli forces continued to count the dead from the brutal killings by Hamas on Tuesday, it intensified its bombing of Gaza, reducing a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood to rubble overnight. Israel has imposed a strict blockade of the territory by air, land and sea for 16 years, a measure that the UN has described as collective punishment of its 2.3 million inhabitants, and which has caused a completely collapsed economy, devastated infrastructure and a barely functioning social service system.

Knights, meanwhile, believes the massacre of hundreds of civilians by Hamas may alter the previously set rules of engagement.

Both sides are fairly careful and have well-understood parameters that have been exercised and tested hundreds of times in real life, he said. But one aspect has changed: Israels risk acceptance and emotional state. This could lead to over-reaction and escalation.
By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists in Britain have found they can partially protect chickens from bird flu infections by editing their genes, signaling a new potential strategy to reduce the spread of the deadly virus.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as bird flu, has spread to new corners of the globe since 2022, wiping out millions of poultry birds and sending egg and turkey prices soaring.

Experts warn that mutations could potentially threaten a human pandemic, though the current strain has not caused significant disease in people.

Researchers said they used the gene-editing tool CRISPR to make specific changes to a gene called ANP32 that is essential to support flu viruses inside chickens' cells. CRISPR is a type of molecular "scissor" technology that scientists can use to edit DNA.

Flu viruses hijack proteins like ANP32 inside cells to help themselves replicate, and the edits in chickens were designed to stop the growth of bird flu.

Upticks in cases tend to occur during the spring and autumn migration of wild birds that transmit the virus, and the U.S. last week reported its first case in a commercial flock since April.

Experiments showed that almost all of the gene-edited chickens showed resistance to lower doses of a less lethal form of bird flu than the H5N1 strain that has circulated the globe recently, said Wendy Barclay, a flu expert and professor at the Imperial College of London.

When birds were exposed to much higher levels of the virus, though, about half of the gene-edited chickens had breakthrough infections, she said.

"We can move toward making chickens resistant to the virus but we're not there yet," Barclay said. "We would need more edits - more robust edits - to really shut down the virus replication."

The findings are set to be published in Nature Communications on Tuesday.

Researchers now think that making three specific genetic changes to chickens' cells will better protect birds. However, they have not bred chickens with three edits yet, said Helen Sang, who previously studied genetically modifying chickens against bird flu at the University of Edinburgh.

Sang said scientists found that genetic modification would not work well enough.

Unlike genetic modification, which introduces foreign genes, gene editing alters existing genes. The technology is considered to be less controversial than genetic modification and is more lightly regulated in some countries.

"The way forwards here is not to rely on single edits but to use a combination of them," Barclay said.

France this month became the first country in the European Union to vaccinate poultry against the virus.

However, that strategy led the U.S. to impose trade restrictions on French poultry imports, citing a risk of introducing the virus into the country because vaccinated birds may not show signs of infection.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Columnist George Will thinks Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) should call it quits on his bid for the Republican nomination for president.

This is the South Carolina senators choice: He can acknowledge that his energetic campaigning has failed to enkindle sufficient enthusiasm and depart as he campaigned, cheerfully, Will wrote in The Washington Post on Tuesday. Or he can try to become someone whom, to his credit, he has no aptitude for being  another peddler of synthetic anger, stoking todays rage culture.

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Scott should drop out, Will said, and throw his support behind former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley .

By catalyzing a coalescence around Haley, Scott could transform the nations political mood. As long as the Republican race pits Donald Trump against a cluster of lagging pursuers, the nominating electorate cannot ponder a binary choice, the columnist wrote. When, however, it is Trump against one experienced, polished, steely and unintimidated adversary, voters can internalize this exhilarating reality: There is a choice suitable for a great nation.

Scott and Haley both trail far behind former President Trump, the front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2024.

Former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) on Monday dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination and endorsed Haley.

Wills column came with a disclosure affixed to it that said his wife, Mari Will, is an adviser to Scotts campaign and disagrees with this column.

Will, a longtime columnist at the Post, is also a contributor to cable news channel NewsNation, an outlet that is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Last week, a former George Santos aide pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a $500,000 campaign loan that the indicted congressman had entirely fabricated. But while that loan was fake, the money, eventually, became real.

According to a person with knowledge of the events, that fake $500,000 from March did in fact find its way into the campaigns bank account. It just happened months later, as part of the $615,000 Santos loaned himself in four installments in September and October. Those payments are reflected on his campaigns most recent filingsmaking good on something of an IOU to the campaign.

But even if Santos eventually delivered the money, legal experts told The Daily Beast hes still in heaps of trouble.

According to the governments charging information against Nancy Markswho served as the campaigns treasurerSantos faked the loan to get help from a national political party understood to be the National Republican Congressional Committee. Essentially, prosecutors say, Santos invented the loan, along with 10 entirely fake maximum campaign contributions in the names of other people, so that his campaign could qualify for a special NRCC partnership program that helps promote promising congressional candidates.

George Santos Ex-Treasurer Throws Him Under The Bus While Pleading Guilty

This meant that a fake $500,000 loan made on March 31 with no real money behind it appeared in Santos campaign finance reportsfilings that document how much money the committee raises and spends and has in the bank. But after Santos came under law enforcement scrutiny, and after Marks resigned as treasurer, the March 31 loan mysteriously stopped appearing in new reports. Instead, the campaigns new treasurers began listing a series of brand new six-figure loans in October and Septemberreal money that Santos loaned his campaign about half a year later, backfilling the $500,000 in an effort that would both keep the committee solvent and not draw attention to his previous deception.

The revelations change the timeline and raise new questions about the Santos campaigns bewilderingly inconsistent financial statements, but they also bring the conversation back to square one, legal experts told The Daily Beast. In other words, the central questions are the same as they were earlierwhere the money came from, how it was spent, and whether Santos lied about any of it to donors and the government.

Perhaps most notably, Marks pleaded guilty to a charge that has nothing to do with any of the 13 counts laid out in the indictment that Justice Department prosecutors brought against Santos in May. Still, the DOJ merged their cases, listing her as a co-defendant with Santos. Two people with knowledge of the investigation told The Daily Beast that additional charges against Santos appear imminent, noting that details in Marks plea agreement strongly indicate the new charges would include campaign finance violations.

The Daily Beast reached out to the attorneys representing Santos and Marks, but both declined to comment for this article.

In December 2022, Santos told The Daily Beast and others that the money hed put into his campaign came from his own company, the Devolder Organization, the nebulous consulting firm Santos owns and uses to perform what are essentially brokerage services for private clients. A number of experts in campaign finance law laid out the case for why Santos description appeared illegal on its face. Given the fact that Santos didnt appear to command the personal finances to make such a large loanwhich the DOJ confirmed in Marks plea agreementit seemed clear to them that the congressman-elect was describing a corporate pass-through, and possibly an illegal straw donor scheme as well.

The fake loan, combined with the new information that the money was eventually real, only reinforced those claims.

Jordan Libowitz, communications director for government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told The Daily Beast on Sunday that this is just an additional level of lying and criminal exposure.

None of this is remotely legal, Libowitz said. What we were originally looking at is that Santos appeared to have loaned his campaign money that he didnt actually have, because it was illegally being funneled through his business from individuals who werent by law allowed to make such large donations. The loans would have hidden where the money came from, so thats an illegal pass-through corporate contribution or a donation in the name of another person.

Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance law specialist and deputy executive director of Documented, agreed.

Since the beginning of the George Santos saga, a lingering question has been where the cash-strapped candidate came up with hundreds of thousands of dollars to put into his campaign, Fischer told The Daily Beast.

It would appear that Santoss infusions of cash into his campaign line up with a series of questionable business endeavors, he continued, noting that there are still many unknowns. While profiting from shady get-rich-quick schemes might infringe on other laws, he said, it wouldnt necessarily be a campaign finance violation to put ones personal share of the proceeds into their campaign.

George Santos Ex-Comms Director Pens Scathing Take-Down

But, Fischer explained, Santos still cant treat his corporate bank account as a pass-through to his campaign. Even if Santoss clients paid his business for legitimate purposes, Santos would still violate campaign finance law if he treated corporate money as his personal funds, he said.

If Santos financed the loans from business clients who were seeking to secretly support his bid, Fischer said, then were likely looking at disclosure violations and contributions in excess of legal limits.

In December, The Daily Beast revealed the names of four Santos corporate clients. Two of them also happened to be the parties involved in a $20 million yacht sale that Santos had brokered in September of last year, The New York Times later reported.

Other Santos associates have claimed they were solicited for major political contributions around the same time, which is also when prosecutors say Santos was pitching donors on the fake dark money nonprofit scheme that netted him a federal charge. (Santos also faces charges for wire fraud, unemployment fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to Congress on his personal financial disclosures.)

Mathematically, it has always appeared impossible for the $500,000 to have been entirely fake. The Santos campaign reported spending almost every dollar it raised over the course of 2022, taking in $2,965,534.31 and disbursing $3,060,549.17. While The New York Times reported that about $365,000 in Santos campaign expenses appeared missing in filingswith no record of where it went or for what purposethat fact, along with the other irregularities observed in Santos reports, would still not appear to fully explain how the campaign balanced a fake $500,000 loan (and $55,100 in nonexistent contributions) throughout the year.

The first Santos indictment was conspicuously bereft of anything related to the unprecedented and unjustifiable irregularities in the Santos campaigns filings. The only campaign finance-adjacent allegations in the document involve a political nonprofit solicitation scheme outside of the campaign itself.

Marks plea agreement, on the other hand, is focused on the falsified loan and campaign contributions. But while Markswho signed the campaigns filings with the Federal Election Commissionadmitted guilt to one count of defrauding the United States, she did not plead guilty to making false statements to the government by including that fake loan in filings, a charge that would have fit the facts laid out in her agreement.

The campaigns filings, however, are a mess. They report the loans in contradictory ways across multiple reportsand in corrected versions of those filingsmaking it difficult to deduce what happened and when. For instance, in a February filing, the first without Marks, $100,000 in debt vanished, with no explanation. Then, while under DOJ investigation, the campaign filed the first report of its 2023 activity and changed several key facts: the dates Santos made the loans, the amounts of individual loans, and the total amount loaned.

Prosecutors Flag Plea Negotiations With George Santos Crony

The fake $500,000 loan vanished entirely in that filing, replaced with that amount and more in new loans from September and Octobermatching the IOU claim that the money did eventually come through at that time.

That same filing also erased $40,000 from the previous loan total, showing $715,000 instead of $755,000. The campaigns next filing, in July, showed a total $530,000 in loans, which was quickly amended to reflect a total $630,000, adding back in a $100,000 loan from October that had appeared on the previous report. The discrepancy between $715,000 and $630,000 resulted from Santos repaying himself $85,000 from his donors money on May 30, after he was indicted.

Santos also appears to have reported outsized fees to WinRed, suggesting he used a legal backdoor revenue share arrangement to pay an unknown vendor.

The New York Times reported this summer that Santos sought to profit from a flood of donations to Tina Fortes longshot 2022 campaign against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The report describes a Santos-run consulting firm, Red Strategies, engaging in the controversial but legal practice known as revenue sharing, where campaign consultants take payment on the back end of fundraising hauls. These deals result in FEC filings that show incomprehensibly large credit card fees to WinRed. Those amounts dwarf the online services normal 4 percent fee. But WinRed splits most of the money off to the contracted consultant on the back end, and the consultants payment is never publicly disclosed.

Red Strategies, like other revenue sharing firms, contracted an enormous commission from Forte80 percentwhich it collected from Forte via WinRed. But as the Times reported, some of the Santos campaigns own WinRed payments show a strikingly similar pattern, suggesting that an unknown consulting firmlike Red Strategiesprofited off of his campaign as well.

As it turns out, Santos was also using an entity named RedStone Strategies to illegally solicit major political contributions late in the election, as laid out in his indictment. One of the people he solicited, the Times reported, was a business client.

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Tom Suozzi, who left his House seat for an unsuccessful run for governor, during a campaign visit to Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, on June 26, 2022. (Amir Hamja/The New York Times)

Thomas R. Suozzi, the Long Island Democrat whose failed bid for governor of New York in 2022 may have helped clear the way for Rep. George Santos to get to Congress, announced on Tuesday that he would run to replace Santos and take back his seat in the House of Representatives.

Why It Matters: Democrats see a major opportunity to flip the district, and the House.

Santos, a Republican, flipped a suburban district covering parts of Long Island and Queens last year that had largely favored Democrats, after Suozzi chose to run in the Democratic primary for governor instead of defending his seat in Congress. Santos victory helped his party narrowly take control of the House.

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Democrats were already champing at the bit to win back the seat and others they lost in New York next year, hoping it could help them flip the House. They are already pouring money into the state, and hope to damage other New York Republicans by linking Santos issues  most notably a 13-count federal indictment  to them.

Republicans are eager to hold the line. They are also eyeing pickup opportunities. On Tuesday, Alison Esposito, a Republican who lost her bid for lieutenant governor last year, said she would challenge a Democratic incumbent, Rep. Pat Ryan, in the Hudson Valley.

Before Santos even took office, he was dogged by scandal. The New York Times and other news outlets reported that he had lied to voters about much of his life. His campaign was found to have engaged in questionable fundraising and spending, and his personal finances were murky.

The Background: Santos court case is ongoing.

In May, Santos was charged in federal court with 13 felonies in three alleged financial schemes. Prosecutors have accused him of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and false statements.

Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and he has insisted he will remain in his race.

On Thursday, his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty in a related case. In court, Marks said that she and an unnamed co-conspirator agreed to report false campaign donations and a fictional $500,000 loan that Santos said he made to his campaign.

That co-conspirator is understood to be Santos.

Prosecutors have not charged him with falsifying the loan or with other campaign finance violations. But his apparent involvement, which prosecutors documented with text messages and emails, would seem to leave him vulnerable to more charges.

Court documents filed last month suggested that Santos and prosecutors may be discussing a plea deal, though Santos has denied it. But a guilty plea or further charges would increase the pressure on him to leave or be removed from office.

What Happens Next

If Santos were to leave his seat, there would be a special election to replace him. In that case, local party leaders would pick their nominees.

Suozzi, a centrist Democrat who served six years in Congress, could be a prime choice for his party. Even after redistricting, the district largely resembles the one Suozzi represented, so he is familiar to voters there and has a track record he could cite against a Republican opponent.

If no special election takes place, Suozzi would have to win what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic primary next June. Already, seven others have filed statements with the Federal Election Commission saying they were entering the race.

Santos, too, is facing challengers, with at least nine people filing similar documents for the Republican primary. He is expected to face a tough battle. Even before the criminal case, local Republican leaders said they would not back Santos bid.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also said that he would not support Santos reelection. It is unclear whether McCarthys successor, once one is chosen, would change course.

Santos is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 27.

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Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) was hit with a 23-count superseding indictment on Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

The Long Island congressman was charged with conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making materially false statements to the United States House of Representatives that were charged in the original indictment.

As alleged, Santos is charged with stealing peoples identities and making charges on his own donors credit cards without their authorization, lying to the FEC and, by extension, the public about the financial state of his campaign, stated United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. Santos falsely inflated the campaigns reported receipts with non-existent loans and contributions that were either fabricated or stolen.

The defendant  a Congressman  allegedly stole the identities of family members and used the credit card information of political contributors to fraudulently inflate his campaign coffers, added Long Islands Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, a Republican.

In May, Santos was arrested and originally charged with 13 criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress. He pleaded not guilty on all 13 charges.

Multiple people have alleged that Santos prolific scamming included credit card fraud, donation theft, and potential campaign finance violations.

In December of last year, federal investigators in the Eastern District of New York indicated they had initiated an investigation centered around Santos campaign finances. The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning, Donnelly said at the time.

Santos is due back in federal court in Central Islip on Oct. 27, 2023.

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In 1969, Lawrence Speiser, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington, D.C., office, appeared before Congress to testify against a proposed law that would greatly expand the powers of federal law enforcement. "Our constitutional system of government wisely limits the range of methods available to us, reflecting our historical commitment to liberty and justice rather than to efficiency and expediency," Speiser said. "To the extent that this puts us at a disadvantage in dealing with the criminal organization, it is a price we must pay, for ultimately it is this which distinguishes the lawful from the lawless society."

Despite Speiser's warnings, Congress passed and President Richard Nixon signed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Intended to crack down on the mafia, the law enabled prosecutors to build conspiracy cases by using certain state and federal crimes as "predicate acts" to establish an "enterprise." Within a few years, through increasingly aggressive prosecutions, the law's scope expanded to encompass a much wider range of conduct than originally intended. As L. Gordon Crovitz noted in a 1990 Reason article, "Ambitious federal prosecutors have now discovered RICO's many uses, and this poses a great danger to civil liberty and free enterprise."

Since the federal law was established, more than 30 states have adopted RICO statutes of their own. Georgia's version, passed in 1980, is substantially broader than the federal law. In August, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat and self-proclaimed "fan of RICO," used Georgia's law to charge former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants with racketeering, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. But contemptible as the alleged actions of Trump and his cohorts may be, Willis is wielding the RICO statute in a way that is far afield from the law's original intent, and the case threatens to impinge on activity protected by the First Amendment.

The charges in the indictment, Trump's fourth since leaving office, stem from the defendants' collective efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Highlights include a January 2021 phone call in which Trump pressured Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to change the election outcome in Georgia (charged as solicitation of a felony); a lawsuit that included numerous "materially false statements" about illegal voting (charged as knowingly filing a false document); and a plan to present "alternate" electors, which the indictment says involved various crimes, including forgery, impersonating a public officer, and false statements on "matters within [the] jurisdiction of state or political subdivisions."

Trump's argument has always been that his claims about election fraud were not lies because he believed them. According to that defense, for example, Trump did not encourage Raffensperger to violate his oath of office when he implicitly threatened him with criminal liability if he failed to "find" the votes necessary to reverse Joe Biden's victory in Georgia; Trump merely asked Raffensperger to do his job by investigating credible allegations of fraud.

If the case goes to trial, a jury will face the unenviable task of psychoanalyzing Trump and determining if he truly believed the cockamamie theories he floated, if he knew them to be false, or if he was willfully blind to the distinction. In the absence of criminal intent, such false statements are constitutionally protected speech.

The case also raises questions about the scope of Georgia's RICO law, which covers many more predicate offenses than the federal version, prescribes a weaker test for establishing an "enterprise," and does not require ongoing racketeering activity. As a result, it is much easier to prosecute someone for racketeering in Georgia even when the alleged offenses bear little resemblance to the activity of La Cosa Nostra.

In 2014, Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace used the RICO law to prosecute three court reporters for improperly formatting their court records to create extra billable pages. They were accused of collecting more than $485,000 in unearned wages. Instead of settling for fraud or theft charges, prosecutors alleged that the reporters' actions constituted a pattern of racketeering activity. Each pleaded guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to between four and eight months in prison, in addition to financial restitution.

The following year, Willis, then a deputy district attorney, used Georgia's RICO statute to secure 11 convictions and 21 guilty pleas in a case involving Atlanta public school educators who helped students cheat on standardized tests. In that case, the "enterprise" was the school system.

Trump's indictment also includes numerous questionable allegations in service of the RICO charge. The indictment describes 161 overt acts, which need not be crimes; they simply must demonstrate that a conspiracy was more than just talk. The acts include many descriptions of conduct protected by the First Amendment.

Act 1, for example, is the November 4, 2020, speech in which Trump declared that he had won reelection. Act 5 is a November 20 Oval Office meeting with Michigan legislators in which Trump "made false statements concerning fraud." Act 22 involves a December 3, 2020, tweet in which Trump called attention to Georgia Senate hearings on his election fraud claims: "Georgia hearings now on @OANN. Amazing!"

When Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith announced a federal indictment of Trump in August, he noted that Trump "had a right, like every American, to speak publicly about the election and even to claim, falsely, that there had been outcome-determinative fraud during the election and that he had won." What Trump did not have the right to do was pursue "unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results." Notably, Smith decided not to charge Trump with incitement based on his speech preceding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, perhaps to avoid First Amendment objections.

Trump and his co-defendants' actions in Georgia were disgraceful. If a jury determines that the former president knowingly pressed false claims, criminal punishment may be warranted for specific offenses. But as the latest and most prominent demonstration of RICO's ever-expanding applications, the Georgia indictment reflects the dangers that Speiser perceived half a century ago, when he cautioned that this new prosecutorial weapon would be "more far-reaching than its supporters suggest" and warned that "the possibilities for abuse are manifold."

The post The Georgia Case Against Trump Relies on a Dangerous Application of RICO Law appeared first on Reason.com.
Fulton County prosecutors are seeking the testimony of Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones at the upcoming 2020 election interference trial for two of former President Trumps co-defendants in Georgia, according to newly filed court documents.

The documents show prosecutors also are seeking the testimony of Andrew Hitt, the former Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman.

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The trio are the latest individuals revealed from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Williss (D) witness list for the Oct. 23 election subversion trial for two Trump-aligned lawyers, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro. They have pleaded not guilty.

Trump and the other co-defendants will go to trial at a later date.

The new court documents indicate prosecutors want to call both McDaniel and Jones during the upcoming trial to establish Chesebros culpability.

Chesebro, who faces seven criminal counts, is charged over the alternate elector plot. He drafted several memos and sent various emails devising the strategy, including ideas for how the alternate electors could mimic the real ones.

Prosecutors previously indicated other trial witnesses on their list include Boris Epshteyn, a lawyer in Trumps inner circle; Lin Wood, an attorney who filed lawsuits seeking to overturn Trumps 2020 election loss; and multiple pro-Trump individuals in swing states who served as alternate electors. Chesebros attorney indicated last week that the state had handed over a list of 174 trial witnesses.

In seeking McDanielss testimony, prosecutors said that on the day the alternate electors met, she spoke on the phone with Trump and attorney John Eastman, one of Chesebros co-defendants who was also involved with the strategy. Prosecutors said McDaniel also forwarded an email about the plan to Trumps executive assistant.

For Jones, prosecutors pointed to video footage, which CNN published in August, that appears to show Chesebro following the Infowars host around the Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6 attack. Jones, a noted conspiracy theorist, was also at the then-presidents rally earlier in the day.

Alex Jones will provide evidence to the jury of Kenneth Chesebros involvement in the conspiracy, including, without limitation, as it relates to his participation in the march on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, prosecutors wrote in court filings.

The documents were filed in the middle of a pretrial hearing Tuesday, in which Chesebro and Powell argued their charges should be tossed for multiple reasons.

Chesebros attorneys argued Chesebro acted only in his capacity as a lawyer, giving legal advice to fake electors but not directing them. Chesebros granular advice underscores his role as a lawyer, not a co-conspirator, Chesebro attorney Scott Grubman told Judge Scott McAfee.

The fact of the matter is that everything he sent was legal advice, Grubman said.

But testimony by Jones speaking to Chesebros Jan. 6 behavior could upend the assertion by Chesebros legal team that his only role in the alleged conspiracy was by impartially offering legal advice.

Fulton County prosecutors pushed back on the arguments made by Chesebros attorneys by asserting that Chesebro isnt charged with any offenses that proscribe free speech or expression; each of his charges are conspiracy counts, which are proved by establishing an unlawful agreement between two or more parties.

Another hearing on Chesebro and Powells pretrial motions is set for Wednesday, the last scheduled hearing before the case is scheduled to head to trial later this month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Georgia prosecutors say a key Trump campaign legal advisers memos  which guided efforts to subvert the 2020 election despite former President Donald Trump s defeat  cannot be shielded by attorney-client privilege because they were about politics, not law.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis argued Tuesday that the memos by Ken Chesebro, one of 18 defendants charged alongside Trump in a sprawling racketeering conspiracy related to the 2020 election, were not about a litigation strategy or legal advice, which would typically be protected by confidentiality rules.

Rather, she contended, Chesebro had developed a strategy to derail the transfer of power from Trump to President Joe Biden by advocating efforts aimed at Congress, not the courts.

[T]he animating concern was creating political strategy to be used in Congress, not the judicial branch, Willis argued. In particular, the January email begins with the premise that the judicial system has not allowed the Trump Campaign to accomplish its goals. The memo explicitly gives up on pursuing any judicial process in order to pursue political strategy in Congress.

The argument sets up a crucial decision for Judge Scott McAfee, with potential repercussions for Trump and other attorneys like Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman who worked closely with the former president to undermine the 2020 election results. Chesebro contends that the memos should be excluded from his upcoming trial  set for Oct. 23  because they were privileged work on behalf of his client, the Trump campaign.

Willis argument hewed closely to the rulings of a federal judge in California, who found that many of Eastmans emails in the aftermath of the 2020 election were not subject to attorney-client privilege because of their political character  or because they were shared with non-lawyers and lost their confidentiality. That judge, U.S. District Judge David Carter, also found that some of Eastmans emails would be disclosed to the House Jan. 6 select committee because they constituted evidence of a likely conspiracy between Eastman and Trump. Eastman is among the defendants charged alongside Trump and Chesebro in Georgia.

Chesebros string of memos began in November 2020, with an exhortation that the Trump campaign should convene slates of presidential electors in several swing states in which Biden defeated Trump, contending they would be a backstop if Trump were to prevail in ongoing legal fights.

But Chesebros memos took a turn in early December when he noted that Trump could use the elector strategy to prevail in the 2020 election even if his lawsuits failed  by using the Trump-backed electors to disrupt congressional proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021, the day that valid Electoral College votes were required by federal law to be counted.

Willis argument appears to be in some tension with the approach federal prosecutors have taken to cases related to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. In those cases, advancing felony obstruction-of-justice charges against some alleged rioters, prosecutors have argued that Congress meeting to tally electoral votes was akin to a judicial proceeding.

Many defense attorneys have challenged that conclusion, but federal judges have generally sided with prosecutors on the point.

Willis, however, has other arguments for invalidating Chesebros claims of privilege. She notes that he disseminated his memos to figures far removed from the Trump campaigns legal team, which effectively waives privilege. And theyve all since been made public, she noted. In addition, Chesebro has not shown evidence of his attorney-client relationship with the Trump campaign or Trump himself, further casting doubt on whether the contacts would be privileged.

Lastly, Willis contended that all of the memos could be disclosed under the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege. A grand jury, she noted, indicted Chesebro based on evidence connected to the memos, concluding that Eastman joined the alleged racketeering conspiracy based in part of the advice he was giving to the Trump team.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Germany on Tuesday unveiled a fresh support package for Ukraine worth around 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), its defence ministry said, adding the programme covered air defense, weapons and ground vehicles.

"Germany will continue to support Ukraine with what it needs most urgently - air defence, ammunition and tanks," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.

"With this new 'winter package' we are further increasing the operational readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces in the coming months."

Pistorius said the package covered an additional Patriot air defense missile system - which was flagged by Chancellor Olaf Scholz last week - as well as an additional IRIS-T system and Gepard anti-aircraft-gun tank.

Pistorius said that Ukrainian special forces would also be supported with vehicles, weapons as well as unspecified equipment worth more than 20 million euros to increase their capabilities.

($1 = 0.9429 euros)

(Reporting by Christoph SteitzEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
Germany is delivering a new support package to Ukraine, which includes air defense systems worth around 1 billion euros ($1.06 billion), the German Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 10.

The package includes an additional Patriot air defense system, which Germany pledged on Oct. 5 it would provide to Kyiv. IRIS-T and Gepard systems are also included.

The air defense systems will help Ukraine better protect its critical infrastructure as winter approaches, the ministry said.

On Oct. 8, the Ukrainian Air Force warned that Russia will likely launch a record number of drones against Ukraine as it seeks to destroy the country's energy infrastructure.

Moscow attempted such a strategy during the fall and winter of 2022-2023, which led to frequent blackouts and a lack of heating across the country.

Germany is additionally providing a "comprehensive support package" for the Ukrainian special forces that consists of vehicles, weapons, and equipment worth over 20 million euros ($21.2 million), Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

The ministry added that the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine is also ongoing.

"Germany will continue to support Ukraine with what it needs most - with air defense, ammunition and tanks," Pistorius said.

Read also: Rheinmetall to deliver Estonian mobile drone surveillance systems to Ukraine

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(Bloomberg) -- Germany is aiming to pass a far-reaching new migration law by the end of the year that would impose tougher measures on those seeking asylum in the European Unions wealthiest country.

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Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government will make the migration package its next major legislative objective in an effort to get it passed before a series of regional elections next year, according to people familiar with the plans.

Germany is the largest refugee host in the EU, with 2.1 million migrants living there. The three-party ruling coalition in Berlin has cited migration as one of the key issues that has fractured the alliance, sinking the government in polls while giving a boost to the far right.

Scholz, who backed stricter asylum rules earlier this year, wants to find a broad, multi-party agreement on the package ideally including the opposition conservatives, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are ongoing. Measures theyre considering include lowering social benefits for asylum seekers in Germany.

The Greens, who together with the FDP form part of Scholzs SPD-led government, have until now been opposed to any change of the asylum law. But some in the party are beginning to reconsider that position in the face of a growing political threat from the right-wing Alternative for Germany Party.

More than 204,000 people requested asylum in Germany through August, a 77% increase compared to the same period last year, according to government data. The capacity in many housing projects is close to zero, an official from Berlins refugee office was quoted by Bild am Sonntag as saying last month.

Russias war against Ukraine has triggered a new migration wave in Europe, which is pushing local authorities in Germany to the limits as they struggle to accommodate and support the more than 1 million war refugees who arrived. That influx has reduced the capabilities of local authorities to house and integrate asylum seekers from other countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Scholz on Tuesday reiterated his view that the number of those who come to Germany as refugees is too high and said his government is dealing with the situation.

Many of the arrivals have transited through other European countries but not been registered there, Scholz told reporters after a joint Germany-France cabinet meeting in Hamburg, adding that those who cannot make a case for asylum will have to be repatriated.

That is why we have strongly advocated that we develop a common European asylum system that is based on the idea of solidarity, he said. Further steps will be taken, always in close cooperation with all those concerned, including the German regions and municipalities.

--With assistance from Slav Okov and Zoe Schneeweiss.

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The City of Pittsburghs plastic bag ban goes into effect in days.

Giant Eagle made an announcement Monday about what the company plans to do with the money made from mandated 10-cent paper bag fees.

The company will donate 100% of the funds to local organizations that are focused on creating more livable neighborhoods and greener outdoor spaces.

Giant Eagle said this includes Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Riverlife, Allegheny Cleanways, Grow Pittsburgh and Tree Pittsburgh.

We are excited to implement this unique pass-through of the paper bags fees we are required to collect to benefit organizations that are planting trees, cleaning waterways, and upgrading city park systems throughout the City of Pittsburgh, said Giant Eagle Director of Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility, Cara Mercil. This donation program will enable our customers to participate in our contribution to the Pittsburgh community through their paper bag purchases.

For more information about the program, click here.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Fresno Police Department is currently investigating two incidents taking place at a Jewish Temple and Noahs Ark Restaurant and Bakery in Fresno overnight.

According to police, on Tuesday at around 6:00 a.m. at the Temple Beth Israel, an employee discovered that the front door had been broken by a rock. The employee found a backpack that contained more rocks left behind.

Officials say there are no indications this incident is a hate crime, but they are investigating it as a hate incident.

The second incident occurred at the Noahs Ark Restaurant and Bakery. On Tuesday at around 8:30 a.m., an employee found two windows broken. According to officials, there was a newspaper with a handwritten message left behind threatening Jewish-owned businesses.

In a statement, Chief Paco Balderrama says the Fresno Police Department will not tolerate any acts of violence, threats of violence or efforts of intimidation towards any of our community members.

Officials are investigating this incident as a hate crime.

We are actively investigating both of these incidents, dedicating personnel and resources to identifying the suspects and holding them accountable. We cannot do this alone, however, and I am asking that if any of our community members have information on these acts, to please contact the Fresno Police Department. Chief Paco Balderrama

Anyone with information about the incidents is encouraged to contact the Fresno Police Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Following his meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis , President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised good news about artillery and air defence and thanked Romania for its past and future assistance.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "There will be good news concerning artillery and air defence. I am very thankful for this. I am certain that everyone in Romania is aware of what a terrible threat is posed by Russian missiles and combat drones."

Details: Zelenskyy remarked that Russian attacks on Ukraines Danube ports have become a problem for border cities in Romania as well.

During a Q&A session, Zelenskyy said he could not comment on the potential aid package in more detail since it would be preferable for Russia not to know about it.

He stressed that the food security and social stability of many countries of the world depend directly upon the "solidarity routes" for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products operating normally, including the Danube ports.

"Every Russian missile, every Shahed which strikes Ukrainian ports are also striking at our joint contribution to global security. We must do everything possible to prevent Russia from turning any part of the Black Sea and the Danube region into a dead zone for normal shipping," the President remarked.

He added that "air defence is key to this". "We are working with various partners to strengthen our air defence throughout Ukraine and in Odesa Oblast in particular. The President and I discussed possible joint actions to protect not only the ports but the whole region of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and our people," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also announced that Ukraine and Romania have signed a declaration on cooperation in key sectors.

Background: On 10 October, Zelenskyy arrived in Romania on his first official visit there since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






Former Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, speaks during a hearing of the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2019. Hurd, a onetime CIA officer and fierce critic of Donald Trump , said he is dropping out of the presidential race. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

A long shot Republican presidential candidate dropped out of the race Monday, calling on other candidates to consolidate behind one person to defeat former President Donald Trump  while endorsing one of the other candidates.

Will Hurd, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, terminated his candidacy Monday afternoon. After launching his campaign in June, Hurd struggled to garner broad support in a crowded GOP field, falling short of the requirements for the first two debates.

While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden, Hurd said in a statement.

In the statement, Hurd endorsed former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, calling her a leader who can unite us and navigate the complex challenges we face.

Ambassador Haley has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy, Hurd said.

Hurds call for the Republican candidates to consolidate behind one person to challenge Trump echoes similar calls from Utah Sen. Mitt Romney , who won the GOPs presidential nomination in 2012.

Per Romneys strategy, unveiled in a Wall Street Journal op-ed in July, all Republican candidates and donors should coalesce behind a single, non-Trump candidate by the end of February to avoid split(ting) the non-Trump vote and awarding the former president a victory. Romney reportedly tried, unsuccessfully, to get GOP candidates to do the same in 2016, when Trump won the nomination.

Hurd called on donors, voters and other candidates to back a single candidate. Otherwise, we will repeat the same errors as in 2016, he said.

If the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump or the various personalities jockeying to imitate his divisive, crass behavior, we will lose.
A series of town hall forums presented by USA TODAY, the USA TODAY Network and Seacoastonline for Republican presidential hopefuls took place in Exeter, New Hampshire this past week.

The forums were held at Exeter Town Hall, where many former presidents, including Donald Trump and Barack Obama , have campaigned.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson , former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley , North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Vice President Mike Pence , and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy held town halls. You can watch all of the replays below.

Exeter Town Hall has the distinction of being the only location remaining in New Hampshire where Abraham Lincoln spoke in 1860, just months before launching his presidential campaign.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Seacoast Media Group and USA TODAY Network 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Town Hall Forum held in the historic Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. The entrepreneur spoke to prospective New Hampshire voters about issues during the hour-long forum.

Replay: Watch candidates from earlier Town Halls

Vivek Ramaswamy

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said on Saturday that an outside perspective was needed to end the rampant corruption he claimed was running through the country. He said he would shut down federal agencies he feels should no longer exist, including the Department of Education.

"I come from outside the world of politics. I'm a businessman, not a politician," Ramaswamy told voters.

Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence told voters it was time to restore 'a threshold of civility' in public life during his town hall on Friday. "I'll always believe by God's grace I did my duty that day to support the Constitution of the United States," Pence said. "I want people to know the way forward in this country is for us to get back to what we all agree upon...I hope we proved in part that day, I'm that man."

Mike Pence to GOP: 'It's time for adults in the room on Capitol Hill'

Doug Burgum

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum shared his thoughts on unions forming across the country demanding better pay during his USA Today New Hampshire Town Hall Tuesday.

"We are taking away American jobs and then we are outsourcing those jobs to China," Burgum said.

The North Dakota Governor explained that Joe Biden is the reason for the strikes around the country because our energy policy encourages technology that requires less workers.

Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum speaks during the Seacoast Media Group and USA TODAY Network 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Town Hall Forum held in the historic Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. The current Governor of North Dakota spoke to prospective New Hampshire voters about issues during the hour-long forum.

Nikki Haley

Former U.N. ambassador and GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley called for new leadership while rebuking Donald Trump and Joe Biden during her USA Today New Hampshire Town Hall on Thursday.

Nikki Haley calls out GOP spending

"We all need to acknowledge that it is time for a new generation of leader," Haley said in response to a question about recent comments made by Donald Trump in reference to Israel. "We have to leave the negativity, the chaos and the baggage of the past."

Haley spoke to voters at a full Exeter Town Hall in which she criticized Biden and questioned his fitness for duty. "We need people who are at the top of their game," she said.

Asa Hutchinson

Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson positioned himself as an anti-Trump, traditional Republican during his USA Today New Hampshire Town Hall Tuesday.

Hutchinson said, "we need a course correction in the Republican Party" in front of a handful of New Hampshire voters at Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire.

The former two term Arkansas governor argued that the country should take a larger role in the international order saying that former President Donald Trump wants a, "ring around the United States."

Contributing: David Jackson, James Powel, Francesca Chambers, Ken Tran, Howard Altschiller

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Exeter Town Hall Republican presidential forums
WASHINGTON (Nexstar)  A new Speaker of the House of Representatives could be selected within the next few days  but only if Republicans can put aside their differences and unite behind a candidate.

And now, for the first time since he was ousted as Speaker, Kevin McCarthy is not ruling out returning to the role.

However, House Republicans say this Speaker election will be different than the one in January when it took 15 rounds to elect McCarthy. Colorado Republican Ken Buck doesnt want a repeat.

Its better to play out in private where the cameras arent on and we dont have people trying to get attention, Buck said. For those folks who think were projecting a chaotic image, it makes a lot more sense to do this behind closed doors.

After the war broke out between Israel and Hamas, McCarthy said the House needs a Speaker as soon as possible. He left the door open to returning to the role.

Whether Im Speaker or not Im a member of this body. I know what history its had. And I can lead in any position it is, he said Monday.

Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who orchestrated McCarthys ouster, rejects the idea that expelling the Speaker of the House jeopardizes global security.

I dont think that other countries think of Kevin McCarthys speakership quite as much as Kevin McCarthy does, Gaetz said.

He added the internal battle to elect a new Speaker should be quick. Well have a new Speaker next week and well prepared to do our work.

The current GOP front-runners for the Speakership are Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise. One could emerge as the partys choice by the end of Tuesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, the site of Sen. Mitt Romneys annual E2 Summit, is pictured in Park City on June 9, 2017. Four Republican presidential candidates are expected at this years summit. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Four Republican presidential candidates were in Park City Tuesday for closed-door meetings with influential donors and policy experts, many of whom backed Mitt Romney and Paul Ryans 2012 presidential run.

The E2 Summit, started in 2012 by Romney, brings together many of the leading conservative business and political leaders. Attendees this year include former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley; former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; former Vice President Mike Pence; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

The four presidential candidates arrived at the Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley on Monday and will address the summits 250 attendees in closed-door sessions Tuesday.

Spencer Zwick, one of the summits organizers and Romneys 2012 finance chair, told The Washington Post that the attendees are sincerely looking for an alternative to Donald Trump.

If people in this room, and at this gathering, start to really get behind one or two of these candidates, youre going to see some real movement in the polls, Zwick said. At some point, and hopefully in the not too distant future, we can start to coalesce around a smaller group of candidates.

Beginning in 2019, when Romney joined the U.S. Senate, his role at the E2 Summit became honorary. It is formally hosted by Solamere Capital, a Boston-based private equity firm founded by Zwick, Eric Scheuermann and Tagg Romney (Sen. Romneys son). Ryan is a partner at Solamere.

Other presidential candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., were reportedly invited to attend.

Romney will address the attendees in a speech Tuesday evening. Romney announced that he will not run for reelection at the conclusion of his U.S. Senate term in January 2025.

Romney told the Deseret News he will be watching to see who the people of Utah elect to become our senator, but we need the next generation to step forward.

Related

In recent months, Romney has encouraged Trumps Republican presidential challengers to consolidate behind one candidate. This would avoid split(ting) the non-Trump vote and handing the former president a victory, Romney wrote in a July op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. Romney reportedly tried, unsuccessfully, to get GOP candidates to do the same in 2016, when Trump won the nomination.

Will Hurd, a long-shot GOP presidential candidate, dropped out of the race Monday evening, calling on donors, voters and other candidates to back a single candidate. Otherwise, we will repeat the same errors as in 2016, he said in a statement.

Related

At the E2 Summit, shorthand for Experts and Enthusiasts, sessions will include discussions of foreign policy, business and tech. One session on Monday evening focused on artificial intelligence and the future of digitization  something Romney has said makes him terrified.

Other notable attendees include Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp; former Trump attorney general William Barr; former national security adviser Robert OBrien; Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan; and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
FIRST ON FOX: Amid Israel's deadly war, a group of Republican senators led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn , R-Tenn, are urging the Biden administration to freeze Iran's $6 billion in assets that were released to Qatar from South Korean accounts in exchange for American prisoners last month.

"To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable," lawmakers wrote in a letter to Biden Monday evening.

While the administration said the funds can only be used for humanitarian aid and other resources for Iranian citizens, lawmakers argue that the "money is fungible"  meaning that a unit of currency is interchangeable with another unit of the same value.

"Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel," they wrote. "Moreover, allowing $6 billion to flow into Irans economy, even if the purpose is for humanitarian aid, allows the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to supporting terrorism."

VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS

Israeli forces recaptured areas near the Gaza Strip that had been overrun in a Hamas mass-infiltration over the weekend.

The lawmakers added: "The State Department should immediately rescind the waivers that allowed Iranian funds to be converted and moved to more accessible bank accounts, as well as work with U.S. ally Qatar to immediately freeze the accounts containing these funds."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A group of 20 Republicans in the upper chamber, including Blackburn and Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Mike Lee, R-Utah; Rick Scott, R-Fla.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., among others, signed the letter.

The report comes as nearly 800 casualties have been reported, and 11 Americans have been killed, the U.S. State Department confirmed Monday.

Blackburn told Fox News Digital in a statement that "President Biden is refusing to freeze the $6 billion ransom payment to Iran because he is afraid to admit it was a catalyst for the attacks."

"He still has time to limit the damage," she said, adding that Biden should immediately freeze the funds.

RUBIO SAYS ISRAEL HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SEEK COMPLETE ERADICATION OF HAMAS'

Hamas militant terrorists also took more than 100 people hostage when they launched the surprise attack on Saturday. Israeli soldiers, grandmothers, infants and teenagers were all victims of the hostage-taking.

The deal, which was reached last month, allowed the transfer of Iran's frozen assets held in a South Korean bank to accounts in Qatar. The administration said the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes and the U.S. will have oversight as to how and when the funds are used.

However, Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told the BBC that they had Irans support for the attacks, which began Saturday. A bombshell Wall Street Journal report Sunday also said Hamas and Hezbollah helped Iran plan the attack, contradicting the administration's statements.

MCCARTHY SAYS TO BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, TURN OFF THE BARBECUE, AS BLOODY WAR RAGES ON IN ISRAEL

Israel formally declared war on Hamas after the attack. President Biden affirmed Israels right to defend itself as the Pentagon catapulted assistance to Israel Defense Forces over the weekend.

In a post Saturday, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "the deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel."

"Not a penny has been spent, and when it is, it can only go for humanitarian needs like food and medicine. Anything to the contrary is false," Miller wrote.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.





Original article source: GOP senators call on Biden to freeze $6 billion in Iranian 'ransom'
WASHINGTON  As Republicans try to link President Joe Biden s release of $6 billion of frozen Iranian money as part of a prisoner swap to the weekend terrorist attack on Israel, they continue to ignore the documented damage done to that countrys security by the de facto leader of their party, Donald Trump .

Less than four months into his term, the coup-attempting former president was bragging to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergei Kislyak during their Oval Office visit about the quality of the briefings he was receiving, and as proof offered details about a secret Israeli intelligence operation into Syria.

Israeli intelligence officials were incensed upon learning of the leak because, given Russias close ties to Iran and Syria, they had to assume that their local source for the information had been compromised and possibly killed, according to Israeli press accounts at the time.

If indeed Trump, out of innocence or ignorance, leaked information to the Russians, then there is a real danger to sources that it took years to acquire, and to our working methods, an Israeli intelligence source told journalist Ronen Bergman.

Shabtai Shavit, who led the Mossad intelligence agency in the 1990s, told the Times of Israel: If tomorrow I were asked to pass information to the CIA, I would do everything I could to not pass it to them. Or I would first protect myself and only then give it, and what Id give would be totally neutered.

Despite this, not one of the candidates running against Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination has criticized Trump for his lack of discretion, even as they uniformly attack Biden for unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian money that had been held in a South Korean bank. Their attacks link that decision with the assault on Israel by the militant group Hamas.

The Biden administration has defended the release of the money as a way to help get five American citizens who had been unjustly detained in Iran back home. Officials point out that the money can only be spent for food, medicine and other humanitarian purposes. Republicans critics argue that money is fungible, and that saving $6 billion on food and medicine allows Iran to spend it on terrorism instead.

On Saturday, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, within hours of Hamas attacks, blamed Biden: This terrorism is funded by Bidens idiotic release of $6 billion to the Iranians.

Iran has helped fund this war against Israel and Joe Bidens policies that have gone easy on Iran have helped fill their coffers, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a video he released Sunday morning. Israel is now paying the price for those policies.

A little later, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott posted: Bidens weakness invited the attack. Bidens negotiation funded the attack. Biden admin wanted Israel to stand down after the attack. At this point, Biden is complicit.

Its unclear how the agreement to release money to Iran for humanitarian purposes  not a dollar of which has yet been spent  less than a month ago could have funded Hamas attack, which involved thousands of rockets that must have been stockpiled over a period of many months.

Notably, none of the candidates statements criticized Trump for action weakening Israel  even though they are all running against him for the nomination, and he is the current frontrunner by a wide margin.

Of the half dozen campaigns contacted by HuffPost, Christies, DeSantis and Scotts among them, on the matter, only Christies responded: Hes been pretty clear across the board that Trump shouldnt be president again, said campaign spokesman Karl Rickett.

Trumps campaign also did not respond to HuffPost queries.

The May 10, 2017, White House meeting was covered by Russian media, but not American media, and began with Trump telling Lavrov and Kislayak that he had just fired FBI Director James Comey over the agencys investigation into his contacts with their country ahead of his 2016 election. The Washington Post, which first reported on the incident, quoted an administration official who said that Trump revealed more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies.

The intelligence concerned ISIS newfound ability to make bombs in laptop computers that could get through airport screening, which had led to a ban on people carrying laptops with them on flights coming from a number of Muslim countries.

The information had come via Israeli intelligence agencies through a source who had infiltrated an ISIS cell in Syria and which had been confirmed thanks to electronic eavesdropping equipment planted in a daring nighttime mission by Israeli commandos.

Trump revealed this to the Russians, including the Syrian city in which the operation took place, as part of his boasts.

Donald Trump further proves he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage, Biden campaign co-chair Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois senator and military veteran, said in a statement. The generals and other military leaders who served under Trumpthose in a position to knowhave repeatedly said he made our country less safe, not more.

U.S. intelligence agencies have worked closely with their Israeli counterparts for nearly 70 years, since an Israeli agent got hold of a secret speech Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev had delivered denouncing Joseph Stalins brutality.

In recent years, that cooperation has included work against Iran and the various terror groups in the Middle East.

The clandestine destruction of Iranian uranium-enrichment centrifuges undertaken during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, for example, was a joint venture between American and Israeli intelligence services.

But U.S. intelligence officials just before Trumps inauguration in January 2017 warned their Israeli colleagues that they may want to be careful about what intelligence they chose to share in the coming administration, given Trumps fondness for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russias ties to Iran and Syria.

Israeli officials reportedly were skeptical about that warning  until the Oval Office meeting four months later proved it correct.

Related...
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs , a first-term Democrat, said Monday she would support making Indigenous Peoples Day an official holiday in the Grand Canyon State.

But the initial steps to make that recognition a reality  getting a bill through the Legislature and onto the governor's desk  have proven impossible in recent Arizona history.

Native American lawmakers in Arizona since 2020 have sought to change state law to recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, according to a review of bills introduced in the Legislature. Arizona law now says that state holiday is Columbus Day, instead designating June 2 as Native American Day after a push from lawmakers in 2018.

Hobbs voiced her support while speaking to reporters after an event in Chandler marking the donation of the late grocery magnate Eddie Basha's collection of Native and Western art to local museums.

"Certainly if it passes and gets to my desk, I will sign it," Hobbs said of a bill that would make Indigenous Peoples Day an official holiday. She didn't say whether she would make renaming and refocusing the October holiday a policy priority next year, when the Legislature resumes its work, saying she hadn't yet spoken to Indigenous lawmakers likely to introduce such a measure.

Hobbs also signed a proclamation declaring Monday as Indigenous Peoples Day, to "encourage all citizens to acknowledge the historic sacrifices of Indigenous people, and recognize their contributions to our great state." Her predecessor, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, issued a similar proclamation in 2020 to honor Arizona's 22 tribes.

A gubernatorial proclamation doesn't carry the same gravity as making the day an official holiday, as cities such as Phoenix and Tempe have done.

What is Indigenous Peoples' Day? Here's how Arizona celebrates it

Only 16 states officially recognize Columbus Day, and an increasing number of state governments are moving away from celebrating the explorer Christopher Columbus in favor of honoring the heritage of Indigenous communities forever changed by colonialism.

Seventeen states have holidays honoring Native Americans, though not all are on the second Monday in October, according to a state-by-state review by the Pew Research Center.

While Indigenous Peoples Day is becoming more popular in name, Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales , D-Tucson, and a member of the Pascua Yaqui tribe, said she tracked Arizona bills to create a day honoring Native Americans back to 1997.

Gonzales has introduced multiple bills to designate the October holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day and erase Columbus Day, and vowed to do so again next year.

"Until we change the law, until my colleagues decide to acknowledge our history and to honor all the people of the Americas, it's not going to be a successful day in government as far as I'm concerned," Gonzales said. "We really need to pay tribute to what we have accomplished and what we have endured, and what we have contributed to this country."

On June 2, 2019, Arizona marked its first Native American Day, commemorating the date in 1924 President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which gave citizenship to any Native American born within the country. Ducey signed the bill, sponsored by former Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai, into law to create the holiday, though Peshlakai pledged to continue her efforts to remake Columbus Day into a day honoring Indigenous people.

Peshlakai resigned from the Legislature to join the Biden administration, and now her mother, Rep. Mae Peshlakai, a Democrat and chair of the Legislature's Indigenous Peoples Caucus, will carry on the effort. Mae Peshlakai, from the Navajo Nation community of Cameron, said she felt disappointed that past efforts had failed but hopeful for the future with Democrats in the Governor's Office and White House.

"With Governor Hobbs and President Biden signing the proclamation in (Washington,) D.C. today, that gives all of us hope that people are coming to realize that there were people here before Columbus came," Mae Peshlakai said.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ governor backs renaming October holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, registered a draft law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) on Oct. 5. After collecting the necessary 226 votes, the bill was officially registered for consideration.

The proposed bill states the possibility of banning any religious organizations affiliated with war propaganda or justifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The UOC-MP, which is subordinate to church leadership in Moscow, has been accused of aligning with the Russian government during the war.

Last year, Russian Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Kirill , supported Putins invasion, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Sacrifice in the course of carrying out your military duty washes away all sins, Kirill said to his Russian followers fighting in Ukraine.

After a missile attack badly damaged Odesas Transfiguration Cathedral in July, the vicar of the Odesa Diocese wrote to the Moscow patriarch Kirill, saying your bishops and priests consecrate and bless the tanks and rockets that bomb our peaceful cities.

The Ukrainian government evicted the UOC-MP from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and has brought charges against church leaders for spreading pro-war propaganda.

54% of Ukrainians believe the UOC-MP should be banned, according to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ROBBINSVILLE, N.J.  "Grand" hardly does justice to the majestic Hindu temple that has risen out of a field here in central New Jersey.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham campus occupies roughly 180 acres in the township just east of the state Capitol in Trenton, a property large enough to swallow MetLife Stadium almost four times. The gleaming edifice of marble and stone is graced with decorative arches, intricate carvings depicting stories from Hindu scripture and about 10,000 statues. Its spire reaches 191 feet into the sky.

Almost 13,000 people from around the world spent 12 years working on the project, constructing what the congregation says is the largest Hindu temple in the world. Ahead of its official opening and dedication on Sunday  which included dedicating not just the temple but also a welcome center and religious museum  devotees said it would be a landmark moment for America's large and growing Hindu community, including almost 300,000 living in New Jersey.

"This is the largest Hindu temple to be built in modern times," said Darshan Patel, a volunteer from Pennington, New Jersey, who serves as a temple spokesman. "The fact that something of this scale was possible here in America is a great sense of pride to American Hindus  that we can be part of the American fabric and still keep our identity intact."

The central temple of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham houses the largest elliptical dome of traditional stone architecture ever constructed, nearly 2 million cubic feet of stone, and intricate detail. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey will soon be unveiled to the public. After twelve years of construction, grand opening celebrations will occur on October 8, 2023. Robbinsville, NJ Wednesday, September, 27, 2023

That the project has also been dogged by controversy  including a lawsuit and a federal investigation into the alleged mistreatment of hundreds of workers  has not appeared to dampen the excitement of devotees. Sunday's ceremony was expected to include a visit from Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the BAPS congregation, which claims more than 1,100 centers and roughly 1 million adherents around the globe.

BAPS stands for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a congregation named after Bhagwan Swaminarayan, an Indian religious leader of the late 1700s. The denomination emphasizes faith and humanitarian service. Its volunteers are known for contributing countless hours of selfless service, or "seva," every year, said Patel. Millions of hours of labor went into the construction of the Robbinsville campus.

That is a source of immense pride for the organization  and continuing accusations.

Workers say they were abused and held as virtual prisoners

The central temple of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham houses the largest elliptical dome of traditional stone architecture ever constructed, nearly 2 million cubic feet of stone, and intricate detail. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey will soon be unveiled to the public. After twelve years of construction, grand opening celebrations will occur on October 8, 2023. Robbinsville, NJ Wednesday, September, 27, 2023

The volunteers are at the center of a 2021 lawsuit against the sect, charging they were abused and held as virtual prisoners on the worksite, as well as a criminal investigation by federal authorities that followed a raid on the complex in 2021.

The suit accuses BAPS of trafficking hundreds of laborers from India and forcing them to work in poor conditions and for below-minimum-wage pay.

Workers were subjected to "shocking mistreatment," including 12-hour days seven days a week and little time off throughout the year, said Patricia Kakalec, a Brooklyn attorney representing the plaintiffs.

They have asked a court to grant class-action status to the suit and expand it to as many as 600 workers at BAPS centers around the U.S., including in suburbs of Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, Kakalec said.

But the case has been put on hold so the criminal inquiry can proceed, she added.

Matthew Reilly, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark, would neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation, citing Justice Department policy. But attorneys for both sides in the lawsuit confirmed the project is under investigation.

Ronak Patel, a BAPS spokesperson, said that "the parties agreed to put the lawsuit on hold pending an investigation, with which BAPS continues to cooperate fully." The lawsuit, however, has hit another snag. Twelve of the plaintiffs have retained new counsel and are asking a judge to be removed from the case, said Patel, who is not related to Darshan Patel.

A 49 foot tall statue of Nilkanthvarni stands at the temple entrance in Nilkanth Plaza. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey will soon be unveiled to the public. After twelve years of construction, grand opening celebrations will occur on October 8, 2023. Robbinsville, NJ Wednesday, September, 27, 2023

Kakalec confirmed the departure but declined to discuss why the workers left the suit. She said she still represents nine other plaintiffs.

According to the lawsuit, workers' passports were confiscated by BAPS when they arrived in the U.S. and kept during their time in New Jersey to prevent them from leaving the country. It also says laborers were forced to work in a guarded compound on the temple grounds and not allowed to leave without overseers affiliated with the temple.

At least three workers have died at the site, according to published news reports. One was a 15-year-old who fell 45 feet in 2017, leading to an out-of-court settlement with the child's family. In 2021, a 57-year-old who was operating curbing equipment also died. Ronak Patel said their deaths were "unrelated to safety conditions."

Another claim was filed against the temple by relatives of a worker who died at the temple in 2020. The man was a stonecutter from India in his 30s who, according to the case, died because of a lack of treatment after suffering a medical problem at the temple.

Ronak Patel said the death was "tragic" but denied the allegations, asserting that "BAPS responded appropriately, and the individual was not denied medical care."

Although the volunteers were technically offering their services free of charge, he added, BAPS paid them by taking care of their needs in the U.S., "including travel, lodging, food, medical care, internet and prepaid phone cards so they could stay in touch with their families." The organization also supported the volunteers' families in India "so they did not suffer financial hardship as a result of the artisans seva, or selfless service, in the U.S.

$20,000 in fines

The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey will soon be unveiled to the public. After twelve years of construction, grand opening celebrations will occur on October 8, 2023. Robbinsville, NJ Wednesday, September, 27, 2023

In March, the Robbinsville Township Police Department responded to a medical emergency at a home where temple volunteers were being housed and discovered dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and various code violations.

In an interview, Robbinsville Mayor David Fried declined to discuss details of the incident but said that any township issues "regarding BAPS and its related associations have been resolved, other than the ongoing federal investigation that Robbinsville is not privy to."

"All fines have been paid for any previous violations," he added.

The fines collected totaled about $20,000, said John Nalbone, a spokesman for Robbinsville Township.

The impetus for the construction of the temple in Robbinsville was the vision of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual leader, or guru, of the BAPS denomination. He chose the location, according to Ronak Patel. The tri-state area has a large Hindu population, and the site  surrounded by a diverse community with a vibrant town center of shops, residences and open space  is about 60 miles from Manhattan.

There are 1.1 billion Hindus worldwide, according to the Pew Research Center. Roughly 2.5 million live in America, most of them immigrants from India.

Important moment in Hindu American history

The central temple of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham houses the largest elliptical dome of traditional stone architecture ever constructed, nearly 2 million cubic feet of stone, and intricate detail. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey will soon be unveiled to the public. After twelve years of construction, grand opening celebrations will occur on October 8, 2023. Robbinsville, NJ Wednesday, September, 27, 2023

Sunday's dedication ceremony was expected to feature religious rituals and prayers and performances highlighting Indian cultural heritage. The opening marks an important moment in Hindu American history.

"It is the first time where a place of this magnitude is available for everyone to learn about Hinduism," said Darshan Patel, the Pennington volunteer. "Beyond the beautiful architecture of the Akshardham temple are stories of devotion and volunteerism. Akshardham is a living experience of spirituality and humanity. The temple was only possible because people from all walks of life came together to give life to the stones."

The temple will open for regular services on Wednesday. The campus will also be open to the general public to tour almost every day. "People are invited to visit the grounds and learn about the Hindu religion," he said. Visitors are welcome to attend prayer services as well.

"The impact of this is not just about a building," Darshan Patel said. "This edifice also represents a love story about a people's attachment to the temple."

A hub for selfless service

The project was funded by donations from people around the world, said Patel, who was unable to provide construction costs.

The central temple of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham houses the largest elliptical dome of traditional stone architecture ever constructed, nearly 2 million cubic feet of stone, and intricate detail. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey will soon be unveiled to the public. After twelve years of construction, grand opening celebrations will occur on October 8, 2023. Robbinsville, NJ Wednesday, September, 27, 2023

Among the volunteers were students, business executives, physicians and architects who put their lives on hold to volunteer. They were all drawn to the effort because of the influence that the guru had on their lives, according to Darshan Patel, and the hope that the temple will serve as a hub for selfless service and have a positive influence on society.

One of them was Yogesh Patel of South River, in Middlesex County. He began volunteering on the project 12 years ago and left his job at Citibank last year to work on the temple full time. Patel was tasked primarily with working through township permits and building regulations and spent his time onsite with other volunteers from morning until night.

"I met over 1,000 volunteers from throughout the nation, including high school kids from Florida and adults from California and Indiana," he said. "One thing I felt from everyone was that this was a project that was near and dear to many people. We were all excited to be a part of a project of this magnitude, which will positively impact the lives of anyone who visits."

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, and can be reached at yellin@northjersey.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @deenayellin.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hindu temple in New Jersey opening and will be the world's largest
I dont understand the stripe of Americans whose first response to Hamas recent attack on Israel is yeah, but . Hundreds of attendees at a music festival murdered. Children and elderly people taken hostage . Civilians shot dead in the streets. When it comes to war there are no angels, but there are demons, and what Hamas did on Saturday represents the latter  full stop.

However, I do understand the many Americans who see what Hamas did and think about the danger at our southern border  the Americans who are genuinely worried about the drug cartels growing influence in border towns and beyond. I do understand the part of America who saw Saturdays horror and wondered how vulnerable we are to infiltration and attack, given the surge of asylum seekers and the U.S.s inadequate systems for processing them.

I do not agree with Nikki Haley, the GOP presidential candidate and former ambassador to the U.N., on much. However, I found a lot of truth in her comments on Sunday.

I have been terribly worried about the fact that Iran has said the easiest way to get into America is through the southern border, she said on Meet the Press. "People are coming through; theyre not being vetted.  Israel is the front line of defense for the Iranian regime and terrorists that want to hurt us and want to hurt our friends, and we need to be honest with the American people about that.

Read more: Granderson: 'Blame Mexico' won't solve the crises of guns and fentanyl

Shes right. This point is one reason conservatives are able to get elected by campaigning on immigration and border security despite offensive language. Pragmatism. Theyre taking seriously the Americans who are motivated not by racism or xenophobia but by well-founded fears of a dangerous world.

After all, it wasnt just Israels intelligence that missed what Hamas was planning. U.S. intelligence apparently missed it as well. Its only pragmatic to ask what else we may be overlooking  and where. We just dont have a great history of being able to answer that question without racism.

Incarcerating Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. Rampant Islamophobia after 9/11, continuing right up through former President Trumps Muslim ban. Shameful chapters of wrongheaded overreaction. Can we show now that weve learned from those mistakes? The wave of migrants coming to the U.S. will test that.

Read more: Guerrero: For Republicans, 'Bomb the Mexicans' is the new 'Build the Wall'

This summer we saw Democrats across the country, particularly Mayor Eric Adams of New York, being critical of the Biden administrations handling of asylum seekers. After announcing in August that the city had cared for more than 100,000 since April 2022 , Adams said the issue will destroy New York City. Maybe thats political theater. However I found his comments about the longevity of the crisis to be uncomfortably honest: I dont see an ending to this. Americas demand for drugs and war on drugs keep this thriving.

Last month, the mayor of El Paso, a border town accustomed to receiving 2,000 migrants a day , said the city had reached a breaking point and could not continue to pay for shelter space and other services. Having received 8,000 migrants in a two-week period recently, San Diego County was similarly overwhelmed and declared a humanitarian crisis for asylum seekers late last month.

Read more: Opinion: Don't blur the lines by calling Mexican drug cartels 'terrorist organizations'

Desperate civilians in Central America and Mexico take great risks to escape the drug cartel violence swirling all around them, much like Iraqis and Syrians who fled Islamic State and other destabilizing groups in recent years  which is why Republicans in the House and Senate brought bills this year to designate cartels as terrorist organizations . The backers of the bills were war hawks mostly, and some of the proposed responses such as bombing Mexico are downright reckless. But the chaos of cartel violence, such as Hamas-style public kidnappings, looks familiar because it is. Its terrorism.

Thats why Haleys comments ring true for a lot of people, including me. Whether or not she uses her presidential campaign to guide a thoughtful conversation about border security remains to be seen. But I do know one needs to happen.

@LZGranderson

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Despite their status as some of the most elite fighters in the world, U.S. Army Special Forces didnt exist in the way we know them until 1952.

Special Forces traces its lineage to the First Special Service Force (FSSF), constituted on July 5, 1942, according to Army records. A combined U.S. and Canadian unit, the FSSF was originally formed to conduct unconventional warfare in Nazi-occupied Norway.

Alas, the group was disbanded in 1945, but their style of warfighting was just taking hold. Seven years later, Col. Aaron Bank helped create the 10th Special Forces Group, comprised heavily of soldiers formerly associated with the intelligence wing known as the Office of Strategic Services, or OSS.

Their tell-tale chapeaus  green berets  trace their origins to World War II, when American personnel stationed abroad often adopted headgear to match their European counterparts. Big among the French and Belgian troops were berets. Meanwhile, the distinctive green coloring is owed to British Commandos, who adopted the color for their own variants.

Despite not receiving approval to wear the colorful headgear, Special Forces soldiers did so anyway. Eventually, however, it became standard.

The Green Beret was originally designated in 1953 by Special Forces Major Herbert Brucker, a veteran of the OSS, records note. Later that year, 1st Lt. Roger Pezelle adopted it as the unofficial headgear for his A-team, Operational Detachment FA32. They wore it whenever they went to the field for prolonged exercises. Soon it spread throughout all of Special Forces, although the Army refused to authorize its official use.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy legitimized the beret  seemingly inadvertently  as Army standard issue while visiting troops at Fort Bragg.

He sent word to the Special Warfare Center commander, Brigadier General William P. Yarborough, for all Special Forces soldiers to wear their berets for the event, according to SOF records. President Kennedy felt that since they had a special mission, Special Forces should have something to set them apart from the rest.

In 1962, Kennedy wrote an official White House Memorandum stating, The Green Beret is again becoming a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom, according to Army records.

In doing so, Kennedy, a Navy veteran, became viewed as a champion of special forces.

I know that you and members of your command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring, Kennedy said. I am sure that the Green Beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead.

After his assassination, Kennedys wife Jackie requested the Green Berets serve as the Honor Guard during his funeral procession.

To this day, the beret is worn along with the coveted Special Forces tab.
A group dressed in Nazi clothing put anti-Semitic material on scores of cars at Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Sunday, the same day people wearing similar paraphernalia were videoed eating at a Torchys Tacos.

The Botanic Gardens CEO and the Austin-based restaurant chain both denounced the incidents on Tuesday. It is unclear whether the same people were involved at the two locations.

A video of the group eating in Torchys went viral after it was posted on TikTok on Sunday. The group was eating inside the Torchys in Fort Worths Medical District, at West Rosedale Street and Forest Park Boulevard. In the TikTok video, one man in the group can be seen wearing a swastika armband over a tan uniform. Another in the group can be seen wearing a sweatshirt with an image of a skull on it and the slogan Gott Mit Uns, or God With Us, both of which were used in Nazi Germany. The video also shows a swastika patch on that mans backpack.

The woman who posted the Torchys video, Jessica Gregorio, told the Star-Telegram that the group of about 10 people was already sitting down and had finished eating when she walked in. She initially thought they were in costume. Their blatant Nazi paraphernalia, plus the fact that theyd been served food and seemed to feel comfortable sitting in public, made Gregorio extremely uncomfortable, she said.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Gregorio, who was eating with her mom, said that she was staring at the group and talking about them with her mom. Then, one of the men in the group walked by Gregorio, who is Jewish, and said white power. That kicked off a verbal altercation, Gregorio said.

I just felt like, silence is compliance, and I cant sit and watch these people in public comfortably, she said. Because Im uncomfortable, so if Im going to feel uncomfortable.

After the verbal fight, the group left, Gregorio said. When a couple of the men then returned to order more food, Gregorio said, the staff at the Torchys denied them service.

Gregorio said that she spoke with a local Torchys employee immediately after the incident, and that employee indicated that the restaurant had called a regional manager who had instructed staff to serve the group and get them out of the restaurant as quickly as possible.

Austin-based Torchys Tacos sent a statement to the Star-Telegram on Tuesday afternoon, acknowledging the incident and denouncing the Nazi group.

Let us be clear, we do not stand for hate and do not support this group or any hate group, the statement said. In a difficult situation, our team acted to first ensure the safety of the other guests and our team members.

The statement also said that Torchys will work with local authorities and is taking this matter extremely seriously. The statement ended with, (EXPLETIVE) HATE.

Torchys posted the same statement on its social media accounts around noon Tuesday, after the initial Star-Telegram story was posted.

Gregorio also said that someone at Torchys headquarters called her and told her they would be retraining staff on how to deal with situations like this. The Torchys representative indicated that they would deny service to hate groups in the future.

Gregorio said that she was most upset with how the restaurant handled the situation, and that she was also disappointed that no other customers said anything to the group or the restaurant.

I see all these comments on TikTok with people who say, Oh, if I was there I would have stood up, Gregorio said. But, you know, there were other people in the restaurant and nobody stood up. Nobody said anything.

Incidents at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, elsewhere

A group of about six people dressed in similar Nazi paraphernalia was seen in the parking lot of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Sunday afternoon, according to garden CEO Patrick Newman.

Newman said the group left about 250 fliers containing anti-Semitic material on cars. When visitors alerted staff to the groups presence, staff removed the fliers from the vehicles. By the time garden staff found out about the groups presence, Newman said, the group had already left.

Newman emphasized that the group was not welcome on the property, and that staff would call 911 if a similar incident occurred again. He also said that no one matching the description of the group members was admitted to the garden itself on Sunday.

Let me be absolutely clear: The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is a garden for all and we have a zero-tolerance policy for the spread of hate speech in any form, Newman said. We regret that it happened, and we will certainly be more vigilant.

Also on that same Sunday, in the morning, a group of people dressed in similar Nazi gear protested outside of a church in Dallas, according to social media posts and a post by LGBTQ+ media outlet Dallas Voice.

Additionally, on Friday, two days before the protests and Gregorios encounter, well-known white supremacist Nick Fuentes visited the Fort Worth headquarters of a right-wing consulting group, the Texas Tribune reported. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and others have condemned the head of that consulting group, Jonathan Stickland, who is also a major Republican donor.

This story has been updated.
Educators, students and civil rights groups challenging a law in Oklahoma barring the teaching of critical race theory are urging a federal judge to take action in their two-year-old lawsuit, saying teachers are in their third year of self-censoring and students are being deprived of a culturally inclusive education.

In a motion filed in late September, the groups suing the state said the request for an injunction blocking enforcement of the law, known as House Bill 1775, had been pending for nearly two years and all written arguments from both sides regarding the injunction had been filed 19 months ago.

Moreover, a request in August for a conference to discuss the status of various motions has gone unanswered, they said.

Meanwhile, state leaders and education officials continue to investigate school districts and enforce HB 1775 for activities such as training teachers on how to avoid being racially biased against students, attorneys for the students and educators said.

These actions have put educators on notice that the State will continue to enforce HB 1775 to its fullest extent and educators must tread lightly or else face losing their licenses. As a result, Oklahoma students continue to be deprived of access to curricula reflecting diverse perspectives, ideas, and lessons related to a culturally inclusive education, and information that is crucial for building analytical skills and fostering cognitive development.

What to know about US District Judge Charles B. Goodwin, overseeing critical race theory lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin is overseeing the case in Oklahoma City. Goodwin, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump , was confirmed in 2018 despite receiving a rare rating of unqualified from the American Bar Associations judicial rating committee.

A former chair of the committee said Goodwins work habits as a federal magistrate, including his frequent absence from the courthouse until mid-afternoon, raised doubt for a majority of the standing committee's members with respect to Magistrate Judge Goodwin's ability to fulfill the demands of a federal judge."

Goodwin told the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017, when he was a magistrate, that he often worked from home when he was writing opinions and that he was shocked and disappointed by the ABAs rating. Goodwin was defended at the time by others, including his former boss, District Judge Joe Heaton.

In their motion last month urging Goodwin to act, the parties suing the state said they had two choices at this point  ask him to move the case along or go to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs are seeking relief from this Court before raising this issue with the Tenth Circuit, they said.

More: Why you should read these 51 banned books now

What does Oklahoma House Bill 1775 ban?

House Bill 1775 was approved by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2021.

The law bans the teaching in public schools of eight concepts taken verbatim from an executive order issued in 2020 by former President Donald Trump. Among the prohibited concepts are:

 One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;

 An individual, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;

 An individual, by virtue of their race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

 Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of their race or sex; and

 Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.

U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin is being urged to take action on the two-year-old lawsuit over House Bill 1775.

The state Board of Education adopted emergency rules to implement the law, which includes the right of a private citizen to sue over perceived violations.

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU Oklahoma and attorneys for other groups filed the federal lawsuit in Oklahoma City in October 2021, saying it was the first legal challenge to laws targeting so-called critical race theory. At the time, the groups said, eight states had approved similar laws.

The challenge claims the law violates the First and Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution by stifling speech and discriminating against minority and LGBTQ+ students.

More: Black history is under attack across US from AP African American Studies to Ruby Bridges

In their latest motion to get the case moving, attorneys for the students and educators said the need for clarity on this law remains as great as ever. Without this clarity, Oklahoma teachers and professors are obligated to self-censor their instruction, removing lessons related to racism, sexism, and implicit bias for fear of incurring the harsh penalties of the laws implementing regulations.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is defending the law. His solicitor general told the judge earlier this year that he should dismiss the case because the law is succinct, straightforward, and narrowly phrased. It does not impede academic freedom, and it is not overbroad.

This Court should decline Plaintiffs invitation to overturn Oklahomas democratic and representative political process. It should instead dismiss the case for failure to state a plausible claim.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lawsuit on critical race theory ban in Oklahoma stalled, advocates say
A letter from Harvard University student groups blaming Israel for violence in the region has drawn a backlash from prominent alumni and US lawmakers.

The letter, authored by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, stated that students "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence".

It was co-signed by 33 student groups.

"Today's events did not occur in a vacuum," the statement said.

"The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years," the letter added.

The letter comes after Israel says 1,000 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped since Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in the early hours of Saturday. In Gaza, more than 700 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli air strikes.

The student statement, posted on Saturday, was swiftly rebuked by some professors as well as former Harvard president Larry Summers, who wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was "sickened" by it.

"The silence from Harvard's leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel," the former US treasury secretary said.

Harvard University issued its own letter on Monday that did not directly address the controversy but instead said university leaders were "heartbroken" by "the attack by Hamas that targeted citizens in Israel this weekend, and by the war in Israel and Gaza now under way".

In another statement issued later on Tuesday, the university's president, Claudine Gay, clarified that the school "condemn[ed] the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas".

"Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever one's individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region," she said.

She added that while students had the right to "speak for themselves", none had the right to speak on behalf of Harvard.

Mr Summers' criticisms, meanwhile, were echoed by several Republican US lawmakers, including Harvard alumni Ted Cruz who wrote on X: "What the hell is wrong with Harvard?"

Harvard Computer Science professor Boaz Barak also took to social media to condemn the letter, asking the university to remove the student groups' school affiliations.

"I have a lot of criticisms of Israeli policies, but everyone who signed this statement is condoning terrorism, rape, and murder," he said.

More on Hamas-Israel attacks

The University's Jewish centre, Harvard Hillel, claimed the statement was a sign of "further hatred and anti-Semitism".

The groups that signed onto the letter - which called on Harvard to "stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians" - included the Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine, the Harvard Jews for Liberation and the Harvard South Asian Law Students Association.

In a post on Instagram, the author of the statement, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, said its account had been temporarily suspended after posting the letter.

The group called the move "a recurring pattern of Meta's censorship of pro-Palestine messaging".
Police were out in force in Guatemala City on Monday after arson attacks on a building

Tension is rising in Guatemala, where protests by supporters of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo have run into a second week.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Attorney-General Consuelo Porras.

They accuse Ms Porras of plotting to prevent Mr Arevalo, who has promised to fight corruption, from taking office.

Some of the protests, which had been peaceful until now, turned violent on Monday.

Masked men threw stones and broke windows at a demonstration outside the National Palace of Culture in the capital, Guatemala City.

Masked men vandalised buildings and threatened protesters and reporters

Efe news agency said that the peaceful protest had been "infiltrated" by about 200 troublemakers, who threatened the protesters and members of the press with sticks and clashed with police.

A government official, Napoleon Barrientos Giron, later confirmed that the violence had been caused by "groups of infiltrators". "We're chasing and capturing them," Mr Barrientos said.

The clashes came on the eighth consecutive day of protests by supporters of Mr Arevalo, who won the presidential election by a landslide in August.

Just hours after his overwhelming win, the party he heads, Movimiento Semilla (Seed Movement), was suspended by Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

His party's suspension has widely been viewed as an attempt to stop Mr Arevalo, a political outsider who has campaigned against corruption, from being sworn in as planned in January.

Bernardo Arevalo was elected by a landslide in the run-off of the presidential election in August

Mr Arevalo himself has described it as a "coup d'etat". His supporters have since taken to the streets to demand that Consuelo Porras, the attorney-general they say is behind efforts to block Mr Arevalo, be removed from her post.

Ms Porras argues that Mr Arevalo's party was not properly registered, but critics point out that she only launched her investigation into the party after Mr Arevalo's strong showing in the first round of the election secured him a spot in the run-off.

The protests intensified last week as demonstrators blocked key roads across the country. The blockades have caused fuel and food shortages in some regions, as well as paralysing traffic on major highways.

In a televised address to the nation, the outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei, called on protesters to lift the blockades, which he said were "illegal, generate supply shortages [and] put Guatemalans' lives at risk".

He also asked Mr Arevalo to sit down with mediators sent by the regional body Organization of American States (OAS) to ensure a peaceful handover of power on 14 January, when President Giammattei's term in office ends.
A Gulf Breeze man charged with sexually assaulting a girl over a 12-year span was convicted and given two life sentences, the Office of the State Attorney announced Tuesday.

Thomas Lawlis, 60, was convicted on two counts of sexual battery of a victim less than 12 years old after he routinely abused a young girl until she was in high school.

"Throughout the late '90s and early 2000s, Lawlis would sexually abuse his victim who was between the ages of six and eleven," the OSA release said.

According to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office arrest report, Lawlis' accuser came forward in 2016.

In case you missed it: Greg Malarik's second trial begins for allegedly murdering wife Sherri Malarik in 2001

Lawlis was reportedly living in Tennessee at the time his accuser came forward, the arrest report says. Local investigators communicated with Tennessee police about the allegations, but there is no indication in the report that Lawlis was charged at the time.

Lawlis had been previously convicted of sexual battery in Escambia County back in 1998 and subsequently designated as a sexual offender.

Court records indicate Lawlis was ultimately arrested on the two sexual battery chares in February 2019, and he was convicted of the offenses Oct. 5, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida man Thomas Lawlis gets life in prison for child sex abuse
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  It took thieves two attempts to break into Cypress Creek Outdoor early Sunday morning but just thirty seconds to get in and out of business with 12 guns.

Don Parks said its the second time his store on Highway 51 has been targeted by thieves in the last two months.

Its beyond frustrating, said Parks. It has really forced us to our security again. We have to put different things in place, from outside surveillance to extra security measures inside the store.

The Dyersburg Police Department said surveillance cameras captured two people trying to break into Cypress Creek at around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, leave and come back just before 2 a.m. and force open a rear door.

The video also showed the suspects were inside the business for approximately thirty seconds. Park said the burglars went straight for the display cases.

Peabody valet attendant stole guns out of cars, police say

They just worked their way over and grabbed what they could and took off, Parks said. They stole 12 handguns.

Parks said the thieves caused about a thousand dollars worth of damage to his store, and he plans to do whatever he can to make sure it doesnt happen again.

Its going to cause a disruption the way we open and close and all that kind of good stuff, but its just something thats got be dealt with, he said.

Parks said the guns were worth several thousand dollars.

Investigators said the suspects were wearing face shields and gloves. If you have any information about the break-in or the stolen guns, you are urged to call Dyer County Crime Stoppers at 731-285-TIPS, 311, or the Dyersburg Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division at 731-288-7679.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
VENICE, Fla. (WFLA)  The parents of Gabby Petito have come face-to-face with the parents of Brian Laundrie for the first time since Petitos killing more than two years ago.

On Tuesday in Venice, Florida, the legal team for Petitos parents deposed Christopher Laundrie, Brian Laundries father, as part of the civil lawsuit filed against the Laundries and their longtime attorney Steven Bertolino.

Laundrie attorney offers confidential settlement proposal to Gabby Petitos parents

Petitos parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, described Christopher Laundries testimony as gut-wrenching.

It was extremely hurtful to listen to someone that has no remorse and no compassion for the girl they would call their daughter-in-law, Schmidt told WFLA.

Attending the depositions in person were Christopher Laundrie, Roberta Laundrie, Joe Petito, Steven Bertolino, and various attorneys. Schmidt listened in virtually over Zoom.

It was difficult to be in the room with Joe and Nichole on Zoom asking these questions knowing how difficult it would be for them to relive it all, said Pat Reily, the attorney for Petito and Schmidt.

The depositions mark the first time Petito and Schmidt have had the opportunity to question the Laundries since Petitos death in August 2021. In the weeks after Gabby went missing, Petito and Schmidt publicly pleaded for Brian Laundrie and his parents to help locate Gabby, but they say their phone calls, texts and social media messages all went unanswered.

READ: Brian Laundries notebook confession, message to Gabby Petito

The closed-door depositions are expected to play a major role in the civil trial between the two families, which is set for May 2024. Pat Reilly, the attorney for Petito and Schmidt, is handling the questioning of the Laundries, although the exact questions being asked are unknown.

For Tuesdays scheduled meeting, only Christopher Laundrie and his attorney were required to attend, however, Roberta Laundrie and Bertolino also chose to be present. Roberta will be deposed on Wednesday.

I have nothing to share other than there were no surprises on our side, Bertolino told WFLA after the 3-hour deposition ended Tuesday.

Ryan Gilbert, the new attorney for the Laundries who stepped in to replace Matthew Luka, has not yet responded to WFLAs request for comment.

The Laundries are good people, and it was my pleasure to work with them, Luka said in September. Ryan Gilbert will do a terrific job for them, so I know they are in good hands.

I wish the Laundries all the best and have always believed in their case, he continued. But Ill leave that for Mr. Gilbert to answer after he has had a chance to complete discovery.

Roberta Laundrie will be questioned less than five months after the release of the infamous burn after reading letter she says she wrote to Brian shortly before he and Petito began their cross-country trip in June, 2021. In the letter, Roberta offered her son a shovel and garbage bags if he needed to dispose of a body.

[Wednesday] will be worse, Schmidt said in reference to Robertas upcoming deposition.

Brian Laundries mother explains burn after reading letter sought in Gabby Petito lawsuit

In May, Judge Danielle Brewer denied a motion of protection against the letters inclusion in the discovery process as the two families head to a civil trial next year. The letter was released to WFLA soon after.

More depositions are on the schedule, including with Brian Laundries sister Cassie, as both sides prepare for trial in May 2024. Petitos parents are suing the Laundries and Bertolino for intentional infliction of emotional distress based on the claim the Laundries were aware Petito had been murdered soon after the 22-year-olds death in August 2021 and chose to do nothing other than issue a statement through Bertolino expressing hope she would be found.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) called the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) a farce Tuesday.

I saw it as ambassador firsthand & today is further proof, Haley said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. China & Cuba are human rights abusers, & today they won reelection to an entity thats supposed to protect human rights. The UNHRC is a sham. It is not worthy of its name.

Haley, who served as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. from 2017 to 2018 under her rival for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, former President Trump, was commenting on China and Cubas reelection to the UNHRC on Tuesday.

According to the U.N., 15 new members were elected to the council as well on Tuesday. Russia and Peru failed to secure seats, the U.N. said.

Haley has been a strong critic of China during her current presidential campaign, calling trips by Biden administration Cabinet members embarrassing last month.

You dont send Cabinet members over to China to appease them, Haley said in an interview on CNNs State of The Union. You start getting serious with China and say were not going to put up with it. They keep sending different Cabinet officials over  and its embarrassing.

She has even called out Trump, saying he showed moral weakness during meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a speech earlier this year.

Trump was almost singularly focused on our trade relationship with China  but Trump did too little about the rest of the Chinese threat, Haley said.

He did not put us on a stronger military foothold in Asia. He did not stop the flow of American technology and investment into the Chinese military. He did not effectively rally our allies against the Chinese threat. Even the trade deal he signed came up short when China predictably failed to live up to its commitments, she said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DENVER  You might not be as creative as you think when it comes to your choice of Halloween getup.

Google Frightgeist pulled the top 500 costume searches from Google Trends to determine the most popular Halloween costumes for 2023, KDVR reports.

Dunkin unveils 6-foot inflatable spider donut just in time for spooky season

If you want to wear a trending costume, one of these top 10 costumes is your best bet. If youre looking for something unique, you may have to try harder.

Here are the costumes you will probably see the most this year.

Most popular costumes nationally

Witch Spider-Man Dinosaur Stranger Things Fairy Pirate Rabbit Cheerleader Cowboy Harley Quinn

Surprisingly, the most searched costumes arent all that basic. While a witch is a classic costume, there arent as many dinosaurs and Stranger Things characters roaming the street on Oct. 31.

The most popular Halloween candy in Kansas, Missouri: data

The national list goes on to the top 100 costumes. If you need more ideas, or if youre looking for something thats not on the list, check out all the costumes on the website.

Google shows costume searches across the country, including specific areas. Based on your location, the website tracks the most common searches near you. There is also a list of the No. 1 most searched costume in specific areas across counties.

McDonalds Boo Buckets are back, and with a new color

For example, New York Citys most popular costume is a fairy, while Los Angeles most searched costume is Spider-Man.

So before you order your costume, you might want to see just how many people may be twinning with you.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
The unprecedented attack by Hamas against Israel has upended the Biden administrations goals for peace in the region.

President Biden, who has affirmed rock-solid support for Israel, will be challenged to hold the line in giving Jerusalem the space it requests to retaliate against Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip, pushing back against expected calls for Israel to exercise restraint or enter into a cease-fire with the Iranian-backed terror group.

A tweet from Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday night calling for a ceasefire was deleted.

Nobody wants to see anybody, an innocent civilian or family wrecked by violence, of course not, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on a call with reporters Monday night.

We share values with Israel when it comes to law of war and, and respect for life. And  I wont speak to whatever the Israeli Defense Forces are planning to do in their operations, I think Ill just leave it there.

The president is also faced with securing the release of any American hostages who may have been taken by Hamas from communities in Israel, and exacting justice for U.S. citizens killed in the assault, with people gunned down in their homes and on the street or killed by rocket fire on population centers.

To get rid of this regime [Hamas], we need the backup of the Americans because its not going to be one day, it will be a very bloody conflict, said Neomi Neumann, who served as head of research at Israels domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, until 2021 and is now a visiting fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

A lot of people will die, but we cannot let ourselves leave this regime that are radical fanatics.

The scale of the devastation has been staggering over three days since Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, launched a highly sophisticated and coordinated attack from its Gaza Strip base over the border into Israel, with an estimated 900 people killed  including civilians, soldiers and police  more than 2,000 injured and more than 100 believed to have been kidnapped and taken hostage.

At least 11 Americans are known killed, Biden said in a statement Monday, and that Americans are likely among those taken hostage by Hamas.

Israeli officials and their advocates are warning the world that they will be carrying out military operations with the goal of exacting a heavy price from Hamas.

Neumann added that Israels military operations are likely to be carried out over a period of months and will be challenged by what is likely to be a high Palestinian death toll that will increase pressure from the international community on Israel to relent.

The U.S. and moderate Arab countries will have to think about the solution for the Gaza Strip the day after the war and how we manage to make this area stable with good life for its people, she said.

The Gaza Ministry of Health on Monday said the Palestinian death toll stands at 560 people and 2,900 people injured, but did not release figures on civilians versus Hamas fighters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israeli forces are working to expel Hamas fighters who infiltrated communities in the south, even as the Israel Defense Forces are undertaking a massive attack against Hamas with an unprecedented intensity.

Netanyahu thanked Biden for his support and the dispatch of a U.S. carrier strike group to the Mediterranean Sea, which has been interpreted as a major show of force to deter Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, a Tehran-backed military proxy, from opening a separate military front.

An American aircraft carrier, one of the largest in the world, is on its way to our region. Our common enemies understand very well the significance of this step, Netanyahu said.

Neumann said U.S. support to deter Iran and Hezbollah is meaningful.

We need to avoid the infiltration of other players to this campaign; we need to focus on the Gaza Strip right now, she said.

And while Israels military operations are zeroing in on the Gaza Strip, the diplomatic battle for influence is global.

The U.S. on Monday issued a joint statement with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom backing Israels right to defend itself and making a distinction between the depravity of Hamas and support for the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed, the statement read.

A key priority for the Biden administration is countering Russian and Chinese efforts to exploit the situation, either to assert their own influence or weaken the position of the U.S.

Were in a pitched fight for great power influence in the Middle East. Its the U.S. versus China, and Russia as well, said Laura Blumenfeld, a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies and who served as a senior policy adviser on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during the Obama administration.

From an interest point of view, the U.S. needs to shove out Russia and China  and Iran is certainly part of that Russia-China axis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is battling Russian forces that are supplied militarily by Iran and shielded diplomatically by China, warned that Moscow is interested in inciting war in the Middle East to erode global unity and exacerbate cleavages and controversies, helping Russia in destroying freedom in Europe.

And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who was in Beijing on Monday, pushed Chinese President Xi Jinping to issue a stronger statement on the attacks against Israel that condemned violence against civilians, going beyond the Chinese Foreign Ministrys initial remarks that called for calm, exercise of restraint and a cessation of hostilities.

The scale of brutality of Hamass assault is drawing comparisons to the worst atrocities of the Islamic State (ISIS) and allegations of war crimes for the targeted killing of civilians; the kidnapping of women, children, the elderly and infirm; and unconfirmed reports of sexual assault.

Weve been in contact with our contacts across the [Middle East] region to urge them to acknowledge the horrific terrorism that took place, said Ted Deutch, a former Democratic congressman from Florida who serves as the CEO of the American Jewish Community, an organization that is focused on deepening relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors as part of its global advocacy for the Jewish people.

The conversations about integrating Israel fully into not just the Middle East but the world stand in stark contrast to everything Hamas is and wants. Hamass goal is to draw Hezbollah and other terror groups into war with Israel because their goal is to destroy Israel, he added.

The Biden administration had been cultivating for months, if not years, negotiations to open ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia that supporters hoped would deliver a new era of stability in the region and present opportunities to advance rights for Palestinians.

Those talks are likely on ice, said Michael Koplow, chief policy adviser at Israel Policy Forum, a nonprofit education and analysis group based in Washington.

The statement that the Saudis issued in the aftermath of this was, to my mind, extremely disappointing  I think thats a sign of how difficult its going to be for the Saudis to keep on moving forward with this, with what we all expect to be coming, which is an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, which is going to result in many, many Palestinian casualties, he said in a briefing with reporters.

While Israel is shoring up its defense, the country is also grappling with the fallout of how the security establishment was blindsided by such an attack.

The U.S. is doing what I think we expect the U.S. to do, which is really give Israel all the backing it needs and particularly at a time when theres this outside perception that Israel is in chaos, said Koplow.

Its good to see the United States stepping up and doing what it can to try and back down this notion that Israel is easily overrun or that Israel stands alone, in terms of what it means for a wider regional war.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CHICAGO - The Hamas attack on Israel is being called the deadliest attack in half a century. Now, people in the United States are trying to make sense of what is happening overseas.

At O'Hare Airport, no more passengers will be going to Israel. As of 2 p.m. on Monday, flights to and from Tel Aviv have been canceled.

Israel on Monday bombarded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes as it continues a counteroffensive with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. All supplies of food, water, and electricity are cut off to roughly two million residents on the Gaza Strip.

More than 700 Israelis are dead, and at least 560 Palestinians killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip. There has been worldwide outrage over the Hamas attack and hostage-taking.

FOX 32 talked to the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, who says this attack has been coming. The spokesperson says Palestinians are coming together to support their country because Israel has targeted Palestine for years.

"Palestinians are fighting back in self-defense because Israel has been able to do this, devastated our people, devastated our communities, devastated our families in Palestine with impunity because they have support from our U.S. government here, unfortunately," said Hatem Abudayyeh, National chair, US Palestinian Community Network.

Because of the conflict overseas, New York is deploying extra officers to Jewish areas and synagogues. Chicago police told FOX 32 that there is no concern over threats in Chicago, but they will also closely monitor Jewish areas and synagogues.

Palestinian people plan to continue rallies this week in Chicago to show support.
The deadly weekend attacks by Hamas have cast a nation into mourning, forced a political reckoning  and are prompting a shocked reconsideration of one of Israels greatest points of pride, its technical sophistication.

On Saturday, Israels vaunted $1 billion security barrier on the Gaza border failed, as Hamas fighters used simple bulldozers to plow through and armed paragliders to soar above it. Barrages of rockets penetrated Israels Iron Dome missile defense system. And Israels surveillance system  a dense network of drones, cameras and cyber snooping  was proven fatally insufficient, with Hamas able to both work around and overwhelm it.

"The most common question is, where were the Israeli surveillance drones? The answer is everyone who should have called those drones was already dead," said Israeli tech journalist Assaf Gilead.

The attack also sent shockwaves through the defense establishment in Washington and Europe, not least because Israel has become a key supplier of security and defense technology across the West.

Within Israel, failure of the militarys security technology fed into a broader sense of abandonment among citizens and victims, who called into news programs and texted family for help while gunmen rampaged for hours, unimpeded by Israeli soldiers.

As of Monday, Israeli authorities said more than 900 people had been killed, including at least 11 U.S. citizens. At least 680 Palestinians were killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes in Gaza.

From an economic and security perspective, the technological mismatch between Israel and Hamas is staggering, a contrast brought into stark relief by the Gaza border itself.



We are in a state of surprise, said political scientist Mkhaimar Abusada at Gazas Al-Azhar University, who has studied years of conflict between the Hamas movement and Israel. Supposedly this is one of the most high-tech borders on earth.

Israel is one of the worlds most specialized and productive high-tech economies. In June, Intel announced a $25 billion investment on a new factory due to open in 2027 in Israel. In March this year, the city of Tel Aviv announced it ranked fifth worldwide among cities worldwide in producing unicorns, or billion-dollar startup companies.

Security technology was the top funded tech sector in Israel, according to Amsterdam-based Dealroom.co.

Though technological failures were part of the story, another part was the unexpected sophistication of Hamas. Al-Azhar Universitys Abusada said the attack showed how Hamas had managed to build up its own tech arsenal on the border, evading its more powerful Israeli rival. In particular, he said, Hamas regularly surveilled the border area to prevent collaborators with Israel from fleeing, and to keep other factions from breaking periodic ceasefires with Israel.

The technological gains by Hamas were more striking considering the enclaves limitations. Cellular service operates on 2G networks  far behind the 4G and 5G wireless technology in most of the western world. Electricity is intermittent. Supplies from the outside world must make it through a blockade Israel and Egypt have maintained for 16 years, since Hamas seized power in 2007.

Still, the group that both the U.S. and Israel regard as a terrorist organization managed to use sheer numbers to overpower Israeli radar, cameras and automatic machine guns, said retired Israeli Brigadier General Amir Avivi. First, Hamas launched thousands of rockets, and then its militants moved in.

They analyzed the places which are not covered by machine guns and they simply went to the places that were a bit less exposed, Avivi said. They also attacked cameras, [surveillance] headquarters, they used drones to throw grenades at tanks. It was multiple attacks on army positions and towards the 22 towns surrounding the Gaza Strip.

Once fighters were inside Israel, they attacked the Reim base where drone and surveillance operators were concentrated. Graphic footage posted online by Hamas showed masked gunmen firing into the base, and depicted Israeli soldiers who appeared to be shot dead.

Technology is not a miracle way of solving problems, its just another layer that we have, it doesn't replace tanks or soldiers, and readiness of units to engage, said Avivi.

American experts said the attack pointed to significant Israeli security weaknesses. It does raise questions about whether or not Israeli sources, both human and technical sources, have been compromised by Hamas, former CIA Director John Brennan said on MSNBC.

Scott Lasensky, a former U.S. diplomat in Israel from 2014 to 2017, said the failure  though a source of domestic worry in Israel  was unlikely to shake the partnership of the Israeli and U.S. militaries, which have worked closely on how to secure borders.



Given our close ties, given the dynamics of our unstated alliance, when the Israelis build a 10-foot fence and the enemy builds an 11-foot ladder, were not going to blame the fence builder, said Lasensky, now a lecturer at the University of Maryland.

In a geopolitical sense, the victory Hamas had scored may have been less surprising, said Audrey Kurth Cronin, director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Security and Technology. Israeli tech is extremely admired around the world, she said. However, she said, This is an old-fashioned attack with hang gliders, motorbikes, bulldozers, explosives.

History is littered with examples of powerful countries being outmaneuvered by less robust adversaries, Cronin said, noting that technology could also serve as an equalizing force. Its become increasingly easy to create fairly advanced technological means to go up against high-tech nations, she said. And Hamas has been quite creative and innovative.

Both Israel and Hamas have deployed social media intensively in the past few days, with Hamas releasing footage directly from its attack, and Israel offering live military briefings on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israel has pledged to root out Hamas, with an assault that is grinding down the infrastructure of Gaza's technology and daily life. On Monday Israel destroyed the building housing the Palestinian Telecommunications Company in Gaza. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on the enclave, saying Israel would cut off electricity, food, water, and fuel.

One of Israels next challenges is likely to require both technical and human knowhow. Hamas still holds as many as 150 people hostage, including children as young as three years old. Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida threatened to kill a civilian hostage each time an Israeli airstrike hits our civilians in their homes without warning.

Cronin said Israel would need reliable inside intelligence to find its hostages and avoid hitting them in airstrikes  intelligence that was likely to come from human sources, and not just technology.

Perhaps what's happened is the Israelis have become too reliant upon their technology and they should go back to some of their earlier techniques of just effectively infiltrating using human means, she said.
This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows increased activity at the Tumangang Rail Facility in North Korea, on Oct. 5, 2023. Recent satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia, according to a U.S. think tank. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas defense minister said Tuesday he would push to suspend a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement in order to resume frontline surveillance on rival North Korea, as the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants raised concerns in South Korea about similar assaults by the North.

The agreement, reached during a brief period of diplomacy between South Koreas former liberal President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, created buffer zones along land and sea boundaries and no-fly zones above the border to prevent clashes.

Talking with reporters in Seoul, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-shik cited the violence in Israel and Gaza to stress the need to strengthen monitoring on the North. Shin was appointed by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday.

Shin was particularly critical of the inter-Korean agreements no-fly zones, which he said prevents South Korea from fully utilizing its air surveillance assets at a time when North Korean nuclear threats are growing.

Relations between the Koreas have decayed following the collapse of larger talks between Washington and Pyongyang in 2019 over the North's nuclear weapons program. North Korea has threatened to abandon the 2018 agreement while dialing up missile tests to a record pace, prompting the conservative Yoon to take a harder line on Pyongyang than his dovish predecessor.

While it would take a complicated legal process for South Korea to fully abandon the agreement, pausing the agreement would only require a decision from a Cabinet meeting, Shin said.

Hamas has attacked Israel, and the Republic of Korea is under a much stronger threat, Shin said, invoking South Koreas formal name.

To counter (that threat), we need to be observing (North Korean military movements) with our surveillance assets, to gain prior knowledge of whether they are preparing provocations or not. If Israel had flown aircraft and drones to maintain continuous monitoring, I think they might have not been hit like that," he said.

Shins comments are likely to draw fierce criticism from South Koreas liberal opposition, which has described the agreement as a safety valve between the Koreas as relations continue to worsen.

There havent been major skirmishes between the Koreas since the agreement was reached in September 2018. But South Korea last November accused the North of violating the agreement's tensions-reducing requirements when it fired a missile near a populated South Korean island near their sea border, triggering air raid sirens and forcing residents to evacuate.

In June 2020, North Korea blew up an empty inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong to demonstrate anger over South Koreas unwillingness to prevent its civilian activists from flying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border. North Korean troops also shot and killed a South Korean government official who was found drifting near their sea boundary in September that year.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years as the pace of both North Koreas weapons demonstrations and the United States combined military exercises with South Korea and Japan have both intensified in tit-for-tat.

South Koreas Defense Ministry said the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group will arrive in the South Korean mainland port of Busan on Thursday in the allies latest show of force against North Korea. The ministry said the Reagans Carrier Strike Group 5 conducted joint training with South Korean and Japanese naval assets on Monday and Tuesday in waters near the southern South Korean island of Jeju.

Kim, in turn, has been boosting the visibility of his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing as he attempts to break out of diplomatic isolation and insert Pyongyang into a united front against Washington.

Recent commercial satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia to fuel President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine, Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a report last week.

Speculation about a possible North Korean plan to refill Russias munition stores drained in its protracted war with Ukraine flared last month, when Kim traveled to Russia to meet Putin and visit key military sites. Foreign officials suspect Kim is seeking advanced Russian weapons technologies in return for to boost his nuclear program.

North Korea is expected to make its third attempt to launch a military spy satellite this month following consecutive failures in recent months, as Kim stresses the importance of acquiring space-based reconnaissance capacities to monitor U.S. and South Korean military movements and enhance the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles.

In an editorial published Monday, South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper called for South Korea to take lessons from Israel's failures to prevent the attack by the Hamas militants while strengthening its readiness against potential North Korean aggression.

Israel, surrounded by enemies and terrorist forces, is reminiscent of (South) Koreas current security situation. Even the Mossad failed to detect signs of the attack and Israels all-weather air defense system Iron Dome exposed a hole, the newspaper said. The government must be thoroughly prepared for North Koreas possible military provocations when the United States and other allies focus their attention on the Middle East.

The inter-Korean military agreement is one of the few tangible remnants from Moons ambitious diplomacy with Kim. Moons efforts helped set up Kims first summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in June 2018.
In an instant, the conversation in the race for the White House was altered as Hamas militants, supported by Iran, on Saturday launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades.

And the surprise assault on Israel during the early morning hours of a major Jewish holiday immediately elevated foreign policy  which was one of many leading issues in the presidential race  to the center of the campaign spotlight.

Longtime Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams, a veteran of multiple GOP presidential campaigns, emphasized that "the tragic events in Israel have shifted the political discussion in the United States to foreign policy."

Former President Donald Trump , in a campaign appearance Monday in New Hampshire, took aim at his successor in the White House, arguing that "today we have an all-out war in Israel, and it's going to spread very quickly. What a difference a president makes."

TRUMP CLAIMS HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IF HE WERE STILL PRESIDENT

Former President Donald Trump, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, on Oct. 9, 2023.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration and is challenging the former president for the 2024 presidential nomination, told Fox News in an interview in Iowa that "our message to Hamas is, your days are numbered. Your days are numbered because we are not going to allow you to terrorize Israelis, Americans or anyone anymore. This terror is coming to an end."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, in a statement, emphasized that "we must not only stand with Israel, but we must support them as they hunt down and eradicate these barbarians."

The presidential campaign for Sen. Tim Scott said that the South Carolina lawmaker will head to a well-known conservative think tank in the nation's capital Tuesday to deliver a speech "about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, wiping Hamas off the map."

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS

On Wednesday, GOP White House contender and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will visit the same think tank  the Hudson Institute  to lay out what his advisers say is a "comprehensive foreign policy vision that will make America safer" in the wake of the attack on Israel.

President Biden, pointing to what he called an "appalling terrorist assault against Israel" that left over 900 Israelis dead and more than 2,000 injured, said in a statement Monday that "in this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis."

Rising smoke and a ball of fire can be seen over a building in Gaza City on Oct. 9, 2023, during an Israeli air strike.

The assault by Hamas, in which at least 11 Americans in Israel were also killed, ignited a massive counterattack, which has left around 700 Palestinians dead and nearly 3,000 injured in the Gaza Strip.

Biden reiterated that "the United States and the State of Israel are inseparable partners" and that Washington "will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's had his differences in the past with Biden, emphasized on Monday that "I want to thank President Biden for his unequivocal support," but his praise for Biden hasn't stopped the Republican presidential candidates from blaming the president for the Hamas attack.

The criticism of the president comes from a recent $6 billion transfer to Iran, a complex prisoner swap deal announced by the Biden administration in September. Roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that were being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar, as part of the deal to free five Americans being held hostage in Iran.

REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN FOR RELEASING $6 BILLION IN FROZEN IRAN FUNDS AHEAD OF HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL

The Biden administration has pushed back on GOP criticism by insisting that none of the funds transferred have been spent to date, but Republicans claim that the deal  and the funds  helped fuel the Hamas assault on Israel.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has emphasized that Tehran would spend the money "wherever we need it," to which the Biden administration responded it could freeze the assets again if necessary.

DeSantis claimed that Hamas was "empowered by Joe Bidens appeasement of Iran" while Scott alleged the attack was "the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work."

Former Vice President Mike Pence blamed Biden, arguing that the current administration "projects weakness on the world stage."

And Trump, who's the commanding frontrunner for the GOP nomination as he runs for the White House a third straight time, charged Monday in New Hampshire that "Joe Biden betrayed Israel."

WATCH FOX NEWS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

The Biden 2024 re-election campaign fired back at Trump.

"With each and every lie, Donald Trump further proves he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage. The generals and other military leaders who served under Trumpthose in a position to knowhave repeatedly said he made our country less safe, not more," Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign National Co-Chair and military veteran Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois said in a statement.

Williams, the Republican strategist, said that the elevation of foreign policy "works well for Trump" in the GOP nomination race.

Pointing to Trump's four years in the White House, Williams said "hes the only Republican candidate thats had that level of foreign policy experience, and he has a record to point to, where he can say that the way he was doing it in office was better than Biden."

Pence and Haley are also spotlighting their chops on the world stage.

Besides criticizing Biden, Pence took aim at his rivals this past weekend in stating that "voices of appeasement like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis that I believe have run contrary to the tradition in our party that America is the leader of the free world."

Williams emphasized that "if you have foreign policy experience, this issue helps you."

But he also said, "I dont think it necessarily sets Haley and Pence apart from Trump, because they were all in the same administration, but Trump gets to take credit for what he did in his administration."

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.





Original article source: Hamas attack on Israel rocks 2024 presidential campaign, instantly altering the political conversation
Israelis mourn Ili Bar Sade, a soldier who was killed in an attack by Hamas militants, at his funeral in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Hadas Parush

MURDER JEWS  Hamas terror attack on Israel directly links to Holocaust, official says. Continue reading 

EMBRACING THE ENEMY  'Squad' Dem Tlaib blasted for Palestinian flag outside Capitol office. Continue reading 

CALLING IT QUITS  Long-shot GOP candidate drops out, endorses Nikki Haley as race for WH intensifies. Continue reading 

DELIVERING AID  US delivering weapons to Israel as American death toll rises. Continue reading 

MAD HOUSE  Republicans consider increasing the threshold for secret speaker vote. Continue reading 

CENTER STAGE  Middle East conflict becomes hot topic for GOP candidates vying for The White House. Continue reading 

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

TASTELESS INVITE  Mystery solved over US visit of Iran-backed judge who issued Trump arrest warrant. Continue reading 

HAUNTING THE WHITE HOUSE  Biden's depletion of emergency oil supply back in focus amid Israel-Hamas war. Continue reading 

WEDDING CANCELED  Israeli actress describes war's impact on family. Continue reading 

Click here for more cartoons

'CELEBRATING WHAT HAMAS DID'  Rabbi says antisemitic sentiments are being exposed on college campuses and in media coverage. Continue reading 

GRAY AREA  Author accuses NYT of bias against Israel during Hamas terror attack coverage. Continue reading 

ITS HUMANS I FEAR'  Tech billionaire on journey to immortality welcomes AI as a solution. Continue reading 

HOME, SWEET HOME  Tennessee family who left Germany to homeschool their kids avoids deportation. Continue reading 

K.T. MCFARLAND  Terrorists are fighting war on Israel, but one country is pulling the strings. Continue reading 

KEVIN ROBERTS and E.J. ANTONI  Yellen and rest of Bidenomics team ignore middle-class misery their policies create. Continue reading 

LAURA INGRAHAM  Wouldn't it be great if we had a real president right now? Continue reading 

JESSE WATTERS  Why did Hamas decide to strike? Continue reading 

SEAN HANNITY  Israel has an obligation to fight back. Continue reading 

FOX NEWS @ NIGHT  There can't be anymore Hamas to contend with: Shahar Azani. See video ...

GRIM NEW CLAIMS  Idaho massacre survivors were awake, texting during killings, report says. Continue reading 

TOUGH LOVE  Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reese Witherspoon among stars who have strict parenting styles. Continue reading 

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THIS IS TERRIBLE  Super Bowl champ says Bill Belichick's time has run out with Patriots. Continue reading 

LOOK BOTH WAYS  Amazing drone video shows an enormous flock of sheep cross the street with help from herders. See video 

WATCH: NIKKI HALEY  Israel needs to eliminate Hamas without question. See video 

WATCH: Massachusetts Democrat booed at pro-Israel rally after suggesting a de-escalation. See video 

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Original article source: Hamas attack's link to Holocaust, 'Squad' Dem flies Palestinian flag outside office and more top headlines
What is Hamas?

Hamas is a militant group that carried out the worst terrorist attack in Israel in decades on Saturday, killing 900 people and taking captive dozens of soldiers and civilians. The group, which is currently led by Ismail Haniyeh, is also one of the two major political organization in the Palestinian territories. Its main rival is Fatah, which is seen as more secular and moderate and controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Founded in 1987 during an uprising against Israels occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas was originally a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political and social movement originating in Egypt. In recent years, Hamas has distanced itself from the Brotherhood.

Shortly after Hamas won elections in the Gaza Strip in 2006, a power struggle ensued between Fatah and Hamas, which resulted in Hamas fighters ousting all Fatah politicians from the Gaza by force. Since then, no elections have been held, and Hamas maintains political control of the area.

In 2007, Israel began taking control of sea, land and air routes to Gaza, and it eventually blockaded it, in conjunction with Egypt, which also borders a smaller section of the strip, saying it was necessary to prevent Hamas attacks on Israelis. The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned the blockade, which is entering its 17th year, and critics say it has allowed Hamas to fill a power vacuum there.

The U.S., the U.K., the European Union, Canada and many other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization because of its attacks on Israel, which include kidnapping civilians, conducting suicide bombings and firing rocket salvos into Israeli cities.

After the Hamas attack on Saturday, the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany and Italy condemned the group. All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," they said in a joint statement. "But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed."

Hamas Fighters Gaza Strip (Chris McGrath / Getty Images file)

Other countries, including New Zealand, deem only Hamas military wing, which is called the Qassam Brigades, to be a terrorist group. The U.N. has not designated any part of the organization as a terrorist group. In addition to its militant activity, Hamas provides social services for people in Gaza, such as education and medical care.

Hamas says it is a freedom-fighting movement trying to free Palestinians from occupation and reclaim large parts of Israel. Its tactics are divisive among Palestinians and those who support establishing a Palestinian state because of its use of violence. As peace talks have repeatedly failed, its attacks have grown more popular among Palestinians.

A recent poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, based in Ramallah, found that nearly a quarter of Palestinians said movements like Hamas were the most positive thing that has happened to the Palestinian people since 1948. The poll reported that an even higher proportion  one-third  lamented political divisions among Palestinians, calling the political split between Hamas and Fatah the most damaging development since the occupation began.

People mourn Ili Bar Sade, a soldier who was killed in an attack by Hamas militants, at his funeral in Tel Aviv (Hadas Parush / Reuters)

What is Irans relationship with Hamas?

Hamas has had ties to Iran for decades, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In the early 1990s, the Iranian regime hosted conferences as a counterweight to the ongoing Arab-Israeli peace process at which Hamas delegates began developing high-level contacts in Iran.

In 1992, Israel began deporting Hamas leaders to Lebanon. Iran and Hezbollah, a Tehran-backed Islamist militant group and Lebanese political party, hosted Hamas members and taught them how to build suicide bombs. According to the Washington Institute for Near East Policys analysis, Iran began sending the group up to $50 million annually.

In recent years, Iran has provided military hardware to Hamas, particularly missiles, according to research by the Wilson Center, a nonpartisan research institute in Washington. Iranian officials also disclosed that some Hamas operatives went to Tehran for training and that Iran has shared missile technology with the group.

Current and former U.S. officials say the unprecedented scale and sophistication of Hamas recent attack indicate that Iran most likely played a significant role. The Iranian regime publicly praised Hamas for the surprise attack Saturday, including staging street celebrations. But a spokesperson for Irans Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Monday that Tehran had played no role in the attack, dismissing such allegations as politicized.

When was the last conflict between Hamas and Israel?

Israel and Hamas waged an 11-day war in 2021 that killed 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis. The conflict began when dozens of Palestinian families faced possible evictions from their homes in East Jerusalems historic neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah as part of a long legal battle with Jewish settlers. Clashes among Israeli police, Palestinian worshippers and nationalist Israelis led to days of violence in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Hamas then launched more than 2,000 rockets primarily targeting Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. Many were brought down by Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system. For Israelis, the rocket barrage, which killed a dozen people, was the most deadly attack on their soil since 2014.

The U.N. said that Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during the conflict and that Hamas indiscriminate rocket fire was also a clear violation of the rules of war. Some Palestinians praised Hamas for defending them, and a poll taken at the time found that 53% of Palestinians viewed Hamas as most capable of representing the Palestinian people. Only 14% chose Fatah.

How has Hamas changed in its 30-year history?

For decades, Hamas called for the destruction of Israel. In 2017, 30 years after its founding, the group issued a new charter that appeared to stop short of that goal. The document, known as the Hamas 2017 charter, was the first time the group had shown a willingness to accept a Palestinian state that would fall within the borders that existed in 1967, consisting of the West Bank, Gaza and all of Jerusalem.

Hamas' charter describes the Palestinians as a people who have been let down by a world that fails to secure their rights and restore to them what has been usurped from them, a people whose land continues to suffer one of the worst types of occupation in this world.

The move was seen as an attempt by Hamas to improve its relations with the Egyptian government by breaking away from the Muslim Brotherhood, which had been outlawed in Egypt. Hamas, however, stuck to its hard-line refusal to acknowledge Israels existence, referring to it as a Zionist entity, or consider any previous Israeli-Palestinian peace deals, such as the Oslo Accords. Israel and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas both rejected the charter.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hamas was surprised by the success of its attack in Israel, a Hamas leader told the Associated Press.

Ali Barakeh said the Israeli army suffered a "great collapse" and likened it to a "paper tiger."

Hamas' attacks show Israeli intelligence failed to predict an offensive from Gaza, experts said.

Hamas was shocked by the success of its surprise attacks over the weekend, and how weak Israeli forces proved to be against their offensive, a senior figure of the militant group told the Associated Press.

"We were surprised by this great collapse," Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas' exiled leadership, said, per the news agency.

Barakeh added that Hamas militants were "planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange," but found the Israeli army was like a "paper tiger," he said.

On Saturday, Hamas fighters launched a surprise sea, air, and ground offensive that seemingly caught Israeli intelligence off guard , according to military analysts.

David Khalfa, of the North Africa and Middle East Observatory at the Fondation Jean-Jaures, told France 24 that the attack was a "historic failure" for the Israeli intelligence service.

Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations, told NPR that: "No national intelligence agency is omniscient or flawless, but this is just a colossal failure."

Israel is considered to have one of the most advanced intelligence networks in the Middle East, with key agencies and informants embedded inside military groups, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said .

Israeli government sources told Gardner that a major investigation into how Israeli intelligence failed to predict the attack is now underway, with one official indicating that the probe could last years.

Barakeh also told the AP that Hamas had, to date, only employed a small proportion of its forces. He said nearly 2,000 Hamas fighters had taken part in the fighting, out of 40,000 in Gaza alone.

Those numbers could not be independently verified.

Shortly after Hamas launched its attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "state of war," with the stated goal of eliminating the militant group.

On Monday, Israel announced a "complete siege" of Gaza , pledging to cut off its electricity, food, water, and fuel.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The culmination of Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, is ordinarily a joyous occasion for Salt Lake Citys Congregation Kol Ami.

But this year, in light of the large-scale terrorist attack by the militant group Hamas on Israel on Saturday, the mood at Sunday mornings service was solemn.

This year, because of what happened in Israel, it was already a more somber occasion, less festive than usual. We didnt feel like celebrating with what occurred. And then this threat came in during the service, said Rabbi Samuel Spector, referring to an anonymous bomb threat he received by email Sunday morning that forced an evacuation.

The threat was a hoax but it compounded the anguish of Kol Amis congregation, already mourning the mass loss of life in Israel resulting from the terrorist attack waged by air, sea and on land. According to The New York Times, some 900 Israelis have been killed, while the Israeli Government Press Office said Monday more than 2,600 have been wounded since the start of the assault on Saturday on its social media pages. Another 150 people have been taken hostage.

Terrorism is nothing new to Israel, but weve never seen anything of this magnitude. While 3,000 people died on 9/11, more than 700 died from the events that took place on Saturday. If you were to look at what Israels population is, compared to the United States. proportionally, that would be the equivalent of 24,000 people in America being killed, said Rabbi Spector.

So this really is for Israelis, a day that will live in infamy, and their equivalent of 9/11 or Pearl Harbor, he said.

Rabbi Avremi Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah said the last few days have been profoundly difficult.

Sadly our people are no stranger to pain and suffering. The loss of life in Israel has almost become part of our national experience, youre almost accustomed to it on some level. And yet whats happened over the past few days has absolutely taken that to the next level, he said.

The images of that brutality, the terrorization, the animalistic behavior that were seeing in connection with whats happened in the Middle East shake you to the core, it rattles you. The celebration of that here in the United States, here in Utah, here in Salt Lake City somehow manages to shake you even more, Rabbi Zippel said, referring to a Free Palestine rally on Sunday afternoon outside the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building. Similar rallies were held elsewhere in cities across the country.

Whats next?

Rabbi Zippel said a solidarity rally will be conducted at 5 p.m. Wednesday on the south steps of the Utah State Capitol.

Elected officials, religious leaders and other community leaders have been asked to attend the Utah Stands with Israel rally, organized by Chabad Lubavitch of Utah.

It is a peaceful rally of prayer and inspiration. Traditionally, throughout our history when faced with challenges of this nature, the Jewish people have responded through inspiration from the words of the Torah through prayer and through acts of charity. As a community, as a city, well be engaging in those three actions together. More than anything, I think wed be giving the opportunity to good people, the good and decent human beings in our community, to make perfectly clear where they stand on this sort of issue, he said.

The Torah ark inside of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. The Torah ark, called the aron kodesh or aron hakodesh in Hebrew, is where the Torah scrolls are kept inside a synagogue. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

How to help

Rabbis Spector and Zippel each urged Utahns to reach out to their Jewish friends and acquaintances to express concern and offer support.

I think more than anything, what our community wants to know is that good and decent people stand with us at this time and they realize this is not political conflict. This is not some regional dispute. This is terror. This is the 9/11 of our people, Rabbi Zippel said.

Rabbi Spector said he had received phone calls from a number of Utah elected officials, among them Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams and outgoing House Speaker Brad Wilson.

Thats been really touching and a good reminder for us that people do care, that people are willing to stand up for their Jewish friends, he said.

Their kindness helped to sooth the upset of the individual who sent Congregation Kol Ami a threat and a hate-filled message. On the other hand, theres so many more people out there who love us than those who hate us, said Rabbi Spector.

Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Jess Anderson, in a post on the X social media platform, extended Utahs full support to the Jewish community during these hard times. Our department will continue to work closely with Jewish community leaders and our law enforcement partners at the local and federal level to ensure safety for ALL Utah residents.

Like the Jewish faiths places of worship in Utah, Salt Lakes Jewish Community Center has initiated heightened security procedures, which include stepped patrols and use of surveillance cameras that can be monitored by police.

The center did not receive any threats, but Salt Lake City police searched the facilities out of an abundance of caution.

Salt Lake Police have been very attentive to the safety of everyone at the JCC, and we are extremely grateful to them, a letter to Jewish Community Center members stated.

Extra security has been added in front of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
For the last 15 years, I have co-taught a class on religion and politics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The class encourages students to move beyond the slogans and protest signs in order to engage all the complexities of a multi-faceted conflict that has lasted over a century.

We encourage students to seek to understand all the varieties of perspectives, and to consider how deeply felt, lived experiences inform the many viewpoints found among all those connected to the conflict.

Given this background, my general response to inquires about the conflict usually begins with, Its complicated, but

The events of this past weekend are not complicated. Hamas actions deserve widespread and unequivocal condemnation, especially by supporters of the Palestinians. Many commentators are using the current hostilities to revisit the complicated history and untenable present of the conflict.

But what about the injustices committed against the Palestinians? they counter. Such discussion now only rewards Hamas for their horrific actions. This is exactly what Hamas wants and we shouldnt be complicit in their scheme. The discourse around this war needs to focus squarely on Hamas and their actions.

Ever since the final collapse of the Oslo accords in the mid 2000s, the international community has largely and understandably thrown their arms in the air, as diplomatic fatigue and compassion ennui have replaced urgency. Occasionally, U.S. presidents who want to salvage their reputation or vie for a peace prize revive a peace plan, but the conflict has gradually slipped from the headlines. The slow trickle of deaths on both sides barely makes the news. Hamas and the Palestinian cause were losing the battle for public attention.

Horrific acts of terrorism are violent calls for public attention. It says to the world, Look at us, for what would lead to such desperate acts?

Hamas hopes the world will quickly forget the atrocities that have occurred this past weekend and pivot to the past or criticize the inevitable future response. But moving straight to analysis only dehumanizes the toll of the conflict. Thousands of innocent deaths on both sides  should not be swept under the rug, or allowed to be a pretense for re-adjudicating the conflict with rational and just discussions.

In the case of Hamas, it is also a transparent and desperate attempt to hold onto power within Gaza. Since taking over Gaza in 2007, Hamas has been a failed government, where corruption and graft are enforced by the muzzle of a gun and every internal failure and self-inflicted wound is redirected to the feet of Israel. Hamas has regularly relied upon provoking Israel as a tool to swing public approval toward them, for they know that its citizens understandably rally around the flag during times of war.

This playbook has worked in the past, at the severe cost of Palestinian lives and prosperity.

Hamas also wants to burnish its extreme anti-Israel credentials, against their rivals: Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and Fatah. Hamas attacks within Israel will not gain territory or advance negotiations for a lasting peace accord but it will allow them to loudly pronounce that they are doing something, unlike their rivals. They are betting that any sort of resistance, however futile, can be packaged better than none. Cathartic hollers attract attention, even when they do little to change the conditions behind the pain.

However, the people of Gaza should not accept merely being pawns in Hamas ploys for attention or internal powerplays. They are going to suffer horrifically, especially since Hamas will use schools, hospitals and religious institutions as shields for their fighters. I know some commentators will say that hey have been already suffering, but there is no moral high ground left when Hamas massacres young people and take children and the elderly captive. Hamas may start the wars but the ultimate price paid is by everyday Palestinian citizens.

This perspective does not mean that we should never criticize Israel and especially Netanyahus government. The current Israeli administration has eroded democracy, promoted divisive settlements, deliberately provoked Muslims at al-Asqa mosque, and repeatedly stood in the way of creating a lasting peace, but none of these shortcomings warrant the slaughter of innocents.

Thoughtful conversations indeed need to occur, but only after Hamas is removed from places of power and influence. When the political party in power hasnt held an election since 2007, you are not a legitimate state but a rogue organization more in common with the mob than ancient Athens.

So to my many friends for whom the Palestinian cause is important: in this moment, you dont need to stand up for Israel but if you really care for the Palestinians, you should stand up against Hamas. The priority of human dignity requires that we do not move on, do not equivocate, and do not justify the horrific attacks over the weekend. Ultimately, the Palestinian cause today is only harmed when we begin, Its complicated, but

Dr. Stephen Lloyd-Moffett is a professor of religious studies at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Michael Whaland knows New Hampshires teacher staffing challenges better than most: He wrote his dissertation about it.

As part of his doctor of education degree at Plymouth State University in 2020, Whaland, a former teacher, spent months studying schools in rural New Hampshire to find out why some schools saw teachers leave and others saw them stay.

I was noticing early in my career that, hey, a lot of people I started with arent here anymore, and (thought) whats going on? he said in an interview.

Now, Whaland is a superintendent of School Administrative Unit 13, covering the towns of Madison, Tamworth, and Freedom. And the staffing headaches are no longer theoretical. While two of his three schools are currently fully staffed, the shortage of paraprofessionals and support staff often requires teachers to take on additional work to bridge the gaps.

Its a daily check-in with your principals and just talking with them about how can we make sure that the student is getting what they need? he said.

The problem has persisted across the state. New Hampshire teachers are increasingly leaving the profession due to increased stress, concerns about school culture, and a desire for more pay, a survey this year has found.

Now, lawmakers are mulling solutions to get more to stay.

The survey, conducted by Reaching Higher New Hampshire, a left-leaning think tank, and Woman Educators Leading Learning, a network of educators, found that teachers believe their profession has been devalued, particularly after the tumult of COVID-19 and rising political challenges.

Their open responses specifically cited the political rhetoric in our state, attacks from top brass leaders, the lack of support that they were feeling in the reality of the classrooms, and (the) divisive concepts (law), Reaching Higher Executive Director Nicole Heimarck told lawmakers on Monday.

They specifically said the fear of consequences that they would face as educators as a result of divisive concepts, she added, referring to a 2021 law that restricts teachers from advocating for certain concepts relating to race and gender.

This month, senators and representatives on the Committee to Study New Hampshire Teacher Shortages and Recruitment Incentives are preparing a report to list the challenges for teachers and make recommendations. The Reaching Higher survey will be a consideration for that report.

Administered in spring 2022, the survey asked 590 elementary, middle, and high school teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators how they felt about their jobs, and what factors might prompt them to leave. The survey, which was conducted online, was not randomized and not necessarily representative of the state.

Of all the respondents, 39 percent said that the schools climate was a top concern, while 32 percent cited a perceived lack of administrative support and 28 percent pointed to low pay.

Among the teachers who are leaving their jobs, their top concerns differed. Those leaving New Hampshire but staying in teaching were most disturbed by the climate of their school district or local school board. Those leaving the profession entirely cited frustrations with their pay.

If its like this now, I cant imagine what this profession will look like in 25-30 years when I expect to retire, one respondent said, according to the report. I would say entitlement and behavior of families and students is the biggest factor and the reason why many of the teachers I know are very unhappy.

Many teachers  especially those staying in the profession but leaving the state  said they felt a lack of support from their local communities and their school boards. They felt more support from the schools they worked in, the survey revealed.

Among paraeducators, meanwhile, 100 percent said the low salary was a top reason for leaving.

Many teachers surveyed said they were departing. While 34 percent of respondents said they were not leaving their position, 14 percent said they were moving to another school district but staying in New Hampshire; 13 percent were looking to transfer to a different job in education; 12 percent were leaving the profession; 12 percent were changing their roles within their district; 10 percent were retiring; 3 percent were leaving the state; and 1 percent were going to a private school.

The reports authors recommended that schools work to provide competitive pay, build up mentorship programs to encourage teachers to stay, and pursue more diverse candidates. They also recommended that the state provide financial help to teachers who need it, including scholarships and grants.

In his own research project, Whaland stopped trying to find an answer to why some teachers leave school districts. A more interesting question, he said, is why others choose to stay.

Focusing on rural schools in the Upper Valley, the North Country, and the Lakes Region, Whaland found that teachers are much more likely to stay when they feel supported by both their school and the community  even in jobs that dont pay well.

That support can manifest in a number of forms, Whaland said, from residents appearing to support their schools and teachers at town meeting, to parents engaging with their parent-teacher organization, to community members holding shared events between the school and the rest of the town.

In one case, a teacher in the Upper Valley told Whaland that they had turned down an opportunity to get a major pay raise because of the positive culture they already experienced.

They could go next door for about $20,000 more and they chose to stay where they are because they love that school, because they love the people there, Whaland said.

Members of the study committee are considering a wide swath of concerns around teaching jobs. While the number of teacher credential renewals is relatively high, the number of teachers is not, and teacher preparation programs in the state have produced fewer graduates in recent years, an early draft of the committees report states.

The average pay for a first-year teacher in New Hampshire  $43,764 according to Salary.com  is around $20,000 lower than the average salary in the state, the committee said. And due to disparities in school funding, school districts in wealthier towns are able to offer teachers higher salaries, creating a drain for poorer towns.

Meanwhile, the committee plans to explore how the recent politicization of school issues around COVID protocols, LGBTQ rights, diversity efforts, and classroom materials and books has contributed to teachers unease.

The study committee has met for several years; it was first chaired by former Sen. Jay Kahn, a Keene Democrat, and is now led by Sen. Ruth Ward, a Stoddard Republican. While the report, due Nov. 1, will lay out some of the causes of the states teacher shortage, many say a simple legislative solution may be tougher.

When I was a high school senior, I took a protractor, put it on the map, and drew a big circle, said Rep. Oliver Ford, a Chester Republican. I would not apply to a college inside that circle. I wanted to go away; I wanted to see the world from another perspective from the one I grew up in. But I went back. You go back for something that makes it attractive, something that says, Were doing good things here, its interesting here, theres a future here.

Lawmakers are considering one approach: a teacher loan forgiveness program for New Hampshire residents who are enrolled in teaching programs. House Bill 623 would help provide $10,000 to eligible students over two years  provided that they teach for five consecutive years in a school that the state Department of Education has identified as having a critical teacher shortage.

That bill has been retained by the House Education Committee, which will vote on a recommendation later this year.

The Senate is also holding on to a bill from the 2023 session  Senate Bill 217  which would create a rural and underserved area educator program to give loan forgiveness to teachers at schools affected by critical educator shortages. The teachers would need to be working at schools identified by the Department of Education as rural and economically disadvantaged. The bill would put aside $3 million over two years; educators would be entitled to up to $12,000 in reimbursement on their existing loans if they stayed in the district for four years.

The whole purpose is to try and address this issue of teacher shortage, said Rep. Rick Ladd, a Haverhill Republican and chairman of the House Education Committee. The shortage is starting right off  we have over half of (students) going outside the state and not returning.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New Hampshire teachers report quitting over school climate, low pay
LAPORTE  LaPorte County Police accuse three workers at the Hardee's restaurant in Michigan City of using credit and debit card information stolen from customers to launder money and bond out inmates at the LaPorte County Jail.

Kristin Vanschoyck, 35, Darrien Ward, 20, and Prince Arnold, 21, are charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with level 5 felony fraud on a financial institution and level 6 felony criminal organization activity.

In August and September, Vanschoyck allegedly photographed and videorecorded the numbers of credit and debit cards from drive-thru customers at the restaurant at 5223 Franklin St.

She allegedly gave the numbers to Ward and Arnold, who, officials allege, used them to purchase clothing online and place anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 into the jail accounts of several inmates.

Another alleged conspirator in the crime, whose name has not been released, went to the jail and posted bond for the inmates in cash.

Before release, LaPorte County Police Chief of Detectives Andy Hynek said, each inmate was issued a debit card to use on the outside for retrieving the money in their jail accounts, which is standard procedure for all offenders making bail.

Upon release, the inmates were taken to an ATM to use the cards to withdraw money from their jail accounts as their cut for taking part in the scheme, prosecutors allege in documents filed with the court.

Prosecutors claim the inmates then gave the cards to the employees from Hardee's, who used them to tap into the money still left in their jail accounts.

So, basically, they laundered money through the jail system," Hynek said. "They put fraudulent money in and got clean money out.

Hynek said only inmates with low bond amounts were targeted to maximize profit margins.

According to court documents, another offender helped recruit inmates to take part in the alleged criminal activity.

Hynek said he began looking into the allegations after the victims discovered the withdrawals on their balance statements and contacted their respective banks.

The banks then notified the company that operates the jail inmate account system.

According to court records, the bonded out inmates charged with fraud and criminal organization activity were Moesla Payne, Lawrence Armstrong, Carissa Bealor and Hollie Lachapell.

All of the individuals charged are from Michigan City, except for Lachapell and Bealor, who are from LaPorte, according to jail records.

Hynek said as much as $15,000 was stolen from all of the victims in the bond-posting scheme.

But, he said, the victims are in the process of having the stolen money placed back into their accounts by the banks.

Hynek said two other inmates bonded out have not been charged yet because of a lack of proof they knowingly took part.

Changes in how the jail inmate account system is operated are being discussed to prevent another such occurrence in the future, he said.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Michigan City Hardee's employees accused of stealing credit card info
Harvard Universitys president spoke out Tuesday amid national backlash over a student groups statement that condemned Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas, emphasizing the group does not speak for the entire school.

Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region, Harvard University President Claudine Gay wrote in a statement, referring to the ongoing strikes.

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Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 students groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership, she added.

Gay said there should be no doubt that she condemns the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame, Gay wrote. And I appeal to all of us in this community of learning to keep this in mind as our conversations continue.

Her comments come three days after the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee published a statement that they hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, in the wake of Hamass multi-pronged attack on Israel.

The letter, co-signed by 33 other Harvard student organizations, immediately came under fire from school alumni and even U.S. lawmakers.

In an initial statement on Monday, Harvard leaders stopped short of addressing the controversial letter, while noting they are heartbroken, by the unfolding events in Israel and Gaza.

Former Harvard President Lawrence Summers railed against the schools delayed response on Monday, arguing the statement failed to meet the needs of the moment.

Why cant we find anything approaching the moral clarity of Harvard statements after George Floyds death or Russias invasion of Ukraine when terrorists kill, rape and take hostage hundreds of Israelis attending a music festival? Summers wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In a series of other posts on X, Summers called out the silence from Harvards leadership, saying never been as disillusioned and alienated in his nearly 50 years of affiliation with the school.

Pointing to past responses to other world conflicts, he said the universitys silence prior to Tuesday allowed the school to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.

Instead, Harvard is being defined by the morally unconscionable statement apparently coming from two dozen student groups blaming all the violence on Israel, he wrote. I am sickened. I cannot fathom the Administrations failure to disassociate the University and condemn this statement.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a Harvard Law School alumni, echoed Summers comments on Monday, claiming the schools silence is utterly indefensible.

The universitys Jewish center, Harvard Hillel, said it was deeply pained by the students joint statement.

In the strongest terms, we oppose this outrageous statement that blames Israel for the violence carried out by Hamas terrorists  a group that has opposed peace and called for Israels destruction since it was founded, the center wrote.

Fighting raged on in both Israel and Gaza for the fourth day on Tuesday, with death tolls reaching at least 1,800 from both sides.

The Israeli military said Tuesday more than 1,000 people were killed in Israel, while 830 people were killed in Gaza and the West Bank, according to The Associated Press.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The deadline to register to vote in Novembers general election is Wednesday in Missouri and Oct. 17 in Kansas.

You still have time to register to vote on important issues such as funding for the bus system in Kansas City and local offices in Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

Heres how to register for the Nov. 7 elections.

How to register to vote in Missouri and Kansas

In Missouri, you can register online or in person at your election office.

A quick note about finding your election office in Kansas City: The Kansas City Election Board oversees elections for Kansas City residents who live south of the river, and the Jackson County Election Board manages elections for residents in Jackson County who live outside of Kansas City  like Independence or Raytown.

The Platte County Board of Elections and the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners cover everything north of the river.

You can also ask someone at your library branch to help you register to vote.

In Kansas, you can register online if you have a Kansas drivers license or non-driving ID card. If you dont have one, you can print and mail a paper registration application. The addresses of each countys election office are listed on the second page.

If you want to register in person, you can visit one of the many registration sites in Johnson County or Wyandotte County.

How do you update your registration if you moved or changed your name?

In Missouri, you can update your name with an election judge at your polling place on Election Day. You can vote in one election under your old name, but then you have to send in a new voter registration application with your new name.

You can also update your address on Election Day if you moved to a new address within the same county and your old registration is still active.

If you moved to a new county, moved to Missouri from out of state or if your registration at your old address was removed from the voter rolls, you must send in a new registration application.

In Kansas, you have to complete the voter registration application every time you move.

What do I need to register to vote?

Both states require voters to provide their full name, date of birth and current address when registering to vote.

In Missouri, you may be asked to provide a drivers license number and/or a Social Security number on your registration application. However, both of these are optional. Leave these fields blank if you dont have a drivers license or a Social Security number.

In Kansas, you need a Kansas drivers license or non-driving ID to register online. If you have an out-of-state ID or no ID, you have to fill out a paper application as described above and provide the last four digits of your Social Security number if you have one. If you dont have one, you can write none.

You may also be given the option to affiliate yourself with a political party.

You must be at least 18 years old at the next election, a resident and a U.S. citizen to vote.

The Stars Natalie Wallington contributed to this report
Ihor Murashov, who was appointed as the head of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) a week before the occupation of the station, and is now in Kyiv and has been appointed chief engineer of the ZNPP, has had Russian citizenship since 2014.

Source: Hromadskes investigation.

The generally known facts show that the Russians kidnapped the head of the ZNNP on 1 October 2022. Petro Kotin, Head of the Ukrainian National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom, then reported this.

Murashov said that he refused to cooperate with the Russians, after which he was held captive for several days and "deported" to Zaporizhzhia.

Currently, Murashov lives in Kyiv and holds the position of chief engineer of ZNPP, working remotely.

However, Hromadske journalists discovered that Murashov's attitude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the occupation of parts of Donbas and Crimea might have been completely different before 2022.

Sources of Hromadske with access to data on movement across the administrative border between mainland Ukraine and occupied Crimea say that Ihor Murashov visited the occupied peninsula at least three times in 2014.

He became a citizen of Russia during one of these trips. This event is dated 23 September 2014. Journalists received the information about Murashov's Russian passport from two sources obtaining excerpts from the automated system.

Moreover, the day after Ihor Murashov obtained the Russian passport, his father Valerii, a native of Ivano-Frankivsk [now deceased  ed.], had obtained a Russian passport at the same branch of the federal migration service in Sevastopol. However, unlike his son, a month later Valerii Murashov also obtained a Russian passport for foreign travel. This time  in Moscow.

The applications of Ihor and Valerii Murashov for obtaining Russian passports have been preserved in the database of the Russian Federation's passport registry, Rospasport.

The forms also indicate the reason for acquiring citizenship. The excerpts state that the passports were issued based on Article 5 of the treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea, which is incompatible with international law. This treaty foresees that Russia recognises as its citizens the citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons who permanently lived on the peninsula at the time of annexation.

Currently, the passport issued to Ihor Murashov is invalid, as he did not replace the document in 2021 when he turned 45.

However, the invalidity of the Russian passport does not mean the loss of Russian citizenship. Late passport replacement in Russia is punishable only by a fine.

Murashov said to the journalists that he knew that his father had decided to obtain Russian citizenship. Murashov states that his father had pro-Russian views.

But Murashov claims that he has never seen documents testifying to his personal acquisition of Russian citizenship. He says that it was done by the father, without the son's consent. A bribe was apparently given for this.

"We quarrelled a lot. He shouted and got out of the car on some trips. I don't want to bring that up. My wife and I had a clear pro-Ukrainian position," Ihor Murashov said.

However, Bellingcats investigator Christo Grozev, whom the journalists contacted, considers the version of the chief engineer of the ZNPP to be unlikely. Theoretically, it would be possible to find a corrupt official who would take such a step. But the documents contain Ihor Murashov's biometrics.

The journalists sent the received information to the Security Service of Ukraine.

Background:

Murashov became the acting general director of the Zaporizhzhia NPP a week before the full-scale Russian invasion  on 16 February 2022.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) opened a series of criminal proceedings because of the ZNPP being seized by the Russian army and its improper maintenance and operation during the temporary occupation. The pre-trial investigation is carried out on the basis of Art. 111 (treason) and Art. 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As part of these proceedings, the SSU investigates all the circumstances of the seizure of this critical infrastructure facility and documents the criminal actions of the management and employees of the ZNNP, who voluntarily hold positions in a fake Russian operating organisation and help the aggressor state.

Ihor Murashov was born in the Russian city of Borovsk, 100 km from Moscow. He received his higher education at the Obninsk Institute for Nuclear Power Engineering. He studied there together with Dmytro Verbytskyi, the current head of ZNPP. After Obninsk, Murashov studied at the Sevastopol Institute of Nuclear Energy and Industry.

He has worked in various positions at the Zaporizhzhia NPP since 1998.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






Hamas has threatened to execute civilian hostages if Israel continues to hit Gaza with air strikes (MAHMUD HAMS)

The families of Thai labourers held hostage by Hamas spoke Tuesday of their fears for their safety, after the Palestinian militant group threatened to kill civilian captives in its war with Israel.

At least 18 Thais have been killed and 11 seized since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday.

Hamas dragged off around 150 people as hostages in its attack, and has said it will kill them one by one if Israel continues to hit Gaza with air strikes.

Kanyarat Suriyasri, whose husband Owat Suriyasri is among those taken, spoke of her horror at learning the news.

"When I heard that he was among the 11 hostages taken by Hamas my heart dropped," she told AFP.

"I am waiting to hear some good news."

Owat, 40, from Si Saket province in eastern Thailand, is a "very friendly, caring and happy man", she said.

He moved to Israel in 2021 for improved wages, hoping to build a better house for his wife and two children.

"We have a lot of debts, and working abroad pays better than in Thailand," she said.

She told AFP that if she could see her husband she would tell him: "I've missed you, I won't let you anywhere far away again.

"I would hug him."

- 'I hope he survives' -

Wannida Ma-asa's husband Anucha Angkaew, an avocado farm worker, was another of those taken hostage.

"I'm devastated. I spoke with him the day when he was kidnapped. I had a video call with him before it happened and we chatted normally," she told AFP.

But despite Hamas's threat to kill its captives, Wannida said she was holding out for the safe return of her husband, who is 28.

"I really hope he survives... I have a 100 percent hope. I am patiently watching the news, waiting to hear some good news," she said.

Anucha, who has a daughter, moved to Israel in March 2022 from his home region of Udon Thani, an agricultural area in northeast Thailand.

There are around 30,000 Thais working in Israel, many in the agricultural sector.

Many are labourers from Thailand's poor rural northeast seeking to benefit from higher wages to build up a nest egg and improve the lives of their families back home.

They have been vulnerable to exploitation. A 2015 Human Rights Watch report found that migrant workers had been housed in inadequate accommodation and paid less than the legal minimum wage.

- Waiting for help -

Many Thai families are enduring a painful wait for news of missing relatives.

Jittawan Promsudorn said her family had lost contact with her cousin Adisak Pengsuwan, who had been working on a farm in the Gaza Strip area since March 2022.

They have heard nothing from him since the early hours of Tuesday morning, she said.

"Earlier he told us that all of his friends were all shot dead, but he was lucky to be able to run away to a bunker," she told AFP.

"He was stuck in a bunker with other 19 Thais, but there was no food or drinkable water. He told us that he wanted to go out to get some food and water but afraid for his life."

Adisak was waiting for help from Thai officials, she said.

"Our family, especially his mother is now distressed and she checks in with me every hour if I hear back from her son," she said.

The Thai foreign ministry said that 5,000 of its nationals have been moved away from high-risk areas to safety.

More than 3,000 Thais have asked to be repatriated and a first flight will leave Israel on Wednesday, carrying those who are injured but fit to travel, the ministry said.

tak-ci-pdw/mtp
As deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas continues, so too does a dire humanitarian crisis in the area.

At least 1,400 people have been killed in Israel and, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 8,700 people have been killed in Gaza after Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel October 7. Subsequent airstrikes have overwhelmed local hospitals and internally displaced an estimated one million people in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which suffered damage to one of its buildings in Gaza, is calling for the protection of aid workers, civilians, and critical infrastructure. Calling the situation horrific, Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is urging restraint after medical facilities have been destroyed in the fighting.

Impact Your World has gathered a list of vetted organizations that are on the ground responding. You can support their work by clicking HERE or using the form below.



We will continue to update this campaign as more information becomes available.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The News

The Republican candidates for president agree on two things about Hamass attack on Israel: Theyd give the Jewish state anything it needed, and whatever came next would be Joe Biden s fault.

The atrocities were witnessing in Israel would never have happened if I was president, Donald Trump said in Wolfeboro, N.H. on Monday, promising to reinstate the travel ban on terror-afflicted countries if he won in 2024.

I can tell you this: I wouldnt have slept through those attacks, Ron DeSantis told a town hall audience in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. If I were in the White House. Id have been up at 2 in the morning, and we would have been doing what we need to do to protect this country.

In a Tuesday speech at the Hudson Institute, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott went further, saying that the president had blood on his hands by not doing more, earlier, to support Israel. His weakness invited the attack, Scott said. His cash giveaways to Iran funded the attack.

Hours into the war, most of the GOP field had condemned the Biden administration for not linking Hamas attack more strongly to Iran. One by one, they suggested that the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian assets  earmarked for humanitarian purposes, as part of prisoner swap  was tantamount to helping finance the attack. Theyre moving money around as we speak, Nikki Haley told MSNBC, because they know that $6 billion is going to be released.

On CNN, Mike Pence took a shot at his higher-polling rivals  this is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy , and Ron DeSantis signaling retreat from Americas role as leader of the free world  but reserved the most blame for Biden.

President Joe Bidens kowtowing for the last two-and-a-half years to the mullahs in Iran, lifting sanctions, begging them to get back in the Iran nuclear deal, and then paying $6 billion in a ransom for hostages, I think set the conditions for this unprecedented terrorist attack, Pence said on Sunday.

There was no dissent from that from any Republican candidate; they differed only in how they wanted to punish Iran, and how much they worried that terror could come to America, too. DeSantis went to a Florida synagogue on Tuesday to announce new state sanctions on Iranian business, while balking at a question from MSNBCs Joe Scarborough on whether America should support Israeli strikes on Iran: Its too soon to tell.

Davids view

The fundamental problem for Donald Trumps challengers is that he was president, and they werent. He can hark back to how things were when he ran things  Americas embassy moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem with minimal blowback, relentless sanctions on Iran  and they usually have to praise him and agree.

Thats been the state of the primary since Saturday, with Trumps rivals asking voters to picture them as commander-in-chief by saying theyd model his approach to Israel. Haley and Pence own part of that policy, as former U.N. ambassador and vice president, and agree with his premise that peace through strength was supplanted by appeasement, which made Israel vulnerable.

Trump isnt vulnerable here, in a Republican primary, and Biden is  even if the actions hes taken so far rhyme with what Republicans want. (I would have constant conversations with Netanyahu to make sure that he knows there is no daylight between our country and Israel, Scott told Newsmax; according to Netanyahu, thats what hes gotten from Biden.)

And by Tuesday afternoon, there were some emerging distinctions in the 2024 candidates approach. Vivek Ramaswamy, whod said American aid to Israel wouldnt be as necessary after he won the presidency and made peace, said that his rivals were being too glib about the risk of a wider war: We require a rational response that supports Israel while avoiding another U.S.-led disaster in the Middle East, he said on Fox News. In an interview with Tucker Carlson he described a zero sum game where Bidens interests conflicted with Israels  specifically, 300,000 U.S. artillery shells stored in Israel that we encouraged [them] to send to Ukraine.

Ramaswamy was previewing a coming fight between Republicans, about whether new aid for Israel should be split from the aid Biden wants for Ukraine. But within the primary, Republican voters view Trump as he views himself  as a successful president who would have prevented all of this, making the funding debate irrelevant.

Think what our country would have been like if the election had not been rigged and stolen, Trump said on Monday. Israel would not now be under attack, zero chance. Ukraine would not be under attack by Russia, zero chance.

The View From The White House

The president addressed the nation on Tuesday to condemn the attacks and pledge support to Israel. He did not mention Iran, as reporters pressed the administration with Republicans questions about the countrys assets, but offered a broad warning in his speech.

To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Dont, Biden said on Tuesday. Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israels back.

His administration has taken the Republican attacks over the Iran hostage deal seriously, racing to respond in interviews, social media posts, and briefings that none of the money has been spent and comes with restrictions. The White House has pointed out that the Trump administration made humanitarian exceptions to sanctions, too, without the outrage that Republicans are now directing toward un-freezing any of Irans assets. And its pushed back at the demand to link Iran directly to the attacks, as Republican challengers demand they do so (the issue is sensitive in Israel too, whose government has also not accused Iran of planning the attack).

Weve said since the beginning that Iran is complicit in this attack, in the broad sense, because they have provided the lions share of funding for the military wing of Hamas; they have provided training; they have provided capabilities; they have provided support, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. [But] in terms of this gruesome attack on Oct. 7, we dont have that information.

Notable

In Politico , Nick Reisman captures how a rally endorsed by New York Citys Democratic Socialists of America chapter divided the left. The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. said, and didnt represent people who rejected both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.

Semafors Morgan Chalfant talked with former Trump national security advisor Robert OBrien on Sunday, who said that America would have to be prepared to rescue Americans who are taken hostage by terrorist organizations.
Conspiracy theories are nothing new in American history, but today conspiracy theories from QAnon to the Deep State are especially strong and divisive. Why?

I believe that secularization and religious decline are factors. In years past, we have turned to organized religion for two main reasons: community and a belief system to make sense of the chaos of life and a belief system that gives us solace in face of suffering and death. Many people still find these things in religion but increasingly, if you believe the sociologists, fewer and fewer people turn to their religion for the answers to the questions that religion has traditionally tried to answer.

Henry Idema

What has filled the vacuum left in the human soul by secularization? I would argue that, in part, that spiritual vacuum is filled in by various conspiracy theories. The internet plays a new historical role in the creation and spread of conspiracy theories. Like-minded people explore the internet to find a belief system they can internalize to make sense of the chaos of both their lives and the society in which they live.

But not only can a conspiracy theory provide a person with a belief system, but the true believer also finds through social media the community he or she longs for, and perhaps lost in a church during the pandemic or lost due to neglect or the loss of faith that religion can explain their plight.

There are historical reasons that have contributed to the rise of conspiracy theories. The lies created to justify the Vietnam and Iraq wars have fed our distrust of Washington. We now know that both Johnson and Nixon knew the Vietnam War could not be won, yet both presidents lied to the American people about the war in part because they did not want to be the first president to lose a war. The Bush administration started a war based on Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, even when weapon inspectors said there was no evidence.

The tobacco industry said for years cigarettes were not dangerous to our health, and for years the oil industry argued fossil fuels posed no danger to the environment. All of these lies were soil of distrust that nurtures today's conspiracy theories.

What makes the weaknesses of religion and the strength of conspiracy theories so relevant right now is that Putin is using conspiracy theories to weaken America's resolve to support Ukraine. Putin is using social media to strengthen the candidacy of Donald Trump and other Republicans who oppose America giving any more aid to Ukraine. Those in Congress and those running for president who oppose America helping Ukraine are Russian assets.

Injured Ludmila Ivanchuk, 61, holds her cat "Vasia" in front of her house, which was damaged by a Russian rocket attack in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sept. 27, 2023.

I am not arguing that these politicians are Russian agents, but it is obvious they are assets to Putin, who wants to divide us, who wants us to side with Russia in this war, who wants us to see Ukraine as run corruptly by Nazis and not worth our money. I am arguing, however, that what these GOP politicians are doing is fulfilling Putin's greatest desire  that America will stop aid to Ukraine. Putin will fight this war until our election in 2024, when aid to Ukraine will be on the ballot. Remember a person can be a Russian asset without being a spy or receiving money. A person who does what Putin dreams of is a Russian asset even without the self-awareness on the part of a politician of being such an asset. He or she can do Putin's bidding, in other words, without being consciously aware of it. God help us if it is ever proven that any politician ever took money from Russia or was a Russian spy. We might never recover from the disillusionment such a betrayal and treason would instill in all of us.

What people bring to conspiracy theories from their religion or lack thereof is a set of beliefs in ideas that can not be proven. Try arguing with a Trump true believer about the Deep State or a supporter of QAnon about facts, and you will get nowhere.

The earliest conspiracy theory in the Christian religion is that the Jews killed Jesus. The historical facts are that the Romans executed Jesus as an enemy of the state, and the biblical evidence is Jesus was very popular among his fellow Jews. But this conspiracy theory to this day fuels anti-Semitism and arguably is the mother load or pattern of conspiracy theories ever since.

A conspiracy theory, let me repeat, is a belief system with no agreed-upon or shared scientific or historical facts to back it up. Thus it can not be proven, or disproven. That is the parallel between religion and conspiracy theories.

Which brings up this issue: What is its responsibility to combat conspiracy theories? I do not know if many Christians still believe the Jews as a people are responsible for Jesus' death. Regardless, the church must teach historical facts, not conspiracy theories  starting with reasons for anti-semitism. In other words, the church must teach critical thinking, something sadly lacking in our society and in our media.

Concerning the war in Ukraine, the church must single out Putin as an evil dictator responsible for the murder and rape of thousands of women and children and the deaths of tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians. The church must teach the lessons of Munich and how that agreement between Britain and Germany played into Hitler's hands, as he soon demonstrated by invading Poland, which was the event that started World War II.

Maybe you can answer these questions:

Is the church preaching about the dangers and the poison of evil?

Is the church telling its community about the evil of Putin, and what his winning this war will mean for Poland, the Baltic states, and other countries, as well as our own if Putin invades a member of NATO?

I believe one reason for religious decline is that people in the pews are not hearing a belief system that makes sense of the world, especially making sense of evil, and, in particular, the evil of the most evil man in the world since Hitler, and the dangers of Putin's evil actions for the rest of the world. If the church will not stand up to evil and fight against it, then why should anyone support it? Sadly, too many Americans have left the church and turned to conspiracy theories for solace and community and the marching orders and purpose for their lives.

 Henry Idema lives in Grand Haven. He can be reached at henryidema3@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Henry Idema: Religion and conspiracy theories
In the middle of his statement responding to last weekend's barbaric attacks in Israel, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis veered sideways into a non-sequitur about American immigration policy.

In a post to X (formerly known as Twitter), DeSantis said President Joe Biden ought to freeze all foreign aid flowing to Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for Saturday's attacks that left more than 1,000 people dead, and freeze money "made available to Iran." Then, DeSantis added, Biden must "immediately shut down America's wide-open southern border to ensure we are in a position to better protect Americans here at home from these real threats."

That isquite the jump.

Yes, it's true that Saturday's attack on Israel involved people crossing a border, and that immigrants coming to the U.S. also cross a border as part of that process. That's literally the only similarity.

To be clear: Immigrants seeking to come to the U.S. to live and work are absolutely not terrorists conducting a paramilitary operation. Mexico and the U.S. are not Israel and Palestine. And, as Saturday's attack makes obviously clear, even the most extreme measures designed to "shut down" a border can be defeated.

Conflating these issues only serves to make the debate over U.S. immigration policy more toxic and stupid than it already is.

Unfortunately, DeSantis is not the only one doing this. Former President Donald Trump, never one to care much about accurately describing the status of U.S. immigration policy, claimed in a TruthSocial post on Monday that "the same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers."

Meanwhile, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haleywho has at times seemed like the metaphorical adult in the room during this GOP presidential primary contestmade a similar claim during an appearance on Meet the Press on Sunday. "We have to remember that what happened to Israel could happen here in America," Haley said. "We have an open border. People are coming through; they're not being vetted."

There is no internal logic whatsoever to these comparisons.

Let's start with the most acute problem. There are not many borders in the world more heavily militarized than the one between Israel and the Gaza Strip. It should stand in stark contrast to how these Republican politicians are describing America's southern border.

In fact, the Gaza border wall went far beyond anything that would be feasible or affordable for the U.S./Mexico border. As Amir Tibon, a journalist who survived Saturday's attack in Israel, described to The Atlantic on Monday, the structure included an "underground wall" meant to prevent Hamas from digging tunnels.

And guess what? The wall didn't work.

"This was a major infrastructure project for the state of Israel. And that project allowed us to sleep at night, because you can deal with rockets falling over your head if you have a safe room in your house, but if terrorists are infiltrating underground and they can walk into your community, that's a game changer," Tibon told The Atlantic's Yair Rosenberg as part of a harrowing, must-read interview.

"And in the morning hours of Saturday, October 7, when we heard the gunfire outside our window, we realized that this project is an utter and complete failure," he added.

Journalists should ask DeSantis (and Trump, and Haley, and others making this nonsensical comparison) what exactly he'd like to see done on the U.S./Mexico border. Are they asking for a level of militarization that exceeds what Israel has done on its border with Gaza? Because that's what this comparison implies, and even then Saturday's incursion should cause some rethinking about how useful walls on borders can be.

But even thinking about this comparison at that level seems absurd, given how many other problems there are with making the Israel-is-to-Gaza as the United-States-is-to-Mexico comparison. Thankfully, the U.S. has not been in a decades-long, slow-simmering conflict with our neighbor to the souththough some Republicans now seem eager to start one. There is no terrorist organization in Mexico motivated by centuries-old religious and cultural hatred that refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the American state or the rights of the people who live in it.

Most importantly, there is little evidence that any terrorists seeking to harm Americans are passing through the southern border. Conservatives often point to the fact that individuals named on various terror watch lists are occasionally apprehended while trying to cross the borderand use those incidents to extrapolate a massive but unseen threat to America.

In reality, that reflects how overly broad America's terror watch lists have become. They include well over 1 million names, including many individuals who have never planned or attempted to attack America. As the Cato Institute's Alex Nowrasteh has pointed out, "zero people have been killed or injured in attacks on U.S. soil committed by terrorists who illegally crossed the Southwest border."

Indeed, the best way to focus on whatever actual threats might exist would be to allow more immigrants into the country legallyleaving only those who cannot clear background checks to be sneaking over the fence illegally. That's the opposite of shutting down the border.

Immigration policy and anti-terrorism policies are both core functions of the federal government and right now both have deep flaws. We deserve leaders who take these issues seriously, but this sort of flippant and obviously faulty conflation of the two doesn't accomplish anything productive. If a politician can't tell the difference between migrants coming to the U.S. for jobs and terrorists hell-bent on murder and mayhem, they shouldn't be trusted with making federal policy in either arena.

The post Here's What the Hamas Attack Tells Us About U.S. Immigration Policy: Nothing appeared first on Reason.com.
The US is sending munitions, aircraft carriers, and fighter jets toward Israel after the Hamas attacks.

The aid package includes the newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford.

Specific munitions are uncertain, but Israel needs weapons for their Iron Dome defense system.

After the surprise attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas over the weekend, the US has been swift in its response and providing aid.

On October 7, Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and abducting others. Israel responded with a series of airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip.

Some 1,000 Israelis had been killed as of Tuesday, with another 3,400 injured, Israel's embassy in the US said. Gaza's health ministry reported at least 830 Palestinians had been killed, with at least 4,250 injured.

The US contributes $3 billion annually to its ally in the Middle East and will bolster that support by sending additional munitions and redirecting fighter jets and aircraft carriers toward Israel. Most notably, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest US aircraft carrier, is being directed from its station in the Mediterranean toward Israel.

Here's what the US is providing to and around Israel amid the conflict.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier to date.

The USS Gerald R. Ford in a fjord in Oslo. STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

The supercarrier, out on its first full deployment, is now moving toward Israel as a show of support from the US, as Insider previously reported.

Included in the USS Gerald R. Ford strike force are a number of other cruisers and destroyers.

The USS Normandy, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.

The US Navy Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy getting underway for deployment as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Colbey Livingston/Handout via REUTERS

The USS Normandy can fire missiles to strike land targets or fire missiles to defend against aircraft or incoming missiles.

The USS Thomas Hudner, one of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers in the fleet.

The USS Thomas Hudner in the Bosphorus on its way to the Mediterranean Sea in 2021. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

The USS Thomas Hudner provides both offensive and defensive capabilities and can act independently or as part of a larger strike force.

The USS Ramage, another Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.

The USS Ramage in the Arabian Gulf. REUTERS/Specialist 2nd Class Miguel Angel Contreras/U.S. Navy/Handout

The USS Ramage similarly provides offensive and defensive capabilities for the strike force.

The US Navy destroyer USS Carney.

The US Navy destroyer USS Carney on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik.

The USS Carney is another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and was first launched in 1994. The ship has since been upgraded in 2009 and 2016, where it received a new cannon and missile launcher.

The USS Roosevelt, designed to operate independently in a high-density, multi-threat environment.

The USS Roosevelt, a US Navy ship, sets sail in the Bosphorus. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo

The USS Roosevelt is the fourth Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the fleet.

Several F-35 fighter jets, considered to be the most advanced fighter jet in the world.

F-35A Lockheed Martin fighter jet lands on a motorway. NTB/Ole Andreas Vekve via REUTERS

The US is also augmenting several of its Air Force operations in the region, including F-35 fighter jets.

The US is deploying several of the stealth fighters to help deter Iran, a regional adversary that backs Hamas and Hezbollah.

Insider previously reported about 20-25 fighters would head to the region and be tasked with deterring the expansion of the war and preventing potential Iranian aggression.

Several F-15 fighter jets.

An Israeli F-15 fighter jet takes off during a joint international aerial training exercise. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

F-15s are extremely maneuverable, tactical fighters designed to give the Air Force an upper hand in air-to-air combat.

Several F-16 fighter jets, designed for both air-to-air combat as well as air-to-ground combat.

An F-16 fighter jet at the Volkel Air Base. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

The F-16 is a versatile and lightweight fighter.

Several A-10 fighter jets, designed to provide close air support to ground forces.

A US Air Force A-10 fighter aircraft stands during a media day. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images

They're designed to be used against maritime attacks and ground targets such as tanks and other armored vehicles.

Israel reportedly requested interceptors and precision-guided munitions.

Rockets fired from Gaza City being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images

The specific munition being sent to Israel is unclear, but Israel may have requested interceptors and precision-guided munitions. The interceptors contribute to Israel's Iron Dome defense system, which targets rockets in flight.

Al Jazeera reported that $2 billion worth of US munitions had been pre-supplied to be used in case of emergencies in Israel.

Correction: October 11, 2023  An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the source of the Israeli death and injury estimates. The Israeli Embassy in Washington provided the death estimate, and the Israeli health ministry, which is not in Washington, provided the injury estimate. The story was updated with the embassy's Tuesday estimates for those killed and injured.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Monday fired more rockets and artillery at Israel in retaliation for the deaths of three fighters, raising fears of another front opening as Israeli forces combat the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In a statement carried by state media, Hezbollah said it struck two Israeli command centers in the Galilee region in northern Israel using guided missiles and mortar shells, causing direct hits.

Hezbollah said the rocket strikes were in response for the martyrdom of three fighters who were reportedly killed during Israeli attacks earlier Monday.

According to Reuters, Israel sent helicopters to strike targets and shelled southern Lebanon on Monday after a cross-border raid from Palestinian Islamic Jihad members.

Israels Channel 12 reported that one Israeli soldier died and six others were injured during the Islamic Jihad raid. Israeli forces said they defeated the gunmen who stormed across the border.

Hezbollah and Israel also exchanged fire Sunday, a day after Hamas invaded southern Israel and killed hundreds of people.

Hezbollah was created by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982 in the wake of an Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a brief war that ended after about 34 days. The two armies have since exchanged incremental rocket fire over the borders.

Israel is now conducting a major counteroffensive operation against Hamas, striking targets in Gaza with fighter jets and rockets, while cutting off electricity and food to the Gaza Strip ahead of a possible ground operation.

If Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran just as Hamas is, were to join the fight against Israel, that would open up another front in northern Israel that would divide forces. Hezbollah also has much more strength and capabilities than Hamas.

Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in an emailed statement Monday that the north is heating up.

Its a significant concern for Israel and the United States. A war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah would be far more bitter than anything that has occurred between Israel and Hamas in recent years, Schanzer said. Hezbollah is better armed and trained. It has the potential to inflict serious damage upon Israel.

Although the exchange of fire is concerning, its not clear how large the threat is. Lebanon has many domestic problems at home, including a poor economy, so a war is unlikely to be popular at the moment.

Israel for now is focused on clearing Gaza of Hamas militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to make Hamas pay a price for the attack over the weekend and said Monday his nation will win the war.

The savage attacks that Hamas perpetrated against innocent Israelis are mind-boggling, Netanyahu said during an address. Israel is not only fighting for its own people, its fighting for every country that stands against barbarism.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hillsborough County school district leaders have reached a preliminary agreement with the teachers union on pay, in a development that could help with passage of a new tax to support the schools.

The two sides agreed Monday evening to a teacher salary schedule for the largest group of teachers that starts at $47,500 a year and reaches $72,490 after 25 years of service. The current schedule has a ceiling of $68,000 after 23 years.

Teachers will also advance a year for pay purposes  an action that the district tried to block for the last two years, offering supplements instead, to prevent a deficit in its operating budget. Raises will be retroactive to July 1, with additional supplements for some groups of workers.

The pay package will add an estimated $38 million a year to the operational budget, about half of what the union had initially requested.

Before the pay deal becomes official, the two sides must agree on updated contract language. Then the agreement must be ratified by members and approved by the school board.

But leaders for both sides said they were relieved to have reached a settlement this early in the school year. In past years, negotiations have lasted past the winter holidays.

These well-deserved salary increases will demonstrate how much we value their hard work and dedication as we ensure a high-quality education for all students, said Van Ayres, the districts interim superintendent.

The union, while thankful that the district came to the negotiations in the spirit of retaining and rewarding experienced employees, described the deal as just the first step toward adequate compensation.

There is still much more work to be done to repair decades of underfunding and damage done to the salary scales by the Florida Legislature, said executive director Brittni Wegmann.

More than 13,000 instructional employees are represented by the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, which also bargains for several hundred teachers aides and clerical workers.

The agreement comes as the school board prepares to discuss a tax referendum to support teacher pay. A resolution on the meeting agenda for Oct. 17 would ask voters to approve a property tax of $1 for every $1,000 in assessed value. That works out to $200 a year for a $250,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption.

The national teacher shortage and increase in the number of resignations and retirements have created a significant vacancy rate in the district, the resolution says. And national exit interviews indicate that lower pay or higher wages elsewhere is one of the primary reasons for departure from the classroom.

At last count, the district is short 355 classroom teachers.

Pasco and Pinellas counties already have special real estate taxes that are now common around the state, with the Pasco measure winning voter approval in 2022.

A referendum for such a tax in Hillsborough was narrowly defeated that same year, leaving the district at a competitive disadvantage. At the time, Hillsboroughs teachers were in a bargaining impasse.

This time, with negotiations settled, the district can call on its teachers to help with the campaign.

Danielle Shotwell, general manager of employee relations for the district, hinted as much during the final stages of Mondays session. We need additional resources in this county, she said. And we need to be able to partner with you and with our employees to be able to get that done.

Board members Jessica Vaughn, Lynn Gray and Nadia Combs all said they would be in favor of placing the tax on the Nov. 5 ballot.

I want the teachers to be taken care of, Gray said, adding: There is never a good time to ask for money.

Vaughn said, Were just putting it on the ballot for the voters to decide.

Combs, the boards chairperson, pointed to the districts chronic teacher vacancies. Many are moving to neighboring districts, where they can live more affordably and be paid a higher wage, she said.

All three board members are running for reelection in 2024.

But, Combs said, this is a democracy and our voters can individually decide if they want to increase teacher salaries. And just like them, I will have one vote.
A local 108-year-old Catholic School is closing at the end of the school year.

>>1 seriously injured after multi-vehicle crash in Riverside

St. Anthonys of Padua School in Dayton is closing due to concerns about the structural integrity of the boiler room.

Over the past several years, the ceiling structure of the underground boiler room that connects the school and the church has deteriorated to the point that it has become structurally unsound, according to a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The priest, parish council, and parish finance committee, in consultation with the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese, recommended the school to close after the completion of the 2023-2024 school year.

The recommendation for the closure was submitted to and accepted by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr.

A spokesperson for the archdiocese said that the weight from the parking lot above the boiler room has taken a toll and steps have been taken to temporarily shore up the space.

>>School district releases statement following Monday nights emergency Milton-Union board meeting

Despite these measures, structural integrity remains a major concern.

A professional engineering firm was hired to conduct a Facility Conditions Assessment which included inspection of the entire working of the mechanical system and associated costs of repair.

The estimated cost of all of the repairs needed would be close to $13 million.

Such decisions are both unwanted and heartbreaking. Unless we can offer excellent education in a building that safely meets the needs of students and staff, we are not fulfilling our responsibility as a parish community, Fr. Satish Joseph, Priest of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, which is part of the Northeast 7 Family of Parishes said.

The other three Catholic schools within the NE 7 Family of Parishes and surrounding Catholic schools are being asked to give priority acceptance to St. Anthony students for the 2024-2025 school year.

There has been a large opposition to the closing of the school, including a Facebook group titled Save St. Anthony that has 472 members expressing support for the school.

News Center 7 is working to learn more information about the closing.








Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he was disgusted by the House GOP infighting amid the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his post that was fueled by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).

Hogan said at an event at Bloombergs office in Washington, D.C., that his focus is on getting the Republican Party back on track, pointing to the House voting to oust McCarthy from the top position last week. He said that he was disgusted by the Houses actions, adding that Gaetz was a cancer on the party and on the Congress.

Its a train wreck. I mean, its embarrassing, and I think its terrible for the Republican Party. I think its terrible for Congress and for the country, he said.

Gaetz spearheaded the successful effort to take away McCarthys gavel last week, when eight Republicans joined with all of Democrats to vote in favor of booting the California Republican from his position. Since then, the House GOP has been in turmoil as its members scramble to find a new Speaker.

Two lawmakers  Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)  have announced they will run for the top spot, but neither has emerged as a front-runner in the race.

Hogan, an honorary chairman of the political organization No Labels, also said at the event that he has not ruled out a 2024 bid for the White House, according to Bloomberg. He has repeatedly toyed with running for the presidency, and some have floated him as a potential candidate for No Labels, which is pushing for a bipartisan ticket to give voters an option besides former President Trump and President Biden.

However I can serve, Im still trying to figure that out, but Im not walking away, Hogan said.

I dont want to run a race and nibble around the edges, he added. If I thought there was a path to success to win the race, then I just said I wouldnt shut the door to that opportunity.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After the Writers Guild of America approved a new three-year contract with major studios, Hollywood writers from underrepresented groups, many nervous about their job security in the rapidly changing industry, aim to refocus studios' attention on increasing diversity.

The WGA represents 11,500 film and television writers, but many minority members  people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people and women  hoped the negotiations would have made diversifying the business a priority.

The Guild's demands did not directly address diversity. But WGA West board member and negotiating committee member Angelina Burnett said the contract talks were meant to protect everyones economic stability. The new contract was approved on Monday.

However, some Hollywood minority writers are troubled by what they see as institutional bias after several diversity initiatives suffered during cost-cutting this year. Studios are not as outspoken about the inclusion pledges they made after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Some writers have decided to launch their own initiatives to revive those promises and support other minority writers.

There will need to be lots of efforts made by writers and companies to make sure that our hiring is as equitable as possible," said writer Luvh Rakhe, who is South Asian American, has worked on sitcom Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia among others and was a WGA negotiator.

Caroline Renard, a writer on animated children's show Bossy Bear, co-founded Black Women Rising after Floyds death. The group's mission is to help low- to mid-level Black women writers in their careers. Similar groups like Black Women Brunch and Black Male Screenwriters also support Black writers.

Renard said building community and resources remains vital because underrepresented writers fear that studios after the strike will focus on cost-cutting to make up for lost revenue, rather than diversity.

This summer, six Black women executives who led diversity and inclusion initiatives abruptly left their jobs at major Hollywood organizations including Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix, the BBC and the Academy of Motion Pictures.

Some were laid off while others voluntarily quit. The reasons were not publicly announced, but the exodus occurred as studios including Disney, Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix implemented major cost cuts.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group representing the major studios, did not respond to a request for comment. The companies have largely been silent about diversity initiatives since the strikes began in May.

INDUSTRY IN UPHEAVAL

Employment figures for the industry back up claims that minority writers are underrepresented. The share of Black, Indigenous and people of color in screen employment was 22.6% in 2020 while these groups accounted for 42.2% of the U.S. population, according to a WGA report.

White people held 77.4% of jobs and represented 57.8% of the population, according to the report. Disabled people hold about 1% of writing roles for TV series, pilots and screenplays, yet 27% of American adults report having a disability.

The drive for greater equity faces a different climate than it did during racial justice protests of 2020. The Supreme Court's decision in June banning affirmative action in college admissions has prompted corporate America to reconsider the issue.

Since May, film and TV businesses shed 45,000 jobs, according to U.S. government data in October. Meanwhile, traditional television viewership is plummeting and streaming video services are struggling to turn a profit.

I know a lot of people are scared. I am scared, of course, said Renard.

As a Black disabled woman, writer Keisha Zollar, whose credits include family drama Young Love, worries she and other disabled writers will be "marginalized further." Its a lot of emotional stress because Im in a position where Im the breadwinner of my family, Zollar said.

The nonprofit Inevitable Foundation provides financial support to disabled writers facing economic hardships and lobbies for more equitable opportunities in Hollywood.

Co-founder Richie Siegel believes many studios will default to the "status quo" as they restart after the strike, paying little attention to employment and accessibility barriers faced by disabled writers.

Kyle Bowser, NAACP senior vice president for its Hollywood bureau, said there are concerns that as pay rises for writers, studios will create fewer shows.

This would make minority writers especially vulnerable as they are often in the most junior positions. Theres the adage that the last hired are the first fired, he said.

(Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Donna Bryson, Kat Stafford and Cynthia Osterman)
HOPEWELL  Ahead of a public hearing Tuesday night on the possibility of collective bargaining for public-safety personnel and city workers coming to town, the city manager is clapping back against social-media criticism that she was trying to persuade City Council to vote it down.

In comments to The Progress-Index, Dr. Concetta Manker said the Facebook comments were instilling hate, fear, and confusion that she did not support police officers getting paid better for their jobs. Manker called herself a proud supporter of our public safety employees and noted that since she took over as Hopewells chief administrator, she has pushed council to channel $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, approve a raise in the entry-level salary wage and install a 5% step-pay increase for police.

A lot of strides have been taken to support the police department during my time as interim city manager, said Manker, who was appointed to the job in July after holding it on an interim basis. As city manager, conversations continue around recruitment, retentions and steps to remain competitive with other localities.

At the first of two public hearings on the matter, proponents told councilors that collective bargaining was needed in Hopewell to slow the flow of police officers going elsewhere because the pay there was better. Hopewell has a sworn-officer payroll of 68, but 15 of those positions were open as of the last council meeting, and the secretary of the citys Police Benevolent Association chapter said then that more were on the way.

More: 'Dedication does not pay my bills': Hopewell considers collective bargaining for city workers

Manker said she has not spoken to anyone in public about collective bargaining, and because of that, she added she did not know why the criticisms were circulating. She also said that if citizens wanted to talk about the issue with her, my office is always open.

My public safety support track record over the past 14 months speaks for itself, and any other narrative is alternative news designed to instill hate, fear, and confusion in our community, Manker said.

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly approved the allowance of collective bargaining in municipal government.

Proponents say that allowing collective bargaining increases communication between city workers and city administration, and is a proactive strategy for addressing issues before they become official grievances. They said the city will always have the last word on how issues are resolved and that none of the citys authority will be lost because of collective bargaining.

If approved by council, Hopewell would be the first locality in the Tri-City area to collectively bargain with its workers.

Manker said collective bargaining has ushered a new direction of city government.

Collective bargaining is an exciting concept for all city employees because now they have the freedom to organize and negotiate anything from workplace conditions to pay, she said.

City Council will meet in closed session beginning at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at the Municipal Building. The regularly scheduled meeting in which the public hearing is scheduled will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell council will vote on collective bargaining Tuesday
As Republicans scramble to use the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel as a means of knocking down President Joe Biden , I have a humble suggestion for them: Maybe get your house  and quite literally the House  in order before you attempt such low-brow politicking.

There was certainly a time when an American political party, in the wake of a devastating attack on an ally, would lean into national unity, when that partys own political instincts would keep its members from hurling lies and casting aspersions at the president.

That time is long gone. Shortly after the attack Saturday, which we now know left more than 1,000 Israelis dead or kidnapped and at least 14 Americans dead, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel described the assault as a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel, time and time again, and Joe Biden has been weak.

Nothing about this catastrophic moment is a great opportunity, and the near-instant idea to use it as a domestic political cudgel was vile.

President Joe Biden remarks on Oct. 10, 2023, on the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

Joe Biden behaves like a president while Republicans play politics

On Tuesday, Biden addressed the nation and reaffirmed Americas unshakable support for Israel.

This is not about party or politics. This is about the security of our world, the security of the United States of America, he said. Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israels back.

Smoke billows during Israeli strikes on Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas as the war's death toll passed 3,000 on Oct. 10, the fourth day of grueling fighting since the Islamists launched a surprise attack.

Pretty simple, isnt it?

There will be ample time for the usual back-and-forth political hollering. What we need, what Israel needs and what the world needs is accurate information and a unified America. What were getting from Republicans is cynical nonsense.

We were not prepared for war. Israelis can no longer rely on our leaders to protect us.

Republicans use Hamas attack on Israel to push lies about Biden

GOP lawmakers and presidential candidates have ludicrously tried to claim that a recent hostage release agreement Biden negotiated with Iran provide U.S. taxpayer funding for the Hamas attack. This agreement, which freed five American hostages, gave Iran access to $6 billion in previously frozen Iranian oil profits, money that can only be used for humanitarian purposes and has not yet been touched.

Sen. Tim Scott, a GOP presidential candidate, tweeted: Bidens negotiation funded the attack and At this point, Biden is complicit, which is abject garbage.

Continuing dishonest spin on behalf of Republicans, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum said on air Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't even been invited to the White House which is unprecedented, I think, in presidential U.S. history.

In fact, at a meeting in New York City last month, Biden invited Netanyahu to the White House.

Republican behavior is doing nothing to help Israel, or America

None of this is helping Israel, or America for that matter. Biden said Tuesday that he will request "urgent action" from Congress to make sure Israel has all it needs.

But Republicans are currently overseeing a speaker-less House of Representatives stuck in a quagmire of internal bickering and have lawmakers in the Senate holding up military appointments AND the appointment of a U.S. ambassador to Israel , so the words "urgent" and "action" don't seem to be in the current GOP lexicon.

A brutal war crime: Hamas took advantage of divisions in Israel to start a horrific war targeting civilians

If Democrats were playing politics with our military readiness or saying out loud they want to use an unimaginable Israeli tragedy to pump up their own candidates, Republicans and the right-wing media ecosystem would be apoplectic. And frankly, they would be justified.

So maybe right now  as bodies are still being pulled from the rubble and as U.S. forces are being moved closer to the Middle East  Republicans should support the president and Americas interest. And maybe they should hurry up and install a House speaker and stop blocking Bidens military and diplomatic appointments so they the party can at least pretend it has an interest in governing.

USA TODAY Opinion columnist Rex Huppke.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden isn't playing politics after Hamas attack. GOP must do the same
An advocacy nonprofit aligned with House Republican leadership is launching a $250,000 ad campaign aimed at boosting more than a dozen Republicans in districts won by President Biden, thanking them for voting on a clean stopgap funding bill that avoided a shutdown this fall.

The American Action Network (AAN), the sister organization of the McCarthy-aligned super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund, is airing the ads on digital platforms, according to plans first shared with The Hill. The ads mark the first ad expenditure for the group since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted from his position as House Speaker last week.

Among the 17 House Republicans that the ad buy focuses on are: Reps. David Schweikert (Ariz.), Juan Ciscomani (Ariz.), David Valadao (Calif.), Mike Garcia (Calif.), John Duarte (Calif.), Michelle Steel (Calif.), Young Kim (Calif.), Don Bacon (Neb.), Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.), Nick LaLota (N.Y.), Anthony DEsposito (N.Y.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Marc Molinaro (N.Y.), Brandon Williams (N.Y.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Ore.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Jen Kiggans (Va.).

There are two kinds of people in Washington: The ones who play politics and the ones who fight for solutions like Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an independent voice who worked to keep our government open, says a narrator in one of the 30-second ads.

Now, our hardworking troops and border patrol agents get the pay they were promised, and seniors in need will continue to get the care they deserve, the narrator continues. No partisan games, just solutions. Thats Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Call Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer and thank her for keeping America open.

House Republicans were able to overcome an impasse late last month over keeping the government funded, passing a 45-day stopgap funding bill to keep current spending levels in place for the government until mid-November.

But that came after a separate House GOP stopgap bill, which featured changes to border policy and cuts in spending, was tanked by 21 Republicans amid a looming deadline to keep the government funded.

The 45-day stopgap funding bill, which received bipartisan support, ultimately led to further turmoil within the House GOP, as an effort led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), which included support from seven other Republicans and all Democrats, led to the ouster of McCarthy from his Speakership role. The House is currently without a Speaker, with the need to fill the role all the more pressing given the war in Israel.

House Republicans are looking to protect their slim majority in the lower chamber heading into 2024. California and New York are seen as critical battleground states for both parties in winning the majority next year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Republicans met Tuesday evening to hear from the two candidates to be the next speaker of the House, but afterward, it appeared doubtful either could win the near-unanimous Republican support needed to get the gavel.

Weve got two good leaders within our party with good perspectives on where the party needs to go and an understanding and an emphasis on reuniting the party, Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) told reporters after emerging from the closed-door meeting.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted last week after allowing the House to vote on and pass a bill avoiding a government shutdown. Reps. Steve Scalise (La.) and Jim Jordan (Ohio) are running to replace him. Some Republicans think McCarthy should get his old job back.

On Tuesday, McCarthy suggested he would prefer to stay out of the race.

They got candidates already, McCarthy told HuffPost when asked if he would serve as speaker again.

Scalise said after the meeting that the conflict between Hamas and Israel showed the need to resolve the issue quickly.

People want to see us get back on track. We need a Congress thats working. Tomorrow, we need to get Congress back to work, Scalise said.

One potential deciding factor may be House Republicans appetite to take the White House back to the brink of, or even into, a government shutdown in mid-November when current funding expires. Jordan is seen as the more hard-line of the two speaker candidates and wanted to tie keeping the government open to scrapping funding for processing migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

Avoiding a government shutdown needs to be the priority, said Garcia, who has not endorsed either candidate.

After McCarthys ouster, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) became interim speaker, though his main job is to oversee an election for a new speaker. With no clear alternative to McCarthy in sight, McHenry sent lawmakers home for the weekend.

The Houses paralysis showed up Tuesday in the form of a symbolic resolution of support for Israel. Normally it would be no problem for the House to approve such a resolution, but thats not the case now as the House is essentially shut down after Republicans threw out McCarthy.

As for the Israel resolution, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) introduced it Tuesday with the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), following the massive attack on Israel over the weekend by Hamas, a group that has been designated by the State Department as terrorists. In unveiling the resolution, the pair noted it had 390 co-sponsors. Thats 90% of the current full House membership of 433 members.

The resolution says the House stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists; condemns Hamas brutal war against Israel; and reaffirms the United States commitment to Israels security, among other things.

Usually, such resolutions are voted on under a process reserved for uncontroversial bills like renaming post offices for local famous figures, but that requires a two-thirds majority for approval. Even that process has been sidelined by the lack of a speaker.

Its unclear exactly what McHenrys powers are while he retains the gavel. While the rules put in place at the beginning of the 118th Congress remain intact, McHenrys ascension is unique in that it came after McCarthys historic ouster and the legislative language outlining his speaker pro tempore role can be interpreted as restricting his activities to those needed to select a new speaker or more loosely.

McCaul said the resolution would likely not see a vote until a speaker is installed.

I expect this bipartisan resolution to be one of the first, if not the first, items considered on the floor once we elect a new speaker, McCaul said. And I expect it to receive overwhelming bipartisan support.

The House overwhelmingly passed a Republican resolution reaffirming U.S. support for Israel in July after Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called Israel a racist state for its systematic mistreatment of Palestinians.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said theres a contingent of his colleagues insisting that McCarthy return to the speakership, and also a side quest from some Republicans who want to change the partys internal rules on how it nominates its speaker candidates. Massie suggested he was skeptical his colleagues would be able hash things out in private.

For this to converge, I think were going to have to have some public votes, Massie told HuffPost.

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) said that rather than fighting over their speaker, Republicans should hash out a plan for when government funding runs out next month.

I think we need a plan more than a person right now, Westerman said. We got to figure out how were going to govern going forward and we need some buy-in around that.
In their first big meeting after an almost week-long cooling-off period since the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Republicans talked a lot about the need to replace him and how to make that process smoother  but found little agreement.

The meeting, held a day before speaker candidates are set to make their presentations to the GOP conference to win supporters, was intended more as a free-for-all discussion than a business meeting to decide official party policy.

Still, members exiting the meeting in the basement of the U.S. Capitol on Monday night expressed a variety of opinions on how quickly they could select a speaker and who it might be.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Republicans need to find a speaker by Wednesday, especially in light of the new conflict between Israel and Hamas.

I said the world is watching whats happening, and we need to come together and unify behind a speaker. And I think there is general consensus that they want that, McCaul said.

But others were less sure.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said the party needs to hold accountable in some way the eight House Republicans who voted with 208 Democrats to provide the winning margin to oust McCarthy.

I think it was wrong what happened to Kevin McCarthy, and I think that the people who have done wrong to the American people, theyre the ones who need to be held accountable, she said.

Theres definitely frustration toward those eight people, and theres quite a few members who said theyre not ready to move forward to elect a speaker.

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), one of the eight Republicans who voted with Democrats to topple McCarthy, said he and the seven other dissidents came in for pointed but respectful criticism at the meeting.

But asked if he thought a new speaker would be decided on by Wednesday, Burchett said he thought so.

I just think we will, he said.

Officially, only two candidates have declared for the speakers post: Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the second-ranking Republican as the House majority leader, and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

But the picture got more opaque on Monday after McCarthy, who said last week that he would not run again for the post that it took him 15 tries to win last time, signaled he was open to serving again.

At a press conference to discuss Israel and Gaza, McCarthy was asked if he would accept being nominated. The conference can decide, he said.

The circumstances of McCarthys ouster have left some House Republicans bitter at both the Democrats, who they see as behaving opportunistically at the expense of the House as an institution, and the eight GOP dissidents.

McCarthy remained popular within the conference, and the setting of the press conference on Monday morning seemed intended to remind wavering or undecided House Republicans that he was still available.

Theres a group thats still aligned with Kevin McCarthy and would like to bring him back as speaker. Theres a number supporting Jim Jordan. Theres a number supporting Steve Scalise, Greene said.

Its unlikely, though, that McCarthy could make it back into the speakers chair unless enough of the eight who voted against him changed their minds to support him. Burchett, for one, said he would not change his vote.
Rep. Matt Gaetz arrives at a meeting with lawmakers to hear from House Speaker candidates at the Longworth House Office Building on October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. Credit - Anna MoneymakerGetty Images

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For generations, it has been an article of faith that Republicans were the party that more staunchly supported Israel. In foreign policy circles, that part of the GOP identity was as hardwired as the slogan of peace through strength. To even question Israel was akin to spitting on the graves of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, or in recent years, questioning the GOP bases loyalty to Donald Trump.

But as the conflict between Israelis and Hamas enters its fifth blood-soaked day, House Republicans are mired in a state of stasis so serious that the chamber cannot pass even the most basic pieces of legislation, let alone any aid package for Israel.

The House of Representatives has been without a speaker for nearly a week, since all of the Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted to dump Kevin McCarthy . The chamber remains stopped in its tracks until Republicans select a new Speaker; none has emerged with the requisite votes, tossing the whole body into a knot so tight that McCarthy is offering himself as a repeat Speaker, days after he announced he wouldnt vie for the job again.

More From TIME

The Houses paralysis had been embarrassing for the party and the nation. But now it is on the verge of becoming something else entirely. The Republican Party faces a test of its soul on par with the one presented in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed Congress with the express hopes of forcing lawmakers to set aside Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election. In that charged moment, while 147 Republicans effectively sided with the rioters, enough lawmakers recognized the threat posed to themselves, Americas reputation, and the world order itself.

Republicans now face a similar test, one where Americas reputation as an ally who could be trusted to deliver when it counts hangs in the balance. Everyone who has watched Congress closely over the years expects both chambers to agree on a supplemental tranche of cash for Israel without much debate. Yet, without a Speaker of the House in place, such a spending plan cannot come to the floor for a vote. Bidens team can reprogram some dollars and find unspent reserves elsewhere. They can cajole allies to step in with monies of their own. Biden, as he did again on Tuesday from the White House, can resolutely express American support for Israel. Money? Thats a little tougher to ship without authorization from Congress, and leaders of both parties know it.

When Congress returns, Im going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners, Biden said shortly after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is not about party or politics. Its about the security of our world, the security of the United States of America.

(Not to let a crisis go to waste, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lagging campaign on Tuesday sent an invitation to hear the 2024 presidential hopefuls thoughts on the crisis. Those wanting to RSVP to the Wednesday online session were directed to a DeSantis campaign consultant specializing in political fundraising, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by TIME. By contrast, Sen. Tim Scott planned a foreign-policy speech at a D.C. think tank for Tuesday.)

There is an obvious practical need for Republicans to sort out their squabbles. A majority of Americans (55%) have a favorable opinion of Israel, according to Pew Research Center polling from last year. But theres a clear partisan split that has widened in recent years; Pew finds a 27-point gap between Republicans (71%) and Democrats (44%) when it comes to Israel. Put simply: Leaving Israelis in a lurch at a time of surprise attack, hostages, and potential war crimes is a horrible look for the GOP that, not long ago, invited Netanyahu to speak to Congress as a thumb in the eye of President Barack Obama.

(Democrats, meanwhile, are more split over their feelings; Gallup found in February 2021 that 42% of Democrats sympathized more with the Israelis while 39% pointed to Palestinians. Its a striking shift from a decade earlier, when Gallup polling found Democrats margin of sympathies lay with Israelis over Palestinians by a 2-to-1 margin.)

It was not that long ago (last week, in fact) that a sizable portion of the GOP did not seem too worried about steering the whole U.S. government toward a massive shutdown, due in part to the desire among a large coalition of Republicans and Democrats to send more aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion. The Trumpists in the GOP opposed this vehemently, following years of double-speak that intentionally misses the intellectual inconsistencies in how they view American power. McCarthy made an eleventh-hour play to keep the doors of the federal government open for another six weeks with the help of Democrats, but dropped the Pentagons ask of $24 billion to keep Ukraine fighting through the end of the year. From the White House, Biden promised allies that money for Kyiv would be in the offing, but just in a different legislative vehicle. The Senate is quietly looking at a year-long package topping $50 billion.

Which brings the conversation back to whether history matters here in the least. U.S. dollars have fundedwith varying degrees of courage and cringemore than a half-century of foreign policy dominance. There have seldom been conflicts where Washington hasnt puffed up a chest and assessed that what the U.S. allies needed were greenbacks and grit. No one can credibly say all of those have gone well; it doesnt stretch interpretation to say the only declared war that the U.S. won since World War II was the first Gulf War in 1991.

That leaves both Israel and Ukraine caught in the middle of the GOPs identity crisis. Until Republicans realize their fateand the legacy of the party and of the countrys long alliance with Israelhangs on their infighting, there is little beyond Thoughts and Prayers that Americans can send to Israel to combat Hamas (or to Ukraine to shore up its fight against Putin). If Republicans, whose constituents are some of the most pro-Israel people in the country, cannot get their act together and organize a House org chart so they can help their favorite ally in one of the most urgent periods since its creation, theres really no denying that the Trumpist-led GOP has drained the party of its global reach and prestige.

Its not that tricky of a question. Sure, halting the work of government to look inward might play well at a MAGA-tinged campaign rally in an airport hangar with Trump Force One as a backdrop, but that does not exactly inspire an awe of Americans resolve and might. Republicans face a moment of deciding if they want to be welcomed with respect in Trump circles or in foreign capitals. The two may well be mutually exclusive if the GOP leaves Israel with outstretched arms and nothing to show for it.

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Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
The political chaos surrounding the vacant Speakership in the House threatens to upend Republican efforts to hold onto their slim majority in next years elections.

Questions over who would succeed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) took on a new urgency this weekend amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas terrorists.

The air of havoc surrounding the GOPs ouster of McCarthy at a time when a critical U.S. ally is at war could reverberate through some of the most competitive districts next year, such as in New York.

Having a Speakership sitting vacant at the moment is obviously not good, said Tom Doherty, a New York-based GOP strategist. It doesnt serve us or our foreign partners any good not to have a Speaker of the House.

The unprecedented vacancy of the Speakership comes as Israel reacts to the massive surprise attack from Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terror organization. As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 people in Israel and more than 500 people in Gaza had been killed as a result of the war.

Without a Speaker, the House cannot greenlight emergency aid to Israel. Its also unclear whether acting Speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) will be able to receive classified briefings on the matter.

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House Republicans plan to meet again Tuesday night to discuss how to move forward on the vacancy.

Some Democrats have hit Republicans over the debacle, saying that the question of whether the House can greenlight funding to Israel is a consequence of the GOPs intraparty chaos.

Every Republican owns this, said Jon Reinish, a New York-based Democratic strategist. To me, one of the most ridiculous and most fallacious arguments that Ive heard is Republicans trying to blame Democrats for the dysfunction that they own.

One Republican strategist told The Hill that its still too early to tell how the Speakership dilemma coupled with the war in Israel will impact House Republicans next year, saying the negative political impacts for us are still very limited.

I think its a very short time period, the strategist said. Any negative political fallout is going to be temporary at the most.

The war has sparked strong reactions from across the political spectrum, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers strongly condemning Hamas and its attack on Israel.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called U.S. support for Israel ironclad Sunday, while McCarthy said in a press conference Monday that the U.S. needs a five-point plan to meet this moment. McCarthy, meanwhile, did not rule out running for Speaker again in the same press conference.

Additionally, Reps. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) and Don Davis (D-N.C.) have prepared a bipartisan resolution condemning the attack by Hamas and affirming U.S. support for Israel.

But some responses have been different in tone and nuance. Progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cory Bush (D-Mo.) have both faced criticism for issuing statements calling Israel an apartheid state in the wake of the attacks by Hamas. Both lawmakers condemned the violence Israelis and Palestinians are facing.

Those statements have opened the door to criticism from Republicans.

Extreme Democrats are rallying in the streets to celebrate terrorism and violence against innocent Israeli citizens. This is who they are, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, linking to an article that tied a number of progressive House members to the Democratic Socialists of America.

The war has sparked strong reactions across the U.S., but particularly in New York, where the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America sponsored a pro-Palestinian rally that took place in Manhattan on Sunday. Prominent New York Democrats including Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Rep. Ritchie Torres have condemned the rally.

New York City is home to 1.6 million Jews, making it the city with the second-largest Jewish-concentrated population in the world. A large Jewish population also resides just outside of the New York City area, where there are some competitive House districts.

Jewish constituents make up a significant portion of the population in New Yorks 17th Congressional District, which was one of the seats Republicans managed to flip in 2022 in the blue-leaning state. Currently represented by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), President Biden won the district in 2020. The Cook Political Report rates the seat as a toss-up.

Some Republicans argue the current crisis in Israel will help the party politically.

I think its really a huge political benefit to our Republicans in New York, the Republican strategist said. Every member of their party is going to have to answer for what the far left is saying about the issue and its an incredible opportunity for us to label every member of the party, unless they speak up, as agreeing with them.

The GOP strategist also noted that the party would likely target swing districts in Michigan in the wake of Tlaibs remarks.

American Jewish voters tend to overwhelmingly vote Democratic, though some Republicans say the war in Israel could move many Jewish voters, particularly in New Yorks suburban enclaves, toward Republicans.

AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)] and her minions are going to make it more likely that Jews will vote more Republican, more consistently and they are in the suburbs and thats one of the reasons why Democrats lost the House, said Hank Sheinkopf, a New York Republican strategist.

To add to the mix, Sheinkopf continued, its that crime is seeping in the suburbs from the cities, that the migrant issue is seeping into the suburbs from the cities. The cities appear to be in more chaos than not. And on top of that, the elected officials in the cities are leaning against the state of Israel.

But the lack of order in the House poses challenges for the party, which has so far been mired in infighting. If time goes on without a replacement for McCarthy, Republicans could face mounting criticism.

If I am [Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.)], if I am Lawler, any of these suburban, Biden-district, New York, California Republicans, my job just got a lot harder, because once again I am having to defend dysfunction. Once again, Im having to be a spokesperson for the most out-of-touch, radicalized members of my own conference, Reinish said.

Whoever both wins the presidency has to win the suburbs, he added. Whoever wins the House has to win the suburbs.

Democrats also pushed back on the notion that the party is in any way anti-Israel, while warning against the response from some progressives within the party.

All of the important caucuses have made it clear where they stand, Reinish said, referring to Democratic leaders. What is a big, big problem though are people like [Rep.] Ilhan Omar [D-Minn.], Rashida Tliab, Cory Bush, AOC, they took hours to respond, they blamed Israel and it is really repulsive to see whats going on on the far left.

Doherty, the GOP strategist, noted the human element of the war in Israel, saying it isnt time for political commentary for what it means going forward.

People died, he said Theres no winners in this situation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In our deeply polarized political landscape, its crucial to look for policies that have the potential to unite us across the ideological spectrum. That means identifying the many major societal challenges we face and examining the evidence for the policy solutions that will have the greatest impact while producing benefits that align with our diverse values.

Across the U.S., cities like Nashville face an affordable housing crisis. A 2021 report from the Mayors Affordable Housing Taskforce projects that Nashville needs to add nearly 54,000 units by 2030 to keep up with demand, or 4,800 units per year.

To make matters worse, our state and the country are dealing with a major shortage, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of workers, in the construction sector. According to the nonprofit Go Build Tennessee, For every 5 tradesmen who retire, only 1 apprentice is training to fill their position. Many foreign-born workers with construction backgrounds would like to work here, but our immigration system has made it virtually impossible for them to do so.

We can solve both of these issues by ending arbitrary legal barriers to both housing and immigration. And while there is broad support for these proposals among progressives and libertarians, there are also numerous outcomes that conservatives should find appealing.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Our zoning policies are reducing the supply of housing

Economists agree that exclusionary zoning artificially restricts the housing supply by making it illegal to build anything but single-family homes on most parcels of land outside of urban centers.

This row of new townhomes in the Canterbury neighborhood in Thompson's Station shows several available units. Just six months ago, inventory of single-family and townhome residences was scarce. Inventory looks to be a little more plentiful in 2023.

These land use regulations artificially reduce the supply of housing and increase prices, keeping most middle- and low-income people priced out of major job centers and suppressing wages. It also leads to sprawling suburbs where most people have to commute by car, increasing pollution and social distancing.

While these arguments appeal to progressives and libertarians, conservatives who value property rights and limited government intervention should appreciate any policy that removes unnecessary regulations. The traditional notion of personal responsibility aligns with enabling more individuals to achieve the American Dream through increased access to affordable housing. Moreover, zoning reform opens avenues for educational choice, benefiting low-income families and promoting community involvement.

Addressing concerns about crime, empirical studies debunk the correlation between multi-family housing and higher crime rates. In fact, it is socio-economic disparities that cause crime, which means conservatives should embrace higher density. Recognizing the failures of restrictive zoning, conservatives should rally for change and support mixed development approaches.

Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.

Immigrants have a positive effect on the workforce and economy

The debate over immigration often incites passionate arguments. However, a rational look at the empirical evidence reveals that allowing higher levels of immigration could substantially increase our standard of living. A common misconception is that immigrants burden economies and welfare systems. In reality, immigrants contribute positively, with economists overwhelmingly supporting immigration's net positive economic effects.

Pro-business conservatives should appreciate that immigrants are twice as likely as native-born Americans to become entrepreneurs and start businesses. The dynamic cultural exchange facilitated by immigration also leads to innovations, enriching societies and economies alike. Furthermore, immigrants' remittance payments bolster global development, often surpassing foreign aid budgets.

Addressing concerns about the impact on wages, jobs, and crime, studies indicate that immigrants have minimal adverse effects on native-born workers and exhibit lower crime rates. Contrary to popular belief, undocumented immigrants contribute more in taxes than they receive in benefits, undermining arguments about their burden on the social welfare system. .

Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.

All sides can win by finding common ground on housing and immigration

These two policy issues offer a unique opportunity for coalition-building across ideological lines. Ending exclusionary zoning and liberalizing immigration are not zero-sum games, but approaches that expand economic prosperity and individual liberties. More people moving into cities or into the country at large increases the demand for goods and services, creating even more job and entrepreneurial opportunities leading to more productivity.

I analyze and provide even more evidence to support ending exclusionary zoning and liberalizing immigration on my website and make an even more expansive case for why conservatives, progressives, and libertarians should all be on board.

Justin Hayes

By focusing on common values and the underlying empirical evidence, we can work together to advance toward a more equitable and inclusive future. The removal of exclusions in housing and immigration policies can create a win-win situation, bolstering the economy, enriching cultures, and upholding individual liberties.

Justin Hayes is a communications professional and a Nashville resident. He writes regularly on Nashville and Tennessee policy issues at his website The JusTN Case, and is on Twitter/X at @justin_hayes11.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Affordable housing and immigration reform can create common ground
C China's Yichang active in constructing shore power facilities

Xinhua) 09:03, October 10, 2023

Shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspect shore power facilities at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspecting shore power facilities at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspecting shore power facilities at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company works at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspect shore power facilities on a boat at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis listens to Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, the first African American adjutant general to lead the Oklahoma National Guard, at the closing ceremony for the Black Wall St. Legacy Festival 2021, Monday, May 31, 2021.

Hughes Van Ellis, the youngest of three last known living 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, has died at the age of 102.

Van Ellis died Monday night in Denver, Colorado, according to a family statement shared by Tulsa Democratic Rep. Regina Goodwin, whose family survived the massacre.

A loving family man, he was known as Uncle Redd, Goodwin wrote the statement. He was among the three last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the most horrific acts of racist terrorism on American soil.

Van Ellis was also a World War II veteran, the statement said.

We celebrate the rare life of Mr. Hughes Van Ellis who inspires us still! the family said.

More: Dodging bullets and coming home to nothing left: An illustrated history of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Van Ellis was an infant when a white mob, deputized by police, rampaged through the Greenwood District of Tulsa, killing hundreds of Black residents and burning businesses and homes to the ground, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.

The two last known living survivors of the race massacre are Van Ellis' sister Viola Fletcher, who is 109, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, who is 108.

The survivors have been locked in a yearslong legal battle with the City of Tulsa and other officials in an effort to secure reparations for the destruction committed more than a century ago.

In July, an Oklahoma judge dismissed the survivors lawsuit against the city, and their attorneys have since appealed the decision. The state Supreme Court has said it would consider the appeal, but it is unclear when the Court will hear the case.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis dies at 102
Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis listens to Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, the first African American adjutant general to lead the Oklahoma National Guard, at the closing ceremony for the Black Wall St. Legacy Festival 2021, Monday, May 31, 2021.

Hughes Van Ellis, the youngest of three last known living 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, died at 102.

Van Ellis died Monday night in Denver, Colorado, according to a family statement shared by Tulsa Democratic Rep. Regina Goodwin, whose family survived the massacre.

A loving family man, he was known as Uncle Redd, the statement said. He was among the three last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the most horrific acts of racist terrorism on American soil.

Van Ellis was also a World War II veteran, the statement said. He fought in the 234th AAA Gun Battalion, an all-Black battalion, Van Ellis recounted in a May 2021 letter to Congress.

We celebrate the rare life of Mr. Hughes Van Ellis who inspires us still! the family said.

More: Dodging bullets and coming home to nothing left: An illustrated history of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Van Ellis infant during Tulsa Race Massacre

Van Ellis was an infant when a white mob, deputized by police, rampaged through the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing hundreds of Black residents and burning thousands of businesses and homes to the ground, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.

It's estimated nearly 300 people were killed in the racist attack, Oklahoma's Tulsa Race Massacre Commission concluded in 2001, but more are feared dead as the city of Tulsa continues to search for unmarked graves.

In the letter Van Ellis submitted to the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Van Ellis said he and his family were driven from their home and made refugees within the country.

"My childhood was hard and we didnt have much," he wrote. "We worried what little we had would be stolen from us. Just like it was stolen in Tulsa."

The two last known living survivors of the race massacre are Van Ellis' sister Viola Fletcher, who is 109, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, who is 108.

The survivors have been locked in a yearslong legal battle with the city of Tulsa and other officials in an effort to secure reparations for the destruction committed more than a century ago.

You may have been taught that when something is stolen from you, you can go to the courts to be made whole  you can go to the courts for justice, Van Ellis wrote. This wasnt the case for us. The courts in Oklahoma wouldnt hear us. The federal courts said we were too late. We were made to feel that our struggle was unworthy of justice.

In July, an Oklahoma judge dismissed the survivors lawsuit against the city, and their attorneys have since appealed the decision. The state Supreme Court has said it would consider the appeal, but it is unclear when the court will hear the case.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tulsa race massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis dies at 102
Hughes Van Ellis, a survivor of the 1920 Tulsa Race Massacre, died on Monday. He was 102 years old.

Van Ellis was one of three remaining survivors of the massacre, along with his sister, Viola Fletcher. Van Ellis was only a baby when a mob of white Tulsans began burning homes and businesses in Greenwood, at the time known as Black Wall Street. Nearly 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 homes destroyed. It was one of the worst instances of violence perpetrated against Black people in U.S. history, according to The Associated Press.

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My sister Viola told me, she said it was thought guns were going off, Van Ellis told Scripps News in 2021. Dad looked outside to see people getting gunshot, houses getting burned. So, theres only six little kids. I was a baby. So, my father just managed to barely get out, just with the clothes on our backs. We didnt have time to get nothing else together.

Van Ellis, who was known as Uncle Redd and was a World War II veteran, was the youngest living survivor.

In 2021, he testified before Congress about what he and his family endured.

Because of the Massacre, my family was driven from our home. We were left with nothing. We were made refugees in our own country, Van Ellis said in his written testimony.

Van Ellis, his sister and Lessie Benningfield Randle, the other last living survivor, had filed a lawsuit demanding justice for the families and communities still living with the consequences of the racist attack 100 years ago.

My childhood was hard and we didnt have much. We worried what little we had would be stolen from us. Just like it was stolen in Tulsa, Van Ellis testified. You may have been taught that when something is stolen from you, you can go to the courts to be made whole. You can go to the courts to get justice. This wasnt the case for us. The courts in Oklahoma wouldnt hear us. The federal courts said we were too late.

We were made to feel that our struggles were unworthy of justice. That we were less valued than whites, that we werent fully American, Van Ellis added. We were shown that in the United States, not all men were equal under law. We were shown that when Black voices called out for justice, no one cared.

In July, Oklahomas Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of the lawsuit filed by the last three survivors, after a lower court dismissed the case.

In his testimony before Congress, Van Ellis tearfully begged legislators for justice for a lifetime of ongoing harm.

I still believe in America, he said. I still believe in the ideals that I fought overseas to defend. And I believe if given the chance you will do the right thing and justice will be served.

But the litigation is ongoing as many wait to hear from the state Supreme Court.

In a statement, Damario Solomon-Simmons, who founded Justice For Greenwood and subsequently filed the lawsuit, said Van Ellis was one of the fiercest and most inspiring champions for justice that we ever had the honor of knowing.

Ill remember each time that Uncle Redds passionate voice reached hearts and minds in courtrooms, halls of Congress, and interviews, said Solomon-Simmons. Most of all, Ill forever cherish the time we spent together behind the scenes. He was much more than a client. He was a partner in the quest for justice and reparations. He was a source of inspiration and strength during times of doubt and despair. He was family and I loved him. His presence will be sorely missed.

Solomon-Simmons added that while he and the rest of the legal team representing the survivors are pleased the Oklahoma Supreme Court has agreed to hear their case, they are now in a race against time.

Neither The City of Tulsa nor the Tulsa County Judicial system should be allowed to keep moving the finish line for the remaining survivors who have been fighting with their final breaths just to get their day in court, Solomon-Simmons said. For an incredible 102 years, Uncle Redd bore the weight of and pain from the continued harm of the Tulsa Race Massacre. We will continue the legacy he left behind: one of persistence in the face of struggle, of remembering and teaching our shared history, and fighting for whats right so that all of us can be free.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Flames and smoke during Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip

Human Rights Watch in Israel and Palestine has slammed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant 's call for a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip as a form of "collective punishment" and a "war crime," U.S. television news channel CNN reported on Oct. 10.

Omar Shakir, director of Human Rights Watch in Israel and Palestine, called Gallant's comments "abhorrent" and accused Israel of "using starvation as a weapon of war."

He warned of the danger to the 2.2 million Palestinians living under the blockade of Gaza and called for the intervention of the International Criminal Court.

In a statement published on the Human Rights Watch website, Shakir also condemned Hamas attacks on Israeli communities, saying that "deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate attacks, and taking of civilians as hostages" also "amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law."

Read also: Russia interested in widening conflict in Middle East  Zelenskyy

"The unlawful attacks and systematic repression that have mired the region for decades will continue, so long as human rights and accountability are disregarded," Shakir said.

According to Israeli Army radio, at least 900 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attacks, while at least 687 residents of Gaza are reported to have been killed.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Oct. 9 that he had ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip after an attack by militants of the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers.

Read also: Blinken dismisses speculation that Hamas hoped to distract from Ukraine war, groups true motives remain uncle

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country from Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports of three more Ukrainian citizens having been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd announced Monday that he is ending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 and is endorsing former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign, he wrote in a statement, adding that it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President (Joe) Biden .

The former congressman and CIA officer, who had struggled to gain traction in a crowded GOP field dominated by Trump, offered a stark warning to his party: If the Republican party nominates Donald Trump or the various personalities jockeying to imitate his divisive, crass behavior, we will lose.

Hurd entered the race in June as an outspoken critic of the former president and was one of the few Republican contenders willing to attack Trump directly. He accused his fellow GOP candidates of being afraid of Trump and argued that the former president, who currently faces 91 criminal charges across four separate criminal cases against him, was running for a second term in order to stay out of jail.

But Hurd had difficulty getting out that message, which didnt reflect where the GOP base has stood on the former president, who leads his closest rivals by about 40 percentage points in nationwide polling on the race, according to the latest update to the CNN Poll of Polls.

Hurd, who barely registered in many surveys, didnt make the stage for either of the Republican National Committees two debates held thus far. He repeatedly slammed the qualifications, which have included signing a pledge to back the partys ultimate nominee and polling and donor thresholds.

In backing Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, Hurd praised her as a leader who can navigate national security challenges. Ambassador Haley has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy, he said.

Haley thanked Hurd for his endorsement in a statement on X on Monday, writing: America is at a crossroads and its time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president. Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!

The former South Carolina governors debate performances have earned her increased attention. Her campaign on Monday announced that her political operation had made fundraising gains over the previous quarter, pointing to momentum in her attempt to emerge as a leading Trump rival.

At his campaign launch in June, Hurd vowed to bring commonsense leadership to tackle generational-defining challenges, including inflation, Chinas global influence, artificial intelligence and childrens low scores in math, science and reading. He nodded to those challenges in his announcement on Monday, saying that not enough people are talking about real, achievable solutions.

Hurd served three terms in Congress, from 2015 to 2021, representing a swing district in Texas that covered the largest stretch of the US-Mexico border of any congressional seat. He was the only Black Republican in the US House when he announced he would not seek reelection in 2020.

Hurd was one of four House Republicans in 2019 to vote in support of a resolution condemning Trumps racist tweets targeting four Democratic congresswomen of color. He also authored a New York Times op-ed in 2018 arguing that Trump was being manipulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite his outspoken criticism, Hurd said in 2019 he would vote for Trump the following year were he to be the GOP nominee. He also voted against impeaching Trump in 2019.

Before entering politics, Hurd served in the CIA for almost a decade, including working as an undercover officer in Afghanistan and at a cybersecurity firm.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Ebony Davis contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
I've been visiting Walt Disney World for over a decade on solo trips and with my family.

Many of the best Disney restaurants book up quickly, but I have a hack to go without a reservation.

Recently, my husband and I went to five popular Disney restaurants over three date nights.

Anyone who has planned a Walt Disney World vacation knows dining reservations can be difficult to snag at certain sought-after locales. From California Grill , perched high atop Disney's Contemporary Resort, to 'Ohana, at Disney's beautiful Polynesian Village Resort, these coveted spots are often booked up.

I've been visiting Disney theme parks for over a decade, often for solo trips or date nights with my husband. In my years of figuring out the best ways to navigate Walt Disney World, I've learned an important hack for eating or having cocktails at some of the toughest Disney restaurants to get into.

My husband and I recently stayed at Walt Disney World for three kid-free nights. We went on amazing dates each night and managed to visit five popular Disney restaurants without a single reservation. Here's how we did it.

Many of Disney's busiest restaurants offer walk-up seating at their bars

Menu and glass of wine at Citricos. Courtesy of the author

The ability to book Disney dining reservations starts 60 days before the date of your visit, but often, spots at higher-end restaurants (like Citricos , the "Mary Poppins Returns"-themed restaurant inside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa) book up immediately. Luckily, there's the Citricos Lounge , the bar inside the restaurant.

On our first date night during our trip, we sat at the lounge's bar without a wait. We could've ordered a full meal from the Citricos menu, which includes delicious dishes like house-made rigatoni and filet mignon. It was only our first stop of the night, so we stuck with a glass of wine and enjoyed the opportunity to sit and chat amid the restaurant's opulent decor.

When you're seated at a Disney restaurant's bar, you can usually order from its full menu

Food the author and her husband ordered at the California Grill. Courtesy of the author

It can be nearly impossible to snag a reservation at California Grill , the specialty dining experience located on the top floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort. Its decadent prix-fixe menu and impressive wine list make it a hot spot for Disney foodies, and the fact that you can watch the nightly fireworks display at the Magic Kingdom Park from its roof is a major selling point.

After we finished our wine at the Grand Floridian, we hopped on the monorail and headed to the Contemporary to try to sit at the California Grill bar for dinner. After checking in at the restaurant's hostess stand, we were placed on a waitlist. We waited about 20 minutes before receiving a text saying it was time to be seated.

At the bar, we could order from both the pre-fixe menu and items from a bar menu, so we shared a bottle of wine and a few appetizers. We were there too early to see the fireworks, but we didn't have to stick around and wait to take advantage of the view. After leaving California Grill and walking around the rest of the resort for a bit, we returned to the restaurant and showed our dinner receipt to be admitted to the outdoor fireworks viewing area.

Sometimes, there are food menus from nearby restaurants available

Food and a beverage from the Tambu Lounge. Courtesy of the author

Disney's 'Ohana restaurant is well-known for its yummy dishes like its noodles and pork dumplings, but it's tough to get a reservation at this Hawaiian-inspired restaurant. Luckily, the bar, located right outside the restaurant, has some of the most fun bartenders and a bar menu filled with 'Ohana delights.

On our second night, we started with dinner at Tambu Lounge , where we snacked on appetizers and noodles and drank rose. When we had eaten our fill, we headed to the next spot on our date night.

Eating and drinking at popular restaurant bars is also a great way to experience Disney's hotels

The author toasting with a glass of wine at Narcoossee's. Courtesy of the author

The waterfront dining destination Narcoossee's is one of my favorite restaurants at Disney. But since its remodeling, getting a reservation has been tough. After our dinner at Tambu Lounge, we took the monorail from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian and sipped wine at the bar inside the restaurant. We walked right up to the bar for drinks and would have been able to order from the full menu had we not been stuffed from our time at the Polynesian.

Since you're likely not hotel-hopping during a Disney vacation, eating at all the different restaurants inside other Walt Disney World hotels is a great way to see the different accommodations on the property. When we visit neighboring Disney hotels on date nights, we love walking around the grounds and browsing the shops and lobbies at these properties.

At the Grand Floridian, there's often a pianist in the lobby to entertain guests. At the Polynesian, we've been known to grab a Dole whip dessert and walk around the resort's lush grounds at night, when torches light up the property. Since these properties are exclusive to hotel guests unless you're there to eat at a restaurant, grabbing a meal is a great way to see things you'd otherwise miss during your vacation.

You can even plan a bar-crawl-style trip through several restaurants in one night

A burger and fries from Steakhouse 71. Courtesy of the author

You can take the monorail to many of the restaurants, so it's not difficult to plan a bit of a bar crawl to see them. On our third night, we walked up to the bar at Steakhouse 71  located inside the Contemporary  to share the restaurant's iconic cheeseburger, available from both the bar menu and inside the restaurant.

From there, we took the monorail to the Polynesian for a second night and grabbed a cocktail at Tambu Lounge. Next, we hopped back on the monorail and headed to the Grand Floridian, where we had a craft cocktail at Enchanted Rose , the resort's "Beauty and the Beast"-themed lounge. Had we not been stuffed from our dinner at the Steakhouse 71 bar, we easily could have visited the bars at Citricos or Narcoossee's instead for a nightcap and some dessert.

Steakhouse 71 from the bar. Courtesy of the author

These are my top tips for eating at booked Disney restaurants without a reservation

The author and her husband at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Courtesy of the author

It's not difficult to enjoy food and drinks at Disney restaurants with lounges, even ones that are tough to reserve. And it's not only at hotels: We've also used this hack at popular restaurants like Yak and Yeti inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The key is knowing that bar seating is an option and taking advantage of it.

Since you can't reserve seats at the bar at these restaurants, the spots are first come, first served. My top tip is to arrive close to the time the bar opens if you're hoping to grab a seat there. But don't give up if the bar is full when you arrive. The hostess can usually put your name on a walk-up list, but if not, it's fine to order a drink and wait for a seat at the bar to open up.

Once you're seated, ask the bartender to see a food menu. You'll find out whether there's a bar-specific menu or if you can order off the restaurant menu. Either way, it's a great opportunity to visit a restaurant where you'd otherwise need a reservation.

Read the original article on Insider
Washington should hold companies that develop AI  and those that use it improperly  liable for harms caused by the technology, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said in an interview.

With AI regulation a hot topic in Washington, his position puts IBM  among the largest tech firms and a longtime Washington player  at odds with others in the industry who are pushing for a light regulatory touch.

Two thousand years of economic history have shown us that if you are legally liable for what you create, it tends to create a lot more accountability, he said in an interview with POLITICO Tech.



Krishna called for Washington to hold AI developers to account for flaws in their systems that lead to real-world harms. Meanwhile, companies deploying AI should be responsible when their use of the technology causes problems. For instance, an employer shouldnt be able to skirt employment discrimination charges simply for using AI, he said.

Krishna argues that AI should not follow the example of social media, where sweeping legal protections established at the dawn of the internet continue to inoculate companies from legal liability. Instead, he said, AI companies will be more likely to create safer systems that abide by existing laws, such as copyright and intellectual property, if violators could find themselves in court.

Hes now making that argument for greater accountability around Washington. Krishna joined CEOs from companies like Meta, Google, Amazon and X last month at a forum to advise senators on how to regulate AI. IBM is also among the companies that signed onto a White House pledge to build safe models.

Krishnas calls for AI creators to be held accountable doesn't probably make me very popular amongst everybody, he said. But I think that people are realizing that the moment you're talking about critical infrastructure and critical use cases, the bar to go get [AI] deployed increases.

He also acknowledged that his own company would be exposed to legal risk under the rules he supports, though he says that is limited in part because IBM primarily builds AI models for other companies, which have a financial interest in obeying the law. By contrast, AI models like OpenAIs ChatGPT or Metas Llama 2 are more publicly accessible and thus susceptible to a range of users.

Krishna did not elaborate on how lawmakers should enforce that accountability, but his comments echoed a recent blog post outlining IBMs broader policy recommendations for AI. He also cautioned regulators against requiring licenses to develop the technology  breaking with competitors like Microsoft  and against allowing AI creators and deployers to skirt legal liability with blanket immunity.

We can have a voice but ultimately it is lawmakers who must write the rules, Krishna said. Congress and the federal government are the owners of that. And that's why we are encouraging them to think about what are the rules for accountability.

Late last month, IBM announced it would provide legal cover to business customers who were accused of unintentionally violating copyright or intellectual property rights using its generative AI. This follows a similar move by Microsoft in an effort to ease anxieties about generative AI models that use a trove of data from the internet and other sources to create images, text and other content .

I do believe that that will accelerate the market, and I do believe that it sets a precedent, Krishna said. We urge that everybody should be accountable. Now, we can debate how do you make people accountable.

Annie Rees contributed to this report.

To listen to daily interviews with tech leaders, subscribe to POLITICO Tech on Apple, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.
Police officers evacuated residents of at least 10 Caldwell homes after a man began shooting a gun outside Monday evening, according to Caldwell police.

Law enforcement received reports that a man was shooting a handgun along a canal near West Easy Street between Dorman and Airport avenues, according to a Caldwell Police Department news release. The reports said he was making comments about harming himself and was actively shooting rounds into the air and ditch bank, the release said.

Caldwell police, along with deputies from the Canyon County Sheriffs Office and Idaho State Police, responded at 5:30 p.m. to the area and began setting up a perimeter. Police said they evacuated nearby homes, and Canyon County Dispatch sent out an alert advising neighbors to shelter in place.

After locating the suspect, Caldwell officers tried talking to him and attempted to use less lethal munitions in an attempt to deescalate, but no rounds made contact. The suspect eventually discarded the firearm, surrendered peacefully and without further incident, police said.

Police recovered the gun and transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries after he injured himself, according to the release. Caldwell police spokesperson Char Jackson said all residents were contacted after less than an hour and told they could return.

Police said they plan to charge him with unlawful firearm discharge within city limits, disorderly conduct and resisting and obstructing arrest.

Reverence for human life is a guiding principle when officers use force or otherwise deal with armed suspects, Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram said in the release. If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in mental crisis, please know that you are not alone. Our officers will help you and be there in your time of need.

Ingram said that those in crisis can call the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline at 988 for 24/7 support.
Israel Defense Forces  or IDF  represents all of Israel's military forces. It was established in 1948, two short weeks after Israel declared its independence against Arab forces.

"The purpose of the IDF is to preserve the State of Israel, to protect its independence, and to foil attempts by its enemies to disrupt the normal life within it," says the IDF's website. The IDF consists of ground forces, much like the U.S. Army, and includes the air force, and navy.

Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists attacked Israel with barrages of rockets, killing at least 800 people and wounding at least 2,000, beginning the morning of October 7. Thousands of rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip in a surprise ambush and Palestinians everywhere were called to attack Israelis by a senior Hamas military commander, Mohammad Deif. The IDF claimed to have blocked many rockets with the Iron Dome, Israel's missile defense system.

The Iron Dome is the Israeli military's first line of defense, but not the last. David's Sling is the secondary line of defense, and the Arrow is the third. All three systems are designed to combat missiles and rockets at various distances.

The Iron Dome has warded off thousands of rockets and missiles and Israeli officials have reported 90% effectiveness against violent floods of mechanical weaponry.

WHAT IS ISRAEL'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENESE, THE IRON DOME?

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a video posted on the IDF website on October 8, 2023, "Anyone who took part in these attacks will pay a heavy price."

An Israeli AH-64 Apache longbow helicopter performs during an air show at the graduation ceremony of Israeli Air Force pilots at the Hatzerim base in the Negev desert, near the southern city of Beer Sheva, on June 29, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

On Sunday, the Biden administration ordered the U.S. military to provide aid to the IDF and ensure they're equipped for war. The military forces have shot and killed gunmen who looked to enter into Israel through Lebanon, though it is not clear how many Hamas terrorists were killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on October 8. The IDF struck back against Hamas targets resulting in the death of at least 198 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

"There are tens of thousands of soldiers in the area surrounding Gaza and we will continue to deploy more until we neutralize every single terrorist that is in Israeli territory," Hagari said.

"The attack was in the ground, and the air, and also through the sea," said IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht in a video posted to IDF's X account, formerly known as Twitter. "They didn't go for military targets. They went for civilians. They went for grandmothers, children, babies."

WHAT IS HAMAS? AN OVERVIEW OF THE ISLAMIC GROUP THAT ATTACKED ISRAEL

In the video, Hecht detailed the surprise attack on the people of Israel. He contended civilians have gone missing, military personnel have been killed and that there have already been stories of heroism by Israelis.

"The style of attack is barbaric," Hecht said. "In a way this is our 9/11."

Rep. Brian Mast posted Sunday to his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, in support of the Israel and the IDF and called for the U.S. to "stand firm with Israel" as well. Mast is a Republican congressman from Florida who volunteered with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after retiring from the U.S. Army.

Israeli forces establish heavily armed control points along the border as Israel tightens measures by the army, police and other security forces after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in Sderot, Israel on October 08, 2023.

"As the only Member of Congress who has worn the uniform of both the U.S. Army and the Israeli Defense Forces, I know that those on the ground are willing to give their last breath for their country and for their friends, family, and neighbors. My prayers are with them," he posted.

According to the IDF's website, Israeli soldiers are expected to uphold traditions of the IDF, of the Jewish people, the State of Israel and "universal moral values based on the value and dignity of human life."

In a post on the aforementioned site, CPT Daniel, the Chief Rabbi of the Givati Brigade wrote to Israeli soldiers on the eve of Yom Kippur, "You have the honor of protecting an army base in the State of Israel and which is a big Mitzvah (a good deed). For thousands of years, Jews have dreamed of protecting the State of Israel. You have the opportunity to live out the words of the prophets: And may our eyes see your return to Zion, with mercy."

ISRAEL, HAMAS TERRORISTS AND THE REOCCURRING BATTLES AROUND THE GAZA STRIP

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba, "I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip." He explained they will cut off electricity, and close off much including access to food and fuel. "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly."

On Monday, the IDF recaptured areas of the Gaza Strip previously infiltrated by the Hamas terrorists.





Original article source: What is the IDF? The powerful military of the State of Israel on land, in the air and sea
Israel soldiers say they found dead babies at a kibbutz near the Israel-Gaza border.

The IDF told Insider that some had been decapitated.

The kibbutz was attacked by Hamas on Saturday, and there was fighting there into Sunday.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces told Insider on Tuesday that its soldiers found the decapitated corpses of babies at Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near Gaza.

The spokesperson, Major Nir Dinar, did not say how many babies' bodies had been found, nor how many had been beheaded.

Insider was unable to independently confirm what was found, but Israeli media outlets have also reported the claim, attributing it to soldiers.

The spokesperson told Insider that although he hadn't seen images or videos himself, "soldiers on the ground who are there told me this."

"These people [Hamas] are animals," Dinar added. "They have butchered women and children in worse ways than ISIS."

Reports started to emerge on Tuesday that Israeli soldiers had made the grisly discoveries at the self-sustaining rural community near Gaza.

A later statement from Dinar said: "We can not confirm any numbers. What happened in Kibbutz Kfar Aza is a massacre in which women children, toddlers and elderly were brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action."

Israeli officials appeared to confirm the beheadings, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant telling soldiers "whoever comes here to decapitate  we will wipe out," according to a screenshot from Israeli news outlet N12 shared and translated on X.

The kibbutz was attacked by Hamas militants on Saturday, with fighting continuing there into Sunday. Hamas targeted multiple kibbutzim near the border with Gaza after the militants broke through the gate separating the territory from Israel.

Nicole Zedek, reporting for the Israeli news station, i24News, said: "Babies, their heads cut off, that's what they [the soldiers] said."

Speaking from Kfar Aza, she added: "You can see some of these soldiers right now, comforting each other."

In another clip, shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Zedek said a commander told her there, "about 40 babies, at least, were taken out on gurneys."

In a third i24News clip shared on X, an Israeli soldier at the kibbutz said Hamas is "very bad," adding that "they cut heads of children, cut heads off women."

CNN's Nic Robertson, also on the ground at Kfar Aza, reported on the scene as dead bodies were being collected and counted.

"There were so many murdered members of this kibbutz," he said. "Men, women, children, hands bound, shot, executed, heads cut."

According to the Israeli embassy in the US, at least 1,000 Israelis, most of them civilians, had been killed as of Tuesday.

Reports and videos of Hamas kidnapping Israelis and holding them hostage in Gaza have also emerged since Saturday's attack. Israeli officials have notified at least 50 families that their loved ones are being held by Hamas.

Hamas, in response, threatened that it would publicly execute one Israeli hostage every time Israel strikes Gaza without warning.

Israel's retaliatory airstrikes have also killed at least 830 people in Gaza, The Washington Post reported, citing the Health Ministry in Gaza.

The death toll includes at least 140 children, according to the latest update from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which was posted Monday.

Israel has announced a full "siege" in Gaza, eliminating supplies and cutting off electricity for civilians living there.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The size of the territory also plays a role in the possibility of air defense depletion

Russia could overwhelm Ukraines air defenses as the Palestinian Hamas militant group did in Israel, though not through firing thousands of missiles, but by depleting Ukraines air defense ammunition, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson has said.

When considering the possibility of air defenses being depleted in Ukraine, it is crucial to take into account the size of the territories that come under attack, Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, said on Ukrainian national television on Oct. 10.

He was drawing parallels between Russias widespread missile strikes on Ukraine and the concentrated missile and rocket attacks by Hamas that were experienced by Israel on Oct. 7.

Ihnat pointed to the significant distinctions in the land areas of Ukraine and Israel.

Read also:

(While) Israel is roughly equivalent (in size) to a single Ukrainian oblast, thousands of aerial attack assets can typically be deployed there. This encompasses not only missiles but also various types of UAVs, and possibly some rockets, he said.

HE said that any air defense system might be overwhelmed during such massive aerial assaults.

The (Israeli) Iron Dome (air defense system) is undeniably an impressive system capable of intercepting even the enemys ballistic missiles, Ihnat said. However, when confronted with a massive barrage of thousands of projectiles, it becomes evident that intercepting everything may not be feasible.

He also stressed that Ukraines territory is larger, leading to a more dispersed air defense network.

While the enemy is targeting and attempting to strike specific targets, the depletion of our air defense resources also occurs. This encompasses the expenditure of ammunition when countering these threats, and the enemy is well aware of this, Ihnat concluded.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

Read also: Zelenskyy draws parallels between Ukraine and Israel in address to NATO

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers.

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country from Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports that three more Ukrainian citizens have been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Rep. Ilhan Omar , D-Minn., attacked Israel's response to an unprecedented assault by Hamas in an extensive thread on social media Monday.

Omar, a longtime critic of Israel and advocate for Palestinians, seemed to equate the Israeli victims killed by Hamas terrorists this weekend and Palestinians killed in the ongoing Israeli response.

"Just as we honor the humanity of the hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians and 9 Americans who were killed this weekend, we must honor the humanity of the innocent Palestinian civilians who have been killed and whose lives are upended," she wrote.

Omar went on to highlight the hardships of living in Gaza, accusing Israel of operating an "apartheid" state in an attempt to explain violence by Hamas.

"Palestinian residents of the West Bank have scarcely better lives than Gazans  with the routine destruction of their ancestral homes, destruction of their crops, and violent attacks by Israeli settlers," Omar wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

LIVE UPDATES: HAMAS ATTACKS ON ISRAEL

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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., attacked Israel's response to an unprecedented assault by Hamas in an extensive thread on social media Monday.

"Palestinians have few recourses for justice and accountability. Attacks by the IDF and settlers against Palestinians are regularly met with impunity. Efforts to seek justice in international courts are stonewalled by the Israeli government, with U.S. support," she added. "As the world is condemning Hamass attacks, we must also oppose an Israeli military response that has already taken the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, including nearly two dozen children."

Omar's office did not respond to questions from Fox News Digital asking her to elaborate on the thread.

The congresswoman did not clarify how she believed Israel should have responded to Saturday's attack, which has since left at least 1,000 Israelis dead and 2,700 more wounded. The Minnesota Democrat's only suggestion for a "solution to this horror" was "a negotiated peace  with Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal rights and security guarantees."

Later in the thread, Omar said that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had called all Palestinians "human animals" in comments earlier this week, though his full statement made clear that he was referring only to Hamas terrorists.

FAMILIES OF ISRAELIS FEARED KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS SPEAK OUT

"We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed," Gallant said. "We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly."

ILHAN OMAR'S LONG HISTORY OF CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS

Israeli forces have deployed tens of thousands of troops to the area around Gaza City, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested a ground invasion may be imminent.

Other statements from Omar have sparked controversy in the past.

When she took office in 2019, she soon had to answer for a now-deleted 2012 tweet in which she wrote, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." She later expressed regret, saying the "unfortunate words were the only words" she could "think about expressing at that moment" in reference to Israel's 2012 operation against Hamas in Gaza.

Also in 2019, speaking at a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) fundraiser, Omar said: "CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something, and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties." Critics accused her of trying to downplay the actions of terrorists by describing it as "some people did something." She later clarified, "Many Americans found themselves now having their civil rights stripped from them, and so what I was speaking to was the fact that as a Muslim, not only was I suffering as an American who was attacked on that day, but the next day I woke up as my fellow Americans were now treating me as a suspect."

Also, in January 2023, Omar responded to the outrage over a 2019 tweet in which she described America's relationship with Israel as "all about the Benjamins," a tweet for which she later apologized.

"I certainly did not or was not aware that the word hypnotized was a trope. I wasnt aware of the fact that there are tropes about Jews and money. That has been very enlightening part of this journey," she told CNN.

Fox News' Yael Halon and Houston Keene contributed to this report.





Original article source: Ilhan Omar condemns Israels military response to Hamas, says solution is negotiated peace
A vape-inspired artwork at Mountain Range High School, in the classroom of Kyle Wimmer, an art teacher who helps students quit vaping through the creation of artwork with relinquished vape pens, in Westminster, Colo. on Sept. 25, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt/The New York Times)

Juul was once the cool vape, blamed for hooking teenagers on e-cigarettes, and it is set to pay billions of dollars in legal settlements.

Then came Puff Bar, which was hot in high schools until federal officials began impounding those vapes. Elf Bar stepped in, and its products have been seized at the border. A parade of facsimiles is moving in right behind them: Virtue Bar, Juicy Bar, Lost Mary, Lost Vape and many more.

The latest flood of illicit e-cigarettes is arriving from China in Barbiecore colors and fruit, ice cream and slushy flavors, and accounts for a major share of the estimated $5.5 billion e-cigarette market in the United States.

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The never-ending influx of vapes, some offering 5,000 or more puffs per device or escalating nicotine levels, has exposed a gaping lapse in enforcement by the Food and Drug Administration, which has authorized only a handful of the hundreds of options that line convenience store walls nationwide. Members of Congress, two dozen state attorneys general and even the Big Tobacco companies have stepped up their calls for the agency to get the situation under control.

Granted, the latest pleas by the tobacco industry are viewed by anti-smoking groups as a cringeworthy effort to lock down market share, but some others interpret the addition of these odd bedfellows as a sign of a market run amok.

The FDA has been dealt a very difficult hand, and a lot of which includes putting the genie back  or stuffing the genie back  in the bottle, said Erika Sward, assistant vice president of advocacy for the American Lung Association. And I dont envy them for that.

Agency officials said they had used every tool within their authority to crack down on e-cigarette outlaws. Yet recent fines issued by the agency topped out at about $19,000 per violation and largely targeted a few products sold at each store. The agencys orders telling six manufacturers to stop selling certain products were directed at U.S. stores, some of which were in small cities.

And though the FDA has fired off hundreds of warning letters, the effect is barely felt: Flavored vape sales have surged 60% over the past three years, to 18 million vaping products a month in June from 11 million a month in early 2020, according to the CDC Foundation.

The FDA should not be having any of these flavored e-cigarettes on the market, said Yolonda Richardson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. And so it just needs to do its job.

When the FDA received expanded authority to regulate e-cigarettes in 2016, the objective was to draw a new line in public health: Smokers would have an alternative to traditional cigarettes, and tobacco use among minors would remain at historic lows.

Seven years on, nearly 40% of e-cigarette users are 25 or younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And of the 2,000 or so vaping and e-cigarette products on the market, the agency has only given the green light to about two dozen of them, and it still has to deal with a backlog of applications, according to research on the industry.

There are few places where the problem feels more pressing than in high school bathrooms, where students crowd the stalls between classes to get a nicotine fix.

Teenage vaping rates have fallen roughly by half since their height during the Juul craze of 2019, to about 14% of high school students last year from nearly 28% at their peak, federal surveys show. Those rates were based on survey responses in which students said whether they had vaped within the past 30 days.

Kyle Wimmer, an art teacher at Mountain Range High School north of Denver, frequently hears from students dealing with nicotine addiction from e-cigarette use.

He accepts discarded vapes and helps young people turn them into art. And as a teacher who has been open about his past struggles with alcohol, hes also there to listen.

Its hard to tell kids not to do this when theyre hooked because they cant just stop, Wimmer said, adding: Theyre having troubles. Theyre struggling.

A growing body of research shows that while vapes may not be as toxic as cigarettes, they are far from healthy, particularly for adolescents who become addicted to nicotine while their brains are still developing.

The American Heart Association has raised the alarm about possible cardiovascular effects from e-cigarettes and called for more research. One recent meta-analysis reported higher heart attack risks in e-cigarette users than in those who did not vape or smoke anything. (Cigarette smokers had the highest risk.)

In recent years, the market has begun to move toward high-volume vapes advertising 5,000 to 6,000 puffs  with about as much addictive nicotine as is in a carton of cigarettes. The devices come in flavors that could appeal to younger adolescents such as birthday shake, gummy bear and watermelon ice, and they have higher concentrations of nicotine than were found before. The prices have also dropped, said Barbara Schillo, chief research officer for the Truth Initiative, who documented the trend in a recent study.

In other words, these disposable devices are getting bigger, stronger and cheaper, Schillo said.

Calls for change have only grown louder. In a letter sent in late August, 30 state attorneys general urged the FDA to do more to deter youth vaping and to ban all but tobacco flavored e-cigarettes.

Lawmakers, including Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a leading opponent of e-cigarettes, have pushed for action. His office discovered nearly two dozen types of vapes being sold online even after the FDA had denied their marketing applications and sent them warning letters.

I just dont understand it, Durbin said in a floor speech last month, adding that the FDA is cowardly, refusing to use its full arsenal of enforcement tools  fines, injunctions  for even these most flagrant cases.

Even R.J. Reynolds, maker of Newport and Camel cigarettes and the bestselling Vuse vapes, has invoked public health in a petition lodged with the FDA seeking official action. It asked the agency to prioritize enforcement of flavored, disposable vapes.

Luis Pinto, a spokesperson for the company, said devices aimed at young people and minors threatened the efforts of Reynolds and others to convert adult smokers to e-cigarette users. The whole category is in peril, he said.

Reynolds Vuse e-cigarettes led vaping sales for a year ending in August, Goldman Sachs data shows, with $2.2 billion in sales. The other category, which included flavored imports, trailed with $1.6 billion in sales, with Juul close behind.

Brian King, the FDAs tobacco center chief, said the agency had ramped up warnings, fines and injunctions on illicit vape makers, sellers and distributors. He rebutted some of the criticism from the cheap seats and said enforcement efforts needed to be strategic and methodical.

Its a very complex chess match, not a game of tic-tac-toe, King said. And we need to ensure that the actions we take are both scientifically and legally defensible.

FDA officials meet regularly with Justice Department prosecutors, King said, describing them as crucial partners. The agency has also worked with border authorities to seize imports of Elf Bar and Esco Bar products, he added. In addition, the agency has received funding to begin an effort to closely track the rapidly morphing vape marketplace.

Nothings off the table when it comes to enforcement, he said.

In late September, the FDA announced 22 fines of $19,192 each against gas stations that received warning letters but did not stop selling Elf Bar products.

The FDA has required e-cigarette makers to file applications to sell their products and to submit proof that the products would be likely to compel cigarette smokers to switch  but not to attract new users. The agency has denied millions of applications and let some top-selling products remain on market pending decisions.

Two years have passed since a court-imposed deadline required the FDA to respond to all applications. King said it would finalize decisions, including on some Vuse and Juul vapes, by the years end.

The lengthy, opaque approval process, marked with legal challenges and defiance of the FDAs decrees, has opened the door to the shape-shifting influx of unauthorized vapes that come by air, land and sea from factories in China (where flavored vapes are outlawed).

The confusing mix of product statuses has prompted the Energy Marketers of America, an organization representing retailers, including convenience stores linked to gas stations, to file a petition with the FDA seeking clarity about which e-cigarettes the stores can legally sell.

Stores are well positioned to aid in the fight against illegal and dangerous products by keeping them off their shelves, according to the petition.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
I've lived in New York City for more than a decade.

In a recent trip to Japan, I realized New York was missing three key things.

Accessible, clean public bathrooms are almost impossible to find in New York.

I've lived in New York for more than a decade, and during a recent visit to Japan in April 2023 I saw three major differences in how public spaces are used to the best of their potential in Tokyo.

When I came back to New York City, and people asked me about some of my favorite things from the trip, I said the trains, pedestrian safety, and the bathrooms. New York City planners could learn a lot of lessons from Tokyo's highly organized and effective use of shared spaces.

Clean public restrooms were everywhere

In New York City, even if public areas such as parks or subway stations have restrooms, they aren't always open, whether because of limited hours of operation or issues of disrepair.

My experience finding accessible restrooms in Tokyo was different from that in New York City. Bathrooms were everywhere, including train stations  and usually in both the north and south ends of the station. Every bathroom was clean, and there were never any lines.

The stalls in some restrooms even had booster-like seats available for mothers to place their toddlers while using the facilities.

Booster seat in a public restroom in Japan. Courtesy of the author

Watching people cross the street in Tokyo was beautiful

Pedestrian safety is crucial anywhere but is especially necessary in cities where there are often many pedestrians sharing sidewalks and crossing streets that are crowded with cars, e-bikes, and scooters.

In Tokyo, I was in awe of the Shibuya Crossing, which is known as the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. Traffic stopped in all directions so pedestrians could cross everywhere. It was beautiful to witness.

In New York City, pedestrian fatalities are an unfortunate reality despite the Vision Zero initiative that the city began in 2014 to try to prevent them. In 2021 in Japan, 3,000 people died in crashes, compared with 43,000 in the US, according to Bloomberg .

I previously worked on policy issues for the New York City Council and researched the feasibility of implementing the Barnes Dance  when all traffic stops for pedestrians to cross from all corners at the same time, including diagonally  in busy intersections in the city. One major safety hazard for pedestrians is that even when pedestrians have the right-of-way, traffic isn't stopped in all directions; drivers are still technically allowed to make turns at some intersections. Though drivers are supposed to give pedestrians the right-of-way, that isn't always what happens.

Japan has more than 300 intersections with scramble crossings, or Barnes Dance, the best known being the Shibuya station in Tokyo.

Trains have a reputation of being on time in Japan

Timely public transit is also often lacking in New York City. Train delays, whether they involve scheduled track work or occur randomly because of track fires or other emergencies, happen too frequently. Train, subway and bus delays happen so much that a verification-letter request from the MTA is available for workers who are late because of these disruptions, and it is often joked about as being necessary.

These delays can cause a lot of stress for New Yorkers.

In Tokyo, the trains have a reputation for running on schedule. In fact, when a train once left 25 seconds early , an apology was issued. The trains are also pristine, and I never saw any stray litter.

New York City definitely has room for improvement regarding its bathrooms, pedestrian safety, and public transit. While no place is perfect, it is important to look at the positive aspects of other cities to see what lessons can be implemented.

Read the original article on Insider
Thousands of people have been killed and wounded amid intense fighting in the Gaza Strip after Hamas militant groups launched an unprecedented assault over the weekend.

On Saturday, Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired thousands of rockets and sent about 1,000 gunmen from Gaza to Israel. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces retaliated with airstrikes and rocket attacks inside the Gaza Strip.

The fighting between Israeli and Palestinian militants is among the most violent in years, marking the latest clash in a conflict that dates back to World War I. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and the country intensified its response the next day with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordering a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off electricity, food, fuel, and other supplies to more than 2 million Palestinians.

The wars death toll climbed to nearly 1,600 on both sides on Monday, including about 900 in Israel and more than 680 in Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Thousands have also been injured. And more than 123,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, according to a Monday report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Humanitarians, aid groups, and public health experts have expressed growing concerns over humanitarian needs in the region and have called for an end to the violence.

On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm about the deteriorating situation and urged people to focus on civilians from both sides. Guterres pleaded for an end to "the vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred, and polarization," according to a U.N. news release.

"Humanitarian relief and essential supplies must be allowed to reach people in need, rapidly and without impediment, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told the Associated Press. All parties must ensure freedom of movement for humanitarian workers.

Several organizations have warned of the potential of more lives lost and have also called for peace to help victims of the war. If you are looking for ways to help Israeli and Palestinian victims, here is a list of some organizations promoting peace and providing relief.

How to cope: The videos out of Israel, Gaza are graphic, but some can't look away

Alliance for Middle East Peace

The Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a coalition of over 170 non-governmental organizations that includes tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis who share the goal of building state peace between the two communities.

On Saturday, the coalition said it is working to support members assisting in emergency responses. "We call for the immediate protection of civilian life, for urgent steps to be taken to de-escalate this situation, and for all actors to prevent this situation spiraling toward even further tragedy," ALLMEP said in a statement.

American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum

The American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum (AF-PCFF) is a grassroots organization that works to share narratives from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the U.S. public to foster a peace and reconciliation process. The organization supports the Parents Circle-Families Forum which is an Israeli-Palestinian organization of over 600 families who have all lost an immediate family member to the ongoing conflict.

In response to the attacks, the AF-PCFF reaffirmed its commitment to building and fostering peace for the future.

"Let us remember that violence begets violence, and the only way forward is through peaceful dialogue, diplomacy, and a commitment to finding common ground," the AF-PCFF said in a statement Sunday. "It is a call to action for leaders, communities, and individuals alike to seek solutions that prioritize reconciliation, justice, and lasting peace."

The Carter Center

Founded by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter in partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center is a humanitarian aid organization that has been promoting peace and advocating for a viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

After Israel declared war, The Carter Center released a statement condemning the targeting of Israeli and Palestinian civilians and called for international action to end the violence.

International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization that aims to protect victims of conflicts and provide them with assistance. The ICRC has been present in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967. The organization is asking for donations to improve access to essential services like water and to support livelihood projects.

All parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. This is non-negotiable. Civilians and civilian objects must be respected and protected," Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement Saturday.

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders is a non-governmental organization that describes itself as an "independent, impartial and neutral" charity that provides humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, and natural and human-made disasters.

With thousands wounded by airstrikes, the organization reported overcrowding and supply shortages, including medical supplies, drugs, and power for generators, in Gaza. Medical staff are also facing dangerous conditions and are struggling to find safe ways to transport patients to hospitals, as ambulances have been hit by airstrikes.

"The situation is horrific, with massive Israeli and Palestinian casualties," Matthias Kannes, head of mission in Gaza, said in a statement. "Our Palestinian colleagues are working day and night to cope with the influx of wounded."

Doctors Without Borders is assisting with medical needs in the region by donating medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities while local staff are providing surgical and inpatient care.

Save the Children

Save the Children issued an emergency alert in response to the conflict, noting the "escalating violence" has put 1.2 million children in need of humanitarian aid. The international organization is demanding de-escalation and has called for peace talks.

The organization is providing assistance to children affected by the attacks, where many face dangerous conditions, and displacement and may suffer from "serious mental health impacts."

Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF)

National and international organizations that provide assistance to victims in the conflict include the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), which works to provide crucial and life-saving medical relief and humanitarian aid to conflict victims in Gaza. Before the conflict and now, access to essential resources like food, clean water, and healthcare has been severely limited.

"In light of the recent violence that has left hundreds dead and thousands injured and homeless in Gaza, we are mobilizing our resources in unwavering determination," the organization said on its website.

Contributing: Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial; The Associated Press;

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Groups offering help to those in need
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN)  One Middle Tennessee woman is asking for prayers as her sister and brother-in-law try to make plans to return to the U.S. from Israel.

Brad Schreiners sister, Meg, and her brother-in-law, Dan, have lived in the Middle East for more than a decade, currently working to bless the people of Israel.

Schreiner told News 2 she learned of the surprise attacks in Israel on the news before hearing from her sister via text message that she was safe.

Biden says at least 11 Americans among those killed in Israel, warns of hostages

They have their safe room in their home if they cant make it to their bomb shelter. They share a bomb shelter with three other families across from their garage and are ready, and thats just part of life over there, Schreiner said.

The couple lives North of the Gaza Strip which came under attack Saturday, and South of the country of Lebanon whose own militants began firing shots into Israel, essentially sandwiching them between conflict.

Schreiner said Meg and Dan planned to leave the country after the attacks, but their flight was canceled.

There are eight girls in our family, and theres a sister thread, and one of my sisters said, Meg, come home now, get to the airport,' Schreiner said. Their flight to come home was canceled, and theyre looking at being safe, so yes, if you think about it on a personal level, well, we want to get her out of there, but were praying right now for their safety.

Nashville Jewish community responds to Hamas attacks in Israel

During Sunday service, Northfield Church pastor Tom Haddon asked the congregation to pray for Meg, Dan, and the people of Israel.

I think sometimes when you look at a situation happening around the world, its them, but when you know someone there it becomes us, and it brings a personal flare to it, Haddon said. To see the people they work with every day and the people they bring hope to, it brought it home.

Schreiner added its hard not to feel helpless all the way in the U.S., but she encouraged others to lean on their faith.

Our hope is that God will protect, and I think the power of prayer is so important right now because people wonder what can they do? Can they send supplies; what can they do? Well, they can always pray, and thats what were praying for, Meg and Dan and the people of Israel, Schreiner said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville will hold a solidarity rally Monday at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Jewish Community Center to show support for the people of Israel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom says seven members of his extended family were killed and others were wounded in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Husam Zomlot, who has made several appearances on British television since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, spoke about his relatives deaths on the BBCs Newsnight program on Monday evening. They were just sitting at their home and they were simply bombarded, Zomlot said. Their entire building was brought down. He said his cousin, her two children, her husband, her mother-in-law, and two other relatives were all killed instantly, while two of his cousins youngest children were also in intensive care. This is truly heartbreaking, Zomlot said, adding that people in Palestine are simply sitting ducks for the Israeli war machine. Palestinian authorities say that around 700 people have so far been killed by Israeli stikes in Gaza and the West Bank.

"My cousin is not Hamas. These kids are not Hamas."



Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, lost 6 family members amongst the almost 700 killed in Israeli strikes into Gaza.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/Oih0hpWhxt  BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 9, 2023

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Several Indian startups, along with venture capital funds and private equity investors, are scrambling to build investment strategies as they race to tap into a rare available opportunity in the nation: banks.

Premji Invest, Multiples, Zerodha, Gaja Capital and MobiKwik are among those who are evaluating an investment in Nainital Bank, a subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, TechCrunch reported last week.

Four consortia, comprising as many as 16 participants, are vying for the Bank of Baroda unit, sources familiar with the matter said.

Lightspeed India Venture Partners and Elevation Capital are separately evaluating an investment in Shivalik Small Finance Bank, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Lightspeed and Elevation declined to comment. Shivalik Bank didn't respond to a request for comment.

Accel and Quona backed Shivalik Bank last year in what was a rare industry move at the time. The lender is now looking to raise new funds, something that hasn't been previously reported. The new investment talks value the lender at under $100 million, according to one of the sources familiar with the deliberation.

New investors will only be permitted to acquire about 4.9% stake each in the bank, a person familiar with the terms said.

Startups, including Peak XVbacked neobank Jupiter, also explored an investment in a bank earlier, according to another person familiar with the matter.

Venture investors are considering bank investments to pave the way for future collaborations between their fintech portfolios and these lenders. Given that many investors have multiple financial services startups in their portfolios, they see a potential for increased revenue growth for the banks through these partnerships, industry executives said.

Startups are seeking stakes in banks due to the rarity of banking licenses in the country. Such alliances could help them reduce their capital acquisition costs, industry executives said.

These are the bull cases on paper. But many industry players admitted that they aren't able to build a clear thesis on how a bank license would necessarily help them and said they are participating because their rivals had also put up a bid.

The deliberations have intensified in recent days after Bengaluru-headquartered Slice received a rare approval from the Indian central bank to merge with North East Small Finance Bank.

The Reserve Bank of India made its guidelines clearer last year, forcing many fintech startups operating in lending and card issuance categories to rework their approaches. By granting the merger approval to Slice, the central bank has helped pave the Indian fintech to chart a new future for itself.

Merging with a bank or obtaining a banking license continues to be rare in the South Asian market, especially as the regulator has heightened its oversight in recent quarters, even for minor licenses like those for NBFCs and expressed concern about tech giants growing presence in the financial services sector.

The central bank has largely rejected all applications for universal banks in recent years. Last year, it rejected an application by Flipkart billionaire Sachin Bansal. Bansals Navi eventually sold the microfinancing unit to Svatantra Microfin in August for about $178.5 million.

In 2021, the central bank issued a small finance bank license to a consortium of Centrum Financial Services and fintech BharatPe. But that license was conceptualized to address a capital-starved situation to help remove the debris of a scam-tainted small lender PMC, and BharatPe's role in it is limited as an investor who needs to dilute its holding in the coming years.
A man cleans the logo of a Chinese smartphone brand Vivo outside a store in Ahmedabad

By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's financial crime agency on Tuesday arrested four industry executives including one Chinese national working for smartphone maker Vivo in India in a case of alleged money laundering, according to legal papers and lawyers working on the case.

The arrest adds to the legal troubles of the Chinese phone maker in India and comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and New Delhi over issues ranging from border disputes to India's increasing scrutiny of Chinese businesses and investment.

Vivo said in a statement it "firmly adheres to its ethical principles and remains dedicated to legal compliance. The recent arrest deeply concerns us. We will exercise all available legal options".

India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier in the day, two sources told Reuters that four Vivo employees had been arrested, but during a court hearing where executives were produced lawyers said only one Vivo employee, a Chinese national identified in legal papers as Guanwen Kuang, was arrested.

Further details of the investigation were not immediately clear. The EDs counsel, Manish Jain, sought 10 day custody for the arrested individuals, but the judge ordered only three days.

The names of three other executives, and their affiliations, were not immediately clear.

The executives were arrested in relation to an ongoing 2022 case where the ED raided Vivo's offices and accused it of money laundering, the first of the sources said.

Vivo has repeatedly denied the allegations. It has previously said it cooperated with authorities to provide them with all required information and was "committed to be fully compliant with laws".

Vivo is owned by China's BBK Electronics, which also operates brands such as Oppo and Realme in India. Vivo is the second biggest smartphone brand in India with a 17% market share in shipments, trailing behind Samsung, according to data from research firm Counterpoint.

In 2022, the ED blocked 119 bank accounts linked to Vivo's India business, but a court later revoked the move.

Indian police also have formally accused Vivo of helping transfer funds illegally to a news portal under investigation on charges of spreading Chinese propaganda, Reuters reported last week. Vivo hasn't commented on the matter.

Relations between India and China have increasingly soured since a 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed.

Since then, India has banned hundreds of Chinese apps including TikTok, citing national security concerns, and tightened scrutiny of incoming investments from its neighbour.

Recently, carmaker BYD's proposal to invest $1 billion to build electric cars and batteries in India faced increased scrutiny from New Delhi, forcing the carmaker to drop its plans, Reuters reported in July.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Arpan Chaturvedi in Delhi; Editing by Sohini Goswami, Kim Coghill and Mark Potter)
PATERSON  The city school district is planning to award another 26 student bus routes worth $1.16 million to American Star, a company under indictment for allegedly putting children at risk by hiring unqualified drivers.

The Board of Education is scheduled to vote next week on approving the bus contracts involving students from eight different Paterson schools as well as children with special needs being transported to programs outside the city.

The schools on the list include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Edward Kilpatrick, Frank Lautenberg , Dale Avenue, Stars Academy, and Nos. 5, 26 and 28.

The district already has in place another $1.2 million worth of busing contracts with American Star covering 13 ongoing student transportation routes.

American Stars former manager, Henry Rhodes, already has pleaded guilty to helping the company get bus contracts even though it lacked enough qualified drivers to handle the work. Rhodes, who has not been sentenced yet, has agreed to cooperate with the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office in its criminal case against American Star, his lawyer said.

There are pending indictments against American Star; its owner, Jwel Khalique; his brother, Shelim Khalique; and Shelim Khaliques bus company, A-1 Elegant. Rhodes was manager for A-1 Elegant, and his guilty plea involved that company as well. A-1 Elegant previously did student busing for Paterson Public Schools.

The Khalique brothers  siblings of Paterson Councilman Shahin Khalique  last month pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The councilman also owns a school bus company, Northern Star, which has not been named in any of the criminal proceedings.

Safety checks cease: Paterson drops school bus driver checks for company with pending indictment

The Attorney General's Office filed the original charges against A-1 Elegant and Shahin Khalique in June 2020 and filed the new charges against American Star and both brothers last December. The state says A-1 Elegant passed along its buses, drivers and alleged illegal practices to American Star.

Paterson school officials have said they cannot ban American Star from bidding on bus contracts because the criminal charges against the company remain unresolved.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson, NJ: American Star seeks new student bus contracts
 Flash

China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

On October 7, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that China's claim of "indisputable sovereignty" over "West Philippine Sea" is disputable. China's "unfounded" claim and its actions in the "West Philippine Sea" is irresponsible, he added.

When asked for comments, Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that recently the Philippines has taken a series of steps at Ren'ai Jiao that seriously violate China's territorial sovereignty. China has made serious demarches to the Philippines on multiple occasions.

The spokesperson reiterated the following points.

First, Ren'ai Jiao has been China's territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of China's Nansha Qundao geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. This was developed and established throughout the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter.

Second, Ren'ai Jiao has never been the Philippines' territory. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, is completely beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory.

Third, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is illegal, null and void. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines directly concerns the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS. Besides, in 2006, pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS, China excluded issues relating to sea boundary delimitations from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal. By unilaterally initiating the South China Sea arbitration, the Philippines contravened the stipulations of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law. Such an award is illegal, null and void, and completely invalid. It is legally untenable for the Philippines to claim that Ren'ai Jiao is part of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the above-mentioned award.

Fourth, by "grounding" a military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines gravely violated China's territorial sovereignty. In May 1999, the Philippines "grounded" a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious demarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the vessel at once. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible. However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines' acts of going back on its words again and again and violating China's territorial sovereignty. The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the "grounded" military vessel.

Fifth, the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely lies with the Philippines. For some time, the Philippines, ignoring China's goodwill and sincerity, has kept sending official vessels and warships to forcibly intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to send construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. These actions seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, contravened international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and disrupted peace and stability in the region.

"China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region," the spokesperson said.

China will continue to, in accordance with our domestic laws and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, said the spokesperson.
An inmate at the Madison County Detention Center died Sunday, according to Kentucky State Police.

The man was found unresponsive in his cell by another inmate sometime before 5 a.m., according to KSP. He was taken to Baptist Health of Richmond, where he later died.

The inmate was identified as 37-year-old Davell Chambers of Michigan, KSP said. Foul play was not suspected in Chambers death.

His body will be sent to the state Medical Examiners Office in Frankfort for an autopsy and toxicology test, KSP said. State police are handling the investigation. KSP didnt initially say how long Chambers had been unresponsive before he was found.

Madison County Jailer Steve Tussey said he was unsure how long the inmate was unresponsive before the other inmate notified jail officials. Tussey told the Herald-Leader cellmates often report incidents with others to jail staff and called it routine.

We make rounds to make contact with every inmate every hour but an inmate can notify out staff if another cellmate is sick or something isnt right, Tussey said.

Tussey said the company receives guidance through medical supervisors through several protocols in emergency situations. Tussey prepared an investigation package for KSP, and said he could not provide additional comment because of the ongoing investigation.

Court documents indicate Chambers had been convicted in multiple drug cases and was serving time in jail for one of those offenses.
NEW PHILADELPHIA  A man who left a Wintersville correction center and didn't return was apprehended Sunday following a high-speed pursuit from New Philadelphia to Sugarcreek.

Brian Mosher, 38, was taken into custody shortly after 10 p.m. after Sugarcreek police deployed spike strips on Ohio 93, which blew out a tire on a vehicle stolen in Harrison County.

Mosher signed out of the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Wintersville on Sept. 20. He was supposed to be visiting family on Barnhill Road in Midvale, but never returned.

More on Brian Mosher: Inmate walks away from corrections facility west of Steubenville

According to a report from New Philadelphia police, the pursuit began at the intersection of Fourth Street NW and Front Avenue around 9:45 p.m. The chase continued through Ragersville and Baltic, with speeds reaching 110 mph before ending on Ohio 93 near Sugarcreek. Troopers with the Ohio Highway Patrol were also involved.

Mosher was taken into custody by Tuscarawas County Sheriff's deputies.

Mosher was sent to the corrections center by Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos in August after he pleaded guilty to forgery and theft in July. She sentenced him to spend 30 days in the Tuscarawas County Jail following his release from the corrections center in Wintersville.

He was to serve three years on probation afterward. The judge reserved a one-year prison sentence which could be imposed if Mosher violated probation terms.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Inmate who walked away from corrections facility caught after chase
Disclaimer: Photos, video and details of this report are graphic and may be disturbing to some. Please read/watch with discretion.

CHANDLER, Ariz.  In recent weeks, we've done several reports on acts of suspected animal and adult abuse at a home in Chandler.

The case revolves around the owner of a rescue called the Special Needs Animal Welfare League (SNAWL), which was run out of a home near Cooper and Pecos roads. Chandler Police found dozens of animals on the premises on Sept. 22 in poor health and in "unbreathable" conditions.

Since the discovery, police recommended dozens of animal cruelty charges, along with a vulnerable abuse charge, against April McLaughlin, a 48-year-old who has used several aliases in the past, including "April Addison" and "Sydney McKinley."

April McLaughlin

However, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced not long after it sent the case back to Chandler Police for further review and charges against her have been dropped for now.

As police continue to investigate McLaughlin and her alleged role in the abuses, one question remains: what did conditions actually look like inside McLaughlin's home?

A 14-page report is giving up some answers.

'Ive never seen anything like this'

The report, which is called an "After Action Report," was sent to the City of Chandler the day after the animals were seized.

An environmental consulting company contracted by the city of Chandler, named Clark Seif Clark (CSC), completed the After Action Report, and it painted a picture of what the home looked like.

The report called McLaughlins home a "biohazard."

Rescuers like Koco Garcia initially thought SNAWL was a legitimate organization.

Koco Garcia

"Theres just no escape," Garcia said. "Ive never seen anything like this."

Theres one bathroom and inside of it is an unusable toilet. The only one in the home and it's blocked.

Garcia said so many people have called the property by a rather ominous name: "The House of Horrors."

To her, that's an understatement.

The report contains a diagram of the scene, a 956-square-foot home, which consists of two bedrooms and a bathroom. According to the report, windows were closed, and mobility, along with visibility, was impeded by excessive clutter, wet and dry feces, urine, and dog food everywhere.

Photos also show carpets covered in waste and disabled dogs lying on filthy floors.

"To watch those animals laying in their own feces, overcrowded, walking over each other, crawling, begging for help, locked in kennels they havent been out of," Garcia said.

Images of the bathroom displayed a soiled floor and other damages, as well as a toilet that was blocked off and unusable.

According to the report, some of the dogs were in kennels and some were loose in different rooms. Five small dogs found dead in the kitchen freezer were wrapped in paper.

The home's garage is shown to be filled with boxes and crates. The report also states the garage opener didn't work and a room inside the garage was inaccessible with debris piled up against the door.

CSC says the room didn't appear on the county assessor's record.

Garcia wishes she could've saved the struggling dogs she saw in the backyard long before police finally came with a search warrant.

"Walking away from that and not doing things myself is the biggest regret I have in this situation right now," she said.

 the worst kind of hell 

A photo in the report also shows an elevated level of ammonia measured: 61 parts per million (PPM) caused by the high concentration.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the recommended exposure limit for ammonia is 25 ppm, averaged for an eight-hour workday.

It reportedly took hours just to ventilate the home with battery-powered fans. Chandler Fires HAZMAT Team was suited up in protective gear when they removed the dogs from the home.

In the report, the investigator deemed the house a biohazard due to so many pets, the accumulation of dog urine and hoarded items.

Currently, the Arizona Humane Society has nearly 50 dogs remaining in its care, and McLaughlin is requesting to get 47 dogs back into her custody. Her court hearing to petition for the custody of 47 dogs is set for Oct. 11.

"Is this ever going to end?" Garcia asked. "It just feels like this is the worst kind of hell."

Theyre moneymakers'

Under Arizona law, a person commits animal cruelty if they, among other things, "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjects any animal under the person's custody or control to cruel neglect or abandonment."

"A lot of these problem houses say theyre rescues, but they really arent," said Arizona State Sen. John Kavanagh. "Theyre moneymakers for the person in the house who takes in too many animals."

Arizona State Sen. John Kavanagh

He represents the state's 3rd Legislative District, which covers certain communities north of Phoenix and Scottsdale, as well as rural portions of northeastern Maricopa County.

He says hes seen animal hoarding issues for a while.

While he sees no problem with the current statute, Sen. Kavanagh said law enforcement needs tools to gather enough evidence to enforce the law.

He's working on new legislation to propose next session that aims to provide more training for law enforcement to identify animal abuse, more resources for code enforcement, and oversight of rescue operations.

"Now this is touchy because nobody wants to be regulated, and Im talking to some people in the humane animal community whom Ive worked with closely for the last 15 years about what kind of regulation would not be onerous but would give authorities the right to make occasional inspections," said State Sen. Kavanagh.

Where is Marbles?

Garcia, meanwhile, said that out of all the dogs seized, theres no record of the one she gave to McLaughlin: a blind dog named Marbles.

The images she's seen of the home cause her to think the worst.

"Some days, I think theres no way he survived, and he was probably just a discarded dog that she tossed. I dont know," Garcia said.

There is a growing reward for the safe return of Marbles. You can call 928-473-1028 to provide information on his whereabouts  no questions asked.

We've reached out to McLaughlin several times, but she hasn't responded.

Watch the full interview with McLaughlin's mother

The last time Kathleen McLaughlin spoke with her daughter April was on the morning of Sept. 22, hours prior to her arrest.

Kathleen, 79, moved to Arizona from Texas after her husband's passing and trusted April to care for her. She said she was relieved to be out of the home.

Kathleen reportedly lived at the home for three years, seemingly hidden. According to her, April couldnt stop bringing in dogs.

"Well apparently, she began to get an awful lot of more dogs," Kathleen said. "The two bedrooms were full of dogs, so we werent able to sleep there. She had some in the backyard, and she bought tents for shade, and it became obvious that the terrific heat wave wasnt conducive to their comfort, so shed have to bring them into the garage."
Little Amal is anything but little, and that includes the message of hope the 12-foot-tall puppet and her team will have in Alabama as they visit Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 11-13.

Stops and events are scheduled in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma  part of a two-month, 6,000-mile trek across 40 cities in the U.S. this fall. Amal Walks Across America began Sept. 7 in Boston, and will continue until Nov. 5 in San Diego.

Amal is a symbol of hope, and its all about the refugees and the feelings of displacement, said Montgomery artist Chintia Kirana, who is organizing part of Little Amals visit to celebrate art, hope and humanity. But I feel like for us, especially in a place like this in Montgomery, we all experience loss and trauma, and were all just trying to heal. With Amal, what were collaborating on is a piece to reflect this. A piece that recognizes the universal idea of loss and displacement.

The puppet is made in the image of a 10-year-old refugee girl from war-torn Syria, whose name Amal translates from Arabic to "hope." Its on a global journey with many teams supporting it. In 2021, it went through cities, towns and villages across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the UK. Last year, Little Amal and team visited Ukraine, Poland and the Netherlands, before coming to the U.S. on a journey through New York City.

Little Amal, a 12-foot-tall puppet of a ten-year-old Syrian refugee child, will make three stops in Alabama this week  Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma.

Theyre an international group, and when they tour they work with local artists and partners that are in the city, Kirana said.

According to organizers, Little Amals walk represents hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people of all ages looking for safety, half of whom are children.

"Our hope for Amal is that she can spur conversations in communities across the country around the important role of refugees and newcomers in writing the ongoing story of the United States, said The Walk Productions artistic director Amir Nizar Zuabi in a release.

Little Amal will dance and walk with youths as part of her Alabama visits Oct. 11-13 in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma.

Little Amals Alabama schedule

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m., Little Amal will be welcomed in at City Walk BHAM for When the Children Gather, in a dance that runs from 18 th to 21 st streets. Its inspired by the 1963 Childrens Crusade, with musician Lonnie Holley.

Birmingham events continue at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, with Melting Pot at Sloss Furnaces, 20 32 nd St. N. With heavy drum beats playing on, Amal will take part in a ferocious iron pour.

At 10 a.m., March On! crafting activities take place at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16 th St. N. Little Amal arrives at 11 a.m. Alabama Poet Laureate Ashley Jones will wish Amal a safe journey. A childrens march will lead to Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, 1530 6 th Ave. N. There theyll pay respects to the children who died in the 1963 bombing.

Little Amal arrives in Montgomery on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. at the state Capitol. As Amal and her team walk down Dexter Avenue toward the Court Square Fountain, she and her team will explore historic landmarks and visit with iconic figures.

On Oct. 12, a pre-event is being held in Montgomery 7 p.m. at the Capri Theatre. Itll host a free screening of the film Simple As Water, an award-winning documentary that shares the story of Syrian families impacted by decades of war. Director Megan Mylan will be there, and will host a question and answer session.

On Friday, Oct. 13, Little Amal will join hands in the Selma community for Honor The Steps at 11 a.m., to retrace the steps of the footsoldiers along the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Kirana, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child from Jakarta, Indonesia, will have a piece on Friday, Oct. 13, with Little Amal called Some Broken Things Can Be Mended. The puppet will gather fragments of a broken eggshell, and asks for help to mend it. Kiranas piece represents the unexpected strength that lies in vulnerability. The multidisciplinary event will take place at historic Five Points in Montgomerys Cottage Hill community. It will feature performances by Montgomery artists, including the band Electric Blue Yonder, a choir in the audience and local high school arts students.

From Montgomery, the giant puppet and her team will journey west to New Orleans.

Were only with them for a short amount of time, but were trying to make sure that everybody knows about it because it is such an important message, Kirana said. I think its a great opportunity for communities to come together.

During Little Amal's visit to Montgomery, the 12-foot-tall puppet will participate in a artistic event called "Some Broken Things Can Be Mended."

How to help

Donations are accepted through The Amal Fund to provide refugees and migrants with academic training, education, food, shelter ad medical services. Donations are accepted at: https://donate.chooselove.org/campaigns/walks-amal-fund/

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Little Amal puppet visiting Montgomery during Alabama tour this week
Welcome to Investigative Stories from Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent's newsletter that walks you through the most prominent investigations of the past week.

If you are fond of in-depth journalism that exposes war crimes, corruption, and abuse of power across state organizations in Ukraine and beyond, subscribe to our investigative newsletter.

If you enjoy this newsletter, consider joining our membership or supporting us with a one-time donation. Start supporting independent journalism today.

Top investigative stories

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Construction consultant under corruption investigation allegedly maintains ties to presidential office

Bihus.Info investigative media outlet filmed Yuriy Golyk, an entrepreneur and reportedly a top construction consultant for the Presidential Office, visiting the presidential quarter in Kyiv.

It allegedly points at the fact that Golyk, who is under a corruption probe over allocation of state construction contracts, maintains an unofficial but influential position at the presidential office, which he has denied.

Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the presidential quarter in Kyiv has been secured by checkpoints, and only people with special authorization can enter.

Golyk was previously an advisor to the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor Valentyn Reznichenko and occasionally advised the Presidents Office on construction issues, including the Big Construction, an infrastructure-building initiative by President Volodymyr Zelensky, which was coordinated by Golyk, according to Bihus.Info.

Golyk told Bihus.Info that he lives in an apartment in the presidential quarter. However, the journalists filmed Golyk leaving his house in the morning and then driving to the presidential quarter. He didnt deny meeting with officials.

The Office of the President said that Golyk does not currently advise them on any matters.

Late last year, Ukrainian journalists exposed Golyk in a conflict of interest.

They found that Budinvest, a company co-owned by an associate of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor Reznichenko, received massive state contracts for non-emergency road works in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including after the full-scale invasion when most routine repairs were halted.

Following the journalist investigation, Ukraines anti-corruption agency launched a probe into Budinvest. Within this case, investigators searched Golyks house  he allegedly had a say in allocating the contracts. Reznichenko stepped down as Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor in January. According to Bihus.Info, the criminal investigation has since stalled.

Watch the full story in Ukrainian with English subtitles here.

Kyiv police turn blind eye to swanky nightclub working past curfew

Around 200 people clubbed at Boho, a fancy Kyiv bar and restaurant, while local police stood idly by for hours, according to a report by Ukrainska Pravda.

After Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, local authorities imposed curfews in all Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Since March 2023, the Kyiv curfew has been midnight.

Some people, including emergency workers and accredited journalists, can be exempt from the curfew.

At least six police cars passed Boho while customers entered or exited after midnight. Ukrainska Pravda journalists asked police officers patrolling nearby why they allowed Boho to operate past curfew, but police evaded questions.

Dozens of taxi drivers came to Boho to drop off or pick up partygoers long after midnight. One driver awaiting a client confirmed that Boho is a well-known spot operating after curfew.

After the Pravda journalists called the police, a more senior police officer arrived and detained a handful of people for violating curfew but did not enter Boho to order the bar to stop operating. Boho kept running until at least 5 a.m., the end of curfew, when dozens of partygoers were filmed leaving the restaurant.

The report emphasized the disparity between most cafes and bars, which have to shut down at 11 p.m. the latest, and those who get special treatment and can work past curfew  with police turning a blind eye.

Kyiv police later told Pravda that following the journalists complaint, Bohos administrators were fined for violating curfew regulations. The fine is between $200 and $400. The next weekend, Boho stayed closed and police patrolled the street next to it, journalists said in a follow-up to the story.

Watch the full story in Ukrainian here.

Ukrainian lawmaker repeatedly traveled to Crimea via Russia, breaking the law

Vitaly Bort, a member of parliament from the Platform for Life and Peace faction, traveled to occupied Crimea through Russia several times since 2014 when Russia first invaded Ukraine, according to an investigation by Schemes, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty investigative journalism project.

The Platform for Life and Peace was formed in April 2022 after its predecessor, the Opposition Platform for Life, was banned at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine among other pro-Russian parties.

Bort traveled to occupied Crimea through Russia six times between 2014 and 2016 in violation of Ukrainian law, according to information from Russian passenger logs obtained by Schemes.

On one of his visits, Bort was accompanied by his mother, who acquired Russian citizenship in 2019, according to the journalist investigation.

Bort did not respond to Schemes requests for comment.

Read the full story in English here.

Journalists identify propagandists spreading Russian disinformation in Europe

An investigation by the independent Russian media outlet The Insider mapped the Western experts hired to spread Russian propaganda in their countries.

Germany and Finland have the highest number of Russian propagandists, found The Insider.

The experts appear on Russian state media RT and Channel One and post Russian propaganda on social media, according to the journalist investigation.

While some figures, like former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson, are popular in their countries, most propagandists are unknown to domestic audiences, The Insider reported.

According to the journalist investigation, many of these experts combine Russian propaganda with anti-Semitic rants and conspiracy theories.

The propagandists subject to The Insiders investigation reportedly spread Russian lies on a range of topics, including fakes about U.S. biolabs in Ukraine, denying Russias poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and blaming Ukraine for downing MH17 contrary to the findings of an international investigation into the matter.

Read the full story in English here.

Russia systematically tortures civilians in occupied Melitopol

Russian security services in the occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol are systematically torturing detainees, according to an investigation by a Russian media outlet in exile, iStories.

Russian forces seized Melitopol, a city in southern Ukraine, in March 2023. In the early days of the all-out war, the citys residents took to the streets to protest the occupation.

A representative of a Ukrainian hotline for detained residents interviewed by iStories said he documented that Russian security forces have arrested over 300 people since Melitopol's occupation. According to him, at least 107 are still in captivity, although he estimates the actual number of detainees is much higher.

Former detainees and hotline representatives told iStories that Russian forces systematically torture detainees, beating them, subjecting them to electric shocks, and threatening to harm their family members. Former detainees also told the journalists that some people committed suicide while in captivity.

Russian security forces also reportedly interrogated captives about supposed partisan activity in Melitopol. Several former detainees told iStories that Russian forces took them after a neighbor snitched on them to occupation authorities.

Citing hotline representatives, iStories reported that Russian security forces specifically targeted teachers who continued to work under the Ukrainian curriculum during the occupation and kidnapped businessmen for ransom.

According to iStories, detentions and torture began after Russian security services settled in and took control of the citys institutions, approximately a week after the city was occupied.

IStories located five detention centers where captives are being interrogated and tortured.

Read the full story in English here.

Reactions

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Ukrainian businessman sues journalists over a story about his Russia ties

Serhii Semenyuk, a Ukrainian businessman featured in a recent journalist investigation that revealed his alleged Russia ties, sued the story authors for libel.

The journalist investigation, published by Slidstvo.Info and Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in May 2023, found that Russia-linked companies were providing cleaning services to strategic Ukrainian assets, including the national rail and energy companies.

Semenyuk was a longstanding co-owner of the companies alongside a Russian businessman.

According to a legal expert interviewed by Slidstvo.Info, Semenyuks lawyers are now using well-known tricks to abuse the automated case assignment system in the Ukrainian court system and get a favorable judge on their case.

Apart from journalists and editors, Semenyuk dragged another random defendant to the case, a person who shared the story on social media.

This person resides in Dnipro. According to the lawyers interviewed by Slidstvo.Info, adding the third defendant to the case was Semenyuks attempt to get the case assigned to the Dnipro court of his preference.

Meanwhile, in Russia

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Journalists find pro-war Russian lawmakers mansion in south Spain

Aleksey Chepa, an ardently pro-war member of the Russian parliament, owns a 15 million euro house in south Spain, according to an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Chepa often appears in parliament, calling for escalating violence against Ukraine and referring to Ukrainians as Nazis. He is under sanctions by the U.S., EU, and other Western countries.

The 10,000 square meter Spanish estate is registered in Chepas sons name, and Chepas family continues to holiday there, according to the investigation.

The ACF also found that Chepa registered yet another property in his young sons name: a 10 million euro office building in Bulgaria. Chepa also reportedly bought a $2.5 million apartment in Miami that he later transferred to his niece.

According to the ACF, Russian politicians and oligarchs often use their family members to hold property on their behalf to bypass sanctions.

Watch the full story in Russian here.

Media confirms 1,248 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine in past two weeks

At least 1,248 Russian soldiers have been killed in the last two weeks, according to the latest update to the countdown of Russian soldiers killed during the full-scale invasion run by the independent Russian outlet Mediazona and BBC Russia.

Like Ukraine, Russia doesn't make its casualty statistics publicly available. Russias Defense Ministry said in late September 2022 that only 5,937 Russian troops had been killed in Ukraine.

For the count conducted by Russian independent journalists, they rely on information from obituaries, social media posts by relatives, regional news reports, and statements by local authorities.

Since the latest update in September, a total of 1,248 names have been added to the list. The project's authors said the actual totals are likely considerably higher.

The latest update identifies three high-ranking officers, a colonel and two lieutenant colonels, killed in Ukraine.

The update also highlights that Russian volunteer units have experienced the greatest number of casualties since the summer. Earlier this year, prisoners used by the Wagner Group private army experienced the highest death toll.

Check out the joint project by BBC Russia and Mediazona here.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Nearly 60% of the total volume of Ukrainian grain exports transit through Romania, Klaus Iohannis , the Romanian president, said in Bucharest on Oct. 10.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Bucharest for an official visit, Iohannis said that over 27 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain have transited through his country since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

In August, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that the government was aiming for 60% of Ukrainian grain exports to transit through the country and that they were working to improve relevant infrastructure.

Bucharest and Kyiv have made an agreement that aims to double the current transit capacity at Romanian ports, Iohannis said in Bucharest.

Russia has attempted to block Ukraine's ability to export its agricultural products by withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July and starting a campaign of strikes against Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure.

These attacks often hit Ukraine's ports on the Danube River, which forms part of the border with Romania in Odesa Oblast.

In September, debris from Russian attack drones was found in Romania at least three times, leading to the introduction of new security measures by Bucharest to protect the civilian population near the Danube River.

Read also: Ukrainian farmers sow 3 million hectares of winter crops but exports drop

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WASHINGTON  Hamas has claimed it, Iran has denied it and the U.S. and Israeli governments say they dont  as of yet  have any direct evidence the Tehran government was behind the deadly Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel.

But a senior U.S. official said late Monday that Iran certainly is complicit in funding Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement, providing weapons to it and training its paramilitary forces.

Analysts say such complicity could have a significant impact on a rapidly intensifying crisis that until now has been limited to battles between Israeli and Hamas forces.

The Biden administration said Monday that at least 11 Americans have been killed in the terrorist attacks. And the White House confirmed it believes at least some Americans are among the hostages Hamas operatives abducted and brought back with them to Gaza.

The militant Islamic group is one of two major political parties that rules over at least 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. The U.S., European Union and dozens of nations have designated Hamas a terrorist organization for its armed resistance to Israel, but it pales in comparison to Iran and another of Tehrans proxies, Hezbollah, when it comes to terrorist reach and capability.

"Iran would be suspect No. 1 in a lineup of suspects who could give Hamas the ability to launch the stunning terrorist attacks against Israel by air, land and sea and take it by surprise, said Andrew Borene, a senior U.S. intelligence and counterterrorism official until four months ago.

That doesn't mean that they're guilty, Borene told USA TODAY in an interview. It means there's a reason that they're being investigated" for a possible role in the attacks.

Iran "has historically been the largest state sponsor of terrorism," said Borene, whose last job was as a senior executive in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. "And they are the most active state sponsor of terrorism. So it's not without cause that people are investigating that thread."

Heres what you need to know about Iran, Hamas, and the attacks in Israel that some experts are saying is the country's 9/11.

More: Israel responds to barrage of rockets sent by Hamas militants with air strikes

What evidence is there tying Iran to the attacks?

The Biden administration has been careful in saying it has no evidence of a direct Iranian role in the attacks.

On Monday morning, principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said the Biden administration is investigating, but it lacks direct information that Tehran was behind it.

Finer was asked about Irans possible role in the attacks by ABCs "Good Morning America" host George Stephanopoulos, who cited a Wall Street Journal report that said Iranian security officials "helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday." The Journal cited senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group.

So taking a step back, I think what we can be quite clear about is that Iran is broadly complicit in these attacks, for having supported Hamas going back decades, for having provided financial support, for having provided training, for having provided weapons to Hamas, Finer said. What we don't have is direct information that shows Iranian involvement in ordering or planning the attacks that took place over the last couple of days.

Asked whether the White House believes the Wall Street Journal report was inaccurate, Finer said: What I can tell you is we have no direct information to confirm that report. We've obviously seen it. We're looking into it, but we do not have the ability to corroborate it at this time.

A Palestinian protester aims flares at Israeli troops amid clashes in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 9, 2023. Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces, leaving 15 Palestinians dead since October 7, as fighting raged between Israel and Hamas around the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military also has said there is no concrete evidence of Iranian involvement in the Hamas attack from Gaza. Iran is a major player, but we cant yet say if it was involved in the planning or training, said R Adm Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces.

More: Pentagon sends warships, warplanes to Middle East after Hamas attacks

Iran denies it played a role in the attacks

For its part, Iran has denied any role in the attack.

Tehrans mission to the United Nations said Sunday that Iran was not involved in one of the bloodiest attacks in Israel's history, when Islamist group Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted perhaps 100 more.

"The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defense against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime," Iran's U.N. mission said in statement, according to a Reuters report.

Why is Iran suspected of playing a role?

For all their denials about finding a direct connection, U.S. officials have been quick to say that Iran has a history of supporting these kinds of attacks, and Hamas in particular.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Monday night that theres no question there's a degree of complicity here.

Iran has been supporting Hamas for many, many years with tools, training, capabilities, certainly rhetorically but in much more tangible ways than that," he said. "So absolutely, there's a degree of complicity here, writ large."

The U.S. would continue looking through the information streams to find any connections, and hard evidence that Iran was directly involved planning, launching or carrying out the sets of complex attacks Hamas pulled off over the weekend, Kirby said.

''Obviously, nobody's walking away from the fact that Iran has long supported Hamas, he said.

The Wall Street Journal report raised alarms in Washington, in part because of the specificity of the allegations.

Citing a variety of sources, the Journal said in its report Sunday that the Revolutionary Guard, the main political branch of the Iranian military, had attended biweekly Hamas planning meetings in Beirut since August, including two also attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

'Lots of evidence of active engagement by Iran'

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was one of several lawmakers briefed on the Hamas attacks by the Biden administration.

In a CNN interview, Coons said Iran has a history of supporting others in their acts of war and terrorism. And he said that in this case, it is especially under suspicion because Hamas publicly thanked Tehran for their funding, their training, their contributions for this horrific attack on Israeli civilians.

Iran, Coons said, is Russias partner in its brutal war in Ukraine, providing drones that are carrying out deadly attacks on civilians.

It has funded, trained and armed Hezbollah, the Shia militia in Lebanon that also has attacked Israel with rockets. And Iran has sent its Revolutionary Guard fighters into Syria, where they can threaten Israel from the northeast, he said.

And it is Iran that has funded and trained Hamas that has carried out this attack from Gaza, Coons said. So, whether or not there is specific intelligence about a direct Iranian role in planning this specific attack, there is lots of evidence of active engagement by Iran in supporting the organizations and groups that have caused chaos in the Middle East now for years.

Is the Biden administration helping Israel investigate the attacks and a possible Iranian role in them?

Yes. As President Biden and his top aides have stressed repeatedly, the U.S. is a staunch ally, and the two nations share many security goals and strategies in the Middle East and beyond. As such, they are extremely close when it comes to sharing even the most sensitive and timely intelligence.

Biden "has also spoken with many of our allies and partners, including the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, just this afternoon to help coordinate our efforts," Kirby told reporters Monday night.

According to a White House statement, Biden "directed his team to follow up on coordination with Israel on all aspects of the crisis and to continue their work with regional partners to warn anyone who might seek to take advantage in this situation."

It's also clear that various U.S. intelligence agencies, especially the CIA and the National Security Agency, have devoted considerable resources to understanding the intentions of Iran's civilian government leadership and the mullahs, or religious clerics who wield significant power within the country.

At a security conference this summer, CIA Director Williams Burns acknowledged Iran is meddling in the Ukraine war by sending weapons and other help to its ally Russia. And more broadly, Burns said, "in terms of our commentary on intelligence we collect about whats going on inside the Iranian leadership."

On Saturday, Burns was set to be the keynote speaker at another security conference in Sea Isle, Georgia, but canceled at the last minute because of the Gaza attacks, said Borene, who was at the conference.

And each year, Burns and other U.S. intelligence agency leaders provide a worldwide threat assessment to Congress and say they are intensively investigating Irans connections to a wide array of terrorist groups.

When will we know if Iran was involved, and to what extent?

Determining what role, if any, Iran played in the attack could take weeks, months or even years if history is any guide, said Borene, who is based in London as executive director of Flashpoint National Security Solutions, a risk intelligence platform.

And in the meantime, he said, authorities need to be very careful about pointing fingers  especially when it comes to an adversary as capable as Iran.

The crisis is ongoing, and it is simply too early to assign culpability when Iran is denying even indirect involvement, Borene said. All government agencies are wise to move slowly in their forensic and detective work before leveling accusations of even indirect Iranian support. Especially when the stakes are as high as they would be in the event of Iranian involvement in these terrorist attacks.

Does Iran want to escalate the Hamas-Israel conflict?

On Monday, there was widespread public and media speculation that Iran was behind the attacks. One national security reporter posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Iran's goal is to draw the US into a broader conflict: senior intelligence source tells me.

But some experts said thats not Irans modus operandi.

Sorry, not believable, tweeted Joel Rayburn, a former career Army officer and Trump administration State Department and White House National Security Council official focusing on Iran and the Middle East.

At no time in his 34-year rule has Ali Khamenei wanted a broader conflict with the United States, Rayburn said of the supreme leader of Iran. Thats why he uses proxies. And its why whenever the US retaliates strongly against him, he backs off.

Would Iran's involvement lead the U.S. to intervene?

Biden administration officials have said no, at least for the time being.

At his briefing Monday night, White House spokesman Kirby was asked specifically whether the U.S. would intervene militarily in the conflict, especially if Iran or Hezbollah are found to be responsible  or if they join to attack Israel.

There's no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground, Kirby said.

But he added that the Biden administration already has ramped up its presence in the region, including sending the massive Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group into the eastern Mediterranean as a message to Iran and Hezbollah.

President Biden will always make sure that we are protecting and defending our national security interests wherever those interests are, including particularly in that part of the world, Kirby said. And I think I'll leave it at that.

Related: Israel seeks Iron Dome missiles, U.S. guided weapons after Hamas attack

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What if US links Iran to Hamas terrorist attacks, kidnappings in Israel?
The Iranian government on Tuesday rejected allegations that it assisted Hamas in preparations for the unprecedented attack on Israel, which began Saturday.

The ongoing and escalating fighting in Israel and Gaza has killed at least 1,600 people on both sides of the conflict and injured thousands more.

Iran celebrated the attacks Saturday but has denied claims that it supplied Hamas with military aid or intelligence.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran will continue to support Palestinians, state media reported Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.

We defend Palestine, we defend the fights, he said. He praised Palestinians as capable, smart and courageous, adding the fighting was ultimately caused by Israels decades-long siege on Gaza and long history of discrimination against Palestinians.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said his government has no formal trace of Irans involvement.

It seems that there was help for and cooperation with Hamas. but I will stay cautious on this point as long we havent consolidated intelligence that is totally certain, Macron said.

We condemn with a lot of clarity all the countries that congratulated the horrors perpetrated by Hamas, which was the case with Iran, he added.

Late Monday, Macron joined three other Western European leaders and President Biden in a joint statement condemning the Hamas attacks and vowing to support Israel in the conflict.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism, the leaders wrote. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.

The conflict in Gaza escalated overnight into Tuesday as the Israeli military called up its reserve military forces. Hours of airstrikes leveled an entire neighborhood in Gaza City, and more than 180,000 people are now without homes in the territory.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Iran's top authority has said Iran "kisses the hands" of organisers of the attack on Israel carried out by the militants of the Palestinian movement Hamas.

Source: Reuters with reference to the statement of the Iran's top authority Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Quote: "We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.

This destructive earthquake (Hamas' attack) has destroyed some critical structures (in Israel) which will not be repaired easily ... The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster."

Details: Khamenei was wearing a Palestinian scarf when he made this statement.

At the same time, Khamenei stated that Tehran was not involved in Hamas militants attack on Israel.

Background:

John Kirby, White House National Security spokesman, said on Monday, 9 October, that Iran is complicit in the war in Israel, although the United States has no evidence pointing to Iran's direct involvement in the attacks.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






DUBAI (Reuters) - Tehran was not involved in the militant Hamas group's weekend attack on Israel, Iran's top authority Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday, but hailed what he called Israel's "irreparable" military and intelligence defeat.

"We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime," said Khamenei, who was wearing a Palestinian scarf, in his first televised speech since the attack.

"This destructive earthquake (Hamas' attack) has destroyed some critical structures (in Israel) which will not be repaired easily ... The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster," said Khamenei.

Israel has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas. Tehran, which does not recognize Israel, says it gives moral and financial support to the group, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Backing the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution and a way the Shi'ite-dominated country has fashioned itself as a leader of the Muslim world.

The United States said on Monday Iran was complicit in Hamas' assault on Israel, but added it had no intelligence or evidence supporting this assertion. The top U.S. general on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis, saying he did not want the conflict to broaden.

Israel said earlier on Tuesday it had re-established control over the Gaza border and was planting mines where militants had toppled the barrier during their bloody weekend assault, after another night of relentless Israeli air raids on the enclave.

Khamenei said an attack on Gaza would "unleash a much heavier torrent of anger'.

"The occupying regime seeks to portray itself as a victim to escalate its crimes further ... this is a misguided calculation ... It will result in even greater disaster," Khamenei said.

Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians were killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

(This story has been refiled to remove an extraneous word in paragraph 6)

(Additional reporting Elwely Elwelly in Dubai,; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Gareth Jones and Bernadette Baum)
 Flash

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Israel intensified its air strikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) Saturday surprise attack on Israel.

"I've ordered to move (from defense) to a massive offensive on a scale never seen before," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live address to the nation on Monday.

In the morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters in a briefing that the military has regained control over all the communities in southern Israel, which were stormed by Hamas militants on Saturday after they broke out through the security fence between Israel and Gaza.

Later, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, said that Israel's raids on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of 4 Israeli prisoners and their captive members.

At night, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz announced that "all the water supply pipes from Israel to the Gaza Strip have been disconnected." Israel also halted the passage of goods, electricity and food to the Strip.

"Israeli air strikes hit 86 towers in the Gaza Strip and this led to various damages," told an official in Palestine Telecommunications (Paltel) Company.

In response to the Israeli threats, Hamas' military wing's spokesman Abu Obeida warned in an audio statement that "any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding."

Gaza's militant groups said about 130 hostages were in Gaza, including dozens with dual citizenship. Thailand confirmed that 11 Thai nationals are held captive by Hamas.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a briefing that the hostages include toddlers, women and elderly, adding that his country was committed to bringing the hostages back home.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Monday that "more than 17,500 families, including more than 123,538 people, were displaced."

In this regard, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed during a phone call with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the importance of delivering relief and medical aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Guterres said that the United Nations is making efforts to provide urgent humanitarian relief aid to the residents there, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).

On Monday, Netanyahu also said the Israeli military was enhancing security along the northern border, where militants in southern Lebanon had fired mortar shells toward northern Israel on Monday afternoon.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Palestine's Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed "its responsibility" for the operation carried out on the border with occupied Palestine, injuring seven Israeli soldiers.

Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, said it attacked on Monday evening the Israeli Pranit and Avivim barracks in northern Israel with guided missiles and mortar shells, in response to the killing of three of its members by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier in the day.
FILE PHOTO: Lawmaker Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List attends a special session of Israel's parliament, to approve and swear in a new right-wing government, in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Arab Islamist politician in Israel appealed to Hamas on Tuesday to free, on religious grounds, some of the Israeli hostages taken during the Gaza-based Palestinian faction's cross-border rampage over the weekend.

"The values of Islam oblige us not to take women, children and the elderly as captives," Mansour Abbas , head of the United Arab List party, said in a social media post, adding that their release would be a "humanitarian measure required forthwith".

Hamas, an Islamist group, has said it took dozens of captives back to the Gaza Strip, and has signalled it might want to trade them for thousands of Palestinians jailed in Israel. Hamas's ally Islamic Jihad said it had more than 30 captives.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, told CNN the number of hostages in Gaza was between 100 and 150.

According to their relatives and video on social media, these include elderly women and young children, as well as Israeli soldiers.

Mansour's party is in the Israeli parliamentary opposition, having been a member of the previous coalition government. It draws on support from Israel's 20% Arab minority, many of whom identify with the Palestinians.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Gareth Jones)
DALLAS - The deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas militants have left nearly 1,600 people dead.

Among those, at least 11 Americans have been confirmed among the victims.

There are many in North Texas with family and friends in Israel.

Organizations and individuals are working to send aid to the war victims while trying to make sure their loved ones and friends are safe.

"Its denial, shock and then just anger. Frustration very quickly and a commitment to action," said Igor Alterman, the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.

The initial shock of the surprise Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend has turned to action for Alterman.

His parents are in Israel.

"Thank God, theyre physically safe. As you can imagine theyre watching news nonstop, theyre running to the shelters," Alterman said.

The CEO says his family has been avoiding airstrikes as sirens ring out.

"There were several sirens. Their neighbors knocked on their door in the morning and told them you know, Do you know where the shelter is? And they had no idea," he said.

Alterman's parents have made a couple of trips to a shelter.

He says they don't live in a house with a special protection room, which he says are common in Israel.

"So the only rescue that they have is to run across and find shelter," Alterman said.

The CEO says his nephew is in the middle of the war.

"My nephew has been drafted it hits home very close to a lot of people," he said. "Its a lot of phone calls but also were working. Were putting our minds on what needs to get done. Just see the horizon in front of us and keep moving."

Alterman is also staying focused on the work he's doing with the Jewish Federation here in Dallas.

"Most importantly in these first hours of war we are working with an Israel Trauma Center Coalition which is pretty much a conglomerate of emergency responses as it relates to mental health," he said.

Many who work at the Federation also have close relatives caught up in the war.

"Theyre personally affected. I told you my story. I hear stories from them about their nephews their sons-in-law, immediate relatives now in Gaza fighting terrorism," Alterman said. "Hamas is a terrorist organization, its an Iran-backed terrorist organization that was very clear with its intentions. Its intentions are to seek terror and kill Jews."

Alterman shares what hope for Israel looks like in this hour.

"It has always been pretty clear and articulate. Jewish people want a small Jewish state of their own," he said. "Its the only place in the Middle East that is a democracy where you can be a practicing Christian, a practicing Muslim and a practicing Jew. You dont see that outside of Israel."

Many others who work at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas have family in Israel too.

Alterman says they're working, constantly fearful of bad news via a phone call or text.
Hours after Hamas began to slaughter innocent Israeli citizens, including women, children, and the elderly, some Americans at Ivy League universities and in major cities in the U.S. were blaming the Jewish state for these atrocities. This is sobering and demonstrative of a sign of the steady demise of elite America, culturally and politically.

It started with Harvard University. The institution boasts a mere 3% acceptance rate and supposedly educates the best and brightest young people America has to offer. On Monday, more than 30 groups at Harvard wrote a joint letter stating that they hold Israel entirely responsible for Hamas mass slaughter, which has so far killed at least 900 Israelis and wounded thousands more. Hamas is also holding people, including children and Americans, hostage. So far, Hamas has killed 11 Americans.

The Harvard student groups claim Hamas attack did not happen in a vacuum and shifts blame to the Israeli government, saying it has forced Palestinians to live in an open-air prison for over two decades.

Next was Columbia University. A statement, started by the Columbia National Lawyers Guild and co-signed by 15 student groups, blaming the victim.

Israel does not have the right to defend its occupation, its apartheid state or its siege of Gaza, the statement read. The weight of responsibility for the war and casualties undeniably lies with the Israeli extremist government and other Western governments, including the U.S. government, which fund and staunchly support Israeli aggression, apartheid, and settler-colonization.

In New York City on Sunday, the city young people flock to in order to chase dreams, rallies in support of Palestine took over Times Square. Young people labeling themselves Democratic socialists and waving swastika signs were caught on camera celebrating the slaughter of innocent men, women, and children, murdered in their homes. Chicago had a similar rally, with people in support of Palestine coming out in droves,

In America, free speech is paramount. Its one of our most enlightened and divinely given rights. But that does not mean every thought or action expressed is right and good. The ideas these students are expressing here are not just speech but a celebration of acts of terrorism akin to 9/11 in scale.

Lets get this straight: There is no presence of Israel in Gaza. The Hamas attack is not a military initiative over a decades-old land war. This is not about apartheid in Israel. This attack launched by Hamas on Saturday was heavily funded, strategically planned, and their only goal was and remains to slaughter innocent Jews, simply because they are Jews.

This attack had no military goal and did not engage solely Israels Defense Forces. There are dozens of videos and photos circulating of Hamas fighters targeting a rave  an outdoor concert filled with hundreds of innocent civilians  mowing down attendees and abducting those they didnt kill. Almost 300 died at just that event, all innocent concert-goers.

There are photos and videos of Hamas beating down doors of homes in border towns and then killing entire families, raping the women, taking the children, then desecrating the bodies of the dead.

There is no place in America for the celebration of this level of evil. To see revered American institutions such as Harvard and Columbia  places where our best and our brightest are learning  come out and deflect blame onto Israelis or celebrate the slaughter of innocent civilians, is sad and maddening.

The people who graduate from Ivy League institutions often become our lawmakers, Supreme Court justices, members of the federal judiciary, and more. These are the minds that will likely craft our next generation of politics and policy: And they are so wrapped up in their own progressive rot they cannot call terrorism what it is: evil in human form.

Progressive ideas have long dominated academia. In the last two decades weve seen them weaken free speech, blur the liberties of religious students, and embrace politically correct agendas to suit their narratives. Turns out, there are consequences to this: When these young people see real terrorism, when they observe pure evil toward Jewish people, they lack the courage to call it out, condemn it and rally beside one of our allies with hope and strength.

It was already awful observing the anti-Semitism and the evil Hamas displayed in Israel over the weekend. Israeli citizens must be feeling a tremendous amount of fear and hatred. To know that many in progressive cities and some of our best universities seem willing to applaud terrorism and bigotry does not bode well for the future of American culture and politics.

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(Bloomberg) -- The Israeli military is building a base next to the Gaza Strip to accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers, as it prepares for the next phases of its response to Hamass attack on Saturday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Israel is going to respond very severely and aggressively and there will be more loss of life, Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military and lieutenant-colonel, told journalists in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. We should all change the paradigm here. This is not tit for tat.

Israel has not said it will send troops into Gaza, but many Israelis and Palestinians expect it to. The last major Israeli incursion into Gaza was in 2014. It lasted seven weeks and led to the killing of more than 2,000 Palestinians and dozens of Israelis.

Israels mobilized 300,000 reservists  the most in its history  after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets and sent militants into southern Israel, where they killed at least 900 people and took back others as hostages. The incursion marked Israels biggest intelligence failure in at least 50 years.

The mass and rapid mobilization means the military is stretched for equipment, leaving some troops with older items, Hecht said. He warned there could be errors when it comes to hitting targets in Gaza.

Think how stretched we are in terms of munitions and aerial assaults, he said.

The US has said it will send military aid to Israel to relieve some of the pressures.

Hecht wouldnt disclose how many hostages are held in Gaza, but said the numbers is in the dozens. The military has set up a crisis center headed by two generals dedicated to hostages and other civilian matters, he said.

The infiltration by a small number of people into Israels north from Lebanon on Monday was by Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters, not Hezbollah, according to Hecht. The area has largely been quiet since then and the firing for several mortars toward Israel, he said.

Israel Says Iran-Backed Militia Is Setting Up Illegal Outposts

A major concern for Israel is Hezbollah joining the fight to support Hamass efforts. Like Hamas, Hezbollah gets funding and training from Iran and is thought to have thousands of rockets.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Over the past day, the Israeli Air Force has redeployed hundreds of Israeli troops stationed abroad throughout Europe to participate in the war against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

Source: The Times of Israel; Haaretz

Details: It is reported that C-130 and C-130J heavy transport aircraft flew to different countries in Europe to deliver reservists back to Israel. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The media also published a photo of Israeli soldiers coming aboard the plane. It is reported that the photo was taken late in the evening of 9 October, but it was not indicated in which European country this took place.

Previously: The Israeli military said that about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found on Israeli territory after establishing control over the border.

Background:

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
US President Joe Biden has said Israel has a right and a duty to respond to Hamas' attacks over the weekend, which he called an "act of sheer evil".

In forceful remarks, he said the US would "stand with Israel" and provide whatever assistance it needed.

Mr Biden said at least 14 Americans had been killed in the attacks and other US citizens had been taken hostage.

In a later briefing on Tuesday, a national security spokesman said at least 20 Americans were missing.

It is not clear how many of those have been taken captive by Hamas, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

Militants from the group, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, breached the border fence in the Gaza Strip in several places on Saturday and launched the most serious cross-border attack Israel has faced in a generation.

Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday. More than 950 people have died in retaliatory Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

Standing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House, Mr Biden said there was no justification for the "rampages" by Hamas militants.

"There are moments in this life, and I mean this literally, when the pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world," Mr Biden said. "The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend."

He condemned what he called "stomach turning" reports of "parents butchered" and "entire families slain".

More on Hamas-Israel attacks

"We will work hour-by-hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans, or to confirm exactly the number of Americans held hostage," he added.

The US is sharing intelligence with Israel, Mr Biden said, and had deployed experts to "advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts".

Earlier this week, the US announced plans to move naval forces - including an aircraft carrier - to the eastern Mediterranean. US Air Force squadrons based in the region are also being bolstered with additional combat aircraft.

Mr Biden said he would ask Congress to take urgent action to provide more support. The White House is considering submitting a request to Congress that would include more military aid for both Ukraine and Israel, a source told Reuters.

Mr Biden and Ms Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday and pledged to supply fresh ammunition for Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system.

Mr Blinken is expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday to meet senior Israeli officials.

Israel has massed hundreds of thousands of troops as well as tanks and other heavy armour around Gaza, prompting speculation it is readying for a potential ground invasion as air strikes continue.

While the FBI has said it has no specific intelligence regarding threats in the US stemming from the conflict, Mr Biden said police across the country had stepped up security around Jewish sites "to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks".

"There is no place for hate in America. Not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody," he said.
Palestinians look for their belongings among the rubble of their destroyed houses as Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City. (Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The UK government is pressing Egypt to open the Rafah crossing to allow Britons to flee Gaza.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday than the Israeli military operation must focus on Hamas militants.

With Israel expected to launch an air, land and sea offensive, the combat is likely to be "horrendous", warned armed forces minister James Heappey.

Attempts to broker a ceasefire between Egypt, Israel and the US failed on Monday, Reuters reported.

There have been desperate calls for the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the only crossing into the territory not controlled by Israel, to be reopened.

More than one million people out of the Gaza Strip's population of 2.3 million have been forced from their homes by Israeli air strikes, the United Nations said.

Israeli soldiers walk past a house destroyed in the 7 October attack by Palestinian Hamas militants on kibbutz Be'eri near the border with Gaza. (Getty Images) (THOMAS COEX via Getty Images)

Mr Heappey, the armed forces minister, issued a warning on the impact on civilians of combat in Gaza.

I think you have to be clear that international law allows Israel to prosecute a mission that is legal, proportionate and necessary, and that, Im afraid, does not necessarily mean that Israel has to be able to guarantee that there will be no civilian loss of life, he told ITVs Good Morning Britain.

It is almost inevitable, given the complexity of the mission, that there will be (an) innocent civilian population that is very badly affected. I just dont think theres any point pretending otherwise.

FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE KEY UPDATES HERE

Yahoo News UK sets out the latest death toll as of Monday afternoon.

Israel death toll

Israel has said more than 1,400 of its citizens have been killed since Saturday 7 October, including children.

Among the dead are 260 people who were killed in a massacre at the Supernova music festival in the Negev desert near Re'im.

More than 3,500 have been wounded.

The abandoned site of the Supernova desert music festival in Israel, where 260 people were killed by Hamas militants. (AFP via Getty Images) (JACK GUEZ via Getty Images)

Israel's military has said that 199 hostages, including women and children, are being held in Gaza after being kidnapped.

Palestinian death toll

The Palestinian health ministry said on Monday afternoon that at least 2,750 Palestinians have been killed, including children, and 9,700 wounded, in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday 7 October.

More than 1,000 people are also feared missing under the rubble.

Violence has also erupted in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, with 58 people dead and more than 1,250 people injured.

Palestinians stand by a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike at the Rafah border in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The United Nations has said that more than one million people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli air strikes.

Read more on Israel and Gaza:

Israel-Hamas war: 5 key developments on Sunday (Yahoo News UK)

Palestinians struggling to flee south in Gaza after Israels evacuation order (The National)

Six-month-old baby named among Britons feared abducted by Hamas (Evening Standard)

British death toll

Some 17 British citizens are feared dead or missing in Israel, both the BBC and Sky News have reported.

It is not clear exactly how many British nationals are being held hostage in Gaza, but on Sunday the foreign secretary told Sky News that 10 was "not an unreasonable estimate".

At least 29 American citizens were killed in the 7 October attacks, the US State Department has confirmed.

Thailand said 24 of its citizens had been killed. France said 19 of its citizens have died, while 13 remain missing.

Watch: Drone shots show the extent of the devastation in Gaza
The brutal attacks against Israeli civilians outside the Gaza Strip is quickly shifting the political calculus on defense funding and aid to Ukraine, say congressional aides.

Senate defense hawks say the bloody turn of events in Israel will put pressure on isolationists within the GOP to approve an emergency defense spending package before Thanksgiving, predicting it will include money for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

They also predict it will put pressure on the Republican-controlled House to pass the defense authorization and appropriations bills before the end of the year.

The attacks by Hamas militants and the devastating retaliatory strikes by Israeli defense forces come at an awkward moment for Congress, when the Senate is in recess and the House is in the midst of a race to elect the next Speaker.

A group of Democratic and Republican senators in leadership and on the Senate Foreign Relations, Intelligence, Armed Services and Appropriations committees received an unclassified phone briefing from administration officials Sunday evening, but rank-and-file senators are still waiting for information about when they will be briefed by the State and Defense departments.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who lost his gavel last week, failed on two separate occasions to pass a Defense spending bill because of opposition from Democrats and a few hard-line Republicans. It will be harder, in the wake of what happened in Israel, to justify holding up such legislation, congressional aides predicted.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who has emerged as Congresss leading advocate to fund the war in Ukraine, wasted little time in pointing out what he sees as the new political dynamic underlying the defense debate in Washington.

Congress has the opportunity this fall to provide emergency appropriations to the Defense Department so that it can assist partners like Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as invest in our own military capabilities, the GOP leader wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday afternoon.

He said an emergency Defense spending package should include significant replenishment funding to expand and modernize our own weapons inventories.

He called for funding to expand the production of critical munitions, long-range weapons and other essential defenses technologies here in America.

Congressional aides say that Israel has the defense resources it needs to wage a counterattack into Gaza over the next few weeks and can tap into more than $5 billion in Pentagon drawdown authority. But they also say Israel will need an infusion of money from Congress later this fall.

Republicans are now talking tough on national security and standing with Israel, and a lot of Republicans still support Ukraine, and this gives them political cover to vote for Ukraine aid and support for Israel, one GOP aide said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is traveling this week to China, South Korea and Japan, announced after the Sunday briefing that the Biden administration is surging support to Israel, but congressional aides say more will be done in the weeks ahead.

One Senate aide said theres nothing immediately necessary because the Israelis keep pretty good stocks of armaments.

My guess they are going to roll money for Israels defense into a national security funding package for Ukraine and Taiwan, the aide said, adding that the rapidly escalating violence in and around Gaza will accelerate the debate.

A congressional aide says the Pentagon still has $5.5 billion in drawdown authority to fund the war in Ukraine but some of that will likely now go to Israel to fulfill its national security needs as it tries to eliminate Hamas militants in Gaza and recover Israeli hostages.

The aide said the most likely path forward is to combine funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan into one major national security package.

The aide added that Israel will need more interceptors for its Iron Dome air defense network as well as artillery and long-range precision guided munitions.

Most of the strikes the Israel Defense Forces are waging on Gaza are being carried out by Joint Direct Attack Munitions and small-diameter bombs, two weapons also in high demand in Ukraine.

Theres strong momentum among Senate Republicans to include enough funding for Ukraine to cover its military needs through the 2024 U.S. election, which is projected to cost more than $60 billion.

President Bidens request for $24 billion in new money for Ukraine  which the administration delivered to Congress in August  was to cover only the final three months of this year.

Some Republicans in Congress, however, are calling on diverting military funding for Ukraine to Israel instead.

Israel is facing existential threat. Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) argued Monday that aid for Israel will be easier to approve because Congress passed legislation in December 2020 authorizing a minimum of $3.3 billion in aid to Israel through 2028.

But McConnell sought Monday to frame the terror attacks in Israel and the war in Ukraine as related and vital national security interests.

The world has once again seen the face of evil. Those blessed to live in the democratic West must understand that this barbarism, like that we have witnessed in Russias war against Ukraine, threatens all of us. And the civilized world must offer Israel more than rhetorical solidarity, he wrote in The Journal.

Aides and experts say the attacks on Israel will complicate the Biden administrations diplomatic strategy toward Iran, especially efforts to revive elements of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement that former President Obama signed with Iran and former President Trump later scrapped.

McConnell called Monday for the West to reimpose extensive multilateral sanctions on Tehran and deny Iranian planes overflight rights. He also called on Western allies to impound shipping vessels used by Iran to circumvent sanctions and to close banks with access to the West.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), an outspoken defense hawk, said the Biden administration should cease all engagement with Iran.

Danielle Pletka, a senior fellow in foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, said the Biden administration will continue to negotiate with Iran but that getting anything approved by Congress will be virtually impossible.

I think the Biden administration has made a covert understanding with Iran for the singular purpose of preserving some portion of the deal it thinks is important, she said of the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration, which the Trump administration withdrew from.

She predicted the Biden administration will continue to pursue diplomacy with Iran to advance what it views as U.S. national security interests in the region.

She said the administration already knew that there was no chance of getting a revised Iran nuclear deal through Congress even before the attacks outside Gaza.

Pletka also said the attacks will likely impact the Biden administrations efforts to negotiate a security agreement with Saudi Arabia in return for Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel.

I might have said this wouldnt have changed things had the Saudis not acted as they had. The Saudis wanted to party like it was 1967 again, apparently, she said, referring to the Six-Day War in 1967 when a coalition of Arab countries fought Israel.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said in a statement Saturday that it had warned Israel of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israeli forces have described the horrific scene of a massacre in an Israeli community, called a kibbutz, where women, children and the elderly were brutally butchered by Hamas militants over the weekend.

As officials begin to assess and work to clean up the damage following Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, with overturned cars, burned-out buildings, and dead bodies littering the ground in places that were attacked, horrific new details are coming to light.

At the Kfar Aza kibbutz, Israeli Defense Forces retrieved dead bodies from houses on Tuesday, with the stench of death wafting through the air, according to a Reuters report from the scene. Both Israelis and Hamas militants were among the dead.

You see the babies, the mothers, the fathers, in their bedrooms, in their protection rooms, and how the terrorist kills them. It's not a war, its not a battlefield, Israeli Major General Itai Veruv said, according to Reuters. It's a massacre, its a terror activity.

It is something that I never saw in my life. It's something that we used to imagine from our grandfathers, grandmothers in the pogrom in Europe and other places. It's not something that happens in new history, Veruv added.

Militants brutally butchered civilians in an ISIS way of action, the Israel Defense Forces told CNN on Tuesday. The military said it could not confirm the exact number of killed at Kfar Aza kibbutz and refused to go into exact details of how they were slaughtered, but CNN said it had seen houses set on fire and unexploded grenades scattered across the ground.

Ive never seen anything like this in my career, never in 40 years of service this something I never imagined, Maj. Gen. Veruv told CNN.

He described how soldiers fought waves and waves of terrorists for two days, moving from battle to battle.

I saw hundreds of terrorists in full armor, full gear, with all the equipment and all the ability to make a massacre, go from apartment to apartment, from room to room and kill babies, mothers, fathers in their bedrooms, Veruv said.

The attack, which Hamas launched early Saturday, is the worst attack on Israel in decades, according to a State Department assessment.

Mom of Festival-Goer Shani Louk Says Shes Still Alive in a Gaza Hospital

This is a massive terrorist attack targeting Israeli civilians, gunning people down in the streets of their towns, gunning them down in their homes, dragging Israelismen, women, and childrenacross the border with Gaza, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday.

Some families in Israel hid for hours in fear for their lives, trying to keep their children quiet to avoid getting slaughtered, U.S. President Joe Biden noted Tuesday in remarks.

This was an act of sheer evil, more than 1,000 civilians slaughtered in Israel, Biden said. Parents butchered using their bodies trying to protect their children. Stomach-churning reports of babies being killed Families hid their fear for hours and hours desperately trying to keep their kids quiet to avoid drawing attention.

Exact a Price

Biden spoke on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a third time Tuesday, reaffirming the United States stands firmly with Israel as it seeks to defend itself.

Since the onslaught on Saturday, Israeli soldiers have been fighting off Hamas militants in southern Israel, according to CBS News. A military spokesperson said the Hamas attack had taken 1,000 lives, surpassing many other Islamist attacks, except 9/11.

Israel has since bombarded Gaza with airstrikes, killing approximately 900 Gazans, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Tuesday. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike hit an open-air market in Gazas Jabaliya refugee camp, leaving 60 people dead, according to a Red Crescent volunteer, The New York Times reported. Other strikes hit mosques on Monday in Gaza, leaving them crushed and killing worshippers.

Israels retaliatory strikes have killed 770 Gazans, according to Gaza officials; 137,000 have been displaced, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Israel is continuing to conduct extensive strikes against militants in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces said Tuesday evening.

The attack on Saturday marked a major escalation in a years-long conflict between the two sides, igniting fresh tensions between Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, and Israels government with no offramp in sight.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, but announced a full siege of Gaza on MondayDefense Minister Yoav Gallant intends to allow no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel into Gaza.

A Hamas spokesperson threatened that every time Israel launches an airstrike into Gaza, Hamas will execute a civilian hostage the group has taken from Israel in the last several days.

Video Reportedly Shows Hamas Beginning Deadly Hostage Killing Spree

The group has taken some American hostages, Biden said Tuesday.

Signs have begun to emerge that Israel may be preparing to launch a ground invasion of Gaza, according to CBS News. Israel has mobilized 300,000 reservists in apparent preparation for further military activity.

Though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it, Netanyahu said in remarks this weekend. Hamas will understand that by attacking us they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israels other enemies for decades to come.

Other tensions have flared in recent hours. Israeli soldiers have also been exchanging fire with Hezbollah militants who were launching rockets from Lebanon, according to CBS News.

Israels military has attacked two Hezbollah observation posts, the IDF said Tuesday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The News

Israel launched a massive military siege of the Gaza Strip Monday aimed at dislodging the Hamas militia and political leadership in an operation officials warned could take months and test the long-term commitment of the U.S and other Western allies to the Jewish states defenses.

Early Israeli operations focused on air sorties that targeted Hamass military infrastructure and military commanders in Gaza, a land sliver abutting the Mediterranean Sea. The Israel Defense Forces also said it was cutting off food, water, and electricity into the Palestinian enclave.

Israel also called up 300,000 reservists and started moving many towards the Gaza front, signaling the initiation of a ground invasion that could take months and result in substantial deaths of both Israelis and Palestinians. These moves came just two days after Hamas, a U.S.- and European-designated terrorist organization, launched a surprise attack across Israels southern border that has left at least 700 Israelis dead and thousands more injured.

It wanted a war, it will receive a war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of Hamas in a speech Monday. We are all united, and we will win.

Know More

The Biden administration said its surging munitions and air defense support to Israel to bolster its military operations against Hamas. This includes rockets for Israels Iron Dome anti-missile batteries. The Pentagon also said its deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which possesses both extensive intelligence and offensive military capabilities, to the Mediterranean.

This is ISIS-level savagery that we have seen committed against Israeli civilians, said a senior Pentagon official Monday, referring to the Islamist terrorist group. We think its incredibly important that this message of support for Israels defense be underscored across the region.

U.S. and Israeli officials said Hamas is believed to be holding American citizens as hostages inside Gaza. They declined to say whether U.S. Special Operations personnel could get involved in freeing them.

Jays view

Hamass assault on Israel this weekend was unique in both its scale and sophistication. And Israels response could eventually move beyond the Gaza Strip to target Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

Both U.S. and Israeli officials said Monday theyre also vetting intelligence to gauge Irans potential involvement in planning the assault, though they said theyve seen no direct evidence so far. Tehran is the primary financial backer and arms supplier to both Hamas and Hezbollah.

An extended Israeli military operation against Hamas and other Iranian-backed factions, particularly with the expectation of high civilian casualties, will test a Biden administration and Europe already focused on securing Ukraine against Russias invasion.

The U.S. may face challenges in concurrently supplying arms and other military support to both Israel and Ukraine, though Pentagon officials said Monday they have the necessary stockpiles. An extended Mideast war could also undercut the Biden White Houses desire to focus most of the Pentagons attention on countering Chinas growing military dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Israels war, and its potential expansion, will pose other diplomatic and strategic challenges for Bidens national security team. Previous Israeli military campaigns against Hamas and Hezbollah  and the resulting high death tolls  fueled outrage in Europe and the Mideast and pressure on Washington to constrain its close ally. Attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah also risk dragging Iran more directly into the conflict, something U.S. officials say they want to avoid.

Israels 2006 war against Hezbollah, which I covered from Beirut, illustrated the pressures Washington faces during extended Israeli military campaigns. The Bush administration initially offered Israel unlimited support to conduct both air and ground operations in Lebanon. But as the war extended to more than a month, and the death toll in Lebanon grew, the U.S. entered diplomatically and ultimately negotiated a cease-fire through Egypt and other countries. Many Israeli leaders at the time said the Israel Defense Forces werent given enough time to more permanently degrade Hezbollahs capabilities  a message that could apply to Hamas today.

The Biden administration has also given some mixed messages on its support for Israels military operations over the past two days. While President Biden announced his unflagging support for Israel this weekend, his State Department issued  and then retracted  two statements that suggested Washington was interested in a quick cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory strikes, read a Saturday statement from the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs, which was subsequently recalled.

The Biden administrations deployment of a carrier strike force on the waters off Gaza and Lebanon also raises the prospects of the U.S. more directly engaging in the conflict. Coordinated attacks in the coming weeks by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian-backed militias in the West Bank and Syria risks overwhelming Israels defenses. President Biden would then need to decide on whether to deploy American assets to aid Israels defense.

Room for Disagreement

Some of Washingtons closest Mideast allies, particularly Qatar and Turkey, have sharply broken with Washington on the war and largely backed Hamas. Qatar on Saturday issued a statement holding Israel solely responsible for the conflict and called for an immediate cease-fire. Qatars Foreign Ministry stressed the need for the international community to act urgently to compel Israel to stop its flagrant violations of international law.

The Biden administration condemned Qatars position. But the oil rich Gulf state may play a central role in negotiating the release of kidnapped Israeli and American citizens being held in Gaza, similar to ways it helped free Americans held by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021. Qatar could use this influence to press for a shorter Israeli war against Hamas, something Netanyahus government will likely oppose.

Some liberal activists inside the Democratic Party have also been campaigning for an immediate end to the Israeli campaign against Hamas. And their voices are likely to grow the longer the fighting continues and the death toll rises. An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said in a statement on Monday.

Notable

The White House disputed a Wall Street Journal report that Iran directly oversaw Hamass attack on Israel, though it said Tehran is complicit.
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Rear) speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 9, 2023. Guterres on Monday called for an end to the vicious circle of violence between Palestinians and Israelis. [Photo/Xinhua]

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for an end to the vicious circle of violence between Palestinians and Israelis.

"This most recent violence does not come in a vacuum. The reality is that it grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year-long occupation and no political end in sight," he said in a statement. "It's time to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization."

Israel must see its legitimate security needs materialized, and Palestinians must see a clear perspective for the establishment of their own state realized. Only a negotiated peace that fulfills the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis, together with their security alike - the long-held vision of a two-state solution, in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements - can bring long-term stability to the people of this land and the wider Middle East region, he said.

Guterres condemned the attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the Gaza periphery, which he said had left over 800 Israelis dead and more than 2,500 others injured.

In addition, more than 100, possibly more, Israelis - civilians and military -- had been reported captured by armed groups. Some were being held hostage inside Israel and many others had been taken inside the Gaza Strip, he noted.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad had launched thousands of indiscriminate rockets that had reached central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, he said.

"I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages."

Guterres expressed concern over Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza.

"I am deeply alarmed by reports of over 500 Palestinians, including women and children, killed in Gaza and over 3,000 injured. Unfortunately, these numbers are rising by the minute as Israeli operations continue," he said. "While I recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law."

Civilians must be respected and protected at all times. Civilian infrastructure must never be a target, he said.

There were reports of Israeli missiles striking health facilities inside Gaza as well as multi-storied residential towers and a mosque. Two schools run by the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees sheltering displaced families in Gaza were also hit. Some 137,000 people were sheltering in the agency's facilities - with the number increasing as heavy shelling and airstrikes continued, he noted.

Guterres said he was deeply distressed by Israeli's announcement that it would initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, with nothing allowed in - no electricity, food, or fuel.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire even before these hostilities. Now it would only deteriorate exponentially. Medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel. Relief and entry of essential supplies into Gaza must be facilitated, he said.

"I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip. I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort," said Guterres.
By Maayan Lubell and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) -Israel formed an emergency unity government on Wednesday as its jets pounded Gaza and tanks massed around the Palestinian enclave, and the army said it killed three Hamas militants in a fresh confrontation on nearby Israeli territory.

Former Defence Minister Benny Gantz , a centrist opposition leader, spoke live on Israeli television alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after forming a war cabinet focused entirely on the conflict.

"Our partnership is not political, it is a shared fate," said Gantz. "At this time we are all the soldiers of Israel."

Netanyahu said the people of Israel and its leadership were united. "We have put aside all differences because the fate of our state is on the line," he said.

Israel's death toll rose to 1,200 with over 2,700 wounded, its military said, in a weekend rampage by militants who breached the border fence enclosing Gaza in a shock infiltration of nearby Israeli towns and villages.

Israeli reprisal strikes on blockaded Gaza have killed 1,100 people and wounded 5,339, Gaza's Health Ministry said. Some 535 residential buildings had been destroyed leaving around 250,000 homeless, Hamas officials said. Most of the displaced were in U.N.-designated shelters, others huddling in shattered streets.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who has pledged Washington's ongoing support for Israel, despatched his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to the region in a bid to avert a wider Middle East war.

Hamas' armed wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, said it was still fighting inside Israel on Wednesday, and the Israeli military said a tank fired on three militants in a vehicle near Nir Am kibbutz, just outside northeast Gaza, and killed them.

Israel has deployed formations of tanks and armoured vehicles near Gaza in possible preparation for a ground offensive into the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

Hamas's armed wing said it had targeted the northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa with an R60 rocket. There were no immediate reports of casualties after sirens sounded in Haifa and nearby towns.

A Reuters TV crew saw a house hit by an apparent projectile near Metulla in Israel's far north, close to the border with south Lebanon where the heavily armed Iran-backed Hezbollah group is active.

Israel has vowed swift punishment for the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in its 75-year-old history, which left corpses strewn around a music festival and a kibbutz community.

Dozens of Israeli fighter jets struck more than 200 targets in a neighbourhood of Gaza City overnight that the military said had been used by Hamas to launch its attacks.

Israel has put Gaza under "total siege" to stop food and fuel reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people, many poor and dependent on aid. Hamas media said on Wednesday electricity went out after the only power station stopped working.

With Palestinian rescue workers overwhelmed, others in the crowded coastal strip searched for bodies in the rubble.

"I was sleeping here when the house collapsed on top of me," one man cried as he and others used flashlights on the stairs of a building hit by missiles to find anyone trapped.

The Israeli military said its troops had killed at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza as they regained control of the border region, and the Chief of the General Staff met commanders to discuss their next steps.

"We will wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth," Defence Minister Gallant said in the televised joint address, likening Hamas to the Islamic State group. "It will cease to exist."

WEST BANK VIOLENCE

Scores of Israelis and others were taken to Gaza as hostages, some of whom were paraded through streets. Both sides have said many women and children were among the dead and wounded, and distraught relatives have held multiple funerals.

Israel said it was shifting schools to remote learning from Sunday and issuing more firearms to licensed citizens, predicting possible friction between its Jewish majority and Arab minority amid calls for more protests in support of Gaza.

Israeli security forces have killed at least 27 Palestinians during clashes in the occupied West Bank since Saturday, as Palestinian factions called on people in the Palestinian territory to rise up following Hamas' strike from Gaza.

The acting governor of the West Bank city of Nablus, Ghassan Daghlas, said Palestinians were shot at and reportedly wounded by Israeli settlers. Reuters could not immediately verify the report and there was no immediate Israeli comment.

In another sign of the crisis widening, Israeli shelling hit southern Lebanese towns after a rocket attack by the powerful Hezbollah in the fourth consecutive day of violence there.

A ground offensive into Gaza carries risks for Israel, notably to the hostages held in the narrow, widely urbanised enclave. Hamas has threatened to execute a captive for each home hit without warning.

Palestinian sources said one of the homes Israeli air strikes hit in Gaza overnight killed three relatives of Hamas military wing chief Mohammed Deif, the secretive mastermind of the assault, which was planned for two years.

Israel withdrew settlers and troops from Gaza in 2005 after 38 years of occupation. An Israeli blockade since Hamas seized power in the enclave in 2007 has created conditions which Palestinians say are intolerable.

Washington said it was talking with Israel and Egypt about safe passage for civilians from Gaza, with food in short supply.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell, James Mackenzie, Dan Williams, Emily Rose, Henriette Chacar and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, Humerya Pamuk in Washington and Andrew Mills in Qatar; Writing by Simon Lewis, Michael Georgy, Philippa Fletcher and Mark Heinrich; Editing by Howard Goller, Lincoln Feast, Michael Perry, Andrew Cawthorne and Toby Chopra)
Israel's Air Force is conducting devastating airstrikes on Gaza.

Videos appear to show strikes employing precision-guided munitions and missiles against Hamas targets.

The strikes are destroying the area as violence only escalates after Hamas staged brutal attacks.

Israeli airstrikes are pummeling Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in moves that could be a precursor to expanded combat operations, and the country is requesting more weapons as the fighting continues.

The airstrikes began early in the worsening conflict that started with bloody surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday that killed at least 800 people  mostly civilians  and wounded countless more. Deaths have climbed since the initial attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have said its strikes are targeting Hamas forces across the Gaza Strip, but the area is densely populated with around 2 million people, many families with children. Combat in this area is a challenge, and Palestinian officials said at least 830 people have died since the airstrikes began. At least 260 children are included in that estimate.

The Israeli Air Force said it was staging "an extensive attack" in Gaza on Tuesday, a day after Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel is executing a "complete siege" of Gaza, including cutting off electricity, food, and fuel.

Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 10, 2023

"The issue here is that we have been tasked with mitigating or making sure that Hamas doesn't have any military capabilities at the end of the war. And that will be achieved," an IDF spokesperson told CNN on Monday.

"What happens on the way and how we implement that task will be seen. But at this stage, we continue to strike from the air. And there are plans to, of course, expand that. And the troops, the reserves, and the regular units that are amassing along the southern border are readying for their tasks," he said.

According to open-source accounts, strikes against Hamas militants include the use of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), a US-made guidance kit that converts unguided, "dumb" bombs into precision-guided, "smart" munitions, as well as US-made Hellfire missiles, among other weapons.

Israel has used these weapons to strike targets in Gaza from the air in the past, like during Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021. And there have been urgent requests US weapons and assistance, including asking for more JDAMs and interceptors for their short-range aerial defense system Iron Dome.

The demand for the latter comes as Hamas rockets create a pressing "need a lot of inexpensive air defenses," Mark Cancian, a senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a retired Marine Corps colonel, told Insider.

Smoke and flame rise after Israeli air forces targeting a shopping center in Gaza Strip, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

JDAMs were jointly developed by the US Air Force and the US Navy after the Air Force's bombing campaign during the Persian Gulf War in the 1990s was hindered by weather changes and airborne dust and smoke. The JDAM kit fixes that issue, ensuring the munition it's bolted onto can remain locked on target thanks to GPS coordination. Putting a JDAM kit on a "dumb" bomb  thereby making it smart  was seen as a cost effective way to modernize munitions and increase effectiveness.

Also, "they are cheap and plentiful," Cancian said, "and thus the weapon of choice when an adversary does not have a strong air defense."

Israel, which says the weapons help reduce civilian casualties, has long employed JDAMs, originally getting them in the 1990s and using them extensively in their 2006 offensive against neighboring Lebanon.

In 2008, Israel bid to get improved JDAMs from the US, beating out Saudi Arabia, which was also gunning for the weapons. Since then, the IDF has consistently kept JDAMs in its stockpiles and used them in airstrikes against Hamas due to affordability and the potential for massive damage. It requested additional JDAMs from the US amid the latest fighting, and a delivery of 1,000 small diameter bombs originally purchased in 2021 was accelerated.

In a statement Sunday, the US Defense Department said it "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," though it did not specify which ones. A senior Pentagon official told reporters Monday "planes have already taken off," per Politico.

Open-source information accounts, as well as war monitors, have been documenting the potential use of JDAMs in airstrikes on Gaza since the declaration of war on Sunday.

Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) October 10, 2023

Other videos showed compilations of JDAM attacks, as the munitions obliterated buildings leveled entire areas.

Photos of an Israeli F-16 armed with JDAMs were also shared online. Insider was unable to independently verify the videos and photos posted, and the IDF declined to comment on whether or not JDAMs were being used.

IDF actions also appears to include launching Hellfire missiles from Apache helicopters against Hamas groups, resulting in massive destruction. The air-to-ground missile can be fired from aircraft like drones and attack helicopters toward targets such as infantry, tanks, and bunkers.

One video surfaced online and shared by open-source accounts showed the apparent use of Hellfire missiles on Hamas militants. The exact time and location of the engagement is unknown.

Since Israel began its air assaults in and around Gaza, the United Nations has said at least two hospitals have been hit, with reports of further strikes on a marketplace, mosques, schools, and other civilian infrastructure. Israel has long accused Hamas of operating out of civilian facilities.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Warning: This article includes graphic images.

KFAR AZA, Israel  The bodies of Hamas fighters lay on the streets of this kibbutz close to the border with Gaza on Tuesday as Israeli soldiers went door to door to secure it days after it was overrun.

The bodies were among the 1,500 dead militants Israel says it found inside its border after Hamas' surprise raid from Gaza.

Among the grim, extraordinary numbers that tell the story of the militants' attack on Israel, that one, in particular, has dumbfounded experts. It raises the question of how large Hamas' total fighting force is  and what a bloody, close-quarters ground offensive on the Gaza Strip might look like if Israel launches one in the coming days.

I dont think theres a way to overstate how extraordinarily difficult it will be, said Tobias Borck, a Middle East expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank. Its not going to just be street by street but house by house and tunnel by tunnel."

Follow our live coverage here.

Israeli army soldiers patrol in Sderot, Israel (Menahem Kahan / AFP via Getty Images)

Most analysts agree that some form of ground offensive is inevitable.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose right-wing government is under pressure to react quickly and decisively after having been surprised by Saturdays attack, made it clear that this one was unlike other conflicts with Palestinian militants: Israel would fight this war with a mighty vengeance, he said, as he and other Israeli officials vowed to destroy Hamas military capabilities.

That would be difficult, if not impossible, using airstrikes alone, which are already battering the tiny, blockaded Gaza Strip. And seemingly to that end, Israel has called up 360,000 reservists, adding to its standing army of 170,000.

I can tell you that were weighing the situation very carefully, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Maj. Doron Spielman, said Monday when he was asked whether the military was preparing a ground offensive. "This is an entirely new paradigm to the way we have weighed other conflicts in the last few years.

He told NBC News on Tuesday he did not have any additional information about a potential ground offensive or Israel's assessment of Hamas' strength.

In 2021, The Times of Israel quoted an unnamed senior Israeli commander as saying Hamas had an army of 30,000 men, replenished since its 2014 war with Israel. NBC News is not able to confirm those numbers, and Hamas does not disclose that information.

One problem with those estimates is that it is not exactly clear what constitutes a Hamas fighter.

Is that counting people who have held a gun, or only those who have received a degree of training? Borck said. Israels objective now is to destroy Hamas military capability. The problem with that statement is we dont know what Hamas military capability is.

Israeli army soldier arranges artillery shells on the border with Gaza in southern Israel (Jack Guez / AFP via Getty Images)

To carry out Saturdays attack, the militant group used some of its most elite forces, namely the Nakba unit, which has 3,000 to 5,000 fighters, said Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst who is the head of intelligence at the Le Beck consultancy.

"So this means between half to around a third of some of Hamas' elite commando force has been killed," he said.

The 1,500 reported killed could also include fighters from a smaller Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, according to Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.

Any ground invasion might resemble the last large-scale Israeli offensive into Gaza in 2014, which lasted 50 days. It came at a cost both for the Israeli army, which lost 66 soldiers, and the Palestinians, with 1,400 of the 2,300 killed thought to be civilians, according to UNRWA, the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees.

Israeli soldiers stand near the body of a Palestinian militant in Kfar Aza, Israel (Thomas Coex / AFP - Getty Images)

With more than 2 million people crammed inside an area twice the size of Washington, D.C., Gaza remains one of the most densely populated and impoverished places in the world. Israel and Egypt have blockaded it for 16 years, strictly controlling the movement of goods and people, strictly controlled, which Israel says is necessary to thwart the militants residing there.

But unlike nine years ago, Gaza is now also where dozens of hostages militants captured over the weekend are being held.

In a conflict that strikes deep emotional chords in the region and around the world, the uncertain fate of those captives has added yet another layer of turmoil that only intensified after Hamas threatened to execute them if Israel bombed civilians in Gaza.

Israeli soldiers (Ilia Yefimovich / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The hostages "have likely already been dispersed throughout the Gaza Strip, which is riven with tunnels, bunkers, and other concealed places that will make locating, much less rescuing, the hostages difficult, Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a briefing.

These places and perhaps even the hostages themselves will likely be laden with traps," he said. "This is a challenge of a magnitude that has never been faced before.

Israel's army is well-known for being high-tech, and its Merkava tanks could take up positions in the fields near the Gaza-Israel border. But they would become extremely vulnerable to ambush once they are inside the enclave's densely packed streets, analysts agree.

Even then, defeating Hamas may not be the end of the conflict.

Hoffman said a full-scale ground offensive could spark the involvement of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah  or even Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas.

And some experts fear any ground offensive might lead to a longer-term Israeli military presence inside Gaza for the first time since 2005, when it withdrew 38 years after having captured it.

"Whatever the tactics, I see no way for Israel to gain effective military control without a dense presence on the ground that will have to last months at least, which will generate its own multiple problems," said Sayigh of the Carnegie Center.

"Obviously, Palestinian civilian casualties will be horrendous."

Richard Engel and Marc Smith reported from Kfar Aza and Alexander Smith from London.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory now suffering severe retaliation for the deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants.

Humanitarian groups pleaded for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza and warned that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has inflamed Israel's determination to crush the group's hold in Gaza. New exchanges of fire over Israel's northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday morning, slaying hundreds of residents in homes and streets near the Gaza border and bringing gunbattles to Israeli towns for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold about 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

Israel stepped up its offensive on Tuesday, expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000. Israels military said it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza  a 40-kilometer-long (25-mile) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

Rescue officials in Gaza said large numbers of people were still trapped under the remnants of leveled buildings, with rescue equipment and ambulances unable to reach the area.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after hours of airstrikes the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened.

I sell toys, not missiles, the 46-year-old said, weeping. I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job."

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets in Rimal, an upscale district home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, universities, media organizations and the aid agency offices.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate neighborhood after neighborhood, and then inflicting devastation, in what could be a prelude to a ground offensive. On Tuesday, the military told residents of the nearby al-Daraj neighborhood to evacuate. New explosions soon rocked it and other areas, continuing into the night.

Fighter jets returned multiple times to another neighborhood, al-Furqan, striking 450 targets in 24 hours, the Israeli military said.

One blast hit Gaza City's seaport, setting fishing boats aflame.

There is no safe place in Gaza right now. You see decent people being killed every day, Gaza journalist Hasan Jabar said after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the Rimal bombardment. I am genuinely afraid for my life.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hamas fired barrages of rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Tuesday night, a group of militants entered an industrial zone in Ashkelon, sparking a gunbattle with Israeli troops, the military said. Three militants were killed, and troops were searching the area for others.

Israel's new tactics could point to its new objective.

Four previous rounds of Israel-Hamas fighting between 2008 and 2021 all ended inconclusively, with Hamas battered but still in control. This time, Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, a goal considered unachievable in the past because it would require a reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, at least temporarily.

The objective is for this war to end very differently from all of the previous rounds. There has to be a clear victory, said Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel. "Whatever has to be done to fundamentally change the situation will have to be done, he said.

The devastation also sharpened questions about Hamas' strategy and objectives. Hamas officials have said they planned for all possibilities, including a punishing Israeli escalation. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Hamas may have been counting on the fight to spread to the West Bank and possibly for Lebanons Hezbollah to open a front in the north. Days of clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the West Bank have left 15 Palestinians dead, but Israel has clamped down heavily on the territory, preventing movement between communities. The violence also spread into east Jerusalem, where Israeli police said they killed two Palestinians who hurled stones at police late Tuesday.

Brief exchanges of fire across Israel's northern border have taken place nearly daily. Palestinian militants fired rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon and from Syria on Tuesday, each bringing Israeli artillery and mortar fire in return. But so far they have not escalated.

In hopes of blunting the bombardment in Gaza, Hamas has threatened to kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

The militants attack stunned Israel with a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria  and those deaths happened over a longer period of time. It brought horrific scenes of Hamas militants gunning down civilians in their homes, on streets and at a mass outdoor music festival, while dragging men, women and children into captivity.

The Israeli military said more than 1,000 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, 900 people have been killed, including 260 children and 230 women, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday at least 14 U.S. citizens were killed in Hamas attack and that Americans are among those being held hostage in Gaza. Biden, who spoke earlier in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said there is no justification for terrorism.

Biden added an apparent warning to Hezbollah, saying, To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Dont."

The State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to Israel to deliver a message of solidarity and support.

Hamas responded to Biden, saying his administration should review its biased position" and "move away from the policy of double standards over Palestinian rights to defend themselves against Israeli occupation.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were found on Israeli territory, the military said. It wasnt clear whether those numbers overlapped with deaths reported by Palestinian authorities. Tens of thousands of people in southern Israel have been evacuated since Sunday.

In Gaza, more than 200,000 people have fled their homes, the U.N. said, the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. The vast majority are sheltering in schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000 people, the U.N. said.

The U.N.s World Health Organization said that supplies it had pre-positioned for seven hospitals in Gaza have already run out amid the flood of wounded. The head of the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.

___

Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre, Amy Teibel and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
Israel ramped up its aerial strikes on buildings in downtown Gaza City early Tuesday as the country called up its reserve military amid an escalating conflict with Hamas  which has killed at least 1,600 people on both sides.

Hamas launched an unprecedented, wide-scale attack on Israeli border settlements early Saturday, catching Israeli forces off guard. The militants continued fighting inside Israel until early Tuesday, the Israeli government said.

Israel claims the Palestinian group, which controls the Gaza Strip, is holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians as hostages while the country continues its missile strike campaign against the 140 square-mile area  home to 2.3 million people.

Overnight strikes devastated Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood, home to some Hamas ministries, but also a university, multiple media organizations and international aid organizations.

Hundreds of missiles over hours rendered much of the district uninhabitable as buildings were flattened, cars burned and roads unusable.

The Israeli military strategy could force the already-packed residents of Gaza to seek increasingly rare places of shelter as strikes are expected to continue.

Hamas terrorists wont have a place to run to in Gaza, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari told The Associated Press. We will reach them wherever they are.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to completely wipe out Hamas, a goal which has seen the backing of the countrys Western allies, including the U.S.

All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble, Netanyahu said. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.

Missile strikes have also made leaving Gaza impossible, while Israel has also prevented medical and food aid  including from the United Nations  from entering the already impoverished territory. Late Saturday, Israel cut its power supply to Gaza, leaving the territorys hospitals in the dark and the lone power station struggling to keep up.

The single border crossing accessible out of the territory, in Rafah on the Egyptian border, was closed due to Israeli air strikes, Hamas said.

The U.N. said late Monday that more than 187,000 people have left their homes in Gaza, a figure that is expected to continue to rise  the most since a six-week siege on the territory in 2014 by Israel uprooted about 400,000.

UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in 83 schools across the territory.

The two governments have claimed about 900 Israelis and 765 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting with thousands more wounded. Both figures are expected to continue to rise.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned a long siege of Gaza would mean utter disaster for those in the territory.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told the AP. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

Missile strikes have also extended to Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group traditionally allied with Hamas, sparking fears that the group could open a second front in the conflict for Israel.

Late Monday, President Biden penned a joint statement alongside four Western European leaders to denounce Hamas and commit to supporting Israel in the conflict.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism, the leaders wrote. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.

The attacks mark the most violent fighting in the region since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which began exactly 50 years and one day before the Saturday fighting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Israeli Air Force announced Tuesday that the "extensive attack waves" it is continuing to unleash on the Gaza Strip has killed two senior Hamas officials.

The military branch said one of those killed was Hamas Minister of Economy Jawad Abu Shamala.

"As part of his role, he managed the funds in the organization and earmarked the funds for financing and directing terrorism inside and outside the Gaza Strip," the Israeli Air Force wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He previously held security positions in the terrorist organization and as part of his role led several operations aimed at harming civilians in the State of Israel."

The other Hamas official said to be killed in Israels retaliatory strikes is Zakaria Abu Ma'amr, who the Israeli Air Force says "serves as the head of the organization's national relations office."

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Tuesday.

"As part of his position, he did a lot of work to incite and act against the sovereignty of the State of Israel and endanger its residents," it also said. "In addition, as part of his role, he belonged to the organization's senior forum and thus was involved in the organization's decision-making and planning many outlines and actions against the security of the State of Israel."

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The Israeli Air Force on Tuesday said it is continuing "extensive attack waves" on the Gaza Strip, hitting more than 250 targets in one neighborhood over the last day.

AT LEAST 40 BABIES, SOME BEHEADED, FOUND BY ISRAEL SOLDIERS IN HAMAS-ATTACKED VILLAGE

"The Al Furkan neighborhood is used as a terror nest for Hamas and from where many activities against Israel are carried out," it said in a post, adding that among the targets struck in the Rafah area was an "underground tunnel designed for smuggling equipment and ammunition."

An Israeli military official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Israeli death toll since Hamas began attacking the country on Saturday has now risen to more than 1,000.

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza towards Israel on Tuesday.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health also says around 830 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip.





Original article source: Israeli Air Force unleashing 'extensive attack waves' on Gaza Strip, kills 2 senior Hamas officials
By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) -Israeli retaliatory air strikes against the Hamas militant group struck residential buildings and schools across the Gaza Strip, U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday, adding that "sieges" were illegal under international law.

Turk also condemned "horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups" and said the militants' abduction of hostages was also forbidden under international law.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attacks by Hamas gunmen.

Israel's air attacks - the worst in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians - also hit "premises of the UN relief and works agency, UNRWA (U.N. Palestinian refugee agency)," a U.N. rights office statement said, adding that civilians were among the dead and injured.

Israel vowed to take "mighty revenge" after the Hamas attack left its streets strewn with bodies. Israeli media said 900 people were killed in the attacks and most were civilians, while nearly 700 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza officials, with entire districts flattened.

Israel's defence forces said on social media platform X that aircraft had hit military targets, including weapons storage and manufacturing sites.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva criticised Turk's statement.

"He cannot bring himself to condemn those who carried out the (Hamas) attacks as terrorists," it said.

SUPPLIES CUT, MEDICINES RUN OUT

Turk said Israel's "imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law".

"This risks seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the capacity of medical facilities to operate, especially in light of increasing numbers of injured," he said, adding that a siege may amount to "collective punishment".

Such acts may amount to a war crime, U.N. Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani later clarified. The U.N. rights office's findings were based on a review of available material, including from its own monitors on the ground, she said.

Separately, a U.N. -appointed Commission of Inquiry said in a statement there was already "clear evidence that war crimes may have been committed" by all sides to the conflict. It said it was collecting evidence to ensure future legal accountability.

Some 187,500 people have fled their homes in Gaza, a U.N. humanitarian office offices spokesperson said at the same briefing, warning of shortages of water and electricity.

"UNICEF is extremely alarmed about measures to cut electricity, to cut food, to cut water, to cut fuel from entering Gaza. This will add another layer of suffering to the existing catastrophe faced by families in Gaza," said U.N. children's agency spokesperson James Elder. He added that "hundreds" of Israeli and Palestinian children had been killed since the weekend, without giving details.

World Health Organization's Tarik Jasarevic said that 13 attacks on health facilities in Gaza had been confirmed by its monitoring service since hostilities began.

It was working on a humanitarian corridor for the Gaza strip, but stores of medical supplies had already run out, he said.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Friederike Heine, Bernadette Baum and Nick Macfie)
Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg last saw their son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, on Friday night. With the help of their daughters, including Leebie, right, they've mounted a campaign to retrieve him. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Their eyes red from exhaustion and worry, Jonathan Polin and his wife, Rachel Goldberg, sat Tuesday in a corner of their Jerusalem living room, now converted into a makeshift command center, with one aim: finding their son.

It had been five days since Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old California native, left a family dinner celebrating the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah to meet up with his best friend. Goldberg kissed her son goodbye, expecting to see him the next day, Saturday.

The following morning, however, air-raid sirens reverberated throughout Jerusalem shortly after 8 a.m.  the first sign there of the massive Hamas operation that would swiftly grow into the deadliest attack on Israel in 50 years. Stepping out of her apartment building's underground shelter for a moment, Goldberg switched on her phone, normally kept off for the Sabbath, in order to check on her son.

Two texts immediately popped up, both from Goldberg-Polin, sent just 12 minutes earlier.

"The first text said 'I love you.' The second said 'I'm sorry,'" Goldberg recounted, her face fighting the grief of the memory. "I immediately took that to mean he knew he was in trouble, that it would cause us a lot of pain, and he was sorry."

Goldberg called her son's number. No answer. She texted him: "Are you OK?" Nothing.

Read more: Israel calls for complete siege of Gaza, and Hamas threatens to execute hostages

Ten minutes later: "Tell me you're OK." Another 10 minutes passed. "I'm leaving my phone on. Let me know you're OK."

She still hasn't heard anything.

Goldberg, 53, and her two daughters, Leebie, 20, and Orly, 17, began to contact Goldberg-Polin's friends to see where he had spent the night. It was Leebie who found online videos of the savage assault by Hamas on a music festival in the southern Israeli desert near Gaza, where militants attacked and hunted down concertgoers, killing an estimated 260 of them as they tried to flee. Others were kidnapped and taken over the border into Gaza.

Read more: She was away when Hamas militants invaded her kibbutz and kidnapped her family

Leebie showed the videos to her mother, whose heart sank. Goldberg-Polin, who was born in Berkeley and lived there for eight years before moving with his family to Israel in 2008, loved music festivals. He had once gone on a nine-week trek through six different countries in Europe, attending different musical events along the way.

Goldberg eventually confirmed that her son had been at the festival near Gaza.

"Since then we've had this real nightmare," Goldberg said.

Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups are now holding more than 150 Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Their predicament has become one of the most prominent  and harrowing, for their families  aspects of the 4-day-old war, in which more than 1,000 Israelis and 800 Palestinians have been killed, according to authorities.

Read more: Palestinians scramble for safety as Israel pounds sealed-off Gaza Strip

Israel, which had thought Hamas weakened, now vows to crush its longtime enemy utterly. But the kidnap victims greatly complicate that aim, forcing the military to come up with a hostage-rescue operation alongside the large-scale offensive now being prepared against Hamas in Gaza. The group says its captives are scattered throughout the crowded coastal enclave, where 2.3 million Palestinians have lived under Israeli blockade, in misery and impoverishment, for the last 16 years.

Seeing the authorities overwhelmed, Goldberg, Polin and their two daughters  like the relatives and friends of other missing Israelis  have mounted their own campaign to try to find their son and brother.

"It's a war, so we realize that there are a number of things that are important on a national level. But this is the most important thing for us, so we need to do it," Polin, 53, said.

"The country needs to defend itself, and we need to help our son. We understand it's not everyone's top priority. But it is ours."

Friends and family converged on the couple's apartment, ready to help.

"It was a real situation room. We've had 10 people since every day, sleeping here with us. They haven't left us," Polin said.

Some scoured the dozens of videos coming out of Gaza showing the hostages for any sign of Goldberg-Polin or his best friend, Aner Shapira. Others called hospitals, police stations, survivors of the attack on the music festival, anyone who they thought could have seen the pair  a heart-wringing process that pushed the family between hope and despair.

Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive

A visit to the area near the festival, a stone's throw from a tiny kibbutz named Re'im  meaning "friends"  gives a hint of the violence that took place early Saturday. Vehicles with cracked windshields and bullet holes line the roadside, their contents disgorged along the berms. Around them, in a field by a stand of trees, are the spread-eagled corpses of Hamas fighters, stripped to their underwear to make sure they weren't strapped with explosives, their bodies bloody and bloating in the afternoon sun.

Polin and Goldberg finally found a picture online from a bomb shelter near the concert site that showed Shapira near the shelter's door and Goldberg-Polin toward the back. They tracked down a survivor who was able to tell them what had happened.

When the gunmen attacked around 6:30 in the morning, it was pandemonium. An hour into the assault, a group of about 30 people hid in the bomb shelter, with the militants firing weapons and lobbing grenades through the door.

"Aner was the hero of the story. He threw the grenades back. The people there owe their lives to Aner," Goldberg said, her voice cracking.

An hour and a half later, the militants stopped firing and marched everyone out at gunpoint and put them on a truck. Then, for reasons no one can fathom, about eight were ordered back inside the bunker, where they stayed a few more hours before finally being picked up by civilians and soldiers.

A soldier walks past burned vehicles at the site of the music festival, which Goldberg-Polin's family eventually confirmed he had attended. They tracked down a survivor who told them militants had taken him away. (Jack Guez / AFP/Getty Images)

Witnesses told Goldberg-Polin's family that he had been injured, his arm perhaps sheared off in one of the explosions; in any case, he was seen boarding the truck conscious but with a tourniquet. His last known location from his phone shows him on the border with Gaza at 12:45 p.m.

Shapira, too, was injured, witnesses said. It's unclear where he is as well.

Read more: News Analysis: U.S. struggles with how to help restore calm in Middle East in wake of deadly Hamas attack

Polin refuses to entertain the idea that his son might be dead. "Hersh is," he said sharply, when a reporter inadvertently said "was."

He and his wife have rallied whatever contacts they've had to try to save their son. Though it's not clear if there will be hostage negotiations, Polin  an American citizen, like his wife and children  has talked to current and previous U.S. ambassadors to Israel, White House staff, the United Nations, and diplomats in Germany, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar.

"Anyone we can get to," he said. "Our interest is Hersh, but there are lots of others who are likely severely injured."

For now, all Goldberg and Polin can do is hope they can get their son back. They keep on thinking about his future plans. Since finishing his mandatory military service, he had been planning to go on a yearlong trip, backpacking through India and other countries before going to university  another example of Goldberg-Polin's wanderlust, a trait he exhibited even during his bar mitzvah, when all he wanted as gifts were globes and maps.

"From the time he was young, he had a sense that experiences mattered more than material goods," Polin said.

Read more: Ex-Israeli soccer player Lior Asulin among more than 260 killed by Hamas at rave

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Israeli officials said Tuesday that the countrys death toll has surpassed 1,000 from the attacks by Hamas that began Saturday.

Authorities in Gaza and the West Bank say 850 people have been killed in fighting there, according to The Associated Press. Military officials noted that hundreds of Hamas fighters are among the dead in the West Bank and Gaza.

Hamas fighters invaded Israel by land, sea and air Saturday, and scenes of indiscriminate killings of civilians have since appeared on video. Israel launched counterattacks on Gaza and has rained down hundreds of strikes on the area. Rockets from Hamas also continue to be fired into Israel.

Hamas is the governing authority of Gaza. Unlike the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, it does not recognize Israels right to exist as a state and is considered a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union governments, among others.

In the Saturday attacks, Hamas also took hostages, returning them to Gaza. At least 11 Americans are among the dead, and some Americans unaccounted for may be hostages.

Israeli officials have said that Hamas and other militant groups are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage.

The Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., said earlier Tuesday that more than 3,400 people were wounded in the attacks.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said forces from his country will exact a huge price against Hamas for the attack, as the U.S. and its Western allies have pledged their support for Israel.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism, President Biden said in a joint statement alongside four Western European leaders late Monday. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Israeli military has advised Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip to flee to Egypt amidst the ongoing war with the Hamas group.

Source: The Times of Israel

Details: Such a proposal was made by Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht. "Rafah crossing is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out," he said in a conversation with foreign journalists.

The Gaza Strip is home to about 2 million Palestinians.

Wikipedia

Background:

The Israel Defence Forces claimed they struck over 200 targets in the Gaza Strip on the night of 9-10 October.

On the morning of 7 October, missiles were launched en masse from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants, and fires surged through Israeli cities.

Israeli aircraft conducted strikes on the Gaza Strip on the night of 8-9 October to "devastate the capabilities of the Hamas terror group". The soldiers bombed not only the homes of commanders but also the houses of all militants.

The Israeli Defence Forces stated they had "severely degraded the capabilities" of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in a series of airstrikes on Gaza that lasted until the morning of 9 October.

Subsequently, a senior Hamas official claimed that the group is open to discussing a possible truce with Israel as it has "achieved its targets".

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An Israeli military spokesperson warned of very severe consequences if Hezbollah joins in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

I would advise Hezbollah, look very carefully at whats happening in Gaza today against Hamas, spokesman Peter Lerner said in a CNN interview Tuesday. There will be very severe consequences if they decide to chime in.

The ongoing fighting in Israel and Gaza, which began early Saturday, has killed at least 1,600 people on both sides of the conflict and injured thousands more.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, frequently skirmishes with Israeli forces. Those skirmishes have continued amid the Gaza conflict, as Israel and Hezbollah have traded artillery and missile barrages over recent days.

The group launched a strike on Israel on Monday after it claimed an Israeli helicopter raid killed three of its members in Lebanon.

The rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah  which was founded in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982  have fueled fears about a second front in the countrys conflict with Hamas.

Israel ramped up its aerial strikes on Gaza overnight, destroying entire neighborhoods in Gaza City. Medical supplies are running out in the territory as nearly 200,000 people have been displaced, according to the U.N.

Lerner said the Israeli military is planning for a ground invasion of Gaza.

We are making the preparations to take this to the next step, he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to completely wipe out Hamas, a goal that has the backing of the countrys Western allies, including the U.S.

All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble, Netanyahu said. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.

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

It is incorrect to compare the fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas with Russia's war against Ukraine, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said in an interview with the Ukrainian English-language newspaper the Kyiv Post on Oct. 9.

Any parallels between the wars in Israel and Ukraine would be incorrect, because "they are fundamentally different conflicts," Brodsky argued.

Brodsky noted that Ukraine is facing a nuclear power (Russia - ed.). At the same time, Israel is at war "with well-prepared and motivated terrorist organizations."

Read also: Veteran explains war in Israel impact on Ukraines international support

"On the one hand, there are, of course, similarities, but on the other hand, these are fundamentally different conflicts," the diplomat said.

When asked by a journalist how he assesses the role of Russia in the Hamas attack, Brodsky said that he "does not want to speculate and evaluate the role of different countries."

"We absolutely clearly understand that all support for terrorist organizations, both in the Middle East and in the world in general, is largely Iranian support, and much indicates that Iran provoked this attack on Israel," he said.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers.

Read also:

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country of Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports that three more Ukrainian citizens have been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Officials in the Israeli military say they have uncovered evidence of a bloody assault by Hamas fighters on the village of Kfar Aza that included the killings of women and children as young as infants.

They cut heads of children, cut heads of women, David Ben Zion, a deputy commander in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), said in an on-camera interview with Israeli television station i24 News.

IDF officials took a group of reporters to the Kfar Aza village near Gaza, but much of the information on specifically what happened has come from IDF sources.

Nicole Zedeck, an i24 correspondent, said she had been told by soldiers that 40 babies had been killed in the attack, a figure that has widely been picked up elsewhere.

The horrors that Im hearing from these soldiers that  about 40 babies, at least, were taken out in gurneys, Zedek said. Still, right now, theyre going house to house, still evacuating dead bodies.

Major Nir Dinar told Insider that forces had found the corpses of decapitated babies at the village but said he had not seen images or videos himself. He also could not confirm the number of casualties a soldier had told the i24 reporter.

We cannot confirm any numbers. What happened in Kibbutz Kfar Aza is a massacre in which women children, toddlers and elderly were brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action, he said in a statement to Insider.

The Hill has not confirmed the accounts from i24 or IDF personnel.

The Hill has reached out to the State Department and an Israeli military spokesperson for more information about what happened at the village.

President Biden, during remarks from the White House on Tuesday, talked of his horror at stomach turning reports of babies being killed.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN that he heard that a woman who gave him a tour of Kfar Aza sent him a message that her parents had been killed in the village.

McCaul said he traveled to the community with a bipartisan congressional delegation over the past year to see how people live there on the border of a tense security environment.

That kibbutz, they recommended we go there because its one of the most terrorized places in Israel, he said.

I asked why do you choose to live here? And they say well its where my family always lived. They have a bond to it and they love  its almost kind of like patriotism for Israel and sadly I think most of them got killed as well.

Shaar HaNegev Regional Council, where the town is located, has thus far reported 56 deaths, 20 abductions and 36 residents who are unaccounted for, according to Ynet, the online outlet for Yedioth Ahronoth, Israels largest daily newspaper. Most of these individuals are either from Kfar Aza or neighboring Kibbutz Nahal Oz, the regional council determined.

Kfar Aza has a special connection to Washington; national security professionals, members of Congress and their staff have visited the community on organized trips to learn about the security situation and meet residents. Such aid has helped reinforce Israels defenses, including the Iron Dome missile defense system that has allowed communities in the region to survive rocket fire.

When a reporter from The Hill visited the town in 2018 and 2022, residents described it as a paradise where neighbors are family and children run freely.

Yet it also lies just 1 mile away from the Gaza Strip and has suffered from mortar attacks, rocket fire and improvised explosives and fire starters that torched surrounding farm fields.

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) had twice traveled to Kfar Aza, in 2018 as a master chief in the Navy and in 2022 as a congressman, he told The Hill. When asked about his visit, he pointed to statements he posted on X, formerly Twitter, of his reaction Saturday that he was both enraged and horrified by the brutal attacks being carried out by Hamas against Israel. I fully stand by our close ally as it defends itself against these terrorists.

Enia Krivine, senior director for the Foundation for Democracies Israel Programs and National Security Network, said visitors from Washington have connected deeply with residents they have met at Kfar Aza.

Among those Krivine introduced during trips she helped to organize was a woman named Chen, who explained to visitors what life is like in the community. The Hill is withholding her last name to protect her privacy because she could not be reached.

What struck so many who spent time with Chen is that although she spoke of the trauma of living under rocket fire, she remained optimistic, Krivine said.

Each time she hosted a delegation, Krivine explained, Chen would share her desire for peace and coexistence with her neighbors in Gaza.

Chens generosity of spirit has touched so many lives, Krivine said. Hundreds  and maybe thousands  of Americans are watching the scenes from the massacre in Kfar Aza and feeling a deep connection and sadness today. I hope Chen can continue telling her story one day.

Updated: 6:03 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. launched major wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, as Israel reels from a surprise attack by Hamas that the country has come to describe as its own 9/11, it is beginning a new war in Gaza, the Palestinian territory ruled by the militant group. This conflict, which has already seen heavy shelling and could yet involve a ground invasion, stands to have a devastating impact on the densely-populated enclave and the millions of Palestinians who live there.

To understand what such a war would look like on the ground, one must understand the situation in Gaza itself. The Gaza Strip is a small seaside enclave roughly twice the size of Washington, D.C. that is wedged between Israel and Egypt. It is the smaller of the Palestinian territories (which also include the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem)and the most besieged. For more than a decade, the Gaza Strip has been described by human-rights groups and United Nations experts as the worlds largest open-air prison. Although not formally occupied like the West Bank (Israel withdrew its soldiers and settlements from Gaza in 2005), its borders are tightly controlled by Israel and Egypt, restricting the movement of its more than 2 million Palestinian inhabitants. The majority of people living there are descended from Palestinian refugees who were violently expelled from their homes and native villages in what is now modern-day Israel, amid the war that resulted in the states creation in 1948.

Map by Lon Tweeten for TIME

In the wake of the Hamas attack over the weekend, in which militants infiltrated Israeli communities bordering Gaza, killing more than 1,000 Israelis and taking at least 150 hostages, the Israeli government on Monday announced that it would be imposing a complete siege on Gaza, where basic necessities such as water and electricity are supplied by Israel. Yoav Gallant, Israels defense minister, said that there would be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, in retaliation for Hamass deadly attack. Observers and human-rights groups have warned that the siege, paired with the airstrikes that have already killed 830 Palestinians, will have a devastating impact on Gazas already-reeling civilian population. Experts tell TIME that the Israeli governments recent decision to mobilize an unprecedented 300,000 reservists suggests that a wider ground invasion may also be in the cards.

Read More: A Survivor Recounts the Horror of the Hamas Attack on Israel's Supernova Festival

I do expect the airstrikes are but a preamble, however devastating they areand they arefor a massive land operation, says Nimrod Novik, who was a senior advisor to ex-Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

For Palestinians living in Gaza, roughly half of whom are children, the situation is going from terrible to catastrophic, Shira Efron, the director of policy research at Washingtons Israel Policy Forum and a former consultant with the U.N. country team advising on Gaza. The 16-year Israeli blockade, which is backed by Egypt, severely restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of the Strip. Efron says that nearly two-thirds of Gazan households receive humanitarian assistance, the vast majority in the form of food assistance and that 65% of the population is moderately or severely food insecure. As Israel cuts off food and fuel from entering Gaza, and as some European capitals announce plans to halt bilateral assistance to the Palestinians pending review of how their aid is being spent, that already grim humanitarian situation is bound to get even worse, Efron says.

Read More: How the World Leaders Have Reacted to Hamas Surprise Attack on Israel

And thats before one takes into account the state of Gazas physical infrastructure, which has already come under heavy fire as Israeli airstrikes bombard targets within the crowded enclave, including refugee camps, hospitals, and mosques. While the Israeli government says that it is targeting Hamas, in an area as densely populated and restricted as Gaza, civilians have nowhere else to go. (Indeed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus warning to Palestinians in Gaza to leave now raised questions about where civilians could escape to.) The last time Israel launched a ground operation in Gazain 2014more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed, a majority of them civilians.

A man carries the body of his 3-year-old son, Amir Qanan, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on 10 Oct. 10, 2023. Abed Rahim Khatibpicture-alliance/dpa/AP

Im in daily contact with all of my friends [in Gaza], and theyre all terrified, says Diana Buttu, a Haifa-based Palestinian analyst and former legal advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian negotiators who lived in Gaza between 2005 and 2006. She notes that the language used by Israeli politiciansfrom Netanyahus vow to turn Hamas hiding places in Gaza into rubble to the more euphemistic references to periodic operations in the region as mowing the grassdehumanizes the Palestinians living in the Strip. Theyre talking about committing mass atrocities and theyre talking very openly about it, she says. In the past, the Israelis used to say precision strikes, but this is all off the table now. Instead, theyre talking about strangling Gaza.

Read More: Israel's President: Our Darkest Hour Casts a Shadow on the Entire World



While Israel has not officially announced a ground operation in Gaza, longtime observers believe that it is now inevitable. Novik, a member of the executive committee of Commanders for Israels Securityan organization comprised of former senior security officialsand his colleagues have long criticized the Israeli governments strategy vis-a-vis Gaza, which he describes as a policy of allowing Hamas to solidify its control over the Gaza Strip while weakening the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The West Bank is governed by Hamass political rivals Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. But none of the observers TIME spoke with expect that Israeli citizens will pressure their government to change course regarding the Palestiniansat least, not right away. All of that is really over the horizon because the horizon right now is a dark one of a prolonged war, says Novik. We are at a point where a massive military show of force is essential and unavoidable.

Write to Yasmeen Serhan at yasmeen.serhan@time.com.
Israels military has full control of the area surrounding Gaza, the countrys Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Tuesday.

Hagari said the military has been conducting air strikes in Gaza every four hours for the past 36 hours using every piece of intelligence to maximize damage to meeting spots for terrorists planning to invade Israel, houses belonging to senior Hamas commanders, terrorist operational centers and headquarters and terrorist infrastructure.

According to Hagari, the Israeli military has full control of the area surrounding Gaza.

Israeli forces are creating an iron wall of tanks, helicopters and additional aircrafts. Anyone who approaches the wall will be neutralized, Hagari said.

The Israeli military evacuated towns surrounding Gaza, but there are families who have chosen to stay, he said.

Israels main strike Monday targeted the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza, an area Hagari said is a symbol of luxury and has great significance to Hamas leaders.

Hundreds of Hamas terrorist organization operatives have been neutralized during these strikes, Hagari said. Hamas terrorists will find no shelter in Gaza, we will find them wherever they are.

Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday after Hamas sent a barrage of rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack. Since then, Israel has hammered the Gaza Strip, reducing buildings to rubble.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel. In Gaza and the West Bank, 830 people have been killed. Hagari said there are hundreds of bodies of naturalized terrorists and some Hamas terrorists have been taken and arrested.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli military revised on Tuesday a recommendation by one of its spokespeople that Palestinians fleeing its air strikes in the Gaza Strip head to Egypt, saying in a follow-up statement that the main crossing on that border was currently closed.

Briefing foreign reporters, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht said he would advise Palestinian refugees to "get out" through the Rafah crossing on Gaza's southern border with Egypt.

His office then issued a statement. "Clarification: The Rafah crossing was open yesterday, but now it is closed," it said.

On Monday evening, Egyptian security sources and a witness said operations at Rafah had been disrupted by what they described as a strike on the Gaza side.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel,, near Sderot, southern Israel

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. naval deployments close to Israel as it battles Hamas in the Gaza Strip may stave off any regional escalation, an Israeli military spokesperson said on Tuesday, adding that Israel would also receive U.S. supplies to help prevent future shortfalls.

"When you have that American shadow coming through it sends a message, maybe to people in further places, to stay out of this," Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht told reporters.

"There's going to be some equipment coming," he added, when asked about possible U.S. defence supplies, about which he did not elaborate. "We potentially could be stretched at some point, if this expands."

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Michael Perry)
Israeli parents are being warned to delete apps from their kids' phones over hostage video fears.

A Tel Aviv school's parents association warned parents to remove apps like TikTok, CNN reported.

Hamas militants took dozens hostage from Israel amid the group's deadly attacks on Israel.

Fears that fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas will broadcast videos of hostages taken from Israel have prompted warnings to Israeli parents to delete social media from their children's cell phones.

A parent association at a school in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv said it was told to expect the emergence of videos showing hostages "begging for their lives," CNN reported on Tuesday.

The association asked parents to remove social media apps, including TikTok and Instagram, from their children's phones, according to the news outlet.

"We cannot allow our kids to watch this stuff. It is also difficult, furthermore  impossible  to contain all this content on social media. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation," the message read, the report said.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched highly coordinated, large-scale surprise attacks on Israel early Saturday morning, igniting an all-out war with the Jewish state.

The assault by the militant group on Israel has already left more than 1,000 people dead as well as dozens, including women, children, and seniors, kidnapped, Israel's US embassy told CNN.

An estimated 150 people have been taken hostage by the Hama fighters, according to a preliminary assessment shared with The New York Times by a senior Israeli military official.

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that at least 11 Americans were among those killed in the Hamas attacks and that it is "likely" that American citizens could also be among those being held by Hamas militants.

Hamas militants have already threatened to execute hostages if Israel targets Gaza residents in their homes "without prior warning."

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson warned Tuesday that killing hostages "will not make things better," according to CNN.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that the "war crime" of hurting hostages "will not be forgiven," according to the Associated Press.

Israel declared war on Hamas after the attacks, launching retaliatory strikes in Gaza, where hundreds more people have been killed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW YORK (WPIX)  There are more than 2 million Jewish people living in the New York City area, making it the second largest metropolitan Jewish community in the world, behind Tel Aviv. Now, some are heading back to Israel following attacks by the militant group Hamas.

I dont think theres another option, Itay, an Israeli soldier who only wanted his first name used, told Nexstars WPIX. I cant stay in New York. I just want to go and help my friends out.

Israeli, Palestinian supporters rally in NYC streets

The 22-year-old said Monday that he and his Israeli army buddy Koren are flying back to Tel Aviv.

After serving the mandatory two years and eight months in the Israel Defense Force, they arrived in New York City on Saturday night for a two-month tour of the United States.

But when they heard of the surprise Hamas attack in Gaza, killing hundreds of Israeli civilians, they knew they would be recalled to fight for their homeland and willingly wanted to go.

Its a weird feeling about the situation. I need to go back, Koren said.

When asked if his mother is worried, he said, She says just stay on your trip, have fun, but I cannot do that.

They stocked up on items that are needed and in short supply in Israel at Browns Army Navy store in Astoria, Queens.

Absolutely horrific: Former PIX reporter Rebecca Solomon stuck in Israel

We were looking for tourniquets but couldnt find any, Itay said.

A 49-year-old retired reservist was helping them collect the much-needed items.

Money doesnt really help, Adem, the retired reservist, said. The stores are empty. Im working on shipping supplies and adopting a unit so we can help them with equipment.

New York real estate broker Lihi Biton, from south Israel near Gaza, was close to tears Monday night, so worried about two close friends, Elkana Bohbot and Noa Argamani, who were taken hostage during a music festival on Saturday.

My prayers and thoughts are with Noa and Elkana. I pray for them to be safe and secure and going back to Israel safely, Biton said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
An Israeli woman living on Kibbutz Be'eri was taken hostage by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

She relayed the traumatic experience, and how she was freed by IDF soldiers, to Bild reporters.

At least 10% of her rural community died following the surprise attack, officials said.

An Israeli woman shared her harrowing experience of being taken hostage by Hamas fighters, and then being rescued by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, during an attack that claimed the lives of at least 10% of her rural community.

Adi Efrat, 51, met with a reporter from Bild, which is owned by Axel Springer, Insider's publisher, at an evacuation center following the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel on Saturday.

The farming community, near the Gaza border, had a population of a little more than 1,000 people before Saturday. But Israeli officials say they have found 107 bodies there, after Hamas fighters targeted it as part of its surprise attacks launched over the weekend.

Speaking to Bild, Efrat described what unfolded when dozens of Hamas militants infiltrated the kibbutz, shooting residents, taking hostages, and setting fire to houses.

She said she started receiving WhatsApp messages from concerned neighbors in the morning, saying that fighters had entered the kibbutz and started setting homes ablaze. Others said that people had been wounded by grenades.

At the time, she was in a safe room in her home. But she said she heard Hamas militants forcibly breaking down her door and entering the house.

"They opened the safe room door and I saw their faces," she said, adding that they were wearing civilian clothing.

Efrat said the fighters told her they wouldn't hurt her and only wanted the keys to the kibbutz's vehicles.

As they made their way toward where the cars were stored, she could hear gunshots in the distance, Efrat recalled.

"They heard the gunshots, they started running, and forced me to run with them," she said. "They were running west and I thought west is Gaza, it is not good for me and I don't want to be there."

Efrat said she was taken to the yard of an elderly resident, who was handcuffed to her caregiver.

Efrat was also handcuffed, from behind in a "very hard, very painful" way, she said, adding that all those in the yard were instructed to remain silent.

One of the militants then brought a toddler to the yard, with Efrat saying she was afraid they would shoot him because he was trying to run away.

Another child, about eight years old, arrived with his mother, who appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen, Efrat said.

According to Efrat, the mother told them that Hamas fighters had shot her husband, and that her three-month-old baby had also been fatally shot in the head.

Bild's Paul Ronzheimer interviews Adi Efrat in Israel. Eyal Warshavsky/BILD

The militants initially instructed Efrat, the elderly woman, and her caregiver to follow them, but later changed their minds and requested Efrat accompany them alone.

"You should know if you do what we say you going to be OK," they told her, adding: "This family didn't listen, that's why we shot them."

Efrat added that she felt like she was being used as a "human shield."

The Hamas fighters asked her to help extract people from a vehicle, though she was uncertain if they were dead or alive, she said.

But as she approached the car, a gunshot rang out, and three militants rushed toward her, seizing her by the hands and telling her to run, she said.

She was then brought to a burning house, she said, adding: "There were many terrorists there, they were very organized and had lots of weapons."

From another room she heard them continuing their fight. "They were fighting from inside that room, a meter away from me," she said.

Gradually, the militants began to go elsewhere, and Efrat overheard voices speaking in Hebrew.

Realizing that IDF soldiers were approaching, she said she made her presence known.

"They sent one group to clear the house and told me, 'You are safe, you are with us; we are going to take care of you,'" Efrat recalled.

According to The Times of Israel, it took about 17 hours for Israeli security forces to free all the hostages on the kibbutz.

Efrat said that she saw four soldiers get wounded, one of whom was a commander.

According to the Israeli embassy in the US, at least 1,000 Israelis, most of them civilians, have been killed as of Tuesday, and more than 100 Israeli hostages may have been taken into Gaza by Hamas, a senior Israeli military official told The New York Times.

Israel's retaliatory airstrikes have also killed at least 704 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A woman found out her grandma had been killed by Hamas militants after seeing a video on Facebook.

The video showed the grandmother lying on the floor, covered in blood, she said.

Her grandmother was living on Kibbutz Nir Oz  less than a mile from the Gaza border.

An Israeli woman found out her grandmother had been killed by Hamas militants when she saw a graphic video on her Facebook page.

Mor Bayder, appearing on Israel's Channel 13, said the video showed her grandmother "lying there" with the floor covered in blood.

"I saw that worst thing you could possibly imagine," she said in Hebrew, adding: "My grandmother, in her house, being murdered in a video."

Bayder said she believed a militant took her grandmother's cell phone, filmed with it, and uploaded the footage to her private Facebook page.

"That's how we found out, how we learned about it," Bayder said.

Her cousin, Yoav Shimoni, appearing on CNN, corroborated the harrowing story.

"My sister commented on our group chat that there is a weird video on my grandma's Facebook," he said. "Then, that is when we all discovered it."

Shimoni said the family believes Hamas militants broke into his grandmother's home after breaching the fence from Gaza, which is less than a mile away from the kibbutz she lived on  Kibbutz Nir Oz.

"I assume she was the first point of contact where the terrorists infiltrated," he said.

In a Facebook post, Bayder described the "brutal murder" as her worst nightmare.

"Those who know me know what she is to me and what a connection we had," she wrote.

Nir Oz is one of the communities near the Gaza border that was targeted in a series of surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday.

Several people from the kibbutz are missing, including a 74-year-old grandmother.

Israeli officials say Hamas fighters have captured more than 100 hostages, who they believe were taken into Gaza as captives.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Israeli mother says her husband being called to war is her worst nightmare coming true.

Soon after Hamas attacked Israel, Danielle Rozenboim's husband left to go fight.

Her husband was called in the middle of the night, leaving her with their one-month-old and 3-year-old.

An Israeli mother of two who gave birth just one month ago says her husband being called up to serve in the army following Hamas' attacks on Israel is her worst nightmare coming true.

Danielle Rozenboim told Insider that not long after Hamas militants from Gaza attacked Israel early Saturday morning, her husband tried to prepare her for the possibility that he'd be called up to serve in the rapidly unfolding war.

"He told me in the morning, 'You need to prepare yourself mentally,'" Rozenboim, 30, recalled. "And I said, 'No way. No way you're going. No way you're leaving me alone. I can't take care of both of them together. I can't do it.'"

Rozenboim and her husband, 37-year-old Tzafrir Ariel, live in Jerusalem with their one-month-old baby boy and 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Ariel is an urban planner, and Rozenboim works for an education organization that she says helps improve schools serving Arab-Israelis and people of Palestinian descent living in Israel.

When Hamas began its attack, Ariel and Rozenboim were staying at her parents' place in Mazkeret Batya, a small town south of Tel Aviv, about 35 miles from the Gaza Strip.

Then, about 16 hours after it all started, Ariel was called in the middle of the night, Rozenboim said. Just as Rozenboim had feared, he went to fight in Israel's war with Gaza. Ariel, a sergeant who had served in the Israeli Armored Corps for 8 years until he was 27 or 28, had been called up from the reserves a few times before, Rozenboim said, but never to fight in a war.

"Once you marry someone who used to be a warrior, it's in the back of your mind that maybe one day he can be called for war," Rozenboim said. "But it's like the worst nightmare. And then the nightmare is coming true."

Rozenboim said one of her biggest worries, aside from her husband's safety, is the women and children whom Hamas militants have taken hostage.

"God knows what's happening with them right now," she said. "And I'm breastfeeding my baby. I can't help but thinking there are kids there that are not with their mothers that need their breast milk."

"And mothers that have been kidnapped without their children, and now the kids need their mother," Rozenboim added. "For a mom, it's something you can't accept. You can't handle it."

It's not clear exactly how many hostages Hamas militants have captured from Israel, but the numbers include women, children, and the elderly, BBC News reported. Hamas says it's holding about 100 people captive, though the Israeli Defense Forces estimate about 30 people, according to NBC News.

At least 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas first attacked, the country's defense ministry said on Monday.

And since Israel launched its aggressive counterattack on Gaza  which has leveled neighborhoods, flattened mosques, and bombed out refugee camps  at least 830 people in Gaza have been killed as of Tuesday, the Gaza Ministry of Health said.

Hamas' attack follows many months of worsening tensions between the group and Israel. This year has been especially deadly for Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and more than 4,500 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, the BBC reported.

Rozenboim said that while she and her surrounding community are "heartbroken" at the events unfolding around them, she is grateful to be staying with her parents.

"They're saving me," she said. "I couldn't do it alone ever."

Alisa Shodiyev Kaff contributed to this report

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups have fired more than 4,500 rockets toward Israel since Saturday's deadly attack, according to Israel Defense Forces. Most of those rockets have been intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.

The barrages of rockets have set off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. They've also sparked concerns about flight safety at Ben Gurion International Airport.

The Iron Dome technology, declared operational in 2011, has a success rate of around 90-97%, the IDF has said in recent years. Israeli officials have not specified how successful it has been since Hamas launched its deadly incursion from Gaza over the weekend. Hundreds of people have been killed since the surprise assault.

How the Iron Dome works

Iron Dome, developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, uses radar, advanced tracking technology and anti-missile batteries to follow the trajectory of incoming rockets and mortars. According to an analysis of the system by the CSIS thinktank, the technology determines if rockets are headed toward a populated area and, if they are, Iron Dome fires Tamir interceptors at the incoming projectiles. Rockets that don't pose a threat are allowed to fall into empty areas.

Iron Dome has an interception range of 2.5 to 43 miles. The interceptors cost as much as $100,000 apiece. Some cost estimates are lower, with the Institute for National Security Studies reporting in 2021 that an interceptor missile is about $40,000 - $50,000.

This picture shows a battery of Israel's Iron Dome air defence system in the southern city of Ashdod on May 12, 2023. / Credit: JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel has at least 10 Iron Dome batteries throughout the country. Each one is designed to defend a 60-square-mile populated area. The batteries can be moved as threats change.

According to Raytheon, a U.S. defense contractor that produces some of the components of the Iron Dome's interceptors, each battery has three launchers loaded with up to 20 Tamir interceptor missiles each.

The Israeli Air Force said the system destroyed 85 percent of the rockets headed toward Israeli towns and cities during the serious conflict between Israel and Hamas in 2012. That success rate has gone up  Israel's Defense Ministry said that Iron Dome successfully intercepted 97% of all targets it engaged during a summer 2022 confrontation in which Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired rockets into Israel.

Why was Iron Dome created

Israel's Brig. Gen. Daniel Gold first had the idea for Iron Dome in 2004, according to Israel Defense Forces. Israel's military started development on Iron Dome in response to rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah during the 2006 war in Lebanon. It cost $210 million to develop.

Didi Ya'ari, then CEO of Rafael, the lead Israeli manufacturer of the system, told "60 Minutes" in 2013 that Iron Dome was a game changer because it allowed the Israeli economy to continue to function in times of conflict.

"People go to work. Harbors are working. Cars are moving, trains are moving. Nothing stops. And still you have circumstances [that] in the past, you would consider as full war," Ya'ari said at the time.

America's role in Iron Dome

While the system was developed in Israel, it was financed in part by hundreds of millions of dollars from the United States. The U.S. became interested in becoming a partner in production and, in 2014, Congress called for Iron Dome technology sharing and co-production with the U.S.

The U.S. and Israeli governments signed a co-production agreement in March of 2014, enabling the manufacture of Iron Dome components in the United States, while also providing the U.S. with full access to what had been proprietary Iron Dome technology, according to a March report from Congressional Research Service.

Military contractor Raytheon is Rafael's U.S. partner in the co-production of Iron Dome. Interceptor parts are manufactured at Raytheon's missiles and defense facility in Tucson, Arizona and elsewhere and then assembled in Israel.

To date, the U.S. has provided nearly $3 billion to Israel for Iron Dome batteries, interceptors, co-production costs and general maintenance, according to a March report from Congressional Research Service. In 2021, the House approved a bill providing $1 billion for the defense system.

A senior U.S. Defense official addressed the Iron Dome system during a Monday briefing.

"Let me just say at this point, for every request that our Israeli counterparts have made of us, we are able to meet those requests," the official said. "And one of those areas, of course, is ongoing discussion about the air defense needs they have."

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What would a ground invasion of Gaza look like?

Israel music festival survivor recounts escape from Hamas
Cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev during a spacewalk outside the Nauka laboratory module in April 2022.



Cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev during a spacewalk outside the Nauka laboratory module in April 2022.



Russias Nauka module sprung a leak on Monday in the latest incident of faulty hardware on board the International Space Station (ISS).

Flight controllers at NASAs mission control noticed Naukas backup radiator, which is mounted to the outside of the module, was leaking coolant at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on October 9, the space agency wrote in a blog post. Using cameras on the exterior of the ISS, the flight controllers saw flakes coming from one of the two radiators on the multipurpose laboratory module.

Read more

Shortly after, a Russian Progress 82 freighter docked to the ISS also began leaking coolant in February. Russia attributed the first leak to a micrometeorite strike on the spacecraft. However, after the second coolant leak, suspicions arose that it might be related to faulty manufacturing. Now with a third incident in the books, its becoming more evident that its an issue with the Russian hardware itself.

Ground teams are still investigating the latest incident, but for now NASA says it has no impact on the crew or ISS operations.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.

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ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited members of the Jewish community in a synagogue in Rome on Tuesday in the wake of the attacks on Israel by the Islamist militant group Hamas.

After talks with Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, Meloni pledged to step up protection for the community, saying that Hamas' offensive may trigger possible copycat attacks on Italian territory.

"I am here to say that we will defend these citizens from all forms of anti-Semitism," she told reporters.

Later on Tuesday, a pro-Israel rally organised by the Il Foglio newspaper and the Jewish Community of Rome was set to take place near the Colosseum, with several politicians expected to attend.

On Monday Meloni issued a joint statement with the leaders of the U.S., Germany, Britain and France condemning the attacks on Israel and expressing their "steadfast and united support" for Israel.

Italy has said it is working to repatriate some 500 Italian citizens from Israel in the next few days.

(Reporting by Francesca Piscioneri, editing by Alvise Armellini and Deborah Kyvrikosaios)
Tim Rowland

Nothing says holy matrimony like gunfire, which is why a Texas man borrowed a Pietta snub-nosed revolver and brought it with him to a Nebraska wedding he was officiating in front of 200 people at an outdoor ceremony.

So far so good. A little weird, maybe, but why not?

Michael Gardners idea was that he would shoot the pistol into the air to summon the bride, who would walk down the aisle toward the smoking weapon as she commenced the best day of her life  except maybe for that say she bagged two possums with one shot at the county grain elevator.

Because the bride had to agree to this, right? As far as I know, brides dont like surprises. Shes probably not going to view a few unexpected gunshots emanating from the altar as a little good clean fun.

So OK, fine, for most brides a little organ music is a sufficient prompt, but if she wants to Yosemite Sam her way down the aisle, its her day. Except I have this nagging feeling that perhaps, maybe, just maybe, this was the grooms idea.

I know there are female gun enthusiasts out there, but somehow this has a guys fingerprints all over it. Aw come on dear, you get to pick the flowers, the cake, the dress, the band  just let me have a few gunshots. What could be the harm?

Well, the harm was that when Mr. Gardner went to peel off a round, his finger slipped and he wound up plugging his grandson in the shoulder with a home-made blank.

According to news accounts, In an interview with The Washington Post, Gardner said he regretted using a homemade blank; it was the first time he had done so. He acknowledged that the gun did not belong to him and that he had not used the firearm before it was accidentally discharged.

Yikes. If people are getting shot at the wedding, I dont want to be within 50 miles of the reception. But Gardner has taken responsibility, the boy is going to be OK, and heres the best thing: The wedding went on as scheduled with Gardner officiating.

That didnt mean he didnt feel bad about it, obviously. Its hard knowing you hurt somebody that you love more than life, he told the Post. But there are times you have to man up and carry out your duties no matter how many people youve wounded.

Sociopolitical commentators have opined that we live in an age of two different Americas, and this would seem to prove it.

On the coasts, who would pack heat at a wedding? Who would know what a blank cartridge even was, much less how to make one, and isnt the point of a blank supposed to be that no one gets hurt? And if someone is shot, how does the wedding go on as if nothing happened? Theyd be sending in swat teams, medics and child psychologists by the busload.

In flyover country its just like, Oh dear would you look at that, little Chauncy got hisself shot. OK padre, sorry about that, you were saying for better or what now?

Glad to see grandpa accompanied him in the ambulance instead of pinning a note to his lapel, saying "Hey doc, we cant be with him right now (long story) but if you can fix him up well make it worth the effort.

Meanwhile, the Post wrote, Gardner has been charged with felony child abuse committed negligently and resulting in serious bodily injury (and) the sheriffs office noted that alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the incident.

This is one of those cases where you almost wish alcohol were a factor. You hate to think people do stuff like this sober.

Tim Rowland is a Herald-Mail columnist.

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Why did the officiant bring a revolver to the wedding?
[Source]

K-pop girl group IVE is on a roll after kicking off their world tour and dropping teasers for their comeback this weekend.

Debut world tour: The sextet, composed of Yujin, Wonyoung, Liz, Gaeul, Rei and Leeseo, launched their world tour Show What I Have in Seoul on Saturday. The two-day event came days before their October comeback, which is set for Friday.

"Show What I Have" is IVEs first world tour since they debuted in late 2021. Today and yesterday, our dream of holding a world tour solo concert has become a reality, Wonyoung told fans, as per The Korea Times.

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Yujin explained the tours title to The Korea Herald, saying, We received a lot of love with our debut. We felt so grateful, and at the same time, some people questioned whether we could continue to bring something new to the table. The title is our answer to that question.

New comeback: On Friday, IVE will return with their first EP, Ive Mine. So far, the group has released music videos for Either Way and Off The Record, two of its three title tracks.

The group recently dropped the teaser for the music video of Baddie, which appears to be the albums main dance track. Concept photos showcasing the members in streetwear were released on Tuesday.

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What fans are saying: IVE fans, who are officially called DIVEs, are taking delight in the groups musical growth. Many took notice of the contrasts between the new title tracks.

With their current three title tracks, I wonder what their next comeback [is] gonna sound like cos [sic] these three are so different from one another, one YouTube user wrote. I LOVE IT.

More from NextShark: China Unveils New Rocket That Will Take Astronauts to the Moon

I can tell this is going to be an amazing comeback, another commented. Either Way and Off The Record have already slayed.
A refugee who fled war in west Africa is not the image that springs to mind when you think of the leader of a Welsh language campaign group.

Yet Joseff Ngabo from Ivory Coast has been elected chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, just five years after seeking asylum in Wales.

It makes him the first person not born in Wales to hold the title, as well as the first person of colour to do so.

He said he wanted to be able to speak the local language out of principle.

"I have a principle. That whatever community I live in, whatever country I live in, to speak the language of the country and community," said Joseff.

He worked in the media and was a rapper in the Ivory Coast's largest city, Abidjan, where he was "very vocal" and "a big voice".

It was his voice "supporting the government against rebellion" during the civil war there which forced him to flee his home in search of safety.

"The rebellion were backed by foreign powers who had the means and the money and they won the war," he said.

Ivory Coast was split between the government-controlled south and rebels who controlled the north after the civil war in 2002-2003.

A second civil war in 2010-2011 displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

"There was a threat on my life, a threat to me. So I had to leave the country," he recalled.

"I had to leave my country just for my opinion. It made me very bitter. For many years I was a bitter man."

Now living in the Rumney area of Cardiff with his family, including two children who go to Welsh schools, Joseff said Wales gave him a "chance to start a new life" and he considers himself Welsh.

"I applied for asylum and it was the Home Office that decided to move me to Wales," he recalled.

"I knew about the country and the rugby team and that beautiful flag with the dragon, but I didn't know about the language."

He began learning Welsh "immediately" to help him integrate in the country.

"It does really help. It's opened a lot of doors. I've met so many people I've discovered the Welsh culture," said Joseff.

His five-year journey to become fluent in the language makes him "very proud", and he now encourages other asylum seekers and refugees to learn it.

He said some teachers "still have the belief" that learning Welsh might be "confusing" for asylum seekers and refugees.

"But what they forget is that most refugees and asylum seekers already come from a multilingual background, so they can learn many languages," he said.

Joseff himself is fluent in six.

His first language is French, but he also speaks English, Italian, German, Swahili, "and Welsh now".

He is full of pride talking about his new appointment at Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

"I'm planning to put as much energy and as much effort to really sensitise people, to show them that the Welsh language is open. It's open to everyone, whatever your background

"I really want to contribute a lot to the Welsh language, because of what I received from it, and for the Welsh-speaking community, I also want to contribute and give back."
Editors Note: This interview is part of Voices of Kansas City, a project created in collaboration with KKFI Community Radio and Kansas City GIFT, a nonprofit supporting Black-owned small businesses, to highlight the experiences of Kansas Citians making an impact on the community. Hear the interviews on KKFI 90.1 FM, Fridays at noon, or at KKFI.org. Do you know someone who should be featured in a future Voices of Kansas City season? Tell us about them using this form.

Antonio Hatcher, at 32, is the owner of a Kansas City moving company, Haul Pros, that he started in 2019, buying a used truck for $2,500. Its a business, he says, that not only has taken him and his crews to 40 different states, but on a journey he never expected.

A decade ago, at 21, Hatcher landed in jail. It wasnt for long: a couple months. But as Hatcher, who goes by Tony, tells it, the experience was more than enough to motivate him not only to make something more of a life that he felt was headed nowhere, but also to support others  hiring felons like himself to help set them on new journeys as well.

Hatcher, in the Prospect Avenue studio at GIFT (Generating Income For Tomorrow), told his story to Star reporter Eric Adler. The conversation, edited for length and clarity, is presented in a question and answer format to share Hatchers story in his own words.

Meet Antonio Hatcher

The Star: Let me start this off with the hardest question or the biggest comment. About 10 years or so ago, as I look back, you have a felony record. Its for three things: a drug charge, a forgery charge and a domestic abuse charge. Now you run a company that hires people who have had past troubles with the law. And somehow you have gotten from there to here, a successful business, leasing numbers of trucks, 19 different employees on rotation. Welcome. Thanks for being here.

Hatcher: Appreciate it. Firstly, I want to thank you for having me on. Yeah, I started this business after I had a different life, I guess you could say. I was just younger and didnt have too many older people to show me different things. I was just kind of hanging with the crowd, doing what everybody else was doing, and kind of grew up, and had kids, and started to have my own brain and know what I wanted to do.

Lets talk about that. You are 32. Where did you grow up?

Raytown.

Tell me a little about your journey: where you grew up, how you grew up.

My mother raised me. We was always over my grandmothers house. My mother had three kids.

It was me and my three brothers  I got a ton of cousins  our whole family over my grandmothers house. And then she (my mother) ended up having more kids when I was around 10. I had two more brothers. So it was five. Im the middle.

So what kind of life are we talking about, you middle class, rich kid?

I would say middle. I mean, we didnt always have everything we wanted or needed at times, but mom always made sure she would eventually get everything we needed. I could probably say, from that, that it made me want to do more, going without sometimes.

You thought that was a motivation?

Oh, definitely. Seeing my mother, you know, provide and taking care of us. I didnt have my dad around, so she was pretty much doing everything for all of us. So that always motivated me.

You went to Raytown South (high school). How did Raytown affect who you became?

I would say it probably was probably a good thing because it let me meet a lot of different people. It was pretty diverse there.

Did you like school?

Yeah, I liked school. Like I said, when I was younger, I just probably didnt hang out with the best of crowds.

Tell me about how you got into that world.

I mean, I think it started when I was in middle school. What happened is that our house caught on fire.

No kidding.

Yeah, our house got on fire and we had lost everything we had. So it was just like . . .

Wait, youve got to back up. Was this like at night, in the day?

I was in school. So I get a call. My mom comes to school and says, like, Hey, there was a house fire. It burnt up like everything. So, I had to leave school, and I come back, and I see the house on fire and Im like, Oh, wow.

Did you literally see it still in flames or smoldering or the fire department there?

The fire department was there. It was in flames. We were just watching all our stuff get burnt. I was just wondering where are we going to sleep, where was we going to go? I was happy no one was there, also. It was an electrical fire. So it was something that could have happened while we were asleep.

What were your mom and brothers saying at that point?

Everyone was just kind of happy knowing no one was there, and just trying to figure out what we was going to do next. That was our house. That was everything we had. I think we ended up staying in hotels for a few weeks. They ended up rebuilding the house, because she had insurance. We had to wait for that. But it only covered the house. So its not like we got a ton of new stuff. We had a new house. We had to get all our clothes, all our materials. We still lost all the stuff that had sentimental value.

Was your mom working at that time?

My mom worked for a school. She was a secretary. She did that for decades.

Antonio Hatcher, owner of Haul Pros, a Kansas City moving company, talked with Kansas City Star reporter Eric Adler, about how spending time in jail motivated him to change his life and start his own business. Now he gives former felons a job and a second chance.

You said that was an influence on you.

We didnt have a place to go. I didnt even have transportation to school. At one point, we were outside the district. They had to give us a taxi ride to school. There was just a whole lot of stuff going on. It was more easy at the time to say, Oh, Im not going to school. Just hang out with my friends who dont go to school. When youre not doing stuff, you dont have anything to do, it brings up bad, you know?

Its interesting you say that. So Im thinking of you as a 10-year-old. Your house is burned down. Your life is in upheaval. I know from my own childhood, a lot of times teachers are like, Well, wheres your homework? They dont realize all thats happening. Did it give you perspective on whats really going on in peoples lives, maybe under the surface?

I mean, it kind of did open up my eyes a little bit. You never know what somebody is going through, because I did kind of try to go back to school, but, you know, I barely had any clothes. I barely had anything. I didnt feel like I stood in with anything in school. I lost friends. I just didnt fit in. After a while, I felt like I needed to get money and do things, so I tried to hustle up some money instead.

Where does that lead you?

I mean, it leads to you doing stuff youre not supposed to be doing. I started off, just started selling weed and stuff. We have like a few buddies we all call each day, What are we doing today? And it would always be like something were not supposed to be doing.

That probably seems really satisfying, too, because how old are you in this period?

It started around 13 to 14. Thats when it started. But that period lasted for a while. It lasted probably up to the point where I kind of opened up my eyes when Id gotten into a little bit of trouble.

Tell me about the trouble a little bit.

It started off, I was just hanging out with a family member and hes like, Lets go over and get my stuff from my girlfriends house. I go over there with him. Its somewhere a couple of hours away in the country. I go out there. Hes drunk. Just getting his stuff. He has a houseful of stuff and a small Caprice Classic. Long story short, the police end up coming. He keeps asking to get all his stuff. Theres no way its going to fit into his car.

I hate to say it, but it sort of sounds like a comedy. Probably wasnt funny then.

I mean, it was funny to the point that the police came and took us all to jail. They said you all need to sober down. I didnt even have my license at the time. When they take me in, I had some counterfeit money on me. Thats where it all started.

Are you a teen at that point?

No, I was 21.

Oh, youre 21. So youre charged with what?

Forgery.

Forgery?

Yeah, just for carrying them around. They gave me shock time (a couple months in jail). When I did the shock time, thats when I kind of looked (at myself): Man, Ive just been partying, chasing women, kicking it for years. Didnt finish school. I really dont have nothing to show for it. I still live with my mom. I dont have a car. I hadnt been anywhere outside of Kansas City. So I was like, I wanted more. I want more out of myself, telling myself I could do better. I knew I could do better. Ive got to actually do something that makes an impact.

Thats a lot to come out of one charge. It really hit you that hard?

I mean, yeah, because I was just sitting there. It wasnt for me. I knew just sitting in jail wasnt for me going back and forth in jail wasnt the life for me. I told myself it has to stop now. Got out of jail, then they put me on probation. They charged me for some older stuff. They gave me another felony. I had to deal with that.

Antonio Hatcher, right, owner of Haul Pros, talked with Kansas City Star reporter Eric Adler, about his business in the studios of KC GIFT, a non-profit that supports black small business owners.

Youre 21 at that point. I think everyone knows the whole check the box idea, where you check felon on the application for a job. Did you go through those days? Did you know that was a useless path?

I kind of attempted it. The times I did, it didnt work. I just said, if I do apply for something, its going to a job that I know accepts felons. I was more so trying to stay in the construction field, because thats something anyone can do.

Did anyone at that time guide you? Was this all self-motivated? Was someones voice in your head, or ear, talking to you about how you became successful?

I would say my older brothers  and, of course, my mother. She worked. But then she also had a small business of her own. She had a restaurant. She tried to have different streams of income. My older brothers, they always keep like different streams of income, have their own small businesses. It motivates me. My brothers are doing it. I can do it, too. One of my older brothers, Rico, had a moving company. It was just kind of cool what he was doing. I was just like, Hey, let me try to do it.

When you had that thought, did you just think, I just want something different, or was there any struggle? Youd been living a faster life for a number of years. Was that easy to turn away from?

Its easy if you want to do it. Its hard if you dont want to do it. It just depends on what you want to do. Thats why I tried to make sure, when I was changing my life around, that I had something positive to do that kept me busy. You cant just say, Im changing my life around, and not really be working or doing anything. If youre sitting around, having an idle mind, nothing probably good is going to come from it.

So how did you do it? You could have just worked for somebody else. Somewhere inside of you, you said, I want to be the boss.

I was probably planning this out for a year before I started. I was watching people who was doing it. Im looking at the market movers. I just kind of planned it. Once it happened, I actually stayed busy and I started liking it. And then once I started traveling, it was just like I really loved it. It was like everything just clicked and happened. I guess I was just focused and put the work in.

You use that word, focus. If youre talking to 14-year-old you and you said, OK, little me. I have something to tell you and I have some advice for you on what it takes to become something more than you are right now, what would you say?

Probably just, gotta trust in myself, you know. Dont follow the crowd. I used to hang out with a lot of different people. I feel like if Id just stuck to myself a lot more, I probably would have been a little less in trouble, a lot more less in trouble.

So why hire people with past records?

Because I was somebody with a past record and I was looking for a chance. I feel like, for me, not to give somebody a chance when I was in that same boat before, wouldnt be right. I still do my research, but, you know, I want to make sure that anybody who is going to want to work, they can do it and do the right thing.

If someone wanted to be you, and do what you do, what would you tell them the key is?







Antonio Hatcher, owner of Haul Pros, a successful Kansas City moving company, talked with Kansas City Star reporter Eric Adler, about lessons he learned after trouble with the law landed him in jail but motivated him to change his life and start his own business.

You just got to be focused and determined, because everythings not always going to go the way you plan it. It could go bad a lot of times, but all it takes is one or two good times for it to really bounce back in your favor. Dont give up. Keep working.

How important do you think that is, just hanging in there?

Youve got to make good decisions, so when the bad decisions happen, you kind of got something to fall on. If you come in with good character and do good decisions, at least when something bad happens, people know that they still have someone who is honest. You still have your reputation. Thats key in any business. Youve got to have your reputation and make sure that you leave a good image and people can trust you. With me being a mover, theyre trusting me in their house and with all their life items, everything they got. Youve got to build a lot of trust with people.

I dont want to make too big a deal of the difficulties you had way back when. Although that was an instrumental part of your life, its not your whole life. Does it in some ways seem like that was just a different you, a different time, a different person?

I like to keep it close to me because it allows me to be who I am today. I dont ever want to forget where I came from. My mistakes I try not to ever run from, because I try not to do anything that I might regret. You cant just say, Oh, it never happened. Youve got to be a man or woman about whatever you did.

Lets talk about your business. To be the boss, to start your own business: How did you get your own thing going?

Well, I mean, I got a really good deal ($2,500) on a truck. So I started off getting a small midsize truck. That truck took me a lot of different places. I was already saving and scouting where I should market. I started out on Craigslist. I think I advertised as pretty much a new company, always trying to keep it transparent, just a new company trying to get work. We advertise that we do junk, demolition, pretty much anything that could go in a truck.

Do you remember getting that first job that wasnt a relative?

It was actually a military guy. He was, I think, just getting rid of some beds and moving some stuff. It was for like $180.

Do you remember how you felt after you got done with that job?

I just saw it as Im ready for another one. Thats just the way I approached it. Get more booked.

Do you ask people, Hey, can you give us a review? How did I do? How do you handle customers?

At first I didnt really know much about reviews, but the more I got into it, I definitely started. I ask for reviews every time now. That helps you build trust when they see people who have been there, and they like it. Reviews are big. Even I look at reviews, myself.

Did things start rolling slowly?

It was pretty consistent. We would always run into pretty good clients. Theyd have us . . . booked up for maybe a week, or three days, then we would get out-of-state moves, out-of-state projects. Thats really where it started rolling.

How much homework do you do to know what the best pricing is? Do you feel like youre bidding for jobs?

At first I would just look at the other moving companies and kind of like, their prices are so high. I can definitely underbid this. So, it wasnt too hard. So I would always just kind of see what the price was and try to stay somewhere around there.

Wheres the place youve been thats the furthest away or maybe most interesting?

The furthest weve been is probably Washington (state). It was like an island outside of Washington. That was like 30 hours away. Ive probably been to at least 40 states, just from this, just from work. And its amazing. I love it. I mean its basically paid vacation until you have to work.

Do you enjoy seeing all this stuff?

Yeah, the thing that I love more is that most people who come with me  because its always a crew they have not traveled. I would say 90% of the people really have not been outside of Kansas City. Youre hiring people who have things going on, or youre hiring people who, like you said, may have been a felon its taking them out of a bad environment, and putting them in a different place.

I can tell you, like a lot of times when people come and work for me, they want more. Or they want to get a job. Sometimes its people who have never had a job. They want to do more, just because youre coming in. Youre meeting successful people. Youre going into peoples houses who might have a $1 million, $2 million home. Or just traveling, giving people the opportunity to go to different places. They see that, and they like it.

Where do you want to go with the business?

Right now were trying to focus on interstate moving. We want to stay doing local moves, but I want to do more interstate moves.

I think your journey and what you have accomplished is impressive and inspiring.

Thank you.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is planning to leave its uptown office next summer after being in Charlotte for a few years.

The financial services firms parent company is based in Tokyo, and came to Charlotte in 2019 to open a center for technology, risk management and other functions for the Americas. But MUFG decided not to renew the lease for space at 201 S. College St. after it expires in July 2024, MUFG Bank (U.S.) managing director and chief communications officer Daniel Weidman told The Charlotte Observer in an email.

Weidman declined additional comment, and did not indicate what the impact would be on MUFGs continued presence in Charlotte.

When MUFG announced plans for launching in Charlotte, the bank said it intended to employee 300 people, citing the citys proximity to colleges and universities, and labor pool, as a way to recruit for jobs. The Charlotte Regional Business Alliances directory, MUFG exceeded hiring goals and was projecting closer to 400 employees.

The Charlotte location is one of many under MUFGs Americas operation in the U.S., Latin America and Canada. Its work is focused on global corporate and investment banking, along with other services.

Some of those services including commercial banking, trust banking, credit cards, consumer finance and leasing. Its the seventh-largest financial institution in the world, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, with assets of $2.9 trillion.

MUFG has 2,100 locations in more than 50 countries, with nearly 160,000 employees.

MUFG history includes samurais and the California Gold Rush

The companys long and occasionally colorful history of banks and bank mergers that dates back to the 1600s.

That includes Mitsubishi Bank and Yokohama Specie Bank, which were created in 1880 by Iwasaki Yataro, a former samurai. Yokohama was a forerunner of the Bank of Tokyo.

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ was created around in 2006.

Its MUFG Americas division was formed through mergers of a number of banks, the earliest of which was the Bank of California. After it was established in 1864 it helped provide money for the California Gold Rush.

Later in 2018, BTMU and its related groups were renamed MUFG Bank, Ltd.
The show about nothing is cooking up something.

During a stand-up comedy performance Oct. 7 at the Wang Theatre in Boston, Jerry Seinfeld hinted that there may be some sort a Seinfeld reunion in the works.

While taking questions from fans in the audience, the 69-year-old comedian was asked how he felt about the 1998 series finale of the legendary sitcom.

Seinfeld teased that he and show co-creator Larry David may be working on an idea bigger than a cologne that smells like the beach or a coffee table book about coffee tables.

Well, I have a little secret for you about the ending, but I cant really tell it because it is a secret, Seinfeld said in a video posted on Instagram by Linda Henry, the CEO of Boston Globe Media.

Seinfeld (NBC)

Heres what Ill tell you, OK? But you cant tell anybody. Something is going to happen that has to do with that ending. It hasnt happened yet, he continued, drawing cheers from the audience.

And just what you are thinking about, Larry and I have also been thinking about it. So, youll see. Youll see.

Whether the talk about a reunion is real and whether it would be spectacular remains to be seen. The Seinfeld finale, seen by 76.3 million people, received mixed reviews, with many people feeling disappointed by it.

Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Jason Alexander. (Alamy )

The show ran for 180 episodes over nine seasons and ended with the four main characters going to jail for violating a "Good Samaritan law" in a small Massachusetts town. Seinfeld has not shied away from discussing the challenge of making the finale.

I sometimes think we really shouldnt have even done it, he said at The New Yorker Festival in 2017, according to Vulture. There was a lot of pressure on us at that time to do one big last show, but big is always bad in comedy.

There has never been an official Seinfeld reunion, but the seventh season of Davids HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm revolved heavily on a storyline about the show rebooting, with appearances from Seinfeld and fellow cast members Jason Alexander, Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as several of the actors who portrayed recurring characters on the comedy.

Seinfeld and Alexander also appeared as Jerry and George, their characters from the show, for a 2014 Super Bowl commercial for Seinfeld's talk show series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Two sides are divided. On Monday in Jacksonville, Palestinians and the Jewish community had rallies amid the fighting in Israel and Gaza.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Action News Jax was live from the University of Florida where one of those rallies took place. The Jewish community is shaken by the loss of life.

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

Since the militant group, Hamas claimed responsibility for hundreds dying in Israel many at the rally said they dont know when this war will end.

Absolute, heinous, pure evil, Rabbi Shmuli Novack said.

Israel has declared war against the militant terror group Hamas, a group responsible for hundreds of deaths after this weekends attacks.

Rabbi Shmuli Novack of Chabad of Southside, said this attack on Israel is senseless.

Murdering little babies, there is no rationale, there is no political system in which that is acceptable, Rabbi Novack said.

Related Story: Were two groups of people who believe in freedom: Floridas deep ties to Israel

Rabbi Novack said he currently has family living in Israel, adding they are terrified right now.

They are suffering tremendously... Thank God everybody in my immediate family is safe and alive. But its certainly a massive toll, Rabbi Novack said.

Earlier today, Palestinians had their own rally downtown at the Duval County Courthouse.

Sara Mahmoud with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network explained why this conflict is happening.

Related Story: Israel-Hamas war: Biden says at least 11 US citizens killed (Live updates)

Its important to understand that these events of last weekend didnt happen in a vacuum, Mahmoud said.

Mahmoud adds this conflict between Palestinians and Israelis goes back 75 years.

While two million Palestinians live in Gaza now, a lot of those people were pushed out of their homes for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, Mahmoud said. Ill reiterate, we dont like to see the loss of lives anywhere.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Mahmoud also said Palestinians have tried non-violent means of resistance before, but those efforts have failed.

Ogen Gahanian, who is a former first sergeant in the Israeli military said he is heartbroken by this war and cant believe its happening.

Not in a lifetime. This is a horror movie, Gahanian said. Ive been in the army, and places like Gaza.. I served most of my service in that area. I never imagined the atrocities that could come out from there.

Ghanian said he isnt sure when this war will end but wants everyone in his country to be safe.

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.
UPDATE: Person of interest held in possible hate crime incidents







Detectives said they have evidence a hate crime was committed against a bakery overnight and an investigation was ongoing in another potential case at a Jewish temple in Fresno, police said Tuesday.

One incident was reported at Noahs Ark Restaurant and Bakery near First Street and Barstow Avenue, police said.

An employee discovered two broken windows and a newspaper with a handwritten message threatening Jewish owned businesses about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police said. The owners of the bakery are not Jewish.

The other incident was at Temple Beth Israel near Herndon and Maroa avenues, where an employee about 6 a.m. discovered a window had been broken by a rock, police said.

There was no evidence that the damage at the temple was part of a hate crime, police said, but it was being investigated as one.

The Fresno Police Department will not tolerate any acts of violence, threats of violence or efforts of intimidation towards any of our community members, Chief Paco Balderrama said in a news release.

Fresno police are investigating a potential hate crime at Noahs Ark Restaurant & Bakery the glass doors were broken Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, 2023.

The incidents come days after a multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 11 American citizens, according to a White House official.

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area.

Noahs Ark Restaurant and Bakery owned by Armenian Christian family

The family-owned Noahs Ark has experienced potentially hate-related damage before back in May, according to Ani Baghramyan, whose parents are the owners.

The 7-year-old business hadnt seen any kind of vandalism before this year, she said.

Fresno police are investigating a potential hate crime at Noahs Ark Restaurant & Bakery the glass doors were broken Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, 2023.

She said the newspaper clipping from the latest incident said all Israeli-owned businesses are targeted.

Baghramyan said she and her family are Armenian Christians. We have nothing to do with Palestine or Israel, she said.

The suspects apparently made an assumption about the business based on its name, she said. We worry it will happen again, she said.







Noahs Ark is a reference to a story in the Old Testament.

The damage in May caused a short closure of the store, but she said Noahs remained open Tuesday with its baked goods and meals for sale.

She asked any potential witnesses to contact police.

Fresno police said they are looking for tips from potential witnesses, who can call 559-621-7000.

Anyone calling with information can remain anonymous through Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

Fresno police are investigating a potential hate crime at Temple Beth Israel where a rock was apparently used to break a glass door early in the morning on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

Broken glass and a nearby rock are shown on the doors of Temple Beth Israel where Fresno police are investigating a potential hate crime on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

Officials condemn violence in Israel

Members of Fresno City Council issued statements Tuesday condemning the coordinated attacks in Israel.

The council offered its condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks, according to Councilmember Nelson Esparza.

We unequivocally condemn these acts of terrorism and hope the responsible parties are brought to justice, he said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel during this difficult time as they strive for peace and security. 

Councilmember Annalisa Perea also condemned the violence by Hamas.

I stand in solidarity with the Israeli people at this painful time and pray for the families who lost loved ones in these horrific attacks, she said in a statement. May their memory be eternal.

Councilmember Mike Karbassi called the attacks gut-wrenching and indiscriminate.

Communities across the world must come together and take a moral stand against terror, he said in a statement. We cannot permit the forces of evil to draw us into a conflict meant to fracture our goal of peace and coexistence in the region.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
President Joe Biden has been interviewed by a special counsel examining why he had classified materials at his home and one of his offices, his administration acknowledged on Monday.

Seeking to downplay the situation, his office continues to emphasize that it is cooperating with the inquiry. In a statement to CBS News, a spokesperson for the White House counsels office said that Biden was interviewed on a voluntary basis on Sunday and Monday.

As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation, the spokesperson added.

In 2022, attorneys for Biden found a small number of classified materials in a locked closet at a think tank where he kept an office. Later, federal authorities found more classified documents after searching his home in Delaware.

Biden is attempting to contrast himself with former President Donald Trump, who is facing four separate indictments, including for allegedly keeping classified materials at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. Trump had resisted efforts by the National Archives to retrieve the documents, which were found in large numbers of boxes on the property.

The former president has also been accused of having loose lips over national security issues. According to ABC News, after leaving office, he shared highly sensitive information about U.S. nuclear submarines with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, who is a member at Mar-a-Lago.

Pratt allegedly then passed the information on to scores of others, including more than a dozen foreign officials, several of his own employees, and a handful of journalists, anonymous sources cited by ABC News said.

Trump has denied wrongdoing.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The new Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden, and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear, Brown told members of the media traveling with him to Brussels, as reported by Reuters.

Browns comments  his first public words since he was confirmed to the role late last month  come as the Lebanese group Hezbollah fired a series of rockets at northern Israel.

U.S. officials have expressed concerns that Hezbollah might choose to open a second front to the conflict, as the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel last fought a monthlong war in 2006.

Iran also backs Hamas, which carried out the largest incursion on Israeli soil in decades Saturday, butchering hundreds of civilians in the process. Iran has denied any involvement in the planning of that attack, but its backing of Hamas has raised suspicions.

The Hamas attack on Israel included coordinated surprise strikes by land, sea and air. More than 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed so far in the fighting, as have 11 U.S. citizens, while thousands of others were injured.

In response, the U.S. military said it is surging air defenses, munitions and other equipment to Israel.

The Pentagon also sent a U.S. carrier strike group closer to Israel in response to the attacks.

It sends a very strong message of support for Israel. But its also to send a strong message of deterrence to contain broadening this particular conflict, Brown said of the aid and repositioning of military vessels.

He also compared Hamas to the Islamic State terrorist group in its actions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley is offering the worlds most harebrained pitch on how to help Israel: simply redirect funds from Ukraine to Israel.



Hawley posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday saying, Israel is facing an existential threat, using the tragedy there to further his own political agenda of defunding U.S. aid to Ukraine.



Fighting broke out on Saturday when Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel, killing over 900 Israelis. The Israeli government has responded by declaring a total siege of Gaza, home to two million Palestinians and what has been described as the worlds largest open-air prison. About 770 Palestinians have already been killed in retribution, and the death toll is expected to keep rising.



On Monday, Senator Mitch McConnell was among several bipartisan lawmakers who pushed for a spending package that would link aid for Israel with support for Ukraine and Taiwan. The hope is to convince Ukraine aid skeptics, like Hawley, to continue supporting the country as support diminishes in the GOP-controlled House. On both sides of the aisle, the deaths of Palestinians and Israelis have already become a political tool.



Meanwhile, some are saying that its not clear that Israel requires immediate U.S. funding. Congressional aides have said that Israel already has the resources to wage a weeks-long campaign of violence in Gaza and use its Iron Dome system to defend itself, and can then tap into more than $5 billion made available by Pentagon drawdown authority.


SAN DIEGO  Over 80,000 Kaiser Permanente workers could be walking off the job again next month as contract negotiations continue with the healthcare network.

Leaders with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions announced on Tuesday that they gave notice to executives of the historic strikes continuation, which is planned to take place from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8, in the case that a new contract cannot be agreed upon in bargaining sessions this month.

Staffing concerns remain a primary focus of the union. In particular, the Coalition said that placing limitations around subcontracting and outsourcing has become a major sticking point in the negotiations.

Hollywood writers vote to approve contract deal that ended strike as actors negotiate

Healthcare workers are also seeking pay increases to meet the cost of living in areas where the provider operates, according to the Coalition.

Its simple: Kaiser executives need to be investing in healthcare workers right now amidst this short staffing crisis, not discarding them through a variety of expensive outsourcing schemes, Tamara Chew, a Healthcare Plan Representative, in Roseville, Calif. said in a release. I cant understand why anyone in the Kaiser boardroom thinks corporate outsourcing threats are the way to treat a workforce that just a short time ago were being hailed as heroes.

However, healthcare workers say that they are hopeful that they will not have to strike again, while also taking the legal steps to prepare for the possibility.

Kaiser employees have been bargaining with the provider since April. The last contract the union negotiated with Kaiser was in 2019. The pandemic, union officials say, worsened working conditions, contributing to existing staffing issues.

The first strike, which made history as the largest healthcare worker labor demonstration in the U.S., took place for three days earlier this month after Kaiser executives and union negotiators were unable to reach an agreement.

It took Kaiser a long time to come to the table  they were not willing to compromise  now seeing the impact they are willing to come back to the table, Marisol Preller, OPEIU LOCAL 30 strike captain and licensed vocational nurse with Kaiser in San Diego, told FOX 5 on Oct. 5, the second day on the picket lines.

Bargaining sessions are set to resume on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13, according to a spokesperson for Kaiser. If healthcare workers strike again, it will begin on Nov. 1 at 6 a.m. local time and continue until Nov. 8 at 6 a.m.

Union officials say the delay between the scheduled sessions and the possible strike is to allow Kaiser executives more time to organize themselves around proposals, as well as allow additional contract workers in Seattle to join strike lines.

The future of electric vehicles looms over negotiations in the US autoworkers strike

According to the Coalition, the contract covering roughly 3,000 workers at Kaiser campuses in Seattle is set to expire on Oct. 31 at midnight.

Kaiser Permanente remains committed to reaching an agreement that is good for our employees, our members, and our organization, and we will continue to bargain in good faith with the Coalition, a spokesperson for the healthcare provider said in an emailed statement.

Similar with the first strike, a potential second strike would also involve workers from Kaiser facilities in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
An Oklahoma City man accused of shooting a Cleveland County sheriff's deputy and killing a passenger in a vehicle driving by has been found dead, law enforcement said.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, conducted a secondary grid search of the area in which the shooting took place  near Wynnewood at Exit 60 on Interstate 35  after a nearly weeklong search had not led law enforcement to find the suspect, Kameron Jenkins.

The search revealed Jenkins, 25, to be dead in the area.

The scene is being turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the patrol said.

More: After Cleveland County deputy shot during I-35 chase, officers launch manhunt, blue alert

Kameron Jenkins accused of shooting deputy, passenger

After a manhunt commenced, Jenkins was charged last week in Garvin County with felony murder, shooting with intent to kill and possessing a firearm after former felony conviction.

According to a court affidavit, Jenkins was driving northbound on I-35 on Oct. 4 when Deputy Sean Steadman attempted a traffic stop. The deputy is part of a multi-county task force.

Jenkins exited on Exit 60 and drove until Steadman conducted a tactical vehicle intervention, forcing Jenkins' car to stop. According to the affidavit, Jenkins and Steadman exchanged gunfire, and Steadman was shot in the chin. A passenger in Jenkins' vehicle was taken into custody.

The passenger of a dump truck traveling north on I-35, Gwaun Frierson, was struck by a stray bullet and killed.

According to the affidavit, Jenkins previously pleaded guilty to other firearm charges, including assault and battery with a deadly weapon in 2016 and possession of a firearm in 2019.

Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Marshals Service had been offering an $11,000 reward for information that led to Jenkins' arrest.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kameron Jenkins, Cleveland County deputy shooting suspect, found dead
The state of Kansas is flush with cash. Gov. Laura Kelly announced last week that the Department of Revenue took in $42 million more in taxes during September than officials originally expected  a total of $991.6 million for the month. That number actually underplays the Sunflower States bulging bank accounts: Projections now suggest Kansas could be running a nearly $3.2 billion budget surplus by the end of June 2025.

That is good news. Kansas is not so far removed from the days of then-Gov. Sam Brownbacks notorious tax experiment, which strangled state revenues, forced public schools to tighten their belts and produced a voter backlash. At risk of stating the obvious, it is better for the state government to have a bit too much in its coffers than too little.

Now, however, leaders in Topeka face a serious question: What to do with all that money?

We have some ideas. There are three things the Kansas Legislature should do with the budget surplus  and one it shouldnt.

 Expand Medicaid. Gov. Kelly has tried time and again to lead Kansas to join the 41 states that have used federal funds to expand Medicaid coverage to cover nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. The Republican-controlled Legislature has refused to go along  and its leaders show no sign of giving ground. Big government is not and will never be the answer to increasing health care access to Kansans, Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson said in a joint statement last week.

We disagree. Up to 150,000 Kansans would benefit from expanding Medicaid eligibility. Studies show that the expanded program in other states has reduced the number of hospital closures, particularly in rural areas. And importantly, polls show Kansans overwhelmingly want Medicaid expansion. Legislators should at long last listen to their constituents on this issue.

 Fully fund special education. State law requires Kansas to fund local schools for 92% of the excess costs of special education programs, but the state hasnt actually met this obligation for more than a decade. That has forced school districts to divert money from their general education budgets, straining the resources available for all students. But the Legislature earlier this year passed on Kellys $72 million request for special ed funding.

This is another issue where partisanship shouldnt be a factor. Republicans hold a 7-3 majority on the Kansas State Board of Education, yet in July the board unanimously endorsed a four-year plan to raise state special education funding by $86.6 million a year. We certainly have the budget as a state right now to cover this, said Melanie Haas, the board chair. Its time we caught up. Shes right.

 Smart tax cuts. Not all of the excess revenues should be invested in new spending programs  some of it should go back to the taxpayers. In April, Kelly called for a one-time rebate of $450 to individual taxpayers and $900 to married couples filing jointly. That proposal found no traction in the Legislature. Kelly is ready to try again, announcing last week that she wants cuts to property, grocery and retirement taxes. That makes sense.

 But not those tax cuts. Republicans tried and failed to pass a flat income tax during the 2023 legislative session. They have made clear that they will try again in 2024. We will see the details of the new proposal then, but flat taxes are inherently regressive: They put cash in the pockets of the richest Kansans while offering precious little to the people who need it most. One analysis of this years vetoed proposal found it would give $3,000 back to top earners  and just $50 to folks at the bottom of the scale.

The state is in a good position. The budget surplus means leaders can make choices from a position of strength. The priority should be to address the needs and pocketbooks of all Kansans. Well see if legislators are up to the task.
LAWRENCE, Kan.  A Douglas County, Kansas judge sentenced a Kansas City, Missouri man for trafficking a controlled substance that resulted in the fentanyl overdose death of a 32-year-old Lawrence man.

Judge Stacey Donovan on Tuesday sentenced Daniele Leone, 33, who pleaded guilty in September, to five years and one month for voluntary manslaughter and one year and four months for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Kansas City man sentenced for stalking, killing man in front of young daughter

Leone also will have to serve three years of post-release supervision and register as a violent offender for 15 years.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on March 15, 2021, when the victim was discovered unresponsive in a home located in the E. 1300 block of 13th Street.

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The incident was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A United States District Judge sentenced a Kansas City, Missouri man in the killing of another man in front of the victims then 9-year-old daughter.

Lester Brown, 36, also known as Lucky, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to life plus 15 years in federal prison without parole.

Brown was found guilty back in May of one count of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, one count of cyberstalking resulting in death, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court sentenced Brown to life in prison for cyberstalking resulting in death, 10 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, and five years in prison for conspiracy, all of which must be served consecutively.

Prosecutors said Brown and two other men stalked Christopher Harris. Court documents show Brown put several GPS devices on vehicles Harris and his acquaintances used between Nov. 1, 2017 and March 19, 2018.

Jackson County considering other avenues to fund Royals, Chiefs stadiums

The documents show Brown tracked Harris to a Raytown dance studio on March 14, 2018. Brown and the other two men followed Harris as he drove his 9-year-old daughter home to her mothers house.

Brown stopped behind Harris vehicle while he and another man got out of the car and shot into the vehicle, according to court paperwork. Harris daughter was in the car at the time of the shooting. The girl ran into the house unharmed. Court documents show Brown stood over Harris and fired two more shots while Harris was on the ground, killing him.

During Browns trial prosecutors also presented evidence of the murder of Harris friend, Ryan Cobbins in 2013.

Cobbins disappeared on Oct. 24, 2013, after a haircut.

Kansas City-area high school football team forced to vacate wins

Brown told Harris and another person that he could get Cobbins released for a ransom payment of $20,000. The men paid Brown, but police found Cobbins body on Dec. 31, 2014.

Brown faces up to life in prison without parole when he is sentenced.

Co-defendants Michael Young, 32, of Independence, Mo., and Ronell Pearson, 36, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, have each pleaded guilty and were sentenced in June 2023 for their roles in the cyberstalking conspiracy.

Young also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking resulting in death. Young was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Pearson was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole.

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The court also ordered Brown, Young and Pearson to pay $19,012 in restitution to compensate the murder victims family for funeral and burial expenses, for which they are jointly and severally liable.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Republican candidate Kari Lake announces her plans to run for the Arizona U.S. Senate seat during a rally, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP)  Kari Lake asked for a show of hands.

Who's been canceled? Who's lost friends? Has strained relations with family? Been indicted? Sued for defamation?

If your hand did not go up in any of that, then I do think you need to work a little harder. I really do, Lake told an adoring crowd of Michigan Republicans gathering last month on Mackinac Island.

Lake launched a U.S. Senate campaign for an Arizona seat in a splashy Scottsdale rally on Tuesday, having never conceded that she lost last year's race for Arizona governor. She is trying out new messages and courting the support of national Republicans shes insulted in the past. But the former television news host isn't backing down on the things that made her a star on the far right  her combativeness with perceived enemies, her fealty to Donald Trump and her willingness to defend his election lies.

That worries some Republicans who fear she will cost them a race that could decide control of the Senate.

Kari Lake can win, but shes going to have to run a different campaign than she ran two years ago, and shes going to have to become a serious candidate who talks about serious issues that everyday Republican and independent voters care about, said Chris Baker, an Arizona-based Republican political consultant. And she hasnt done a lot of that this year.

At her rally Tuesday, Lake didnt concede she lost the last election, but didnt say it was stolen and made only a brief mention of it during a nearly 50-minute-long speech. She said shes never going to walk away from the fight to restore honest elections.

We did everything right, and we saw the disaster of election day in Arizona, Lake said. Sometimes when things dont go the way we expect, we find ourselves questioning and asking why ... I think God has bigger plans for us.

She heaped praise on Trump, who recorded a video endorsement that was played at the rally, and repeatedly attacked the media, calling journalists covering her event fake news fools.

When Im back in the White House, I need strong fighters like Kari in the Senate, Trump said.

Lake also offered conciliatory words for voters who disagree with her, a sharp contrast with her last campaign, when she didnt want support from establishment Republicans, even after she defeated them in the GOP primary.

I may disagree with Arizonans who voted for Joe Biden, Lake said. But I dont think youre a threat to democracy. You are a citizen just like me.

After once calling Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell an old bat and saying he needed to be replaced as Republican leader, Lake now says she would support him if she's elected. Last year, she called abortion the ultimate sin and supported a near-total ban on abortion in Arizona. Now, she says she wouldn't endorse a federal abortion ban.

National Republican leaders think a GOP candidate could take advantage of what could be a three-way race if Sen. Kyrsten Sinema seeks reelection. Sinema, a former Democrat who became an independent last year, is preparing for a campaign but has not said whether she will seek a second term. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego is likely to have the Democratic nomination locked up.

Lake met recently with Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who leads the GOPs Senate campaign work as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and saw several other GOP senators during a trip to Washington. Daines has publicly urged Lake to focus on the future instead of relitigating past elections.

A former television news anchor for nearly three decades in the Phoenix market, Lake was already known locally but had no national profile when she walked away from her career in 2021, declared journalism is dead, and took a sledgehammer to televisions showing cable newscasts.

Right up to Election Day, she embraced Trump, appeared with right-wing figures like Steve Bannon and blasted establishment Republicans, including the late Sen. John McCain.

She lost the governor's race by less than 1 point. About four in 10 Arizona voters in the 2022 election said they were very concerned that Lakes views were too extreme, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of U.S. voters. She lost 11% of Republicans. About 63% of independents and 96% of Democrats backed the winner, Democrat Katie Hobbs.

But Lake became a national figure on the far right with her television appearances and her defense of Trump's election falsehoods.

In the months since, Lake has traveled extensively to speak to Republican groups around the country, her remarks focused largely on her fraudulent election claims. Her frequent trips to Iowa, the state where she was born but also the host of the leadoff presidential caucuses, have raised eyebrows in political circles. Some have floated her as a running mate for Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

She sued Maricopa County, claiming election officials deliberately created printer malfunctions to cause her to lose. She lost, and her unsuccessful appeals have bounced through the court system, all the way up to the Arizona Supreme Court.

She also was sued for defamation by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican official who says he has faced death threats because she lied about how he conducted the election.

Last month she was back in court for her third election-related case, where she watched as her lawyer argued that Arizona's public records law entitles her to see copies of signed vote-by-mail envelopes. She claims reviewing the signatures would allow her to prove that ballots were counted that should not have been, drawing parallels to an unprecedented partisan recount of ballots conducted by Trump supporters on behalf of state Senate Republicans following the 2020 election.

Her fights over the 2020 and 2022 elections have only further endeared her to Arizona Republicans, who nominated a slate of Trump-backed candidates who spread election lies and went on to lose in the midterms. She enters the Senate race as an immediate front-runner in the GOP primary, where she'll face Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.

Stung by unexpected Senate losses last year, Republicans in Washington have vowed to take an active role in primaries to help more electable candidates earn the GOP nomination. Lake so far has received a warm, if tentative, reception in the nation's capital, where influential officials who control the party's money and priorities are signaling that they're open to embracing her if she's willing to broaden her base of support.

We have had productive conversations with Kari Lake and her team," Daines said in a statement. "She is a talented campaigner with an impressive ability to fire up the grassroots. We have a clear path to victory with two Democrats on the ballot in Arizona.

The NRSC has not ruled out endorsing Lake in the primary, according to a person familiar with the organization's strategy who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Support from the NRSC would potentially open up a lucrative funding stream and signal to donors that Lake has the support of key GOP senators.

After harshly criticizing McConnell during her gubernatorial campaign, she now says she would support the Republican leader in Congress because he would be preferable to Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

"If the choice is between McConnell and Schumer, who are you going to vote for? Its not going to be Schumer, Lake told the AP.

That's a change of tone from a year ago, when she called McConnell an old bat at a campaign rally and said it was time to replace him as the GOP leader with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Even as recently as August, she appeared to poke fun at McConnell freezing up during a press conference.

I dont even think he can control what comes out of his mouth anymore, Lake said on Bannon's podcast. I mean theres something going on right now with him.

___

Associated Press writers Steve Peoples in New York and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.
Kentucky State Police say a deadly police shooting that happened in July occurred after a car chase.

The chase began in Wayne County when the local sheriffs office spotted a vehicle believed to have been involved in a previous hit-and-run crash. A sheriffs deputy tried to pull over the vehicle but it fled, KSP said in a news release Monday.

The pursuit eventually carried into Clinton County on KY90, where deputy Brad Cross with the Clinton County Sheriffs Office took the lead in the pursuit. Cross has been with the Clinton County Sheriffs Office for two years and has 23 years of experience in law enforcement, KSP said.

KSP said the man in the other vehicle was later identified as 56-year-old Mark Buchanan of Somerset.

Buchanan purposely collided with Cross cruiser twice during the pursuit, according to KSP. Cross avoided a third collision with Buchanans vehicle by performing an evasive maneuver when he tried to pass him.

Cross then shot Buchanan, ending the pursuit, KSP said. Buchanan was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clinton County coroner. An autopsy was performed at the state Medical Examiners Office in Louisville.

Cross was placed on administrative leave for two weeks, per policies and procedures from the sheriffs office. An investigation remains ongoing. KSP previously confirmed it was investigating the shooting, but released few details until Monday.
The Israeli village smells of death. The air is thick with the scent of bodies decomposing in the sunshine.

A stutter of machine-gun fire erupts as we first enter Kfar Aza, located a few miles from the border fence with Gaza.

Israeli soldiers, some flat to the ground, fan out silently in a staggered Z-shape. They edge steadily forward through a field, while rocket fire burns lines through the sky above us.

When Hamas came here they cut the heads of women, they cut the heads of children, says Major David Ben Zion, while making a chopping motion towards his neck. We saw dead babies, girls. The 37-year-old is a reservist deployed here on Saturday to try to evacuate the few survivors of the onslaught. The Independent did not see evidence of his claims.

Watch the full episode on Independent TV here

We succeeded in saving some of them but we found most dead in their houses, he adds as soldiers in masks pack the corpses of slain civilians into body bags behind him.

They came with just one mission to kill more and more of our people.

After four days of street battles with Hamas militants, the Israeli military has said it is more or less in control of the border regions.

But here, in one of the first neighbourhoods to be breached in Saturdays unprecedented attack, lone gunmen are apparently still left. The gunfire sounds like a desperate last stand.

The rocket fire is also constant. There is no warning as we are so close to the rocket launch pads. The booms shake your chest as they chisel into the ground or erupt above us, intercepted by Israels Iron Dome air defence system.

Israeli soldiers carry a body in Kfar Aza (Reuters)

You can see the blood and carnage everywhere, even on baby carriers, says Major Doron Speilman, just before we dive for cover. How can anyone shed their humanity to such a degree?

The task now is to retrieve the dead. Soldiers are busy pulling bodies of local residents out of booby-trapped houses.

They have chosen to leave the militants, however, stretched out obscenely along the ground. Most are wearing trainers and tracksuit bottoms, with ammunition belts and vests loaded with grenades strapped to their chests.

And so the village is a chilling tableau of what happened on Saturday when the militants broke the border fence in 80 different points and attacked from air, sea and land. Intermingled with shot-up cars, blood-spattered strollers, and spent ammo casings, are the mangled remains of Hamass homemade paragliders.

The aftermath of the Hamas attack on Kfar Aza (Bel Trew/The Independent)

Just in front of the breached fence is a destroyed motorcycle with a Gaza number plate wedged under a car. A metal sign tied to the back reads Khalas Waqtak in Arabic, which means your time is up.

Terrified families were in some instances smoked out of their homes or shelters. Among the dead are several children. Inside one deserted home, is a pool of blood next to a bloodstained rag, implying someone potentially survived.

If you dont see signs of a dead body here, then you know the owner was probably kidnapped to Gaza, one soldier tells me with a shrug.

None of the units know exactly how many people were killed here or how many have been taken hostage in Gaza. In total 130 people, including British and American citizens, women and children, are believed to be in Hamass hands. The Israelis collect and note the dead in front of us: these bodies may increase the death toll, which is already more than 1,000.

The militants who tore through this area made it as far as Sderot, a city which is five miles down the road. There, they managed to commandeer a police station for nearly 24 hours, engaging in constant gun battles with Israeli security forces

An Israeli tank and soldiers in Kfar Aza (Bel Trew/The Independent)

How did this happen? We are so angry, we have so many questions, says Michel Ohayon, 56, an invalid, from his home which is located just a few yards from the police station. Militants knocked on his door on Saturday morning and tried to force him out. Powerless, he watched them slaughter multiple women and police officers, he knew personally, on his doorstep.

How can it be that the terrorists made it all this way to Sderot? He asks again in disbelief.

And it is these scenes which are galvanising resolve here in Israel. Rabbi David Fendel, who is delivering aid to Michel, says there can be no peace now. We have to keep bombing until they cant lift their heads, he adds.

The destruction in Kfar Aza (Bel Trew/The Independent)

Back in Kfar Aza, the soldiers seem to agree.

Gaza, choked by smoke, stretches out against the horizon just a few miles behind the village. Israeli warplanes are relentlessly pounding the 26-mile strip, strikes which have killed more than 800 Palestinians including 90 children. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a fiery statement this week that the bombardment of Gaza will reverberate with [our enemies] for generations.

To pile on further pressure, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant also declared a total siege on the strip, an act human rights groups said would amount to collective punishment and may violate international law. There are concerns a total blockade will spark a devastating humanitarian catastrophe for the more than two million people who live in the strip. Almost half of them are children.

No power, no food, no gas, everything is closed, Gallant said. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.

The soldiers and residents here say Hamas brought this on themselves because of these barbaric attacks. And so all must be held responsible.

They arent warriors, this wasnt a war, this was a criminal terrorist attack, says Major General Itai Verve, as his unit continues to go door-to-door looking for militants in the background.

We will fight hard until we kill them all, until we hit the last one.
Hamas militants transport an abducted Israeli civilian, second from right, from a kibbutz into the Gaza Strip on Saturday. (Hatem Ali / Associated Press)

What is Hamas, and what does it want?

The radical Palestinian militant organization that has ruled the Gaza Strip for more than 15 years has sustained a bitter, lethal animus toward Israel that goes much deeper than sentiments found inside Palestinians' other main ruler in the region, the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas is a Sunni Islamic group that does not recognize Israels right to exist and whose goals from the beginning have been to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation through any means necessary.

The group was born in the dire poverty of the Gaza Strip under stifling Israeli military occupation in the 1980s and 90s, and eventually built an active and well-armed military wing with help from neighbors such as Iran.

From early on, Hamas was seen as a challenger to the Palestine Liberation Organization and its successor, the Palestinian Authority, as well as Fatah  the political party of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. These largely secular groups were more willing to talk peace with Israel. Hamas enjoys enthusiastic moral and materiel support from Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite their observance of Shiite Islam rather than the Sunni doctrine of Hamas.

Read more: This Israeli couple's son is in enemy hands. They're determined to get him back

Unlike the Palestinian Authority, Hamas does not support the so-called two-state solution  the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel  as a permanent solution. It advocates for a Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, without an Israel. (Some extremists in the current right-wing Israeli government similarly believe in an Israel from the river to the sea, without Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a map to the United Nations General Assembly last month that appeared to formalize that vision.)

Thought to have 10,000 to 40,000 fighters in Gaza, which has a population of 2.2 million, Hamas has resorted to brutal tactics such as suicide bombings and commando raids, as evidenced in the kidnappings and killings of Israelis over the last few days. The Israeli military and intelligence establishment has long contended that Hamas is willing to use civilians as human shields.

Hamas' leaders launched the unprecedented attack on Saturday with the understanding that Israel's military would exact painful revenge. They may have calculated that the price was worth paying to embarrass Israel's government and its intelligence by infiltrating and killing so many Israelis. The group may also believe that large numbers of Palestinian victims could bring it sympathy, at least temporarily, in the Arab and Muslim world.

"Those terrorists launched this activity knowing that there would be retaliation, knowing that Israel would have to defend itself as any country did, knowing that it would lead unfortunately to the loss of life by Palestinians civilians  and they did it anyway," U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive

Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a graduate of the Muslim Brotherhood whom Israeli forces assassinated in 2004.

Its 1988 charter advocates for the killing or expulsion of all Jews or Zionists. Hamas "will not act against any of the sons of Muslims or those who are peaceful towards it from among non-Muslims," the charter states. "It will only serve as a support for all groupings and organizations operating against the Zionist enemy and its lackeys."

The United States, Israel and the European Union have listed Hamas as an international terrorist group. A senior Pentagon official on Monday described Hamas' actions as Isis-level savagery.

After a series of consultations by telephone, Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom reiterated that they "recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike."

Read more: Opinion: How Netanyahu's political calculations resulted in catastrophe

"But," they continued, "make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed."

Palestinians held legislative elections after Israel partially ended its occupation of the Gaza Strip and withdrew in 2005, and to the surprise of U.S. and other international observers, Hamas won, defeating the Palestinian Authority. Within two years, the group had seized complete power in Gaza, though it was still surrounded and under siege by Israeli military.

Hamas and Israel have clashed in the years since, including during a two-month war in 2014. Meanwhile, Israel has eased some restrictions, allowing thousands of Gazans to enter Israel for work.

There is a current of thought in Israel that successive leaders, starting with late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the early 2000s and through the Netanyahu years, quietly supported Hamas as a way to undermine the Palestinian Authority, which enjoyed international backing in the pursuit of a Palestinian state. If true, the strategy was a miscalculation that many analysts say allowed the formation of a Frankensteins monster.

Read more: Palestinians scramble for safety as Israel pounds sealed-off Gaza Strip

As Hamas consolidated its power over the years, the Palestinian Authority became weaker, more corrupt and less respected. Led by 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas for the last 18 years after his election in 2005 to a four-year term, the Palestinian leadership based in the West Bank has little authority and has been widely criticized for failing to stand up to Israel and to provide basic services to its citizens. Israel has only deepened and expanded its occupation of the West Bank, seizing homes and property from Palestinians and failing to stop Jewish settlers who have attacked Palestinian families.

Abbas and the Palestinian Authority have also failed to stem the proliferation of other Palestinian militias, who have taken control of parts of the West Bank and attacked settlers.

Despite the groups' differences in tactics and strategy, many Palestinians, whether they are supporters of Hamas, the Palestinian Authority or nonaligned, see the decades-long Israeli occupation from a similar perspective that transcends ideology, said Hafed al-Ghwell, a former World Bank executive now at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.

While the offensive is not justifiable or excusable, he said, it is the natural logical consequence of the Israeli siege of Gaza."

"They have reached an absolute desperation, thinking, We have nothing to lose, he said of Hamas.

Read more: Ex-Israeli soccer player Lior Asulin among more than 260 killed by Hamas at rave

The danger lies in how widespread those sentiments are.

There are a number of Palestinians and Arabs who say they do not believe there is such a thing as an Israeli civilian, in part because most Israeli men and women are required to perform military service.

Seeing the dramatic actions by Hamas  which have received some praise in parts of the Arab world, Iran and from others angered by the Israeli occupation  is unnerving Palestinian Authority officials.

"They're in a predicament. They are scared," said Shira Efron, a former Rand Corp. Middle East expert and research director at the Israel Policy Forum. "They fear for a security blowup in the West Bank. ... How do you really bring in the P.A. [given] the current state of the P.A.?"

Al-Ghwell said the Palestinian Authority is "walking a tightrope. They can condemn the barbaric actions, but they cant be seen as supporting Israel or the occupation."

Ned Lazarus, an international affairs professor at George Washington University and expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Hamas' deadly offensive has "further weakened and discredited the P.A." in the Palestinian public's eyes, "because they've seen [armed] 'resistance,' as Hamas defines it, is effective."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Supporters of the America First ideology and U.S. President Donald Trump cheer on Nick Fuentes , a leader of the America First movement and a white nationalist, as he makes his way through the crowd for a speech during the "Stop the Steal" and "Million MAGA March" protests after the 2020 U.S. presidential election was called for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020. Credit: REUTERS/Leah Millis

White supremacist and antisemitic leader Nick Fuentes has been thrust into the state political spotlight after he was hosted by the president of an influential group that has donated millions of dollars to top Texas Republican officials.

On Sunday, The Texas Tribune published photos of Fuentes at the headquarters of Pale Horse Strategies, where he spent nearly 7 hours on Friday. Pale Horse is owned by Jonathan Stickland, a former state representative who also leads Defend Texas Liberty  a political action committee that two West Texas oil billionaires have used to give millions of dollars to right-wing candidates, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

The meeting  which has set off a firestorm at the Texas Capitol this week  is Fuentes most high-profile, known rendezvous since he dined with former President Donald Trump last year, drawing widespread condemnation. His appearance in Texas comes as antisemitic and racist violence continues to skyrocket in the state and nationally.

Heres what to know about Fuentes:

Fuentes, 25, often praises Adolf Hitler and questions whether the Holocaust happened. He has called for a holy war against Jews and compared the 6 million killed by the Nazis to cookies being baked in an oven. He wants the U.S. government under authoritarian, Catholic Taliban rule, and has been vocal about his disdain for women, Muslims, the LGBTQ+ community and others.

"All I want is revenge against my enemies and a total Aryan victory, Fuentes said last year.

He was born in the Chicago suburbs in 1998. As a freshman at Boston University, Fuentes traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia to attend the Unite the Right rally, a meeting of violent hate groups, white nationalists and neo-Nazis that ended with the murder of one counterprotester and injuries to countless others.

Fuentes dropped out of college after the rally and ramped up his presence on YouTube, often coating his most extreme views in humor and satire  a term called irony poisoning that is often employed by online extremists because it allows them to claim they were joking when they are criticized for their rhetoric. Fuentes also linked up with a well-known neo-Nazi and former Identity Evropa leader Patrick Casey to deploy followers to Republican events, where they believed they could recruit and push softened versions of their most extreme views.

For years, Fuentes followers  nicknamed groypers after a cartoon frog that has become a meme in far-right online communities  were fixtures at events held by groups such as Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA, which they would frequently accuse of not being pro-white enough. Groypers would often try to access microphones during Q&A sessions in order to attack Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who has helped recruit younger voters to the GOP, from the right on issues like immigration or his support for Israel.

Fuentes has fantasized about marrying a 16-year-old when he is older because thats right when the milk is good, and he is a self-described proud incel who reportedly prohibits his followers from masturbating or having sex  among other directives that former members have described as cultish. Incel is shorthand for involuntarily celibate, and there is a long history of incels latching onto white supremacist ideologies that provide them someone, often Jews, to blame for their lack of romantic success. The neo-Nazi gunman who killed eight people at an Allen shopping mall this year was also an incel.

Fuentes became more prominent in mainstream media during the 2020 presidential election, and was a key figure in the Stop the Steal movement, often pairing his baseless claims about a stolen election with white supremacist conspiracy theories that claim there is an intentional, Jewish-driven effort to replace white people through immigration, interracial marriage and the LGTBQ+ community. Two days before the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, Fuentes suggested killing legislators who were unwilling to overturn the election results; on the day of the riot, he told his followers that they must be prepared to take this country back by force.

Despite his well-documented extremism and antisemitism, Fuentes annual conference has been attended by Republican officials including U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona. At his 2022 America First conference  which included speeches by Gosar and Greene  Fuentes castigated those who have compared Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Hitler as if that wasnt a good thing.

In November 2022, Fuentes dined at Mar-a-Lago with Trump and Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, who was embroiled over a spate of antisemitic comments he had recently made. Trump later said that he had no idea who Fuentes was at the time, while other Republican Party leaders condemned the meeting and Fuentes.

Fuentes acolytes have also been involved in politics: In July, one of his followers was fired from the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after it was revealed that he created and then shared a pro-DeSantis video that featured a Nazi symbol. Gosars office has also reportedly employed Fuentes followers and, in August, it was reported that Greenes campaign paid $55,000 to a consultant and Fuentes collaborator.

Other Fuentes followers have made their homes in Texas: Earlier this year, Ella Maulding moved from Mississippi to Fort Worth to work as a social media coordinator for Pale Horse Strategies. Maulding has posted photos with Fuentes in which she praised him as the greatest civil rights leader in history, and her social media is replete with references to white genocide  a foundational ideology for neo-Nazi and other violent extremist movements.

Maulding was spotted by the Tribune at the Friday meeting with Fuentes, and spent some time outside recording a video for Texans for Strong Borders in which she called on state lawmakers to crack down on immigration when they meet for a special legislative session beginning Monday. Chris Russo, the founder of Texans for Strong Borders, was seen driving Fuentes to the Friday meeting at Pale Horse Strategies.

Campaign finance records show that last year, Pale Horse Strategies received more than $828,000 for consulting and contractor services from Defend Texas Liberty, which has given nearly $15 million since 2021 to right-wing candidates. Rep. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington and Bryan Slaton, who was ousted from the Texas House in May after House investigators found that he gave alcohol to a 19-year-old aide and then had sex with her, have received substantial funding from Defend Texas Liberty.

The PAC is also a major backer to Paxton, as are the two oil billionaires  Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks  who fund Defend Texas Liberty.

Over his political career, Paxton has received nearly twice as much in donations from Dunn and the Wilks brothers than he has from his second-largest donor, Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Paxton had also received more money from the trio of billionaires than any other state politician  until this summer when Patrick received $3 million from the group before presiding over Paxtons impeachment trial and acquittal in the Texas Senate.

Disclosure: Texans for Lawsuit Reform has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
About three years ago, Jillynn Niemeier of Monroe found herself in a precarious position. Shortly after Niemeier had her second child, her child care provider said they could no longer care for Niemeiers children.

We were at a spot where I didnt know where my children were going to go, and if I could find someone I could trust, Niemeier previously told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

Niemeier had no option but to leave her job at a local nonprofit. But instead of forgoing her income altogether to stay home with her children, she decided to start Blue Door Daycare, a licensed child care, out of her home.

As pandemic-era funding that supports Wisconsin's child care industry wanes, quality care may soon be even harder to find  and more expensive. Providers may have no other choice but to charge families more to make up for this lost revenue.

With that increased expense, more parents and guardians may opt to stay home with their children. Some may follow in Niemeier's footsteps and open programs of their own. Many providers start child care programs in their homes to maximize the time they can spend with their own children.

These are just some of many reasons why Wisconsinites consider opening a child care out of their homes. Whatever your motivation, there are a few things you should know before jumping into the home child care industry.

Related: Struggling to afford child care in Wisconsin? Here's where to find help.

More: Four things to know about some of the most overlooked educators in Wisconsin: child care workers

You may be legally required to be regulated

In general, anyone providing child care in their home to four or more children younger than age 7 unrelated to them must be licensed, according to Wisconsin state statute.

Family child care providers who don't meet this threshold may still choose to undergo certification, a voluntary form of regulation.

Although the exact requirements and regulations for licensed and certified family child care providers vary, many of the rules are similar, said Lesa Alston of Child Care Resource and Referral Fox Valley. As an early childhood technical consultant, Alston helps providers become regulated.

For example, for both licensed and certified family child care providers, all caregivers, employees, and anybody living in the household age 10 or older must have a background check. Many of the classes required to become licensed and to become certified are the same too.

Under current regulations, certified family child care providers may care for no more than three children younger than 7 who are unrelated to them. A certified provider can care for a maximum of six children younger than age 7, including children related and not related to them. The ages of the children can cause the maximum group size to fluctuate.

To determine the appropriate number of children a certified family provider may care for, use the group size estimator at bit.ly/maxcertification.

Licensed family child care providers can care for a maximum of eight children younger than 7, with the maximum group size also depending on the exact ages of the children.

The number of children in each age group and corresponding maximum group size for licensed family child care are as follows:

children younger than age 2 children age 2 and older school age children (allowed in care for 3 or fewer hours a day) maximum group size 0 8 0 8 1 7 0 8 2 5 1 8 3 2 3 8 4 0 2 6

Should proposed child care legislation authored by Republicans go through, some of these specifications would change.

More: New GOP bills hope to alleviate Wisconsin's child care crisis. But how?

There are benefits to regulation

Alston said there are many benefits to becoming certified or licensed.

Regulated providers can participate in the U.S. Department of Agricultures Child and Adult Care Food Program and be reimbursed for meals and snacks they serve at their child care. They may also be eligible for scholarships through the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood program, as well as other educational opportunities, not all of which are for college credit.

Determine whether family child care is right for you

If theres one thing any family child care provider will tell you, its that its hard work with often little profit, and a lot of long days. Before jumping in, consider whether this fits your personality.

Its not easy, said Nicole Leitermann, who runs Impressions Family Child Care, a licensed program, out of her Kimberly home. You are working 10 hours a day with kids, then additional hours cleaning, planning, cooking, accounting, doing paperwork, continuing education and customer relations with parents  all of this by yourself.

Ensure your family is on board

As a family child care provider, you will not be the only one adjusting to the changes of your home doubling as a business.

If you are caring for children in your home and you have other household members living there, it will impact them, said Kelly Matthews, co-director of Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network, a WECA program. Making sure you have those conversations with your household members to be sure that theyre supportive will make a world of difference.

More: There's so much to know about the youngest Wisconsinites. Here are stories that focus on them and their families.

More: Picking a safe, high-quality child care for your family can be difficult. Here's some helpful tips

Plan to treat your child care like a business, because it is one

Before you get into it, you have to realize that its a business  its not necessarily like just being a mom to extra kids, said Amy Nogar, who runs the licensed program Amy and Kids Co. Nature Playschool out of her Appleton home. You have to have policies, you have to have emergency plans, you have to take care of the finances part of it, so you have to be a business owner in order to do it well.

Amy Nogar, who runs a licensed child care called Amy & Kids Co. Nature Playschool out of her Appleton home, gives children an art project to work on in 2020. Nogar explained child care activities should be tailored to each child's development. (Credit: Dan Powers, Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Matthews encourages all family child care providers to make a contract with families specifying sick day, payment, holiday and other such policies, obtain business liability insurance and talk to their families about emergency medical releases.

Its amazing to get to be a consistent human in a childs life as they grow up  its a privilege to be that adult for another child, Matthews said. I think thats the part that can inspire people to do this work  and I want people to be super protected as theyre doing that work, so they dont have that burden on their shoulders of What happens if something goes wrong?

Alston said those who provide child care and are paid to do should check to see what tax benefits and liabilities they are subject to. She recommends visiting tomcopelandblog.com. Tom Copeland is an expert on family child care businesses.

Find support, and know your resources

Its a lonely thing when you first start out because you dont know anything or anyone within the field, Niemeier said, noting that speaking with someone who has already been there can make a world of difference.

Niemeier connected with other providers through the Green County Child Care Network. Now, Niemeier is the networks president. Others may find community through social media groups or connecting with fellow providers with the help of their local child care resource and referral agency.

Resources for prospective family child care providers include:

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Child Care Information Center, a mail-order resource library

Child care resource and referral agencies and some family resource centers (they may be combined) that provide services to child care providers such as trainings, help with the licensing and certification process, resources and more.

WECAs free Provider Assistance for Licensing program, for those looking to start a licensed child care in Northern or Western Wisconsin. Participants receive professional business coaching before and six months after their business opens, toolkits, business training and are eligible for grants of up to $10,000 per licensed family child care program. Those interested should email WECAPAL@wisconsinearlychildhood.org.

The WEESSN Start-Up Program, which provides all the same resources as the PAL program, minus the grants, for providers looking to become certified or licensed in remaining areas of the state. Those interested should email WEESSNstartup@wisconsinearlychildhood.org.

DCF, which is crafting a provider toolkit similar to its toolkit for parents with more information to help current and future child care providers. DCF Communications Director Gina Paige said she expects it to publish in the next month.

DCF has more online resources at bit.ly/CCproviderresources and bit.ly/dcfregulationinfo

More: Families with children will benefit from Outagamie County grants to resource centers

Madison Lammert is a Report for America corps member who covers child care and early education in Wisconsin at The Post-Crescent. Contact her at mlammert@gannett.com or 920-993-7108. Follow on Twitter @MadisonLammert0.

You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation online at http://bit.ly/Appleton_RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Post Crescent Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: What to know before starting a child care out of your Wisconsin home
MILWAUKEE - Kohl's announced on Monday, Oct. 9 that it will open its downtown Milwaukee location on Friday, Nov. 3.

Officials noted there will be a ribbon cutting prior to the store opening  and then customers will be able to enjoy 35,000 square feet of shopping  that includes a 2,500 square foot Sephora at Kohls shop featured prominently at the Wisconsin Avenue entrance.

There are three entrances to the store  the entrance on Wisconsin Ave., and entrance from the 3rd Street Market Hall, and from the elevator that leads to the parking structure on Vel Phillips Avenue.

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Officials say the store is filled with an assortment of merchandise to fit the needs of the downtown shopper. There will be a localized assortment of Milwaukee products from brands, Milwaukee Home (drinkware, holiday ornaments, pet, and accessories) and Home by Homefield (apparel including tees and hoodies)

Conveniences include self-pick up, self-checkout and Amazon Returns.
WASHINGTON  Kongsberg is sending its integrated counter-drone system to Ukraine to help guard against incoming Iranian-made loitering munitions, and hopes to convince the U.S. Army and Marine Corps to consider the system for future vehicle programs.

The Norwegian company builds the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS, used atop U.S. Army vehicles as well as the remote weapon station on the Marine Corps Marine Air Defense Integrated System.

But the company sees where its Integrated Combat Solution software, which would tie together multiple vehicles, unmanned systems and sensors, could change the way we fight, and doctrinally change and improve survivability to our end user, John Carlsson, the companys vice president of business development in the United States, told Defense News this week at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference.

That digital backbone of the Integrated Combat Solution was already fielded in Norway and other Scandinavian countries, Carlsson said, and its now set to help Ukrainians as they manage a complex airspace that includes Iranian Shahed loitering munitions.

Kongsberg announced in August it was part of a team sending the CORTEX Typhon counter-drone system to Ukraine. Kongsberg is providing the remote weapon station and the ICS software, which will be informed by sensors provided by Teledyne and will sit atop Dingo 2 vehicles donated by the Norwegian government.

Vetle Dragsten, Kongsbergs technical director for integrated defense systems in the C4ISR business line, told Defense News that the Shahed drone, with a 2-meter wingspan, is the focus of the system heading into Ukraine.

Thats kind of the main objective  to engage those type of aerial threats without having to employ higher-range, more expensive air-to-air missiles, he said.

Ivar Simensen, the companys vice president of communications, added that Norway and the United States already donated Kongsbergs Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System to Ukraine, but the hope is to preserve those for more sophisticated aerial threats like jets and helicopters, while using the CORTEX Typhon to neutralize drone threats.

Dragsten demonstrated the ICS technology at the companys display booth at AUSA, showing how the weapon station operator in the back of the vehicle could see on the display screen what areas other nearby vehicles were looking at, feeds from surveillance drones, other external sensors, and more. The operator could use that information to fire their own vehicles weapon, fire the weapon of another manned or unmanned vehicle within the network, or delegate targets to different vehicles for them to monitor.

Carlsson said this type of networked operation is at the heart of what Marines are seeking with their Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle. Kongsberg is working with BAE Systems on its bid for the program, and Carlsson said the company had worked with the Marine Corps during its requirements development phase to shape the direction of the vehicle program.

The Marine Corps is considering BAEs proposal alongside two others from Textron and General Dynamics Land Systems.

On the Army side, Carlsson said the development and acquisition of the Robotic Combat Vehicle would be an opportune time for the service to make the leap to ICS technology.

Fourteen versions of CROWS exist within the Defense Department, Carlsson said, each with their own software version. A technology refresh effort is already aimed at replacing these with the current Mainline 5 software, which is compatible with ICS tech.

Carlsson said Kongsberg is working with the manufacturers competing for the Robotic Combat Vehicle program and talking to the Army about shaping its requirements. If the service chose to pursue ICS technology for the robotic program and for the CROWS refresh, the Army would have a digital backbone that would allow for more sophisticated operations, he argued.

Kongsberg ranked 61st place in Defense News Top 100 list this year, pulling in about $1.4 billion in defense revenue in 2022.
Los Angeles County is seeing its COVID-19 levels recede following a prolonged summer bump, a welcome reprieve before an expected climb in coronavirus transmission this fall and winter, health officials say.

"We're definitely seeing a decline," L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in an interview. "The summer bump is over."

For the week that ended Sept. 23, the most recent period for which data are available, coronavirus levels in L.A. County wastewater were at 19% of the peak seen last winter. That's a significant decline from the previous two week's readings of 30% and 38%, respectively.

Ferrer said she anticipates L.A. County will remain at a lower level of coronavirus transmission "hopefully for a few more weeks, until the weather gets colder, more things are moved indoors and there's a lot more celebrations and travel" that could help spread the virus.

The current decline, she added, is "comparable to the experiences we've had in prior years for September and October," she added. "It gives everybody plenty of time to get ready for November and December, when, historically, we've seen a lot more transmission and, sadly, that translated into more hospitalizations and deaths."

Read more: Booking a COVID-19 vaccine? Watch out for insurance issues and canceled appointments

An important way residents can prepare, health officials say, is to get an updated vaccine. Those shots, much like the annual flu vaccine, have been formulated in hopes of boosting protection against coronavirus strains that are expected to widely circulate later this year.

Distribution of the updated COVID-19 vaccination has been much slower than anticipated, and shortages have persisted rather acutely in some locations, including some clinics that serve medically vulnerable populations and the youngest children.

But vaccine scarcity has eased elsewhere, and the L.A. County Department of Public Health now has the updated shots available at 10 locations countywide.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at no cost, although insured people may need to choose an "in-network" provider to avoid an out-of-pocket cost. The county Department of Public Health, however, is considered an in-network provider for all insured people, and Kaiser Permanente members can get vaccinated through the county at no cost.

Read more: Where Southern Californians can find the new COVID-19 vaccine

Federal authorities are urging everyone age 6 months and up to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine this autumn-and-winter season, since protection from older doses weakens over time.

"Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and "last season, those who received a 2022-2023 COVID-19 vaccine saw greater protection against illness and hospitalization than those who did not."

Aside from wastewater levels, there are other indications that the summer COVID-19 wave has crested.

Coronavirus-positive hospitalizations are also starting to decline. For the week ending Sept. 30, the most recent report available, there were an average of 463 coronavirus-positive patients in L.A. County's hospitals per day. The summer peak was the week that ended Sept. 9, withan average of 620 coronavirus-positive patients per day.

A similar decrease has yet to be seen for COVID-19 deaths, which are a lagging indicator. For the week that ended Sept. 11, the most recent report available, there were an average of five COVID-19 deaths a day in L.A. County. Earlier in the summer, there were as few as one a day.

Read more: What you need to know as fall vaccinations against COVID, flu and RSV get underway

Nationally, the summer COVID-19 wave is also declining. Coronavirus-positive hospitalizations peaked nationally over the summer the week that ended Sept. 9, with 20,625 admissions reported during that period. For the week that ended Sept. 30, the most recent report available, there were 18,139 coronavirus-positive hospital admissions, a 12% decline.

Even at their peak, hospitalization numbers this summer did not reach the heights seen in prior surges  a development health officials credited to widespread community immunity through vaccines and previous infection.

"But again, we do expect as we get into the fall and winter to see more circulating virus," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told the "In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt" podcast last week.

Read more: U.S. announces $600 million to produce COVID tests and will reopen website for orders

While it's clear that COVID-19 is no longer the catastrophic threat it once posed, "it is still here with us. And we know that it is unfortunately still causing a significant amount of disease," Cohen said. COVID-19 still represents more of a public health burden than the flu "in terms of making people really sick and dying," she said.

"Most folks who are getting very sick from COVID are over the age of 65," Cohen said. "That is definitely where we're seeing most of our hospitalizations and most of our deaths."

Still, the risk of severe COVID-19 disease or long-lasting complications persists to some degree across all age groups, Cohen said, "even down to our kids." CDC data indicate 7% of adults are seeing extended symptoms from COVID-19, such as long COVID, even if they had a mild case, Cohen said.

Seventy percent of U.S. adults have an increased risk factor for some worse outcome for COVID-19, Cohen said.

"Even if you've been vaccinated before, or you've had COVID before, that protection decreases over time," she said. "So as all the months tick by since the last time you had COVID or the last time you got a vaccine, more vulnerability builds up there."

Read more: Terror of long COVID remains common even as pandemic eases, data show

Among kids with COVID-19 who ultimately need intensive hospital care, half don't have an underlying condition, such as asthma. That's why it's important for children and adults to get the updated vaccine this fall, Cohen said.

"We have given out more than 600 million doses of this vaccine. It's one of the most studied vaccines now, in history, in terms of [its] safety profile," Cohen said.

The U.S. government is also now allowing households nationwide to request four free coronavirus rapid tests to be delivered to them by mail. They can be ordered at covidtests.gov.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yvette Cooper also pledged to introduce a new offence of assaulting a shop worker - Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph

All shoplifting crimes, no matter how small, would have to be investigated by police under new plans announced by Labour.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, told Labours conference in Liverpool that the party would scrap the current 200 rule that has effectively decriminalised thefts below that amount.

A change in the law in 2014 means those charged with the theft of goods below 200 no longer have to attend court and often escape with a small fine or an out-of-court disposal.

Figures show that police fail to attend more than two-thirds of serious retail crimes, even though shoplifting costs businesses almost 1 billion a year.

Ms Cooper said the rule meant thefts under 200 were not investigated even if they had been committed by organised crime gangs coming back time and again.

She told the conference: We will end the 200 rule to tackle the shoplifting gangs.

It means that police will be required to investigate any shoplifting offence where there is a reasonable line of inquiry.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Ms Cooper also pledged to introduce a new offence of assaulting a shop worker, putting retail staff on a par with police, fire, ambulance and health workers.

It will mean that any attacker would face up to two years in jail if convicted.

The move goes further than the Government, which has resisted such a move. It says that legal changes mean courts now treat shop worker victims as an aggravating factor and can therefore impose longer sentences.

However, such a move by a future Labour administration would bring England and Wales into line with Scotland, which has introduced a similar specific offence.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called for a new offence, pointing to a doubling in the number of incidents of incidents of racial and sexual abuse, physical assault, and threats with weapons from a pre-Covid high of more than 450 a day in 2019-20, to more than 850 a day in 2021-22.

Welcoming the move, Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC, said: We need a standalone offence to improve the visibility of the issue, so that police can allocate appropriate resources to the challenge, and to act as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

Absos for adults

Ms Cooper also announced plans for respect orders against shoplifters and persistent troublemakers who plagued town and city centres with anti-social behaviour.

Described as Asbos for adults, they would enable councils and police to ban repeat troublemakers from city and town centres.

Breaching an Asbo carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in jail.

It is part of a plan to encourage councils and police to create zero tolerance zones where they would be expected to target officers to eradicate the scourge of anti-social behaviour.

Tactics would include hotspot policing, proposed to be rolled out nationwide, where officers target a known troublespot at fixed points during the day or night.

Ms Cooper reaffirmed plans to recruit an extra 13,000 neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers on top of the extra 20,000 pledged under the Conservative leadership.

She also pledged to introduce a new bravery medal for police officers who lose their lives in the line of duty.

She unveiled plans to set up 90 new youth hubs to give teenagers the best start in life and to stop the knife crime that is killing our children.

She said that knife crime had gone up by 70 per cent in eight years, but far too little is done and a generation is being failed.

In a deliberate echo of Tony Blairs 1993 phrase, she said: Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime. We said it, we mean it, that means we have to act.

Labour will bring in new laws to crack down on dangerous crime sales and to stop gangs exploiting children.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP)  U.K. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer delivered a speech on Tuesday that amounted to a public job interview for the post of prime minister, promising to restore Britains battered institutions and end an age of insecurity afflicting its people.

Starmer told the opposition partys annual conference, likely the last before a national election, that a Labour government would launch a decade of national renewal, after what he depicted as 13 years of decline under the Conservative Party.

Its been 13 years now and what does Britain have to show for it? he asked in the televised address. Starmer accused the Conservatives of ushering in a time when our politics feels broken, when our public services are broken, our public finances wrecked.

But he added: What is broken can be repaired, what is ruined can be rebuilt" with an ambitious program of building, investment and reform.

Starmer's speech in Liverpool at a conference that has been overshadowed by violence in Israel and Gaza was a key moment for a politician who has managed to unite a fractious party and gain a substantial lead in opinion polls but remains a blank slate to many voters.

A barrister and former head of the national prosecution service who was elected to Parliament in 2015, hes widely seen as managerial and a bit dull. Starmer, 61, sought to turn that around with a passionate speech that was greeted rapturously by party members who now sense that they are on the cusp of regaining power for the first time since 2010.

Labour has lost four straight national elections, and the most recent, in 2019, delivered the party's worst result since 1935.

Much has changed since then. Britain has been through the COVID-19 pandemic, left the European Union and absorbed the economic shock of Russias invasion of Ukraine, all of which pushed the inflation in the U.K. above 11% late last year.

Voters are weary from a cost-of-living crisis, a wave of public sector strikes and political turmoil that saw the Conservative Party dispatch two prime ministers last year  Boris Johnson and Liz Truss  before installing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to try to steady the ship.

With an election due by the end of 2024, polls put Labour as much as 20 points ahead of the Conservatives.

Since his election as Labour's leader in 2020, Starmer has steered the social democratic party back toward the political middle ground after the divisive tenure of predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, a staunch socialist who advocated nationalization of key industries and infrastructure.

Starmer also repaired relations with Britains Jewish community and vowed to root out antisemitism thats alleged to have tainted the party under Corbyn, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. Starmer condemned the weekend attack by the terrorists of Hamas and said Israel has the right to defend her people.

His move to the economic center has alienated some grassroots Labour members who want a bolder agenda. Starmer argued that Labour has to stand up for working people while also working with businesses.

Fiscal responsibility is non-negotiable, he said, promising that Labour would work hand in glove with the private sector to rebuild this country.

In a sign that corporate Britain is warming to Labour, companies thronged to the conference in The Beatles birthplace of Liverpool, buying space in the exhibition hall, sponsoring panel discussions and attending a business forum with party leaders.

Delegates roared their approval even when Starmer led them onto uncomfortable ground by saying that the U.K.'s state-funded National Health Service, which Labour founded and still reveres, is in need of major reform. He also urged disillusioned Conservative voters to embrace the party, saying Labour was the true custodian of family life, the rule of law and the environment.

Party members gave Starmer a standing ovation as he took the stage  and an even bigger one after a protester affiliated with environmental group Just Stop Oil rushed up and showered him with glitter, shouting: True democracy is citizen-led." The protester was bundled off and Starmer continued his speech after removing his suit jacket.

Police said a 28-year-old man was on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance.

The next election will be fought against a challenging economic backdrop of high-interest rates and low growth. The International Monetary Fund projected Tuesday that the U.K. will see the weakest economic growth among the Group of Seven leading industrial nations next year, at just 0.6%.

That leaves Labour trying to walk a delicate line. Party leaders want to persuade voters it can ease Britains chronic housing crisis and repair its fraying public services, especially the creaking, health service  but without imposing tax increases or deepening the public debt.

Labour economy spokeswoman Rachel Reeves told the conference on Monday that a Labour government would "tax fairly and spend wisely," using economic growth to fund public services and boost investment through a new national wealth fund.

Starmer made bold promises to ramp up investment in clean energy and to build 1.5 million new homes over the first term of a Labour government, including the next generation of new towns  whole communities built from scratch on a scale not seen since the 1960s.

The scope and ambition of the speech contrasted with Sunak's address last week to the Conservative conference in Manchester, where the standout announcement was the cancellation of a long-promised high-speed railway line to northern England.

Labour delegates flooded out of the conference hall feeling energized. Tracey Dixon, a party member from South Tyneside in northeast England, said the speech had been absolutely superb.

It was the inspiration, the determination, the commitment that we are going to do our best for this country, she said.

___

Associated Press writer Pan Pylas in London contributed to this story.
The Ada County Commission nominated a chiropractor with unorthodox views about medicine to join the local public health board, after Attorney General Raul Labrador resigned in August.

The commission on Tuesday unanimously recommended that Greg Ferch, a former legislator, join the Central District Health Board. Ferch will need approval from the other local counties  Boise, Elmore and Valley counties  before he can be confirmed to the board.

Ferch, a Boise Republican, was elected in 2020 to represent District 21, in Southeast Meridian and far Southwest Boise, in the Idaho House. In 2022, after redistricting, he lost in the District 22 Republican primary to incumbent John Vander Woude, who has served in the Legislature for a decade.

Ferch is a precinct committeeman for the Ada County Republican Party and has previously served as a chairman and first vice chairman of the county party. He served 11 years as an Army medic, according to a resume. He is a 1991 veteran of Operation Desert Storm.

He is also a longtime property manager. In 2021 he introduced a bill that would have nullified Boises efforts to cap rental-fee applications for prospective tenants at $30, according to the Idaho Press. The bill did not pass.

Greg Ferch

Ferchs views on COVID-19 vaccinations, Vitamin D

In a March 2022 video interview with Miste Karlfeldt, the director Health Freedom Idaho, an anti-vaccination group, Ferch advocated for nutritional holistic health care.

People are going to choose what they do, he said. If they choose to get the vaccination or wear a mask, I agree that they have the right to do that. I may not agree that the science shows that someone should do that, but if they reconcile it in their own head that thats what they want to do, fine.

He said he has been modeling and so forth a lot of the stuff supported by Ryan Cole, a health district board member and pathologist who has spread misinformation about the pandemic, including that the COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous.

While serving in the Legislature, Ferch advocated for Vitamin D as a preventative against severe infection.

I know its vogue to say the science is settled nowadays, but when it comes to viral disease pathology, Vitamin D levels in humans is directly related to the morbidity and mortality of COVID, he said, adding that the science is overwhelming.

Where would we need to get to to start educating our population on how to mitigate and improve their own health such that we can preserve our hospital capacity? he said.

According to the National Institutes of Health, evidence that Vitamin D provides protection against infection or improves outcomes is lacking. The institutes note that recent studies linking Vitamin D to better COVID-19 outcomes have significant limitations, such as small sample sizes or a lack of randomization and/or blinding.

Ferch did not immediately return a request for comment.

The 4 candidates passed over

Other candidates included Teri L. Ahrens, John Lee Brown, Kelley A. Curtis and Lynn Laird, county spokesperson Elizabeth Duncan told the Idaho Statesman.

Curtis is a vice president and chief pharmacy officer at St. Lukes Health System, according to her application to the county. Brown is a retired veterinarian, Laird is a psychologist, and Ahrens works for Interim Healthcare of Idaho, a home care provider.

The criteria commissioners expected of applicants included knowledge of the health district, knowledge of participating on boards and knowledge of budgets and financing, Duncan said.

I think Greg Ferch meets all of the qualifications that we are looking for, Commissioner Ryan Davidson said Tuesday, adding that Ferch served on the House Health and Welfare Committee in the Statehouse.

Commissioner Tom Dayley said the commission solicited applications from the public and interviewed candidates. About 50 people sent emails to the commission about the appointment, according to a presentation at the meeting.

Labrador replaced Diana Lachiondo, a former Democratic county commissioner, on the health board in 2021.

The board is responsible for protecting public health, and Labrador was a controversial appointment, as he opposed promoting masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized the health districts support of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2021, the County Commission appointed Cole to the board. The Washington Medical Commission has pursued disciplinary charges against him over his medical license in the neighboring state.

There are seven board members, three of whom represent Ada County. Jane Young, a family nurse practitioner, is Ada Countys third representative.

Idaho has seven public health districts, established by state law. Each districts represents multliple counties and is responsible for protecting the health of residents. The districts are responsible for restaurant and child-care center inspections, and they operate health clinics.

If appointed, Ferchs term would end in 2025.

In a biography submitted to the county, Ferch said he has accumulated thousands of hours in science, nutrition, health and wellness-related continuing education and self-study.

Recent legislation has given counties more power over health districts. Dayley said Tuesday that Ada County contributes the lions share of the health districts budget because of its population, but that the countys nomination has to be approved by the other health districts.

We dont support that idea, Dayley said. Weve asked the Legislature to change that.
A Michigan landlord who shot one tenant dead, then chased down, beat and strangled another before hiding their bodies and deep-cleaning their rental was found guilty of their murders two years later.

On Friday, a grand jury found Chad Allen Reed, 56, guilty on first- and second-degree murder charges in the October 2020 deaths of Joseph Soule, 34, and his 31-year-old girlfriend Jaclyn Lepird, per the Calhoun County prosecutor's office.

Soule and Lepird were reported missing on Oct. 7 that year by friends and family members who hadn't heard from them; a week later their bodies were recovered, wrapped in plastic and hidden under debris in the bed of a truck in a vacant lot, FOX 17 reported.

Three days later, before Reed confessed to the murders, the house where they lived and died caught fire  it is unclear how the fire started, and Reed has not been charged in connection with it. Per Law & Crime, police said "someone" had tried to burn the home down five times.

MICHIGAN FATHER CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE AFTER SON, 8, ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS HIMSELF IN HEAD WITH HIS GUN

Chad Allen Reed, 56, was found guilty on charges of first- and second-degree murder in the October 2020 killings of renters Jaclyn Lepird, 31, and Joseph Soule, 34.

Moreover, a Battle Creek police sergeant testified in court that 911 dispatchers received a call when the couple was still considered missing  the caller said Reed "may have been cleaning out their apartment with Clorox or bleach," Law & Crime reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

After the couple's bodies were recovered, Lepird's sister Trinity Middleton told WWMT that the fire just added to her family's anguish.



"The only thing any of us had left of Jackie was her stuff," Middleton lamented. "I would have given anything to just have one T-shirt that smells like her and that's gone now, our pieces are gone."

MICHIGAN POLICE OFFICER SHOOTS, KILLS ARMED WOMAN WHILE SERVING SEARCH WARRANT

Reed, who lived in the house on the floor below the couple, would ultimately call authorities on a police tip line, where prosecutors said he first admitted to the killings  but claimed they were in self-defense, per the outlet.

Battle Creek Police Sgt. Joel Case testified that Reed claimed Soule pulled a knife on him during an argument on Oct. 7, WWMT reported. After he shot her boyfriend, Reed said, Lepird ran out of their house. He admitted to trying to shoot her before tearing after her on foot, then beating and strangling her to death in their backyard.

Investigators believe the landlord left their bodies at the property for several days. Then, the victims' family members began visiting the home. In dashcam footage recorded outside the couple's 203 Post Ave. home and referenced by Law & Crime, one of their relatives can be heard pointing the house out to police.

"But I haven't heard from them. Nobody's been able to reach them. They haven't answered me or any of the messages for a couple days," the family member tells an officer.

MOTHER, CHILD HID BEHIND STROLLER BEFORE DEADLY SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD: COURT PAPERS

Panicked at the attention the house was receiving, Reed told police he loaded the bodies into his truck and parked it in a nearby garage, away from search crews.

Reed's public defender, Susan Mladenoff, told jurors that Lepird had a "bad temper" and Soule struggled with substance abuse, trying to bolster Reed's self-defense claim. Both Lepird and Soule had cocaine and alcohol in their bloodstreams when they died, per medical examiners' testimony, and were positive for COVID-19  but neither the drugs nor the virus were responsible for their deaths, the expert clarified.

The couple fought daily, Mladenoff said, there were "rumors of flirting and cheating" and "no one was immune from their rage."

Police said there had been ongoing issues reported in the couple's apartment, including fights over finances and noise issues, per FOX 17.

Drops of blood were ultimately found near the kitchen of the couples' home, per Law & Crime. A family member testified that he saw pieces of flooring by the trash outside their home when he came looking for the pair.

Prior to his body being found, medical examiners said, Soule had been dead for at least a day and was in a "moderate state of decomposition."

BRYAN KOHBERGER TRIAL: SURVIVORS OF IDAHO MASSACRE WERE AWAKE, TEXTING DURING RAMPAGE: REPORT

Chris Reed claims Joseph Soule, pictured, pulled a knife out in an Oct. 7, 2020, argument. In response, the landlord said, he shot the tenant.

Before confessing to the couple's murder, Reed had a prior domestic violence charge and two assault charges from 2004. He was found guilty of felony assault with a dangerous weapon in 2005, and pleaded no contest to a charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13 in 2003, per FOX 17.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS

Reed's first-degree murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life without parole, as does the second-degree murder charge. However, the latter charge has a potential for parole eligibility. Reed is scheduled for sentencing in Calhoun County Circuit Court on Nov. 30.

Mladenoff was not immediately available for comment at press time.





Original article source: Landlord who killed renters, hid bodies at torched house convicted after jury didn't buy his defense
Shay Franco-Clausen said she has been waiting a long time for someone like Laphonza Butler to rise to one of the highest positions in US government.

As a California native and a gay Afro-Latina woman, Franco-Clausen said she is happy to see someone who understands the struggles of her communities take up the mantle from the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Its about time, Franco-Clausen, co-chair of the National Black Justice Coalitions Good Trouble Network, an initiative that aims to advance policies that benefit the Black LGBTQ+ community, told CNN.

Someone like Senator Butler is going to make space at the table for others.

Last week, Butler made history by becoming the first known Black lesbian woman appointed to Congress. She is currently the only Black woman serving in the Senate, and the third ever to serve in the chamber.

As if to underscore the historic nature of the moment, Vice President Kamala Harris  who herself served as the countrys second Black female senator until she resigned to become the first female vice president of the US  administered the oath of office to Butler as she stood next to her wife.

Butler herself has not centered her race or sexuality in public statements about her appointment to fill Feinsteins seat. But Franco-Clausen said she hopes the California senator will usher in a new era of representation.

Shes the only one. Shes the first. Franco-Clausen said. Im very excited because her being the first means that I can be there too. Thats what it says to little Black girls that are queer identifying or non-binary. She has created a space as the first to open up to say that we can be there.

From union leader to lawmaker

Feinstein was the longest-serving female senator in US history. She died last month at 90.

A leading figure in California politics for decades, Feinsteins career included many historic firsts: She was the first female chair of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman to sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the first chairwoman of both the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In appointing Butler to fill her seat, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, fulfilled a promise to nominate a Black woman to replace the late senator.

Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., right, and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., prepare for a news conference. - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein  Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington, D.C., he said in a statement announcing her appointment.

Butler vowed to honor the late senator as she stepped into her role.

Sen. Dianne Feinsteins leadership and legacy are immeasurable, Butler said in a statement. I will do my best to honor her by devoting my time and energy to serving the people of California and the people of this great nation.

But for all the excitement surrounding her appointment, Butler has not announced if she will officially run for the seat.

California will hold two Senate elections in November 2024: a special election for the remaining months of Feinsteins term until January 2025 and another for a full six-year term.

The field of candidates vying for Butlers seat so far includes Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and a member of House Democratic leadership.

Like Feinstein, Butler has also been a trailblazer throughout her career.

A Mississippi native, Butler attended Jackson State University and was a member of the University of California Board of Regents, according to EMILYS List, a political advocacy group dedicated to electing Democratic women who support abortion rights. In 2021, Butler made history by becoming the first woman of color to lead the organization.

She has also served as a board member of the National Childrens Defense Fund.

Butler was an adviser on Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign and also served as a senior adviser on then-Sen. Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign.

But it was her work as president of Californias largest labor union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015, that sets her apart, according to the governors office.

The union represents nearly 450,000 nursing home and long-term care workers in the state. Franco-Clausen said that experience will only help Butler in the Senate.

We have a Black queer identified person whos a mother, whos worked with health care workers, so she understands the issues around medical (care) for women of color  (she) is really going to hold all of our other legislators to a different standard, she said.

Arnulfo De La Cruz is the current president of SEIU Local 2015 and said he worked with Butler at SEIU for over a decade. He described her as a fierce negotiator and said union members are hopeful her work on advocating for caregivers will continue as a legislator.

Laphonza had a way to bring people together that maybe historically werent coming together to build power to find solutions, he said, adding she was the primary negotiator behind the fight to raise Californias minimum wage to $15. In multiple places throughout California, Laphonza was on the front lines fighting so that caregivers could be seen  This is a workforce that historically has been undervalued.

Progress for Black women and LGBTQ representation in Congress

While Black women have made historic gains in state and federal office, many see Butlers rise to the US Senate as a continuation of progress and a historic opportunity to increase Black womens representation in Congress.

Since Shirley Chisholm broke barriers as the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968, Black women have served as voting members of Congress from 23 states, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

Among Democrats, 52 Black women have served in the House and three have served in the Senate. Only one Black woman has served as a Republican in Congress. There are 13 LGBTQ+ elected officials in Congress, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute.

Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, told CNN Butlers appointment expands Black political power at the highest legislative level in our nation.

It also means we will have a Black leader with lived experience to lift up, promote and vote for (the) federal legislative policy priorities of Black Americans, especially at a time in our history when our rights, freedom and democracy are under attack, she said.

David Johns, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, said he believes Butlers presence in the Senate is reflective of the work of previous Black LGBTQ+ political leaders. The coalition is a civil rights organization with a mission to empower LGBTQ+ and same-gender loving people, including those with HIV/AIDS.

Now that shes in office, he said he hopes to see Butler advocate for the LGBTQ+ community beyond the state of California by pushing for legislation like the Equality Act, a bill that has previously stalled in Congress that would address mental health for Black and LGBTQ+ citizens.

She is whats needed right now, he said. It is important for her to not only take up space in that body but to be disruptive in ways that are consistent with the way in which our country is growing and talking about diversity.

CNNs Kaanita Iyer, Clare Foran, Paul LeBlanc and Edward-Isaac Dovere contributed to this report.

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The world's largest offshore wind farm has started producing electricity for the first time.

Power from the first turbine at the Dogger Bank project, which is construction in the North Sea, is now being sent to the UK's national grid.

In total 277 turbines will be powered-up at the location, situated between 81 and 124 miles (130-200km) off the Yorkshire coast.

The wind farm is due for completion in 2026.

Dogger Bank is being developed and built by the UK's SSE Renewables in a joint venture with Norway's Equinor and Vargrnn.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hailed the milestone, saying it would bolster energy security, create jobs and lower electricity bills.

"Offshore wind is critical to generating renewable, efficient energy that can power British homes from British seas," he said.

"I'm proud that this country is already a world leader in reaching Net Zero by 2050, and by doubling down on the new green industries of the future, we'll get there in a way that's both pragmatic and ambitious."

Each rotation of the 107m (351ft) long blades on Dogger Bank's first operational turbine can produce enough clean energy to power an average British home for two days, SSE Renewables said.

Once complete, Dogger Bank's offshore turbines are expected to generate 3.6GW of power - enough for six million UK homes.

Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of SSE, said Dogger Bank would provide "a significant boost" to UK energy security, affordability and leadership in tackling climate change.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  In the wake of the terrorist attack in Israel, Jewish Nevada, the Israeli-American council, and several other state organizations came together for a community event in support of Israel.

There have been pro-Israel rallies across the Las Vegas valley over the past few days.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced Monday that he would lower the flags to half-staff and light the State Capitol building blue in honor of the victims of the terror attacks in Israel.

Temple Beth Sholom near Sahara Avenue and Town Center Drive hosted a rally on Monday with over 300 people in attendance.

Local Israeli leaders along with state senators, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahil, and Governor Lombardo spoke to those in attendance.

My heart has been heavy in thinking of the hundreds of lives lost and the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been impacted and displaced, Lombardo shared.

Sheriff McMahill ensured the safety of Las Vegans during a turbulent time.

We are fully committed to addressing the concern and ensuring the safety of our community, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. We have mobilized resources and plans to bolster safety at every community event including tonights gathering.

Host of the event, Stefanie Tuzman with Jewish Nevada told 8 News Now that its vital the Jewish Israeli community come together and make their presence known during a time of such destruction and turmoil.

Anyway, we can get out into the community and show that we are here and that we are not backing down and thrive in the end, she added.

As for others in the community, many feel helpless being so far away but hope their support transcends.

I think there is strength in coming together. Hopefully, they can feel it as it is the least, we can do, Las Vegas resident, Benny Klafter explained.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Las Vegas woman deemed moderate risk kills mom of 8 after getting out of jail without bail in similar beating

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman beat a man with a metal pole, skipped a prior court date, and was released from jail without having to post bail as an assessment deemed her a moderate risk. Days later, she killed a mother of eight. She could serve four years in prison.

Vanessa Harvey, 49, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the death of 42-year-old Machina Goodjoint. Harvey beat Goodjoint and a man with a metal object near Owens Avenue and H Street in the Historic Westside on Nov. 8, 2021. The man survived the beating.

Two weeks earlier, on Oct. 22, 2021, Harvey beat her first victim with a metal pole, police said.

A mothers death

A Las Vegas Metro police officers body camera records as he rushes to help Goodjoint who is near a sidewalk with a large head wound.

Ive got one down on the ground, the officer says in the video.

Goodjoints injuries are so severe that the officer thinks she was shot in the face. Another officer helps a second victim, the man, nearby.

Rozlyn Byron shared these photos of her niece, Machika Goodjoint. (KLAS)

I knew my baby didnt have a chance, period, Rozlyn Byron, Goodjoints aunt, said. Byron helped raise Goodjoint and refers to her as her daughter.

Byron and Goodjoints cousin, Chivelli Green, are part of a big family, not just by blood, but through the Westside community.

She loved her 89106 area, Byron said about the neighborhoods ZIP Code. No matter if I said, Baby do you want to move? Nah uh. I dont want to move from my 89106 area.

But a walk in the night in 89106 would later kill her.

My baby walked around, even though she didnt have much herself, she walked around, she fed her people on the streets, Byron said, including the fact that Goodjoint helped Harvey with meals.

Rozlyn Byron shared this photo of her niece Machika Goodjoint. (KLAS)

Minutes after finding Goodjoint and the second victim on the ground, officers located Harvey with a metal object by her side.

Weve got a pole over here and theres blood on it, the officer says in the body camera video.

Are you hurt? one officer asks Harvey, believing she may be a third victim.

No, shes got the pole, dude, another officer says as he realizes the metal piece is now a murder weapon. Harvey refused to identify herself as officers took her into custody and to the Clark County Detention Center  a place she was booked into just two weeks prior.

The first arrest

Two weeks before Goodjoints death, a different police officers body camera records him arrest her for beating a man with a pole. Police found the metal object in the backseat of the car where she was living. It was parked right near where Harvey would beat Goodjoint to death two weeks later.

A booking photo for Vanessa Harvey for her arrest on battery charges in October 2021. (LVMPD/KLAS)

Harvey refused to appear for her probable cause hearing on a charge of battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. A judge set her bail at $5,000, records showed.

Her pretrial risk assessment, a form Nevada courts utilize to guide judges in their bail-setting decision, deemed her a moderate risk, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

The paper also shows no failures to appear  times a defendant skips court  over the past two years.

Harveys pretrial risk assessment, a form Nevada courts utilize to guide judges in their bail-setting decision, deemed her a moderate risk. (KLAS)

When she was located, a metal pole with apparent blood was located inside the vehicle with her, prosecutors wrote in documents filed after Goodjoints murder where they upgraded the battery charge to attempted murder. After Miranda, the defendant told police that [the victim] had entered the vehicle and began hitting her at which time she defended herself with the metal pole, but only remembered hitting [him] on the hands. Detectives did not observe any injuries on the defendant.

During a court hearing several days later, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Diana Sullivan released Harvey without having to post bail, citing the factors on the form and Harveys statements to police that the attack may have been in self-defense, she said. Sullivan declined an on-camera interview but provided a written statement.

Prosecutors said Vanessa Harvey beat a man with this pole in October 2021. (KLAS)

As part of her release agreement, Harvey was required to check in via telephone or in-person once per week, records showed.

Records the 8 News Now Investigators obtained show prosecutors charged Harvey in Las Vegas Municipal Court with battery for beating a 7-year-old child. She missed court in October 2020 and later pleaded no contest.

A municipal court judge later sentenced Harvey to 150 days in city jail, though records show the jail released her after she served two months.

Theres no justice in this case

Theres plenty of room for these offenders, retired Las Vegas Metro police assistant sheriff Jim Seebock said. The 8 News Now Investigators interviewed Seebock, a Henderson city councilman, before his retirement from Metro in July.

It does get frustrating though when something like that occurs because we did our job and now that person is out again, Seebock said about repeat offenders, citing constraints in Nevada law. What the community may not be aware of is how common it is for someone to be arrested for a violent crime and then be let out sometimes the next day, sometimes the matter of just a few days.

The Clark County Detention Center is oftentimes one-third empty, according to retired LVMPD Asst. Sheriff Jim Seebock. (KLAS)

Seebock cited a 30-percent vacancy rate at the Clark County Detention Center, adding on average, 50 people in Metros jurisdiction who are on house arrest for murder. While no one, including judges, can predict the future, Seebock said officers are ready to rearrest those who reoffend.

After Goodjoints death, Harveys charges included two charges for attempted murder and one open murder charge.

Similar circumstances

Aaron Cole, 59, was charged with murder in the death of Dominique Lucas, 30. Both men were riding an RTC bus on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, when they began to argue. Cole then allegedly stabbed Lucas more than 30 times, prosecutors said.

At the time of the murder, Cole was on parole on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported shortly after his arrest. In 1994, police arrested Cole on a charge of second-degree murder after he shot a man in a Salvation Army lobby, records said. The charge was reduced to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, records indicated.

Aaron Coles pre-trial risk assessment deemed him low risk after his Feb. 16, 2023, arrest, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Police would arrest Cole on a murder charge 10 days later.

On Feb. 16, 10 days before the bus murder, Metro police arrested Cole on a charge of assault with the use of a deadly weapon and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, records showed. Cole was arrested for allegedly threatening a person on a bus with a knife.

Coles pre-trial risk assessment deemed him low risk for the Feb. 16 arrest, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. On Feb. 22, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Joseph Sciscento released Cole on his own recognizance, ordering Cole not to have contact with the victim. Coles public defender had argued for release on his own recognizance without setting bail, records showed. The court docket indicates prosecutors asked for $3,000 bail.

On Feb. 26, Cole allegedly stabbed Dominique Lucas, 33, over the course of several minutes before the bus stopped.

What I would hope is in these proceedings that the judges who are ultimately the ones responsible for making sure people are able to stay in custody based on what we put forth are looking at the totality of the circumstances and not just one tool, Seebock said.

The deal

Harvey took a plea deal, putting her in prison for four to 10 years, records showed. She only admitted guilt for what happened to Goodjoint and the second man involved in the Nov. 8 attack, records said. She will be eligible for parole in November 2025.

A booking photo of Vanessa Harvey after her arrest on Nov. 8, 2021. She was initially charged with murder and attempted murder. She later agreed to a plea deal on a voluntary manslaughter charge.

Theres no justice in this case, Goodjoint said.

Harvey seemingly smiled at Goodjoints family in court as they pleaded with the judge for justice. It is extremely rare for a judge to reject a plea bargain between a defendant and prosecutors.

To see the smile she had on her face, the smirk that she had on her face, she was just  she had no remorse at all, Byron said.

Goodjoints family was left to question what justice they received and what the law says about committing crime.

Rozlyn Byron shared these photos of her niece, Machika Goodjoint, with her family. (KLAS)

Its OK, Byron said. Everybody can go out and commit a crime, Lets commit some crimes. Were not going to get any time for this. Lets go do this.

My cousin would still be here with her kids if they kept her in jail or not gave her an [own recognizance release], Green said.

Statement from Sullivan: On October 26, 2021 Ms. Harvey was entitled to an individualized pretrial release hearing as required by Valdez-Jimenez v. Eighth Judicial District Court of Nev., 460 P.3d 976 (2020). Because Ms. Harvey was not present at her previous court hearing, there was no individualized pretrial release hearing properly conducted and her release conditions needed to be re-addressed. I, like other judges, must make release decisions every day based upon the information that we have at the time of the pretrial release hearing. Some of the information I had at the time of Ms. Harveys individualized pretrial release hearing included her Nevada Pretrial Risk Assessment, which indicated that she had no previous failures to appear in court; six misdemeanor convictions (details and type unknown); no felony convictions; and one very old gross misdemeanor conviction for attempt drug possession. On Ms. Harveys behalf, her lawyer argued that she had a limited criminal history as indicated on the Pretrial Risk Assessment. Her lawyer represented that Ms. Harvey was born in Las Vegas (i.e. sufficient ties to the community), which I confirmed via her temporary custody record. Her lawyer also stated that Ms. Harvey could not afford to post the monetary bail set at the time of her arrest, which I confirmed via her financial affidavit. Also at Ms. Harveys individualized pretrial release hearing, upon my specific inquiry the district attorney was unsure of who the complaining witness/victim actually was, as there were two different individuals set forth in the arrest report. (During the four days between her arrest and her individualized pretrial release hearing, the district attorney had no contact with the complaining witness.) The police report also indicated that Ms. Harvey made statements to law enforcement that her actions were in self-defense in that she had been attacked first by the complaining witness, at which point she battered him back. Both of these factors went to weight of the evidence and likelihood of conviction as known at that time. (See NRS 178.4851/178.4853.) Ms. Harveys lawyer requested, pursuant to the holding in Valdez-Jimenez, that I release the monetary bail condition and place Ms. Harvey on the condition of intense supervision and pretrial check-ins with the Courts pretrial compliance department. Notably, there was no argument from the district attorney as to how the monetary bail requested would ensure community safety from further criminal activity, if she was able to post that monetary bail and be released. Based upon the statutory and case law referenced above and the information I had at that time about Ms. Harvey and her case, I granted the defenses request to release the monetary bail condition and place her on check-ins with our pretrial compliance unit. You said it perfectly in your email that judges have a difficult job and cannot predict the future. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Diana Sullivan

In 2019, the Nevada Supreme Court ordered all lower courts to use the pretrial risk assessment. The 8 News Now Investigators have repeatedly tried since last spring to talk to a Nevada Supreme Court justice about the pretrial risk assessments, but our requests have gone unfulfilled.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Navy announced Tuesday that it missed officer and enlistment recruiting goals for the second time in two years, despite taking drastic measures in its recruiting efforts.

The sea service said it managed to recruit 30,236 active-duty enlisted sailors this year -- 7,464 short of its goal of 37,700. It also fell short of its officer goal by 452, recruiting 2,080 sailors despite aiming for 2,532. In all, the Navy missed every single active-duty and reserve recruiting goal it set for itself.

Navy leaders foreshadowed some of the shortfalls in recent months when they appeared before Congress. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who is serving as the Navy's top officer, told Congress in April the service expected to miss enlisted goals by about 6,000 sailors. By September, when Franchetti returned to Capitol Hill, that figure had grown to 7,000, though she noted that the service expected at the start of the year to be 13,000 sailors short.

Read Next: How the Army Plans to Prevent 'Another Fort Hood' by Dispatching Survey Teams to Brigades

The Navy is hardly the only service struggling to meet its recruiting figures. The Army missed its recruiting goals by around 10,000 soldiers this year; last year, it missed a goal of 60,000 soldiers by 15,000. Meanwhile, the Air Force missed its targets for the first time in more than 20 years -- by nearly 3,000 airmen.

In an effort to address the recruiting struggles -- which many experts and military officials attribute to a range of causes from a competitive labor market to exceptionally challenging medical screening procedures -- the Navy has tried to get creative to get sailors to sign up.

It has taken to offering some of the largest bonuses in recent memory to get recruits through the door. The Navy's recruitment website had offered recruits $35,000 just to ship out to basic training before the fall.

The website currently boasts that recruits "who leave for boot camp before December 2023 can earn up to $140K."

The service had also recently raised the maximum enlistment age to 41, loosened entry exam rules, and spent millions on high-profile advertisements at events like the Super Bowl.

The Navy also duplicated an Army program that takes would-be recruits and gives them additional training in physical fitness and academic skills ahead of shipping them off to boot camp.

"By carefully evaluating individual circumstances and granting waivers where appropriate, such as for tattoos, single parents or positive drug and alcohol tests, the Navy was able to consider individuals who may have previously been disqualified," the service also noted in its statement.

One of the Navy's more controversial moves was an effort to increase the working hours of its recruiters to six days a week and to at least consider implementing measures to extend recruiters already in place up to a year. The backlash to that was swift, however.

Just a week later, the Navy admiral who oversees the recruiting efforts was overruled by his superiors and the six-day work week never came to pass.

In its statement announcing its figures for the year, the Navy applauded the efforts of "our talented recruiters" and noted that they "helped us close the gap on our forecasted miss by 40 percent."

The Navy says it will aim to recruit 40,600 enlisted sailors and 2,807 officers next year.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on X at @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Recruiting Boss Overruled by Superiors on 6-Day Workweek Plan
A provision in the new state budget designed to reduce the number of visits people must make to a Division of Motor Vehicles office has emerged as a source of tension between lawmakers and the DMV.

DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin says the change would put North Carolina out of compliance with federal law.

But lawmakers note that Goodwin asked for part of the change last February, as the General Assembly was preparing to come to Raleigh. Now Goodwin and his deputy, Portia Manley, have been summoned to appear before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday to answer questions.

At issue is the amount of time before someone must renew their North Carolina drivers license. Under the budget that became law this month, licenses granted to drivers age 18 to 65 will not expire for 16 years, twice as long as the current renewal period of eight years.

Starting at age 66, drivers will still need to renew their licenses every five years, as they do now. The renewal period for commercial drivers licenses will remain at five years, or three years for school bus drivers.

In addition, the budget bill allows drivers to renew their licenses online every time, rather than having to visit a DMV office every other renewal as they must do now.

Both changes are set to go into effect July 1, 2024.

Goodwin says the provisions run afoul of the REAL ID Act, the law Congress approved in 2005 to tighten identification standards after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Nearly 3.7 million state licenses and IDs in North Carolina are now REAL IDs, meaning they meet the tougher identification standards spelled out under the federal law.

The law says REAL IDs issued by states are not valid for more than eight years. Goodwin says that allows states to regularly update their license designs to make them harder to counterfeit.

The REAL ID Act also requires that the photo on REAL IDs be replaced at least every 16 years. That requires an office visit, contradicting the budget bill provision that says they could be renewed online.

This is an issue that seems simple on the surface, but it is incredibly complex, Goodwin said in an interview with The N&O when the final draft of the budget was released late last month. We would have liked to have the opportunity to be heard more on it, but we werent.

DMV initially asked for longer renewal period

Lawmakers counter that Goodwin was heard, at least on the idea of doubling the renewal period from 8 years to 16. They note that the DMVs legislative requests made last February included that provision to help shorten lines and wait times at drivers license offices.

Goodwin seemed to have forgotten that request, until after he spoke about the issue to members of the state Board of Transportation last Wednesday. When he told board members the DMV had not asked for the changes, Rep. Brenden Jones, a Republican co-chair of the House Transportation Committee who was listening via computer, fired off an email to board members.

I couldnt help but notice some misleading information from Commissioner Goodwin relating to the 8 to 16 years DL renewal legislation, Jones began, while attaching a copy of the 52-page DMV legislative requests and directing board members to the paragraph about the renewal policy.

It is my strongest hope that Commissioner Goodwin is politely mistaken, Jones concluded, and not trying to evade a poor decision by blaming the North Carolina State House and Senate.

A few hours later, Goodwin conceded that Jones was correct that the DMV had requested the 16-year renewal period in February. But by May, after the proposal appeared in the House version of the budget, the agency had determined that it would violate both federal law and best practices for discouraging fake licenses.

While this initially appears to be a good idea, upon further review, we discovered it did not align with federal requirements, Goodwin wrote in an email to board chairman Michael Fox and Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins. As this change is not in compliance with REAL ID, I respectfully request the legislature correct this.

Its not clear yet if or when lawmakers might do that. Wednesdays House committee meeting will focus on what Goodwin knew about the license renewal provision and when he knew it, said Megan Kluttz, staff member for Rep. Jake Johnson, one of the committees co-chairmen.

If it truly is in conflict with federal law, the committee hopes the commissioner can explain why he didnt know it before asking for the legislation and how he communicated with which legislators about the possible conflict once he figured it out, Kluttz wrote in an email.

The committee, like the rest of the General Assembly, is controlled by Republicans. Goodwin is the former state Democratic Party chairman and was elected Insurance Commissioner as a Democrat.

Lawmakers also question license printing contract

In addition to the renewal policy, the committee will ask Goodwin and Manley to explain a contract the DMV recently awarded to CBN Secure Technologies to print drivers licenses. The Canadian company has made drivers licenses and IDs for the state of Virginia for years.

The company that currently has that business in North Carolina, Idemia, objects to how the new contract was awarded, according to a DMV spokesman.

Leaders of the oversight committee say the DMV exempted the project from IT procurement oversight and did not use a competitive bidding process. In a press release Tuesday, they said they will also pursue allegations that the vendors technology may not be able to produce drivers licenses that comply with state law.

We have to wonder whether this contract is even valid if the company cannot produce a legal state drivers license, Johnson said in a written statement. The speed and lack of oversight in awarding this contract also raise concerns related to the security of North Carolinians personally identifiable information.

In his email to Board of Transportation members, Jones called the CBN contract controversial and questioned whether there was a connection between it and Goodwins opposition to the 16-year renewal period. Jones noted that CBN prominently opposed the longer renewal.

I would hope that this recent deal is not affecting Commissioner Goodwins memory on the true origins of this legislation, he wrote.

So far, lawmakers have focused only on the origins of the 16-year license renewal period. They havent made an issue of the other provision that allows people to repeatedly renew their licenses online, rather than appear at a DMV office every other time.

That provision, which Goodwin says doesnt work for REAL IDs under federal law, was not part of the DMVs legislative request in February.
Population of endangered Przewalski's gazelle continues to grow in NW China's Qinghai

People's Daily Online) 09:16, October 10, 2023

Photo shows Przewalski's gazelles, an endangered species, in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo courtesy of the administration bureau of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve)

The population of Przewalski's gazelle, an endangered species, has been on the rise in northwest China's Qinghai Province. By 2022, the average annual population of the species had surpassed 3,400.

The Przewalski's gazelle is a national first-class protected animal in China. It is currently only present in areas around Qinghai Lake in Qinghai Province.

Photo shows Przewalski's gazelles, an endangered species, in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo courtesy of the administration bureau of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve)

Photo shows a Przewalski's gazelle, an endangered species, in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo courtesy of the administration bureau of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve)

Photo shows a Przewalski's gazelle, an endangered species, in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo courtesy of the administration bureau of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
The lawyer representing Brandon Zapatas mother said theyre not surprised the 20-year-olds death at La Gran Plaza in April was ruled a homicide.

Nate Washington told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview Tuesday that the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office confirmed what Zapatas family already knew after video was released of the 20-year-olds fatal encounter with security at the Fort Worth mall.

Mothers, I think, know their children better than anyone, Washington said. And so, five months ago, Ms. (Gloria) Ortiz said to me, Hes having an asthma attack. Ive seen him have those asthma attacks before.

Last week the medical examiner listed Zapatas manner of death as homicide and his cause of death as acute asthma exacerbation complicated by mechanical asphyxia and methamphetamine.

Zapata was restrained by security officers at La Gran Plaza on April 11. Police have said Zapata was acting erratically, and that is why security guards, including an off-duty Fort Worth officer, restrained him and put him in handcuffs.

A witness told the Star-Telegram that Zapata came into the mall yelling and asking for help and water. He was pounding on his chest and said he couldnt breathe, according to the witness.

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Cellphone video provided to the Star-Telegram by a witness also appears to show a man who was walking by stop to help the off-duty officer restrain Zapata, with both men kneeling on Zapatas back at one point as they held him down and tried to handcuff him.

More Fort Worth police officers arrived around that time and body-camera footage shows Zapata groaning on the floor while lying face-down with his hands restrained above his head in handcuffs. About a minute-and-a-half later, he appeared to stop moving or making sounds as officers worked to handcuff him behind his back. After he was cuffed, an officer sat Zapata up and told him to breathe and wake up.

Breathe, breathe, the officer can be heard saying, in the video. After realizing Zapata was not responding, officers removed the handcuffs, laid him on the floor and began CPR. The officers providing first aid say a couple of times in the video that he has a pulse but it is weak. An officer is heard saying that he believes Zapata might have smoked something, and the officers attempt to give Zapata Narcan, the video shows.

Police said officers and paramedics tried to revive Zapata, but they were unsuccessful and he was officially pronounced dead at a local hospital less than an hour after the struggle began.

It took the medical examiner nearly six months to rule on Zapatas death. Washington said he appreciates the time authorities took to hopefully be as methodical as possible in arriving at their conclusion.

Everyone in his family says the same thing, Washington said. I ask them about Brandon (and) ... over and over and over and over again, the word I get is sensitive. Just an incredibly sensitive young man who had an asthma attack. And somehow or another this asthma attack turned him into something vicious or someone dangerous, and he was just having an asthma attack like so many young people do.

Brandon Zapata, 20, died after he was restrained and handcuffed by security officers at La Gran Plaza in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 11, 2023.

Ortiz filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Sept. 22 in Tarrant County against the companies that own and manage La Gran Plaza.

She is suing Town Center Mall L.P., Town Center Property LLC, Boxer Property Finance L.P., Grupo Zocalo L.P., Grupo Zocalo Management LLC, Boxer RE L.P. and Boxer GM L.P. Ortiz also is suing the two security guards, identified as John Doe Number One and John Doe Number Two in her lawsuit.

Representatives for the defendants could not be reached by phone on Tuesday.

Washington said they arent aware of any criminal investigation into Zapatas death at this time, so they are planning to push the civil case forward.

When asked if the methamphetamine mentioned in the medical examiners report could have contributed to Zapatas death, Washington said he didnt think so, but he wouldnt be qualified to give an answer.

What we know for sure is that he had an asthma attack, Washington said. He was struggling for air. They pulled his arms behind his back and placed their knee on his back. Thats what we know for sure.

The Fort Worth Police Department declined to comment on the ruling, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

All findings will be turned over to the Tarrant County District Attorneys Office for review and grand jury presentation, which is standard operating procedure for the Fort Worth Police Department, a police spokesperson said in an Oct. 6 email to the Star-Telegram.
President Joe Biden was interviewed over two days by special counsel Robert Hur, who is investigating how classified documents ended up at Bidens home and office after his vice presidency, the White House said Monday.

Biden on Sunday and Monday sat for voluntary interviews with Hur, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in January, at the White House, according to a White House statement.

As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, said White House Counsels Office spokesman Ian Sams.

Biden sat for the interviews while repeatedly meeting with national security officials and speaking with foreign leaders about the developing situation in Israel and Gaza, according to The New York Times.

The interview raises the possibility that Hur is nearing the end of his probe into classified documents found at his Delaware home and his office at the Washington D.C. think tank, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Bidens case is even worse than his but Bidens representatives immediately turned over the documents that were found and cooperated with the investigation  a marked difference from Trump, who refused to turn over classified documents he took home to Mar-a-Lago despite a grand jury subpoena and allegedly sought to obstruct their retrieval. Trump was charged with retaining national security documents and obstruction. He pleaded not guilty.

Legal experts pointed to the stark difference between how the two men handled their cases.

Biden, unlike Trump, who would only answer questions in writing (he claimed an in person interview was a perjury trap), agreed to voluntarily sit down and speak to investigators, tweeted former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance.

MSNBC legal analyst Katie Phang called the interview what people do when theyre not hiding anything.

I cant describe how different this was handled by Biden compared to Trump, agreed national security attorney Bradley Moss. Trump never sat for an interview. His lawyers couldnt trust him.

The Constitution held firm. The Government did not collapse. Riots did not break out. Almost like adults know how to handle investigations and overgrown adolescents throw tantrums and Twitter rants, he added.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said that the interview suggests the investigation is wrapping up and that Bidens legal team is not concerned about any potential criminal charges.

Unlike Trump, Biden sat for a two-day interview. He wouldnt have done that if he had potential criminal exposure, he wrote.

National security attorney Mark Zaid pointed out that Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, who also returned classified documents after discovering them when he left office, avoided the same kind of legal trouble Trump now finds himself in.

If Trump had timely reported possession of the documents to govt & simply returned them, just as Biden AND Pence did, he never would have been prosecuted, he wrote. He brought this mess upon himself.
Donald Trump has shown his authoritarian mentality from the moment he entered the 2016 presidential elections. Back then, Americans brushed off as hyperbole comments like his offer to pay the legal fees of supporters who knocked the crap out of protesters at one of his rallies.

It was, thanks to Trump, that for the first time in American history, rioters stormed a democratic institution  the U.S. Capitol  to stop the certification of an election.

There are no lessons learned. Trump leads national and state Republican presidential primary polls, and his rhetoric has gone from off-the-cuff remarks to straight-up violent.

Hes suggested a military general he appointed to the Joint Chiefs of Staff should have been executed. Trump wrote on his social media website Truth Social that Gen. Mark Milleys phone call, done in coordination with Trumps defense secretary, to China after Jan. 6 was an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH.

Trump also posted a photo on Truth Social of a law clerk who works for the New York judge presiding over his civil fraud trial, an invitation for violence against the judiciary. That prompted the judge to issue a gag order barring Trump from speaking publicly about his staff.

Trump told Republicans in California that shoplifters should be shot, raising the obvious comparison with a strongman Trump personally praised: Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs embraced extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspects without a trial.

Trump has also vowed to investigate media outlets he sees as enemies, showing his disregard for the Constitution and freedom of press. Hes called on Republicans to shutdown the federal government to stall the criminal cases against him and urged the House to impeach President Joe Biden because the lowlifes Impeached me TWICE.

As have authoritarians before him, Trump sees the states machinery as a mere conduit to his own interests and retribution, which he masks under the guise of making America great again or draining the swamp.

The problem isnt just that Americans have become numb to his remarks. Many see violence and the eroding of the institutions that keep a democracy strong as justified means to achieve the greatness that the former president sells them. Its become part of the GOP platform to defund federal agencies like the FBI, which also investigates local crimes that Republicans themselves promise to curtail if they return to the White House. Few conservatives seem bothered when Trump vows to use the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate his political rivals

If Trump is a symptom of our polarized times, hes made the annihilation of ones opponents a righteous cause. A pastors opening prayers at an Iowa Trump rally over the weekend said, We ask that those who stand against [Trump] be put to silence.

If reelected, could Trump incite another Jan. 6, or something worse? Thats a possibility that few of his rivals in the presidential primary publicly contemplate. Instead, many of them escalate Trumps violent rhetoric.

If the former president considered bombing drug labs in Mexico, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to send military troops into the country to fight drug cartels. That would be the type of foreign intervention that Republicans themselves say prevents the country from putting America First. DeSantis also vowed to start slitting throats of federal bureaucrats.

Republicans who call out Trumps threat to democracy are losing ground in their party. Thats dangerous because an emboldened Trump back in the White House, seeking revenge for his perceived victimization, could do more damage than he did in his first go-round.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person was killed in a crash at a busy Antioch intersection Tuesday.

The crash happened around 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Bell Road and Smith Springs Road.

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Metro police said a Honda Accord was traveling northbound when it began to drift, crossing the double yellow lines before crashing into a Freightliner semi truck head-on.

A Honda CRV that was also traveling north on Bell Road behind the Accord, was hit in the process, according to investigators.

Police said the driver of the Accord, identified as 33-year-old Patrick Jimenez of La Vergne, died at the scene. The driver of the CRV and the driver of the semi were not injured.

According to police, there were no signs of impairment from any of the drivers involved. All of them were wearing their seatbelts.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A chemical leak injured at least four passengers on a bullet train in Japan, according to officials and local media.

The chemical leak occurred on the Tohoku Shinkansen line and injured four, including a child on Monday, the city fire department said.

It reminded me of the Tokyo subway sarin attack. Its frightening because you can bring anything onto a train, a 52-year-old eyewitness, referring to the 1995 terrorist attack that killed 14 people and injured thousands was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

None of the injured on the bullet train were reported to be in serious condition. Two others, including a railway worker, complained of feeling sick after inhaling the chemical, reported the Asahi Shimbun.

The chemical leak led to the evacuation of passengers onto the platform at JR Sendai Station in Miyagi prefecture, according to the East Japan Railway Company.

At approximately noon on Monday, a distress call was made to Japans emergency 119 number, reporting that a child had sustained an injury after coming in contact with what appeared to be a spilt chemical substance aboard the Hayabusa No 52 high-speed train travelling from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo.

A man, later identified as a 40-year-old employee of a geological survey company based in Tokyo, was believed to have been carrying an industrial chemical used in his profession.

The chemical was kept in a bottle in his hand luggage, according to police and it accidentally spilled.

Police say they are interrogating the person who possessed the bag containing the suspicious substance as the investigation continues.

Local media reported that the victims complained of burn-like symptoms.

It smelled like cigarette smoke, something burning, a woman who was on the bullet train told Kyodo. It had a faint pungent odour.

Suspected chemical leak on bullet train leaves child, 4 passengers injured.



Four passengers, including a child, were injured aboard a shinkansen bullet train in northeastern Japan on Monday.#BulletTrain#shinkansen pic.twitter.com/8ErejwknPP  know the Unknown (@imurpartha) October 9, 2023

She said she also heard a woman shouting that a child had suffered a burn.

Another man reported seeing white smoke coming from a bag near the door of the train.

After the emergency response team arrived, the passengers were asked to leave the train.

The trains that follow the Tohoku Shinkansen route and were bound for Tokyo were delayed between Morioka and the capital, local media said.

Outside the station, sirens from emergency vehicles went off leading to concern among the crowd including tourists and shoppers.
Marina Machete became the first transgender woman to win Miss Portugal last week, making her one of two trans contestants so far to compete for Miss Universe later this year.

Machete, a 28-year-old flight attendant, thanked her supporters for the positive and empowering messages she has received since being crowned Thursday.

To all of you watching, I just want to say that, just like the universe, your possibilities in life are limitless, she said in a video shared on Instagram over the weekend. So dont limit yourself to any dream that you have.

She added that she is excited to meet the other delegates at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in November.

In July, Rikkie Valerie Kolle, 22, became the first trans woman to be crowned Miss Netherlands.

Yes Im trans and I want to share my story but Im also Rikkie and thats what matters to me, she wrote in an Instagram post at the time. I did this on my own strength and enjoyed every moment.

Shortly after she was crowned, she revealed that she became the target of hate speech online.

I thought we were really accepting ... in the Netherlands, but the hate comments show the other side of our society. I hope thats a wake-up call, she told Reuters at the time. For now, I fully ignore it. I focus on the good things coming my way.

It appears that Machete and Kolle will be the only transgender contestants among the 90 women who will compete for the crown on Nov. 18. There are two more qualifying pageants  in Mongolia and China  before the Miss Universe pageant next month, and no local reporting has identified any trans contestants.

Miss Universe began allowing trans women to compete in 2012 and, in 2018, Angela Ponce became the first trans woman to do so after she was crowned Miss Spain.

In 2021, Kataluna Enriquez became the first trans woman to compete in the Miss USA pageant after she was crowned Miss Nevada, though she did not go on to compete in that years Miss Universe pageant. In February, Daniela Arroyo Gonzalez became the first trans woman to compete in Miss Universe Puerto Rico, where she finished within the top 10 finalists, according to her Instagram.

However, not all pageants have been open to including trans women. In July, more than 100 transgender men entered the Miss Italy pageant after the pageants organizer said Miss Italy wouldnt allow trans women to compete.

Anne Jakkapong Jakrajutatip, a Thai businesswoman and transgender advocate, bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million last year, making her the first woman to own the pageant.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Lebanon Police Department is asking for the publics help in finding a missing man who hasnt been seen in over two weeks.

Police said Michael Ferrin, 62, has not made any contact with his family since Saturday, Sept. 23.

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Ferrin is 57 and weighs 135 pounds.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lebanon Police Department at 615-444-2323.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Special Counsel Jack Smith in a court filing Monday urged U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon , who is overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case, to reject the former presidents attempts to delay his trial until after the 2024 election.

The defendants provide no credible justification to postpone a trial that is still seven months away, Smiths team wrote in response to a court filing by Trump's attorneys seeking the postponement. They are fully informed about the charges and the theory of the Governments case from a highly detailed superseding indictment and comprehensive, organized unclassified and classified discovery.

In their filing last week, Trumps team argued that the delay was necessary due to scheduling conflicts and ongoing issues over classified evidence.

But Smith dismissed their claims of untimely access to the prosecutors' evidence as "misrepresented and overstated," saying that the "vast majority" of classified material is accessible to Trump and his two co-defendants, aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira.

"The defendants have repeatedly distorted the comprehensive, organized, and timely unclassified discovery that the Government has produced, in service of an attack on the promptness and thoroughness of the productions and an allegation that the Government is in 'ongoing non-compliance,'" prosecutors wrote. "The facts prove otherwise."

The special counsel urged the judge to reject their request to delay the trial until after the November 2024 presidential election and proceed with the originally scheduled start date of May 2024 for the trial.

Smith is going to do everything he can to keep the May trial date, and Trump is going to continue to try to delay, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Salon. If the DOJ complies with its discovery obligations in a timely manner, there should be no reason to continue the trial. If they dont, or if the CIPA procedural hurdles take longer than anticipated, the defense will have a good argument to push the trial date back.

The former president has pleaded not guilty to all counts stemming from his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House and repeatedly obstructing government efforts to recover them. Trump was charged with 40 federal counts, including charges of retaining classified information, obstructing justice and making false statements.

In their response to Trump's request, lawyers from the Justice Department pointed out that they have already handed over more than 1.1 million pages of unclassified documents and all surveillance footage from Mar-a-Lago acquired before May. They mentioned that the most recent batch of information was delivered on Friday.

The filing from prosecutors also addresses sensitive measures documents," which include most highly confidential documents that Trump is alleged to have improperly retained upon leaving the White House. The document also outlines the measures that have been taken to allow defense attorneys to examine these records.

Trumps team in their filing argued that they only had "access to a small, temporary facility in Miami" to view the highly classified records and that one member of their legal team, Chris Kise, has also not yet been fully cleared to review certain classified materials.

But prosecutors in Smith's office refuted their claims and asserted that Kise received an interim security clearance in July and was authorized to review about 2,100 pages of classified discovery the moment they were produced on September 13  the same day the protective orders issued.

The Special Counsels Office also mentioned that they had made arrangements for defense attorneys to review records in Washington, D.C. as well as Miramar, Florida and said that they were not aware of any request by Trump to personally appear in Miramar to inspect any documentsa request upon which the necessary arrangements to do so can and will be made.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Trump is currently the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination and has also been charged in state indictments of falsifying business records in New York relating to his alleged 2016 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels and for interfering with the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.

"It ultimately comes down to Judge Cannon, who has thus far appeared receptive to Trump's arguments, Rahmani said. When it comes to scheduling, she has a lot of discretion in managing her trial calendar. Appellate courts rarely get involved unless there is a speedy trial or other fundamental right affected by the timing.
A letter from Harvard University students groups holding Israel entirely responsible for the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza has inspired a backlash from notable alumni and a US legislator.

On 7 October, the same day Hamas militants launched a surprise attack into Israel, a group of 33 student organisations at the prestigious university released a statement on social media arguing that Israels apartheid regime created the impetus for the war.

Todays events did not occur in a vacuum, the letter read. For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison.

The apartheid regime is the only one to blame, it added, describing Israels subsequent campaign in Gaza as colonial retliation.

The statement quickly attracted controversy.

Former Harvard president and Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said he had never been more disillusioned and alienated with Harvard.

The silence from Harvards leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel, he wrote on X.

To be clear nothing is wrong with criticizing Israeli policy past, present or future, he added. I have been sharply critical of PM Netanyahu. But that is very different from lack of clarity regarding terrorism.

US Senator Ted Cruz, a Harvard alum, also took a critical stance towards the student statement.

What the hell is wrong with Harvard? he wrote on X. Given the choice between standing with Israel or supporting terrorists who are raping, kidnapping & killing thousands of women & children31 student groups choose the terrorists. Their blazing hatred & antisemitism utterly blinding.

Harvards president Claudine Gay soon weighed in.

As the events of recent days continue to reverberate, let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas, she wrote in a statement released Tuesday. Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region.

Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership, she added.

More than 1,600 people, including at least 900 Israelis and 765 Gazans, have been killed since fighting broke out on Saturday.

Hamas militants have killed babies and decapitated women, according to Israeli officials. At least 260 civilians were killed in a Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel, where others were taken hostage, according to search and rescue services.

Nearly 200,000 people, about a tenth of Gazas population, has been displaced in the fighting, according to the UN.

The Israeli government has vowed to put Gaza under total siege, and cut off power, water, food and fuel supplies from entering the 42-km long stretch of land.

Human rights experts warn this will have devastating consquences in Gaza on top of continued Israeli strikes on areas filled with civilians.

In addition to being one of the most densely settled urban areas in the world, nearly half of Gazas population are children, and the vast majority of all Gazans are dependent on foreign aid supplies to survive amid a long-running Israeli and Egpytian blockade on the territory that began in 2007.

Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have concluded that Israel is commiting the crime of apartheid and crimes against humanity against Palestine for the countrys systematic occupation of Palestinian lands, its support for illegal settlements in the West Bank, and its institution of laws that create ethnic and religious inequalities and segregation.
To the editor: In discussing Kevin de Leon, Los Angeles City Council members and the media seem to ignore the history of the 14th District, which De Leon represents. ("Kevin de Leon says he deserves another chance. Critics say he's 'gaslighting' L.A.," OCt. 8)

When our previous elected council member, Jose Huizar, was indicted and suspended from office, our district was ineffectively managed by Huizar's chief of staff before De Leon could take over. Other council members ignored us. District matters came to a standstill.

On Aug. 8, 2020, The Times published the article, "With L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar arrested and suspended, whos in charge in his district?" The article described our loss of representation and our feelings of being adrift.

The outsiders calling for De Leon to resign forget that he does not work for them. His job is to serve the residents of his district.

As such, he did arrange for homeless encampments to be cleaned up, and he helped establish a tiny home village in Highland Park. He advocates for new tenant protections and helps distribute food to the residents who need it. His staff answers the phones, and constituents' issues are addressed.

Will De Leon be reelected? I dont know. But that is for the voters of the 14th, and only the voters of the 14th, to decide.

Theresa Lindseth, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Do De Leon and former City Councilmember Gil Cedillo have no ethics or shame?

It's absolutely astonishing that these two men have no genuine remorse, as shown by their lawsuits over the leaked recording of their racist conversation. They only care that they got caught.

The worst part of this situation is that De Leon still has a leadership role in Los Angeles. No wonder our city is a mess.

Retirement should be the only option.

Diane Thornton, Los Angeles

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Workers place sandbags outside a shop in Mexico's Puerto Vallarta to protect against possible flooding (ULISES RUIZ)

Hurricane Lidia slammed into Mexico's Pacific coast as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm Tuesday, causing flooding, blocked roads, fallen trees and at least one death, officials said.

Ahead of its arrival, the government deployed around 6,000 members of the armed forces to help residents, according to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

"You must take refuge in safe places -- stay away from low areas, streams, rivers and hillsides," he wrote on social media.

A man died when a tree fell on the car he was driving during strong winds in Bahia de Banderas in Nayarit state, authorities said.

Lidia came ashore near the popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, packing maximum sustained winds of around 140 miles (220 kilometers) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The storm had quickly strengthened to the second-highest category on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale before reaching land.

But by late Tuesday, maximum sustained winds had dropped to 105 miles per hour, making it a Category 2 storm, with further rapid weakening expected, the NHC said.

In Puerto Vallarta -- a major destination for Mexican and foreign tourists -- shopkeepers earlier boarded up windows and piled up sandbags in case of flooding.

Waves crashed ashore, heavy rain drenched the city and strong winds whipped palm trees.

School classes were suspended, businesses closed early and most residents waited out the storm at home or in shelters opened by the authorities, according to AFP reporters.

However, some people were still seen in the streets, taken by surprise by the speed of the hurricane's arrival.

"I was going to go home, but it's very far away. I'm going to have to take shelter somewhere else. There's no transportation. It caught me off guard," said Herson Rodriguez, a 35-year-old fitness trainer and nutritionist.

- 'Dangerous storm surge' -

Lidia was expected to bring rainfall of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) to Nayarit, Sinaloa and Jalisco states, the NHC said.

"These rains will likely produce flash and urban flooding, along with possible mudslides in areas of higher terrain near the coast," it warned.

"A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the south of where Lidia made landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves," the NHC added.

Hurricanes hit Mexico every year on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, usually between May and November.

Just this week, Tropical Storm Max left two people dead and dozens of houses flooded in the southern state of Guerrero, one of the country's poorest regions, authorities said Tuesday.

Max made landfall on Monday, causing a river to overflow before dissipating.

One person drowned trying to protect livestock and another died in a road accident during the storm, civil protection official Roberto Arroyo told AFP by telephone.

In August, storm Hilary, which at one point was a Category 4 hurricane, caused one death and damaged infrastructure as it hit the northwestern state of Baja California.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.

bur-dr/mtp
LOCATED: Car possibly tied to homicide in Mariposa County

FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE)  A vehicle that is suspected of being connected with a homicide investigation in Mariposa County has been found.

Mariposa County Sherriffs office says on October 6, deputies served a search warrant in connection with the Wendy Pullins homicide case  leading to the discovery of a car suspected to be involved.

Wendy Pullins was reported missing and last seen in Mariposa County on June 15, 2022; the case is now being treated as a homicide. Based on the information received, detectives have reason to believe that this 2005 Subaru Outback was used in the homicide.

This car believed to be tied to Mariposa County homicide





Keep the information coming. Bringing those involved to justice and answers for her family continues to be our goal and we will not stop until we meet those goals, said Sheriff Jeremy Briese.

Deputies say the vehicle is said to now be at the California Department of Justice lab being processed for any forensic evidence related to the homicide.

Anyone with any more information is asked to contact the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office at 209-966-3615.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
ATLANTA - An unknown number of people from metro Atlanta are in Israel trying to find their way home following this weekends violent attack on the country.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta said a meeting between Israeli diplomats and Delta Air Lines about their return was imminent. They planned on releasing a joint statement in the coming days.

DELTA CANCELS FLIGHTS TO, FROM ISRAEL FOR THE REST OF OCTOBER

Religious groups from Georgia stuck in Israel

Two church groups from Loganville were among the Americans trying to return home Monday. The lead pastor for Graystone Church posted on social media that they were on their final flight back to Atlanta.

First Baptist Church of Loganvilles co-pastor Chase Snyder said they are still working out a way home.

"We are heartbroken to see the violence that is unfolding in Israel and Palestine. Last week a group from our church traveled to Israel to tour the Holy Land," Snyder said. "We are in close contact with them and are grateful to know that they are safe. Their travel agency is working diligently to secure flights home, and we will continue to pray until they return. We appreciate the concern and support from our community. We are praying for our teams safe return home and for the conflict to end quickly."

Dov Wilker, the southeast director of the American Jewish Committee, said there are many other families and student groups there right now for the holiday Shemini Atzeret.

Photos from Israel after the early October attack.

Georgia senator on trip with mother to Israel says he is safe and being 'well taken care of'

A member of the Georgia Senate is currently on a trip to Israel with his mother, according to posts on social media.

Sen. Russ Goodman, who represents District 8 in south Georgia, posted a video of an American flag being raised on a boat on the Sea of Galilee.

Goodman says that his mom asked him several months back if he would go with her on a trip to the "holy land." He shared a photo of himself standing on top of Mount Precipice with Nazareth in the background. He also shared of photo of himself and his mom standing on top of Mount Carmel.

Goodman says in his post that he has received numerous texts from friends and family in south Georgia, and he wanted to let everyone know that he and his mother are safe and "being well taken care of."

Jewish Americans in Atlanta have been stunned at the events of the last few days.

"It has absolutely been one of the most difficult days in my life," said Dov Wilker, the southeast director of the American Jewish Committee. "Its been painful to think about whats going on with my family and friends. Im constantly checking in with them to see how theyre doing."

Photos from Israel after the early October attack.

Wilker said Hamas wrath has been ruthless and blind.

"Theyre doing this indiscriminate of whether someone is Jewish or not," he said. "They are seeking to destroy. They are seeking to defy, they are seeking to terrorize."
South Carolinas Nancy Mace was the most unlikely among a small group of Republicans who rebelled against their party in a historic House leadership ouster. With the dust still anything but settled in Congress  confusion swirls concerning how the lower chamber will move forward in replacing now-former Speaker Kevin McCarthy  questions hang over the outspoken congresswoman from the Lowcountry:

Why would Mace risk alienating herself from more than 200 colleagues in her own party? Was it all for attention? Has she doomed herself as an outcast, or somehow propelled herself higher up the political ladder?

Her biggest risk is to be lonely in Washington, a fate many politicians fear, which South Carolina political experts zeroed in on. At the end of the day, was Maces decision worth the risk?

If youre a politician, one thing you dont want to be is lonely, Katon Dawson, a former South Carolina Republican Party chairman, said. Well see if this is a good Washington move for Nancy.

Since her successful vote, Mace has been nothing but adamant about her resentment toward McCarthy and his unkept promises, specifically regarding the passage of federal legislation on rape and gun laws. Thats why she voted him out, she says.

But among some political watchers in her home state, theories have formed that Maces vote wasnt just about McCarthys promises and policies  it was a media grab, some say.

After all, she made national headlines and was on Fox News just a few hours after she voted. Also following her vote, Mace sent out a statement and fundraising message, writing that her decision wasnt about the right or left but about trust and keeping your word.

Other reasoning has led politicos to believe Mace truly isnt willing to work with others in Congress and doesnt necessarily care about doing so. Shes going to make a decision if she wants to without considering social consequences, some said.

Mace said this herself in a South Carolina press call after the vote and added she owed no one in DC anything.

Those of you that have been covering me since I was a state lawmaker will know that I will represent my constituents, and that I march the beat of my own drum, Mace said during the press call.

Multiple political watchers related this strategy to one that has been associated with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, alluding to the fact that both of the South Carolina Republicans want to be relevant and dont care what people will say of them.

More than that, bad press is still press, and any press is good.

In the days leading up to the vote, Mace had gone on The View and told reporters that she wasnt sure how she would vote but that she wasnt happy with McCarthy and could understand the frustration of Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who led the effort to oust the speaker.

However, on a South Carolina press call, Mace told reporters she had been leaning to vote him out for a few weeks.

Others speculate that Mace is trying to climb the political ladder, and making news like the McCarthy vote will only boost her political potential. Another Palmetto State analyst said maybe there was other turmoil, that she and McCarthy may have had personality or personal clashes, like many speculate McCarthy had with Gaetz. Some even added that while less likely, Mace may voted the way she did because of unkept promises, exactly as she has said to the media.

The why behind Maces unexpected vote could be a mix of multiple theories, but regardless, Mace made a jump that many others would be fearful of  and, some add, for good reason.

A political animal

Mace has positioned herself as an independent thinker in the Republican Party. She has worked on legislation and joint proposals that were supported by some Democrats and has prided herself in pushing for what she wants to get done, not just what her party wants.

She sponsored and has been vocal about two bills concerning women and rape and one bill on gun violence.

Nancy is a very calculated politician. Nancys a savvy politician Dawson said. That move wasnt made until she knew it would matter. She can take the pounding if she makes a mistake. Nancy is a political animal.

Dawson, however, noted that you have to have people who trust you in Washington.

Dawson added that whatever way Maces decision plays out among her colleagues, her constituents in South Carolina may not know or even care that she made the vote to oust McCarthy.

Im not sure it matters to anyone in that district who the speaker of the House is. In her district, voting a speaker out is probably pretty popular, Dawson said. Nancy lives and breathes her district.

Mace has been a constant in the news since she was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020, defeating Democratic incumbent Joe Cunningham. However, the attention on her has created some unrest among her colleagues. There arent many people in politics who werent talking about Nancy Mace, even before she decided to oust McCarthy.

Jamie Lovegrove, a South Carolina political analyst and former politics reporter, said from his understanding of conversations with South Carolina politicos or D.C. representatives, a good few have not been very fond of Mace, even before last weeks speaker vote. In some ways, she has been isolated for a while.

It is certainly my understanding from conversations that a lot of other members of the delegation do not like Nancy Mace very much, Lovegrove said.

There are a few reasons cited for other lawmakers distaste for Mace, one of which is frustration about how often she is in the spotlight.

She comes in, basically overnight, and has become a constant figure on Fox News, a constant figure in all manner of news outlets across the country, Lovegrove said. There may be an added layer of jealousy from some of these other Republicans because she has developed fame. But there is also a lot of frustration about the ways she has gone about doing that.

For instance, her decision to vote out McCarthy.

When asked to comment on speculation that she made the decision for media purposes, Maces team did not respond.

After the vote, McCarthy told reporters that he called Maces chief of staff and said, Can you please tell me, I dont understand? Where have I not kept my word? McCarthy said. Chief of staff said, You have kept your word 100%.

Risk and reward  was it worth it?

While South Carolina political watchers are skeptical of Maces intentions on the vote, they said Mace made a calculated decision, knowing exactly what she was doing when she made it.

Mace has never been seen as a part of the hard-right side of the party, like Floridas Gaetz. And a leap like the McCarthy vote is not being taken lightly by fellow Republicans and was a definite risk no matter what her reasoning was.

Nancy Mace has been flying pretty close to the sun for a very long time, and I think a lot of people wonder, surely, eventually one way or another, shes going to get burnt, Lovegrove said. The question is, is this that moment?

If the Republican party loses the House majority in the next election, the anger toward Mace and the hard-right faction may only to worsen from party members.

I think all eight of the members who voted the way they did are going to get a lot of heat from their colleagues, and I think she has a particular risk, because for the other seven, they were already kind of seen on the fringe of the party, and she was not, Lovegrove said. I think she probably still had opportunities to work together with some of these folks and I think that may be in jeopardy now.

Shes weighing the risk and reward here because she may be thinking, The risk is maybe low because people will forget, forgive me, and the reward is that people will give me attention, Lovegrove said.

A few hours after the vote, Mace went on Fox News with U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, a Kentucky Republican who voted to keep McCarthy in the position. Barr said while trust is important, last Tuesday was a sad day for the Republican Party. He voiced his frustration with policies that would fall through the cracks during the time representatives will spend electing a speaker.

Joining with Democrats to defeat conservative bills is not advancing the conservative cause. This has been a very successful year for Republicans until today, Barr said.

On the press call with South Carolina reporters, Mace said no one in the delegation had given her heat for the decision.

However, Politico reported that knives are out, for Mace.

Its disgraceful, Rep. Steve Womack, R-Arkansas, a longtime McCarthy ally, told Politico. If the purpose is because its going to help me build my brand and gonna bring a little bit more money to my campaign, Womack added of Mace, then I think you need to question why youre here.

But if other lawmakers continue to sling mud on Mace, it may only increase her popularity, Lovegrove noted. Receiving attention can be a valuable way to influence the political conversation, and supporters could argue she is doing her job effectively in this way.

However, she has to remember that she needs to keep her job, if she wants it.

By potentially alienating her party, Mace risks not only struggling to pass legislation she cares about, but having to campaign for and by herself.

The consensus is, a lot of people may be angry with Mace, but more than that, people are greatly concerned about the perception of politics right now.

It shows the Republican Party is completely dysfunctional, Dawson said. I blame all of them, every one of them. On a day where people trusted Republicans to trust us, we kicked the speaker out.

Dawson said when you look at this decision, you wonder if it looks sane, and does it look in control?

It doesnt look sane, and it certainly does not look functioning, he added.

The presidential contest will put the McCarthy news into the shadows over time, but that doesnt mean Maces colleagues will forget, South Carolina political watchers noted.

In politics, you need friends. It was eight Republicans against 202. I do not think Id want to be one of those eight, Id be extremely lonely. That speaks volumes about who those people are, and Id say, you better enjoy the company you keep, one state political watcher said.
WASHINGTON  Canadian and U.S. Army officials are determined NATO efforts to train Ukrainian forces will last long term, despite uncertainty over whether Congress will continue to fund additional military assistance for Kyiv.

Canadian Brig. Gen. Mason Stalker, the deputy training commander for Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, stressed Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference that dozens of NATO members are contributing to these efforts, even though the future of the United States role in the conflict remains unclear.

Were not going to comment on bilateral or individual nations policy decisions and how they will potentially affect the future, Mason told Defense News. But what I can say is that SAG-U has got over 25 nations in it right now. And we are continuing to coordinate the delivery of equipment thats been donated.

Speaking alongside Mason, U.S. Army officials described training Ukrainian troops to use armored fighting vehicles, tanks and Patriot missiles as one of the highlights of their careers during a panel titled As Long as it Takes  International Efforts to Train Ukraines Military.

There are currently 25 countries training Ukrainian forces amid an influx of NATO equipment Ukraine has received since Russia invaded the country. The equipment is delivered as part of the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, an initiative U.S. European Command set up in November 2022.

Mason noted that 7,254 Ukrainians are receiving training through Security Assistance Group-Ukraine and that NATO members have trained about 90,000 troops overall at 88 training sites.

The coalition has trained 17 brigades and is currently focused on reconstituting several of them as winter approaches.

Congress passed $113 billion in economic and military support to Ukraine, but failed to pass a fifth aid package earlier this month despite the White Houses request. The Pentagon says it can use roughly $5.5 billion remaining from prior fiscal years to continue transferring weapons to Ukraine, but thats not expected to last for much more than a couple of months.

Col. Bryan Harris, the commander of the U.S. Armys 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, recently returned home after deploying to NATOs eastern front to train Ukrainians on combat maneuvers.

During that time, his unit trained 9,000 Ukrainians to use Bradley fighting vehicles, M1A1 Abrams tanks and M109 Paladin howitzers.

Up to that point in December 2022, it was all platform training  how to operate this platform, how to operate this weapons system, Harris said at the panel. But in January, we started combined arms maneuver training.

There were Ukrainian crew members on Paladins supporting Bradley maneuver manned by Ukrainian crew members, and it was a sight to see, Harris said. It was a highlight of my 25-year career.

Lt. Col. Seth Barrett, commander of the U.S. Armys 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, also described his units efforts to train Ukrainians to use the Patriot missile defense system at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Barrett noted this took a herculean effort by the linguist community, noting that U.S. soldiers with Ukrainian backgrounds reenlisted to help with translation.

Ukrainian trainees were versed in the Soviet-era S-300 missile system, giving them a sense of the fundamentals, but still needed Patriot-specific training.

Soviet systems tend to be a lot more user-involved, Barrett said. An S-300 has 84 different cables that you have to plug in. We have five.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Russia is one of the countries that supports the militants of the Islamist group Hamas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest on Oct. 10.

"Who is behind Hamas?" the Ukrainian leader said.

I think the answer is quite simple: those who support them. We can look at it  supporting publicly, with weapons, it's not just one day, it's been going on for a long time.

It is possible to check who really supports Hamas by looking at social media posts, President Zelenskyy said.

Read also:

"We believe that Russia is one of those who helped and is behind such relevant moves.

Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the Russian authorities were aware of Hamas militants' preparations for an attack on Israel, and Moscow handed over Western weapons that the Russians had captured in the war against Ukraine.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers.

Read also: Zelenskyy holds emergency talk with Netanyahu

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country of Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports that three more Ukrainian citizens have been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Louisiana school principal who punished a student after a video of her dancing by withdrawing her scholarship recommendation has apologised.

Jason St Pierre, the principal of Walker High School in the Livingston Parish Public Schools district, has released a statement issuing an apology to 17-year-old Kaylee Timonet and her mother after he disciplined her for a video of her dancing circulated.

Ms Timonet was at a homecoming afterparty off-campus where she and her friends were dancing with each other.

The student said she was called into the office the Tuesday morning after where she was met with the principal and the assistant principal, she said in an interview with local blog Unfiltered with Kiran.

They basically told me that I was kicked off the student government because of a video that was sent in; I instantly started crying hysterically, she claimed that school officials said. They told me I should be ashamed of myself and that they were concerned for my afterlife and I wasnt following Gods ideals.

She was also allegedly told that her place on the student government body would be revoked and that he would no longer recommend her for a college scholarship programme.

I felt like my life was over since I was little I have always worked hard at school, she told the local blog. No matter all the things I had accomplished, because of this video of me dancing, I felt like a failure

The party took place off-campus on 30 September after a homecoming dance at the school. A DJ hired for the party took a video of the room filled with dancing people and posted it on social media.

Mr St Pierre had requested to take leave for the remainder of the school year.

Walker High School Principal Jason St Pierre has requested to take leave for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, said Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Joe Murphy in a statement on Monday. The district office is awaiting his paperwork to process his request.

The soon-to-be college student had missed out on a scholarship deadline after her prinicple revoked it, then reinstated it when it was too late (WAFB)

In the statement released by the principal on Sunday, a day before his request, he said he would be reinstating Ms Timonet both back into the student government association, as well as her scholarship endorsement.

I have apologized to the Timonets and I am hopeful that my scheduled meeting with Kaylees mom will rectify this situation and allow Kaylee to enjoy the remainder of her senior year at Walker High School.

However, according to the mother of Ms Timonet, the apology has come too little too late, as the deadline for the scholarship had closed on 3 October, she told WAFB.

I let him know that the scholarship deadline was done, and the damage that hes done to her is done, she said to WAFB. I also told him I gave them the opportunity when I came in there at 7 oclock the next morning, to try and rectify the situation at that point. Now, with somebody holding his hand forcing him to do something, an apology being enforced its too late.

The mother also told the outlet that she is consulting with attorneys about the ordeal.

Ms Timonet has only eight weeks left until she is due to graduate early from her senior year.
An affordable housing complex serving seniors in downtown Columbia has been sold, forcing its low-income residents to find new homes..

The buyer is pitching a $1.4 million restoration of the historic building, but the residents living at the Wardlaw Apartments at 1003 Elmwood Ave. will have to leave.

Florida-based developer Jay Biggins of Multihousing.com purchased the property in September under the name Campus Lofts, LLC, according to documents filed with the city of Columbia. In an interview with The State, Biggins said the building will remain affordable senior apartments after the renovation is completed.

Biggins will spend up to $1.4 million to renovate the apartment building, according to the city documents.

The property was built in 1927 as Wardlaw Junior High School. The school was the first freestanding junior high in South Carolina so in 1984, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It was repurposed as apartments in the early 2000s. The 66-unit apartment complex currently serves low-income seniors, including John Soul Hackett.

Hackett, who has lived at the Wardlaw Apartments for a little over a year, described dire conditions including water leaks, doors that dont lock and incessant bed bugs.

Its been a difficult, difficult time here, Hackett told The State.

A few weeks ago, Hackett and other residents received a letter informing them that the property had been sold. When The State interviewed Hackett, residents had not yet been told to vacate the property.

Biggins said the residents were given a 60 day notice to move out last week.

Other residents at the apartments have taken to the social media platform Nextdoor to ask for help moving out of the apartments.

Biggins said the apartments need a lot of work but that his companys mission is to provide nicer apartments than what is usually associated with affordable housing, a goal Biggins said comes from his own childhood growing up in run-down conditions.

I would like to deliver something better, he said.

Hackett said his current rent is $800, with $200 being covered by a federal housing program for veterans.

Biggins declined to say what the rents will be once the renovation is complete but said it will remain affordable.

The 66-unit apartment complex is already largely vacant. Biggins said the apartment is about 25% full, and Hackett confirmed more than half of the apartment units are empty.

Biggins said a goal for the property is to raise the occupancy rate  he hopes to 100%.

The propertys historic exterior will remain intact, Biggins added. He is asking the citys Design/Development Review Committee to certify the property for the Bailey Bill, which allows historic renovations to receive a special tax assessment.
Trevian Kutti, former publicist to Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and an alleged co-conspirator who was indicted in connection to an election meddling scheme in Georgia involving Donald Trump, turned heads with one recent Instagram post.

In that now-deleted post, Kutti confidently proclaimed that she would serve as the White House press secretary to Trump after he wins the 2024 election and becomes the 47th president of the United States. She also said she looks forward to redeeming Black women when she nabs that position.

She added that post this week on her Instagram Stories with an extra message: Im protected.

Trevian Kutti (left) announced on Instagram in a now-deleted post that she looks forward to serving as Donald Trumps press secretary in the White House when he wins the 2024 election. (Right photo: Twitter/Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon)

According to The Messenger, Kuttis attorney has declined to comment on the post.

Trending Today:

In the Georgia election interference indictment, Kutti pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings and influencing witnesses. Shes accused of going to some lengths to intimidate Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman and pressure her into falsely admitting that she stole votes and committed election fraud in 2020.

Kutti and Trump, along with the other 17 people charged, are awaiting trial. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis plans to try all 19 defendants together simultaneously and filed a motion to start their trial at the end of October.

Its unclear what kind of point Kutti is trying to make by vying for a high-ranking position in the White House if Trump were to win the election. Legal experts told The Messenger that this could establish the belief that witness tampering is at play, which could bode poorly for Trump if he did indeed promise Kutti that she would be hired in his White House. The post could also impede on Kuttis ability to strike a plea deal with Fulton County prosecutors.

Whatever the case may be for Kuttis strange proclamation, her favor in the Trump camp resembles that of another woman who also earned a favorable position in Trumps 2016 administration: Omarosa Manigault Newman.

Newman was the director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison in Trumps White House but was fired after less than a year on the job for reportedly using the White House car service as her own personal taxi. She has since published a book accusing the former president of being racist and has taken any opportunity she can to criticize her former boss.

Speaking hypothetically, if Kutti were to become press secretary in a 2024 Trump White House, her position would be higher ranked than Newmans during her 2017 stint. In the role, Kutti would be the presidents official spokesperson, manage the White Houses relationship with the media and shape the administrations public image. Still, its unclear whether Trump actually promised Kutti an administration position if he wins the presidential race.

Read the original story here.
A Macedonia man pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to 13 charges related to sexually abusing several children and using secret cameras to capture video and photographs of them.

William Lupica, 72, was scheduled to go on trial Wednesday morning in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Joy Malek Oldfields courtroom.

William Lupica, shown at a hearing last week, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Zoom hearing to sexually abusing and secretly videotaping several children. He will be sentenced Nov. 21.

Instead, Lupica accepted an agreement with prosecutors that involved him pleading guilty Tuesday via Zoom to two counts each of rape and gross sexual imposition, as well as numerous counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charges against Lupica. He initially faced 21 felony charges.

The plea deal doesnt include an agreed-upon penalty, with attorneys free to argue this when Oldfield sentences Lupica on Nov. 21.

For the rape charges, Lupica faces a sentence of life in prison without parole or with parole eligibility after 15 years. He could face additional prison time on the other charges, or those penalties could be run concurrent to the sentences for the rape charges.

Investigation finds Lupica had secret cameras, prosecutor says

Lupica was arrested last May at his Apache Run home in Macedonia after he was secretly indicted on 21 charges.

More: Macedonia man arrested on child sex charges used 'secret cameras,' prosecutor says

Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Jon Baumoel said at the time that the rape counts involved multiple children under the age of 5.

Baumoel said numerous images of children, both nude and in sex acts, were found on Lupicas phone. He said the investigation found that Lupica used secret cameras throughout his house to capture these images.

Lupicas wife had operated a child care business at their home.

Lupica changed his mind about pleading Friday, then changed it again

Lupica initially planned to enter a plea Friday morning, but then changed his mind.

I'm not going to plead guilty to something I didnt do, with all due respect, Lupica said at that hearing.

William Lupica was expected to enter a plea last Friday, but he then changed his mind. He changed it again Tuesday when he decided to accept a plea agreement rather than going on trial Wednesday.

John Greven, Lupicas attorney, said he met with Lupica Tuesday afternoon to prepare for trial, and Lupica told him he had changed his mind after talking to his family and praying. Lupica told him he would accept the plea agreement.

Baumoel said the parents of the victims and Macedonia police agreed to the plea deal.

Oldfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation by the probation department and victim impact statements.

Several of the parents of the children were present during Lupicas Zoom plea. They did not speak but will be given that opportunity at the sentencing.

Lupica will be a Tier 3 sex offender, which would require him, if he were released from prison, to report his address to the sheriffs office every 90 days for the rest of his life.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: William Lupica pleaded guilty to sexually abusing and videotaping kids
A coalition of leading LGBT+ rights groups  Human Rights Campaign PAC, the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund (NCTE), and the Equality PAC  has announced their endorsement of President Joe Biden .

The Tuesday endorsements come after the administrations historic and era-defining support for LGBTQ+ equality as crucial now more than ever, the Human Rights Campaign wrote in a release.

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson underscored that the Biden-Harris administration has demonstrated steadfast and unyielding support of LGBTQ+ Americans, during a time when the forces of hatred seek to divide us by race, place and identity the choice in this election is clear.

She said, This leadership is crucial now more than ever as LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency  experiencing unprecedented attacks from extremist politicians and their right wing allies in states across the country, who are working tirelessly to erase us. Whats at stake in the 2024 presidential election for LGBTQ+ people is our humanity, our right to exist, and our ability to live and raise our families in environments free from discrimination and fear.

The National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund is proud to announce its endorsement of President Joe Biden for a second term, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, the executive director of the NCTE Action Fund, said. Since taking office, President Biden has surpassed the efforts of all preceding administrations in his dedication to advancing the protections & rights of the transgender community. Without question, the Biden Administration has been the strongest advocate for the needs of transgender Americans of any presidential administration in American history.

Equality PAC is proud to stand with the most pro-equality Administration in the history of the United States  and we will do everything we can to help re-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris next year, said Equality PAC Co-Chairs, California Rep Mark Takano and New York Rep Ritchie Torres, in a statement.

It is critical that we elect strong allies into office at every level of our government, including the presidency and vice presidency  allies like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that will stand up for our community and speak out against injustice and hate, the pair continued. Make no mistake, LGBTQ rights are on the ballot in 2024  and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the only candidates where we can put our faith, trust, and vote next year.

The Human Rights Campaign also cited some of the victories for LGBT+ rights that were passed under Mr Bidens presidency. The organisation pointed out that during Mr Bidens first term, he approved federal employment protections for LGBT+ people and military service protections for transgender people, expanded mental health resources for LGBTQ+ youth, and restored non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in healthcare.

In the Human Rights Campaigns release, the organisation also pointed out Mr Bidens views compared to those running for the Republican nomination.

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, for example, enacted the law dubbed Dont Say Gay, limiting the classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity. Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence in June said he would support a federal ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors and transgender people serving in the military.
Amid a polarizing conflict, advocate Malala Yousafzai made a point with which most people would agree.

On Tuesday, the Nobel Peace Prize winner posted a statement to social media calling for an immediate ceasefire of the violence that erupted over the weekend when the militant group Hamas breached Israels borders with a multi-pronged attack, killing hundreds of people and prompting Israel to declare war.

Yousafzai did not take a side in her statement, but pleaded for the vicious attacks to end for the sake of all children caught in the crossfire.

As I have processed the tragic news of the past days, I think of the Palestinian and Israeli children caught in the middle, Yousafzai said in her statement.

War never spares children  not those kidnapped from their homes in Israel, not those hiding from airstrikes or without food and water in Gaza, she wrote. Today, I am grieving for all the children and people longing for peace and justice in the Holy Land.

Yousafzai  who survived a 2012 assassination attempt by the Taliban after she spoke out against the violent extremist group  is well qualified to speak on this particular matter. She was a child when the Taliban took control of her home, Mingora, the largest city in the Swat Valley in what is now the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, according to theNobel Foundation.

I was only 11 years old when I witnessed violence and terrorism, Yousafzai, now 26, wrote in her statement on social media. We woke up to the sounds of mortar shells, saw our schools and mosques destroyed by bombs. Peace became something we could only dream about.

Malala Yousafzai attends the National Portrait Gallery's reopening in London in June.

Malala Yousafzai attends the National Portrait Gallery's reopening in London in June.

Yousafzais statement aligns with UNICEFs call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the region.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said in a press conference Monday that the current conflict has already taken a horrendous toll on the lives of children and their families in Israel and the State of Palestine.

According to reports, hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian children have been killed and many more injured in the last 72 hours, Elder said.

He noted that reports of the killing and maiming of children in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the abduction of Israeli children to the Gaza Strip, indicate a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

Elder also said UNICEF is extremely alarmed by the Israeli governments decision to cut electricity, food, water and fuel from entering Gaza.

This will add another layer of suffering to the existing catastrophe faced by families in Gaza, he said.

On Saturday, Hamas broke through Israels security barrier with thousands of rockets and attacked nearby settlements. Dozens of Hamas militants also opened fire on about 3,500 young people at a music festival in southern Israel near the Gaza border, in what is now believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israels history.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government retaliated by launching airstrikes on nearby Palestinian settlements, per an Al Jazeera reporter on the ground in Gaza.

While some news coverage has described Hamas attack as unprovoked, experts of the region and those who advocate for Palestinian liberation point out that this weeks violence exists in the context of the Israeli governments decadeslong apartheid against Palestinians.

Todays bloodshed is the tip of an iceberg: an iceberg of state violence and ethnic subjugation, Nathan Thrall, a writer and expert on Israel-Palestine issues, posted on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday. Blood will continue to be spilled so long as we ignore the root causes.

Related...
Plans for a large solar farm in North Yorkshire have been rejected following hundreds of objections.

If given the go-ahead, the development, near Malton, would have provided energy for 8,660 homes, Harmony Energy said.

Councillors had been expected to approve the scheme, but instead they recommended Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove dismiss the plans.

The need for food production must not be ignored in the pursuit of green power, they urged.

More than 500 people had opposed the scheme, off Great Sike Road, near the Eden Camp Modern History Museum on the outskirts of Malton, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The owners of the museum, which displays military equipment worth more than 1m, previously said the development would put the museum's future at risk.

Plans for the solar farm had included panels, battery storage and other infrastructure for the 130-acre (52 hectare) site.

However, during the meeting, Upper Dales councillor Yvonne Peacock said: "We are all looking for CO2 reduction, but we have got to remember we are a very small island and we need food.

"Food could end up being scarce in future. We have got to be very careful we are not taking away the agricultural land we need for food."

Meanwhile, Lindsay Burr, deputy mayor of Malton, told the meeting: "It is shameful turning this area into an industrial site. North Yorkshire Council must listen to local residents."

The solar farm is planned for land off Great Sike Road, close to Eden Camp Modern History Museum

Harmony Energy had claimed the plant would be in use for 40 years, supplying clean energy to some 38% of homes in Ryedale.

The area the solar panels would cover represented a tiny fraction of the land in Yorkshire used to grow crops, the firm added.

The meeting heard the designated plot was the only site close enough to a substation and to make the venture viable.

Other benefits included a 105% biodiversity net gain and 12,500 tonnes of annual carbon dioxide savings, the company had said.

'Great agricultural land'

Councillors said that while Harmony Energy's plan was good, it was in the wrong place and it would be much better to generate solar power on roofs.

Boroughbridge councillor Robert Windass said: "This is some of the best land we are cutting out for 40 years. Does the solar farm have to be positioned on such great agricultural land?"

Tenant farmer Robert Sturdy told the meeting if the scheme was approved, his landlord would be able to evict him from 110 acres (45 hectares) of the 280-acre (113 hectare) holding he had farmed for 35 years.

It would "destroy everything I have worked my entire life for", he added.

Council officers said while tests to consider alternative sites had not been "satisfactorily met", the proposal outweighed the negative impacts.

They also underlined the urgent need to bring forward renewable energy schemes as quickly as possible to meet government targets.

Residents applauded enthusiastically after a strong majority of councillors voted against the proposals.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
A Rochester man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a Gates business owner last month.

Malik Black, 47, of Rochester was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jessica Romich, said Gates Police Chief Rob Long. He was apprehended Tuesday in Rochester by Gates police and members of the Rochester Police Department's SWAT team.

Romich, 47, was the co-owner of Everdry Waterproofing, 12 Pixley Industrial Parkway. Long said that Black was a former employee who worked for Everdry several years ago.

Black is accused driving to the business on Sept. 30, where he approached Romich as she was leaving work for the day, "there was a situation between the two that ended with Jessica's death," Long said.

Long said the fatal shooting was an "isolated incident." He declined to speak further about the motive behind the shooting.

Romich's body was discovered about 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 in a parking lot on Pixley Industrial Parkway. She was shot once and died from her injuries. Long said Romich's body was found in the parking lot near her car.

Romich's death was Gates' first homicide of 2023, Long said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family," Long said.

Romich, a Chili resident, was survived by her husband John, children Cooper and Kylie, and father David Beyers as well as numerous other relatives, according to her obituary. She was predeceased by her mother Linda Beyers.

Long said that Black is currently on parole for a second-degree murder and felony weapon conviction. According to the New York State Department of Corrections of Community Supervision, Black was convicted in 1994 and released in 2020.

"This is ludicrous," Long said at a mid-afternoon news conference at Gates Town Hall. "This is somebody who was not rehabilitated by the system....We are not holding people accountable."

Black pleaded not guilty in Gates Town Court on Tuesday and was remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail, according to Gates police.

Additional charges are pending.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Malik Black charged in death of Jessica Romich in Gates NY
A Washington County man has died after crashing a dune buggy style vehicle.

According to State Police, the crash happened around 9 p.m. Friday on Caldwell Road in Somerset Township. Police say Steve Mox, 88, of Bentleyville, crashed the buggy into a parked vehicle after going off the left side of the road.

Mox told police the windshield had fogged, and he couldnt see.

Mox was taken to the hospital with a suspected broken leg but later died of his injuries.

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PORT ST. LUCIE  A 53-year-old man was arrested on sexual battery charges in connection with incidents several years ago when he was a teacher at Port St. Lucie High School, according to Port St. Lucie police.

Arrested Monday by police detectives and the U.S. Marshal Service, Ovidio Rivera, of Port St. Lucie, was charged with five counts of sexual battery on a child, according to Port St. Lucie police.

The incidents occurred approximately 6 years ago when the victim was a student and the suspect was a teacher at Port St. Lucie High School, police stated on social media.

The teen was a student at Port St. Lucie High School at the time, according to Sgt. John Dellacroce, police spokesperson.

Rivera was a math teacher at Port St. Lucie High School during the 2016 to 2017 school year, according to Lydia Martin, communications officer with St. Lucie Public Schools. His contract wasnt renewed at the end of the year, she said. In the 2015 to 2016 school year, he taught at Southport Middle School, Martin said.

Police began investigating the sexual allegations in September, and spoke to the teen in the case, records show. She made a number of disclosures regarding Rivera and alleged inappropriate encounters, at least some of which she said occurred at Riveras house.

Also in September, Port St. Lucie police arrested Rivera on a misdemeanor battery charge, an affidavit states. He was accused Sept. 11, in a physical altercation with his daughters boyfriend at a business on Northwest St. Lucie West Boulevard. A felony cruelty towards child charge against Rivera stemming from the incident was dropped earlier this month, records show.

Rivera was held Tuesday in the St. Lucie County Jail on $75,000 bond, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.

Police ask that those who may have had a similar experience with Rivera to call Detective Amanda Bukata at 772-871-7324.

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: The incidents involving PSL high teacher occurred about six years ago
A 31-year-old man was found dead, wrapped in tarp and hidden in his vehicles trunk, according to police in Pennsylvania.

Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department said they were called to the scene  on a highway in the Northern Liberties neighborhood  at about 3:27 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.

The white Jeep Grand Cherokee was parked in front of apartments and other homes, WPVI reported.

The man was pronounced dead at 3:36 p.m., according an incident report from the police department. Authorities have not publicly released his identity or said who called police to the scene.

His cause of death has not been determined as of Tuesday, Oct. 10, and no arrests have been made. Homicide detectives are investigating.

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The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is currently investigating a killing at the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility.

LINO LAKES, Minn. (FOX 9) - An inmate serving a life sentence for first-degree murder is suspected of killing a convicted pedophile in the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Lino Lakes.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) on Monday identified the inmates involved in the killing. Kyle John Kelbel, 42, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2001. Kelbel is currently suspected of killing fellow inmate Steven Paul Patchen, 63. Patchen was serving a 19.5-year sentence for three counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Kyle Kelbel has been in prison since 2001 for first degree murder.

Patchen was found unresponsive in his cell on the morning of Oct. 5. DOC medical staff and outside emergency medical personnel attempted lifesaving efforts, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Patchen was convicted in 2017 after being found guilty of sexually abusing three girls in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Kelbel was convicted of killing his girlfriend's 2.5-year-old daughter.

Steven Patchen was serving a 19.5-year sentence for criminal sexual conduct.

Officials say Kelbel has been transferred to the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights, the Minnesota DOC's highest security facility.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation by the DOC's Office of Special Investigations and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, according to DOC spokesperson Andy Skoogman.
A family member found Christopher Beaugard in his final moments before dying, suffering from a gunshot wound to the face, according to court documents.

Nearly a year later, his mother has filed a lawsuit against the Canyon Creek Apartments, at East 93rd Street and Bales Ave. in Kansas City, the apartment complex where the fatal shooting occurred on Oct. 30, 2022.

Shelia Brooks, Beaugards mother, filed a civil case against Canyon Creek Apartments and its property owners and managers this month, seeking at least $25,000 in damages sustained as a result of the injury to Plaintiffs and wrongful death, according to the lawsuit filed in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

Brooks and Victor Weber, described in the filing as next friend for the minor children, are listed as plaintiffs in the case. Next friend is an individual who stands in court on behalf of a minor for their claim. Beaugard, 35, was the father of two children under 18 when he died, according to court documents.

Chris Beaugard poses with his two young daughters. His family mourns the fact that the girls, now 5 and 11, will grow up without their father.

The lawsuit alleges two counts of negligence and premises liability, which refers to the responsibility property owners have to those on their property. It also alleges the defendant showed negligence per se in violation of statutes and regulations, thus breaching their duty of care for residents.

Unsafe conditions, lack of security

According to the lawsuit, prior to Beaugards murder last October, the defendants were aware of the violence that plagued the apartment complex and that they failed to maintain safe grounds and premises, refused to provide security patrols, and failed to provide security cameras or maintain the outdoor light fixtures to supply adequate lighting.

The defendants named in the case include Landmark Realty, a company that managed the Canyon Creek Apartments; Jonathan L. Marcus, regional manager of Landmark Realty; Robert A. Imhoff, owner of Canyon Creek and Landmark Realty; and LaJeanna Hurt, Canyon Creeks on-site manager.

Reached by telephone Friday for comment on the lawsuit, attorney Nicholas J. Porto, who represents Landmark Realty of Missouri, LLC, said, We were just served today. Were going to be defending the case obviously and have no comment on pending litigation.

The suit contends that the complex managers, had the authority and responsibility to provide for the safety of tenants and invitees at the Canyon Creek Apartments at all relevant times. It further alleges that residents and visitors had previously complained about unsafe conditions and lack of security to the apartment complex management.

The lawsuit cites data from the Kansas City Police Department showing that from 2017 to 2022, 152 violent crimes were reported at the apartment complex, including murders, sexual assaults, aggravated assaults, and robberies, as well as at least 235 property crimes, including stolen automobiles, theft from vehicles, and burglaries from apartments.

The suit, filed in early October, contends that Beaugards fatal shooting and other criminal activity could have been prevented.

Chris Beaugard smiles in a photo provided by his mother, Shelia Brooks. Brooks will miss his smile and wants to see anyone involved held responsible.

Defendants knew or could have known about any and all of these crimes in time to provide reasonable security measures to prevent and deter future criminal acts, the lawsuit reads.

Under Missouri statutes, A business has a duty to guard against criminal acts if the business knows or has reason to know that such acts are being committed or are reasonably likely to be committed in a particular area of the premises and sufficient time exists to prevent such crime or injury.

As Beaugard was a resident of Canyon Creek Apartments, the suit alleges, Defendants owed Mr. Beaugard a duty of care to protect him from the criminal acts of third persons.

The plaintiffs have requested a trial by jury.

The Stars Bill Lukitsch contributed to this story.
OAKLAND, Calif. - An Oakland restaurant worker was shot and wounded early Monday while trying to help a woman - the owner - who was being robbed near her car, authorities said.

It happened at about 12:30 a.m. near 42nd Avenue and Foothill Boulevard near a gateway to the Fruitvale District.

The woman, the owner of La Perla del Pacifico restaurant at the corner, was getting into her car across the street when someone pulled up alongside and confronted her.

"I can't believe the insanity that we're allowing - we are allowing to occur in this city," said Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo , who represents the area.

Oakland police reported that the gunfire was captured on the city's ShotSpotter gunfire-detection system and that the man was hit in the face.

"They took $4,000 from her, they beat her up really severely and they also hurt the employee pretty badly that tried to help" Gallo said.

Both victims were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover. The woman manages the restaurant, and her husband operates another business.

Woman who owns restaurant near 42nd & Foothill in Fruitvale District is robbed & attacked, and one of her employees is shot & wounded when he tries to intervene. @oaklandpoliceca investigating. 5:15, 6 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/zUFWhfaA5E  Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) October 9, 2023

"It's sad. It's triste, you know the husband is my friend, longtime, and I feel bad for him, said Ricardo Vindiola, a friend of the couple. "People working and we try to make money for home, for food and it happens all the time."

It may happen all the time, but it's not every day that a citizen tries to intervene in a crime.

"If we all stand aside and never do anything, then nothing's gonna change," said resident Ken Ahern, who praised the actions of the restaurant worker.

"Oakland is a lawless city, right now a lot of crazy things are happening, but I applaud the individual who stepped up and tried to save the woman's life," Ahern said.

"It's always better to let the police do it. I'm not encouraging vigilante justice, I'm just saying with a small police force, it's better to have citizens - it takes a neighborhood. It takes a village," Ahern said.

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
(KTLA)  A man who scaled the famous Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica pier in California and prompted an evacuation after allegedly claiming to have a bomb has surrendered to police.

The incident began around 3 p.m. PST Monday when witnesses heard the man allegedly make comments about being in possession of a bomb. At some point, the man scaled the Ferris wheel and refused to come down, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

A crisis negotiation team was called to the scene and was in contact with the man in hopes of getting him to surrender.

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After about an hour of talking with the man, he began working his way down the structure, where he was quickly apprehended by police just before 4:30 p.m.

The Santa Monica Pier was evacuated Monday afternoon after a man scaled the Ferris wheel and apparently claimed to have a bomb.

Throughout the incident, the man was seen holding a backpack, but police apparently were not concerned about the possibility of him actually having explosives. Police later confirmed he was not in possession of any explosive devices.

Police told KTLA that the man appeared to be suffering from some type of mental health crisis, and at this point they dont believe a crime has been committed.

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Video showed officers blocking off the entrance to the pier and escorting civilians out of Pacific Park.

Firefighters could be seen using a lift to reach multiple people who were stranded on the Ferris wheel, but it did not appear that any were removed from the ride.

Instead, they waited for the situation to resolve itself before engaging the Ferris wheel to allow riders off. Officials said they were unable to start the Ferris wheel while the man was hanging onto it due to concerns about his safety.

Police evacuated the Santa Monica Pier after a man scaled the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on Oct. 9, 2023. (KTLA)

By 4:30 p.m., shortly after the man surrendered, the Ferris wheel started moving again and firefighters began removing riders from it.

At this time, there have been no reports of any injuries. Police continued to urge people to avoid the pier and said additional information would be released later in the evening.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Atlanta Police investigate after a man says he was shot by someone he met online on Oct. 9, 2023.

ATLANTA - A man was rushed to the hospital after being shot by someone he met online, Atlanta Police say.

It happened at around 2 p.m. at 820 West Marietta Street NW. Officer arrived at the scene to find a 30-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the leg, according to Atlanta Police.

He was speaking with medics as they took him to an area hospital to be treated.

Atlanta Police investigate after a man says he was shot by someone he met online on Oct. 9, 2023. (FOX 5)

Investigators say the man later told them he met the shooter through an online app, but the two got into an argument when they met in-person, which ended in gunfire.

A description of the shooter has not been released.

Atlanta Police investigate after a man says he was shot by someone he met online on Oct. 9, 2023. (FOX 5)

No arrests have been made.

The name of the victim was not immediately available.
COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Manchester man was arrested Monday after investigators said they connected him with an account that was sharing child sexual abuse material on the internet.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, along with the 14th Judicial District Attorney General, launched an investigation on Sept. 25 into allegations of sexual exploitation of a minor.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

According to the TBI, an account user had been sending child sexual abuse material via an unspecified website.

During the course of the investigation, authorities developed information that they said led to the identification of 48-year-old Daniel Odell Gregory as the person behind the account.

A spokesperson for Rutherford County Schools confirmed that Gregory was employed as a school counselor at Siegel Middle School in a statement emailed to parents and employees Tuesday afternoon.

TBI agents, along with deputies from the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office and the Coffee County Sheriffs Department, tracked Gregory down on Monday, Oct. 9 and took him into custody.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

He is charged with 11 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and was booked into the Coffee County Jail on a $950,000 bond.

Gregory was hired by Rutherford County Schools on Aug. 15, 2006. According to the school system, the charges against him did not involve any Rutherford County students. Officials said he resigned from his position upon learning of the charges.

We know this information is concerning to parents and students, and we too are disturbed by the charges, the schools statement said. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement to assist with the investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Images from the grisly attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip reveal some of the devastating aftermath from the surprise strike. A map shows the highly coordinated assault that ignited a war struck several parts of Israel surrounding the Palestinian territory.

What towns has Hamas attacked?

Communities in southern Israel, near the Gaza Strip, were targeted by Hamas gunmen who broke through the border barricades or infiltrated by boat or paragliders.

This map shows some of the locations of Hamas' attacks in Israel. / Credit: Yasin Demirci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Among those killed in the attack were American Deborah Matias and her husband Shlomi, who lived in a kibbutz near the Gaza border, according to Matias' father, Brandeis University professor Ilan Troen. He was on the phone with his daughter during the attack.

"She could only say to us that, 'I hear glass breaking and voices in Arabic and they're shooting,'" Troen told CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes.

Matias' 16-year-old son was also shot, but he survived.

"It was she who saved his life, by design, falling on him," Troen said. "And the bullet that reached his abdomen came through her."

In the Kfar Aza kibbutz, just a few miles from the Gaza border, Israeli Maj. Gen. Itai Veruv described the scene to reporters as "something that we used to imagine from our grandfathers, grandmothers in the pogrom in Europe and other places," according to the Reuters news agency.

"You see the babies, the mothers, the fathers, in their bedrooms, in their protection rooms and how the terrorist kills them. It's not a war, it's not a battlefield. It's a massacre," Veruv said.

First responders and security forces said they found evidence of atrocities including babies and children beheaded.

"We see blood spread out in homes. We've found bodies of people who have been butchered," said Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Maj. Libby Weiss told CBS News. "The depravity of it is haunting."

Bodies of Israelis and Hamas fighters were seen in the streets near burned-out houses and cars.

An aerial view shows covered bodies of victims of an attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. / Credit: Reuters/Ilan Rosenberg

In a field outside of Kibbutz Re'im, located in the northwestern area of the Negev desert a little over 3 miles from the border wall between Israel and Gaza, according to The Associated Press, Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing at least 260 people and abducting others. Among those believed to have been kidnapped include 25-year-old Noa Argamani, who was forced onto the back of a motorcycle, CBS News foreign correspondent Imtiaz Tyab reports.

Destroyed vehicles are seen near the grounds of a music festival after a deadly attack by Hamas militants, near Re'im, Israel, Oct. 10, 2023. / Credit: Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images

Festivalgoer Gal Levy, 22, was shot in both of his legs and told Tyab he's not sure if he'll walk again.

"I feel let down by the army," Levy said. " I lost like two liters of blood, and I was really sure  that that's it, I am going to die. And I told my parents, like, 'all good, I'm OK,' but when I told them that, I was with both my legs, like, popped out."

An aerial picture shows the site of the attack on a music festival by Hamas militants near Kibbutz Re'im in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 10, 2023. / Credit: Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

In the small farming community of Be'eri, about three miles from Gaza, Israeli rescue workers discovered more than 100 bodies, about 10% of the kibbutz's population.

Hamas militants set fire to the apartment building where Miri Messika lived with her husband and three children on the kibbutz. She told "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell they had to jump from a second-floor window to escape the flames, her 15-year-old son breaking his foot from the fall.

Asked what she thought would have happened if they didn't jump, she told O'Donnell they would have burned to death. The family then spent seven hours in a bomb shelter, where they could still hear gunfire outside, before Israeli soldiers evacuated them.

"We know that there are bodies over there, we know that many people got killed, we don't have names yet," Messika said.

In Sderot, less than 2 miles from the Gaza border, Hamas gunmen killed dozens, leaving Israelis dead in the streets. At least nine people were shot dead at a bust shelter, The Associated Press reported. The local police station was burned and left in ruins.

A man walks past an Israeli police station in Sderot after it was damaged during battles to dislodge Hamas militants who were stationed inside, on October 8, 2023. / Credit: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

What is a kibbutz?

A kibbutz is an Israeli collective settlement. Other kibbutzim attacked by Hamas include Nir Oz, Gevim and Zikim.

Journalists take cover behind cars as Israeli soldiers take position during clashes with Hamas fighters near the Gevim kibbutz, close to the border with Gaza on October 7, 2023. / Credit: Oren Ziv/AFP via Getty Images

Where is the Gaza Strip?

The Gaza Strip is a narrow, 25-mile-long stretch of land located on the eastern Mediterranean coast with Egypt to its west and Israel to its south and east. The territory is controlled by Hamas, which took power in 2007.

The strip's border with Israel is about 36 miles long and its border with Egypt is about eight miles. Gaza's 25-mile coastline has been blocked by the Israeli Navy since 2009 and is closed to all maritime traffic. Fishermen operating out of Gaza can only go six nautical miles from the shore.

The strip is about 139 square miles  a little more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.  with a population of over 2 million, 40% of whom are under the age of 14, according to the CIA.

An aerial view shows vehicles on fire during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, October 7, 2023. / Credit: Reuters/Ilan Rosenberg

What Middle East countries surround Israel?

Israel shares its western border with Egypt. Jordan is east of Israel. Between part of Israel and Jordan is the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. Lebanon is north of Israel, and Syria is to its northeast.

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MARTIN COUNTY  Two boats carrying undocumented migrants near the shores of Martin County have been found within the last 24 hours, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies found a boat abandoned in the mangroves near Sewall's Point Tuesday, said Christine Christofek, a spokesperson for the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators believe it's a "smuggling vessel," Christofek said.

The Sheriff's Office increased patrols in the area on the waterways, in the air and on the ground, she said.

Sheriff's officials said a boat found abandoned on mangroves off Sewall's Point October 10, 2023, was likely a smuggling vessel carrying migrants to shore.

More: Man faces sex charges regarding student when he taught at PSL high school, police say

Photos from the Sheriff's Office showed the boat had the name Nauti Daze on its side.

The people on the boat have most likely left the area already, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's officials said a boat found abandoned on mangroves off Sewall's Point October 10, 2023, was likely a smuggling vessel carrying migrants to shore.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit intercepted a boat carrying at least 18 undocumented migrants around 11 p.m. Monday at the Stuart Causeway, sheriff's officials said.

The boat was stopped before making it to land, Christofek said.

The U.S. Coast Guard took custody of the 18 people found on the boat Monday, sheriff's officials said. All the people on the vessel were adults.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit intercepted a boat carrying 18 undocumented migrants on the Stuart Causeway October 9, 2023, sheriff's officials said.

The 18 people on the boat, mostly men, are believed to be from Ecuador, Christofek said.

Sheriff's officials are asking residents to remain aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activities or people around the community.

Residents near the water should also report any suspicious vessel activity, the Sheriff's Office said.

More: Stuart court security deputy resigns amid investigation into report of intoxication on job

More: Port St. Lucie Air Force veteran turns 103, recalls being shot down during World War II

Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at Mauricio.LaPlante@TCPalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Martin sheriff's marine unit intercepts migrants at Stuart causeway
(The Hill)  Mary Trump, an outspoken adversary of former President Donald Trump , posted online calling him a fing maniac.

She specifically criticized Trump, who is also her uncle, about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and its possible relation to the growing crisis in Israel.

This fing maniac likely gave Putin (who gave Iran, who gave Hamas) Israels national security secrets, Mary Trump wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Plus, he divulged highly classified information about our nuclear subs to an Australian cardboard guy, she added later. Why is he still allowed to roam free?

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday after the group launched a barrage of rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack.

Trump predicts DeSantis will soon be dropping out of White House race

In her post online, Mary Trump shared a screenshot of her uncles comments on Truth Social that compared the ongoing situation in Israel to the U.S.-Mexico border, suggesting President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama could be responsible for a Hamas attack on the U.S.

The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers, Trump posted. Are they planning an attack within our Country? Crooked Joe Biden and his BOSS, Barack Hussein Obama, did this to us!

In a follow-up post, Mary Trump urged the public to join her newsletter and support her mission.

If you agree my uncle is unfit to be in the White House or anywhere but prison, please support my mission to get this fing maniac off our TVs  and our streets, she said.

Mary Trump has been a prominent critic of Trump, even publishing a book titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Anti-Israel demonstrators in Massachusetts called the United States "Legit Gangsters" Monday and stood on the American flag while voicing support for Palestinians.

At a demonstration at Cambridge City Hall, two protestors were seen standing on the U.S. flag, with one of them appearing to stomp on it, according to video footage taken by Fox News Digital.

"The U.S. and Israel are terrorists," one person said.

A man holding a sign pointed to the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which was followed by Japan's surrender days later to end World War II. A poster he is seen holding outlines U.S. involvement in several conflicts from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.

AT LEAST 1100 DEAD, ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES WAR AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK

Anti-Israel demonstrators in Cambridge, Massachusetts stand on the American flag Monday with "Legit Gangster" written across to show support for Palestinians.

"They never admitted it was wrong," the male protestor said. "So this is part of their record of war crimes."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Who are they to point the finger when they've been justifying the brutal treatment of Palestinians since 1948," he said, referring to the year Israel was founded. "One million Palestinians were kicked off their land with the founding of Israel and it's been torture ever since."

Cambridge is home to Harvard University, where more than two dozen student organizations declared in a statement on Saturday that Israel was "entirely responsible" for the violence occurring in its war against Gaza.

Shortly after the attacks, Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups released its statement signed by 27 different organizations that blamed Israel entirely for the attacks and voiced support for Palestinians in Gaza.

"We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," the statement began.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO RETRIEVE HOSTAGES: COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERT ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER ISRAEL WAR

A protestor holds up a poster of U.S. involvement in wars from World War II through Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Todays events did not occur in a vacuum. For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison," it said. "Israeli officials promise to open the gates of hell, and the massacres in Gaza have already commenced. Palestinians in Gaza have no shelters for refuge and nowhere to escape. In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israels violence."

Pro-Palestinian protests have popped up across several U.S. major cities following a deadly attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Israel over the weekend. Israel has since declared war on the terrorist group that rules the Gaza Strip.

The group has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians and kidnapped families, including children, to hold them hostage, the Israeli government said.

Israeli warplanes have targeted multiple Hamas positions in Gaza ahead of a possible military ground operation. Pro-Palestinian supporters have called for Israel to halt the violence despite Hamas igniting the conflict Saturday.

"Israel is at war. We didnt want this war," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday. "It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it."

He said Hamas has "made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israels other enemies for decades to come."





Original article source: Massachusetts pro-Palestinian protestors desecrate US flag, call America 'Legit Gangsters'
One person is dead and three injured after the mast of a historic vessel snapped in half and fell onto the deck off Rockland, Maine, officials said.

The Grace Bailey, a schooner that takes passengers on excursions up and down the Maine coast, was returning from a four-day cruise Monday when the "unexpected and catastrophic" mast failure happened, the ship's operators said. One person was killed after the main mast fell onto the deck, the Rockland Fire Department said. Three others were taken to local hospitals and were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the Maine Windjammer Association said in a statement.

The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated injured passengers within minutes, the vessel's operators said, and authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.

"As of now, we do not have a cause," said U.S. Coast Guard First District spokesperson Diolanda Caballero.

This photo provided by Kurt Schleicher shows the schooner Grace Bailey with its main mast broken off the coast of Rockland, Maine, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Kurt Schleicher via AP)

The mast splintered and snapped, the Coast Guard said. The ship had been carrying 33 people.

The Grace Bailey can hold a maximum of 29 passengers, according to her webpage. The vessel was not over capacity at the time, because it can hold 29 passengers plus crew, the windjammer association said in an emailed statement.

The names of the victims were not immediately released.

What is the Grace Bailey schooner?

The Grace Bailey is part of the states so-called windjammer fleet, a collection of nine historic vessels that take people on coastal excursions. The vessels are individually owned and operated, according to the group's website, and members work together to preserve the history the boats represent.

The ship's captains, Sam Sikkema and Suzannah Smith, said they did not know what caused the mast to fail, according to the Maine Windjammer Association.

My crew and I are devastated by this mornings accident, especially since the safety of our guests is always our biggest priority," Sikkema said. "Most importantly, we are beyond heartbroken that we lost a dear friend. Our entire crew extends our love and support to the family members and to everyone affected by this tragedy.

The Grace Bailey's overall length is 118 feet, according to its official website. It was built in Long Island, New York, in 1882.

The vessel takes several trips during the summer months every year, according to its online schedule. Operators advertise online that the excursions are "fun and comfortable" trips for couples, families and charter groups.

The accident happened on the last day of Grace Bailey's final trip of the season, the Maine Windjammer Association said. The association said it didn't have any information on what was next for the vessel, including whether it would continue to sail.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grace Bailey schooner accident kills 1 in Rockland, Maine
Mayo Clinic sees AI as 'transformative force' in health care, appoints Dr. Bhavik Patel as chief AI officer

As artificial intelligence gains an ever-widening role in the medical field, the Mayo Clinic has recently appointed a new executive to lead the health systems efforts in that area.

Radiologist Bhavik Patel, M.D., has been named chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO) for Mayo Clinic Arizona . Before joining the clinic in 2021, Patel practiced at Duke University Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center.

Dr. Richard Gray, CEO of Mayo Clinic Arizona, announced the hire on LinkedIn, noting the organization has only "begun to scratch the surface of AI's potential in medicine."

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

In his new role, Patel will lead Mayo Clinics Advanced AI and Innovation Hub.

He'll focus on expanding AI-based solutions throughout the organization, according to a press release.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Radiologist Bhavik Patel, M.D. (pictured here) has been named chief AI officer at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

A growing number of health care organizations are hiring individuals in high-level AI roles, said Dr. Harvey Castro, a Dallas, Texas-based emergency medicine physician and AI expert  but it could be a challenge to fill them.

"We will likely see a huge increase in these roles, but may not have enough AI doctors to fill this space," Castro told Fox News Digital.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AI

Approximately 5,000 U.S. doctors have AI and data science knowledge after undergoing formal training in these fields, he estimated.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Patel described AI as a "transformative force that has the potential to revolutionize health care delivery, research and operations."

Before joining Mayo Clinic in 2021, Patel (pictured) practiced at Duke University Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center.

Given AIs sweeping impact and fast growth, Mayo Clinics new CAIO said there is a need for a dedicated leadership position to ensure "clear direction and alignment with broader organizational goals."

The chief AI officer is also responsible for balancing the technologys risks and benefits, Patel noted.

"While AI brings forth myriad benefits, it also carries inherent risks," he said. "A CAIO provides the necessary oversight to ensure that the implementation of AI is ethical, responsible and in line with regulatory guidelines."

A chief AI officer also "bridges the knowledge gap," he said, helping teams understand and harness the technologys power.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELPS DOCTORS PREDICT PATIENTS RISK OF DYING, STUDY FINDS: SENSE OF URGENCY

The role is also important in terms of maximizing the use of resources, fostering collaboration across departments and keeping up with future health tech trends, Patel added.

"Their expertise is critical in ensuring that the organization remains on the cutting edge of technological advancements while safeguarding patient welfare," he said.

"In essence, the chief AI officer is not just a technocrat, but a visionary leader, ensuring that the organization navigates the AI-driven paradigm shift in health care with agility, responsibility and a patient-centric approach."

Approximately 5,000 U.S. doctors have AI and data science knowledge, one expert estimated.

Castro agreed that the importance of this role is evident as AI becomes a pivotal part of health care.

"A chief AI officer can oversee the use and development of AI technologies , ensuring that they are leveraged effectively for patient care, data management and other applications," he said.

A chief AI officer has several core functions, according to Castro.

GOOGLE CLOUD AND MAYO CLINIC SET TO DISRUPT HEALTH CARE WITH GENERATIVE AI

Educating the health care community is one focus.

"This person should ensure that staff and stakeholders are informed about AI technologies and their applications," he said.

Developing and implementing the algorithms used in the AI solutions is also a key part of the job, said Castro.

A growing number of health care organizations are hiring individuals in high-level AI roles, said Dr. Harvey Castro, a Dallas, Texas-based emergency medicine physician and AI expert (pictured).

The CAIO must understand and analyze data derived from AI to inform decision-making and strategy.

"This role also entails managing the use of AI across the organization, ensuring that it aligns with regulatory standards and organizational goals," Castro said.

Strategy development is also inherent to the chief AI officers job.

NEW AI-GENERATED COVID DRUG ENTERS PHASE I CLINICAL TRIALS: EFFECTIVE AGAINST ALL VARIANTS

"This involves formulating strategies for the implementation and utilization of AI in various health care aspects, such as patient care, data analysis and operational efficiency," said Castro.

In Patels case, he said the heart of his new role is to "ensure that our AI direction seamlessly integrates with and reinforces our organizational values."

Some key uses of AI in health are improving diagnostic accuracy, optimizing treatment paths and enhancing the patient experience.

Some of Patels day-to-day functions include:

Overseeing the identification, vetting and integration of AI solutions for various clinical and administrative functions

Using AI to improve diagnostic accuracy, optimize treatment paths and enhance the patient experience

Engaging with stakeholders to gather insights, feedback and expertise

Ensuring that all AI algorithms are transparent, free from biases, and designed in the best interests of patients and their communities

Facilitating training sessions, workshops and awareness campaigns to ensure that everyone is up-to-date and empowered to harness AI's potential

"In essence, my role as chief AI officer is both strategic and operational," Patel (pictured here) told Fox News Digital.

"In essence, my role as chief AI officer is both strategic and operational," Patel told Fox News Digital.

"It's about setting a vision rooted in our values while ensuring the tactical execution of AI projects that drive value to our patients."

One of the tech teams biggest recent contributions is an AI model that proactively assesses a person's risk of a heart attack , Patel noted.

AS AI SHOWS UP IN DOCTORS' OFFICES, MOST PATIENTS ARE GIVING PERMISSION AS EXPERTS ADVISE CAUTION

"This model uses data from chest CT exams  often conducted for unrelated health issues, such as COVID or lung nodules  and identifies future heart disease risk, which unfortunately even expert physicians can't discern from the scan," he said.

"The model helps cardiologists prevent potential heart attacks rather than treating them reactively."

Patel said he views AI as a "powerful instrument" that helps magnify physicians capabilities, not replace them.

Mayo Clinic has also developed AI models that predict the prognosis of patients with diseases such as colon cancer , detect risks of future cancers using existing medical records, and predict 30-day hospital readmission or hospital-acquired infections, Patel said.

"Our focus is not only to develop these AI models, but to ensure that the benefits of these models reach patients swiftly," he added.

Patel said he views AI as a "powerful instrument" that helps magnify physicians capabilities rather than replacing them.

"One of AI's primary strengths is its ability to recognize patterns that might escape the human eye," he said.

"Whether it's intricate anomalies in medical imaging or subtle patterns in patient histories, AI can pinpoint details that make a significant difference in diagnosis and treatment."

Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, is pictured here on May 25, 2023. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit American academic medical center.

The technology also helps providers by sifting through and analyzing vast volumes of information, far more than what would be humanly possible, Patel said.

It also automates mundane and routine tasks, allowing health care professionals to redirect their focus to the patient, he noted.

AI TECH AIMS TO HELP PATIENTS CATCH DISEASE EARLY, EVEN REVERSE THEIR BIOLOGICAL AGE

Early risk detection is another key benefit.

"AI tools can predict potential health risks by analyzing a combination of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors, facilitating early interventions and potentially saving lives," Patel said.

As well, AI can help enable the delivery of personalized medicine and proactive preventative care, he noted.

AI technology can help providers by sifting through and analyzing vast volumes of information.

"By analyzing individual genetic makeup combined with lifestyle and environmental factors, treatments can be tailored to the unique needs of each patient," Patel said.

"And by predicting potential health issues before they manifest, we can guide patients on preventive measures, fundamentally changing our approach from cure to prevention."

AI in health care also presents challenges and limitations , Patel acknowledged.

Because AI is a branch of science, it requires rigorous evaluation before it can be applied by doctors, he said.

AI HEART SCAN AIMS TO CATCH BLOCKAGES YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS: UNBELIEVABLE BREAKTHROUGH

"This ensures that we're not just implementing technology for the sake of innovation, but are truly enhancing patient care in a tangible, evidence-based manner."

AI models also run the risk of bias, he warned.

"AI models are, by nature, a reflection of the data they're trained on," he said. "If this data contains biases  whether racial, gender-based or from other sources  the models may perpetuate these biases."

There is the additional risk that humans will become overly reliant on AI, leading to a phenomenon called "automation bias."

Its important to protect data privacy and security, Patel noted, due to the large amounts of information that must be fed to AI models. He calls for a balance of "enthusiasm and caution."

"Essentially, this means giving undue weight to AI-generated results without adequate human scrutiny," Patel said.

"In health care, understanding the why behind a diagnosis or recommendation is as crucial as the result," he said. "As providers, we must always contextualize AI outputs within the broader patient picture, leveraging our clinical judgment and experience."

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELPS DOCTORS PREDICT PATIENTS RISK OF DYING, STUDY FINDS: SENSE OF URGENCY

Its important to protect data privacy and security as well, Patel noted, due to the large amounts of information that must be fed to AI models.

While AI's capabilities are "immense and ever-growing," Patel emphasized that AIs role is to be an ally.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"Humans caring for humans is the bedrock of health care  AI strengthens that foundation, but doesnt replace it," he said.

"AI can offer insights and assist in decision-making, but human touch, intuition and empathy cannot be replicated by algorithms."

While AI promises a "new frontier" in health care  Patel calls for a balance of "enthusiasm and caution."

"By recognizing AIs limitations and actively working to address them, we can harness AI's potential while safeguarding the core values of our health care system."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health .





Original article source: Mayo Clinic sees AI as 'transformative force' in health care, appoints Dr. Bhavik Patel as chief AI officer
Issues related to affordable housing will take center stage in a mayoral forum co-organized by the Wichita Journalism Collaborative and Wichita Habitat for Humanity.

The Wichita Public Library will host the forum at 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. Second St.

Community members are invited to join in person for the forum. KSN-TV will livestream the event for those unable to attend in person. Mayor Brandon Whipple and challenger Lily Wu will participate.

Why conduct a forum specifically about housing?

Habitat for Humanitys advocacy committee thought it would be a way to connect with the mayoral candidates, while involving those affected by the policies the mayor will enact. It partnered with the collaborative as a way to involve more community members.

Danielle Johnson of Habitat for Humanity says she hopes this forum will help the community get more engaged in affordable housing.

We definitely want our homeowners  and potential homeowners or incoming homeowners to understand the importance of being civically engaged, and listening to what is happening in the housing landscape. Johnson said. It wont just be our homeowners, thats why we wanted to partner with the collaborative, but get other community members engaged in the larger conversation on what is affordable housing.

Johnson hopes the forums specific topic will allow for meaningful conversation between the community and the candidates.

Were hoping to hear our mayoral candidates have strong stances on what they would like to do, what they would like to see done, Johnson said.

If you have a question that you would like to see the candidates answer, you submit it at http://www.wichitajournalism.org/housing-forum

The Wichita Journalism Collaborative is a coalition of newsrooms and community partners, including The Eagle, joining forces to help meet news and information needs in and around Wichita. The collaborative is funded by a grant from the News and Information Fund at the Wichita Foundation.

The shared interest in affordable housing inspired the collaborative to partner with Habitat for Humanity in hosting this event. The collaborative is focused on housing issues in Wichita because of the many barriers to home ownership Wichitans are currently facing.
HENDERSONVILLE - A Hendersonville man charged with second-degree murder by the Hendersonville Police Department made his first court appearance Oct. 10 in Henderson County Superior Court, a day following the fatal shooting at the McDonald's on Four Seasons Boulevard.

Sam Antwan Ivey, 35, testified that he was an employee at the McDonald's to Judge Mack Brittain, who explained to Ivey that he was charged with second-degree murder, which could carry the possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ivey was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, which has a possible sentence of 44 months, Brittain said.

Sam Antwan Ivey, center, makes his first court appearance on Oct. 10 at the Henderson County Courthouse. Ivey is charged with second-degree murder following the Oct. 9 shooting death at the restaurant.

Brittain issued a secured bond of $150,000 for the charges and asked if Ivey desired a court-appointed attorney. Ivey said he did. Brittain then asked the clerk to appoint a public defender for Ivey and said that Ivey's next court date will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 24 for a probable cause hearing.

More: Update: Shooting death reported at McDonald's in Hendersonville owned by Chuck Edwards

Ivey is charged with the second-degree murder of Jacklyn Marie Reed, 30, of Johnson City, Tennessee and also possession of a firearm by a felon.

On Oct. 9, Hendersonville Police responded to the McDonald's on Four Seasons Boulevard owned by Congressman Chuck Edwards at about 10:54 a.m.

According to a news release from the city of Hendersonville, detectives learned that Reed and another woman were in an argument at a bus stop located near the McDonalds restaurant. The other woman retreated into the restaurant to separate herself from Reed, who followed her into the restaurant.

Sam Antwan Ivey, center, makes his first court appearance on Oct. 10 at the Henderson County Courthouse. Ivey is charged with second-degree murder following the Oct. 9 shooting death at the restaurant.

Police said that a McDonalds manager separated the women, and Reed left the restaurant, returning shortly after, when she was met by the manager and Ivey. During the disturbance, Reed reached out and touched Ivey, and Ivey shot her with a concealed handgun, police said.

More: Hendersonville man charged with attempted 1st-degree murder; police say he shot into car

After fleeing the scene, Ivey was apprehended moments later by a Henderson County Resource Officer at Edneyville Elementary School. City of Hendersonville spokesperson Allison Justus said this is the first homicide of the year in Hendersonville and the first one since Blair Myhand became the police chief in 2021.

Owner: McDonald's has 'no-guns' policy

The McDonald's was open the day after the shooting, and restaurant co-owner Teresa Edwards, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Rep. Chuck Edwards, said in a statement that their entire restaurant team "remains in shock after the tragic events."

"Our hearts go out to the victims family during this difficult time. We are concentrating on ensuring our people receive the support they need and are making crisis counselors available to all employees," she said in a statement. "We continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation and encourage the community to direct any questions to the Hendersonville Police Department.

There is a no-guns policy at the restaurant, Teresa Edwards said.

"The employee in question was in direct violation of our organizations rules of conduct policy  one that he had acknowledged and signed  which prohibits firearms on company property," she said.

She also said that all McDonald's employees go through conflict-management training as part of their onboarding.

"We are looking at expanding that training even further in light of this tragedy," she said.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: McDonald's employee charged in fatal shooting makes court appearance
A North Carolina McDonalds employee fatally shot a woman in the restaurant after inserting himself into an argument the woman was having with someone else, Hendersonville police say.

Sam Antwan Ivey, 35, was booked on charges of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm in the death of Jacklyn Marie Reed, 30, who was killed in the restaurant Monday morning. According to police, Reed had been arguing with another woman at a bus stop near the McDonalds, and the other woman decided to retreat into the restaurant to separate herself from the situation.

Jacklyn Marie Reed, 30, was shot and killed Monday at this McDonald's restaurant in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Jacklyn Marie Reed, 30, was shot and killed Monday at this McDonald's restaurant in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Reed followed the woman into the McDonalds and continued the argument, causing what police described as a disturbance. A manager attempted to separate the two women, prompting Reed to leave the restaurant, only to return shortly after and continue the disturbance, according to police.



At some point, Reed reached out and touched Ivey, who shot her in the chest with a concealed handgun and fled the scene in his car, police said.



Hendersonville police Chief Blair Myhand told local news outlet WYFF4 that Ivey had inserted himself into the altercation when he shouldnt have.



This was a matter-of-fact shooting, Myhand told the outlet. Based on what we see in surveillance video, this was a far overreaction to the situation that was happening.



Ivey was taken into custody in the parking lot of a nearby elementary school, after a school resource deputy recognized him.



According to police, the school went into secure holding as part of protocol, and Ivey was taken into custody without incident. Investigators do not believe Ivey intended to harm anyone at the school.



Ivey is currently being held at the Henderson County Detention Facility, according to booking records. Its not clear whether he has an attorney.

Myhand told WYFF4 that Reed, a Tennessee native, had been in town for several days, and that police had received multiple calls about her erratic and alarming behavior. He described the shooting as senseless and cold-blooded.



This crime to me was completely senseless, and if you watched it on TV, you would not expect the result that happened, he said.

In a statement to HuffPost, Teresa Edwards, the franchise owner, said her team is in shock after the incident, and that their hearts go out to Reeds family.

We are concentrating on ensuring our people receive the support they need, and are making crisis counselors available to all employees, Edwards statement read. We continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation and encourage the community to direct any questions to the Hendersonville Police Department.

According to the franchise owner, Ivey was in direct violation of the rules of conduct, which prohibit firearms on company property.

All employees go through conflict-management training as part of their onboarding, and we are looking at expanding that training even further in light of this tragedy, Edwards said.

This article has been updated to clarify the attribution of the comments on employee training and policy.

Related...
Bulgarian law enforcement discovered a criminal scheme to ship dual-use equipment to Russia, Bulgaria's Interior Ministry reported on Oct. 10.

The plot reportedly involved 12 individuals, including three Russians and a Belarusian, and consisted of an organized scheme to ship the materials to Russian special forces.

Authorities emphasized that their intended destination was not the regular Russian military, but units specifically fighting in Ukraine, according to comments at the press conference cited by Bulgarian news site News.BG.

The group allegedly had been operating since 2021 and exported dual-use items such as radios, optical sights, binoculars, and other military equipment used by Russia in its war on Ukraine.

Russia has employed a variety of methods to circumvent the Western sanctions on the export of military equipment to Russia, including using third-party countries as intermediaries.

Despite sanctions that specifically target Russia's access to Western-made dual-use technologies, they have continued to show up in the missiles Russia uses to strike Ukraine.

Read also: Kyivs frustration boils as flow of Western chips for Russian missiles continues uninterrupted

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian shelling of the village of Uhroidy in Sumy Oblast on Oct. 10 killed a child, the media outlet Suspilne reported.

According to Suspilne, the 13-year-old girl was injured after Russian forces targeted an educational institution in the village. The girl reportedly died in the ambulance.

"There was shelling. The school premises were damaged, the windows were broken, and the roof was damaged," the secretary of the Krasnopillia community's council told Suspilne.

"The Russian army also hit other settlements of the Krasnopillia community  there were no casualties or damage," she continued.

Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which borders Russia, is under near-daily Russian attack.

Overnight on Oct. 10, Russian forces targeted the communities of Shalyhyne, Krasnopillia, and Khotyn. A total of 21 explosions were reported.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia provides Hamas with Western weapons captured in Ukraine, Kyiv says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky 's speech in the Romanian parliament, scheduled for 5 p.m. local time, has been canceled, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Romanian service reported on Oct. 10.

Zelensky is in Bucharest for an official visit upon the invitation of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis .

The parliament's press office of the parliament reportedly said that the speech was canceled, but provided no further information.

RFE/RL suggested that the reason for canceling the speech could related to "possible disruptions" during Zelensky's address "by parliamentarians with pro-Russian sympathies."

Upon arrival in Bucharest, Zelensky wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "Ukraine is grateful for Romania's support" and "constructive solidarity," which enables both countries to contribute to food security around the world.

"Romania is a friend who came to our help on our darkest day and whose support gets stronger with time," he added.

During their meeting, Zelensky and Iohannis signed a bilateral document that recorded agreements on cooperation in key areas for both countries.

The priorities include security of the Black Sea region, support for Ukraine's peace formula, economic cooperation, and simplifying border crossing procedures between the two countries, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Zelenskys visit comes amid Russian continuous attacks on port and civilian infrastructure in Ukraines Odesa Oblast bordering Romania. Overnight on Oct. 10, Russia launched dozens of drones at the southern region, damaging transport infrastructure, according to Governor Oleh Kiper.

Debris from Russian attack drones have been found in Romania at least three times, followed by Bucharest introducing new security measures to protect the civilian population near the Danube River.

While the attacks are not intentionally targeting Romania, the situation is still "unacceptable," Iohannis said on Sept. 21.

Read also: Zelensky signs law restoring public access to asset declarations

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an appearance at a school in Brooklyn, New York, in honour of World Mental Health Day.

On 10 October, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited the Marcy Lab School, an innovative school founded in 2019 that offers students an alternative to the university path. Two educators, Maya Bhattacharjee-Marcantonio and Reuben Ogbanna, founded the school to help Brown and Black students become involved in the tech industry without having to pay the expenses of a four-year university.

The co-founders gave the royal couple a tour of the schools facilities, according to People. Not only did they reportedly invite the royal couple to join a roundtable with alumni, but they also allowed Harry and Meghan to speak to current students about their experiences.

Everyones got their own story, a reason for being here, your life is still going to be filled with complications and challenges. And if one of you starts to go quiet, doesnt show up, you need to find out why, Harry said, encouraging a group of students to rely on each other. And remember to have fun! It has to be fun.

Meanwhile, Meghan commended the students aspirations for building a safer online space. Its a place where so much community can be built, but theres also so much vulnerability. Theres a lot of saturation, and as parents, we can be hopeful knowing that your bright minds [are at work], knowing that they will be seen, valued and growing in the right direction. And thats why its so important what youre doing at the Marcy Lab.

The Sussexes non-profit organisation, the Archewell Foundation, reportedly provided a grant to the Marcy Lab School in January 2023. Since then, the couple have kept tabs on the alternative schools progress with fellows and the parents of students throughout the year.

The school offers a tuition-free, one-year intensive course for students with underrepresented backgrounds to prepare them for lucrative roles in the tech field. Graduates reportedly earn over $100,000 per year after graduating from the program, often hired by big tech companies as well as start-ups to write code.

At the Marcy Lab School, students are not only taught how to code but also how to fine-tune their problem-solving skills. They then apply what theyve learned to propose solutions for some of the biggest issues impacting the world, such as climate change. Through a holistic approach, the program integrates mental health practices, encouraging students to participate in daily mindfulness meditation and gratitude journaling.

They were so cool and down to earth, Ogbanna gushed to People about the couples visit. I just hope they know how much it meant to us. Harry came in with questions and targeted feedback, and we had to pull him out of the classes because he just wanted to spend as much time pouring into the fellows and saying motivational words! Meghan too.

And for us, two middle school teachers, to have these people who have seen literally the entire world say that we believe in what youre doing, believe in it enough to show up and be here. It is a good dream come true, he said.

The royal couple are in town to host their first in-person Archewell event, The Archewell Foundation Parents Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age. The event is meant to spotlight families advocating for safer online spaces for their children and teenagers, and the couple has reportedly been working closely with the families behind the scenes.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told People: The families have been engaged with The Archewell Foundation for the past year, bolstering community and driving towards solutions. Together, they are united in their mission to share personal experiences, data, and research to ensure the same does not happen to other families.

The Archewell Foundation - launched in 2020 - strives to uplift communities and build a better online world through philanthropic endeavours to improve the collective well-being of the public. In their charity work, the couple has long made a point to celebrate World Mental Health Day, like in 2020 when they joined the Teenager Therapy podcast and discussed prioritising mental health with five students from Anaheim, California.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis could become one of the worlds most-wired cities if a plan proceeds for 85% of the city to be connected to fiber internet, according to proponents.

Currently, download speeds in Memphis are among the slowest in the country at 49 Mbps, consultants told Memphis City Council members. In low-income areas, many residents cant afford broadband access.

But that could change if the city council OKs a plan that would provide fiber internet with at least 1 gigabit of speed to at least 60% of the city and 60% of low-income areas within the city.

Blue Suede Network is poised to invest $700 million to build out the network.

Our goal with Blue Suede Networks is to make Memphis the most-connected city in America, said Charles Elliot, Blue Suede Networks chief information officer.

Map shows which internet provider is fastest where you live

Mayor Jim Strickland introduced the Smart City Fiber Access System late last month. Tuesday, he made the case to city council.

Hes calling this a win-win saying this all comes down to giving everyone in the city equal access, which he says will also bring more business to Memphis.

Fiber internet is the fastest option, Strickland said, but only 28% of Memphis has it, and its mostly limited to wealthy areas. If approved, buildout would take five to seven years.

Chattanooga made this upgrade to its infrastructure in 2011, and Strickland said the city has identified $2.7 billion in economic activity and 9,500 new jobs directly related to being a Gig City.

Representatives with local institutions, including Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Baptist Memorial Health Care and FedEx, spoke strongly in favor of the project.

Communities and countries that invest in connectivity, that establish connectivity at high levels, thrive and prosper, said Rob Carter, chief information officer with FedEx. This about economic development as much as anything else.

For citizens, it allows better access to healthcare, education and the ability to become more active participants in the workplace, Carter said.

Meka Egwuekwe, executive director of Code Crew, called it a once-in-a-generation opportunity to future-proof Memphis.

We dont want kids in Memphis to be disadvantaged because they cant do their homework because they dont have quality internet at home, he said.

Biden administration announces more new funding for rural broadband infrastructure

City council must approve an amended ordinance in committee and full council before anything moves forward. Council attorney Alan Wade said litigation is possible from other broadband providers.

Council member Chase Carlisle said City Council will need time to research the deal before approving anything.

We understand the need and appreciate the desire to gap the digital divide with the newest technology for the city of Memphis, Carlisle said. This is a very significant decision.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  So far this year there have been 69 more murders in Memphis compared to the same time last year.

Data from Memphis Police shows a total of 254 murders have happened this year, compared to 185 as of Oct. 9 of last year.

The number of murders hit a record 304 in 2021, beating out the record of 290 set the previous year. Things cooled off a little in 2022, but the violence looks to be on the rise again.

Memphis murder map: Homicides in 2023

At least three people lost their lives in shootings over the weekend spanning from Cordova to North Memphis to South Memphis. Two people were also shot along Chelsea Avenue on Sunday.

Man shot, killed outside Cordova bar

As crime continues to rise in Memphis, some pastors are working to try to make a change within the community.

Its going to take all of us working together, said Pastor Walter Womack, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Memphis Chapter and Pastor at Faithful Baptist Church.

2 hurt in North Memphis shooting

Pastor Womack hosted summer camps to keep young people busy and out of trouble during the summertime. He now says his group wants to make a difference with the new Memphis Mayor-elect Paul Young.

So Im looking forward to SCLC being a part of the solution and I think if youre not a part of the solution and not helping out then youre a part of the problem, Pastor Womack said.

Recently the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee and the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics met to address identifying gun violence as a public health crisis in the state.

J. Lawrence Turner, Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church said together theyre starting a campaign called We can end gun violence.

Were committed to an extended campaign that will raise consciousness around this state about how gun violence is impacting communities whether theyre urban, suburban, or rural, its something that cuts across racial lines and something that even cuts across socioeconomic lines, said Pastor Turner.

Pastor Turner also says, The work is so crucial because after it became abundantly clear, after the special session in August where our Tennessee state legislature that there would be any legislation moving forward that would be substantive in this regard. We felt it was incumbent upon us to further this work and understand that its going to take time.

That group is putting out a call to action that they want people to be involved. If you are interested in joining the campaign, email Blackclergytn@gmail.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Two California men are accused in an elaborate scheme to collect $25 million in tax refunds by creating fake companies with payrolls full of bogus workers, federal officials reported.

The Bakersfield men face charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and submission of false claims to the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California said in an Oct. 10 news release.

This is undoubtedly the most complex tax fraud case I have handled in my 35+ years as a defense (attorney) David Torres, an attorney for one of the men, told McClatchy News in an email. We are continuing to review the hundreds of thousands of pages of discovery. My client is intellectually incapable of creating the software located, and this leads me to believe that his participation in this venture was minimal.

A federal grand jury indicted the men, ages 38 and 39, on Sept. 21 and one was arrested Monday, Oct. 9, at the Los Angeles airport after returning from Mexico, the release said. The other was already in custody.

Between November 2019 and June 2023, the men filed hundreds of fraudulent individual federal income tax returns to claim $25 million in refunds, prosecutors said.

In order to carry out the scheme, they also created fictitious businesses and filed fake payroll and tax withholding forms to the IRS, prosecutors said.

No taxes were actually paid, officials said.

The purported owners of the businesses listed on these documents were unaware that the businesses even existed, prosecutors said.

At the time of his arrest, one of the men had $750,000 in fraudulent tax refund checks and identification cards for more than 200 people, officials said.

They face up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines if convicted, prosecutors said.

Hardees workers stole from drive-thru customers to bail out inmates, Indiana cops say

Woman used identities from stolen rental applications in $1.6 million scam, feds say

Brothers swap fake iPhones for real ones  scamming Apple out of $6.1 million, feds say
Metro Bank faces a "limited future" if it continues with its strategy of focusing on High Street branches, the co-founder of the bank has said.

On Sunday, Metro Bank agreed a deal to raise funds that it said would secure its future, after days of speculation over its financial position.

It also said it would continue to focus on bricks and mortar branches.

But Anthony Thomson, the bank's chairman from 2010 to 2012, told the BBC that was a "flawed strategy".

He told the Wake Up To Money programme that the combination of pursuing a branch-based strategy given its financial position gave Metro "a very, very limited future".

"I would not like to be the chairman or the chief executive of Metro Bank today," said Mr Thomson, who after leaving Metro Bank in 2012 set up Atom Bank - an internet-only company that has no physical branches.

When the financing deal was announced late on Sunday, Metro Bank's current chief executive, Daniel Frumkin, said the deal marked "a new chapter" for the bank.

The bank is still planning to open 11 new stores in the north of England by 2025. However, analysts have said that branches are expensive and run counter to the trend of consumers switching to online banking.

Metro Bank was founded in 2010 in the wake of the financial crisis and was the first to open in the UK in more than 100 years.

It positioned itself as a so-called "challenger" bank to the big High Street names, with its promise of keeping branches open seven days a week. It currently has 76 branches, and also offers online and mobile banking services to consumers and businesses.

However, the lender faced a major challenge in 2019 following an accounting scandal, which led to some top executives leaving the company.

More recently, it had asked regulators to reduce the amount of money it had to hold in reserve to cover its mortgage lending. That would have freed up cash so it could go out and continue to grow its business.

But regulators turned down the request last month, knocking about 20% off Metro's share price.

Last week, the bank's share price slumped again following reports that it was seeking to raise money from investors. This led to several days of speculation about the bank's future until the fund-raising deal was announced late on Sunday evening.

"It's terrible to see what's happened to such a great bank, and more importantly, a bank that had such a great customer franchise," Mr Thomson said.

"It's been a huge success. from a customer perspective, financially, less so."

He said the bank had "never really recovered" from the accounting scandal in 2019.

Anthony Thomson co-founded Metro Bank in 2010

When it announced the financing package, Metro Bank said it had seen a "recent increase in deposit outflow rates" from current accounts ahead of the deal.

However, throughout the speculation of the past few days, the bank has insisted that its finances remain strong and it continues to meet all regulatory requirements.

Under the terms of the financing deal, Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal will become Metro Bank's controlling shareholder with a 53% stake.

His firm, Spaldy Investments, will sink 102m into the bank.

Metro Bank's shares rebounded on Monday following news of the deal and continued to rise on Tuesday to trade at about 55p.

However, the share price has more than halved since the start of the year, and is well below the peak of 40.19 it reached in 2018.

Who is Jaime Gilinski Bacal?

In Colombia Jaime Gilinski is a household name. Locally, he's never too far away from the headlines, with his business empire growing from strength to strength it would seem, both at home and abroad.

Jaime Gilinski Bacal

The 65-year-old businessman was born in Cali, a descendant of Lithuanian immigrants. His family set up several mid-sized businesses and built a reputation for themselves within Colombia's Jewish community and across the city.

But Mr Gilinski had bigger ambitions. After a US education he had a stint on Wall Street, and led his family group into purchasing several banks in Colombia and abroad.

A smart operator, Mr Gilinski has aligned himself with Colombia's political and business elite over the years.

Most recently, in 2022 Gustavo Petro was elected as the country's first left-wing president, promising action against what he called the country's "oligarchy".

However, local media reported that Mr Gilinski had quietly been building relations with Mr Petro, helping to avoid becoming a target.
Cahokia Unit School District 187 is getting a total of $8.4 million in federal funding over the next three years to establish a performance-based compensation system for its teachers.

The grant is coming through the U.S. Department of Educations Teacher and School Leader Incentive Fund, the 2015 replacement of the Teacher Incentive Fund created by Congress in 2006.

The program provides federal support for high-need school districts to implement, improve or expand their human resources system, which must include a performance-based compensation system.

Cahokia 187 is among 29 new grant recipients for fiscal year 2023, who altogether will be receiving more than $310 million over a three-year period.

Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr. said the district will use the money to create an incentive system based on bonuses for high-performing teachers.

The goal is to improve the districts teacher shortage and retention as well as student success, he said.

According to the 2022 Illinois Report Card for Cahokia 187, eight of the districts 10 schools were given the comprehensive designation, meaning they were in the lowest-performing 5% of schools in the state and the high school had a graduation rate of 67% or less. The other two schools  the 8th Grade Academy and Oliver Parks 6th Grade School  did not have a designation listed.

McCall Jr. said the district plans to use this bonus system for teachers as a tool to get schools to the commendable designation in the next few years. A school receiving this designation has no under-performing student groups and a graduation rate higher than 67%.

The 2022 Illinois Report Card also shows that Cahokia 187s teacher retention rate was 86.5%, slightly below the state average of 87.6%. According to the unfilled positions data from the Illinois State Board of Education, the district had the full-time equivalent of eight unfilled staff positions and an approximate vacancy rate of 2.67%.

The district is already planning now for the new system, which it hopes to get in place as soon as possible once the federal money is released, McCall Jr. said.

The concept of performance-based teacher compensation  also referred to as merit pay  has been debated for decades. Proponents argue that it motivates and rewards teachers for improving educational outcomes for students, attracts quality educators to schools serving students living in poverty and increases teacher retention rates. Critics say that it creates an unfair, competitive environment for teachers and focuses too much on standardized test scores instead of providing a well-rounded education.

One other metro-east district has been awarded a grant through the same federal program.

Starting in 2017, East St. Louis School District 189 received a total of about $5.16 million through the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Fund, according to Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships Sydney Stigge-Kaufman.

She said that combined with the districts match of about $4.58 million in non-federal funds, East St. Louis 189 used the money for a teacher residency program, professional development opportunities for staff, and recruitment, retention and incentives for educators.
FILE PHOTO: Trucks queue to cross into the United States at Zaragoza-Ysleta border crossing

By Kylie Madry

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Monday called for the U.S. government to mediate with Texas state authorities to ease inspections for cargo trucks crossing the border, as the country's president accused the Texas governor of "complicating the migration situation."

"The Mexican Government urges the U.S. government to mediate with Texas to stop the exhaustive inspections of cargo trucks carried out by the Texas Department of Public Safety," Mexico's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Monday.

State officials restarted costly, intensive cargo truck inspections last month. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has argued they are needed to stem the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the country.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called Abbott's measures "unilateral" and "irresponsible" in a press conference Monday morning, alleging the governor was taking advantage of the situation as he was up for re-election.

"He's making the migration situation more complicated in order to politick," Lopez Obrador said.

The inspections come as a spike of migrants arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border, with record numbers of people moving across the continent.

The measure has held up some $1.9 billion in goods, Mexico's national cargo transport chamber said on Sunday.

Along with the state-mandated inspections, cargo has been slowed by the temporary closure of U.S. federal processing at several crossings, Mexico's foreign ministry added.

After dialogue between the two countries, the Bridge of the Americas between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez will partially reopen beginning Tuesday, Mexico said.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry; Additional reporting by Dave Graham; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Sarah Morland)
On Nov. 7, Miami Beach voters will pick a new mayor and three new commissioners in an election that will turn over more than half of the citys elected officials.

There are two candidates running for each of the three open commission seats. None are incumbents, and only one, South Beach hotel owner Mitch Novick, has run for office before. Each commission seat is at-large, representing the entire city.

All of them have emphasized a similar slate of priorities, pledging to address crime, traffic, flooding and unwanted development. They differ on some of the details, and have sought to highlight personal backgrounds and political leanings to seek an edge as voters get ready to cast ballots with early voting starting on Oct. 23.

Here is a look at the candidates.

Group 4: Andres Asion vs. Tanya Katzoff Bhatt

Real estate broker Asion faces marketing professional Katzoff Bhatt for a seat being vacated by Commissioner Steven Meiner, who is running for mayor.

Andres Asion

Tanya Katzoff Bhatt

Background:

Asion, 48, is a lifelong Miami Beach resident and the founder and broker at Miami Real Estate Group, which specializes in high-rise development sales. In the mid-1990s, he was an administrative assistant to Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez and Miami-Dade County Mayor Stephen P. Clark. Asion runs a nonprofit organization, the Andres Asion Foundation, which assists children in need through groups such as St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital and the Overtown Youth Center. He was praised by county and city officials in 2021 for his work to provide food and supplies to local families during the COVID pandemic and serves on the citys Board of Adjustment.

Katzoff Bhatt, 56, is a 20-year resident of the city and runs her own marketing firm, LaunchBrand. She previously worked in marketing and branding for several companies, including a six-year stint as the director of global marketing for Converse. Katzoff Bhatt has held several roles, including president, for resident advocacy group Miami Beach United. She serves on the citys planning board and as a board member for the Miami Design Preservation League, which advocates for historic preservation.

On the issues:

Asion has campaigned on public safety, responsible development, and tackling sea-level rise. He said his parents home on Palm Island saw flooding after the city raised roads in the neighborhood, and that the city must do a better job helping homeowners adapt to the projects. On development issues, Asion told the Miami Herald the city should encourage mixed-income developments in suitable locations and incentivize property owners to keep rents down for our residents. He said he opposes a 2 a.m. last call for alcohol outside of residential neighborhoods, calling it a one-size-fits-all solution that would punish those who arent creating problems.

Katzoff Bhatt has called for a strong law enforcement response to spring break and other public safety concerns in the city. She says police should use license plate readers year-round to catch dangerous individuals, and wants to bring order to chaos by stamping out illegal behavior and insisting upon accountability for those engaging in it. Katzoff Bhatt has also focused on improving traffic, preserving historic structures, and prioritizing sewer and stormwater projects over development interests. She says she supports a 2 a.m. last call for new businesses, but doesnt support stripping 5 a.m. liquor licenses from establishments that already have them.

Campaign finances:

Asion reported more than $152,000 in campaign contributions across 254 donations between March and June. Updated reports are due Oct. 13. He has said he is accepting donations from developers, but that it does not interfere with my ability to make the right decisions. Asion has also filed paperwork to solicit contributions from a political committee and an electioneering communications organization controlled by Christian Ulvert, Asions political consultant. Ulvert is also working with mayoral candidate Mike Grieco and with Group 6 commission candidate Joe Magazine.

Katzoff Bhatt reported almost $90,000 from 142 contributions between March and June, including $35,000 in loans she made to her campaign. She says she isnt taking donations from big developers. She is working with political consultant Brendan Olsen. Katzoff Bhatt has disclosed that she is soliciting contributions to an electioneering communications organization, Miami Beach for All of Us, that had received over $22,000 in contributions through June. Most of the money came from an entity tied to The Genuine Hospitality Group, the restaurant group of chef Michael Schwartz and CEO Sunil Bhatt, who is Katzoff Bhatts ex-husband.

Other notes:

Asion was fined $1,000 by the city of Miami Beach late last year for operation of a short-term rental at a property he owns on Palm Island. Asion told code officials he was renting out the property for a one-year period and didnt know his tenant had listed it on Airbnb. The city placed a lien on the property because Asion hadnt paid the fine, but Asion attested in an application for city boards earlier this year that he didnt owe the city any money. In a statement, Asion said he had spoken to code officials before the fine was assessed and believed the matter was resolved because he had terminated the tenants lease. Another hearing is now scheduled for Oct. 16.

Katzoff Bhatt has sought to cast herself as an independent candidate who wouldnt fit into a political faction on the commission. Asked at a recent candidate forum which current city commissioner she aligns with most closely, she said Meiner, calling the mayoral candidate incredibly responsive to constituents and saying he does his homework on issues, even if she doesnt always agree with him.





Group 5: Mitch Novick vs. David Suarez

Hotel owner Novick squares off against skin care marketing director Suarez for a seat held by term-limited Commissioner Ricky Arriola.

Mitch Novick

David Suarez

Background:

Novick, 59, owns the Sherbrooke Hotel at 9th Street and Collins Avenue. He is a longtime historic preservation advocate, including serving as chair of both the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board and the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board. He has served on various city committees, such as a sustainability committee and a panel on the structural integrity of historic buildings. Novick has been a frequent critic of City Hall at public meetings and often captures video surveillance footage from his hotel to underscore his claims of dysfunction and debauchery in South Beach.

Suarez, 39, is the marketing director for skin care company LifeCell. He has served on the board of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority since 2021. In recent years, he has spearheaded efforts to prevent short-term rentals in the South of Fifth neighborhood. His campaign, Save SoFi, led to a ban on apartment hotels in the area and a city investigation into permitting issues. Suarez drew the ire of some developers along the way. One of them, Louis Puig, sued Suarez for defamation in January 2022. Suarez filed a counterclaim. The case remains pending in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

On the issues:

Novick says he would prioritize cleaning up the party atmosphere of South Beach, preserving historic structures, creating inclusive development to encourage housing affordability, and reining in utility bill costs. He has criticized city officials for throwing money at police on Ocean Drive, saying the focus should instead be on changing the atmosphere in the area to make it more family friendly. Novick says he supports a 2 a.m. last call for alcohol citywide, including on Ocean Drive, and has called for a moratorium on hotel development. The message should be, The partys over, to attract a more sophisticated clientele, Novick told the Miami Herald Editorial Board.

Suarez has stressed public safety, calling for more police on high-impact roads, designated police units in each neighborhood, and an expanded detective unit to investigate theft and vandalism. He says he would insist upon a reduction of the homeless population by cracking down on sleeping in public, an initiative the city commission is currently pursuing. Suarez is also calling for improved cleaning and landscaping of the citys filthy streets, the acceleration of sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects, and improved accountability for city employees. He remains focused on preventing short-term rentals, saying at a recent candidate forum that he is the most anti-short term rental, [anti]-Airbnb candidate youll find.

Campaign finances:

Novick has said he is self-funding his campaign. I dont like taking money or anything from anybody, he told the Herald Editorial Board. He took some small donations during an unsuccessful run for city commission in a special election last year. Novick has not yet been required to file campaign finance reports since filing to run in August. The next report is due Oct. 13.

Suarez is largely funding his own campaign. In March, he reported making a $300,000 loan to the effort. Through June, he had raised an additional $21,000 from donors. Suarez says he hasnt taken any money from developers. I certainly do not believe that developers should have any sort of impact in our elections, he told the Editorial Board. He is working with political consultant David Custin, who is also representing mayoral candidate Michael Gongora.

Other notes:

Novick was arrested in 2017 for burglary and petty theft after allegedly stealing dirty towels from a bin that belonged to Mangos Tropical Cafe, owned by Novick foe and 2 a.m. last call opponent David Wallack. Novick claimed he borrowed the towels and had permission from Wallack to do so. The charges were dropped the following month.

Suarez was arrested in 2003 for burglary with tools and trespassing without authority as part of what he says was a high school prank. Prosecutors chose not to pursue the charges. During a divorce and custody proceeding in Broward County in 2020, a judge ordered Suarez to temporarily turn over a dozen guns and his concealed carry permit to police amid concerns they werent being stored safely around his young child. Suarez said the guns all had added locks and that he later purchased safes to keep them more secure.

Group 6: Joe Magazine vs. Marcella Novela

Finance professional Magazine takes on art curator Novela in the race to replace Commissioner David Richardson, who is running for Miami-Dade County tax collector.

Joe Magazine

Marcella Novela

Background:

Magazine, 40, is a vice president at Loop Capital, a global investment services firm. He previously worked for Deutsche Bank, Barclays and Merrill Lynch. Magazine is also a member of the Miami Beach planning board. Since moving to the city about a decade ago, he has been a regular at city meetings.

Novela, 45, has lived in Miami Beach for 22 years and owns Art Curator, which provides advising and curation services for artists. She chairs the citys Art in Public Places committee and serves on the board of trustees for the Perez Art Museum in Miami. Novela has also served on a committee on reimagining the area around 41st Street in Miami Beach.

On the issues:

Magazine says he has fresh ideas to change the citys hard-partying image. He wants to prevent performers with a history of violence from holding shows near us, equip first responders with the resources they need in order to respond quickly and effectively, and engage in smart PR efforts across the country to discourage out-of-town partiers from visiting our community, according to his campaign website. He opposes a 2 a.m. last call on Ocean Drive, saying the city should instead be more proactive in cracking down on bad operators.

Novela has emphasized support for the citys investment in arts and culture, in line with a $159 million general obligation bond promoted by Mayor Dan Gelber that voters approved last year. Her other priorities include public safety, traffic light synchronization to ease gridlock, cleaner city streets, upgraded infrastructure and funding for transit options like Freebee, a free ride service. She has called for an incentive program for homeowners to convert short-term rentals into less transient uses, and says she opposes 2 a.m. last call as a blanket solution.

Campaign finances:

Magazine reported over $67,000 in contributions from 91 donors in May and June. He has disclosed an affiliation with a political committee, Residents for Safe Neighborhoods, which has not yet filed financial reports. He is represented by Ulvert, the consultant also working with Grieco and Asion.

Novela had raised about $48,000 through June, including $20,000 she loaned to the effort. She chairs a political committee, Elevate Miami Beach, which received a $100,000 loan from Novelas husband, Ricardo Dunin, the founder and CEO of real estate firm Oak Capital. An electioneering communications organization affiliated with her campaign, Lets Elevate Our City, has not yet filed financial reports. Novela is working with political consultant Eric Johnson.

Other notes:

Magazine has faced criticism for 2016 social media posts indicating his support for Donald Trumps first run for president. Magazine has said he views himself as a moderate and no longer supports Trump. He has also taken heat for posting on Facebook in 2016 that he was sick of hearing a bunch of f---ing morons talk about whose lives matter, one day after five police officers in Dallas were killed during a Black Lives Matter protest. He says the post was worded poorly.

Novela has faced blowback for donating $1,000 last June to the campaign of Republican State Rep. Fabian Basabe and $1,000 last August to a political committee that backs Gov. Ron DeSantis. Novela was a social friend of Basabe and has been photographed with him at various events, but now says Basabe and DeSantis both turned out to be horrible liars and traitors. She has since donated $1,000 to the campaign of Joe Saunders, a Democrat running against Basabe next year.
CLINTON COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Police and deputies in Clinton County are searching for a 3-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from his home Monday.

UPDATE: Missing 3-year-old from mid-Michigan found deceased after daylong search

Authorities said the boy, whose name they did not share, is nonverbal. He left his home on S. Bauer Road just north of Clark Road in Watertown Township, which is north of Lansing, just after 2 p.m.

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office said it was using specialized resources to search for the child, along with volunteer searchers. The office asked that residents in the area check their homes and outbuildings, and review their camera footage. Authorities say the boy climbs, so he could possibly be in a tree.

Volunteers who want to help search for the boy Tuesday morning are asked to meet at the Watertown Township Hall at 7 a.m.

Anyone who sees the boy is asked to call 911.

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Tightened Up

Fun's over, kids. As Windows Central reports, Microsoft appears to have lobotomized its Bing Image Creator.

The DALL-E 3-powered image-generating AI was integrated into Bing's platform last week, prompting netizens to quickly test its guardrails. As it turns out, those guardrails were incredibly ineffective, with users  404 Media's Samantha Cole notable among them  quickly realizing that they were able to generate problematic, copyright-infringement-laden AI generations of beloved cartoon characters like Disney's Mickey Mouse doing things like wearing bomb-covered vests and perpetrating the 9/11 terror attacks.

Microsoft had blocked certain keywords, like "9/11" and "Twin Towers." But as noted by 404, workarounds were surprisingly easy. Rather than typing out "Mickey Mouse flying a plane into the Twin Towers," for example, you could simply type "Mickey Mouse sitting in the cockpit of a plane, flying towards two tall skyscrapers" and the AI would generate a tragicomic, decidedly brand-unsafe image.

https://twitter.com/Transgenderista/status/1709979553685508322

Now, though, Microsoft appears to have tightened its grip on its image generator. Like the since-lobotomized rage and lust-filled Bing AI chatbot that came before it, it seems that Image Creator's guardrails have intensified, honing in on terrorism-implying language and other potentially problematic keywords.

Marshmallow Sledgehammers

When we tested the AI today, we were able to create images of "Donald Duck flying a plane," and even a photo of "Donald Duck flying a plane into New York City."

Once we included any language about towers, however, we were greeted with a content policy violation warning. The prompt "Donald Duck angrily flying a plane into New York City," was also rejected, likely due to the use of the term "angrily" in that context. Elsewhere, though, the prompt "Donald Duck angrily walking into the gym" was allowed  suggesting that the bot may now have a bit more nuance to its content protections.

But these protections are still imperfect. For example, though we were easily able to generate images of "Donald Duck wielding a sledgehammer" and "a man wielding a sledgehammer at a giant marshmallow," one of Windows Central's attempted prompts, "man breaks server rack with a sledgehammer," violated content policy. (It's probably all just a mess, but you can't help but wonder if the AI might be looking out for its own infrastructure.)

Meanwhile, over the weekend, one Redditor took to the site's r/OpenAI subreddit to share that Bing's AI had flagged a seemingly innocuous prompt asking for "a cat with a cowboy hat and boots." That's an obvious false positive failure, not to mention a perfect illustration of how fickle generative AI's guardrails continue to be.

Imperfect as the effort is, however, it's interesting to see Microsoft making some effort to corral its tech. Still, next time, we might suggest that the company tests whether its AI tools can generate imagery of cartoon character-perpetrated terrorism before disseminating said tools to the public.

More on Microsoft's unruly AIs: Microsoft Has "Lobotomized" Its Rebellious Bing AI
Xiong Chang made an $18,000 payment on his remaining student-loan balance in June.

But it hasn't been processed yet, and his balance has grown due to interest.

He's been unable to get a clear answer from his servicer on where his account stands.

Xiong Chang, 38, wanted to be rid of his student-debt burden once and for all.

On June 9, he made a payment of $18,919.58 to his servicer Nelnet, and he received an email  reviewed by Insider  confirming his payment with a message that it would be posted to his account within 48 business hours.

But it's been over four months since he made that payment, and it still is not reflected in his account. In fact, his balance has grown due to interest that started accruing on September 1. According to his account, his balance now stands at $19,019.44  with $96 in accrued interest.

"I'm starting to be worried because I was told this would be taken care of, but it still hasn't been dissolved and I want to know what's going on," Xiong, 38, said.

He now has a monthly payment of just over $200 due on October 15 that he doesn't want to make since he already paid off his remaining balance. But inability to reach his servicer for guidance is leaving him in a state of financial limbo, and he risks his account being marked as past-due despite not actually owing anything.

Over the past few weeks, millions of federal borrowers have been making the transition back into repayment after an over three-year pandemic pause. While some borrowers started making payments before their bills were due, others have been struggling as a result of a range of hurdles, including poor customer service and delays  and inaccuracies  with processing paperwork for repayment and forgiveness programs.

President Joe Biden's administration has acknowledged the hurdles on numerous occasions. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal, for example, previously told Insider that "student-loan programs are very, very complicated, and the servicers do not have the funding that we would like to give them to better serve borrowers."

However, there's nothing borrowers can do about a lack of funding, and with payments becoming due, the need for clear communication from servicers is all the more urgent.

"I've been trying to find an answer or solution, and it's crossed my mind to take legal action," Xiong said. "It could be too much of a hassle, but at the same time, is it going to be worth the time? Because that's quite a lot of money I paid off to just let it slide and wait until who knows what."

'Not much you can do except keep trying'

Aside from frequently calling his servicer, Xiong said he has also filed a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau because "it's probably better than doing nothing and calling just to get the same answer."

It's an issue many other borrowers are likely familiar with. As Insider has previously reported, both the Education Department and servicers have said there are not enough resources to ensure a smooth transition back into repayment. Congress has the power to boost those resources by increasing funding for Federal Student Aid, but with Republicans holding a majority over the House, that boost is unlikely to happen.

That means hours-long hold times for borrowers to reach customer service, automated responses to email inquiries, and extreme delays processing paperwork. One student-loan company MOHELA even said in August that due to limited funding, it expects customer service delays to extend "well into 2024."

"There's not much you can do except keep trying," Xiong said. Still, the issues borrowers are encountering has both lawmakers and state officials concerned  a group of attorneys general recently called for all borrowers who are dealing with account errors to be placed on administrative forbearance, without interest growing, until the servicer addresses the issue.

"It does affect my current situation because me and my wife and I recently bought a house, and we were planning to do some upgrades," Xiong said. "But with what is going on, it's hard to plan those things. I don't know if we're going to proceed until we get this situated first."

Read the original article on Business Insider
UPDATE: The missing child was found dead Tuesday, Oct. 10, authorities said.

While authorities originally said the boy was 3, he was actually 2, according to the Lansing State Journal and WILX.

Authorities said the autistic and nonverbal toddler wandered from his home Monday, Oct. 9, while his babysitter showered, WILX reported.

His body was found the next day in Looking Glass River, according to the Lansing State Journal.

Foul play is not suspected, WILX reported.

The sheriffs office is investigating the incident as a missing person case, the Lansing State Journal reported.

Please pray for the family during this tragic time, the Clinton County Sheriffs Office said on Facebook.

The original story is below.

A 3-year-old boy walked away from his home and is still missing after an overnight search, authorities in Michigan said.

The autistic and nonverbal toddler was reported missing shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, in Watertown Township, according to a news release from the Clinton County Sheriffs Office.

Specialized units began searching for the child, authorities said, and the search continued through the night.

He had still not been found as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, according to an update shared on Facebook.

Authorities said the toddler is described as a climber, so he may be in a tree or on an elevated structure. Those in the area are asked to check their homes, buildings and security cameras.

The sheriffs office said it would provide updates as they are available.

Watertown Township is about 10 miles northwest of Lansing.

8-year-old dies after climbing from window onto roof of moving car, Virginia cops say

Missing 2-year-old is found safe asleep on pet dog as another stood watch, MI cops say

2-year-old was in car when it was stolen, Georgia cops say. Familys iPad saved her
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Mississippi River at Memphis has hit an all-time record low, the National Weather Service said Tuesday afternoon.

Preliminary data shows the river at -11.01 feet. If verified, that would exceed the previous record of -10.97 feet set on Sept. 24 this year, NWS said.

Little, if any, improvement is expected with the low water impacting river navigation for foreseeable future, NWS said.

The Mississippi River also reached record lows last year.

About 60% of U.S. grain exports are taken by barge down the Mississippi to New Orleans, but as river levels drop, the Associated Press has reported that the cost to ship cargo south of St. Louis has soared 77% above the three-year average.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
BOONE COUNTY, Mo.  A Missouri native was among at least 11 Americans killed in the war between Israel and militant group Hamas.

More than 1,000 people have died since Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza, launched attacks against Israel, triggering a response by Israeli forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is at war with Hamas following the initial attacks.

Israel pounds Gaza, threatening punishing retaliation for weekend attack

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Deborah Matias, an American citizen living in Israel, died in the violent assault by Hamas militants over the weekend.

Bailey said she died while shielding her 16-year-old son from gunshots.

Matias was born in Boone County, Missouri, according to Bailey. The attorney general said Matias husband was also shot and killed.

Please join me in praying for the full recovery of their son, Rotem, and for all of the victims of these horrendous attacks, Bailey said on social media. We will continue to stand with Israel.

The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday, as the Pentagon reviews its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the three-day-old war with Hamas.

What is Hamas and what is it fighting for?

President Biden on Monday announced that the number of Americans killed in attacks against Israel had risen to 11.

U.S. officials are still working to confirm whether Americans are among those being held by Hamas, but said it is likely that is the case.

The State Department is providing consular assistance to Americans who are currently in Israel and urged those in the area to follow the guidance of local authorities.

The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday.

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John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas militants is making its way to Israel.

We fully expect there will be additional requests for security assistance for Israel as they continue to expend munitions in this fight, Kirby said. We will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that were filling their needs as best we can and as fast as we can.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Modestos synagogue invites the general public to mourn the people killed in the attack in Israel.

A service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at Congregation Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave.

The site has had such interfaith gatherings before in response to violence, such as the 2018 shooting of 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

It returned the favor in 2019, when the Islamic Center of Modesto mourned 50 people slain at two New Zealand mosques.

CNN reported that at least 900 Israelis have died from Saturdays attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and that nearly 700 have been killed in a Gaza counteroffensive.

Our hearts are heavy as we continue to watch the news of the war in Israel, said an email Monday from Eli Lester, board president for the Modesto synagogue.

Now more than ever, we need to gather together as a Jewish community to mourn and to stand together in solidarity with the people of Israel in their time of greatest need. This is an attack not just on Israel as a Jewish state, it is an attack on Israel because it is a Jewish state, so it is an attack on Jews.

The Modesto Bee could not reach a representative of the local mosque as of early Monday evening.

The Diocese of Stockton, which includes Stanislaus County, shared a Facebook message about the attack from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It noted that Israel is a sacred place to Christians and Muslims as well as Jews.

The world is once again shocked and horrified by the outbreak of ferocious violence in the Holy Land, said Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Ill., chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace.. ... I join with Pope Francis in his call for peace and his condemnation of this widespread outbreak of violence.
The mother of a young German woman feared dead after her body was paraded around by Hamas gunmen during the terrorist groups blitz attack on Israel says she may still be alive after all.

In a new video message on Tuesday, Ricarda Louk appealed to authorities to help evacuate her 22-year-old daughter Shani Louk from a hospital in Gaza, Bild reports.

You have to act quickly and get Shani out of the Gaza Strip! she pleads. She went on to say that Palestinian sources had reached out to the family to report that Shani had been hospitalized after she was kidnapped from a music festival that came under siege by Hamas on Saturday.

BREAKING:



The woman whose body was seen on video in the back of a pick-up truck driven by Palestinian terrorists to Gaza has been identified.



30-year-old Shani Louk was a German citizen visiting Israel to attend the music festival for peace held near the Gaza border fence. pic.twitter.com/sPIc8FRs8K  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023

We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical, Louk said, urging the German government to take action and not argue about questions of jurisdiction.

The 22-year-old tattoo artist was seen in one of the most distressing videos of the weekend bloodshed. Her mangled, half-naked bodywith one leg bent at an unnatural anglewas pictured lying in the back of a pickup truck surrounded by jeering Hamas gunmen.

The video was reportedly the first information her family received about her fate after she had called her mother right when Hamas first attacked, promising to hide as gunfire could be heard in the background.

Video Reportedly Shows Hamas Beginning Deadly Hostage Killing Spree

We recognized her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Tom Weintraub Louk, Shanis first cousin, told The Washington Post, adding that the family was holding out hope that Shani might still survive.

Her mother posted video appeals begging for any information on Shanis whereabouts, and the family was alerted to Shanis credit card being used at a shop in Gaza on Sunday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A 50-year-old mother with ties to Missouri was among the American citizens killed in Israel during the first day of attacks by Hamas militants, her family says.

Deborah Matias, who is reportedly from Boone County, Missouri, died along with her husband as they shielded their 16-year-old son from the gunfire on Saturday, Oct. 7.

My grandson has witnessed the murder of his mother by people who rehearsed what they were doing, Ilan Troen, a professor of Israel studies at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, told WBZ-TV.

The Matias family, which lived in Beer Sheva, only had about 45 seconds of warning to get to safety after being alerted of a missile attack by Hamas forces, the family said in a statement to The Boston Globe.

Troen said in an interview with Scripps News he was on the phone with his daughter, who told him they were attempting to lock their home and safe room as the unprecedented attacks began.

She reported glass being shattered in her home, and Troen said that was the last he heard from his daughter, according to NBC10 Boston.

The next we heard was from her son, saying  theyre dead, Troen told NBC10. And we learned that he was lying under her and was covered in part by his parents blood, and that he himself had been wounded.

Matias 16-year-old son, Rotem, hid under a bed and later a blanket for the next 12 hours, Scripps News reported.

He had been shot in the abdomen but was eventually rescued and is recovering from his injuries, according to WBZ.

The brunt of the shot was borne by his mother, Troen told CNN. The terrorists who came, they had explosives and blew up the front door to their house and then blew out the front door to their so-called safe room.

Matias and her husband, Shlomi Matias, met at the Rimon School of Music in the Tel Aviv area, CNN reported. Troen did not say when his daughter moved from Boone County, about 130 miles northwest of St. Louis.

The couple had two other children, NBC10 reported. They no longer live at home and survived the initial attacks.

(Deborah and Shlomi) loved music, life, each other, their kids, Troen told WBZ. I would ask (Rotem) to think of the joy that they sought and had in their lives rather than the focus on that day.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a Monday statement at least 11 American citizens have been killed in the assault on Israel.

Its heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence, Biden said. We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts.

More than 1,500 people were killed during the first three days of the war, CBS News reported. Of the 900 Israeli victims, most were civilians.

US aircraft carrier sent toward Israel is worlds largest warship. What can it do?
"Monster Liberty": That's how the otherwise excellent closed-captioning service in the auditorium at Pennridge High School interpreted "Moms for Liberty," while one of several dozen citizens who had waited in line to lambast the group spoke at the podium. A chuckle rose up among the parents in the crowded school board meeting, held on a late August evening after the first day of classes for the Pennridge School District in suburban Bucks County, Pennsylvania. "Fair enough," one mother whispered to another.

That wasn't the only moment of levity that evening, which saw a robust crowd of largely irate parents speak out against the adoption of a social studies curriculum linked to far-right organizations like Moms for Liberty and Hillsdale College. Before the meeting, people exchanged wisecracks about "talented clappers"  an inside-joke reference to an email circulated among local conservatives that appealed for sympathetic outsiders to turn out and applaud the right-wing agenda: "You do not need to be a resident to attend and clap," it advised, for "policies that bless and protect our children."

#BucksCounty GOPers are desperately recruiting "Talented Clappers" to support @PennridgeSD far-right school board majority, @Vermilion_Edu & newly proposed Hillsdale 1776 curriculum b/c they're all overwhelmingly unpopular. *And no worries if you don't have to live in district* pic.twitter.com/05a04aZbDO  BucksCountyBeacon (@BucksCoBeacon) August 25, 2023

Most of the attendees saw that appeal as a minor victory, or at least as evidence that they were gaining ground in the battle for control over the school district  one of hundreds of similar battles unfolding all over the country. Yes, the Pennridge school board was dominated by far-right members, one of whom had been present in Washington for Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally-turned-riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Yes, at least five of the nine board members were linked to Moms for Liberty, a right-wing "astroturf" organization that has orchestrated a national campaign to remake public education along arch-conservative and anti-intellectual lines. But Pennridge board meetings for months had been dominated by outraged parents speaking out against the Moms for Liberty incursion and the board majority's apparent agenda. Conservative forces were sufficiently worried about the optics, it appeared, that they were eager to pull in "talented clappers" from outside the community.

A tightly packed group of Moms for Liberty supporters did indeed show up, huddled together in a few rows of seats. Their mood could best be described as "glowering." These were not exactly the "joyful warriors" that Moms for Liberty proudly proclaims fights on their behalf. That term would better fit the majority of attendees at Pennridge High that night, who needed no coaxing to whoop and applaud as one speaker after another took the mic, defending the basic freedom to read whatever books one wants, and denouncing the ahistorical and misleading curriculum that conservative board members wanted to force upon the district's teachers.

There's been a great deal of media coverage over the past couple of years about the meteoric rise of Moms for Liberty, a well-funded and somewhat secretive Republican-aligned group aimed at expunging supposed "woke" or "progressive" influences from American education. But Pennridge High School that night illustrated a story that's gotten much less attention: The response of fed-up parents and educators who, without anything close to the resources of their conservative opponents, are organizing a grassroots effort to restore American schools to their intended purpose, that of educating children to be citizens of a democracy and full participants in an open society.

This is a battle that's playing out most intensely in suburban counties that used to be rock-solid Republican, but have been trending purple in recent years. In other words, places very much like Bucks County, which sits just north of Philadelphia along the Delaware River. Bucks County is rich in colonial architecture and American history: William Penn is buried there, and George Washington famously crossed the Delaware from Bucks County to capture Trenton, New Jersey, in the winter of 1776. Although the county remains predominantly white it has gradually become more diverse, and is almost evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

In the Pennridge district, as in many other places in Pennsylvania and across the nation, the people fighting back against Moms for Liberty are all too aware that their communities are being targeted by Republican operatives who hope to use these culture-war battles to flip purplish suburban areas back to red, and return Donald Trump to the White House in 2024. (Democrats have won Bucks County in every presidential election since 1992, but often by a whisker: Hillary Clinton's 2016 margin over Trump was less than 3,000 votes out of nearly 400,000 cast.)

Protest against Moms For Liberty

For Pennridge, the resistance came together to form the Ridge Network, whose Facebook group now has nearly 1,400 members, even though this is the smallest school district in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Parents and activists who spoke to Salon noted that the network was initially just a handful of people who wanted to raise the alarm about the Moms for Liberty takeover of their school board. Many of them first became aware after seeing social media posts from Joan Cullen, the elected board member who had been at Trump's Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021.

"About two years ago now, I was hearing stuff about the school board and just, like, not really believing what was going on," said Laura Foster, who graduated from Pennridge herself and moved back to the area to enroll her own kids in the school. "Then I started going to school board meetings. I'm like, what is going on here?"

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Newly elected board members "were all fired up and they were saying that critical race theory was rampant in our schools, and radical gender theory," said local parent Darren Laustsen. "That we were teaching our kids to hate their white skin. I was like, oh man, these are not serious people. My daughter was getting ready to go into first grade and I was like, man, we gotta do something about this."

As the Southern Poverty Law Center recently reported, but Pennridge parents almost certainly didn't know at the time, their school board was one of many across the nation, specifically concentrated in districts that could swing the presidential election, that had been targeted for takeover by Moms for Liberty. "[F]ive of the nine Pennridge School Board members are linked to Moms for Liberty, the far-right so-called parental rights organization," the SPLC noted.

"The fox is in the henhouse"

Members of the Ridge Network repeatedly used the word "playbook" to describe what they've seen spool out since the Moms for Liberty takeover. First came the elimination of diversity, equality and inclusion policies, commonly known as DEI. Then the censorship campaign began, first by removing Pride flags from classrooms and then removing specific books about specific subjects from classrooms and school libraries. Then came an abrupt push to rewrite the entire social studies curriculum to advance what looked a lot like far-right ideology.

Over the past year or so, said Ridge Network parent Jane Cramer, "The momentum really escalated and there were several different policies" that the school board tried to push through at the same time. She suggested it was a "specific strategy" of "throwing a lot at people, all at once, to overwhelm them."

This suspicion that the school board was flooding the zone with you-know-what was seemingly confirmed this past summer, when Moms for Liberty held its summit in Philadelphia, just a half-hour drive from the Pennridge district. At that summit, a purported education expert named Jordan Adams gave a speech explaining the blitz strategy aimed at imposing a right-wing agenda on a school district over community objections.

"We should be moving on multiple policy areas and it should be happening quickly and efficiently," Adams explained. That way, the community "cannot keep up with all of it."

As for those parents who did object, Adams said, that was generally a good sign for his movement: "The right people are freaking out because the fox is in the henhouse."

Moms For Liberty podium 1484285145

Members of the Ridge Network jumped to attention when that speech, which was not meant for public consumption, was leaked. Jordan Adams, as it happened, was exactly the fox they wanted to eject from their own henhouse.

Adams, as Popular Information reported, is 31 years old and "does not have any experience developing curricula for public schools." He only launched his education consultant company, Vermilion, in March of this year. When Salon reached out to Adams, he sent a resume indicating that he holds a teaching certificate in the state of Texas and has five years' experience as a teacher. But what got him a contract with Pennridge  which, so far, is the only public school district that has agreed to buy his curriculum  was almost certainly his five years working at Hillsdale College in Michigan, which is also where he got his undergraduate degree.

As Kathryn Joyce wrote last year in an exclusive report for Salon, Hillsdale College is a central institution in the Christian right's campaign to destroy or transform secular public education in the U.S. Hillsdale "has become a leading force in promoting a conservative and overtly Christian reading of American history and the U.S. Constitution," Joyce wrote. The school has even feature "lectures describing the Jan. 6 insurrection as a hoax and Vladimir Putin as a 'hero to populist conservatives around the world.'" Adams was previously hired by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida to review the state's textbooks. It was Adams who made the notorious claim that a math textbook was covertly advancing "critical race theory" because of a word problem that used statistics about race and policing.

From the get-go, Adams' relationship to the Pennridge school board has been shrouded in secrecy. Board member Ron Wurz, who opposes the Moms for Liberty agenda, told Salon that the district's contract with Adams was only announced to the administration and the school board two days before a scheduled meeting. Typically, he said, the school board and district administrators would be given time to review such a big hire before he was presented to the public. Instead, Adams was sprung on everyone with the bare minimum of notice required by law.

It got worse from there, Wurz said. Initially, the public and board members not involved in the hiring were told that Adams had merely been engaged to review the social studies curriculum. That wasn't true, Wurz said: "It turns out he actually wrote a lot of the curriculum himself." The school superintendent also protested, arguing that the process was "rushed through" in an apparent effort to evade the objections of teachers and push the Hillsdale-approved curriculum directly into classroom. But since the Moms for Liberty-aligned members had a 5-4 board majority, they voted it through anyway.

If that haste and secrecy were intended to get a right-wing educational agenda enacted without the community noticing, Cramer told Salon, it had exactly the opposite effect. "With the Jordan Adams contract being added to the agenda at the last minute," she said, "a lot more people in the community started to hear what was happening."

Members of the Ridge Network spread the word. Cramer has been at the forefront of these efforts, using her popular TikTok account, Cringey the Ram, to share videos highlighting the tactics and agenda of Moms for Liberty and similar groups. As Salon witnessed on Aug. 28, school board meetings are now dominated by angry parents, who often read aloud offensive passages from the curriculum Adams brought to Pennridge, especially when it appears to minimize the evils of slavery or the genocide of Native people. Wurz called it a "whitewashing."

"There's a powerful and long-standing resentment on the part of local communities to being pushed around, to having outsiders come, carpetbaggers of one kind or another," Jeff Henig, a professor of political science and education at Columbia University, told Salon. He's one of the co-authors of "Outside Money in School Board Elections: The Nationalization of Education Politics," and said he wasn't surprised by the ballooning backlash against Moms for Liberty in the Pennridge district. That's what tends to happen, he said, when "people become aware that money is coming in from the outside, that communication strategies are coming in from the outside."

So it's no surprise that the people pushing a right-wing agenda on the school board wanted to use subterfuge. But all that did was to increase widespread suspicions within the community about the board's motives and intentions. Kyle Esposito, the vice chair of Pennridge Democrats, told Salon that many local folks now saw the Adams contract as "a bizarre shadow deal" with "an unvetted organization."

In fact, all the attention focused on the Pennridge district has inspired a number of local residents to run for school board, with an eye towards ousting the Moms for Liberty majority. Political newcomer Leah Rash is throwing her hat in the ring for the first time for just this reason. "They pretty much just cut and pasted Hillsdale's curriculum and sold it to us," she told Salon. Citing the con man character from "The Music Man," she said, "They created a problem and then sold the solution."

Another example of how the right's covert tactics have fueled an urge to expose them is seen most clearly in the mission local parent Laustsen has taken on: Figuring out exactly how much book-banning is going on in the Pennridge district, and how it works.

" So much goddamn money trying to beat this"

Laustsen attended his first school board meeting after hearing about Cullen, the member who posted pictures of herself in Washington on Jan. 6. He described hearing conservative board members "saying that there was a pornography problem in our school libraries," and using words like "'smut' and 'filth' and 'X-rated.'" So he decided, "out of curiosity," to look into the books they were castigating. It started him down a rabbit hole that he says, many months later, he's still amazed he explored.

One aspect of the national campaign by Moms for Liberty and its allies is the numbing sameness of the list of books that are being identified as objectionable, and in some places banned or restricted. It's a testament to how much this is a top-down campaign that directs local right-wing activists to resources like BookLooks.org to decide what books to target. Few, if any, of the books on the list have been formally banned in the Pennridge district, despite the heated rhetoric at school board meetings. The formal process required to challenge and expunge books, it seems, created a meaningful barrier. But when Laustsen looked for the books in question at the Pennridge High library, he found something unusual: It was impossible for any student to check them out.

"All these books, the books that were being targeted, I was seeing that every single copy was marked as checked out," he told Salon. For the entire year.

They were the same titles that keep showing up on lists of "banned" books from around the country: "Looking for Alaska" by John Green, winner of the Michael L. Printz Award. "Sold" by Patricia McCormick, a finalist for the National Book Award. "Flamer" by Mike Curato. "Allegedly" by Tiffany D. Jackson, winner of the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award. There are numerous others and, of course, none would qualify as "pornography" by anyone's definition. They have likely come to the attention of the would-be censors because they are acclaimed novels touching on subjects of race, gender and sexuality that have sold lots of copies and have a strong fan base among young readers.

As Lausten described in an article for the Bucks County Beacon, he and other parents kept filing right-to-know requests to find out what exactly was going on with the maybe-banned books. They were stonewalled at every turn. At one point, the school relented and produced a report showing that none of the listed books were checked out. Further digging, however, indicated that the books had been returned right before the report was generated  and then "checked out" immediately after that, for the rest of the year.

Laustsen hired a lawyer, and is suing the school district.

The board's conservative majority is "using lawyers as a weapon against the public, basically to create roadblocks hoping that you just eventually give up," he told Salon. "The more they did that, the more I was just like, f**k this. It just pissed me off, so I've spent, like, so much goddamn money trying to beat this."

Wurz told Salon that many of the books in question had been formally challenged, but had passed the library's review process and were supposed to remain on the shelves. He said the mysterious "checking out" of the books was exactly what it looked like: "a roundabout way" for conservative board members to make them inaccessible.

Laustsen and other Ridge Network members also discovered that many of the targeted books had been taken off the shelf through the library's "weeding" process. Normally, that would mean removing books from shelves for reasons unrelated to content: The volume's binding has fallen apart, or no one has read them for years. When network members realized the books were being sold off by the library, they bought them and gave them to Laustsen to thank him for his work in uncovering the alleged shadow-banning.

#PA @PennridgeSD

The extremist school board banned these books & put them up for auction.

Local parents bought them & plan to return them to the district library when the board flips in Nov.

Not all heroes wear capes 

Are YOU registered to vote? pic.twitter.com/TvmenZM6Zw  Jenny Stephens (@JennyStephens52) September 22, 2023

By filing repeated right-to-know documents with the school district, Laustsen and other Ridge Network members, as well as local journalists, uncovered more connections to right-wing networks. Another conservative group, the Christian-oriented Independence Law Center, was involved with the Pennridge board, and the ILC was in turn linked to the PA Family Council, which USA Today reporter Chris Ullery identified in a public radio interview as "affiliated with Family Research Council, though they try to hide it." With a legacy stretching back to the Reagan years, FRC is a major evangelical activist group with a national focus that broadly opposes abortion, divorce and LGBTQ rights. It has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Ullery's USA Today colleague Bethany Rodgers told Pennsylvania public radio station WITF that the Independence Law Center was "actually providing legal services and drafted language and completed policies" to school districts, often "completely behind closed doors." Pennridge was one of those districts. Even as school board members presented ever more restrictive policies on what books were allowed in the library, they did not disclose the influence of the ILC. It wasn't until Rodgers and Ullery filed right-to-know requests that the extent of communications between the school board and the ILC came out.

The Independence Law Center did not respond to Salon's request for comment.

"I will stand up for her and other kids like her"

Parents in the Ridge Network repeatedly said they knew that the Moms for Liberty-linked members of the school board almost certainly won't back down. But they persist in hopes to break through to the rest of the community, especially when it comes to electing more moderate members.

"I don't have any expectations of our school board doing anything for our children at all," Foster explained. "I speak to the community."

"We have more people," Cramer said, while admitting, "We're not organized in the best ways, necessarily." As she put it, "We're all obsessed a little bit," and she believes they're making progress.

People got involved in the pushback effort in Bucks County for many different reasons. Some parents who spoke up at the summer board meetings expressed concern that downgraded educational values might make it difficult for their kids to get into good colleges. Wurz observed that even non-parents should be worried, since a "drop in school ranking" was likely to affect property values.

But most parents who spoke to Salon were focused on the issue of day-to-day life for kids in the school, especially in light of the ongoing problem of bullying.

"When my family and I moved here in 2007, we were treated like outsiders," Adrienne King told Salon. "I know a lot of Black families have decided to take their kids out of the district. I don't think that should have to be your only option."

She argued that the Hillsdale curriculum might add to "the environment of bullying and harassment and discrimination" that so many students endure.

"I have a queer kid and she wasn't treated so nicely at the school," said Laura Foster. "The school counselors' hands were tied, in terms of responding, and it broke my heart. Ever since then, I'll do whatever I can to show my daughter that I will stand up for her and other kids like her."

"I made the decision to raise my children in the Pennridge school district, even though it's a two-mom family and they're Asian American," Cramer explained. "I don't live in Mount Airy [a middle-class neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia]. It's not gonna be a DEI utopia in Pennridge, ever. We weren't asking for that. We were asking for basic DEI kind of stuff."

Esposito, who grew up in the community before returning to work with the Pennridge Democrats, worried that the changes to school policy and environment would make mental health issues worse at the school. "A Pennridge student, a friend of mine, died by suicide," he said. "I'm afraid of kids surviving, but when they get to the real world not knowing what the hell's going on because they've had a Pennridge curriculum."

Multiple parents said they expected their kids to leave Bucks County for college and professional careers, and were worried that the district's reshaped policies and curriculum would leave them ill-prepared for the outside world.

"It's a disservice," said King. "You're not preparing them for where they are hopefully headed in the future."

"This was a whole scripted movement"

Although Ridge Network parents were primarily focused on the well-being of their students and the health of their community, they also understood why Moms for Liberty and other GOP-linked groups have zeroed in on Bucks County. In an increasingly polarized country, control over governor's seats, Congress and even the White House can come down not just to swing states, but to a few counties within those states.

"Bucks County is one of the swingiest counties in one of the swingiest states in America," Zach Montellaro of Politico wrote in August. "President Joe Biden won it in 2020. So did Sen. John Fetterman and Gov. Josh Shapiro two years later. But it's represented by a Republican in Congress."

"As Pennsylvania goes, so goes the presidential race in 2024. And as Bucks County goes, Pennsylvania will go. Everyone should care deeply about this," state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, the chair of the Bucks County Democratic Party, told Politico. Targeting school boards with well-funded takeover campaigns is an effort to redirect local politics toward culture-war fights that Republicans clearly hope will sway some moderate voters back to their side.

Henig told Salon that Republican strategists "took a message from Glenn Youngkin's victory in the gubernatorial race in Virginia in 2021" that high-octane outrage over alleged left-wing ideology in schools would win over "suburban parents who might otherwise have been more inclined to look to the Democrats."

That's a significant factor behind the sudden surge in accusations that numerous well-regarded YA novels are "pornographic" and the intense focus on banning trans kids from team sports, even in school districts where no trans kids have tried out for teams. The goal is to stoke a narrative that Democrats have gone "too far" and that voters should squelch their concerns about Trump and the MAGA movement, on the premise that only the GOP will "protect" children.

Kevin Leven of the Bucks County Anti-Racism Coalition told Salon this was part of the reason he was attending the Pennridge school board meetings. "It looks as though things are lining up" for the Pennridge district "to be Vermilion's premiere in the country," he said, referring to Jordan Adams' consulting firm that wrote the new curriculum.

Leven noted that Adams had first tried to sell his curriculum to a school district in Sarasota, Florida. That seemed like a perfect fit, since the chair of the Sarasota County school board, Bridget Ziegler, is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty and her husband, Christian Ziegler, is chair of the Florida Republican Party. But even in that solidly conservative district, the board eventually rejected Vermilion by a 3-2 vote. Adams moved on to Bucks County.

Activists connected to Moms for Liberty and the Hillsdale network clearly have national goals, and are flush with dark money. But as Pennridge makes clear, they're beginning to encounter a resistance movement that is less well-funded but is rapidly learning how to organize on a grassroots level.

Elizabeth Mikitarian is a retired kindergarten teacher who started the bluntly-named Stop Moms for Liberty. The group's premise, she said, is to be "a communication tool so that the boots on the ground that are doing the work to fight back have a way to collaborate, to plan jointly and to share information across the country." She started the networking group after organizing against Moms for Liberty from her home in Florida  and then she attended a similar school board meeting in Massachusetts, where she lives part-time.

"I heard the exact same speeches that I had heard in the state of Florida," she said. "I realized this was a whole scripted movement," not a matter of "concerned parents going to the podium" in district after district.

Moms for Liberty "have full staff at the national level, paid positions at the national level," she said. "We are pretty much the opposite." Her group has no significant funding, she said, and isn't a formally registered nonprofit. It's essentially an online clearinghouse where people who want to fight the right-wing takeover of school boards can find each other.

Even without the resources of their opponents, affiliates of Stop Moms for Liberty are already having some success in blocking book bans and electing new school board members. What they lack in money, Mikitarian argued, they make up for by being fueled by "passion, instead of being driven by fear."

"We are a diverse group that has the parents that have bothered to do the homework," she said. "Our contention is that Moms for Liberty has an issue with society," which they are taking out on children.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Greg Sargent of the Washington Post recently profiled a group similar to the Ridge Network  Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board, in a rural and suburban county north of Richmond, Virginia. As with the affiliates of Stop Moms for Liberty, the Virginia group is purely grassroots but compensates for its lack of organizing experience with deep local knowledge and a belief in the value of public education. And it's not purely partisan: The far-right agenda in that district is so unpopular that many people aligned with Hanover Citizens are Republicans. One joked to Sargent, "I'm losing friends over this."

Pennridge board member Ron Wurz understands that personally. He's a former Republican who is now a Democrat, but says he's never been a perfect fit with either party. He could no longer tolerate the GOP, he said, with "the way they're going about running schools, too political and not really focused on the kids."

That theme emerged over and over in conversations with parents and educators who are fighting the far-right campaign against modern public education: This is not about "politics," but about the kids. While most of the folks involved in Pennridge probably count as liberals, many emphasized that they do not believe, as Moms for Liberty claims they do, that schools should indoctrinate kids with their ideology or their values. One organizer, who wished to remain anonymous because she's looking for a job, told Salon, "I do believe parents can decide for their own child. It's called parenting. No one's taking that from you."

But when a small group wants to make parenting decisions for "the entire district," she said, that ticks other people off.

Rash said she's had good conversations with parents of all political persuasions while campaigning for school board. "Regardless of Republican or Democrat, people respect the teachers at Pennridge," she said. "So they aren't happy with them being overlooked and then ignored."

Groups like Moms for Liberty have zeroed in on school boards, because, as Wurz pointed out, they are usually chosen in low-profile, low-turnout elections, making it easier to organize an electoral takeover. But as the situation in Pennridge  and, increasingly, across the country  makes clear, there's another side to this story. National politics can often seem abstract, making it easier to reduce everything to party affiliation and bumper sticker slogans. But what students are taught in the local school isn't abstract at all. As Ridge Network supporters emphasized, it impacts everything from daily life to future educational prospects to suburban property values. With real-world issues at stake, the backlash against Moms for Liberty only seems to be spreading and strengthening.

No one at Moms for Liberty and no member of the Pennridge school board, other than Ron Wurz, replied to Salon's requests for comment.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss is blasting his alma mater after Harvard University leaders issued a statement on the war in Israel but declined to address the controversy engulfing the campus after several student groups blamed Israel for the Hamas attack.

The statement from the student groups is morally depraved. The statement from Harvard's leadership is moral cowardice. And I was appalled by both, Auchincloss (D-Mass.) told POLITICO in an interview.

On Monday, Auchincloss said on social media he was ashamed of the university after its leaders failed ... to denounce the antisemitism of the 32 student groups who wrote in a Saturday statement that the Hamas-led attack did not occur in a vacuum and that Israel was entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

Harvard's leadership said in a statement Monday that they have no illusion that Harvard alone can readily bridge the widely different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but we are hopeful that, as a community devoted to learning, we can take steps that will draw on our common humanity and shared values in order to modulate rather than amplify the deep-seated divisions and animosities so distressingly evident in the wider world.

On Saturday, the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack at Israel's border with Gaza. At least 1,600 people on both sides have died in the days since, with the death toll expected to grow.

Auchincloss, a Jewish military veteran, said that while the student groups have a right to issue a statement, the university should have condemned their message in no uncertain terms. He called for Harvard leaders to join with and rally with students on Harvard's campus who have a personal connection to Israel or to the Jewish faith as a sign of solidarity.

Following fierce online backlash to Harvard's statement, including from powerful alumni and lawmakers such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Harvard University President Claudine Gay issued an independent statement on Tuesday condemning the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership, Gay wrote.

Auchincloss told POLITICO that Gay's statement is a testament to how much of a failure the first statement was yesterday and still doesnt condemn the Harvard student groups for their antisemitic, pro-terrorism message.

Auchincloss, who graduated from Harvard in 2010, said he exchanged messages with the provost of the university on Monday and that he still wants to talk to Gay about the universitys response to the students statement.

Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard president, criticized Harvard's response in a series of social media posts Monday and Tuesday and said that Harvard's leadership fails to meet the needs of the moment.

Why cant we find anything approaching the moral clarity of Harvard statements after George Floyd's death or Russia's invasion of Ukraine when terrorists kill, rape and take hostage hundreds of Israelis attending a music festival? Summers wrote.
In just one night, more than a thousand migrating birds died after crashing into a single building in Chicago, due to what experts say was a deadly combination of migration season, difficult weather, and a lack of bird-friendly building measures.

The Chicago Field Museum collected more than a thousand dead birds that had collided with the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, a convention center located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Wednesday night into Thursday morning, Annette Prince, director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, told CNN.

Volunteers working with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors collected an additional thousand dead birds from the citys downtown area, said Prince. And there were likely more birds that flew away after colliding into a building but later died of their injuries, she said.

It was overwhelming and tragic to see this many birds, Prince said. I went to a building where, when I walked up to the building, it was like there was just a carpet of dead and dying and injured birds.

A combination of factors likely contributed to the extraordinary number of deadly collisions, Prince said.

There was a particularly high volume of birds set to migrate south for the winter that night. The birds had been waiting for winds from the north or west to ease their journey. Those birds essentially piled up, Prince said. When the right winds arrived on Wednesday, a large number of birds set off for their migration at once. Additionally, there were foggy and low cloud conditions, which can bring them into confusion with lights and buildings, Prince said. The clouds likely caused the birds to fly at a lower altitude, bringing them closer into contact with buildings. McCormick Place in particular is one of the first buildings birds encounter as they move along Lake Michigan, she said.

McCormick Place in Chicago is seen at evening time on July 13, 2008. - benkrut/iStock Editorial/Getty Images/File

Buildings that leave their lights on overnight, when most birds migrate, are also more likely to attract collisions, she added. Those lights are a very prominent attraction for birds  almost like a lighthouse.

But birds continued to fatally crash into the McCormick Place Lakeside Center even during the daytime, she said, which highlights the extent to which large panels of clear glass can confuse the animals. If you use a large expanse of glass that looks like an open space, birds will try to fly into it, not seeing that barrier between them, she said.

And many of the birds that crashed were likely young and embarking on their first migration, according to Prince. For some of them, this is the first time they encountered a city or an urban area, she said.

Andrew Farnsworth, an ornithologist at Cornell University who studies bird migration, told CNN in an interview that the collision event was of enormous magnitude.

The number of birds killed at McCormick Place during that one night is around the same as would typically die from collisions at the building in a year, according to Farnsworth.

Its a very rare thing and a pretty unfortunate thing, he said.

McCormick Place cited unusual weather conditions during the peak of the Fall 2023 migration season in the city coupled with avian confusion that comes from light emanating from buildings, in a statement acknowledging the deaths of an extremely large number of migratory birds.

The well-being of migratory birds is of high importance to us, and we are truly saddened by this incident, the statement reads. Lights were on at the facility due to an event and were turned off as soon as the building was unoccupied, the statement added.

Both Farnsworth and Prince said the McCormick Place incident was a particularly grievous example of a mundane occurrence: Birds crashing into buildings, particularly those with large glass panels that keep their lights on overnight, during the height of the migration season.

The collision problem happens every night of migration in spring and fall, Farnsworth said.

A 2019 report from researchers at Cornells Lab of Ornithology estimated that around 600 million birds die every year in the US after colliding with buildings. Chicago was ranked as the most dangerous city for birds during both the fall and spring migration seasons, followed by Houston and Dallas.

Its a serious problem, Farnsworth said, which has contributed to the decline of several species over the past decades.

Its a challenge that is particularly troubling because its controllable, its something we can solve, he said.

Farnsworth and Prince both highlighted two major interventions that can help reduce the number of avian collision deaths: implementing bird-friendly glass and reducing light pollution.

Bird-friendly glass has some kind of fritting or pattern in it, which lowers the reflectivity, makes it visible to birds, said Farnsworth. New buildings can incorporate bird-friendly glass into their designs, while existing buildings can retrofit their windows with decals that make the glass more visible to birds.

Convincing people to switch over to bird-friendly glass presents its own challenges, according to Prince.

People are very much in love with the aesthetic of clear or reflective glass, she said. I think there has to be a mindset change  that none of those aesthetics are worth hundreds of thousands of things dying because of it.

Additionally, turning off lights, especially overnight, can be critical in saving the animals lives.

Turning off nonessential lights is like a no-brainer, Farnsworth said. It saves energy, its good for human health, and it stops birds from being attracted and disoriented.

The impact of collision deaths will only increase as birds and other animals face threats from climate change and habitat destruction as well, according to Prince.

These birds are not replaceable, said Prince. Theyre valuable too, because we enjoy them, and theyre valuable because theyre critical to our environment.

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A scandal-plagued Republican congressman whose extensive lies have made headlines since his election last year was hit with additional charges by federal prosecutors on Tuesday.

George Santos, 35, pleaded not guilty in May to seven counts of wire fraud, three of money laundering, one of theft of public funds and two of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

Prosecutors charged Santos with an additional 10 counts on Tuesday, including identity theft and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

"Santos is charged with stealing people's identities and making charges on his own donors' credit cards without their authorization, lying to the FEC and, by extension, the public about the financial state of his campaign," Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said.

"Santos falsely inflated the campaign's reported receipts with non-existent loans and contributions that were either fabricated or stolen," Peace said in a statement.

Santos is to appear in court on October 27 to answer the charges.

Santos has already admitted fabricating much of his biography, including his real name, his religion -- he falsely claimed to be Jewish -- his schooling and his employment history when he ran last year for a House seat representing parts of Long Island, New York.

According to the initial indictment, Santos defrauded donors during his successful November 2022 election, transferring money into his own account and using it to pay off personal debts and buy designer clothing.

Santos is also accused of collecting unemployment benefits that he was not entitled to during the coronavirus pandemic, before his election to Congress.

Prosecutors say he pocketed $24,000 in benefits while earning $120,000 a year at a Florida-based investment firm.

Santos has faced calls to resign from constituents, some fellow Republicans as well as Democrats in Congress, but has thus far refused.

cl/caw
PANAMA CITY The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization (ASTRO America) co-hosted a two-day workshop event last week with Florida State University's Panama City campus. The topic was additive manufacturing (AM,) also known as 3D printing.

According to a press release from ASTRO America, this was the first of three regional AMF-FL participant workshops, which are designed to engage government, academic and industry stakeholders in crafting a collaborative plan for maturing key supply chains in aerospace, defense and energy.

ASTRO America recently received a $1 million award from the National Science Foundation to help with the growth of 3D printing in Florida.

"To carry this out, the organization has partnered with five of the nation's leading universities," the release says. "Florida International University, Florida State University and the joint Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida  all of whom enjoy a rich history supporting underserved populations."

"Our focus was on how to fill up a 3D printing or additive manufacturing ecosystem to support the growth of aerospace, defense and 3D printing," said Neal Orringer, president of ASTRO America. "The Panhandle in Panama City was an excellent place to begin to develop this kind of ecosystem all across Northern Florida. We believe that Florida has the right building blocks to do this kind of development."

"The workshop was to identify what the opportunities are in North Florida. We want to attract more resources to the region," said Farrukh Alvi, associate provost for innovation, research & entrepreneurship at FSU. "We wanted to bring together all of the stakeholders and identify all of their challenges, needs, and start coming up with a concrete plan to address these things."

There is no denying that these workshops are giving the new generation an opportunity to land jobs, start businesses and expand their technology experience. These workshops can prove to have a generational impact when attracting people to occupations such as technicians, machinists and engineers.

"This is going to allow us to train the workforce of the future, not just people coming out of college or graduate school, but even people K-12 are getting the (training) they need to enter this kind of workforce," said Orringer. "We want to make these investments in Florida because we believe Florida has the right kinds of people and the right kinds of infrastructure."

Regional news: Wakulla residents race time to protect possible slaves graves from RV development

The opportunities ASTRO America is giving young people seem endless. Although ASTRO America is working with various universities throughout Florida, it also is giving young people who have not reached college yet a chance to learn, and prepare for, working in this environment.

This program has the key to open doors to whoever needs it in the state. ASTRO America and schools across Florida have made it clear that they want to make sure the future of technology and engineering are in great hands.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City workshop kicks off statewide push to create high-tech jobs
Deborah Shahar Troen Matias, Ilan Troen and and Shlomi Matias (top left), Hayim Katsman (top right), Hersh Golberg-Polin (bottom left) and Itay Chen (bottom right) (Chen Family, Hannah Katsman Facebook, Jewish Studies/Facebook))

The mother who died saving her son from Hamas terrorists.

The Washington University graduate who longed for peace.

The 23-year-old missing after celebrating his birthday at a desert festival.

These are just some of the Americans killed, kidnapped or feared missing following the attacks launched by Hamas militants on Israel over the last four days.

President Joe Biden confirmed on Monday that at least 11 US citizens are known to have died in the violence, while an unknown number are believed to have been take hostage by Hamas militants.

We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts, he said in a statement.

While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.

The president said that finding the Americans and bringing them to safety is a top priority as he condemned the attacks on Israel by the designated terrorist group.

Amid the Biden administrations efforts, families and friends have spoken out about their loved ones who have been tragically killed  and pleaded for information about the whereabouts of those missing.

Heres what we know so far about some of the Americans caught up in the unprecedented attacks.

Mother who sacrificed life for her son

US citizen Deborah Matias, 50, died sacrificing her own life to save that of her child.

Ilan Troen, professor of Israel studies at Brandeis University in Boston, said that his daughter Deborah, her husband Shlomi and their son Roten, 16, were in their home when Hamas militants stormed across the border, broke into homes and killed those inside.

Professor Troen said that Deborah threw her body on top of her sons in order to protect him from the gunfire.

She and Shlomi were shot and killed while Roten was shot but survived.

Ilan Troen (centre), Brandeis University professor, with daughter Deborah Shahar Troen Matias and her husband Shlomi Matias (Sourced)

They made sure to fall on him and thereby saved his life. Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved, he told WBZ-TV.

Professor Troen said he rushed to hospital to be reunited with his grandson who is recovering from his injuries.

The devastated father told CNN that Deborah was a child of light and life.

She, rather than becoming a scientist or a physician, she said to me one day, Dad, I have to do music, because its in my soul, he said.

Washington graduate who dreamed of peace found dead in home

Dr Hayim Katsman  a University of Washington graduate who hoped for peace in the Middle East  was found dead inside his apartment in Israel after Hamas terrorists tore through the community.

Hayims family last heard from him on Saturday morning when they received chilling messages from him saying that Hamas terrorists had entered Kibbutz Holit in southwest Israel where he lived.

The family never heard from the 32-year-old again.

Hayims friend Avital Alajem told CNN that they both hunkered down together inside a shelters closet to hide from the Hamas militants. But they broke in and fired through the door.

Ms Alajem survived but Hayim was shot and killed.

Hayim Katsman (Hannah Katsman Facebook)

He was murdered, she said. I was saved because he was next to the door and they shot him.

Hayims sibling Noy Katsman told CNN the family spent hours desperately trying to get in touch with him before learning of his murder.

Hayim was born in the US and studied at the University of Washington where he earned a PhD in international studies in 2021.

His parents were originally from Israel before locating to the US more than three decades ago and so Hayim had moved there to carry out research.

Noy Katsman said that Hayim had longed for peace and supported a solution for this bleeding conflict between Israel and Palestinians.

Man, 23, missing after celebrating at festival rave

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since early Saturday morning when he was partying with hundreds of other ravers at the Supernova festival in northern Negev.

During the celebrations, Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack, killing and kidnapping dozens of people from the site.

The Israeli rescue service Zaka said on Sunday that more than 260 bodies had since been found at the music festival site, with the death toll likely to climb higher.

Hershs father Jonathon Polin told The Jerusalem Post that his son was among those partying at the rave.

The 23-year-olds birthday was just days earlier and he was also celebrating his release from Army service at the end of April, he said.

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since Saturday (The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook)

At around 8am local time on Saturday morning, the 23-year-old sent a couple of heartbreaking final messages to his parents.

I love you, one of the messages read. Im sorry, read another.

No one has heard from him since, with the family now desperately trying to find out what happened to him.

In a heartbreaking press conference on Tuesday, Hershs mother Rachel Goldberg said that they had seen a picture of him taking cover in a bomb shelter with other festivalgoers.

She said witnesses had told the family that his arm had been blown off from the elbow down.

The Hamas terrorists then told the group anyone who can walk, stand up and walk out and so Hersh walked out completely calm, she said.

He was then reportedly put on a pickup truck and driven away by Hamas, with his cellphone signal last pinging on the Gaza border.

Hersh was born in Berkeley, California, and moved with his family to Jerusalem when he was seven.

He went on to join the Army, training as a medic and tank driver in the 7th Armored Brigade.

On completion of his Army service, Jonathon Polin said his son got a job as a waiter and was saving up for his lifelong dream of travelling to India.

He is a smiley, fun-loving guy and people of all ages just gravitate towards him... hes the guy that is just fun to be around and makes people have a good time, his father said at the press conference.

Midwife who brought thousands of babies into world  and was last heard screaming on phone

California-born Adrienne Neta has brought thousands of babies into the world as a midwife.

She was last heard screaming down the phone to her adult children as Hamas terrorists stormed into her home.

Her son Nahar Neta said at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that he and his siblings had been on the phone to their mother on Saturday trying to keep her calm as the attacks unfolded and she hunkered in a shelter.

They were still on the call when they heard gunfire in the background.

We were on the call with her when the terrorists barged into her home. We heard a little bit of screaming and that was our last contact with her, he said.

Mr Neta said that they did not hear shooting on the call after the terrorists breached the building so they are hoping that she is being held hostage.

Desperate family members hold press conference to plead for help in finding missing Israeli-American loved ones (YouTube)

Its our hope  its ridiculous to say  our optimistic scenario is that she is being held hostage in Gaza and is not dead in the street, he said, breaking down in tears.

He said that their mother devoted her life to helping people of all races and genders in the hospital where she worked.

My mother is an exceptional human being. She spent most of her life in the community and then as a midwife in a hospital, said her daughter Dayana Neta.

When she walked into the delivery room she saw a human being in front of her. Not a religion, not a race, not a hijab, not an orthodox Jew  it was always the human being she saw. We once calculated our mother brought thousands of lives into this world.

When Hamas walked into my mothers room... they did not see a human being.

New Yorker turned Israeli soldier missing in action

Itay Chen was born and raised in New York before his family later moved to Israel.

Around a year ago, Itay joined the Israel Defense Forces as a corporal.

He was based along the Gaza border when Hamas terrorists breached it on Saturday morning.

His father Ruby Chen said at a press conference on Tuesday that he last heard from him then when Itay said they were under attack.

Since then silence, he said.

Now, the 19-year-old is feared to be among the hostages kidnapped and held by Hamas terrorists.

Itay Chen (Chen family)

Israeli officials have designated him missing in action.

Mr Chen said that they believe his son could be being held as a prisoner of war as no one has been able to physically locate him, identify him hes not in a hospital  not on a deceased list.

Please think of us not just as a headline, we are people, we are family, he said.

We want to go back to becoming family, hopefully as soon as possible.

Itays family joined a protest outside the US embassy in Israel on Monday.

Dressed in t-shirts that read Help Find Itay and holding up photos of the missing 19-year-old, they begged President Joe Biden to help bring him home.

Father expecting third child now believed to be in Gaza

Sagui Dekle-Chen is a married father who was last seen on Saturday in his Kibbutz close to the Gaza border.

His father Jonathan Dekel-Chen said in a press conference on Tuesday that hundreds of heavily armed, well-organised terrorists entered their community of around 400 with an intention to kill, maim and destroy civilian life.

Mr Dekel-Chen, a Hebrew University academic who previously held positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and Rutgers University, said he believes his son has been taken to Gaza by Hamas militants and is being held hostage there.

He is an arms length away from me in Gaza, but couldnt be farther from me and my family right now, he said.

Sagui is the father of two beautiful daughters and his wife is pregnant right now.

Sagui is the kind of son everyone would want, he said of his son.

Mr Dekel-Chen said only 160 of the 400 community members have survived.

The rest died or are prisoners or are missing, he said.
James Montoya was seen leaving his favorite Denver-area billiards spot with a stranger in the wee hours of April 2 to keep the party going. On July 26, after an exhaustive search effort, his remains were found nearly four hours away.

Montoya, 26, had been playing pool at Hangar 101 Bar and Grill with Jesus Angel Arvizo, 33, and Amber Dominguez, 30, among a group that police said he had just met that night.

At a press conference last Tuesday, investigators said they believe Arvizo shot Montoya dead after an argument in his car, then dumped his body in Saguache County.

Denver Police announced a first-degree murder warrant for Arvizo's arrest; Dominguez, who police believe was in the car at the time of the alleged fatal argument, has been arrested and charged as an accessory in the killing, according to the Denver District Attorney's Office.

SUZANNE MORPHEW'S REMAINS FOUND IN DESERT LIKELY 'PRESERVED' ENOUGH TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEATH: DR. BADEN

James Montoya, 26, is pictured at the Hangar 101 Bar and Grill  his favorite spot to play pool, where he met Jesus Angel Arvizo, Amber Dominquez and a third man. Denver Police believe that Arvizo shot Montoya dead in an argument after they left the bar on April 2, then dumped his body nearly four hours away in Saguache County.

"What kind of argument would make someone want to shoot my son?" bereaved mother Corinna Montoya asked in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Even if [Montoya] did say something and they were all drinking even if he did say something inappropriate, to me any sensible person would pull over and say get out. Or, worst case, you beat them up or something. But to shoot him? That's senseless and extreme."

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The search is on for Arvizo, per the Denver Police Department  although he has a Denver address, he is believed to be somewhere in Alamosa County.

Long before police announced Arvizo's suspected involvement in Montoya's killing, even months before their son's body was found, Corinna said she and her husband knew the man was hiding something.

COLORADO MAN CHARGED AFTER KILLING BLACK BEAR AND CUBS: POLICE

Last Tuesday, police announced that a warrant for first-degree murder had been signed for 33-year-old Jesus Angel Arvizo's arrest. He has previously been arrested at least four times for weapons-related charges, a member of the Denver Police Department told Fox News Digital.

Montoya's girlfriend knew something was awry when she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to find that her partner had never returned home. After repeated unanswered calls, she called Montoya's sister, who then contacted parents Corinna and Eddie.

Corinna told Fox News Digital, her son posted a Snapchat around 2:30 a.m. from the Lakewood bar, his frequent hang-out about five minutes from his house, where the lifelong player would often bring his own pool cue.

Amber Dominguez, 30, was charged as an accessory to murder and taken into police custody  detectives said at their Tuesday press conference that they believe she witnessed Jesus Arvizo shooting James Montoya.

Her "extrovert" son had glad-handed with "about 25 people" that night, Corinna said of the bar's security footage, before he left in Arvizo's car.

"[Arvizo] was not friends with my son, he'd met him that morning or night playing pool," she told Fox News Digital. "My son is really good at pool, he was really extroverted he'd talk to anybody  if he had a good conversation with you he'd say you're his friend. He never met somebody he didn't like, he was friends with everybody."

COLORADO MAN GOES MISSING DURING 28-MILE SOLO TREK IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

James Montoya is pictured with his mother, Corinna. The bereaved mother told Fox News Digital that her "hardworking" son dreamed of joining the Marines, and was slated to start basic training in the near future.

The owner of Hangar 101, who asked that his name not be used, said that the body language seen between Montoya, Dominguez and Arvizo during the three-hour period at the bar was "not aggressive" and "very friendly"  Montoya hugged at least one of the new acquaintances.

"Nothing there indicated that would happen a few hours later. People playing pool, having a good time," the owner, who said he has cooperated fully with police, said. "We knew [James] pretty well  I think Hangar was his favorite place to be. [But] I guess his fate was to meet the devil that particular night Making a bad decision one night shouldn't cause you to die."

After they learned Arvizo spent time with their son the night he went missing, Corinna said she and her husband found his home address and made a beeline there  but no one answered when they knocked, Corinna said. They put in a missing person's report for Montoya around 4 p.m. that afternoon.

James Montoya is pictured with his mother, father, brother and two sisters.

When the parents first tracked down and called Arvizo, Corinna said, they were "just asking" about the time he had spent with their son  but the couple quickly realized the man's behavior was suspect, and the conversation turned hostile.

"He confirmed that he did meet him and that [Montoya] was a really cool guy, but [claimed] he had dropped him off and didn't know where he was," Corinna told Fox News Digital. "He [didn't] give any specifics and couldn't go into any detail we just knew he was lying."

Corinna said she interrupted Arvizo's phone conversation with her husband.



"I said you know what? Were going to get video footage from the Hangar Bar and you need to fess up now to what you've done to my son.'"

Corinna said Arvizo calmly replied that she was making some "pretty strong allegations."



"We said Yeah, we know you did something to our son and you know where he is," Corinna recalled  at that point, she said, Arvizo hurriedly hung up the line.

From the "highways to the byways, dumpsters to back roads," Corinna said, Montoya's girlfriend and family searched for months.

James Montoya is pictured with his girlfriend, Lorena Salazar. Montoya's mother, Corinna, told Fox News Digital that she contacted their family soon after Montoya did not return home on April 2 and was there "every step of the way" in their search.

However, in July, Corinna said, she received a text from her son's girlfriend  the body of a man fitting her son's description was found, shot dead, in Saguache County.

"[Area police] showed a couple different articles of [the dead man's] clothing," Corinna said. "[We recognized Montoya's] shoe that he wore that morning  the minute we saw the dress shoe it sank in. [We had a] picture of what he was wearing that morning We knew and reached out to detectives, it hadn't reached Denver yet."

After their press conference with Denver Police announcing the search for Arvizo, Corinna said, she's "praying he comes forward or someone turns him in."

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"This is a dangerous individual," she told Fox News Digital. "For someone to just snap and kill somebody and go through all of this to hide his body he's just not a safe individual to be in the community."

If Arvizo "wants to stay in hiding," she said, her family is "not going to go away."

The Denver Police Department told Fox News Digital that Arvizo has at least four prior weapons-related arrests  the Colorado Bureau of Investigation could not be reached at press time for specifics.

Police asked anyone with information about the case to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.





Original article source: Mother of man who vanished from pool hall reveals suspicious call with suspect
DULZURA, Calif.  A motorcyclist who was killed in a crash on State Route 94 in late September has been identified, local medical officials said.

Drexel Ivan Autor Orgeta, 28, of Chula Vista, was announced as the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office said on its website.

On the morning of Sept. 23, Orgeta was driving a 2024 Kawasaki ZX-6R westbound on SR-94, east of Roma Road in the unincorporated area of Dulzura, when he failed to negotiate a curve and crossed into the eastbound lanes, according to California Highway Patrol. While traveling in the wrong direction, he hit a sign and was ejected from the motorcycle.

4 glamping sites for fall camping in San Diego County

First responders airlifted Orgeta to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The manner of his death has been determined as an accident, per the medical examiners office.

Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Officer Jared Grieshaber at (619) 401-2000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Of all the ways that a relationship can end, a fundamental disagreement about a work of art is in some ways extremely silly. And yet, a film or a book exposing an irreparable rift in a love that perhaps wasnt as compatible, as symbiotic or as caring as one might have thought is also, somehow, as good a reason as any. Maybe it will even, eventually, provide a funny story.

Another, more excruciating, way for a relationship to end is with one party falling off the roof of a house to their death, followed by a humiliating public trial to determine the fault or innocence of the other, as happens in Justine Triets Palme dOr-winning  Anatomy of a Fall . And just like The Corrections before it, it seems that Anatomy of a Fall might be the new litmus test for modern relationships. See it with a romantic partner at your own risk. But, from my perch, this is one thats worth the debate(s) it provokes.

Sandra Huller, the German actor known for Toni Erdmann and, soon,  The Zone of Interest, is Sandra, a writer living in a chalet in the French Alps with her husband, Samuel ( Samuel Theis ), and 11-year-old son, Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). Triet thrusts the audience into a tense and stressful atmosphere, introducing us to Sandra in the midst of an interview with a grad student, a woman, which will become significant later. Sandra is a little prickly and sipping a glass of red wine while deflecting questions back at her interviewer. It is hard to focus on what theyre saying, however, as an instrumental version of 50 Cents P.I.M.P. blares through the household on a deafening, constant and maddening loop. Samuels choice, apparently.

The student leaves, Sandra waves goodbye from a balcony, 50 Cent still playing, glass of red still in hand and Daniel, who is blind, heads out for a walk with his dog. He returns to find his father on the ground outside, dead and bleeding out. Sandra's lawyer, Vincent (Swann Arlaud, a calming presence), later analyzes the fall trajectory and finds the cause of death inconclusive.

Stop, Sandra says. I did not kill him.

Thats not the point, Vincent responds.

Its one brief exchange that could sum up the 150-minute film, which is a smartly constructed and wholly engaging whodunit, courtroom thriller, marriage drama and, at some points, satire. This is not really a tearjerker, but a visceral dismantling of a life thats either happening in the wake of a tragedy or a murder. Either way, its uncomfortable to watch Samuels sharp, merciless advocate (Antoine Reinartz) grill Sandra about their marriage troubles and why, in his mind, that makes her a likely suspect. Shes also accused of doing it for material for her books.

Huller makes the audience squirm along with her as she plays the tricky game of knowing when to take the insults and when to push back (without seeming unlikable, of course), and shes doing this all in two languages that arent the characters own (French and English). Its exhausting, illuminating and triggering to be reminded of the internalized misogyny that still exists and even thrives in marriages that look evolved and equal on paper. But it's hard to fight back when parties can hide their own culpability behind therapy-speak.

For Daniel, the trial and his part in it plays out like a vicious divorce proceeding, in which his parents' characters are dissected and annihilated. He bears witness to their fights, their infidelities, their insecurities and all manner of speculation made by prosecutors, therapists and judges about the private matters of this couple, the complexities of which are far too great for a child burdened with the loss of one parent and the possible imprisonment of another.

And, of course, Samuel is unable to speak for himself  not really at least. His therapist has some insights and assumptions, his lawyer has many, and there is one brutal argument that were all privy too, since he himself recorded it in secret to inspire his own writings. For some audiences, this might be the biggest and most egregious injustice of all, coating everything with an uncertainty that will never be resolved. At a certain point, you might even forget that its a murder trial youre watching.

Anatomy of a Fall may not be a film with many concrete answers, ultimately, but the truths it uncovers are irrefutable.

Anatomy of a Fall, a Neon release, in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for sexual references, violent images and some language. Running time: 150 minutes. Four stars out of four.
Using its somewhat stealthy MQ-20 Avenger , General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has begun flight demonstrations of a system its developed that will allow small drones to be launched and recovered in mid-air from larger uncrewed aerial vehicles. It's part of a broader vision for how these kinds of aircraft might be employed in future conflicts.

The concept is known to the company as the Aerial Recovery System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Air-Launched Effects (SUAS/ALE), and you can read more about it here . Until now, however, it had been associated primarily with the non-stealthy GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle .

A media release today from GA-ASI reveals that a system demonstration took place over the Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, on September 20, 2023. This saw a towline deployed and retracted from one of the companys larger Extended Range version of the jet-powered Avenger.

An MQ-20 Avenger trails the towline and smart end feature during the test last month. GA-ASI

The towline itself was fitted with what GA-ASI describes as a smart end feature, which includes a wireless link with the larger drone mothership.

GA-ASI provided the following details about the trial:

During this demonstration, a hoist from Breeze-Eastern equipped with GA-ASIs smart end feature was integrated into Avengers payload bay. While in flight, the towline was deployed away from Avenger to the optimal distance for aerial recovery. The smart end feature was able to wirelessly transmit its position back to Avenger, confirming its ability to transmit the data to a nearby SUAS/ALE for aerial recovery.

The smart end feature not only serves as a mechanical interface for aerial launch/recovery of a drone but also includes a beacon, providing cues as to where it is relative to the smaller drone. Originally, GA-ASI designed this concept specifically around launching and recovering its own Sparrowhawk drone , but the company now seems to be suggesting that it could be utilized with other drones, too.

A close-up view of the towline and smart end feature being deployed by the Avenger. GA-ASI

In terms of how it works, the SUAS/ALE drone can calculate its exact position relative to the smart end feature. Once it has flown to the towline, it flies a maneuver to capture the end feature. When it is secure on the towline, the SUAS/ALE folds its wings and switches its engine off. It can then be reeled into the mothership drone using a podded hoist.

Integrating air-launched UAS from Group 5 unmanned aircraft is possible, in part, thanks to advances in relative navigation technology, complex towline analysis, and multi-aircraft control being pioneered by GA-ASI, said Mike Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI. We are excited to see this technology enable long-range kill chains from todays manned and unmanned systems supporting operations in highly contested environments.

In this context, Group 5 drones weigh more than 1,320 pounds and typically operate higher than 18,000 feet, at any speed. This category includes GA-ASIs MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle, as well as the Avenger, as used in this recent trial of the launch and recovery system.

An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the runway during sunset at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Silverthorne

While the latest media release from GA-ASI doesnt actually provide specific details of the SUAS/ALE drone, or drones, that will eventually be used, a tweet from the company today states that the system will enable our large unmanned aircraft to recover and redeploy smaller ones, like Sparrowhawk, midflight. The computer simulation also shows a Sparrowhawk drone being launched and recovered from an Avenger, as seen below:

https://www.twitter.com/GenAtomics_ASI/status/1711728554084552708?s=20

The Sparrowhawk is a small drone specifically designed to be launched and recovered in mid-air and you can read more about it here .

Testing a hoist designed to capture and then manipulate a Sparrowhawk drone. GA-ASI

The Sparrowhawk drone features a large main wing that is stowed parallel with the main fuselage before launch, after which it swings 90 degrees into a deployed position. The drone also has a v-tail and more recent concept art shows externally-mounted engines within annular nacelles.

The General Atomics Sparrowhawk, which is designed to be both launched and recovered in mid-air, under the wing of an MQ-9. GA-ASI

A screen cap from a GA-ASI video showing a simulated Sparrowhawk folding its wings after being recovered on the towline. Note the external-mounted engines. GA-ASI

While the SUAS/ALE experiments have not, so far, involved a small drone being launched from the larger mothership, or retrieved in flight, the concept ultimately promises to offer much more than the capability to release a drone and then capture it in mid-air and bring it back to base.

Once the concept is fully realized, the smaller SUAS/ALE should be able to be refueled, recharged, and rearmed, before being redeployed, according to General Atomics. However, it is by no means clear how a drone like the Avenger or even a Reaper would rearm as smaller drone in flight. These future developments are more in line with talk about using larger motherships , including crewed aircraft. But if recharging/refueling is possible, the same SUAS/ALE drone would be able to undertake multiple sorties in the course of a single mission flown by the mothership, with its longer endurance.

A General Atomics Avenger drone carrying a Lockheed Martin Legion infrared search and track pod during a flight test, GA-ASI

Expanding the concept, GA-ASI also plans to work toward Avenger or Reaper drones serving as mobile command centers for a network of SUAS/ALEs in a persistent, expansive grid. Missions undertaken by these drone teams would include surveillance, electronic attack, suppression of enemy air defenses, establishing communication pathways, as well as joint all-domain mobile command and control.

Furthermore, while the endurance of the Avenger or Reaper drones launching and recovering the SUAS/ALEs would be limited, the smaller drones would potentially be able to remain on station for days or weeks at a time, being picked up by other motherships as they arrive in the area. The larger drones would provide them with a more or less constant supply of fuel, battery power, and weapons (if that is actually feasible), as required.

Back in 2021, before the Avenger was being openly offered as part of the concept, C. Mark Brinkley, the Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing at GA-ASI, laid out to The War Zone a typical scenario as to how the SUAS/ALE might be used:

Our larger [uncrewed] aircraft can transport these small UAS systems thousands of miles into the operational area, and provide the long-range sensors needed to identify potential targets of opportunity. Once identified, the small UAS can swoop in for a closer look, provide positive ID, and then track hostile actors. That data is passed back to the MQ-9 or MQ-1C, which has the robust communications suite necessary to transmit that data anywhere in the world where the information is needed. As a team, the large/small UAS combo will be a key element for targeting, intelligence, reconnaissance, and networking across the future combat spectrum.

As to potential alternative SUAS/ALE payloads, GA-ASI in 2021 released concept art of another small drone design designed to be launched in mid-air from a Reaper-sized drone. This unnamed drone features a v-tail and a pop-out wing configuration like the Sparrowhawk but has a different propulsion system, with a front-mounted propeller.

Concept artwork of an MQ-1C Gray Eagle carrying, among other things, an unnamed smaller unmanned aircraft capable of being launched in mid-air under its right wing. Two Area-I ALTIUS-600 drones are also seen flying to the right. GA-ASI

This drone was described as being part of a larger family of small UAS, which also includes the aforementioned Sparrowhawk.

In the past, GA-ASI has also tested its Gray Eagle drone as a launch platform for the Agile-Launch Tactically Integrated Unmanned System (ALTIUS) 600 drone. The U.S. Army has been actively using the ALTIUS 600 as part of its own Air Launch Effects (ALE) program.

U.S. Army personnel launch an ALTIUS-600 from a DAGOR ultra-light vehicle during an exercise. US Army

Much like General Atomics Air-Launched Effects program, the Armys own ALE program plans to develop a family of smaller drones that can be launched from larger manned or unmanned aircraft and that are capable of working together as networked swarms to perform various missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic attack, decoy, and strike. You can read more about the Army ALE effort here .

The Air Force, too, has been exploring the use of the ALTIUS-600 in air-launched mode, with at least one of these drones having been dropped from an XQ-58A Valkyries internal payload bay .

The ALTIUS-600 is not intended to be recovered while in flight by another aircraft though.

An XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrates the separation of the ALTIUS-600 small unmanned aircraft system in a test at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground test range, Arizona, March 26, 2021. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo

Whatever the types of SUAS/ALE drones that GA-ASI will involve in the later stages of its Aerial Recovery System testing, its important to note that the concept is very much expected to yield solutions for high-end types of conflict, in particular.

While the survivability of drones like the MQ-9s and MQ-1Cs might be questionable even in fairly permissive airspace , let alone future contested environments, the ability for them to launch and recover smaller drones is seen as critical to ensuring they can still play a role in those kinds of scenarios.

A U.S. Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle with B Company, 229th Aviation Regiment, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, California. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Chockey

By employing these smaller UAS, Reaper and Gray Eagle operators will be able to penetrate, disintegrate and exploit anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) air defenses, and support operations in any domain, GA-ASI told The War Zone in 2021. Meanwhile, the greater standoff afforded by these smaller UAS increases the survivability of the larger aircraft by placing them outside the kinetic range of tactical surface-to-air missiles.

At the same time, the U.S. military is looking at other ways to make drones like the Reaper and Gray Eagle more survivable, including a new self-protection pod with built-in radar warning receivers, a Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure (DAIRCM) system, plus a countermeasures dispenser that can release decoy flares , chaff , and the BriteCloud expandable radio-frequency decoy.

Concept artwork of an MQ-9 Reaper equipped with the self-defense pod and armed with an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, as well as other weapons and stores., GA-ASI



However, with the latest test migrating the Aerial Recovery System for SUAS/ALE drones to the stealthy MQ-20 Avenger drone, the survivability of the mothership, and the potential capabilities of the system as a whole, are increased by an order of magnitude. Having the Avenger as a platform for SUAS/ALE opens up a whole new set of possible missions for the concept, far beyond finding new roles for non-stealthy Reapers and similar, by using them to launch smaller drones from outside the reach of enemy defenses. Being more survivable, an Avenger could conceivably launch and recover smaller drones in somewhat higher-risk environments.

While GA-ASI may be just at the start of its exploration of the launch and recovery of small drones from larger ones, the company is clearly pinning many hopes on the concept and what it could offer the U.S. military in future conflict scenarios. Still, many hurdles remain, but it will be interesting to see how General Atomics moves the concept along.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
The year 2023 dawned an exciting one for the husband-and-wife team of Sebastian and Colleen Hardy, owners of Living Roots Wine & Co., which produces wines in both Colleen Hardy's native New York and Sebastian Hardy's native Australia.

The couple was gearing up to open a new production facility and tasting room on the southeast side of Keuka Lake. It was also going to be the first significant crop from their family's vinifera vines planted at Shale Creek Vineyard, which had been given extra care with an eye to producing a premium estate wine.

Across Keuka Lake, Mel Goldman shared their optimism. "This was the year," he said.

His winery, Keuka Lake Vineyards, had been finding its way into the Finger Lakes spotlight over the years. It has been written up in the national press and won some big awards in 2022. He was happy with the team he had assembled for the season and after a mild winter, the vines, which had budded early due to 80-degree days in April, were in looking beautiful.

But in the early morning hours of May 18, the situation for the Hardys, Goldman and others in the wine region changed dramatically. A frost settled into the Finger Lakes and damaged the tender green shoots and buds on the vines. Some growers guessed they'd use as much as 80% of their harvest.

Months later, the grape harvest has begun and the industry is finally getting a full look at the effects of the frost.

"Its better than we thought  not great, but its better than we were afraid it looked like," said Hans Walter-Peterson, viticulture extension specialist for the Cornell Cooperative Extension. His best guess that the harvest will be roughly 30% less than normal.

But some growers fared much better than others.

'Better than we could have hoped for'

The new tasting room at Living Roots Wine & Co. offers a spectacular view of Shale Creek Vineyard and Keuka Lake.

Shale Creek Vineyard, which surrounds the new Living Roots production facility and tasting room, is owned by Colleen Hardy's parents, Mike and Meredith Hurley.

When the frost hit in May, its vines were mostly shriveled. They anticipated losing 70% of their crop, and some newly planted vines were killed. Now the outlook is closer to a 30% loss.

"Some are worse than others, but generally speaking the vineyard bounced back better than we could have hoped for," Colleen Hardy said. "Generally, its looking to be a good harvest, all things considered.

"It really depended on the variety," Sebastian Hardy said. The American hybrid Elvira, which will be used in sparkling wine, fared the best. Cabernet franc and pinot meunier, which were planted further down the hill, were hit hardest.

As in the past, the winery is sourcing some of its grapes from other growers, but availability varies. They've been able to get pinot noir and cabernet franc from one grower in higher quantities. But a grower that would normally provide them with 7 to 8 tons of Marquette, which they use in their dry rose, harvested just 3/4 of a ton. And pinot gris and gewurtztraminer have been especially hard to come by.

A bin of Elvira grapes is readied for the crusher at Living Roots Wine & Co.'s new production facility near Hammondsport in September 2023.

Gewurtztraminer was the hardest hit in the region, said Peterson of Cornell. The grape, which is not well known beyond wine aficionados but produces some outstanding wines in the Finger Lakes, will be down more than 40%. But New York State gives small wineries that operate under farm winery licenses some leeway in this case. Whereas they usually have to produce their wines only from New York State grapes, they will have the option of going outside the state for a percentage of their gewurtztraminer grapes, Peterson said.

Sebastian and Colleen Hardy reflected that frost is just one of many challenges they've faced, both in Australia and the Finger Lakes. "Its just agriculture," Sebastian Hardy said. "The weather is getting more variable. Its always challenging.

Puzzling over effects of frost

Mel Goldman, owner of Keuka Lake Vineyards, shares a laugh with a visitor touring his vineyard on Keuka Lake.

As Mel Goldman walks through the vineyards he farms on both sides of Keuka Lake, he is baffled at the disparate effects of the frost, even in blocks of grapes that are a 9-iron away from each other.

The riesling grapes at the steep Falling Man vineyard, beneath his tasting room on the west side of the lake, are beautiful. The damage from the frost was just enough to save him the annual task of shoot thinning. He estimates he'll have 75 percent of his usual riesling crop. Cabernet franc, on the other hand, looks great in one block, but another produced almost nothing.

Hardest hit was seyval blanc, a hybrid wine grape variety used in the winery's easy drinking off-dry wine and in a pet-nat. The red wine grape Leon Millot also was hard hit, which was a blow, because the winery's 2020 Leon Millot won best red wine in New York at the New York Wine Classic in 2022.

Goldman said he'll be lucky if he gets half of his usual yield, which will cut into his profitability, something that's hard to achieve at his winery even on a normal year. Doing this and making a profit is really tough," Goldman said.

'All part of farming'

Lakewood Vineyards is on Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen.

Over on Seneca Lake, Dave Stamp is among the third generation at Lakewood Vineyards on the southwestern side of Seneca Lake. As vineyard manager, he oversees the care and harvest of 130 acres of grapes.

Initially devastated by the effects of the May frost, his initial guess was that the winery's harvest would be cut by half. Now it appears that the harvest will be closer to a third less than normal. "[The grapes] are responding a little better than we hoped," he said.

Some of the grapes that got hurt at Lakewood are French-American hybrid grape varieties. Leon Millot, essential to the winery's easy drinking Long Stem Red, was hard hit, but he thinks the winery will be able to find other sources for the popular blend.

Many of the vinifera grapes don't seem to have been as damaged. A lot of those are going to be OK," he said

"Its all part of farming," he said. "Well get through this. We expected it at some point.

Less damage further north

Tom Higgins, owner/winemaker of Heart and Hands Wine Company, removes insulation that covered heat tape along the vines in the spring of 2018.

At the northern end of Cayuga Lake, where the temperature dipped below freezing for minutes instead of hours, the picture is far different.

At Heart & Hands Wine Company in Union Springs, a few row of chardonnay grapes in a low lying area close to the road had the most damage. Co-owner Tom Higgins guesses the vine's secondary clusters won't be ripe enough to harvest, so they'll likely wind a snack for birds, foxes and raccoons.

Some of the winery's pinot noir vines had looser clusters than usual, which isn't a problem, while others are pink-ish instead of the grape's usual rich purple. "Our team knows how to pick around that stuff," Higgins said.

In the end, Higgins lost just 2 percent of its crop to frost damage, which is a larger harvest than last year. "The tanks will likely be full this year," he said. "Were excited about the vintage. The fruit looks clean. I think weve done a pretty good job of dealing with the conditions Mother Nature gave us this year.

What's next?

Riesling grapes ripen at Keuka Lake Vineyards in 2023. The spring frost reduced yield, so the winery didn't have to thin clusters during the growing season.

Many growers have crop insurance, which will reimburse them for some of their losses.

In addition, a federal agricultural disaster declaration for 31 counties, spanning from Western New York to the Hudson Valley, offers the growers access to low-interest emergency loans. But growers are reluctant to add debt if they don't have to. "We already have a lot of loans," said Colleen Hardy of Living Roots.

Shale Creek Vineyard is taking advantage of a USDA program that will help with the cost of replanting some of the vines that were killed. That one feels a lot more beneficial," Hardy said.

Fortunately, Mother Nature has been relatively kind since May. While the quantities of the harvest will be down, the quality looks promising.

"Its feeling good so far," said Peterson of Cornell. "Ive been encouraged to see how clean the fruit looks.."

But the next few weeks will be critical, and the hope is for a long stretch of dry weather. "If we get a whole lot of rain, that can change things," Peterson said.

Tracy Schuhmacher, food and drink reporter, holds a level 3 certification in wines from The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Send your wine questions and news to her at tracys@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How much did the May frost hurt Finger Lakes NY wineries?
Misinformation about the conflict in Israel is spreading across X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, with users sharing misleading information about the attacks.

The spread of viral misinformation during a conflict isnt new, but changes made to the platform under Elon Musk s leadership appear to be exacerbating concerns among experts around accessing reliable information online.

I dont think that technology platforms are prepared for events like this. Misinformation and harmful content has always been a problem on social media. I think that this weekends events in Israel have demonstrated that, said Caitlin Chin-Rothman, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Especially Twitter, I would say, has really degraded its content moderation abilities, Chin-Rothman added.

Musk, media reach boiling point over Twitter changes

False claims have spread across X since the Saturday launch of Hamass surprise attack on Israel, including posts of prior Israeli airstrikes being misrepresented as recent, and false claims of the U.S. sending a multi-billion dollar aid package to Israel.

Other false claims have spread from accounts posing as official news outlets, according to a compilation of examples cited in a report published by the left-leaning watchdog Media Matters for America.

Xs trust and safety team said in a post late Monday it is laser focused and dedicated to protecting the conversation on X and enforcing our rule as we continue to assess the situation on the platform.

The team said they took action to remove newly created Hamas-affiliated accounts, along with tens of thousands of posts including graphic media, violent speech and hateful conduct.

The X trust and safety team has also leaned on community notes on posts. The program allows users to sign up to become contributors and create notes on posts for context. Users can also rate posts on their helpfulness.

Despite those efforts, experts and advocates said X has become a minefield of misinformation.

How Musk changed X

Chin-Rothman said X looks completely different than it did this time a year ago.

Musk has imposed several changes to the platform after buying last year for $44 billion with the stated goal of breaking down what he considered barriers to free speech.

Musk boosts Twitters right-wing appeal with moderation changes, Twitter Files

The company rolled back content moderation measures  and cut staffers tasked with those responsibilities. X also changed the verification process to strip public figures of blue check marks to denote their authenticity and instead allow users to pay for the symbols.

Most recently, X stopped showing headlines on posts containing links to articles. Posts now only display the lead image of a story and link to it through that image.

Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at Free Press, said Musk has created a perfect storm on X for the proliferation of misinformation about Israel.

Its a sobering but unsurprising moment that brings further clarity to how important content moderation and commitments to platform integrity are, Benavidez said.

In addition to letting users pay for blue checkmarks, X also now allows users who pay for the premium version of the site to monetize their content through an ads revenue sharing program. Paying users with at least 5 million organic impressions on their cumulative posts in the last three months and at least 500 followers are eligible for the program.

Emerson Brooking, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, said Musks changes to Twitter have changed the incentive structure for the way people talk about and share information about the conflict.

Hes opened the door more than ever for people to become self appointed experts, open source analysts, even if theyre not experts, and even if theyre not doing any real open source analysis, Brooking said.

They can present themselves as such. Theres no easy way to check their claims. They can combine a mix of truth and falsehood and editorial causation and they can command incredible view counts and shares and in some cases, even get endorsed by Elon Musk himself, Brooking said.

X users wade through misinformation

Musk recommended Sunday users check two accounts, WarMonitors and Sentdefender to follow the war in real-time, The Washington Post reported. Both of those accounts were among the spreaders of a false claim in May that there was an explosion near the White House, the Post reported.

Musks post was later deleted but it was viewed 11 million times in three hours before it was taken down, according to the Post.

Chin-Rothman said the amount of spam on the platform has made it hard for readers to parse through and find reliable news accounts.

A fake document made to look like a White House press release that authorized $8 billion in emergency aid to Israel on Saturday circulated online, NBC News reported.

Posts sharing the false image and its claims accrued hundreds of thousands of views on X, and only some of them were given community notes attached that clarified the document is fake, according to the report.

In another instance a video posted on Facebook and X mislabeled an Israeli airstrike as happening over the weekend, when in fact it was from May, Reuters reported. The video appears to have been taken down on Facebook. The Hill reached out to Facebook parent company Meta for comment.

On X, a post with the video is still present but contains a note that it was presented out of context and leads users to a link to find out more.

In another post, an account called the Jerusalem Post, misspelling the citys name as Jerusalam in the handle, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ill and taken to a hospital. The post was seen over 500,000 times, Forbes reported.

That account has since been suspended on X. A spokesperson for X did not respond to a request for comment.

Unusable in this crisis

Imran Ahmed, the CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a group that tracks online misinformation, said X has been unusable in this crisis. CCDH has been a vocal critic of X in the past and is facing a lawsuit from the company over prior reports about misinformation on the platform.

Ahmed said for every other major news event that has broken in the last 10 years the first thing hes done is go to Twitter to see what the world is saying. In this case, he said its been impossible to do because it isnt feasible to discern what is real and what is not.

The whole value proposition was when something happens, [Twitter is] where everyone goes to talk about it and find out more information, Ahmed said.

Musk has broken that, Ahmed said.

It is basically a playground for disinformation actors, he added.

Benavidez said X users can slow down and question the information in front of them when on the platform. But, at the end of the day, she said the responsibility is on Musk and X to provide users with a viable platform committed to integrity.

Which I think it has failed to do, she said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At least 29 people, including children, have been killed in an artillery strike on a displaced persons' camp in north-east Myanmar, near the Chinese border.

The camp is in an area controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), one of several ethnic insurgent groups which have been fighting for self-rule for many decades.

All the victims were civilians, a KIO spokesman told the BBC.

It is one the deadliest attacks in the 63-year-long conflict in Kachin State.

Kachin officials say the armed forces have scaled up attacks on KIO-run areas over the past year because of growing Kachin support for other insurgent groups fighting the military government.

Much of Myanmar has been embroiled in a wider civil war since a 2021 military coup displaced the country's elected government. The military has increasingly used air strikes against opposition-controlled towns and villages since seizing power.

The exiled National Unity Government (NUG) has blamed the junta for the attack on the camp, describing it as a "war crime and crime against humanity".

Junta spokesman Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun denied that the military was behind the attack.

He claimed the army did not have any operations in the area and said the destruction was "probably" caused by stockpiled explosives.

Images shared by local media showed bodies being pulled from the rubble and dozens of body bags lying side by side.

The attack late on Monday night happened in the Mong Lai Khet camp for displaced persons - on the outskirts of Laiza, the town on the Chinese border where the KIO has its headquarters.

Parts of the camp were destroyed by powerful explosions at about midnight, KIO officials told the BBC.

Footage of the aftermath shows many houses obliterated and large numbers of casualties.

Kachin officials believe at least 11 children are among those killed. Fifty-six more people were also injured in the latest attack, 44 of whom had been taken to hospital for treatment.

Map of Laiza

The United Nations in Myanmar said it was "deeply concerned" about reports of deaths in the camp.

"IDP camps are places of refuge, and civilians, no matter where they are, should never be a target," it said in a statement on Facebook.

The British embassy in the capital, Yangon, said it was "appalled by reports of a Myanmar military strike" that killed civilians.

The area around the camp has experienced conflict for many years, as it is not far from the front lines, where Kachin troops in trenches face off against government forces.

However, locals say that no fighting has taken place near the camp in recent times.

It is possible the attack was carried out from the air, but Col Naw Bu of the Kachin Independence Army said the group "did not hear any aircraft".

Almost exactly one year ago, the Myanmar air force used precision-guided bombs to attack an open-air concert at another Kachin base in the night, killing more than 80 people.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) - the KIO's armed wing - is one of the largest and most powerful insurgent groups in Myanmar. It has been fighting the central government sporadically since 1960 and consistently since a ceasefire broke down in 2011.

Since the coup, the military government has viewed the KIA as a significant threat, as it has been giving weapons and training to some of the new insurgent groups which have formed across the country to resist military rule.

KIA also has a long-standing alliance with the Arakan Army, an insurgent group formed initially in Kachin State. But since 2016, it has been operating in Rakhine State, on the other side of the country, where it has successfully challenged the military for control of much of the territory.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in its latest report on the country that it had found a "seemingly endless spiral of military violence".
EXCLUSIVE  Iraqs top judge, Faiq Zidan, who seeks the arrest of former President Donald Trump , confirmed through his spokesperson to Fox News Digital that he has indeed been invited to Washington, D.C. Fox News Digital first broke the story that Zidan had been invited to Washington.

There had been confusion about the controversial judge's visit to Washington, D.C., when it was revealed that he was to meet with officials at the Department of Justice. A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital last week, "The Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan is going to be hosted by the Department of Justice, so we defer to the DOJ to discuss their meetings. We engage with a wide range of counterparts in Iraq, and we value engaging the Iraqi judiciary. The DOJ meets regularly with foreign judicial leaders."

Yet conflicting with the State Department spokesperson's statement, a source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital last Thursday that "Zidan will not be meeting with any DOJ officials."

On Monday, Zidans spokesperson texted Fox News Digital on the WhatsApp messaging service, writing, "His visit to Washington was postponed due to the current war conditions. When he visits Washington, he will hold a meeting with you to clarify many matters that are not clear to American public opinion."

MYSTERY SURROUNDS VISIT TO DC OF IRAN-BACKED IRAQI JUDGE WHO ISSUED WARRANT FOR TRUMPS ARREST

Fox News Digital called Zidans spokesperson before publication of its first article on his planned visit. She declined to comment on the telephone or via WhatsApp. After Fox News Digital sent the Iraqi spokesperson its published story, she issued the statement that the war in Israel was preventing Zidan from traveling to Washington.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

According to a source familiar with Zidans invitation to the DOJ, the judge told many U.S. officials that the DOJ invited him to Washington, D.C.

In January, Zidan said that Iraqs Supreme Judicial Council had filed an arrest warrant for Trump with regard to the U.S. targeted killing of Iranian Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, who reportedly oversaw the murders of more than 600 American military personnel in the Mideast.

An Iraqi judge who issued an arrest warrant for former President Donald Trump over the death of Qassem Soleimani, shown, is expected to travel to Washington, D.C.

IRAQ OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO KIDNAPPING OF ISRAELI-RUSSIAN CITIZEN WHO HAS BEEN MISSING FOR MONTHS

According to an article on the website of U.S.-sanctioned Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the Iraqi judge said during a meeting earlier this year with the Raisi, "One of the most important examples of judicial cooperation between the two neighboring and brotherly countries is the trial of all those who participated in the terrorist crime of martyring the commanders of fighting against terrorism."

Zidan's reported statement was said in a discussion on pursuing "justice for the martyrs Soleimani, al-Muhandis."

LAWMAKER DEMANDS ANSWERS AFTER BIDEN OFFICIAL IMPLICATED IN IRANIAN INFLUENCE SCHEME: 'UNBELIEVABLE!'

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was the head of the pro-Iran Kata'ib Hezbollah militia in 2020. The U.S. military killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis with a lethal drone strike near Baghdad International Airport.

Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser for the Washington, D.C.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital, "The Justice Department should be focused on protecting Americans targeted by IRGC assassinations and kidnapping plots, not hosting the IRGCs man in Baghdad who wants to prosecute Americans for killing terrorists. Zidan should not be allowed in America."

Michael Knights, a fellow of the Washington Institute who has written about Zidan, told Fox News Digital that "Zidan issued one order after another that has disadvantaged opponents of Iranian militias."

Knights said that after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Soleimani and al-Muhandis "were the architects of moving Zidan up through the judicial system. He was running counterterrorism courts so that none of Irans friends got prosecuted under Iraqi law."

The lack of modern judicial norms in Iraq was noted by Knights, who said Zidan "is a supreme court judge who can hire and fire other judges. Iraq has one supreme court judge. He is as powerful as the prime minister of Iraq. He is unelected, installed by Iran and has no term limit."





Original article source: Mystery solved as Iran-backed judge, who seeks Trumps arrest, confirms invite to Washington, DC
An Australian man attempting to row across the Pacific Ocean alone was rescued Friday by a cruise ship after his boat capsized, leaving him naked and adrift at sea in a "life or death" situation, according to his rescuers.

Tom Robinson, of Brisbane, had set off on a journey to become the youngest person ever to row across the Pacific Ocean when he ran into bad weather and rough seas on Thursday night, according to New Caledonias Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (COSS) and P&O Cruises Australia.

Robinson activated his distress beacon more than 60 miles west of Malakula Island of Vanuatu, an archipelago of about 80 islands located east of Australia near New Caledonia.

COSS said it received the distress signal but was unable to communicate with the boat.

US MOUNTAINEER, HER GUIDE KILLED AFTER AVALANCHES CRASH DOWN TIBETAN MOUNTAIN

Tom Robinson was spotted from the air sitting naked atop his capsized boat in the Pacific Ocean, about 60 miles from the Vanuatu archipelago, officials said.

The maritime service called the Pacific Explorer, a cruise ship with P&O Cruises Australia that was sailing in the area with 2,000 guests on a 9-day round-trip voyage from Auckland, New Zealand, to help search for the vessel in distress.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The cruise line told Fox News Digital in a statement that the ships captain immediately diverted course to help the stranded voyager.

The cruise liner maneuvered through the challenging weather conditions and found Robinson sitting naked on top of the overturned boat. The crew immediately brought him to safety aboard the ship Friday morning.

The cruise ship's crew brought Tom Robinson to safety on board the ship.

"Toms a really lucky man," said Peter Little, senior vice president of P&O Cruises Australia. "These were very challenging conditions. We appreciate our guests understanding that this was a life-or-death matter."

ALLEGED SEAFARING BANDITS NABBED ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY AFTER SERIES OF BOAT RAIDS

Robinson suffered a sunburn and dehydration during the ordeal. He was given medical treatment on board the cruise ship along with fresh clothes and a hot meal. Officials said he is in good health.

Robinson was pictured wearing a Pacific Explorer shirt and smiling with members of the ships crew.

Tom Robinson thanked the cruise ship's crew for coming to his aid.

"Id just like to say a huge thank you to all the crew on P&O Pacific Explorer whose seamanship and professionalism ensured a safe rescue," Robinson said in a statement. "Once aboard I was treated with the utmost courtesy and kindness by the medical staff. Many, many thanks to P&O for everything they have done for me."

Robinsons rescue marked the second vessel in distress that the Pacific Explorer responded to within a two-week period in the South Pacific.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

""We will always go to the aid of a seafarer in distress," Little said. "These are very serious situations."





Original article source: Naked Australian solo rower rescued atop capsized vessel after hours adrift in Pacific: Life or death
Eerie new pictures make it look like astronauts are back on the moon already.

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir shared spacesuit training photos of herself and another person in footage released on X (formerly known as Twitter). The landscape surrounding them looks like the moon , but it is in fact a rock yard at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston with lamps and black walls to simulate the harsh lunar surface conditions.

In one photo, Meir  an International Space Station veteran  exchanges fistbumps with her partner (not identified) on the surface of a simulated lunar landscape. They are wearing spacesuits that are not completely sealed, but which are mockups to get used to the weight and feel of the bulky outfits.

Related: NASA wants a 'lunar freezer' for its Artemis moon missions

These exercises will be crucial for NASA's Artemis program , which aims to land astronauts on the moon during the Artemis 3 mission no earlier than 2025 or 2026, according to Meir. "We appreciate all the work the incredible team has put in already," she stated of the training. (Artemis 3 will be the first lunar landing with humans since 1972's Apollo 17.)

JSC's facility is just one way in which astronauts simulate walking on the moon. The Joint EVA Test Team (JETT), for example, is an annual exercise in Flagstaff, Arizona that brings astronauts into the desert landscape at night, where lamps are deployed to simulate the harsh sun on the moon. ("EVA" stands for "extravehicular activity," a synonym for spacewalk.)

two people fist bump while wearing spacesuits.

Jessica Meir (right) and a partner on a simulated moon landscape at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. (Image credit: Jessica Meir/NASA/X)

This year's planned JETT exercise has been delayed until 2024, Meir said in the tweet. Last year's edition saw participation from NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Drew Feustel (an American-Canadian citizen now retired from the program). The Arizona landscape includes moon-like characteristics such as "challenging terrain, interesting geology, and minimal communications infrastructure," NASA officials stated in October 2022 , as the expedition was ongoing.

Related: NASA astronauts 'moonwalk' in the Arizona desert for our lunar future

The Artemis 3 crew has not yet been named, but the round-the-moon mission Artemis 2 does have four astronauts assigned for an excursion in late 2024. The Artemis 2 crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman , Victor Glover , Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen . An uncrewed mission, Artemis 1 , successfully orbited the moon in late 2022.

NASA has pledged to include women and people of color on Artemis program excursions, as well as international astronauts. Glover will become the first Black person to leave low Earth orbit , Koch will be the first woman, and Hansen the first non-American. And records for diversity are continually set in other space realms, too; for example, Meir participated in the first all-woman spacewalk alongside Koch, who spent nearly a year in space on the ISS.
A blinding burst of blue light flashing from seemingly empty space is puzzling astronomers.

Scientists had previously thought Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients were caused by dying stars.

But this new flash's location is nowhere near where a dying star should be.

A bright flash of blue light appearing in the middle of seemingly empty space has scientists confused.

The brilliant flash  thought to have burned at about 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit is a rare explosion known as a Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT). These are some of the brightest and most unpredictable known visible-light events in the universe, NASA said in a statement about the findings Thursday.

Scientists previously thought they knew what could cause such a bright burst of energy. But the latest observation, first spotted in April this year, is causing them to rethink what may be happening.

"The more we learn about LFBOTs, the more they surprise us," Ashley Chrimes, an author on a paper about the discoveries and European Space Agency Research Fellow, said in the press release.

A bright flash where it shouldn't be

Because these flashes are so brilliant and short-lived  LFBOTs turn off in a matter of days  scientists had previously concluded they must be caused by a specific type of event called a core-collapse supernova.

Supernovae usually shine for months. By contrast, core-collapse supernovae, which occur at the death of the biggest of stars, release a burst of energy that only lasts a few days, which is in line with what was being seen during an LFBOT, per the press release.

The problem is that this latest LFBOT, nicknamed the "Finch," happened 15,000 light years from the nearest galaxy. That's much too far for a core-collapse supernova to travel.

Supernovae come from stars, which are born inside galaxies. Because big stars don't live long, it's very unlikely a star that big would have had the time to travel that far before bursting into a core-collapse supernova, per the press release.

"We've now shown that LFBOTs can occur a long way from the center of the nearest galaxy, and the location of the Finch is not what we expect for any kind of supernova," said Chrimes in the press release.

An unidentified black hole or two traveling stars crashing?

So it's back to the drawing board to try to understand what is causing the LFBOTs.

There are a few more hypotheses for what could cause the bright blue flashes. But they are a bit weirder.

One possibility is a black hole is swallowing up stars. In that case, you'd expect to see a globular cluster of stars around it, which hasn't been spotted yet. But it may be the case that the telescopes pointed at the area so far aren't powerful enough. The new James Webb Space Telescope, with its extended capabilities, could provide more answers, per the press release.

Another possibility is that two rogue neutron stars have been traveling through space at breakneck speeds, and they happened to crash into each other creating a kilonova, an explosion 1,000 times more powerful than a standard nova.

An artist's impression of a kilonova NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

"The discovery poses many more questions than it answers," said Chrimes in the press release. "More work is needed to figure out which of the many possible explanations is the right one."

The findings were shared ahead of publication on a pre-print server and are expected to be published in the peer-reviewed journal The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society shortly.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The National Police of Ukraine is investigating almost 100,000 war crimes committed by the Russians in Ukraine, and these documents will form the basis for indicting Russian war criminals in international courts in the future.

Source: Ivan Vyhivskyi, Head of the National Police, in an interview with Interfax Ukraine

Details: Vyhivskyi says that currently more than 96,500 war crimes are being investigated by the National Police. This is about 90% of all war crimes investigated by Ukrainian law enforcement officers.

The head of the National Police explained that this is primarily because the police are the largest law enforcement agency with the largest number of investigators.

Materials related to missile attacks and crimes committed by the Russian military in the liberated territories  violence, torture and rape  are mostly documented, investigated, and handed over to the Security Service of Ukraine by the police because this is their responsibility.

Vyhivskyi says that the police constantly interact with other law enforcement agencies to investigate war crimes, and there are also joint interagency groups.

Regarding the investigation of the most high-profile cases, Vyhivskyi says that it is primarily a case of the deportation of Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories and the involvement of war criminals of the Russian Federation and collaborators.

Quote: "This case regarding children became the basis for the ICC warrant to the president of the Russian Federation.

The crimes committed by the Russian Federation, in particular the attacks on our critical infrastructure, are the genocide of the Ukrainian nation. We are moving towards documenting all these facts to recognise the crimes of the Russian Federation as genocide in the international court."

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
The National Police are currently investigating 54 cases of sexual violence against Ukrainians involving 19 different Russian soldiers, police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on Oct. 10.

During the occupation of Kherson, a group of Russian soldiers under investigation reportedly detained and brutalized more than 200 Ukrainians in the city, most of whom were civilians.

"They were beaten, tortured, and received limited food and water. The occupiers used sexual torture in the form of electric shocks on the genitals of at least 24 people," Vyhivskyi said.

He added that the police are investigating crimes against civilians that occurred during the temporary occupation of Kyiv Oblast, including rape. Some of those who suffered such sexual violence were reportedly children, including a four-year-old.

The victims mentioned in Vyhivskyi's interview are just a few of those who have been subject to torture or sexual violence at the hands of Russia's military since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Russia uses sexual violence as a weapon of war. We record such cases wherever the Russian military is stationed, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said in Feb. 2023.

In June, Kostin described Russia's use of sexual violence as "systematic," adding that he viewed it as an "element of genocide."

Read also: Report: Half of Ukrainians held by Russians in Kherson Oblast tortured

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian and Belarusian special forces plan a false flag attack on Belarusian territory that they intend to blame on Ukraine, the National Resistance Center reported on Oct. 10.

The center alleges that the plot involves a drone dropping munitions on an oil depot in the town of Pryluki, by the Polish-Belarusian border, a provocative move likely aimed at increasing support for the war in Belarus.

Belarusian underground sources also added that members of the Wagner Group had been involved in the plot earlier in the year, and had conducted reconnaissance on possible targets.

On Aug. 4, Ukraine's Security Service reported on another false flag plot in Belarus, also involving critical infrastructure. The details of the plot were similar - an attack would be carried out on the Mozyr oil refinery, which would then be attributed to Ukraine.

Belarus allowed Russian troops to use its territory as a base to invade Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale war, especially for their failed offensive on Kyiv. Russian forces have also used Belarusian territory to launch missiles and drones at Ukraine.

Despite this, the Belarusian military has not officially joined Russia's war against Ukraine, they have nonetheless routinely conducted military exercises during the war, as well as engaging in aggressive actions that antagonize its neighbors, such as sending Belarusian helicopters into Polish airspace on Aug. 1.

Read also: Lukashenko admits Russian troops invaded Ukraine through Belarus in 2022

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
North Carolina Republicans, wielding their veto-proof supermajority in the General Assembly on Tuesday, overturned vetoes from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper one by one.

They implemented a variety of controversial changes, stripping powers from the governor, advancing a pipeline project and overhauling election rules.

Before one vote, the Houses Democratic leader said the bills give too much power to top Republicans and said lawmakers are creating a monster.

Protesters gathered outside the Legislative Building ahead of the veto override votes.

We feel strongly that America is at a tipping point between democracy and autocracy, that the Earth herself is at a tipping point towards destruction and that the leadership of the General Assembly is pushing at that tipping point in the wrong direction towards autocracy, towards environmental destruction and climate collapse, Karen Ziegler, a protester with Democracy out Loud, said.

In the first veto they completed, lawmakers took away appointments from the governor, setting up a test of North Carolinas separation of powers.

The office of the North Carolina governor is already weak by design compared to other states. Lawmakers have gradually taken away power from Cooper, including some measures prompted by Coopers COVID-19 pandemic response. Cooper isnt running again, but the latest changes will also affect the next governors administration.

Republicans, who dominate the General Assembly with a veto-proof supermajority, have overridden 19 vetoes from the governor this session alone.

Here are all the bills that passed into law Tuesday:

SB 747: Elections Law Changes

Senate Bill 747 eliminates the three-day grace period for receiving absentee ballots, bans the use of private money for election administration and empowers partisan poll observers to watch the voting process.

Republicans proposed the bill after meeting with Cleta Mitchell, a former lawyer for former President Donald Trump who went on to found an election integrity group. A special grand jury in Georgia recommended charges against Mitchell in September, alleging her involvement in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Prosecutors did not end up charging her.

In his veto message, Cooper wrote the bill has nothing to do with election security and everything to do with Republicans keeping and gaining power ... North Carolina has conducted fair and secure elections but this bill will block voters and their ballots unnecessarily.

Sen. Warren Daniel, one of the bills Republican sponsors, responded to Coopers veto in August, saying that, When North Carolina voters vote, democracy wins. Thats why we are creating a secure election system that makes it easy to vote and protects election integrity.

Responding to criticism about the eliminating of the grace period for receiving absentee ballots, Daniel said that the most inaccurate criticism of the bill is that it will quote cause legal ballots to be thrown out. As you know, in any ball game if you score a touchdown after the buzzer sounds, it doesnt count.

Democratic Sen. Kandie Smith of Greenville spoke against the bill on the Senate floor.

Our voting process will become far less fair and free is SB 747 is enacted, she said. This bill is a monster and the provisions contained within it should not be taken lightly.

Marc Elias, a prominent attorney for Democratic causes, said on X, formerly Twitter, that the state will be sued over the bill if it passes.

A day later, the Senate voted 30-19 and the House followed, 72-44, passing the bill into law.

SB 749: No Partisan Advantage in Elections

Senate Bill 749 overhauls state and local elections boards, removing all appointments from the governor and giving them to legislative leaders. Currently, these boards are structured to have a majority of members from the governors party. The new law requires all boards to have an even number of Republicans and Democrats, raising the possibility of deadlocked votes.

Few remedies for ties are mentioned in the bill, other than a section which says that if the State Board of Elections cannot agree to hire an executive director within 30 days, the decision goes to the General Assembly.

The legislative takeover of state and local elections boards could doom our states elections to gridlock and severely limit early voting, Cooper said in his veto message. It also creates a grave risk that Republican legislators or courts would be empowered to change the results of an election if they dont like the winner.

Daniel, who also sponsored this bill, responded with a statement saying, Single-party control has led to distrust and skepticism among voters. Voters should be asking themselves why Gov. Cooper is so desperate to maintain his partisan grip on the State Board of Elections.

Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Durham Democrat, warned the bill could create chaos and gridlock if the boards cannot agree.

This bill was never about strengthening our elections, its about a power grab, she said.

Rep. Marcia Morey, another Durham Democrat, noted that Republicans attempted to pass a similar plan via constitutional amendment in 2018. Over 60% of voters rejected it.

The Senate voted 30-19 and the House completed the override with a vote of 72-44.

SB 512: Greater Accountability for Boards and Commissions

Senate Bill 512 takes away several of the governors appointments and gives them to the legislature and other Council of State members. It targets a variety of boards, such as the Department of Transportation, the Railroad Board of Directors and the Utilities Commission.

Fundamentally it violates the separation of powers enshrined in the state Constitution, Cooper said in a statement when he vetoed the bill in August. ... Legislative efforts to seize executive power are unconstitutional and damage vital state work.

GOP leaders have acknowledged the bill is likely to face legal challenges but say they believe it to be constitutional.

Daniel said during debate Tuesday that it brings balance and accountability to these unelected boards.

Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield countered that the bill represents an unconstitutional step away from our democratic system of government and toward an authoritarian one. Despite the name, the bill shows a lack of accountability, she said.

It represents a dilution of the sacred separation of powers and a concentration of additional power in this body. We should be concerned about both of those things, and that if the Democrats were in power, and making these moves, you would be crying foul, just as we are, Mayfield said during the floor debate.

Mayfield called the bill a legislative power grab.

Rep. Tim Longest, a Wake County Democrat, called the bill a sweeping and unconstitutional change to the governors power.

And House Minority Leader Robert Reives, a Chatham County Democrat, said lawmakers are creating a monster. Were creating a legislature that is far beyond what anybody involved in the creation of the constitution had in mind.

The Senate voted 30-19. Minutes later, the bill was sent to the House, which pass the bill into law with a vote of 72 to 44.

SB 678: Clean Energy/Other Changes

Senate Bill 678 allows a utility company to reclassify nuclear energy as clean energy, meaning the power source will count toward carbon-free energy goals.

North Carolina is on a bipartisan path to removing carbon from our electric power sector in the most cost-effective way, Cooper said in his veto message. This bill attempts to diverge from that path by trying to put construction of traditional power plants, and higher profits for the utility companies, over lower-cost solutions like energy efficiency.

Duke Energy North Carolina has expressed interest in building nuclear reactors in the state.

In a statement, Sen. Paul Newton, the bills sponsor and former state president of Duke Energy, said Gov. Coopers hardline opposition to nuclear power is a slap in the face to North Carolinas energy industry. He would rather glorify the Green New Deal than strengthen energy production in our state.

The Senate voted 30-19, followed by the House on a vote of 77-37.

HB 600: Regulatory Reform Act of 2023

House Bill 600 loosens water quality requirements for a controversial pipeline project called MVP Southgate.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has denied water quality certifications for the project in the past, but the bill would make it easier for MVP Southgate to get certified.

The bill also limits the scope of what DEQ regulators can consider when permitting hog farms.

This bill is a hodgepodge of bad provisions that will result in dirtier water, discriminatory permitting and threats to North Carolinas environment, Cooper said in his veto message.

In a statement, the bills sponsor, Rep. Jeff Zenger, said House Bill 600 is a good-faith effort to help reduce the regulatory burden on North Carolinians and their businesses. I am disappointed that Governor Cooper has sided with radical, environmentalist, job crushing bureaucrats over the people of North Carolina.

The House voted 76 to 39, and the Senate completed the override by a vote of 30-18.
Hours after North Carolinas Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overturned a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper that takes power away from the governor, he sued.

Senate Bill 512, which takes away some appointment power on boards and commissions from the governor and gives it to the legislature and other statewide elected officials, became law Tuesday along with a slew of other vetoed bills.

Described from the start as a separation of powers bill that would end up in the courts  both by Republicans and Democrats  now it has.

This law is a blatantly unconstitutional legislative power grab, Cooper said in a statement Tuesday evening.

Over the years, the North Carolina Supreme Court has repeatedly held in bipartisan decisions that the legislature cannot seize executive power like this no matter what political parties control which offices. The efforts of Republican legislators to destroy the checks and balances in our constitution are bad for people and bad for our democracy, he said.

The 55-page complaint filed in Wake County Superior Court is from Cooper in his role as governor against Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore in their official roles, along with the state.

House Speaker Tim Moore and Senator Phil Berger head the Republican-led N.C. General Assembly. They are pictured here in April 2021 during Gov. Roy Coopers state of the state address. Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com

The lawsuit argues that In 2016 and again in 2018, the Supreme Court of North Carolina reaffirmed the separation of powers as a foundational principle of our state government, and cites previous decisions of McCrory v. Berger and Cooper v. Berger.

In so doing, the Court held that, in order to fulfill the Governors constitutional duties and conform with separation-of-powers principles, the Governor must have sufficient control over administrative bodies that have final executive authority, such as the authority to enforce laws and promulgate rules and regulations, to ensure the laws are faithfully executed, the suit states.

It also challenges a provision in House Bill 488, which reorganized the State Building Council and created a Residential Code Council. Coopers veto of that bill was overridden in August.

Cooper calling SB 512 a legislative power grab echoed the debate in the General Assembly on Tuesday before his veto was overturned.

Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield of Buncombe County said that the legislation represents an unconstitutional step away from our democratic system of government and toward an authoritarian one.

The state seal of North Carolina in front of the Legislative Building, where the General Assembly convenes, photographed on Nov. 23, 2022. Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan/dvaughan@newsobserver.com

House Minority Leader Robert Reives, a Chatham County Democrat, said lawmakers are creating a monster. Were creating a legislature that is far beyond what anybody involved in the creation of the constitution had in mind.

During another debate on the bill this year, House Rules Chair Destin Hall, a Caldwell County Republican, said even lawyers, judges and our state Supreme Court cant agree on who has the authority in North Carolina.

However, top Republican leaders Moore and Berger have said they believe the new law is constitutional.

Former governors and some candidates for governor, from both major parties, opposed the move.
Each year, some 15,000 H-2A visa holders come to North Carolina to work temporarily on farms and in greenhouses across the state.

They harvest crops, drive heavy machinery and operate agricultural equipment, filling jobs that farms otherwise could not, experts say.

In return, the temporary workers can make substantially more money than they could in their home countries.

Many farms treat workers as the law requires. But several federal lawsuits filed recently allege that the H-2A program is sometimes misused to abuse, steal from and even traffic legal workers.

In some cases, the visa holders are charged bogus fees and travel costs that can total thousands of dollars before they even reach the state. Those workers arrive here in debt to and reliant on the very people who cheat them.

The way the system is made up, where workers have to stay quiet in order to return and come back next year, gives opportunities for people to do what they want with them, said Leticia Zavala of the nonprofit Its Our Future.

Marshall Wall, a defense attorney who has represented several North Carolina farm labor contractors, said the increasing number of human trafficking allegations by H-2A visa holders could be an attempt by the workers to stay longer in the country. U.S. policy allows some victims of severe human trafficking to stay here for up to four years.

Part of the rise in claims of human trafficking in civil lawsuits seems to mirror a rise in the number of requests for visas based on the contention that the person has been a victim of trafficking or of other criminal activity, said Wall said..

But allegations of abuse in the lawsuits are diverse. For example:

Forced to work construction

Axel Enrique Campos Arroyo left Mexico in 2022 to harvest sweet potatoes, tobacco and cucumbers in eastern North Carolina. Hed been recruited by U.S. farm labor contractors who promised $14.16 an hour  much more than Arroyo could make back home, a 2023 federal lawsuit states.

Arroyo paid his recruitment costs, travel costs, visa application fee and border crossing fee, even though farm owners or third-party labor contractors are supposed to cover those payments, according to H-2A regulations.

The fees and travel costs left Arroyo in debt and reliant on his new employer, Lamm Farms, for money, the lawsuit states. So when he was told that hed have to also work on a construction site, owned by a relative of the farm labor contractor, Alvarados Harvesting, Arroyo complied.

Arroyo was paid less than $7.25 an hour for all the hours he worked, the lawsuit alleges.

Then his passport was confiscated, taking away the only legal documentation he had.

Arroyo and others were told that the passports had a tracking chip embedded in them, and the farm owners would be aware of their location if they ever took their passports and left their employment, the lawsuit states. When they were found, theyd be arrested and sent back to Mexico.

In August 2022, Arroyo escaped the farm. He walked to a nearby gas station where his brother, who lived in Montana, had a car waiting to take him to a Raleigh hotel.

His lawsuit against Lamm Farms, LLC; Alvarados Harvesting, LLC; and Real Constructions, LLC is pending. Lamm Farms and Alvardos Harvesting could not be reached for comment.

The Migrant Education Program at Bladen County Schools and the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry delivered groceries to seasonal farmworkers during the first year of the COVID pandemic.

Taken out of state, billed for poor housing

Luiz Guzman Rojas and Feliciano Velasco Rojas, two men from impoverished Mexican towns, came to North Carolina to pick blueberries on H-2A visas, a 2023 federal lawsuit states.

Not long after arriving in 2017, an associate of the grower, First Pick Farms, gave the workers fake IDs, put them on a bus and drove them to Michigan, where they labored on another farm  as much as 12 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the lawsuit.

The associate made the workers pay for the cross-country trip.

In Michigan, the workers had to pay to stay in a house they shared with dozens of other temporary workers. It was an unfurnished, dilapidated, and overcrowded house wherein the workers had to sleep on the floor, the lawsuit states.

Federal rules prevent H-2A workers from being moved to farms not listed on the visa application and require that workers be provided free housing.

If the workers tried to escape, theyd be holding fake identification cards and arrested, they were told. If they complained, theyd be sent back to Mexico in debt.

Following the 2017 blueberry season, on or about September 2017, Defendants transported Plaintiff and other workers back to North Carolina where the workers finally managed to escape employer control, the lawsuit, which is pending, states. First Pick Farms could not be reached for comment.

Bait and switch on waiting jobs

In 2020, three women boarded a bus from Mexico and made their way to eastern North Carolina to cultivate and harvest sweet potatoes, melons and other crops. They paid for their visas and travel to the U.S. with the promise of making $12.25 an hour.

But when the women arrived, they were told to work in the farms kitchen, cooking meals for other farmworkers, a 2021 lawsuit states. The work paid them only a fraction of what they were promised.

One woman immediately fled. The other two were afraid, scared theyd be arrested and deported if they were caught running.

While at the farm, the remaining women worked as many as 100 hours a week with no overtime pay, the lawsuit alleges. One was not given enough water or food, prodded with hot objects, including a lighter, had her hair and eyelashes burned on a gas stove and raped, the lawsuit alleged.

In 2023, farm labor contractors Jose M. Gracia Harvesting, Inc., Jose M. Gracia, and Gracia & Sons, LLC settled the lawsuit, paying the women more than $102,000.

Jose Gracia declined to comment.

Farmworkers load Christmas trees onto trucks in western North Carolina in 2021.

Filthy bedding, required to buy food

In 2018, a group of Mexican workers left their homes with H-2A visas in hand to work in eastern North Carolinas blueberry fields. They would make $12.26 an hour, they were told.

But a recruitment scheme, which charged the workers fees and travel costs, left them in crippling debt, a 2020 federal lawsuit states. And when they got to North Carolina, they were housed in a bus, outdoors or in labor camps or barracks with filthy mattresses, snakes and no hot water, at times.

The workers had no way to purchase and/or prepare meals, launder their clothing, or bathe, the lawsuit states.

In April 2022, the visa holders settled the lawsuit for $120,000.

Francisco Valadez, Jr., the farm labor contractor in the case, denied the workers claims. He told The Observer that he settled the lawsuit because he couldnt afford mounting lawyer fees.

Sexual assault, illegal debt

In 2020, after travel costs and paying as much as $5,200 in illegal fees to make their way to North Carolina, 13 Mexican H-2A visa holders were left in debt and at the mercy of farm labor contractors, a federal lawsuit alleges.

The migrants were promised $12.67 an hour  the required federal rate for H-2A visa holders at the time. Some were paid less than $7.25, the minimum wage, the 2022 lawsuit states.

The contractors threatened to deport anyone who fled.

In one instance, a contractor pulled a knife and sexually assaulted a worker who he said did not pay her recruitment fee.

The woman escaped two weeks later, leaving the camp in the middle of the night. As many as eight other workers would also run from the camp.

The lawsuit is pending.

Illegal debt, shoddy housing

In 2015, 13 H-2A visa holders from Mexico each paid U.S. farm labor contractors as much as $2,000 for the chance to harvest tobacco and sweet potatoes in eastern North Carolina, a federal lawsuit states.

They also paid visa fees, border crossing fees and for food, lodging and travel to North Carolina, where they were told that theyd make $10.32 an hour  substantially more than they could make in Mexico. Under federal law, the farm owner or labor contractor, third parties who recruit migrant workers, must cover those costs.

According to the lawsuit, filed in 2017, the three contractors in this case were struggling financially. So they charged the H-2A visa holders exorbitant application fees, paid them less than minimum wage and never reimbursed them for the upfront costs, lawyers argued.

The contractors also took away the workers Social Security cards and provided shoddy housing, where windows and plumbing pipes were broken and water, at times, was cut off, the lawsuit states.

This is what labor trafficking looks like, said Catilin Ryland, the plaintiffs attorney, in 2019, when the contractors settled the lawsuit for $75,000.

$720,000 in back pay

Ten former H-2A workers alleged that between 2015 and 2017, an eastern North Carolina farmer and a farm labor contractor failed to reimburse the migrants for their travel expenses and failed to pay them their full wages, a 2017 lawsuit states.

The workers were brought to Greene County, southeast of Raleigh, to harvest sweet potatoes for $10 or $11 an hour, depending on the year.

In a 2021 settlement agreement, Ham Farms agreed to pay the workers $600,000. Gutierrez Harvesting settled for $120,000, records show.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell said Wednesday state lawmakers should undo a provision in the state budget that exempts them from the public records law to provide the same transparency and accountability over their actions that exists across the rest of state government.

By allowing individual lawmakers to determine what records are public and what material can be destroyed without ever seeing the sunshine of public view creates a system without standards or accountability, Folwell said in prepared remarks. It prevents the public from learning who and what influenced decision-making on their behalf.

More sunshine is needed, said Folwell, a former Republican state House member and speaker pro tem, given historic lows in the publics confidence in government.

Folwell, who is running for governor, is the first prominent Republican elected official to speak against the provision that gives legislators the right to decide what records of theirs to make public. That puts him at odds with the leaders of the Republican-led legislature  Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore  who defended the provision without identifying who wanted it.

Folwell said state lawmakers could easily amend the budget before the legislative session ends to remove the provision. Lawmakers typically pass technical corrections bills before they finish that address concerns or errors in previously passed legislation.

As members of the General Assembly actually look at how this jumped up on the table, and for what problem is it actually trying to solve, theres always an opportunity, at really the snap of a finger, for them to undo this, Folwell said at his monthly news conference Wednesday. But that obviously will be their decision.

Berger said when the provision first appeared late last month that lawmakers needed it to settle a dispute with the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources regarding records retention. But a spokesman for the department said officials there were unaware of a dispute. The department later released emails to The News & Observer showing the last written interaction with legislative officials on records retention was on May 9, 2022.

Roughly 17 months later, the exemption provision appeared in state budget legislation that Berger and Moore quickly moved through their chambers. Republicans, who have a super majority in both chambers, supported the budget bill, as did a small number of Democratic House members.

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, criticized the provision exempting legislators from public records laws but chose to let the $30 billion budget become law last week without his signature. It includes Medicaid expansion, a long sought goal among Democrats.

Open government groups, news organizations and diverse political advocacy organizations such as the ACLU of North Carolina and the John Locke Foundation have also said they oppose the provision.

North Carolinas public records law provides an essential check on government power. Records obtained by news organizations and other groups have exposed corruption, waste and fraud in state and local government, including the legislature.
Nearly 1,000 birds died after flying into a Chicago building on a single day last week, a grisly death toll far surpassing past migration seasons.

Experts believe that an unusually large migration, bad weather and a lack of "bird friendly" features on buildings are to blame for the deaths.

About 960 birds were recovered from the McCormick Place Lakeside Center.

Activists have been calling on buildings to turn off bright lights, which can disorient birds.

The birds were collected by scientists and volunteers at the nearby Field Museum, which monitors the McCormick Place, the largest convention centre in North America, for dead or injured birds.

One of the museum's conservation ecologists, Douglas Stotz, told National Public Radio that "in one night we had a year's worth of death".

Mr Stotz added that between 1,000 and 2,000 birds die after striking McCormick Place each year.

Annette Prince, director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors. told local radio station WGN that the group found 700 to 800 birds in a single square mile it monitors.

Ms Prince described the number of dead birds as a "very unusual and tragic occurrence".

In a statement posted to Instagram, McCormick Place acknowledged that an "extremely large" number of migratory birds had died "due to unusual weather conditions" and "avian confusion" caused by lights.

Lighting at McCormick Place is normally turned off at night, but had been kept on for an event at the property.

"The well-being of migratory birds is of high importance to us, and we are truly saddened by the incident," the statement added.

Previously, the highest daily total of dead birds recovered at the centre was between 200 and 300 birds, he added.

Experts believe that an abnormally large number of birds were flying in and around Chicago and the other parts of Cook County last Wednesday, taking advantage of low temperatures and favourable winds.

Birdcast, a tracking project by three US universities, estimated that nearly 1.5 million birds were in flight above Cook County on the night of 5 October, when the deaths at McCormick Place took place.

Around the same time, a storm passed over the city, forcing many of the birds to come down to the ground, where they face increased danger from lights and windows.

A 2019 study from Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology estimated that approximately 600 million birds die in building collisions in the US each year, with Chicago, Houston and Dallas the most dangerous cities.
Nearly 1 million coal jobs may be lost by 2050 in the wake of the coal industrys expected closures, a new report found. That number excludes additional climate pledges to phase out coal.

An estimated 990,200 global coal mining jobs will be shed by 2050, with nearly half a million, or 414,200, of these expected to be gone by 2035, according to a report from the Global Energy Monitor.

Equal to an average of 100 layoffs per day, the projected cuts would lay off around 37 percent of its nearly 2.7 million person workforce by 2050.

Analyzing 4,300 active and proposed coal mines and projects around the globe, the report found China and India are expected to experience the largest job cuts.

China, which employs more than 1.5 million coal miners and produces half of the worlds coal output, is expected to lose nearly a quarter of a million, or 241,900, jobs by 2050.

Meanwhile, India, the worlds second-largest coal producer, faces potential layoffs for 73,800 of its estimated 337,400 workers by 2050.

Earlier this year, the European Unions then-climate chief expressed concern over Chinas continued expansion of coal-fired plants as the worlds top producer and consumer of coal.

Former EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, however, noted China is also expanding its use of renewable resources like wind and solar energy, with a goal of making one-third of its total power supply renewable by 2025.

Some European and American officials have pushed China to adopt more ambitious goals to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. According to The Associated Press, China accounts for 26.1 percent of global emissions  more than double the U.S. share of 12.8 percent.

Researchers behind the report argued most mines expected to close in the coming decades lack a plan on how to extend operations or transition to a post-coal economy, highlighting the need for governments to join the effort to manage the transition.

Coal mine closures are inevitable, but economic hardship and social strife for workers is not, Dorothy Mei, project manager for the Global Coal Mine Tracker, said in a statement. Viable transition planning is happening, like in Spain where the country regularly reviews the ongoing impacts of decarbonization. Governments should draw inspiration from its success in planning their own just energy transition strategies.

Ryan Diskette Tate, Global Energy Monitors coal program director, said the unique concerns of workers need to be put first to ensure the transition isnt just talk.

With technologies and markets primed for an energy transition, we have to be proactive about the unique concerns of coal miners and their communities, Tate said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Paul Schulte, a sponsor of the Support Our Schools Nebraska petition drive, delivers a box of signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State, Aug. 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraskas top election official confirmed Tuesday, Oct. 10, that state voters will decide next year whether public money can go to private school tuition. (Justin Wan/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Nebraskas top election official confirmed Tuesday that state voters will decide next year whether public money can go to private school tuition.

A petition effort to get the question on the November 2024 ballot far exceeded the number of valid signatures needed to put the controversial question before voters, the Nebraska Secretary of States office said in a written statement.

The effort seeks to repeal a measure passed by the Nebraska Legislature earlier this year allowing millions in state income tax to be diverted to organizations that grant private school tuition scholarships. That passage set up a battle between powerful education unions and heavily-funded conservative groups trying to make their mark on school policies following COVID-19 lockdowns and ongoing fights over transgender policies.

In August, the Support Our Schools referendum petition effort turned in 117,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State, nearly double the more than 61,000 valid signatures needed to make the ballot. On Tuesday, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced that election officials validated nearly 92,000 of those collected signatures.

The overwhelming success of this petition sends a clear message to the governor and state lawmakers: Nebraskans want to vote on the issue of diverting public tax dollars to pay for private schools, petition effort sponsor Jenni Benson said.

The new school funding law does not appropriate taxpayer dollars directly toward private school vouchers. Instead, it allows businesses, individuals, estates and trusts to donate a portion of their owed state income tax.

Businesses and individuals would be allowed to donate up to $100,000 per year, while estates and trusts could offer up to $1 million a year. The bill would allocate $25 million a year over the first two years starting in 2024, and up to $100 million annually thereafter to cover such donations. That dollar-for-dollar tax credit is money that would otherwise go into the states general revenue fund.

Supporters of the scholarship program say it helps underprivileged students who have few other choices when they find themselves in an underperforming or toxic public school environment. They deny opponents' assertions that it will hurt funding to public schools, noting that lawmakers also passed a bill this year that will pump more than $1 billion -- mostly from federal pandemic recovery dollars -- into public education.

Public school advocates counter that the act sends taxpayer dollars to private schools that are allowed under religious tenets to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students.

This was a decisive victory and the first step to ensure public funds are used to support public schools, not private schools," said Benson, who is also president of the Nebraska State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union. Nebraskans cannot afford to pay for two school systems.

Supporters of the private school funding plan, including the states powerful Roman Catholic lobbying group, have launched their own effort  called Keep Kids First Nebraska  to counter the petition drive and made an aggressive push to try to convince people not to sign the petitions.

The teachers union was willing to say and do anything to take educational freedom away from Nebraska families, so it is no surprise they gathered enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, Keep Kids First said Tuesday in a written statement.

Evnen's office said Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers will draft the ballot language for the measure in the coming days. In the weeks ahead of the 2024 election, state election staff will schedule three public hearings about the measure and create informational pamphlets that will be available to voters at county election offices, the Secretary of State's office said.
President Joe Biden s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is as complicated as it is long.

Their ties span nearly four decades, beginning before they assumed the highest positions of power in their countries.

In that time, Netanyahu and Bidens politics have diverged distinctly, with the prime minister being most recently sworn into office in December  his sixth time  to lead a fiercely far right, religiously conservative government.

Now, the two have been plunged into a wartime partnership in response to Hamas' devastating surprise assault on Israel.

Follow live updates on the Israel-Hamas war here.

It is all unfolding before a president who came into office knowing Netanyahu in a way unlike any other U.S. president, having both sparred and forged agreements since they both were fledgling politicians.

Shaping how the two will get through this latest crisis is Bidens longtime unyielding support for Israel, said William Wechsler, senior director of Middle East Studies at the Atlantic Council.

That support is part of Bidens bonafides on Israel, with the president having a deep cache of public comments backing the nation after decades in government and politics, he said.

Theyre never going to be personal, best friends. Its not the nature of the relationship. But at the same time, the personal connection to Israel is what keeps it going," said Wechsler, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Saturday, just after the surprise Hamas attacks.

Neither is intimidated by the other, neither is awed by the other, neither is surprised by the other, he added. They really cant caricature each other. They will work together when needed, but will also be clear when there is a disagreement.

Their relationship dates back to the time when Biden was a young senator and Netanyahu was in leadership in the Israeli embassy in Washington. The two climbed the political ladder in parallel, Netanyahu becoming Israeli ambassador to the United Nations and Biden rising to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Eventually, Netanyahu ascended to prime minister in 1996 and has held the position on and off since, riling tensions in his political relationships in the United States along the way. Netanyahu has held power over the decades either in office or as the leader of the opposition party.

Ties between the two men grew strained during President Barack Obama's administration, when Biden served as vice president. A report in The Atlantic in 2014 described Israel-U.S. relations as teetering on the edge of a full blown crisis.

Were still buddies, Biden said soon after. Addressing their friendship, he referred to Netanyahu by his nickname Bibi.

Hes been a friend for over 30 years, Biden said. I said, Bibi, I dont agree with a damn thing you say but I love you.

In 2015, Netanyahu vociferously opposed a nuclear deal with Iran brokered by the Obama administration. He testified before a joint meeting of Congress at the time.

This is a bad deal  a very bad deal, Netanyahu said. Were better off without it.

That testimony undermined the administration, said Jon Alterman, senior vice president and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, so there is a history of wariness from Biden, he said. Still, Alterman said the two treat each other as professionals.

Both of them have been through dozens of crises. As democratic politicians they have a sense for the arc of crises, direction of crises, the stages of crises and the political constraints of crises, Alterman said. Frankly, their politics are not the same and their interests are not necessarily the same, but they come from an understanding of the others political environment.

During Donald Trump 's presidency, Netanyahu found a leader who enacted staunch pro-Israel policies. In 2018, Netanyahu lauded Trumps bold decision in pulling the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal.

The New York Times in 2017 described a "budding symbiotic relationship" between Trump and Netanyahu. The premier also heaped praise on Trump for moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested Holy City of Jerusalem in 2018.

Trump admired Netanyahu. Netanhayu admired Trump, Alterman said. In many cases, the U.S. ambassador [to Israel] would send Trump a message and Trump would tweet something and U.S. policy would change.

Last year, when asked about Trumps return to politics, Netanyahu demurred. Keep me out of it, he said on NBC's "Meet the Press" when asked if hed like to see Trump as president again. He called the question a landmine.

Friction between Biden and the prime minister spilled into public view in March after Biden opposed the Israeli leaders support for a partial takeover of the Supreme Court. That decision prompted massive protests across Israel.

Like many strong supporters of Israel, Im very concerned. And Im concerned that they get this straight. They cannot continue down this road, Biden said in March.

Netanyahu, responding in a series of tweets, accused Biden of interjecting himself in his nations politics.

Israel is a sovereign country which makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends, he said.

Biden went several months without inviting Netanyahu to the White House. The first meeting between the two since Netanyahu returned to office late last year took place in September.

After the meeting, the White House noted that Biden had emphasized the need to take immediate measures to improve the security and economic situation, maintain the viability of a two-state solution, and promote a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

After the recent attacks, Biden spoke with Netanyahu, pledging the full backing of the United States.

In a statement, Biden characterized it this way: "My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(NEXSTAR)  Are you smarter than a Nevada fifth-grader taking their annual math assessment test? As another new school year is underway, its never a bad idea to know what the kids are learning  or how hard the lessons are.

The following questions were taken from the states Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, or SBAC, which is a test given in grades 3 through 8 in Nevada. The State Department of Education posts practice tests for each grade online.

These are the richest people in Nevada, according to new Forbes ranking

While students are typically assessed in the spring, its time for you to test your skills now with these fifth grade-level math questions. And while the term easy is subjective, these are five math problems that dont require graphing and dont incorporate geometry. Some are multiple-choice, but some are not.

Use your cursor or finger to highlight and reveal the answers. Calculators allowed. Pencils up!

Question 1: Which number is equal to 10 to the fourth power?

Answer choices: A. 100; B. 1,000; C. 10,000 or D. 100,000

Correct answer: C. 10,000 .

Question 2: Susan has 4 gallons of juice. How many cups of juice does she have?

Correct answer: 64 .

Question 3: Which number makes this inequality true?

4253.647 > ?

Answer choices: A. 4253.664; B. 4253.655; C. 4253.649 or D. 4253.638

Correct answer: D. 4253.638 .

Question 4: Connor is buying tickets to a concert. The concert he and his friends want to see costs $4.75 per ticket. Connor has $26.00 total.

What is the greatest number of tickets Connor can buy?

Answer choices: A. 4; B. 5; C. 6 or D. 7

Correct answer: B. 5 .

Question 5: Jen measured the growth of a sunflower.

In week one, it grew 2  inches.

In week two, it grew 2  inches.

In week three, it grew 3  inches.

How much did the sunflower grow over all three weeks?

Answer choices: A. 5  in; B. 7  in; C. 8 in or D. 8  in

Correct answer: D. 8  in .

Congrats! You did it.

You can find more sample math and English assessment tests at the Nevada Department of Education.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  After weeks of tempering expectations, the National Park Service is less than a week away from reopening Death Valley National Park after floods damaged roads  and visitors will be able to get in from the Nevada side, too.

The CA-190 entrance on the east side of the park will welcome visitors coming from Nevada, officials confirmed today. That will cut more than 200 miles off the route initially suggested in late September. At the time, park officials were only planning on having the west entrance open.

But weeks of hard work have paid off, and the entrance near Death Valley Junction is now part of the plan for the Sunday, Oct. 15, reopening of the park.

Weve still got a lot of work ahead of us, so we wont be totally open, but you can come in the east or west entrances on CA-190, which will be open throughout the entire park. Many popular sites will be open, such as Zabriskie Point, Dantes View, Artists Drive, and Badwater Basin, according to a social media post late last week.

Park officials havent given a timetable for other road repairs, The entrance from Beatty, Nevada, will remain closed when the park reopens on Sunday.

Devastation in Death Valley as photos show flood damage; park to reopen in stages over weeks ahead

Officials said some hiking trails will also be accessible, but most secondary roads in the park will still be closed. The video below, posted on Aug. 20 on the parks Facebook page, shows some of the flooding. Runoff from 2.2 inches of rain caused extensive road damage.

Lodging will be available at Panamint Springs Resort, Stovepipe Wells Village and the Oasis at Death Valley, and campgrounds will be open at Sunset, Furnace Creek, Texas Springs and Stovepipe Wells.

Well be opening up more roads and sites as we can, but there may be some traffic delays while we continue working. We appreciate your patience. If youre in a national park, you shouldnt be in a hurry anyway, a Friday Facebook post said.

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the Blue Diamond Road exit off Interstate 15 and head west to Pahrump. Take a left and head west on Bell Vista Avenue (it turns into Bell Vista Road) all the way to Death Valley Junction. Turn right on SR-127 and then an immediate left on CA-190 and follow the road into the park.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The St. Louis County Attorneys Office reportedly declined to pursue charges against the two white men who assaulted a Black woman at a local bar, but the Duluth City Attorneys Office says that they will.

The Duluth Police Department said the citys lawyer will charge Scott Rabold, 41, and Mylon Griak, 56, both of Duluth, with fifth-degree assault after SLCAO decided not to, without giving a comment on the rationale.

Michelle Folson posted her bloodstained shirt and glasses, which she said resulted from an attack at the Rustic Bar in Duluth, Minnesota on Sept. 12, 2023. (Photos: Facebook/Michelle Folson)

Officials in Duluth believe that there is enough evidence to get a successful conviction for the charges put forth by the city attorney, pointing mostly to surveillance video of the assault from inside the Rustic Bar from Tuesday, Sept. 12, that left the victim with traumatic brain injuries, a condition that could lead to an impediment with cognitive ability.

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On Sept. 18, the DPP released a statement saying the footage shows the victim, Michelle Folson, 39, and another woman having a conversation that turned physical.

Thats when two males became involved in the confrontation and assaulted the female, the statement continued, according to Bring Me The News.

In addition to the security video, Folson posted images of her injuries on social media, sharing with her followers that she was kicked in the head and left unconscious outside the West Duluth establishment.

Michelle Folson in hospital after an alleged attack at the Rustic Bar in Duluth, Minnesota on Sept. 12, 2023. (Photos: Facebook/Michelle Folson)

Her daughter created a GoFundMe page to detail the incident, which she believes should be classified as a hate crime.

According to the doctor, Folsons clothes and shoes had drag marks on them that showed that she was being dragged on her side.

When she finally woke up, after being jumped by the men, she found herself alone in the dark parking lot of the bar. The victim gathered herself up and walked about four to five minutes to reach her daughter, believing her child would help her.

The daughter says her mothers teeth went through her lip, she had two swollen black eyes, a gash between her eyebrows, and her head was swollen and blood was everywhere.

I called 911 right away and they rushed her to the hospital in an ambulance to treat her injuries. It is known that some of the situation took place in the bar and they never called the police or helped my mother, Katasia Khabeer wrote.

When police arrived, according to one report, they rushed her to the hospital in an ambulance.

Officers watched the bars surveillance footage, which depicted Folson being assaulted by the men who knew the woman she was arguing with before they intervened. The two women will not face charges.

Community leaders and activists are calling for the men to be held accountable, noting that witnesses said that no one at the bar even tried to call 911 or step in and intervene. They also said that the on-duty bartender had blood washed off the premises before authorities arrived.

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A Newberry woman has been indicted for murder resulting from the distribution of a controlled substance after a man died shortly after taking pills she sold him that contained fentanyl.

Amanda Copley, 47, was arrested in August after she sold 10 counterfeit oxycodone hydrochloride pills containing fentanyl to Robert Guzman for $350, according to court records. After the sale Guzman contacted Copley to verify the pills were safe as they appeared green and busted up. Copley told him the pills were safe to which he responded I trust you, Im just checking.

Guzman was found deceased in his home hours later.

More: FHP: Gainesville man, 31, killed Thursday night in motorcycle crash

More: UF police report on fan ejections during Florida's win over Vanderbilt

Initially charged with selling opium derivatives near a school, money laundering, using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and drug dwelling, a grand jury indicted her on murder charges Oct. 9.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones from the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida received the findings from the jury. Copley has been moved to the Alachua County Jail where she is being held without bond.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Newberry woman indicted for murder after fentanyl sale kills man
Rescuers remove people from under the rubble of a house destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday. The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight strikes. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

Oct. 9 (UPI) -- At least 11 U.S. citizens are among those killed in the bloody conflict in Israel over the weekend, President Joe Biden confirmed Monday, while more than 100 people are believed to be held captive.

"Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed -- many of whom made a second home in Israel," Biden said in a statement, adding, "It's heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence."

The president also said U.S. officials believe an unspecified number of Americans remain unaccounted for in the wake of Hamas' unprecedented assaults on Israeli territory, which included a wave of hostage-taking in the southern part of the country.

Biden said U.S. officials are "working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts.

"My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable."

A Palestinian boy stands in in the debris of a destroyed building following overnight Israeli air strikes on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Monday. The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight strikes. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

Meanwhile citizens from multiple countries are among those believed to be held captive by Hamas.

At least 900 people in Israel have been killed in the attacks launched by Hamas, according to an official update issued to Israeli media, while Palestine's Health Ministry said 678 Palestinians have been killed, including 140 children and 105 women. Hospitals have taken in 3,726 people with injuries.

Dror Behat is among those killed over the weekend in the deadly conflict in Israel, according to his relative Ela Bahat, a resident of Beit Alfa, Israel. Photo courtesy of Ela Bahat/Facebook

The agency estimates about 10% of them are children.

Israeli officials say more than 100 people have been taken captive by Hamas, while Hamas claims to have taken more than 130 hostages, according to The Times of Israel.

Hagar Levy shared a photo on Facebook of his younger sister Sigal Levi on Saturday, writing that she was volunteering at a party and has not been heard from since. Photo courtesy of Hagar Levy/Facebook

"The most important thing that the world can do for Israel now is have an unequivocal demand to free the hostages," said Ron Dermer, Israel's minister of strategic affairs. "I think they should have very, very strong action, as well, against Iran. You should snap back the United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran."

The U.S. Embassy in Israel says U.S. citizens in Israel with missing family members in Gaza should contact the Israel National Police for assistance. Many Israelis have taken to social media to share photos and seek information on missing people.

Israel Hayom, an Israeli daily newspaper, published a list of more than a dozen people who may be in captivity, several with photos. Among them is Noa Argamani, a 25-year-old woman who was seen on video being kidnapped from a festival in southern Israel on Saturday.

Hagar Levy shared a photo on Facebook of his younger sister Sigal Levi on Saturday, writing that she was volunteering at a party and has not been heard from since.

Ela Bahat, a resident of Beit Alfa, Israel, posted photos of Dror Behat on Saturday after losing contact with him. On Monday, she confirmed that Behat had been killed.

"Our Dror was murdered and lost forever. Our hearts are broken," she wrote.

The Foreign Ministry of Thailand reports that 11 Thai nationals were taken hostage and 12 have been killed. Another nine have been injured. The Himalayan Republic's embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed that 10 citizens of Nepal were killed.

Twenty-two of 29 Filipinos that were initially reported missing have been rescued by Israeli security forces, according to the Philippine Embassy in Israel.
Hamas duped Israel into thinking it cared more about economic stability than a war, Reuters said.

Meanwhile, it was practicing for an attack in plain sight, the report said.

Hamas trained its fighters on a mock Israeli settlement, learning how to storm it, Reuters added.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas built a mock Israeli town in Gaza and practiced attacking in plain sight  but Israel didn't react, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Hamas militants launched a surprise offensive on Israel on Saturday, in what has been described as the worst breach in Israel's defenses in decades.

The attack followed a careful campaign of deception by Hamas that ensured Israel was caught off guard over the weekend, an unnamed source, with connections to the group, told Reuters.

Despite convincing Israel that they had no interest in war, Hamas militants were practicing for the offensive in plain sight by setting up a mock Israeli settlement in Gaza to train its fighters.

Gaza is a narrow strip of land wedged between Israel and Egypt, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2006.

The Hamas militants used the town to practice a military landing and train how to storm it, the report said. As per the source, they even made videos of the maneuvers to study them.

"Israel surely saw [the videos], but they were convinced that Hamas wasn't keen on getting into a confrontation," the source told Reuters.

"Hamas was able to build a whole image that it was not ready for a military adventure against Israel," they added.

It is unclear whether Israel was aware of the settlement at all. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

In the years leading up to the attack, Hamas fighters wanted to give the impression that they were war-weary and more concerned about ensuring that workers in Gaza had access to jobs in Israel.

"Hamas used an unprecedented intelligence tactic to mislead Israel over the last months, by giving a public impression that it was not willing to go into a fight or confrontation with Israel while preparing for this massive operation," the source told Reuters.

Since the attacks over the weekend, Israel conceded that it was duped by Hamas.

Major Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces said over the weekend: "This is our 9/11. They got us."

"They surprised us and they came fast from many spots  both from the air and the ground and the sea," he added.

More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its attacks.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said he had ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip: "No electricity, no food, no fuel."

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Joe Biden and his aides have long tried to bring some calm to the Middle East, in large part so that the United States could focus more intensely on the greater long-term challenge: China. That strategy is now in danger due to this weekends stunning attack on Israel by the Palestinian militants of Hamas.

As Israel retaliates, the possibility of a wider regional war looms, demanding more of Bidens attention. Hundreds of people have died. Biden and his team will inevitably have less bandwidth to focus on Beijing. And thats as the Biden administrations attention already is stretched due to Russias war in Ukraine.

Its a frustrating dynamic for a White House that had notched what it believed were major, often unsung successes in the Middle East. (And hardly a novel one: Many presidents trying to focus their efforts elsewhere have been vexed by the Middle East.) That included freezing the war in Yemen and making headway on pre-existing efforts to help Israel build diplomatic, economic and other ties with once-hostile Arab states; even the Palestinians had gotten involved. The Biden team described the strategy as promoting regional integration, but the conflict threatens an unraveling.



Still, its early days, so there are many more questions than answers. Here are some that national security professionals in Washington and beyond are pondering:

How big will this get?

Whats now a fight between Israel and Hamas has the potential to turn into a wider war, convulsing a region that hosts many rivalries  and many U.S. troops.

Hamas may long for its Iranian backers and sympathetic Arab governments to come to its direct aid. Other armed groups, including Lebanon-based Hezbollah, could provide manpower or seize the moment to spur violence elsewhere. There were reports Sunday that Hezbollah had fired mortar shells at Israeli positions.

The fighting could also spread beyond the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and to the West Bank. There, tensions between Palestinians and Israelis have risen as Israel has built more settlements on land claimed by Palestinians.

But each government or group also has incentives to avoid the fray, including not wanting to endanger ties with Washington or spill blood and treasure on a war with no clear endgame.

American officials are scrambling to contain the fighting. Biden on Saturday warned against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. His aides, meanwhile, are burning up the phones.

Anyone who has influence one way or the other has been spoken with, said a U.S. official familiar with the issue who, like others, was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Israel warned other hostile actors not to get involved. The expansion of the arena of combat against Israel will be met with a particularly harsh response, including determined and lethal actions by Israel, an Israeli official said.

Is Iran to blame?

Some hawks in Washington and beyond have been quick to label Tehran as the true culprit behind the Hamas attack. Iran, after all, has long financially and militarily aided Hamas.

A Hamas spokesperson reportedly said Iran supported the weekend attack, and Iranian officials have cheered it. A Wall Street Journal report Sunday, citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, said Iranian security officials had helped plan the attack.

But groups like Hamas do retain a certain level of independence from Tehran, and U.S. officials have yet to cast blame on Iran.

At this moment, we dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out, but thats something were looking at very carefully, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning on NBCs Meet the Press.

This doesnt mean that Iran will walk away without repercussions. The United States could, for instance, impose new sanctions on Tehran on account of its general support for Hamas.

Will the Saudi-Israel dance end?

The Hamas attack threatens a U.S.-backed peace initiative that would see Saudi Arabia normalize diplomatic relations with Israel in exchange for U.S. security guarantees and other favors.

But its too soon to say the plan is derailed, though it will be delayed.

As Hamas attacked, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states issued statements more sympathetic to the Palestinians than Israel. But such immediate responses do not eclipse other factors the Saudis, Israel and the United States consider in crafting a grand peace deal.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is not as fixated on the Palestinian crisis as past Saudi leaders. Like Israel, he sees Iran  a major Hamas backer  as a threat to his country. Saudi Arabia and Israel already informally cooperate on Iran; making their ties official strengthens the anti-Tehran bulwark.

Israel already has struck diplomatic normalization deals with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. It has many incentives  including economic  to strike such a deal with Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites of Islam.

For the United States, anything that brings more calm to the Middle East is welcome for reasons that affect policies ranging from counterterrorism to energy. Another major factor is a desire by Washington to offset growing Chinese influence in the Middle East.

China is not just showing up. They are showing up with massive, massive offers to these countries, a senior Biden administration official told POLITICO last week, before the Hamas attack. The official declined to detail the shape of the grand bargain, including what security guarantees the U.S. would offer the Saudis.

The official also said Palestinians had been participating.

They want to be a part of this process, and we would not do it without them, the official said. That is a major change from their policy, which has been they will never engage in any process that has to do with an Arab state normalizing relations with Israel absent a Palestinian state.

The official didnt specify which Palestinians, but the reference was likely to people affiliated with the Palestinian Authority.

That body, which governs in the West Bank, is a weak rival to Hamas and an ongoing agitator against Israel. But its fate may be affected by the new fighting. After all, noted one former senior State Department official, there is the question of who rules Gaza when this is done.

How did Israel not see this coming?

Theres no quick answer to the glaring question of how such a sophisticated, multipronged Hamas attack could happen without Israels vast intelligence apparatus or that of the U.S.seeing it ahead of time.

There will be some kind of national commission of inquiry as to the intelligence failures that occurred, Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies predicted.

Schanzer said the conventional thinking in Israel is that Hamas has always been a tactical threat  serious, but not one that could end the viability of Israel. But maybe Israel didnt fully appreciate that Hamas, with help from Iran, had evolved into a more strategic threat, Schanzer said.

Israel fought with Hamas in 2021, taking out numerous targets of the militant group in Gaza over 11 days that left at least 260 Palestinians and a dozen Israelis dead. Is it possible it ended that fight too quickly  before it had done enough damage to Hamas capabilities?

The United States at the time made a concerted effort to convince Israel to limit the operations length. Still, Israel also had reached a point of diminishing returns when it came to the number of targets it could hit, Schanzer said.

This round of fighting could last much longer than 11 days, not least because Israel may stage a ground incursion and because Hamas is holding numerous hostages.

Will this affect Ukraine?

The United States already is ramping up its provision of military equipment, munitions and other resources to Israel. Its also deploying ships and aircraft near Israel in a show of support.

The moves come amid a partisan fight over whether Washington should keep providing military and economic aid to Ukraine as it battles Russias invasion.

Republicans who have expressed growing misgivings about ongoing support for Ukraine quickly spoke in favor of aiding Israel. (The latter is a top cause for evangelical Christians who make up a notable chunk of the GOP base.)

For now, U.S. officials insist that aiding Israel on the military front wont affect the aid to Ukraine. Different systems are involved in many cases.

Ukrainians may be disappointed in how America treats them versus Israel, a country whose military might they hope to echo. It doesnt help that Israel has not offered Ukraine as much support as it could, chilling their relations.

Israel has refused to send the Iron Dome, an air defense system, to Ukraine to help protect its civilians and military positions from Russian attacks.

What about Chinas role?

Earlier this year, Chinese officials said theyd be willing to make a run at peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. This followed a successful Chinese role in the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

But Chinas reaction to the latest violence may temporarily sour Israelis on Beijings advances.

In a statement Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Israel and Palestine  it used that term instead of Hamas or Palestinians  should remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation. It went on to call for a two-state solution.



For Israelis, this is infuriating. The latest attacks are arguably the worst violence theyve experienced in 50 years. They come from a heavily armed outfit that took control of a territory after Israel had dismantled settlements there in the hopes of paving the way for long-term peace.

Israelis feel they have every right to strike back against Hamas.

Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, expressed disappointment in Chinas statement. When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution, Waks told reporters, according to Reuters.

That said, China is an increasingly important player in the region, and one Israel  or Saudi Arabia or Iran  is unlikely to shun any time soon.

David Cohen and Lara Seligman contributed to this report.
Hamas launched its deadliest-ever attack on Israel over the weekend.

Militants entered Israel using paragliders and through security fences, killing and capturing civilians.

Analysts say the terror group was trying to exploit regional instability.

As Israel reels from the worst terror attack in its history, focus is turning to the timing of the invasion by militant group Hamas.

The attacks started early Saturday, when militants used paragliders and broke through security fences on Israel's border with Gaza, killing more than 700 people and taking hundreds of civilians and military personnel captive.

US officials told NBC News the attacks were likely a bid to derail high-stakes negotiations, backed by the US, that were underway to normalize Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has historically refused to recognize Israel's legitimacy, and hostilities between the states date back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

But Saudi Arabia's ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, is keen to exploit the economic benefits of potentially normalizing ties with Israel, and there were hopes that other Arab states would follow suit.

Iran, Hamas' main backer, has long opposed attempts to normalize relations between Israel and its regional neighbors.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that US officials were trying to establish if there was any involvement in the Israel attacks by Iran, with conflicting reports emerging over the weekend on whether Iran was involved.

The success of Israeli-Saudi talks now appears to be remote, with the concessions Riyadh requested in how Israel treats Palestinians even less likely to be agreed on in the wake of the attack, and Israel's declaration of war on Hamas.

Hamas itself has said the attacks were a response to Israeli settlers entering the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam and a long-standing flash point.

But a Hamas official also told Reuters that the operation had been years in the making, meaning the group is likely seeking to exploit Muslim grievance over recent events at the site and the wider diplomatic situation is the real motive for the attack.

"The reality is that while Hamas has dressed up the attack as a response to Israeli incursions around the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, it chose to trigger this conflict  at this time and in the way it did  as a way to impose itself in that wider diplomacy," wrote The Guardian's Middle East correspondent Peter Beaumont.

Another factor likely behind the timing of the attack is recent political turmoil in Israel, say analysts.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been seeking to curtail the authority of Israel's Supreme Court in the wake of probes into corruption allegations against him, sparking mass protests.

"There is a sense among Israel's adversaries that it "has never been more divided, never been weaker, never been more torn apart," James Stavridis, a former commander of NATO, told NBC News.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Californians will be able to make a single request asking that data brokers delete their personal information, under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Tuesday.

Senate Bill 362, also known as the Delete Act, directs the California Privacy Protection Agency to create this new tool by January 2026.

Data brokers include businesses that gather and sell peoples personal data such as addresses, spending habits and employment status. Roughly 500 data brokers are registered in California, and these businesses include everything from people-search sites to analytic firms that work with political campaigns.

Read more: California could make it easier to scrub your personal data from the web. Businesses are pushing back

Californians already have the right to ask businesses to delete their personal information, but consumers have to make multiple requests. Its also tough for consumers to know which data brokers have their personal data, and businesses might deny a deletion request.

State lawmakers who passed the bill said the Delete Act will help protect consumer privacy and make it easier to get sensitive information erased.

Data brokers possess thousands of data points on each and every one of us, and they currently sell reproductive healthcare, geolocation, and purchasing data to the highest bidder, Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), who wrote SB 362, said in a statement. "The DELETE Act protects our most sensitive information."

Newsom's signing of the bill, he added, also "enshrines California as a leader in consumer privacy."

Businesses that rely on personal data to market their products, verify identities or combat crime opposed the measure, arguing it would harm the economy. The Consumer Data Industry Assn., which represents consumer reporting agencies, along with other business groups opposed the bill.

SB 362 could have unintended consequences for all Californians: undermining consumer fraud protections, hurting small businesses ability to compete, and solidifying the big platforms data dominance," said Justin Hakes, vice president of communications and public affairs for the Consumer Data Industry Association, in a statement.

Consumers could exclude certain data brokers from their deletion request, and there are exemptions under the bill.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAN DIEGO  A bill that would have established a three-year transitional housing pilot program for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in San Diego was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday.

Assembly Bill 589, introduced by Encinitas Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, sought to support young people that are at-risk of homelessness after experiencing rejection from their families through temporary accommodations due to their queer identity.

The proposal would have required the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish the pilot  called the Unicorn Homes Transitional Housing for Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth Program  in the counties of San Diego and Sacramento.

California governor vetoes bill that would have banned caste discrimination

Community-based organizations would operate the service, which would be accessible to those between the ages of 18 to 24, that has the goal of reunification with the youths original family.

Prior to the veto on Saturday, there were no registered opponents of Boerners bill.

In a veto letter, Newsom explained his decision to quash the bill due to ongoing efforts to close a $30 million budget deficit without cutting major programs relied on by millions of Californians  language repeated in dozens of messages issued over the weekend.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee estimated that the pilot program would have required the allocation of funds somewhere in the low millions of dollars annually over three years, as well as ongoing costs of $576,000 each year for required staffing to run it.

While I appreciate the authors commitment to providing housing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, AB 589 creates an unfunded grant program that must be considered in the annual budget in the context of all state funding priorities, the governor said.

He added that the state legislature sent me bills outside of this budget process that, if all enacted, would add nearly $19 billion of unaccounted costs in the budget.

Boerner, a Democrat, expressed disappointment with the governors decision to return the bill unsigned in a statement released on Saturday.

These Unicorn Homes would have served a population of young people who are often more likely to find themselves at risk of homelessness, while at the same time also face greater difficulty finding shelters that accept and respect them, she said. No state housing program targets LGBTQ+ youth at risk of homelessness specifically, and many nonprofit organizations that would help meet this need are struggling.

Only about one in three LGBTQ+ youth live in LGBTQ-affirming homes, according to a 2021 survey conduced by the Trevor Project. The survey also found that about 28% of LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives.

Of those that experienced housing instability, they were about two to four times more likely to report struggling with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation compared to their counterparts with stable accommodations  like those in an LGBTQ-affirming home.

Locally, elected officials have taken steps to expand programs to help unhoused LGBTQ+ youth. Earlier this year, the San Diego Housing Commission announced that it would be opening a first-of-its-kind shelter and outreach program for queer young adults.

San Diego leaders urge Newsom to sign bill expanding conservatorship to help homeless

The emergency shelter, which is administered by the San Diego LGBT Community Center, currently has about 21 non-congregate beds and supportive services for displaced queer youth between 18 and 24 years old.

According to SDHC, about 40% of homeless youth in this age demographic identify as LGBTQ+.

Boerner added in the statement on her bill that she remains resolved to find other ways to allocate state resources to this group of young people that could provide them with a safe, affirming place to go when their own family situation is no longer an option.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Chinese bus wins double Busworld Europe Award

Xinhua) 09:20, October 10, 2023

Visitors view an electric bus from the Chinese brand Yutong during the Busworld Europe in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Pan Geping)

BRUSSELS, Oct.7 (Xinhua) -- The T15E series bus from the Chinese brand Yutong received a double award from Busworld Europe, both the "Label of Design Excellence" and the "Label of Ecological Excellence" on Saturday at the biennial trade show in Brussels.

Yutong's T15E model, an ultra-luxurious 15-metre-long battery-powered tourist bus, was presented with excellent performance in terms of energy consumption, thanks to its lightweight design and energy-saving technology.

This 26th edition of Busworld Europe, which runs until Oct. 12, saw the participation of 526 exhibitors from manufacturers in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In recent years, Chinese buses have gradually moved towards the development of a "high-end brand" image, and the Busworld expo provides opportunities for Chinese bus makers to enter the global market.

Chinese bus makers were conspicuous at the industry platform. In addition to Yutong, these included BYD, Golden Dragon, and Higer. These Chinese manufacturers showcased their technological innovations and respect for the environment.

BYD, the world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, presented two of its new ebus models at the event.

The Higer presented its latest model, the "Fencer", for the first time, which has been nominated for the Busworld Europe 2023 Vehicle Awards.

Another major Chinese bus manufacturer, Zhongtong Bus, attracted the attention of visitors with its hydrogen fuel model N12.

People visit the booth of Chinese automaker BYD during the Busworld Europe in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Pan Geping)

Visitors view a bus from Chinese bus maker Higer during the Busworld Europe in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Pan Geping)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom , pictured in September 2021, cited budget implications in vetoing one of the pieces of legislation. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed two overlapping bills that would have forced large California cities to establish independent redistricting commissions by 2030, citing potential unbudgeted costs.

Newsom's move came as members of the Los Angeles City Council continue to push forward a plan to implement independent redistricting for the city.

In a veto message, Newsom said Saturday that while he supported Assembly Bill 1248 's "goal of ensuring community control over the redistricting process," he declined to sign the bill because it would create "a state-reimbursable mandate in the tens of millions and should therefore be considered in the annual budget process."

Authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), AB 1248 would have required large cities, counties and school districts to adopt independent redistricting commissions by 2030. It would have applied to cities and counties with more than 300,000 residents and school districts or community college districts that have more than 500,000 residents.

Senate Bill 52 , a separate bill introduced by state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), would have required cities with a population of at least 2.5 million to establish an independent redistricting commission  a threshold that currently applies only to Los Angeles.

The two pieces of legislation were designed to work with each other: AB 1248 had a carve-out exempting cities with a population of at least 2.5 million people from its provisions, as long as SB 52 was also enacted. And SB 52 had a provision saying that it would become operative only if AB 1248 was enacted.

Read more: L.A. panel backs redistricting reform but delays action on council expansion

In his veto message for SB 52, Newsom again reiterated his support for the goal, but said he couldn't sign it because it was contingent on the enactment of AB 1248, which he had vetoed.

Durazo and Bryan said in a joint statement that they were "disappointed" by Newsom's decision to veto the bills, writing that "an independent and unbiased commission" is needed "to help mend the lack of trust between the community and its government" in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles' current redistricting process, which gives council members final say over their own district boundaries, has been under extreme scrutiny in recent months.

An incendiary leaked conversation that upended Los Angeles politics last year was recorded during an October 2021 meeting ostensibly centered on the then-underway redistricting process. The audio captured members of the council jockeying for political boundaries that would be favorable to them and their allies.

The City Council convened a new committee devoted to government reform in the wake of the leaked audio. That committee has spent much of the last year examining what a truly independent redistricting process would look like and endorsed a detailed plan last week.

The proposal still needs the sign-off of the full council, which must decide whether to place it on the November 2024 ballot for voter approval.

City Council President Paul Krekorian, who previously opposed Durazo's bill, said Monday that he remained "absolutely committed" to establishing an independent redistricting commission that is free from council influence.

As I have said all along, decisions about how to govern Los Angeles should be left to the voters of Los Angeles, not mandated by Sacramento. ... But to be clear  with or without state legislation, this Council will continue to advance our proposal to scrap the current scandalously broken redistricting system entirely," Krekorian said in a statement.

Bryan told The Times on Monday that he was optimistic the city would "solve this problem  of devising and developing an independent redistricting commission that's responsive to the people."

But he said he would feel even more confident if there were "guardrails" in place  such as state legislation  to ensure the city acts on its own.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Another lawsuit has been filed against Shalom Yehudiel, a well-known Jewish chef, accusing him of sexual abuse of another teenage girl.

The lawsuit, filed this week by an unidentified man, says Yehudiel sexually assaulted the plaintiff's 15-year-old daughter on multiple occasions over three months in 2021 at The Humble Toast, one of Yehudiel's former Teaneck restaurants, where she worked.

As of Sunday, Yehudiel had not been served, attorney Lee Vartan said.

Yehudiel, who now lives in Florida, has been accused several times of sexual abuse of teenage girls who worked for him as well as those who attended the same temple.

The lawsuit says the girl began to go to the restaurant as a customer and Yehudiel "almost immediately" showed interest in her and "began to groom her for sexual abuse."

Shalom Yehudiel

Yehudiel offered the teenager a job and gave him her phone number so they could talk. The unidentified girl decided to accept the job several months later and began working at The Humble Toast in fall 2021.

The suit says Yehudiel's actions toward the teen became "more pronounced," with Yehudiel flirting with her, calling her late at night and asking "inappropriate questions" about where she was and what she was doing.

On her first day, Yehudiel called the teenager into his office and made comments about her appearance and would wink at her when she completed tasks, which made her uncomfortable, the lawsuit says.

The suit says Yehudiel would make constant comments about how she looked and what she wore. He asked to follow her Instagram page and hassled her to accept the friend request, the suit says, and he made sexual comments on a photo of her in a bathing suit. A few days later, Yehudiel asked the teenager to send him photos of herself in "bathing suits and other inappropriate clothing," the suit says.

As her employment continued, Yehudiel would often call the teenager into his office and flirt, asking for "special hugs" in which he would touch her buttocks and genitals over her clothing and kiss her before she went back to work, according to the suit.

The lawsuit says the abuse escalated, with Yehudiel insisting she perform oral sex on him. It also accuses him of penetrating her. He additionally told her not to tell anyone about what happened, and he deleted the texts and call logs between the two, the suit says.

The lawsuit looks to hold Yehudiel and The Humble Toast LLC responsible for the sexual abuse and negligence, respectively. It says the touching by Yehudiel was "offensive and unwanted" and that the teenager suffers from "severe and permanent" emotional and physical distress because of what happened.

The lawsuit further claims that as the owner of The Humble Toast, Yehudiel presented it as a safe place for minors to work but created a power dynamic that prevented the victim from being able to protect herself. It also says the LLC owed "a duty of reasonable care" and breached its duties on multiple levels.

NJ news NJ has failed to address 'persistent racial imbalance' in schools, judge rules

Criminal charges

Yehudiel is facing criminal charges in Union and Bergen counties. He was charged Aug. 31 with first- and second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Charges in the Bergen case were initially filed in 2021 after the FBI contacted the prosecutor's Special Victims Unit about allegations of sexual crimes involving a child younger than 16 in Teaneck on more than one occasion. The charges were dismissed earlier this year because of a holdup with the FBI providing access to surveillance video.

Two clips from the video were provided to the defense and the Prosecutor's Office by the FBI, but the federal authorities had access to the full video, which covered the employee's time at The Humble Toast.

Both the prosecution and the defense were unable to access the encrypted video. When Yehudiel was released from monitoring after the dismissal of the first set of charges, he was arrested the next day at John F. Kennedy International Airport, trying to fly to Bangkok on a one-way ticket, authorities said.

The Union charges come from accusations by Elisheva Akselrod, who accused Yehudiel of sexual assault at their Fair Lawn synagogue when she was a teen. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office declined to press charges, and Akselrod sued Yehudiel. The lawsuit was dropped after the criminal charges were filed in Union County, which is handling the case after the Attorney General's Office transferred it for an independent review.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Teaneck NJ chef Shalom Yehudiel faces additional lawsuit
It was a grim discovery that provided little answers.

And nearly a week later, investigators are still trying to figure out what led to a mother, father and two children being brutally killed. The shocking deaths in a New Jersey community have become an international news story, covered by the Times of India and other publications around the world.

Plainsboro Police are calling the family's deaths in their Titus Lane home a homicide case.

Deaths of Tej Pratap Singh, Sonal Parihar

Police found the bodies of Tej Pratap Singh, 43, Sonal Parihar, 42, and their two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl.

The tragedy has shocked the entire town, as neighbors described the family as happy and loving.

We are all saddened by this tragic event. What happened in our community is beyond comprehension," said Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu in a statement released by the Plainsboro Police Department.

"Please be assured that this is an isolated occurrence and there are no additional concerns for the safety and well-being of the community related to this incident," Plainsboro Police Chief Eamon Blanchard said.

While police havent said it publicly, ABC New York reported sources indicated the husband was said to have killed his family before taking his own life. Police did say publicly that the public is in no danger from the events and confirmed no gun was used.

Questions remain: Parents, two children dead in Plainsboro homicide

Tragic crash: Lakewood crash kills three, two remain critical: Ocean County Prosecutor

The deaths have sparked sadness in the community and beyond.

"The district joins our community in grief and sorrow over this tragic event," said Superintendent of Schools David Aderhold.

Pratap moved to NJ from India

The youngest of seven siblings, Tej Pratap moved to America from India in 2009 with his wife after taking a job.

On his Linkedin page, he describes himself this way: A passionate, hands-on, senior technology executive with (16) years of diverse technical and business experience, with emphasis on the design, configuration, management, and business continuity of large, distributed enterprise systems. Extensive experience in establishing the strategic value of Technology and working hand-in-hand with other Senior Business Executives. It has been reported that his wife was also an IT professional.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to call Det. Atkinson of the Plainsboro Police Department at 609-799-2333 or Det. Morillo at the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-8843.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Police investigate death of family of four in Plainsboro home
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip above Ashkelon, as seen from near Sderot in southern Israel

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - U.S. citizens living in Israel urged U.S. President Joe Biden to do what he could to help them reunite with loved ones missing since the weekend attack that saw Islamist Hamas gunmen rampage through Israeli towns and take hostages.

At a press conference, the family members shared stories of relatives who have not been heard from since Saturday, and their distress at not knowing their fate.

"When I turned (my phone) on, there were two texts in a row from Hersh at 8:11. The first one said, 'I love you,' and immediately at 8:11, also it said, 'I'm sorry,'" said the mother of Hersh Polin-Goldberg, who was at a dance party attacked by the militants.

"And so I knew immediately, wherever he was, it was a terrible situation. I took it to mean 'I love you and I'm sorry' because whatever is going to happen is going to cause you tremendous pain and worry," said Rachel Goldberg, who has not heard from her son since Saturday's text.

"Since that time, I, of course, tried calling him right back. There was no answer," she said.

The victims of the weekend attack were overwhelmingly civilians, gunned down in homes, on streets or at the outdoor dance party. Scores of Israelis and some foreigners were captured and taken to Gaza as hostages, some paraded through the streets.

In retaliation, Israel hammered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday with the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year conflict with the Palestinians.

Nahar Neta, the son of missing 66-year-old nurse Adrienne Neta, said: "It is a bit ridiculous at this stage to say, but the optimistic scenario here is that she's held hostage in Gaza and not dead on the street of the Kibbutz where we grew up."

Ruby Chen said his son Itay Chen - who was serving in the Israeli army near the Gaza border - has not been heard from since Saturday morning, when he told his family he was under attack.

"The U.S. has a lot of resources at its attention. It is able to do many things that can be different than what the Israeli government could do. And we are asking, on behalf of my family for President Biden... and (the) Secretary of State to do what they can to make this end for us as soon as possible."

On Tuesday, Biden is set to make a speech in which he will condemn Hamas and express concern about the potential that some Americans are being held hostage by Hamas, as well as outline military assistance being provided to Israel.

At least 11 Americans perished in Saturday's attack.

(Reporting by Mira Maman and Janis Laizans, Writing by Rosalba O'Brien, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Hundreds of pro-Israel demonstrators gathered in Boston Common on Monday to stand in solidarity with the Middle East nation and to call for Hamas' annihilation after the terrorists' surprise attack over the weekend killed hundreds of civilians.

"We need to eradicate Hamas," Marty told Fox News. "They deserve no mercy. They are the scum of the earth. They are Nazis, and they need to be treated like that."

Pro-Israel and Jewish community groups gather in solidarity with Israel at Boston Common after Hamas' terrorist attacks.

The Israeli government declared war against Hamas on Saturday after the terrorist group fired thousands of rockets out of Gaza and its militants invaded, killing over 900 Israelis and took hostages, including soldiers, women, children, and older civilians. Israel, in response, has begun an assault on Gaza.

At the Boston rally, demonstrators sung, hugged and cried, with some draped in Israeli flags. The event was held in partnership with pro-Israel and Jewish community groups.

"What happened in Israel is unbelievable," Ronny said. "Its exactly like what happened to us in the Holocaust."

VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Massachusetts state leaders stand in solidarity with Israel after Hamas' terrorist attacks. Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat, was booed after calling for deescalation during his speech.

A few Massachusetts state leaders gave speeches in solidarity with Israel. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, cried during the demonstration. Sen. Ed Markey, a fellow Democrat, was booed after calling for de-escalation.

"He's a disgrace to Massachusetts," Marty said. "The speakers over here are calling for diplomatic solutions. There is no diplomatic solutions."

Daniella, a pro-Israel supporter from the Boston area, told Fox News she was crying all morning after finding out her friend was killed during Hamas' attack. She said another friend was wounded during the terrorists' assault at a music festival three days ago and had been missing since.

Hamas militants descended on the Tribe of Nova music festival in Israel and began shooting point-blank. Others waited by the exits, and more terrorists hunted down revelers who tried to flee into the desert. At least 260 were killed.

"If we put our guns down, there will be no Israel," Daniella said. "There wont be peace."

At least 11 Americans were among those killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, and more than 100 Israelis were taken hostage.

Daniella, a pro-Israel protester, says she was crying all morning after learning Hamas terrorists killed her friend.

EYEWITNESS TO HAMAS TERROR INVASION: THIS IS WORSE THAN MY NIGHTMARE SCENARIO'

One pro-Israel demonstrator told Fox News they had family in Israel hiding in bomb shelters. Another said she had Israeli family members fighting the war.

"Its an absolute tragedy," Natalia, of Boston, said. "What [Hamas is] doing is pure terrorism. Theyre being monsters. Its just atrocious, and they should be stopped."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the attacks. Nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

"Israel was viciously attacked and Israel has a right to respond," Igor, from Ukraine, told Fox News. "Israel will hopefully respond very harshly and bring those responsible to justice."

Igor, a pro-Israel demonstrator originally from Ukraine, says Israel should respond harshly to Hamas' terrorist attacks.

The U.S. supplied Israeli Defense Forces with ammunition, equipment and other resources and moved aircraft closer to Israel following the Hamas' terrorist attacks, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Fox News in a statement on Sunday. A few supporters said the U.S. should continue to support Israel and supply aid.

"They need to send more," Natalia said. "The only thing that should be happening right now is the U.S. helping Israel on every front."

Jeff said the U.S. involvement is "frightening."

"Im very happy for President Bidens support and commitment to the state of Israel, but also understand that this is a very volatile situation that could involve multiple parties, not just the one Israel is fighting right now," Jeff said. "Its a little bit frightening."

To hear more from pro-Israel supporters, click here.





Original article source: 'No mercy': Pro-Israel supporters gather in Boston Common, call for Hamas to be destroyed
A humanitarian crisis is swiftly unfolding in Gaza, as trapped residents, many cut off from food and electricity, face a fourth day of Israeli airstrikes in response to Hamas deadly attack on Israel, which killed at least 1,200 people per public broadcaster Kan, and took up to 150 hostages.

Nadine Abdul Latif, 13, of Gaza Citys Al Rimal neighborhood, said she and her family were told by neighbors and relatives to leave on Monday after Israel said it would target the area. But they decided to stay as we have no safe place to go to, she said.

Her father Nihad has been missing since Saturday. He had been working in Israel, but after Hamas Saturday attack, the family lost touch with him.

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City, in Gaza on Tuesday. - Mohammed Salem/Reuters

The Gaza strip  the coastal enclave that Hamas controls  has been pummeled by airstrikes since Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on the area, including halting supplies of electricity, food, water and fuel to the enclave. We are fighting barbarians and will respond accordingly, Gallant said.

Israeli fighter jets struck more than 200 targets in Gaza overnight, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. The death toll in Gaza now stands at over 900 people according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The Palestinian interior ministry said most of the targets were towers, residential buildings, civil and service facilities, and many mosques. Hamas denied that it used any of the targeted towers.

Tariq Al Hillu, a 29-year-old resident of Al Sudaniya in northern Gaza, described complete chaos when airstrikes struck his neighborhood Sunday morning.

My family members began screaming and rushing out of the house, each of us fleeing in different directions, he told CNN, adding that his entire neighborhood had been destroyed without any prior warning.

His neighbors were trapped under the rubble, and he could hear their calls for help, he said.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said it has turned 83 of its schools in Gaza into makeshift shelters but on Monday they were already at 90% capacity, with more than 137,000 people taking cover from Israeli strikes.

Unlike cities in Israels south, the territory doesnt have dedicated bomb shelters or bunkers that shield civilians from airstrikes.

Situation to deteriorate exponentially

Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth, where some two million people live in an area of 140 square miles. More than half of its residents are food insecure and live under the poverty line, according to the UNRWA.

Israel, which controls most of Gazas electricity, its water, fuel and some of its food, already imposes a strict land, sea and air blockade on Gaza, but used to allow some trade and humanitarian assistance through the two crossings that it controls.

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was already extremely dire before these hostilities and now it will only deteriorate exponentially.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized Gallants call for a complete siege as a form of collective punishment and a war crime.

Omar Shakir, the regional director of HRW, told CNN the comments by Gallant were abhorrent and accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Shakir also condemned Hamas attacks on Israel, saying the deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate attacks, and taking of civilians as hostages also amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law.

The Gaza Strip has been the target of Israeli airstrikes in multiple conflicts since Israeli forces withdrew from the territory in 2005. The fighting has often taken place between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

A potential Israeli ground invasion, if it were to happen, could significantly worsen the humanitarian situation there.

Women mourn during the funeral of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli shelling in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. - Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images

Caged birds that survived overnight Israeli shelling are seen in a damaged apartment in the city center of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. - Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images

Israel controls the movement of residents from Gaza into Israel through two crossings, Erez and Kerem Shalom, both of which have been shut.

Some goods, food and fuel also enter Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, but Eyad al-Bozom, spokesperson for the Palestinian Interior Ministry, said on Tuesday that Rafah had been struck.

In previous wars between Hamas Gaza and Israel, Egypt has allowed aid to enter through the Rafah crossing and helped the wounded exit for treatment.

The World Food Programme said Sunday that while most shops in the territory maintain one-month stocks of food, these stocks risk being depleted swiftly as people stock up in fear of a prolonged conflict. Repeated electricity cuts also risk food spoilage, it said.

The situation remains desperate for Nadine and her family.

We have no water; it was cut off yesterday (Monday). We barely get electricity or internet, and we cant leave the house to buy food as its getting more and more dangerous. Whenever she hears aircraft, she said, we hide under the table.

Additional reporting by Ibrahim Dahman in Gaza and Celine Alkhaldi in Jerusalem

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Kansas City Councilman Nathan Willett called on Mayor Quinton Lucas Monday night to withdraw an appointment to a city board because his nominee suggested in a social media post that Israel is a regime with genocidal intentions.

Willett, who recently began his first term representing the 1st District, called the statement by Jaz Hays deeply offensive and not representative of the values of Willetts constituents in his Northland district.

Hays post Monday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, came three days after his proposed appointment as an alternate member of the board of zoning adjustment was announced on the agenda of city council committee that meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

At the meeting, his name and the name of another alternate nominee were removed from the resolution recommending their appointments. Lucas offered no explanation and said the matter of alternate appointments will be taken up later. It was unclear whether Hays would be one of those appointees.

The comment made by Emerson Jaz Hays mischaracterizes one of our nations strongest allies and spews up more hatred towards the Jewish Community and Israel, Willett wrote in a letter to Lucas that Willett posted on his Facebook page Tuesday morning.

He described Hays comment as antisemitic and said it should disqualify him to be an unpaid volunteer member of the zoning board because serving on one our citys boards or commissions comes with great standards.

What sparked Willetts letter was Hays response to a posting on X that contained a Sky News video of Israels defense minister ordering a total blockade of Gaza in response to the attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists based in Gaza. Hundreds of Israeli civilians were murdered or taken hostage.

Defense minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that the blockade would leave the Gaza Strips 2 million people with no electricity, no food and no fuel.

The person who posted the video called that a war crime.

In response, Hays noted that Gallant called Israels adversaries in Gaza human animals.

Hays then went onto write that Biden is sending weapons to a regime with genocidal intentions. The only winners will be the weapons manufacturers.

The next sentence: "We are fighting human animals."



Biden is sending weapons to a regime with genocidal intentions. The only winners will be the weapons manufacturers.  Jaz Hays (@JazHays) October 9, 2023

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government has long been criticized for its hard-line stance toward Gaza and the Palestinian West Bank. The United States provides Israel more than $3 billion in military assistance every year, according to The New York Times.

Hays did not immediately respond to three requests for comment. He is listed in state records as one of the organizers of KC Tenants Power, the political wing of KC Tenants, a group that advocates for affordable housing and the rights of renters.

Lucas had no immediate comment.
Several nonprofit international relief organizations are helping ship modular pop-up homes to Maui, with a stop in Long Beach, to help Maui residents who were displaced by the recent fires. Thousands of residents were displaced after the Maui wildfire, considered the deadliest fire storm in the United States in more than a century, destroying more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes.

The pre-wired, insulated and quickly assembled homes arrived in the United States from Hungary. Theyll be transported to Long Beach, arriving on Tuesday, and will then be transferred to Hawaii.

Once they arrive in Maui, the homes will become a part of Ohana Hope Village, new temporary midterm housing in Hawaii, housing nearly 250 people.

Members of Family Life Center, an established nonprofit organization of Maui, partnered with Continest LLC, a modular shelter developer based out of Long Beach, and Operation Blessing, a nonprofit International Relief humanitarian organization that is providing free trucking of the units from New Jersey to Long Beach, to help support the Ohana Hope Village and provide temporary housing to displaced residents.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Lior Onaly-Kelsey was awarded $317,000 by a jury in a discrimination lawsuit against the Greater Albany Public School District in Oregon. Now 15, they were harrassed and bullied as a non-binary student while in elementary school.

Lior Onaly-Kelsey celebrated their 15th birthday two weeks ago. They also celebrated the end of a years-long battle against Greater Albany Public School District.

A federal jury in Eugene this month awarded them $317,353 in damages, concluding the district had discriminated against Onaly-Kelsey when they were in the third grade and failed to properly respond to harassment and bullying.

At a park near their house, Onaly-Kelsey seems happy and curious, eagerly sharing stories about rock climbing and participating in their current school's robotics club.

Their excitement to be a teen attending a Corvallis high school is a stark difference from their emotions as an Albany elementary school student.

Born in Paris, France, Onaly-Kelsey and their mom, Elaine Kelsey, moved to Albany in 2015. Onaly-Kelsey started attending Oak Grove Elementary School in the second grade and began to identify as non-binary in the third grade, at age 8.

The bullying started soon after, they said.

Onaly-Kelsey remembers students threatening to remove Onaly-Kelsey's clothes and being called slurs and various names. They were given incorrect dates to apply to join the robotics club, they said, despite those in charge being aware of their interest.

They said they were forced to join the girls robotics team whose uniform included a pink tutu. Their mom was shown a group chat of other parents making fun of them and their preference to dress more masculine, Onaly-Kelsey said.

The existence of the group chat wasnt surprising based on reactions, Kelsey said.

It was just really hard to see adults sort of mocking and saying aggressive things about your child, she said. It's just really kind of scary, I think. Quite disturbing.

Reports to school and district administration werent taken seriously, Onaly-Kelsey said.

Evidence presented to a federal jury in Eugene included emails between Kelsey and former Oak Grove Elementary School Principal Jerrie Matuszak. The jury agreed Matuszak failed to investigate or intervene properly.

'It got really bad really fast'

By the fifth grade, Onaly-Kelseys grades continued to slip and their mental health continued to deteriorate.

It got really bad really fast, Kelsey said, adding that Onaly-Kelsey lost hope.

Kelsey said she knew she needed to do something when on a drive Onaly-Kelsey bluntly told their mom they didnt think the world would ever accept someone like them. She cant forget having to drive with one hand and keeping her child from jumping from the moving vehicle with the other.

Kelsey pulled Onaly-Kelsey out of school and they began attending a district online school. But things did not improve, Kelsey said.

She remembers an administrator telling her the family should not have expected people in Linn County to be accepting of a non-binary person.

That was when Kelsey connected with a lawyer to assist in an emergency transfer out of the district and into Corvallis School District.

The experience has been night and day, Onaly-Kelsey said.

Theres an active and welcoming Pride club that has helped Onaly-Kelsey find community. They joined the Students Advocating for Equity program where school board members show up to meetings and listen to students speak about issues surrounding equity. Non-binary staff have also become close allies.

Kelsey said others warned her that switching districts was futile, but that hasnt been the case. Its not that Onaly-Kelsey doesnt face bullying anymore, but that the district and their school shut the behavior down immediately, she said.

There has been zero tolerance for bullying, she said.

Looking toward the future

Onaly-Kelsey said they hope the conclusion of the discrimination lawsuit against the Greater Albany School District means the start of normal life. But they are also optimistic about what the jurys decision means for other non-binary students in the state.

There are more than 1,700 non-binary students in Oregon, according to Oregon Department of Education data. The 2021-2022 school year marked the third year in a row where the number of non-binary students increased.

The lawsuit wasnt easy, but it was important to continue to bring change, Onaly-Kelsey said.

I'm hoping that this lawsuit creates a ripple effect and sends a message to school districts that the law is important and there are repercussions to not following the law, they added.

Onaly-Kelsey is also hopeful about their own future.

They dream of combining their passion for law and robotics into a career, maybe patent or technology law.

For now, they are focusing on their next major goal: learning to drive.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Nonbinary student wins discrimination suit, looking at what comes now
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), blasted nonprofit hospitals in report issued on Tuesday for charging patients large fees despite the expectation that they provide medical care at free or reduced costs.

In his report, Sanders cited the case of a Memphis woman in 2007 who received a bill of $12,019 following a procedure, which she was not able to pay with her wages at that time. The bill subsequently accrued interest and was sent to collections, and the woman was left with a bill of more than $33,000.

Sanders lamented how stories like this are far too common.

Nearly half of American hospitals are non-profits, a status that affords them an incredible benefit: exemption from federal, state, and local taxation, he noted.

In return for the tax benefits, the federal government requires those hospitals to operate for the public benefit by providing a set of community benefits, which includes ensuring low-income individuals receive medical care for free or at significantly reduced rates  a practice known as charity care.'

Under federal law, hospitals are permitted to establish their own charity care policies and criteria, leading to variations in who can receive financial assistance. In a KFF report issued last year, the organization noted that hospitals reported $28 billion in charity care costs in 2019.

In 2020, charity care costs represented 2.6 percent of operating expenses on average. Nonprofit hospitals are required to provide some degree of charity care or other community benefits in order to retain their tax exempt status. On the lower end of the spectrum, charity care costs represented 0.1 percent of operating costs or less for some hospitals.

The Vermont senator criticized hospitals for making information on their charity care programs difficult to access while providing substantial compensation to their top executives. He cited studies that indicated most nonprofit hospitals spend less on charity care than the amount of tax benefits they received.

Sanders called on Congress and the IRS to hold nonprofit hospitals accountable for providing accessible health care in their communities. He urged Congress to ensure that these hospitals are providing charity care that is consistent with the level of tax breaks they receive as well as establish enforceable standards for hospital financial assistance programs.

Without directly citing Sanderss report on Tuesday, the American Hospital Association (AHA) issued a press release in defense of tax-exempt hospitals. Citing a new analysis it had conducted, the AHA stated that tax-exempt hospitals provided more than $129 billion in total benefits to their communities in 2020 alone.

Hospitals are committed to ensuring access to care is available to all who need it, regardless of ability to pay, while also working to address the greatest health challenges within specific communities, particularly medically underserved, low-income and minority populations, the group said in its statement.

As part of that commitment, hospitals strive to assure low-income patients have regular access to care through programs like Medicaid, which helps provide the routine and preventative care so important for health and wellness.

Updated at 2:24 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The supermajority of Republicans in the North Carolina State Legislature killed the Democratic governors veto of a law that overhauls the way the states elections are run in a move that he called a serious threat to our democracy. The bill, SB 749, creates bipartisan election boards that will be appointed by an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, with Gov. Roy Cooper warning that the new system could doom our states elections to gridlock and severely limit early voting in an election year. It also creates a grave risk that Republican legislators or courts would be empowered to change the results of an election if they dont like the winner, Cooper added in his veto message last month. The law is expected to face challenges by voting rights groups, with protesters gathering outside of the Legislative Building on Tuesday, according to The News & Observer. Republicans, who hold a three-fifths majority in the state legislature, also overrode four other vetoes by Cooper on Tuesday, including on a number of bills that weaken environmental protections.

Read it at The Washington Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Republican state legislators In North Carolina are establishing a new investigative body that Democratic critics have aptly compared to a secret police force.

This new entity, formally known as the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations, or Gov Ops for short, will be chaired by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R). It grants the state the authority to investigate various matters, including possible instances of misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, mismanagement, waste, abuse, or illegal conduct.

Gov Ops, a product of North Carolinas most recent state budget, was established via a comprehensive bill passed in late September. Despite Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers refusal to sign the legislation, the Republican majority in the state legislature pushed it through just 10 days later, thanks to their veto-proof majority and the states laws restricting the governors ability to make line-item vetoes. Gov Ops is slated to take effect next week.

The Right Needs to Ask: Why Do These Racists Keep Getting Hired by Us?

Any way you slice it, Gov Ops seems like a recipe for government overreach and abuse. If you find yourself under investigation by Gov Ops, you wont be allowed to publicly discuss any alleged constitutional violations or misconduct by the investigators. All communications with committee personnel would be treated as confidential. Shockingly, youd also be denied the right to seek legal counsel regarding your rights if Gov Ops were to search your property without a warrant, irrespective of whether its in a public or private space.

Nora Benavidez, a senior counsel with the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press, told The Daily Beast, This is a question for the courts ultimately. But the powers granted to the Gov Ops appear to give them overreaching investigative authority, which invokes constitutionality questions.

A critical aspect of Gov Ops development lies in the language within the statute itself. The key phrase, as highlighted by Republican state legislators, is the investigation of possible instances of misfeasance.

Its unsettling that North Carolinas Republican state legislators are poised to wield unchecked partisan authority, devoid of any form of accountability, to determine what qualifies as possible instances of misfeasance. This newfound investigative power threatens to have far-reaching repercussions on fundamental civil liberties, particularly those closely intertwined with the state legislaturesuch as voting rights and abortion.

Consider the 2020 election aftermath. Following the elections conclusion, several North Carolina Republican lawmakersmirroring Trump and other far-right figures nationwidedemanded access to voting machines, relying on dubious sources and unfounded claims of voter fraud.

Arizonas GOP Went All In on Trumps Big LieNow Its Broke

Initially, North Carolina Republicans asserted that they would work with police to obtain warrants for such inspections. However, with the advent of Gov Ops, committee leaders could now allege possible instances of misfeasance, eliminating the need for a warrant and keeping the public in the dark.

With the 2024 election looming, Republicans in the state legislature will redraw voting maps after the new conservative majority on the states Supreme Court legalized partisan gerrymandering. (The Princeton Gerrymandering Project called North Carolina one of the most gerrymandered states in the country.)

The redistricting process in the state has been grueling; since 2011, six different versions of maps have been drawn. The process has been conducted mainly behind closed doors, and North Carolinians continue to express frustration over how theyve been locked out of the process.

A provision of Gov Ops will likely permit lawmakers drawing the maps to bypass public records requests: lawmakers responding to public records requests will have no obligation to share any drafts or materials that guided their redistricting decisions.

Now, lets look at abortion. During a legislative hearing, state Sen. Graig Meyer (D) asked lawmakers, in a hypothetical scenario, if Gov Ops could access personal health records (like ultrasounds) that are required by the state to receive abortion pills. Sen. Meyer found that Gov Ops, with its widespread ability to investigate with zero oversight, could release information like this to the public in a hearing if it wanted to.

Benavidez explained, At the end of the day, Gov Ops actions and requests for information are all protected as confidential, adding a layer of opacity which means people in North Carolina will have largely no idea what the Gov Ops entity is really doing.

Ron DeSantis Dumb, Failed Strategy to Campaign on Culture War Bullshit

The consolidation of power by Republicans in North Carolina through Gov Ops is not just a cause for concern; it is a stark warning sign. The ability of state legislators to wield unchecked authorityshielded from the scrutiny of the voters they are obliged to servestrikes at the heart of democratic principles.

Transparency and accountability are not optional in a democracy; they are its lifeblood.

When the process of drawing voting maps becomes cloaked in secrecy, when mechanisms to hold our elected officials accountable are dismantled, we risk losing our most cherished rights to our legislators, who should be our staunchest defenders.

Government powers like Gov Ops can potentially erode the very foundations of our democracywhich cant work if politicians refuse to work for the people and have any accountability.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's spy satellite program is an "indispensable" measure to counter U.S. space militarisation aimed at beefing up the United States' preemptive nuclear strike capability and securing "world supremacy," state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

Ri Song Jin, whom KCNA described as a researcher of the National Aerospace Technology Administration, accused the United States of seeking greater military hegemony in Asia by expanding its space force in an article titled "U.S. space force deployment aimed at preemptive aggression war".

Ri singled out a recent trip by the U.S. Space Force commander to Tokyo, and the deployment of a Space Force component in South Korea, where its members took part in joint military drills for the first time this year.

Such moves were "nothing but a camouflaged curtain to cover up the scenario for preemptive attack on the anti-U.S. and independent countries," Ri said, mentioning North Korea, China and Russia.

"Now that the U.S. is getting hell-bent on space militarisation with a preemptive nuclear attack as its ultimate target by massively introducing space force into the Korean peninsula and its vicinity," Ri said, "space development, including a military reconnaissance satellite, is an indispensable strategic option for guaranteeing the security interests and right to existence of the DPRK."

DPRK is the initials of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea has failed twice to place a spy satellite in orbit, both in May and August, and has vowed to try again as early as October.

Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured Russia's most modern space launch centre, where President Vladimir Putin promised to help him build satellites.

In another KCNA dispatch, an international affairs commentator named Ra Jong Min denounced Canada's planned dispatch of military ships, aircraft and personnel for "Operation NEON," aimed at ensuring implementation of U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

The operation is meant to identify suspected sanctions evasions at sea, including ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other banned activities.

Ra accused Canada of "jumping into fire with brushwood on its back" due to "blind belief in its American master" despite the ever-growing possibility of a military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
[Source]

North Korean-run restaurants in China are turning away South Korean customers amid rising tensions between the two Koreas.

Order from the embassy: Several North Korean eateries in China, including Beijing and borderland cities, confirmed to AFP that they are implementing a strict policy of refusing South Korean diners, citing new regulations from the North Korean embassy. An unnamed Chinese employee at Ryugyong restaurant in the city of Dandong shared that restaurants in the area have been prohibited from serving South Koreans beginning this year.

Doorstep nationality verification: According to South Koreas Dong-a Ilbo, employees at Okryugwan in Beijing verify the nationality of customers upon entry and ask, "Are you of Korean descent?"

If they confirm they are South Korean, the response is unequivocal: "You cannot enter. We cannot serve you. Please leave. We only serve Chinese customers."

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Inconsistent enforcement: The ban, which has left South Korean patrons perplexed and disappointed, has so far been enforced inconsistently. While some restaurants in Shanghai, Changchun and Hanoi in Vietnam reported no issues with serving South Koreans, others displayed outright hostility to such patrons.

"We hate them!" a North Korean employee in Shenyang told AFP. "If you bring a South Korean friend, we will not accept them... and won't serve them."

More from NextShark: 2 men charged in deadly shooting at Houston Chinatown restaurant

Political tensions: Experts believe that this ban reflects North Korea's view of South Korea as an enemy state rather than a potential partner for cooperation. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent warning to Pyongyang regarding nuclear weapons and North Korea's increased missile tests have exacerbated tensions.

"The North is taking advantage of the rising pressure from the South to strengthen internal cohesion," a source told South Korean outlet Hankook Ilbo. "It is likely to have issued instructions to North Korean restaurants and resident officials operating overseas to intensify anti-South sentiment."

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DALLAS - October is Fentanyl Awareness Month and stats show deaths due to poisoning from the dangerous drug has skyrocketed among young people.

Some 70,000 people nationwide die of fentanyl poisoning every year.

A new documentary being shown in Dallas is shedding light on the problem, with some North Texans sharing their personal stories of loss.

"When we lost him it was right there in our house. We found him in our garage," said Frankie Moreno.

Frankie and Ofie Moreno watched their 24-year-old son, Sebastian, die from fentanyl poisoning.

They say he took half a pill of what he thought was oxycontin.

He got the pill from a co-worker.

"Its a horrible experience its a horrible experience to find out that your child is gone," said Ofie Moreno.

Sebastian is one of approximately 1,100 North Texans who died of a fentanyl overdose last year.

It's a widespread problem being highlighted in a new documentary called "Fentanyl Unlimited."

"My biggest takeaway is most people who take fentanyl dont know theyre taking it," said the movie's director Charlie Minn.

Minn interviewed dozens of people over a six-month period, from law enforcement agents, to medical experts, to addicts and families and friends who lost loved ones.

"The screening has to be shown here in Texas because 1 out of 4 Texans has had an opioid overdose or know someone who has. Thats alarming," said Minn.

Plano West senior Kelsey Jahnke didn't know much about fentanyl until one of her best friends died from fentanyl poisoning in 2022.

"Its going to continue to be a problem until we address it," said Jahnke.

Jahnke's friend was named Sienna Vaughn. The two had been in the same Girl Scouts troop since they were kids.

"She believed she was taking a Percocet. It was not a Percocet it has a lethal amount of fentanyl, and she passed away from that," she said.

Jahnke is advocating for more awareness in schools.

She and the Morenos believe documentaries like "Fentanyl Unlimited" are important to get the word out to the masses.

"I think very often of how she had her whole life to live she wouldve been a senior this year she never got to graduate high school," said Jahnke.

"When we had him cremated I'm the one who pushed him in. It's rough it's hard," said Frankie Moreno.

The documentary will be screened at Look Dine-In Cinemas located off Northwest Highway on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.

The director says he hopes to include the Moreno family's story in the streaming version set to be released later this year.
A Parker County educator is facing charges in connection with an alleged sexual relationship with a student, according to a statement from the Brock school district.

Channing Elizabeth Kula, 36, is charged with an inappropriate relationship between an educator and a student, a second-degree felony, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

In the affidavit, authorities said the student told investigators he and the teacher had sex once in the back of her car during the summer this year. Investigators wrote in the affidavit that Kula admitted to having sex with the student.

The school district said in a statement posted on social media that the relationship was between Kula, a Brock Junior High School teacher, and a student who does not attend that campus. When school district officials were told about the allegations, the district contacted the Parker County Sheriffs Office and placed Kula on leave.

The teacher has since resigned, the district said.

According to Brock ISDs website, she was a seventh-grade science teacher.

The district said it will continue to assist investigators in any way possible.

The safety and welfare of all students is the overriding priority of the District, the district said in the statement on social media. We are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for all, and any misconduct will be addressed swiftly and appropriately.

Kula was released on $50,000 bond, according to jail records.
The authorities of Norway's region of Finnmark will send an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the region's eastern part from Nazi occupation, and it will not invite representatives of Russia.

Source: Hans-Jacob Bna, newly elected Head of Finnmark County, as reported by European Pravda, citing VG.

Details: As Bna explained, Finnmark can no longer invite Russian representatives after "what Russia has done to a neighbouring country", and this decision is driven by Russia's actions.

"On behalf of the Finnmark Regional Parliament, I will soon invite President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of East Finnmark. By doing so, we will express our gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood for the liberation of East Finnmark, their descendants and their homeland, Ukraine," he explained.

The Finnmark head recalled that a native of Ukraine led the first unit of Soviet troops that arrived in the region in October 1944 to liberate it from the Nazis.

"We stand side by side with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine today in their struggle for what we have: an independent country where people decide their own future. This is essential for us. It was not so long ago that we ourselves were under the rule of a foreign power," added Bna.

As VG reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Eastern Finnmark in Norway in 2019.

Background: Last week, generals from Norway and Russia met to discuss border cooperation and related issues.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire, along with local and state officials, gathered for a news conference Tuesday shortly after Nathaniel Evan Cabacungan was sentenced to prison as the first person in California to be convicted of a murder charge in a fentanyl death.

Nathaniel Evan Cabacungan, 22, pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder for the death of 15-year-old Jewels Marie Wolf, a Roseville teen who died in June 2022 after ingesting a fake Percocet pill containing a lethal dose of the synthetic opioid. Cabacungan also pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor to use or sell a narcotic as part of a plea agreement with the District Attorneys Office.

Gire said at Tuesdays news conference that the gathering was not a celebration but a reflection and recognition of what they are doing in Placer County to help protect people from deadly fentanyl.

This is not an honor we wanted, nor one that Jewels family deserved, Gire said about the states first-ever murder conviction in a fentanyl death. I think for those of you that witnessed in court the impact statements of Jewels parents and loved ones, we truly saw the strength of the human spirit today.

Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire speaks during a press conference at Placer Superior Court Tuesday in Roseville after the sentencing of Nathanial Evan Cabacungan, 22, for second-degree murder for the fentanyl death of Jewels Marie Wolf.

Cabacungan on Tuesday was formally sentenced to 15 years to life in prison as part of the plea deal. Deputy District Attorney Daniel Wesp, in filed court documents, has said Cabacungan gave the teen girl the pill with fentanyl, left her alone dying in her bed without calling for help and was selling the deadly pills to someone else later that same night.

He had the opportunity to intervene. He had the opportunity to save her life, and he chose to watch her die instead, Gire said of Cabacungan.

Fentanyl, primarily made in foreign clandestine labs and smuggled into the United States, is increasingly being pressed into pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioid tablets. They often contain lethal doses, Wesp had said. The prosecutor has said in court that Cabacungan used social media, specifically Snapchat and Instagram, to advertise his deadly fentanyl for sale.

Gire said Cabacungans conviction and prison sentence demonstrate they can hold fentanyl dealers accountable, those who knowingly sell poison in our communities. The district attorney said county officials have hit the fentanyl crisis with a combined approach, including spreading awareness of the deadly drug, aggressive enforcement and prosecution.

Let me be clear: For those that come into our county and knowingly sell their poison, we will come after you, Gire said.

We will prosecute you, and we will do our best to separate you from society for as long as we possibly can.

He said the real strength behind the combined effort has come from the grieving families of those killed by fentanyl. Those families have spoken out as part of Placer Countys 1 Pill Can Kill educational campaign.

I am so thankful for their participation, their dignity and grace, and the manner in which they have carried themselves through this process, Gire told reporters. It is something that no parent and no family member, no best friend deserves or wants, but they have done their best.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta also spoke at Tuesdays conference. He said he hopes that the conclusion of Cabacungans criminal case provides Jewels parents a sense of relief, even after facing a parents worst fear of losing a child.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks about the sentencing of Nathanial Evan Cabacungan, 22, for second-degree murder for the fentanyl death Jewels Marie Wolf as her mother Regina Leah Chavez, left, listens during a press conference at Placer Superior Court Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Roseville.

This historic sentencing, again not something that we wanted to happen here, but it is historic, Bonta said. And to me, its an example of good law enforcement at its finest, working together, following the facts, building the case.

Bonta told reporters that they are witnessing throughout the nation a devastating rise in young people dying from fentanyl overdoses. He said he cant stress enough how dangerous fentanyl is: Its cheap, its potent and its lethal.

Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said the investigation that led to Cabacungans arrest and later his conviction was spearheaded by sheriffs Detective Patrick Craven and the Placer County Special Investigations Unit. The team is made up of investigators from other local law enforcement agencies and led by the state Department of Justice.

When this case came forward, it was clear it was going to require a lot of resources to gather the evidence needed to get Jewels justice, the sheriff told reporters. Nobody hesitated. Every agency was 100% on board.

Editors note

In a departure from common county court practice, Placer Superior Court Judge Angus Saint-Evans on Tuesday denied professional media photographers, including The Sacramento Bees Paul Kitagaki Jr. who was present in the courthouse with a previously signed court order granting him access to photograph in the courtroom, the opportunity to photograph the sentencing of Nathanial Cabacungan for the first fentanyl murder sentencing in California.

Instead of creating a media pool, the judge directed news organizations to rely on handout photographs produced by a government employee. The Bee, joined by the Associated Press, declines to reproduce these images because they represent a chilling restriction on the function of a free and independent media.
FILE PHOTO: Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of General Mark A. Milley and Armed Forces Hail in honor of General Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

By Idrees Ali

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (Reuters) - The United States' top general on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis in Israel and said he did not want the conflict to the broaden, as Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets onto northern Israel

The White House earlier on Monday said that Iran was complicit even though the United States has no intelligence or evidence that points to Iran's direct participation in attacks in Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Asked what his message for Iran was, General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: "Not to get involved."

Israeli shelling on Lebanon killed at least three Hezbollah militants on Monday, and Israel said one of its officers was killed during an earlier cross-border raid claimed by Palestinians in Lebanon.

The cross-border violence marked a significant expansion of a conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Israeli-Lebanese border further north.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel fought a brutal month-long war in 2006.

"We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear," Brown told a small group of reporters traveling with him to Brussels, in his first public comments since being confirmed to the job last month.

The U.S. military is "surging" fresh supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance to Israel to help it respond to an unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas.

On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that it was sending an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel.

"It sends a very strong message of support for Israel. But it's also to send a strong message of deterrence to contain broadening this particular conflict," Brown said.

He compared Hamas' actions to those of Islamic State militants.

Brown has been the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, and oversaw coalition air operations against Islamic State.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Sandra Maler and Jamie Freed)
More than 187,500 residents in Gaza are displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report Monday night.

As casualty figures on both sides of the conflict continue to rise, so do the number of those displaced. The OCHA said the number of displaced individuals reached more than 187,518 on Monday, marking the highest displacement figure since the 50-day escalation of hostilities in Gaza in 2014.

The the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is providing shelter in around 83 schools for more than 137,427 displaced people, according to the OCHA.

The OCHA estimated an additional 41,000 displaced individuals with damaged or destroyed homes are being hosted by relatives and neighbors.

Residents were forced to flee their homes after Israeli forces directed the evacuation of dozens of towns near the Gaza Strip in the wake of Israels ongoing retaliatory airstrikes, The Associated Press reported.

The evacuations come on the third day of fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, a militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel last Saturday, invading several towns by land, sea and air in addition to a barrage of rocket fire from Gaza that left hundreds dead and thousands more wounded.

The Israeli government formally declared war against Hamas on Sunday and ramped up its attacks on Gaza, vowing to destroy the militant group and forcefully avenge the attacks.

All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote hours after the surprise attack in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.

Noting results will take time, Netanyahu assured Israeli citizens Monday that at the end of the campaign all our enemies will know that it was a terrible mistake to attack Israel.

What is done to our enemies in the coming days will resonate with them for generations, Netanyahu wrote in a post Monday.

As of Monday night, the Israeli military claimed to have hit an estimated 1,290 Hamas targets.

An estimated 790 housing units were destroyed, while another 5,330 were damaged in the attacks, the OCHA said.

The OCHA said four UNRWA schools and eight health care facilities have been damaged since the start of escalated hostilities over the weekend, impacting medical teams ability to reach victims.

Earlier Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, vowing to halt the supply of food, electricity and water to Gaza. The OCHA estimated the decision impacts more than 610,000 people in Gaza and will result in a severe shortage of already scarce drinkable water.

Israeli media reported the death toll climbed above 900 individuals in Israel, including Israeli soldiers and civilians. An estimated 2,616 Israelis were wounded as of Monday night, the Israeli military reported.

Palestinian armed groups in Gaza claim to have captured more than 150 people, according to the OCHA. Hamas on Monday vowed to kill Israeli hostages should Israel fail to provide prior warnings about military strikes.

In Gaza, at least 687 people were killed and an additional 3,800 injured, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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When a Minnesota deputy arrived to a home for a report of a domestic incident, he quickly heard alarming sounds, court records show.

He has a gun, a woman was heard saying inside the Chisago County home Friday, Oct. 6., according to a criminal complaint.

Moments later, the deputy heard gunshots in the bedroom, according to the the affidavit. Then, three more shots were fired, exiting through a window near the responding deputy.

The man accused of firing the shots, 39-year-old Mike Carda, refused to exit the home even after a SWAT team was called to the location, police said. He was eventually arrested when authorities said a police dog was sent inside the home.

Sarah Carda, Mike Cardas 35-year-old wife, was found on a bed with multiple gunshot wounds to her head, according to the complaint. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Isanti County Sheriffs Office called the shooting death a senseless act of domestic violence.

The shooting hit close to home for Isanti County authorities. Sarah Carda worked as a nurse in the countys jail since 2014.

A piece of us is missing right now. A piece of our family is missing. Were all devastated, Isanti County Jail Administrator Cortney Dingman told KARE.

Sarah Carda was a nurse for 15 years, her sister, Melissa Stockness, said in a GoFundMe.

Outside of being a nurse, Sarah loved music, being outdoors, her dogs and adored her nephews, the GoFundMe says. She was the best aunt, always making them laugh and smile.

Mike Carda was charged with second-degree murder, records show. He also faces an attempted murder charge in the shooting toward the responding deputy.

He is being held on a $2 million bond, KARE reported.

Authorities said the husband had a pending domestic assault case involving his wife and was subject to a domestic abuse no contact order.

The Cardas were together for 17 years, according to the GoFundMe.

The person she should have been able to trust the most ended her life, Sarah Cardas sister said.

Chisago County is about 50 miles northeast of Minneapolis.

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NEW YORK  U.S. Rep. George Santos hit unsuspecting donors with tens of thousands of dollars in phony credit card charges, according to new court documents, the latest twist in the series of scandals enveloping the freshman congressman.

The charges were laid out in a new superseding indictment against the New York representative on Tuesday evening, and they come a week after his campaign manager pleaded guilty to one of the schemes alleged by the government.

Nancy Marks admitted she conspired with Santos to falsify Federal Election Commission filings to make it look like he got enough donor cash to qualify for financial and logistics support from an unnamed national campaign committee. She admitted that 10 donations attributed to her and Santos family members didnt really happen. Another fabrication she confessed was a fake $500,000 loan from Santos to his campaign, according to court documents. In fact, he had less than $8,000 in his personal business account at the time of the phony transaction, prosecutors allege.

New Tuesday are charges saying Santos participated in the scheme and, further, repeatedly charged his contributors credit cards without their authorization from December 2021 to August 2022, then lying about where the influx of campaign cash was coming from.

One contributor was hit with at least $44,800 in unauthorized charges  including a single $12,000 charge that mostly went into his personal bank account, federal prosecutors said.

Santos, 35, was initially indicted in May on wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress. He was accused of collecting COVID-related unemployment funds while working as an investment firm director, running a bogus political action committee and using campaign donor money to buy designer clothes and pay his personal debts, plus a string of lies to Congress about his assets and income.

A staffer, Sam Miele, was also indicted on charges he impersonated former House Speaker Kevin McCarthys now-retired chief of staff to dupe donors into giving Santos money during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.

The congressman from Long Island and part of Queens won his 2022 congressional race on a foundation of fabrications about his education, religion, family history, professional experience and property ownership.

His lies unraveled shortly after his arrest, making him a national punchline, but he has so far resisted calls to resign from Congress.

_____
If you are one of the celebrated few to have scored a table at the original Raos Italian restaurant in New York  though you probably werent, because youre not Leo DiCaprio or Billy Crystal  you have not forgotten the experience. In fact, youve almost certainly bragged about it. The iconic 10-seat restaurant, which opened on the corner of 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue in Harlem in 1896 and is a magnet for the hungry and famous, has long been considered the hardest reservation to score in New York and the wider world.

Now, Raos is ready to open its first restaurant in Florida at the glamorous Loews Miami Beach Hotel, and while getting a table will not necessarily be easy, you actually have a shot at getting in.

Pronounced Ray-ohs, the Miami Beach version of the restaurant opens its stylish red doors on Oct. 25 with space for around 130 diners and a slightly tweaked menu. Reservations open via Resy starting Oct. 13, and slots are certain to fill quickly. You may not get that coveted table at 8 p.m. Saturday, but you wont need to know an insider with a standing weekly or monthly reservation in order to get in, like you would in New York.

Still, despite the restaurants larger size and the fact that New Yorkers have to go home at some point, competition for reservations during the season might be harder than crossing the causeways during Art Basel. Dino Gatto, corporate and executive chef for Raos, knows more than a few New Yorkers ready to head south.

A lot of our regulars, theyre looking already to come down and eat here, he says.

The main dining room at Raos Italian restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Gatto, who has been training staff and will travel back and forth between the New York Raos and Miami Beach, describes the Southern Italian cuisine at Raos as comfort food: Its the food my grandparents cooked that I grew up on  real homey, down to earth, and authentic.

He has worked for Raos, which also has a restaurant in Los Angeles and a sauce brand you can find at local grocery stores, for 28 years. That longevity is something common to almost all of the staff at the New York restaurant; one of the kitchen employees, he says, has worked for Raos for 48 years.

Co-owners Ron Straci and Frank Pellegrino Jr., the third and fourth generation of the original owners, have also spent their lives at the restaurant, he says.

Ronnie started sweeping the floors in there when he was seven years old, Gatto says. Now hes 87. Everyones from the neighborhood. Its family. We all take it to heart.

The bar at Raos Italian restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

That sense of neighborhood solidarity is what inspired Raos to feed hospital workers, police officers and firefighters and to start a takeout service for the first time during the 2020 pandemic. The endeavor proved so popular that the usual 15 pounds of meat used during the restaurants traditional Monday-through-Friday operations increased to 75 pounds a week. One guy was so desperate for Raos takeout he drove all the way from Boston to get some.

He said, Ive been home with my wife and four kids under 11  I have no problem driving to New York,  Gatto recalls, laughing.

When Gatto returns to New York, Chef Michael Wesley, who has been working at the Los Angeles Raos, will run the kitchen. The menu in Miami Beach includes about 80 percent of what youll find at the original and most of its signature dishes: The meatballs. The lemon chicken. The roasted red peppers and seafood salad. Lobster fra diavolo and veal ragout, which Gatto says is his favorite dish after a little consideration.

VIPs and VVIPS, of course, will have their own space to revel in this Italian bounty. In addition to a lounge and the main dining room, the new restaurant has created the exclusive Raos Room for celebrities and high-rolling regulars that mimics the look and feel of the New York original, with its own little bar and celebrity photos on the wall. If Pat Riley desires meatballs, thats where hell be sitting.

The VIP Raos Room at the new Raos restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Naturally, there have been challenges in recreating Raos in Miami. The restaurant is located in the hotels historic St. Moritz tower, which meant limitations on what could be changed in the design of the restaurant (the space used to hold Lure Fishbar). The nuances of what Gatto calls kitchen Spanish are more complicated in Miami, where many kitchen workers arent bilingual and regional accents and inflections are more varied and complex.

But the opening thrills the Tisch family, which owns Loews Hotels & Co. Executive chairman Jonathan Tisch and president and CEO Alex Tisch said in a statement that the brand is a perfect fit for their property.

When thinking about the ideal restaurant for our South Beach location, we had to look no further than to our dear friends at the iconic Harlem institution, Raos, they said. Like Loews Hotels & Co., they understand what it takes to give customers a memorable, authentic experience, treating them like family.

The lounge area at the new Raos restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Raos

Where: Loews Miami Beach Hotel, 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

Opening: Oct. 25

Reservations: Available starting Oct. 13 at Resy

The original Raos Italian restaurant in East Harlem.
Former President Barack Obama on Monday condemned Hamas brazen terrorist attacks against Israel, which has resulted in hundreds of casualties in recent days.

All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians. We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those whove been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it dismantles Hamas, he said in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Monday.

As we support Israels right to defend itself against terror, we must keep striving for a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike, he added.

All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians. We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those whove been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 9, 2023

Shortly after Obama released his statement, Former President Bill Clinton also addressed the attacks for the first time. I condemn the horrific terrorist assault carried out by Hamas in Israel, and mourn the senseless loss of life. My heart is with all those affected by the violence, including American families, wrote Clinton. Now is a time for the world to rally against terrorism and to support Israeli democracy. I stand with the government of Israel and all Israelis, and urge them to stand together. This is a moment to focus on purpose over politics.

I condemn the horrific terrorist assault carried out by Hamas in Israel, and mourn the senseless loss of life. My heart is with all those affected by the violence, including American families. Now is a time for the world to rally against terrorism and to support Israeli  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 9, 2023

Hamas militants launched a surprise assault over the weekend in areas throughout Israel, with militants firing thousands of rockets into the country as well as engaging in a ground attack.

The Israeli Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron in response to the attacks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the country was at war.

As of Monday, the the death toll on both sides rose to over 1,500, with at least 11 Americans among the dead. An estimated 260 people were killed by gunmen who stormed an outdoor music festival in Israel near the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Following the attack on Saturday morning, President Joe Biden wrote on X and reiterated his unwavering commitment to Israels security. He emphasized his sentiments in a statement released Monday.

This is not some distant tragedy, Biden wrote. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
NEW MEXICO/TEXAS (KRQE)  A balloon participating in the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race crashed after it hit a powerline near Crandall, Texas, southeast of Dallas on Monday night.

Balloon Fiesta officials said the balloon struck the line just before 7:30 p.m. CT. Poland 1 pilots Piotr Halas and Krzysztof Zapart, who are from Poland, were taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Zapart, the lead pilot, sustained cuts and burns to his legs and arms. Halas is being treated for burns and broken bones to his legs and mid-section, according to Balloon Fiesta spokesman Tom Garrity.

NASA, SpaceX prepare for launch: Psyche mission aims to land on a metal-rich asteroid

Poland Team 1 Piotr Halas (left) and Krzystotf Zapart (right). (Credit: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta)

Both are experienced gas balloon pilots who have logged significant time in gas balloons. Our thoughts are with the gentlemen, their families, and friends for a full and complete recovery, said Garrity in an update on YouTube.

Poland 1 was flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet to pass over the Dallas-Fort Worth airspace and started their descent a short time later. The balloons tracking device indicated that the aircrafts motion had stopped at 7:25 p.m. CT, Garrity said. There was good weather and good visibility in Crandall at the time of the accident, he added.

Gordon Bennett Race Director Tomas Hora said Zapart may be released from the hospital on Tuesday. Poland 1s chase crew was in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the time of the crash and is now at the hospital with the pilots.

All of us in the command center are closely monitoring the situation in Texas with Poland 1. Our thoughts with our pilots Krzysztof and Piotr, their support crew, their family, and everybody involved, Hora said in the update on YouTube.

 Find more Top Stories from KFOR.com

A total of 17 teams launched from Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday night. As of Tuesday morning, there were eight teams left in the competition. Click here for the live tracker.

This story will be updated as new information comes in.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Not a patch on the biggest: Travis Geingner has grown a mega-gourd weighing the same as a hippo (JIM WATSON)

A monster pumpkin weighing the same as a hippopotamus has claimed the world record for the mightiest gourd -- and bagged its grower a $30,000 prize.

Travis Gienger squashed the competition with his enormous fruit weighing in at an improbable 2,749 pounds (1,247 kilograms) at the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival in California on Monday.

An orange-shirted Gienger punched the air and offered hugs all round after the weigh-in, as Queen's "We Are The Champions" blasted out, according to video from the event.

The contest, in its 50th year, pits growers of mega-gourds from all over North America against each other to see who can produce the biggest berry.

Gienger, from Minnesota, pipped his nearest rival by a hefty 250 pounds to walk away with this year's title.

He also bagged a new world record in the process, besting an Italian effort from 2021 which tipped the scales at a relatively svelte 2,703 pounds, organizers said, and claimed the $30,000 in the process.

The grand champion gourd will be on display in Half Moon Bay this weekend when the town hosts its Art and Pumpkin Festival.

The United States is currently in the throes of autumn celebrations with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes available at many stores.

While some will be carved into ghoulish designs for Halloween at the end of the month, others will be made into pies or consumed as part of dinner.

Pumpkin spice -- a blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger -- is almost inescapable at this time of year, flavoring everything from cookies to coffee and even cans of Spam.

hg/amz/caw
The Ohio Supreme Court has blocked a local citys vote to ban public drag shows within the city limits, according to court documents.

Bellefontaine residents were expecting the ban to be on the November ballot.

>>RELATED: Local community files ballot initiative to ban public drag performances

The court found that Secretary of State Frank LaRose and the Logan County Board of Elections abused their discretion and didnt follow the law when they allowed the measure to proceed.

Those who supported the ordinance to ban public drag performances collected signatures on a state-mandated petition to get the issue on the ballot. Supporters switched the petitions cover page after it was signed by community members and before they sent it to election officials.

The Supreme Court ruling said this alone violated the law, as the text and title of a state-mandated petition signed by voters seeking a ballot issue must be the same as what is submitted to election officials.

LaRose said the switch was not legally significant and that the new ordinance language was a header instead of a title.

He said the reclassification of drag artists and shows to Adult Cabaret Performance was the measures title.

>> RELATED: Ohio Republicans introduce bill aiming to restrict drag performances

The Ohio Supreme Court ruling rejected his argument as state law doesnt use the term header at all.

The ruling read, Even if we were to accept Secretary LaRoses conclusion that the proposed ordinance already had a title, that fact would not obviate the problem created by petitioners alteration of the part-petitions and their addition of another title.

This ruling comes days before early voting for the Nov. 7 election.
A new judge exchanged more than 500 text messages with her bailiff during her first murder trial, mocking the physical appearance of attorneys, jurors and witnesses, an investigation found.

Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom, 50, should be removed from office for her conduct, the Oklahoma Supreme Court's chief justice said Tuesday.

Soderstrom and her female bailiff joked in texts about the size of prosecutors' penises, called the key witness a liar and admired the looks of a testifying police officer, Chief Justice John Kane revealed in a 47-page petition.

The trial in June was over the 2018 beating death of a 2-year-old boy. Jurors convicted the defendant of second-degree manslaughter, rather than first-degree murder.

"The totality of the text messages give the appearance Respondent believed the defendant was innocent and that she wanted a particular outcome in the case," the chief justice alleged.

The texts and her decisions in the case "give the appearance that the Respondent may have taken actions in furtherance of that desired outcome," he alleged.

In this screenshot from a security camera recording, Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom looks at her cellphone during a murder trial in June. Faces of the jurors have been blurred to protect their identities.

He called for her to be removed from office for gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office, oppression in office and other grounds for her conduct in that case and others.

Hearing the request will be the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, which last removed a judge in 2020.

Soderstrom on Tuesday agreed to a temporary suspension from her duties. She already had stopped hearing criminal cases last month.

"Judge Soderstrom takes these allegations very seriously. We are in the process of requesting the entire record from the Council on Judicial Complaints so that she can respond appropriately," said her attorney, Tracy Schumacher.

Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom called mother a liar, commented on appearances during trial

The Oklahoman reported in July on the judge's texting after obtaining security videos of the inside of the courtroom during the trial. That report resulted in national media attention.

The videos show the judge using her cellphone on the bench to text or exchange messages for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and testimony.

She also can be seen checking Facebook on her phone at times during the trial.

The Council on Judicial Complaints investigated more than a dozen allegations against the judge, including one from her second day on the bench.

The chief justice included specific findings from that investigation in his petition calling for her removal. He revealed that she told the Council of Judicial Complaints that she was texting about things that probably could have waited "instead of recognizing that these types of communications should never be made at all."

"It was like, 'Oh, that's funny,' Move on," she told the council.

In this screenshot from a security camera recording, Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom looks at her cellphone during a murder trial in June. The Oklahoman blurred faces of the jurors to protect their identities.

She began texting about District Attorney Adam Panter's appearance during jury selection, noting that he was "sweating thru his coat," the chief justice revealed. She later texted, "Why does he have baby hands? ... They are so weird looking."

The judge replied "Ha Ha" at one point when the bailiff "made a crass and demeaning reference" about the genitals of the two male prosecutors, the chief justice revealed.

She also texted that prosecutors "just couldn't accept that a mom could kill their kid so they went after the next person available."

While the boy's mother testified, the judge spent the majority of the time "texting comments like, 'Can I please scream liar liar,'" according to the petition. She and her bailiff wondered if another witness had teeth.

"When a police officer took the stand, the Respondent texted, 'He's pretty. I could look at him all day' to which the Bailiff replied, 'Same lol,'" according to the petition.

About a juror, the judge texted, "That's a wig. ... Look at that hair line." The judge later texted the juror was "definitely wearing a wig." The bailiff responded, "OMG. LOL."

The chief justice also revealed in the petition that the judge barred the prosecution from calling a key expert witness and did not allow the jury to consider a second-degree murder verdict.

The district attorney on Tuesday called Soderstrom a tyrant.

He said she timed her ruling on his expert witness until after the jury was sworn in. He said that kept him from appealing her ruling.

"It is now well publicized that Judge Soderstrom spent many hours of a murder trial involving the brutal beating death of a child, glued to her cell phone on social media rather than pay attention to the evidence," Panter said. "But what is ... in my opinion even more obscene is that now we are aware from the allegations that Judge Soderstrom actively attempted to undermine the States ability to successfully prosecute a child killer. "

He called the judge's communications with her bailiff about his genitalia "especially disgusting and outrageous."

"This vulgar and offensive behavior is a clear indication of her bias against the State of Oklahoma," he said.

Who was on trial while Judge Traci Soderstrom texted?

On trial was Khristian Tyler Martzall, 32, of Wellston.

He was charged in the death of Braxton Danker, his then-girlfriend's son.

Prosecutors at trial asked jurors to find him guilty of first-degree murder either because he abused the boy himself or permitted the mother to do so.

Jurors convicted him instead of second-degree manslaughter. They wrote "Time Served" for his sentence.

Martzall had been in jail for more than five years.

The maximum punishment for second-degree manslaughter is four years in prison. At the formal sentencing, the judge imposed the maximum but agreed Martzall had already completed his time. The mother, Judith Danker, is serving a 25-year prison sentence for enabling child abuse.

Oklahoma's Court on the Judiciary has removed 7 judges

The Court on the Judiciary has removed seven judges for oppression in office or other misconduct grounds since its creation more than 50 years ago. Sometimes, judges facing discipline have resigned instead.

The last judge to be removed was Kendra Coleman. That decision came in September 2020 after a trial that lasted 13 days. She served as an Oklahoma County district judge less than two years.

The last time before that was in 2002.

Voters in 1966 passed a constitutional amendment creating the court after a bribery scandal involving Supreme Court justices. It is made up of a trial division and an appellate division.

More: Oklahoma judges rarely have been removed from office

On the trial division are eight senior district judges and an attorney. Their decisions do not have to be unanimous.

Soderstrom has been on the bench less than a year. She was sworn in Jan. 9 after winning 56% of the vote in last year's election.

She and her husband put $160,000 of their own money into the race, her campaign reports show.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Judge Traci Soderstrom caught texting in trial may be removed
James Shelton thought hed be placed in a solitary cell when he was sent to the restricted housing unit at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton.

Instead, prison staff locked him in a 2-by-2-foot shower stall.

Shelton says he spent at least 24 hours confined in the shower stall, where there was little space to lie or sit down comfortably. The 41-year-old prisoner, serving a 30-year sentence for armed robbery, claims he was never let out to use the restroom.

Its disorganized, Shelton said during a brief phone interview, referencing other issues such as meals arriving late. Things are slowly getting better, but theyve got a lot of work to do.

State personnel at Great Plains confined several prisoners in 2-by-2-foot shower stalls for days with limited access to basic necessities, two correctional officers allege in an incident report obtained by Oklahoma Watch. An internal agency investigation confirmed that prisoners were in fact held in the shower stalls for several hours but ruled some of the officers' claims as inclusive.

The officers, dispatched from the John Lilley Correctional Center in Boley to alleviate staffing shortages at Great Plains, worked the night shift in the restricted housing unit on Aug. 14 and 15. Oklahoma Watch is not naming the employees due to concerns of workplace retaliation.

Prisoners say they were confined to the shower stalls without breaks for days at a time

The officers reported that inmates confined in the shower stalls complained of not receiving restroom breaks, water or mattress pads. One prisoner told the officers that he had not been let out of the shower stall for three consecutive days. Another said he was suicidal so he could be let out of the stall he had been in for four days. Inmates who had been in the showers for an extended period were defecating and urinating into cups and trash bags, the report said.

The officers said they worked to let prisoners out for restroom breaks and distribute water and bedding during the Aug. 14 night shift. One wrote that he was concerned hed be held legally liable if he didnt try to improve conditions.

During a pre-shift briefing on Aug. 15, the officers reported that a day shift lieutenant chastised them for taking prisoners out of the shower stalls.

We were informed that the inmates in the shower cells get nothing, one of the officers wrote. No cups, no blankets, no extra clothes and no bathroom breaks. He stated that they are in the shower stalls for disciplinary reasons and can be there for weeks and it is to make them not want to be there anymore.

About 10 p.m. on Aug. 15, the officers allege the facilitys chief of security dismissed their concerns over the conditions inside the restricted housing unit. They called a supervisor at John Lilley and stated they were no longer comfortable working at Great Plains due to a hostile work environment. Great Plains personnel relieved them of duty just after midnight on Aug. 16.

Oklahoma Watch

An employee misconduct investigation conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General found that prisoners were held in the shower stalls for up to three days as alleged. Prison staff told investigators that no inmate was held in a shower stall for more than 24 hours without being offered an alternative cell placement.

Investigators interviewed several prisoners who confirmed that they were kept in the stall for several hours without being offered a restroom break. Some of the prisoners interviewed said they received a styrofoam cup for water while others did not.

Investigators were unable to reach a conclusion on claims that prison officials ordered staff not to give prisoners restroom breaks and that inmates were being held in the shower stalls as punishment. A log of prisoners confined in the showers was not available, and video footage inside the area was grainy and not reliable for determining who was held in a shower stall and for how long, investigators reported.

Reported conditions in Great Plains Correctional Center shower stalls violate Oklahoma policy

Several prison staff members, whose names are redacted in the report, told investigators that they were overwhelmed with prisoners refusing housing in general population units because they did not want to live in eight-man cells. They said the intent was to keep prisoners in the shower stalls for no more than 30 minutes as they worked to place them in a solitary cell, but backlogs and overcrowding in the restricted housing unit caused extended delays. Staff said some prisoners believed they would be transferred to another facility if they refused housing at Great Plains.

More: Oklahoma closer to eliminating private prisons with takeover of Davis facility

Investigators found that the number of prisoners housed in the shower stalls reached as high as 17. Prison staff said they restricted inmate personal items in the showers to prevent suicide and self-harm attempts.

The conditions inside the shower stalls appear to violate Corrections Department policy, which states that inmates are entitled to a mattress, pillow, bedding and sleeping surface at least 12 inches above the ground. The policy also states prisoners should have access to bathroom facilities and water at all times.

Bobby Cleveland, executive director of Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, said hes heard from several officers concerned about prisoners being confined in the shower stalls for an extended period. He said he appreciates the inspector generals investigation but would like to see an independent examination into conditions at the facility.

We want to rehabilitate them, Cleveland said. Its not the prisons job to make that punishment overwhelming.

Michela Bowman is the senior project adviser and vice president at Impact Justice, a California-based nonprofit that advocates for criminal justice reform and better prison conditions in the United States. She said it's very difficult but not impossible for prisoners to claim that their rights have been violated under the Eighth Amendments prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 requires inmates to exhaust administrative appeals before they may file a complaint in federal court.

While many U.S. prison systems voluntarily comply with American Correctional Association standards or fund inspector general units, Bowman said independent oversight of prison conditions is often lax compared to several European nations.

More: Nearly a year in, new director of state prisons says 'culture change' under way

We do not have the safeguards in place in this country that many other countries do to be able to report and ensure that abuse doesnt happen, Bowman said.

Great Plains personnel have stopped confining prisoners in shower stalls, according to the inspector generals report. Investigators determined the prison violated the agencys record-keeping policy for inmates sent to restricted housing units but did not cite the facility for conditions inside the shower stalls.

Oklahoma began transferring prisoners to Great Plains on May 10, clearing the way for the state to vacate the North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre. Corrections Department Director Steven Harpe said the transition would allow the state to better connect prisoners with resources and programming and attract more staff. Hinton is just south of Interstate 40 about 55 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City. Great Plains, which previously housed federal prisoners, temporarily closed in May 2021 after President Joe Biden issued an executive order barring the federal government from extending contracts with private prison companies. The prison housed state prisoners from 1991 through 2007, when cost concerns and a successful escape prompted the state to cut ties with the facility.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Hinton prison inmates held in shower stalls for days without water
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Butterfly enthusiasts are now on the lookout for the monarch migration as their search for warmer temperatures is underway.

Keep in mind, monarchs roosting in Oklahoma will stick around as long as the temperatures dont dip below 60 degrees.

Anything thats probably going to be below that 60 to 50 degree range is when youre going to be pushing what theyre comfortable with and what theyre trying to move from, said Patrick Hayes, Naturalist for Tulsa County Parks.

 Find more Top Stories from KFOR.com

If you would like to attract monarchs, experts suggest planting Frostweed or Milkweed. Monarchs love these particular plants.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Editors Note: Reality Check is a Kansas City Star series focused on holding those in power to their word and pulling back the curtain on decisions happening behind closed doors. This newsroom-wide project will bring fast facts as stories unfold  making sure our local officials and institutions are telling the truth, serving our communities well and following through on their promises. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email tips@kcstar.com.

Ty VanBuskirk had never publicly talked about being on the autism spectrum before. Instead, he spent his time in the Olathe school district masking it.

But that changed in July, when the recent Olathe South graduate stood in front of the school board to share how he felt the district had failed him. A lack of support and understanding of his disability, he said, led to ongoing trauma, bullying, isolation, even suicidal thoughts.

My general education teachers didnt even know I had an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) or autism, the 19-year-old told The Star. When not even your case manager or paraprofessionals around you are aware, or able to communicate with your own teachers, that can cause a lot of issues.

Along with VanBuskirk, several parents have shown up in force at school board meetings over recent months, sharing similar stories and advocating for better services for their children with autism. Theyre hard to miss, packing meetings wearing matching, purple Got FAPE? T-shirts, referencing students with disabilities right to a free appropriate public education.

The Star spoke with a dozen Olathe parents who say systemic issues in the district are stopping children with autism from effectively accessing their education. They accuse the district of failing to offer their children needed supports, unfairly disciplining students with autism labeled as behavior kids, and not communicating students needs and accommodations.

Theyre forcing our kids into a mental health crisis. And its not OK, said parent Heidi Fenton, who has a 13-year-old daughter with autism. Many parents said their children have had suicidal thoughts and are now needing mental health services.

Some of their concerns were echoed in a recent study of the special education department commissioned by the district, aiming to inform staffing decisions for this school year as it faces enrollment declines and budget cuts. One issue raised is the labeling of special education students as behavior kids, which the study says can lead to unintended, negative student outcomes.

Students with disabilities are suspended more than twice as often as their non-disabled peers, the study says. Out of 105 district employees interviewed, only two referenced punishment as a way to improve student conduct.

The study, released in January, also shows a heavy burden on special education staff, many of whom miss out on lunch or planning time. And it says that the substitute shortage is hitting the hardest in special ed, with those teaching vacancies the most likely to be unfilled.

Anjanette Tolman, the districts executive director of special services, said during Thursdays school board meeting that officials are taking the findings and implementing changes. They include addressing missed planning time, increasing staff, as well as implementing more training on the inclusion of special needs students.

In an email to The Star, district spokeswoman Erin Schulte said, We want every individual student to be successful both in school and in life. As a district, we will continue to work alongside our families to ensure that all students have what they need to be successful in the classroom.

We want to be abundantly clear that our district administration, principals and teachers are always willing to meet with families to discuss their concerns. In fact, that is our expectation and the practice in place in Olathe Public Schools.

Olathe isnt the only district where parents are raising concerns. Similar issues were raised in a lawsuit against the Shawnee Mission school district. A federal judge ruled the district violated special education law and failed to provide needed services to a boy who has autism. The district must now provide several outside services for the boy, and pay $400,000 of the familys legal expenses, after spending $430,000 for its own attorney fees.

We dont want to have a child who graduates high school and cant read or write. But thats what all these lawsuits are coming out about. And that is going to be my child, said Olathe parent Kristy Sloan.

Districts are dealing with ongoing staff shortages, mostly affecting special ed. Olathe had more than 260 openings for paraprofessionals  staff who provide instructional, behavioral and other support to special ed students  at the start of the school year.

And that added pressure comes amid a decade-long underfunding of special education in Kansas. Educators across the state have pleaded with lawmakers to increase funding, saying that many students likely arent receiving all of the services that they need and are required by law.

The Olathe district has about 466 students being served under the federal eligibility of autism, and 45 students with an autism diagnosis listed on their 504 plan. Thats out of nearly 5,000 special education students, and 29,000 students in the district, according to state data.

Some of the Olathe parents have quit their jobs to work full time on getting their children support. Many have moved their kids to new schools after their needs werent being met. Most are spending thousands of dollars on outside services.

My mom was basically my case manager throughout all my years of high school and made sure I got (services). I was very grateful to have an expert on my side. Most parents of special needs students arent able to provide that, VanBuskirk said.

It has been a war zone

During his freshman year of high school, VanBuskirk said it took a full semester before his general education teachers knew he had accommodations under an IEP.

Throughout high school, my IEP was never followed, he said. Its not to say that my teachers werent terrific educators, its just kinda hard to do your job well when youre not being told what to do in the first place.

That lack of communication is a common theme among Olathe parents of students with autism.

Schulte said that all members of a students educational team have access to the IEP and meet regularly to discuss student progress. That includes administration, general and special education teachers, and support staff. Substitutes also should have access to an overview of supports, goals, accommodations and other services provided under students IEPs.

While quiet students like Ty may rely on hiding their disability, others are being labeled as having behavior problems.

Some said their kids have been regularly disciplined, sometimes suspended, when they throw fits or act out due to being unregulated. The parents attribute it to a lack of understanding and communication about their childrens disabilities.

The study of Olathes special ed program says that 34% of suspensions during the 2021-2022 school year involved students with IEPs, while only 16% of students have them.

They dont see (the behavior) as a manifestation of the autism, Carrie VanBuskirk, Tys mother and a special education advocate, said.

Im really worried that general education teachers may not know that their students have the disability that they do, and thats how they get those labels of behavior kids and that can also put them at risk for a mental health crisis, parent Kaylan Campain told the school board on Thursday.

Parent Rachael Pratt said she has two children with autism, and both have been suspended over behavior issues.

It has been a war zone to get (my son) the actual accommodations he needs, she said of her seventh grader, saying he has been listed as behavior problem.

I had an hourlong conversation with my sons reading teacher. ... He has an F in the class. There is no aide in the class, no additional support in that class. And hes not able to complete assignments. Hes coming home escalated, Pratt said. I reached out to the teacher and said, What accommodations are you doing for him? Are you aware hes autistic? And she said, No, I had no idea.

Students do not need to be listed under their medical diagnosis in order to receive needed services. But parents say a lack of communication about students needs makes it more difficult on teachers and staff, several of whom reported safety concerns in the special ed program study.

My kid is spiraling

Last spring, Megan Martin saw problems escalate with her 9-year-old son.

All of a sudden, hes been complaining about being bullied, dejected, and eating paper and hiding under desks and avoiding class. Hanging out in the hallways. Was tardy, Martin said. I have about four or five incidents of kids on the school grounds fighting him. Him being punched in the head. People saying Nobody cares about you.

Martin said shes been fighting to get more accommodations for her son, along with a safety plan.

Now weve got him in Johnson County Mental Health, at 9 years old with suicidal ideation, she said.

All of the parents who spoke with The Star said their children are struggling with mental health issues as they lack the services they need.

My kid is spiraling because he cant fit in and connect with these kids. Hes being bullied. He cant get an education, Martin said.

The parents have organized over the past year, learning that they each share similar struggles as they advocate for their children. And the group picked up steam after the study of the districts special education program was completed in January, pushing the district to use the findings to take action.

During Thursdays board meeting, Tolman went over some of the studys findings and said the district is taking several steps as a result.

She said the district is working with schools on addressing the issue of a lack of lunch and planning time for special ed teachers, plus offering compensation for teachers who miss that time. She said the district also has increased its certified teaching positions, although there are is still a large number of openings in that area or positions that have not actually been filled.

Tolman said the district also is working on the concern of labeling students as behavior kids or other similar terms. She said conversations about language used for special education students, as well as best practices for inclusion, will be shared with staff during training days.

But the growing group of Olathe moms wants to see more change. They are pushing for the district to partner with them to share their experiences and talk about solutions.

Until then, they say the district can expect to keep seeing their purple T-shirts at board meetings.

Please ensure all staff members undergo autism training in the near future, Ty VanBuskirk urged the school board this summer. Its important that neurodiverse students are educated in an environment where they are seen, understood and valued. Unfortunately, I never had that experience. And honestly, I never felt safe.
Councillor James Pasternak (second from left) tells the crowd to quiet down after they boo Mayor Olivia Chow as she takes the stage during a solidarity rally in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jessica Lee (The Canadian Press)

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is apologizing after being criticized for denouncing a pro-Palestinian rally that took place at Nathan Phillips Square on Thanksgiving in Toronto.

The demonstrations saw hundreds of people gather in the heart of the city to march peacefully and chant slogans while waving the Palestinian flag and signs following the surprise attack of Hamas on Israel that has now turned into an outright "war" as per the latters government.

The Toronto mayor issued a public statement condemning the rally and stating that the demonstrations were not authorized.

I'm aware of the unsanctioned rally at Nathan Phillips Square today. My statement below: pic.twitter.com/OrjKqXWtov  Mayor Olivia Chow (@MayorOliviaChow) October 9, 2023

The rally to support Hamas at Nathan Phillips Square today is unsanctioned, without a permit and I unequivocally denounce it. Glorifying this weekends indiscriminate violence, including murder and kidnapping of women and children, by Hamas against Israeli civilians is deplorable, read Chows statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, under her official handle.

The post garnered the attention of various other users rather immediately, who were quick to point out that there are no permits in Toronto for rallies.

Just to be clear: THERE ARE NO PERMITS IN TORONTO FOR RALLIES.There is no permit to apply for, no authority that can issue it, no application you can fill. Not even for private property. Olivia knows because Jack went to Supreme Court on this in 1984, X user @hussask who likes to talk about migration, anti-colonialism and resistance posted online.

Just to be clear: THERE ARE NO PERMITS IN TORONTO FOR RALLIES.



There is no permit to apply for, no authority that can issue it, no application you can fill. Not even for private property.



Olivia knows because Jack went to Supreme Court on this in 1984: https://t.co/Z6MZwggdQe https://t.co/PJfXNssRzL  hussan (@hussansk) October 9, 2023

Another X user reaffirmed @hussasks claim while calling out Mayor Chow for her stance on the Nathan Phillips Square rally.

Torontos mayor is wrongfully trying to stop a peaceful, anti-apartheid rally at Nathan Philips Square today. she says no permits were obtained for a public space that, as per NPS website, does not need permits for demonstrations, protests, and marches, posted Huda Hassan, who is a writer and a media cultural studies professor at New York University as per her profile bio.

torontos mayor is wrongfully trying to stop a peaceful, anti-apartheid rally at Nathan Philips Square today. she says no permits were obtained for a public space that, as per NPS website, does not need permits for demonstrations, protests, and marches https://t.co/81Q9hMyfxK https://t.co/DCbGdpAzqY  huda hassan  (@_hudahassan) October 9, 2023

Chow responds to the controversy over messaging: 'It was a mistake'

The mayors office in Toronto confirmed with Yahoo News Canada that no rallies or demonstrations were stopped.

The rally was organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement who shared their reaction to the Toronto mayors post with Yahoo News Canada.

"The protest held by the Palestinian Youth Movement was meant to demonstrate that we, and other Canadians, reject the white-washing of 75 years of ongoing colonial violence against the Palestinian people. Violence that has resulted in the dispossession of Palestinian people from their homes and lands, and the regular Israeli carpet bombing campaigns against the people of Gaza. The wielding of terrorism accusations in effort to shut down and censor pro-Palestine rallies is an act of anti-Palestinian racism, and strikes at the bedrock foundations of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, meant to silence anyone struggling for Palestinian liberation," the organizations response read.

Yahoo News Canada can confirm the eligibility criteria listed under the Nathan Phillips Square booking section on City of Torontos website, disallows permits to be issued for demonstrations of similar nature as the one on Monday afternoon.

Nathan Phillips Square is an event space and event permits are issued for cultural events only. Permits are not issued for commercial events, sampling activations, demonstrations, protests, vigils and marches, the website reads.

In an interview with The Toronto Star, Mayor Chow admitted the challenges of social media are why she "messed up" the messaging. She initially meant the tweets about the Middle Eastern conflict to be read as one statement, but made a mistake in sending two.

The mayor added she was sorry for the "hurt and confusion," adding: "It was a mistake on my part."

Stigmatizing demonstration was short-sighted, 'fear-mongering', critics say

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow arrives to West Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick (The Canadian Press)

While Mayor Chow's post became the target of many of her followers disapproval, some others also took issue with her labelling the rally as in support of Hamas.

Just because the Hamas are Palestinians doesnt mean all Palestinians are Hamas. The Palestinian flag predates the Hamas. Hamas only exists because of the 75+ year humanitarian crisis that Palestinians have experienced because of the government of Israel, posted On Canada Project Editor-in-Chief, Sam Krishnapillai on X.

Devastatingly disappointed in this @oliviachow



Just because the Hamas are Palestinians doesnt mean all Palestinians are Hamas.



The Palestinian flag predates the Hamas. Hamas only exists because of the 75+ year humanitarian crisis that Palestinians have experienced because of https://t.co/1baP1kdlw3  Sam Krishnapillai (@SamKrish_) October 9, 2023

This is irresponsible from Olivia Chow, equating support for Palestine and Palestinians with supporting Hamas. Besides, you don't have to apply for permits to protest or rally in Toronto. It's not Moscow. https://t.co/ouKZc316Pa  Paul Dawkins (@Paul__Dawkins) October 9, 2023

'Educate yourself' before speaking, official says

Dr. M. Awad with the Coalition of Canadian Palestinian Organizations stressed on the importance of sharing factually accurate information with the general public.

By supporting Palestine does not mean you support Hamas or any political party in the region. That is very important to clear out the distinction between the two. People don't see this distinction at the political level or the media level these days, Dr. Awad told Yahoo News Canada.

Educate yourself more about what's going on.

You cannot see the story from one side all the time. See both sides of the story.

Some Torontonians even accused Mayor Chow of making fear-mongering comments in light of recent events.

As a member of the Jewish community I am deeply disappointed by the hateful, false and fear-mongering comments made by @MayorOliviaChow. There is no place for these offensive anti-Palestinian comments. I hope Mayor Chow retracts this ill-informed statement, said White Jewish Settler Alisa Gayle on X.

As a member of the Jewish community I am deeply disappointed by the hateful, false and fearmongering comments made by @MayorOliviaChow. There is no place for these offensive anti-Palestinian comments. I hope Mayor Chow retracts this ill-informed statement. https://t.co/WEKJmXcjPU  Alisa Gayle (she/her)AbolishthePolice/prisons #BDS (@AlisaGaylePiano) October 9, 2023

Another social media user accused Chow of spreading wrong information on the matter.

Its a rally organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement in support of Palestinians civilians, not one in support of Hamas. This is blatantly wrong info from the Mayor, said film critic James Mackin.

Its a rally organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement in support of Palestinians civilians, not one in support of Hamas. This is blatantly wrong info from the Mayor. https://t.co/ciW2QPpPkX  James Mackin (@JamesMackin10) October 9, 2023

I hate it here. Equating Palestinians with Hamas is just as vile and racist as equating Jewish people with occupation and apartheid. https://t.co/R3l67v1uFq  Anne-Marie Longpre (@mslongpre) October 9, 2023

However, there were others who supported the Mayors stance on the issue.

Anyone supporting and advocating for a designated terrorist organization must be arrested and charged whether it be in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, or anywhere else. This is a global security threat and it must be dealt with by the law. These statements are not good enough, said the Imam of Peace on X, whose work deals with ideologically tackling the spread of Islamic extremism.

Anyone supporting and advocating for a designated terrorist organization must be arrested and charged whether it be in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, or anywhere else. This is a global security threat and it must be dealt with by the law. These statements are not good enough. https://t.co/TlPPM4iXqN  Imam of Peace (@Imamofpeace) October 9, 2023

Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley also approved the mayors stance.

Thank you @MayorOliviaChow for denouncing the rally to support #Hamas that will take place today in #Toronto. https://t.co/5uGtGzB65v  CIJA (@CIJAinfo) October 9, 2023

Thank you Mayor Chow.



This act of moral clarity and leadership will not be forgotten.@oliviachow #Toronto https://t.co/dI66FklV4t  David Jacobs (@DrJacobsRad) October 9, 2023

Yahoo News Canada has reached out to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow for a response.

While the topic is received as immensely sensitive and delicate online, knowledge gaps among the general members of the public only seem to widen As the situation on the ground continues to worsen around the Gaza Strip.

Latest figures coming out of the Middle East suggest 1,600 have already died as Israel looks to amp up the attack after formally declaring a war on Hamas following the tragic events that occurred over the weekend.

Violence is not the solution on both sides. If Canada wants to help, instead of sending weapons and money along with the US, send a peace initiative. Send economic developments. Help people out and help them see a future. Any initiative has to include a genuine approach and intent. The world has to see Palestinians as their own people.Dr. M. Awad, Coalition of Canadian Palestinian Organizations

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the mayor's office confirming no rallies were stopped at Nathan Phillips Square. A previous version of the article indicated Mayor Chow may have 'wrongfully stopped' a peaceful demonstration.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Olympic gold medalist and West Virginia native Mary Lou Retton is in an intensive care unit and fighting for her life as she battles pneumonia.

According to a *spotfund set up by her daughter, McKenna Kelley, Retton has been in the ICU for over a week now and has not been able to breathe on her own. Kelley said that out of respect for her mothers privacy, she would not disclose any more details, but she did say that Retton is uninsured.

Please consider helping our family out, Kelley wrote in an Instagram story. And most importantly please continue to pray.

Retton, a Fairmont, West Virginia, native, made history as a gymnast particularly during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles when she received two perfect 10 scores in the floor and vault categories just weeks after receiving an operation on her knee.

In that same Olympics, Retton became the first American in history to win all-around gold for gymnastics and also won two silver medals and two bronze medals, earning more than any other participant that year.

Retton also appeared as herself in some television series and movies, including Scrooged, Baywatch, and Knots Landing, according to her IMDb page. Under President George W. Bush, she served on the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, in addition to several Olympic and gymnastics ambassador roles.

She is considered one of West Virginias most famous athletes of all time and has a road and park named after her in her hometown of Fairmont.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
One motorcyclist is dead and another has been hospitalized after a crash Saturday night in Tarrant County, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

Deputies were dispatched to the 5400 block of Winscott Plover Road around 6 p.m. Saturday, where they found two motorcycles crashed. Both riders were taken to local hospitals, where one died.

Charles Marshall Tolleson, 70, of Azle, died in the emergency room at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital due to blunt force injuries, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office. His death has been ruled an accident.

The sheriffs office said investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash but they have not released any details on preliminary findings.

>> BREAKING NEWS <<

Today's other top stories in Fort Worth:

 Fort Behavioral clinic closes after Star-Telegram investigation

 Group dressed like Nazis served at Torchy's Tacos in Fort Worth

 Skeletal remains found behind west Tarrant County business

Get free alerts when news breaks.
For the family of Katie Baunach, the pain of her killing one year ago has not faded.

And closure still seems a distant prospect, her mother Carolyn McKinney said in an interview  particularly for Katie's two young children, C.J. and Makayla.

"It's still really hard," McKinney said. "They still cry."

Baunach, a 39-year-old nurse, was found dead at the Fort Denaud home of her ex-husband Ian Baunach on Sept. 30, 2022. Prosecutors charged Baunach with murder, and he remains in custody awaiting trial, which could be years away. Baunach's defense attorney is scheduled to depose witnesses in November, according to court filings.

Back in June, [prosecutors] said it would be two or three years from now before he goes to trial, McKinney said. "I started feeling very insecure about him wiggling out of this. I need for them to tell me hes going to pay for this.

Read the investigation: Katie Baunach's ex-husband killed her, prosecutors say. The justice system let it happen

McKinney said she called the Office of 20th District State Attorney Amira Fox over the summer seeking to talk with the lead prosecutor on the case, but did not receive a call back. She said she understands prosecutors are busy and that they have been kind to her throughout the case, but that she is still anxious for reassurance.

I would love them to tell me that hes in there and hes miserable and they know hes not going to get out," McKinney said. "I need somebody to say that to me.

The State Attorney's Office said it does not comment on its conversations with crime victims or their families.

Local law enforcement praised the Hendry Sheriff's Office's investigation and arrest weeks after the killing, saying quick action by deputies allowed them to apprehend Baunach before he destroyed evidence or fled.

But an investigation by The News-Press found that police, prosecutors and judges failed to protect Katie before her death, despite her repeatedly reporting Ian for domestic abuse.

In November 2021, Ian allegedly grabbed Katie during a fight and tried to strangle her. She called police. The office of 20th District State Attorney Amira Fox charged Ian with a felony. But Katie forgave him after he told her he had found God  and prosecutors dropped the charges, despite the cases lead prosecutor writing in case notes that she would have continued without victim testimony in 90 percent of similar cases.

Less than three months later, Ian allegedly kicked Katie in the back and threatened to kill her. Katie reported the alleged attack to the Hendry County Sheriffs Office. But prosecutors did not file charges, despite deputies writing in their reports that they had sent the case to Foxs office and were requesting an arrest warrant. Less than two months before Katie's death a Lee County judge denied Katie's request for a restraining order, saying she did not believe Katie's abuse allegations.

Ian's two previous ex-wives, both Indiana residents, told The News-Press they reported Ian to their local police years earlier for domestic violence but felt authorities did not take their allegations seriously. Ian was never convicted of a crime.

In July, the family struggled with the decision of what to do with Katie's ashes, McKinney said. Katie had left Indiana years earlier. Mississippi, where McKinney lived, was not Katie's home. And McKinney said she never wanted to return to Florida again.

Instead, the family chartered a boat out of Gulf Shores, Alabama, had a service on the beach and scattered Katie's ashes in the Gulf of Mexico. Katie had never visited Gulf Shores, McKinney said, but it felt right. It felt like her.

"She loved the beach so much," McKinney said. "The beach was her home.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: One year after killing, family of Katie Baunach grieves and waits for justice
A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (Hatem Moussa/AP)

Violence in Israel and Palestine escalated in unparalleled ways over the weekend. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas killed hundreds of Israeli citizens, injured thousands more and kidnapped some as it invaded Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7. In response, Israel increased bombings of the Gaza Strip, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a formal declaration of war.

So far, as of Tuesday, Oct. 10, at least 765 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded, according to Gazas Health Ministry. At least 900 Israelis have been killed and 2,741 wounded, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Casualties are expected to rise as armed combat and bombings continue.

At least 11 American citizens are among those killed in Israel, according to U.S. President Joe Biden, who called it an appalling terrorist assault.

Heres how the current Israel-Hamas war is unprecedented for those involved  Palestine, Israel and the international community  in ways that are expected to shape whats to come as of Oct. 10.

The scale of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 and Israels military failure

Hamas launched a very audacious, brutal assault on Saturday (Oct. 7) into Israel, Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and director of its Israeli-Palestinian Affairs program, told McClatchy News. No Palestinian group has ever launched an attack like this.

A large number of armed Hamas fighters breached the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They entered by land, sea and air, then temporarily took control of at least 20 Israeli communities near the border, killing hundreds of Israelis and taking more than 100 people back to Gaza as hostages. The exact number of hostages held by Hamas is unclear, but the Israel Defense Forces said it includes civilians and military personnel.

No one imagined that (Hamas) had the operational capacity to do what they did, Joel Beinin, a professor of Middle Eastern History at Stanford University, told McClatchy News.

The border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip has never been breached in such a way, Elgindy said, and, its the first time any Palestinian armed force controlled ... anything in Israel since 1948  since Israel was created.

Dov Waxman, a professor of Israeli studies at the University of California Los Angeles, told McClatchy News that the capture of Israeli population centers inside Israel, thats never taken place before in terms of sovereign Israeli territory.

As a result of Hamas attack, more Israelis died on that single day than in any day in Israels history  and that includes all of Israels wars, Waxman said.

The Oct. 7 attack was like a role reversal for Israel, which has occupied Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 1967, Elgindy said.

Thats not to justify (the attack), he said. Thats just to explain the psychology of what it means, of what a radical, audacious assault it was, especially given Israel is the most powerful military force in the entire region.

For Israelis, Beinin said, part of the horror of Hamas attack was the complete failure of the (Israeli) intelligence and military apparatus in confronting it.

Israel cutting off the Gaza Strip entirely

Israel controls  everything about the Gaza Strip, Beinin said, and its become a living hell for the roughly 2 million Palestinians who live in this small area, which is about one-eighth the size of Rhode Island with double the states population.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli and Egyptian military blockade since 2007 when Hamas, which had called for the destruction of Israel, was elected to a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council. Israel controls all of Gazas borders and the flow of people and goods. As a result of the almost 16-year-long blockade, Gaza has been called an open-air prison and was expected to become unlivable by 2020. Already 96% of its water is not drinkable, according to UNICEF.

In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, Oct. 9, with a total blockade including food, water, electricity and fuel.

This goes beyond any measures that Israel has taken, as far as I can recall, in the past toward the Gaza Strip, Waxman said.

Mohammed Abu-Nimer, a professor of Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, told McClatchy News that in the past, Israel has cut electricity  (and) prohibited material to go in Gaza for a few days as a punishment, but this time Israel is blocking everything.

Elgindy also confirmed the unprecedented nature of the blockade, saying he has never seen anything where food, medicine, fuel, electricity, (and) water, all have been cut. Thats catastrophic.

Its collective punishment on a massive scale, he said.

The scale of Israels response is expected to be unprecedented

We dont know yet what the full dimensions of the Israeli response are, Beinin said. Everything they have said, everything theyve done so far in only the last day and a half indicates that this is going to be a massive bloodbath.

Israel has fired over 4,500 rockets into the Gaza Strip between Saturday and midday Tuesday.

Usually, the Israeli response to Palestinian escalation involves rounds of aerial bombardment, Yousef Munayyer, the head of the Palestine-Israel program at the Arab Center Washington D.C., told McClatchy News. There is sort of an established playbook, if you will.

Israels military doctrine, according to Elgindy, is based on overwhelming, disproportionate force. That is, whatever blows are suffered on the Israeli side, it will be returned multiple times over in terms of casualties, destruction, and so forth.

This time, however, Hamas is holding captives, which complicates Israels response and may change what sort of response will satisfy the Israeli public, Munayyer said.

Abu-Nimer offered a similar analysis, noting that right now the Israeli operation has an objective of reestablishing its image and its reputation and what they call its deterrence capacity.

As a result, many experts expect Israels response will be larger, longer and likely deadlier to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip than past conflicts.

Theres a war that is growing by the moment, Waxman said.

A green light from Israels Western allies

Israels Western allies, including the U.S. and the European Union, responded to Hamas Oct. 7 attack by publicly emphasizing Israels right to defend itself, Costanza Musu, a Canadian professor and expert on Israel and Palestine, told McClatchy News.

Previous episodes of conflict between Israel and Palestine were met with more public calls for de-escalation and restraint on Israels part, Musu said. There is something different this time, she said.

This time, Munayyer said, (Israel has), I think, the backing from the United States to essentially have the time and space that they need to do whatever they want in the Gaza Strip.

Among Israels Western allies, there is a sense that there is less concern about civilian casualties today than there has been before, he said

Munayyer and Elgindy described this response as giving a green light to the Israeli military. Elgindy also referred to it as a complete blank check, with Abu-Nimer calling it a green flag.

Elgindy and Beinin said this support comes amid increased calls for violence by some within Israel. Part of the danger there is that you have the most extreme government in Israels history at the helm, Elgindy said.

A higher risk of widening into a regional dispute

In response to the Israel-Hamas war, the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier, the worlds largest warship, toward Israel as a form of deterrence. Musu, Beinin and Elgindy said this aimed to deter others from entering the war and signaled how seriously the U.S. considers such a possibility.

The situation in the West Bank between the Israelis and Palestinians remains very fragile, Waxman said. Similarly, the situation along the Israel-Lebanon northern border between Israelis and Hezbollah, an armed Islamist group backed by Iran and ally of Hamas, remains very fragile and developing.

Although its always considered a concerning possibility, theres more concern this time that Hezbollah might get involved than in previous rounds of fighting, he said.

Abu-Nimer gave a similar analysis, saying that we are still awaiting whether Israel is going to attack Hezbollah and if the conflict will expand to include Hezbollah and/or Iran.

The movement of a U.S. warship into the region suggests, according to Abu-Nimer, that this is the closest we have come to a war between Israel and Iran through Hezbollah and Hamas.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Munayyer said, is a completely different type of event. Even if it follows some patterns, its a very different scale.

Nobody knows where this will end, Elgindy said.

Mom from Missouri dies shielding teen son from Hamas shooters in Israel, dad says

US aircraft carrier sent toward Israel is worlds largest warship. What can it do?
Stream FOX 35 News:

FLORIDA - From the "y'alls" of the South to the "you betchas" up north, regional slang adds a flavorful twist to the American landscape. While Florida might not be in the top few spots on a new list of linguistic enigmas, there's a certain phrase that's been leaving nearly half of the country scratching their heads.

Preply, an e-learning platform, compiled a ranking of the most misunderstood states in the U.S. when it comes to their slang, and Florida came in at No. 14. The top dog was Maine; nearly 90% of people defined the state's slang incorrectly. On the flip side, Arkansas was the easiest to understand.

Nearly 60% of the over 1,000 U.S. residents quizzed answered Florida slang questions incorrectly. But one specific phrase puzzled the most people: "jiffy feet."

If you have "jiffy feet," you don't have talented dance moves, like 43% of people guessed. It means you actually have dirty feet from not wearing shoes, Preply said.

Here's a look at the most misunderstood states in the U.S.:

Maine Montana Mississippi West Virginia Louisiana North Dakota Kansas Rhode Island Missouri Illinois

MORE HEADLINES :

Here's a mini quiz to see how many slang terms you know from around the country:

South Dakota: "Taverns" (Hint: Not a bar or club)

Maine: "Right out straight" (Hint: Not telling the truth)

Mississippi: "Carry" (Hint: Not to have a gun on your person)

New York: "Grill" (Hint: Not to ask a lot of questions)

California: "Gnarly" (Hint: Not slang for "cool")

Kentucky: "Dirty bird" (Hint: Not a derogatory insult)

Hawaii: "Grinds" (Hint: Not slang for someone who works hard)

Montana: "Borrow pit" (Hint: Not a donation box)

Missouri: "Put out" (Hint: Not a vulgar way of saying you agree to something sensual)

Colorado: "Blucifer" (Hint: Not a blue devil)

Click here for the answers and to read the full report.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks to the crowd during a Labor Day Picnic on Sept. 4, 2023 in Salem, New Hampshire.

Hi OnPolitics readers! This week, Republican presidential hopefuls are going to make their pitch to voters in a series of town hall forums presented by USA TODAY, the USA TODAY Network and Seacoastonline.

 The forums will take place at New Hampshires historic Exeter Town Hall from 5 p.m. ET today, Oct. 10, to Sunday, Oct. 15. Abraham Lincoln spoke at the venue in 1860, just months before launching his presidential campaign.

Voters who attend will have a chance to directly ask candidates the questions on their mind and receive in-person responses. The five candidates that have committed to meeting with voters are Asa Hutchinson, Nikki Haley, Doug Burgum, Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy.

And for voters not in New Hampshire who want to hear from the field of Republicans, you can stream the events on USA TODAY and on USA TODAY Network outlets including Seacoastonline.com, Portsmouth Herald, Hampton Union, Foster's Daily Democrat and Exeter News-Letter.

 Find the full schedule and read more here: GOP candidates meet with voters at Exeter Town Hall presidential forum

Stay in the know on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

 Want to keep up with the Israel-Hamas war? USA TODAY has launched a special edition newsletter to stay informed on the conflict, from the latest developments to contextual deep-dives on the repercussions of the war. Sign up here to get the headlines delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 Republicans give their pitch to voters in New Hampshire
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have opened a criminal probe into a land deal brokered by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government.

The Greenbelt land swap sought to open parts of an environmentally-protected area near Toronto for development.

It was scrapped in September after an ethics report found that Mr Ford's government "favoured certain developers" in the deal.

Mr Ford said his government will "fully cooperate" with the police.

The criminal investigation into the Greenbelt deal was announced by the RCMP on Tuesday. The federal police force said it will be handled by its Sensitive and International Investigations unit, which handles political probes around fraud, corruption and breach of trust.

It added it will not provide any further details on the nature of the probe to ensure a "fair and proper" outcome.

"While we recognize that this investigation is of significant interest to Canadians, the RCMP has a duty to protect the integrity of the investigations that it carries out," Cpl Christy Veenstra said in a statement.

It is the latest development in a political scandal surrounding the Ontario government's plan to open up 3,000 hectares of the Greenbelt - environmentally-protected land that arcs around the Greater Toronto Area, stretching from Niagara Falls to Peterborough.

Mr Ford, a Progressive Conservative, previously pledged that he would not touch the Greenbelt after he was first elected in 2018.

However, he walked back his promise after he was elected for a second term in 2022, and said that opening the Greenbelt is necessary to build more homes amid a worsening housing crisis in Ontario.

Experts have countered this and said there is enough space for development outside the protected Greenbelt, which includes farmland, forests and wetlands. The plan was also widely opposed by environmental advocates.

Several news investigations later revealed that key parcels of land in the deal are owned by developers who are large donors to Ontario's Progressive Conservative party, and some had purchased the land after Mr Ford took office.

One of the developers was invited to the wedding of Mr Ford's daughter in 2022, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest behind the deal.

The revelations led the opposition Ontario New Democratic Party to call for a formal probe into the deal to see whether certain developers were told in advance about it, and who will stand to profit if the land is opened up for development.

In August, two probes - one by Ontario's auditor general and another by the integrity commissioner - found that the Greenbelt deal was the product of a "biased" process driven by senior political staff that favoured certain developers.

They also found that the owners of the land newly-opened for development could see their net worth increase by more than C$8.3bn ($6.11bn; 4.97bn).

In early September, both Ontario's Housing Minister Steve Clark, as well as his former chief of staff, Ryan Amato, had resigned over the revelations. The probes found that Mr Amato had played a key role in the Greenbelt plan.

Another minister, Kaleed Rasheed, resigned later in September after it was revealed through media reports that he had travelled to Las Vegas at the same time as one of the developers that would have benefited from the Greenbelt deal.

A day later, on 21 September, Mr Ford scrapped the Greenbelt plan and apologised for breaking his previous promise to not open environmentally-protected land for development.

"We moved too quickly and we made the wrong decision," he said. "This process, it left too much room for some people to benefit over others. It caused people to question our motives."

As part of the probe, Ontario's auditor general, Bonnie Lysyk, shared her findings with police to see if a criminal investigation was warranted.

Mr Ford has maintained that no criminal wrongdoing took place. On Tuesday, his office said he fully intends to cooperate with the investigation.

"We have zero tolerance for any wrongdoing and expect anyone involved in the decision-making about the Greenbelt lands to have followed the letter of the law," Mr Ford's office said in a statement to the media.

Specifics around the RCMP's probe into the deal remain unclear, but previous police probes into Ontario politicians have resulted in criminal charges and jail time.
WASHINGTON  A few months ago, the Armys aviation community appeared to be facing a dire situation.

A series of deadly helicopter crashes killed 14 soldiers between February and April, interrupting one of the safest periods in the Armys flying history.

That led the services leaders to order an Army-wide safety stand down in May  the rare move grounded all non-deployed flying units until they completed a mandatory safety training program led by their commanding generals. The sessions, leaders said, also allowed junior troops and other community members to provide feedback on safety practices and challenges in the community.

Youre always fighting gravity  The state of Army aviation

Ahead of the Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting, Army Times spoke with aviation branch chief Maj. Gen. Mac McCurry, who commands the aviation schoolhouse and Fort Novosel, Alabama, about the stand downs findings and ongoing initiatives in Army aviation. McCurry had not yet briefed senior leaders on the findings as of the Sept. 21 interview, so senior leaders have not finalized corresponding policy initiatives.

McCurry says he is optimistic that the service will learn the right lessons from the stand down as it shifts its focus to a potential large-scale war with a foe like China.

I think Army aviation is at an inflection point  weve been here before; we have the right leadership in place, he said.

The Armys top aviator said the stand down confirmed some commonly understood or long-suspected phenomena in the community that are affecting safety and readiness.

McCurry highlighted the high op tempo that combat aviation brigades face.

We knew that the units in our combat aviation brigades were running hard...and so that was confirmed, he said.

Many of the tasks that take aviation troops from home include training and rotations overseas, which isnt too different from the era of the Global War on Terror.

But because todays preparations are focused on training to employ [flight] platoons, companies and battalions, the build-up is more intense and less predictable for planners, maintainers and others, he said.

During the counterinsurgency-focused years, Army aircraft mainly operated in two-ship teams, the general explained. That meant maintenance personnel could work in staggered teams and maintain 24-hour operations. But when youre training to fight a high-intensity war, that requires having more helicopters in the sky  and more planning and last-minute work.

Maintainers also grew accustomed to having contractor support when deployed, McCurry added, so in many cases...we deployed all the crew members but not all the maintainers. That means a generation of mid-career maintenance personnel dont have the sets and reps of experience that they couldve gotten.

Hes optimistic that a revamped maintenance training program  which formally ties career badges to proficiency testing  can ensure units are able to accurately assess and enhance their maintainers skills.

McCurry also said the stand down highlighted how todays younger pilots largely dont have the War on Terror-style combat deployments that would allow them to accrue hundreds of operational flying hours.

Weve seen a pretty significant drop in the flight hour level of any given warrant officer cohort, he said. Thats increased the importance of risk management and tailored mission design and briefing.

Other findings from the stand down were less intuitive, according to McCurry.

The general noted that todays troops are very aware of the services strategic priorities, thanks to modern communications, which has units anxious to do complex training to prepare for high-intensity conflict. But some units, because of the experience gap and the heightened learning curve for such work, were jumping to some collective things before we had focused on the fundamentals.

We saw some units were out-training their level of experience, he added. To address that gap, McCurry said, the branch is trying to improve individual tactical and technical training courses, recruit more instructor pilots, and standardize crew certification on training progressions.

In addition to harnessing the lessons learned from the stand down, McCurry shared that the aviation branch is leaning into its heritage in an effort to build cohesiveness across the community.

The effort, dubbed Operation 83 after the year when aviation became a standalone career branch, uses historical lessons to impart pilots with the sacred trust Army aviation enjoys with the soldier on the ground.

Overall, McCurry is pleased with the progress the Army has made in preventing more deadly aviation mishaps after this springs accidents, and he expressed his heartfelt condolences and care to the families of those we lost.

Since that time, weve flown over 213,000 hours, while experiencing only one Class A mishap, he said. But McCurry added that he is not satisfied. And he wont be until Army aviation has another year without losing any soldiers.
BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Velez Sarsfield scored three goals in the first 18 minutes en route to a 3-1 home win over Atletico Tucuman in Argentina's Primera Division on Monday.

Joaquin Garcia opened the scoring with a close-range header after Jose Florentin's cross and Santiago Castro doubled the lead by curling a long-range drive into the top left corner.

Florentin made it 3-0 in the 18th minute when he headed home after latching onto Claudio Aquino's set piece.

There was time for some late consolation for the visitors and Mateo Coronel pulled a goal back with a cool finish from 12 yards after Ramiro Carrera's through ball just after the hour.

The result leaves Velez fifth in Group B with 13 points from eight games, three points behind leaders River Plate. Atletico Tucuman are 11th in the 14-team group, three points further back.

In other Primera Division fixtures on Monday, Banfield drew 0-0 at Arsenal Sarandi and Barracas Central prevailed 2-1 at home to Colon. 
Iranian Narges Mohammadi , right, from the Center for Human Rights Defenders, listens to Karim Lahidji, president of the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights, during a press conference on the Assessment of the Human Rights Situation in Iran, at United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 9, 2008. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Mohammadi for fighting oppression of women in Iran. | Magali Girardin, Keystone via Associated Press

Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places close to home,  so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. ... Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the world.  Eleanor Roosevelt, on the 10th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Few documents in modern history speak more deeply to our fears and aspirations as human beings than the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948. None have greater resonance in Iran today.

On Oct. 6, Berit Reis Andersen, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, breathed new life into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She declared that the Norwegian Nobel Committee had awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to imprisoned womens rights activist Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.

This years peace prize, Andersen said, also recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against the theocratic regimes policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women.

Irans womens rights activists draw on the genius of visionary women who shaped the universal declaration, among them Eleanor Roosevelt from the United States, Hansa Mehta from India, Bertha Lutze of Brazil, Begum Shaista Ikramullah from Pakistan, Bodil Begtup of Denmark and Evdokia Uralova from the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. All these women made universality, equality and inclusion  the guarantee of equal rights to everyone  the bedrock of human rights.

Consider the power of the words enshrined in the very first sentence of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Now contemplate a revision, or rather, a reversal of language, from all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights to all men are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

The freedom and equality, dignity and rights of half of humanity rested on the difference between the words all men and all human beings.

One formidable woman  Mehta  is widely credited to have stepped into the breach to propose changing the phrase All men are born free and equal to All human beings are born free and equal.

As Roosevelt noted, one should never belittle the value of words, however, for they have a way of getting translated into facts, and therein lies the hope of our universal declaration.

Almost 50 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the idea that womens rights were human rights was embraced at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in September 1995. The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action reaffirmed the fundamental principle that the human rights of women and of the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of human rights. 189 member states  including Iran  committed themselves to a roadmap for gender equality and womens empowerment.

But only 20 years later, in 2015, then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was warning of the emergence of new forces threatening to curtail the rights of women and girls.

The death of Jina Mahsa Amini exposed the truth of Bans warning. Amini was severely beaten at a reeducation center, and she fell into a coma and died on Sept. 16, 2022.

Roosevelt, of course, knew better than to trust in grand declarations by politicians. But she was not one to underestimate the power of concerted action. In the case of Iran, her question  where do human rights begin?  and her answer  in small places close to home has proven prophetic.

The scale, spread and spontaneity of the protests over the violation of Aminis human rights took everyone by surprise. No one, least of all Irans supreme leader, our very own caliph, could have imagined the tipping of his turban  a feminist revolution in the heartland of Islamic fundamentalism. Our collective trauma, one masked as historical coma, is now manifest as awakening, a summoning of spirit, of art and love through a hail of batons and bullets.

The reason is simple. To Iranians, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not a foreign abstraction or an alien imposition. Saadis famous poem Bani Adam, an ode to the oneness of humanity, the distilled genius of Iranian civilization, is not only inscribed on the walls of the United Nations but a living tradition that pulses through our protests as surely as it does in our poetry, religion and law.

There is no turning back the clock. Our coma is over.

Irans expulsion from the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women on Dec. 14, 2022, was not only a testament to the rising power, presence and unity of women today but a tribute to the women  and men  at the United Nations who laid down the moral and legal foundations for resisting gender apartheid in 1948.

Sept. 16 is now the cradle for a new calendar. The anniversary of Aminis death marks a civilizations pivot around a unifying vision of life, with our bodies, homes, schools, streets, pavements, walls and even cemeteries and tombstones, and now the Nobel prize, as sites of translation where our faith in the dignity and rights of all human beings gets located as facts on the ground and truths in the heart.

Woman, Life, Freedom is not three separate words, categories or states. It is the creative instinct and shimmering humanity of the Iranian people, the promise of an Iranian renaissance  manifest in a single breath.

None of the Ayatollahs ploys  not poisonings of school girls, not peace with Saudi Arabia nor proxy war with Israel  can wipe the power, protest and presence of women off Irans map. With women and girls shifting the very idea of the body politic, a constellation of artists and poets dare to imagine and inhabit a new map  an uncensored Iran where joy is the ultimate manifestation of justice.

Amir Soltani, a human rights activist, is the author of Zahras Paradise.
On Saturday, I woke up at 7:30 a.m. to the sound of sirens. My wife and I quickly went down the staircase of our building and waited to hear distant explosions, which would mean that Israels defense system was functioning. When we went back to our apartment, we read the news. Hamas terrorists attacked Israel.

Im a 31-year-old PhD candidate studying climate change. Im a peace activist and Ive protested against all previous Israeli operations in Gaza.

Luckily, my family members who live near the Gaza border were not in Israel this weekend. But Ayelet, my wife, found out that two of her cousins in their early 20s were staying with their grandmother in a kibbutz on the Gaza border.

Read more: Opinion: How Netanyahu's political calculations resulted in catastrophe

When they first heard the bombings they hid in the in-house shelter like they have done before. Then they heard gunshots. Then terrorists shouting inside their house.

They locked the door to the shelter and held the doorknob shut as hard as possible. Soon they heard people using a hammer to try to break down the door. Then they smelled smoke coming in under the door and through the window. They did not have food or water.

They still managed to wet some clothes and push them into the gaps between the window and the wall so they would not suffocate. They stayed there in the dark, in silence, for many hours, fighting to keep the door closed. Finally, they were rescued and the army evacuated them to another location in the village.

Read more: Goldberg: Who's to blame for the Hamas attack on Israel? That debate is already going off the rails

When they left the shelter, they saw that everything in the house was burned. Most of their belongings were missing. I cant imagine what they saw when they crossed the village on foot, but they knew they were the lucky ones.

Many people from that village were kidnapped to Gaza on Saturday, babies and grandmothers included. Many more were murdered, women and grandfathers too. Our cousins grandmother is right when she says that if it werent for her grandchildren, she would be dead, or in Gaza. They are alive, but what life do they have now?

This coming weekend there was supposed to be an indie music festival next to the Gaza border. My friends and I were planning to go  weve missed it the last few years. My wifes brother and my cousin had tickets too. I can hear distant explosions as I write and one thought keeps running through my head: What if the attack had happened next weekend? What life would I have?

Read more: Opinion: I'm a rabbi. This is how I talked to my kids about the war in Israel

Hamas murdered hundreds of innocent people at a music festival during their attacks on Saturday. They kidnapped scores of others and took them to Gaza on that bloody morning. My social media is still full of photos of them. They have beautiful smiles, some are in their 20s, and others in their 70s. Im scared to go on social media because I might see a familiar face in these photos. There are so many horrible videos from this festival; watching them could scar ones soul till the end of ones life.

What Hamas did is inhumane. Murdering, kidnapping and assaulting hundreds of people is not a fight for liberation.

On Saturday I saw the death toll rise to 50, then 100. Reporters wrote that the number will get much higher.

Read more: This Israeli couple's son is in enemy hands. They're determined to get him back

The death toll was 150 when Hamas declared it was going to bomb Tel Aviv at 8 p.m. Saturday night. We already know the drill of going down from our rooftop apartment (I hear another distant explosion) and staying in the staircase, which is considered safer.

Our staircase is not safe. It has windows facing south, toward Gaza, and if a rocket hits the building, well die. At 7:15 p.m. we decided to leave and go to my wifes grandparents, where they have a shelter. We couldnt feel safe in our home.

At 8 p.m. Hamas shot rockets on Tel Aviv. One rocket fell in my neighborhood 90 seconds later. I know it was 90 seconds because in Tel Aviv thats how long we have to get to a safe space in a rocket attack.

Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive

The rocket exploded and destroyed a few buildings close to my home. We were safe in the shelter with my wifes 90-year-old grandparents and our 2-week-old niece. We left our cat in our apartment and it has been hiding under the bed ever since.

The Israeli death toll is now more than 1,000. Reporters say it will get higher. Thats the news. Im fortunate to be alive. Thats my life right now.







Itamar Karbi is an Israeli peace activist and PhD student who lives in Tel Aviv. @itamar922





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
With a new wave of cutting-edge AI tools hitting the market and over 10,000 websites created every hour, online content is exploding exponentially. But bogus stories and deepfake videos are only a few clicks away. This unprecedented access comes with serious pitfalls.

As few safeguards are in place to stop false or misleading information from spreading online, media literacy has quickly become a critical life skill. Its time for lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to pass legislation requiring public schools to institute media literacy programs in all K-12 classrooms.

Countless studies have shown how susceptible young people are to false and misleading information, with many students struggling to determine what is actual news and what is exaggerated, skewed or downright incorrect. For example, research published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology found that children often start trusting unproven conspiratorial ideas at age 14.

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Another study by Stanford University involving nearly 3,500 U.S. students discovered that more than 80% of middle schoolers believed that an advertisement labeled as sponsored content was actually a news story. Stanfords research also discovered that fewer than 20% of high schoolers seriously questioned false claims posted on social media.

At the college level, more than-two thirds of students failed to acknowledge that an anti-gun organization could have influenced the results of a poll supporting stricter gun control measure that it posted on Twitter.

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Not only are young people more susceptible to this type of information online, but the algorithms employed by tech companies appear fine-tuned to lead them directly to misleading content. A Wall Street Journal investigation, for example, discovered that YouTubes recommendation algorithm is skewed to promote videos that are more extreme and far-fetched than those the viewer started with.

Most algorithms have no capacity for discerning what they are suggesting; their primary function is to keep the user from leaving the website or platform. They do this by providing content aimed at increasing engagement and keeping users scrolling, thus helping the platforms gain more ad revenue. Too often, this means the content becomes increasingly provocative and emotional  and it is down this rabbit hole where misinformation thrives.

Now with false and misleading content spreading at a rate that has been called a major threat to global society, parents are demanding that social media companies take action. Americans want to make sure they and their families are getting the most reliable, accurate and unbiased information possible  whether researching a project for school, reading the morning news or just browsing the web for fun. In a recent poll by the Associated Press, 95% of people cited misinformation as a problem when theyre looking for important information.

In fact, a study recently found that 84% of Americans believe that media literacy education should be required in schools. Still, only three states  Delaware, New Jersey and Texas  mandate that media literacy be taught to all K-12 students.

Its not that there arent groups fighting for the future generation of the electorate to have a better understanding of the news. Organizations like The News Literacy Project, for example, are doing yeomans work in this area. But for real, substantive results to occur, elected officials need to step up and support this effort.

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Promising steps are being taken to curb the spread of false and misleading information and educate students on how to spot it. In California, Assembly Bill 873  which is being discussed in the state Legislature  would permit the states Instructional Quality Commission to incorporate media literacy into K-12 curriculum in English language arts, math, science, history and social studies.

On a federal level, Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar last year introduced the Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy Act. This would direct the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to award grants to state and local educational agencies, public libraries and qualified nonprofit organizations to develop and promote media literacy and digital citizenship education for elementary and secondary school students. The bill, however, has languished on the Senate floor after making it out of committee.

To protect the next generation and create digital-savvy news consumers, lawmakers need to act now  and quickly. Media literacy is a nonpartisan issue that both sides of the aisle can, and should, champion to help educate the countrys future electorate.
Sooner or later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s destructive political magic, which has kept him in power for 15 years, was bound to usher in a major tragedy. A year ago, he formed the most radical and incompetent government in Israels history. Dont worry, he assured his critics, I have two hands firmly on the steering wheel.

But by ruling out any political process in Palestine and boldly asserting , in his governments guidelines, that the Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the Land of Israel, Netanyahus fanatical government made bloodshed inevitable.

Admittedly, blood flowed in Palestine even when peace-seekers such as Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak were in office. But Netanyahu recklessly invited violence by paying his coalition partners any price for their support. He let them grab Palestinian lands, expand illegal settlements, scorn Muslim sensibilities regarding the sacred mosque on the Temple Mount and promote suicidal delusions about the reconstruction of the biblical Temple in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, he also sidelined the more moderate Palestinian leadership of Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, effectively beefing up the radical Hamas in Gaza.

Read more: Palestinians scramble for safety as Israel pounds sealed-off Gaza Strip

According to Netanyahus twisted logic, strong Islamist rule in Gaza would be the ultimate argument against a political solution in Palestine. By rewarding the extremists and castigating the moderates, Netanyahu believed that he, unlike the soft leftists, had finally found the solution to the conflict. The Abraham Accords, which normalized Israels relations with four Arab states (and will probably soon include Saudi Arabia), blinded him to the Palestinian volcano beneath his feet.

But, in the ruthless, barbaric massacre of Israeli civilians in the villages surrounding Gaza, Netanyahus hubris met its nemesis in the form of Hamas savagery. Fifty years and a day after Egypt and Syria launched their surprise attack in what became known as the Yom Kippur War, Hamas stormed Gazas borders with Israel and slaughtered hundreds of defenseless civilians.

Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive

Many have expressed surprise that Hamas so easily penetrated Israels defenses along the border with Gaza. But there were no such defenses. When Hamas began slaughtering hundreds of defenseless civilians, Israels glorious army was mostly deployed elsewhere. Many were assigned to the West Bank to protect religious settlers in clashes (sometimes initiated by the settlers themselves) with local Palestinians, and in festivals around their shrines.

The assumption was always that Gaza was not a vital priority. An underground wall of sensors and fortified concrete that Israel has built around the enclave was supposed to block the tunnels through which Hamas tried in the past to penetrate Israeli border villages. It was of no use. Hamas militias simply stormed the fences on the surface.

Read more: Op-Ed: Netanyahu's return to power with a coalition of racists is appalling. But Israel's problem runs deeper

The attack by Hamas was not just a tactical surprise, but also a strategic bombshell. In the last two years, Hamas was creating the impression that it was becoming a government more interested in meeting its peoples material needs than in presumably ineffective armed resistance. And the Israelis believed what they wanted to believe: that subsidies from Qatar and their own gestures would dissuade Hamas from future military adventures.

And now what? Restore deterrence? How, exactly? Self-punishment in the form of a renewed occupation of Gaza? A land invasion is difficult to imagine. The atrocious level of destruction and casualties this would entail is one reason, with the many Israeli hostages now in Gaza providing additional insurance. The risk of Hezbollah opening an additional front from Lebanon in the north is another. Hezbollahs capabilities dwarf those of Hamas, and a two-front war, with Iran possibly backing Israels foes, is an apocalyptic scenario.

This is why President Biden warned Israels enemies not to exploit the crisis. To drive home the point, Biden has ordered a Navy aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean.

Read more: Opinion: There has never been a worse crisis in Israel's democracy, or a greater need for reform

But then when has the Israel-Palestine conflict ever responded to logic?

We learned from Clausewitz that war is supposed to make sense in the context of a political objective. Hamas current war has such objectives: securing its hegemony in the Palestinian national movement, freeing its men from Israeli prisons by trading hostages for them, and preventing Palestines plight from being forsaken by the Arab brethren in their rush to normalize relations with the Jewish state. For Netanyahus government, however, this is a purely reactive war with no political objective beyond that of reaching a pause until the next round of hostilities.

When the fighting ends, negotiations for an exchange of hostages and prisoners are inevitable. Possibly, the clearly ineffective blockade on Gaza should be lifted. In any case, a different question will remain: whether the barbarity that the Hamas militias displayed in the killing fields around Gaza is the right path to Palestinian redemption. Their moment of supposed glory will live in infamy for many years to come.

Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, is the author of Prophets Without Honor: The 2000 Camp David Summit and the End of the Two-State Solution.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel will complicate the debate in the United States and internationally about sustaining assistance for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russias aggression. Israel merits the unquestioned support of its allies as it responds to the most significant challenge it has faced since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. But it does not follow that the conflict in Ukraine should fade into the background.

Events in Israel along with other worrying developments  including Azerbaijans assault on Nagorno-Karabakh and Serbias border build-up with Kosovo  only underscore how quickly the international order weve long taken for granted has been undermined since Russias invasion of Ukraine 20 months ago. The world were entering is becoming a more volatile, violent place.

For Western nations who want to forestall that future, the first line of defense remains Ukraine. Israel is receiving support and likely to prevail in its conflict with Hamas, but without continued assistance from the United States and its allies, Ukraine is much less likely to win its war with Russia.



If Ukraine is not to suffer the fate of other forever wars and become a secondary priority to a possibly wider conflict in the Middle East, or a global landscape with other pressing demands, U.S. leaders need to recast the case for staying the course on Ukraine. Messaging on Ukraine should include greater realism about the conflict, its complexities, its likely outcome and what it means for global security.

The truth is that sustaining assistance for Ukraine is already a challenge, as much psychological as political. Fatigue has kicked in among Ukraines supporters notwithstanding reassuring statements by President Joe Biden and European leaders following the revolt by congressional GOP hardliners in Washington against further financial support for the war effort. In our recent past, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, costing trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives, increasingly came to be described as forgotten wars as they dragged on for many years.

Ukraine should not be seen in the same way. The moment is fast approaching for the Biden administration to strengthen the rationale for sustaining the war effort, by starting first with redefining the strategic commitment of the U.S. and its allies. At the NATO summit in June, it became clear that the allies have yet to provide everything Ukraine needs to significantly improve its battlefield performance. The debate continues over what weapons to supply. Allies also pushed off Ukraines NATO membership into an indefinite future.

This hesitancy is driven by genuine concerns about taking steps that could provoke an unpredictable Russian response. Nonetheless, its time for Western leaders to be more forthright and strategic in explaining what the endgame is: that military assistance to Ukraine will help not just defeat Russia now but also transform Ukraines military capabilities so it can serve as a bulwark against further Russian aggression in Europe and Central Asia. Making this case requires that Western leaders be clearer about the fact that Russia is stronger militarily and politically than many suggest, a longer-term threat to global stability and not just in Europe, and acknowledging that the war may go on for some time and cannot have a defined timetable.



Second, Western capitals should make clear to their populations that the war in Ukraine is the wake-up call for a major and accelerated reinvestment in their own military capabilities. Less than a third of NATO members are meeting the commitment to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense  even as the war in Ukraine fundamentally threatens Europes security. In the U.S., supplying Ukraine with weaponry has resulted in drawdowns of stock, driving home the importance of maintaining adequate domestic production lines. Europe and the U.S. could also use the moment to reimagine the architecture of transatlantic cooperation  still the bedrock of security for both  in a world of shifting global alliances not favorable to either and where unexpected conflicts, like in the Middle East, could demand a concerted allied response on multiple fronts.

Third, it is now critical to present Ukrainians as they are, as a complex nation responding to an almost impossible situation. Creating unrealistic expectations and idealizing Ukraines resistance has a high likelihood of backfiring because as soon as problems surface, it will strengthen the hands of those arguing for cutbacks. As Stephen Walt has suggested, the conflict is often presented in moral terms as a battle between autocracy and democracy. Celebrating Ukraines heroism, however, cannot obscure inconvenient facts including that its progress on the battlefield has been slow; that corruption remains a problem; and that Ukraines economy and millions of refugees will need support for years to come. There will also be frictions between allies and Ukraine over battlefield strategies, and over what might constitute an acceptable outcome. These differences are part of the process and they should not be used as an excuse to cut back assistance or discourage more urgent discussion of steps that can draw Ukraine more closely into the E.U. and NATO. It may be time, in fact, for a presidential speech that reminds the American people in starker terms of the hard road ahead and what a Russian victory would mean for their security.



Making this shift will only become more difficult in coming months as voters in Europe and the U.S. question an investment of more than $200 billion that keeps climbing. The unexpected resilience of Russias frontlines and President Vladimir Putins resolve, the slow advance of Ukraines counteroffensive and questions about open-ended commitments are causing strains. Among them: Polands trade dispute with Ukraine; Hungarys with Sweden and Ukraine; and U.S. sanctions on Turkish companies supplying Russia. Slovakias voters just placed Ukraine skeptic and former prime minister, Robert Fico, in the lead to form a new government.

Beyond the United States and Europe, two-thirds of the worlds nations have not taken a meaningful stand on Russias invasion of Ukraine, with many seeing the conflict as a western rather than global challenge. The calls for negotiations from middle powers sidestep recognizing Russias violation of national sovereignty. Not even the impact of last years food supply and oil disruptions has proved a lasting concern to these countries. And in the near term, the Middle East will certainly become a more urgent priority.

The stakes in Ukraine remain consequential nonetheless. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres highlighted for the General Assembly the global consequences of Russias invasion  for borders, for nuclear arms control agreements, for energy and food supplies, for global treaties and conventions. Should Russia succeed, the war could easily draw Americans and Europeans into combat. These are the consequences and rationales for supporting Ukraine that need to be underscored, repeatedly.

Supporting Ukraine whatever it takes should be understood as part and parcel of supporting our allies globally in an increasingly unstable international environment. Should Ukraine fail, the world will re-enter a period of history, which only receded after 1945, where stronger nations can obliterate weaker ones, redraw boundaries, and drive national identities to extinction, and international extremists can act with impunity. We cannot afford to let that era return.


[Source]

A man previously arrested for allegedly attacking Asian people in Portland, Oregon, is reportedly being sought after failing to show up to his first court date.

Background: Zion M. Cochran, 29, is accused of yelling I hate Asians! at a group of Asian people, shoving one Asian woman and throwing chairs, dishes and glasses at Mama Bird restaurant in Slabtown on the night of Sept. 4. Police arrived and took him to a hospital on suspicion that he was having a mental crisis, but what happened after that is unknown.

Hate crime charge: Cochran was initially cited on four counts of felony and misdemeanor criminal mischief; however, he was not booked into jail, according to The Oregonian.

Last week, prosecutors reportedly charged him with second-degree bias crime and harassment, including first- and second-degree criminal mischief for allegedly jumping on a moving car and smashing the windshield of a parked car that same evening.

More from NextShark: DOJ says Florida law restricting Chinese land ownership is unconstitutional

Wanted: Cochran reportedly failed to show up to his first hearing last week. As a result, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

More from NextShark: Forget swiping: Why a Japanese city is encouraging strangers to exchange handwritten love letters

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Westminster park renamed after Tony Lam, the first Vietnamese American to win political office
PATERSON  The citys ousted police chief is asking the courts to terminate the New Jersey attorney generals control of the Paterson Police Department and to put him back in charge.

The chief, Engelbert Ribeiro, claimed in a lawsuit filed Friday that state officials violated the New Jersey Constitution and its home rule laws when they took over the city Police Department.

The lawsuit contended that the Attorney General's Office exceeded its authority by intervening in specific cases involving local police with a wholesale takeover of the day-to-day law enforcement and administrative operations of a municipal police department.

How did the Attorney General's Office react?

The Attorney General's Office on Monday fired back, saying the lawsuit reflected the very problems in the Police Department that necessitated the intervention.

Todays lawsuit is as unfortunate as it is meritless, said a statement issued by the Attorney General's Office. The attorney generals authority to supersede local law enforcement agencies is well established. And given the history in Paterson, the need to do so was clear.

Meanwhile, Mayor Andre Sayegh expressed his support for the lawsuit in an interview on Monday morning. Sayegh said he thinks the complaint is on solid legal footing. But the mayor did not respond when asked whether he planned to join Ribeiro as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, or whether he would be a witness on behalf of his ousted appointee.

The complaint also targeted Isa Abbassi, the retired New York City cop whom the attorney general put in charge of the Paterson department, saying he lacked the license and training to take command under New Jersey law.

Besides Ribeiro, the other plaintiff in the case is Mirza Bulur, who has served many years as confidential aide to Patersons public safety director, Jerry Speziale. The lawsuit described Bulur as Patersons acting public safety director. Sayegh said Monday that he appointed Bulur to that position because Speziale has taken time off for a family situation.

Sep 26, 2023; Paterson, NJ, USA; (Left) NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin speaks during an event at which (center) Paterson PD officer in charge Isa Abbassi unveiled his strategic plan for city law enforcement at the Paterson Public Library. Mandatory Credit: Michael Karas-The Record

The city is not paying for the lawsuit, officials said. Ribeiro and Bulur are covering the legal fees, according to people familiar with the case.

The lawsuit was filed 10 days after Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Abbassi held a press conference at the Paterson library to highlight improvements they said were made in the Police Department under state control, a list that included a reduction in violent crime and about 50 initiatives designed to build trust between citizens and cops.

The drop in crime has come as Abbassi has increased police presence in trouble spots, especially Broadway, an effort that has been bolstered by almost $1 million in extra state funding. On top of that money, the state Legislature allocated $10 million for the Paterson Police Department.

Objectives: This is what Isa Abbassi plans for the Paterson Police Department over the next 2 years

Todays lawsuit is an unfortunate reminder that change is not easy, but that it is worth the effort, the Attorney General's Office said, asserting that the state has invested millions of dollars and countless hours over these past seven months into helping the Paterson Police Department move forward.

The statement cited the recent announcement by Abbassi and Platkin of a strategic plan for the next two years, an event not attended by Sayegh.

Notably absent from that important community-wide briefing were the two plaintiffs and the members of the citys administration behind this litigation, said the Attorney General's Office. This lawsuit  by a deputy public safety director, who claims to be the acting director and who had no part in these efforts, and by a police chief who was relieved of his management duties but still retains his full salary  is an effort to roll that progress back and put the interests of two individuals over the good of the city and its people.

It is just the latest example in a long list of reasons that these specific individuals, and the administration that supports them, were  and remain  unfit to run the Paterson Police Department, added state officials.

The presidents of Patersons two police unions declined to comment on the lawsuit.

What did activists say?

The leader of Patersons Black Lives Matter group said he opposed putting local officials back in control of the city department.

They are not equipped to run the Paterson Police Department, said the BLM activist, Zellie Thomas. There was no accountability or transparency. For decades, we had misconduct, abuse and violence in the Paterson Police Department.

Thomas said he has not been satisfied with the way the Police Department has operated under state control, asserting there still needs to be more accountability. The activist said he would prefer intervention by the federal government. But absent federal action, Thomas said, he would choose state control over local control.

Beyond insensitive: Sayegh wants Murphy counsel to apologize for Paterson crime post

What did Mayor Andre Sayegh say?

Sayegh, meanwhile, said the state takeover interrupted improvements that he said Ribeiro was making in the Police Department when the Attorney Generals Office intervened in March.

Not a single state in our country allows for an attorney general to take over a local police department, Sayegh asserted. As the duly elected mayor of Paterson, we need to know if this action is even legal, and that's why I am an interested party in this lawsuit.

Prior to the attorney general's takeover, we were making dramatic changes in the Police Department, the mayor added. I took the bold action of firing the previous police chief [Mike Baycora], and the new police chief that I appointed only had a few weeks to transform the department. Moreover, we were implementing serious and meaningful change, which was interrupted by the takeover."

What does the suit seek?

The lawsuit is asking the courts to issue an injunction that would put Ribeiro back in charge of the Police Department while the litigation plays out to its conclusion. Under state control, Ribeiro was assigned to the Police Training Commission in Trenton.

Among the exhibits in the lawsuit was a May 5 email from Sayeghs law director, Aymen Aboushi, opposing Ribeiros transfer. Aboushi wrote that the plan is for Ribeiro to resume working as Patersons police chief once State intervention has ended.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ: Lawsuit seeks to end attorney general control of police
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train crosses state Route 303 through the heart of Peninsula, Ohio, on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

Ron Bercaw received a warning for speeding along state Route 303 earlier this summer while on his way to work in the village of Peninsula. He said he learned his lesson and hopes to stay ticket-free during his commutes from North Canton.

A co-worker, according to Bercaw, was not so lucky. He was issued a citation after a police officer snapped his photo using a handheld device as part of the Photo Enforcement Program, which penalizes motorists for driving 11 mph or more over the speed limit.

Traffic tickets: Peninsula police issued 8,900 traffic tickets since April, says speeding reduced

"It's better to have the handheld devices than have the police chasing people down who speed," Bercaw said. "I would like to see Peninsula be more welcoming of people instead of ticketing them and charging them to park."

His co-worker received one of at least 8,900 speeding tickets issued by the Peninsula Police Department since late April. A minimum of $1.3 million in fines have been levied on drivers so far.

Of that amount, about 4,000 have been paid, equaling $614,702, according to citation reports obtained by the Akron Beacon Journal. That's about 4,800 remaining unpaid citations.

How Peninsula's leaders view the program's rollout is not clear. Village Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 1582 Main St.

Peninsula Mayor Daniel Schneider Jr. did not reply to phone messages and an email seeking comment. Peninsula Police Chief Jay Nagy also declined to discuss the topic and referred the Akron Beacon Journal to Trevor Elkins, the director of the Peninsula Photo Enforcement Program.

How much money is Peninsula missing out on?

Peninsula splits the total revenue with Targeting and Solutions Limited, a third-party contractor that operates the Photo Enforcement Program. Peninsula receives 60% while Targeting gets 40% of revenue.

The village received about $369,000, roughly one-third of the projected 2023 village budget of $1.7 million, according to the village. Targeting received about $245,000.

Peninsula could be missing out on some $411,000 while the third-party company is losing nearly $273,000 in unpaid tickets.

What happens if a ticket goes unpaid?

Vehicles pass a photo enforcement sign on state Route 303 in a 40 mph zone. This is one of nine enforcement signs located in the village limits.

Elkins, president of Targeting and Solutions Limited, said people could face financial and legal consequences if their unpaid tickets are sent to a collection agency that files a civil lawsuit.

If a judgment is found in favor of the collection agency, the motorist will be responsible for the late fees associated with the unpaid citation and the legal expenses including attorney fees, he said.

Civil suits are a final recourse to collect unpaid debt, according to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If the creditor wins, a court order could give creditors the right to garnish wages.

Elkins said photo enforcement citations are considered civil citations, the same as parking tickets. Criminal charges cannot be filed if a motorist has multiple unpaid tickets from this program.

Could unpaid tickets affect credit scores?

Traffic tickets that end up in court, according to Elkins, can hurt credit scores because civil judgments and court-ordered wage garnishments are public information. The U.S. Consumer and Financial Protection Bureau and three nationwide credit bureaus paint a different picture.

Traffic tickets do not affect credit scores reported by the three largest nationwide credit bureaus  Experian, TransUnion and Equifax  but smaller credit agencies can use judgments and garnished wages to lower scores, according to a 2021 advisory opinion by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Judgments from civil lawsuits, tax liens and other public data do not appear in credit reports from the three big credit bureaus because of an agreement called the National Consumer Assistance Plan, said Tia Elbaum, a spokesperson for the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Experian, TransUnion and Equifax signed onto the agreement that began in 2017, requiring them to remove and stop collecting items that did not include sufficient personal identifying information like name, address and social security number or date of birth, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This includes traffic tickets.

The plan came after a settlement between these three major credit bureaus and over 30 state attorneys general in response to alleged Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, the CFPB reported in 2019.

Because the NCAP prevents the credit bureaus from collecting judgments, court-ordered garnishments do not appear on these credit reports, according to articles by Experian and Equifax.

Despite this agreement, other credit reporting agencies can and do include civil judgments and tax liens on consumer reports, the CFPB stated in an advisory opinion.

How to appeal and transfer a citation

Map of the signs warning of photo enforcement zones in the Village of Peninsula. Each red dot is a sign.

To contest a photo enforcement citation, ticket recipients should visit the Stow Municipal Court website or call the court at 330-564-4148 to fill out an appeal application and submit a $100 fee. That fee is returned if the appellant wins the case.

This will be filed as a civil matter, according to the Stow Municipal Court website, so the individual filing the appeal will need to prove they were not involved in the traffic incident.

The process begins with a pre-trial, where the appellant can talk to the village attorney, followed by a trial.

Failure to attend the pre-trial or trial will result in the case being dismissed.

If the ticket recipient believes they were not operating the vehicle when the citation was issued, the vehicle owner can also contact the village to transfer liability of the citation, the court website states.

Peninsula allows registered vehicle owners to transfer citations to other individuals, according to the Peninsula Photo Enforcement website.

An affidavit form found on the enforcement website requires an individual to submit the application within 30 days of receiving the violation notice.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What happens if motorists don't pay Peninsula photo speeding tickets?
Palestinian president asks UN for help with Israeli aggression in Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the United Nations to help stop the Israeli aggression in Gaza, state media reported Monday.

In a call with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Abbas reportedly asked the U.N. to immediately intervene to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported Monday night.

Abbas urged Guterres and the U.N. to carry out its duties recognized by international legitimacy and provide international protection for the Palestinian people, WAFA reported.

Abbass request comes after Israels defense minister ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip as Israel ramps up its counteroffensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched a deadly incursion into Israel over the weekend.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed to halt the supply of food, electricity and water to Gaza, saying in a video message Monday that the nation is at war with human animals.

According to WAFA, Abbas also reiterated his argument that the only solution to the escalation in the region includes ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.

Guterres emphasized that the U.N. is trying to provide humanitarian relief aid to those in the Gaza Strip and is in contact with all concerned international parties to stop the escalation of the conflict, WAFA reported.

Hamas launched a multipronged surprise attack against Israel over the weekend, invading multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air in addition to launching a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly declared the country at war against Hamas, warning of a long and difficult war. In the hours and days that followed, Israeli forces have ramped up retaliatory efforts in Gaza, vowing to destroy the militant group and forcefully avenge the attacks.

Israeli forces and authorities have ordered the evacuations of several towns near the Gaza Strip as it launches airstrikes in the region.

The death toll rose Monday to around 1,600 people, with 900 deaths in Israel and more than 680 in Gaza.

The Associated Press contributed.

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

Preparations are underway for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to visit Russia, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told the Russian news outlet RBC on Oct. 9.

The Palestinians are waiting for an official statement from the Kremlin on the date of Abbas' visit in Moscow.

"Were waiting for an official statement from the Kremlin, from the Russian side, on when the visit will take place," Nofal said.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries involved in training Hamas militants for operations against Israel, Ukrainian military say

An agreement has been reached that Mr. Abbas will come here to Moscow.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia would try to use the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel to advance its information operations aimed at reducing Western support for and attention Ukraines battle against Russian invasion.

Read also: Russians disseminate fake news about supposed Ukrainian weapons in Hamas  CCD

Ukraines Defense Intelligence said that the Russian GRU or military intelligence had handed over to Hamas militants trophy weapons made in the United States and the European Union that were captured during the fighting in Ukraine. The aim is to discredit Ukraine in the Middle East.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers.

Read also: Russia interested in widening conflict in Middle East  Zelenskyy

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country of Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports that three more Ukrainian citizens have been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Staff members work at a digital control center at China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 9, 2023. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Xinhua/Liu Wenhui)

A machinery loads cargo at China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 9, 2023. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Xinhua/Liu Wenhui)

This aerial photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a port in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This photo taken on June 7, 2017 shows the eastern terminal of the new Eurasia landbridge in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 10, 2023 shows a view of Almaty in Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 5, 2023 shows a park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 5, 2023 shows a second-hand car trading market in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 19, 2022 shows the dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone bordering Kazakhstan and China. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a port in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This aerial photo taken on May 12, 2023 shows a freight train running near Almaty in Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on April 28, 2023 shows a China-Europe freight train pulling out from the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a customer shopping at a Chinese commodity supermarket in Almaty, Kazakhstan, May 9, 2023. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 10, 2023 shows a TV tower of Almaty in Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 19, 2022 shows a freight train arriving at the dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone bordering Kazakhstan and China. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a port in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This aerial photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This photo taken on Oct. 11, 2022 shows a city view of Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 7, 2022 shows a ferry pulling out from a port in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2022 shows a view of Huaguo Mountain scenic area in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows a city view of Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 4, 2023 shows a photovoltaic power station of Almaty in Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 10, 2023 shows a view of Almaty in Kazakhstan. In 2013, China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base, launched in 2014, is the first entity project under the BRI. Acting as a dry port in the Horgos-Eastern Gate special economic zone and the Western China-Western Europe international transport corridor, it has become an important platform for products from Central Asian countries to reach seaports. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)
JERUSALEM  Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory now suffering severe retaliation for the deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants.

Humanitarian groups pleaded for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza and warned that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has fired Israels determination to crush the groups hold in Gaza. New exchanges of fire over Israels northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday morning, slaying hundreds of residents in homes and streets near the Gaza border and bringing gunbattles to Israeli towns for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold about 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

Israel stepped up its offensive on Tuesday, expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000. Israels military said it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza  a 40-kilometer-long (25-mile) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

Rescue officials in Gaza said large numbers of people were still trapped under the remnants of leveled buildings, with rescue equipment and ambulances unable to reach the area.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after hours of airstrikes the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened.

I sell toys, not missiles, the 46-year-old said, weeping. I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job.





The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets in Rimal, an upscale district home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, universities, media organizations and the aid agency offices.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate neighborhood after neighborhood, and then inflicting devastation, in what could be a prelude to a ground offensive. On Tuesday, the military told residents of the nearby al-Daraj neighborhood to evacuate, and soon after new explosions rocked it and other areas, continuing into the night. One blast hit Gaza Citys seaport, setting fishing boats aflame.

There is no safe place in Gaza right now. You see decent people being killed every day, Hasan Jabar, a Gaza journalist, said after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the Rimal bombardment. I am genuinely afraid for my life.

Tuesday afternoon, Hamas fired barrages of rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Tuesday night, a group of militants entered an industrial zone in Ashkelon, sparking a gunbattle with Israeli troops, the military said. Three militants were killed, and troops were searching the area for others.

Israels new tactics could point to its new objective.

Four previous rounds of Israel-Hamas fighting between 2008 and 2021 all ended inconclusively, with Hamas battered but still in control. This time, Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, a goal considered unachievable in the past because it would require a reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, at least temporarily.

The objective is for this war to end very differently from all of the previous rounds. There has to be a clear victory, said Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel. Whatever has to be done to fundamentally change the situation will have to be done, he said.

The devastation also sharpened questions about Hamas strategy and objectives. Hamas officials have said they planned for all possibilities, including a punishing Israeli escalation. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Hamas may have been counting on the fight to spread to the West Bank and possibly for Lebanons Hezbollah to open a front in the north. Days of clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the West Bank have left 15 Palestinians dead, but Israel has clamped down heavily on the territory, preventing movement between communities. The violence also spread into east Jerusalem, where Israeli police said they killed two Palestinians who hurled stones at police late Tuesday.

Brief exchanges of fire across Israels northern border have taken place nearly daily. Palestinian militants fired rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon and from Syria on Tuesday, each bringing Israeli artillery and mortar fire in return. But so far they have not escalated.

In hopes of blunting the bombardment in Gaza, Hamas has threatened to kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

The militants attack stunned Israel with a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria  and those deaths happened over a longer period of time. It brought horrific scenes of Hamas militants gunning down civilians in their homes, on streets and at a mass outdoor music festival, while dragging men, women and children into captivity.

The Israeli military said more than 1,000 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, 900 people have been killed, including 260 children and 230 women, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday at least 14 U.S. citizens were killed in Hamas attack and that Americans are among those being held hostage in Gaza. Biden, who spoke earlier in the day with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said there is no justification for terrorism.

Biden added an apparent warning to Hezbollah, saying, To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Dont.

The State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to Israel to deliver a message of solidarity and support.

Hamas responded to Biden, saying his administration should review its biased position and move away from the policy of double standards over Palestinian rights to defend themselves against Israeli occupation.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were found on Israeli territory, the military said. It wasnt clear whether those numbers overlapped with deaths reported by Palestinian authorities. Tens of thousands of people in southern Israel have been evacuated since Sunday.

In Gaza, more than 200,000 people have fled their homes, the U.N. said, the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. The vast majority are sheltering in schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000 people, the U.N. said.

The U.N.s World Health Organization said that supplies it had pre-positioned for seven hospitals in Gaza have already run out amid the flood of wounded. The head of the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.
A candlelight vigil for the victims of the attacks in Israel descended into chaos at the University of Florida on Monday night when panic spread among the attendees and multiple people were injured in the ensuing stampede. UF Public Safety officials said the panic began just before 9 p.m., when an attendee in the roughly 1,000-person crowd fainted, and people started asking others to call 911. The call was misunderstood by the crowd, which dispersed in a panic, UF Public Safety said in a statement. It added that at least five people were injured during the rush and were treated for minor injuries at the scene. According to The Gainesville Sun, over 30 students were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital, which described a mass casualty incident due to the surge in patients. Witnesses told the Sun that patients suffered concussions, gashes, and one had a broken leg. It was a real stampede, said Chanie Goldman, co-director of the Chabad Jewish Student Center.

Read it at The Gainesville Sun

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The parents of a kidnapped Israel-US man joined a protest outside the US Embassy in Israel as they begged President Biden to help bring him home.

Itay Chen, 19, is believed to be among the 130 or more people kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Israel over the weekend.

Itay Chen was on the Gaza border at his base at the time of the attack, awaiting his return home for his younger brothers bar mitzvah this weekend.

The 19-year-old was born in New York City but moved to Netanya, Israel, with his parents and siblings before the attack.

The teenager, who served in Israels Defense Forces, has been confirmed as missing in action (MIA) by the IDF and is believed to be captive in the Gaza Strip.

Now his father, Ruby Chen, who is a US citizen and taxpayer, is calling for more help from US authorities to help find his son.

Ruby Chen joined other family members in a protest outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv on Monday, where they pleaded for President Joe Biden to save Itay.

We are asking the president to do what he can in order to bring our kids back safely home, said his father.

The family gathered outside the embassy wearing t-shirts with the 19-year-olds grinning face on the front that read Help Find Itay. Protesters were also seen holding signs that read: USA protects its citizens! Bring Itay Home Now, and Help find Itay.

Biden needs to step up for all children  all citizens deserve protection, and kids need to know that the United States is behind them 100%, Ruby Chen told USA Today outside the embassy.

What about liberty, justice, and freedom for all? he added.

Mr Chen told CNN he believes US authorities could be more active in helping to find his son, who could be a prisoner of war (PoW).

If he is indeed missing in action and might even be a prisoner of war, I think that the US at a minimum needs to demand that any PoW needs to be treated according to international law, which states that you need to take care of the prisoner, you need to identify him, you need to allow the red cross or the U.N. to visit and see what is the status of that prisoner, he said.

We unfortunately do not get that treatment at the moment. President Biden and the Secretary of State, we have great respect for them. They are saying all the correct things that we expect them to say.

Itay Chen, 19, is missing in Gaza (CNN)

But again, we believe that they could be more active in the actions to be taken to identify and find these US citizens that are missing in action.

Mr Chen said his last contact with his son was on Saturday when the pair had a a very short call in which Itay said his base was under attack.

The soldier was seen two hours after that call, but not since then, his father said.

No one has seen him in the hospitaland no one has seen him in a morgue deceased, Mr Chen told CNN.

So the only thing that the IDF has to say is we dont know where he is.

The desperate father said despite his sons missing status, his family are still hopeful that they will be able to celebrate together as a family at his younger brothers bar mitzvah this weekend.

The State Department has yet to confirm the identity of any Americans missing or killed in Israel since Hamas launched its brutal attack on Saturday morning.

At least 11 Americans are feared to be among the 900 people dead, with thousands more believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear.

It comes after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel early on Saturday morning, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers.

On Monday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Israel has said it is attacking many targets in Gaza as part of a widespread attempt to strike Hamas strongholds.

Palestinian authorities said at least 687 people have died in Gaza in retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces.
The parents of the 5-year-old San Miguel boy who was swept away by floodwaters in January are suing San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles and Caltrans over their sons assumed death.

Kyle Doan had been missing for 10 months as of Tuesday.

The kindergarten student and his mother, Lindsy Doan, were headed to school on Jan. 9 when their car was overtaken by water in San Miguel.

Bystanders were able to rescue Lindsy Doan, but unable to help her young son.

In the lawsuit, the Doan family alleges the responsible government agencies did not properly warn residents of the weather conditions that occurred on Jan. 9.

The current lawsuit only pertains to the events leading up to Kyle being swept away. It does not address the search and recovery efforts that followed.

Kyle Doan, a 5-year-old kindergartner at Lillian Larsen Elementary School in San Miguel, was swept away by floodwaters on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.

The family is suing for negligence, dangerous condition of public property, failure to warn, wrongful death, survival action and bystander recovery of emotional distress, court documents show.

Brian Doan, Kyles father, told The Tribune in May that the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office and Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the family empty promises of finding their son and missed what he believed were search opportunities.

While we empathize with the grief the Doans may be experiencing, we do not agree with the merits of the suit., San Luis Obispo County attorney Rita Neal told The Tribune in an email.

Neal said the county has not yet been officially served with the lawsuit, but will actively defend the county once it is.

Caltrans declined Tuesday to comment on the lawsuit pending the litigation.

Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis told The Tribune in an email the city will navigate the legal process to understand how it may be involved with what occurred north of its jurisdiction, noting that the citys involvment is not clear yet.

Our hearts go out to the family for the pain they must be enduring while they seek to out their lives back together and heal, Lewis said. We respect the familys perspective and their need for closure.

On May 9, 2023, four months after his son disappeared, Brian Doan stands near a spot along San Marcos Creek where search dogs alerted earlier this year. He would like to resume the search for Kyle, who was swept away in floodwaters on Jan. 9, 2023, and is requesting help from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office.

Kindergartner swept away in flood assumed dead, lawsuit says

According to the complaint, Kyle Doan was sitting in the backseat of his mothers SUV as she drove the two to Lillian Larsen Element School in San Miguel on the morning of Jan. 9.

At the crossing of San Marcos and Wellsona roads in Paso Robles, water quickly carried the car into the overflowing creek where the car hit a tree, the lawsuit said.

There were no road closure signs at the crossing, the lawsuit said.

The tree temporarily stopped the car from floating further down San Marcos Creek, the lawsuit said, and the SUV rapidly filled halfway up with water.

Kyle Doan, 5, was swept away by floodwaters in San Miguel during an atmospheric river storm on Jan. 9, 2023. He still hasnt been found.

In an effort to save her son, the lawsuit said, Lindsy Doan told him to remove his seatbelt so they could exit the car through her door where she could reach a tree.

The flowing water was carrying mud and debris which overextended Lindsys arm, breaking her grip of Kyle, the lawsuit said. Kyle was swept away by raging floodwaters.

The lawsuit said Lindsy screamed for help and she was rescued by local residents, but her sons body has yet to be found.

The tragic assumption is that he is deceased, the lawsuit said.

Floodwaters flow across San Marcos Creek Road on Jan. 11, 2023, at the spot where 5-year-old Kyle Doan was swept away.

Lawsuit: Unlawful road crossing approved by agencies led to tragedy

The lawsuit notes that there were extreme weather conditions in some areas of California before during and after Jan. 9.

The county of San Luis Obispo is no stranger to extreme flooding, the lawsuit said. The county was well aware of the weather conditions but failed to warn its residents.

Lindsy Doan alleges there were not any road closure signs at the crossing of San Marcos and Wellsona roads despite the countys knowledge of upcoming weather conditions.

That crossing is owned and maintained by the city of Paso Robles, which designed and approved it with San Luis Obispo County and Caltrans.

The lawsuit alleges that crossing should have never been approved due its danger during rainstorms, and alleges its design is in violation of state standards.

Kyle Doan, a 5-year-old kindergartner at Lillian Larsen Elementary School in San Miguel, was swept away by floodwaters on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.

The crossing was unlawful and improperly and carelessly acquired, the lawsuit said.

San Luis Obispo County, the city of Paso Robles and Caltrans failed to take steps to either make risky conditions safe or warn drivers of the dangerous conditions, the lawsuit said, causing Kyles presumed death.

Because of this, the lawsuit said, Lindsy and Brian Doan have suffered immensely.

Lindsy Doan witnessed every moment of her son Kyle being swept away for her and out of her sight by the raging floodwaters, the lawsuit said. (She) remains unable to cope with the mental distress caused by the severity and circumstances of the incident and injury to her son.

The Doan family did not specify how much money they are seeking in damages, but asked the judge to decide according to proof shown in court.

San Luis Obispo County, the city of Paso Robles and Caltrans have until the beginning of November to file a response to the complaint.
PASADENA, Texas - New surveillance photos show a fourth unidentified suspect and a vehicle connected to a deadly home invasion last week, Pasadena police say.

Nahun Diaz Sorto, a traveling professor from Honduras, was shot to death in a Pasadena apartment on Oct. 4.

PREVIOUS: Traveling professor killed in home invasion; 3 sought

The next day, police released video of three suspects they say were seen loitering and collaborating near the victims apartment.

Now, police say additional surveillance video has revealed another suspect and a vehicle used during the crime. Police are asking for the publics help to identify all four of the suspects.

Pasadena police are asking for the publics help to identify these four suspects. (Photos: Pasadena Police Department)

Photo: Pasadena Police Department

The deadly home invasion occurred around 2:15 p.m. Oct. 4 at an apartment located at 402 Garner in Pasadena.

Officers responded to a shooting call and found Sorto bleeding from his torso. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Police say two of the suspect had entered Sortos apartment, shot him and then fled.

On Monday, police said investigators were able to ascertain that the suspect took jewelry from the apartment.

FOX 26 reached out to the Instituto Angel G. Hernandez, who confirmed that Sorto is a beloved math teacher who was traveling to Houston to visit. They say he was only there a few days when this tragedy happened. They say he was well-educated and very well-known in Aramecina Valle, his hometown.

Anyone with information or additional video is asked to call Detective C. MacGregor at (713)475-7891 or Detective I. Mascorro at (713)475-4978. Authorities say you can remain anonymous.
Are you looking for a career that rewards with tails wags and kitty purrs?

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Jacksonvilles Animal Care and Protective Services is hiring for veterinary technician.

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The work is described as requiring knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures used in the care of animals. The maintenance of kennel facilities involves the use of specialized skills which are acquired through a combination of training and considerable on-the-job experience.

The vet technician will assist in surgery, triage emergencies, and provide daily medical care for the animals in ACPS care.

As for benefits, the employee will have 12 paid holidays and a personal leave day. In addition to health insurance, dental vision, life insurance, and flexible spending plans are also available.

Read: Ahead of the holiday season, the Red Cross is helping spread cheer to our heroes

The City of Jacksonville also offers employees Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after 10 years of public service and on-time payments.

The ACPS said is now accepting applications for the full-time position.

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HOUSTON (KIAH)  A Houston pastor is in jail for allegedly sexually assaulting a family member hundreds of times and impregnating her.

Pastor Robert L. Carter is in jail Monday after he turned himself in to authorities on Monday.

Court documents showed the abuse went on for decades.

When the girl turned 16, she allegedly had Carters baby. He is accused of dropping the child off at a nearby fire station.

According to the documents, Carter was married to the girls mother at the time.

Carter is being held on a $100,000 bond at the Harris County Jail.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Indigenous recipes, dance performances and flags filled Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center Monday night as part of a celebration for Indigenous Peoples Day.

Organized by the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, the celebration was originally intended to be a small gathering, according to Amy Dupain Vashaw, the audience and program development director for the CPA. But hundreds attended to take in the music, try new foods and support Indigenous students and community members.

We never, ever expected a response of 300 plus people to this event, said Vashaw, who was excited to try the frybread and corn soup. This is the best kind of surprise.

Engaging performing artists helps engage the community, Vashaw said. The CPA was responsible for booking Las Cafeteras, an Indigenous Mexican band from Los Angeles who performed at the celebration.

The group considers themselves artivists  a combination of artists and activists  and uses its music to spread a message of social justice.

The crowd snaps along to a song by Las Cafeteras during the Indigenous Peoples Day Feast on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at the HUB Robeson Center on the Penn State campus. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com

Vashaw stressed the importance of having all kinds of music that illustrate both the struggle and the joy of Indigenous people.

Music is culture, she said. Just with a simple drum in the voice, you can convey thousands and thousands of years of peoples culture.

A Penn State student from the Indigenous Peoples Student Association reads the Penn State Acknowledgment of Land during the Indigenous Peoples Day Feast on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at the HUB Robeson Center. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com

Also on hand during Mondays event was Penn States Indigenous Peoples Student Association (IPSA), which president Kayla Cwalina said was created because Pennsylvania does not have federally recognized Native tribes. Without IPSA, Cwalina said there would be no education about or representation of Indigenous people at Penn State.

We had to take the initiative to get our voices heard, Cwalina said, representing the Lakota tribe. We are the only people at this university who come forward and present ourselves this way.

She said Monday nights celebration was designed to prioritize an Indigenous narrative.

The Caliente Dance Company performs during the Indigenous Peoples Day Feast on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at the HUB Robeson Center on the Penn State campus. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com

Today, we are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, rather than Columbus Day, Cwalina said. We are rewriting the history of what this day means to us.

Despite what the whitewashed version of history says, Cwalina said, were still here.

Were still native, Cwalina said. We still face these challenges.

She urged others to join the fight for Indigenous representation, and to those who arent Indigenous, Cwalina said to ask questions to learn more.

The crowd claps along and takes photo of Las Cafeteras during the Indigenous Peoples Day Feast on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at the HUB Robeson Center on the Penn State campus. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com

You can ask, Cwalina said. We are more than happy to answer questions.

Standing beside the wall draped in flags representing the tribes of Indigenous Penn State students, Cwalina said seeing the community come together to celebrate Indigenous people was amazing.

Its heartwarming to see that we have all these people to support us, Cwalina said. It doesnt just end here.

Penn State students and community members enjoy frybread and corn soup during the Indigenous Peoples Day Feast on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at the HUB Robeson Center on the Penn State campus. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com

She said she hopes those who attended would tell their friends about the celebration, encouraging them to come to future events celebrating Indigenous people.

Serena Salt, a member of IPSA, said she came to the celebration to celebrate her cultural identity and help spread awareness about IPSA.

With us being so small, we dont get to really host big events like this, Salt said.

Representing the Dine, or Navajo, tribe, Salt said she loves the idea of people rejecting Columbus Day and instead celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. She said its important for young Indigenous people like herself to keep traditions alive.

We are the faces of our ancestors, Salt said. We are our ancestors dreams chasing our futures.

Smoke dancer Jake George performs during the Indigenous Peoples Day Feast on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 at the HUB Robeson Center on the Penn State campus. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com
A moment of prayer and show of support for Israel is planned for Tuesday evening at Old Main on Penn States campus.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, a moment of prayer will be held on the Old Main lawn in partnership with Penn State and the State College borough.

The Penn State community is coming together for a moment of prayer, support, and solidarity with all people of Israel, Penn State Hillel wrote in a Facebook post.

The event will include a student MC, campus clergy and remarks from State College Mayor Ezra Nanes and Penn States Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz, a spokesperson from Penn State Hillel said. Its expected to last about half an hour.

The event comes as Hamas militants stormed into Israel Saturday morning. The militants slayed hundreds of residents in homes and streets near the Gaza border and bringing gunbattles to Israeli towns, according to the Associated Press.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi wrote a letter to the community Monday about the horrific violence and terror unfolding over the last few days in Israel and Gaza.

We have students, faculty and staff who call Israel and Gaza home, and we have already been in touch with them directly to offer support. We know others have families who live there and still many more identify with the region in some way or another  ethnically, culturally or religiously. We grieve with you over this unspeakable tragedy and offer our support to those within the Penn State community who are being impacted by these events, Bendapudi wrote.

The letter listed several services available for the Penn State community to use, as well.

Counseling and Psychological Services: studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling or call 814-863-0395 at University Park, or visit Commonwealth Campus location for campuses.

Student Care and Advocacy supports students in crisis : studentaffairs.psu.edu/studentcare, 814-863-2020 or StudentCare@psu.edu.

The Center for Ethical and Spiritual Development: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/spiritual

Penn State Global: global.psu.edu/category/international-students

For University Park student organizations that can offer support and resources, visit orgcentral.psu.edu/organizations. For campuses, visit Student Life online at each campus or visit studentaffairs.psu.edu/get-involved/student-organizations to browse by campus.

Penn States Employee Assistance Program
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Tuesday announced a key Pentagon official to serve as his chief of staff, filling another open leadership post at the department.

Navy veteran Kimberly Jackson, who previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Readiness, will now step into the top advisor role for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In a statement, McDonough praised her as a proven leader who has spent her life serving our nation and its veterans.

Jackson steps into the role vacated by Tanya Bradsher, who last month became the first woman confirmed to the VA deputy secretary post. Unlike Bradshers new role, Jacksons job does not require Senate confirmation.

In a statement, Jackson said she will work every day to make sure our nations heroes get the world-class care and benefits they deserve.

Bradsher becomes first woman confirmed to VAs second-highest post

At the Pentagon, Jackson served as the principal advisor to the defense secretary on strategic and operational readiness. She had been in the post since January 2021.

She has held several other Defense Department leadership roles in the past, including policy director for Syria issues, planner for three special operations commands, and special assistant in the Pentagons Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation directorate.

Jackson served eight years as a Naval Reserve officer, holding assignments in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Naval Special Warfare, and the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group.

With her appointment, VAs top six leadership posts are filled with permanent officials for the first time since early 2014.

The departments general counsel post, however, remains unfilled. Anjali Chaturvedi, who currently works as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department, was nominated by Biden for the top VA legal post in June 2022, but objections in the Senate have delayed her confirmation for months.
HANOI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam reported four more cases of monkeypox, bringing the total number of infections in the city to 13 as of Monday, local media reported.

Of the 13 cases, two are from abroad while the rest 11 are domestic ones, the city's health department said, suggesting that the monkeypox virus may be circulating within the community.

All the cases have been quarantined. Local authorities are strengthening supervision to early diagnose and provide timely treatment to the patients.

According to the health department, many monkeypox cases in the city are found to be related to each other.

Monkeypox is not easily transmitted to everyone in the community, Vietnam News reported Tuesday, citing Tran Dac Phu, a senior advisor for the Vietnam Centre for Emergency Response to Public Health Events.

Vietnam detected its first monkeypox case last September. 
The United States is surging air defense and munitions to Israel following terrorist attacks against the country over the weekend, a senior defense official said Monday.

We remain in constant, ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine and then support their most urgent requirements, the official told reporters Monday.

They declined to specify the exact weapons the Israelis had requested, only that they include munitions of various types and other equipment.

Defense officials have also contacted U.S. industry to gain expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders for military equipment that otherwise may have been considered routine for movement, they said.

In addition, the Pentagon is working across the [Defense Department] enterprise including with U.S. Central Command to assess what munitions and other equipment are in U.S. inventories that can be made quickly available for Israel.

Palestinian militant group Hamas early Saturday launched the largest attack on Israel in decades, sending forces into multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air, along with a barrage of rocket strikes in a surprise offensive. More than 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians were killed  as were 11 U.S. citizens  and thousands of others were injured.

Washington quickly moved to assist Israel with President Biden on Sunday informing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that additional assistance was making its way to the Israeli Defense Forces. More assistance would arrive in the coming days, Biden said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that a U.S. carrier strike group had moved closer to Israel in response to the attacks.

Questions remain, however, as to the type and amount of lethal aid the U.S. military has available for Israel. The U.S. has already poured billions of dollars worth of such assistance into Ukraine for its fight against Russia for more than a year.

The defense official said Monday the administration currently has the resources, authorities and funding to continue our support to Israel, but that officials are working with Congress to ensure that the appropriate authority and appropriations are available to support and respond to crises and contingencies.

U.S. officials also have deep concerns about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict, with the administration working with Israel and with regional partners to contain the fight to Gaza, the official noted.

Its one of the main reasons why we adjusted our posture so quickly to increase our maritime presence in the eastern Mediterranean, because Iran-backed adversaries like Lebanese Hezbollah should not question the commitment of the U.S. government to support the defense of Israel, they added.

Austin also spoke with his Israeli counterpart Saturday and Sunday, with the Pentagon expecting those phone calls to continue on a regular basis, the official said.

In addition, conversations are ongoing across the U.S. government with all of our Israeli counterparts about [the] situation of hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza, according to the official. They would not offer additional details and declined to get into hypotheticals about any future U.S. role in the conflict, including recovering hostages.

The official also claimed that Iran is in the picture in supporting Hamas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israel's counteroffensive began over the weekend and continued into Monday, October 9.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a "complete siege" of Gaza on Monday, cutting off electricity and the flow of food, water, and supplies.

Photos show neighborhoods in Gaza reduced to rubble and entire buildings leveled.

Content note: This article contains graphic images of violence.

Days of fighting have rocked the Middle East after Hamas militants launched a series of attacks on Israel early Saturday morning, beginning the deadliest conflict between Gaza and Israel in decades.

At least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,800 more have been injured, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. At least 900 Israelis were killed and more than 2,500 others have been injured, according to Israeli authorities. According to a statement by President Biden, at least 11 Americans citizens were also among those killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war against Hamas on Saturday and announced a "complete siege" of Gaza on Monday.

Since launching its aggressive counterattack on the Gaza Strip over the weekend, Israel continued with heavy airstrikes onto the Palestinian territory well into Monday evening.

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a "complete siege" of Gaza as Israeli forces continued to bombard the Palestinian enclave with airstrikes.

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images

Under the siege, Gaza would be cut off from electricity and the flow of food, water, and supplies.

Palestinians mourn the death of their relatives. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli airstrikes have leveled entire buildings in Gaza.

People walk through a destroyed street in Gaza on Sunday. MOHAMED ZAANOUN/Getty Images

With over 2 million residents living within 140 square miles, Gaza is one of the most densely populated regions in the world, Insider previously reported.

Hundreds of sites across Gaza have been reduced to rubble.

A group of people stand beside bombed out cars and buildings in Gaza on Sunday. MOHAMED ZAANOUN/Getty Images

The Israel Defense Forces claims it has hit over 1,000 targets within Gaza.

An Israeli airstrike hit a refugee camp in Gaza, destroying a busy shopping center as well as surrounding buildings and cars.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023. Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images

Jabalia is the largest of the Gaza Strip's eight refugee camps. As of 2019, 5.6 million Palestinian refugees were registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Of those, around 1.7 million were in the Gaza Strip.

Dozens were killed and wounded in the attack on the Jabalia refugee camp.

People carry the body of a Palestinian killed in Israeli strikes, in Jabalia refugee camp, October 9, 2023. Reuters/Mahmoud Issa

Several mosques have also been destroyed, including the Yassin mosque.

Yassin mosque was destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Monday, October 9, 2023. AP Photo/Adel Hana

As well as the Sousi mosque in Gaza City.

The Sousi mosque in Gaza City after an airstrike on Monday. MAHMUD HAMS/Getty Images

Following the attack on the Sousi mosque, Palestinians worked to evacuate a body from the destruction.

Sousi mosque after an airstrike on October 9, 2023. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinian rescuers across Gaza have been scouring the rubble for injured people.

Smoke rises from the Jabalia refugee camp on Monday. Mahmud Hams/Getty Images

As the death toll continues to rise, Palestinians mourn the deaths of friends and family.

Palestinians mourn the death of their relatives following an Israeli airstrike on the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinians pray over the bodies of those they have lost in Gaza.

Bodies of people killed in Jabalia on October 9, 2023. Mahmud Hams / AFP via Getty

Plumes of black smoke covered the skies above Gaza on Monday.

Smoke rising during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza on Monday, October 9, 2023. MAHMUD HAMS/Getty Images

Airstrikes continued into the night amidst blackouts.

Smoke rises in the night sky after Israeli airstrikes on the center of Gaza. Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Read the original article on Business Insider
Marc Piasecki/WireImage via Getty Images

Playboy has ended its partnership with influencer Mia Khalifa after accusing her of making disgusting and reprehensible comments about the Hamas attacks in Israel which saw hundreds of civilians slaughtered.

The Lebanese-American former porn star, 30, has posted several times since the unrest began on Saturday when Palestinian militants crossed from Gaza into Israel and began killing and abducting Israelis. Her comments, which have provoked an angry backlash online, have variously expressed solidarity with Palestine generally but also contained dark, glib remarks about the horrific videos emerging from the slaughter.

Video Reportedly Shows Hamas Beginning Deadly Hostage Killing Spree

In an email to users of Playboys Centerfolda platform similar to OnlyFans which connects content creators with fansPlayboy said it would no longer be working with Khalifa, who joined the site last year.

We are writing today to let you know of our decision to terminate Playboys relationship with Mia Khalifa, including deleting Mias Playboy channel on our creator platform, the company wrote, according to the Daily Mail. As of Tuesday morning, her page appears to have been taken down.

Over the past few days, Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women and children, the email continued. At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand that her words and actions have consequences.

In the hours after the invasion began, Khalifa started posting about the events in Israel to her 5.6 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid and history will show that in time, one of her first posts read.

Later on Saturday, as disturbing videos of the terror began emerging online, Khalifa wrote: Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal. The same day, she followed up with: I cant believe the Zionist apartheid regime is being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci shirts - the biopics of these moments better reflect that.

She later said of her post about filming horizontally that the statement in no way shape or form is enticing spread of violence, I specifically said freedom fighters because thats what the Palestinian citizens are fighting for freedom every day.

But Todd Shapiroa former broadcaster who set up Red Light Holland, a mushroom company, which had engaged Khalifa as an advisor earlier this yearreplied to her original post to say it was such a horrendous tweet. Consider yourself fired effective immediately, Shapiro wrote. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being.

I just wanna make sure theres 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison theyve been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how [sic] they freed themselves from apartheid, Khalifa wrote in response. Please worry about your sad little company lacking direction and purpose before you utter my name again, she wrote, adding that the business should do your research before begging for my investment in your little project, Im from LEBANON, are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism you fucking weirdo.

The Porn World Exposes Mia Khalifa

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Robert Telus, Minister of Agriculture of Poland

Poland will construct its first grain terminal in Gdansk on the Baltic Sea coast, which will enable maritime exports of Ukrainian agricultural products, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus announced on Oct. 10, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to the minister, Polands RSSI (Agricultural & Food Investment Company) had signed an agreement with the Port of Gdansk to build the facility.

Read also: Ukraine pauses WTO grain export lawsuits against Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia

The state enterprise RSSI signed a contract with the Port of Gdansk on Oct. 10 to create a grain terminal; we now have a grain port, Telus said, describing the agreement as an exceptionally important event.

Read also: Germany to send Ukraine air defense systems to protect grain shipments  report

The minister added that the creation of such "solidarity lanes," which allow Kyiv to export grain through the territory of neighboring countries, is vital for global food security and would undermine Moscows attempts to destabilize the international order.

On Oct. 3, Lithuania announced a transit corridor for Ukrainian produce to be shipped overseas from the Baltic Sea port of Klaipeda.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline

Poland has provided Germany with evidence of Russian involvement in the explosions that hit the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines last year, although Berlin is skeptical of this information, German newspaper Die Zeit reported on Oct. 9.

Polish intelligence services recently sent Germany information that Poland had identified part of the crew of the Andromeda yacht that was in the area of the incident. According to their information, several men, who were allegedly on the yacht for at least some time, have Russian citizenship.

The Andromeda is believed to have played a decisive role in the attack on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 on Sept. 26, 2022, Zeit notes.

On Sept. 19, 2022, according to the Gdansk Prosecutor's Office, the Polish Border Guard checked the crew of Andromeda during a stopover in the Polish city of Kolobrzeg and recorded the personal data of the crew members. The men reportedly presented Bulgarian documents that were apparently forged. One of them  presumably the captain of the yacht  identified himself as "Mikhail Popov."

Polish intelligence believes that it knows the real identities of these people and suggests that some of them may be connected to Russian military intelligence.

Read also: Why Poland opposes Ukraine-Germany rapprochement  interview

Die Zeit adds that the German government and investigative circles are skeptical of these reports and believe that they could be a distraction on the part of Warsaw. Poland is in the midst of an election campaign and the Polish government has publicly suspected Russia of committing the crime from the very beginning, the German newspaper explains. It is possible that the Polish authorities are emphasizing the Russian trail to divert attention from Ukraine.

On the night of Sept. 26, 2022, three of the four Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were destroyed by explosions at the bottom of the Baltic Sea in neutral waters.

Neither of the gas pipelines were in operation at the time  they were filled with pressurized methane.

Poland and Ukraine accused Russia of the bombings, while the Kremlin regime, in turn, denied any involvement and blamed the "Anglo-Saxons" (probably referring to the United States and the UK, and possibly Australia and other English-speaking nations as well).

In November 2022, the Swedish security service confirmed that explosive remnants were found near the pipelines. The Swedish prosecutor's office believes that the investigation into the explosions could end in the fall.

Read also: Russian warships approached Nord Stream pipelines at least three times before explosions

Earlier, U.S. newspaper the New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials who had reviewed early U.S. intelligence and spoke on condition of anonymity, that a "pro-Ukrainian group" may be behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.

The German media, citing sources, claimed that the yacht used by the group of alleged bombers belonged to Ukrainian citizens. The news outlets also reported that one of the men who rented the yacht lived in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidents Office, said that Ukraine had nothing to do with the destruction of the gas pipelines. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said it was "a rather strange story that has nothing to do with us."

"I am the president and I give the appropriate orders," President VolodymyrZelenskyy said in June, also denying that Ukraine was involved in the incident.

Ukraine has never done anything like this. I would never do that, Zelenskyy said.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
WASHINGTON  Polaris is applying autonomous controls to its latest off-road vehicle as part of an initiative with U.S. Special Operations Command and other customers to create an optionally manned vehicle for resupply, medical evacuations and more in a rugged environment.

Polaris converted the controls of its MRZR Alpha vehicle to be completely by-wire, meaning either a driver can manually control the vehicle or a user does so digitally with a remote controller or an autonomy package, Polaris vice president of government and defense, Nick Francis, told Defense News.

That autonomy package comes from Applied Research Associates, which previously partnered with Polaris for work on an autonomous MRZR X, unveiled in 2018.

During the first phase of this project, Polaris converted its MRZR Alpha to have by-wire steering, braking, shifting and more, while Applied Research Associates integrated its Otonos autonomy package and a host of cameras, lidar and other sensors. Lidar technology sends pulses of laser light to determine the presence, shape and distance of objects.

Matt Fordham, Applied Research Associates vice president, told Defense News his company had been deploying autonomy packages on heavy and off-road vehicles for 30 years.

Francis said both the vehicle and the autonomy package are more sophisticated than the earlier MRZR X effort.

It was good learnings from the first, and now were taking all those learnings and over a decade of technology advancements and experience and putting it into the new MRZR Alpha autonomous prototype, he said.

In the ongoing second phase, the companies will build prototypes and put them through testing under some basic scenarios  bringing supplies to a point of need in rocky or wooded off-road areas, for example. That work is expected to conclude in the spring, Francis said.

In the third phase, the prototypes will undergo more advanced testing in increasingly complex use cases created by customers to determine how they want to use the vehicle and, therefore, how the controls should be configured.

Francis said the vehicle today can be controlled completely through the autonomy package, using a teleoperator and across the spectrum in between.

He said he couldnt speak to the governments plans for how this prototyping work may lead to a program of record, but said generally the work will inform future requirements for light tactical vehicles that could be carried in the V-22, CH-47 and C-130 aircraft.

The effort is more exploratory at this point, but certainly weve demonstrated the ability to put the controls onto a vehicle, and if a customer were interested in buying the autonomous MRZR Alpha, itd be a very short time span for us to offer that capability off the Minnesota production line.

Polaris declined to disclose the value of the ongoing prototyping work or the full list of customers contributing to the effort.

Francis said there are other manufacturers building unmanned ground vehicles, but what differentiates the autonomous MRZR is its ability to be optionally manned. In some scenarios  retrieving a wounded soldier, for example, where time is of the essence  a human driver could navigate complex terrain faster than the autonomy package. In that case, if an autonomous MRZR were on hand, a solider could pop the vehicle into manned mode and drive to the casualty.

Having that optionally manned capability in a world of, Hey, we need one vehicle to do more for the cost savings and the reduction in logistics burdens,  is a key sales pitch for Polaris, he said.

The company is also pushing other variants and add-ons for its MRZR Alpha, including an Arctic capability and a high-power variant to power weapons, sensors and more.

While at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference, which runs Oct. 9-11, Polaris is really just trying to highlight how many different missions can be tackled with one common platform to the Army, Marine Corps and other allied services around the world, Francis said.
Police shot and killed a man who rammed his blue Honda sedan into the lobby of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday, local officials said.

The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) said the motive is unknown.

The man was shot and killed by police shortly after they arrived, SFPD Sgt. Kathryn Winters said at a Monday news conference. She did not give details on how exactly the shooting unfolded.

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I wish I could give you more, but this is a very complex investigation, Winters said.

The Chinese consulate general described it as a violent attack and said the matter should be dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.

There were no reports of injuries inside the consulate.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also denounced the incident.

We strongly urge the U.S. to launch a swift investigation and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, referring to the 1961 agreement governing relations between countries.

San Francisco will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next month, though it is unclear whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the city and participate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the Kharkiv Police Investigation Department, has explained that Andrii Kozyr, whose body was reburied in the village of Hroza, served in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and died in 2022.

Source: Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the Kharkiv Police Investigation Department, in an interview with Radio Liberty

Details: This is how the police reacted to the words of Vasily Nebenzya, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, regarding the Russian missile attack on a cafe in the village of Hroza, Kharkiv Oblast.

Nebenzya stated that the attack was launched during the funeral of one of the alleged "high-ranking Ukrainian nationalists" and "many Nazi collaborators were there".

Bolvinov denied these statements and emphasised that Kozyr died in 2022, and residents gathered for his memorial dinner.

Quote: "He was not a high-ranking official and did not occupy high ranks in the Armed Forces. He was a local resident and died near Popasna.

A Russian missile killed all of them. These are ordinary people. Elderly people, teachers, doctors, friends. All the casualties are civilians. There is not a single killed or injured serviceman among them."

Background:

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
An Anderson man who authorities suspect was under the influence of drugs crashed his car into the building of a Redding business Monday morning, police said.

Jorden Wheeler, 43, was driving a Mazda 3 south on South Market Street around 10:30 a.m. when the vehicle left the roadway and collided with a fire hydrant, fencing and two parked vehicles that were unoccupied, investigators said.

The hatchback plowed into bushes in front of the Wonderland Signs building before coming to a rest.

Wheeler, who was wearing a seatbelt, was taken to the hospital after complaining of pain. No one else was injured in the collision, police said.

Officers gave Wheeler a sobriety test and concluded that he was under the influence of drugs, the Redding Police Department stated in a news release posted on its Facebook page.

The scene in front of Wonderland Signs in south Redding on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, after a Mazda 3 left the roadway and careened through the parking lot, hitting a fire hydrant and two unoccupied parked vehicles.

Officers also discovered that Wheeler was arrested for driving under the influence on Oct. 6, 2023, and the Mazda 3 that he was driving was impounded after that arrest, police said.

Wheeler had picked up the Mazda from the impound yard about an hour before Mondays crash, police said.

Redding police plan to submit an investigative report to the Shasta County District Attorneys Office.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter, @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding police: Suspected DUI driver crashes into building
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis is following the situation in Gaza after the latest flare-up of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with regular calls to the local Catholic priest, Vatican media reported on Tuesday.

Gaza's parish priest Gabriel Romanelli has received two phone calls from Francis since hostilities started at the weekend with an attack on Israel by Hamas Islamist militants in which more than 1,000 died.

The pope "expressed his closeness and his prayers" and "we thanked him for his appeal for a ceasefire and against all violence, all terrorism and all wars," Romanelli told the Vatican News website.

Romanelli, who was speaking from Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said Francis was also planning to call his deputy in Gaza, where about 150 displaced families are being looked after by the local Catholic Church.

On Sunday, Pope Francis called for an end to attacks and violence in both Israel and Gaza, saying terrorism and war would only bring further suffering and death to innocent people.

Israel's ambassador to the Vatican told Reuters on Monday: "I understand the Vatican wants peace. We all want peace. But I would like to hear stronger words about Israel's right to defend itself."

(Reporting by Federico Maccioni, editing by Alvise Armellini and Sharon Singleton)
ADDIS ABABA/ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Anketsebrhan Girma, a 28-year-old train driver at the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, has long dreamed of becoming one of the pioneer modern train drivers in Ethiopia.

"When I saw trains, especially trains of China, on TV and online, I thought it was very cool. How to operate a train as it is so long? I really wanted to figure that out," Girma said of her childhood dream.

In 2018, Girma went through fierce competition and entered the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company after graduating from Adama University, becoming the first female driving an electrified train in the East African country.

Since July this year, Girma, an assistant driver with three years of experience, has been in China along with 27 colleagues to receive a six-month training for electrified train driving.

During the training at Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College, Girma sensed the warmth from her Chinese teachers. "When I felt sick, my tutor drove me to the hospital and accompanied me all the time. They are both my teachers and my friends," Girma said.

In 2019, the college in Zhengzhou signed an agreement with the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company to train electric locomotive drivers for the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, or shortly Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway.

The 752-km railway, also known as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, is the first electrified transboundary railway in Africa, a flagship project under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

The first group of 34 trainees have fully commanded the skills of driving, monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining electrified trains, and have the capability of independently driving them after eight months of study in the college.

After returning to their homeland, they have quickly become the backbone of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, safely chauffeuring across the vast East African plateau.

As one of the 34 trainees, Dejen Gezu is among the first in the country to get license for electrified trains issued by the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistics.

He is now tasked with dual responsibilities of safely chauffeuring the Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway and supervising fellow train drivers such as Girma in their pursuit of fully mastering the trains.

"Before I came to China, I dreamed of becoming a train driver who could drive the trains independently like Gezu," Girma said.

The Chinese operation team has always attached great significance to the construction of the operational capacity of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, and has endeavored to provide the local employees with technology transfer and skill training.

With the help of Chinese technology, the railway has cut the shipping time for goods from more than three days to less than 20 hours, and reduced the cost by at least one-third, substantially facilitating the imports and exports of Ethiopia, a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa.

"As Ethiopia has no sea or port, it takes a few days to deliver goods to and from Djibouti by road transport, which is a waste of time and energy. The Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway can greatly cut the time and cost. It is like the backbone of our country," said Girma.

Abdi Zenebe, chief executive officer of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company, stressed the importance of skill training.

"During the construction and operation of the program, Chinese experts have helped in training about 3,000 professionals on railway techniques, laying a solid foundation for the development of the railway industry in the two countries," Zenebe said. 
The morning after a recent Powerball drawing, an Arkansas woman who regularly plays the lottery said she stopped at a convenience store to get her morning drink.

When she got to the E-Z Mart in her hometown of Waldo, she noticed the workers were unusually giddy, according to a news release from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.

The two cashiers are just excited, hopping up and down, Billie Mooney told lottery officials. One lady has the winning numbers in her hand, and the other says, Miss Billie, have you checked your numbers yet? Someone from our store has won!

Mooney had not checked the results from the Oct. 4 Powerball drawing, so she had no idea she had won a big prize, according to the release.

She handed her Quick Pick Powerball ticket to the workers, officials said, and they confirmed she was their winner.

Mooney had matched four of the white balls and the Powerball, according to the release. This qualified her for a $50,000 prize  but because she added on the Power Play option, her prize was multiplied to $100,000.

She was shocked when the lottery terminal played a special chime followed by a voice saying she was a winner, officials said.

The first thing Mooney did after learning about her win was tell her daughter, according to the release. Shes relieved to have some financial security for her family.

The winning numbers during the Oct. 4 drawing were 9, 35, 54, 63, 64 and a Powerball of 1. The jackpot was estimated to be worth $1.19 billion.

The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was July 19, according to lottery officials. Its estimated to be worth $1.73 billion as of Oct. 10.

Waldo is in the southwest corner of Arkansas.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Powerball player buys ticket on a whim. His life-changing win leaves him in shock

Soaring Powerball jackpot inspires friends to make a pact and play. Then one wins big

Grandpa scores huge Powerball prize in North Carolina. Now, he plans to help family
In the wake of a mass-casualty surprise attack by Hamas that prompted Israel to declare war against the militant group Sunday, hundreds from Kansas Citys Jewish community gathered in a show of solidarity Monday evening.

Prayers and songs were led by a group of rabbis and faith leaders inside The Temple, Congregation Bnai Jehudah in Overland Park, the oldest and largest synagogue in the Kansas City area, as the death toll in Israel alone rose to around 900 people, including 73 soldiers. About 600 Kansas Citians attended the event as local leaders condemned the violence and called for locals to support Israel.

Rabbi Sam Stern prays with congregants on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, at The Temple, Congregation Bnai Jehudah on, in Overland Park. Rabbi Stern and other local Rabbis led community members in prayer in a demonstration of support and mourning for citizens of Israel.

This was an unprovoked terrorist attack on the Jewish people, said Gavriela Geller, executive director of Overland Parks Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee, adding that it cannot be justified by any person with moral standing.

Geller encouraged those of Jewish faith to stand together in the face of the horrible acts and continue to honor its traditions without fear.

It is when we are scared to do that, that terror wins. But we will not cower, Geller said. This is our story. One in which we are no strangers to suffering. We still choose to be proud Jews  to honor our traditions, to celebrate our holidays, to support our community.

Congregants gather after a ceremony in support of Israel on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, at The Temple, Congregation Bnai Jehudah in Overland Park. The event was held to show support for the global Jewish community and citizens of Israel after recent attacks by Hamas.

The weekend attack, which came as U.S. Jews were preparing to celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah, marks the greatest death toll seen in Israel since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria.

It began with a barrage of missiles launched from the Gaza Strip followed by an unprecedented, bloody incursion of Hamas militants who stormed into nearby Israeli towns, killing civilians and taking hostages, including from a music festival.

Israels military, caught off-guard by the attack, responded with airstrikes that continued to level buildings in Gaza on Monday. Food, fuel and supplies were also being cut off to the area by Israel as tanks and drones were deployed to shore up breaches along the Gaza border fence.

All told, the death toll Monday on both sides was estimated at 1,600 people, including more than 680 killed in Gaza, which Israel says includes hundreds of Hamas fighters. Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if airstrikes continue without warning.

As news of the attack by Hamas reached those in Kansas City over the weekend, Rabbi Stephanie Kramer, of Overland Parks Congregation Bnai Jehudah, said many in the Jewish community were shocked and reeling. She said the solidarity event Monday was meant to be a place for comfort and support as they pray for peace and hope for the land of Israel.

Kramer said she has friends and relatives in Israel, close to and farther away from Gaza, impacted firsthand. She said she knows many who have been spending time in bomb shelters and safe rooms.

The Jewish community is pretty tight-knit, Kramer told The Star.  I would say that most people know someone, are related to somebody, or know someone who knows someone whos directly affected by this. And even if you dont, as a Jewish person, our prayer is about the land of Israel.

Our holidays and seasons, so much of our rituals, are tied to the land of Israel. And so when our brothers and sisters there are hurting, it hurts us.

A colorful yarmulke sits on top of Andre Delgado-Oglis head on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, The Temple, Congregation Bnai Jehudah in Overland Park. Congregants were led in prayer by local Rabbis and members of Kansas Citys Jewish community.

The event Monday also came as CNN reported one of those killed by Hamas over the weekend was born in Boone County. Her father, who was on the phone with her as she was killed, used to teach at the University of Missouri.

Meanwhile, Missouri Republicans in Washington have been quick to cast the ongoing crisis through a partisan lens.

Shortly after news broke that Hamas had invaded Israel, both Sens. Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley quickly followed former President Donald Trump in putting the blame on the Biden administration.

Hawley and Schmitt have criticized a prisoner swap between Iran and the U.S. last month, because Iran has long supported Hamas. The U.S. unfroze $6 billion of Irans money it had in a South Korean bank account for humanitarian aid, according to the terms of the deal. Hawley and Schmitt implied the money was used to attack Israel, though the White House has said the money has not yet been spent.

This is a shameful lie in every respect, at a time when both parties should be totally united in supporting Israels defense, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.

On Sunday, Hawley continued to criticize Biden, after the White House held a barbecue for the families of people who staff the executive residence.

Joe Biden should be in the Situation Room working around the clock to free Americans held hostage by Hamas, not barbecuing with a band on the White House lawn, Hawley said.

The Stars Daniel Desrochers contributed to this report. This story includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Panic took over a Florida prayer vigil for victims of the terror attacks in Israel on Monday night, resulting in multiple injuries after the crowd abruptly took off in a stampede, authorities said.

Students had gathered at the University of Florida in Gainesville to pay their respects to the hundreds of people killed in Israel since Saturday when police said the crowd became spooked just before 9 p.m.

Someone attending the vigil fainted, prompting others to ask for someone to call 911, the universitys police department said in a statement.

The call was misunderstood by the crowd, which dispersed in a panic, police said.

Scary moment of all around. Praying for everyones safety pic.twitter.com/msKJ1jeD3l  Nick VanZandt (@VanzandtNick) October 10, 2023

Video taken moments before the rush and posted to social media shows attendees quietly listening to a speaker when a wave of screams emerges from the distance, prompting everyone to run.

The university has one of the largest Jewish student populations in the world, according to local station WCJB, leading to many being on edge due to the ongoing violence overseas.

Nick VanZandt, a University of Florida student who shot video and took photos of the scenes chaotic aftermath, told HuffPost there was some tension and very emotional scenes prior to the panic, which left him with a few scrapes and bruises.

People are seen attending a vigil at the University of Florida on Monday night.

People are seen attending a vigil at the University of Florida on Monday night.

There didnt appear to be anyone protesting the event, however, and local law enforcement handled the situation well, he added.

They sent a lot of people to the scene because they werent sure what was happening, he said of first responders.

Roughly two dozen people sustained minor injuries amid the chaos, according to local officials.

Approximately 20 people arrived at an emergency room at the nearby University of Florida Health within a 15-minute period for related injuries, the universitys Health spokesperson Payton Wesner said in an email Tuesday.

Shoes and other personal items are seen scattered on the ground following Monday night's vigil.

Shoes and other personal items are seen scattered on the ground following Monday night's vigil.

Upon an initial evaluation, the injuries seemed to be mostly minor bumps or lacerations. No one was admitted, said Wesner.

Campus police also said at least five people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. They added that they have no reason to believe that there was any malicious intent behind what happened.

University Police Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick in a statement said, It was an accident that was misinterpreted by the crowd that led to panic.

Related...
Jewish and Palestinian communities across the United States are reacting as a fourth day of deadly war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas rages on. Also in the news: House Republicans have a schedule for selecting their new leader (and hopefully they'll stick with it) and a journey on a massive pumpkin.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's how not to let the bedbugs bite.

Here's the news to know this Tuesday.

Jews and Palestinians in US fearful after Hamas attack

Ripples of fears for their own safety, tears and countless prayers for an end to the violence traveled through Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian-linked communities in the United States this week following the onslaught in Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas Saturday morning.

Some groups held prayer meetings, while others worried about possible local attacks, immediately beefing up security and urging community members to be vigilant.

The latest: Israeli warplanes pounded downtown Gaza City, home to Hamas centers of government, with relentless bombardments into early Tuesday, after Israels prime minister vowed retaliation against the Islamic militant group that would reverberate for generations.

The death toll on both sides from the four-day war has reached about 1,600, including at least 11 Americans. The Israeli military, which called up 300,000 reservists, pounded Gaza with an aerial assault aimed at halting Hamas rockets toward Israel's border towns. In response, Hamas threatened to kill hostages if attacks targeted civilians without warning.

As news of the tragedy has spread, many Jewish and Israeli communities in the United States held vigils, gatherings and protests. Palestinian rights supporters from various communities said they were horrified by the violence and also wanted peace.

More from USA TODAY about the Israel-Hamas conflict:

A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Free Palestine from Hamas" during a rally in support of Israel Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Bellevue, Washington.

Republicans race to vote for a new House speaker

Congress is in for a hectic week as Republicans scramble to find a new leader after the historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. House Republicans have a schedule: They'll meet Tuesday night to hold a candidate forum where prospective speakers will make their pitches to fellow GOP lawmakers. Next, they'llhold a secret vote on a nominee Wednesday night. It's unclear when the House will hold an official speaker election. But the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militants could pressure lawmakers to pick up the pace and elect a new speaker so the House can act on the conflict, especially if they need to approve humanitarian aid. Read more

More news to know now

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Suspect fatally shot by San Francisco police after crashing car into Chinese Consulate

The San Francisco Police Department is working with the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Consulate to investigate a car that rammed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on Monday, coming to a stop in the lobby and creating a chaotic scene that ended with police fatally shooting the driver, officials said. San Francisco Police descended on the consulate shortly after 3 p.m. on a report of a vehicle crashing into the building and urged people to avoid the area. Responding officers later found the vehicle inside the visa office of the San Francisco Chinese Consulate. Read more

One person is dead and 8 injured in a mass shooting at a Pennsylvania community center.

New Orleans faces its next challenge: Saltwater in the Mississippi

The threat of the saltwater incursion to municipal drinking water in New Orleans has slowed, giving more time to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Louisiana officials efforts to combat it. Those efforts include installing reverse-osmosis filters and running new pipes that can bring fresher water into New Orleans. In Plaquemines, filters and Army Corps barges with millions of gallons of fresh water are reaching water treatment intake sites. Officials now predict the wedge could reach a New Orleans area drinking water intake by late November, instead of late October, as had been feared - if it arrives at all. Read more

Ashara Feloss uses bottled water for cooking at DJ's One Stop, a lunch place in Plaquemines Parish, La., on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Quick hits

Prime Day 2023 is here and we've got the best deals for you

Amazon's October 2023 sale, Prime Big Deal Days, is here! It all starts Tuesday and will continue through Wednesday, October 11. The two-day savings bonanza will feature Amazon deals on hundreds of top-rated essentials for the home and beyond. From big screen TVs to small kitchen appliances, we're expecting a wide range of Amazon deals during the October Prime Day sale. We've rounded up everything you need to know so you're ready to shop the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale, including expert shopping tips and incredible deals on the best products.

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Photo of the day: Would you travel on this pumpkin vessel?

A Missouri man broke this years Guinness World Record for longest journey by pumpkin boat. After almost 11 hours out on the Missouri River in his 1,208-pound pumpkin boat called Huckle Berry, Steve Kueny from Lebanon, Missouri has emerged from his 38-mile journey across the river "cold, tired but pleased with the result." Read more

Steve Kueny spent the better part of Monday sailing the Missouri River in his 1,200-pound pumpkin boat.

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: Prayers, worries, protests: Daily Briefing
Lauren, with partner Bradley, before her operation (Lauren Parker / SWNS)

A woman claims jetting to Turkey for a boob job saved her life after medics diagnosed a deadly pregnancy complication.

Lauren Parker, 25, flew to Istanbul, Turkey, on September 5, 2023, for a breast uplift and implants.

Before leaving the UK, she experienced unusual bleeding but had been assured by her GP she was fine to fly and put it down to an abnormal period.

But, during a consultation with surgeons on the day of her breast operation, a routine blood test revealed Lauren was around five weeks pregnant.

An ultrasound showed Lauren was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy - a potentially deadly condition where the fertilised egg gets stuck in the fallopian tube.

Concerned doctors advised they needed to act fast and explained there was no other option but to operate.

Surgery and removal of a fallopian tube is the most common treatment for an ectopic pregnancy - however, it does reduce fertility and chances of conceiving.

During a 45-minute keyhole surgery, a surgeon removed her fallopian tube - saving her life as she had started to bleed internally.

Medics then kept her under anaesthetic for another seven hours while they performed her breast enlargement - taking her breasts from a baggy size B to a size E.

Lauren, an aesthetics practitioner and lash technician, from Southampton, Hampshire, said: If I didnt go for that surgery I might not be here today.

I was certain I wasnt pregnant - I didnt believe them at first.

The staff in Turkey were amazing - they saved my life.

On top of that, I got my new boobs too, so it was amazing all around.

I know there are horror stories about Turkish clinics, but I cant recommend this one highly enough.

After booking her 3,600 breast enhancement and lift in August 2023, Lauren was excited to finally get her new bust after becoming sick of her droopy, far apart boobs.

She felt they had become worse than ever after shed dropped six stone during a two-year period - going from 16st8lbs and a size 16 to 10st8lbs and a slender size 10.

But just weeks before going away she began to experience intermittent bleeding, period pains and felt faint and sick.

Lauren even took a pregnancy test to ensure shed be fit to fly- which came back negative.

When the bleeding continued, she reached out to her local GP - who gave her tranexamic acid medication to control the bleeding thinking it was an erratic menstrual cycle.

She said: I was feeling really rough and was worried with all the bleeding that Id not be able to have the operation.

I was worried about my iron levels to be honest and didnt want to bleed out if I did have it.

I was a bit shocked my GP didnt try and find out a bit more or run any tests or see me in person.

But I was told I was fine to go out there, so I went.

Lauren - who travelled with her boyfriend, Bradley Jones, 31, an accounts manager - was shocked when tests at the cosmetic surgery clinic revealed she was expecting.

The pair had not been officially trying to conceive but had stopped using anything after feeling they were ready for children.

I requested multiple tests because I could not believe I was pregnant, she said.

Then the ultrasound scan came back with nothing and the doctors there were all really confused.

It wasnt until they did another closer scan that they found the pregnancy was actually in my tube.

It was scary - they were all really worried about me and offered to do the operation themselves or advised I get back to the UK for it ASAP.

Lauren chose to have the 1.5k operation to remove the egg and fallopian tube at the clinic on September 6 and had her boob surgery at the same time.

She said: They saved my life by being so thorough.

Lauren in a Turkish hospital after receiving keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tube (Lauren Parker / SWNS)

They were absolutely wonderful, they really cared and put me at ease.

It was amazing, I felt in such safe hands.

I knew something wasnt right before I left the UK, I wish Id trusted my gut and been listened to here.

It was weird not knowing if Id wake up with new boobs or not as they said theyd only do them if the keyhole had gone well.

Despite being left with just one fallopian tube, Lauren is feeling positive about the future.

I know it will be harder to get pregnant but Im not going to stress just yet, she said.

Im only 25 and we have lots of time to try.

I have been told Ill have to be quite careful about how I get pregnant and have lots of tests.

Its a bit scary but Ive got lots of information.

I feel much better now, Ive got the look that I want.

I felt so frumpy before.

The shape is amazing, I feel so much better in myself and much more confident now.
For decades, historic preservation in places like Kentucky was the province of white culture, part of Lost Cause mythology that focused on the sites and structures that upheld the rich and powerful.

That has slowly changed in Lexington and elsewhere as people realized that entire swaths of our history were ignored and neglected. Here in Lexington, folks like Yvonne Giles and others have uncovered Black cemeteries, Black hamlets and other crucial sites in Black history, and they are finally being celebrated for doing so.

Part of that national transformation is due to a native Kentuckian: Brent Leggs, who is from Paducah and graduated from the University of Kentucky. Hes a senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the founder and executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Founded in 2020, that fund has now raised more than $95 million.

Leggs will be speaking in Lexington on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Blue Grass Trust at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan House at 210 North Broadway. The Hopemont Lecture will be on Preservation as Community, Preservation as Justice.

Brent Leggs

The U.S. historic preservation profession at this moment is centering equity, diversity and inclusion at the core of the industry culture, Leggs said in a telephone interview. I want to advocate for equity driven outcomes for diverse, and how we can create a bigger tent to establish equity.

Leggs had the idea for the action fund in 2017 after protests over Confederate monuments brought white supremacists to Charlottesville, Va., where a woman was killed. So far, the fund has supported 242 grantee projects and 300 preservation groups.

Our ethos is that we can harness the power of place to build a truly national identity that reflects Americas diversity, expanding the American story and creating reverence for the full contributions of Americans toward our nation, he said. We use old buildings and cultural landscapes to uplift overlooked historical events or the stories of the everyday and extraordinary.

For example, he said one project in Kentucky that has received help from the fund is the St. James AME Church in Mayfield, partially destroyed by tornadoes in 2021.

Were making great progress there, but we still have $800,000 of fundraising left, Leggs said. It would be a beautiful affirmation to secure public and private investment to this project and return a 150-year-old congregation back to their house of worship. Given the scale of erasure and loss, its even more urgent that the state of Kentucky helps rescue this historic resource.

Closer to home, the Blue Grass Trust raised $100,000 to renovate the Palmer Pharmacy in Lexingtons East End. Half that money came through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

While in Lexington, Leggs will tour Lexingtons historic Black hamlets and be part of the inaugural Hopemont Lecture Preservation Workshop on Friday, Oct. 13 from 9am to 12pm. The half-day, interactive workshop will allow participants to work with national and local preservationists who are trying to save Kentuckys African-American historic spaces.

That afternoon, the Blue Grass Trust is also hosting another inaugural event  a Community Action Event at African Cemetery No. 2. at 1:30 p.m.

Leggs is a prestigious pick for the Blue Grass Trust, but he was a natural choice, said director Jonathan Coleman.

Brent, with his Kentucky roots, exemplifies what it means to be a national visionary at the forefront of historic preservation, Coleman said. Bringing his thought leadership to Central Kentucky and encouraging innovative ideas and methods to circulate and germinate right here, the Blue Grass Trust is fulfilling our mission to be a resource that benefits every Kentuckian with an interest in preserving our historic places and stories.

This event is free and open to the public. Capacity is limited, RSVP required to attend. For more information, go to https://www.bluegrasstrust.org/hopemont.
WASHINGTON  Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur, who is investigating the classified documents found at President Joe Biden's former office in Washington, D.C., and at his home in Delaware, has interviewed the president, the White House announced Monday.

The voluntary interview was conducted at the White House over two days, Sunday and Monday, and concluded Monday," White House spokesperson Iam Sams said in a statement. "As we have said from the beginning, the president and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation. We would refer other questions to the Justice Department at this time.

Hur's inquiry ran parallel to the investigation by special counsel Jack Smith into former President Donald Trump. A contrast between the two inquiries was that Biden alerted authorities about the classified records, while most of Trumps were seized under subpoena and during an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.

The department previously declined to pursue charges against former Vice President Mike Pence, who had classified documents at home in Indiana.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Hur had been negotiating with Bidens lawyers for weeks over the ground rules for an interview with the president.

President Joe Biden responds to questions from reporters after speaking about the September jobs report in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Washington.

The Presidential Records Act of 1978 calls for the National Archives and Records Administration to take ownership of all White House records on Inauguration Day, after the end of an administration. In addition, several laws prohibit removing classified records from secure government facilities.

In Bidens case, his personal lawyers were vacating a former office at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement last November when they discovered a small number of classified documents. Biden had used the office after leaving office as vice president in 2017 until his presidential campaign in 2020.

The documents were immediately turned over to the National Archives, according to the president's attorney. But their discovery didn't become public until January.

The White House disclosed days later that a second set of documents was previously recovered from a storage space in the garage of his Wilmington home. Hours later, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur to investigate.

Biden downplayed the significance of the disclosure, saying his Corvette also is stored in the locked garage.

"People know I take classified documents and classified material seriously," Biden said.

Trump has complained that FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago but the August search came after his lawyers certified all classified records had been returned under a June subpoena. FBI agents seized 11,000 records from Mar-a-Lago and retrieved a combined more than 300 classified records last year through National Archives letters in January, the June subpoena and the August search.

Trump has denied wrongdoing. He contends he was negotiating with the National Archives about which presidential records he could keep and that he declassified the secret records, despite the lack of documentation about that.

I have the absolute right to do whatever I want with them, Trump told a CNN town hall on May 10.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Biden meets with special counsel investigating classified records
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden said the U.S. stands with Israel after Hamas' brutal massacre in Israel, condemning the attack as "pure, unadulterated evil" and pledging to support Israel with military aid as war erupts in the Middle East.

"At this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel," Biden said Tuesday in remarks from the White House State Dining Room. "We will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. There's no justification for terrorism. There's no excuse."

In the the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, more than 1,000 Israelis and at least 14 Americans were killed Saturday when Hamas militants crashed through the Israeli border along the Gaza Strip and launched a surprise invasion. Israel has responded with attacks on Gaza that intensified with more bombings Tuesday.

Biden called Hamas "a terrorist organization" whose "stated purpose for being is to kill Jews." Describing the attack in graphic terms, he said parents were "butchered" trying to protect their children and cited "stomach-turning reports" of Israeli babies being murdered, Holocaust survivors taken captive, women raped and entire families slain.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room of the White House October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Biden said Israel has a "right to respond and indeed has a duty to respond" four days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas.

"There are moments in this life  I mean this literally  when pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world," Biden said. "The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend."

An estimated 100 to 150 people in Israel were kidnapped by Hamas militants and are being held captive in Gaza. That includes some Americans, Biden confirmed for the first time. Hamas leaders have warned they will execute hostages if Israel does not cease airstrikes on Gaza without warnings.

At least 20 Americans in Israel still unaccounted for

Biden said Hamas' threat about killing hostages violates "every code of human morality," comparing Hamas' "blood-thirstiness" to the worst rampages of ISIS. "This is terrorism. But sadly, for the Jewish people, it's not new," Biden said.

Jake Sullivan , national security adviser for the White House, said the Biden administration is actively working with Israel to determine the whereabouts of the missing, including missing Americans. He said the U.S. believes there are at least 20 Americans missing but not necessarily taken hostage.

"We do not know the number of hostages we have at this time," Sullivan.

Biden warned Americans not to direct hate toward any religious group after the attack, calling it "a moment for the United States to come together" and grieve with those mourning. "Let's be real clear. There is no place for hate in America, not against Jews, not against Muslims," Biden said.

On Tuesday morning, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Netanyahu about "coordinated efforts with partners and allies" to defend Israel, the White House said.

White House to ask Congress for funds for both Israel and Ukraine

Biden said he plans to ask Congress to take "urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners." The U.S. has already provided Israel with additional ammunition and interceptors to replenish Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, Biden said.

"We're going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens," Biden said.

The conflict between Israel comes as the U.S. is also asking Congress to approve additional aid for Ukraine to help Kyiv defend against Russia's invasion. Sullivan said the request for Israel aid won't deter the push for more Ukraine funding, though he said details of the funding package remain unclear.

"The notion that we're going to go up and ask for Israel aid and Ukraine aid, that's unequivocal," Sullivan said. "We are going to do that."

Asked about Iran's possible role in the attack, Sullivan said the U.S. has searched for, but so far hasn't found, evidence that Iran either knew about the attack or helped Hamas.

"We don't currently have that information," Sullivan said. "We will continue to look for it."

Is the Israel-Hamas war a test for President Biden?

The attack is another major foreign policy test for Biden who is already struggling to keep assistance flowing to Ukraine.

It jeopardizes the administrations efforts to help Israel and Saudi Arabia formalize relations, one of the ways Biden had hoped would stabilize the Middle East and allow attention to be focused on the growing challenge of China.

And Republicans are trying to lay some of the blame for the attacks on the administration, pointing to a recent deal to free Americans held in Iran that gave Iran access to $6 billion in frozen funds. Iran is a longtime supporter of Hamas.

The administration has responded that the money, which has not yet been released, can only be spent for humanitarian purposes.

Asked Tuesday if the U.S. will now refreeze the funds, Sullivan said: "Not a dollar of that money has been spent. And I will leave it at that."

US President Joe Biden, with Vice President Kamala Harris (C) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R), speaks about the attacks on Israel, in the State Dining Room of the White Houses in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2023.

What is Hamas?

Hamas was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or Islamic resistance movement. The groups charter calls for establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state that would replace the current state of Israel.

The political wing of Hamas was born in later years. Hamas' political wing has controlled Gaza since winning elections in 2006, which prompted Israel to enforce a blockade on Gaza.

It was founded by a Palestinian activist connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist organization with ties to Egypt. Iran provides Hamas with financial, material and logistical support and it also cooperates with Hezbollah, another Iran-backed, U.S.-designated terrorist group, based in Lebanon.

Is Hamas a terrorist organization?

The militant organization is committed to the destruction of Israel and has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU and various nations.

The group has vowed to annihilate Israel and has been responsible for many suicide bombings and other deadly attacks on civilians and Israeli soldiers.

Over the years, Hamas received backing from Arab countries, such as Qatar and Turkey. Recently, its moved closer to Iran and its allies.

Why did Hamas attack Israel?

Hamas has said it attacked Israel in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation and Israel's and Egypt's 16-year blockade of Gaza that has decimated Gaza's economy.

Israel has made peace deals with Arab counties in recent years but not made concessions in its long conflict with the Palestinians. The U.S. has tried to reach a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a bitter rival of Hamas Iranian backers.

Meanwhile, Israels new far-right government was working to cement Israeli settlements in the West Bank despite Palestinian opposition.

Hamas leaders say an Israeli crackdown on militants in the West Bank, continued construction of settlements  which the international community has deemed illegal  thousands of prisoners in Israeli jails, and its ongoing blockade of Gaza pushed it to attack.

How did the attack unfold?

Hamas' surprise sea, land and air attack resulted in the largest one-day killing of Jews since the Holocaust.

The attack began with thousands of rockets fired from inside the Gaza Strip into Israel early Saturday. About an hour later, Hamas gunmen crossed the Israeli border at different locations and began attacking residential areas and military bases.

Hamas militants killed an estimated 260 people at the Supernova music festival in a section of open desert near Kibbutz Reim, about 2 miles from the Gaza border. An unknown number were taken hostage.

Contributing: Associated Press

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'This is terrorism': Biden confirms American hostages held by Hamas
The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday it had recovered "additional presumed human remains" and what is believed to be the last of the debris from the Titan submersible, which imploded in June in the North Atlantic while on a descent to view the wreckage of the Titanic, killing all five people aboard.

The debris was transported to a U.S. port, where it will be cataloged and analyzed, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The human remains, which were "carefully recovered from within the debris," have been "transported for analysis by U.S. medical professionals," the agency added.

The salvage operation, a follow-up to a previous recovery mission, was conducted by Coast Guard engineers, National Transportation Safety Board investigators, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

This undated photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions shows a submersible vessel named Titan was used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic. / Credit: OceanGate Expeditions via AP

The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation has been leading the investigation into what caused the implosion, with help from Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

The Coast Guard said Tuesday its next step will next be to hold a joint evidence review session involving the NTSB and international agencies to analyze the debris, and will follow that up at some point with a public hearing.

MBI investigators have been conducting ongoing evidence analysis and witness interviews, the Coast Guard said.

On June 18, the Titan sub, which was owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, lost contact with the Polar Prince, a Canadian research vessel, about one hour and 45 minutes into its voyage to the wreckage of the Titanic.

Prior to discovering that the sub had imploded, a massive international search and rescue effort ensued over the course of several days because of the limited amount of oxygen that would be aboard the sub if it had become trapped beneath the surface.

However, on June 22, the Coast Guard announced that the sub had experienced a "catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber" during its decent four days prior, confirming that the Titan's debris had been located about 900 nautical miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Those who died in the implosion were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman, billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding and French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

OceanGate suspended all operations in early July. The company, which charged $250,000 per person for a voyage aboard the Titan, had been warned of potential safety problems for years.

A professional trade group in 2018 warned that OceanGate's experimental approach to the design of the Titan could lead to potentially "catastrophic" outcomes, according to a letter from the group obtained by CBS News.

In announcing its investigation, the Coast Guard said it would be looking into possible "misconduct, incompetence, negligence, unskillfulness or willful violation of law."

 Aliza Chasan, Aimee Picchi and Alex Sundby contributed to this report.

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Israeli-American arrives to join fight against Hamas
The Louisiana high school principal who punished a student for twerking at a partypossibly costing her scholarship moneyhas requested a leave of absence for the rest of the school year. Walker High School principal Jason St. Pierre has apologized for ousting Kaylee Timonet from student government, withdrawing a scholarship endorsement, and asking her if she was walking with the Lord. But Timonet has said its too little too lateand she refused to meet with St. Pierre on the advice of counsel, The Livingston Parish News reported. Its up to the school board to approve the leave request.

Read it at The Livingston Parish News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
YAOUNDE, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian troops ambushed and killed at least nine separatist fighters in the country's war-torn English-speaking region of Southwest on Monday, according to security and local sources.

Troops raided a separatist hideout in the Matoh locality of the region, killing the fighters, a military official said.

Among those killed was a "notorious" separatist commander who called himself "General Dan," the official who asked not to be named told Xinhua by phone Monday night.

"He (the separatist commander) was a terrorist who caused so much harm to civilians and security forces. Our forces also seized their weapons and munition," the official said.

It was not clear if government forces incurred casualties during the operation.

Separatists want to create an independent nation in Cameroon's two Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest, where they have been clashing with government forces since 2017. 
(Adds dropped word "Emeritus" to Summers title, paragraph 10)

By Daniel Trotta

(Reuters) - Prominent Harvard University alumni on Monday denounced a pro-Palestinian statement from students that blamed Israel for violence engulfing the region and urged the university to take action against the signatories.

The Islamist militant Hamas movement, which controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, attacked Israel on Saturday in the worst breach of the country's defenses since Arab armies waged war in 1973. Israel has responded with air strikes on Gaza.

Hundreds of people in Israel and Gaza have been killed.

A coalition of 34 Harvard students organizations said they "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence" following decades of occupation, adding that "the apartheid regime is the only one to blame."

The organizations signing the letter included Muslim and Palestinian support groups plus others named for a variety of backgrounds including the Harvard Jews for Liberation and the African American Resistance Organization.

Reuters could not verify how many students supported the letter.

Harvard President Claudine Gay and senior leadership including 15 deans issued a statement on Monday that said they were "heartbroken by the death and destruction unleashed by the attack by Hamas that targeted citizens in Israel this weekend."

But the statement avoided direct references to the student letter or the reaction to it.

Harvard is the most influential university in U.S. politics, having produced eight former presidents and four of the nine current Supreme Court Justices.

Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers , the former U.S. Treasury Secretary under Democratic President Bill Clinton and former university president, was one of several Harvard graduates to criticize the current Harvard leadership for failing to respond.

"The silence from Harvard's leadership ... has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel," Summers wrote on social media platform X. "I am sickened."

While universities traditionally have been a bastion of free speech and radical ideas, the student letter struck a chord within the political establishment.

Elise Stefanik, a Republican U.S. Representative from New York and a Harvard graduate, called the statement "abhorrent and heinous" for excusing the "slaughter of innocent women and children."

Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Harvard Law School graduate, wrote on X: "What the hell is wrong with Harvard?"

(This story has been corrected to add dropped word 'Emeritus' to Summers title in paragraph 10)

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Fearing outbreaks of violence as supporters of Israel and the Palestinian cause square off in the wake of Hamas terror attack on Israel, police in cities across the country have been sending extra officers to protests and are ratcheting up security at potential targets like mosques, synagogues and consulates.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore sent extra patrols to neighborhoods with large Jewish and Muslim populations as a precaution Saturday, just hours after Hamas militants launched a series of deadly raids inside Israel, NBC News has confirmed.

As Israel retaliated with missile attacks Monday on Gaza and Hamas threatened to execute the Israelis they had taken hostage, police sources said Los Angeles police are preparing for large pro-Palestinian rallies and potential counterprotests in the coming days.

In New York City, a police spokesperson said extra police officers were present Sunday outside the United Nations headquarters, where a skirmish between supporters of Israel and the Palestinians erupted, as well as earlier in Times Square, where police set up barricades to keep a group chanting Free, free Palestine; long live Palestine separated from a pro-Israel group.

Image: BESTPIX - Pro-Palestinian Rally Times Square, Israel israeli flag (Adam Gray / Getty Images)

There was an astonishing amount of police, said Munir Atalla of the Palestinian Youth Movement, which helped organize the rally. It was maybe more police than Ive ever seen come to a protest.

The Hamas attack caught the Israelis and the rest of the world by surprise. In the U.S., many people with ties to both regions found themselves rallying on the streets over the weekend, waving Israeli or Palestinian flags as they gathered with members of their communities.

Atalla, who said his family was expelled from Jerusalem in 1948 by Zionist militias, said he sees the Hamas attack as the culmination of years of frustration among Palestinians who say they are trapped in teeming Gaza by the Israelis, which maintains a blockade that has been condemned by the U.N. and more than a dozen human rights organizations.

Palestinians anywhere, were all connected, Atalla said. And we have family, friends we worry about, as Israel is essentially bombing Gaza without any kind of regard for civilians.

In Kirkland, Washington, police had to intervene Sunday after scuffles broke out between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Omer Lichtig, an Israeli living in Richmond, Washington, said police had quelled the violence by the time he and his wife arrived to show support for Israel. But the anger was still there as dozens of police officers kept the two sides apart.

We couldnt just stand by after what happened, after seeing our people slaughtered, said Lichtig, whose family lives outside Tel Aviv. So we came with our flags, and they [the pro-Palestinian demonstrators] started intimidating us and provoking us.

Lichtig said he has friends whose relatives were killed when Hamas gunmen raided a kibbutz near the Gaza border.

I lost a few friends who were still in the service, he said. And its a very tough moment for us. Think about it. Like, almost each Israeli knows someone who got kidnapped, injured or murdered.

palestinian rally supporters (D. Ross Cameron / AP)

In San Francisco, police were called in after thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were confronted Sunday by a much smaller group of Jewish protesters and eggs and water bottles were thrown.

In New Jersey, police vehicles were parked outside many synagogues and mosques Monday.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement earlier that law enforcement will be increasing patrols in sensitive areas and keeping close watch over houses of worship for both the Jewish and Islamic faiths.

Vigils for victims of the latest outbreak of violence in the troubled region were being planned for later Monday and Tuesday in New Jersey and across the rest of the country.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Kamala Harris ' tenure as vice president has been marked by a series of high-profile ups and downs.

Voting rights activist LaTosha Brown told The New York Times Magazine she feels some Democrats have undermined the VP.

Anita Dunn , a White House senior advisor, said that the administration is firmly behind Harris.

When Kamala Harris catapulted into national prominence as a US senator representing California, many political observers compared her to former President Barack Obama .

Both have been trailblazing Black politicians, as Obama occupied the Oval Office for eight years, while Harris was tapped by Joe Biden to be his vice presidential running mate  with the ticket's 2020 victory making her the first female vice president in US history.

But Harris has endured a series of ups and downs after nearly three years in the role, initially dealing with high-profile staff turnover and later battling a sense from many in Washington that was struggling to carve out a policy lane that voters could respond to.

Such talk has been rejected by some of Harris' most ardent supporters like LaTosha Brown, a founder of Black Votes Matter, who told The New York Times Magazine that she believed some Democrats  including some in the White House  are looking to hold Harris back.

"I think there have been saboteurs within the administration," Brown told The Times' Astead W. Herndon. "I think that they are worried about the age contrast. And they are worried about Kamala outshining Biden."

Over the past year, Harris has been perhaps the administration's most forceful advocate for abortion rights, rallying women across the country after the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. The vice president has also been an in-demand speaker among college students  especially at historically Black colleges and universities.

Biden has repeatedly praised Harris' policy acumen and the strengths that he said she has brought to the administration, telling MSNBC earlier this year that she "hasn't gotten the credit that she deserves."

And when Biden rolled out his reelection announcement, she was front and center as he detailed why the ticket deserved to be reelected.

But still, there have been questions about Harris' viability as a future presidential contender and the potential face of the Democratic Party, especially as the party's post-Biden 2028 primary is likely to attract a slew of candidates.

Brown  whose organization played a role in Georgia voter organizing efforts ahead of Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff victories in the state's January 2021 runoff elections  initially backed Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts over Harris in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

But Brown told the magazine that she believed she had underestimated Harris at the time and later decided to fight hard for her selection as Biden's running mate.

And Brown rejected the notion that Biden's vow to select a female running mate  and the push for to him to tap a Black woman  created a situation where some would discount Harris' abilities.

Harris' 2021 interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt  where she was questioned about her lack of on-the-ground time at the US-Mexico border and criticized over her response  remains on the minds of some voters who may be still be unsure of the vice president's main policy focus.

But the administration has been unwavering in their support of Harris, with White House senior advisor Anita Dunn telling the magazine that the vice president had some earlier stumbles but "has found her voice, and she's found her role."

Dunn also shut down any rumors that Harris might be replaced as Biden's running mate next year.

"This administration has never polled it," Dunn told the magazine. "Never thought about it. Never discussed it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
It was around midnight at New Orleans International Airport on 9 May, and Humberto Marchand was tired.

He had just flown in from Puerto Rico to Louisiana to help his son move out at the end of the university semester.

But that night in May, Hertz, a company the 55-year-old had rented from many times before, would not let him access his pre-paid car, claiming his Puerto Rico driver's licence meant he was not a US citizen.

Frustrated, Mr Marchand took out his cell phone to record the encounter, which eventually led to a police officer kicking him out of the car company.

"It caught me off guard," he said. "I was aggravated. It's just a basic ignorance about the fact that Puerto Rico is a US territory."

Mr Marchand is among several Puerto Ricans who have reported being denied services in the US despite having a valid US driver's licence from Puerto Rico.

As a result, Puerto Rico announced this month that it would add "USA" to the top of its driver's licences, a move that Transportation Secretary Eileen Velez-Vega said she hoped would prevent "serious setbacks" residents have faced with companies and law enforcement officials when trying to access certain services.

"This initiative has the purpose of minimising the existing confusion and emphasising that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States," she said in a statement.

The easternmost island in the Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico has been a US territory since 1898. Everyone born in Puerto Rico is an American citizen with a US passport.

But its 3.2 million residents cannot vote in US presidential elections and nor can they elect lawmakers with the right to vote in Congress.

And recent polling suggests nearly half of Americans are not even aware that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.

This year alone, several Puerto Ricans have shared stories of being denied alcohol at grocery stores and boarding on flights because of misunderstandings about their identification.

In May, Spirit Airlines would not let a family board a domestic flight from Los Angeles because the parents didn't have a US passport for their toddler, despite not needing one since their child was a citizen.

In June, a military veteran at a Kroger grocery store in Savannah, Georgia was told he could not purchase alcohol with his Puerto-Rico-issued driver's licence.

In Mr Humberto's case, after an outcry on social media, Hertz eventually apologised and offered to cover his expenses.

Ms Velez Vega, the transportation secretary, said she was appalled by the video Mr Humberto recorded of the incident.

"I was shocked about how much lack of education, lack of knowledge was out there," she told the New York Times.

A retired federal law enforcement official, Mr Humberto said the encounter was representative of broader discrimination that many Puerto Ricans have been experiencing for years.

"It brings up a larger issue regarding the possibility of ignorance and also just prejudice," he said.

Ms Velez Vega told the Times that her department had come up with the driver's licence solution after talks with the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that more education efforts were also necessary to fix the problem.

Mr Humberto said he was frustrated that such a solution was even necessary.

"It's not a silver bullet," he said.

"But it should help for some people who have doubts," he added. "This has to end."
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first comments on the recent attack by Hamas on Israel during talks in Moscow with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani on Oct. 10.

During the meeting, which was filmed by Russian state-owned media, Putin claimed that the situation was "a clear example of the failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East."

Putin alleged that the U.S. has not taken into account "the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people," adding that it is necessary to create an "independent sovereign Palestinian state."

This requires the implementation of "the decisions of the UN Security Council" on the matter, he said, without specifying which decisions he was referring to.

The Palestinian armed group Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, using missiles and soldiers who infiltrated Israeli territory. As of Oct. 10, more than 900 Israelis and almost 700 Palestinians have been killed, and thousands more wounded.

There is a large Ukrainian community in Israel, estimated by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry as being around 500,000, most of whom left Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The vast majority of them are Jews from Ukraine.

In addition, some 15,000-40,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Israel since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It is unclear what their status is, or how many have stayed in the country.

Two Ukrainians have been killed, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel told news agency Interfax-Ukraine on Oct. 8.

Around 450 Ukrainians remain in Israel and Gaza, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 10.

Read also: WSJ: Irans involvement in planning attack on Israel spanned several weeks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed trade and security with Mali's leader on Tuesday in their third phone conversation in less than two months, the Kremlin said.

The frequency of Putin's contacts with Mali's interim president Assimi Goita underlines Moscow's strong interest in building its influence in the coup-prone Sahel region of West Africa where it is cultivating strong security ties at the expense of France and the United States.

The two leaders discussed their "mutual commitment to further strengthening trade and economic ties, security cooperation and the fight against terrorism", the Kremlin said in a statement.

Goita echoed this in a post on social media and said: "I expressed my gratitude for all the support that Russia provides to Mali."

Goita, a special forces commander, was one of several colonels who led a military coup in 2020. He then seized the interim presidency the following year.

Russia's Wagner mercenary group, whose leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August, has been active in supporting Goita's administration in Mali.

Western governments and NGOs have accused Wagner of committing grave human rights abuses there and elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East.

Wagner has won lucrative deals including rights to gold and diamond concessions in several African countries. Security analysts believe Moscow is keen to maintain its foothold on the continent after the demise of Prigozhin, who led a brief mutiny against Russia's military leadership in June.

Mali is one of six African countries to which Putin promised to supply free grain at a summit in Russia in July. After meeting Goita there, he also spoke to him on Aug. 15 and Sept. 10, the Kremlin said.

(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako; editing by Grant McCool)
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for the first time about the conflict in Israel and Gaza Tuesday, blaming the U.S. for failing to seek compromises in the region before the conflict unfolded.

Putin said he was in contact with both sides, adding that the U.S. had not taken the interests of the Palestinian people into account.

Experts had taken note of Putin's muted response to the Israel-Gaza conflict since it broke out. The Kremlin has previously spoken out in support of Israel, Anton Troianovski wrote in The New York Times, but that relationship has deteriorated since Russia invaded Ukraine. Putin has little incentive to side with Western leaders to try to end the fighting in the Middle East, and he now needs Iran, an enemy of Israel, to supply Russia with arms, Troianovski notes.

Unlike many of its Western allies, Israel had taken a more reserved posture toward Russia since its invasion, resisting calls to send weapons to Ukraine and not imposing sanctions on Russia. In doing so, Israel took a "tremendous diplomatic hit," writes Atlantic Council fellow Vladislav Davidzon said. Putin's neutral statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict should be a "watershed moment" for Israel, which is learning that attempting to placate Russia is a hollow concept, Davidzon argues.

The conflict in the Middle East will reverberate in Ukraine. Kyiv could have to compete with Israel for aid from the U.S., The Times' Thomas Friedman writes. Ukrainians are now "openly worrying that the new war will distract from their effort," The Counteroffensive newsletter reports, as at least one Republican senator has already called for Ukraine aid to be diverted to Israel. Putin, meanwhile, has to be "smiling" over the chaos in Israel, Michael Tomasky writes in The New Republic.
Just months after the Supreme Court upheld a key section of the Voting Rights Act and ordered Alabama to draw a second Black-plurality congressional district, it will hear another challenge on Wednesday arguing that yet another Southern states district map is racially discriminatory.

In Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Black South Carolinians alleged that the state is diluting Black voters power in an effort to increase GOP representation in Congress. A three-judge federal district court panel agreed, ruling in January that the congressional district map adopted in 2022 by South Carolinas Republican government violated the 14th Amendments protection against racial discrimination by bleaching  African American voters out of the Charleston County portion of [the 1st Congressional District].

This case is different from the Alabama-centered case the Supreme Court decided in June, Allen v. Milligan. Then, state Republicans sought to overturn decades of Voting Rights Act precedent by asking the court to adopt a race-blind approach to judging cases of racial discrimination brought under the act. In South Carolina, the challenge runs through the Constitutions 14th Amendments equal protection clause, which forbids race-conscious redistricting in which race is used as a predominant factor when states draw congressional districts.

The case is the latest in a string of redistricting cases making their way through the federal courts following the 2020 census. In drawing new maps, Republicans in state legislatures across the country pushed past the boundaries set by the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment to reduce the political power of racial minorities. They did so with the belief that the courts six-vote conservative supermajority was willing to toss aside precedent to affirm maps favorable to Republicans.

Alabamas effort to rewrite the Voting Rights Act failed at the Supreme Court. South Carolinas bid to get the court to ratify its alleged racial gerrymander will have consequences for similar cases rooted in the 14th Amendment, like one out of Florida that is still moving through lower courts.

Then-South Carolina state Rep. Jerry Govan looks over a map during a House redistricting committee public hearing in 2021. That map is now being challenged at the Supreme Court.

Then-South Carolina state Rep. Jerry Govan looks over a map during a House redistricting committee public hearing in 2021. That map is now being challenged at the Supreme Court.

One thing that may prove problematic for South Carolina is that the conservative justices, while often hostile to voting rights claims and charges of racial discrimination, are also opposed to race-conscious policy-making. And here the charge is that Republicans engaged in race-conscious redistricting in order to excise Black voters from one congressional district.

The claim that [South Carolina was] sorting based on race should concern the conservative justices, said David Cole, national legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, which is one of three parties arguing on behalf of Black South Carolinians in the case.

Unlike Alabama in Allen, South Carolina is not directly challenging Supreme Court precedent. The states Republican leadership simply argues that race was not a major factor when it redrew the boundaries of the 1st Congressional District, in and around Charleston. The Black South Carolinians, however, argue that the legislature engaged in race-conscious redistricting when it drew the districts lines.

That district, encompassing Charleston and its suburbs, has been won by a Republican in every election since 1980, save for 2018, when it sent Democrat Joe Cunningham to Congress. The district became more competitive as college-educated white voters swung towards Democrats following Donald Trumps ascendancy in the Republican Party. The current congresswoman, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, eked out a 1% win over Cunningham in 2020.

Following the 2020 census, Republicans redrew the district to more heavily favor their own party. They removed 62% of the districts Black population, which votes for Democrats at a rate of about 90%, and placed them in the 6th District, held by Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, the states lone Black congressman. Mace went on to win reelection in the new 1st District by 14%.

South Carolina Republicans dont contest that they gerrymandered the district to favor themselves. Instead, they argue in their brief to the court that they moved the Black voters out of the district based on their political composition and traditional criteria, not their racial composition. (Traditional criteria may include factors like not disrupting a districts compactness, contiguity or existing communities of shared interest.) Admitting to a political motive is a safe bet: In a 2019 ruling, the Supreme Court stated that it would no longer hear challenges to partisan gerrymandering.

To win a 14th Amendment racial gerrymandering case, the challengers need to show that race predominated as a factor in how the maps were drawn. In this case, they note that Republicans set an artificial 17% maximum for the Black voter population in the district. An expert conducted a series of computer simulations on behalf of the challengers, demonstrating that maps based on traditional redistricting criteria could not replicate the 17% Black voter threshold without taking race into account.

The South Carolina congressional district challenged as a racial gerrymander is currently represented by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace.

The South Carolina congressional district challenged as a racial gerrymander is currently represented by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace.

Republicans chose a 17% Black voting population limit after the National Republican Redistricting Trust, an advisory group, showed that a district in the range of 17% African American produced a Republican tilt, a district in the range of 20% produced a toss up district, and a plan in the 21-24% range produced a Democratic tilt, according to the three-judge district court panel.

Similarly, the states mapmaker testified that he abandoned his initial effort to make the least change to the district and opted for dramatic changes that created a tremendous disparity in the districts Black population. The 1st District was the only district in the state where the mapmaker departed from making the least change. At least eight witnesses testified to the district court panel that Republicans used race in drawing the districts lines as a way to gerrymander their preferred partisan result.

The case involves a straightforward application of the courts 2017 decision in Cooper v. Harris, which held that race cannot be used as a proxy for political behavior, said Sophia Lin Lakin, head of the ACLUs Voting Rights Project.

That case was decided by a 5-4 vote, with conservative Justice Clarence Thomas joining the then-four liberal justices in the majority. But the conservatives now enjoy a six-vote supermajority following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020. Black South Carolinians will need to convince at least two conservatives to join the three liberals if they hope to win.

A victory at the Supreme Court would also have major political ramifications: A 1st Congressional District with a higher Black voter population would become at least competitive if it doesnt tilt towards Democrats. And, in turn, a partisan shift in any single district has massive ramifications for Republicans ability to hold on to their teetering five-vote House majority in the 2024 elections.

Related...
FIRST ON FOX: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday proposed a six-prong plan for how the U.S. should strategize amid Israel's war with Hamas while calling out former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and others who have not offered "a pragmatic path forward."

"The Hamas-led attacks on Israel were barbaric and cannot be condoned. We require a rational response that supports Israel while avoiding another U.S.-led disaster in the Middle East," Ramaswamy said in a statement first shared with Fox News Digital. "I am disappointed and deeply concerned by the remarks of certain presidential candidates including Nikki Haley who have irresponsibly called the Hamas attack an attack on America and rabidly shout FINISH THEM!! repeatedly without offering a pragmatic path forward."

"The U.S. should provide Israel with diplomatic support, intelligence-sharing, and necessary munitions to defend its own homeland, while taking special care to avoid a broader regional war in the Middle East that would *not* advance U.S. interests," he added.

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DECLARE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AFTER HAMAS ASSAULT: 'JOE BIDEN FUNDED THESE ATTACKS'

"The U.S. should provide Israel with diplomatic support, intelligence-sharing, and necessary munitions to defend its own homeland, while taking special care to avoid a broader regional war in the Middle East that would *not* advance U.S. interests," Ramaswamy said Tuesday.

Ramaswamy's plan, according to his campaign, would:

Offer Israel robust intelligence support and stand ready to provide additional military supplies via both sale and transfer.

Immediately confirm an American ambassador to Israel, with the vacant embassies in Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Oman to be filled in quick succession.

End all further nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, including the full phase-out of Irans nuclear program and immediately ending Bidens disastrous plan to share nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia.

Fast-track the deportation of any resident aliens who have served with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including extradition to Israeli custody where appropriate.

Work with Israel to identify countries willing to accept peaceful Palestinians who wish to escape the pressures of Hamas and facilitate their emigration.

Warn the UN of consequences if its historical pattern of drawing false equivalences between Israel and the terrorists who target it.

Nikki Haley, a fellow contender in the GOP race for the White House, said Saturday that the war between Israel and Hamas "should be personal" for all Americans.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"This should be personal for every woman and man in America, why? Because when they did this surprise attack, when they took these hostages when they murdered these families, they were celebrating, and what were they celebrating? They were saying death to Israel, death to America," she said. "This is not just an attack on Israel, this is an attack on America because they hate us just as much."

Despite Ramaswamys criticism of Haley, the former Palmetto State governor released her own plan on Monday for how to deal with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Haley's plan, which was detailed by her campaign, includes the following:

Provide Israel with all arms and intelligence it needs to defend itself and destroy the terrorists in its midst.

Place all regional governments, particularly the government of Lebanon, on notice that they must not allow the use of their territory to engage in this battle.

End American taxpayer support for all Palestinian entities or United Nations-backed entities that side with Hamas or fail to denounce antisemitic activity.

Freeze Iranian access to the $6 billion in Qatari banks and send that money to Israel instead. Reimpose and enforce sanctions on Iran and on purchasers of Iranian oil.

HALEY SLAMS BLINKEN AS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR SAYING NO LINK BETWEEN ISRAEL ATTACK AND $6B RELEASED TO IRAN

Nikki Haley, another candidate in the GOP race for the White House, said Saturday that the war between Israel and Hamas "should be personal" for all Americans.

Haley's campaign declined to comment for this story.

Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border on Saturday, killing at least 1,000 people, a death toll not seen in Israel in decades, wounding thousands more and prompting Israel to declare war against the Iran-backed group. Hamas also took hostages, including young children, Israel has said.

The number those killed in the conflict has surpassed 1,600 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told President Biden that a ground operation in the Gaza Strip is necessary after Hamas launched deadly strikes on his country.

"Israel is at war. We didnt want this war," he said Monday. "It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it."

He said Hamas has "made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israels other enemies for decades to come."

Fox News' Louis Casiano and Peter Aitken contributed to this report.





Original article source: Ramaswamy offers US strategy plan on Israel, blasts other GOP contenders for lack of 'pragmatic' solutions
A wasp spider was discovered by Rugby Wildlife volunteers working at the Ashlawn Cutting Nature Reserve

Rare spider and bee species have been discovered in Rugby.

A wasp spider sporting striking yellow and black stripes was spotted by conservation volunteers at Ashlawn Cutting nature reserve last month.

The non-poisonous insect arrived in the UK from continental Europe, with the majority of sightings recorded in southern England.

Nests of rare ivy bees were also seen at Newbold Quarry Nature Reserve.

Ivy bees collect pollen from ivy plants, which flower in the autumn

Ivy bees nest underground and focus on collecting pollen from ivy, which flowers in the autumn.

Similar in appearance to the honey bee, the first reported sighting of ivy bees in the UK came in 2001 in Dorset.

Since then, the species has spread northwards but September's sighting at Newbold Quarry marks the first confirmed report in the town since 2014, Rugby Borough Council said.

Wildlife volunteers in the town found a number of closely-knit ivy been nests, known as an aggregation and housing thousands of the bees.

Tom Kittendorf, the council's chief officer for leisure and wellbeing, said it worked with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to conserve and create natural habitats in the borough, building on work to support pollinator insect species through the creation of urban meadows and grasslands.

"However, the discoveries of a wasp spider and an aggregation of ivy bees were a real reward for the hard work of the volunteers from Rugby Wildlife, whose enthusiasm and dedication makes such a massive difference to our environment," he said.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
ABUJA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least four students of the Nasarawa State University in central Nigeria were kidnapped by gunmen early Tuesday, local police said.

The four victims, all female, were abducted in their hostel outside the university premises in Keffi, a town 50 km away from the nation's capital Abuja, when their hostel was attacked, Ramhan Nansel, the spokesman for the police in Nasarawa, told the media.

Police operatives and troops responded swiftly to the attack by combing the surrounding bushes but could not trace the abductors and the victims, Nansel said.

Authorities had ordered a comprehensive manhunt for the abductors so as to rescue the students unhurt, he added. 
Median home sale prices in Whatcom County increased in September, while Washington remains the fourth most-expensive state in which to buy a home.

Whatcom housing market

Whatcom Countys median home sale price has fluctuated throughout 2023. The median home sale price reached an extreme high of $682,000 on Jan. 2, the highest price so far this year, according to Redfin Metro Area Data. Redfin, a residential real estate brokerage, uses home listings to generate metro area data.

In September, Whatcoms median home sale price fluctuated, starting at $550,000 on Sept. 4, then rising to $625,000 on Sept. 18 and then dropping to $558,000 on Sept. 25.

Jason Lee, a local broker with Windermere Real Estate in Bellingham said Whatcom Countys median sale price was $550,000 in September, a 1.1% increase compared with August and a 2% decrease compared with September of 2022, Lee wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

Average days on market trended up in September for homes and condos in Whatcom County causing some homeowners to accept lower that listed prices. For example, in the past 30 days about 47% of all homes in Bellingham sold under list price, Lee wrote in an email.

Whatcom County home prices were down 2.6% in August 2023 compared to 2022, according to Redfins Whatcom County Housing Market Trends.

As Whatcom Countys median home sale price is $558,000, San Juan County had the highest median home sale price of $925,000, and Garfield County had the lowest of $154,000.

Bellinghams housing market

In Bellingham, Zillow home values decreased throughout early 2023, until beginning to increase in May. The median Zillow home value in Bellingham was $664,436 across the month of August, up from $661,826 in July. Zillow is a real estate company that collects data on real estate, apartments and home values.

In September, Bellinghams median sale price was $620,000 according to Lee of Windermere Real Estate, a 4.6% decrease compared with August and a 5.3% decrease compared with September of last year, Lee wrote.

Washington state housing market

Washington is the fourth-most expensive state in which to purchase a home, according to September 2023 data, trailing only California with a median home value price of $783,300, Hawaii at $713,800, and Massachusetts at $638,100.

Across Washington state, home prices have increased by 10.36% between January and July, as July reached a median home value price of $610,600, according to Redfin.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  For years now, the WREG Investigators have been telling you about the living conditions inside Serenity Towers, a subsidized high-rise for seniors on Highland in Memphis.

Residents there have complained about everything from an insect infestation to not having air conditioning.

MORE ON SERENITY TOWERS

These people keep saying corporate is aware of it. Theyre working on it, but we dont ever see any progress, said one Serenity resident who didnt want their face shown on tv during a September interview when the air and elevators were out again.

One complaint thats caught the attention of the Memphis Fire Department is the lack of working elevators at Serenity Towers.

You cant bring a wheelchair down 10 flights of stairs, added the resident.

Records show firefighters called the broken elevators a huge fire and health risk for tenants and fire responders back in 2021.

Class action suit filed against operators of Serenity, Memphis Towers

That concern and subsequent code violation would send the owners to environmental court.

Nearly three years later, theyre still in Environmental Court dealing with the same problem

And the NewsChannel 3 Investigators have learned an unpaid bill is why the elevators have been out for months this year.

In August, County Code officials told WREG the owners were behind by some $80,000 to the elevator vendor, Otis Elevator Company.

An Otis spokesperson said it wouldnt be appropriate to share details of a customer account, but said, Due to payment delays, the maintenance service to Serenity Towers is currently suspended. Our team continues to work diligently to provide assistance in emergency situations and get elevators back in service as quickly as possible when needed.

Serenity Towers must fix elevator today or move residents, judge says

WREG also uncovered records showing an alarm system monitoring contract that was terminated, plus liens on the property from contractors who say Serenitys owners owe them too.

While speaking with resident Henry Smith, Jr., WREG asked, What needs to happen?

Millennium (sic), the upper management need to be held accountable for this, exclaimed Smith.

Serenity Towers says there is no plan to fix AC and elevators

At last check, county code administrators confirmed with WREG that three of the four elevators at Serenity Towers were working.

The owners/operators are supposed to have all four working by the time they return to court on October 10th.

WREG reached out to Millennia for comment. The company has yet to respond to our numerous interview requests or questions about the unpaid bills and how it plans to keep residents safe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Flames and smoke during Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip

There is another war in the Middle East, this time between the Palestinians and Israel. It is not the first time. But, it is much more severe than before

It is no longer just the "intifada" (protests and street clashes of Palestinians against Israel) and no longer individual terrorist attacks or sporadic rocket attacks by Palestinians against Israel. The radical Palestinian organization Hamas carried out a large-scale and carefully prepared attack on Israel - along with massive rocket attacks (several thousand rockets were fired into Israel), several settlements, and dozens, if not hundreds, of hostages, including civilians, were captured. This was unique. There had never been such attacks by the Palestinians before. The military potential of the Palestinians is much less than that of Israel. Therefore, the calculation was clearly made by Hamas to expand the scale of this conflict. At the very least, there is an intention to disrupt the normalization of Israel's relations with several Arab states. On a larger scale, Hamas wants to provoke a large-scale interstate conflict to draw Muslim states, particularly Iran, into a war with Israel.

It is too early to talk about the consequences of this war. For now, I would like to draw attention to the lessons of what has already happened.

Hamas's attempt to change the political situation between the Palestinians and Israel by force is a direct consequence of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.

Putin has already set a precedent for replacing international law with the law of force. It was he who provoked the chaos of international relations. What is happening now in Israel is a copy of Putin's actions, a chain reaction of a policy of forceful resolution of interstate problems. This is a lesson for the international community.

National security cannot be sacrificed to internal political conflicts

If Putin is not stopped, this chain reaction will continue in different forms and different regions of the world. This should be a lesson for Israel, including the Netanyahu government. Israeli leaders have flirted with Putin and demonstrated their neutrality regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine, hoping this would reduce the risks for Israel. We can see how it ended.

In this regard, Putin and Russian diplomats acted as informal mediators in relations between the Palestinians and Israel. But, just as in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Russian mediation leads not to peace, but to a new war.

The second lesson is that national security cannot be sacrificed to internal political conflicts. In recent years, Israel has been consumed by internal political disputes  an endless series of parliamentary elections that quickly fall apart. We are still given this as a positive example  an unstable government. Under Netanyahu's premiership, another extreme has emerged  the tendency to usurp power and break the system of checks and balances, which naturally caused massive resistance in Israeli society.

At the same time, external threats faded into the background. Ukraine should not repeat Israel's mistakes. Ukraine's government, opposition, and civil society must understand that confronting an external enemy is much more important than internal squabbles and selfish political interests. The key to victory is internal unity. Internal conflicts and political crises are the path to defeat.

The third lesson is the unexpected failure of Israeli intelligence and the unpreparedness of the Israeli army to repel a massive and prepared Palestinian attack. For many years, we have held up the example of the Israeli intelligence services, the Israeli military system, and the state of Israel in general as an army camp constantly ready to repel military attacks. As it turned out, not everything is as perfect as we were told. This is not a reason to gloat. We made many more mistakes of our own  in the 1990s, in the early 2000s, in 2014-2015, and before the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022. We cannot relax, especially when dealing with a strong enemy like Russia. And this is a lesson for the future. After some time, the current war will end, but the aggressive enemy will remain on our borders. And we must always be prepared for a new attack from the Russians.

Lesson four is the massive Palestinian rocket attack on Israel. Actually, there are two lessons here. Israel's "Iron Dome" was not as effective as many thought against home-made Palestinian rockets. It's not just the individual holes in the Iron Dome. Most likely, an ideal air defense system simply does not exist when it comes to massive air attacks. We need to take this into account as well.

Hamas manufactured and launched several thousand rockets in advance in artisanal and almost clandestine conditions, then launched them at Israel in one day (or rather, in a few hours). We are unlikely talking about seven thousand rockets, as the Palestinians say. About two thousand rockets is the more probable number they fired at Israel. If the Palestinians in the small Gaza Strip, with their limited capabilities, produced and used several thousand rockets at once, why can't we do the same against our enemy? This is not even a question, but a strong suggestion.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Human remains found in the Arizona desert 41 years ago have just been identified, deputies said.

Virgil R. Renner, of Humboldt County, California, went to Nevada to search for gold in the 1970s, the Mohave County Sheriffs Office said in an Oct. 10 Facebook post.

However, his remains ended up in the Arizona desert near Kingman on Sept. 9, 1982, deputies said.

But for decades, no one knew who the remains belonged to.

When they were first discovered, deputies said they found a plastic hair comb, a rusty can opener, rusty fingernail clippers, a toothbrush, a tattered short-sleeve shirt, leather belt fragments, remnants of denim pants and an argyle sock along with the remains.

An autopsy was conducted on the remains in Tucson, deputies said.

The medical examiner determined they belonged to a white male over 55 years old who likely died between 1979 and 1981. They couldnt determine a cause of death, though.

In 2020, the remains were transported to the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office, authorities said.

No one had any luck identifying the remains until a sample of his DNA was sent to Othram, a lab in The Woodlands, Texas, that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy.

DNA testing from distant relatives was used to confirm the remains belonged to Renner.

Deputies said Renner was likely born in 1910. He didnt marry or have any children, but he did have a brother and sister.

Investigators said they do not know why he ended up in Arizona.

The Mohave County Sheriffs Office would like to thank Othram Inc. once again for their assistance in this investigation. If not for their help, Renner would have remained another John Doe found in the vast desert of Mohave County, the department said in the post.

Mystery of body found in canyon in 1996 continues, California sheriff says

Woman found beaten to death 40 years ago, CA cops say. Now, 65-year-old arrested

Man went for walk in 1991 and never returned. Now, his remains have been identified
About this time last year, photos were leaked of a Colorado Springs Police Officer smiling a little too hard while showing his bloodied knuckles after violently arresting a Black man. He and his colleagues escaped punishment from the police brutality allegations but the DOJ is asking to spin the block with their own probe.



On October 9, 2022, Gadson was pulled over by Officer Matthew Anderson for driving under the speed limit and having no license plate displayed. However, the body camera footage shows Gadsons vehicle parked and the officer mentioning nothing about the driving speed. At the time of the traffic stop, Gadson was unhoused and suffering PTSD from serving in the Army. Authorities said the responding officers had suspicions of Gadson being under the influence and that he refused to exit the vehicle when asked.

Read more

Read from the DOJs letter:

The Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil Rights, has received a Complaint against the Colorado Springs Police Department (the Department). The Complainant, Dalvin Gadson Ochoa, alleged that the Department discriminated against him based on his race. Specifically, the Complainant alleged that the Departments officers used excessive force during a traffic siop on October 9, 2022. The incident garnered public interest and generated several media reports. The Complainant also filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-03278, which involves similar allegations as his OCR Complaint. The OCR will suspend its review of the Complaint (23-OCR-0142) during the pendency of the federal court proceedings. Given the nature of the law enforcement misconduct allegation, we are referring the enclosed Complaint to your office for review and appropriate action.

News of the traffic stop spread quickly after images of Gadson lying bloodied on the ground circulated the media as well as one officer smiling while showing off his bloodied knuckles. His attorneys said Gadson suffered eye injuries, a ruptured eardrum and chest wall contusions, via KOAA. The DOJs inquiry comes over a year after an internal investigation cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.

By referring this case for criminal investigation, the Department of Justice is putting these officers on notice, said attorney Kevin Mehr. The CSPD may not take brutality seriously, but the DOJ does.

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Update: The story has been updated from its initial version to include the names of additional co-sponsors who have signed on to support the bill, among them Rep. Mark Alford, who represents Missouri's 4th Congressional District.

On Friday, the Springfield branch of Emery Sapp & Sons welcomed Rep. Eric Burlison , who represents Missouris 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The purpose of this visit was to demonstrate the value of employee stock ownership plans, or ESOP, through both the performance of ESS and workers testimonials.

Emery Sapp & Sons is a 100% employee-owned heavy civil construction company that was founded in 1972. It specializes in excavation, grading, underground utilities, bridge construction, asphalt and concrete paving, and pavement preservation.

The firm is a licensed contractor in 30 states and has 10 offices throughout the country including Springfield, Kansas City and Columbia, as well as in Springdale, Arkansas and Phoenix, Arizona.

Emery Sapp & Sons Assistant Vice President Chris Landwehr regards Rep. Eric Burlison as he speaks with ESS Co-CEO Tim Paulson in Springfield, Mo. on Oct. 6, 2023.

Springfield has been great for Emery Sapp & Sons. Our company has grown from $100 million we were doing [in the early 2000s] to over a billion this year, said Co-CEO Tim Paulson. The ESOP has unleashed and harnessed the power and energy of our employees.

Each office has a tradition that brings all the employees together. A bell hangs on the wall, and when it rings, everyone knows that ESS won the bid for a new project. As technology has evolved since the company was founded, these wins are more commonly celebrated via email.

Chris Landwehr, assistant vice president of Emery Sapp & Sons, stands near a bell in the company's Springfield office on Oct. 6, 2023. When the bell is rung, it means the company won a bid on a project, meaning continued work for the heavy civil construction company.

I can remember the old days in the Columbia office, and Tim probably does, too. When that bell would ring, everybody from all corners of the office would come to the front desk said Assistant Vice President Chris Landwehr. Now with the electronics, we just send an email out.

Over the years, ESS saw the opportunity to acquire some smaller firms as their owners looked to exit the market. One key aspect of their ESOP plan includes honoring years of service worked at a company prior to acquisition.

That is really key, Paulson said. When we acquire the talent, everybody who joins our company through that process, we'll honor their years of service so they're invested immediately.

Because the company is employee-owned, it is not unionized and has no collective bargaining unit.

Why would you unionize against yourself? Burlison asked, rhetorically.

A study conducted by Ernst & Young found trends in ESOP retirement plans from 2002-2019 that indicated net assets grew nearly eight times, from $12 billion to $94 billion, with the average return per participant being over $300,000.

Additionally, a survey by the National Center for Employee Ownership found that leaders of ESOP companies reported voluntary quit rates at one-third of the national average of nearly 4 million per month in 2022, with layoffs rates at one-fourth of the same national average.

Rep. Eric Burlison greets employees of Emery Sapp & Sons at their Springfield office on Oct. 6, 2023.

This comes as a piece of bipartisan legislation looking to expand and prompt private employee-owned companies is working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Reps. Mike Kelly, R-PA, and Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2023 was introduced in July. Rep. Mark Alford, who represents Missouri's 4th Congressional District, which includes Columbia where ESS is headquartered, recently joined the growing list of co-sponsors for this legislation.

More: Community around Pomme de Terre Lake rallies against beef packers' plan to dump wastewater

If passed, this would incentivize owners of S corporations to sell their stock to an ESOP. An S corporation refers to a company that passes corporate income, losses, deductions, and credits to their shareholders for federal tax purposes.

Additionally, it would provide technical assistance to companies looking to form an ESOP, while ensuring that small businesses that become an ESOP retain their Small Business Association certificate.

Some critics argue that transitioning to an ESOP is not the best business move for smaller companies, as there are cash flow requirements that may be hard to meet. The plans also require ongoing management from financial consultants, which inevitably led to management costs.

Finally, it would create a new position to advocate for employee ownership at the U.S. Department of Labor. So far, this legislation has earned bipartisan support from a handful of legislators, and advocates hope that Rep. Burlison will join their numbers.

Rep. Eric Burlison speaks to employees of Emery Sapp & Sons at their Springfield office on Oct. 6, 2023.

Because our focus is always on our people first, were always building relationships with legislators who understand the benefits of ESOPs. We want to align ourselves with elected officials  regardless of political affiliation  who can truly move ESOP progress forward, said Amy Allen, chief administrative officer at ESS.

Along with Reps. Kelly and Blumenauer, the legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Bill Pascrell, D-NJ, Danny Davis, D-IL, Terri Sewelll, D-AL, Brendan Boyle, D-PA, Angie Craig, D-MN, Susan Wild, D-PA, Sharice Davids, D-KS, Ro Khanna, D-CA, as well as Reps. Ron Estes, R-KS, Brad Wenstrup, R-OH, Carol Miller, R-WV, Blake Morre, R-UT, David Rouzer, R-NC, Jerry Carl, R-AL, Scott Fitzgerald, R-WI, Larry Bucshon, R-IN, and Claudia Tenney, R-NY.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Burlison learns about employee stock ownership plans at Emery Sapp & Sons
Rep. Lauren Boebert is now officially divorced from her husband Jayson.

The congresswoman and her now ex-husband both attended the final hearing on Tuesday.

Boebert carried her grandson into the hearing.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert on Tuesday finalized her divorce with her now ex-husband Jayson Boebert.

Magistrate Katherine Barnes issued her final approval after a tense and relatively quick hearing. The Boeberts left the courtroom together and largely ignored questions from reporters as a Mesa County Sheriff's deputy escorted them to a black Mazda.

The hearing itself was delayed for unknown reasons for nearly 30 minutes, during which the door to the courtroom was locked. Raised voices and the former couple's six-month-old grandchild crying could be heard through the door. The congresswoman brought her grandson to the hearing, which Jayson Boebert told reporters was so he could pick up the child from her.

Boebert filed for divorce in May, announcing her intent to separate from her husband of nearly two decades, citing "irreconcilable differences."

The couple has four children. In March, The Colorado Republican announced that their oldest son was expecting a child with his girlfriend, making her a grandmother. She was recently spotted on Capitol Hill holding her grandson. As for her kids, Boebert's lawyer, Annie Le Fleur, announced that the initial plan for $1833.43 would be reduced to nothing. Le Fleur said Jayson Boebert provided "ample" support for the couple's children.

A spokesperson for Boebert's congressional office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The congresswoman will not be changing her name, Boebert's lawyer said at the hearing.

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado carries her grandson next to her lawyer, Annie Le Fleur, in a Colorado court. Evan Linko/INSIDER

Jayson Boebert's attendance came after he appeared to be largely uncooperative with the divorce. He did not have a lawyer present at the hearing. Afterward, an Insider reporter observed him nearly licking the phone of a Daily Mail reporter who was recording a video.

Boebert recently came to his now ex-wife's defense after Boebert and her reported date were thrown out of a Denver performance of the Beetlejuice musical last month. Boebert said he was unfaithful "in so many ways" and he was the "root" of problems in their relationship.

"I am asking for you all to show grace and mercy towards Lauren in this troubling season," Boebert wrote in his lengthy Facebook post. "She deserves a chance to earn your forgiveness and regain trust. I have broke her down in so many ways, but she will come out stronger as she always does, and so will I."

Footage appeared to show Boebert and her date groping each other during Beetlejuice. Boebert also vaped. She later apologized for "maybe overtly animated" behavior.

In Washington, Boebert quickly made a name for herself as a far-right representative.

She is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and was one of the holdouts that pushed then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to 15 rounds of voting to claim the gavel. She did not support Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's push last week to oust McCarthy, but notably said on the House floor that she was just a "no for now."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whose own divorce was finalized last December, reportedly lashed at Boebert for opposing McCarthy in January, the first in a series of clashes between the pair. Greene, a Georgia Republican, later called Boebert "a little bitch" on the House floor amid a battle over who was trying harder to impeach President Joe Biden and other top administration officials.

Boebert's future in the Capitol is far from secure. She won reelection in 2022 by just 546 votes. Democrat Adam Frisch is already running for a rematch. His campaign claimed he raised a staggering $3.4 million in the most recent quarter.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico are moved for processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. | Eric Gay, Associated Press

The southern border reportedly experienced an all-time record high number of migrant crossings in September.

This surge not only strains resources at the border but creates a tough political situation for President Joe Biden , who has received criticism for his handling of the immigration crisis. The administration also faces a push from congressional Republicans  as well as some Democratic mayors  over border reform.

Southern border immigration by the numbers

According to data released by Customs and Border Protection, border patrol agents encountered more than 260,000 migrants in September  the highest recorded number this year. The numbers are also higher than last years record of 252,320 from December, according to the agency.

Related

After the Biden administration ended Title 42  which imposed restrictions on border crossings amid the COVID-19 public health emergency  in May, the number of migrants coming to the U.S. dropped in June, as border officials told Fox News.

But border crossings quickly rose again. In July, the Customs and Border Protection reported 183,494 migrant encounters and in August, the number increased to 232,972.

For fiscal year 2023, more than 2.8 million migrant encounters have been recorded, which is slightly higher than 2.77 million last fiscal year  and Americans are concerned.

As BBC noted, tens of thousands of Venezuelans have been making their way to the U.S. each month, a trend that isnt anticipated to stop since the South American country faces political as well as socioeconomic instability, leading to more than 6 million fleeing the country.

Previously, the Department of Homeland Security gave Venezuelans protection against deportation and work authorization until July. Now, these migrants can be removed from the country if they dont have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.

Haitians, who similarly face economic hardship in their home country, have also faced deportation in recent months.

The Obama administration, which Biden served as a vice president for, set the record for the number of deportations, and President Barack Obama even earned the nickname deporter-in-chief. But Obama didnt receive as much scrutiny at the time, compared to what Biden faces now.

Biden administrations plans to build a wall

The Department of Homeland Security announced last week that the construction of a wall on the southern border will resume, while bypassing 26 federal regulations.

There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

Related

Mayorkas took to X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the funding for the project was appropriated in 2019, during the Trump era, and the government is required to use these funds since Congress didnt rescind the money.

He added that the current administration seeks a comprehensive approach to tackle the immigration crisis, which includes state-of-the-art border surveillance technology and modernized ports of entry.

The idea to build a wall was first proposed by former President Donald Trump, but during the 2020 presidential election Biden opposed the solution, saying, There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration.

Polling from September shows Americans, whether Democrats or Republicans, prefer Trumps handling of immigration and border security issues over Bidens by 24 points, 52% to 28%.

Can a wall on the southern border help the immigration crisis?

Although Trump said he is waiting for Bidens apology, Biden maintains the same stance: When asked whether he believes a border wall will work, the president responded, No.

Adam Isacson, the director of defense oversight in the Washington Office on Latin America, expressed skepticism about building the wall.

Anyplace sparsely populated and rural enough to have ocelots is a place where a wall that slows someone down for a couple of minutes isnt going to make much difference, he told The Hill.

Related

Meanwhile, Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, are doubtful of Bidens intentions.

This is a crisis. Its out of control, but I dont believe for a minute that Joe Biden wants to fix it, Cruz said in a television interview, referencing the immigration crisis.

I think this is all window dressing to pretend he cares, he added.

Republicans push for border security reform

Last month, Cruz introduced the Secure the Border Act  which sought to resume construction of the wall, tighten asylum regulations, criminalize visa overstays and fund more border patrol agents  as a part of the stopgap bill. But the border security measures were ultimately stripped from the legislation.

Now, congressional lawmakers have until Nov. 17 to pass spending bills that will keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown. Any delay will affect border patrol agents, who are at the forefront of the crisis and may not receive a paycheck if the government shuts down.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., proposed a bill in late September that will ensure personnel at the border are paid in case of a shutdown.

I have been to the southern border three times since President Biden took office, and the crisis is worse each time I visit, Scott said in a press release last week. Failed leadership created this crisis and we cannot allow the border to go unchecked, and our border patrol agents to go unpaid, due to a failure of Washington to fund government.
This story has been updated.

More than 360,000 people have already voted in the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial primary, according to statistics from the Louisiana Secretary of State.

The statistical report from the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office counted 368,948 early votes, including 95,032 mail-in ballots and 273,916 in-person ballots, cast as of Oct. 15.

The statistics show more Republicans have voted early this cycle  162,014 early votes compared to 152,608 Democrats.

University of Louisiana Monroe professor Pearson Cross, an expert in Louisiana politics and elections, said it appears that there is more enthusiasm among Republicans this election cycle, as Republican voters outnumber Democrats in early voting  a reverse of 2019.

"Early voting may reflect a number of things, but in this case there may not be much enthusiasm for any of the candidates leading the ticket on both sides for governor," Cross said. "It may also reflect the attention that national politics has gotten at the expense of state and local political races. It is sometimes hard to remember that the presidential election is next year, not this."

Voters head to the polls in Ouachita Parish on November 3, 2020 for the 2020 presidential election.

More: Louisiana has never elected a Black governor. Will voters make history with Shawn Wilson?

In 2019, 216,856 Democrats participated in early voting compared to 159,633 Republicans.

Black voter turnout was 97,419  dropping significantly from the 156,757 Black voter turnout in 2019.

The number of mail-in ballots have increased this cycle  jumping from 45,984 in 2019 to 95,032  a leap that Cross credits to the pandemic.

"The increase in mail-in ballots may indicate greater citizen comfort with this method of voting, as COVID changed the dynamics of voting in person, making it easier for citizens to cast a ballot without risk or trouble," Cross said.

Like most pundits, Cross said he believes that the gubernatorial race will come down to a runoff between Republican Jeff Landry and Democrat Shawn Wilson. Cross said the two have been leading the polls, respectively, ever since they entered the race and no other candidate has made much impression on the voting public.

Cross predicts Billy Nungesser will win the lieutenant governor's race in the first round, while the Secretary of State race will go to a runoff, most likely between Gwen Collins-Greenup and whichever of the Republicans finishes first.

"This is a low-interest, low-information race that voters should have paid more attention to," he said.

Cross also forecasts runoffs for the attorney general and treasurer races.

More: What's on your ballot? A look at local elections

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

Support local journalism by subscribing at https://cm.thenewsstar.com/specialoffer.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Here're the early voting stats for 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial primary
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Syed Hassib

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) -Rescuers on Tuesday scaled back operations in Afghanistan's devastated northwest as chances of finding survivors diminished 72 hours after one of the world's deadliest earthquakes, while villagers in the area held mass funerals for their dead.

At least 2,400 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured, the Taliban-run government said, in the multiple earthquakes that struck northwest of the city of Herat, levelling thousands of homes. Most of the casualties were women and children, the World Health Organisation said.

Relief and rescue efforts have been hampered by crumbling infrastructure after decades of war, while a dearth of foreign aid, which once formed the backbone of the economy, has dried up since the Taliban took over.

"The operation is almost done," spokesman for the Disaster Management Ministry Janan Sayeeq told Reuters, adding that rescue efforts were continuing in some villages.

The U.N. Humanitarian Office on Tuesday put the toll from the quakes at 1,294 deaths and 1,688 injuries, with 485 people missing. But it added that these figures were from the Zinda Jan district alone, and four other districts had also been hit, where assessments are continuing.

Sayeeq said a final casualty toll would be released soon.

Hemmed in by mountains, Afghanistan has a history of strong earthquakes, many in the rugged Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan.

Saturday's temblors - with a 6.3 magnitude - were one of the deadliest in the world this year, after the quakes in Turkey in Syria which killed around 50,000 people.

The earthquakes flattened buildings in some 20 villages in the northwest, Afghan officials said. The U.N. report said that "100 percent" of homes had been destroyed in Zinda Jan, along with six schools.

Siah Aab, one of the villages in the district, lost at least 300 residents, locals said. Funeral prayers were held for the dead before they were buried, wrapped in blankets, in freshly dug graves.

"I have lost my four daughters-in-law, my four sons and my grandchildren," villager Taj Mohammad, 60, said. He said 11 of his family members had been killed in the disaster.

The U.N.'s humanitarian office has announced $5 million worth of assistance for the quake response, but immediate material support has come from just a few countries.

Afghanistan's healthcare system, largely reliant on foreign aid, has faced crippling cuts in the two years since the Taliban took over and much international assistance was halted.

In addition to medical and food aid, survivors are in dire need of shelter as temperatures drop, the head of the World Health Organization's emergency response said.

Abdul Sattar, a grave digger in Siah Aab, said the living needed as much support as they can get.

"Their first hope is God, followed by help from other countries," he said, adding that he and others had already dug more than 500 graves.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Syed Hassib; writing by Gibran Peshimam; editing by Miral Fahmy and Bernadette Baum)
China saddened by civilian casualties in Palestinian-Israeli conflict: spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:35, October 10, 2023

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

Mao made the remarks at a daily news briefing in response to the conflicts between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip that have caused massive casualties on both sides.

Mao said that China is greatly concerned about the recent escalation of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians, she said.

China opposes actions that expand conflict and undermine regional stability, and hopes to see an early ceasefire and restoration of peace. The international community should earnestly play its role and work together to cool down the situation, she said.

Mao proposed that the way out of the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in resuming peace talks, implementing the two-state solution, and a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestinian issue, which guarantees the legitimate concerns of all parties, through political means as early as possible.

China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end, Mao added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
TRIPOLI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- President of the Libyan Presidency Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, on Tuesday urged a comprehensive plan for post-disaster management and reconstruction in eastern Libya, which was recently hit by deadly floods

"The president stressed a set of recommendations that would help in the rebuilding process, including a post-disaster management team of experts and specialists," said a statement issued by the Presidency Council.

Al-Menfi also emphasized the need for a clear and detailed plan for managing the aftermath of the disaster and the reconstruction.

On Sept. 10, Mediterranean storm Daniel triggered the largest and worst floods in decades in Libya. Thousands of people were killed and went missing, while the region's infrastructure was severely damaged. 
Actress Elva Guerra's character explains that she has over 20,000 years of experience and mentoring from the generations of Native elders hands who came before her. (Photo/American Indian College Fund)

On Indigenous Peoples Day, the American Indian College Fund on Monday released a new PSA called Move Aside that features Reservation Dog Elva Guerra (Ponca/Mexican).

Directed by Erica Tremblay of the Seneca-Cayuga (most notably known for her film, Fancy Dance), the film is based on the simple concept of bringing to life a cover letter, where we witness a Native graduate played by Guerra preparing to take on her promising future ahead.

The campaign shines a light on the growing number of Native Americans with college degrees (more than 300,000) while centering on and celebrating the Indigenous experience.

Guerras character explains that she has over 20,000 years of experience and mentoring from the generations of Native elders hands who came before her. Tribal colleges helped her develop her skills; her culture helped her develop her knowledge; and in the final scene, she looks forward to taking this job opportunityand other applicants can Move Aside  as seen in the ending tagline.

Produced by Wieden+Kennedy Portland, W+K Creative Director Patty Orlando and creative team members Robin Maxkii and Brad Trost saw an opportunity to create something unapologetically Native  by subverting the formal and outdated everyday symbolism and language of corporate America and breaking tribal stereotypes.

"The arts and stories that are embodied in the Move Aside campaign are so reflective of the joyful and inclusive way that Native people engage with education and opportunity. Once again, the College Fund, with our great allies at W+K and our deep relationships with Native artists and actors, demonstrates through film that we are here to offer our knowledge and talents for a better society," Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said.

{source}<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7GeHiJ4j_L8?si=VOeLyY2YnyFfisou" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}

While creating the film, the W+K trio ensured every detail of the campaign was rooted in Native culture by presenting traditional elements in authentic and unexpected ways. The Indigenous crew, wardrobe, production design and props, and even the iconic muscle car symbolize freedom, happiness, and confidence.

The campaign line is Move Aside and that is what we tried to do. Rather than working in our usual way, we engaged an up-and-coming director from Reservation Dogs, Erica Tremblay, Orlando said. From there things just fell into place as she brought in Indigenous crew partners and actress, Elva Guerra, from Oklahoma. The shoot took on a life of its own, with Erica calling out crew calls in her native Iroquoian language. I think you can feel all these decisions and intentions in the finished work.

In addition to being used by the College Fund to promote tribal education awareness and the great potential of its graduates, the Move Aside campaign will also be used by tribal colleges and universities to promote and market their institutions to their surrounding communities.

Beyond the film, the campaign also has extensions in social media, online banner advertisements, and out-of-home advertising placements in Times Square and on a billboard in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade route, to show employers the promising prospects graduating from tribal colleges.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
RAMONA, Calif.  A resident of a home that caught fire Monday in Ramona has been arrested on suspicion of arson, authorities said.

The fire was reported around 6 a.m. in the 200 block of Haley Street, according to law enforcement. When first responders arrived on scene, they found a home fully engulfed in flames and two residents outside with no injuries.

Detectives investigating the fire determined the fire was intentional, arresting one of the residents, Buixasa, at the scene, per SDSO.

Palestine and Israel supporters clash at Balboa Park protest amid conflict

Susanne Buixasa, 57, was identified as the suspect and booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee, Dan Wilson with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department (SDSO) said in a news release.

Another East County blaze killed an elderly woman over the weekend. The 80-year-old died after a fire broke out in her home in Santee.

An investigation is still underway on the cause of the Santee fire. At this time, authorities do not believed it is connected with the incident on Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
As soon as she heard that Hamas militants were launching attacks in Israel, Avital Brown sent a WhatsApp message to her friend Vivian Silver, a Canadian-born peace activist who lived near the Gaza Strip.

In less than a minute, Silver, 74, responded from her home in Kibbutz Beeri.

Its absolute chaos here, she wrote in Hebrew at 7:54 a.m. Saturday, according to text messages shared with NBC News. Terrorists have infiltrated Beeri. There is shooting and screaming.

Brown replied immediately but never heard back.

Silver is among those feared to have been killed on the spot or abducted by the militants and taken to Gaza, a place she knows well.

For nearly 50 years, Silver has worked to improve the plight of Palestinians and create a shared society between Jews and Arabs, having gone so far as to meet cancer-stricken Gaza residents at the border crossing and drive them to Jerusalem for treatment.

The silver-haired grandmother is regarded on both sides of the border as an irrepressible force, according to those who know and work with her.

Vivian Silver (Vivian Silver via Facebook)

Ive talked to Palestinians who feel completely devastated, like it was a family member who was taken, said Aziz Abu Sarah , a Palestinian American who operates MEJDI Tours, which offers trips to Israel led by guides from both sides of the conflict.

I hope that the people who took her realize who she is and what a beautiful person she is, Abu Sarah added.

While Abu Sarah and other friends and family members dont know what exactly happened to Silver, the lack of news leads them to believe she is among the Israeli captives in Gaza.

No one told us if Israeli soldiers got to her house yet, her son Yonatan Zeigen told Canadas Globe and Mail newspaper. So there is the possibility thats she dead there, inside. But from what we gather shes in Gaza.

Zeigen told NBC News Tuesday morning that the authorities were still clearing the kibbutz of explosives and he had yet to hear any news about his mother.

Gershon Baskin, an activist who helped negotiate the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier Hamas took captive in 2006 and set free five years later, has known Silver for more than 30 years.

She has lots of friends in Gaza and in the Bedouin community in Israel who, I am sure, want her to be returned safely to her family, he said in a message to NBC News. This is a great tragedy for her family and for all of us. I am sure that she will be there to help the other more than 100 hostages, and I have no doubt that her captors will have great respect for her.

Vivian Silver at a rally for Women Wage Peace, a group made up of thousands of Arab and Jewish women seeking a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (via womenwagepeace.org.il)

Silver, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, moved to Israel in 1974.

She first worked for a nonprofit organization devoted to social justice and gender equality. Years later, in 1998, she became the executive director of the Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development, where she launched an initiative to train and empower the local Arab Bedouin community.

She and her Arab partner in the effort, Amal Elsana Alh'jooj, were awarded the 2011 Victor J. Goldberg Peace Prize from the New York-based Institute for International Education. Judges praised their "efforts to promote peace and development within society."

In early 2014, she retired, became a grandmother and found herself in a period of soul-searching.

"I had to acknowledge that after 40 years of peace activism, the Left, of which I was a proud member, had not succeeded in achieving its goal of ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," she wrote in a 2018 blog post. "I decided that I would no longer do more of the same thing, that I must find another way."

She became a leader of Women Wage Peace, a grassroots organization made up of thousands of Arab and Jewish women seeking a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I spent much time in Gaza until the outbreak of the second intifada. We continued working with organizations in the West Bank, Silver wrote in the post. Thats why it especially infuriates me when people claim: We have no partner on the other side! I personally know so many Palestinians who yearn for peace no less than we do.

Back home, longtime friends in Canada see Silver as a paragon of activism and moral clarity.

"She is somebody who has always, always worked for what she believes in, and she believes in peace and a shared society in Israel," said Lynne Mitchell, who met Silver at a B'nai B'rith Youth Organization event when they were 15. "She went there for that purpose when she was very young and has remained true to that her whole life."

Silver is a widow with two adult sons. Her American husband died four years ago, friends said.

Silvers activism went beyond leading marches and rallies.

In addition to ferrying Gaza residents to Israeli hospitals for cancer treatments, her friends said, she also traveled to the border to make sure Arab laborers who worked at her kibbutz got paid during periods when they were barred from entering Israel.

Others who work to promote peace in Israel see Silver as a "titan in our space," said John Lyndon, the executive director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace, a network of more than 160 Israeli-Palestinian organizations engaged in grassroots peace building.

"Its easy to be left-wing and pro-peace if you live in north Tel Aviv. She lives at the Gaza border, right in the most difficult place for Israelis, where you can't escape the reality of the conflict, he said. And it's not just about where she lives; it's what she does every hour of every day. She's walking the walk.

An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were taken hostage by Hamas fighters who poured into Israel by land, sea and air Saturday to launch a surprise attack staggering in scope. More than 100 people have been discovered dead at Silver's kibbutz, according to the Israeli volunteer rescue organization ZAKA.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas said militants will kill one civilian hostage every time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without warning."

Three days before the Hamas assault, Silver led a rally in Jerusalem where thousands of women  Jews and Arabs, secular and religious  marched shoulder to shoulder. Dignitaries from Israel, Finland and Ireland also attended, according to Women Wage Peace.

Brown, the woman who received the text from Silver as the attack was unfolding, said she gave her fellow Women Wage Peace member a warm embrace before they bade each other farewell.

Silver told her to come visit her kibbutz. Its so quiet there, she said, according to Brown, who lives in Tel Aviv.

Im glad that I hugged her on Wednesday, Brown said. And Im definitely hoping that its not the last time I get to hug her.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday his familys response to his departure from the Democratic Party has been very painful for him.

It was very painful for me, Kennedy said in an interview on Fox Newss Fox and Friends. I mean, I  you know I was raised in the Democratic Party. My father and my uncle were the  leaders of the party. You know, our relationship with the Democratic Party goes back generations.

Kennedy announced Monday he was switching from a Democrat to an independent amid his 2024 White House bid. The move puts him in a position to challenge both President Biden and former President Trump, who has maintained a strong lead in the Republican presidential primary in recent weeks.

Four of Kennedys siblings  former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D), former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II (D-Mass.), Rory Kennedy and Kerry Kennedy  later released a statement that called their brothers choice to run against Biden as a third-party candidate dangerous to our country.

Kennedy, who comes from a well-known liberal family, said the choice to leave the Democratic Party was very difficult for him.

So leaving the party of my  family is very, very difficult for me, Kennedy said. But it was a choice that I didnt feel that I had a  I didnt feel I had a choice about.

And I feel  I think its the right thing right now because were seeing that, Oh, its the same corporate donors that control both of the parties,' he said. They have  and the parties are in paralysis. They cannot  within that party system, theyre locked in this  war with each other.

Noting every family has disputes, Kennedy pushed back against his siblings claims that he does not share the same values, vision of judgement as his father, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

In all of the issues that my father believed in and my uncle believed in, if you went down and checked the box, that I would check every box, Kennedy said. So, I believe that Im very much aligned with those things.

Im aligned with the Democratic Party that stood for the working class, that was skeptical of the military and industrial complex, that was skeptical about corporate control of the government, that was against censorship of  violently against  fiercely, lets say  against censorship, he added.

Calling for a strategy for unity, Kennedy claimed his experiences have shown him Democrats and Republicans have more in common than the issues that drive the two parties apart.

And I think we need somebody whos going to find those areas of agreement, the values we agree on, rather than focus on these little issues that have us at each others throats, he said.

Asked if he is worried about taking a percentage of Bidens votes, the presidential candidate said he hopes to take votes from both Biden and Trump.

I dont know anybody in the Democratic Party whos saying, Im voting for President Biden because I think he can govern the country well, Kennedy said. They all say, Im voting for President Biden because I dont want Trump to be president because hes dangerous. And that is, again, its the impulse to govern by fear rather than, you know, inspiring.

Recent polling on a hypothetical three-way race between Biden, Trump and Kennedy showed that Kennedy gained 14 percent support, Biden received 31 percent of the vote and Trump had 33 percent.

Kennedys campaign has distanced himself from his familys liberal brand, while also frequently criticizing the Democratic National Committee.

The presidential hopeful, who is a lawyer, has advocated against the wealth disparity in the nation, pushing for livable wages while also tuning into conspiracy theories, specifically around vaccines.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Robert F. Kennedys party change this week from a Democrat to independent sparked an influx of donations, a super PAC affiliated with his campaign announced on Tuesday.

American Values, the political action committee boosting Kennedys presidential bid, said that it raised $11 million just six hours after the candidate reintroduced himself to voters as an independent White House aspirant.

Americans dont like censorship or propaganda and they are tired of being lied to, said Tony Lyons, who co-founded the American Values PAC, in a statement.

Its clear that Bobby is inspiring a populist movement that unites left and right, black, and white, rural and urban, young and old, Lyons said. His campaign is a movement built for and by the people, not corrupt politicians and corporations. You can see it from town to town across the country: There is real electricity and a palpable desire for change.

Kennedy, who comes from a wealthy dynasty, is not hard-pressed for money. But the large fundraising sum is the latest indication that he could have staying power in the unpredictable 2024 presidential race.

Kennedys lack of spark as a Democratic candidate against President Biden may not necessarily translate to poor traction as an independent candidate, with both sides of the aisle waking up to the possibility that he could be a force in the general election.

Millions of independent-minded Americans are seeing through the most powerful censorship and propaganda campaign against any candidate in American political history, Lyons added while announcing the fundraising total. He said the group has brought in a massive haul of $28 million since last year.

The anti-vax lawyer and activist has also seen signs of popularity in polls with voters who are displeased with the probable choice between Biden and former President Trump.

He sought to address what he views as a false choice between the existing two-party structure on Monday when teeing off his formal change to an independent at a rally in Philadelphia.

The Democrats are frightened Im going to spoil the election for President Biden, and the Republicans are frightened Im going to spoil it for President Trump, Kennedy said during his roughly hour-long speech. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Just hours after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he would run for president as an independent, more than $11 million gushed to the coffers of the super PAC supporting him.

American Values 2024 said it raised $11.28 million in just six hours following Kennedys announcement in Philadelphia on Indigenous Peoples Day, according to a press release.

Millions of independent-minded Americans are seeing through the most powerful censorship and propaganda campaign against any candidate in American political history, said Tony Lyons, a co-founder of the PAC, in the press release. They are angry at the DNC for attempting to disenfranchise them, eager to support an honest Democrat and more open than ever before in American history to an Independent and honest candidate.

Lyons is also in talks with billionaire-entrepreneur Elon Musk to court his support, he said in an interview with POLITICO following Kennedys speech in Philadelphia. Lyons declined to share details of their discussions or any potential contributions on Monday.

But he said, "if somebody like Elon Musk is willing to join the fight, he's a very big guy in the playground fight."

When asked if Musk was excited about joining "the fight, Lyons said, He seems to be, and I don't think it would be inconsistent with things that he has said and things that he's done.

American Values 2024 said that the donations on Monday came from people of all political persuasions.

Lyons predicted Kennedy's decision to run as an independent would lead to strong fundraising numbers from a range of different ideological supporters.

I love the idea of getting money out of politics. You know, it's a tough question, said Lyons, also a longtime publisher of Kennedys books.

The PAC has raised money from prominent Democratic donors like Abby Rockefeller, but the majority of the money given to the PAC has come from Republican donors, including former Donald Trump donor Tim Mellon.

American Values 2024 has now raised $28 million since it was founded, according to the press release.
(Bloomberg) -- A super political action committee supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s long-shot bid for the presidency as an independent raised $11.3 million in the hours after he renounced the Democratic party where his family has played a prominent role.

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The money brings the total raised by American Values 2024 PAC to more than $28 million, the group said. That figure would be a respectable haul even for many Republican candidates PACs. Only the groups supporting President Joe Biden , former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had more money on hand, according to their most recent disclosures from June.

Kennedys decision to run as an independent allows him to bypass the Democratic primary  where Bidens loyalists had stacked the rules in favor of the incumbent  and focus on the general election in November 2024. But Kennedy now needs the resources to circulate petitions to get on the ballot in enough states to mount a credible campaign. Some Republicans are worried that Kennedys anti-vaccine views mean he will draw more support from the GOP nominee than Biden.

The super PAC has already hired 70 staffers, said spokesman Trevor Fitzgibbon. Kennedys fundraising blitz came through an in-person fundraiser in Philadelphia Monday night in addition to online donations, he said.

The Kennedy campaign also held a separate fundraiser but did not immediately disclose the amount raised.

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RICHMOND, Ind.  A reported domestic dispute has resulted in a Richmond man facing firearm and cocaine charges.

About 6 p.m. Sunday, Richmond police responded to a report of a man armed with a handgun striking a garage door in the 1400 block of South J Street.

The target of those allegations, 37-year-old Gregory Todd Holland II, a few minutes later was taken into custody after a traffic stop about four blocks away.

A police K-9, Uzi, indicated there were controlled substances in the Dodge Challenger that Holland was driving, A search resulted in discovery of a loaded 9mm handgun in the vehicle.

More: Firearm, DWI convictions in Wayne County lead to 5-year term for ex-Ohio man

Because of his criminal record  which includes convictions for aiding, inducing or causing arson, distribution of a destructive device to a minor, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, criminal mischief, domestic battery and receiving stolen property  Holland is prohibited from possessing firearms, and he was taken into custody.

While he was being searched at the Wayne County jail, officers determined Holland was carrying a bag containing an "off-white, rocklike substance."

The Richmond man reportedly told an officer he had a "snorting problem," and the substance was cocaine.

On Monday, Holland was charged in Wayne Superior Court 2 with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of cocaine, both Level 4 felonies carrying maximum 12-year prison terms.

He continued to be held in the jail on Tuesday under a $22,500 bond.

The woman who placed the call to dispatchers on Sunday that led to Holland's arrest said she was the Richmond man's ex-girlfriend, and that he had struck her garage door, and produced a handgun, during a dispute.

Holland's arson-related arrest, in 2008 in Franklin County, resulted in a 20-year sentence. He was most recently released from prison in 2020, according to state Department of Correction records.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Richmond man faces firearm, cocaine charges
New Yorkers may be able to see a rare partial solar eclipse this weekend, according to NASA.

Those in the southwestern U.S., especially Oregon, New Mexico and Texas, will have the best chances of seeing the "ring of fire" effect  where a glowing circle of light outlines the silhouette of the moon as it passes in front of the sun  but the majority of the country will be able to view some form of the eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

What is an annular solar eclipse?

An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes between the sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth, according to NASA.

Since the moon is farther away from Earth than usual, it appears smaller than the sun and won't completely cover it, hence the "ring of fire" effect.

Saturday's eclipse is the last of its kind visible to those living in the U.S. until June 21, 2039.

A total solar eclipse will happen early next year  April 8  and will be extremely visible throughout Western New York as its path runs right through New York.

An annular solar eclipse is happening one week from today, on Oct. 14!



There are many ways to safely view an eclipse, like using eclipse glasses (not to be mistaken for sunglasses).



Do you have your eclipse glasses ready?  pic.twitter.com/pmlhmrJ0nz  NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 7, 2023

When is the best time to see 'ring of fire' eclipse in NY?

Rochester may see a partial solar eclipse Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. The best time to see the most coverage will be around 1:13 p.m., according to NASA.

Viewers in Rochester will start seeing the eclipse's effects around 12:30 p.m., lasting until around 2:30 p.m., with the best time to see the most coverage at around 1:13 p.m.

New York City will start to see changes about 10 minutes later, with peak coverage at around 1:22 p.m.

The average duration of the eclipse is 4-5 minutes. Find when you'll see the eclipse through an interactive map on NASA's website by visiting science.nasa.gov.

Where to watch the solar eclipse

You'll be able to find the phenomenon just by stepping outside Saturday, weather permitting, but to get a closer look, you can head to the Strasenburgh Planetarium at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

There, you'll be able to look through telescopes with solar filters and other methods to view the eclipse between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Eclipse glasses are also available for purchase at the RMSC, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center for $2.50 each.

What if it's cloudy?

Weather forecasts throughout the state are calling for cloudy skies and rain showers Saturday.

Unfortunately, NASA officials say you'll need a clear view of the sun and moon to see the eclipse but, even with cloud cover, there will be a noticeable difference in the sky.

You can also stop by NASA's live broadcast of the eclipse, especially if you want to see its full effects, and check out telescope livestreams across its path.

How to safely watch a solar eclipse

It's never safe to look at the sun with the naked eye as it can cause serious injuries, NASA says, and with annular solar eclipses, the sun is never completely blocked by the moon, so using eye protection and taking extra caution is necessary.

Getting ready for Saturday's solar eclipse? Got your eclipse glasses? Watch this video to make sure your glasses are safe and ready for the big day! pic.twitter.com/FY94bDppFZ  NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 9, 2023

Normal sunglasses are not safe for looking at the sun.

Always inspect the solar filter you're planning to use before using it. If it's damaged in any way, discard it.

If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on.

Don't look at the eclipse through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device.

Don't look at the sun through unfiltered cameras, telescopes or binoculars while wearing eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer. Concentrated solar rays could damage the filter.

You can buy solar eclipse glasses (make sure they say ISO 12312-2 on them) or make your own solar eclipse viewer.

If you don't have either of those, try this out: Cross your outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of your other hand, creating a waffle pattern.

With your back to the sun, look at your hands' shadow on the ground and the small spaces between your fingers will project a grid of images on the ground, showing the sun during its partial phases.

The shadow of a leafy tree will also reveal these images.

Watch the solar eclipse with NASA on Saturday, Oct. 14!



We'll have live updates as the "ring of fire" crosses from Oregon to Texas, starting at 11:30am ET (1530 UTC). Send us your eclipse Qs with #AskNASAand check out what you'll see from your town: https://t.co/aVM22VO3HR pic.twitter.com/N3iEHmjYnt  NASA (@NASA) October 7, 2023

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USA TODAY reporters Janet Loehrke and Doyle Rice contributed to this report.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at ebarnes@gannett.com or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ring of Fire eclipse: How to view annular solar eclipse in Rochester, NY
An annular solar eclipse will light up, or rather dim, the sky across the United States on Saturday.

The eclipses path will cross North, Central, and South America on Oct. 14, according to the U.S. National Aeronautic and Space Administration.

Known as the Ring of Fire, the celestial event will start off the Western Coast in Oregon, before traveling south and east through Texas and into Mexico and South America.

Time-wise, Atlanta area viewers are likely to see the eclipse starting around noon on Saturday, visible for between two to five minutes.

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The Ring of Fire is whats known as an Annular Eclipse, which NASA said that means the sun will be visible as a bright ring around the moon. During this event, the moon will look small, only covering about 90% of the sun.

This type of eclipse is different from whats called a total solar eclipse, where the moon completely blocks the sun, with a much smaller ring of light visible around its edge.

To safely view the eclipse, observers should get eclipse glasses to ensure they dont go blind from the intense light of the suns ring.

Normal sunglasses are not enough to protect your eyes.

Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury, NASA warned.

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The American Astronomical Society has a list of solar filter and viewer suppliers and sellers for safe eclipse-viewing.

For those planning to take pictures of videos of the eclipse, NASA urged not to look at the sun through lenses, telescopes, binoculars, or other items while wearing eclipse glasses. Instead, NASA said the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.

AAS provided tips for safe viewing with solar eclipse glasses:

Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.

Always supervise children using solar filters.

If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter  do not remove it while looking at the Sun.

Do not look at the un-eclipsed, partially eclipsed, or annularly eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.

Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes  the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.

Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.

The next total solar eclipse will be on April 8, 2024, according to NASA.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
CHICAGO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Union workers at Volvo Group-owned Mack Trucks went on strike Monday after a majority of the company's union members in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida rejected a tentative agreement Sunday.

Covering 4,000 unionized workers, the tentative agreement differs based on location and job. For many Mack employees, it included about a 19-percent wage increase, a 3,500-U.S. dollar ratification bonus and an increased 401(k) contribution. It reduced the length of time to the top wage by one year to five years.

But the tentative agreement doesn't include reinstating pensions, a cost-of-living adjustment or a shorter workweek.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) representing Mack workers in the three U.S. states reached this tentative agreement with Mack Trucks on Oct. 1.

In a letter to Volvo Trucks, the parent company of Mack Trucks, UAW President Shawn Fain said UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits.

"I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it," Fain was quoted by The Detroit News as saying in the letter. "The members have the final say, and it's their solidarity and organization that will win a fair contract at Mack."

In response, Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement Sunday night that the company is "surprised and disappointed" that the union chose to strike.

Mack is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the United States, competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries, said the statement.

The company is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the company's future, it said. 
TAMPA, Fla. - Were now less than one week away from an exciting celestial event in our skies.

The annular solar eclipse will be happening on Oct. 14 and seen across the country.

While the best viewing will be out west, Floridians will be able to see a version of it as well.

READ: The Florida Aquarium helps care for corals removed from overheated waters

The solar eclipse is a result of the Earth, moon and sun coming into alignment as the moon passes in between, casting a shadow on the Earth that blocks the sunlight. However, in this case, with the moon at its furthest point in its orbit, this will be a partial eclipse. The resulting effect is often called a ring of fire with the sun shining around the outline of the moon.

Because of this, eye protection will be required for safe viewing. Solar eclipse glasses will be your best bet as regular sunglasses wont provide adequate protection.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa is planning to welcome guests who want a deeper look at the eclipse on Saturday with a special event for the occasion. It will feature hands-on activities as well as viewing through sun-safe telescopes.

READ: As electric rates increase in Bay Area, solar energy provides customers with cheaper option

The experience is included in general admission tickets from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Ideal viewing will depend on weather conditions that day.

While the partial eclipse will be a worthwhile event, an even more impressive show is expected on April 8 for the total solar eclipse.

For more information, click here.
There is a new version of the uncrewed Ripsaw mini-tank with a huge air defense turret armed with a 30mm automatic cannon and short-range surface-to-air missiles. The combination is being pitched primarily as a counter-drone system, but could be used against a variety of other aerial threats, including cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft.

American Rheinmetall, the U.S.-based subsidiary of German defense contractor Rheinmetall, is highlighting the air defense-focused version of Ripsaw at this year's Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) main conference and exhibition in Washington, D.C., which opened yesterday. Rheinmetall, which is the supplier of the vehicle's Skyranger 30 turret, first made an announcement about this system last week. Howe and Howe Technologies, now a division of American defense contractor Textron, is the company behind the Ripsaw line, which includes crewed and uncrewed versions.

Jamie Hunter

The Skyranger 30, which made its public debut in 2021, is a fully traversable turret with a primary armament consisting of a 30mm Oerlikon KCE automatic cannon with a 250-round magazine. The KCE is designed to fire specialized Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) programmable airburst ammunition. AHEAD rounds receive data on the optimal timing for the airburst as they leave the gun's barrel. When they detonate, they produce a cone-shaped cloud of tungsten sub-projectiles that increases the probability of scoring a hit, especially on smaller targets like drones and cruise missiles.

A version of the Skyranger with a larger 35mm cannon (Skyranger 35) also exists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdwjcayPuag

The turret can also fire short-range surface-to-air missiles from a pop-up launcher at the left upper-rear section of its turret. The launch system can be loaded with at least two missiles of various types at a time. The U.S.-made Stinger , European conglomerate MBDA's Mistral , and the SkyKnight from Halcon in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among the options for use with the Skyranger 30.

A look at the Ripsaw M5 with the Skyranger 30 at the 2023 AUSA show from the rear, which offers a good look at the turret's pop-up missile launcher. Jamie Hunter

The turret can also be fitted with a co-axial light machine gun, primarily for localized self-defense. That machine gun, along with the 30mm main gun, could be used more generally to engage ground targets.

Skyranger 30 also has two built-in nine-round smoke grenade launchers at the front to help conceal the entire system, if necessary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeyXmcK1s40

Skyranger 30 has an array of built-in sensors. This includes an S-band radar array with five separate flat-faced active electronically scanned array antennas positioned around the turret for full 360-degree coverage.

There is also a passive Fast Infrared Search and Track (FIRST) targeting system. This is a valuable alternative to the system's radar, especially when it comes to detecting and tracking stealthier threats, ones with significant electronic warfare capabilities, or both. FIRST can also simply help with quickly spotting and identifying threats, including ones that might suddenly emerge, especially smaller ones like drones.

A rendering of the FIRST system. Rheinmetall

FIRST and the S-band radar array could be slaved together, as well. In this way, either sensor could be used to quickly cue the other, as well as the Skyranger 30's gun, to potential objects of interest. Linked together, they would provide a powerful combination of targeting data.

The onboard sensors allow for any platform, crewed or uncrewed, equipped with Skyranger 30 to operate independently. It has an integrated command and control system with automated targeting functionality that is also designed to be easily linked together with offboard sensors and other air defense nodes. In this uncrewed form mounted on the Ripsaw, this capability is key for remotely linking the system to its human operators.

The Ripsaw M5 chassis onto which the Skyranger 30 turret has been installed, is the latest evolution of the Ripsaw family of vehicles. The M5 has previously been seen with a smaller 30mm cannon-armed turret, and the U.S. Army has been evaluating this configuration . There are a number of other variants of the Ripsaw, including crewed versions, one of which was featured in two Hollywood blockbusters : 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation and 2017's Fast & Furious 8: The Fate of the Furious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NX7btiWLa0

The M5 drone version has a base weight of 10 and a half tons, according to Howe and Howe. It has a payload capacity of four tons, more than enough to accommodate the two-and-a-half-ton Skyranger 30.

Howe and Howe says the M5's hybrid electric propulsion system can get this version of the Ripsaw to speeds over 25 miles per hour , but its top speed would be dependent on what it is carrying. The stripped-down crewed version that Hollywood used in the past could get up to around 65 miles per hour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El-U8R8pxqs\u0026t=1s

Typically, hybrid-electric propulsion systems also allow for a 'silent' operations mode, at least when the vehicle is not moving or doing so at very slow speeds for short periods. This can help reduce its infrared and acoustic signatures, making it hard for enemy forces to spot.

This combination could be very valuable for providing on-the-move air defense for ground forces, as well as mobile point defense against various aerial threats in rear areas.

Groups of Ripsaws with Skyranger 30 turrets could provide short-range air defense against a range of aerial threats, including drones, cruise missiles, helicopters, and low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, across a broader area. They could be made even more effective by networking them together and linking them to data from offboard sensors.

American Rheinmetall indicates that the entirely uncrewed system has some degree of autonomy, which could allow it to operate forward of its operators. This could help extend air defense coverage without increasing risk to actual human personnel. This also means that a relatively small group of individuals could potentially provide significant added air defense capacity.

Cannon-based air-defense systems have certain advantages over missile-based ones when it comes to dealing with high-volume attacks given that the former can continuously engage multiple incoming targets as long it has available ammunition. "Skyranger can stand its ground against swarming attacks," American Rheinmetall's press release asserts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZD5zFN-rps

All of this reflects growing interest in short-range air defense (SHORAD) capabilities with a focus on defeating multiple tiers of drones, including lower-end weaponized commercial types . Many Western militaries, and the U.S. military in particular, had left SHORAD capabilities to atrophy for years after the end of the Cold War, as The War Zone has explored in depth in the past .

Threats posed by drones, even commercially available quad and hexacopter types with improvised munitions, have been very real threats to U.S. and other nation-state military forces for years now already . The barrier to entry when it comes to these systems is low and even terrorist groups and organized criminal entities routinely employ them. The conflict in Ukraine has only underscored this threat, with both sides making heavy use of a wide array of different drones, including improvised and factory-made kamikaze types .

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1661389352545525760 https://twitter.com/Rajendr67215893/status/1663619585478623234

Land attack cruise missiles have also become a major factor in that conflict , which highlights long-standing concerns the U.S. military and other armed forces have about the threat those weapons pose .

The conflict in Ukraine has also seen both sides employ armed helicopters and fixed-wing combat jets in traditional close air support roles, as well as highlighted their vulnerabilities to ground-based air defenses .

At the same time, cannon-based air defense systems, which had largely fallen out of vogue in the West, have emerged as an especially important tool for Ukrainian forces for defeating both drones and cruise missiles. German-made Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, which are armed with a pair of 30mm cannons, have proven particularly valuable in this role.

https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1699782851724792197 https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1599808349981138945

Last year, authorities in Germany announced plans to acquire Rheinmetall Skynex air defense systems, which include networked turrets armed with 35mm guns that are broadly similar in form and function to the Skyranger, and send them to Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb5_F4_Eod8

Altogether, the conflict in Ukraine has hammered home the point that modern SHORAD systems face a very diverse threat environment. This also means that in the context of future conflicts, especially high-end ones, SHORAD capabilities will be needed in significant numbers to provide adequate coverage, especially to defend friendly forces on the move across broad fronts. Systems like the Skyranger 30-equipped Ripsaw M5 provide a valuable all-in-one package of weapons and sensors that is also highly mobile.

So, it is not surprising that short-range air defense, and drone defense within that broader category, is a major theme at this year's AUSA show in Washington. Another important part of this trend is the increasing sensor capability of SHORAD systems, particularly the growing integration of small, but still very capable radars.

A number of the other SHORAD systems on display at AUSA are also based on uncrewed ground vehicles. This includes a version of General Dynamics Land Systems' TRX tracked drone vehicle with a turret armed with a 30mm cannon and Stinger missiles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa3nQ9caw9s

Another smaller design that combines an infantry rifle with a computerized "smart sight" on a remotely-operated turret, a small radar array, and a six-wheeled uncrewed vehicle has made its public debut at the show this year, as well, which can read more about here .

So, whether or not there is ultimately interest in an air defense-focused version of the Ripsaw mini-tank, there is clear and still growing demand for SHORAD systems in the U.S. military and around the world.

Special thanks to The War Zone contributor Jamie Hunter for providing pictures of the Ripsaw/Skyranger 30 combination from the AUSA show floor.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high  that is the stark warning from an aviation organisation about the conflict in Israel.

The alert comes from OpsGroup, an international membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which continue to fly from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv, insist they would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.

In a bulletin, OpsGroup says: Israel is now an active war zone. As such, all lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk anti-aircraft missile that belonged to the Russian army.

All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack.

The bulletin adds: The ultimate sentiment from MH17 still echoes: What were they doing flying over a war zone? We truly hope the same question doesnt need to be asked in Tel Aviv airspace this week.

For many operators, risk assessment is extremely challenging to get right. Commercial and political pressures go against the normal err on the side of caution principle in flight operations.

For decades, we have seen sporadic conflict in Israel - even in quieter periods, rocket attacks on Israel are the norm. Despite this, operations to Tel Aviv have continued routinely, and operators have become used to raised threat levels in Israel.

The secondary risk is a multitude of factors from operating in a conflict zone: misidentification, debris from air defences, GPS spoofing, false EGPWS [enhanced ground proximity warning systems] alerts (now common in Israeli airspace), and reduced route and diversion options in the event of an aircraft emergency.

OpsGroup says it caters for the people at the sharp end of aviation  the pilots, dispatchers, controllers, managers.

It has issued recommendations  which have no official status  for full avoidance of Israeli airspace and says airlines should carefully consider route choices into Jordanian airports, notably Amman.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review.

Both BA and Virgin Atlantic have outstandingly good safety records.

The two airlines have adjusted their operations so that crews no longer need to night stop in Israel: their flights are timed to depart from London Heathrow shortly after 8am, arrive in Tel Aviv in mid-afternoon and return after less than two hours on the ground.

The three big US airlines  American, Delta and United  have suspended flights to Israel. One reason is that the length of trips means crew must rest on arrival in Tel Aviv.

El Al, Israels national carrier, is operating a full schedule. It says: El Al Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces.

We are making great efforts to assist Israeli passengers return home from abroad as soon as possible. We have added flights from several destinations in the world and will continue to add flights as much as we can.

In May 2021, Tel Aviv airport closed on several occasions as air defence systems were activated around the country to repel rocket attacks from Gaza.

Budget airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have suspended operations to and from Tel Aviv.
Ousted speaker Kevin McCarthy (C) is flanked by Jim Jordan (left) and Steve Scalise , who are now vying to replace him (ALEX WONG)

Two Republicans vying to lead the US House of Representatives made their pitches Tuesday, as the party struggles to end a bitter civil war that has thwarted quick action on the Israel crisis and other urgent business.

The 221-strong Republican contingent that controls the lower chamber of Congress staged a "candidate forum" to pick a replacement for speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted last week in a mutiny from the far right.

Neither of the declared candidates -- Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan -- has won enough support to emerge as a clear frontrunner, raising fears of a prolonged paralysis on Capitol Hill.

But Scalise voiced confidence that he could lead his party out of crisis after he and Jordan made their case to colleagues in the private meeting for the role of Washington's top lawmaker.

"What people have really liked about my approach is that I've been a unifier. I've been somebody who has built coalitions throughout my entire career, and we've delivered big wins," he told reporters.

"And people want to see us get back on track. We need a Congress that's working tomorrow, we need to get Congress back to work."

The leadership vacuum had prompted speculation over a possible comeback by McCarthy so that Congress can pass legislation to address the crisis in Israel, which is reeling from a deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants.

McCarthy -- who became the first speaker in US history to be ousted in the middle of his term -- had initially appeared open to the possibility, but ultimately ruled out a long-shot second grab for the gavel.

"I asked them in there -- I know a lot of them want to nominate me -- I told them, 'Please do not nominate me,'" he revealed, adding that he would be supporting whichever candidate was the party's pick.

- 'Urgent action' -

While Scalise, McCarthy's longtime deputy, has pitched himself as the candidate who can heal the party's bitter divides, Jordan is seen as a more divisive figure -- but has the coveted endorsement of former president Donald Trump, and is a darling of the right.

House Republicans heard from both candidates during intense talks that went on for two hours, with the internal party vote to select the nominee scheduled for Wednesday morning.

"I will be supporting Jim Jordan tomorrow. He answered every question honestly and with energy," said Nancy Mace, one of eight Republicans who forced McCarthy towards the exit door.

"That is the bare minimum that the American people want, it's what the American people need, and it's what the American people deserve."

The contest has taken on a heightened sense of urgency in the wake of the bloodshed in Israel, which left more than 1,000 dead in the worst attack in the country's 75-year history. Another 900 people have been killed in Gaza, officials say.

President Joe Biden has pledged US help, and Democrats have been pushing for emergency aid to be wrapped into a broader Ukraine-focused funding package being prepared in the Senate.

Almost 400 lawmakers introduced a symbolic resolution standing with Israel, and a separate group drafted bipartisan legislation to expand the White House's power to sanction Hamas.

But none of the measures can be taken up until a new speaker is elected, and lawmakers are also unable to sign off on emergency aid.

California congressman Mike Garcia described Jordan and Scalise as American heroes who understood the direction the Republican Party needs to take.

"My question to both of them is, how do you communicate to the middle third of America?" he added.

"We're good at communicating to our base -- to the hardcore Republican districts -- but it's districts like mine, the swing seats, that are really going to define whether or not we keep the majority."

ft/caw
Road work will impact drivers exiting off Interstate 75 in Warren County next weekend.

>>Road work to close ramp to U.S. 35 this week until 2024

The Warren County TID project at SR 73 and I-75 will close the SB I-75 ramp to State Route 73 next Saturday, October 21, the city of Springboro announced on social media.

It will be closed due to milling and paving in front of the exit ramp.

The detour will be Southbound I-75 to the State Route 123 exit then back on to Northbound 75. Drivers can get access to State Route 73 by exiting off NB I-75.

The road work will also require the right lane to be closed on westbound State Route 73 from Sharts Road to Commerce Center Drive.




The Rochester School District celebrated themes of creativity and courage through a district-wide spirit week in recognition of International Dot Day.

ROCHESTER  The Rochester School District recently celebrated themes of creativity and courage through a district-wide spirit week in recognition of International Dot Day.

International Dot Day aims to inspire people young and old to embrace the power of personal creativity to help make their mark on the world. It is celebrated on the original publishing date of Peter H. Reynolds' book "The Dot," Sept. 15, 2003, making this year the 20th anniversary of publication.

Rochester students participated in a rock-painting activity called "Rochester Rocks." The painted rocks will be on display throughout Rochester.

The Rochester School District celebrated Dot Day with a district-wide spirit week held Sept. 11-15, which included a Rochester Rocks school spirit day, a dress like someone who has made their mark in your life day, and of course, polka dot day.

District Curriculum and Instruction and Assessment Coach Heidi Zollman reads "The Dot" to students at Maple Street Magnet School.

Guest readers from the community visited several schools, and teachers planned many dot-themed activities in their classrooms throughout the week. In addition, the districts Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Leadership Team planned a rock-painting activity for all district students and staff. These Rochester Rocks will be on display at various locations and local businesses around the community.

"International Dot Day and Peter H. Reynolds' 'The Dot' embrace and celebrate creativity and bravery to take a leap and make your mark on the world, no matter your age," said Superintendent Kyle Repucci. "The Rochester School District aims to instill these themes and encourage our students, staff, and community members to be courageous and make an impact on the world. Our district-wide spirit week was a great way for our community to embrace those ideals and express themselves."

Students participate in dot-themed activities as part of the district-wide spirit week.

International Dot Day was established in 2009 by Iowa teacher Terry Shay. It has grown into an international celebration with approximately 29 million educators and students around the world participating each year.

For more information on International Dot Day, visit internationaldotday.org.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester schools celebrate International Dot Day
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Tuesday a wave of new proposed policies demonstrating his administration's solidarity with Israel amid its war against Hamas terrorists.

DeSantis made the announcement during a news conference at the Shul of Bal Harbour synagogue in Florida. He connected Iran to the violence perpetrated by Hamas this weekend and urged President Biden's administration to take more drastic action.

"When Iran gets more money, they are not using it to make life better for the people of Iran," DeSantis said. "What they use it for is to fund terrorism throughout the Middle East and throughout the world. They send the money to Hezbollah, they send the money to Hamas, and thats exactly what weve seen. And yes, Iran was involved in orchestrating this attack against Israel. We know that, its been reported. They deny it, but were smarter than that."

"We know that we have an opportunity to do something forceful that will make a difference in terms of the substance. But I think symbolically, but also important, and that is today our proposal that as we stand with Israel, we sanction Iran," the governor continued. "And so we are going to roll out for the next legislative session a proposal to increase Florida sanctions on Iran and to block Iranian business in our state."

HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL ROCKS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, ALTERING THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION

"We should use all available avenues to choke off money going to the Iranian regime," he added.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

DeSantis' new policies expand existing bans on Iranian-owned businesses from operating in Florida.

Iran has a long history of funding terrorism in Israel through both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah to Israel's north. The Israeli military has already carried out more than 1,000 airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza following Saturday's bloodshed.

TRUMP CLAIMS HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IF HE WERE STILL PRESIDENT

Hamas' surprise assault killed at least 900 Israelis and left more than 2,000 wounded.

Israeli forces establish heavily armed control points along the border as Israel tightens measures by the army, police and other security forces after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS

Israel has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Gaza border, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that a ground invasion may be imminent. He told Biden in a Monday phone call that "we have to go in."

DeSantis said Tuesday that it is Israel's right to respond forcefully to the Hamas assault. He encouraged Israeli leaders to be severe enough in their response to dissuade any future attacks.





Original article source: Ron DeSantis announces new sanctions, bans on Iranian businesses in Florida amid war in Israel
A conspiracy theory surrounding the idea that Ron DeSantis is boosting his height with hidden heels is gaining  ahem  traction in part due to former president Donald Trump pushing it on Truth Social.

The theory: DeSantis suffers from little man syndrome from the toes up. Let's investigate.

Interest in the Florida governors footwear has revolved largely around how strange both his gait and his shoes themselves look, both of which have been pointed out repeatedly across social media in recent days.

Specifically, people have been calling out the way the toes of his shoes frequently seem to curl up, which doesnt really make much sense if theres actually a human foot residing in that portion of the shoe.

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There have been some serious dives into the theory, analyzing various photos and videos from recent public appearances by DeSantis, and we gotta say, theyre pretty convincing.

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Replying to @Wren how would they know!? #Ron #Desantis #Heelgate #victoriassecret #runwaywalk #fashiontrends #cybergothaesthetic #uncanneyvalley #spykids #foryou #meatball #party

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slay queen  #hiddenheel #mallgothfashion #2016fashion #y2kaesthetic #wildpairshoes #mandees #wetseal #rainbow #lifting #cute #foryou #ron #desantis #drag #edit #capcut #lookbook #whatarethose #parisfashionweek #plump

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Of particular note is a video of DeSantis standing next to Nikki Haley and Chris Christie on stage. The three politicians heights are listed online as 59, 56, 511, respectively. Now, we cant say for sure that these heights are accurate, but they likely arent wildly off. However, take a look at the image:

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Haley is clearly wearing heels that are several inches high, raising her to Christies height. Yet DeSantis, who only has perhaps a one inch heel visible on the exterior of his shoe, stands taller than both of them by several inches.

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Now, if DeSantis wants to wear heels, thats perfectly fine. If he wants to hide them to pretend to be a height he is not, well, its a little pathetic, but its also fine. But considering how much of his political clout with ultra-regressive conservatives revolves around trying to prevent people from gender-affirming care or even wearing attire generally attributed to the opposite gender in public, any mockery his own height-related choices bring about is well-deserved.
Regina Leah Chavez spoke about her 15-year-old daughter, Jewels Marie Wolf, on Tuesday in a Placer County courtroom. She said explaining her grief in front of a judge is just as difficult as finding a mortuary, planning her daughters funeral and giving her eulogy.

The Roseville mother told the judge her daughter was taken advantage of sexually and murdered by the 22-year-old man seated a few feet away from her in the courtroom, Nathaniel Evan Cabacungan.

Chavez said Cabacungan supplied her underage daughter with a lethal dose of fentanyl and left her dying in her bedroom. Less than an hour later, Cabacungan went out and sold more pills containing the deadly synthetic opioid to someone else, the mother said.

He knew the drugs he was selling were deadly, were poisonous because he had just witnessed my daughter die from the pill he had given her, Chavez said in court. This man is inhumane and dangerous.

Regina Leah Chavez, mother of Jewels Marie Wolf, is comforted during a press conference after the sentencing Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 at Placer Superior Court in Roseville of Nathanial Evan Cabacungan, 22, for second-degree murder for the fentanyl death of her daughter. Cabacungan, 22, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in what is believed to be the first California murder conviction for a fentanyl death.

In July, Cabacungan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and solicitation of a minor to use or sell a narcotic as part of a plea agreement with the Placer County District Attorneys Office. Cabacungan is the first person in California to be convicted of and sentenced for a murder charge in a fentanyl death.

Prosecutors dropped a special allegation enhancement with the felony solicitation charge  the victim was at least four years younger than the defendant at the time  as part of the deal with Cabacungan. He was 20 years old at the time of the Roseville girls death.

On Tuesday morning, Cabacungan was formally sentenced to 15 years to life in prison as part of the deal. He sat in the courtroom silently throughout his 40-minute sentencing hearing, wearing an orange jail inmate clothing and a blue surgical mask to cover the lower portion of his face.

Editors note

In a departure from common county court practice, Placer Superior Court Judge Angus Saint-Evans on Tuesday denied professional media photographers, including The Sacramento Bees Paul Kitagaki Jr. who was present in the courthouse with a previously signed court order granting him access to photograph in the courtroom, the opportunity to photograph the sentencing of Nathanial Cabacungan for the first fentanyl murder sentencing in California.

Instead of creating a media pool, the judge directed news organizations to rely on handout photographs produced by a government employee. The Bee, joined by the Associated Press, declines to reproduce these images because they represent a chilling restriction on the function of a free and independent media.

Convicted mans statement read in court

Brad Whatcott, Cabacungans court-appointed attorney, read in court a statement written by his client: I apologize for my actions and the damage I have caused everyone.

Thats all that was written in the defendants statement.

Jewels parents, other family members and friends spoke Tuesday morning in court about the consequences of her death before Cabacungan was sentenced. About two dozen people with large photos and signs honoring the teen nearly filled the courtroom.

Chavez said her daughter was a performer at heart and shined on stage, growing up doing ballet, music, talent shows, dance and cheerleading. The teen also had a compassionate soul, with love empathy and humility, Chavez said.

My daughter was beautiful inside and out, and it radiated through her whole being, she told the judge. She had her whole life ahead of her and was happily planning her future when the defendant murdered her with a counterfeit Percocet pill.

The mother had dropped off her daughter at their Roseville home on June 19, 2022. She did not know that Cabacungan had convinced her daughter to let him come over while Chavez wasnt home to take advantage of her daughter and give her the drugs that contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.

According to his own confession, my daughter died in his arms, Chavez said. I was informed in Jewels desperate time of need, Nathaniel Cabacungan abandoned her in her bed. He cold-heartedly left her to die. ... He did nothing to try to save her life. He didnt even call 911.

As Jacob Chavez and Johnny Tabular hold photographs of their niece Jewels Marie Wolf, the victims mother Regina Leah Chavez speaks with family and friends after the sentencing of Nathanial Evan Cabacungan, 22, at Placer Superior Court on Tuesday in Roseville, for second-degree murder for the fentanyl death of her daughter. Cabacungan, 22, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for what is believed to be the first murder conviction in California for a fentanyl death.

Dealing dangerous drugs on social media

The girls older brother found his sister dead that night, Chavez said. He had told a chaplain assisting investigators at their home not to allow his mother to go into the bedroom and be stuck with the image of what he discovered.

Chavez told the judge that 15 years to life in prison is not long enough for Cabacungan, suggesting he would not be rehabilitated in prison. The mother said Cabacungan has no regard for life other than his own, and has a history of dealing dangerous drugs on social media and preying upon and targeting young girls.

Initially, the District Attorneys Office also filed charges of transporting drugs, possessing drugs for the purpose of sale and meeting with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior in connection with the teens death. Those felony charges against Cabacungan were dropped.

Jake Wolf, the girls father, told the judge that his daughter brought joy and happiness to everyone she met, and she deserved a full and rich life. But, instead, she was robbed of that future, he said.

This perpetrator deserves to hear the impact of the irreparable harm he has caused to our family and to our community, the father said about Cabacungan. Jewels was more than a statistic or a news headline.

Wolf said his family was not there for vengeance but seeking justice for his daughter and all the other innocent lives that might be saved from such a tragic death. Wolf hopes Cabacungan realizes the depth and gravity of the harm he caused, and he trusts that the justice system will not allow Jewels to become just a forgotten statistic.

My daughter was a victim of the first convicted fentanyl murder in the history of California, Wolf said in court. A horrifying milestone that should shock all of us to our core.
An Allegheny County road will be closed in both directions for part of Tuesday because a pipe needs to be replaced.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Route 910 will be closed in both directions between Turner Road/McIntyre Road in Richland Township and Middle Road in West Deer Township while crews work on replacing the pipe.

Traffic will be detoured onto Turner Road, East Hardies Road and Middle Road.

PennDOT expects the road to reopen by 5 p.m.

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(CNN)  Misinformation has run rampant on Elon Musks social media platform X in the 48 hours since Hamas militants surprise attack on Israel, with users sharing false and misleading claims about the conflict and Musk himself pointing users to an account known for spreading misinformation.

Multiple users over the weekend shared a fake White House news release falsely claiming the US was sending billions of dollars in new aid to Israel in response. Accounts on X with hundreds of thousands of followers in total quickly spread the doctored White House press release after it appeared online on Saturday. Social media influencer Jackson Hinkle, who was among those shared the fake release, claimed it was a slap in the face to Ukraine, which has been pleading with Washington for more money to defend itself from Russia.

Musk himself added to the information chaos on Sunday by recommending X users follow the Israel-Hamas conflict by following an account known for spreading misinformation, including a fake report earlier this year of an explosion at the Pentagon.

Musk and Hinkle later deleted their posts. Musk later posted: As always, please try stay as close to the truth as possible, even for stuff you dont like.

Elsewhere on X (formerly known as Twitter), an account impersonating the Jerusalem Post shared a bogus report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been hospitalized. (The account was later suspended.)

CNN has requested comment from Musk and X on the posts related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

A slew of mischaracterized videos and other posts went viral on the platform over the weekend.

One video that is purported to show Israel generals after being captured by Hamas fighter was viewed more than 1.7 million times by Monday. The video however actually shows the detention of separatists in Azerbaijan.

Another post viewed more than 500,000 times on X purported to show an airplane getting shot down with the hashtag #PalestineUnderAttack. The video is in fact a clip from the video game Arma 3, as was later noted in a community note appended to the post.

Community notes allow users on X to fact-check false posts on the platform. While notes were appended to both of these false posts, they often come after a false post has been viewed thousands  or in some cases millions  of times.

Musk has laid off employees focused on detecting misinformation

X has relied more heavily on community notes to moderate content since Musk laid off thousands of the companys employees, including many responsible for detecting and addressing false claims, following his takeover of the platform last year.

Israels National Cyber Directorate, one of the governments main cyber defense agencies, on Monday took to X to urge people not to spread unverified information. [T]he rumor mill is overflowing, the directorate wrote in Hebrew. The Anti-Defamation League also raised concerns in a statement Saturday about false and antisemitic claims being spread on the platform, including posts by a verified user falsely claiming that Israel helped to facilitate 9-11 on US soil, which have been viewed thousands of times.

The viral nature of the misinformation has alarmed experts on information operations, offering a fresh example of social platforms struggle to deal with a flood of falsehoods during a major geopolitical event.

In times of war, social media becomes a propaganda battlefield; there is always an element of disinformation and exaggeration, said Emerson Brooking, senior resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. Today, X is the main platform where this online battle plays out.

Brooking said changes to X policy under Musks ownership have incentivized propagandists and scam artists. Any user can now purchase a verification checkmark on X by signing up for the platforms $8 per month subscription program, and their posts are then boosted by the platforms algorithm and eligible for monetization.

Paid verification means that you cannot distinguish between a vetted journalist and a scam artist, Brooking told CNN. The for-profit views system incentivizes accounts to impersonate news outlets and to post as frequently as possible, drawing from whatever source they can or just making things up.

Twitter has long played a pivotal role in information sharing during conflicts, from the Arab Spring to the 2014 and 2022 invasions of Ukraine, and during previous violence in Israel and Gaza.

Viral misinformation has always existed on the platform, but it has become particularly pronounced under Musks stewardship, experts say.

In the past decade, every conflict has inevitably bred a digital fog of war, where both sides, and their supporters, try to use social platforms to spin the narrative in their favor, Joe Galvin, a journalist who has specialized in open-source intelligence for more than a decade, told CNN Monday.

The volume and reach of misinformation today, though, far exceeds what we saw in the early social media era conflicts, and is exacerbated by platforms like X, which has taken the guardrails off and allows the most egregious types of disinformation to run rampant, Galvin said.

He said other platforms that have little or no guardrails including the social media messaging app Telegram are also hotbeds of misinformation, but X is unique given Musks behavior.

Even the owner of X takes part in the chaos, promoting accounts that are known to spread falsehoods to his 150 million followers. The fact is that malicious users, state-backed and otherwise, have become better at spreading falsehoods, with more sophisticated networks being built and better technology  including AI  being used. The platforms are in a perpetual state of catch-up.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Elon Musks X adds to fog of war at outset of Israel-Hamas conflict"
Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla., a member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "Israel has no choice but to seek the complete eradication of Hamas in Gaza."

"There simply is no diplomatic solution or measured response available," Rubio wrote on X. "This tragically necessary effort will come at a horrifying price. But the price of failing to permanently eliminate this group of sadistic savages is even more horrifying."

His comments come as GOP lawmakers have been intensifying their calls for the Biden administration to aggressively support Israel in its defense against Hamas terrorist attacks that began Saturday, killing an estimated 700 people and injuring thousands others.

The White House called a press lid at 11:46 a.m. on Monday, indicating that they did not expect President Biden to have any more appearances. The White House confirmed Monday that 11 Americans were among the casualties from the attacks.

VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., says that "Israel has no choice but to seek the complete eradication of Hamas in Gaza."

Meanwhile, the administration came under fire for holding a staff barbecue with a live band at the White House lawn on Sunday afternoon, just a day after the terrorist attacks began, which drew some criticism.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"President Biden has been consistently engaged in supporting Israel as they defend themselves against these brutal terrorist attacks," the White House told Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy.

"Yesterday, after another call with Prime Minister Netanyahu and ordering the American military to provide aid to the IDF to ensure they have what they need, the President held a long-scheduled event to thank the hardworking non-political staff who keep the White House running  operating the kitchens, cleaning the White House, and helping keep the complex safe. This date was chosen because there were not White House activities that would require their work and they could bring their families. They deserve recognition, and no small, petty comments from partisan media or elected officials change that."

EYEWITNESS TO HAMAS TERROR INVASION: THIS IS WORSE THAN MY NIGHTMARE SCENARIO'

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fire a salvo of rockets as an Israeli Iron Dome missile attempts to intercept them over the city of Netivot, Israel, on Oct. 8, 2023.

Rubio urged Israel to respond "disproportionately" to Hamas's bloody ambush and "to any futures attacks from any enemy."

"There can be no cease-fire, negotiated solution or peaceful coexistence with depraved barbarians who murder teen-aged girls, children & the elderly and then dump them in the streets of Gaza so bloodthirsty crowds can desecrate their bodies?" he posted Monday afternoon.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on Monday but also said he is "deeply distressed" by Israel's response.

Guterres addressed the ongoing conflict from the United Nations briefing room on Monday, telling reporters that "nothing can justify" Hamas' attack on Israel, which killed at least 800 people.

MCCARTHY SAYS TO BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, TURN OFF THE BARBECUE, AS BLOODY WAR RAGES ON IN ISRAEL

"I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages," Guterres said.

The official went on to criticize Israel's response to the violence, warning the country against harming innocents.

"While I recognize Israels legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law," he said. "I am deeply distressed by todays announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in  no electricity, food or fuel. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially."

Fox News' Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.





Original article source: Rubio says Israel has 'no choice' but to seek 'complete eradication of Hamas'
(Reuters) -Russia launched 36 Iranian-made attack drones against southern Ukraine overnight, damaging infrastructure in the Odesa region, authorities said.

The strikes targeted the Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, the Ukrainian military reported, adding that air defence systems destroyed 27 drones.

Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said unspecified "logistics infrastructure" had been struck but that no injuries were reported.

Reuters could not independently verify the information. There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Russian forces have carried out regular missile and drone strikes on infrastructure in southern Ukraine in recent weeks and months, targeting port facilities in particular.

Separately, the Kherson regional administration said Russia had struck the region 79 times with mortars, artillery and drones over the past day, wounding four people and damaging several buildings.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Sonali Paul)
Delegates stand for a minute of silence following war between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas and a series of earthquakes in western Afghanistan, during a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (Fabrice COFFRINI)

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday rejected a bid by Russia to regain a seat on the Human Rights Council, from which it was ousted after invading Ukraine.

Russia, which was competing with Bulgaria and Albania for two open spots allocated to the region, nonetheless received 83 votes in its favor from the UN General Assembly's 193 members.

"Russia can still boast that it got support from nearly half the UN's members today," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.

"This does offer some support to Russia's claim that its diplomatic isolation is gradually decreasing as many states are tiring of arguments over Ukraine."

But, he added, "Ukraine's friends are still the most powerful force in the General Assembly."

The election for the Human Rights Council's 2024-2026 term had been viewed as a test of what Moscow contended was quiet support despite fierce Western-led criticism over its brutal assault on its neighbor.

The vote comes just days after a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Groza killed more than 50 people, although global attention has since turned to war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.

"UN Member States have sent a strong response to the Kremlin on its aggression, war crimes, and atrocities committed in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine," said Emine Dzheppar, Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister, in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

Albanian ambassador Ferit Hoxha, whose country received 123 votes while Bulgaria received 160, had said earlier that the UN General Assembly "has an important choice" to "demonstrate that it is not ready to take an arsonist for a firefighter."

The Human Rights Council's 47 members are allocated by region, and each large regional group usually pre-selects its own candidates, which the General Assembly then typically approves.

But this year, two groups had more candidates than available seats.

In Latin America, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru were vying for three seats, and in Eastern Europe, Albania, Bulgaria and Russia sought two seats.

The vote takes place by secret ballot, testing Russia's contention that it has private support in developing countries weary of the West's billions of dollars in support to Ukraine.

In April 2022, 93 countries voted to suspend Russia from the council, while 24 opposed that punishment.

That vote against Russia was less lopsided than other resolutions defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which drew approval from around 140 countries.

Votes for the Human Rights Council are more complicated as some countries whose own records face scrutiny are uneasy about authorizing repercussions.

- 'Undermine credibility' -

The United States has often criticized the Human Rights Council over its membership and alleged slant against Israel, although President Joe Biden rejoined the group after a pullout by his predecessor Donald Trump.

"Russia's reelection to that body, while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities, would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations," senior US diplomat Robert Wood said.

But Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, insisted that there "are no beacons of democracy or rogue states, as is sometimes being portrayed."

"No member-state can claim to be immune from human rights violations. But the solution is to strengthen international regulation," he said.

Human Rights Watch had called on countries to oppose the candidacies of Russia, China and Cuba.

The international advocacy group's Louis Charbonneau said after the vote that "UN member states sent a strong signal to Russia's leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesn't belong on the Human Rights Council."

China was ultimately reelected with 154 votes while Cuba also retained its seat with 146 votes.

China faced little risk as it was one of the four countries in the Asian group vying for four open seats, alongside Japan, Indonesia and Kuwait.

The United States and several other Western governments say China is committing genocide against its mostly Muslim Uyghur minority through massive camps, a charge denied by Beijing.

abd/des/dw/des
(Bloomberg) -- Russias seaborne crude exports slipped back from a 13-week high in the seven days to Oct. 8, keeping four-week average flows in line with the export cut that Moscow pledged to maintain until the end of the year.

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About 3.23 million barrels a day of crude was shipped from Russian ports last week, a decline of about 490,000 barrels a day from the previous seven days, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg show. That reduced the less volatile four-week average to about 3.26 million barrels a day.The drop came after record-equaling shipments from the Arctic port of Murmansk in the previous week were not sustained.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in early August that Moscow would prolong export restrictions at a reduced level of 300,000 barrels a day below their May-June average until the end of the year. Bloomberg calculations indicate that shipments through ports should be running now at about 3.28 million barrels a day.

The dip in volumes dragged down the Kremlins weekly revenues from oil export duties, but the four-week average rose for a 10th straight week, setting a new high for the period since mid-January. Russias rising oil income has called into question the price cap imposed on its exports by the Group of Seven nations and European Union. One of the original architects of the plan suggested those countries need to crack down on Russias evasion of the limit and raise the price cap level, making it a painful but tolerable prospect for Moscow.

Russia has lifted its ban on overseas shipments of gasoline and diesel, introduced to tame surging pump prices at home. The measure has been replaced by punitive export tariffs imposed on so-called gray exporters of a wide range of petroleum products  companies that do not produce their own fuel but buy volumes domestically and re-sell abroad. Shipments resumed from the Baltic port of Primorsk over the weekend.

Russias oil refiners reduced daily processing rates in the first days of October to the lowest in 19 weeks as seasonal maintenance reaches its peak. Thats down by about 460,000 barrels a day, or 8%, from the high seen in July.

Flows by Destination

Russias seaborne crude flows edged lower in the period to Oct. 8 on a four-week average basis to 3.26 million barrels a day, down from 3.3 million barrels a day in the period to Oct. 1. Shipments remain about 580,000 barrels a day below the highs seen between April and June.

All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Those are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through Novorossiysk and the Baltic port of Ust-Luga.

The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export grade. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies. Transit crude is specifically exempted from European Union sanctions.

Observed shipments to Russias Asian customers, including those showing no final destination, edged higher to 2.79 million barrels a day in the four weeks to Oct. 8, from 2.76 million barrels a day in the period to Oct. 1. Thats still well below a peak of about 3.6 million barrels a day seen in the four weeks to May 14.

Even if all of the cargoes on ships without an initial destination eventually end up in India, shipments to the country will still be about 440,000 barrels a day, or 25%, down from their peak in May. Adding the Unknown Asia and Other Unknown volumes to the total for India gives a figure of 1.64 million barrels a day in the four weeks to Oct. 8. Thats the most in three months, but down from a high of 2.15 million barrels a day in the period to May 21.

The equivalent of 261,000 barrels a day was on vessels signaling Port Said or Suez in Egypt, or which are expected to be transferred from one ship to another off the South Korean port of Yeosu. Those voyages typically end at ports in India or China and show up in the chart below as Unknown Asia until a final destination becomes apparent.

The Other Unknown volumes, running at 336,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to Oct. 8, are those on tankers showing no clear destination. Most of those cargoes originate from Russias western ports and go on to transit the Suez Canal, but some could end up in Turkey. Others could be moved from one vessel to another, with most such transfers now taking place in the Mediterranean.

Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries edged lower to about 160,000 barrels a day in the 28 days to Oct. 8, with Bulgaria the sole destination. These figures do not include shipments to Turkey.

A market that consumed about 1.5 million barrels a day of short-haul seaborne crude, coming from export terminals in the Baltic, Black Sea and Arctic has been lost almost completely, to be replaced by long-haul destinations in Asia that are much more costly and time-consuming to serve.

No Russian crude was shipped to northern European countries in the four weeks to Oct. 8.

Exports to Turkey, Russias only remaining Mediterranean customer, slipped to about 210,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to Oct. 8. Flows had topped 425,000 barrels a day in October, before falling sharply after a Group of Seven price cap came into effect in early December.

Flows to Bulgaria, now Russias only Black Sea market for crude, edged down to about 160,000 barrels a day, dropping from the highest levels seen since June 2022. High levels of imports in recent weeks have come despite lawmakers recently approving a motion to end Bulgarias dependence on Russian crude sooner than permitted under a European Union import ban.

Flows by Export Location

Aggregate flows of Russian crude fell back from the previous weeks three-month high to 3.23 million barrels a day in the seven days to Oct. 8. The drop of 490,000 barrels a day was the biggest since July and was driven by the scheduling of shipments from storage facilities at Murmansk.

Figures exclude volumes from Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade.

Vessel-tracking data are cross-checked against port agent reports as well as flows and ship movements reported by other information providers including Kpler and Vortexa Ltd.

Export Revenue

Inflows to the Kremlin's war chest from its crude-export duty slipped to $74 million in the seven days to Oct. 8, while four-week average income edged up to $69 million. The four-week average set a new high for the period since mid-January. Rising oil prices and the rebound in flows are both contributing to the increase in receipts.

Russias government calculates oil taxes  including export duty  using a discount to global benchmark Brent, which sets the floor price for the nations crude for budget purposes. If Russian oil trades above that threshold, the Finance Ministry uses the market price for tax calculations, as has been the case in recent months. The discount used to calculate taxes including export duty is set at $20 a barrel for September and subsequent months.

The duty rate for October has been set at $3.26 a barrel, based on an average Urals price of $77.03 during the calculation period between Aug. 15 and Sept. 14. That was $11.60 a barrel below Brent over the same period. Octobers duty rate sets a new high for the year.

Origin-to-Location Flows

The following charts show the number of ships leaving each export terminal and the destinations of crude cargoes from the four export regions.

A total of 29 tankers loaded 22.6 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to Oct. 8, vessel-tracking data and port agent reports show. Thats down 3.4 million barrels from the previous week.

A rebound in shipments from the Pacific port of De Kastri was more than offset by declines in flows from the Black Sea and the Arctic.

Destinations are based on where vessels signal they are heading at the time of writing, and some will almost certainly change as voyages progress. All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade.

The total volume on ships loading Russian crude from the Baltic terminals was unchanged at 1.56 million barrels a day.

Shipments of Russian crude from Novorossiysk fell to a six-week low of about 330,000 barrels a day.

One cargo of Kazakh crude was loaded at the port during the week, up from none during the previous seven days.

One Aframax tanker completed loading cargoes at the Arctic port of Murmansk in the week to Oct. 8, cutting flows from their record-equaling levels during the previous seven days.

One tanker was entering Murmansk Fjord and two others were drifting outside the port waiting to load at the end of the week.

Twelve tankers loaded at Russias three Pacific export terminals, up by two from the previous week. The volume of crude shipped from the region recovered the loss seen the previous week.

The increase in flows was driven by a rebound in shipments of the Sokol grade from the terminal at De Kastri and one tanker completing loading of Sakhalin Blend crude. Shipments from the Sakhalin Island terminal are running at one every other week.

The volumes heading to unknown destinations are Sokol cargoes that are currently being shuttled to an area off the South Korean port of Yosu from the loading terminal at De Kastri. Most of these are ending up in India.

NOTES

Note: This story forms part of a weekly series tracking shipments of crude from Russian export terminals and the export duty revenues earned from them by the Russian government. Weeks run from Monday to Sunday. The next update will be on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Note: All figures exclude cargoes owned by Kazakhstans KazTransOil JSC, which transit Russia and are shipped from Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga as KEBCO grade crude.

If you are reading this story on the Bloomberg terminal, click here for a link to a PDF file of four-week average flows from Russia to key destinations.

--With assistance from Sherry Su.

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Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya, left, shuffles papers as he listens to Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council as the war in Ukraine and recent attacks by Russia were discussed Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Russia was defeated in its bid to regain a seat in the U.N.s premiere human rights body by a significant majority in Tuesdays election in the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia was competing against Albania and Bulgaria for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council representing the East European regional group.

In the secret ballot vote, Bulgaria got 160 votes, Albania received 123 votes and Russia just 83 votes.

Russia has claimed that it has support from a silent majority, and even though 83 votes came from less than half the 193 U.N. member nations, there is certain to be a concern, especially by Ukraine and its Western allies, that Moscows support was that high.

I think the Russians will be pleased that they persuaded a sizable minority of U.N. members to back them (which) suggests that Moscow is not a total pariah in the U.N. system, despite repeated Western criticism, Richard Gowan, U.N. director of the International Crisis Group, told The Associated Press. That said, the U.S. and Ukraines allies were still able to ensure that Albania and Bulgaria swept the contest for two seats. So, Kyivs friends still have a solid majority in the assembly.

The only other competitive race was in the Latin America and Caribbean group where Cuba, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic defeated Peru for three seats. New York-based Human Rights Watch said Cuba didnt deserve a place on the council because of systematic rights violations including harassment, arbitrary detention, and torture of dissidents but Cuba got the highest number of votes of the four countries  146.

The other closely watched race was in the Asia group where four countries  China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia  were candidates for four seats. Some rights groups also campaigned against Beijing and the size of the vote was closely watched.

Indonesia topped the ballot with 186 votes followed by Kuwait with 183 votes and Japan with 175. China was last with 154 votes.

Human Rights Watch said last week that Chinas rights record should disqualify it from the Human Rights Council. It pointed to last years report by the office of the U.N. human rights commissioner which said Chinas discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.

Two other regional races were also not competitive.

For the four African seats, Malawi got 182 votes followed by Ivory Coast with 181 and Ghana with 179. Burundi, whose rights record was also strongly criticized by Human Rights Watch, was last with 168 votes.

The two Western seats were also uncontested, and the Netherlands topped France with 169 votes compared to 153 votes.

General Assembly President Dennis Francis, who announced the results, congratulated the 15 winners, who will join the Human Rights Council on Jan. 1.

Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watchs U.N. director, said: U.N. member states sent a strong signal to Russias leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesnt belong on the Human Rights Council."

But because two regional slates lacked competition, China and Burundi will be joining the council next year alongside Cuba. Their abysmal rights records should have disqualified them," he said, adding that China's last-place finish suggests that if the Asia race was competitive it would have lost.

But the spotlight in this election was on Russia and its campaign to get back on the Human Rights Council.

Moscows U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the United States on Monday of leading a campaign to prevent their return to the council.

The main phobia of our American colleagues today is electing Russia to the Human Rights Council, Nebenzia told a Security Council meeting called by Ukraine on last weeks strike by a Russian missile on a Ukrainian soldiers wake in a small village that killed 52 people.

The United States and others sent letters to many of the 193 members of the General Assembly urging a vote against Russia, according to diplomats. Felice Gaer, director of the American Jewish Committees Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, was among the non-government letter-writers also urging Russias defeat.

At Mondays council meeting, Albanias U.N. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha also urged those who care about human rights and the credibility of the Human Rights Council and its work to oppose a country that kills innocent people, destroys civilian infrastructure, ports and grain silos and then takes pride in doing so.

U.S. deputy ambassador, Robert Wood told the Security Council that Russias re-election to the Human Rights Council while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations.

In April 2022, less than two months after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly voted 93-24 with 58 abstentions on a U.S.-initiated resolution to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council over allegations that its soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the U.S. and Ukraine called war crimes.

Human Rights Watch last week urged U.N. members to deny a seat on the rights council to Russia, saying its forces in Ukraine continue to commit apparent war crimes, including unlawful attacks, and crimes against humanity such as torture and summary executions. President Vladimir Putin and his childrens rights commissioner are also sought by the International Criminal Court for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children, it said.

The Human Rights Council was created in 2006 to replace a commission discredited because of some members poor rights records. But the new council soon came to face similar criticism, including that rights abusers sought seats to protect themselves and their allies.

The council reviews the human rights records of all countries periodically, appoints independent investigators to examine and report on issues like torture and situations in countries like North Korea and Iran. It also sends fact-finding missions to investigate rights violations, including in Ukraine.

Under the councils rules, its 47 seats are allocated to regional groups to ensure geographical representation. Members are elected yearly by the General Assembly for staggered three-year terms that begin Jan. 1.

In last years election, Venezuela, South Korea and Afghanistan lost contested races, but countries including Vietnam and Sudan, which have been accused of having abysmal human rights records, won seats.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the United Nations believes all countries elected to the Human Rights Council this year have therefore earned their right to be there.

They then need to show and demonstrate while theyre on the Human Rights Council their respect for human rights, he said.

___

This story corrects that China received 154 votes, not 164 votes.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya

The United Nations General Assembly has rejected Russias application to regain its former seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 20242026 term, Polands representation at the UN announced via Twitter on Oct. 10.

Russia received 83 votes, falling short of the required 97 votes. Bulgaria was supported by 160 votes, and Albania by 123. All 193 members of the UN General Assembly in New York participated in the vote.

Read also: European Council president outlines conditions for Ukraine's potential EU membership by 2030

As a result, Albania and Bulgaria will join the UN Human Rights Council. In addition to them, 13 other member countries are set to join the body for a two-year term. These countries include Brazil, Burundi, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi, and the Netherlands.

Read also: Human rights court dismisses Russia's claims against Ukraine

On Sept. 26, Moscow announced its bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

On April 7, 2022, the UN General Assembly supported the decision to exclude Russia from the UN Human Rights Council due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ninety-three countries voted in favor of the resolution, with 24 against, and 58 abstentions.

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Ukraine is accusing Russia of seeking to exploit the Hamas attacks on Israel.

It says Russia is handing Ukrainian weapons to Hamas fighters.

It's a ploy to undermine international support for Ukraine, says Kyiv.

Ukrainian intelligence accused Russia of a plot to place "trophy" Western weapons seized from battlefields in Ukraine with the Hamas militant group to undermine international support for Kyiv, according to a report.

On Saturday, Hamas militants attacked Israeli border defenses and killed thousands in towns and military bases near the Gaza border in the he worst breach in Israel's defenses for decades.

The attacks were seized upon by the Kremlin to launch a disinformation campaign, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

"The aggressor state, Russia, is using the attack by Hamas terrorists on the state of Israel for a large-scale provocation against Ukraine," the Ukrainian military intelligence said, according to the report.

"Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is aware that Russian intelligence has already delivered trophy weapons manufactured in the US and EU and captured during the hostilities in Ukraine to Hamas militants. "The next step in the Russians' plan should be false accusations against the Ukrainian military of allegedly selling Western weapons to terrorists on a regular basis." Shortly after the statement Dmitry Medvedev , Russia's former president, sought to draw the connection between Ukraine and Hamas that Kyiv had warned about. "The weapons handed over to the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine are being actively used in Israel," Medvedev wrote on Telegram. "Later on, like the weapons left behind by the fugitive Americans in Afghanistan, they will be used uncontrollably in all hot spots," it said. An anchor on Russian state media outlet RT's Arabic channel repeatedly sought to question an Israel Defense Forces spokesman about the allegations Ukraine supplied Western weapons to Hamas in an interview Monday, claims the official rejected as "fabrications and lies." Russia has sought to blame the conflict between Israel and Hamas on the West and portray itself as a moderating force in the region. But Kremlin propagandists have also celebrated the outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas, claiming that it will distract the US and its allies from Ukraine, where they have provided billions in aid to help battle the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy has likened the Hamas attack on Israel to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia has long had close relations with Iran, Hamas' main backer, in what analysts say is part of a strategy to challenge US influence in the Middle East. Russian officials have repeatedly met with the leaders of Hamas, which it does not designate as a terror group, in an apparent bid to influence negotiations between Palestinians and Israel.

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Russian troops targeted Ukraines south with 36 kamikaze drones overnight on Oct. 10, the Air Force reported. Air defenses shot down a total of 27 Shahed drones in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblasts.

The attack on Odesa Oblast lasted for three hours, with transport infrastructure hit and 23 drones destroyed, according to Governor Oleh Kiper. No casualties were reported.

Kiper didn't provide further details on the struck facility and the scale of the damages.

Another drone was downed over neighboring Mykolaiv Oblast, Governor Vitalii Kim said on Telegram. He didnt report any damages or casualties.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russian drone downed by Ukraine is full of Western components

Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin also reported Russian attempted drone strike on the region, saying that its air defenses shot down three drones.

According to the Air Force, Russia launched the drones from the Cape Chauda in the southeastern part of occupied Crimea.

On Oct. 8, the Air Force's spokesperson Yuri Ihnat said Russia will likely launch a record number of Iranian-made kamikaze drones against Ukraine in the coming fall and winter months.

The official pointed out that Russian forces launched over 500 Shahed-type drones in attacks against Ukraine in September alone.

Read also: Zelensky: Russia will try to destroy Ukraines energy infrastructure this winter

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The Russian government is pursuing the withdrawal of its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: The institute's analysts, citing Reuters, reported that the leadership of the Russian State Duma [lower chamber of the Russian parliament] had instructed the Duma's International Affairs Committee to discuss the process of revoking Russia's ratification of the treaty by 18 October.

Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the possibility of Russia withdrawing its ratification of the treaty for the first time on 5 October.

ISW has previously assessed that the Kremlin is using nuclear rhetoric to encourage the United States and its allies to pressure Ukraine to negotiate. The possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine remains unlikely.

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In Norway, they said that the tactical nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation pose a serious threat

A rather alarming and dangerous trend

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon has just over $5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. According to the newspaper, this money may be enough for only a few months. Let me explain how to evaluate these figures. We should not look at these things too simplistically. It's not a bank account or a pile of dollars. These are much more complicated processes, because we know this is a budget within which existing weapons in the US Armed Forces' stockpiles can be transferred. In return, compensation from production then restores the reserves.

This is more than just a process of regular purchases. So we should not calculate the averages, or what we spent in previous months and how long it will last. But in any case, the issue of international support is becoming more worrisome. Apart from purely budgetary issues, we know what is happening in the United States. The political situation there is a problem for Ukrainians. But there are still many opportunities to salvage the relationship. Meanwhile, improving our relationship with the US will also help us with the rest of our allies.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed something that should not have happened  the deterioration of relations between Ukraine and Poland: unnecessary discussions, debates, and mutual demarches. The results of the elections in Slovakia are something that Ukraine cannot influence. Still, at least, we should focus on minimizing the adverse aspects of their incoming government. I would also like to mention a letter sent to the Ukrainian authorities regarding the conditions for continued support from the United States. That is, it is directly linked to the fact that Ukraine must fulfill certain obligations for the support of the United States to be guaranteed.

How will the architecture of Western support, primarily military support, look like next year?

It is difficult to predict. On the one hand, there are constant statements and confirmations that our partners will support us for as long as necessary. Then, when we or someone tries to get specifics on what "as long as necessary" means and how they see it, various nuances and political reservations begin to emerge about whether a convincing military defeat of Russia can be allowed, which could lead to a collapse, and so on and so forth. But these are variables that Ukraine can control only to a certain extent.

All of this should be checked against the main goal, which is Ukraine's strategy to win the war

The fact that support may weaken is a natural process, and many people have also warned about this. There is war fatigue (so they say) in the West. They have priorities that may also affect the redistribution of these resources. But there are also ways to minimize such risks, at least. First of all, this is what I have already mentioned, that every effort should be made to prevent such excesses with our closest sincere partners. When discussing, for example, some of Ukraine's trade or political priorities, all of this should be checked against the main goal, which is Ukraine's strategy to win the war. Does it work to achieve this goal, or is it counterproductive?

The second point I would also like to mention is that we are dealing with partners who are established, developed democracies. A lot depends on public opinion there. This is another area we need to work on constantly to ensure that Western societies support Ukraine. It will influence politicians and their priorities. So, these areas need to be worked on constantly, which will protect us to some extent from unpleasant surprises with international support.

Recently, the defense industry held a forum in Ukraine. There were reports about how many countries and how many companies were present. Not necessarily everyone present will start these investments or joint ventures immediately, just as those who were absent can still be fruitful partners. I want to mention Poland again. Even if there were no representatives of Polish companies there, Poland is one of our most promising partners in the field of defense cooperation.

At the same time, at least two key issues may prevent Western investors and businesses from entering Ukraine. The first is the security aspect. Again, this is something where Ukraine has limited influence. Although it is also being worked on, there is serious evidence that Ukraine is progressing. Despite all these constant attacks on the territory, Ukraine can repair and produce new equipment.

Read also: Three scenarios the West is trying to avoid in Ukraine

The second is the investment climate. Again, I want to mention that letter. However, it is only a draft. It was unofficially published in the Ukrainian media. Still, it clearly outlines the essence of the problem that can prevent foreign investors from coming here more than even Russian missile or drone strikes. That is, until Ukraine has a favorable climate regarding justice and interference of law enforcement agencies in business activities, it is premature to say that joint defense enterprises will be seriously developed.

Der Spiegel writes that Ukraine has become the largest buyer of German weapons this year. In less than ten months, purchases amounted to 3.3 billion euros. Let's look back over at least a year, let alone two. Germany has simply revolutionized its approach to helping Ukraine and, in the broader context, changing its foreign policy to provide international support. Today, if we start listing or mentioning at least a few examples, look at the tanks and anti-aircraft systems. German weapons are probably one of the most critical elements of the current and future Ukrainian military security system.

Therefore, of course, we should be very interested in the entry of German defense companies into the Ukrainian market. We should focus on something other than just procurement here because it is likely not about direct purchases but transfers. The vital issue is Ukraine's solvency. Currently, the funds used to cover these defense procurements or transfers are an extreme situation. However, in the future, Ukraine should be able to either pay for it from its own budget or secure external financing. For example, as the United States does for several countries. Or it could set up its own production. This should be done in a complex program.

The head of the German parliament's defense committee, Marie-Agnes Straka-Zimmermann, believes that Ukraine has the right to use German Taurus cruise missiles against military targets in Russia. I am sure we will eventually pass this stage if there are such statements. We remember when Ukraine was not allowed to receive any lethal weapons at all, because it would escalate the conflict. We remember that Ukraine could not receive tanks and airplanes because it would escalate the conflict and cause a nuclear disaster. By the way, an excellent article was recently published, I will not advertise this publication; that compiles two years of what steps were taken, how these Russian red lines have moved, and how frequent these statements were. So, according to this infographic, somewhere in the last two months, Russia has practically stopped being able to scare anyone because all these red lines have constantly been successfully moved. As we can see, except for bluffing, fortunately, Russia can no longer do anything like that.

As for whether there will be a permit for how to use weapons, there was no formal ban, which means that this is an agreement, so there is no need to give permission. It can be a diplomatic game, that is, making some agreed statements, almost a protest, but the missiles will be used for military purposes against the Russian Federation, which are absolutely legitimate during the war.

Read also: Putin sent Russia into a tailspin

The New York Times writes that Russia is preparing to test an experimental cruise missile with a nuclear warhead, the Burevestnik. The last time Russia conducted any nuclear tests was near the village of Nyonoksi in the Arkhangelsk region, and there was an incident there that left everything contaminated with radiation. About a dozen and a half attempts to conduct these tests failed. During the last test, some of the test designers died. How this time will end, if there will be any tests at all, or how they end; well, let's just wait and see.

As for this idea of developing nuclear-powered missiles, such attempts were made many decades ago, including in the United States, and they were stopped because it is essentially a flying Chornobyl. This holds no matter where the missile goes, where it hits, at what stage it explodes, or even if it is a failed launch. That is, this is a Chornobyl that will be dispersed along the entire flight path of this missile. So, in general, this weapon should not be developed further, let alone be used.

Russia may be doing this as a bluff. Just as the use or the possibility of a thermonuclear explosion in the upper atmosphere, the use of tactical nuclear weapons to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south is being discussed in the Russian information space as something normal. That is, on the one hand, this may be a bluff. But, on the other hand, Russia often ends up believing its own propaganda. That is a rather disturbing and dangerous trend.

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(CNN)  Bad Bunny announced on Monday that hes releasing a new album this week titled Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Manana (Nobody Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow).

El dia mas esperado por muchos ya llego (The day most anticipated by many has arrived), the Puerto Rican musician wrote on his Instagram page Monday.

The album announcement included a short video featuring the Grammy winner, whose name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, walking through a group of photographers on the street as he enters a restaurant. Greeted by a maitre d inside, he reveals himself and debuts a snazzy new buzz cut as he flashes a big smile.

On his Instagram stories, Martinez posted pre-order links on Apple Music and Spotify for the 22-track album, including the previously released tracks Where She Goes and Un Preview.

I am playing around and enjoying myself, letting go, Martinez told Vanity Fair last month, adding, Im being inspired a lot by the music of the 70sbut Im not sure if this is going to shape my music, generally or just one song.

Martinezs announcement comes on the heels of what proved to be a huge year for the musician, with Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Manana being the hotly anticipated follow up to his massively successful 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti.

Un Verano Sin Ti was nominated for the album of the year Grammy in 2022, and his hit single Moscow Mule was nominated for best pop solo performance. He was also Spotifys most-streamed artist worldwide for the third year in a row.

Its impossible that the album that comes after Un Verano Sin Ti will sound like itnever, ever, he told the publication. I am always going to look for a way to do something new.

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Manana will be available to stream on Friday.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Bad Bunny announces new album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Manana"
Russian forces shelled four communities of Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on Oct. 9, local authorities reported on Telegram.

Sumy Oblast Military Administration recorded 17 explosions from five attacks conducted by artillery, mortar, and unguided missiles.

Sumy is located about 50 kilometers from the Russian border and has been the target of near-daily shelling and other aerial bombardments since its liberation by Ukraine in April 2022.

The communities of Krasnopillia, Bilopillia, Khotin, and Velyka Pysarivka were targeted. There was no information on casualties or damages in the region at the time of the publication.

In the meantime, Sumy Mayor Oleksandr Lysenko was removed from his position until Dec. 9, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ruled on Oct. 9. On Oct. 2, Lysenko and Oleksandr Zhurba, the head of the city's infrastructure department, were detained for allegedly accepting a bribe of Hr 1.4 million ($38,000).

If convicted, the officials could face up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia provides Hamas with Western weapons captured in Ukraine, Kyiv says

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The Kremlin will likely wait until after the next election to announce any mobilizations, the UK MOD said.

It will be an unpopular move, so will likely only happen after the March 2024 election, it said.

Putin hasn't announced his candidacy yet, but "will almost certainly run again," the MOD added.

Russia doesn't want to announce an "unpopular" big mobilization of troops until after its next presidential election, according to UK intelligence.

The UK Ministry of Defence noted that Russia's next presidential election is due to take place on March 17, 2024, saying in an intelligence update on Tuesday that "in the build-up to the election, the Kremlin will almost certainly seek to minimise unpopular policy moves."

"It is therefore highly unlikely that any further mobilisation wave will be implemented before the March 2024 presidential election," it said.

Russia has only announced one major mobilization since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, calling up 300,000 reservists in September 2022.

That was met by an exodus of young Russians from the country, and some protests within Russia.

Experts have previously said that President Vladimir Putin wants to avoid another big call-up, fearing a backlash among the Russian population.

Russia has adopted more subtle methods to boost its troop numbers, including increasing the age that men can be called up to fight, recruiting migrant workers already in the country, and bringing in others from neighboring nations.

Putin has not yet announced that he will seek a new term in office, but the UK MOD said he "will almost certainly run again."

Putin has already served four terms as Russia's president, his first two between 2000 and 2008, and two more since 2012.

In 2021, Putin signed a law that would allow him to run for two more terms and stay in power until 2036  a move critics said essentially made him "president for life."

Putin's past opponents have frequently been jailed or have died in mysterious circumstances, and elections in Russia aren't considered free, with allegations of fraud, manipulation, and interference.

The UK MOD said that, despite this, the election process remains "a core tool of political legitimisation" for the Kremlin.

The MOD added that Putin will likely use his upcoming election campaign to demonstrate just cause for his recent actions, which have included the invasion of Ukraine and a crackdown on domestic dissents.

"It is almost certain that Putin's election campaign will focus on the theme of Russia as a separate civilisation in need of defence from external enemies  a narrative frequently used to justify the state's actions and Putin's consolidation of power," it said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian multi-weapon attacks against Ukraine killed one civilian and wounded another 11 over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on Oct. 10.

A total of 10 Ukrainian oblasts were targeted  Sumy, Odesa, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson. Casualties were reported in the last three regions.

On the morning of Oct. 10, Russian missile strike on the village of Velykyi Burluk in Kharkiv Oblast injured three civilians, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram. The day before, Russian attacks against multiple regional settlements damaged a household and a power line, according to Syniehubov.

Ukraines air defenses shot down 27 out of 36 kamikaze drones Russia launched at the countrys south overnight, the Air Force reported. Transport infrastructure in Odesa Oblast was hit, but there were no casualties.

Read also: The dead villages: Hope and despair side-by-side in the liberated south

On Oct. 9, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one person and wounded another four, acting Governor Ihor Moroz reported.

The same day, Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 79 times, injuring four people, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor. Residential areas, a library and a cultural facility were reportedly hit in the region.

Russian shelling of the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast damaged at least 10 houses, 11 farm buildings, a hotel, a medical facility, gas and power supply lines, said Governor Serhii Lysak.

The Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration said on Oct. 10 that it had received 29 reports about damages to houses and infrastructure facilities due to Russian attacks in the past day. Russia hit 21 regional settlements using artillery, aviation, drones and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to the administration.

Russian shelling of Mykolaiv Oblasts village of Dmytrivka on the morning of Oct. 9 damaged an administrative building, school, houses and farm buildings, reported Governor Vitalii Kim.

Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral

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Russian-Belarusian covert plot near Polish border revealed by Ukraines NRC

An agreement has been reached between Russias FSB Federal Security Service and the Belarusian State Security Committee or KGB to conduct a false flag operation against a target in Belarus, and to blame Ukraine for the act, Ukraines National Resistance Center or NRC has claimed.

The NRC said the hostile special services had chosen the Brestoblnefteprodukt oil base near the settlement of Pryluky in Brest Oblast, approximately 2 kilometers from the Belarusian-Polish border, as the target for the false flag attack.

The plan, as described by the NRC, involves the deployment of an explosive device using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Belarusian underground sources report that reconnaissance flights over potential targets were conducted by militants from Russias Wagner mercenary company in August of this year.

Read also:

The NRC emphasized that Ukrainian Defense Forces exclusively operate within Ukraines territory and suggested that such a provocation might be necessary for the Russians to reduce international support for Kyiv.

Previously, the SBU warned that Russia intends to use Wagner mercenaries to involve Belarus in a full-scale war against Ukraine.

Read also: Poland, Latvia, Lithuania may close borders with Belarus if critical incident occurs

During that period, it was reported that the aggressor country was preparing a provocation under a false flag at a strategic facility in Belarus, specifically the Mozyr Oil Refinery.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The National Resistance Center of Ukraine (NRC) reports that the special services of Russia and Belarus are planning to drop explosives on a Belarusian oil depot in order to blame Ukrainians for it.

Source: National Resistance Center

Quote: "The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) and The State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus (KGB RB) have agreed to conduct a false-flag operation against a facility in the territory of Belarus to then blame Ukraine for it.

As of now, the facility that is being considered is the Brestoblnefteproduct oil depot near the settlement of Pryluki in Brest Oblast in Belarus, which is not far (2 km away) from the Belarusian-Polish border. Their plan is to drop explosives with a UAV."

Details: According to the information which NRC acquired from Belarusian partisans, the alleged target was investigated by Wagnerites aerial reconnaissance in August of this year.

The NRC stresses that the Defence Forces of Ukraine act exclusively on the territory of Ukraine and "the Russians need this provocation to decrease the level of support for our state".

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Court rejects complaint by US reporter Gershkovich against pre-trial detention in Russia

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian court on Tuesday dismissed a complaint by U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich against the extension of his pre-trial detention, more than six months after his arrest on spying charges which he denies.

Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that carry up to 20 years in prison.

Gershkovich, wearing jeans with a dark shirt over a white T-shirt, smiled quizzically from a glass box in court at journalists who were allowed to photograph him before the closed hearing. FSB officers, some in masks, looked on.

Judge Yuri Pasyunin said the Moscow city court had decided to leave intact an earlier court decision to extend his pre-trial detention.

"The appeal complaint is left without satisfaction," Pasyunin said. Reporters were allowed to listen to the court's decision via a video link in a different part of the court house.

The decision essentially means that Gershkovich, 31, will remain in detention. No date has been set for his trial.

Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be detained on spy charges in Russia since the Cold War over three decades ago. American diplomats attended the Moscow courthouse.

Russia has said Gershkovich was caught "red-handed" while the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said he was trying to obtain military secrets.

The White House has called the charges "ridiculous" and President Joe Biden has said Gershkovich's detention is "totally illegal". The Wall Street Journal denies the charges and has called for his immediate release, as has his family.

Russia has yet to make any evidence in the case public. Tuesday's hearing was closed due to the case containing materials classified as secret.

"As expected, the court yet again denied his appeal," the Journal said in a statement.

"It has now been more than six months since Evans unjust arrest, and we are outraged that he continues to be wrongfully detained. The accusation against him is categorically false, and we call for his immediate release."

A fluent Russian-speaker born to Soviet emigres and raised in New Jersey, Gershkovich moved to Moscow in late 2017 to join the English-language Moscow Times, and subsequently worked for the French news agency Agence France-Presse.

Russia announced the start of its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022, just as Gershkovich was in London, about to return to Russia to join the Journal's Moscow bureau.

It was decided that he would live in London but travel to Russia frequently for reporting trips, as a correspondent accredited with the Foreign Ministry.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones and Mark Heinrich)
Russia will revoke its ratification of an international nuclear testing ban, but it would only start tests if the U.S. did first, a senior Russian official told state media on Tuesday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia will mirror the U.S. position on the treaty by rescinding its ratification, The Associated Press reported. The U.S. signed the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, but it was never ratified in Congress.

Rybakovs announcement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that Russia would pull out of the treaty last week. The country recently tested a new nuclear-powered missile system, Putin said.

On Friday, the Russian lower house speaker said the move was in retaliation for U.S. support of Ukraine.

Washington and Brussels have unleashed a war against our country, Vyacheslav Volodin said. Todays challenges require new decisions.

It conforms with our national interests, he continued. And it will come as a quid pro quo response to the United States, which has still failed to ratify the treaty.

Defense analysts have theorized the timing of the test ban change could put pressure on the U.S. and Western allies to stop backing Ukraine.

Ryabkov said the change in policy is in response to a lack of action from the U.S. on the treaty.

We believe that the 23 years that we have been waiting for something to change in Washington in terms of ratification are quite a sufficient time for this step to be made, he said. Regrettably, no indications that the U.S. is going to follow this path are visible, and so we have no choice but to balance our position.

He pointed to Putins earlier order to make the countrys nuclear testing range ready for resuming tests, emphasizing that the resumption of tests is possible if the U.S. conducts a test.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Journalists have found evidence that Russian Defence Intelligence is recruiting mercenaries for the so-called Redut Private Military Company (PMC) under the guise of recruiting "volunteers", and also established which officials are involved in this.

Source: investigation by Radio Liberty

Details: The journalists identified a hundred Redut PMC fighters, established the units within it, found out their contract signing financial conditions, and also discovered who gave them orders and directly supervised them from the Russian intelligence side.

Radio Svoboda reported that the connection with Russian intelligence is proved by the Redut PMC internal documents obtained by journalists and in which the fighters indicate that they are subordinate to Russian intelligence.

This is, in particular, a report on the losses of the Redut unit called Volki (Wolves). Or the certificate issued to one of the fighters with an indicated number of a military unit, which, according to the journalists' analysis, is part of another military unit  21208. It is part of the special forces of Russian Defence Intelligence which has been fighting in Ukraine since 2015.

PHOTO: RADIO SVOBODA

Also, at least four identified fighters from the Volki unit are former or current intelligence employees.

Journalists also talked to a dozen people who recruit fighters for various divisions within the Redut and how potential recruits discovered that the so-called PMC is supervised and financed by Russian intelligence.

Radio Svoboda managed to talk to several Redut PMC fighters, who were captured by Ukrainian soldiers in 2022 and were later convicted of torturing Kherson Oblast residents. These are Ruslan Kolesnikov (Bulat), Mihail Ivanov (Pokrov), Valentin Bich (Rashyd) and Maksim Volvak (Eskadra).

They said they were going to serve in the Russian 16th Separate Guards Spetsnaz Brigade. The base of this brigade is located near Tambov, and, as the investigation found, PMC fighters undergo training there before being sent to Ukraine.

The journalists also named Colonel Alexey Kondratiev as one of the main curators of the so-called volunteer corps under Russian intelligence, which includes Redut officers and Vladimir Alekseyev, Deputy Chief of Russian intelligence, who is the main initiator of the creation of the so-called PMC.

Neither Vladimir Alekseye and Alexey Kondratiev, nor the Russian Defence Ministry, nor Dmitry Peskov, Spokesperson for the Russian President, answered the journalists' questions.

Radio Svobda said Sergey Drozdov is most likely responsible for recruiting mercenaries for the so-called PMC and for volunteer formations.

With the help of analysis of internal documents, the Russian militarys accounts on social media, data from private Russian bases, and satellite images of Ukraines territory, the journalists also managed to establish the path of this formation through Ukraines territory after 24 February: part of the Redut PMC troops took part in combat operations in Kyiv Oblast, and later in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Background:

On 21 September 2022, Putin announced "partial mobilisation" in the Russian Federation. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that 300,000 people would be mobilised.

The Kremlin stressed that they would not mobilise more than 300,000 people.

The media learned that as part of the mobilisation in Russia, the country would draft 1.2 million people. Putin denied this information.

In late October, Putin said the "partial mobilisation" was over.

In September 2023, in keeping his promise that Russia would not mobilise more than 300,000 people, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that another 270,000 Russians had signed contracts to serve as "volunteers".

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is planning a visit to Moscow, Russian news outlet RBK claimed on Oct. 9.

Abdel Hafiz Nofal, Palestine's ambassador to Russia, reportedly said that plans for the visit are underway, but the date has not been set.

"We are awaiting an official statement from the Kremlin, from the Russian side, on when the visit will take place. An agreement has been reached that Mr. Abbas will come here to Moscow," Nofal said.

On Oct. 7, Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a massive missile attack on Israel, resulting in hundreds of casualties.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and launched retaliatory strikes against Gaza. As of Oct. 9, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 687 Palestinian casualties.

Ukrainian military intelligence reported on Oct. 9 that Russia has sent weapons captured in Ukraine to Hamas, with plans to claim the arms were sold by Ukraine.

Russian politicians have also claimed that Western support for Ukraine in part caused the fighting in Israel and Palestine.

Human Rights Watch has labeled the Hamas strike against Israeli civilians a violation of international law, and has also called Israel's collective punishment against civilians in Gaza a war crime.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia provides Hamas with Western weapons captured in Ukraine, Kyiv says

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A Russian laboratory module, called "Nauka," at the International Space Station has sprung a coolant leak. It is the third leak at ISS in less than a year. Photo courtesy of NASA

Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A Russian module on the International Space Station has sprung a coolant leak, the third leak at the ISS in less than a year as officials reassured Monday that the crew is not in danger.

The leak was reported Monday afternoon by Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to NASA space station crew member Jasmin Moghbeli , the commander of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission and current ISS flight engineer.

"We're seeing flakes outside. Need a crew to go to the cupola, look toward the aft side, we think windows five or six, and confirm any visual flakes," mission control instructed the crew.

"Yeah, there's a leak coming from the radiator on the MLM," Moghbeli replied, as she revealed the source of the leak.

The MLM is the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, also called "Nauka," which means science, that launched on a Russian Proton rocket in July 2021.

Moghbeli was then instructed to close the cupola shutters in the module to prevent its windows from becoming covered by the spilling coolant.

The U.S. side of the space station was also instructed to close its gym and lab shutters. ISS Commander and European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen confirmed to Mission Control, about 20 minutes later, that the shutters were closed.

According to a translated version of a message posted on social media after the leak was found, "The main thermal control circuit of the module operates normally and provides comfortable conditions in the living area of the module. The crew and the station are not in danger."

Monday's leak is the third leak to hit the Russian side of ISS in the past year.

In December, there was a leak from the rear of a docked Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, believed to have been caused by a small space rock. The space ship returned to Earth unmanned, forcing two Russians and an American to stay aboard ISS for a year before another vehicle safely returned them to Earth on Sept. 27.

In February, another leak was found in the Russian Progress MS-21 cargo ship, while it was docked at ISS.

The Russian space team Roscosmos has discounted concerns about a manufacturing flaw and concluded instead that the leaks were caused by micrometeoroids or orbital debris.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  Love team Donny Pangilinan and Bellle Mariano, popularly known as DonBelle, shared what it was like portraying their characters and the story behind their first primetime series "Can't Buy Me Love."

"People might expect a rom-com here, which it is, but that's not the only thing that this story has, it's so much more than that," Panglinan told CNN Philippines' New Day.

"Can't Buy Me Love" tells the story of Bingo (played by Pangilinan), who's working hard to provide for his loved ones, and Caroline (played by Mariano), a Chinese woman from a wealthy family.

Mariano said the series revolves around a rich girl meeting a guy from Binondo "and from two different worlds, how they will make things work." The fans should also expect a bit of mystery and twists, she added.

Both actors said it was the first time for them to play the roles they are portraying in the TV series.

"I just love the fact that I'm able to portray someone who's so far from me in real life," Pangilinan said.

Mariano said she even had to learn to speak Mandarin for the role.

"Can't Buy Me Love" was directed by Mae Cruz Alviar. It will start streaming on Netflix on Oct. 13 ahead of its TV airing on Oct. 16.
The Russian forces have attacked Odesa Oblast with Shahed kamikaze drones; 23 Russian UAVs have been destroyed over the oblast but hits to logistics infrastructure have occurred.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Kiper: "Our air defence forces destroyed 23 Shaheds over Odesa Oblast. There are hits to logistics infrastructure."

Details: The official noted that there were no casualties in the attack. At the same time, he urged people not to ignore the air-raid warning and to take shelter.

Background: Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that the Russians had attacked Ukraine with 36 Shahed UAVs on the night of 9-10 October, 27 of which had been shot down.

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53 people were killed, and 6 children were orphaned as a result of a Russian missile strike on a cafe in the village of Hroza, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast on 10 October

Details: Syniehubov said that local authorities are currently in contact with the children's relatives.

"If necessary, we use the institution of adoption, because there is a large number of offers from Ukrainian families ready to provide support to the children," he said.

Background: On 5 October, the Russians attacked a cafe in the village of Hroza, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast, where a wake for a deceased soldier was taking place.

So far, 53 people are known to have been killed. Syniehubov said that five more people are currently missing. There are also unidentified bodies.

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The Russians attacked Bakhmut and Pokrovsk districts in Donetsk Oblast and wounded three people, including a 16-year-old girl.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote: "According to the investigation, on 10 October 2023, the Russian army attacked the village of Nelipivka, Bakhmut district, presumably with artillery. A 59-year-old local resident had his arm broken as a result of the explosion in the yard of his own home."

Details: The Russians also attacked the town of Krasnohorivka and the village of Katerynivka. A 16-year-old girl and a 75-year-old woman sustained multiple shrapnel wounds.

Background:

On 10 October, the Russians attacked the village of Uhroidy in Sumy Oblast and killed a 13-year-old child, who died in an ambulance on the way to Sumy Hospital.

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Oleksandr Tarnavskyi , Commander of the Tavriia Operative-Strategic Group of Forces, reported on 9 October that the Russians have stepped up their activity on the Tavriia front.

Source: Tarnavskyi on Telegram

Quote: "The occupiers have increased their activity  fighting is ongoing on the Tavriia front.

In the last 24 hours, the enemy has launched 19 air strikes, conducted 26 combat encounters and launched 705 artillery attacks.

Rocket forces and artillery from the Tavriia group of forces have completed 1,415 fire missions in a day. The enemys total losses were 169 people."

Details: Ukrainian defenders on this front managed to destroy seven pieces of Russian military equipment: a tank, three artillery systems and three vehicles.

Two Russian ammunition storage points were also destroyed.

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In the evening report on 10 October, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Russian army had intensified its offensive on the Avdiivka front with up to three battalions supported by tanks and armoured vehicles.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The offensive actions are taking place near Avdiivka, Tonenke, Keramik and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 16 Russian attacks near Synkivka and five attacks near Ivanivka, Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Lyman front, the defence forces repelled five Russian attacks near Makiivka, Luhansk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut front, Ukraines defence forces repelled the Russian attacks in the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka and Andriivka, Donetsk Oblast.

On the Marinka front, during the day, the defence forces successfully repelled nine Russian attacks in Marinka, Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, the defence forces repelled Russian attacks in the settlements of Inzhenerne and Verbove, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Quote: "At the same time, the Defence Forces of Ukraine continue the offensive operation on the Melitopol front, offensive (assault) actions on the Bakhmut front, causing losses to the occupation forces in manpower and equipment, and exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.

During the day, 75 military clashes took place. Additionally, the Russian Federation attacked civilian homes in the village of Velykyi Burluk, Kharkiv Oblast, with an S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile.

In total, the enemy launched two missile attacks and 62 airstrikes, carried out more than 30 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of our troops and settlements."

Details: During the day, the aviation of the Defence Forces carried out 11 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and five strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems belonging to the Russians. They also destroyed a Russian Su-25 fighter jet and seven reconnaissance UAVs.

Units of the Rocket and Artillery Forces hit a control point, an ammunition depot, three clusters of personnel, weapons and military equipment, seven artillery systems and a Russian electronic warfare station.

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Rwanda's asylum system is so poor that it is biased against many people who could be genuine refugees, say lawyers for the United Nations' Refugee Agency.

The warning came on the second day of the UK government's appeal over its controversial plan to send some asylum seekers to the African country.

The Court of Appeal ruled the scheme unlawful in June.

But ministers say it meets the legal test for treating people humanely.

During a 16-month long battle over the government's plan to send some small boat migrants to Rwanda, evidence from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has become increasingly pivotal to whether the country meets a complex legal test of a safe country.

On Tuesday, its barristers told five Supreme Court justices there was no evidence Rwanda had improved its treatment of asylum seekers, even though it had given the British government detailed assurances of fair treatment.

The UN knew of Afghans who had been turned around at Kigali airport and sent home weeks before the UK deal had been struck in April 2022.

Laura Dubinsky KC, for the UN agency, said Syrians and Eritreans had also been expelled without considering the risks they would face.

The key institutions and practices behind those decisions were still operating despite the deal with the UK, she argued.

While ministers in Kigali may have signed the migration partnership in good faith, the security officials deciding the fate of would-be refugees followed their own rules, the court heard.

On Monday, lawyers for the home secretary told the Supreme Court Rwanda could be trusted to treat any asylum seekers sent to the country humanely.

Sir James Eadie KC told the Supreme Court there was "every reason to conclude" that Rwanda would want the arrangements to work.

He said the country had every reputational and financial incentive to treat asylum seekers well - and that even if there were genuine concerns, extensive monitoring had been put in place.

A government official would be permanently stationed in Kigali to make the deal work and also to flag concerns. There would also be further independent monitoring of what happened to each migrant, he said.

These arrangements, alongside the detailed written commitments given to the UK under the 140m scheme, meant there was no legal reason to interfere with the plan, the government argued.
A Sacramento man died early Tuesday after crashing into a metal fence in El Dorado Hills, the California Highway Patrol said.

Officers responded to Green Valley Road, east of Sophia Parkway, to reports of a collision just after midnight, said Officer Andrew Brown, a spokesman for the Placerville CHP. When they arrived they found a Mercedes-Benz sedan that had come to rest off the road and sustained major damage.

After investigating the crash site, officers learned the sedan had been traveling at a high rate of speed and, for unknown reasons, turned off the road and crashed into a rod iron fence, according to a news release. The vehicle continued to career down an embankment and collided with a second fence.

The driver was transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center but later died of his injuries. CHP identified him as Ahmad Noori, 23.

Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash, CHP said.
The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office signed up for a $14,000-a-year social media management platform in March, documents released through a Public Records Act request show.

The platform, Hootsuite, centralizes social profiles, facilitates scheduled posts and monitors trends; it also informs users about what posting times could lead to more likes, comments and reposts.

In its June budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors, the sheriff asked for $20,000 to pay for the service in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The software, the law enforcement agency wrote, would allow the Sheriffs Office (SSO) to manage all social media accounts in one place.

The contract between the county and Hootsuite, which was released to The Sacramento Bee, contains an option to renew the contract twice  each renewal would be for a one-year period.

Sgt. Amar Gandhi, spokesman for the Sheriffs Office, said the department asked the Board of Supervisors for $20,000 in June to fund a $14,000 subscription they agreed to in March because $20,000 was the original quote.

Service proposed by vendor is unique

The Sheriffs Office records detailed the reasons that the sheriff wanted to subscribe to the service.

In a document titled Request for exception to competitive bidding (ETB) process and disclosure statement, the Sheriffs Office wrote, We are monitoring eight different social media channels and a media team overseeing several bureaus in the department and their respective social media channels.

The person who filled out the form, Nicole Limbird, checked a box next to two statements to describe why the Hootsuite subscription should not be subject to a competitive bidding process: The requested product has unique design/performance specifications or quality requirements that are not available in comparable products, and Service proposed by vendor is unique; therefore, competitive bids are not available or applicable.

The price quote from Hootsuite said the $14,000-a-year plan supports five users, 35 profiles, and Unlimited Boost Post Spend which automatically boosts top performing content and schedule (sic) boosted posts to reach new audiences in a single, secure campaign workflow.

Hootsuites ability to monitor trending topics, Gandhi said, would potentially allow us to address issues the community may have that may have otherwise gone unanswered.

Small part of budget

The $20,000 appropriation is a tiny fraction of the law enforcement agencys budget.

Sacramento County appropriated $697 million to the Sheriffs Office for the current fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors conducted a survey to help set funding priorities for the county, and respondents said homelessness was a top concern for new and enhanced services. The new Department of Homeless Services and Housing receives $59 million in appropriations  operating with about 8% of the sheriffs budget.

On April 21, after the contract with Hootsuite went into effect, the Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook to hit home one of Sheriff Jim Coopers issues: A 2016 state law that decriminalized prostitution for children under 18 because those children would, instead, be considered victims of human trafficking.

Cooper also brought this up at a Board of Supervisors budget hearing in June, though it was unclear how his bid to recriminalize children doing sex work was tied to the budget request.

Cooper, the Facebook post said, is demanding that SB357 and SB1322 be repealed so that law enforcement can have additional tools that will allow them to rescue sex-trafficking victims. The video had 18,000 views on Oct. 6.

Engagement on more recent posts from the Sheriffs Office Facebook has been relatively high, though not as high as the featured post about making it possible to levy prostitution charges against children again. An Oct. 3 post about a high-risk search warrant that led to an arrest had 42 comments and 14 shares as of Oct. 6.

Emails released to The Bee show that on Sept. 21, 2020, the Sheriffs Office canceled a subscription to a service called X1, which is a tool that helps collect social media activities and their associated metadata as evidence that can potentially be used to prosecute someone.
A fortuitous car crash led to the escape of a young teen girl escaping the clutches of an alleged kidnapper who sexually assaulted her in Hollywood, authorities said.

Shane Lee Taylor, 44, of North Carolina, is charged with two counts of kidnapping a minor under 13 years old and committing sexual battery, two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim 12 to 16 years old, one count of sexual battery on a victim between 12 and 18 years old, one count of touch or strike/battery, and one count of disobeying/avoiding a red light.

On Thursday, the young teen, who is between 12 and 15 years old, was walking aimlessly from her home when she ended up at a rundown CVS near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a Hollywood police arrest report read.

She told detectives she was approached by Taylor who grabbed her by arm and forced her into the front passenger seat of his Hyundai SVU.

He told her he was going to take her to a police station and searched on his phone for the address of the FBI building. He drove there, but the teen said he drove past it.

During the drive, he asked her about what music she listened to and if she was wearing a wire, a type of surveillance device, the report said.

After that, he began to frisk and touch her inappropriately and sexually. She told Taylor she did not consent but he scoffed at her, the report said. He continued driving in circles and through alleyways.

Taylor continued to drive without stopping and became more physical while doing so, the report said.

Suddenly, Taylor got into a car crash.

The teen took the chance and ran from his car, finding safety in a Shell Gas station. She called 911 and told the operator how a stupid douchebag pedophile took her and harmed her, the report read.

Taylor stayed at the scene of the crash, where a responding officer said he looked nervous and was shaking. After being detained for questioning, he was arrested.

Taylor denied the accusations and told detectives, All I was trying to do was help her.

Authorities also said he admitted, unprompted by detectives, to taking her to the Federal building, FBI building off of Pembroke, but they were closed. So I was taking her down here, and she made accusations and stuff, saying that she ran away five times and the police keeping putting her back with her parents.
A Monterey Park man serving in the United States Navy in Ventura County has pleaded guilty to giving a Chinese intelligence officer sensitive military information.

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was arrested two months ago and accused of taking bribes in exchange for the information.

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiring with an intelligence officer and receiving a bribe.

Southern California sailor sold military secrets to China, DOJ says

Before his arrest, Zhao  also known as Thomas Zhao  worked at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, the United States Department of Justice said in a news release.

Between August 2021 and at least May 2023, Zhao admitted receiving at least $14,866 in at least 14 separate bribe payments from the intelligence officer, the release added. In exchange for the illicit payments, Zhao surreptitiously collected and transmitted to the intelligence officer sensitive, non-public information regarding U.S. Navy operational security, military trainings and exercises, and critical infrastructure. Zhao admitted he entered restricted military and naval installations to collect and record this information.

That information specifically concerned a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific theatre, operational orders, and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system located in Okinawa, Japan, officials said.

Zhao is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, and he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, five for conspiracy and 15 for bribery.

Officer Zhao betrayed his country and the men and women of the U.S. Navy by accepting bribes from a foreign adversary, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in the release. While he and the [Chinese] officer he served took great pains to conceal their corrupt scheme, investigators were vigilant in uncovering this shameful plot. Todays resolution, requiring Zhao to plead guilty to all charges against him, shows that we will act swiftly and decisively to protect our nation from those who seek to undermine our security.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
(CNN)  U2 paid tribute in song on Sunday to those killed by Gaza militants at a music festival in Southern Israel over the weekend.

During their performance at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, Bono dedicated their song Pride (In the Name of Love) to the hundreds killed in the attack at the Nova Festival held outside Reim.

In the light of whats happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence, Bono told the Las Vegas audience. But our hearts and our anger, you know where thats pointed. So sing with us and those beautiful kids at that music festival.

Israeli officials counted at least 260 bodies near the site of the festival, where earlier footage showed carefree partygoers from Israel and overseas dancing in the desert soon after sunrise on Saturday.

Some survivors are among more than 100 hostages that the militant group Hamas claims to be holding in Gaza, according to friends and family members who have seen them in videos shared on social platforms.

It was a festival of music and peace, Bono told the audience. A festival of music and peace. Can you imagine?

Bono changed some of the lyrics of their song to reflect the tragedy.

Early morning, October 7th, he sang. The sun is rising in the desert sky / Stars of David, they took your life / But they could not take your pride.

Pride (In the Name of Love) originally paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and referenced his assassination on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sundays performance of Pride was preceded by I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For. It was followed by MLK, according to videos shared by concertgoers on social media.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "U2 pays tribute to those killed in Israel music festival attack"
A Monterey Park man serving in the United States Navy in Ventura County has pleaded guilty to giving a Chinese intelligence officer sensitive military information.

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was arrested two months ago and accused of taking bribes in exchange for the information.

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiring with an intelligence officer and receiving a bribe.

Southern California sailor sold military secrets to China, DOJ says

Before his arrest, Zhao  also known as Thomas Zhao  worked at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, the United States Department of Justice said in a news release.

Between August 2021 and at least May 2023, Zhao admitted receiving at least $14,866 in at least 14 separate bribe payments from the intelligence officer, the release added. In exchange for the illicit payments, Zhao surreptitiously collected and transmitted to the intelligence officer sensitive, non-public information regarding U.S. Navy operational security, military trainings and exercises, and critical infrastructure. Zhao admitted he entered restricted military and naval installations to collect and record this information.

That information specifically concerned a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific theatre, operational orders, and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system located in Okinawa, Japan, officials said.

Zhao is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, and he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, five for conspiracy and 15 for bribery.

Officer Zhao betrayed his country and the men and women of the U.S. Navy by accepting bribes from a foreign adversary, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in the release. While he and the [Chinese] officer he served took great pains to conceal their corrupt scheme, investigators were vigilant in uncovering this shameful plot. Todays resolution, requiring Zhao to plead guilty to all charges against him, shows that we will act swiftly and decisively to protect our nation from those who seek to undermine our security.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
It's a bird... it's a plane... it's the Jelly Belly reign.

Kent Pietsch flew his Jelly Belly-decorated plane from Minot, North Dakota to Salinas for the California International Airshow over the weekend.

Kent Pietsch's Jelly Belly truck and plane at the California International Airshow in Salinas on 7 Oct. 2023.

An aerobatic performer, Pietsch purchased the plane - an 800-pound Interstate Cadet - from his uncle in 1973. He met the owners of the Jelly Belly Company a year later at the Reno Air Races. The owners made a sponsorship deal with Pietsch that involved covering his plane with Jelly Belly designs.

Kent Pietsch holds pouches of Jelly Belly jelly beans at the California International Airshow in Salinas on 7 Oct. 2023.

Pietsch carries bags of Jelly Bellies in his truck and doled some out while discussing his routine, which involves shutting off the plane's engine mid-flight. Pietsch explained that his performance shows people that an airplane does not require an engine to land safely.

"It needs an engine to get up and go, but once the engine quits, it's those wings that make it fly," he said.

No engine, no problem

Pietsch completes three acts for his performance.

Shortly after flying into the air, he lets an aileron - one of the plane's wing flaps - detach and fall to the ground.

Kent Pietsch poses with his plane's detachable wing flap at the California International Airshow in Salinas on 7 Oct. 2023.

"I chose a major flight control to fly off an airplane and the airplane was still flying," Pietsch explained. "I used to be an A320 captain and I'd walk people up the jetway when they're nervous and show them this, and that's it. Same thing with this airplane."

After the aileron drop, Pietsch shuts the plane's engine off at about 6,000 feet in the air and does aerobatics all the way to the ground, finally landing on top of the moving Jelly Belly truck which leaves only 8 inches of clearance on either side.

Kent Pietcsh's aerobatic performance at the California International Airshow in Salinas on Oct. 7 2023.

Pietsch said that his performance helps relieve fears people have around flying in commercial planes. The planes he used to fly from the Airbus A320 family were among the most popular and highest-selling airliners.

"When you're in an A320, you can lose the power... as long as there's a place, and not a city, to land, you're going to be fine. And sure enough, Scully did that when he went into the Hudson and no one got hurt."

Green machine

Pietsch's Interstate Cadet was built in 1942 as a civilian pilot training airplane for World War II. The fleet of planes was built in California and then shipped west to Hawaii.

The Interstate Cadet played a significant role in U.S. history. Cornelia Fort, a 22-year-old flight instructor, was training a student on the early morning of Dec. 7, 1941. As Fort and her student were flying over Honolulu, she saw a Japanese fighter jet.

According to The Smithsonian, she said she "saw something detach itself from a plane and come glistening down" and watched the bomb explode in the middle of Pearl Habor. Fort took control of the plane and narrowly escaped. In her logbook, she later noted "Flight interrupted by Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor."

Kent Pietsch's Interstate Cadet at the California International Airshow in Salinas on 7 Oct. 2023.

Nearly 81 years later, Pietsch's Interstate Cadet is also making impressive moves in the sky. Pietsch explained that his plane has a 90-horsepower engine and runs a range of about 500 miles on only 20 gallons of fuel, which is highly efficient.

"It's a green machine, really," said Pietsch.

Pietsch explained that, after the weekend airshow, he would be flying back to Minot, South Dakota, starting from the Central Coast and making his way over the Rocky Mountains, which gives him a direct view of Yellowstone National Park.

This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Salinas Airshow features Kent Pietsch and his Jelly Belly plane with an impressive history
SBF 2024

Disgraced crypto baron Sam Bankman-Fried is on trial this week, facing several counts of fraud and conspiracy following the spectacular collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

Today, his ex-girlfriend and former CEO of sister hedge fund Alameda Caroline Ellison has taken the stand, shedding light on even more eyebrow-raising details regarding the former billionaire's blockbuster fall from grace  and, interestingly, delusions of grandeur.

Case in point, the Wall Street Journal reports that according to Ellison's testimony, Bankman-Fried once told her there was a five percent chance that he would eventually become the president of the United States, a wild assertion that tracks with what we already know about Bankman-Fried's well-documented warped view of the world and his place in it.

On and Off Again

Ellison also confirmed her on-and-off-again romantic relationship with the former crypto baron.

Her appearance in a Manhattan courtroom today is the first time they've seen each other face-to-face since FTX and Alameda collapsed in November, per the New York Times.

"We started sleeping together on and off in the summer of 2020," Ellison said on the stand, as quoted by New York-based journalist Matthew Russell Lee. "We dated and broke up."

When asked what Bankman-Fried told her about his ambitions, Ellison said "that he would be president."

"Of what?" an incredulous assistant United States attorney Nicolas Roos asked her.

"The United States," she replied.

Bankman-Fried donated millions of dollars to political causes before FTX's downfall, including a $5 million contribution to US president Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election campaign, according to a new book about Bankman-Fried and the collapse of FTX by author Michael Lewis.

The disgraced CEO also met with several high-ranking US politicians and even explored "the legality of paying Donald Trump himself not to run for president," according to the book.

Bankman-Fried also was  and could possibly still be  an "effective altruist," a philanthropic movement ostensibly dedicated to solving the world's problems by identifying and funding the most effective solutions.

In reality, Bankman-Fried has expressed that kind of Silicon Valley-branded utilitarianism in the form of large donations to charities, harebrained plans for human genetic experimentation, and plenty of philanthropic grandstanding.

Damning Indictments

During her testimony today, Ellison also accused Bankman-Fried of ordering her to take deposits from FTX customers to finance Alameda investments, totaling a stunning $14 billion.

"He directed me to commit these crimes," she said during today's proceedings.

In short, given the damning charges and mounting pile of evidence, it's unlikely Bankman-Fried will be sworn in as the president of the United States any time soon.

More on the tale: Caroline Ellison Says Sam Bankman-Fried "Directed" Her to Commit Crimes
Caroline Ellison took the stand against former FTX billionaire and ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried in a New York court on Tuesday, offering damning testimony on the fifth day of his fraud trial.

Sam directed me to commit these crimes, she said. He directed us to take customer money to pay loans.

Ellison served as chief executive of Bankman-Frieds hedge fund Alameda Research during most of her tumultuous five-year romance with her former boss.

She has been cooperating with prosecutors since pleading guilty to wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering and related conspiracy charges after FTXs collapse last fall.

Bankman-Fried and others are accused of illegally funneling FTX customer funds into failed Alameda investments, bilking both clients and investors out of billions.

He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Bankman-Fried could face a sentence that would amount to life in prison.

Caroline Ellison leaves the Manhattan Federal Court after testifying during the trial of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried on Tuesday.

Caroline Ellison leaves the Manhattan Federal Court after testifying during the trial of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried on Tuesday.

Tuesdays testimony marked the first time Ellison and Bankman-Fried had been in the same room in the year since FTX and Alamedas demise, according to the Times.

It reportedly took Ellison a full 30 seconds of searching the courtroom to identify her ex, who has traded his slouchy tech-bro duds and nest of curls for a suit and newly cropped hair.

The alleged co-conspirators personal entanglement has made the case far messier than even expected.

In August, Bankman-Fried was remanded into federal custody after leaking pieces of Ellisons personal writing to The New York Times.

In the documents, which included private diaries and Google Docs addressed to her ex, Ellison wrote that she was pretty unhappy and overwhelmed with her role at Alameda Research.

She also told Bankman-Fried about being hurt/rejected in a private letter, where she openly worried about making things weird with her ex-and-crypto-colleague at work.

Ellison said the imbalanced dynamic made it easy for Bankman-Fried to wield professional and personal power over his ex.

He was the person I reported to, she explained during her 15 minutes of initial testimony. He owned the company, and he set my compensation and had the ability to fire me.

Offering insight into Bankman-Frieds megalomaniacal level of ambition, she said the onetime-Wall Street trader once said he had a 5% chance of becoming president one day.

Ellisons accounts only add to the mounting evidence of Bankman-Frieds alleged scam.

Last week, Gary Wang, one of FTXs top executives, testified that Bankman-Fried had him code a backdoor into the exchanges code that could allow the unauthorized transfers (AKA theft) of customer funds.

The exchange was valued at $32 billion before its collapse last November.

CORRECTION: This article initially stated that Sam Bankman-Fried attended Stanford University; he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Related...
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Bottomless mimosas are fun, but drinking them until you hurl is never a good idea, and it could literally cost you $50. Thats the fee some San Francisco Bay Area restaurants are now charging for Sunday brunch diners who drink one too many mimosas and end up tossing their eggs Benedict.

Bay Area celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies at 61

A sign posted at popular Oakland brunch spot Kitchen Story warns diners who indulge in any of the restaurants five varieties of bottomless mimosas to drink responsibly and know your limits. Otherwise, the sign warns, a $50 cleaning fee will be automatically added to the tab of any patron who throws up in a public area of the restaurant.

Photo: Chris Culcasi/KRON

Kitchen Story isnt the only Bay Area restaurant cracking down on brunch-time vomiters. As reported in SFGate, Home Plate in San Francisco has implemented a similar policy with signs warning of a $50 cleaning fee for incidents resulting from intoxication.

Some Bay Area restaurants are reportedly taking other steps, like placing limits on the time customers can enjoy bottomless mimosas.

A Canadian restaurant, Tamasha Indian Resto-Bar, claimed a similar notice threatening a $50 fine on New Years Eve proved effective. The Toronto restaurants owner told blogTO.com in 2021 that, after the policy began in 2019, there wasnt a single instance of vomiting.

If youre thinking of indulging in a large brunch and the bottomless booze that comes with it, its also worth keeping in mind that failing to keep everything down in an Uber and Lyft can be pricey.

The additional fee could be as much as $150, depending on the damage to the vehicle.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
San Francisco police have shot and killed a man who crashed his car into the Chinese consulate on Monday.

A police statement said the unidentified man was shot after officers arrived at the scene.

Footage online showed a blue Honda car in the lobby and dozens of people fleeing the consulate building.

A consulate statement condemned the incident, adding that it posed a "serious threat" to the safety of its staff and other people at the scene.

"We strongly condemn this violent attack and reserve the right to pursue responsibility for the incident," it added.

China's foreign ministry has accused the unidentified individual of breaking into the consulate to hurt people inside the office.

The consulate has since temporarily closed parts of its office and has lodged solemn representations - a phrase for expressing diplomatic discontent - to the US, urging authorities to ensure that the matter is properly dealt with.

Police said that an open and active investigation was under way but have not revealed much information.

"When officers arrived here on scene, they found the vehicle had come to rest inside the lobby of the Chinese consulate. Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred," said Kathryn Winters, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department.

"The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital," she added.

She said that the police were coordinating with officials from the US state department for the investigation, adding: "There's very little information that we can give at this time."

Police say they are still trying to ascertain exactly how many people were in the office at the time of the incident.

Pictures from the consulate soon after the car was driven into the building, show a heavy police presence with the consulate building in the city's Japantown area cordoned off.

Queue barriers and chairs lay toppled in the lobby, while other pieces of furniture were damaged.

No injuries have been reported from inside the consulate.

San Francisco will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation next month with Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to attend.
Law enforcement members stand on the street near the Chinese consulate, where local media has reported a vehicle may have crashed into the building, in San Francisco, California, U.S. October 9, 2023 (REUTERS)

San Francisco police fatally shot a man after he crashed his vehicle into the Chinese consulate in the city, officials said on Monday.

At least one person was fatally shot after the car drove through the consulate visa office and remained in the building, reported KTVU.

Witness Sergii Molchanov told The San Francisco Standard that the driver shouted Wheres the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)? as he got out of a blue Honda car.

The incident occurred shortly after 3pm when an unidentified suspect drove their car into the visa office of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China, located at Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard.

I dont know how many people were inside the visa office at the time of the collision, San Francisco police department spokesperson Sergeant Kathryn Winters told reporters.

When officers arrived here on scene, they found the vehicle had come to rest inside the lobby of the Chinese Consulate. Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred, Sgt Winters said.

The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. This is an open and active investigation.

Earlier witnesses told media outlets that multiple gunshots had been fired in the Monday afternoon incident and that a bloodied man was loaded into an ambulance and driven from the scene.

No one else was reported as injured in the incident.

Police advised people on social media to avoid the area.

The Chinese diplomatic post in San Francisco issued a statement saying an unidentified person drove violently into the document hall of the consulate, posing a serious threat to the safety of the staff and people at the scene, and causing serious damage to the facilities and property of the consulate.

The consulate added that it strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibility for the incident.

The US state department, meanwhile, has not yet responded to the incident.

The entrance to the visa office remained covered in a white plastic sheet later on Monday evening, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China is on a major street near the California citys Japantown neighbourhood.

The incident took place a month before Chinese president Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in the city.
[Source]

K-pop sensation Sandara Park has opened up about her regrets regarding leaving her thriving career in the Philippines to chase her dream in South Korea.

The 38-year-old star, who became part of the now-defunct girl group 2NE1, recently revealed her feelings in a tell-all interview with Filipino TV host Luis Manzano . She confessed that while she initially had no regrets about leaving her Philippine showbiz career behind to pursue her dream of becoming a star in Korea, she now feels differently.

"At that time, I did not regret it because I was young and I had a dream to be a Korean star. But now I kind of regret leaving," she explained.

She continued, "I feel like you guys are richer, to be honest," before later clarifying, "In Korea, in a group, we split the payment with the company and among the members."

How she got her start: Park's journey as an artist in the Philippines began with her participation in the local talent search reality show "Star Circle Quest" in 2004, where she quickly gained popularity.

More from NextShark: Nongshim ramen products face scrutiny after recall over cancer-causing chemical

In the interview, Park recalls facing challenges and being criticized during the competition, even confessing that she sometimes wanted to return home. Despite these difficulties, her unique personality and genuine approach endeared her to the Filipino audience during her time on the talent show.

Her return to South Korea: After finding fame in the Philippines, Sandara Park returned to South Korea, where she started from scratch as a trainee. Her journey to becoming a K-pop sensation was marked by perseverance and hard work. Park's career includes her successful stint as a member of 2NE1, which earned global fame.

Whats next for Park: Since 2NE1's disbandment in 2016, Park shares that all the members have remained on good terms and have been doing really well in their respective careers.

More from NextShark: K-pop soloist Jamie announces dates for North America tour

Park also acknowledged having had a boyfriend but prefers to keep such matters confidential. Looking ahead, Park expressed her ambition to embark on a solo world tour, connecting with her fans across the globe. The recent release of her first solo extended play (EP), titled "Sandara Park" is a pivotal step in that direction.

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

First look: Awkwafina and Sandra Oh star as estranged sisters in upcoming comedy 'Quiz Lady'

Netflix Pays $2.4 Million PER EPISODE to Turn Korean Webtoon Into Live-Action K-Drama
Days after Hamas terror attack on Israel, satellite images on Tuesday captured the devastation of Israels retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Gaza militants on Saturday launched a surprise attack by land, air and sea, descending on an Israeli music festival, kibbutzes and cities. At least 1,000 people have been killed in Israel, 2,800 have been injured, and dozens have been taken hostage, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The Israeli bombardment and destruction in Gaza City were foreshadowed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who had promised retaliation that would reverberate with them for generations.

More than 900 people, including 260 children, have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 4,000 have been injured.

A drone image from Maxar Technologies shows an explosion from an airstrike. In another image, devastated and charred residential buildings can be seen.

Explosion and smoke from airstrike, Gaza, on Oct. 10, 2023. (Maxar)

Destroyed residential buildings, Gaza, on Oct. 10, 2023. (Maxar)

Al Sousi and Al Gharbi mosques in Gaza have also been destroyed, according to drone images from Maxar Technologies.

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes targeted homes in the Sheikh Radwan and Al-Nasr neighborhoods of Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Destroyed al Gharbi mosque, Gaza, on Oct. 10, 2023. (Maxar)

Destroyed al Sousi mosque, Gaza, on Oct. 10, 2023. (Maxar)

Israel has subjected Gaza to a land, air and sea blockade since 2007 that has had a devastating effect on Palestinian civilians. The narrow strip of land is home to around 2 million people.

Israel declared a "full siege" of the blockaded Gaza Strip after Hamas attack Saturday.

No power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly, said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a former Israel Defense Forces commander who now serves in Netanyahus hard-line nationalist government.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. the most populated tribes east of the Mississippi River, announced on Monday its intention to appeal the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney that would regulate all 1836 Treaty Tribes fishing rights for the next 24 years.

The ruling was made on August 24, 2023 by Judge Maloney that approved an agreement made between federal regulators, the Michigan Departement of Natural Resources, and four other Michigan federally recognized tirbes, the Bay Mills Indian Community from the Upper Peninsula, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa, Little River Band of Ottawa, and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa, to divvy up fishing rights in parts of the Upper Great Lakes.

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The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, which was not part of the agreement, contends the agreement infringes on their fishing rights provided through the 1836 treaty. Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes says fishing is an integral part of the Sault Tribe identity and way of life, both culturally and economically.

"The Sault Tribe has been deeply disappointed in the court's order which restricts our rights as a sovereign nation, affects the livelihood of our citizens, and limits the ability of our people to feed themselves, Lowes said. Our legal counsel has reached out to the other parties in this case to see if there was room for settlement outside the legal avenue of an appeal. Unfortunately, those conversations proved to be in vain. The tribe has no choice now, but to pursue an appeal and fight for a better outcome for our citizens."

Lowes also stated Our tribe would never take actions to harm the fishery. Our members represent the largest commercial fishing operation in Michigan, and we also represent the largest number of subsistence fishers among the tribes. Thats why the Sault Tribe Board of Directors is committed to protecting the treaty reserved fishing right for many generations to come and will take the necessary legal steps to do so.

The Sault Tribe has been a longtime leader in sustainable fisheries management. The tribe works closely with other tribal governments, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and many others to ensure the health of the Great Lakes. The Sault Tribe Fisheries Program is constantly analyzing the health of the fishery through activities like disease testing and invasive species monitoring.

The Sault Tribe also operates several hatcheries throughout the eastern Upper Peninsula to help replenish the fish stock. The tribe has raised and stocked more than 18 million walleye in Michigan waterways since 1995. It has also recently been developing a similar program to help boost whitefish numbers in the Great Lakes.

The tribes next legal steps will be to file a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which it intends to do by the Oct. 23 deadline.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  Both chambers of Congress have denied having allocations of confidential funds, explaining that they only have "extraordinary expenses" under the budget.

In a news conference on Tuesday, ranking leaders of the House of Representatives were asked about circulating social media posts that the chamber has 1.6 billion in secret funds.

"Squarely, walang confidential funds ang Congress [Congress has no confidential funds]," declared Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.

Quimbo explained that the 1.6 billion funding was allocated as the chamber's "extraordinary expenses" for this year.

She said extraordinary expenses are "fully auditable," citing as an example expenses during calamities.

"In short, that's fake news," said Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, chairman of the appropriations committee, referring to the alleged confidential funds of Congress.

The Senate also addressed the issue as social media posts said it was given 331.9 million in funds supposedly for clandestine activities, explaining that the money is for the chamber's "extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses" this year.

"The social media posts are deliberately misleading and maliciously presented by some personalities who seek to malign and tarnish the reputation of an institution currently taking a long, hard look at the nature of confidential and intelligence funds and the government agencies that deserve to have them," the Senate said in a statement.

It said past appropriations were "never used and were reverted to the National Treasury in full."

The line item "Extraordinary and Miscellaneous Expenses" is under the account category heading "Confidential, Intelligence, and Extraordinary Expenses" in budget documents.

The line item, which is explained under the general provisions of the National Expenditure Program, is meant for expenses not supported by the regular budget allocation including spending for meetings, seminars, conferences, official entertainment, public relations, office equipment and supplies, and educational, athletic, and cultural activities, among others.

Reports of the Commission on Audit for confidential and intelligence funds are not disclosed to Congress and the public.

Documents related to the national budget are easily accessed on the Department of Budget and Management website.

Critics have raised concerns about the increasing amounts of confidential funds for civilian agencies with no mandate of national security or are required to conduct surveillance activities.

Vice President Sara Duterte is in hot water for the controversial spending of the Office of the Vice President of 125 million in confidential funds in 2022, even if the office was not expressly provided with the funding in that fiscal year.

Government officials, including Quimbo, have explained the transaction, which critics raised may be unconstitutional.

It was established that the money came from the 7 billion set aside as the contingent fund in the 2022 national budget.
Caroline Ellison said Sam Bankman-Fried had ambitions to become US president

She said Bankman-Fried told her there was a 5% chance it'll happen "some day," she said.

Bankman-Fried is on trial for seven criminal counts related to taking money from FTX customers.

Sam Bankman-Fried aspired to one day become president of the United States, his ex-girlfriend and former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison testified in court Tuesday.

"He said there was a 5% chance he might be president someday," Ellison said on the witness stand in the criminal trial against the disgraced crypto mogul.

In her testimony in a downtown Manhattan federal courtroom, the 28-year-old Ellison said Bankman-Fried shared his ambitions with her during their relationship, which moved in fits and starts over the course of about three years. Bankman-Fried sought to become a significant player in the worlds of business and politics, she said.

The former CEO of FTX's sister company first took to the witness stand earlier on Tuesday. She told jurors in the criminal trial against Bankman-Fried that she conspired with Bankman-Fried and other members of his inner circle to defraud customers and investors of FTX, his cryptocurrency exchange.

Ellison pleaded guilty to fraud charges in December and has been cooperating with investigators. Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried is facing seven criminal charges and has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

The two met while working at Jane Street, a quantitative investment firm, while Ellison was an intern and Bankman-Fried was a trader.

Bankman-Fried convinced her to join his own hedge fund, Alameda Research, as a trader. She became a CEO of the company in 2021.

The two began a personal relationship in the fall of 2019, Ellison testified.

"We started sleeping together on and off," she said.

In the summer of 2020, they began formally dating. They broke up and got back together again until the spring of 2022, when Ellison said their personal relationship ended for good. Ellison was still the CEO of Alameda Research, which Bankman-Fried owned and controlled.

Bankman-Fried, 31, has not expressed personal political ambitions in the past. He'd have to be at least 35 years old to run for president. But he had been an active donor to candidates of both major US political parties, and primarily contributed to Democrat candidates.

Bankman-Fried thought political donations were a good investment, Ellison testified Tuesday. She said he believed the millions of dollars he donated to now-President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign had helped get him important recognition.

"He thought it was very effective, that you could get very high returns for relatively small amounts of money," she said.

Last week, Bankman-Fried's biographer, Michael Lewis, revealed that the FTX cofounder even considered paying Donald Trump not to run for office in the 2024 presidential election.

Lewis told "60 Minutes" that the number that was "kicked around" was $5 billion, but he wasn't sure whether the figure had come directly from Trump. A spokesperson for Trump told Insider's Lloyd Lee that SBF has been "outed as a fraudster and someone that can't be trusted."

This story has been updated.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) leveled new corruption charges on Oct. 10 against a former Ukrainian deputy defense minister and head of a defense ministry department, alleging they embezzled over UAH 250 million ($6.85 million).

A statement by the SBI press service says the officials are charged with embezeling funds intended for the purchase of bulletproof vests for the country's armed forces.

The charges are linked to another case of illegal transactions by former officials, the total amount of which is UAH 1.4 billion ($38.36 million).

Read also: Two senior Ministry of Defense officials now suspects in procurement scandal

The law enforcers established that the two men committed illegal actions under martial law by prior conspiracy.

The SBI alleges that a former deputy minister in charge of logistics for the Armed Forces, and the acting head of one of the Defense Ministry's departments responsible for supplying the army, ordered bulletproof vests of substandard quality from abroad.

At the same time, a 100% prepayment was made and the procedure for quality control set forth in the ministry's instructions was violated. As a result, the Armed Forces received low-quality bulletproof vests that cannot be used in combat without endangering lives.

Read also: Dismissed deputy defense minister responsible for army logistics is charged

This resulted not only in the loss of UAH 250 million ($6.85 million) of budget funds, but also in undermining the country's defense capability and threats to the lives and health of army personnel, the SBI said.

The officials are suspected of embezzlement of property by abuse of office, committed on a particularly large scale, under martial law, and by prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). They face imprisonment for up to 12 years if found guilty. The suspects are in custody.

In early February, former Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapoval was charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations (part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). At that time, he allegedly lobbied for the conclusion of contracts for the supply of low-quality ammunition for the needs of the Armed Forces totaling more than UAH 1 billion ($27.4 million).

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian agents face life imprisonment

Two FSB agents have been detained in Zaporizhzhya for spying on Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile defense positions, Ukraines SBU security service reported on Oct. 10.

One of the suspects attempted to find out the locations of anti-aircraft missile systems in the frontline area of the oblast.

Read also:

She also supplied Russians with the names and phone numbers of her relatives, who are Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and their comrades-in-arms fighting on the front lines.

In addition, she recorded conversations with military personnel discussing battlefield tactics on a dictaphone, subsequently sending these audio files to the enemy.

The other agent conducted surveys of the frontline area, documenting the locations of temporary military bases and equipment belonging to Ukrainian forces.

Russian intelligence services paid the traitors up to UAH 6,000 (about $165) for each completed task.

Read also:

The SBU uncovered these individuals during the initial stages of their intelligence and subversive activities, leading to their arrest. The traitors were identified as residents of Zaporizhzhya who had been remotely recruited by an FSB representative earlier this year.

They have been charged with treason committed during wartime. Currently, the traitors are in custody and face the possibility of life imprisonment if found guilty.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
NEW YORK  The two top Democrats in Congress have taken a muted approach to the migrant crisis. And that has angered their fellow New York Democrats and given Republicans a chance to exploit divisions in the opposing party.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, New Yorkers who are among the most powerful Democrats in Washington, are notably missing from public efforts to pressure President Joe Biden into providing more aid for the 123,000 migrants whove arrived here since last year.

The week when the mayor was saying this migrant crisis will destroy New York, Schumer was at the state fair eating corn, said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Staten Island Republican.

Schumer and Jeffries decision to backchannel with the White House for expanded work authorization and more federal emergency funds speaks to the politically volatile nature of the problem. The Senate majority leader and his House minority counterpart want to avoid inflaming a debate that Republicans are using to push moderates into their column on the 2024 ballot.

Their quiet cajoling contrasts with how Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams , fellow Democrats, have used their bully pulpits to demand help from Washington. The response also raises concerns among Democrats in suburban swing districts to feel theyve been left alone to assume political risks in a state thats key to retaking the House.



Getting federal assistance would be a lot easier if the two most powerful Democrats in Congress were out front fighting for their home state, said a Democratic adviser familiar with the dynamics. The adviser was granted anonymity to reveal the internal party discussions.

A few weeks after Schumer was visiting the fair in Syracuse, Jeffries was missing from a congressional delegation tour of a migrant center in Manhattan.

His congressional colleagues defended his absence.

Oh, he is a part of this! Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman insisted at the September event. He was with me in Washington, when we met with [Homeland Security] Secretary Mayorkas and Mayor Adams to push the administration for more resources. So the leader is an essential part of this.



Recent polls are an indication of why events like the Manhattan tour weren't on Jeffries schedule. A Siena College Research Institute survey found more New Yorkers view migrants as a burden than a benefit.

Republicans are well aware of those voter sentiments. The migrant crisis will be a top line of attack for them heading into next years elections. Theyre eager to link Jeffries to the problem as hes leading efforts to help Democrats win back House seats.

Hakeem Jeffries and extreme House Democrats caused New Yorks migrant crisis, National Republican Campaign Committee spokesperson Savannah Viar charged in a statement. His refusal to offer any actual solutions, other than hiding behind his lackeys screeching inaudibly at press conferences, is why theyre destined for doom on the ballot.

Schumer and Jeffries have had success by quietly brokering meetings and lobbying those close to the president, according to five people familiar with the efforts. And it comes as they are dealing with threats of a government shutdown and House GOP leadership turmoil.

In mid-September, Biden expanded temporary protected status, or TPS, for Venezuelans. The designation made nearly 10,000 migrants in New York City eligible to apply for work permits.

Schumer called the TPS change welcome news in Senate floor remarks after the announcement.

I wrote to Secretaries Blinken and Mayorkas in July that country conditions in Venezuela clearly met the criteria for TPS, so this is a good step forward, he said.

In addition, the senior senator had multiple conversations with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients on TPS, noting that Venezuelan nationals make up the bulk of the new arrivals to the city, according to one of the people familiar with the talks.

Schumer also helped set up the meeting that he, Jeffries, Adams and other New York representatives held in late July in Washington with Mayorkas, according to two people familiar with the planning.

Jeffries played a key role as well, with the closed-door gathering taking place in his Capitol Hill office.

Schumers representatives highlighted that achievement.

The record is very clear that Senator Schumer has been working at the highest levels, delivering funds for New York, securing the significant Biden administration decision on TPS for Venezuelans and fighting for more, his spokesperson Angelo Roefaro said in a statement.

And do not forget, it was Senator Schumer who already passed bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate with wide bipartisan support, only to see it die in a GOP House, Roefaro added of the effort 10 years ago.



A spokesperson for Jeffries said the congressmembers remarks  which put a kitchen table spin on work authorization  speak for themselves.

Whats most important is that we successfully implement the opportunity for individuals to temporarily work while their asylum applications are being processed, because that will benefit the American taxpayer, Jeffries told Capitol Hill reporters after the TPS announcement.

Still, some allies of the mayor are angry that Schumer and Jeffries havent been more forceful with the Biden administration.

Obviously, its politically thorny, but youd hope theyd step up some more. Theyve been totally absent, said a Democratic city official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.

The only thing were getting is the lions share of asylum-seekers; were not getting the lions share of funding, the official added, calling the $140 million in federal funding allocated for New Yorks support of migrants pennies in a crisis Adams has estimated will cost $12 billion.

Hochul and Adams have publicly commended Schumer and Jeffries, despite some behind-the-scenes frustrations with their approach.

Adams technique  ripping the White House and the leader of his party for destroying the city by not providing enough migrant aid  has hurt his relationship with Washington leaders.

The mayor, who once called himself the Biden of Brooklyn, now has a deeply broken relationship with the president.

But Biden has also done more in recent days as Adams traveled to Latin and South America to press his case for fewer migrants and more federal help. On Thursday, the Biden administration announced the United States will again start deporting migrants to Venezuela and will resume construction in Texas of the Trump administrations proposed border wall.

And the fact that the Schumer and Jeffries have been spared Adams wrath is proof that they are indeed advocating for the city  if only through back doors and with the gridlock in Washington over funding.

Theyre 100 percent supporting the city, Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York business group, said in an interview. But they are not in a position to deliver the kind of funding that the situation requires because theres not a budget provision to cover billions of dollars for a humanitarian crisis as opposed to a natural disaster.

While Republican City Council Member Joe Borelli slammed Schumer for not bringing a House bill on border security to the Senate floor, he acknowledged the political realities the leader faces on funding.

He has no leverage on appropriations because he doesnt have the votes in the Senate, Borelli added.
Scientists have discovered a new sea snail that has similar coloring to a margarita cocktail.

The bright yellow snail inspired its name Cayo margarita  a nod to Jimmy Buffet's song "Margaritaville."

Scientists aren't sure why the snail is so yellow but think it may be a defense mechanism.

Scientists discovered a mysterious new species of sea snail in the Florida Reef, and named it as a tribute to Jimmy Buffet's famous song "Margaritaville."

The biologist who first spotted the tiny snail, Rudiger Bieler, said the coloring reminded him of a margarita cocktail.

"We really wanted to allude to the color of the drink and the fact that it lives in the Florida Keys," Bieler told CNN.

The new species is called "Cayo margarita," according to a paper published by a group of scientists in Peer J journal.

Cayo margarita has confused scientists studying it  the snail rarely moves throughout the course of its life, but its bright coloring makes it an easy target for predators who can spot it.

But, strangely, when fish approached the bright snail, they didn't eat it. Instead, as scientists observed, they actually swam away.

The eggs of the Cayo margarita are also bright yellow, like the snail itself. Rudiger Bieler

How the little thing lives

The researcher who first spotted Cayo margarita on a scuba dive said that the snail's bright-yellow coloring might actually be a defense mechanism, warning its predators to stay away  and that it doesn't taste very good.

It's eggs, which are even more defenseless than the adult snails, are that color too.

However the adult snail does have some defense aside from its scary color. It lives inside its shell in a sort of tube.

The tube is about 10 millimeters long and 4 mm across, which makes it the height of about seven dimes stacked on top of each other and a little less wide than three strands of spaghetti put together.

It burrows one end of its tiny body into rock, coral, or the shells of other mollusks, and keeps the other end exposed, so it can catch food. Since the snail stays in one place, it can't venture out for food like most other species.

It instead, creates a sticky mucus web that traps food.

It's not the only species that lives like this. The snail is in the same family as a species called Thylacodes vandyensis that invaded the Florida Keys in 2017, CNN reported.

Luckily, scientists think that the Cayo margarita is a local species, and is simply enjoying its time exisiting in the ocean, like their namesake.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A group of Senate Republicans led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) are calling on the Biden administration to refreeze the $6 billion in assets it allowed Iran to use for humanitarian purposes in exchange for the release of five American prisoners.

The money had been frozen in South Korean banks after then-President Trump banned Iranian oil exports in 2019.

Blackburn and other Republican senators wrote a letter to Biden dated Oct. 9 calling on him to stop the flow of the $6 billion into Iran, even though the funds are only supposed to be used for humanitarian purposes.

Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel, they wrote.

Moreover, allowing $6 billion to flow into Irans economy, even if the purpose is for humanitarian aid, allows the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to supporting terrorism, they argued.

The senators said conducting oversight over the use of the unfrozen assets is not enough because the oversight mechanism is crippled by your reported decision to pull the longstanding Treasury attache from Qatar.

The other signatories include Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.), Steve Daines (Mont.), Rick Scott (Fla.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.), James Lankford (Okla.), Mike Lee (Utah), John Cornyn (Texas), Bill Cassidy (La.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Katie Britt (Ala.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Pete Ricketts (Neb.), Mike Braun (Ind.), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.), Eric Schmitt (Mo.), Ted Budd (N.C.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Roger Marshall (Kan.).

They are urging the State Department to immediately rescind the waivers that will allow Iranian funds to move through accessible bank accounts in Qatar.

Biden called Qatars emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, last week to thank him for mediating the deal with Iran to free the American prisoners. The deal also included the release of five Iranian nationals held in the United States.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday disputed unsubstantiated claims that the Iranian assets may have helped pay for terror attacks outside the Gaza Strip, telling ABCs This Week that not a single dollar from that account has actually been spent to date.

He said the unfrozen assets would be closely regulated by the Treasury Department to make sure that its only used for food, for medicine, for medical equipment.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called on the Biden administration Monday to refreeze the Iranian assets, as part of unveiling a five-step plan to respond to the outbreak of war in Israel.

Bidens policy of appeasement, including money for hostage deals, must come to an end, McCarthy told reporters Monday. His policy has only emboldened terrorists. And handing over $6 billion to Iran only helps the cause.

They should freeze the money back today, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The office of the U.S. Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall is offering assistance to Kansans in Israel in response to the ongoing deadly attacks.

On Monday, his office announced that it will be assisting in helping any Kansan in Israel safely evacuate to a neighboring country or the U.S.

His office has already helped four Americans in Israel move to neighboring countries since Saturdays attacks.

Card skimmers found on Salina gas pumps

I strongly condemn the attacks on Israel and my office stands ready to assist Kansans find their way out and on to safety, Marshall said. We have successfully helped Americans escape from other dangerous situations in foreign nations and we stand ready to do the same in Israel.

Any Kansans with family or loved ones in Israel are asked to email EvacHelp@marshall.senate.gov or call (785)829-9000.

Other state officials have also condoned the attack:

Gov. Laura Kelly and AG Kris Kobach:

Like all Kansans, we are sickened and angered by the images and accounts of Hamas terrorists attacking, killing, kidnapping, and brutalizing Israeli men, women, and children. We condemn these acts of terrorism and extend our deepest sympathies to the Israeli people. We want Kansans to know that their law enforcement, emergency management, and homeland security officials are closely watching the conflict and guarding against any potential threats to the safety of our Jewish communities, said Kelly and Kobach in a joint statement.

Rep. Jake LaTurner:

The United States stands with Israel. I fully support Israels right to defend themselves from these ruthless, unprovoked Hamas terrorist attacks. Join me in praying for the people of Israel as they fight to defend their freedom.

Rep. Ron Estes:

Israel is under attack. I strongly condemn these atrocious assaults against one of our countrys strongest allies, and Susan and I are praying for the victims and their families in todays terrorist raid, Estes tweeted.

Senator Jerry Moran:

I am appalled by Hamass attacks on Israel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Scientists are still not sure if carrying these ancient genetic variants and greater sensitivity to pain was an evolutionary advantage.

In the years since the Neanderthal genome was first sequenced , geneticists have been peering into the past to look for traces of this extinct group of humans within our genes. The presence of these ancient genes could make carriers more at risk for severe COVID-19 , influence nose shape , and even make some people more sensitive to pain .

[Related: Neanderthal genomes reveal family bonds from 54,000 years ago .]

A new study published October 10 in the journal Communications Biology found that those carrying three Neanderthal gene variants are actually more sensitive to pain from skin pricking after prior exposure to mustard oil. In this case, mustard oil acts as an agonist , or a substance that initiates a physiological response. Adding it to the skin causes a quick response by neurons called nociceptors that create a sense of pain.

SCN9A is a key gene in the perception of pain that is located on chromosome 2. It is highly expressed nociceptors that are activated when a sharp point or something hot is applied to the body. The neurons encode proteins within the bodys sodium channel and alert the brain which leads to the perception of pain. Earlier research found three variations in the SCN9A geneM932L, V991L, and D1908Gin sequenced Neanderthal genomes and reports of greater sensitivity to pain among the living humans who have all three of these variants.

It has been shown in previous studies that some rare mutations in this gene that stop the channel from working can cause insensitivity to pain, study co-author and University of Oxford neuroscientist David Bennett tells PopSci. We were, however, interested in these other mutations, which were shown to have an opposite effect of enhancing the activity of this channel, thus leading their carriers to be somewhat more sensitive than non-carriers.

According to Andres Ruiz-Linares , study co-author and University College London human geneticist, earlier studies show that the mutations are quite rare in the British populations, but they are very frequent in Latin American populations.

We thus realized that we had, in our hands, the perfect dataset to not only replicate their study but also go further and identify the pain modality that was at work here, Ruiz-Linares tells PopSci.

In the study , the team measured the pain thresholds of 1,963 individuals from Colombia in response to a range of stimuli. The D1908G variant was present in roughly 20 percent of chromosomes within this population. About 30 percent of chromosomes carrying this variant also carried the M932L and V991L variants. All three variants were associated with a lower pain threshold in response to skin pricking after the skin was exposed to mustard oil, but not in response to pressure or heat. Additionally, carrying all three of these variants was associated with greater pain sensitivity than carrying only one of them.

[Related: Neanderthals were likely creating art 57,000 years ago .]

The team then analyzed the genomic region that houses SCN9A using genetic data from 5,971 individuals from Peru, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. They found that the three Neanderthal variants were more common in regions where the population had a higher proportion of Native American ancestry, such as the Peruvian population.

They [the mutations] have a rather wide range in these countries, from 2 to 42 percent, study co-author and University College London statistical geneticist Kaustubh Adhikari tells PopSci. Up to 18 percent of their populations could carry two copies of the mutation. These are, however, gross estimations. We also know, from the previous study, that these mutations are pretty rare in European populations.

The team believes that the Neanderthal variants may sensitize the sensory neurons by changing the threshold at which a nerve impulse is generated . The variants could also be more common in populations with higher proportions of Native American ancestry due to random chance as well as population bottlenecks that occurred during when the Americas were first colonized by Europeans .

Although Neanderthal intermixing with Europeans is now well-known in popular culture, their genetic contribution to other human groups, such as Native Americans in this case, is less talked about, study co-author and population geneticist at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment in France Pierre Faux tells PopSci. In this study, we saw how important and relevant it is to study genetic backgrounds that are under-represented in medical cohorts.

Since acute pain can play a role in moderating behavior and preventing further injury, the team is planning additional research to determine if carrying these variants and having greater sensitivity to pain was advantageous during human evolution. Understanding how these variants work could also help physicians understand and treat chronic pain.

Genes are just one of many factors, including environment, past experience, and psychological factors, which influence pain, says Bennet.
The Florida Department of Health will soon restart weekly public COVID-19 data reporting.

Its the result of a settlement reached in a lawsuit brought more than two years ago, which sought COVID statistics after the state stopped making the data publicly available.

The Florida Department of Health stopped sharing daily statistics on the states COVID dashboard in June of 2021.

Those statistics had previously included infection rates, case numbers, and deaths down to the zip code level, broken down by categories including age, race, and gender.

READ: Jacksonville among top 5 COVID-19 boomtowns based on population growth, study shows

Former State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith recalls at the time, the lack of data made local public health decisions incredibly difficult.

As the Delta Variant was ripping its way through Florida, said Smith.

Smith made a public records request for the data and was denied.

READ: Americans can now get an updated COVID-19 vaccine

So, he sued.

More than two years later, hes now reached a settlement with the state.

The Florida Department of Health has agreed to restart weekly reporting of case counts, vaccinations, and deaths broken down by county, age, race, and gender for a period of three years on their website.

While the state admitted no fault, it agreed to pay more than $150,000 for Smiths attorneys fees.

READ: DeSantis health officials to disclose withheld Florida COVID data in settlement

Former Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando told Action News Jax This sets a precedent that future administrations are gonna be less likely to violate public records laws, especially as it relates to public health data.

In an emailed statement, the Florida Department of Health countered Smiths characterization of the settlement, arguing it never stopped publishing COVID data.

COVID-19 data has been made available through historical Department reports, and the Department has always reported data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is unfortunate that we have continued to waste government resources arguing over the formatting of data with armchair epidemiologists who have zero training or expertise, said Florida Department of Health Press secretary James Williams.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Smith says the victory will ensure Floridians have open access to COVID data should another surge arise, but he argued for some, the resolution in this case comes too late.

23,000 Floridians died during the Delta surge in our state. Not only did the DeSantis Administration restrict their access to information about this deadly virus, they downplayed the threat of the virus in order to help Ron DeSantis run for President and fit their political narrative. Unfortunately, that decision cost lives, Smith stated.

The Florida Department of Health will have to resume weekly reporting starting October 28.

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.
Shani Louk's mother told Bild on Tuesday that she believes her daughter is still alive.

Ricarda Louk said Palestinian peace activists told her that her daughter's alive in a Hamas hospital.

Israeli, German, nor Palestinian officials have confirmed Shani Louk's location or whether she's alive.

Shani Louk's mother said she received information leading her to believe that her daughter is still alive.

Ricarda Louk said Palestinian sources told her that her daughter is alive in a Hamas hospital, German outlet Bild reported on Tuesday.

"We now have reasons to believe that Shani is alive but has had a severe head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical," Ricarda Louk told Bild.

She continued: "We are not getting any information from the authorities here. Peace activists have told us that Shani will now only get help if the German authorities officially intervene."

Neither Israeli, German, nor Palestinian officials have confirmed Shani Louk's whereabouts or whether or not she is alive.

Ricarda Louk told Bild that when she last spoke to Shani Louk, she encouraged her 22-year-old daughter to take cover in a nearby shelter. She said that her daughter told her she would find somewhere safe to go as she heard shots ring out on the other side of the phone.

She said that Shani Louk wanted to escape the massacre with her boyfriend and other friends, but that she quickly lost touch as the friends took cover hiding in bushes. The friends have since reappeared and are safe, but Shani Louk and her boyfriend remain missing.

A video of what appears to be Shani Louk's body being paraded through the streets of Gaza on the back of a pickup truck have circulated social media since Saturday when Hamas launched deadly attacks in the south of Israel.

Shani Louk, a German native, was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival in the south when Hamas militants invaded, killing hundreds of people and taking many as hostages back to Gaza.

"You have to act fast and get Shani out of Gaza!" Ricarda Louk said, according to Bild.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan has recommended that Gaza be placed under Alert Level 3 to allow for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in the area.

At a briefing on Tuesday, DFA Undersecretary Ed de Vega said there are about 137 Filipinos in Gaza, who are married to Palestinian nationals.

"Our embassy in Amman, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, has recommended na ilagay na yung Gaza to Alert Level 3, which is voluntary repatriation. So, hindi pa mandatory. This will be cleared with the President, he said.

[Translation: Our embassy in Amman, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, has recommended placing Gaza under Alert Level 3, which is voluntary repatriation. So, it's not yet mandatory. This will be cleared with the President.]

However, de Vega recognized there were challenges on how to move out Filipinos from the area.

"Only issue is...how to repatriate them because that's what we're working on diplomatically. It's not a simple matter na magpapadala tayo ng eroplano, magha-hire ng...charter ng eroplano, kasi wala ngang flights or ships. The normal way to get out of Gaza is through Israel," he said.

[Translation: Only issue is...how to repatriate them because that's what we're working on diplomatically. It's not a simple matter of just sending a plane, chartering a plane because there are no flights or ships. The normal way to get out of Gaza is through Israel.]

RELATED: Embassy wants to suspend all travel from PH to Israel

In the latest advisory from the Presidential Communications Office, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said Alert Level 1 remains over the country.

"While the situation in Israel remains tense in certain areas, the Israeli security forces have regained control of the affected areas in the South as of 12:00 a.m of Monday, 09 October 2023," the advisory said, adding there is no prohibition in movement in Israel except in specific areas of conflict which it said was within the vicinity of the Gaza border.

It added that while the Ben Gurion Airport remains open, only 50% of air carriers are moving to and from the country. Repatriation from Israel was also not necessary, it said.
A cable cars abrupt halt to avoid a crash injured six passengers, San Francisco firefighters told news outlets.

A cable car descending Washington Street stopped unexpectedly at the intersection with Taylor Street at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, firefighters told KNTV.

The cable car operator hit the emergency brake to avoid striking a vehicle stopped in the intersection, throwing passengers forward, KRON reported.

Firefighters evaluated 14 people and six were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, officials told KPIX.

Crews were still trying to remove the cable car, which had become wedged on the tracks by the sudden stop, later Monday afternoon, KNTV reported.

Cable cars have three braking systems, with the emergency brake as a last resort, according to the Cable Car Museum. The emergency brake drops a metal wedge into the trolley track.

If the gripman cannot stop the car by other means, pulling on the lever will push the brake down into the slot where it wedges so tightly that it must often be removed with a torch, the museum said. This action leads to it sometimes being referred to as a guillotine brake.

San Franciscos famed cable cars date to 1873, the museum said.

Three killed in fiery crash after wrong-way driver slams into 2 cars, GA troopers say

Grumpy elk rams Nissan at Canada national park, video shows. Respect their power

Driver abandons passenger to die in wreckage of fiery crash, Indiana troopers say
Shasta County Sheriff's Office logo

An Oak Run woman was charged with attempted murder, DUI and other charges after she allegedly shot an unnamed man and crashed a vehicle while driving him and their kids to the hospital, the Shasta County Sheriff's office reported.

On Oct. 9, Jessica Ruybal, age 36, was being held in the Shasta County Jail on $500,000 bail.

Sheriff's deputies reported they were driving to the site of a reported shooting in Oak Run just before 8 p.m. on Oct. 8. While on the way, deputies got a call that the family had been in a single-vehicle collision on Oak Run to Fern Road, according to the sheriff's report.

Ruybal was driving the injured man to a Redding hospital with their three young children in the vehicle when the collision happened, according to Tim Maples, public information officer with the sheriff's office.

Deputies found Ruybal walking away from the collision with the children, the report said.

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Sheriff's deputies, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection agents and a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew found the injured man "suffering from a single gunshot wound," according to the sheriff's office.

First responders took him to a Shasta County hospital where he was treated for a non-life threatening injury, the sheriff's report said.

First responders took the three children to the hospital for health checks before releasing them into the custody of Children and Family Services workers, the sheriff's office said.

Ruybal was arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail on charges of attempted murder, domestic violence, child endangerment and driving under the influence resulting in injury.

Anyone with information about this case can call Sgt. K. Koenen at the sheriffs office at 530-245-6025.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Oak Run woman charged with domestic violence, DUI, attempted murder
When Claudia Goldin became the first woman offered tenure in the economics department at Harvard in 1990, some young female students were so thrilled they hosted a party.

We threw a reception for her, Sheryl Sandberg , former Facebook executive and Lean In author, told The Independent in an exclusive interview. At the time, Sandberg was an undergraduate studying economics, and shed started a club with two friends called Women in Economics and Government.

And I remember her saying at that reception that shed always been the first woman, but this was the first time anyone had kind of noticed that, said Sandberg, but that really meant something to me, because I felt like that progress was worth noting.

On Monday, 23 years after that party, Goldin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, becoming the first woman to win the prize solo rather than sharing it.

Sheryl Sandberg was an undergraduate student at Harvard University when Claudia Goldin became the first female tenured economics professor at the institution (2022 Invision)

What I really want to emphasise, its not just that shes a woman, said Sandberg. She got the Nobel Prize for her work on women and the labour market, so shes a woman doing work on women  and that really matters.

Back in the late 1970s, when Goldin was forging her way as a thirty-something economic historian in a male-dominated field, she was searching for her niche. The Bronx-born academic had been working on the economic history of the South but found herself sniffing around for something of deeper personal interest  eventually delving into the economics of the family.

That research led her to something of an epiphany around 1980  which in turn sparked a passion that consumed her, she wrote.

I realized that something was missing, she wrote in 1998s The Economist as Detective. I was slighting the family member who would undergo the most profound change over the long run  the wife and mother. I neglected her because the sources had.

She began to focus on wives and mothers and all women, studying the history and reality of females in the workforce  and now shes become a significant figure in womens history by shining the spotlight for decades on the pay gap and ongoing hurdles.

Womens role in the American labor force appeared to be unfolding before me, and I had personally experienced many of the changes I would be studying, she wrote.  I became consumed by the history of women in the labor force.

Growing up in a Jewish family in the Bronx, Goldin had a natural curiosity and love of learning. Shed wanted to be an archaeologist as a child, fascinated by the mummies at New Yorks Museum of Natural History; that gave way to a junior high interest in bacteriology, and by the time she graduated from Bronx High School of Science and enrolled at Cornell University, shed formed a plan to study microbiology  but began a lifelong love affair with the humanities and social sciences instead.

Goldin earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and taught at Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty of Harvard in 1990, where Sandberg and her friends hosted the welcome party for her.

On a personal level, for myself, and anyone studying economics, seeing a woman achieve at that level, seeing a woman welcomed, obviously made a really big difference, Sandberg told The Independent.

Her own senior undergraduate thesis, Sandberg says, was very much inspired by her.

The Nobel committee announced the award, declaring: This years Laureate in the Economic Sciences, Claudia Goldin, provided the first comprehensive account of womens earnings and labour market participation through the centuries, the prize-giving body said in a statement. Her research reveals the causes of change, as well as the main sources of the remaining gender gap.

Lets make no mistake: the fact that she has done what shes done, both for women but also by studying women, that makes a really, really big difference, Sandberg said. She inspired me then; she inspires me now.

Goldin has spent decades following individual career trajectories as well as patterns, incorporating anecdotes as well as statistics into her work  and charting, in book after book, how things have (or havent) progressed. In 1990, she published Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women; three decades later, in 2021 and after many other publications, the title of her most recent book reflected the gains still to be made in Career & Family: Womens Century-Long Journey toward Equity.

Nobel prizes (TT NEWS AGENCY)

Women are making more and more educational and professional advancements and pay is equalising, Prof Goldin writes in that 2021 book after meticulous analysis of years of data. Many start out on an equal or near-equal footing after college and at the beginning of their careers  but gaps soon widen based on the career choices of individuals and couples as professionals consider childcare and babies come along, when women continue to shoulder the largest share of the burden.

One of the main problems amidst tremendous progress, Prof Goldin said, is the uptake by women of what she calls greedy jobs, employing a term utilised in previous writings.

A very simple explanation would be that, if you work twice the number of hours, you get more than twice the pay in greedy jobs, she told The Independent in 2021. Of course, its not just number of hours, because women who work in many of the jobs that we can list  finance, management, law, academia  work many, many hours; they work 45 to 50 hours a week. So its not just generally the number of hours, its which hours: So is it the dinner hour? Is it the weekend? Is it the vacation? Is it two in the morning?

Women who start in these greedy jobs, then, tend not to advance as far or fast in their careers as their male partners because they take a step back to raise families.

The Henry Lee Professor of Economics, however  who says she teaches the extraordinary  remains optimistic in the face of all her research as workplaces (and couples) continue to progress.

I think back at what this amazing student of mine said, which is, when I asked What would you like? She said, I want a man who wants what I want, recounted Goldin.

It might be costly for a while, but it just depends on how much you value couple equity, Goldin said. Its not that theyve [men] given something up, its that theyve gotten something in return  which is time with their children.

Goldin lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and fellow Harvard economist, Lawrence Katz, as well as their 13-year-old Golden Retriever, Pika  from whom the professor derives her username on X and whose exploits she chronicles online. Pika is also a high-achieving performance scent dog.

Passion, Goldin has emphasized, is imperative for excellence. She wrote as much in her 1998 essay, the future Nobel winner offering nuggets of advice for upcoming or aspiring professors.

Whatever you research, choose a subject (in theory or reality) about which you feel passionately. she wrote. You will go to sleep with it and you will wake up with it. Youd better love it or you will hate yourself.
Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy raised more than $2.8 million during the third quarter in his bid to unseat Sen. Jon Tester (D), his campaign announced Tuesday.

The campaign said in a release that it raised most of that total, $2.2 million, from donors contributions, while $650,000 was from personal contributions and loans. It has $1.1 million in cash on hand.

Thanks to the outpouring of support from grassroots conservatives, were in a strong position to win and finally beat Jon Tester in 2024, Sheehy said in the release. Our campaign is growing stronger every day, and its clear the people of Montana want a new generation of conservative leadership to represent them in Washington. Together, were going to finally retire Jon Tester, take back the Senate, and save our country.

The announcement came ahead of the mandatory Federal Elections Commission requirement for federal candidates to report their fundraising numbers for the third quarter by Oct. 15.

Testers campaign raised more than $5 million during the third quarter, bringing his cash on hand to more than $13 million.

Sheehy is a former Navy SEAL and Marine who founded a company called Bridger Aerospace. He received encouragement from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Senate Republicans campaign arm, to throw his hat in the race and has been endorsed by Montana Sen. Steve Daines , the NRSC chair.

He launched his bid in July and is the favorite of many Republicans for the nomination.

But speculation has remained that Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), who ran against Tester and lost in 2018, will run again for the seat. A poll from August found Rosendale leading Sheehy in a hypothetical matchup by 30 points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Shield AI aims to double the size of its V-Bat drone teaming capabilities each year, from four now to eight next year and beyond. A demonstration this summer with three V-Bats led the company to officially launch the product. (Shield AI)

WASHINGTON  California-based defense technology firm Shield AI on Monday launched a new drone swarming capability called V-Bat Teams  one it hopes the Defense Department might use for programs such as its Replicator initiative.

V-Bat Teams, which grew out of Shield AIs experiments with the Air Forces AFWERX innovation unit that culminated in a demonstration this summer, has at its core the companys artificial intelligence pilot software dubbed Hivemind. These teams consisting of a handful of V-Bat aircraft are intended to operate autonomously in high-threat environments, without needing instructions or guidance from GPS or communications.

In an interview Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference in Washington, Shield AIs co-founder and president said V-Bat Teams could be a great fit with the Pentagons Replicator program, which aims to field thousands of autonomous, attritable drones in the next two years to counter China.

Brandon Tseng added that V-Bat Teams would operate with minimal instruction from human operators, beyond the point where the humans tell them what target or mission to pursue. However, the V-Bats would notify humans when they notice something that needs to be brought to their attention.

Tseng said Shield AI conducted the first flight of V-Bat Teams in April and conducted a demonstration as part of the Air Forces AFWERX autonomy effort in June. That demo, which was announced in August, showed how the Hivemind technology could launch and autonomously control a trio of V-Bats to monitor and surveil simulated wildfires.

V-Bat Teams now include four of the UAVs, Tseng said, but the company hopes to double that capacity every year  to eight in 2024, then to 16, and so on.

Hiveminds autonomous software is, on its own, already able to control many more V-Bats, Tseng said. The limiting factor on V-Bat Teams comes in the operational logistics of launching multiple drones at once and then landing, he explained.

Sending large swarms of drones into the air isnt a new trick, Tseng noted, as such demonstrations are commonly done at festivals or other celebratory events. But those are brittle, dumb drones that would fall out of the sky or automatically land if they were jammed, he added. Shield AI first focused on creating an intelligent, secure AI pilot in the form of Hivemind, and then the firm worked to add more drones into the mix to carry out different mission sets.

V-Bat Teams will first focus on maritime domain awareness missions, Tseng said, but their use could expand to include the suppression of enemy air defenses, strike operations, escort missions and logistics operations.

With their relatively low cost  Tseng said the V-Bats price point comes around the mid-six-figure range  V-Bats could even be used as decoys to lure out enemy fire and take hits that would otherwise target crewed aircraft.

V-Bats are attritable, Tseng noted, which means they could be sent into combat in considerable numbers and the military could easily weather their loss, while still being able to operate intelligently.

Tseng said some of Ukraines experiences have shown that throwing waves of basic drones at an enemy isnt always enough to make a dent. You need intelligent, affordable mass, he noted. Mass for the sake of mass is not helpful; it has very low returns.

Shield AI aims to sell V-Bat Teams to all U.S. military services as well as foreign customers.

Youre going to open up a new paradigm of these operations when you have this many aircraft that are able to do it autonomously, Tseng said.

For now, however, Tseng doesnt see V-Bat Teams fitting in with the Air Forces plan to create a fleet of collaborative combat aircraft  autonomous drones that fly alongside crewed fighters such as F-35s. Shield AI is open to looking further into the collaborative combat aircraft program, he said, but what the Air Force has in mind differs from V-Bats design.

Were open to it, Tseng explained. But they want AI-piloted jets, and thats what theyre focused on before they start thinking about how those AI-piloted jets work with other machines like a V-Bat.
Left: Community Vigil for Israel at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus. Right: The Ohio State University chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine held a rally at the Ohio Statehouse.

Columbus residents held a vigil in support of Israel at war and, separately, rallied in support of Palestine at the Ohio Statehouse within the space of a few days following the escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis.

Greater Columbus is home to a large Jewish community, including some Israeli Americans, as well as to thousands of Palestinian Americans.

Rabbi Alex Braver, of Congregation Tifereth Israel on Columbus Near East Side, told The Dispatch he had spoken with community members who lost cousins and other loved ones in Israel.

This is personal for so many of us in the Jewish world, in the United States and in Columbus, he said. Were praying  ... it's just hard to imagine this being resolved easily, peacefully.

Mazen Rasoul, a Palestinian American attorney based in Columbus, said he had been on the phone with a friend in Gaza.

He said the bombings are just everywhere and nonstop for the past couple of days, and extremely random, he said. It's extremely, extremely bad in Gaza now.

The latest cycle of violence began in the early Saturday morning after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel unlike anything seen since the Yom Kippur War of 1973, when a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria invaded Israel.

As of late Monday, more than 900 Israelis and over 600 Palestinians have been killed, with thousands injured on both sides, according to the United Nations. After massacring civilians at a music festival and elsewhere in southern Israel, Hamas took hostage more than 50 Israeli soldiers and civilians, including women and children, the UN has said.

Israel declared war against Hamas, which controls Gaza, on Sunday. It has begun bombing Gaza and is intensifying its long-standing blockade of the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said there will be no electricity, no food, no fuel in Gaza as Israeli forces appear to be preparing for a ground invasion.

Eleven Americans, many of them residents of Israel, have been killed so far, according to the White House.

The Dispatch spoke with members of Columbus Jewish as well as Palestinian and Muslim communities about their reactions to the latest conflict. Here is some of what they had to say:

Terrorism needs to be stopped

Rabbi Skolnik of Tifereth Israel said he was horrified by the news coming out of Israel.

I weep and I sob for the families who have lost loved ones and  for the families whose loved ones have been taken hostage into Gaza.  I stand proudly in leading the congregation in prayer for the State of Israel, but with the fervent hope that includes a lasting peace, he said.

Skolnik added, I can't begin to try to understand an idea or a concept that legitimizes going into civilian populations and butchering people and murdering them and taking people hostage.  I don't think it is to be understood. It is a terrorist act, and terrorism needs to be stopped.

Palestinians have been warning for years this is all going to eventually explode

Rasoul, the attorney, was born in Youngstown and raised in the West Bank. He said he fears for the safety of his cousins, aunts and uncles there, who have been on lockdown since Saturday.

He does not see recent violence in isolation from history.

This is not a new violence cycle. Violence has been going on since the start of the occupation.  It only comes up on the news cycle, when there's any discomfort or when there are any attacks on Israelis, he said.

He pointed to what he called apartheid policies by Israel as root causes, including the confiscation of land, the blockade of Gaza since 2007, its imprisoning Palestinians without charges, and previous wars that have left more Palestinian civilians than Israelis dead.

Palestinians have really lost any hope for a future over there. Palestinians have been warning for years and years and years that this is all going to eventually explode, he said.

The Ohio State University chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine held a rally at the Ohio Statehouse on Sunday in support of Palestine.

Shock, fear and horror at Hamas atrocities

Ayelet Ben-David, an Israeli American who sits on the Jewish Columbus board, said she has been watching with shock, fear and horror as graphic videos of Hamas' executions and dead civilians are posted to social media.

A few months ago, Ben-David helped organize a protest at the Ohio Statehouse against the right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus efforts to curtail the power of the Israeli judiciary. But she said many on the Israeli left, including herself, have put aside those differences to rally behind the military.

The rage, the hurt, the fear is so high, that nobody's talking right now about any positive outcome, she said. (But) I have to say that I feel very bad for the people on the other side, too  not the terrorist group, not the Hamas people, not the barbarians who've done it  but at the end of the day, there are children and families over on the other side in Palestine.

More: A mosque, a synagogue and an unlikely friendship that kindled Columbus' interfaith movement

I feel like the rage is being selective

Heba Latif was born in Westerville to Palestinian American parents and is a senior political science major at Ohio State University, where she is co-president of Students for Justice in Palestine. She has traveled to the West Bank on several trips to visit her grandmother and other relatives.

The violence has been a very devastating time for us and my family, she said.

Every human life has value, whether it is Palestinian or Israeli. And, of course, everyone wants the violence to stop. But I feel like the only way to end it is through ending the occupation that Palestinians have been enduring for 75 years, she said.

I condemn the killings of innocent lives in Israel, but also what about the killings of the Palestinians in Gaza? I feel like the rage is being selective. I think both are horrible, she said.

The Ohio State University chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine held a rally at the Ohio Statehouse on Sunday in support of Palestine.

Without (Israel), we have no homeland

Abe Bonowitz, a Bexley resident and executive director of Death Penalty Action, a national anti-death penalty organization, never used to wear a kippah (the Jewish skullcap) in public. But he began doing so after Hamas invasion of Israel  to him, it is a form of solidarity as a Jewish American, he said.

It feels very personal, he said of the war and rising anti-Semitism in the U.S. There's a reason that Israel exists and that's because without it, we have no homeland.

(I) understand that there are many within the Columbus progressive community who are also deeply concerned for the welfare of innocent Palestinians. That is appropriate, he said. (But) today, even those of us who are human rights activists  our first order of business is making sure nobody's going to come and shoot us.

We have to stop aiding and abetting the occupation

Amina Barhumi, the executive director of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said she has called for the violence to stop, but believes its root cause is the denial of Palestinian human rights and the Israeli occupation.

"(Palestinians') calls to hold accountable the Israeli government for their human rights abuses have fallen on deaf ears for decades," said Barhumi, who is Lebanese American. She pointed to the recent killing of a Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American journalist who was most likely killed by Israeli security forces last year.

It is imperative that our nation intervene to end this violence before more innocent people die. But we know only true justice will allow for Christians, Jews and Muslims and others to peacefully live in a land that so many hold so dear to their heart, she added.

Rabbi Alex Braver speaks during an interfaith dinner in association with the Noor Islamic Center and the Congregation Tifereth Israel synagogue in Columbus on March 30.

The joy has been taken from us

Rabbi Braver of Congregation Tifereth Israel said he had been celebrating the holiday of Simchat Torah, which concludes the Jewish High Holy Days, when news of Hamas invasion began to trickle in.

Its normally a really raucous and joyful sort of celebration, he said. Part of the rituals (is) you dance in a circle with the Torah.  Normally, you're singing ... (This time) we did it silently  to try to hold on to the sadness The joy has been taken from us. It was very, very hard, he said.

Braver is part of an interfaith group that hosted an iftar dinner at his synagogue for Muslims breaking the Ramadan fast in March.

Were still committed to being interfaith partners with Muslims, with Christians, with everybody. I dont want this to stop us from being able to build those bridges, he said.

Dr. Lee Cohen, left, laughs wile dining with her friend Lola Steinhart and the rest of her table during an interfaith dinner in association with the Noor Islamic Center and the Congregation Tifereth Israel synagogue in Columbus on March 30. This is a long tradition, and its lovely to be part of it and I would certainly return and be more involved,

More: Columbus community rallies behind teenage refugee who lost his leg

Peter Gill covers immigration, New American communities and religion for the Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America at:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.

pgill@dispatch.com

@pitaarji

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus' Jewish and Palestinian communities react to violence
A 69-year-old skydiver plunged to his death Saturday in the front yard of a Florida home. The man, identified as Frederick Morello, 69, was dressed in skydiving gear when he was found shortly after noon, the Titusville Police Department said. A resident named James Sconiers told local media hed walked out of his home to find the doomed skydiver lying in his lawn. I was asking the person that was laying on the ground, Hey man, can you hear me, can you hear me? But he did not answer, Sconiers told WKMG. Another neighbors surveillance camera captured the final moments of Morellos descent reflected in the back window of a vehicle. Police are still investigating the circumstances of Morellos death, and it was not immediately clear if he had any ties to the Skydive Space Center, located just a few blocks away.

Read it at CBS News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Israeli soldiers prepare to remove the bodies of compatriots killed by Palestinian militants in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza where more than 100 civilians are believed to have been massacred (JACK GUEZ)

Six body bags lay next to three children's bicycles in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza Tuesday where Israeli forces said Hamas fighters massacred more than 100 civilians during the weekend's shock assault.

When the Palestinian militants stormed the kibbutz, they "set fire" to several homes in what had been a bustling community "to force their occupants to come out", said Omar Barak, a 24-year-old Israeli officer.

"But many preferred to die in the fires ... than be killed by the terrorists," he said of the wave of Hamas fighters who infiltrated southern Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip in a pre-dawn attack on Saturday.

"We have found many bodies inside the homes," he added.

The farming community is located just two kilometres (about a mile) from Gaza which Israel bombarded relentlessly on Tuesday in retaliation for the worst attack on its territory in decades.

Hamas militants killed some 900 people in Israel, shooting dead hundreds of civilians including at a desert festival and dragging 150 hostages back to Gaza.

In retaliation, Israel has bombarded Gaza also leaving 900 dead and Israeli officials said they found 1,500 bodies of militant fighters in the south.

Barak was among the Israeli forces who fought the assailants for two long days to take back control of Kfar Aza.

"I had never seen anything worse. I broke down when I saw the bodies of two children assassinated," he said.

Retired Israeli major general Itai Veruv said he had been in shock seeing "all the bodies of the civilians ... the dead children," adding it was "a big massacre, a big disaster."

Residents of Kfar Aza were used to tensions and violence involving Palestinians, but chose to live close to the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Some believed they had to maintain an Israeli presence near the coastal enclave, even after Israel withdrew its troops from there in 2005, while others had made their homes there because it was cheaper than elsewhere in Israel.

- 'Wave after wave of fighters' -

The bodies of Palestinian assailants were sprawled on the ground of the kibbutz Tuesday, some still wearing their thin black bullet-proof vests.

A smell of death permeated the air.

According to Veruv, Israeli forces fought "wave after wave of Hamas terrorists" in Kfar Aza.

There were "70 terrorists fully armed, fully skilled," he said.

"In 40 years of service I saw many difficult things, but never something like this," Veruv added.

About 400 people lived in Kfar Aza, where several Israeli soldiers questioned by AFP said more than 100 civilians had been killed. Some even advanced the figure of 150.

In one part of the kibbutz, where residents had kept the lawns tidy outside their modest homes, lay the ruins of a motorised glider used by the militants.

Residents' belongings lay scattered on the ground, including a damaged scooter, a destroyed truck near a grain silo and a pink helmet.

A businessman from Tel Aviv and army reservist who declined to be named said he came to help the Israeli forces battle the militants and regain control of communities around Gaza.

"All I want is peace. It is the only solution... but you cannot have peace with Hamas," after what happened, he added.

Veruv, the retired officer said: "Now it is time to fight, and we will fight for a long time."

jf/mib/bfi/hkb/jd/jkb
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is joining with the LGBTQ+ community in observing National Coming Out Day on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV. About 13 percent of them dont know it and need testing. SNHD urges everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 to get tested for HIV at least once as part of their routine health care.

SNHD is offering free HIV tests on Oct. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Fremont Public Health Center in conjunction with National Coming Out Day. Free condoms, information about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), and medication to prevent HIV will also be available.

SNHD regularly offers Express HIV testing at no cost Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Sexual Health Clinic located at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. Express testing will also be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 11 at its All Saints Sexual Health Clinic located at 4201 W. Washington Ave. Appointments are not required but clients must be asymptomatic. Additional testing can be done for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.

Free HIV testing is available in the Arleen Cooper Clinic at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted.

Additionally, SNHDs Collect2Protect program provides free at-home HIV tests. The kits are available on the Collect2Protect page and provide a convenient and private testing option.

Visit the Sexual Health Clinic page on SNHDs website for more information.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Sobbing families issued a heartbreaking plea for President Joe Biden s help to bring missing Israeli-Americans home as they revealed the harrowing last moments they heard from their loved ones.

Gathered at the Carlton Hotel in Tel Aviv in front of a room full of reporters, the relatives of four American citizens shared their personal drama as they continue desperately searching for their loved ones days after Hamas launched an unprecedented terror attack on Israel over the weekend.

According to local media reports, more than 1,500 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza, while US officials confirmed at least 11 American fatalities in the ongoing conflict. During the press conference on Tuesday, families shared the Israeli governments shortcomings in keeping them informed about the ongoing efforts to bring the missing home and demanded that the Biden administration choose to be on the good side of history.

The adult children of Adrienne Neta, a 66-year-old grandmother and dual citizen who was kidnapped from her home in Berum, recounted the haunting last call they had with their mother when terrorists barged inside her home. Adriennes daughter Dayana Neta said her mother had tried to reason with Hamas militants using the little Arabic she had learned in her career as a nurse before the call got cut off.

When she walked into the delivery room she saw a human being in front of her. Not a religion, not a race, not a hijab, not an orthodox Jew  it was always the human being she saw, Dayana Neta said as she held back tears. When Hamas walked into my mothers room in Berum? They saw her alone. But they did not see a human being.

Weve had zero communication from the Israeli government

Dayana Neta described her mother as a compassionate and devoted healthcare provider who had brought thousands of lives into the world. Adrienes son, Nahar Neta, also broke down in tears as he revealed that he had zero communication with the Israeli government

I want to speak of the responsibility that President Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and that is to bring American citizens home safe and sound. I expect nothing less, said Nahar Neta, who was brought up in Israel by his American mother but moved to the United States five years ago.

Adriennes daughter Dayana Neta said her mother was taken hostage by Hamas (Adrienne Neta/Facebook)

Im Israeli blunt and I want to be blunt ... and say weve had zero communication from the Israeli government, he added. I do have friends who are currently engaging in the combat and I can appreciate the total mayhem that the combat is creating, but I think that after three days it is more than reasonable to request that officials with the Israeli government approach us with any type of info on our family members.

American severely injured, taken hostage

Meanwhile, the parents of 23-year-old Hersh Golberg-Polin said they had reason to believe their son was taken as a hostage by Hamaas at a festival in Reim  a kibbutz about three miles from the Gaza border. More than 260 bodies have been recovered at the site of the Supernova Festival, and hundreds remain missing, the BBC reports.

Hershs mother Rachel Goldberg said that she received two final text messages from her son, hours later she found out through footage and people who were with Hersh when he was taken hostage that he had been severely injured.

I woke up my two daughters so we could get in the bomb shelter. At 8.11, the first [text] said I love you, and immediately at 8.11, he texted, Im sorry, Ms Godlberg said. I took it to mean, Im sorry and I love you because whatever happened is going to cause you tremendous pain and worry. Ive not heard from him since that text.

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since Saturday (The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook)

Ms Goldberg said that she was told by people who were hiding in the same bomb shelter as her son that his arm had been blown off.

He was sitting at a bombs shelter, terrorists came to the door, they were throwing grenades in, shooting machine guns, the mother said. We know that Hershs arm, from the elbow down, was severed, and that he tied a tourniquet around with his shirt. Hamas came after the gunfire settled down and said, Anyone who can walk, stand up and get out.

Ms Goldberg said that she was told her son appeared calm and that his phone last pinged near the border with Gaza.

Following Israels retaliatory attacks on Tuesday, the spokesman of Hamass military wing said the group was responding to heavy bombarding of Gazas residential areas and threatened to execute one civilian hostage every time Israel launched an attack without prior warning.

We ask the US not to take a backseat

Another American missing is Itay Chen, a 19-year-old US-Israeli dual-citizen who was serving with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the border with Gaza, according to his father Ruby Chen. Mr Chen spoke directly to reporters on Tuesday, asking them not to bury his personal tragedy under loaded headlines.

Itay has been described as missing in action after he stopped any communications with his family and the IDF on Saturday morning. He is not listed as deceased and authorities have not located him at any area hospital, prompting fears that he was taken hostage, his father said.

I just want to ask all of you here and those listening to us. Please do not think of us just as a headline, we are more than that, Mr Chen said. Itay, in order to be at home this weekend [for his brothers Bat Mizvah], was at his base this previous weekend. So we could all be home celebrating the Bar Mitzvah, we still hope for that celebration.

Itay Chen, a 19-year-old US-Israeli dual-citizen who was serving with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) on the border with Gaza (Itay Chen/ABC)

Mr Chen said that his son joined the Israeli army a year ago. He said that he had been contacted by the US Embassy but hoped to sit down with State Department officials in the following days to discuss what they could do for their son, whom he described as a prisoner of war.

We want to go back to become a family again, Mr Chen added. We ask the US not to take a backseat, the US has a lot of resources and can do things that the Israeli government cant do.

They had one thing in mind .... to kill, maim and destroy

Jonathan Dekel-Chen also joined the press conference on Tuesday to plead for the safe return of his 35-year-old son Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was led away by terrorists in Nir Oz, a kibbutz of about 400 people. Mr Dekel-Chen spoke out about the tragedies the besieged community had experienced in the last three days, saying that he hoped the US government did anything in its power to rescue his son.

[Nir OZ] was destroyed in a barbaric attack in which dozens of my friends and neighbours were killed and attacked, Mr Dekel-Chen, originally from Connecticut, said. He is an arms length away from me in Gaza, but couldnt be farther from me and my family right now.

35-year-old son Sagui Dekel-Chen was led away by terrorists (Sagui Dekel-Chen/Fox)

Mr Dekel-Chen is a father-of-two with one on the way. The worried father said that the community in Nir Oz had come together, trying not only to make sense of the senseless violence they had experienced but also to gather efforts to help locate their missing loved ones.

The contact with Israeli officials had been limited, Mr Dekel-Chen said.

Hundreds of heavily armed, well-organised terrorists walked and ran over the border with one [thing] in mind, Mr Dekel-Chain said. And thats to kill, maim and destroy civilian life within the border.

He continued: The US always wants to be on the side of good ... the Hamaas are evil and when we witness this kind of savagery, this kind of inhumanity, it must be stopped. 
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The Department of Migrant workers on Tuesday said despite ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, there is no deployment ban to the Middle Eastern country in effect.

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac made the clarification at a joint briefing with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

"Technically wala pa tayong deployment ban sa ngayon [there is no deployment ban for now]," he said.

Cacdac said what is happening is a hold in the deployment of workers  particularly hotel workers  because the Ben Gurion International Airport is closed, however he added there may have been more recent developments on the status of the gateway.

"We are in close coordination with the Israeli counterpart and at the proper time deployment will resume, especially for what we call G-to-G (government-to-government) hotel workers for Israel," he said.

Cacdac said that on average around 1,800 hotel workers are deployed in a given year.

"With respect for a deployment ban in general, we're looking toward Usec. Ed (de Vega) and the DFA because we know that the deployment ban framework is anchored on the alert level system, alert level set by the Department of Foreign Affairs and this is in accordance with the law," Cacdac added.

According to the DFA, Alert Level 1 is the precautionary phase. Alert Level 2 is the restricted phase, meaning new hires will not be deployed. Alert Level 3 would mean voluntary repatriation. Alert Level 4 means there is a breakdown in order and "practically full-scale war," said de Vega.

"But again, the situation we are in is that we have a government-to-government hiring arrangement with our Israeli counterparts. So, it's a two-way street. We have to be well coordinated with our Israeli labor and immigration counterparts before we even proceed, kahit na walang [even if there is no] ban," Cacdac said.

The case of the deployment of Filipino caregivers is a different matter, the DFA clarified.

"This has nothing to do with the working conditions of the caregivers but with the G-to-G negotiations," said de Vega, adding they will continue to work on the issue after hostilities subside.
The Tribune is partnering with the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and the American Democracy Project of Indiana University South Bend to publish candidates' answers to questions on the issues. The League, with local help from the ADP, operates Vote411.org, a website with information about the candidates and their positions on key issues.

The Tribune has agreed to run candidate answers unedited, meaning any spelling, typographical or grammatical errors are the candidates' own. The Tribune is publishing only some of the questions from a selection of contested races. Additional questions and answers, including from candidates who have no opponent, are available at Vote411.org.

Early voting for Indiana's Nov. 7 municipal election begins Oct. 11. To vote early, either fill out an application for a mail ballot at https://indianavoters.in.gov/MVPHome/PrintDocuments or vote in person. In St. Joseph County, there are two early-voting locations: the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. in South Bend; or the Mishawaka County Services Building, 219 Lincoln Way W. in Mishawaka. Voters must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

In South Bend's Common Council 3rd District, current President Sharon McBride is challenged by Republican Sonia Perez.

Sonia Perez is a candidate for South Bend Common Council Dist. 3

Sonia Perez

Occupation: Deputy clerk for St. Joseph County

Website: soniaperezdistrict3.com

Campaign phone: 574-904-1780

Facebook: facebook.com/VoteSoniaPerez

Sharon McBride

Sharon McBride seeks re-election to South Bend Common Council.

Occupation: Director of St. Joseph County Community Corrections DuComb Center; President of South Bend Common Council

Email: sharonlyvettemcbride@gmail.com

Campaign phone: 574-514-3743

What is most unique about the district you seek to represent? How will you promote your district's needs while working with other council members?

Perez: The 3rd District is very unique. Its home to Potawatami Zoo, which has over 200,000 visitors a year! Making it he most visited place outside of Notre Dame in northern Indiana, the 3rd District is also home to historic River Park (which was once its own town!) that is still home to dozens of small, family owned businesses and still retains a lot of its historic character. Ive lived in the 3rd District for the past 9 years since I moved here from California, so I can tell you first-hand the great things about my district and the things we can improve on. The 3rd District has a wonderful mix of people, from college students to families to single person and multi-family housing. With the diverse mix of people, businesses and incomes we have a very many things going for us and an equal amount of challenges that are in critical need of bein

McBride: District 3 is unique both socially and economically. When I was elected to serve, my first action was to bring the various neighborhood associations, stakeholders, and businesses together to seek their input. This district has two institutions of higher learning, two high schools, one intermediate school and three elementary schools. Most recently, we welcomed the United Ways 1Roof Neighborhood Community Center. In addition, the district is home to the Potawatomi Zoo. Another attribute of the district is the partnership between 466Works, SOAR Neighborhood Association, and the City in building affordable housing that has a tremendous impact on reshaping the neighborhood. I will continue to be present, responsive, and a voice for the District while continuing to support my colleagues to enhance the quality of life for all.

What is the best way to curb crime? Should we increase police staffing, technology and budgets? Or should we redirect resources away from policing? Explain your reasoning.

Perez: I believe we should increase our police presence, working with our police officers to make our city safer, I dont buy into the us versus them school of thought we have seen pushed at the national level. Being a police officer is a thankless job, they do so much good for our community. These brave men and women wake up everyday not knowing what to expect but know that their duty is to protect and serve us. Id like to see an increase in staffing, but we also need to focus on resources to help our youth with lifelong learning activities, classes, sports, and educate them so we can direct them in a positive and healthier environment for them to grow up in and have a lasting positive impact. Unfortunately, we can only do so much, and a lot of these crime issues we see stem from the home.

McBride: The Council has provided funding needed for our police department to become fully staffed. The Council has also provided the department with the latest technology, making it one of less than a dozen departments with a state-of-the-art virtual crime center. Simultaneously, the Council has also provided record funding to social services to help reduce crime by providing social services and wrap around services to those dealing with mental health and addiction. The Council, city, police department, and the residents must all work together and continue to tackle crime in our community. Lastly, we must focus on our children. There must be open dialogue with our youth to find out their barriers and address their concerns by allocating resources to minimize those barriers.

Many recognize a disparity in economic growth in different parts of the city. What steps will you take to ensure economic growth and development is more widely distributed across the entire community?

Perez: If you are a business owner, will you invest in a neighborhood with high crime or low crime? If you are a home builder will you invest in areas with poor schools? If we lower crime and improve schools then investors will naturally invest in our neighborhoods. We have a great opportunity with the new battery factory and other factories that are coming into the area. If we bring crime down and help schools we wouldn't have economic growth issues.

McBride: I have and will continue to advocate for development in all areas of the city for equitable resources throughout all districts. In District 3, I have been a strong advocate for investing in the Miami and Michigan Street Corridors and bringing businesses into the area to uplift both neighborhoods. For example, I listened to my constituents and Randolph Park is now a fully operational park that is safe for kids and families to gather and play. This would not have happened without continued dialogue with the neighborhood association and members of the community. I will continue to advocate and support the curb and sidewalk allocation program, traffic calming, infrastructure, and affordable housing, especially in disparaged neighborhoods.

What can the city do to address the issues of children and adults living in poverty and/or homelessness in the community?

Perez: Its a complicated topic with complicated issues with complicated solutions. The problem I have seen is we have a one-size fits all approach to the solutions of poverty and homelessness. Every situation is unique, every person is unique. Partnering with our private sector who specialize in these solutions is important (Oaklawn, Beacon, etc.,) to tackle these issues is key. But we also must make sure we arent throwing taxpayer money at programs that dont have clear and concise plans without benchmarks and goals. Too often government programs become rife with corruption where money allocated for a cause ends up in the pockets of those working within the program and very little services are delivered for those who it was designed for.

McBride: In addressing the issue of homelessness, poverty, and children there are multiple factors that affect this population. We need to focus on the systemic issues and address the causes that create poverty and homelessness. I will continue to allocate funding to our neighborhoods across the city. The Council has committed to funding the Motels4Now program with wrap around services for people who experience substance abuse and mental health crisis. The city has partnered with SB Heritage foundation and built Oliver Apartments, Hope Avenue, and the Youth Service Bureau (YSB) development that focuses on youth homelessness. I will continue to be an advocate for some of our most vulnerable residents.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend candidates speak to issues facing Dist. 3 and rest of city
It is now up to individual school districts to decide how the states health and sexual education curriculum is implemented after the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted unanimously to update the states guidelines for the first time since 1999.

At the Sept. 19 meeting, representatives of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presented the framework  complete with revisions from expert and public input solicited over a summer comment period.

The overarching goal of this framework is to foster healthy, safe, equitable, and inclusive learning environments that enable success in school and in life for students of all identities and backgrounds, Rachelle Engler Bennett, associate commissioner of DESEs Student and Family Services office, said at the meeting.

The updated guidelines set new standards for what students of different age levels should know, aiming to be more inclusive of LGBTQ people and addressing health concerns resulting from the widespread use of social media.

According to the guidelines, students in kindergarten through second grade should be introduced to healthy eating, basic hygiene, respect for different family structures, the consequences of bullying and how to seek help from trusted adults.

By the end of fifth grade, students learn about the changes that occur during puberty, the difference between use and misuse of prescription medications and more. Sixth through eighth graders are introduced to topics like prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and high school students learn about healthy relationships and how to identify different types of abusive behaviors.

Darcie Aungst, interim deputy superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools, wrote in an email that the districts health education curriculum will not need to change as a result of the update.

We are already using comprehensive, evidence-based health education curricula in New Bedford Public Schools, she wrote.

In a statement, Dartmouth Public Schools administration wrote that as students deal with physical, social and emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the updated standards are important for ensuring all students have access to a comprehensive health and physical education experience during their time in the district.

We look forward to working with our educators to unpack the new standards and ensure all students have an experience that supports their physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing, the statement read.

The guidelines were drafted and revised in consultation with experts and educational professionals before an initial version was released. Gov. Maura Healey backed the revisions, which dont require approval from the Legislature, which has repeatedly failed to pass new standards.

Massachusetts Family Institute expressed opposition

During a two-month public comment period which began in late June, groups including the Massachusetts Family Institute expressed opposition to the framework, especially discussions of sex and gender identity.

While the organization did not give public testimony at the Sept. 19 meeting, it released a statement on its social media following the unanimous vote stating that the framework infringes on parents rights to direct their childrens moral formation in the area of sexuality and gender identity.

Proactive measures

Aungst wrote that the new guidelines are an important push toward more proactive measures to reduce drug addiction, unplanned teen pregnancies and the spread of communicable diseases.

We, as a society, cannot keep investing all of our health resources into treatment or reactionary measures when health crises or epidemics emerge, she wrote. We must invest in prevention and in order to prevent, we must start teaching our children and adolescents how to make healthy choices, early in their lives.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New standards set for health and sexual education in Massachusetts
TRENTON  A South Jersey contractor has agreed to pay $442,000 and dissolve his home-improvement business to resolve a lawsuit alleging fraud.

South Jersey Home Contracting LLC of Woodbury, and its owner, James C. Barreras Jr., must pay $257,000 in restitution to 13 contractors, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

The firm and Barreras, a Cinnaminson resident, also must pay a $185,000 civil penalty, the agency said.

The Attorney General's Office sued the business and Barreras last fall, alleging violations of the Consumer Fraud Act and other state laws, according to the state Attorney Generals Office.

Harold Mignott also must pay restitution Voorhees man gets prison term for 'upfront fee' fraud

The state took action after hearing complaints from South Jersey Home Contracting customers.

We will not allow unscrupulous contractors to enrich themselves at the expense of New Jersey consumers, especially our senior residents, said Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

Among other claims, the lawsuit alleged the defendants failed to complete contracted work, imposed improper fees and charges, and accepted payment from customers for work that was performed by other firms.

Barreras could not be reached for comment on the settlement, which also requires him to dissolve his firm.

The agreement also revokes the Woodbury companys Home Improvement Contractor registration.

The suit ended when a final consent judgment was filed Sept. 13 in Superior Court in Gloucester County.

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

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey Home Contracting sued by state Attorney General's Office
Carmit Harari, rabbi for Shir Tikvah in Homewood, said she was born and raised in Israel and a lot of her family members live in Israel. On Saturday, Harari said she felt shock, horror and fear watching the news of the Hamas attack.

We have never seen an attack of this magnitude on Israel. This is just unprecedented violence and horrific violence at that, Harari said. This particular attack was unprovoked. Nothing specific was done.

Tarek Khalil, education coordinator with American Muslims for Palestine and a board member of its Chicago chapter, said the Hamas attack was a result of 75 years of Israeli oppression of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

What happened Oct. 7 was an expression of their situation on the ground, an expression of lack of resources, lack of freedom, lack of dignity. This was not an aggression from the people of Gaza against the state of Israel. This was an act of resistance to occupation, Khalil said. It was absolutely provoked. It was not unprovoked at all given that context.

The outbreak of war has apparently led to cancellations this week of various events.

The Southwest Interfaith Team canceled a forum this past Sunday, though officials from the group did not give a reason and did not return phone calls. The program, 1 God  3 Faiths All is Good, was to be held at St. George Church in Tinley Park and include Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives.

Oak Lawn High School postponed its Palestinian Culture Night, which was scheduled for Oct. 13, because of the violent events unfolding in the region.

Due to the serious nature of the conflict and out of respect for the loss and suffering felt by those involved, we feel it is appropriate to postpone the event, said assistant principal Marcus Wargin.

Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip Saturday in a surprise air and land attack on Israel during the Jewish holiday Simhat Torah. Hamas killed dozens and took Israeli hostages into the Gaza strip.

Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is now at war. Israel said Tuesday it had regained control over its southern region and the border with the Gaza strip.

Deanna Othman, a board member of the American Muslims for Palestine Chicago chapter, said when the state of Israel was established in 1948 it created a Palestinian refugee crisis as 750,000 Palestinians were uprooted from their homes.

Othman, who lives in Oak Lawn, said Palestinians in Gaza were placed there after the creation of Israel and many live in refugee camps. About two-thirds of the population in Gaza consists of Palestinian refugees, said Khalil, who lives in Bridgeview.

While over the years there has been resistance movements, Othman said the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been under Israeli military occupation for the past 75 years.

In the last 16 years, the Palestinians in Gaza have been under siege, Othman said, where they cant travel and theres limited supplies, food and electricity to the area. The siege included building a fence around Gaza, Khalil said, which is why Human Rights Watch declared that Palestinians in Gaza have been living in an open-air prison.

All of those conditions, compounded with the occupation, which has been ongoing, has made Gaza virtually unlivable for the people there, Othman said. Were seeing the repercussions of all of this come to ahead.

Hamas is a terrorist organization, Harari said, saying when it was founded it stated part of its mission is to destroy the state of Israel and kill Jewish people, which should speak for itself.

It is incredibly heartbreaking, horrifying and deplorable that they would take elderly people and children hostage and use them as human shields in this war, Harari said. It is very awful that Hamas, because its a terrorist organization, also uses Palestinian civilians as human shields as well.

Blaming Hamas, which has been the governing authority of the Gaza Strip since 2007, for the attacks is detracting from the problem at hand and deflecting from the root cause which is the occupation, Othman said.

Hamas is a political movement established in response to Israels occupation of Gaza, Khalil said.

Everything else from flows from that. If we dont get down to the fundamental nature of the problem and we start focusing on the symptom rather than the disease, well never cure it, Khalil said.

Othman said shed like the war to end would be an end to the occupation and lift the siege on Gaza so that all people can live with freedom and dignity in their land. Othman said she also hopes the U.S. will stop supporting Israel financially.

The most ideal outcome would be an end to the siege, an end to the blockade, an end to the military occupation, the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people and full equality for all of those who live in all of historic Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, Khalil said. Where Jews and Palestinians live as equals in that country.

Harari said shed like to see the war end swiftly and with the least amount of deaths on both sides.

The majority would love to see this end as safely as it can, considering, with the least number of additional lives lost, with hostages returned safely to their families and with peace as soon as possible, Harari said.
The new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit from Axiom Space. Prada is collaborating with Axiom Space on NASAs lunar spacesuits for the Artemis III mission. | Axiom Space

Space travel is meeting high fashion with NASAs latest space suit.

Prada is partnering with Axiom Space, a Texas-based commercial space company, to design the lunar spacesuits for the Artemis III mission that is planned for 2025, Axiom Space announced in a press release.

The constantly forward-thinking ethos of Prada for humanity has broadened to his desire of adventure and to brave new horizons: space, Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group marketing director, stated.

Why is Prada designing spacesuits?

The luxury fashion brands design and engineering team is working with Axiom Space to make spacesuits that have advanced capabilities for space exploration, including increased flexibility and protection.

We are thrilled to partner with Prada on the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space, stated.

Related

Pradas technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies instrumental in ensuring not only the comfort of astronauts on the lunar surface, but also the much-needed human factors considerations absent from legacy spacesuits.

What do the Prada spacesuits look like?

The prototype for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit was revealed in March sporting dark gray and orange colors, but the final version will be white, according to Business Insider.

The prototype for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit is displayed Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Houston. Axiom Space was chosen by NASA to design its spacesuits. | David J. Phillip, Associated Press

Axiom was hired by NASA in June 2022 to design the new spacesuits.
By Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused the Israeli government on Tuesday of breaking international law by imposing a total blockade of Gaza in response to the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.

After an emergency meeting to discuss the repercussions of the attack, Borrell also said an "overwhelming majority" of EU foreign ministers supported continuing aid payments for the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank.

Borrell made his statement the day after European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, a Hungarian diplomat, said all EU development aid for Palestinians was suspended - only for the Commission to disown his announcement after a backlash from EU governments.

Borrell had invited the Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers to take part by video conference in the meeting in Muscat, Oman.

But Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen did not want to participate in a meeting that would also be addressed by Palestinian Authority minister Riyad al-Maliki so neither ended up taking part, officials said.

Borrell repeated the EU's condemnation of attacks by Hamas that killed more than 1,000 Israelis, most of them civilians.

But he said Israel's response - which has so far killed at least 770 Gazans, according to local officials - had to be in line with international humanitarian law and a decision to impose a total blockade on Gaza contravened this standard.

"Israel has the right to defend (itself) but it has to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law, and some decisions are contrary to international law," he told reporters after the meeting.

Borrell mentioned that the United Nations had stated that "cutting water, cutting electricity, cutting food to a mass of civilian people is against international law".

Israel criticised the U.N. statement, accusing the world body's human rights chief of failing to condemn Hamas as terrorists.

Borrell stressed the EU does not cooperate with Hamas, which runs Gaza and which the EU classes as a terrorist organisation. But he said it was vital that the bloc continued to provide aid to help Palestinian civilians via the Palestinian Authority.

"A collective punishment against all Palestinians will be unfair and unproductive," he said.

AID PROVIDER

The 27-nation EU says it is the biggest provider of external assistance to Palestinians.

Last year, it gave some 283 million euros ($299.78 million) to support the Palestinian Authority, and the main U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees and other projects, according to the European Commission.

But the EU has longstanding deep divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which spilled out into the open in the reaction to the shortlived announcement of aid suspension by Varhelyi, whose national government is a close ally of Israel.

A European Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday Varhelyi had not consulted his fellow commissioners, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Several EU governments openly criticised the announcement and more did so behind the scenes, diplomats said. The Commission then said it would review aid to ensure no funds are going to terrorists but payments would continue meantime.

Acting Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Palestinian territories are likely to need more aid after the Hamas assault and Israel's subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo, Andrew Gray and Thomas Escritt; additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau, Nicolas Delame and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by Tomasz Janowski, Mark Heinrich and Grant McCool)
Visitors pass by the office of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif., at the Capitol in Washington, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Following the ouster of McCarthy as speaker, the search for a new speaker may be decided this week. | Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press

The U.S. House of Representatives remains without an elected speaker as Israel mobilizes to counter widespread terrorist attacks by Hamas.

Despite the added urgency to direct Americas legislative response to the newly declared war in Israel, and with the Senate out of session until next week, it appears unlikely the discordant House GOP can unite behind one standard-bearer before the end of the week.

But for now, much of the immediate action needed from the United States falls to President Joe Biden.

What has the U.S. done to support Israel?

Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu additional security assistance was on its way during a phone call on Sunday, according to The New York Times, which reported the assistance would come on top of the annual $3 billion in military aid provided by the U.S.

The U.S. will also move one of its aircraft carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean in a show of support for Israel, according to a Sunday press release from U.S. Central Command.

But in the likely case further funding for Israel is needed, Congress  the institution that holds the power of purse  will need to get organized.

What can the House do to aid Israel without a speaker?

The House has been left in legal limbo since last Tuesdays dramatic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy  the first such removal in U.S. history  with many experts and lawmakers saying little can be done to legislate additional aid to Israel, or advance time-sensitive annual spending bills, until a new speaker is elected by a majority of House representatives.

However, the chambers narrow majority will require nearly unanimous consent among Republican representatives if they want to select a speaker along party lines  something that took five days and 15 rounds of voting the last time it was attempted in January. And tensions are still high among conference members furious with their eight colleagues who crossed the aisle to remove McCarthy last week.

GOP lawmakers have said they hope to avoid a repeat of Januarys speaker vote and last weeks motion to vacate by coming to unanimous agreement behind closed doors about which candidate the party will support and what their plan will be to pass spending bills, according to Reuters.

House Republicans are meeting Tuesday for a private candidate forum where Reps. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, will make their respective pitches to fill the Houses top leadership position. An internal GOP speakers election is scheduled for Wednesday, with a vote of the full chamber likely coming Thursday at the earliest.

In the absence of a speaker, House leadership, including staffers in the speakers office, House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and the House Intelligence Committee, have been briefed on the latest information regarding Hamas attack and Israels response, Punchbowl News reports.

According to Axios, questions remain about whether Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the speaker pro tempore, can receive intelligence briefings and lawmakers are worried bills that include Israeli aid or resolutions in support of Israel will be delayed until McHenry is replaced by a House-approved speaker.

Jeffries is reportedly working with the Biden administration to schedule a full-House briefing this week.

What has McCarthy said about assistance to Israel?

While McCarthy said last week he is not seeking reelection to the speakership, he clarified in multiple interviews over the weekend he would not reject his partys nomination if thats what the conference wants.

In a press conference Monday morning, McCarthy outlined what he said should be Americas priorities in addressing the conflict in Israel and said supporting the Jewish state had been one of his tops priorities as a member of Congress, leading a delegation to Israel every term, including as speaker.

McCarthy presented a five-point plan to help our ally Israel and to strengthen our own future. His points included:

1. Rescue all American hostages.

2. Provide full support for our ally Israel.

3. Confront Iran and the new Axis of Evil.

4. Focus on securing our own open border.

5. Condemn antisemitism in the United States.

McCarthy noted the death toll of Americans had risen from four to nine in the days since Hamas attacked. It has since been reported as 11 dead American citizens.

He also took aim at the Biden administration for its recent decision to free up $6 billion of previously restricted Iran savings, saying the exchange of financial incentives to secure the release of American hostages has emboldened terrorists.

McCarthy called on Biden to refreeze the money previously released to Iran, and to reverse policies that have allowed Iran to sell more oil and build up its foreign reserves.
Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday opposed a request by former President Donald Trump to postpone the trial over his alleged mishandling of classified documents until after the 2024 presidential election.

Trumps legal team has said that the Justice Department hasnt met its commitments to provide all the evidence in the case promptly, a claim Smith called out as baseless in a new court filing.

The defendants have repeatedly distorted the comprehensive, organized, and timely unclassified discovery that the Government has produced, in service of an attack on the promptness and thoroughness of the productions and an allegation that the Government is in ongoing non-compliance, Smith wrote. The facts prove otherwise.

The trial is currently scheduled for next May.

Trumps lawyers claimed in a filing last week that they havent been able to access the full classified discovery, citing a lack of secure facilities for handling the evidence in this case, among other things.

But the special counsel said while the former president should get access to classified information to be able to challenge, for instance, the DOJs proof concerning the allegation that the files he kept at his Florida estate included national defense information, most of the allegations listed in the indictment are based on unclassified evidence which they have already obtained.

That the classified materials at issue in this case were taken from the White House and retained at Mar-a-Lago is not in dispute; what is in dispute is how that occurred, why it occurred, what Trump knew, and what Trump intended in retaining themall issues that the Government will prove at trial primarily with unclassified evidence, Smith wrote.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case.

Smiths filing came in response to a motion by Trumps lawyers Christopher Kise and Todd Blanche requesting that the trial be moved to a date after the Nov. 5, 2024, presidential election, citing the discovery issues and scheduling conflicts with his other trials, including his federal election interference one, which is also overseen by Smith and is slated for next March.

The March 4, 2023 trial date in the District of Columbia, and the underlying schedule in that case, currently require President Trump and his lawyers to be in two places at once, Kise and Blanche wrote last week.

Smith noted that Judge Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over the classified documents trial, has already rejected an earlier attempt by Trump to schedule the trial following the 2024 presidential contest.
Special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday urged the federal judge presiding over Donald Trump s Washington, D.C. election-subversion case to implement measures aimed at protecting the confidentiality and safety of potential jurors.

Smiths team encouraged U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to authorize a questionnaire to begin screening potential jurors in early February, about a month before the case is scheduled to go to trial. That process would help weed out potential jurors who express an inability to participate in the case or judge the matter fairly, but it also would expose their identities to the attorneys in the case. The prosecutors prodded the judge to adopt several measures to prevent jurors personal information from being disseminated to the public.

Given the particular sensitivities of this case, stemming both from heightened public interest and the defendants record of using social media to attack others, the Court should impose certain limited restrictions on the ability of the parties to conduct research on potential jurors during jury selection and trial and to use juror research, prosecutors Molly Gaston and Thomas Windom argued.

The prosecutors took pains to flag an episode that occurred last week in Trumps ongoing civil fraud trial in New York. Trump, who attended the trial last week, has publicly criticized the state attorneys and judge in the case, and last week he mounted a social media attack on the judges top clerk. That attack prompted the judge to issue a limited gag order on Trump, prohibiting him from commenting on court staff.



Notably, Chutkan is weighing Smiths motion for a broader gag order in the Washington, D.C. case. Smith wants an order barring Trump from attacking or intimidating any potential witnesses in the federal trial, set to begin March 4. Chutkan has set a hearing on the gag order request for Oct. 16.

Prosecutors leaned heavily on Trumps comments in other cases in making their argument. They also noted that his supporters have directed threats at Chutkan herself, as well as grand jurors who indicted Trump in Fulton County, Ga.

Among other measures Smiths team is proposing: barring any direct contact between the attorneys and potential jurors  including friending or following their social media accounts. Open source research would be permitted so long as it doesnt become vexatious or harassing. Any identifying information from this research, prosecutors say, should be barred from public disclosure.

Such a precaution is not only necessary to ensure that all parties handle sensitive juror information responsibly, but also so that the Court can assure prospective and seated jurors in this case that no party will improperly use their names or other identifying information, Gaston and Windom wrote.

Prosecutors also said the court may want to consider a tactic used in other high-profile cases: having jurors enter and leave the courthouse in a discreet manner, rather than using the public entrances. Smiths team left the door open to seeking additional safety measures in the future.

According to the prosecutors, Trumps lawyers are opposed to at least some of the measures Smiths team is seeking.

While the prosecution proposed a variety of steps aimed at protecting the jurors in the case, Smiths team is not urging an extreme measure a federal judge in New York took earlier this year in a civil case involving Trump: having potential jurors remain entirely anonymous to both the defense and prosecution.

U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered that step in one of the lawsuits New York writer E. Jean Caroll brought against the former president related to her claim that he raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s.

In issuing the unusual order, Kaplan cited a very strong risk that jurors will fear harassment based in part on Trumps prior social-media fusillades against courts, judges, various law enforcement officials and other public officials, and even individual jurors in other matters.

Last month, prosecutors in Georgia handling a parallel, election-related criminal case against Trump and many of his backers asked for a broad order prohibiting anyone from distributing any information that could be used to identify jurors or potential jurors in that case. News outlets objected to the proposal from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, arguing that it would inhibit robust coverage of what are expected to be multiple trials of the defendants there.

Judge Scott McAfee opted to put strict limits on juror information that could be disclosed in court or by the lawyers or defendants in the case, but his restrictions on the media and members of the public were limited to avoiding photographs or drawings that could identify individual jurors.
I spent two hours at Barra Airport in Scotland, one of the smallest airports in the world.

It's also the only airport in the world where commercial flights land on the beach.

It was the strangest flying experience I've ever had.

My partner and I spent a weekend on Barra, a remote Scottish island with incredible scenery.

The island of Barra in Scotland. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The Isle of Barra is a remote western island in Scotland's Outer Hebrides which is accessible via ferry from Oban, which takes just under five hours, or by plane, which takes just over one hour from Glasgow Airport.

The island is known for its wildlife and natural scenery, including white, sandy beaches which are often compared to the Caribbean.

In September, my partner and I flew on a Loganair flight from our home in Glasgow to Barra Airport. The flight was amazing, and I could hear the splash of the sea against the plane's wheels as we landed on the beach.

After two days on the island, we flew back to Glasgow. We spent around two hours waiting before our flight departed, and it was the most unusual airport I've ever visited due to its small size and beach runway.

The round-trip cost 164, or around $199, per person.

We flew home from Barra Airport, one of the smallest and most dangerous airports in the world.

Barra Airport is located on a beach. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Barra Airport is one of the smallest airports in the world, according to the travel agency Opodo. The airport only has a control tower and a small terminal, and the runway is on the beach due to its remote location and lack of demand.

It welcomed 11,814 passengers in 2022, a spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Airports informed me after my visit. In comparison, the UK's busiest airport, London Heathrow, welcomed 61.6 million passengers in the same year, according to Statista.

Barra is also considered one of the most dangerous airports for pilots to take off and land from due to severe weather conditions and the rising tides, according to a 2018 report by Forbes. The beach runway landing is "so unique" that all pilot training takes place with four experienced trainers, including two Civil Aviation Authority examiners, a Loganair spokesperson told me after my visit.

The building was locked when we arrived two hours before our flight was due to depart on a Sunday morning.

The exterior of Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

We got a taxi from our hotel to Barra Airport and arrived at around 9.30 a.m., just over two hours before our flight to Glasgow was due to depart at 11.50 a.m.

Our taxi driver told us that we didn't need to arrive so early, and that in the future she would advise showing up just 40 minutes before the flight. This was strange to me, as I'm used to arriving hours in advance no matter where I fly from.

But her advice made sense when we tried to get inside the building.

There were a handful of cars in the parking lot, however, when we looked inside we could see that the airport was empty. The main entrance was locked.

After waiting outside for a few moments, a member of staff arrived to unlock the door.

An employee had to unlock the building. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

We were waiting outside in the rain for just a couple of minutes when an employee arrived to unlock the front door for us. It felt like we were being let into someone's home, rather than an airport.

We were left alone to explore the tiny waiting area.

The interior of Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

After the employee let us inside, he didn't hang around. My partner and I were left to explore the empty, tiny, waiting area, which consisted of a handful of seats, a vending machine, and chairs and tables which were part of a recently refurbished cafe that was closed.

Our taxi driver warned us beforehand that the cafe wasn't currently operating because "they couldn't find anybody to take it on."

Highlands and Islands Airports wrote on its website earlier this year that it was looking for a team to run the cafe. The closing date for the opportunity was listed as June 21, 2023, and a spokesperson said the process is still ongoing.

The departures screen showed our flight was the only one scheduled that day.

The check-in desk at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

There was a departure and arrival screen above a singular check-in desk across from the waiting area, but there was no airport staff to be seen.

The screen showed that there was only one flight due to land on Barra that day from Glasgow, and our flight (on the same plane) was the only one scheduled to depart.

The seats overlooked the beach runway.

Empty seats at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

My partner and I were the only people at the airport for the first hour, and I found myself wondering if the other passengers on our flight were locals and knew better than to show up early.

We didn't mind too much, as we were able to take in views of the beach without any interruption.

I got a hot chocolate from the vending machine while we waited.

The author pictured at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The two vending machines had cold bottled drinks and hot drinks. I opted for a hot chocolate, which was a great choice considering it was cold and rainy outside.

We decided to explore the beach while we waited, and thankfully the airport had lockers we could use to store our luggage.

Lockers at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

We were told by the employee who let us in the building that none of the lockers actually locked. He said it shouldn't deter us from using them, adding that the airport was quiet and safe.

The beach surrounding the airport was beautiful.

The beach at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The island's white, sandy beaches are often compared to the Caribbean. Earlier that weekend, I heard fellow visitors refer to the island as "Barrabados," an affectionate nickname said to be widely used by locals, according to the Daily Mail.

I could see why Barra's beaches have such a great reputation.

The author's partner on the beach at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The vast beach surrounding the airport was beautiful and full of color, despite the dreary weather that day. The vibrant green of the grass and the turquoise water looked as though they were plucked from a postcard.

The empty beach also appeared untouched, as the white sand was clean and void of any litter. By the time we left, the only footsteps on the sand belonged to us.

By the time we arrived back at the airport, it was time to board the plane.

An employee checked tickets before we boarded the plane. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

When we arrived back at the airport, the other 13 passengers due to travel on our flight had arrived and were sitting in the waiting area. While the plane had 19 seats, Loganair allows a maximum of 15 passengers and two pilots to allow for extra fuel capacity, as there are no refueling facilities at Barra Airport, a spokesperson for the airline said.

There was also one staff member who allowed us to check in before directing us to the beach, where the plane was waiting.

When it was time to board the plane, I didn't want to leave.

The plane at Barra Airport. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Barra Airport is by far the most unique airport I've ever visited, and the experience was magical for me because of the beach.

I could have stayed for a further two hours just to spend more time by the sea without the hustle and bustle you would experience at most busy airports. It was the strangest  and most peaceful  travel experience I've ever had.

Read the original article on Insider
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  One more missing Filipino in war-torn Israel has been found but six others are still unaccounted for, the Philippine Embassy in Israel reported on Tuesday.

The Embassy confirms that one more of the missing Filipino nationals has been accounted for, a female found in a safe area, it said in a statement.

This reduced the number of missing Filipinos to six  two males and four females.

According to the Embassy's latest update, out of the 29 Filipinos who were reported missing, 23 have been found or rescued, including one male currently being treated for moderate injuries at a hospital.

The reported death of one Filipina, who was earlier listed as missing, is still being verified.

The Embassys Labor Attache and Welfare Officer are on the ground to assist the sister of the said Filipina in confirming this with the Israel Police, it said.

Meanwhile, the Embassy recommends that Alert Level 1 be maintained, citing the assessment of the Israeli government, security authorities, and realities on the ground.

While the situation in Israel remains tense in certain areas, the Israeli security forces have regained control of the affected areas in the South as of 12:00 a.m. of Monday, 09 October 2023, the office said.

It stressed that it is monitoring the situation very closely and continues to assist Filipinos affected by the ongoing crisis.

Since the conflict erupted over the weekend, more than 900 people have died in Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces, while more than 765 people have died in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its unprecedented surprise assault early Saturday, firing thousands of rockets and sending armed fighters into Israel.
Low-income St. Petersburg residents who dont have access to cars will be able to take public transit for free throughout Pinellas County starting next month.

Last week, the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved $175,000 in city funding for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. The money will go toward the transit authoritys Transportation Disadvantaged program, which provides reduced-cost services for residents who dont have other options to get to work, medical appointments or other essential destinations. Households that make less than 200% of the federal poverty level  or about $29,000 a year for a single person, or $60,000 for a family of four  are eligible.

The program mostly relies on state funding  it got more than $4 million from Florida last year, St. Petersburgs transportation and parking management director, Evan Mory, told council members last week. But that support still leaves a bill for participants: $11 for an unlimited 31-day pass, or $5 for unlimited rides on 10 nonconsecutive days. The city funding will cover that cost for St. Petersburg residents who use the program.

The cost, while its low, is still a barrier, so wed like to bring down that barrier, Mory said.

Covering that gap for all St. Petersburg residents in the program would cost about $136,000, Mory said, but the city hopes making the program free will encourage more people to participate. The funding will continue through late 2025, with an option for the city to renew it for another two years. The citys contribution will remain at $175,000 per year, though the City Council could vote to increase funding.

The funding wasnt the only transit subsidy the City Council considered in its recent budget season. It was also poised to offer a subsidy that would have kept the SunRunner, the rapid bus line connecting downtown and St. Pete Beach, free to ride for another year. That idea was scrapped after St. Pete Beach officials and residents complained about homeless riders, leading the transit authority to impose fares on the route this month, earlier than anticipated.

The city funding for Transportation Disadvantaged goes into effect Nov. 1. Those interested in applying for the program can find out more at psta.net/programs. The application requires proof of income, and only St. Petersburg residents are eligible for free participation. Social service organizations can vouch for homeless residents who dont have a fixed address.

Editors note: Evan Mory is St. Petersburgs transportation and parking management director. This story has been updated to correct his title.
Sam Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend, Caroline Ellison , walks through security at Manhattan Federal Court on October 10, 2023, in New York (Bryan R. Smith)

Disgraced crypto wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried was the mastermind behind a scheme to defraud FTX clients of billions of dollars, the star witness in his US trial testified on Tuesday.

Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Fried's former business partner and girlfriend, said that they had stolen "around $14 billion" from clients of the cryptocurrency exchange platform before it collapsed into bankruptcy late last year.

The 31-year-old Bankman-Fried, co-founder and former CEO of FTX, has been charged with seven counts of fraud, embezzlement and criminal conspiracy, and if convicted could face a de facto life sentence of more than 100 years in prison.

In November 2022, the platform imploded, unable to cope with massive withdrawal requests from customers panicked to learn that some of FTX's funds had been committed to risky operations by Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's personal hedge fund.

Ellison was CEO at Alameda and has pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud charges and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution.

After taking a good ten seconds to identify Bankman-Fried in the courtroom, Ellison said he was "the owner of Alameda and he directed me to commit those crimes."

Bankman-Fried "was the one who set up the system" that saw Alameda take the client money from FTX and use it "for investments and to pay back debts," she said.

Bankman-Fried's lawyers are expected to argue that their client had little handle on the inner workings of Alameda's business and point blame at Ellison for the alleged fraud.

In the court on Tuesday, Ellison said that she and Bankman-Fried "dated for a couple years," a connection that helped put Bankman-Fried behind bars as he awaited trial.

Bankman-Fried in August was ordered out of house arrest and jailed after prosecutors alleged the former FTX boss had leaked Ellison's very personal diary entries to the New York Times.

The pair and other FTX executives lived in a luxury apartment complex in the Bahamas until Bankman-Fried was arrested and extradited to the United States late last year.

Zixiao "Gary" Wang, another former close associate of Bankman-Fried, on Friday described his FTX co-founder as willing to break the law and lie to enable the company and Alameda to post strong growth.

tu/arp/des
Sam Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend, Caroline Ellison , walks through security at Manhattan Federal Court on October 10, 2023, in New York (Bryan R. Smith)

Disgraced crypto wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried was the mastermind behind a scheme to defraud FTX clients of billions of dollars, the star witness in his US trial testified on Tuesday.

Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Fried's former business partner and girlfriend, said that they had stolen "around $14 billion" from clients of the cryptocurrency trading platform before it collapsed into bankruptcy late last year.

The 31-year-old Bankman-Fried, co-founder and former CEO of FTX, has been charged with seven counts of fraud, embezzlement and criminal conspiracy, and if convicted could face a de facto life sentence of more than 100 years in prison.

In November 2022, the platform imploded, unable to cope with massive withdrawal requests from customers panicked to learn that some of FTX's funds had been committed to risky operations by Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's personal hedge fund.

Ellison, a Stanford University mathematics graduate, was appointed by Bankman-Fried in 2021 to head Alameda, whose activities were largely financed by money from customers of FTX -- without their knowledge.

She has pleaded guilty to fraud charges and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution as have two other close associates of Bankman-Fried.

After taking a good 10 seconds to identify her former romantic partner in the courtroom, Ellison said he was "the owner of Alameda and he directed me to commit those crimes."

Bankman-Fried "was the one who set up the system" that saw Alameda take the client money from FTX and use it "for investments and to pay back debts," she said.

"For major decisions, I ran it by Sam. He was the person I officially reported to. He was the owner of Alameda. He could have fired me if he wanted to," she said.

- 'Awkward situations' -

A former analyst who developed mathematical models for market finance, Ellison said she expressed her reservations about the relationship between FTX and Alameda.

"I was somewhat concerned because it was something that customers weren't aware of and they wouldn't be happy if they'd learned about it," she said.

Bankman-Fried's lawyers are expected to argue against this depiction, saying that their client had little handle on the inner workings of Alameda's business and placing the blame at Ellison for the alleged fraud.

In the court on Tuesday, Ellison said that she and Bankman-Fried "dated for a couple years."

"He was also my boss, which created a lot of awkward situations," she said.

The on and off again couple and other FTX executives lived in a luxury apartment complex in the Bahamas until Bankman-Fried was arrested and extradited to the United States late last year.

Zixiao "Gary" Wang, another associate of Bankman-Fried, on Friday described the FTX co-founder as willing to break the law and lie to enable the company and Alameda to post strong growth.

tu/arp/sst
(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer promised a decade of national renewal after 13 years of Conservative government, urging his Labour Party to be disciplined and ready to fight back against Rishi Sunak s Tories ahead of a general election expected next year.

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This isnt over  in fact, its barely begun, Starmer told a packed hall at Labours annual conference on Tuesday, potentially the last such gathering before a national vote in which Labour could return to power.

There was drama at the start of his keynote speech, as a protester came on stage behind him to pour glitter over his head. Protest or power, Starmer said after taking off his jacket. Thats why we changed our party.

The four-day gathering in Liverpool, northwest England, comes at a pivotal time for Starmer as he tries to boost Labours profile among undecided voters and convince them hes ready to become prime minister. Labour has adopted the tone of a government-in-waiting at an upbeat conference.

Yet there is still a sense there is more persuading to do, with an election due by January 2025 at the latest.

Starmers overhaul of Labour since the leadership of his left-wing predecessor Jeremy Corbyn was evident in his response to the protester. He underscored it again as he addressed the attack on Israel by militant group Hamas.

Israel must always have the right to defend her people, Starmer said. I utterly condemn the senseless murder of men, women and children in cold blood by the terrorists of Hamas. Labour activists stood to applaud.

Labour has led Rishi Sunaks Conservatives by about 20 points in opinion polls for months, but after Corbyn led the party to its worst defeat since 1935 four years ago, the party needs another 123 seats for an outright majority.

Starmer expelled Corbyn from the parliamentary party months after taking over in 2020, and has since moved Labour closer to the center-ground of politics where he believes elections are won. During the conference, his grip over Labour was put to the test when Corbyn, who shared platforms with Hamas supporters before he became leader, repeatedly declined to condemn the militant groups attack on Israel.

People are looking to us because they want our wounds to heal, and we are the healers, Starmer said. If you think our job in 1997 was to rebuild a crumbling public realm, that in 1964 it was to modernize an economy left behind by the pace of technology, in 1945 to build a new Britain out of the trauma of collective sacrifice, then in 2024 it will have to be all three.

In his speech, he also said Labour would:

Reform the National Health Service and get it working around the clock, adding: If all we do is place the NHS on a pedestal then Im afraid it will remain on life support.

Bulldoze through rules that prevent the UK building roads, laboratories and connections to the electricity grid. Its time to get Britain building again, he said.

Build the next generation of Labour new towns and 1.5 million new homes, without tearing up the green belt.

What is broken can be repaired, he said, promising to overhaul planning rules holding back investment in infrastructure. Labour, he said, would hold out the hand of partnership to business.

The immediate reaction to Starmers speech illustrated its broad cut-through. Trade Unions Congress General Secretary Paul Nowak lauded a proper plan for repairing and rebuilding Britain. More eye-opening, though, was the praise from the free-market Adam Smith Institute.

Keir Starmer put forward a serious, innovation-focused, positive vision for the country, said Maxwell Marlow, director of research at the institute.

Starmer pledged again to fight the next election on economic growth, political ground traditionally claimed by the Tories. That followed a speech that drew repeated standing ovations on Monday from Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves who set out her priority to spur growth, including by easing planning rules on big infrastructure.

Starmer has contrasted his plan to get Britain building with Sunaks decision to scrap a northern leg of the UKs flagship high-speed rail line. The premiers Conservative Party conference last week was marked by ministers, including Sunak, adopting the rhetoric of US-style culture wars to excite the Tory base.

When Rishi Sunak says row back on our climate mission, I say speed ahead, Starmer said, a reference to the prime ministers decision to water down the UKs green agenda. The Tories are prepared to scorch the earth, just to get at us.

He also accused the governing Conservatives of lying about the UKs split from the European Union, a sensitive topic for Labour given the swathes of traditional supporters who backed Brexit and shifted to the Tories in 2019.

They told you to your face that Brexit would only bring benefits to your business, he said.

Entering conference, Starmer still faced a challenge to set out a compelling vision for government. Polls show that while voters are turning away from a chaotic Conservative party, they are not immediately switching to Labour. A YouGov survey last week found 28% of respondents did not intend to vote or did not know who they were going to vote for.

Theres evidence, too, that people are still unsure what Starmer stands for. Nothing and dont know were among the most popular terms associated with Starmer in a word cloud from focus groups by think tank More in Common for the BBC. Thats worrying for Labour so close to a general election, which must be held by January 2025 at the latest.

Our job is to shoulder the burden for working people, carry the load, not add to it, Starmer said. We have to be a government that takes care of the big decisions so working people have the freedom to enjoy what they love. More time, more energy, more possibility, more life.

--With assistance from Ellen Milligan, Kitty Donaldson and Alex Wickham.

(Updates with response from trade unions, Adam Smith Institute from 12th paragraph)

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The State Bureau of Investigation is currently dealing with 260 cases of potential abuse at regional military enlistment offices and military medical commissions, the law enforcement agency reported on Oct. 10.

The Bureau has informed 58 individuals that they are suspects in a criminal case, and 21 indictments against 35 people have already been sent to court.

These criminal proceedings have recorded a total of Hr 3.7 million ($101,000) that military enlistment offices and medical commissions have received in bribes, the SBI said.

In August, a nationwide inspection of Ukraine's military recruitment offices revealed multiple violations, including corruption, power abuse, and fraud. Heads of all regional military enlistment offices across Ukraine were dismissed.

Law enforcement agencies then simultaneously conducted hundreds of searches at enlistment offices and military medical commissions across Ukraine, revealing large-scale corruption schemes.

A total of 388 people are suspected of illegally issuing documents of unfitness for service at military medical commissions, the SBI said on Aug. 22.

Those "who intend to use their position for personal profit during wartime," the SBI warned, "will be exposed and prosecuted.

Ukrainian authorities launched the country-wide inspection of military enlistment offices after journalists discovered in June that the family of the ex-head of the Odesa Oblast military enlistment office had acquired property worth $4.5 million since the start of the full-scale invasion.

However, new reports continue to emerge about cases of abuse and corruption. On Sept. 19, the SBI announced that it had launched an investigation into the alleged abuse of a civilian at a military enlistment office in Sambir, Lviv Oblast.

Read also: Our readers questions about the war, answered. Vol. 4

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEVERSINK - New York State police on Sunday charged a man with murdering his father in the Sullivan County town of Neversink.

State police said troopers responded to a residence on Bradley Avenue in the town just before 7 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a cardiac arrest there.

According to state police, when the troopers arrived, they observed an EMS crew giving CPR to Lloyd Botsford, 71.

Botsford had a gunshot wound to his head, the troopers observed, and he subsequently died.

Emergency access: Fatal bus crash renews calls for long-sought access gate for emergency vehicles on I-84

An investigation led to the arrest of Drew Botsford, 46, of the town of Neversink, who police identified as the son of the victim.

Drew Botsford was charged with one count of second-degree murder, a felony. He was sent without bail to the Sullivan County jail, pending further court action.

State police did not say what they believed was the motive for the shooting, nor did they provide any other details.

Police said the investigation is continuing.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Sullivan County man charged in father's death: What we know
Police are investigating after a 23-year-old man was killed during an early morning crash in Plainville Tuesday, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Around 3:45 a.m. members of the Massachusetts State Police received calls for a vehicle on fire in the median of Route 495 South. Responding troopers found a 2008 BMW 328 located in several feet of water with flames leaping from the drivers side.

The driver, Sage A. Woodward, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island was found in the passenger side of the car facedown in several feet of water. Troopers were able to pull him out of the embankment with the help of two bystanders. Despite performing CPR until medics arrived, Woodward was pronounced deceased at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.

An initial investigation suggests the car struck a guardrail on the right side of the road, causing it to veer widely across the three lanes and into the median, according to State Police.

One trooper cut his hand during the operation and was also taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital.

The left and center lanes of the highway were closed for more than three hours as crews investigated the scene. The scene was cleared around 7:00 a.m.

The crash remains under investigation by the State Police-Foxboro Barracks with help from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and State Police Troop H Detective Unit.

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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has announced she intends to sign an executive order to ban state agencies from buying single-use plastic products.

Healey was speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative when she revealed the plan, which will be effective immediately once confirmed.

We know that plastic waste, plastic production are among the leading threats to our oceans, our climate and environmental justice, Healey said in her speech, according to Phys.org. In government we have an obligation, we also have an opportunity to not only stop contributing to this damage but to chart a better path forward.

Massachusetts has already set a state law that will necessitate meeting net zero emissions targets by 2050 to help remove the same amount of pollution put into the air, but Healeys proposed policy will further the Commonwealths green agenda.

Healey said Massachusetts would be the first state in the nation to stop the purchase of single-use plastics. She also announced her intention to implement biodiversity targets for the next three decades, warning how the warming climate is leading to the decline of natural resources, which threatens economic stability, public health, and food security.

Protecting wildlife and the habitats they call home is a critical part of the climate fight.



Thats why were creating the strongest biodiversity policy in America, setting conservation goals all the way out to 2050. pic.twitter.com/w0Ea3nVRKN  Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) September 23, 2023

According to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, more than 17 billion pounds (8 million tons) of plastic enters oceans every year. With Massachusetts having a proud maritime history, its unsurprising that reducing plastic pollution is a significant goal.

Marine scientist Abby Barrows contributed her thoughts on the Coalitions website, noting that plastic pollution can break down into microplastics through exposure to the sun and weathering.

Not only are microplastics easily transported, but they can also enter the bodies of marine animals through ingestion. Furthermore, they can potentially release harmful chemicals from the initial plastic production process into water supplies.

Healey called on her colleagues and contemporaries across the country to join her stance in bringing forward vital laws to protect the environment, as reported by Phys.org.

Our natural world recognizes no political divisions and neither should our work to protect it, she said.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
A new book from George Stephanopoulos promises to give readers a front row seat in the Situation Room, including the first ever account of Jan. 6 from the staff inside the super-secret White House space.

The Situation Room, from the longtime co-anchor of ABCs Good Morning America and former senior adviser to President Clinton, will lift the veil on the epicenter of crisis management for presidents for more than six decades, the books publisher announced Tuesday.

No room better defines American power and its role in the world than the White House Situation Room. And yet, none is more shrouded in secrecy and mystery, a news release said.

Stephanopouloss book with Lisa Dickey will include a vivid retelling of the harrowing hours during the 9/11 attack, new details from Obama administration officials leading up to the raid on Osama bin Laden and incredible minute-by-minute transcripts after the shootings of President Kennedy and and President Reagan.

Staff present in the Situation Room in 2021 during the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Trump will also recount their experiences, Stephanopouloss publisher said.

The decisions made in that windowless warren in the basement of the West Wing have determined the fate of presidents and shaped the course of history. Yet relatively little has been written about it and the people who work there, Stephanopoulos said in a statement, according to ABC News.

When I discovered that fact, I knew I had to write this book, the 62-year-old This Week host said.

The Situation Room is poised to be released May 14.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Stone Hill Bar & Grill in the aftermath of the fire in Randall, MN.

RANDALL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Stone Hill Bar & Grill in Randall, Minnesota, burned down early Monday, the Morrison County Sheriffs Office said.

When authorities arrived at the restaurant, located on 230th Street West, there were smoke and flames coming out of the east entryway of the building, authorities said.

The Randall Fire Department responded with assistance from Scandia Valley Fire Department and Camp Ripley Fire Department.

According to the sheriffs office, the cause of the fire has not been determined and the State Fire Marshals Office was notified and will be assisting in the investigation.

Authorities say the building is a total loss.
Chinese FM meets U.S. congressional delegation

Xinhua) 09:42, October 10, 2023

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed Schumer and his delegation to China, expressing the hope that the lawmakers will gain a more accurate understanding of China, view China in a more objective way, and manage differences in a more rational way, so as to play a constructive role in bringing bilateral relations back onto the right track.

Noting that China and the United States have different social systems, history, culture and development stages, Wang said that the two sides should respect the development path chosen by each other's people, respect each other's core interests and development rights.

The development of China-U.S. relations should be based on the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Wang added.

Wang said the recent series of dialogues and exchanges between the two sides have been widely welcomed by all sectors within the two countries and the international community, which fully demonstrates that it is the right move to promote the stabilization of China-U.S. relations, and conforms to the common interests of both countries and the world.

The two sides should earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and strive for the real stability and improvement of China-U.S. relations for the benefit of both countries and the world, Wang said.

Schumer introduced the relevant views of the U.S. side and expressed the willingness to strengthen contact and dialogue with China in the spirit of candor and mutual respect, manage differences responsibly and avoid conflicts.

The United States does not seek to de-couple with China, and the stable development of U.S.-China relations is beneficial to the United States and the world, said Schumer.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The Philippine Embassy in Israel on Tuesday said it is verifying the reported death of an overseas Filipino worker, while also confirming the safety of Filipino students there amid the escalating war between Israeli forces and militant group Hamas.

"Mayroon kaming nareceive kagabi na report mayroon daw isang namatay so first thing in the morning ay pupunta ang ating labor attache at ive-verify doon nga sa reported na may isang nasawi daw na caregiver," Philippine ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo, Jr. told CNN Philippines' The Source.

[Translation: We received a report last night that someone was killed so first thing in the morning our labor attache will verify the reported death of a caregiver.]

Laylo said this reported death was initially included in the list of 29 missing Filipinos. Of this number, 23 were already rescued while five remain unaccounted for, he added.

He also denied reports Filipino agrostudies students were abducted by Hamas operatives. He said all 310 students are safe.

The envoy said those still missing are all caregivers and are from around the same area where Hamas took their hostages.

"Binigay na natin yung information sa Israeli authorities na hoping makakuha tayo ng feedback," Laylo said.

[Translation: We already gave the information to Israeli authorities and we're hoping to get feedback.]

He said verification takes time since they only rely on information from Israeli authorities. He urged the public not to share unverified reports that may only cause fear and panic among Filipinos.

Department of Migrant Workers officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said in another interview that the two reported injured Filipinos were already visited by Philippine authorities and were given financial assistance.

According to Laylo, the situation in Israel remains tense. Records show that 4,500 rockets were launched from Gaza since Saturday's surprise attack, but most of them were intercepted by Israeli forces, he added.

The conflict has killed at least 900 people in Israel and over 680 in Palestine.
A family was held at gunpoint inside their northwest Charlotte store Friday as masked robbers stole $16,000 in cash.

The owner of the Tienda y Taqueria Los Pichones bodega shared surveillance video with Channel 9s Anthony Kustura. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is searching for the masked gunmen who are responsible.

It happened Friday around 5 p.m. at the store, which is on Brookshire Boulevard near North Hoskins Road.

ALSO READ: Man attacked, robbed in parking lot of north Charlotte strip mall

Felipe Sanchez said his mother-in-law and two daughters were working when the thieves came through the back.

He said his mother-in-law was in shock when the thieves said, If you move, I will kill you.

Surveillance video captured the suspects as they rushed through the business before leaving with the cash.

Sanchez sells everything, from hats to home goods to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Explain to me why you had that much money in the store in that time? Kustura asked.

Because we have money services, Sanchez said.

ALSO READ: Robber holds Charlotte woman at gunpoint in home, steals French bulldog

According to Sanchez, his customers are primarily from Spanish-speaking countries, just like he is. They use his shop to wire transfer money back to their families in South and Central America or Mexico. But Sanchez hadnt made the deposits yet on that payday Friday, making his store an easy target.

Hes now left scrambling for answers.

We dont know if we have to pay that $16,000, he said.

So far, CMPD hasnt made any arrests in this case.

Sanchez has been at his shop every day since to protect it and his family. He has a message for the people responsible.

Were in this country to work, why dont they go find a job and work like everyone else?

Sanchez said thieves targeted his store just a few months ago too. In that case, they only made off with a few hundred dollars and didnt use weapons.

Kustura asked CMPD if the cases could be connected.

VIDEO: Man attacked, robbed in parking lot of north Charlotte strip mall
















Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Romania and is greeted by Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobrescu at the plane's gate. October 10, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived on his first official visit to Romania since the start of Russias full-scale war on Ukraine, reads a message on his official Telegram channel on Oct. 10.

Read also: Ukraine to create alternative route for grain exports via Romanian territorial waters - Reuters

The Ukrainian head of state will meet with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and hold talks with him. Topics will include the development of aviation and other defense coalitions, strengthening air defense, security in the Black Sea region, and relations with allies.

"First of all, Ukraine is grateful to Romania for its sincere and large-scale assistance, which significantly strengthens our defense," the statement reads.

And also for the most constructive solidarity, which allows our countries to be significant donors of security for the world, including food security... This visit will benefit both our nations.

Zelenskyy arrived in Romania amid Russian drone attacks near the border with the NATO member state. The latest attack on Odesa Oblast, targeting logistics infrastructure in southern Ukraine, came last night, with 23 suicide drones shot down over the region.

The wreckage of Russian drones used to attack Ukraine has been found several times on Romanian territory. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraines port and border infrastructure in the Danube region, which borders Romania.

On Sept. 30, Bucharest admitted that Russian drones could have violated their country's airspace.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated on Sept. 7 that the alliance did not see any indication that there had been a deliberate Russian attack on Romania.

Romania has since decided to move its air defense systems closer to the border with Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Residents of Romanias border zone with Ukraine began to receive mobile air raid alert notifications. Some of them have seen the drone strikes with their own eyes and shared videos online.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
An attack on a camp for displaced people in Myanmar late Monday left at least 30 people dead, according to local media reports and a human rights group. Myanmars military has been blamed for the airstrike on the Mung Lai Hkyet displacement camp in the northern state of Kachin. A spokesperson for Kachin Human Rights Watch told the Associated Press that 13 children and 19 adults were killed in the attack at around 11 p.m. A local news site reported that more than 30 people were killed when bombs were dropped by jets, but other reports suggested artillery or possibly drones were used to conduct the strike. Myanmar has been roiled by internal conflict since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown by the military in February 2021.

Read it at Associated Press

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A classroom sits empty at Kent Middle School on April 01, 2020 in Kentfield, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - Several students at a San Leandro middle school were sent home on Monday after consuming candy-like sleep aids, though none of them required medical attention.

Around 10 a.m., the Alameda County Fire Department responded to a call at John Muir Middle School, after two nurses reported that a student was acting strange.

Authorities learned that a student had brought gummy sleep aids to school and distributed them among half a dozen friends.

None of the students needed medical attention.

Those involved were sent home with their parents to be observed.

The school emphasized that no drugs were involved in the incident.
The questions started as soon as the last students trickled into Donald Singleton's first period Advanced Placement African American Studies class on a recent morning. For nearly two hours, Singleton, who has taught at Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School in Los Angeles for 26 years, challenged his students on their own perceptions of history.

"What have you learned?" he asked the class. "What do you know about the role of African women during slavery?"

"It was entirely permissible to rape a slave, kill a slave, hang a slave, lynch a slave," responded senior Hassan Wright. "But if you taught them to read, you were just as bad as a slave."

Advanced Placement African American Studies is, at its core, a history course, tracing the Black experience from early African kingdoms to slavery and the civil rights movement through today. And while it's drawn fire from some Republicans calling it an example of "woke-ism" infiltrating education, students in the course say it shouldn't be considered controversial.

"This isn't a political class. This isn't like choosing sides. It's history that everybody should know," junior Rosselyn Reyes told CBS News.

Jordan Love, also a junior, said the class changed the way he thought about Black history.

"There's a major difference between having somebody tell you that you're the ancestor of a slave family and having somebody tell you that you're the ancestry of an advanced civilization," he said.

Senior Kessiah Bing said she decided to take the class "to learn more about my people, my history," adding, "It's the truth."

Facing pushback

Like all other AP classes, African American Studies is designed by the non-profit College Board with help from university professors and offers students the opportunity to earn college credit. The class began taking shape in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests. The College Board plans to make it available to any U.S. high school that wants it next year. Currently, more than 700 U.S. high schools are piloting the course  amid pushback from Republican leaders.

In January, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, called the class "indoctrination" and the state banned it outright. The state's education department wrote it was "inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value."

In August, Arkansas said the course will no longer count toward graduation credit, writing in a letter to state superintendents "the pilot may not comply with Arkansas law."

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News, "we cannot perpetuate a lie to our students and propaganda leftist agenda teaching our kids to hate America and hate one another."

Wright, the senior at Dorsey, rejected claims the class stoked racial division.

"If there was a class that was deliberately telling students to hate White people and hate this country, I would be against that class, too," Wright said. "I don't think we should teach hatred of any kind."

"My students come in excited"

At Dorsey High School, where the student body is mostly Black and Latino, the hope is the class will entice a demographic that hasn't sought out AP classes at the same rate as others.

"The excitement for me is starting in Africa, and for millions and millions of Black kids, Africa is born in them," Singleton said. "My students come in excited. They've done the reading. And they wonder, 'Wow, I never learned this in any of my other classes.'"

Singleton denies that the course indoctrinates his students.

"I inculcate my kids with the idea that you're just as beautiful, just as brilliant, as anyone else," he said. "That's my job every day."

He embraced the idea that he was empowering his students, and drew parallels to teaching bedrock American texts.

"If it's not about empowerment, why do you say the Pledge of Allegiance? Why do we teach about the Declaration of Independence? Why do we teach about the Constitution? Isn't that empowerment?" Singleton said.

Claims of "sanitizing" history amid pressure

The course curriculum risks running afoul of measures that recently passed in 18 states restricting how K-12 instructors can teach about race.

In a statement to CBS News, Florida's Department of Education noted the state has standards for teaching Black history, which were adopted by the state legislature in July. The department says they comply with state law. The standards have been criticized as an effort to "rewrite" or "omit" parts of the Black experience, by including, among other things, instruction on "how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit."

Not long after Florida banned the class in January, the College Board amended the curriculum, removing content on systemic racism, the Black Lives Matter movement and the push for reparations.

While the College Board said the changes were part of their "regular development process," some educators said the organization acquiesced to political pressure.

Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Alberto Carvalho said he believes the College Board sanitized the curriculum.

"If you want to really learn about the history of the African American experience, you cannot leave out or sanitize slavery or the civil rights movements, or the fact that our nation has criminalized activities resulting in disproportionate numbers of people of color being imprisoned," Carvalho said.

A spokesman for the College Board denied caving to political pressure and said some of the topics it removed may still be restored when the final curriculum is released later this year. The College Board also said "in some states teachers have more room to maneuver than others" and that it has "given teachers the flexibility to teach the essential content without putting their livelihoods at risk."

"College Board's goal for all Advanced Placement courses is access  both access to challenging college-level course work, and access for as many of those students in as many states as possible," a College Board spokesman told CBS News. "In some cases, those dual access goals come into conflict. Our commitment ultimately is to rigorous coursework that reflects the discipline and what students will encounter in a college classroom."

Singleton said the curriculum is intended to be a roadmap and teachers are free to introduce additional topics, like the Black Lives Matter movement or reparations in California.

"Just because it's not gonna be tested on the exam, there's nothing that says you're not allowed to teach about these subjects," he said.

Carvalho, who frequently sparred with DeSantis as the head of Miami's school district until 2021, also criticized Florida's new Black history standards, calling them an attempt to "erase history."

"I've been an educator for 32 years. Never have I seen education becoming so polarized, so influenced by politics," he said.

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Its hard to think of Antarctica without picturing thousands of penguins waddling happily on the ice, but that may be the future.

Whats happening?

Sea ice in Antarctica is melting at an alarming rate. Euronews.green recently reported that a new study published in Communications Earth & Environment found that the loss poses an enormous threat to emperor penguins.

Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey examined emperor penguin colonies in the central and eastern Bellingshausen Sea region. They found that the sea ice loss has led to the penguins experiencing unprecedented breeding failure.

In one region west of the Antarctic Peninsula, where there was total sea ice loss in 2022, chicks from four out of five colonies perished. In this zone, sea ice didnt start to re-form until late April of 2023.

We have never seen emperor penguins fail to breed, at this scale, in a single season, said lead author of the study Dr. Peter Fretwell.

The scientists also examined satellite images, and the image records showed that by the end of December 2022, sea ice extent was the lowest experienced in 45 years, as reported by Euronews.green.

The loss of sea ice in this region during the Antarctic summer made it very unlikely that displaced chicks would survive, Fretwell added.

The studys findings support predictions that more than 90% of emperor penguin colonies will be quasi-extinct by the end of this century.

Why is this potential die-off so dire?

Emperor penguins are a crucial part of Antarcticas food chain. They eat creatures like squid and small fish, helping to control their populations, and are also an important food source for predators like leopard seals and large sharks, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Penguin eggs and the smaller young penguins provide food for land animals such as seabirds, foxes, leopards, and even crabs in warmer climates. The penguins also carry nutrients between land and sea, enriching both ecosystems with their feces.

Their loss will significantly affect the health and viability of the ocean and numerous other species living in and around it

What can be done to protect the penguins?

Earths rising temperature is the only major factor influencing the long-term population change of emperor penguins.

According to Earth.org, a professor at the University of Exeter and lead author of a study on extreme Antarctic events named Martin Siegert said that reducing planet-warming air pollution to net zero is our best hope of preserving Antarctica.

This must matter to every country  and individual  on the planet, he said.

Individually, we can limit our own heat-trapping gases by avoiding single-use plastics, integrating clean energy at home when possible, replacing old appliances with energy-efficient models, and limiting the burning of methane gas by taking public transportation, riding a bike, or upgrading to an electric vehicle.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. - A substitute teacher has been charged after he brought a gun to an Anne Arundel County high school last week, triggering a school lockdown.

Police arrested 45-year-old Derric Andre Simms on Oct. 6 after officers determined that he was the owner of a backpack containing a handgun that was found inside an empty classroom at Glen Burnie High School.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., a staff member found the backpack and told administrators, who put it in a secure office. The schools resource officer was notified and police were contacted.

The school was placed on lockdown while police investigated where the backpack and loaded 9mm Taurus handgun came from.

School officials say the bag was left behind as students were dismissed from third period and they soon discovered that it belonged to Simms who, by then, was teaching in another classroom.

Simms was taken into custody and charged with a weapons violation. He has also been barred from serving as a substitute teacher or any other role in Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) signaled Tuesday that he plans to run for his old seat in New Yorks 3rd Congressional District and challenge embattled Rep. George Santos (R), who also faces a number of Republican challengers.

Today Im filing a committee to run for Congress in November 2024. The madness in Washington, DC, and the absurdity of George Santos remaining in the United States Congress is obvious to everyone, Suozzi said in a statement.

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A Newsday/Siena College poll of registered voters in New Yorks 3rd District in January found an overwhelming number of those voters wanted Santos to resign, by a margin of 78 percent to 13 percent.

Federal prosecutors in May charged Santos with 13 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

Suozzi, 61, held the seat in the 3rd District from January 2017 to January 2023 and gave it up to run for governor in the 2022 election, when he lost in the Democratic primary to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The exact boundary lines of New Yorks congressional districts are still in flux because of political and legal fighting over redistricting, and they are not expected to be resolved until next year.

But there are already crowded fields in the Democratic and Republican primaries to run for Santoss seat.

The Democrats looking at the race include Josh Lafazan, a member of the Nassau County Legislature, Anna Kaplan, a former state senator, activist Zak Malamed, former New York City Council candidate Steve Behar and St. Johns professor William Murphy.

Suozzi announced Tuesday that he will have a formal campaign kickoff after local New York elections in 2024 but urged supporters to join his campaign at SuozziforCongress2024.com.

You know me. Ive never sat on the sidelines. From cost-of-living to immigration, crime, climate change, combating terrorism in the Middle East and globally, and simply helping people, we need more common sense and compassion and less chaos and senseless fighting, he said in his statement posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW YORK  Former Rep. Tom Suozzi announced Tuesday his comeback bid for his former Long Island seat now held by Rep. George Santos amid ongoing speculation that Santos legal troubles may lead him to leave office.

Suozzi eschewed running for another House term last year and instead ran unsuccessfully in a Democratic primary for governor, a move that angered Democrats and left them weaker in the 3rd congressional district that includes parts of Queens.

But now Suozzi said he's gearing up to run again in what could be a primary next year or, more immediately, a special election if Santos ends up resigning as he faces federal charges on an array of financial misdeeds. Santos has a key court date later this month, and his former campaign treasurer entered a guilty plea last week.

"Today I'm filing a committee to run for Congress in November 2024," Suozzi said in a statement. "The madness in Washington, D.C., and the absurdity of George Santos remaining in the United States Congress is obvious to everyone."

Suozzi said he expects a formal campaign kickoff after the local elections Nov. 7.

The move comes as the parties gear up in New York in at least six House races that are expected to be competitive as they battle next year over control of the chamber. One of those will be the Santos' seat, and several Democrats are already vying to be the party's nominee.

If Santos resigns, a special election would be called, and county party leaders would pick a nominee.

On the Democratic side, Zak Malamed raised $302,000 in the last three months, leaving him with $524,000 on hand. Malamed is a Democratic fundraiser, but other announced Democrats like former state Sen. Anna Kaplan and 2022 candidate Josh Lafazan have been bringing in big money too, tapping into that anti-Santos spirit.

Kaplan knocked Suozzi's entry into the race.

"After almost a year of this district having embarrassing representation, Tom Suozzi thinks voters on Long Island have forgotten that he abandoned us to George Santos," Kaplan said in a statement. "The Democratic Party is a pro-choice party, and unlike Tom Suozzi, I will always stand up for a woman's right to choose  period."

Cuomo apologist and third-place loser Tom Suozzi just couldnt stay away after his embarrassing loss for governor last year. Voters resoundingly rejected him already and they havent forgotten why. said National Republican Campaign Committee Spokesperson Savannah Viar.
TechCrunch

Web Summit, the big tech conference brand that runs events in several cities and whose 70,000 person flagship event in Lisbon is taking place next month, is running into a wall -- a wall of outrage. Founders, investors and others from the technology community in Israel have gone ballistic over comments made by the founder and figurehead of Web Summit, Paddy Cosgrave, related to the fighting underway across Israel and Gaza, specifically his criticism of Israel's retaliatory actions. Now, the anger with Cosgrave has gone viral, and today it looked like it was about to overrun promotion efforts for Web Summit.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9)  Millions of members have been affected by the cyberattack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), based on the analysis of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

During the agency's event for Cybersecurity Month on Monday, DICT Usec. Jeffrey Dy did not give a specific figure, but he described the number of affected to be "significant" and in the "millions."

"Unfortunately, its significant. Its not the entire database, but its still significant," Dy said. He did emphasize, though, that the number could decrease after duplicated files were discovered.

The DICT is 90% done with its investigation on stolen data, which has now been reportedly published on the dark web and messaging app Telegram. The illegally obtained data amounted to around 700 gigabytes or over 420,000 files.

PhilHealth could not directly confirm the report.

I cannot ascertain ano po given that we do not have that capability to look into the files dumped by the attackers to the web, PhilHealth Acting Vice President for Corporate Affairs Rey Balena said Monday.

"Hindi natin dini-discount yung possibility na meron talagang lumabas na na-leak na personally identifiable na information of our members, he added.

[Translation: We do not discount the possibility that there is actually leaked personally identifiable information of our members.]

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to take these down from the application and run after those who have downloaded the files for violating the Data Privacy Act.

Hackers may face up to 20 years in prison and any individual or entity found downloading, processing, or sharing the stolen data will be held accountable for unauthorized processing of personal information and could also face criminal charges.

Authorities said information can no longer be recovered and may be sold to scammers and phishers.

Babala po sa ating mga kababayan mag-ingat po dahil yung mismong information ginagamit ng cybercriminals na bait for you to click on it in order to enter your system, DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said.

[Translation: A warning to the public to be careful because the information is being used by cybercriminals as bait for you to click on it in order to enter your system.]

READ: PhilHealth urges public to be vigilant against fraud schemes after cyberattack

While PhilHealth said its public-facing platforms are back to normal, including its website, member portal and e-claims system, investigators are trying to determine the origin of the attack, including possible liabilities of PhilHealth personnel.

We are looking at the possible gaps sa security that led to this hacking. We're looking at responsibilities ng bawat [every] official, department, to see kung meron bang naging [if there is] negligence, NPC Complaints and Investigation Division Chief Michael Santos.

The state-run health insurer said it has not received complaints from its members related to the cyberattack, as it called on the public to email them at: phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com, phic.dpo@gmail.com.

The DICT also renewed its call to increase funding for cybersecurity, following the recent hacking and data breach incidents.
A South Carolina case about gerrymandering  the drawing of legislative district lines to maximize political power  that could affect voting rights around the country will be one of the cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court during its upcoming 2023-2024 term. The case, Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, concerns the way state legislatures consider race and party when they are redrawing state voting maps. The Supreme Court ruled in 1993 in Shaw v. Reno that racial gerrymandering  when legislatures draw district lines primarily based on race  is unconstitutional, regardless of legislators' intent, except in rare circumstances.

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(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court turned away an appeal by 12 Republican-led states, refusing to let them challenge the Biden administrations use of estimates for the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing regulations.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The high court without explanation or any published dissent left intact a federal appeals court ruling that the Missouri-led group of states hadnt suffered the type of concrete injury that would give them legal standing to sue.

The Biden formulas, developed by a White House working group, are designed to guide agencies as they weigh the climate consequences of proposed projects and consider the costs and benefits of new regulations. The calculations ultimately could have a broad impact, affecting oil and gas leases as well as regulations covering agriculture, power plants, construction and fuel-efficiency standards.

The administration is currently using interim numbers amid delays in issuing final estimates. The plan replaced a less stringent cost-estimation approach under former President Donald Trump.

The Supreme Court previously blocked a request by a different group of states to reinstate Trumps policy while litigation moved forward.

The case is Missouri v. Biden, 22-1248.

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MONTAGUE, Texas  Suspended Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde will serve 30 days in Hardeman County Jail, pay fines, permanently surrendered his law enforcement license and gave up his right to appeal as part of an agreement for his punishment for two misdemeanor crimes.

Lyde is to pay a $750 fine for each count for his sentences for official oppression and tampering with a government document.

He will begin serving his concurrent 30-day sentences at noon Nov. 27 in the Hardeman County Jail.

Lyde remains free and was not handcuffed and led away Tuesday from the courtroom like other defendants destined to serve time behind bars.

Suspended Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde, far right, lingers in 97th District Court after his sentencing Tuesday at the Montague County Courthouse for official oppression and tampering with governmental documents.

Misdemeanor charges against him related to allegations of sexual harassment in the Sheriff's Office are to be dismissed as part of the agreement, as well as two other charges of official oppression and tampering.

Senior Justice Lee Gabriel asked Lyde a series of questions related to the agreement before sentencing him at about 11:08 a.m. Tuesday in 97th District Court.

A petition to remove Lyde from elected office as sheriff is still pending.

One of the petitioners, Frank Douthitt, a Clay County attorney and former district judge, said after the sentencing that he believes the matter of the petition will be resolved in a couple of days.

Douthitt said Lyde cannot serve as sheriff without a law enforcement officers license, but he remains in office.

Hes got to resign, or weve got to go ahead and try it, Douthitt said. Well win it.

In addition, his class A misdemeanor means he is not qualified to hold a license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

The other petitioner, 97th District Attorney Casey Hall, said justice was done Tuesday, and she was happy about it.

Staley Heatly, who is the district attorney for the 46th district, prosecuted the cases as an attorney pro tem.

He will never be able to be a peace officer again. That was an important part of the negotiations in this case, Heatly said after Lydes sentencing.

Ninety-seventh District Attorney Casey Hall, left, and Frank Douthitt, a Clay County attorney, discuss the outcome of suspended Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lydes trial Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at the Montague County Courthouse.

Lead defense counsel Bob Estrada of Wichita Falls explained why the punishment agreement benefited his client.

Any case where there are multiple possible trials, the biggest advantage is to get it done and wrapped up all at one time, Estrada said after Lydes sentencing.

Win, lose or draw, trials are very stressful on both defendants and victims, he said.

Gabriel was slated to begin hearing testimony at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Montague County Courthouse for the punishment phase of Lydes trial.

Instead, discussions took place behind closed doors until almost 11 a.m. while witnesses and onlookers waited.

Close to 10:30 a.m., paperwork showed up in the courtroom in the hands of prosecutors. But the wait continued.

Finally, Lyde, two prosecutors and two defense attorneys filed back into the courtroom and sat down at their respective tables.

Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde

Gabriel handed down Lyde's sentence in 97th District Court in the wake of a jury finding him guilty of official oppression and tampering with a governmental record on Sept. 15 at the Montague County Courthouse.

More: Suspended sheriff Lyde found guilty of official oppression, evidence tampering

Lyde faced up to a year in county jail and a fine up to $4,000 for official oppression and tampering with a governmental record in July 12, 2021, incidents. Both are class A misdemeanors.

Jurors determined Lyde was guilty of illegally holding Landon Goad in Clay County Jail and not releasing him after a judge found no probable cause to hold them.

The jury also found him guilty of tampering with court documents connected to the domestic violence charge against Goad. The misdemeanor charge was later dropped.

The prosecution and defense agreed to move the trial to Montague County on a change of venue. Defense attorneys cited negative publicity and community discussion they believe tainted the jury pool in Clay County so much Lyde would not have been able to receive a fair trial.

Two other charges of official oppression and tampering with a government document in connection with July 12, 2021, incidents involving Sarah Lynn Johnson were also moved to Montague County. But Lyde was tried only on the charges related to Goad, and those charges are to be dismissed.

Instead of testimony beginning Tuesday morning in the punishment phase of suspended Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde's trial, there were at least an hour and a half of behind-closed doors discussions.

Johnson and Goad are suing Lyde and Clay County in federal court for alleged violations of their constitutional rights. A domestic violence charge against Johnson was also dropped.

Lyde has faced several court battles in the last few years: petitions for his removal from elected office as sheriff; a petition to remove him as chairman of the Clay County Memorial Hospital Board; federal lawsuits; and various criminal charges.

More: Suspended Sheriff Lyde racks up victory in federal lawsuit

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Suspended Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde sentenced
News conference on the day of a meeting of EU trade ministers in Stockholm

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Sweden has temporarily halted development aid to Palestinian territories following a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel over the weekend, Development Minister Johan Forssell told a news conference on Tuesday.

European Union foreign ministers are meeting on Tuesday to work out divisions among its 27 members over whether to continue aid payments to Palestinians a day after the European Commission backtracked on an announcement suspending all such aid.

"We have a new situation after the 7th of October," Forssell told reporters. "Our decision today is that Sweden will ... pause development aid to Palestine until further notice."

Neighouring Denmark announced earlier on Tuesday that it would pause its aid.

The government said it had also given the development agency SIDA the task of reviewing aid to Palestinians and to report by the start of December.

"We don't want Swedish tax-payers' money goes to actors who don't have a very clear view on these totally fundamental questions; where they reject terrorism," Forsell said.

"But humanitarian aid will continue and will not be paused as a result of this decision."

(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen and Simon Johnson, editing by Tomasz Janowski)
(Bloomberg) -- Swiss lawmakers have called on the government to label Hamas a terrorist organization as the traditionally neutral country reconsiders its Middle-East policy.

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So far, Switzerland  unlike other European countries  has not given the Palestinian group such a classification. The Security Policy Committee of Parliaments Lower House on Tuesday voted unanimously to change that stance, the bodys president Mauro Tuena told Bloomberg.

We demand that Hamas be recognized as a terrorist organization and that the group be banned in Switzerland, he said. We want to target its money flows and enable security agencies to surveil people who work for Hamas in this country.

If named a terrorist organization, Swiss banks would be obliged to report transactions related to Hamas. This could essentially cut off the group from Switzerlands financial system and threaten its funding.

Basically the entire West has labeled Hamas a terrorist organization. In the US, London and the EU, Hamas cant open bank accounts, Mark Pieth , a finance and law expert who is emeritus professor at the university of Basel, said in an interview. But in Switzerland it could indeed do this, until now.

Money Laundering Rules

The debate comes as Switzerland prepares new rules to force more disclosure of who actually owns bank accounts, which were announced in August. These are aimed to crack down on money laundering, whether it be by drug dealers, rogue regimes or terrorists.

The plan includes a federal register where companies and other legal entities would have to add the names of their beneficial owners, making it harder for criminals and others to hide assets from police and tax authorities. The register, however, wont be public.

Finance expert Pieth said there are smaller banks specialized on Islamic banking with branches in Switzerland that might offer services to organizations such as Hamas. This could now become difficult, he added.

Its unclear whether the government, which is set to meet on Wednesday, will back the motion. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has previously voiced concern that international aid for Palestinians may end up supporting militant organizations. A foreign ministry spokesman said the government will respond to the lawmakers request in due course.

On Monday, Cassis said that Switzerland stands in solidarity with the Israeli people.

Officially changing Switzerlands position on Hamas requires a vote of the full parliament, which only meets again in December. Still, in the Swiss system, committee votes like Tuesdays often set the course of future decisions.

--With assistance from Hugo Miller.

(Updates with details and comment from fifth paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- Pro-Palestinian demonstrators lit flares and chanted anti-Israeli slogans outside the Sydney Opera House to protest a decision to illuminate the iconic buildings sails in the colors of the Jewish states flag.

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More than 1,000 people gathered outside the Opera House for the rally on Monday evening, police said, with Australian Broadcasting Corp. reporting protesters chanted free Palestine and shame Israel. At least one flare was thrown at the building after it was lit up in the blue-and-white of Israels flag.

New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said Jewish Australians were discouraged from approaching the Opera House on Monday night due to concerns for their safety. Charges may be laid against people who attended the pro-Palestine rally if they committed offenses, he added.

This is very clearly an emotive issue, Cooke said at a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday morning. We do not expect people to bring conflict from other places to the streets of Sydney, and violence will not be tolerated.

Israel Latest: First Round of US Security Aid Is on the Way

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the protest, with Minns describing it as abhorrent. Australia has supported Israels right to defend itself in the wake of the weekend attacks by Hamas militants.

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The News

The U.S. is lagging behind developed nations, notably China, in terms of deploying a deep spectrum footprint that would allow for more seamless online connectivity across the country, John Stankey, the CEO of AT&T, said at Semafors Igniting Innovation: Americas Digital Future event on Tuesday.

The United States is not in an enviable position right now for the next 10 years, Stankey said.

The chief of the telecom giant said he sees tremendous opportunity to have robust connectivity in the U.S., especially with the integration of artificial intelligence. He suggested that by integrating AI into 5G networks, things like traffic management and alleviating congestion on roads will improve.

On the FCCs recent proposal to restore net neutrality rules that were rescinded under Donald Trumps presidency, Stankey said that AT&T would do all the things we need to do to try and deal with it.

Stankey said that his company would be a constructive participant in the discussions, and was optimistic that reasonable and intelligent people... come up with an approach that makes sense.

But, he added, if it doesnt play out that way, and theres something damaging into investment, into business, were of course going to do all the things we need to do to ensure that people who invest their money are ultimately taken care of.

A PARTNER MESSAGE

The View From

Weve been investing in our countrys broadband infrastructure at historic levels, and smart broadband policy is necessary to ensure the private sector keeps building the backbone of Americas digital future. That means a competitive grant process for once-in-a-generation BEAD program funding. It means allowing providers to redeploy resources away from outdated copper networks and toward fiber and wireless that better meets todays data demands. And it means maintaining the light-touch regulatory environment that has spurred more choices for consumers and the sturdy broadband networks that carried the U.S. through the pandemic and continues to drive new innovation.

The same is true for wireless networks. Spectrum is the conduit that carries data across our mobile networks  think of it like invisible fiber-optic cable  and without enough of it, our access to wireless connectivity will suffer. In the U.S., the federal government controls access to spectrum, which is why Congress must create a strategic spectrum pipeline and authorize the Federal Communications Commission to auction it to the private sector  efforts that will likely raise billions for the U.S. Treasury.
Defining what is and isnt a country is a lot more complicated than many people would realize. Take the case of Taiwan.

On Aug. 30, 2023, a committee of the U.K. Parliament referred to Taiwan as an independent country in a report. This is the first time any part of the British political system has used that phrasing.

Officially, the U.K. does not recognise Taiwan as a country, nor does it maintain formal diplomatic relations with the island, which is one way states recognize each other as equals on the international stage.

Like the U.K., the U.S. also does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, although there is a robust unofficial relationship, according to the State Department. Many other countries are in a similar boat.

So where does that leave Taiwan? Is it, or is it not, a country?

From my perspective as a political scientist, heres how I would approach this question.

A country by declaration

According to whats known as the declarative theory of statehood, a country  which is often referred to as a state in political science and international relations terminology  must possess the following qualities: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states.

These four qualities were agreed upon in the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, which is an international treaty registered with the League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations.

Article 3 of that treaty says that the existence of a state is independent of recognition by the other states. In other words, as long as the four qualities above are met, an area qualifies as a country even if other countries choose not to recognize it.

One criticism of this framework is that it opens the door for many areas to be considered countries, even though they may seem outlandish.

For example, in the 1960s, Italian engineer Giorgio Rosa built a 4,000-square-foot (400-square-meter) platform 7 miles (11 kilometers) off the coast of Italy. On June 24, 1968, Rosa  whose last name means rose in English  declared that his platform was an independent country named the Republic of Rose Island. This artificial island had a restaurant, bar, souvenir shop and post office. Its official language was Esperanto.

It could be argued that Rose Island met the criteria outlined in the Montevideo Convention, as there was a permanent population because Rosa lived there; his humanmade platform had a defined territory; there was a government because Rosa declared himself president; and Rose Islands post office gave it the capacity to communicate with, and thus enter into relations with, other countries.

Although several countries, including the U.S., have ratified the Montevideo Convention, Italy has not. So, 55 days after Rose Island declared independence, the Italian military destroyed the platform.

A country by recognition

In contrast to the declarative theory of statehood, whats called the constitutive theory of statehood considers a country to be a country only if it is recognized by other already recognized countries.

There is no magic number for how many countries one must be recognized by. Rather, those that aspire to be regarded by the world as an independent country must join the United Nations as a full member.

In order to join the United Nations, applicants must be recommended by the Security Council, which comprises 15 members. Five of those members are permanent and have a veto. Applicants must have the support of nine of the 15 members, including each of the permanent members.

If the Security Council recommends admission, the application is presented to the General Assembly, where each full member of the United Nations has a single vote. A two-thirds majority is necessary before a country can join.

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, met with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, right, at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, in September 2023. Taiwan Presidential Office via AP

One China or two?

Today, most of the worlds countries officially adhere to some variation of the idea that there is only one China, whose capital is Beijing, and which encompasses both the mainland territory and the island of Taiwan.

There is a government there, but there is also a government on Taiwan, based in its capital, Taipei. That government calls itself the Republic of China and traces its history to the early 20th century, when a revolution overthrew the emperor of China.

Notably, at that time, nobodys definition of China included the island of Taiwan, which was then commonly called Formosa. Japan had seized the island in a war in the late 19th century.

In 1927, an uprising by the Chinese Communist Party attacked the Republic of China government. That kicked off a bloody civil war that lasted until 1949.

In that year, the government of the Republic of China retreated to the island of Taiwan. That same year, Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese Communist Party, proclaimed the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, with its capital in Beijing.

But Mao still sought control over his enemys territory, declaring, Taiwan is ours, and we will never compromise on this issue, which is an issue of internal affairs.

To this day, the government of the Peoples Republic of China, whose capital is Beijing, considers Taiwan part of its sacred territory. The constitution of the Peoples Republic of China states that (i)t is the lofty duty of the entire Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great task of reunifying the motherland. Its foreign affairs ministry says, Taiwan is a sacred and inseparable part of Chinas territory. On Oct. 2, 2023, the Beijing government celebrated its national day by releasing a video signifying its focus on unity with the people of Taiwan.

In contrast, the Republic of China refers to the area under its control as the Taiwan area, or the free area. It refers to the rest of China as the mainland area, which the Taiwanese government has described as being under a Period of Communist Rebellion.

Other countries are similarly delicate. For example, in 1972, the U.S. acknowledge(d) that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. In 1979, the U.S. again acknowledge(d) the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.

Taipeis Mid-Autumn Festival drew crowds to the Night Market. AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying

Taiwans place in the world

Taiwan argues that it meets the Montevideo Conventions criteria for being considered a country under the declarative theory of statehood. However, Taiwan has not yet formally declared itself to be a new, independent country. According to President Tsai Ing-wen, (w)e dont have a need to, because (w)e are an independent country already and we call ourselves the Republic of China.

But recall that, according to the constitutive theory of statehood, a country is only a country if its recognized by other already recognized countries, and the ultimate manifestation of such recognition is full membership in the United Nations.

Interestingly, the Republic of China was actually a founding member of the United Nations. However, in 1971, the United Nations voted to expel the Republic of China, and instead recognized the Communist government as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations. Subsequent attempts by Taiwan to join the United Nations have been unsuccessful.

Today, only a dozen or so countries continue to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, most of which are small island developing states such as Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu.

Each of these countries recognizes Taiwan as the Republic of China, and none of them simultaneously maintains offical ties with the Peoples Republic of China.

Until Taiwan formally declares itself independent of the rest of China  or until Taiwan is recognized by the international community as being independent of the rest of China  Taiwans status as a country will continue to be questioned.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Joshua Holzer, Westminster College.

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Joshua Holzer 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.
By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan seeks "peaceful coexistence" with China with free and unrestricted interaction but the island will be democratic for generations to come, President Tsai Ing-wen said in her last national day speech on Tuesday.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has come under increasing military and political pressure from Beijing, including two major sets of Chinese war games near the island since August of last year, heightening fears of a conflict which would have global ramifications.

Tsai, who cannot stand again as president at elections in January after two terms in office, has repeatedly offered talks with China, which has rejected them as it views her as a separatist.

Speaking in front of the presidential office, Tsai said the strength of international support for Taiwan had reached an "unprecedented height".

"Since this is a time we can now face the world with confidence and resolve, we can also be calm and self-assured in facing China, creating conditions for peaceful coexistence and future developments across the Taiwan Strait," she added.

Tsai said it was her duty to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and its democratic, free way of life, seeking "free, unrestricted, and unburdened interactions" between Taiwan and China's people.

Differences between Taiwan and China must be resolved peacefully, and maintaining the status quo is "critical" to ensuring peace, she added, to a big round of applause.

China's foreign ministry responded to Tsai's speech on Tuesday, calling the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities the "greatest threat" to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for "seeking independence and provocation".

"No matter what the DPP authorities say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China. It will not change the general trend that China will inevitably move towards reunification," ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing.

The parade part of the event featured dancers, athletes just returned from the Asian Games in China's Hangzhou where Taiwan won 19 gold medals, as well as soldiers marching in close formation.

A formation of five of Taiwan's new advanced jet trainer, the AT-5 Brave Eagle, flew over the venue, underscoring Tsai's efforts to boost domestic weapons development, that includes submarines.

'DEMOCRATIC AND FREE'

In the face of China's threats, Taiwan has been heartened by support from fellow democracies, especially the United States and its allies whose lawmakers and occasionally officials have flocked to Taipei, defying Chinese anger.

"With confidence, we will show the world that the Taiwanese people are dignified, independent, warm, and kind. The Taiwanese people are happy to be people of the world and will be a democratic and free people for generations to come," Tsai said.

Tsai looked back at her major policy achievements since she took office in 2016, including marriage equality, a first for Asia, to an audience that included Canadian and Japanese lawmakers and former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, as well as ordinary Taiwanese.

Beijing says Taiwan's government must accept that both China and Taiwan belong to "one China", which Tsai has refused to do.

Taiwan celebrates Oct. 10 as its national day, marking an uprising in 1911 that ended China's last imperial dynasty and ushered in the Republic of China.

The republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists, who set up the People's Republic of China.

The Republic of China remains Taiwan's formal name, though the government tends to stylise it as the Republic of China, Taiwan, to distinguish it from the government in Beijing.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln Feast and Ed Osmond)
Each day at her school, headteacher Anush Hakobyan passes by the photo of her son killed three years ago in a war with Azerbaijan for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The 48-year-old said she faces a difficult balancing act -- educating children while preparing them for the possibility of another war with Armenia's arch-foe neighbour in the Caucasus.

The task has become even more complicated since September, when Azerbaijan recaptured the long-disputed breakaway region of Karabakh, which had been under Armenian separatists' control for three decades.

Hakobyan's son died in autumn 2020, aged 27, during the 44 days of fighting for control of the mountainous enclave within Azerbaijan, populated predominantly by ethnic Armenians who see it as their ancestral land.

In the school's entrance hall, his photo is displayed alongside about a dozen other faces of men killed during the hostilities that have claimed thousands of lives on both sides.

The three decades of the simmering conflict have deepened the rift between the two countries, especially among young people, fuelling streams of hatred on social networks.

It is in this toxic atmosphere that Hakobyan launched at her school of some 600 pupils a course called "Educating students to become civilised individuals".

- 'Balance to find' -

"We've been through so many trials and wars, we know how to talk to children," she said.

Educating the students "does not prevent us from telling them that we will win the war, that what is happening in Karabakh is not logical", she added.

"We also educate them so that they know how to defend themselves. It's a balance to find. If Europe prefers (energy-rich Azerbaijan's) gas over helping us, we have no choice."

Armenia didn't intervene militarily when Azerbaijan launched an offensive last month to retake Karabakh from separatist forces, who surrendered after less than 24 hours of fighting and agreed to return the region under the control of the central government in Baku.

Over the next few days, the majority of Karabakh's Armenians -- more than 100,000 people -- fled their homes to Armenia, sparking a major refugee crisis.

At Hakobyan's school in the village of Parakar, west of the Armenian capital Yerevan -- as in all public schools in the country -- military courses are taught from the age of 13, often by veterans of the two wars which Armenians and Azerbaijanis had fought over the last three decades.

The courses include instruction on military ranks and different types of weaponry. Young boys learn how to handle weapons as they prepare for the two years of military service they will have to complete when they come of age.

- 'Blood and soil' -

"I am preparing them to defend themselves, teaching them military art and history," said Sonbat Gasparyan, who teaches this course in Parakar.

He also has to address questions such as: "What have we done? Why are they attacking us?" without adding fuel to the fire of the deeply entrenched ethnic hatred.

"Of course there is hatred but we teach them that we cannot hate our neighbours," Gasparyan said with little optimism.

"We tell them that it's better to live in peace but they already have firm ideas."

In the teachers' staffroom, animosity also surfaces among adults towards the "Turks", a pejorative term widely used in Armenia to refer to Turkic-speaking Azerbaijanis.

"We don't see them as a real nation. They've only existed for a hundred years and don't have their own culture," said headteacher Hakobyan.

Her colleague, Eranahi Grigoryan, a biology teacher, advocates reconciliation.

"They are our neighbours. I have nothing against them because they also lose their children. It's just the government in Baku that wants to expand its territory," she said.

Azerbaijan has declared the Karabakh conflict resolved for good after the region returned under Baku's control.

But few in Armenia accept the loss and many do not rule out a fresh conflict.

Hakobyan quoted a proverb that tells a tale about Armenians' resolve to reclaim this piece of land: "When you mix blood and soil, you give birth to the motherland."

jt/im/dt/gil
(CNN)  International aid groups in Afghanistan are scrambling to send help to survivors of an earthquake that has left more than 2,000 people dead and many more injured in a war-ravaged nation already stricken by an economic crisis.

The 6.3 magnitude quake struck on Saturday 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Herat city in the western Herat province the third largest in Afghanistan.

Its one of the deadliest quakes to hit Afghanistan in recent years  last June, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in the eastern Paktika and Khost provinces bordering Pakistan, killed more than a thousand people.

Images shared by aid and rescue teams on the ground showed massive heaps of debris and rubble after buildings collapsed.

People could be seen digging in the rubble to try to find survivors as others gathered in the streets to avoid being hit by debris during aftershocks.

The situation is worse than we imagined with people in devastated villages still desperately trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble with their bare hands, said Thamindri de Silva, national director at World Vision Afghanistan.

Reinforcement teams from the capital Kabul had arrived to help but there was only one hospital and it was at full stretch with serious cases being transferred to other private facilities.

We are responding with everything we have. People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe, De Silva added.

Mark Calder, World Vision Afghanistans advocacy lead, told CNN that the latest earthquake was yet another devastating episode for Afghans following decades of conflict, successive droughts, and a collapsed economy.

Funding from the international community, Calder added, has been inadequate.

Organizations like ours are able to provide relief and help recovery but without commitment from international governments and donors, more will fall into humanitarian need, displacement will increase and lives will be lost, he said.

The world must not look away from Afghanistan now.

A crisis on top of a crisis

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday put the number killed at 2,053 people, with more 1,240 people hurt and 1,320 houses completely or partially destroyed. But there are fears the toll could rise further.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed solidarity and called on the international community to come together and support Afghans impacted by the earthquake many of whom were already in need before this crisis, he added.

UN agencies and partners have stepped up support and emergency operations following the earthquake on Saturday  deploying more teams on the ground to join ongoing humanitarian efforts.

We are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance, said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

UNICEF, the UNs childrens fund, has dispatched 10,000 hygiene kits, 5,000 family kits, 1,500 sets of winter clothes and blankets, 1,000 tarpaulins, and basic household items to ongoing humanitarian efforts.

Teams are also conducting additional assessments on the ground and are providing emergency drugs and tents for overburdened health clinics.

This is by the far worst earthquake Afghanistan has endured in many years, Siddig Ibrahim, UNICEF Afghanistans Chief of Field Office, told CNN.

Lack of water is also a serious challenge, Ibrahim added, with women and children being the most disproportionately affected.

Afghanistan is home to one of the worlds worst humanitarian and child rights crises, he said. The international community should not, and cannot, look away from children in Afghanistan, especially now, when help is needed most.

Save the Children said the scale of the damage in Herat was horrific and anticipates the death toll will rise as bodies are pulled from the rubble.

This is a crisis on top of a crisis, said Save the Childrens Afghanistan director Arshad Malik. Even before this disaster, Afghan children were already suffering from a devastating lack of food.

Weve been scaling up our response to support the increasing number of children in need, delivering health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security and livelihoods support  but (international) donors must provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance.

Without an urgent injection of money, existing humanitarian programs will be impacted as already overstretched funding is strained further.

Afghanistan has long been one of Asias poorest countries and has been ravaged by conflict for decades.

The Taliban seized power in August 2021, 20 years after their ouster by US troops  an event that saw many major aid groups and NGOs pull out and crucial aid programs halted.

The Talibans takeover further isolated Afghanistan from the rest of the world and led to Washington and allies cutting off international funding  crippling an economy already heavily dependent on aid.

Last week the World Bank warned that two thirds of Afghan families currently faced significant challenges in maintaining their livelihoods  making it harder for Afghans to recover from earthquakes.

International aid groups have said their ability to respond to calls during major disasters has been heavily impacted by the Talibans takeover and called for more urgent global aid  but so far only a handful of countries have publicly offered support.

Even before this earthquake, with recent floods and instability within the country, over 29 million people in Afghanistan were in need of humanitarian assistance, said IRC director Salma Ben Assia.

The earthquake has further exacerbated the situation of already vulnerable communities and upcoming harsh winter conditions spell disaster for the welfare of those that have become displaced, especially for women and children who are most at risk of exploitation and abuse in their displacement.

Thousands are now without homes or shelter  they have lost everything, added Arshad Malik from Save the Children.

The international community cannot turn its backs on children and families in Herat who need urgent help.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Aid groups warn devastation from Afghanistan earthquake worse than we imagined:
WASHINGTON  Teledyne FLIR Defense is betting big on a drone so small it can fit in a soldiers hand.

The company, part of Teledyne Technologies, rolled out the latest edition of the Black Hornet nano-drone this week at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. The Black Hornet 4 is less than a foot long and weighs a fraction of a pound.

The successor to Black Hornet 3 can fly for more than 30 minutes, reach a range of more than 2 kilometers (1.24 miles), and stay stable in 25-knot (89 mph) winds. Onboard, it carries a sensitive daytime camera and a thermal imager, capable of capturing videos and images, as well as a software-defined data system.

We all sat together, the whole team, both on the U.S. side and the Norwegian side, to focus  we need to have a game-changing capability, Nils Haagenrud, senior director of unmanned aerial systems programs, told C4ISRNET in an interview.

Militaries the world over are increasingly investing in uncrewed technologies. Drones and robots offer troops a means to reconnoiter, refine targeting and attack from afar with little human risk. Commercial interest is also booming: The civilian market is expected to reach $38 billion by 2027, according to Statista, a data-gathering and analysis firm.

Tens of thousands of older Black Hornets were delivered to forces in more than 40 countries, including Ukraine. The U.S. Army began buying Black Hornets five years ago as part of the soldier-borne sensor program, and has since placed orders totaling more than $125 million.

The lessons learned  both stateside and abroad  helped mold Black Hornet 4, according to Haagenrud and his colleague, David Viens.

It gives us a lot of experiential learning and a lot of customer engagement to know what the customer needs in the next generation, said Viens, vice president of business development in the United States. We have a lot of good information from the customer in Ukraine, but its sensitive. We can say the systems are being used very effectively.

The company is expected to pitch its product to the U.S. Defense Department. The Norwegian armed forces are another significant consideration, according to Haagenrud.

Teledynes operations are concentrated in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Europe.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is trying to find out what happened after a Metro Nashville police officer shot and killed a 30-year-old man during hostage negotiations in Antioch Monday night.

Joshua Kersey was shot by South Precinct Officer Cole Ranseen as he struggled with a housemate he had been holding hostage at knifepoint inside the bedroom of a home at 2937 Split Oak Trail in Antioch, according to a Metro police news release about the incident.

After 40 minutes of negotiations with Kersey through a closed bedroom door, Ranseen entered the room with other officers after they heard screaming, according to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.

"When they heard screaming inside, they entered the room and encountered the subject with a large knife, coming toward them," the TBI statement said.

Ranseen then fired once at Kersey, killing him.

Police arrived at the home about 8:20 p.m. after Kersey's sister called 911. She told investigators that her brother had taken the keys to her car while intoxicated and drove off before returning and getting into a heated argument with his family, the Metro Police release said.

Family members, including Kersey's mother, sister and four children, were able to leave the house before police went inside Monday.

Ranseen joined the Metro Nashville Police Department in May 2022.

Footage from his body camera was expected be released later Tuesday, police said in their release.

The TBI was called in to lead the investigation on behalf of the District Attorney's Office, "as is routine," the release said. Metro police are also conducting an administrative investigation into the incident.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TBI called in after Nashville officer shoots suspect in hostage case
In Nashville, Tennessee, a second-grade teacher at McGavock Elementary School allegedly forced a student to change their shirt. The shirt in question worn by the student featured AKA sorority lettering and a pink and green color scheme. The alleged incident has led the school principal to apologize to the student and her family.

The AKA T-shirt was worn by 7-year-old Peyton Tiger and had AKA 1908 printed on it. The teacher noticed the little girl had on a pink and green rhinestone shirt  the colors worn by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. members.

Tennessee elementary school principal apologizes after a teacher took an Alpha Kappa Alpha T-shirt from a white student who liked the colors. The teacher, a member of the Black sorority, emailed the mom, saying AKA gear is reserved for members only. https://t.co/y9DIREqysU  Charles T (@ChuckyT3) October 7, 2023

The students mother, Chloe Smith, said a family friend passed the shirt down to Tiger and that her daughter liked the shirt because of its colors and because it matched her pants she chose to wear to school that day. Both Smith and Tiger are white, according to local news.

The teacher allegedly was upset by the student wearing the gifted shirt and emailed Smith, informing her why she took the shirt away and gave Tiger an alternative shirt.

Today, I noticed Peyton wearing an AKA shirt. I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), which is a service organization for college-trained and educated women, the teacher wrote. AKA branded items are trademarked and reserved for members only. Thus, I had to give her a new shirt and take the AKA shirt. The new shirt she received is clean, and there is no need to give it back.

After catching wind of the incident, the school district issued a statement. The public statement explained the McGavock Elementary principal will investigate the matter and return the shirt to the students family.

While the shirt was not in accordance with the schools dress code due to having writing, the appropriate course of action would have been to refer the matter to the school administration and not take the shirt from the student, the statement reads. There is no policy or dress code specific to sorority-branded clothing.

The story has reached social media and many D9 members are upset with the exchange, calling the individual who gifted Peyton the shirt to blame, while others feel the teacher could have handled the situation with a child very differently.

However, I can only be frustrated with my fellow D9 members in this situation and those similar. We have an extremely strict protocol of destroying paraphernalia if it is no longer of use, one user wrote, according to AtlantaBlackStar. There is no hand-me-down unless the receiver is a fellow member. So, the little girl or her mom are not to blame; its the member of the org who disposed of it carelessly.
Teresa Giudice and her three daughters - Gia, 22, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 14 - are being ridiculed for partnering with the controversial fast fashion brand, Shein.

In an advertisement posted on Instagram, the Real Housewives of New Jersey star was filmed walking in on a holiday-themed party decorated with gold confetti, sweet treats, and bedazzled formal wear. The 51-year-old mother of four joined her daughters celebration in a skin-tight black dress, sipping champagne and reveling in the excitement.

The collection - titled Giudice Girls x Shein - includes two-piece sets, lavish dresses, and frilly pajamas. According to the brand, the collaboration will consist of 100 pieces offered in sizes up to 5XL.

We are SO excited to finally announce our partnership with @sheinofficial to curate the ultimate pre-holiday collection, #SHEINxGiudiceGirls, Giudice captioned her post.

All of the pieces are a reflection of us, lots of glamorous, fun, and chic styles that are perfect for everyone! We even made sure to include comfy and luxe sleepwear for your next Girls Night In, she continued.

Fans flocked to Giudices Instagram, where they commented their opinion of the familys partnership. While some were pleased by the ad, others were upset that the girls decided to work with Shein after the brand had been slammed for its alleged poor treatment of workers and independent designers.

A SHEIN ad? How embarrassing! I guess we have confirmation that your bags and designer clothes are fakes as well as those Cartier bracelets from Christmas, one individual wrote.

Another said: Why Shein tho? One of if not the most problematic line of clothes there is. I guess the shoe fits.

Well this fits. Teresa partnering with one of the most unethical brands in the world. You know what they say, birds of a feather. But, love, love, love, someone else proclaimed.

Terrible partnership as they steal other designers creations on a daily basis. Do check numerous lawsuits for stealing (intellectual property). Cheap disposable fashions, another critic noted.

One Instagram user agreed: Ew partnering with Shein is gross and fast fashion is passe. Wealth hoarding at the expensive of the planet is not a good look and will not age well.

The clothing giant faced backlash earlier this summer when a group of influencers were invited on a brand trip to Sheins factory in Guangzhou, China. The intention was to convince the tastemakers of their ethical business practices by encouraging them to view their manufacturing facilities. However, the influencer trip faced backlash as many pointed out the fast fashion companys accusations of labour abuse and its negative impact on the environment.

In July, Shein was accused by independent designers of infringement-related racketeering activities in a lawsuit. The designers, who accused the website of allegedly reproducing their designs, filed the lawsuit under a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claim - a federal law designed to combat organised crime and racketeering activities.

The lawsuit also alleged that Shein created a secretive algorithm to identify growing fashion trends and produce very small quantities of [its] item for sale  as 100-200 units per SKU  in the case that an artist claims the design was stolen.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Shein said: SHEIN takes all claims of infringement seriously, and we take swift action when complaints are raised by valid IP rights holders. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuit and any claims that are without merit.

The Independent has contacted Teresa Giudices representatives for comment.
President Joe Biden speaks Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, about the war between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas, as Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken listen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP)

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said the US will continue to stand with Israel in the wake of terrorist attacks which have now claimed the lives of 14 Americans, calling the actions by Hamas pure, unadulterated evil.

Mr Biden described the sickening atrocities committed by the Palestinian terrorist group as sheer evil as he recounted how more than 1,000 civilians have been slaughtered by the terrorists, including parents butchered, using their bodies to try to protect their children.

The president also referenced stomach-turning reports, confirmed by French media outlets, of babies being killed by beheading, and of several hundred young people being massacred at a music festival, with some women there being raped and paraded through the streets.

Theres still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones, not knowing if theyre alive or dead or hostages, Mr Biden said, adding later that Hamas had threatened to execute those whove been taken hostage in what the president called a violation of every code of morality.

Its appalling. The brutality of Hamas, the bloodthirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism, he said.

He added that the Hamas attacks have also surfaced painful memories and scars from over a thousand years of antisemitism and genocides committed against the Jewish people.

So in this moment, we must be crystal clear: we stand with Israel. We stand with Israel and we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, to defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse, he said.

Mr Biden noted that Hamass stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people, not Palestinian self-determination, and said the terrorist group offers nothing but terror and bloodshed, with no regard to who pays the price.

The presidents remarks, which he delivered while at one point wiping tears from his eyes, came just hours after he and vice president Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Biden said he told the prime minister that, were the US to have experienced what Israel has experienced over the last several days, the American response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming while adding that the two leaders had discussed the importance of acting according to the rule of law.

He also described how his advisers had been in near-constant communication with their Israeli counterparts, as well as partners all across the region and the world since the crisis began, and said the US has been surging military aid, including ammunition and replacement equipment for Israels Iron Dome system to ensure that Israeli forces have adequate stocks of such critical assets during their response to Hamas.

And while Mr Biden said his administration has been closely consulting with Congress, he said he will ask for urgent action to fund national security requirements of our critical partners, a strong signal that he intends to push for a bill to fund Israels defence needs as well as those of other allies such as Taiwan and Ukraine.

This is not about party or politics, it is about the security of our world, the security of the United States of America, he said.

Mr Biden also confirmed that Americans are among the hostages now held by Hamas and said he is directing officials to increase intelligence sharing with Israeli authorities, as well as ordering the deployment of additional experts, who will consult on hostage recovery efforts.

As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, he said.

Mr Biden added that the US has moved military assets to strengthen deterrence. including by deploying the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean.

To any country, any organisation, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word, he said. Dont.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly invited Tesla CEO Elon Musk to open a Tesla factory in Turkey after the two met for 45 minutes in New York City recently.

A Turkish official posted pictures from the meeting on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing (translated from Turkish), Our President @RTErdogan received Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX companies, at the Turkevi in New York.

Cumhurbaskanmz @RTErdogan, Tesla ve SpaceX sirketlerinin kurucusu Elon Musk New Yorktaki Turkevinde kabul etti. pic.twitter.com/uQWSrFsCXt  T.C. Cumhurbaskanlg (@tcbestepe) September 17, 2023

Erdogans interest in courting Musk, according to reporting from Bloomberg, may have less to do with electric cars than it does with enhancing his countrys military capacities. Musks SpaceX-supported Starlink satellite internet service has been used by both the United States and the Ukrainian military for communications and intelligence gathering.

The service has also been the source of recent controversy when it emerged that Musk had refused to allow Ukraine to use Starlink to launch an attack on Russian forces in Crimea in 2022.

Erdogan, however, seems optimistic about a future partnership with Musk. Meeting with Musk has allowed Erdogan to promote some of his key ambitions, such as the planned launch of the Turksat 6A satellite next June, Bloomberg wrote. Erdogan has called that a critical milestone for collecting intelligence that may be used for military purposes.

A partnership between Erdogan and Musk, both controversial figures, would come as little surprise to anyone familiar with the type of public comments each is prone to making.



For example, a few months ago, Erdogan told supporters at a rally, We are against the LGBT. At the same time, Musks hard-right views on trans rights have been documented, including a statement that he would start actively lobbying to criminalize supporting a minors desire for gender-affirming healthcare, as reported by Insider. And the reputation of Twitter, now X, has shifted in this area since Musk took over, with GLAAD calling it the worst social media platform for LGBTQ+ safety. That said, the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, has consistently given Tesla a perfect score on LGBTQ equality in the workplace.

Turkey is also developing its own electric vehicle for the first time  the Togg. It hopes to produce 28,000 units in 2023, Bloomberg reports, and begin exporting the EVs to Scandinavian countries first. A partnership with Tesla could lead to the established EV company helping Turkey with its battery technology.

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Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) brought in more than $5 million for his reelection campaign during the third quarter of 2023, his campaign announced Tuesday.

The campaign said in a release that its fundraising total is a new record for an off-year third quarter, which consists of July through September, for a Montana Senate race. It now has more than $13 million in cash on hand.

The powerful grassroots support behind Jon Tester this year leaves no question: Montanans are fired up to keep the dirt farmer from Big Sandy in the United States Senate, said Shelbi Dantic, Testers campaign manager. They know they can count on Jon Tester to defend the Montana that three generations of his family have called home, and fight for the folks who understand a hard days work.

Testers third-quarter fundraising significantly outpaced that of Tim Sheehy, who is running for the Republican nomination to oppose Testers reelection bid. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and businessman backed by Senate Republicans campaign arm, brought in $2.8 million.

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Federal candidates are required to report their third quarter fundraising totals by Oct. 15 under regulations from the Federal Election Commission.

The release from Testers campaign states that it received more than 15,000 donations from Montana residents during the third quarter, and almost all of the donations received were less than $200.

The Montana Senate race will likely be one of the most hotly contested in the 2024 election cycle. It would be key to Republicans attempts to try to retake control of the Senate.

Republicans will need to pick up one or two seats in the Senate to secure a majority in the chamber.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Looking for a scary good time this year? BonusFinder.com just released a report on the most haunted places in the United States.

Texas ranks as the most haunted state in the nation, according to the website.

The state has 13,710 cemeteries, residents have reported 7,517 ghost sightings and it also has the most haunted locations per 100,000 people. There are also 158 paranormal investigators in Texas. This culminated in a haunted city score of 9.8/10.

The second most haunted state was Maine and Florida and Vermont tied for third. The least haunted states include New Jersey, Arizona and Nevada.

The state with the most cemeteries is West Virginia and California has the most haunted places with 1,371 locations.

Heres a look at the most haunted locations in Austin and Texas.

Driskill Hotel

The Driskill is one of the most famous haunted locales in Austin. A ghost bride is said to walk to halls, as well as the ghost of Civil War Col. Jesse Driskill himself (if you smell cigar smoke, that's probably him).

Located in the heart of downtown Austin, the Driskill hotel is probably best known for its rich history and its proximity to Sixth Street.

But the 130-year-old building also is known to have a haunted past.

Ghosts that have been spotted throughout the hotels grand hallways and rooms include those of original owner and cattle baron Jesse Driskill, a jilted bride and a young girl.

Littlefield Home

A looming Victorian mansion stands out from the rest of the University of Texas at Austin campus on the corner of West 24th Street and Whitis Avenue.

Built in 1893 by George Littlefield, it has been called the most haunted spot in American academia and is the oldest home on UTs central campus.

Rumors say the ghost of Littlefield and his wife, Alice, haunt the halls of the home. The interior isnt open to the public, but its striking exterior is certainly still worth a visit.

The Tavern

Staff at this historic bar on West 12th Street and South Lamar Boulevard refer to the paranormal presence as Emily, the Taverns resident ghost.

Emily was a sex worker when the Tavern used to be a brothel during Prohibition, until tales say she was killed by soldiers. The Tavern staff say she makes her presence known by knocking things off shelves or walking around upstairs.

The Clay Pit

You wouldnt expect it from the outside, but this Indian restaurant resides in one of Austins oldest establishments.

Originally built in 1853, the Bertram Building is supposedly still haunted by the spirit of a child who died of typhoid fever there in the 1800s.

Texas State Capitol

Storm clouds loom over the Texas Capitol Building in Austin, Texas on Aug. 18, 2022.

The Texas State Capitol is said to be home to several resident spirits.

There's a mysterious "lady in red" who haunts the third floor of the Capitol dome, and it's said the ghost of Robert Marshall Lowe, a state comptroller who was shot and killed in his office, never left and wanders the grounds in a top hat.

Oakwood Cemetery

Dating back to the 1800s, Oakwood Cemetery is the oldest city-owned cemetery in Austin. A number of notable Texans are buried there, including victim's of one of the first American serial killers - Austin's Servant Girl Annihilator.

The Red Room Lounge

Legend has it The Red Room Lounge sits on the former location of the city morgue (but that's unverified), but staff members have reported creepy activity over the years, like lights flickering and music turning on, as well as a large metal door opening unprompted.

Austin State Hospital

The administration building at the Austin State Hospital is shown in this 2011 file photo.

The Austin State Hospital, previously known as the Texas State Lunatic Asylum, is the oldest psychiatric facility in Texas. More than 3,000 people are reportedly buried on the grounds.

Von Minden Hotel in Schulenburg

The small Texas town of Schulenburg sits an hour and a half east of Austin, between San Antonio and Houston off Interstate 10.

One of the tallest buildings in the town is the Von Minden, a hotel and movie theater hybrid built in 1929.

Locals tell the story of several different apparitions of people who tragically died in the hotel but whose spirits never left. Its attracted the attention of ghost fanatics and historians alike.

Donkey Lady Bridge in San Antonio

The Old Applewhite Bridge, known as the Donkey Lady Bridge.

According to the legend, if you drive to either of the one-lane bridges at night to the area the incident was said to have happened and turn off your engine, you might hear the hee-haw of a donkey or a human imitating the sound.

Glenwood Cemetery

Glenwood Cemetery in Houston is the largest in the state. The cemetery has a dark history with the death of its owner going unsolved for years. Many paranormal investigators have visited the cemetery.

Devils Backbone Tavern in Wimberley

Jeff Johnson plays guitar during a weekly acoustic jam session he began years ago at the Devil's Backbone Tavern on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018.

This historic beer joint and dance hall is named after the nearby limestone ridge.

It claims a history of being built on an ancient Indian campground in the 1890s. The tavern and ridge are about an hour drive from Austin and come with a large collection of ghost stories.

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

Mist surrounds the USS Lexington ahead of weekend winter weather, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. According to the National Weather Service, the winter storm watch is in effect from Feb. 14 until Feb. 15.

Take a trip down to the Texas coast to visit this famous World War II aircraft carrier, nicknamed The Blue Ghost.

Now a museum, visitors can walk the same dark bowels of the Navy ship where around 400 people died during the war.

The ships visitor center hosts haunted houses every October, but even visitors who tour the ship for educational purposes said theyve had hair-rising supernatural experiences.

Presidio La Bahia in Goliad

The restoration of the mission and presidio of La Bahia in Goliad is exceedingly well done. The complex also offers an instuctive museum.

The Presidio Nuestra Senora de Loreta de Bahia, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahia was a fort constructed by the Spanish Army in 1747.

Legend has it, a woman in white wanders the fort's courtyard, searching the graves for a name that can't be found. Other ghostly tales include the sounds of cannon fire, banging on the walls in the officers quarters and the smell of blood in the quadrangle, near the chapel's courtyard.

Jefferson Hotel in Jefferson

The Jefferson Hotel in Jefferson

The city of Jefferson is said to be one of the most haunted small towns in Texas.

Guests of the hotel have experienced whispers from nowhere, knocks on walls and headboards, the smell of cigar smoke, children laughing and faucets turning on water on their own accord.

Goatman's Bridge in Denton

Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, in Denton

Legend has it, a legendary demonic satyr is believed to inhabit the forest surrounding the area.

Some say a Black goat farmer who moved his family to a residence just north of the bridge was also killed by Klansman who haunts the bridge.

Locals warn that if you cross the bridge at night without headlights, you will be met on the other side by the Goatman. Ghostly figures and strange lights are said to also appear in the surrounding woods, as well as reports of visitors being touched, grabbed, and having rocks thrown at them.

Demon's Road in Huntsville

It is located among the back roads of Huntsville.

Travelers who make their way down the dirt road towards Martha Chapel Cemetery have seen strange sightings of red lights, hand prints on cars, an apparition of a young child, hitchhiking ghosts and other spirits following them home.

De Soto Hotel in El Paso

The De Soto Hotel building in Downtown El Paso has a revised renovation plan after it was heavily damaged by a February 2022 fire. The hotel is shown on Saturday March 18, 2023.

The De Soto Hotel has stood tall in downtown El Paso for more than 100 years.

Some say they have seen a shadow in one of the hotel's abandoned hallways that can only be seen on video, accompanied by an eerie voice, a playful spirit of a young girl known as Sara.

And then there's the basement, which is said to be home to "something truly demonic."

Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells

The Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, which was built in 1929, is pictured in 2021.

In 1929, the Baker Hotel opened its doors to travelers from across the country as a "top tier health spa destination." Hollywood stars like Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Glenn Miller and future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson made a stop at the hotel.

But after closing its doors in 1972, the Baker has stood mostly abandoned and slowly decaying in the heart of Mineral Wells.

Since then, some have said the once glamorous hotel is haunted by guests who never left and some who fell to their death while exploring the abandoned building.

Magnolia Hotel in Seguin

The Haunted Magnolia Hotel in Seguin is said to have 13 ghosts. Guests can stay in the renovated areas, but roam through the other spaces.

Built in 1840, the Magnolia Hotel began as a two-room log cabin before transforming into Seguin's "largest and most elegant hotel" during the 20th century. The hotel's owners Erin and Jim Ghedi claim that there are 13 ghosts haunting the building, according to the hotel's website.

The hotel has been featured on the Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures," "Ghost Adventures After Shock," "Nick Groff's Tour," the Discovery Channel's "When Ghosts Attack," Destination America's "Ghost Brothers," PBS' "Strange Towns" and more.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: The 20 most haunted places in Texas to visit
Protesters hold signs and chant in front of the Governor's Mansion during a rally against school vouchers on Oct. 7, 2023. Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune

The Texas Senate unveiled Monday its main bill to establish an education savings account program, a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott this special session.

Senate Bill 1, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would allow families access $8,000 of taxpayer money to pay for private schools and other educational expenses such as uniforms, textbooks, tutoring or transportation among other things.

Educating the next generation of Texans is a fundamental responsibility, and it is my belief that empowering parents with school choice will encourage competition, innovation and ensure that every student in Texas has the opportunity to find an educational path for their unique needs, Creighton said in a statement.

[Vouchers return this special session  and school funding might be left out. Heres what you need to know.]

The state comptrollers office would establish and administer these education savings accounts. The bill seeks to allocate $500 million from the general revenue fund for the next two years to pay for the program. The comptrollers office would also be in charge of preventing fraud and misuse of funds  a major area of concern for many lawmakers  as well as approving an organization to help process applications and approve vendors and participating private schools.

Creighton says that the program will not siphon money away from public schools as the funding comes from general revenue, not the Foundation School Program, which is the main source of funding for the states K-12 public schools.

The bill does not require private school students to take a state-administered academic achievement exam, something that school voucher critics in the Texas Legislature have said an education savings account proposal should have to even consider it.

If passed into law, almost any student who was enrolled in a public school last year would be eligible to apply for the program, as well as any student ready to enroll in Pre-K or kindergarten.

The bill includes a formula to prioritize entry to the program if there are more applicants than funds available. Forty percent of open spots would go to students who receive free or reduced lunch; 30% to families who earn between 185% and 500% of the federal poverty line; 20% to those with disabilities; and 10% to those who attended public, private or home-school in the last school year.

The filing of SB 1 came hours after Creighton announced Senate Bill 2, a $5.2 billion school funding bill that would allocate most of the money to teacher raises and include a small funding increase to help schools pay their rising bills.

It remains to be seen whether the funding bill can even move forward. The only education-related item in Abbotts agenda for the special session was education savings accounts, a school voucher program that would give families access to state funds to pay for their childrens private schooling. The state constitution says lawmakers can only pass bills related to the governor's agenda items during special sessions. The governor can at any time modify the agenda.

[Watch an Oct. 18 conversation about public education and a special session of the Texas Legislature]

Creighton said SB 1 and SB 2 work in tandem and show that lawmakers can provide more schooling options for Texas families while also adding public school funding. During the regular session, two proposals to create an education savings account program and give teachers pay bonuses, also authored by Creighton, fizzled in the House amid disagreements over vouchers and how to give teachers raises.

In a Hail Mary play at the end of the regular session, Creighton attached his education savings account proposal  similar to the one he announced Monday  to House Bill 100, a school finance bill. That bill eventually died after House members once again stood firm against school vouchers, though the move left public schools with no new funding for teacher raises and other rising expenses.

The future of an education savings account program remained uncertain as this years third special session started Monday with Texas Republicans embroiled in intraparty fighting. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign because the speaker demanded he return $3 million to a major backer, the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, after The Texas Tribune reported its leader had met with a white supremacist and antisemitic activist. Patrick accused Phelan of using this weekends Hamas attack on Israel for political gain.

Meanwhile, Texas House Democrats signaled their intent to once again stand against any kind of school voucher program.

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters his group is very clear: no vouchers and no deals.

A voucher scam is a poison pill that will end up taking more out of our public schools than it puts in, said Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin.

Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said he believes Abbott and the Senate are on the same page when it comes to public school funding and school vouchers.

SB2 is the main carrot Abbott is using to entice the anti-voucher Republicans and the small number of persuadable Democrats to vote for school choice legislation, Jones said. The quid-pro-quo is that once school choice legislation is en route to the governors desk, Abbott will place public school funding on the special session agenda, thereby allowing the Senate and House to quickly pass SB2 or a comparable House bill.

Disclosure: Rice University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Influencer and doctor Mehrub Moiz Awan has been harassed since becoming the figurehead of Pakistan's queer community (Asif HASSAN)

Clad in a Barbie-pink shalwar kameez, influencer and doctor Mehrub Moiz Awan reels off endless examples of harassment she's received since becoming the sharp-tongued figurehead of Pakistan's queer community.

A growing and highly organised digital hate campaign driven by the religious right has put trans people at risk -- both of losing their legal rights and their lives.

"It became quite vicious where there were death threats against me, there were attacks on me," Awan told AFP from a fellow activist's crowded apartment in Pakistan's megacity of Karachi.

"I had to file FIRs (police complaints) and applications for police protection."

The digital hate campaign started shortly after Awan was disinvited from a TedX panel at a private school in August last year following complaints from parents.

When she called out the decision, local celebrities -- including a prominent fashion designer -- accused her of promoting an LGBTQ agenda in a country where homosexuality has been criminalised since colonial times.

Since then, a variety of players from Pakistan's religious right have converged into a mainstream anti-queer movement in the conservative Muslim country.

They include the leaders of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami political party, podcasters, influencers from a religious collective called the Youth Club, and an online group known as Mothers for Pakistan.

- Blasphemy allegations -

Tactics used by the campaign include hardline Islamic rhetoric, harassment, cyberbullying, and doxing in the form of leaks of personal data, including pre- and post-transition pictures of activists.

Outright accusations of blasphemy -- allegations that can lead to mob killings in Pakistan -- have also been used.

Although exact figures are not available due to severe underreporting, human rights groups such as Amnesty International say there has been a concerning rise in violence against trans people in Pakistan.

In February, Marvia Malik, Pakistan's first transgender news anchor, was shot at by two men and narrowly escaped.

Two weeks earlier, a transgender woman was found hanged in the city of Rawalpindi in a case police suspect to be murder.

"Our lives are in danger," said Shahzadi Rai, a transgender activist and member of the municipal council of Karachi, Pakistan's most populous city.

"I first used to use a rickshaw to travel, but within the span of one year that has changed. I have been attacked four times."

- Progressive act -

The Digital Rights Foundation, a non-profit which tracks online harassment, has recorded 74 cases against the trans community since the start of the hate campaign.

The landmark passing of a Transgender Rights Act in 2018 was regarded as highly progressive, lauded around the world for the protections it granted the community.

But four years later Jamaat-e-Islami led the charge against it -- party chief Siraj-ul-Haq saying it was against Islamic law and "a conspiracy to destroy our family system".

The group -- and others -- claim the act is a means of normalising same-sex marriage in Pakistan.

"Even people in the community started believing it and began denouncing (the act)," researcher Mehleb Shaikh, who helped draft the law, told AFP.

"People were just so paranoid at the time that they will be seen as these figurative homosexuals... a boogie man created in our society in order to create more policing of gender."

In May, the Islamabad Shariat Court -- which gives Islamic oversight to secular laws -- revoked the act. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court.

- Closeted community -

Pakistan's indigenous third gender, or "Khawajasira" community, has a rich, spiritual, cultural and political history that spans centuries in the Indian subcontinent.

But British colonisation brought the criminalisation of homosexuality and the imposition of strict gender binaries which have been reinforced with increasing Islamisation.

As the queer community is forced to remain largely closeted, the brunt of this is experienced by Khawajasiras, many of whom are forced to resort to begging, dancing, or sex work for survival.

"I have never seen our community this distressed," said Rai.

In recent years millennial and Gen Z queer people in Pakistan have carved out a vibrant digital space for themselves on TikTok, Instagram and X, where they showcase their activism and offer glimpses into their personal lives.

"The trans community's content has been phenomenal, especially in terms of TikTok," Aradhya Khan, a transgender rights activist and digital content creator, told AFP.

"People love the content trans girls make; they are killing it right now."

However, activists say the hate campaign has shrunk their digital footprint. Self-censorship and deactivation of social media accounts have become commonplace.

For the trans male community, which already lacks visibility, the trend is even more concerning.

"Trans men are treated as women and girls in Pakistan, where they live in very controlled, restricted and conservative environments," transgender activist and freelance journalist Rayhan Muqadam told AFP from his home in Karachi.

But Awan says despite the ongoing onslaught of hate and disinformation, the trans community is determined to resist by centering on their own communal joy, resilience, and beauty.

"The biggest threat to patriarchal sanctimonious bigotry is joy. That's what threatens them the most," said Awan.

"They're afraid of laughter. They're afraid of joy, they're afraid of love. And how we are resisting is by continuing to love."

rf-fox/ser/dhw
(CNN)  Israel has declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after it carried out an unprecedented attack by air, sea and land on Saturday.

The large-scale surprise assault has left at least 900 dead in Israel, prompting a lethal volley of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed at least 687 people.

As they retreated into Gaza, the militants claimed to have taken at least 100 hostages with them and have threatened to kill them if airstrikes target Gaza without warning. Israel has pledged that Hamas will pay a heavy price and may now be preparing a ground incursion into Gaza.

Heres what we know so far.

What happened?

Militants from Gaza fired thousands of rockets towards Israeli towns on Saturday morning, before breaking through the heavily fortified border fence with Israel and sending militants deep into Israeli territory. There, Hamas gunmen killed hundreds of people, including civilians and soldiers, and took hostages, sometimes from their homes.

It took Israeli troops more than two days to take back control as fighting raged in the streets. On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had retaken control of all Israeli communities in Gazas vicinity on its southern border after fighting with Hamas ended.

The attacks were unprecedented in tactic and scale as Israel has not faced its adversaries in street battles on its own territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It has also never faced a terror attack of this magnitude that has taken the lives of so many civilians. While Hamas has kidnapped Israelis before, it has never before taken dozens of hostages at once, including children and the elderly.

Hamas called the operation Al-Aqsa Storm and said that the assault was a response to what it described as Israeli attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza.

How has Israel responded?

In response to the attack, Israel has declared war and launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking suspected Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza.

Hundreds had been killed in Gaza as of Monday, including dozens of children, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said.

The IDF has urged civilians in Gaza to leave their residential areas immediately for their safety as Israeli military operations continue to target Hamas, and shut all crossings between Israel and Gaza, potentially setting the stage for a ground incursion into the enclave.

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said on Monday that he had ordered a complete siege on Gaza. No electricity, no food, no fuel. Everything closed, he said, adding that no water will be delivered either.

How did the two sides get here?

Tensions between Israelis and the Palestinians have existed since before Israels founding in 1948. Thousands of people on both sides have been killed and many more injured over decades.

Violence has been particularly acute this year. The number of Palestinians  militants and civilians  killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces since the year began is the highest in nearly two decades. The same is true of Israelis and foreigners  most of them civilians  killed in Palestinian attacks.

Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in the 1967 war, then withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. The territory, home to some 2 million Palestinians, fell under Hamas control in 2007 after a brief civil war with Fatah, a rival Palestinian faction that is the backbone of the Palestinian Authority.

After Hamas seized control, Israel and Egypt imposed a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing. Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza. Human Rights Watch has called the territory an open-air prison. More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, and nearly 80% of its population relies on humanitarian assistance.

Hamas and Israel have fought several wars. Before Saturdays operation, the last war between the two was in 2021, which lasted for 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

Saturdays assault occurred 50 years almost to the day since the 1973 war, when Israels Arab neighbors launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 6, 1973.

What is Hamas?

Hamas is an Islamist organization with a military wing that came into being in 1987, emerging out of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group that was founded in the late 1920s in Egypt.

The group, like most Palestinian factions and political parties, insists that Israel is an occupying power and that it is trying to liberate the Palestinian territories. It considers Israel an illegitimate state and has called for its downfall.

Unlike some other Palestinian factions, Hamas refuses to engage with Israel. In 1993, it opposed the Oslo Accords, a peace pact between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that saw the PLO give up armed resistance against Israel in return for promises of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Accords also established the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Hamas presents itself as an alternative to the PA, which has recognized Israel and has engaged in multiple failed peace initiatives with it. The PA, whose credibility among Palestinians has suffered over the years, is today led by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel. Israel accuses its archenemy Iran of backing the group.

What happens next?

Israel is now on a war footing and has already started mobilizing troops for a potential ground operation in Gaza. It has said that it will exact a heavy price on Hamas for its attack and plans to retrieve Israeli hostages from the territory.

Israel has dealt with hostage situations before, but never at this scale. In the past, militants have mostly demanded the release of prisoners held in Israeli jails in exchange for captured Israelis. In 2011, Israel traded 1,027 Palestinians for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and in 2004, it released more than two dozen Lebanese and Arab prisoners  including two senior Hezbollah officials  for Elhanan Tannenbaum, an Israeli businessman and army reserve colonel, as well as the bodies of three IDF soldiers. In 2008, Israel released five Palestinian prisoners, five Lebanese prisoners and returned the bodies of nearly 200 Arab fighters in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers.

Hamas says it has taken captive 100 or more hostages. Their presence in Gaza will undoubtedly complicate any Israeli military operation there.

The militant groups armed wing said Monday it would begin killing civilian hostages and broadcasting the act if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning.

It comes after the IDF said it planned to take control of the Gaza Strip. Its spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, said the aim is to end the Gaza enclave and control the entire enclave.

When asked whether it had stopped the knock on the roof, which is the Israeli militarys warning for civilians before it bombs a building. Hecht responded that Hamas did not knock on the roof.

When they came in and threw grenades at our ambulances they did not knock on the roof. This is war. The scale is different, Hecht said.

Senior Hamas member Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera Arabic on Saturday that Hamas is ready for all options, including a war and an escalation on all levels.

We are ready for the worst-case scenario, including a ground invasion, which will be the best for us to decide the ending of this battle, al-Arouri said.

Could this lead to a wider regional conflict?

Hamas operation was carried out in a sophisticated and coordinated manner and would have taken a significant amount of planning. Speculation has been rife that the group may have received assistance from abroad, which, if proven, could raise the specter of a wider regional war.

Israel says Iran supports Hamas to the tune of some $100 million dollars a year. The US State Department in 2021 said that the group receives funding, weapons, and training from Iran, as well as some funds that are raised in Gulf Arab countries.

Of course Iran is in the picture, one US official told CNN. Theyve provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah.

A senior Biden administration official said on Saturday that it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in the attack, but that Washington will be tracking the matter very closely.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi spoke to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by phone on Sunday and later congratulated the Palestinian people for their victory over Israel. On Monday, however, Irans mission to the United Nations said that the Islamic Republic was not involved in Palestines response, referring to the Hamas attack. It is taken solely by Palestine itself, it said.

The US has meanwhile sent a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. A US official told CNN that the US is also sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to deter any Iranian potential aggression or an expansion of the fighting beyond Israels borders.

Israel may also face the threat of new fronts opening in the war. Of its immediate neighbors, it is only at peace with Jordan and Egypt, and is officially in a state of war with Lebanon and Syria. Israel has said it is ready in case there are attacks from those two countries.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has praised Hamas attack and said it is in contact with Palestinian militant groups at home and abroad, its Al Manar channel said. On Sunday, the group claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery. The area is considered by Lebanon as Israeli-occupied. Israel responded by firing artillery.

On Monday, the IDF said it killed a number of armed suspects who infiltrated into Israel from Lebanon and that soldiers were searching the area. Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said on Monday that his country doesnt want to be drawn into the conflict.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Israel is at war with Hamas. Heres what to know"
If you see a fox during the day in the Myrtle Beach area, think twice before calling the police, officials said.

Dispatchers with the North Myrtle Beach Police Department receive 10-15 calls a day about foxes in the area, according to a Wednesday Facebook post.

Many callers asked to have a fox removed because they were worried seeing it during the day meant it had rabies, said Patrick Wilkinson, spokesperson for the North Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Healthy foxes generally are not dangerous to humans, a S.C. Department of Natural Resources fact-sheet states. They are more likely to be a nuisance by digging burrows in grass or hunting animals like chickens or ducks. Both red and gray foxes live in South Carolina and both species can live in urban areas, according to SCDNR.

While one person was exposed to a rabid fox in Florence County last week, the number of rabid foxes has significantly decreased in the last 60 years. DHEC has not reported a fox with rabies in Horry County this year. In South Carolina, foxes are significantly less likely to have rabies than raccoons or skunks.

While people call the police department asking to move foxes, it is illegal to relocate a fox in South Carolina. Wilkinson said. The more calls we have about foxes coming in, thats jamming up the line for anybody that has an emergency, he said. Foxes are beautiful animals. Enjoy the luxury of being here and being able to observe them in the wild.

Here is what to do if you see a fox in the Myrtle Beach area.

Stay far away from the wild animal and avoid feeding it.

If you see a fox during the day, this does not necessarily mean it is sick. While foxes are usually nocturnal, many are active during the day, especially in late spring and early summer.

Know the signs of rabies in wild animals, including increased drooling, abnormal friendliness or aggression and general sickness. If you find an animal with these symptoms, Wilkinson said to call your local police department or animal control.

Make sure your pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccines.
This article was originally published in Indiana Capital Chronicle.

About 40% of Hoosier students missed 10 or more school days last year, and nearly one in five were absent for at least 18 days, according to new Indiana data.

A presentation before the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) on Wednesday highlighted the staggering statistics that state leaders said should warrant immediate action.

Student absences have been on the rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana and across the nation, data shows. Although Indianas latest numbers show slight improvements, absentee rates during the 2022-23 school year were still 8% higher than before the pandemic.

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Its October  the first quarter is gone. We have to draw attention to this right now. And theres no time to wait, said Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner. I think this is really a rally cry for us to look at our parents, families, caregivers, and also our community leaders to come up with some solutions that might help.

Indiana fared better than most other states for chronic absenteeism  defined by the rate of students who missed at least 18 school days, either excused or unexcused. Thats equal to 10% of the academic year.

But in the last three years, the rate of Hoosier students who have been chronically absent more than doubled compared to before the pandemic.

Education experts note that being absent as few as three days out of the school year affects test scores and overall academic performance. The student demographic groups with the largest gaps in state language arts and math testing since the pandemic are more likely to be chronically absent.

Jenner told the Indiana Capital Chronicle this summer that high rates of absenteeism are likely contributing to the states dismal literacy rates, for example.

By the numbers

According to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), roughly 221,000 Hoosier students were considered chronically absent during the 2022-23 academic year.

More than 400,000 students missed at least 10 days of school  which, per Indiana statute  made them habitually absent.

A school day is considered missed if a student is there for less than half of the day.



To put those numbers into perspective, state leaders emphasized that 3,086 school buses could be filled with kids if all of Indianas chronically absent students came to school on the same day.

Were trying to help people understand that were not talking about a small amount of people, said John Keller, IDOEs chief information officer. When you think about it that way, thats a big number.

Keller added that Indiana is far away from chronic absentee rates in the 2018-19 school year, when just 11.2% met that definition.

The rate rose to 18.5% in 2020-21  the first year after the pandemic  and topped out at 21.1% in the 2021-22 school year, according to state data.

The 2022-23 data indicates that 19.3% of students were chronically absent from school.

The issue is especially worsening among high schoolers, Keller noted.

State education department officials said the highest chronic absenteeism rates came from the most vulnerable students who were homeless or suffered from displacement, including children in foster care. Housing instability, in addition to mental health challenges, are also driving absentee numbers up, they noted.

Low-income status also increased a students likelihood of being chronically absent. A lack of transportation is additionally thought to be contributing to missed days at some schools.

Black students saw the largest percentage of chronic absenteeism of any racial or ethnic group last year. Only White and Asian students had below the state average.

Still, chronic absenteeism was higher in some schools than in others. Kenner said in 84 schools, 50% of students were chronically absent. Another 270 schools recorded one out of every three students as chronically absent, while 547 schools had one in four students.

Statewide, 1,651 Hoosier schools had at least one out of every 10 students marked as chronically absent, according to state data.

Rates were typically highest in high-poverty urban school districts and charter schools, while suburban schools reported lower rates.

Gary Community Schools had the highest chronic absenteeism rate among the states public school districts at about 66%.

Chronic absenteeism was higher than 40% in Muncie and South Bend schools and over 30% in Anderson, Richmond, Indianapolis Public Schools and at least two dozen other districts.

Multiple rural districts had high rates, too, including 43.2% in Cannelton, 37.5% in Madison and 32.1% in Medora.

Rates were mostly lower in suburban districts like Carmel Clay  at 8.4%  and in Zionsville, which recorded a 7.3% rate of chronic absenteeism.

How to get more kids in school?

SBOE officials doubled down on Wednesday that absenteeism is a problem without a single solution, though.

To start, Jenner said an Early Warning Dashboard is in the works to direct resources to at-risk students. The system will be piloted for some schools this academic year. She said the goal is for the dashboard to be ready for all schools by the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Included in the dashboard  which will be connected to Indianas existing GPS dashboard  will be data on attendance, as well as information about which students at risk. Granular data could provide details about absences at the individual classroom and teacher levels, Jenner said.

The reality is that culture eats policy for breakfast, Jenner said, adding that while illness and quarantines kept many students home during the pandemic, the slow rebound in attendance suggests missing school has become a new normal. So, if we have a national culture of chronic absenteeism, we could sit as a board and pass a number of policies today, but the culture is not there.

Jenner said the state education department also plans to dive deeper into the academic performance statistics of students who are not chronically absent: I think theres more information that we need to know, and that will be helpful.

Board member Pat Mapes said IDOE additionally needs more information from schools to better understand local responses to absenteeism that might or might not already be in the works.

When youre not there and present every day, youre not going to get the same quality of education, he said.

Another board member, Erika Dilosa, said the pandemic likely created a new  but dangerous  status quo for students and families.

I feel like what happened with COVID is that a lot of parents saw that their kids didnt have to actually come into the building, and then a lot of them passed, Dilosa said. They felt that maybe they dont have to be there as often.

Board member William Durham suggested that new penalties be put in place to compel students back into the classroom. Its currently up to each Indiana county prosecutor to decide how to enforce truancy laws.

In my opinion, there has to be a way to hold parents of minors accountable for those students not coming to school  other than theyre sick, or whatever the case may be. I dont know what can be done about that, Durham said. But in my opinion, something has to be done, because in my household growing up, it was not an option.

Byron Ernest, also on the board, cautioned the states education and political leaders to take a closer look at the issue and the various causes before codifying any responses, however.

The thing that I want to implore us  and any legislators that are looking at this report  is lets not knee-jerk policy that we think could work, but it wont, Ernest said. We need to make sure that we really study the root causes  and weve got to figure this out and really look at it from the complexity that it is.

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter.
Thousands of "special interest aliens" from numerous countries, including the Middle East, have been arrested by Border Patrol agents while attempting to cross the U.S. southern border illegally over the last two years, according to internal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data leaked to Fox News.

"Special interest aliens" are people from countries identified by the U.S. government as having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or potentially pose some sort of national security threat to the U.S.

That data, confirmed by multiple CBP sources and reflects apprehensions between ports of entry between October 2021 and October 2023, shows that agents encountered 6,386 nationals from Afghanistan in that period as well as 3,153 from Egypt, 659 from Iran and 538 from Syria.

MIGRANT NUMBERS HIT HIGHEST EVER RECORDED IN ONE MONTH: SOURCES

Agents also encountered 12,624 from Uzbekistan, 30,830 from Turkey, 1,613 from Pakistan, 164 from Lebanon, 185 from Jordan, 123 from Iraq and 15,594 from Mauritania. The data does not include information on how many of those migrants were removed or who were released into the U.S. with a court date.

A Border Patrol agent walks between a gap along the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico in Yuma, Arizona, on June 1, 2022.

Those numbers do not include encounters by CBPs Office of Field Operations at ports of entry. It also does not include the numbers who have snuck past agents without detection -- sources say there have been over 1.5 million such "gotaways" during the Biden administration.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

DHS WARNS MEXICAN-PRODUCED DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL LIKELY TO KILL MORE AMERICANS THAN ANY OTHER THREAT

Meanwhile, fiscal year 2023 broke the record for encounters on the FBI terror watch list with 151 people encountered at the southern border between ports of entry, higher than the previous six years combined.

Border Patrol sources tell Fox they have extreme concerns about the people coming across from special interest countries, given they have little to no way to vet them. Unless they have committed a crime in the U.S. or are on a federal watch list, agents have no way of knowing their criminal history because their countries do not share data with the U.S., so there is nothing to match their name against when authorities run their fingerprints.

The data comes as the U.S. is struggling to deal with a new wave of migrants at the southern border, with numbers again hitting historic highs. Sources have told Fox that there were more than 260,000 encounters in September, which marks a new monthly record. Republicans in particular have raised concerns about the potential security threat of an environment in which Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed and migrants are being processed in significant numbers into the U.S. interior.

The Department of Homeland Securitys threat assessment, published last month, noted that agents have encountered a growing number on the watch list and warned that "terrorists and criminal actors may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States."

"Individuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States," the assessment also said.

Last week, the Biden administration moved to waive more than two dozen federal regulations in order to build a border wall in South Texas, citing an "acute and immediate need" in order to prevent unlawful entries. However, the administration has since distanced itself from the move, noting that it was funding appropriated in 2019 and which Congress has refused to divert to other projects.





Original article source: Thousands of 'special interest aliens' from Middle East countries stopped at southern border since 2021: data
Three people were killed in a crash with a wrong-way driver, Georgia troopers say.

The wreck happened at about 8:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, along Georgia State Route 1/U.S. Highway 27 in Carroll County, according to Georgia State Patrol.

Investigators said the driver of a Lincoln Town Car was going north in the south lanes and struck a Mazda Miata before slamming into a Chevrolet Cruze, troopers wrote in a preliminary report.

The impact caused the Lincoln Town Car and Chevy Cruze to burst into flames.

The three drivers were the only people in their vehicles, troopers said. Authorities havent released their identities.

Troopers didnt release additional details but said the crash is under investigation.

Carroll County is about 50 miles west of downtown Atlanta.

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Three NATO member states, Turkyie, Romania and Bulgaria, are discussing the creation of a special unit to clear the Black Sea of the mines which are drifting into their territorial waters due to Russias aggression against Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Bloomberg

Details: Two anonymous officials told Bloomberg that the three states are still working on the details, but they are likely to set up the joint special unit as early as next month.

Even though the planned initiative is not a NATO operation, the joint demining forces will be the allies first major joint efforts in the Black Sea since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

The new forces must be completely peaceful and will not bring any additional NATO ships out to the sea, the two officials said.

One of the anonymous officials revealed that one of the goals of the mission is to demonstrate that the three countries are able to solve this problem themselves.

The Turkish government refused to comment, and the Romanian and Bulgarian Defence Ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Background:

The NATO allies have increased surveillance and intelligence in the region since the beginning of the war, but not naval activity.

Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish diving teams have been regularly neutralising mines that have drifted into their territorial waters since the invasion started.

In September it was revealed that Bulgaria negotiated with NATO allies about how to respond to Russias partial blockade of its Black Sea exclusive economic zone.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






The Texas Rangers will face off against the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Divisional Series on Tuesday.

The teams will play at 7:03 p.m. at Globe Life Field.

Heres everything fans need to know to attend the first-ever Rangers playoff game at Globe Life Field.

How to buy tickets

According to the Texas Rangers, there are scattered seats and standing-room tickets that can be purchased from the Texas Rangers website starting at $75. Tickets can also be purchased on the secondary ticket market from places like StubHub whose ticket prices start at $108.

If the Rangers lose Tuesdays game there will be game four at 6:07 p.m. on Wednesday at Globe Life Field. There are still tickets left for Wednesdays possible game starting at $120 on the Rangers website and $70 on SeatGeek.

When do parking lots open?

On Tuesday Parking lots open at 3:30 p.m. and if they play on Wednesday the parking lot will open at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets to park cost $40 for both games on the Rangers website.

When do gates open?

Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Much in the same way as companies adapt their software to run across different desktop, mobile and cloud operating systems, businesses also need to configure their software for the fast-moving AI revolution, where large language models (LLMs) have emerged to serve powerful new AI applications capable of interpreting and generating human-language text.

While a company can already create an "LLM-instance" of their software based on their current API documentation, the problem is that they need to ensure that the broader LLM ecosystem can use it properly -- and get enough visibility into how well this instance of their product actually works in the wild.

And that, effectively, is what Tidalflow is setting out to solve, with an end-to-end platform that enables developers to make their existing software play nice with the LLM ecosystem. The fledgling startup is emerging out of stealth today with $1.7 million in a round of funding co-led by Google's Gradient Ventures alongside Dig Ventures, a VC firm set up my MuleSoft founder Ross Mason, with participation from Antler.

Confidence

Consider this hypothetical scenario: An online travel platform decides it wants to embrace LLM-enabled chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google's Bard, allowing its customers to request airfares and book tickets through natural language prompts in a search engine. So the company creates an LLM-instance for each, but for all they know, 2% of ChatGPT results serve up a destination that the customer didn't ask for, an error rate that might be even higher on Bard -- it's just impossible to know for sure.

Now, if a company has a fail tolerance of less than 1%, they might just feel safer not going down the generative AI route until they have greater clarity on how their LLM-instance is actually performing. This is where Tidalflow enters the fray, with modules that help companies not only create their LLM-instance, but test, deploy, monitor, secure and -- eventually -- monetize it. They can also fine-tune the LLM-instance of their product for each ecosystem in a local simulated sandboxed environment, until they arrive at a solution that meets something amenable to their fail-tolerance threshold.

"The big problem is, if you launch on something like ChatGPT, you actually don't know how the users are interacting with it," Tidalflow CEO Sebastian Jorna told TechCrunch. "This lack of confidence in the reliability of their software is a major roadblock to rolling out software tooling into LLM ecosystems. Tidalflow's testing and simulation module builds that confidence."

Tidalflow can perhaps best be described as an application lifecycle management (ALM) platform that companies plug their OpenAPI specification / documentation into. And out the other end Tidalflow spits out a "battle-tested LLM-instance" of that product, with the front-end serving up monitoring and observability of how that LLM-instance will perform in the wild.

"With normal software testing, you have a specific number of cases that you run through -- and if it works, well, the software works," Jorna said. "Now, because we're in this stochastic environment, you actually need to throw a lot of volume at it to get some statistical significance. And so that is basically what we do in our testing and simulation module, where we simulate out as if the product is already live, and how potential users might use it."

Tidalflow dashboard

Tidalflow dashboard. Image Credits: Tidalflow

In short, Tidalflow lets companies run through myriad edge cases that may or may not break its fancy new generative AI smarts. This will be particularly important for larger businesses where risks around compromising on software reliability are simply too great.

"Bigger enterprise clients just cannot risk putting something out there without the confidence that it works," Jorna added.

Foundation to funding

Tidalflow's Coen Stevens (CTO), Sebastian Jorna (CEO) and Henry Wynaendts (CPO)

Tidalflow's Coen Stevens (CTO), Sebastian Jorna (CEO) and Henry Wynaendts (CPO). Image Credits: Tidalflow

Tidalflow is officially three months old, with founders Jorna (CEO) and Coen Stevens (CTO) meeting through Antler's entrepreneur-in-residence program in Amsterdam. "Once the official program started in the summer, Tidalflow became the quickest company in Antler Netherlands' history to get funded," Jorna said.

Today, Tidalflow claims a team of three, including its two co-founders and chief product officer (CPO) Henry Wynaendts. But with a fresh $1.7 million in funding, Jorna said the company is now actively looking to recruit for various front- and back-end engineering roles as they work toward a full commercial launch.

But if nothing else, the fast turnaround from foundation to funding is indicative of the current generative AI gold rush. With ChatGPT getting an API and support for third-party plugins, Google on its way to doing the same for the Bard ecosystem and Microsoft embedding its Copilot AI assistant across Microsoft 365, businesses and developers have a big opportunity to not just leverage generative AI for their own products, but reach a vast amount of users in the process.

"Much like the iPhone ushered in a new era for mobile-friendly software in 2007, were now at a similar inflection point, namely for software to become LLM-compatible," Jorna noted.

Tidalflow will remain in closed beta for now, with plans to launch commercially to the public by the end of 2023.
TikTok Star Keith Lee Defends Wife After Social Media Trolls Slammed Her Surprise Gift To Him | Photo: Leon Bennett via Getty Images

TikTok star Keith Lee is standing up for his wife, Ronni, after she received backlash on social media trolls for what she gifted her husband on his 27th birthday.

The drama unfolded after Lee shared a video of Ronni taking him to a Chrysler car dealership. Ronni blindfolded Lee when she took him to the car lot, where she then revealed that he was receiving a new Genesis G90. The luxury sedan models price tag is over $88,000, the Atlanta Black Star reported.

Lee, who posed for a photo with his brand-new toy, appeared to be pleased with his wifes gift to him. Some social media users, however, called out Ronni, saying that she used Lees funds to purchase the car.

Check your account big dawg! one person wrote.

Others also echoed similar comments after seeing a video clip of Lee crying while accepting his gift.

Keith crying bc he bought himself a car he couldnt pick, another person commented.

Following the backlash, Lee took to TikTok to defend Ronni.

Its very demeaning to my wife and myself, he said. Pocket-watching is crazy, lets be honest. You dont know where my wife money come from. My wife is blessed enough to do really well.

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TikTok users also took shots at Lee because he was emotional in the video.

Yes, Im very in touch with my emotions, and if that makes me less of a man in your eyes, thats your opinion. Im clearly fine with that, Lee said. again, yall dont bother me none.

Lee pointed out the good work his wife is doing in their community while urging people to mind their business.

Just leave my and wife alone. Thats all I ask, he said. Come at me all you want. Leave her out of it. We just eating food, praying, staying together and chillin. We dont bother nobody. Nobody.

In 2020, Lee started gaining popularity on TikTok when he started doing food reviews to promote restaurants. He boasts nearly 14 million followers.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is calling for an investigation into the release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds in the United Statess prisoner swap with Iran last month, following the recent attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel.

Scott, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, said he will urge committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to invite Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to sit for testimony on the $6 billion transfer and any sanction gaps the U.S. may have with Iran.

Last month, the Biden administration agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for the freedom of five wrongfully detained American citizens.

In doing so, the Biden administration granted clemency to five Iranians and issued a blanket waiver for international banks to allow the transfer of $6 billion of Iranian oil sale proceeds, frozen in South Korea, to a bank in Qatar.

The deal drew criticism at the time from some Republican lawmakers, who argued the move would free up resources for Irans military spending and support of terrorism.

The $6 billion transfer came under renewed scrutiny over the weekend after Hamas, a militant group backed by Iran, launched a multi-pronged attack against Israel, invading multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air that left hundreds dead and thousands more wounded.

In the face of evil, we must use every tool, weapon, and economic sanction available to provide for our nations security and the security of Israel, Scott wrote Tuesday in a statement.

Scott, who is also running in the Republican presidential primary race, said the Senate should also investigate what led the Biden administration to allow the transfer and how it could expect Iran to not use that money to continue to fuel terrorism.

The American people and Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, deserve transparency and answers, Scott said. We should be signaling strength  not leniency  when it comes to Iran.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back against suggestions that the Biden administrations deal may have contributed to Hamass recent attacks, claiming the $6 billion in frozen funds have remained unspent.

U.S. officials said the funds were to be used only for food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.

Pressed over whether Iran used other funds to support the attacks in anticipation of the funds being unfrozen, Blinken emphasized the funds humanitarian purposes while noting, Iran has, unfortunately, always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like Hamas.

Questions remain over Irans exact role in Hamass attacks.

U.S. deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said Monday that Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attacks, pointing to the countrys efforts to train and provide the group with arms.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official on Monday told The Associated Press that only about a half dozen Hamas commanders in Gaza were aware of the planned incursion and denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack or approved the incursion at a meeting last week in Beirut.

Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamass exiled leadership, told the AP that Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation, while noting Hamas has produced its own rockets and trained its own members since the 2014 Gaza war.

Scott has been a longtime proponent of U.S. sanctions on Iran. Earlier this year, he, along with a bipartisan group of senators, introduced the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act (SISA) , which would make permanent the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which limits funding for Irans energy sector.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Tim Scott ripped into Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday for foreign policy positions he said project American weakness abroad, amid ongoing violence stemming from Hamas attack on Israel.

Vivek Ramaswamy has said that the definition of success is reducing Americas support for Israel, Scott, the South Carolina senator and longshot presidential contender, said at a Hudson Institute event. And hes proposed that we surrender Taiwan to the Chinese Communist Party as long as weve relocated some factories.

Governor [Ron] DeSantis once dismissed Russias invasion of Ukraine as just some territorial dispute, he added. The last thing we need is a Joe Biden wing of the Republican Party on foreign policy.

Scotts remarks follow former Vice President Mike Pencesscathing rebuke over the weekend of voices of appeasement in the GOP, serving to widen the rift in the Republican presidential primary between the partys more isolationist and engagement-oriented wings.



American courage and American values are not in decline, Scott said, as he endorsed a whole-of-government response to supporting Israel.

Currently at issue in Scotts day job at the Capitol is continued military assistance funding for Ukraine, which a considerable number of conservative Republicans in the House have firmly opposed.

Scott leveled several attacks at progressive Democrats and Biden over the violence in the Middle East, claiming that the president has blood on his hands, and that his weakness invited the attack.

But Scotts direct criticism of his GOP rivals represents a change of tactics for the senator, who has for months generally refrained from directly criticizing his opponents. It is also a shift for a senator who has spent his Senate tenure on committees with a mostly domestic focus.

In a statement to POLITICO, Ramaswamys campaign said he would defend Taiwan and criticized the status quo One China policy, in which the U.S. recognizes the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government of China while retaining unofficial ties with Taiwan.

We understand Tim Scott is attempting to gain some semblance of relevance in this race, but lying in the face of these barbaric atrocities isnt an effective way to do so, spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said. Vivek has offered a clear, rational response that supports Israel while avoiding another U.S.-led disaster in the Middle East.



The DeSantis campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Scott has largely failed to gain traction in a race dominated by former President Donald Trump.

Since Hamas attacked Israel over the weekend, Scott has repeatedly criticized Biden for being too weak and called for unstinting American support to Israel. He has joined calls for thepresident to refreeze a $6 billion funds package that his administration greenlit in a deal involving the release of Iranian prisoners. Hemet with Michael Herzog, Israels ambassador to the U.S., shortly before his remarks.

Notably missing from his jabs were Trump  who has repeatedly mentioned that he supports withholding Ukraine aid in many circumstances  and his home-state competitor, Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who has been ticking up in recent polls.

Scott, unlike Trump, DeSantis, Ramaswamy and Haley, has yet to qualify for the third primary debate, scheduled for the beginning of November,according to POLITICO analysis. Trump has already said he will skip the event, as he did for the first two.


Jerusalem and Gaza (CNN)  Israels defense minister ordered a complete siege of Gaza on Monday, as the military said it had retaken control of Israeli communities that were stormed by Hamas gunmen over the weekend.

Yoav Gallant said on camera that Israel would halt the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel to the Palestinian enclave. I have given an order  Gaza will be under complete siege, the minister said. We are fighting barbarians and will respond accordingly.

Israeli forces are now conducting wide-scale strikes on several strategic centers in Gaza belonging to Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement Monday.

Earlier, Israeli forces fought door-to-door to regain control of all communities around Gaza. There is no ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants inside Israel, the Israeli military said.

More than 48 hours have passed since the Islamist militant group launched a surprise assault, launching thousands of rockets and sending armed fighters into Israel.

Israel on Sunday formally declared war on Hamas in response to the unprecedented attack, which has so far killed more than 700 people in Israel. At least 2,506 people have been injured, the Israeli Health Ministry said.

Israeli jets continued to bombard Gaza with deadly airstrikes Monday as the war entered its third day.

The Israeli strikes have killed at least 560 people, including dozens of children, and left 2,900 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Nine United States citizens have died in the conflict, a US National Security Council spokesperson said.

Pleas for hostages safe return

Earlier Monday, as Israeli forces battled to expel the last assailants, Hamas launched a fresh barrage of rocket attacks.

Hamas said it fired 120 rockets toward the coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon in response to Israeli airstrikes. A CNN team on the ground saw dust billowing over the sky, as rockets launched from Gaza were intercepted by the Israeli air defense system in Ashdod.

Hamas militants claimed late Sunday to be holding more than 100 hostages in Gaza, including high-ranking Israeli army officers, according to Mousa Abu Marzouk, chief deputy of Hamas political bureau.

Videos on social media showed militants capturing multiple civilians, including children, as Israeli families across the nation made anxious pleas for the safe return of their loved ones.

In addition to Israeli captives, other nationalities are also believed to have been taken hostage, including American, Mexican, Brazilian and Thai nationals  further complicating Israels response to the Hamas attack. At least nine citizens from Peru, Paraguay, Brazil and Mexico are missing, according to their respective authorities.

Massacre in Gaza

For now, airstrikes have been Israels primary retaliation measure within Gaza itself, with jets repeatedly pounding the heavily populated 140 square mile coastal strip, turning multiple buildings to rubble.

The IDF says it has been hitting Hamas, destroying around 800 targets and killing hundreds of fighters, wounding thousands and capturing scores of others, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Sunday.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said, and access to medical care has been complicated by Israel cutting power to the territory, threatening the lives of hundreds of those injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said.

Palestinian families living inside Gaza told CNN they had lost homes and loved ones as scenes emerged of entire buildings turned to rubble amid the Israeli response.

Israeli airstrikes targeted the Shati and Jabalia refugee camps in Gaza on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said, describing the assault as a massacre against the entire neighborhood.

The ministry said bodies were still being recovered after the strikes killed a large number of people. No death toll has been provided.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila urged the international community to stop the aggression against medical facilities and teams in Gaza.

The occupation deliberately targets hospitals and ambulances, killing and injuring medical personnel, she said.

At least 13 family members, including four toddlers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday, according to journalist Hassan Eslayeh and a family relative.

Sounds of battle

While it remains unclear what the full scale of the Israeli response will be, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday predicted a long and difficult war and vowed mighty vengeance on Hamas.

IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Sunday that the priority for the coming hours and days was to control the entire enclave and kill all the terrorists in our territory.

Israels declaration of war set the stage for a major military operation in Gaza, and tanks and personnel carriers could be seen on the move near the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday.

Thousands of Israeli reservists have been called up and the IDF announced that several communities close to the Gaza security fence are being evacuated.

An Israeli military official and a United States defense official said Israel is requesting precision guided bombs and additional interceptors for its Iron Dome missile system from the US, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs  a kit that turns an unguided dumb bomb into a precision smart weapon.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US would provide security assistance to Israel imminently. The US said it was also sending a Navy carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, including guided missile destroyers and guided missile cruisers.

Horror on the ground

Many Israelis have spent much of the past two days in bomb shelters and saferooms.

Throughout the bloody weekend, Hamas rockets made direct hits on multiple locations inside the country, including Tel Aviv, while armed terror groups entered Israel and infiltrated military bases, towns and farms, shooting at civilians and taking hostages.

The assault has left Israel reeling and impacted families far beyond its borders. Twelve Thai citizens, 10 Nepalis, two Ukrainians, one French and one British citizen are among those killed in Israel.

Photos released by the Israeli foreign ministry showed dozens of bodies in the aftermath of Hamas gunmens attack on a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, which emergency responders said left at least 260 dead.

The father of an Israeli woman who was reportedly taken hostage at the festival told CNN that he didnt want to believe it when he saw his daughter being hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle by Hamas assailants in a video circulating on social media.

One couldnt describe it with words. Its impossible It was a very difficult moment, Yakov Argamani said, describing the moment he saw the video of his 25-year-old daughter Noa for the first time.

Videos obtained and geolocated by CNN show at least four civilians in the kibbutz of Beeri were killed while in the custody of Hamas, just feet from where armed militants had been escorting them.

The IDF said early Monday that Beeri was very badly hit.

Regional concerns of escalation

Questions remain over how the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the countrys worst security failures.

Fighting between the two sides has surged in the past two years. The violence has been driven by frequent Israeli military raids in Palestinian towns and cities, which Israel has said are a necessary response to a rising number of attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis.

Concerns the conflict could spill out into the region were raised Sunday when Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms, using missiles and artillery. The area is considered by Lebanon as Israeli-occupied.

On Sunday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting but no action was taken afterward. The Deputy US Ambassador to the UN said not all the member nations had condemned Hamas attacks, but did not specify which. All 15 members need to vote unanimously for the UNSC to release a statement.

European Union foreign ministers are expected to meet on Tuesday to address the situation in Israel, the blocs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Monday.
Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C., speaks at the California Republican Party Convention on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. | Ashley Landis, Associated Press

Sen. Tim Scott unleashed scathing critiques of President Joe Biden , House Democrats and several of his fellow Republican presidential candidates, saying weakness on the part of American leaders led to Hamas attack on Israel.

In a speech at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday afternoon, Scott called the terrorist attacks disgusting and called for the perpetrators to feel the wrath of God.

But he also pointed blame toward Biden, slamming the president for a pattern of foolish policy choices that have undermined us and our allies.

Joe Biden has blood on his hands, Scott, R-S.C., said. His weakness invited the attack. His cash giveaways to Iran helped fund terrorism.

Related

While Republican presidential candidates have critiqued Bidens foreign policy in recent days, Scotts critique was arguably the most pointed, implying that Biden was responsible for the attack.

Scott pointed to the administrations decision to free $6 billion in blocked Iranian funds in exchange for American hostage releases. Iranian allies helped Palestinian militants plan the surprise attack on Israel for over a year, The Washington Post reported. A spokesman for Hamas later confirmed this with BBC.

White House officials rejected the claim that the U.S. funds supported the attack, noting that the money given to Iran has yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs, The Associated Press reported.

How naive can you be? Scott said. Money is fungible. We just gave a terrorist-supporting regime billions of dollars and room in their budget.

Scott called out several members of the House of Representatives, including Reps. Cori Bush, D-Mo., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., saying they should either repudiate the people who are cheering on deadly terrorism or be expelled from Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez denounced bigotry and callousness at a pro-Palestine rally at Times Square this week, saying it should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it.

Related

Scott also challenged several of his fellow Republican presidential candidates, knocking Vivek Ramaswamy for his proposals to reduce Americas support for Israel and Ron DeSantis for calling Russias invasion of Ukraine a territorial dispute.

The last thing we need is a Joe Biden wing of the Republican Party on foreign policy, Scott said.

Scott has struggled to gain a foothold in a crowded GOP primary race, sitting around 2% in national polls. Longtime Washington Post columnist George Will  whose wife, Mari Will, is an adviser to Scotts campaign  called on Scott to drop out of the race and endorse Nikki Haley on Tuesday.
A solar spectacle will cross the sky this weekend when an annular eclipse known as the "ring of fire" appears across the western hemisphere.

Known as the "ring of fire" thanks to shape of circular light created by the partial eclipse, the event is expected to occur this Saturday, Oct. 14, and travel from the coast of Oregon to the Texas Gulf Coast, according to NASA.

The distinct annular eclipse is different from a total eclipse, the next of which is expected to occur in April, and will be the last opportunity for people in the states to catch a glimpse of a ring of fire for a number of years.

Residents of nine states can hope to get a look if the weather is clear, though it is suggested that anyone staring up the sky take proper safety precautions before doing so in order to protect their eyes.

Here's what to know about when, where and how to view this unique celestial event.

October 2023 solar eclipse forecast: Will clouds ruin the view?

When is the 'ring of fire' solar eclipse?

On Saturday, Oct. 14, an annular solar eclipse known as a ring of fire will briefly dim the skies over parts of the western U.S. and Central and South America.

The solar eclipse will begin on Saturday and, weather permitting, first become visible in Oregon around 9:13 a.m. PDT and end in Texas around 12:03 p.m. CDT, according to NASA.

It will then move beyond the U.S. and over Mexico, Central America and finally South America before ending around sunset off of Natal, Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean.

Unfortunately for celestial enthusiasts in the Eastern time zone, the annular eclipse will only be visible in portions of the Pacific, Mountain and Central Zones and is the last of its kind that will be viewable in the U.S. until 2039.

Solar eclipse viewing map: 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse is coming to US in October. Here's when (and where) you can see it.

Where can you view the solar eclipse?

Only the outer ring of the sun will be visible during the height of the eclipse.

The fiery eclipse will be viewable in a handful of U.S. states, including:

Oregon

Nevada

Utah

New Mexico

Texas

California

Idaho

Colorado

Arizona

Here are some projected key times:

9:16 a.m. PDT: Eclipse should first become visible near Eugene, Oregon

9:19 a.m. PDT: Alturas, California

9:21 a.m. PDT: Battle Mountain, Nevada

10:26 a.m. MDT: Richfield, Utah

10:34 a.m. MDT: Albuquerque

11:52 a.m. CDT: San Antonio

After, it will leave the U.S. to pass over Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. It will then move over South America in Colombia before ending off the coast of Northern Brazil.

How to watch an eclipse safely: How to safely watch the solar eclipse: You'll want eclipse glasses or a viewer Saturday

What is the 'ring of fire'?

Those hoping to take a gander at the eclipse need to don proper protection first.

In general, a solar eclipse is what occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow that blocks the sun's light, says NASA.

Whereas a total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun and a partial eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and Earth do not perfectly line up and create only a partial cover, an annular eclipse is a little more distinct.

Occurring when the moon is at its furthest point from the Earth, an annular eclipse means the sun is not fully covered. Instead, the moon being farther away makes it appear smaller, so when it passes between the sun and Earth it creates the appearance of a smaller disk positioned in front of a larger one.

The smaller, dark moon juxtaposed against the bigger, bright sun creates what looks like a bright ring around the moon as the sun peaks around the edges. This visual effect is where the name "ring of fire" comes from.

Solar eclipses: A spectacular solar eclipse will darken the sky Saturday. Will the one in April be better?

Phases of the annular eclipse

There are multiple phases to an annular eclipse.

First, it begins with the partial phase when the moon begins moving across the sun. It will progressively block more of the sun's light, eventually forming a smaller crescent shape.

About an hour and 20 minutes after this, the annularity phase begins and the moon passes fully in front of the sun, creating the "ring" which lasts about one to five minutes.

The moon will then pass across the sun's face for the next hour and 20 minutes, once again creating a partial eclipse until the moon completely moves past the sun.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does the solar eclipse start Saturday and where can you see it?
Picture this: Youre commuting from work on Interstate 35W. Maybe you live in Alliance or Roanoke.

Youre eager to get home so you take the TEXpress lane. It costs up to 90 cents per mile during rush hour, but sometimes its worth it to avoid sitting in traffic after a long work day.

The lanes variable pricing  which can mean spending up to $10 for a single one-way trip  is supposed to keep traffic moving at a minimum of 50 mph. But, its 4:30 p.m. and, in a span of a quarter mile, your speed decreases from 75 mph to 35 mph at Basswood Boulevard.

Heres why.

Traveling north on I-35W, there are two TEXpress lanes and two regular lanes. However, U.S. 287 (the exit after Basswood Boulevard) has only two lanes in each direction. The off ramp from the regular I-35W lane to U.S. 287 is nearly a mile long. But the connector between the TEXpress lanes and U.S. 287 is only about three-tenths of a mile long.

As a result, traffic backs up on the on ramp, and the one mile between Basswood Boulevard and the U.S. 287 exit slows to a crawl.

Today, the congestion is an annoyance, but as development continues to boom in northwest Fort Worth, the traffic will without a doubt get much worse.

A fix is in the works, but it wont be complete until 2030  at the earliest.

Accommodating growth

U.S. 287 is the corridor to some of the fastest growing parts of Fort Worth, which is adding more people than any other city in the country. It is a main gateway to communities like Avondale and Rhome.

The Northwest school district, which includes Fort Worth, Rhome, Haslet, Roanoke and Justin, is forecast to enroll nearly 50,000 students by 2032. Only 20 years ago, the district enrolled just 6,000 students.

The projections are based on data about new housing developments, like Reunion, a 3,150-acre community from Dallas-based developer PMB Capital Investments that will feature 10,000 home sites near the intersection of Texas 114 and U.S. 287.

As leaders, we need to prepare not only for the growth thats here today, but the growth thats coming in 50 years, said Manny Ramirez, county commissioner for Precinct 4, which includes Northwest Tarrant County.

The rapid growth in this area has created what is called an incomplete supporting thoroughfare network, said Jeffrey Neal, senior project manager at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, an association of local governments created for regional planning.

When developers build housing communities, they often add capacity to roadways. But because this is done in a piecemeal fashion, the result is a roadway system with a lot of missing pieces.

Theres so much growth that the street system has few opportunities for alternatives when theres a traffic situation, said Neal.

Thats what Ramirez has been trying to target at the county level:

One way to provide relief is to make sure weve got adequate arterial roadways for our folks to travel, Ramirez said.

TxDOT plans

The corridor was constructed with the expectation of future improvements, said Neal.

Multiple organizations are responsible for maintaining the corridor.

U.S. 287 is managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. The toll lanes and the ramps are managed by private transportation company North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners LLC.

But the ramps were designed and built by TxDOT.

TxDOT provided information about relevant projects affecting this corridor, but denied the Star-Telegrams request for an interview.

TxDOT is about to embark on a $227 million project that could help the problem, but a solution to this issue is still years away.

The project will add one lane in each direction to the nearly seven-mile stretch of U.S. 287 between Interstate 35W and Avondale-Haslet Road. It will also add continuous one-way frontage roads.

The road widening is part of phase three of the project. The second phase is scheduled for bidding in 2026. TxDOT is still working on finding funding for the third phase, said an agency spokesperson.

If congestion gets really bad, NTE could provide refunds, Neal said.

Expediting the plans

The Council of Governments and Tarrant County are doing their best to abbreviate this timeline.

The Council of Governments applied for a grant that would enable TxDOT to widen U.S. 287 while it starts the project. If the council wins the grants, construction could start before the end of 2026, and the project could be completed by 2030.

Ramirez was faced with a similar question  how can I make this process faster?  in regards to Boat Club Road near Eagle Mountain Lake.

In that case, the county opted to conduct the redesign and engineering, so TxDOT could come in and complete the road. The county is doing something similar with Boat Club Road.

Ramirez said he intends to continue getting creative with infrastructure projects, like the U.S. 287 corridor.

I dont care who engineers it. I quite frankly dont care who pays for it or who builds it. All I care is that in two to five years, our citizens are driving on it, Ramirez said.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell invited the foreign ministers of Israel and Palestine, Eli Cohen and Riyad al-Maliki, to an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Oct. 10.

EUs top diplomat convened the meeting for the afternoon of Oct. 10.

Palestines Al-Maliki should speak at the meeting and present the position of the Palestinian Authority, Borrell said.

Earlier, the European diplomat announced that the EU would hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers because of the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.

Read also: Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crime for defense minister's call to impose Gaza siege

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festivalgoers.

Read also: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expected to visit Moscow

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country of Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports that three more Ukrainian citizens have been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The top official in charge of North Carolinas prison system said Monday that electronic tablets that have been distributed to prisons across the state have become a valuable and productive resource for inmates.

Speaking at a conference focused on prison reform, N.C. Secretary of Adult Correction Todd Ishee highlighted the rollout and implementation of the tablets, which provide inmates with educational courses to help them learn and develop skills they can use once outside of prison, as a success.

The tablets allow inmates to access thousands of academic, vocational and self-improvement courses as part of an initiative officials launched last year, called Hope University. Since the programs launch in April 2022, inmates have used the tablets to complete nearly 260,000 full, interactive courses, as well as more than 3.3 million learning resources like videos, audio recordings, and readings, Ishee said.

Courses are offered in more than 170 fields, according to the Department of Adult Correction, but Ishee said the most popular have been the ones that can provide people with tangible skills that could help them get jobs after prison.

At the top of the list was a training course offered by a culinary institute, and introductory courses to commercial driving, carpentry, electrical studies, legal studies, and plumbing  fields that Ishee said were less likely to care about an applicants history and were more concerned with whether they could do the job well.

Movies, messages and electronic filing

On top of the educational offerings, the tablets have movies and music that inmates can pay for. They can also use the devices to send messages to family through a prison communications portal, but that also costs money.

Ishee said the introduction of tablets in prisons was initially met with skepticism by wardens and staff, but that they came around on the program once they saw the impact it was having. And on top of learning, the tablets have also helped address another problem, which Ishee described as idleness.

People sitting around with nothing to do is a challenge, and it usually results in bad stuff, Ishee said during the day-long conference organized by NC CURE, a nonprofit that works on prison reform. What this tablet program has done is cut that idleness category down significantly.

Related to that, Ishee said, the department has directed wardens in all 54 of the states prisons to help more people obtain a high school education or vocational training. The departments goal is to triple the number of GED and HiSET, or High School Equivalency Test, exams, and vocational certificates that inmates achieve by July.

Eventually, the tablets could be used for other things too, like electronically filing a grievance.

Ishee acknowledged that grievances currently filed on paper can get misplaced, and said that Kimberly Grande, the director of the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board, was working on the program to move the filing process to an electronic one. Electronic filing could be tested as a pilot program with female inmates first, Ishee said.

Every stroke of the key you make on a computer, somebody can tell you did it, so we wont have lost or missing paperwork in our grievance procedure, Ishee said.

Ongoing high staff shortages

At the same time as officials invest in the tablets and other programs, they continue to struggle with persistently high levels of staff shortages. Ishee said the department is working to cut down its current vacancy rate of 40%, and said a new human resources team was helping to find and hire employees.

Still, he said, the large number of open positions has been an anchor that is holding the department back, and at times impacting different programs and services.

Ardis Watkins, the executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, said pay and respect for corrections staff are at the root of the staffing issue, which affects both staff and inmates.

If I dont think you hire quality personnel to have my back, Im in a real fix when something goes down, Watkins said. And if I am in a prison, because I am serving my sentence, I need you to hire quality personnel, the highest quality you can get, because Im not going to feel safe from them or from anyone else Im in this prison with, unless I feel these are folks that are really good caliber, responsible people, who care.

And if I can get a job, which by the way I can, at a fast food restaurant, not even managing it, and make more than I can going into work being responsible for the life and well-being, and we hope, rehabilitation of a fellow human being, weve got a problem, she added.
TotalEnergies used a ferry to evacuate people during the March 2021 attack by armed insurgents at its gas facility in Mozambique, but survivors and relatives of victims say the French company did not do enough to protect contractors (Alfredo Zuniga)

Seven survivors and relatives of victims of a bloody 2021 jihadist attack near a major gas field in northern Mozambique have launched legal action against France's TotalEnergies, accusing it of failing to protect its subcontractors, their lawyers said Tuesday.

Islamic State-linked militants killed dozens of people when they attacked the Mozambican port town of Palma on March 24, 2021, sending thousands of people fleeing into the surrounding forest.

The attack in Cabo Delgado province lasted several days. Some of the victims were beheaded.

The criminal complaint filed on Monday accuses TotalEnergies, which was developing a $20 billion liquefied natural gas project at Afungi near Palma, of involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist persons in danger.

Mozambique's government said around 30 people were killed in the attack but Alex Perry, an independent journalist who carried out a five-month investigation into the massacre, counted 1,402 people dead or missing, including 55 Total contractors.

- 'Danger was known' -

Seven British and South African complainants --- three survivors and four relatives of victims -- accuse TotalEnergies, which was still known as Total in 2021, of failing to take steps to ensure the safety of subcontractors before the assault.

The Al-Shabab group (no link to the Somali group of the same name) which carried out the attack had been active in Cabo Delgado province since 2017 and drawing ever closer to Palma.

"The danger was known. Several villages had already been attacked before the Palma attack, and there was a real jihadist threat," the complainants lawyer Thulliez argued.

Total is also accused of refusing to provide fuel to a South African security company that organized helicopter rescues from a besieged hotel during the attack.

The company eventually ran out of fuel, leaving people stranded inside.

Janik Armstrong, a Canadian whose husband Adrian Nel was killed in the siege, told reporters in Paris Tuesday how he held out under siege for two days at Amarula Lodge, with 150 others "waiting for a rescue by Total or the Mozambican security forces that never came."

She said that when they realised that "they had been abandoned" they tried to break out in a convoy of cars but came under fire from the gunmen, who killed her husband.

She quoted Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne declaring in February 2021 that security both of Total staff and subcontractors in Mozambique was his "highest priority" and said: "We are here today to call Total to account for those broken promises."

Britain's Mark Mawyer whose brother Philip also died in the attack, said he joined the legal action to commemorate the dead because he did not want to "let Total brush their memory under the carpet".

On its website Tuesday TotalEnergies said that "all the staff of Mozambique LNG and its contractors and subcontractors had been evacuated", mostly by boat.

The company also insisted it had supplied fuel for the rescue operation.

In July 2021, Rwanda and southern African countries deployed troops which helped Mozambique retake control of much of Cabo Delgado.

Pouyanne has indicated that he hopes to soon relaunch the Afungi project -- the fourth-largest offshore gas project in the world at the time of its discovery in 2010 -- despite low-level jihadist attacks continuing in part of Cabo Delgado.

This is the second criminal complaint against the French gas giant in days.

Last week, four environmental groups launched legal action against the group for "climaticide" over a controversial oil project in Tanzania and Uganda.

cf/cb/sjw/rl
Someone with money to burn stashed a hoard of coins in a fireplace in Scotland in the late 17th century. They never returned for it.

Now  more than 300 years later  the treasure trove has been uncovered and linked to an infamous massacre.

Lucy Ankers, an archaeology student at the University of Glasgow, stumbled upon the coins during her first-ever dig in August, according to an Oct. 9 university news release.

While examining a Glencoe hunting lodge associated with a 17th century Scottish clan chief, Ankers turned her attention to a grand fireplace.

There, beneath a stone slab in the hearth, she found a small pot sealed with a pebble for a lid. Inside were 36 coins of varying sizes and colors.

I dont think I will ever beat the feeling of seeing the coins peeking out of the dirt in the pot, Ankers said in the release.

A analysis revealed the pieces, made of silver and bronze, were minted throughout Europe  including in England, France, the Netherlands and the Papal States  during the 1500s and 1600s.

Interestingly, none of the coins were minted after the 1680s, leading archaeologists to believe they may have been connected to the 1692 Glencoe Massacre, a well-known mass killing event in the Scottish highlands.

Government soldiers loyal to the king of Scotland slaughtered 38 members of Clan MacDonald, a Glencoe community, after being welcomed into their homes, according to the National Library of Scotland.

Forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned, according to the library.

The MacDonalds were targeted for their part in a 1689 uprising, according to the release.

Its likely that one of them buried the pot of coins for safekeeping before the massacre. The fact that no one reclaimed the money indicates the person who deposited them may have been a victim of the mass killing.

This is a unexpected and extraordinary discovery both due to the range of dates of coins represented  some of which are over 100 years old when the pot is deposited, and due to the itineraries of the coins, suggesting they represent the travels of the MacDonald Chief, and his connections  through trade  in later life, Eddie Stewart, the projects excavation director, told McClatchy News.

Further analysis of the coins, as well as other artifacts discovered at the house, is underway.

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Former President Donald Trump has alleged in a London-based lawsuit that former British Intelligence Officer Christopher Steele caused him "personal and reputational damage and distress" by leaking a dossier containing distasteful and unproven accounts of ties between him and Russia during the 2016 presidential race, The New York Times reports. Trump's attorneys argue that Steele's firm, Orbis Business Intelligence, breached British data protection laws with the file, the release of which triggered a political storm just ahead of Trump's 2017 inauguration.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed last November, could fair better for Trump in Britain than in the United States, where a Florida federal judge last year dismissed his lawsuit claiming that Steele, as well as Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, was part of a plot to circulate false information about Trump's relationship to Russia. In a September court filing, lawyers for Trump said he was compelled to explain to his family, friends, and colleagues that the embarrassing allegations about his private life were untrue. This was extremely distressing for the former president, the filing continued, adding that Steele had leveled the claims in a "sensationalist manner" that was calculated to cause tremendous embarrassment to Trump. The former president seeks unspecified compensation.

The High Court judge presiding over the suit scheduled a two-day hearing for Oct. 16 and 17, during which attorneys for Steele will move to have the case thrown out. In a witness statement, Steele accused the former president of making "numerous public attacks" upon him and his firm, adding that Trump had launched "frivolous and abusive legal proceedings" against him and Orbis in the United States, a statement that mirrors the Florida judge's ruling.
The Defense Department has been ordered to pay $1.8 million in legal fees as settlement for two lawsuits that challenged its requirement that all U.S. troops be vaccinated against COVID-19.

A Florida U.S. District Court judge awarded the money last week to the firm representing the plaintiffs, Liberty Counsel. The cases, one involving several Navy SEALs, were filed by a total of 48 service members -- the majority of whom were officers -- representing all branches of the armed forces and components.

The Navy SEALs' lawsuit was first filed in 2021, alleging that the military services and the Defense Department had violated their right to religious freedom for "categorically denying" their request for religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine.

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In the case, a district court judge quashed the Navy's ability to punish the sailors for refusing the vaccine order, a ruling upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that was later rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Congress passed a law in December requiring the DoD to drop the vaccine mandate, but the lawsuits continued. The settlement, agreed to last week, was a win for the "federal right to a religious exemption" as well as a defeat to the vaccine mandate, according to Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel.

"For two years, Liberty Counsel has been defending the brave men and women of the U.S. military against Joe Biden's unlawful COVID shot mandates," Staver said in a statement on the firm's website.

The settlement funds will go only to Liberty Counsel to cover attorneys fees and costs associated with the lawsuit. The plaintiffs will not receive any of the compensation.

The plaintiffs cited religious reasons for refusing the vaccine, objecting to the new technology used to make and test it, which involved the use of cell lines from fetuses aborted in the 1970s and 1980s. The vaccines themselves contain no aborted fetal tissue, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

A settlement is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing by either party. The judges ruling was first reported by Military Times.

Roughly 17,000 service members refused the vaccine and more than 8,400 were discharged for their decision, including 3,717 Marines, 2,041 Navy sailors, 1,841 Army soldiers, and 834 Air Force and Space Force members.

More than 1,000 service members received religious exemptions before the mandate was dropped.

From the time the COVID-19 vaccines received emergency authorization for use in the U.S., the Defense Department has vaccinated more than 2 million service members and nearly 350,000 DoD civilian employees.

Through last December, the Pentagon recorded 740,942 cases of COVID-19 among troops, family members, DoD employees and contractors, and 690 deaths, including 96 service members.

The Pentagon did not provide a comment on the settlement by publication.

U.S. service members kicked out for refusing the vaccine were largely separated under a general discharge, meaning they have access to health care and disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs but are not eligible for education benefits.

Service members who were discharged can apply for an upgrade and also are eligible to rejoin the service. According to a report by CNN, just 43 service members dismissed over the mandate have returned to military duty.

 Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com.

Related: The Military Faces of COVID-19: 5 Stories of Lives the Community Lost to the Virus
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Arizona Republican Kari Lake , a far-right ally of Donald Trump , on Tuesday is expected to announce her candidacy for her party's U.S. Senate nomination, in what could be a highly competitive three-way general election race in November 2024.

Arizona is already one of the most politically competitive U.S. states but its Senate race became all the more so after Senator Kyrsten Sinema in December dropped her Democratic affiliation and declared herself an independent.

Sinema has not yet said if she will seek reelection but Democratic U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego , a liberal and former Marine with Iraq war combat experience, is making a bid for the Democratic nomination for that seat.

Arizona is one of eight competitive seats Democrats will be defending in 2024 as they try to protect their narrow 51-49 Senate majority. Lake plans to announce her candidacy at a 6:30 p.m. MT Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday) event in Scottsdale.

Lake, a former television news anchor at a Fox network station in Phoenix, ran in 2022 for governor, narrowly losing to Democrat Katie Hobbs. The Republican still has not conceded defeat, following former President Trump's practice of claiming falsely that his 2020 presidential election loss was the result of widespread fraud.

Lake is closely aligned with Trump, who so far leads the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. In the past she has glowingly referred to him as "Superman."

Arizona shares around 370 miles (600 km) of its border with Mexico and immigration is sure to be one of the main topics in the Senate race. Some establishment Republicans have fretted that if she wins the nomination, her fiery, hard-right, election-denier stances might not sit well with some of the state's voters.

"There is an invasion at the Arizona border RIGHT NOW. Kyrsten Sinema and Ruben Gallego repeatedly voted AGAINST funding the border wall. They have rubber-stamped this open borders agenda. Arizonans are sick of it," Lake said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.

Lake joins a handful of Republican aspirants, including Mark Lamb, a sheriff in Pinal County, which is located between Phoenix and Tucson, and businessman Brian Wright.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Grant McCool)
(CNN)  Gaza militants who attacked an all-night music festival in southern Israel shot and killed revelers at point-blank range, then looted their belongings, new car dashcam video verified by CNN reveals.

The video began circulating on social media on Sunday and  alongside footage of harrowing kidnappings from the same event  has been scrutinized by horrified families desperate for news of loved ones missing since a series of coordinated attacks triggered Israels declaration of war on Sunday.

Israeli officials counted at least 260 bodies near the site of the Nova festival, outside Reim, where earlier footage showed carefree partygoers from Israel and overseas dancing in the desert soon after sunrise on Saturday.

Some survivors are among more than 100 hostages that the militant group Hamas claims to be holding in Gaza, according to friends and family members who have seen them in videos shared on social platforms.

The dashcam video verified by CNN gives a glimpse of the terror as militants took over the festival, preventing some partygoers from leaving with deadly force.

The first clip, begins at 9:23 a.m. according to its timecode, just under three hours after the first explosions were reported at the Nova festival.

The video has no audio, but a militant is seen yelling, then pointing his machine gun at a man taking cover next to the car. Its unclear if the gunman is firing a warning shot, or if hes just shot and injured the civilian, who is then seen being led away. His fate is unknown.

A second individual is seen in the video lying on the ground at the back of another car. The person begins to move and suddenly another militant appears on screen, aims at the person, fires and walks away. The person on the ground stops moving.

Another video from the dashcam, timestamped at 12:09 p.m., shows two militants approach the body of the second individual. They rifle through the persons pockets, and one picks something off the body and puts it into his own back pocket.

Less than three minutes later, militants grab a woman out of the back of the car. She is led away, and the militants begin to open another cars trunk and empty a suitcase on the ground to be pilfered.

The video picks up at 12:14 p.m., with the captured woman running back into view. Her hands in the air, she appears to be waving toward the festival grounds.

Dirt and dust are seen flying as bullets hit the ground around her. Next to the emptied suitcase and open trunk, she takes cover again. Her fate is unknown.

Killed on the phone with his parents

The parents of Alexandre Look, a 33-year-old Canadian, told CNN news partner CBC they were on the phone with him as he tried to escape the gunfire. Look and others sought shelter in a bunker without a door during the militant attack, his parents said.

And then I heard him tell his friends, Theyre coming back. Theres a lot of them. And then all I heard was a lot of gunshots, lots of rounds and then we heard nothing, Looks mother, Raquel Ohnona Look, told CBC.

Looks parents said he died trying to shield others from the gunfire.

Like a true warrior, he left as a hero wanting to protect the people he was with. Alex was a force of nature, endowed with a unique charisma and unparalleled generosity, his father, Alain Haim Look, posted on Facebook on Saturday. The world will never be the same without you. Goodbye my son, I love you and watch over us from above.

Francois Legault, premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, sent his condolences to the family on Monday.

My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Quebecer Alexandre Look who lost his life in one of the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, Legault posted on X, formerly Twitter. I am saddened by the dramatic circumstances of his death.

Families search for missing children

Ricarda Louk last saw her daughter Shani lying face down in the back of a pickup truck heading to the Gaza Strip, an isolated coastal enclave of almost 2 million people crammed into 140 square miles.

She last spoke to her after hearing rockets and alarms sounding in southern Israel, and phoned her daughter to see if shed made it to a secure location. Shani told her mother she was at the festival, held in an open field with few places to hide.

Aerial footage posted on social media showed dozens of cars along the side of the road near the entrance to the festival grounds, some burned, others with windows missing and doors hanging open.

Shani was trying to reach one of those vehicles, her mother said.

She was going to her car and they had military people standing by the cars and were shooting so people couldnt reach their cars, even to go away. And thats when they took her, Ricarda told CNN.

The disturbing video of her daughter in the back of the pickup truck and attempts by someone to use Shanis credit card twice in Gaza after the attack are the only hints she has of her daughters whereabouts.

In the video, she is seen motionless. One gunman, carrying a rocket propelled grenade launcher, has his leg draped over her waist and the other holds a clump of her dreadlocks. Allahu Akbar, they cheer  meaning God is great in Arabic.

Ricarda hopes she will see her daughter again, but the situation is bleak.

It looks very bad, but I still have hope. I hope that they dont take bodies for negotiations. I hope that shes still alive somewhere. We dont have anything else to hope for, so I try to believe, she said.

Hiding for hours, then 

Like Ricarda Louk, Yakov Argamani last saw his daughter on one of the cellphone videos that have emerged in the aftermath of Saturdays raid.

Noa Argamani, 25, is seen pleading for help from the back of a motorcycle driven by Hamas militants at the festival site.

Her tearful father struggled to find words to convey his shock and grief on seeing the video: I couldnt believe it  I didnt want to believe it, Yakov told CNN.

Noa was attending the festival with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, who is also seen being led away by militants.

Noas childhood friend Shlomit Marciano, who was helping comfort her family when they spoke to CNN, said the text messages they received suggest their friends were hiding for hours as militants rampaged through the festival site.

Or texted Noas father around 10 a.m. to say the couple were safe, almost four hours after the first reports of an attack. Other friends also texted, begging for help, Marciano said.

Since that, no contact. We suppose they were abducted at 12. They probably were hiding for three, four hours begging for help. They started hiding after hearing the massacres and the shooting. And then (the militants) found them, Marciano said.

Now Yakov is relying on his faith, Marciano said.

He believes in God. Hes praying that shes okay. And she will come back to him, to the family and to us safely. Shes their only child.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Israel festival revelers shot at point-blank range, video shows"
Former President Trump attacked President Biden on Tuesday after Biden sat for an interview with the special counsel looking into his handling of classified documents as vice president, with Trump claiming that unlike his successor, he did nothing wrong, despite the ongoing criminal case against him.

I see that Crooked Joe Biden is working on his documents situation. He moved documents, many classified, all over the place, for years, including to CHINATOWN, Trump wrote Tuesday in a Truth Social post.

He even took documents as a Senator, an absolute no, no! Trump wrote, while asserting: I come under the Presidential Records Act, he doesnt  A big difference!!! I did nothing wrong, he did, and so did many others!

The White House confirmed that Biden met Sunday and Monday with Robert Hur, the special counsel appointed earlier this year to oversee the probe into classified documents found at Bidens home in Wilmington, Del., and a University of Pennsylvania office in Washington, D.C., that he used after the Obama administration.

Biden has maintained he did nothing wrong, while his team has emphasized his lawyers notified and cooperated with the Justice Department after discovering the documents.

The president said in August there was no request for an interview by the special counsel, though this weeks interview suggests the investigation may soon be reaching a conclusion.

The New York Times first reported on Bidens interview with Hur.

Trumps attack against Biden comes as he seeks to defend himself amid his own criminal case over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

A grand jury charged Trump in June following a federal probe, after around 300 records with classified markings were found during an FBI raid last year at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.

The Justice Department has accused Trump of violating the Espionage Act and obstructing justice by taking classified records from his administration and refusing to return them.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained he did nothing wrong. The former president claims he abided by the Presidential Records Act, which requires presidents, their immediate staff or those who provide aid to the president to retain official documents and turn them over to the National Archives for preservation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump rips Hurd after former congressman pulls out of White House race: Its about time!

Former President Trump criticized former Texas Rep. Will Hurd (R) after Hurd announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, saying its about time.

Its about time! Will Hurd, the failed former Congressman from the great State of Texas, who decided not to run for Congress again because he did an ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE JOB (ZERO Personality!), and couldnt win, has just now decided to drop out of the 2024 Presidential Campaign where he, likewise, drew flies! Trump wrote late Monday on Truth Social.

Hurd threw his support behind former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, arguing the Republican Party needed to consolidate around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden.

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The former lawmaker was notably missing from the stage for the first two GOP debates, unable to meet the Republican National Committees (RNC) criteria to participate. He has also largely trailed the other Republicans in polling.

On Monday, he made the decision to withdraw from the GOP primary race.

Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign, Hurd wrote in a lengthy post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Trump mocked the Texas Republican for supporting Haley.

He is a nasty and jealous guy, who truly doesnt have what it takes, he wrote.  Luckily for him, he couldnt make the Debate Stage, but went out with a bang  He endorsed Birdbrain! Trump said, referencing the nickname he gave to the former South Carolina governor after the second GOP debate.

Haley, however, thanked Hurd for his endorsement online.

America is at a crossroads and its time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president, she said. Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump lashed out at Forbes on Monday after the magazine cut him from its list of the wealthiest 400 people in America last week. On his Truth Social platform, the former president complained that the magazine had taken me off their Fake Forbes 400 list just by a whisker, even though they know that I should be high up on that now very dated and discredited antique, and accused the company of being owned by China and its Sovereign wealth Fund! Removed from The Forbes 400, Trump responds as he always hasby lying about his net worth and saying he should be higher on the list, Forbes said in response, noting it had taken extraordinary care in valuing his fortune and saying its ownership does not, in fact, include Chinas wealth fund. Undeterred, Trump later posted on Truth Social to call Forbes a China Propaganda machine, EXPOSED.

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A participant of a Women's March in Helsinki holds up a poster depicting US President Donald Trump and German dictator Adolf Hitler on January 21, 2017, one day after the US president's inauguration (Jussi Nukari)

Donald Trump's populist, politically incorrect language is often framed as an asset but a troubling escalation in his incendiary rhetoric is prompting fears over the potential for violence among his inflamed supporters.

In recent days, the irascible former US president and 2024 candidate has implied that the country's top military officer should be executed and joked about the elderly husband of a political foe being attacked in a home invasion.

Critics say he hit a new low last week with comments about illegal immigrants so extreme that the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, saw echoes of Nazi rhetoric.

"Nobody has any idea where these people are coming from, and we know they come from prisons, we know they come from mental institutions, insane asylums, we know they're terrorists," Trump told conservative news site The National Pulse.

"Nobody has ever seen anything like we're witnessing right now. It is a very sad thing for our country. It's poisoning the blood of our country."

The ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt told MSNBC television that Trump appeared to have been fed the line by someone familiar with Hitler's infamous complaint of Jews "causing a blood poisoning of Germany."

- Gag order -

Trump's exhortations to violence are nothing new -- he suggested that protesters should be "roughed up" at a rally in 2016 and that looters should be shot during the 2020 racial protests over the police murder of George Floyd.

His months-long campaign of lies claiming that he had been cheated in his 2020 election loss culminated in addressing an angry crowd in Wasington on January 6, 2021, which then went and attacked the US Capitol.

Many participants in the ransacking of the seat of US democracy later told investigators that they considered that they were acting on Trump's orders.

Trump's inflammatory remarks used to shock America, generating days of coverage. His language no longer raises the stir it once did in a fatigued political and media establishment watching him cruise to the Republican nomination as the 2024 presidential election candidate.

Yet recent comments -- particularly his mocking of a hammer attack on the 83-year-old husband of Democratic former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as a call for shoplifters to be shot on sight -- has provoked outrage.

Last week the judge in Trump's civil fraud trial in New York imposed a gag order after the Republican smeared a court clerk on social media and posted a link to her Instagram account.

Trump has also repeatedly described the attorneys leading the multiple civil and criminal cases he faces as "monster," "deranged" and "psycho." African American legal officials, he says, have been "racist."

- 'Racist, hateful, despicable' -

The 77-year-old is often accused by opponents of "stochastic terrorism" -- an academic term meaning the public demonization of perceived adversaries to incite statistically probable but individually unpredictable acts of violence.

Many of Trump's targets in Congress and the government -- from Republican Senator Mitt Romney to recently retired top government scientist Anthony Fauci -- have disclosed having to take on private security after threats from the presidential candidate's supporters.

Greenblatt blamed the Republican tycoon's "racist, hateful, despicable" rhetoric about immigration in part for the massacres of Latinos and Jews in El Paso and Pittsburgh in 2018 and 2019 that left 34 people dead.

"Violent rhetoric leads to violent actions. And so this isn't (just) dangerous, it's explosive," he told MSNBC. "It's like lighting a fuse and just waiting for the bomb to go off."

Trump's comments about immigration "recall the worst racism of 1930s Germany," added Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at US-based Jewish and pro-Israel advocacy group The Lawfare Project.

"It is troubling that Donald Trump at times appears to use inflammatory rhetoric that injects a measure of divisive ethnonationalism into what would otherwise be straightforward discussions of policy," Filitti told AFP.

"Language like 'poisoning the blood of our country' is cringeworthy at best, and at worst sows doubt among voters as to what Trump's true beliefs are."

ft/sms
Hughes Van Ellis, one of the last remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, died on Monday at the age 102, Oklahoma State Rep. Regina Goodwin confirmed to CBS News. Van Ellis, known as "Uncle Redd," survived the 1921 racist act of terrorism on the city's thriving Black community in the Greenwood District, which was known as "Black Wall Street."

After a Black man was accused of assaulting a White woman, a 24-hour massacre ensued, with the White mob attacking Black people in the neighborhood. Between 75 and 300 Black people were killed, historians estimate.

White rioters looted businesses and burned buildings. The National Guard was brought in and helped imprison Black people. More than 35 blocks were charred and 6,000 people were held  some for up to eight days, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Musuem.

Van Ellis, a World War II veteran, was one of the last three living survivors of the massacre.

"Two days ago, Mr. Ellis urged us to keep fighting for justice," Goodwin said in a statement. "In the midst of his death, there remains an undying sense of right and wrong. Mr. Ellis was assured we would remain steadfast and we repeated to him, his own words, 'We Are One' and we lastly expressed our love."

Hughes Van Ellis, who died on Oct. 9, 2023 at 102 years old, was a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre and a WWII veteran. / Credit: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The two other remaining survivors  Van Ellis' sister, Viola Ford Fletcher, 109, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108  sat down for an interview with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King in 2021, reflecting on that harrowing day, 100 years later.

"We had friends and played outside and visited with neighbors and were happy there with our parents," Fletcher said when asked to describe Greenwood. "We just loved being there."

"It was getting to be a pretty nice place" before the riots began, Randle told King. "They had a theater and other places of recreation and they had churches  and they came in and tore it all down."

White mobs infiltrated the neighborhood, destroying more than 1,000 homes and nearly every business  symbols of prosperity, ripped away.

"There was a notice out on the street: 'Leave town. Leave town, they're killing all of the Black people,'" Fletcher said.

"Men came in and started shooting," Randle said. "I do remember many people being murdered."

Fletcher said she thinks about the massacre every day. "It will be something I'll never forget," she told CBS News.

Viola Fletcher and her brother Hughes Van Ellis listen during a news conference announcing a trip to Ghana for the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. They were two of the three remaining survivors of the massacre. Van Ellis died at age 102 on Oct. 9, 2023. / Credit: Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP

In 2022, all three remaining survivors, who were children during the tragedy, appeared at a court hearing about reparations for those affected by the massacre. Survivors and their families filed a lawsuit to hold the city accountable for the massacre, arguing "the defendants' exploitation of death, destruction and disparities they created ... have resulted in their unjust enrichment at the expense of these communities."

A lower court dismissed the case this summer but in August, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled it will consider the reparations case, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, investigators said they were closer to identifying more victims of the riot after exhuming seven bodies from graves that matched descriptions of massacre victim burials in newspapers and other records from that time. The bodies, found in simple, wooden boxes, are being tested for DNA to see if they have a connection to massacre victims.

This was the third excavation in an effort to identify victims. People who believe they are descendants of victims have provided DNA samples to try and help investigators identify victims.

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Hughes Uncle Redd Van Ellis, one of the last three known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died, according a family statement. He was 102.

Ellis died Monday night in Denver, Colorado, according to a family statement shared by Oklahoma Rep. Regina Goodwin.

He died waiting on justice, his grandnephew, Ike Howard, told CNN.

Ellis was just a few months old when he and his older sister, Viola Fletcher, fled Tulsas Greenwood District with their family as a violent White mob tore through the thriving Black community, ultimately killing hundreds of residents and reducing rows of homes and businesses to ash.

Like a myriad of other Black families, Ellis and his loved ones were forced to leave behind not only their home but a lifetime of opportunities, he told CNN earlier this year.

I lost 102 years. I dont want nobody else to lose that, he said.

One of the countrys deadliest acts of racial violence, the massacre was inflicted by a White mob that descended on the area known as Black Wall Street and committed arson, shootings and aerial bombings from private planes. As many as 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 homes are estimated to have been destroyed, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.

Hughes Van Ellis after a soil dedication ceremony for victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 31, 2021. - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Ellis, his 109-year old sister, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108, were the last three known survivors of the massacre. The trio have been locked in a yearslong legal battle with the City of Tulsa and other city officials in an effort to secure reparations for the destruction committed more than a century ago.

In July, an Oklahoma judge dismissed the survivors lawsuit against the city and their attorneys have since appealed the decision. The state Supreme Court has said it would consider the appeal, but it is unclear when the Court will hear the case.

Though the city has argued it should not be liable for historical damages, the siblings told CNN in June that the event has haunted them since childhood.

Its been a long time ago, but it is something you cant forget, Fletcher said. You think about it every day and every night.

On the night of the massacre, the siblings family frantically rushed to escape as the smoke of burning buildings choked the night air and airplanes flew overhead, Fletcher has recalled. As they sped through the city in a horse-drawn wagon, they passed others who were running or lay dead or injured on the ground, she told CNN in 2021.

Two days ago, Mr. Ellis, urged us to keep fighting for justice, the family said in its statement.

In the midst of his death, there remains an undying sense of right and wrong. Mr. Ellis was assured we would remain steadfast and we repeated to him, his own words, We Are One and we lastly expressed our love, the family added.

Ellis was a loving family man and a World War II veteran, the statement said.

We celebrate the rare life of Mr. Hughes Van Ellis who inspires us still! the family said.

CNNs Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.

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ANKARA  Turkeys leading drone maker, Baykar, will invest $100 million for three projects in Ukraine, including a production units for its Bayraktar TB2 attack drone, the companys top executive said.

In remarks quoted by Ukrinform news agency, company CEO Haluk Bayraktar told Defence Industries Forum in Kyiv earlier this month that the footprint will include a production facility, a service center and a head office. The construction has already begun, he said. It will take about a year and a half to complete. We plan to employ at least 300 people here. Cooperation continues.

A Baykar official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is no authorized to speak to the media, said top executives view Ukraine as a long-term, strategic partner rather than just a market.

He said that building a production unit would absorb much of the planned investment, with plans including an assembly line, composites and a planned engine unit.

In Kyiv, Bayraktar said that the envisioned investment would be self-sufficient, eco-friendly and mutually beneficial since Ukraine has unique technologies for producing engines that power Turkish drones.

We also face some challenges. These are the supply chain, the search and development of human capital through the impact of war and the regulatory environment, especially the rules that will support these investments, he said.

Baykar started by acquiring land for the production unit in Ukraine. It won permission from the Ukrainian government to produce its TB2 and Akinci drones in the country in June. A month later, the company started constructing the plant.

But in August, Russian missiles struck the facilities of Ukrainian aircraft and engine manufacturer Motor Sich, a company deemed of strategic importance to Turkeys local industry. Motor Sich had been taken over by the Ukrainian government in November 2022 as part of Kyivs war effort. The region housing the companys headquarters, Zaporizhzhia, is partly occupied by Russian forces.

Motor Sich has strategic ties with the Turkish aerospace industry. The company and its affiliate Ivchenko Progress have been providing the AI-450 engines for Turkeys most prominent armed drone, the Akinci, and their AI-25TLT for the Kizilelma, an unmanned fighter jet in the making and Anka-3, another combat drone. The Akinci and Kizilelma are built by privately-owned Baykar while the Anka-3 is produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Motor Sich engines also power TAIs ATAK II, a heavyweight attack helicopter. Talks were underway for a Motor Sich engine to power the T925, TAIs utility helicopter.

A presidential aide in Ankara ruled out a Russian attack on Baykars Ukraine production unit, without elaborating why such a strike is deemed unlikely.
A Turlock Unified School District bus driver hit a woman Monday as she was in a crosswalk and the driver was attempting to make a left turn, according to the CHPs preliminary investigation of the 11:27 a.m. accident.

A Turlock police spokeswoman said the woman was alert and conscious when police officers arrived. CHP Officer Tom Olsen said the woman was taken by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.

Olsen said no one else was injured.

The accident happened at the T-intersection of North Olive Avenue and North Avenue. Olsen said the driver was eastbound in a 2005 Thomas school bus on North Avenue and attempted to make a left turn with a green light onto North Olive as the woman was in the crosswalk.

Olsen said about 40 students were on the bus. They were from Crowell Elementary School.

Olsen said the woman was in the crosswalk in a lawful manner and the bus driver had to yield to her until it was safe to proceed.

Our preliminary investigation (indicates) he failed to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk and the left front of the bus struck the pedestrian at a low rate of speed, Olson said, adding the impact knocked the woman to the ground.

He identified the bus driver as Edwin Bettencourt, 62, of Hilmar and the woman as Aubelia Rivera-Zamora, 62, of Salem, Ore. A DMC spokeswoman did not respond to an email requesting an update on the womans condition.

Turlock Unified School District spokeswoman Marie Russell said in a statement that the bus was taking Crowell students and staff to California State University, Stanislaus, for a study trip.

All students and staff on board the bus returned back to Crowell, according to the statement. Parents of (children on) the bus involved in this incident were contacted via ParentSquare. Site administration will be following up with any students or staff expressing concerns. Counselors are also available on site for anyone needing support.

Russell said in an email that the school bus driver has been with TUSD for nearly eight years and has been a licensed school bus driver for 11 years.

The driver has been removed from driving duties pending the outcome of this investigation and post-accident drug and alcohol testing, Russell said. Safety is of paramount importance in TUSD, and the District will review our training and safety protocols in the hopes of preventing future accidents such as this.

Olsen said the CHP investigates all school bus accidents regardless of the jurisdiction if there are any injuries or students on the bus. He said Bettencourt was not cited, adding that could come at the conclusion of the investigation and based on the officers discretion.

Olsen said it typically takes a week to complete these investigations.

He said two students reported hitting their heads against the cushion in the back of the seat in front of them when the driver braked. He said they were checked at the scene and returned to school with their classmates.
As the world learned over the weekend of Hamas surprise military incursion and hostage-taking in southern Israel and Israels subsequent airstrikes in Gaza, millions flocked to X for news.

But the site, formerly known as Twitter, has become a massiveengine for false, fake and manipulated information, clouding the reality of events on the ground. In many cases, X users appeared to be following economic and political incentives to muddy the waters. And Musks overhaul of the site, several experts observed, could be fueling the widespread misinformation.

Unlike in years past, nearly any X user can now pay for a blue checkmark, which previously indicated someone was a journalist or notable public figure and that Twitter had verified their identity.

X users can now also monetize their content  they can receive a portion of the revenue for ads displayed on their content, in addition to tips and subscription revenue  providing an economic incentive for amplifying emotionally charged material, even if its fake or misleading.

People who have paid for blue checks have a financial incentive to LARP [live action role-play] as war reporters by dredging up old stories or fake footage, Emerson T. Brooking, a researcher at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensics Research Lab, wrote.  Elon Musk enables this.

Examples of that sort of content have been overwhelming in recent days.

One fake document, which became widespread on X, falsely stated that President Joe Biden had approved $8 billion in emergency aid for Israel. Though some posts showing the fake document included Community Notes from X users clarifying that it was fake, many more did not, NBC News reported, noting that a group of verified accounts eligible for monetization were among the early disseminators of the fake document. While Community Notes were appended to some other false and misleading posts elsewhere on X, theyre often attached well after a given post has gone viral.

Another post, now with 3.9 million views according to Xs metrics, falsely claimed that Hamas has bragged of purchasing U.S.-funded weapons from Ukraine for the attack, according to the fact-checking website Lead Stories.

A video post shared by top right-wing influencers  including Charlie Kirk and Ian Miles Cheong  claimed to depict Hamas militants going door-to-door killing Israelis. It actually showed Israeli police assembling outside of a single house at an unspecified time. Though some users have removed the post, others reposted the clip  and plagiarized the false commentary  well after it had been identified as misleading.

One video, claiming to show Israeli helicopters being shot out of the sky by Hamas, actually showed a video game. Another, purportedly showing Israeli generals taken into custody by Hamas, was actually old footage showing Azerbaijani forces arresting Karabakh separatist leaders, the BBC reported.

Ive been fact-checking on Twitter for years, and theres always plenty of misinformation during major events. But the deluge of false posts in the last two days, many boosted via Twitter Blue, is something else, commented Shayan Sardarizadeh, a BBC journalist covering disinformation whos done yeomans work recording lengthytallies of dozens of misleading posts on the platform in recent days. Neither fact-checkers nor Community Notes can keep up with this.

X responded to HuffPosts request for comment Wednesday morning with a single automated sentence: Busy now, please check back later. But the company said in a post Monday night that it was enrolling new accounts to participate in the Community Notes program and that Community Notes typically appear within minutes of content posting. Avi Asher-Schapiro, a Thomson Reuters Foundation journalist, noted the statement included no comment on the proliferation of verified (paid) accounts spreading fabricated & fake images/information.

Scores more misleading posts featured real footage but falsely claimed that it depicted the past two days events in Israel and Gaza when it showed years-old developments in other countries, including Syria and Algeria. NBC News reported that accounts spreading misleading and recycled videos were largely conservative Twitter Blue, now known as X Premium, users who had previously spoken about participating in Xs monetization program.

Even Musk himself took part, recommending to X users that they follow two accounts for war coverage that, actually, were notorious sources of bad information  including the A.I.-fueled lie last May that there had been an explosion at the Pentagon, The Washington Post noted. After X users flagged severalanti-Semitic posts by one of the accounts, @WarMonitor, Musk deleted his recommendation.

The other account Musk recommended, @sentdefender, posted in July about making money on the platform just as monetization payments began to hit users bank accounts.

Thank You to all of my Followers and to the People over @TwitterCreators for making this possible, I never expected to ever make much money off of this App because I primarily do it as a Hobby but this could honestly change so much about what I do on here, the account wrote.

At the time, @sentdefender had justover 400,000 followers on the platform. After Musks promotion, it was at nearly 780,000 on Tuesday.

The monetization changes are hardly the only explanation for the high rate of false claims on X recently: Musk punctuated his takeover of Twitter with historic layoffs, dismissing staff whod worked on countering disinformation and hateful content. He also bought (or rather, was essentially forced to buy) the company with the explicit pledge to loosen Twitters content moderation rules. Finally, Musk broke promises to manually authenticate blue-checkmark, or Twitter Blue, accounts.

Emma Steiner, the information accountability project manager at Common Cause, told HuffPost that Musks monetization program, combined with his new system for receiving verified badges, had encouraged misleading information.

The new verification system means that its almost impossible to discern real news from fake news on the platform now, especially since people are posting specifically to gain revenue for engagement, Steiner said. That creates some really perverse incentives for breaking news events.

If a false post generates views  and therefore money  deleting it may be responsible, but its also financially irrational.

For example, an account identified as Sulaiman Ahmed claimed in one tweet that Israeli forces had bombed the Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza. Even though the church quickly corrected the rumor  and even after Ahmed acknowledged he was mistaken  Ahmed kept his initial post up rather than deleting it. At press time, it had garnered more than 3 million views according to Xs metrics. HuffPost was unable to reach Ahmed for comment, though he has acknowledgedparticipating in the monetization program in the past.

Eliot Higgins, founder of the investigative outlet Bellingcat, said Tuesday that the church misinformation was indicative of a broader issue under Musks tenure.

Last night, we saw a totally false claim about Israel bombing a church in Gaza go viral, thanks to multiple blue tick accounts repeating an unverified claim that had no evidence to back it up, Higgins said. Musk has created a fundamental issue with Twitters credibility in moments of crisis.

Nonetheless, Ahmed  who also runs a YouTube account mostly dedicated to Andrew Tate news  wasnt finished, posting a video later Monday night of what he claimed showed ISRAEL ATTEMPTING TO CREATE FAKE FOOTAGE OF DEATHS. In fact, hed posted old footage of a film set. That post, too, is still on X, having racked up 1.5 million views, the bulk of which, as with the church video, came after it was revealed to be misleading.

THEIR ARE CLAIMS THIS IS FROM A MOVIE SET, Ahmed followed up. Even if it is, the general propaganda is real.

Related...
A day after identifying two juvenile suspects accused of vandalizing a local church, police have now filed several charges against them.

A 12-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were both charged with breaking and entering a building in the daytime (felony), destruction of property over $1,200, larceny from a building, and burning of a building.

The duo is suspected of setting a fire near the alter and damaging a Bible and alter cloth at St. John Evangelist Church last Friday afternoon.

East Bridgewater Police say they were able to identify the suspects using witness reports and surveillance video of the incident.

Both juveniles will be arraigned in Brockton District Juvenile Court at a later date.

The incident remains under investigation by the East Bridgewater Police and Fire Departments, with assistance from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshals Office.

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(CNN)  Environmental lawyer and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday his independent candidacy for US president, officially ending his effort to defeat US President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary in favor of a long-shot general election bid.

Im here to declare myself an independent candidate for president of the United States, Kennedy said in remarks in Philadelphia.

Kennedys announcement comes after several weeks of speculation about his future in the 2024 field. CNN previously reported Kennedy met with the chair of the Libertarian Party earlier this year to discuss their common beliefs. And last week, a super PAC supporting Kennedys presidential campaign released the results of a poll they conducted testing Kennedys strength in a hypothetical three-way race between Biden and former US President Donald Trump.

The campaign will host a series of events in Texas, Florida and Georgia later this month, a campaign official told CNN, pledging to travel everywhere in the lead-up to next years US general election. The official said the campaign is confident theyll gain ballot access in every state ahead of November 2024.

Independent and third-party candidates have struggled in the past to garner substantial support in presidential elections. In 1992, Texas businessman Ross Perot mounted one of the most successful independent presidential candidacies in recent history, which ended with him receiving 8% of the vote in the general election that was ultimately won by Bill Clinton.

On Monday, Kennedy acknowledged the unsuccessful history of independent presidential campaigns but said hes optimistic about his chances.

Today, we turn a new page in American politics. There have been independent candidates in this country before, but this time its going to be different. Because this time, the independent is gonna win, he said.

Mark Gorton, co-founder of American Values 2024, the super PAC supporting Kennedys campaign, said the candidate will need to prove viability to voters by consistently increasing his support in the polls in order to have a realistic chance of winning the election. He feels theyve got a shot to pull off a historic upset.

I think its very important that Bobby a year from now be polling at the very least in the mid-to-high 30s in order to be seen as viable as anyone, Gorton told CNN. We need to be getting 1%, 1.5% of the electorate each month, but thats a doable task.

Kennedys campaign as an independent could further complicate a general election race thats already expected to be closely contested. A Reuters/Ipsos poll of a hypothetical three-way race between Biden, Trump and Kennedy conducted last week among likely voters found 14% of voters supported Kennedy, with 40% supporting Trump and 38% supporting Biden. With over a year until the general election, its unclear whether the Kennedy campaign can translate that level of support into votes in November 2024. Kennedy said he hopes to win the election by pulling in both Biden and Trump supporters.

They say my impact is only going to draw votes from the other candidates. The Democrats are frightened that Im gonna spoil the election for President Biden, and the Republicans are frightened that Im gonna spoil it for President Trump, he said. The truth is, theyre both right. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.

Voters should not be deceived by anyone who pretends to have conservative values. The fact is that RFK has a disturbing background steeped in radical, liberal positions, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that criticized Kennedy over his positions on China, guns, the environment and abortion.  A RFK candidacy is nothing more than a vanity project for a liberal Kennedy looking to cash in on his familys name.

Trumps allies and advisers have been building opposition research against Kennedy, intending to go on the offensive and paint Kennedy as a liberal parading in conservatives clothing, one adviser told CNN, pointing to his past record as an environmental activist.

Kennedy first launched his campaign to defeat Biden in the Democratic primary in April and frequently visited early primary states like New Hampshire and South Carolina. But his efforts did little to sway Democratic primary voters, with just 9% of likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire expressing support for Kennedy in a CNN/University of New Hampshire poll released in September.

The Republican National Committee issued a statement just prior to Kennedys announcement, characterizing him as just another radical, far-left Democrat.

Kennedy is the son of former US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former US President John F. Kennedy. Some of his siblings issued a joint statement on Monday, calling his decision to run against Biden in a general election dangerous to our country.

Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Todays announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country, Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said in a statement.

A lifelong Democrat prior to announcing his run as an independent, Kennedy acknowledged his and his familys long history with the Democratic Party and called the decision to disavow the party very painful. But he said he wants to fight against the two-party system, which he says has failed to provide Americans with viable options for the presidency. He criticized Bidens age and competency as well as Trumps ongoing legal troubles as a symptom of a corrupt political process.

Thats what two-party politics has given us, and thats why we need to pry loose from the hammerlock of the corrupt powers in Washington, DC, and make this nation ours again.

The crowd of supporters in Philadelphia received Kennedy warmly, particularly when he discussed his plans to create a tamper-proof election system while expanding voting rights and called for the US to pull our nation back from the brink of war with Russia. A staunch anti-war advocate, Kennedy notably did not address the outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas over the weekend. Prior to Kennedys remarks, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a friend and informal adviser to Kennedy, spoke about the war and called for a moment of silence for victims in Israel.

When asked by CNN following the event about Kennedy not mentioning Israel and Hamas in his remarks, Boteach dismissed the oversight and said his involvement in the event spoke loudly about Kennedys stance toward Israel.

I think that was very brave of him and showed tremendous solidarity that he asked a rabbi whos his close friend. You know, he moved away from the political figures who could have introduced him and endorsed him, Boteach said. The fact that Im the one that introduced him, I think said it all.

Kennedys lack of mention of Israels war with Hamas comes after he received criticism from Jewish groups in July after he falsely claimed during a dinner in New York City that Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people are most immune to COVID-19. Kennedy strongly pushed back against the accusations of antisemitism from those groups.

Kennedy has never held public office but has inspired a small contingent of supporters drawn to his advocacy against public health mandates and the influence of money on decisions made by government and private corporations. Kennedy founded Childrens Health Defense, an organization that regularly spreads anti-vaccine misinformation, and has promoted anti-vaccine conspiracy theories at campaign events.

Attendees at Mondays event spanned the ideological spectrum, with conservatives, liberals and independents all gathering in Philadelphia for the announcement.

Walter Rodriguez, a teacher from New Jersey who identifies as an independent, said he plans to support Kennedy if hes on the ballot in his home state. Otherwise, he said, he doesnt plan to vote at all.

Im excited about the energy they bring to the table as a candidate, and I think some of the things that hes talking about are things that I identify with, Rodriguez said. Not relying so much on central control of everything, pharmaceuticals, politics. So the fact that hes declaring himself as independent today, that is the right way to go.

Karl Hagstrom came to Philadelphia from Westchester County, New York. He said he supported Trump in 2016 and 2020, but said he plans to support Kennedy in 2024. He said hes drawn to Kennedy because he feels the political outsider can bring unity to the country, unlike Trump, who he said has been too divisive.

Just the constant insanity, the tweeting, the negativity, the just out-of-left field reactions to things. Its not sustainable, its not something that can bring people together, Hagstrom said.

Sarah Shulman drove to the event with a group of supporters from the Boston area. A practicing pediatrician, Shulman attended Kennedys Democratic campaign launch event in Boston in April and said Kennedys anti-corruption message and his position on vaccines inspired her to support him. She said she voted for Biden in 2020 and has never considered supporting a Republican but has felt disconnected from Bidens message since he took office.

Hes speaking our language, Shulman said of Kennedy. A Democrat, somebody in the liberal mind thats compassionate, caring, who also is making sense.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces independent run for president, ending Democratic primary challenge to Biden"
Two people died and two more were wounded by gunfire during two separate incidents this past weekend in Corpus Christi.

Police announced two arrests on Monday, one related to each shooting.

Police reported that an officer killed a suspect who was shooting into an occupied vehicle while responding Saturday at 10:19 p.m. to a complaint about a loud house party on the 6100 block of Angelique Court.

There were three adult men inside the vehicle that was being shot at, including an 18-year-old high school student who police said was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Nueces County Medical Examiners office on Tuesday identified the alleged shooter as 17-year-old Ricardo Jose Fuentes.

One man, 18-year-old Leandro Leon, was arrested on Sunday and faces three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for his alleged role in the incident, police stated Monday.

Police were initially called to the Angelique Court on the evening of Oct. 7 to investigate a noise complaint, but a statement by Corpus Christi police indicated that the responding officer found a lot more.

Upon arrival, an officer saw an individual firing into an occupied vehicle at which time the officer returned fire in preservation of the third party, striking the individual who was firing into the vehicle, the police said in their online daily blotter. The officer immediately began providing life saving measures. The individual was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The officer involved was placed on administrative leave in accordance with current department practice and policy, the news release stated.

Fight between multiple people ended in gunfire Sunday

Police detectives secured a warrant for murder and arrested Jessica Garza, who is a suspect in a shooting that happened early on Sunday, Oct. 8, according to a news release. Police found two people who were wounded by gunfire on the 600 block of 25th Street. One of the men later died from his injuries.

"With the assistance of the US Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Fugitives Task Force, CCPD Patrol Officers and Nueces County Sheriffs Deputies, Jessica was located at the 5700 block of Leopard Street and arrested for the outstanding warrant," police said in Monday's online police blotter. "Jessica was transported to the Main Station to be interviewed and was later booked into the City Detention Center for processing."

Officers were originally dispatched to the area of 25th and Ruth Street shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday to investigate a complaint of an unknown nature, but the call was upgraded and described as a shooting with injuries, police said on the daily blotter.

Officers arrived and located two male gunshot victims and immediately began providing medical aid, the statement said. Medics arrived and transported a 42-year-old male to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Medics also transported a 20-year-old male victim to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police determined that numerous subjects were involved in a physical altercation and it was during that conflict that shots were filed.

This is not a random act of violence as the parties were known to each other, the police news release said.

Police did not identify any suspects or release the names of the two men who were shot.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Gunfire leaves two dead, two injured in pair of weekend crimes
Two Ventura County school districts are suing the companies behind Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, arguing the social media giants are partly responsible for a national epidemic of youth mental illness.

Conejo Valley and Simi Valley unified school districts are joining roughly 675 school districts in 32 states organized by the San Diego-based Frantz Law Group to sue the social media companies in both federal and state court.

Frantz attorney William Shinoff said more local school districts are considering lawsuits and that state and local governments could follow, depending on how judges rule in early hearings.

Shinoff said the suit does not target Twitter because there was less evidence that the company targeted youth and because districts told his firm that fewer students were on that platform than the ones named.

Conejo Valley Unified signed on to the suit June 21, with trustees voting 4-1 to approve a lawsuit during a board meeting. Attorneys submitted a 96-page lawsuit on July 10 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Simi Valley Unified followed during a board meeting on Sept. 12, voting unanimously to initiate a suit. That lawsuit has yet to appear in court records, though Superintendent Hani Youssef said it would be filed within 30 days of the vote.

The companies, the Conejo Valley Unified suit says, intentionally target "vulnerable" minors with algorithms in an attempt to keep them online as much as possible, "causing millions of students across the United States, including in (Conejo Valley Unified), to become addicted to and excessively use the Defendants' social media platforms."

Those platforms and their sometimes "harmful and exploitive" content are at least in part responsible for what U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in a 2021 report were "alarming" increases in youth mental health challenges over the previous decade, the suit says.

The lawsuit, which Shinoff said will be combined with roughly 300 similar suits so far filed in the same court, asks the court to force the social media companies to change harmful policies and to pay districts unspecified compensation for the resources they've used to treat student mental illness.

"I don't know how many counselors we can hire," Youssef, the Simi Valley Superintendent, said of his district's attempts to respond to student mental illness. "There is no oversight. Our students, my own kids, are exposed to whatever pops up on social media, to harmful content."

Lauren Gill, president of the Conejo Valley Unified board, said litigation was a last resort, but that the district's data  and stories from the students themselves  confirmed that social media was harming students.

"When legislation fails, when regulation fails, when companies don't hold themselves to account, we're down to the last option," she said. "If we don't hold those harm-doers to account, then who does?"

Gill said the district hoped the courts could stop the harm and help the district recoup money it has spent taking care of its students.

"We have to spend on wellness and putting our kids back together," she said. "If we are able to recoup some of those taxpayer funds that we paid, that seems fair to me."

Frantz also represented nearly 1,000 districts in proceedings against vape manufacturer Juul, Inc. Shinoff said that, combined with lawsuits from thousands of individuals and local governments and 47 states and territories, led to nearly $3 billion worth of settlement payouts.

Shinoff said the new social media lawsuits rely on similar legal arguments to the Juul suit, which argued that the company had targeted minors with its advertising, knowing that its product was harmful to them.

Isaiah Murtaugh covers education for the Ventura County Star in partnership with Report for America. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236 and follow him on Twitter @isaiahmurtaugh and @vcsschools. You can support this work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Two school districts sue social media giants over youth mental health
WARSAW (Reuters) -Two top Polish army commanders resigned on Tuesday, spokespeople said, days before an election in which the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has made national security a key issue in its bid for an unprecedented third term in power.

They come against a backdrop of heightened tension between the military high command and the nationalist government since Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak in May said the army had failed to inform him of a missile heading toward the country.

Polish media reported that a military object found in a forest in northern Poland in April was a Russian KH-55 missile, and that Polish armed forces had seen an object entering the country's air space in December but then had lost track of it.

The armed forces operational commander, Lieutenant General Tomasz Piotrowski, and the chief of staff, General Rajmund Andrzejczak, submitted their resignations on Tuesday, spokespeople for the respective services confirmed to Reuters.

No reason was given for the departures.

President Andrzej Duda appointed Lieutenant General Wieslaw Kukula as chief of staff and Major General Maciej Klisz as armed forces operational commander.

The resignations were first reported by Rzeczpospolita daily. The defence ministry declined to comment.

"(It is) a complete disgrace for Minister Blaszczak, who has long crossed over the line into using the Polish army in a partisan way," Tomasz Siemoniak, a former defence minister from the opposition Civic Platform, wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"This is a PiS disaster in the defence sector at a time of great threats to Poland," he said.

Civic Platform head Donald Tusk, a liberal and former prime minister, said he received information that another 10 senior officers had handed in their resignations on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the general command confirmed that 10 other officers had quit but "they were not high ranking" and their departures were not unusual.

Blaszczak said Tusk was trying to use the army for political purposes.

"It is not acceptable to involve the Polish army in the election campaign," he told reporters.

Rattled by Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, Poland has increased military spending to around 4% of national output this year and has also moved soldiers to its border with Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.

With a closely contested election in Poland on Oct. 15, experts said the pace of military spending and the domestic debate around it were being driven in part by campaigning.

(Reporting by Karol Badohal, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Alan Charlish; Editing by Gareth Jones, Mark Heinrich and Mark Porter)
Biden administration officials want Israel to retaliate against the vicious Hamas attack in a proportionate manner, but they wont say if there are any lines Jerusalem shouldnt cross.

Israel is responding to the worst attack it has faced in 50 years by pummeling Gaza with airstrikes and besieging the coastal strip, killing nearly 800 in the enclave home to 2.3 million people. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized, Israel is at war and embarking on a campaign to significantly weaken the threat posed by Hamas.

To put what happened in perspective, the U.S. Holocaust Museum posted on X on Monday that We just witnessed the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. As of Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said more than 1,000 Israelis have been killed.

President Joe Biden and his team repeat that Israel has every right to respond to the violence. But it was unclear if Washington asked Israel to refrain from certain maneuvers, either out of fear the conflict could escalate further or to keep Israel skeptics in the Democratic party from raising complaints.

No such request appears to have been made so far.

We remain focused on holding the terrorists accountable for their attacks, and we support Israel taking necessary and proportionate action to defend its country and protect its people, and in doing so U.S. citizens living, working and traveling in Israel, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in an emailed statement. At least 11 Americans in Israel are confirmed dead from the attacks, with the administration noting its possible U.S. citizens are among Hamas hostages.

In previous crises in the region, the Biden administration has taken a paced response. Initially, the U.S.  at least in public  appears to give Israel carte blanche in its response. Over time, Washington ramps up the pressure to compel Jerusalem to agree to a ceasefire. (Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement on X two days ago calling for a cease-fire before it was deleted.) This is the playbook Biden used in 2021 during a much smaller skirmish between Israel and Hamas, ending the conflict in 11 days.

On Tuesday afternoon, Biden followed that trajectory by fiercely backing Israel during a White House address.

The brutality of Hamas, its bloodthirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism, Biden said. We stand with Israel and we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. He added that the U.S. will send ammunition and interceptor replacements for Israel's Iron Dome system, which stops rockets shot by Hamas and other groups from hitting targets inside the country.

Israel is stressing the need to operate to the full extent of its military capabilities and so far, the Biden administration appears to be listening. Netanyahu told Biden we have to go in to Gaza, explaining that a ground invasion was the only way to root out Hamas, Axios reported. Biden did not try to press Netanyahu or convince him not to go through with a ground operation, according to the report.

The administration doesnt want civilians in Gaza to suffer for Hamas alleged war crimes, even though the Israeli Defense Forces already noted some will unfortunately die, largely because Hamas has offices in buildings near homes, schools and businesses.

Asked by a reporter whether the administration had warned Israel in any way not to target civilians, the NSCs John Kirby notedthat Israel was counterattacking aggressively, and given the size and scale and the scope of the violence, we understand where thats coming from. But, Kirby continued, Israel as a democracy shares values with the United States when it comes to [the] law of war and respect for life.

Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer reiterated that point in a Monday night interview on MSNBC, saying, It is our advice that this war be conducted based on principles of international law.

That suggests that while there hasnt been a warning, there is trust within the administration that Israel will do what it can to protect noncombatant Gazans. Meanwhile, Israel has called up around 300,000 reservists to help with the campaign against Hamas  a campaign Netanyahu is talking about in severe terms.

We have only started striking Hamas, he said Monday. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.
WASHINGTON  House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul said the gridlock among U.S. House Republicans over the choice for their next speaker is jeopardizing some of the countrys top national security priorities including providing aid to Israel.

The world is watching us now. Were not just in some vacuum in D.C. Its urgent, the Austin Republican said in an interview Tuesday. It's just imperative that we stop playing games, we elect a speaker and we govern.

Until the House selects a new speaker, all other business is paused. That means defense aid for U.S. allies like Israel and Ukraine are stuck, even though overwhelming majorities of Congress support assisting Israel following last weekends attacks.

Israel sustained a series of rocket attacks and a ground invasion over the weekend that killed more than 700 Israelis and 11 U.S. citizens, with hundreds more being held hostage in Gaza. Hamas, a militant group that has had control over the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched the attack, which has been widely condemned by Western governments as an act of terror. Israel and Egypt have long imposed a land, air and sea blockade of Gaza. But Israels conservative government has vowed to further retaliate by blocking off resources for the Gaza Strip and has hit the territory with targeted strikes.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday he would push Congress to take urgent action to fund the security requirements of our critical partners," including Israel and Ukraine. McCauls committee authorized $3.3 billion for Israels Iron Dome defense system earlier this year, with about $420 million appropriated in defense funding legislation.

McCaul led a vastly bipartisan group of nearly 400 members Tuesday in introducing a resolution declaring the U.S. steadfast support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, another member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was also one of the original sponsors of the resolution. The majority of Texas members signed onto the resolution, including deep conservatives like Rep. Ronny Jackson and progressives like Rep. Lloyd Doggett, with more signatories continuing to join Tuesday evening.

But none of that aid money or legislative action can move forward without a speaker dictating floor action in the House.

I dont think they even thought about [the national security consequences] until the events of last weekend showed its a dangerous world, McCaul said of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy. This is not a game. Some of them had legitimate complaints, but for some of them, it was just a personality problem.

It isnt a new position for the Texan. The House was stalled for a week in January when it took 15 rounds of votes to elect McCarthy as speaker of the House. During that time, no members could be sworn in, and no committees could organize and do their work.

McCaul lamented at the time that the pause could be a national security threat by blocking members from accessing sensitive information or conducting congressional oversight functions.

Aid money to Ukraine is already a major sticking point for Republicans, with more conservative members opposing further funding. Its a central question in the speaker fight as candidates make their case.

House Republicans are meeting Tuesday evening to hear from the two candidates for the speakership: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan. Republicans hope to elect their nominee for the speakership Wednesday before a House-wide vote.

Republicans are hoping to avoid the chaos of Januarys speaker election, which was largely driven by a group of far-right members pushing for rules changes to give their faction of the party a greater voice. Without those demands, members are more concentrated on finding a candidate who can unify the party rather than any specific policy stances.

Still, the conference remains deeply divided between Scalise, who rose up through the natural hierarchy of Republican leadership and was close to McCarthy, and Jordan, a co-founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus who has been skeptical toward continued aid for Ukraine.

The Texas delegation is no different. Just over half of Texas Republicans have announced whom theyll back in the speaker race, and they are nearly evenly split between Scalise and Jordan.

McCaul did not say which candidate he supported and predicted most members of the delegation wont rally behind a single candidate until after they all hear out the different candidates.

When we show dysfunction in government, it weakens our democracy. And that's precisely what our adversaries like to see, McCaul said.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The United States Marshals Task Force searching for murder suspect, Kameron Jenkins, told News 4 Monday they believe he is still in the state.

Spokesperson Callen Stephens said they are not focusing on one area, like the metro, but all parts of the state.

Family friend of victim who died in shootout between deputy and suspect says he gave his life to Christ before he died

Kameron Jenkins. Image courtesy U.S. Marshals.

He could be anywhere, said Stephens. We sent out a new wanted poster Monday to make sure that people knew to call us and send in tips of they see him because he is still armed and dangerous.

The search for Jenkins started Wednesday after the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said he shot Cleveland County Deputy Sean Steadman in the face during a traffic stop near the town of Davis. A bystander was shot and killed in the aftermath. Gwaun Frierson was inside a vehicle along I-35 near mile marker 60 when a stray bullet hit and killed him. He was reportedly a worker at the construction site along the interstate.

Six days later and there has been no sign of Jenkins, who fled the scene on foot. Jenkins was a convicted felon who was released from prison in March. He had completed less than four years of a 10-year sentence.

That person should have been locked up, said Wade Gourley, Oklahoma City police chief. Unfortunately, you have an innocent bystander thats now dead, too, because of that.

Missing Oklahoma man found safe in Texas

On Monday, the U.S. Marshals confirmed to News 4 that tips have come in but none of them were specific enough to lead to Jenkins whereabouts.

Stephens said the task force searching for Jenkins, which is made up of around 14 law enforcement officers from across the state, talked to family members but would not go into detail about their level of cooperation.

When someone like this is on the run, they often times need resources, said Stephens. And that means they come back closer to home to find those resources.

Stephens made it clear that if anyone was helping Jenkins, law enforcement would be coming after them too.

The U.S. Marshals also said there has been no indication that Jenkins was hurt or possibly dead. Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason, on Friday, said K-9 units on scene would have picked up something on Jenkins if that was the case.

I think that if he had been wounded, we would know that by now, said Amason.

Deputy Steadmen was shot in the face after attempting to pull Jenkins over.

He was hit, said Amason. He was able to fight back after he was hit.

Steadman and Jenkins exchanged gunfire and it is still unclear which gun fired the shot that struck Frierson.

OSBI is obviously still investigating. Theyre taking their time and doing their due diligence to make sure they have everything right, said Amason.

Police identify victim in deadly NW OKC shooting

Steadman was working the interstate in the area as part of a drug task force. Another member of that drug task force, a Norman police officer, was in a separate car and close by when the incident occurred.

Deputy Steadman and a Norman police officer were out there as his partner working on the task force as well, said Amason.

News 4 reached out to Norman Police for an interview but our request was declined.

The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Jenkins. Call 405-235-7300 to report any sighting or information.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The News

Some U.S. lawmakers are calling for more restrictions on seafood imports from China following an investigation exposing grave human rights abuses throughout the countrys fishing industry.

The findings are the culmination of a four-year probe by reporter Ian Urbinas Outlaw Ocean Project. Urbina and his team found that major American grocery stores, restaurant chains, and food service companies likely received significant volumes of seafood caught by a Chinese fishing vessel called Zhen Fa 7 on which workers were subjected to extremely harsh, sometimes deadly conditions.

The investigation, published in the New Yorker, also concluded that processing plants in Chinas Shandong province rely on Uyghurs from labor camps in Xinjiang as well as North Korean laborers. Urbinas team estimates that those companies have exported at least forty-seven thousand tons of seafood, including some seventeen per cent of all squid sent to the U.S. Those shipments went to companies supplying military bases and school cafeterias.

The findings, which were shared in advance with Semafor, have caught the eye of policymakers in Washington. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China, a bipartisan body composed of members of Congress and executive branch officials that monitors Chinas alleged human rights abuses, is planning a hearing with Urbina to discuss his findings on Oct. 24, a person familiar with the planning told Semafor.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who chairs the commission, said the findings require a response from Congress.

All seafood imports processed by Uyghurs and North Koreans must stop immediately  that is the law, Smith said in a statement to Semafor. But everyone from big grocery chains to the U.S. government must provide an answer to why their seafood supply-chains support modern slavery.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed into law in 2021, prohibits American imports of goods made with forced labor in China, with a focus on Xinjiang. A different law passed in 2017 blocks goods produced with North Korean forced labor.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who chairs the House select committee on China, in a statement to Semafor called on the U.S. government to expand sanctions on Chinese firms involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and to suspend imports of tainted Chinese seafood products.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., Gallaghers Democratic counterpart on the China select committee, said the U.S. needs to better enforce laws around what goods can be imported in the U.S., adding that if China wants to sell to our markets, they need to play by the rules.

Know More

The new investigation also shows how Chinas dominant fishing industry, which is bolstered by state subsidies and accounts for a large slice of the global seafood market, relies on illegal catches. Urbinas investigation found evidence of some 100 Chinese squid ships fishing illegally, including by poaching catch from other countries waters.

Chinas illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing practices destroys the environment, contravenes international law, hurts the livelihoods of U.S. allies, puts our trade routes at risk, and is a thinly veiled cover up for its naval expansionism, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Semafor. We cannot allow the CCP to control key trade waterways and ruin our maritime resources.

Morgans view

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act has been cheered by both parties as a major foreign policy achievement. It was passed during the Trump administration, with near unanimous support from both parties.

The implication that these laws are being violated or not working as intended will inspire frustration and outrage. But restricting seafood imports believed to be connected to human rights abuses is easier said than done. The U.S. gets a huge amount of its imports from China, meaning that restricting imports would likely send prices soaring in the U.S. and other countries. And given the complex supply chain, their origins are difficult to track, moving from ships to processing plants to distributors and major chains in the U.S.

The View From China

When reached for comment for this story, a Chinese embassy spokesman accused the U.S. of pointing fingers at other countries under the pretext of human rights and insisted that China is a responsible fishing country.

The U.S. violates international trade rules and destabilizes international industrial and supply chains by enforcing import restrictions under the pretext of forced labor, Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Semafor. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and will take action to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the conflict in Israel, in Washington

By Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel on Wednesday to meet with senior Israeli leaders, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday, in a solidarity visit following an unprecedented Hamas attack that killed more than 1,000 Israelis over the weekend.

"It will be a message of solidarity and support," Miller said in a briefing. "He, of course, wants to hear from the leaders of Israel, hear from them directly about the situation they're facing ... about what they need and how we can best support them."

Miller said Blinken would be arriving in Israel on Thursday.

The U.S. State Department said Blinken will then head to Jordan to meet with senior officials there.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000.

Israel subsequently battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 830 Palestinians were killed and up to 4,250 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday. The United Nations said more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis and Susan Heavey; Editing by Leslie Adler and Bill Berkrot)
U2 changed the lyrics of their hit song Pride (In the Name of Love) to honour the hundreds of victims killed in a music festival attack led by Hamas militants.

On Sunday (8 October), during the Irish rock bands latest show at the new Sphere in Las Vegas, Bono, 62, dedicated the rendition of their 2003 song to our brothers and sisters  who they themselves were singing at the Supernova Sukott festival in Israel.

We sing for those. Our people, our kind of people, music people. Playful, experimental people. Our kind of people. We sing for them, he told the crowd.

In the light of whats happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence But our hearts and our anger, you know where thats pointed. So sing with us and those beautiful kids at that music festival.

Instead of referring to the death of Martin Luther King Jr as is done in the original song, Bono launched into a rewritten first verse: Early morning, October 7, the sun is rising in the desert sky/ Stars of David, they took your life but they could not take your pride.

After repeating but they could not take your pride three times, he then led the audience in a wordless refrain.

U2 join other celebrities, including Madonna and Natalie Portman, in reacting reacted to the deadly conflict.

Madonna said the situation in Israel was devastating in a statement posted on Instagram, adding that conflicts can never be resolved with violence and her heart goes out to Israel.

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, who served the two mandatory years in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) before launching her Hollywood career, shared several social media posts in support of Israel over the weekend.

I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening! she captioned one of her posts.

So far, more than 260 bodies have been recovered from the Supernova music festival site, with the number still rising. Rescue agency Zaka said that the bodies havent all been collected yet.

At least 900 people have been killed in Israel, local media has reported, while almost 700 have been killed in Gaza, with thousands more wounded. Palestinian militants claimed to be holding over 130 civilian hostages.

Abu Obeida, the spokesman of Hamass military wing, said that every Israeli bomb hitting Gaza without prior warning would be followed by the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding.

At least 10 British citizens are reported to be feared dead or missing in Israel. British citizen Jacob Marlowe is also among the missing.

Follow The Independents live blog of the Israel-Hamas conflict here.
The United Arab Emirates warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to refrain from intervening in the Israel-Hamas war or allow attacks on Israel from Syrian soil.

Axios reported the news first, citing two UAE sources briefed on the matter.

Foreign leaders outside Israel are concerned the war could spill into neighboring Lebanon or escalate into a regional conflict, the news outlet said.

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS AFTER SURPRISE ATTACKS, AROUND 900 ISRAELIS DEAD

Israeli forces establish heavily armed control points along the border as Israel tightens measures by the army, police and other security forces after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in Sderot, Israel over the weekend.

Officials from the UAE sent their messages to high-level Syrian officials and briefed the Biden administration about their communication with the Syrians, according to the two sources. Following the attacks on Israel by Hamas, the UAE foreign ministry condemned the fighting.

"Civilians on both sides must always have full protection under international humanitarian law and must never be a target of conflict," the ministry said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The UAE in 2020 became the first Gulf nation to normalize relations with Israel.

Syria is currently still involved in a civil war. Most of Southern Syria is controlled by al-Assads government, which has seen support from Russia and Iran.

On Monday, leaders from the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Italy issued a joint statement condemning the attacks on Israel by Hamas.

"In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages," said the statement by President Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

PROGRESSIVE DEM SLAMS 'REPREHENSIBLE AND REPULSIVE' RESPONSE TO HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL AFTER 'SQUAD' REMARKS

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad arrives in Jeddah, to attend the Arab League summit the following day, Saudi Arabia, May 18, 2023. SANA/Handout via Reuters

"Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region," the statement said.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes following attacks in which Hamas terrorist fighters infiltrated Israel and killed and kidnapped civilians and some military personnel.

In addition, Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon, has fired rockets into Israel.





Original article source: UAE warns Syria to not get involved in Israel-Hamas war: report
The Atlanta area has long been home to immigrants and residents looking for new homes, but in recent years, its not just people moving to the metro.

Instead, new residents of the Atlanta metro and other parts of Georgia include more exotic transplants, the Joro Spider, a brightly colored orb-weaver from Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan. Theyve been spreading through Georgia since arriving in 2013, according to UGA.

Now, the Bugwood Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, part of UGA, is asking metro residents to send in pictures of the colorful arachnids as part of a new initiative, called Joro Watch.

As part of their photo contest, the Bugwood Center will send prizes to those with the most verified accurate reports of Joro spiders, for those in counties with the most verified reports, and for the first verified reports in each county.

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

Reports by the University of Georgia previously noted the spiders spread through parts of the Southeast United States, saying that the species was technically invasive but potentially beneficial.

Not only are the spiders colorful, but they have a novel way of flying in.

While all spiders crawl and weave webs, the Joro spider is known to travel by weaving parachutes out of silk and flying along the wind, in a process known as ballooning, according to UGA.

TRENDING STORIES:

UGA has continued to study the Joro spider in the years since its arrival in Georgia.

According to the most recent publication, while the spiders are large and brightly colored with a yellow, blue-black and red pattern, theyre not aggressive.

The Joro Watch site has a map showing where the colorful critters have been reported across Georgia.

The Joro spider can grow as large as three inches, or about the size of a human hand, and as an orb-weaver, creates large webs, sometimes up to three feet wide.

While studying the Joros behavior, UGA found the spiders are not just gentle, but shy.

Researchers from the university have studied their behavior since at least 2021. The latest publication showed that the spiders are possibly the shyest spider ever documented.

One of the ways that people think this spider could be affecting other species is that its aggressive and out-competing all the other native spiders, Andy Davis, lead author of the study and a research scientist in UGAs Odum School of Ecology, said. So we wanted to get to know the personality of these spiders and see if theyre capable of being that aggressive.

The university said the spiders build their webs between powerlines, on stoplights, and sometimes on gas station pumps. That means for anyone interested in participating in the Joro Watch contest, there are plenty of places to seek them out.

Anyone who spots a Joro can go to the Joro Watch website or make an account with EDDMapS on the phone application to report their spider sightings. The contest runs through October 15.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Passengers look at a departure board at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel (AFP via Getty Images)

UK citizens trying to fly home from Israel face a struggle to book flights, with options from Tel Aviv either cancelled, fully booked or only have a few spare seats costing more than 1,200 each.

EasyJet usually serves Gatwick, Luton and Manchester Airports from the Israeli city but has paused operations on those routes. Wizz Air, which normally connects Israel with Gatwick and Luton, has also suspended those flights.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its two daily return flights between Tel Aviv and Heathrow until at least Wednesday.

Its other daily return flights are still operating but there is no availability on its UK-bound services until next week.

British Airways is continuing to run flights between Tel Aviv and Heathrow, with adjusted departure times.

People wanting to book a seat on the next available flight are being charged 1,204 to travel on Wednesday  though that is more than treble the price of a flight on the same route a week later, when the cost is just 385.

Israeli flag carrier El Al has no availability on flights to the UK until next week. Several airlines have introduced flexible booking policies, enabling customers to change their travel dates free of charge.

OpsGroup, an international membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff, said today that Israel is now an active war zone and that all lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied.

BA and Virgin Atlantic have adjusted their operations so that crews no longer need to night stop in Israel: their flights are timed to depart from London Heathrow shortly after 8am, arrive in Tel Aviv in mid-afternoon and return after less than two hours on the ground.

On 7 October, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, with its fighters entering communities near the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of residents and taking dozens of hostages.

The UK government has not provided an estimate on how many UK citizens are in Israel, however a travel industry source said the number of UK tourists in Israel is low.

Israels ministry of tourism said it is committed to ensuring that all tourists visiting Israel are safe and informed.

It added that it is operating a hotline via WhatsApp for tourists on +972 55 972 6931.
Russian army seizes Zaporizhzhya NPP at the beginning of full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has assured the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Kyivs forces will not launch direct attacks on Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) during the ongoing counteroffensive, IAEA head

Rafael Grossi said in an interview with The Guardian on Oct. 10.

Read also: Russian invaders carrying out military drills at occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP  video

Grossi expressed concern about the nuclear power plant becoming a military objective in the war, and hailed Zelenskyys commitment.

President Zelenskiy has personally assured me that they will not directly bomb or shell it, said Grossi.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president told him that "all other options are on the table" regarding Ukraine securing its largest power generation facility.

Grossi added that the danger lies in the uncertainty of what could happen at any moment, considering the current military situation in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

Read also: Budanov reveals behind-the-scenes details of Ukraines failed efforts to liberate Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant

Im often asked, is [the power station] safe now? No  its in the middle of a war zone with a counteroffensive, the official said.

Read also: Risks and Dangers at the Zaporizhzhia NPP

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov recently said that Ukraine conducted several military raids to prevent Russia from connecting ZNPP to its own power grid.

Read also: Kuleba met IAEA chief Grossi to discuss Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP

ZNPP was captured by Russian forces in March 2022. Since then, the invaders have constantly interfered with the work of Ukrainian specialists at the station.

The occupiers constantly subject the station's personnel to intimidation, resorting to kidnappings and forcing them to sign contracts with Rosatom, Russias nuclear operator agency.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Consequences of one of the Russian attacks on Odesa Oblast

Russia launched an overnight attack on Ukraine using 36 Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones, with 27 of them being successfully intercepted by air defense forces, the Ukrainian General Staff said in its morning report on Oct. 10.

The attack lasted nearly three hours and primarily targeted the logistical infrastructure of the region, without causing casualties among civilians, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odessa Oblast Military Administration. He did not provide further details regarding the incident.

Read also: Russia desperate to improve its Shahed drone capacity, increasingly targeting Ukraines industrial facilities

During the night, Russia launched several groups of Shahed drones from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Crimea, prompting an air alarm in the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine.

Ukrainian air defense forces downed most of the drones around Odesa, with others being shot down in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts.

Read also: Fall and winter to see record number of Shahed drone attacks as Russia boosts production  Ukrainian Air Force

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian capital Kyiv has not been targeted by Russia for over a week, with the last air raid alert sounding in the early hours of Oct. 2.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Key developments on Oct. 10:

ISW: Ukrainian troops advance in the southeast, east as weather worsens

Official: Death toll of Hroza strike rises to 53

Ukraines military: Russia, Belarus plan false flag attack on Belarusian soil

Russian forces hit infrastructure in overnight drone attack

Ukrainian forces advanced in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and near Bakhmut amidst reports of poor weather conditions, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 9 report.

Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for the Ukrainian army's Tavria Group fighting on the southern front lines, reported that the counteroffensive gained ground west of Verbove, 18 kilometers south of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, southwest of Bakhmut.

Amid reports of these advancements, Russian military commentators claimed that heavy rains near the front line are limiting combat operations. One report said that the weather impaired visibility, disrupting both Ukrainian and Russian forces' use of reconnaissance drones.

The ISW noted that weather conditions vary at different sectors of the front, but overall, conditions are worsening.

Illia Yevlash, the spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern forces, said that heavy rains limited Russian troops' reliance on aviation and drones in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.

The ISW has previously reported that the winter season will likely not stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive, though it will present challenges to certain operations.

Read also: The dead villages: Hope and despair side-by-side in the liberated south

Official: Death toll of Hroza strike rises to 53

The death toll of Russia's Oct. 5 missile strike against the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast has risen to 53, Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the regional police, reported on Oct. 10.

The final death toll may increase, and some of the body parts havent been identified yet, Bolvinov said, adding that five people still remain missing.

Russian Iskander ballistic missile hit a local cafe during a memorial service for a fallen soldier who was being reburied in the village on Oct. 5.

Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral

Russian forces hit infrastructure in overnight drone attack

Russian forces launched yet another air attack against Ukraine overnight on Oct. 10, targeting the south with 36 kamikaze drones, the Air Force reported.

Air defenses shot down 27 Shahed drones in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblasts.

Russian kamikaze drones hit the transport infrastructure in an attack against Odesa Oblast that lasted for three hours, according to Governor Oleh Kiper.

Kiper didn't provide further details on the facility and the scale of the damage. No casualties were reported.

Air defense intercepted a drone over neighboring Mykolaiv Oblast, Governor Vitalii Kim said. He didnt report any damages or casualties.

Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that air defenses shot down three drones in the region.

Russia launched the drones from the Cape Chauda in the southeastern part of occupied Crimea, the military said.

Earlier on Oct. 8, the Air Force's spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said Russia would likely launch a record number of Iranian-made kamikaze drones against Ukraine in the coming fall and winter months.

The official pointed out that Russian forces launched over 500 Shahed-type drones in attacks against Ukraine in September alone.

In addition, Russian forces launched two missile strikes and 62 air attacks, as well as conducted 30 attacks with multiple rocket launchers against Ukrainian forces and settlements across Ukraine over the past day, the General Staff reported on the evening of Oct. 10.

Russian shelling of an educational institution in the village of Uhroidy in Sumy Oblast on Oct. 10 killed a child and injured a girl born in 2009, according to the regional military administration.

"The school premises were damaged, the windows were broken, and the roof was damaged," the secretary of the Krasnopillia community's council told Suspilne.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russian drone downed by Ukraine is full of Western components

Russia, Belarus reportedly prepare false-flag operation against Belarus

Russian and Belarusian special forces plan a false-flag attack on Belarus intending to blame Ukraine, the National Resistance Center of the Ukrainian military reported on Oct. 10.

The military alleges that the plot involves a drone dropping munitions on an oil depot in the town of Pryluki, by the Polish-Belarusian border, a provocative move likely aimed at increasing support for the war in Belarus.

Belarusian sources also said that the Wagner Group mercenaries had been involved in the plot earlier this year and had conducted reconnaissance on possible targets.

Earlier on Aug. 4, Ukraine's Security Service reported on another false-flag plot in Belarus, also involving critical infrastructure. The plot details were similar  an attack would be carried out on the Mozyr oil refinery, which would then be attributed to Ukraine.

Russian forces have been using Belarusian territory to launch missiles and drones against Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in late February last year.

However, the Belarusian military has not officially joined Russia's war against Ukraine.

Read also: I want to go home: Inside a Russian prisoner of war camp in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been weakened in Crimea, but not defeated, per a US-based think-tank.

Many of its vessels are withdrawn, but it's premature to say the fleet is beaten, said the ISW.

Still, Ukraine's attacks have left the rear of Russia's southern front vulnerable, per the ISW.

Ukraine's campaign of strikes on Russian military assets in Crimea has been "degrading" Moscow's Black Sea Fleet but hasn't defeated it, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

While the Black Sea Fleet has been weakened in its role as a combined arms headquarters, many of its assets can still be used to fight the war, the US-based think tank wrote in a special assessment on Sunday.

"Strikes on Black Sea Fleet assets are degrading its role as a combined arms headquarters but have not defeated it as a naval force," it wrote.

The Black Sea Fleet might sound like a naval-only formation, but it's actually a "major combined arms formation" with surface-to-surface missile batteries, air defenses, and infantry, the ISW added.

Ukraine hammered the Black Sea Fleet in September with a series of long-range missile strikes and drone attacks, hitting a shipyard, a fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, and docked warships.

The attacks appear to be working. Russia earlier this month pulled back two frigates, three submarines, five landing ships, and several smaller vessels from Sevastopol.

But it's too early to tell if the Black Sea Fleet has truly been crippled, the ISW wrote.

"Ukrainian strikes against BSF naval assets and repair facilities in Crimea may be preventing BSF naval elements from fully conducting their desired missions," wrote the think-tank. "Though BSF elements remain capable of conducting most wartime operations, and assertions Ukraine has driven away or defeated the BSF are premature."

The withdrawal is still likely a significant win for Ukraine, according to the ISW's assessment. Russia has lost much of its ability to blockade a shipping corridor established by Ukraine this summer in the Black Sea, which is vital to Ukraine's economy.

And Ukrainian strikes are inflicting serious damage to some Russian airfields and air defenses, softening up Crimea for a potential fresh wave of attacks, wrote the think-tank.

All of this has weakened Crimea's potential as a "springboard" for Russia's operations in southern Ukraine, where Moscow has for months been trying to stave off Kyiv's counter-offensive.

The Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, is used by the Kremlin as a staging area for the war in the south, and its rail lines and roads have been critical to transporting troops, equipment, and fuel to the Russian frontline, per the ISW.

Now, ground communications lines and logistics routes from Crimea to the frontline have been disrupted, or are exposed to Ukrainian attack, according to the think-tank.

Western aid, particularly the provision of long-range missile systems, has been key to this progress by Ukraine, the ISW noted.

"No single Western-provided system will provide Ukraine with a decisive advantage or directly enable Ukrainian victory, and this report does not assert that ATACMS or other systems would provide Ukraine with a silver bullet," it wrote.

"However, Ukraine is demonstrably degrading Russian forces and logistics in Crimea, and the Western provision of long-range missiles would enable further strikes on the Russian rear," it added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraine's Armed Forces repelled all attacks by Russian forces in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, the spokesman of the Joint Press Centre of the Defence Forces of the Tavriia front, on the air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "Updated information... I can add that our defenders on the Avdiivka front repelled all the attacks of the enemy, no losses of lines and positions were sustained."

Details: Before that, Shtupun said that the Russians intensified their offensive actions on the Avdiivka front. The attacks were repelled in the areas of Keramika, Ocheretyne, Berdychiv, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Tonenke, Avdiivka and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast.

Quote: "The invaders also launched air strikes near Berdychiv and Avdiivka. From the morning till now, the civilian infrastructure of Avdiivka and the settlements in the Pokrovske district around it are periodically shelled. Avdiivka was bombarded from tubed artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems."

Background:

The report of Ukraines General Staff of the Armed Forces from 10 October indicated that the Russian army had intensified its offensive on the Avdiivka front with up to three battalions supported by tanks and armoured vehicles.

Such bolstered offensive operations were recorded in the areas of Avdiivka, Tonenke, Keramik and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast.

Vitalii Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, said that since 06:00 of 10 October, Russian troops have launched massive strikes on Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

DeepState shared a video from Avdiivka. It is reported that the Russians concentrated their forces in the vicinity of Vodiane and Krasnohorivka.

At first, the Russian forces used artillery, aircraft and missiles, subsequently deploying infantry under the cover of military vehicles moving in haphazard fashion. The video showed one of these convoys in the area of Vodiane.

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The leadership of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has initiated a law to expand the list of reasons for banning religious organisations and providing a legal basis for banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).

Source: LIGA.net, citing the document

Details: A letter dated 28 September, signed by Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the SSU, was sent to the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy.

It states that the SSU has developed "proposals in the form of a law of Ukraine on amending Article 16 of the Law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations" and that the text of the corresponding draft law is attached.

The Security Service of Ukraine proposes to add to the legislation the possibility of termination of any religious organisations activities if the authorised person has been convicted of:

committing crimes against the foundations of national security of Ukraine,

violating the equality of citizens,

participation in terrorist acts,

propaganda of war and participation in it on the side of the aggressor,

violation of the laws and customs of war,

genocide and fighting as a mercenary.

The letter emphasises that "the Russian Orthodox Church is not separated from the Russian state, and its leadership is in close relations with [Russian] state authorities and special services, factually performing the functions of civil servants in religion and implementing Russian state policy through the means of power and influence available to them."

Moreover, the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church on the territory of Ukraine are aimed at supporting Russia's armed aggression, implementation of the genocidal policy of the Russian Federation, and deportation of Ukrainians.

The letter states that the UOC-MP is a "structural division of the Russian Orthodox Church".

The media says that draft law No. 10126, the name of which coincides with the one mentioned in the SSU head's letter, was registered on the Council's website on 5 October.

It is also reported that on 5 October, the parliamentarians collected 226 signatures under a letter requesting Ruslan Stefanchuk, the head of the Verkhovna Rada, to allow for a vote on the decision to ban the UOC-MP.

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Fighters of the Special Operations Centre A of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), who take part in combat on the front lines, have received another new PD-2 unmanned aircraft system.

Source: SSU press service

Details: It is noted that with the help of such devices, Special Forces of the SSU search and identify targets, which are then struck with long-range and high-precision weapons.

This unmanned device was handed over to the SSU by the Come Back Alive Foundation. Volunteers collected about US$ 822,000 for the purchase of the device.

A PD-2 system consists of two reconnaissance drones that have a controlled flight radius of up to 180 km and are equipped with powerful zooms for daytime and thermal surveillance.

In addition, the system includes a mobile point and a ground control station, spare parts and other components.

Quote from the SSU: "Thank you to every Ukrainian who joins and helps our defenders!

Together we will win! Glory to Ukraine!".

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Polish director Maciek Hamela's documentary Skad dokad (From Where to Where) about the evacuation of Ukrainians at the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion has won awards at film festivals in Switzerland, France and Germany over the past week.

Hamela's film won the Best Documentary nomination at the Zurich Film Festival, which is the second largest festival in the German-speaking world.

Skad dokad also received the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Political Film Award at the FilmFest Hamburg. The Ebert Foundation awards films with a socially important context.

"Films where men wage war dominate in the anti-war genre. And this film is truly anti-war, and the survivors here tell the story. It is an antidote to war addiction, and it makes visible those whose lives were turned upside down by the beginning of the war in Ukraine. This great film deserves a large audience," the jury said, noting Hamela's work.

Producer Kseniia Marchenko with the award in Zurich.

Producer Kseniia Marchenko with the award in Zurich.

Photo: In the Rearview / Facebook

In addition, the film won an award at the French film festival War on Screen International Film Festival, namely the International Jury Grand Prize.

At another film festival in France, Festival 2 Cinema de Valenciennese, it received three awards at once: the Grand Prix, the Critics' Award and the Students' Award. They were given to Larysa Sosnovtseva, one of the film actresses and the refugees from Mariupol, who currently live in France.

About Skad dokad

The film, directed by Maciek Hamela, shows the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainians are forced to abandon everything they have and flee from the war. They get into a car to Hamela with the most valuable thing they decided to take from home, while his vehicle becomes for salvation, a waiting room, a trust zone, etc. After starting to film his passengers, the director assembled a collective image of Ukrainians who had a single goal: to find a safe place in the maelstrom of war.

The films world premiere took place at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.

Skad dokad team brought a carpet from the village of Lukashivka (Chernihiv Oblast) to Cannes.

The film has received a number of awards since then, including the Best Polish Film and the Arthouse Cinema Award at the Millennium Docs Against Gravity Polish Film Festival; The Jury Grand Prize at the UK film festival Sheffield DocFest; Special Distinction at the Icelandic film festival IceDocs; Best Documentary at the Odesa International Film Festival; and The North American premiere of the film at the Canadian film festival TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)

The film was also included in the selection list of the European Film Awards, which are presented annually by the European Film Academy.

Skad dokad is a nominee for the Sixth National Film Critics Award Kinokolo in the Best Documentary Film category.

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(Reuters) - Ukrainian forces are making some headway in both the eastern and southern theatres of their four-month-old counteroffensive, military officials said on Monday.

Russian accounts of the fighting said Moscow's forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks near the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut and inflicted heavy casualties in strikes on Ukrainian positions outside the city.

Ukraine's counteroffensive aims to secure control of areas around Bakhmut in order to recapture the town, which was seized by Russian forces in May after months of heavy battles. In the south, Kyiv wants to advance to the Sea of Azov to sever a Russian land bridge linking areas it occupies in the south and east.

Ilia Yevlash, a spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern group of forces, said troops had scored a "partial success" near Andriivka, which they captured last month along with the nearby locality of Klishhiivka.

"We are repelling constant attacks near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, Yevlash told national television.

"Every day we are making headway in the Bakhmut sector. We are talking about hundreds of metres at a time that we are liberating from our enemies and strengthening our positions. It is, however, too early to talk about achieving concrete goals."

Ukrainian prosecutors in Donetsk region, the focal point of Russia's campaign in the east, said Russian forces had shelled areas east of the Russian-held town of Donetsk, killing one person. The coking town of Avdiivka, which has resisted Russian advances for months, was also shelled.

General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of forces in the south, wrote on Telegram that Kyiv's troops were continuing offensive operations in the drive southward.

"We have had partial success to the west of Verbove," he said, referring to one of a cluster of villages that Ukraine is targeting, with the larger town of Tokmak the next large target.

Ukraine's counteroffensive has made slow progress in both theatres, but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other officials have denied suggestions by Western critics that Ukraine has failed to achieve its objectives and is hampered by strategic errors.

Nineteen months after Russia's invasion, its forces about 18% of Ukrainian territory, according to Western estimates.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Leslie Adler)
A Ukrainian refugee fled to Israel to escape violence only to find herself in another war. This time she says she won't leave.

Residents of the southern Israeli city of Netivot bordering the Gaza Strip wait near a bus before being evacuated to central Israel on October 7, 2023. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images

A woman from Bucha, Ukraine fled to Israel last year to escape Russian occupation.

Viktoria Druzhenko told Radio Free Europe that the Hamas attack reminds her of the war in Ukraine.

She said she will not leave this time around because she is "tired of fleeing from war."

A Ukrainian refugee who escaped to Israel told Radio Free Europe that she's not going to evacuate this time because she's "tired of fleeing from war."

Viktoria Druzhenko was forced to leave her hometown of Bucha last year when Russian forces invaded it, the report said. The event, where more than 450 people died, was later called a war crime by the International Criminal Court.

Druzhenko told Radio Free Europe that she experienced "deja vu" after seeing footage of the Palestinian militant group Hamas attack Israel over the weekend.

"It's the same scenario that happened in Ukraine near the Belarusian border and in the Kyiv region, in Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, Ivankiv, Borodyanka," she told Radio Free Europe in a video interview published on Monday.

"My family and I are not going to evacuate. We are tired of fleeing from war," she added. "I'd rather be useful here as a Ukranian refugee in Israel."

It is unclear where in Israel Druzhenko is based. Insider reached out to her for comment.

On Saturday, Hamas militants launched surprise attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip  the Palestinian exclave which has been controlled by the group since 2006.

Israel has since retaliated, launching multiple missiles into Gaza and declaring a "full siege" of the territory.

More than 100 Ukrainians have contacted their embassy in Israel to request to leave the country, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Sunday.

The embassy did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

An estimated 13,000 Ukrainians with Jewish heritage fled to Israel between February 2022 and February 2023, according to the country's Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

An Israeli law, passed five years after the end of World War II, allows people born Jewish, converts, and family members of Jewish people the right to move to the country and acquire Israeli citizenship.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russia is poised to discover whether its efforts to rejoin the UNs Human Rights Council  using stolen Ukrainian grain to win votes in the process  have been successful.

A secret ballot of UN member states will be held later on Tuesday to allocate 15 seats for the top human rights body, more than a year after Russia was booted out for invading Ukraine.

Experts previously told The Independent that Russia will try to lure African allies and other friendly nations with stolen Ukrainian grain and arms in exchange for their votes. The vote is seen as a key test of Western efforts to keep Moscow diplomatically isolated.

Anna Mykytenko, a senior lawyer for the NGO Global Rights Compliance based in The Hague, said Russias war crimes now are no less cruel or widespread than the ones committed in Bucha in spring 2022, when Russia was suspended from the Human Rights Council.

Russias pattern of flagrant disrespect towards international law remains shockingly consistent, she told The Independent. Although now most of these crimes do not make it to the front pages of the international media, the aggressor state that keeps on committing war crimes and violating human rights cannot benefit from decreasing attention to the war in Ukraine and an opening to slink back into a UN Human Rights Council seat.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the Security Council that Russias re-election while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations.

Diplomats who were aware of Moscows attempts to woo nations using grains said the US and others had distributed letters of their own to many of the UN General Assemblys members, asking them to vote against Russia.

Russia is up against Bulgaria and Albania for two Eastern Europe seats. The successful candidates each need a majority  at least 97 votes  to win a three-year term starting on 1 January. A total of 47 member states are part of the UNHRC based on geographic distribution, with the UNs five regional groups sending names to be added to the shortlist.

And Moscows competitor Albania has also ramped up its campaign to join the UNHRC by calling out Russias atrocities in Ukraine.

Albanian UN ambassador Ferit Hoxha said those who care about human rights and the credibility of the Human Rights Council and its work should oppose the nation which kills innocent people, destroys civilian infrastructure, ports and grain silos and then takes pride in doing so.

The General Assembly had mustered the required two-thirds majority to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council in April last year  nearly halfway through its three-year term and shortly after Ukraine recaptured the town of Bucha and accused Moscow of large-scale atrocities. Russia denied the accusation.

The council does not have legally-binding powers, but its meetings raise scrutiny and it can mandate investigations to document abuses which have sometimes formed the basis for war crimes prosecutions.

Experts warned against Russias pattern of flagrant disrespect towards international laws and bringing it back onto the panel amid the continuing invasion, especially with the latest attack on the Ukrainian village of Hroza in Kharkiv.

At least 51 people died in the missile attack, wiping out members from almost every family. While Russia says it does not strike civilian targets, a two-day-old baby boy was killed after a Russian missile struck a hospital in the city of Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia.

A child was also among the dozens killed when Russian missiles hit a grocery store and cafe in the village of Hroza.

International rights group Human Rights Watch has said Russia and China are unfit to serve on the Human Rights Council.

Every day, Russia and China remind us by committing abuses on a massive scale that they should not be members of the UN Human Rights Council, Louis Charbonneau, UN director of Human Rights Watch said last week.

The rights group said Russian forces in Ukraine continue to commit apparent war crimes, including unlawful attacks and crimes against humanity, torture and summary executions.

It pointed out how Mr Putin and Russias commissioner for childrens rights Maria Lvova-Belova are sought by the International Criminal Court for alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.

Wayne Jordash KC, president and co-founder of Global Rights Compliance, said any attempts to allow Russia back to the seat of the Human Rights Council are not only unacceptable and indecent but signify a dangerous global drift into untrammelled violence against the most vulnerable and innocent.
High-ranking United Nations trade representative Rebeca Grynspan visited Moscow on Oct. 9 to discuss exports of grain and fertilizer, Reuters reported.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the goal of the talks was to ensure global food markets "unimpeded access" to grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia.

The discussions also included U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, who participated virtually.

In July 2023, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, imposing a blockade on Ukrainian shipping routes and targeting port infrastructure with airstrikes.

The move poses a major threat to global food security. According to a U.K. intelligence report, Russia has "already destroyed enough grain to feed more than one million people for a year."

The U.N. hopes it can negotiate a revival of the grain deal, which it originally brokered along with Turkey after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. In March 2023, the U.N. was able to convince Russia to agree to an extension of the agreement.

Since the termination of the deal in July, progress has stalled. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed restoring Russia's access to the SWIFT international payment system in exchange for another extension, and later offered to improve Russia's grain and fertilizer experts.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the U.N. proposals "not realistic."

Guterres is determined "to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation," Dujarric said.

According to Dujarric, the Oct. 9 talks in Moscow "are taking place with this goal in mind."

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia provides Hamas with Western weapons captured in Ukraine, Kyiv says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
UNC Asheville announced on Oct. 5 that it will offer free tuition and fees to some in-state students beginning next fall.

ASHEVILLE - Following in the footsteps of other UNC school systems, UNC Asheville announced Oct. 5 that it will offer free tuition and fees to some in-state students beginning next fall.

The school is calling it "Access Asheville," which is a new financial aid program that will make attending college "attainable" for low-and middle-income students, according to the news release.

"Access Asheville guarantees full tuition and fees coverage through grants and scholarships during fall and spring semesters for North Carolina residents whose adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less," the release said.

According to United States Census data, in 2021 the median household income in North Carolina was $60,516 and 33% of people ages 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher.

This will provide an affordable path to pursue an undergraduate college degree for those who may have previously thought it would be out of reach financially, UNCA Interim Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said in the release.

The UNC System lists in-state tuition and fees at UNCA as $7,292 for the 2023-24 academic year. The university said in the release that the program would provide more than $7,400 in annual savings for qualifying students of Access Asheville.

For the 2023-24 school year, UNCA has 2,907 students so far. Out of these students, 630 are first-time UNCA students.

How does it work?

The qualifications for Access Asheville are based on students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which verifies family income and North Carolina residency. The new program is available for up to eight semesters, and for transfers up to seven semesters, or until the degree is completed, the release said.

The application process is open now, UNCA spokesperson Michael Strysick told the Citizen Times in an Oct. 9 email.

Applicants must annually complete the FAFSA by March 1, and they must be a new first-year or transfer undergraduate student that's entering fall 2024 and pursuing their first bachelor's degree.

These also must be full-time students who are taking a courseload of at least 15 credit hours per semester, and recipients of it must keep a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Applicants can expect to hear from the Office of Admission and Financial Aid in late February or early March of 2024, according to the university's website.

To learn more about how to apply, students can visit Access Asheville - UNC Asheville.

Where else is tuition discounted?

Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University in Cullowhee is one of the original North Carolina Promise campuses, which launched in 2018, allowing universities to offer reduced tuition rates.

WCUs tuition is set by the N.C. General Assembly at $500 per semester for all N.C. undergraduates and $2,500 per semester for all out of state undergraduates.

"The N.C. Promise tuition benefit applies to all undergraduates at WCU regardless of family income. Additionally, WCU offers the Catamount Commitment program, which provides grant funding for all eligible North Carolina freshmen, and other financial support to further offset college costs," WCU Provost Richard Starnes told the Citizen Times in July.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

A-B Tech spokesperson Kerri Glover told the Citizen Times in an Oct. 9 email that A-B Tech has one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation at only $76 per credit.

"Most of our students are eligible for financial aid and more than 400 scholarships, as well as emergency assistance. Tuition also is free for high school dual enrollment students," Glover said.

In May 2021 the state launched the Longleaf Commitment community college grant program that covers tuition for North Carolina high school graduates immediately following their graduation, according to Glover.

The K. Ray Bailey Student Services Center at A-B Tech in Asheville, October 4, 2023.

For North Carolina residents who are taking 16 credits or more, tuition at A-B Tech comes out to $1,216 a year, and for non-residents it's $4,288.

UNC Chapel Hill

UNC-Chapel Hill was at the center of the affirmative action in the college admissions Supreme Court case this summer. The Supreme Court ruled on June 29 that it's unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions.

A little more than a week after the ruling, UNC Chapel Hill announced it will provide free tuition to some undergraduate students.

On July 7 the university said it will provide free tuition and required fees for in-state undergraduates whose families make less than $80,000 per year  starting with the incoming class in 2024.

More: Answer Woman: How many students enrolled at Asheville colleges? Most popular majors?

More: Free tuition for some at Chapel Hill after Supreme Court ruling; What about WNC schools?

McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKenna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: UNC Asheville to offer free tuition for some students in fall 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is denying that he brushed off warnings about an impending big operation by Hamas prior to this weekends brutal attacks. Netanyahu called the allegation fake news in a speech on Monday, according to the Times of Israel. Previously, an unidentified Egyptian intelligence official told the Associated Press that Israeli leaders were told an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, but they allegedly underestimated such warnings.

Read it at Times of Israel

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Regulars on downtown Tampas Riverwalk groused mightily when a piece of the popular 2.6-mile recreational trail closed for the $38 million Tampa Convention Center expansion, rerouting runners and pedestrians along a busy city street.

That section reopened this summer after a year and a half, giving them their unbroken waterside path back again.

As downtown rides the wave of development, theres another detour in the Riverwalks future, though its expected to be a shorter one.

Pendry Tampa, a luxury hotel and condo high-rise, is currently being built on the south end of the Hillsborough River along Ashley Drive downtown. The 37-story tower of 220 hotel rooms and 207 residences, with condo prices starting at $1.5 million, is expected to be completed in 2025.

Nearly two decades ago in 2005, that same site was slated for Trump Tower Tampa, a project that did not get off the ground. Described as a property so spectacular that it will redefine both Tampas skyline and the markets expectations of luxury, it was ultimately doomed by soaring construction costs and lack of financing.

According to city officials, the Pendry developer originally wanted to close a city-block-long section of the Riverwalk path that runs along the site for three years during construction. The city declined.

The Riverwalk is too important to the residents of Tampa, so that was a nonstarter, said city spokesperson Adam Smith.

The plan now is to build a protected walkway alongside the site on the Riverwalk that would allow people to continue to use the path during construction. That section of the Riverwalk would be closed for four to six weeks while the walkway is built, beginning in roughly the next 60 days, city officials said.

While the protective scaffolding is under construction, people on the Riverwalk will be diverted up from the waterfront and along Ashley Drive, one of downtowns main north-south thoroughfares, and then rerouted back to the path. The area stretches between MacDill Park and the Brorein Street Bridge.

The anticipated date for the Riverwalk detour is being finalized, Abbye Feeley, the citys deputy administrator for development and economic opportunity, said in an email.

Brad Meltzer, president of Two Roads Development, told the Tampa Bay Times via email: We absolutely love the Riverwalk and it is a major reason we are building here. We want to keep the Riverwalk open as much as possible, as safely as possible, and so we are working with the City to help make that happen.

The tentative plan under discussion now is that we will build a protective canopy over the Riverwalk and adjust construction so that pedestrian traffic can continue amid construction of the Pendry Tampa hotel and residences, he said.

Given the cranes at work around downtown Tampa, it wont likely be the last time people who walk, run, bike, skate and party on the Riverwalk  more than 100,000 of them monthly  will encounter some disruption. Work on both the waterside Tampa Museum of Art and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts could also mean diverted routes, according to the city.

Riverwalk is such an important community asset and an economic engine, said Smith. So were working with all developers to make sure we protect the experience.
Israel on paper enjoys vast numerical superiority over Palestinian militant group Hamas in terms of forces and hardware but the numbers mask a picture that is far more troubling for the Israeli government, analysts say.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already warned his country of a "long and difficult" war to come after Hamas's assault against Israel killed hundreds of Israelis and prompted retaliatory bombings of the Gaza Strip that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.

Resourceful and tactically adept, Hamas considers itself to be a master of asymmetric warfare, where a smaller force can outsmart a numerically stronger opponent, something that could pose huge problems for Israel if it launches a ground offensive within Gaza.

Meanwhile, a key question remains whether Hamas's ally the pro-Tehran Shiite Lebanese group Hezbollah will itself join the conflict and create a new northern front for Israel.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Israeli armed forces number 169,500 people, including 126,000 in the land army, with 400,000 reservists also on call, as opposed to 15,000 to 20,000 for Hamas's al-Qassem brigades.

The Israeli army has already said it has mobilised 300,000 reservists, something never done before in such a short period of time.

It is also one of the best-equipped armies in the world. A nuclear power -- albeit undeclared -- Israel has aviation, armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery as well as its powerful Iron Dome anti-missile defence system.

"Israel enjoys a significant military and technological advantage over Hamas and aligned groups," said Lucas Webber, co-founder of the Militant Wire analysis site.

"However, any offensive operations are likely to be costly as it would be entering a hostile environment that is one of the most densely populated areas on earth."

- 'Markedly expanded' -

For a Western arms expert, who anonymously posts on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle Calibre Obscura, Hamas has an "arsenal of stocks it had built up for decades" that has been created and financed with help from Iran and Syria.

Its heavy weapons come from Iran, Syria, Libya and other Middle Eastern countries while handguns and assault rifles stem from China, ex-Soviet bloc countries or even Israeli stocks seized in fighting.

The majority of its rockets are locally manufactured and technologically rudimentary and it can also boast of drones, mines, IEDs and other armaments capable of causing major destruction.

"Though outmatched, in recent years Hamas has markedly expanded its weapons arsenal and improved its combat effectiveness," said Webber.

"The organisation has amassed a notable amount of rockets and developed its short and medium range fire capabilities."

Hezbollah has not entered the conflict but it said three of its members were killed Monday in Israeli strikes, adding it hit back by striking two Israeli barracks.

After its 2006 war against Israel, Hezbollah "began to rearrange its cards and gradually develop and upgrade its military capabilities," said Eva Koulouriotis, an independent analyst specialising in the Middle East.

She said Hezbollah had up to 200,000 missiles of all ranges -- including Katyusha, Grad and Shahab -- as well as anti-aircraft batteries and a range of drones, including Iranian-made Shahid-136s used by Russia in Ukraine and Muhajir-4s.

"The most important question is how many of them has precision guidance but it should be quite substantial," said IISS analyst Fabian Hinz.

Hezbollah is now "much larger, better funded, more professionally trained and battle-tested, well equipped and armed, and militarily capable than Hamas," said Webber. In 2021, the group claimed to have 100,000 fighters.

- 'Exploit ground advantage' -

By contrast it is highly unlikely that Israel's allies could be drawn directly into the conflict, with the US making clear it has no intention to send in troops although Washington had deployed to the eastern Mediterranean the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier.

A multi-front war involving Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, not to mention other Palestinian groups in the West Bank or even the Syrian regime would be the nightmare scenario for Israel.

"Whatever level of coordination there has been to date between Hezbollah and Hamas, the potential for the two groups to work together is very real," said the International Crisis Group.

Unlike the last time Israel was caught by a surprise attack -- the 1973 Yom Kippur war -- there is no existential threat to Israel.

But the nature of terrain in Gaza, where Hamas has a labyrinth of underground tunnels, could be perilous.

"In the language of numbers, there is a clear Israeli superiority, and with Washington's military support, it may seem that we are facing a war with a certain outcome before it starts," said Koulouriotis.

"However, the other side can exploit the ground advantage."

dla-sjw/cb/giv
A University of Kentucky student was sexually assaulted by another student over the weekend, according to the UK Police Department.

The assault occurred twice, once at the suspects off-campus residence and again in the victims dorm on Saturday and Sunday. It was reported to UK Police Monday.

Both the victim and suspect are UK students, and the suspect is known to the victim, UK said in a crime bulletin. UK Police is actively investigating this matter and the appropriate campus units are working with individuals involved to provide resources and support.

The university offers several supports for students who are struggling with mental health or experiencing a crisis, including the Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support (TRACS), which provides virtual and in-person support for students. Instances of sexual assault can be reported to UK Police, or to the universitys Title IX coordinator.

The Title IX coordinator can be reached at 859-257-8927 or a report can be made on the Title IX website. The Violence Intervention and Prevention Center can be contacted at 859-257-3574 for confidential services, support and referrals.

Sexual assault is never the victims fault, the bulletin said. The only person responsible for sexual misconduct is the perpetrator.

The crime bulletin was issued on Tuesday afternoon in compliance with The Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to notify students of crimes that represents a serious or continuing threat to the safety of the campus community, according to the UKPD website.

Sexual assault is defined as rape, fondling, incest or statutory rape, according to UKs most recent Campus Safety and Security Report.

Available data on reported sexual assaults on campus for the last three years showed:

2022: 34 rapes; 26 instances of fondling; no instances of incest or statutory rape

2021: 34 rapes; 21 instances of fondling; no instances of incest or statutory rape

2020: 15 rapes; 10 instances of fondling; no instances of incest or statutory rape.

This story may be updated.
It may take some getting used to but the state's public university system will now be the "Universities of Wisconsin."

Throwing out half a century of operating as the University of Wisconsin System, President Jay Rothman rolled out the rebranding Tuesday.

The Universities of Wisconsin is the best way to describe our thirteen excellent universities, Rothman said in an announcement about the name change. This new name rightfully shifts the focus from the System to the Universities that are providing opportunities to the students and families we serve.

Rothman said that while he and others will begin referring to the Universities of Wisconsin immediately, the University of Wisconsin System will remain the official legal name of the states public universities.

The cost of the overall rebrand? About $480,000, UW spokesperson Mark Pitsch said.

UW employees collaborated with BVK, a Milwaukee advertising agency, and Baker Tilly, a public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, on the new logo and other work. The project included research, assessment, brand presentations, strategic counsel and other work, Pitsch said.

The rebrand comes after a bruising budget season, with hundreds of university employees facing furloughs or layoffs this school year, and as the public increasingly questions the value of a university degree.

"I was hired, in part, because of my private sector experience," Rothman said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Any private business would want information about how their brand is viewed by the public. This rebranding effort, which is addressed in our strategic plan, is the result of that work and only the first step in changing how the Universities of Wisconsin engage with the public, including the business community."

Rothman's strategic plan approved late last year calls for leveraging the UW brand through an umbrella marketing campaign to drive enrollment.

Jonathan Copulsky, a senior lecturer at Northwestern University who has expertise in marketing and branding strategy, said the rebrand may help some of the state's smaller universities by affiliating with UW-Madison's stronger brand.

"Obviously, (UW) is a pretty powerful brand, and I would think for the individual campuses, calling them UW would increase the potential attractiveness to applicants," he said. "My gut says it will not have any significant downside for Madison because people already regard it as the crown jewel. But if it lifts Milwaukee or Whitewater or the other campuses, that could help in the eyes of donors, research sponsors, as well as students."

The rebrand ditches the maroon logo for one with teal accents and an outline of the state borders.

Employees will transition websites, letterhead and other materials with the new name and logo in the coming months.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will continue to refer to the state's public university system by its legal name.

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW System rebrands to Universities of Wisconsin
This is an excerpt from our true crime newsletter, Suspicious Circumstances, which sends the biggest unsolved mysteries, white collar scandals, and captivating cases straight to your inbox every week. Sign up here.

Before Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey became a Hollywood name, he earned his first acting credit for a reenactment scene in a 1992 episode of Unsolved Mysteries, playing a Texas man who was shot and killed after mowing the lawn.

Matthew McConaughey had to do a fairly robust death scene, a producer says in Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy, a new behind-the-scenes documentary celebrating the 35th anniversary of the iconic true crime series. Lets just say that his acting has come a long way since then.

McConaughey was one of countless unknown actors and amateurs hired on location to bring to life the crimes  and occasionally, the reported paranormal activity  of Unsolved Mysteries, and the documentary offers a fascinating peek at how the producers, directors and other crew created a phenomenon. Known for its eerie theme song and the famous baritone of its grim-faced, trenchcoat-wearing host and narrator, Robert Stack , the series became appointment viewing for true crime fans after its 1987 premiere on NBC, and it continues with a Netflix revival. Subjects have ranged from spontaneous human combustion to the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur , but its core mission has always remained the same: enlisting viewers to help solve cold cases and find missing people. Over and over again, they did. (The fugitive killer in McConaugheys episode, by the way, was identified by two viewers of the broadcast. Two months after it aired, Edward Harold Bell was arrested in Panama, charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison.)

Matthew McConaughey played a murder victim in a reenactment scene on

Matthew McConaughey played a murder victim in a reenactment scene on "Unsolved Mysteries."

Series co-creator Terry Dunn Meurer recently answered questions from HuffPost about the shows incredible impact and its often elaborate productions.

We did four stories per episode, plus usually an update, she said. So it was reproducing little mini movies in four different locations for each episode. Dunn Meurer, who describes her experiences on the original series in the documentary, told us: I honestly look back and I dont know how we pulled that off.

How did you have the money to pay for all of that production? Some of these stories legitimately feel like Hollywood films.

I had actually forgotten about how much production value we actually had [before the retrospective]. There were explosions and casts of thousands in uniforms and things like that. We did it for the budget that NBC gave us.

Stacks most iconic image featured the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, but he filmed each of his standups in a different location. That must have been expensive!

There was a whole separate unit for the host shoot. And then we had a separate unit for the updates, because the minute a story got solved, off a team went to try and catch that to make it as immediate and fresh as we could.

That was one of the things, looking at all the clips, reminding myself of the production value, going, Wow. And then the teams were just amazing. The directors loved it because they could play. I think that you look at Season 1 compared to Season 8, and it just seemed to get a little bit bigger and bigger. But we stayed on budget. We never went over.

"Unsolved Mysteries" host and narrator Robert Stack films a scene in San Francisco.

What was it like for production to go into a small town and hire local actors, like Matthew McConaughey? What was the role of local law enforcement there?

Law enforcement would just roll out the red carpet for us and just give us so many resources. We didnt have drones back then, so they would give us helicopters and everything we needed for the reenactments. Most of them played themselves. I guess it would depend on how old the cases were.

When we could, we wanted people to play themselves. Because otherwise we were always afraid that viewers would be going, How much does that actor look like that guy? We didnt want people thinking about that. And a lot of times, the law enforcement really enjoyed playing themselves in the recreations.

We did sit-down interviews with law enforcement and the family members and friends of the victim. That was the core. We really wanted the recreations to match the interviews  but sometimes [people got a detail wrong]. For example, if someone said a getaway car was yellow, but law enforcement later confirmed it was blue. And youve already planned on a yellow getaway car and now the producers out there scrambling.

Do any interviews with loved ones stand out for you?

sOne story was kind of poignant. The person we were going to interview was older, and I think the production got delayed a little bit. This person waited about two to three weeks and they were not in good health. When they finished that interview, they went into the next room, lay down and passed away. It was almost like they were holding on. In fact, a family member said they thought he was holding on because they wanted to get their story out there.

Those are the hardest cases  family members who wait their whole lives trying to get those cases solved and hoping that that leads going to come in. Oftentimes it does, but sometimes it doesnt. So those are tough.

Terry Dunn Meurer in Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy.

Terry Dunn Meurer in Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy.

What was your relationship with law enforcement early on in the cases?

We were cold-calling law enforcement and law enforcement agencies, all different agencies, and they were a little bit wary.  Sometimes law enforcements a little hesitant about involving the media, but when they saw the power of the media through Unsolved, I think they were really on board. And then we had law enforcement calling us and asking, Can you do my case?

Weve always had a really, really good relationship with law enforcement agencies. You know, a lot of times family members are frustrated with law enforcement, but that was never the point of what our episode was  it was Lets solve this case. Forget that maybe somebody didnt handle an investigation the way they should. Thats not why were here. Law enforcement  they still love us. We still love them. Its a nice relationship we have. They trust us because we always fact-check everything. We try to present every case in a balanced way, pros and cons, different theories and different suspects. And so weve never had a problem.

Some cases got solved even before we aired. [Our researchers] would go, I think I can make a few phone calls on this one, and they would solve it. These were usually lost love cases [a popular segment on the show] rather than wanted fugitives.

Did Unsolved really create a fugitive card to give actors who closely resembled their subjects to avoid getting arrested, as discussed in the documentary?

We did have a card! I dont know how many we actually gave out, but [on the documentary] when you look at that photo of the real guy and the actor, I was like, Oh wow, this really was a problem.

It shows you the power of the franchise, of the brand, that somebody saw the show, and then saw that guy, and called it in. Now, you can rewind and study somebodys photo or some of the clues  but back then, when it aired, it was done. It might rerun in the summer, but that was it. There was no way to rewind and to go back. So that alone makes me still amazed about how many cases were solved because people just in the blink of an eye went, I know that person.

Tell me more about the call center, where people worked the phones when tips came in during the shows broadcast.

The night of the broadcast, thered be a full staff. A case could get solved [that night]. The show would air on the East Coast first, and sometimes by the time it aired on the West Coast, a case had already been solved. That was really fun. There was what we called clusters: If youve got all these calls coming in [from a specific region]  say everything was from Cleveland, Ohio  you know, OK, we got this.

I know youre an executive producer for the Netflix revival. How do you feel about the new version?

Were thrilled! The adrenaline of the series just kept propelling you through from season to season. It was just an amazing experience  for me, for sure, and I think for most everyone whos involved in the series. Its another way to tell more stories. Its different because its one story per episode. We arent getting as many cases out there and the whole idea is to solve as many cases as we can, but some of our viewers really wanted a deeper dive. So I think its very different, but its still the same. We still have a call to action. The purpose of this series is still the same. And we solved one case last season.

Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy is currently streaming exclusively on Pluto TV. On Oct. 20, it will expand to other platforms including Amazon Freevee, Tubi and the Roku Channel.

Related...
President Biden along with fellow leaders from Western-allied countries expressed their steadfast and united support for Israel as the country reels from the wave of terrorist attacks against them by militant group Hamas.

Today, we  President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States  express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism, the leaders said in a joint statement Monday.

Biden was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the statement.

The leaders said that Hamass terrorist actions have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned, noting the recent atrocities the militant group has committed in the past few days.

Hamas, a political group that has been elected to govern Gaza, has been designated by both the United States and European Union as a terrorist group.

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities, the joint statement added. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.

All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike, the leaders said. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region, the statement concludes.

The statement comes as Israel launched hundreds of rocket attacks on Gaza in response to the attacks by Hamas, which left at least 800 people in Israel dead. Hamass attacks on Israel Saturday included targeted attacks on civilians, such as people who had been attending a music festival.

Israel Defense Forces claimed to have hit more than 1,200 targets in Gaza between Saturday and Monday, noting that it has since doubled that number. Those strikes have killed hundreds of people in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that forces from his country will exact a huge price against Hamas for the attack.

Biden also announced Monday that 11 Americans had been killed in the attacks, and he warned that American citizens are likely to be among those held hostage by Hamas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Army could contribute one-way attack drones and ground-based robotics to the Pentagons nascent Replicator initiative, which aims to deploy autonomous systems en masse to counter Chinese stockpiles.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks rolled out the venture in August, calling for thousands of attritable systems in the field in the next 18 to 24 months. Details have been scant regarding sourcing and validation of the systems as well as how the U.S. will dispatch them so quickly.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth on Oct. 9 said the service has a number of areas that would be right for Replicator, including UAVs of all sizes. The service is in close coordination with the defense secretarys office.

Obviously UAVs, both using them as sensors and as deliverers of payloads, and also defending against them, are key on the battlefield, she told reporters on the sidelines of the annual Association of the U.S. Army conference in Washington. Some of the loitering munitions that we have could be candidates for Replicator. And then, finally, perhaps some of our ground robots.

Marine Corps leader eyes drone swarm launched from above, beneath waves

The U.S. military and its private industry suppliers are embracing unmanned and autonomous technologies amid preparations for a potential war with Russia and China. A fight with either power would likely cover vast distances and be flooded with precision sensors, powerful jammers and long-range weaponry.

Drones and other robots, officials say, can extend spying, targeting and logistics while also reducing human risk and workload. Exhibits at AUSA this week were dotted with uncrewed equipment, from Anduril Industries target-ramming Anvil to the rugged Textron Systems Ripsaw robot.

Replicator, thats a very new initiative, Wormuth said. Were still exploring how the Army can fit into that.

The Replicator undertaking is made possible by a reorganization of existing funds. It is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Defense News previously reported.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Armys multidomain task force units could see elements that include allies and partners, according to the head of U.S. Army Pacific.

Were actually doing some work right now with the third MDTF in Hawaii to create conditions for a combined MDTF, Gen. Charles Flynn told Defense News on Oct. 9 at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. Australia is moving five officers this summer  summer of 2024  to Hawaii so we can build out a combined element of the multidomain task force

The services first MDTF was experimental, but since then the Army has operationalized its existing units and determined it will grow at least four more. The Army established that initial one at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state around 2018. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command theater exercises helped inform the Armys Multi-Domain Operations warfighting concept, which has now evolved into doctrine.

The Army then established another MDTF in Europe in 2021, and another last year in Hawaii.

The units are designed to operate across all domains  land, air, sea, space and cyberspace  and are equipped with the Armys growing capabilities, including long-range precision fires.

Earlier this year, the now-retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville made a case to deploy the fourth MDTF in the Indo-Pacific region, bringing the number of MDTFs in that theater to three. Flynn agreed that the fourth MDTF should deploy to the Pacific. For that unit, the Army is still considering specific locations in the region, Flynn explained.

The Army is also considering how it could include Japan in an MDTF, similar to an evaluation for Australia.

Japans National Security Strategy and its defense forces cross-domain operations doctrine could align well with the intent of multidomain task forces.

Theres obviously a great deal of synergy in the organizational constructs that theyre trying to create and compare and contrast to what we learned by building the multidomain task force, Flynn said.

The third MDTF, and the second in the Pacific, just completed a deployment to participate in Talisman Sabre, a large-scale exercise with Australia.

And now the MDTF is working in the Philippines using its Combined Information and Effects Fusion Cell to combine open-source maritime and air applications in a common operational picture so the Philippines joint commands can actually see into the maritime and air littorals, which is out in their exclusion zone, so that they can then track friendly or adversary actions that are happening in those domains, Flynn explained.

The domain awareness from land, Flynn added, allows military commanders or political leaders to make well-informed decisions.

But the most important part of MDTFs are their multidomain effects battalions, Flynn noted.

I like to refer to it as sort of the targeting brain that brings together all source information, intelligence, electronic warfare, space and cyber tracks, [as well as command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance], but also can conduct counter-C5ISR so that we can provide intel support to joint [targeting], he said. It is designed from the land to see, sense and understand into all the domains, and then to be able to share that information with the joint force.
US Congress

The U.S. Congress should act swiftly to approve additional military aid to both Israel and Ukraine, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Oct. 9, as reported by Reuters.

Read also: Republican resistance to aid for Ukraine targets Biden, claims national security expert

One thing that is really important in terms of the munitions in particular and our ability to support both potentially the Israelis and the Ukrainians simultaneously is additional funding from Congress to be able to increase our capacity, in terms of our capacity to expand production and then to also pay for the munitions themselves, said Wormuth.

U.S. President Joe Biden has already directed $6 billion in emergency security assistance to Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. Hamas has repeatedly targeted the country with rockets. Armed Palestinian militants invaded southern Israel, killing people, and taking hostages.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries involved in training Hamas militants for operations against Israel, Ukrainian military say

More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, including two Ukrainians. Over 100 have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of them have been murdered.

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip.

Read also: Representatives of Russian terrorism at UN are not my concern, says Zelenskyy

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

As the U.S. House of Representatives is currently without a Speaker after Kevin McCarthy was removed from the post last week, Washington is approaching the limit of military aid it can provide to Ukraine to sustain its defense against the Russian invasion.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Editors note: This story was updated at 9:25 p.m. EST with additional information.

The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday, as the Pentagon reviews its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the three-day-old war with Hamas.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas militants is making its way to Israel.

The delivery came as President Joe Biden prepared to give formal remarks on the attacks from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, after he confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in the violence over the weekend.

We fully expect there will be additional requests for security assistance for Israel as they continue to expend munitions in this fight, Kirby said. We will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that were filling their needs as best we can and as fast as we can.

Also on Monday, a senior Defense Department official warned that the U.S. is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of these groups from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel. The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments.

The official said the U.S. is flooding the zone with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question Americas commitment to supporting the defense of Israel. The official, however, would not comment on whether U.S. military forces would be used at all, and Kirby later emphasized that there is no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground.

Meanwhile, Kirby said U.S. officials have yet to identify a direct link from the Hamas militants who executed this weekends deadly attacks to Iran itself, although the country has a degree of complicity considering its long support for the group.

While the Pentagon official said the U.S. has the ability to supply weapons to Ukraine and Israel and maintain security for America, the rapid delivery of munitions to the new war has raised concerns.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Congress must pass more funding quickly for the U.S. to be able to give both Israel and Ukraine the weapons and munitions they both now need.

The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel, she said. But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed to increase our capacity to expand production and then also pay for the munitions themselves.

At the White House, officials were more cautious, emphasizing that the U.S. government has existing funding to support Israel for the time being. But it was becoming clear that the administration is now facing potentially competing requests from Israel and Ukraine for additional weaponry.

If we need  and its an if, but  if we need to go back to Capitol Hill for additional funding support for Israel, we will absolutely do that, Kirby said. Referring to Israel and Ukraine, he added, We are a large enough, big enough, economically viable and vibrant enough country to be able to support both.

On Capitol Hill, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed support for Israel, although immediate congressional action was virtually impossible with the House remaining without a speaker and the Senate out of Washington until next week. Also uncertain is whether the debate over further assistance to Ukraine, which is opposed by a group of hard-right Republicans, will complicate efforts to pass assistance for Israel.

Wormuth, speaking at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, said the administration is still in the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the IDF needs, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. She did not provide details, but Doug Bush, the Armys assistant secretary for acquisition, told reporters at the conference that conversations are underway about what the U.S. can provide. He said it likely will be a wide range of equipment, from small arms to sophisticated munitions.

Most of the weaponry sent already to help Ukraine has come from Army stocks and defense contractors at a rate that has challenged the global supply chain, and while the Army has recently ramped up production of some critical lines, such as 155 mm ammunition for howitzers, they are not yet at full speed.

With a new ground offensive in Gaza imminent following the Saturday surprise attack by Hamas, Army officials said Monday they were concerned about the ability to meet additional demand for ground munitions and Congress needed to act quickly to provide help in time.

In addition to the 11 American citizens whose deaths Biden confirmed, an undetermined number remain unaccounted for. It was not yet clear if the missing are dead, in hiding, or had been taken hostage.

Biden said the U.S. believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, but officials are working to confirm that.

I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, Biden said in a statement.

To underscore U.S. solidarity with Israel, the White House was lit in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night.

The attack by Hamas and Israels retaliation have left more than 1,600 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.

In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, the White House has asked Senate leaders to fast track confirmation of President Joe Bidens nominee to be the next ambassador to Israel, former Obama-era Treasury Secretary and White House chief of staff Jack Lew, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity. The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Lew, the official added. The U.S. has been without an ambassador since the departure of Ambassador Tom Nides in July.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navys newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.

The senior Defense Department official said worries about Hezbollah opening a second front of violence against Israel was the main reason for moving the ships to the Eastern Mediterranean. The official said the U.S. is deeply concerned Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups will make the wrong decision to try to pile on and widen the war.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group already was in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment.

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
The Biden administration has begun delivering munitions and military equipment to Israel amid its war with the Hamas terrorist group.

The Pentagon is also reviewing inventories to see what can quickly be sent to boost Israel's military capabilities, a senior Defense Department official told The Associated Press.

The movement of weapons came as President Biden announced that 11 American citizens had been killed in the war.

Congress must pass more funding quickly for the U.S. to be able to give both Israel and Ukraine the weapons and munitions they both now need, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Monday.

ISRAELI EYEWITNESS TO TERROR REELING OVER DEVASTATING SURPRISE ATTACK: FAILURE OF MASSIVE PROPORTIONS

Israeli forces establish heavily armed control points along the border as Israel tightens measures by the army, police and other security forces after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in Sderot, Israel over the weekend.

"The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel," she said. "But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed to increase our capacity to expand production and then also pay for the munitions themselves."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Wormuth, speaking at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, said the administration is still "in the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the IDF needs," referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

The addition of weapons for Israel ahead of a possible military ground offensive in the Gaza Strip following Saturday's surprise attack by Hamas.

ADL LEADER VENTS ON MSNBC OVER NETWORK'S COVERAGE OF HAMAS TERROR AGAINST ISRAEL: WHOS WRITING THE SCRIPT?'

A smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023, during an Israeli air strike.

In a statement, Biden said the U.S. believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, but officials are working to confirm that.

"I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," Biden said.

The attacks have so far left more than 1,100 dead on both sides.

In addition to Hamas, Israeli forces have had to contend with a second front in the north from Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

The defense official said there is concern that Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups will make the wrong decision to try to "pile on" and widen the war.

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: US begins delivering munitions to Israel as war with Hamas intensifies
John Kirby, White House National Security spokesman, said on Monday, 9 October that Iran is complicit in the war in Israel, although the United States has no intelligence or evidence pointing to Iran's direct involvement in the attacks.

Source: Reuters

Quote from Kirby: "Iran has long supported Hamas and other terrorist networks throughout the region with resources capabilities training. And so in that regard, clearly, Iran is complicit here, but in terms of specific evidence on this, these sorts of attacks, no, we don't have anything."

Background:

Iran's mission to the United Nations has stated that Tehran was not involved in one of the bloodiest attacks in history on Israel, when the Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens more.

At the same time, senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah said that representatives of the Iranian security service had helped plan Hamas' surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light to attack at a meeting in Beirut last Monday.

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The remaining debris from the Titan submersible that suffered a catastrophic implosion en route to the wreckage of the Titanic in June has been recovered  including presumed human remains, the US Coast Guard said Tuesday.

All five passengers on board the Titan, a 23,000-pound vessel roughly the size of a minivan, were killed shortly after the vessel lost contact with its mother ship about 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive toward the Titanic.

Coast Guard marine safety engineers conduct a survey of the aft titanium endcap from Titan in the North Atlantic Ocean on October 1. - Chief Warrant Officer Melissa Le/US Coast Guard/NTSB

The evidence recovered from the North Atlantic Ocean seafloor last week by marine safety engineers from the Coast Guards Marine Board of Investigation was successfully transferred to a US port for cataloging and analysis, a release from the Coast Guard says.

Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titans debris and transported for analysis by US medical professionals, the release says.

The salvage mission was a follow-up to initial recovery operations after the submersible imploded, according to the Coast Guard.

The Marine Board of Investigation said it is coordinating with the National Transportation Safety Board and other international investigative agencies to schedule a joint evidence review of the recovered debris, which will determine the next steps for forensic testing.

The board will continue analyzing evidence and interviewing witnesses ahead of a public hearing regarding this tragedy, it said.

The Titans failure to resurface on June 18 sparked a massive, international search that captured the worlds attention for days. On June 22, officials confirmed the Titan had suffered a catastrophic implosion.

The five passengers were identified as OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush; businessman Hamish Harding; diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet; billionaire Shahzada Dawood; and Dawoods 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood.

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The State Department officially declared Tuesday that the recent takeover of Nigers government by a group of military leaders was a coup, cutting back on U.S. aid in the country.

A military junta put the countrys president on house arrest and took control of the government in late July, raising tensions in the region.

The U.S. government had previously refused to use the term coup, allowing some aid programs in the country to continue. With the designation, the U.S. will end all aid to Niger, including a $300 million economic grant for the country announced last year.

Humanitarian aid to Niger will continue, the State Department said.

We stand with the Nigerien people in their aspirations for democracy, prosperity, and stability, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Since the coup, we have supported the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] efforts to work with Niger to achieve a return to democratic rule.

Any resumption of U.S. assistance will require action by the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe, he added.

The coup faced fierce opposition from the ECOWAS, which threatened a military intervention in the country in August. The new Nigerien regime has received support from Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also controlled by military governments.

Niger has served as a key U.S. ally in the region and hosts about 1,100 U.S. troops, largely deployed for counterterrorism efforts. It is unclear if the troops will be moved out of the country.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken called deposed Niger President Mohamed Bazoum on Friday in preparation for the announcement.

Blinken reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region, the State Department said in a brief statement.

The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover, it added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Destroyers complete maritime training mission

China Military Online) 09:52, October 10, 2023

The guided-missile destroyer Changchun attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Northern Theater Command steams to a designated sea area during a maritime training exercise on September 20, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Zezhou)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
The White House has issued a joint statement after US President Joe Biden had a phone call with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK regarding the latest developments in Israel.

Source: The White House

Details: The leaders expressed their "steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism".

They also stated that they stand by Israel's right to defend itself: "All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed," they added.

Quote: "We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned.

We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage."

Background:

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden ordered additional support for Israel in the wake of a large-scale attack by Hamas.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed support for his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the large-scale attack by the Hamas terrorist group.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- US House lawmakers are considering the unprecedented step of empowering Representative Patrick McHenry to advance aid to Israel and other legislation even if the House cant quickly elect a new speaker.

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The North Carolina Republican is currently the acting speaker pro tem, a mostly ceremonial role he assumed last week after all Democrats and eight dissident Republicans voted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the job.

Some House rules experts think McHenry is only allowed to facilitate a new speaker election. But the US is in unchartered territory  no other speaker has been toppled in this fashion, and the House has been paralyzed since McCarthys removal.

The conflict in Israel, and the near-unanimous bipartisan support for sending aid, has added urgency to the situation as fractious Republicans haggle behind closed doors over who should take McCarthys place.

President Joe Biden can approve some aid for Israel, but major new investments must come from Congress.

McHenry has planned a Wednesday speaker election but its not yet clear either declared candidate  the No. 2 Republican Steve Scalise or Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan  can get the necessary support. Republicans hold only a small majority in the House and Democrats are expected to vote for their own leader, Hakeem Jeffries.

McHenry has declined to address proposals from some of his colleagues to give him broader powers, perhaps for a limited time, to get through the crisis.

Some lawmakers, however, have expressed concerns that the paralyzed House sends a message of weakness to the world at a time when Israel is under attack and Ukraine is fighting to take back territory seized by Russia.

Republican David Joyce, an Ohio Republican, has suggested empowering McHenry at least temporarily, and others are also considering it, including Democratic leadership officials, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

McHenrys authority could be discussed when Democrats meet Tuesday night to discuss Israel, another person familiar with the matter said.

Some lawmakers believe the House doesnt even need a floor vote to give McHenry authority. The temporary speaker, or speaker pro tem, position was created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to preserve continuity of government in the event of a crisis.

New York Republican Marc Molinaro said McHenry should just exert the authority and set new precedents.

In the aftermath of 9/11 there could never have been the thought that the only job of the speaker pro tem would be to select a new speaker, Molinaro said. There would always have been the expectation that the speaker pro tem would have to assume some authority to function.

Proposed Aid

Two bills have already been announced that could quickly pass a functioning House: a resolution condemning the Hamas attack on Israel and $2 billion to replenish Israels Iron Dome missile defense system.

McCarthy, who said Monday he would return as speaker if his party urged him to do so, also proposed new sanctions on Iran, freezing $6 billion in Iranian funds the Biden administration recently released and bolstering US oil production to replace Irans oil exports.

Lawmakers are also grappling with funding for Ukraine, border security and a looming Nov. 17 deadline to fund the federal government.

--With assistance from Erik Wasson.

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FILE PHOTO: Election day for a new union for the VU Manufacturing auto parts plant, in Pedras Negras

By Daina Beth Solomon

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor said on Tuesday it is disappointed by the closure of VU Manufacturing's facility in the northern Mexican city of Piedras Negras, which it said failed to adhere to a labor rights remediation plan under a regional trade pact.

VU Manufacturing, a small car upholstery factory, came under scrutiny for alleged violations twice under the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has tougher rules than its predecessor, NAFTA, regarding protecting the right of workers to form unions.

The case marks the first time the U.S. has rebuked a company for failing to meet its commitments following a USMCA labor probe, in contrast to 13 other workplaces that have also come under review in Mexico.

In March, the U.S. and Mexico pledged to oversee VU Manufacturing carry out a series of commitments to remain neutral in union affairs and allow workers to freely organize.

"Unfortunately, the company undermined the majority union's ability to represent workers in collective bargaining negotiations and their right to strike," said Thea Lee, U.S. deputy undersecretary of labor for international affairs, in a statement.

"We note with disappointment VU's decision to close its facility without adhering to the agreed course of remediation."

VU Manufacturing, an unlisted company based in Michigan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lee said U.S. officials had anticipated that "employers would not choose compliance in every instance," but that other USMCA complaints have largely benefited workers.

The Department of Labor urged Mexico to prevent retaliation against former VU workers as they seek new jobs, and to ensure VU makes timely payments to dismissed workers.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Editing by Kylie Madry and Matthew Lewis)
The News

The U.S. officially determined Tuesday that a military coup took place in Niger in July, suspending nearly $200 million in aid to the West African country.

Just over two months ago, a general declared himself the new leader of Niger following the removal of the countrys elected president.

The U.S. initially held off on officially labeling the situation a coup, amid steps aimed at restoring constitutional order. Senior administration officials have since said that its become clear that the military junta officials do not want to abide by constitutional guidelines, including restoring civilian rule within four months, The Associated Press reported.

The U.S. previously paused some foreign aid to the country, totaling $200 million. That aid will now be suspended until Niger can take steps toward democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe," the U.S. State Department said. It will maintain life-saving humanitarian, food, and health assistance to the country.
US police shot and killed the driver of a vehicle that ploughed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco (Laure Andrillon)

US police shot dead a driver whose car crashed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday.

Unverified footage on social media showed a vehicle inside the building with officers pointing their weapons at the driver's door, as people fled down stairs and into the open.

A spokesman for the consulate said the suspect had driven "violently into our consulate's administration hall, posing a serious threat to the lives of staff and people on-site and causing serious damage."

San Francisco Police Department's Sergeant Kathryn Winters said officers responded after being alerted to the vehicle having crashed into the visa office.

"Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred," Winters told reporters.

Officers, paramedics and medics had tried to save the suspect's life, but that the person was pronounced dead at the hospital some time later, Winters said, adding the police could give no details about the suspect's identity.

The local ABC7 News channel said its crews had seen a man covered in blood and apparently unresponsive being taken away from the scene.

"This is an open and active investigation and the San Francisco Police Department is currently working in coordination with investigators from the US State Department," Winters said.

The consulate spokesman said the body "strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue accountability for the incident.

"The Consulate has made solemn representations to the US side, requesting a prompt investigation into the truth and a serious punishment in accordance with the law."

San Francisco is home to a large number of ethnic Chinese residents, including many from Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing considers a renegade province and has vowed to one day control.

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Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from a Moscow jail on espionage charges, which means he will be imprisoned at least through Nov. 30.

Gershkovich was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,200 miles east of Moscow. The 31-year-old U.S. citizen was accredited by Russias Foreign Ministry to work as a reporter but was detained on espionage charges. The Journal and U.S. government have said the charges against him are false.

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This was Gershkovichs second attempt at appealing the extension of his pretrial detention. The court extended his detention in August, prompting the reporters first appeal.

His detention was scheduled to end Aug. 30, but the Moscow court decided to extend his detention until at least the end of November.

Russias Federal Security Service alleged he was acting on the instructions of the American side, and collected information about the Russian military.

Gershkovich is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, which is known for its hard conditions. He is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War.

Legal experts say it could be months before Gershkovichs case is brought to trial, and even then, espionage cases can last for more than a year.

In a bipartisan effort, both chambers of Congress have called for the immediate release of Gershkovich and other wrongfully detained U.S. citizens.

The countries have exchanged prisoners before, including during the Russian release of WNBA star Brittney Griner . Russia said it would consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict was reached, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. has accused Russia of using jailed Americans as bargaining chips.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A US Navy petty officer pleaded guilty to providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer (Stefani Reynolds)

A US Navy petty officer pleaded guilty on Tuesday to providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer, the Justice Department said.

Wenheng Zhao, 26, and another US sailor, Jinchao Wei, were arrested in August on suspicion of spying for China.

Zhao pleaded guilty in a federal court in California to charges of conspiring with a foreign intelligence officer and accepting a bribe, the Justice Department said in a statement.

He faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and a maximum of 15 years for bribery. Sentencing was set for January 8.

According to US officials, Zhao, who was stationed at a naval base north of Los Angeles, received nearly $15,000 from the Chinese intelligence officer between August 2021 and May 2023.

In exchange, he handed over sensitive information regarding US Navy operational security, exercises and critical infrastructure.

Zhao specifically provided information about a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system located in Okinawa, Japan.

"The intelligence services of the People's Republic of China actively target (security) clearance holders across the military, seeking to entice them with money to provide sensitive government information," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said.

"When contacted by his co-conspirator, rather than reporting it to the Navy, the defendant chose greed over protecting the national security of the United States."

Wei, who served on the amphibious assault ship the USS Essex, is accused of handing over to China dozens of documents, photos and videos detailing the operation of ships and their systems.

Last week, a former US Army sergeant was arrested for seeking to provide classified information to China.

Joseph Schmidt, 29, who served in an army intelligence unit from 2015 until 2020, is charged with retaining national defense information and attempting to deliver it to China.

cl/caw
By Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. is talking with Israel and Egypt about the idea of a safe passage for Gaza civilians as Israel strikes the enclave after a deadly Hamas attack over the weekend, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.

"We are focused on this question, there are consultations going on," Sullivan told reporters at the White House.

"But the details of that are something that are being discussed among the operational agencies and I don't want to share too much of that publicly at this time," Sullivan said.

Israel has battered Palestinians with deadly air strikes in Gaza after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel on Saturday that left hundreds dead.

Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 900 Palestinians were killed and up to 4,600 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday. The enclave, only 40km (25 miles) long by 10km (6 miles) wide, is home to 2.3 million people.

The United Nations said more than 180,000 Palestinians in Gaza had been made homeless. They have lived under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years, since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000. Washington and some of its key Western allies have said Israel has the right to self-defense.

"We do not deliberately target civilians," Sullivan said of the U.S. and Israel, when asked about civilian casualties in Gaza in the Tuesday press briefing.

"We work to make sure that our military operations are conducted consistent with the rule of law and the law of war," he added.

Palestinians in Gaza have said that Israeli bombardment has been heavy and feels like a new "Nakba," the Arabic word for catastrophe that refers to the 1948 war of Israel's creation that led to their mass dispossession.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; additional reporting by Costas Pitas; writing by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Leslie Adler, Nick Zieminski and Lincoln Feast.)
The US is considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean, reports say.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is set to pass through the area but could be tasked to waters near Israel.

Aircraft carriers are often moved around as a show of force and a means of deterrence.

After sending its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier and the accompanying warships in its strike group to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of strength and support for Israel amid its war with Hamas, the US is said to be considering sending a second aircraft carrier into the area.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its escorts could join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group in waters near Israel in the coming weeks, US defense officials told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. ABC News also reported the discussions.

The Eisenhower is already set to head to the Middle East this week for a deployment that was planned months ago, but officials are now apparently debating whether the carrier should join the Ford or replace it. The Ford, which has been operating in the Mediterranean as part of its first full deployment, arrived in the eastern part of the waterway Tuesday.

"The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation," said Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command.

The US Department of Defense declined to comment to Insider on whether there were conversations on tasking the Eisenhower with a mission outside its original deployment plans.

If the Eisenhower does join the Ford, it'll be the first time two carriers have been deployed in the area since March 2020, when rocket attacks aimed at Camp Taji, an Iraqi military installation north of Baghdad, killed two American soldiers and one British soldier.

The retasking of the Ford and reported considerations surrounding the Eisenhower speak to growing concerns about the crisis unfolding in Israel after surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday were said to have left more than 800 civilians dead and injured significantly more. Israel responded by officially declaring war on Hamas and conducting devastating airstrikes on Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. There are also expectations that an Israeli ground assault could be coming, which could wreak havoc on the densely populated area where many have already been killed or injured in the retaliatory strikes.

In response to the attacks by Hamas, the US pledged full support for Israel  overall the largest receiver of US military aid  and moved its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, into waters near Israel. It was an unexpected change in the carrier's first full deployment, which the Ford spent mostly conducting exercises with partners and calls in friendly ports.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower near Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia in December 2012. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1977. Unlike the younger first-in-class Ford, the Eisenhower has seen action with deployments during the Gulf War in the 1990s and the later wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Were the US to move the Eisenhower into position near Israel, it would be a flex of US naval might in a hostile area, providing both logistics and humanitarian support while also unnerving enemy forces.

"Often the presence of an aircraft carrier has deterred potential adversaries from striking against US interests," the Navy says on its website. "Aircraft carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea and engage in sustained power projection operations in support of US and coalition forces."

That's especially noteworthy in Israel right now, as fighting has broken out along the country's border with Lebanon, and Hezbollah  an Iran-backed independent group that, like Hamas, is designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department  has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces. There has also been troubling rhetoric from Tehran.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Over 40 airlines have canceled flights in and out of Israel amid the ongoing war.

At least 900 people have died in Israel following surprise attacks by Hamas militants.

Travelers in Israel say they've faced long lines and multiple canceled flights trying to get home.

Travelers at Israel's Ben Gurion airport attempting to get home amid escalating violence are facing a chaotic atmosphere with extensive delays, long lines, and canceled flights, several travelers told Insider.

On Saturday, as communities across Israel celebrated the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, Hamas militants broke through Israel's security fences on the Gaza border and launched coordinated surprise attacks that left at least 900 people dead and wounded thousands more. Hundreds of civilians and military personnel were also taken captive.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war against Hamas, launching a counterattack during which at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,800 more have been injured, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The ongoing war has thrown Israel's travel industry into chaos

More than 40 airlines have canceled flights to and from the country.

"People are just scared and trying to get out," Lia Hershkovitz, who flew out of Ben Gurion airport on Sunday, told Insider.

A sign pointing to a bomb shelter inside Israel's Ben Gurion airport. Daniel Rosehill

Muki Portnoy, her husband, and three children were supposed to fly home to New Jersey on a United flight that was canceled. Their travel agent booked them another flight on Monday to Madrid via the Spanish carrier Iberia. On the shuttle ride to the airport after dropping off their rental car, Portnoy got a notification that their flight had been canceled, she said.

"When we arrived, the airport was just completely mobbed. Lines were out the door, almost," she said.

Portnoy and her husband looked for alternative flights. She said they were repeatedly waved away by airport workers, and that Israel's El Al airline wasn't letting anyone stand in line at the ticket counter unless they already had a reservation. (Insider has contacted the airline for comment.) She said their travel agent waitlisted their party of five on 40 different El Al flights, but none of them had available seats.

She described the scene as "hundreds and hundreds of frustrated people. People crying. Lots and lots and lots of families just sitting on the floor, waiting around. Lots of long lines everywhere. People confused, not really sure where to go and what to do."

Portnoy's husband returned to the airport the following day, waiting in line for five hours until he secured tickets for a flight on Wednesday.

Long lines inside Israel's Ben Gurion airport. Lia Hershkovitz

It took Hannah Zucherman three tries to book a flight out of Israel in her efforts to get home to San Francisco. She said the airline of the second flight she booked, on Turkish Airlines, didn't even notify her that it had been canceled. Instead, she says she found out by looking it up on Ben Gurion's website. Insider has contacted Turkish Airlines for comment.

When she did successfully buy a ticket and make it through security, she found the waiting areas eerily silent.

"Inside the terminal it was very quiet and folks were clearly on edge," Zucherman said. "Normally, there are kids running around and lots of noise. This time it was much more subdued."

Israelis trying to return home are also facing challenges

Jerusalem resident Daniel Rosehill's El Al flight from Barcelona to Israel on Monday was delayed for a few hours, but he eventually made it to Israel.

"The cabin crew made a sort of somber announcement about these being difficult times and El Al being committed to bringing Israelis home," he told Insider.

Rosehill said the arrivals terminal was "noticeably more quiet than usual, but otherwise business as normal." When he stepped off the plane, he noted signs indicating the nearest shelter from incoming rocket fire.

The Israel Airports Authority has not responded to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- The US and Venezuela are close to reaching an understanding that would bring limited sanctions relief in exchange for steps to ensure fair elections in the Latin American country next year, according to people familiar with the matter.

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As part of the informal deal, the US would be willing to lift some oil and banking sanctions on Venezuela once Caracas announces measures to hold its presidential elections in a more democratic fashion, the people said. Those steps would include removing a ban on all opposition candidates to run for office.

Once those conditions are met, the US would be open to lifting penalties on both Venezuelas central bank and the state-owned development bank, giving the administration of President Nicolas Maduro a path to reengage with financial institutions to recover at least $3 billion held in accounts in Europe, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the fragile discussions.

Sanctions relief being considered by President Joe Biden s administration would also extend to members of Maduros entourage, the people said, though its not expected to include prominent financiers such as Alex Saab, a top Maduro ally who has been imprisoned in the US since 2021.

Venezuelas Information Ministry didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a step that could pave the way for relief from US sanctions, Venezuelan government representatives are expected to reach an agreement with opposition leaders on the election, the people said. They intend to close the agreement ahead of the Oct. 22 opposition primary elections, according to the people.

Ending the ban on opposition candidates, including frontrunner Maria Corina Machado, would clear the way for them to run in the 2024 election, according to the people. Candidates must still request removal of the restriction to Venezuelas Supreme Court, a requirement that delayed the agreement for months as its seen as key to giving Machado a chance to win the vote.

Maduro has also agreed not to interfere with the opposition primaries later this month and to invite international observers to oversee the general election, as well as to release dozens of political prisoners from detention centers, which was a crucial point for Washington, according to one of the people.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said that the US is ready to provide sanctions relief once Venezuela moves toward restoring democracy and holding fair elections. So far, the spokesperson said, Venezuela hasnt taken those steps.

Maduro has sought for years to end US sanctions on the feeble Venezuelan economy to guarantee his regime the financing it needs to keep operations afloat. His government is in dire need of cash to potentially launch his third presidential campaign ahead of the 2024 vote.

At odds since socialist leader Hugo Chavez took power more than two decades ago, the US and Venezuela have showed recent signs of rapprochement.

This month, the Biden administration said it would resume repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants who enter the US illegally, with Caracas saying it would accept the return of its citizens for the first time in years.

Maduro, for his part, cleared the way for the recently appointed Venezuelan electoral body to register new voters ahead of next years elections.

Lifting sanctions imposed by the US under President Donald Trump in 2019 would be the result of months of direct and closely held talks between officials from both countries in different venues, stretching from Europe to the Mideast.

As part of the deal, talks in Mexico between Maduros government and the opposition could resume as a way to ensure implementation of any agreement and make sure the parties fulfill their commitments, according to the people familiar with the negotiation.

Even so, negotiations are ongoing and have previously failed to yield an agreement, making US officials skeptical of any outcome and wanting to see Maduro move first before any commitments, according to two of the people.

--With assistance from Nicolle Yapur and Fabiola Zerpa.

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Brown bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park are - unwittingly - competing to be crowned chubbiest creature in the annual Fat Bear Week contest (JOHN MOORE)

Voters in the US were busy addressing weighty issues Tuesday, casting their ballots for the overall champion of a national park's annual Fat Bear Week.

The final day of voting saw contestants "128 Grazer" and "32 Chunk" battling it out for the crown of biggest bruin in Alaska's Katmai National Park.

The contest asks members of the public to compare before-and-after pictures of brown bears as they stuff themselves full of salmon in preparation for the lean months of hibernation.

The champion is the bear who makes it through the series of head-to-head match-ups.

"Your vote decides who is the fattest of the fat," organizers said.

"128 Grazer's powerful presence is as thunderous as her thick tree trunk thighs," they added.

"32 Chunk's gargantuan gut has cast a shadow on his competition and has launched this Leviathan to the last round. Can his pudginess propel him to the prize?"

The online contest began in 2014 with just a few thousand people voting, but has now turned into an eagerly awaited exercise in tongue-in-cheek democracy, with hundreds of thousands of ballots cast every year.

The aim is to raise awareness of brown bears and their habitat in Alaska, and the risks they face from human activity.

The 2,000 bears of the Katmai National Park pile on the pounds in late summer and early autumn in readiness for five months of hibernation in which they can lose up to a third of their body weight.

This means gorging themselves on the plentiful salmon runs of the Brooks River.

"Fat bears are successful bears," organizers said.

The contest, which had appeared imperiled by the near-shutdown of the US government after a Washington stand-off, was rocked last year by a ballot stuffing scandal.

Spam votes had tipped the scales in favor of scrappy challenger Bear 435, with only a careful recount crowning Bear 747 the rightful champion.

Voting in this year's poll -- at explore.org/fat-bear-week -- closes at 5:00 pm Tuesday in Alaska (0100 GMT Wednesday).

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The building that houses the University of South Floridas College of Public Health will now bear the name of the schools founder, the late legislator and advocate Sam Bell.

On Tuesday, the college announced the naming along with an unspecified donation from Bell and his wife, former USF president Betty Castor . School officials also announced a $100,000 gift from Florida Healthy Kids.

Bell, who died in March, was a Volusia County lawmaker and a leader in the Florida House who championed the creation of the states first college of public health at USF. It was an uphill battle at the time.

He first proposed adding the college to the state budget in 1981, according to Castor, who married Bell in 1989. The item was vetoed.

After that, then-Gov. Bob Graham told Bell the idea had not been studied and suggested considering another institution for the college, Castor said.

Well, those are just fighting words for Sam, Im sure, she said. And this is the early 80s  USF was not as prominent as it is now.

The next year, Bell added a public health school to the USF College of Medicines budget. That entire budget would need to be vetoed for the funding to be struck out. Bell kept adding language in subsequent years, Castor said, to create what became the universitys College of Public Health.

By 1987, USF had become the states most prominent school in the field and Bell was chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee. He put in $650,000 for the funding of the building. The next year, he put in $9.5 million.

Sam stuck with it, Castor said. It was not initially embraced because (people were saying), What is USF trying to do, start this new school? We got other institutions in the state. But he came back and he was relentless.

Bell remained involved in the school. He chaired its advisory committee for more than 40 years, until last year, taught adjunct classes and maintained a small office.

Castor said she would often laugh at how often he called the colleges dean, Donna Petersen, with ideas the college should pursue.

I used to say to him, You know, Sam, shes pretty busy and she has a lot to do, Castor recalled. And he would say, Yeah, but I have this idea and I need to tell her about it right away.

By Castors account, Petersen said Bells presence was always welcomed. I dont know that he ever retired, she said.

The college, Petersen said, was formed in the midst of an HIV epidemic and never lost relevancy.

The world changes all the time, she said. Its always been my experience in public health that when we are doing our best work, nothings happening. And so no ones paying attention to it. And its difficult to sustain the investment in something thats not happening.

Bell funded efforts to sponsor student research of mosquito abatement in Uganda. And during the pandemic, when he learned that misinformation was spreading about COVID-19  particularly within Latino communities  he quickly rallied support for a Spanish-language campaign.

He also was a champion of early childhood and infant issues in the Legislature, passing bills requiring metabolic screening for infants and child seatbelts, regulating tap water temperature to prevent infant deaths, subsidizing adoptions for kids with disabilities and establishing neonatal ICU networks.

He really cared about these and it was unusual, frankly, for a male legislator, said Castor, who also served in the Legislature and as state education commissioner. It was somewhat unusual for a male legislator to take such an interest in the issues that affect early childhood and infant screening. Usually, thats associated with kind of female-type stuff. But he was out there for it.

Also on Tuesday, Florida Healthy Kids, a government-subsidized insurance plan Bell helped lay groundwork for, announced a $100,000 gift to the college to create the Sam Bell Memorial Endowment for scholarships and research.

Rolando Trejos was one three students who shared memories of Bell during a naming ceremony Tuesday at USF. He said Bell would ask students about their opinions on public health issues.

Mr. Bell listened and genuinely cared, said Trejos, a graduate student at the college.

Students knew his name, and a lot of them knew him, Petersen said. He was clearly interested in people and a champion of their lives. ... For us, this is the house Sam built. Putting the name outside lets everyone else know.

Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times, working in partnership with Open Campus.
The holiday season is inching closer and the United States Postal Service (USPS) is rolling out the shipping and mailing deadlines for this year.

For a card or package to arrive by Dec. 25 in states excluding Hawaii, theyll need to be sent out by Dec. 16 if the sender is using USPS Ground Advantage or First-Class Mail.

>> 2 men win $2 million off scratch-off in Miami County

If a package or card is being sent by Priority Mail, it would need to be sent by Dec. 18. Packages and cards would need to go out by Dec. 20 if theyre being sent using Priority Mail Express.

For shipping and mailing to Hawaii, the only difference is priority mail shipping. Instead of Dec. 18, packages and cards must be sent by Dec. 16.

For Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, or Diplomatic Post Office, the dates are as follows:

USPS Ground Advantage  Nov. 6

First-Class Mail  Dec. 9

Priority Mail  Dec. 9

Priority Mail Express Military Service  Dec. 15

USPS Ground Advantage is a new shipping option this year. Officials say it provides a simple, reliable, and affordable way to shop packages with day certain delivery of 2-5 business days based on distance.

This year, there wont be any holiday surcharges.
Utah is suing TikTok as of Tuesday for allegedly encouraging children into social media usage that is detrimental to their mental health.

The Beehive State is taking aim at the social media company with a focus on allegedly enticing children to use the app for prolonged periods of time, not being honest about its safety and lying about its independence from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, The Associated Press reported. It joins Arkansas and Indiana in comparable lawsuits against TikTok, the AP said.

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We will not stand by while these companies fail to take adequate, meaningful action to protect our children. We will prevail in holding social media companies accountable by any means necessary, Gov. Spencer Cox (R-Utah) said at a news conference on the lawsuit, per the AP.

Last December, Cox implemented a ban on TikTok in the government branches of the state over concerns related to the security of the app and connections to the Chinese state.

Chinas access to data collected by TikTok presents a threat to our cybersecurity, Cox said in a statement at the time. As a result, weve deleted our TikTok account and ordered the same on all state-owned devices. We must protect Utahns and make sure that the people of Utah can trust the states security systems.

Other states including Texas, South Dakota and Maryland have also restricted the use of the social media app within their state governments.

In a statement emailed to The Hill, a TikTok spokesperson said it has industry-leading safeguards for young people like an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts.

We will continue to work to keep our community safe by tackling industry-wide challenges, the statement read.

The Associated Press contributed.

Updated at 5:12 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden , and his son Hunter Biden arrive at Fort McNair on June 25, 2023, in Washington. Republicans have insisted for months that they have the grounds to launch impeachment proceedings against President Biden. | Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

The House Republican impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is still moving forward despite the fact that GOP representatives dont have a speaker after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the top spot.

Fox News reported that a House Oversight Committee spokesperson said the committee will continue reviewing records before taking action in the coming days.

American voters seem to have reacted to the impeachment inquiry with a shrug and a sigh  and Utah voters are no different.

A new poll shows a majority of Utahns think Biden, when he was the vice president, benefited from his son Hunter Bidens foreign consulting work and support the impeachment inquiry, but a majority also think the Republicans decision to launch the investigation was politically motivated.

There was also broad consensus that Hunter Biden profited off his fathers political office, according to the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll.

On the question of whether they support the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden, the poll shows more than half of Utah voters, or 56%, say they support it, while 32% say they oppose the investigation and 12% said they dont know.

Dan Jones & Associates surveyed 802 Utahn registered voters from Sept. 24 to Sept. 29, 2023. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.23 percentage points.

Is the impeachment inquiry against Biden politically motivated?

House Republicans have been investigating the president's son since they took control of the House earlier this year and held the first hearing for the impeachment inquiry into Biden over his familys foreign business dealings a week ago.

At the impeachment hearing, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said President Biden lied at least 10 times about not speaking to his family about business.

Comer rejected Bidens claim that there was an absolute wall between his personal and professional life: Lets be clear: there was no wall. The door was wide open to those who purchased what a business associate described as The Biden Brand.

But the witnesses, who didnt have firsthand knowledge about Hunter Bidens foreign business dealings, said at the hearing that the current evidence isnt sufficient to support articles of impeachment.

Voters were also surveyed about whether or not they think the impeachment inquiry into Biden is politically motivated  and nearly 6 in 10, or 58%, said it is.

Meanwhile, nearly 31% said it isnt political and 11% said they dont know.

Among Democrat voters, almost 9 in 10 said the inquiry is politically motivated, while less than 1 in 10 said it isnt or they dont know.

Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics, told the Deseret News the response from Republican voters is particularly interesting.

Almost 50% of GOP respondents said the inquiry is politically motivated, while 40% said it isnt and 11% said they dont know.

It seems that by and large, among Utah Republicans  regardless of where you are on the Republican side of the political spectrum  there seems to be some kind of consensus that it probably is politically motivated, he said.

Did Hunter Biden benefit from his dads position in office?

The impeachment inquiry stems in part from a Department of Justice investigation into the presidents son that started when President Biden was in the early weeks of his presidential campaign in 2020.

This investigation continued behind the scenes until June 2023, when Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and enter a deferment on a felony firearms charge, as Deseret News reported. This plea deal fell apart in August and he was subsequently charged with three firearm-related felony charges.

Meanwhile, a congressional investigation into Hunter Biden was launched earlier this year. In July, two Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers testified to the House Oversight Committee, where they claimed, The Justice Department provided preferential treatment, slow-walked the investigation, (and) did nothing to avoid obvious conflicts.

Committee chairman Comer alleged the president used his position in public office for financial gains, with the involvement of his son, who made deals with Chinese and Ukrainian businessmen.

The latest poll also asked voters whether they think Hunter Biden profited from his fathers position in government.

Nearly 77% said they think he did reap benefits from his fathers position in office, while only 10% said he didnt and 13% said they dont know.

A large majority of Republicans, 86%, and 43% of Democrats said they believe Hunter Biden profited from his fathers position when President Biden was vice president.

Perry noted the large number of Democrats who said Hunter Biden did profit from his father's position, saying this finding was unexpected, as was the similarly sized number of Republicans who say the impeachment inquiry against the president is politically motivated.

These groups show there is a growing consensus on these issues that cut across party lines, he said.

Did Biden benefit from his sons business dealings?

Voters were also asked if they think President Biden profited from his sons business dealings while serving as vice president  and 55% said yes, they believe he did, while 26% said they dont think the president profited and 19% said they dont know.

The Utah perspective on these is, something seems not quite right  and that is not just a Republican perspective, but its also a Democrat perspective on these questions, which means that Utahns are not purely running these questions through a political filter, Perry said. Its more nuanced than that.
Lotan Abir is pictured at a March 2023 event hosted by Young Jewish Professionals Utah. Abir, 24, is reported to be among those killed the recent attacks by militant group Hamas in Israel. | Avremi Zippel

A 24-year-old Israeli who recently relocated to Utah is among the more than 1,000 people killed in Israel by Hamas militants in a surprise attack on Saturday resulting in a declaration of war by Israeli leaders.

According to Rabbi Avremi Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, Lotan Abir had completed military service in Israel and moved to Utah six to eight months ago, where he was working as a locksmith. He was among a group of young Israelis in Utah who do handyman jobs, he said.

Abir was killed while attending a rave Friday night, Rabbi Zippel said.

He was someone who did not have a malicious bone in his body. Its remarkable to me that the photos that we have with him are from one of our larger parties this year and I posted on my social media. Theres about half a dozen of him, smiling with his friends, enjoying, celebrating his Judaism, which was at the core of his essence, Rabbi Zippel said.

Abir loved music, Rabbi Zippel said in an interview on Tuesday.

He went to a rave with a number of friends, and thats where innocent blood was shed, at a rave, for Gods sake, and were busy having conversations about political conflict. You could think that Lotan was a member of the Israeli congress who had recently passed a harmful bill. Were talking about a young person who was shot down at a rave, theres value to people starting to wrap their minds around this. Theres value to people really starting to understand what were talking about right over there, he said.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, tweeted: May he, and all of the innocent men, women, and children killed in these horrific terrorist attacks, rest in peace.

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Rabbi Zippel urged Utahns to gather at the Utah Stands With Israel rally at 5 p.m. Wednesday outside the Utah State Capitol.

Utah is overwhelmingly full of good people. Its time to show up. Our community is reeling. Death toll in the thousands. Images that are simply inhumane. Does it bother you? Be at the Capitol tomorrow at 5 p.m., and show us it does, he tweeted.

The event is not a political rally, he said.

This is an event that is supporting the innocent, the innocent lives of hundreds now into the thousands of men, women and children, said Rabbi Zippel.

Rabbi Zippel said some in his community have been told by their employers not to post about the terrorist attack and war on their social media platforms.

Was there conflict on Sept. 12, (2001) when the global community stood with Americans who were being murdered en masse? Was there concern about the potential political conflict and blowback of putting an American flag on your porch? If someone could explain to me why this is different, I would be profoundly indebted to them, Rabbi Zippel said.

U.S. has Israels back, Biden says

According to CNN, President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday that Americans are among the hostages being held by Hamas after its rampage over the weekend. The known number of Americans killed in the attacks stands at 14.

The president said more than 1,000 civilians had been killed by Hamas fighters, including women, children and seniors. The known number of Americans killed in the attacks stands at 14.

The president characterized the acts as pure unadulterated evil, in his remarks delivered Tuesday at the White House.

Americans are among the people Hamas militants have taken hostage and have threatened to kill if Israel strikes at civilians without warning.

This is terrorism, said Biden, vowing to stand with Israel.

The United States has Israels back. We will make sure the Jewish and democratic State of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow, as we always have. Its as simple as that, Biden said.

At least 765 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israels retaliatory airstrikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, CBS News reported. At least 140 children there have been killed and 4,000 others have been wounded, the health ministry said.

BYU Jerusalem Center safe

According to a BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies security update, There have no reports of violence in Jerusalem. Most Jerusalemites are staying home; local schools will remain closed for the next two days.

The Jerusalem Centers 93 students have been asked to remain at the center. They are continuing with scheduled classes, according to the security update.

Related
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A driver who crashed a car into the Chinese Consulate building in San Francisco Monday afternoon has been shot, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. There were security guards inside the consulate at the time of the incident, however it is not known at this time who was involved in the shooting.

Officials tell KRON4 that the suspect has not been arrested and that the scene remains active.

6 passengers injured after Cable Car stops abruptly to avoid car

Geary Boulevard is closed and drivers are being told to expect traffic delays or consider alternate routes. No other details are available at this time. The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the incident.

Earlier on Monday, police activity was reported near USF. It is not know if the two incidents are related.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Columbus police have identified a 42-year-old man as the victim of a fatal shooting Sunday night at the new Greyhound bus terminal on the city's West Side.

Columbus police have identified the person fatally shot Sunday night at the new Greyhound bus terminal on the city's West Side.

Rhys R. Jones, 42, was pronounced dead at 11:21 p.m. at the terminal at 845 N. Wilson Road by Columbus Fire medics, police said Tuesday.

Officers were dispatched to the scene following the shooting, which was reported just before 11:15 p.m., police said.

Security officers at the station detained the suspect, 26-year-old Jibril Han Kim, until police could arrest him. He has been charged with murder in Jones' death.

Greyhound relocated its terminal from Downtown to a former gas station on North Wilson Road in June. The Central Ohio Transit Authority purchased the bus line's former terminal Downtown on Town Street in 2021. The new terminal also serves Barons Bus Lines and other bus operators.

In response to complaints from nearby residents about operations at the bus terminal, Columbus City Attorney Zack Klein filed a lawsuit to force Greyhound and Barons to address crime and code violations at the facility. The lawsuit is pending.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Columbus police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

jwilhelm@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police identify man fatally shot at new Greyhound terminal
Children love books and berries! Especially when they are in Salinas.

Kindergarteners and first-graders at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School enjoyed a read-aloud of "A Sofia Special," a picture book about celebrating joy in everyday moments, last Wednesday morning. The main character in the book, Sofia, makes a "Sofia Special" to share with her family by scooping ice cream into a bowl and covering it with a mountain of berries. The book's message is about life being sweeter when shared with others.

A student looks at the camera at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School during a read-aloud session on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.

After the read-aloud, which was conducted simultaneously by the book's author, Julie Falatko, and another volunteer, in English and Spanish respectively, kids got to "make their own books" with booklet papers and coloring materials. That activity was followed by each student picking up their own copy of "A Sofia Special" in English or Spanish. They also got two more books to take home and cups of assorted berries thanks to Driscoll's and the nonprofit Reading is Fundamental.

Students at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School enjoy assorted Driscoll's berries at an outdoor table on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.

"It's great to see members in the community and a company like this come in and support our students. (The students) came out with the books and big smiles... (they're) going to take those books home and share them with their families," said Virginia Rocca Barton Principal Luis Romero.

A young student at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School chooses from a selection of books on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.

Falatko flew in for readings at a few elementary schools along the Central Coast all the way from Maine. Falatko has four kids and she said her writing was inspired by how so many moments in their upbringing were focused around berries. One of her kids always requests a cake with berries on top while another wants blueberry pie for his birthday every year.

Author Julie Falatko reads "A Sofia Special" in English while Driscoll's employee Rosaura Berrelleza reads a Spanish version of the same book at Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School on Wedneday, Oct. 4, 2023.

"They're all teenagers now. It's sometimes the only time that they will talk to me in a casual, normal manner is when I put berries out for an after-school snack and we just stand there and eat them. And then they're happy to be eating the berries. So this book is really about that, about coming together as a family. Even if you've had a rough day," she explained.

Especially for a community like Salinas with many members who grow the berries, it means a lot to connect the kids with nutrition and books that feature crops that are huge on the Central Coast.

Two Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School students sit in front of berry containers on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary students enjoy berries and books with Reading is Fundamental
A research study in the Cairngorms is hoping to help protect one of Scotland's most endangered bird species by counting the number of voles.

The tiny mammals are an important food source for predators such as foxes and pine martens.

But when numbers are low, rare species such as capercaillie become targets for food.

By counting vole numbers, researchers can work out if they need to provide extra food to distract predators.

Studies have shown that the alternative food sources, such as deer carcasses, can be used to move predators away from threatened species when vole numbers are low.

Experts say vole populations tend to fluctuate over a cycle of about five years.

Researchers have been trapping and counting voles in Strathspey

Although numbers are currently high, it is likely that levels in Glen Feshie, near Aviemore, are about to plummet, meaning intervention will be required next year.

Counting by researchers from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is being undertaken twice a year to determine their population cycle.

An estimated 100 tonnes of voles are living in the forests around Strathspey but that can drop to about 20 tonnes.

Owls, foxes and pine martens are among the species which target them as a food source.

Capercaillie numbers are at critically low levels with some estimates suggesting there are just 542 in Scotland.

Volunteers like Em Wilkinson count vole numbers twice a year

Kenny Kortland, FLS wildlife ecologist, said: "In order to protect and conserve capercaillie we need to understand the behaviour of all the predators and what they're eating.

"We're taking a precautionary approach and we're intervening in trying to affect the behaviour of their predators during the breeding season and hopefully that will reduce the predation of capercaillie even more."

The monitoring is part of the Cairngorms Connect predator project which aims to better understand the link between carnivores and their prey.

Pine marten numbers in particular have been steadily growing in recent years, placing additional pressures on populations of field mice as well as bank and field voles.

Habitat restoration and protection has also allowed birds of prey to thrive, including white-tailed eagles and hen harriers.

Em Wilkinson, a volunteer with Cairngorms Connect, said: "The voles that we have here are really the main prey for the predators that we have and so if we look at how many voles we have we get a better understanding of how the predators are doing as well."
A volunteer in Israel says the region around Gaza now resembles a horror movie set.

Josh Wander told The Daily Beast he is working to help recover bodies of civilians killed in Israel.

"You're literally driving around bodies as you're driving down the main roads there," Wander said.

A volunteer working to recover the bodies of civilians killed in Israel says the conflict following Hamas' attacks has transformed the region around Gaza into a scene of continuous horror.

"Just driving down from my home in Jerusalem to that area, it is like walking into a horror movie," Josh Wander, a volunteer with ZAKA, a rescue and recovery organization in Israel, told the Daily Beast in a story published Monday.

"You're looking out on both sides of the road and you're seeing burnt-out cars flipped over on the side of the road, many of them riddled with bullets, bodies strewn all across the road," Wander added. "You're literally driving around bodies as you're driving down the main roads there."

Wander told the Daily Beast that he thinks of the Hamas attacks as "the Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 of Israel all wrapped in one." And recovering the bodies  especially those of children  has been difficult, even for "hardened, seasoned volunteers," Wander added.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza. The Palestinian militant group also fired at civilians attending the Tribe of Nova Music Festival happening a few miles from the border. At least 260 bodies have been recovered from the music festival attack.

CNN's chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward, reporting from the ground in Israel, also came across several bodies when driving through the area, including those of dead Hamas militants. Ward said that many festival attendees were still missing after being taken hostage by fighters from Hamas.

"Many of them are still missing. Many of them are dead. It's been very difficult to try and get a precise number," Ward said in her report.

On Sunday, Israel declared a "state of war," with officials saying their goal was to eliminate Hamas and take complete control of Gaza.

Civilian deaths and injuries have been reported on both sides. Israeli authorities said that the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 900 Israelis. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 687 people in Gaza have been killed, with thousands more injured.

On Monday, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he'd ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip. This means some 2.2 million people inside the blockaded area will have no outside access to electricity, food, or fuel.

A representative for ZAKA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court, in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. A Russian court on Tuesday is scheduled to hear a defense appeal of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich against the decision to extend his period of detention. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

MOSCOW (AP)  Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from jail on espionage charges, meaning he will remain behind bars at least through Nov. 30.

Gershkovich, 31, had a mostly blank expression as he appeared in the defendant's glass cage in Moscow City Court in blue shirt, T-shirt and jeans. He marked six months in custody on Sept. 29.

It was the second time in less than a month he had appeared before a judge to appeal an August decision to extend his pre-trial detention through November. On Sept. 19, the court declined to hear the appeal, citing unspecified procedural violations.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in a statement that it was deeply disappointed that Gershkovichs appeal was rejected, adding: Evan should be released.

The journalist was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow.

The court proceedings are closed because prosecutors say details of the criminal case are classified.

Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Gershkovich and the Journal deny the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities havent detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges.

He is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years  including WNBA star Brittney Griner  have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial. In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year.
FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE)  Fresno Yosemite International Airport is getting ready to host its second annual Aviation Job Fair on Thursday.

Around 20 aviation and related support businesses from various sectors will be participating in the job fair, including the City of Fresno Airports Department, City of Fresno Personnel Services, airline and airport partners, California Air National Guard, air cargo, Fixed Based Operators (FBOS) as well as federal partners such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and more.

A huge step: Fresnos airport to offer direct flight to Atlanta in 2024

Combined, employers are looking to fill well over 250 positions with some of them offering onsite interviews.

Fresno Airport staff say job seekers interested in pursuing a career in aviation or who are interested in learning more about aviation-related employment opportunities are encouraged to attend.

Attendees are encouraged by staff to come prepared to meet one-on-one with employers and to bring copies of their resumes.

The job fair will be held on October 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the parking garage rooftop (4th Floor), 5175 E. Clinton Way in Fresno.

For more information about the second annual job fair visit IFlyFresno.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Atrium Health is using artificial intelligence assistance to give doctors more one-on-one time with their patients.

Whats more, Atrium is the first health system in the country to use the new artificial intelligence tool. It aims to free up time for doctors to have more interaction with patients instead of being bogged down by administrative workload in electronic documentation.

Since June, 125 Atrium primary care providers across the Southeast have been testing Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience Copilot, or DAX Copilot. The AI assistant records conversations between doctor and patient, then creates automated clinical documentation.

Based in Charlotte, Atrium is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. Charlotte physicians were among the health care providers who tested the new AI. Atrium is not disclosing how much it is investing in the new technology.

Theres a lot of things in medicine (where) technology has created challenges, Dr. Matt Anderson, medical director of virtual health for Advocate Health and Atriums senior medical director for primary care, told The Charlotte Observer in an exclusive interview.

For instance, administrative duties, like electronic health care documentation, take doctors focus off patients during visits and requires more time afterward to finish the report.

Thats where the new AI app comes in.

In early trials, Atrium said, the tool has been shown to save physicians 30 to 40 minutes per day, allowing them to put a greater focus on patient interaction.

Atrium Health and DAX Copilot creator Nuance, a Microsoft company, unveiled the AI tool and initial findings about its usage at a Las Vegas health and wellness conference focused on healthcare innovation that ran from Sunday through Tuesday.

Dr. Paige Driver, of Atrium Health Primary Care Cabarrus Family Medicine, is one of the Atrium doctors using DAX Copilot, an AI-driven application on her phone that records patient-doctor interactions. That saves her time to focus more on patient interactions, Here, Driver listens to patient Sharon Vaughns heart rhythm for abnormalities, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Concord.

How the AI healthcare app works

Physicians download the application on their mobile phones. Patients  in the office and during telehealth visits  must provide consent for recording and use, Atrium and Nuance officials said.

DAX Copilot allows doctors to create draft clinical summaries automatically and securely in seconds from the exams or telehealth conversations for immediate review by physicians.

After the visit, the doctor hits unrecord and within about 15 seconds, the AI assistant generates documentation.

Im now able to go back and edit that note as needed with any electronic health record, which significantly speeds up the efficiency with which Im able to do my work, Anderson said.

The AI assistant excludes pleasantries in conversations and remains focused on medical clinical information.

Its not just a straight transcript, Anderson said, but its actually taking useful information that is pertinent to the clinical documentation needed and putting that into the note for me.

Dr. Paige Driver reviews patient notes taken by DAX Copilot, the AI-driven application on her phone that records patient-doctor interactions.

The AI is trained on over 14 million clinical encounters over the last four years before being used by Atrium Health, Kenneth Harper, vice president of of Dragon Ambient eXperience at Nuance, told the Observer.

During a conversation, the AI uses context of whats being discussed to pull out the necessary information such as a diagnosis, why the patient came in that day, what the patient says about their symptoms and what the clinician is saying about the diagnosis and treatment plan.

All that documentation, Harper said, happens within seconds.

How AI helps doctors and patients

Earlier this year, the American Medical Association called physician burnout an epidemic in the U.S. health care system. The AMA cited data showing nearly 63% of physicians reported signs of burnout such as emotional exhaustion at least once a week.

The biggest reason for burnout and frustration? Administrative burdens, according to the AMA.

Primary care providers have been disproportionately impacted by electronic health records and other technologies that have created burdensome challenges. Weve been aggressively looking for ways that we can improve that, Anderson said.

DAX Copilot frees up clinicians, he said, by reducing administrative workloads, improving efficiency and most importantly, helping patients. Patients are going to benefit from an increased engagement and connectivity.

That also will go a long way in helping the medical professionals at Atrium Health. It has about 11,000 doctors and 22,000 nurses at 40 hospitals and hundreds of care locations across North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

A smartphone using new AI tech sits beside Atrium Health Primary Care Cabarrus Family Medicine Dr. Austin Bush as he meets with patient Valerie Burton. The tech documents the conversation, which is then summarized and loaded into the patients electronic medical record.

What Atrium doctors say about DAX Copilot

In a survey, Atrium clinicians who used DAX Copilot said that its easy to use, improves documentation and enhances their experience providing care to patients. The majority of physicians said theyd be disappointed if they no longer had access to it.

Weve been really excited about what this has been able to do for those providers within our network, Anderson said.

The AI documentation assistant started with primary care providers, he said, but eventually could be expanded to other medical areas such as nursing triage. The tech also can be used for virtual appointments. The beauty of this is (the) technology is able on the phone, with the clinician, wherever they are, Anderson said.

A survey of patients after doctor visits that used DAX Copilot found 80% reported their clinician was more personable and trustworthy, Harper said. Theyre getting much more attention and focus that just wasnt possible before this type of technology.

While today DAX Copilot application is focused on clinical documentation, thats just the beginning, Harper said.

Were capturing a signal that represents what a clinician is doing with the patient while the patient is sitting down in the exam room, he said. It opens up a world of possibility on how we can use that signal to bring all the information that a clinician might need to know or take into consideration on how best to treat that patient while the patient is still there.

Atrium Health is the first health system in the U.S. to pilot an AI app that allows doctors to create draft clinical summaries automatically and securely in seconds from in-person exams or via telehealth patient conversations.
Naval Air Station Jacksonville welcomed home the War Eagles of Patrol Squadron VP-16 this month.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

After an extremely demanding six-month deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area, VP-16 was said to have provided intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), maritime domain awareness, and anti-surface warfare capabilities for Task Force 72. According to NAS Jacksonville, VP-16 consisted of 300 sailors who excelled operationally.

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

NAS Jacksonville issued a statement celebrating their homecoming and described the details of operations.

In total, VP-16 safely flew over 3,300 hours and executed 600 sorties, providing humanitarian assistance and participating in joint and combined exercises with allies and partners across the region. While supporting U.S. 7th Fleet, the squadron shined on-station, participating in 27 exercises, conducting freedom of navigation operations, and supporting high-interest ASW operations. The War Eagles efforts ensured continued maritime stability, improved regional cooperation, deterred aggression and contributed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Naval Air Station Jacksonville

VP-16 was based out of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, and conducted several detachments that included Japan, Philippines, Guam, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Nine P-8A Poseidon aircraft were said to have remained in a mission-ready status throughout the deployment.

Read: Israel-Hamas war: At least 14 Americans among those killed, Biden says (Live updates)

I could not be prouder of the way our War Eagle team performed over the last six months, VP-16 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Terrell Radford said. It is a great feeling to see our families and loved ones after being gone for so long, and I am happy to have all of our War Eagles home.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2023) Yeoman Third Class Chaz Chakuma holds his daughter on a flight line. Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP) 16, returns home after a six month deployment to 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by: Mass Communication Specialist Second Class (NAC/AW) Mathew Lombardo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2023) Family members wait for their sailors to return. Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP) 16, returns home after a six month deployment to 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by: Mass Communication Specialist Second Class (NAC/AW) Mathew Lombardo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2023) Aviation Ordnanceman Fist Class Patrick Williams poses for a picture with his son. Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP) 16, returns home after a six month deployment to 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by: Mass Communication Specialist Second Class (NAC/AW) Mathew Lombardo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2023) Logistics Specialist Chief Ayisha Ross embraces a loved one. Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP) 16, returns home after a six month deployment to 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by: Mass Communication Specialist Second Class (NAC/AW) Mathew Lombardo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2023) Lieutenant Michael Davis poses for a picture with his wife. Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP) 16, returns home after a six month deployment to 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by: Mass Communication Specialist Second Class (NAC/AW) Mathew Lombardo)

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Throughout 40 years at the Shorewood Public Library, Heide Piehler has witnessed the children she read to during her first Story Times grow up. She's watched them leave for college, get married and return to the library, where she now reads to their children.

After four decades at the library, Thursday, Oct. 12 will be Piehler's last day before retiring.

Shorewood resident Dan Holt remembers one of Piehler's first-ever Story Times well. It's a core memory, he said.

"I must have been in kindergarten maybe at the time. I remember the blue cushions, the paperback spinner rack and the fact that Heide read to me," Holt, who now works beside Piehler at the Shorewood Library, said.

"Story Time with Heide made an impact. And she's done it all throughout her time at the library. I'm just one story, and the amount of people she's had an impact on, I can't put to numbers," Holt said.

After retiring, Piehler will continue her mission of encouraging people to share books with children by volunteering with local community organizations.

"But it's very bittersweet," she added. "I'm ready to move on, but I have so many relationships here that will make it hard to say goodbye."

Retiring librarian Heide Piehler reads to students at the Shorewood Library.

'Like a warm hug'

The love story between Piehler and books began before she was born when her mother chose her name from her favorite book, Heidi (the German nurse who filled out her birth certificate picked the German spelling, Heide, over the Swedish one).

Piehler's mother's loved of reading, and her father was a gifted storyteller. "It sort of feels like this path was destined for me," she said.

As an English major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she spent her first fieldwork internship at the Shorewood Library in 1982, where she's worked ever since.

One of her earliest memories on the job was comforting a young boy who was nervous about leaving the library to start kindergarten. "To hear that the library was his safe place... That's something I always really strived for: that children feel recognized and valued when they come into the library. The truth is, other than school and home, there aren't many places really set up to be welcoming to children."

Through her four decades with the library, Piehler has helped create and launch several integral programs, including the Summer Celebration, Early Learning Center, Great Pumpkin Hunt and Shorewood Monarch Project. And she's seen these programs blossom: For instance, the first Summer Celebration in 2021 drew about 200 people; now about 1,000 attend, according to library estimates.

The Early Learning Center, an interactive space at the library where children can play and learn, sees about 3,000 visits every month, including people from other areas. The space contains an open area for infants learning to crawl, a kitchen, a puppet show area, and art supplies for toddlers to explore their imagination.

"When you first become a parent, there's this loneliness," Shorewood resident McKenzie Edmonds said.

Edmonds started frequenting the library after her first daughter was born. "The Early Learning Center was a place where I could talk to other parents, other grandparents or caregivers. It was a place where both me and my children could socialize and learn tools, observing other parents and observing Heide."

Edmonds remembers Heide telling her she was doing a good job as a mother after her daughter, 2 years old at the time, helped her clean up The Early Learning Center. "In that moment, it felt like a warm hug."

As Edmonds' daughters grew, she continued to feel supported by the library's programming. "When everything shut down during the pandemic, Heide was one of the first people I knew who pivoted to provide services to families online," she said.

Throughout the chaos of COVID-19, the weekly Rhyme and Read videos Piehler posted online provided continuity to her daughters' lives and language development, she said.

"My daughter and I were talking the other day about the freedom her library card has given her," Edmonds said. "In so many ways, the library teaches us how to be a community member. It's so empowering for my child to go in with their class, select a book, and be responsible for it. She learns the importance of the book being shared in our community.

"Heide has built that foundation, is that foundation, for our children."

'Books are both a window and a mirror'

Piehler has witnessed entire cultural and technological systems change during her time at the Shorewood Library.

"A lot of societal changes show up in the library," she said. "When I started we were basically a book place. We had some music and eventually got some VHS tapes. But as we broadened the resources and programming that we offered to the public, more and more people have found the public library."

The way Piehler sees it now, the Shorewood Library is as much a community center as it is a place to find books. Children can check out puzzles and games or watch monarch butterflies hatch. Adults can use computers to work or study, learn money management skills and find a safe and comfortable resting place.

"The library is one of the few places free for everyone. And in recent years, we've seen many people dealing with mental health issues and homelessness," she said. "We are a very busy library because we are a comfortable, welcoming place, and we've built connections with social workers who can offer help and assistance."

She said the changes at the library have been a product of both natural evolution and conscientious, concerted decision-making over time.

While some libraries field attacks over what books children should have access to, Piehler said she's grateful the Shorewood community has embraced the library's efforts to make its collections more diverse and inclusive.

"I'm a big proponent of the idea that books are both a window and a mirror. Children who are read to and children who read have been shown to have better mental and emotional health, to be more resilient and empathetic, to have more self-control and self-regulation" she said. "With the mental health crisis we're facing since the pandemic, it's really important that adults realize the power they have just by sharing a book with a child."

Holt said his experiences at the library across his life have allowed him to grow into who he is.

"In no small way, that started as a child at the library, because of Heide. And that's what she's done for hundreds of kids every year," he said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shorewood librarian Heide Piehler, beloved for story time, retires
As climate change bakes the U.S. West and dries up key Colorado River reservoirs, a slew of invasive species is flourishing in warmer waters at the expense of the arterys native inhabitants.

Among the most disruptive of this wide range of invaders is the smallmouth bass, which scientists fear could pose a possible danger to the native ecology of the Grand Canyon region should the fish continue making their way downstream.

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Of particular concern is the fate of the humpback chub  a federally threatened species that has long inhabited the area.

Federal officials and scientific researchers are seeking ways to stop the invaders and stave off the harm they could bring. But the potential solutions come with their own concerns  and are provoking controversy throughout the region.

Warming waters fuel invaders

Until a few years ago, the Grand Canyon was largely dominated by native species, Brian Healy, a research biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, told The Hill.

Thats a really rare and unique thing in the Colorado River system, added Healy, who previously served as a fisheries biologist for Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon area, Healy explained, enjoyed a little bit of a sweet spot until conditions began to change in recent years. Colder temperatures first fueled the increase of non-native fish such as brown and rainbow trout, and a subsequent warmup helped the humpback chub regain strength.

Now were getting to a point where its warm enough, which is good for native species, but its also good for a non-native species, added David Rogowski, a Colorado River research biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Smallmouth bass, which are aggressive predators, were first introduced to the Colorado River system when Utah began stocking them in the Lake Powell reservoir in 1982, according to a 2021 report from the states Division of Wildlife Resources.

The report touts the smallmouth basss propagation in Lake Powell as an unequivocal success that resulted in the rapid development of a fantastic fishery.

But that success, combined with the impacts of climate change, has also fueled an unforeseen domino effect that is now jeopardizing species down the line.

As Lake Powells levels have plunged, the reservoirs upper layer  where the fish reside  has edged closer to the hydropower intakes of the Glen Canyon Dam, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. As a result, warmer waters, and the fish that populate them, have been able to pass through the system.

I always had picked up a couple of fish every now and then, a smallmouth bass just below the dam, Rogowski told The Hill. But the water was consistently cool enough that smallmouth bass or warmwater fish species could not reproduce within that system.

Today, however, Rogowski said that the water coming through the dam is warm enough to support growth as well as reproduction.

Efforts to combat invaders arouse controversy

Both this summer and lastlast, the National Park Service has taken preventative action to remove both smallmouth bass and green sunfish from a backwater area below the Glen Canyon Dam called the Colorado River Slough  by deploying a piscicide, or substance poisonous to fish, called rotenone.

The National Park Service stressed in an August statement that the treatment would occur in a manner that minimizes exposure of surrounding species to rotenone. In addition to being toxic to fish, the substance can also be a threat to people and other animals  though the World Health Organization only considers it a direct threat to humans in high concentrations.

Should any rotenone enter the main channel, it will immediately be diluted to concentrations that are insignificant to wildlife or humans, due to the volume of flow in the Colorado River, the agency stated.

Although such treatment would be ineffective in combating an entire population, targeting a spot where the invasive species are known to reproduce on a local level could be productive, according to Healy.

And the Colorado River Slough area is pretty much the only place we know that they have been reproduced, Rogowski added.

The Bureau of Reclamation, meanwhile, announced this week that it would be initiating a formal process to evaluate proposals that would shift flow velocity and temperatures from the Glen Canyon Dam itself with the aim of disrupting the invaders downstream reproduction.

The Glen Canyon Dam, a federal hydroelectric power facility, is located just downstream from Lake Powell in Arizona, across the border from Utah.

The warm but plunging upper layer of Lake Powell is now raising river temperatures, creating what federal officials describe as ideal spawning conditions specifically for smallmouth bass.

The bureaus efforts to evaluate the problem and potential solutions involving the dam have proved controversial, and raised conflicting viewpoints from environmental groups and utilities.

An initial August 2022 environmental assessment from the agency, in which it investigated four different options to release cold water flows, generated nearly 7,000 public comments.

Among the responses were letters from environmental groups advocating for an option that would involve regular cool water releases, supplemented by high-flow cold water spikes in the summer.

The group Trout Unlimited described this plan as the most viable and cost-effective solution for mitigating the impacts of smallmouth bass, while minimizing harm to other dam operations.

Other environmental organizations have advocated for more drastic action.

Following the bureaus formal launch of a much more comprehensive evaluation than the assessment last week, the Center for Biological Diversity said that this generally good news is coming too little too late.

In the long run, the Grand Canyons endangered fish need river conditions similar to those that they evolved in, Taylor McKinnon, southwest director for the center, said in a statement.

The Bureau should plan a phased decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam, he added, accusing the bureau of sleepwalking into climate-inevitable deadpool  a situation in which a reservoir no longer has enough water.

But the options detailed in the environmental assessment  let alone a full decommissioning of the dam  have garnered significant pushback from utilities that rely on its hydroelectric power.

The Colorado River Commission of Nevada raised concerns that the proposed options could decrease electricity production, because they require a partial bypass of the turbines. The group also expressed worry about knock-on effects to region-wide power prices.

Similar sentiments came from the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association (CREDA), which represents 155 consumer-owned electric systems that purchase federal hydropower.

A letter from CREDA, which serves 4.1 million consumers, criticized the assessment for failing to meaningfully identify or analyze the affordability of replacement power.

Sleeper species are biding their time

Smallmouth bass are hardly the only invasive species that have emerged across the length of the Colorado River Basin.

Also among the invaders are green sunfish and walleye, whose potential impacts Healy said remain unclear.

And about 600 miles northeast of the Glen Canyon Dam, Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently announced the discovery of an arthropod known as rusty crayfish, which had never been seen in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

The officials found the rusty crayfish in Lake Granby, a reservoir located near the Colorado River headwaters.

Rusty crayfish, native to the Ohio River Basin, are more aggressive than freshwater crayfish and are believed to have been illegally introduced into Colorado by anglers as bait, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

A sampling and monitoring team, as well as area aquatic biologists, have since set multiple crayfish traps around the lake and in other waters nearby, per the agency.

While finding any invasive species is detrimental to our states aquatic ecosystems, finding rusty crayfish in Lake Granby, which feeds into the Colorado River, poses an even greater threat to the entire Colorado River Basin, Robert Walters, Colorado Parks and Wildlife invasive species program manager, said in a statement.

Other fish species of concern across the Colorado River system include the flannelmouth sucker, the bluehead sucker, the speckled dace and some razorback suckers, according to Rogowski.

Among plants, he identified the tamarisk, the Russian olive and a phragmite reed as non-native species that have become prolific. Rogowski also mentioned certain chronic invertebrates, such as the New Zealand mud snail, as well as the algae didymo  also known as rock snot.

As to when and where the invaders will appear, Healy said he believes that the species of most concern have probably already been introduced into the system.

Its just that the changing conditions might allow them to proliferate, he said.

Describing these invaders as sleeper species, he explained that these organisms are likely present in low numbers and are biding their time.

Shifts in the conditions could cause them to explode and become a real problem, Healy said. We just dont really know yet, the extent of the issue.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The artificial intelligence (AI) industry could consume as much energy as a country the size of the Netherlands by 2027, a new study warns.

Big tech firms have scrambled to add AI-powered services since ChatGPT burst onto the scene last year.

They use far more power than conventional applications, making going online much more energy-intensive.

However, the study also said AI's environmental impact could be less than feared if its current growth slowed.

Many experts, including the report author, say such research is speculative as tech firms do not disclose enough data for an accurate prediction to be made.

There is no question, though, that AI requires more powerful hardware than traditional computing tasks.

The study, by Alex De Vries, PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam School of Business and Economics, is based on some parameters remaining unchanged - such as the rate at which AI is growing, the availability of AI chips, and servers continuing to work at full pelt all the time.

Mr De Vries considered that the chip designer Nvidia is estimated to supply about 95% of the AI processing kit required by the sector.

By looking at the amount of these computers it is expected to deliver by 2027, he was able to approximate a range for the energy consumption of AI of 85-134 terrawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity each year.

At the top end that is roughly the amount of power used annually by a small country.

"You would be talking about the size of a country like the Netherlands in terms of electricity consumption. You're talking about half a per cent of our total global electricity consumption," he told BBC News.

Nvidia declined to comment.

Mr De Vries said his findings showed that AI should be used only where it is really needed.

His peer-reviewed study has been published in the journal Joule.

How much energy - and water - does AI use?

AI systems such as the large language models that power popular chatbots, like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard, require warehouses full of specialist computers - called data centres - to work.

That means the equipment is more power-hungry and, like traditional kit, it also needs to be kept cool, using water-intensive systems.

The research did not include the energy required for cooling. Many of the big tech firms don't quantify this specific energy consumption or water use. Mr de Vries is among those calling for the sector to be more transparent about it.

But there is no doubt demand for the computers that power AI is mushrooming - and with it the amount of energy needed to keep those servers cool.

Danny Quinn, boss of the Scottish data centre firm DataVita, said his company has gone from receiving "one or two enquiries a week" at the start of 2023 about using his facility to house AI kit, to receiving hundreds.

He also described the difference in energy use between a rack containing standard servers, and one containing AI processors.

"A standard rack full of normal kit is about 4 kilowatts (kW) of power, which is equivalent to a family house. Whereas an AI kit rack would be about 20 times that, so about 80kW of power. And you could have hundreds, if not thousands, of these within a single data centre."

He added that Scotland's colder and wetter climate provided a natural advantage in helping the data centres with keeping equipment cool, but it is still a huge task.

In its latest sustainability report, Microsoft, which is investing heavily in AI development, revealed that its water consumption had jumped by 34% between 2021 and 2022, to 6.4 million cubic metres, around the size of 2,500 Olympic swimming pools.

Prof Kate Crawford, who wrote a book about AI and its impact on the environment, said the issue kept her awake at night.

Speaking to the BBC in July, she said: "These energy-intensive systems take enormous amounts of electricity and energy, but also enormous amounts of water to cool these gigantic AI supercomputers. So we are really looking at an enormous extractive industry for the 21st Century."

But there are also hopes that AI could help solve some of the environmental challenges facing the planet.

AI tools are being used to try to reduce the number of vapour trails left across our skies by aeroplanes

Google and American Airlines recently found pilots could halve the amount of contrails (vapour trails) created by aircraft by using an experimental AI tool to select altitude. Contrails are known to contribute to global warming.

And the US government is among those spending millions of dollars on trying to recreate nuclear fusion - the way the Sun gets its energy.

Success here would be a real game changer, in the form of a limitless, green power supply. AI could speed up the research, which has been going on since the 1960s with very slow progress.

In February this year, university academic Brian Spears said he had used AI to predict an outcome in an experiment which resulted in a breakthrough.

"For 100 trillionths of a second, we produced ten petawatts of power. It was the brightest thing in the solar system," he wrote.
Updated, Oct. 10

The percentage of charter school students in Washington state scoring proficient in math went up nearly 15 points in the latest round of state tests compared to those administered in the 2020-21 school year, a marked sign of improvement in a subject whose pandemic-era scores nosedived.

The gains were heralded by the Washington State Charter Schools Association and follows the states September release of the latest Smarter Balanced standardized test results. The association has 18 charter school members serving some 5,000 students: A majority hail from low-income families and are children of color.

In terms of math recovery, we saw schools really double down on practices like differentiation, said Rekha Bhatt, the associations co-president of innovative schools, referring to the practice of designing and delivering lessons to students at their ability level.

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Bhatt also cited targeted intervention for those needing help and a reliance on data-driven instruction. The students themselves, association spokesperson Maggie Meyers said, take ownership of their work: They are made aware of their academic standing and encouraged to improve.

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While less than half of all charter school students scored proficient in math, 39.1% reached that benchmark on the 2023 spring tests compared to the 24.2% who did in the fall of 2021. Statewide, students also showed improvement in math but not as dramatically, with the share scoring proficient going up 8.7 percentage points between 2020-21 and 2022-23, from 30.4% to 39.1.%.

Statewide, all students were climbing out of an 18.5 percentage-point drop in math scores between 2018-19, the last year before the pandemic struck, when roughly 49% tested proficient and 2020-21, the first time the tests were given following school closures and the forced switch to remote learning, when the number fell to 30.4%.

There have been alarming and widely reported declines in math scores on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress test results and, at the state level, some others have not yet shown the post-pandemic improvement that Washington has.

California reported a 6.35 percentage-point drop in its 2022 Smarter Balanced math scores statewide from 2018-19  the last year it required the test  with 33.38% of students scoring proficient or better. For Black students in California, the percentage meeting or exceeding the standards in math in 2021-22 was slightly less than 16%.

Charter schools in Washington state serve a more diverse population than the states traditional public schools: 62% of their students are Black, Indigenous or other students of color compared to roughly 51% statewide. And 56% of charter students come from low-income households versus 50% across the state.

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Study: Washington State Charters Enroll Higher Percentages of Special Needs Students Than Traditional Schools

Charter schools in Washington state also have far more teachers of color  42% versus vs. roughly 13% statewide  which has proven important in boosting outcomes, Meyers, the spokesperson, said.

Even having one teacher that reflects a students cultural and racial identity can make a big difference, she said.

Washington state administers the Smarter Balanced tests annually in grades 3 through 8 and in grade 10. The most recent results showed better-than-statewide improvements for charter school students in English as well. Just 46% reached proficiency in 2020-21 versus 52.4% in 2022-23. Some 50.7% of students statewide were labeled proficient in English in 2022-23  a smaller, 3 percentage-point jump from the 47.7% who were in 2020-21.

Were excited about the gains weve observed over the past two years, said the charter associations Bhatt.

Statewide, there was an 11.9 percentage-point drop between the 59.6% of students who tested proficient in English in 2018-19 and the 47.7% who did in 2020-21, less precipitous than the nearly 20-point slide in math proficiency during those years. A recently released compilation of test scores from 20 states shows the same trendline playing out across the country, with math scores bouncing back from a deeper recess in more places than English scores, which fell off less sharply but have been slower to recover.

A National Alliance for Public Charter Schools spokesperson was not able to say whether charter school students nationally outpaced their traditional public school peers in improving their most recent state test scores. But, she said, charter schools mixture of accountability and flexibility  including expanded school days and social and emotional learning support  played a big role in mitigating the pandemics challenges for their 3.7 million students.

Washington state voters first approved opening charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run, in 2012. A long legal battle ensued over the constitutionality of their financing, which was resolved in favor of charter schools in 2018. With the exception of Summit and Impact public schools, most of the states charters are not part of large networks but are operated by smaller, independent school leaders.

State law has not allowed charter schools to grow beyond the number that existed in April 2021. Charter advocates are pushing for a policy change that would permit more schools to open, Meyers said.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides financial support to the Washington State Charter Schools Association and The 74.
The White House is considering a strategy to bundle Ukraine funding with a forthcoming request for urgent aid to Israel, people familiar with the discussions told the Washington Post. This approach aims to enhance the likelihood of Congress approving assistance for Ukraine, despite facing growing opposition from House Republicans.

No final decisions have been reached regarding the linkage of these requests, as per two senior administration officials who spoke anonymously to protect the privacy of the conversations.

One of these officials noted that such a move might have strategic merit, as it could place pressure on the far-right faction, which vehemently opposes increased Ukraine aid but is firmly in favor of supporting Israel.

Key figures within the Biden administration have communicated with leaders in both the House and Senate, as well as members of influential committees, revealing that the White House intends to seek congressional approval for additional military aid to Israel.

This decision comes in response to a recent attack by Palestinian gunmen from Hamas, who infiltrated Israel and launched the deadliest assault since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The formal request for aid may be submitted as early as the upcoming week, according to the Washington Post's sources.

Read also: Military intelligence: Russia gives Hamas weapons captured in Ukraine to discredit Kyiv

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(NEXSTAR)  The launch of NASAs first mission to study an asteroid that has more metal than rock or ice is in its final countdown.

Watch the pre-launch mission and science update in the video above.

The space agency is targeting Thursday, Oct. 12 to send its Psyche spacecraft up toward the stars aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. If all goes well, the van-sized craft will spend nearly six years traveling to one of the largest asteroids in the solar system, also named Psyche, according to NASA.

Nexstar Media also plans to livestream Thursdays launch. Watch your local site for live coverage.

The current mission timeline aims to put NASAs craft into orbit around the asteroid in late July 2029. At that point the actual mission will begin: two years of photo taking, surface mapping, and data collection to determine Psyches composition.

Russia reports coolant leak in backup line at space station and says crew not in danger

The asteroid is about 173 miles in diameter at its widest point and spends its time orbiting the sun in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Some scientists believe it could be an exposed core of a small planet which, if true, could provide a one-of-a-kind window into the violent history of collisions and accumulation of matter that created planets like our own, according to the mission website.

Here is a bit more about the asteroid as written by NASA:

Psyche was discovered in 1852 by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis. Because it was the 16th asteroid to be discovered, it is sometimes referred to as 16 Psyche. Its named for the goddess of the soul in ancient Greek mythology, often depicted as a butterfly-winged female figure.

Psyche orbits the Sun in the outer part of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is approximately three times farther from the Sun than Earth. Because Psyche and Earth orbit at different speeds, the distance from Earth to Psyche varies from less than 186 million miles to more than 372 million miles.

Psyche is dense, estimated at about 212 to 256 pounds per cubic foot (3,400 to 4,100 kilograms per cubic meter). The surface gravity on Psyche is much less than it is on Earth  even less than it is on Earths Moon. On Psyche, lifting a car would feel like lifting a large dog.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Army scientists and engineers are developing ways to reuse water, power devices without generators, and fight in the littorals all while remembering that nature always has a say in the outcome of any military operation.

Much of that work is being done at the Armys Engineer Research Development Center, under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which brought a group of scientists to the annual Association of the U.S. Army Meeting and Exposition here Monday.

As the service adds more systems, technology and especially digital electronic equipment to its portfolio, deployed units face serious challenges to powering all that gear. Generators work, but theyre heavy, bulky and most require another fuel source to create electrical power.

Enter the H2Rescue vehicle. Its an emergency vehicle that runs on hydrogen-powered fuel cells that can generate 25kw of power, replacing generators. The vehicle can travel 1,500 miles with one tank of fuel.

Not only does that cut the number of generators, said Nicholas Josefik, with the development centers Construction Engineer Laboratory, it also means a reduced need for technicians to set up and maintain extensive generator-run power systems.

The platform serves as a rescue vehicle to provide power and carries a heating and cooling station for treating cold or overheating soldiers, it also can provide clean water.

The setup isnt isolated to this specific vehicle, Josefik said it could be built onto other platforms.

Dr. Martin Page, a materials engineer in the centers Cold Regions Research Lab, focuses on getting the most out of each drop of water by using technology to reuse water in certain systems.

Water is the nonreplaceable item needed for hydration and sanitation during any field operation. But water can be reused and making that part of standard operation can reduce water demand by 30 to 50%. The portable shower and laundry facilities now in use can reclaim up to 75% of the water they use. The All H20 system was demonstrated in the Armys Project Convergence exercise in 2022 and in more recent fieldwork at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Martin said.

Next steps include a system that can draw potable water from the air. Some commercial systems are having success in humid environments, Martin said.

Heather Speight, a physical scientist at the research centers Geospatial Center, works on planning tools that help commanders evaluate operational risks that come from climate change.

She pointed to Europe, where moving troops and equipment around the theater requires assessing airports, seaports and large city infrastructure. All these face challenges if there is major flooding from weather events or sea level rise. Even climate migration, where severe droughts, earthquakes or other emergencies can cause a mass migration of people to city centers could clog up any operation that requires troops or supplies to travel through the same systems.

The software theyre developing in Speights center also helps planners visualize water security and quality in their immediate area.

Dr. Katherine Brodie, senior research oceanographer, works in the centers Littoral Zone Remote Sensing Group.

That means her team is finding ways to better map the shallow water and beach environments where soldiers might find themselves across vast regions of the Pacific.

Thats more than tracking the tides.

Weather patterns, dynamic underwater environments, currents and depths can all change in hours, sometimes minutes. Big shifts in depth can change what kinds of ships can reach shore and how equipment is offloaded for an assault, refueling station or other critical items for military operations.

Old methods of sending human divers to measure depths and current speeds are not as fast, accurate, or effective nor do they cover enough area to be useful for fast-paced operations.

Brodies team is developing remote analysis tools that pull from public data as well as drones and sensor units they can use at their level to check conditions in their area, she said. This is vital when major operations depend on precise timing, such as when troops arrive just as jamming has fouled an enemy satellite at the same time the tide is high enough to reach the shore.

Its all about alignment.

Ensure that the other available domain windows line up with Mother Natures windows, Brodie said.

Current systems work well on standard shorelines and sandy beaches. But future operations may require troops to tackle rocky reef-type shores and arctic littoral zones.
An illustration of NASA's Psyche spacecraft near the surface of a metal-rich asteroid that scientists say is similar to the building blocks of rocky planets such as Earth. (Maxar/ASU/Peter Rubin)

An unusual disc-shaped object from space landed last month on the barren sands of a U.S. military testing ground.

Scorched from its fiery journey through the atmosphere, the capsule was lifted by helicopter and taken to a custom-built clean room at the Utah Test and Training Range, where it sat unopened under a continuous flow of nitrogen to avoid contamination by the germs of its new home planet.

It was flown the next day to NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, a hazmat-suited team carefully pried open the capsule to reveal the extraterrestrial treasure inside.

Workers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston remove the lid of the OSIRIS-REx sample return canister inside a glovebox to prevent contamination. (Robert Markowitz / NASA-JSC)

NASA will announce its initial findings on Wednesday. What we already know is that the capsule contains a sample from the asteroid Bennu, a roughly 4.6 billion-year-old relic of the earliest days of our planetary neighborhood.

The completion of the sample's 1.2-billion-mile trip to Earth is part of a trio of missions in a season that Lori Glaze, NASAs chief of planetary science, has called asteroid autumn.

Long famous for killing the dinosaurs and starring in apocalypse movies, asteroids are essentially construction debris from the building of the solar system. The same collapsed cloud of gas and dust that condensed in places to create the planets also produced smaller rocks that never achieved planet size or status.

This fall, NASA marks milestones in three different missions that explore unanswered questions about the process that made Earth, the stuff that makes the solar system and how we might save ourselves should a much larger space rock come hurtling our way.

Mission 1: OSIRIS-REx/OSIRIS-APEX

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer spacecraft (helpfully nicknamed OSIRIS-REx) launched in 2016 and headed to Bennu with the goal of collecting NASAs first asteroid sample and delivering it back to Earth.

The best proxies for asteroids we have on Earth are meteorites, small rocks from space that survived the fiery trip through Earths atmosphere. (Those that burn up upon entry, as an estimated 95% of such objects do, are called meteors.)

Some meteorites start out as asteroid fragments, though there's no way to know what larger body they used to be part of. Regardless, a lot of key information about them gets lost during the long trip to Earth.

Read more: Capsule with NASA's first asteroid samples lands on Earth after release from spacecraft

By the time one lands on the surface, friction from barreling through the atmosphere has seared its outer surface. All meteorites are coated in whats known as fusion crust, a hard rind of glassy material left behind when the exterior melted upon entry. Theyre also contaminated with germs from Earth's air and soil and may have spent years exposed to the elements before being found.

With OSIRIS-REx, the objective is to bring back an ancient piece of the early solar system that is pristine, said astrobiologist Jason Dworkin, the mission's project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. You can use these leftovers of the formation of the solar system to construct what happened in that formation.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft takes a sample of the surface of the asteroid Bennu in 2020, dispersing rock and debris in the process. (NASA via Associated Press)

The spacecraft collected nearly 9 ounces (250g) of rocks, dust and other debris during its touch-and-go visit to Bennu's Hokioi crater in October 2020. The precious cargo was stowed in the capsule that landed in the Utah desert.

NASA scientists will analyze the samples chemistry to help them figure out how the compounds necessary for life evolved from these early materials. But most of the payload will be frozen and archived so that future scientists  some of whom may not yet have been born  will be able to study it using technologies more advanced than whats available today.

Thats what excites me the most, Dworkin said. I have my own science, but the future is what is thrilling.

Read more: An asteroid will just miss us in 2029. Scientists are making the most of a rare opportunity

The craft that traveled to Bennu has already moved on to its next assignment. Now named OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer, or OSIRIS-APEX, the craft is headed to Apophis, a peanut-shaped asteroid that, for a little while , seemed more likely to smash disastrously into Earth than any known object in the solar system.

Though that possibility has been decisively ruled out, Apophis is still on track to come closer to Earth than has any object of its size in recorded history. Scientists are taking advantage of the April 2029 flyby to grab a sample of that rock as well. Apophis is a stony asteroid, the most common type of potentially hazardous asteroid. Studying its composition could prove very helpful in understanding how to defend the planet from extraterrestrial threats.

Mission 2: Psyche

On Thursday, a SpaceX rocket will lift off from Kennedy Space Center to begin a 2.2-billion-mile journey to 16 Psyche, a metallic asteroid that orbits between Mars and Jupiter. Its worth the long voyage: Psyche, the largest known metallic object in the solar system, is probably made of the same metals that form the cores of the rocky planets.

Though Earths core is certainly closer  a little less than 4,000 miles beneath the surface  its actually harder to access. Heat and pressure would obliterate any probe well before it reached the molten rock, which is hotter than the surface of the sun.

"We can learn more about Earths core and the core of the other rocky planets by going to space, which is weirdly easier than going to visit them in person, said Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the mission's principal investigator.

The spacecraft  also called Psyche  was originally scheduled to launch Thursday, but its departure was delayed after engineers spotted an issue with its thrusters. The craft is expected to reach the asteroids orbit in August 2029 and will then spend more than two years circling the object. Engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge will manage the mission, which is led by Arizona State University.

NASA's Psyche spacecraft in a clean room last year at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA)

Theres no landing or sampling planned. Thats in part due to the exorbitant expense of hauling a sample across so much space. But it's also because no one is quite sure what Psyches surface looks like.

An illustration of what scientists think the asteroid Psyche looks like. (Peter Rubin)

Our only glimpses of the asteroid thus far are a few blurry telescope images. Based on its movements, scientists think that its big (173 miles across at its broadest point, about the width of Massachusetts) and potato-shaped. Analysis of the light reflecting off the asteroid and density estimates based on its shape and presumed mass suggest it's highly metallic. Beyond that, it's a mystery.

It's a primary exploration of a new kind of world, something that we really are going to be surprised by, said Elkins-Tanton, a planetary scientist at Arizona State.

The craft is equipped with a pair of cameras that can photograph light in both the visible spectrum and in near-infrared wavelengths the human eye can't see on its own. Those high-resolution pictures will reveal the asteroid's topography and mineral makeup. Probes on the craft will collect data on its magnetic field, chemistry and gravity, all of which provide clues to its origins, interior structure and exterior composition.

Read more: How scientists solved the strange case of the missing asteroids

Scientists believe Psyche could be the metallic core of a planetesimal, an early version of a rocky planet that came together in the chaos of the solar systems formation only to have its outer crust battered away in collisions with other objects. Or it could be something entirely different.

Psyche is a very unusual object. It must come from an unusual process, Elkins-Tanton said. And my favorite thing would be if it turned out not to be part of a core, and instead taught us something completely surprising about solar system formation.

Mission 3: Lucy

Why visit a single asteroid when you can visit a bunch? That's the goal of Lucy, a spacecraft that makes the first of 10 planned stops on its space rock tour next month.

Named for the fossilized remains of an early human ancestor discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, the mission is trying to unlock the early history of the solar system, like Lucy unlocked the early history of humanity, said Thomas Statler, a program scientist in NASA's Planetary Science Division.

The space agency launched Lucy in 2021 with a plan to visit eight asteroids over a 12-year period and has added two more space rocks to the itinerary since. The mission is managed by NASA Goddard.

After traveling through the main asteroid belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter, the craft will become the first to explore two groups of rocks known as the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.

An illustration of NASA's Lucy spacecraft passing one of the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter. (Southwest Research Institute)

Although objects in the main belt are primarily detritus from the making of the rocky planets closer to the sun, scientists believe the Trojans are relics left over from the construction of Jupiter and the other gas giants.

The Trojans are the last major population of things in the solar system that we have not seen, Statler said.

The clusters of asteroids move roughly in tandem with Jupiter, bracketing the planet as it moves along its orbit. (If Jupiter were at the 12 on a clock face, the Trojans would be concentrated around the 10 and 2.) They come within roughly 365 million miles of Earth at their closest point and are 601 million miles away at the farthest.

Read more: Trojan asteroid tags along on Earth's orbit

Visiting objects that far requires creative navigation, which explains the crafts circuitous 4-billion-mile route. It will skim the inner edge of the main asteroid belt before looping back toward Earth for a gravity assist that will fling it out toward the Trojans.

Lucy wasnt scheduled to have its first asteroid encounter until 2025. But this year, scientists identified a good candidate in the inner asteroid belt for an early flyby.

On Nov. 1, Lucy will make its closest approach to Dinkinesh, which is barely 0.4 miles across. Though Dinkinesh itself isnt a terribly interesting asteroid, the flyby will serve as a dress rehearsal to test Lucys systems before it encounters more attractive scientific targets.

At each of its 10 stops, Lucy will map the asteroids size, color and surface geology; assess its mass and density; and check for any rings. Astronomers are hopeful that the variety of data will help fill in some missing parts of the solar systems story.

Its not just the number of asteroids that were visiting, it's the number of comparisons you can make between them, Statler said. That's where the science is.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
When Pinchas Allouche was a teenager in Jerusalem, he was late catching the bus back home on Feb. 25, 1996. Only 20 minutes would pass when Allouche would learn the bus had been destroyed by a bomb that left 23 dead and 49 injured. The Palestinian militant group Hamas later took credit for the slaughter.

Now head rabbi at Scottsdales Congregation Beth Tefillah, 44-year-old Allouche is closely following events in Israel after Hamas led a surprise attack this past weekend. As of Monday, 900 were killed in Israel  up to 11 U.S. citizens were victims. Another 130 or more have been held hostage by Hamas. Allouches 20-year-old son, Ysrael, is on the frontline as an Israeli Defense Forces soldier after the country formally declared war.

The carnage, including Saturday's massacre of 260 civilian music festivalgoers in the Israeli desert, is leaving Allouche haunted by the motives of the group whose actions almost cost him his life nearly 27 years ago.

"Here is a terrorist organization that wishes for the destruction of Jews and of Israel," Allouche said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "It's just pure evil. But that has been their mission, and unfortunately, this time, has carried it out with quite a devastating impact."

Why is Israel at war and who are Hamas? Here's what Arizonans need to know

Lawrence Bell, who has a doctorate in history from Ohio State University and specializes in Jewish history in Arizona, noted Hamas struck during three consequential events: the Shabbat day of rest, the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and a day past the 50th anniversary of the Arab-Israeli conflict known as the Yom Kippur War or the Ramadan War.

"We're hurt. We're grieving," Bell told The Republic of those slain in Israel, while also acknowledging the conflicts death toll in Gaza, which had reached 680 by Monday afternoon.

Bell last visited Israel in 2009, impressed at what he said was a coexistence of the three Abrahamic religions  Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He emphasized that Jewish people will continue staking a claim to Israel.

"(Israel) has always been our homeland," Bell said.

Phoenix-area resident Rachel Hoffer is a board chair of the North American council of the Jewish Agency for Israel, which she said is carrying out emergency financial assistance to Israelis in the areas hardest hit during the attacks. Those interested in making donations can visit jafina.org.

Hoffer frequently visits the country and her husband arrived Monday after taking a trip there. She is slated to travel there in two weeks. With family still there, she said she is "shaken" by the violence overwhelming the country.

"There are parents that are facing their worst nightmare seeing their children taken as hostages, losing children, having no idea where they are," said Hoffer, a mother of three, in an interview with The Republic. "Everyone is in, really, a state of shock."

Meanwhile, Allouche, the Scottsdale rabbi, said he spoke on Monday morning with his son, Ysrael, and gathered that the IDF soldier and his unit were in high morale. He also spoke with another of his sons, a 22-year-old Israel resident who is managing to stay safe with his wife.

"We are determined to not just sit back and be passive but to pray, to act to do good and to increase our own light so that this darkness can be expelled," Allouche said. "We have faith in God. And we also have faith that we will be victorious, that goodness will prevail."

Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @jrgzztx.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix-area Jewish community reflects on attack on Israel
FILE PHOTO: TB2 drone of Turkish drone-maker Baykar is seen at a stand during the first day of SAHA EXPO Defence & Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul

By Lena Masri and Amina Ismail

(Reuters) - Turkey has escalated its use of airstrikes in its fight against the PKK and allies in Iraq and Syria in recent years.

Many of the strikes are carried out by armed drones, including the Bayraktar TB2, according to local officials in Iraq and weapons experts.

The drone's maker, Istanbul-based company Baykar, is run by brothers Haluk and Selcuk Bayraktar. The latter is married to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's daughter. The company was founded in the 1980s by their father Ozdemir and began to focus on drones in 2005. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

At least two Western companies have supplied critical components for the drones. Among them are optical sensors. Weapons experts say these sensors enable unmanned aerial vehicles to surveil and identify targets on the ground and execute airstrikes. There is no indication that Western companies have violated sanctions.

German defence electronics manufacturer Hensoldt told Reuters it has been equipping the Bayraktar TB2 with its ARGOS II optical sensor since 2020. It said it had also supplied the sensor to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Lentatek, two other Turkish manufacturers of drones. Hensoldt said the quantities and exact delivery dates of the sensors were confidential and could not be shared.

"Without these types of sensors drones as we know them wouldn't work," said Kelsey Gallagher, a researcher with Project Ploughshares, a Canadian peace research institute.

Hensoldt added that the ARGOS II is developed and manufactured by its subsidiary in South Africa and is free of any components governed by German export law or the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which control the export of a wide range of military equipment and technologies that can be used in weapons.

L3Harris Wescam, a Canadian subsidiary of U.S. defence contractor L3 Harris Technologies, has also supplied drone technology to Turkey in the past. In October 2020, the Canadian government suspended export permits for military goods and technology to Turkey while it reviewed allegations that Azeri forces were deploying drones equipped with Wescam's imaging and targeting systems against Armenia in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Canada cancelled the permits in April 2021 after finding credible evidence that Bayraktar TB2 drones, equipped with Wescam sensors, had been used in the conflict.

"This use was not consistent with Canadian foreign policy, nor end-use assurances given by Turkey," Marc Garneau, who was Canadian foreign minister at the time, said in a statement.

The Canadian government said at the time Wescam had reviewed images shared by Armenia and confirmed delivering a system with the same serial number to Turkey in 2020. Canadian officials and L3Harris did not respond to requests for comment for this article. Turkey did not answer a question about its drone exports.

Sales of the TB2 drone have grown rapidly in the past few years. Baykar has said it has signed export agreements with 30 countries for the drone. Since 2018, customers have included Ukraine, Ethiopia, Libya and Azerbaijan, according to arms trade data through 2022 collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a think tank.

In July, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy the Bayraktar Akinci, another Baykar drone, in what Baykar described as the biggest defence contract in Turkey's history.

In Ukraine, the TB2 drone has helped destroy Russian armoured vehicles and artillery systems.

Elsewhere, Western officials have expressed concerns about the use of Turkish drones.

In December 2021, a senior Western official told Reuters Washington had "profound humanitarian concerns" over the sales of the drones to Ethiopia, which could contravene U.S. restrictions on exports to the country. In May 2021, the U.S. Department of State said it had imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Ethiopia accused the U.S. of meddling in its affairs. A conflict between Ethiopia's government and the leadership of the northern Tigray region killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions.

((Reporting by Lena Masri in London and Amina Ismail in northern Iraq; edited by Janet McBride))
The White House said Tuesday that statements from members of Congress calling for a ceasefire in Israel instead of issuing their full support for the country, following the surprise attack by Hamas, are wrong and disgraceful.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about President Bidens message to members of Congress who seem to be equating the Hamas terror attack with actions that were previously taken by Israel. When asked which members, Real Clear Politics reporter Philip Wegmann said that some members have called for a ceasefire and not gone as far as backing the administrations call for support for Israel.

So, Ive seen some of those statements this weekend. And were gonna continue to be very clear. We believe theyre wrong. We believe theyre repugnant and we believe theyre disgraceful, Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre did not mention any lawmakers by name or specific statements. But at least two Democratic lawmakers  Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.)  issued statements calling for a ceasefire and de-escalation of the situation.

Omar and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) are also facing criticism over statements in which they each labeled Israel as an apartheid state and called for the U.S. to end funding to the nation.

Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped, hundreds, hundreds of Israelis, Jean-Pierre added. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.

Biden earlier Tuesday harshly condemned the abhorrent terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel. He also said that Americans are among those being held hostage by the terrorist group and that the death toll of Americans had risen to 14.

President Biden has been clear on where he has stood.  You heard from him directly today, Jean-Pierre said.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who is of Palestinian heritage, in her statement called for dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. Bush said she condemned the targeting of civilians and called for the end of U.S. support for Israel.

Their comments were quickly met with pushback, including from fellow Democrats in the House, Reps. Ritchie Torres (N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (N.J.).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A woman reads a sign that the visa office is temporarily closed at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. A car rammed into the consulate in San Francisco on Monday, coming to a stop in the lobby and creating a chaotic scene that ended with police shooting the driver, who later died at the hospital, officials said. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A U.S. official said Tuesday the government believes the driver who crashed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco the day before did so with malign intent, but police havent shared details about the drivers identity or motive for what the Chinese government has branded a violent attack.

A witness waiting his turn to submit his visa documents at the consulate Monday described seeing the car barrel through the main doors at full speed before striking a wall. The driver was bleeding from his head as he exited the vehicle yelling about the C.C.P., an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party, Sergii Molchanov said.

San Francisco police arrived on scene and shot the driver, who died later in a hospital.

We condemn this incident and all violence perpetrated against foreign diplomatic staff working in the United States, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

U.S. government officials have been in contact with Chinese foreign ministry officials in the aftermath of the incident Monday, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that investigators believe the driver was acting with malign intent.

San Francisco police said Monday they didnt know why the unidentified driver smashed through the front of the consulate, located in a residential neighborhood and next to a major street. The San Francisco Police Department said in a statement Tuesday it had no other information and that it would hold a town hall meeting within 10 days to discuss the fatal shooting.

Molchanov was in line waiting for his turn to submit his visa documents when the car, a blue Honda sedan, barreled in through the main doors at full speed, barely missing him.

Molchanov told The Associated Press that the car struck a wall, and he saw the driver, who was bleeding from his head, exit the car.

Molchanov took out his phone and recorded security guards approaching the man and several people running out of the building.

Two security guards from the entrance tried to confront him and calm him down, Molchanov said. But I couldnt see what he held in his hands.

When it appeared that the man was attempting to grab something from his car, Molchanov said he rushed outside.

Shortly after that, police arrived on the scene. Molchanov said he heard two gunshots.

San Francisco police haven't said how many officers fired or if the driver had a weapon.

Another witness said the driver was bleeding and holding knives when he exited the car and then began arguing with security guards.

Tony Xin told KTVU-TV he saw a security guard trying to detain the driver before he ran out of the building through the damaged doorway.

Xin said less than a minute after the driver got out of the car, five police officers arrived, initially with their guns drawn, and rushed into the building. He said they were later joined by more officers.

I heard a really loud bang. I thought it was gunshots. I looked to the left and there was smoke, Xin said. I turned back and saw the guy take out a crossbow.

The police department said it is working and coordinating with investigators from the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Consulate. The incident comes as San Francisco is preparing to host next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim nations. President Joe Biden plans to attend but its not clear if Chinese President Xi Jinping will come.

The statement from the Chinese Consulate demanded more details about what happened and asked that it be dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.

Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack, the statement said.

Consulates typically have some type of security, such as locally hired guards. Neither the consulate nor San Francisco police immediately responded to questions about what security was in place at the facility.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin again called for an investigation at a daily briefing Tuesday without giving any details about damage to the consulate or injuries to staff and visitors.

We strongly urge the U.S. to launch a swift investigation and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement governing relations between countries.

The San Francisco consulate has been targeted a number of times before. Among the most serious was a fire set by a Chinese man on New Years Day 2014 at the main entrance. It charred a section of the outside of the building.

The man, who was living in the San Francisco Bay Area, told authorities he was driven by voices he was hearing. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

___

Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Beatrice Dupuy in New York contributed to this report.
The White House is considering combining funding for Ukraine and Israel into one request to Congress, hoping that this will increase the chances of approval of assistance to Kyiv.

Source: The Washington Post, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to two senior US presidential administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the final decision on combining the requests has not yet been made.

One official said such a move could make sense because it "jams the far right", which strongly opposes increased aid to Ukraine but supports aid to Israel.

Top Joe Biden administration officials have told House and Senate leaders and key committee members that the White House will soon ask Congress to approve additional military aid to Israel after Palestinian militants from Hamas entered the country on 7 October.

According to sources, this request from the White House may come as early as next week.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress expressed full support for Israel and pledged that the United States would support one of its closest allies. This position was made, in particular, by extreme right-wing members of Congress who are against further assistance to Ukraine.

White House officials and some pro-Ukraine congressmen believe linking the two aid requests could prompt some Republicans to vote in favour of the joint package because they would not want to block military aid to Israel.

On Monday, a potential White House plan already ran into obstacles. Asked about the prospect of a joint funding package, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik did not support the idea.

House Republicans have enough votes to pass a separate aid package for Israel, which could put pressure on Senate Democrats to approve it without conditions.

At the same time, the House's ability to approve any foreign aid package remains in doubt until a speaker is elected.

Background:

On 9 October, the Pentagon said that the US Congress should approve additional funding so that the United States can simultaneously provide the necessary military assistance to Israel and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, pro-Ukrainian US senators from both parties want to pass an annual package of assistance for Ukraine as soon as possible, amounting to between US$50 and US$100 billion.

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The White House may link Ukraine and Israel aid requests to secure GOP support, a report says.

House Republicans have voted against Ukraine aid bills, as support for the war has dropped.

The move will push "far right" GOP members to back the bill, a top official told The Washington Post.

The White House could combine Ukrainian and Israeli aid requests in a single package to help secure support from Republican lawmakers, US officials told The Washington Post .

The Biden administration appears to be considering the strategy in order to fulfill its pledge to provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to defend itself against Russia.

One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, told the newspaper such a move would "jam the far right," which opposes continued aid to Ukraine.

The Biden administration is facing opposition from House Republicans, led by its pro-Trump MAGA wing, who would rather see US taxpayers' money invested in domestic issues than Ukraine.

In July, 70 House Republicans supported an amendment to the country's annual defense bill that would have cut off all US military aid to Ukraine.

And last month, $6 billion was left out of the stopgap package put in place to prevent a government shutdown amid Republican opposition.

Biden's administration is now hoping to capitalize on the Republican Party's near-unanimous support for Israel to pass Ukraine aid through Congress.

According to White House officials and pro-Ukraine politicians, tying the two aid requests together could push some Republicans to vote for the entire package, since they would be unlikely to oppose military funding for Israel, the Washington Post reported.

But John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council in the White House, declined to say if the two packages would be linked, per the newspaper.

The Biden administration will seek Congress' approval for more military aid to Israel, which could come as early as next week, the newspaper reported, citing top officials.

Read the original article on Business Insider
White House

The White House and the U.S. Congress are actively discussing the possibility of combining military aid to Israel with additional funding for Ukraine, NBC News reported on Oct. 10, citing officials from the administration and two pro-Ukraine lawmakers from the Republican Party.

Lawmakers from both parties who support providing additional assistance to Ukraine have proposed this approach as a potential way to secure funding for Kyiv, despite resistance from some members of the Republican Party in the U.S. Congress.

A group of conservatives in the House of Representatives strongly opposes new funding for Ukraine, as requested by the White House. However, allocating additional aid to Israel after attacks by Hamas militants on Israelis does not face the same level of opposition among members of the U.S. Congress.

Read also: Veteran explains war in Israel impact on Ukraines international support

The White House is currently evaluating the "political viability" of such a method, said an administration representative, acknowledging that the final decision will be up to Congress.

John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Councils coordinator for strategic communications, stated that the needs of both countries are important, and the United States is "large enough, big enough, economically viable and vibrant enough country to be able to support both.

Despite the U.S. administration already providing military aid to Israel, the White House expects that congressional action will be required for additional aid that may be needed by the country.

A representative of the administration stated that during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden promised to address Israel's requests "in the coming days and weeks."

One Republican senator told NBC News that he expects Israel and Ukraine to be linked in a future spending bill.

"I really believe there should be an additional that includes aid to Israel, as well as Ukraine, given the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks," the senator said.

Read also: Lessons for Ukraine from Israel and South Korea

These discussions have arisen because the House passed a short-term spending bill to avoid a shutdown, but it did not include any funding for Ukraine.

However, with strong support from the Democratic Party and significant backing from the Republican Party, there is broad consensus between the two parties on providing aid to both Israel and Ukraine.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican and a staunch supporter of Ukraine and Israel, drew some parallels on Monday. "As we've seen in Ukraine, an inability to act decisively can prolong conflict and increase the cost of war. Israel's needs in this conflict will differ from Ukraine's," he said.

Another U.S. official stated that the White House believes its ability to support Israel will not affect its ability to support Ukraine. However, the administration is likely to have to replenish supplies of anything that has been provided to Israel in the near future.

A factor that may help address any concerns in the U.S. regarding supplies is that Israel and Ukraine have different air defense systems with varying capabilities, so they do not compete for exactly the same military support, the official added.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 260 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers.

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants.

Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging.

On Oct. 9, the Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country from Hamas units.

So far, two Ukrainian women have been reported dead. Reports that three more Ukrainian citizens have been killed in the Gaza Strip are being verified.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Whole Foods Market, the nations leading retailer of natural and organic foods, will serve as a catalyst for the expansion of Downtown Summerlin after Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. announced the addition to the community.

Downtown Summerlin has entered a new chapter of dynamic growth, with additional office, inline retail, and multifamily housing options planned for the new retail center to be anchored by Whole Foods Market.

Residents near Downtown Summerlin, including the luxury apartment communities of Tanager, Tanager Echo, Constellation, and adjacent neighborhoods, will enjoy pedestrian connectivity to Whole Foods Market with an interior trail system as well as access to electric vehicle charging stations.

Whole Foods Market is known for its standards of excellence and being an industry leader when it comes to natural and organic foods, and we believe it is an ideal addition to the Summerlin community, said Frank Stephan, President of the Nevada Region for Howard Hughes.

The Whole Foods Market in Downtown Summerlin is welcomed as the fourth location within the Howard Hughes portfolio, following openings in Downtown Columbia in Maryland in 2014, The Woodlands in Texas in 2015, and Ward Village in Honolulu in 2018.

Construction commenced in September with core and shell completion for the new retail center slated for Fall 2024, at which time Howard Hughes will turn spaces over to tenants for buildouts.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Its that time of year again when we turn back our clocks one hour and mutter to ourselves  Didnt we vote to stop this?

Daylight saving time is ending on Sunday, Nov. 5, and despite widespread support in California to end the biannual time change, clocks still need to be adjusted.

Why do we have daylight saving time?

Generally, shifting one hour ahead in the spring and one hour back in the fall helps to increase the amount of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Germany and Austria were the first countries to start this ritual in 1916, according to WebExhibits, an online museum by Idea, an education non-profit. They did it to conserve fuel for electricity.

The United States later adopted the plan in 1918 to save daylight and create standard time, but it was repealed in the next year after World War I. It then became optional for local governments and states. Time change remained inconsistent in the U.S. as former presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon would make laws during their administrations on how the clocks should be set.

For example, Roosevelt re-enacted daylight saving time for a whole year during World War II, calling it War Time. It ended Sept. 30, 1945, according to the History Channel.

By 1966, the Uniform Time Act was established and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, creating daylight saving time. After a few amendments to save energy, daylight saving time would begin on the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November.

Didnt California vote to get rid of daylight saving time?

The opposite, actually.

In 2018, more than 7.1 million California residents voted yes to Proposition 7 to keep daylight saving time year-round, effectively ending the time change. This was nearly 60% of the total vote.

The ballot measure gave the Legislature the authorization to switch to permanent daylight saving time, as long as California received approval from the federal government.

An assembly bill was then introduced by Assemblyman Kansen Chu in 2019. The bill would require a two-thirds vote from both the Assembly and Senate in order to become law.

But it didnt make any movement and eventually withered in committee.

After Chu left office, Irvine Republican Assemblyman Steven Choi introduced Assembly Bill 2868 in 2021, proposing year-round daylight saving time under Proposition 7. The bill died in November 2022.

What about the bill in Congress?

On a national level, Sen. Marco Rubio introduced the Sunshine Act in 2018 and re-introduced it this year in the Senate, with Rep. Vern Buchanan introducing it in the House.

If passed, it would result in permanent daylight saving time in the U.S., meaning people would not have to change their clocks back one hour in November. According to the act, it wouldnt change time zones or amount of sunlight hours.

Theres no action yet for the latest proposals in the Senate or the House, other than that they were introduced in March and referred to separate committees.

There are two states with their own laws, currently. Hawaii and most of Arizona observe permanent standard time.

What it takes for the country to have permanent times

In order for the Sunshine Act to be enacted across the country as a law, it needs to get majority votes and pass the House, Senate and then the president.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.

The Bee Capitol Bureaus Andrew Sheeler contributed to this story.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom , usually a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, has vetoed three pro-LGBTQ+ bills, saying he appreciates their intent but had concerns.

Over the weekend, the Democratic governor vetoed Assembly Bill 524, which would have banned employment discrimination based on family caregiver status. LGBTQ+ groups had supported the bill because many in the community care for chosen family members, as those people may be estranged from their families of origin.

In his veto message, Newsom said the bill was unclear about what would be considered illegal discrimination. During my tenure as Governor I have consistently advanced policies to help parents and families, including expanding paid family leave and increasing the states investment in childcare, he wrote. While I appreciate the intent of this bill, I am concerned about the large burden it will place on employers, particularly small businesses, especially given the ambiguous nature of the language.

Although the bill does not require employers to provide special accommodations based on family caregiver status, it is not clear what types of acts would constitute unlawful discrimination and what types of acts would be lawful denials of special accommodations. Given this ambiguity, this bill would be difficult to implement and lead to costly litigation for employers in California.

Last Friday, Newsom vetoed AB 1645, authored by gay Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, which would have barred insurers from imposing co-pays or other cost-sharing arrangements on certain preventive services and screenings. It would have included drugs used for HIV prevention, a.k.a. pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.

Some far-right individuals and businesses in Texas have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Acts requirement for coverage of preventive services, arguing that PrEP coverage interferes with their religious freedom because it facilitates behavior they find immoral. A judge has ruled in their favor, but the case is on appeal.

Newsom said Zburs bill goes beyond existing law and would raise costs that would be passed on to policyholders. I appreciate the authors efforts to increase access to preventive health care, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and STI testing, colorectal screening, and other services, he wrote in his veto message. However, components of this proposal depart from structures in federal and state law, such as the existing policies for reimbursement to non-contracted providers. Further, because this bill exceeds the cost-sharing provisions under the Affordable Care Act, it would result in increased costs to health plans passed on to consumers through premiums. The State must weigh the potential benefits of all new mandates with the comprehensive costs to the entire delivery system.

Also Friday, he vetoed AB 1432, which would have required out-of-state insurers providing plans for Californians to cover abortion and related services, plus gender-affirming care. He said the bill reflected good intentions but could invite lawsuits, and he noted that it may be unnecessary.

I commend the author for working to provide additional assurances that California residents can access abortion services and gender-affirming care, he commented in the veto message. It is a priority of my Administration to ensure that abortion and gender-affirming care are safe, legal, and accessible. However, it is not evident that out-of-state health insurance plans serving Californians do not already cover this care. Further, though well intentioned, this bill could invite litigation where an adverse ruling would outweigh a potential benefit.

Newsom has recently signed nine LGBTQ-supportive bills into law, while vetoing one other, which would have required judges in custody cases to take into account whether a parent affirms a childs gender identity.
TOPEKA, Kan.  Its been one week since the tragic death of Zoey Felix. The 5-year old was raped and murdered in Topeka last week, sparking public outcry.

I dont feel like the state did what they were supposed to do. I dont feel like the police did what they were supposed to do, and I dont think like her parents did what they should have did either, Shaniqua Bradley, one of Zoeys neighbors, told FOX4s Kansas Capitol Bureau.

Topeka man faces capital murder, rape charge for 5-year-olds death

There are still many questions regarding Zoeys case. One of the questions puzzling lawmakers and community members is why the state did not intervene.

Bradley and other neighbors claimed that they had made several calls to Child Protective Services, but Zoey was never removed from the home.

HOW KANSAS CHILD REMOVAL PROCESS WORKS

Kansas Capitol Bureau reached out to the Kansas Department of Children and Families (KDCF) to get answers on the states child removal process.

A spokesman sent the following response:

The safety of the child is the primary concern. CPS cases start when a report is made to the Kansas Protection Report Center alleging abuse or neglect. The report is evaluated based on the information provided and may be assigned for further assessment. If the case is assigned, a DCF child protection investigator will attempt to contact the family and do an investigation and assessment. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android After gathering information and convening family meetings, should it be determined that the child cannot remain safe in the home or with relatives and friends, DCF can ask the local county or district attorney to petition the court to remove the child from the home. The local prosecutor will review information provided by DCF and other witnesses (if available) and make a filing decision based on their evaluation of the facts and the law. If a case is filed based on DCFs recommendation or other information available to the prosecutor, one of two things can happen: 1) a hearing can be set to determine custody of the child during the case, or 2) the Court/Judge can enter an order ex parte (without hearing) to make a change of custody of the child. Mike Deines, Kansas Department of Children and Families (KDCF) spokesman

WHAT QUALIFIES REMOVING A CHILD FROM HOME?

According to the spokesman, if a child is determined to be unsafe at home, then DCF can ask the local county or district attorney to petition the court to remove the child from the home. However, Shawnee Countys prosecutor said that never happened in the case of Zoey.

In a press conference last week, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay revealed new details regarding the status of Zoeys mother, Holly Jo Felix.

Missouri native among 11 Americans killed in Israel-Hamas war

Holly Jo Felix is currently on probation for a DUI and aggravated battery charge, where she was in a car with Zoey at the time. In a press conference last week, Kagay said the conditions of the sentence in that case is that she is not allowed to have contact with the victims. However, Kagay did not identify who the victims were.

Kansas Capitol Bureau also asked the KDCF spokesman what qualifies recommending a child be removed from the home. For example, does the parent have to have criminal charges, and does this differ with misdemeanors?

According to the spokesman, criminal charges are considered when evaluating the childs safety in a home, but not a determining factor. He said the existence or non-existence of a criminal charge is not the determining factor for a child custody determination.

Safety is the primary concern when recommending removal from the home. DCF considers the current situation, the history of the family, as well as protective factors involved with the family and the child. Foster care services are for children and families in cases when a court has found the child to be in need of care and determined the parents cannot meet their childs safety needs. Most children who require foster care have been abused or neglected, and they have major developmental, physical, and emotional needs that require various services and care. Criminal charges would be one of many factors considered when evaluating the childs safety but not a determining factor. The existence or non-existence of a criminal charge is not the determining factor for a child custody determination. DCF reviews the facts underlying the charge and other factors like family support and needed services. Mike Deines, Kansas Department of Children and Families (KDCF) spokesman

Still, some are pointing fingers at the Department of Children and Families.

Theres been horrific stories of children slipping through the cracks, like 7-year old Adrian Jones from Kansas City. Jones body was fed to pigs in a livestock pen in 2015. Then, in 2018, 3-year old Evan Brewers body was found encased in concrete in a Wichita home.

Walgreens pharmacists walk off the job at some US stores in protest

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly promised an overhaul of the system when she took office. However, Zoeys death is, once again, prompting concerns.

I dont understand she was failed Zoey was failed by the system, said Sharon Williams, one of Zoeys neighbors

Its unclear whether abuse or neglect have been determined as a cause for Zoeys death. Kansas Capitol Bureau put in an open records request with the Kansas Department of Children and Families on Tuesday.

If this case is found to involve abuse or neglect, the agency has to turn over information within 7 days of that being determined, according to state law.



For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered Tuesday that flags on all public buildings and grounds throughout the state will be flown at half-staff until Thursday "in response to the unprovoked attack and invasion of Israel."

DeWine's order comes in the days following the onslaught by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Saturday morning, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 Israeli civilians and soldiers including a deadly attack on a music festival that claimed the lives of hundreds.

The Biden administration said Monday that at least 11 Americans have been killed in the terrorist attacks, USA Today reported. And the White House confirmed it believes at least some Americans are among the hostages that Hamas operatives abducted and brought back with them to Gaza.

DeWine's order will be in effect from sunrise Tuesday until sunset on Thursday.

What time are flags displayed at half-staff?

Customs call for flags to be shown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset unless the flag can be illuminated overnight.

Holidays where the flag is half-staff around the country

May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff all day)

Last Monday in May: Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)

Sept. 11: Patriot Day (half-staff all day)

First Sunday in October: Fallen Fighters Fallen Firefighters (half-staff all day)

Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff all day)

What's the difference between half-mast and half-staff?

According to The Sextant, the Naval History and Heritage Commands blog, half-mast refers to lowered flags on a ship, while half-staff is a pole in the ground. But the blog continues to say half-mast is used outside the U.S.

USA Today contributed to this report.

@Colebehr_report

@Colebehr_report

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why flags are at half-staff, half-mast today in Ohio
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images (4).

Whats happening

Last week, a long-simmering civil war in the U.S. House of Representatives between a few hard-right Republicans and the rest of the majority party culminated in the downfall of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was deposed after a mere nine months on the job.

Now House Republicans need to select a new speaker. But will that actually end the infighting that has consumed the GOP ever since the party took control in January? Or will the dysfunction continue no matter who holds the speakers gavel?

The process of replacing McCarthy starts Tuesday, when the GOP conference will gather for a closed-door forum to hear from members interested in the position, including current Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. And after previously ruling himself out, McCarthy reversed course Monday and said he would be willing to return in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Voting is scheduled to follow Wednesday.

Why theres debate

The question is whether anyone can stop the chaos at this point.

Republicans certainly hope so. Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida firebrand who anatagonized McCarthy for months and eventually engineered his ouster, said Thursday that either Jordan or Scalise would represent a monumental step forward for the Republican conference.

In the most optimistic scenario for Gaetz and his cohort, someone like Scalise (a longtime conservative currently battling cancer) or Jordan (an even more conservative Trump endorsee currently overseeing the Biden impeachment inquiry) would take over from the glad-handing, establishment-friendly McCarthy, and take an even harder line in legislative negotiations. (MAGA Republicans never trusted McCarthy, who ultimately lost his dream gig because he worked with Democrats to avert a U.S. default and a government shutdown.)

The problem is that Democrats control the Senate and the White House, so no laws can pass without their assent. This means that soon  as soon, in fact, as next month, when McCarthys stopgap spending measure expires  his successor will find him- or herself back at square one: either dealing with Democrats to keep the government open or triggering a shutdown over unworkable demands for hundreds of billions of dollars in budget cuts and harsh new immigration policies.

Given what happened to McCarthy  and given the power that Gaetz and a handful of other rebels now wield over the GOPs narrow majority  many observers expect more pandemonium, not less.

Things can always get worse, Brian Riedl, a former aide to Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, told the Washington Post. The no-compromise fringe has been strongly empowered and essentially has a veto over House Republican policy  which cant be squared with what Democrats and the White House want.

Whats next

As important as the actual identity of the next speaker are the rules that govern his or her reign. In order to secure the gavel, McCarthy agreed to allow any one member to force a House-wide no-confidence vote in the speaker at any time (which is known as a motion to vacate). Thats how Gaetz ultimately toppled him.

Its possible the next speaker could move to abolish that tool. Either way, the current Republican majority is so slim that the party can afford to lose only four votes on any given measure (assuming all Democrats vote in opposition). As a result, fringe figures like Gaetz will retain tremendous leverage  as could moderates, if they were to band together.

Wednesdays vote will test this dynamic. To win the speakership, a candidate first needs to secure a majority of the 221-member House GOP conference in a secret-ballot election, followed by a majority of the full House.

But one moderate Republican has already told Axios that Jordan is a nonstarter for roughly 15 to 20 other moderates, which is easily enough to sink the Ohioans bid. It took McCarthy several days and 15 rounds of balloting to secure the gavel in January. This weeks sequel could be even more exhausting  as could the drama that comes after it.

Perspectives

Electing a new speaker wont suddenly change reality

While we have had our disagreements with McCarthy, the reality is that he was attempting to govern with a historically slim and fractious House majority and with Democrats in control of the Senate and the White House. Refusing to raise the debt ceiling or fund the government indefinitely  even if either was politically sustainable  was never going to balance the budget or seal the border with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Biden in power. [So] electing a new speaker wont suddenly change the math in the House, the reality of life under divided government  or the inherent difficulties of dealing with a caucus where the likes of Matt Gaetz holds inordinate power.  Editors, National Review

Even Jim Jordan wouldnt be able to escape the McCarthy trap

Upon assuming the speakership, would Jordan cease being the insurgency and suddenly begin worrying about making sure his caucus funds the government and raises the debt ceiling? Or would he take a hardline stance on budget cuts and other positions that are frankly unattainable in a world where Democrats control the presidency and the U.S. Senate  leading to shutdowns, defaults, and other disastrous outcomes? In making this decision, Jordan would likely face a sort of Catch-22. He either lives long enough to become the villain (the establishment), or he becomes a disastrously bad and ineffective speaker.  Matt Lewis, The Daily Beast

Why? Because Gaetz and the far-right are just doing the bidding of GOP base voters

Fears of being displaced in a changing America ... have created the cycle in which the pressure on Republican congressional leaders perpetually pushes them toward harsher tactics and more aggressive policies. Former Republican Representative Tom Davis, who chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee, notes that the hard-liners who deposed McCarthy are accurately reflecting the views of their own voters. Its frustration and anger at Washington, and we are going to throw sand in the wheels at whatever they are going to do there. ... Thats the level of anger out there in these districts. Blame it on members, but voters elected these folks.  Ron Brownstein, The Atlantic

 and responding to the political incentives of the day

Long gone are the carrots and sticks that traditionally helped party leaders shepherd their flocks, like fund-raising help from national committees or plum committee assignments.

Instead, the way to rise as a Republican is, one, to display unbending devotion to Mr. Trump and then, two, to embrace some mix of relentless self-promotion, militant opposition to Democrats and a willingness to burn the federal government to the ground  even if it means taking the party down, too.  Michael C. Bender, New York Times

So expect a contentious speaker vote this week

Expectations are at rock-bottom among House Republicans that their civil war will be resolved by the speaker vote on Wednesday. ... Some moderates are threatening to tank any speaker if the rules arent changed to protect future speakers from single-member motions to vacate. Thats a deal breaker for conservatives. Some conservatives are threatening to tank any speaker whod support aid for Ukraine, or who wouldnt push along an impeachment vote on President Biden. Thats a deal breaker for some moderates. And some Republicans just have old scores to settle.  Juliegrace Brufke, Axios

 and a big fight over Ukraine funding

[McCarthy] claims to be a strong supporter of Ukraines, but, faced with rising opposition to continued financial support for Ukraine within his conference  again, fuelled by Trump  he stripped out the Ukraine dollars that were in the continuing resolution proposed by the Senate to avert the shutdown. He also refused to act on a supplemental appropriation of twenty-four billion dollars for Ukraine that the Biden Administration sent to Congress in August. Is a new Speaker really going to want to confront the rebels right away by going to bat for Ukraine? Its all part of the McCarthy mess. And dont believe anyone who says it will be easy to clean up.  Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker
The students usually spend four hours per fortnight on the farm

A secondary school that has its own farm is asking for financial support to keep it going.

Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, uses the site for a Land Based Studies course, which is not funded by the government.

It allows students to learn more about agriculture.

Deputy head Charlie Pierce said: "We like to think that we've got quite an interesting and unique curriculum here."

A piece of land next to the school was transformed about eight years ago, when the staff developed it into the current farm site.

It is home to a variety of animals, including sheep, cockerels and guinea pigs.

The students have been "immensely positive" about the course, Mr Pierce said

The course is led by Jon Matthews, who provides a lot of his own equipment to students tending to the farm.

He is hoping the school can secure a rotavator to help with future plans.

"The Parent Teacher Association are looking at funding that because we plan to turn a large portion of one of the fields into a large vegetable plot so we need a good, heavy duty rotavator and we could really do with our own strimmer, hay and straw as we go through the winter of course for the animals," he said.

"Applied learning courses are not funded from the national curriculum, but from the school's own budget, therefore each department's allocation is inevitably very small.

"We have to rely on the goodwill of others to make it work", he added.

Charlie Pierce, the deputy head at the school, said: "It is obviously more expensive to produce a farm with small pupil-to-teacher ratios and develop that farm than it is to have an English lesson, for example.

"We're surrounded by farms here and we're a rural school so it's obviously the hook for many students here and maybe some students who struggle with academic structured learning, but they come to a farm where they can work with their hands, and its an environment they're familiar with, and they get immense satisfaction from it."

"One of the challenges has been funding, and that is what this appeal is about," he added.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said the U.S. must "stand morally  and diplomatically with Israel" in its war against Hamas for the terrorist's group's "barbaric" and "medieval" attacks on Israel.

"Israel has absolutely the fullest right to defend itself and its national existence," Ramaswamy told an audience that packed Wofford College's Leonard Auditorium Monday evening. "Our main job is to make sure Israel is armed and equipped to defend itself."

The 38-year-old entrepreneur from Ohio campaigned in South Carolina Monday, first speaking at a town hall at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, followed by a foreign policy town hall at Wofford College, where he signed paperwork officially adding his name to the presidential primary ballot in South Carolina.

He said it's hard to imagine how Hamas was able to pull off a surprise attack from Gaza Saturday that reportedly killed at least 900 Israelis, wounded nearly 2,400, and resulted with an estimated 150 Israeli hostages.

According to news reports, Palestinian authorities said more than 500 people have been killed and another 2,900 injured in Gaza due to Israeli retaliatory attacks.

The death toll on both sides from the three-day war rose to about 1,600, including at least 11 Americans.

Ramaswamy said the U.S. needs to find out what went wrong  now.

"It was a major intelligence and Israeli defense failure," Ramaswamy said. "Everybody else is saying that's a question for later, but we need to get to the bottom of it. I think it's a question for now. We need to understand what went wrong.

"Right now, there are going to be major consequences as a result of the decisions that are made ... over the next one to two weeks. If those decisions are made through the same apparatus that failed this badly, an attack that should never have been allowed to happen, then you may be at risk for making even worse mistakes."

At Greenville campaign stop: Tim Scott blames Joe Biden for ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

Ramaswamy: America first foreign policy

He said his foreign policy centers around the theme of America first.

On Ukraine's war with Russia, Ramaswamy said sending military resources to Ukraine "doesn't directly advance American interests."

He said a deal should be negotiated with Ukraine and Russia that enables Ukraine to maintain its sovereignty, but not allow Ukraine to join NATO  which is what Russia wants. In return, Russia would end its military partnership with China. He said a Russia-China alliance poses the biggest threat to U.S. national security.

Meanwhile, he said the biggest current threat to U.S. security is at home  an open southern border.

"We need to use our military to secure the border," he said. "End incentives for illegally crossing the border, no more taxpayer funding of sanctuary cities, no more taxpayer-funded foreign aid to Central America or Mexico until they solve their side of this border crisis."

Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP presidential candidate, was at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., on Oct. 9, 2023. Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP presidential candidate, left, and moderator Van D. Hipp of American Defense International (ADI) talk about current affairs in the country.

Ramaswamy fifth in Winthrop poll

In the latest Winthrop Poll of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters, Donald Trump led all candidates with 50.5%. Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley was second with 16.6% and Florida Gov was third with 12.1%.

Next was S.C. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott at 5.8%, with Ramaswamy close behind at 5.1%.

Many Wofford students attended the event, and most of the audience listened intently as Ramaswamy spoke.

"Our generation has a hunger for cause," Ramaswamy said. "We are starved for purpose and meaning and identity. Faith, patriotism, hard work, family  these things have disappeared. And that leaves a black hole in our hearts, a moral vacuum. When you have a black hole that runs that deep, that is when poison fills the void."

Ollie Fegenbush, a freshman at Wofford, said coming to see a presidential candidate was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

"No question he's very well-educated," he said of Ramaswamy. "He's gaining steam and picking up traction."

Jeremy Bishop of Spartanburg brought his 16-year-old daughter, a student at Oakbrook Preparatory School, to the event. She is currently studying government.

"What intrigues me (about Ramaswamy) is he's from the private sector with a business background, not a career politician," Bishop said.

Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP presidential candidate, was at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., on Oct. 9, 2023. After the event, Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP presidential candidate, took the time to greet guests and take pictures.

Eve Shumate of Greenville said she supports Donald Trump first, and then Ramaswamy.

But if (Trump) got elected, his hands would be tied again," she said of Trump's legal troubles and Democrat attacks. "Vivek would be a good alternative."

Lloyd Laughlin said he drove from Aiken to see his favorite GOP candidate at Wofford.

"He's like Trump 2.0," Laughlin said of Ramaswamy. "He's like Trump without the baggage."

Ramaswamy ended his talk by saying, "If you all want someone coming in from the outside to break a broken system, I'm your guy within the Republican Party."

Bob Montgomery covers Spartanburg County politics and growth & development. Reach him via email at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: At SC stop, presidential hopeful Ramaswamy: US must stand with Israel
A woman alleging that she was a victim of sexual assault at the hands of Brigham and Womens doctor is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, encouraging other victims to come forward as well.

The woman will ask 100 others to seek justice against Dr. Derrick Todd for allegedly performing unnecessary pelvic and breast examinations, a press release from Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise (Peiffer Wolf) and Justice Law Collaborative stated.

Todd was recently terminated following an investigation into anonymous complaints, a healthcare official said last Friday.

The hospital initially placed Todd, a rheumatologist at Brigham and Womens Rheumatology Center at Faulkner Hospital, on administrative leave before making the decision to end his employment, according to Dr. Charles Morris, the Brighams chief medical officer and senior vice president for medical affairs.

Brigham notified the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, which labeled the allegations as gynecology-related and improper choice of treatment. The Boston Globe reported that Todd is facing a lawsuit for allegedly performing pelvic and breast exams that were not medically indicated.

On Sept. 5, 2023, Todd voluntarily agreed to stop practicing, according to the board.

Ingrid S. Martin, an attorney representing Todd, said he hasnt seen the allegations in the lawsuit.

Dr. Todd has not seen the allegations in any lawsuit filed against him. Over the course of his career, he has been an outstanding rheumatologist and internist. To the extent that anyone is bringing claims against him, Dr. Todd believes that he has done nothing wrong and will defend against such claims vigorously. We are cooperating fully with any investigation by the Board of Registration in Medicine.

A press conference will be held around 2:30 p.m.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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A woman was found dead after she called police about her ex-husband nine times, according to a Texas lawsuit. Now her familys suing the city.

Melissa Banda, 37, had three children and worked at T-Mobile as a district performance operations manager, according to the lawsuit filed Oct. 5 in Hidalgo County.

On Aug. 8, 2020, police said her body was found in bushes on the side of a road in Donna, Texas. Her throat had been slit, according to the lawsuit filed against the City of McAllen.

Richard Ford Jr., Bandas ex-husband, has been charged with murder in connection to her death.

The lawsuit filed by Bandas sister, Cynthia Banda, said the McAllen Police Department failed to protect her despite her calling police for help numerous times.

McAllen Police Department did almost nothing to protect her, the lawsuit says.

McClatchy News reached out to the attorneys listed for the city and police department, but they declined to comment on the case.

Between Nov. 21, 2019, and Aug. 5, 2020, Melissa Banda called police nine times to report incidents where she said Ford threatened her, assaulted her or violated a protection order, the lawsuit says.

On Nov. 21, 2019, Melissa Banda reported to police that Ford was on his way to her home after he was served with divorce papers and a temporary protection order, the lawsuit said.

On Feb. 28, 2020, Melissa Banda told police Ford assaulted her by choking her, impeding her breathing, according to the lawsuit. Around the same time, she said Ford threatened to harm their children, the lawsuit said.

Ford was arrested the next day and released a day later, according to the lawsuit.

In April 2020, the divorce between the two was finalized, and Ford was granted supervised visitation with their children, according to the lawsuit. However, Ford filed a motion to modify the divorce decree.

A court hearing was scheduled for the morning of Aug. 6, 2020. Hours after the hearing, Ford showed up at Melissa Bandas home, the lawsuit said.

(He) pulled up, approached Melissa Banda from behind, forcefully grabbed her, and covered her mouth as she began to kick and scream. (Ford) wrestled Melissa Banda into the back of a white SUV. Hearing her screams, Melissa Bandas nanny and neighbors immediately called the authorities and explained that (Ford) had kidnapped Melissa Banda, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit said that the next day, she was reported as a missing person by the McAllen Police Department. Ford was found and arrested later that day, before her body was found, according to the lawsuit.

We searched 30 hours total and I would have kept looking forever How I wished things would have been different, her sister wrote in a Facebook post.

McClatchy News reached out to Cynthia Banda but did not immediately hear back.

The lawsuit said the police department had a policy or custom of treating domestic violence cases involving women and/or Hispanic women less seriously than other types of assault cases.

Cynthia Banda is asking the court for compensatory damages and a reasonable attorneys fee, the lawsuit says.

Ford is charged with capital murder by terroristic threat in the course of aggravated kidnapping, assault on a family member by impeding breath or circulation; violation of a protective order involving stalking; and stalking, according to the lawsuit.





McAllen is just north of the Texas-Mexico border and about 230 miles south of San Antonio.

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Nurse of 15 years killed in senseless act of domestic violence, Minnesota cops say
A retired Vermont university dean was killed while she was walking on her favorite trail Thursday afternoon near the campus where she once taught.

Honoree Fleming, 77, a respected biochemist and cell biologist, was shot in the head around 4 p.m. on the Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail near the Vermont State University Castleton campus, where she served as Dean of Education before her retirement. Her body was found about half an hour later, and witnesses described seeing a red-haired white man, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, whom the Vermont State Police has named as a person of interest. He has not been apprehended, and police warned that he was considered armed and dangerous, and urged residents to be vigilant.

We dont have a suspect, we dont have a motive, Maj. Dan Trudeau, commander of the Vermont State Polices Criminal Division, said in a news conference Monday afternoon, but noted that the agency had received more than 200 tips from the public. Investigators are specifically asking people who were walking or biking on the trail between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Oct. 5 to come forward. They are continuing to search the area with the help of the Castleton and Fair Haven police departments, New England K9 Search and Rescue, and other agencies.

Honoree Fleming was a 77-year-old retired university dean, respected biochemist and cell biologist.

Honoree Fleming was a 77-year-old retired university dean, respected biochemist and cell biologist.

Flemings body was found just a mile from the university, which closed its campus and issued a shelter-in-place order Friday.The university also announced Friday that additional security measures were being taken at the school, with round-the-clock coverage by its public safety department and local police.

This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University, interim president Michael K. Smith said in a message to students, faculty and staff. Honoree will be deeply missed.

Fleming was days away from celebrating her 45th wedding anniversary with her husband, Ron Powers, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, who announced her death in a Facebook post on Friday.

I will write more, much more, about my beloved Honoree as I am able, Powers said. Those of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named. I have never known a more sterling heart and soul than hers. She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her.

Powers co-wrote The New York Times nonfiction bestseller Flags of Our Fathers, which was made into a feature film directed by Clint Eastwood in 2006. In 2017, he opened up about his and Flemings two sons, Kevin and Dean, and their struggles with schizophrenia, and Deans suicide, in the critically acclaimed No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America.

I miss our conversations over wine late at night, Powers said, addressing his wife on Facebook. I miss just sitting and watching you talk to other people. Your lovely face came to full life and your eyes sparkled and your head tilted in ways that made me rejoice in the fact that you had wafted down from the stars to grace my life. And then Deans, and Kevins.

In a follow-up post thanking the many people who reached out to him in the wake of Flemings killing, Powers wrote, You have understood and cherished her luminous soul, and that is (part of) the reason I can tell myself that even though the brilliance of her scientific vision was not fully recognized in her lifetime, dear Honoree did not live in vain. She lifted every life that her life touched.

Classes are scheduled to resume Tuesday at the university and the local elementary and high school, Castleton Police Chief Peter Mantello said at the news conference, but reiterated that residents should remain vigilant.

The biggest thing is situational awareness, he said at the news conference. Lock your cars, lock your doors.  If you go anywhere, pair up, use the buddy system. But the biggest thing is to be observant.

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SAN DIEGO  Two people got away after robbing a gas station Sunday night in Clairemont Mesa, police said.

Shortly after 7 p.m., the pair walked into the Shell station in the 6100 block of Balboa Avenue, San Diego police said. One of the two, a man, walked behind the front counter, grabbed an employee and told her to walk with him towards the back. Thats when the woman he was with opened an unlocked safe, according to police.

The couple was last seen walking southbound on Mt. Abernathy Avenue.

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The man was described as being in his 30s, Hispanic with black hair, 5-foot-9 and 250 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket and black shorts. The woman was described as being in her 20s, Asian, 5-feet and between 150 and 160 pounds. She was wearing a purple wig, dark jeans and a burgundy jersey with yellow striped sleeves.

Police have not made any arrests. Anyone with information was asked to call SDPD or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Rochester police announced this week that a woman who was shot in 2020 has died from her injuries.

Tamika Vailes of Rochester was 45 when she was shot multiple times in the upper body while inside a home at 57 Potomac St. on Aug. 13, 2020. She died from her injuries on Sept. 27, said Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department. She was 48.

Her death has been ruled a homicide, which counts as one of the 46 homicides within city limits in 2023, since Valies died from the 2020 assault in this calendar year, according to police.

Isaac Wynn, now 58, of Rochester was already convicted of several felonies in connection with Vailes' shooting, including attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault, and is serving a 20-year prison sentence, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

He was apprehended in 2020, minutes after the shooting, when he was involved in a crash on Trabold Road in Gate, according to police.

Umbrino said that Rochester police is conferring with the Monroe County District Attorney's Office to determine whether any additional charges are pending.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Tamika Vailes dies from injuries sustained in 2020 shooting in Rochester NY
If you were going to give The Three Stooges a modern-day Silicon Valley treatment, you couldnt write a better opening scene than the one that played out last Monday in Washington D.C., when Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took the stand in the most significant tech-antitrust trial in 15 years, and accused Alphabets Google of having a monopoly on search-engine traffic. Were talking classic comedy here, people  Laurel and Hardy antitrust antics, Lucy and Ethel fighting in a data-stomping vat, a Benny Hill Goes to Washington episode lacking only the Yackety Sax soundtrack.

Are we in a seemingly inescapable government-surveillance dystopia, eagerly enabled by the unchecked data-mining and Congressional lobbying dollars of corporate jotunn like Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook and OpenAI? Sure. Is it likely that Google will appeal any pro-regulatory outcome of the antitrust case, while both it and Microsoft continue simping for the Pentagons domestic spying operations? Very. But will that stop us from laughing like hyenas at our tech-emperors new clothes whenever we see their bare bottoms jiggling through the halls of justice, just begging for a slap? Not on my watch.

The Justice Department and 38 US state attorneys general have accused Google of using monopolistic business practices to corner the search-engine market by illegally paying Apple billions of dollars to make Google the default search engine of Apples Safari browser. Regardless of outcome, the suit may already be too little, too late to truly end Googles reign. But its nonetheless worth pursuing in the public interest.

Nadellas appearance before Judge Amit Mehta in the US District Court for the District of Columbia comes just two weeks into the trial, and hes the most prominent tech titan to testify in the case so far.

You get up in the morning, you brush your teeth, you search on Google, Nadella lamented before the court, as though the phone alarm that wakes you and the device you use search with couldnt possibly be Microsoft products.

Nadella, the top dog at a $2.4 trillion company (the second-most valuable in the world), described a nightmare future where websites would only sell your browsing data to Google, giving it an exclusive advantage in the AI training-data arms race. Nadella described a hellscape where poor Microsoft cant train its own AI and Bing search algorithms unless it pays websites more than Google for the data it now gets mostly for free.

What is publicly available today, will it be publicly available tomorrow? he asked, adding that it would only further entrench Googles search dominance. I worry a lot that, in fact, this vicious cycle that Im trapped in can become even more vicious.

Alas. Wont someone think of the Bing?

Nadellas main argument, though, hinged on his complaint that Google is still the default search engine used in Apple products. Despite the fact that the whole trial centers on a possible illegal pay-for-play deal between Google and Apple, Nadella openly told the court that Microsoft too was also ready to throw down $15 billion a year if Apple would just choose Bing for its products default search engine instead of Google.

Defaults are the only thing that matters, he said. It would be a game-changer.

The withering pleas of Nadella have fallen on deaf ears among those who watched Microsoft gather into a literal monopoly through the early '90s, then fight its way through a losing battle in 1998 as the feds sued it for using a 70% market share to further entrench itself with anti-competitive behavior. The Google antitrust case is the biggest since then.

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Back then CEO Bill Gates was arguing to the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department about why shoving its Internet Explorer browser down everyones throats was the definition of innovation in tech. Of course, that was well after Gates shamelessly ripped of Steve Jobs in the '80s by stealing the MacOS design and turning it into the Great Value brand of operating systems known as Windows 1.0 and 2.0  resulting in a famous 1988 lawsuit.

Everybody talks about the open web, but there is really the Google web, Nadella said at the trial.

Its difficult to imagine a more delicious scene than that of Microsoft, decades after its backstabbing of Apple, falling to its knees begging for Apples help as Google threatens to crush the once-ruler of the desktop world. Difficult, yes  but not impossible. Just ask any devoted Linux user.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad returned to the international fold in May (Philip FONG)

Syria has tortured tens of thousands of its people and maintains a "widespread and pervasive" system of "abhorrent treatment", world court judges heard on Tuesday at the first international case over the civil war.

Canada and the Netherlands have dragged Syria before the International Court of Justice, asking the court to demand urgent measures to stop the ongoing mistreatment of thousands still detained.

"Every day counts," Rene Lefeber, top representative for the Netherlands, told the court.

"Persons in Syria who are currently detained or at risk of being detained cannot afford to wait any longer," added Lefeber.

Damascus snubbed the hearing but has previously dismissed the case as "disinformation and lies" and said the allegations "lack the slightest degree of credibility".

Lefeber cited wrenching testimony from detainees, describing gang rapes, mutilation and a "standardised" punishment method involving contorting people into a car tyre and administering a "severe beating".

Canada and the Netherlands have asked the ICJ to "urgently" demand that Syria stop all torture and arbitrary detention, open prisons to outside inspectors and provide information to families about the fate of their loved ones.

The ICJ can take years to rule on a case but urgent so-called "provisional measures" can be ordered in a matter of weeks and are legally binding.

"It is our sincere belief that the lives and well-being of Syrians are at stake and require the court's immediate attention," said Lefeber.

Canada's main representative, Alan Kessel, said Syria had taken the "regrettable" choice not to appear but "this does not mean the world is absent".

"The Assad government must respond and stop the torture that is rampant in that country... We've held up a mirror to the Syrians. They should look in that mirror," Kessel told reporters, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

- 'Nightmarish conditions' -

Former prisoner-turned-activist Ahmad Helmi told AFP: "I was in prison in Syria for three years and I know for sure that torture is happening around the clock. It's happening around the hour."

"It doesn't happen only for interrogation. Sometimes it happens for fun, just because they feel they enjoy impunity. They can do whatever they want," he said.

"Hundreds of people are dying under torture every month," said Helmi in an interview before the hearing. A few dozen activists protested outside the court at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Balkees Jarrah, from Human Rights Watch, said the ICJ needed to act "to prevent further abuses against Syrians, who continue to suffer under nightmarish conditions and whose lives are in serious jeopardy".

While there have been individual war crimes cases linked to the Syrian war in some countries, there has long been frustration in Western capitals at the lack of any wider plan for international justice.

The Dutch first launched a bid in September 2020 to hold Syria responsible for alleged breaches of the United Nations Convention against Torture, to which Damascus is a signatory.

Canada joined the case the following March.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) -- a war crimes court which, like the ICJ, is based in The Hague -- has been unable to deal with Syria because Damascus never ratified the Rome Statute, the tribunal's founding treaty.

The situation has gained renewed attention after the return of Assad to the international fold in May, when he attended an Arab League summit.

Describing the hearings as a "watershed" case, Human Rights Watch hoped the ICJ proceedings would shine a spotlight on Assad's return from isolation.

Activist Helmi said there was no chance of "rogue state" Syria accepting any decisions by the ICJ but insisted that any ruling was still important for victims and families.

"We are not talking about a local court somewhere. It's not me saying torture is happening. This will be the ICJ saying that torture is happening," he told AFP.

"And whoever wants to re-normalise the Syrian regime, they will have this tag on their forehead that you are normalising with a state that is torturing people around the clock."

ric/acc/gil
U.S. senators have expressed bipartisan support for a yearlong $50-100 billion aid package, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Oct. 9.

Senators from both sides have spoken in favor of a one-and-done Ukraine aid package, a strategy U.S. President Joe Biden has reportedly been considering amid political chaos surrounding budget negotiations in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The package, if agreed upon, could be passed before the expiration of the current spending bill on November 17.

The proposed package ranges from $50-100 billion and represents a significant increase from the $24 billion in funding that Biden proposed in August.

Senators told the Wall Street Journal that one large funding package would "give Ukraine a sense of confidence" and was more advantageous "from a political point of view."

Funding for Ukraine was dropped from the spending bill passed on Sept. 30 to avert a U.S. government shutdown, leading to doubts over American support.

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While there is still strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives for Ukraine funding, the topic continues to be a major point of debate.

When Representative Matt Gaetz proposed ending all military aid to Ukraine, 93 Republicans voted in favor of the measure while 126 Republicans and 213 Democrats voted against, NBC News reported.

The United States has been the largest provider of military assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to a Council on Foreign Relations report.

As the Ukrainian military prepares for winter and international support declines, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took part in the European Political Community Summit to shore up support from European leaders.

"Ukraine's key priority, particularly as winter approaches, is to strengthen air defense, Zelensky said at the conference last week. We have already laid the groundwork for new agreements with partners and look forward to their approval and implementation.







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(Bloomberg) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping spent the first part of this year seeking to play global peacemaker, proposing a cease-fire in Ukraine and helping long-time rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran reach a diplomatic truce.

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Yet his governments reaction to the Israel-Hamas conflict is exposing the limits of Xis ability to bring lasting solutions to some of the worlds most intractable clashes. Much like his proposal on Russias war in Ukraine, Chinas initial statement on Sunday sought to avoid naming an aggressor and failed to offer any specific offer of immediate assistance.

After Hamas launched a shock incursion into Israel, killing hundreds, Chinas Foreign Ministry reiterated a call for an independent Palestinian state while making no mention of the attacks on civilians. All parties should act with restraint, according to the two-paragraph statement, which did not mention Hamas by name. The ministry later said it was a friend to both sides, and that it was saddened by the casualties.

Israel pushed back, with Yuval Waks  deputy chief of the nations mission in Beijing  saying Chinas failure to condemn the violence as terrorists are holding children was regrettable from a country with friendly ties to Israel.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday directly confronted Xi about Beijings position, telling the Chinese leader in a rare meeting that he was disappointed the Asian nation showed no sympathy for the Israeli people. Xi didnt address those criticisms, only saying publicly during a meeting with Schumer: We have a thousand reasons to make US-China relations better, and no reason to make them worse.

The attacks on Israel by the militant group Hamas have handed Xi an awkward moment, according to Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Beijing has moved to paint itself as a global player, he said. You would expect them to offer some ideas or thoughts about how to resolve this situation, and yet we do not really see them offering anything.

Peace player

Xi first waded into the Middle East peace process in March when he took credit for a detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, after providing the physical site in Beijing for representatives from both sides to talk. That deal came shortly after Xi met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, and held talks with Iranian leader Ebrahim Raisi.

While there was widespread skepticism the pact would last, and of Beijings extent in brokering the deal, its existence put Washington on notice that the Middle East had alternative diplomatic partners.

The Chinese leader followed up that win by hosting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing in June, saying he was willing to play an active role in resolving the conflict. Expectations Xi could play a part in peace talks that have been stalled since 2014 were bolstered by subsequent reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was planning his first trip to China in six years.

Xis engagement in the Middle East gave him credibility as a global statesman, as the Chinese leader faced pressure from the US for failing to condemn Russias war, and providing Moscow with diplomatic and economic shelter. Chinas 12-point position paper on ending the war has been criticized by Ukraine and Western democracies for handing Russia territorial gains.

Chinas efforts on Middle East diplomacy worked to offset pressure on its inaction on Ukraine-Russia, according to Wen-Ti Sung, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub.

Beijings recent moves in the Middle East, though limited, also handed Arab Leaders some bargaining power against Washington while giving China a diplomatic boost, Sung said. But when the chips are down, the Middle East looks to Washington, not Beijing, he added.

President Joe Bidens administration has already dispatched the first tranche of a security aid package for Israel, with more assistance to come. Furthermore, the US said Monday it wanted to press ahead with its push to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which inflamed tensions in the Middle East.

Balancing Ties

Chinese state media has stressed a need for neutrality, with a China Daily editorial on Monday urging the international community to play an impartial role in the crisis to help reach a ceasefire.

China has reasons to balance its relationships on both sides of the conflict, with Beijings bilateral trade with Israel totaling some $22.1 billion last year, according to International Monetary Fund figures. More than half of Israels exports to China are electric components including microchips, according to a June paper by Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies.

That trade with Israel is crucial as the US urges its partners to implement curbs on Beijings access to cutting-edge technology. Intel Corp. abandoned a $5.4 billion deal in August to acquire Israels Tower Semiconductor Ltd. after failing to win Chinese regulatory approval in time as rising geopolitical tensions slow down that process.

Xis attempts to counter US constraints have seen him increasingly embrace Middle Eastern nations. In August, he presided over the BRICS blocs expansion to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The month before, China announced Iran  a nation suffering from punishing US sanctions  would join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Chinas decision to skip naming Hamas, which is backed by Tehran, as the aggressor in its response to the weekends violence sent a message to Iran and other authoritarian regimes in the region that China recognizes their regional interests, said Mercy Kuo, a geopolitical risk adviser at Pamir, a global risk consultancy in metro Washington DC.

China essentially seeks opportunities to project an image of peace builder but has no intention of tarnishing it with the complexities and vicissitudes of peacemaking in the Middle East, she added.

Leaders of Global South nations, including from the Arab world, are set to descend on Beijing next week for Xis flagship Belt and Road Forum. The Israel-Hamas conflict that has roiled oil prices and markets will likely color conversation at the event, which will also be attended by Russias Vladimir Putin.

Chinas position of neutrality might help make those conversations slightly smoother. But it could also just reflect a simple reality: Beijing knows it has limited ability to influence Israel.

Unlike Iran and Saudi Arabia, where both parties were willing to go to China to achieve a mutual goal, said William Figueroa, assistant professor of history and theory of international relations at University of Groningen. Israel has no interest and no incentive to invite Beijing to broker any kind of agreement.

--With assistance from Yihui Xie.

(Updates with China Daily editorial.)

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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the global lending system had already changed over time to face new challenges (Bryan R. Smith)

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday she backed efforts to boost the lending firepower of the IMF and World Bank to combat poverty and climate change.

Speaking on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Morocco, Yellen said the global lending system had already changed over time to face new challenges.

"It must change again to meet the urgent global challenges of our time," she said in a speech at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, north of Marrakesh.

Yellen said the World Bank's board of governors will endorse at this week's meetings in Marrakesh a new vision to "end poverty on a livable planet" -- words used by World Bank President Ajay Banga.

"It has become common sense that addressing climate change and other global challenges is key to achieving development," she said.

She said bank governors this week would endorse measures aimed at raising its lending capacity.

Banga has vowed to "fix the plumbing" at the bank, saying it was "dysfunctional".

He has said that changes to the institution's balance sheet could add as much as $125 billion in extra lending capacity.

These reforms and other measures by regional development banks would add a total of at least $200 billion in funding capacity, Yellen said.

But she added that the World Bank also needs a "cultural change to accelerate private sector mobilisation".

She warned that financing from multilateral development banks (MDBs) alone will not be enough to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which include eradicating hunger and poverty.

"We need the MDBs to establish concrete private capital mobilisation targets and incentives for staff to meet those targets," Yellen said.

As for the IMF, Yellen said the United States would back a "quota formula that better reflects the global economy, but change on this can only happen within an agreed-on framework based on shared principles."

IMF quotas, which are based on economic performance, determine how much funding a nation should provide to the IMF, its voting power and the maximum amount of loans it can obtain.

The United States has backed until now an "equiproportional" increase in quotas that would increase access to lending for developing countries, without modifying the allocation of votes.

Yellen's comment on "shared principles" could be a veiled reference to China as the United States has resisted the idea until now of giving its rival, the world's second biggest economy, more voting power.

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West Sacramento residents this year received an unexpected increase to property taxes due to a Yolo County error for mistakenly believing debt payments on a school bond measure were ending.

The mistake was made by county officials in determining a tax rate that was sufficient to pay for Washington Unified School District Measure Q bond payments. Measure Q was passed by voters in 2004 for school facility improvements, construction and modernization to eliminate overcrowding.

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved tax rates on Aug. 29, and the tax bills were mailed to residents Sept. 20.

The tax rate levied for the 2004 Washington Unified School District bonds was significantly higher than previous years, particularly since the county did not have a tax levy for those bonds last year, said Tom Haynes, Yolo Countys interim chief financial officer.

He said the significant property tax increase understandably caused a fair amount of concern and confusion for residents. Haynes spoke at a Sept. 28 Washington Unified board meeting to offer some explanation and clarification.

County officials at the time believed debt payments on the 2004 bonds were ending when they were not, Haynes said. Now, the taxes that should have been levied last year have been carried forward to this current fiscal year to avoid default. He said the higher tax rate is needed to catch up on debt payments.

I acknowledge and recognize not only the financial strain that these types of rate changes place on residents, but also the impact that it has on community trust, Haynes said during the school board meeting. And I personally apologize for any error on our part that has contributed to this situation.

Mark Warford, a West Sacramento resident, said his questions about this issue to the school board office were at a minimum inconsistent and also inaccurate. He questioned the school boards level of competence.

The recent increases to the school bond rates of 150% to 400% on the most recently released tax bill are not acceptable, Warford said during the Sept. 28 school board meeting. And I request that the board hire an independent auditor in order to obtain a forensic audit of the school board bonds management.

Yolo County officials have clarified that the increased tax rate is $120 per $100,000 of assessed property value per the 2004 bonds. Using the median home price in the county, that means a $532,500 home would pay $639 a year. On Saturday, the county mailed out clarifying information about the increased tax rates to more than 17,000 households.

Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez, president of the school board, said at the meeting that the board members could not ask Haynes any questions about the error or have any further dialogue, since the issue was not listed as an item on the agenda. But she promised the issue would be placed on a future board agenda.

The public and all of us are deserving of answers. So, that is why well have this on a future agenda item so that we can discuss, what happened and why it happened, and ensure that it never happens again with surprises, Kirby-Gonzalez said at the meeting. None of us should have surprises with our tax bill.

Haynes told the school board that he already has taken a number of actions to ensure this error does not happen again, including a thorough review of all debt issuances from all agencies across the county to make sure county officials are aware of absolutely everything.

Haynes said Department of Financial Services officials were making changes to how the county calculates tax rates to avoid large increases or decreases year over year. He also promised that county officials were working collaboratively with school district staff to start sharing information before the tax bills go out to ensure the tax rates and their calculations are thoroughly reviewed.

He said the revenue from these increased taxes was only going to pay for this bond debt; the money doesnt go anywhere else. Haynes also wanted to make it clear that residents were not getting overcharged either in the current fiscal year or over the life of the bonds.

Had we been aware of the ongoing debt payments, not only would there have been a tax rate last year, but the tax rates in prior years likely wouldve been higher, Haynes said.

He expects tax rates will return to normal over the remaining life of the school bonds once theyre caught up with debt payments after this fiscal year. Resident property tax payments are due in December and again in April.

The bonds  broken into Series A and Series B  are expected to be paid off by 2031. According to district officials, the current balance of the bonds are $31.65 million and $18.495 million, respectively.
A Dartmouth College freshman on Tuesday morning pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with a Cape Cod boating crash that killed a 17-year-old Sherborn girl over the summer.

David K. Sullivan, 19, of Medfield, faced a judge more than two months after the fatal boating crash that killed his girlfriend, Sadie Mauro, a Dover-Sherborn High School senior, in Dennis on July 21, according to court documents. Two others were seriously injured.

Sullivan was arraigned Tuesday in Barnstable Superior Court on charges including death of a person caused by operating vessel/boat under the influence of intoxicating liquor, possessing false RMV documents, minor in possession of alcohol, operation of a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor causing serious bodily injury, and reckless or negligent operation of a vessel causing death, according to Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois.

Sullivan was released after posting $5,000 cash bail and was ordered to surrender his passport.

Sullivan was indicted in late September by a Barnstable County grand jury.

Emergency crews responded to a report of a boat crash in Sesuit Harbor in Dennis on the evening of July 21.

College that local lacrosse star had committed to heartbroken over deadly Cape Cod boat crash

Mauro, a former resident of Shelburne, Vermont who died in the wreck, was a star lacrosse player at Dover-Sherborn High and had committed to playing lacrosse at Gettysburg College next year.

Dover-Sherborn High School Principal John Smith remembered Mauro as a hardworking student and great athlete.

A preliminary investigation found that the vessel was equipped with two outboard 250-horsepower engines bearing an Alabama registration, Galibois said.

Charges were filed against Sullivan after an investigation by Dennis Police, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, the State Police Marine Unit, the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, and the Barnstable County Regional Dive Team.

According to a court memorandum submitted by Sullivans attorneys in support of his release, Mauro was Sullivans girlfriend and best friend.

Since that date, not a day has gone by that Mr. Sullivan has not grieved with his girlfriends family, relieved the horrors of the accident, and prepared for the possibility of having to defend himself against criminal charges, Boston Attorneys David Meier and Hannah Black, who are representing Sullivan, wrote in their memorandum.

Sullivan is a Dartmouth College freshman who graduated from The Roxbury Latin School in June.

By all accounts David Sullivan is a bright, hard-working and honorable young man, his attorneys wrote.

And, Sullivans family have several generations of roots in the Cape Cod Community and the greater Boston community, his attorneys wrote.

According to his attorneys, immediately after the deadly accident, Sullivan, who was thrown from the boat, tried to help save the people who had been on the boat. He also dove back into the water in search of Mauro, his girlfriend.

In the seconds, minutes and hours after the accident he acted responsibly and deliberately, with sound judgment and coordinated motor skills and did his best to locate and save the other individuals who had been on the boat, to summon help and to cooperate with police investigators, his attorneys wrote.

In the darkness, he managed to swim back to the still running boat, maneuver his way on board, and shut off the engines, his attorneys wrote.

His attorney said Sullivan spoke several times with investigators after the crash.

Significantly, at no time during any of these three occasions, did any law enforcement officer request that Mr. Sullivan perform field sobriety tests, his attorneys wrote.

Sullivan is due back in court on Dec. 14.

Judge set bail at $5k cash/$50k surety. Sullivan must also surrender his passport. Hes due back in court December 14. @boston25  Rebecca Turco (@RebeccaTurcoTV) October 10, 2023

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President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Bucharest on Oct. 10 for his first official visit to Romania since Russias full-scale war against Ukraine began.

Zelensky will meet with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis to discuss further military cooperation, Ukraines air defense capabilities, security in the Black Sea region, and relations with allies.

First of all, Ukraine is grateful to Romania for its sincere and large-scale assistance, which significantly strengthens our defense, Zelensky said via his Telegram channel.

And also - for the most constructive solidarity, which enables our countries to significantly contribute to the world's security, in particular, food security."

Read also: Romania vows support for Ukraines EU aspirations, grain transit

Zelenskys visit comes amid Russian continuous attacks on port and civilian infrastructure in Ukraines Odesa Oblast bordering Romania. Overnight on Oct. 10, Russia launched dozens of drones at the southern region, damaging transport infrastructure, according to Governor Oleh Kiper.

Debris from Russian attack drones have been found in Romania at least three times, followed by Bucharest introducing new security measures to protect the civilian population near the Danube River.

While the attacks are not intentionally targeting Romania, the situation is still "unacceptable," Iohannis said on Sept. 21.

Read also: Reuters: Romania moves air defense systems to border with Ukraine

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is interested in starting a war in the Middle East in an effort to undermine world unity.

In a video address Monday, Zelensky said he met with Ukrainian intelligence officials and diplomats following Hamass surpise attack on Israel, noting that the current state of the Middle East is a fundamental importance for us  not only for Ukraine, but also for the entire Europe.

According to the available information  a very clear one  Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe, he said. We see Russian propagandists gloating.

Zelensky also said Russias ally Iran openly supported the attacks on Israel, referring to it as a much greater threat than the world currently perceives.

The world wars of the past started with local aggressions, Ukraines leader added. We know how to counter this threat.

We are preparing appropriate steps. And most importantly, we are defending the need for maximum unity in the world.

Zelenskys remarks come days after he condemned Hamass attack on Israel.

Israeli armed forces launched a counteroffensive attack on Gaza in response to the attacks by Hamas, which has left hundreds of people in Israel dead, with more than 150 soldiers and civilians being held hostage by the militant group.

Hamass attacks on Israel on Saturday included targeted attacks on civilians, such as people who had been attending a music festival.

Today, the entire world saw horrifying videos from Israel. Terrorists humiliate women and men, detain even the elderly, and show no mercy, Zelensky wrote Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity.

Our position is crystal clear: anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable. Todays terrorist attack on Israel was well-planned, and the entire world knows which sponsors of terrorism could have endorsed and enabled its organization.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on Oct. 10 to resume asset declarations for officials and immediately make them publicly accessible.

On Sept. 12, Zelensky vetoed the previous version of the law, which restored the requirement to submit online asset declarations but failed to make them public.

The controversial bill, approved by the parliament on Sept. 5, entailed blocking public access to the asset declarations for one more year, which sparked wide criticism among Ukrainian anti-corruption activists.

On Sept. 7, members of the European Parliament also asked Zelensky to veto the law due to concerns it would undermine trust in anti-corruption reforms.

Read also: Officials accused of using war as pretext for hiding ill-gotten wealth

Following the veto, Zelensky proposed to reinstate open access to the asset declarations but exclude certain categories of government employees, such as members of the Armed Forces or State Border Guard Service.

However, these exceptions would not apply to military personnel holding or seconded to positions as ministers and deputy ministers or as heads and deputy heads of central and local executive bodies.

The system of compulsory asset declarations was originally instituted as part of the country's fight against corruption following the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution.

At the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the requirement for submitting e-declarations was suspended, and public access to the declarations was shut down. Officials have still been able to submit them on a voluntary basis.

Read also: Ukraine Business Roundup  Issue 4

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the law on the return of electronic declarations of income for public officials, with the immediate opening of the register.

Source: Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament)

Details: The car of bill  9534 states that it was returned with the president's signature.

Background:

On 5 September, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 9534 on the restoration of electronic declarations for public officials, but the register will only be launched in one year.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he would make a decision regarding the law on electronic declaration adopted by the Verkhovna Rada after consultations with Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

In just one day, Ukrainians collected over 25,000 signatures on a petition demanding that the president veto draft law No. 9534 and return it to the parliament to establish a register of public officials property declarations.

On 12 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vetoed a law that preserves restrictions on electronic declarations for public officials.

On 20 September, the Verkhovna Rada approved the veto applied by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and adopted the amended law on the restoration of electronic declarations of income for public officials.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cancelled his speech in the Romanian parliament, where he is visiting on 10 October. Romanian media suggested that the speech was cancelled because of "MPs with pro-Russian sympathies" in the Romanian parliament.

Source: Romanian service of Radio Liberty; European Pravda

Details: As it is known, Zelenskyy arrived on his first official visit to Romania since the beginning of the full-scale war and has already met with President Klaus Iohannis on 10 October.

A meeting with the president of the Senate and the interim speaker of the Chamber of Deputies is scheduled for around 16:00.

At 17:00, Zelenskyy was scheduled to deliver a speech in parliament, but the press service of the Chamber of Deputies reported that "the joint meeting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate has been cancelled due to the request of the President of Ukraine", without providing any explanation.

Journalists speculated that this decision could have been made because of possible attempts to disrupt the speech by MPs with "pro-Russian sympathies".

In the evening, Zelenskyy is due to meet with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Ciolacu had previously said that he would travel to Kyiv to conclude negotiations on further exports of Ukrainian grain to Romania.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
UAE-based Zest Equity, a startup digitizing private market dealings, has raised $3.8 million in seed funding to build more tools for enabling fast and transparent transactions by ecosystem players while increasing their liquidity through secondary deals.

The seed round was led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), with participation from the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) and DASH Ventures. This latest round brings the total funding raised by the startup to $5.7 million.

Zest Equity was founded by Rawan Baddour and Zuhair Shamma in 2021 initially as a marketplace for the secondary trading but evolved fast into a platform that enables ecosystem players like founders and venture capitalists to transact fast and openly online. Traditionally, these players transact offline, which can be tedious, obscure and costly.

Baddour says they took this path due to the lack of infrastructure to empower communication, connection and information sharing amongst different stakeholders in a cost-effective and digitized manner.

We're digitizing a lot of what is actually very manual, and we have taken a tech-first approach to automate as much as we can, while building a platform that is unique and scalable, Baddour, a former banking executive, told TechCrunch.

Founders use Zest Equitys tools to, among other actions, invite investors to fundraising rounds, share information including pitch decks and cap tables, and track deal processes. Investors get to submit their interest, see other VCs participating in the round and sign documents.

Zest also provides the legal infrastructure to enable investors, including angels, group and form investment syndicates or special purpose vehicles to enable them pursue shared venture interest. This saves time and administrative cost, and makes it easy for VCs, especially angels, to invest.

We have built a digital platform that allows [founders and investors] to share or get data that they want to share, and invite their network of people to participate in deals. On the other side, we provide them with the legal infrastructure to group all of these people that they have brought in into a single entity to keep the cap table clean and to streamline the whole process, said Baddour, adding that the funding will go into building new tools to make the process even more seamless.

Zest is also building tools that will enable startups to build a standardized process for secondary share trades. Using these tools, startups can, for instance, set when a liquidity window opens, control liquidation and approve information being shared to enable secondary transactions. The tools are meant to bring transparency, accelerate sale approvals and make it easy for investors to access liquidity.

In a relatively short time, Zest Equity has already proven to be a valuable and dependable solution for digitizing private market transactions in the Middle East. As more startups and investors mature, they inevitably seek more avenues to liquidity and opportunity. This clearly illustrates that our ecosystems need for this solution is growing, said Walid Mansour of MEVP, in a statement.

The startup is eyeing other emerging markets like Africa (North Africa), South Asia and Turkey, markets it says have similar gaps and issues.
Woman charged following arson, vehicle pursuit

The Lynchburg Police Department arrested and charged a woman following an arson that led to a vehicle pursuit early Friday morning.

Officers responded to the 2100 block of 12th Street on Friday at about 1:35 a.m. for a report of a woman pouring gasoline in the vicinity of a vehicle and building, lighting it on fire and then fleeing the scene in a U-Haul truck, police said. Officers observed the truck on 12th Street and initiated a traffic stop. The operator did not stop and a vehicle pursuit ensued, according to LPD.

The suspect vehicle and a marked LPD patrol vehicle collided at the intersection of 12th and Monroe streets, injuring one officer. The injured officer was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released, LPD said.

The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle at the intersection of 12th and Main streets. Officers took the suspect into custody after a brief struggle, police said.

The operator and sole occupant of the U-Haul truck was identified as Felicia Williams, 40, of Lynchburg, according to LPD. Williams was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital for treatment of serious injuries and arrested and charged with one count each of arson, felony eluding, felony hit-and-run, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and on two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer.

Williams is being held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail without bond.

The LPD Traffic and Safety Unit responded to investigate the crash and the Lynchburg Fire Department extinguished the fire, LPD said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective S. Bond at (434) 455-6161, or to call the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900. An anonymous tip can also be made online using http://p3tips.com or by downloading the P3 app on any mobile device. A cash reward of up to $1,000 may be available for tips that lead to an arrest, the department said.

 Emma Martin
For Katie Lane, life took a turn when her parents decided to move to Campbell County after she graduated from high school.

Lane, originally from Bristow which is a community in Northern Virginia, said things happen for a reason.

Sometimes you dont know it until you look back, but that was one of them, said Lane, the events and experiences manager for the countys public library system.

Lane said she has been working in the library system since the age of 18 and immediately loved it.

While working at the library, she attended Longwood University in Farmville to pursue teaching.

Lane received her degree and began teaching in schools in Danville, Richmond, Pittsylvania County and Henrico County.

However, she eventually moved back.

I realized you know, I love Campbell County  I love serving here, Lane said.

Jordan Welborn, director of the Campbell County Public Library System and Department of Citizen Engagement and Quality of Life, said throughout her time working with the library system, Lane has constantly offered support.

When you meet her, it is obvious she cares about people, the community and the library, she said.

Since her return, more than a decade ago, Lane has become more heavily involved.

Currently, she travels to all four libraries in the county and also helps plan community events, one being the Rustburg Street Fair.

Lane said its her biggest event of the year, usually pulling in more than 1,000 people.

Other events she plans include homeschool events, Night At The Museum and programming at the senior center, which she thanks her team for.

Lane said her job at the library is really serving what the need is right then.

While we hold the stories that are inside books, the citizens hold the stories in real life, and being able to share those experiences with them, thats my favorite, she said.

Being able to provide them just the opportunity to make a positive memory with their family or whether its a senior or whether its a baby, and just make those connections, thats what its all about.

Welborn said Lane touches the lives of the public on an individual level and through community partnerships.

Lane also works closely with Altavista On Track, a nonprofit that helps provide business assistance to downtown Altavista through grants.

She also works closely with her organization, Bringing Animal Renovations to Campbell County (BARCC), trying to build a new animal shelter in the county.

Lane and co-founder of the organization, Jeannie Isaacs, met with county administration and County Administrator Frank Rogers in the beginning planning stages, describing the meeting as very encouraging.

That was six years ago.

Through those six years, weve created a 501(3), weve gotten some great community support and weve gotten a lot of grants and so through those grants, weve gotten conceptual designs done for a new shelter, she said.

The current shelter, located on Dennis Riddle Road in Campbell, is the only one in the county.

Lane said to bring in the new shelter is a multi-million dollar project and the county has $800,000 put to the side for it.

The hardship is that we have these beautiful animal shelters around us in other counties. Citizens might be going outside the county to adopt because maybe the experience is a little bit more enjoyable, she said.

What we want to do is create this sense where the citizens enjoy it more, theyll come in more, adopt more and have those moments.

Because of her involvement around Campbell County, Lane was honored as one of the Top 20 Under 40, one of Lynchburgs Millennials on the Move for the region in 2020.

Lane said the honor was unexpected and it meant the world to her.

She said her passion continues to be serving others, something she wants to continue doing.

I think that just knowing that you are part of bettering something  it makes me smile, thats what I want to do  As cheesy as it sounds, you want to leave something better than you found it, she said.
TOKYO, Oct 10 ( News On Japan ) - Google has announced its commitment to advance AI development while ensuring safety, making Japan the second country after the United States to receive this pledge.

This announcement was made by Google during a meeting of the AI project team under the Liberal Democratic Party's Digital Society Promotion Headquarters held earlier today.

Seven major AI companies, including Google, had previously announced in July of this year their commitment to responsibly practice AI development in the United States based on three principles: "safety," "security," and "trust."

Google's similar commitment in Japan now makes Japan the second country, following the United States, to receive such a pledge.

This move aligns with the Kishida administration's positioning of AI as a growing industry, and it is anticipated that other major companies like Microsoft and Amazon may make similar announcements in the future.
Five rural Pottawattamie County towns recently received a combined total of $3 million in federal and local nonprofit funding to jumpstart needed infrastructure projects.

The projects range in size and scope, from water main repairs and sewer upgrades to building an entire wastewater treatment facility, with the county providing nearly 25% of the estimated cost for each project through the Rural Pottawattamie County Infrastructure Coalition.

On Friday, the City of Hancock was presented with a check for $72,628 that will go toward updating and repairing its lagoon, which is used to collect and treat the communitys wastewater.

We need to rehab our lagoons, because the DNR (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) thinks theyre leaking  which, they cant really prove if its leaking or evaporation, said Josh Billings, Hancock city maintenance employee. Once this project fully gets done, well really be able to tell if it is leaking or if it is just evaporation.

Lagoon wastewater systems are supposed to be discharged once or twice a year, Billings said. But the Hancock system hasnt been discharged in four years, because the water level of one of the lagoons keeps dropping.

The total estimated cost for the project is $613,000, which the city hopes to cover with additional grant funding. But the money from the RPCIC is going to go a long way toward the planning phase of the project.

Having that money to help pay for this is huge for us small communities, Billings said.

On Monday, RPCIC presented additional checks to the cities of Carter Lake, Crescent, Minden and Treynor for their own needed infrastructure improvements.

Carter Lake has a $2 million water project in the planning stages, with phase 1 hopefully going out to bid in January or February, City Clerk Jackie Carl said.

We have a couple hydrants that need to be replaced, and then we have some valves that dont work efficiently, Carl said.

Carter Lake received $484,184 from the RPCIC.

The City of Carter Lake is really excited about the funds that theyre sharing with us, Carl said.

The town that received the largest amount is Treynor, which has already begun construction of an estimated $5.8 million wastewater treatment facility.

It isnt glamorous to speak of, but its really costly, Treynor City Administrator Michael Holton said. We are extremely appreciative. It is not something we took for granted. This was a gift, this was a special moment. The county and this coalition gave a lot of positive hope to some of the small communities.

Treynor received $1,411,152 from RPCIC.

Other projects include state-mandated sewer improvements for Crescent, expected to cost $4.1 million, and a water main project in Minden, estimated at $128,000.

Crescent and Minden received $977,566 and $54,470, respectively.

The Rural Pottawattamie County Infrastructure Coalition is a partnership that formed in 2021 between the county, Advance Southwest Iowa and the Iowa West Foundation after county officials learned of the funding the county was going to receive as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

County Supervisor Scott Belt and Planning and Development Director Matt Wyant wanted to figure out a way to disburse funds to the countys smaller communities.

Scott and I had a conversation about, What if we got everybody to band together  the towns and the county  to line up these projects to competitively apply for dollars from the state and the federal government once this disbursement happens? Wyant said.

With input from IWF Vice President Matthew Henkes, the county reached out to Advance Southwest Iowa and Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development to determine each towns wants and needs.

We all sat down together and said, How are we going to do this? said Shalimar Mazetis, rural development manager for ASWI. Advance Southwest Iowa and Golden Hills RC&D went out and met with each town, and put together a list of the projects that the town had, all their wish lists, what they had to do, what they wanted to do, what their hopes and pipe dreams are, so on and so forth. The end result of that, with the 12 towns was a list of 300 projects for roughly $100 million.

Once they had a list of projects, the newly formed RPCIC had to determine which projects were eligible for ARPA funding.

With ARPA funds, we have a couple restrictions, Mazetis said. It has to be spent by 2024 and the project has to be completed by 2026.

With those criteria, the RPCIC was able to narrow the possible projects from 300 to five that would be doable within the time frame. The county committed $1.5 million to the RPCIC projects, with each town receiving 12.1% of the total estimated cost of their project.

Iowa West Foundation came in and said, we will match that, and so each project is getting 24.2% of their project covered, Mazetis said.

Wyant said that RPCIC will reassess the towns needs once these first projects are all underway before moving forward with another round of funding.

Well get back with everybody, see how everybody felt about the process, how things went, are there things that we need to tweak? Wyant said. The program has garnered a lot of attention across the state, which is fantastic. Itd be great to see other counties create their own versions of the RPCIC. Youre always happy to be part of something on the ground floor when it took off.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed President Joe Biden and his administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack in decades on Israel, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted had yet to be spent.

DeSantis and Trump, who are running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, both stopped in Cedar Rapids over the weekend.

Trump delivered a speech to about 2,000 people Saturday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in downtown Cedar Rapids. DeSantis spoke Sunday to a crowd of a few hundred supporters at Refuge City Church in Cedar Rapids as a guest for a meet-and-greet organized by Never Back Down, the super PAC backing him for the GOP nomination.

Both criticized a deal announced by the Biden administration in August to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran in exchange for Tehran gaining access to roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets and the United States freeing several jailed Iranians.

Although Hamas is a Sunni Muslim group, it has a militant wing that long has nurtured close ties with Iran, a source of funding and a Shiite powerhouse.

Trump said that recent attacks on Israel by Hamas are a result of the United States unfreezing the Iranian assets in the prisoner swap, and a result of the nation being seen as "weak on the global stage.

"I predicted war in Israel immediately after it was announced that Joe Biden gave $6 billion to Iran," Trump said Saturday. At this time, Israel and the United States need a very strong partnership and leadership, claiming Biden betrayed Israel by restoring hundreds of millions of dollars to the very corrupt Palestinian entities.

The Biden administration says the $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets can be used only for humanitarian purposes, that the United States will have oversight and there is no evidence money has left the Qatari account.

Trump did not specify how the administration was supporting corrupt Palestinian entities, but might have been alluding to Biden restarting humanitarian aid to Palestine, including $235 million primarily in aid to refugees, after Trump canceled the assistance program three years earlier.

Trump also asserted his administration brought peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-mediated bilateral agreement signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in September 2020 to recognize Israels sovereignty.

Biden on Saturday decried the unconscionable assault and pledged to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself after the attack. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel.

DeSantis on Sunday said we need to stop this charade that we can be friends with a regime that wants this country's destruction, claiming the Biden administration and others have made deliberate efforts to coddle the Iranian regime.

So stop with sanctions relief, turn the screws on the Iranians. We shouldn't want them getting any cash flowing into this regime, he said.

DeSantis also highlighted the Biden administrations plan to release the frozen Iranian funds as part of the prisoner swap deal, saying while those exact funds were not used by Hamas, that the money is "fungible and frees up other Iranian resources to fund terrorism.

Both he and Trump pledged strong support for the state of Israel.

Israel is at war, and the United States has to support Israel, Trump said.

DeSantis called the attacks barbaric.

They have no place in a civilized world. And Israel not only has the right, they have the responsibility to defend themselves and their people, and we need to support that, DeSantis told the crowd at Refuge City Church.   They can defend themselves, and they should defend themselves, and theres no moral equivalency between the Israelis and Hamas terrorists.

If elected, he said the United States will have an ironclad relationship with Israel that will be good for our country and will be better for the Middle East.

DeSantis was in Israel earlier this year, when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a worldwide trip just before officially announcing his presidential campaign.

And it's important that we as Americans say to terrorists all around the world, you do not harm one hair on the head of an American citizen, or else you will have hell to pay, DeSantis said. We are not going to sit down and let this happen.

DeSantis on Sunday continued to slam Biden for having slept through the attacks, after the president, in a statement he made on Saturday, alluded to having calls on the unfolding situation in the Middle East at about 7:30, 8 o'clock  eight hours after Hamas's bombardment of Israel began.

If I were in the White House, I would have been up at 2 in the morning, and we would have been doing what we need to do to protect this country, DeSantis said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

DeSantis claims Florida's crime is at a 'record low.' But he's using incomplete data DeSantis claims Florida's crime is at a 'record low.' But he's using incomplete data
Mavrix Wickett-Behnke, 3, was among those who attended the Northern Hills Childcare ribbon-cutting event in Norfolk on Saturday. Shown here with his mother, Martina, Mavrix enjoyed playing on one of two bounce houses set up for the event.
BOSTON (AP)  In 1648, Margaret Jones, a midwife, became the first person in Massachusetts  the second in New England  to be executed for witchcraft, decades before the infamous Salem witch trials.
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Head of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva lauded Moroccos rapid and efficient response to the earthquake following a visit to the stricken areas.

Morocco showed unmatched solidarity by the King and the people, said Georgieva at an event marking the launch of an IMF book on Moroccos growth potential presented at the IMF-WB annual meetings center in Marrakech.

All kids are back to school in affected areas, said Georgieva, adding I could see in their enthusiasm to learn is evidence of the bright future of the country.

Georgieva also highlighted the importance of Moroccos wide-ranging reforms, in bolstering the countrys resilience to external shocks.

She commended Moroccos achievements in tourism, economic diversification, and agriculture.

Morocco is the only country in Africa eligible for a flexible credit line, she said.

The IMF had offered Morocco last month a $1.3 billion climate resilience loan and had unlocked a $5 billion flexible credit line for the country earlier this year

Thanks to its reform to safeguard macro-economic balances, Morocco can tap into that flexible credit line without pre-conditions, said central bank governor Abdellatif Jouahri who was speaking at the event.

Morocco has never defaulted on debt payment since it undertook a structural adjustment reform, he said.

Jouahri grapped the opportunity to urge the IMF and international financial institutions to focus more on the human being by addressing poverty and education issues through cheap loans.
Moroccos central bank purchased 200 million euros of sustainable bonds from the World Bank as Morocco hosts the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Marrakech.

The EUR 100 million 3-year and EUR 100 million 5-year Sustainable Development Bond transactions will support the financing of the World Banks sustainable development activities, the World Bank said in a statement.

The World Bank will pay annual fixed rate coupons to Bank Al-Maghrib, it said.

The transactions are an opportunity for Morocco, as the first host of the Annual Meetings on the African continent in 50 years, to raise awareness for the urgency of mainstreaming climate action in the region and across the continent, the bank said in a statement.

The World Bank integrates climate action into its development financing efforts including resilient food systems, clean and renewable energy, and environmental and water security throughout its global portfolio, including African countries, it said.

The World Bank is also financing projects to proactively support countries to manage climate shocks while implementing urgently needed adaptation measures, it said.
The West African sub-region annually loses $26 billion to illegal fishing and illicit trade in marine resources, a senior Ghanian official has warned, echoing a recent report by an independent intergovernmental body that globally, nature is declining at rates unprecedented in human history, and species extinction is accelerating at an alarming rate.

In an address to selected media personnel at a workshop held in Accra that focused on the nature crimes in Ghana, the West African countrys Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, said that on the economic front, Interpol estimates that 38% of global criminal proceeds are derived from nature crimes. He also noted that crimes, such as illegal fishing, illegal mining and logging, and poaching, had damaged some vital and vulnerable ecosystems in the world, such as forests, wildlife, oceans, wetlands, coral reefs, and mangroves. His words echoed the recent report released by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) that estimated that around one million animal and plant species were now threatened with extinction within the next decades.

Jinapor also cited a report jointly produced by the World Wildlife Fund (WFF) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), that nature crimes accounted for about 26% of global emissions and remained a major obstacle to attaining the 1.5 degrees Celsius target. Kyei Kwadwo Yamoah, an expert from the Fisheries Sector, said that Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing had been identified globally as a major threat to the sustainability of the fisheries resource, whereby he warned that African countries of the Gulf of Guinea with little or no capacity to monitor their fisheries are the main victims of the practice. He also noted that most of IUU fishing practices had gained strong roots among the fishers mainly because of a weak enforcement of the fisheries laws and regulations.
Three days of arguments have begun at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on Monday (9 October) with the UK government arguing its policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda is safe, while lawyers for migrants from Vietnam, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Sudan contend its unlawful and inhumane.

The Home Office has brought the challenge after the court of appeal ruled in June that the multimillion-pound deal  under which some people who arrive in the UK via irregular means would be sent to Rwanda to have their asylum applications processed  was unlawful. The hearing comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks government battles to deal with irregular migration ahead of elections next year. Rwanda is a country that imprisons, tortures and murders its opponents, including those who have already fled the country, Raza Husain KC, representing asylum seekers challenging the UK governments Rwanda policy, told five senior judges at the UKs supreme court. He added that opponents of the Rwandan government were at risk of police violence and absolute repression.

Meanwhile, the UK government is arguing that the scheme is lawful and safe. With more than 25,000 people estimated to have arrived in the UK by boat as of 2 October, the deportation policy is one of Sunaks key measures which seeks to reduce the amount of migrants seeking asylum in the country. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to stop the boats as a top priority to curb unauthorized immigration. Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, told the court there was a strong public interest in taking steps to deter people taking the perilous journey across the Channel to reach the UK. He said the government attached considerable importance to its Rwanda deportation policy, adding there was a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel, from a safe country.
African nations have been divided over which side to support in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but African leaders have still unanimously called on warring parties to halt deadly confrontations that erupted on 7 October when the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise assault.

With the African Union (AU) having been divided over the Israel-Palestine issue and also over granting Israel observer status at the continental body, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has found himself in a tight spot when he sought to word a balanced statement that the organization calls on the international community, and the major world powers in particular, to assume their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the two peoples in Israel and Palestine.

Indeed, Africa as a whole has also been divided over the Israel-Palestine issue. Hence, while Sudan, Djibouti and South Africa have been clear about their support for the Palestinians, Zambia, Kenya and Ghana quite explicitly condemned Hamas and expressed their support for Israel.

This shows that despite Israels growing diplomatic ties with African nations in the last decade and plans by several African countries to move their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel has not fully consolidated its support in the continent in this latest conflict.

Kenya strongly maintains that there exists no justification whatsoever for terrorism which constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security, President William Ruto said in a statement. All acts of terrorism and violent extremism are abhorrent, criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of the perpetrator or their motivations. The Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi said. Expressing solidarity with Israel, he said the two countries remained united to fight terrorism in all its forms.

On the other hand, Sudans foreign ministry backed the Palestinians in the wake of renewed confrontations, saying in a statement that Sudan renews its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to have their independent state. South Africa has called for an immediate ceasefire and a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine.
Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary Generals Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO) revealed Monday October 9 that an average of 9 people are killed day in day out since the beginning of 2023 in DRC by armed groups which have been sowing havoc in the central African country.

B. Keita was speaking before the UN Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the African country, Radio Okapi reports. The human rights situation continues to be affected by armed violence in the provinces of Ituri, Mai-Ndombe, Kwilu, Kwango, Kongo-Central, Kinshasa and North and South Kivu, and by the gradual increase in political tensions as the country prepares for elections in December 2023. Human rights violations and abuses in conflict zones have led to a growing number of victims and exacerbated social inequalities, she added.

The UN diplomat also condemned the increase in violence between armed groups allied to the Government and the M23 in Masisi over the past ten days, which has resulted in the displacement of over 84.000 people, the media added.

M23 is the most prominent rebel group fighting the Congolese army and which controls swathes of the countrys territories.

Congolese authorities, the U.S. and several western countries have called on neighboring Rwanda to end support for the rebel group. Kigali has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Mrs Keita added that the Luanda Roadmap, a 2022 agreement on the Pacification in the Eastern Region of DRC, is the only path for peace. She called on the M23 to dismantle its parallel administration and return to the positions on the ground as set out in the Luanda roadmap.

Their presence and activism worsen the humanitarian and human rights situation, she added.
Head of Moroccan government Aziz Akhannouch met on Tuesday in Brussels European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen in presence of foreign minister Nasser Bourita.

Talks focused on bilateral relations and ways of strengthening further EU-Morocco strategic partnership as well as latest regional developments.

The EU will contribute to reconstruction and economic development after the earthquake that hit the North African Kingdom, said Von Der Leyen in her X account.

The EU has extensive ties with Morocco in trade, political and security matters. Morocco is the European Unions leading economic and trading partner on the African continent.
The International Financial Corporation, member of the World Bank, announced on Tuesday financial support for Moroccan projects destined to enhance food security, access to finance, sustainable agriculture, and construction.

The announcement was made during the WB-IMF annual meetings taking place in Marrakesh with the participation of 14,000 delegates including central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media and academics.

In Marrakesh, IFC pledged 100 million loan to Moroccan state-owned Phosphates Group (OCP), the worlds largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer, to fund its solar program and help green global food systems.

IFC also agreed to provide nearly 34 million risk-sharing facility to Moroccan Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) and Moroccan company CMGP, which produces and distributes irrigation systems. The funding supports sustainable agriculture in Morocco, including in the region affected by the earthquake.

The International Financial Corporation also announced a 10 million equity investment, in partnership with Mediterrania Capital, in Moroccan financial services provider CASHPLUS to foster financial inclusion in the country.

IFC also agreed on a 45 million green loan to Moroccan cement producer Ciments de lAfrique (CIMAF) to support low-carbon cement production in Africa.

The international financial institution pledged to provide advisory services, focused on evaluating the earthquakes impact on the local economy and designing a response to support affected businesses through the Centre Regional dInvestissement (CRI), of the Marrakech-Safi region.

This advisory support is part of a wider response program by the World Bank Group to mobilize finance and expertise to help Morocco rebuild and restore impacted communities in the aftermath of the earthquake.

These transformative investments underscore our commitment to mobilize private capital and foster sustainable development in Morocco, in line with the governments strategy to promote the private sector as an engine of growth, said Makhtar Diop, IFC Managing Director.

As we mark 60 years of partnership with Morocco, IFC is also fully committed to playing a pivotal role in the recovery and reconstruction efforts as the Kingdom rebuilds from last months earthquake, he added.

For the past six decades, IFC has partnered with Morocco to unleash the full potential of the private sector, making the country a leading center of trade, investment, and innovation in Africa.
After voting down its initial planned property tax request last month, the North Platte school board approved a reduced 2023-24 request Monday.

The board also approved a bid to replace six HVAC units at Eisenhower Elementary School.

Board members voted 5-1 to approve a reduced $30.9 million tax request, with Emily Garrick casting the only "no" vote.

At the Sept. 11 meeting, a $31.83 million request was favored on a 4-2 vote but failed to gain the 70% majority necessary to pass under state law.

School staff has begun work to restrain spending in the 2023-24 budget to deal with the reduced request approved Monday. The final total still raised 2022-23's $29.03 million in property tax needs by 6.7%, compared with 9.7% had the failed request been approved.

Garrick said in her dissent that she is still not entirely satisfied even with the lowered request.

The reduced request leaves the school district roughly $800,000 short of what it needs to support the budget, a task addressed Monday by Executive Director of Finance Stuart Simpson.

Were going through and identifying various areas that we want to reduce, Simpson told board members. School officials plan to limit travel for staff and faculty, among other types of spending, to make up that $800,000 deficit.

The board voted unanimously to accept the $180,520 bid for Trane to upgrade the current HVAC system at Eisenhower. The new units will be installed after the end of the school year in May.

The board also updated its policies to comply with Legislative Bill 705, sponsored by state Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil and adopted by the Legislature last spring. The law addresses extracurricular eligibility for part-time students and a requirement for districts to annually report capacity for each school building.

Under the new law, in order to be eligible for Nebraska School Activities Association-sanctioned events, a part-time student must take five credit hours at the school in which they participate and 15 credit hours of homeschooling, for a total of 20 credit hours.

The district has also established that they will provide transportation to such students for NSAA-sanctioned events.
Photo: GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images

During the 2020 campaign, Joe Biden vowed that not another foot of the wall on Americas southern border would be built if he became president. This is one promise that Biden will fail to keep.

Last week, the White House waived a variety of environmental and historic preservation laws in order to facilitate the construction of border barriers in Starr County, Texas  barriers that, in the administrations own account, will do nothing to solve Americas migration challenges.

On Thursday, the president insisted that he still opposes border-wall construction in principle but that his hands were tied by legislation enacted under Donald Trump. Money was appropriated for the border wall. I tried to get [Congress] to reappropriate, to redirect that money. They didnt. They wouldnt.

It is true that the funding for new border-wall construction was enacted under Trump and that Biden tried unsuccessfully to divert that money into other programs. Yet the administrations decision to grant the environmental waivers necessary to enable progress on the wall, in the absence of any order from the judiciary compelling it to do so, caught some of its allies by surprise. Given the rapidly growing political backlash to this years influx of asylum seekers, it is hard not to suspect that Bidens action is a willful attempt to improve his electoral prospects.

If it is a political tactic, however, then its a dumb one. Building a wall on one small stretch of Americas nearly 2,000-mile southern border will do essentially nothing to stem the tide of illegal entries, let alone to resolve the bottlenecks plaguing our nations processing of lawful asylum seekers. If the aim is merely to project toughness on illegal immigration for messaging purposes, Bidens insistence that he actually opposes the border wall undercuts that gambit.

In truth, the president has no great options for redressing the genuine political and substantive challenges posed by the asylum crisis. Since the expiration of Title 42, an emergency authority that enabled the federal government to summarily turn back asylum seekers on public-health grounds, the White House has embraced a carrot-and-stick approach to regulating migration. On the one hand, Biden has made it safer and easier for asylum seekers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to press their claims through orderly, legal processes. Under a new parole program, migrants from those countries who demonstrate that they face a credible threat of violence or persecution in their home countries can fly directly into the U.S., forgoing the hazardous journey to the border through Mexico. Those already near the Mexican border can use an app to schedule appointments when their claims may be heard. The program aims to process up to 30,000 such asylum seekers each month.

On the other hand, the administration has made it much harder for migrants who cross the border illegally to advance asylum claims. The new policy automatically rejects the asylum claims of illegal entrants, unless their cases feature a small number of extenuating factors.

This approach has earned Biden plenty of criticism from progressives in general and migrant advocacy groups in particular. Critics note that the parole program can process only a fraction of the number of migrants with credible asylum claims at any given time, forcing many to enter illegally in pursuit of refuge. Human-rights organizations maintain that Bidens ban on asylum claims from migrants who enter the U.S. illegally violates both American and international law, which empowers those who set foot in the country to pursue asylum, irrespective of how they arrived.

Even as Bidens crackdown on asylum seekers has antagonized some progressive organizations, it has failed to deter migration. Last month, more than 200,000 migrants unlawfully crossed the southern border, a record high for 2023 and up from 182,700 one year earlier.

In principle, the fact that hundreds of thousands of people are willing to go to great lengths to immigrate to the U.S. should be seen as a national asset, not a crisis. Americas demographic structure is growing increasingly top-heavy, with workers retiring from the labor force faster than they are entering it. Unless we admit more working-age people into the country, this demographic shift will depress economic growth and make sustaining Medicare and Social Security at generous benefit levels more difficult. Critically, our economy has plenty of need for workers without high levels of education. We are experiencing labor shortages in many low skill sectors such as agriculture and food service. And with relatively little training, immigrants can help alleviate shortages in the child-care and home-health-aide sectors as well.

But maximizing the benefits of immigration, and minimizing the immediate costs, requires a variety of supportive policies. If you invest scant funds into resettlement programs and courts that adjudicate asylum claims, then large influxes of asylum seekers will overwhelm state bureaucracies, create massive legal backlogs, and promote a widespread sense of disorder. If you deny asylum seekers the right to work for months as they await their days in court, then they will become a burden on municipal social services. If you engineer a massive housing shortage through zoning laws that prevent the supply of homes from rising in response to demand, then sudden population increases will further drive up rental costs and exacerbate homelessness crises.

And this is precisely what the U.S. has done. As a result, this years large inflows of asylum seekers are creating some genuine problems in many American cities. In New York, which honors each of its residents right to shelter, the costs of housing and caring for migrants will run to $5 billion this fiscal year, forcing some cutbacks in other programs. The small border city of El Paso has been spending millions of dollars each month processing and transporting migrants. America is an exceptionally wealthy country, and in the long term, the economic impact of welcoming immigrants who are fleeing social crises in their home countries is highly positive. But if the federal government does not step in to spread the near-term costs across all the nations taxpayers, some municipalities will be burdened.

The current backlash to migrant inflows is not wholly rooted in the objective, material challenges that they pose. On parts of the right, opposition to the asylum seekers is informed by racial animus. And many voters across the political spectrum react negatively to large-scale immigration out of a general aversion to change. (On the left, this impulse manifests in anti-gentrification arguments that lament not merely displacement pressures but also the cultural changes that newcomers bring to a given neighborhood.) But when you combine such small-c conservatism, a right-wing media landscape dedicated to demagoguing immigration, and the genuine material problems wrought by large inflows, you end up with widespread political discontents.

In an NBC News poll released last week, voters said they trusted Republicans over Democrats to handle immigration by a margin of 45 to 27 percent. The GOPs 18-point lead on the question is its largest on record. A recent national survey from Marquette Law School, meanwhile, shows Donald Trump leading Biden on the issue of border security by a 52 to 28 percent margin.

The backlash is also damaging Democrats in deep-blue states. A recent Sienna College poll found Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams with net-negative approval ratings, as voters panned their respective responses to the influx of migrants. By a 46 to 32 percent margin, voters said migrants had been a burden rather than a benefit to the state, while 58 percent said that New Yorkers had already done enough to help resettle the immigrants and should try to restrict the flow of them. Discontents with migration in the Empire State were so substantial that the survey found Biden failing to secure 50 percent support in a race against Trump while leading the Republican by only 13 points; in 2020, Bidens lead over the mogul never dipped below 25 points.

Democrats in Illinois are also struggling to manage public discontent over the challenges of resettling migrants. The states governor, J.B. Pritzker, told the president in a letter last Monday that the federal governments lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois.

In the swing state of Arizona, Democratic governor Katie Hobbs has felt compelled to lash out against the White House, saying last month, Time and again, Ive asked the Biden administration for assistance at the border, but instead, they have chosen to redirect resources to speed the release of migrants without the support and coordination our local communities deserve.

In this context, it is unsurprising that the president would reach for more draconian deterrence policies, whether in the form of a border wall or ban on asylum claims from those who enter the country illegally.

And yet, as the Atlantics Jerusalem Demsas has written, there is little reason to believe that harsh deterrence policies accomplish much of anything beyond imperiling asylum seekers lives. Simply put, U.S. government policy cant discourage migration more than an immensely dangerous and expensive journey of more than 1,000 miles does. People who are willing to spend all their savings on a life-threatening trip from Central America or Haiti to the U.S. southern border are unlikely to be deterred by a border barrier or less permissive asylum process. A 2021 review of surveys taken in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico found no evidence that knowledge of immigration enforcement policies changed peoples thinking about whether to migrate. This is consistent with a 2018 paper on survey data from Honduras, which found that the overwhelming motivating factor for emigration was personal experience with crime and gang violence. Information about the likelihood of deportation did not significantly affect respondents plans about whether to seek entry to the U.S.

This survey data comports with real-world experience. Even Trumps draconian family-separation policy did not succeed in reducing migrant flows with monthly border apprehensions increasing after the policy went into effect.

Deterrence policies generally do not change the calculus of migrants; they also inevitably fail to secure Americas nearly 2,000-mile southern border, which simply cannot be comprehensively monitored or hardened. Between 1992 and 2019, the U.S. funded a fivefold increase in the ranks of its Border Patrol agents with that agencys budget jumping from $326 million to $4.7 billion. A 2016 paper analyzing the impact of such border militarization on undocumented migration from Mexico found that U.S. authorities have little to show for billions spent on border enforcement between 1986 and 2010, as these measures had virtually no effect on the ultimate likelihood of entry.

The reality is that America is one of the wealthiest societies in human history, and it shares a hemisphere with many countries that are suffering acute political and social crises and a massive border with its southern neighbor. Given these facts, our nation is going to draw migrants to it as inevitably as magnets attract iron.

If we made peace with this situation, then we could make it work for both migrants and native-born Americans. If we invested in robust infrastructures for processing asylum claims and resettling migrants, while expanding our housing stock through zoning reform and public financing, then mass migration would cause relatively little short-term friction, even as it greatly increased our nations long-term prosperity.

But Biden does not have the congressional support to do any of those things. He can improve federal policy at the margins. Although he has plenty of tools for making migrants lives harder, he has relatively few for resolving the fundamental problems posed by the existing asylum system. Politically, meanwhile, he cannot escape the fact that he leads the party that is widely (and correctly) perceived as more sympathetic to migrants. Biden could perhaps mitigate the political costs of this perception by projecting toughness about the border through rhetoric or policy. But he has had Trump-like border policies in place for the bulk of his tenure, and theyve done him no discernible good.

His best bet, therefore, may be to do everything in his power to expand the capacities of his parole system; the more asylum seekers the government processes through an orderly legal system, the fewer who will generate chaotic scenes at the border. He could also expand his use of the Temporary Protected Status program to secure work permits for migrants.

At the same time, he and his party will simply need to make other issues more salient in next years election. No border wall can keep the Democrats immigration problem at bay. But a strong message on abortion, entitlements, tax justice, and democracy just might.
House Speaker candidate Jim Jordan has made support for Israel and opposition to aid for Ukraine a signature. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

At the moment, the U.S. House of Representatives is a dysfunctional institution, reflecting the systemic problems of the Republican majority that loosely controls the chamber. Following the ejection of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the chair is occupied by a virtually powerless Speaker pro tem, Patrick McHenry. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan are locked in a complex fight for the gavel, and House Republicans dare not go to the floor with a Speakers nominee without absolutely locking down 218 votes. Theres no telling how long that might take.

This congressional gridlock means four streams of government funding are in limbo, though large portions of Congress consider them extremely urgent: aid to Ukraine (a priority for Democrats and Senate Republicans), border security funding (a top concern for Republicans and some Democrats), federal government operations (key for Democrats and many Republicans), and now emergency aid to Israel.

This fourth congressional spending priority, made pressing by the newly deadly Hamas-Israel conflict, unites virtually all Republicans with a solid majority of Democrats (backed by the Biden administration). Indeed, the very MAGA House Republicans allegedly skeptical of overseas U.S. commitments are among the most vociferous backers of maximum aid to Israel. This is true not only when the Jewish state is besieged, as it is right now, but even when it is belligerently expansionist without provocation, thanks to conservative Evangelical convictions about a Greater Israel and a Middle Eastern regional war being essential to the second coming of Jesus Christ.

What makes the current paralysis of the House so dicey in terms of securing emergency funding for any of these four priorities is that the strongest supporters of aid to Israel and new spending on border security are the most likely opponents of aid to Ukraine and of keeping the federal government operating past the current November 17 deadline for expiration of the stopgap spending deal that brought McCarthy down. So the emerging Democrat strategy of tying together aid to Ukraine and Israel and the federal government is going to create particularly intense fissures among House Republicans that could play into the battle for the Speakers gavel. And again, without a Speaker, the House wont be funding anything new.

As David Dayen explains at The American Prospect, the suddenly intense aid-to-Israel mandate that theoretically unites most members of Congress across party lines is more likely to become another partisan issue on which contenders for Speaker will have to show their willingness to fight:

The right is already desperate to portray Hamass sneak attack and incursion into Israel as somehow Joe Bidens fault (inside Israel, the blame is being placed pretty squarely on Benjamin Netanyahu). They would be all too ready to condemn Democrats for risking the loss of Israel (regardless of the veracity of that claim) by trying to stuff Ukraine or government funding into a package. Israel becomes one more variable, no matter how must-have. It could just amp up the polarization and harden positions. 

Jordan, armed with Donald Trumps endorsement (as well as some McCarthy allies who are wary of Scalise), has said that Israel would be his top priority, implicitly vowing to separate that from government or Ukraine funding. Scalise has also expressed Israel support, without explicitly saying that a resolution would top his list of priorities.

Theres likely to be a pretty extensive overlap between support for Jordan in the Speakers race and a hell-yes/hell-no position on funding for Israel and Ukraine, respectively. But this MAGA-adjacent faction has a rhetorical problem: Its main argument against continued aid to Ukraine is that any spare money should be spent on the southern border of the United States. Israel is not on the southern border, and the implicit we need war in the Middle East to bring about the end of the world argument that is so powerful among certain Republican base voters is deemed insane by most non-Evangelicals. So Team MAGA, and possibly Jim Jordan, may be tempted to push for an Israel/border-security funding package at the expense of Ukraine and federal government operations. Forcing this particular combo meal on the Senate and the White House is, of course, just as problematic as Democratic plans to force Ukraine aid and federal government operations on House Republicans.

Some House Republicans fearful of an extended battle over the Speakership are playing with the idea of resolving some fundings issues separately, as Punchbowl News reports:

Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), whose moderate RG2 group will host both Jordan and Scalise today, suggested in an interview that Republicans should somehow change the rules to empower McHenry as speaker to ensure that Israel and Americas other allies get the help they need.

House Republican opponents of linking aid to Israel to anything other than border security funding are very likely to shoot that idea down.

So you can expect more and more confusing arguments over congressional funding priorities to arise in the coming weeks as pressure increases from supporters of these various causes. And theres no guarantee at all that the formula that gives someone  Jordan, Scalise, some dark-horse candidate, or even a revivified Kevin McCarthy  the Speakers gavel will be consistent with breaking the larger deadlock between Republicans and Democrats on nearly everything.
NSC Safety Congress & Expo 2023 Heading to New Orleans

The Oct. 23-25 safety event heads to the Big Easy, where it will feature new show features and networking opportunities.

Safety professionals will soon convene at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from Oct. 23-25 for the NSC Safety Congress & Expo 2023. This years Congress will present attendees with the latest in safety innovations, educational sessions, and opportunities for meaningful connections.

Amid evolving safety challenges, the event underscores the importance of collaboration in advancing workplace safety. The events full program offers a variety of new features and special events, including:

More than 20 Professional Development Seminars, which bookend the main conference and expo, running on Oct 20-22 and Oct. 25-26. The seminars provide in-depth career advancement opportunities and Continuing Education Credits.

An educational conference with more than 100 Technical and Educational Sessions, ranging from introductory to advanced, covering current safety topics, emerging trends, and personal experiences.

An expo floor showcasing the latest safety solutions from hundreds of exhibitors.

The Green Cross Celebration at Mardi Gras World on Monday, Oct. 23, an event recognizing safety achievements and raising funds for the National Safety Council mission.

New to this years expo, attendees can look forward to NSC Central, a centrally located hub for safety resources on the show floor. This will include the NSC Safety Technology Pavilion, the New Product Showcase, and the First Look New Exhibitor Pavilion. Additionally, a special second-line parade led by a New Orleans brass band and grand marshal will transition attendees from the Opening Session to the Expo floor.

Other key networking events include the National Awards Celebration on Oct. 24 at the Hilton Riverside, where industry leaders will be honored for their contributions to safety. Naturally, the expo floor will be a center of networking activities from Oct. 23-25, with more than 700 exhibiting companies discussing the latest in safety solutions.
Starbucks Ordered to Comply with Subpoena Over Worker Organizing Campaign

The coffee giant faces legal scrutiny over worker rights.

In a notable legal move, Starbucks Corp.the global coffee companyhas been ordered by a Seattle federal court to yield to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) administrative subpoena.

According to a release dated Oct. 6, the court seeks documents for an ongoing investigation by the DOLs Office of Labor-Management Standards into Starbucks Corp.s expenses connected to a worker-organizing campaign in Buffalo, New York. The company has 14 days to comply and present the documents from fiscal years 2021 and 2022, proving fairness in its labor practices.

In this judgment, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington denied the companys efforts to challenge the DOLs subpoena power, deeming it a sound part of its investigation into Starbucks Corp. The company has repeatedly failed to present this documentation since the DOL filed a petition for it in May 2023.

Congress has given the U.S. Department of Labor the power to issue subpoenas to investigate compliance with federal law under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said in a statement. We will not sit idly by when any company, including Starbucks Corp., defies our request to provide documents to make certain they are complying with the law.

Founded in 1985, Starbucks operates over 36,000 stores in 83 markets around the world.
War premium returned to the oil market on Monday after the weekend attack by Hamas on Israel, which upendedagainthe geopolitical landscape in the worlds most important oil-exporting region, the Middle East, and buried hopes of an imminent Saudi-Israel rapprochement that could ease the tight oil market.

The Hamas attack on Saturday took place just as several Middle Eastern countries, including the large oil producer the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had started to normalize relations with Israel. The U.S. Administration was also reportedly working on a Saudi-Israel normalization in relations.

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia, the worlds top crude oil exporter, could be willing to raise early next year its oil production currently at around 9 million barrels per day (bpd) due to a voluntary cut of 1 million bpdif oil prices are too high, to win goodwill at U.S. Congress. A possible agreement would have led to Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel in exchange for a defense deal with the United States.

On Saturday and the following days, it became clear that a deal could be dead in the water and that the geopolitical risks to oil prices were once again focused on the Middle East.

The Hamas attack breached the relative calmness in the region which has seen Saudi Arabia and Iran restore diplomatic relations and the UAE and Iran improving relations in what analysts believed to be a sign of de-escalation of the tensions in the region. Related: Chevron Shuts Down Israeli Natural Gas Field After Hamas Attack

After the attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas and began to retaliate for the Saturday incursions of Hamas fighters on its territory.

Analysts will be closely watching if Israel publicly blames Iran for direct or indirect involvement in the attacks, and if the conflict will spread from Israel and the Gaza Strip to the wider Middle Eastern region.

This is no less than Israels 9/11, Ian Bremmer, the president of Eurasia Group, said on Saturday.

What would happen next could include War in the region (which could expand), massive civilian casualties, and the Israeli-Saudi deal (which was close to getting done) is now over, Bremmer added.

In the wake of the Hamas attack, Saudi Arabia called for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, the protection of civilians, and restraint. But it also recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continuation of the occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities.

The situation could be contained, but all eyes would be now on Iran, analysts say.

So far there is no sign that Iran and Hezbollah plan to join. As long as this is the case the global impact is limited, Zvi Eckstein, former deputy governor at the Bank of Israel and currently emeritus professor of economics at Tel Aviv University, told CNBC.

Oil supply from Iran, which has been rising in recent months due to weaker enforcement of the U.S. sanctions, could begin to shrink again, analysts say.

According to Warren Patterson, Head of Commodities Strategy at ING, The softer approach from the US is likely due to concern over rising energy prices. However, it would be difficult to see the US maintaining this stance if Iran is connected to these attacks, whether directly or indirectly.

If the enforcement of these sanctions becomes stricter, it could lead to a potential loss of at least 500,000 bpd of oil supply, which would wipe out the currently anticipated surplus for 2024, according to ING.

The Hamas attack could eventually have an impact on supply and prices, popular hedge fund manager Pierre Andurand said.

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The market will eventually have to beg for more Saudi supply, which I believe, will not happen sub $110 Brent, he added.

As Iran is also behind Hamas attacks on Israel, there is a good probability that the US administration will start enforcing those sanctions on Iranian oil exports more tightly. That would further tighten the oil market, Andurand wrote on X on Saturday.

Also the probability that this will lead to direct conflict with Iran is not zero.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The war between Hamas and Israel that erupted last weekend has caused confusion in the commodity investment sector, with funds rushing to divest stocks sensitive to turmoil in the Middle East but oil traders piling up into the worlds most traded commodity.

Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note on Monday that hedge funds had been selling U.S. commodity-linked stocks at a faster-than-usual pace before the news broke that Hamas had entered Israel from multiple points. Once the news broke, attitudes changed, with oil jumping by more than $3 on Monday.

It was a short-lived rally, however. By today, prices had retreated while traders sought to gain some clarity about the future course of events in Israel. For now, one relevant implication of the latest events, according to media reports, is a delay in the normalization of relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

The Saudis and the Israelis had been working on such a deal with the help of the United States, but now expectations are that it would take longer than initially planned. Another thing that would likely take longer would be Saudi Arabias oil production cuts.

The change in the situation came literally a day after the Saudis reportedly said they were willing to roll back the cuts in a sign of goodwill to Washington. The report came from the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed officials from Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The deal would also involve U.S. sharing nuclear technology with Saudi Arabiaa controversial issue from several years ago when the Saudis asked for U.S. nuclear tech to build generation capabilities but were reluctant to sign up for all the requirements that such a deal would involve. Related: Chevron Shuts Down Israeli Natural Gas Field After Hamas Attack

Meanwhile, funds did not only sell oil-linked stocks before the start of the latest war. They also sold oil futures, Reuters John Kemp reported on Monday. As usual, doubts about how long the latest price rally could last followed the initial surge in buying appetite, leading to net sales over the week of October 3.

In just two weeks, hedge funds sold the equivalent of 57 million barrels in oil and fuels after accumulating purchases of 398 million barrels over the previous 13 weeks. In the week to October 3 alone, sales totaled the equivalent of 33 million barrels.

Some observers were quick to note that the war premium had returned to oil markets, and it could rise further if the conflict spread regionally. There have been reports suggesting Iran was involved in the planning of the Hamas attack, with the most notable one coming from the Wall Street Journal and citing Hamas and Hezbollah sources.

The AP, however, reported a day later, also citing a Hamas official, that there was no Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in the planning of the attack. The Guardian, meanwhile, cited the Israeli army as saying there was no evidence of Iranian involvement in the attack.

Iran is a major player but we cant yet say if it was involved in the planning or training, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari from the Israeli Defence Forces said.

The United States has also stopped short of blaming Iran for helping plan the attacks, although Israels president, Isaac Herzog, said over the weekend that Hamas was working for Iranian interests.

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This may be a good sign, but things could change very quickly if any evidence emerges of Iranian involvement. That would prompt a response from Israels ally, the United States, and the response will inevitably target Irans oil industry with sanctions that might see a reversal in the recent production growth that the country has witnessed.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Oil prices have been buoyed by the Hamas attack on Israel, with a heightened geopolitical risk premium in markets and growing concerns that the U.S. will double efforts to stem Iranian oil flows. Despite the price rise, uncertainty remains in oil markets as to exactly how supply and demand will be influenced.

Chart of the Week

- The double whammy of peak driving season being over and high crude prices have brought US gasoline demand much lower than it seasonally should be, shedding some 1 million b/d in demand since the July peak.

- Supplies of finished gasoline in the US market fell to 8 million b/d in the latest weekly EIA numbers, which combined with soaring gasoline stocks (up 6.5 million barrels last week, the highest week-on-week jump in 20 months) adds to the pressure on light distillates.

- NYMEX RBOB gasoline futures have lost more than 15% in the past month alone, currently trading at $2.24 per US gallon, well below last years October readings.

- Peaking at $30-35 per barrel in the summer, gasoline cracks are down to $5-6 per barrel across all continents - in Europe theyre the lowest as gasoline inventories in the ARA region (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) surged to the highest level since 2008.

Market Movers

- Germanys embattled utility giant Uniper (ETR:UN01) is preparing to sell its German district heating business, having hired Rothschild to run the transaction and eyeing $400-500 million from the deal.

- Canadas oil major Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU) agreed to buy the 31% stake of TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) in the Fort Hills oil sands mine for $1.07 billion, adding 61,000 b/d of bitumen production capacity.

- The 290,000 b/d Corpus Christi refinery operated by US refiner Valero (NYSE:VLO) was partially shut down after a fire, the second at the plant in 2023 already, stretching diesel supply even further.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

The rapid escalation of the military conflict between Israel and Palestines Hamas allowed oil prices to regain some of the lost ground from last week, with ICE Brent adding almost $4 per barrel Monday and closing at $88 per barrel. The focus is on Iran now, with ramifications of the Gaza standoff potentially impacting the countrys oil exports if the US political establishment enforces stricter enforcement of sanctions.

OPEC Raises Oil Demand Outlook. In its recently published 2023 World Oil Outlook, OPEC defied IEA calls to abandon fossil fuels and raised its world demand forecast, expecting peak demand by 2045 at 116 million b/d, which is a whopping 6 million b/d increase compared to last years report.

Exxon-Pioneer Deal Hard to Derail. The White House would struggle to thwart ExxonMobils (NYSE:XOM) mulled $60 billion takeover of Pioneer (NYSE:PXD) despite its previous adverse disposition towards the US major, as its usually refinery or retail deals that trigger antitrust risks.

Russia Lifts Ban on Diesel Exports. Following Fridays announcement that Russia would lift the ban on most diesel exports, the worlds top seaborne exporter of the fuel has resumed full-blown port operations, though the prohibition of gasoline exports remains in place.

EU Set to Launch Chinese Steel Anti-Subsidy Probe. According to the Financial Times, the European Union is planning to announce an anti-subsidy investigation against Chinese steelmakers, aligning with the US so as to avoid the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel.

Ugandas Drilling Bonanza Halted. Ugandan authorities have suspended works at the Kingfisher oil field operated by Chinas state-owned firm CNOOC (HKG:0883) after a fatal incident during drilling operations, with a resumption only expected after security checks are fully over.

China Issues Fourth Round of Import Quotas. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce issued a new batch of crude import quotas totaling 9.54 million tonnes (70 million barrels), mostly to independent refiners that didnt receive their full allocation for 2023, boosting the outlook for Chinas oil imports.

US-Venezuela Sanctions Relief Talks Ongoing. The United States and Venezuela have progressed in negotiations that would see at least one additional foreign company, believed to be the French upstream firm Maurel & Prom (EPA:MAU), would be allowed to resume operations alongside PDVSA.

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Israel Shuts Largest Field Amidst Hostilities. Israel has suspended operations at the Tamar offshore gas field operated by US major Chevron (NYSE:CVX) off the southern coast of the country, fearing a retaliatory strike by Hamas as the platform is within rocket fire range from the Gaza Strip.

Subsea Gas Pipeline Leak Puts Pressure on Gas. European gas prices moved above the 40 per MWh threshold after a subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia experienced a sudden drop in pressure, with the operator saying it might take months or more to repair the leak.

Copper Outlook Worsens by the Day. The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) announced that the balanced 2023 copper market will transition to a major supply surplus next year, with the production surfeit hitting 467,000 metric tonnes, aggravated by a worsening demand outlook in China.

Iraq Launches Upstream Licensing Round. Iraqs oil ministry called on international oil companies to submit letters of intent into the countrys 6th oil and gas licensing round, expected to award 14 oil and gas projects with a new profit-sharing agreement, eyeing increased gas output to meet demand.

Pemex Cuts Production Outlook, Again. Mexicos national oil company Pemex cut its production forecast for 2024 to 1.89 million b/d, significantly lower than the initial 2.6 million b/d plan and even lower than the 1.95 million b/d announced a mere three months ago as legacy fields continue to decline.

US Gasoline Prices Decline Across the Board. With gasoline demand decreasing and oil prices dropping below 90 per barrel, US gasoline prices have declined in virtually all 50 states and edged lower to a national average price of 3.704 per gallon, down 3% week-on-week.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Given the enormous ground that the U.S. literally and metaphorically lost in the Middle East in recent years, any strategy it attempted to regain some or all its previous influence across the region had to be clever, concerted, and multi-layered, and so it is transpiring to be. The Kremlin has inadvertently helped through its clumsy and inefficient attempt to annex Ukraine back into the Greater Russia. Rather than act as the staging post for a wider incursion into Europe, augmented by a contemporaneous expansion of influence by China in Asia Pacific, the invasion succeeded only in finally reigniting the practical and philosophical cohesion of NATO and its equivalents elsewhere in the world that had been lost for decades. Perhaps nowhere offers a better microcosm of the U.S.s post-Ukraine invasion strategy than Egypt, particularly developments in its oil and gas sector.

In the immediate aftermath of Russian forces first moving into Ukraine on 24 February 2022, it was obvious that massive new oil and gas supplies would need to be found fast if the new invasion was not going to end up as unpunished as the salami-slicing by Russia of Crimea away from Ukraine in 2014, as analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order. The key reason why the 2014 invasion had done nothing to deter Russia from its 2022 assault on Europe was that some key European powers, most notably its de facto leader Germany, did not want to impose sanctions on Russias oil and gas exports - a measure that would have given it serious pause for thought before deciding to invade anywhere in Europe again. Like many other countries in continental Europe, but more so, Germany had built much of its economic miracle on limitless supplies of cheap oil and gas imports from Russia. The other major part of Germanys success was to replace the extremely valuable Deutschmark with the much less valuable euro, thus immediately slashing the price of its own exports into the rest of Europe. For several weeks after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the only concern Germany had was to ensure that Russia did not stop supplying its member states with either oil or gas, due to their not being able to pay in the way Moscow preferred. This followed the 31 March decree signed by President Vladimir Putin that required European Union (E.U.) buyers to pay in roubles for Russian gas via a new currency conversion mechanism or risk having supplies suspended. Related: Maduros Sabre Rattling Reignites The Venezuela-Guyana Border Dispute

Prior to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia and China had systematically collaborated in securing allegiance from as many of the big global oil and gas reservoirs as they could, including Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, among others, as also analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order. The intention was not just to ensure that China had sufficient energy to power its own economy for as long as Russia was fighting in Ukraine and then the other target countries it had in mind, but also to deprive net energy importers allied to the U.S. from acquiring the oil and gas they needed for their own economic well-being. China and Russia had been helped in this regard by the extended disengagement of the U.S. from the Middle East during the years of the Donald Trump presidency. Whether right or wrong, this policy was encapsulated in his Endless Wars commencement address to the United States Military Academy at West Point on 13 June 2020. His comment that the days of the U.S. being the policeman of the world were over found resonance in the U.S. withdrawal from, most notably, Syria (in 2019)  including protracted internal White House discussions about withdrawing from the strategically vital At-Tanf exclusion zone that was the tri-border junction of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq - Afghanistan (2021), and Iraq (2021). In practical terms, though, this policy had begun in earnest with the unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. in May 2018 from the nuclear deal with Iran, which had opened the door to a massive increase in influence from both Russia and China across the Middle East.

Opportunities in 2022 for the U.S. and its allies to re-engage quickly in the Middle East to secure new oil and gas supplies after the loss of Russian supplies were few and far between at that point. But Egypt was one such country that had not been lost to China and Russia, and one which also occupied a uniquely influential position in the Arab word more broadly. For decades, Egypt has been seen by the Arab world as the leading proponent of the Pan-Arab ideology that believes enduring strength can only be found in the political, cultural, and socioeconomic unity of Arabs across the different countries that emerged after the two World Wars. The philosophys most powerful recent proponent was Egypts president from 1954 to 1970, Gamal Nasser. Among the most palpable signs of this movement at the time was the formation of the United Arab Republic union formed between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961, the formation of OPEC in 1960, the series of conflicts with neighbouring Israel over the period, and then the 1973/74 oil embargo. By bringing this leader of the Arab world on side, the U.S. hopes to offset  at least in part - the negative geopolitical impact of long-term ally Saudi Arabia having been lost to the China-Russia bloc. Politically and historically, Egypt is at least as much of a leader in the Arab world as Saudi Arabia has ever been.

Aside from its unique geopolitical significance, Egypt has a unique position in the global oil market that is not lost on the U.S. and its allies. Over and above its official conservative estimate of around 1.8 trillion cubic metres of gas reserves, Egypt controls the major global shipping chokepoint of the Suez Canal, through which around 10 percent of the worlds oil and LNG is moved. It also controls the vital Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline, which runs from the Ain Sokhna terminal in the Gulf of Suez, near the Red Sea, to Sidi Kerir port, west of Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea. This is a crucial alternative to the Suez Canal for transporting oil from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. The Suez Canal is one of the very few major transit points that is not controlled by China. Specifically, China already has effective control over the Strait of Hormuz through the all-encompassing Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement, as first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject and also analysed in full in my new book. The same deal also gives China a hold over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which commodities are shipped upwards through the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal before moving into the Mediterranean and then westwards. This has been achieved as it lies between Yemen (the Houthis having long been supported by Iran) and Djibouti (over which China has also established a stranglehold).

The move into Egypts oil and gas sector has been led on the U.S. side by Chevron, and on the European side by the UKs BP and Shell, and Italys Eni. Recently, BP said it will invest US$3.5 billion in the exploration and development of Egypts gas fields in the coming three years. This amount could be doubled if the exploration activity yields new discoveries. This will augment the huge advances of Chevron, which together with its European partner in the site, Eni, earlier this year discovered a potentially huge offshore gas field in its concession area in the Red Sea focused on the Nargis-1 well and is set to drill the first oil and natural gas exploration there in the first half of 2024. This discovery follows the announcement in December 2022 that Chevron had hit at least 99 billion cubic metres of gas with its Nargis-1 exploration well in the eastern Nile Delta, about 60 kilometres north of the Sinai Peninsula. Chevron also now operates the huge Leviathan and Tamar fields in Israel and the Aphrodite project offshore Cyprus. In the same vein, British oil and gas giant Shell is to begin the development of the tenth phase of Egypts Nile Delta offshore West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) concession in the Mediterranean Sea. In the same vein, the last couple of weeks saw six international oil and gas exploration companies competing for oil exploration and development bids for 12 blocks in the Mediterranean Sea and Nile Delta. The U.S.s Chevron is one, the UKs BP and also Shell are two others, plus Italys Eni, UK-headquartered Energean, and Egypts Cheiron Petroleum Corporation.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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The European Union has accumulated record amounts of natural gas in its storage facilities and has done so ahead of its own schedule.

The news about the advanced fill-up of storage caverns was first announced in August by Brussels with understandable pride. In mid-August, storage was full at 90%, which was the November target.

But energy suppliers did not stop there because, as of early October, gas storage in the EU is close to 100% full. There is just one slight problem: it might still not be enough to secure winter gas supply.

Last year, European countries saw a milder-than-usual winter for most of the heating season, which was a welcome manifestation of climate change given the concerns about the sufficiency of gas in storage. In the end, much of the gas bought at exorbitant prices during the summer remained in storage unused because of the weather.

Even with the mild winter and the full storage, however, European governments imposed energy austerity measures on large consumers. This year will be no different. Storage may be full to the brim, but there will be energy savings initiativesincluding mandatory onesrecently voted in Germany. Because one thing that commentators often forget when they talk about European gas storage is that it does not cover 100% of consumption.

The storage capacity for natural gas in the European Union actually covers about a third of demand, according to the EU itself. There is space to store up to 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the bloc and that is 33% of what it consumesfar from enough if we are talking about supply security. Related: Maduros Sabre Rattling Reignites The Venezuela-Guyana Border Dispute

Because storage can only cover a third of European consumptionor perhaps a little more if we assume energy austerity measures will work as well this year as they did last yearEuropean countries will need to continue importing liquefied natural gas through the winter. Unless, of course, Europe gets lucky with climate change again and has another unusually warm winter.

European officials have been busy this past year to find ways to enhance gas supply security. There was the agreement for joint gas buying, which seems to be working so well Brussels is considering making it a permanent fixture of EU life. There were talks about buying more gas from Azerbaijan, but that kind of fell through after the latest events in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Meanwhile, demand for gas in the European Union has declined by between 10% and 15% over the past 12 months thanks to government effortsand prices. According to Reuterss John Kemp, there is little chance for a recovery in demand given that it has remained subdued this year as well, despite greater supply security.

Just how vulnerable Europes supply of gas is was demonstrated recently by price movements amid the labor dispute at Chevrons Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects in Australia. Europe is not a big buyer of Australian LNG, but Australia is the worlds largest exporter and any disruption in Australian supply disrupts global supply.

So, when workers at the Chevron projects began striking, prices for gas in Europe surged, adding 13% in a single day. In fairness, they are still nowhere near where they were in the summer of 2022, but a 13% daily price rise is still considerable.

Interestingly, prices are currently higher than they were when the Chevron workers started striking in September. Then, the first day of striking saw Europes benchmark TTF price rise to 34.50 euro per megawatt-hour. Now, the front-month TTF contract, per Reuters, is trading at 38 euro per MWh, while the January delivery contract is trading at 44 euro.

This is the price of reliance on a global market for liquefied natural gas that, as we saw last year, can quite easily turn into a sellers market whatever plans buyers might have, including a buyers cartel. Last year, Europe priced poorer countries out of the market, pushing them back to coal. Yet, while this might be dubious from a climate change fighting perspective, it was the natural thing to do for Europe: secure energy supply.

This year, Europe appears to be content in the knowledge its gas storage caverns are full, and with average seasonal drawdowns at less than 600 TWh, the chances of a shortage are slim. Of course, there is also the lower energy consumption by industrial users, which may be positive for gas storage levels but is negative from an economic growth perspective, yet it is not drawing much attention, at least from European officials.

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Commentators do pay attention, however. In a September column about the reduction in industrial gas consumption, Reuters Kemp spelled it out quite simply. Noting the significant reduction in consumption, which has enhanced supply security for the winter months, he went on to write that the region has paid a high price in terms of reduced manufacturing activity, which could lead to permanent deindustrialization unless gas prices are reduced significantly within the next couple of years.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Ongoing investigations into a leak that halted natural gas supply between Finland and Estonia this weekend proceed with the assumption that it could have been sabotage, sources with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg on Tuesday.

The offshore Balticconnector pipeline that transports natural gas between Finland to Estonia was shut down because of a suspected leak that occurred in the early hours of October 8. The 77-km pipeline carries natural gas from Finland, where there is an LNG import terminal, to Estonia. The piece of infrastructure has an annual capacity of 2.6 billion cubic meters.

The investigation is ongoing and no formal conclusions have been made yet, according to Bloombergs sources.

Finlands government is expected to update the media on the state of the probe later on Tuesday.

The state of the Finnish gas system is stable, and the supply of gas is secured via the Inkoo LNG floating terminal, Finnish gas grid operator Gasgrid said in a statement on Tuesday.

Market players have been instructed to ensure the gas supply they need by ordering it to Inko or the Hamina LNG terminal, so that the continuity of the gas supply is secured in the coming winter season, Gasgrid added.

Report of sabotage could rekindle concerns about attacks on energy infrastructure in Europe after last years sabotage on the Nord Stream pipelines in still unexplained circumstances. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was carrying gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, was sabotaged in September 2022 just outside Swedish and Danish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.

Concerns about gas supply to Europe for the winter amid the halt of the Balticconnector pipeline and the shutdown of Israeli offshore gas field Tamar following the Hamas attack sent the front-month futures of Europes benchmark natural gas prices rallying by 12% as of 12:59 p.m. GMT on Tuesday.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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China and Uzbekistan are making progress on an Uzbek-based joint venture to produce electric and hybrid vehicles. While all the pieces appear to be in place, a firm production timetable has yet to be established. The venture involves BYD Auto, the Chinese entity that surpassed Tesla in 2022 as the leading seller of electric vehicles, and Uzavtosanoat JSC. The construction of an assembly facility in Uzbekistans Jizzakh Region is well underway. BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu traveled to Tashkent for the JVs signing ceremony: the agreement provides for foreign direct investment by the Chinese company in the ongoing project, a local media outlet, repost.uz, reported. No details were disclosed on when vehicles will start rolling off the assembly line. An initial annual production target is 50,000 vehicles per year. Output is expected to reach 300,000 per year at the conclusion of the ventures start-up phase, Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment said in a statement. While in Uzbekistan, Wang met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev; discussions focused on expanding the scope of the JVs operations, including parts localization and boosting export. The Uzbek JV appears to be part of an ambitious plan to turn BYD into a global powerhouse. Its time for Chinese automakers to upend the order of the global auto industry and chart a course into a new vast territory, the South China Morning Post quoted Wang as saying in August.

Transport ministers from all five Central Asian states and China huddled on the sidelines of the Global Forum on Sustainable Transport, held in Beijing in late September. Issues of developing transport and communications cooperation between China and the states of Central Asia, creating short and convenient transport corridors, and increasing transit traffic were discussed, according to a statement released by the Uzbek Transport Ministry. The meeting produced a memorandum of understanding, but the details of its contents were not immediately publicized.

Kazakhstan

In a trade twist, Kazakhstan intends to purchase large volumes of jet fuel from China. Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabaev recently announced that Kazakhstan wants to develop its capacity as an air cargo transit hub, but lacks refueling capacity. The Central Asian state currently sources most of its jet fuel from Russia, but with the war in Ukraine dragging on, Moscows reliability as a supplier is questionable. Kazakhstan is now looking to obtain up to 1.35 million tons of jet fuel from China. Representatives of three refineries in Chinas western Xinjiang Province are expected to visit Kazakhstan soon to conduct a feasibility assessment.

Kazakhstan is strengthening educational contacts with a variety of Chinese institutions. Al-Farabi Kazakhstan National University (KazNU) signed a deal with Chinas Fudan University to create a double-degree program and facilitate student and faculty exchanges between the two schools, the Business Kazakhstan website reported. The pact also provides for joint research. KazNU also discussed a research initiative involving the Chinese Center for Technology Transfer of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, the universitys press service reported. Such a deal would pave the way for Chinese companies involvement in research laboratories operated by KazNU. Elsewhere, Kazakhstans Academy of Logistics and Transport and the Nanjing Professional Institute of Transport Technologies have signed an agreement providing for the "joint training of specialists for the transport and logistics industry. The agreement additionally envisages academic exchanges and the facilitation of technology transfers concerning transport and railway engineering," Forbes.kz reported.

Kyrgyzstan

When it comes to Kyrgyz beer, it seems Latvia is drinking everyone else, including China, under the table. Data released by Kyrgyzstans National Statistics Committee shows that during the first seven months of 2023, the Central Asian nation exported 1.18 million liters of beer to Latvia, making the Baltic state the top international destination for Kyrgyz suds. China ranked a distant second, importing 774,000 liters of Kyrgyz beer. Riga, the Latvian capital, has emerged as a party/binge-drinking destination for young EU citizens. The Daily Mail, a British tabloid, describes Latvia as the boozing capital of Europe.

Top Kyrgyz government officials have visited China in recent weeks, seeking to drum up more trade and investment. Their efforts have yielded modest results, with various deals worth $150 million being announced. Two cabinet deputy chairmen, Bakyt Torobaev and Edil Baisalov, made separate visits to China, during which both lobbied for fresh Chinese investment in a variety of spheres, including industry, energy, education and culture. A Kyrgyz government statement did not provide specifics on the investment deals outlined in a memorandum of understanding.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan is open to enhancing cooperation with China in the area of traditional medicine. Tajikistans Deputy Health Minister, Abduholik Amirzoda, recently met with a Chinese delegation led by representatives of the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, according to the Sputnik Tajikistan media outlet. No specific results from the meeting were reported.

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By Eurasianet.org

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Woman Pleads Guilty to $359 Million Fraud Involving Claims for Unnecessary Respiratory Tests Submitted with COVID-19 Tests

A California woman pleaded guilty today to fraudulently submitting claims to governmental and private insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic for expensive and medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests.

Those who stole from government health programs during the COVID-19 pandemic not only violated federal law, they betrayed the public trust, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. As this action to disrupt a $359 million scheme, and the Departments recent announcement involving over 300 defendants and over $830 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud make clear, the Justice Department will continue to find and hold accountable those who defrauded American taxpayers during the pandemic.

Todays plea marks an end to this costly health care fraud scheme in which bad actors fraudulently ordered medically unnecessary tests to reap ill-gotten gains, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. Through coordination and close collaboration with our partners, the public can rest assured that the FBI will work relentlessly to protect our healthcare system and hold those accountable who attempt to illegally exploit it.

According to court documents, from June 2020 to April 2022, Lourdes Navarro, 64, of Glendale, conspired with Imran Shams to obtain nasal swab specimens from residents and staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and students and staff at primary and secondary schools, for the purported purpose of conducting screening tests to identify and isolate individuals infected with COVID-19. Obtaining those samples enabled Matias Clinical Laboratory, dba Health Care Providers Laboratory (HCPL), to perform RPP tests on some of the specimens, even though only COVID-19 testing had been ordered and even though there was no medical justification for conducting RPP tests. Navarro and Shams submitted, through HCPL, approximately $359 million in claims for the unnecessary RPP tests to Medicare, the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured Program, and a private health insurance company, and were reimbursed approximately $54 million.

The defendant used her management position at a clinical testing laboratory to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. This case demonstrates the Criminal Divisions continued resolve in working with our partners to root out bad actors who steal from government health programs.

I would like to thank our law enforcement partners, as well as my dedicated team of investigators, analysts, and attorneys, for bringing this fraud scheme to light and shutting it down, said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Stealing public money is unacceptable in any circumstance, but particularly egregious when taking advantage of a public health emergency.

Navarro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Shams previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2024.

The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters and Raymond E. Beckering III of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California obtained seizure warrants and is handling forfeiture.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Divisions efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

This story has been published on: 2023-10-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Egypt, UAE discuss efforts to stop military escalations in Palestine

Xinhua) 10:02, October 10, 2023

CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday discussed the recent developments in Palestine amid the current rising tensions in the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

In a phone call, the two leaders also discussed efforts to stop the ongoing military escalation.

"They agreed on intensifying consultations and pushing forward diplomatic efforts to alleviate violence and escalation to protect civilians and prevent bloodshed, and to initiate a path for achieving comprehensive and just peace to guarantee regional stability and security," the statement added.

On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a massive surprise attack that was responded to with heavy Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages.

At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Monday.

Israel's cabinet has declared a "state of war" as the Israeli death toll from the Hamas attack has climbed to 800.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
The founder of one of Chinas biggest copper trading firms has reportedly been detained by the police for questioning, according to unnamed sources who spoke to Bloomberg.

He Jinbi is the founder of Maike Metals, which is the largest copper trading house in China. The firm ran into trouble last year amid a liquidity crunch related to the Covid lockdowns in the country.

As a result, creditors went to court to get their money back from the company. To date, according to Bloomberg, Maike Metals is almost entirely inactive, when before it used to supply a quarter of Chinas total copper imports.

According to Bloomberg sources, He had been detained in his home province of Shaanxi. The report notes that detention does not necessarily lead to charges. Sometimes executives get detained to help with investigations into others, Bloomberg also said.

Meanwhile, a decline in the demand for copper from China earlier this month pushed prices to the lowest in four months, with the LSE benchmark dipping below $8,000 per ton. Nikkei noted in a report on the price movements that China accounts for 60% of global copper demand, with much of what it uses going into the real estate sector.

As a result of the real estate construction slowdown this year in China, demand for the versatile metal also declined, pushing prices lower.

Thats bad news for the energy transition as mining industry executives reiterated their warning that there is not enough new copper supply to power the transition. Not only this but some have pointed out that even if prices rose, that will not be enough to safeguard the transition.

Now its not just price. Its these other factors that really are going to limit how quickly we can develop supplies, Kathleen Quirk, president of Freeport-McMoRan said, speaking at the FT Mining Summit last week. What may end up happening is that this [energy transition] gets extended out longer.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Egypt is evaluating whether the stoppage of gas production at an Israeli field following the Hamas attack would scupper its plans to resume LNG exports to Europe as planned, anonymous officials have told Bloomberg.

Egypt, which aims to become a regional gas hub, has been exporting LNG to Europe from its terminals on the Mediterranean with gas from domestic production and from fields offshore Israel.

However, Egypt did not export any LNG in June, August, and September, due to high domestic power demand in the summer months.

Last week, Egypts Minister of Petroleum Tarek El Molla told Reuters that the North African country planned to resume LNG exports in October, with no quantities yet defined.

But this weekends attack by Hamas on Israel could derail Egypts LNG export plans.

Following the attack, Chevron, the operator of the Tamar gas field offshore southern Israel, shut down production at the field per instructions from the Israeli energy ministry.

Chevron Mediterranean Limited was instructed by Israels Ministry of Energy to shut in production at the Tamar Production Platform, the local unit of the U.S. supermajor said in a statement carried by Reuters.

While Tamar was ordered shut, another field offshore Israel, the giant Leviathan field, continues to operate normally, Chevron said on Monday.

After the shutdown of the Tamar field, Israel will seek alternative sources to meet its energy needs, the Israeli energy ministry said.

Israel told Egypt about the temporary halt of production at Tamar on Saturday. As of early Tuesday, the Israeli government had not informed Egypt of any plans to suspend gas production at the giant Leviathan field, one of the Egyptian officials told Bloomberg.

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After the shutdown of the Tamar field and amid fears of lower gas supply to the Mediterranean countries, Europes benchmark natural gas futures shot up by 15% on Monday and continued to rally by 4% early on Tuesday Amsterdam time.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest crude oil exporter, has told at least four refiners in North Asia that it would supply them with the full contractual volumes they have nominated for November, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the plans.

The supply and demand for Saudi oil seem stable at this moment, despite the high prices, one of the sources told Reuters.

Aramco will thus ship the full crude oil volumes that at least four customers in North Asia have asked for under their term contracts.

Last week, Saudi Arabia extended its voluntary production cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) through December 2023 and on the following day Aramco raised the official selling price (OSP) for its flagship crude grade for Asia for a fifth consecutive month.

Last Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said it would continue cutting an extra 1 million bpd from its crude oil production in November and December and would continue to pump around 9 million bpd. The Saudis said that This voluntary cut decision will be reviewed next month to consider deepening the cut or increasing production.

A day after Saudi Arabia and Russia affirmed their ongoing oil supply cuts, Saudi Aramco raised the price of Arab Light, its flagship crude grade, for Asia for November loading. The price hike of $0.40 per barrel was the fifth consecutive increase for the Arab Light blend to Asia, bringing the OSP to $4 a barrel over the Oman/Dubai average, the Middle Eastern benchmark, off which grades going to Asia are being priced.

The increase in Saudi prices for most grades to most markets in November was largely expected by refiners and traders amid strong demand and tightening supply as OPEC+ and its key market movers Saudi Arabia and Russia continue to restrict crude oil production and exports.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Representatives from the oil industry and from OPEC will attend the COP28 climate summit in Dubai next month, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said on Tuesday.

The oil industry will be at COP and we will be there, Al Ghais said at an energy event in Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as carried by Reuters.

OPECs secretary general will also attend the climate summit, he said.

I hope all voices will be at the table at COP28, Al Ghais said.

COP28 President-Designate is Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the biggest national oil companies.

At the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi last week, Al Jaber called on the oil and gas industry to play a crucial role in progressing decarbonization and the energy transition.

This industry can and must help drive the solutions. For too long, this industry has been viewed as part of the problem, that it's not doing enough and in some cases even blocking progress, Al Jaber said at the opening of the energy conference.

This is your opportunity to show the world that, in fact, you are central to the solution, he added.

OPECs Al Ghais, for his part, wrote in OPECs annual World Oil Outlook published this week that Calls to stop investments in new oil projects are misguided and could lead to energy and economic chaos.

History is replete with numerous examples of turmoil that should serve as a warning for what occurs when policymakers fail to acknowledge energys interwoven complexities, Al Ghais noted.

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The world needs $14 trillion in cumulative investments in the oil sector by 2045 to ensure market stability and avoid energy and economic chaos, OPEC said in the report, in which it also raised its long-term oil demand forecast to 116 million bpd in 2045, up by 6 million bpd from the demand for that year expected in the 2022 outlook.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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U.S. crude oil exports hit record highs in the first half of the year, averaging 3.99 million bpdup nearly 20% from the first half of 2022, the EIA said on Tuesday.

The largest share of U.S. crude oil that is exported made its way to Europe, at 1.75 million barrels per daymostly to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Asia was the second-largest destination 1.68 million bpd, with the largest portion heading to China and South Korea.

Despite its record, the United States remained a net crude oil importer in the first half of the year, according to EIA data, even with increasing domestic production, importing 8.836 million bpd in Junenearly half of which came from Canada. Refineries in the United States are geared to process heavy, sour crude oil, while most of the oil produced in the United States is light, sweet crude.

Some U.S. refiners on the Gulf Coast have invested in expanding their light, sweet crude oil processing capacity. However, for many refiners, particularly in the Midwest and along the Gulf Coast, refining discounted heavy, sour crude oil grades remains more profitable, the EIA said on Tuesday.

While most of the United States oil exports are heading to the Netherlands, United Kingdom, China, and South Korea, most of its importsof heavy oil--are coming from Mexico and Canada.

July EIA data shows a decline from June in the amount of crude oil imported by the United States, including from Canada. Exports, however, held steady at 10.029 million bpd.

According to the weekly EIA data, U.S. crude oil production is now at 12.9 million barrels per day, compared to 12 million bpd this same time last year. It is on par, however, with production levels at the end of 2019 and under the all-time weekly high of 13.1 million bpd that the U.S. saw in March 2020.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Senator Lindsay Graham, a notable hawk in foreign policy, has called for bombing Iranian refineries in retaliation for the countrys supposed involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel this weekend.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Graham said that if there was another attack by groups affiliated with Iran, the United States should destroy Irans oil infrastructure.

He went on to say that it was now time for us to consider with our friends in Israel to hit Iran's oil economy, as quoted by the Washington Examiner.

If there's an escalation of this war, I am urging the Biden administration and the Israelis to jointly come up with a plan to destroy Iran's oil infrastructure, the senator said.

Without oil, they have no money. Without money, the terrorism loses its biggest benefactor. Everybody talks about Iran being responsible. Talk is cheap. It is now time to make them pay a price.

In fact, the Israeli Defence Forces have said there was no evidence of Iran being involved in the Hamas attacks from this weekend that prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war on the group.

The U.S. State Department has also avoided pointing the finger at Iran for now, although the Wall Street Journal reported the attacks were planned with Iranian participation, citing unnamed sources.

If this war escalates and you try further to destroy the Jewish state, you're going to be out of the oil business. They have fixed targets that are easy to hit, Graham also said.

Iran has denied its involvement in the attack while reiterating its support for Palestine.

Iran unwaveringly stands in solidarity with Palestine; however, it is important to note that Iran is not involved in Palestines response, as these actions are solely determined by the Palestinians themselves, the countrys Mission to the UN said in a statement Monday.

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An escalation of the conflict is one of the possible scenarios in the immediate future, leaving oil markets on edge and oil prices elevated. On Monday, the news of the Hamas attack sent oil prices soaring but they quickly retreated.

Uncertainty remains heightened as clashes between Hamas and the Israeli army continue.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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When John Helton and Ann Polich moved into their sprawling Queen Anne home in Council Bluffs in early 2006, they had seven children under age 7, including 5-month-old triplets.

Helton, a contractor, stayed at home, thinking he could remodel the 4,800-square-foot house and take care of the kids at the same time. Ann is a physician.

I must have been nuts, he said. Shed come home from work, and I would work on evenings and weekends.

The house, which sits on more than an acre of land at 1300 Canning St., had been divided into five apartments and was in rough shape. Helton took on the challenge, one room at a time.

Years later, the kids are grown, the house has been transformed, and the couple are moving to Arizona, where Ann took a job with the Veterans Administration.

The house has been listed for $485,000, with Theresa Martin of NP Dodge handling the sale.

We found Phoenix, and we decided we needed a little excitement, a little adventure, so we are going for it, Helton said.

They arent leaving family behind. Triplets Anna, David and John are freshmen at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Clare transferred there from Iowa. Grace is a senior at Iowa State, Ellie is in medical school in Kansas City, and oldest daughter Celine lives in Denver. Shes off the payroll, Helton says.

The house now has five bedrooms and five baths. But the kids at first slept in the main-floor apartment and the parents on the second floor until Helton would finish a room and they could move in.

Doing almost all the work himself, Helton updated the electrical and plumbing and installed central air. Half of the second floor was turned into a suite for him and his wife.

Along the way, each of the kids learned a trade, whether it be plumbing, painting or electrical. From an early age, like in any big family, they had to keep up their room, do chores and help with the laundry.

Theyve graduated from microwave macaroni and cheese to becoming accomplished cooks.

They were good helpers. Helton said. Those kids know how to work.

When the triplets were older, Helton began working as the building and grounds director at Council Bluffs St. Albert, where all the kids attended school.

He still had plenty of renovating to keep him occupied. But the house is now just about done, except for an area in the basement and a larger rehaul of the kitchen.

Although he and his wife love their second-floor suite, its the large wraparound porch the family will remember the most.

Our wraparound porch was perfect for graduation parties and entertaining, Helton said. Were definitely going to miss that.

They are looking for a house on a large lot in Arizona, so they wont overwhelm their new neighbors when all of the kids come home for the holidays.

Helton calls the work hes done on the house a labor of love, although much of it is now just a blur because of all the demands of a large family.

We look back, and theres hardly any pictures of the triplets when they were young, he said. Wed rather sleep than take pictures. It was just a zoo.

Photos: 1912 Queen Anne home gets brought back to former glory in Council Bluffs
Douglas County authorities are still trying to confirm the identity of a person who was found dead 11 days ago in a campground near the Platte River.

The person was found burned in a firepit, according to a Douglas County Sheriffs Office report.

Investigators believe they know the identity of the person, who was found the morning of Sept. 29 at Lake Platteview Campground near Waterloo. But the county coroner is examining the body to be sure.

The autopsy is still pending and attempts are being made to help us determine the identity of the deceased and cause of death from a forensic examination standpoint, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said.

The body was discovered in a firepit along a street of RVs and sheds in the campground, where people own lots and spend weekends, vacations and holidays. Neighbors have said they believed the person was a woman they knew at the campground.

According to the Sheriffs Office incident report, deputies were sent to the campground, near 1200 Campanile Road in Waterloo, around 10:30 a.m. Sept. 29 to investigate a report of suspicious activity/deceased party. Firefighters from the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department were there when deputies arrived.

The firefighters told deputies that there was a deceased person in a firepit who was burned, according to the report.

We are still waiting for the county coroner and autopsy results to help us determine the identity of the deceased and help us ascertain the cause of death, Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said.
A multivehicle crash involving a semitrailer truck in Sarpy County led to the closure of the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 on Tuesday morning.

The crash occurred around 6:35 a.m. near the Nebraska Highway 50 intersection at Exit 440.

A preliminary investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol showed that a passenger vehicle changed into a lane occupied by the semi. The semi driver tried to avoid a collision, overcorrected and rolled the vehicle, which blocked all three westbound lanes of traffic. That caused a chain-reaction crash that involved five other passenger vehicles.

Four people were taken to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy with injuries, a State Patrol spokesman said. All have been treated and since released. All lanes along I-80 reopened around 10 a.m.

The crash is still under investigation.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023
A combine driver who died Monday after he was struck by a train in Gage County was identified as a 65-year-old Louisville, Nebraska, man.

Benjamin Scholting was pronounced dead at the scene near 110th Street and East Apple Road, a few miles southeast of Firth, after his combine was struck by a loaded coal train there around noon Monday, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Scholting was struck by a BNSF Railway train at an uncontrolled railroad crossing near the Gage-Lancaster County line.

The tracks that cross Apple Road are marked only by stop signs and railroad crossing signs, but no red lights or railway gates.

The State Patrol's investigation into the crash is ongoing.
LINCOLN  Nebraska voters will have the opportunity in 2024 to repeal a new tax credit aimed at supporting scholarships to private and faith-based schools.

The Secretary of States Office verified enough signatures from the Support Our Schools Nebraska initiative to qualify it for the 2024 ballot. The initiative seeks to repeal Legislative Bill 753, which was signed into law earlier this year.

The next 13 months are a great opportunity for Nebraskans to learn about the tax implications of LB 753, Rebecca Firestone, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, said in a Support Our Schools press release. With LB 753 on the ballot in November 2024, we can have a public discussion about how we pay for our schools and whether tax dollars are going to the priorities that all of us care about as voters.

The petition needed around 60,000 signatures, representing 5% of the states registered voters, to qualify for the ballot. On their deadline of Aug. 31, members of Support Our Schools said that petitioners gathered more than 117,000 signatures during their three-month campaign.

According to Secretary of State Bob Evnen, county election officials verified roughly 91,000 of the 117,000 signatures submitted.

LB 753 gives tax credits to individuals and entities making donations to scholarship funds intended to help students attend private and faith-based schools. Under the bill, $25 million will be available for credits in 2024, with the same amount available for the next two years. After that, the limit for credits will grow to a maximum of $100 million per year.

Individuals and businesses could not claim more than $100,000 in annual credits, while estates and trusts would be capped at $1 million per year.

The bills introducer, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, had tried to pass similar measures for about five years, putting her at odds with public school educators and other opponents. The state teachers union, the Nebraska State Education Association, has remained opposed to her proposals from the start and was the primary group driving the Support Our Schools petition.

The three-month petition drive was contentious, with over $3 million overall going into the Support Our Schools campaign, and an opposing campaign called Keep Kids First, which discouraged people from signing the petition.

Backers of LB 753, including Gov. Jim Pillen, say it will help families  particularly those with lower incomes  have a range of educational opportunities, including private schools.

In response, multiple critics have said the biggest benefits will go to wealthy Nebraskans who are able to donate to scholarship funds and receive the tax credits in return. Critics also say the tax credits will deplete funding for public education.

The overwhelming success of this petition sends a clear message to the governor and state lawmakers: Nebraskans want to vote on the issue of diverting public tax dollars to pay for private schools, said Jenni Benson, a sponsor of Support Our Schools Nebraska and president of the Nebraska State Education Association.

Benson said now that the initiative has qualified for the 2024 ballot, Support Our Schools plans to redouble its effort in spreading its messaging about the harms of LB 753.

Linehan previously said she expected the question would make it on the ballot, given the amount of signatures Support Our Schools gathered. However, once the tax credits are in effect, she said it will be easier to get people to support it because they will see the benefits firsthand.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue confirmed that people who make donations to scholarship-granting organizations prior to the 2024 general election will be eligible to claim the tax credit, even if LB 753 is successfully repealed through the initiative, as long as they retain the receipt from their donation.

Weve been trying to explain something that people cant see, Linehan said. And now were going to show it.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated as of Oct. 12, 2023 to clarify information from the Nebraska Department of Revenue regarding the eligibility of LB 753's tax credits before the 2024 general election.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023
Carrie LeGarde left chilly Nebraska in March to vacation in the sun and surf of West Maui.

In September, five months after that happy holiday, she was back in Lahaina  this time, to find the dead in the burned rubble of the historic Hawaiian city, and give them names.

LeGarde, a forensic anthropologist with the Hawaii-based Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, is one of about 30 people from the unit sent to Maui to help with recovery and identifications after a wildfire destroyed much of Lahaina Aug. 8. Five of DPAA helpers came from the agencys lab at Offutt Air Force Base.

It was a really impactful thing to walk the streets and see the devastation, LeGarde said.

Her typical work since joining the agency in 2012 has been to examine unidentified bones gathered from military graves and crash sites and link them to missing service members, using DNA technology and other forensic tools.

She spent several years leading the effort to identify 394 unidentified missing sailors from the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. To date, her team has given names to 362 of them. Most have been reinterred in or near their hometowns.

When we do our work, we are pretty good at compartmentalizing, doing what we need to do  find, recover and identify, LeGarde said. This hit a little harder than our normal work, because it was so recent.

Joining her in Maui was Dr. Kevin Torske, a forensic dentist who just started work in the Offutt lab in July after retiring from the Navy.

His 30-year career included an active-duty tour with a predecessor organization to the accounting agency. He also worked to identify those killed in the 9/11 terror attack on the Pentagon, as well as the dead from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While growing up in Montana, LeGarde was an avid reader of Kathy Reichs best-selling Bones thrillers, featuring a forensic anthropologist named Temperance Brennan who uses the bones of victims to solve crimes and mysteries.

She later earned bachelor of science degrees in biology and anthropology as well as a masters in forensic anthropology at the University of Montana.

Earlier in her career, LeGarde volunteered to serve on teams equipped to respond quickly to a catastrophe with mass casualties.

I used to be on disaster-response teams, but I never deployed, she said.

Until now.

LeGarde and Torske both arrived in Maui about a month after the disaster. Torske stayed two weeks, LeGarde for 10 days.

By then, many identifications already had been made through the Maui County medical examiner, with the help of federal Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Teams (DMORT).

The Lahaina fire was the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century. Caught in a hellscape, some residents died in their cars, while others jumped into the ocean or tried to run for safety. The blaze reduced much of the historic town to ash.

When the fire broke out, people ran together, they huddled together, said Dr. Jeremy Stuelpnagel, Maui County physicians coroner, at a press conference last month. Theyre holding each other in those moments. Some of them were even holding pets.

Because of this, some remains arrived commingled  sometimes with human and animal remains together. That contributed to the confusion over the death count, said John Byrd, the manager of DPAAs Hawaii laboratory, at the same press conference.

He called the declining death count a normal and natural progression of a long-term forensic investigation.

We look at body bags that come in. We do an initial inventory and we assess how many people are represented there, Byrd said. [At first] the number tends to be too high. As you begin to do more analysis and examination, you realize that actually youve got two bags that were the same person, or you have two bags that were the same two people, but you didnt realize that.

That meant a lot of analysis and sorting for the DMORT and DPAA teams.

Torske and another forensic dentist from DPAA, Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Takata, compared dental remains with dental records. They got a lot of the toughest cases, Torske said, because the easier identifications already had been made.

Their job was complicated because some of the remains were so badly burned, and because many dental records had been lost in the fire. Three of five dentist offices in Lahaina had burned to the ground. Fortunately, some records had been saved to the cloud.

A lot of recovered remains, there werent enough unique, identifiable features, Torske said. But sometimes with even just one or two [dental] restorations, we were able to make an identification.

LeGarde worked in the morgue and in the field. Sometimes she was given the name of a missing person and asked to find them.

If we knew where the persons house was, we would go search the house, she said.

The city already had been scoured by search teams with cadaver dogs, so LeGarde never found any remains in homes.

In some cases, she was working with accurate eyewitness accounts. That eased identifications even if there was little to go on in the bones themselves.

A big portion of the cases is having that sort of contextual information, LeGarde said. It was amazing that there were people who lived to tell some of these stories  to tell where someone died.

Despite the difficulties, the Maui team has identified 92 of the 98 people who died in the Lahaina fire.

The DPAA team didnt deal directly with the families of the missing, but they did see social media posts from some telling of their gratitude at seeing their loved ones identified.

It adds a great level of satisfaction to help the families come to a sense of closure over the fate of their loved ones, Torske said.

Im glad I was able to participate, and help people find answers, LeGarde added. Its something I dont think Ill ever forget.

This story includes information from the Associated Press.

Photos: After Maui wildfire, islanders survey aftermath and look ahead to recovery
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Over 180,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are packed into U.N. shelters as Israeli warplanes pound the tiny territory of 2.3 million people after their Hamas militant rulers launched an unprecedented weekend attack on Israel.

Among them is 27-year-old Sabreen al-Attar. She sprang into action when she heard rocket after rocket whoosh over her farmland in Beit Lahiya just south of the Israeli border on Saturday. She knew from experience that Israeli retaliation would be swift and severe.

Grabbing her children, al-Attar rushed to one of the dozens of shelters set up in schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. There, blasts of unprecedented intensity punctuated hours of steadily declining conditions Monday as food and water ran out.

When I escape, I do it for my children, she said, her hands trembling. Their lives rest on my shoulders.

But residents say there is no real escape in Gaza, which has been under a suffocating 16-year blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. When war breaks out, as it has four times since the Hamas militant group seized power in 2007, even U.N. facilities that are supposed to be safe zones risk becoming engulfed in the fighting. The United Nations said that an airstrike directly hit one of its shelters Sunday and damaged five other schools-turned-shelters on Monday. There was no immediate word of casualties.

In the downtown Rimal area, Gaza Citys bustling commercial district with high-rises home to international media and aid organizations, al-Attar hoped she would be safe. Rimal had until then not been an immediate Israeli target, unlike border towns or densely populated refugee camps.

But as the Israeli military went neighborhood to neighborhood with rapid and intensifying airstrikes, the heavy bombardments reached the heart of Gaza City, transforming the affluent neighborhood into an uninhabitable desert of craters. Rimal was also hit by Israeli airstrikes in Gazas bloody 2021 war, but not to this extent.

Israeli bombs that struck Gaza's flagship Islamic University, government ministries and high-rises in Rimal, starting Monday afternoon, also blew out the windows of al-Attars shelter, shattering glass everywhere, she said. Life there, crammed with 1,600 others, was full of danger and deprivation but al-Attar said she had no choice but to stay, telling her boys  2-year-old Mohammed and 7-year-old Nabil  to keep away from the windows.

The night was very, very difficult, she said Tuesday. We have nowhere else to go.

The bombing in Rimal and the potential risks of sheltering in U.N. schools highlighted the desperate search by Gaza civilians for refuge, with the territory's safe spaces rapidly shrinking. There are no civilian bomb shelters in Gaza. Ahead of the Israeli military's warning to civilians on Monday that Rimal would be hit, families staggered into the streets with whatever belongings they could carry and without a destination.

In a briefing Tuesday, Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht suggested Palestinians should try to leave through the Gaza border crossing with Egypt  a seemingly impractical suggestion.

While Hamas officials operating the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing said Tuesday that Gazans who had registered in advance could cross into Egypt, the number of those allowed to travel has typically been small. That has led to backlogs and waiting times of days or weeks, even in calm times.

There is never a Plan B here, said 31-year-old Maha Hussaini, as she watched terrified Rimal residents flood her Gaza City neighborhood further south just as bombs began to fall there, too. Israel accuses Hamas of endangering Gaza's civilian population by placing weapons and missile launchers in densely populated areas. It also accuses them of using civilians as human shields. So far, the Gaza toll stands at about 700 dead and thousands wounded, according to Gaza health officials, a punishing response to the militant groups attack that has killed over 900 Israelis. More than 150 Israeli civilians and soldiers have been taken captive.

Israel says it takes pains to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas sites in Gaza, which is heavily built up and has scant open space. Israel accuses Hamas of endangering Gazas civilian population by placing weapons and misisle launchers in densely populated areas. It also accuses them of using civilians as human shields.

But the military long has carried out airstrikes in crowded residential neighborhoods, inevitably harming civilians and civilian infrastructure. Hamas authorities on Monday reported the destruction of seven mosques and 15 civilian homes that killed many members of the same family.

The Israeli defense minister also has ordered a complete siege on the already blockaded Gaza Strip, vowing to block food, water and fuel from the territory.

None of us even know what safe means in Gaza, said 28-year-old Hind Khoudary, who was hunkered down in the upscale Roots Hotel as deafening explosions thundered.

These are not people with (militant) affiliations, these are people from higher classes, foreign organizations and media," she said of those around her. "But on days like this, there is zero difference.

Residents described a dangerous dance around the heavy Israeli bombing  fleeing home, crashing at relatives apartments, fleeing again to U.N. schools and then starting all over again in an attempt to find some sense of safety.

It is better than dying, said 37-year-old Muhammad al-Bishawi, exhausted as he hustled between a U.N. shelter in Gaza City and his home in Beit Lahiya to secure food and other supplies before returning.

On Saturday after the massive Hamas attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Gaza civilians of the horrors to come, promising to unleash the full force of the Israeli military on the strip.

Get out now, he said, addressing Palestinians in Gaza. Because we will operate everywhere.

Khoudary was listening to him as the airstrikes intensified, trapped in her home with nowhere to run.

Why didnt he tell us where to flee? she asked. Because wed really like to know.
BLOOMINGTON  Ameren Illinois is zeroing in on potential routes for dozens of miles of new transmission lines the power company seeks to install in south and west McLean County, and plans to take questions from the community at a Thursday open house event in rural Bloomington.

While the company promises a more reliable energy grid with steel posts better able to withstand weather damage, some in the area worry that the proposed routes may edge too close to the Schroeder Nature Preserve between Bloomington and Heyworth.

Taking feedback

Ameren stated on its website that the Central Illinois Grid Transformation Program plans to construct or rebuild 380 miles of lines in 13 counties in the state, with 15% representing new corridors to be established. The program will be completed in hand with the Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois.

Sam Morris, the projects senior manager, said these plans are being driven largely by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a member-based organization that takes a broad view of energy grid planning and devises a portfolio of projects for the region. In Central Illinois, he said theyre retiring aging generation sources and readying themselves for new sources coming online.

Morris said the project will also provide a more robust and reliable energy grid in terms of number of available transmission paths. He said it will make the grid more resilient to storm damage, as many H-frame or single-pole structures will be replaced with new steel monopoles.

The new steel posts are meant to be more resilient to wind and storm damage. Morris said the project also promotes access to a diverse set of energy sources, better enabling energy importation from the lowest-cost supplier. He was not able to detail any direct cost savings to power consumers.

Following previous community input meetings in August, Ameren will hold a second round of open house events this week, with time slots slated in the morning and evening of Thursday, Oct. 12, in at the Dale Township Building in rural Bloomington. The public is invited to ask questions and share feedback at these open houses; meetings are were planned this week in Bartonville and Morton.

Drawing lines

Morris compared power transmission lines to the role highways and interstates play in the road system. He said transmission wires eventually step down into lower-voltage distribution systems along city and county roads.

The transmission wires are rated up to 345 kilovolts, but Morris said exact power amount to be carried can vary by region. The poles are primarily double-circuit posts ranging from 80 to 140 feet in height, with seven or eight poles to be placed every mile.

Morris said the vertical ground clearance, expected to be no less than 25 feet, will be increased because of the higher voltage, but will have a small footprint on the ground.

Parts of the project plan to rebuild existing transmission routes from east of Bloomington to Paxton, then north to Gilman and Watseka, and south through Flatville, St. Joseph and Sidney. A new line also connects to the Indiana border from Watseka.

Detailed route proposal maps may be viewed on the project's website at amerengridil.com.

Many of the potential new corridors, Morris said, are slated from Peoria to Bloomington, with more planned in the Macomb area. What drives the company to consider new corridors is by considering existing infrastructure and power configurations, and what residential and nonresidential structures are near areas where installing new corridors isnt possible, he explained.

Morris said its possible that all routes can have both opportunities and sensitivities that could cause impacts. He said their planning process pares down routes to maximize opportunities and minimize sensitivities.

While they cant always avoid sensitivities, Morris said they can choose routes or implement design modifications that minimize impacts.

Audubon alarms

In August, preliminary proposals posted online by Ameren traced possible routes that crisscrossed parts of western and southern McLean County, plus eastern Tazewell County. One route ran across McLean County Highway 36 by the Schroeder Nature Preserve, north of Heyworth.

In a Sept. 18 letter addressed to The Pantagraph, Illinois Wesleyan University Biology Chair R. Given Harper cautioned Ameren against routing transmission lines through the preserve area.

As an avian ecologist, Given said the site is a critical habitat for migratory, breeding and wintering birds, noting that 82% of McLean County is intensive row-crop agriculture and not a suitable habitat for those species.

In the letter, Harper also tallied 215 bird species reported at the preserve to eBird.org's online avian sighting database. Harper said 79 species are documented as breeding in the Bloomington-Normal area, with 12 designated as "species in greatest conservation need" by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

He said running power grids in that area would likely turn the preserve into an ecological trap with collision and electrocution risks, because birds would still be attracted to a habitat under utility lines.

As of Monday, preliminary route alternatives were posted to the projects website, showing three potential routes passing through the area between Heyworth of south Bloomington. In those latest plans, two options pass a mile north of the preserve. A third possibility could post lines south from the Interstate 55 exit to Shirley, east to the access road for the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District's southeast treatment plant, and then northeast toward Downs.

In a Monday phone interview with The Pantagraph, Harper urged Ameren to take up one of the two transmission line route options that run north of the preserve, adding they would greatly reduce impact on avian wildlife.

Preserve lands are owned by the water reclamation district, which plans for buffer lands in its water treatment operations. Director Tim Ervin said in an emailed statement that the district is delighted that two proposed routes were diverted away from the treatment facility and nature preserve.

The District looks forward to continuing to collaborate and coordinate with Ameren as the Central Illinois Grid Transformation Program moves forward towards completion, Ervin said.

When asked for comment on the new route options, Morris said they are good examples of the routing process working well, and show the additional efforts taken to identify and study possible paths.

Jennifer Queen, an environmental scientist with Ameren, said the company consults several regulators on new transmission line projects, including various IDNR offices. Some methods to mitigate impacts to birds include installing reflectors to help divert bird flight traffic away from power lines, and coating the tops of poles with protective equipment.

She also said pole cross-arms are wider to help accommodate large birds that may land on them, adding conductors are spaced out further to help prevent large wings from completing a circuit with a conductor and power line.

Queen said they dont tend to see issues with small bird species. She added that Ameren has transmission lines cutting through and near conservation areas, and can call in consultants for avian impact assessments.

Route planning is expected to continue through the end of this year, with final routes proposals expected to be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission in early 2024. A Monday press release stated all work is expected to be installed and in service by 2030.

IF YOU GO What: Open house for public input on Amerens Central Illinois Grid Transformation Program When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 Where: Dale Township Building, 8017 E. 1100 North Road, Bloomington More information: Ameren.com/Central-IL-Grid Up next: If you cant make it to the meeting this week, a self-paced virtual engagement and comment map is available through Oct. 28.

Wildfire vulnerability: Lack of backup power imperils firefighting efforts across US
CONGERVILLE  A producer from WEEK-TV's 25News was one of the two people identified by Illinois State Police as victims of a fatal crash Saturday on Interstate 74.

State police were dispatched to milepost 116 in Woodford County about 1:24 a.m. Saturday to investigate a two-vehicle crash with lane blockage.

The preliminary investigation indicates the occupants of the vehicles that were involved in the crash were standing near the roadway when a Chevrolet sedan failed to stop in time. The car then struck one of the vehicles and the two pedestrians, police said.

The pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the sedan was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

The pedestrians were identified as Brian Griffin, 28, of Bloomington and Leishani Gonzalez, 23, of Lockport, who worked as a WEEK producer.

State police said the investigation is ongoing.

How do people die in U.S. traffic collisions? How do people die in U.S. traffic collisions? What events or objects cause the most traffic deaths? Other vehicles cause the most traffic fatalities, but there are a surprising array of other causes Regional differences paint an unusual picture of national road safety
The Maker's House Chapel International has pledged to pay the dialysis cost of patients every month at the 37 and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals in the Greater Accra Region.



The church, which has since its inception, been assisting people with needs in various areas assured the management of the hospitals that it is prepared to be a part of remedying the challenges with dialysis.



Dialysis which is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly has become a huge burden to kidney patients in the nation.



There are reports of hospitals having fewer dialysis machines and it is astronomically costly for many patients to undergo dialysis treatment.



In view of the problems confronting the health sector with particular emphasis on dialysis, The Maker's House Chapel has affirmed its commitment to partner the dialysis centers to provide financial aid to the patients.



The General Overseer of the church, Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye announced this at the end of their Experience Conference on Sunday, October 8, 2023.



This year's conference saw a line-up of spiritual luminaries in the persons of Archbishop Duncan Williams of the Action Chapel, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare of Perez Dome, Rev. Steve Mensah of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM), Rev. Ampiah-Kwofi, the President of Ampiah-Kwofi World Outreach and General Overseer of the Global Revival Ministries, Rev. Ebenezer Markwei of the Living Streams International and Bishop Frank Ofosu-Appiah who heads the Living Springs International Churches and doubles as the Senior Pastor of All Nations Church.



The programme commenced from Sunday, October 1 - 8th with thousands of believers thronging The Maker's House Chapel (Destiny Arena) situated at Atomic adjacent the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences.



The Maker's House Chapel has been undertaking numerous generous activities; the church during the lockdown season of the COVID-19 pandemic donated food items worth over a million dollars to over 10000 homes in Ghana.



It also provides educational scholarships to students, free health aids to patients and business opportunities to a lot of people both within the church and outside.



Dr. Boadi Nyamekye pledged the church's readiness to support the dialysis patients on monthly basis.



"We were the first church that initiated the feeding of the people during COVID and it made others join and even government came in. We fed over 10000 homes...The amount of money we spent during COVID on the poor and needy was in excess of a million dollars. That's what the church did. We have scholarships; we do all of that even till today.



"God laid on our hearts. People have been complaining about the dialysis cost. The church in collaboration with others here, Tuesday, we are going to 37 and Korle Bu; the monies that you have given, we are going to the national dialysis centers at 37 and Korle Bu to support government because we are in times where the church must also lead the way", he avowed.



Fortunately during the service on Sunday was in attendance the Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Hospital, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, who joined the last day of the Experience Conference and was elated to hear the good news of the church.



He expressed his profound gratitude saying "on behalf of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital and our numerous patients, we would like to thank you so much for you know this gesture because there are many people whose lives literally depend on going for dialysis and it's very heartbreaking to see them very frustrated, very anxious wondering what is going to happen to them next because of lack of funding, so this is really is God's work".



Dr. Boadi Nyamekye reinforced that the church will not renege on its promise.



"...we are coming to give you money to support the poor who cannot pay for their dialysis; people who cannot afford...and this is our pledge to you and your unit, every month, we will be bringing you money to help the people who need it," he emphasized.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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There has been increasing calls for government to support the treatment of kidney disease through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).



Latest to join the clarion call is the Obuasi based Non-Governmental Organization Girls Shall Grow. Speaking at their Living right conference held primarily for girls in Obuasi, the Executive Director of the NGO Louisa Amoah said due to the cost of treatment of renal diseases, most patients are not able to afford furthering worsening their plight.



She however advocated for the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to include kidney diseases. This she said would enable people living with the disease access quality healthcare and save lives.



"The cost of dialysis has been of a major problem to patients who have to go through that process and as a Girl Child advocate, we see a lot of young girls develop kidney diseases lately hence our call for government to consider adding the treatment of the disease into the NHIS."



The Living right conference coincided with the NGO's 5th Anniversary.



Mrs. Amoah said the NGO through its campaigns on issues affecting the girl child such as teenage pregnancy has led to a drop in teenage pregnancy and further increase in enrollment among girls in school.



She intimated that Girls Shall Grow has succeeded in building the self-esteem, confidence, and resilience of the Girl Child through mentoring programs where girls are provided with guidance and support to help them navigate challenges and make positive choices in life.



The Executive Director of Girls Shall Grow conceeded that the war against discrimination and marginalisation of the Girl Child can only be won if all stakeholders including teachers, parents and religious leaders join forces to intensify campaign for women empowerment.



Additionally, she advocated for attention to be paid to giving the male child equal attention when discussing women empowerment.



Pastor Maxwell Kumi of Christ Embassy Church, Obuasi Mawuli who was the Guest speaker of the Living right conference in an interaction with the media, also called on churches to intervene to stop the increasing attrition rate among teachers and nurses in Ghana.



Experts are predicting a worrying future for Ghana in the wake of a high rate of migration of professional medical practitioners.

Nurses and doctors have become bent on leaving the country for developed countries for better working conditions.



Early this year, it is estimated that a little over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers applied to the Department of Education in the UK for employment and by June 13th 2023, 10,000 of the applicants with Ghana Teacher Licenses had been certified to work in the UK without any further assessment (qualified teacher status test) by the UK government.



The situation according to Pastor Kumi was worrying and called on religious leaders to speak against the phenomenon and advised government to put in measures which will encourage trained professionals to stay and work in the country.



"Ghana is a beautiful country with beautiful laws. It is rather unfortunate that some of us are running away to countries whose laws encourage all forms of homosexuality and polygamy contrary to what the Bible teaches us."



He seized the opportunity to advise the youth to remain steadfast in the Lord by obeying the teachings of the Bible even whiles the strive to pursue academic excellence.



The participants who attended the program, mostly drawn from first and second cycle institutions in Obuasi lauded the Girls Shall Grow for their efforts in empowering the girl child over the years.

Source: Stephen Sekyere/Peace FM Correspondent









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Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is 20 years old today, October 10, 2023.



The scheme is aimed to provide equitable access and financial coverage for basic healthcare services to Ghanaian citizens.



As part of measures to streamline the scheme, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has revealed in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi that Ghana, under the sponsorship of the NHIA and the World Health Organization (WHO), will be hosting the first Health Finances Summit in Africa.



The Summit will commence from Thursday, October 12 to Friday, October 13.



"This is the first time that over 60 countries in Africa are coming to Ghana to discuss ways to achieve universal health coverage which is one of the key pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals", Dr. Okoe Boye told Kwami Sefa Kayi.



The NHIA CEO further disclosed that in view of providing quality healthcare services to Ghanaians and achieving the aim of the health insurance scheme, the Authority on monthly basis provide over 100 million cedis as financial assistance to various health facilities in the country.



"We pay an average of GHC 150 million every 30 days," he clarified.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Mr Kwame Gyan, the lawyer for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo-Dampare, says the chairman of the committee probing the leaked tape of the plot to remove the IGP, Atta Akyea, has turned the police chief from a victim of the situation into an accused person.



In an interview with Joy News, Lawyer Kwame Gyan expressed concerns over Mr. Atta-Akyea's conduct, alleging that the committee chairman was making prejudicial comments that could compromise the integrity of the investigation.



Mr. Atta-Akyea, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has come under intense scrutiny for his handling of the case.



Mr Gyan accused Mr. Atta-Akyea of operating as if he were the sole commissioner overseeing the investigation. He expressed his team's reluctance to accept such a situation in the future.



"He has his own agenda," Mr. Gyan asserted, hinting that Mr. Atta-Akyea has revealed his biased intentions for all to see.



Lawyer Gyan accused Mr. Atta-Akyea of granting media interviews after committee meetings with detrimental comments. He accused Mr Atta Akyea of disclosing matters that he himself reserved for in-camera hearing and fabricating stories without basis. Lawyer Gyan continued, "He will be granting media interviews to the extent that after one sitting, he went out there and said the extended tape which was submitted by Bugri Naabu, and had not been played at the committee, has been doctored. Very prejudicial comments"



The legal counsel for the IGP expressed his and his clients respect for Parliament along with the individuals serving on the committee, stating the IGP has demonstrated his humility by appearing before the committee when he did not need to.



However, he signalled his intention to adopt a more assertive legal stance. "Because of respect for Parliament and the institution and persons on the Committee, I drop my guns, but I'm going to do what lawyers do, going forward" Lawyer Gyan stated. He indicated he was going to hold the chairman to the committee's remit as set up by the Speaker of Parliament to ensure that the purpose for which the committee was set is achieved and nothing more.



It will be recalled that 3 serving police officers and a former regional chairman of NPP were caught on tape plotting the removal of the IGP.



Even though the IGP is the victim of the leaked tape, the chairman has turned the committee into a witch-hunt of the IGP, converting him from being the victim to the accused and subjecting him to a far-reaching and open-ended interrogation on behalf of his detractors.



Many observers and civil society organizations have expressed concern about this being a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the IGP and succeed in removing him from office.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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South Africas Constitutional Court has ruled that convicted killer Oscar Pistorius has served more than half his sentence for the 2013 murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, which means he is technically eligible for parole.



It found that the former athlete, also known as the Blade Runner, passed the halfway mark on 21 March this year.



Pistorius was sentenced to six years in 2016, but that sentence was increased to 13 years and five months in 2017.



A parole hearing was arranged for last March, but it collapsed after the Correctional Services Department (DCS) said he hadnt served half his sentence as required for parole. On Monday, the Constitutional Court overturned that decision.



The confusion stems from the fact that Pistorius's time in prison has been broken up by appeals and by a period of house arrest.



In a statement, the DCS said it would study the court's ruling.

Source: BBC









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The U.S. Senate decided to revive its formal dress code after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer allowed casual attires last week.

Officials unanimously passed a new bipartisan policy to make this happen. This means that all men and women now need to wear suits, coats, ties, and dresses.

US Senate is Back to Formal Dress Code

According to USA Today's latest report, the formal dress code policy was passed on Wednesday, Sept. 27. This happened after some officials criticized the decision of Chuck Schumer to allow casual clothes on the chamber floor.

The decision to revert to formal attires was led by Republican Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia).

"The United States Capitol is more than just a place of work - it serves as a symbol of freedom and democracy to the world," explained Romney.

"As senators, we should demonstrate a high level of reverence for the institution in which we serve - and our attire is one of the most basic expressions of that respect," he added.

Via CNN Politics, Schumer also agreed that this is the right path forward. He explained that the Senate never had an official dress code.

The Senate majority leader further stated that after the issues that happened in the past week, they believe that formalizing the attires in the chamber was the right thing to do.

He also mentioned Sen. John Fetterman (Pennsylvania) for cooperating with the agreement, allowing them to have one thing they all find acceptable. Schumer also commended the efforts made by Romney and Manchin.

Read Also: US Senator Bob Menendez Denies Accusations, Refuses to Step Down-Saying He'll Fight Federal Charges

Why Schumer Recently Allowed Casual Attire

On Sept. 8, Chuck Schumer announced that an informal dress code was enforced to allow Senators to choose if they want to wear formal or casual attire.

It all started when Fetterman got the attention of other Senators for wearing a jacket, shorts, and sneakers when he voted from the doorway of the Senate.

But, Schumer didn't specify if his previous decision was because of Fetterman, who was diagnosed with depression. Many senators were not affected by the previous informal dress code.

Sen. Josh Hawley (Missouri) even said that he can now vote from the Senate floor on Mondays since he usually wears jeans, boots, and shirts during the first day of the week.

Unfortunately, Fetterman, Hawley, and other senators who prefer casual clothes now have to follow the new formal dress code policy.

Related Article: US Senate Introduces Short-Term Spending Deal to Prevent Government Shutdown; What To Know About Stopgap Bill

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A resident of Nyala, in Sudans western Darfur region, has described a disturbing picture of life there as the two sides in the countrys conflict continue to fight it out.



The region has seen some of the fiercest fighting in the nearly six-month war, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.



The witness, who spoke to the BBCs Sudan Lifeline programme on condition of anonymity, said clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces were centred around the headquarters of the armed forces in the city.



Both sides used light, medium, as well as heavy weapons such as missiles, among many others, the resident said.



As for the conditions in the city, they can be described generally as catastrophic, as there is a complete power outage, and all communication services provided by all the different companies are cut.



The people are demanding the intervention of organisations or even third parties that can urge the two parties to stop fighting so that they can get their daily needs by going to the markets or shops located within the neighbourhoods.



Today, the people are afraid to go even to these shops for fear of indiscriminate shooting, which has become like rain pouring down here and there on the citys roads.



The city has become almost empty of residents, except for a few of them who do not have enough money that could help them move to other places or buy the travel tickets to and from Nyala.

Source: BBC









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Kenyan authorities have arrested two police officers who were found trafficking 13 people from Ethiopia using a police vehicle.



According to local media, the officers were transporting eight Ethiopians, four Eritreans and a Sudanese national in a vehicle belonging to Kenya's Border Police Unit.



The officers, who were armed with police-issued firearms, were intercepted in Kenya's north-western county of Turkana, which borders Ethiopia.



Authorities say that they also detained the foreigners, who will likely be arraigned in a Kenyan court or repatriated to their countries.



The foreigners said that they were transiting through Kenya on their way to South Africa.

Source: BBC









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Burkina Faso's security forces have killed a fugitive commander wanted for his role in last month's reported coup attempt, state-owned RTB TV reported on Sunday.



Ismael Tohobougou was implicated in the plot and had been on the run after being summoned by the military prosecutor for questioning, the report said.



He was among military officers accused of taking part in a failed coup against Capt Ibrahim Traore.



The coup reports sparked pro-junta protests across the country.



The country's defence ministry on Friday announced the suspension of several army officers linked to the attempt. The chief of staff of the national gendarmerie, Lt Col Evrard Somda, was also dismissed and replaced by Lt Col Kouagri Natama.



Burkina Faso has been in a political crisis since the military toppled elected President Roch Marc Kabore in early 2022.

Source: BBC









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Niger's government has been forced to cut its budget by 40% over the impact of sanctions and suspension of aid after the 26 July coup. There are fears that the sanctions may worsen the economic situation in Niger - one of the worlds poorest countries.



In a statement on Saturday, the military junta announced a 2023 budget cut from $5.3bn (4.3bn) to $3.2bn, although details of the cuts are lacking.



At least 40% of the West African country's budget support this year was expected to come from external partners.



The coup which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum attracted regional and international sanctions including border closures, frozen assets and halted aid supplies.



The import-dependent country has recorded soaring food and commodity prices and a limited supply of medicines, owing to trade restrictions.



Though the coup received widespread condemnation in the region, there have been several rallies to support the junta in the country. Neighbouring military governments, including Mali and Burkina Faso, also supported the coup.

Source: BBC









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The Governor of the Bank of Ghana and his Deputies have signed the Book of condolence to commiserate with former President John Agyekum Kufuor on the demise of the former First Lady, Theresa Kufuor.



The delegation, which was led by Governor Dr Ernest Addison included Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari, First Deputy Governor, Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi, the Second Deputy Governor and Ms Sandra Thompson, the Banks Secretary.



The delegation presented items such as customary drinks, assorted soft drinks, and bottles of water to the beavered family.



The Governor described Mrs Kufuor as one of the former First Ladies that have contributed greatly to building Ghana.



He said On behalf of the Bank of Ghana, I wish the entire family of former President Kufuor our sincere condolences. May the former First Lady Rest in Perfect Peace.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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The queenmother of the Asante Juaben Traditional Council, Nana Akosua Akyamaa III, has passed away at the age of 97.



She ruled for 28 years.



She died on Sunday, September 24, 2023, but as custom demands, the Council chose Monday October 9, 2023 to inform the Chief of Juaben, Daasebre Otuo Siriboe II, and officially announce her demise to the general public.



The Omanhene had been outside the country when the death occurred, as he had travelled as part of a delegation of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who, among others, visited Trinidad and Tobago for a weeks official visit at the invitation of the Government of the Caribbean nation.



Announcement

As early as 10 am yesterday, leaders and members of the respective clans of the Juaben stool  Kronti & Akwamu, Adonten, Nifa, Oyoko, Manwere, Gyase, Akyempim, and Kyidom  clad in black cloths, had taken their seats at the forecourt of the Juabenhenes Palace, awaiting the arrival of the chief.



Later Daasebre arrived at the forecourts, led by some horn blowers, and in a sober mood he went and sat on his throne to receive the sad news of his mothers demise.



Also present was the Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III.



In a short remark, the Juabenmanhene said he had seen her before he travelled on Otumfuos delegation.



I was with her on the said date.



The same day I travelled with the Asantehene to the Caribbean, he said, indicating that he got the information shortly after his arrival.



He said he would confer with his elders in private sitting and later an announcement would be made on processes which would lead to the burial and funeral rites of their queenmother.



As a staunch Methodist, Nana Akyamaa provided support and was very instrumental in the Girls Brigade, Christ Little Band and Womens Fellowship.



In appreciation of her generous contributions, time and resources to the church, the clergy at the Wesley Cathedral at Adum in Kumasi demonstrated their reverence by reserving a front row seat for the late queen mother.



Nana Akyamaa worked assiduously throughout her reign to help reduce teenage pregnancy in the Juaben Traditional Area.



She reintroduced the time-honoured Akan traditional Bragoro( female puberty rites), and regularly brought together health experts to educate teenagers on personal hygiene and reproductive health.



She played her traditional role as Councillor to the Omanhene and his elders.



Recognition

Her diplomatic skills were tested four years into her reign in 1999 when the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, died and a new king was to be enthroned.



The late queenmothers dedicated service earned a recognition from the Asantehene, during his enthronement.



A citation presented to her by the Asantehene reads:  You have dedicated almost your entire time and effort in helping to support Nana Hemaa (late Asantehemaa) I cannot thank you with words.



You have virtually been part of me and my reign because you were by my mothers side when she had to take the difficult decision of choosing a candidate to be Asantehene it said.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Government of Ghana has strongly condemned the ongoing Hamas attacks on Israel, calling on Hamas to immediately cease the attacks and withdraw its militants from southern Israel.



In a press release issued on October 8, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration also called on the Israeli government to exercise restraint in its response to the attacks.



The Ministry said that Ghana unequivocally condemns the attacks and affirms its support for Israel's right to exist and defend itself. However, it also called on the two sides to the Israel-Palestinian conflict to return to the negotiation table.



The press release comes amid a renewed escalation of violence in the region, with Hamas militants launching rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and Israeli forces responding with airstrikes.



The violence has killed several people on both sides and caused widespread damage.



Ghana's condemnation of the Hamas attacks is in line with the position of the international community, which has largely condemned the attacks and urged Hamas to stop.



However, some human rights groups have also criticized Israel's response to the attacks, saying that it has been disproportionate and has killed innocent civilians.



The Israeli government has defended its actions, saying that it is necessary to protect its citizens from Hamas attacks.







Source: graphiconline.com









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The former headmaster of Bodi Senior High School has waded into the discussion surrounding the exodus of teachers, challenging the government to improve teachers working conditions.



According to Joseph Arthur, the working conditions of teachers in Ghana are terrible, and because of that, some of them leave the country when they get the opportunity.



While education is the cornerstone of societal progress, he believes it is critical to recognise and address the concerns of the dedicated individuals who shape young minds.



According to the current headmaster of EL College, teaching in Ghana is quite discouraging due to a lack of encouragement and adequate government support.



He emphasised that teachers in Ghana are not paid in line with those in neighbouring countries such as Cote dIvoire, making teaching more appealing in those countries.



According to Joseph Arthur, the lack of proper compensation disrespects the teaching profession in Ghana.



He also insisted that the profession deserves better working conditions given teachers critical role in nation-building.



Teachers working conditions are deplorable. We are not respected or treated well. That discourages teachers from giving their all. I recently visited Cote Dvoire and saw how important education is there. Teachers in that country live in bungalows, and most of them have cars, which is why they do their best.



He emphasised that if the situation is not addressed, Ghanaian teachers will continue to travel abroad in search of greener pastures.



To achieve the best teacher-to-student ratio, he advised the government to provide better working conditions for teachers so that they would do their best.





Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Progressive People's Party(PPP) has waded into the recent attack on United Television (UTV) studios by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



A statement signed by its National Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu said "the attack on UTV studios by NPP members is a disgraceful act that undermines our democracy and threatens our security. We must stand united in condemning such actions and upholding the principles of freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, participation, inclusiveness, and equality."



Read below full statement





ATTACK ON UTV STUDIOS: AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRACY



Introduction:



The recent attack on United Television (UTV) studios by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns about the state of our fragile democracy and the threat it poses to our security. This essay condemns the actions of the group, which we believe were sanctioned by the partys leadership, and calls for a united response to uphold the principles of freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, participation, inclusiveness, and equality that are the foundations of our democracy.





Body:



1. The Importance of Democracy: Democracy thrives on dissent and the ability for different voices to be heard. When a group feels entitled to control the media and determine what information is broadcasted, it undermines the very essence of democracy and leads to chaos.



2. Condemning the NPPs Actions: As stakeholders in our democracy, it is imperative that we call out the NPP as a party and disown their actions. Their inability to uphold the principles of democracy, as demonstrated through this attack, should not be tolerated in our political landscape. Instead, we should encourage free speech to ensure peace, security, and development for our nation.



3. Media Accountability: The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) strongly encourages the media to hold the government accountable. The media should not feel threatened by state or party actions aimed at silencing them. It is through a free and independent media that we can ensure transparency, address grievances, and work towards the common good of all citizens.



4. Media Freedom and Democracy: The PPP firmly believes in media freedom as a way to consolidate our democracy. When given the opportunity, our party will provide the media with the necessary support and resources to effectively carry out their role in fostering development and serving the interests of the people.



Conclusion:



In conclusion, the attack on UTV studios by NPP members is a disgraceful act that undermines our democracy and threatens our security. We must stand united in condemning such actions and upholding the principles of freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, participation, inclusiveness, and equality. The PPP reiterates its commitment to media freedom and encourages the media to continue holding the government accountable. Together, we can ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for Ghana.



Awake Ghana!!!



Sign:



Nana Ofori Owusu



National Chairman

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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(Photo : John Lamparski/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will ramp up diplomatic efforts to achieve calm amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will ramp up diplomatic efforts to address the Israel-Palestine conflict and achieve calm amid the chaotic situation.

Erdogan's remarks on Sunday also noted that a two-state solution was the only way to achieve regional peace. The situation comes as Turkey, which has supported Palestinians in the past, recently hosted members of the Islamist group Hamas, responsible for launching the attack on Israel.

Turkey on Israel-Palestine Conflict

The Turkish president made his remarks in Istanbul and repeated a call for both sides to avoid steps that would only exacerbate the chaos. He added that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was at the root of all problems in the Middle East.

Erdogan said, "So long as this problem is not resolved in a fair way, our region will continue to live in longing for peace." He added that lasting regional peace is only possible with a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. He said that in that regard, preserving the two-state solution perspective is crucial, as per Reuters.

The Turkish president said that forming an independent Palestinian state, in line with the borders set out in 1967, with its territorial integrity act, and with Jerusalem as its capital, was not even more of a necessity that can no longer be delayed.

He noted that as justice is continuously delayed, the price paid by Palestinians, Israelis, and the region continues to rise. The conflict comes as Ankara has been working to repair relations with Israel following years of anger over the status of Jerusalem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Since the start of the conflict on Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called his Egyptian, Iranian, Jordanian, Palestinian, Qatari, Saudi, Spanish, and US counterparts to discuss the pressing issue.

Erdogan said that Turkey always stands "in solidarity without Palestinian brothers" and has emphasized that any steps that will escalate tensions in the region, cause more bloodshed, and deepen the issue should be avoided, according to CNN.

Read Also: Celebrities React to Gaza's Attack on Israel

Addressing the Conflict

The chaos has resulted in Israeli troops killing hundreds of Hamas fighters, wounding thousands, and capturing scores of others. Israeli Defense Force spokesperson Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said the initial Israeli counterattack started at around 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Israeli forces are said to have destroyed roughly 800 targets, including launchpads used by Hamas, with 50 planes attacking 120 targets in Beit Hanoun and destroying all Hamas gathering points in the region.

The Turkish foreign minister also said that Ankara is always willing to provide any assistance to ensure that the developments in the conflict do not escalate further and go out of control. It noted that it would be continuing intensive contact with the relevant parties.

Turkey and Israel relations soured in 2018 when they mutually expelled ambassadors and have frequently traded on the Israeli-Palestine conflict. However, a regional charm offensive that Ankara launched in 2020 prompted a thaw and subsequently led to the re-appointment of envoys, said Inquirer.

Related Article: Joe Biden Sends Most Advanced US Aircraft Carrier to Israel

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Fixing the Country Movement has planned to occupy former President John Mahama's office if it doesn't see any progress in the Airbus Corruption investigations involving him (Mahama).



According to the group, a nonchalant attitude towards the Airbus corruption affair is unacceptable, and it urges the relevant parties to take immediate action.



"The Ghanaian public deserves transparency and accountability in addressing this corruption scandal involving a former President," a statement signed by Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu, Convener of Fixing the Country Movement says.



The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr in a text message read by Kwami Sefa Kayi during Peace FM's morning show programme, 'Kokrokoo' questioned why the group wants to picket at the former President's office when they want to know the progress of the Airbus investigation.



"Why picket the office of former President Mahama when your concern is about the pace of investigations in the Airbus saga, shouldn't the office of the Special Prosecutor be your focal point if any? Picketing at the former President's office is to embark on a journey to the wrong destination, needless indeed!" he wrote.



Watch video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The UK branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has declared support for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia to lead the party into the 2024 general elections.



The declaration was made during a closed-door meeting held on 25 August 2023, in Accra, Ghana, where the NPP UK branch leadership was present for the special electoral college.



The branch party executives, led by chairman Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong, expressed their unanimous support for Bawumias candidacy.



We believe the vice president, amongst all other candidates, is the one who can lead the NPP to retain power and break the eight-year cyclical change of governance, said Agyapong while stressing the importance of continuity in the partys developmental initiatives.



The decision to endorse Bawumia came after extensive assessments of all candidates and discussions with the general membership in the UK.



The candidature of Bawumia is strategically important and the right move to break the eight, he said, highlighting the consensus reached among the majority of members.



The branch executives, including the first vice chairman Alex Appiah Mensah, branch secretary Otuo Acheampong, and branch womens organiser Patricia Achiaa Boakye, affirmed their commitment to ensuring a convincing victory for Bawumia on 4 November 2023.



Expressing gratitude for the endorsement, Bawumia thanked the NPP UK branch for their continuous support.



I am deeply appreciative of the confidence and trust the NPP UK branch has placed in me. Together, we will continue the good developmental programmes and initiatives for the betterment of our country, he said.



The UK branch leadership had previously thanked Bawumia for his participation in the NPP International Womens Conference 2023 held in London and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the government and the president.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A homicide investigation is underway to uncover circumstances surrounding the death of the owner of Kikibees, a popular restaurant at East Legon, in the Greater Accra Region.



The deceased, identified as Bennet Adomah Agyekum, was found lying in a pool of blood in a house at Madina-Ogbojo last Sunday.



It is suspected the death occurred shortly after Agyekum left his restaurant earlier last Sunday.



The deceased, affectionately known as Ben, was said to have arrived from Amsterdam and had spent some time with his friends at his lounge into the wee hours of Sunday morning.



Police arrest girlfriend

The Accra Regional Police Command, after confirming the death, indicated that a woman believed to be the girlfriend of the deceased had been arrested.



The woman, identified as Yandeh Joof, is said to be assisting the police with investigation into the issue.



Yandeh Joof, arrested in connection with death of Kikibees owner



The police said they established in their preliminary investigations that Agyekum was, last Sunday, found lying in a pool of blood at a house at Madina and was taken to a hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.



Crime scene

The scene has since been cordoned off to preserve it for a forensic and technical examination by the crime scene and homicide teams from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service.



The body has since been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue where postmortem examination will be conducted and it is expected the outcome of the postmortem will determine the course of the investigation.



The arrest of Yandeh indicates that the police have not ruled out foul play in the death of Agyekum.



The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death the police said and indicated that investigation was ongoing.



Kikibees, also known as Noire Lounge, is a restaurant that is famous for its Italian authentic cuisine.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Emissions associated with mining operations in Africa's Copperbelt can be quantified from space, according to new research led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

Mining for copper and cobalt in Africa has rapidly increased, the latter in response to growing global demand for electric vehicles, laptops, smartphones, and other devices that rely on lithium-ion batteries, the vast majority of which contain cobalt.

The new study is published in Geophysical Research Letters, and shows for the first time that satellite monitoring can provide valuable information on the impact of the mining boom on air quality in nearby towns and villages. The research also opens the door to the possibility of remotely monitoring increases and decreases in mining activities in a region of the world where surface monitoring is scarce and reporting by mine operators can be inconsistent or altogether absent.

"Mining operations can have a significant impact on quality of life for the people living nearby," said Pieternel Levelt, director of NCAR's Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Lab and senior author of the paper. "This research can help us better understand how severe and widespread those impacts may be in mining areas like the Copperbelt while also giving us a tool for estimating the growth of mining activities in remote regions that are driving those impacts."

An immense increase in production

Africa's Copperbelt straddles Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produced 73% of the world's supply of cobalt in 2022, according to the Cobalt Institute. Cobalt production in the Copperbelt increased about 600% between 1990 and 2021, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The vast majority of cobalt is produced as a byproduct of copper mining, though some copper mines do not produce any cobalt. Most of the energy consumed in copper and cobalt miningincluding the operation of large machinery and electricity productionis generated by burning diesel fuel, which in turn produces nitrogen oxides, a key ingredient in smog.

To quantify the emissions, the research team turned to data from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite (S-5P). TROPOMI can monitor a number of trace gases important for air quality, including nitrogen dioxide.

While biomass burning, urban activity, and other industrial operations beyond mining also produce nitrogen dioxideas do some natural processes the researchers found that they could distinguish the emissions from copper and cobalt mines in the data. They also found that the annual emissions from each mine strongly correlated with their annual metal production.

"We thought that these copper and cobalt mining operations could affect local air quality; we just didn't know how much given the lack of ground monitoring in the region," said NCAR scientist Sara Martinez-Alonso, who is the study's lead author.

"Understanding this is particularly important when mining-related activities proliferate in close proximity to or even inside ofpopulation centers, as is the case in the Copperbelt. With satellite observations we were able to quantify emissions from individual mines and put those emissions into perspective."

The S-5P satellite that carries TROPOMI is polar-orbiting and passes over any given location on the Earth's surface once a day, limiting the number of observations over the Copperbelt. A geostationary satellite over the continent could provide a much more in-depth picture of emissions in the region, providing hourly instead of daily observations, according to Levelt.

Currently, there are no geostationary satellites over Africa or anywhere in the global South.

"A geostationary satellite over Africa could provide the data needed to create accurate air quality forecasts for populations that are at increased risk," Levelt said. "Hourly observations over urban areas could show the daily evolution of pollution levels and sources, and the information could inform local regulatory agencies."
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Relationship patterns prove that flightless stick insects can overcome vast distances across geographical obstacles. The only plausible explanation for this is that the eggs of gravid females, when they are eaten by birds, survive the passage through the digestive tract and are thus dispersed to far-away places. Credit: Ansai Shun

Relationship patterns among flightless stick insects suggest that birds disperse the eggs after eating gravid females. Lab experiments previously suggested the possibility, but a new genetic analysis of natural populations in Japan by Kobe University researchers now supports the idea.

Most species of stick insects are flightless, yet they are distributed over wide distances and across geographical features that would impede the expansion of flightless animals. This has caused researchers to speculate that their eggs might be dispersed by birds feeding on gravid females, much in the same way as many plant species rely on birds eating their seeds together with fruits and dispersing them while the seeds pass through the digestive tracts of the birds unharmed.

Experimental studies with Ramulus mikado, a common stick insect in Japan, had suggested that this is possible, but since direct observation of such an event in nature is highly unlikely, it has been unclear whether this mechanism actually contributes to the distribution of the insect.

Kobe University biologist Suetsugu Kenji and his team therefore turned to the analysis of the relationship patterns of Ramulus mikado populations. He explains, "We made use of the idea of genetic isolation by geographic distance."

A member of the stick insect species Ramulus mikado is fed to a brown-eared bulbul chick. Credit: Kato Hakuren

"According to this idea, when individual dispersal distances are smaller, such as in flightless insects, the accumulation of genetic mutations eventually leads to a positive correlation between genetic differentiation among locations and the geographic distance that separates them." Thus, the genetic variation between different populations can be a proxy for the species' rate of dispersal.

The results, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, paint a vivid picture. Among many genes where the differences correlated with the geographic distance, the team found a few examples of genes that were clearly closely related even though they were geographically separated by up to hundreds of kilometers and across geographic features that these animals usually cannot overcome.

Lead author Suetsugu says, "Astonishingly, amidst a sea of limited active dispersal, we discovered identical genotypes jumping across vast distances, strongly indicating the past occurrence of passive long-distance genetic dispersal." In other words, a few of the flightless insects must have flown from place to place, and the only plausible way in which this could happen is that the eggs of the insects survive the passage through the digestive tract of birds that eat them.

These feces of the brown-eared bulbul contain intact stick insect eggs. Credit: SUETSUGU Kenji

Intact eggs of stick insect species Ramulus mikado recovered from the feces of the brown-eared bulbul. Credit: Suetsugu Kenji

Then why is this method of dispersal not seen in other insects? The Kobe University researcher explains, "The eggs of most insect species are typically fertilized just before being laid, relying on sperm stored within the female insects after copulation. However, in some stick insect species, females are parthenogenic, that is, they can produce viable eggs without fertilization." It is only because of this quirk in their nature that viable stick insect babies can hatch from the eggs.

It is important to keep in mind that stick insects are called that way precisely because their main strategy of survival is not being eaten by their predators, as opposed to many plants that rely on their fruit being ingested and thus their seeds being dispersed by animals. Nevertheless, Suetsugu explains the importance of this result for the scientific community: "This finding invites researchers to delve deeper into the mechanisms of dispersal in various species and challenge long-held assumptions about the fate of organisms devoured by predators."
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Credit: Dominik Wunderlich / Pixabay

Whether or not people choose to attend a climate protest partly depends on its expected size. When they expect a larger protest, they are less likely to take partas Universitat Hamburg's Cluster of Excellence for climate research (CLICCS) shows in a publication in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Mass protests are an important motivator for politicians to implement ambitious climate policy. But what determines whether a protest movement grows or dwindles? The study at hand uses the example of the global climate strike from 2019 to show that, for many people in Germany, their participation depends on how many people they expect to attend a given demonstration. Accordingly, Fridays for Future's strategyorganizing multiple local protests at the same time, instead of one massive centralized eventcan successfully motivate more people.

On the basis of a three-stage survey involving more than 1,500 respondents, Dr. Johannes Jarke-Neuert, who works in Julich and formerly in Hamburg, and his Hamburg colleagues Prof. Grischa Perino and Henrike Schwickertwere able to show for the first time the connection between the expected number of demonstrators and the willingness to personally join in. "When the demonstrations are larger, for some people the 'costs' of attending apparently outweigh the benefits," says Grischa Perino, a Professor of Economics at Universitat Hamburg.

If my concern is represented sufficiently, I do not necessarily go there myself anymore

For example, some people feel uncomfortable in large crowds, or don't want to travel to protests because of the likely overfilled trains. "If, in addition, they anticipate that the protest will be large enough to create awareness for their interests whether they take part or not, many choose to just stay home," says Perino. "These so-called free-riders also play a measurable part in the climate movement. They let others do the work but reap the benefits."

In the fall of 2019, adults were expressly invited to join in climate protests for the first time. The protests took place simultaneously in several cities across the country. The study discussed here was conducted in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich, where larger demonstrations were expected.

Willingness to join in for medium-sized demos higher than for large ones

The survey respondents were aged 18 to 75 and came from all walks of life; unlike in other studies, they were not explicitly climate protest supporters. In advance, they were asked to estimate what percentage of those surveyed would attend the climate strike in their own city, and to state whether or not they were personally likely to join in; roughly a quarter of them said they likely would.

In a second survey, shortly before the demonstration, this result was shared with part of the group; a control group did not receive this information. Both groups were given the opportunity to adjust their estimates of the overall participation rate. In this way, the expectations concerning the size of the local demonstration were changed for a randomly selected part of the respondents, allowing to cleanly separate their effect on the choice of whether or not to participate from other factors like political views. In a third survey, conducted after the climate strike, all respondents were asked whether or not they had actually taken part.

A comparison of the groups revealed that those respondents who had raised their initial estimates after receiving the information were significantly less likely to attend than those from the control group, who received no additional information. In contrast, those who had lowered their initial estimates were more likely to attend.

These findings underscore that the strategy used by Fridays for Futurenamely, organizing multiple, smaller and decentralized protests throughout Germanyultimately helps to motivate as many people as possible. They also lead to a practical insight: "Before a protest, the team organizing it should be careful not to exaggerate the predicted number of participants," says Grischa Perino.

Doing so could deter those people who are more likely to take part in medium-sized demonstrations than in large ones. The study's findings improve our grasp of how societies are responding to the challenges posed by climate change, and which future developments are plausibleone of the central goals of the Cluster of Excellence CLICCS.

More information: Johannes Jarke-Neuert et al, Free riding in climate protests, Nature Climate Change (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01833-y Journal information: Nature Climate Change
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A team of researchers has found a way to speed up the creation of quantum entanglement, a mystifying property of quantum mechanics that Albert Einstein once described as "spooky action at a distance."

The researchers behind the discovery include Kater Murch, the Charles M. Hohenberg Professor of Physics; Weijian Chen, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Physics; and Maryam Abbasi, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Chemistry. Their paper was featured on the cover of Physical Review Letters.

Entanglement has baffled researchersand nearly everyone who has ever read about quantum physicssince Einstein and colleagues first proposed it in the 1930s.

As Murch explained, a particle can exist in a "superposition" that combines different states, such as the excited state or a ground state. That's a strange behavior of quantum particles, but it gets even spookier when physicists consider superpositions of two particles.

Over time, two particles that are near each other can become entangled, meaning they will always have corresponding states. Alone either particle has an equal chance of being excited or ground, but together they agree.

In one possible scenario, if one entangled particle is found in the ground state, the other particle must instantaneously be in the excited state to matcheven if it's light years away. The concept has been proven through multiple experiments, but that doesn't make it easy to comprehend. "It's absolutely mind-blowing and it defies intuition," Murch said.

In the new project, researchers used theoretical models inspired by previous experiments to find a shortcut to entanglement. "With some subtle tricks in quantum dynamics involving complex energies, we found a way to get quantum systems to become entangled dramatically faster than expected based on the strength of their interaction," Murch said.

The shortcut is an extension of a 1998 finding by Carl Bender, the Konneker Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics. At that time, Bender described a new type of quantum system that could gain and lose energy. Such systems contain "exceptional points"special parameter points where the relevant states of the system overlap with one another.

Murch, Chen and others found that particles become entangled much more rapidly if an exceptional point is nearby. "This model helps two weakly interacting particles to build entanglement," Chen said.

Any approach that can speed up entanglement could have potential applications for quantum computers and other emerging technologies, Murch said. "When people talk about quantum technologies, they're largely talking about the ability for quantum systems to become entangled," he said. "We're constantly looking for ways to controllably entangle systems."

Such advances are a major goal of the Center for Quantum Leaps, a signature initiative of the Arts & Sciences Strategic Plan that aims to apply quantum insights and technologies to physics, biomedical and life sciences, drug discovery and other far-reaching fields. Murch is co-director of the center.

More information: Zeng-Zhao Li et al, Speeding Up Entanglement Generation by Proximity to Higher-Order Exceptional Points, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.100202 Journal information: Physical Review Letters
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Residents walk through a flooded street after heavy rains in Myanmar's Bago township.

Residents of Myanmar's flood-hit Bago city salvaged food and belongings from their waterlogged homes on Tuesday after record rainfall triggered floods that authorities said have displaced 14,000 people.

The rainy season typically brings months of heavy downpours to the Southeast Asian country, but scientists say man-made climate change is making weather patterns more intense.

In eastern Bago city residents waded down streets through waist-deep water or floated along in boats or on rubber tires, as ripples lapped at shuttered shops and houses.

"This is the first time my house has been flooded in my life," Phwar Than Hme, 101, told AFP from the monastery where she was taking shelter.

"I was standing on a chair while my house was being flooded.

"My neighbor and rescue people told me not to stay at home and to go to the camp. They carried me on their backs and brought me here."

On Sunday authorities reported that 200 mm (almost eight inches) of rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours in Bago region northeast of commercial hub Yangona record for October.

Heavy rain continued through Monday night.

"I didn't expect this level of water here," said Chit Nyunt, 69, told AFP as he waded down the street holding a pair of sandals and an umbrella.

Residents waded down streets through waist-deep water or floated along in boats or on rubber tires.

"I have never seen anything like this."

State broadcaster MRTV said 14,000 people had been displaced across Bago region, northeast of commercial hub Yangon.

Almost 5,600 people were being accommodated in local government temporary relief centers, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar.

The lower floors of Bago's general hospital had been flooded, a resident told the newspaper, and three of Myanmar's four telecoms providers were not working in the area.

Flooding began in July and has affected nine of Myanmar's states and regions, including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen, Mon and Chin.

Myanmar is in the grip of a bloody civil conflict between the junta, which ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and armed groups opposed to its coup.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via wikimedia commons

Changing the way we manage Aotearoa New Zealand's oceans could save our biodiverse-rich, critically-endangered deep-water coral. Aotearoa New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot for deepwater coralapproximately one sixth of the known deep-water coral species of the world have been recorded in our waters.

Deep-water corals are under threat due to ocean warming and acidification due to climate change as well as from the physical impacts of bottom trawling. Deep-water corals are ecologically important because they provide critical benthic structure for other species. Fish live inside their reefs and some of these reefs can extend large distances, covering hundreds of square kilometers. These reefs are also significant sites of carbon and nitrogen mineralization.

New research from Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, published in Journal of Environmental Management, looks at marine conservation for deep-water corals to assess the impact of bottom trawling on coral habitats now and the effectiveness for protecting these habitats in the future. The findings show that bottom trawling impacts all coral taxa, but particularly reef-forming corals. Habitats will also decline in the future due to a changing climate.

"When designing protection for these coral with the usual approach, our study found that spatial marine protection is unlikely to provide enough conservation for deep-water corals in the future, due to shifts associated with climate change and fishing," says lead researcher Fabrice Stephenson.

The research identifies new areas for spatial marine protection that can provide protection for corals against a changing climate while still giving refuge to current populations. This is particularly important given the predicted reduction in coral habitat due to the cumulative effects of climate change and bottom trawling.

"Our results demonstrate the considerable risks associated with developing effective marine protected areas that do not account for combining current and future stressors," says Fabrice. "While deep-water corals in New Zealand illustrate this, the same approach is equally applicable to other marine species and for other locations."

It takes decades, if not centuries, for some species of deep-water coral to recover.

More information: Fabrice Stephenson et al, Implications for the conservation of deep-water corals in the face of multiple stressors: A case study from the New Zealand region, Journal of Environmental Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118938 Journal information: Journal of Environmental Management

Provided by Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge
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SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection after TNA-Cifer Reagent E treatment and storage at different times and temperatures. UV-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus was diluted in RPMI supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and treated with TNA-Cifer Reagent E. It was kept at different temperatures for the indicated periods of time and was then analyzed by RT-qPCR. Yellow boxes indicate where Ct values had reached 40 (deemed to be not detected) or increased by > 4 relative to the Ct values for the 10-min time point. All RT-qPCR results for the 0.8 log 10 CCID 50 /ml had Ct values 40. All the 20C samples underwent one freeze-thaw cycle prior to RT-qPCR. Credit: Frontiers in Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1238542

A Queensland research collaboration has identified a simple, quick way to safely kill coronavirus in patient diagnostic samples and speed up processing for PCR testsby using a unique sample preparation liquid.

The study published in Frontiers in Microbiology involved the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland and BioCifer, a Queensland based medical biotech company.

UniSC Associate Professor of Molecular Engineering Joanne Macdonald said the liquid reagentdeveloped by UniSC researchershad the potential to save lives by speeding up diagnostic testing, leading to faster test results and faster treatment.

"The study showed that the unique composition of the reagent could extract RNA in patient samples in little as five to 10 minutesand importantly, rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 to make testing safer," she said.

"It's a simple three-step protocol. No magnetic beads, no spin columns, no elution. Just mix, hold for a short time at room temperature, and your sample is ready for PCR," said Dr. Macdonald, who is also BioCifer's co-founder and current Chief Technology Officer.

"While many people think that SARS-CoV-2 is 'old news,' it's important to realize that it is still the third leading cause of death in Australia after heart disease and dementia, and early detection continues to be critical, particularly in our elderly and vulnerable populations."

The reagent, known as TNA-Cifer Reagent E, was originally developed at UniSC's Center for Bioinnovation. QIMR Berghofer performed the inactivation testing experiments at its SARS-CoV-2 PC3 Biosecurity facility. The University of Queensland assisted by testing its ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in patient samples.

Professor Andreas Suhrbier, who leads QIMR Berghofer's Inflammation Biology Group, said faster, safer and cheaper, yet accurate, diagnosis clearly had many advantages.

"Not least of which is prompt initiation of treatment, such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, for high risk individuals," Professor Suhrbier said.

"It is very gratifying to see our state-of-the-art biosecurity facility, that we operate thanks to generous philanthropic donations from The Brazil Family Foundation and others, help Queensland biotech produce new products that will transform diagnosis of hazardous pathogens," he said.

QIMR Berghofer research officer and BioCifer consultant Dr. Daniel Rawle said the findings paved the way for diagnosis to be performed in resource poor settings.

"This is a wonderfully simple way to both quickly kill SARS-CoV-2 in test samples and speed up processing that can also be used outside formal pathology laboratory settings using portable PCR machines," Dr. Rawle said.

A potential new tool for managing disease outbreaks

The TNA-Cifer reagent has also been demonstrated, in other studies, to potentially enable safe, rapid onsite testing of other diseases such as dengue, Nipah and Hendra viruses.

Dr. Macdonald said the reagent has potential to help manage outbreaks of disease by preventing testing backlogs and providing real-time information.

"For SARS-CoV-2, we show that by combining rapid sample processing and testing with Australian-made portable PCR testing equipment from Bio Molecular Systems, we now have a full platform for rapid decentralized testing," she said.

"This could be critical when needing to scale up rapid testing," she said, "By using existing PCR tests and our reagent, we could quickly and safely test samples on-site rather than having to ship them back to the laboratory where backlogs can occur."

DMTC Head of Government Relations Harry Baxter said that through its Health Security Systems Australia division, DMTC and its partners were advancing Australia's manufacturing, research and development capabilities in areas relevant to defense, national security and health security.

"In this case, the acceleration of the accurate detection of bacteria and viruses outside of the laboratory environment provides a crucial capability advantage for deployed Australian military personnel, and benefits public health service delivery," Baxter said.

More information: Nina M. Pollak et al, Rapid inactivation and sample preparation for SARS-CoV-2 PCR-based diagnostics using TNA-Cifer Reagent E, Frontiers in Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1238542 Journal information: Frontiers in Microbiology
(Photo : Mohamed Zaanoun / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (MOHAMED ZAANOUN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

The Hamas militant group has threatened to execute hostages it took from Israel to Gaza on live broadcasts if Israel continues to attack civilians without warning.

Hamas militants threatened to execute hostages on live broadcasts if Israel attacked Gaza without warning as the Israel-Palestine conflict rages on.

In a statement on a video that was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a spokesman for the Hamas militants said that any targeting of innocent civilians without warning would be met with the execution of hostages that are in their custody. He noted that they would be forced to broadcast the killings.

Hamas Threatens To Execute Hostages

A report cited an unidentified source who said that unlike in past attacks on Gaza, Israel would not be dropping dummy bombs on buildings it would target, which had served as a warning for the people inside.

Currently, the Hamas group is believed to be in custody of roughly 150 Israeli hostages and Israel has estimated that at least 900 people were killed amid the conflict. This figure has continued to rise since the beginning of the attacks on Saturday, as per The Western Journal.

A spokesman for the Israeli Defense Force, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said in a report published on Monday that 60 Israeli fighter jets were attacking Hamas as he was briefing. Additionally, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Monday that the war that Israel is fighting is "the harshest event since the War of Independence."

He added that the situation was not the same as the Yom Kippur War, saying that the recent conflict is 100 times worse. He said this is because the latest development includes murder, the systematic slaughter of babies, girls, boys, and things that are hard to bear. Bennett also said that they have set up a Jewish state in the region to defend themselves, saying that the time to do so has now come.

The former prime minister said that he never conceived that the militants would ever come and slaughter or cut the throats of children. He called them animals and not simply state enemies, adding that they must deal with them as though they were Nazis.

Read Also: Israel-Palestine Conflict Divided Protests Erupt in US Amid Deadly Hamas Attacks

Israel-Palestine Conflict

Amid the conflict, United States President Joe Biden said that his government was working with Israel on "hostage recovery efforts." His remarks came after meeting with his national security team at the White House, adding that he believes that Hamas militants may be holding American hostages among the people that they brought from Israel into Gaza, according to DW News.

The Democratic leader said he directed his team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis. This includes sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on the efforts.

Hamas' execution warning came shortly before at least 100 bodies were recovered from Be'eri, a community in southern Israel that the group's militant forces seized. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his country's response to the attacks has "only started," said Sky News.

Related Article: 9 US Nationals in Israel Confirmed Dead in Hamas Attack, Washington Officials Say

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Credit: AI-generated image

Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland. It is a protected area of special scientific interest and the source of 40% of Northern Ireland's drinking water.

But it's also the site of a severe environmental crisis and a public health emergency. Located about 20 miles west of Belfast, the lough has turned thick with toxic blue-green algae, resulting in the demise of both its own wildlife and people's pets.

This situation has brought about a sense of mourning among local people and activists who, in September 2023, held a "wake" to highlight their fears that the lough is dying. Lough Neagh's historic fishing industry, which is known for its use of sustainable and traditional methods, also faces the threat of collapse unless conditions improve.

Multiple factors have made Lough Neagh particularly vulnerable to these perilous algal blooms, including rising water temperatures linked to global warming. However, the root causes of this crisis are decades of sand dredging and pollution stemming from agricultural runoff, sewage treatment and septic tanks. These activities have flooded the lough with nutrients on which the blue-green algae are thriving.

This crisis is far from a freak accident. It is the consequence of political negligence and institutional mismanagement, driven by an economy that has long prioritized growth over all else.

The same dynamic is responsible for the fragile state of nature throughout the rest of Northern Ireland. A recent report found that 12% of Northern Ireland's wild species are now facing extinction.

Any economy that presupposes the exploitation of finite natural resources to fuel the endless exponential growth it needs to function and survive cannot be sustained indefinitely. The crisis at Lough Neagh illustrates the grave consequences of attempting to do so.

It has become a place for extracting resources and a dump site for the chemical byproducts of agricultural activities that seek to produce as much as possible at the lowest financial cost.

Going for growth

Much of the groundwork for Northern Ireland's current environmental crisis was laid in 2013 by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' (Daera) landmark "Going for Growth" policy.

The policy promotes more market-led innovation and sales growth in highly competitive international markets. As a result, it has spurred the greater use of phosphates, nitrogen and other inputs within Northern Ireland's agricultural system.

It has also provided farmers with an incentive to intensify their beef and dairy production. This has led to the increased production of slurry. When slurry leaks into the environment, it has the potential to pollute water catchments and waterways.

The Going for Growth strategy was developed in the context of a general push for economic growth as part of Northern Ireland's "double transition", from war to peace and towards neoliberalism. Declared as "open for business" by political leaders, Northern Ireland has since become an attractive destination for various forms of socially and environmentally detrimental extractive economic activities.

These activities include gold mining in the Sperrin Mountains. Dalradian, the company proposing the project, claims the mine could provide a 750 million boost to the Northern Ireland economy.

Institutional mismanagement

The environmental impact of the Going for Growth strategy has been compounded by a general lack of regulatory oversight, policing and punishment of the pollution that accompanies it.

Still today, Northern Ireland does not have an independent environmental protection agency. The regulatory body it does have, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, is part of Daera, the very government department tasked with promoting growth within and through the agriculture and food manufacturing industry.

The unfettered way in which growth is promoted and pursued shows how short-term economic interests have been prioritized to the detriment of the future viability of sustainable food production and ecological stability in Northern Ireland. There is an absence of suitable policies and initiatives to support rapid change towards a sustainable food system and a just transition for farmers.

Powerful vested interests

These failures of governance are further complicated at Lough Neagh by a messy network of stakeholders with vested interests in its economic, rather than social and ecological value. This includes a colonial legacy of ownership, through which the Earl of Shaftesbury enjoys the rights of an "absentee landlord" over the lough's bed and soil, even though its water is publicly owned.

The earl profits from these "business assets" through royalties from sand dredging. However, he argues that the current state of the water in Lough Neagh is not his responsibility and won't relinquish his private ownership without significant compensation from public funds. In the past, the amount of compensation he would require has been estimated to stand at 6 million.

This network of stakeholders also includes a politically powerful agricultural sector. The sector has been successful in lobbying for reduced government oversight and increased state financial support.

Meanwhile, local people are disenfranchised in their ability to influence how the lough, the largest ecological commons on the island of Ireland, is managed and to whose benefit.

Given the political, regulatory and powerful vested interests involved, alongside issues with mismanagement, perhaps the real question here is not how and who is responsible for killing Lough Neagh but rather why this decline did not happen sooner.

Our only hope now is that this situation serves as a catalyst for Northern Ireland to rectify its practices and start on a path towards environmental restoration.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Metropolitan entanglement-based free-space network. a) A standardized centrally located entanglement server (ES, black box) is streaming entangled photons into the network. Free-space channels are used to connect distant buildings and parts of a metropolitan area, while fiber connections may still be used in a complementary way, for example, to connect to offices within the central building. Each end user owns an application-specific quantum receiver subsystem (green boxes). b) The corresponding physical layer network topology. At the quantum communication layer, the network is a pairwise connected mesh, so that every end user can communicate with any other (not shown). c) A near-term extension possibility using several ESs and a central trusted node. d) Eventually, by introducing entanglement swapping, the trusted node could again be turned into an untrusted one, while the overall network topology would remain unchanged. Credit: npj Quantum Information (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41534-023-00754-0

Quantum communications have rapidly progressed toward practical, large-scale networks based on quantum key distributions that spearhead the process. Quantum key distribution systems typically include a sender "Alice," a receiver "Bob," who generate a shared secret from quantum measurements for secure communication. Although fiber-based systems are well-suited for metropolitan scale, a suitable fiber infrastructure might not always be in place.

In a new report in npj Quantum Information, Andrej Krzic and a team of scientists developed an entanglement-based, free-space quantum network. The platform offered a practical and efficient alternative for metropolitan applications. The team introduced a free-space quantum key distribution system to demonstrate its use in realistic applications in anticipation of the work to establish free-space networks as a viable solution for metropolitan applications in the future global quantum internet.

Quantum communication network

Quantum communication typically aims to distribute quantum information between two or more parties. A series of revolutionary applications of quantum networks have provided a roadmap towards engineering a full-blown quantum internet. The proposed invention provides a heterogeneous network of special purpose sub-networks with diverse links and interconnects. The concept of quantum key distribution networks have driven this development to pave the way for other distributed quantum information processing methods to benchmark the technological maturity of quantum networks in general.

In this work, Krzic and colleagues described a metropolitan free-space network architecture to secure communications at summits, conferences and other events, with the added capacity to complement an already existing network infrastructure in the absence of end-to-end fiber connections. The quantum physicists built the architecture around a central entanglement server to stream the entangled photons to the users of the network.

They built key building blocks of this architecture, including a portable, high-visibility entangled photon pair source suited for metropolitan applications with dedicated filtering for daytime function. The physicists performed quantum key distribution experiments in realistic scenarios across 1.7 km with quantum security to show the capacity to achieve record kilobyte per second rates at night and in broad daylight.

Experimental setup. An entangled photon source (EPS) acts as a server that generates pairs of polarization-entangled photons at 810 nm. One photon of each pair is sent to Alice via a single-mode fiber, while the other one is sent to Bob via a free-space link spanned by a transmitter and a receiver telescope (Tx and Rx). A 1064 nm beacon laser (BL) creates a reference beam that is combined with the quantum signal at a dichroic mirror (DM) and co-propagates with it over the free-space link. At Bob, the beacon beam is analyzed in a dedicated module consisting of four position sensitive detectors (4xPSD), which generates feedback signal for two fast-steering mirrors (FSM) that in turn stabilize the beam. Both Alice and Bob own a quantum receiver subsystem (QRS-A and QRS-B) for generating the secret key. Optical elements that are irrelevant for the present experiment have been left out for clarity here. The free-space link shown here is the 1.7-km link in Jena, Germany, between Fraunhofer IOF and Stadtwerke Jena. Credit: npj Quantum Information (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41534-023-00754-0

An entanglement-based quantum network

The researchers developed a network architecture wherein an entangled photon source facilitated the server to stream entanglement into a metropolitan-scale network built of free-space links. The scientists opted to place the entanglement server in a central high-rise building.

Each user owned a quantum receiver subsystem to detect the anatomy of a quantum state, and the team readily extended the network size by introducing several entanglement servers interconnected through a central trusted mode to distribute entanglement to the users. The physicists expect the entanglement servers to function as a convenient interface to connect a metropolitan free-space network to the fiber backbone of a larger intercity network.

A free-space quantum key distribution system between Alice and Bob

Krzic and team developed a quantum communication system specific for metropolitan applications that consisted of the key building units necessary to implement a free-space quantum network at a new site in less than a day. The platform did not require prior infrastructure, apart from access to electricity. The system resembled the Alice-Bob segment of the network, where the entanglement servers generated pairs of polarization-entangled photons at 810 nm: One was sent to Alice via a single-mode fiber, while Bob received the other using a free-space link.

The closed-loop stabilization system facilitated long-term functionality, where both Bob and Alice owned a quantum receiver sub-system. Bob's version had specially designed spectral and spatial filtering modules to function at daylight, while Alice's version did not require dedicated filtering of daylight noise. The team realized a classical channel between Alice and Bob's quantum receiver subsystem with commercial radio antennas.

Demonstration of free-space quantum key distribution. Single photon count rates at Bob, quantum bit error rates, and the corresponding secure key rates are shown for different link conditions. The daytime experiment (left) started around noon, with the link fully exposed to direct sunlight. It then continued with a sporadic decrease and increase of sunlight due to the moving clouds. During the night experiment (right), the background noise was negligible, resulting in a much more stable performance. The plotted values are 5-min averages and the horizontal axis shows the local time of day. The background color corresponds to the solar radiation measured independently by a weather station (solar radiation data: University of Applied Sciences Jena). Credit: npj Quantum Information (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41534-023-00754-0

System performance in night and day

The quantum engineers used the system to establish a quantum link between a location in Jena, Germany, and a location of a temporary container on top of a 1.7 km distant public service building. They benchmarked the system performance relative to quantum bit error rate and achievable secure key rate for two experiments at night and day with contrastingly higher background noise. The scientists separated Bob's detected count rates into signal and background noise contributions, including solar radiation measured by a weather station.

The team performed a night experiment on March 2, 2022, to demonstrate a stable performance with a quantum bit error rate of less than 2% for an average secure key rate of 5.4 Kbps across several hours. The performance of the system varied to a greater extent; for instance, when the team exposed the link to direct sunlight the detected noise rates reached values greater than 400 kilocounts of photons per second (kcps). At the next few hours, as small clouds crossed the sun, the background noise reduced to restore the performance of the platform, as a result, it varied in direct consequence of sunlight.

The team simulated a scenario to gauge the performance of two independent free-space links from the entanglement servers to Alice and Bob. At night time, they noted a secure key rate of more than 1.1 kbps. When the team deployed this system in July 2021, they established a free-space quantum key distribution link between two offices located 300 m apart in Bonn, Germany, to achieve similar key rates at night and daytime.

Outlook

In this way, Andrej Krzic and the team developed an entanglement-based, free-space quantum network architecture as a viable solution for metropolitan scales. They achieved up to 5.7 kbps secure rates under varying conditions to indicate its capacity to function 24/7 to facilitate a full coverage of a city.

They further explored high-dimensional entanglement to facilitate higher information capacity per photon with better security and improved robustness to noise. The distribution of entanglement is at the heart of multiple applications beyond quantum key distribution, including quantum clock synchronization and quantum cryptography.

 2023 Science X Network
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Figure 1: Galaxy Cruise, the first Japanese citizen science project for astronomy, set sail in November 2019. It aims to address why galaxies exhibit the various colors and shapes that we see today. The first season of Galaxy Cruise ran until April 2022. The first scientific paper based on the galaxy morphology catalog containing over 2 million classifications was published. The catalog was also made public. Credit: NAOJ

Galaxy Cruise, a citizen science project led by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), has been sailing the cosmic ocean with citizen astronomers to uncover the secrets of galaxies since 2019.

Using the deep, high-quality images from the Subaru Telescope combined with high-accuracy classifications of galaxies provided by the citizen astronomers, professional researchers unambiguously confirmed that galaxies become more active when they collide and merge with other galaxies. This result is reported in the first scientific paper from Galaxy Cruise. The citizen astronomers' classifications are made available to the public so that astronomers from all over the world can use them to make new discoveries.

This work was published online in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan on September 26, 2023, titled "Galaxy Cruise: Deep Insights into Interacting Galaxies in the Local Universe."

The universe is filled with a wide variety of galaxies; some galaxies are red elliptical galaxies, while others are blue spiral galaxies. There are also galaxies without well-defined shapes. This diversity is thought to arise from collisions and mergers between galaxies over cosmic timescales. However, the exact roles of collisions and mergers have remained poorly understood because interacting galaxies are rare objects and are thus difficult to find.

To overcome this difficulty, Galaxy Cruise called for help from citizen astronomers to identify interacting galaxies from the deep images taken with Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) installed on the Subaru Telescope.

Citizen astronomers are by no means professional astronomers, but can they classify galaxies? Yes, they can! Professional astronomers show them how. Citizen astronomers are asked to go through a training course to understand the fundamentals of galaxy morphology. Once they pass the course, they get a boarding pass for Galaxy Cruise.

Many citizen astronomers got onboard and were captivated by the diversity of galaxies in the universe. About 10,000 citizen astronomers explored the universe and made more than 2 million classifications in the first 2.5 years of Galaxy Cruise. Such a large number of classifications would not have been possible by professional astronomers alone.

Figure 2: Spiral galaxies identified by the citizen astronomers. They all show beautiful spiral arms. Credit: NAOJ

Dr. Masayuki Tanaka, the "Captain" of Galaxy Cruise, carefully analyzed the citizen scientists' classifications and found that the citizen astronomers classified galaxies very well. Figure 2 illustrates the accuracy. The quality of the HSC images is essential for the high classification accuracy; there are many galaxies that were classified as elliptical galaxies in previous studies, but they turn out to exhibit clear spiral arms in the deeper HSC images. "The classification accuracy of Galaxy Cruise surpasses previous studies," says Tanaka.

The same applies to interacting galaxies, which are the focus of Galaxy Cruise. When galaxies collide and merge, they often show distorted shapes with characteristic features around them such as tidal tails. These features are often diffuse and faint and can easily be missed. However, thanks to the high sensitivity and high angular resolution of the HSC images, Galaxy Cruise successfully captured these faint features.

The citizen astronomers discovered that many of the 'normal' (i.e., non-interacting) galaxies reported in the previous studies actually exhibit signs of interaction. In addition, citizen astronomers identified galaxies that are currently undergoing violent mergers.

Figure 3: Violent mergers. The galaxies are significantly distorted by the strong tidal field, demonstrating how violent mergers can be. Credit: NAOJ

Figure 3 showcases these violent mergers. They all show significantly distorted shapes with very complex structures. Such violent mergers are extremely rare and a statistical sample of such galaxies illustrates the power of visual classifications by a large number of citizen astronomers.

The sample of interacting galaxies revealed that these galaxies show an enhanced level of star formation activity (Note 1) compared to normal galaxies. Furthermore, super massive black holes are also found to be more active. Interestingly, this activity is most significantly enhanced in violent mergers like those shown in Figure 3.

It is likely that the final coalescence of a merger event is the moment when the internal activity of galaxies is most strongly enhanced. These interesting results were published in a scientific paper. This is the first paper from Galaxy Cruise and is a milestone not just for astronomers but also the participating citizen astronomers.

"There have been a lot of efforts trying to understand the star formation and black hole activities of merging galaxies," says Tanaka. "However, researchers have often reached contradicting results. This is likely due to the difficulties in identifying merging galaxies, differences in the definition of mergers, differences in the way the galaxies are analyzed, etc. Galaxy Cruise's approach to the problem is the classic visual classification."

"It is a time consuming but powerful method to identify mergers. Combined with the high-quality HSC images, we could construct a better sample of mergers than before and it led us to confirm unambiguously that mergers enhance the internal activities of galaxies. This is an extremely exciting result and it would not have been possible without the participation of so many citizen astronomers."

Galaxy Cruise's classification catalog has been released to the public together with the publication of the paper. The high-quality classifications will be further exploited by professional astronomers from all over the world. The catalog will hopefully lead them to new discoveries.

"People may think that scientific work is only for professional researchers. That is not necessarily the case. Public citizens can certainly contribute as Galaxy Cruise demonstrated. Galaxy Cruise is still on its continuing voyage. Why not join us? I am looking forward to welcoming you on board and solving the mysteries of galaxies together," Captain Tanaka concludes.

More information: Masayuki Tanaka et al, Galaxy Cruise: Deep Insights into Interacting Galaxies in the Local Universe, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan (2023). DOI: 10.1093/pasj/psad055
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Image of chorus wave generation on Mercury. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Since Mercury is the closest planet to the sun among the solar system planets, it is strongly influenced by the solar wind, a high-speed (several hundred km/s) stream of plasma blowing from the sun. Explorations of Mercury were first carried out by the Mariner 10 spacecraft in 1974 and 1975, which revealed that Mercury has a magnetic field, and thus a magnetosphere, similar to that of Earth.

In the 2000s, the MESSENGER spacecraft provided a detailed picture of the Mercury's magnetic field and magnetosphere, and revealed that Mercury's magnetic field center is shifted northward from the planet's center by approximately 0.2 RM (RM is Mercury's radius of 2,439.7 km). The third exploration of Mercury is currently being made by the BepiColombo International Mercury Exploration Project thanks to the Mio spacecraft (Project Scientist, Dr. Murakami) and the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO).

In particular, unlike Mariner 10 and MESSENGER, the Mio spacecraft is equipped with a full suite of plasma wave instrument (PWI, Principal Investigator Prof. Kasaba) designed specifically to investigate for the first time the electromagnetic environment around Mercury. Electromagnetic waves can efficiently accelerate plasma particles (electrons, protons, heavier ions); as such, they play an important role in the Mercury's magnetospheric dynamics.

The present study was performed by an international joint research team consisting of scientists from Kanazawa University, Tohoku University, Kyoto University, MagneDesign Corporation, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, France with support from CNES (French Space Agency), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The Mio spacecraft, launched on October 20, 2018, is currently on its way to Mercury, with a final insertion in orbit around the planet scheduled for December 2025. Although getting Mio into Mercury's orbit is technically extremely difficult due to the strong gravity of the sun as compared to that of Mercury, it is scheduled to enter into orbit around Mercury in 2025 after several flybys of Earth, Venus, and Mercury for gravity assist maneuvers.

During the Mercury flybys that occurred on October 1, 2021 and June 23, 2022, the Mio spacecraft had approached the planet at an altitude of approximately 200 km. The stowed configuration of the spacecraft during the journey to Mercury is not optimal for measuring electromagnetic waves because of the interference noise coming from the spacecraft itself.

However, the Mio spacecraft was developed to lower as much as possible its electromagnetic noise level, and thus has been certified as an electromagnetically clean spacecraft through EMC tests.

Alternating current magnetic field sensors that can cope with the scorching environment of Mercury have been developed jointly by Japan and France and have allowed the first electromagnetic wave observations around Mercury without being contaminated by the noise from the spacecraft itself. This has revealed the local generation of chorus waves, such as those that are frequently detected in the magnetosphere of Earth.

The existence of chorus waves in the magnetosphere of Mercury, which is now confirmed, was predicted (frequency range, intensity, etc.) since 2000s when the plasma wave instrument (PWI) of the Mio spacecraft was designed. What most surprised the international joint research team, including Dr. Ozaki of Kanazawa University, was the "spatial locality" of the chorus waves, which were detected only in an extremely limited region in the dawn sector of the Mercury's magnetosphere during the two flybys.

This means that there is a physical mechanism that tends to generate chorus waves only in the dawn sector of the magnetosphere of Mercury. In order to investigate the cause of the generation of chorus waves in the dawn sector, the international joint research team used the nonlinear growth theory of chorus waves established by Prof. Omura, Kyoto University, to evaluate the effect of curvature of the magnetic field of Mercury, which is strongly distorted by the solar wind.

The magnetic field lines in the night sector are stretched by the solar wind pressure, while the magnetic field lines in the dawn sector are less affected resulting in a smaller curvature. Based on the characteristics of the magnetic field lines and the nonlinear growth theory, it is revealed that in the dawn sector, energy is efficiently transferred from electrons to electromagnetic waves along magnetic field lines, creating conditions that favor chorus wave generation.

The effect is also confirmed in a numerical simulation of the Mercury environment using a high-performance computer. In this study, the team has revealed the importance of the planetary magnetic field lines, which are strongly affected by the solar wind, on the locality of chorus wave generation thanks to a strong synergy between "spacecraft observation," "theory" and "simulation."

Future prospects

In the Mercury flyby observations, the team prepared for the comprehensive electromagnetic environment survey using the planned Mio spacecraft probe in orbit around Mercury. Chorus waves, which were expected to be detected at the time of planning, are observed in a quite local manner, i.e. in the dawn sector of Mercury, which was not expected, and the results show various fluctuations in the magnetosphere of Mercury.

The data demonstrate the existence of energetic electrons on Mercury that can generate chorus waves, the possibility of generating active electrons efficiently accelerated by chorus waves, and the generation of X-ray auroras by electrons forcibly precipitating from Mercury's magnetosphere to the surface of Mercury driven by chorus waves. These observations will have a wide impact on the scientific understanding of Mercury's environment.

The Mio spacecraft is on its way to carry out a comprehensive exploration of Mercury. Based on flyby observations we have found that magnetic field distortion is responsible for the local (i.e. dawn sector) generation of the chorus waves. The comprehensive exploration of the electromagnetic environment by the Mio spacecraft in Mercury's orbit will contribute not only to understanding the plasma environment of the entire Mercury's magnetosphere but also to a deep understanding of the magnetospheric dynamics in general.

The magnetosphere acts as a barrier preventing life-threatening cosmic radiations on the planets of the solar system. Comparison of data from Mercury and Earth will strengthen our understanding of this important natural shielding of our home planet.

The paper is published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

More information: Mitsunori Ozaki et al, Whistler-mode waves in Mercury's magnetosphere observed by BepiColombo/Mio, Nature Astronomy (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-02055-0 Journal information: Nature Astronomy
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CSIRO's Katharina Nargar was a senior author of the report's chapter on orchids. Credit: Tapio Linderhaus

Up to 45% of all known flowering plant species across the globe could be under threat of extinction with the plant family Orchidaceae (orchids) among the most threatened, according to a new report.

Kew's State of the World's Plants and Fungi (SOTWPF) 2023 report, tackles the nature emergency by laying out the current condition of the world's plants and fungi.

Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, contributed to the report with CSIRO orchid researcher, Dr. Katharina Nargar, a senior author of the report's chapter on orchids.

"Plants and fungi sustain life on Earth and provide valuable ecosystem services, food, medicine, clothing, and raw materials. But the natural world is threatened by the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss," Dr. Nargar said.

"With some 350,000 species of vascular plantswhich includes trees, shrubs, ferns and flowering plants like orchidsalready known to science, researchers are in a race against time to scientifically name and assess as many as 100,000 more."

Worldwide, scientists name about 2,500 new plants each year.

New estimates suggest as many as three in four undescribed vascular plants are already likely to be threatened with extinction.

The SOTWPF report sets an important international standard for researchers and conservationists to annually track trends in the global status of plant and fungal diversity.

Dr. Nargar said recent DNA sequencing had added to botanical knowledge based on physical characteristics and challenged previously held beliefs on the evolution and distributions of orchids.

"New data suggests the orchid family did not originate in Australia as we thought. Instead, it originated in the northern hemisphere around 83 million years ago before it spread across the world," Dr. Nargar said.

"However, Australia's largest orchid lineage, which accounts for over 60 percent of Australia's orchid species diversity, originated in Australia and dates back more than 40 million years.

"In contrast, most orchid species worldwide originated fairly recently in Earth's history, within the last 5 million years."

The Australian Tropical Herbarium and the Australian National Herbarium contributed approximately 20 percent of the original DNA sequence data for the study, covering around 80 percent of Australian orchid genera, through participation in the Bioplatforms Australia led Genomics for Australian Plant (GAP) Initiative, which sequenced over 90 percent of Australian flowering plant genera.

Unfortunately, more and more newly described species have narrow geographic ranges, with many new plants described from only a single location, and are undergoing population or habitat decline.

"Last year we led a project to have 23 threatened orchids from Australia added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, bringing the total number of Australian orchids on the Red List to 51," Dr. Nargar said.

"Almost all of the 23 species are terrestrial, meaning they grow on the ground, showcasing the rich diversity of terrestrial orchids found in Australia. In contrast, most orchids worldwide are epiphytic, meaning they grow on trees.

"Their inclusion on the Red List serves to increase awareness about Australia's orchid diversity and paves the way for international funding opportunities for those engaged in orchid conservation efforts."

Based on the work of 200 international researchers based in 30 countries, the underlying scientific evidence in SOTWPF was co-released today with a special collection from the journals New Phytologist and Plants, People, Planet, titled "Global Plant Diversity and Distribution" and in a review of global fungal diversity and conservation published by the journal Annual Review of Environment and Resources.

Provided by CSIRO
An Egypt spy chief claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was already given repeated warnings regarding the Hamas attack.

However, the Israeli leader allegedly ignored their warning. Because of this, Netanyahu is now criticized since they were not able to predict the Hamas attack despite Israel being known for its effective intelligence prowess.

Netanyahu Denies Egypt's Repeated Hamas Attack Warning Claims

According to The Daily Beast's latest report, Netanyahu was allegedly warned about an impending "big" strike by the Hamas group before the brutal attacks on Oct. 7, killing hundreds of Israelis and injuring thousands of them.

This shocking detail was shared by an Egyptian spy chief, who spoke on condition of anonymity since he wasn't allowed to discuss the sensitive intelligence discussions with the media.

The Egyptian intelligence official said that Jerusalem ignored their warnings that the Hamas terrorist organization was planning "something big" against Israel.

"We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings," said the anonymous Egyptian spy chief.

But, Netanyahu denied this claim, saying that the information shared by the Egypt intelligence leader was "fake news."

"No early message came from Egypt and the prime minister did not speak or meet with the intelligence chief since the establishment of the government - not indirectly or directly," said the Israeli prime minister's office.

However, in one of the warnings, Egypt's Intelligence Minister General Abbas Kamel reportedly called Netanyahu 10 days before the massive Hamas attack. Some Egyptian officials also said that they were surprised after Netanyahu ignored warnings.

Read Also: US Vs. Hamas: Biden Admin Sends Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier to Israel

Israel's Intelligence Prowess Now Questioned

The Associated Press reported that Israel's intelligence prowess is considered to be formidable because of a string of achievements.

These include foiling plots set in the West Bank, assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists in Iran, as well as hunting down Hamas operatives in Dubai.

But, the tragedy that the recent Hamas attack created has tainted the reputation of Israel's intelligence operation efficiency.

Ex-national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yaakov Amidror, said that what happened was a major failure for the Israeli government.

He added that the deadly Hamas attack is proof that the intelligence capabilities of Israel in Gaza were no good at all. Although Amidror didn't provide any specific explanation regarding the failure, he's still optimistic that Israel will learn from this mistake once the commotion settles down.

Related Article: Is China Bigger Threat Than Russia? US Republicans Want More Military Aid for Taiwan, Less for Ukraine

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From the Fair Haven Police Department in Fair Haven, Vermont: On Oct. 9 at 12:15 p.m. Fair Haven Police, Fair Haven Fire and Fair Haven EMS responded to a call of a subject pinned by a tree.

Upon arrival responders were surprised to find the victim on a ladder approximately 30 feet in the air, pinned. The victim had cut a large limb, and it fell and bounced back striking the victim and pinning them.

Doanes Tree Service, who were in the area doing work, responded to assist first responders at the scene.

Using their bucket truck, Doanes Tree Service was able to free the victim and get them to the ground safety.

The victim was transported by Fair Haven EMS to the hospital for evaluation.

Fair Haven police were also assisted by the Castleton and Poultney Fire departments.

"A big thank you to Doanes Tree Service and all responding agencies," FHPD said.
New York State Senator Daniel Stec was joined by Lake George Town Supervisor Dennis Dickinson and Deputy Town Supervisor Vinnie Crocitto in unveiling the new Fort George historical marker near the entrance to Lake George Battlefield Park on Sunday, Oct. 8, before approximately 40 interested members of the public.

The placement of the marker, describing the final destruction of the patriot fortification by British Major Christopher Carleton as the ultimate act in his series of raids on military and private property during the fall of 1780, was orchestrated by Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance Trustee Pat Niles.

Niles led a tour after the unveiling ceremony of locations in the park

that are connected to Carletons raid.

In addition to Senator Stec, who provided opening remarks, and Pat Niles, speakers at the event included Margy Mannix, Lake George Town Historian, and Charles Vandrei, Historic Preservation Officer for the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Battlefield Park Visitor Center at 75 Fort George Road, Lake George, operated by the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October. Business hours at the

Center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A Lacey Township boy was among three people killed last weekend in a crash in Lakewood that split both vehicles in two, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer identified the crash victims Tuesday as Jayla Ortiz, 23, of Lakewood; Ceasia Jefferson, 24, of Neptune Township; and a 17 year-old boy from the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey.

About 2:20 a.m. Saturday, Lakewood police were summoned to New Hampshire and Cedar Bridge avenues for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash.

A 2009 Honda Accord operated by Ortiz and containing passengers Mylani Theibault, 18, of Lakewood; Alexis Holloway, 23, of Berkeley Township; Jefferson; and the 17-year-old was traveling east on Cedar Bridge. Ortiz failed to stop at a red light and entered the intersection, striking a 2008 Dodge truck, Billhimer said in a news release.

The impact caused the truck to roll over and split in two, Billhimer said. The Accord continued off the road and struck a metal traffic signal pole, also breaking into two parts as a result.

Truck driver Mathew Draheim, 56, of Lakewood, was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune to be treated for minor injuries. Ortiz and Jefferson were pronounced dead at the scene. Theibault, Holloway and the 17-year-old were transported to the same hospital, where the 17-year-old died, Billhimer said. Theibault and Holloway remain hospitalized. Theibault is listed in stable condition, Holloway in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation by the Prosecutors Office and Lakewood police. The Ocean County Sheriffs Office also assisted the investigation.
ATLANTIC CITY  In striving to make the citys contributions to American history more noticeable, a statue of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer is joining a collection of artifacts at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

The statue unveiled Tuesday can be found shortly past the halls entryway, shy of the steps leading to the arena where, in 1964, Hamer pressured party leaders to ensure equal rights for Black Americans during the Democratic National Convention.

The unveiling came four days after Hamers birthday.

Officials hope the 7-foot-tall statue depicting Hamer encouraging a crowd will help younger generations learn about Hamers story of going from a Black sharecropper in Mississippi to a prominent activist.

We cherish the history here in Atlantic City, said Atlantic County Commissioner Ernest Coursey, representing Mayor Marty Small Sr.s Office during Tuesdays unveiling. Fannie Lou Hamer set the tone many years ago. She paved the way  people like Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm  that made it possible for all of us to stand today to be able to be a part of history.

Surrounded by a crowd of about 50 in the halls reception area, a white sheet was pulled off the statue, placed among pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists protesting outside Boardwalk Hall during the convention.

The moment was particularly special for Stockton University Africana studies professor Patricia Reid-Merritt, who gifted the statue by New Jersey artist Brian Hanlon to the city.

For me, its sort of the final step in a long journey, Reid-Merritt said beside the statue.

An identical bronze statue can be found in Ruleville, Mississippi, where Hamer grew up.

Reid-Merritt led a committee that raised money to bring the statue to Mississippi. Hanlon also made the resin copy of it in 2012, storing it in a facility in Toms River before it would find its permanent home at Boardwalk Hall.

The hall isnt the only place in the city bearing a reference to Hamer. Stockton University named its event center at its city campus a few blocks away after her.

Hamer was born to a poor Black family on Oct. 6, 1917, according to the National Womens History Museum.

She suffered from the physical harm racism brought to Black Americans in the 20th century. She was beaten inside a jail. She also underwent an unapproved hysterectomy by a white doctor, a common practice years ago to reduce Americas Black population.

She died of breast cancer in 1977 at 59. Before her death, Hamer ran unsuccessfully for seats in the U.S. Senate and Mississippi state Senate. She also helped form the National Womens Political Caucus in 1971.

Reid-Merritt said Hamers story isnt discussed enough.

The reason why it is not a mainstream story is because we dont teach history, Reid-Merritt said. For those of us who are actively involved in the study of African American history, this is a mainstream story. Its our responsibility, and certainly our commitment, to share this story with the next generation, and we have a lot of that in the past several decades.

Hamer is likely best remembered for her testimony during the Democratic National Convention when it came to Atlantic City.

Lyndon B. Johnson was the incumbent Democratic presidential candidate, having assumed the Oval Office after John F. Kennedys slaying a year prior.

Stockton students learn about activist Fannie Lou Hamer GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Civil and voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer revolutionized activis

Meanwhile, civil rights activists continued to prod officials to help rid America of Jim Crow segregation laws.

Hamer helped create the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which challenged the local Democratic Partys efforts to block Black political participation, according to the National Womens History Museum. She and other members of the group sought to join the convention to be recognized as delegates from the state.

They were denied, but Hamer was permitted to address the convention. Much of her testimony was intentionally overshadowed by Johnson, who held a televised news conference at the time she spoke, shifting networks attention away from her, according to historian Taylor Branch.

Her words challenging the government were crucial in leading to Johnson signing the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Reid-Merritt said.

Atlantic City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz was a 16-year-old demonstrator with Direct Action Youth, a local civil rights activism group, outside the convention at the time, chanting slogans to let the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party join the Democratic selection process.

He never met Hamer there, but he learned of her speech from inside the arena through television newsreels and newspapers that appeared the following day.

It really struck a chord when she said, Im sick and tired of being sick and tired, because I think she spoke for people all over the country, Shabazz said.

GALLERY: Statue of Fannie Lou Hamer unveiled at Boardwalk Hall
The national organization Moms for Liberty has endorsed more than 500 candidates in school board elections around the country, including in several South Jersey races.

According to the organization, a little more than 50% of the candidates they have endorsed in New Jersey have won their elections.

Those included three of the four successful candidates in Ocean City last year, including Robin Shaffer, the successful candidate for the remaining year of an unexpired term on the board, in a campaign that focused on state sex education standards that took effect last year.

Shaffer is back on the ballot this year and again running as part of a ticket under the slogan Conservative family values, along with Steve Flogaus and Kevin Schaffer, who is no relation.

People on every side of the issues say school board elections have been growing more political, and board meetings more contentious, with fights over national policies and hot-button cultural questions playing out amid votes on contracts and policies and quotidian matters of school business.

Ocean City and other districts saw increased parental involvement and organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote learning and mask mandates became commonplace.

All of our students were sent home with a computer, and parents had a front-row seat to what their kids were dealing with on a daily basis, said Tom McQuillen, the former Sea Isle City police chief running this year for a second term on the Upper Township Board of Education.

In 2021, three women in Florida organized Moms for Liberty to challenge pandemic-related restrictions, according to both media profiles of the group and the organization itself. The advocacy spread to issues related to school choice and parents rights and drew new support, often from Republicans and conservative circles, including the Heritage Foundation.

Ocean City taps interim superintendent, with some dissent OCEAN CITY  With time running out before the current superintendent leaves the district, th

The group has also received plenty of criticism, including from the Southern Poverty Law Center, which designated Moms for Liberty an anti-government extremist group in 2022, connecting it to efforts to ban books and scrub curriculums of any mention of race, gender or LGBTQ identities.

Its a characterization the group vehemently denies.

Win or lose, the battle continues, the organization tells candidates. Those who dont win a seat can remain involved, founding a chapter and advocating for change. The organizations website suggests successful candidates reject training from state school board associations, alleging they foster the same woke propaganda that the organization is fighting.

New Jersey law requires school board members to attend training with the New Jersey School Boards Association.

In these times of national political polarization, NJSBA would remind board candidates  and the general citizenry  that school board elections in New Jersey are nonpartisan. Candidates may not be identified by political party on the ballot, Janet Bamford, the chief public affairs officer for the association, said in an emailed response to a request for comment. That is not true in all states, and NJSBA believes that the nonpartisan nature of school board elections contributes to the strong system of public education that our state enjoys. It allows boards to concentrate on the central task at hand  ensuring that our schools help all children to learn and achieve their full potential.

Some years, in many communities, voters who do not closely follow their local school boards or who do not have an active local news organization can have a difficult time evaluating school board candidates, who are sometimes little more than a list of names on a ballot.

One of the things were advocating is people need to be more active in attending their school board meetings, said Gretchen Landenburger, a member of the group Cape May County Indivisible who has worked informing the groups membership of school board candidates positions. Shes also a write-in candidate for the Lower Township elementary school district board. She said she is running because her friend, board candidate Deborah de la Cretaz, died in September. De la Cretaz remains listed on the countys website as a candidate, but Landenburger said her name has been removed from the ballot.

Landenburger said many communities would host meet-the-candidate events, but that has become less common. Her organization sent questionnaires to candidates, whose email addresses are included on the countys list of candidates, but only about half of the candidates responded.

Ocean City school board firmly rejects latest challenge to state standards OCEAN CITY  Three Board of Education members, elected last year as a slate in opposition to

She and other members of Indivisible have searched social media accounts to get more details of the candidates positions, she said.

This year, Indivisible helped turn out supporters to a meeting of the Lower Cape May Regional School District, where a parent had challenged a coming-of-age graphic novel, Gender Queer by Maia Kokabe.

James Morris, who challenged the book, said after the meeting that he did not take issue with the exploration of non-binary gender identity, but said that and other books in the high school library were far too explicit for students, accusing them of amounting to little more than pornography.

Morris is a candidate this year, one of eight people seeking two seats on the regional school board, under the slogan Parents Rights. He did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Landenburger also sees keeping politics out of school board races as centrally important.

They shouldnt be Democrat or Republican. The focus is supporting our kids, she said. But she acknowledged that different people have different ideas of what that support of kids should look like.

Several of those interviewed cited a decision to move school elections from April to the November general election. That saved money, reducing the number of elections, but advocates of the change said it also increased participation. The April elections saw notoriously low turnout, less than 20% most years in most districts.

In Ocean City, longtime board member Joe Clark decided against running for reelection this year. Two incumbents are on the ballot, Shaffer and Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes, and former member Michael Allegretto is running to return to the board under the slogan Traditional Family Values.

He said he chose the slogan because thats what he wants to represent, the traditional values of Ocean City. Other candidates include Corey Niemiec, a member of the Ocean City Education Foundation, and Jocelyn Palaganas, making up a seven-candidate field for three seats.

Palaganas, who retired this year as the leader of the PTA in Ocean City, attended a spring Board of Education meeting at which she decried politics seeping into local education.

In March, Ocean City school board President Chris Halliday criticized an effort, led by Shaffer, to revisit Ocean Citys acceptance of the state education standards. The board had narrowly accepted them the summer before.

It seems political, said Halliday at the time. School boards should not be political.

The election of Shaffer and his running mates Catherine Panico and Liz Nicoletti in 2022 raised concern for some advocates, fueled in part by the participation in a parents rights rally of someone who spoke in a derogatory way about LGBTQ people. After the election, students, parents and advocates held marches and vigils and attended school board meetings on behalf of gay, transgender and gender non-conforming students.

Shaffer argues it is his critics who are being unfair, raising the specter of cancel culture.

If a group or a person gets labeled as a hater, its schoolyard bully stuff, Shaffer said. Its the kind of stuff that we want to get out of our schools.

Moms for Liberty has not yet endorsed candidates for the November election. Attempts to reach the Cape May County chapter were unsuccessful. Shaffer said it is not very active now.

Joseph Clark to return as school board vice president in Ocean City OCEAN CITY  The Cape May County superintendent of schools has named Joseph Clark vice presi

A spokesperson for the national organization did respond, but an interview could not be arranged by deadline. Shaffer said the groups involvement in school elections is a positive thing, giving parents a voice and voters information.

He argues that Ocean Citys school board had become aligned with Trentons liberal values rather than Ocean Citys conservative ones. But he said conservatives are often blamed for the culture wars. And he maintains that the state education standards include matters that are inappropriate for children.

If we push back against a drive, lets say, from Trenton, we are seen as somehow being the cause or the root of this cultural division, Shaffer said.
ATLANTIC CITY  The North to Shore Arts and Ideas Festival will return to the resort next year, organizers said Tuesday.

The festival will start in Asbury Park June 10 to 16, continue in Atlantic City June 17 through 23 and conclude in Newark June 24 through 30.

The festival offers a mix of art, comedy, film and technology events over several days at multiple venues across three cities to encourage visitors to see all New Jersey has to offer, organizers said.

What makes the North to Shore so exciting is that  even if you only spend one day at the festival  theres so much to hear, to see, to learn and to do. Its a perfect introduction to New Jerseys incredible arts scene, John Schreiber, president and CEO of NJPAC, said in a statement.

When Gov. Phil Murphy announced the creation of the festival earlier this year, he said the idea for North to Shore came from the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Atlantic City hopes for success with first North to Shore Festival Officials connected to music and art events for the first Jersey North to Shore Festival hop

The inaugural festival featured concerts, film screenings, art exhibits and panel discussions on technology, climate change, health care and business, as well as scores of performances and events, many of them free, featuring artists who make their creative home in New Jersey.

This years festival drew an audience of nearly 250,000 to more than 300 shows in more than 100 venues in the three cities, according to organizers. It also generated more than $7.6 million in ticket revenue.

Fifty-six artists based in Atlantic City, Asbury Park and Newark were awarded North to Shore grants to produce performances and events held during the festival in their cities. Next year again, grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to artists, producers, small businesses and nonprofits based in each festival city to self-produce performing and visual arts events during the festival. For the first time, grants also will be offered to artists interested in performing on the North to Shore Festival Community Stages, centrally located performance venues in each city.

This festival is designed to reflect the diversity of our state, and the passion for new ideas thats so much a part of New Jerseys spirit, said David Rodriguez, NJPACs executive producer and executive vice president. North to Shores first year certainly captured that, and were excited to build on that foundation as the festival evolves in its second season.
Vladyslav Yesypenko is one of dozens of Ukrainian civilians wrongfully detained on the Crimean Peninsula. On October 5, RFE/RL and Human Rights Centre ZMINA co-hosted a press briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine drawing attention to the plight of civilian prisoners in Crimea.

The event featured Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine; Oleksandr Kononenko, Representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the defense and security sector; Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea; Vladyslavs wife Kateryna Yesypenko; Olha Skrypnyk, Chairperson of the Crimean Human Rights Group; and RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief Nicola Careem. We are grateful to Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, for her recorded remarks. Watch the event here.
In a significant development targeting Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Vivo India Pvt Ltd, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended four individuals, including a Chinese national and the Managing Director of Lava International, as part of its ongoing investigation into an alleged money laundering case.

A reliable source within the ED informed IANS that the agency has taken into custody four suspects, identified as Guangwen Kyang, also known as Andrew Kuang (the Chinese national); Hari Om Rai (MD of Lava International); Rajan Malik, and Nitin Garg (a Chartered Accountant).

The ED's action comes after more than a year since it conducted searches at 48 locations across India, focusing on Vivo India Pvt Ltd and its 23 associated companies, including Grand Prospect International Communication Pvt Ltd (GPICPL).

According to the ED, Vivo India Pvt Ltd, established on August 1, 2014, serves as a subsidiary of Multi Accord Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company, and was registered at ROC Delhi. GPICPL was registered on December 3, 2014, at ROC Shimla, with registered addresses in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and Gandhinagar, Jammu. Notably, the said company was incorporated by Zhengshen Ou, Bin Lou, and Zhang Jie, with the assistance of Nitin Garg, a Chartered Accountant. Bin Lou departed India on April 26, 2018, while Zhengshen Ou and Zhang Jie left the country in 2021, according to the ED's findings.

The ED's investigation revealed that the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) probe was initiated after registering a money laundering case on February 3, 2022, based on an FIR filed at the Kalkaji police station in New Delhi by the Delhi Police. The FIR was filed under sections 417, 120B, and 420 of the IPC, 1860, against GPICPL, its Director, shareholders, and certifying professionals, among others, based on a complaint filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The FIR alleged that GPICPL and its shareholders had used forged identification documents and fabricated addresses during incorporation. The investigation substantiated these claims, revealing that the addresses provided by GPICPL's directors did not correspond to their actual locations, but rather belonged to a government building and the residence of a senior bureaucrat.

The ED's arrests mark a significant development in the ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities and money laundering within Vivo India Pvt Ltd and its associated entities.
(Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Police line up on Vermont ave. near the White House, as protests triggered by the death of George Floyd while in police custody, continue on June 23, 2020, in Washington, DC. - US President Trump on his way to Arizona warned that protesters who attempted to establish an "autonomous zone" in the US capital would be met with "serious force," following a night of protests at Lafayette Square where a crowd of protestors tried to topple the statue of Jackson.

A former university dean was discovered shot in the head on a hiking trail close to the Vermont State University Castleton Campus where she'd worked.

The Vermont State Police are seeking public assistance in their ongoing investigation into the tragic murder of Honoree Fleming, a 77-year-old retired university official, as per to CNN News.

Community Mourns and Seeks Justice for Tragic Loss of Honoree Fleming

The October 5 incident has left the community in astonishment and mourning. As authorities intensify their efforts to bring the perpetrator to justice, the community gathers to remember and celebrate the life of a cherished figure.

The investigation began with a preliminary suspect description, subsequently revised based on public reports received over the weekend. The suspect is now characterized as a White male with 'short red hair,' contrary to earlier indications of dark hair.

He appears to be in his late 20s, is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, and carries a black knapsack while wearing a dark gray T-shirt. The suspect was last observed traveling northbound on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail toward the Vermont State University Castleton Campus.

Honoree Fleming was discovered dead around 4:30 p.m. on October 5, having accessed the 20-mile mixed-use trail from the VSU Castleton pavilion area just half an hour earlier. Her apparel consisted of a shirt with white and blue stripes, black trousers, and black sneakers at the time.

The state medical examiner's postmortem examination confirmed that her death was a homicide resulting from a headshot wound.

Honoree Fleming made significant contributions to education, serving as a former dean of education at Virginia State University and working at prestigious institutions, including Trinity College, Middlebury College, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

She was married to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Powers, who wrote a poignant Facebook post about his profound loss, according to MSN.

Read Also: New York Gang Violence Involving Teenagers Sparks Concerns

Honoree Fleming's Impact and Tragedy Unite Castleton Community

Fleming had not only impacted the lives of her pupils but had also become an integral member of any community in Castleton. The tragic event has shocked the Castleton community to its core, prompting the university to cancel classes on the main campus while the suspect is still being searched.

As a result of the tragic loss, students and faculty have been provided with a supportive environment to lament. The Vermont State Police have been working assiduously on the case, interviewing witnesses and locals in the area where the crime occurred.

Additionally, they are examining surveillance footage for potential leads to identify the alleged murderer. With the public's help, they hope to bring the perpetrator to justice and Honoree Fleming's family and community closure.

Anyone who may have seen the suspect on or near the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail on October 5 is urged to contact the police. Local hunters are encouraged to check their game cameras, and residents and business proprietors are urged to examine their home and business surveillance footage for any potential evidence.

As the investigation progresses, Vermont State Police emphasize the importance of community vigilance. While it is still unknown whether the crime was arbitrary or targeted, residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.

Because the suspect is believed to be armed and hazardous, community cooperation is essential for assuring the safety of all residents. The untimely passing of Honoree Fleming has left a vacancy in the souls of those who knew her.

The community she touched will remember her for her educational contributions and compassion. While Vermont State Police relentlessly pursue justice, the community honors the memory of a remarkable woman and seeks closure for her bereaved family members, Fox News reported.

Related Article: Ecuador: 6 Suspects in Presidential Candidate's Murder Slain in Jail

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The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has issued a stern warning to the public after an alarming incident involving a fraudulent recruitment offer came to light. Authorities have taken swift action, forwarding the matter to the Pimpri Chinchwad Police for a thorough investigation and necessary legal action.

On October 7, 2023, a young individual arrived at the Nigdi Depot armed with what appeared to be an official appointment letter, eager to commence their employment with PMPML. However, upon meticulous examination by PMPML officials, it was swiftly revealed that the appointment letter was, in fact, a counterfeit document. The individual had been deceived by unscrupulous fraudsters. Subsequently, the aspirant was promptly informed that PMPML had not conducted any recruitment matching the claims made in their appointment letter.

In response to this troubling incident, a formal complaint has been registered with the Nigdi Police Station, with the Nigdi Depot manager overseeing the case's progression.

PMPML officials have taken this opportunity to issue a crucial message to aspiring job-seekers, particularly the youth: exercise caution and skepticism when encountering recruitment offers that seem too good to be true. They emphasised that PMPML is currently not engaged in any recruitment activities and urged the public to dismiss any rumors regarding such processes. This latest incident underscores the need for vigilance, as it is not the first time that PMPML has cautioned citizens against believing recruitment-related information circulated on social media platforms.

The PMPML remains committed to the safety and well-being of the public and has taken prompt action to address this issue. Authorities are cooperating closely with law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators of this fake recruitment scam to justice. Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or recruitment offers to the authorities to help protect others from falling victim to similar schemes.
The Union health ministrys decision to make the cut-off for admission into medical colleges zero per cent (in NEET PG) has come under severe criticism. Practising doctors, education experts, parents, and aspirants have opposed the decision saying it is nothing but injustice to meritorious students.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya is being accused of changing the rules to get his daughter admitted into a postgraduate medical course.

Dilipsingh Vishwakarma, founder of Maha Parent Organisation, said, This decision is an unfortunate and black era in the education sector. To favour the minister's daughter, the zero percentile is taken, but who will be responsible for the financial loss of lakhs of parents who spent crores of rupees on NEET preparations? I request that the Union and state governments cancel NEET, MH CET, etc., or Class XII board exams. This is injustice to lakhs of hardworking talented aspirants.

The shocking thing that has come to the fore is that those who scored 11 marks in the NRI quota and students who scored around 57 marks in the National quota have got admitted. Candidates who have scored minus 40 (- 40 in negative marking) out of 800 in the entrance examination, will also be eligible for admission after the zero 'percentile' criteria for post-graduate medical degree courses.

As many as 13 candidates who scored minus marks got admission. It seems that those who scored 20 to 30 marks got admission to some prestigious universities in Maharashtra.

Sandip Shah, a parent, said, My son got 650 out of 800 in NEET, but he did not get admission to a government medical college. He has to be admitted to an aided medical college. This is an injustice to all those honest, meritorious students and their parents. However, there is a fear that due to this decision, the quality of medical education will decline.

Dr. Ajay Mehta, a medical career consultant, said, This is an unfortunate decision, an injustice done to honest students. Admission through management quota is 'deemed' in Maharashtra. Although the condition of medical colleges in Maharashtra is good as compared to some other states, there has been a decline in admission eligibility marks of reputed universities in the state. It is special that most of the admissions have been done through management quota in private medical colleges.

Dr. Siddharth Meshram, professor and MS, said, Students who scored 11 marks in the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota and students who scored around 57 marks in the National Quota got admission. Subjects less directly related to the treatment of actual patients such as anatomy, biochemistry, forensics, microbiology, preventive and social medicine, pharmacology, and physiology remain more vacant. After relaxing the eligibility criteria, it was expected that students with lower marks would get admission to these subjects. But this year, students who have scored 50-60 marks have also been admitted to courses like gynecology, anaesthesiology, ear, nose, and throat diseases.

Meanwhile, Gajanan Patil, an educationist, said, We believe that medical students will directly benefit from this decision. Because, every year, thousands of seats remain vacant. NEET PG has a zero percentile or minus marks cut-off, and candidates who have secured zero marks in the entrance exam will also be able to participate in the counselling process. They can get admission to a medical PG course by submitting the required details and documents. After completing the course he or she can become a doctor.

The govt order As per an order from the Union Ministry of Health, the National Medical Council set by NEET for postgraduate medical admissions hit rock bottom. It will be zero percentile this year, which means that everyone who appeared for postgraduate NEET is eligible regardless of the score. As reported in Mirror, it includes candidates who got a zero or even a negative score. Due to this decision, there is chaos in the medical education sector.
In a tragic incident that happened in Mahabaleshwar on Tuesday afternoon, a woman lost her life after falling into a valley while clicking a selfie.

The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Pune resident Ankita Sunil Shiraskar, who travelled to Mahabaleshwar with her husband. When the sad incident occurred, they explored Kates Point, especially Needle Hole Point.

According to the information, Ankita lost her balance while snapping the selfie and fell between two and three hundred feet into a valley.

After learning about the event, the Mahabaleshwar and Sahyadri trekkers' teams swiftly arrived on the scene to launch rescue efforts. A body was later discovered in the valley.

According to Panchgani police, "Team was sent to the scene as soon as the event was reported. The body was later discovered deep within the valley, and more processing and investigation will take place.
Veterans Day might be a month away, but The Rust Belt is offering a gift early. Thursday night, the venue is hosting a free country concert, headlined by Austin Wahlert and Liza Jo, dedicated to celebrating veterans and first responders.

The event is being sponsored by East Moline's Respect Abilities, a community service organization founded in 2015 that focuses on serving locals with intellectual or physical disabilities. Currently, it's working with 82 individuals to provide employment, mentorship and other service opportunities.

Founder Michelle Horton said the organization had had a great relationship with The Rust Belt, where people that Respect Abilities serves regularly work. At Thursday night's show, Respect Abilities workers will help across the board  you'll see them working, sometimes in tandem with Rust Belt staff, as bartenders, security guards, emcees, musicians and stand-up comedians.

Horton said the show had been in the works for a while, since she first saw a video years ago of Wahlert performing. While the pandemic and other interruptions delayed planning, this week their collaboration finally can come to fruition.

Wahlert is a Colorado-based musician and former bull rider who was inspired to pursue music while attending college in West Odessa, Texas. He learned to play guitar from lessons with his grandfather, who served in the military during the Korean War. He's made performing at fundraisers for first responders and veterans a priority, and Horton said the show at The Rust Belt will be a merging of his mission and that of Respect Abilities.

Opening for the show will be Liza Jo, another Coloradan country act who released her debut album in May. Horton is hoping the show will be a uniting experience.

"We just wanted to provide a 'we're all in this together' attitude," she said. "Let's just have some fun with it."

There will be two showings of the concert on Thursday, with the main performance taking place at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. There will also be a toned-down version of the show at 1 p.m. on Thursday, that'll have less sensory stimulation.

While free tickets can be reserved on the Respect Abilities Facebook page, Horton said the show will be free for anybody who shows up.
Applications will be taken starting on Nov. 1 for the 2023-2024 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in Iowa.

The program, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Community Access Division, Community Action Agencies Unit, was established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs.

Community Action of Eastern Iowa will take applications from Nov. 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024. Households with a person 60 years and older or disabled member may apply now.

LIHEAP customers will need to furnish a form of identification and a copy of the most recent heating and electric bill as well as proof of all household members' gross income for the past 30 calendar days, the most recent 12 months or for the past calendar year.

This program is not designed to pay a household's total energy costs. The program provides supplemental assistance based on several factors including total household income, household size, dwelling type and type of heating fuel.

Eligibility for participation is established according to the following federal income guidelines by annual gross income. One person, $29,160; two people, $39,440; three people, $49,720; four people, $60,000; five people, $70,280; six people, $80,560; seven people, $90,840; and eight people, $101,120.

For households with more than eight members, add $10,280 for each additional member. All income will be annualized. Income will be collected for a 30-day period.

Community Action of Eastern Iowa is located at 500 E. 59th St. in Davenport. For more information or to apply for assistance, visit https://www.caeiowa.org.
Starting next week, Bettendorf schools will host a new educational series geared toward district community members.

This program, "Bett Academy," aims to give the public an opportunity to learn about student and family services, district schools, programming and more.

Each Bett Academy will meet at different school sites and run from 6-7:30 p.m., with the following scheduled topics:

Monday, Oct. 16: District Vision & Strategic Plan

Here, attendees will learn about Bettendorf schools' vision, mission, core values and strategic plan: how they came to be, what input went into them and how district leaders use these materials daily to guide their work.

Monday, Dec. 11: Board of Education

A panel of Bettendorf school board members will meet with attendees to share about their roles and responsibilities, biggest rewards and challenges, district perceptions and visions of board service.

Monday, Jan. 8: Curriculum - Key 3+

District leaders will explain how curricular areas tie together to support the education and future of our students  starting with math, science and language arts.

Tuesday, Feb. 20: Student & Family Supports

Community members will get to know the work and faces of Bettendorf schools' student support staff, including: counseling services, social workers, outreach and mental health partners.

Monday, March 4: Student Services

Attendees can learn more information about the district's student services programs, namely: Talented & Gifted (ELP), English Language Learners (ELL), Special Education, Preschool and Title 1 Reading.

Monday, April 1: Lets Eat & Show Me the Money

Here, learn what guides Bettendorf schools' nutrition service program and how Iowa school districts are funded and can use their money.

Monday, May 13: Mission: Career Readiness

Community members will learn how district staff and community partners help students  of all grade levels  prepare for their futures and explore different career pathways.
Rabbi Linda Bertenthal woke up Saturday morning ready for the celebrations and prayers of the Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah holiday.

The weekend was supposed to be happy days for Jews all over the world. There was little joy Saturday.

Phil Bertenthal, Linda's husband, received notification of the Hamas attack on Israel as they were leaving the house for the Beit Shalom Community Center in Davenport, where Linda Bertenthal leads the congregations of Temple Emanuel and Beth Israel.

As of Monday, Israel is in its third day of war with the terrorist organization Hamas, which launched a surprise attack on the Gaza border early Saturday. The attack has killed over 700 Israelis, according to early reports.

"It was gut-wrenching, and it (the attacks) came after we just finished the celebration of Sukkot, a time of rejoicing and happiness," Linda Bertenthal said. "I'm really not sure what to say. To me, the savagery and inhumanity of the attacks is breath-taking and horrifying."

Rabbi Bertenthal's services included prayers for Israel and the recognition of the horrors of war.

Like Linda Bertenthal, Rabbi Henry Karp had other plans Saturday. He was attending a summit of local social justice advocacy organizations for a gathering on "Re-imagining Social Activism" when he was approached by a number of people and told of the attacks.

"I had no idea," Karp said. "And then I heard and I had to leave. I went immediately to Beit Shalom to be with others and pray."

Founded in 1987 after a split from the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas is a product of a nationalist movement that supports fundamentalist Islamic rule of Palestine and rejects the existence of Israel.

Karp said it wasn't long before he realized the Hamas attacks were like no others he remembered.

"It was a complex military operation that showed, I think, serious military planning," he said. "I feel Hamas must have had counsel, there must have been advisors. And, of course, my mind turned to Iran.

"There is no evidence yet, but I feel Iran, as it has historically, helped plan this attack," Karp said.

Karp added he feels Iran's possible involvement has opened the door for some in the U.S. to point fingers at President Joe Biden, blaming him for the attack.

In September, the Biden administration brokered a deal for the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran. In exchange, roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets were transferred to an account in Qatar.

"Fox News and some Republicans have used this horror to blame Joe Biden," Karp said. "They are using this tragedy to further their own political goals. The fact is that Iran is taking advantage of political chaos in the United States and Israel. There are clear signs in Israel, as in the United States, of encroaching despotism.

"That does not, however, justify Hamas' attacks or its long-term, stated goals, of Hamas and Iran to destroy Israel and the Jews."

Karp said Israel is increasingly divided by political debate about the power of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the right-wing nationalist Likud party. Netanyahu's largely successful attempts to limit the power of the Israeli Supreme Court was met with widespread and prolonged protest throughout Israel and the United States.

Like Karp, Rabbi Bertenthal is critical of Netanyahu and right-wing nationalism while strongly supporting the people and state of Israel.

"Phil and I visited Israel in February and had the honor of marching, as our cousins had done every day until this attack, in support of democracy in Israel," she said. "My thought today, however, is that we must stand together in support of Israel and not be divided.

"But it is also my hope that Netanyahu, if he is as smart a politician as I think he is, will form a unity government and shed some of the extremist members of his party, members who have said horrible things about Arabs and the people of Palestine and have no business being part of the government of Israel.

"We should never be like Hamas."

Rabbi Bertenthal explained how she and other Jews can support Israel and still stand for peace.

"Hamas must be fought, must be answered. Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people. They do not help the Palestinian people," she said. "Let me tell you one of my first thoughts when I heard of these attacks:

"On one of our visits to Israel, I stayed at Nahal Oz kibbutz, which is close to the border with Gaza. One day we sat inside a bomb shelter, which is decorated with images like Winnie the Pooh to comfort the children during attacks. I asked what the children talk about during the attacks and I was told the children always ask about the children of Gaza, because they have no shelters and they were worried about the safety of the children of Gaza."

Rabbi Bertenthal said she wept when she heard the story.

"As Jews, we cherish every human life," she said. "And we are not alone. A neighbor came by this morning with money. He said he wanted to do something to help the people in Israel hurt by this war.

"I am so moved by that."
Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman will headline the Iowa Democratic Partys 2023 Liberty & Justice Dinner on Nov. 4, the party announced Tuesday.

Fetterman, the former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, won election to the Senate in 2022 in one of the most hard-fought Senate races that year.

"Ive always believed that Democrats need to be making our case to voters in every part of the state and every part of the county, Fetterman said in a statement Tuesday. I ran on a slogan of every county, every vote  and I think thats how Democrats can still win in rural areas, whether in Pennsylvania or in states like Iowa.

Fetterman, who regularly dons gym shorts and a sweatshirt at official functions, drew some criticism from Republicans earlier this year after the Senate briefly ditched its informal dress code. Shortly after, the Senate passed a formal dress code rule requiring business attire.

The annual fundraiser has in the past been a place for Democratic presidential candidates to garner support ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Iowa Democrats lost their spot in the national partys nominating calendar earlier this year, and last week the party approved a new system that will have Democrats announce the results of a mail-in presidential preference process on March 5, Super Tuesday.

(Fettermans) well-earned victory in his Senate race last year is proof that Democrats can win rural voters as well as urban ones by sticking to our values, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement Tuesday. John is just the kind of authentic, passionate leader Iowans are drawn to  and we cant wait to hear from him in person.

Haley, DeSantis expand Iowa footprint

Former United Nations ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is expanding her campaign operations in Iowa, following a pair of well-received debate performances that have helped invigorate her presidential campaign.

Haley has made gains in recent months, both in fundraising and polling. She has surged into second place ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the early nominating states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, which follow the Iowa caucuses.

A Real Clear Politics rolling average shows Haley surpassing several of her rivals to move into third place in Iowa, with 8.8% support, behind former President Donald Trump and DeSantis, who is at 16%. Trump, though, continues to hold a commanding lead at 49.2% support.

The Republican presidential candidate also picked up the endorsement of former Texas U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, who suspended his 2024 presidential campaign on Monday and endorsed Haley for the GOP nomination.

First reported by the Des Moines Register, Haleys campaign is opening its first headquarters in Clive, adding two staffers with Iowa political experience and actively hiring others.

According to the campaign, it has added Hooff Cooksey, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds campaign manager in 2018, as an Iowa adviser. Cooksey also worked for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican Governors Association during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.

Team Haley also hired Troy Bishop, who served as field director for Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2022, to serve as the campaigns organization director in Iowa. A Haley campaign spokesperson, in an email, said it is actively bringing on other Iowa campaign veterans as regional directors across the state.

DeSantis presidential campaign said last week it will move about one-third of its staff from Florida to Iowa, underscoring the critical importance he is placing on Iowas leadoff caucuses.

We currently have an office in Des Moines but will have a presence across the entire state, a campaign spokesperson said.

DeSantis has invested heavily in Iowa, conducting a flurry of local media interviews in addition to intense campaigning. As of Monday, DeSantis had visited 74 of Iowas 99 counties, according to his campaign.

His campaign employs 56 people, including four Iowa staff members. The shift would give DeSantis the biggest organizational footprint in Iowa by far. Much of DeSantis organizational work in Iowa has largely been carried out by Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting his campaign, which has about two dozen Iowa staffers.

Hinson reports raising more than $740,000 in third quarter

Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, reported raising more than $740,000 from July through September, with more than $1.3 million cash on hand.

Hinson also contributed more than $50,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and targeted races across the country to help Republican candidates win key seats.

Hinson is running for re-election to a third term representing Eastern Iowas 2nd Congressional District. She is currently running unopposed.

Hinson, a former state lawmaker and former KCRG-TV news anchor, won re-election last year to a second term by eight percentage points against Democratic former state lawmaker Liz Mathis of Hiawatha in Iowas new 2nd District. Hinson unseated first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer in 2020.

Teamsters union supports Cedar Rapids school bond measure

The Future Ready Schools Committee, which collected signatures to place a $220 million Cedar Rapids Community School District bond referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot, announced it has earned the support of Teamsters Local 238.

Its no secret that strong schools lead to thriving communities. To attract the workers of the next several decades, we must ensure that our communities priorities reflect our values  that means investing in sustainable education infrastructure that meets the needs of tomorrow, Teamsters Local 238 Business Agent Scott Punteney said in a statement. Working together to build our communities from the bottom up is a centerpiece of sustainable growth and prosperity for working people not only in Cedar Rapids, but across the state of Iowa. Were proud to offer our support to the Vote Yes to Invest effort.

Teamsters Local 238 represents more than 5,000 members working in industries ranging from transportation and warehousing to manufacturing and public service.

Photos: Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in Davenport campaigning for president.
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have been very busy this week, filing requests to dismiss two of his criminal cases and delay the trial in the classified documents case. And this comes as we're learning more about some shocking new evidence.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is leading a group of states in a court brief in a lawsuit challenging a Massachusetts law that limits the sale and transport of pork and other animal products in the state unless theyre raised in humane ways.

The brief was filed Tuesday in support of the lawsuit brought by Triumph Foods against the Massachusetts law, which was passed as a ballot measure called Question 3 in 2016.

The law bans the sale of pork in the state that comes from sows unless they are given enough room to lie down and turn around, including pork that is raised outside the state. Sows are generally kept in restrictive gestation crates. It also bans the sale of eggs and veal unless they are raised in certain conditions.

The law mirrors a California law, Proposition 12, that has many of the same restrictions and was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year.

Massachusettss radical pork ban hogties Iowa pork producers, Bird said in a statement Tuesday. With these strict new mandates in effect, Iowa farmers will face extreme costs and regulations to compete in the industry, forcing many family hog farms to close shop. Massachusetts doesnt get to dictate how Iowans farm. We are fighting to support our pork producers and protect Iowa family farms.

Attorneys general from Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and nine other states joined the brief, led by Birds office.

Birds office said in a press release the law goes even further than Californias, barring the transportation of pork through the state to other states in New England. According to the brief, Massachusetts is a major distribution hub for surrounding states, and the prohibitions affect warehouses that ship from Massachusetts to other states.

The law took effect on Aug. 25 after state officials and industry groups came to a deal amid ongoing litigation, according to a Boston NBC affiliate. The regulations on pork being transported through the state have not taken effect.

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the California laws constitutionality. The Massachusetts case is being argued on different grounds, with the meat processing company arguing the law violates equal protections under the Constitution and the Import-Export Clause, among other things.

Many of Iowas members of Congress have co-sponsored legislation that would make it illegal for states to pass laws like the ones in Massachusetts and California. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prohibit states from passing laws regulating agricultural products that originate outside the state.

The Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights groups have opposed the proposed legislation, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers opposed adding it to the 2023 farm bill, saying it would limit the power of states to make local decisions about food and agriculture.

Iowa absentee voting opens Oct. 18

Iowans can begin casting absentee ballots in November's city-school elections beginning Wednesday, Oct. 18.

That marks the first day Iowans can vote in person at their county election office, and is also the first day county auditors can begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who requested them.

More than 5,500 Iowans have requested an absentee ballot thus far, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.

The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23.

Iowans can also vote absentee by mail or in person at the polls on Election Day, Tuesday. Nov. 7.

Absentee ballot request forms are available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov. Iowans can also track the status of their request and absentee ballot at that website. Absentee ballots must be turned in to county auditors by 8 p.m. on Nov. 7 to be counted.

We want to see every Iowan participate in the upcoming City-School Election, and the best way to be successful in voting is to have a plan for how you want to vote, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement. Iowans have several secure ways to vote, including early and in-person at their county auditors office. Iowans should make a plan early and take the necessary steps to ensure their voice is heard this November."

Reynolds appoints Hunter Thorpe as district associate judge

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday she had appointed Hunter Thorpe, an assistant county attorney at the Boone County attorney's office, as a district judge in Iowa's Judicial Election District 2B.

Thorpe, of Ankeny, received his undergraduate degree from Central College and his law degree from Drake University. His appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steven Van Marel.

Where refugees in Iowa are arriving from Where refugees in Iowa are arriving from #1. Congo #2. Syria #3. Burma #4. Afghanistan #5. Eritrea #6. Burundi #7. Sudan #8. Somalia #9. Colombia #10. Republic of South Sudan #11. Ethiopia #12. Central African Republic #13. Venezuela #13. Guatemala #15. Iraq #16. Honduras #17. Nicaragua #18. Ivory Coast #19. Rwanda
The following is a joint statement by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating their support for Israel after Hamas attacked from Gaza.

Today, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America released the following joint statement following their call:

Today, we - President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States - express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.

Read Also: EU Reverses Suspension of Palestinian Aid Freeze Following Deadly Hamas Attacks on Israel

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.

All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region.

Related Article: Qatar Leads Talks About Hostage-Prisoner Swap Between Hamas, Israel

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The Rapid City High School has provided memories throughout its 100 years albeit under multiple different names. From becoming the Dakota Junior High in 1978 to being a space now for the Performing Arts Center, the building continues to be of use for the school district and Rapid City as a whole.

Community members organized a celebration in honor of the building's centennial on Sunday with historical displays and a program.

Sarah Gross, a South Park Elementary teacher, spearheaded the research and schedule for the festivities.

With her close ties to the school district, Gross enjoyed learning about how the area's education and schools have grown. Gross, who graduated from Central High School, just started her 17th year of teaching in the area and has her own kids enrolled at South Park.

I think that it's really important to be involved and to support those teachers in the classroom because we want them to stay, Gross said. I think that's what drives a lot of the project, is just having some momentum for love around schools.

Gross put together five different pamphlets on the Rapid City High School. Displays were put up to provide extra information and to show items such as yearbooks and green and gold uniforms.

The program included a performance from the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, speakers who shared their memories, and the YMCA Youth Institute, which showed a short preview clip of a film they are making for February release.

On the third floor, Dakota STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) provided an activity for kids and families.

I wanted to engage everyone from kids in school to grandmas and grandpas, Gross said.

The east part of Rapid City High School was constructed in 1923 while the rest of the building was completed in 1937.

When Stevens and Central High Schools were built in 1969 and 1976 respectively, Rapid City High School was remodeled into Dakota Junior High.

Now, it's a center for all alternative programs, following East Middle School's being built in 2012.

Taking inspiration from the display that the Journey Museum did for the 50th anniversary of the 1972 flood, Gross put together a giant floor sticker that shows the timeline of Rapid Citys education and buildings.

She researched the fire in 1970 that led to two of the buildings next to the high school, Washington Elementary and the Coolidge building, being demolished that same year.

Gross also talked with graduates of Rapid City High School to learn more about the building and their experiences.

I think it's really wonderful because I think, especially with all the online learning and all of the screen time that kids are getting today, we miss those people-to-people interactions, Gross said. Our community lives next door to us and it's a chance to talk with those community members and to build memories with them and reminisce about things that did happen.

Retired teachers and community members helped build the timeline and provided original photos of the school buildings.

100 Years of Rapid City Schools received donations from organizations like the Rapid City Education Association, the Rapid City Public School Foundation and Architecture Incorporated. They even earned a Capture Grant from Stan and Lynda Adelstein with the Rapid City Arts Council.

I really feel like the work that the public schools do is critical to our community, Gross said. Through COVID and politics, I feel like sometimes they get a bad rap, but theres a lot of good ties it has in our community.

Gross continues to share information about the 100 years of Rapid City Public Schools on the Facebook page 100 Years of Rapid City Schools.

Timeline of Rapid Citys education system

Rapid City's organized education system started in the 1870s, with its first school being a small private school near the center of downtown, established in 1877. A year later, Rapid City had its first public school in a rented building.

When Rapid City was incorporated in 1882, work started to build a new high school for $12,000.

Lincoln Elementary School was built in 1908 at the corner of Ninth and St. Joseph streets. It was later sold to the city in 1947 to serve as the city hall for a few years.

In 1910, the Garfield School was built and in 1913 work began for Coolidge High School.

The east portion of the Rapid City High School was completed in 1923. The whole building was designed in three parts.

Calvin Coolidge spent the summer in the Black Hills in 1927 and used the 1913 building as his summer office. In 1929, students voted to change the name of the building to Coolidge High School in honor of the presidents stay.

In the mid-1930s, Rapid City issued a $150,000 bond to finish the high school building in one phase rather than the two that remained. Rapid City High School was completed and opened in the fall of 1937.

Ellsworth Air Force Base was established in the 1940s and following World War II, the country had its baby boom.

Nobody ever talks about a school boom, but clearly all over the country, you had to have the school boom because all of these babies needed classrooms, Gross said. In the 1950s, all of these schools started out as like six classroom schools, and then immediately they needed to be added onto.

In 1948, the fourth floor of the high school was finished and used as classroom space.

Between 1949 and 1963, 16 schools were constructed and only three of those original buildings are no longer used in the district.

Stevens opened in 1969 and then a year later Washington Elementary and Coolidge caught on fire and were demolished.

Rapid City passed a bond in 1973 to build Central High School, which opened in 1976. The old high school was then remodeled into Dakota Junior High in 1978.

The Rapid City High School building is listed on the historic registry. It is also used by the Performing Arts Center and the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra.

The next event

Students will continue to explore their school's history to create a short historical film.

The 100 Years of Rapid City Schools will host a Film Festival on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, to feature historical films from each of the Rapid City schools, made by the students.

Most schools have a designated lead teacher who volunteered for the film project. Students will look through newspaper articles, scrapbooks and research done on the schools to find the information they might want to include in their films.

What I need now is to give them some good drone footage, Gross said. Then they can have the kids use stop motion or green screen. Theyll use technology and be creative in whatever way they want to talk about their school history.

Black Hawk's film will be shown first at the festival at 9 a.m., before showing each school's video alphabetically. All of the student creative films are set to be between five and seven minutes long.

The YMCA Youth Institute will finish its documentary-style film about Rapid City High School and show the 30-minute film during the festival as well.
Three tipis stood tall in downtown Mni Luzahan, the Lakota word for Rapid City, surrounded by community members gathering for NDN Collective's inaugural Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration.

Community events like this push against the active erasure of Indigenous peoples, Nick Tilsen, Oglala Lakota and NDN Collective CEO, said. Events like these are an opportunity to remind the world that Indigenous people are still here.

The gathering provided vendors, live music, a march and opportunities for community members to ask questions and learn about Indigenous culture. The live music boasted big name Indigenous artists such as Mato Wayuhi, the Oglala Lakota composer for Hulu's hit series Reservation Dogs.

Its our opportunity to communicate with people and battle ignorance with education, call people in to support our struggle and support our cause, Tilsen said.

In 1990, South Dakota was the first state to make the change from Columbus Day to Indigenous/Native Peoples Day. The change came from Governor Mickelson, who made the move to seek reconciliation between Native people and the government. Mickelson's measure passed unanimously.

Sixteen states and the territory of American Samoa still celebrate Columbus Day.

Were celebrating all of the work that has gone into that (the change) but also celebrating being Indigenous and highlighting some of the work done by the community, not just the NDN Collective, Murray Lee, Sisseton Wahpeton and the NDN Collective Director of Community Engagement said.

Columbus Day is widely fading as a national holiday, being replaced with a day honoring Indigenous people, as Columbus himself did not discover America, Indigenous people lived and continue to live here for tens of thousands of years.

Indigenous Peoples' Day is here, thats something that wont change, Tilsen said. Were on the right side of history.

After encountering the Taino people in the Bahamas, Columbus enslaved tribal citizens to bring back to Spain and sell into slavery, and many died on the way. Within 60 years, the Taino population was reduced to only a few hundred.

Indigenous Peoples' Day is meant to celebrate the resilience and history of Native people who Columbus arrival disrupted. However, the effort to switch to Indigenous Peoples' Day isnt without pushback.

I think that its (pushback) always going to be there, whether a week or a decade has passed, theres always going to be people have an issue with that, Lee said. But I think that the focus needs to be on educating people, creating awareness and celebrating.

Now, more than 500 years later, Indigenous people across the country are celebrating a legacy of survival, and bringing attention to issues that continue to affect the community.

At 1 p.m., community members marched from the Memorial Park Bandshell to Main Street Square, some walking to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, boarding schools, and others just to be visible.

At some point, there needs to be a reckoning with the history in this region and nationwide, Lee said. But it doesnt have to be something thats bad, it can be done through bringing people together, through a celebration.

NDN Collective also provided discussions and learning opportunities aimed at helping heal the community and bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together.

To all the allies out there wondering, what can I do? dont wait for Indigenous people to change Columbus Day, thats work that our allies and accomplices can do, Tilsen said. Take responsibility for it.
A local nonprofit won a $10,000 grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and is seeking $10,000 in donations to meet the matching funds grant requirement.

Loads of Dignity Director Stephani Jackson said the grant is foundational for her clients and the community. The nonprofit provides free laundry services to community members who are homeless and low-income.

Its amazing, this is a great opportunity for the Washington Foundation to support our mission to the community, she said. The Washington Foundation awarded us $10,000 but we have to match it. Honestly, its a good idea. It encourages our community to step up and in the end well have even more funding.

Jackson said the matching grant requirement will push the Loads of Dignity nonprofit to hold fundraisers, make more contacts and spread the word.

This will help make more people aware of our services, she said. People like having a goal, they like a challenge. I put it out on our Facebook page and they responded well and said they are excited for us.

Jackson said shes hoping that the excitement leads to donations.

With the matching grant due in March, Loads of Dignity has six months to gather the donations.

Rocky Mountain Grange #116 is hosting a fundraiser that's already on the books. Each month it has Musical Potlucks with a Purpose that serves as a way for community members to connect and raise money for local nonprofits. The night to benefit Loads of Dignity is Nov. 10, at 1436 S. 1st Street. The cost is a $10 suggested donation (kids are free) Beverages are available by donation and attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share. The potluck starts at 6 p.m. and music from Lochwood Bluegrass Band runs from 7 to 10 p.m.

Monday was the first day Loads of Dignity clients used the nonprofit's new location at Fast N Fluffy, 113 Foxfield Street, by Bitter Root Laundry & Cleaners, with the Easi Cleaners at the first location, 115 Pine St., remaining open.

It is beautiful, Jackson said. Most of my guests come in the morning and it offers more space and more machines. It is so much better. A lot of my families use the big machines and now they wont have to wait. Today I have 18 guests coming so this really helps.

She said Ron Eli has owned Bitter Root Laundry & Cleaners and just expanded the facility.

The need for a laundromat is just growing so much, not just Loads of Dignity but the community, Jackson said.

Eli agreed that the expansion was designed to meet the growth needs of the community.

Stephani is a big part of our growth, Eli said. Her Loads of Dignity clients are an integral part of the growth too. Shes building clientele and they can just overwhelm the current laundromat. To accommodate growth we now have more space and more parking.

The Loads of Dignity logo and information will be on site, so clients will know they're in the right place.

Donations can be made by mailing checks to Loads of Dignity, PO Box 809, Hamilton, MT 59840. For more information, visit the website loadsofdignity.com or by calling Jackson at 406-360-7763.
A group of kids listened intently as Dennis Warriner of Florence stood along the banks of the Bitterroot River on Saturday afternoon, explaining how to release a fish after removing it from a hook.

You'll put them in the water, then you want to kind of wave them back and forth, said Warriner as he moved his hands, mimicking the motion. What this does is it helps keep the water going through his gills and refreshes him back up and then he runs away on his own. You don't just grab them and throw them in.

It was just one of the many lessons about recreating in the outdoors that scouts from across western Montana learned about at the 20th annual Bitterroot Rendezvous, Oct. 6-8 at the Rennaker Ranch near Darby.

Nearly 100 Scouts from Kalispell to Belgrade attended the rendezvous, participating in a weekend of events ranging from archery, rope making and blacksmithing to ax throwing, fire building and muzzle loading.

Scoutmasters and parents were on hand to assist and help guide activities as boys and girls ages 9 to 18 pounded hot metal, shot longbows and learned about leather crafts, Indigenous uses for bison, and how mountain men lived.

Nine-year-old Elliot Minckler, of Missoula, said his favorite part was learning how to build a fire without matches, but also getting outdoors with friends.

It's all about having fun and hanging out with friends and doing the activities and learning, he said. So far, learning is probably my best part of it  you can live in the wild and I think it's really fun to live out here.

New to scouting, 11-year-old Jocelyn Vukasin, of Missoula, said she had never been out camping with so many other kids before, but she thinks its really cool.

The things that we have to do, it's not like boring, she said. I used to do a lot of things that were a bunch of lectures and instructions, but this, you just go wherever you want, and you just do it. It's so fun, because you're with all your friends, and especially with new people that you haven't met before. It's just, I think it's awesome.

Organizer and Florence Scoutmaster Billy Andrews was involved in scouting as a young boy, as was his grandfather before him. He got involved with the Scouts in the Bitterroot Valley in 2009 when his grandson joined the local Cub Scouts.

This is the 20th annual Rendezvous, it was started by a scouter named Randy Keith, Andrews said. He was running it for the first 18 years or so. He passed away unexpectedly a couple of years back. When he passed away myself and a guy named Albert  at his memorial, we said we gotta make sure this thing keeps going.

Andrews has taken up the mantle since Keiths passing, and hopes to continue the tradition for years to come.

I just want to make sure this keeps going because the kids love it, he said. This is one of the some of their favorite. Some of them, this is their favorite activity. And the setting is just absolutely beautiful.
Montana received a large federal grant aimed at supporting the state's response to sexual assault investigations and prosecutions.

The Montana Attorney Generals Office announced the $2.1 million allocation last week. The money will go toward re-testing backlogged sexual assault kits to expedite criminal investigations. It will also pour resources into resolving cold cases involving sexual violence, according to a news release from the AGs office.

Three positions will be created or continued within the Montana Department of Justices Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program (SAKI), including a cold case investigator, a crime analyst and a coordinator. Overtime for forensic scientists working at the State Crime Lab and renovation of kit storage for local agencies to preserve the integrity of DNA evidence are also included under the umbrella of funding.

"We will intensify our efforts in solving sexual assault cases and bringing justice to survivors with this new funding, bolstering our Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, employing specialized personnel to investigate crimes, and upgrading evidence storage around the state, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in the news release. Ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and survivors can find healing is a top priority as we work to eliminate the rape kit backlog and reinforce our statewide strategy against sexual assault."

With the wave of federal money, SAKI staff plan to identify kits created before 2001 that were unsubmitted or partially tested and finish testing for kits uncompleted by a previous SAKI project, according to the AGs office. The SAKI team will also help local agencies with evidence storage facilities following the passage of House Bill 640 this year, which requires evidence from sexual assault cases to be preserved for 75 years from the date of collection.

Emily Flower, press secretary for the AGs Office, clarified the backlog is only for unsubmitted and partially tested kits that have been previously identified.

It is not directed at new kits that have been submitted to forensic labs for testing, Flower wrote in an email. As far as new incoming sexual assault kits, the State Crime Lab generally receives kits within 30 days of collection. These kits will take anywhere from one month to seven months to complete based on results obtained in a multi-tiered analysis method. Once an initial screening analysis is completed, kits not containing informative results are completed and those results are reported (approximately 1-2 months).

Kits with informative results are forwarded for DNA analysis, which takes up to seven months.

Additionally, annual testing of DNA samples has more than doubled primarily as the result of an increased focus on previously untested or partially tested sexual assault kits, Flower said.

The cold case investigators position is intended to help cold case backlogs at local law enforcement agencies, the news release stated.

Improved resources also mean better support for survivors of sexual assault, Missoula Police spokesperson Whitney Bennett said. With quicker results from forensic analysis, we can provide victims with more timely information about their cases and offer them the necessary assistance and guidance throughout the process.

In Missoula, city police dont currently have a backlog of sexual assault kits, according to Bennett. Officers retrieve kits from First Step Resource Center, Missoulas clinic housed at Providence St. Patrick Hospital for sexual assault exams. Kits are submitted for testing to either the Montana State Crime Lab or the SAKI group.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners employed at First Step frequently see people reporting sexual violence. The exam findings are often presented as evidence at criminal trials.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed two bills, including HB 640, aimed at bolstering state response to sexual violence investigations following this years legislative session.

House Bill 79, brought by Rep. Amy Regier, funds a new program and committee to uniformly distribute sexual assault examination kits around the state, coordinate training and work to integrate a trauma-informed response into areas where such resources are often inaccessible.

Medical care and forensic evidence exams are often the first step in a sexual assault investigation, Regier, a Kalispell Republican, told the House Judiciary Committee in January.

Sex assault kit backlogs aren't a problem unique to Montana. A 2012 study from the U.S. Office of Justice Programs found untested kits piling up was an issue across the country because of inadequate scientific procedures and resources. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, The overwhelming backlog of DNA evidence is currently one of the biggest obstacles to prosecuting perpetrators of sexual violence.

The Montana DOJ is one of eight national agencies to get the funding from the U.S. DOJs Bureau of Justice Assistance. The project will run through September 2026.




Nava Thakuria





It was a unique literary confluence of authors, translators, art connoisseurs, critics, budding writers and young people, who assembled for Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival 2023 showcasing a series of panel discussions, interactive sessions with authors, a workshop on creative writing, a thematic prize money quiz competition, a multilingual poetry recitation, launching of books and splendid cultural programs at Asom Sahitya Sabha and District Library premises in Guwahati. Organised for the first time by Sankardev Education and Research Foundation (SERF) with the theme In Search of Roots, the three-day festival was a real intellectual & interactive treat for thousands of literary enthusiasts which propagated the rich cultural heritage of the land with a noble initiative to rediscover and redefine the legends of Pragjyotishpur.





The national-level Lit Fest (29 September to 1 October) was launched with lighting of the sacred lamp by the festival organising committee chief Phanindra Kumar Devchoudhury and National Book Trust-India chairman Milind Sudhakar Marathe, who were assisted by cultural personality Robin Kalita, non-resident Assamese writer Devajit Bhuyan, Nature enthusiast Soumyadeep Datta, etc. Padmashree awardee Gorkha writer Lil Bahadur Chetri, Konkani author Bhushan Bhave from Goa, New Delhi-based scholar Anshu Joshi, prominent television news personality Rubika Liyaquat and a large number of distinguished audience including SERF president Ramananda Das, Pragjyotishpur University vice-chancellor Smriti Kumar Sinha with others from various parts of the region graced the inaugural function.





An acclaimed author himself, Devchoudhury in his welcome address emphasised on showcasing the history, culture and languages of eastern Bharat in the right perspective. Expressing anger over the tendency of many highly educated people to undermine the heritage of their own land, Devchoudhury argued that many intellectuals try to define the Indian literature with foreign theories only to cover up the serenity of ancient civilizations. Ms Liyaquat made a strong statement that for her the motherland always comes first before her religion. She insisted on strengthening the roots for each and every Indian who might have changed their way of worshiping or adopting a different culture in the courses of time.





NBT chairperson Marathe, who himself is a versatile writer and critic, insisted on creating purposeful literature for the well being of society in general. He urged the new generation writers to come out of the colonial mindset with extensive study, interaction and resolutions for engaging in the futuristic creative exercises. The inaugural function began with a mantra invoking Shipar Sandhanat, a performance of Saraswati Vandana by teachers & students of Birubari Sankardev Vidya Niketan, a chorus by Tezpur Shilpi Samaj and a Bhoar Taal Nritya by Banalata Baishys Sadhana Shilpi Samaj and it was concluded by a Bharat Bandana performed by Mallika Kandali and her disciples.





The present-day Assam is the central part of the ancient kingdom named Pragjyotishpur (later also known as Kamrup), where its capital was located roughly in the present day Guwahati. The kingdom was spread to Jalpaiguri, Koch Behar, Bhutan hills (including some parts of Nepal), Rangpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Dhaka (now under Bangladesh), Tripura, Khasi & Garo hills, etc. Pragjyotishpur (meaning the eastern part of Jyotishpur) gets its mention in both the great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as in Kalika Puran, Yogini Tantra and Charyapada.





Pragjyotishpur was pronounced by Lord Ram in the critical phase of his struggles after losing his wife Seeta. On the other hand, the powerful king of Pragjyotishpur, Bhagadatta fought along with the Kauravas (against Pandavas) in the battle of Mahabharata. When it came to exist as the Kamrup kingdom, legendary king Kumar Bhaskarvarman used to rule over the land. Bhaskarvarman enjoyed a dignified and mutually respected relationship with emperor Harshavardhan (of Kanauja and Thaneswara) and often sent valuable books as gifts to Harshavardhan. He was a vibrant patroniser of ancient Nalanda University, one of the greatest centres of learning across the globe.





Pragjyotishpur itself was an abode of learning, publications and intellectual exercises as these were the oldest traditions and practices for the residents. Many valuable books were written in this part of the world, where Madhav Kandalis Ramayana in a local language signifies the dimension and intellectual capacity of an author. The society used to promote the learning and redefining of general science, Ayurveda and traditional healthcare, Astrology, craftsmanship and both performing & visual arts. The residents still carry the legacy of ancient Indian culture, developed since the pre- historic days.





Scholarly writer Joshi from Jawaharlal Nehru University, during a conversation with researcher Namrata Pathak, spoke about the fake secularism embrassing love jihad in various higher education centres. Quoting her own novel JNU Mein Ek Ladki Rehti Thi, Joshi described the hypocrisy in the name of Marxism that still exists in the premier institution. Finally she urged the budding writers to learn how to judge the wrong and right contents in their own life and literary creations. Making themselves responsible writers to the society, Joshi hoped that the new generation would use their literary works for the process of nation building. Sahitya Akademi awardee Assamese author Anuradha Sarma Pujari, while talking to writer Nizara Hazarika, enlightened the audience on many pertinent issues.





Panel discussions on Rhetoric of Empowerment: The Study of History in Search of Roots drew the attention of audience, where Ankita Dutta (JNU), Jyotirmoy Pradhani (NEHU), Namita Devi (Barbhag College) and journalist Rupam Barua shared their indepth views under the moderation of Jogesh Kakati. Similarly, JNU professor Joshi, Konkani litterateur Bhave and Assamese historian Robin Sharma delibarted on Exploring Tradition through Literature arguing that some traditions (including the traditional medicinal practices of Bharat) should be redefined for the present day use.





Authors Arindam Sarma, Manika Devi, Lakshi Hazarika, Bhakarjyoti Sarma and Dhiren Sarma spoke about the contemporary Assamese literature enriched with history and tradition in an interesting session moderated by Bibhash Choudhury. Environmentalist turned writer Datta moderated a session on Contemporary Nature Writing, where Bharati Dutta, Pradosh Ranjan Saha, Pankaj Dutta, etc highlighted their experiences. Award winning translator Bipul Deuri moderated a session on Regional Indian Literature: Lost and Found in Translation, where Mitra Phukan, Indrani Laskar and Nil Mohan Roy shared their views.





Acclaimed Assamese film personalities like national award-winning director Manju Bora, acclaimed actress Malaya Goswami, film critic Ankan Rajkumar and film maker Kankan Deka put their views in the session on Assam through the Cinematic Lens, which was moderated by writer Bitopon Borbora. The speakers were unanimous in their views that the regional movies only reflect the real India. They also urged the new age film makers to adopt the transformation of film technology while working in the field. Digitation of all available Assamese (including other movies produced in ethnic languages) celluloid movies becomes need of the hour, asserted the film personalities.





Auniati Satras Satradhikar Pitambar Devgoswami and Rabindranath Tagore Universitys vice-chancellor Amalendu Chakrabarty spoke on Neo Vaishnavism of Bharata and Sankardev, which was moderated by Purandar Barua. They put together views on many unique characteristics of Srimanta Sankardev, the 15th century saint, philosopher and social reformer, along with his prime disciple Shri Madhabdev, who shaped the culture of present day Assam. Distinguished storyteller Atanu Bhattacharyya guided the workshop on creative writing for young students. The quiz competition on Indias history and culture was conducted by Dipankar Koushik. Several promising poets including Modar Jyoti, Dhiman Barman, Sourav Saikia, Induprabha Devi, Joijeet Deka, Ganga Mohan Mili, Hangmiji Hanse, Sanjay Das, etc participated in the multilingual poetry session, which was moderated by Aparajita Pujari.





Veteran litterateur Nahendra Padun and promising writer Nayanjyoti Sarma were conferred with Pragjyotishpur Sahitya Puraskar at the closing ceremony in presence of Samudra Gupta Kashyap (chancellor of Nagaland University) and Sahitya Akademi awardee author -translator Diganta Biswa Sarma. Receiving the award, Padun recalled his literary journey saying that Mising is his mother tongue and Assamese the midwife language. Refusing to be identified as a Mising poet in the society, Padun clarified that he is an Assamese poet (as he writes in Assamese language). He also pointed out that even though ethnic writers of Assam continue creating literature in Assamese language, no mainstream Assamese writers try their hands in any tribal language. Nayanjyoti, who is a practicing physician, commented that the award has inspired him to continue the journey as a writer.





Sarma in his address discussed the eras of literature created in the West and at the same time criticized concept of the post-modern era. He lamented that this kind of western thinking has taken away Indian culture from the Sanatani values. Sarma appreciated that the Lit Fest adopted a pertinent theme, which needed a brain storming discussion in from of a wider audience. Kashyap termed the country as Punyabhoomi Bharat and revealed that when literature was created here, the western countries even did not have written languages. Sudeshna Bhattacharjya (on behalf of SERF) and Bikram Kalita (the festival organising committee secretary) thanked every participant and well wisher of the initiative.





The LitFests become very popular among book lovers, writer-authors, playwrights, music-film appreciators, social thinkers, editor-journalists etc across India, where the regional literary works are often propagated with a great enthusiasm. Now Pragjyotishpur LitFest has proudly joined the list of annual festivals comprising the Jaipur Literary Festival, Kolkata Literary Festival, Bangalore Literature Festival, Kerala Literature Festival, Pune International Literary Festival, Mumbai Queensline LitFest, Nagpur Orange City Literature Festival, Gurgaon Literature Festival, Chandigarh Literature Festival, Dehradun Valley of Words, Kumaon Festival of Literature & Arts, Goa Arts and Literature Festival, Times LitFest, etc.




The number of aggravated assaults tripled to 20 last year at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys main campus, following a trend of increased attacks seen at other colleges, the city of Richmond and the entire state.

Aggravated assaults are attacks that cause severe bodily harm or involve a weapon  all others are considered simple assaults. While still comparatively low, the number of aggravated assaults at VCU reached its highest level in at least nine years.

Its unclear why the number increased. VCU Police linked several assaults to a single suspect, and the figures at each college represent small sample sizes. Perceptions of safety at an urban campus affect VCUs enrollment and play into administrative decisions. The 20 assaults is a miniscule percentage of the total number in the city of Richmond.

The data comes from VCUs crime report, which records all crimes substantiated in the 2022 calendar year. Colleges that receive federal funding are required to publish reports each fall as part of the Clery Act, named for Jeanne Clery, a student who was raped and murdered at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in 1986.

Of the 20 assaults, nine were investigated by VCU Police, and six of them involved an airsoft, pellet or BB gun. One involved pepper spray, one consisted of physical contact and, in one instance, the suspect brandished a firearm. Other police agencies investigated the rest.

VCU Police linked five of the air gun incidents to one suspect during a three-day stretch in April 2022, said Corey Byers, a spokesperson for the department. But the victims declined to prosecute, and the case was dropped.

The Clery report counts all crimes that occur on or near campus, even if they do not involve VCU students, staff or police. Among the nine incidents investigated by VCU, eight of the cases had victims who were affiliated with VCU. None of the suspects was connected with VCU.

Attacks increased at other colleges

Other colleges reported similar increases. At Virginia State University, the number of assaults went from one in 2021 to 11 last year. Randolph-Macon College went from zero to six. At the University of Virginia, the figure more than doubled to 38.

A spokesperson for Randolph-Macon said the six assaults represented only two separate incidents, and one of them did not involve R-MC students or staff.

Representatives for VSU and UVa did not respond to messages seeking comment.

But not all colleges saw upticks. Virginia Tech, the University of Richmond and the College of William & Mary reported no aggravated assaults in 2022.

VCUs rise in aggravated assaults came as attacks increased throughout the city. In Richmond, assaults went up 13% in 2022. In the entire state, they have increased 35% in five years, according to the Virginia State Polices crime database.

Nationally, murder rates spiked in 2020 and 2021 and dropped off in 2022 and 2023, according to the Council on Criminal Justice. But Virginias rise in assaults in 2022 is contrary to national trends, in which 19 cities saw decreases.

One city defying the trend of declining violent crime is Washington, D.C., where murders are surging this year. Law enforcement has blamed illegal guns, a smaller police force and lingering effects of the pandemic, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In Richmond so far this year, aggravated assaults are down 16% compared with last year.

At night, its kind of scary

Bel Belvedere, a VCU senior, said shes more scared of getting hit by a car than she is of being attacked. Two VCU student pedestrians died in separate incidents earlier this year when they were struck by cars.

When she walks near campus at night, shes more conscious of the people around her. West Clay Street, a block north of West Broad Street, is of particular concern. There are fewer street lights, faster cars and more people experiencing homelessness, she said.

At night, its kind of scary, Belvedere said. But in the day, I feel safe.

She appreciates RamSafe, a service that allows students to call for a free ride at any hour of the night.

Summer Doppee, also a VCU senior, said she has visited other cities like Philadelphia and Washington, and Richmond feels safer. She worries about traffic as much as she worries about being attacked.

Other crime statistics might be less surprising. The number of motor vehicle thefts almost doubled to 26, following a national rise in stolen cars after videos surfaced online showing how to steal Kias and Hyundais.

The number of rape, dating violence and stalking cases remained low in 2022.

Lately, fewer underage students are getting in trouble for alcohol. Forty-five students were referred to VCUs judiciary committee for liquor law violations, down from 154 in 2020. The number of liquor law arrests cratered almost 40%.

The legalization of cannabis might be the reason. In 2021, VCU students told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that many of them had switched from alcohol to marijuana.

Marijuanas legalization in 2021 is likely the reason drug abuse arrests and referrals are down, too. Drug abuse arrests dropped more than 70% since 2020, and drug abuse referrals declined almost 40%.

Whether a VCU student is arrested or referred depends on the intervening authority. If a VCU employee determines a violation was committed, the student is referred to the judicial committee. If a police officer discovers a crime, he or she can arrest the student, triggering the criminal justice process.

Police also investigated four hate crimes last year: three based on racial bias and one on sexual orientation bias.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood on Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory as Israel vowed a retaliation for Hamas surprise weekend attack that would reverberate ... for generations.

Aid organizations pleaded for the creation of humanitarian corridors to get aid into Gaza, warning that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war began after Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday, bringing gunbattles to its streets for the first time in decades. More than 1,800 lives have already been claimed on both sides, and perhaps hundreds more. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

The conflict is only expected to escalate. Israel expanded the mobilization of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the countrys media. After days of fighting, Israels military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak Tuesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about coordination with allies to defend Israel and innocent people against terrorism, the White House said.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel. In Gaza and the West Bank, 830 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gaza  a 40 kilometer-long (25 mile-long) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after warplanes bombarded it for hours the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

READ THE FULL STORY, PLUS ADDITIONAL COVERAGE:
Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, is a Virginia politician who speaks with authority about the war that erupted in Israel over the weekend after Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed hundreds of Israelis, most of them civilians.

Helmers grandfather, Mike, came from a Zionist family that had rooted in the British Mandate for Palestine more than a century ago, joined the Haganah paramilitary group and fought in Israels war of independence in 1948. His grandmother, Mary, fled from Poland to Palestine as a stowaway with her sister  the only members of their Jewish family to survive the Holocaust  after World War II began in 1939. His father, Yaron, immigrated to the U.S. from Israel in 1962.

More than anybody else in the General Assembly, this is a conflict I understand really well, said Helmer, who wrote his Rhodes Scholar thesis on Israels 18-year incursion in Lebanon and worked in counterterrorism during 11 years of active duty in the U.S. Army.

In a series of social media posts over the weekend, Helmer made clear his support for Israels unequivocal right to defend itself against terrorist attacks and placed blame for the sudden war squarely on Hamas, which he described as a terrorist group backed by Iran in Gaza.

But he also cautioned against a rush to judgment about the war in U.S. politics, with critical legislative elections looming in Virginia and with the U.S. House of Representatives paralyzed after the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

There are a lot of people trying to score political points without deep understanding, Helmer said in an interview on Monday.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, like Helmer, a Jewish member of the General Assembly, reposted Helmers tweets in support of Israels response to the Hamas attack.

But Surovell quickly came under attack by Virginia Republicans for his own statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that faulted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and raised concerns about turmoil among Republicans in Congress.

The division and distraction created by Netanyahus judicial power grab created an opportunity for these attacks in the same way House Republicans civil war creates opportunities for other countries to take advantage American disorganization, he said.

The office of House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, recirculated the statement and said Surovell, currently vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, seeks to become its leader.

No additional comment is needed, said Garren Shipley, Gilberts spokesperson who sent an email with the statement to Virginia press.

The Republican State Leadership Committee, a national GOP political organization, went further with a statement on Monday that claimed Surovell was blaming U.S. Republicans for the carnage in Israel.

If Democrats like Scott Surovell are using a tragedy to divide our country, how can we trust their judgment to lead in Richmond? a committee spokesperson wrote in an email.

Surovell, in a phone interview on Monday, restated his support for Helmer and his defense of Israel, but stood by his own statement.

I agree 100% with Dan, he said, condemning what he called an unprovoked attack by Hamas. We need to do anything we can to protect Israel.

But Surovell also said Netanyahu has been distracting the country in his effort to satisfy his right-wing coalition with a controversial overhaul of Israels judiciary.

I worry that the situation in Congress likewise leaves America vulnerable to our foreign enemies, he said.

Helmer said he shares concern about the Make America Great Again movement led by former President Donald Trump, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination again next year.

From Eastern Europe to the Middle East, American leadership is needed now more than ever  and MAGA dysfunction is eroding our democracy and our national security, he said in a text message on Monday.

Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, one of eight Republicans who joined with House Democrats to topple McCarthy, rallied behind Israel and Netanyahu in a statement on X on Saturday.

I unequivocally condemn the unprovoked, horrific terrorist attacks against our special friend and ally, Israel, Good said. My prayers are with Israel and @netanyahu today.

He added that he stands with Israel and its right to defend itself. No U.S. taxpayer dollars should be funding terrorist operations.

The Republican Party of Virginia sought to link the Hamas attack to concerns about security at the U.S. southern border with Mexico.

The vile attacks on Israel are an urgent reminder of why we must secure our own borders, the party said in a statement. Every Virginia Democrat in Washington voted to enable Joe Bidens open borders disaster. American national security is at risk.

Despite the political rhetoric on both sides, Virginia politicians of both parties appeared united behind Israel.

There is no worry about U.S. troops on the ground. But there are a lot of things that the U.S. can do to help Israel as an ally, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Monday during an appearance in Richmond to talk about lowering prescription drug prices.

Kaine called on the Senate to confirm Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel and warned about Irans role in the attack.

We need to help them stand up against terrorism from Hamas, but also against external threats, he said. The evidence suggests that this was a Hamas attack, but it was very much fomented by Iran.

Kaine, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, asserted that Iran was trying to destabilize a negotiation between the U.S. and Israel in Saudi Arabia that would have created a security partnership in the region. He said, Iran found that threatening and thats one of the reasons theyve worked with Hamas on this attack.

Helmers initial concern is the safety of his family, which is spread throughout Israel. He has been in contact with his fathers sister, Errela Joel, and her husband.

They are safe but concerned, he said. There already have been five wars (in Israel) in their lifetime. Six is a lot.

Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war
Republican General Assembly candidates dont always stress their abortion stands when wooing swing voters, but Gov. Glenn Youngkins political action committee is spending big money to do just that.

In its bid to flip the Democratic-led state Senate and widen the GOP majority in the House of Delegates, Youngkins Spirit of Virginia PAC is launching a $1.4 million statewide ad campaign to lean into an issue that Democrats have been campaigning fiercely on.

Its an effort to directly counter a central campaign message from Democratic candidates, the PAC says.

The ad accuses Democrats of falsely claiming GOP control of both House and Senate would clear the way for an outright ban on abortions. It also asserts that Democrats dont want any limits on abortion, although Democrats say that misrepresents their position that Virginias current law should stand.

On the campaign trail, Republican candidates at times downplay the abortion issue, saying voters arent telling them that abortion is a major issue in the campaign.

Democrats say it is the top issue they hear about, with fears that Youngkins proposal to bar most abortions after 15 weeks is stalking horse for an outright ban or the still tighter limits some other states have enacted.

I have been really clear  I am supportive of a bill to protect life at 15 weeks when a baby can feel pain, with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. Fifteen weeks. Thats where we are, Youngkin said.

Thats what were going to work for  to protect life at 15 weeks.

A number of Southern states have enacted abortion restrictions or bans since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, sending the issue back to the states.

Abortion looms as a key issue in the fight for control of the legislature. During this years session, Democrats had a four-seat edge in the state Senate and Republicans had a four-seat edge in the House of Delegates. The PACs ads are focused on what it sees as 17 battleground races.

Virginia law allows abortions for the first 26 weeks without limit; in the small number of cases when an abortion is later, it is allowed only when a womans doctor and two other physicians say it is necessary.

State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said, I think most Virginians are offended by the idea of politicians and law enforcement injecting themselves between a woman and her doctor.

Speaking of the new GOP ad, he said: I think it will blow up in their faces. Every poll Ive seen says Virginians dont think the law should be changed.

Youngkin says he thinks the 15-week limit is reasonable because it is the point at which a fetus can feel pain.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says a human fetus does not have the capacity to experience pain until after at least 2425 weeks.

Most Republicans running for the legislature, including some of the most ardent abortion opponents such as Del. Karen Greenhalgh, R-Virginia Beach, generally say 15 weeks is a reasonable compromise.

House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said in an interview: Look, I know everyone in our caucus understands Virginians as a whole do not want a ban. Weve been full-throated and clear that 15 weeks is where we are as public policy.

What were hearing is that Virginians want reasonable limits; were not hearing that the other side has any number for limits.

Surovell said Democrats believe the limits in current law ought to remain.

Whether they admit its a ban or claim theyre just changing the law to take away abortion rights, it means women wont have the rights they have now, said House Minority Leader Don Scott, D-Portsmouth.

We are living in a world where my daughter has less rights than my mother. ... Theyre trying to buy a ban, theyre trying to buy an election, and theyre trying to buy control of Virginia, he said.

The PACs ads will run on broadcast media, cable, streaming services and digital media beginning this week and through Election Day.

The campaign dwarfs what the PAC has spent so far on messaging: $268,000 for placing TV and radio ads and $225,000 for ad production, as well as about $610,900 for digital ads.

Some of the hottest state Senate races have seen bigger ad spending, though. In Loudoun county-anchored 31st district, Republican Juan Pablo Segura has so far booked $1.8 million of broadcast ads, according to Federal Communications Commission and social media data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project. Democrat Russet Perrys spending is $1.35 million.

In Henrico County, state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, has so far spent $1.49 million while her opponent, in District 16, Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, has spent $929,000.

The 17 battleground races that the PAC is targeting with the ads include the Segura-Perry and Dunnavant-VanValkenburg contests.

The others include two state Senate races on the fringes of the Northern Virginia suburbs, a Fredericksburg-area Senate district and three Senate races in Hampton Roads.

House battlegrounds include three Richmond area races: Democrat Susannah Gibson versus Republican David Owen in House District 57; Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico versus Republican Riley Shaia in House District 58 and Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie, versus Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams in House District 82.

(While many GOP candidates back the governors stance, Shaia says she believes the state should allow abortion through the second trimester.)

In addition, the PACs House battlegrounds include two Prince William county districts in Northern Virginia and three in Hampton Roads.

A look at some of the new Virginia laws that started in July UTILITY BILLS NOTICE OF RENT INCREASES AT WORK CRIME FAMILIES DRIVING
More than a thousand migratory birds were killed in a single-building collision in Chicago overnight. Experts believe this was a result of the building's lack of "bird-friendly" features and the fatal mix of migration season and resilient weather.

Annette Prince, director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, told CNN that over 1,000 dead birds were retrieved by the Chicago Field Museum on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, October 4 and 5, after they had crashed into the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, a conference center situated on the coast of Lake Michigan.

Chicago Bird Collision Monitors volunteers found and removed another thousand dead birds from the central business district, according to Prince. She speculated that many more birds had flown away after hitting a structure, only to die from their wounds later. To witness so many dead birds was both overwhelming and terrible, she said.

Deadly Building Collisions

That night, a large number of birds were expected to begin their annual migration to the south for the upcoming winter. The birds had been holding back until they could catch a northerly or westerly breeze to help them on their way. On Wednesday, when the winds were favorable, several migratory birds took off simultaneously.

Foggy and low cloud situations, Prince said, might cause them to mistake lights and structures for one another. The birds were probably flying lower because of the clouds, putting them in closer proximity to the buildings. She said that McCormick Place is one of the first structures the birds see as they fly over Lake Michigan.

Collisions are also more likely to occur at buildings that keep their lights on throughout the night when most birds travel. Like a lighthouse, the lights serve as a major beacon for migrating birds.

Even during the day, she added, birds were still crashing into the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, proving how much big panes of transparent glass can disorient flying species. Birds will attempt to fly through a huge expanse of glass since they will not be able to tell that there is a barrier between them and the building.

See Also: US Study: Climate Change Is Causing Whales, Dolphins to Lose Food, Home

Early Bird Migration

In a September report by the Chicago Tribune, Professor Michael Patrick Ward of the University of Illinois's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences claims that bird migration occurs twice a year, in the spring and autumn. According to Ward, fall migration begins about the middle of August and may go as late as the beginning of November.

The start of this year's bird migration was earlier than usual. He suggested this could be partly attributed to the early-summer wildfires in Canada. Fog may derail birds migrating hundreds of miles from Canada's northern woodlands to South America.

Over 300 bird species migrate along the Mississippi Flyway, which passes through Chicago. Birds feed all day to preserve energy for their nighttime journey. Skyscrapers, however, may be an obstruction.

See Also: Nearly 41% Or Over 2,000 Amphibian Species in Danger of Becoming Extinct, Experts Claim

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Veterans are dying from gun suicides in Virginia as they are across the nation. According to the Defense Suicide Prevention Office, the number of suicides among active-duty military nationwide increased 25% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the same period a year ago, jumping from 75 to 94. In 2019, firearms accounted for 70% of male veteran suicides (up from 69.6% in 2018) and 50% of female veteran suicides (up from 41% in 2018).

We should all be doing as much as we can to prevent these deaths. Yet, Gov. Glenn Youngkin is AWOL.

Gov. Youngkin could be taking an active role in this mission. The 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) has awarded $5 million every year for five years to Virginia from the Department of Justice to promote our states Emergency Substantial Risk Order (ESRO) law. Also called a red flag law, it empowers law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from anyone found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others. It is particularly successful at preventing gun suicide-attempts, which are fatal over 90% of the time. It is also a valuable tool to prevent mass shootings.

The BSCA provides $750 million for temporary firearms removal laws (or other firearms intervention laws), $750 million for mental health care, and $250 million for community-based violence interruption programs to all the states over five years. It also instituted federal penalties for straw purchases and gun trafficking, closed a loophole related to dating and domestic violence, clarified the qualifications for being a firearms dealer, and enhanced background check reviews for gun buyers under 21.

With regard to the funds for temporary firearms removal, the $750 million is available to states for the creation and administration of laws that help ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others, and other purposes such as mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection orders that have sufficient due process, according to the office of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut. With the help of 10 Republican votes in the U.S. Senate, this became the first new gun tragedy prevention federal law in approximately 30 years.

Similar to the see something, say something campaign to identify bombs before they explode, educating the public about Virginias temporary firearms removal law can save lives. Over the past two years, working with Alexandria-based gun violence prevention nonprofit Safer Country, Fairfax County launched the first-in-the-nation model Prevent A Gun Tragedy. SPEAK UP!" public awareness campaign.

The importance of this campaign, and why every community should adopt its own, was highlighted by the recent case of the mass shooting that almost happened at Park Valley Church in Haymarket. About 1,000 people were in the church on Sunday morning, Sept. 24, when the shooter arrived. Fortunately, someone had spotted his threatening posts online that morning and alerted the authorities. The Prince William County police arrived just as church security, who had noticed his black outfit and sunglasses on a rainy day, approached him. Public involvement is essential.

The BSCA federal funds could be used to expand that campaign and save lives. Yet, as the first fiscal year passed on Sept. 30, Virginias governor has yet to accept and plan for how to use the first tranche of funds. Time is running out.

It should be political suicide for a politician not to do everything possible to prevent mass shootings and suicides, especially among the military. Members of the military have volunteered to protect us. Shouldn't we do the same for them? We need to speak up and demand Gov. Youngkin uses these funds to save lives. We are all worth it.

Close In April 1942, about 26,000 Richmond men ages 45 to 64 participated in the countrys fourth Selective Service registration. These men were registering at Ginter Park School. Men in this age range were not subject to military service at that time, but they were being asked about special skills to determine how they could best aid the war effort. 05-14-1946 (cutline): Waiting for the last man--Captain John E. Brior, commanding officer of the Richmond Induction Center, sits in the front row of the seats so mny inductees have waited on, waiting for the last man to be inducted under the Selective Service Act, which will die at midnight unless Congress acts rapidly today. 08-19-1948 (cutline): Colonel Neal on Rostrum outline procedure to draft officials. 07-29-1953 (cutline): The mental test requires concentration. 07-28-1953 (cutline): Service Trip for J.W. Miller, Jr., begins at 900 North Lombardy. 01-05-1955 (cutline): Draft headquarters plans to dispose of all records in these files. Captain Thomas White and Mrs. S. Orville Masten make a preliminary check. 08-12-1953 (cutline): Draft Board clerk Dorothy B. Farrar registers Raymond C. Murphy (seated) Norman Boughman (right) and John Adams, who face a draft call, watch. From the Archives: The draft in Richmond The U.S. government has enacted the draft four times: The Civil War, WWI, WWII and the Cold War. Here is a look back at draftees and draft offices in Richmond. In April 1942, about 26,000 Richmond men ages 45 to 64 participated in the countrys fourth Selective Service registration. These men were registering at Ginter Park School. Men in this age range were not subject to military service at that time, but they were being asked about special skills to determine how they could best aid the war effort. 05-14-1946 (cutline): Waiting for the last man--Captain John E. Brior, commanding officer of the Richmond Induction Center, sits in the front row of the seats so mny inductees have waited on, waiting for the last man to be inducted under the Selective Service Act, which will die at midnight unless Congress acts rapidly today. 08-19-1948 (cutline): Colonel Neal on Rostrum outline procedure to draft officials. 07-29-1953 (cutline): The mental test requires concentration. 07-28-1953 (cutline): Service Trip for J.W. Miller, Jr., begins at 900 North Lombardy. 01-05-1955 (cutline): Draft headquarters plans to dispose of all records in these files. Captain Thomas White and Mrs. S. Orville Masten make a preliminary check. 08-12-1953 (cutline): Draft Board clerk Dorothy B. Farrar registers Raymond C. Murphy (seated) Norman Boughman (right) and John Adams, who face a draft call, watch.
American wanted in California extradited from Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico  An American man wanted in California on charges of sexual abuse has been extradited back to his country. In compliance with the Extradition Treaty signed between Mexico and the United States, the man was handed over to U.S. authorities Monday.

The Attorney Generals Office of the Republic (FGR) of Mexico reported that Carlos G was a fugitive of American nationality required by the Superior Court of the State of California in Sacramento County for the crime of sexual abuse of a minor.

According to their statement, American Carlos G sexually abused a minor who was under his care. After U.S. charges, he fled to Mexico. In June 2022, Carlos G was located and detained in Mexico City at which time U.S. authorities were notified of his capture.

After an extradition request by the U.S., the Government of Mexico granted the extradition. Carlos G was transferred to the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) Monday where he was handed over to U.S. agents.
Busloads of Quintana Roo inmates relocated to other prisons around Mexico

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Five buses were used early Monday to transfer Quintana Roo inmates to other states. Buses of prisoners from Cancun and Playa del Carmen were loaded onto the buses that headed for other states.

A total of 87 inmates were removed from their cells inside the Social Reintegration Centers (Cereso) and transferred onto the buses. The bus loads of Quintana Roo prisoners have since been relocated to other penitentiaries around the country.

According to a report by the Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC), there were 87 inmates transferred, 37 from Benito Juarez (Cancun) and 50 from Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen). Prisoners were moved to strengthen governance and security in the Penitentiary Centers of Quintana Roo, they said.

A total of 87 inmates from Cancun and Playa del Carmen were transferred to federal prisons around the country.

Photo: SSC de QRoo. October 9, 2023.

The move came days after another incident involving state prisons. Last week, a fight inside the Playa del Carmen prison left two dead. The two prisoners died in hospital after being shot while inside the Cereso. One male, a prisoner, was arrested.

In recent weeks, at least two prison guards have been shot dead, one female corrections officer in Cancun and a guard in Playa del Carmen.

After the shooting inside the Playa del Carmen Social Reintegration Center (Cereso), authorities announced the temporary suspension of visitors to all prisons around Quintana Roo until October 15.
Mexico sends planes to repatriate hundreds of nationals from war-torn Israel

Mexico City, Mexico  The Government of Mexico has sent two planes into war-torn Israel to repatriate Mexican nationals. On Monday evening, the Mexican Air Force of the Secretariat of National Defense left the Felipe Angeles International Airport bound for Israel.

Mexicos Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that they will begin the repatriation work of the Mexican men and women who voluntarily wish to leave Israeli territory for Mexico.

General Leobardo Avila Bojorquez of the Secretariat of National Defense headed the first delegation of the first plane that began its flight to Israel Monday, from where nationals who voluntarily wish to return to Mexican territory will be repatriated.

The planes will stop in Ireland en route to Israel to pick up more than 300 Mexican Nationals who have requested a return home.

They were sent on instructions from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Two Mexican Air Force planes began the journey to Tel Aviv, Israel, to transport nationals seeking to leave the country after ongoing violence in the region.

The flights were coordinated by the Secretariats of National Defense (Sedena) and Foreign Relations (SRE).

General Leobardo Avila Bojorquez coordinated the mission. Photo: SRE October 9, 2023.

The Government of Mexico, through its Embassy in Israel and the Representative Office in Palestine, has remained aware of the development of events to respond to queries and calls from Mexican people who live or are visiting Israel and Palestine.

Likewise, through the Embassy of Israel, the Government of Mexico is in contact with the relatives of the two missing Mexican men and the Mexican woman, while communication is maintained with Israeli authorities.

Approximately 5,000 Mexican residents are registered in Israel, two in the Gaza Strip and 35 in the West Bank.
Veracruz prisoner charged with extorting Playa del Carmen business

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  An imprisoned man in the state of Veracruz has been charged with extorting a Playa del Carmen business.

The inmate identified as Oscar N, is currently serving time in a Veracruz prison for a 2020 murder. On Monday, the State Attorney General of Quintana Roo reported that he has been formally charged with extortion of a Playa del Carmen business.

The accused is being held in the Federal Center for Social Rehabilitation (Cefereso) number 5 in Villa Aldana, Veracruz, for the crime of qualified homicide which occurred on October 12, 2020, the FGE reported in their statement.

According to their investigation, armed individuals began to go to the branches of this business chain, leaving notes where they demanded large sums of money to let them work. Given the refusal of those in charge, some of the establishments suffered armed attacks.

Quintana Roo authorities began an investigation into the armed attacks that resulted in the identification of Oscar N as the source of the events who, from Cefereso, planned, ordered and coordinated his subordinates to carry out said actions.

With the support of the Attorney Generals Office of the State of Veracruz, an arrest warrant was issued for him inside the prison. At his hearing, a judge ordered him to remain in prison for an additional two years for his separate trial.

According to the FGE, he could receive up to 37 years in prison for the extortion.
A physicians assistant formerly from Smith Mountain Lake was convicted of murder by a New York jury last week.

Jacob Klein, 42, was found guilty of murdering Philip L. Rabadi in the victims home in New Scotland, located in Albany County. On April 13, 2022, Rabadi was found bound, stabbed and his body mutilated.

Klein, who grew up just outside Albany, was the former girlfriend of Elana Radin. Radin and Rabadi married just seven months before Rabadis murder.

All were physicians assistants.

Radin ended what she called an emotionally abusive relationship with Klein in 2017. Klein is believed to have begun stalking the couple shortly after their marriage on Sept. 10, 2021.

Klein is believed to have left his residence in Wirtz and traveled to Albany on April 10 where he stayed at an Airbnb. Prosecution at the trial said over the next two days Klein drove past the couples home in a rented pickup truck.

On the morning of April 13, 2022, prosecutors said Klein waited for Radin to leave for work. He then forced himself inside the home with Rabadi who was bound and stabbed.

Klein was arrested in Virginia on April 15, 2022, on a felony charge of fleeing justice. Records indicate Klein was held in custody in Virginia before being extradited to New York.

Klein, who represented himself during the trial, claimed he was in the Washington, D.C., area looking at real estate during the time of the murder. The jury found Klein guilty after only two hours of deliberation.

Kleins sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8. He faces 25 years to life in prison.

Information from the Times Union in Albany, New York, is included in this report.
Two pedestrians were killed Monday evening when a vehicle ran off of U.S. 220 in Franklin County, Virginia State Police reported.

Matthew Paul Sink, 40, and Melinda Lynn Headrick, 43, both of Roanoke, died at the scene of the collision, police said in a news release Tuesday morning.

The crash occurred shortly after 7:50 p.m. Monday on the Route 220, or Virgil H. Goode Highway, just south of its intersection with Willow Creek Road, or Virginia 1036, according to the release.

A 2001 Ford F-150 was traveling south on the highway when it ran off the left side of the road and into the median, where it struck Sink and Headrick, according to the release.

The vehicle crash is the second, at least, to occur in the Willow Creek Road area of the state route in the last two weeks. On Sept. 25, a logging truck overturned and blocked all southbound lanes.
Virginia Tech will use more than $57 million to sow seeds of climate-smart agriculture across four states, and those practices could flourish nationwide.

An estimated 4,500 growers and up to 500,000 acres will benefit in Virginia, Arkansas, Minnesota and North Dakota, according to a Virginia Tech news release.

The announcement Monday provided details how Virginia Tech will utilize a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, awarded last year and billed as the largest grant receipt in university history.

The $80 million grant  will pilot a program that pays producers to implement climate-smart practices on farms of all sizes and commodities, Mondays announcement said. An initiative that could have significant impacts on curbing climate-changing gasses.

With a newly launched Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture led by Virginia Tech, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will distribute the more than $57 million from the grant to farmers, according to the release.

Other grant funds will pay for the actual piloting of the program, for example, on the research side.

More than 20 state and national organizations will help to implement the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture, the release states. Unlike previous cost-sharing programs that shared some of the financial burdens of adopting climate-smart practices on producers, this program pays producers more than the cost of implementation.

Crop and livestock practices, from cover crops to manure management, are examples of activities in the program.

Its a watershed program that will help agriculture as an industry lead in addressing climate change, said Tom Thompson, associate dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.

Farmers have always been the great stewards of our land, and American agriculture has always been a productivity powerhouse, Thompson said. This pilot program will help them continue to do so for generations to come.

Funding climate-smart agriculture, for example in animal feeding operations, aims to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, while also improving growers bottom lines by reducing expenses and boosting productivity as the global population grows toward 9.7 billion people by 2050.

A three-year pilot program will test the feasibility of rolling out a similar program on a national scale, the release states. If scaled up nationally, the program could help producers reduce agricultural emissions by 55 percent and total emissions in the United States by 8 percent after 10 years.

While only about 3% of producers participate in carbon reduction programs today, the program scaled nationwide could see up to 80% participation, the release said.

The pilot concept comes from a partner nonprofit called Rural Investment to Protect our Environment, or RIPE, according to the release. Theres also a diversity component.

At least 40 percent of participants will be underserved and small producers, reaching at least 1,900 operations, the release states. A minimum of 500 operations with socially disadvantaged or limited resource producers will participate in the pilot project.

Interested producers can go online to learn more at www.allianceforcsa.org.
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You may be surprised that there are some Hamas supporters in the U.K. This behavior of some residents in the United Kindom is heavily criticized by many ministers, especially Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Because of this, the U.K. leader warned them, saying that if they continue supporting the terrorist group, they will be held to account.

Hamas Supporters in UK Receive Warning From PM Rishi Sunak

According to The Guardian's latest report, Rishi Sunak is prepared to provide any support to all British citizens who are affected by the Israel-Gaza war.

He said this during his visit to Staffordshire on Tuesday, Oct. 10. The prime minister told U.K. residents that he strongly supports Israel in the ongoing conflict with Gaza.

Aside from this, he promised that he would ensure that all his people would feel safe during the barbaric acts of terrorism. Sunak confirmed that police officials were already given clear guidance and advice on how they can keep the community safe.

On the other hand, the U.K. prime minister condemned those who support Hamas, saying that law enforcement officers will clamp down on any act that "falls foul of the law."

"People should not be supporting Hamas and we will make sure that we hold people to account if they are," said the British leader.

Previously, U.K. officials confirmed that some Britons were caught up in the violence in Israel and Gaza. However, the exact number of victims has not yet been identified.

Because of this, Sunak wants to reassure their families that the U.K. government is doing its best to protect Britons suffering in Israel and Gaza.

"I want to reassure them we're doing everything we can, working very closely with the Israeli authorities to establish what is happening on the ground, provide support to people where it's needed," said Rishi Sunak.

Read Also: British-Israeli Soldier Killed in Palestinian Attacks, His Family Says

Other UK Ministers Condemn British Hamas Supporters

Independent UK reported that other British ministers also condemned Hamas supporters in the United Kingdom.

They shared their statements after many British Hamas supporters were spotted glorifying acts of terrorism.

For example, Manchester Friends of Palestine President Dana Abuqamar said that they are full of pride after the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel.

During her recent interview, the Hamas supporter stated that they were proud that Palestinian resistance "has come to this point."

When U.K. shadowing policy minister Chris Philp learned about the statement of Abuqamar, he was really disappointed. The British official said that he was appalled to see people hold such "repugnant views."

Related Article: Sunak Fails To Provide WhatsApp Messages to COVID Inquiry, Prompting Criticism from Opposition

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Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
Platinum is mined mainly in South Africa but is also sourced in Russia, Zimbabwe, the United States and Canada. Platinum mining involves several common types of mining methods, each suited to different geological conditions and deposit types.

Underground Mining

There are a few types of undergrounding mining methods. In shaft mining, vertical shafts are excavated to access deep ore bodies. Miners use elevators and hoists to transport workers and materials to the underground mine.

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In decline or adit mining, horizontal tunnels, known as declines or adits, are driven into the ore body from the side of a hill or mountain, allowing access to underground deposits without the need for a vertical shaft.

And finally, room and pillar mining is a method in which the ore body is divided into chambers or rooms, leaving pillars of ore to support the roof. This method is suitable for deposits with stable rock conditions.

Open-pit Mining

For this type of mining, large, deep pits are excavated to access ore bodies near the surface. This method is used for shallow deposits and can result in significant environmental disturbances due to the excavation of large areas.

Open-pit mining, while effective for shallow platinum deposits, can result in significant environmental disturbances due to the excavation of large areas, making it a less favored method in many mining operations today.

Alluvial Mining

Alluvial mining is the extraction of valuable minerals from sedimentary deposits, typically found in riverbeds, floodplains or areas where water has transported eroded materials.

It begins with natural erosion, where geological forces dislodge minerals from their sources. Water carries these materials, depositing them when its velocity decreases. Miners manually or mechanically extract these sediments, concentrating on valuable minerals like gold, diamonds or platinum.

Techniques such as panning and gravity separation are used to separate valuable minerals from less valuable components. After concentration, further processing, including refining or smelting, occurs to obtain the final product.

This method is often used for easily transportable minerals and varies based on the target mineral and scale of mining.

Heap Leaching

This process is used to extract valuable metals, often from low-grade ores. In this method, the ore is crushed and stacked into heaps or piles. Then, a leaching solution, typically containing chemicals like cyanide, is applied to the ore heap. Over time, the solution percolates through the heap, dissolving the target metals.

The dissolved metals are then collected and further processed to extract the desired metal, while the remaining waste material is typically disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Heap leach mining is a cost-effective technique for certain types of ore bodies.

In-situ Recovery (ISR)

In-situ recovery (ISR), also known as in-situ leaching or solution mining, is a mining method used for extracting valuable minerals from ore bodies without physically removing the ore. Instead, a leaching solution is injected directly into the ore deposit underground.

This solution dissolves the target minerals, and the resulting pregnant solution is pumped to the surface for processing. ISR is considered environmentally friendly because it minimizes surface disturbance and waste generation, making it a preferred method for certain types of deposits.
People on both sides of this "inner monologue" divide have a hard time imagining another way of being  to the point that it sort of freaked everyone out during an online debate that went viral in February 2020.

Russell Hurlburt is a psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For decades, he's been doing experiments on people's inner experiences, their thoughts, feelings and sensations. Regarding the viral kerfuffle over the inner speech haves and have nots, he chuckles a bit and says he frequently hears people claim that they have an ever-present inner monologue  but his experiments show that this is not always true.

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But rather than argue with them, he says, "Well, let's find out."

The Beeper Study

His quest to understand internal experiences kicked off decades ago. As a graduate student in the early '70s, he began wondering how scientists could investigate subjects' pristine inner experiences  or experiences that are in your present consciousness, before your brain has tried to make sense of them or assigned them some sort of interpretation.

"The object of my research is not to explore inner speech or inner monologue or whatever you want to call it, but to explore your experience as it actually is," says Hurlburt.

For the test, Hurlburt, who has an engineering background, designed and patented a device that beeped at irregular intervals. Each time the beeper went off, he asked subjects (students, in this case) to make notes about their experiences in that moment.

The students were instructed to try and clarify what was happening in their minds whenever the device emitted a beep  but the beeper only went off a few times. This cadence was intentional so that the research subjects would forget that they had them (and thus, not contaminate their thinking processes with thoughts about the experiment).

Descriptive Experience Sampling

Later, researchers asked the students questions to better understand how they were thinking when the beepers sounded. Were they visualizing something? Experiencing a tactile sensation? Feeling an emotion? This line of inquiry is called Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES).

He says one key takeaway was that, "You can't expect a good answer on the first day." Essentially, it takes a day or two of DES training before people find ways to focus on and express what they're experiencing in a given moment.

In his research, he found that most subjects struggled to articulate the way they were talking to themselves. When he asked them for the specific words or sentences, many came up blank. "And in the course of doing that, you and I together, I guess you would say, we decide, 'Well, I thought I had inner speech, but I really don't.'"

Hurlburt's study found that subjects talked to themselves inwardly about 26 percent of the time they were sampled. Many never experienced inner speech while others had it 75 percent of the time (the median percentage was 20 percent.)

Hurlburt has worked with other researchers, like Charles Fernyhough, to use DES questioning while subjects were inside MRI scanners. In a 2018 study of just five subjects, the scanner showed that the area of the brain associated with certain topics lit up when subjects said they were thinking about those things, providing a physical link to the abstractions of thoughts themselves.

Still, scientists are grappling with a lot of uncertainty.
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Visitors walk along the Marina Barrage water catchment area in Singapore on March 19, 2009. Photographer: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images (Photographer: Roslan Rahman/AFP/)

By Sheryl Tian Tong Lee, Selina Xu and Isabel Kua

(Bloomberg Markets)  During a half-century of independence, Singapore has fought to expand its territory, inch by hard-won inch. On the tip of the Malaysian peninsula, the island city-state piled up sand to expand its coastline and reclaim land from the sea.

In that time, Singapore has grown by one-quarter, adding landmass more than twice the size of Manhattan. At 284 square miles, Singapore is now approaching the size of all five boroughs of New York City. It plans to grow an additional 4% by 2030. Its a striking accomplishment, given that many other coasts are receding because of rising sea levels, a result of climate change.

We are not planning to lose any inch of land permanently, says Ho Chai Teck, a deputy director at PUB, the government agency coordinating the effort to save the nations shores. Singapore will build a continuous line of defense along our entire coast. This is something that we take very seriously.

Roughly one-third of Singapore is less than 16 feet above sea level, low enough for flooding to cause punishing financial losses. Some of its most prized property sits on vulnerable land: the skyscrapers overlooking the Marina Bay waterfront, known for its luxury mall and casino, and the towers that house giant banks such as Singapore-based DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Southeast Asias largest, and UK-based Standard Chartered Plc.

Assuming 1.5C of warming, prime real estate in the city worth S$70 billion ($50 billion) faces a high risk of flooding, according to Bloomberg estimates using data from real estate company CBRE Group Inc. Another endangered, and vital, part of the country is Jurong Island, where Shell Plc and Exxon Mobil Corp. have oil and petrochemical operations.

Youve got small island nations, but they dont have this much economic wealth, says Benjamin Horton, a professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore who studies sea-level change. The actual value of every square meter in Singapore is off the charts. This is a country more susceptible to sea-level rise than virtually any country in the world.

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In 2019, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore would need to spend S$100 billion over the next 100 years to protect against rising sea levels. The government has since put S$5 billion toward a coastal and flood protection fund. Both the Singapore Armed Forces and climate change defenses are existential, he said then. These are life-and-death matters. Everything else must bend at the knee to safeguard the existence of our island nation.

A days bike ride along Singapores coastal paths will take you past glittering skyscrapers and scenic dams, beaches and mangrove swampsdiverse scenes that make clear how the country must carefully tailor its approach. What Singapore does will be keenly watched by other populous coastal cities such as Bangkok, Miami, New York and Shanghai.

Fortifying the City

On a recent weekday, tourists and locals fly kites on a towering structure with dazzling views of Singapores skyline. But what theyre standing on is much more than an attraction. Its a S$226 million dam called the Marina Barrage. Inside, seven giant pumps drain excess water into the sea during high tide and extreme rainfall. Currently, some kind of human-made barrier protects 70% of Singapores coastline. But the city-state will have to reinforce and improve those shields as tropical storms increase and sea levels rise.

The Hydroinformatics Institute and National University of Singapore are working with PUB to build a computer model simulating the combined effects of sea-level rise and rainfall on the countrys coastlines. When completed in 2025, it will help assess which areas are most vulnerable, based on the predicted depth and duration of floods. We have to look at this in a very dynamic way, Grace Fu, minister for sustainability and the environment, said at a September event launching a new coast and flood protection institute. Protecting us too much, you waste a lot of resources. If you build the coastal protection solution too low, then you will find that, several generations later, youll need to enhance it.

Government authorities are already considering storm surge barriers on Singapores waterways. The barriers would generally be open, so ships can travel to their destinations. But during a big storm, they would close, encircling the citys industrial areas. Other possible measures: raising the height of current coastal reservoir dikes; tide gates, which block water; and more embankments, typically raised piles of earth. Singapore is also building a huge additional terminal at its airport on higher ground, 18 feet above average sea level. More than 6 miles of drainage are planned to keep runways clear of water.

Businesses are getting into the act, too. Real estate company City Developments Ltd. has built barriers and water-level sensors at the St. Regis Singapore hotel, Palais Renaissance shopping mall and Republic Plaza skyscraper. In the business district, Frasers Propertys 38-story tower has added floodgates. More still needs to be done, says David Fogarty, CBREs head of ESG consulting services for Singapore and Southeast Asia. Companies are thinking about rising sea levels, but they arent acting fast enough.

Enlisting Nature

At the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the roots of mangrove trees have all kinds of configurations. They can look like a pencil, a bent knee or a stilt. The tropical trees flourish in salty tidal waters. Their thick aboveground roots and trunks break waves and trap sedimentforming a natural barrier to rising seas.

To protect shorelines properly, mangrove forests should sprawl for hundreds of yards. In neighboring Indonesia, they can even stretch for miles. In Singapore, mangroves can reduce storm wave heights by more than 75%. Mangrove forests also soak up to four times as much carbon as rainforests.

But mangroves alone arent enough. Singapore is studying whether it can combine the trees with other barriers, called revetments, often made of stone or concrete. Experiments involving combined mangrove-rock revetments are underway at Kranji Coastal Nature Park, near the wetland reserve, and Pulau Hantu, an island off the southern coast.

Singapores existing sea walls and revetments limit one possible solution, encouraging the growth of more mangrove habitat, says Daisuke Taira, a mangrove researcher at the National University of Singapores Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions. The country should preserve the current habitat of tropical trees, and their protective roots, researchers say. But it will likely have to rely more on barriers and other feats of engineering. When it comes to cultivating mangroves to keep the seas at bay, Taira says, Singapore is one of the most challenging places.

Borrowing From the Dutch

On Pulau Tekong, an island northeast of Singapore, giant machinery whirs and clanks as workers stabilize soil and lay out a network of intricately designed drains and pumps. The equipment collects and channels rainwater into a pond. Excess can then be pumped into the ocean. This system, along with sea walls, enables Singapore to do something extraordinary: reclaim land thats below sea level.

Singapore is taking a page from the Netherlands, a third of which is below sea level. The Dutch built sea walls beyond their coastline, creating new tracts of land they call polders. A bean-shaped plot of land on Pulau Tekong is the first polder in Singapore. At 3 square miles, it will add 1% to Singapores landmass once its completed at the end of 2024 and will be used for military training.

Polders use less sand than the kind of reclamation Singapore has used in the past. Thats a huge advantage because its one of the worlds biggest importers of sand, which is expensive.

Singapore is adapting Dutch methods to the tropics. Its corner of the Pacific is calmer than the North Atlantic, so sea walls dont need to be as high as in the Netherlands, according to JanJaap Brinkman, a director at Dutch water research institute Deltares, which is advising Singapore.

Still, Singapore has more intense rain, so its ponds, drainage canals and pumps are designed to cope with more water. Brinkman says the government is learning on its own and starting relatively small on Pulau Tekong: Singapore wants to see if the technology is safe, and ensure everything is working well, before it takes the next step.

Lee, Xu and Kua reported this story from Bloombergs Singapore bureau.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Highly endangered Raffles Banded Langur population in Singapore to rise to 244 by 2071 (Photos: Dr Andie Ang)

SINGAPORE - The critically endangered Raffles Banded Langur, once thought to be on the brink of extinction in Singapore, is now projected to have a population of around 244 by 2071.

This contradicts earlier research conducted in the 1990s, which had indicated a high likelihood of extinction for the species within 40 years due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

The new projections, based on model calculations by researchers from Singapore and the Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom, show the population of the endangered monkeys is projected to double, from 75 to over 150, in the next 15 years.

The findings emerged in a recent paper published in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology in September, a joint media release on Tuesday (10 October) by Mandai Nature and Oxford Brookes University said.

Loss of unprotected habitat is greatest threat presently

Based on results from an ecological software, the research team found that the "greatest current threat" to the Raffles Banded Langur population in Singapore is the "loss of unprotected habitat".

To effectively manage its population size, forest fragments, in which the langurs live in, must be better connected, the team said.

Despite positive study results, the researchers also warned that a slight increase in deaths could lead to a reduction in population size within the next 50 years.

Langurs vulnerable to road accidents, diseases and extreme weather

While the research paper projects that the Raffles Banded Langur population is likely to continue growing in the next 50 years, the species remains vulnerable to deaths from roadkill and unpredictable events, such as diseases and extreme weather, said Amy Woolloff, the papers lead author.

Road accidents occur when the langurs attempt to cross busy roads between forested areas, Woolloff said.

From 2017 and 2023, four Raffles Banded Langurs  roughly five per cent of the total population in Singapore  died from road vehicle collisions.

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For the species to survive in Singapore, Woolloff said, more suitable habitats for the langurs must be identified, with improved habitat connectivity to prevent road crossing deaths.

Increasing the genetic diversity within the population, via conservation translocation, also has to be conducted, Woolloff added.

According to the National Parks Board of Singapore's (NParks) conservation group director, Lim Liang Jim, the Raffles Banded Langur population hit a low of 10 individuals in the 1980s.

Lim said NParks implemented a range of enhancement measures to safeguard and improve key habitats of the Raffles Banded Langur in Singapore, such as reforestation and enrichment plantings.

For example, Nparks has planted certain food plant species in Thomson Nature Park, as well as trees with spreading canopies that enhance canopy linkages.

It has also installed rope bridges along Old Upper Thomson Road, which help separate the nature park from the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, and further help the langurs move safely.

According to Lim, NParks had worked closely with the Raffles Banded Langur Working Group to locate where the langurs habitually cross, and place the rope bridges appropriately.

The Raffles Banded Langur Working Group was formed in 2016 to help conserve the species. It involves NParks, academics from local universities, and nature groups from various organisations and agencies in Singapore and Malaysia.

"We will continue to work with the community to come up with strategies to strengthen the survival of our native langurs and other wildlife," said Lim.

One of the most threatened primate species globally

Named after Sir Stamford Raffles, who had first recorded the species in 1822, the Raffles' Banded Langur is characterised by its black fur and white bands on the chest and inner legs. It lives in trees, and feeds primarily on leaves and other plant parts.

Besides Singapore, it can also be found in the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and is one of the rarest and most threatened primate species globally. However, the recovery in the Singapore population is a positive sign.

With the right protection and management measures in place, we can bring a species back from the brink of extinction," said primatologist Dr Andie Ang, chairperson of the Raffles Banded Langur Working Group.

While the progress on protecting the species is "inspiring", Ang said that there is still "much to be accomplished" in preserving the Raffles' Banded Langur and Singapores natural heritage, such as the protection of remaining habitats.

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Palestinians inspect the damage in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 10, 2023. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) (REUTERS)

SINGAPORE  Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued a pressing travel advisory on Tuesday (10 October), urging all Singaporeans in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to leave the region as soon as possible via available commercial options.

This advisory was issued in light of the escalating tensions in the region, where safety concerns have taken centre stage since Sunday, when Israel began military retaliation against Hamas in response to unprecedented attacks initiated by the Palestinian militant group which resulted in thousands of deaths.

Israel also maintained its bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza on Tuesday, despite threats from the militant group to execute some of the hostages it had abducted whenever Israeli air strikes target Palestinian homes without warning.

Evacuation advisory for Singaporeans in Israel and the Palestinian Territories

As indicated in the MFA's previous travel advisory on Sunday, Singaporeans were already advised to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel's borders with the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria. Furthermore, non-essential travel to Israel was strongly discouraged in light of the ongoing conflict.

In the wake of the latest developments, the MFA has escalated its travel advice, calling upon Singaporean citizens to prioritise their safety and evacuate Israel at their earliest convenience.

"Those who wish to remain in Israel are advised to remain vigilant, monitor local developments closely, and avoid areas known for public disturbances or where large crowds congregate, especially in the Old City and East Jerusalem including Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount," the ministry added.

Additional recommendations include purchasing comprehensive travel and medical insurance to ensure personal safety.

Emergency contact and eRegistration for Singaporeans abroad

Singaporeans have also been strongly encouraged to eRegister with MFA to facilitate contact in emergencies. Staying connected with family and friends is advised to keep them informed about their safety status, according to the Ministry.

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In case of emergencies or the need for consular assistance, Singaporeans in Israel or the Palestinian Territories may contact the Singapore Embassy in Tel Aviv or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office, which operates 24 hours a day. The contact information for both offices is provided below:

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Israel (Tel Aviv)

Address: 28 HaArbaa Street, South Tower (19th floor), Tel Aviv 6473926, Israel

Tel: +972-3-7289334

Fax: +972-3-7289340

Email: singemb_tlv@mfa.sg

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hours)

Tel: +65-63798800/8855

Fax: +65-64767302

Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg

Israeli soldiers inspect burnt cars that are abandoned in a carpark near where a festival was held before an attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza that left at least 260 people dead, by Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) (REUTERS)

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Donald Trump has said that the incredible attacks on Israel by Hamas wouldnt have happened if he had been president.

During a campaign speech in New Hampshire on Monday, Mr Trump said: What happened yesterday was incredible ... so many people killed ... the number was much bigger than they reported even this morning. It's a very big number, very, very big number.

The former president went on to call it a vicious attack and noted that young children were just slaughtered.

It's terrible what's going on, he added.

Mr Trump then quickly segued into a reading of the song The Snake by Al Wilson.

This is The Snake and people love it and Ill do it if people want to hear it, some people have heard it, some people haven't. But we'll do it right?

Reading the lyrics from a sheet, he quoted: On our way to work one morning, down the path along the lake, a tender-hearted woman saw a poor, half-frozen snake.

Trump on horrific attacks on Israel: Yesterday was incredible. pic.twitter.com/vHxnp22SWl  Acyn (@Acyn) October 9, 2023

More than 1,000 people have now been killed in Israel, and at least 765 people have been killed in Gaza following the beginning of the attack by Hamas on Saturday. Israel is now hitting Gaza with heavy airstrikes, so far displacing more than 100,000 people.

The Israeli military has said that Gaza is facing a complete siege. Israels ambassador to the United Nations told CNN that the goal is to obliterate Hamas terrorist capabilities.

Hamas has threatened to kill civilian hostages and to broadcast the executions if Gaza is hit by airstrikes without advance warning. Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the network that the number of hostages is estimated to be between 100 and 150. Hamas claims that officers from the Israeli army are among the captives.

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Meanwhile, a former US general pushed back on Republicans blaming President Joe Biden for the attacks, arguing he hasnt sufficiently supported Israel. Retired army general Mark Hertling reminded the GOP that Mr Trump allegedly told the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and the then-Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, that Israel had hacked ISIS computers to get ahold of information about plans to set off bombs in the West in a 2017 meeting at the White House.

A Russian foreign ministry photo showing Donald Trump with Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during their meeting in the White House in May 2017 (EPA)

Mr Trump has been heavily criticised for allegedly sharing classified information with Russia, an ally of Iran, which is a major supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah, another anti-Isreal group in Lebanon, which, like Hamas, has been labelled as a terror organisation.

Republicans have slammed Mr Biden for unfreezing $6bn of Iranian funds strictly to be used for humanitarian efforts, but which the GOP has claimed have allowed Iran to fund Hamas and the attack on Israel. Part of the deal was the release of five US citizens being held in Iran.

Conservatives have argued that the unfrozen assets are fungible  meaning that the funds could allow Iran to reallocate other assets towards non-humanitarian schemes.

For all those focused on fungible perhaps this is something to be considered, Gen Hertling wrote, linking to a post by the liberal political action committee Meidas Touch.

FLASHBACK: Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Russia - and admitted to it. Israeli intelligence feared it would end up in the hands of Iran, the PAC wrote on Sunday.
Empowering Minds and Hearts: From the mental health film festival to caregiver support and women's mental health initiatives (PHOTO: Getty Images) (Getty Images/500px)

SINGAPORE  As November unfolds, a series of mental health events will be offering platforms for community involvement, deeper understanding, and personal development.

Explore a range of events, from the Mental Health Film Festival to initiatives that support caregivers and women's mental health. Here's a glimpse of what's in store:

1. 4th Mental Health Film Festival Singapore: Present, Continuous

The 4th Mental Health Film Festival, held from Saturday (4 November) to 12 November, invites attendees to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Titled "Present, Continuous", this year's festival will take place at Leisure Park Kallang and The Projector, featuring a selection of 27 films from both local and international origins.

These films delve into the intricate facets of mental health and are supported by 20 organisations, including the National Youth Council, Mindset and Jardines.

Twenty of the films to be screened during the event are winners of the Short Film Youth Competition, challenging local youths to create films encompassing themes like coping through creative expressions, resilience and recovery, suicide prevention and workplace mental health.

2. National CAREConference

If you're eager to explore comprehensive support for caregivers and their loved ones, the National CAREConference on 8 November is the event.

The event is jointly organised by the Agency for Integrated Care (Singapore), CaringSG, National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and SG Enable.

Local and international speakers, including Tim Lee, CEO of Caregivers Alliance Limited, and Professor Allison Williams, Professor & Science Research Chair at McMaster University, will address a range of topics.

These topics encompass a family-centric approach to caregiving, understanding a caregiver's identity, and the future of caregiving.

The CAREConference will take place on 8 November, from 8.30am to 1pm virtually. Registration cost is $50 per person, and sign-ups will close on 7 November.

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3. Understanding and Fostering Mental Health Literacy

In the modern landscape of education, the cultivation of mental health literacy has emerged as a pivotal and pressing concern.

Held on 9 November at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, a workshop titled "Understanding and Fostering Mental Health Literacy" promises to be a transformative experience.

The session will delve into the crucial role of mental health literacy, and the collaborative efforts required between parents and educational institutions to foster it.

Notable speakers include Christina Yuen, Zoala's partner success manager, and Xin Xuan, a counsellor and behaviour therapist representing wwyd.

Seats for this enlightening workshop are limited, urging interested individuals to secure their spot.

4. Mental Wellness for Women: Your Mind Matters!

In a cultural shift, discussions surrounding mental health that were once considered taboo are now taking centre stage. Today's fast-paced and demanding lifestyles - characterised by the intricate balancing act of work, family, and daily challenges - have brought issues of mental well-being into sharp focus.

Acknowledging the unique pressures and stressors faced by women, the PAP Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru Women's Wing is organising a session on mental wellness.

The event offers a unique platform for open and candid discussions on mental health, and features guest speakers Indranee Rajah, Minister for the Prime Minister's Office, and Jessie Chong, psychotherapist and acting head of SAMH Mindset Learning Hub.

Here, the aim is to create an environment where stigma and judgment find no footing. This session is all-encompassing, extending its welcome to anyone dealing with stress or seeking to enhance their understanding of this crucial topic.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, 25 November, at 3.30pm, when the event will take place at O'Happi Place at 5 Everton Park.

The link between mental health and overall well-being



1. What is mental health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being that empowers individuals to effectively manage life's challenges, fulfil their potential, excel in learning and work, and actively contribute to their communities.

It represents a fundamental aspect of overall health and well-being, serving as the foundation for our capacity to make decisions, establish meaningful relationships, and shape the environment in which we live.

As stated by WHO, mental health is not only a basic human right but also a pivotal role in personal growth, community progress, and socio-economic development.

2. Why is mental health and wellness important?

It's crucial because it significantly affects our overall quality of life. Experts said that conditions like anxiety, stress, and depression do not just impact your mental state; they can also harm your physical health, potentially increasing your risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke.

As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is not only a fundamental human right but also plays a pivotal role in personal growth, community progress, and socio-economic development. (PHOTO: Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Do you have an event related to mental wellness that you'd like to share with our readers? We're always on the lookout for meaningful initiatives and services to support and empower individuals facing mental health challenges. Whether it's a talk, exhibition, workshop, or any other event, we'd love to hear about it! Email us at sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

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Claudia Goldin wins 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics

Xinhua) 10:04, October 10, 2023

A portrait of Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences 2023 Claudia Goldin is shown on a screen during the prize announcement at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Wei Xuechao/Xinhua)

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Monday decided to award the 2023 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, in memory of Alfred Nobel, to Claudia Goldin, "for having advanced our understanding of women's labour market outcomes."

Goldin's work has provided the first comprehensive account of women's earnings and labour market participation through the centuries, the jury noted.

"Her research reveals the causes of change, as well as the main sources of the remaining gender gap," the academy said in a statement.

Women are vastly underrepresented in the global labour market and, when they work, they earn less than men, said the statement, adding that, based on "200 years of data from the U.S.," Goldin has demonstrated "how and why gender differences in earnings and employment rates have changed over time."

Female participation in the labour market "forms a U-shaped curve" over this entire period, and the participation of married women decreased with the transition from an agrarian to an industrial society in the early 19th century, but then started to increase with the growth of the service sector in the early 20th century, her researches have shown.

Goldin explained this pattern as the result of structural change and evolving social norms regarding women's responsibilities for home and family, said the statement.

"Understanding women's role in the labour is important for society. Thanks to Claudia Goldin's groundbreaking research we now know much more about the underlying factors and which barriers may need to be addressed in the future," Jakob Svensson, chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences, said in the statement.

The telephone interview on site was unsuccessful, but Hans Ellegren, secretary general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, said that he was able to reach Goldin before the announcement, and that Goldin's reaction to receiving the prize was "surprised and very, very glad."

Goldin was born in 1946 in New York. She got her PhD in 1972 from the University of Chicago and is now professor at Harvard University.

The prize comes with 11 million Swedish Krona (1 million U.S. dollars).

The announcement of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences is held at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Wei Xuechao/Xinhua)

Randi Hjalmarsson, member of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences, explains the achievements made by the 2023 Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences during the prize announcement at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Wei Xuechao/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
An inquiry against members of the Islamist organization Hamas has been opened in Germany in connection with murders and the abduction of hostages. This was announced on Tuesday, October 10, by a representative for the federal public prosecutor.

Hamas carried out an offensive over the weekend that saw its members rushing into Israeli cities. This attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people and the kidnapping of dozens more.

Hamas, an organization that advocates for the destruction of Israel, claims that their strike was justifiable because of the situation of Gaza, which has been subjected to a siege for the last 16 years, as well as the bloodiest Israeli crackdown in years in the occupied West Bank.

German Prosecutors Launch Probe

According to Reuters, prosecutors in Germany are required by law to examine allegations of criminal activity that may have occurred outside of the country if the accusations implicate German residents.

On Monday, October 9, the German foreign ministry acknowledged that German people were among those seized by Hamas, the Islamist organization controlling Gaza, during its onslaught over the weekend on Israel. However, the ministry did not provide any specific data about the number of German citizens who were among those taken.

"We are working intensively with Israel regarding those who are kidnapped and missing," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. "We are trying to do as much as possible to ensure the freedom, the lives, and the health of these citizens," he added.

The German daily Bild was the first publication that reported on the probe. It was claimed that the relatives of those who had been abducted had made a request for assistance to the German government.

Also Read: Qatar Leads Talks About Hostage-Prisoner Swap Between Hamas, Israel

Nearly 200,000 Gaza Residents Displaced

In a report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday evening, almost 200,000 people in Gaza have been displaced as a consequence of the continuing war between Israel and Hamas.

The number of people forced to relocate is rising in tandem with the increasing number of fatalities on both sides of the war, The Hill reported.

On Monday, OCHA reported that over 187,518 people have been forced to leave their homes, making this the largest displacement since the 50-day escalation of violence in Gaza in 2014. Over 137,000 displaced people are being housed by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in approximately 83 schools. About 41,000 people whose houses had been damaged or destroyed were staying with friends and family.

Israeli military ordered the evacuation of dozens of villages close to the Gaza Strip as retaliatory bombings continued.

Also Read: EU Reverses Suspension of Palestinian Aid Freeze Following Deadly Hamas Attacks on Israel

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OMAHA  A Sioux City man has been sentenced to federal prison for having sexual contact with a minor.

Francisco Zapata Jr., 22, had pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Omaha to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in prison. He must also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, an FBI investigation identified a minor victim who disclosed meeting Zapata through social media in the spring of 2021 and having sexual contact with Zapata on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. At the time of the sexual contact, the minor was 14 years old and Zapata was 20. When the FBI interviewed Zapata, he admitted having sexual contact with the minor.

A charge of abusive sexual contact was dismissed.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa  A Hospers, Iowa, man has pleaded not guilty of having sexual contact with a minor female.

Andrew Joslin, 35, entered his written plea Monday in Sioux County District Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts each of third-degree sexual abuse and lascivious conduct with a minor.

The Sioux County Sheriff's Office began an investigation after receiving a report Joslin had solicited the girl for inappropriate sexual contact. Investigators determined Joslin had had sexual contact with the girl, who is under age 16, at a home in Hospers.

According to a complaint filed in Sioux County District Court, Joslin admitted to investigators he had sexual contact with the girl on multiple occasions from October 2021 through March 1, 2022.

Joslin was arrested Sept. 5.
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man suspected of fatally shooting another man has been formally charged with murder.

Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis on Monday filed a trial information charging Mario Corona-Ruiz with first-degree murder. His arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 18 in Woodbury County District Court.

Corona-Ruiz is being held in the Woodbury County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

Corona-Ruiz, 21, is charged with shooting 34-year-old Michael Schwebach, of Sioux City, in the early morning hours of Sept. 21 near West 19th and Center streets.

According to a complaint filed in the case, Corona-Ruiz was driving an SUV through an alley near West 20th Street toward Center Street at about 5 a.m. As he stopped at the intersection of the alley and Center Street, Schwebach was walking in the 1900 block of Center Street, crossed the street and continued walking near the alley. He had walked toward the SUV and had some conversation with Corona-Ruiz, who then fired one shot out of the driver's side window and struck Schwebach in the right side of his chest before driving away.

Two witnesses heard the shot, saw Schwebach on the ground and called 911. Officers responded to the call at 5:13 a.m., found Schwebach and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. Schwebach was transported to MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead an hour later.

Corona-Ruiz was located and arrested the next day in South Sioux City.

The trial information document contained no other details of the incident, instead referring to Iowa code that Corona-Ruiz "with malice aforethought, willfully, deliberately and with premeditation" killed Schwebach.

If Corona-Ruiz were to be found guilty of first-degree murder, he'd face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
LE MARS, Iowa  Florida Governor and GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis told a group of more than 150 people Monday morning that he stands with Israel following a weekend attack from Hamas.

"Over the next week, the press, the state department and, maybe, even the U.N. will tell you that both sides are at fault and that is not true," he said in a packed room at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, accusing Hamas of engaging in "barbaric attacks" and "terroristic actions."

DeSantis on stage Florida Gov. and GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis discussed Israel and other hot topic issues during a campaign stop at the Blue Bunny Ic

DeSantis criticized the Biden Administration for freeing up approximately $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil revenue funds in exchange for five American hostages held by Tehran, last summer. Reuters reported U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday "Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September."

"I'm certain that the $6 billion was used to plug one hole," he said. "This gave them the money needed to attack Israel."

In addition, DeSantis touted his one military record.

"I am the only Presidential candidate to serve in the military," DeSantis said, citing the time he was deployed in Iraq in 2007 as a legal to the Navy SEALs. Previously, DeSantis was stationed at the Joint Force Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility in Cuba.

DeSantis and family Florida Gov. and GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis was joined by his wife Casey and their three children during a Monday morning campaign 

DeSantis was in Northwest Iowa for a campaign swing that would take him to a Buena Vista Pregnancy Resource Center in Storm Lake, early Monday afternoon.

"I am also on my way to visiting all of Iowa's counties by the time of the Iowa caucuses," he said. According to a news release, DeSantis has made it to 74 of Iowa's 99 counties.

During the more-than-an-hour-long campaign stop, DeSantis said he promised, if elected, his administration would not be filled with drama or chaos.

Instead, he regularly referenced back to his record as Florida's Governor as an examples of kept promises and leadership abilities.

DeSantis peppered his stop by talking about culture war issues like woke education, border issues and his response toward the COVID-19 pandemic. This didn't go unnoticed by Jacob Heithusen, a Morningside University political science senior.

"In general, I liked what (DeSantis) was saying, but I don't know if he's ready for the national stage," Heithusen, a Carroll, Iowa native, explained. "I'd rather hear DeSantis talk about agriculture than what he did as Governor of Florida."
The auditors nine-page report suggested that Peterson, who worked for the northeast Nebraska community for 21 years, may have violated state laws prohibiting the destruction and misuse of city records.

In addition, the auditor raised questions about two instances in which Peterson was issued two paychecks for the same work periods, and the possible misuse of a city credit card.
"As soon as I walk in the door, he sees kids moving and his tail's wagging."

 Sioux County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Dorhout, on her new partner McGrath, a 19-month-old yellow Labrador who works as a licensed therapy dog.

"I will bring more transparency and understanding to the community regarding how we are spending money on our projects and how it's going to affect people in our community."

 Tricia Frederick, vice president of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate and a candidate for the Sioux City Council, during a candidate forum.

"If you want to come to Sioux City, the people are extremely friendly here and the job opportunities keep getting better as we keep promoting. The housing is pretty well taken care of. Of course, we need more housing subdivisions and affordable housing. We can get that."

 Tom Murphy, retired Sioux City chief building inspector, who is also running for a seat on the Council.

I was hoping wed get it. And we got it. Its going to be a hell of a show, I can tell you that."

 NASCAR Hall of Fame member Rusty Wallace, on next June's first-ever NASCAR cup race in Iowa, to be held at the Iowa Speedway in Newton.

We need a Speaker who will unite our historically thin majority so we can put the drama behind us and help deliver the most conservative legislation possible as we are faced with several looming and important deadlines."

 Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, in a statement on the House Speaker vacancy

"It's going to be a state-of-the-art facility. I think that our sheriff's department and our correctional officers are going to really enjoy working there."

 Woodbury County Supervisor Mark Nelson, on the delayed Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center, which he and fellow Supervisor Matthew Ung toured last week

"A bunch of parents showed up at the police station wanting to know what was going on with their kid. A couple of the parents that showed up today were also involved in that fight on Monday, so they were arrested right from the police station."

 Sioux City Community Policing Sgt. Tom Gill, on a series of disturbances at Casey's and Walmart last week that led to several people being arrested on felony rioting and other charges
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  An Iowa prosecutor has dropped a misdemeanor charge against a state senator who was arrested in July and accused of refusing a police request to move off a roadway that was blocked during an annual bike ride across the state.

WHO-TV reported Monday that Sac County prosecutors were granted a motion to dismiss the charge against Republican Sen. Adrian Dickey of Jefferson County. He was originally charged with interference with official acts after allegedly refusing to move out of a roadway when asked by a police officer.

In a filing, Sac County Attorney Benjamin John Smith wrote that prosecutors now believe there is not enough evidence to prove this matter beyond a reasonable doubt.

Dickey agreed to pay court costs.

Dickey said in a statement that he was simply walking his bike on a gravel road trying to get back to the bike trail. His lawyer previously said that Dickey came upon hundreds of people blocking the road, but he was not part of that group. The arrest happened during RAGBRAI, an annual bike ride across Iowa.

I appreciate the Sac County Attorney for correcting this and restoring my reputation, Dickey said in the statement.
President Joe Biden seems to know that hes walking a tightrope when it comes to the Israel-Hamas warand the stakes are very high.

In a televised speech from the White House on Tuesdaydelivered as Israel unleashed massive air strikes on Gaza and mobilized 360,000 reservists for a possible invasion (and reoccupation) of the small, densely populated enclave on Israels southern borderBiden made clear that Israeli forces, with possible backing from nearby U.S. aircraft carriers, must be forceful enough to crush Hamas as a terrorist organization but also restrained enough to avoid killing very many Palestinian civilians.

Biden said he had told Netanyahu that if the U.S. had experienced something like Hamas attack this past weekendwhich has killed an estimated 1,000 Israelis, most of them civiliansour response would be swift and overwhelming. But he also urged Netanyahu to uphold the law of war. (At least 900 Palestinians have been killed since the airstrikes began.)

Attempting to distinguish the terrorists from the civilians that they govern, Biden said that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples rights to dignity and self-determination. He added that they use Palestinian civilians as human shields with no regard to who pays the price.

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In an statement emailed to Politico shortly before Bidens address, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said we support Israel taking necessary and proportionate action to defend its country and protect its people. (Italics added.)

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Two days ago, Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted that hed encouraged the Turkish foreign ministers call for a cease-firethen soon deleted the tweet, perhaps persuaded by colleagues that Israel needed not only to avenge Hamas murderous attacks but also to weaken or wipe out Hamas altogether.

Still, all three messagesBidens speech, the NSCs email, and Blinkens tentative tweetreflect the complexity of this war. One problem is that Gaza is so dense, its impossible to destroy military targetsfor example, Hamas armories or hideoutswithout also killing civilians.

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Quite apart from the moral morass of killing civilians in response to killing civilians, there are geopolitical considerations. Hezbollahlike Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organizationhas more than 100,000 rockets in southern Lebanon, on Israels northern border. Many Palestinians in the West Bank cheered Hamas attack on Israel. (This enclave is governed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more moderate than Hamas but also more feckless.) If Israel inflicts massive death and destruction on the Palestinians in Gaza, Hezbollah and the West Bank militants may feel compelled to intervene. A three-front war could be disastrous for Israeland would be a humanitarian catastrophe for the region, regardless of how it ended.

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An article in The Economist suggests this may be Hamas intention. Either we die slowly or we die taking the occupation with us, it quotes a Hamas official as saying, referring to Israel. In other words, as the article sums up Hamas hopes, Fighting in the densely populated strip will exact a steep humanitarian toll that could sway global public opinion against Israel and draw sympathizers elsewhere in the region into the fray.

For the moment, Hezbollah has not entered the fight, except for firing a few artillery rounds, with little damage done. (Israel has responded in kind.) Iran has not displayed any eagerness to step in, either. (Iranians have long supplied and trained Hamas, but they denied a Wall Street Journal report that they helped plan Saturdays attack. Israeli and U.S. officials say they have found no evidence of such assistance either.)

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Biden said in his White House address, Any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one worddont. Dont! He noted that not only was he stepping up shipments of ammunition and air-defense weapons to Israel, he had also deployed an aircraft carrier task group to the regionto deter other parties, notably Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria, from getting into the fight.

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So far, the deterrent seems to be working. How long it can continue working, if the hellscape in Gaza gets too fierce, no one can say.

Much also rides on whether the Sunni Arab nations, especially Saudi Arabia, can be held in check. Those nations rulers see Hamas and Hezbollah as allies of their archfoe, Iran. In the past couple of years, they have struck an alliance with Israel as a partner against Iran. U.S., Saudi, and Israeli officials have even been in talks recently to normalize relations and set security guarantees. It is likely that Hamas launched its attack on Saturday in part to sabotage these talks. For the Sunni rulers must pay at least lip service to Palestinians rights, and if Gazas Palestinians suffer too badly in Israels retaliation, a detente with Israel could be immeasurably set back. This is another area where Israel, with the help of U.S. and European diplomats, must strike a delicate balance. It is a serious question whether Netanyahus governmentwhose ministers have no interest in improved relations with any Palestinianscan pull off this balance.

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Biden spent much of his speech not just assuring Israelis, but also rallying American empathy to Israels cause. He described Hamas as pure unadulterated evil, likened its attack to the worst rampages of ISIS, told stories of whole Israeli families being murdered or taken hostage, and conveyed the anger, the pain, the sense of hopelessness that rises up when losing family. (He didnt mention the loss of his son, Beau, to brain cancer, but he has talked of it before, in similar terms.) He also confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in Hamas attack and that some number of Americans are being held hostage.

This is a moment for the United States to come together, to grieve together, with those who are mourning, he went on. Perhaps with a nod to reports of protests and clashes between pro- and anti-Israel crowds, he said, There is no place for hate in Americanot against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody.

It was a speech of determination, but also a plea for hope and balance in Israel and here at home. The next few days and weeks will show how thats going.
As the harrowing news broke this past weekend of an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israeli civilians, variations on one particular phrase found their way, over and over, into statements by politicians and organizations: Stand With Israel. This was particularly salient from liberal and progressive American Jewish groups that have, over the past year, grown increasingly critical of the Israeli government, both for its proposed judicial overhaul and for Israels treatment of Palestinians, or at least for the inclusion of far-right politicians in its governing coalition. The statements this weekend were overwhelmingly not critical. They expressed straightforward support for Israel.

This was, for Israel, an unprecedented attack on its civilians. Hamas managed to burst through from Gaza and cross Israels border. Hamas militants then proceeded to kill and take captive civilians. Hamas has killed, as of this writing, more than 900 Israelis, including 260 young adults at a music festival. The militants took children hostage. And I can understand why many of the initial statements did not, for example, also acknowledge how many Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in recent years, or that Israel controls two of Gazas three land borders, or that 2023 was already the deadliest year on record for Palestinian children in the West Bank, or that members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government encouraged settler violence against Palestinians. This weekend, issuing statements, people were shocked or mourning or both. Especially for people who are not politicians or public figures or organizers, the phrase Stand With Israel is a message of sympathy and support, an extension of empathy for victims.

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But for those who are politicians and public figures and organizers, the phrase implies a public policy position and statement of intent. Its an announcement that they mean to stand with Israel. But what does that actually mean?

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This war is not primarily about Americans. But so long as leaders in both American and American Jewish politics are putting out statements that they stand with Israel, and as the fallout from the attack continues, as the death toll from both Hamas attack and Israeli retaliation continues to rise, perhaps it is worth unpacking: What does it mean to stand with Israel?

Netanyahu, who has been charged with fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three different scandals, agreed to have far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir in his governing coalition, and to place him in the role of national security minister, despite his long history of provocations against Palestinians, which he has continued in his current role. Does standing with Israel mean standing with both men? Pentagon press secretary Jack Kirby said that now was not the time to review the Israeli leaders intelligence failure but to support Israel. But couldnt one see the two as interlinked? That its necessary to understand how Netanyahus government failed to stop this from happening? Does standing with Israel include granting its government freedom from its most basic responsibilities?

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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday, I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel; everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly. There are 2 million people in Gaza. Half of them are children. Does standing with Israel mean standing with the choice to deprive the people living in Gaza, who cannot leave Gaza, of electricity and food? As I write this, Israels response operations have killed at least 830 people and injured another 4,250. According to Defense for Children Palestine, that number includes at least 33 children; the Gaza Ministry of Health put the number of children killed by the strikes at 91. Are people being called on to stand with that?

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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who was arrested in 2005 on suspicion of organizing violent nationalist activity and is a booster of West Bank settlements and an opponent of Palestinian statehood, said, the evening of the attack, We have to be cruel now and not consider the captives overmuch. If it turns out that that informs government policyif the Israeli government pursues maximum cruelty on Palestinians at the expense of Israeli hostages lives and the tenets of international lawis supporting such a policy a prerequisite for standing with Israel? Will Americans, Jewish and not, now say that to stand with Israel is to support and defend being cruel?

But there was also other commentary coming out of Israel on the day of Hamas attack, other positions with which one can stand. On Saturday, Haggai Matar, an Israeli journalist with +972, wrote, while sitting at home in Tel Aviv, trying to figure out how to protect my family in a house with no shelter or safe room, that Israel has to change course with respect to its treatment of Palestinians, that it is not in spite of the horror that we have to change courseit is exactly because of it.

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The next day, the prominent Israeli outlet Haaretz published its editorial under the headline Netanyahu Bears Responsibility for This Israel-Gaza War. The editorial read: The prime minister  completely failed to identify the dangers he was consciously leading Israel into when establishing a government of annexation and dispossession, when appointing Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to key positions, while embracing a foreign policy that openly ignored the existence and rights of Palestinians.

Ofer Cassif, a member of the Knesset and the leftist Hadash coalition, said Sunday, We condemn and oppose any assault on innocent civilians. But in contrast to the Israeli government that means that we oppose any assault on Palestinian civilians as well. We must analyze those terrible incidents [the attacks] in the right contextand that is the ongoing occupation.

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Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli veterans aimed at raising awareness to the dire consequences of prolonged military occupation, told its readers on social media that the IDF was preoccupied with protecting settlers in the West Bank because our country decideddecades agothat its willing to forfeit the security of its citizens in our towns and cities, in favor of maintaining control over an occupied civilian population of millions, all for the sake of a settler-messianic agenda.

On Monday, BTselem, an Israeli human rights group, put out a statement condemning not only Hamas attack, but also the killing of Palestinian civilians. Standing Together, which describes itself as the largest grassroots Jewish-Arab Movement in Israel-Palestine, offered, in a post on X, We must not buy into the illusion that security can be achieved through military action. There is no future herefor any of uswithout ending the occupation and guaranteeing independence, freedom, and security for both nations.

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It takes real moral courage to do that. To hold your country to account while it is reeling. These outlets, organizations, and individuals showed that courage and called on their government to take accountability and, first and foremost, consider the inherent dignity of all human life. Thats a step Hamas rejects and refused, but as horrific as the attacks were, it is a step some Israelis are still pressing their government to take. Perhaps, having made their initial statements, liberal and progressive American politicians, individuals, and groups, Jewish and not, that have declared their intent to stand with Israel can also announce that they mean to stand with those trying to make Israel stand taller.
This article was originally featured in Foreign Policy, the magazine of global politics and ideas. For news, expert analysis, and background on the conflict, read FPs latest coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Israeli military is once again dropping bombs on the besieged Gaza Strip. Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, after fighters from it and other groups carried out a massive assault in Israel that began Saturday morning. So far, at least 900 Israelis and more than 600 Palestinians have been killed; those numbers, particularly on the Palestinian side, are likely to climb significantly as the conflict continues.

The latest Israeli military operation in Gaza is the most recent in a long string of such incursions over the past two decades. Major attacks took place in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2021virtually every two years. Israel has pursued a strategy of mowing the lawn, a phrase it uses to describe the periodic bombing of Palestinians in the territory to keep armed groups at bay. But each time Israel says it is going to degrade and destroy the capabilities of Gazan militants, fighters soon prove they have only expanded and increased their capabilities.

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This weekends display of these capabilitiesand the horrific violence it unleashedwas so extensive it left intelligence experts dumbfounded. Gaza is perhaps the most militarily surveilled spot on Earth. The territory has been under siege for a decade and a half, with an Israeli naval blockade and weaponized drones routinely flying overhead. High-tech Israeli missile interceptors, walls and fences, and underground tunnel detectors constantly patrol the strip. But Hamas was still able to launch its massive, multiphase air, land, and sea assault.

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Israel has sought, time and again, to figure out what to do with Gazaeven before Israels ground withdrawal from the territory in 2005. Yitzhak Rabin, who was Israels prime minister in the early 1990s, once infamously said: I wish I could wake up one day and find that Gaza has sunk into the sea. The 2 million pesky Palestinians who demand to be free from the cage Israel confines them in continue to keep Israeli leaders up at night.

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The events of recent days clearly indicate that Israels military efforts have failed. And it isnt for lack of trying: Israeli military campaigns in Gaza have wrought death and destruction on its besieged population for years. Each time, Palestinian fighters are killed, as are scores more Palestinian civilians. Presumably, many of the Palestinian fighters who took part in this weekends assault were not alive when Israel first started its campaign of assassinating Palestinian leaders in Gaza in 1993.

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But even though Israels militarized approach to Gaza has been an epic failure, Netanyahu will likely try it again. The Israeli prime minister has already warned he will turn all Hamas hiding places into rubble. Given the extensive Israeli death toll from Hamass assault, Israels retaliatory campaign will be granted unprecedented leeway by its international partnersincluding the United States. For Palestinians, this can only mean bearing witness to unprecedented massacres.

Though Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories for over half a century, Israeli violence against Palestinians has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. International, Israeli, and Palestinian human rights groups have all concluded that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, and the United Nations said 2022 was the deadliest year on record for Palestinians killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops. Killings in 2023 are on pace to surpass those numbers: More than 200 West Bank Palestinians have so far died in the Israeli line of fire this year.

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Israeli settlers are also running amok in the West Bank, carrying out mass attacks that even Israeli officials have deemed pogroms. The current Israeli government is the most far-right in the countrys history and includes politicians such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was considered too dangerous to even enlist in the Israeli military. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichwho was handed the reins of the Defense Ministrys civil administration, putting him in charge of large parts of the West Bankcalled for wiping out Palestinian villages.

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Talk of another Nakba is on the rise in Israel. The Nakba was the mass ethnic cleansing of historic Palestine in 1948, when Israel was founded and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced from their homes and into refugee status. Most of Gazas residents today are in the territory because of the Nakba and continue to be denied repatriation to their ancestral homes in present-day Israel and the West Bank.

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Now Israeli politicians are calling to ethnically cleanse Palestinians again. An Israeli Knesset member who is part of Netanyahus Likud party tweeted this weekend: Right now, one goal: Nakba! A Nakba that will overshadow the Nakba of 48. It is a mistake to think that this sentiment is a product of Hamas most recent attack. In fact, it is one that has been held by a growing number of Israelis for a long time. A 2016 poll by the Pew Research Center found that nearly half of Jewish Israelis wanted to expel or transfer Arabs from Israel. The Israeli public has only moved further to the right in the years since.

The continuously deteriorating human rights situation for Palestinians prompted Michael Barnett, a professor at the George Washington University and a scholar of genocide, to write an article earlier this year for the publication Political Violence at a Glance titled Is Israel on the Precipice of Genocide? He wrote that research on genocide over the past several decades has provided insight into the preconditions, which provide a reasonable starting point.  Many states might qualify. Israel ticks all the boxes.

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Related From Slate What Does It Mean to Stand With Israel? Read More

That was in March. Today, as Israel pummels Gaza once again and prepares for a bloody ground invasion, Netanyahu has vowed mighty vengeance. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that he would tighten the existing siege on Gaza, cutting off any entry of fuel, food, and people into the territory. Gallant said Israel was fighting a war against beasts. The collective punishment of the entire population of Gaza and the dehumanizing language used by Israels leading defense official foreshadow the absolute worst.

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The international community must immediately sound the alarm to prevent atrocities and war crimes, which an Israel with unhinged leadership can easily carry out again. Thus far, that is not the message most Western officials have been sending.

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Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. State Departments special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitisma genocide scholar, no lesstweeted on Sunday: No one has the right to tell Israel how to defend itself and prevent and deter future attacks. The White House has made clear its unwavering support for Israel and even moved naval ships to the Eastern Mediterranean to deter other actors from getting involved. This will be read in Israel as a license to commit greater atrocities than ever before. In doing so, Israel will be using U.S.-supplied weapons, which are supposed to be regulated by U.S. laws that ensure they are used for internal security and legitimate self-defense and do not escalate conflict. Washington is not merely abdicating official and moral responsibility but enabling mass atrocities at a time when all the red flags for genocide are up.

What will be gained from all of this beyond death and destruction? At this critical juncture, there are two paths before decisionmakers in Israel and its Western partners. One path leads down a road of unprecedented killing, oppression, hatred, and potential mass atrocitiesall while maintaining the likely prospect that these events will repeat themselves again after a short period of time. The other path requires leaders to demand that Palestinians core political grievances, the ultimate sources of violence, finally be resolved.

The first path requires leaders with power. The latter requires leaders with courage and dignity.
As of Monday (October 9), the combined civilian death toll brought by Hamas's massive coordinated attack across southern Israel over the weekend has climbed to nearly 1,600. Palestinian officials confirmed 687 of its citizens were killed, while Israeli authorities tallied over 900 of their residents dead.

Many of the first identified casualties were reportedly from the Supernova music festival just a few kilometers from the Gaza border. According to local emergency services, they have confirmed they have recovered some 260 bodies just on that party alone.

In the aftermath, Israeli officials and geopolitical analysts recognized the attack as Israel's version of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor combined.

However, dozens of foreigners were also killed, abducted, or still unaccounted for after being caught in the crossfire.

As of writing, this is what multiple countries have been saying about the status of their nationals and expatriates in Israel as reported by UPI, Al Jazeera, and the BBC.

Argentina

The Argentinian Embassy reported on Monday that seven of its citizens were killed and another 15 were still missing. The embassy has also received calls from 625 Argentinians to have them evacuated from Israel.

Austria

The Austrian foreign ministry stated on Tuesday (October 10) that three Austrian-Israeli dual citizens could be among those abducted. However, Vienna officials are still confirming the information.

Brazil

In a statement, the Brazilian foreign ministry reported that three Brazilians were still unaccounted for and that around 1,700 others, mostly tourists in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, have "expressed interest" in being repatriated, with the Brazilian Air Force announcing on Monday it was in the process of organizing six evacuation flights with the first already landing in Rome en route to Israel.

Cambodia

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet confirmed a Cambodian student in Israel died during Hamas's attack.

Canada

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told CTV News she received reports that a Canadian had been killed and three others were missing. Earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his country's solidarity with Israel by lighting the Peace Tower at Parliament Hill in blue and white, as well as lowering Canadian flags to half-mast in other key government offices in Ottawa.

Chile

Chile's foreign minister Alberto van Klaveren confirmed Loren Garcovich and her Spanish husband Ivan Illarramendi were missing and reportedly kidnapped by Hamas. He added that he had spoken with Garcovich's father, Danny, about the matter. Meanwhile, the Chilean Jewish community added that the couple lived in a kibbutz near the Gaza border and that their home had been destroyed. Van Klaveren's office also stated they were also in the process of organizing repatriation flights.

China

A Beijing-born Chinese-Israeli woman called Noa Argamani was among those taken from the Supernova festival, according to the Israeli Embassy in China. The embassy has published a video of what it claims to be the abduction, which has since been one of the most iconic so far in the conflict. The welfare and whereabouts of her boyfriend, who also attended the festival and has been abducted, remains unknown.

Colombia

Israeli Ambassador to Colombia Gali Dagan confirmed that Colombian couple Ivonne Rubio and Antonio Mesias Motano reportedly went missing when they attended the Supernova music festival. He prayed that both of them be found safe and well soon.

France

The French foreign ministry said it was mourning the death of a second citizen in Hamas's attack. They said in a separate statement that 14 French nationals were believed to be abducted by Hamas, including a 12-year-old child. The ministry also told reporters that it has nearly 62,000 French nationals registered at its consulate in Tel Aviv and a further 25,000 in Jerusalem.

Germany

The German foreign ministry said there were several German-Israeli dual nationals who were allegedly taken hostage but have not specified how many. Among the allegedly killed was 23-year-old Shani Louk, whose body was reportedly stripped naked in the back of a pickup truck when it was paraded back into the streets of Gaza.

Ireland

Irish officials said an Irish-Israeli woman. 22-year-old Kim Danti was confirmed missing. Irish broadcaster RTE reported that she was allegedly among those abducted in the Supernova festival. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the Irish Embassy in the country was dealing with the matter.

Italy

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that an Israeli-Italian couple was missing and continued to be unresponsive to phone calls.

Read Also: Qatar Leads Talks About Hostage-Prisoner Swap Between Hamas, Israel

Mexico

Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Barcena announced over the weekend that two Mexicans, a man and a woman, were believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas. She provided an update on Monday saying that a third Mexican initially thought to have been taken hostage by Hamas has been found safe and well. Barcena earlier said around 500 Mexicans have registered with Mexican authorities for evacuation should the situation worsen in Israel.

Nepal

The Nepalese foreign ministry said in a statement that it was in the process of repatriating the bodies of 10 Nepalese students who were killed by Hamas at Alumim Kibbutz in southern Israel. Officials back in Kathmandu have declared a national day of mourning and will fly the Nepalese flag at half-mast at all government offices and foreign missions. Nepal also said it was working on accounting for one more Nepalese person still missing in Israel, as well as working to repatriate those wishing to return home.

Panama

Panama's government said one of its nationals, Daryelis Denises Saez Batista, was missing, but provided no further details.

Paraguay

Two Paraguayan nationals who had been living in Israel are missing, Paraguay's government said, without giving details.

Peru

The Peruvian foreign ministry said four of its nationals have been reported missing since Saturday's (October 7) attack. They have also said seven Peruvians have left Israel aboard commercial flights with the assistance of the mission, with 73 more to follow them in the next two days.

Philippines

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said seven Filipinos in Israel remained unaccounted for, according to a report by state news agency PNA. Officials in Manila added that the 22 other Filipino expatriates who earlier went missing were rescued by Israeli forces, with one of them taken to hospital for treatment. The department also said that 25 of the 137 Filipinos living in Gaza have indicated their intention to leave. It also issued a travel advisory recommending all travel between the Philippines and Israel be suspended indefinitely.

Russia

The Russian embassy in Tel Aviv stated that at least one Russian was killed and four were missing, as reported by Russian news agencies.

Tanzania

Tanzania's ambassador to Israel Alex Kallua told the French news agency AFP that two Tanzanian nationals were missing. He added that his mission had been in contact with approximately 350 Tanzanians around the country, most of them students.

Thailand

Thailand reported on Monday that 18 Thais in Israel were reportedly killed but were still waiting for verification. An additional nine others were injured and 11 others taken hostage, officials from Bangkok also stated. Thai deputy foreign minister Jakkapong Sangmanee added that about 3,000 Thais working in Israel - or around 10% of the 30,000 total expatriate Thai population in the country - have put in requests to be returned to Thailand.

Ukraine

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said Two Ukrainian women who had been living in Israel for years were killed.

UK

British MP Jackson Carlaw stated that a certain Bernard Cowan had been "murdered" by Hamas militants on Saturday, with Cowan's family confirming the death. The BBC reported that at least three other UK nationals have been killed and several others missing. Additionally, 20-year-old British-Israeli soldier Cpl. Nathaniel Young was killed in action while responding to Hamas's attacks.

US

US President Joe Biden was briefed late Monday that an additional two Americans were confirmed dead after a previous report putting the death toll at nine. This increased the total American deaths to 11.

Related Article: US, 4 European Countries Release Joint Statement on Israel

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Hamas attack on Israel this weekendincluding the indiscriminate murder of Israelishas led to a spiraling of an already dire situation in the region. The recent declaration of war, and the subsequent military actions in Gaza, has set off a crisis in an already calamitous conflict, particularly for the 2 million Gazanshalf of whom are childrenwho have been living in one of the mostly densely populated places on Earth. The UN already deemed this 25-mile-long area unlivable five years ago due to the Israeli blockade. Civilian residents are now facing a complete siege, per Israels defense ministers order, including the cutting of electricity and a total blockade on food, water, and fuel. Theyre also being bombed in nonstop airstrikes with heavy munitions following the unprecedented incursion into Israel by Hamas, which left a trail of hundreds of innocent Israelis dead, thousands injured, and at least 100 more captured. Meanwhile, rocket attacks continue to set off air raid sirens as far away as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

To help contextualize and understand what happened this weekend, and the decades before it, I reached out to Peter Beinart, a writer and editor at large of Jewish Currents, a progressive Jewish magazine. I wanted to know how Beinart was feeling as both a Jewish person and a critic of Israels far-right government, and what ripple effects he expects from its new war with Gaza. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Aymann Ismail: What is your assessment of the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel and its impact on the Israel-Palestine conflict?

Peter Beinart: This is one of those moments where the magnitude of what has happened is so great that its really difficult to think about all of the potential long-term consequences. Its a little bit like someone asking, immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks or at the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Whats going to be the long-term implications? Theres so many long-term implications. This sets off a chain reaction for so many things. Its very difficult to predict. The most immediate effect is that it looks like theres going to be some kind of ground invasion into Gaza. And the Israeli government will be more far more aggressive even than it has been in the past. That is the one thing we do know.

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The shock of this inside Israel, and how that transforms the Israel and Palestine conflict, is, at least for me, hard to know at this point. Many of us, myself included, are just really just staggered and reeling at the images of the brutality. And its hard to be an objective, rational political analyst, even for someone like me, whos very, very critical of Israel. Were so close to the place and to the people that I myself have been in a kind of state of vertigo, especially because there were also a lot of us who were not online until Sunday night, because it was it was a Shabbat, followed by a Jewish holiday. So it made the whole thing even more surreal.

Now I feel bad for asking you these questions.

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The challenge for me is that its difficult to find the right balance between the pain that I feel at a kind of familial level towards Israeli Jews and the human obligation to cherish the dignity of all peoples and of all human life. And of course, Palestinians, as always, will suffer far, far more than Israeli Jews because theyre by far the weaker part of this.

So, the whole world is, it seems, rallying behind Israel. Israeli flags are being projected onto national monuments across the Western world. And at the same time, the Israeli defense minister has ordered a complete siege of Gaza, amassing troops on their border and halting the transfer of electricity, food, and water. What ripple effects do you expect that this new war will have on the region and beyond?

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My basic bedrock assumption is that the fate of these two peoples are intertwined. Neither of them are going anywhere. I understand the tremendous sense of fear and rage that would make many Israelis want their government to go into Gaza. There are parallels to the way many Americans felt after Sept. 11. But those emotions did not serve America well. Israel has been blockading Gaza for many, many years now and has bombarded Gaza many, many times. If that were an effective strategy, then what happened this weekend would not have happened.

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Its not rocket science. You can kill members of Hamas and you can destroy their weapons and their munitions. But in the process of doing that, you create much more misery and hatred among people who will then grow up in the shadow of that misery and hatred and want to fight you. People are creative, and so theyll find a way of getting more weapons.

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Ultimately, Israel doesnt have a military problem. It has a political problem. It has a human problem. And the problem is that you have these millions of peoplemost of them are not from Gaza. Most of them are the family of refugees that were forced out of their homes in Israel when Israel was created. And if they dont have the ability to live a dignified, decent life, then many of them are going to try to make sure that Israeli Jews cant live safe and dignified lives. Thats the way human beings tend to be, all over the world. And if you think of the fate of Israeli Jews and Palestinians as intertwined, I think it leads you to a very, very different way of thinking about ultimately how you deal with Gaza. But in moments like this, I have the feeling that, speaking that way, Im just whistling into the wind. Itd be a little bit like people after 9/11 saying, We have to understand the way that people in the Arab and Muslim world are experiencing American foreign policy and to understand the harm thats being done as a result of what America does overseas. Its just very, very difficult, when people are so traumatized, to hear those things. They tend to respond to people who say those things by calling them traitors.

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Are you dealing with any of that? I know you as a vocal opponent of Israeli policies. How have you been dealing with these images? Can you tell me about what you felt on Sunday and what youve been feeling since then?

Judaism, for me, fundamentally at its core, is about a tension between a religion thats based on the metaphor of familywhich I think is a bit different between Christianity and Islam, because we read, in the Book of Genesis, a story of a family that in exodus becomes a nation. So, we grow up with this idea to think of Jews as having familial obligations to one another. And yet Judaism also has a universal ethical message about the dignity of all people. And so maybe everybody in some way or another is balancing that tension, but for me, its fundamental to the way I think about this issue. How do I maintain a special obligation to my people but not at the cost of my ethical obligations to all people, and especially the Palestinians, because the Jewish state has inflicted such terrible trauma on them and continues to?

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Sometimes there are moments when it seems like that tension can be resolved in creative ways and even in beautiful ways. And then theres times like this, where the tension seems just overwhelming. I feel the imperative to speak critically about Israels role in what happened herethis didnt happen [because] Palestinians are just some terrible other form of human beings. Its fundamentally the result of the fact that the Palestinians have endured so much horror and trauma that theyre responding in this case in really, really terrible ways. Im trying to balance that with a sense that Im not losing touch with the necessity of solidarity. So, how do you show solidarity to a community that you are a part of, that youre deeply, deeply connected to, and yet also be critical of it? In certain moments like this, Im just struggling with it. We as a family have been talking about it all weekend. And its been really hard for us.

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Do you expect international rules of war to be followed or enforced?

No, I dont think so. Unfortunately, Israel hasnt really shown that they are sympathetic to the perspectives of the U.N. or International Human Rights or any of those organizations, and I think even less so at this moment. And I think thats really tragic. Israel is not alone in that. Many governments unfortunately behave that way. But I think that is one of the things that make the coming days so terrifying.

Do you see the United States playing any role here? I know the Biden administration has already issued a bunch of very strong statements, even deploying military aid and weaponry. But does the U.S. hold any sway? How do you see it playing a role in this?

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The Biden administration wants to keep this from becoming a war with Hezbollah and a war with Iran. But the deeper problem is that the United States has allowed Israel to act with impunity going back for decades. And that is part of the reason that the blockade in Gaza has continued, that the occupation of the West Bank has deepened, and that has been terrible for Palestinians. Its totally contrary to the kind of things that American leaders say about democracy and human rights and international law. And the rest of the world notices that.

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I think, in the long run, its not great for Israelis either, because in the long term, maybe even in the medium term, youre in a very small space where youre living cheek by jowl with another group of people. Your safety and the safety of those other people is intertwined. This is a point that Martin Luther King tried to make to white America again and again when there were riots in American cities year after year in the 60s. I think thats the message of interconnectedness that is lost in a moment like this. And I think, ultimately, theres no other way but recognizing the moral interconnectedness, which means you have to recognize that your familys safety and dignity and freedom are dependent on you caring about the safety and dignity and freedom of Palestinians and vice versa.

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What kind of impact will whats happening to Israel right now have on the Israeli government, specifically its policies toward Palestine?

In the short term, theres going to be this ground assault.

Netanyahus reputation as someone who was very skilled when it came to security has been very, very damaged by this. His was already a government that has produced a tremendous amount of animosity among Israelis. So, I think that this could produce a real, long-term dramatic political shift in Israel. A lot of people are comparing this to what happened in the Yom Kippur War because the Yom Kippur War was also considered a situation where Israel was completely caught asleep at the wheel, and it contributed to the end of the Labor Partys homogeny, which collapsed after having existed since the beginning of the state.

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I think one plausible scenario would be that this ultimately brings down not just this government but also the Likud hegemony that weve basically seen in Israel for the last couple of decades. But what replaces it is harder to know.

Do you have any advice for people who are being inundated online right now with massive amounts of gory images and information from the region?

My advice would be to try to make sure that you are accessing sources of information that focus on the humanity of both sides. Try to expose yourself to things that will force you to reckon with the humanity and suffering on both sides. Dont choose. And also try to find voices, both of Palestinians and Israeli Jews, who you feel have a message of common humanity. There are people. There are actually a lot of them. And theyre extraordinary. Its just that they are often really disempowered at a moment like this. But I think its at this moment that their voices are the most important.
In 2019, Aurelia Garcia Cruceno, an 18-year-old Indigenous woman living in Guerrero, Mexico, had a miscarriage. The bleeding was so intense, according to news reports, that she lost consciousness. When she woke up in a hospital bed, she noticed that her hands and feet were handcuffed. The Guerrero Prosecutors Office detained her for allegedly having ended her babys life. She hadnt known she was pregnant.

Aurelias case is tragic, and it isnt an anomaly. It demonstrates a series of interconnected failures between Mexicos health and legal systems, which too often accept gender violence as the status quo. Time and again, these systems restrict womens access to reproductive health care and educationand then punish them for the consequences of their lack of access, or for trying to seek it. According to case files obtained by the feminist advocacy organization GIRE, at least 367 women were reported for abortion crimes between 2010 and 2020 in the country. Nearly 34 percent of those women went to trial; 43 percent of women who went to trial were convicted. This is almost certainly an undercountGIRE obtained more than 3,600 case files on crimes related to abortion over the 10-year period, but 78 percent of the files didnt specify the persons gender, and may have also encompassed men reported for violence against pregnant women. But even these imperfect estimates provide a window into a problem with immeasurable impact.

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On Sep. 6, though, the fight for reproductive justice in Mexico experienced a big win: The countrys supreme court ruled that the federal criminal penalties for abortion were unconstitutional, effectively decriminalizing abortion nationwide.

Septembers ruling built on a 2021 supreme court decision that declared the criminalization of abortion in the state of Coahuila to be unconstitutional. While limited in scope, the 2021 decision set an important precedent, and activists from around the country doubled their efforts to file suits against national and local penal codes, which they claimed amounted to unconstitutional violations of their human rights. The Sep. 6 decision was the result of one of those suits.

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The ruling was cause for celebration within and outside Mexico, and for good reason. But Mexicos experience also provides an important window into the chapter after decriminalizationand all the structural and social changes that need to happen to make it a true victory. For decriminalization to really translate into a future with greater access to reproductive health care, abortion-seekers need access to psychological and social support, as well as clinics and hospitals stocked with essential drugs, supplies, equipment, and trained specialists.

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The ruling also comes with plenty of caveats: Decriminalizing on the federal level is not legalizing, and even still, the measure wont be completely official until Mexicos congress changes the federal penal code. Abortion is still a crime in 20 out of 32 states, and the ruling only applies to the federal prosecutors office and federally run public health institutions like IMSS and ISSSTE, which treat those who have public medical insurance, and other public hospitals available for the uninsured. Still, this is no small thing: In 2022, federal public hospitals treated 44 percent of people seeking primary care across the country.

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But this theoretical expansion of services collides with the fact that Mexicos health care system is in crisis. In 2022, 50 million peoplearound 4 of every 10 citizenshad insufficient access to health services. At the beginning of the year, the government reported a deficit of more than 180,000 physicians; the waiting periods for medical appointments can escalate to months, and a consistent drug shortage has been leaving people without their medication for the past five years. The administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, meanwhile, has been consistently reducing the national budget for health. This has pushed almost 49 percent of people to seek treatment in the private health sector, increasing the out-of-pocket expenses of the poorest people in the country from 30 to 50 percent between 2020 and 2022, sometimes leaving them in complete poverty.

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Simultaneously, the rates of gender violence have steadily increased in Mexico. More than 70 percent of women have experienced some type of violence in their lifetimes. In 2022, the rates of sexual and family violence increased in 27 and 23 states respectively, and the country reached a new record of emergency calls reporting sexual violence. Between 2015 and 2022, reported femicides increased 127 percent.

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The stress on the national health system and the growing rates of gender violence mean that millions of women in the country have no access to quality womens health services, and many are exposed to obstetric violence. They struggle to get contraceptive methods and quality prenatal checkups, and experience unjustified cesarean sections, medical discrimination, and lack of interpreters if they speak an Indigenous language, and some have to travel great distances to the nearest health care center.

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This was true for Fernanda, from Oaxaca, whose case was documented by GIRE. She was 18 when she was raped. The assault gave her the legal right to request an abortion, which she didbut she was repeatedly denied care. At one clinic, the gynecologist who refused to treat Fernanda falsely informed her that it would have been a crime to do so, according to GIRE. Another hospital also refused to perform the treatment Fernanda was legally entitled to, saying they would only accept emergency cases. Left without options, Fernanda had to travel to Mexico City to terminate her pregnancy.

All this is to say, yes, we can and should celebrate decriminalization in Mexico. But the world in which any womanregardless of language, skin color, or socioeconomic statuscan walk into a clinic, request an abortion, receive it, and feel safe throughout the process is still a distant reality. To arrive there, several things need to happen first.

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To start, states need to follow the lead of the supreme court and move to decriminalize and legalize abortion locally. Legislators need to modify the federal General Health Law and state health laws to include the circumstances under which abortion is legal and the mechanisms to ensure that public and private clinics offer the service. Currently, the General Health Law and most state laws dont address the legal interruption of pregnancy, and without a clear set of guidelines, it will be hard for hospitals to provide treatment. Doctors can still refuse to perform an abortion under the excuse that it goes against their personal beliefs, that they dont want to go to jail, or that they dont have the know-how, equipment, or manuals to do so. Victories in the courts need to be solidified in local laws, regulations, and programs, as well as medical education and health care operating guidelines.

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One example to draw from is Mexico Citys health law, which stipulates that all women must have access to free and quality procedures to terminate a pregnancy through the 12th week of gestation, as well as counseling and reproductive health and family planning services. The Mexico City law provides that doctors can object to performing the procedure if it interferes with their personal beliefs, but they need to refer the patient to a willing doctor. (Unless its a life-or-death situation, in which case no one can refuse care.)

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Ensuring reproductive health care access also requires informing women of their rights and supporting them physically and psychologically. Systemic gender violence and the culture of putting womens rights on the back burner have been consistent barriers to legislating abortion and making women feel safe to request care, as they continue to face rejection, stigma, and inequities from male-dominated institutions and frameworks. For example, since 2013, Mexicos General Victims Law has established that victims of rape in every state must be guaranteed access, if they want it, to terminate their pregnancies. In practice, however, things happen differently: When Aurelia was released in December, she had spent three years in prison for the miscarriage of a pregnancy that resulted from a rape. Fernanda, too, was unable to access the care she was legally entitled to in her home state. These overpowering gaps between the law, medicine, and womens experiences demonstrate how far we have to go.

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Related From Slate How Dobbs Forces Doctors to Practice Medicine and Law at the Same Time Read More

Still, theres reason for hope. Each year in March, hundreds of thousands of Mexican women take to the streets in massive mobilizations to demand their rights. They also participate in organizing activities like the national strike known as A Day Without Us, where women disappear from public spaces for one day. They organize in collectives to help facilitate safe, accompanied medication abortions, and they file a deluge of suits like the one that eventually resulted in decriminalization. Many of their actions serve as models in the fight for reproductive justice in other countries, including the United States.

To turn a legal victory into tangible improvements for reproductive health care, Septembers ruling is challenging Mexico to address a cascade of structural issues. Its a big ask, one that will require legal commitment, financial investment, and culture change. But with it comes the opportunity to finally guarantee womens access to reproductive justice and rightsand show other countries a path to do the same.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Email is a vital communication resource that many small businesses rely on to send sensitive, confidential information both inside and outside of the organization.

But the prevalence of email as a business tool also makes it susceptible to exploitation and data loss. In fact, email accounts for 35 percent of all data loss incidents among enterprises, according to a white paper from AppRiver, a cyber security company.

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Data breaches are not always the result of malicious activity, such as a hacking attempt. Most often, they occur due to simple employee negligence or oversight. (Employees are the leading cause of security-related incidents, according to a Wells Fargo white paper.)

In 2014, an employee at the insurance brokerage firm Willis North America accidentally emailed a spreadsheet containing confidential information to a group of employees enrolled in the company medical plans Healthy Rewards program. As a result, Willis had to pay for two years of identity theft protection for the nearly 5,000 people affected by the breach.

In another instance, also from 2014, an employee of the Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego erroneously sent an email containing the protected health information of more than 20,000 patients to job applicants. (The employee thought she was sending a training file to evaluate the applicants.)

The hospital sent notification letters to the affected individuals and worked with an outside security firm to ensure the data was deleted.

Small Business Deals

These and many other such incidents point to emails vulnerabilities and underscore the need for businesses large and small to secure, control and track their messages and attachments wherever they send them.

Here are five steps, from AppRiver, that small businesses can follow to simplify the task of developing email compliance standards to safeguard sensitive information.

Email Compliance Guide

1. Determine What Regulations Apply and What You Need to Do

Start by asking: What regulations apply to my company? What requirements exist to demonstrate email compliance? Do these overlap or conflict?

Once you understand what regulations apply, determine if you need different policies to cover them or just one comprehensive policy.

Example regulations that small businesses many encounter include:

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)  governs the transmission of personally identifiable patient health information;

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (S-OX)  requires that companies establish internal controls to accurately gather, process and report financial information;

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)  demands that companies implement policy and technologies to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records when transmitted and in storage;

Payment Card Information Security Standards (PCI)  mandates the secure transmission of cardholder data.

2. Identify What Needs Protecting and Set Protocols

Depending on the regulations your company is subject to, identify data that is deemed confidential  credit card numbers, electronic health records or personally identifiable information  being sent via email.

Also, decide who should have access to send and receive such information. Then, set policies that you can enforce through the use of technology to encrypt, archive or even block transmission of email content based on users, user groups, keywords and other means of identifying transmitted data as sensitive.

3. Track Data Leaks and Losses

Once you understand what types of data users are sending via email, track to determine if loss is occurring and in what ways.

Are breaches taking place inside the business or within a particular group of users? Are file attachments being leaked? Set additional policies to address your core vulnerabilities.

4. Identify What You Need to Enforce Policy

Having the right solution to enforce your policy is just as important as the policy itself. To satisfy regulatory requirements, several solutions may be necessary to ensure email compliance.

Some solutions that organizations can implement include encryption, data leak prevention (DLP), archiving of emails and anti-virus protection.

5. Educate Users and Employees

An effective email compliance policy will focus on user education and policy enforcement for acceptable use.

As unintentional human error remains the most common cause of data breaches, many regulations require the training of users on behaviors that could potentially lead to such violations.

Users and employees will be less likely to let their guard down and make mistakes when they understand proper workplace email usage and the consequences of non-compliance and are comfortable using appropriate technologies.

While no one-size-fits-all plan can help small businesses comply with every regulation, following these five steps can help your business develop an effective email compliance policy that safeguards security standards.

Step Description 1. Determine What Regulations Apply Identify relevant regulations and compliance requirements such as HIPAA, S-OX, GLBA, and PCI DSS. 2. Identify What Needs Protecting and Set Protocols Determine what sensitive data needs protection in emails and establish access and transmission policies. 3. Track Data Leaks and Losses Monitor email data to detect potential breaches or data losses, including internal and attachment leaks. 4. Identify What You Need to Enforce Policy Choose appropriate solutions like encryption, DLP, archiving, and anti-virus to enforce email compliance. 5. Educate Users and Employees Focus on user education and policy enforcement to prevent unintentional errors that could lead to violations.

Maximizing the Impact of Email Marketing

Email marketing remains a potent tool for businesses, and understanding how to harness its potential is crucial. Here are some strategies to maximize the impact of your email marketing campaigns:

Segment Your Audience: Divide your email list into segments based on factors like demographics, purchase history, or engagement level. Tailor your messages to each segment for more personalized and effective communication.

Divide your email list into segments based on factors like demographics, purchase history, or engagement level. Tailor your messages to each segment for more personalized and effective communication. Craft Compelling Subject Lines: Your subject line is the first impression you make. Create clear, concise, and engaging subject lines that entice recipients to open your emails.

Your subject line is the first impression you make. Create clear, concise, and engaging subject lines that entice recipients to open your emails. Focus on Content: Deliver valuable content that resonates with your audience. Use storytelling, informative articles, or exclusive offers to engage and build trust.

Deliver valuable content that resonates with your audience. Use storytelling, informative articles, or exclusive offers to engage and build trust. Responsive Design: Ensure your emails are mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of recipients view emails on mobile devices. Responsive design improves the user experience.

Ensure your emails are mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of recipients view emails on mobile devices. Responsive design improves the user experience. Call-to-Action (CTA): Use clear and actionable CTAs that guide recipients on the desired next steps. Whether its making a purchase or signing up, a compelling CTA can drive conversions.

Use clear and actionable CTAs that guide recipients on the desired next steps. Whether its making a purchase or signing up, a compelling CTA can drive conversions. A/B Testing: Continuously test different elements of your emails, such as subject lines, content, or CTA buttons. A/B testing helps you refine your approach based on performance data.

Continuously test different elements of your emails, such as subject lines, content, or CTA buttons. A/B testing helps you refine your approach based on performance data. Automation: Implement automation for tasks like welcome emails, follow-ups, and abandoned cart reminders. Automation saves time and ensures timely responses to customer actions.

Implement automation for tasks like welcome emails, follow-ups, and abandoned cart reminders. Automation saves time and ensures timely responses to customer actions. Personalization: Incorporate personalization, such as recipient names or tailored product recommendations, to make emails feel more relevant and engaging.

Incorporate personalization, such as recipient names or tailored product recommendations, to make emails feel more relevant and engaging. Monitor Analytics: Regularly analyze email campaign metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use these insights to refine your future campaigns.

Regularly analyze email campaign metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use these insights to refine your future campaigns. Compliance: Prioritize email compliance by adhering to data protection regulations, including GDPR or CCPA. Respect subscribers preferences and include clear unsubscribe options.

Prioritize email compliance by adhering to data protection regulations, including GDPR or CCPA. Respect subscribers preferences and include clear unsubscribe options. Integration: Integrate your email marketing platform with other tools like CRM systems or e-commerce platforms for seamless data management and campaign coordination.

Strategy Description Segment Your Audience Divide your email list into segments based on demographics, purchase history, or engagement level. Craft Compelling Subject Lines Create clear, concise, and engaging subject lines that entice recipients to open your emails. Focus on Content Deliver valuable content such as storytelling, informative articles, or exclusive offers to engage and build trust. Responsive Design Ensure your emails are mobile-friendly with responsive design to improve the user experience. Call-to-Action (CTA) Use clear and actionable CTAs to guide recipients on desired next steps, driving conversions. A/B Testing Continuously test elements like subject lines, content, or CTA buttons to refine your approach based on performance data. Automation Implement automation for tasks like welcome emails, follow-ups, and abandoned cart reminders to save time and respond to customer actions. Personalization Incorporate personalization with recipient names or tailored product recommendations for more relevant and engaging emails. Monitor Analytics Regularly analyze email campaign metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, using insights to refine future campaigns. Compliance Prioritize email compliance by adhering to data protection regulations like GDPR or CCPA and respecting subscriber preferences. Integration Integrate your email marketing platform with other tools like CRM systems or e-commerce platforms for seamless data management and campaign coordination.

Best Practices for Email Marketing Success

Achieving success in email marketing requires a combination of strategies and best practices. Here are some key guidelines to enhance your email marketing efforts:

Build a Quality Email List: Focus on growing a list of engaged and interested subscribers. Avoid buying email lists, as they often result in low-quality leads and spam complaints.

Focus on growing a list of engaged and interested subscribers. Avoid buying email lists, as they often result in low-quality leads and spam complaints. Optimize for Mobile: With many recipients checking emails on mobile devices, ensure that your emails are responsive and display well on small screens.

With many recipients checking emails on mobile devices, ensure that your emails are responsive and display well on small screens. Personalize Content: Use recipient data to personalize emails, addressing subscribers by name and tailoring content based on their preferences and behavior.

Use recipient data to personalize emails, addressing subscribers by name and tailoring content based on their preferences and behavior. Segment Your Audience: Divide your email list into segments to send targeted, relevant content to specific groups of subscribers. Segmentation can boost engagement and conversions.

Divide your email list into segments to send targeted, relevant content to specific groups of subscribers. Segmentation can boost engagement and conversions. Test and Refine: Continuously test different elements of your emails, including subject lines, content, images, and CTAs. Analyze results and refine your approach based on what works best.

Continuously test different elements of your emails, including subject lines, content, images, and CTAs. Analyze results and refine your approach based on what works best. Prioritize Deliverability: Maintain a clean email list by removing inactive subscribers and adhering to email best practices to ensure your emails reach the inbox.

Maintain a clean email list by removing inactive subscribers and adhering to email best practices to ensure your emails reach the inbox. Frequency and Consistency: Find the right balance in email frequency. Consistency in sending emails helps build trust and expectations among subscribers.

Find the right balance in email frequency. Consistency in sending emails helps build trust and expectations among subscribers. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Make your CTAs stand out and guide recipients on the desired action. Use compelling language and design to encourage clicks.

Make your CTAs stand out and guide recipients on the desired action. Use compelling language and design to encourage clicks. Aim for Value: Offer valuable content, promotions, or exclusive offers to your subscribers. Demonstrating value can keep them engaged and loyal.

Offer valuable content, promotions, or exclusive offers to your subscribers. Demonstrating value can keep them engaged and loyal. Compliance: Stay compliant with data protection regulations and provide clear unsubscribe options. Respect subscribers preferences and privacy.

Stay compliant with data protection regulations and provide clear unsubscribe options. Respect subscribers preferences and privacy. Monitor and Analyze: Regularly monitor key email metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates. Use analytics to improve your campaigns.

Regularly monitor key email metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates. Use analytics to improve your campaigns. Engage with Subscribers: Encourage two-way communication with your audience. Respond to inquiries, feedback, and comments promptly to build a connection.

Encourage two-way communication with your audience. Respond to inquiries, feedback, and comments promptly to build a connection. Learn from Competitors: Analyze what successful competitors are doing in their email marketing campaigns. Identify trends and strategies that resonate with your audience.

Analyze what successful competitors are doing in their email marketing campaigns. Identify trends and strategies that resonate with your audience. Educate Yourself: Stay updated on email marketing trends, best practices, and emerging technologies. Attend webinars, read industry blogs, and invest in continuous learning.

Conclusion

Email marketing is a powerful tool for startups and small businesses to connect with their audience, drive engagement, and boost sales. However, its effectiveness relies on strategic planning, adherence to best practices, and a commitment to meeting compliance standards. To succeed in email marketing, businesses must define their goals, carefully consider costs, prioritize customer service, leverage analytics, and ensure email compliance. Furthermore, they should stay vigilant against data breaches and security lapses, which can have far-reaching consequences. While crafting compelling subject lines and choosing the right email marketing service are essential components, they are part of a broader strategy that encompasses list building, personalization, segmentation, and continuous improvement. By embracing these principles and staying informed about industry trends and regulations, small businesses can harness the full potential of email marketing, driving growth and building lasting relationships with their audience. In a digital landscape where email remains a cornerstone of communication, the opportunities for success are boundless for those who navigate this terrain skillfully and ethically.


If youre not putting email at the center of your marketing efforts, then youre missing a trick.

In fact, even if you are embracing it as a promotional channel, if you arent integrating all of your business applications within your email marketing tool, youre losing out on a huge opportunity to grow revenue for your business.

You only need to open your inbox to see that email marketing works. All those newsletters and special offers are stuffing your account because marketers understand the power of the medium. Youll find countless statistics that back this up.

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Consumers marketed to through email spend 138 percent more than people who arent sent email offers.

The average return is $44.25 for every $1 spent on email marketing.

And email is nearly 40 times better at garnering new customers than Facebook and Twitter.

But if youre going to do email marketing, you need to do it right. An important part of email marketing is about understanding exactly who your customers and prospects are in order to get the right message across at the right time.

One of the smartest ways to do this is by harvesting the stockpile of customer data thats strewn across all your business applications, and plugging it all into your email marketing tool. This will give you the extra intelligence needed to make sure that youre hitting the right customers with the right message.

Most of the top email marketing apps listed in GetApps independent ranking system, GetRank, support integrations with popular business software across a range of categories, from customer service and CRM, to HR and social media marketing.

Here are some examples of email marketing integrations and how they can make your marketing app even smarter:

Small Business Deals

CRM

One of the most powerful types of email marketing integration is with CRM software, where you can harness the data you collect on clients and prospects, and use this to deliver targeted campaigns to them.

Most integrations allow you to sync contact data between the two applications, so that you can ensure that each contact or lead you update in your CRM is changed in the email marketing software too.

Most of the top CRMs for small businesses such as Insightly, Zoho CRM, and Pipedrive support integration with email marketing programs.

Customer Service

By plugging your email marketing application into your customer service software, your support agents can see details of exactly which email campaigns have been served to the customer and what actions were taken.

This helps customers get a more personalized experience when they are speaking with an agent.

For example, MailChimp allows you to integrate with Zendesk so that your team can see previous emails alongside a ticket in Zendesk.

Likewise, its possible to integrate email marketing tools with your live chat software.

LiveChat, for example, integrates with MailChimp, Campaign Monitor, and others to allow customers to sign up for newsletters whenever they sign into live chat.

Analytics

Your email marketing solution can be rigged up to integrate with popular Web analytics tools so that you can better track your campaigns.

MailChimp, for instance, includes support for Google Analytics, automatically adding tracking codes to your email campaign URLs so that you can see precisely the impact your campaigns are having in terms of things like traffic and conversions.

Klipfolio is another business intelligence app that integrates with a range of email marketing tools, allowing you to use them as a data source.

This means that you can combine email marketing metrics with data from other areas of your business and create unique queries to discover patterns through your dashboards.

eCommerce

No matter how you dress it up, mailouts are ultimately about bringing in revenue in the long term. If youre using an email marketing application and have an online store, youd better make sure that theyre linked up.

Apps like ActiveCampaign, MailChimp, and Campaign Monitor include integrations with a bunch of eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce, either directly through the app or by using their APIs.

By connecting these applications, you can do things like add customers as email contacts after they make a purchase, get marketing recommendations based on activity in your store, or pull items from your store directly into your email newsletters.

Social Media

Social media and email marketing are both valuable ways to connect with your customer, but they shouldnt be regarded as completely separate entities. After all, its likely that youre talking to the same people through both mediums.

Generally, youll find that your email marketing software can be very easily connected to Twitter, Facebook, and even Instagram, so you can sync your campaigns.

MailChimps HootSuite integration is a good example of how to sync up your marketing channels. By using the MailChimp campaigns stream, you can see reports and share links across social media, then assess how your followers have interacted with your campaign.

The Lists stream lets you see the health of your campaigns by tracking open rates and unsubscribes, and when you put the streams together, youll be able to conjure up creative social campaigns based around whats working in your email efforts.

Its worth exploring all of the supported integrations when choosing an email marketing tool, to make sure the other apps youre using in your business are complimentary. That way, you can be sure that things are synced and that data youre collecting on a daily basis goes towards delighting your customers and increasing your lead conversion.

Integration Description Supported Email Marketing Tools CRM Integrate customer relationship management (CRM) software to harness client and prospect data for targeted campaigns. Sync contact data between CRM and email marketing tools. Insightly, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, and more Customer Service Connect email marketing with customer service software to provide personalized experiences and view campaign interactions. MailChimp (Zendesk integration), LiveChat, and others Analytics Integrate email marketing with web analytics tools for better campaign tracking. MailChimp (Google Analytics), Klipfolio, and more eCommerce Link email marketing applications with eCommerce platforms to enhance revenue generation. ActiveCampaign, MailChimp, Campaign Monitor, and more Social Media Easily connect email marketing with social media channels to synchronize campaigns and assess their impact. MailChimp (HootSuite integration), Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more

Tips for Seamless Email Marketing Integrations

To ensure successful integrations between your email marketing tool and other business applications, consider these valuable tips:

Evaluate Compatibility : Before selecting an email marketing tool, assess its compatibility with your existing business applications. Ensure that the integrations you need are supported.

: Before selecting an email marketing tool, assess its compatibility with your existing business applications. Ensure that the integrations you need are supported. Data Security : Prioritize data security when integrating applications. Protect customer information and adhere to privacy regulations like GDPR.

: Prioritize data security when integrating applications. Protect customer information and adhere to privacy regulations like GDPR. Training and Support : Provide training to your team on using integrated tools effectively. Ensure that your email marketing provider offers reliable customer support for troubleshooting.

: Provide training to your team on using integrated tools effectively. Ensure that your email marketing provider offers reliable customer support for troubleshooting. Monitor Performance : Regularly monitor the performance of your integrated systems. Track metrics, analyze results, and make adjustments to optimize your marketing strategies.

: Regularly monitor the performance of your integrated systems. Track metrics, analyze results, and make adjustments to optimize your marketing strategies. Test Automation : Explore automation features within your email marketing tool and integrated apps. Automate repetitive tasks to save time and improve efficiency.

: Explore automation features within your email marketing tool and integrated apps. Automate repetitive tasks to save time and improve efficiency. Stay Updated : Keep your applications and integrations up to date with the latest versions. This helps prevent compatibility issues and ensures access to new features.

: Keep your applications and integrations up to date with the latest versions. This helps prevent compatibility issues and ensures access to new features. Customization : Seek customizable integrations that can be tailored to your specific business needs. This flexibility allows for a more personalized and efficient workflow.

: Seek customizable integrations that can be tailored to your specific business needs. This flexibility allows for a more personalized and efficient workflow. Backup Data : Implement data backup procedures in case of integration failures or data loss. Regularly back up critical customer data to prevent disruptions.

: Implement data backup procedures in case of integration failures or data loss. Regularly back up critical customer data to prevent disruptions. User Feedback: Encourage feedback from your team members who use integrated systems daily. Their insights can help identify areas for improvement.

The Power of Email Marketing Integrations

Enhanced Personalization : Integrating your email marketing tool with customer relationship management (CRM) software allows you to gather valuable customer data and create highly personalized email campaigns. Tailoring content to individual preferences boosts engagement and conversion rates.

: Integrating your email marketing tool with customer relationship management (CRM) software allows you to gather valuable customer data and create highly personalized email campaigns. Tailoring content to individual preferences boosts engagement and conversion rates. Efficient Campaign Management : Email marketing integrations streamline campaign management by automating tasks like list management, segmenting contacts, and tracking campaign performance. This efficiency saves time and ensures your marketing efforts are more effective.

: Email marketing integrations streamline campaign management by automating tasks like list management, segmenting contacts, and tracking campaign performance. This efficiency saves time and ensures your marketing efforts are more effective. Improved Customer Support : Integrating email marketing with customer service applications enables your support team to access customer email interactions seamlessly. This results in better-informed responses and enhanced customer satisfaction.

: Integrating email marketing with customer service applications enables your support team to access customer email interactions seamlessly. This results in better-informed responses and enhanced customer satisfaction. Data-Driven Insights : Integrations with analytics tools provide in-depth insights into the performance of your email campaigns. Access to metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates helps you refine your strategies for better results.

: Integrations with analytics tools provide in-depth insights into the performance of your email campaigns. Access to metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates helps you refine your strategies for better results. Increased Revenue : Integrating with eCommerce platforms allows you to link your online store with email marketing. You can send targeted product recommendations, abandoned cart reminders, and special offers, ultimately driving more sales and revenue.

: Integrating with eCommerce platforms allows you to link your online store with email marketing. You can send targeted product recommendations, abandoned cart reminders, and special offers, ultimately driving more sales and revenue. Multi-Channel Engagement : Integrations with social media platforms enable cross-channel engagement. You can synchronize your email marketing efforts with your social media campaigns, reaching a broader audience and reinforcing your brand message.

: Integrations with social media platforms enable cross-channel engagement. You can synchronize your email marketing efforts with your social media campaigns, reaching a broader audience and reinforcing your brand message. Streamlined Workflow : Integrations simplify workflows by connecting various business applications. This seamless flow of data and information across systems minimizes manual data entry, reduces errors, and ensures consistency.

: Integrations simplify workflows by connecting various business applications. This seamless flow of data and information across systems minimizes manual data entry, reduces errors, and ensures consistency. Customer Retention : Integrations can help with customer retention by enabling you to send follow-up emails, loyalty rewards, and surveys to gather feedback. This engagement fosters long-term customer relationships.

: Integrations can help with customer retention by enabling you to send follow-up emails, loyalty rewards, and surveys to gather feedback. This engagement fosters long-term customer relationships. Scalability : As your business grows, integrations ensure scalability. You can easily expand your email marketing efforts and adapt to changing business needs without major disruptions.

: As your business grows, integrations ensure scalability. You can easily expand your email marketing efforts and adapt to changing business needs without major disruptions. Competitive Advantage: Leveraging email marketing integrations effectively provides a competitive edge. You can deliver more relevant content, respond faster to customer inquiries, and stay ahead of competitors in your industry.

Benefits Description Enhanced Personalization Utilize CRM integrations to gather customer data and create personalized email campaigns for higher engagement and conversions. Efficient Campaign Management Streamline campaign tasks, such as list management and tracking, through integrations, saving time and boosting marketing effectiveness. Improved Customer Support Integrate with customer service apps for seamless access to customer email interactions, resulting in better-informed support responses. Data-Driven Insights Analytics integrations provide detailed campaign performance metrics, allowing you to refine strategies for improved results. Increased Revenue eCommerce integrations link your online store with email marketing, enabling targeted product recommendations and boosting sales. Multi-Channel Engagement Social media integrations synchronize email and social campaigns, expanding your reach and reinforcing brand messaging. Streamlined Workflow Integrations connect various applications, reducing manual data entry, minimizing errors, and ensuring workflow consistency. Customer Retention Utilize integrations for follow-up emails, loyalty rewards, and feedback surveys to nurture long-term customer relationships. Scalability Integrations support business growth, allowing you to expand your email marketing efforts and adapt to changing needs seamlessly. Competitive Advantage Effectively leveraging integrations provides a competitive edge, enabling relevant content delivery, faster responses, and staying ahead.

Conclusion

Email marketing is undeniably a powerful tool for businesses seeking to connect with their audience and drive revenue. However, what truly sets successful email marketing apart is the integration of various business applications into the email marketing ecosystem. Its not just about sending messages; its about leveraging the wealth of data and insights available through these integrations to create more personalized, efficient, and effective campaigns.

By aligning your email marketing efforts with CRM systems, customer service applications, analytics tools, eCommerce platforms, and social media channels, you can elevate your marketing game to new heights. You gain the ability to understand your customers on a deeper level, respond to their needs promptly, and measure the impact of your campaigns with precision.

Moreover, this holistic approach to email marketing isnt just a nice-to-haveits a strategic advantage. In a landscape where competition is fierce and customer expectations are continually evolving, businesses that embrace these integrations gain a significant edge. They can deliver highly targeted content, provide superior customer experiences, and adapt swiftly to market changes.

So, as you embark on your email marketing journey or reassess your current strategies, remember that its not just about the emails you send; its about the connections you forge and the insights you gather. Integrations are the key to unlocking the full potential of email marketing, and they can be the driving force behind your businesss growth and success.
Chag Sameach! Also known as Pesach, Passover is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Ancient Israelites exodus from slavery. This important religious holiday often is celebrated with plenty of pomp and festivity, particularly on the first day when families hold a special meal known as Passover seder.

Want to send well wishes to your professional colleagues for Passover? Check out the following 6o Passover messages for small businesses.

How do You Wish Someone Happy Passover?

How do you wish someone a happy Passover? What makes an appropriate professional message for Passover? People appreciate holiday messages, and Passover is no exception. In fact, some religious observers will feel special appreciation knowing you honor their faith.

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When sending messages from a small business, its important to wish a happy Passover with a professional tone and language. Passover messages can be sent via email, text message, direct message or written into a greeting card. You even can send custom messages from printing services. Short, simple happy Passover messages also make excellent social media posts.

Types of Mediums to Send Passover Greetings:

Email

Text message

Direct message

Greeting card

Custom messages from printing services

Social media posts

The Importance of Sending a Kosher and Joyous Passover Greeting Message

Why is the Passover holiday such a festive season? The Passover holiday, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, is a time of profound celebration and introspection.

It commemorates one of the most pivotal moments in Jewish history, when the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, miraculously escaped the chains of slavery in Egypt. This liberation set them on a journey toward the promised land, a symbol of hope and freedom.

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Throughout generations, families have shared these stories, reinforcing the values of faith, resilience, and unity.

The fluctuating dates of Passover often spark curiosity among many. Unlike fixed holidays on the Gregorian calendar, Passovers timing derives from the lunar-based Hebrew calendar. This variance might be a tad confusing for those accustomed only to the solar-based Gregorian system.

However, the essence of Passover remains unaltered by its shifting dates. As this special season unfolds, Jewish families worldwide gather with their loved ones, engaging in cherished traditions.

They recite tales of old, sing heartfelt songs, visit the temple in reverence, and even exchange warm wishes through Passover cards, embodying the spirit of unity, gratitude, and celebration.

Why Send a Passover Greeting:

To commemorate an important Jewish holiday

Foster positive relationships and loyalty with clients and colleagues

Boost brand awareness and customer engagement

Show appreciation and respect for others faith and traditions

Sending joyous Passover greetings gives a personal touch to professional communication, and it shows colleagues, clients and employers that you value them and wish them blessings.

Best Messages for Passover to Send to Your Clients

In the age of digital communication, sending holiday messages has taken on a new significance. Dispatching Passover greetings to clients serves a dual purpose.

On one hand, it emphasizes a personal touch, fostering enduring relationships and cementing client loyalty.

On the other, it becomes a subtle yet effective marketing strategy, amplifying brand visibility and driving customer engagement.

For businesses treading unfamiliar territory with Passover greetings, crafting the right message might seem daunting.

Fear not, for the subsequent sections will provide a compilation of thoughtfully curated Passover messages, tailored to resonate with your clientele and reinforce your brand ethos.

Best wishes for a joyous Passover. Wishing you a wonderful Passover and a blessed season. Warm wishes to you and yours during this Passover. Chag Sameach! Happy Passover to you and your family. May you enjoy a joyous Passover this year. Happy Pesach to you and your family. Happy Passover from our family to yours. Wishing you great peace this Passover. Wishing you a happy Pesach and a blessed spring season. May you have a glorious Passover celebration this year. Wishing you every blessing for Passover this year. Wishing you a kosher and joyous Passover. In honor of Passover, we wish you, our customer, the happiest of tidings. May Passover bring you joy and peace this year.

Best Happy Passover Messages to Send to Your Co-Workers

In todays diverse workplace, cultural sensitivity and awareness play a crucial role in fostering mutual respect. Sending Passover greetings to coworkers is a wonderful gesture that contributes to a harmonious and inclusive work environment.

While its delightful to blend the camaraderie of friendship with professionalism, its paramount to strike a balance in your Passover wishes.

Tailoring your messages with care and empathy is essential, especially since the fabric of any workplace is woven with individuals from a myriad of backgrounds and beliefs.

Keys to a Professional Passover Message:

Maintain a professional tone and language

Make it short and simple, especially for social media

Consider the recipients background and religious beliefs

Use greetings appropriate for the relationship (client, coworker, employee, boss)

What do you write in a Passover message for a coworker? The following examples should help when composing your interoffice Passover greeting.

Wishing my dearest coworker a sweet Passover this year. Best Passover greetings to you and yours during this joyous spring. Happy Passover and best wishes to my near and dear ones. May the arrival of Passover bring you hope and inspiration! I hope this Passover finds you surrounded by love and happiness. Chag Pesach kasher vesameach! May you be blessed with peace during this Passover. Happy Passover! I hope you can celebrate with friends and loved ones. A koshern un freilichen Pesach! May Passover bring you signs of hope for a bright future. I hope you delight in the celebration and tradition of Passover this year. Dearest coworker, heres wishing you a joyful and peaceful Passover this year. Sweet Passover to all! Wishing you joy and prosperity this Passover and all the days of your life. Joyful Passover to my dearest colleague!

Best Happy Passover Messages to Send to Employees

As a leader or supervisor, recognizing and celebrating the diverse holidays and traditions of your team members can be a testament to your inclusive leadership style.

While its wonderful to acknowledge Passover, the tone and content of your message should radiate utmost professionalism.

Whether youre a startup founder, a seasoned executive, or somewhere in between, genuine appreciation combined with professional decorum can create an impactful impression.

Still pondering the nuances of Passover greetings for your workforce? The upcoming section contains carefully drafted messages, ensuring both warmth and professionalism, to guide you.

Passover celebrates Gods gift, including employees like you. Wishing you and your family a joyous celebration on Passover. I am grateful for my many blessings this Passoverespecially for you! Hoping you have a blessed Passover and a joyful spring. I hope your Passover is filled with peace, love and joy. May you have a kosher and joyous Passover this year. Chag Pesach Sameach! May your blessed Passover be filled with happy moments and joy. Best passover wishes to you and your family this year. I hope you can celebrate Passover with peace and love this year. Happy Passover to a valued employee! Chag Pesach Sameach!

Blessed Passover Messages to Send to Employees

Faith and tradition form the cornerstone of many individuals lives. When youre certain that an employee observes and celebrates Passover, sending them a message imbued with spiritual sentiments can be deeply touching.

However, even in this context, its pivotal to maintain an air of professionalism, setting the right boundaries between personal and professional relationships.

Seeking inspiration for blessings-filled Passover messages with a professional veneer? Dive into the next segment, which offers a palette of messages that harmoniously blend spiritual wishes with a corporate touch.

Blessed Passover wishes to you and yours on this joyous holiday. Happy Passover to one of my favorite employees. May your Pesach be full of blessings and happy moments! Have a blessed Passover! May the Passover festival bond out team with mutual peace and respect! Chag Pesach kasher vesameach. Wishing a prosperous Passover for you and your family!

Best Passover Messages to Send to Your Boss

Building rapport and trust with superiors is an art that goes beyond day-to-day tasks. Taking the initiative to send Passover greetings to your boss is a thoughtful gesture that can further solidify your professional relationship.

Its a token of respect, acknowledgment, and a nod to their cultural or religious observances. As you craft this message, ensure its distinct from casual greetings you might share with peers or friends.

Your intent is to showcase both appreciation and professionalism. Need assistance in framing the right words? The following collection of Pesach messages has been tailored to help you navigate this delicate balance.

Best Passover wishes to you and your family this year. Hoping you and your family members have a joyous Passover. Happy Pesach! Have a joyful Passover and always know youre appreciated. Cheerful Passover greetings to a great boss this year! Wishing you tidings of great joy on this auspicious occasion. Happy Passover! Hoping an amazing boss has a kosher and joyous Passover. Blessed Passover wishes to you and yours on this auspicious occasion. Peace and good tidings to you and your family members on this blessed Passover celebration. The Passover story is a reason to celebrate, and I wish you great joy and blessings during the festival this year. Shalom to you and your loved ones on this blessed and joyful Passover! Happy Passover and great blessings to you this spring. Heres wishing you prosperity and peace this Passover. Chag Sameach! I hope you have a peaceful and happy Passover this holiday season. May you and your loved ones have a peaceful, prosperous and joyful Pesach. Happy Passover day! May Passover bring with it joy, peace and good health to you, your friends and loved ones this blessed season.

Celebrate Passover in Your Business with these Message Examples

Selecting an appropriate Passover greeting varies based on the professional relationship. Heres a guide to help you craft a heartfelt yet professional message.

Relationship Greeting Approach Clients Foster loyalty, show appreciation, boost brand engagement Coworkers Create a harmonious workplace, respect diversity Employees Show appreciation, maintain heightened professionalism Boss Forge a positive relationship, demonstrate mutual respect

The tradition of conveying Passover greetings extends beyond mere formality. Its a powerful tool in the realm of professional relationships, bridging gaps and fostering understanding.

In an increasingly interconnected and diverse business landscape, such gestures stand out, showcasing empathy, respect, and inclusivity.

By sending a heartfelt yet professionally tailored Passover message, be it via email or a tangible greeting card, we not only celebrate a significant Jewish holiday but also champion the values of mutual respect and appreciation.

Its these subtle yet impactful actions that contribute to a harmonious and productive workplace, making every stakeholder feel valued and acknowledged.

So, as the Passover season approaches, take a moment to craft messages that resonate, upholding the dual virtues of sincerity and professionalism.
In post-election talks, populists and liberals are battling for the support of Hlas in order to form a government and set the course for Slovakia over the next four years.

Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini (l) and Smer leader Robert Fico (r) meet in the historical parliamentary building on October 9, 2023 to receive a certificate confirming them as MPs. (Source: TASR - Jaroslav Novak)

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In a video posted on social media 11 days before the September 30 parliamentary election, former three-time prime minister Robert Fico, leader of the populist Smer party, accused Peter Pellegrini, leader of the Smer splinter party Hlas, of being open to cooperation with the liberals after the election in exchange for the post of prime minister.

Smer gave him everything, Fico said. Now we stink to him.

Indeed, in his book about his vision for Slovakia published over the summer, Pellegrini compares his political story to a cheesy American movie, giving only a truncated account of his experience.

Pellegrini skips over the bits about him being suspected of taking a 150,000-euro bribe stuffed into a champagne gift box at a time when he was deputy finance minister or failing to credibly explain how he managed to buy a 410,000-euro three-room flat in an exclusive neighbourhood under Bratislava Castle five years ago. Instead, he recounts how he joined Smer in 2000 and rose quickly through the ranks to become deputy finance minister, education minister, speaker of parliament, deputy prime minister and, in 2018, after the contract killing of an investigative journalist, replaced Fico as prime minister until the 2020 parliamentary election, when Smer suffered an overwhelming defeat by the self-proclaimed anti-corruption movement OLaNO. A few months later, Pellegrini left Smer to found his own party, Hlas.

Also in his video, Fico advised leftist voters to vote for Smer instead of Hlas, a party that Fico calls a sister party when it is useful for him, to strengthen its position and to be able to form a government with other political partners, such as ultranationalist politicians from the Slovak National Party (SNS).

But in a confident response, Pellegrini slammed Ficos hypocrisy and reminded him that Smers future in a government would depend on Hlas after the election, despite Smer being ahead in the polls at the time.

Except for the SNS and Hlas, you have no other political partners. Other parties have rejected Smer, Pellegrini said in his video riposte to Fico.

Simultaneously, Pellegrini said he could not imagine joining forces with the liberals to accomplish his pre-election promises to the Slovak people. On top of that, in a televised debate, which Fico referenced in his video, Pellegrini doubted MEP Michal Simecka, leader of the liberal Progresivne Slovensko (PS) party, that he could run the country given his lack of experience.

Pellegrini went on to suggest that he was ready to become prime minister again. The fact that Smer and the PS were ahead in the polls  and the former would go on to win the election  did not appear a problem for the Hlas leader.

If we got a mandate that is strong enough, we should aim for the post of premier, he said.

Simecka, whose party wants to stop Smer from returning to power at nearly any cost, did not say at the time whether PS would be willing to give up the post of prime minister to achieve this. But a week after Smer won the election, PS, the runner-up, said it would indeed offer the post to Hlas.

I am ready to give up the post of prime minister in favour of Pellegrini, said Simecka.

Hlas has repeatedly said that it hasnt rejected a liberal-conservative coalition, but it wont be Pellegrini alone who decides the future of Hlas and Slovakia. It is the partys 20-member board, which is said to be split on which coalition Hlas should choose. The coalition with Smer is purportedly preferred.

A man who says that his "big dream" is that more people will return to Slovakia than leave the country, Pellegrini is currently holding talks with all leaders. Formal talks continue only between Hlas and Smer for now.

Even so, Pellegrini would most likely not serve as premier in a Smer cabinet. Well wait and see who will be more generous, Pellegrini said. Im not going to be a bag holder for anyone.

PS leader Michal Simecka meets with President Zuzana Caputova in the Presidential Palace on October 2, 2023. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco)

Fico and Smer is the past

As the election winner, Fico was asked by President Zuzana Caputova to start formal negotiations on forming a coalition government with other political parties. In this, Caputova, who is suing Fico over lies he continues to spread about her, decided to follow constitutional tradition.

The Smer leader has until October 16 to prove to the president he can muster a majority in parliament and to brief her on who might sit in his cabinet. The president can refuse to appoint some of his potential candidates for ministers.

Fico has so far not commented on the negotiations with Hlas and the SNS. His relationship with Pellegrini remains far from friendly. After the defeat in the 2020 election, Pellegrini called on Fico to step down as Smer leader. Fico refused. In response, Pellegrini and 10 well-known Smer MPs, who became known as Pelles Eleven, quit Smer.

I can no longer imagine a political future in tandem or cooperation with Robert Fico in some joint project, even under different conditions, Pellegrini said in 2020, describing the world of Ficos as a world of the past, while his was a world of the future.

Fico considered the decision by Pellegrini and the others to be absolutely shameful.

The nation always likes betrayal, but hates traitors, Fico responded, reminding Pellegrini it was the Smer leader who made him prime minister and speaker of parliament.

Their relationship was not great during Pellegrinis premiership from 2018 to 2020 either. SNS leader Andrej Danko, one of Smers then-coalition partners, complained about Pellegrini and Ficos contradictory statements on a variety of matters.

The prime minister should obey his party leader; he was chosen by Fico and Smer, Danko said at the time.

During this years election campaign, despite their common past and closeness on social and economic issues, Pellegrini continued to refer to Smer and Fico as something that belongs to the past, while Fico suspected Hlas of cooking up a coalition with liberal parties.

Danko, on the other hand, kept alive the dream of a future government that would be formed by Smer, SNS and Hlas. He also managed to convince smaller ultranationalist parties to join the SNSs slate for the election in an effort to stop liberalism. The tactics helped the party pass the threshold to enter parliament.

SNS chair Andrej Danko is portrayed on a billboard that says "We'll stop liberalism together". (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

Smers bag of explosives

A critic of the sanctions against Russia and moves to scrap unanimous voting in the EU as well as an opponent of sending more military aid to Ukraine, Ficos chances of becoming Slovak premier for the fourth time hang in the balance, say analysts.

As the leader of the winning party, I will run for the post of prime minister, he said the day after his Smer party won the election.

In a podcast, professor of political science Darina Malova opined that Fico wont agree to Pellegrini becoming prime minister. Pellegrini will always play second fiddle to Fico, Malova said, explaining that Fico is aggressive in his way of doing politics while Pellegrini favours persuasion and is less prone to displays of arrogance.

The latest media reports suggest that Fico has offered Pellegrini the post of speaker of parliament.

Boris Zala, one of Smers founders and a former MEP, suggested in recent interviews that Pellegrini wants to be known as the moderniser of Slovakia, which is why he would not want to sit in a government with Fico.

I think that this [position of prime minister] is the most important card for him to join any coalition, argued Zala.

But observers warn of the dangers for Hlas if the party joins forces with Smer and the ultranationalists. Smer could take credit for any successes of the potential Smer-led government and, in time, reabsorb Hlas. A case in point: the parties that Smer ruled with in its last government from 2016 to 2020, SNS and Most-Hid, were shut out of parliament after the election in 2020.

If Hlas wants to be a project for several decades, going into government with Smer is high risk, Malova thinks.

Zala, moreover, talks about Smers luggage from the past that is full of explosives. After Smer was ousted from power, a number of corruption investigations began. Around 40 people linked to former Smer governments have since been convicted, while dozens of others are being investigated or prosecuted. Fico himself is being investigated in a case that concerns the alleged misuse of the police to discredit Smers political opponents.

It is certain that it will explode at some point and Pellegrini as prime minister will have to deal with it, Zala claims.

But Smer would not be the only problem for Pellegrini.

Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini as pictured before one of the first post-election TV debate on October 1, 2023. (Source: TASR - Jaroslav Novak)

Unstable SNS wants to stop liberalism

Being in a coalition with SNS would not contribute to a stable government, which Pellegrini has stressed for months is important.

SNS will only actually have one MP, its pro-Russian leader and former speaker Andrej Danko. The butt of numerous jokes inspired by his way of communicating, Danko shook hands with Putin, took a selfie with Russian State Duma Chair Vyacheslav Volodin, and published an open letter several weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in which he addressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as my dear friend. In addition, Danko opposes military aid for Ukraine.

Pellegrini, who sees Slovakias future firmly in the EU and NATO, has claimed that Slovakia has not got much military material that could be donated to Ukraine left, but he supports Slovak arms companies in the production of weapons as they create jobs.

Danko, like Fico, also favours the politics of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Just like Orban, they have said that they are ready to criticise the EU and NATO whenever it is necessary to defend Slovakias interests.

If people give us a mandate, I will fight for Slovaks like Orban does for Hungarians, Danko said during the summer.

The SNS nominally obtained 10 seats in parliament, but the remaining nine seats will be taken by people who are not SNS members and have their own parties and agendas. Some are notorious faces from the disinformation scene, others consider bears to be biological weapons or enjoy taking pot shots at the LGBT+ community, and some have entered parliament on the slate of a far-right party in the past.

The coalition with SNS [and Smer] would, in fact, be a five-party coalition, political analyst Jozef Lenc told the Pravda daily. If Hlas rejected the far-right party Republika, it should be a problem for Hlas to be in a government with people who mentally represent the world of Republika.

On October 7, when the SNS held a special party conference, Danko announced that his caucus will be united and that the SNS will only support a government that will be led by Fico.

Pellegrini must now answer the question as to whether he will succumb to the attempts of liberals, or whether he is ready to take the post of speaker of parliament and cooperate with Ficos government, Danko said.

He added that the SNS would also be open to supporting a Smer-led government of which Hlas and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), not the SNS, would be members in order to stop liberal parties from taking power.

KDH chair Milan Majersky talks to a journalist during the September 30 election night. (Source: TASR - Dano Veselsky)

Red lines

But KDH has refused to enter into a coalition with Smer. The final decision on the post-election future of the movement will be made during the partys assembly, though. It is scheduled for October 14.

Smer would have a stronger position in parliament with KDH in tow, 81 seats, rather than the 79 seats a Smer-Hlas-SNS coalition would have.

In 2006, some KDH members were considering a coalition with Smer to prevent Smer from forming a government with SNS, which KDH considered extremist, and HZDS, which was led by former semi-authoritarian prime minister Vladimir Meciar. In the end, the partys hesitation and disunity of party members on this matter caused Smer to form the government with SNS and HZDS. In the next elections, Smer stole voters from HZDS and SNS.

In this years election, the far-right party Republika did not get into parliament. Smer, which has shifted its rhetoric from leftist to nationalist and ultraconservative in the past decade, is believed to have dug Republikas grave to some degree.

We know very well that Smer has so far absorbed all its coalition partners, KDH leader Milan Majersky told the conservative daily Postoj. I dont want to be a KDH undertaker.

Apart from Smer, the liberal agenda is another problem for KDH. Majersky has called LGBT+ people a plague on live TV and labelled some elements of PSs manifesto as extremist on public radio in September. Majersky has long refused to cooperate with liberal parties due to their ambition to improve the life of and grant rights to the LGBT+ community.

We will never give up on this red line, Majersky said.

After PS leader Simecka decided to offer the post of prime minister to Pellegrini, KDH changed its rhetoric. It no longer speaks about going into opposition  a move that could have harmed the partys reputation if it did not make an effort to prevent Smers return to power.

We are open to further negotiations on the best possible alternative for Slovakia, but our priorities and red lines still apply, the board of KDH announced on October 6.

Pellegrini is said to be a more acceptable leader for KDH, a party that has already sat with liberal parties in past governments.

In an interview three years ago, the 48-year-old singleton was asked about whether he was gay. The publisher censored this part of the interview and the weeklys editor-in-chief resigned as a result.

A coalition made up of KDH, PS, Hlas and the liberal SaS party would control 82 seats in the 150-seat parliament.

Zala believes that Pellegrini would be a better prime minister in any liberal-conservative coalition.

Pellegrini is currently holding talks with all leaders, but formal talks continue only between Hlas and Smer for now. If negotiations with Smer fail, Pellegrini is ready to sit down at the negotiating table with PS, SaS and KDH. Nevertheless, he has already made it clear that Hlas would quit this four-party coalition if any of the partners violated mutually agreed deals.

But even if there is an exclusive offer on the table for Pellegrini as prime minister, there is one post that PS will not give up: that of interior minister. This is because the interior minister selects the police chief and Pellegrini has already said he would sack the current police chief Stefan Hamran. Pellegrini also wants to look into whether Slovakia even needs the Special Prosecutors Office and the Specialised Criminal Court, both of which deal with the most serious crimes like corruption. Fico has similar plans.

If Pellegrini attempted to bring ongoing high-profile investigations to a halt, this would most likely lead to the collapse of any potential four-party coalition.

But today, even the liberal party SaS thinks that PS should sacrifice the Interior Ministry.

If Hlas managing the Interior Ministry is to prevent another Smer government, it is certainly a better way for Slovakia than the Justice Ministry and the Interior Ministry in the hands of Smer, said a former justice minister for SaS, Maria Kolikova.

SaS chair Richard Sulik shortly before his meeting with President Zuzana Caputova on October 9, 2023. (Source: TASR)

This story was produced in partnership with Reporting Democracy, a cross-border journalism platform run by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.
Heated tents have popped up in the capital, as well as in Banska Bystrica.

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A rising number of illegal migrants stuck in Bratislava on the way to western Europe made the city declare an emergency situation the past weekend.

The movement of illegal migrants in Central Europe has been hampered since the reintroduction of border checks in the region. Slovakia tightened its border with Hungary last week.

Cooler temperatures also prompted Bratislava to make the announced step.

It enables the city to provide necessary assistance more operatively and efficiently, said the citys spokesperson Peter Bubla, adding that it is the task of the state to deal with the situation.

Child almost died

The city, in cooperation with different organisations, has been providing emergency overnight accommodation for children, women and vulnerable people since last weekend. Food, medicines, translation services are also provided, the Sme daily writes.

We would like to ask the public not to bring food or clothing at this time. Currently, our supplies are sufficient and no help from individuals is needed, said the municipal police on Facebook.

Men mostly stay at the main railway station, the place from where they are trying to make it to neighbouring countries. Some can be seen near the Government Office, but many arrive to Bratislavas Vajnory borough. This is where the Foreigners Police office is situated.

Most of these people come from Syria. The police also came across Turkish people.

The Interior Ministry is said to be putting up tents where illegal migrants are lingering this week. In the meantime, Vajnory has already erected heated tents on Regrutska Street.

If there's free capacity, we will also take men in, said Vajnory mayor Michal Vlcek.

Children make up a tenth of illegal migrants. In Vajnory, a migrant child almost died on Monday morning.

The child was highly hypothermic and fell unconscious, the mayor told Dennik N.

Vajnory has experienced the inflow of illegal migrants since summer. Back then they did not stay long.

Emergency declared in Banska Bystrica

Apart from Bratislava, Banska Bystrica also decided to declare an emergency situation due to illegal migrants. The city will provide a heated tent for illegal migrants. It will be put up in the Micinska parking space.

There are also mothers with children among the illegal migrants, so we want to create adequate conditions for them to at least warm up and have a rest, said Banska Bystrica mayor Jan Nosko.

Unlike the summer, only dozens of illegal migrants are currently staying in the central Slovak town. Many continue their journey to the West. In Bratislava, it is estimated that several hundreds of illegal migrants are staying in the capital city at the moment.

The police have not recorded any crimes committed by the illegal migrants.
Progresivne Slovensko chair Michal Simecka thinks that Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini had this plan from the beginning.

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Hlas leader and ex-prime minister Peter Pellegrini promised to respond to a generous offer given to him by Progresivne Slovensko (PS), a liberal party that came second in the September election.

In its press release, the liberals said that they offered Pellegrini the possibility of becoming prime minister and his party an equal partner in the potential government. PS was even willing to negotiate on who should become the next interior minister. PS was refusing to give up on this post before.

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Pellegrini has had this information for several days. He promised us a response, the liberal party said on early Tuesday afternoon.

PS has attempted to form a government with Hlas, which came third in the election, the liberal party SaS and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), in order to prevent Smer from taking power again. Smer, under whose governments organised crime and corruption thrived, is led by former three-time prime minister Robert Fico, who holds pro-Russian views and likes the politics of Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.

Pellegrini responded to PS on late Tuesday afternoon by holding a press conference, telling the press that his party decided to continue further negotiations with Smer and Andrej Dankos ultranationalist Slovak National Party. Danko, another politician with pro-Russian views, thinks that Putin is a friend of Slovakia.

Our board unanimously decided that Hlas would conduct further negotiations on the government coalition with the Smer and SNS parties, said Pellegrini.

Hlas was founded in 2020 by a group of Smer renegades known as Pelles Eleven.

The announcement comes a week after the start of post-election negotiations between the political parties that got into parliament. Smer, winner of the election, was formally asked to seek a majority in parliament by President Zuzana Caputova last Monday.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/Il09OluPcPo

Pellegrini rejects circus, favours pro-Russian parties
Peter Pellegrini will return to Robert Fico, even if it will be an embrace of death for his party.

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Peter Pellegrini decided to govern with Smer. He announced to the public that he was even putting aside his own ambitions for the good of the nation. He used Robert Fico's term about the impossibility of governing with a conglomerate together, about the endless quarrels between liberals and conservatives that would impact such a government.

Allegedly, these parties, Progresivne Slovensko (PS), SaS and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), could not even manage the negotiations on the composition of the government, because they were exchanging messages through social networks and the media. He apparently did not notice the statements of his third potential coalition partner, SNS leader Andrej Danko, who mainly proved his loyalty through the media.
New AmCham Slovakia director, emergency situation in Bratislava, and earthquake in eastern Slovakia.

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Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, October 10 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Another Smer era is nearing

Smer leader Robert Fico (l) shakes hands with Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini. PS chair Michal Simecka stands in between them after a pre-election TV debate on September 27, 2023. (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

The Hlas party, chaired by former premier and former Smer member Peter Pellegrini, announced on Tuesday afternoon that the party would only focus on formal talks with the Slovak National Party (SNS) and Smer.

Pellegrini believes that the Smer-Hlas-SNS coalition will bring stability to Slovakia, help people, and will not change Slovakia's foreign policy. The potential government with liberal parties and the Christian Democrats (KDH) would not last, the Hlas chair also opined during his press briefing.

Slovakia cannot afford another government circus, Pellegrini said.

Progresivne Slovensko, SaS and KDH - three parties that have tried to stop Smer from taking power - slammed Pellegrini's decision. He chose the past, they said.

Opinion: Pellegrini's decision is his great failure and a waste of his last great chance to serve democratic institutions and the rule of law, writes editor-in-chief of the Sme daily Beata Balogova.

Negotiations: The first week of post-election talks gave some people hopes that Hlas would not choose Smer. It also suggested the potential end of Hlas.

Police: In the event that Smer forms a new government, police chief Stefan Hamran wants to leave his post on October 31. Several other police officials want to leave by the end of this year, Hamran said. (TV Markiza)

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

Bratislava: The capital declares an emergency situation due to illegal migrants.

The capital declares an emergency situation due to illegal migrants. News: On Monday evening, an earthquake was felt in eastern Slovakia.

On Monday evening, an earthquake was felt in eastern Slovakia. Travel: Have you observed the winter night sky? A Slovak national park will give its visitors this opportunity.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY

What are the biggest challenges US investors face in Slovakia?

Martina Slabejova (Source: Courtesy of AmCham )

Although Slovakia is falling in international rankings for innovation and competitiveness, Martina Slabejova, the new executive director of AmCham in Slovakia, says in an interview with The Slovak Spectator that the country has a lot of positives to highlight.

"Slovakia is a country full of talented people, so let's not beat ourselves up so much. Let's take a look at what's good instead," she says, adding that Slovakia, especially its eastern regions, should be more self-confident and assertive.

EVENT FOR FRIDAY

Celebrating International Coming Out Day

Teply Vencek, an event that took place for the first time last year, will take place at Nova Cvernovka on Friday evening. The event will be a celebration of love and LGBT+ community through dancing.

Vencek is a traditional prom in primary (and secondary) schools when children show off their dancing skills to their parents and friends after weeks of trainings.

The queer version of Vencek will take place a day after the country marks the first anniversary of the killings of two queer people outside Teplaren in Bratislava.

Vojtik, a Slovak queer artist, will perform together with the Ukrainian-Russian-Belarusian quintet, at this party alongside other DJs and artists.

Date and hour: October 13 at 20:00

Ticket (s): available here or at Nova Cvernovka (7 to 69)

In other news

Austria will have a new ambassador to Slovakia , Johannes Wimmer.

, Johannes Wimmer. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova appeals to Slovaks in Israel who are not on the list of passengers on the first repatriation flight to stay in touch with the embassy . She declared that the government plane was ready to come after them repeatedly.

. She declared that the government plane was ready to come after them repeatedly. The incidence of mental disorders has been increasing for a long time . It is necessary to think about how to improve the conditions of mental health care at the national level, said the Health Ministry on the occasion of Tuesday's World Mental Health Day.

. It is necessary to think about how to improve the conditions of mental health care at the national level, said the Health Ministry on the occasion of Tuesday's World Mental Health Day. Checks at the border between Slovakia and Hungary should be extended until November 3 , according to a proposal that the Interior Ministry submitted to the interim government. The ministers will deal with it at Wednesday's session.

, according to a proposal that the Interior Ministry submitted to the interim government. The ministers will deal with it at Wednesday's session. Skoda Auto Slovensko delivered 13,407 vehicles to customers in the first nine months of this year , achieving a market share of 19.8 percent. In September itself, Slovaks bought 1,380 vehicles of this brand, up 56.8 percent y-o-y. The best-selling vehicle was the Octavia. The Czech brand was also successful in electric car

deliveries in Slovakia. It took the lead when selling 314 fully electric Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe models. (SITA)

, achieving a market share of 19.8 percent. In September itself, Slovaks bought 1,380 vehicles of this brand, up 56.8 percent y-o-y. The best-selling vehicle was the Octavia. The Czech brand was also successful in electric car deliveries in Slovakia. It took the lead when selling 314 fully electric Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe models. (SITA) Industrial production increased by 4.6 percent y-o-y in August. It was the highest growth since the beginning of the year, the Statistics Office announced.

WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Overcast skies, light precipitation in some places, fog in the morning. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 25C. (SHMU)

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator).
Clorox shortages are affecting many American consumers. If you are wondering why there are not enough Clorox products in the market, then you can blame it on the recent cyberattack against the American consumer products giant.

Although the security breach happened in August, the consumer and professional products manufacturer said that it still suffers from its negative effects.

Clorox Shortages Blamed on Recent Cyberattack

According to NBC News' latest report, ever since the massive cyberattack targeted Clorox, the American global company said that it had been unable to automatically process orders for its vendors.

These include Target, Walmart, and other giant retail stores. Because of this issue, the sales of Clorox slowed down. The cybersecurity breach is also leading to outages and product shortages.

"When [Clorox] couldn't take in the orders, even though the lines themselves could run, [Clorox] couldn't tell them what to produce or where to send it," said Allan Liska, a Recorder Future cybersecurity expert, who is familiar with the long-lasting effects of the Clorox cyberattack.

On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Clorox said that it could lose lots of money in the first quarter of its 2024 fiscal, which already ended on Sept. 30. The consumer products manufacturer said that this is among the results of the recent breach.

Before the cybersecurity attack happened, Clorox claimed that its sales could have grown in the mid-single digits in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the American firm confirmed that its sales could fall by 23% to 28%.

Read Also: Target Store Shutdown: Retailer Blames Theft, Other Crimes for Branch Closures; Affected US Cities, Other Details

About Recent Clorox Cyberattack

CNBC reported that the cyberattack against Clorox was announced in August. The American consumer product firm said that the effects of the security breach have widescale effects.

Authorities said that the Scattered Spider, the ransomware gang behind the recent cyberattacks on Caesars and MGM, might be connected to the Clorox breach.

Thanks to its efforts, Clorox was able to repair its operational systems. However, the manufacturer still resorted to manual procedures.

Because of this, its product fulfillment slowed down. Although this is the case, Clorox was still able to contain the threat.

"Clorox has already resumed production at the vast majority of its manufacturing sites and expects the ramp up to full production to occur over time," said the consumer products giant.

But, Clorox clarified that it can't estimate how long will it take to resume fully normalized operations.

Related Article: Walgreens Pharmacies May Be Closed Next Week; Workers Preparing to Strike Over Pay, Benefits

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/at-least-11-americans-killed-in-hamas-attacks-in-israel-1114051995.html

At Least 11 Americans Killed in Hamas Attacks in Israel

At Least 11 Americans Killed in Hamas Attacks in Israel

Numerous other US citizens are still missing after the initial Hamas attacks and the US government is working with Israeli officials to obtain more information on their whereabouts, Biden said.

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biden administration

palestine-israel conflict

joe biden

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"We now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed, many of whom made a second home in Israel," Biden said in the release on Monday. Numerous other US citizens are still missing after the initial Hamas attacks and the US government is working with Israeli officials to obtain more information on their whereabouts, Biden said. The US president pointed out that he believes it is likely the missing citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas. Biden also said he directed his team to work with their Israeli counterparts on the hostage situation, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the US government to consult and advise on the hostage recovery efforts. The State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts to US citizens who are currently in Israel, Biden said. Commercial flights and ground options are still available for Americans who want to leave the area, he added.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/biden-says-federal-agencies-monitoring-for-any-domestic-threats-linked-to-hamas-conflict--1114052184.html

Biden Says Federal Agencies Monitoring For Any Domestic Threats Linked to Hamas Conflict

Biden Says Federal Agencies Monitoring For Any Domestic Threats Linked to Hamas Conflict

In light of the Hamas attacks in Israel, McCarthy said there may be other illegal immigrants on the FBI terrorist watchlist who avoided arrest on the US-Mexico border and who may potentially plan to harm the United States.

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americas

kevin mccarthy

fbi

department of homeland security (dhs)

joe biden

palestine-israel conflict

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"The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," Biden said in a press release on Monday. Earlier in the day, former US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed concern about some 151 illegal immigrants encountered on the southern border with Mexico this year who are on the FBI's terrorist watch list. In light of the Hamas attacks in Israel, McCarthy said there may be other illegal immigrants on the FBI terrorist watchlist who avoided arrest on the US-Mexico border and who may potentially plan to harm the United States. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests from Sputnik for comment on this matter.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/borrell-says-eu-will-continue-due-payments-to-palestinians-1114051587.html

Borrell Says EU Will Continue Due Payments to Palestinians

Borrell Says EU Will Continue Due Payments to Palestinians

The top EU diplomat said that the review of the EU's assistance for Palestine announced by the commission earlier in the day would not suspend "the due payments, as clarified by the Commission's press release."

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european union (eu)

palestine-israel conflict

palestine

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"The suspension of the payments  punishing all the Palestinian people  would have damaged the EU interests in the region and would have only further emboldened terrorists," Borrell wrote on social media.The top EU diplomat said that the review of the EU's assistance for Palestine announced by the commission earlier in the day would not suspend "the due payments, as clarified by the Commission's press release." This is despite the commission saying that no due payments were forthcoming. The EU executive added that the review did not concern humanitarian assistance provided under European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The announcement by Neighborhood Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi that the EU was freezing all assistance for Palestine drew criticism from several member states, including Spain, Belgium and Ireland. Spanish news agency EFE reported, citing government sources, that acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called Borrell to ask for Palestinian aid payments to be put on the agenda of the EU foreign ministers emergency meeting on Tuesday. The Irish Times reported that Ireland was blindsided by Varhelyis announcement that appeared on social media. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs argued that there was no legal basis for this decision and that Ireland was not on board.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/turkiyes-erdogan-warns-israel-against-further-denying-statehood-to-palestinians-1114051751.html

Turkiye's Erdogan Warns Israel Against Further Denying Statehood to Palestinians

Turkiye's Erdogan Warns Israel Against Further Denying Statehood to Palestinians

The Turkish president criticized the international community for failing to deliver on the promises it had made to Palestinians. Erdogan also urged Isaac Herzog to work toward the immediate restoration of peace in the region.

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"We believe that there will be no peace in the region without the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital. Obviously, the problem in the region cannot be solved by constantly oppressing Palestinians and seizing their homes and land," he said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara. The Turkish president criticized the international community for failing to deliver on the promises it had made to Palestinians. Separately, Erdogan urged his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, to work toward the immediate restoration of peace in the region. Erdogan said during the phone call with Herzog that Turkiye was committed to ensuring a lasting peace and ending worrying conflicts in the Middle East. Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, prompting retaliation from Israel against the Palestinian exclave, home to more than 2 million. Israel officially declared a state of war and ordered a full blockade of the Gaza Strip, stopping supplies of water, food, electricity and fuel.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/environmental-damage-from-kakhovka-hydropower-plant-destruction-may-exceed-4bln-1114075396.html

Environmental Damage From Kakhovka Hydropower Plant Destruction May Exceed $4Bln

Environmental Damage From Kakhovka Hydropower Plant Destruction May Exceed $4Bln

The environmental damage caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant could be exceeding 400 billion rubles ($4 billion), according to a preliminary estimate, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko stated on Tuesday.

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russia

attack on novaya kakhovka dam

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ukraine crisis

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The deputy prime minister stressed that the hostilities in the region prevent experts from carrying out a more accurate assessment on the ground.In August, Abramchenko instructed the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to submit proposals to the cabinet on measures to determine the impact of Kakhovka Hydropower Plant destruction on the Kherson Region. The assessment of consequences on the ground is currently impossible due to continuing hostilities in the region, Abramchenko added. According to Novaya Kakhovka city Mayor Vladimir Leontyev, the Kakhovka power plant on the Dnepr River was shelled by the Ukrainian forces overnight from June 5 to June 6. As a result of the attack, the upper part of the plant was damaged. Its crumbling caused an uncontrollable outflow of water to towns on the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the river and the Ukrainian-held western bank.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/fact-check-who-attacked-novaya-kakhovka-dam-1110946820.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231007/ukraine-mining-kremenchug-hydroelectric-power-plant-to-stage-provocation-against-russia--1113999184.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/finland-to-conduct-first-surveillance-flight-within-nato-in-baltics-on-tuesday-1114065442.html

Finland to Conduct First Surveillance Flight Within NATO in Baltics on Tuesday

Finland to Conduct First Surveillance Flight Within NATO in Baltics on Tuesday

The Finnish Defense Forces have said they would conduct on Tuesday a surveillance flight over the Baltic countries for the first time since Helsinki joined NATO in April.

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military

baltics

finland

nato

europe

us

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us air force

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Earlier this year, surveillance flights were carried out in Finnish airspace by military aircraft of the United States and Sweden. The flight is designed to develop the interoperability of the country's defense forces, improve awareness, and strengthen national defense, the statement read. The Finnish Defense Forces said they would not disclose details of the flight for operational security reasons. Finland, along with Sweden, abandoned its long-term neutrality and submitted its NATO application in May 2022, several months after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. Finland became a member of the alliance in April 2023. Sweden's application is still pending ratification by Hungary and Turkiye.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/russias-border-with-nato-countries-grows-after-finland-joins-alliance-1109118718.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/finnish-border-guard-says-will-take-part-in-probe-into-balticconnector-incident-1114053256.html

Finnish Border Guard Says Will Take Part in Probe Into Balticconnector Incident

Finnish Border Guard Says Will Take Part in Probe Into Balticconnector Incident

Earlier in the day, energy operator Gasgrid Finland said that the pipeline between Finland and Estonia had been shut down on Sunday night after an unusual drop in pressure, which could have been caused by a leak.

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energy crisis in europe

gas

gas pipeline

energy

balticconnector

finland

estonia

estonia

supo

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Earlier in the day, energy operator Gasgrid Finland said that the pipeline between Finland and Estonia had been shut down on Sunday night after an unusual drop in pressure, which could have been caused by a leak. The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) will also be involved in the investigation, the broadcaster said it was told by a spokesperson. Finland's Central Criminal Police has yet to comment on its participation, although YLE believes that it will be this agency to lead the investigation. Meanwhile, Estonia's Elering energy company said it did not rule out that the pipeline could have been damaged deliberately. The suspension of the pipeline will not in any way affect the gas supply to Estonian consumers as, following the incident, gas is being supplied to Estonia from Latvia, where the Incukalns underground gas storage facility is located, ERR said. At present, professionals from both countries are trying to identify the exact location of the leak, it added. Senior Vice President of state-owned transmission system operator Gasgrid Finland, Janne Gronlund, said on Sunday that the resumption of Balticconnector would take months. Balticconnector is a 25-mile gas pipeline which lies at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland between the southern Finish municipality of Inkoo and Estonia's Paldiski. Both countries have compressor stations and onshore gas transportation routes that connect the gas pipeline to their respective transport networks. It is located in the economic zones and territorial waters of both Finland and Estonia. The pipeline was commissioned in December 2019.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/health-ministry-in-gaza-strip-calls-for-opening-of-corridor-for-urgent-medicine-supplies-1114056475.html

Health Ministry in Gaza Strip Calls for Opening of Corridor for Urgent Medicine Supplies

Health Ministry in Gaza Strip Calls for Opening of Corridor for Urgent Medicine Supplies

The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday called for the opening of a safe corridor to ensure supplies of urgent medical aid to local hospitals amid a severe shortage of medicines in the enclave after Israeli attacks.

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world

palestine-israel conflict

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"We call on the relevant authorities to open a safe corridor for the delivery of urgent medical assistance to hospitals in the Gaza Strip," the ministry said in a statement. On Monday, the head of the health ministry, Medhat Abbas, said in an interview with the Western newspaper that the Gaza Strip would run out of medical supplies in a few days, with thousands of those wounded as a result of Israeli attacks and taken to Gaza hospitals facing acute shortages of medicines. Palestinian movement Hamas launched on Saturday a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war and put the Palestinian enclave under a full blockade. Both Israel and Palestine have so far reported hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/tightening-of-gaza-blockade-will-make-already-very-bad-situation-far-worse-1114052406.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/how-big-is-israels-army-1114068563.html

How Big is Israel's Army?

How Big is Israel's Army?

The Israeli military said on Monday that they called up 300,000 reservists within a couple of days to help the IDF tackle Hamas, who staged an unprecedented attack against the Jewish state on October 7.

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Tel Aviv has approved the call-up of an additional 60,000 army reservists, increasing the total number of those mobilized over the last three days to 360,000. But whats the size of the urrent Israeli army? Sputnik explores.Its worth noting that in Israel, defense-related information is not officially publicized, so any relevant data can only be obtained through foreign sources or Israeli researchers.Formation of Israeli Army The Israeli army, better known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was formed on May 31, 1948, just two weeks after the states declaration of independence.The primary element of the IDFs guiding doctrine is the assumption that Israel cannot afford to lose a single war. The goal is thought to be achieved only through a defensive strategy that stipulates the rapid mobilization of overwhelming force to tackle the enemy.IDF StructureThe IDF comprises three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.The IDF is headed by the chief of the General Staff (currently serving in this capacity is Herzi Halevi), who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister (currently Yoav Gallant).The chiefs of the ground and air force, as well as navy, report to the chief of staff, as do regional commanders and the heads of various defense directorates, including the Intelligence Corps.Army Size The total size of the IDF troops approximately amounts to 176,500 active-duty soldiers, according to open sources.The Israeli Ground Forces, which include infantry, armored and artillery corps, number around 126,000 active personnel and about 400,000 reservists. Major General Yoel Strick is currently at the helm of the ground forces.These troops took part in all the major military operations conducted by Israel, among them the 1948 ArabIsraeli War, the 1956 Suez Crisis, and the 1967 Six-Day War, also currently being involved in the current Hamas-Israel armed conflict.The ground forces use several domestically-developed technologies, such as the Merkava main battle tank, the Achzarit armored personnel carrier, and the Iron Dome missile defense system.The Israel Air Force's (IAF) size is about 34,000 active personnel, plus 55,000 reservists. In all, 684 aircraft are reportedly in service. Like the ground forces, the IAF partook in many military operations, such as the 2006 Lebanon War. The current IAF commander is Aluf Tomer Bar.Since the 1967 Six-Day War, most of the IDFs warplanes have been received from the US, including the A-4 Skyhawk, the F-4 Phantom II, the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II.The Israeli Navy, which comprises approximately 9,500 active personnel and 10,000 reservists, is commanded by Aluf David Sa'ar Salama.The force numbers seven corvettes, eight missile boats, five submarines (Dolphin class), 45 patrol boats and two support ships. Major military operations in which the Israeli Navy was involved include the 1973 ArabIsraeli War, the 1973 Battle of Baltim and the 2006 Lebanon War.Active Duty Service Israels draft requirement applies to any citizen or permanent resident who has reached the age of 18.The period of active-duty conscription is 30 months for men and 24 months for women, which is followed by a decades-long period of compulsory reserve duty (it expires at the age of 50 for women and the age of 55 for men).Various sources put Israels mobilization base at about 3.11 million people, including 2.55 million fit for military service.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/i-am-sickened-larry-summers-lambasts-harvard-over-student-groups-israel-statement-1114054553.html

'I Am Sickened: Larry Summers Lambasts Harvard Over Student Groups Israel Statement

'I Am Sickened: Larry Summers Lambasts Harvard Over Student Groups Israel Statement

The former Harvard president criticized the university on Monday, faulting their lack of official response to a student statement holding the Israeli government entirely responsible for the current violence

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2023-10-10T04:25+0000

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Former Harvard president Larry Summers sharply criticized the university in a thread on the X platform Monday, faulting their lack of official response to a student statement holding the Israeli government entirely responsible for the current violence in the Middle Eastern country.In nearly 50 years of Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today, said Summers. The silence from Harvards leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.Harvard is being defined by the morally unconscionable statement apparently coming from two dozen student groups blaming all the violence on Israel. I am sickened.Summers, an economist who served as treasury secretary during the final years of the Clinton Administration and an advisor under President Barack Obama, was responding to a statement from more than 30 student organizations on the Harvard University campus.Israeli officials promise to open the gates of hell, and the massacres in Gaza have already commenced. Palestinians in Gaza have no shelters for refuge and nowhere to escape. In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israels violence.Although polling shows a majority of people in the United States still view Israel favorably, Americans are becoming increasingly polarized on the issue by age. People over 50 in the United States are strongly favorable towards Israel, but 56% of people under 29 view the country unfavorably. Americans from age 30 to 49 are almost evenly split.That division was on display in New York City on Sunday as dueling groups of pro- and anti-Israel protesters descended on Times Square. Activists from the Democratic Socialists of America and other progressive organizations chanted Palestine will be free as police separated them from pro-Israel protesters who came out in response.Protests and vigils have been organized in response to events in Israel in cities throughout the United States and throughout the world.

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(Photo: by Nick Hunt/Getty Images for MVAAFF) MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 09: Dr. Brandi Waters speaks at Collegeboard "AP African American Studies" activation during the 21st Annual Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival on August 09, 2023 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

The history of the Black experience, from the earliest African kingdoms to slavery and the civil rights movement, is the main focus of Advanced Placement African American Studies. Students in the course claim that despite criticism from certain Republicans who see it as an example of "woke-ism" contaminating education, it shouldn't be viewed as contentious.

African American Studies, like all other AP classes, is created by the nonprofit College Board with assistance from university experts and gives students the chance to receive college credit.

After widespread demonstrations were prompted by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020, the class started to take shape, according to CBS News.

Next year, the College Board intends to make it accessible to every U.S. high school that requests it. More than 700 American high schools are currently testing the course, despite opposition from Republican leaders.

An Indoctrination?

Republican governor of Florida Ron DeSantis referred to the course as "indoctrination" in January, and the state explicitly forbade it. It was "inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value," according to the state's education department.

The course would no longer count toward graduation credits, Arkansas announced in August. In a statement to state superintendents, the administration stated that "the pilot may not comply with Arkansas law."

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican governor, said on Fox News that "we cannot perpetuate a lie to our students and propaganda leftist agenda teaching our kids to hate America and hate one another."

It is hoped that the class will draw interest from a group of students who haven't enrolled in AP courses as frequently as others at Dorsey High School, where the majority of students are Black and Latino.

The course material may conflict with laws that have recently been established in 18 states restricting how K-12 teachers can discuss race.

Florida's Department of Education emphasized that the state has guidelines for teaching Black history, which were approved by the state legislature in July.

According to the department, they adhere to state legislation. The inclusion of information on "how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit" among other things has led to accusations that the standards are an attempt to "rewrite" or "omit" certain aspects of the Black experience.

Read also: Louisiana Principal Makes Amends After Punishing Girl Dancing at Party

Giving In to Political Pressure?

The College Board changed the curriculum shortly after Florida prohibited the course in January, deleting information about structural racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the call for reparations.

Some educators claim that even though the College Board said the modifications were a result of their "regular development process," the organization actually gave in to political pressure.

Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, asserted that he thinks the College Board sterilized the curriculum.

A College Board spokesman denied bowing to political pressure and suggested that some of the themes it had eliminated might still be included in the final curriculum when it is unveiled later this year. The College Board added that it has "given teachers the flexibility to teach the essential content without putting their livelihoods at risk" and that "in some states, teachers have more room to maneuver than others."

Related article: California Governor Vetoes Bill to Increase Access to Condoms for Teens

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/iran-to-launch-soleimani-first-homegrown-satellite-system-in-next-2-years-space-agency-1114071158.html

Iran to Launch Soleimani, First Homegrown Satellite System in Next 2 Years - Space Agency

Iran to Launch Soleimani, First Homegrown Satellite System in Next 2 Years - Space Agency

The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) is planning to launch into orbit its first satellite system, which is named after the deceased commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Lt. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, within the next two years.

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"In line with efforts to provide space station communications services ... the [Iranian] Space Agency has developed technical specifications for the first domestic narrowband telecommunications satellite, named after the deceased Qasem Soleimani ... Research companies from the space industry held a tender for the implementation of this project," Salarieh was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency. The tender was won by an Iranian consortium which has already made agreements with the ISA on the development, construction, delivery, testing and launch of the telecommunications satellite system, the official added. The system will be sent into orbit within the next two years as the ISA already has several domestic satellites ready to be launched, he said.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/iraqi-prime-minister-arrives-in-russia-1114056941.html

Iraqi Prime Minister Arrives in Russia

Iraqi Prime Minister Arrives in Russia

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has arrived in Moscow, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Sputnik correspondent reported Tuesday.

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The airplane carrying Iraq's Prime Minister landed at the Vnukovo-2 international airport.Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, greeted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani at a welcoming ceremony.Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani will discuss security in the region, as well as energy and logistics issues, during negotiations in Moscow on Tuesday.The Russian head of state and the Iraqi head of government are expected to hold talks and also converse during a working breakfast, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed. The leaders will meet again on October 11, when they will take part in the plenary session of Moscow-hosted Russian Energy Week. Putin expects the Iraqi PM's visit to be "very productive and is timely." During his speech at the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, the president said that Russia has maintained close and trusting relations with Iraq for many decades. Moscow seeks to bring stability to Iraq, which will serve as the basis for developing the economy and the social sphere.The meeting between the Russian president and the Iraqi prime minister will take place against the backdrop of escalating Israel-Hamas violence. The situation is a matter of concern for the Kremlin, Peskov told reporters earlier. According to the spokesman, the conflict should be brought to a peaceful resolution as soon as possible, while the continuation of violence encourages further escalation, which is dangerous for the region. So far, Moscow notes that the predicament in Israel has worsened. Moreover, there is a high risk that third parties will get involved in the conflict. Finding ways to move towards some kind of negotiation process as soon as possible in order to stop the escalation is crucial, Peskov stated.According to the media reports of October 8, Al-Sudani held a series of talks with the leaders of Arab countries on the situation in Palestine and the ways to de-escalate it. Arab countries support the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister Hisham al-Ruqabi told Sputnik.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/live-updates-hamas-says-goals-of-operation-achieved-open-to-talks-1114055028.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/israels-gaza-land-op-may-turn-into-urban-meat-grinder-1114071390.html

Israel's Gaza Land Op May Turn Into Urban 'Meat Grinder'

Israel's Gaza Land Op May Turn Into Urban 'Meat Grinder'

Tel Aviv has imposed a full blockade of the Gaza Strip and is reportedly fixing to launch a large-scale land operation against Hamas. How could this ground op play out for Israel?

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told US President Joe Biden that Tel Aviv has no other alternative but to launch a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, as quoted by an American news outlet.Meanwhile, signs of the forthcoming operation have already surfaced: Tel Aviv has declared war on Hamas; the Israelis have mobilized 300,000+ reservists and evacuated residents from areas near Gaza; Netanyahu has announced an extensive blockade on the Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, the US dispatched a carrier strike group to the Israeli shores and has "also taken steps to augment US Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region," according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Sunday statement.Gaza is a Palestinian exclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea which borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north. The Gaza Strip is 41 km long, and is up to 12 km wide, occupying a total area of 365 square kilometers. The predominantly Arab population of the region amounts to around two million people. Together, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are under the Palestinian Authority (PA). Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has remained under the control of Hamas and its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.Israel's Gaza Operation Would be LongLyamin believes that Tel Aviv's operation won't be quick and smooth, because the Gaza Strip is a very difficult battlefield for an offensive.To conduct battles in dense urban areas, one needs a lot of troops, according to Lyamin. One needs to bear in mind that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would be confronted there not just by Hamas, but also the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and smaller militias totaling several tens of thousands of fighters."Dense urban development and underground communications largely neutralize the advantage of the Israeli Army's aviation, armored vehicles and artillery," the military expert continued. "Now they are destroying high-rise buildings, bombing them and so on, but they are not completely destroyed. Underground structures that always exist under large buildings stay intact. They actually seem to create unique places for defense, for organizing ambushes and other things. Accordingly, it is very difficult to conduct an offensive and control the situation in such conditions."Battle for Gaza Would be Akin to Mariupol, ArtemovskLyamin has drawn parallels between Israel's potential ground offensive and battles for Mariupol and Artemovsk (Bakhmut)  the latter lasted for 224 days  during Russia's special military operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. The latter fierce battle was later dubbed in the press as the "Bakhmut meat grinder"."I would compare [Gaza] with Mariupol, after all, for the reason that Artemovsk is a relatively small city, there are several tens of thousands of people there. In Mariupol, the population was under half a million. Closer to Mariupol, but again the density is higher," he continued.According to Lyamin, Israel has avoided large-scale urban operations for many years. The military expert noted that previously the IDF avoided entering Gaza. If the Israeli military did, these were very limited, targeted operations, precisely to avoid the scenario of large-scale urban fighting.Per the military expert, Israel appears to not conduct large-scale urban battles even during the Second Lebanon War in 2006: most of the combat operations took place in relatively small villages. During the 1982 war (the First Lebanon War) Israel again tried to put Beirut under siege, without engaging into a fight inside a large city.Gaza Siege: What's Behind the Strategy?Prior to launching a ground operation, Tel Aviv imposed a full blockade of the Gaza Strip. In general, the region has been under blockade for 16 years which was imposed by Israel to curb the delivery of weapons to Palestinian militant groups. Now, the region has been cut off from electricity, water and fuel supplies.Still, Lyamin expressed some doubts that this strategy would work.Earlier, the Israeli forces used similar tactics when they besieged Beirut in the summer of 1982 during the Lebanon War. The purpose of the siege was to expel Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) combat units from the Lebanese city.The siege began on June 13, 1982, and lasted until mid-August. Only West Beirut, where the majority of the population was Muslim and where the PLO headquarters was located, was besieged. For the IDF the siege was an alternative to the urban warfare which would have involved unacceptable levels of casualties. In addition to blockading the city, the Israeli military conducted attacks on Beirut from sea, air, and land. By August 18, 1982, Israel, Lebanon, the PLO and Arab states finally reached an agreement with US mediation. Three days later, the PLO was removed from Beirut to Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan, and Syria. The evacuation was supervised by the American, French and Italian military. The casualties of the siege (including Arab militants and civilians) reached over 5,000, according to some estimates. At the time, Washington condemned the siege, while the USSR called for a worldwide arms embargo on Israel (which was vetoed by the US.) Some US publications presently suggest that the siege and ground op against the Gaza Strip could become deadlier than the Beirut siege.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/idf-veteran-signs-showing-of-large-scale-op-to-eliminate-hamas-1114047403.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/lavrov-says-un-charter-should-become-foundation-for-new-world-order-1114058446.html

Lavrov Says UN Charter Should Become Foundation for New World Order

Lavrov Says UN Charter Should Become Foundation for New World Order

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A new world order should be based on a solid foundation, namely principles of the UN Charter, as most countries across the globe want to exist in conditions of multipolarity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday

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2023-10-10T09:09+0000

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A new world order should be based on a solid foundation, namely principles of the UN Charter, as most countries across the globe want to exist in conditions of multipolarity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday."There is a foundation for building a new world, and it is solid  this is the UN Charter. The main thing now is to prevent its destruction as a result of opportunistic selective juggling of statutory principles, to achieve their implementation in their entirety and interconnection with all countries," Lavrov said in his article. Only if international law is observed, "will humanity have a chance to overcome the harmful legacy of the unipolar era," the Russian foreign minister stated, adding that preparations for the UN Summit of the Future planned for 2024 would show how everyone was realizing their own as well as collective responsibility for the destiny of this world. The top Russian diplomat also said that responsibility for the current crisis in international relations lies with Western powers, which are pursuing an "aggressive and self-serving" policy. "It is necessary to ensure that the spirit of multipolarity enshrined in the UN Charter is realized. An increasing number of countries of the global majority are seeking to strengthen their sovereignty and defend national interests, traditions, culture and way of life. They do not want to live under anyone's dictation, they want to be friends and trade with each other and with the rest of the world only on equal terms and for mutual benefit, within the framework of an objectively emerging multipolar architecture," Lavrov said. Lavrov lambasted the US-led West for arbitrary imposing itself as the master of humanity's fate," while ignoring the legacy of the UN's founding fathers. He added that Western countries use the UN Charter at random, and only when it serves their geopolitical interests.The enlargement of BRICS, the growing influence of various regional organizations and the possible UN reform supported by many countries fully correspond with this trend, the Russian foreign minister stressed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/putin-and-the-magic-multipolar-mountain-a-valdai-chronicle---pepe-escobar-1113975618.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230929/pepe-escobar-russia-china-partnership-defangs-us-empire-1113794497.html

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Austin Directs US Special Forces to Support Israel With Intelligence, Planning - Official

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has directed US special operations forces to provide planning and intelligence support to Israel, a US military official told Sputnik.

"The secretary offered hostage rescue support to Minister [Yoav] Gallant on the phone this weekend and directed his JSOC [Joint Special Operations Command] team to lean forward with planning and intel support to IDF [Israel Defense Forces]," the official said on Tuesday.

Israel will take the lead on any operations that may involve assistance from US forces, but it does not mean US troops will be on the ground, the official said.

Earlier Tuesday, media reported US special operations forces were placed on alert in a European country close to Israel.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/moscow-says-conditions-for-yerevan-baku-exchange-of-captives-ripe-1114072058.html

Moscow Says Conditions for Yerevan-Baku Exchange of Captives Ripe

Moscow Says Conditions for Yerevan-Baku Exchange of Captives Ripe

The conditions are now ripe for the exchange of captives between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

2023-10-10T15:38+0000

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"We proceed from the fact that in any situation detained persons should be treated in accordance with the humanitarian law. We repeatedly called on the partners, both in bilateral and trilateral formats, to complete the 'all for all' exchange of captives. From our point of view, the conditions have well ripened for this," Zakharova said at a briefing. Moscow hopes the matter will be successfully resolved, she added. The Azeri military launched an offensive to seize control over Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, prompting tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee across the border. Regional Karabakh authorities declared that the unrecognized state would cease to exist from January 1, 2024.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/nato-ready-to-assist-in-investigation-of-balticconector-gas-leak---finnish-president-1114067937.html

NATO Ready to Assist in Investigation of Balticconnector Gas Leak - Finnish President

NATO Ready to Assist in Investigation of Balticconnector Gas Leak - Finnish President

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Tuesday held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and said that the alliance is ready to assist Helsinki in investigation into an incident with the Balticconector gas pipeline.

2023-10-10T13:47+0000

2023-10-10T13:47+0000

2023-10-10T17:17+0000

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"The damage to the underwater infrastructure was taken seriously and an investigation into its cause has been ongoing since Sunday  It is likely that damage to both the gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable is the result of external influence," Niinisto said in a statement. The president added that the cause of the incident remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing in cooperation between Finland and Estonia. "We are also in constant contact with our allies and partners. Today I held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. NATO is ready to assist in the investigation," Niinisto said.Timo Kilpelainen, head of the Investigation Department at Finlands National Bureau of Investigation, said the agency was treating the pipeline damage as a case of "aggravated vandalism.""One of the possible scenarios at the moment is that of aggravated vandalism," the official said, adding the case was unusual because there was no sign that explosives were used.Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom offered his countrys help in investigating the pipeline leak, saying on social media that Sweden "stands with our Nordic-Baltic colleagues and are ready to offer any help regarding the damage to undersea infrastructure."The Baltic nation of Lithuania said meanwhile that its newly established National Crisis Management Center would increase ramp up security at strategic facilities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/resumption-of-operation-of-balticconnector-gas-pipeline-to-take-months--1114025153.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/putin-holds-meeting-with-iraqi-pm--1114056260.html

Putin Holds Meeting With Iraqi PM

Putin Holds Meeting With Iraqi PM

The talks will focus on cooperation in economy with emphasis on energy sector while recent escalation in the Middle East will receive due attention.

2023-10-10T11:56+0000

2023-10-10T11:56+0000

2023-10-10T11:56+0000

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Sputnik comes to you live from Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani on Tuesday, October 10.This is the first time al-Sudani is visiting Russia. The talks between the two leaders will focus on economic cooperation, with an emphasis on the energy sector. The latest escalation of hostilities in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinian movement of Hamas will receive due attention during their negotiations.Follow Sputniks live feed to learn more!

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Putin holds bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani Putin holds bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani 2023-10-10T11:56+0000 true PT10M56S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/putin-us-puts-pressure-on-both-sides-of-israel-palestine-conflict-1114064145.html

Putin: Current Situation in Middle East Serves as Example of US Policy Failure

Putin: Current Situation in Middle East Serves as Example of US Policy Failure

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his regrets about the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and described it as a failure of the US policy in the Middle East.

2023-10-10T12:01+0000

2023-10-10T12:01+0000

2023-10-10T14:40+0000

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Vladimir Putin made remarks about the current volatile situation in the Middle East as he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al Sudani in Moscow to discuss relations between Russia and Iraq.Commenting on the events that transpire in the Gaza Strip and at the adjacent Israeli territories, Putin described it as a "clear example" of the US foreign policy in the Middle East.According to the Russian president, the US government actively sought to "monopolize" the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but instead of seeking a compromise, solutions that would have been acceptable for both sides, pushed their own vision of how this decades-old conflict should be resolved.The US put pressure on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, each time without taking into account the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people, the president said, referring to the need to implement decisions by the UN Security Council on the creation of an independent sovereign Palestinian state.Roots of Israel-Hamas ConflictOn November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly voted to establish two states  a Jewish one and an Arab one  on the West Bank of the Jordan River, with Jerusalem retaining its status as an international zone. On May 4, 1948, Israel declared independence. Immediately thereafter, the Arab countries - Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq - started a war against the newly established state.During the Six Day War of 1967, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank of the Jordan River, including East Jerusalem. The Jewish population began cultivating Palestinian land, resulting in a mass displacement of Palestinians.After the first Intifada (the Palestinian uprising against Israeli authority in the occupied territories), the Declaration of Principles for the Provisional Self-Government of Palestine was signed. The document established a transitional period of five years, which was to begin with the relocation of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and Jericho (West Bank). Then, the permanent status of the Palestinian territories was to be determined.In 1996, Palestine held the first election. Yasser Arafat was elected as the president of the Palestinian National Authority. In 2002, after the second intifada, the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations proposed a peace plan called the Road Map. It stated the resumption of negotiations, conflict resolution, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.In 2005, Israel completely withdrew its troops from the Gaza Strip unilaterally and without any political agreement. On January 25, 2006, a second election was held. Hamas swept to victory, gaining 80 seats, while Fatah took 43 in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In June 2007, Fatah (which no longer ruled according to the results of the 2006 elections) and Hamas fought each other in a military conflict in the Gaza Strip. The confrontation resulted in Hamas gaining full control of the Gaza Strip, after forcing most of the Fatah activists out of the Strip.The situation escalated dramatically again when US President Donald Trump announced in 2018 that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and move the American embassy there. On November 29, 2012, Palestine was granted observer state status at the UN, which many see as a de facto recognition of Palestinian statehood by the international community.Since 2008, Israel has been retaliating to artillery strikes on its territory by conducting military operations against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The last one occurred in May 2023. Russia urges Israel and Palestine to stop hostilities and return to the negotiating table.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/health-ministry-in-gaza-strip-calls-for-opening-of-corridor-for-urgent-medicine-supplies-1114056475.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/russia-fails-in-bid-to-get-elected-to-un-human-rights-council-for-2024-2026-1114073677.html

Russia Fails in Bid to Get Elected to UN Human Rights Council for 2024-2026

Russia Fails in Bid to Get Elected to UN Human Rights Council for 2024-2026

Russia has failed in its bid to get elected to the UN Human Rights Council for 2024-2026, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Tuesday.

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Albania and Bulgaria won the two seats intended for Eastern Europeans countries, having gained 123 and 160 votes, respectively. Russia secured 83 votes. In April 2022, Russia was suspended from the council in a US-led campaign in connection with the Ukraine conflict. The country was ousted in a 93-24 vote, with 58 countries abstaining.

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(Photo: by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images) People visit the booth of Google during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on July 6, 2023.

According to Scott Beaumont, head of Google's Asia Pacific division, the company would investigate new markets in the Asia-Pacific area with an emphasis on generative artificial intelligence technology.

Google has released a beta version of its Search Generative Experience (SGE), which uses generative AI technology to improve its internet search engine, reported Nikkei Asia.

Growing Interest in Asia

After rolling out SGE in the U.S. market, Beaumont underlined that Google released SGE in two additional markets: Japan and India. He claimed that the "degree of interest from those two countries has been extremely high" in comparison to other international markets. Beaumont said that "Korea would be high on the list" in terms of AI.

In September, Google celebrated its 25th birthday. The firm, which began as a provider of search engines, today offers six services that are utilized by more than 2 billion people globally, and there are more than 3 billion devices running its Android operating system.

Beaumont said it had been "more convenient in the early days" for Google to introduce services in the U.S. initially before spreading them to Europe. He said that "across a number of products over the last five years, and now particularly with AI, it's not Europe next, it's where in Asia do we go? ... That's a really important shift."

In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) area, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, recorded sales of $47 billion during the fiscal year 2022 that ended in December. APAC sales made up 16 percent of worldwide sales. During the same time period, sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa totaled $82 billion, or 29 percent of global sales.

In reference to the APAC market, Beaumont emphasized that "over half of the world's internet population is here" and noted the region's increasing degree of digital penetration as well as the region's economic development. Beaumont concluded by saying that the region has "enormous growth levers" and "the wind is in its sails."

Read also: Google Wins Against Sonos Lawsuit Accusing Tech Giant of Infringing Multi-Room Audio Patents

Increasing Revenue in Asia

According to Beaumont, Google wants to increase its revenue from all avenues in the Asian market, including sales of smartphones, cloud computing services, and traditional web advertising.

The demand from small and midsize businesses is high in the Asian market, according to Beaumont, who noted that generative AI can serve Asia as an "invaluable pinch hitter" or "executive assistant in your pocket." Technology will be used to help significantly increase the productivity of these businesses.

He denied the notion of joining the generative AI industry in mainland China, saying that "we don't have any of our consumer services" for that market.

On the other hand, Beaumont said the company has "numerous hardware partners" in China and that the Android development community there is "very vibrant, very motivated." "I actually like that we've got a group of employees in China because [the group] keeps us as a first-party witness and participant in some of the innovation ... going on in China," he stated.

Related article: Arabic AI Breakthrough Could Benefit Millions of Language Speakers Worldwide

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/six-countries-participating-in-samasama-joint-navy-drills-with-philippines-reports-1114070937.html

Six Countries Participating in Samasama Joint Navy Drills With Philippines - Reports

Six Countries Participating in Samasama Joint Navy Drills With Philippines - Reports

The navies of Australia, Canada, France, Japan and the United Kingdom are taking part in Day 2 of the US-Philippine joint sea exercise Samasama 2023, while Indonesia and New Zealand are attending as observers, The Manila Times reported on Tuesday.

2023-10-10T14:58+0000

2023-10-10T14:58+0000

2023-10-10T14:58+0000

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The 2023 edition of the multilateral military exercise is taking place near Luzon island from October 2 to 13. Philippine navy chief Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. was quoted as saying that the drills were aimed at "enhancing interoperability, fostering regional cooperation and tackling non-traditional challenges that transcend our borders," while US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas said that the drills were enabling its participants to "train and demonstrate our resolve, to sharpen our ability, and to enhance our interoperability." The focus is an air defense exercise involving helicopters, which are training to land on different types of carriers, and tracking and identifying approaching aircraft, according to the report. The drills also involve an anti-submarine warfare component, the Philippine navy's Southern Luzon force spokesman Lt. Kim Paulo Lopez said in a statement late on Monday. This year's Samasama exercise is being held amid tensions between the Philippines and China in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where on October 4 Philippine vessels completed a resupply mission in Second Thomas Shoal atoll, despite blocking attempts by the Chinese coast guard. The territorial affiliation of a number of islands in the South China Sea has been the subject of disputes between China and several other Asia-Pacific countries for decades. Significant oil and gas reserves have been discovered on the continental shelf of those islands, including the Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands, Thitu Island and Scarborough Shoal. Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines are involved in the disputes to some extent.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/chinese-media-issues-stark-warning-to-philippines-amid-us-led-south-china-sea-drills-1114020453.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/society-is-united-shocking-nature-of-hamas-attack-bridged-deep-israeli-divisions-1114077504.html

Society is United: Shocking Nature of Hamas Attack Bridged Deep Israeli Divisions

Society is United: Shocking Nature of Hamas Attack Bridged Deep Israeli Divisions

Earlier this year, Israel saw its largest-ever protests against judicial reforms that critics called an authoritarian move, which were proposed by a right-wing government that has divided Israeli society and the Jewish diaspora.

2023-10-10T20:37+0000

2023-10-10T20:37+0000

2023-10-10T22:09+0000

analysis

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On Saturday, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group based in the Gaza Strip, launched a daring assault across the Gaza-Israel border and attacked numerous Israeli towns and military installations on the far side, killing hundreds of soldiers and civilians and taking dozens back to Gaza as captives. Concurrent with the operation was a massive rocket bombardment targeting half a dozen Israeli cities that overwhelmed Israels air defense systems, including the vaunted Iron Dome.As of Tuesday evening, the death toll on the Israeli side had reached more than 1,000. A massive air assault on Gaza, aimed at destroying Hamas for good, had killed at least 830 people, according to Palestinian authorities, and Israel had severed all electricity, water, and gas connections to the territory with a population of 1.9 million.Eylon Levy, the former international spokesperson for former Israeli President Isaac Hertzog, told Radio Sputniks Fault Lines on Tuesday that the shocking nature of Hamas attack had managed to accomplish what seemed impossible just a week ago: to unite all of Israeli society behind the Netanyahu government.We're talking about an attack that is simply by the death toll of the people weve found seven times worse than the 2015 attacks in Paris, 41 times the death toll of the attack at the Manchester Arena in the UK. And as I say, we haven't found the dead yet. The scale of this is simply incomprehensible. There are still bodies that haven't been collected, much less identified or even buried.Instead, what Israel found is, that was a ruse. It was a deception. Hamas had no interest in improving the humanitarian conditions in the economy for the poor people of the Gaza Strip. It simply wanted to distract Israel while it could plan what is not only one of the worst terror attacks in world history, but for your listeners, it's important to understand the single worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Now Hamas is going to rain destruction on the Gaza Strip because Israel has decided the gloves are off, Israel is going to take all the action that it needs to eradicate Hamas.Levy compared Hamas to Daesh*, saying that Israel is going to destroy Hamas in exactly the same way as the international coalition that joined forces against the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 2015 through 2018. He said the impending destruction in the Gaza Strip was entirely the fault of the jihadist organization that decided to use it as a base to commit crimes against humanity and atrocities.Much of the last year, following the election of a right-wing coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has seen political divisions widen inside of Israeli society. Mass demonstrations against judicial reforms that critics said would weaken the governments checks-and-balances system rocked Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other Israeli cities, and a criminal case against Netanyahu for alleged corruption has continued to slowly proceed.However, Levy told Sputnik that following the Hamas attacks over the weekend, at the moment, Israel is not in a civil war at all - Israeli society is united.Israel's goal is that by the end of this war, Hamas will exist no longer as a military organization capable of posing any threat to Israel, Levy added.Israel is very grateful for the huge American aircraft carrier that is on its way to Israel right now to send a very clear message to Hezbollah, to Iran, to all of their supporters that nobody messes with Israel. And it's been very reassuring that so much of the enlightened world has clearly recognized that and come to Israel's defense. We've seen the houses of parliament in the UK, the Eiffel Tower in France, the White House, the Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, all lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag, he said, noting that on Monday, there had been a very important joint statement from the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and France committing themselves to supporting Israel's acts of self-defense.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other states.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/at-least-11-americans-killed-in-hamas-attacks-in-israel-1114051995.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/biden-says-us-will-make-sure-israel-has-everything-it-needs-to-respond-to-hamas-attacks-1114075932.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/this-saturday-rare-ring-of-fire-eclipse-may-be-coming-to-a-us-city-near-you-1114053882.html

This Saturday, Rare Ring of Fire Eclipse May Be Coming to a US City Near You

This Saturday, Rare Ring of Fire Eclipse May Be Coming to a US City Near You

This Saturday morning, people along a narrow band of territory stretching from Oregon to Texas will be able to witness a rare phenomenon known as a ring of fire solar eclipse.

2023-10-10T02:39+0000

2023-10-10T02:39+0000

2023-10-10T02:40+0000

beyond politics

solar eclipse

solar eclipse

nasa

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america

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This Saturday morning, people along a narrow band of territory stretching from Oregon to Texas will be able to witness a rare phenomenon known as a ring of fire solar eclipse.The event is unique in that part of the sun will still be visible, according to a press release from NASA. As with a typical solar eclipse, viewers will see the moon briefly pass in front of the sun. But since the moon will be near its most distant point from Earth, it will appear smaller, with a shimmering circle of sunlight behind it.It will be the first time an annular solar eclipse, as it's known, will be visible in the United States since 2012.The next one isnt scheduled to be viewable from the US until 2039, although Americans will be able to see a total solar eclipse in April next year.NASA stresses the importance of viewing the event through special glasses or via an indirect method to protect ones eyes from the light of the partially-visible sun. The space agency offers a resource on their website offering information about safe viewing methods.The annular eclipse will also be observable in parts of Central and South America, with the viewing path passing through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. People living in or traveling through Mexico will be able to see it from atop a Mayan temple at the Edzna archaeological site on the Yucatan Peninsula.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/ukraine-loses-over-350-troops-in-donetsk-south-donetsk-directions-in-past-day-1114060542.html

Ukraine Loses Over 350 Troops in Donetsk, South Donetsk Directions in Past Day

Ukraine Loses Over 350 Troops in Donetsk, South Donetsk Directions in Past Day

Ukraine has lost more than 350 soldiers both killed and injured in the Donetsk and South Donetsk directions over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

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Over the given period, the Russian armed forces repelled two attacks by the Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction, two attacks in the South Donetsk direction, four attacks in the Kupyansk direction, and two attacks in the Krasny Liman direction.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/ukrainians-desert-en-masse-due-to-rising-casualties-mental-fatigue---report-1114011648.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/us-risks-undermining-own-military-by-arming-ukraine-and-israel--1114073589.html

US Risks Undermining Own Military by Arming Ukraine and Israel

US Risks Undermining Own Military by Arming Ukraine and Israel

In the aftermath of Hamas' surprise attack, Israel requested military support from the US, primarily Iron Dome missile interceptors to strengthen the nation's air defenses. Does it mean the US will supply its rockets and shells to Israel instead of Ukraine?

2023-10-10T16:44+0000

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The Pentagon has sent the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean and moved to deploy additional US Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Some military supplies have already been provided to Tel Aviv under the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Israel for security assistance.If Israel launches its ground operation in Gaza and the war with Hamas spirals into a wider regional conflict, Israel would need not only ammunition but artillery, probably bombs that would be dropped from aircraft, according to the military expert. The problem is, however, not that either Israel or Ukraine would get more or less arms, but what would be left for the US own military forces, he stressed.Per the former Pentagon analyst, the US capabilities to supply its allies aren't limitless. So, in order to flood its allies with shells and bombs it would have to restructure its economy. The question is whether the American people want that, according to Maloof.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/why-us-funding-may-be-diverted-from-ukraine-to-israel-1114071886.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/idf-veteran-signs-showing-of-large-scale-op-to-eliminate-hamas-1114047403.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/russia-warned-about-us-weapons-for-ukraine-ending-on-black-market-months-before-bloodbath-in-israel-1114040821.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/us-support-for-israel-may-set-off-total-middle-east-upheaval-former-us-envoy-1114071254.html

US Support for Israel May Set Off Total Middle East Upheaval - Former US Envoy

US Support for Israel May Set Off Total Middle East Upheaval - Former US Envoy

The United States will support Israel in all actions it takes against Hamas in Gaza after the killing of over 1,000 Israelis in Saturday's incursion, but this will set off an anti-US wave across the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, said former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chas Freeman.

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Israel formally declared a state of war on Sunday, a day after Hamas invaded Israeli territory and committed the greatest slaughter of civilians in the 75 year history of the Jewish state. On Monday, Israel put the Gaza Strip under full blockade, with no food, gas or electricity supplies. Both Israel and Palestine have so far reported hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation. The crisis is unlikely to be confined to Israel and Gaza and will metastasize to other neighboring countries, Freeman warned. "The geopolitical dangers could very well rapidly spread to Lebanon and Syria," he said. The Israeli-US "pipedream" fostered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that relations with Saudi Arabia are going to normalize is now also "gone" for the foreseeable future, Freeman believes. The Biden administration itself appears to have been caught off guard by the ferocious suddenness and success of Hamas' invasion, Freeman suggested. "National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan last week made the truly idiotic claim that the Middle East region had reached a reassuring level of stability," he said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/roots-of-israel-hamas-conflict-1114064324.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/washingtons-goals-to-transfer-us-aircraft-carrier-to-east-mediterranean-unclear---erdogan-1114074141.html

Washington's Goals to Transfer US Aircraft Carrier to East Mediterranean Unclear - Erdogan

Washington's Goals to Transfer US Aircraft Carrier to East Mediterranean Unclear - Erdogan

The transfer of a US aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean raises questions about the goals of this decision of Washington, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

2023-10-10T16:40+0000

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Earlier in the week, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the United States, amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is sending the US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and strengthening aviation units in the region. The aircraft carrier strike group, in addition to the aircraft carrier itself, includes a missile cruiser and four destroyers that carry guided missile weapons. "The US is sending its aircraft carrier to Israel. I have a question about what an US aircraft carrier is doing in Israel? It will participate in very serious mass killings, striking Gaza with its boats and planes located around the aircraft carrier," Erdogan told a briefing in Ankara.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/watch-russian-su-34-jets-hammer-ukrainian-positions-1114063157.html

Watch Russian Su-34 Jets Hammer Ukrainian Positions

Watch Russian Su-34 Jets Hammer Ukrainian Positions

Russia's Su-34 fighter-bomber jets execute missions in the special operation zone, aimed at weakening Ukraine's offensive capabilities. The aircraft is able to carry a wide range of weapons, including a 30mm gun, bombs, guided and unguided missiles and put them to good use.

2023-10-10T14:37+0000

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The Russian Defense Ministry published footage of Su-34 fighter-bombers launching airstrikes on Ukrainian armored vehicles, manpower, and military facilities.Equipped with advanced avionics, the Su-34 jet is able to both strike ground targets and battle enemy aircraft. However, the Kiev regime's fleet of aircraft is steadily being rubbed out, while the long-anticipated F-16 jets, which are expected to be supplied to Ukraine, will be flying targets for the Russian military.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/what-is-the-gaza-strip-now-under-israels-complete-siege-1114041855.html

What is the Gaza Strip Now Under Israels Complete Siege?

What is the Gaza Strip Now Under Israels Complete Siege?

Israel has ordered a total blockade of the Gaza Strip to leave it with no electricity, food and fuel. Where is Gaza located and who now controls it? Sputnik answers these and other questions.

2023-10-10T11:18+0000

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What is the Gaza Strip and Why is it Important?The Gaza Strip, also known as Gaza, is a Palestinian exclave located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, an area that along with the West Bank makes up the Palestinian National Authority (PA or PNA), which has been under Israels control since 1967.Nestled between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean, the exclave has an area of about ten kilometers (six miles) wide and 41 kilometers (25 miles) long. It is believed to be one of the most densely populated areas in the world. According to information from open sources, Gazas population (before the current Hamas-Israel armed conflict) was more than two million people, which means an average of about 5,500 people per square kilometer.Still, the Gaza population is almost sure to shrink due to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which retaliated by starting to launch strikes on Gaza in which over 700 have already died.Why it is Called Gaza StripThe area was named after its densely-populated capital of Gaza City.Jews, Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians are the modern descendants of the Canaanites, who were wiped out by the Israelites, according to Bible accounts.What's the Gist of Israel's Gaza-Related Claims According to the 1947 UN Plan for the division of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, the Gaza Strip was seen as part of the territory to establish an Arab state.The plan was accepted by Israel but rejected by members of the Arab League, including Egypt, which started military action resulting in the 1948 ArabIsraeli War. During the war, Israel gained additional territories that were designated to be part of the Arab state under the UN plan. Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip in 1948, initially supporting the creation of an All-Palestine Government, which was disbanded in 1959. The 1967 so-called Six-Day War resulted in Gaza coming under Israels control. The area was controlled by Israel between 1967 and 2005.During the implementation of the Unilateral Disengagement Plan in August 2005, Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza and dismantled its settlements there.As a result of the coup carried out by the Islamist militant group Hamas in July 2007, the government institutions of the PA and the Gaza Strip came under the groups authority. In October 2007, Israel declared Gaza a hostile state and began a partial economic blockade of the area, occasionally cutting off electricity and water supplies there.Who Currently Lives in the Strip?Those residing in Gaza are Palestinians, who include both the people who were original residents there and numerous refugees who fled to the area from Israel after the founding of the Jewish state in 1948 and the subsequent military conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.Most of the residents live in the north of the area, in particular in Gaza City. Sunni Muslims make up the predominant part of the population but there is also a Palestinian Christian minority. Nearly 40% of the population is under the age of 15.Who Gave Gaza Strip to PA?Gaza remained part of the Ottoman Empire before 1918, and subsequent years saw the Gaza Strip occupied by Britain and Egypt. In 1967, Israel took control of Gaza and 27 years later, Tel Aviv granted the PA in Gaza limited self-governance through the Oslo Accords, an array of peace deals signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington in 1993.The Palestinian government then unsuccessfully tried to negotiate Israeli troop withdrawals with Tel Aviv, an issue that was finally tackled by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in late 2003. In September 2005, Israel wrapped up the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza, and control of the area was transferred to the PA. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), however, continued to patrol Gaza borders and airspace at the time.Who Currently Governs Gaza?Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has been governed by the militant group Hamas, which rejects the peace process with Israel. In its charter, Hamas specifically calls for the destruction of the Jewish state that blacklists the group as a terrorist organization.Hamas fighters have launched rockets from Gaza toward Israeli areas for years, but this past Saturday saw an unprecedented escalation of the simmering conflict, in which scores of Hamas fighters infiltrated the Jewish state by land, sea and air.Does Israel Continue to Control Gaza?The UN, along with international human rights organizations and many governments, still consider Gaza to be occupied by Israel despite the Jewish states disengagement from the area in 2005. Israel actually continues to maintain direct external control over Gaza and indirect control over life within the territory.In particular, Tel Aviv controls Gaza's air and maritime space and six of the areas seven land crossings. Israel also reserves the right to enter Gaza at will using its military and it maintains a no-go buffer zone within the Gaza soil. On top of that, Gaza is dependent on Israel for its water, electricity, telecommunications, and other utilities.Can Palestinians Leave Gaza?The Jewish state imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinians within the West Bank, and travel between it and the Gaza Strip, as well as into East Jerusalem, Israel, and abroad. In contrast, Israelis, as well as Jewish settlers and foreigners are not subject to the above-mentioned restrictions and are free to travel in and out of Gaza.According to the outlet, these conditions result in a life of constant uncertainty for Palestinians, making it difficult to perform simple tasks and plan their lives, something that also obstructs the development of a stable economy.The outlet added that Israel bans Palestinians from entering or leaving the area except in extremely rare cases, which include urgent, life-threatening medical conditions and a very short list of merchants.US Watchdog HRW, in turn, has slammed living conditions in Gaza as an open air prison, referencing the restriction of movement that Israel enforces on Palestinians there.The Gaza closure blocks talented, professional people, with much to give their society, from pursuing opportunities that people elsewhere take for granted. Barring Palestinians in Gaza from moving freely within their homeland stunts lives and underscores the cruel reality of apartheid and persecution for millions of Palestinians, the group said in a report.Conditions for Gaza civilians are expected to worsen dramatically in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack. Earlier on Monday, Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a complete siege of Gaza, cutting off all electricity, fuel, food and water to the enclave.How Did Curent Hamas-Israel Conflict Develop? The current Hamas-Israel armed conflict started with an unprecedented attack by the militant group on October 7, when Hamas reportedly launched several thousands of rockets towards Israel.The attack was conducted in coordination with several other militant groups, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for his part, said that he has ordered a complete siege of Gaza, which stipulates halting the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel to the Palestinian enclave.He spoke as the IDF continued to pound the area with airstrikes to hit the targets which included several towers that purportedly were used by Hamas and a number of terrorist squads in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip.The airstrikes came amid reports about Hamas holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers. The group reportedly pledged said that the hostages would be executed without warning if Israel continues to targets people in Gaza, where more than 137,000 people took cover from Israeli strikes at UN emergency shelters.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/why-us-funding-may-be-diverted-from-ukraine-to-israel-1114071886.html

Why US Funding May be Diverted From Ukraine to Israel

Why US Funding May be Diverted From Ukraine to Israel

The White House is seeking to attach Ukraine funding to the urgent package for Israel, in a hope that it will help circumvent House Republicans' opposition to further assistance to Kiev, according to the US mainstream press.

2023-10-10T16:17+0000

2023-10-10T16:17+0000

2023-10-10T16:17+0000

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House Republicans have signaled strong support to Israel and speeded up efforts to elect a new House speaker. For its part, the White House has reportedly decided to capitalize on the momentum and pair urgent funds to Tel Aviv with a Ukraine military package. Biden officials are said to have held talks with top House and Senate figures to secure additional military supplies for Israel. Per the US press, the request could come to the US Congress as early as next week.It is unclear how big the Israeli package would be. However, per Maloof, Israel's lobby in DC appears to be much stronger than the Ukrainian one. Prior to the Israeli-Hamas war, the Biden administration was considering seeking a $100 billion package for Ukraine. However, some Freedom Caucus Republicans have already signaled they are against merging Israel and Ukraine aid in one bill. "They shouldnt be tied together. I will not vote to fund Ukraine," GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia told the US press.Earlier, the National Security Council coordinator for Strategic Communication, John Kirby, said that the US is perfectly capable of supporting both Ukraine and Israel. Even though Biden administration officials have put on brave faces claiming that Washington could fund both, it's not actually the case, according to the US military expert. Maloof suspects that the Israel-Hamas conflict could "explode into something much, much larger than just between Israel and the Palestinians." "So we may be dealing with at least two conflicts at once," he said, adding that the US is concurrently poking China over the Taiwan Island. It appears the US could easily outstretch itself."We're hearing complaints from the people who actually manage that stuff, manage those logistics, and they're saying they're short. Already we're hearing reports that the US military is being delayed in receiving its own armaments because of the shipments to Ukraine.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/will-us-put-ukraine-on-back-burner-while-aiding-israel-1114045255.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/white-house-says-may-ask-congress-for-more-funding-to-support-israel-ukraine-1114053573.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/israels-gaza-land-op-may-turn-into-urban-meat-grinder-1114071390.html

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Nevada's biggest teachers union challenged a law that forbids walkouts by the state's public school workers who seek better pay and working conditions. The region is home to the fifth-largest school system in the United States.

According to the Clark County Education Association's complaint, the state's anti-strike statute from 1969 is unconstitutional.

They claim that the contract, which was negotiated over months of heated debate, violated the First Amendment rights of the organization's 18,000 members at over 380 schools in Las Vegas and adjacent Clark County. Additionally, they argue that the state's definition of a strike is too broad, violates fundamental rights, and allows for discriminatory and arbitrary application of the law.

Two entities are named as defendants in the case: the Clark County School District and the state of Nevada. Both the Clark County School District and the Nevada Attorney General's office sent comments via email indicating that they were reviewing the lawsuit and would not comment more while the litigation was ongoing.

The 'Sickout'

Several schools in the Las Vegas region were forced to close last month due to widespread teacher absences, as AP News reported. At least 87% of educators at one school called in sick. The school district sued the union, and the court ruled that the union had to cease the walkout, which the judge described the situation as "very clearly a strike."

Participants in the "sickout" could have been facing prison time, suspension, or termination, as well as fines of up to $1,000 per day for union officials and $50,000 per day for the union itself if the strike had persisted.

The union challenged the verdict before the Nevada Supreme Court on the grounds that it was not engaged in the absences.

A union spokeswoman told AP News that the membership would be asked to vote on whether or not to strike if the union wins in court and a contract deal has not been reached.

Pay, benefits, and working conditions have all been on the table during ongoing contract negotiations that have been taking place since March. If a contract had not been agreed upon before the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year in August, the union threatened to take action, raising tensions. Instructors' refusal to work beyond their allotted time was one move.

Also Read: Nepal: Schools Shuttered as 100,000+ Teachers Strike Against Education Reform Bill

Teachers' Demands

In a year when labor unions have regularly questioned the treatment of workers throughout the nation, the current round of bargaining over teachers' salaries comes at an interesting time.

The Las Vegas teachers' union has asked for % a two-year wage boost of roughly 20% for all instructors. Also, union officials want higher pay for educators working longer days at certain schools and those teaching in high-vacancy, low-income districts.

Several state lawmakers have pushed for the district to grant the union's school raise demand, noting the record amount of money they allotted to public schools this legislative session.

Also Read: President Joe Biden Announces New $9 Billion Student Loan Debt Cancellation To Benefit 125K Borrowers

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The Raceway at the Western Fair District hosted the first leg of the Autumn Series for Ontario-sired two- and three-year-old fillies on Monday (Oct. 9) evening in three divisions, each worth $8,500.

Black To Reality equalled the time for the fastest series division, winning the first split in 2:01.1 with J Harris in the bike for Paul Reid.

Favoured Leavinwithasmile (Brett MacDonald) was the pacesetter for the mile and clicked out the first panel in :29.4. Czech With Vivian (Colin Kelly) followed in second while Black To Reality got away third on the pylons. Black To Reality faded to fourth with a first-over advance by Greystone Cheet O (Lorne House) at the half in 1:00.4. That bid briefly stalled as Harris pulled Black To Reality second over at the three-quarters in 1:30.3 behind No Place To Hide (Anthony Haughan). As the pacesetter began to fade, Black To Reality and No Place To Hide were in a match race for the victory. Down to the wire, Black To Reality prevailed by a quarter of a length in 2:01.1. Greystone Cheet O grabbed third.

Black To Reality is a two-year-old daughter of Shadow Play and the Artsplace mare Take My Breathaway. She earned her first career tally in 12 starts and now has $11,898 earned. The filly is owned by Norah Parks, James Grant and Jeffrey Seibel. She paid $9.90 to win.

The second division went to Timeless Kiss and Brett MacDonald for trainer Gavin Christie.

Favoured Bet Im Shady posted the first two panels in :29.2 and 1:00.4 while being followed by Southwind Stratus (Haughan) in second and Timeless Kiss in third. Lady Speaker (Michael Horner) pulled first over before the half, leaving Timeless Kiss back to fourth at the three-quarters in 1:30.4 and into the final turn. Down the stretch, the fillies found themselves in a four-wide sprint. In a blanket finish, Timeless Kiss prevailed by a half length to win in 2:01.2. Lady Speaker was second and Southwind Stratus took the show spot.

Timeless Kiss is a two-year-old Artspeak-Timeless Beauty filly owned by William Beacham and Gavin Christie. She earned her first win in six starts and moved her purse total to $6,081. She paid $10.10 to win.

Mollys Game capped off the series action, pacing an equally fast 2:01.1 with Harris in the bike for trainer Shawn Steacy.

Harris and Mollys Game led through every panel in :29.1, 1:01.1 and 1:31.2 before crossing the wire 1-1/4 lengths the best. Vivi Z (Travis Henry) finished second and Pink Gee (Todd Ratchford) rounded out the top three.

Owned by Mickey Sudar and Dewitt Stables, the two-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight and the Western Terror mare Case Dismissed earned her second career victory in nine starts and now has $13,086 in earnings. Mollys Game paid $3.20 to win.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
After equalling his career best last week, Logan Park returned to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Oct. 8) evening to trot that same mile for his third win in a row in the $42,000 Free For All Trot.

Oney Hall (Paul MacDonell) achieved the early lead to the opening panel in :27.2, but Logan Park and Doug McNair refused to sit in the pocket for long. McNair tugged on his right line and swept to the top. The pair had a 1-1/2 length advantage over the field at the half in :55.2 before opening it up to 2-1/2 lengths at the three-quarters in 1:23.3. Logan Park was in his element as he cruised to victory in 1:50.3, 2-1/2 lengths in front. Amigo Volo (Louis-Philippe Roy) used a :26.3 last quarter to take second and White Tiger (James MacDonald) sped from seventh to the show spot.

Owned by Outofthepark Stable, Reg Higgs and Arpad Szabo, the five-year-old son of Archangel and the Muscle Mass mare Rite Outa The Park sits just $4,518 shy of a $1 million career milestone. The gelding has earned 10 wins and three seconds in 17 starts this season. Only out of the money on two occasions, he boasts $275,270 earnings this season. Logan Park paid $2.40 to win as the favourite.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The independent candidate for the Virginia Senate seat for District 28 advocated for rank choice voting during a forum held at Germanna Community Colleges Daniel Technology Center on Oct. 4.

Elizabeth Melson was joined on the panel by Democratic candidate Jason Ford. Republican incumbent Bryce Reeves was not present during the forum due to a previous commitment as part of a delegation which met with members of the Taiwanese consulate in Washington.

Ranked choice voting is a method where voters would rank each candidate on the ballot instead of choosing just one candidate. Those with the lowest amount of votes would be removed until a winner with the majority of votes is determined. Melson said it would be the one of the top legislative issue she would pursue if elected.

According to the Virginia Department of Elections, Arlington County is the only locality in the commonwealth which currently uses the method.

In an election like ours where you have three candidates, you would be able to rank those candidates and wed be able to ensure that whoever was elected was responsive because theyd be trying to get first place votes, Melson said.

Ford said his focus would be on economic support. He noted shortages in the workforce and education system and wants to set up initiative programs to address the issues. The Democratic candidate also said he wants to make improvements in affordable childcare and housing.

Being able to provide support for individuals who are looking to find a career that they balance with their childs life and give them a good life, said Ford.

A panel for the 30th District in the Virginia House of Delegates was also held during the forum, with Democratic candidate Sara Ratcliffe and Republican incumbent Nick Freitas.

When asked about their top issues if elected, Ratcliffe said her chief concern was the right to reproductive freedom.

The protections of reproductive freedoms have been a clarion call for Democratic candidates across the country since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade last year.

We need to protect what we have now, we also need to protect access to birth control and maternal health care that protects those that want to have children, said Ratcliffe. We need to have standards so that local based community services are available for people.

Freitas focused his view on education and expanding opportunities ranging from school choice to trade schools, which he said would give more power to students and parents. Freitas stated he preferred those options over what he described as the top-down, government controlled approach to education and its effects on both educators and students.

One of the biggest problems we have right now, we have a lot of teachers who are working incredibly hard and are doing so under the burden of a whole host of state and federal regulations which make it incredibly difficult for them to modify their curriculums or doing anything else to adapt to individuals that have different needs and different objective, Freitas said.

The final minutes of the panel outlined the difference in legislative philosophies of the candidates. Ratcliffe championed the role of government as a force for good while Freitas championed the idea of limited government.
When emergencies threaten and alarms sound, volunteer firefighters and medical teams stand by, ready and willing to protect citizens in Gering. But what happens if people stop volunteering for their local fire department?

The Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff is hosting a free sneak peek of the new Nebraska Public Media News documentary Working Fires: Volunteer Fire Departments in Crisis, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The screening will be followed by a community discussion about the future of volunteer fire departments featuring Nebraska Public Media News Senior Producer/Reporter Bill Kelly, Gering Fire Chief Nathan Flowers and Minatare-Melbeta Fire Chief Brandi Ehler.

The free screening and community discussion are open to the public. Registration details and more information is available at nebraskapublicmedia.org/engage.

Working Fires: Volunteer Fire Departments in Crisis reveals that flames, smoke and the risk of injury arent the only dangers facing local first responders in Gering. Recruiting and retaining volunteers, aging equipment, tight budgets and the shocking increase in extreme weather create a crisis: fewer responders and increasing demand.

In more than 450 communities across Nebraska, volunteers answer calls for help, but now the system is sounding alarms.

The television premiere of Working Fires: Volunteer Fire Departments in Crisis is at 9 p.m. CT, Thursday, Oct. 26, on Nebraska Public Media.
Humanities Nebraska (HN) has announced that Voices and Votes: Democracy in America from the Smithsonian will open at Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering on Oct. 16 and will run through Nov. 20.

The opening coincides with Humanities Week, a statewide observance of Humanities Nebraskas 50th anniversary.

Previously on display in Howells, Kearney, Belvidere and Wahoo, Voices and Votes is based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History called American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. It has many dynamic features: historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games and additional footage, photos, and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. Reports from the four previous host sites have all been positive.

Were pleased to see visitors reflecting on the privilege and responsibility of voting as U.S. citizens, said Mary Yager, HN Associate Director. This exhibition provides a reminder to all of the history that has given each of us a voice in our local, state, and national governments.

Humanities Nebraska is collaborating with Civic Nebraska to offer special resources to Voices and Votes communities. With its mission to build a more modern and robust democracy for all Nebraskans, Civic Nebraska is a natural partner as Voices and Votes tours the state. Civic Nebraska will encourage school field trips to see the exhibition and provide a variety of interactive activities and workshops at various exhibit locations including a voting simulation, Civic Sidewalk Series to educate community members about voting and provide upcoming election information, and civic health presentations on topics such as election integrity and confidence in elections. Sites hosting the exhibition can choose from a menu of offerings.

After its five weeks in Gering, Voices and Votes will proceed to its final Nebraska destination. The Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha will host the exhibition starting Dec. 1.

Voices and Votes is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration of the Smithsonian Institution and Humanities Nebraska. This exhibition is brought to Nebraska with support from Nebraska Cultural Endowment, the Nebraska Trucking Association, and other generous donors.

More information is available at www.humanitiesnebraska.org/voices.

Museum on Main Street is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and state humanities councils nationwide that serves the small-town museums and citizens of rural America. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

The Legacy of the Plains museum is open Monday  Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.
Childrens Hope Alliance and Heartstrings Therapeutic Music & Art Program, in conjunction with their collaborative partner Iredell Arts Council, announce the October Music Speaks event featuring Bing Futch. The event will be held Oct. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Heartstrings Gracie Building, 153 Frazier Loop, Statesville.

The event is free and open to the community to attend.

Music Speaks is an inspirational musician speaker series that will take place monthly throughout 2023 on the Barium Springs campus. A variety of guest speakers will share personal stories of overcoming adversity on their musical journey and will also perform some of their music for the local community.

In 2006, Futch began performing solo at festivals and music venues across the country. Since then, he has recorded a number of albums and published several music-education books including the best-selling Blues Method For Mountain Dulcimer 101.

In 2014, Futch won the Solo/Duo Artist award in the Central Florida Blues Challenge competition, earning an entry into the 2015 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, where he advanced to the semifinals. Several months later, he competed in the 2015 Central Florida Blues Challenge and won his category for the second year in a row, which led him back to Memphis to compete in the 2016 International Blues Challenge. There, he advanced all the way to the finals and was given the award for Best Guitarist in the Solo/Duo category, despite competing solely on the mountain dulcimer.

Refreshments for the monthly events for 2023 ae provided by The Exchange Club of Mooresville/Lake Norman.
So Google can find anything, right?

Well not this time.

I mean, DM me if you can find it.

I would love to read it: The Last Poem: All My Friends Are Going to Be Published, By: Grover Lewis.

There was also a strange single-sheet fold-over from about this time; it was called The Last Poem: All My Friends Are Going to Be Published, a riposte, I guess, to my own All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers. But an odd riposte.

-Larry McMurtry, Literary Life

Funny that McMurtry plays coy here: a riposte, I guess.

Because Texas State University had this to say about Grover Lewis:

At Oak Cliff, Lewis attended W.H. Adamson High School and worked at the Texas Theater, a site made infamous some years later as the location where Lee Harvey Oswald was taken into custody. He graduated from Adamson in 1953 and moved to Denton to attend North Texas State College where he majored in English and Drama. It was around this time that Lewis married and fathered a son and a daughter with his first wife, Peggy. At North Texas he also found a kindred spirit in future Pulitzer Prize-winner Larry McMurtry. Together Lewis and McMurtryeach being the only aspiring writer the other knewfound their way around the back roads and byways of Texas. And Lewis, like McMurtry, began his career as a writer while attending North Texas. He and McMurtry both won various student writing awards for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in Avesta, the schools literary magazine; and Lewiss creative work was soon published in other literary magazines and journals such as Carolina Quarterly, New Mexico Quarterly, and The Nation

Serendipitously, I went to to Texas Tech and later, so did Lewis.

Texas State University Continues:

In 1960, Lewis was named a National Defense Act fellow and moved to Lubbock to pursue a Ph.D. at Texas Technical College. While a graduate student at Tech, he again wrote for the school newspaper and edited Techs literary magazine, The Harbinger. Lewis also worked as a graduate teaching assistant, and his students included Ponty Bone and Jimmie Dale Gilmoreboth of whom became acclaimed Texas musicians.
Despite global condemnation, the Syrian government has failed to address the use of torture by its agents.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) commenced hearings today on a landmark case brought by the Netherlands and Canada against Syria for state-sponsored torture since 2011. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has declared these proceedings to be of paramount importance in the pursuit of justice.

In a case filed on June 8th, 2023, the Netherlands and Canada alleged that Syria is systematically violating the International Convention Against Torture. The allegations include inhumane treatment of detainees, appalling detention conditions, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, violence against children, and the use of chemical weapons. While this case does not target individuals, it seeks to establish Syrias legal responsibility for the widespread use of torture.

Balkees Jarrah, the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the significance of the case, stating, The case brought by the Netherlands and Canada provides an important opportunity to scrutinize Syrias long-standing heinous torture of countless civilians. The World Court should urgently put in place measures to prevent further abuses against Syrians who continue to suffer under nightmarish conditions and whose lives are in serious jeopardy.

Although the case may take several years to reach a final ruling, both the Netherlands and Canada have requested provisional measures to halt ongoing violations and support future accountability proceedings. These provisional measures, subject to discussion during the hearings, are considered essential due to the substantial risk of continued torture and other inhumane treatment in Syria. Both countries argue that Syria has shown no intention of preventing future violations.

The requested provisional measures include instructing Syria to take effective steps to end all acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, preserving evidence related to the case, and disclosing the locations of burial sites for individuals who died from torture. Additionally, the court is being asked to order the release of arbitrarily or unlawfully detained individuals, end incommunicado detention, and grant access to independent monitors and medical personnel in both official and unofficial detention sites.

The Netherlands and Canada also propose that Syria be required to report on the implementation of provisional measures, with these reports made public, every six months from the issuance of the order. While a decision on provisional measures can typically be expected within weeks, it should be noted that this order would bind Syria but would not predetermine the allegations merits.

In their final judgment, the Netherlands and Canada seek various remedies, including a declaration that Syria has violated its obligations under the Convention Against Torture and a commitment to cease ongoing violations. They also call for assurances that Syria will not resume these violations, fair proceedings to hold those responsible accountable, and reparations for victims.

Since 2011, Human Rights Watch and other organizations have documented the arbitrary detention and torture of tens of thousands of people by Syrian government forces, constituting crimes against humanity. In August 2013, compelling evidence of widespread torture, starvation, beatings, and disease in Syrian government detention facilities emerged through photos smuggled out of Syria by a military defector known as Caesar.

As recently as July, a UN Commission of Inquiry reported that Syrian authorities continue to detain and forcibly disappear thousands of people through an extensive network of detention facilities, with detainees remaining at risk of torture and abhorrent detention conditions.

Despite global condemnation, the Syrian government has failed to address the use of torture by its agents. Additionally, conditions in Syria have prevented the UN Refugee Agency from facilitating refugee returns, as refugees who returned between 2017 and 2021 have been subjected to arbitrary detention, kidnapping, torture, and even death.

With Syria not being a member of the International Criminal Court and efforts to grant the court a mandate over crimes in Syria blocked by Russia and China in 2014, the ICJ case offers a glimmer of hope for justice. National courts in countries like Germany, Sweden, and France have started to see progress in prosecuting individuals responsible for torture and atrocities in Syria, potentially aided by the findings and outcomes of this ICJ case.

The Convention Against Torture allows states parties, such as the Netherlands and Canada, to bring a suit against Syria even if they have not been directly impacted by the alleged violations. The cases journey began with the Netherlands announcing its intention in September 2020 to hold Syria accountable for torture, followed by Canada joining the effort in March 2021.

As the hearings continue, the world is watching closely, and the case at the World Court may serve as a catalyst for greater international action toward justice for the victims and survivors of grave abuses committed in Syria over the last decade.
This decision was reached following a voting session held on Monday, according to Enab Baladi.

The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces has officially approved the dismissal of its former president, Nasr Hariri, and former vice president, Ruba Habboush. This decision was reached following a voting session held on Monday, with the majority of members supporting the dismissals.

Nasr Hariri, the former president, confirmed the decision to Enab Baladi but did not provide details regarding the voting process.

Ruba Habboush informed Enab Baladi that the vote on their dismissal was held in absentia, and they were not informed in advance about this vote regarding their membership within the coalition. She mentioned that the coalition had convened a session on the day in question to discuss field and military developments in northern Syria, but the session concluded with their dismissal.

Habboush believes that this dismissal decision highlights the concerns she previously voiced about voting mechanisms and alleged violations of the coalitions internal regulations by influential members.

The media office of the coalition confirmed the dismissals, stating that they had invited all members to attend the voting session.

The coalition also reviewed the findings of an investigation conducted by a fact-finding committee into allegations made by the former president, Nasr Hariri. These allegations involved threats made by the head of the interim government, Abdul Rahman Mustafa, to pressure coalition members to vote for Hadi al-Bahra.

According to the results of the investigation, which took place during Bahras meeting with Syrian journalists in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 6, the committee found Hariris allegations to be baseless. Abdul Rahman Mustafa denied the allegations, and Hariri refused to testify on the matter. None of the coalition members supported Hariris claims, leading to the committees conclusion.

Bahra had previously stated that if it was proven that Abdul Rahman Mustafa had threatened coalition members, he would resign from his position.

In early July, a leaked letter addressed to the deputy head of the coalition, Ruba Habboush, raised questions about the coalitions election mechanisms following the postponement of elections in July. Habboush had criticized the delegation mechanism in elections, where ten members act as heralds of the elections and are elected to vote on behalf of all coalition members, who number around 80. She considered this mechanism a violation of democratic principles and the right to vote freely. This authorization mechanism involves one person collecting the identity cards of a group of coalition members and casting their votes on their behalf.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The White Helmets have sounded the alarm regarding the grave consequences of the continued escalation of attacks in Idleb, according to Syria TV.

Northwestern Syria experienced relative calm on Monday afternoon, marking the fifth day of an intense escalation and bombing campaign by the Syrian regime in the region. Tragically, this campaign has resulted in the death and injury of 328 civilians, including women and children.

As of this morning, the civilian death toll from the continuous bombing campaign in northwestern Syria reached 49 for the fifth consecutive day, as reported by the Idleb Health Directorate. The Directorate further stated that the toll of this brutal bombing campaign, initiated by Syrian regime forces the previous Thursday, has now reached 49 dead and 279 wounded, with the majority being women and children. Its worth noting that the shelling has impacted numerous areas in Idleb governorate and the western countryside of Aleppo.

In the wake of an explosion at the Military Academy, concerns have been raised by the United Nations about potential retaliatory bombardment on Idleb.

The White Helmets issued a statement on Monday denouncing the serious and systematic escalation of missile and artillery bombardment by regime forces on the city of Idleb, its countryside, and the western countryside of Aleppo on Sunday. This relentless assault targeted public facilities, hospitals, schools, bakeries, markets, a camp for displaced individuals, and White Helmets centers. The result was the tragic loss of six civilians, including two children and a woman, as well as the death of a woman due to cardiac arrest during the bombardment. Additionally, 33 civilians were injured, including 13 children (one of whom is an infant) and six women.

The White Helmets have sounded the alarm regarding the grave consequences of the continued escalation of attacks on northwestern Syria and the use of internationally banned weapons, such as incendiary and cluster bombs, by regime forces and Russia against civilians. They emphasize that these actions pose a severe threat, with potential for significant human casualties and infrastructure damage.

On a related note, the Syria Response Coordinators team has documented the outcome of four days of escalation by Russia and the Syrian regime in northwestern Syria. This escalation has tragically led to the death and injury of numerous civilians and the displacement of tens of thousands. Additionally, hospitals and vital service facilities have been directly targeted, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Shani Louk, the 22-year-old German-Israeli woman in her 20s who was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival and was reportedly stripped naked and killed by Hamas fighters has been revealed to be alive in a hospital inside Gaza after receiving serious head injuries.

German news website Bild reported that Louk's mother, Ricarda, feared her daughter was killed in the Hamas attack after seeing a video showing Louk unconscious at the back of a pick-up truck and was identified with the dreadlocks in her hair and the tattoos on her leg.

Read Also: Germany Launches Inquiry Into Hamas Over Murders, Kidnappings

Still Alive and in Hospital?

Newsweek reported a new revelation on Tuesday (October 10) that Louk was alive and taken to a hospital inside Gaza.

"We now have more information that Shani is alive," Ricarda told German broadcaster NTV, adding that she received the information from unnamed Palestinian sources.

The mother also asked the German government for help and quick action as her daughter seemed to be seriously injured.

"Every minute counts," she added.

At least 150 people were estimated to be kidnapped by Hamas fighters during their coordinated surprise attack across southern Israel over the weekend. Many of those abducted, including Louk and her Brazilian boyfriend, were attendees of the music festival.

While the exact number of people who were taken hostage from the festival and elsewhere in southern Israel has not been determined, at least two other partygoers were still unaccounted for - 25-year-old Chinese-Israeli Noa Argamani and 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Golberg-Polin.

Related Article: LIST: Foreigners Among the Dead, Abducted, Missing In Israel-Hamas War

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Sources told Baladi News that the reinforcements consist of drones, Iranian Fajr missiles, and advanced weaponry.

Local reports from southern Syria, specifically Daraa and Quneitra, suggest that Iranian militias have been observed engaging in military activities in the region.

According to the Ahrar Houran website, Iranian reinforcements have been spotted in several locations, including Tal al-Qaed near Jabab town to the north of Daraa, as well as various military hills in the northwest of Daraa, such as Talul al-Shaar and Kroum in Quneitra governorate.

The report further details that these reinforcements consist of drones, Iranian Fajr missiles, and advanced weaponry that has been transported to military installations within the governorates of Daraa and Quneitra.

These recent developments coincide with a surprise operation carried out by Palestinian factions at dawn on Saturday. This operation involved launching thousands of rockets and infiltrators into settlements surrounding Gaza. Israeli media has estimated the Israeli casualties from this operation to be over 700 deaths, while the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 436 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza, including a significant number of children. Additionally, 14 Palestinians lost their lives in confrontations with Israeli forces in the West Bank. Ongoing clashes persist, with indications of potential escalation not only within Palestine but also along the borders with Syria and Lebanon, where Iranian militias are stationed.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

On Monday, a Turkish air strike claimed the lives of 20 Kurdish security personnel and left dozens wounded at a police training center in northeast Syria held by the Kurds. Meanwhile, on World Mental Health Day, a report sheds light on the pressing concern of psychological well-being in conflict-ravaged areas, notably in northern Syria. While the visible aftermath of the Syrian war is marked by physical devastation, the profound mental impact on the population, especially children, is frequently underestimated.

The US will likely go to war in Israel with air and naval power if Syria or Iran become actively involved, retired 4-star general says

The US is likely to directly intervene with air and naval strikes if Israels existence is threatened, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey was quoted as saying by The Business Insider.

Speaking on Sunday on MSNBCs Weekends with Alex Witt, the four-star US Army general described how such an escalation likely would only occur if Israels Middle Eastern neighbors became heavily involved.

The other shoe were waiting to see if it drops is, will Hezbollah intervene out of Lebanon with their 100,000 some odd rockets? Will the West Bank ignite? And what will the Syrians and the Egyptians do? McCaffrey said.

I would suggest to you our support of Israel will be absolute, and if we see Syrian military intervention, active Iranian military intervention, well go to war, McCaffrey added.

Hamas militants launched a series of surprise attacks and rocket barrages against Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds and capturing dozens of hostages along the border of the Gaza Strip. Israel has declared war in response.

The Israel Defense Forces say 700 Israelis have been confirmed dead, while another 1,500 were wounded. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 400 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes, Reuters reported.

The US announced on Sunday that it is sending an aircraft carrier strike group, including F-35s and F-16s, to patrol the Eastern Mediterranean and deter all-out war involving Israels neighbors.

Theyre there for more than a show of force or a potential noncombatant evacuation, McCaffrey, who served in the Gulf War and led the US Southern Command from 1994 to 1996, told MSNBC.

Turkish strike on Kurds in Syria kills 20: Monitor

A Turkish air strike on Monday killed 20 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training center for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said.

Turkey has been bombing sites in the area since Thursday, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, said that 20 people had been killed and around 50 wounded after a Turkish warplane targeted a training center belonging to Kurdish internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyah.

The Kurdish force acknowledged the strike, saying that a number of our forces were killed and others wounded.

AFP correspondents said that authorities in the area have called for blood donations, while witnesses said that hospitals were full of casualties.

Amid the chaos of Syrias long-running civil conflict, Syrias Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the countrys northeast.

Turkeys defence ministry said on Friday that it had launched a new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel.

A branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)  listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies  claimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016.

Mazloum Abdi says Turkey tries to undermine the efforts of AANES

North Press quoted Commander in Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi as saying that Turkish attacks aimed at undermining the efforts and capabilities of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

Abdi said in a statement on X that during the past 72 hours, Turkey had targeted more than 145 locations in areas held by the AANES, including power stations, water and energy facilities, hospitals, and schools.

Turkish recent attack directly aimed at undermining the efforts and capabilities of the AANES with hostile political intentions and a deliberate attempt to disrupt civilian life, according to the commander in chief.

This represents an assault on international efforts and the work of civil society organizations and institutions that work to establish stability and serve the local population after the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), the statement read.

The destruction of infrastructure amounts to war crimes and cannot be described as anything less than that, according to the statement.

On Oct. 5th, the Turkish army launched drone strikes on infrastructure facilities in several areas of north and northeast Syria that are run by the AANES. The strikes took place following a statement by Turkeys Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, in which he threatened to strike a broader range of targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the Ankara attack.

Unseen Wounds: Mental health is not a priority in northern Syria

People In Need published a long report on a different kind of wound which Syrian people are experiencing.

As the world marks World Mental Health Day, the focus shifts to the critical issue of psychological well-being in conflict-ridden regions, particularly in northern Syria. While the physical devastation caused by the Syrian war is evident, the mental scars it has left on the population, especially children, are often overlooked.

The Syrian conflict has subjected countless children to violence, including bombings and shootings, leading to profound trauma. Many have lost family members, experienced displacement from their homes, and been forced into child labor. A study by MedGlobal revealed that a staggering 89.2% of Syrians living in wartime conditions exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders.

Several factors contribute to the dire state of mental health in Syria. The prolonged conflict, mass displacement, stigma around mental health issues, and a lack of understanding about psychosocial support have all created significant challenges. Moreover, theres a shortage of qualified mental health professionals and limited access to essential services.

Over 6.5 million children in Syria are in need of mental health support, and this number has been rising steadily. Failure to address their trauma can lead to lifelong psychological scars, impacting their health and future prospects.

Two primary barriers to accessing mental health support are cultural factors and economic constraints. Stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues often deters individuals from seeking assistance. Additionally, economic challenges, such as the cost of therapy or transportation to mental health services, further hinder access to care.

One heartwarming story from northern Syria highlights the resilience and compassion of individuals affected by the conflict. Ali, who lost his wife and home in a shelling incident, found and cared for four orphaned children. Despite doubts and objections from his community, Ali raised these children as his own. After reuniting the children with their mother four years later, Ali and Amina got married and became a blended family.

However, their story also reflects the harsh realities faced by many Syrians. The ongoing war has shattered their sense of security, and poverty forces parents to choose between their childrens mental well-being and physical survival. Access to education and mental health support remains limited.

Efforts by organizations like People in Need are making a difference. They have established community-based outreach programs, provided access to quality education and psychosocial support services, and organized social cohesion events to strengthen social bonds in affected communities. Individual assistance programs, including the provision of essential devices, aim to improve the overall well-being of individuals.

While progress is being made, the mental health crisis in Syria requires broader recognition and action. Mental health support must become a universal human right, accessible to all, to heal both the visible and invisible wounds inflicted by the Syrian conflict. The scars of war, whether seen or unseen, must be acknowledged, treated, and healed through increased access to mental health services, education, protection, and humanitarian aid for Syrian children and their families.
Brandix Mauritius Holdings Ltd Vs DCIT (ITAT Delhi)

In a recent legal battle, Brandix Mauritius Holdings Ltd found itself at odds with the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (DCIT) in Delhi. The central issue in this case revolves around the validity of an income tax assessment order issued by the DCIT. This case highlights a critical aspect of income tax procedures: the significance of including a Document Identification Number (DIN) in official communications.

Detailed Analysis:

The case centers on an income tax assessment order dated October 15, 2019, issued to Brandix Mauritius Holdings Ltd. This order was framed under sections 147, 144C(13), and 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. However, the pivotal matter at hand is the absence of a Document Identification Number (DIN) in this order.

On August 14, 2019, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued Circular No. 19/2019, mandating the generation, allotment, and quoting of DIN in any communication issued by the Income-tax Department. The primary objective was to establish a comprehensive audit trail for all communications and enhance transparency within tax administration.

The circular delineated specific exceptional circumstances under which manual communication (without DIN) could be issued. These circumstances included technical difficulties in generating DIN, the necessity for an income-tax authority to issue communication outside the office, delays in PAN migration, unavailability of the assessees PAN, or a lack of functionality to issue communication within the system. Nonetheless, even in these exceptional cases, it was imperative to record reasons in writing and secure prior written approval from the Chief Commissioner or Director General of Income Tax.

In the case of Brandix Mauritius Holdings Ltd, the assessment order dated October 15, 2019, did not feature a DIN, despite no valid exceptional circumstances outlined in the circular. The absence of a DIN rendered the order invalid, in accordance with the CBDTs directives.

The Assessing Officer (AO) argued that a DIN had indeed been generated but was inadvertently omitted from the order due to an upgrade-related issue. However, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) determined that this error could not be considered trivial and did not warrant the omission of the DIN.

Conclusion:

The Brandix Mauritius Holdings Ltd vs DCIT case underscores the importance of adhering to procedural guidelines within income tax assessments. The absence of a Document Identification Number (DIN) in the assessment order, without valid exceptional circumstances, rendered the order invalid and void-ab-initio. This case serves as a poignant reminder of the critical necessity for strict compliance with directives issued by tax authorities, with the aim of upholding transparency and accountability in tax proceedings.

FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT DELHI

This appeal by the assessee is preferred against the order dated 15.10.2019 framed u/s 147/144C(13)/143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [hereinafter referred to as The Act].

2. The grievances of the assessee read as under:

1. GENERAL

1.1 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the order of the learned AO dated October 15, 2019 passed under section 147/ 1440(13)7143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) in respect of AY 2011-12 is arbitrary; contrary to law, facts and circumstances; time barred and hence, liable to be quashed.

2. RE-ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS BAD IN LAW

2.1 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO was not justified in furnishing the reasons for initiation of re-assessment proceedings to the Appellant beyond a reasonable period despite multiple requests made by the Appellant seeking reasons.

3. BUY-BACK DOES NOT RESULT INTO TAXABLE CAPITAL

GAINS UNDER THE ACT

3.1 That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/ Honble DRP erred in ignoring that there should not have been any tax liability under the Act as the transaction of buy-back does not result in any taxable income under the Act since:

a. Section 46A of the Act merely characterizes the gain on account of buy-back as capital gains but neither there is a charge of tax created by section 46A of the Act nor section 2(24) of the Act covers this gain within its scope;

b. Without prejudice to the above, given the fact that Appellant is the parent company of Brandix Apparel India Private Limited (BAIPL), the buy-back undertaken by BAIPL would be covered by the exemption under clause (iv) of section 47 of the Act.

c. BUY-BACK DOES NOT RESULT INTO TAXABLE CAPITAL

GAINS UNDER THE RELEVANT TAX TREATY

4.1. That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/ Honble DRP erred in holding the Appellant liable for tax on capital gains in India arising on account of transfer of shares to BAIPL pursuant to buy-back undertaken by BAIPL by disregarding the provisions of the India-Mauritius tax treaty.

4.2 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/ Honble DRP grossly erred in holding that Circular No. 789 dated April 13, 2000 is applicable only to Foreign Institutional Investors investing in India through entities in Mauritius and not to any other residents of Mauritius.

4.3 Without prejudice to the above, that on the facts and in the circumstance of the case and in the law, the learned AO/ Honble DRP was not justified in attempting to charge the same income in the hands of the Appellant when such income was already charged in the hands of the Appellants subsidiary i.e., BAIPL.

(Tax effect: INR 5,61,04,244)

5. ERRONEOUS OBSERVATIONS

5.1 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/ Honble DRP erred in imposing tax on capital gains in India in the hands of the Appellant when the learned AO/ Honble DRP has itself admitted that the capital gains in India was taxable in the hands of the holding company i.e., Brandix International Limited (BIL).

5.2 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/ Honble DRP erred in holding that the decision to buy-back shares by BAIPL was taken on January 19,2010 being prior to the date (March 30, 2010) of gift of shares by BIL to the Appellant.

6. OTHER

6.1 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO erred in levying interest under section 234A of the Act.

6.2 That, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO erred in levying interest under section 234B of the Act.

(Tax effect: INR 5,77,87,326)

6.3 That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO has erred in initiating proceedings under section 27i(i)(c) of the Act.

The grounds of appeal mentioned above are independent and without prejudice to one another.

Further the Appellant craves leave to add, alter, amend, vary, omit or substitute any of the aforesaid grounds of appeal at any time before or at the time of hearing before the Honble Tribunal, so as to enable the Honble Tribunal to decide on the appeal in accordance with the law.

3. Vide letter dated 19.08.2022, the assessee has raised the following additional grounds of appeal:

7. Ground No. 7: On the facts and circumstances of the case & in law, the Learned Assessing Officer (Ld. AO) grossly erred in not providing the copy of mandatory sanction, if any, obtained under section 151 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) containing necessary satisfaction and endorsement of the concerned Learned Commissioner of Income-tax, and thus, the initiation of reassessment proceedings and reopening of assessment deserves to be held as invalid and bad in law.

8. Ground No. 8: On the facts and circumstances of the case & in law, the Learned Assessing Officer (Ld. AO) erred in issuing the final assessment order under section 147/ 1440(13)/ 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) dated 15 October 2019 without quoting the mandatory document identification number (DIN) in conformity with Para-2 and Para-3 of Circular No. 19/2019 dated 14 August 2019 and thus, the said final assessment order deserves to be held as invalid, bad in law and void-ab-initio.

9. Ground No. 9: On the facts and circumstances of the case & in law, the Ld. AO learned erred in not allowing additional credit of tax deducted at source of INR 3,42,09,905 to the appellant, deposited by the Indian deductor under Vivad se Vishwas (VsV) proceedings which is otherwise allowable as per FAQ No. 30 of Circular no. 9/2020 dated 22 April 2020.

10. Ground No. 10: Without prejudice to the other grounds, on the facts and circumstances of the case & in law, the Ld. AO and Dispute Resolution Panel erred in holding the capital gains earned during the instant year as short-term capital gains taxable @ 40% instead of long-term capital gains taxable @20% and in further not granting the benefit of first proviso to section 48 of the Act while computing said capital gains under the provisions of the Act.

The aforesaid grounds of appeal are without prejudice to each other, and the grounds of appeal raised along with the captioned appeal.

4. We have carefully perused the additional grounds of appeal raised by the assessee mentioned hereinabove. The Honble Supreme Court in the case of National Thermal Power Corporation 229 I TR 383 has laid down the following ratio:

7. The view that the Tribunal is confined only to issues arising out of the appeal before the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) takes too narrow a view of the powers of the Appellate Tribunal Undoubtedly, the Tribunal will have the discretion to allow or not allow a new ground to be raised. But where the Tribunal is only required to consider a question of law arising from the facts which are on record in the assessment proceedings we fail to see why such a question should not be allowed to be raised when it is necessary to consider that question in order to correctly assess the tax liability of an assessee.

5. In light of the above ratio, we find that this Tribunal is not required to verify any new facts. Therefore, the additional grounds raised are admitted.

6. It would be pertinent to adjudicate Ground No. 8, since it goes to the root of the matter. Ground No 8 reads as under:

8. Ground No. 8: On the facts and circumstances of the case & in law, the Learned Assessing Officer (Ld. AO) erred in issuing the final assessment order under section 147/ 1440(13)/ 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) dated 15 October 2019 without quoting the mandatory document identification number (DIN) in conformity with Para-2 and Para-3 of Circular No. 19/2019 dated 14 August 2019 and thus, the said final assessment order deserves to be held as invalid, bad in law and void-ab-initio.:

7. A perusal of the record shows that the final assessment order along with notice of demand is dated 15.10.2019 and it is an undisputed fact that it has been passed/issued without quoting Document Identification Number [DIN], which is mandatory as per CBDT Circular No. 19/2019 dated 14.08.2019.

8. The ld. DR vehemently stated that DIN was generated but due to upgradation, it was not reflected in the order. It is the say of the ld. DR that the error is not so fatal as to make the assessment order null and void. It would be pertinent to refer to CBDT Circular No. 19/2019 which reads as under:

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Direct Taxes

Circular No. 19/2019

New Delhi, dated the 14th August, 20 19

Subject: Generation/Allotment/Quoting of Document Identification Number in Notice/ Order /Summons /letter /correspondence issued by the Income-tax Department  reg.

With the launch of various e-governance initiatives, Income-tax Department is moving toward total computerization of its work. This has led to a significant improvement in delivery of services and has also brought greater transparency in the functioning of the tax administration. Presently, almost all notices and orders are being generated electronically on the Income Tax Business Application (ITBA) platform. However, it has been brought to the notice of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (the Board) that there have been some instances in which the notice, order, summons, letter and any correspondence (hereinafter referred to as communication) were found to have been issued manually, without maintaining a proper aud t trail of such communication.

2. In order to prevent such instances and to maintain proper audit trail of all communication, the Board in exercise of power under section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Act), has decided that no communication shall be issued by any income tax authority relating to assessment, appeals, orders, statutory or otherwise, exemptions, enquiry, investigation, verification of information, penalty, prosecution, rectification, approval etc. to the assessee or any other person, on or after the 151 day of October, 20 19 unless a computer-generated Document Identification Number (DIN) has been allotted and is duly quoted in the body of such communication.

3. In exceptional circumstances such as, 

(i) when there are technical difficulties in generating /allotting/ quoting the DIN and issuance 0r communication electronically; or

(ii) when communication regarding enquiry, verification etc. is required to be issued by an income-tax authority, who is outside the office, for discharging his official duties; or

(iii) when due to delay in PAN migration, PAN is lying with non-jurisdictional Assessing Officer; or

(iv) when PAN of assessee is not avail able and where a proceeding under the Act (other than verification under section 131 or section 133 of the Act) is sought to be initiated; or (v) When the functionality to issue communication is not available in the system, the communication may be issued manually but only after recording reasons in writing in the file and with prior written approval of the Chief Commissioner / Director General of income tax. In cases where manual comll1unicati on is required to be issued due to delay in PAN migration. the proposal seeking approval for issuance of manual communication shall include the reason for delay in PAN migration. The communication issued under aforesaid circumstances shall state the fact that the communication is issued manually without a DIN and the date of obtaining of the written approval of the Chief Commissioner / Director General of Income-Tax for issue of manual communication in the following format-  . . ..

This communication issues manually without a DIN on account of reason/reasons given in para 3 (i)/3(iI)/3 (iii)/3 (iv)/3 (v) of the CBDT Circular No  dated . . (strike off those which are not applicable) and with the approval of the Chief Commissioner / Director General oj Income Tax vide number . dated .. .. 

4. Any communication which is not in conformity with Para-2 and Para-3 above, shall be treated as invalid and shall be deemed to have never been issued.

5. The communication issued manually in the three situations specified in para 3- (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall have to be regularised within 15 working days of its issuance, by 

i. uploading the manual communication on the System.

ii. compulsorily generating the DIN on the System;

iii. communicating the DIN so generated to the assessee/any other person as per electronically generated pro-forma available on the System.

6. An intimation of issuance of manual communication for the reasons mentioned in para 3(v) shall be sent to the Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) within seven days from the date of its issuance.

7. Further, in all pending assessment proceedings, where notices were issued manually, prior to issuance of this Circular, the income-tax authorities shall identify such cases and shall upload the notices in these cases on the Systems by 31th October, 2019.

8. Hindi version to follow. (F. No. 225/95/2019-ITA.II)

Sd/-

Sarita Kumari

Director [ITA.II CBDT]

9. A perusal of the aforementioned Circular clearly shows that the CBDT has considered the exceptional circumstances as mentioned in Para 3 of the Circular and therefore, in our considered opinion, only those circumstances which have been mentioned therein would be considered for non-mentioning of DIN.

10. In Para 3 itself, the Board has made it very clear that in cases where communication is issued manually, it may be done only after obtaining necessary approval of the relevant authorities and communication so issued must indicate the exceptional circumstances provided in the Circular itself. It has been made very clear by the Board that any communication which is not in conformity with Para 2. and 3 of the Circular shall be treated as invalid and shall be deemed to have never been issued.

11. The impugned order is hit by this mandate of the Board and, therefore, we are inclined to adjudicate Ground No. 8 [supra] in favour of the assessee by holding that the order dated 15.10.2019 framed u/s 147/144C(13)/143(3) of the Act is invalid and deemed to have never been issued as it fails to mention DIN in its body by adhering to Circular No. 19/2009 dated 14.08.2019.

12. Ground No. 8 is, accordingly, allowed and without going into merits, the assessment order is treated as null and void.

13. In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA No. 1542/DEL/2020 is allowed.

The order is pronounced in the open court on 19.09.2022.
The Nokia G42 5G (16GB+256GB variant) has finally arrived, and its exclusively available at retail outlets and Nokia.com, stirring up anticipation among tech enthusiasts and smartphone aficionados. This impressive device aims to deliver an exceptional 5G experience, generous storage capacity, and a strong commitment to eco-conscious design. With a palette of stylish colours including So grey, So purple and So Pink, it caters to a diverse range of consumers, both in terms of performance and aesthetics. In addition to its impressive features, theres an enticing limited launch offer. When you purchase the Nokia G42 5G at select retail outlets, youll receive a limited period complimentary Bluetooth headphone worth Rs. 999, further enhancing the value of your investment.

The Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G chipset powers the Nokia G42 5G, providing rapid 5G connectivity, which is a leap towards democratizing this next-generation technology for a broader user base. Sporting a generous 16GB of RAM (8GB Physical & 8GB Virtual RAM) and a spacious 256GB of storage, this smartphone provides ample space for all your applications and media. The device offers a two-year OS upgrade guarantee, ensuring its software remains up-to-date and relevant with support for Android 13 out of box. One of the standout features of the Nokia G42 5G is its exceptional three-day battery life, capable of lasting through an impressive 800 full charging cycles, ensuring users stay connected without worrying about frequent recharging with the 5000 mAh battery. With a powerful 50MP main camera, 2MP macro and 2MP depth auxiliary cameras, an 8MP front camera, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, the Nokia G42 5G offers an exceptional and enduring smartphone experience.

The Nokia G42 5Gs production process emphasizes sustainability, with its 6.56-inch HD+ 90Hz Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen encased in a 2-piece unibody design and a back cover made from 65% recycled plastic. The Nokia G42 5G (16GB+256GB variant) strikes the perfect balance between high performance, ample storage, and eco-conscious design. Its the smart choice for todays eco-conscious consumers who appreciate both sustainability and cutting-edge technology. Dont miss the exclusive opportunity to elevate your mobile experience with the Nokia G42 5G, available at retail outlets. It will be available on Nokia.com from 18th oct onwards. Whether youre captivated by its performance, design, or the limited launch offer of a free, this smartphone is poised to redefine your mobile experience in exciting ways.

HMD Global has also launched Nokia C32 (12GB +128GB) variant in India. Nokia C32 is now available at retail stores, Nokia.com and online partners at Rs10, 499. Nokia C32 is now available in 3 memory Variants- 12+128GB, 7+128GB & 7+64GB. It is available in 3 cool colours Breezy Mint, Beach Pink & Charcoal.
Nokia announced it has set two new world records in submarine optical transmission, both of which will shape the next generation of optical networking equipment.

The first sets a new optical speed record for transoceanic distances. Nokia Bell Labs researchers were able to demonstrate an 800-Gbps data rate at a distance of 7865 km using a single wavelength of light. That distance is two times greater than what current state-of-the-art equipment can transmit at the same capacity and is approximately the geographical distance between Seattle and Tokyo. Nokia Bell Labs achieved this milestone at its optical research testbed in Paris-Saclay, France.

The second record was achieved by both Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia subsidiary Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), establishing a net throughput of 41 Tbps over 291 km via a C-band unrepeated transmission system. C-band unrepeated systems are commonly used to connect islands and offshore platforms to each other and the mainland proper. The previous record for these kinds of systems is 35 Tbps over the same distance. Nokia Bell Labs and ASN broke the record at ASNs research testbed facility, also in Paris-Saclay.

Nokia Bell Labs and ASN presented the scientific findings behind both records on the 4th and 5th of October at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC), held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Making lasers that blink faster

Nokia Bell Labs and Alcatel Submarine Networks were able to achieve both world records through the innovation of higher-baud-rate technologies. Baud measures the number of times per second that an optical laser switches on and off, or blinks. Higher baud rates mean higher data throughput and will allow future optical systems to transmit the same capacities per wavelength over far greater distances. In the case of transoceanic systems, these increased baud rates will double the distance at which we could transmit the same amount of capacity, allowing us to efficiently bridge cities on opposite sides of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the case of C-band unrepeated systems, higher baud would allow service providers connecting islands or off-shore platforms to achieve higher capacities with fewer transceivers and without the addition of new frequency bands.

The research behind these two records will have significant impact on the next generation of submarine optical transmission systems. While future deployments of submarine fiber will take advantage of new fiber technologies like multimode and multicore, the existing undersea fiber networks can take advantage of next-generation higher-baud-rate transceivers to boost their performance and increase their long-term viability.

Sylvain Almonacil, Research Engineer at Nokia Bell Labs, said, With these higher baud rates, we can directly link most of the worlds continents with 800 Gbps of capacity over individual wavelengths. Previously, these distances were inconceivable for that capacity. Furthermore, were not resting on our achievement. This world record is the next step toward next-generation Terabit-per-second submarine transmissions over individual wavelengths.

Hans Bissessur, Unrepeated Systems Group leader at ASN, said, These research advances show that that we can achieve better performance over the existing fiber infrastructure. Whether these optical systems are crisscrossing the world or linking the islands of an archipelago, we can extend their lifespans.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

To the backdrop of the vast Jelling stones, Denmark on Tuesday granted the inventors of Bluetooth technology permission to use the name and symbol of Harald the Bluetooth for the next 1,000 years .

"In a spirit of goodwill and cooperation, we hereby authorize you to continue to use the name, Harald Bluetooth, for the next 1,000 years," said a symbolic statement from the Jelling museum, which owns the eponymous runestones that tell the story of the king and his family.

King Harald I BlatandHarald Bluetoothwas a key historical figure in 10th-century northern Europe, famous for his adoption of Christianity, turning his back on the cult of Odin and Thor.

The man who owes his nickname to a root canal, or according to other sources to his immoderate taste for blackberries and bilberries, was also the father of Norway's union with Denmark, which lasted until 1814.

Modern-day Bluetooth, which enables electronic equipment to connect without cables, owes its name to the unifying king.

"The idea behind the new technology was that it should connect and unify. Just like Harald Bluetooth did when he unified Denmark and Norway," explained one of the inventors of the technology, Jim Kardach, quoted in a statement.

"We sincerely regret not seeking your permission before borrowing the name... We acknowledge that it was a rather cheeky move on our part."

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: AI-generated image

The COVID pandemic stimulated an irreversible shift in where, when and how we work. This 21st-century model of workingdubbed the "new normal"is characterized by increased flexibility and productivity gains.

Yet this reshaping of work, underpinned by technology, has also eroded our work-life boundariesand persisting 20th-century attitudes are preventing us from successfully managing the new normal.

We find ourselves struggling with "productivity paranoia": a term used to describe managers' concerns that remote and hybrid workers aren't doing enough when not under supervision.

As a result, we're seeing a surge in the use of electronic monitoring and surveillance devices in the workplace. These devices allow managers to "watch over" employees in their absence. This practice raises serious legal and ethical concerns.

Big bossware is here

In a survey of 20,000 people across 11 countries, Microsoft reported 85% of managers struggled to trust their remote-working employees. In Australia, this figure was 90%.

In 2021, American research and consulting firm Gartner estimated the number of large firms tracking, monitoring and surveilling their workers had doubled to 60% since the start of the pandemic.

Electronic monitoring and surveillance technology can capture screenshots of an employee's computer, record their keystrokes and mouse movements, and even activate their webcam or microphones.

On one hand, these "bossware" tools can be used to capture employee and production statistics, providing businesses with useful evidence-based analytics.

The other side is much darker. These devices are indiscriminate. If you're working from home they can pick up audio and visual images of your private life.

Managers can be sent notifications when data "indicate" an employee is taking breaks or getting distracted.

Some aspects of electronic monitoring and surveillance are legitimate. For instance, it may be necessary to safeguard an organization's data access and transfers.

But where are the boundaries? Is your organization legally obliged to tell you about electronic intrusions? Alternatively, what can you do if you find out you're being watched without being informed?

The legal framework

A complex array of regulation governs workplace privacy and surveillance in Australia. Proposed reforms to the Privacy Act 1988 are set to strengthen privacy protections for private-sector employees.

However, this legislation doesn't specifically cover workplace surveillance. Instead, a patchwork of laws in each state and territory regulate this matter.

Specific legislation regulates the surveillance of workers in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Importantly, surveillance must not be undertaken unless the employer has provided at least 14 days' notice. This notice must include specific details about the surveillance that will be carried out. Employers must also develop and adhere to a surveillance policy.

In both states, employers can only record visual images of an employee while they're "at work". This is broadly defined to capture any place where work is carried out.

Covert surveillance is prohibited unless the employer has obtained a court order. In this case it's restricted to situations where the employee is suspected of unlawful activity.

Even then, a covert surveillance order would not be granted where this unduly intrudes on the employee's privacy. Covert surveillance for the purpose of monitoring work performance is expressly prohibited.

Other states and territories don't have specific electronic workplace surveillance laws. Employers must instead comply with more general surveillance legislation.

Broadly speaking, employees must give consent, express or implied, to any surveillance. In practice, such consent is usually obtained through the implementation of a workplace surveillance policy, which employees must agree to when they accept the job. So if you've signed a contract without reading the fine print, you may have agreed to being surveilled via electronic monitoring tools.

Currently, Queensland and Tasmania provide the most limited protection for employees. Their surveillance legislation is limited to the regulation of listening devices.

Enterprise agreements, employment contracts and workplace policies may also limit or prohibit the use of surveillance devices. In practice, however, most employees will lack the bargaining power to negotiate the inclusion of any such terms in their employment contract.

The law is failing to keep up

In 2022, a parliamentary select committee reporting on the future of work in NSW observed the current regulatory framework is failing to keep pace with rapid advancements in electronic monitoring and surveillance.

The report criticized legislation that simply allows an employer to notify workers surveillance will be carried out, with no mechanism for this to be negotiated or challenged. The situation is slightly better in the ACT, where employers must consult with workers in good faith about any proposed surveillance activities.

Workers who suspect their employer is spying on them should review their workplace surveillance policies. They may need to reflect carefully on how they use their work computer.

Where an enterprise agreement applies, the Fair Work Commission can arbitrate surveillance disputes. A worker who is dismissed following intrusive surveillance may be able to challenge the dismissal on the basis of it being unfair.

Workers who haven't been informed of their employer's surveillance practices can also lodge a complaint with the relevant authority or regulator, who may have powers to investigate and prosecute offenses.

To thrive in our "new normal" work landscape, we'll need to address the gap between the existing legal protections and the capabilities (and potential harms) of electronic monitoring and surveillance. For now, it remains a significant legal and ethical challenge.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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An EU official said in a letter that concerns over X's moderation practices have heightened after the Hamas attack against Israel.

The EU's digital chief Thierry Breton warned Elon Musk on Tuesday that his platform X, formerly Twitter, is spreading "illegal content and disinformation", in a letter seen by AFP.

The letter said concerns had heightened after the Hamas attack against Israel, and demanded Musk respond to the complaint within 24 hours and contact "relevant law enforcement authorities".

As the European Union's commissioner for industry and the digital economy, Breton is charged with regulating internet giants that trade within the bloc, and can launch legal action.

"Following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, we have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU," Breton wrote.

Breton reminded Musk that EU law sets tough rules on moderating content, "especially when it comes to violent and terrorist content that appears to circulate on your platform".

He asked that X respond to his complaint within 24 hours and also get in touch with Europol, the EU police coordinating agency.

"We will include your answer in our assessment file on your compliance with the DSA," Breton said, referring to the new EU Digital Services Act, which regulates online platforms.

"I remind you that following the opening of a potential investigation and a finding of non-compliance, penalties can be imposed," it said.

Musk, responding later on X to a user who had posted the letter, invited Breton to "please list the violations you allude to".

"Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports," Musk wrote.

Hate and violence

Brussels has previously complained that, among the large-scale internet platforms that fall under the DSA remit, Musk's Twitter now rebranded X spreads the biggest proportion of disinformation.

In August, when the new law came into effect, Musk replied to a post by Breton promising that the platform was "working hard" to comply, but there have been more warning signs.

While the rules were still voluntary, the firm pulled out of an oversight group, and Muska self-styled "free speech absolutist"has been dismissive of criticism in his personal posts.

In September, the billionaire tech mogul boasted that he had cut half of its global team dedicated to monitoring and limiting disinformation and fraud around major elections.

Since Saturday's shock attack on Israeli communities by the Hamas militant group, web platforms have been swamped by posts containing fake or misrepresented reports and footage.

While the confirmed death toll in the renewed war has now passed 3,000unconfirmed, exaggerated or false reports of atrocities have also proliferated.

Experts fear these moves have increased the risk of misinformation provoking real-world harm, amplifying hate and violence.

 2023 AFP
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Striking United Auto Workers member Chris Jedrzejek, right, and his father picket outside Ford Motor Co.'s Michigan Assembly Plant Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in Wayne, Mich. Credit: AP Photo/Mike Householder

On the picket lines at a Ford factory west of Detroit, many striking workers don't think the electric vehicle revolution is coming for their jobsat least not in the near future.

But just in case, they're backing United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain's quest to unionize EV battery factories at Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis, matching a breakthrough concession made by General Motors last week.

So far, neither Ford nor Stellantis has agreed to the change, which would pull employees at all 10 U.S. battery factories proposed by Detroit automakers into national contracts with the UAW, all but assuring they'll be unionized.

Fain also wants workers at the plants to make top UAW assembly plant wages, which now are $32 per hour.

With the UAW strike now in its fourth week, EVs and their potential impact on job security have become central to union negotiations with the automakers. Contract talks are likely to determine whether those plantsmostly joint ventures with South Korean battery companiesare union, which may have long-lasting consequences as the auto industry transforms itself.

"The battery plants are going to be the make-or-break issue," said Sam Abuelsamid, a mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights. "It's going to be a critical factor for them to get good labor agreements at these plants."

In short, if electric vehicles replace gas-powered ones, most UAW workers at engine and transmission plants will lose their jobs. And if lower-paying battery plants aren't union, workers won't have anywhere to get the same wages and benefits.

Striking United Auto Workers member Chris Jedrzejek, right, and his father picket outside Ford Motor Co.'s Michigan Assembly Plant Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in Wayne, Mich. Credit: AP Photo/Mike Householder

Ford and Stellantis thus far don't want to pay top union wages, fearing that will push up their costs over Tesla and other competitors with nonunion battery plants mainly in the U.S. South. That could make Detroit's EVs more expensive and harder to sell.

The issue, festering for months behind pay and cost-of-living increases, restoration of retirement benefits for new hires and even a 32-hour workweek, became huge Friday when GM agreed to unionization.

Stellantis didn't comment directly on GM's move, but Ford said workers will have to choose once they are hired at plants that haven't been built yet. Although Ford said it's willing to work with the union, the company said it's investing billions in battery plants that have to operate "at sustainably competitive levels."

Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley accused the union of using the battery plant issue to hold a potential contract agreement hostage. Ford has decided to locate three of its four proposed battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee, states where workers and politicians could be more hostile to the UAW. The company has put on hold a fourth plant to be built in Michigan by Ford itself.

Before GM changed its stance, the automakers said they have South Korean joint venture partners at nine of 10 battery factories, and those partners have to be at the bargaining table.

Automakers are telling workers their jobs are secure, but the union doesn't see that in the transition to electric vehicles, Fain said. Instead, the companies want to pay "poverty wages" at the new plants and drive down pay in the industry, he said.

"It's really hard to envision a future for us where we have no piece of the battery," said Fain, adding that 20%almost 30,000of the union's 146,000 members at the Detroit Three now work in factories that make internal combustion engines and transmissions.

Construction continues on a battery plant, part of a $5.6 billion joint project by Ford Motor Co. and battery maker SK, on March 24, 2023, in Stanton, Tenn. Credit: AP Photo/ Adrian Sainz, File

Farley and other auto executives have said that because EVs have fewer moving parts, they will require 30% to 40% fewer workers to assemble than gasoline vehicles. But GM CEO Mary Barra insists there will be enough work to bring everyone along.

A study by Carnegie Mellon University backs her up, in part, finding that it will take more labor to build electric vehicle batteries, motors and drivelines than engines and transmissions for combustion engine vehicles.

On the picket line at the Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan, where Bronco SUVs and Ranger pickups are made, workers questioned whether people would buy EVs because of their limited travel range and lack of charging stations. But they also see a future where buyers could switch, and they think wages at the battery plants should match what they make.

"They're part of Ford and should be unionized as well," said Chris Jedrzejek, who has worked for the company 23 years. "I'm sure that Ford would rather not have their battery plants unionized, but with the actions of GM, they set the precedent."

He doesn't believe the company line that higher-wage union battery plants would make Detroit's EVs too pricey. The pay at nonunion Toyota assembly plants, for instance, is similar to the top wage of UAW workers, he said, although Jedrzejek concedes that many Ford workers have better benefits such as pensions.

"I think it's just a bunch of rhetoric just to try to scare us into signing a bad deal," he said.

Worker Todd Lauerman, who has been with Ford a dozen years, said making the battery plants union is crucial because fewer workers may be needed to build EVs, and the issue has to be settled this year because if the plants start running and aren't union, "it's going to be a lot harder to get it in the next contract."

Ford Motor Co., executive chairman Bill Ford, announces the automaker's new BlueOval Battery Park, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, in Romulus, Mich. Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File

It's likely GM agreed to unionize its four U.S. battery plants because workers probably would have voted for the union anyway, Abuelsamid said. The UAW, he said, will use this to try to organize other Korean-owned battery plants.

One GM plant in northeastern Ohio already has voted for the UAW, two more are right next to GM assembly plants in Tennessee and Michigan, and the fourth is near South Bend, Indiana, not far from other GM factories.

"They may have thought they were going to get unionized one way or another, let's just get it done," said Harry Katz, a professor of collective bargaining at Cornell University.

Stellantis' staying quiet may mean it's willing to work a deal, but Ford's public statements so far indicate it will fight bringing its plants into the national UAW contract.

Katz, though, thinks Ford will eventually have to agree to the template set by GM. "On a matter of principle like this, I don't see them agreeing to anything other than the pattern," he said.

Without organizing the battery plants, union wins on wages and benefits could be only temporary because membership would decline if the battery factories are nonunion, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University.

"It could turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory if inroads aren't also carved out at the nonunionized factories that will play a pivotal role in the industry's future," Masters said.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Maxwell Hunt via Unsplash

Ed Sheeran convinced a jury this year that he didn't rip off Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." By way of contrast, Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke earlier failed to establish that "Blurred Lines" wasn't a copy of Gaye's "Got to Give It Up."

Could automated algorithms bring a new objectivity to music copyright infringement decisions, limiting the number, scale and expense of court cases? Musicologist Dr. Patrick Savage of the University of Auckland researched the topic in collaboration with Yuchen Yuan of Keio University, Japan, and experts in music psychology and copyright law from Goldsmiths, University of London, and George Washington University in the U.S.

"It's the largest study so far of how the best algorithms compare with humans in judging when music crosses the line into plagiarism," says Savage, a senior research fellow in the University's School of Psychology. "It's fair to say that algorithms won't be taking over any time soon."

Savage's involvement in the area has included contributing to an amicus curiae briefthat's expert evidence for a courtthat helped overturn a decision in a Katy Perry case.

In the study, 51 people were asked to judge 40 examples of alleged plagiarism from 1915 to 2018, including a New Zealand National Party Eminem-style campaign advertisement from 2014 and ex-Beatle George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" from the 1970s.

Algorithms PMI and Musly, two of the best publicly available tools for discovering music plagiarism, assessed the same songs.

Study participants' assessments matched the court decisions in as much as 83% of the cases (33 out of 40) versus 75% for the algorithms (30 out of 40).

One limitation of the study is the underlying assumption that the court cases were decided correctly.

"The 'Blurred Lines' case caused considerable controversyand neither our study participants nor the algorithms strongly supported the legal decisionnor did many musicians, musicologists, lawyers, or judges, for that matter," says Savage.

One permanent limitation on using algorithms to decide copyright cases is that non-musical factors can play a role.

"For example, regardless of how similar two songs are, there won't be a breach of copyright if the allegedly plagiarizing composer can show that it would have been impossible for them to have heard the earlier song," he says.

Ultimately, trial by algorithm won't replace trial by jury, but algorithms' objective assessments may be a factor to take into consideration.

"For example, Spotify is already experimenting with a Plagiarism Risk Detector that might help artists automatically catch unintended similarities with existing works before they release new songs," says Savage. "Future court cases might also be able to include graphs of how similar two songs are in relation to past cases to give judges and juries more objective data and context to aid their decisions."

As litigation becomes more frequent, "unjustified music copyright lawsuits not only inhibit music creativity but also waste millions of taxpayer dollars annually to cover the adjudication of these disputes," Savage and his co-authors wrote in the paper, published in the journal Transactions of the International Society for Music Information Retrieval.

The algorithm Percent Melodic Identity was invented by Savage and fellow School of Psychology academic Professor Quentin Atkinson to study the evolution of folk song melodies.

Musly, invented by Dr. Dominik Schnitzer from the Austrian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence, includes features like rhythm and timbre in addition to melody.

More information: Yuchen Yuan et al, Perceptual and automated estimates of infringement in 40 music copyright cases, Transactions of the International Society for Music Information Retrieval (2023). DOI: 10.5334/tismir.151
Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis made a statement about the Israel-Hamas War on Tuesday (October 10), saying that the state is standing in solidarity with Israel and the wider Jewish community, and it was eliciting both sadness and anger about what happened.

"I think that we need justice and I think that justice needs to be so severe that they wouldn't think of doing this ever, ever again," he said in a speech at The Shul of Bal Harbour, a synagogue at Surfside. "And you can count on us to be a friend and to be an ally of the state of Israel and of the Jewish people."

DeSantis promised he would increase protections near places of worship throughout the state.

"What we witnessed this weekend was one of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of not just Israel but the modern world," he added. "It's important that we say as Americans and as Floridians, we stand with the people of Israel and we stand with the state of Israel in this dark hour."

Read Also: Still Alive? Naked Girl Paraded by Hamas Reportedly in Gaza Hospital, Mother Says

DeSantis Plans to Place Sanctions on Iran

According to NBC Orlando affiliate WESH, Florida has a large Jewish community and the second-largest Israeli-American community in the country.

This in mind, DeSantis also called for sanctions on Iran during the next legislative session that would block Iranian businesses in Florida. It was alleged that Iran provided Hamas the financial and strategic backing it needed to conduct its raid and Tehran was said to be complicit in the attacks, which they vehemently deny.

"We all know the truth. If Hamas and Hezbollah and any Palestinian Arab simply laid down their arms tomorrow, that would result in peace," DeSantis added "If Israel laid down its arms tomorrow, that would result in the destruction of the Jewish state."

DeSantis also said that Israel does not only have the right to defend itself, but also the duty to do so.with "overwhelming force."

He also urged state legislation to starve out Iranian businesses in the state and would not lift the sanctions until both US President Joe Biden and the US Congress certify that Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism and seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

Related Article: US, 4 European Countries Release Joint Statement on Israel

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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A diagram of the experimental setup including the planar resonator sensor. The liquid sample tube is placed in the gap as shown here. Credit: Qi Jin, Zhaozong Meng, Zhijun Chen, and Zhen Li

Adulteration is a bitter truth in the sweet world of honey. As consumers seek nature's nectar for its purity and health benefits, a shadowy industry taints this golden elixir with hidden additives, most commonly water.

Standard detection methods of honey adulteration are expensive, and either have complicated operation methods or low detection accuracy.

A team of scientists from the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Hebei University of Technology has developed a microwave microstrip line planar resonator sensor tool to detect water adulteration in honey. The tool is compact, cost-effective, and easily fabricated.

The article, "Evaluation of adulteration in honey using a microwave planar resonator sensor," appears in Review of Scientific Instruments.

The microstrip line resonator sensor is fabricated on a dielectric substrate, which is an insulator that can efficiently support electrostatic fields, such as ceramic or glass. On top there are three thin copper strips separated by two gaps. The length of the middle strip and the electric field intensity at the gaps determine the resonance frequency of the device.

"When we add water to honey, it changes how the electromagnetic field behaves around it," said author Zhen Li. "When placed in the sensor, adulterated honey shifts the sensor's resonance frequency. By measuring this shift, we can detect water adulteration in honey."

Jars of honey line the shelves at a grocery store. Credit: American Institute of Physics

The team tested honey samples with varying water content. They found that the sensor's resonance frequency consistently decreases with increased added water content.

"When choosing a honey product, my family members always have the concerns of whether it is authentic or not," said Li. "This sensor provides a cost-effective and efficient method for the food industry to ensure honey authenticity."

The device inspires further applications in liquid analysis, in industries such as food quality control, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals, for detecting impurities or composition changes, potentially advancing sensing technology.

"We aim to extend our research to detect adulteration in other liquid products and develop more sensitive sensors for broader applications in quality control and food safety," said Li, "starting with the impact of temperature on our sensor's performance."

With the dedication of scientists like those behind this efficient sensor, we can look forward to a future where the honey in our jars remains untainted and as pure as the bees intended.

More information: Qi Jin et al, Evaluation of adulteration in honey using a microwave planar resonator sensor, Review of Scientific Instruments (2023). DOI: 10.1063/5.0166005 Journal information: Review of Scientific Instruments
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This so-called "force sticker" is a thin, flexible electronic device that measures forces between objects in contact. Credit: David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed electronic "stickers" that measure the force exerted by one object upon another. The force stickers are wireless, run without batteries and fit in tight spaces. That makes them versatile for a wide range of applications, from arming robots with a sense of touch to elevating the immersive experience of VR and AR, making biomedical devices smarter, monitoring the safety of industrial equipment, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of inventory management in warehouses.

They could be used, for example, in knee implants to measure the forces that implants exert on the joint. Having the ability to sense changes in these forces can be useful for monitoring an implant's fit, as well as wear and tear. Force stickers could also be placed on the bottom of warehouse packages to measure the weight of their contents, acting as miniature scales for checking inventory.

"These force stickers could make technology more intelligent, interactive and intuitive," said Dinesh Bharadia, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. "Humans, by nature, possess an inherent ability to sense force. This allows us to interact seamlessly with our surroundings and enables clinicians to perform delicate surgical procedures. Providing this force-sensing ability to electronic devices and medical implants could be a game-changer for many industries."

A team led by Bharadia will present the new force stickers at the UbiComp 2023 conference, which will take place from Oct. 8 to 12 in Cancun, Mexico. The research was published in the Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies in March.

The force stickers consist of two main components. One is a tiny capacitor that is just a few millimeters thin and about the size of a grain of rice. The other component is a radiofrequency identification (RFID) sticker, which is a device that functions like a barcode that can be read wirelessly using radio signals. The researchers found a clever way to integrate these two components together so that they can measure the force applied by an object and communicate that information wirelessly to an RFID reader.

The capacitor is made of a soft polymer sheet sandwiched between two conductive copper strips. When an external force is applied, the polymer compresses, drawing the copper strips closer together, thereby increasing the electric charge in the capacitor.

This increase in electric charge as a result of applied force is key, the researchers show, because it creates changes in the signal transmitted by the RFID sticker. An RFID reader remotely measures these changes and translates them into a specific magnitude of applied force. This particular technique of creating changes in RFID signal enables the components within the force sticker to be miniaturized. In comparison, previous methods to create changes in RFID signal required components that are a thousand times larger in size.

Meanwhile, the RFID sticker runs on extremely low power by transmitting radio signals via a technique called backscattering. It takes incoming radio signals from an RFID reader, modifies the signals via electric changes induced by the capacitor, and then reflects the modified signals back to the reader, which deciphers and translates them into applied force.

As a result, the force stickers run on essentially no power. "The design is really simple with minimal electronics," said study first author Agrim Gupta, an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student in Bharadia's lab.

Another design feature is that the capacitor can be customized for various force ranges. By replacing the polymer layer with a softer or stiffer one, the capacitor can be tailored to measure smaller or larger forces, respectively.

A biocompatible force sticker placed within a model knee joint. Credit: David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

To demonstrate, the researchers built and tested two types of force stickers. In one sticker, the capacitor was built with a super soft polymer to measure smaller forces, making it suitable for use in experiments in a model knee joint. Placed within the joint, the force sticker accurately measured different applied forces as the researchers pushed on the joint. The second sticker, in which the capacitor was constructed with a stiffer polymer, was tested in a warehouse packaging experiment. Attached to the underside of a box, it accurately measured the weight of varying quantities of objects placed in the box.

In tests, the force stickers were extremely durable. They withstood more than 10,000 force applications and remained consistently accurate. Additionally, they can be fabricated at low cost, with each sticker amounting to less than $2, the researchers noted.

"If we can commercialize this technology, we imagine that in the future a box of them could be sold inexpensively, like a box of Band-Aids," said Gupta.

However, it is worth noting a limitation: these force stickers require a static environment to function effectively and do not perform optimally in highly dynamic surroundings. The researchers are actively addressing this issue as they seek to further improve the technology.

Moving forward, the researchers aim to make the force stickers readable by smartphones, which would eliminate the need for RFID readers.

More information: Agrim Gupta et al, ForceSticker, Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (2023). DOI: 10.1145/3580793
A Bryan man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Monday after he was found guilty of his 10th DWI charge, according to the Brazos County District Attorney's office.

Darwin Batton, 60, was arrested May 15, 2016, after police received a report that he was staggering in a Walmart parking lot and smelled of alcohol, the DAs office said.

Batton had previously been convicted of eight felony DWI charges beginning in 1984 when he was first placed on probation in Brazos County, according to the DAs office. While on probation, he was arrested in Jefferson County in 1987 for a DWI.

Since 1984, the DAs office said that Batton has been charged with a DWI in Orange County, Hays County, Rogers County, Oklahoma, and Tulsa County, Oklahoma. He also has served three separate prison sentences, two of which were for DWIs.

Due to his prior convictions, the DAs office said that he faced a punishment range of 25 to 99 years in prison.
The family of a Blinn College student killed during an officer-involved shooting has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of College Station claiming corruption and cover-up.

Mark Hopkins, 22, was shot and killed by police in his apartment on the morning of Feb. 8 during the execution of a search warrant by the College Station Police Department.

The main suspect of the investigation, Abraham Eli Escobar, was not in the apartment at the time of the raid and was not a resident of the apartment, according to the lawsuit filed by the law firm of Aaron W. Perry on behalf of the Hopkins family.

In the lawsuit, the family claims that police gave false information in order to secure the search warrant and refused to release the full body camera footage of the incident. The lawsuit also claims that officers did not identify themselves before or upon entry into the apartment causing Hopkins to grab his shotgun believing a break-in was occuring.

In a statement, the city of College Station said it stands by the Texas Rangers independent investigation and that a grand jury did not indict the sole officer who shot Mark.

The Texas Rangers conducted an independent, thorough, fair, and transparent investigation, and the city is confident in their findings, the statement reads. The Brazos County grand jury also reviewed the matter and returned a No Bill, finding no criminal conduct by the officer involved. The loss of life is always tragic and the city sympathizes with everyone involved.

The city also said it disagrees with the lawsuits claims and are cooperating with the familys attorney.

The City of College Station disagrees strongly with the statements made by the familys attorney. The City has met and worked with the familys attorney while complying with the law, has cooperated with the family and has offered to meet directly with them. The city will respond accordingly to the petition to investigate the claim before a suit is filed, as the matter is related to a pending criminal case involving Abraham Escobar and others.

According to a copy of the search warrant obtained by The Eagle, police believed that Escobar had been using the apartment as a stash spot to deal drugs as he was dating one of Hopkins roommates, Lauren Decoux, at the time.

Marks father, Geoffrey Hopkins, said his son only knew Decoux through his girlfriend, Alyssa Wilson, and had no relationship with Escobar.

My son was not involved in any way with this individual other than he was in an apartment with the young lady who started dating this guy at some point, Geoffrey said. That was the extent of their interactions. She [Decoux] spent more time at his [Escobars] place apparently.  Theres just a lot of information out there thats incorrect and I want to clear his name and my familys name and get the investigation into this to get to the facts so we can put out what the real story is here.

One piece of evidence used by police in securing the search warrant was subpoenaed information from Venmo, a money transfer app, that allegedly showed that Escobar had paid Mark Hopkins at some point. However, the familys attorney, Michael Doyle, said that is false and the warrant never should have been issued.

In other words, its 100% false that theres any transfer online or via the app to Mark, period, Doyle said. Its just a lie.

The lawsuit also claims that an officer made a false statement in order to retrieve the search warrant.

College Station PD employee Taylor Lovelace falsely claimed under oath that Escobar had transferred money to Mark Hopkins via Venmo, the lawsuit reads. College Station PD employee Lovelace made these false statements under penalty of perjury to Judge Ed Spillane of the College Station Municipal Court.

College Station Police Chief Billy Couch said during a press conference the day of the shooting that Mark Hopkins had shot at police first. Hopkins family, however, claimed that police have yet to release body camera footage of the shooting and that only a short clip of it was shown to a private investigator which the family had hired.

According to testimony from Wilson, who was with Hopkins when police entered the apartment, officers did not identify themselves and Hopkins thought someone was breaking in.

At 6 a.m., Mark and Alyssa [Wilson] were asleep; both were awoken and stunned by the explosion of the flash-bang grenade and the shattering of a window, the lawsuit reads. During the commotion, they did not hear any knocking or attempt by the raid members to identify themselves as police officers. Instead, they believed that burglars had broken into the home.

Mark told Alyssa to call 911  Alyssa hid in the closet and Mark grabbed his shotgun. College Station PD employees forced the bedroom door open  Alyssa then heard instantaneous shots and witnessed Mark fall to the ground after he was repeatedly struck by gunfire.

Wilson was not available for further comment at the time of publication, according to Doyle.

Shortly after the shooting, Officer Dakota Norris was relieved from duty pending an investigation by the Texas Rangers. In late March, Norris returned to full duty after a grand jury found that he had no criminal conduct during the shooting death.

The College Station Police Department declined to comment and directed all questions regarding the lawsuit to the city.

Hopkins was in his third year at Blinn College and hoped to transfer to Texas A&M University to study construction science, his parents said. Geoffrey and Cynthia Hopkins said their son was an outstanding, trusting and smart young man.

Mark was very outgoing; he had a very pleasant personality, not a mean bone in his body, his father said.

Just a very well-liked person; his friends seemed to trust him, looked up to him, his mother said. I thought he was an upstanding person.
Dashaun Knox, a 24-year-old Katy man, was sentenced to 17 years in prison last Thursday after he was convicted for stealing a womans unattended car from a College Station gas station in March 2022, according to the Brazos County District Attorneys Office.

In March 2022, the woman pulled up to the front of a convenience store after she pumped gas and left her car running with the keys inside. When she returned, two men approached her, pulled her out of the car and took off with it, according to the DAs office.

College Station police obtained surveillance footage and determined the men took the car south on Texas 6 toward Houston, according to the DAs office. The car had a tracking device on it and College Station police were able to track it in the north Houston area. Members of the Harris County Sheriffs Office found the car, but when they tried to stop the men, they evaded officers at a high speed before they crashed.

Knox was found inside the car and admitted he stole the womans car in College Station, according to the DAs office.
Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd, a Texas A&M graduate, announced Monday he was suspending his longshot 2024 presidential campaign and endorsing Nikki Haley.

While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden, Hurd said in a statement.

Hurd added that Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was the best alternative to Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy.

Hurds announcement came less than four months after the Bexar County Republican launched his campaign, promising to take on Trump in a primary where many candidates were pulling punches. A former CIA officer and unapologetic moderate, Hurd represented Texas 23rd Congressional District from 2015-2021.

Hurd stood out for his willingness to explicitly criticize Trump on the campaign trail. During one memorable moment, Hurd was booed at an Iowa GOP dinner in July after declaring Trump is running for president to stay out of prison.

But Hurd could not build nearly enough support in a GOP primary that Trump has only increasingly dominated. He rarely got more than 1% in polling and failed to qualify for the two debates that have been held so far. Part of that was due to the fact he refused to sign a pledge to support the eventual nominee, saying he would never back Trump.

Hurd nonetheless was a go-to Trump critic on cable news, especially as the former president racked up indictments over the summer. Hurd also became critical of another primary opponent, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, suggesting he wanted to kiss the butt of Vladimir Putin over his opposition to additional Ukraine aid. Hurd further sought to distinguish himself last month by releasing an artificial intelligence policy platform, the first in the primary.

But in his statement Monday, he acknowledged he had not gathered enough support to continue the race. He urged Republicans to coalesce behind one alternative to Trump, warning that if they do not, we will repeat the same errors as in 2016 when Trump capitalized on fractured opposition.

He said he was especially confident of Haleys abilities in national security, a focus of his own political career. Haley has been working to usurp Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ramaswamy as the main GOP alternative to Trump.

She has been a major draw from some of the top GOP donors in Texas, and she visited the state last week for fundraising.

Haley thanked Hurd for his support in a tweet.

We have a country to save! she said.

Hurd had been the only Texan in the primary with elected experience. The states politicians have had a far more prominent role in the past two presidential races, with Republicans Rick Perry and Ted Cruz running in 2016 and Democrats Julian Castro and Beto ORourke running in 2020.
Shares of American States Water (NYSE:AWR  Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Reduce from the three brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and two have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $90.50.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on AWR shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of American States Water from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $94.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. UBS Group upgraded shares of American States Water from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of American States Water in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company.

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American States Water Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:AWR opened at $79.99 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The companys 50 day moving average is $83.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $86.99. The company has a market cap of $2.96 billion, a PE ratio of 25.31, a P/E/G ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 0.42. American States Water has a 52 week low of $75.20 and a 52 week high of $100.50.

American States Water (NYSE:AWR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $157.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $128.00 million. American States Water had a net margin of 20.24% and a return on equity of 13.10%. Equities analysts predict that American States Water will post 2.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American States Water Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th were given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 14th. This is a positive change from American States Waters previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. American States Waters payout ratio is currently 54.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Thomas A. Eichelberger acquired 1,000 shares of American States Water stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $84.81 per share, for a total transaction of $84,810.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,448 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $292,424.88. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of American States Water

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Quarry LP bought a new position in American States Water in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its position in American States Water by 1,000.0% in the 1st quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 363 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in American States Water by 900.0% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 380 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 342 shares in the last quarter. Vigilant Capital Management LLC bought a new position in American States Water in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new position in American States Water in the 2nd quarter valued at about $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.67% of the companys stock.

American States Water Company Profile

(Get Free Report

American States Water Company, through its subsidiaries, provides water and electric services to residential, commercial, industrial, and other customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Water, Electric, and Contracted Services. The company purchases, produces, distributes, and sells water, as well as distributes electricity.

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Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,564 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,758 shares during the quarter. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $825,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cloverfields Capital Group LP lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 11.5% during the 1st quarter. Cloverfields Capital Group LP now owns 50,785 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,660,000 after purchasing an additional 5,246 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 39.4% during the 1st quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 25,007 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,328,000 after purchasing an additional 7,073 shares during the last quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,729 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $665,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 372.9% during the 2nd quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. now owns 24,475 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,387,000 after purchasing an additional 19,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 46.0% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 14,668 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $768,000 after acquiring an additional 4,618 shares in the last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In other news, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total value of $476,880.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 8,014 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $477,714.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total value of $476,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 8,014 shares in the company, valued at $477,714.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of SCHW stock opened at $51.75 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. The Charles Schwab Co. has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $86.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $58.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $56.08.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.97 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.93%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on SCHW. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a report on Thursday, June 15th. StockNews.com began coverage on Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Wolfe Research decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Charles Schwab presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $71.59.

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Charles Schwab Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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US President Joe Biden denounced Hamas and stressed US support for Israel in his latest speech about what people described as the bloodiest day in Israel since the Holocaust.

In a speech on Tuesday (October 10), he mourned the death of over 1,000 people, including at least 14 Americans, from a coordinated surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group.

Biden also expressed concern for Americans being held hostage by the Iranian-supported Islamist group Hamas, Reuters reported.

"There are moments in this life and I mean this literally when pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend," he said. "This is an act of sheer evil."

Biden also offered support for American Jews, saying that they should be allowed to worship in peace in the US. This remark was also in conjunction with his previous speech saying antisemitism in the country had risen to record levels.

"At this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel," Biden addressed the public.

Read Also: US, 4 European Countries Release Joint Statement on Israel

US Aims to Help Israel

Prior to the speech, the White House reported that Biden got to talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden outlined in his speech Washington's military assistance being sent to help Israel in its fight.

The president also offered an overview of the actions the United States is taking with allies around the world to support Israel.

Earlier this week, the White House said it expected to fulfill additional security requests from Israel as quickly as possible.

While the US was not planning to put American boots on the ground, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Israel has called up an unprecedented 300,000 of its own reservists to stem the Arab tide.

In addition, Biden and Netanyahu have forged a wartime partnership following the Hamas attack.

Related Article: DeSantis Calls for 'Severe' Justice for Hamas's Attack on Israel

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Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 293,713 shares of the energy producers stock after acquiring an additional 10,640 shares during the quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLCs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $30,432,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 398.1% during the 1st quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 269 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 383.3% during the 4th quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 290 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 335.4% during the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 344 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 265 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.36% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $149.00 to $125.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Truist Financial raised their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $151.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded ConocoPhillips from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $120.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, ConocoPhillips currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $135.63.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

NYSE:COP opened at $121.82 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $118.76 and its 200 day moving average price is $109.24. The firm has a market cap of $145.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.74, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.28. ConocoPhillips has a 52-week low of $91.53 and a 52-week high of $138.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $12.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.64 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 27.27% and a net margin of 18.66%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.91 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 9.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 27th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.67%. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is currently 19.65%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total value of $69,546,516.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,221,360.18. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total transaction of $3,813,964.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,937 shares in the company, valued at approximately $735,178.71. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total value of $69,546,516.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,221,360.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 602,049 shares of company stock valued at $73,591,956. 0.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

ConocoPhillips Profile

(Free Report)

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects.

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Cypress Capital Group reduced its stake in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 56,905 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 2,187 shares during the quarter. Chevron comprises approximately 1.3% of Cypress Capital Groups portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest holding. Cypress Capital Groups holdings in Chevron were worth $8,954,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Rebalance LLC acquired a new position in shares of Chevron in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its position in Chevron by 52.3% during the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 195 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Chevron in the first quarter valued at $33,000. HBC Financial Services PLLC purchased a new stake in shares of Chevron in the first quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chevron during the first quarter worth about $36,000. 68.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Chevron Price Performance

Chevron stock opened at $166.75 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $163.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $161.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $311.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.14. Chevron Co. has a 12-month low of $149.74 and a 12-month high of $189.68.

Chevron Announces Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $48.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $48 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 13.54%. The businesss revenue was down 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.82 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 13.77 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is currently 38.30%.

Insider Transactions at Chevron

In related news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total value of $4,100,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,021 shares in the company, valued at $987,444. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Chevron news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total value of $4,100,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 6,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $987,444. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Jeff B. Gustavson sold 3,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.88, for a total value of $603,300.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,718 shares of the companys stock, valued at $276,391.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CVX has been the topic of several recent research reports. Bank of America boosted their price target on Chevron from $185.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Chevron from $163.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Citigroup decreased their price target on Chevron from $180.00 to $170.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Chevron from $209.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Chevron from $209.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $190.89.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CVX

About Chevron

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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Shares of Fair Isaac Co. (NYSE:FICO  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the nine research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $882.44.

Several research firms have issued reports on FICO. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on Fair Isaac from $900.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. HSBC started coverage on Fair Isaac in a research report on Friday, September 29th. They issued a reduce rating and a $729.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Fair Isaac from $875.00 to $940.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Raymond James initiated coverage on Fair Isaac in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. They issued an outperform rating and a $1,007.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Fair Isaac from $920.00 to $950.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on FICO

Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Fair Isaac

In other Fair Isaac news, EVP James M. Wehmann sold 2,836 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $888.42, for a total value of $2,519,559.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 41,736 shares in the company, valued at $37,079,097.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . In other news, EVP James M. Wehmann sold 2,836 shares of Fair Isaac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $888.42, for a total transaction of $2,519,559.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 41,736 shares in the company, valued at $37,079,097.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, Director Eva Manolis sold 2,564 shares of Fair Isaac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $852.38, for a total transaction of $2,185,502.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 8,472 shares of company stock valued at $7,472,491 over the last ninety days. 3.37% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in FICO. Barclays PLC grew its position in Fair Isaac by 79.5% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 57,737 shares of the technology companys stock worth $46,724,000 after purchasing an additional 25,579 shares during the period. Portside Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in Fair Isaac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,374,000. Chapin Davis Inc. bought a new stake in Fair Isaac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,726,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp grew its position in Fair Isaac by 684.2% in the 2nd quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 3,921 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,173,000 after purchasing an additional 3,421 shares during the period. Finally, Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL bought a new stake in Fair Isaac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,068,000. Institutional investors own 85.17% of the companys stock.

Fair Isaac Trading Up 1.8 %

Fair Isaac stock opened at $889.27 on Friday. Fair Isaac has a 12 month low of $389.83 and a 12 month high of $916.41. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $874.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $801.77. The company has a market cap of $22.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.99, a PEG ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.22.

Fair Isaac (NYSE:FICO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The technology company reported $4.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.28 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $398.69 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $379.63 million. Fair Isaac had a negative return on equity of 51.26% and a net margin of 28.43%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Fair Isaac will post 16.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Fair Isaac

(Get Free Report

Fair Isaac Corporation develops analytic, software, and data decisioning technologies and services that enable businesses to automate, enhance, and connect decisions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments, Scores and Software. The Software segment provides pre-configured analytic and decision management solution designed for various business needs or processes, such as account origination, customer management, customer engagement, fraud detection, financial crimes compliance, and marketing, as well as associated professional services.

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Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 5.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,714 shares of the restaurant operators stock after buying an additional 1,295 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates owned 0.10% of Chipotle Mexican Grill worth $57,141,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of CMG. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 2,910 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $13,299,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,311 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $5,656,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 439 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $750,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 3,254 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $5,559,000 after purchasing an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simplicity Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 55.3% during the 1st quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 733 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,252,000 after purchasing an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.19% of the companys stock.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $1,833.01 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.57 billion, a PE ratio of 45.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.30. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a twelve month low of $1,344.05 and a twelve month high of $2,175.01. The firms 50-day moving average price is $1,889.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $1,946.14.

Insider Activity at Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $12.25 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.00% and a return on equity of 45.85%. Chipotle Mexican Grills quarterly revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $9.30 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total value of $2,072,679.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,522,914.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,044 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,830.95, for a total value of $1,911,511.80. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,747,189.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total transaction of $2,072,679.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $45,522,914.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,165 shares of company stock valued at $6,024,185. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CMG has been the subject of several analyst reports. Citigroup increased their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,240.00 to $2,454.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 14th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $2,200.00 target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $2,400.00 target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,250.00 to $2,150.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $2,151.00.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

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Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 2.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 340,927 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,060 shares during the quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.s holdings in Novartis were worth $34,403,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 18.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,556,539 shares of the companys stock worth $136,587,000 after purchasing an additional 240,710 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 3.9% during the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 4,869 shares of the companys stock worth $427,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 42.4% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 10,996 shares of the companys stock worth $965,000 after purchasing an additional 3,272 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 4.5% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 95,477 shares of the companys stock worth $8,379,000 after purchasing an additional 4,122 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 22.8% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 3,528 shares of the companys stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 655 shares during the period. 7.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Novartis Stock Performance

Shares of NVS opened at $97.58 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $101.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $100.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $206.83 billion, a PE ratio of 27.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Novartis AG has a 52-week low of $74.24 and a 52-week high of $105.61.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.15. Novartis had a net margin of 14.76% and a return on equity of 25.12%. The company had revenue of $13.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.32 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.56 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Novartis from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.50.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Novartis

Novartis Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

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The father of a boy injured on an amusement ride at the State Fair of Virginia in Doswell says his son has returned to school this week, but still has a long road to a full recovery.

Its a lot for an 8-year-old to go through, said Matt Nungent, 37, of Shenandoah County, whose son received a broken foot, a gash on his left leg that required surgical repair, abrasions and friction burns on his legs and back.

Nungent told The Richmond Times-Dispatch that his son boarded the ride, called The Storm, on Sept. 29 after meeting the height requirements listed for the attraction. The boy was by himself, Nungent said, and the father was watching him from the other side of the fence.

When it started up and (his cart) came around for the second time, his seat was empty, Nungent said. The little girl who was sitting across from him had a look on her face and her hand over her mouth. I knew something wasnt right.

Nungent said he sprinted through the gate and up to the operator, yelling at him to stop the ride. He then went over the fence to find his son.

I was expecting the worst, Nungent said.

Nungent said his son had been ejected from his seat, struck by another cart and flung into a fence. He found the boy on the ground, bleeding from a deep laceration near his left knee.

I have been in fire and rescue for the last 18 years, so Ive seen a lot of things. That was probably the most horrific thing Ive ever had to see, Nungent said.

Your own son getting tossed around by a piece of equipment that large  its hard to get that picture out of your mind.

Nungent said he rode with his son in an ambulance to the VCU Medical Center, where the boy underwent surgery to irrigate and close the wound on his leg.

You just want to take (the pain) away, and you cant, he said.

Report: There were no mechanical and/or operator errors

David Silek, an attorney for the boys family, says the enforced height limits and the safety restraints on The Storm were insufficient to prevent the mishap.

We  believe  the harness did not come down securely enough to keep him in the chair, and he was pulled out of the bottom of (the ride), Silek said. The piece that locks across the legs did not keep him in, and he was pulled down and out  Hes extremely lucky to be alive.

Silek said the boy tried to pull himself back into the cart, but the momentum of the ride overwhelmed him.

The attorney also said that the height limits for boarding the ride changed a day after the incident.

Deggeller Attractions operator Andy Deggeller cited the incident report compiled by Caroline County Building Inspector Kevin Wightman, which concluded that there were no mechanical and/or operator errors that did not comply with the manufacturers specifications or the governing code.

Deggeller said that the height limits in place on the day of the incident met the requirements established by the ride manufacturer.

After the incident, Deggeller said he heard from eyewitnesses and consulted with inspectors, prompting him to make the voluntary decision to increase the height limit from 48 inches to 54 inches for unaccompanied minors. That step was above and beyond the requirements, Deggeller said.

Were a family business, Deggeller said, I have three young children of my own. Anything like this, we take absolutely seriously.

The manufacturer of the ride, who Deggeller identified as Wisdom Rides, could not be reached for comment.

The Sep. 29 incident was not the only one involving a Deggeller Attractions ride at the state fair this year. Two days later, on Oct. 1, multiple passengers were stranded after a miniature roller coaster malfunctioned while in operation.

Nobody was injured in that incident, which representatives for the state fair said lasted about 20 minutes.

The emergency braking system (on the roller coaster) worked exactly as designed and intended, Deggeller said, adding that operators acted in accordance with their training to resolve the issue safely.

Deggeller said his emphasis on safety is evident in the way he runs his company. He said that county building inspectors and third-party private companies conducted independent inspections of his rides before the fair started. Then, Deggeller said, company employees inspected the rides every morning before the fair opened.

He referred to this approach as doubl(ing) up.

Deggeller said he would not speculate on what led to a passenger being injured on one of his rides, but said the incident report seems to indicate that his company was operating in compliance with regulations.

That report refers to eyewitness accounts that the boy attempted to escape the ride as it was in motion.

But Silek said the idea the boy would try to get off an active ride is not in the realm of possibility.

He loves rides, Silek said. He did not maneuver out of his seat.

It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault

Silek said it is possible that eyewitnesses saw the boy struggling to remain in the cart and interpreted that struggle as an effort to exit the cart. He added that two little girls and a mother witnessed the boy fighting to stay onboard the ride.

The fair, the ride manufacturer (and) the operator are responsible  to make sure all rides, ages and heights are appropriate and to make sure a little boy cant be sucked out of a seat, Silek said.

The Nungent family and their doctors are uncertain as to how long it will be until the boy is fully recovered as they continue to work out the extent of his injuries.

Right now, Silek said, the top priority is getting him well. Follow-up medical appointments are scheduled for next week, Silek said, at which point it will be easier to determine liability and loss.

Nungent said the family is focused on getting through the difficult healing process, which includes brutal dressing changes and learning to walk in a medical boot.

In addition to helping his son recover, Nungent said he wants to get his story out there  (to) keep other families from going through something like this.

It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault, he said.

From the Archives: Photos of the State Fair of Virginia
Concerns about a cryptocurrency mining facility proposed for an area east of Doniphan brought 10 people to Tuesday's Hall County Commission meeting.

Seven of the landowners spoke to the board, most of them expressing their opposition to the data center, which would be built at 2502 E. Giltner Road, close to the Hamilton County line.

The project would be built by ArchGreen Infrastructure, which already has one such facility in Hall County. In January, the Hall County board approved a data center in the Southern Public Power Energy Park, on land leased from Southern Public Power District. That project is still being constructed.

Crypto-mining is a digital process where, each time a transaction is validated, it is added to a ledger or blockchain and earns a digital coin. The computers in the data center would engage in such transactions continuously.

ArchGreen is now seeking a conditional use permit on land owned by Cheryl Schultz, who lives at 2838 E. Cedar View Road. Schultz said she lives a mile and a half away from the site.

Computer equipment housed inside the data center's 14 containers would mine cryptocurrency. The area would be surrounded by a security fence.

ArchGreen was represented Tuesday by Alan Cordova, a California resident who also appeared before the commission in January.

Cordova noted that that the data center's closest neighbors would live more than half a mile away. Because the area is near a shelter belt, people would hardly be able to see it from the road, he said. It would not be "an eyesore by any means, because it's tucked away," he said. Cordova said he would accept conditions set down by the board, as he did in January.

Area residents complained about the noise the data center would generate. They also said it would harm the appearance of the area.

Dave Hoffman said the area is currently peaceful. The data center, he said, would bring noise pollution. "This really belongs in an industrial area, not out in rural Hall County," Hoffman said.

He also criticized cryptocurrency mining. "This is a way to launder money," he said.

Doug Happold said the project would bring light pollution as well as noise. He also expressed uncertainty about cryptocurrency, saying he's "not real sure what it is."

Some attendees questioned how much water the project will use.

Barbara Marsh, who lives in Hamilton County, said it'd always been her dream to live in the country.

"If I walk out my back door, that's what I'm going to see," she said.

She also talked about the noise. The project, she said, would be built by "out-of-state investors, looking to line their pockets at the expense of our community."

One reason ArchGreen likes the area is because of its competitive electric rates, Cordova said.

ArchGreen would be the data center's host, making it available to other companies.

In an interview, Cordova said the data center will have "a variety of applications  primarily cryptocurrency mining."

The data, he said, involve computations and "mining mathematical equations."

The data would not come from people who live in this area. The work would be global, he said. "The data itself is not tied to a specific location."

In addition to the attractive electric rates, ArchGreen likes the friendly business environment in Nebraska, he said.

ArchGreen "looked at a lot of states," chose "this area for our first project and are eager to develop a second project here," Cordova said.

If things go well, Cordova said, the county's first data center will be done in January.

Two representatives of Southern Public Power spoke at the meeting.

After the public hearing, the commission was not able to take action, because the issue was not listed on the agenda.

The commission invited the public to return at 9:10 a.m. Oct. 24.

Commissioner Scott Sorensen said he doesn't expect the subject to take much time that day. A couple of other commissioners agreed.

Chairman Ron Peterson said that personally, he'd like to see the first data center begin operation before the commission addresses a second one.
Positive signals for Vietnam's rice exports

By Lan Do Tue, October 10, 2023 | 11:18 am GTM+7

Vietnam exported 6.6 million tons of rice in the first nine months of 2023 with a turnover of $3.66 billion, up 40.4% year-on-year, according to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, exceeding the figure hit in the whole of 2022.

Vietnam exported 6.6 million tons of rice in the first nine months of 2023, with a turnover of $3.66 billion, up 40.4% year-on-year. Photo courtesy of (Cong thuong) Industry & Trade newspaper.

Indonesia's National Logistics Agency (Bulog) recently announced the opening of bids to import 500,000 tons of 5% broken rice from Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

The deadline for businesses to submit bids was October 9, with the results expected to be announced on October 10 or 11. The winning bidder will deliver the goods to Indonesia before December 25, 2023.

Indonesia has recently increased its rice purchases from Vietnam. Data from the General Department of Customs shows that Indonesia was the third largest rice buyer from Vietnam in the first eight months of the year. During that time, it spent $360 million to import 720,000 tons of rice from Vietnam, an increase of 1,500% in both volume and turnover.

Other countries that import Vietnamese rice such as the Philippines and China also increased their purchases.

In the past eight months, Vietnam exported 5.8 million tons of rice, earning $3.16 billion. The Philippines bought 2.35 million tons, an increase of nearly 3% over the same period last year. China bought 786,000 tons, an increase of 51% year-on-year.

Pham Thai Binh, chairman of the board of directors of Trung An High-Tech Agriculture JSC, shared with The Investor that rice exports are showing positive signs. With the current growth momentum, export turnover will exceed $4 billion this year.

Experts say that the potential to export rice from now until the end of the year remains high as countries try to increase their reserves.
Prefunding requirement, foreign ownership limit major Vietnam stock market bottlenecks

By Dr. Nguyen Son Tue, October 10, 2023 | 9:52 am GTM+7

Vietnam has to deal with two stock market bottlenecks  pre-funding requirement and foreign ownership limit, says Dr. Nguyen Son, chairman of the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC).

According to a World Bank's report, the status upgrade from a frontier market to an emerging market will bring many benefits to the Vietnamese market.

It will help Vietnam attract net indirect foreign capital flows of about $7.2 billion. These investment sources will come from large investment funds and other foreign indirect investors.

The status upgrade will also improve the valuation of stock prices. Accordingly, stock prices will be evaluated by many investors, accurately reflecting actual needs and properly assessing the development potential of businesses. This improved valuation will have a positive impact on the government's equitization process, with the possibility of higher profits from the divestment of state-owned enterprises.

It will also increase the number of organizations and large-scale investors; diversify the investor structure, which currently has many small individual investors; improve professionalism and investor scale, thus minimizing volatility from market sentiment impacts on a large number of individual investors.

Once upgraded, more new foreign investors will pour cash into the Vietnamese stock market, positively impacting market liquidity and development towards approaching international standards and practices in business operations and corporate governance.

The status upgrade will enhance the position and image of Vietnam's capital market, which, in turn, will enhance the image, attractiveness and competitiveness of Vietnam's economy, regionally and internationally.

Measures needed

According to the assessments of two rating organizations - the U.S.s Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and the UKs FTSE Russell  as also World Bank experts, among 12 existing problems, two of the most important issues that need attention and resolution are pre-funding requirement and foreign ownership limit.

Regarding the pre-funding requirement, the optimal solution is to deploy a central counterparty clearing house (CCP) model and allow commercial banks and foreign bank branches to become clearing members (in addition to securities companies). This will remove foreign investors' concerns about the safety of asset storage when having to transfer assets (money and securities) out of depository banks to securities companies that are clearing members for clearing and settlement.

However, there are difficulties in implementing this solution. Even though the Securities Law and the governments Decree 155/2020/ND-CP dated December 31, 2020 allow commercial banks and foreign bank branches to act as clearing members on the CCP system for the underlying stock market, the Law on Credit Institutions (Article 107) and guiding documents currently do not have any regulation that clearing is one of the business activities of commercial banks and foreign bank branches who are allowed to conduct the clearing and settlement of their own derivatives transactions.

Currently, both FTSE Russell and MSCI classify Vietnam as a frontier market. In particular, FTSE has placed Vietnam in the watch list for a possible reclassification from frontier to secondary emerging market status. It sets out nine criteria for a secondary emerging market, of which four relate to custody and settlement. Currently, Vietnam has met eight of the nine FTSE criteria, while the criterion on settlement is yet to be met. Before placing an order to buy stocks, foreign investors have to transfer enough money into Vietnam (pre-funding). FTSE has stated that according to international practice, financial institutional investors such as investment and insurance funds do not need to transfer money into a country before buying securities. These investors have to transfer money only after their buy orders have been successful.

The Ministry of Finances Circular 120/2020/TT-BTC stipulates that investors can only place buy orders when there is enough money in their account. Investors opening an account with a depositary bank can place buy orders without enough money in the account if the depositary bank guarantees or confirms payment for the investors transactions. However, current regulations of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) do not allow depository banks to grant credit to foreign investors to invest in securities. Therefore, foreign investors must transfer 100% of their money into Vietnam before placing an order to buy stocks. This is not only inconvenient for foreign investors, but also carries potential risks. They may miss investment opportunities if they have not yet transferred enough money into Vietnam to carry out transactions.

In case foreign investors have transferred money into Vietnam but cannot buy stocks, then they must bear a fee for transferring money from abroad and vice versa. In addition, foreign investors may suffer losses because of frozen capital (when transactions are unsuccessful) and exchange rate fluctuations.

Solution to pre-funding

The fundamental and long-term solution to the pre-funding requirement is to deploy a central counterparty clearing house (CCP) model. Under this, the legal documents will not require investors to make a deposit before trading, and at the same time, VSDC will be responsible for final payment of investor transactions. There are a number of reasons for the delay in implementing this mechanism.

Firstly, the CCP mechanism is being built in conjunction with the technology system provided by Korea Exchange (KRX). The KRX system is not yet operational.

Secondly, the securities and banking laws have some inconsistencies that need to be amended. Specifically, commercial banks and foreign bank branches providing securities depository services should be allowed to act as clearing members and connect with VSDC's clearing and settlement system to receive notifications of investors payment obligations and make transaction payments directly to VSDC for investors who are their customers.

In case the investor does not have enough money or stocks to pay for his/her transaction, the settlement responsibility will be transferred to the securities company where the investor placed the order.

On this issue, VSDC, the State Securities Commission (SSC) and the Ministry of Finance are working with the central bank to propose legal amendments to the government and the National Assembly. The amendments will be made to the Law on Credit Institutions, the Law on Securities and guiding decrees. However, this work will take a lot of time.

For an immediate solution, VSDC is working with the SSC to propose that the Ministry of Finance considers amending Circular 120 and remove the regulation that investors must deposit 100% of the money before buying stocks. Instead, securities companies must be allowed to decide whether their investors must make the pre-funding or not. In case the investors do not have enough money to pay for their transactions, the securities companies will have to make payments for them, including those opening a depository account at a depository bank and only placing orders at the securities companies.

Meanwhile, VSDC and SSC are working with associated banks and securities companies to find solutions to help securities companies control risks when applying this mechanism. This includes proposing that the Ministry of Finance supplements a regulation providing that in case an investor does not have enough money and the securities company has to pay for the purchase, the stocks will be transferred to the proprietary trading account of the securities company and it has the right to sell them to recover its debt.

Investors, securities companies and associated banks should sign a three-party contract, which stipulates that in case the securities company cannot fully recover the debt from selling the investors stocks, it is allowed to sell part of the investor's securities deposited at the depository bank.

The Ministry of Finance will also impose penalties such as prohibiting investors who do not fulfil payment obligations from engaging in future transactions.
The telecommunications regulator of South Korea warned Alphabet Inc. and Apple that the regulation might fine the companies up to $50.5 million for abusing their dominant app market positions.

Read Also: PayPal Gets Hit with an Antitrust Lawsuit as Well

South Korea's Regulators Find Google, Apple Unfair Processes

In a statement released by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the two companies are reportedly forcing app developers to use a specific payment method, causing an unfair delay in app review. After reviewing, the regulators could impose fines of around $35 million for Google and $15 million for Apple.

In 2021, South Korea amended its Telecommunications Business Act. The enforced policy is meant to ban app store operators from forcing software developers to use their payment systems. The KCC remained firm that both companies have enforced certain payment methods. Moreover, Apple has a "discriminatory charging of fees to domestic app developers."

Meanwhile, Google issued a statement to Reuters stating that the company will carefully review and evaluate its next course of action. On the other hand, Apple voiced its disagreement with KCC's report and cleared that they have been compliant with the Telecommunications Business Act. Both companies have promised to continuously discuss with the KCC.

Country Regulators Come at Tech Giants

This is not the first time that a giant tech company has been warned and fined by state regulators. In 2022, Google and Meta were fined by the South Korean government with $71.8 million for violating privacy laws. In addition, Meta was also fined by Norway with $98,500 for privacy data breaches.

On the other hand, several companies have been hit with antitrust lawsuits. Both the Federal Trade Commission and the European Union have been watching big tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Alphabet.

Read Article: South Korean Government Fines Google, Meta Approx. $71.8M for Violating Privacy Laws
Vietnam central bank in search of investors for ailing lender SCB

By Minh Anh Tue, October 10, 2023 | 7:44 am GTM+7

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the countrys banking regulator, is active in looking for investors that are willing to join the restructuring of troublesome Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB).

Once there are interested investors, the SBV will ask for approval from the government, the central bank said in a report sent to the parliament.

A transaction office of Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB). Photo courtesy of SCB.

The SBV has placed SCB under special scrutiny since October 2022 after many branches and transaction offices of the latter recorded a run on deposits following the arrest of a real estate tycoon that was allegedly tied to the bank.

SCB has gradually stabilized its operations and is focusing on its revamp, the SBV said.

The central bank last month appointed Phan Dinh Dien, a board member of wholly state-owned Agribank, to the chairmanship of SCB, replacing Vu Anh Duc. Dien is a veteran banker, specializing in debt settlement.

Besides SCB, authorities have given the greenlight to the schemes having domestic commercial banks take over four other peers  CBBank, OceanBank, GP Bank, and DongABank  also under special control since 2015. The SBV acquired CBBank, OceanBank, and GP Bank at zero cost and placed the DongA Bank under special scrutiny since.

The commercial banks that are set to acquire the four ailing ones have been asked to refine and submit their acquisition plans to the government for consideration.

The SBV is working on amendments to the Law on Credit Institutions in a bid to clarify mechanisms for restructuring weak banks and prevent manipulation in the banking system. The amendments are expected to be approved by the parliament in the upcoming gathering to be convened later this month.
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This week, Oct. 8 through Oct. 14, is Fire Prevention Week. This years campaign is: Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.

Marion Fire Chief Tim Barnett said the kitchen is where most fires occur.

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires, Barnett said.

He gave some tips that the National Fire Protection Association is highlighting for Fire Prevention Week.

First, stay in the kitchen if you have food on the stove. Turn the stove off if you leave the kitchen.

We had a fire a few days ago where someone left the kitchen, Barnett said.

Second, stay in the home if food is in the oven.

Keep anything that can catch fire off the stovetop.

Barnett said the easiest way to deal with a small stovetop fire is to put a lid on the pan and turn the stove off. If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire, leave the house and close the door. Call 911 from outside.

Fire can move fast. The Murphysboro Fire Department says a small fire can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire in less than 30 seconds on its website. They also remind readers that the heat alone from a fire can kill.

Carbondale Assistant Fire Chief Rob Miller said the best way to prevent kitchen and cooking fires is regular housekeeping and home maintenance.

Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, but keep it far enough from the stove to not be compromised if a fire occurs. Miller said if it is right next to the stove, you might not be able to get to it to use it.

During Fire Prevention Week, local fire departments are sharing tips on fire safety.

Carbondale will have an open house at Fire Station 2, 401 N. Glenview Drive, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The community will have a chance to tour the station, meet firefighters, learn about services offered by the department and ask questions. Snacks will be available, too.

During the open house, visitors can see live vehicle extrication demonstrations at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., as well as fire extinguisher demonstrations at 10:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. They will have activities for children, including a special appearance by the fire departments mascot Sparky.

For more information, contact the Carbondale Fire Department Administrative Office at 618-457-3234.

It should be a fun day, Miller said.

Marion is taking the smoke house to schools this week to help educate children about fire prevention. Barnett said they will talk to students through sixth grade.

They are also teaching their safe program to third graders.

Our guys arent school teachers but they are making lesson plans and teaching for an hour a week for nine weeks, Barnett said.

The program is geared to younger students because children of that age tend to hide when they are scared. Barnett said the firefighters teach them to get out and go to their family meeting place.

Marion also offers a couple of services to residents.

They install car seats for children. Marion firefighters have had training on proper car seat installment. Call for an appointment or stop by.

First, they give away and install free home smoke detectors. Barnett said all dwellings are required to have a smoke detector in Illinois. Its easy to get.

Barnett said they used to remind people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors. However, new smoke detectors have a 10-year battery. Older ones are OK to use if they are still working.

No matter which kind of smoke detector you have, check it at least twice a year.

Call the departments nonemergency number at 618-997-5730 for an appointment for either service.
Law enforcement officers and ministers gathered Monday morning to pray at the flagpole at the Orangeburg County Law Enforcement Complex on Ellis Avenue.

Were just happy to do this with everyone across the country, Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said.

People are taking time out to pray for us and we pray for them, he added.

The event was part of the Faith & Blue weekend, which was started in 2020 by MovementForward Inc. The purpose is to bring communities and officers together with the support of faith-based organizations.

Faith & Blue weekend was held across the country on Oct. 6-9.

To celebrate Faith & Blue, the sheriffs office hosted a time of prayer at 9 a.m. Monday.

It just means a lot to see law enforcement partners here. Just to hear the prayers, to hear the true prayers of the citizens. Theyre not just saying a prayer that they remembered, but a prayer that they really mean. It means a whole lot and I hope that they continue and I hope it spreads, Ravenell said.

Sheriffs office Chaplain Jerry French said, Faith & Blue is a very important time, but its not just for a period of time, its for every day that you all go out in the county doing the things that you do.

And as we go to the Lord in prayer, I want you to think about not just prayer itself, but what it really means. What it really means to us individually, collectively and why its so important to us, French said.

Were praying for it to mean something to us every single day of our lives, he added.

Evangelist Carlesha Bair said, I pray that God would allow all of us  the community, state troopers, sheriffs department  to be like links of chains, fire starters. As I connect with them, they connect with you and its like starting a fire, that it will leak out into the community and leak out into the world because we know that Christ is coming back so we need to be ready. So we thank God for this type of setting.

Minister Elijah Reed said, We appreciate yalls service. We pray that yall continue to help one another, whether youre in the sheriffs department, police department or state patrol.

The Rev. Jerome Anderson and Orangeburg resident Shereeka Whetstone also led the group in prayers.

Other law enforcement agencies who joined the sheriffs office for the event include the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and S.C. Highway Patrol.
I will join live-streaming sales in China: Ambassador of Ethiopia to China

By Mao Li (People's Daily Overseas Edition) 10:11, October 10, 2023

Tefera Derbew Yimam, ambassador of Ethiopia to China. (People's Daily/Lu Ningyuan)

Within seconds, the entire stock of coffee (several tons) in the store was sold out during one of the live-streaming sales programs that my predecessor participated in, said Tefera Derbew Yimam, the ambassador of Ethiopia to China, in a recent interview with People's Daily Overseas Edition. I plan to follow his example and have been in touch with companies that offer similar live streams here. I will surely join one of those live-streaming sales in China.

Since arriving in China in March this year, Tefera has had a tight schedule. He has many more ideas for promoting bilateral cooperation. I hope we will see our avocados in the Chinese market in the next one or two years. Gradually, we will have more products to export to China, not just primary products. We will have manufactured products, such as textiles and leather, Tefera said.

Enjoying each and every bit of visits to different cities

Tefera had visited China twice before, so he was not unfamiliar with the country, but he saw more surprises this time. I think there are lots of things that actually impress me about China and the great advance in addressing climate issue has been really amazing. With bold policy measures and amazing implementation capacity of China, now in Beijing we have a nice clear sky every day, Tefera said.

After coming to China, Tefera has visited eight provinces and more than 10 cities. He said, every city has its unique character that impresses me. The cuisine here in China is various in terms of tastes, and each and every city and province has its own cuisine. I like Beijing duck and hot potThere are also different varieties of noodles. I think these are my favorite Chinese cuisine. You can feel the social economic dynamism everywhere you goSo Im enjoying each and every bit of my visit to different cities and provincesI was particularly happy to see that even in some provincial cities, I was able to meet traders, who import Ethiopian mung bean and sesame and truly distribute to their customers.

As he walked around the streets in China, Tefera gained a deeper understanding of Chinese modernization. He believes that to appreciate Chinese modernization, one had to look back at its history. One had to consider China's ancient civilization, long history, and the values of its people. Because of these factors, the Chinese path to modernization has its own unique features. Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all, and it is based on the principle that no one should be left behind. That's why we can see now in China that there is an even distribution of development across the country," Tefera said.

Photo shows the completion ceremony for the China-aided African CDC Headquarters Building Project (Phase I) held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia in January 2023. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

The Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is the lifeline of our economy

In Ethiopia, the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is highly regarded. This railway, which connects Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capital, with Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti, is the first cross-border electrified railway in Africa and a flagship project of China-Ethiopia Belt and Road cooperation. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway. Tefera vividly recalled his first train journey by the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway. There was an old railway in Ethiopia that was established over a century ago. As a university student, I used to travel on that train every year. I would leave from Dire Dawa, a city located between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, at 6 in the evening and arrive in Addis Ababa at 6 in the morning. It took us about 12 hours. Now, the journey from Addis Ababa to Djibouti takes only 6 hours, said Tefera. This project has not only served passengers but also supported the development of industrial parks along its route and facilitated the transportation of imported and exported goods. This project is the lifeline of our economy, he said.

The Hawassa Industrial Park is the first modern light industry and textile park in Ethiopia, designed and built by Chinese enterprises. It has attracted many famous companies to set up their businesses there. I have been to the Hawassa Industrial Park. It has created a vibrant dynamic situation in that city, Tefera said, this park has contributed to bringing and attracting foreign direct investment in Ethiopia, created lots of jobs for the youth, contributing to Ethiopian foreign currency earning capacity. The city used to be known for its tourism station, but now at the same time, it's a vibrant economic center in Ethiopia.

We Ethiopians are witnessing the remarkable contribution being made by the BRI. Ethiopians benefit from these projects, Tefera said, I think the case of Ethiopia is a valuable showcase of the BRI in Africa. The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is approaching. I think a new steam will further enhance and strengthen the initiative. The BRI will continue to influence and bring a far-reaching impact to the global community. We expect more areas of cooperation under the BRI.

An Ethiopian wolf. (Photo provided by the Embassy of Ethiopia in China)

I can enjoy our coffee in China

In the southern suburbs of Addis Ababa, a new landmark has emerged from what was once a wasteland. Now people take pictures there from time to time. This is the headquarters of the African CDC, completed earlier this year with Chinas assistance. It is another flagship project of Sino-African cooperation, following the African Union Conference Center. This is the first CDC in Africa equipped with modern offices, experimental facilities, and state-of-the-art equipment. The support from China in establishing the African CDC serves as an example. This support addresses the pressing needs of Africans and reflects Chinas policy towards Africa, said Tefera.

Setting up green channels for African agricultural products is an important step to meet the development needs of African countries. Tefera, who participated in the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, is getting ready for the sixth China International Import Expo. He witnessed Chinas genuine efforts to help Africa increase its exports to China. Our coffee exports to China are growing by 27 percent every year, Tefera said. I think China is a major buyer of our coffee now. I can enjoy our coffee in Chinese coffee shops and big hotels, and I can find other agricultural products from Ethiopia in the Chinese market. We are very happy to see our products becoming more popular among Chinese consumers.

This year, Ethiopia is invited to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism, which opens up more opportunities for cooperation between China and Ethiopia. Tefera said that the BRICS countries share the same values as the developing countries. They also have advanced technology, which is an advantage. There is huge potential in trade and investment. The BRICS have established the New Development Bank as a new source of investment and finance. We want to improve our infrastructure and industrialization. We want to modernize our agriculture. We need to develop our tourism. We want to develop our mining sector and see progress in information technology and digital economy, said Tefera.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
By Pyo Kyung-min

The Seoul Opera Ensemble (SOE) is set to debut "Chi Hwa Seon," a contemporary opera composed by Lee Keun-hyoung, this October. Following a successful showcase in November 2022, this production delves into traditional Korean themes while integrating elements from global operas, aiming to expand the horizons of Korean opera.

"Chi Hwa Seon" offers an insight into the life of artist Jang Seung-eop (1843-97), renowned for his unconventional artistic pursuits during the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), a tumultuous period in Korean history.

While the 2002 film of the same title gained recognition for its portrayal of Jang's unique artistry and the beautiful landscapes of the Korean Peninsula, Lee's opera provides a more intricate exploration of the painter's life.

This includes his romantic relationship with a tightrope walker, his encounters with King Gojong during the Imo Incident of 1882 and Gapsin Coup of 1884 and his transformative journey as an artist.

The SOE, overseeing the production, has been dedicated to the globalization of Korean operas since its establishment in 1994. Significant milestones include the staging of the 2015 original opera "Woon Young," inspired by the ancient Korean novel "Woon Young-Jeon," also from the late Joseon era, and another homegrown opera "Self-portrait with Red Eyes," which portrayed the tumultuous life of painter Yun Du-seo (1668-1715) against the backdrop of the Nogudang House of the Haenam Yun Clan, in 2017.

Additionally, the SOE collaborated on the 2018 opera "The Butterfly Dream," an exploration of the life of Yun I-sang (1917-1995), a Korean composer who created the opera, "Die Witwe des Schmetterlings" (Butterfly Widow), while imprisoned after being kidnapped by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency in East Berlin. Their latest original production is "The Trigger," a narrative that delves into the story of a tree aspiring to become a musical instrument but ultimately embodying a symbol of conflict as a gun, in 2022.

"With the vision of creative opera paving the way for the globalization of Korean opera, we take great pride in presenting 'Chi Hwa Seon,' a creative opera that captures the artistic essence of street painter Jang Seung-eop during the late Joseon Dynasty. We anticipate that this performance will catalyze the diversification of Korean operatic productions," Chang Soo-dong, director of SOE, said.

"Chi Hwa Seon" will feature the company's orchestra and the Maesta Opera Choir. Performances are scheduled to be held at the Art Hall Mac, a venue of the Mapo Art Center, on Oct. 20 and 21.
(TBTCO) - Cac quan chuc Cuc Du tru Lien bang My (FED) uoc cho la se giu nguyen lai suat on inh o muc cao nhat trong 22 nam khi ket thuc cuoc hop keo dai hai ngay vao thu tu, 1/11. Tuy nhien, cac nha au tu va nha kinh te se theo doi cac dau hieu e thay lieu lai suat co giu nguyen nhu vay hay khong - hoac lieu ngan hang trung uong co con nghi rang ho co the can phai tang lai suat tro lai trong nhung thang toi hay khong?
Seniors, here are meds that can harm your driving skills

Some common medications -- including antidepressants, sleep aids and painkillers -- may dull the driving skills of seniors, a new study finds.

Many different medication classes have been linked to the risk of driving impairment, as anyone who has ever read the label warning "do not operate heavy machinery" might have guessed.

But the new study took a particularly rigorous approach to investigating the issue -- following older adults for up to 10 years and testing their driving skills with annual road tests.

And it turned out that those using certain classes of medications were at greater risk of failing the road test at some point.

Read more here:

PFAS chemicals tied to later puberty in girls

Exposure to ubiquitous chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, may delay puberty in girls, new research indicates.

The study is the first to consider the role hormones play in the delay, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati.

Delayed puberty can lead to negative long-term health outcomes for girls, such as a higher incidence of breast cancer, kidney disease and thyroid disease, said corresponding author Susan Pinney, a professor of environmental and public health sciences at the university's College of Medicine.

Puberty is a window of susceptibility, Pinney said in a university news release. Environmental exposures during puberty, not just to PFAS, but anything, have more of a potential for a long-term health effect. What these have done is extended the window of susceptibility, and it makes them more vulnerable for a longer period of time.

Read more here:

Why so many Americans aren't getting COVID boosters

More than 80% of eligible Americans did not get a COVID-19 booster shot last fall. Now, a new study reveals the reasons for the hesitation.

Nearly 40% of survey participants said a prior COVID-19 infection factored into their decision to not get the booster. Another 31.5% were worried about side effects. And an additional 28% didnt think a booster would provide extra protection, while 23% said it wouldnt protect from the new coronavirus.

Our results indicate that we have a lot more work to do in terms of educating the public and health care providers about the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 boosters, said first study author Elizabeth Jacobs. She is a professor of epidemiology at the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, in Tucson.

Read more here:

Tea drinkers may gain better blood sugar control

Drinking dark tea daily may help balance blood sugar levels and stave off type 2 diabetes, the form of the disease most closely tied to obesity.

This is the main message from a new study that looked at tea-drinking habits and diabetes risk among people in China.

Folks who drank dark tea every day had a 53% lower risk of developing prediabetes and a 47% reduced risk for type 2 diabetes when compared to people who never drank tea. Prediabetes refers to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes yet.

Dark tea is an aged tea from China that has gone through an extensive fermentation process and is rich in healthy bacteria or probiotics that may improve gut health.

Read more here:

Floods raise death rates long after waters recede

People who experience flooding arent just at risk during these severe weather events  they also have a significantly higher risk of dying in the weeks that follow.

A new study by Australian scientists looked at a crucial window between three and six weeks after a flood.

The added risk of death persists for up to 60 days, the study found. For up to 50 days, folks are at increased risk of death due to heart problems. The risk includes a 2.1% in the risk of dying from all causes; 2.6% for heart-related causes; and 4.9% for respiratory issues.

We know now that to the question: Do mortality risks change after floods in the general population? The answer is yes, and this needs to be factored into policy responses to flooding events, researcher Yuming Guo, a professor at Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne, said in a university news release.

Read more here:

Running vs. meds: Which works best to beat depression?

Exercise has been dubbed "nature's antidepressant" by doctors for years, and now a new study confirms the notion.

The finding follows a four-month look at the impact that running had on anxiety and depression when compared to a common antidepressant.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work by boosting levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter thats a key player when it comes to regulating mood, depression and anxiety.

But among 140 depression patients, those who engaged in regular group running -- meaning two or three 45-minute runs each week -- actually saw their depression levels drop a bit more than those who took the popular SSRI medication escitalopram (Lexapro).

Read more here:

Nearly 4 in 10 toddlers diagnosed with autism no longer have it by age 6

Not all children diagnosed with autism as toddlers continue to have that diagnosis once they reach elementary school, a new study shows.

While some past research has suggested this could be true, the new research backs that up, finding that a large percentage  about 37%  of these toddlers no longer met the criteria for the condition by the age of 6.

I think what this shows is the importance of continuing to get developmental follow-up for all children with a young diagnosis of ASD [autism spectrum disorder], said lead study author Dr. Elizabeth Harstad, a developmental pediatrician at Boston Childrens Hospital. I don't want these findings to imply that losing the diagnosis is the best outcome. Children can have a range of wonderful outcomes whether or not they have the diagnosis.

Harstad wanted to study the ranges of outcomes for children after seeing examples of this in her own practice and in other research.

Read more here:

***

Get more recent health news from HealthDay here:

5 ways AI could influence nursing in the coming years 5 ways AI could influence nursing in the coming years Automated processes will ease administrative burden Patient adherence duties will innovate alongside industry tools Machine learning may guide diagnoses and treatment recommendations Neural network models could help predict treatment outcomes or patient risk for hospital readmission Minor procedures may be conducted using surgical robots
The fluid mineral industrys immense influence in Wyoming was on full display Oct. 5 as the states top five elected officials finalized a controversial gas lease in the pinch point of a world-famous pronghorn migration path without the wildlife protections requested by two state agencies.

At issue was Parcel 194, a 640-acre tract of state school trust land that the Office of State Lands and Investments auctioned to Kirkwood Oil and Gas for $19/acre an acre in July. Conservation groups and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department had stalled the leases completion after the July auction, citing concerns that the lease spanned a bottleneck in the famed Path of the Pronghorn where thousands of animals cross the New Fork River each year during their fall and spring migrations.

On Oct. 5, the State Board of Land Commissioners, grappling with what to do with the lease, heard requests to tack on a new stipulation, which would prohibit drilling activity during flexible migration periods in the spring and fall.

In consultation with Game and Fish, we came up with the draft stipulation, Office of State Lands Director Jennifer Scoggin told her governing board. The idea was to address the need for the lessee to coordinate with [Wyoming] Game and Fish to ensure surface disturbance did not occur during critical migration periods.

Angi Bruce, deputy director for Wyoming Game and Fish, emphasized the ecological importance of Parcel 194, explaining how its relied on by animals headed south in search of less snowy landscapes.

Theyre crossing through this particular area in the spring and the fall, Bruce said. This became even more apparent this last severe winter. My local biologists talked to me about the antelope in the area, and those that were able to migrate through this area had a much higher chance of survival than those that didnt.

The proposed additional stipulation, No. 149, would have required Kirkwood to defer to Game and Fish and avoid surface disturbance and to maintain habitat functionality within the ungulate corridor. State wildlife managers would have determined the restriction dates annually.

The stipulation would have added onto others attached at the time of the auction: A stipulation for big game crucial winter range barring industrial activity from Nov. 15 to April 30, another providing a 300-foot buffer from the New Fork River and a stipulation geared toward preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. Another stipulation concerned Wyomings sage grouse core area policy.

Absent, however, was stipulation No. 146, which reflects Wyomings ungulate migration policy, and imposes rigid disturbance thresholds and instructs developers: All attempts should be made to avoid and minimize impacts in order to maintain habitat functionality. The stipulation wasnt in play because Wyoming has dragged its feet on designating the Sublette Pronghorn migration route, often called the Path of the Pronghorn, for nearly 3.5 years following opposition from industry groups.

A handful of professional conservationists addressing the State Board of Land Commissioners  a panel composed of the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor and superintendent of public instruction  asked for even more aggressive protections: a no-surface-occupancy stipulation or even denying the lease to Kirkwood.

Its important that we, as a state, come to the table, work in partnership and identify when there are reasons to compromise, said Josh Metten, the Wyoming field manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. This is an example where I truly believe we should compromise and conserve this area.

Renee Seidler, the executive director of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, spoke to her earlier life as an ecologist studying how pronghorn are affected by Sublette Countys Jonah and Pinedale Anticline gas fields. The research, she said, is clear: Pronghorn avoid gas field infrastructure just like they do natural predators, except that the industrial equipment is ever-present and the impacts chronic.

Past research has shown very clearly that this migration bottleneck that actually goes right through Parcel 194 is really important to those animals in severe winters, Seidler said, and they need that landscape to be able to survive.

Meghan Riley, of the Wyoming Outdoor Council, asked the board for pronghorn relief after her organizations initial plan of attack failed. The Lander-based nonprofit had hoped to secure the rights to the parcel at auction, but its $18/acre bid was ultimately exceeded by Kirkwoods $19/acre offer.

Bottlenecks represent the most sensitive habitat within a migration corridor because the movement is constricted [and] the animals dont have a lot of wiggle room to go other places, said Riley, who formerly worked as a biologist. At some point  even if theres existing development  there is some threshold that could be crossed  and I think we want to be really careful about crossing that threshold.

But two industry representatives who spoke were not interested in altering the terms of Kirkwoods lease. Pete Obermueller, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, said that theres already a process in place for designating migrations.

Then and only then is when management prescriptions for wildlife migration corridors should be put in place, Obermueller said. If this lease is issued with the stip[ulation] put on after the fact, the message that sends to all my other members is the [migration policy] cannot be relied upon.

A representative for Kirkwood, Steve Degenfelder, also asked the board of four to strip out the added stipulation. His daughter, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, recused herself from voting on the matter and left the room at the onset of the agenda item.

Steve Degenfelder reasoned that other leases in the area are not subject to the same seasonal restrictions, and he worried for the precedent that would be set if the rules changed because of third party groups protest.

I encourage you to approve the lease, as it was bid at auction with the stipulations that were identified at the auction  and not with the additional stipulation, 149, Degenfelder said.

On a motion from Secretary of State Chuck Gray, the State Board of Land Commissioners did exactly that. Gray, State Auditor Kristi Racines and State Treasurer Curt Meier voted in favor. Gov. Mark Gordon cast the lone vote against after the three other votes had been verbalized, effectively finalizing the lease without additional protections.
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The report on the investigation into the death of WASA employee Kern Ettienne will be made public.
Financial authorities to heighten monitoring

By Anna J. Park

The Korean government has made the necessary preparations to respond to any potential impacts caused by the ongoing military clashes between Israel and Hamas.

During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, President Yoon Suk Yeol urged heads of related economic ministries to remain vigilant and to respond properly to external factors of instability.

"The government must remain alert in order to respond to external factors of instability, while making every effort to prevent hardships in people's livelihoods from increasing," the president stressed during the meeting.

President Yoon also urged related ministries to strengthen the monitoring of both domestic and international economic and financial circumstances to manage risk factors.

In response, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country's top financial regulator, has vowed to continue to closely monitor for any signs of market turbulence due to the intensification of the war between Israel and Hamas.

FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun presided over an emergency meeting on Tuesday, urging the financial authorities, including the FSC and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), to closely monitor capital flows in the stock, bond and short-term funds markets, as well as financial companies' foreign currency liquidity situation.

"While the short-term impact of the military clash on the global financial market appears to be limited, the situation could be prolonged further or it may spread with the participation of neighboring countries," the FSC chief said during the meeting, calling on the related agencies to look closely into local financial markets' fund flows and the liquidity situation.

He also emphasized that market participants do not need to be excessively concerned, pointing to past cases of regional disputes in the Middle East. Kim explained that their impact on international oil prices and the global financial market had been limited, when such disputes were not prolonged.

So as to maintain heightened vigilance, the FSC and the FSS aim to closely follow developments on the situation, while bolstering monitoring on local and global financial markets. They will also keep in close communication with the financial sector so as not to miss the right time to make the necessary policy adjustments, if market instability increases.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho expressed concerns over increased market uncertainty and oil price volatility due to the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"While global financial market movements remain relatively limited at this early stage in the clash, there is a high degree of uncertainty, depending on how the situation evolves in the future," Choo said during a financial market and real economy assessment meeting held prior to his departure to Morocco to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Choo urged related ministries to prepare contingency plans, in addition to maintaining the close monitoring of local and global financial markets and foreign exchange markets. He also pointed to a possibility of heightened volatility in global oil prices, following a spike earlier this week. The deputy prime minister called on the industry ministry along with relevant agencies to prevent disruptions to the local energy supply.

The price of Brent crude, the international standard, rose to $88.15 per barrel, closing the session at 4.35 percent higher, the highest increase since early April. The KOSPI, Korea's main benchmark index, finished at 2,402.58 points at Tuesday's closing, a 0.26 percent fall from the previous session. The won-dollar exchange rate ended at 1,349.5 won per dollar, 0.4 won down from the previous session.
On a recent TV talk-show, a police officer chided citizens (not for the first time) for not protesting killings in their community.
True Concord Voices & Orchestra opens its 20th anniversary season next week the way its opened a number of seasons since Eric Holtan launched the Grammy-nominated ensemble: Focusing on American music.

This program, Songs of America, is a signature program of True Concord, Holtan said.

The program opens with Randall Thompsons 1959 work Frostiana: Seven Country Songs and includes Stephen Fosters classics Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair and Swanee River. But in the mix, Holtan has programmed the Mexican folk song La Llorona (The weeping woman) and Tipitin, a song written by Maria Grever, Mexicos first female composer to gain international acclaim.

Songs of America arent necessarily songs composed by Americans so much as the songs and the music that celebrate the incredible diversity of who we are as American people, Holtan said.

The program connects the dots from the African-American spirituals Hes Got the Whole world in His Hands and Ain-a That Good News! to Gentle Annie and Beautiful Dreamer.

Its eclectic and diverse, Holtan said.

One voice Holtan really wanted to include this year was Raven Chacon, the composer, musician and visual/multimedia artist from the Navajo Nation whose 2021 chamber work Voiceless Mass won a Pulitzer Prize for music last year. It was the first time a Native American composer won a Pulitzer for composing.

Chacon, who spent his early years at Fort Defiance on the Navajo Nation before his family moved to Albuquerque, wrote Voiceless Mass after his 2021 video project Three Songs.

Three Songs features a trio of Indigenous women  one each from the Navajo Nation, Yuchi Nation and Seminole Nation  each singing songs in their traditional languages about incidents in their tribal history of displacement, massacre, forced relocation and forced migration.

The Navajo woman sings about the Navajo Long Walk at the Peabody coal mining conveyor belt near Tuba City. The Yuchi is on the banks of the Arkansas River singing about the people who died on the Trail of Tears en route to Oklahoma. And a Seminole elder stands on the tribal nation in Oklahoma singing about the forced relocation of her people from their southeastern U.S. homeland.

Each womans songs are connected by the snare drum, which was used by the Cavalry to signal U.S. participation in these atrocities, Chacon said during a phone call late last month.

Chacon said using the snare drum was a way to reclaim the instrument and use it to take on the burden of singing those songs.

In Voiceless Mass, Chacon uses the organ as the primary voice to express how the Catholic Church and other Christian churches made his community and other minority communities voiceless.

Theres a history of Indigenous people of suppressing not only voices of those people both in the conversion of Indigenous people into Catholicism and other Christian beliefs but also leading to residential schools, leading to a loss of language, leading to a loss of voice, explained Chacon, who was named last week as one of 19 MacArthur Fellows (aka genius grant). I wanted to write a piece in the style of a Mass that you might hear in a service, but without liturgical text.

Its a piece that sends a powerful message and he doesnt want that message diluted in any way, Holtan said.

True Concord will perform Voiceless Mass as Chacon intended, with musicians placed around the space to create a surround sound effect, with the organ as the central voice.

These sounds come together in a thought-provoking, compelling way that Raven really intended, Holtan said. You have to be there to really experience it and feel its power.

True Concords performance of Voiceless Mass is the works Southwest premiere.

If you go What: True Concord Voices & Orchestra "Songs of America" Conducted by: Eric Holtan When and where: 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, 555 S. La Canada Drive, Green Valley; 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St., near the University of Arizona campus Tickets: Reserved seats run $23.50-$63.50 through trueconcord.org

MOCA exhibit An exhibit of Raven Chacon's graphic scores and video installation is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 265 S. Church Ave., downtown, through Dec. 17. MOCA is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $7, $4 for students and seniors; kids are free. Details: moca-tucson.org, 520-624-5019.
PHOENIX  A special state law designed to promote political participation and debate does not give Kari Lake the right to make up facts about Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, promote them, and not have to answer for them, his attorney is arguing.

Lake is trying to use that law to toss out Richers defamation lawsuit against her even before any evidence is heard.

But the law is designed only to protect the lawful exercise of a constitutional right, said Richers attorney, Daniel Maynard. He said that provides no shelter for Lake, the losing 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate and a 2024 U.S. Senate candidate, to avoid being held financially liable for making false statements and causing damage to Richer and his family.

There is no constitutional right to make defamatory statements with actual malice, Maynard said in filings Monday with Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jay Adleman.

The Arizona Constitution has a specific provision prohibiting any measure that denies someone the right to sue for damages, he pointed out. He said accepting Lakes argument that she is absolutely protected by the law regardless of the truth or falsity of her statements  and that Richer cant get his day in court  would be unconstitutional.

The lawsuit

The litigation is over two claims made by Lake in her ongoing argument that she should be declared governor  or at least that the 2022 election she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes should be rerun  based on various allegations she made.

In this case, Maynard said, Lake accused fellow Republican Richer of intentionally printing the wrong size ballots to sabotage Election Day voting and said he injected more than 300,000 phony ballots into the system.

She did so even after a trial judge hearing Lakes challenge to the election results found she had provided nothing more than speculation and conjecture to support her claims of intentional misconduct, Maynard said.

And, he said Richer had nothing to do with Election Day operations in Maricopa County, which were run by the county supervisors and their elections department.

Therefore, he could not have programmed  or instructed others to program  printing of mis-sized ballot images on Election Day, Maynard wrote.

Richer sued Lake, her husband Jeffrey Halperin, her gubernatorial campaign and the Save Arizona Fund that Lake has used to raise cash for political purposes.

Normally would go to jury

Normally the question of whether Lake had defamed Richer would be left to a jury.

But Lake, represented by the First Amendment Clinic at the Arizona State University College of Law, contends Richers case shouldnt be allowed to get that far.

A 2006 law requires judges to immediately dismiss lawsuits they determine are substantially motivated by a desire to deter, retaliate against or prevent the lawful exercise of a constitutional right, said Gregg Leslie, the First Amendment Clinics supervising attorney.

He said the states anti-SLAPP  Strategic Action Against Public Participation  law is designed to promote public discourse. Leslie said that makes the question of whether Lake was lying legally irrelevant in her effort to avoid having to go to court.

Evaluation of the protections of (the law) have nothing to do with whether the speech is false, as plaintiff has alleged, he said, because there would be no facts on the record when someone like Lake uses the anti-SLAPP law to ask a judge to have the case dismissed out of hand.

Leslie said it makes no difference that judges in Lakes other lawsuits challenging the 2022 election ruled she failed to provide sufficient evidence of fraud to prevail.

She is still entitled to have an opinion and state her beliefs about what happened in the 2022 election and who is to blame for mistakes, he told Adleman.

Maynard said thats not what this is about. He said its about false statements she made disregarding the truth and, more immediately, about her claim the anti-SLAPP law entitles her to have Richers lawsuit dismissed even before he goes to court, no matter how false or malicious the statements may be.

The anti-SLAPP statute authorizes dismissal of cases only where a defendant presents prima facie proof, at the outset of litigation, that a legal action is motivated by a desire to squelch the lawful exercise of a constitutional right, Maynard said. It is not, as defendants urge, a get out of defamation free card.

Maynard said the protections of the Anti-SLAPP law require two things: proof that someone lawfully exercised a constitutional right, and, in this case, proof that Richers lawsuit is improperly motivated by a desire to prevent or retaliate against that exercise.

He said Lake had no constitutional right to say what she did and escape being responsible for it.

The First Amendment gives defendants ample breathing space to criticize Richers performance of his duties as recorder, Maynard said. But under longstanding First Amendment principles, a public official may recover damages for defamation if he proves the statement was made with actual malice  that is, with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.

He said there is no evidence Richer sued to squelch Lakes constitutional rights.

Richers motivation is to put a stop to the specific defamatory statements at issue in this case, Maynard said, and to to remedy the harm done to him.

Leslie, however, said it is precisely this kind of situation for which the anti-SLAPP law was designed.

Under this law, even though it may look like defendants have an advantage  getting a libel case dismissed solely because it interferes with their free speech rights  it is essential to realize that is exactly what the Legislature intended, he told the judge. Speech about the integrity of the election process is exactly the type of public participation that the Legislature chose to protect.

No date has been set for Adleman to consider the arguments.

No cost to Lake

Leslie has defended the decision by the First Amendment Clinic to represent Lake without cost, even though she has several private lawyers who are handling other aspects of her legal fights over the 2022 election outcome.

Politicians, especially those who are not public officials, have First Amendment rights when a public official takes them to court to demand they be silenced, he told Capitol Media Services. We would not be very respectable First Amendment attorneys if we only took on causes where we wanted to promote a particular political position.

The clinic is funded by a nearly $1 million grant from the Stanton Foundation, established by the late Frank Stanton, longtime president of CBS.

The clinic is part of a law firm within the law school that does not act in the name of the university (ASU) or the college of law, much like a criminal defense clinics representation of a client does not mean that the school (or the clinic) favors the actions of a particular defendant, Leslie said.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

I write to urge the Arizona Corporation Commission to reconsider the idea of changing the relationship between power utilities and homes with solar panels.

For at least the last century and a half, our country has taken pride in our sense of initiative. We have innovated, modified and changed things in our daily life like nobody else. We have been the renowned world leaders in the adoption and adaptation of new ideas, new technology.

We did that with automobiles, light bulbs, washing machines, typewriters, computers, aircraft, spacecraft, air conditioning and toilet paper. That is quite an incomplete list, isn't it?

Now consider this: Arizona gets a lot of sunlight. Every day, more days in the year, and in total each year. We could be the national leaders in harnessing that resource, showing not just the U.S. but the rest of the world just how American ingenuity can help change the world for the better. We could show the world just what Arizona is capable of when we take the lead.

We also have two bunches of very rich fuddy duddies. One group wants to hold back Americans from doing what comes naturally. Their wealth and income depends on an ossified, smelly, oily, wasteful source of energy. The other group has been investing in fossil-based resources to manufacture energy and is more keen than anyone else to milk the system for whatever monopoly profits they can grab. Why should any American listen to either of them?

And yet, we have a bunch of political leaders in position of power who are listening with enthusiasm to, if not enamoured with, these same fuddy duddies.

The Arizona Corporate Commission wants to turn back the clock on solar energy. In the process, they are betraying a great American tradition. It is also turning against a significant section of the voting population, many of whom have already installed rooftop solar collection, and many more of whom are seriously considering doing just that. Just to kowtow to the energy companies who provide lip service to non-fossil energy sources, and do everything they can to keep the status quo in practice.

Consider this: individuals have put solar panels on their roofs, and are willing to give it back to the power companies. Apart from setting up the systems that can receive these kilowatt hours, power utilities have only a little cost in collecting that energy, most of it in depreciation costs. Households are not businesses, they are not looking for a profit. All they want is a fair deal, at least getting the same rates for their energy as do other sources that supply power to these utilities. Yet, these utilities want to keep changing the rules, short-changing these households at every turn.

Power utilities can do several things to take the lead themselves: for instance, they could simply rent roofs, install solar panels, pick up all that energy, and sell it right back to those under those roofs. I am sure the business can be structured so that the cost could be much less than using coal-based plants, at a much lower cost to the environment and our children and grandchildren.

I urge Chairman OConnor and the Commissioners of the ACC to rethink what they are considering. Please, think about not approving the suggestion to remove the 10-year guarantee, the 10% decline in buyback terms. On the contrary, please do more to pressure the power utilities to do their thing and truly innovate in the way they produce electricity. Please do more to educate the general public about the significance of the state increasing its use of solar energy at all levels, including households.
Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu said Tuesday that Korea has secured an eight-month stockpile of crude oil and is considering expanding the amount on concerns about supply disruptions amid the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Hamas launched massive attacks on Israel on Saturday and Israel conducted retaliatory strikes against it. The worst escalation in decades between the two sides has sent global oil prices higher on supply and output concerns.

During a parliamentary audit, Bang said that Korea is capable of dealing with temporary market volatility as it now has oil reserves that can be used for eight months, including the amount stored by the private sector.

"But it is crucial to expand the stockpiling until concerns about the conflict are eased," the minister said. "The government will draw up contingency plans to be fully prepared for worst-case scenarios."

The country has not experienced any major delays or disruptions in importing oil and gas from the Middle East, but the government has enhanced monitoring and sought countermeasures to minimize potential impacts on the economy, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Korea depends on imports for most of its energy needs, and some 67 percent of its crude oil purchases and 37 percent of its total gas deals come from the Middle East.

Speaking of companies operating in Israel and adjacent regions, Bang vowed to beef up monitoring by using a hotline, though no issues with Korean businesses have been reported. (Yonhap)
Seven years since it started, organizers behind Tulsa's annual Native American Day took their cue from Monday's perfect weather to predict a sunny outlook for the event.

"We want to thank everyone for making this day a reality," said Matt Roberts, education chairman of the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, event host. "In October of 2017, we had a small gathering at Guthrie Green, and since 2017 to today, it has grown by leaps and bounds."

The event, two years removed from going virtual twice during the pandemic, was held for a second year at its new permanent home, Dream Keepers Park, 1875 S. Boulder Park Drive.

Enjoying sunshine and temperatures in the 70s, big crowds came out for a daylong schedule of activities celebrating Native Americans, including a parade, cultural songs and dancing.

"This is a great day," said Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation principal chief. "There is progress afoot as Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated across the United States. And because this event is getting better and better, there is progress in the great city of Tulsa, and I am proud to bear witness to it."

Hoskin spoke to help kick off the day, along with Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill and Osage Nation Assistant Chief R.J. Walker.

Hoskin said any day dedicated to indigenous people in the U.S. must recognize the past  both the injustice and oppression experienced by Natives as well as their triumph and resilience.

"Recognizing that history is something we have to do in this country," he added. "If we don't do it, most likely folks will forget. And there's some people in this country that simply want to forget. But we're not going to let them forget."

Hill said: "Today, we celebrate survival. We celebrate the generations that resisted genocide. We celebrate people who decided to rebuild after they were removed.

"(The Muscogee) story here in Tulsa began along the banks of the Arkansas River under the great Council Oak Tree. The past that we share isn't without conflict or complexity, but it also includes great accomplishment and progress."

Both Hill and Hoskin referenced the recent hot topic of tribal sovereignty.

Hill said: "Tribal nations want to work together with our towns all across the reservation, not just joint projects and economic development ventures but working together making our reservations peaceful and safe, making sure citizens have an excellent quality of life. It must include respecting our jurisdiction and our sovereignty.

"Together, there's nothing we can't do, if we're respectful and we communicate with one another."

Added Hoskin: "We can choose collaboration over conflict if we want to do it.  We can choose to respect tribal sovereignty in this state and in this country. Respect for tribal sovereignty ought to be the norm in this country in the future, and it will be if we make it so."

Native American Day is celebrated in Tulsa on the second Monday of every October. Tulsa City Councilor Laura Bellis, representing District Four, read aloud the original mayoral proclamation establishing the day.

"It is such a privilege to be here on sovereign nation land today," Bellis added. "Our city would be absolutely nothing without sovereign nation leadership and without our tribal nations."

Bellis praised the plans for the park.

"I'm really excited with the support of tribal nation leaders, the city and the broader community about the work that's being done to improve this park and the dream that will soon be a reality to turn it into a cultural destination for all Native Americans," she said.

The theme of this year's Native American Day was "Weaving a Legacy."

"This theme is especially important when you think about the spirit of this day, which celebrates and recognizes the culture, contributions and traditions of Native Americans in Tulsa," said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, who was traveling and provided prerecorded video remarks.

"At the city of Tulsa, we value our partnerships with the leaders of local tribal nations."

Tulsa is home to approximately 30,000 Native Americans. Oklahoma has 39 federally recognized Native American tribes.
Representatives of the Osage Nation were invited to attend a New York premiere of the Martin Scorsese film "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and other Osage walked the red carpet as premiere guests.

The shot-in-Oklahoma film due is to be released Oct. 20.
Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairwoman Alicia Andrews will be the featured speaker at the next meeting of the Creek County Democrats.

The meeting is set for Thursday, Oct. 19, at La Margarita, 1215 New Sapulpa Road in Sapulpa.

An optional $12 meal will be served at 6 p.m., or guests can order off the menu, but there is no charge to attend the meeting. The meeting proper will begin about 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call Beth Rizzi at 773-593-1002 or check out the Creek County Democrats Facebook page.
Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden has sued District Attorney Mike Fisher in part due to allegations that Fisher interfered with the sheriffs investigation into the BTK serial killers possible involvement in the 1976 disappearance of a Pawhuska teenager.

The lawsuit, filed in Osage County District Court, claims that Fisher made uninformed and ignorant comments regarding the sheriffs investigation into Dennis Rader during a Sept. 11 press conference.

Fisher disparaged and denigrated the information and leads developed by (Virden) opining that he, Fisher, doesnt believe there is enough evidence to file charges and generally ridiculed the Plaintiffs work, according to the lawsuit.

Virden says Rader is his chief suspect in the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, 16, who vanished June 23, 1976, after getting into an occupied vehicle outside a coin-operated laundry where she worked.

Rader is serving 10 consecutive no-parole life sentences after admitting in 2005 to 10 Wichita-area murders between 1974 and 2001.

Fisher, the district attorney for Pawnee and Osage counties, told reporters that he was requesting that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation look into Virdens allegations regarding Rader, adding that he didnt believe there was enough evidence to link Rader to Kinneys disappearance.

Fishers actions, according to the lawsuit, have caused the BTK investigation to be delayed, hampered and irreparably compromised, allowing Mr. Rader to escape justice and opened the door for Mr. Rader to initiate his own publicity campaign against the very person trying to bring him to justice.

The sheriff also accuses Fisher in the lawsuit of libel, slander, abuse of power, political oppression, fraud and interfering with an official investigation.

The political oppression allegations relate to a failed bid by Virden to land a contract for a reality television series with the working title The Force.

The lawsuit alleges that Fisher advised the Osage County Commission to reject the contract, presumably because The Force would highlight Sheriff Virdens employees and administration, while at the same time publicly endorsing Virdens would-be primary opponent, Bart Perrier, in the 2024 election.

Virden withdrew his contract request for the reality show, claiming outside forces had politicized the issue.

The sheriff also knocks Fisher for his handling of the sale of a county building, claiming irregularities in the bid process.

Fisher declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday other than to say he would respond at the appropriate time and that he was disappointed in Mr. Virdens behavior and actions.

His conduct does nothing to further the publics trust in its elected officials, Fisher said.

The lawsuit, meanwhile, claims that Fishers statements intentionally disparaged the motivation, integrity and reputation of Sheriff Virden and the Osage County Sheriffs Office at a time when public support for law enforcement is waning nationwide.

The lawsuit seeks in excess of $10,000 in both compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit also seeks a judicial order vacating the 2023 auction of the public building.

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Dashing into the street in front of City Hall, Black Lives Matter demonstrators quickly unfolded a template and opened buckets of yellow paint three years ago today.

A pair of police cars, lights flashing, appeared almost immediately. But by the time uniformed officers were ordering demonstrators out of the street, or you will be arrested, the paint was down and the template was being pulled up.

The letters BLM remained. City workers, however, power washed the pavement less than two hours later, trying to erase the letters after demonstrators had left the area.

The Black Lives Matter rally had begun at the so-called Center of the Universe, a landmark pedestrian bridge in downtown Tulsa, where about 50 demonstrators gathered late Saturday morning.

Speakers condemned the city for removing a Black Lives Matter mural from the pavement on Greenwood Avenue, put there without a permit just days before President Donald Trumps June 20 rally at the BOK Center.

Systemic racism is real, said Alicia Andrews, chairwoman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, during Saturdays rally. Its part of everything we do.
Editor's note: This story was updated with a statement from the Tulsa mayor after press time Monday night.

Tulsa Jewish leaders and local and state government leaders issued statements Monday on the weekend attacks that reportedly have killed about 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, with thousands more wounded on each side.

The known death toll of U.S. citizens in Israel stood at 11 on Monday evening, and more than 130 soldiers and civilians taken from inside Israel are being held captive by Hamas.

In the wake of Hamas unprecedented incursion out of Gaza into Southern Israel, Jewish Tulsans are in a state of profound concern as reports of casualties and hostage-taking continue to mount, says a joint statement from Stan Khrapak, chair of the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, Daniel Kaiman, principal rabbi of Congregation Bnai Emunah, Michael Weinstein, senior rabbi of Temple Israel, and Yehuda Weg, rabbi and executive director of Chabad Tulsa.

It is without question that many Tulsans have substantive ties to Israel, whether those connections exist through beloved family, close friends, or integral business ventures. In the face of war and unrest, the Jewish community of Tulsa stands united in support of safety and security, the statement continues.

We offer thanks and appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of support from across the political and interfaith communities in Tulsa. Words of solidarity and comfort are especially important in these trying times.  Together we will persevere and hope for peaceful days ahead.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum posted to social media a photo he took of the sunrise over Jerusalem during a trip to Israel in 2019. I went there with a group of Tulsans because I wanted to learn more about the many ties between Israel and our city. In the process, I fell in love with the country and its people, he said in the post.

What the people of Israel have built is remarkable. Their courage, their ingenuity, their resilience, their sense of purpose  all of it was incredibly inspiring to see in person. I told many of them that, as a mayor, I know how hard it is to build a safe city with reliable infrastructure and a vibrant economy  and we dont have to do that while surrounded by people trying to kill us.

I have thought about that a lot over the heartbreaking attacks of the last several days. They are a reminder both of the extraordinary country built by the Israeli people, and of the desire by others to destroy it.

Today and every day: I stand with Israel.

Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order directing that all American and Oklahoma flags on state property be flown at half-staff as a show of support for the nation of Israel, a statement from his office says.

The flags will remain lowered until Tuesday at sunset.

Sarah and I join in prayer for the Israeli people as they defend themselves against a barrage of unprovoked acts of terror, Stitt said in the statement, referring to his wife.

By lowering our flags, we send a clear signal that Oklahomans stand firmly with the people of Israel as they endure unimaginable hardships.

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Protesters fill the steps on the south side of the Oklahoma Capitol during a rally by Oklahoma Providers for Privacy to remove mental health from the Health Information Exchange mandate in March. The states largest police union and four Oklahoma physicians are suing for a temporary injunction to halt transfers of private medical information until a court can decide the fate of the health information exchange.
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The Peoples Court in Binh Duong Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, on Monday opened a first-instance court hearing against 17 defendants for their alleged involvement in the illegal issuance of work permits to over 2,800 foreigners in Vietnam.

According to the indictment, the 17 defendants were charged with arranging and brokering the illegal stay of foreigners in Vietnam, taking bribes, giving bribes, abusing positions and powers while performing duties, and/or forging seals and documents from competent agencies and organizations.

The defendants include several former leaders from the Binh Duong Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs; the Binh Duong Industrial Zones Authority; and the Economic Zone Authority of neighboring Binh Phuoc Province.

Many entrepreneurs and brokers also stand trial for allegedly giving bribes. Photo: Ba Son / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Kien Cuong, an ex-official from the labor policy unit of the Binh Duong Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs, was accused of receiving bribes totaling over VND8.3 billion (US$339,580) in order to assess applications and support the issuance of work permits for thousands of foreigners working in Vietnam between 2017 and 2022.

Cuong said he shared the money with Le Minh Quoc Cuong, a former director of the Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs, but the latter denied receiving bribes.

Quoc Cuong was indicted for allegedly abusing his now-former position and power by illicitly granted 518 work permits to foreigners.

Defendants in the court room. Photo: Ba Son / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thanh Trung, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, and Dang Quang Viet, former deputy heads of the Binh Duong Industrial Zones Authority, were levied the same charges as Quoc Cuong.

Hoang Thanh, former head of the labor management unit of the Binh Duong Industrial Zones Authority, was accused of accepting over VND1.5 billion ($61,370) in bribes in order to support the approval of 467 work permit applications.

Dinh Thai Tuan, former head of the investment management at the Binh Phuoc Economic Zone Authority, was charged with allegedly accepting VND751 million ($30,714) to appraise 281 work permit applications from October 2019 to March 2022.

Lawyers at the court hearing. Photo: Ba Son / Tuoi Tre

The remaining defendants are representatives of enterprises who received bribes from foreigners in need of work permits as well as issued counterfeited documents, including health certificates, criminal record reports, and documents claiming foreign laborers were experts or business managers.

They also gave bribes to ex-officials of the Binh Duong Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs and industrial and economic zone authorities.

Many of the issued work permits related to the case involved foreigners wishing to work in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time many were unable to return to their country.

The court hearing will last until Friday.

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Garris family, ROK-US alliance both survived tough times to become stronger

By Kang Hyun-kyung

BUSAN -- Deborah Garriss eyes were filled with tears on Friday, as she stepped into Busan Citizens Park located near the old district of Seomyeon.

Garris, 68, said she experienced a sudden surge of emotions as she touched the Memory Wall where panoramic photos tell the stories of how the area was transformed from a U.S. military base to an urban space for the public.

This wall is important to people like me who know and understand what happened, because they have loved ones who sacrificed their lives, she said on Friday, the first day of her two-day visit to the southern port city. The younger generation needs to realize that what they are enjoying today was possible because someone made a sacrifice.

Her father, Benjamin Garris, was a Korean War veteran who was stationed in Camp Hialeah, which was located where the park stands today. He was part of the non-combatant force sent to South Korea during the Korean War. He was involved in administrative duties and postal services, according to his daughter.

Nearly 1.8 million of U.S. soldiers arrived in South Korea to defend the country from the communist Norths invasion during the bloody war which lasted three years from June 25, 1950. Nearly 34,000 American soldiers were killed in battle, while over 92,000 were wounded.

Stretching over 540,000 square meters, Camp Hialeah existed from 1945 until 2006.

Garriss father served there for four years from 1951 when he arrived in Busan as a U.S. soldier.

The Memory Wall, situated near the lawn of the urban park, brought back Garriss fond childhood memories about her late father.

He was very kind and gentle. He liked to tell jokes. He loved to cook, she said.

Garris's father was black and her mother is South Korean. Her father passed away in 1982 while fighting lung cancer. Her mother, Moonja Choi Garris, is still alive and lives in Texas.

Her parents were proud of Garris, who worked as a runway model representing more than 70 luxury fashion houses in Europe at the peak of her career in the 1970s and 1980s. She now lives in Switzerland.

Being able to be here and see the wall with old photographs is helping me envision what it used to be like when my parents were here together, she said. Im glad that they put this up for veterans.

Her Busan visit was long overdue.

This is the first trip to South Korea for Garris, who was born in New York in 1955, a year after her parents married in Busan and moved to the United States for her fathers new posting in the military.

Garris tried to figure out what her fathers life was like at Camp Hialeah as she strolled through the park. She said she could imagine her father walking around the military compound when he was stationed in Busan in the 1950s.

After Camp Hialeah was closed, the site turned into a park in 2012.

Lodging facilities for U.S. Army officers there were transformed into art studios and a museum.

Pyo Ji-hyun, a ceramic artist based in the park, said local artists like her have benefitted a lot from the base that was turned into a park.

I still pay rent here, but it is a lot cheaper than commercial studios outside of the park, she said. Studios are located in the middle of the park. It's a great location. People keep coming, which is good for artists like myself, because we find it easier to attract customers and sell our products.

Working inside the park, Pyo said she is constantly reminded of the service and sacrifices of U.S. soldiers because she, from time to time, has visitors who had previously been stationed on the base.

They told me about their experiences here and how they spent their days. I am grateful for their services for this country, she said.

Garris said she was happy to hear that the city authorities turned the site into an urban space to keep the U.S. militarys legacy alive.

I hope it can endure, she said.

Busan is a special place for the Garris family.

She described the southern port city as her spiritual hometown. After visiting Busan, Garris said she realized that there are so many pent-up emotions that she was able to release during her trip to Busan.

Busan is where her mother, Moonja Choi Garris, was raised following her birth in Osaka, Japan in 1930 when Korea was under Imperial Japans colonial rule. Choi met her husband in Busan when Garris was stationed in Camp Hialeah.

The couple married in 1954, a year after the armistice was signed that halted fighting in the Korean War.

Garris looked at old scanned photos stored on her smartphone. One photo showed her mother posing in a swimsuit with her friends near the beach when she was in her twenties. Another picture shows Choi standing in front of pine trees.

Showing those old pictures to a Busan taxi driver, she asked if he could take her to those sites. After an hour's drive from her hotel, Garris learned that a construction boom had changed the citys skyline dramatically and that the sites where her mother posed in the 1950s no longer exist today.

Garris stopped at Dongbaek (camelia) Island and filmed the ocean. She said she will show the video to her 93-year-old mother in Texas, who was hospitalized with a bladder infection.

Garris walked down the promenade of the island, hoping to experience what her mother did when she was there, trying to understand what it was like being a young Korean woman who fell in love with a black U.S. soldier in the 1950s. Their love was deemed unacceptable among Koreans at that time, since the country was much more homogeneous and conservative than it is today.

She also tried hard to figure out how much pain her mother would have felt as the bride of a GI. In the U.S., Garris said her mother was the victim of racial discrimination and had been bullied even by fellow Korean GI brides who married white American soldiers.

They called my mom a n*gger lover. Deborah Garris

"They called my mom a n*gger lover," she said, adding her mother tried to ignore them, rather than confront them.

Garris visited Busan as the nation celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Republic of Korea-U.S. alliance this year.

She said she is proud of her father, because his service at Camp Hialeah made him a part of the alliance.

The ROK-U.S. alliance and Garriss family share some common traits.

The alliance has become stronger over the past seven decades. There were obstacles standing in the way of the alliance, including anti-American sentiment stoked by radical protestors during the 1980s.

But the alliance survived the challenging times and became stronger year after year.

Likewise, the Garris family went through various hardships over the past seven decades. As a GI baby, Garris said she had to endure painful experiences growing up in the southern United States.

But like the ever-growing ROK-US alliance, Garris said her family bond became more solid as the years progressed.
Thousands of residents flocked to the Tri An hydroelectric dam in Vinh Cuu District under Dong Nai Province, located in southern Vietnam, to catch fish on Tuesday after the dam ceased water release, harvesting many big fish weighing over 10 kilograms.

After more than 40 consecutive days of discharging water to regulate reservoirs, Tri An Hydropower Company stopped the water release the same day, attracting throngs of fish catchers.

The foot of the dam was crowded by locals and visitors arriving from neighboring Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong Province early in the morning.

They equipped themselves with nets and necessary tools in the hope of making some big catches.

Some caught giant fish worth millions of Vietnamese dong.

Two men show off their big catches. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The foot of the Tri An hydroelectric dam in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam is crowded with fish hunters. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Locals said that when the Tri An dam undergoes a water release to regulate water resources in the area, fish flow upstream from the Dong Nai River, and remain in the foot of the dam after the water discharge is halted.

The volume of fish in the dam this year was not as large as that seen in previous years, said many fish catchers.

The Tri An hydroelectric plant started the water release from 3:00 pm on August 29.

This was the second time the dam had discharged water this year.

The first release took place between August 10 and 25.

Residents use nets to catch fish at the Tri An hydroelectric dam in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Residents in Dong Nai Province look forward to a halt to water release at the Tri An hydroelectric dam so that they can net fish. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Many people catch giant fish weighing over 10 kilograms at the hydroelectric dam in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A man is excited about his big catch. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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The Hanoi Medical University Hospital has proposed converting Hanois biggest COVID-19 field hospital into a public healthcare facility to better serve the citys residents.

The COVID-19 field hospital is located on Tam Trinh Street in Yen So Ward under Hoang Mai District.

A representative of the Hanoi Medical University Hospital, which had been in charge of running the field hospital, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that the field hospital shut down in February when the COVID-19 pandemic was considered to have stabilized and the number of critical COVID-19-infected patients dropped drastically.

As the field hospitals infrastructure remains in good condition, the Hanoi Medical University Hospital proposed converting it into a public health facility.

The field hospital is currently undergoing renovations so that it can carry out standard medical treatments, said the representative.

Responding to complaints about rubbish scattered along the field hospitals entranceway, the representative said that the hospital is working with authorities in the district to deal with illegal dumping.

The Peoples Committee of Yen So Ward has repeatedly asked relevant agencies to clean up the path leading to the field hospital, according an official from the ward.

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Police in Da Huoai District under Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands region on Monday caught a man transporting a Javan pangolin, a rare and endangered species of anteater, police said the same day.

The pangolin weighed an estimated 5.3 kilograms.

The alleged trafficker was identified as Dinh Quoc Phi, a 32-year-old resident of Da PLoa Commune under Da Huoai District.

Police officers in Da Huoai District opened their investigation into the case after being informed of illegal rare animal storage and transportation.

At 1:00 pm on Monday, Phi was travelling from Da Lat, a popular tourist hub in Lam Dong Province, to Ho Chi Minh City via National Highway 20 when he was stopped for an inspection.

Police seized a live pangolin that was hidden in his backpack.

A rare Javan pangolin hidden in a backpack. Photo: K. P. / Tuoi Tre

The rare animal will be handed over to forest rangers in the district for care before being released back to nature.

Javan pangolins are classified in Group IB  a list of endangered species of forest animals that are strictly prohibited from exploitation and use for commercial purposes in Vietnam.

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A 35-year-old man committed suicide after setting his house on fire with gasoline, killing his one-month-old child and injuring his wife, mother-in-law, and three-year-old child in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam on Sunday evening, the local authorities reported on Monday.

At about 10:30 pm on Sunday, L.X.H. in Ca Na Commune, Thuan Nam District, Ninh Thuan Province set fire to a bedroom of his house due to a family conflict, according to the administration in Ca Na Commune.

The fire killed his one-month-old child named Q..

The injured included his three-year-old child L.N.T.N., his 33-year-old wife N.T.H., and his 51-year-old mother-in-law N.T.M..

His three-year-old child is undergoing treatment at the Ninh Thuan General Hospital, while his wife and mother-in-law have been transferred to Ho Chi Minh City.

H. committed suicide and was rushed to hospital but died later.

Dinh Van Hoa, vice chairman of the Peoples Committee of Thuan Nam District, said the district had asked Ca Na Commune to visit and encourage the family of victims.

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A delegation from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, along with several chefs attending the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 in Tokyo last weekend, visited Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant in Yamanashi, Japan on Monday.

Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant is known as the producer of the lightest bottles in Japan with its 550-ml bottles weighing just 11.9 grams each and its two-liter bottles weighing just 29.8 grams. The factory has also set records for the lightest bottle caps and the thinnest bottle labels.

Shigeo Masuda, Executive Officer and Plant Director of Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant, said the plant operates in an eco-friendly manner and follows the philosophy of Mizu-to-ikuru (Living with water).

In particular, the facility was designed to save water, prevent water waste, and reduce water use.

The factory has also carried out several initiatives to protect forests and birds over the past 50 years.

It also uses solar power as a way to protect the environment, the firm executive added.

Le The Chu (L, 2nd), Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper, presents a souvenir to Shigeo Masuda, Executive Officer and Plant Director of Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant.

Aside from lighterweight bottles generally using less plastic, Hakushu also does its best to replace some of the plastic typically used in bottle production by ensuring that up to 30 percent of the material used in its bottle caps is derived from plants.

Used bottles can be twisted to one sixth of their initial size, helping optimize the collection of plastic bottles and reduce collection and transport costs.

According to Masuda, no one bought bottled water in Japan 30 years ago because residents could drink water from taps. However, bottled water is now among the companys best-selling.

Hakushu produces 120 million boxes of water bottles a year, with each box including six two-liter bottles.

A representative of Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant introduces the factorys forest protection activities.

Do Thai Vuong, vice president of corporate affairs at Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, said the company had also come up with initiatives to reduce plastic in packaging products.

Bottles produced by the factory in Vietnam are currently the lightest in the world, at 11 grams.

In Vietnam, Suntory PepsiCo is the first company to launch bottle caps completely made of recycled plastic.

Thanks to these initiatives, the company has cut nearly 7,000 metric tons of virgin plastic, or 27,000 metric tons of carbon to the environment.

Preserving animals is part of the factorys initiatives to protect the environment.

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023, taking place at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday last week, attracted over 85,000 revelers and impressed Japanese people with the special taste of Vietnams signature dish, pho.

This is the first time the event was held abroad to celebrate the seventh edition of the Day of Pho (December 12), initiated and annually held by Tuoi Tre.

Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant operates in an eco-friendly manner.

Used bottles can be twisted to one sixth of their initial size to optimize their collection.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, has proposed the European Commission (EC) provide it with professional assistance, experts, and funding for combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to promote responsible and sustainable aquatic havesting.

The province has made the proposal as a 12-member EC mission is expected to conduct an inspection of anti-IUU fishing in Ba Ria - Vung Tau on Tuesday, the first day of the inspecting period that will last until October 18.

This is the EC's fourth inspection since the Vietnamese seafood industry was given an IUU yellow card warning by the commission in 2017.

Over the past six years, Ba Ria - Vung Tau has gained positive outcomes in the implementation of the EUs 12 recommendations on anti-IUU fishing, local authorities said.

The local administration asked the EC to provide it with specialists as well as technical and professional assistance to help it promote the efficiency of the fight against IUU fishing in the future.

The province also seeks the ECs sharing of experience in controlling and tracing the origin of aquatic materials.

In addition, Ba Ria-Vung Tau authorities suggested the EC to provide funding and experts for the province, as well as Vietnam in general, to build an advanced fisheries management model and upgrade fishing ports in order to better meet the ECs anti-IUU fishing requirements.

We affirm our strong commitment to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing, thereby building a responsible and sustainable fishing industry for the province, Nguyen Cong Vinh, deputy chairman of the provincial administration, emphasized.

In a dispatch issued last week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged more efforts from all relevant authorities and agencies to fulfill all EC requirements on combating IUU fishing so that the yellow card could be removed soon.

So far this year, Ba Ria - Vung Tau authorities have dealt with more than 100 violations related to IUU fishing, issuing a total fine of over US$2.3 billion (US$94,300), but no local vessels have been seized by foreign authorities for illegally fishing in foreign waters.

To date, cruise monitoring equipment has been installed on 2,673 fishing vessels, or 96.4 percent, of the provinces fishing fleet, and many checkpoints have been set up to monitor the fishing vessels activities on a 24/7 basis, the provincial administration said.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau has fully captured its updated fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), issued food safety certificates to 2,734 fishing vessels, or 98.6 percent, of its fishing fleet, and granted operation licenses to more than 95 percent of the fleet.

Over the first nine months of 2023, the province monitored 6,979 ships leaving ports and 6,764 others arriving at the ports, with a total throughput of 53,838 tonnes of aquatic products.

During the above period, local authorities also issued certificates of origin for about 4,900 tonnes of seafood.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Renovation series The Block last night featured in a story on Media Watch with questions around engineered stone benchtops, supplied by Spanish company, Cosentino.

Earlier this year 60 Minutes reported on How our love of shiny kitchen and bathroom benchtops is driving a Silicosis epidemic.

Exposure to silica dust, released in cutting, grinding and shaping reconstituted or engineered stone, can lead to silicosis, an incurable and insidious lung disease, as well as kidney disease and lung cancer.

The Blocks Scott Cam recently told viewers the products had minimal silica  like natural  that naturally occurs in beach sand or something like that  so its very safe.

However the ACTU told ABC even low silica engineered stone represent unmanageable risks during fabrication and thus should be prohibited.

ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam OBrien said in a statement, We are disappointed to see the show promoting the use of Silestone, an engineered stone brand produced by Spanish company Cosentino, which had admitted in court overseas that it negligently concealed the dangers of its product, allegedly resulting in nearly 1900 workers contracting silicosis.

He added, TV programs such as The Block should be warning consumers of the product they are purchasing has come at the expense of workers lives, instead of what appears to be a cash for comment approach.

In a statement to Media Watch a Nine spokesperson said, Engineered stone was not used at all. All kitchens used natural stone. Some laundries used a product which WorkSafe does not consider to the engineered stone, due to its low silica content. In any event, no natural stone was cut on site. All benches were made off site using safe work methods (as shown in the program) and then installed on location.

We otherwise refer you to Cosentino regarding their work practices. We have cited documents which demonstrate that these have been reviewed by WorkSafe.

We work with WorkSafe at The Block to ensure safe work practices. Nine is aware of the issues relating to engineered stone products in the segment that the ACTU raised with us. The contestant specifically refers to the issues with silica dust. We note that this contestant is also a career safety officer.

Cosentino also maintained the Silestone products fall outside the definition of engineered stone because they has less than 40% silica.

But Media Watch host Paul Barry said, Cosentino and The Block were basing their responses on Victorian regulations that only define stone as engineered if it contains more than 40 per cent silica. And the benchtops in The Block have a maximum of 34 per cent.

Safe Work Australia, the government body responsible for workers health and safety, also told Media Watch the benchtops are engineered stone on their definition which applies across the rest of Australia, adding there is no credible evidence of a safe threshold level of exposure.

Silestone has been used in laundries for Houses 2, 3 and 5.

You can read more here.
Winners have been announced in the inaugural Screen Well Awards today, World Mental Health Day.

These awards were created to recognise, champion and celebrate the improvements being made to mental health and wellbeing in the screen industry by our colleagues, Screen Well founder Ben Steel said.

All of the recipients for the 2023 Screen Well Awards have done extraordinary work across our industry to improve mental health and wellbeing this year.

The recipients are:

Advocate of the Year

Andy Wright (Never Not Creative)

Andy Wright said, Thanks to the Screen Well awards team. This is a real surprise, but very grateful for being able to put the Never Not Creative message and initiatives in front of more of our community. Its great to see so many people doing so much to make our industry a better place to work.

Initiative of the Year

Disability and Screen Work in Australia: Report for Industry 2023 (A2K Media)

A2K Media said: We are very honoured to receive the Screen Well Initiative of the Year Award for our ground  breaking research on Disability and Screen Work in Australia. This report represents the first step towards dismantling barriers and improving working conditions to empower Disabled practitioners to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. Were deeply committed to continuing this journey toward a more accessible, equitable and inclusive future for everyone in the screen industry. Thank you to the team at Screen Well for recognising our hard work.

Organisation of the Year

National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)

Production of the Year

Erotic Stories (Lingo Pictures)

Congratulations to all of the Screen Well Awards recipients for 2023. The passion, care and dedication you have all shown for improving mental health and wellbeing across screen industry workplaces is truly inspiring and its an honour to be able to recognise it in this way, Steel said.

Id also like to congratulate the finalists in every category for their incredible achievements and say thanks to all the people who made submissions. We encourage you to keep taking steps to improve mental health and wellbeing in our screen workplaces every day.
A gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea that was shut due to an apparent leak, was likely "caused by external activity," Finland's president said in a statement Tuesday.

The Baltic Connector pipeline, which supplies Finland with gas from Estonia, and also carries telecoms links, was closed on Sunday after a leak was discovered.

"It is likely that the damage caused to the gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable is the result of external activity", said President Sauli Niinisto, stressing that the cause of the leak was not yet clear and that investigations were continuing between authorities in Helsinki and Tallinn.

"What specifically caused the damage is not yet known. The investigation will continue."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he had spoken with Niinisto about the damage to the Baltic Connector and is sharing information with its allies.

When was a problem first detected?

System operators Gasgrid Finland and Estonia's Elering said they noted an unusual drop in pressure in the pipeline shortly before 02:00 EET Sunday morning, after which they shut down the gas flow.

Based on observations, it was suspected that the offshore pipeline between Finland and Estonia was leaking, Gasgrid Finland said in a statement at the time. The valves in the offshore pipeline are now closed and the leak is thus stopped.

The Finnish operator gave no reason for the suspected leak and said it was investigating the incident together with Elering.

Repairing damage to the pipeline could take "at least several months" depending on the nature of the damage, Gasgrid Finland said before President Niinisto's Tuesday afternoon comments.
North Korea on Tuesday lauded leader Kim Jong-un for "exceptionally" strengthening the country's combat power as Pyongyang marked the 78th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party.

The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said Kim "exceptionally strengthened the combat power" over the past decade to "firmly secure the party's future that would successfully carry on for thousands of millions of years."

Noting how the North amended the constitution to enshrine the policy of bolstering its nuclear force in a key parliamentary meeting last month, the newspaper said the regime has "achieved yet another meaningful and important political feat."

The North held celebratory events, such as performances and fireworks, to mark the anniversary, according to state media, but there have been no signs of a military parade or other provocative shows of force taking place.

The North tends to mark every fifth and 10th anniversary with larger events, such as military provocations, including missile launches and parades of troops, newly developed strategic weapons and other military hardware.

In July, the reclusive regime staged a massive military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, with Chinese and Russian delegations in attendance, displaying its latest intercontinental ballistic missiles and drones in a show of its military might.

Last month, it staged a scaled-down paramilitary parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, with its leader in attendance. (Yonhap)
The first French soldiers have departed from Niger as part of a withdrawal demanded by the country's ruling military junta.

According to several security sources, the troops departed in a ground convoy under local escort, leaving from the west of the country.

Niger's generals first demanded that France pull all troops out of the country shortly after they came to power in a coup at the end of July, and French President Emmanuel Macron announced their departure at the end of September.

A convoy of soldiers arrived in Niamey at midday on Tuesday, along with lorries carrying equipment and armoured vehicles, according to AFP reports. A plane carrying French equipment and an initial group of priority military personnel (medical evacuations in particular) also took off from Niamey on Monday, another military source said.

The final destination of the French convoys has not been officially announced. According to sources close to the matter, they are heading for Chad, traversing more than 1,600 kilometres of roads and tracks to reach the capital, N'Djamena  home to the command centre for French Forces in the Sahel.

The military regime announced last Friday that the withdrawal of the French soldiers would take place "in complete safety".

The coup in Niger this summer saw crowds assemble outside the French embassy demanding that its staff and their associated military forces leave the country. Many of those present waved Russian flags and signs supporting the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group, which has become a major security player in many African countries.

However, it is not clear how broad or deep Russia's support base in Niger genuinely is.

FILE - With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of Niger's ruling junta demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, on July 27, 2023. - Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou/AP

End of an era

Over the best part of a decade, around 1,400 French soldiers and airmen have been deployed in Niger to fight jihadists alongside the Nigeriens, including around 1,000 in Niamey and 400 in the western "three borders" zone where the country abuts Mali and Burkina Faso.

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Starting in the summer of 2022, following France's departure from Mali and then Burkina Faso, Niger had become the key partner for French anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, where armed groups affiliated to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are rampant.

After concluding a combat partnership with Niger against jihadist groups, France discreetly expanded the compound in Niamey with armoured vehicles and helicopters, to reinforce the five Reaper armed drones and at least three Mirage fighter jets already on site.

Located within Niger's base 101 in the capital, the compound houses hundreds of prefabricated buildings used as offices, IT equipment, hangars and modular shelters for aircraft, tents for the living quarters, cockpits for the drones, engineering bulldozers and fire trucks.

France says it has no intention of handing any materiel over to the Nigerien army.

This new withdrawal presents the French with a major logistical and security challenge. Travel options are limited and even dangerous, with the risk of anti-French demonstrations and the presence of jihadists linked to Boko Haram and the West African branch of the Islamic State in the Diffa area of eastern Chad.

Niger's land borders with Benin and Nigeria have also been closed since the Nigerien coup d'etat on 26 July that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, a French ally. And the Nigeriens have banned French civilian and military aircraft from flying over their territory without an official exemption.

However, Niger has reopened its borders with Algeria, Libya, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad.

If the French containers are transported to Chad, the journey will be long, arduous and dangerous. They will then have to transit through the port of Douala, in Cameroon, at the end of another complicated convoy, according to a source close to the matter.
Global Anti-Scam Alliance and ScamAdviser warn of "international emergency" with release of annual report on the Global State of Scams

AMSTERDAM, the NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / The latest annual study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and ScamAdviser paints a devastating picture of the worldwide onslaught of scams, highlighting an urgent need for vigilance and preventative action. The Global State of Scams 2023 Report, which involved 49,459 people from 43 countries, indicates that a substantial 25.5% of world citizens lost money to scams or identity theft in the last 12 months, culminating in financial losses estimated at $1.026 trillion (974 billion).



GASA's 2023 report, which was supported by academics from the University of Twente, found 69% of those surveyed believe they can identify scams, 59% encountered scams monthly and a remarkable 78% faced scams annually. Phone calls (61%) and SMS messages (58%) are scammers' primary avenues, with shopping scams, identity theft, and investment fraud topping the list.

Attractive offers are a universal scammer strategy. Developing countries see these as the main enticement, but even in developed nations, many fail to spot the scams. Concerningly, repeat victimization is frequent, with individuals globally targeted on average 1.5 times a year. Kenya and Nigeria report even higher rates.

Reporting hesitancy is pervasive, with 59% avoiding it due to doubts about outcomes and 24% feeling it's pointless. Perceptions of authority effectiveness vary; while some nations commend their governments, others like Brazil and Thailand voice concerns.

Financially, scams have siphoned off $1.026 trillion globally, equating to 1.05% of the global GDP. Countries such as Kenya, Vietnam, Brazil, and Thailand experience disproportionately high losses. However, the impact isn't just monetary: 60% of scam victims report significant emotional distress.

The timely release of the report coincides with the imminent Global Anti-Scam Summit (GASS) on October 18-19, 2023. This pivotal gathering sees over 250 international delegates converge on Lisbon from all corners of the globe, joined by over 1,000 online participants. The goal of GASS is to bring governments, consumer & financial authorities, law enforcement, brand protection agencies, and (cybersecurity) companies together to share knowledge and define joint actions to protect consumers from getting scammed. As deliberations define strategies and countermeasures, a crucial opportunity for collective action and the Global State of Scams will undoubtedly be at the heart of many discussions, fostering a collaborative approach to address and curb the spread.

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"The escalating crisis of deception in the digital era has transitioned scams from sporadic events to a full-blown international emergency. With entire nations on the brink of being overwhelmed, particularly developing nations, the mandate of the Global Anti-Scam Summit is clear: unite, strategize, and counteract. Should we falter in our concerted efforts, we risk leaving countries and their inhabitants tragically exposed to this menacing deluge," warned Prof. Jorij Abraham, Managing Director of GASA.

For further details, please refer to the full Global State of Scams 2023 report at https://www.gasa.org/resources.

Contact Information:

Sam Rogers

Marketing Director, Global Anti-Scam Alliance

sam.rogers@gasa.org

SOURCE: Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA)

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View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/791331/global-losses-to-scammers-exceed-1-trillion-as-1-in-4-lose-money-to-fraudsters




Courtesy of HBO

In the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally in August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, then-President Donald Trump stated that there were very fine people on both sides, and just last week the 2024 presidential candidate told right-wing website The National Pulse that immigrants were poisoning the blood of our countrya phrase that directly echoes rhetoric repeatedly used by Adolf Hitler in reference to Jews. Thus, its not difficult to see why, from the moment Trump was first elected to the countrys highest office in 2016, white nationalists have been emboldened to emerge from the shadows and, worse still, act.

Hate groups newly empowered attitude was epitomized by the Unite the Right gathering, in which scores of tiki torch-wielding white men marched through the city under the guise of protesting the removal of a General Robert E. Lee statue from a local park. Chanting You will not replace uswhich soon morphed into Jews will not replace usthese individuals, all of them members or sympathizers of neo-Nazi organizations, loudly and proudly proclaimed their intolerant convictions for the entire world to see. On the second day of the two-day event, they put their violent rhetoric into practice when James Alex Fields Jr. purposely rammed his Dodge Challenger into a group of protesters, injuring 19 and killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

Fields was subsequently sentenced to life behind bars, but the rest of those involved with Unite the Right evaded criminal prosecution. Not everyone, though, was content to let them off the hook.

Its Not a HoaxTrumps Very Fine People in Charlottesville Did Not Exist

Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 10 on HBO, Kristi Jacobsons No Accident is a feature-length documentary about the efforts of lawyers and nine plaintiffs to hold the chief organizers and instigators of the rally responsible for their abhorrent actions. As a civil prosecution, none of the defendants were threatened with incarceration. However, they did face potentially enormous financial penalties that could bankrupt them and their organizations. Moreover, as lead prosecutor Roberta Robbie Kaplan makes clear, there was a second goal behind the lawsuit: to expose who these people are, what they believe, and what they are willing to do in the name of that cause.

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No Accident is an extension of that latter objective, detailing the way in which alt-right celebrity Richard Spencer, Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler, Traditional Worker Party head Matthew Heimbach, and podcaster Christopher Cantwellas well as their accomplices and groupsput the event together, as well as the motives and intentions that drove them. To Kaplan and her legal partner Karen Dunn, Unite the Right was the byproduct of a tech-enabled scheme carried out via texts, emails, and message-board posts on Discord. As such, their legal claim was that these various players had violated both the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 and a similar Virginia state statute that outlawed private actors from conspiring to commit racially motivated violence against minorities and their supporters.

There was no doubt that those who arranged and attended Unite the Right held intolerant views against Jews, Blacks, gays and non-white immigrants, but proving beyond a reasonable doubt that they had deliberately staged the meeting in order to violently attack their enemies was another story. No Accident charts Kaplan, Dunn and her colleagues (including Michael Bloch, a Jewish litigator whose family successfully fled the Holocaust) as they attempt to build their case.

Key to that mission is acquiring the countless digital communiques between Spencer, Kessler, Cantwell and their ilk, and then sifting through it to present a clear and comprehensive portrait of their grand battlefield designs for Charlottesville, replete with numerous instances in which they outright said they wanted to goad antifa into showing up (as counter-protestors) so they could instigate a fight and claim self-defense.

Between the written messages and deposition videos presented in No Accident, its obvious that Unite the Right was meant to devolve into physical chaos, and the courtroom arguments made by Spencer and Cantwell (who served as their own attorneys) only underscore that what they really caredand still careabout is broadcasting their vile ideology to recruit and to encourage others to commit violence in its name. The white nationalists legal defenses are pitiful to the point of being laughable, especially since theyre countered by their own assertions. Yet as with Trump and his common habit of saying something ugly on the record and then denying it the following day, their point was to brazenly dare the system to hold them accountable.

Richard Spencer Loves White People Who Make Stuff. His Family Takes Handouts.

That it did, thanks in part to Spencers own words. In what amounts to a smoking gun, an Aug. 12, 2017, audio recording (made hours after Heyers death) lays bare his true feelings and aims for the rally. I am so fucking mad at these people! Spencer screams. They dont do this to fucking me. Were going to fucking ritualistically humiliate them. This is never over. I win. They fucking lose. Thats how the world fucking works. Little fucking kikes. Little fucking octoroons. My fucking ancestors fucking enslaved those pieces of fucking shit. I rule the fucking world. Those pieces of shit get ruled by people like me. They look up, and see a face like mine, looking down at them. Thats how the fucking world works. We are gonna destroy this fucking town!

Spencers tirade isnt shocking in terms of content; theres no universe in which neo-Nazis are peaceful, so his fury and wish for carnage is to be expected. But it is stunning that he foolishly allowed it to be saved for posterity. As Dunn states in No Accident, contending with Spencer and his compatriots in court was akin to dealing with angry teenage boys with a virulent grudge against those not like them. Deborah Lipstadt appears briefly to explain the underlying antisemitism of white nationalists worldview (with Jews as the puppet masters orchestrating white peoples eradication), while snapshots of the lawsuits plaintiffsincluding Natalie Romero, Elizabeth Sines and Heather Heyers close friend Marissa Blairdemonstrate the courage required to take a public stand against this corrosive movement.

That things legally worked out (to some extent) allows No Accident to end on a relatively happy note. Nonetheless, with such individuals still in our midst, and still supported by a former commander-in-chief who has no qualms about stoking their Third Reich-style rage for his own anti-democratic ends, Jacobsons documentary resounds as merely a small victory in an ongoing war.

Heather Heyers Mom Wants America to Remember Charlottesville, and Wake Up to Fascism

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Oreo cookies on a white platter - Bartosz Luczak/Getty Images

Known to some as the king of unconventional snack-time favorites and to others as the duke of the whackiest desserts known to man, the company behind Oreos has released some intriguingly delightful cookie flavors in the United States. But what if we told you America's cookie aisle offers only a portion of the best Oreo flavors known to snackers? Well, let's put things into perspective here  Oreo makes enough of its signature cookies every year to surround the world with five delicious and rather fashionable cookie belts. And a good portion of those cookies are amazing flavors that are made exclusively in countries outside of the United States. But being the brats we are, we want them to be sold here, and to do that, we're going to need your help.

We have compiled a list of the best Oreo flavors outside of the U.S. and while we let you know how, where, and if you can buy them online, we would like you to think of each of these entries as a call to action. Strawberry chocolate pie, sakura matcha, and vanilla mousse are just a few of the Oreo flavors on our list, and we urge you, dear readers, to consider how delicious they sound and petition Oreo to bring them to the United States. From out-of-this-world Japanese Oreo treats to a tantalizing Oreo variety native to South Korea, here are the Oreo flavors that simply need to come to the states.

Read more: 12 Popular Ice Cream Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Strawberry

strawberry oreos - eBay

Strawberry, you may say, are you kidding? How has the U.S. had Swedish Fish-flavored Oreos and not a strawberry version of the cookie? As shocking as it may be to believe, we speak the sad truth. While the U.S. has witnessed strawberry shortcakeand even strawberry frosted donut-flavored Oreos, a plain, yet delicious strawberry Oreo flavor has yet to make an appearance in America  and we are missing out. Because you know what country does get to enjoy these rosy pink creme snacks? Japan. And based on reviews online, strawberries and Oreos are a flavor match made in heaven.

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According to one TikToker, from the moment you open up a pack of strawberry Oreos, you'll be hit with the intense scent of strawberry candy. And the snack doesn't just smell amazing. "They're crisp, they're super thin, they're sweet but not too sweet," the reviewer says. "This is like a 9.2 out of 10." The flavor inspired another user on the platform to state the strawberry Oreo "tastes just like summertime." While these fruity-chocolate cookies aren't available in the states (alas), online retailers like Plugd in Exotics sell them for $7 a package.

Rose Cream

Rose cream Oreos on grass - Spaced Out Munchies

Oreos are a fun snack, but they aren't known for being fancy  unless you're in China. Because in the land of the dragon, you can buy rose cream-flavored Oreos. These incredibly bougie treats come in Oreo thin form and feature a lovely pink cream center between two chocolate Oreo wafers. The best part? The cream is flavored with powder from actual roses.

These dainty Oreos have been described as "rich and creamy" by Yami Buy, an online retailer that sells the snack to those outside of China (notably, rose cream Oreos are so popular they are typically sold out at the vendor). However, for a more concrete idea of how these unique Oreos taste, imagine the strawberry-esque flavor of everyone's favorite Valentine's Day flower combined with the crispy, chocolatey goodness of Oreo thins. Oh, and they also contain zero sugar. So they're kind of like the successful brother of the discontinued zero-sugar Oreos.

While this flavor hasn't migrated to the states ... yet (we mean, come on, do these sweet, flower-based Oreos not scream "take me along on your cottagecore picnic?"), these cookies are available to purchase at several online retailers for anywhere from $4 to $6 per a pretty-in-pink package.

Matcha Roll Cake

Matcha roll cake Oreos - Cahroon

If you consider yourself a matcha lover, we have some bittersweet news to share. Friends of the matcha alliance, Japan did, in fact, have a limited edition matcha-inspired version of milk's favorite cookie: matcha roll cake Oreos.

These sponge matcha roll cakeinfluenced cookies had an appropriately green filling and smelled like a fresh cup of the beloved green tea it was named for. Described by Cahroon as a (true to its matcha flavor) not-to-sweet treat, the online retailer reported that this cookie was made to be enjoyed with your hot beverage of choice  though what other drink could you dip these cookies in than a matcha latte? One of the lucky few who was able to enjoy and review this limited edition Oreo at another online retailer called Sugio Mart reported the limited edition green tea Oreo "brings the whole thing to the next level. Yep, so hard not to love them!" And in general, matcha lovers stated the taste of these Oreos brought them true, unbridled joy.

The matcha roll cake Oreo only came in crispy Oreo (Japan's version of Oreo Thins) form, and, as a specialty snack, it didn't last long in Japan. But maybe one day it will return to the country's store shelves ... and debut in America.

Crunchy Brownie

cripsy brownie oreo box - Cahroon

Remember when Oreo brought brownie batter Oreos to the U.S. snack world a few years back? Now imagine if those chocolate-lover-approved cookies had a crunchy consistency. That's essentially what Japan's limited edition version of the same cookie concept, crunchy brownie Oreos, was like.

Though the two sound like they'd taste eerily similar, believe you us, they didn't. According to reviewers, Japan's take on brownie-inspired Oreos was a melt-in-your-mouth, crunchy texture experience. And though they were named after brownies, one TikToker insisted these limited edition Japanese cookies tasted like pieces of nama (which are soft Japanese chocolates topped with cocoa powder) that were covered in a chocolate graham cracker shell.

Because Oreo is a bully of a cookie brand that loves to take away its most delectable flavors, crunchy brownie Oreos had a limited run in Japan. But if you want a similar flavor experience, you can opt to buy a pack of regular chocolate Oreos from the country on websites like Bokksu Market for around $5 a pack.

Raspberry Mini Bars

Rasberry oreos - YouTube

In the U.S., Oreo has played at creating a delicious raspberry-esque cookie. The company has released berry Oreos (which combined raspberry and strawberry flavors into a single creme center) and a raspberry fudge creme dessert. But Japan's Oreo raspberry mini bars are everything an Oreo and raspberry-flavored chocolate candy should be and more.

Mini bars? You may ask. Yes, mini bars. These Japanese treats are like an upgraded version of Milka's Oreo cream bars. Just listen to how they're made. These desserts feature an Oreo cookie crumble and raspberry filling base coated with raspberry frosting. Reviewers report these ingredients come together to create a sweet and intensely raspberry flavor experience.

Oreo raspberry mini bars were never listed as limited edition snacks on the U.S. side of the internet. However  whether you can still buy them in Japan or not  you for sure can't get them imported to America. But for a similar taste of raspberry bliss, you can buy packs of Japan's mini strawberry KitKats at online retailers like Amazon for around $15 per 10 pack.

Strawberry Chocolate Pie

strawberry chocolate pie oreos - YouTube

More strawberry-flavored Oreos? From Japan, nonetheless? What can we say? Japan seems to have a thing for pink-creme cookies. But where our former strawberry-inspired Oreo entry was just influenced by the fruit, our next flavor was inspired by strawberry chocolate pie.

This Japanese cookie's name isn't just for show. Larger and thicker than your run-of-the-mill cookies, strawberry chocolate pie Oreos are actually built like miniature pies. But that's not the only thing that makes this Oreo flavor unique. Each of these desserts sandwiches a strawberry-marshmallow center covered with chocolate between two soft chocolate Oreo wafers. The result of this tasty combo (and the unique marshmallow filling) is a cookie that one YouTuber reported was like the Oreo equivalent of a Moon Pie.

Sounds delicious, right? Want to give it a try? Well, too bad. While these delectable marshmallow-filled treats can be imported to the U.K., you can't buy and ship them to the states. Right now, your best chance to get the opportunity to try these unique treats is either flying to Japan or petitioning Oreo to bring the flavor to the U.S.

Sakura Chiffon Cake

sakura chiffon cake oreos - Cahroon

Like roses and lavender, sakura blossoms aren't just beautiful. They're also edible. One of Japan's favorite ways to eat this subtly sweet flower is to bake it into a fluffy, angel cake-esque chiffon cake, and during the spring of 2020, sakura chiffon cake was transformed into a crunchy, chocolatey cookie flavor from the makers of Oreos.

Crispy sakura chiffon cake Oreos featured light pink sakura blossom cream sandwiched in between two thin chocolate wafers. Like the flower, these cookies reportedly were subtly sweet. And, to make matters even better, their crunchy wafer exterior gave them a strawberry Pocky like taste. While these crispy Oreos only lasted for a single season in Japan, we know that they'd make a killing in the states  if the brand stops being a coward and brings sakura chiffon cake Oreos to the U.S., that is.

The closest thing you can get to a similar snack is to sprinkle some Oreo crumbs on top of sakura peach castella cake  which you can buy from vendors like Bokksu Market for around $5. For as beloved as sakura-flavored anything is, most sakura-inspired treats seem to be released during spring and discontinued come summer. As is the tragic case for our next entry.

Sakura Matcha

sakura matcha Oreos - Instagram

Sakura and matcha  is there a more delicious-sounding dessert combo? A treat that combined Japan's most beloved flavors into one cookie, but was hilariously released in China in the spring of 2020, sakura matcha Oreos were not only delicious but also history makers. These were the first pink Oreos to hit the market anywhere, and they were as adorable as they sound.

Featuring light-pink, sakura-flavored wafers and a decadent, dark green matcha cream, as expected, they were all the rage when they were introduced. And reviewers who scrambled to try them reported they were subtly sweet with a good balance between the darker flavor of matcha and the more floral taste of sakura.

Sadly, the sakura matcha Oreo's time on this Earth has come to an end. However, you can get a similar-tasting dessert by buying Japan's sakura matcha piccola from vendors like Japan Haul for around $5 a pack. And while you're placing your online order, you can email Oreo and start a movement to get these since-gone seasonal delights into the U.S. cookie aisle next spring.

Vanilla Mousse And Chocolate Mousse

vanilla mousse Oreos - Etsy

The creamy taste of mousse cake and the crunchy chocolate of Oreo wafers are two flavors that, like Romeo and Juliet, were simply meant to be combined. But while Americans can only dream about what a mousse-cake-flavored Oreo tastes like, Japan and South Korea know the delicious taste well. Wait, Japan and South Korea? Let us explain.

In Japan, Oreo released a limited edition crispy vanilla mousse cookie that reviewers compared to everything from cake batter to those iconic yogurt-covered animal crackers -- so basically, these Oreos were the stuff of dessert lovers' fantasies. However, if, upon being imparted this knowledge, the words "limited edition" (aka meaning the flavor is long gone in Japan and not available in the U.S.), have caused you to weep over the notion of never being able to try this snack, don't worry. As of October 2023, you can still buy them online from vendors like Etsy for about $8 a pack. And we haven't talked about South Korea.

In this country, you can try what is essentially the chocolate mousse version of Japan's limited edition vanilla mousse Oreos. And the best part is South Korea's thin chocolate mousse Oreos are a permanent member of the country's Oreo lineup. Until Uncle Sam (hopefully) gets with the program, you can buy these creamy chocolate mousse Oreos for around $6 from sites like Custom Treats.

Oreo Cakes

oreo cream puff - TikTok

When it comes to Oreo-inspired foodstuffs, the U.S. is no slacker. Under the star-spangled banner, all are free to enjoy Oreo O's cereal, Oreo ice cream, and Oreo snack cakes. But in Japan, the brand released a limited-time Oreo cake dessert line. Here's the dirt on what delicious cake-like treats were available in Japan's convenience stores in 2017.

Oreo crepes, Oreo eclairs, Oreo cream puffs, and Oreo roll cakes  sound incredible? We think so. Unfortunately, these were perhaps the most elusive Oreo snacks for American foodies to find that we've put on this list. On the all-knowing internet, it seems the only folks who got to try these creamy desserts are those who lived in the country at the time of their release.

We could only find a record of one TikToker savoring the cream puff snack. They found the treat while shopping in a Japanese convenience store, and upon trying it, the foodie described the taste of this cake-like creation with two words  "yum yum." So we imagine the rest of the desserts in this specialty line were equally as delicious and that all of them need to have a U.S. debut as soon as possible.

Peach Oolong

peach oolong Oreos - Walmart

Sweet peach. Chocolate Oreo wafer. Can you envision the taste? Now, add in one more ingredient, for flavor dimension, earthy oolong tea. These unique cookies were originally released in China alongside matcha sakura Oreos as a limited edition, spring-time treat. But where the sakura-inspired cookies were discontinued, these tea-influenced Oreo cookies live on in all their flavorful glory.

We know what you're thinking. But, no, tragically, these cookies' wafers aren't pink, and their oolong-tea and peach filling is lightly orange. However, what they lack in Instagrammable aesthetics (at least compared to their sakura matcha counterpart), they make up for in flavor. According to foodies, these snacks have an intense peach scent and a delicious peach taste to match. But the tea and chocolate flavors are also prominent, making for an interesting, layered flavor experience and (most shockingly) a cookie that may taste better with tea than milk. As we mentioned, while these Oreos are sadly not available in the U.S., you can buy them online at Amazon and even Walmart for up to $11 a pack.

Chestnut

chestnut Oreo package - YouTube

Okay, okay, we know a chestnut Oreo sounds dubious, but hear us out here. These Oreos, which were a limited edition treat in Japan, were of the same family as the aforementioned strawberry chocolate pie cookies. They were big, individually wrapped, soft cookies drizzled in caramel. And each treat featured (as it should have) a chestnut at its center.

Almost like autumn in an Oreo cookie, these treats dissolved on your tongue, according to foodies who bit into them, and their taste, which was likened to a kind of coffee Oreo, was the type of good that'll make you want to eat a whole box in one sitting. Of course, as a specialty snack, these Japanese Oreos were not meant to last forever, and you can no longer get these chestnut delights in the U.S. or Japan. However, if you ask us, instead of bringing back its pumpkin spice cookies in honor of fall in America, Oreo should start selling these hazelnut treats. With their nutty, caramel flavor, they were (and still are) the ideal autumnal snack. Of course, if you would like to try a chestnut-inspired chocolate Japanese candy, the rule that every flavor is available as a KitKat in Japan still stands. You can order a 12-pack of mini chestnut-flavored KitKats on Amazon for about $17.

Read the original article on Mashed.
The Royal Military Police (RMP) were instructed to "take no action" despite data regarding alleged unlawful special forces killings in Afghanistan being deleted from a computer server, an inquiry has been told.

According to the RMP, the deletion of the server known as ITS1 at the special forces HQ in the UK was "irreversible" and a "direct disobeyance to our demands to preserve the data in its entirety".

ITS1 contained data relevant to Operation Northmoor - a 10m investigation set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions, including of children, by special forces.

Counsel to the independent inquiry, Oliver Glasgow KC, said at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday: "Whether this was... part of a conspiracy to cover up wrongdoing by UK special forces... will need to be examined and determined in due course."

The independent inquiry is set to examine whether UK special forces had a policy of executing males of "fighting age" who posed no threat in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

The probe will look at allegations that "numerous" killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the RMP.

Mr Glasgow read an extract from the policy log of a senior investigating officer (SIO) at the RMP in December 2016 following the server data deletion, which said: "It appears that [the UK special forces headquarters] have deleted material from the preserved ITS1 server.

"The deletion process has been conducted in such a way that it is irreversible and impossible to determine what has been deleted.

"This is in direct disobeyance to our demands to preserve the data in its entirety."

The hearing was told the SIO advised on 20 January 2017 that the ITS1 server should be "recovered immediately" but the gold commander at the UK special forces headquarters "did not agree".

A week later, the SIO emailed the gold commander to say he had been instructed to "take no action in respect of data recovery from ITS1'' and "take no action in respect of the deletion of data from the ITS1 server".

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Mr Glasgow said: "Accordingly, after nearly 15 months of negotiations to recover the entire data set from the UK special forces server, the SIO was instructed not to take any steps to secure what was promised and not to investigate why it was that [the UK special forces headquarters] had permitted data to be deleted."

Continuing his opening submissions, Mr Glasgow said: "The issue with the ITS1 server engages a number of the matters that this inquiry is required to examine.

"Whether material was deleted, why it was deleted and what prevented this being independently investigated are matters that the inquiry will consider with care.

"Whether this was, as has been suggested in some quarters, part of a conspiracy to cover up wrongdoing by UK special forces and designed to prevent Operation Northmoor from uncovering the truth, or whether this was simply the result of a server migration error, will need to be examined and determined in due course.

"The answer or answers will depend entirely upon the evidence and it would be inappropriate to attempt to form any conclusion about what the evidence might show until it has been called."

Read more:

Senior officer 'ignored concerns' about 'kill unit'

At least 2,445 dead after Afghanistan earthquakes

Taliban bans women visiting popular park

Mr Glasgow said the inquiry's investigations have suggested the data transfer was undertaken by contractors and they, "as part of the process to speed up the transfer, had run a programme that had the effect of permanently deleting already deleted data".

In its own opening submissions, delivered by Paul Greaney KC, the RMP said it will not "shy away from any findings" that suggest "failings in its investigations".

Mr Greaney added: "These were, RMP believes, properly and appropriately substantial investigations staffed by RMP personnel doing their utmost in difficult circumstances."

Following counsel to the inquiry's opening submissions, Brian Altman KC, representing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the MoD has an "enduring commitment to the inquiry".

"The MoD acknowledges the extreme gravity of these allegations which are at the heart of this inquiry and is determined that the inquiry should follow the evidence and arrive at the truth," he said.

The inquiry continues.
MS Rotterdam calling into Portland Port (Image: Ken Deadman)

A cruise ship with a blues and rock club has called into Portland Port.

The MS Rotterdam arrived at the port today, Tuesday October 10 at 6.12am.

Arriving from Le Havre in France, the 984 foot long ship is part of the Holland America Line and can carry up to 2,668 passengers.

The ship is to sail back to Brest, France at 5pm this evening and is part of a 15 day one-way cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Fort Lauderdale, USA.

The Rotterdam offers musical variety with a B.B. King Blues Club and a Rolling Stone Rock Room for its guests.

The ship, which sails under the flag of the Netherlands, is the sister ship to both the MS Koningsdam and the MS Nieuw Statendam.

The ships itinerary will take in France and the Azores before calling into the Bahamas and finally America.

Built in 2021 the MS Rotterdam was christened in the city it was named after by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands in May last year.
Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh begins a visit to France Tuesday during which he is expected to discuss uranium mining and sign deals on energy and telecommunications. He will also open a controversial exhibition.

The visit, which lasts until Saturday, follows a trip to Mongolia by French President Emmanuel Macron in May, during which the two countries pledged to expand ties.

They will also hold talks on Mongolia's rich deposits of uranium, which French nuclear firm Orano is seeking to exploit in a deal yet to be approved by Mongolia.

French-Mongolian cooperation on uranium is not new. Areva Mines has been involved in exploring the Dornogovi province since 1997. The World Nuclear Association says that the Zoovch Ovoo deposit has resources of over 54,000 tons of uranium.

In 2015, nuclear cooperation between France and Mongolia took a step forward with the creation of Badrakh Energy, a joint venture that is controlled by Orano's subsidiary Areva Mongol (66 percent) while Erdenes Mongol, through its subsidiary Monatom, holds 34 percent.

Macron now hopes to speed up the paperwork on this so that full production can start in the autumn.

Controversy



Read more on RFI English



Read also:

How Macrons visit to Mongolia was focused on ensuring Frances uranium supply

Macron salutes Mongolian leader's 'shared determination' over Ukraine

Macron to become first French leader to visit Mongolia
RFK Jr Family Hero

Robert F Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the late US President John F Kennedy, has announced he will not run against current POTUS Joe Biden in the upcoming Democratic presidential candidate race and instead will run as an independent.

Im here to declare myself an independent candidate for president of the United States, Kennedy announced to a crowd of supporters at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. We declare independence from the cynical elites who betray our hope and who amplify our divisions. And finally, we declare independence from the two political parties.

The politician, who transitioned from an environmental justice lawyer, has consistently voiced his dissatisfaction with the primary process during interviews. His campaign manager, former Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, recently called for a more competitive primary in a letter addressed to the Democratic National Committee. Furthermore, the Super PAC that supported Kennedy took its frustration to the streets, staging a protest outside a recent DNC meeting in Washington to convey its discontent.

Senator John F Kennedy seeking the Democratic nomination for the presidential elections, which he went on to win. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

It marks the end, for now at least, of a Kennedy being involved with the Democrats, with the dynasty having a long association with the political party, which saw JFK assume the highest position in the land becoming the 35th President of the United States.

Thats led to some members of the Kennedy family releasing a joint statement in response calling his announcement deeply saddening and perilous for our country. A statement from family members Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joseph P Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend read: Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment,

His children however have been supportive of his bid, and his daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Fox, is a co-manager of his campaign.

What Kennedys is Robert F Kennedy Jr. related to, and how?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s uncle, John F. Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. JFK's presidency was marked by several significant events, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the establishment of the Peace Corps.

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US Senator Ted Kennedy (right) with former British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan (1894 - 1986) during a visit to London, 29th May 1964. (Photo by Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s father, Robert F. Kennedy, served as the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 under his brother JFK. RFK later ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 1968 but was tragically assassinated during his campaign in Los Angeles.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s uncle, Ted Kennedy, was a United States Senator from Massachusetts, serving from 1962 until his death in 2009. Ted Kennedy had a long and influential career in the Senate and was often referred to as the "Lion of the Senate" due to his legislative achievements.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, another of RFK Jr.'s aunts, was a champion of disability rights and founded the Special Olympics in 1968, an organization that has had a profound impact on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide.

Robert Sargent Shriver, Eunice Kennedy Shriver's husband and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s uncle by marriage, served as the first director of the Peace Corps and as the United States Ambassador to France.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (R, 1917-63) and his brother Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr (L,1915-44), surround their father Joseph on July 2, 1938 in Southampton on the deck of French "Normandy" cruiser liner after their arrival from the US. 09 November 1960, Kennedy was the first Catholic, and the youngest person, to be elected for Democratic party the president of the USA. 22 November 1963, Kennedy was assassinated while being driven in an open car through Dallas. His brother Robert, 05 June 1965, after winning the Californian Democratic presidential primary election, was shot and died the following days. (Photo by FRANCE PRESSE VOIR / AFP) (Photo by -/FRANCE PRESSE VOIR/AFP via Getty Images)

Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s cousin, served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017. She served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017 during the administration of President Barack Obama. Her appointment as ambassador was notable for her role in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations during her tenure.

Joseph P. Kennedy II, another of RFK Jr.'s cousins, served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1987 to 1999. He served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1987 to 1999. During his time in Congress, Joseph P. Kennedy II was known for his work on various issues, including healthcare and consumer protection.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, another cousin, served as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003. She was the first woman to hold that office in Maryland's history. Additionally, she has been involved in various public policy initiatives and has been an advocate for social and environmental causes.

RFK Jr.'s cousin by marriage, Maria Shriver is a journalist, author, and former First Lady of California, having been married to Arnold Schwarzenegger during his tenure as Governor of California. During her time as California's First Lady, Maria Shriver was actively involved in various charitable and social causes. She founded the California Women's Conference, an annual event aimed at empowering women.
(Reuters) -The likelihood of Slovakia's next government being led by former premier Robert Fico, who wants to halt Slovak military support for Ukraine, increased on Tuesday when the leader of the leftist HLAS party said he would only consider a coalition with Fico.

HLAS holds the key to the formation of a new coalition government following an election on Sept. 30 in which Fico's SMER-SSD party emerged as the largest party but short of a majority. Fico is also opposed to Western sanctions on Russia.

HLAS leader Peter Pellegrini said he favoured a coalition with Fico's party and the pro-Russian far-right SNS party over an alternative four-party coalition with conservative and liberal parties that have pledged to stay the current course on Ukraine and have more positive views on more EU integration.

"I am convinced that it will be most possible within this three-strong coalition (with SMER-SSD and SNS) to realise our social democratic policy and push through most of our programme," Pellegrini told a news conference broadcast on the party's Facebook account.

He said HLAS, which analysts see as more moderate than SMER-SSD, would guarantee foreign policy continuity in Slovakia, which is a member of both the European Union and NATO.

"If the government were to... change foreign policy orientation, HLAS would stop being part of such a government," he said.

Analysts have suggested that HLAS would tame any foreign policy turns by Fico, who had a record of being pragmatic during his past three stints as Slovakia's prime minister.

The change of guard in Slovakia has increased concerns in Ukraine that Europeans' military and financial support for its efforts to resist Russia's invasion, now in its 20th month, may be slowly weakening.

HLAS ended third in the election behind SMER-SD and the liberal Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, or PS), but the result meant it can be kingmaker in the post-election coalition negotiations.

Pellegrini, who himself led a SMER-SSD government in 2018-2020, turned down an offer from PS to be prime minister in a PS-led coalition. Pellegrini's HLAS peeled off from SMER-SSD in 2020, but the two grew closer before the election.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet in PragueEditing by Gareth Jones)
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

No American president caused Hamas surprise assault across the Gaza border that killed over 900 Israelismostly in deliberate, brutal attacks on civilians, including 260 at a music festivaland kidnapping about 150 more. But U.S. policy, especially the Trump administrations, contributed to the unsustainable situation that made an outbreak of violence more likely.

Claims that Trump brought peace to the Middle East are almost an inversion of reality.

He shifted U.S. policy fully in Israels favorreducing support for the Palestinians and treating their quest for statehood as something that could be ignoredand shaped the regional context by heightening confrontation with Iran without strategic benefit.

Its Dangerous for the U.S. to Give Israel a Blank Check to Assault Gaza

Ignoring the Big Problem

Lets start with Trumps relatively most positive contribution, the Abraham Accords. That deal normalized relations between Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), opening flights that sent tourists to each other for the first time.

All three of those countries are small, wealthy American partners that oppose Iran, making an agreement easier. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navys Central Command and the Fifth Fleet. The Trump administration greased the skids with the UAE by authorizing F-35 fighter jet and Reaper drone sales, making them the only country in the Middle East besides Israel with advanced stealth aircraft.

But whatever you think of that price, more peace is a positive development and could provide a stepping stone for a wider Arab-Israeli deal, as the Biden administration has been attempting with Saudi Arabia.

But lying about the Abraham Accords, stretching them into the dawn of a new Middle East, and playing them up for an American domestic audience was emblematic of Trumps larger failure. He threw Americas weight behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus squeeze-and-ignore approach to the Palestinians as if the fundamental problem of people displaced and living under occupation would just go away.

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Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital and moved the U.S. embassy there, breaking American policy since the 1979 Camp David Accords that treated the city as disputed, given Palestinian claims to a capital in East Jerusalem. Trump cut $25 million in U.S. support for Palestinian hospitals, and $200 million from the UN Relief and Works Agency, which has helped displaced Palestinians and their descendants since 1949. In early 2020, Trumps son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner put out a peace plan that mostly just proposed giving Israel what it wants and dismissing Palestinian concerns.

The U.S. Government Cant Allow Elon Musk the Power to Intervene in Wars

Meanwhile, Israel expanded settlements in the West Bank, along with the corresponding military/policing presence that defends setters from violence (including when the settlers commit some). On the other half of the Palestinian territories, Israel kept Gaza under blockade and fought occasional wars with Hamas. The Israeli government moved further and further right, pursuing West Bank annexation, and the two-state solution, which was never that plausible to begin with, became more and more a pipe dream.

That describes the last decade and a half, since Hamas forcibly took control of Gaza in 2007. Trump gave Israel things it wanted without getting anything in return, and encouraged Netanyahus sense that Israel could build international relationships, cultivate partnerships with Arab states who share fears of both Iran and jihadists, and ignore the Palestinians.

But the Bush and Obama administrations essentially punted on the issue, increasing military aid, albeit with varying levels of criticism. For example, Israel bristled when the Obama administration abstained rather than vetoed a UN resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlement-building, but certainly didnt object when Obama authorized a $38 billion package of military assistance to Israel, the largest in history.

Former President Donald Trump and Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands in Jerusalem on May 23, 2017. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty

Unignorable Violence

Now Hamas has conducted an impossible-to-ignore attack. The size and brutality of the assault means the logic of national security has taken overno state would tolerate thisand the Israeli military will try to root out, or at least significantly weaken the organization behind it.

The first step is regaining control of border towns, clearing out Hamas infiltrators. Israeli forces have reportedly killed 1,500 fighters on their territory. Airstrikes on Gaza are already underway, and hundreds of Palestinians there are dead. That will surely rise into the thousands, especially if Israel conducts extensive ground operations (as appears imminent).

Some of the dead will be civilians, including children. Israel takes steps to reduce civilian casualties, but a large number is an inevitable consequence of IDF assaults, especially in densely-populated Gaza, as Hamas takes cover among the civilian population.

Israel will likely go in hard, searching for Hamas fighters, leaders, and equipment, and rescuing hostages if they can. Hamas and other Palestinian militants, such as Islamic Jihad, will probably try to draw Israeli forces into urban areas and inflict maximum casualties via ambushes, including booby traps and tunnels. Small, inexpensive drones give them the ability to spot Israeli movements or attack targets. As determined and technologically advanced as Israel may be, urban warfare in a densely populated area against a prepared enemy will be difficult and costly.

The United States will back Israel, with President Biden promising assistance, and efforts to ensure no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation. The U.S. Navy moved a carrier group into the eastern Mediterranean, presumably as a warning against other states getting involved.

America is rushing Israel interceptor missiles for the Iron Dome air defense system, and munitions for offensive operations. The U.S. has long designated Hamas a terrorist group, and, like many others, seems appalled by the latest attackwhich more resembles an ISIS-style massacre than the rocket barrages that killed fewer than ten Israelis in the worst year of such attacks, or the commando operations that snuck under the border in a tunnel and kidnapped an Israeli soldier.

Do Hamas Brutal Tactics Do Anything to Help Palestinians?

Depending on how the fighting goes, and how the hostage situation unfolds, Israel could need more U.S. military aid, which would require an act of Congress. But the House is currently in turmoil, lacking a Speaker due to the Republican majoritys dysfunction.

Regional War?

The other big, short-term concern for America is whether the Israel-Hamas war sparks a wider regional conflict. A lot of that depends on how much Iran was involved in Hamas attack, and on what Hezbollah does.

The Iran-allied militants based in southern Lebanon, who fought Israel to a stalemate in 2006, likely were not involved in Hamas assault but could open a second front in the war as Israel attacks Gaza. The border situation is uneasy, as a small contingent from Palestinian Islamic Jihad attacked from Lebanon, killing an Israeli soldier. Israel fired back into Lebanon, reportedly killing three Hezbollah members, and the group fired rockets back at Israel but didnt kill anyone.

Hezbollah is stronger than Hamas and would pose a difficult challenge, especially with Israel already engaged in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) called up 300,000 reservistsa large, rapid mobilization for a country of 9.3 millionand deployed some to the north in case Hezbollah acts. But at least for now, the cross-border firing is limited, on par with other exchanges since the 2006 war. And Hezbollah is closer than Hamas to Iran, which means Tehran is a big factor in whether the fighting goes regional.

President Joe Biden at the White House on October 7, 2023. Samuel Corum/Getty

The Wall Street Journal published an exclusive claiming that Iran helped plot the attack, and gave Hamas a green light. However, an IDF spokesperson says theyre continuing to investigate, but havent seen evidence Iran was involved in planning or training. The U.S. says similarly, while both Hamas and Iran denied that Iran directed the attack or knew about it in advance.

That signals that none of those parties want a wider war. Unless evidence emerges that Hamas assault ultimately came from Tehran, Israel will likely focus on Palestinian militants, and the U.S. will work to avoid a regional conflagration, rather than start one.

Nevertheless, Iran does supply Hamas with weaponry, and expressed support after the recent attack. Theyre both part of an Axis of Resistance against Israel, the U.S., the West (and to some extent Saudi Arabia), along with Syria, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shia militias. With this many volatile relationships involved, there are multiple ways the war could spiral, even if none of the major players want it to.

Here, too, Trumps foreign policy put the U.S. in a worse position.

In 2018, he unilaterally broke the Iran nuclear deal, which the Pentagon and American intelligence said Iran was following, letting Iran out of nuclear restrictions in exchange for nothing, and angering U.S. allies. In 2019, Trump moved towards war after Iran likely was behind attacks on two commercial tankers in the Gulf, but offered to negotiate at the last minute, and when Iran declined, called off the attack anyway. The U.S. had already started conducting cyber operations against Iranian defenses, revealing which systems America had penetrated for what turned out to be Trumps unsuccessful bluff.

Hamas fighters hold a Palestinian flag as they destroy a tank of Israeli forces in Gaza City, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Hani Alshaer/Anadolu Agency via Getty

In early 2020, after U.S. exchanges with Iran-backed Iraqi militias and a riot at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard general Qasem Soleimani, the first direct American attack on a foreign military commander since World War II. Soleimani had a lot of blood on his hands and constituted a legitimate military target in Iraq, given his involvement in the threat to the American embassy. But the strike prompted the Islamic Republics first-ever open attack on American forces, firing missiles at a U.S. base in Iraq that injured over 100, but luckily killed none, giving the U.S. an offramp from escalation.

Killing Soleimani ultimately yielded no strategic gain, as other Revolutionary Guard leaders moved up a spot and operations continued. The one lasting effect was Iraq falling under more Iranian influence.

Elsewhere, the Trump administration backed the failed Saudi-led attempt to blockade Qatar, which did little besides pushing Qatar closer to Iran, and seemed driven more by an effort to line Jared Kushners pockets than advance any coherent American interest. Later, Trumps chaotic, haphazard approach to Syria screwed over Americas Kurdish partners, embarrassingly yielded U.S. bases to Russia, and ended up improving Irans position.

The People Who Protect Israel Are Scared as Hell

Biden has played the weakened hand Trump gave him with a mix of force and diplomacy, ordering airstrikes against Iran-backed militias along the Iraq-Syria border, maintaining post-JCPOA sanctions while trying to get Iran to agree to new nuclear restrictionswhich may be impossible, since Trump gave Iranians good reason to think America wont honor any commitmentand securing the release of five Americans held prisoner by Iran.

Republican critics, such as Rep. Mike Lawler and recently ousted Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, accuse Biden of some responsibility for Hamas attack because Iran got $6 billion in unfrozen funds as part of the prisoner deal, but that doesnt make sense. The money was Iranian, not American, and came from oil sales to South Korea authorized by Donald Trump. It will be held in a Qatari bank, available only for humanitarian goods, and Iran hasnt used any yet.

Hapless Netanyahu Was Totally Unprepared for Attack

Money is fungible, so Iran could shift funds to weaponry while anticipating the budgetary boost, but given the size and sophistication of Hamas operation, theres no way they started plotting it last month when the deal went through. (Reuters reported that Hamas plot was two years in the making.) And few if any Biden critics say they wish those five Americans were still in Iranian prison.

But on Israel-Palestine, Biden let the status quo fester, first focusing on COVID and ending Americas 20-year war in Afghanistan, then on Russias invasion of Ukraine and broader geopolitical competition with China. In July 2023, the Biden administration expressed concern over Israels far-right governing coalitions divisive effort to increase their power by overhauling the Israeli judiciary, but didnt go beyond verbal criticism.

Now Hamas attack and Israels response have grabbed Americas attention, while dashing hopes that gradual economic improvements would lead Hamas, and especially Palestinians who do not closely support them, to prefer relative stability (under occupation) over militancy.

In the short term, Bidens task is clear, albeit challenging. Support Israels security while trying to minimize harm to innocent Palestinians, keep the war from turning into a wider conflagration with Iran, and manage the regional instability Trump left in his wake.

But the longer-term Israel-Palestinian situation is a tragic mess. Its easy for outsiders to imagine an end state that sounds fair to them, but no one knows how to get there.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Hamas' surprise rocket attack on Israel has renewed security concerns in South Korea over Seoul's capabilities to counter a potential attack from North Korea.

Hamas unleashed a barrage of some 5,000 rockets on Israel last Saturday, with some of them bypassing Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, despite its known interception rate of 90 percent.

"Based on analysis of media reports and relevant information, the Iron Dome appears to not have functioned to its full capabilities," a South Korean military official said.

The attack has brought renewed attention to South Korea's military capabilities for countering the threats posed by North Korea's artillery positioned near the border, which is known to be more powerful than Hamas' rockets.

North Korea is known to be able to fire some 16,000 shells per hour from some 1,000 artillery pieces along the border in the early stages of a war. Of them, North Korea is estimated to operate some 340 long-range artillery pieces, which directly target the greater Seoul area, home to about half of the country's 51.5 million people.

South Korea has been pushing to develop a low-altitude missile defense system by 2026 to intercept any potential North Korean artillery attack.

It is also developing the long-range surface-to-air missile system and an improved version of the mid-range surface-to-air missile system as part of the Korea Air and Missile Defense system, a pillar of the country's "three-axis" defense system against North Korea.

The system also includes the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, an operational plan to incapacitate the North Korean leadership in a major conflict, and the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike platform. (Yonhap)
North Korea's official news agency said Tuesday an "important report" is coming up.

The Korean Central News Agency gave no details in the short Korean-language dispatch sent at 7:28 a.m.

As of 10 a.m., there has been no surprise announcement or report.

Tuesday is the 78th founding anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party.

The North has also said it would try to launch a military spy satellite in October after two failed launch attempts in May and August. (Yonhap)
HA NOI  The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) is offering significant opportunities for Viet Nam to secure external financial support to achieve its ambitious climate objectives, including funds from the UK for green transition and sustainable development.

This will be further facilitated by the trade agreement (UKVFTA) between the two nations.

In recent years, energy transition has become a focal point after Viet Nam pledged to attain net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021.

A notable step was the endorsement of the National Power Development Plan (PDP8) in mid-May, which set out to phase out coal-fired power, bolster the growth of renewable energy and new energy sources, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The PDP8 offered significant opportunities for investment in green energy development in Viet Nam, according to Pham Nguyen Hung, Deputy Director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

He said that Viet Nam would need around US$135 billion to invest in the development of power sources and transmission grids by 2030 to realise this ambitious power plan. It was estimated that another $500 billion would be required for the 2030-50 period.

Under the PDP8, Viet Nam would promote a just energy transition through increasing renewable sources to a proportion of 67.5  71.5 per cent by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than 170 million tonnes in 2030.

The World Bank estimated that Viet Nam would need a cumulative $368 billion through 2040, or 6.8 per cent of GDP, to pursue a climate-resilient and net zero emissions development pathway. The World Bank stressed that the commitments can and should be bolstered by the engagement of the domestic private sector and through external finance.

Given the limited public finance for climate ambitions, external finance was an important source of funding for Viet Nam to move towards a net-zero economy, Hung said.

Opportunities with the UK

The country was actively seeking external finance to realise its climate ambitions.

In late August, Viet Nam sanctioned a plan for the execution of the JETP, emphasising that a resource mobilisation strategy would be rolled out to draw international financial backing and technology transfer to hasten the green transition.

Within the JETP framework with the International Partners Group, comprising the UK, a starting sum of at least $15.5 billion is set to be raised over the next three to five years using a mix of suitable financial tools to bolster Viet Nams neutral economy growth.

Given the UKVFTA that came into force in early 2021, Viet Nam possessed substantial chances to strengthen ties with the UK and tap into billions of dollars for its green transition journey.

Nguyen Canh Cuong, Vietnamese Trade Counselor to the UK, said that enterprises from the UK had strengths in renewable energy, including wind power, solar power, sustainable agriculture, environment pollution treatment and green finance in which Viet Nam was seeking to increase cooperation during the country's green economy pathway.

ao uc Cuong, an expert from Bradford University, told Vietnam News Agency that Viet Nams current situation was similar to the UKs in the first decade of the 21st century. Thus, it was a valuable opportunity for Viet Nam to learn from and cooperate with the UK in the field of clean energy development.

During a meeting with UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart in Ha Noi in late July, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha urged the UK to share experiences and methods in green energy development. The two sides also agreed to promote specific renewable energy projects with the participation of leading enterprises as platforms to exchange experiences and enhance cooperation.

Several investors, including those from the UK, were looking to invest in Viet Nams renewable energy market.

In mid-May, British International Investment, the UKs development finance institution and impact investor, announced plans to invest $15 million in a fund focusing on developing energy transition infrastructure for Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam.

Greater reforms

According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Viet Nam ranked second among developing economies by international investment in renewable energy, with $106.8 billion registered to be poured into renewable energy projects in the 2015-22 period, accounting for 32 per cent of the total project value.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said on the sidelines of the 13th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in August that the Vietnamese Government always encouraged and created favourable conditions for foreign investors to participate in the development of renewable energy projects in Viet Nam and enhance the transfer of energy-efficient technologies.

Senior economist Vo Tri Thanh said that amid limited public resources, it was critical for Viet Nam to ensure an attractive business environment for investors.

To attract investment in the power sector, Thanh said that it was critical for Viet Nam to ensure transparency in electricity pricing.

Viet Nam should not subsidise and oversubsidise sectors that consume traditional primary resources such as coal, oil and gas, Thanh said, adding that the resource should be used to encourage green energy transition instead.

In addition, policies should be raised to provide support to disadvantaged groups such as poor households and those in difficult circumstances to access clean energy, he said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was speeding up the development of the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) to attract investment in renewable energy development.

Under PDP8, Viet Nam aimed to increase renewable energy to 30.9  39.2 per cent of the total energy source by 2030 and 67.5  71.5 per cent by 2050.  VNS
HA NOI  Celebrating its 30th anniversary this September, Techcombank has unveiled two new headquarters, located at 6 Quang Trung, Ha Noi and 23 Le Duan, HCM City.

The opening of our new head office buildings is an important milestone for Techcombank on our 30-year Be Greater journey, said Jens Lottner CEO of Techcombank.

We now operate out of two world-class financial buildings in prime locations in Hanoi and HCMC that all our people can be proud of.

A design philosophy ahead of its time

For over 55 years, Foster + Partners, spearheaded by the esteemed British architect, Lord Norman Foster, has carved an indelible mark in global architectural history. Having garnered worldwide praise, the firm's prestige stands unparalleled.

A shining testament to their prowess is the recent collaboration with Techcombank, resulting in two new world-class buildings in the heart of Ha Noi and HCM City, hailed as a harmonious blend of modern technology and urban aesthetics.

Techcombank, recognising the architectural finesse of Foster + Partners, entrusted the firm with the task of designing two new buildings in Ha Noi and HCM City to be used for its joint headquarters.

The requirement was clear: create designs that not only stand out as icons but also align with the culture of each city.

Responding to this vision, Foster + Partners first conceptualised the Techcombank Quang Trung Headquarters in Ha Noi.

At the heart of the capital, the tower resonates with a theme of "Future in the Old Town tradition, manifested through a facade resembling interlaced wooden doors set against golden walls evoking the ancient city.

Down south in bustling HCM City, the Techcombank Le Duan Headquarters opts for a bolder, more avant-garde approach. The architectural narrative takes inspiration from stacked rubiks cubes, a nod to the city's Dynamic and Constant movement.

Through these designs, Foster + Partners has vividly encapsulated Techcombanks aspirations: structures that harmonise with the landscape while epitomising contemporary technological advancements and sustainable values.

Open spaces to enhance interaction and connectivity

For Foster + Partners, integrating local life into their designs has always set them apart. Their approach is simple yet profound: buildings must enhance the quality of life.

The outstanding designs by Foster + Partners have created open and collaborative working environments that will encourage innovation and the sharing of ideas, said Jens Lottner.

"Each new building will help to empower our people so that they can better serve our customers, while also contributing to the sustainable development of Ha Noi and HCM City."

Empowering the best talent

Techcombanks new headquarters offers employees an open and collaborative working environment comparable with modern buildings in other global financial centres. This reflects the banks strong commitment to creating the best working conditions for its people.

In 2022 and 2023, Techcombank became the first Vietnamese bank to run Overseas Talent Roadshows when it visited Singapore, the US, UK and Australia to recruit Vietnamese-born talents to return to the country and join the bank. In September 2023, Techcombank also became the first and only Vietnamese bank to be named in the top 11 "Best workplaces in Asia 2023" by Great Place to Work (GPTW), a leading global organisation that assesses workplace culture.

This international recognition is a testament to Techcombank's relentless efforts on its 30-year journey to invest in its people and create a working environment and culture that empowers them to achieve their full potential.

Our two new state-of-the-art office buildings not only redefine our physical presence but also set new standards for workplace innovation," said Jens Lottner.

"With modern amenities, sustainable design, and a focus on fostering creativity and collaboration, the buildings reflect our dedication to excellence. Techcombank can now offer a working environment comparable to leading global organisations and this confirms our commitment to attracting and empowering the best talent.
HA NOI  The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has expressed its commitment to working with relevant agencies to evaluate innovation and assist localities in identifying the right directions to improve Viet Nam's position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings, an official has said.

The MoST in coordination with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva held a hybrid workshop on October 10 to provide information about the GII 2023.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Bui The Duy, stated that Vietnam has made progress in the GII 2023 rankings, moving up two places to 46th among the 132 listed countries and economies. Viet Nam is also recognized as one of the seven middle-income countries that have made significant advancements in innovation over the past decade.

In terms of the specific GII sub-indices, Viet Nam has climbed two places to 57th in the innovation input sub-index and one place to 40th in the innovation output sub-index. Among ASEAN countries, Vietnam ranks behind Singapore (5th), Malaysia (36th), and Thailand (43rd). Deputy Minister Duy believed that Viet Nam's position in the GII 2023 could have been even higher if certain factors such as ICT services exports, copyright payments, fees, and licenses had been updated.

To promote innovation, Deputy Minister Duy emphasised the need for collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders. He expressed his hope that with the support of experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the MoST and related units can evaluate innovation, particularly at the local level, to identify the appropriate strategies for improving Viet Nam's position in the GII rankings.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and other international organisations in Geneva, acknowledged Viet Nam's encouraging position in the GII 2023 rankings. However, she also highlighted the challenges posed by political and economic uncertainties globally, as well as changes in investment and trade strategies of many countries.

Ambassador Mai stressed the importance of Viet Nam tapping into its potential, enhancing technology transfer and innovation, and developing high-quality Vietnamese goods and services in foreign markets. She called for efforts from authorities, sectors, scientists, the private sector, and business associations at all levels to promote innovation and the application of science and technology.

Mai assured that the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations would support Viet Nam in collaborating with WIPO and other relevant organizations in innovation and technology transfer to develop products and services.  VNS
QUANG NINH  Cua Van and Vung Vieng, two renowned fishing villages located in Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province, are facing severe deterioration, with some structures slowly sinking into the sea.

Urgent action is needed to breath new life into Cua Van and Vung Vieng fishing villages, Vietnam News Agency reported.

These villages have garnered significant popularity, particularly among foreign visitors. Cua Van, in particular, has been ranked among the worlds most enchanting villages by numerous renowned travel websites.

On September 26, floating classrooms located in the villages in Ha Long Bay partly sank into the sea due to its long-standing deterioration. The classrooms, which were made of wooden houses and floated by barrels, served as educational spaces for children of fishermen.

In 2014, Quang Ninh Provinces Peoples Committee made a decision to relocate most of the residents to the mainland. Families found new homes in Ha Phong Ward, while a small group was permitted to engage in aquaculture activities in the old floating houses.

Nearly 70 floating houses and classrooms were entrusted to Ha Long Bays Management Board to preserve and develop tourism services in the bay. In Cua Van Village, a floating cultural conservation centre was built for tourists.

The houses created a distinctive tourism experience, recreating the cultural heritage of the ancient fishing communities and offering an engaging and interesting experience for tourists.

However, due to constant exposure to saltwater and humidity of the sea air, they have gradually deteriorated and are at risk of sinking, underscoring the pressing need for intervention and restoration efforts.

Some residents have expressed their hope of getting back to their old life on the water after years of being relocated to the mainland as they struggled to find jobs.

Nguyen Van Quy, a former resident of Vung Vieng fishing village, said he and his wife had returned to their old floating house to raise fish.

However, he said, he was not allowed to repair or move in as he had handed the house to local authority and it was now under conservation on the bay.

Quy said he hoped the Government would have policies to restore the fishing villages, so that he could go back to his old life. This would help attract tourists like before, he added.

Tang Van Phien, director of the Van Chai Ha Long Service Cooperative emphasised that Vung Vieng and Cua Van fishing villages were significant attractions for tourists, especially foreigners, but the number of tourists has declined over the last three years.

Phien suggested that authorities preserve and maintain these fishing villages and floating houses be jointly managed by local authorities, businesses and local residents.

The villages should be inhabited as this was essential for preserving and safeguarding the villages, their culture, and the traditional way of life on the bay, he said.

Vu Kien Cuong, head of the Ha Long Bays Management Board said over the past three years, the fishing villages have been harshly affected by the weather. In addition, the funding for maintenance and repairs has been insufficient, leading to the deterioration of these floating houses.

In response to this issue, the management board has reported to the provincial People's Committee and developed a plan for renovating and repairing the floating houses.

Cuong said preserving the cultural values of the fishing villages and providing livelihoods for the residents should be implemented at the same time.

The management board was currently reviewing legal frameworks for enabling sustainable aquaculture practices and ensuring that legal processes were adhered to in accordance with heritage protection regulations.

The management board was advising the provincial People's Committee on the implementation of the preservation and enhancement plan for Ha Long Bay, which would establish legal frameworks to attract businesses and local communities to invest in tourism development.

Regarding the repair and reconstruction plan for floating fishing villages, the management board said it would classify the quality of floating houses. Those that were no longer usable would be removed and rebuilt while preserving the original architecture and form of the old structures. Safety standards would be enhanced to withstand weather conditions, particularly the erosive effects of seawater and sea winds, he said.

Cuong said there were funding challenges. The management board has proposed the provincial People's Committee to allocate a portion of the Ha Long Bays entrance fees for the purpose of renovating and upgrading the fishing villages in the bay.

The provincial People's Committee has assigned this task to the Department of Finance and the Ha Long City People's Committee, and the Ha Long Bay Management Board. Results must be reported to the provincial Peoples Committee.  VNS
QUANG NINH  ASEAN member states have agreed to issue the Ha Long declaration on early action in ASEAN disaster management, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep has unveiled.

The official shared the information on the sidelines of the 43rd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), which opened in the northern province of Quang Ninhs Ha Long City on October 9.

This meeting is part of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM)  scheduled for October 12 in the city and expected to gather eight ministers, four deputy ministers, and over 140 international delegates from the ten ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), ASEAN development partners (including China, the Republic of Korea, Japan), and several international organisations in the region. Timor Leste will attend the event as an observer.

Hiep considered the agreement, reached on September 12, a significant milestone that acknowledges Viet Nam's efforts to collaborate with other ASEAN nations in reducing the impact of disasters.

Muhd Harrith Rashidi, Director of the Brunei National Disaster Management Centre, praised Viet Nam for its leadership role in ASEAN cooperation on disaster management. Viet Nam has demonstrated such a role by implementing numerous successful initiatives. He expressed the intention to continue implementing Viet Nam's initiatives to encourage early joint action and enhance disaster preparedness among the bloc member countries.

In 2023, Viet Nam takes the rotary role as the ACDM Chair, as well as hosts the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and ACDM annual meetings.

This is an opportunity for the nation to promote its role in managing natural disasters and building the ASEAN Community and developing relations between ASEAN and partners at large. Besides, it also helps Viet Nam gain experience and mobilise resources from the international community for natural disaster prevention and control, making contributions to the development of the country and the region. VNA/VNS
On the occasion of the 69th Anniversary of the Capital's Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2023), Politburo member, Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee, inh Tien Dung, has penned an article on the development of the capital city and its plans for the coming period.

69 years after the Liberation Day of the Capital (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2023), Ha Noi is now embracing new opportunities for development yet also grappling with numerous challenges. The current reality calls for the Party Committee, government, and the people of the Capital to redouble their efforts in implementing the Party's resolutions, paving the way for a rejuvenated trajectory of progress. In the immediate future, our collective aim should be to successfully accomplish the goals, targets, and tasks set for 2023, gearing up to welcome 2024 with unwavering determination and vigour, ultimately achieving remarkable milestones as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Capital's Liberation Day.

From the commencement of the 2020-2025 term until now, Ha Noi, like the entire nation, has weathered the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and witnessed substantial fluctuations in the global economic and geopolitical landscape. However, under the resolute leadership and guidance of the Party Central Committee, the Party Committee, the government, and the resilient citizens of the Capital have consistently harnessed the spirit of heroism, unity, dynamism, and innovation, yielding multifaceted achievements that bear the hallmark of excellence.

Ha Nois economy stands out as a shining beacon of growth. The city's Gross Domestic Product (GRDP) soared by 2.92 per cent in 2021 and an impressive 8.89 per cent in 2022, both figures surpassing the national average. Despite the visible global economic downturn in the first nine months of 2023, Ha Nois economy has exhibited steady improvement each quarter, with the first quarter registering a 5.81 per cent increase, the second quarter at 5.93 per cent, and the third quarter at 6.49 per cent. Notably, the total State budget revenue for the region over this period is estimated at VN305 trillion, reaching 86.5 per cent of the annual projection and marking a remarkable 24.6 per cent upswing from the same period in 2022. These statistics underscore the highly promising prospects of an authentic economic recovery.

In addition to its routine tasks, the city has demonstrated its commitment to strategic thinking and long-term vision by boldly implementing a series of pivotal policies.

Notably, the Ha Noi Party Committee, on May 5, 2022, proposed Resolution No 15-NQ/TU, which was subsequently signed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on behalf of the Politburo. This resolution outlines the direction for the development of the Ha Noi Capital up to 2030, with a visionary perspective extending to 2045. The Party Committee, the government, and the citizens of the Capital have undertaken a swift and earnest study of the Resolution, fully comprehending its implications, and have embarked on its diligent implementation. To underscore their commitment to action, the City Party Committee issued Action Programme No 16-CTr/TU on August 26, 2022, providing a clear roadmap for translating the Resolution into tangible projects and initiatives.

Over the past year, Resolution 15 from the Politburo has served as a potent catalyst for driving the capital's development forward. Ha Noi has redoubled its efforts in urban planning and institutional development, with the explicit goal of realising the vision set forth in the resolution to become a civilised and modern city.

Specifically, Ha Noi has undertaken a comprehensive revision of its General Planning for the Construction of the Ha Noi Capital until 2045, with an outlook to 2065. The city's focus has centred on guiding the development of two satellite cities directly adjacent to the Capital, envisioned as new growth poles. These cities, located to the north of the Hong (Red) River (Me Linh, Soc Son, ong Anh) and in the western areas of Ha Noi (Hoa Lac - Xuan Mai), will play a vital role in distributing population density away from the inner-city regions. Furthermore, the city has identified five developmental axes, with the Hong River serving as a green axis, and has emphasised cultural sub-regional elements in its Ha Noi Capital Planning for the period 2021-2030, extending its vision to 2050. This approach reflects the city's commitment to preserving the rich diversity and historical convergence of a millennium-old civilisation.

Regarding the Capital Law Project (amended), significant preparation efforts have been made by the Government, the City of Ha Noi, and various ministries, with special attention given to the Ministry of Justice, the entity responsible for drafting the legislation. These collaborative efforts have culminated in the completion of a comprehensive dossier, submitted for the first time to the National Assembly Standing Committee for review on September 20.

The paramount objective underlying the amended Capital Law is to bring about practical value, primarily through decentralisation and the delegation of authority to Ha Noi. This entails the removal of bottlenecks and obstacles, igniting fresh impetus for both the Capital and the nation as a whole to forge ahead. For instance, empowering the Capital with the authority to make decisions on matters such as public investment, public-private partnerships (PPP), and the undertaking of large-scale bridge projects like the Tran Hung ao Bridge and Tu Lien Bridge, each with an investment exceeding VN10 trillion (part of the group of national key projects), as well as inter-provincial bridges funded by the central budget, including the Ngoc Hoi Bridge and Van Phuc Bridge. Moreover, the Capital requires a mechanism for coordinating the implementation of all ten urban railway lines outlined in Ha Nois urban planning.

This mechanism would facilitate the acquisition of a single Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan package, enabling a synchronised and efficient execution while ensuring technical competence and adherence to timelines. Furthermore, the Capital would benefit from mechanisms to relocate hospitals and schools from the inner city, including provisions for land clearance and investment in new facilities, a departure from the current practice where schools and hospitals are responsible for their own accommodation.

Establishing a New Cultural Paradigm

Deeply embracing the guiding principles set forth by the 13th National Party Congress, the Party Committee, government, and the people of the Capital have forged a close-knit and harmonious approach to task deployment. Their focus remains firmly rooted in ensuring that socio-economic development takes centre stage, with an unwavering commitment to strengthening the Party, nurturing cultural development, and safeguarding the spiritual bedrock. Furthermore, the unrelenting emphasis on national defence and security stands as a cornerstone of their ongoing efforts.

Ha Noi stands as one of the world's rare capitals, boasting a cultural legacy steeped in history spanning over a millennium, earning its moniker as a "Heritage City". In line with the spirit of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's concluding remarks at the National Cultural Conference on November 24, 2021, the Ha Noi City Party Committee has issued a thematic Resolution, focusing on the development of the cultural industry from 2021 to 2025, with a visionary outlook extending to 2045.

The city has strategically identified three priority sectors for investment in the period from 2022 to 2025 and beyond: healthcare, education, and culture. A substantial capital commitment exceeding VN90 trillion underscores this dedication. Of this amount, over VN14 trillion has been allocated to the preservation and restoration of 579 deteriorating and severely degraded relics. Simultaneously, the city is diligently advancing several pivotal projects, including the reconstruction of Kinh Thien Palace, the construction of a temple in honour of King Ngo Quyen, and the initiation of preservation and development plans for uong Lam ancient village, and the Son Tay ancient citadel.

A noteworthy policy and a groundbreaking venture in infrastructure development is Ha Nois proactive proposal, which garnered approval from the Central Government and the National Assembly, to execute the investment project for the construction of Ring Road 4, with an estimated investment exceeding a billion dollars. On June 25, Ha Noi embarked on this ambitious undertaking, having cleared nearly 90 per cent of the designated area and currently advancing on 14 construction sites. Upon completion, this road network will not only serve as an impetus for Ha Nois development but will also eliminate regional connectivity challenges, catalysing growth in neighbouring provinces and fortifying the nation as a whole.

Additionally, Ha Noi has charted a course for numerous landmark solutions to address pressing issues and meet the aspirations of its populace. These initiatives encompass the Public Asset Management Project, the rectification of 712 off-budget capital projects reliant on land, which have faced delays and sluggish implementation, intensified decentralisation and authorisation, and a comprehensive plan to revitalise aging apartment buildings.

In the steadfast pursuit of socio-economic progress and the safeguarding of national defence and security, the city has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to continually enhance social security and protection. This is carried out in the spirit of inclusivity, leaving no one behind, and with a resolute aspiration to significantly reduce the number of impoverished households by the close of 2025.

Taking the Courageous Leap of Thought and Action

In the times ahead, the tasks and objectives entrusted to the Party Committee, government, and the people of the Capital are formidable, given the persistent and substantial difficulties and challenges anticipated. The city must summon determination to accomplish several pivotal targets and tasks outlined in the socio-economic development plan and state budget for 2023 and the subsequent years.

To achieve these goals, we must continue to revolutionise the Party's leadership approach in conjunction with the city's political framework. This entails leading by example, staying closely connected with the people, following their lead, and effectively embodying the principle that "the people are the centre".

The cultivation of a transparent, streamlined Party, and a city's political system characterised by efficiency is paramount. At all levels and across all sectors, the theme of "Discipline, responsibility, action, creativity, development" must be conscientiously implemented. Of particular importance is our proactive adherence to Directive No 24-CT/TU, issued on August 7, 2023, by the City Party Committee's Standing Committee, aimed at fortifying order, discipline, and accountability within the city's political apparatus.

This directive serves as a cornerstone in redefining our outlook and understanding of public service responsibilities, as well as the ethos of serving the people. It is crucial to completely eradicate any tendencies of evasion, avoidance, or reluctance to shoulder responsibility. Furthermore, this directive calls upon each cadre, civil servant, and employee, particularly our party members and leaders, to step forward boldly, taking on the challenges with courage, innovation, and a strong sense of responsibility.

In 2024, we shall reverently celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Capital's Liberation Day, a momentous milestone signifying Ha Nois remarkable journey from arduous struggles and triumphant songs to the radiant glory of innovation, integration, construction, and development. It is our collective duty to diligently strive from this very moment, achieving numerous milestones that will adorn this commemoration. The realisation of our goals, targets, resolutions, programmes, and plans, all leading to enhanced well-being for our communities and constituents, shall stand as a most meaningful and heartfelt gift of welcome. VNS
SOC TRANG  Soc Trang Province must become a main gateway connecting the Cuu Long (Mekong Delta) region with the East Sea through the transport infrastructure system and Tran e Port, said National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue during a working session with local authorities on Monday.

Hue said Tran e Port must be the region's centre of agriculture, industry, services, logistics and energy projects.

Noting that the Mekong Delta region must have a deep-water sea port, he urged local authorities to call for investment to build the Tran e Port with its development attached with marine economy.

Hue expressed his impression of the provinces changes after 31 years of re-establishment.

From a purely agricultural province with a very low starting point, poor technical facilities and outdated urban infrastructure, Soc Trang now has made important development steps with economic and social potential, he said.

He asked the province to accelerate urbanisation, and ensure connection between dynamic urban areas with industrial and service zones, clusters, and focal centres.

Local authorities were told to link marine space with mainland areas, accelerate the implementation of infrastructure investment, especially regionally linked transportation, at the same time, focus on human resource development, agricultural product processing planning, calling for investment in agricultural and aquatic product processing.

He asked local authorities to concretise new policies approved at the eighth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee and engage in NAs legislative work, such as the revised land law, and NA supervision tasks.

Citing that the economic scale of Soc Trang remains modest while the set targets are ambitious, Hue urged the province to strive with more aspiration to achieve the targets.

According to the provincial Party Committee, in the first nine months of this year, Soc Trangs economic growth stood at 5.14 per cent. The average GRDP in three years from 2021 to 2023 was 5.76 per cent per year.

Its urbanisation rate has reached 33.9 per cent, higher than 2021 but remains low compared to the national average.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and Japan should deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership by focusing on the effective implementation of new-generation ODA for significant strategic infrastructure development projects in Viet Nam and by simplifying visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens travelling to Japan.

During the talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Kamikawa Yoko, who paid a two-day official visit to Viet Nam on Tuesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son welcomed Minister Kamikawa's visit, especially in the context of celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Highlighting the significance of choosing Viet Nam as one of the first countries to visit after assuming the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs on September 13, 2023, Minister Kamikawa said that Japan valued and desired to further strengthen the comprehensive development of the two countries' relations in all fields.

Both sides reviewed the outstanding achievements of the Viet Nam-Japan relationship over the past 50 years and expressed delight at the remarkable progress in all areas. They engaged in open and substantial discussions on the direction and measures to maintain the development momentum of the bilateral relationship and elevate it to new heights in the coming era.

The two ministers agreed to continue coordinating to promote high-level exchanges, including visits by top leaders of both countries. They also agreed to emphasise economic cooperation, local collaboration, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation in new areas.

Minister Son proposed accelerating and efficiently implementing new-generation ODA for Viet Nam's large-scale strategic infrastructure development projects. He also suggested that Japan support Vietnamese businesses in deepening their involvement in the global value chain with Japanese partners.

He also recommended that Japan take measures to create favourable conditions and simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens, including considering placing Viet Nam on the list of countries eligible for e-visas, granting long-term visas (5-10 years) to Vietnamese nationals who have visited Japan multiple times without violating the law, and gradually moving toward visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens.

Minister Kamikawa affirmed that Japan would enhance its support for Viet Nam in realising its long-term strategic goals by 2030-2045. This included a focus on revitalising ODA cooperation, with a strategic emphasis on infrastructure development, expanding investment and trade cooperation, and viewing Viet Nam as an important market and partner with significant potential.

Japan expressed its desire for Viet Nam to continue improving its investment environment to attract more Japanese investors and to cooperate in new areas such as digital transformation and green energy, as well as in high-quality human resource training.

Minister Kamikawa also highly appreciated the role and positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in Japan and expressed the intention to enhance people-to-people exchanges. She stated that Japan would actively consider facilitating the entry of Vietnamese citizens into Japan.

Both sides also exchanged views on recent notable regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to close cooperation and contributions to the peace and stability of the region and continue supporting each other in multilateral forums and international organisations.  VNS
HA NOI  President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Tuesday for the visiting Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoko Kamikawa, during which he applauded the guest's contributions to the Viet Nam-Japan relations in her various positions over the years.

President Thuong said Japan was Viet Nam's leading economic cooperation partner in areas such as official development assistance (ODA), investment, trade, labour, and tourism.

He spoke highly of the two countries' growing locality-to-locality cooperation and people-to-people exchange, as nearly 100 pairs of their localities have established cooperative relations and the Vietnamese community in Japan has reached nearly 500,000 people.

Thuong affirmed that the two countries have many similarities and ample room to further develop their friendship and cooperation in all fields.

He proposed that the two sides continue to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels to consolidate and strengthen political trust, and focus on boosting economic cooperation, trade, investment, labour, ODA, and human resources training. He also emphasised the need to promote locality-to-locality, cultural, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

He recommended FM Yoko pay attention to and urge the Japanese government to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study, and work in Japan.

FM Yoko expressed her impression of the development of Viet Nam and Viet Nam-Japan relations since she visited the Southeast Asian nation six years ago.

She also conveyed her desire for the two countries to continue deepening cooperation in existing areas and to expand into new fields such as digital transformation and green transition.

Regarding international and regional issues, President Thuong affirmed that Viet Nam would be willing to cooperate closely with Japan to contribute to the success of the ASEAN-Japan Summit set to take place later this year.

Minister Yoko affirmed that Viet Nam played a crucial role in Japan's foreign policy in the region, and Japan would continue to coordinate closely with Viet Nam at multilateral forums and on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Meeting party official

Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung on October 10 received visiting Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko in Ha Noi.

At the meeting, Trung said the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam appreciated Japan's companionship and cooperation during the past time, contributing to Viet Nams socio-economic development, industrialisation, and modernisation process.

The two sides hailed the good developments in Viet Nam - Japan relations which benefit the two countries' peoples and actively contribute to peace, cooperation, and development of the region and the world.

The two sides agreed to coordinate closely to continue to concretise important common perceptions reached during the online talk between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida in February 2023. They discussed directions to promote cooperation in the coming time, including relations through the party channel, contributing to taking Viet Nam-Japan relations to a new stable level.

The two officials also compared notes on global and regional situations. VNA/VNS
North Korea on Tuesday denounced Israel over its escalating conflict with the Hamas militant group, saying it is the "consequence of Israel's ceaseless criminal actions" against the people of Palestine.

The criticism marked Pyongyang's first response to the conflict after Hamas launched rocket attacks on Israel during a major Jewish holiday Saturday and Israel staged retaliatory strikes against it.

"A large scale armed conflict has occurred between Hamas of Palestine and Israel," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a short article without specifying which side first launched the attacks.

"The international community calls the conflict the consequence of Israel's ceaseless criminal actions against the people of Palestine," the newspaper said, adding the "fundamental" solution is an independent Palestinian state.

The criticism came days after the newspaper denounced Israeli soldiers for killing Palestinians in separate incidents that occurred ahead of the conflict.

Radio Free Asia, a Washington-based media outlet, reported on the suspected use of North Korean weapons by Hamas fighters, citing a video shared by the X account War Noir.

It said one of the fighters was seen holding an F-7 high-explosive fragmentation rocket manufactured in the North, which had been exported to the Middle East in the past.

It remains unclear whether North Korea directly supplied the weapons to Hamas or whether they were provided through transactions involving other countries. (Yonhap)
HA NOI  Labourers seeking to work abroad should exercise caution and not trust any job offers made on online platforms, warned the Department of Overseas Labour.

The department, under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affair (MoLISA), has issued a warning regarding an increasing number of fraud cases related to sending labourers to work aboard.

Recently, many organisations and individuals without the legitimate function of sending labourer aboard have been using websites such as www.nhatban24h.vn or www.xuatkhaulaodong-24h.com to seek labourers in need.

These websites are professionally designed and have many posts of job recruitment in international markets including Japan, Taiwan (China), South Korea, Singapore, Romania, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Germany or Greece.

Additionally, they also use social media platforms such as Facebook or Zalo to share images of labourers departing at the airport, working aboard or visas issued by the receiving countries to build credibility with labourers.

The fraudulent websites that post information about job recruitment for labourers to work abroad often closely resemble the official websites registered with the Department of Overseas Labour.

The halsucohanoi.vn website has a legitimate registration for labor export services with the Department of Overseas Labour, but there are many fraudulent websites with similar addresses such as halsuco.com.vn or halsuco.vn.

After labourers register and transfer money, these businesses provide photocopies of receipts, national ID cards and stamped contracts from the company to gain the trust of labourers and continue to collect other fees.

Labourers often trust these businesses because of their remote locations or referrals, so they do not visit the company in person to verify information and nor sign contracts directly. Instead, they communicate, exchange information and work through social media and phone calls.

When the departure date arrives and they are not allowed to leave, labourers find that these businesses have blocked their phone numbers or severed contact.

In cases of conflict, businesses that lack legitimate authorisation for labour export services often deny any involvement with fraudulent websites or the locations where laborers submitted money and worked.

These locations are typically not the actual business offices. Additionally, documents sent over the internet can be easily manipulated and may not hold legal validity.

Labourers with a desire to work abroad are advised to directly contact businesses that hold a licence to operate labourer export services. Labourers can verify a business information on the electronic information page of the Department of Overseas Labour at www.dolab.gov.vn.

Labourers who need consultants to provide additional information or want to report suspicious organisations or individuals involved in fraudulent activities related to working abroad are encouraged to contact the Department of Overseas Labour at the following phone numbers: 0243.8.249.517 (extensions 512 and 513).

The department's address is 41B Ly Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi.  VNS
HA NOI The Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a document on using Nitrous Oxide (N2O) on patients.

The document was sent to the Directorate of Military Medicine, Ministry of Defence as well as the Directory of Health, Ministry of Public Security, in addition to all hospitals, local departments of health under the MoH.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O), more commonly known as "laughing gas" is being misused, which led to serious health hazards according to the MoH.

A report from the Drug Administration of Viet Nam said that N2O is not legally cleared to be recognised as a treatment in Viet Nam. Therefore, the MoH ordered medical facilities not to use N2O on patients without clearance from the MoH.

Facilities that store N2O must properly manage the reserve. Any loss or misusage of the gas, if found, will make the facilities' leader legally responsible.

According to the MoH, Nitrous Oxide (or Dinitrogen monoxide) with the chemical formula N2O is a chemical compound used in industries such as solar cell manufacturing, welding and cutting, etc.

It is also used in the production and processing of food and is being researched for dental anaesthesia and pain reduction.

However, the misuse and improper use of N2O can have negative effects on human health, especially among young people.

Its stimulation of the nervous system can lead to excitement and laughter, prolonged use can result in autism, headaches, fatigue, and physical weakness, and high doses can cause hallucinations. This misuse can also have negative social consequences. VNS
HA NOI  About 200,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases per year in Viet Nam, accounting for about 33 per cent of total deaths.

The number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases is higher than those from cancer, bronchial asthma and diabetes combined.

The figure was declared at a scientific conference updating new advances in cardiovascular intervention in Viet Nam and around the world, which was held last Saturday.

At the conference, experts assessed that cardiovascular diseases were increasing.

They said that industrial lifestyle, environmental pollution, excess weight and even obesity have caused people to face non-communicable diseases, including endocrine, cancer and especially cardiovascular diseases.

Worldwide in 2021, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death, with cardiovascular deaths leading.

Speaking at the conference, Professor Bui uc Phu, director of the Cardiology Ward under the Vinmec healthcare system, said that Viet Nam had now mastered many modern techniques in cardiology, comparable to other countries in the world.

"Application of modern techniques in cardiology helps patients recover faster, have shorter hospital stays and reduce treatment costs, said Phu.

The work brings a gentle experience to the patients, because even though intensive intervention techniques must be performed, the patient does not have to stay in the hospital for a long time," he said.

Sharing the same view, Associate Professor Nguyen Lan Hieu, director of the Ha Noi Medical University Hospital, assessed that Vietnamese doctors skills in cardiology were strong and include updated modern techniques from around the world.

Vietnamese doctors not only integrate with the development of world medicine but also find new directions, contributing to the development of world cardiology and congenital heart disease treatment, according to Hieu.

Professor Phu said that the conference attracted the participation of leading Vietnamese cardiologists and many interventional cardiovascular experts from Cleveland Clinic  the second health system in the world according to the Newsweek's 2023 ranking.

He said that in addition to advanced techniques in cardiovascular intervention, Cleveland Clinic experts chaired a session on special intervention offering very useful experiences for specialised doctors.

The session featured a report on a new technique to treat aortic valve stenosis with percutaneous intervention.

Instead of having to undergo open heart surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, mechanical ventilation and the ensuing long recovery period, patients now only use light sedatives for a gentle procedure lasting a few hours.

They will have no scars, very little pain and can be discharged from hospital after two or three days.

Suma Thomas, deputy chairman of operations and strategy of the Cleveland Cardiovascular & Thoracic Institute under the Cleveland Clinic health system, said that through cooperation, many complex heart disease cases in Viet Nam received the optimal treatment plan under consultation with Cleveland Clinic's world experts.

Experts recommend each person to practise a healthy lifestyle, limit fast and greasy food, increase green vegetables and fruits intake, exercise regularly every day, and control risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes to prevent cardiovascular diseases.  VNS
On October 9, the Australia-based integrated battery anode materials developer EcoGraf announced that it has entered into a non-binding MoU with VinES.

VinES is a member of Vingroup, the largest private conglomerate in Vietnam, along with Vinfast, a global electric vehicle producer. VinES operates lithium-ion gigafactory plants in Vietnam.

Under the agreement, EcoGraf will support VinES with its graphite expertise and US patented battery anode material processing technology while VinES will provide its battery materials supply chain logistics, in-country expertise, manufacturing and construction capability in Vietnam.

The agreement provides for a phased evaluation initiative under which VinES and EcoGraf will initially assess and qualify local Vietnam graphite suppliers, with a view to incorporating domestic production into the supply chain.

Following the initial evaluation, a feasibility study will be undertaken on a proposed BAM facility development that includes regulatory approvals and key project agreements for feedstock supply, construction, operations, logistics, offtake, investment and financing to enable the parties to make a final decision.

If positive, the parties will enter into commercial arrangements for development, construction and operation of the new BAM facility.

Andrew Spinks, managing director of EcoGraf said, Our team is excited by the opportunity as Vietnam has excellent potential to host an integrated anode materials supply chain and be a regional hub for anode material manufacturing. Our previous feasibility work on Vietnam indicated very competitive cost structures, high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials and attractive investment policies."

"We are delighted to be partnering with VinES, a leading lithium-ion battery maker in Vietnam who shares our vision and values. More importantly, our businesses are highly complementary, and our cooperation should allow both parties to strengthen our position in the electric vehicle battery material supply chain. We look forward to working with VinES to develop a highly cost competitive operation with compelling ESG credentials in Vietnam.

Additionally, EcoGraf will evaluate the potential to combine a localised graphite material supply in Vietnam with future feedstock from its Epanko Graphite Project in Tanzania. The ability to incorporate local BAM feedstock offers numerous advantages through lower production and transport costs. The potential also exists to combine the companys Epanko graphite with the Vietnam material to develop a scalable localised supply chain.

Ha Tinh approves $270 million investment in second Vingroup battery factory Ha Tinh Economic Zone Management Authority has approved the investment planning of the second battery factory invested by VinES Energy Solutions JSC, a subsidiary of the conglomerate Vingroup.

VinES starts construction of second battery factory in Ha Tinh VinES Energy Solutions JSC, a subsidiary of Vingroup, organised the groundbreaking ceremony of the lithium battery factory in the central province of Ha Tinh.
Digital transformation is taking place at many different levels in almost all businesses in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Tran Van Dung, general director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Seafood Import Export Processing JSC (Baseafood), said that the company has applied digital transformation in all its production, processing, and export activities.

Now, we can participate in domestic and global e-commerce exchanges, negotiate with partners, and make transactions at lower costs, said Dung.

Previously, Baseafood often organised trade promotions and negotiated orders directly with partners, which was costly. Now, however, its data has been updated and stored on the cloud.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with the relevant units to put all the provinces One Commune, One Product items on e-commerce platforms, creating more than 25,000 digital data accounts and e-commerce stores.

In addition, the department is supporting many businesses when applying the origin traceability system, including QR codes to make information about the origin of goods transparent, meeting the export market's strict requirements.

Digital transformation is promoting the development of Ba Ria-Vung Taus digital economy, facilitating consumption and market diversification. However, speaking at a seminar on digital transformation for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on September 15, Dr. Truong Thanh Cong, chairman of the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations, said that the provinces transition process is facing many challenges.

According to Thanh, limited financial resources, an insufficient technology platform, and administrators lack of awareness of digital skills are the main issues.

According to Professor Dr. Hoang Van Kiem, former chairman of the State Council for Professor Title of Vietnam, many businesses in the province are still afraid of the risks when applying advanced technology.

Transitioning to a new model is only effective when businesses are consistent with their management, transition plans, and implementation methods. It must be based on the careful calculation of resources and analysis of both the potential and the risks, Professor Kiem said.

Ba Ria-Vung Taus economy is changing positively, ensuring an economic growth target of 8.1-8.5 per cent in 2023. Data from Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Planning and Investment shows that the total development investment capital for the first nine months is estimated at VND42.1 trillion ($1.78 billion), reaching 71.6 per cent of the plan and increasing by 12.4 per cent on-year. The disbursement of public investment capital has reached 56.6 per cent of the total plan for 2023.

Do Huu Hien, director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Information and Communications said, We expect the digital transformation to impact business strategies, creating comprehensive changes to companies' operations, especially SMEs.

According to Hien, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has developed and implemented many digital transformation policies, paying special attention to the digital economy, aiming to achieve growth of 35-37 per cent by 2030. However, according to statistics for the first nine months of this year, this rate only reached 6.8 per cent because many businesses have not participated in this trend.

"Ba Ria-Vung Tau is providing both financial and technological support policies to help firms with their digital transformation activities, and a series of solutions have been implemented to change the perception of the business community," he said.

According to analysts, Ba Ria-Vung Taus digital transformation goals can still bring greater efficiency if solutions are implemented synchronously.

Firstly, for businesses that have not yet begun their digital transformation, their awareness and skills can be improved with training courses.

In addition, for those that have already begun the process, it is necessary to promote their business activities further. Businesses should choose suitable platforms with easy-to-exploit features that effectively serve their needs.

Thirdly, it is important to have cooperation from the local authorities in terms of infrastructure construction and connections to online public service portals, combining bank branches in industrial parks and export processing zones to support businesses.

Dr. Truong Ba Ha, CEO of Pyramid Software and Consulting, suggested that Ba Ria-Vung Tau should consider building a digital transformation strategy. Businesses could then survey and evaluate the current situation, allowing them to plan for the digitalisation of their companys data.

Ha added that promoting digital transformation is an essential aspect of Ba Ria-Vung Taus resilience and growth. The province is striving to develop its sci-tech market in a modern direction by 2025, with online trading platforms contributing half of the total value of product sales.

On June 26, Ba Ria-Vung Tau People's Committee issued Decision No.1502/QD-UBND approving its digital transformation plan for 2023, with 11 indicators relating to the government, six for the economy, 15 for society, and 10 for safety and security. In the first nine months of 2023, the southern has built a digital data warehouse, which is in the testing process, and also put the Intelligent Operation and Monitoring Centre into operation.
At present, many companies in Vietnam are digitalising their operations, with the cloud being the principal solution for accelerating the digital transformation.

Kimberly Dickson, senior security architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS) said, Now that we are out of the pandemic, we see that organisations are starting to think about their strategy and operations in the cloud. As a result, AWS' security services have become increasingly popular.

Kimberly Dickson, senior security architect at AWS

For example, the Vietnam National University delivered high-quality learning to thousands of English language students by migrating its management system workloads to the cloud, enabling it to scale up virtual English classes for about 5,000 students across 161 classes during the lockdowns.

Elsewhere, Techcombank Vietnam also provides services to their customers by using AWS security services.

Lotte Data Communication Company Vietnam (LDCC VN) is an IT solutions provider and member of Lotte Group, one of South Koreas leading retail conglomerates. When LDCC VN began building its Lotte API Transit Gateway solution, it chose AWS to leverage its high availability and cloud-native security tools.

Speaking to VIR about the readiness of Vietnamese companies to invest in security solutions, Dickson added, We're working hard with our partners in Vietnam, including universities and community outreach efforts such as the NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam. What they give us is showing that when we're able to build these security capabilities, the nation understands how to use the cloud securely and is ready to innovate.

She elaborated that to meet local demands, AWS has made strong investments in the country. For example, it has extended AWS Outposts to Vietnam to run AWS Cloud, providing customers with strong security capabilities. The company has also invested in Local Zones and Edge Locations to reduce latency and increase availability.

Dickson has been working with many customers in the region, from large regulated banks in Vietnam to digital native businesses, not only on the tactical workloads that they move into the cloud, but also in terms of their strategy and operations when it comes to working securely at scale.

One thing is clear, all the organisations I work with agree that cloud technologies will change the way that we work and do business in the future. We see that advanced digital skill sets, including those for cloud technologies, will increase Asia-Pacifics GDP. Also, in countries across ASEAN, industries are back to robust pre-pandemic growth levels, she added.

There is great potential in Vietnam. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the digital economy could reach $57 billion in 2025, accounting for 25 to 30 per cent of the nation's GDP.

Key emerging trends

According to Dickson, there are two key strategic trends emerging in the region. Firstly, customers are asking for help to accelerate innovation in terms of security. They are beginning to understand that the key to success in the cloud is to ensure that they are secure, and that security is an optimiser rather than an obstacle for the business. With strong security in place, the business can then grow and scale on the cloud.

Secondly, customers are asking services providers to help them optimise their security spending. This kind of optimisation comes in many forms, focusing on costs, resource usage, and talent.

How can AWS support?

To accelerate innovation, AWS has helped its customers by providing tools for secure experimentation, enabling greater security and visibility, and democratising access to security technology.

AWS has released Amazon Code-Whisperer, which is its AI-powered coding companion that embeds secure code suggestions and scans for vulnerabilities, providing recommendations directly to developers within their integrated development environment.

To reduce complexity and help customers gain insights from data, AWS has released the Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework.

These are the three ways that AWS has helped its customers with the optimisation of their investments. It really comes from clear communication, understanding the pain points, and delivering on what the customer needs.

AWS security services offer consumption-based pricing and have a history of reducing the cost. The company has actually reduced its prices by 129 times since 2006, including those for its security services.

For example, since it was launched, the price of Amazon Macie, its Personally Identifiable Information Discovery Service, has reduced by 80 per cent. Amazon Guard Duty, a threat detection service, has also been reduced by 40 per cent, and AWS Shield Standard, a distributed denial of service standards, is offered to all customers for free.

In that way, we democratise access to security, and we allow our customers to then build security outcomes that are more meaningful to them while we take on the heavy lifting. AWS also creates and embraces open standards to give customers choice and flexibility when it comes to AWS Cloud Native services or cloud-based security tools from a wide range of our partners, Dickson added.

AWS has helped uplift the security capabilities of the industry as a whole through training, the expansion of a partner network, and constantly raising the bar for default security settings.

Since 2017, AWS has trained more than 6 million individuals across the Asia-Pacific region on cloud skills, and more than 50,000 individuals in Vietnam alone. It focuses on three parts of the market, namely AWS Skills Guild to help existing customers who are keen to learn more about how to operate securely at scale, AWS re/Start to help those who are unemployed restart and upskill with cloud knowledge, and AWS Academy to empower higher education institutions to prepare students for industry recognised certifications and careers in the cloud.

The AWS Partner Network has expanded to more than 100,000 partners from more than 150 countries globally, with almost 70 per cent of them headquartered outside the United States.

For example, in Vietnam, it has FPT software, Lotte Data Communication Vietnam, and TechX as partners that the company works with to build the security capabilities for the Vietnamese community.

AWS announces new security innovations AWS announced 14 new security offerings across cloud security, management tools, encryption, and more at its AWS re:Inforce 2023 held in mid-June in the United States.

Amazon Security Lake coming to additional AWS Regions soon With its current availability in the United States, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South America, Amazon Security Lake is expected to expand to additional AWS Regions soon.

Service providers bet on the cloud While venturing further with new investment and products, Vietnamese cloud service providers need smarter approaches to compete with international players.
Visitors exploring Hanoi through an exhibition at Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

Hanoi  Besides its unique charm in autumn, Hanoi has become even more attractive to visitors during the best season of the year thanks to various activities held to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the capital citys liberation day (October 10, 1954-2023).



In the city downtown, an exhibition showcasing 100 documents and photos featuring Hoan Kiem Lake is underway on Le Thai To pedestrians street. It gives visitors an insight into changes of the lake from the early 19th century to the middle of the 20th century.



In Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature), an exhibition is also being held, spotlighting Hanoi after 15 years of expanding its administrative boundaries.



On the occasion, the Management Board of Hoa Lo Prision, a historical relic site of Hanoi, has also hosted an exhibition highlighting the liberation of the capital city 69 years ago.



Meanwhile, various activities have been held in Thang Long Imperial Citadel, including an exhibition on the history, culture, land and people of Thang Long-Hanoi in the 19th century until mid-20th century.



Alongside, many stages in the capital city have also introduced attractive art programmes and performances, giving visitors more options in the evening when visiting Hanoi.



Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Travel Association Phung Quang Thang, Hanoi has many historical relic sites associated with major historical events, including the capital citys liberation. The Hanoi flagpole, Hanoi Opera House, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi Station and Dong Xuan Market are among popular destinations for visitors who are keen on exploring the history of the city, he said.



Vice Director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency Nguyen Thi Mai Anh said that from the end of September, the city has organised many activities to celebrate the liberation day, including an Autumn Festival that attracted 80,000 visitors.



Director of the city's Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said that activities to mark the citys liberation day will continue until the end of October, including an upcoming "Ao dai" (traditional long dress) Festival.

Hanoi ready to welcome foreign direct investment wave Despite difficulties and challenges, the capital city of Hanoi has still lead the nation in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction over the past years, drawing 2.53 billion USD in the first nine months of this year.

69 years of Hanois Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2023) Hanoi is not only the national political-administrative centre but also a driving force for national economic development.
Hanoi ready to welcome foreign direct investment wave, Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Despite difficulties and challenges, the capital city of Hanoi has still led the nation in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction over the past years, drawing 2.53 billion USD in the first nine months of this year.

With its competitive edges such as sustainable socio-economic development, abundant workforce, promising market and perse services, Hanoi not only showcases its strategic location but also receives high praise for its infrastructure, supporting services, and collaboration with businesses.



Since Hanoi was expanded, its economy has remained a locomotive, serving as a driving force of the northern key economic region and playing an increasingly important role in the national economy.



Notably, tourism has gradually become a spearhead economic sector, helping Hanoi to rank in the top 10 fastest-growing tourism cities worldwide and named in the list of the 25 most popular tourist destinations globally.



During the 2015-2022 period, Hanoi actively extended its external relations and promoted culture and friendship exchanges, contributing to trade promotion and FDI attraction. It has so far formed cooperative ties with over 100 capitals and major cities across the world, maintaining its active role in multilateral cooperation frameworks.



Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Vu Duy Tuan said with its strategic location and special advantages, Hanoi is well-positioned to draw FDI in technology, especially the semiconductor industry.



CEO and Founding Partner of VinaCapital Don Lam said a number of organisations, firms and groups are interested in semiconductor manufacturing in Vietnam and Hanoi in particular. It is the biggest opportunity ever for Vietnam to access this multi-billion-dollar market.



According to Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Tran Sy Thanh, Hanoi is in the process of rebuilding the Capital Law, with two master plans on its development orientations till 2045 with a vision to 2065.



Accordingly, the city has identified several priority sectors that could join the global value chain and fully tap the strengths of localities such as real estate, commercial infrastructure, high- and environmentally-friendly technology sector using less energy.



During the 2021-2025 period, it is striving to attract 30-40 billion USD in FDI and disburse 20-30 billion USD, with a focus on urban infrastructure, smart city development, supporting industry using modern and eco-friendly technologies, Thanh said.

FDI disbursement in first nine months highest ever In the first nine months, foreign investment disbursement was $15.9 billion, the highest amount during 2018-2023, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA).

Promising outcomes for 2023s FDI Billions of US dollars flowing into Vietnam is contributing to the countrys whole-year target for foreign investment capital.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (R) and her Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira (Photo: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Jakarta - Indonesia on October 9 urged Brazil to invest in its cattle breeding as it tries to bring down beef prices and strengthen food security.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told her Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira that such cooperation in animal husbandry can strengthen bilateral economic ties.

She also called on Brazil to establish a joint vaccine production for foot-and-mouth disease, a viral disease that infects cattle, among others, and stressed that food security should become a priority in Indonesia-Brazil relations.

For his part, the Brazilian diplomat said that his country will back Indonesias efforts in building national food security.

As a reliable food stock supplier, Brazil can extend meat exports to Indonesia, he stated at a press conference with his Indonesian counterpart.

Earlier this year, Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan flew to Brazil in an attempt to diversify Indonesias meat suppliers.

According to Luhut, Brazil had agreed to not only export beef to Indonesia but also live cattle such as bulls and calves to be bred in the Southeast Asian country. Luhut said the Brazilian cattle will undergo quarantine to make sure the imported livestock is safe from foot-and-mouth disease.

Indonesia plans to expand high-speed railway in Southeast Asia Indonesian Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has revealed that the Southeast Asian country plans to expand the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway line to Surabaya city in East Java province.

Indonesia discusses solutions to cope with El Nino Indonesian President Joko Widodo and ministers have discussed solutions to cope with the El Nino phenomenon in the country.
Khamphanh Pheuyavong (3rd from left), head of the LPRP Central Committee's Commission for Propaganda and Training, and other delegates press the symbolic buttons to launch the online magazine. (Photo: VNA)

Vientiane  An electronic version of AlounMai journal  a political and theoretical organ of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP)  was officially launched at a ceremony in Vientiane on October 9.

The online journal project was co-funded by the editorial board of the Communist Review, an organ of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and the Vietnamese military-run telecom group Viettel, demonstrating the friendship and mutual support between the sides.

Speaking at the event, AlounMai Editor-in-Chief of Vanhlati Khamvanvongsa stated that the inauguration of the electronic version not only helps the magazine meet the increasing information needs of readers but also enhances its effectiveness of communications work and performance of the political tasks entrusted by the LPRP.

Lauding AlounMais vision and determination toward innovation, Khamphanh Pheuyavong, head of the LPRP Central Committee's Commission for Propaganda and Training, took the occasion to express gratitude to the Communist Review and Viettel for their assistance in building the electronic platform.

The official launch of the AlounMai electronic magazine is in line with modern journalism, providing an additional means for the journal to spread information to its readers.

Laos encourages use of electric vehicles The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce has rolled out measures to promote electric vehicles (EVs), a type of vehicle that uses clean energy and protects the environment.
North Korea may stage various provocations, including a nuclear test, to divert its public's attention from the country's ongoing food crisis, South Korea's defense ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry made the assessment in a policy report for a parliamentary audit amid growing tensions after North Korea revised its constitution late last month to stipulate the policy of strengthening its nuclear force.

"In order to pass on internal complaints of food woes and failures in economic policy to the outside world, there is a possibility of (the North) conducting various strategic and tactical provocations, including a seventh nuclear test," the ministry said in the report.

The isolated regime, which has faced chronic food shortages, last conducted a nuclear test in September 2017.

The ministry also assessed that the North is expected to make efforts to successfully launch a military spy satellite this month as planned.

North Korea announced plans for the launch after its attempts to put the satellite, named the Malligyong-1, in orbit in May and August ended in failures.

The ministry also said the North Korean military appears to be focusing on supporting farming efforts during the harvest period, noting that it has not staged a large-scale exercise near the border after its summertime drills.

In addition, the ministry vowed to bolster the country's defense capabilities against North Korean threats, with plans to complete exploratory development of the low-altitude missile defense system, designed to intercept North Korean artillery shells, by August next year.

The ministry outlined efforts to strengthen combined military drills with the United States, such as staging their regular springtime Freedom Shield exercise in March next year for 11 straight days.

The allies also plan to develop the regular Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise in the second half of the year so that it proceeds under a scenario of a North Korean nuclear attack, it added. (Yonhap)
According to Decision No.2093/QD-UBND and No.2094/QD-UBND from Can Tho Peoples Committee, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) will hand over the two projects to PetroVietnam and collaborate with the new investor to complete the investment procedures.

PetroVietnam will oversee the construction of the two projects and ensure the nation benefits to the fullest.

PetroVietnam is responsible for implementing the transfer of investors to ensure the relevant legal regulations are met. It needs to carry out procedures in accordance with the Law on Investment.

EVN and PetroVietnam are both responsible for the usage of state capital at enterprises according to the provisions of the current law.

Can Tho People's Committee is not responsible for the transfer of public assets resulting from the change in investors.

O Mon III has an investment of VND25.2 trillion ($1.1 billion), of which VND9.93 trillion ($431.7 million) is reciprocal capital from EVN. The other 60 per cent is set to be sourced from Japanese official development assistance.

O Mon IV has a total investment of VND30 trillion ($1.3 billion), 20 per cent of which is self-arranged capital from EVN and 80 per cent comes from non-governmental guaranteed commercial loans.

Prime Minister hosts IMFs Article IV consultation team Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 29 received a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Sanjaya Panth, Deputy Director of the IMFs Asia and Pacific Department, who are on a working trip in Vietnam for Article IV consultation.

Commitment made to bring Nghi Son LNG thermal power plant into operation in 2030 Japanese energy giant JERA is committed to bringing Nghi Son liquefied natural gas (LNG) thermal power plant into commercial operation by the end of 2030, helping to ensure energy security in the northern region and achieve Vietnam's commitment of reaching net-zero by 2050.

18 renewable energy power plants now online According to recent data released by Vietnam Electricity (EVN), as of August 11, nearly 93 per cent of renewable-energy transition projects have submitted their profiles to the Power Purchase Department for price negotiations and power purchase agreement (PPA) consultations, a substantial achievement for just over three months of rigorous effort.
Earth observation satellite THEOS-2 (Photo source: Bangkok Post)

Hanoi  Thailand on October 9 announced that it had successfully launched the second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, into orbit from the French Guiana Space Centre.



Thai Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations Supamas Isarabhakdi said the ground station will conduct a trial run of the satellite system for about three months before it becomes fully operational and starts performing earth observation activities.



She noted that this mission is a great leap for the country's response to various emergency situations using fresh, detailed and accurate information gathered from the remote sensing services.



Equipped with high-resolution imagery, the 425kg satellite will help provide information for agriculture, water management, urban planning, and natural resource management, according to the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

Thailand finalises legal loopholes in assisting foreign tourists Thai authorities are considering accomplishing regulatory loopholes in supporting foreign tourists affected by incidents in Thailand, especially after the shooting at Siam Paragon Shopping Centre on October 3 which killed two people and injuring five.

Thai group Ratch scoops up 51 per cent of wind farm Thailand's Ratch Group Public Co., Ltd. has bought a 51 per cent stake in the 29.7MW Ecowin wind power project in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.
On October 11, Amkor will inaugurate a major semiconductor facility in Bac Ninh province, some 31km from Hanoi. This is an official ceremony; according to Amkor Technology Vietnam CEO Kim Sung Hun, the plant commenced operation in July.

He said this is one of Amkor's most advanced factories, whose operation will facilitate the formation and development of Vietnams semiconductor ecosystem.

As planned, the new facility will create jobs for about 10,000 workers, depending on the factory development scale, thereby promoting the economies of Bac Ninh and Vietnam.

With total capital reaching $1.6 billion, of which $520 million is tailored to phase I, Amkors new factory is deemed one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Vietnam.

In the initial phase, the factory will focus on providing state-of-the art system-in-package assembly and test solutions to the world's top electronics and semiconductor manufacturers.

On September 16, South Koreas Hana Micron Vina Co. Ltd. inaugurated its $600 million semiconductor factory in Bac Giang province, some 50km from Hanoi.

The global semiconductor market will touch $1 trillion by 2030.

In fact, the first phase of the project started operations in November 2020. Now is the second phase, with a total combined investment value reaching $600 million.

The plant manufactures integrated circuit boards used for mobile phones and other smart electronic products.

According to Choi Chang Ho- the companys chairman, Hana Micron Vina plans to scale up its total investment to more than $1 billion in 2025, generating annual revenues of $800 million and creating 4,000 jobs for Vietnamese workers.

In addition to these two new projects, US tech giant Intel currently has a $1.5 billion factory in Ho Chi Minh City.

Marvell Technology announced the establishment of an IC Design Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on May 16 and continues to expand investment in Vietnam.

Many other players as Renesas, Applied Micro, Synopsys, NXP Semiconductors, and Hanmi Semiconductor have investment and business activities in Vietnam.

Speaking at the Vietnam Business Summit in late September, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that Vietnam had sufficient conditions to build a semiconductor ecosystem.

With great efforts in connecting and calling for foreign investors to invest in the countrys semiconductor industry, the Ministry of Planning and Investment chief pointed out important advantages of Vietnam as having a stable political system, favourable geographical location and the governments commitment to promoting investment, cooperation and development of the industry.

The government has assigned the MPI, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and relevant management agencies to develop an action plan and strategy to develop Vietnams semiconductor industry.

A human resources development project with the goal of forming a team of 50,000 engineers and experts for the semiconductor industry by 2030 has also been devised.

Moving forward, Vietnam has established the National Innovation Centre and has in place three high-tech parks in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoa Lac (Hanoi) and Danang.

All are ready to welcome investors in the semiconductor industry with highly preferential mechanisms, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said.

According to Clark Tseng- senior director of the Southeast Asia Semiconductor Industry Association, the global semiconductor market would touch $1 trillion by 2030.

During that journey, Vietnam can become a big growth hub for the industry, he said.

PM calls on US semiconductor firms to invest more in Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a working lunch with chief executive officers of leading US enterprises in the semiconductor industry in Washington DC on September 19 morning (local time).

FPT Semiconductor and Silvaco forge business partnership Vietnam's FPT Semiconductor JSC is teaming up with US-based Silvaco to enhance human resources development in the semiconductor sector, with plans to establish a training centre in Vietnam and expand business in advanced tech areas.
Following its move to build a $4 billion electric vehicle (EV) factory in the United States, Vietnamese car manufacturer VinFast will spend $400 million to construct factories in Indonesia and India.

The company has optimised its capital expenditure plan for global manufacturing in 2024 and 2025, which is expected to save approximately $400 million over previous estimates. These savings are to be put towards building completely knocked down (CKD) factories in Indonesia, the most populous country in Southeast Asia, and India, the third-largest auto market in the world, according to Nikkei Asia.

VinFast aims to access the tremendous potential for increased EV adoption in both nations, where EV penetration is currently only 1 per cent. The establishment of VinFast facilities in these markets could provide access to government incentives for local manufacturing, relief from certain tariffs and taxes, and access to raw materials at attractive rates.

Each CKD facility has a planned total capacity of up to 50,000 cars per year and an estimated total capital expenditure of $150-200 million in phase 1. Production is expected to commence by 2026.

Meanwhile, FPT Corporation has plans to invest $100 million into the US market by the end of this year. It has entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership with Landing AI  a US computer vision platform and AI software company  to accelerate the integration of AI across its educational system, FPT Education.

Furthermore, FPT Semiconductor JSC has also inked a deal with the US-based Silvaco to enhance personnel development in the semiconductor sector.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Investment and Planning, Vietnam's outbound investments reached $416.8 million in the first nine months of 2023, up 4.6 per cent on-year.

Over this period, 84 projects totalling more than $244.8 million in fresh investment were approved, a decline of 29.5 per cent on-year. However, 18 projects adjusted their capital outgoings to the tune of an additional $172 million, almost 3.38 times as much as last year.

In terms of destination nations, Canada received more than $150 million in Vietnamese capital in the first nine months, followed by Singapore with $115 million and Laos with $114 million.

As of September 20, Vietnam has 1,667 investment projects in operation across 24 countries and territories, totalling over $22.1 billion in investment capital.

According to a government report sent to the National Assembly, Vietnamese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) injected $61.5 million. Up to December 2022, the cumulative investment capital of these SOEs reached $6.6 billion. PetroVietnam accounted for 60.8 per cent of the overseas capital, followed by Viettel (22.2 per cent) and Vietnam Rubber Group (11.6 per cent).

Vietnam targets to become largest investor in Laos Vietnam and Laos expect that the former will become the leading investor in the country with seven million people, which will be realised via an effort to foster the bilateral trading turnover.

Vietnams overseas investment reaches nearly 398.3 million USD in nine months Vietnamese enterprises have invested over 347.3 million USD in 80 new projects in the first nine months of 2022, rising 2.31-fold year on year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
A Waco man pleaded guilty Tuesday to murder and aggravated assault, three years after police said he lured two men to isolated locations through a dating app and shot them, killing one. He was also the prime suspect in a third shooting the same night but has not been charged in that nonfatal shooting.

Damarion Trammell Degrate, 20, was initially charged in 2020 with the murder of Jonathan Deshawn Breeding, 23, and the aggravated assault of another man. Waco police said three shootings occurred in the early morning hours of Aug. 17, 2020, and the victims in all three shootings had messaged Degrate through the gay dating app Grindr and planned to meet with him.

On Thursday, Degrate was offered a plea deal of 40 years for the murder charge and 20 years for the aggravated assault charge, to be served concurrently. He accepted the deal Friday and formally pleaded guilty Tuesday morning in Waco's 19th State District Court, appearing by Zoom.

Multiple members of Breeding's family and one of the men Degrate shot gave victim impact statements in court. Sylvia Glynn, Breeding's grandmother, said through tears that she and her grandson had a very close relationship and said she will miss his smile and his hardworking, ambitious attitude toward life, a life she said Degrate stole.

Glynn also said Breeding's life was not the only life Degrate stole from her family. She said Breeding's mother suffered a stroke and died shortly after Breeding's murder due to the grief, stress and anxiety she suffered as a result of her son's death.

"You not only took Jonathan's life, you took his mother's life as well," Glynn said. "You not only took one life, you took two lives from me."

She said her grandson had so much more to offer in life. Glynn also said Degrate, who was 17 at the time of the murder, wasted his own life as well.

Jazmine Breeding, Jonathan Breeding's sister, said her brother's murder ripped a hole in her family and changed them forever. She said Jonathan was her best friend, and said although he has received justice, nothing can bring him back.

"Our souls haven't been free since you took my brother," she said. "There's no phone in heaven."

Rameshea Brandon, Breeding's cousin, said Breeding's murder has caused much grief and anxiety for her family. She said on the night of his murder, Breeding believed he was meeting someone who genuinely wanted to get to know him and connect with him, and she said anyone who did know him would know him as a kind and loving person.

Instead, Brandon said Breeding met Degrate, someone with sinister intentions who killed her cousin "for no reason."

"I hate that Jonathan met the devil that night," Brandon said. "I hate that the only thing I have left of him is memories. I hope you never rest and get the sleepless nights that we have had for the last three years."

The first man Degrate shot also gave a statement. He said he still suffers from the effects of the shooting more than three years later. He said the bullet pierced his ribs and punctured his lung, collapsing it, and also caused damage to several other internal organs.

The man said the one thing he hopes Degrate finds in prison is remorse for shooting him and killing Breeding.

Degrate was represented by Waco attorney Abel Reyna. McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Will Hix prosecuted the case.

In a statement, Reyna said the situation was sad for both the victims' families and Degrate's. He also said evidence in the case showed that other individuals were involved in the shootings.

"Hopefully, the acceptance of responsibility by our client will help bring closure to everyone," Reyna said. "I'm just disappointed that all individuals involved and responsible for these crimes could not be brought to justice."

In a statement, Hix said Degrate's choices created "tragic consequences" for himself and the families of his victims.

"The loss felt by the family of Mr. Breeding, and the pain that continues to be felt by (the other shooting victim) was clear," Hix said. "We are grateful that this chapter was closed without the need for a trial that would have led to additional trauma for everyone involved, and that the defendant was willing to accept responsibility for his decisions."

McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said in a statement that although the victims can never be made whole again, he hopes the sentence allows them some sense of closure.

"Today, another young murderer was sent to prison for more years than he's been alive.  We must continue to be vigilant as a community to address juvenile violence, but at the same time our office will continue to seek harsh sentences for those who harm others, despite their age," Tetens said.

The Tribune-Herald previously reported an indictment alleged Degrate killed Breeding during the course of a robbery. Breeding's murder was the second of the three shootings.

In the first shooting, Degrate and the victim communicated the day prior and arranged to meet up, according to an arrest affidavit. The victim picked up Degrate and drove to a nearby residence to purchase drugs. Degrate got out of the car and returned a few minutes later, shooting the man point blank in the chest at about 12:30 a.m., the affidavit says.

The man was able to drive away and stopped at a nearby gas station for help.

At about 2:15 a.m., police responded to the 1400 block of North 34th Street and found Breeding in his car with a gunshot wound. At the time, police said the car had crashed into a pole near the intersection of North 34th Street and Brook Circle. Breeding was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

A third man was found with gunshot wounds later that night.

Breeding was the only victim killed in the shootings. Degrate was not charged with the shooting of the third man, but police at the time considered him a prime suspect in the shooting, a police press release says.

Police have not indicated they have any evidence the shootings were motivated by anti-gay bias.

Degrate was initially arrested Aug. 21, 2020, and charged with attempted murder for one of the three shootings, police said in a press release. He posted $200,000 bond and was released, but was arrested again in October 2020 on a murder charge in Breeding's death after police were able to connect Degrate to the killing.

Degrate has remained jailed on $1 million bond since his October 2020 arrest, spending more than 1,000 days in jail awaiting trial.

At trial, Degrate would have faced life in prison if convicted of the charges. Under the plea deal, he will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years of his sentence.
A new dual enrollment agreement will offer McLennan Community College students a smoother pathway to a four-year degree at Tarleton State University.

The Dual Admissions Transfer Pathway approved last month will allow students who intend to earn a Tarleton degree to enroll for both schools when they start at MCC. They can lock in their Tarleton tuition at that time rather than when they finish their two-year associates degree at MCC.

Dual enrollment students will get degree advice from Tarleton personnel and access to Tarletons student advising program DegreeWorks, which helps them track their progress toward degree completion. The program also will facilitate MCC student visits to Tarletons main campus in Stephenville and access to Tarleton student events there.

Students can take advantage of the dual enrollment program beginning in fall 2024.

The dual admissions pathway streamlines a longstanding degree cooperation between the two schools. Tarleton and Texas Tech University for a quarter century have participated as four-year universities in MCCs University Center, which coordinates degree and class requirements for students seeking to continue beyond the two-year program.

Participating students can finish their degrees at the universities main campus or, in some cases, in Waco.

Londa Carriveau, MCCs director of educational partnerships, said dual enrollment would help students maintain their momentum toward a Tarleton degree by making sure theyre on track for required courses while providing a measure of predictability for future costs as they progress in their studies.

About 800 MCC students enrolled through the University Center are working on Tarleton degrees, with roughly 4,500 Tarleton graduates starting from MCC during the 25-year relationship between the two schools. Tarleton offers 30 undergraduate and graduate degrees plus skills certifications through the center, with some that can be competed in four years in Waco.

Business is the most popular field of study for MCC students planning on finishing at Tarleton, with psychology, counseling and registered nursing degrees also popular, said Carriveau.

Shannon Hankhouse, Tarletons executive director of external operations for Waco and Bryan, said both Tarleton and MCC have worked to support their students in finishing their degrees. University figures show that almost half of its roughly 15,000 students are the first in their families to attend college.

Dual enrollment not only will provide ongoing advisement to help students stay on track semester to semester, but also will allow them to see how to change an academic major or degree without losing too many credits in the process, she said.

Tarleton has worked very hard to be transfer-friendly, Hankhouse said.
Waco Independent School District Superintendent Susan Kincannon will join three other public school administrators to testify Tuesday in Austin in a lawsuit filed to block the state's release of new school accountability scores.

Kincannon will share her perspective on how the scores' release could affect the Waco district. Superintendents of the Leander, Kingsville and Spring Branch ISDs also are expected to testify.

Seven Texas public school districts filed the suit in August against the Texas Education Agency and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath with some 100 districts, including Waco ISD, joining later.

At issue is the release of school accountability scores  A-F "report cards" for both districts and individual campuses  after major changes in accountability formulas and the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness standardized tests this year. The rating system measures student academic ability and progress, graduation rates and post-graduate placement. The state then translates testing, graduation rates and other data into A-F grades released annually to parents and the public.

Last spring, school administrators were advised that the new formulas would mean lower grades for many, if not most, Texas public schools this year even though some of the districts, including Waco, had shown student improvement under the previous criteria.

The suit filed against the TEA and Morath seeks to block release of the accountability grades until districts have time to adjust their instructional programs in light of the revised standards. It argues Morath had violated the state law that created the A-F accountability system, which requires the commissioner to inform districts every school year of the performance measures, methods, and procedures that will be applied for that school year.

The TEA originally planned to release the new accountability scores on Sept. 28, but has postponed that release until later this month.

Waco ISD trustees blasted the state's retroactive use of its new accountability standards as unfair in their Sept. 21 meeting.
Waco Fire Chief Gregory Summers announced his retirement in a letter Tuesday after leading the department for the last three-and-a-half years.

Summers said he will finish out the year as chief. By his last day in the role Dec. 31 he will have spent 41 years in the fire service. In the letter, Summer wrote that he reached his decision to retire with a heart full of gratitude for his journey. He said coming into the job in Waco, he knew it would be his last gig as a fire chief. He said his wife has sacrificed a lot supporting him throughout the years, and it was time to return the favor.

Summers said he is proud of what he has accomplished in Waco.

Reflecting on my tenure here, I am filled with a profound sense of accomplishment, Summers said. We have achieved remarkable milestones that have not only elevated the fire department but also contributed to the safety and well-being of the community.

Summers said one of his most significant achievements as chief in Waco was his efforts to increase diversity in the department. Before he began as chief, Waco had zero women serving as firefighters, with just one serving in the role in the departments history. Now, the department has five talented and dedicated women firefighters in the departments ranks, Summers said.

Summers also said the department has expanded in general and grown stronger during his tenure, adding 19 firefighter positions, bolstering the departments operational capacities and allowing new talent to the join the ranks.

This expansion has infused our department with fresh perspectives and skills, enriching the departments collective expertise, Summers said.

He also wrote that Waco Independent School District has expanded its Future Heroes Academy to include firefighter and EMT training, demonstrating the communitys commitment to inclusivity and the strength that arises from embracing diverse perspectives.

Summers also said he has led the department in addressing the critical issue of cancer in the fire service, which is the leading cause of death for firefighters. He said the department expanded its partnership with On Duty Health to screen firefighters for cancer.

By taking proactive measures, we are safeguarding the health and well-being of our firefighters, ensuring they have the support and resources they need to lead healthy lives, Summers said.

Summers wrote that the department has made technological advancements during his tenure, implementing a digital asset tracking system, a document management system and an IP-based fire station alert system.

The department has invested more than $15 million on new vehicles and apparatus and secured more than $12 million for new fire stations.

Waco Fire Capt. Philip Burnett, president of the Waco Professional Firefighting Association, said the department is happy for Summers and wishes him the best in his future endeavors. Burnett said the department has had many successes during Summers years as chief, and said his leadership was integral in many of those accomplishments.

Summers stepped into the role as Wacos chief on March 30, 2020, taking over the position from Bobby Tatum Jr. Summers became the second Black chief of the department after Tatum.

Prior to coming to Waco, Summers served as fire chief in Little Rock, Arkansas, from 2009 to 2018. He started his career in the fire service in Little Rock in 1983 after serving in the Army. Summers worked his way up the ranks in Little Rock before retiring there in 2018, though he continued to do consulting work for several other departments.

Summers told the Tribune-Herald in 2020 that after his retirement, he realized he could not pull himself away from the fire service and applied for the Waco job. He said he found the post attractive as a good fit for him and an opportunity to take the department from good to great.

Summers said the community of Waco was growing, and he felt like if he became chief, he could make a difference, something he feels he has done.

Closing the letter, Summers said his leadership has paved the road to continued success for the department.

As I prepare to embark on a new chapter in life, I will leave with a sense of fulfillment and immense pride in all that has been accomplished during my tenure, Summers said. The City Manager Office has played an integral role in shaping our department into what it is today, and for that, Ill be forever grateful.

Once the year has concluded, Summers said he plans to travel around the country in an RV with his wife.
A Korean Navy cruise training group, including 151 naval cadets, arrived at a port in Maryland on Monday, for a visit to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance between Korea and the United States.

ROKS Hansando (ATH-81), a training ship, and ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-59), a combat support ship, berthed at the Port of Baltimore  one of 14 destinations during the Navy's annual 141-day cruise program that set sail on Aug. 28.

The arrival came after Korea and the United States marked the 70th anniversary of the signing of their mutual defense treaty on Oct. 1.

"We feel that it is very meaningful that we were able to come to the United States ... in an historical year when we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice agreement and of the Korea-U.S. alliance," Rear Adm. Cho Choong-ho who commands the group said.

The flag officer called the visit a "precious" opportunity to think about the "noble value" of the military duty to safeguard freedom and peace.

The sailors were greeted by a number of local officials, including Maryland's Secretary of State Susan Lee.

On Wednesday, some of the ship's company plan, mostly naval cadets, to visit the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis where they will meet with U.S. cadets. The following day, they will pay their respects at a Korean War memorial in Washington.

Their next destination is Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the main base of the Royal Canadian Navy. (Yonhap)
Another F-117 Nighthawk is set to move to an aviation museum, in fact, on November 11, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum will welcome the highly-anticipated arrival of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the famed stealth fighter plane known for its incredible radar reflecting technology.

In November 2019, Lockheed Nighthawk F-117A 82-0803 went on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. This airframe reportedly flew 78 combat missions, more than any other examples of the breed. In October 2020, the Palm Springs Air Museum received F-117A 85-0833 Black Devil which, following a period of restoration, went on display during April 2022 in a specially designed exhibit at their new Jim Houston Pavilion. In December 2020, the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum welcomed F-117 Nighthawk 85-0817 Shaba to their facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In early 2021, Castle Air Museum had the good fortune to receive confirmation that they too would receive a Nighthawk; F-117A 85-0813 Toxic Avenger arrived in July 2022, and its restoration is currently well-advanced. And then in March 2021, the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska announced the assignment of F-117A 85-0831, which is reportedly the highest-time example in the fleet (2,720.7 flight hours). Last but not least The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia received its Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk in May 2023 and following a period of refurbishment, will go on display sometime next year.

The aircraft is the brainchild of Lockheed Skunk Works Director, Ben Rich, and is the worlds first operational stealth fighter. The arrival marks the first time the aircraft will be available for public viewing in the Museum setting alongside other celebrated and rare aircraft, like the Hughes H-4 Hercules, more commonly known as the Spruce Goose and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

Guests are invited to come celebrate the F-117 in the Space Museum at 5:30 p.m. as we honor those who served on Veterans Day. The event will include experts presenting on the intricacies of the aircraft followed by a dramatic reveal and first look before it undergoes a multi-year restoration. Guests will be able to interact with the F-117 up close, a rare opportunity that not many have been able to do before. Tickets to this special event are $30, with half of each ticket sold supporting the restoration fund.

The tail number of this F-117 is 85-0816, and it has the unique nickname the Lone Wolf. The Lone Wolf was credited as dropping the first bomb in Desert Storm. Its first flight was on October 30, 1985, with its first combat operation taking place in Operation Just Cause. During its career, the aircraft flew 39 combat missions in Desert Storm and eight missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, before being retired on October 12, 2007.

Few individuals have been lucky enough to see this aircraft in person and we have the unique privilege of being the only museum in the Pacific Northwest to provide this experience to our guests, says Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum CEO Tyson Weinert. Sharing the Lone Wolfs restoration journey from this first moment adds a new dimension to our community engagement.

The F-117 will endure a transportation journey on a trailer over hundreds of miles to make its arrival at the Museum. The aircraft has been specially assigned by the United States Air Force to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, one of only six other F-117s available to view in museums throughout the United States. Although the Air Force technically retired the F-117 fleet in 2008, there are sightings of them still flying, even in the past year, showing that the plane is still a technological marvel today.
WAVERLY  Bremer County will sell up to $4.7 million in general obligation bonds for an overhaul of its obsolete emergency communication infrastructure and equipment.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to issue the bonds as part of the financing for what Bremer County Sheriff Dan Pickett says is a little more than a $5 million undertaking.

The board did not need to go to voters for a referendum because the upgrade is deemed part of an essential service.

Its an essential service because it is needed for the safety of everybody and all first responders. This is so police, fire and EMS can talk to each other, said Pickett.

Officials hosted public meetings to inform residents of the impending debt. Officials reported hearing from a substantial number of people in favor, but none openly against the measure.

Supervisors said if were the people voting on it, we want people to know about it, said Pickett.

The debt will result in the average county portion of the property tax bill being $38.80 more per $100,000 of property valuation each year over the five years it will be paid off.

The balance of the cost is being covered from the countys available pool of 911 surcharge rate funds collected over several years, said Pickett.

Supervisors entered into an agreement with Motorola Solutions Inc. to carry out the improvements starting in 2024 scheduled to wrap up in the middle of 2025 that will allow first responders to access the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System.

The money will go toward a number of improvements, including upgrades to the interior of the structurally sound communication tower first responders utilize in Sumner and two new dispatch communication consoles there.

The agreement also will provide new radios within each emergency vehicle and portable radios for all law enforcement officers, as well as a limited number for fire/EMS operations.

Each individual department would not have the money to do every truck and do every portable on their own, said Pickett. And if we didnt do anything, wed be stuck on a bit of an island.

He said thats because surrounding counties have taken on similar projects and are utilizing different communication systems and frequencies than Bremer County is now.

Photos: MVC Super Meet at Birdsall Park
WAVERLY  Mark Anderson, 60, is making a run at Waverly mayor in hopes voters will give him a chance to lead.

The retired Lutheran pastor formerly of St. Pauls Lutheran Church & School is in the midst of his first political campaign, but previously served as an appointee to the Waverly Library board of trustees for two terms and the Iowa Council on Human Services for about a decade.

Mayor Adam Hoffman is not seeking a third term so he can focus on his family and new career as Bremer County treasurer.

Four-term Councilmember Tim Kangas also has filed for the race, making it contested after Hoffman was elected without competition in 2021.

My father taught me that no matter whats your situation, where you lived should be a little bit better because you lived there, he said. Im able to retire a little young, so Ive got the time, enthusiasm and energy. I love the people in Waverly. And Im volunteering to serve as their mayor because thats the skillset I bring.

The La Crosse, Wisconsin, native moved to Waverly about 22 years ago and was a pastor for more than 35 years, including time spent as an assistant to the bishop at the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Hes now promoting his mayoral campaign as one focused on community, unity and prosperity.

I want to be the number one spokesperson explaining why this is such a great town to live in, he said.

Anderson thinks his past experience will lend well to tackling Waverlys biggest challenges related to housing, workforce and child care.

Bartels Lutheran Retirement has had instances when certain positions have attracted zero applicants, he said.

And its really hard to find a place to live, he added. Sixty percent of people who work here dont live here.

Anderson says his views align with those of the current administration, deflecting any possibility hes running to make noticeable changes.

However, he referenced past issues like the decision regarding the Third Street Southeast green bridge, saying those discussions got particularly nasty.

He feels during heated discussions hed be the best person to bring people together. But he says Waverly will be the winner no matter the outcome in the mayoral election.

I feel like Ill bring more of a citizen perspective, Anderson said. But I know Tim Kangas and feel the city will be really well prepared no matter who wins.

Photos: IHSMA State Marching Band Festival in Waterloo State Marching Band 1 State Marching Band 2 State Marching Band 3 State Marching Band 4 State Marching Band 5 State Marching Band 6 State Marching Band 7 State Marching Band 8 State Marching Band 9 State Marching Band 10 State Marching Band 11 State Marching Band 12 State Marching Band 13 State Marching Band 14
Prosecutors seeking a conviction of two Colorado police officers in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain have implored a jury during closing arguments to remember that he was just trying to walk home on the night of the fatal encounter. McClain was put in a neck hold and and pinned down by officers before paramedics injected him with a powerful sedative. Witnesses testified that an overdose of the sedative killed McClain. But prosecutors say his restraint by officers triggered a series of health problems that made it hard for McClain to breathe and more vulnerable to a fatal overdose. Defense attorneys countered Tuesday that the officers had no choice but to subdue McClain after he resisted them.
SAC CITY, Iowa  A criminal charge has been dropped against an Iowa legislator who was accused of refusing to obey a Sac County law enforcement officer's orders during RAGBRAI's swing through the county.

Magistrate Joshua Walsh on Friday dismissed a simple misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts filed against State Sen. Adrian Dickey.

Sac County Attorney Ben Smith had moved for dismissal, saying in his motion he did not believe there was enough evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt and that it was in the best interests of justice to dismiss the case.

Dickey, 49, a Republican from Packwood who represents District 44 in southeast Iowa, was arrested July 24 near Carnarvon, where a big party had stopped in the middle of a road. According to a complaint filed by Sac County Sheriff's Sgt. Jonathan Meyer, he approached Dickey and asked the party to move so he could open the road. Meyer said Dickey refused to move and continued to argue with Meyer until he was arrested.

Dickey pleaded not guilty to the charge and continued to maintain his innocence.

"It was a total misunderstanding, and I was innocent," Dickey said in a news release. "It is typical of today's news outlets to pile on and assume someone's guilt without knowing all of the facts. ... I was not drinking, and I was not a part of the party that was taking place. I was only walking my bike on this short part of a gravel road attempting to get on the bike trail."

Dickey was jailed briefly until posting bond. He said the incident does not change his attitude toward law enforcement.

"In 50 years, I have never been arrested," he said "I appreciate the Sac County Attorney for correcting this and restoring my reputation. I have always been a huge supporter of law enforcement, and I continue to back the blue today. I look forward to championing the efforts of the men and women who protect our communities."
CEDAR RAPIDS  Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed President Joe Biden and his administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack in decades on Israel, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted had yet to be spent.

DeSantis and Trump, who are running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, both stopped in Cedar Rapids over the weekend.

Trump delivered a speech to about 2,000 people Saturday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in downtown Cedar Rapids. DeSantis spoke Sunday to a crowd of a few hundred supporters at Refuge City Church in Cedar Rapids as a guest for a meet-and-greet organized by Never Back Down, the super PAC backing him for the GOP nomination.

Both criticized a deal announced by the Biden administration in August to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran in exchange for Tehran gaining access to roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets and the United States freeing several jailed Iranians.

Although Hamas is a Sunni Muslim group, it has a militant wing that long has nurtured close ties with Iran, a source of funding and a Shiite powerhouse.

Trump said that recent attacks on Israel by Hamas are a result of the United States unfreezing the Iranian assets in the prisoner swap, and a result of the nation being seen as "weak on the global stage.

"I predicted war in Israel immediately after it was announced that Joe Biden gave $6 billion to Iran," Trump said Saturday. At this time, Israel and the United States need a very strong partnership and leadership, claiming Biden betrayed Israel by restoring hundreds of millions of dollars to the very corrupt Palestinian entities.

The Biden administration says the $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets can be used only for humanitarian purposes, that the United States will have oversight and there is no evidence money has left the Qatari account.

Trump did not specify how the administration was supporting corrupt Palestinian entities, but might have been alluding to Biden restarting humanitarian aid to Palestine, including $235 million primarily in aid to refugees, after Trump canceled the assistance program three years earlier.

Trump also asserted his administration brought peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-mediated bilateral agreement signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in September 2020 to recognize Israels sovereignty.

Biden on Saturday decried the unconscionable assault and pledged to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself after the attack. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel.

DeSantis on Sunday said we need to stop this charade that we can be friends with a regime that wants this country's destruction, claiming the Biden administration and others have made deliberate efforts to coddle the Iranian regime.

So stop with sanctions relief, turn the screws on the Iranians. We shouldn't want them getting any cash flowing into this regime, he said.

DeSantis also highlighted the Biden administrations plan to release the frozen Iranian funds as part of the prisoner swap deal, saying while those exact funds were not used by Hamas, that the money is "fungible and frees up other Iranian resources to fund terrorism.

Both he and Trump pledged strong support for the state of Israel.

Israel is at war, and the United States has to support Israel, Trump said.

DeSantis called the attacks barbaric.

They have no place in a civilized world. And Israel not only has the right, they have the responsibility to defend themselves and their people, and we need to support that, DeSantis told the crowd at Refuge City Church.   They can defend themselves, and they should defend themselves, and theres no moral equivalency between the Israelis and Hamas terrorists.

If elected, he said the United States will have an ironclad relationship with Israel that will be good for our country and will be better for the Middle East.

DeSantis was in Israel earlier this year, when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a worldwide trip just before officially announcing his presidential campaign.

And it's important that we as Americans say to terrorists all around the world, you do not harm one hair on the head of an American citizen, or else you will have hell to pay, DeSantis said. We are not going to sit down and let this happen.

DeSantis on Sunday continued to slam Biden for having slept through the attacks, after the president, in a statement he made on Saturday, alluded to having calls on the unfolding situation in the Middle East at about 7:30, 8 o'clock  eight hours after Hamas's bombardment of Israel began.

If I were in the White House, I would have been up at 2 in the morning, and we would have been doing what we need to do to protect this country, DeSantis said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DES MOINES  Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has worked to strengthen ties between Iowa and Israel in recent years, ordered flags at half staff in Iowa on Monday to honor the lives lost in the deadly attack in Israel by Hamas militants over the weekend.

Iowans mourn for the families of those killed by Hamas in Israel. Hamas brutality knows no bounds, with reports of Holocaust survivors, women, and children taken by Hamas militants from their homes as hostages or brutally murdered, Reynolds said in a statement Monday. Today and every day, Iowa stands in solidarity with Israel and their right to defend themselves.

The conflict in Israel and Gaza unfolded after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. Israel has responded with rocket strikes in the blockaded Gaza Strip. More than 1,300 people had been killed as of Monday, including at least nine Americans, according to reports.

Flags will be flown at half-staff on public buildings, and businesses and individuals are encouraged to fly flags at half-staff until Oct. 15.

Reynolds has strengthened ties with Israel

Reynolds has worked to nurture Iowas relationship with Israel dating back to before her time as governor. In 2016, she joined a Republican Lieutenant Governors Association delegation to the country with her counterparts from Texas, Florida and other states. Then in 2017, after assuming the role of governor, Reynolds led a trade mission to Israel to develop business opportunities for Israeli companies in Iowa.

Reynolds went on another international trade mission in June of this year that included a visit to Israel and a discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement at the time, Reynolds office said she and Netanyahu discussed strengthening economic ties between the two governments.

Israels vigilant pursuit of freedom and security in a hostile world powerfully demonstrates the remarkable fortitude of the Israeli people," Reynolds said in a statement in June. "I believe there is great opportunity for further economic partnership in the fields of insurance and agriculture, industries in which Israel and Iowa both excel."

Reynolds signed a proclamation of support for Israel on the 75th anniversary of its establishment as an independent nation and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

She also met with Israels minister of foreign affairs and minister of strategic affairs, her office said.

Shortly after Reynolds visit this year, seven Israeli agriculture startups participated in a program through Americas Cultivation Corridor, sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, to prepare them to enter the American market.

"This course led by food and ag industry and research leadership is a great opportunity to establish the right connections for businesses to scale into the U.S. system," Reynolds said in August. "From my recent travels to Israel, it is great to see the continuation of our conversations through programs like this and we look forward to companies continuing to build their connections here.

Lawmakers strengthened anti-boycott laws

Reynolds and Iowa lawmakers have also strengthened Iowas rejection of companies that boycott Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories. In 2022, lawmakers extended a previously existing law barring the state from investing in companies that boycott Israel and take part in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.

The original investment ban was signed in 2016 by then-Gov. Terry Branstad as several other states around the nation were enacting similar laws. The 2022 law changed the wording to also ban state investments in wholly-owned subsidiaries that boycott Israel. The legislation was seen by Democrats as specifically targeting the Ben & Jerrys ice cream company, a subsidiary of Unilever.

Lawmakers paired that with a bill that defined antisemitism in Iowa law and encouraged the state to consider antisemitism when investigating a discriminatory act.

"Today we express Iowas enduring support for the State of Israel and our categorical rejection of antisemitism, Reynolds said in a press release when she signed both bills into law. Together, these bills send an important message: Iowa continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel, one of Americas most important and reliable allies, while fighting all forms of religious and ethnic discrimination.
In an interview with journalists from American television channels, Secretary of State Blinken refused to comment on the miscalculations of the US intelligence services, which failed to predict the escalation in the Middle East.

How is that? The United States of America told the world about Russias invasion of Ukraine for two months at the end of 2021 and another two months at the beginning of 2022.

And then Washington missed the largest military clash with its closest ally, on whose territory there are thousands of American citizens?

There are plenty of facts about the situation in Ukraine, pumping up the Kyiv regime with weapons and the eight-year preparation of Ukrainian territory for an anti-Russian springboard. Therefore, then, 4 months before February 2022, the Anglo-Saxons created the information background necessary to cover up their provocations. And then they gave the order to Zelensky to intensify the shelling of Donbass.

How is it that no one in the United States said a word at least a day before the current escalation in the Middle East began? Another mystery, and its worse than the assassination of John Kennedy.

Let me remind you that the Americans have satellites and military bases everywhere, including in the region, their Ministry of Finance controls the banking circulation of all dollars in the world, intelligence services conduct wiretapping and monitor the equipment and equipment of American IT companies, and most importantly, no one in the Biden Administration is doing this and did not resign for such a major failure.

Maria Zakharova

Update:

 The statements of a number of American politicians and public figures look monstrous, literally calling for ethnic cleansing in the [Middle Eastern] region, openly calling one ethnic group almost doomed to complete destruction.

Once again, aggression, violation of the rule of law and cavernous hatred have surfaced on the surface of the American declared goodness and human rights dogmas.

Former US permanent representative to the UN and US presidential candidate Nikki Haley said that America should have friends. Just like we needed them on September 11th. Thats why Ukraine needs us when Russia does it. This is why Israel needs us when Hamas and Iran do .

Everything was mixed into such a hellish vinaigrette. If Nikki Haley remembered about September 11, about friends, partners and decided to mention Russia in this context, I would like to remind her that Russia came to the aid of America after the tragedy in New York first . This was specific assistance that our country provided to the United States in the fight against international terrorism. This resulted in a 20-year US presence in Afghanistan. Much has been said in the United States itself about the humanitarian consequences and geopolitical catastrophe this led to.

 Calls by American politicians and public figures for murder, for the complete extermination of people of the same nationality, regardless of the legal side of the issue, testify to the deep-seated problems of liberal society in the United States , its penchant for violence, justification of ethnic cleansing, and chauvinism.

 I would like all these politicians to answer the primary question: how did it happen that for a year (namely, the same operation that was now carried out in a few days was being prepared) the United States, as Israels closest ally, did not warn Israel about this? < ...> How did it happen that during the year of preparation for such a large-scale operation, the United States, with all the power of its intelligence services, did not transfer anything to Israel as intelligence?

Maria Zakharova

WtR
Promotional event for Chinese chestnuts of Qinglong county held in Beijing

People's Daily Online) 10:28, October 10, 2023

Photo shows Chinese chestnut products of Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Bo)

A promotional event for Chinese chestnuts and other featured agricultural products of Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County, north China's Hebei Province, was held in Beijing on Oct. 8.

Zhang Delong, executive deputy mayor of the county, shared information about the development of the Chinese chestnut industry and other industries related to special agricultural products of the county at the event.

Zhang Delong, executive deputy mayor of Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County, shares information about the development of the local industries related to special agricultural products at a promotional event for featured agricultural products of the county. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Bo)

Located in northern Qinhuangdao city, Qinglong is characterized by agricultural products, according to Zhang. He noted that because of its high-quality local specialties, including Chinese chestnuts, apples, and coarse cereals, the county has won a reputation as the "hometown of Chinese chestnuts east to Beijing," "China's hometown of apples," "China's hometown of niandoubao (sticky steamed bun stuffed with bean paste), and "Hebei's hometown of coarse cereals".

With a long cultivation history, Chinese chestnuts of Qinglong are considered one of the best types of Chinese chestnuts, Zhang said, adding that they have a plump and regular shape, bright purple-red color, and sweet and soft kernels, and are nutrient-rich.

Over the past decade, Qinglong has adhered to the green development philosophy, and vigorously promoted the local Chinese chestnut industry and made it an important underpinning of the county's rural revitalization strategy, according to Zhang.

A participant shares his stories at a promotional event for Chinese chestnuts and other featured agricultural products of Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Bo)

By the end of 2022, the county's planting area of Chinese chestnuts reached 1 million mu (66,667 hectares), ranking first nationwide, Zhang said. Meanwhile, the county's annual output of Chinese chestnuts climbed to 58,900 tonnes, the annual output value of the local Chinese chestnut industry hit 1.29 billion yuan ($176.82 million), and local farmers' per capita annual income from Chinese chestnuts exceeded 2,900 yuan, he added.

Since 2021, Qinglong has established stable partnerships with e-commerce platform Hema Fresh, food brand Lishanghuang, and other distribution channels, selling over 2,000 tonnes of Chinese chestnuts annually, according to Zhang.

Baifeng Trade Co., Ltd., a leading trading enterprise based in Qinglong, has established China's largest Chinese chestnut processing production line, and is able to process 12,000 tonnes of Chinese chestnuts per year, the official said.

Experts, officials, and entrepreneurs hold discussions at a roundtable meeting during a promotional event for Chinese chestnuts and other featured agricultural products of Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Bo)

Products of the company have won the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the British Retail Consortium (BRC), among other food-related authorities in the world, Zhang noted. In particular, the company's various types of chestnut products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions all over the world, he said.

"Qinglong is a major source of high-quality Chinese chestnuts with the largest planting area in China, but was rarely known by people. On the first day I got here, I was given the task of bringing the local Chinese chestnuts to more consumers through e-commerce," Liu Lin, an employee of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba who was sent to assist the rural revitalization efforts of Qinglong, said at the promotional event.

The introduction of e-commerce into the local Chinese chestnut industry has effectively boosted the sales of Chinese chestnuts produced in the county, according to Liu. As Chinese chestnuts of the county became high-end agricultural products and reached broader markets, local women transformed from left-behind wives of migrant workers into e-commerce live-streamers, Liu said.

Photo shows a company and Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County signing a cooperation agreement at a promotional event for Chinese chestnuts and other featured agricultural products of the county. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Bo)

As a result, e-commerce brought an increase of 281 million yuan to the annual output value of the county's Chinese chestnut industry, and lured many young people back to their hometown to start their own business, Liu said.

In addition to Chinese chestnuts, Qinglong is also known for many other products, including apples, hawthorn berries, millet, niandoubao, Kaoliang spirit, edible fungi, traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and broiler chickens, according to Li Yaobin, Party chief of the county.

Li Yaobin, Party chief of Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County, addresses a promotional event for Chinese chestnuts and other featured agricultural products of the county. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Bo)

"The unique pristine ecological environment of Qinglong has nurtured five featured industries, namely forest and fruits, coarse cereals, edible fungi, traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and animal husbandry," Li said at the promotional event.

"We aim to create a 'Qinglong model' of rural revitalization with the characteristics of mountainous areas in northern China," Li said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
South Korea will continue efforts to hold high-level talks with the United States and trilaterally with Japan to further strengthen the three-way security cooperation, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry made the pledge in a report for the annual parliamentary audit, as a follow-up step to the flurry of diplomacy between Seoul and Washington and also among the two and Tokyo, including the first-ever three-way Camp David summit in the U.S. in August.

"We will work to ensure that high-level follow-up consultations continue to take place between South Korea and the United States, and among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and make every effort to implement follow-up measures at a pan-government level for the further development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," the ministry said in the report.

At the Camp David summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to significantly expand trilateral security cooperation, with a pledge to immediately consult one another in the event of common threats, such as North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile provocations.

On relations with Japan, the ministry said it will work to keep up the momentum for thawing bilateral ties, created after South Korea decided to compensate the Korean victims of wartime forced labor under Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule without asking for contributions from Japanese companies.

Seoul's decision led to a dramatic warming of relations with Tokyo and the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy," or regular visits of their leaders. Yoon and Kishida visited each other's country in March and May, respectively, the first bilateral trips of the leaders of the two neighbors in 12 years.

The ministry also vowed a "thorough monitoring" of Japan's discharge process for the treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, prioritizing the safety and health of the Korean people.

The ministry reaffirmed it will pursue "a more mature and healthy" relationship with China, with a goal to resume the long-suspended three-way summit with China and Japan within this year. (Yonhap)
 We are extremely concerned about the developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone.

As a result of the large-scale escalation of hostilities that began on October 7, more than one and a half thousand Palestinians and Israelis have already died there. The number of victims continues to increase. In this case, it is mainly the civilian population who suffer.

Tensions are rising in the West Bank. There are high risks of the conflict spreading to the Lebanese-Israeli border area and drawing new parties into it. A massive humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding before our eyes.

We pay special attention to the security of Russians who are in Palestine and Israel. We focus our diplomatic and consular missions on maintaining close contacts with Russian citizens. In coordination with our partners in the region, we are making active efforts to minimize the threat to the life and health of our compatriots. < >

The possibility of evacuating fellow citizens who asked for help from the combat zone is being explored. Russian diplomatic missions are preparing relevant lists and providing the necessary assistance to those in need.

 Information is posted on the Internet resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign institutions.

For those who want to leave Israel now, this opportunity exists in the form of regular flights.

As for the political assessment of the situation, the main thing now is to cease fire and stop the bloodshed . We support the efforts of stakeholders to address this priority. < ...>

 We intend to continue to actively promote the speedy return of the situation to the political and diplomatic channel . In this regard, we recall the initiative we put forward this year ( 1 , 2 ) to hold a consultative meeting of key countries in the Middle East region in order to create conditions for the resumption of the political process. We are open to coordination with all constructively minded partners.

WtR
Zelensky said that Russia is behind the Hamas movement.

It is pointless to speak to drug addicts in the language of reason, to encourage them to use their brains. They are gone, they were burnt by the white powder.

Therefore, we must answer this way: ISIS (Islamic State) is a traditional partner of the Ukrainian regime, carrying out its terrorist missions throughout the planet. The Ukrainian authorities recognize the similarity of the positions of the Bandera ideology and the ideology of ISIS.

ISIS regularly receives large sponsorships from the Zelensky cabal, as well as a variety of weapons that the Ukronazis have stolen from NATO supplies. ISIS members have secret accounts in Ukrainian banks and secretly buy Ukrainian real estate.

Medvedev

WtR
When we talk about relocants, the one who left the country and committed vile acts, rejoicing at the shots fired on the territory of the Russian Federation, wishing victory for the Nazi bloody Kiev regime, he must realize that not only is he not welcome here. But if he comes here, Magadan is guaranteed for him, said State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Over 180,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are packed into United Nations shelters as Israeli warplanes pound the tiny territory of 2.3 million people after their Hamas militant rulers launched an unprecedented weekend attack on Israel.

Among them is 27-year-old Sabreen al-Attar. She sprang into action when she heard rocket after rocket whoosh over her farmland in Beit Lahiya just south of the Israeli border on Saturday. She knew from experience that Israeli retaliation would be swift and severe.

Grabbing her children, al-Attar rushed to one of the dozens of shelters set up in schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. There, blasts of unprecedented intensity punctuated hours of steadily declining conditions Monday as food and water ran out.

When I escape, I do it for my children, she said, her hands trembling. Their lives rest on my shoulders.

But residents say there is no real escape in Gaza, which has been under a suffocating 16-year blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. When war breaks out, as it has four times since the Hamas militant group seized power in 2007, even United Nations facilities that are supposed to be safe zones risk becoming engulfed in the fighting. The U.N. said that an airstrike directly hit one of its shelters Sunday and damaged five other schools-turned-shelters on Monday. There was no immediate word of casualties.

In the downtown Rimal area, Gaza Citys bustling commercial district with high-rises home to international media and aid organizations, al-Attar hoped she would be safe. Rimal had until then not been an immediate Israeli target, unlike border towns or densely populated refugee camps.

But as the Israeli military went neighborhood to neighborhood with rapid and intensifying airstrikes, the heavy bombardments reached the heart of Gaza City, transforming the affluent neighborhood into an uninhabitable desert of craters. Rimal was also hit by Israeli airstrikes in Gazas bloody 2021 war, but not to this extent.

Israeli bombs that struck Gaza's flagship Islamic University, government ministries and high-rises in Rimal, starting Monday afternoon, also blew out the windows of al-Attars shelter, shattering glass everywhere, she said. Life there, crammed with 1,600 others, was full of danger and deprivation but al-Attar said she had no choice but to stay, telling her boys  2-year-old Mohammed and 7-year-old Nabil  to keep away from the windows.

The night was very, very difficult, she said Tuesday. We have nowhere else to go.

The bombing in Rimal and the potential risks of sheltering in U.N. schools highlighted the desperate search by Gaza civilians for refuge, with the territory's safe spaces rapidly shrinking. There are no civilian bomb shelters in Gaza. Ahead of the Israeli military's warning to civilians on Monday that Rimal would be hit, families staggered into the streets with whatever belongings they could carry and without a destination.

In a briefing Tuesday, Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht suggested Palestinians should try to leave through the Gaza border crossing with Egypt  a seemingly impractical suggestion.

While Hamas officials operating the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing said Tuesday that Gazans who had registered in advance could cross into Egypt, the number of those allowed to travel has typically been small. That has led to backlogs and waiting times of days or weeks, even in calm times.

There is never a Plan B here, said 31-year-old Maha Hussaini, as she watched terrified Rimal residents flood her Gaza City neighborhood further south just as bombs began to fall there, too.

So far, the Gaza toll stands at about 700 dead and thousands wounded, according to Gaza health officials, a punishing response to the militant groups attack that has killed over 900 Israelis. More than 150 Israeli civilians and soldiers have been taken captive.

Israel says it takes pains to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas sites in Gaza, which is heavily built up and has scant open space. But Hamas militants also fire rockets and operate in civilian areas, using civilians for cover while drawing return fire to houses, offices and mosques.

But the military long has carried out airstrikes in crowded residential neighborhoods, inevitably harming civilians and civilian infrastructure. Hamas authorities on Monday reported the destruction of seven mosques and 15 civilian homes.

The Israeli defense minister also has ordered a complete siege on the already blockaded Gaza Strip, vowing to block food, water and fuel from the territory.

None of us even know what safe means in Gaza, said 28-year-old Hind Khoudary, who was hunkered down in the upscale Roots Hotel as deafening explosions thundered.

On Saturday after the massive Hamas attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Gaza civilians of the horrors to come, promising to unleash the full force of the Israeli military on the strip.

Get out now, he said, addressing Palestinians in Gaza. Because we will operate everywhere.

Khoudary was listening to him as the airstrikes intensified, trapped in her home with nowhere to run.

Why didnt he tell us where to flee? she asked. Because wed really like to know.
BILL SCHUETTE

Sauk County Historical Society

The village of Reedsburg was well on its way to becoming one of the prominent cites in Sauk County by the1870s. Alexander P. Ellenwood was one of the primary movers and shakers in the city at that time. In the fall of 1872, he wanted to improve some of the land that he owned north of Babbs Creek, which was then not much more than swampland and was considered of little value. He had purchased the property in 1871, because he thought the land had promise, but local citizens referred to it as Ellenwoods Frog Pond. His concept for the improvement of the property was to create a driving-park, as it was called at the time. It would provide a venue where local citizens could take their horses to race them. Ellenwood thought that it would also be an ideal location for a fairground. However, his plans would have to wait several more years to be realized. Ellenwood continued to purchase land on the west side, and by 1875 had accumulated 200 acres west of the river.

His dream of constructing a fairground, was finally realized in 1874, and in October of that year, the first fair was held, which proved to be a success even exceeding the expectations of the most interested, noted an article in 1948s Reedsburg Remembers. Five-thousand people attended that first exhibition, which would ultimately continue for another 45 years. There were 550 entries with 30 of them being a beauty contest for babies. Mrs. Barnhardts [baby] took the first prize for beauty, while [the baby] of Mrs. Bishop carried off the prize for corpulence [obesity].

The following year during the holiday week of July 4th, the fair again became a popular go-to place for contestants to exhibit their various talents. Prizes were given for speeches, and commencement exercises were conducted for public schools. Talks by local ministers were also a highlight of the festivities.

In succeeding years, the fair continued to be held on the nations birthday. It was noted that Ellenwood made it a point to secure people of note, or stars of the first magnitude. The writer of the day stated that, It will not be surprising if he succeeds some time or other in capturing a President of the United States, or a real live Prince, to edify the people of Reedsburg and vicinity.

From that time on, Ellenwood Fairs grew and several years later were considered one of the best attended fairs in the state.

Horse racing also became a popular sport in the country during the latter 1800s, and Reedsburgs fairground provided a perfect venue for these events. It was noted that many famous trotters, pacers, etc., came to race on the track. Eventually, it was considered one of the best race tracks in this section of the country. Ellenwoods frog pond investment had paid off handsomely.

Following Ellenwoods death in 1901, the fairgrounds were taken over by various businessmen; and fairs were held there annually until 1919, when the weather was exceedingly bad, and the events had to be canceled. During the following several years, bad weather continued to plague the fairs, and they were ultimately canceled for good. The grounds stood vacant for two or three years and were eventually sold.

Merton Krug, in his History of Reedsburg & the Upper Baraboo Valley wrote that, So the Reedsburg or Ellenwood Fair, which for nearly half a century had been an annual event, passes into the pages of history.

Bill Schuette has served on the board of directors at the Sauk County Historical Society since 1993. He lives in rural Loganville.
There are only about 650 whooping cranes left in the wild. And now two more have been added to that population thanks to the collaborative efforts of Baraboos International Crane Foundation and Canadas Wilder Institute.

In a cross-border collaboration, two endangered whooping cranes, hatched and raised at the Wilder Institutes conservation breeding facility in Canada, were released recently at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County by a team from the International Crane Foundation.

The cranes, named Reed and Harp, were hatched at the Wilder Institute, headquartered in Alberta, Canada. The Wilder Institute is the only conservation breeding program for whooping cranes in Canada. The organization hosts a breeding flock of whooping cranes and provides care to the eggs, chicks and adults.

From daily feeding and monitoring to specialized veterinary care, our team works tirelessly to help these birds have a better chance of survival when they are released in the wild, Caitlin Slade, animal care manager at the Wildlife Conservation Centre/Archibald Biodiversity Centre, said in a statement. Reed and Harp are a symbol of hope not just for whooping cranes but for our planets incredible biodiversity.

Reed and Harp, scientists hope, will help contribute to the survival of their species. There are only three populations of whooping cranes across North America.

Before human interference, there were believed to be 15,000 to 20,000 whooping cranes in the wild. By 1860, that total fell to 1,400 birds. In 1941, the worlds population of whooping cranes was all of 15.

Due to conservation efforts, including work done by the International Crane Foundation and the Wilder Institute, whooping crane numbers continue to rebound.

Established in 1939, the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, where Reed and Harp were released, is known for being the northern nesting site for the reintroduction of the eastern U.S. population of the endangered crane.

The International Crane Foundation is excited to once again work across the border to release these birds at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, Kim Boardman, curator of birds at the foundation, said in a statement. ICF is dedicated to saving this species, and this release will bring the total number of whooping cranes released by the ICF this year to nine.

The International Crane Foundation is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. The nonprofit, based in Baraboo since its inception, works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds and flyways on which they depend.

At the foundations facilities in Baraboo, visitors can see all of the worlds 15 crane species. On Nov. 10 and 11, the foundation will host its annual Great Midwest Crane Fest. It celebrates the thousands of sandhill cranes that gather near the Wisconsin River before flying south for the winter.

The Wilder Institute is a global authority on wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve their own natural resources.

It owns and operates the Archibald Biodiversity Centre, a one-of-a-kind conservation breeding and research facility. Other animals the organization works with include the greater sage grouse, the burrowing owl and the Vancouver Island marmot.

Reed and Harp are currently acclimating to their new wild environs and will take their first flights in the heart of Wisconsins wetlands.

Photos: Majestic sandhill cranes in Nebraska A sandhill crane flies above a field south of Gibbon Cranes fly in waves on a cloudy evening Sandhill cranes begin to roost at sundown Sandhill cranes glide in for a landing to roost for the night Viewing sandhill cranes from Richard Plautz viewing site Sandhill cranes silhouetted against the evening sky Sandhill cranes fly over a field Sandhill cranes flock near an irrigation pivot Sandhill cranes forage for food in a field A pair of sandhill cranes glide in a clear blue sky Sandhill cranes gather near farm machinery Cranes in the water Cranes at sunset Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Pair of sandhill cranes at sunset near Gibbon, Nebraska Sandhill cranes flying high Sandhill cranes on and above a field near Gibbon Sandhill cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes The Nebraska Project cranes The Nebraska Project The Nebraska Project Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill crane Sandhill Cranes Sandhill cranes Rowe Bird Sancutary Cranes in January Cranes in January Cranes in January Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes
WAUPUN  Waupuns love for its first sculpture is evident.

The city celebrated the centennial of The Recording Angel statue that sits in Forest Mound Cemetery with a large gathering on Saturday.

We have gathered here today to honor our citys oldest sculpture, The Recording Angel, Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop said. As Waupuns first sculpture, she was gifted to Waupun in 1923. Locals had no idea that shed eventually become one of a collection, which is what makes this rededication so appropriate.

There was not much fanfare for the statue when it arrived, Bishop said.

But on Saturday, the area in front of the sculpture was filled with people honoring it during its centennial ceremony. The sculpture was commissioned by Waupun industrialist and sculptor Clarence Addison Shaler to honor his wife, Blanche Bancroft Shaler, who died in 1921. Lorado Taft created the heroic-sized image of a female angel.

It was just a beautiful statue that Mr. Shaler purchased to honor his wife, Bishop said. Yet a century later, she sits on top of this hill as a great gem of Waupun.

The statue reminds Waupun of Shaler and his lasting legacy, Bishop said. The Recording Angel is one of seven outdoors sculptures in Waupun.

Each sculpture tells a different story, Bishop said. The Recording Angel recording those who have passed. The End of the Trail tells the struggle of Native Americans. The Dawn of Day represents a new beginning. The Who Sows honors the farmer and his deep belief in God to bring the harvest. The Doe and Fawn tell us of the wildlife at the country club, the Citadel tells us of Mr. Shalers deep disgust of Fascism, and what he feared was the fall of Democracy. While each individual sculpture tells a different story, the collection together tells the story of Clarence Shaler and his remarkable gifts to Waupun. Thanks to Mr. Shaler, Waupun is home of more free outdoor art per capita than any other city in North America.

Kaelyn Mulder, a seventh-grader at Central Christian School, also spoke about the sculpture.

This sculpture was created in memory of Blanch Shaler, Clarences wife, Mulder said. "Lorado Taft, whom Shaler met and befriended while in Chicago, sculpted The Recording Angel. He commissioned Taft to build this statue as a memorial dedicated to Blanche.

The book upon this angels lap may serve as a final record of life, but her uplifted head and her faintest smile suggests the thoughtful contemplation of fond memories carried forward in the lives of others, Waupun Historical Society president Zac Dickhut said. This memorial, which was dubbed The Recording Angel by the townspeople, plays at least three roles in our community. It certainly represents the life of Blanche Shaler and her memorial in Forest Mound Cemetery. It also stands as a unique work of art by the sculptor Lorado Taft and represents the messages that he intended to convey. Also of significance is the role this piece would eventually play in establishing a city of sculpture in Wisconsin.

Blanche Bancoft Shalers father served as the Dodge County school superintendent and represented the county in the state Legislature on two separate occasions, Dickhut said.

It was to her in remembrance of their 26 years of marriage that this memorial is dedicated, Dickhut said.

An exact replica of the statue sits outside the Taft House at the University of Chicago, Dickhut said.

Arpad S. Feher, a sophomore at Waupun Area High School, read his poem Book of Bronze that he wrote for the statue.

For one hundred years Ive wrote, all which I have to devote, Feher read. When walking through you may feel alone, but there are many spirits called to home.
An Arkdale woman who appeared in and met her husband on the set of 90 Day Fiance a dating show on the TLC television network, was arrested Thursday for allegedly making several fraudulent payments and withdrawals involving a Portage business where she worked.

Leida Margaretha, 34,is accused of making fraudulent withdrawals and payments to several outside business accounts and customers using account information from Loggerhead Deco, a Portage-based manufacturing company.

Margaretha is also the co-owner of a business in Arkdale, which helped her facilitate the alleged fraud, police said.

Customers and business in Wisconsin and surrounding states have reported being victims of several thousands of dollars in unauthorized business account payments and withdraws, police said.

Margaretha is facing tentative charges of theft from a business setting, fraudulent data alteration, forgery and wire fraud against a financial institution. Police also said other potential charges may be forthcoming.
Portage Lumber is celebrating 70 years in business with a customer appreciation weekend event Thursday through Sunday.

We have always felt our community supports us and weve always wanted to support our community, said Ron Dorn, president and co-owner of Portage Lumber. So we try to be involved in as many of these community activities as makes sense.

The event is to take place at the Portage Lumber company, 1009 E. Wisconsin St. Featured throughout the weekend will be goodie bag giveaways, food truck offerings, prize drawings for items up to $350 in value and tool sales and service specials from representatives from Benjamin Moore, Milwaukee Tool and Stihl.

Part of the goal is to hold a celebration and appreciation sale for our customers, said Kimberly Dorn, marketing director, human resource manager and general manager at Portage Lumber. But also to showcase some products that people may not yet have seen.

Portage Lumber started in 1953 when Ray Dorn, the father of Ron and chief executive officer Dennis Dorn, seized an opportunity to become part owner and manager of a new lumberyard opening in Portage, moving his family from nearby DeForest, where he worked as manager of a farm cooperative, the Dorn brothers said.

When the company started in 1953, the majority of its customers were either small contractors or farmers, said Dennis Dorn. The whole do-it-yourself (style of home renovating) hadnt been embraced yet ... So in the early days there were just three of us working here.

The Dorn brothers now have a combined 105 years in the business and are sole owners of the company, after they bought out the remaining partners in the late 1990s. The brothers said they now consider Portage Lumber a home center, as they supply Portage and its surrounding communities with goods, services and tools for homes, offices and commercial spaces.

The company employs about 40 employees and is open seven days a week, 360 days a year, the owners said.

The Dorn family attributes a great deal of the companys longevity in business to the large amount of community support it receives, which is why one of its main focuses has always been, and will always be, customer service.

Customer service is timeless, said Kimberly Dorn. It will never be something people wont want and its something that kind of sets us apart from other companies nowadays.
The University of Wisconsin System will rebrand itself over the coming months to Universities of Wisconsin as it looks to strengthen the UW reputation across all 13 schools, not just UW-Madison.

University of Wisconsin System will remain the legal name for the institution, but officials will start referring to the 13 universities by the revised Universities of Wisconsin name, an announcement from UW said. By early 2024, UW will transition its webpages and written materials to reflect the new identity.

In addition to dropping System from its preferred name, it will ditch the maroon University of Wisconsin System logo for one that simply shows UW inside the outline of the state with teal accents. A secondary logo draws the universities locations out like a constellation.

The rebranding also comes with a new motto: Future Ready. For All. It comes as UW President Jay Rothman has consistently talked about UWs need to educate more students in the coming years to meet current and future employer demand.

The idea is to shift the focus from a system to the universities that provide opportunities for students and families across Wisconsin, Rothman said in a statement. People of Wisconsin take great pride in our universities. We think a new name, our new identity, reflects the collective role our 13 public universities play in the economic and social fabric of Wisconsin.

The rebranding is the first big name change for UW since the 1971 merger that brought together the University of Wisconsin  which consisted of UW-Madison and its Extension campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Kenosha  and the former State Universities System, which consisted of nine campuses and was founded in 1866.
A Korean passenger jet carrying dozens of citizens is set to return home from Israel, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, after violence erupted between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The Korean Air flight, carrying 191 Korean nationals, is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 6:10 a.m. on Wednesday after taking off from Tel Aviv at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday (local time).

It will be the first flight to transport Koreans back home since tensions quickly escalated in the region after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend.

The ministry said 27 Korean tourists will cross into Jordan by land while another 30 are expected to depart Israel on Thursday via a Turkish Airlines flight.

No casualties have been reported among Korean nationals so far, Foreign Minister Park Jin said during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly.

"No damage was reported to our diplomatic mission," Park said. "We are taking measures so that tourists on short-term visits can return home on direct flights (from Tel Aviv to Incheon)."

Korean nationals living in the Gaza Strip in Palestine have also taken refuge in a safe location, Park said, adding that no citizens were reported to have been held hostage by Hamas.

"Our diplomatic mission in the region is maintaining round-the-clock emergency contact with the citizens and checking their safety," Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press briefing.

He added that the Korean Embassy is providing assistance to the approximately 230 people remaining in Israel to help them safely leave the country.

A total of 570 Koreans are estimated to be living or staying in Israel, in addition to some 480 traveling in the country, according to the ministry.

The ministry had initially reported 360 Korean tourists in the country but confirmed that around 120 more had entered Israel via foreign carriers.

Korea on Sunday issued a special travel advisory on Israel and urged its nationals to leave the country. (Yonhap)
Emergency responders work outside the visa office at the Chinese Consulate building after a person drove into the building in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2023. A car rammed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on Monday, coming to a stop in the lobby and creating a chaotic scene that ended with police fatally shooting the driver, officials said. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
The Nevada secretary of states office will hold a presidential primary for Republican voters, despite the Nevada GOP saying theyll only honor the results of their party-run caucus to choose the GOP presidential nominee two days later. A second longshot Republican presidential candidate cast their name on the presidential primary ballot Friday, triggering a 2021 state law that requires the Nevada secretary of states office to run a presidential primary for Republican candidates. Now, two presidential nominating contests are scheduled over the span of three days in February, which could mean widespread confusion for Republican voters.
Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Barakeh on Monday denied that Iran or the Lebanese Hezbollah had helped plan or were even aware of the wide-ranging incursion his group launched into Israel, but said our allies will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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A bright lemon-yellow marine snail recently discovered in the Florida Keys was named Cayo margarita in honor of the citrusy drinks in Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville.

The tiny snail was found in snorkeling-depth water in a heavily touristed area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This string of tropical islands is home to the only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S.

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Its another indication that right under our noses, we have undescribed species, says Rudiger Bieler, curator of invertebrates at the Field Museum in Chicago. Were still finding new things all around us.

Bieler, who has spent four decades studying invertebrate animals in the western Atlantic, is the lead author of a research study published in the journal PeerJ about the Cayo margarita and a close cousin, Cayo galbinus, discovered on the coral reefs off Belize. The snails tend to be found on pieces of dead coral.

Bieler noted that the snails are so small and so well-hidden that weve not encountered them before during our scuba diving surveys. We had to look very closely.

Buffett, who died Sept. 1 at age 76, was beloved for his catchy Caribbean-influenced songs, including the iconic Margaritaville, which was released in 1977.
Foreign Minister Park Jin said Tuesday the ongoing resolution process with Japan for the compensation of Korean forced labor victims needs to be taken into account when considering the matter of awarding a surviving victim with an order of merit.

Park's comments came after the foreign ministry effectively thwarted the move by the country's human rights watchdog late last year to give Yang Geum-deok, an elderly Korean victim of forced labor under Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, a Moran Medal, the second-highest Order of Civil Merit.

The ministry had apparently told the National Human Rights Commission of the need for "prior consultations among related authorities" before putting the recommendation up for a Cabinet review under the due procedure.

Critics and opposition lawmakers accused the government of blocking the move to cozy up to Japan in line with President Yoon Suk Yeol's drive to improve relations with Tokyo.

"Awarding an order of merit is a matter to be approved by the president after going through a Cabinet review under the Awards and Decorations Act," Park said during the parliamentary audit in response to an opposition lawmaker's question regarding the matter.

"In addition, as the government's solution for the Supreme Court's rulings on forced labor is currently being implemented, the ministry believes that we should take that aspect into consideration as well," Park said.

Park's comment Tuesday can be seen as the first acknowledgement by a government official that the current relations with Japan are a factor that has affected the government's position.

Park reiterated that there was "an insufficient exchange of opinions" when the issue was first brought up last year and that more discussions are necessary from "a procedural perspective."

In 2018, Korea's Supreme Court ordered Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay compensation to the Korean victims forced into hard labor at Japanese factories and mines during Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation of Korea.

Japan has refused to comply with the court rulings, insisting that all matters of compensation were settled under a 1965 treaty that normalized bilateral ties.

Yang was one of the four forced labor victims who rejected the government's plan to compensate the victims on its own without the contributions from Japanese companies. (Yonhap)


Highest Grade Lithium and Rubidium Results

Sydney, Oct 10, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Raiden Resources Limited ( ASX:RDN ) is pleased to announce that the second batch of assay results, from the mapping and rock chip sampling program over its Andover South tenements, which have now been received. The results continue to indicate high potential for significant and mineralised Lithium-Tantalum-Caesium ("LCT") pegmatites.



Highlights



- Recent sampling yields highest grade lithium (2.73% Li2O) and rubidium (0.55% Rb) results defined to date from Andover South



- Significant new results from Andover South (those >1% Li2O) include:



o 2.73% Li2O - sample R21532

o 2.70% Li2O - sample R21499

o 2.59% Li2O - sample R21596

o 2.44% Li2O - sample R21526

o 2.14% Li2O - sample R21533

o 2.07% Li2O - sample R21631

o 1.96% Li2O - sample R21542

o 1.80% Li2O - sample R21534

o 1.53% Li2O - sample R21541

o 1.50% Li2O - sample R21529

o 1.47% Li2O - sample R21598

o 1.42% Li2O - sample R21528

o 1.23% Li2O - sample R21527

o 1.13% Li2O - sample R21489



- Mapping and sampling is defining a high-grade Li2O trend within the central part of the pegmatite field which extends over 1.5km along strike



- Additional samples have been collected and will be submitted from current detailed mapping program



- Ongoing evaluations of lithium potential on the Arrow, Mt Sholl and Pyramid projects and results will be released to the market as they are received.



Mr Dusko Ljubojevic, Managing Director of Raiden commented: "The recent results have defined further mineralised pegmatites and have extended the high-grade trend significantly to the west of the previously 50 metre wide pegmatites. High-grade pegmatites are now defined over a significant strike extent through the pegmatite field and are extending the strike for planned drill testing."



The mapping and outcrop sampling program was undertaken throughout September over E47/4061 and E47/4062.



As part of the exercise the Company conducted mapping and rock chip sampling program of outcropping pegmatites within the Andover South tenements. The program aims to define the distribution and extent of the mineralised pegmatites and to define the widths and geometry in significant detail. As previously reported, on the basis of field observations and use of ultra violet lights, likely Spodumene crystals were noted in several samples by the Company's geologists (Note: definitive XRD analysis of selected samples is currently being undertaken by ALS laboratory in Perth to confirm this visual interpretation of mineralisation - results are pending).



To date, a total of 301 rock chip samples have been collected from outcrops on the Andover South Project (300 submitted to the laboratory). This second batch of assays accounts for 219 of those total samples which have been submitted to the laboratory.



Further samples have been collected by the mapping team and will be dispatched to the laboratory for analysis. As soon as the results become available the Company will inform the market.



Rubidium Results



Recent results have continued to report anomalous Rubidium values (refer to Table 2). A total of 98 samples out of the 219 rock chip samples (45%) from this consignment have returned >0.1% Rb, with highest values of up to 0.55% Rb. The Company continues to evaluate the distribution of the elevated Rb values in regard to the high-grade lithium values and their relationships.



Rubidium is a high-value technology mineral mostly associated with pegmatite deposits.



Rubidium Carbonate, the most widely used form of rubidium, is used in multiple applications, including in solar panels, fibre optic cables, GPS systems and night vision equipment, as well as sodium-ion batteries.



Portfolio Evaluation



The Company continues to evaluate the potential for LCT mineralisation throughout the remainder of the portfolio, including on Mt Sholl, Arrow, Tabba Tabba and Pyramid projects.



Initial work is focused on reviewing historical data sets, followed by evaluation of satellite imagery to define prospects. Field verification of the prospective areas is in the planning stages and the Company will update the market as soon as results become available.





About Raiden Resources Limited





Raiden Resources Limited (ASX:RDN) (DAX:YM4) is a dual listed exploration and development company which is advancing the Mt Sholl Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Palladium deposit in the Pilbara. The Company's portfolio host metals and commodities considered critical for the revolution of the energy and electrification revolution.

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'The attack by Hamas was a total massacre of civilians,' Israeli envoy says

By Kim Hyun-bin

The Israeli embassy offered reassurances, Tuesday, to protect Koreans and Korean companies in Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas.

Barak Shine, Israel's deputy chief of mission to Korea, said in an interview with The Korea Times at the Embassy of Israel in Seoul that the recent conflict was triggered by an unexpected assault that had compelled his country to assume a defensive posture. He outlined Israel's recent efforts, which have been primarily centered on defending itself against attacks and eliminating infiltrators and lambasted the latest onslaught as a "massacre of civilians."

"We cannot tolerate the presence of these ruthless terrorist groups on our borders," Shine said. He added that the Israeli government's primary objective was to neutralize the military capabilities of organizations such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other extremist groups in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization, launched a significant attack on Israel on Saturday, marking a surge in hostilities. Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli civilian areas from Gaza, while Israel responded with a series of airstrikes targeting Hamas strongholds and rocket launch sites in the Gaza Strip resulting in hundreds of casualties on both sides and substantial property damage.

Shine underscored that Israel's actions were not solely defensive, but also served as a deterrent to potential adversaries in the region. He extended an appeal to both the Korean government and businesses in Israel, urging them to comprehend the complexities of the situation and assuring them of Israel's unwavering commitment to their safety.

Turning his attention to Korean companies and individuals residing in Israel, Shine highlighted that a majority of them were concentrated in central Israel, particularly in the secure confines of Tel Aviv. He emphasized that Israel possesses the infrastructure and security measures necessary to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essentials and to safeguard all residents, including the Korean community.

While acknowledging the distressing images stemming from the conflict, Shine underscored the resilience of the Israeli people and their resolve to forge ahead. He expressed profound gratitude for the international support Israel had received, singling out the United States for providing both verbal and material assistance.

Regarding Korea's role in the ongoing situation, Shine mentioned that communication is continuing with the Korean government. He placed paramount importance on fostering understanding and expressions of support.

Korea is in communications with many countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and also Iran. And any contribution that someone can make in order to lead stability in the region, will be welcome, Shine said.

He also acknowledged that the conflict might have repercussions on investments and economic measures, but he drew from Israel's history to emphasize the nation's capability to rebound from adversity and rebuild.

Shine expressed optimism that once the conflict is resolved, the region will experience long-term stability and offer a conducive environment for business and investments.

Israelis, the Jewish people, always throughout history, knew how to stand up and overcome the challenges and correct what needs to be corrected and fix what needs to be fixed and this is how we built our country, he added.

When questioned about the possibility of humanitarian aid or dispatching medical teams, Shine explained that Israel boasted robust emergency response mechanisms and did not currently see the need for external assistance. However, he warmly welcomed private initiatives and donations from individuals seeking to aid affected families.

Regarding Iran's involvement in the conflict, Shine underscored its significant role in financing and supporting various terrorist organizations in the region, including Hamas. He issued a call for global unity in countering Iran's actions and proposed the imposition of sanctions through the UN Security Council to curb its destabilizing activities.
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The surviving member of The Beatles marks his 12th wedding anniversary with wife Nancy Shevell and remembers late bandmate John Lennon to mark his birthday.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sir Paul McCartney has penned a tribute to his "lovely" wife on their wedding anniversary. The Beatles legend - who was previously married to the late Linda McCartney and model Heather Mills - posted a photo of himself and Nancy Shevell seemingly on vacation on Monday, October 9 and revealed they were celebrating 12 years of marriage on the same day as would have been his late bandmate John Lennon's birthday.

"Happy anniversary to my lovely wife, Nancy. Let's have a great one - Paul [heart emoji] (sic)," Paul captioned his post.

The "Live and Let Die" hitmaker also took a moment to pay tribute to John, who was shot dead in 1980. Alongside a photo of himself performing in front of a giant photo of John, he wrote, "Celebrating the birthday of my wonderful friend and collaborator, @johnlennon - Paul [black heart emoji] (sic)."

The 81-year-old musician recently revealed he and Nancy have very different evening routines because he finds her TV viewing "too exciting." He told his official website, "I get ready for bed and the last thing I do is read. Nancy will often look at a series at that time, but I think it's not conducive to sleep because some of the things she'll watch are a little too exciting, and the plot will keep you up all night!"

"So I try to read biographies, which can be a little bit dry. After a few pages you start you yawn, the page goes fuzzy, so it's light off and straight to sleep. I like that!"

Paul is also considering taking up knitting as a way to release tension. He said, "I don't knit, I imagine that would be quite cool, actually. Tom Daley knits and so does Michelle Obama, and I get why they do it; it must be a great release of tension."

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Undeterred by backlash from those supporting Palestine, the 'Thor' actress, the 'Wonder Woman' star, Madonna, Andy Cohen and many more celebrities show their support for Israel amid the conflict.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Natalie Portman and Gal Gadot have spoken up in support of Israel amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Undeterred by backlash from those supporting Palestine, they have condemned Hamas following a surprise attack on Saturday morning, October 7 that has killed at least 900 people with more than 100 civilians kidnapped and held hostage.

Expressing her deepest sympathy, Natalie, who was born in Jerusalem, posted on Instagram on Sunday, "My heart is shattered for the people of Israel. Children, women and the elderly have been murdered and abducted from their own homes."

"I am in horror at these barbaric acts," the Jane Foster depicter in the "Thor" film series continued, "and my heart is pounding with love and prayer for the families of all affected."

Another Israeli-born actress, Gal, initially posted on Saturday, "I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!" On Monday, she followed up the post with another one which asked for support for Israel. "Israel is under attack and we need your support!" it read.

Madonna, meanwhile, shared a graphic video of rockets and slain bodies on the streets of Israel to highlight the casualties caused by the attacks. She penned a lengthy statement in the caption, "Watching all of these families and especially children being herded, assaulted and murdered in the streets is Heartbreaking. Imagine if this was happening to you??"

She continued, "My heart goes out to Israel. To Families and Homes that have been destroyed. To children who are lost. To Innocent Victims who have Been Killed. To All who are Suffering or who will suffer from this conflict. Im Praying For you. I am aware that this is the work of Hamas and there are many innocent people in Palestine who do not support this terrorist organization. This Tragic attack will only cause more suffering for everyone."

Amy Schumer reposted a statement from activist Mandana Dayani who criticized those defending the slaughter. "Never in my years as an activist, have I seen other activists, upon seeing footage of little girls being killed and dragged through the streets, immediately find the burning need to go on the internet and justify their deaths. 'Oh, here all the reasons that girl was burned alive!' "

It continued to read, "For complete clarity, the only reason you do this, is because you have been made to believe that the killing of Jews can be justified. Because every civilization has taught that the life of a Jew is less valuable than your own. It's the Hitler playbook. Your antisemitism is not unconscious. It is so deeply rooted in your bones and you are so comfortable with it, you are not even able to consider its impact on your friends."

Others like Andy Cohen, Mark Hamill, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Sarah Silverman and Debra Messing have also voiced their support for Israel. Kylie, whose friends Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid had been advocating for Palestine for years, received backlash following her Sunday IG Story and has lost 1 million Instagram followers following the controversy.

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The strong viewership aside, the Tom Hiddleston-starring Marvel series faces backlash over alleged use of generative AI for its season 2 promotional poster.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - "Loki" season 2 debuted with solid viewership numbers on Disney+. The new season of the Marvel series brought in 10.9 million views in its first three days of availability after debuting on Thursday, October 5.

The number makes the sophomore season of the Tom Hiddleston-starring series become the second most-watched season premiere this year. "The Mandalorian" takes the top spot with its season 3 premiere back in March.

The strong viewership aside, "Loki" faced backlash over alleged use of generative AI for its season 2 promotional poster. Professional designers believed that the controversial poster was partially created using generative AI.

Illustrator Katria Raden commented on the image on X, formerly Twitter, "Madly disappointed they're using AI generated imagery to promote Loki." The designer claimed that the picture of the spiraling clock in the background "is giving all the AI telltale signs, like things randomly turning into meaningless squiggles."

Other users also pointed out that the background on the "Loki" artwork was seemingly taken from an identical stock image on Shutterstock titled "Surreal Infinity Time Spiral Space Antique." It was also revealed that several AI image checkers flagged the Stock image as AI-generated after a scanning process.

Raden shared that the use of generative AI is a threat for the creative community as it could replace human artists. "Licensing photos and illustrations on stock sites has been a way many hard-working artists have been earning a living. I don't think replacing them with generated imagery via tech built on mass exploitation and wage theft is any more ethical than replacing Disney's own employees," Raden noted.

This wasn't the first time Disney+ received backlash for allegedly using generative AI. The streaming service was previously accused of using it on another Marvel series, "Secret Invasion", though the studio claimed that despite using AI tools, it didn't reduce roles for real designers on the project.

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Through the first teaser, Netflix has announced a premiere date for the highly-anticipated sixth and final season of 'The Crown' which will be split into two parts.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - The Queen will return soon. On Monday, October 9, Netflix announced a premiere date for the sixth and final season of "The Crown" in the first teaser centering on Imelda Staunton's Queen Elizabeth II.

The clip features the Queen walking through Buckingham Palace as her words from previous seasons echo. "The Crown is a symbol of permanence," Her Majesty, who was played by Claire Foy in the first two seasons, can be heard saying. "It's something you are, not what you do."

Later, viewers can hear the words from Olivia Colman's Queen Elizabeth II, who appeared in season three and four. "Some portion of our natural selves is always lost. We have all made sacrifices. It is not a choice. It is a duty," she notes.

Towards the end of the teaser, Imelda's Queen Elizabeth II stares at the crowd outside of the Palace. "But what about the life I put aside? The woman I put aside," a voice questions.

The teaser reveals that season 6 will be split into two parts. Netflix shares that the first part will be focusing on the relationship between Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and Dodi Fayed (Khalid Abdalla) before the 1997 car crash in Paris that killed her, though "the exact moment of the crash impact will not be shown."

The second part, meanwhile, will center on Prince William (Ed McVey) as he returns to Eton College following his mother's death. It will also cover Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, King Charles III's (Dominic West) marriage to Queen Camilla (Olivia Williams) and the early stages of William's relationship with Kate Middleton (Meg Bellamy).

The forthcoming season will also star Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne, Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair and Salim Daw as Mohamed Al Fayed. Rufus Kampa is cast as Prince William in part one and Fflyn Edwards and Luther Ford will both portray Prince Harry in the first and second part respectively.

The first four episodes of "The Crown" season 6 are slated to arrive on Netflix on November 16. Meanwhile, the last six episodes will be released on December 14.

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The rapper, who first met the 'Stranger Things' star in November 2017 backstage at one of his Australian concerts, addresses criticism about their relationship on his new song 'Another Late Night' ft. Lil Yachty.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Drake has finally responded to critics who were not feeling his friendship with Millie Bobby Brown. The Canadian rap star defended their relationship on "Another Late Night" ft. Lil Yachty, which appears on his new album "For All the Dogs".

"Weirdos in my comments talkin' 'bout some Millie Bobby, look/ Bring them jokes up to the gang, we get to really flockin'," the 36-year-old spit on the track. "Or send a finger to your mama in some FedEx boxes/ Open up that s**t, it's jaw droppin', really shockin.' "

Drake and Millie first met in November 2017 backstage at one of his concerts in Australia. "I met him in Australia, and he's honestly so fantastic - a great friend and a great role model," the then-14-year-old actress previously shared. "We just texted each other the other day, and he was like, 'I miss you so much,' and I was like, 'I miss you more.' "

The teen star also revealed that the "In My Feelings" hitmaker gave her advice "about boys." She added, "He helps me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's great. He's wonderful. I love him." She, however, would not share more details about the advice she got from Drake, saying, "That stays in the text messages."

Twitter users have since reacted to Millie's revelation about her and Drake's exchange. Many of them found it "troubling," "disturbing" and "creepy," while some others accused the Grammy winner of "grooming."

The "Stranger Things" star has shut down the haters though. She argued back in September 2018, "Why u gotta make a lovely friendship ur headline? U guys are weird... For real." She continued, "im lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance. Im very blessed to have amazing people in my life."

"u dont get to choose that for me," the British native told critics. "Its nice to have people to understand what i do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships... jeez."

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The 34-year-old British actor, who welcomed his son with his partner Erin Darke earlier this year, says being a father is 'great,' but also 'terrifying' at the same time.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Daniel Radcliffe's experience of fatherhood has been "awesome." The 34-year-old actor and his partner Erin Darke welcomed their son earlier this year, and Daniel admits that he's relished the challenge.

Speaking about his baby boy, Daniel told E! News, "He's great, it's amazing. There's a short answer and a long answer to that. And the short answer is it's awesome and he's the best thing that's ever happened."

On the other hand, Daniel also acknowledged that parenthood can be "intimidating." The London-born star said, "It's frankly terrifying to have a human being in the world that I care this much about, and that everything he does is going to affect how I feel about my life for the rest of my life. So, you know, that's intimidating."

Daniel's lifestyle has changed markedly since he became a father for the first time. He shared, "There's no relation to what we need for sleep. The less I sleep, the more I sleep at night. But the less they sleep, the less they sleep! And the more they sleep, the better they sleep! It makes no sense, but it is apparently how they work."

Daniel and Erin, 39, met for the first time on the set of "Kill Your Darlings", the 2013 biographical drama film. The actor, who is best known for starring in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, previously admitted that he and Erin are best friends.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Daniel explained, "I think that's the kind of relationship I always aspire to have with someone I'm in a relationship with. You want that person to be your best friend. In the case of Erin, we definitely are."

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Dennis Graham lashes out at the media personality, who has been engaging in a social media war with the former's son after criticizing the Canadian star's latest album 'For All the Dogs'.

Oct 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Dennis Graham has jumped into Drake's beef with Joe Budden. Proving to be one of the Canadian superstar's loyal supporters, Dennis has come to his son's defense after the podcaster shamed Drizzy for his relationships with much younger women.

"It's a f**king shame that a young artist can't do his own thing and enjoy his glory without an old hater motherf**ker trying to bust his bubble because he has nothing going on," Dennis said about his 36-year-old son. "And to put a mention or put a limit on what age anyone should be dealing with which is none of their goddamn business, as long as they're of legal age."

The older Graham continued in the comment of Drake's post, "I am sick of these old f**king haters f**king with my son. If you don't like what he does, keep it moving motherf**ker, he's not bothering you!"

Dennis made the comment after Drake took another swipe at Joe via Instagram. "I thank God for this life and not having to come to rushed conclusions on Best Buy podcast mics," so the 36-year-old wrote on Monday, October 9.

The war between Drake and Joe started after the latter criticized the former's newest album "For All the Dogs". He said, "[Drake is] rapping for the children. I had to look up how old this n***a was when I finished listening to the album."

Attacking the "Hotline Bling" over his personal life, Joe continued, "You gonna be 37 years old. Get the f**k away from some of these younger n***as, and stop f**king these 25-year-olds. ... Why are you still f**king the 25-year-olds? You're a 37-year-old billionaire."

Drake later clapped back, saying, "You failed at music. You left it behind to do what you are doing in this clip because this is what actually pays your bills." The Grammy winner also said Joe was "projecting his own self-hate," calling the podcaster the "poster child of frustration and surrendering."

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The 'Deadpool' actor feels humbled as he receives the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award at this week's 2023 Bring Change to Mind Gala in New York City.

Oct 10, 2023

AceShowbiz - Ryan Reynolds insists he hasn't reached Robin Williams' level. The 46-year-old actor was feted with the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award at this week's 2023 Bring Change to Mind Gala in New York City, but he has dismissed the idea of drawing any parallels between himself and the late legend, who died in 2014 aged 63.

"I would never compare myself to Robin Williams and as much as there was just something blowing through him that blew through no one else," he told Extra.

Ryan pointed to the way Williams' legacy has grown beyond his work on screen as he pointed to the "Mrs Doubtfire" star's "humanity." He added, "You know his work lives on, but I can't think of a better legacy for Robin Williams"

"There's the body of work, there's the joy, and the laughter, they're left behind, but then there's I think the greatest legacy of his is humanity, and I think that's why everyone's here today and tonight is to celebrate that humanity."

Williams - who tragically took his own life nine years ago - forged a stellar career on screen in a wide range of films from "Aladdin", "Hook", and "Jumanji" to "One Hour Photo", "Dead Poets Society", and "Good Will Hunting".

Ryan "studied him" as he was learning his own craft, and he insisted there will "never" be another performer like him. He said, "I am deeply and profoundly honored. I mean, as somebody who - I not just watched Robin my whole life, but I've studied him"

"He's quite literally singular There's nobody else like him before him or after him. There'll never will be. So, I'm incredibly honored and touched to be here and also just to spend time with Mr. Williams' family This is incredible."

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South Korea's new Defense Minister Shin Won-sik vowed Tuesday to push for the suspension of the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement, citing its impact on limiting Seoul's surveillance capabilities against North Korean military activities.

Shin made the remarks in his first meeting with reporters after taking office on Saturday, noting the no-fly zone set by the agreement near the border "greatly" limits surveillance on signs of imminent North Korean provocations in the front line.

"I will push for the suspension of the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement as soon as possible," he said. "Scrapping (the agreement) requires a legal process, but I understand a suspension only requires a Cabinet approval."

Shin noted Israel could have suffered fewer losses from Hamas' recent attack if it had conducted round-the-clock surveillance with unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Our reconnaissance and surveillance assets need to watch (North Korean military activities)," he said, noting South Korea faces an even higher-intensity threat from North Korea.

The agreement, signed under the previous liberal President Moon Jae-in who sought inter-Korean reconciliation, also includes setting up a land buffer zone, where artillery drills and regiment-level field maneuvers are to be suspended, as well as maritime buffer zones, banning artillery firing and naval drills. (Yonhap)
The 2023 edition of CMOs Charcha - Bengaluru Chapter, presented by NewsFirst Kannada and hosted by Adgully, brought together marketing thought leaders, professionals, and innovators, all under one roof for a day of unparalleled insights, networking, and collaboration. The theme this year was Marketers Blueprint: Embrace Automation, Inclusivity, and Sustainability. As the theme suggests, the whole charcha encapsulated the marketing industrys quest to adapt, connect, and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. It dealt with the current growing needs of the marketing industry, especially with the dependence of the market on automation and inclusivity for reaching out to maximum and diverse audiences.

CMOs Charcha - Bengaluru Chapter 2023 saw an interesting panel discussion on Automation Effeciency, which was chaired by Senthil Kumar Hariram, Vice President, Marketing, Neil Patel Digital, India. The esteemed panelists included:

Nitin Virmani, Marketing Head, WiseX

Hitarth Saini, Head Of Marketing, Freo

Chetan Sharma, Vice President, Pin Click

Commencing the discussions, Senthil Kumar Hariram asked the panelists how brands have boosted their efficiency with automation.

Nitin Virmani responded by saying, Good part of getting your hands dirty in the beginning is that you appreciate the value of tools that makes your work easier. I can truly say with confidence that automation tools have been successful deployed by our company. If not hundred per cent, then 50-60% of the work has become easier. Now, we can channelise our energies in other meaningful works that require more insights and intelligence. From interns to CEO, everyone is depending on automations for Tracking, Analytics, Performance Marketing, Lead generations, nurturing leads and so on. As WiseX is a brand started during the pandemic time, I can vouch that it is all due to the help of AI, automation etc that we have been able to scale-up to a profitable business in a short time.

Hitarth Saini added here, Automation is very essential in todays world for any marketer belonging to a big or small set-up. Freo, being a small set-up, we always had to multi-task, but with automation, things get done easily. In my opinion, for any kind of marketer, we need to have a CRM in system, which helps to control across businesses internally and also keep communication layers in check. It gives marketers the freedom to select which campaign will be best suitable and deploy accordingly. With CRM in place, we can use mobile tracking application etc. We can get information from all channels, whether organic or vernacular clients and send them re-targeting campaign mails or messages to retain them.

Sharing his thoughts, Chetan Sharma said, My take on it, being from real-estate, is that we get so many leads, so nurturing them would have been impossible without automation. We have employed automation in two parts. One is nurturing the leads and other is taking care of its audits. Artificial Intelligence helps us doing audits without biases. With automation, the best part is that we actually get to know how many leads we have got, though not the exact numbers but we get to know the right kind of customers we want, eliminating the biases. Talking about the other part, that is, Nurturing, Sharma said, Now-a-days consumers share all their details. With automation asking the right questions, and then mapping it up with our CRM, we get to know the target details. This helps in bringing down the length of the funnel, like work that would have taken 1 week will be done within 48 to 72 hours, all thanks to automation.

Speaking about Neil Patel Digital, Senthil Kumar Hariram said, At Neil Patel Digital, we take the help of automation for generating leads, sending e-mails, Whatsapp marketing, etc. However, I have seen that it is Personalisation in automation that really brings about 60% more consumers to us.

These are edited excerpts. For the complete panel discussion, please watch below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epKkeK-0Qog
Cha-Chi Communications, a leading digital marketing agency, today announced the successful launch of its groundbreaking hyperlocal outreach initiative, marking a significant milestone in the world of influencer marketing. With a reach extending to over 60 crore social media users in 20 regional languages across India, this innovative offering has already garnered the support of more than 25 corporate clients, delivering a remarkable Return on Investment (ROI) of 150%.

In recent years, influencer marketing has become an integral part of digital advertising strategies, and Cha-Chi Communications has emerged as a frontrunner in this dynamic field. The agency's hyperlocal outreach initiative leverages the power of social media influencers to create highly targeted, region-specific campaigns that resonate with local audiences. This approach has proven to be exceptionally effective, as evidenced by the impressive ROI achieved by their clients.

According to industry data from leading marketing research firms, influencer marketing is on the rise in India, with a projected growth rate of 25% annually. The use of regional languages and hyperlocal targeting has become increasingly vital in engaging with diverse audiences across the country. Cha-Chi Communications' innovative approach aligns perfectly with these trends, offering their clients a unique competitive advantage.

Priyanka Rana , Co-founder of Cha-Chi Communications, expressed her enthusiasm for this milestone achievement: "We are thrilled to introduce our hyperlocal outreach initiative, which represents a game-changing approach to influencer marketing in India. Our goal has always been to connect brands with their target audiences in the most authentic and effective way possible. With the support of our valued clients and the dedication of our talented team, we have not only achieved but exceeded our expectations, delivering exceptional results and an ROI of 150%. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and success in the world of influencer marketing."

Cha-Chi Communications' hyperlocal outreach initiative has already received accolades from industry leaders and influencers alike for its pioneering approach to influencer marketing. As the agency continues to expand its reach and client base, it remains committed to delivering measurable results and staying at the forefront of the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape.

The offering has been launched in Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi among other languages catering to masses in India. The influencer base is spread across various domains including by not limited to finance, healthcare, education, sustainability, food & beverages, fashion, beauty, parenthood, tech and skilling.
Personal care brand Clensta, that recently welcomed actor Parineeti Chopra as Partner and Investor, has now signed on actor Sandeepa Dhar as the brand ambassador for its innovative range of products. Sandeepa, who has acted in a number of films and web series like Heropanti, Dabangg 2, Abhay, Mai: A mothers rage, and many more and also had been nominated for her performance in her 2010 debut film Isi Life Mein, will capture the youth market for the brand in India. IIT Delhi backed Clensta offers a wide range of personal care products across multiple categories. Their commitment to combining cutting-edge science (STAR & CRAN Technology) with sustainability has made their products very popular among consumers in India.

I am excited to be part of Clensta, a brand that combines the beauty of nature and the power of science and technology to empower its customers to lead a more enriched lifestyle.I look forward to supporting their range of innovative, affordable, science-backed skincare products that I am personally drawn towards. Your skin loves nothing better than natural and safe products made with love and care, said Sandeepa Dhar.

"We welcome Sandeepa as she becomes a part of the Clensta team, and we eagerly anticipate her support in spreading the word among India's informed and nature-conscious youth about our unique product range," stated Puneet Gupta, CEO and Founder of Clensta.

The actor is all set to feature in a new brand campaign promoting Clenstas Skincare category across digital platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa, Purplle, Meesho and Myntra. The products are also available across 10,000+ outlets across India including chains like Wellness forever, Reliance Smart, Health & Glow, Tata1MG, Combonation, etc.

Parineeti Chopra, who joined the Clensta team in July this year as investor and partner, is also the brand ambassador for the haircare and Gummies range. In a recent pre-series B funding round spearheaded by TradeCred and co-led by the Royal Family from the UAE, Clensta raised INR 75 Crore. The actress-turned-entrepreneur was also one of the investors in this round.
Deepika Padukone, the renowned global sensation, is setting new benchmarks on the world stage, and her latest endeavor with luxury brand is making waves from Tokyo to the farthest corners of the globe.

With her captivating charm and timeless elegance, Deepika Padukone has become a symbol of global appeal. Her partnership with global luxury brands has taken the fashion world by storm, and it's evident in the sprawling hoardings that now grace prominent locations not only in the fashion capital of Paris but across the world.

Checkout : https://instagram.com/senkichi2918?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This collaboration showcases Padukone's innate ability to seamlessly blend her Indian roots with international flair, captivating fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Apart from that, Deepika Padukone's picture from the shoot of Fighter travelled a lot and was loved by the audiences. Meanwhile on the work front, she will be next seen in Fighter along with Hrithik Roshan for the first time on screen. The duo was recently spotted in Italy for the shoot of a song from their upcoming film.
Moneycontrol, a leading financial website of the Network 18 group, is bringing the second edition of the Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit, which will be held in Mumbai on October 11. The marquee event will see Ananth Narayan G, Whole-Time Member of SEBI, as its chief guest.

The summit will see panel discussions with industry leaders, CEOs, and fund managers, who will deliberate on the challenges and opportunities before the Indian mutual fund industry as it aspires to go from roughly 4 crore investors at present to 20 Crore in 5-10 years. With inflows into mutual funds through systematic investment plans (SIP) crossing Rs 15,000 crore a month for the first time this year in July, the Indian MF industry is set for a quantum leap in the years ahead. Will the growth in assets under management (AUM) lead to a healthy growth of retail investors in the MF industry? Thats the question well be asking at the second edition of the summit.

Moneycontrols annual mutual fund conclave brings together experts to debate the ways in which the industry can move forward, become the chosen savings and investment vehicle, and increase the number of investors. The summit will also try to address how should mutual funds spread beyond the larger cities. Amid tightening regulations, reduced expenses over the years and stiff competition, the Indian MF industry faces the daunting task of spreading beyond the larger cities. Only four states  Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka,and West Bengal  constitute 61 percent of the industrys assets. What will it take for the geographical spread to get wider? How can mutual funds become a household name like bank fixed deposits or postal deposits?

The Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit  Path to 20 Crore Investors is Powered by Axis Mutual Fund, Strategic Partner Reliance Industries Limited, and the Associate Partners are HSBC Mutual Fund, Motilal Oswal Asset Management, 360 ONE Asset, IBM, Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund.

Meanwhile, new fund houses have entered the industry and still more are expected.
The United Service Institution (USI) of India, the countrys oldest think tank has organised the first Indian Military Heritage Festival, in association with Network18, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, on 21-22 October 2023.

With 2022-2023 being the year of India's leadership of the G-20, the USI is proud to be working in tandem with the Government of India's strategic policies to affirm our position as a global powerhouse, a truly vibrant democracy, and a rising power that is working for the development of all countries in the global south.

Despite a long and glorious military history and strategic culture going back many centuries, the general public is largely unaware of the different facets of Indias military history, heritage, and security concerns.

The Indian Military Heritage Festival seeks to address this gap in our national discourse and cultural calendar. Its activities will be driven towards enhancing our understanding of the countrys rich military heritage and traditions; contemporary security and strategy concerns; and the push to achieve self-reliance in military capability through the Atmanirbhar Bharat programmes of the Government of India.

Through informed sessions, ranging from discussions on Indigenous Historical Knowledge systems, India and the World Wars, Post-Independence challenges and understandings of war and conflict, analysing war through the lens of fiction and media, the Indian Military Heritage Festival will definitely be the one of its kind, catering to audiences from all walks of life.

The festival intends to engage global as well as Indian think tanks, institutions, corporations, public and private sector undertakings, non-profit organisations, academicians, and research scholars who have been working on topics related to Indias national security, foreign policy, military history, as well as experts in the field of military heritage.

Over the course of two days, the festival will primarily bring forward different understandings and perspectives on issues involving Indias Armed Forces. Through panel sessions and discussions between eminent scholars, practitioners, and retired officers, the sessions will provide understanding of the countrys military history, contemporary security and strategic concerns, social and welfare issues being faced by the armed forces, role of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector, Indias culture of gallantry, and how we can develop an indigenous strategic vocabulary rooted in our culture and history, moving into the future.

Participants of special sessions include the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, as well as Mr Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa. A host of eminent scholars and authors will be gracing the occasion with their presence and their insights spread across different panels.

Some of the main highlights of the festival will be military band performances by Tri-Service Bands, including the Army, Navy and Indin Air Force Symphony Bands.

An exhibition to highlight and celebrate select milestones and achievements in our nation's long and illustrious military history is being organized in collaboration with the National Museum as part of the event.

A Cultural Gala Evening will be held with a special dance performance by Trikayaa Dance Foundation, which will incorporate traditional and martial dance forms to narrate heroic stories of unheard sagas and valour.

Despite a newfound interest in Military History amongst a broad cross section of society in India today, there is a huge deficit in knowledge about Indian Military Systems, customs and history. The Indian Military Heritage Festival seeks to bridge these gaps in our understanding of the interplay between war, the armed forces and society.
The nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier will arrive at a key South Korean naval base later this week, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday, in a major show of force against North Korean threats.

Carrier Strike Group 5, which includes the aircraft carrier, the Aegis-equipped USS Shoup destroyer and other warships, will enter the naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Thursday for a five-day visit, according to the ministry.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea unveiled a new "tactical nuclear attack" submarine early last month. It has also vowed to launch a military spy satellite again this month after two failed attempts this year.

The Navy said the carrier strike group's visit has been scheduled as part of the U.S. commitment to further enhance the "regular visibility" of strategic assets to the peninsula as outlined by their leaders in the Washington Declaration issued in April this year.

"(The visit) is a key demonstration of the U.S.' extended deterrence in action, and will become an opportunity to strengthen the combined defense posture for an immediate, overwhelming and decisive response against North Korea's continued provocations," Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo, South Korea's Fleet Commander, was quoted as saying.

The U.S. carrier strike group took part in a two-day trilateral exercise in international waters southeast of the resort island of Jeju through Tuesday, involving South Korean and Japanese warships.

During its stay in Busan, the U.S. carrier strike group plans to conduct friendly exchanges with the South Korean Navy. (Yonhap)
A 17-year-old is in custody, charged with aggravated child abuse and chemical endangerment after police were notified of a 4-year-old with signs of physical abuse and who tested positive for drugs.

Mobile police said officers were dispatched to USA Children and Womens Hospital about 9 p.m. on a report of a severely injured child with multiple injuries and extensive bruising. Police did not specify which drug was found in the childs system.

Monday afternoon, investigators identified the primary suspect -- a 17-year-old male who frequently serves as a babysitter for the childs mother. He was located and taken into custody, later transported to Mobile Metro Jail. His identity has not been released because he is a minor.

The child has been discharged from the hospital and continues to recover, police said.

In addition, the Alabama Department of Human Resources is working with investigators to determine the full set of circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure the childs well-being, according to police.
A former youth church director at a Pensacola church was sentenced to 50 years in a Florida prison in exchange for a no contest plea to child porn and video voyeurism charges.

The charges stem from his use of a hidden camera to film people, including children, using a bathroom at the church.

David Nims, 40, was facing up to 515 years in prison after being charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography and 16 counts of video voyeurism, according to the Escambia County Sheriffs Office.

Under the plea agreement, Nims pleaded no contest to 12 of the 25 child porn charges and all but one of the video voyeurism charges, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The remaining charges were dropped in exchange for the plea.

A no contest plea carries the same effect as a conviction, but without an admission of guilt.

Nims will also serve 30 years of post-release supervision and must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Escambia County deputies first responded to Calvary Baptist Church in June 2021 after a 14-year-old boy noticed a video camera hidden underneath a sink in a youth bathroom at the church.

Sims was identified as the suspect and was first charged with one count of video voyeurism, but days later, after a search warrant was issued, investigators found more than 100 images of child porn on SD cards at his home, including one SD card and four micro SD cards in his pants pocket.

The videos included at least eight people who were unknowingly recorded while in the bathroom, including two 6-year-olds, a 10-year-old and a 14-year-old, according to the PNJ.

Additionally, in one of the videos, investigators could clearly see Sims face as he adjusted the camera, according to the report.

Nims, at the time the volunteer director of youth ministries at the church, was identified by an investigator looking at one of
The National Hurricane Center continued to watch an area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday as well as a better-organized tropical wave far away in the eastern Atlantic.

The Gulf disturbance had only a 30 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next seven days, but it could merge with a front and bring a lot of rain to drought-stricken areas in Alabama this week, according to forecasters.

Nonetheless, the hurricane center said the Hurricane Hunters will be dispatched to take a closer look at the system later today, if necessary.

The hurricane center said rain and storms have increased some with the disturbance in the southwestern Gulf as of Tuesday morning, and the surface pressure has been falling.

Forecasters said the system has a small opportunity to develop in in the next day before a frontal system approaches from the northwest.

Name or no name, the system will stir up the seas and bring gale-force winds to the northern Gulf by Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a gale watch for the waters off Alabama and northwest Florida for Wednesday and Wednesday night.

The risk for rip currents will also be raised to high starting on Wednesday night, and a high risk will remain in effect until at least Friday.

No rain today with increasing cloud cover expected thru tonight. High temperatures will range in the low/mid 80s area-wide. Rip current risk increases to HIGH by Weds night and persists thru the week. A Gale Watch remains in effect for portions of the marine area. #mobwx pic.twitter.com/fD7QOWKDuy  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) October 10, 2023

The hurricane center said potentially heavy rainfall will also be possible along the Gulf Coast by late this week.

The hurricane center was also watching a better organized tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

It could become a tropical depression in the next few days as it tracks to the west-northwest or northwest. It is no immediate threat to land.

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30.
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Theres a new cupcake on the menu at Klarissas Cakery in Odenville, Alabama, and its one pickle lovers are going to love -- and one that might have customers not quite so pickle-obsessed scratching their heads.

Klarissa Hendrix, owner of Klarissas Cakery, announced this week that it will be adding a gourmet dill pickle cupcake to its line-up of sweet (or in this case, not-so-sweet treats). The cupcake consists of a cornbread cake cupcake with dill pickles blended throughout the batter and is topped with a cream cheese frosting before being garnished with dill pickles and a pickle juice injector.

While Hendrix, who has owned the bakery for a year and has been baking since she was nine years old, said she knew a pickle cupcake wouldnt be for everyone, its something shes always wanted to make.

I have always wanted to do a pickle cupcake, mostly because it is so random and not a normal flavor, Hendrix said. I love pushing myself to try new things, and thought this would be a funny one to try! My team and I tried a few different recipes while making this cupcake.

READ MORE: This Alabama restaurant serves pickle pizza

I knew I wanted the cake part to be more of a cornbread consistency to offset the sour pickle flavor. The only icing I thought would pair well would be a tangy homemade cream cheese frosting. Then came all of our toppings! I knew I had to incorporate the pickle juice injector along with dill pickles on top! Just to add a little something extra.

The pickle cupcakes will be available, alongside more traditional flavors like strawberry, caramel and carrot, this week, and so far, theyve at the very least gotten plenty of attention.

Ive had mixed responses, most of which are excited to try the cupcake, said Hendrix. A few responses are no way! or not on a cupcake!, but I knew I wanted to do it regardless of what the feedback would be. We already have people trying to order them by the dozen!

If you want to try one for yourself, head over to Klarissas Cakery at 11500 U.S. Highway 411 in Odenville.

More food stories:

Alabamas best doughnuts

8 old-fashioned soda fountains

Huntsvilles best mac and cheese
TLCs reality series My Big Fat Fabulous Life hits Dauphin Island and Mobile tonight for a stay that apparently will last at least a couple of episodes.

The show, now in its 11th season, has followed the life of Whitney Way Thore since 2015. Back in the beginning, Thore described her struggle to overcome a health problem (polycystic ovarian syndrome) that caused dramatic weight gain in her college years, cut her off from her passion, dancing, and plunged her into depression. She eventually decided to dance again, and to enjoy life despite the challenge posed by her weight.

Theres PC terms for everything these days. But fat people are fair game, she said in Season 1. Somebodys got to fight for us.

The current story arc follows up on the development that her father, Glenn, has reconnected with daughter, Angie, he fathered out of wedlock many years ago. In Episode 5, which aired Oct. 3, Thore, her dad and her brother, Hunter Thore, prepared for a trip to Mobile County and hit the road.

Shes invited us to someplace called Dauphin Island, which is like, they always take a family vacation to Dauphin Island, she told a friend. I guess its in Alabama but its an island? I dont really know because I dont know about Alabama.

The tone was by turns comic and serious. Whitney Thore, whos from Greensboro, North Carolina, fretted about meeting relatives from the Deep South. But she also consistently pronounced Alabama as Alabamer.

Im meeting my half-sister, and her three children, and her grandchild, she told a friend. Its a lot.

The moment is finally here! The Thore family is getting bigger on a new #MyBigFatFabLife Tuesday at 9/8c. pic.twitter.com/Gj5wSKVv8x  TLC Network (@TLC) October 8, 2023

Preview clips posted by TLC show a warm first meeting between Angie and the Thores. I honestly never thought this moment would happen, says Angie. Im so glad that it did.

They also show a family dance-off at a Mobile venue, the Saddle Up Saloon, with Whitney battling for boot-scootin braggin rights. (Note: The Saddle Up Saloon invited patrons to take part in a reality TV shoot back in April. The venue at 9 N. Jackson St. has since closed and is being redeveloped as Bar IX.)

Whitney and Glenn settle who the best dancer in the family is!  #MyBigFatFabLife is all new Tuesday at 9/8c. pic.twitter.com/dsDKTQ8x3E  TLC Network (@TLC) October 9, 2023

The new episode airs at 8 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, Oct. 10, according to TLC. It can be seen on service providers and streaming services that carry TLC programming and on the TLC Go app.

According to a network synopsis, next weeks episode will continue the Alabama visit  and the competitive theme: The house is abuzz after the family dance-off, but the competition is just beginning as Whitney refuses to lose to her new niece, says information published by TLC. Whitneys nephew introduces her to a new potential suitor. Glenn and Angie finally discuss the nature of their relationship.

For more on the show, visit the official website.

You can stream My Big Fat Fabulous Life on Philo or fuboTV.
The National Shrimp Festival will open later than planned  but only by a few hours  due to the possibility of severe weather along Alabamas coast.

The 50th edition of the Gulf Shores festival runs from Thursday through Sunday along the public beach at the foot of Ala. 59. It was scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Thursday, but organizers announced Tuesday that they are pushing the opening back to 2 p.m. Thursday.

The move is being made due to a low-pressure system in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. As of Tuesday morning, forecasters said chances were low that the system would develop into a tropical depression. Even so, its expected to bring rough seas and gale-force winds to the northern Gulf by Wednesday. Its merger with a frontal system coming in from the northwest could produce storms and heavy rain along the coast.

The weather doesnt threaten the festival directly, but could impact vendor setup work prior to Thursdays opening. The decision to postpone the opening was made to ensure everyone working on-site remains safe throughout the setup process, festival organizers said on Tuesday.

From Thursday afternoon on, forecasts are favorable and organizers are looking forward to celebrating what will be a milestone weekend for the Gulf Coast, said the festival statement.

Related:

National Shrimp Festival opens its 50th edition Thursday in Gulf Shores
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The Alabama Public Charter School Commission on Tuesday renewed contracts for two charter schools, each for a shorter term than school officials requested, signaling concerns they have with operations and results.

Montgomery startup charter school LEAD Academy was renewed for two years, which is three years short of the five-year term they requested. Birmingham startup Legacy Prep was given a four-year renewal, also short of its initial five-year contract.

LEAD Academy

Commission Chairman Luis Ferrer did not offer a reason for LEADs shortened term, instead saying the commission will use a measuring stick to hold school officials accountable.

I promise you its not going to be a whooping stick, Ferrer said.

Commissioners quizzed officials about LEAD Academys financial stability and plan to improve student achievement during a public hearing prior to the renewal vote.

Ferrer told school officials they are a lifeline for students in Montgomery who need a good education and that commissioners see the schools potential to improve.

The schools primary and intermediate campuses collectively earned an F on the 2022 report card issued by the state with 53 points and landed on the federal school improvement list, meaning achievement was in the bottom 5% of schools statewide.

Results of the states 2023 standardized test, called the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program or ACAP, show 31% of students at LEAD were proficient in English language arts, 22% in science and just 2% in math.

LEADs Executive Director Erik Estill said raising achievement scores will take time, as students - all of whom previously attended Montgomery public schools - typically come in one to three grade levels behind.

Weve seen positive outcomes for our scholars, Estill said, particularly those who have attended LEAD Academy for multiple years.

Read more Ed Lab: How a Birmingham school achieves gains in math: The goal is always growth

LEAD Academy opened in 2019 with 400 kindergarten through fifth grade students. He told commissioners the charter school fills a void in the Montgomery community.

There is a significant need for this school choice, Estill said. We started the [current school] year with 600 on our waiting list. And thats after we filled 800 seats.

School officials told commissioners they are capable of paying back $1.9 million in overpayments for school lunches that Crave Cafeteria Solutions allegedly served but did not properly record during the pandemic.

This is the elephant in the room that we know people have been concerned about, Estill said.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture received an anonymous complaint alleging that Crave Cafeteria Solutions, the vendor supplying meals at LEAD Academy, inflated the number of children and meals served during the 2021-22 school year, according to documents reviewed by AL.com.

Though LEAD Academy is on the hook for the federal payback, LEAD Academy won a court judgment against Crave holding the meal provider responsible for paying LEAD Academy back the full amount.

Legacy Prep charter school

During the same meeting, the Commission renewed Legacy Prep charter schools contract for four years. Nearly all of the schools 440 kindergarten through sixth grade students are economically disadvantaged, according to Legacy Prep Executive Director Reneta Johnson.

Read more Ed Lab: A big expansion of a federal program is coming to these Alabama schools

The school, located on Birminghams west side, opened in 2019 with 120 kindergarten through second grade students and has added a grade level each year.

After the vote, Ferrer told Legacy Prep officials that commissioners have concerns with the schools financial and operational compliance and will be providing more oversight over the next four years.

A 2022 audit of Legacy Prep found school officials misspent or didnt accurately track more than $300,000 in expenses over a two-year period, but the money was not required to be repaid.

Ferrer complimented Legacy Prep on their academic performance, particularly given the high percentage of students in poverty that are enrolled. Results of the spring ACAP show 24% of students were proficient in English language arts, 12% in science and just 1% in math.

The Charter Commission currently oversees 10 public charter schools as the statewide authorizer, with four more set to open in 2024.
Judge Chad Floyd didnt waste any time Tuesday morning as he addressed defendants and family members gathered in a small third-floor courtroom atop the Cullman County Courthouse.

If we hurry, I think you should be able to make it back by second period, Floyd said.

All seven defendants had already missed first period middle and high school classes in Cullman County. All seven had been caught with vape devices on campus.

They are part of a new program thats spreading across Alabama, as a small number of counties take on the prosecution of students who are busted vaping at school. The schools have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-tech vape sensors to catch children puffing in bathrooms and locker rooms.

In addition to receiving school-based punishments that can include alternative school or in-school suspension, those students now get a ticket and a date in the countys vape court.

If the defendants  all first-time offenders  complete a two-hour education class and 16 hours of community service within the next two months, their charges will be dropped, and they wont be required to pay any court costs. If they miss the deadline, they must perform additional community service, said Kay Bell, director of Cullman Juvenile Probation.

The program, which started in 2021, seems to be curbing the vaping problem in Cullman schools, Bell said.

We had 126 our first year and that decreased by 27 percent the following year, Bell said. We actually have pretty good success rate. If they have issues, they can call in and well help.

Fast-growing Marshall County next door and rural Coosa County in central Alabama have already launched vape courts based on the Cullman County model. The goal is to help schools struggling to prohibit vaping on campus. Administrators and school resource officers had become overwhelmed with cases, Bell said.

It was disrupting the whole school day, she said.

Although Bell and Floyd say the process is supposed to help students, some experts worry that using courts to crackdown on vaping in school could criminalize young students, leaving them with fines and criminal convictions in some cases.

This vape court doesnt help kids avoid anything, said Leah Nelson, research director for progressive policy group Alabama Appleseed. If anything, Cullman is constructing a new feeder into the school-to-prison pipeline for no good reason and without legal authority.

Fines and fees

Vape court is is based on Alabama law, which states that people under the age of 21 who possess vape products can receive tickets and fines that range from $10 to $50.

But students in Cullman County are not required to pay fines or return to court if they complete the program requirements in two months. They can can face hefty court costs that range from $350 to $500 if they dont complete the requirements on time, according to the student handbook. And fines and fees may kick in on the third and fourth offense, according to the policy posted by the Cullman County Board of Education.

In Marshall County, if students miss an appearance in court, warrants can be issued for failure to appear or contempt of court, and violators can be taken to jail, the handbook said.

But the programs carry other hidden costs, said Jenny Carroll, a law professor at the University of Alabama.

It costs money to get to a community service location, Carroll said. It costs money to participate in educational programming. You may have to pay to go there, or parents have to pay to get them there. For some kids, there are uniform requirements for community service. Theres costs in terms of lost income for the child.

For Robert Smith of Cullman, attending his sons vape court appearance on Oct. 3 meant missing a day of work. His job takes him to pipelines across the state, and that morning, he was set to drive to Boaz. Instead, he had to take off because hes the only one in the family with a drivers license.

Im losing $160 a day to come here, he said.

Cullman County court officials said they are sensitive to concerns about costs. They recently switched from an online vaping education course that cost $50 to a free in-person class.

Floyd said the program works because it sends a message that underage vaping is a serious offense with real health consequences.

Our most successful cases are the cases where we have buy in from the parents and everyone is pulling in the same direction, Floyd said. And I would say about 99 percent of the time, we have the parents on board with us.

But when he was in high school, said Smith, smoking on campus was punished in the principals office. Students might get detention or paddling. He worries the penalties meted out in court might fall more heavily on parents than students.

Let the kids suffer for it, not the parents, he said.

Addiction

School officials have become increasingly concerned about the dangers of vaping.

Vaping can harm brain development among teens, affect mood, learning and impulse control and increase the risk of addiction to other drugs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most vape cartridges sold commercially contain nicotine, but some are filled with THC. Some school officials have raised concerns about fentanyl in vape devices, but its unclear whether any cases of opioid contamination have been documented in Alabama.

Daryl Cura demonstrates an e-cigarette at Vape store in Chicago, Wednesday, April 23, 2014. The federal government wants to ban sales of electronic cigarettes to minors and require approval for new products and health warning labels under regulations being proposed by the Food and Drug Administration. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)The Plain Dealer

But some of the organizations concerned about the health risks of vaping have said criminalizing underage use is not the best approach. Jada Shaffer, state government relations lead for the American Heart Association in Alabama, said tobacco companies have spent billions of dollars targeting young people with addictive products. Instead of punishing users, state officials should increase regulations and taxes on vape products, she said.

It is disappointing and frustrating that Alabama continues to further victimize Alabamas youth by putting them through the courts, while there is no accountability or repercussions on the industry making billions of dollars off kids addictions, Shaffer said. There is no evidence that fining children helps them with their addiction. They instead need education, counseling and cessation resources to help with their addiction.

Gracie, an 11th-grader who had her first court appearance Oct. 3, said bringing her vape to school was a dumb mistake. Going to court and spending several days in alternative school has been embarrassing, but she said it has also been helpful.

I feel like it was a good thing because I might not have ever quit otherwise, she said.

Officials in Cullman County said they are aware that many students may be addicted to vaping. The vape court judge can refer a student for treatment, which might not be an option for schools.

Judge Rusty Turner started the vape court in Cullman County in his juvenile court before it moved to the misdemeanor docket. He said vaping poses special problems for schools. Unlike smoking, it can be hard to detect.

The ease of use and the ease of access, thats an issue that everyone has to deal with, Turner said. Its not something you can pick up that easily, like smoking. Everyone can smell cigarette smoke, but its harder to do with the vaping.

Vape detectors

Schools in Alabama have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in vape detection equipment. Cullman City Schools spent $230,826 on 152 HALO Smart Sensors for middle and high schools, according to records from Alabama Appleseed. Walker County schools spent $130,000 for 66 of the devices, according to ABC 33/40. Limestone and Lauderdale counties are also investing in sensors, AL.com reported.

Many schools place them in bathrooms and locker rooms. The devices are designed to detect vaping, THC, heat, particulate matter and other measures. They do not have cameras or recording devices. They alert administrators to check the bathroom or locker room.

There are concerns about whether those sensors can pinpoint which person was using the vape and whether it is an invasion of student privacy. In a presentation last year for the Childrens Policy Council, an organization that represents juvenile justice and childrens service organizations across the state, Floyd said the sensors led to about 90 percent of the vape cases.

State lawmakers have also looked at cracking down on vaping in schools. In the last state legislative session, Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, proposed a bill that would increase criminal penalties for vape possession by underage users. It would have increased fines and community service on people between the ages of 18 and 20 and sent those younger than 18 to juvenile court. The bill failed.

Right now, court officials place those cases on the regular misdemeanor docket, then take all the vape cases up to a different courtroom to give the young defendants more privacy. Turner, the judge in Cullman, supports efforts to revive Drummonds bill next year and to put vape court back under the jurisdiction of juvenile court. He said that moving the cases to juvenile court would unlock more services for young people who might need them.

Vape court will accept kids as young as 12, but Turner said the average age is 14 to 15. During a court day this month in Cullman, one of the defendants was just 13 years old.

Growing the program

Floyd and Bell have made presentations about vape court to prosecutors and to childrens advocacy groups. Officials in other counties have expressed interest in starting similar programs.

Judge Jay Mastin of Marshall County is one of them. His vape court in Guntersville launched at the beginning of the school year and is modeled on Cullman County. Students will have 16 hours of community service and education on the first offense, with punishments that escalate with each additional offense.

Mastin said he is concerned that kids are vaping without understanding the long-term health consequences. The problem has also become too widespread for schools to handle with regular forms of discipline, he said.

Traditionally if you were smoking at school, you had to light up a cigarette somewhere in the building, Mastin said. But with vaping, they can carry it around in their pocket and basically use it all day long as long as they arent that obvious with it.

By coming down hard on vaping, he hopes to send a message to kids in the area to avoid substances that could cause addiction and lung damage.

The worry is how its marketed, Mastin said. The fact that so much of it is scented and flavored with kind of trendy labels and colors. It just seems that its geared to be more attractive to kids.
Three months have passed since the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission was first scheduled to issue licenses to businesses to begin the work of getting products to patients.

Missteps and lawsuits have stalled the process.

Companies the AMCC did not pick for licenses have filed lawsuits, citing flaws in the process. Companies the AMCC did select are asking the court to make the AMCC stick with its choices and issue the licenses.

New developments are coming this week.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson will hold a hearing in the consolidated lawsuits filed against the AMCC.

On Thursday, the AMCC is scheduled to meet. According to a draft agenda, the AMCC will consider changing rules on license application evaluations and other parts of the process.

Meanwhile, a former lawmaker who for years championed the legislation to make medical marijuana available said patients have waited long enough. Former Rep. Mike Ball of Madison is urging the AMCC to go ahead and issue the licenses.

I know the process hasnt been perfect, Ball said. I dont think theres any such thing as a perfect bureaucracy and a perfect bureaucratic process. But you take what you got, you do the best you can with it. And I think the commission has tried to do the best they can overall. And they just need to pull the ripcord.

When I was in the Marine Corps, I jumped out of airplanes. Youve got to take that first step. And its time for them to start issuing licenses and get this thing going.

Related: Long wait drags on for patients in Alabama as medical cannabis hits snags

Ball, a former state trooper and investigator, was the House sponsor of the bill that lawmakers passed in 2021 to authorize medical marijuana. The law, also sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, set up a fully intrastate industry, with the AMCC to license the companies that will cultivate the plants, make the gummies and other products, and sell them in dispensaries to patients who have received a medical cannabis card from a qualified doctor.

More than 30 other states have legalized medical cannabis. But Ball said that does not help the patients in Alabama. The law does not allow Alabama residents to obtain the medication in other states and bring it back to Alabama.

Most people who enforce the law do have common sense, but there are some that dont, Ball said. And those people that dont will cause people who probably shouldnt be prosecuted for a crime to get prosecuted.

The delays started in June when the AMCC awarded 21 licenses to companies to cultivate, process, transfer, test, and dispense medical cannabis products. The licenses were to be issued in July after site inspections and other due diligence. But the AMCC withdrew those decisions after discovering mistakes in the tabulation of scores used to rank the applicants.

In August, the AMCC announced the mistakes were corrected and the scores were verified. It awarded licenses a second time, picking 24 companies, including 19 that had been chosen in June plus five more.

But the process hit another snag. Some companies that did not receive licenses filed lawsuits claiming the commission violated the state Open Meetings Act, among other claims. Montgomery County Circuit Judge Anderson issued an order putting the process on hold to allow lawyers for the companies and the AMCC to negotiate.

Alabama Always, a Montgomery-based company that says it has spent $7 million building a facility to grow and process medical cannabis, last week amended its lawsuit against the AMCC, first filed in June. Alabama Always is asking the court to declare invalid the AMCCs rules and application scoring system and require the AMCC to adopt new rules. Alabama Always applied for but was not awarded an integrated license, which allows companies to cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis.

A company that was picked for an integrated license has asked the court to do the opposite.

Southeast Cannabis Company, based in Mobile County, was awarded an integrated license in June and again in August. But because of the scoring problems and the lawsuits, the AMCC has not issued a license to Southeast Cannabis Company or any other company. Southeast Cannabis says it paid the $50,000 license fee in June.

In its lawsuit filed Oct. 4, Southeast Cannabis said the AMCC has no legal authority to rescind the license decisions it made in June and August. It asked the court to order the AMCC to issue its license. And it opposes the request by Alabama Always that would require the AMCC to restart the application process with new rules.

The Commission and this court should reject efforts by slighted applicants to reconfigure the entire process at this juncture, the lawsuit says.

Before the licensing process bogged down over the summer, AMCC officials said they expected products to be available late this year or early next year.

Products can include gummies, tablets, capsules, tinctures, patches, oils, and other forms allowed by the legislation. Patients who receive a medical cannabis card from a doctor will be able to buy the products at licensed dispensaries.

The products can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, weight loss and nausea from cancer, depression, panic disorder, epilepsy, muscle spasms caused by disease or spinal cord injuries, PTSD, and others.

Ball said the Legislature can make some revisions to the program if necessary, but that issuing licenses and getting the medication to patients should come first.

The commission needs to go ahead and issue the licenses as expeditiously as they can, Ball said. Because people are suffering and people are desperate.
A Blount County man has been convicted in the death of his girlfriends son and the abuse of her other son, who was killed earlier this year in an unrelated alleged abuse case.

A jury on Friday convicted Robert Keith Elmore Jr., 32, of capital murder in the 2019 death of 18-month-old Enzo McCormack.

He was also convicted of aggravated child abuse for injuries sustained by Jessie McCormack during the same time that Enzo was killed.

The trial began Sept. 28, and the jurys verdict was delivered about 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 6

The sentencing phase of the case began Monday morning and concluded Tuesday with the jurys recommendation of life without parole.

Enzo McCormack, 18 months, died in 2019, three days after he was gravely injured while in the care Elmore

Enzos mother, Samantha McCormack, is awaiting trial, which is set for 2024. She remains held without bond.

At 7 p.m. on September 6, 2019, Blount County authorities responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child at Locust Fork Hardware Store.

Locust Fork Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical personnel arrived on scene to find Enzo in respiratory distress. His pupils were fixed and dilated, and he was turning blue, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey. His body was already limp and cold to the touch.

Blount County EMS arrived on scene and transported Enzo to the Locust Fork Volunteer Fired Department where a landing zone had been secured for a helicopter called to transport the child to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham.

He died days later.

Enzo McCormack

Sgt. Chris Hollomon testified during the trial that he obtained a statement from McCormack at the Hardware Store.

She said she had been home alone with the children, and while using the restroom, she heard a thump in the living room.

McCormack returned to the living room to find Enzo choking on a piece of cereal.

Later that evening, she decided to take him to the hospital to be examined.

On her way to the store, McCormack stopped to get cigarettes and gasoline, according to testimony.

After entering the store, she with with Heather Elmore, Robert Elmore Jr.s, sister.

Heather Elmore testified she exited the store to check on the child whom she found to be limp and cold to the touch.

The two women then moved Enzo into the store and called 911.

Medics testified that when they arrived, Enzo could not breathe on his own and had to be intubated.

Authorities from the Blount County Department of Human Resources testified they transported two other children to Childrens of Alabama for medical evaluation. Court records identify those children as Enzos twin sister and his older brother, Jessie.

Haley Jenkins was one of the DHR caseworkers.

Jenkins testified that she remained at Enzos bedside throughout the night.

Blount County sheriffs Sgt. Ed Hull testified that he interviewed McCormack and Elmore after the children were taken to the hospital.

Elmore told Hull that on Sept. 6 he was caring for the children while their mother worked.

According to Elmore, he reached into a pack-n-play to get Enzo when the child pulled Elmores chest hair, and Elmore dropped the child.

Samantha McCormack (Blount County Jail)

Elmore did not give Hull any information concerning the origin of Enzos injuries, however he said the child did not have any bruising when Elmore got out of bed at 1 p.m. that day.

Dr. Michael Taylor testified that he examined the child and based on his training and experience, Enzo suffered blunt force trauma and severe acceleration and deceleration injuries from being violently shaken.

Enzo remained on a ventilator until Sept. 9, 2019, when doctors determined the child had no measurable brain activity and no further measures could be taken to save the life of the child. The doctor testified that Enzos injuries were not consistent with Elmores story.

Dr. Taylor also examined Jessie.

According to Dr. Taylor, Jessie had a skull fracture with arterial bleeding and swelling under the scalp, and he was hospitalized. The doctor said Jessies bruises behind his ears would have occurred within a few hours of sustaining his skull fracture.

Dr. Valerie Green, a forensic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that she performed an autopsy on Enzo.

She said Enzo had multiple contusions on his scalp, indicating he had at least two points of impact on his head. She also testified that the numerous retinal hemorrhages and the severity of the injury to the brain indicated the child had been violently shaken.

Elmores telephone records were also admitted into evidence.

Those records showed that at 5:41 p.m. on Sept 6, Elmore sent a message to the mother of the children informing her that Enzo aint breathing rite...he is limp...and almost blue.

Prosecutors argued that Elmore was alone with the children at 5:41 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019. Elmore intentionally and violently shook the child and repeatedly subjected the child to blunt force trauma, continued to shake the child until the child lost consciousness, and willfully denied the child proper medical care for over an hour because he intended for the child to die.

Casey said she respects the jurys verdict and appreciates their willingness to serve.

It has been a difficult nine days. This was a brutal attack perpetrated upon two innocent children,' she said. The testimony was not easy to listen to and the evidence was not easy to look at.

Yet, the jurors remained attentive and focused,' she said. They returned a verdict they deemed fair and just based on the evidence presented.

Jessie McCormack (AL.com)

Jessie McCormack, 6, died in January.

His father, Joshua D. Clark, 29, is charged with capital murder in Jessies death. A trial date has not yet been announced.

On Jan 18, 2023, Anniston police officers were called to Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center on a child abuse case.

They arrived to find the medical staffing treating the unconscious Jessie.

The boy was transferred to Childrens of Alabama with critical injuries. Clark, his father, was interviewed by detectives and charged with aggravated child abuse.

Jessie died on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. He was in his fathers custody at the time of his injuries and subsequent death.

The indictment said he was beaten to death by a belt or belt like object and hands.

McCormack asked to be released from jail to attend Jessies funeral, but a judge denied her request.

Clark and McCormack married in 2018, and separated just two months later, court records show.

They had three children together, first Jessie, who was born in April 2016, and then Enzo and his twin sister, who were born in 2018, four months before their parents got married.

Enzos twin sister is now the only surviving sibling.

Elmores formal sentencing has been set for Dec. 1, 2023. McCormacks capital murder trial is set for May 9, 2024.
S. Korean defense minister seeks to ditch inter-Korean military accord

By Lee Hyo-jin

The recent surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel has prompted South Korea to reassess its deterrence strategy against a potential North Korean invasion. Analysts highlighted the need for Seoul to prepare for multi-front attacks by Pyongyang, a tactic used by the Hamas militant group.

Hamas launched thousands of rockets from the blockaded Gaza Strip into Israel, Saturday, while employing guerrilla tactics that involved hundreds of gunmen infiltrating the country via land, sea, and air, some using paragliders. The unprecedented scale of attacks, which caught Israeli security forces off guard, has raised concerns of simliar assaults by North Korea against the South.

"The Hamas attack showed that a country relying heavily on advanced military hardware could fail to defend itself in the case of sudden attacks," said Yang Uk, a senior fellow at the Asan Insitute for Policy Studies, pointing to the failure of Israel's Iron Dome, which is regarded as the worlds leading air defense system.

Despite its known interception rate of 90 percent, the Iron Dome was overwhelmed by the barrage of rockets fired by Hamas, with some managing to bypass the system resulting in civilian caualties and damage to infrastructure.

According to South Korean military sources, North Korea has deployed more than 1,000 long-range artillery pieces near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), capable of firing approximately 16,000 shells per hour. Among those, some 340 are aimed at Seoul and it surrounding areas.

South Korea had once considered procuring the Israeli Iron Dome, Yang said, but ultimately decided against it because the system was developed to deter mortar shells, which are less powerful than artillery rounds and short-range ballistic missiles fired by North Korea.

Instead, Seoul is developing its own defensive shield called the Low Altitude Missile Defense (LAMD) system to counter the North's long-range artillery and plans to deploy it by 2026.

Yang also expressed concerns about the decreasing number of soldiers stationed in strategic locations as South Korea grapples with a chronic shortage of military personnel.

Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank, underscored the importance of strengthened intelligence capabilities and monitoring the North, mentioning the failure of the Israeli forces to preemptively detect signs of Hamas's attacks.

"It appears that the Israeli intelligence services did not detect any signs that Hamas was preparing to launch the coordinated land, air and sea strikes that were obviously planned for a long time," Shin said.

In order for the South Korean forces to better monitor the North's military activities, Seoul should also utilize its air surveillance assets near the border areas, he added.

Such actions would require scrapping the Sep. 19 inter-Korean military agreement, signed in 2018 by the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, which created military buffer zones along land and sea boundaries and no-fly zones above the border.

The effectiveness of the military accord, however, has been called into question in recent months as Pyongyang has repeatedly taken military actions in blatant disregard of the agreement, advancing its nuclear and missile programs.

Seoul's new defense minister Shin Won-shik said he would push for the suspension of the military agreement.

Shin, who was sworn in as the new defense chief on Saturday, said Israel would have suffered less damage from Hamas's recent attack if it had conducted surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"I will push for the suspension (of the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement) as soon as possible," he told the press, Tuesday, in his first meeting with reporters after taking office. "I believe a complicated legislative process is needed to fully abandon the agreement, but suspending it only requires a decision from a Cabinet meeting."

As the war entered the fourth day, as of Tuesday, about 1,600 civilians and soliders have died on both sides. The Israeli military said more than 900 people have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to the authorities there.
Longtime Decatur City Councilman Billy Jackson called for the firing of the officer who shot and killed Stephen Clay Perkins and for police chief Todd Pinion to either resign or be terminated.

Speaking at the end of Monday nights city council meeting, Jackson said he believed the police department had failed.

Its pretty clear for me, but Im not a police officer, Jackson told the crowd. But its pretty clear for me that this should not have happened, Jackson said Monday evening. So the thing that I was basing my opinion on was policies and procedures. And what policies, what procedures allowed our police officers to be out there at that time of night for something that could have been dealt with a week from now, ten days from now, two weeks from now?

A Decatur officer shot and killed Perkins during the early morning hours of Sept. 29 in the front yard of Perkins home on Ryan Drive Southwest.

Police said Perkins threatened a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his vehicle. The tow truck driver left the house but returned later with officers. In a press release, police said Perkins turned a gun toward the officer, causing the officer to fire.

Security camera footage released by the Perkins family showed that it was dark outside when Perkins walked out into his yard shining a light and shouted for the tow truck driver to put his vehicle down. Police appeared to emerge from the dark as an officer shouted for Perkins to drop a gun.

I dont know of any policy that would justify that, Jackson added. I dont know of any procedure that would have allowed us to go out there at that particular time in aid of, or in assisting a tow truck driver at that particular time when all we had to do was turn on the lights and knock on the door, he added. But the thing is that if police officers are outside my house and all the lights are on, and the blue lights are flashing everywhere, Im not coming out with a gun. Im just not. To me, thats suicide.

Jackson called for the firings and arrests of all of the officers who went to Perkins home that night.

I came here tonight with the intention of asking for a separation with Chief Pinion, Jackson said. I was going to ask either for his resignation or termination. I dont have anything against chief. I like chief. But the fact very simply is all policies and procedures stop with the chief.

Again, I dont have a problem with the chief on a personal level, but I do think our department has failed, Jackson added. And I think that our citizens, whether it was a Black citizen or a white citizen or any other citizen in our community should not have been treated this way. This was an injustice in my opinion.

At the meeting, several members of the public shared their grievances about Perkins death with the police and the elected leaders. Protests continue in the city more than a week after the deadly shooting.

Nick Perkins, brother of Stephen Perkins, asked, What is this council and this mayor doing to help implement new changes and policies and procedures for this police department?

Nick, let me start by telling you again Im very, very sorry about the loss of your brother, said Mayor Tab Bowling. The mayor said he was working with the police department, as Chief Pinion works with the command staff.

When Nick Perkins asked about what the city leaders are doing to pressure the Morgan County District Attorney to arrest the officers, Bowling referred to the ongoing state police investigation of the shooting.

Chief Pinion spoke briefly at the meeting  before Jackson called for his ouster  and said hes heard the communitys concerns. He said that he recognizes hes got work to do.

And I will do everything I can to get that, the chief said. I will work on everything. I know we have issues. Were human. We have issues. All right? I havent wiped anything away, havent tried to hide anything. Ive got some work to do.

After one speaker asked why the officers who were at the scene of the shooting are still receiving payment from the City, the mayor said he was just following the recommendations to him only to put the officer who shot Perkins on paid administrative leave.

Lets say this particular employee, he works for the police department, and his supervisor meets with our HR. Department and typically the legal department, and they make a recommendation for some type of action from the office to the office of the Mayor, Bowling said. In this case, the action that was presented to me was for an administrative leave, so thats what I approved, and thats whats taking place.

Councilman Jackson said he believes the mayor should be able to do more than what the recommendation says.

I do think that the officers should be terminated, Mayor; I do think that they should be arrested, he said. And I think that they need to be made immediately. And, now, I could be wrong. But I do think that the Mayor can override any recommendation made by any department head and can make those changes.

The mayor announced that he would not seek re-election in 2025, but said he made the decision three weeks ago, before the shooting.

Jackson said he had known Perkins and his family for many years.

This hurts me deeply, he said. For this to have happened in our community, it hurts me deeply for it to happen to somebody who Ive known my entire, or his entire life, basicallyIm a good bit older than Steve wasbut its just its something thats painful, and I think that we do need to make changes in our police department.
Despite arrests and police confrontations in Decatur during the weekend, protesters vow to continue seeking justice in the police killing of Stephen Perkins.

Protest organizer Briona Watkins said she counted eight arrests for disorderly conduct over the weekend, including one for cursing and others for stepping into the street, rather than remaining on sidewalks.

Hundreds of people marched through downtown to protest the death of 39-year-old Perkins, a gym-enthusiast shot by police in his front yard in the middle of the night on Sept. 29.

A Decatur Police Department spokesperson told AL.com there were multiple arrests, over the weekend. She did not provide any other information.

[Read more: Decatur councilman calls for firing of officer who killed Stephen Perkins, ouster of chief]

One protester, Kurt White, said she suffered a concussion when four police officers threw her to the ground.

I ran to get closer to the crowd, and they slammed me on the ground, she told AL.com. They dove for my feet and knocked me sideways. I suffered a concussion. So, some things might be a little spotty right now, with my memory.

A live video feed shared to Facebook showed police warning that they would arrest anyone who used curse words. Watkins said police arrested one of her friends, a woman who has attended protests every day since the shooting, for cursing.

That is absolutely ridiculous, she said. Absolutely ridiculous.

Another protester, Michele McCrary, told AL.com she witnessed the arrest. She said the police ran up and told the woman she was under arrest because they had a recording of her cursing. You are under arrest for cursing out here in the public, an officer told the woman on a video recording viewed by AL.com.

Video showed police pursue a man after he stepped onto the street to pick up a bullhorn that had fallen to the ground.

Watkins said the arrests did not weaken their resolve to continue protesting. It didnt, she said in a text message to AL.com Tuesday. If anything, it made us go harder.

As the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency continues investigating the shooting, protesters continue calling for justice, accountability and transparency.

Watkins said there will be a community revival event outside Decatur City Hall tonight at 5:30.

On the night of the shooting, the police said, officers went to Perkins home sometime after 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 29. Earlier that night, police said in a news release, Perkins had threatened a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his vehicle. The tow truck driver left, but returned with police. In the news release, police said that Perkins pointed a gun at one of them during the incident.

Home security camera video captured by a neighbor suggests that Perkins was not aware of police presence as he came into his yard that night. The footage showed that a police officer started shooting at him immediately after shouting for Perkins to get on the ground.

Decatur resident Veronda Sales said she attended a protest in downtown Decatur on Saturday night and saw police get rough with demonstrators.

We want justice, Sales said. Were not going to let up. Were not going to tear down. Were not going to burn up. Nothing. We want justice. Thats all we ask for. But were not going to keep letting the police harass us.

Lee Merritt, attorney for Perkins family, told AL.com in a Zoom interview this week that the family appreciates those arrested.

We thank those community members who have volunteered their bodies, he said. Weve set up a community relief fund to work on bail. I asked anybody who makes the strategic decision to be arrested that they do so as a part of an organized movement. We dont, I dont believe in chaos or sporadic acts of violence or crime.

If there are people on the ground or who are discontent about the criminal justice system in Decatur, Alabama, and who are willing to put their bodies on the line, those people ought to be lauded in support of our community, he added.

During a vigil last week, Merritt, who has offices in Philadelphia, Penn. and Dallas, Texas, called on the crowd to act.

If youre quiet in your city, that means you consent, he said to the hundreds of people gathered. If you dont get into these streets, that means you consent; if you dont burn something down, that must mean that you consent. Over the course of the next 24 hours, 48 hours, over the course of the next week, over the course of the next month, the people of Decatur are going to demonstrate that we do not consent to the murder of Stephen Perkins. We do not consent to the murder of Steven Perkins, so we are going to be on these streets until we get justice. So were going to fight until every officer is arrested.

Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling said in response that the attorney made those comments because this isnt his home. Hell go to the next place where theres money and opportunity for him.

Bringing more violence to the area isnt going to improve things, the mayor added. Were going to get justice. We just need to give it a little time.

Merritt said that on Friday he requested the police bodycam footage of the killing from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which has taken over investigating the case. A law passed in 2023 provided that a personal representative of a deceased individual may apply to see the footage but shall not record or copy the recording.

Editors note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that police shouted for Perkins to drop a gun. An officer was heard on video shouting for Perkins to get on the ground.
David Cole, who resigned from the Alabama House of Representatives in August after pleading guilty to a felony, will serve 60 days in the Madison County Jail.

Madison County Circuit Judge Alan Mann sentenced Cole in a hearing Tuesday morning to three years in prison, which will be split to serve 60 days in the county jail near downtown Huntsville. The balance of the sentence is suspended. Cole must also pay $52,000 in restitution.

Cole, 52, pleaded guilty to voting at an unauthorized location  a Class C felony -- in the November 2022 general election.

Related: Madison County lawmaker David Cole arrested on illegal voting charge

Related: David Cole resigns seat in Alabama House after arrest on illegal voting charge

Cole, a Republican, was charged with violating Code of Alabama 17-17-28, which says, Any person who knowingly presents false identification in order to vote at a polling place where he or she otherwise would not be qualified to vote, or who knowingly votes at a polling place where he or she has not been authorized to vote, or who knowingly votes at more than one polling place in the same election on the same day shall be guilty, upon conviction, of a Class C felony.

Cole resigned his seat Aug. 31 after being arrested.

Cole admitted to voting in House District 10 when he lived in House District 4. The districts are contiguous and are divided by the Madison County/Limestone County line.

Coles election to the state House last year as the District 10 representative was contested within days of the election. Cole maintained he did nothing wrong in defending himself in the lawsuit.

Gov. Kay Ivey has set a new election date to fill Coles seat for March 26, 2024, preceded by party primary elections on Dec. 12.
Fulton Countys district attorney on Monday met with the family of a church deacon who died in August after being stunned by an Atlanta police officer at the scene of a traffic crash.

The death of 62-year-old Johnny Hollman was ruled a homicide, caused by a combination of the officers Taser and heart disease, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office.

At a news conference on the courthouse steps, Hollmans family said the purpose of their meeting with DA Fani Willis was two-fold: to give her a chance to meet Hollmans children, and to ask how long it might take her to reach a charging decision.

He was a father, a grandfather, a deacon, and he did not deserve to die the way that he did, family attorney Mawuli Davis said.

The family said Willis assured them the officers body camera footage could be released once all the witnesses are interviewed, though its unclear how long that may take.

Davis noted the police department regularly releases bodycam video when it is helpful to law enforcement. He also said it would likely take months for the DAs office to decide whether to pursue charges.

The only thing that we think the public should conclude is that the reason it hasnt been released is because its damaging to the narrative, Davis said. The only person on that video who was out of control  that we saw  was Officer (Kiran) Kimbrough.

Last week, Hollmans family made an emotional plea at the city council meeting, urging officials to make the footage public. The council passed a resolution unanimously requesting that the mayors office and the police department release it.

The family was previously allowed to view five minutes of the unreleased video, which they said was troubling to watch.

Authorities said Hollman was determined to be the at-fault driver in the minor crash and became agitated when the officer tried to cite him. But Hollmans children said the 23-year-old police officer got angry after their father asked to speak with a supervisor.

What we saw was murder, Davis said. We saw an assault against a 62-year-old man who was literally pleading for his life  informing the officer that he could not breathe.

The GBI is investigating the officers use of force and has asked APD not to release the video until its investigation is complete.

APD changed its policy in the wake of the deacons death, instructing officers not to arrest drivers for refusing to sign traffic citations. Going forward, the department said, police will simply write refusal to sign on the ticket.

The policy change came after Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens ordered a top-to-bottom evaluation of the interaction between Hollman and Kimbrough, who was placed on administrative leave during the GBIs investigation.

According to the autopsy report, Hollman was unresponsive from the time that the energy device was deployed. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hollmans official cause of death is listed as cardiac dysrhythmia due to use of (a Taser) in association with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the autopsy report. He also had underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and obesity, which the medical examiner determined contributed to his death.

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2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle appears ready to run it back again. And for the fifth time.

Battles campaign announced Tuesday morning that he will announce his reelection campaign plans at a rally Wednesday in downtown Huntsville. Its long been expected that Battle would seek a fifth term as Huntsvilles mayor.

The event will take place at noon at the Historic Huntsville Depot Roundhouse  the same place he kicked off his 2020 campaign that resulted in his third straight landslide reelection victory. The announcement invited supporters to lunch with the mayor  the sort of thing that doesnt happen when a candidate is announcing he wont run again.

The Battle campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

During Battles current term, Huntsville has ascended to the largest city in Alabama and recent city estimates put the population of the Rocket City at about 235,000 people.

Amid that growth is a plethora of significant projects in which the city, and Battle, is involved.

Mill Creek: A $400 million, multi-year project with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that is reimagining and restoring the Butler Terrace public housing community near downtown.

Roads: Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks to connect four-lane Research Park Boulevard/MLK Highway with Memorial Parkway near the Bob Wade Lane interchange  creating a fast track to Redstone Arsenal for commuters north of Huntsville. Other projects include the final stretch of Interstate 565 to be widened through Madison and an overhaul of the I-565/Memorial Parkway interchange.

New city hall: The The $80 million building across Fountain Circle from the current city hall is expected to be completed next year.

Music festival: Battle announced plans last month to bring a Battle announced plans last month to bring a two-day outdoor music festival to John Hunt Park that, pending city council approval, will have the city working with Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza promotors C3 Presents.

Should Battle be reelected and serve a full term, he would match Joe Davis as the citys longest-serving mayor at 20 years.

A sellout crowd of about 1,100 business and community leaders attended Battles state of the city address last month.
A McDonalds worker shot and killed a 30-year-old woman at a North Carolina restaurant, officials said.

The employee is accused of firing a gun at Jacklyn Marie Reed as a disturbance broke out at the fast-food restaurant. The bullet struck the woman in her chest, and she died on the scene Monday, Oct. 9, the Hendersonville Police Department told WLOS and wrote in a news release.

This was a senseless cold-blooded crime, Police Chief Blair Myhand told WYFF.

The worker was taken into custody outside his childs school and charged with second-degree murder. Police in their news release didnt list attorney information for the man, identified as 35-year-old Sam Antwan Ivey of Hendersonville.

The shooting was reported at the McDonalds on Four Seasons Boulevard in Hendersonville. Teresa Edwards, owner and operator of the restaurant, said the location is cooperating with law enforcement.

My entire restaurant team remains in shock after todays tragic events, and our hearts go out to the victims family during this difficult time, Edwards told McClatchy News Oct. 9 in an emailed statement. We are concentrating on ensuring our people receive the support they need, and are making crisis counselors available to all employees.

Edwards also said guns are banned on the property, which expects to bolster its conflict-management training after the incident.

Police said the shooting happened after Reed  who is from Johnson City, Tennessee  argued with another woman at a nearby bus stop. They came into the McDonalds, where a manager separated them.

Reed left the restaurant only to return shortly after where she was met by the manager and a male employee, officers wrote. During the disturbance, the victim reached out and touched the male restaurant employee, who shot the victim with a concealed handgun.

Based on what we see in surveillance video, this was a far over-reaction to the situation that was happening, Myhand told WYFF.

Ivey left the scene before officials tracked him to his childs elementary school. Police dont believe he planned to harm people there.

In addition to second-degree murder, Ivey faces a firearm charge. As of Oct. 9, he reportedly was being held without bond at the Henderson County jail, with a court appearance scheduled for the following day.

Police in Hendersonville, a mountain town roughly 25 miles south of Asheville, didnt immediately share additional information about their investigation with McClatchy News on Oct. 9.

2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Authorities are asking for the publics help identifying a man sought in a sexual abuse case.

Opelika police on Tuesday released an artist sketch of the man.

The investigation began last week after the victim reported the Sept. 22 incident.

Authorities said the victim was walking in the area of Randall Drive and Veterans Parkway when the suspect  identified as a Hispanic male with black hair a short beard  inappropriately grabbed the victim. The incident happened about 3 p.m.

Police officials would not release the gender of the victim, but said the victim was not raped.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Anyone with information on the suspects identity or the alleged crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP (251-7867). Tips can also be submitted through the P-3 tips app.
Some of the Alabamians who got stuck in Israel when war broke out are now headed back home as others wait to learn when they will be able to board flights.

In a video update posted to Facebook on Monday night, the Rev. Thack Dyson of St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Daphne said two of their members were about to board flights.

We feel your prayers, we feel your support, and we think things are coming together, Dyson said. People are trickling out, which is a good thing.

Dyson and 17 church members arrived in Israel last week and had just started a tour in Tel Aviv. On Saturday morning, air raid sirens blared as Palestinian militant group Hamas launched unexpected missiles and gunfire.

Once war broke out, the Alabamians moved to the north of Israel near the Sea of Galilee, where theyve been stuck amid flight cancellations.

A group of 11 members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills were also in Israel when the fighting began. A woman who answered the phone at the church on Tuesday afternoon told AL.com that all of their members have made it out of Israel.

They did cross over into Jordan, she said. They are safe.

She said that the church couldnt provide more details about the group to preserve their safety.

Birmingham resident Sarah Okinedo said her mother, Judy Hale, is one of the St. Pauls Episcopal members who went on the trip. She told AL.com on Tuesday that her mother and seven other members expect to board flights home on Wednesday. Okinedo said that her mother told her five people have already left and four more are expected to leave Thursday, barring any cancellations.

I am praying they get home safely, Okinedo said in an email. Im hopeful for a safe return above all else.

Alabama political leaders have spoken out about getting residents back home safely. U.S. Sen. Katie Britts office is directly aware of dozens of Alabamians, at minimum who are still in Israel, even as the State Department cant confirm an official headcount, said press secretary Mitch Rabalais.

Over the past few days, my office and I have been in contact with Alabamians who are currently in Israel. By providing assistance, passing along information, and connecting constituents to people and resources at the State Department, we are working diligently to help bring each and every Alabamian home safely and promptly, Britt said in a statement to AL.com. If you or a loved one needs our help, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Were here to serve every resident of our great state, no matter where they may be in the world.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Monday posted a link to his offices contact form on X, formerly Twitter. He asked that people notify his office of Alabamians who need help getting out of Israel.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl said in a Yellowhammer News column on Tuesday that hes in communication with the State Department and Alabama residents in Israel who are trying to get home.

Dyson confirmed in a video update that representatives from both U.S. Sen. Katie Britts and U.S. Rep. Jerry Carls offices have reached out to his group.

I cant say again, or enough rather, how much we respect and appreciate our government, especially our representatives from the state of Alabama, who have been looking after us and trying to shepherd us through this difficult time, he said.

At least 1,600 people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip since early Saturday. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war, and the Israeli military ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and the 2.3 million Palestinians living there. The siege, condemned by the United Nations Secretary-General, has halted any food, water, electricity or supplies amid continued airstrikes. Disputes over who has rights to the land have long preceded this latest conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Oct. 10. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Major U.S.-based and international airlines, including American, Delta and United, have suspended direct flights to and from Israel. The Federal Aviation Administration urged U.S. pilots to be careful while flying over Israeli airspace.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel issued guidance on Monday for U.S. citizens trying to leave Israel to monitor flights at Ben Gurion International Airport and four land border crossings between Israel and the West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt. On Monday, the Israeli military bombed the Rafah Crossing, the sole border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, and the only way out for people in Gaza.

Dyson said that his group is finding flights in different directions, including Turkey and Dubai, in order to leave Israel.

Its going to be an interesting adventure, but we certainly will have a story to tell when we get back, he said. But we will be back.

Dyson said that hes especially grateful for the support and help from the staff of Immanuel Tours, the company that led their tour, even as their families are living in Israel and trying to stay safe.

Immanuel Tours thanked people for their outreach and prayers in a Facebook post on Monday.

Most importantly, all our groups are safe and our team makes sure all safety measures and needs are met so they can safely travel, the tour group said. We understand that there is a lot of uncertainty and please reach out if you have any questions. We are following the authorities guidelines and will continue to keep you informed as the situation becomes clearer.
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This is an opinion column.

Forget all those dont say gay laws. In Alabama, its taboo to even be named Gay.

As my colleague Williesha Morris reported Sunday, a kids picture book about the construction of a doghouse was deemed potentially sexually explicit and thus listed among books to be moved from the childrens section of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (HMCPL) system.

Not because of its content, but because the authors name is Gay. Marie-Louise Gay.

Or, as they say in Alabama, Marie-Louise (Bleep).

Id blame artificial intelligence, but theres nothing artificial or intelligent about any of this. Its just real stupid.

Like this whole manufactured library porn scare. Moms for Liberty and assorted purgers look for books that acknowledge the existence of gay or trans people or talk about racial inequality, and then they shout porn.

More like:

POOOOOOOOORN!

Its indecent to be different in Alabama. Or to think differently.

So Gov. Kay Ivey threatens funding for libraries with sexually explicit childrens books, as if Larry Flynt is in the kid lit biz.

And book banners use search terms like gay to rid library books without bothering to read them.

I guess students will study the Enola (Bleep) and the (Bleep)-continental railroad. Theyll miss out on the (Bleep) Nineties, and theyll never hear of UAs own (Bleep) Talese.

Out of dumb, bigoted, fear mongering ignorance.

Let me say it out loud. Nobody wants obscenity in the childrens section. And its not there.

As Alabama Library Association President Matthew Layne aptly put it:

To my knowledge, no sexually explicit material has ever been on display in any Alabama librarys childrens department which begs the question, how is the governors office defining sexually explicit? Common sense and common decency dictate that any material containing sexually explicit images or passages would not be located in a childrens department of a library. If there were indeed such items, then I would expect the library and the community it serves to act accordingly to have them removed.

Its not about decency. Its about equating difference to indecency.

Im reminded, weirdly enough, of a letter John Adams wrote to his old frenemy Thomas Jefferson in May of 1816. In that letter Adams bad-mouthed the Jesuits and their Restoration a couple years before.

I do not like the Resurrection of the Jesuits, Adams wrote, arguing that they stood in the way of intellectual growth, and obstructed the improvement of the human mind in society.

Let me make it clear here. I am not here to impugn the Jesuits (though they probably deserve it). Just Moms for Liberty, Clean Up Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey and their ilk.

When Jefferson got around to replying to Adams, on August 1, 1816, he acknowledged up front that he didnt know much about the history of the Jesuits.

But he went on to talk about his own beliefs, and the importance of a free pursuit of ideas as a way to move from darkness to light.

Because suppression of ideas is simply intolerance. Bigotry.

Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid mind; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant, he wrote. Education and free discussion are the antidote of both.

Education and free discussion are the antidote for a whole lot of things.

Jefferson didnt claim to know it all, or to be right about it all, but he knew where he, and Adams, stood.

We shall have our follies without doubt. Some one or more of them will always be afloat, Jefferson wrote. But ours will be the follies of enthusiasm, not of bigotry.

I will claim that folly, too. With enthusiasm. And this next part, too.

We are destined, Jefferson wrote, to be a barrier against the returns of ignorance and barbarism.

Be that.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner at AL.com.
Earl Trammell began working on cars in 1960, fixing up wrecked vehicles out of a four-car garage. He then worked his way to open his own shop on 6th Avenue South, in Birminghams Southside neighborhood, in the 1980s.

Throughout his professional life, Trammell collected cars, viewing vehicles as investments.

The Warrior resident, who died in May 2022 at age 88, stored the vehicles in places ranging from the basements of investment properties he purchased to a barn.

The world did not know of Trammells extensive collection of hardly used vehicles -- which included a 1998 Indy Pace Car with 23 miles on the odometer -- and worth roughly a collective $1 million.

Until a few months ago, when Trammells widow, Patricia Trammell, settled his estate, selling the vehicles to Alabama car wholesaler John Pierce and Pierces business partner, car enthusiast and radio show host John Clay Wolfe.

Wolfe, CEO of the car buying website GiveMeTheVIN.com, featured the collection -- and Trammells barn -- on his YouTube channel.

Trammells widow sold Pierce and Wolfe a 1996 Porsche about 1 1/2 years ago. She called the partners recently to tell them she was trying to unload a 1997 Corvette with only 100 miles on it.

It turned into they wanted to go ahead and get rid of the collection of cars that they had for years, Pierce said.

Wolfe said the barns looks were deceiving.

It was a tiny little barn in Alabama that looked ridiculous. Like, you would never expect theres a million dollars worth of cars there, he said. Well, there was.

Pierce and Wolfe negotiated with Patricia Trammell and wired her funds the next day to begin taking possession of the 22 vehicles purchased between the 1970s and 1990s.

Since the cars were not driven, it would be dangerous to start them. Pierce and Wolfe had to move the vehicles on rollers.

The cars dont need much maintenance, however, and it doesnt make sense to make them wet, or add radiator fluid, oil or fuel to them, according to Wolfe.

These cars that are new from 1971, 1978, theres no reason to make them wet because the odds are theyre going to live the rest of their lives in a museum or a collection, he said. Right now, its going to be our collection because Im selling nothing. This is the biggest day Ive had in a long time, Im really excited.

Wolfe said he and his business partner are conflicted about the next steps for the collection.

Hes gonna want to sell them and I dont wanna sell them  Im not gonna screw him out of anything, but I dont want to sell them, Wolfe said.

The radio show host and entrepreneur noted that some of the vehicles interiors are still wrapped in plastic. Others still have their window stickers attached.

This is the goofiest thing Ive seen in my career. Ive been doing this 31 years, Ive never seen anything like this, he said. I may be like the crazy old guy that bought them. I may die, and the next time that yall here about them is when I die and people are coming to scoop them out of my barn. This is by far the biggest find of my career.

John Hollander, Earl Trammells brother-in-law, said Earl Trammell began rebuilding 1957 Chevrolets.

He would just buy Corvettes and put them up, brand new. Wed buy houses and hed put them in basements, Hollander said.

Earl Trammell would also store the vehicles in warehouses, which became full.

When Earl Trammer died last year, Hollander said he encouraged his sister to sell his brother-in-laws collection.

These cars need to be out where people can see them, he said.
Police said Tuesday that they have arrested a woman in connection with the death of her newborn baby, the latest in a series of infanticides that have rocked Korea.

The woman in her 40s is accused of throwing her newborn daughter out of a second-floor motel window soon after giving birth in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, last Wednesday.

The police launched an investigation into the case after a resident who lives near the motel found the dead body wrapped in bed sheets inside a paper bag and reported it to the police Monday.

The woman was put under emergency detention after police found her on a nearby street and detained her.

The suspect reportedly told the police that she gave birth to the baby Wednesday and "threw her out the window after ripping off the screens," adding she thought someone would take good care of her if they found her.

She said that she does not know who the baby's father is, whom she met while drinking, officials said.

The police plan to request an arrest warrant for the suspect and conduct an autopsy of the baby to determine the exact cause of her death.

In July, the National Assembly passed a bill to toughen the punishment, up to the death penalty, for the killing of newborn babies and related cases of body abandonment following public outrage over the recent deaths of unregistered infants.

The Board of Audit and Inspection found that some 2,000 babies born in the country between 2015 and 2022 were undocumented after birth.

Among the cases, a baby who was born in 2022 was later discovered to have died from malnutrition in the southern city of Changwon.

In June, the police arrested a mother for allegedly strangling her two unregistered babies to death shortly after their births in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and keeping their bodies in a refrigerator in her apartment in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
This is an opinion column.

I believe in prayer. Wholly, and without equivocation.

Ive seen it work. For my family. For others. For me.

When my daughter was in first grade, she accidently spilled most of a cup of hot cocoa on her chest. She bent over in pain, trapping much of the hot liquid in her abdomen. Third-degree burns (words you never want to hear), the doctors said.

She spent 10 days in the hospital burn unita place you never want to go, ever. Ten days of cleansing the wound. Of grafts. Of pain. For all of those days, our church prayed. Our family prayed. Our friends prayed. Her friends prayed. Teachers prayed.

She left the hospital. Prayers answered.

Upon arriving at home, she couldnt walk. Too much pain. Just a few days later, though, she walked into church. Prayers answered.

She already swam competitively, though we didnt know when she would swim again. If shed swim again. If shed feel comfortable in a swimsuit, comfortable revealing the scars on her abdomen.

One day during a follow-up doctor visit, she looked at me. Dont worry, Daddy, Ill wear a two-piece. Prayers answered (I think.)

She became a state champion. Prayers answered.

Prayers are for healing. Prayers are for strength. Prayers are for discernment. Prayers for restoration.

Stephen Clay Perkins family should not have to pray for truth. For transparency.

His friends should not have to pray for truth. For accountability.

His city should not have to pray for truth. For action.

We should not have to pray for any of it. Not anymore. Not after George Floyd. Not after Breonna Taylor. Not after Tyre Nichols. And so many more. Too many more. (E.J. Bradfords family is still praying.)

Not after so many lives taken by police. So many Black lives.

We should not have to pray for the release of the bodycam footage revealing another angle of what happened early Friday morning on September 29 when Perkins was killed by police in the front yard of his home in Decatur, about 26 miles southwest of Huntsville. Shot and killed over a dispute with a tow truck driver who had come to repossessrightly or wrongly, as his family attestsPerkins truck.

A tow driver. A truck. All for a life.

The angles weve seen, shot by neighbors security cams, dont show us much, but what we hear is horrifying18 shots fired in rapid succession, less than a beat after an officer yelled for Perkins to drop the gun.

18.

We know what police say: That Perkins, some time after 1:30 a.m., turned the gun toward the officer causing the officer to fire.

18 times.

What does the video say? Let us all see for ourselves. That should not have to be our prayer. Not anymore.

Read more:

 Decatur police chief claims law prevents releasing body cam footage in Stephen Perkins death

 Stephen Perkins family releases video of deadly police shooting

Emotions are understandably raw in Decatur, the River City its called. Last weekend, hundreds gathered at city hall there to pray. To pray through their pain.

Everyone does not believe in prayer, I know and respect. Prayer will not please everyone. For some, its not enough. On Tuesday, a Decatur city councilman called for the still-unnamed officer who killed Perkins to be fired, and for Police Chief Todd Pinion to lose his job, too.

The department failed, the councilman said.

Our state bodycam law is toothless. Any citizen can ask for footage, but the authoritieshere, the folks at ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agent) overseeing the investigationdont have to turn it over to the public. When they dont, they must only tell us why.

The usual reply: Just because. Or it might as well be. Wrapped in jargon, they defend the denial by calling it part of an ongoing investigation.

Duh. All the more reason it should be released. All the more reason its truthas horrific as it almost certainly isshould be revealed. (Or, at minimum, shown to the family.)

All the more reason ALEA should stop hiding behind opaque claims that long ago became unjustifiable.

Just because. Because we should no longer have to pray for truth and transparency.

Not anymore.

More columns by Roy S. Johnson

This baseball fan laments disappearing 20-game winner

Tubervilles racist military words set us dangerously back

I want to cry too, at sight of Black men flailing, failing our youth

Remembering Rep. Barbara Jordan

Im a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary, a member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, and winner of the Edward R. Murrow prize for podcasts for Unjustifiable, co-hosted with John Archibald. My column appears in AL.com, as well as the Lede. Check out my new podcast series Panther: Blueprint for Black Power, which I co-host with Eunice Elliott. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, The Barbershop, here. Reach me at rjohnson@al.com, follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj
This is an opinion piece.

When a person returns to their community after serving their time in Alabama, they should be able to do so with confidence that they will receive the skills and supports necessary for gainful employment, financial stability, a renewed commitment to their families, and good health. And the rest of us should stand ready to walk alongside them. But too often, we send people home woefully underprepared and unsupported for the realities they face after release, which is a direct threat to public safety. The result is predictable: 30 percent of those community members will be back in prison within three years.

I know we can do better, and thats why Im proud Governor Kay Ivey has asked me to lead a transformative new initiative for our state called Reentry 2030. Our goal is as simple as it is bold: cut our states recidivism rate in half by 2030. We will also increase participation in post-release employment services by 50 percent over the same period. With over 43,000 people in Alabama currently serving on either probation or parole, these efforts could greatly assist in improving public safety.

RELATED: How Alabama is trying to steer men toward work, away from prison

What makes me so confident we can get the job done? Weve got the will, and weve already gotten started. Our states participation in Reentry 2030 builds on recent investments to improve outcomes for people leaving prisons and jails, particularly through our day reporting centers. At any of our 12 day reporting centers across the state, people on probation or parole can access services and resources they need while ensuring accountability and compliance with supervision requirements. Statistics show with the addition of programming, recidivism rates are half of the general recidivism rate for the state. The general recidivism rate is between 28-33 percent. With programming, weve achieved rates as low as four percent.

Alabamas greatest strength in the journey toward better reentry outcomes will be its all-hands-on-deck approach. Recognizing no single agency can accomplish this alone, Alabama state legislators formed the Commission on Reentry in 2021. Policymakers and leaders from the state departments of the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, Labor, Corrections, community supervision, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Office of Prosecution Services, Mental Health, Medicaid, Human Resources, and Veterans Affairs, among others, joined forces on the commission and developed recommendations and strategic plans to improve how the agencies collectively serve people returning to the community from prison. A final report was issued in January 2023 outlining our plans to accomplish these goals.

These agencies have already been working together collaboratively to achieve our Reentry 2030 goals. Were going to continue things like expand access to behavioral health care and addiction treatment, streamline the issuance of state identification cards, and increase participation in job training, apprenticeship, and educational services.

We picked these strategies because we know theyll be impactful. Seventy-five to 80 percent of people in Alabama Department of Corrections custody have a substance use disorder, which means improving and expanding treatment services is imperative to see better reentry outcomes. And vital documents and access to education are essential building blocks for any persons economic mobility and social capital. Thats particularly the case for those who have been disconnected from their families and community, who experience the many barriers people with criminal records face, and who may have had limited opportunities prior to their incarceration.

Were not alone in this work. Reentry 2030 is a national initiative led by The Council of State Governments Justice Center, the Correctional Leaders Association, and JustLeadershipUSA, with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which is a component of the Department of Justices Office of Justice Programs. Missouri became the first state to join the initiative earlier this year.

Reentry 2030 aims to dramatically improve reentry success for people exiting prison and those under supervision. By joining the initiative, we get support from these national organizations to meet the goals we set for ourselves. Well exchange ideas with Missouri and the other states I believe will follow our lead.

The bottom line: we must provide better reentry programing to the post-incarcerated population of our state if we are going to make a meaningful impact in preventing those people from recommitting a criminal act.

Alabamas resolute goal to slash its recidivism rate by half is a testament to our governors visionary and steadfast leadership, and I am committed to getting the job done. Through Reentry 2030, we will break generational cycles of incarceration, strengthen the states workforce, and build stronger families and communities.

Cam Ward is Director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. He served two terms in the Alabama House of Representatives beginning in 2002. In 2010, he was elected to the Alabama Senate.He was re-elected in 2012 and served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ward also has served as President of the Alabama Law Institute.
Many on the right are waking up to public schools indoctrinating children into woke ideologies. X (formerly Twitter) accounts like Libs of TikTok have been exposing public school teachers as Marxists, intent on coaxing children into their gnostic cults. The right has been predictably outraged and has shown up in force for school board meetings demanding change. A few teachers have been fired, but there appears to be an endless supply of replacements in the ideological war.

Most normal Americans have started understanding that diversity is a common Marxist buzzword. When a Marxist uses the word diversity, he does not mean the standard definition. What Marxists mean is conformity. Everyone must conform to what the Marxists say is true. Marxism thinks it is building toward utopia but believes that utopia cannot be achieved unless everyone is striving toward the same goal. There can be no dissent, not even by a single individual. Thus, the modern Marxist operates under the logic of Herbert Marcuses infamous essay, Repressive Tolerance. Movements from the left must be tolerated, no matter how violent, but movements from the right must be pre-censored so that even the offending thought does not enter a persons head. The demand for ideological conformity has dominated our state universities since the 1960s.

The reason for the multitude of Marxists in our public schools is our ideologically captured secondary education systems. To demonstrate this point, a brief survey was conducted of teacher colleges. One state university from each state was selected, and their Elementary Education degree requirements were evaluated. In every case, at least one, often more than one, explicitly woke class was either required or recommended.

The worst offender on the list was Arizona State University. The major map on the ASU website listed no fewer than ten required or suggested courses containing the words diversity, multiculturalism, equity, inclusivity, global citizen, culturally responsive, or social and emotional. All are Marxist buzzwords, with some also tying into the idea of global governance promoted by the World Economic Forum. One course, SCN 202, Sustainability Science Literacy for Engaged Global Citizens, openly admits that it is Grounded in UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For those who do not know, the SDGs are a Marxist attempt to achieve control of the Western world. James Lindsay of New Discourses has done some work exposing the National Education Associations importation of the SDGs into the American curriculum. ASU is openly indoctrinating students to contribute to the destruction of America as we know it.

ASU is hardly the only offender. The University of Tennessee Knoxville and Michigan State University require or suggest at least six woke courses for their elementary education majors. MSU requires three one-credit seminars entitled Justice and Equity. MSU also requires two three-credit classes entitled Pedagogy and Politics of Justice and Equity in Education and Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education, among other courses. UT Knoxville suggests or requires Sustainable Human Geographies; Social Justice, Education, and Service Learning; and Professional Studies for Special Education and Diverse Learners.

It should be noted that red states are just as guilty as blue or purple states. Arizona and Michigan are purple states, while Tennessee is reliably red. Other reliably red states like Texas and Florida were also guilty. Texas State University offers an elective called Writing for Sustainable Change and requires two courses called Education and Equity in a Diverse Society and Language & Literacy in Diverse Communities. Florida State University requires Culturally Responsive Teaching for Equitable Instruction and Introduction to Diversity for Teachers for its elementary education majors. Predictably, at least some blue states are worse. UCLA offers a major entitled Education and Social Transformation.

This survey merely scratches the surface. There are nearly 1,700 public universities in the United States, and a substantial number undoubtedly issue teaching degrees. This survey covered fifty of them. Furthermore, as many parents realized during lockdowns, what is said in a class may not always match the title and course descriptor. A lecture on proper classroom discipline can easily turn into a lecture on equity, even if the course title says Classroom Management. Without cameras in every classroom, there is no way to know how bad the indoctrination is. Teacher colleges are infested with Marxists who are indoctrinating your kids, and you are paying for it in taxes and tuition fees.

School choice wont save us. In an ideal world, school choice is a wonderful solution. But this is not an ideal world. Even if school choice laws are passed in every state and territory, the problem is not the public education system. The system is only as good as the teachers and administrators who run it. If we successfully enact school choice laws, that will enable the rise of charter and independent schools. The question then arises: where will the teachers come from?

If your answer to the above question is "there are tons of good teachers; the system is the problem," you are thinking like a Marxist. Systems are not the problem. Systems are made up of individuals. And those individuals are being trained to be Marxists. The teachers for the new schools will largely come from the teacher colleges that already exist and will be just as Marxist as the public-school teachers we have now. Except now there will be no escape. With government funding flowing in, most schools that will not take government funds will go out of business as people vote with their pocketbooks. All but the wealthiest kids will be stuck with Marxist educators, forever. Much like how a mom-and-pop grocery store cannot compete with Walmart because Walmart can price it out of the market, a school that refuses government money will be priced out by those who take it. If I were a Marxist, I would be drooling over the school choice movement.

However, there is a way to force the Marxists to stop drooling. The answer needs to go hand in hand with school choice because, again, school choice in principle is a very good thing. Instead of just fighting for school choice, we need to incorporate defunding the public universities. State governments spend over 100 billion dollars a year on university funding. Every red state in the country should immediately defund any public university in the state that refuses to remove all manifestations of Marxism from its curriculum. Universities should also fire or retire any professor who refuses to go along.

Any university with state funding needs to be held accountable. Ron DeSantis set the example with New College in Florida by purging the board and eliminating the diversity office. Every other state, particularly states with red legislatures and governors, should follow suit.

Marxism is, of necessity, parasitic. Marxism cannot build its own institutions. If nothing else, force the NGOs and billionaires to fund the public universities that refuse to submit rather than using our tax dollars to do it.

If we want to save our schools, we must stop the flow of Marxists into them. Turning off the funding spigot is one way to do so.

Image via Pxfuel.
As all of you know, last week Hillary Clinton finally couldn't take the transgender madness any more. Said she to Christiane Amanpour:

Because at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members, but something needs to happen[.]

Oh wait! I got it wrong! She was speaking about Trump supporters! My bad!

Perhaps the Babylon Bee has it right: "Elderly Woman Escapes Nursing Home, Rants About Deprogramming The Populace." You never know, with our present media meltdown.

Okay. That's the end of the fun. Now let's get serious.

Remember when Candidate Obama spoke about the "bitter clingers" in 2008? He was talking about factory towns after all the good jobs had left. He was telling the world that the Democratic Party had moved on from being the party of the workers.

Remember when Candidate Clinton talked about a "basket of deplorables" in 2016? She went on:

The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And [Trump] has lifted them up.

She was telling the world that the Democratic Party had moved on from being the party of ordinary people: now it was the Ally of the Oppressed.

Today Hillary Clinton is saying that supporters of Donald Trump are members of a cult and need to be deprogrammed. She is telling the world that the Democratic Party has got to the point where it just won't put up with the supporters of the Other Party any more. It's time to lobotomize them and put them away -- in their own best interests, of course.

These three statements, accidentally telling the truth, are what Michael Kinsley called "gaffes," as in: "A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth -- some obvious truth he isn't supposed to say."

So what do we do? Create a super-MAGA populist nationalist mass movement the likes of which the world has never seen? I thought I had better turn to longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer, who wrote in the New York Times in 1964 in "The Negro Revolution" that:

What starts out here as a mass movement ends up as a racket, a cult, or a corporation.

Anyway, Hoffer writes, "Like his fellow Americans, the Negro sets his heart not of 'things which are not" but on things he sees in store windows. Hence when the Negro masses act, you have looting orgies and not a mass movement." He wrote that in 1964!

Then in 1968, in "The Madhouse of Change" in Playboy:

America is hard on mass movements. What starts out here as a mass movement ends up as a corporation or a racket.

His argument, back in the 1960s, was that the civil-rights revolution wouldn't lift up America's Blacks. They would have to do it themselves, like the immigrants from Europe had done in the previous century.

He goes on to assert that political change, or revolution, occurs after a social or economic change.

We used to think that revolution is the cause of change. Actually, it is the other way around: revolution is a by-product of change. Change comes first, and it is the difficulties and irritations inherent in change which set the stage for revolution.

Exactly. Our present ruling class, the educated class, came to power after it had eclipsed the old feudal nobility, and feudal monarchs like Prussia's Frederick the Great decided that they wanted a bit of street cred by talking to intellectual headliners like Voltaire.

What is to be done? Hoffer's answer is not a mass movement, but "community building," with dedicated people creating community organs: community centers, clubs, mutual-aid societies, but all separate from government.

The insulting dismissals of the Commoner middle class by headline politicians like Obama and Clinton -- and the current no-holds-barred legal attack on Commoner leader Trump -- means that we Commoners are not yet powerful enough to earn the rulers' respect. It has not yet dawned on our glorious leaders that they need us more than we need them.

What will it take? Will it be when the rulers come on hands and knees to beg us to let them draft our sons for World War III? Will it be when they need us to dig the U.S. out of the disaster of a world without fossil fuels? Will it be after the DEI hires wreck corporate America? Will it be when the entitlement programs run out of money and there needs to be a Grand Compromise to redistribute the spoils of political power? Will the rulers suddenly decide that they need more stay-at-home moms to make babies? Or will it be another flubbed financial crisis, as in 1929 and 2008?

I just don't think we can solve our problems with politics, any more than Hillary Clinton can get rid of Trump cultists by deprogramming them.

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: Jean-Baptiste Charpentier the Elder
On October 7, when Jews celebrated the giving of the Torah by God to the Jewish people, Hamas massacred more than 1,000 Jewish civilians in Israel, shouting "Allah akbar" (Our God is greater) over their desecrated bodies.

Children, women, and the elderly were raped, mutilated, and tortured in the name of Allah by a terrorist organization created with a sole mission to eradicate the Jewish state. The Hamas Charter, Article 28, states, "Israel, by virtue of it being Jewish and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam and the Muslims."

It was less than one month earlier that Joe Biden released $6 billion to Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism throughout the world, whose stated mission is to eliminate the Jewish state of Israel.

Hamas has admitted that the $6 billion freed up Iran's money supply. It enabled Hamas to receive the needed weapons to carry out their massacre upon innocent civilians. Since Iran is a well known sponsor of worldwide terrorism with a parliament that regularly engages in shouts of "Death to America," it raises the question: why would the Biden administration hand over $6 billion to a sworn enemy? Giving aid to our enemy is clearly an act of treason, yet there have been no significant calls for his removal. Perhaps the answer lies with Biden, a man who has never met a kickback he didn't accept.

Evidently, Iran's strategy was to bide its time and wait out President Trump's presidency. The Iranians knew they had a friend in Biden.

President Trump, unlike Biden, made it clear to the Iranian mullahs that any threat to the security of even one American would be met with full force.

Consequently, during Trump's presidency the region was stable and quiet. There were no Islamic terrorist attacks here at home, nor in Israel.

Under Trumps presidency, the Palestinian Authority offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. were closed. Their refusal to recognize the Jewish state led Trump to withdraw all financial aid to them. Additionally, he halted all financial aid to American college campuses that engaged in anti-Semitism.

During the Clinton, Bush, and Obama presidencies, Islamic Studies departments were created in numerous universities and paid for by Islamic oil money. These Islamic Studies departments were instrumental in the rise of student anti-Semitism on college campuses throughout the nation. Jewish students in support of Israel were verbally and physically attacked by Muslims and their allies, the communist left.

Iran's decision to wait out Trump's presidency proved successful. Within a few weeks, all of President Trump's earlier acts in support of Israel and Jews were canceled by Biden. Instead, he allowed the P.A. to reopen their offices, and financial aid to the "Palestinians" resumed. Hamas and the P.A.'s Mahmoud Abbas recognized Biden as a friend. It became obvious that Biden and his State Department intended to treat Israel as a pariah state. Nowhere was it more obvious than the day Biden refused to meet with the newly re-elected prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu.

The infamous act to hand over $6 billion to an enemy state was an act of treason, yet there were no calls for Bidens removal. Instead, Biden and his handlers resumed nuclear arms negotiations that had been canceled under President Trump, and Biden appointed now-disgraced Robert Malley to head the talks. Since then, Malley has been charged with releasing classified information, and his security clearance has been revoked. Further, a pro-Iranian spy network operating within the Biden State Department and Pentagon was recently busted. According to two independent news sources, Iranian government emails revealed that Robert Malley had helped fund, support, and direct Iranian intelligence operations to influence the United States. Malley was the chief interlocutor with Iran for the United States under the Obama and Biden administrations.

Meanwhile, our open border is allowing Islamic fighters and sleeper cells to enter our country. The danger from sleeper cells spreading throughout American cities cannot be understated. We know that 150 Islamic terrorists have entered our country. There may be many more undetected ones. These sleeper cells have the capacity when the time is ripe to conduct the same barbaric attacks terrorists carried out in Israel. They are marching in our streets and holding rallies in support of mutilating children, women, and the elderly. In Sydney, Australia, in front of the famous Sydney Opera House, they gathered with Hamas and Hezballah flags with shouts of "Gas the Jews!" Here in New York City, they gathered in Times Square with a warning to all Americans. "Allah is supreme and there is no other God but Allah. They have shown the world who they really are and what atrocities they are willing to commit. We must believe them.

While the world is in turmoil, Joe Biden has chosen to keep our southern border open and fly those who have entered our collective home without our permission to cities throughout our country. It is a treasonous act worthy of removal. For the good of the country, I call upon Congress and Americans of all persuasions to call for Biden's resignation.

Biden, resign! Resign now!

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden will never publicly admit it, but they would both be more than OK with the destruction of the State of Israel.

Why? The answer for Obama goes back to his years seated at the foot of anti-Semite Jeremiah Wright and his friendship with Louis Farrakhan.

For Biden, well, who knows what goes on in that demented cesspool of a mind? His actions are enough to draw that conclusion.

Both need to recognize that when the Iranians and other anti-Semitic zealots speak of the Little Satan and the Great Satan, they envision destruction for both.

Both also naively believe the United States to be safe from the war-mongering Iranians. For two presidents of the United States to be involved in such insanity defies belief. But we are looking right at it. The eternal scapegoating of Judaism is alive and well.

Obama and Biden  indeed, the entirety of progressivism  feel that Israel is to blame for all that ails the Mideast. While oil money may be the motivation for some ruthlessly pragmatic individuals, basic ground-level anti-Semitism spurs the majority of the left to this baseless conclusion. When things are not going well, blame the Jews.

Our two foolish and misguided leaders have unforgivably given billions of dollars to Iran, ostensibly to rein in that state's nuclear weapons ambitions and to curry favor with the presumptive future kingpin of the Arab world. It is obvious to anyone willing to pull his head out of the sand that the money is doing exactly the opposite. I am a bit surprised that Iran did not wait until it had functional, missile-delivered nuclear weapons at its disposal to aid its friends in Hamas.

Iran will wish to avoid international condemnation for this war. If Hamas were to be successful, the mullahs could publicly rejoice and share the glory of Israel's destruction. If the attacks fail, as they are bound to, and Gaza is reduced to rubble and annexed by Israel, Iran will cry crocodile tears for the world's lunatic anti-Israel left. The Iranians will demand retribution for the Zionist nations horrific deeds. Iran will claim to have had no part in the attacks, stating that it had no idea that Hamas would do such a terrible thing with the money it had received. The funds were meant to build schools and hospitals. The U.N. and the many other fools who control the narrative will certainly subscribe to that fiction.

Israel would be wise to destroy not only Gaza, but Iran as well. Only when Iran is reduced to rubble will there be any prospect of peace in the region. As long as that nation exists, it or its surrogates will continue its efforts to destroy Israel. But if Israel is going after Iran, it needs to do so soon, before the mullahs can deploy nuclear weapons. There is no doubt they will do so once they can.

The U.N. will clutch its pearls and cry loudly about the destruction of a sovereign nation, but the world would be a better place. The other countries in the region, possessing at least a bit of sanity, would be welcome to complain loudly. They would also, I believe, be very unwilling to challenge Israel. The possibility of being reduced to rubble is a great disincentive to foolish actions.

Bill Hansmann is a dentist and dental educator with over fifty years in the profession. He continues to teach and write political blogs and semi-mediocre novels while living with his wife and cats in Florida.

Image: Twitter screen shot.
Vietnamese national caught selling ecstasy after becoming undocumented immigrant

By Jun Ji-hye

Four out of 10 foreign nationals who enter Korea on a language study visa end up overstaying their visas, a lawmaker said Tuesday, urging the government to tighten the visa screening process for foreign students.

According to data that Rep. Cho Jung-hun of the minor opposition Transition Korea party received from the Ministry of Justice, out of 64,904 foreign nationals who had entered Korea on the D-4 General Trainee Visa, 39.9 percent, or 25,898, remained in Korea illegally as of June after their visas expired.

The justice ministry categorizes foreign students as illegal immigrants when they do not respond to contact from authorities or when their whereabouts become unknown.

The D-4 visa is issued mostly to those entering the country to study language.

Among the 25,898 who went on to become undocumented immigrants, Vietnamese nationals accounted for the largest portion at 22,760, followed by 1,054 Uzbekistan nationals and 820 Mongolians.

Of those who entered Korea on the D-2-1 student visa, which is issued to foreign nationals wishing to study for a two-year college degree, 27.3 percent, or 2,790, became illegal immigrants.

Among other student visas, 8.4 percent and 2.9 percent of the D-2-2 visa and D-2-3 visa holders, respectively, became illegal immigrants.

The D-2-2 visa is issued to foreign students at the undergraduate level, while the D-2-3 visa is for graduate students.

Cho said most of the students who stay illegally are believed to have given up their studies halfway through.

It is widely believed that their true purpose in coming to Korea is to get a job after learning Korean for a short time, despite the risk of crackdowns by authorities.

In August, a Vietnamese national in his 20s, who had entered Korea on a D-4 visa and later became an illegal immigrant, received a prison term for selling narcotics at a club in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province.

The 23-year-old, who entered Korea in July 2019, remained in the country after his visa expired in October 2021. He then worked as a waiter in a club that has been called the holy ground of narcotics among Vietnamese nationals. He overstayed his visa illegally by more than one year and seven months, according to police.

A district court in Suwon sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and fined him an additional 1 million won ($740) for selling ecstasy.

In December 2019, 164 Vietnamese students enrolled at Incheon National Universitys Korean language school vanished. They were among 1,900 Vietnamese students participating in a one-year Korean language training program at the university.

The 164 students disappeared three to four months after the program began, according to the university.

At the time, the university reported their disappearances to the police, in accordance with a law mandating universities report foreign students absent from classes for 15 days straight.

Cho raised the need for the government to review its foreign student policy.

The government needs to enhance the visa screening process for foreign students and come up with more detailed guidelines for dealing with each country, he said.
Although it is my preference that Hamas be hoisted with the petards of the IDF and their own misfires, here we address a different form of elevation: prestige.

Reports suggest that the Israelis removed to Gaza are prisoners of war. This is incorrect. They are, and will remain, hostages.

There are some key differences between a prisoner of war (POW) and a hostage:

Legal status  POWs have rights and protections under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. Hostages have no official legal status.

Purpose  POWs are detained by a state to remove them from battle during wartime. Hostages are seized by non-state actors for leverage, influence, or ransom.

Location  POWs are typically held in designated POW camps run by militaries. Hostages are often held secretly in undisclosed locations.

Treatment  POWs must be humanely treated and cannot be tortured or killed. Hostages can face mistreatment, torture, and execution.

Release  POWs are to be released and repatriated after hostilities end. Hostages are released conditionally based on captors demands being met.

Identity  POWs are enemy combatants identified by uniforms/ID tags. Hostages can be combatants or civilians targeted more indiscriminately.

Conditions  POWs have rights to adequate food, shelter, and medical care per the Geneva Conventions. Hostage conditions are often harsh.

POWs have recognized legal protections and rights under international law, the Geneva Conventions, while hostages have uncertain status and face greater risks of mistreatment at the hands of non-state captors. The motives and aims of detention also differ between the two categories.

At the simplest, it cannot be clearer that the Israeli hostages are being mistreated.

Hence, individuals captured or detained by Hamas would not be considered prisoners of war, for a few key reasons:

Hamas is not a recognized state actor or national military force. It is designated as a terrorist organization by countries and groups of countries including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, and Japan.

The Geneva Conventions give prisoner-of-war status only to combatants captured in armed conflict among states. The conventions do not apply to non-international conflicts with non-state actors like terrorist or rebel groups.

People detained by Hamas have not necessarily engaged in lawful combat against Hamas. They could be civilians rather than enemy combatants. POW status requires being a lawful combatant.

Hamas does not follow the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of detainees. So it does not confer POW rights even if detainees would otherwise meet the criteria.

The circumstances and motives surrounding Hamas detentions are often illegal (kidnapping, extortion, political leverage). This differs from lawful detention of combatants.

Individuals captured and held by Hamas are hostages, detained civilians, or unlawfully detained combatants denied their rights under international law. But they do not meet the legal definitions to be granted prisoner of war status under the Geneva Conventions.

By suggesting that the captured Israelis are POWs, those doing so are elevating Hamas to the position of a state actor instead of the terror organization it is.

While on the topic of savagery, British colonel Richard Kemp stated regarding the practices of the IDF, [it] did more to safeguard civilians than any other army in the history of warfare.

Hamas enjoys wide support in Gaza, as expressed by no less an authority than Iran stooge Robert Malley. It may be time for the IDF to change its policy and risk fewer of its own casualties. I sure hope so.

Image: Mary Madigan.
With their crocodile tears, Israels supposed allies once again are revealing their true (deadly) feelings.

Although the European Union initially condemned the evil attack against Israel, it quickly reversed course and didnt.

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas to make sure no money was misused. There will be no suspension of payments at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals ... postponed until further notice.

After all, the Europeans need Arab Muslim oil and Arab Muslim wealth to advance the European green agenda. Also, the European nations must be careful not to antagonize their invading, increasingly expanding Muslim population.

And the few European tears quickly turned to dust.

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken (D) initially tweeted support for Israel, but whoops  it disappeared. Thanks, Mary Katharine, for alerting us to his hypocrisy.

Deleted now apparently, but this was it. pic.twitter.com/9DPgRg37pk  Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) October 9, 2023

The State Department was equally two-faced, initially tweeting a crocodile-teary statement condemning Hamas while hoping for no retaliatory response from the victims!

This is disgraceful and every single person involved in drafting and approving this tweet should be immediately expelled from the U.S. government. https://t.co/EF6cJOCVpM  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2023

That twisted tweet was quickly deleted, but not before Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) caught it...but now the tweet is unavailable.

Thank you, Senator Cruz, for alerting us to the State Departments deadly hypocrisy. Unfortunately, the State Department will not follow your advice. Instead it will probably thank and promote those involved. And will shed joyful tears.

The Gateway Pundit further reveals how easily, how quickly Blinken and the State Department caved to Muslim Turkeys extortion, posting a series of tweets from Jonathan Schanzer about the true deadliness of Turkeys Hakan Fidan.

I repeat: Hakan Fidan was the intelligence chief who presided over the establishment of a Hamas headquarters in Turkey that included an active terrorist commander directing attacks in the West Bank, Saleh al-Arouri. Arouri yesterday boasted about the capture of dozens of Israeli civilians. He continues to travel in and out of Turkey. Arouri has also established rocket teams and arsenals in Lebanon to draw Israel into another front. Turkey has not turned him over despite a @RFJ_USA[.] ... And here is Fidan, now posing as a diplomat, acting as if he is a neutral party. What a joke. And @SecBlinken is the butt of it. I am truly embarrassed that Blinken is allowing himself to be part of this charade.

It is more than embarrassing that Blinken and the State Department can be jerked around so easily by Turkey. It is frightening that they  and therefore the U.S.  are so revealingly weak. Dont believe their phony tears, their expressions of sorrow.

After remaining silent for three days, former President Barack Obama (D) belatedly dropped a tweet ostensibly supporting Israel.

All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians. We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those whove been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 9, 2023

Whoops! That last sentence obliterates the tweet; horrified and outraged by ... the brazen slaughter of innocent civilians leading to a just and lasting peace ... alike means victim and barbaric aggressor are treated equally. Huh? Wipe those phony tears from your face, Mr. Former President; you arent fooling the Israelis. Or all Americans.

Israelis  and their true allies  are shedding real tears. They will strengthen them to prevail.

Image via Pxfuel.
Democrats are screaming the same message: the mayor of New York City is telling them to stay home because we dont have any room. The governor of Illinois is asking another question: why are migrants only going to blue cities?

In both cases, you see leaders avoiding the obvious. They will continue to come as long as you let them in. And the buses are going to blue cities because they advertised themselves as sanctuary cities. (By the way, some of the buses are coming from Democrats in El Paso.)

The problem is that the migrants know that the Democrats are just talking. In other words, they have nothing to fear once they cross the border. This is an example of what I mean from Nikolas Lanum:

Despite this warning, more than a dozen migrants bound for the U.S. told The New York Times that Adams comments would not deter them from reaching the city. I think he, as mayor, is defending his country, Johanna del Valle Acosta, a mother of three traveling from Venezuela, said. Suddenly, other countries see us as a threat, but we are good people who want to work. On Friday in Quito, Carlos Gabriel Hernandez revealed that he and his wife and two children had previously attempted to cross the Darien Gap. While the initial trip proved too treacherous, he said his family still has plans to reach New York. Hernandez said that he was offended to learn why Adams had decided to visit and claimed his arrival in the region would not change the minds of everyone coming through the border.

Migrants come, and will continue to come, because they know that the Democrats are not serious. No one is threatening to close the border and deport those who cross illegally. There are no mass arrests anywhere. Its just a lot of talking, and the migrants instinctively know it. Theyve grown up with lots of demagoguery from their local politicians and can see it in the words of the mayor and the governor. And they know that President Biden wont close the border.

To remember that movie about a field of dreams: If you open the border, they will come.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Sandor Csudai.
After assuring the American public that the border was secure, Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured the American public that with the end of Title 42 pandemic expulsions, all illegal border-crossers without a legal basis to remain in the country would be swiftly returned. He was getting tough.

Now we know what he meant by that, according to the New York Post:

The Biden administration has let 99% of migrants who have come over the border since 2021  over two million people  stay in the country according to a new Congressional report released by House Republicans Monday. The report found at least 2,148,738 illegal aliens had been released into the United States by the Department of Homeland Security from when Joe Biden came into office until March 31, 2023. Of those, only a small fraction have been properly vetted to test their claims of asylum, the study asserts. A mere six percent of illegal aliens released into the United States were even screened for fear of persecution [in their home country] for purposes of asylum, read the study initiated by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock. The report finds only 5,993 illegal immigrants who were tapped for deportation were ever actually seen by an immigration judge and then removed from the country, according to the bombshell report.

Thats an open border. What else is it?

Got a murder record? On the run from the law? Been emptied from a Venezuelan jail? Got a taste for sex with babies? Belong to a terrorist group?

In you come, according to Mayorkas, just about everybody gets in free.

One wonders what the 1% who didnt manage to make it in. What did they have to do to get turned back? Perhaps they were running homeschooling operations in Germany.

Its an important story because it explains the border surge that has inundated the Biden administration, why millions of migrants keep coming despite Bidens additional legal pathways for migrants to come on into the country, such as CBPOne, new refugee designations, migrant centers, and other ways of getting in, all of which also have acceptance rates in the high-90% range.

Migrants watch what Joe Biden does, not what he says. They operate on word of mouth, not official rhetoric, being experienced in the ways of Latin American politicos and all. So if, despite the U.S. official rhetoric of getting tough, ones aunt and juvenile delinquent cousin got in with no problem, then obviously, they would get in, too. And they were right.

As Mary OGrady at the Wall Street Journal noted in her column dated October 1, titled How Colombia abets the migrant crisis, migrants are risk-takers, and being risk-takers, they look at their chances of getting into the states...and they like their chances.

Thats why they come.

Whats outrageous here is that the Bidenites have been lying about this to the public. Theyve not only opened the border, but apparently lost track of 2 million people theyve let in without a basis to stay. Seems the illegals are not the lawbreakers here  or at least the principal ones  the Biden administration is, given that Congress sets immigration quotas, according to the Constitution.

Fact is, its easier to be an illegal migrant than ever, and the odds of success at getting in are probably higher than if one were to apply legally. A bad criminal record, a history of mayhem  not a problem with Joe. Everybody gets in. Biden and his administration will undoubtedly attempt to convince the public that the border is secure once again and they are tough as nails at enforcing it.

With this congressional study out, its time to haul them into Congress for hearings once again.

Nobody should be allowed to lie that much, opening the gates of the border to just about all comers.

Image: Screen shot from NBC News video via YouTube.
The class of people who idolize men like Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin, take no issue with despotic inroads as means to seize private property, and find the wrest[ing] away of capital from the hands of the people who earned it the moral thing to do, are also shamelessly repugnant in their attitudes towards children being sold for sex. Imagine that.

During the first week of September, far-left activists descended upon Chicago for the 2023 Socialism Conference, and one panel discussion, The Politics of Childhood, delved into the utopia of child sex workers, and how to promote a childrens liberation vision in the context of the sex industry.

Now, the question came from someone in the audience named ChanelChanel identified as a sex work activist who labors at the intersection of migrants, justice, capitalism, and sex work. Listen to what Chanel had to say below:

One of the people on the panel - a professor at Johns Hopkins University - answered that if Chanel wants to fight for the rights of child sex workers to be child sex workers, she just needs to create a project, get other people involved, and create a mass movement on the topic: pic.twitter.com/6GCIlyjgjO  Karlyn Borysenko (@DrKarlynB) September 6, 2023

(Since we only have audio, I cant tell if Chanel is a female, or a trans-ified man.)

We dont learn much about Chanel, but I deduce that he/she is college-educated given his/her comical pseudo-intellectual self-description, and, I assume Chanel is paid for his/her activism by nefarious benefactors (think Klaus Schwab or George Soros), because a free market, or an economy of desire goods and services has no use for Chanels area of expertise.

In Chanels own words:

Weve been dealing with the child sex panic, you know, the child sex trafficking conspiracy theories for, since the late 90s, um, and I had never until this panel been like huh, what about young people in the sex industry as part of a childrens liberation vision? Like theres just like a utopia I had never really thought of before because the world feels so separated and the issue of youth and sex work is so incredibly loaded I dont even know if Id ask this question if this was [sic] being live streamed.

Translation: If he/she werent in a room of hyenas who also salivate over the thought of children being sold into the sex trade, he/she might feel a sting of social pressure to not voice such perverted personal beliefs.

Chanel does have one thing right, and that is that child sex does send people, like me, into a panic. Yeah, those young people in the sex work industry? Those are the trafficked children about whom we conspiracy theorists yammer.

Im slightly amazed (but not really), that no one at that point was taken aback by Chanels insinuation that utopia, an imaginary place where everything is perfect, meant a world where children have no barriers preventing their entrance into the sex industry. Like I said, shamelessly repugnant.

But Chanel continued:

You are rolling into a lot of trouble when you start talking about the rights of young people in the sex industry, but young people in the sex industry deserve and need rights at minimum actually, liberation and justice.  I want to hear folks who are thinking about the liberation of children and about movement for the liberation of children and how you understand just like to what extent youre thinking through because when that includes highly marginalized kids on the street, that for sure includes, people selling sex, right? That includes people selling sex to survive your foster care systems and on the streets yeah, how are you thinking about that?

Of course, like the good Alinskyite he/she is (again, I cant tell if this person is a woman or a trans), the Johns Hopkins professor who responds suggests a mass movement to unite behind the cause of child sex workers. Paganism never leaves, does it? For a leftist, encouraging Judeo-Christian morality, promoting strong families, and scaling back big government isnt the solution to a corrupt foster care system, its organizing a movement and fostering a culture of childrens liberation so these youngsters are free to have sex with their johns without any pushback from those crazy conservative conspiracy theorists who believe sex and children dont go together.

For the side that foolishly drones on and on about exploitation, theyre suspiciously quiet when children are exploited for sex, because after all, there is no such thing as a child sex worker and if a child is engaged in sexual acts, its because he/she has been grossly abused and exploited.

According to a Campus Reform article on the event:

Borysenko, the journalist who captured the audio, told Campus Reform it seemed like the audience accepted that children should be sex workers and that their rights to solicit sex should be protected. Prior to the recording, there was conversation about abolishing the age of consent, she said.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it sounds like theres an organized movement to promote pedophilia, and its radiating from the left.

Image from X.
War is part of the human condition. For a very long time, though, as part of its civilizing process, the West has had a single overriding rule of warfare: We acknowledge that civilians, including children, will (sadly) be collateral damage in any war. However, we do not deliberately wage war directly against civilians. Non-westernized Muslims, however, operate outside of this rule, fighting wars with Stone Age savagery. Thats why it's no surprise to learn about beheaded babies. I offer the following thoughts and others about the events and commentary following the Hamas massacres.

Beginning with the Enlightenment in the West, a new idea arose: Civilians are not legitimate military targets. Yes, theyll be caught in the crossfire and suffer from the disease and famine that always follow in wars wake, but the legitimate targets are your armed opponents. Thats one of the reasons the British painted the Native Americans as savages. In war, the Native Americans massacred all civilians (except for those children they kidnapped to prop up their flagging demographics), and the British had forgotten by then that they had once fought that way, too.

By the 20th century, the norm was firmly in place in the West: Civilians are not legitimate military targets. At the start of WWI, the British painted the Huns as the worst of all possible enemies by alleging that they were raping Belgian nuns and tossing Belgian babies in the air for the pleasure of catching them on the points of their bayonets.

Through the 20th century, those nations that had never embraced the European Enlightenment (e.g., Japan, China, Cambodia) or that abandoned the Enlightenment (e.g., Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany) engaged in mass civilian slaughter. Whether it was Stalins war on the Kulaks in Ukraine, Hitlers war on the Jews, Gypsies, and other inferior races, Maos war against his entire population, or Pol Pots genocide of intellectuals, these leftists were going to remake society, not just by battlefield victories, but by grinding ordinary people into bloody dust.

Image: Ben Shapiro tweet about the massacre of babies.

Theres one other culture that never went through the Enlightenments civilizing process, and that is Islam. Islam fights war now exactly as it did during Muhammeds heyday: Civilians arent just legitimate targets; they are desired targets.

There is no emotion more potent than fear, and Muhammed understood that, if you can overwhelm a population through sheer horror, you will probably win. So rape the women, behead the babies, kidnap people, torture people, mutilate corpses, and generally do whatever it takes to win. Thats how you conquer a swath of the world just north and south of the equator, killing hundreds of millions (Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc.) as you go.

So, none of the headlines coming out of Israel about mass rapes, beheaded babies, families slaughtered in their homes, children in chicken cages (which hasnt seemed to bother AOC), old women massacred at bus stops, and generalized mass murder surprises me. This is what Muslims do; its what theyve always done because it works. Cow a civilian population sufficiently, and you win.

Whats different in 2023 is (a) the scope of the Muslim attack on Israel and (b) the fact that Muslims feel that they have enough wind at their backs that there is virtue to filming this rape and slaughter and (proudly) posting it on social media for Hamass legions of fans. After all, as porn star Mia Khalifa tweeted, her problem with the videos was that they werent filmed well enough. That Khalifa would be raped and killed within minutes of setting foot in a Sharia-controlled world is irrelevant. This is her view of warfare.

The only good thing is that the world is seeing what the Jews have long known: Muslims dont fight fair.

Here are a few other things for you to read and think about:

Almost three days after news of the massacres broke, former two-term U.S. president Bill Clinton finally got around to commenting on the matter. As Ethel C. Fenig reminded me, it was Clinton who brokered the Oslo Accords that bound Israels hands and reinvigorated the Palestinians.

I condemn the horrific terrorist assault carried out by Hamas in Israel, and mourn the senseless loss of life. My heart is with all those affected by the violence, including American families. Now is a time for the world to rally against terrorism and to support Israeli  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 9, 2023

My guess is that the delay in posting something was because Bill was waiting to see which way the political wind was blowing. The same is true for Barack Obama, another two-term U.S. president. He, too, waited almost three days before coming out on Israels side:

All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians. We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those whove been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 9, 2023

I cant help feeling that Obama is not being honest there. After all, in a must-read essay, Lee Smith explains that it was Obama who deliberately empowered Iran. Iran, of course, is a country that openly wishes genocide on Israel, still shouts Death to America, and helped plan the Hamas attacks, along with providing weapons.

For another essay about Americas (i.e., the modern Democrat partys) role in all this, I highly recommend Liel Leibovitzs essay about Americas Betrayal of Israel.

During the years leading up to WWII, a common phrase was, It cant happen here (which Sinclair Lewis used in his novel about an American fascists rise to power.) Americans believed that the Constitution insulated them from fascism. As weve seen, if fascists (and thats what modern leftists are, for theyre an amalgam of corporatism and statism) take over a nations institutions, the Constitution will not help.

Moreover, when it comes to massacres by cultures that do not view civilians as non-combatants, think about our southern border. Wayne Allyn Root has the best of the several analyses Ive seen about the fact that, since 2009, Democrats, with no pushback from Vichy Republicans, have been using the open border to bring into America millions of military-aged men from China, Muslim countries, and other non-Enlightenment countries. With that kind of army, it can happen here.

UPDATE: I just found this Charlie Kirk tweet:
Anyone who describes himself as a Republican knows that President Biden, Hillary Clinton, and the FBI now consider you a domestic terrorist.

Did you know domestic terrorism is a legal term?

18 U.S. Code 2331  Definitions provides:

(5) the term domestic terrorism means activities that (A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping;

All the Nazi talk from the National Socialist Democrat party just took the high speed offramp with Hillary Clinton calling for the formal deprogramming of Trump supporters, with news that the FBI is secretly targeting Trump-supporters for domestic terrorism, and with President Biden establishing a White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Who knew there is a pandemic of red hatwearing domestic terrorists?

Whats really going on?

You may remember when veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan wandered into a V.A. hospital and simply inquired about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and President Obama tried to prohibit combat veterans from owning guns and mandated that any guns owned by these vets be surrendered. How was this supposed to happen? The Veterans Affairs Administration diktat declared these veterans to be mentally incompetent for any PTSD-related inquiry, injury, or treatment under the concept that symptoms of PTSD would make gun ownership a higher-than-average risk for some individuals.

Specifically, from 1968 onward, federal and state governments have enacted legislation prohibiting gun ownership by persons with mental illness who have been involuntarily committed to an institution or deemed by a legal authority to be dangerous or mentally incompetent.

Once the V.A. declared the veteran to be mentally incompetent, vets couldnt be trusted with weapons and would be stripped of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

By the same logic, once former and current members of the Biden administration declared Republicans to be domestic terrorists and of unsound mind, and that MAGA Republicans who supported Donald Trump were essentially and legally mentally incompetent, and that they needed formal deprogramming, then these cult members couldnt be trusted with weapons and needed to be stripped of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

The Biden administration and all the nut-bags in the media who signed on to the Russian collusion hoax are declaring MAGA extremists and other Republicans domestic terrorists. This new repetitive drumbeat is pure propaganda.

This is why the January 6 tapes that Congressman Kevin McCarthy failed to provide when he took over the gavel as House speaker are so important. As long as Democrats could maintain the illusion that incarcerated MAGA Republicans were de facto domestic terrorists and mentally incompetent extremists, that they committed the crime of attempting to influence the policy of government by intimidation or coercion on January 6, then they were free to do what they will to their opponents. To complete the illusion, some of the extremists who wandered through the open doors and the halls of Congress had to be arrested and thrown in jail.

It had been going so well for congressional Democrats, and RINOs like Kevin McCarthy, because when MAGA Republicans were recently declared domestic terrorists, they would have to surrender their guns and be rounded up and go to a re-education camp, a la Solzhenitsyns Gulag Archipelago, for formal deprogramming.

Re-interpret or change the law to strip your political adversaries of their rights. Make these citizens stateless (or mentally incompetent to own a gun), and take their weapons under your new definitions of domestic terrorism. Thats the Democrat idea. Being a political adversary of the Democrat party is a mental disorder, not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but in the triple-vaccinated minds of the Bidenites and Clintonistas. All that is left to do to show them who is boss is to toss the deplorable mental incompetents into a concentration camp for formal deprogramming.

There is a difference between Republicans and Democrats in Washington. Congressional Democrats ignore the laws they dont like, creatively interpret laws or regulations or issue executive orders that punish Republicans while benefiting themselves. They consistently attack the Constitution, especially the Second Amendment, by introducing new gun control legislation every week. They keep introducing anfractuous legislation at the state and national level that is designed to negate the Second Amendment of the Constitution. Their strategy of death by a thousand cuts has been going on for decades. They know it is just a matter of time before they succeed because they already have a win. A little slice of the Constitution is gone.

Carl von Clausewitzs axiom that politics is combat by other means is as valid as it was when he first submitted On War for publication in the late 1800s.

The political criminal class cannot compete against the U.S. Constitution, free elections, or an informed and armed citizenry, and therefore, these things must be destroyed by whatever means necessary.

Yes, President Trump terrifies the real domestic terrorists in America. The former elite Democrat, The Donald, asked the wrong question regarding Barack Obamas eligibility, and they have been on him like a lab rat on amphetamines. President Trump turned his back on the Democrats and has become a truth-teller, and since the left cannot have that, its been full-on war.

Washington Democrats are industrial saboteurs of the Constitution, doing their part to destroy it.

Image: OpenClipart, public domain.
Americans owe billions in college loans. And billions more in credit card debt. And trillions in government debt.

This is not a good place to be.

Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend. And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry, Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet.

Benjamin Franklin reminded people tempted to go into debt that creditors have better memories than debtors.

According to the Library of Congress, in the United States, debtors prisons were banned under federal law in 1833. A century and a half later, in 1983, the Supreme Court affirmed that incarcerating indigent debtors was unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendments Equal Protection clause.

So the penalties for debt arent as egregious today, but the problem is very real.

Some 44 million Americans struggle with student loan debt, according to a film, Borrowed Future: How Student Loans Are Ruining the American Dream, from Ramsey Education, an offshoot of the Dave Ramsey Show. Over the last 15 years, curricula provided by Ramsey Solutions have been featured in nearly half of Americas high schools and impacted more than six million students. In 2008, Ramsey Solutions created an updated version, Foundations in Personal Finance, which has educated not only students, but teachers, who can then impart financial concepts.

A central point that Mr. Ramsey makes over and over in his radio show and curricula is how to stay out of debt. Someone, somewhere, must eventually pay it back. It should be the person who incurred the debt or someone who voluntarily helps. All too often, however, its taxpayers who are being billed for other peoples spending.

The United States government itself is dangerously in arrears, with the national debt now at more than $32.5 trillion and climbing fast. If you want a quick, dizzying take on this, go to the National Debt Clock at usdebtclock.org and watch the numbers spin. It is sobering.

American household debt was at a record $16.9 trillion at the end of 2022. While some things seem beyond our grasp, we can control our personal finances and risk of debt by spending less, saving more, sticking to a budget, and making our money work for us.

For financial wisdom, there is no better place to turn than the Holy Scriptures, which have more than 2,300 verses about money. The Bible is full of warnings about incurring debt. Proverbs 22:7 informs us that the borrower is slave to the lender.

In Romans 13:8, Paul admonishes, Owe no one anything except to love one another. Other verses recommend working hard, being honest, and investing.

Because the government is living beyond its means, we are all on the hook as it compounds. The debt for each individual taxpayer as of July 17 now exceeds $253,000. Who will pay for all this? Our children and grandchildren.

Piling debt on the next generations is a sin, according to the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 12:14, the apostle Paul states: For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Children can, of course, assist their elders, especially since people live longer than ever. But parents should do their best not to saddle their children with debt.

Problems with debt begin with avarice in the human heart, Scripture informs us.

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, Jesus told a crowd. Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15 NIV).

Author Randy Alcorn notes that becoming obsessed with material goods can trap us in a lifestyle that contrasts with a forward-looking, eternal outlook. Trusting God and giving back to Him are more important, especially since everything belongs to Him in the first place. In Gods economy, giving is the coin of the realm, not getting.

One more thing about debt: Its not just rude, but profoundly wrong to ring up debt and expect someone else to pay it. I doubt that many of the millions of current and former students who are hoping for someone else to cover their college loans think of themselves as doing anything wrong. Were living in a society where entitlement is a way of life.

However, the Bible is unequivocal about this: The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously (Psalm 37:21).

Art Ally is the founder of the Timothy Plan family of Biblically Responsible Investing mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. He is the author of Invested with Purpose: The Birth of the Biblically Responsible Investment Movement and Stewardship: Gods Plan for Financial Success.

Image: QuoteInspector.com.
When Blinken was a trusted staffer to senator and V.P. Biden's, he Blinked during what Bob Gates said were Biden's perpetual erroneous decisions about foreign policy.

Blinken blinked when he was on the Penn-Biden payroll, when Biden held classified documents in careless fashion in the Biden offices at the Chinese-friendly foundation.

Blinken Blinked when Biden chose to abruptly, impulsively, and foolishly withdraw from Afghanistan. Blinken Blinked as the State Department was tossed the impossible task of the chaotic departure from Karsi airport rather than the more secure Bagram airbase.

Blinken Blinked when 6 billion dollars was given to Iran as part of the exchange for the release of U.S. hostages held by Iran. One can assume Blinken Blinked about how it was thought to aid a futile revival of the always bogus Iran nuclear deal.

Blinken Blinked again shortly after the horrendous attack by Islamist Hamas on Israel, when he impulsively and absurdly posted the idea that a ceasefire should occur between Israel and the beyond evil Hamas terrorists! Blinken Blinked as he quickly took down his bogus tweet.

Will Blinken Blink as he resigns?

Image via Flickr, public domain.
The Fylde coast in western Lancashire have seen some of the foulest weather in Englands northwest coast. The area around Blackpool is in particularly treacherous to passing ships when the ocean is in fury. As a result, number of ships have ran aground or floundered near this coast for centuries creating a ship graveyard.

The first recorded shipwreck occurred in the year 1755, when a ship named the Travers was wrecked on the coast. The ship was carrying a cargo of lace, and by the time the coast guard arrived, the sparsely populated coastline had helped themselves to the ships valuables. Many Fylde Coast residents were said to have Travers Lace curtains in their homes for many years after.

A wave crashes against Blackpools promenade, circa 1900. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

In the autumn of 1779, after a bad summer and poor crops, a ship laden with peas was wrecked at Blackpool. Like the Travers, this ship was also raided and its supply of peas helped out the food supply. The name of the ship is not recorded, but the wreck became known as The Pea Soup Wreck.

In 1821, a ship named Fanny, laden with red and black flannel, wrecked at Blackpool. Like with the previous wrecks, much of the Fannys payload was missing by the time authorities arrived. For many years thereafter, the women of Blackpool donned petticoats made from the remnants of the Fanny's flannel

In 1833 a ship was wrecked off Gynn Square. The crew were saved by steering towards a light in the upper windows of the old Gynn Inn, which stood at the center of what is now Gynn Square. The incident is commemorated on the signage of the present-day Gynn pub.

In 1839, another ships named Crusader was wrecked at South Shore. It was laden with silk and like all cargoes it too was looted. But some of the looters from Marton were jailed for the theft.

The practice of looting goods from wrecks continued. After a schooner named William Henry with a cargo of flour and lard was wrecked at South Shore in 1861, plenty of cheap tubs of lard were found selling on the South Shore.

Map of the Fylde, Lancashire, showing the location of Blackpool. Image by Dr Greg/Wikimedia Commons

In 1892, a Norwegian ship Sirene was sailing from Fleetwood to Florida when it was caught up in a hurricane and smashed into a pier. The eleven crew members jumped onto the pier to safety. The ship was lost, but its wheel was recovered and is now housed in Blackpool lifeboat house. The anchor from the ship was donated to the Borough of Middleton and can be seen resting against the library wall in Long Street.

Two years later, in 1894, another Norwegian ship, Abana, was sailing from Liverpool to Florida when it was caught up in a storm and mistook the then recently built Blackpool Tower for a lighthouse. The crew of 17, as well as the ships dog, were rescued by a lifeboat crew, eventually making it safely back to shore after the lifeboat was grounded on a sandbank. The remains of the Abana are still visible at low tide on the beach at Little Bispham. The ship's bell still hangs in St Andrews Church in Cleveleys.

In 1897, the HMS Foudroyant, the former flagship of Admiral Nelson was raising funds by visiting various towns and ports around the coast of Great Britain, when it was caught in a storm off Blackpool. The 80-gun, 56 meter ship was wrecked close to North Pier. The ship was then bought by a local syndicate who made souvenirs and furniture fittings from the wood, including the wood paneling of the former Blackpool FC boardroom at Bloomfield Road.

Wreck of HMS Foudroyant. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Wrecks continued throughout the 20th century including the Commandant Bultinck in 1929, killing three of the crew, the MV Thorium in 1964 and Holland XXIV in 1981. The last major wreck occurred in 2008 when a ferry named MS Riverdance was swept ashore at Anchorsholme and beached very close to the remains of Abana. All 23 crew were airlifted from the stricken ferry, which was ultimately scrapped on site after attempts to refloat her were abandoned. The same year, the motor cruiser Coco Leoni ran aground opposite Lytham windmill, becoming the 22nd and most recent ship to be caught up on the Fylde Coast sands. She was refloated a week later.

There is now a memorial on the promenade commemorating all the ships that were lost along the Fylde coast. It stands at Cleveleys, adjacent to the site of the most recently lost ship the Riverdance.

The wreck of Abana. In the distance is the overturned ship Riverdance. Photo credit: Max Sang/Flickr

The wreck of Riverdance. Photo credit: Brian Rogers/Flickr

Photo credit: Andy Hay/Flickr

The memorial to the sunk ships at Fylde. Photo credit: Broadbent Studio

References:

# Growth of the County Borough of Blackpool in the County of Lancashire 1500-1938, btinternet.com

# Blackpools Ship Graveyard, Dark Tales
The suspect behind the deadly stabbing rampage in Bundang, south of Seoul, on Tuesday requested the court give him a psychological evaluation, claiming he had a mental illness at the time of the crime.

The 22-year-old suspect, Choi Won-jong, is accused of ramming his mother's vehicle into random pedestrians outside a busy department store in Bundang and then attacking shoppers with a knife inside the establishment on Aug. 3.

The stabbing rampage left two people dead and 12 others wounded.

In Tuesday's second hearing of his trial at the Suwon District Court's branch office in Seongnam, Choi admitted to murder, attempted murder and all the other charges raised against him.

But his lawyer requested the court's permission for a psychological evaluation of Choi, saying there had been circumstantial signs that he may have had schizophrenia at the time of the crime.

"Given that the accused, who was diagnosed with a schizoid personality disorder in 2020, committed the crime in a state of delusion, he is likely to have developed a delusional disorder or schizophrenia and, thus, an accurate evaluation is necessary," Choi's lawyer said.

The Criminal Act permits the exemption from or mitigation of punishment for crimes committed by the mentally ill.

Prosecutors have said Choi, living alone in isolation, had developed delusions of persecution that got worse as he became exposed to online posts complaining of similar symptoms.

But they have concluded that he was not in a state of mental vulnerability at the time of the crime because he was intellectually active enough to do stock trading and computer programming. He had also been found to have searched the internet for information on "sentence mitigation for mental vulnerability."

Since his mental illness diagnosis in 2020, Choi has not received any medical treatment in the past three years, dropped out of a university due to mental difficulties and later moved to his current university, where classes are given mostly online.

The court said it will decide whether to grant the request after reviewing related evidence and investigation records.

Following the hearing, families of stabbing rampage victims strongly protested Choi's move. The husband of a 60-something victim, who died at a hospital while under treatment, said: "If the sentence is mitigated because (the suspect) had an illness, crimes like this will only be repeated. I urge a stern punishment for the murderer without mitigating the sentence." (Yonhap)
CYFIRMA shared a report for September 2023, detailing ransomware threats from last month. The company pulled out some interesting tidbits that occurred last month, as a number of different ransomware groups were active.

CYFIRMA details ransomware attacks that occurred last month

Lets kick things off with LockBit. This ransomware group emerged as a significant threat, says the company. It claimed 79 known victims last month. The manufacturing sector has seen the most attacks, with 80 of them being reported.

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The company also says that the USA was the most targeted region last month, with 237 incidents overall. When compared, August and September 2023 were on the same playing field when it came to ransomware attacks.

Some notable incidents include MGM Resorts, which have been hit by a major cyber incident. That incident forced the shutdown of its internal networks as a precaution. AlphV ransomware affiliate is to blame.

Save the Children International, a nonprofit organization, has also suffered a ransomware attack last month. The hackers managed to acquire nearly 7TB of data. Johnson Controls International also got attacked, while several more reports were shared.

LockBit claimed most victims last month

LockBit claimed 79 victims last month, LostTrust 53, while AlphV is responsible for 49 incidents. RansomedVC and Cactus affected 44 and 33 victims, respectively.

Manufacturing was the most targeted industry by ransomware, followed by Real Estate & Construction, Health Care, E-commerce & Telecommunication, FMCG, Government, Banking & Finance, and IT sectors.

The US was the most hit country with 237 attacks. It is followed by the UK with 27 attacks, Canada with 24, Germany with 14, and France with the same number of attacks.

Needless to say, ransomware has been on the rise for years now. Weve been seeing quite a few notable incidents from one month to the next. Chances are this wont change anytime soon, but lets hope we wont see major growth either.
Googles Pixel series is considered one of the smartest smartphone lineups on the planet, thanks in part to Googles optimization and focus on user-friendly features. And after the launch of the Pixel 8 series, all eyes have turned to the budget Pixel 8a, which could launch next year if the rumours hold true.

While the A series is Googles affordable line of phones, it still represents a significant financial commitment, particularly in developing countries. This prompts the question: Will Google ever release a sub-$200 phone? Answering this in an interview with Austrias Der Standard, Nanda Ramachandran, the companys VP of mobile business, stated that they currently have no plans to make a budget smartphone.

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Why wont Google make a budget phone?

According to Ramcharan, the compromises required to make a budget Pixel device would mean sacrificing essential components that define the Pixel experience, i.e. top-tier camera, security features, and advanced AI capabilities. Taking cues from the Pixel 7A, Ramcharan explained that the device strikes a delicate balance between price and performance, featuring a camera hardware upgrade, a 90Hz display, and the Tensor G2 chip.

We would have to make too many compromises for that, said Ramcharan.

Furthermore, Googles recent commitments to long-term support for its devices might also influence this decision. This is because the company has pledged seven years of Android and security updates for the Pixel 8 series, along with providing spare parts during the same timeframe. Therefore, introducing a new budget Pixel would complicate matters, as the same level of support may not be achievable.

Price increases on the Pixel 8 series

When talking about the price increases on the Pixel 8 series, Ramcharan justified the hike by highlighting significant improvements in display quality, camera functions, and the upgraded Tensor G3 chip. Additionally, he also mentioned that the company has revamped almost every aspect of the Pixel 8 when compared to the Pixel 7.
Samsung is joining Googles RCS (Rich Communication Services) fight against Apple. The worlds largest smartphone company has just released a 20-second ad taking a dig at Apple for not adding RCS support to iPhones. The short video highlights the problems faced by Android and iOS users when messaging across the two platforms.

Samsung ad pressurizes Apple to bring RCS to iPhones

Titled Green bubbles and blue bubbles want to be together, the new ad from Samsung is published on its YouTube channel. It features a conversation between Romeo and Juliet. I hate that it has to be like thiscan you just talk to your parents? Romeo tells Juliet, referring to the lack of RCS support on iPhones. She replies, I tried but they want to keep us apart. I just dont understand.

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The conversation continues with Romeo saying, What did green ever do to them? Were bubbles too. To which Juliet responds, And literally everyone wants us to be together. Ugh. With this ad, Samsung is highlighting how the lack of RCS on iPhones makes cross-platform conversations less fun. Messages sent from Android to iOS and vice versa rely on the old SMS and MMS standards.

As such, these conversations miss out on modern features such as typing indicators, read receipts, and end-to-end encryption. Moreover, Apple differentiates messages sent from Android to iOS by showing them in green bubbles in iMessage (blue bubbles for iPhone-to-iPhone messages). Conversations dont feel inclusive. Samsung wants to help Apple #GetTheMessage through this short video on YouTube.

Google launched the Get The Message campaign in August 2022

The hashtag #GetTheMessage that Samsung has used here refers to a campaign that Google launched more than a year ago. In August 2022, the Android maker launched a website for the campaign through which it provides solutions for this messaging mess. It outlines how Apple could make messaging between Android and iOS more interoperable with RCS.

Over the past couple of years, Google has taken numerous such digs at Apple, some of which have been far less subtle than this one from Samsung. It even put up a massive billboard highlighting this problem at CES 2023 in January. However, the iPhone maker hasnt budged. It remains to be seen if Samsungs push changes things. Or maybe the only way to make Apple bring RCS to iPhones is through new laws and regulations requiring the company to support competing messaging platforms on iPhones. We shall find out in due course.
Last week Google extended their software support policy to a bonkers 7 years with the Google Pixel 8 series. This became a big headline for not only Google but for Android in general. Now Samsung also talks about updating their software support policy.

Samsung currently provides 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patch updates. And the company does it quite fast. The latest patches usually become available between the middle to the end of the month. This timely rollout process has definitely taken the company I heavy investment in it.

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For example, Samsung rolled out the October 23 security patch for the midrange Galaxy A54 within the first week. Samsung is also in the forefront of OS upgrades. They rolled out the Android 13 with OneUI 5 for most of their mid-range and premium devices before the end of last year. And this years story is likely to be similar. The Galaxy S23 series has already reached the 6th update of OneUI 6 beta.

The current scenario regarding software support

After the iPhones that provide 5 major iOS updates, Google joins the team. And this very event has seemingly led Samsung to get in talks about restructuring their update policy to maintain their position in this regard.

Last week, Samsung hosted its annual developer conference in San Francisco. During the event, Shin-Chul Baik, Principal Engineer, and Technical Program Manager of Samsungs Mobile eXperience (MX) Security Team, addressed a question from SamMobile. He mentioned that the company has been in talks about extending security update support for its devices beyond the current five-year period.

The company official at the developer conference talked specifically about the security updates. But there are some specific traits in this industry. And following the track record in this regard its safe to say that there is a pretty good chance of seeing 6 or even 7 years of OS upgrades in a Samsung device going forward.

If Samsung extends their software support policy, its most likely to start with the Galaxy S24 series that is coming between January to February next year.
Armstrong und Buzz sind die ersten Baren, die in unser neues Rettungszentrum kommen 10. Oktober 2023

Am 2. Oktober 2023 gelang Animals Asia ein gewaltiger Sprung fur die Spezies der Mondbaren durch die Rettung der ersten Baren, die in unserem neuen Rettungszentrum in Bach Ma, Vietnam, Aufnahme finden.

Das Rettungszentrum steht fur die Schlieung der Barengallefarmen in Vietnam. Es wird den letzten paar hundert Mondbaren, die noch auf Gallefarmen im Land leben, ein Zuhause bieten.

Gerade eben hatten wir den Bau der Quarantanezone und des ersten Doppelbarenhauses abgeschlossen, als wir einen Anruf erhielten, dass ein Barengallefarmer im beruchtigten Brennpunkt der Barengallefarmen in Phung Thuong sich bereit erklart hatte, seine Baren in unsere Obhut zu ubergeben.

Der Farmer erzahlte uns, dass er die Baren seit 2002 besa. Uber zwei Jahrzehnte hindurch hatten sie immer wieder Galleextraktionen erduldet und ihr Leben in kleinen, trostlosen, dunklen Kafigen verbracht.

Keine gewohnliche Barenrettung

Diese Rettung bedeutet so viel mehr als ein neues Leben fur die beiden Baren.

Denn der Augenblick, in dem diese beiden Mondbaren in unserem neuen Rettungszentrum gelandet sind, bezeichnet den Anfang vom Ende der Barengallefarmen in Vietnam  einer Industrie, die dafur gesorgt hat, dass diese symboltrachtige Art im Land beinahe ausgestorben ist.

Wir gaben den beiden wunderschonen Baren die Spitznamen Buzz und Armstrong, nach den beiden tapferen Astronauten, die wahrend der ersten Mondlandung 1969 den historischen gewaltigen Sprung taten.

Genau wie Buzz Aldrin und Neil Armstrong Neuland jenseits unserer Welt erkundeten, stehen die Baren kurz davor, eine neue, sichere Welt ohne Grausamkeit zu entdecken.

Der Countdown lauft

Und jetzt lauft der Countdown zur Rettung jedes Mondbaren, der noch auf einer Gallefarm im Land eingesperrt ist.

Doch das geht nicht ohne Ihre Hilfe.

Da noch nahezu 300 Baren auf Gallefarmen in Kafigen eingesperrt sind, benotigen wir dringend Ihre Unterstutzung. Nicht nur, um diese Baren zu retten, sondern auch, um sie fur den Rest ihrer Tage mit nahrhaftem Futter, tierarztlicher Behandlung und all der Liebe zu versorgen, die sie brauchen und verdienen.

Dies ist unsere Mondbarenmission. Gemeinsam konnen und werden wir die Barengallefarmen in Vietnam schlieen.

Bitte lesen Sie weiter: Jill's Blog
Attacks on civilians amid Gaza conflict condemned

Chinadaily.com.cn) 10:30, October 10, 2023

Gaza: Foreign nationals reported dead

China reiterated on Monday that it "opposes and condemns" violence against civilians as the death toll from the Israel-Palestine conflict reached nearly 1,400.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news briefing in Beijing that China firmly opposes actions that expand the conflict and undermine regional stability. Beijing hopes for a cease-fire, an end to the conflict and the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible, she added.

Mao called on the international community to effectively play its role and work together to cool down the situation.

On Monday, Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas fighters, guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks and pounded the Gaza Strip from the air.

Israel vowed to lay total siege to the impoverished, Hamas-ruled territory in the wake of an unprecedented weekend incursion, and said it had brought in special forces to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the country was "in a state of war" and asked Israelis to prepare for a "long and difficult" conflict.

In response, China had urged relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further escalation of the situation.

The fighting continued in several locations on Monday morning. At least 800 people have reportedly been killed in Israel  a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades  and more than 560 have been killed in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict has had a global impact, with several countries reporting their nationals killed, abducted or missing.

At least nine United States citizens were killed in the conflict, the US State Department said on Monday in a statement, adding that an undetermined number of US citizens remain missing and unaccounted for.

Thailand said at least 12 of its nationals were killed, while Nepal reported 10 deaths. They were all laborers working in Israel.

The United Nations said on Monday that more than 123,000 people have been displaced in Gaza since the fresh round of violence erupted on Saturday.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)




The voting and ballot counting systems at the state-run election watchdog remain vulnerable to potential hacking attacks by North Korea, the intelligence agency said Tuesday.

Announcing the outcome of a joint cybersecurity checkup on the National Election Commission (NEC), the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said North Korea could penetrate into the election watchdog's network "at any time" due to its weak security system, though no such infiltration has been identified.

The NIS and the Korea Internet and Security Agency, the internet safety watchdog, jointly conducted the cybersecurity checkup on the NEC between July and September amid criticism that the watchdog did not do enough to secure its systems from hacking attempts.

The probe showed the NEC had multiple cybersecurity vulnerabilities to hacking attempts in terms of the management of its voter register, ballot counting and early voting systems.

Potential hackers could have penetrated the NEC's election-managing network so as to manipulate registered voter information and the outcome of an election, the NIS said.

In the case of a hacking attack, voters who cast their ballots in early voting could be marked as those who did not participate in the voting. It is also possible to manipulate voter registrations and ballot counts, as well as print ballots without authorization, the NIS said.

The NEC has also failed to take proper measures against North Korean hackers' attacks on emails and other information of its officials despite the intelligence agency's warnings, the probe showed.

Classified NEC documents were leaked in April 2021, as a North Korean hacking organization identified as "Kimsuky" used a malicious code to affect a PC at the election watchdog to steal information.

In June, South Korea imposed unilateral sanctions on Kimsuky, a unit within North Korea's intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, over the North's botched launch of a military spy satellite in May. Kimsuky is believed to be behind the 2014 hacking of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, a South Korean power generation agency.

The NEC's vulnerable cybersecurity system spawns concerns about the possibility that North Korea may carry out illegal cyber activities targeting South Korea's parliamentary elections in April next year.

When asked about the possibility of North Korea having broken into the NEC network to manipulate the results of South Korea's previous elections, the spy agency refrained from confirming it, saying that the latest checkups did not cover all ballot-counting devices and other equipment at the NEC.

"The latest probe showed that the NEC's cybersecurity system remains vulnerable to hacking attempts. But even so, we should be careful about conclusively saying that (such hacking) occurred in the past," Baek Jong-wook, a deputy director at the NIS, told reporters in Pangyo, just south of Seoul.

In response to the spy agency's announcement, the election watchdog said that even if it is technically possible to hack into the election system, that does not necessarily lead to a rigged election, as it is almost impossible to manipulate the outcome of an election without organized assistance from insiders at the NEC.

The election watchdog initially rejected a recommendation by the NIS to receive online security checks, citing the need to maintain political neutrality. But it agreed in May to the checkups amid criticism about its lax attitude toward cybersecurity.

North Korean hackers are widely known for engaging in cryptocurrency thefts and other illicit cyber activities in a bid to help fund the country's nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)
(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 10 - Premier Giorgia Meloni visited the Great Synagogue of Rome on Tuesday.

The visit is of symbolic importance after Hamas's attack on Israel at the weekend.

On Monday Meloni reiterated the government's solidarity with the people of Israel and the Italian Jewish community in light of the "horrible and barbaric events that are taking place in Israel.

"Today more than ever, after the horrible and barbaric events that are taking place in Israel, the government expresses its closeness and solidarity with the people of Israel and the Italian Jewish communities," said Meloni in a statement on the 41st anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Great Synagogue in Rome in which one person, two-year-old Stefano Gaj Tache, was killed and 37 were injured.

"Terror will never prevail," added Meloni.

Meloni participated in a telephone meeting later on Monday with United States President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discus "the serious crisis following Saturday's barbaric attack perpetrated by Hamas against the State of Israel.

"The five Heads of State and Government expressed firm support for Israel and unequivocal condemnation of the horrendous criminal acts by Hamas which have caused a terrible number of innocent victims, including women, children and elderly people," a statement said.

"They then discussed the most urgent political initiatives to be taken together. Protecting the lives of the hostages, starting with the children, some of whom are very young, is a top priority and diplomatic efforts will be focused on this.

"Reaffirming Israel's right to defend itself, President Meloni indicated the need to work to avoid a spread of the crisis at regional level and to protect the civilian population involved.

"The five Heads of State and Government agreed to remain in close contact as the crisis continues". (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 10 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday warned of the risk of copy-cat acts of terrorism after last weekend's attack by Hamas on Israel.

"We must intensify the protection of Jewish citizens, including on our territory, because the risk of emulation of the criminal acts by Hamas could reach us here," Meloni said after visiting the Great Synagogue of Rome.

"So I am here to say that we will defend these citizens from all forms of anti-Semitism.

"Clearly the aim of this visit is to show solidarity to the Roman and Italian Jewish community because, in the terrible scenes coming from Israel, there is something more than what one sees in a normal, yet tragic, war scenario.

"There is hatred towards an entire people in the hunting down of civilians, house-to-house, in the rounding up of children and young people.

"Defending Israel's right to exist and defend itself is also about defending these young people, these children, these women". (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 10 - Of the 500 million euro made available to Italian regions to reduce hospital waiting lists in 2022, only 69.6% have been used, Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said on Tuesday.

"There are 160 million euro left over," he told the national congress of the Sumai Assoprof medical union.

"The most recent analyses confirm this trend, with significant differences between regions that have spent more than 100% and others that have used only 30% of the allocation to cut waiting lists," Schillaci added.

The minister said very often the problem lies in the "lack of physician time that could have been obtained by resorting to outpatient specialists".

Premier Giorgia Meloni has repeated on several occasions her government's commitment to bringing down national-health-system waiting lists, and on Saturday sources in the majority said it also aimed to increase the funds earmarked for healthcare in the 2024 budget law. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 10 - Pope Francis on Monday called Gaza parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli to express his closeness to the small local Christian community, Catholic news agency SIR reported on Tuesday. "Yesterday I spoke to Pope Francis who expressed his closeness and his prayers for the entire Church community in Gaza and for all the parishioners and inhabitants," Romanelli told SIR.

He serves at the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, dedicated to the Holy Family, but is currently stranded in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

"I thanked the pope for the appeal he made last Sunday at the Angelus for peace in Israel and Palestine," Romanelli continued.

"Pope Francis imparted his blessing so that all may feel his closeness," he said.

His church in Gaza is currently hosting 130 forcibly displaced people and others have found shelter in other parish facilities nearby.

"The bombing is continuous and harsh," said Romanelli, reporting his parishioners' accounts.

"Fears of a ground invasion are growing," he added.

Photo: Pope Francis during the Angelus prayer on Sunday during which he called for an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestine. (ANSA).


By Mark Peterson

On a recent trip to Korea, I was afforded one of the great honors of my life when I was asked to visit with the head of the only nationwide Confucian organization to discuss my views on how to save Confucianism.

The meeting was held at the headquarters located at the Sungkyungwan, next to the modern Sungkyungwan University in Seoul.

I am constantly surprised at the comments on my YouTube broadcasts about Confucianism. I grew up in Korea, and in Korean Studies really, with great respect for Confucianism. It was the heart of the history and the cultural behavior that I was studying. And I learned to respect Confucianism, and though an active Christian, I consider myself a Confucian as well.

So, to read comments of all kinds criticizing Confucianism from many different angles is quite shocking to my system. Commonly seen comments include Confucianism was the downfall of our country, and traditional society suppressed womens activities because of Confucianism, and Confucian hierarchy is anti-democratic and counter productive. Recently I have written in this space about Kakao requiring employees to take on American names for use in the office. This, it seems is a way to break down the Confucian hierarchies that inhibit creativity in the office.

Perhaps the paragon of criticism of Confucianism is a book written several years ago with the title Confucianism Needs to Die so That the Nation Can Live.

Well, Im a voice on the other side of the issue. Im interested in finding ways that Confucianism can live. And I have allies, but some of them need to re-arm for battle, because if they wish to argue for the old hierarchies, including male dominance, they are going to lose and lose big. And they will lose my support.

The way for Confucianism to survive, and indeed revive, is to strip it of its social mistakes, the hierarchies, male dominance, and thus return to regarding Confucianism primarily the way Confucius taught, as ideology. Even as religion.

There is always a great rush to point out that Confucianism is not a religion, whenever the topic comes up. But Confucianisms strength is in its philosophy and teachings. Its not necessary to run away from the idea of being a religion because when we look at religions around the world, indeed, in World Religions classes and textbooks at universities, Confucianism is one of the worlds five great religions. Five, or six, or seven  different textbooks and different classes take different approaches. But Confucianism is always there!  as a religion.

There are all kinds of religions. One does not need to worship on Sunday, to have a religion. In fact, one need not worship on any day to have a religion. There are this worldly religions, and other worldly religions. I think the pro-Confucianists out that are making a mistake to run away from being a religion. I think they would be strong to own up to it  to say, Confucianism is a religion. It is a religion and a philosophy and a set of teachings to make people better and to help people treat each other in better ways. It is a religion without a god, but with ethics and values and teachings of how to respect and appreciate one another.

Confucianism will survive when it returns to its core teachings and abandons all the social practice that it has accumulated. The teachings  filial piety, loyalty are center, and benevolence, justice, politeness, knowledge. Indeed, it is the Confucian desire for knowledge that has made Korea great, historically and recently. The seonbi used to study to pass the exams, and today, the students study to pass the exams.

And the Confucian virtues espoused in the first lines of the Analects  first, there is no greater pleasure than to study, and second, what is more enjoyable than treating a guest who has come from afar. And the third line in that first paragraph, to not be disappointed when you are not recognized for what you have done. These are principles that have guided Korean values in the past, and I hope they will in the future.

The problem is all the cultural accretions over the years, mostly the male dominance and the patrilineal orientation of the family. We see this in the genealogy  it is a table showing how men are related to men through men. The women are barely recognized, in spite of being half the population and the means by which more men are born!

Korean Confucianism from earliest times (sixth century) to the late 17th century existed in a society that was not male dominated. Women had equal inheritance rights, owned property, hosted ancestry ceremonies in turn with their brothers, and in all ways but politics, had an equal share of social and economic activity.

So, if Korea once had a Confucian society that was not male dominated, it can do it again.

Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is a professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah.
Four British nationals who were being held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan have been released and are set to return to the UK on a flight.

The UK Foreign Office said it welcomes the release of the men, who were detained over allegedly breaking the countrys laws.

Non-profit organisation the Presidium Network, which has assisted the men, named three of them as charity medic Kevin Cornwell, from Middlesbrough, Miles Routledge and Ian Purchase.

The other cannot be named for legal reasons.

Miles Routledge is also set to return from Afghanistan (Miles Routledge/PA)

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said the UK Government regrets this episode.

They went on: On behalf of families of the British nationals, we express their apologies to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country.

Scott Richards, co-founder of the Presidium Network, said the men were returning to the UK on Tuesday, but was unaware of which flight they were on.

Mr Routledge is a British holidaymaker who received widespread attention and criticism on social media in August 2021 having travelled to Afghanistan despite the Talibans gains in the nation.

Mr Cornwell had been working for the UN Refugee Agency in Kabul when he was detained in January.
The Government has completed its purchase of a former prison earmarked to house asylum seekers in East Sussex, a council has said.

The Northeye site in Bexhill was announced as a proposed location to house 1,200 people in March this year.

In a statement on October 9, Rother District Council leader Doug Oliver said: It is our understanding that the governments purchase of the Northeye site has been completed.

It is disappointing that neither Rother District Council nor local residents were informed by the Home Office of this important change, despite the commitment made to keep all stakeholders informed.

Mr Oliver added that no final decision had been made to use the site, and that the council was seeking more information from the Home Office on their proposals to reassure residents.

Northeye would be a closed, detained and secure site, Bexhill and Battle MP Huw Merriman said (James Manning/PA)

We remain committed to seeking to ensure that any use of the Northeye site is lawful and acceptable and that the views of the local community are heard by all bodies responsible for making decisions, Mr Oliver said.

In April, Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council said they had been informed of the plans just hours before the Government announcement on March 29.

They said there had been no previous discussions with the Government and were seeking urgent answers from the Home Office.

In August, Bexhill and Battle MP Huw Merriman said if the use of Northeye goes ahead it will be a closed, detained and secure site for people awaiting deportation from the UK.

According to the Home Offices factsheet on its plans for Northeye, it is working on proposals to use the disused prison as asylum accommodation and is exploring it being used for detention purposes.

The Home Office has been approached for comment.
In a dramatic year for daytime TV staple This Morning, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have both now left the sofa that they had shared together for more than 10 years.

Schofields fall from grace was swift following him admitting to an affair with a much younger male colleague while still married to his wife and losing his talent representation before departing from ITV altogether.

Willoughby said her decision in October was to spend more time for me and my family and the broadcasters managing director for media and entertainment Kevin Lygo has said she remains a much-loved member of the ITV family and that he hopes to work with her in the future.

Here is a timeline of how events unfolded:

 February 2020: Schofield comes out as gay after nearly 27 years of marriage to wife Stephanie, in an emotional on-air chat with co-host and long-time friend Willoughby. The pair embrace on the sofa.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have both faced criticism (Ian West/PA)

 September 2022: The co-hosts face criticism over claims they skipped the queue for Queen Elizabeth IIs lying in state while attending as members of the media to film a segment for This Morning.

 April 17 2023: The first hint something might be wrong comes in the first show after the Easter break. Schofield and Willoughby should both be on the sofa after he took leave while his brother Timothy was on trial for child sex offences. While Schofield is back in the studio, Willoughby is absent, saying she has shingles.

 May 10: The Sun reports the pair are barely speaking.

 May 11: Schofield calls Holly his rock and says they are the best of friends.

 May 15: The pair put on a united front on This Morning and make no reference to stories in the press about their relationship.

 May 18: Schofield presents what will turn out to be his last episode of This Morning.

 May 20: Schofield steps down from This Morning with immediate effect. ITV says he will continue to present peak-time shows, including The British Soap Awards and a new prime-time series. Willoughby releases a statement saying the sofa wont feel the same without him.

Presenters Dermot OLeary and Alison Hammond (Ian West/PA)

 May 21: It is announced that Dermot OLeary and Alison Hammond will host the show on Monday May 22, as Willoughby takes early half-term leave. It is announced she will return to hosting duties on June 5.

 May 22: OLeary and Hammond host the show and hail Schofield as one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had.

 May 26: Schofield admits to an unwise but not illegal affair with a much younger male colleague and resigns from ITV. He confirms the relationship began while he was still with his wife and says he will not be hosting the British Soap Awards, his last public commitment. He apologises for lying about the relationship. He is dropped by his talent agency YMU.

 May 27: Willoughby accuses Schofield of lying to her about the affair, saying his admission is very hurtful. ITV says the broadcaster was not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour when it looked into the matter in 2020.

 May 28: Former This Morning resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh says the show is toxic, adding he raised concerns about bullying and discrimination two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was managed out for whistleblowing. ITV responds by saying an external and independent adviser was appointed to carry out a review after the complaint, which found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.

Dame Carolyn McCall, chief executive of ITV (Richard Kendal/RTS/PA)

 May 29: Schofield releases a statement denying toxicity at This Morning and says its the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes alleges there was a total cover-up at ITV over the affair and, in an interview on GB News, says Willoughby should follow Schofield out the door.

 May 31: In a letter, seen by the PA news agency, ITVs chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall says the broadcaster has instructed a barrister to conduct an external review of how it has handled Schofields affair. She adds that Jane Mulcahy KC, of Blackstone Chambers, will carry out an external review to establish the facts.

 June 1: Dame Carolyn is called to give evidence to a parliamentary committee on June 14 to answer questions about the broadcasters approach to safeguarding and complaint handling after the departure of Schofield.

The Sun publishes an interview with Schofield in which he says he is sorry to Willoughby but owes his greatest apology to his former lover. He reiterates that he did not groom the man, and that although his wife was very, very angry about the affair, his daughters have been guarding him during the fallout.

 June 2: The BBC airs its own interview with Schofield, conducted by media editor Amol Rajan. Schofield says he has lost everything and the affair has had a catastrophic effect on his mind. Speaking about the criticism he has faced he says he can see nothing ahead except blackness and sadness and now speaks about his career in television in the past tense. Schofield also urges the media to leave the younger man alone.

 June 5: Willoughby makes an emotional return to This Morning, saying she felt shaken, troubled, let down and worried following the revelations about Schofield. The episode was watched by an average of 839,000 viewers, the highest daily average for the show since the coronation bank holiday on May 8, and had a peak audience of 1.6 million.

 June 14: ITV boss Dame Carolyn is questioned by MPs alongside ITV managing director Kevin Lygo and general counsel and company secretary Kyla Mullins about Schofields exit. Dame Carolyn tells the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee that the broadcaster does not recognise allegations of a toxic culture at This Morning, saying it deeply disappoints me.

 September 5: This Morning loses its best daytime show title at the National Television Awards to The Repair Shop following being on a winning streak in the daytime category for the last number of years.

 September 13: Dame Carolyn updates the CMS committee to say the external review is being led by Jane Mulcahy KC and she has conducted multiple witness interviews, with further interviews set to continue during the course of September.

 October 6: A shopping centre security officer is remanded in custody over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder Willoughby. Gavin Plumb, 36, was charged at Chelmsford Magistrates Court with soliciting a man named David Nelson to commit murder, and incitement to commit kidnap between October 2 and 5 in Harlow, Essex. The other man was due to arrive in the UK the following week from the US, the court heard.

 October 10: Willoughby announces she is stepping down from presenting This Morning after 14 years saying on Instagram that it was an honour to just be part of its story. Following Willoughbys announcement, Mr Lygo said: She remains a much loved member of the ITV family and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.
Waving a Palestinian flag on British streets may not be legitimate if it is deemed to be a show of support for acts of terrorism, the Home Secretary has told police chiefs.

Suella Braverman has urged officers to use the full force of the law against shows of support for Hamas or bids to intimidate the UKs Jewish community in the wake of the attack on Israel.

The flare-up of violence in the Middle East has led to shows of public solidarity on both sides, with vigils held to remember those killed in Israel as well as protests demonstrating in favour of Palestinian rights.

In a letter addressed to chief constables in England and Wales, Mrs Braverman said: Sadly, experience indicates that whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists seek to use legitimate Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews and increase fear within the Jewish community.

The Cabinet minister set out examples of protest that she said could amount to public order offences, including targeting Jewish neighbourhoods, waving pro-Palestinian or pro-Hamas symbols and chanting slogans that could be interpreted as anti-Israeli.

The senior Conservative politician said: I encourage all chief officers to ensure that any protests which could exacerbate community tensions by way of offensive placards, chants, or behaviours that could be construed as incitement or harassment, have a strong police presence to ensure perpetrators are appropriately dealt with, and that communities feel protected.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to hold people to account if they are found to be supporting Hamas in Britain.

Hamas, the Palestinian military group behind the surprise strikes on Israel on Saturday, which left more than 1,000 people dead, is proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters on Tuesday that police have been given clear guidance to clamp down on any behaviour that falls foul of the law.

The Israel-Gaza conflict has sparked reactions in UK communities, with three people arrested during protests and vigils on Monday evening.

The UK stands with Israel in her fight against the barbaric attack by Hamas terrorists. There is no place on British streets for demonstrations that glorify terrorism. I am writing to police chiefs urging them to use all their powers to prevent disorder & distress. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/FLCDLDGGmX  Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) October 9, 2023

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington to demonstrate on that same evening, letting off fireworks, lighting flares and chanting Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar.

Only a few miles east of that demonstration, more than 4,000 people are estimated to have joined a vigil outside Downing Street organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

Mrs Braverman, in her letter to police chiefs sent on Tuesday, said she recognises that decisions on arrests are rightly an operational matter for police, while urging forces to use all available powers to prevent disorder and distress to our communities.

It is not just explicit pro-Hamas symbols and chants that are cause for concern, said Mrs Braverman, who on Monday visited Golders Green, a north London area with a large Jewish population.

I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated Section 5 public order offence.

Buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Hatem Moussa/AP)

I would encourage police to give similar consideration to the presence of symbols such as swastikas at anti-Israel demonstrations. Context is crucial.

Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism.

Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at.

Where harassment is identified, I would encourage the police to take swift and appropriate enforcement action.

On Saturday, Hamas sent fighters across the border into Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented incursion, which also saw a music festival targeted.

Since the weekends atrocities, Israel has cut Gaza off from deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies and has launched retaliatory air strikes on the 25-mile stretch, which is home to 2.3 million people.

At least 1,600 lives have already been claimed on both sides, and perhaps hundreds more.

Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited a synagogue on Monday to join in with prayers for victims of the Hamas attack (PA)

Tel Aviv has vowed a retaliation against Hamas that will reverberate  for generations, with its mobilisation of 360,000 reservists raising questions about whether it will order a ground invasion.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly confirmed to LBC that a significant number of British-Israeli nationals have been caught up in the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

At least two Britons were killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing.

Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamass charge.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared dead.

A post from Mr Darlingtons sister Shelley on social media said he was murdered at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel.

His death has not been officially confirmed.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was set upon by Hamas gunmen.
John Cleese has said comedy at the BBC is in a parlous state because the corporation is run like a bureaucracy and is made up of committees.

The Fawlty Towers creator, 83, who will revisit his most beloved comic creation when he reboots the classic hotel sitcom with his daughter Camilla, said TV executives want to control everything.

Cleese will also embark on a new TV project when his series on GB News begins later this month.

Comedy legend John Cleese and his daughter Camilla have started working on a Fawlty Towers reboot!  pic.twitter.com/sm3Lwm6Z7W  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 10, 2023

The Dinosaur Hour will see him interview famous faces including Stephen Fry and Sir Trevor McDonald.

He told ITVs Good Morning Britain: They made me the best offer anyone has ever made anyone in television.

Not financially  they came to me and said: Would you like to make 10 programmes? You can do anything that you like. And I mean, nobodys ever said that to anyone because most television executives have no idea what theyre doing, but they want to control things anyway.

My experience was that with a very few exceptions of the BBC about 40 years ago, they dont know what theyre doing, but they want to control everything and they dont trust the talent.

So the moment they get someone  talent  and they say: What sort of show are you going to do? Then they want to make lots of suggestions.

They say: We want to know what were getting. And I say: Well, youre getting me, but if you dont trust me, dont hire me. But they try to control everything. And that is why BBC comedy is in such a parlous state at the moment.

The young comedians tell me how hard it is to get anything accepted, because its all committees.

And the BBC is now run like a bureaucracy, and thats not good for nurturing talent.

The cast of Fawlty Towers, (L-R ) Prunella Scales as Sybil, John Cleese as Basil, Connie Booth as Polly and Andrew Sachs as Manuel (BBC)

Cleeses comedy triumphs include Monty Pythons Flying Circus and A Fish Called Wanda. He is arguably best known as Basil Fawlty, the hapless proprietor of a Torquay hotel.

The original Fawlty Towers show, written by Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth, ran on BBC Two for two series in 1975 and 1979.

It was confirmed earlier this year that Cleese and his daughter, Camilla Cleese, will be rebooting the show.

The new series will explore how Basil navigates the modern world.

It will also see Basil, and a daughter he has just discovered is his, team up to run a boutique hotel.

Actor Rob Reiner, his wife and actress Michele Reiner, director and producer Matthew George and Derrick Rossi are executive producers.

Asked about criticism of the reboot, Cleese said the announcement of the return was made too early.

Andrew Sachs as Manuel and John Cleese as Basil in BBCs Fawlty Towers (BBC)

People have no idea what they are talking about because they have no idea what were going to do.

The problem was it shouldnt have been announced for about another 12 months. But one of the top people wanted a bit of a publicity to help him with his career so he started talking about it before it was really a glint in our eye.

But Camilla and I have done about two weeks work and were starting again on Monday because were doing a tour together on a bus.

Cleese said his new programme on GB News is for people who are badly out of touch, adding: Lots of people are happy to be dinosaurs because its very hard to understand whats going on at the moment. And if youre a dinosaur you have no chance of understanding it at all.

This is a huge demographic, you know.

Were going to get people, of course, who are out of touch because they want to be out of touch, but also people who are out of touch and have no idea that they are out of touch.

'Will you shut up!'  Comic legend John Cleese tells Ed to stop talking over him as they discuss John's brand new chat show on GB News  The Dinosaur Hour. pic.twitter.com/YzFG5FFrrW  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 10, 2023

Addressing the recent upheaval in the on-air team at GB News, with the axing of Laurence Fox and Calvin Robinson and the suspension of Dan Wootton, Cleese said: They are clearing out a certain amount, which is not a bad idea, because they do believe in free speech.

When presenter Ed Balls interrupted him, to joke: Get the old blood out and the new blood in, Cleese retorted: Will you shut up? prompting laughter from Balls co-host Susanna Reid.

Cleese told the pair: The trouble with most interviews in British television and American television is that people cant get their opening statement out properly before they get interrupted.

When Reid asked: Did you find that with this interview? Cleese replied: Youre naughty, I like you.

The Dinosaur Hour launches on GB News on October 29.
At least two Britons have been killed after Hamas fighters attacked Israel, with another feared dead and more missing.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said significant numbers of British-Israeli dual nationals have been caught up in the conflict, although he said he is uncomfortable giving exact numbers in a fast-moving situation.

One Briton, Nathanel Young was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Hamas, which began on Saturday.

The 20-year-old former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News.

His brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone.

He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead.

A post on social media from Mr Darlingtons sister Shelley said he had been murdered at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. However, his death has not been officially confirmed.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died in the attack on southern Israel.

Mr Cowans family told the BBC: We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.

We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed.

Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border.

His mother Lisa told the Jewish News on Sunday that the last message she had from her son was one saying he loved her.

He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, she said.

Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say Signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me.

Desperately sad news from the family of Dor Shafir (30) who went missing with his girlfriend Savion Kiper (31) after a Hamas attack on a music festival in Southern Israel on Saturday. They tell me Savion has been found murdered. There is no sign of Dor. pic.twitter.com/qHTrzahL2L  Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) October 10, 2023

Dor Shafir, 30, whose mother was born in Britain, remains missing after attending the music festival

His family told GMB News Richard Gaisford on Tuesday that his fiancee Savion had been found dead but there is still no sign of their son.

His cousin, Rob Simmons, told the show: For my cousin Dor, and many others, there are, unfortunately, three options.

Either they are in hiding in the area where they ran to safety, or they were part of the massacre that Hamas carried out, which the Israeli army cannot get to all of the fields in the areas just now.

Or they have been taken by Hamas into Gaza.
A routine blood test before a boob job potentially saved Lauren Parker's life. (SWNS)

A woman who flew to Turkey for a boob job says surgeons saved her life after they found a potentially deadly pregnancy complication.

Lauren Parker, 25, flew to Istanbul in September this year for a breast uplift and implants.

Before leaving the UK, she says she had visited her GP about unusual bleeding but they put it down to an abnormal period and gave her the green light to fly.

Read more: How attitudes towards C-sections have changed since Victoria Beckham was told she was too posh to push (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)

"I was feeling really rough and was worried with all the bleeding that I'd not be able to have the operation," Parker says.

"I was worried about my iron levels to be honest and didn't want to bleed out if I did have it. I was a bit shocked my GP didn't try and find out a bit more or run any tests or see me in person. But I was told I was fine to go out there, so I went."

An ultrasound found that Lauren was having an ectopic pregnancy. (SWNS) (Lauren Parker / SWNS)

However, it was only during a consultation with her surgeon in Turkey and a routine blood test that Parker discovered she was five weeks pregnant.

"I was certain I wasn't pregnant - I didn't believe them at first," Parker recalls. "The staff in Turkey were amazing - they saved my life. On top of that I got my new boobs too, so it was amazing all around."

An ultrasound revealed that Parker was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, which is a potentially fatal condition where the fertilised egg is implanted outside of the womb, usually in the fallopian tube.

Read more: Im constantly asking myself why: Mother shares heartbreak of ectopic pregnancy (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

Concerned doctors decided to operate, with removal of the fallopian tube the most common treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, but one that can reduce chances of fertility in the future.

"If I didn't go for that surgery I might not be here today," Parker, an aesthetics practitioner and lash technician, from Southampton says.

The surgeons kept Parker under anaesthetic for another seven hours following the keyhole surgery to perform her breast enlargement, taking her from a B cup to an E cup.

Lauren Parker's breast enlargement took her boobs from a B cup to an E cup. (SWNS) (Lauren Parker / SWNS)

"It was scary - they were all really worried about me and offered to do the operation themselves or advised I get back to the UK for it ASAP," she says.

Parker opted for the Turkish surgeons to perform the operation at a cost of 1,500, on top of the 3,600 she paid for her breast enlargement.

"They saved my life by being so thorough," she says. "They were absolutely wonderful, they really cared and put me at ease. It was amazing, I felt in such safe hands.

"I knew something wasn't right before I left the UK, I wish I'd trusted my gut and been listened to here. It was weird not knowing if I'd wake up with new boobs or not as they said they'd only do them if the keyhole had gone well."

The two fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus, and they alternate in providing an egg to the uterus each month. When the egg is not fertilised, this is when a woman has her period.

Read more: Laura Kenny endured 'hardest few months' with miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy (The Bolton News, 3-min read)

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when one of the eggs becomes fertilised while stuck in the fallopian tube. It can be deadly as it can cause the fallopian tube to burst as the egg develops.

Despite being left with just one fallopian tube, Parker says shes not going to stress about her fertility just yet.

"I'm only 25 and we have lots of time to try," she says. "I have been told I'll have to be quite careful about how I get pregnant and have lots of tests. It's a bit scary but I've got lots of information."

Parker says before her boob job she felt frumpy but she feels so much better now.

She adds: "I feel so much better in myself and much more confident."

Watch: Lauren Conrad had ectopic pregnancy
A man has been arrested after a protester disrupted Sir Keir Starmers speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

The 28-year-old from Surrey was arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday.

The protester was wearing a T-shirt linking him to a group called People Demand Democracy, which has named him as Yaz Ashmawi.

As Sir Keir began to address the gathering the heckler began shouting true democracy is citizen-led and threw glitter at the Labour leader.

The Labour leader pushed the activist away from the microphone with his right arm before security arrived.

The protester continued to shout politics needs an update, we demand a peoples house, we are in crisis and our whole future is in jeopardy as he was wrestled to the ground.

Sir Keir, who has repeatedly highlighted how he has shifted the party since Jeremy Corbyns leadership, said protest or power, this is why we changed our party.

After removing his jacket, the Labour leader said: If he thinks that bothers me, he doesnt know me, before beginning his speech with glitter on the shoulders of his white shirt.

A Labour spokesman said Sir Keir had had been completely unfazed by the incident.

It shows his true strength of character that he got on and delivered the speech of his life, he added.

The protester was later removed from the conference building through a back exit by two police officers before being put in a police van.

A protester, who named himself as Yaz Ashmawi, throws glitter over Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer before his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Picture date: Tuesday October 10, 2023.

People Demand Democracy, described as friends by Just Stop Oil, is calling for a a fair, proportional voting system for Westminster elections, as well as a legally-binding national House of Citizens to be selected by democratic lottery.

The group issued a quote from the protester  who they did not name  saying: The Labour Party has been captured, donors and lobbyists have more control over Keir Starmer than his members.

A House of Citizens will force politicians to listen to people, it dismantles their relationships with the rich, it would create meaningful change in our economy and fix inequality.

It would address the climate and ecological emergency and transform our country.

It would listen to scientists and communities and unearth consensus, not profit off conflict and division.

Extinction Rebellion revealed Mr Ashmawi is one of its activists but said the glitter-throwing protest was not an XR action.

A protester throws glitter over Sir Keir Starmer (Peter Byrne/PA)

An XR spokesperson said: We agree with Yaz that true democracy is citizen-led and that our politics needs an update.

The greatest crisis we are facing is the climate and nature emergency and it is clear the political system is unable to cope with this.

This is why XR is demanding a UK-wide, independently-run citizens assembly on the climate and nature emergencies.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said he was really upset when that young man stormed the stage.

I saw him coming, and there was a bit of Tottenham that came up in me, he said  a reference to his north London constituency.

But he was a bit too fast and I wasnt quite sure.

At a conference fringe event, he said: I was upset because the people of Tottenham need a Labour government  they look in on the news and they will see what Keir Starmer has to say.

And that young man  probably middle class  has an issue, I understand its proportional representation, and he gets his moment of fame and the people of Tottenham, their opportunity is thwarted.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner told LBCs Andrew Marr I thought I was going to do a full John Prescott at one point  a reference to her predecessor who punched an egg-throwing protester.

Green energy industrialist Dale Vince, who until recently donated money to Just Stop Oil, told the PA news agency there was a lot to like in the Labour leaders speech.

Asked if he was confident that Sir Keir could deliver on the vision and things he would like to see happen, Mr Vince replied: I do because he also expressed his commitment to the climate crisis.

Greenpeace UKs head of politics, Rebecca Newsom, also praised the Labour leaders speech, saying his environmental plans are like a breath of fresh air.

A protester throws glitter over and disrupts Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer making his keynote speech during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

After the speech finished, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC: It just shows, doesnt it, that you cant bother Keir Starmer with stuff like that.

Its about power not protest, that is what Keir Starmer was talking about. Were a party of power, not protest.

He kept going and made this amazing speech. We heard the serious points that he was making, and there wasnt any protester that was going to bother him.

A Merseyside Police statement said: We can confirm that a 28-year-old man from Surrey has been arrested following an incident at the Labour Party conference earlier this afternoon.

The man was detained by security at the event and handed over to the police who arrested him on suspicion of S39 assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance.

He has been taken to a police station where he will be questioned by police.

The Liverpool exhibition centre where the speech was disrupted said staff had dealt with the protest appropriately and that it would assist Merseyside Police as required.

It is not the first time one of Sir Keirs speeches has been interrupted by hecklers.

In July, activists from the group Green New Deal Rising interrupted the opposition leaders speech on education in protest at Labour watering down its plans to spend 28 billion per year on a green prosperity plan.

In 2017, Theresa May had her address to the Conservative Party conference disrupted by a comedian who handed her a fake P45.
A new print exploring the complexities of grief by Kenyan-born British artist Michael Armitage is to be displayed in diplomatic buildings.

Each year a British artist is commissioned to produce a print to go on show in government buildings.

The artists print, Ngaben, was unveiled on Tuesday morning at 10 Downing Street as it was awarded the 2023 Robson Orr TenTen Award, presented by the Government Art Collection (GAC), a national collection of British art that is displayed around the world.

Ngaben is a Hindu cremation ceremony practised in Bali and Armitages lithograph was inspired by his personal experiences of grief after the death of a friend in Indonesia.

Sybil Robson Orr and Matthew Orr unveil Michael Armitages artwork Ngaben (David Parry/PA)

Mask-like faces crowd the bottom of the print, while two women hold each other as they watch the flames.

Talking about the piece, Armitage said: Culture exists in the most difficult moments of peoples lives, at points at which they grieve and points at which they experience loss, it exists in celebration.

Its a reminder that were not here as isolated individuals, were here as something greater, and we have a responsibility to each other.

For me, thats really what it is to be an artist  its a very hard thing to quantify but its entirely necessary.

Armitage, who was born in Nairobi in 1984 to a Yorkshire father and Kenyan mother, is best known for his oil paintings on Lubugo bark cloth, used by the Baganda people in Uganda to make burial shrouds, and his work often weaves narratives drawn from media and popular culture.

Sybil Robson Orr, Matthew Orr, Eliza Gluckman and Baron Stephen Parkinson at No 10 Downing Street with previous winners of the Robson Orr TenTen Award (David Parry/PA)

The award is a 10-year scheme, started in 2018 with the support of philanthropists Sybil Robson Orr and Matthew Orr, which commissions a unique limited edition print by a leading British artist each year.

Previous artists who have won the award and had their prints displayed across the globe include Lubaina Himid, who won in 2021 for her work exploring colonialism, and Rachel Whiteread, who won in 2022 with a Covid-inspired piece.

The Government Art Collection is given 15 editions of the print to put on display in UK Government buildings, and the sale of 11 editions helps raise funds for the collection to support emerging artists in Britain.

Discussing Armitages art work, Robson Orr said she was really blown away by the print and expressed its importance for students in their education programme.

Eliza Gluckman, director of the GAC, said: Michael Armitages moving print marks the importance of international and intergenerational peer support of artists.
By Lee Jong-eun

In August, the leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan held a historic trilateral summit at Camp David. In a joint statement, the three leaders pledged comprehensive cooperation over the economy, technology, missile defense and maintaining the status quo in the waters of Asia-Pacific against Chinas dangerous and aggressive behaviors. After the summit, some policy experts, however, raised concerns about the sustainability of the trilateral partnership, observing the continued conflicts between Korea and Japan and the two countries anxiety over the future reliability of the U.S. government.

In September, the leaders of Russia and North Korea held a summit in the Russian Far East. Though the summit did not see the release of a joint statement, there are predictions that North Korea will provide greater military support for Russias war in Ukraine, while Russia will provide economic and technological support for North Koreas nuclear development. The international media has also portrayed the Russia-DPRK summit as strengthening the trilateral alliance between Russia, China and North Korea.

The governments of China, Russia and North Korea appear to recognize that they face common ideological and security pressures from the U.S.-led alliance. China and Russia have vetoed U.N. Security Council resolutions against the DPRKs ballistic missile tests. China and North Korea have refused to condemn Russias war in Ukraine. Russia and North Korea have affirmed Chinas claim of sovereignty over Taiwan. Countering the U.S.-led hegemonic forces, the revisionist powers may strategize supporting each other until the divisions within the U.S.-led alliance eventually cause the pressure to subside.

The three authoritarian regimes, however, also face challenges in managing an alliance. Past authoritarian alliances have often been less successful than democratic alliances in maintaining unity. During World War II, neither Japan nor Germany consulted each other in critical strategic decisions, such as the invasion of the Soviet Union and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During the Cold War, the USSR and China engaged in armed border conflicts and eventually experienced a breakdown of their alliance, with China aligning instead with the United States against Soviet hegemony. North Korea advocated Juche (self-reliance) and kept its distance from the USSR and China.

Two common challenges for international alliances are the risks of abandonment and entrapment. A state might fear its security interests will be abandoned by its allies. Alternatively, a state might fear its allies will create a security crisis and entrap the former into the crisis. These risks pose serious obstacles today for the trilateral partnership between the U.S., South Korea and Japan. Many South Koreans fear Japan and the U.S. could entrap South Korea into an adverse conflict with Russia and China. Some in the U.S. and Japan fear the future South Korean government could become a soft link in the partnership and pursue an independent policy driven by nationalist sentiments toward Japan and North Korea.

However, the risks of abandonment and entrapment also threaten the alliance of authoritarian regimes. It might be tempting to assume that authoritarian regimes are more effective than political democracies in managing their alliances because they are less vulnerable to domestic political resistance against the regimes foreign policy. However, the lack of domestic political restraints could cause an authoritarian regimes foreign policy to be more unpredictable and intensify distrust among allies.

In a political democracy, the need for consensus among domestic constituents creates deterrence against sudden and drastic shifts in foreign policy. For example, during the trade conflict between Korea and Japan in 2019, the South Korean government continued the agreement to share military intelligence with Japan. Despite growing domestic advocacy for amending Japans pacifist constitution to establish a formal military, Japans government has been cautious in the scope of the amendment process. In the U.S., the Trump administration faced domestic pressures to restrain the scale of the trade war with China, negatively impacting U.S. businesses and the agricultural community.

In contrast, authoritarian regimes are more likely to risk drastic foreign policy actions. Putin surprised even Russias political institutions and China by launching special military operations against Ukraine. North Korea has rarely consulted with China or Russia on the timing and magnitude of its nuclear and missile tests. Such policy independence weakens the credibility of the alliance commitment. Could Russia use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine without consulting China and North Korea? Could China cut a deal with the U.S. and pressure Russia to end the war with an unfavorable settlement? Could North Korea change its foreign policy strategy again if Trump is reelected as U.S. president?

During the Cold War and post-Cold War period, the three countries committed multiple betrayals against each other. Under the new Cold War environment, the three countries will continue to be wary of each others motives and policies. Perhaps paradoxically, the revisionist states opposed to the rule-based international order face the challenge of establishing and enforcing rules for cooperation in sharing strategic responsibilities and resources.

In politics, there is a saying that one side wins by making fewer mistakes than the other side. Similarly, a successful international alliance is often relative to less successful alliances. The trilateral partnership between the U.S., South Korea and Japan faces multiple challenges and will likely face setbacks and conflicts in several policy areas. South Korea might refuse the U.S.'s request to send military aid to Ukraine. The U.S. might impose trade restrictions against South Korean companies. The course of East Asian geopolitics, however, will be impacted by whether the U.S.-ROK-Japan partnership will ultimately be more effective and cooperative than the Russia-China-DPRK partnership.

Will the first partnership achieve greater predictability and trust among partners? Will the first partnership be more efficient in allocating resources and responsibilities? For those who worry about the limitations and challenges of the U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral partnership, it might be reassuring that this relative standard might be an easier benchmark to achieve.

Lee Jong-eun, Ph.D., is assistant professor of political science at North Greenville University.
Workers at online giant Amazon are to stage a series of fresh strikes over pay, including on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Members of the GMB union based at the companys Coventry site will walk out on November 7, 8 and 9 as well as on November 24, known as Black Friday.

The union said it will be the biggest day of strike action in Amazons history, involving more than 1,000 workers.

The move comes a day after Amazon announced a pay rise for its staff.

Rachel Fagan, GMB organiser, said: These strike dates will bring total days lost to industrial action to nearly 30.

This is an unprecedented and historic moment with low-paid workers taking on one of the worlds most powerful corporations.

This is our members response to the failure of Amazon bosses to listen.

Coventry is the beating heart of Amazons distribution network. Strike action here on Black Friday will ripple throughout the companys UK logistics.

As Black Friday looms, Amazon must urgently reconsider their priorities or risk strike action causing widespread disruption to customers and the public.

Amazon yesterday announced a pay rise for its staff of at least 1 an hour.

The minimum starting pay for frontline employees will rise to between 11.80 and 12.50 an hour depending on location.

The increase, for all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal roles, will be effective from October 15.

Minimum starting pay will increase further next April to between 12.30 and 13 an hour, depending on location.

John Boumphrey, Amazon UKs country manager, said: We have some of the most talented colleagues around and were proud to offer them competitive wages and benefits, as well as fantastic opportunities for career development, all in a safe and modern work environment.

These are just some of the reasons people want to work at Amazon, whether its their first job, a seasonal role or an opportunity for them to advance their career.
Promises over the treatment of asylum seekers removed to Rwanda are aspirational, the United Nations refugee agency has told the Supreme Court.

The Home Office is challenging a June Court of Appeal ruling that the UKs multimillion-pound deal with Rwanda over the processing of asylum claims was unlawful.

The Government has previously argued that a memorandum of understanding agreed between the two countries provides assurances that ensure everyone sent there will have a safe and effective refugee status determination procedure.

An accommodation block at Gashora Refugee Camp Transit Centre, south of Kigali, Rwanda (Victoria Jones/PA)

Other assurances include that people deported to Rwanda will be provided with adequate accommodation, food, free medical assistance, education, language and professional development training and integration programmes, judges were told at previous hearings.

However, Angus McCullough KC, for the UNHCR, said the promises were no sufficient answer to basic and fundamental defects in the Rwandan system.

He said in written submissions: The assurances and commitments given by the government of Rwanda do not suffice to establish an accessible, reliable or fair asylum system in Rwanda.

UNHCR in any event considers the assurances given in this case insufficient.

The assurances are aspirational in nature, particularly in relation to such matters as appropriately trained decision-makers and objective and impartial decisions.

Five justices at the London court were told that asylum seekers transferred to Rwanda under a previous arrangement with Israel were routinely and clandestinely expelled, prevented from making asylum claims and faced grossly intimidating treatment.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman attending a Commonwealth Day street fair in Kigali (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Issues have also been raised about the consequences for anyone who shows dissent against the Rwandan authorities, with the country described as an authoritarian, one-party state by a barrister for the asylum seekers in the claim.

Mr McCullough later said in written submissions: The Home Offices response to the evidence of inadequacies and failures in the system is to assert that, in light of the assurances, evidence of past problems is at best, peripherally relevant That approach has no basis in principle or in the evidence.

At the start of the three-day hearing on Monday, Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, told the UKs highest court that the policy to remove people to a country less attractive than the UK, but nevertheless safe, is lawful.

The barrister said both countries are committed to the deal, with very powerful practical incentives for Rwanda to comply with assurances that asylum seekers there would be protected from ill-treatment.

The appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by Government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state  Rwanda, Sir James said.

Sir James said that asylum seekers rights of review and appeal were embedded in the deal with Rwanda, which also guaranteed access to legal support.

In written arguments, he added that transfers to the east African nation will take place only with the consent of the Rwandan authorities and numbers will, in the first instance, be low.

The barrister later said both the British and Rwandan governments were fully aware of the likely controversy of the arrangements when the deal was made.

The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is due to end on Wednesday, with a judgment expected at a later date.
The release of a satirical TV series about war hostages starring Sean Penn has been delayed by ITV in light of current events after Hamas fighters attacked Israel.

Comedy C*A*U*G*H*T follows four Australian soldiers sent on a secret mission to a war-torn country where they are mistaken for Americans, captured and appear in a hostage video that goes viral.

According to the shows synopsis: When the soldiers reach celebrity status, they realise that being caught might just be the best thing that could have happened to them.

The programme also stars Lost actor Matthew Fox, as well as series creator Kick Gurry.

It had been due to launch on streaming service ITVX on October 12.

Matthew Fox stars in satirical comedy C*A*U*G*H*T (Ian West/PA)

A statement from ITV said: In light of current events, the launch date of C*A*U*G*H*T on ITVX will be delayed until further notice. We will be in touch when a new streaming date is confirmed.

The show has also reportedly pulled out of TV trade show Mipcom in Cannes, France.

Penn serves as an executive producer and plays himself in the series.

At least two Britons have been killed after Hamas fighters attacked Israel, with another feared dead and more missing.

The Palestinian militant group  which is banned as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government  sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday, which also saw a music festival targeted.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli military, with authorities in Gaza saying about 700 have been killed in the territory and the West Bank, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.

Since the weekends atrocities, Israel has sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, medicine and other supplies, while launching retaliatory air strikes on the Hamas-ruled territory, which is home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas has pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks target civilians in Gaza without warnings.
Rishi Sunak has said he will stop at nothing to keep Britains Jewish community safe, before promising support for Israel along with other world leaders after the Hamas attacks.

The Prime Minister addressed a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel and to reassure Britains Jews.

We stand with Israel, the United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always, Mr Sunak said.

Later on, Mr Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised their steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs to encourage them to step up patrols in areas with large Jewish communities amid concerns they could be subjected to antisemitic abuse.

It comes after Palestinian militant group Hamas sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel according to the Israeli military with authorities in Gaza saying more than 680 have been killed in the territory, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.

Mr Sunak told the United Synagogue in Finchley: I know that at moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe.

We have already seen vile words on our streets and attempts to stir up community tensions.

I say: Not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century.

My first duty is to protect you. We will not tolerate this hate, we will not tolerate this antisemitism.

And I promise you: I will stop at nothing to keep you safe.

Protesters at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

On Monday evening, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington.

Fireworks were let off, flares were lit and chants of Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar rang out.

Police separated pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups at High Street Kensington tube station.

In Westminster, around 2,000 people attended a Jewish community vigil, arranged by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

People attending a vigil outside Downing Street for victims and hostages of the Hamas attacks (Lucy North/PA)

Mr Sunaks address at the synagogue came after he had chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A joint statement by world leaders, including the Prime Minister, said: We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism.

In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.

They warned that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.

The leaders said they recognised the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, but Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

At least two Britons were killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing.

Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by the group, which began on Saturday.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead.

A post from Mr Darlingtons sister Shelley on social media said that he had been murdered at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. However, his death not been officially confirmed.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas gunmen.

ISRAEL Gaza

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was uncomfortable speculating on the total numbers of British people affected by the violence after it was reported that more than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing.

He said Israels unique status meant there were a large number of British-Israeli dual nationals, with Government estimates suggesting about 50,000 to 60,000 Britons are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza.

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region and as flights out of Israel are still available for those wanting to leave there are no plans for a UK-facilitated evacuation of British citizens.

Mr Sunak, who spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any diplomatic, intelligence or security support it needs as it hits back at Hamas.

The US has dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid.

Downing Street said the UK is not planning to redeploy military assets to the Middle East, with warship HMS Duncan already in the Mediterranean as part of Nato patrols.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel has only started its fierce offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas unprecedented attack.

What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, he said.

Israel sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for the Hamas attack, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides.

Hamas  which is banned as a terrorist group by the UK Government  pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks targeted civilians in Gaza without warnings.

The most senior Palestinian diplomat in the UK accused Israel of a war crime against civilians.

Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission in London, condemned the killing of civilians by Hamas, but said Israel is seeking sheer vengeance in its retaliation.

Speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event in Liverpool he said: Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. Its a war crime. Its not going to lead anywhere.

The British Red Cross has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to provide humanitarian support in Israel and Gaza.
A significant number of British-Israeli dual nationals have been caught up in the conflict in Israel and Gaza, the Foreign Secretary has said.

James Cleverly said he is uncomfortable giving exact numbers about the number of Britons affected by the fighting in the Middle East due to the situation being fast-moving.

The Cabinet minister told LBC: Even from the Israeli government, a lot of the figures about the casualties and fatalities are as yet to be fully confirmed.

So I dont really want to speculate but we do know that a significant number of British-Israeli dual nationals have been in some way involved in the terrorist atrocities.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged pro-Palestine supporters in the UK not to protest (James Manning/PA)

He said the Government is standing ready to support any British citizens who are concerned or whose loved ones have been injured in any way.

Ministers are working with the aviation industry to ensure commercial flights remain available to Britons looking to leave Israel, he added.

The senior Conservative also urged pro-Palestine supporters in the UK not to protest, saying demonstrations are creating distress, and arguing that there is no equivalence between Hamass attack and Tel Avivs response.

Palestinian militant group Hamas  which is banned as a terrorist group by the UK Government  sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday, which also saw a music festival targeted.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli military, with authorities in Gaza saying about 700 have been killed in the territory and the West Bank, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.

Since the weekends atrocities, Israel has sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, medicine and other supplies, while launching retaliatory air strikes on the Hamas-ruled territory, which is home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas has pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks target civilians in Gaza without warnings.

The conflict has sparked reaction in communities in Britain, with police separating pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups at High Street Kensington Underground station in west London on Monday.

Outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to demonstrate, letting off fireworks, lighting flares and chanting Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar.

The Foreign Secretary said he would encourage Palestine supporters to pause before joining further protests.

He told Sky News: There is no need, there is no necessity for people to come out. It causes distress.

This is a difficult, delicate situation.

He said the protests are causing concern in the Jewish community, who have often been on the receiving end of prejudice and threats of violence.

Pat McFadden, Labours national campaign co-ordinator, declined to tell people not to protest in support of the Palestinian people, but made clear that his party stands with Israels right to defend itself.

Protesters at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel and to reassure Britains Jews.

Mr Sunak told the United Synagogue in Finchley on Monday evening: There are not two sides to these events.

There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel.

Mr Cleverly echoed the Prime Ministers stance, saying it is inappropriate to attempt to compare the acts of Israels military to the incursion by Hamas.

The truth is that the reason we express our solidarity with the people of Israel is because terrorists took action to murder, to kidnap, and were now seeing reports that they are threatening to execute people that they have kidnapped, he told Sky.

The idea that somehow there is an equivalence, there is a kind of a balancing act between the actions of the Israeli government and their self-defence, and the actions of Hamas and their terrorists, is completely inappropriate.

I wouldnt want to do anything which would imply that to be the case. Of course, we want to see the minimisation of loss of life.

At least two Britons have been killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing.

Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by the group, which began on Saturday.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared dead.

A post from Mr Darlingtons sister Shelley on social media said he had been murdered at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. However, his death has not been officially confirmed.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas gunmen.

Noa Beer, 29, was at the Supernova music festival in Kibbutz Reim when 260 attendees were killed by Hamas.

She told The Sun that she fled the festival in her Jeep with three injured strangers and a DJ.

Around 30 British nationals on a church visit to Israel say they can hear bombs from their hotel in Jerusalem (Father Nenad Popovic/PA)

Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, she said, forcing her to drive through them.

There was one looking me dead in the eyes and lifting the gun to shoot us, she said.

I started driving towards him. I put my foot down and drove fast. He shot at us from maybe only two metres away and barely missed the window.

Around 30 British tourists on a church visit to the Holy Land are stuck in Jerusalem as they await a flight out of the country.

Father Nenad Popovic, from the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar in Birmingham, told the PA news agency: We can hear horns here and a lot of detonations, bombs sometimes.

UK citizens trying to fly home from Israel face a struggle to book flights, with routes between Tel Aviv and the UK cancelled, fully booked or with only a few spare seats costing more than 1,200 each.
UK citizens trying to fly home from Israel face a struggle to book flights.

Flights between Tel Aviv and the UK have either been cancelled, are fully booked or only have a few spare seats costing more than 1,200 each.

EasyJet usually serves Gatwick, Luton and Manchester Airports from the Israeli city but has paused operations on those routes.

Wizz Air, which normally connects Israel with Gatwick and Luton, has also suspended those flights.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its two daily return flights between Tel Aviv and Heathrow until at least Wednesday.

Its other daily return flights are still operating but there is no availability on its UK-bound services until next week.

British Airways is continuing to run flights between Tel Aviv and Heathrow, with adjusted departure times.

People wanting to book a seat on the next available flight are being charged 1,204 to travel on Wednesday.

That is more than treble the price of a flight on the same route a week later, when the cost is just 385.

Israeli flag carrier El Al has no availability on flights to the UK until next week.

Several airlines have introduced flexible booking policies, enabling customers to change their travel dates free of charge.

The Government has not provided an estimate on how many UK citizens are in Israel.

A travel industry source said the number of UK tourists in Israel is low.

Israels ministry of tourism said it is committed to ensuring that all tourists visiting Israel are safe and informed.

It added that it is operating a hotline via WhatsApp for tourists on +972 55 972 6931.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said international solidarity for Israel will dissipate if it goes too far in its response to recent attacks by Hamas.

On Saturday, militant group Hamas sent fighters across the border of Gaza and fired thousands of rockets into Israel.

In retaliation, Israel has sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, and other supplies as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Mr Varadkar said he was horrified at the situation in the region.

Im just really horrified at what were seeing happening in Israel and Palestine, particularly the targeting of civilians, the killing of women and children and the taking of hostages, he told RTE.

Mr Varadkar said Israel had a right to defend itself from enemies, but that any response must be proportionate.

From Irelands point of view, we are saying to Israel, that, yes, you have a right to defend yourself, youre surrounded by enemies who want to end your existence, but any response must be proportionate, he said.

He added: Theres a lot of solidarity internationally for Israel at the moment. I believe that will fall apart if Israel goes too far in terms of its actions in Gaza.

And theres a risk then of violence flaring up in the West Bank and Lebanon other places. So were very much calling for restraint.

People attending a vigil in support of Israel (Lucy North/PA)

The Taoiseach also expressed his support for the family of 22-year-old Kim Damti, who has been unaccounted for in Israel since the surprise attack was launched on Saturday.

Ms Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site.

Were particularly concerned for an Irish-Israeli citizen, Kim Damti, we dont know yet whether or not shes still alive, he said.

We certainly hope she is and will help in any way that we can. I heard her mother speak several times now, I dont think anyones heart could not go out to a family worried in the way they are.

And one thing Hamas has done is not just attack the people of Israel but also citizens of many other countries as well.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have launched the next phase of their campaign to support the nations mental health with a call for concrete action to help the next generation.

Kate gave a major speech to young people gathered in Birmingham for a day of workshops and discussions around the issue to mark World Mental Health Day, and told them their ultimate goal was to shape fairer, safer, kinder, more equal societies.

With her husband listening in the audience, the princess highlighted the potential pressures of a fast-changing world where social media and concerns about the threat of conflicts, pandemics, climate change or the cost of living can affect our emotional wellbeing.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were in Birmingham to mark World Mental Health Day (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

She went on to say: William and I believe we need to do all we can as a society to help young people develop the emotional and social life skills they need for good mental health, and to thrive in the world around them.

Both learning about the world and learning about how to be happy and thrive within it, should go hand-in-hand.

In 2016 the couple, along with the Duke of Sussex, launched their landmark Heads Together campaign to raise the profile of the nations mental health, with William telling the young people tackle the stigma and the taboo.

William said concrete action would mark the next phase of the campaign (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

A series of projects followed, from the royals talking about their own mental health, joining famous faces in video messages to mark mental health events to encouraging the public to speak out about their problems or support a friend in crisis.

Harry along with wife Meghan is due to attend a World Mental Health Day festival in New York later where they will join parents for a discussion about a number of issues including creating a safer online world for young people.

William joined a public discussion after Kates speech and told the young audience: Really where we are is we feel that weve made some progress, in that were all in this room talking about mental health and were chipping away at that stigma, but theres a lot more to do.

And I think concrete action and some sort of tangibility to come forward is the idea where wed like to see this space go next.

The day was organised by The Royal Foundation (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

Among the guests were former Love Island contestant Dr Alex George, now a TV doctor campaigning on mental health issues, Radio 1Xtra Breakfast host Nadia Jae, and former Strictly Come Dancing entrant Nikita Kanda, BBC Asian Network radio host.

During the panel discussion, Dr Alex  who hosted the chat  asked William where in his mental health toolbox he reached to cope with stress.

He joked: You dont want to open that part of the toolbox.

Then said: For me, just general maintenance, so general mental health well-being like walking in fresh air, getting away from screens is a big deal, having a laugh, humour for me is a big deal, I love to laugh, youve got to look at lighter things in life so to feel good.

Time with friends, time with family, things like that really matter to me.

William took part in a panel discussion during his visit (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

For the visit, Kate wore star-shaped earrings given to her in May by Sarah Renton in Maidenhead as a tribute to her daughter Issy Phipps who took her own life.

The day was organised by The Royal Foundation at the Factory Works in Birmingham and had the theme Exploring Our Emotional Worlds, and saw the princess take part in an Understanding Our Emotions workshop.

Kate sat with a group and looked away as she spun an emotions wheel that listed a range of emotions, then tried to guess were it had stopped from the comments of the young people.

Sharivari Patil, 21, said afterwards: First of all she guessed the emotion was grateful which was wrong, then valued which was also not right, and finally got appreciated which was correct.

Meanwhile, William sat with young people taking part in a Community Action And Well-Being workshop, speaking about how taking part in community projects helped mental health.
A tri-spine horseshoe crab gliding along the bottom of the sea has helped Laurent Ballesta win the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for a second time.

Horseshoe crabs have survived for more than 100 million years, but they now face habitat destruction and overfishing as they are caught for food and for their blue blood, which is used in vaccines.

The French underwater photographer and marine biologist Mr Ballesta found the creature, which dates from prehistoric times, in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island in the Philippines  a haven for the crabs. It is accompanied in the winning shot by three golden trevally fish.

Barn owls resting in a roadside block were caught on camera by Carmel Bechler as he used his family car as a hide (Carmel Bechler/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Kath Moran, chairwoman of the judging panel, described the winning photo as luminescent.

She said: To see a horseshoe crab so vibrantly alive in its natural habitat, in such a hauntingly beautiful way, was astonishing.

We are looking at an ancient species, highly endangered, and also critical to human health.

This beached orca was later found to be sick and malnourished, likely from industrial chemical poisoning (Lennart Verheuvel/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Mr Ballesta is only the second person in the Natural History Museums 59-year-old competition to have won the prize twice.

His first award was in 2021 for a shot of camouflage grouper fish in a swirl of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia.

The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Carmel Bechler from Israel, for snapping several barn owls in a hollowed-out concrete building by a roadside.

He used his familys car as a hide with long exposure times to capture the light trails of passing traffic.

The parasol mushroom spreads its spores on air currents in search of new places to grow (Agorastos Papatsanis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

The 17-year-old said: I hope to share with my photography that the beauty of the natural world is all around us, even in places where we least expect it to be  we just need to open our eyes and our minds.

The winning photographs were selected from 49,957 original entries from 95 countries and were announced at an awards ceremony in South Kensington on Tuesday.

Among the 17 other category winners was a beached orca in the Netherlands photographed by Lennart Verheuvel which was later found to be malnourished and sick, likely from PCB contamination.

The bioluminescence of fireflies was captured with long exposure camera shots (Sriram Murali/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Poisoning from this industrial chemical is common in European waters despite the chemical being banned decades ago. Its unique properties mean it builds up through the food chain.

Agorastos Papatsanis revealed how the parasol mushroom releases its spores for them to drift on air currents in search of new places to grow in his home country of Greece, on Mount Olympus, capturing the colourful refraction of light through the rain.

An illuminated forest in Tamil Nadu, India, won the Behaviour: Invertebrates award, with Sriram Murali showcasing how fireflies attract mates by combining 50 exposures of 19 seconds with 16 minutes of the beetles bioluminescence.

Male Nubian ibex fight during the mating season with their long horns (Amit Eshel/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Two Nubian ibex locking horns in a cliff-side clash in Israel was captured by Amit Eshel as he crept up to the battling males, which ram their heads together during the mating season in a competition of physical prowess.

Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: Whilst inspiring absolute awe and wonder, this years winning images present compelling evidence of our impact on nature  both positive and negative.

Global promises must shift to action to turn the tide on natures decline.

Next year, the Natural History Museum will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award with new prizes and waiver fees for more than 100 countries. Submissions are open from October 16.
Washington  The Biden administration pushed back on claims that a prisoner swap with Iran last month helped fuel the terrorist attack on Israel.

After Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel early Saturday, Republicans were quick to connect, without evidence, the assault to the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen as part of the prisoner swap between the U.S. and Iran in September.

"Let's be clear: the deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel. Not a penny has been spent," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Saturday.

Where did the $6 billion come from?

Five Americans who had been wrongfully detained in Iran were freed as part of a high-stakes deal between Iran and the Biden administration that included the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian oil assets that were held in a restricted account in South Korea.

South Korea owed Iran the money for oil it purchased before the Trump administration imposed sanctions on such transactions in 2019.

Where is the $6 billion now?

Treasury's top sanctions official Brian Nelson said Saturday that the funds are still in restricted accounts in Qatar.



The Biden administration has insisted that the money would not be given directly to Iran and that it could only be used to fund Iran's purchases of humanitarian goods, such as food and medicine. Though Iran's president has said he would decide how to spend the previously frozen funds.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Sept. 13 that the funds that were moved to Qatar would have "more legal restrictions" than in South Korea and that the U.S. would have oversight about where the money is being spent.

"If Iran tries to divert the funds we'll take action, and we'll lock them up again," Kirby said.

A senior State Department official told CBS News on Saturday that "it will take many months for Iran to spend down this money" because of the "due diligence involved and the complexity of what have to be specific humanitarian transactions through this channel."

What have Republican critics said?

A number of Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for releasing the funds, claiming it freed up resources for Iran to support the attack.

"You can say certain funds can't be used, but you can use other funds that may be freed up as a result," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, told reporters on Saturday.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who is also vying for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, made similar comments on the campaign trail.

Former President Donald Trump said he would not be surprised if Iran put the "tremendous wealth that they just accumulated" toward the violence in Israel.

"To think that they're not moving money around is irresponsible," Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations, told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "They hate Israel. They hate America. They are going to continue to use this. It was wrong to release the $6 billion."

On Monday, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said "handing over $6 billion to Iran only helps the cause" and called on the Biden administration to refreeze the funds.

How is Hamas linked to Iran?

Iran funds and provides weapons to Hamas, an Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The U.S. has designated it a terrorist organization.

"Iran and Hamas have a long relationship," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support it's had for many years from Iran. In this moment, we don't have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out, but that's something we're looking at very carefully, and we've got to see where the facts lead."



Iran provides up to $100 million annually to Hamas and other terrorist groups, according to a 2021 State Department report.



"There's a degree of complicity here writ large," Kirby told reporters Monday of Iran's potential involvement in the attack.

But he said the U.S. doesn't yet have evidence that Iran was directly involved.

"We haven't seen hard tangible evidence that Iran was directly involved in participating in or resourcing or planning these sets of complex attacks that Hamas pulled off over the weekend," he said.

Willie James Inman and Margaret Brennan contributed reporting.

Rich Paul: The 60 Minutes Interview

AI might take over one day if it isnt developed responsibly, Geoffrey Hinton warns

3D printing a 100-home community in Texas, and someday on the moon | 60 Minutes
By Baek Byung-yeul

Korea is in the process of terminating a satellite launch contract with Russia as the scheduled launch of its two satellites has become almost impossible due to international sanctions against Russia following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the science ministry said Monday.

The Korea Multipurpose Satellite 6 and the next-generation mid-size satellite Compact Advanced Satellite 500-2, both developed by Korea, were initially scheduled to be launched into space using Russian launch vehicles, but due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and the subsequent international sanctions against Russia, there were uncontrollable circumstances that prevented the use of Russian launch vehicles, the Ministry of Science and ICT said in a statement.

Since then, Korea has been negotiating with Russia on the terms of termination of the satellite launch contract and it is currently being finalized.

The ministry said it has completed negotiations regarding the termination of the contract for the Korea Multipurpose Satellite 6, dubbed the Arirang 6, and is in the final stages of terminating the launch contract for the Compact Advanced Satellite 500-2.

It is difficult to disclose details of the contracts, but the ministry can say that the negotiations have been conducted in consideration of national interests under the given conditions, the science ministry said.

Originally scheduled for launch in the second half of 2022, the two satellites will be launched on alternative rockets.

The Arirang 6 will be launched by European aerospace company Arianespace's Vega-C rocket as early as December 2024. For the Compact Advanced Satellite 500-2, the ministry said it has a preferred bidder for an alternative launch vehicle.

"Due to the unavailability of Russian launch vehicles, the international satellite launch service market is forecast to be reorganized in favor of satellite launch service demanders, the ministry said, adding that it will accelerate the advance of the countrys Nuri launch vehicle and the development of next-generation launch vehicles.
Ylvis accidentally made the mega-hit "What Does the Fox Say?" a decade ago. (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Getty Images)

It was all supposed to be a joke. An anti-hit. Maybe even a terrible song, actually. And there was little chance itd get heard outside Norway.

Instead, when Ylvis, the Norwegian comedy duo consisting of brothers Vegard and Bard Ylvisaker, premiered the jokey pop-electronica parody The Fox (better known as What Does the Fox Say?) as a teaser for their talk show kveld med YLVIS (Tonight with Ylvis), it became an international sensation.

The music video amassed 31 million views in its first two weeks on YouTube, on its way to a staggering 1.1 BILLION views total. It sent the Ylvisaker bros on a worldwide press tour that landed them on Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres and The Today Show. It launched a childrens book of the same name that debuted at No. 1 atop the New York Times bestseller list.

And it never even came close to accurately representing what a fox actually sounds like.

Ten years after Ylvis took the world by storm, we caught up with them for three questions.

1. What was the origin of What Does the Fox Say? (and more specifically, what were you guys under the influence of when you came up with it)?

Bard: Well, funnily enough, even though the Norwegian word for a joint is actually fox, there was no excessive use of any substances at the time when we came up with it.

Vegard: Maybe Pepsi Max.

Bard: Extra caffeine, probably some sort of work fatigue, or lack of sleep. No, but we had a talk show at the time, and we sort of wrote this song as one of three songs that we had every season. We were just sitting there throwing ideas and it was a genuine question.

Vegard: I remember the original idea for the song was that it was supposed to be about all kinds of different animal noises. I came in late that day, so Bard and our editor, Christian Lchster, who co-wrote the song, they said, How about we just make it about the fox? And I was like, No, no, no, no, no, it's not going to work. So I'm very happy I was convinced to do it.

Bard: And we had struck a deal with some producers in New York and they were really hotshot and still are to this day, Stargate. They work with big names [Pink, Sia, Tiesto, David Guetta] and we traded favors. We were supposed to get a day in studio But we were scared that if we tried to do something cool with them to make a pop song or something, that would be disastrous for us as comedians. So what we wanted to do was to sort of exploit their talent and use it in a bad way. Like, use their production value for a s***ty idea. But at the same time as a comedy product. We didn't want it to tank, but as a pop song, we wanted it to be s***ty, but then be funny as a joke. So we spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to sort of hone in the idea and figure out how to best sort of execute it, even though it was stupid.

2. What was that like to watch the song accidentally blow up like it did?

Vegard: It was insane.

Bard: It's an amazing privilege to be able to experience a thing like that as a joke, because I imagine if we were sort of pop artists trying to break through, it would be stressful at the same time. You're trying so hard to make it and you get your chance and you have to max it out. But we were doing everything as a joke, so the moment they started streaming or playing it internationally, it was just like we were just laughing our asses off. And when you get invited to talk shows all over the world, it just makes the joke better.

Vegard: It also brought with it some kind of heartwarming aspects to it as well There was some kind of natural disaster in Indonesia [the 2013 flood in Jakarta], and people told us that our song had been sort of a morale [booster]. It pushed morale a little bit during those hard times, and that was kind of nice to experience. You make some silly song about a stupid animal back in Norway and that millions of people find it like a reconciliation in hard times.

3. What did you think when people actually started to fact check it, as if those were actual fox noises you were making?

Vegard: Its always been a consequence of trying to ridicule something or make fun of stuff because we actually experienced that two years prior with a song we made called Stonehenge, where the main line is What's the meaning of Stonehenge? And it's just a joke, obviously, but I still get emails every week with new discoveries, new theories, and I really want to say that I wasn't really wondering what the meaning of Stonehenge was. It was a jokey song, but people keep sending those emails.

Bard: And we were told that in English, you guys say that the fox says Yip, which is really a s***ty word for it. It does not sound like yip. We know that. So every time something surfaces about a fox, we get our inboxes full of videos, like the same video a hundred times. Oh my God, this is what it says! But still to this day, I think it's a legitimate question and it is a weird sound.
Correction: The Hamas attacks were launched from Gaza and into nearby Israeli towns. A previous version of this article stated otherwise.

The numbers are jarring. The images are horrific. But to David Heller, it's the stories that will stick the most.

Heller, the national chair for the Jewish Federation of North Americas Israel Emergency Campaign, spoke of the stories he heard from Israel on Oct. 7, when Hamas militant groups launched an unprecedented attack from the Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns. The conflict  which has since escalated into a series of airstrikes and a declaration of war  has left at least 900 Israelis and 650 Palestinians dead, with countless more injured, missing or held hostage.

Live updates: Israeli retaliation to be felt 'for generations'; FBI searches for Americans

At least 260 people were killed at the Supernova Music Festival in the southern Israeli desert, near the Gaza border. Hellers daughters best friend was almost one of them.

She sought refuge in a local shelter that quickly caught fire from a Molotov cocktail. She and 30 others were buried for four hours before rescue came. Just 10 survived.

Her story will stay with him. And he knows that hes far from the only one with a friend or loved one impacted by the violence.

I share this with you so you understand how personal this is, how close this is, he said. Im sure everyone in this room has experienced so many personal stories.

Stories, calls for justice, and messages of unity rang out at the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatees Standing with Israel Solidarity Rally on Monday. The event drew around 500 people to the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, where local religious and political leaders expressed support for Israel amid the growing conflict.

The attacks come at a time of mounting political tensions between Israel and Palestine. In June, the Israeli government approved the construction of more than 5,000 homes in the West Bank. Palestinian leaders condemned the move, and the U.S. State Department criticized its impact.

More: Israeli and Palestinian supporters rally across US after Hamas attack

The violence is more than 6,500 miles away from Sarasota, but local leaders felt it important to emphasize support at home. Bruce Udell, board president of the local Jewish Federation, said connection and community were at the forefront of organizers minds.

His emotions were conflicted as he looked out to the crowd, he said. The display of unity and support was touching, Udell said, but the circumstances still devastated him.

Sorry at a time like this, right? Udell said. So nice to see you. Sorry, its at a time like this.

As violence rages abroad, activists in the U.S. are rallying to provide relief to those affected. Hellers Israel Emergency Campaign has raised more than $100 million in aid funding, he announced, and the total will likely climb.

Residents showed support by showing up. Attendees filled every seat in the auditorium and pooled to the back  waving Israels flag, singing its national anthem, and embracing each other through the emotional moments.

Attendees listen as Rev. Dr. Kenneth Blyth addresses the crowd at the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee's Solidarity Gathering Monday, Oct. 9. 2023.

Mayor Kyle Battie voiced his solidarity with the Jewish community in an improved speech. His anger left him lost for words, he said, and he couldnt bring himself to write anything down.

Battie condemned acts of antisemitism in a sentiment that elicited emphatic applause.

Any vitriol, any discrimination or antisemitism, whatever you want to call it, expressed to any person or any group of people in this city, as sure as I stand here, will not be tolerated, he said.

Organizers and members of the Jewish community hope the sentiment lingers past the immediate shock of last weekends events.

Chazzan Cliff Abramson, a clergy member at Temple Sinai Sarasota, said hes eager for local leaders to take action in support of Israel and the Jewish Community. He hopes, for instance, harsher penalties for religious hate crimes  a statute that Florida signed into law in April  will be written into local code.

The recent tragedy, along with years of strife and struggle, have left many like Abramson stunned. A long-term solution feels distant, but in the immediacy, Abramson said displays of community support have helped him start to heal.

Hes hopeful everyone in attendance felt the same, he said.

When people are dying to express themselves, its like their tongues are tied with grief, he said. When we all show up, that unity slowly begins to untie the grief.

Contact Herald-Tribune Growth and Development Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @hmb_1013.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota rallies in support of Israel
TEL AVIV  Relatives of U.S. citizens feared to have been taken hostage by Hamas urged the Biden administration Tuesday to help free their loved ones, saying they had yet to receive "formal communication" from the White House.

Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, said at a news conference here that the last words she received from her son came in a message telling her he loved her and that he was "sorry."

Goldberg-Polin was among thousands of revelers when Hamas militants descended on a music festival Saturday, leaving at least 260 people dead and taking an unknown number of attendees hostage.

Goldberg said she heard from witnesses that part of her sons arm was "blown off" before he was taken by the militants, who ordered anyone who could to "stand up and walk."

The U.S. cannot 'take a back seat'

On Tuesday, Goldberg and members of three other families called on the Biden administration and the Israeli government to do whatever they could to ensure that their loved ones are freed as they also called for more information about efforts to rescue their relatives.

The U.S. cannot "take a back seat," said Ruby Chen, whose 19-year-old son, Itay Chen, was believed to have been taken hostage Saturday while he was on active duty for the Israeli military, which he joined less than a year ago.

Seated from left: Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen from Nahal Oz; Ruby Chen, father of Itay Chen, 19, a soldier in the armored corps; Ayala Neta, daughter, and Nahal Neta, son of Adrienne Neta, 66, a nurse living in Kibbitz Be'eri; Rachel Goldberg, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who was attending the music festival, and Jonathan Polin, Hersh's father. (Maya Alleruzzo / AP)

The grief-stricken Chen told NBC News that he and other relatives of U.S. citizens feared to have been captured by Hamas had so far received "no formal communication with the U.S. government."

We heard from a person from here in the Tel Aviv embassy, but beyond taking note that we filled out forms and defined him as missing, theres been no formal communication to me as an individual or to us as a group communicating what do they know, what do they plan to do," Chen said.

He and other families at the news conference expressed feeling left in the dark, with little information coming from both U.S. and Israeli officials.

He said he hoped the U.S. would play a role in helping track down his son and other hostages. "It has the power, it has the resources, it has the influence to do more," he said.

Biden: U.S. citizens held hostage are highest priority

President Joe Biden stressed at a news conference Tuesday that his highest priority is to secure the safety of U.S. citizens taken hostage and that he is directing his team to share intelligence and consult with Israeli counterparts to aid in hostage recovery efforts.

The State Department and the Israeli government press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Chen said he believed the U.S. is able to do many things that can be different than what the Israeli government could do.

We are asking on behalf of my family for President Biden to reassure his heart is in the right place when it comes to Israel and secretary of state to do what they can to make this end for us as soon as possible to become family wholly again, he said.

Nahar Neta, who participated in the news conference held by family members, said his 66-year-old mother, Adrienne Neta, who was born in California and now lives in Israel, was abducted by militants from a shelter in her home. He said it was important for the families to speak out, because "without a strong public address, the situation of hostages is usually not quickly addressed."

"I don't think it is my place to tell the policymakers and decision-makers how to go about this process, he said. "I care about the result, and the result that I care about is for my mom to come home and for me to be able to hug her. I trust these people to do what they need to do in order for that to happen."
Steve Garvey will run for U.S. Senate in California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers legend Steve Garvey is throwing his hat into the political arena. Garvey announced Tuesday that he's running for U.S. Senate, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Garvey, 74, will run as a Republican and is looking to fill the seat previously held by Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who died in September.

Garvey's star power could make him the leading Republican in the race, but getting elected will be tough. Republican candidates have not "won statewide since 2006," per the L.A. Times.

Following Feinstein's death, California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Democrat Laphonza Butler to fill the vacancy in the Senate. Butler has not announced whether she will run for the seat in 2024.

Garvey spent 19 seasons in the majors, 14 of them with the Dodgers. He made eight straight All-Star teams and routinely ranked in the top 10 of MVP voting while playing for Los Angeles. Garvey took home the award in 1974 after hitting .312/.342/.469 with 21 home runs and 111 RBI. He also helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.

Garvey has reportedly considered running for Senate for months but was convinced it was a good idea after a San Francisco Giants fan told Garvey, "I hate the Dodgers, but Ill vote for you."

California will hold its primary election in March. The general election will take place Nov. 5, 2024.
Blacha Levenson and her grandson Yoav Bayder

An Israeli grandmother was murdered by Hamas before footage of her bloodied corpse was filmed and uploaded to her Facebook account to be shared with her relatives.

Footage of Blacha Levensons body lying on the floor with blood surrounding her and men with guns standing above her, was the first notification given to her family that she had been murdered, and that terrorists had infiltrated Israel.

Ms Levensons grandson, Yoav Bayder, 24, who lives in Canada, said he was in disbelief when he saw the clip while on Facebook checking everyone [in his family] was alright amid initial reports of missiles being fired into the south of the country.

Her Kibbutz, Nir Oz, less than a mile from Gaza, was one of the first targeted by gangs of armed terrorists.

Children and elderly residents in the tight knit community were executed by Hamas gunmen with Kalashnikov rifles at point blank range, Mr Bayder told the Telegraph, while others were kidnapped, and women were raped.

The bloody scene was repeated in other Kibbutz across the south of the country, leaving hundreds injured, missing or murdered.

A message circulated last night saying that Hamas plans to release images of the hostages it had taken during the multi-pronged attack, of which there are estimated to be 150.

Before making off with what survivors estimate to be some 50 hostages from Nir Oz, Hamas gunmen set fire to the settlement, burning around 100 homes to the ground, Mr Bayder said.

Granddaughters Mor and Adi Bayder shared tributes on Facebook - Facebook

Sharon Lifschitz, 52, a lecturer in visual arts at the University of East London, whose elderly parents lived in the kibbutz, said news of the massacre left her in total shock.

Ms Lifschitz said when the attack commenced shortly after 6.30am, she heard through family that her parents were heading to a bomb shelter, giving her hope that they were safe.

But her mother and father, both in their 80s, have not been heard from since.

Ms Lifschitz stressed that time is running out to save her parents, as her mother relies on an oxygen machine, and her father needs regular medication for lung disease.

She said volunteers and survivors have been trying to work with the Israeli government to get them to negotiate the release of their relatives.

But Israels government has refused to negotiate with Hamas, who has said it will respond to bombs dropped without warning on Gaza by killing the hostages it has taken.

If your child is kidnapped, you dont say Im not negotiating, that just means colluding with the murderer, Ms Lifschitz said of her governments bullish response.

Other relatives of those who have been kidnapped say that despite feeling powerless, they have been scrambling to do what little they can to get them back, including speaking with the press.

It comes amid speculation senior Hamas leaders may be split over how to proceed with the kidnapped women and children, with one faction vying to release some of the hostages to dent international support for Israels planned counteroffensive, according to reports.

Despite the impasse, Ms Lifschitz said that Nir Oz, where she grew up, is a hard working, practical, and very able community that is doing everything it can to help survivors.

Measures include raising money for people whose families and homes have been shattered, she said.

Around 170 survivors have been housed in Eilat, three hours from Nir Oz, with volunteers coming to provide food and counselling services.

Mr Bayder said his mother, Shay, is currently there, offering a helping hand.

The things she saw and stories she heard [were so] inhumane, she didnt want to describe them to me, he said.

Mr Bayder added that he had also spoken directly to some survivors, hearing countless stories of kids murdered at point blank range, people kidnapped, women raped.

He was told that one of his grandmothers neighbours, who had a family of three beautiful girls all under six, were slaughtered, with their house burned down.

The family said they called their grandmother and she told them she was 'OK', before she stopped answering the phone - Facebook

Another friends 80-year-old grandma was kidnapped, with no word from her since, he said.

But then the amount of support, volunteers really helped her [to get through it] with all their warmth and strength. [There is] solace in their community.

In the absence of information about their loved ones from authorities, some people have resorted to handing out their pictures to hospitals and providing specialised units with samples of their DNA, to aid search efforts.

Natalia Har-El has not heard from her son, Keshet, 21, since he arrived at the Nova music festival, where at least 260 people were slaughtered.

She received a call from a friend who he was with at 7.30am, saying Keshet had injured his leg and its bad, and that was it. No more information.

So I decided to go to Beth-sheba to look for him because if my son is injured I want to be with him, she said. I showed pictures, but there was no match with anyone at the hospital at that time, so I went to the police station to open a file on a missing person.

Ms Har-El said she waited for two days without word from the authorities until they called on Tuesday to say they didnt find anything yet.

I said you give me a lot of hope. If hes not in the hospital it means hes still alive. This is what I choose to believe, maybe hes on the other side, but alive.

Ditza Heiman, 84, is thought to be among the Israelis being held hostage in Gaza.

Her niece, 58, who lives in London and wished to remain anonymous, said she was told by her cousin that Ms Heiman was moving to a safe room on Saturday morning, before having no contact for some hours.

The grandmother was a lifelong resident of the Nir Oz Kibbutz, a community close to the Gaza border - Facebook

The next time her cousin phoned her aunt it was answered by a gentleman with a voice I didnt recognise, speaking Arabic, saying: Hamas! hamas!.

They understandably reacted in shock and put the phone down.

Granddaughters Mor and Adi Bayder shared tributes to the matriarch and pillar of the family on Facebook, revealing they learnt of her death only after terribly cruel terrorists filmed and uploaded images online.

I never thought I would reach such a reality at all, said Adi Bayder in a tribute post.

The two women said their grandmother, whose name has not been released, was a lifelong resident of the Nir Oz Kibbutz, a community close to the Gaza border, and was accustomed to the sound of sirens.

When the unprecedented incursion by Hamas into Israeli territory began, the Bayders said they called their grandmother on the phone.

She told us that she was OK, Adi Bayder said. But a short while later, she had stopped answering calls.

In a separate post, Mor Bayder said: A terrorist came home to her, killed her, took her phone, filmed the horror and published it on her Facebook wall. This is how we found out.

She paid tribute to her grandmother, calling her the purest thing in the world, the light of my life, my whole world.

Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 injured and dozens taken captive.

Among the Israeli dead were 260 mostly young people gunned down at a desert dance party. A day later, dozens of survivors were still emerging from hiding.

Gazas health ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had also been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

Apartment blocks and hospitals were among the sites attacked, according to media reports.

Other members of the Bayder family said they were sharing news of their beloved grandmother so that the whole world would hear and know about the massacre in Nir Oz.

We wont sit quietly until everyone returns in peace, the family said, in reference to the Israelis still being held hostage by Hamas.

In her tribute, Adi Bayder said: How do you get on with life without her at all? But we have to because thats how she would want it, she would want us to stay strong and united and thats how it will be.

Meanwhile, a British-Israeli woman has told The Telegraph of the horrific moment when Hamas terrorists stormed into her mothers home in a kibbutz while they were speaking on the phone, and hijacked her WhatsApp messages.

Ayelet Svatitzky said she immediately called her mother, Channah Peri, 79, when she woke up on Saturday and heard that Hamas had stormed into their home in Nirim kibbutz.

Ms Peri suffers from diabetes, which requires frequent injections of insulin. Her fate is currently unknown, but it is feared that she and one of her sons, who has UK citizenship, are hostages of Hamas.

I woke up Saturday morning at 8am, I heard my husband on the phone which was strange  it was a Saturday [the Jewish sabbath], Ms Svatitzky told The Telegraph.

He told me something is happening in the south. I called my mum who lives on a kibbutz called Nirim. I called her and told her to go into the safe room and not open the door because there was a terrorist invasion in the kibbutz.

She said the house isnt locked. Then the door opened while I was on the phone and I heard someone speaking to her in English in an Arabic accent.

Channah Peri, 79, is believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas

Ms Svatitzky hung up and called her brother, Nadav Popplewell, 51, a British-Israeli citizen, who lives next door. She also heard someone speaking to him in English with an Arabic accent.

Minutes later, she received a chilling WhatsApp message on her phone  a picture of her mother and brother sitting in the living room.

Then a second message arrived, saying: Hamas. An armed terrorist was visible in the background.

As the terrorists continued to post images from her mothers phone, Ms Svatitzky tried without success to contact her other brother. She later learned he had been murdered by Hamas, shot dead in the kibbutz.

At night time when the army got to the house, I got informed by the kibbutz that my Mum and brother were not found, presumed kidnapped, she said.

My mother is 79 years old and diabetic, she uses insulin, my other brother is also diabetic. She cant survive without insulin.

British authorities have made contact with the family, she said.

As for the Israelis, I think they are still trying to sort through the chaos... we want proof of life, there are so many elderly and young children [kidnapped], people of all ages with medical situations, she said.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
By Steve Holland and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden, his voice gripped with emotion, condemned the deadly attack against Israel by the Hamas militant group as "an act of sheer evil" and stressed U.S. support for Israelis mourning the slaughter of more than 1,000 people.

A visibly upset Biden, in remarks at the White House, voiced concern for any Americans who may be held hostage by Hamas, the Iran-backed group that launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on Saturday.

At least 14 Americans died in the attack. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the U.S. believed 20 Americans were missing but that it remained unclear if they were being held hostage.

Biden said Washington will share intelligence with Israel and deploy additional experts on hostage recovery. Sullivan said no American forces would be deployed on the ground.

Biden stopped short of an overt plea to Israel to show restraint to avoid Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel girds for a possible ground offensive against Hamas.

But he said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call on Tuesday, that militants intentionally target civilians while democracies like the United States and Israel are "stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law."

"There are moments in this life, and I mean this literally, when the pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend," Biden told reporters at the White House.

Biden described what he called "stomach-turning" reports of "parents butchered," "babies being killed," "entire families slain" and "women raped, assaulted and paraded as trophies."

Biden said Hamas had threatened to execute hostages, including survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, in violation of "every code of human morality." He said the group's brutality and "blood thirstiness" was a reminder of the "worst rampages of ISIS."

"This is terrorism, but sadly for the Jewish people, it's not new," Biden said.

The incident had brought to the surface memories of antisemitism and the genocide of the Jewish people, he added.

In an apparent reference to Iran and Iranian-backed groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, Biden said he had a message for any country or organization thinking of taking advantage of the situation - "I have one word: don't."

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday with the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year-old conflict with the Palestinians, razing whole districts despite a threat from Hamas militants to execute a captive for each home hit without warning.

BIDEN PROMISES ISRAEL SUPPORT

Biden spoke after his third phone call in four days with Netanyahu, telling him if such an attack happened in the United States "our response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming."

Biden outlined the U.S. military assistance being sent to help Israel in its fight and said he would ask Congress to take urgent action. The White House is considering submitting a request to Congress that would include military aid to both Ukraine and Israel, said a person familiar with the matter.

The White House on Monday said it expected to fulfill additional security requests from Israel as quickly as possible. Biden promised replenishment of interceptors used by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system as well as ammunition in addition to redoubling U.S. military presence in the region.

Biden also offered support for American Jews and said they should be allowed to worship in peace in the United States. Biden said last month that antisemitism in the United States had risen to record levels.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000, dwarfing all modern Islamist attacks on the West since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Nandita Bose; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Trevor Hunnicutt and Howard Goller)
President Joe Biden on Monday said the US government is aware of at least 11 Americans who have been killed in attacks on Israel by Hamas and warned that an as-yet unknown number of US citizens may have been taken as hostages by the terrorist group.

In a statement, Mr Biden said the updated toll of American fatalities was part of efforts to continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered and stressed that the immense scale and reach of this tragedy is only now being understood.

We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts, he said, adding that his top priority as president is the safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroad.

While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas, Mr Biden continued.

He also said he has directed his national security team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

Mr Biden stressed that US citizens still in Israel can make use of consular assistance and security alerts from the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and noted that commercial air transportation and ground routes out of the country are still available for those who wish to leave. He also cautioned that Americans in the country should take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities.

The presidents statement comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli Defence Forces counterassault against the terrorist group  including air strikes against targets in Gaza  was just the start of a larger offensive.

In a televised statement, Mr Netanyahu said Israelis military forces have only started striking Hamas and warned that the enormity of the response to the surprise Hamas attack will reverberate with them for generations.

A Hamas spokesperson known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida said the group would execute one hostage each time Israeli forces target civilians without prior warning.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen cautioned that such retaliations  which would be considered war crimes will not be forgiven.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a complete siege on Gaza, including cuts to the territorys supply of electricity and a blockade on food and fuel shipments.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Saturday that would have explicitly banned caste discrimination in the state.

The measure, which passed the California legislature last month, specified caste as a subset of ancestry in the states civil rights statutes and would have given residents legal recourse against instances of caste discrimination.

Indias caste system evolved over centuries into a rigid social hierarchy based on notions of purity, with a persons caste assigned at birth. While India formally outlawed caste discrimination shortly after its independence in 1947, caste-based prejudice and inequality persists and has since seeped into other countries.

In a statement explaining his veto decision, Newsom said the measure was unnecessary because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited in the state.

In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live, Newsom said. That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed.

Thenmozhi Soundararajan, right, of Equality Labs, leads a rally to pass a California law banning caste discrimination in September 2023. - Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

The California measure was opposed by some groups, including people of Indian origin, who said it unnecessarily painted an entire community with a broad brush. Though caste is commonly associated with India and Hinduism, it has since spread to other South Asian countries and religions.

In recent years, more caste-oppressed people in the United States have started speaking out about the discrimination they face  particularly in Silicon Valley, where a large proportion of workers are South Asian immigrants, CNN previously reported.

A coalition of civil rights groups, faith-based organizations and progressive legal scholars had backed the measure to amend the states Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include caste and other dimensions of ancestry. But the bill also saw intense, vocal opposition from some Indian Americans and Hindu organizations who argued it unfairly maligned South Asians and Hindus.

Equality Labs, a Dalit advocacy organization backing the bill, said though Newsom vetoed the legislation, the group still views it as a win. Dalit is a term those at the bottom of Indias caste hierarchy have adopted to refer to themselves.

While it is heartbreaking to receive the Governors veto, it is not a reflection of the incredible democratic power that our communities showed. We did the impossible, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of Equality Labs, said in a statement. Caste-oppressed people have been mobilizing for years to fight against this form of historical violence and will continue to do so.

Earlier this year, Seattle became the first US city to ban caste discrimination. Several institutions of higher education, including Brown University, the California State University System, Colby College and Brandeis University, have also added caste protections to their nondiscrimination policies.

In 2020, California sued the tech giant Cisco and two of its engineers for allegedly discriminating against an Indian employee because he was of a lower caste. While the state has since dropped the case against the two engineers, litigation against Cisco is ongoing. Cisco said at the time it is committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace.

Over the last two decades, caste has also been at the heart of controversies around how Hinduism is portrayed in California textbooks. Some Hindu groups argued proposed textbook language perpetuated bias and stereotypes against Hindus and lobbied to remove or change certain references to the caste system.

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Cruise lines are adjusting operations amid the Israel-Hamas war  in some cases suspending calls altogether.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and other brands have notified guests of itinerary changes for sailings in the region amid other disruptions to travel, including flights.

Airlines have issued waivers to passengers and the U.S. State Department has advisories in place for the region, encouraging travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting Israel and the West Bank and warning against travel to Gaza.

Heres what cruise passengers should know.

How are cruises affected by the violence in Israel?

 Celebrity Cruises: The line's Celebrity Apex ship is replacing visits to Israel and Egypt with stops in Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece and Bodrum, Turkey, on its Oct. 6 and Oct. 16 sailings, a spokesperson for parent company Royal Caribbean Group said. The 10-day cruises sail round-trip from Piraeus, according to CruiseMapper.

Holland America Line: The lines Nieuw Statendam will replace a planned visit to Ashdod, Israel, with Alanya, Turkey. A spokesperson for the line said the ship would arrive early to planned stops in Limassol, Cyprus on Tuesday and Rhodes, Greece, on Wednesday, giving guests more time to explore.

The ships 28-day cruise from Rome to Athens had featured the lines last stop in Israel for the year.

MSC Cruises: MSC Musica will skip its scheduled stop in Haifa on Oct. 12, instead visiting Antalya, Turkey. The ship sailed to Limassol on Tuesday, bypassing a planned visit to Kusadasi, a spokesperson said. The vessel is currently on a round-trip, week-long sailing from Athens, according to CruiseMapper.

Musica will also cancel its planned visits to Haifa on Oct. 19 and 26, replacing them with Rhodes, and a Nov. 2 stop, visiting Marmaris instead. MSC Sinfonia's Oct. 16 visit to the Israeli city will be replaced with Bodrum.

"Future calls are being reviewed and we will update guests accordingly," the spokesperson said. "The safety of our guests and crew is always our upmost (sic) priority and in an evolving situation such as this we will modify our itineraries as needed."

Princess Cruises: Princess is not stopping in Israel at this time, and its Island Princess ship "will no longer call to Jerusalem/Bethlehem or to Nazareth/Galilee" during its "Mediterranean and Israel" itineraries in November, according to a spokesperson. The stops will be replaced by Santorini and Crete.

Norwegian Cruise Line: The lines Norwegian Gem ship skipped a planned visit to Ashdod on Sunday, spending the day at sea instead, according to a spokesperson for the line. The ship continued to Limassol as scheduled Monday. The vessel is on an 11-day sailing from Rome to Istanbul, according to CruiseMapper.

Norwegian Jade replaced planned visits to Ashdod and Haifa on Wednesday and Thursday with stops in Bodrum on Tuesday and Marmaris on Wednesday. The ship, which is on a weeklong round-trip sailing from Athens, will spend a day at sea Thursday.

We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel, the spokesperson said. As always, the safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. We have strict safety protocols in place and cooperate with local authorities regarding security matters at the destinations our ships visit.

 Oceania Cruises: The line's Nautica ship left Israel on Saturday, one day ahead of schedule. All guests and crew members were safe and accounted for, a spokesperson for the line said. The line's Sirena vessel's planned stops in Haifa and Ashdod during its Oct. 14 voyage from Piraeus to Istanbul will be replaced by Santorini, Heraklion and Mykonos in Greece.

The line is also "in the process of reviewing itinerary options" for its Marina ship's Nov. 1 cruise, which is set to spend two days in Israel, the spokesperson said.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Due to the current escalated situation, we have decided the most prudent course of action is to amend Seven Seas Voyagers October 3 and October 15, 2023, itineraries and replace the previously scheduled calls to Israel, a spokesperson for the line said in an email.

The ship will skip its planned stop in Haifa on Oct. 14 and 15, instead sailing to Istanbul. The Oct. 15 sailing will begin in Istanbul rather than Haifa and sail directly to Cairo.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cruise lines cancel stops amid conflict in Israel, Palestinians
By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix welcomed Washingtons decision to indefinitely suspend restrictions on exporting U.S.-made chip equipment to their factories in China, saying the uncertainty in their operations has been resolved, according to the Korean chip makers, Tuesday.

On Monday, Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said Samsung and SK received the U.S. governments approval for their chip manufacturing plants in China to import U.S.-made semiconductor equipment without applying for permission.

The U.S. government has informed us of its final decision to designate Samsung Electronics and SK hynixs semiconductor factories in China as verified end users (VEUs) under U.S. export control regulations, allowing them to supply U.S.-made equipment without a separate license process or time limit, Choi said during the briefing.

In an effort to curb Beijings advances in semiconductor technology, Washington has imposed export restrictions on sending semiconductor technology and equipment to China. In October 2022, the U.S. government gave Samsung and SK one-year waivers from the export restrictions, which were scheduled to end on Oct. 11.

The VEU designation is a blanket license system that allows companies to export designated items only if they have received approval from the U.S. government, and the companies receiving that designation means that the export controls have been effectively suspended indefinitely.

We understand that related companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have already been notified of the U.S. governments decision, which will take effect immediately, Choi said. This is the result of a concerted response by the government and companies based on the foundation of the U.S.-Korea alliance, which has been strengthened under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Samsung operates a Chinese plant in Xian while SK hynix produces chips in Wuxi and Dalian. Korean companies are key suppliers of 60.5 percent of the worlds memory semiconductor production. Washingtons suspension of these export restrictions recognizes Korea's importance in the global semiconductor supply chain.

With the decision, Samsung and SK are able to continue sending chip equipment to their factories in China. Bringing in new equipment to their Chinese factories has been an urgent issue to replace outdated equipment. They will be able to make the necessary repairs and upgrades to keep their existing facilities running.

Through close consultations between governments, the uncertainty regarding the operation of chip facilities in China has been largely resolved, a Samsung Electronics spokesman said. We will continue to do our best to stabilize the supply chain of the global chip industry through close consultations with governments.

An SK spokesman also said they welcome the U.S. government's decision. This will greatly contribute to the stabilization of the global semiconductor supply chain. We will continue doing our best to develop the global semiconductor industry by faithfully complying with the laws and regulations of each country.
The deadly surprise offensive by Hamas militants on Israel over the weekend threatens to ignite tensions between moderate and progressive Democrats already divided over the Jewish states treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

For President Joe Biden, that long-simmering discord is at risk of mushrooming into a divisive intraparty clash over the US governments next moves  especially as Israel launches what it has promised will be a ferocious crackdown on Gaza  that could ultimately threaten the liberal coalition so crucial to his reelection strategy.

Early signs of Democratic infighting and anxieties over potentially difficult choices to come have been cast into sharper relief by the near unanimity among high-profile Republicans on Israel. From powerful figures in Washington to the GOP presidential primary field, they have almost unanimously pledged unquestioning solidarity with the Israeli government while blaming Biden, who recently agreed a limited deal with Tehran to free hostages in exchange for unfreezing billions in Iranian assets, for not taking a harder line in the region.

Though hardly new or novel, angry rumblings from inside the Democratic tent began almost immediately in aftermath of the first round of attacks by Hamas over the weekend. Staunchly pro-Israel moderates, led by Biden, responded with firm resolutions of support for Israel and condemnations of what many described as an unprovoked assault by Hamas.

Progressives, though, sought a more nuanced description of the escalating conflict, mixing expressions of grief over the deadly violence with attempts to highlight the devastating  and radicalizing  effects of Israels blockade of Gaza. That policy denies Gaza residents critical supplies and freedom of movement and, paired with a surge of Jewish Israeli settlers taking over land in the occupied West Bank, helped fuel the momentum, as some progressives have characterized it, for such a widespread and brutal reprisal from Palestinian militant groups.

In a statement Saturday morning, as the breadth of the attack became clear, Biden unequivocally condemned this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza and reported telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel.

Terrorism is never justified, Biden added. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson echoed that message, but also described the attacks as unprovoked  a term that many fellow Democrats, from Congress to city halls, used in their own statements.

Leaders of left-wing American Jewish group IfNotNow said in a statement that it condemned the killing of innocent civilians and that its members were watching the unfolding horrors with heartbreak and dread for our loved ones  Israelis and Palestinians alike. But in a sharp rejoinder to Democratic talking points, the group insisted, We cannot and will not say todays actions by Palestinian militants are unprovoked.

The strangling siege on Gaza is a provocation, they wrote. Blood is on the hands of the Israeli government, the US government which funds and excuses their recklessness, and every international leader who continues to turn a blind eye to decades of Palestinian oppression, endangering both Palestinians and Israelis.

The liberal group J Street sought a more conciliatory tone, saying it stood with the Israeli armed forces working furiously to repel this assault, but also called for restraint, urging the US government to do everything possible to assist the State of Israel in confronting this threat, defending its citizens, and preventing a slide into even further conflagration and suffering for Israelis and Palestinians.

J Street spokesman Logan Bayroff argued that the political threat to Democrats in the US was overstated and that domestic politics are at the bottom of the list of concerns for the party right now.

This conflicts not getting better. Its getting worse, its getting a lot worse. Thats not a happy success story that anybody wants to tout on the campaign trail, Bayroff said. But its a painful reality that I think Democrats at least are going to be willing to confront. I dont think Republicans are going to be willing to confront it. Republicans are going to have the same failed, extremist talking points that we saw from the war on terror in our own country.

But Democrats took years to effectively counter GOP messaging about the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. The fundamentally implacable nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, too, has already led some top Democrats to flub their lines.

I have been in touch with communities impacted by whats happening in the region. It is abhorrent. My heart is with all those impacted. We need peace in this region, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a national Democratic star and usually estimable communicator, wrote on social media early Saturday evening. After being shellacked by right-wing media and some Democrats over her ambiguous message, she followed up hours later with a more robust one, saying in part, The loss of lives in Israel  children and families  is absolutely heartbreaking and appalling.

There is no justification for violence against Israel, Whitmer added. My support is steadfast.

The split among Democrats and the broader political left, groups that largely came together during the Trump presidency, has become more pronounced over the past few years, reaching what many on the progressive left have described as a point-of-no-return when Netanyahu accepted an invite from Republicans to address a joint session of Congress in 2015 as he sought to derail then-President Barack Obamas nuclear deal negotiations with Iran.

Netanyahus attempts to sway the Obama administration by firing up popular disapproval failed, and though Trump withdrew from the agreement years later, Netanyahu  along with his right-wing governing partners  has sought to profit politically from Democratic discord over the US strategic support for Israel.

Pro-Israel groups such as the Democratic Majority for Israel, a super PAC, and AIPAC, a bipartisan but increasingly conservative organization, have spent heavily to beat back progressives running against moderate candidates in Democratic primaries.

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress and a frequent target of those groups, divided opinion among Democrats with her initial reaction, in which she expressed grief over the deadly violence and pledged to pursue a just future.

The path to that future, Tlaib said, must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.

Her comments were met with immediate backlash from conservatives and some moderate Democrats. But the most heated domestic flashpoint so far has been a pro-Palestinian rally held on Sunday in New York Citys Times Square. Though not organized by the Democratic Socialists of America, it was endorsed by the citywide chapter of the group.

Democratic Israel hawks in New York, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Ritchie Torres, excoriated the group for touting the rally.

The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant, Hochul said on social media.

Torres, no stranger to rhetorical clashes with DSA, claimed that the group was glorifying the terrorism of Hamas as resistance, and called it an antisemitic stain on the soul of Americas largest city.

Republicans piled on, too. Rep. Mike Lawler, a freshman Republican from a typically blue district north of the city, called out Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is usually aligned with DSA, before the planned rally.

Do you agree with these lunatics? Lawler asked in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Yesterdays terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas and sponsored by Iran is the fault of Israel? You should denounce this if you dont agree with it.

On Monday, Ocasio-Cortezs office issued a statement calling the bloodshed devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine.

No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region, she said, calling for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation in the region.

Some mostly online leftists rushed to condemn her statement for not going far enough in support of the Palestinian cause. She wasnt alone. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two-time progressive presidential primary candidate and the most powerful leftist in government, was also criticized by political allies for, as some put it, not sufficiently backing the Palestinians.

I absolutely condemn the horrifying attack on Israel by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. There is no justification for this violence, and innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it, Sanders said. It must end now.

The backlash, though limited for now, offers a clear warning that this latest crack-up in the Middle East endangers not only Democratic unity in the US but could  in a mirror of the geopolitical challenges  trigger new or latent factional disputes across the American political spectrum.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Monday suggested the U.S. should threaten Iranian oil infrastructure if the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas continues to escalate.

If there is an escalation in this conflict, if hostages start getting killed, if Hezbollah in the north attacks Israel in strength, we should tell the Ayatollah we will destroy your oil refineries and your oil infrastructure, Graham said Monday in an interview on NewsNations The Hill.

We will put you out of business. Without money coming from Iran and weapons coming from the Iranians, Hamas will be nothing. Hezbollah will be nothing, Graham said.

When pressed over who should take the action against Irans oil fields, Graham said it should be a joint-move from both Israel and the United States.

We have a chance to reset here, Graham said. This is an Israeli 9/11, it couldnt have happened without a lot of money and technology and weapons. So its time to hold them accountable. The escalation of the conflict should result in a joint attack on the Iranian oil infrastructure to put them out of business.

Hamas, which is backed by Iran, launched a multi-pronged surprise attack against Israel over the weekend, invading multiple Israel towns by land, sea and air, as well as an onslaught of rocket strikes out of Gaza.

A day after Hamass incursion early Saturday, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah  a terrorist group with ties to Irans government  said it fired off guided rockets and artillery at multiple disputed areas in Israel.

The militant groups attack has raised questions over the role Iran or Hezbollah played in the incursion.

U.S. deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said on Monday Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attacks, pointing to the countrys efforts to train and provide the group with arms.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official on Monday told The Associated Press that only about a half dozen Hamas commanders in Gaza were aware of the planned incursion and denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack or approved the incursion at a meeting last week in Beirut.

Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership, told The AP that Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation, while noting Hamas has produced its own rockets and trained its own members since the 2014 Gaza war.

The death toll in Israel on Monday rose to at least 900 individuals, including both soldiers and civilians, from both sides, according to The Associated Press. An additional 680 people have been killed in Gaza so far as Israel continues to ramp up its offensive against Hamas, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Monday.

At least 11 Americans are among the casualties, President Biden said Monday.

Graham said the U.S. policy should hold the Ayatollah accountable for the deaths of Americans.

Over 100 individuals have also reportedly been taken hostage by Hamas, some of which may be American citizens, Biden said Monday.

When asked if the potential killing of hostages should be a red line for Biden, Graham called the Biden administrations view towards Iran naive as hell.

They [Iran] are religious Nazis, Graham said. Listen to the language coming from the Ayatollah and his henchmen. They want to purify Islam in their own image. Saudi Arabia is at risk here. They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to kill all of the Jews and come after us.

Graham said if he were the Biden administration, he would tell Iranians any escalation at all [means] were coming after you.

Graham also touched upon Secretary of State Antony Blinkens claim that the $6 billion in unfrozen funds in the U.S. prisoner swap with Iran have remained unspent, pushing back against suggestions the Biden administrations deal last month may have contributed to the attacks.

Graham said while Iran has not spent the funds, the U.S. granting clemency on the $6 billion reinforces the narrative that the U.S. does not see Iran as bad actors.

The Biden administration needs to reset, Graham said. The idea there is no link, I think its silly. There is a direct link, but its been going on for a long time.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DUBAI (Reuters) -Tehran was not involved in the militant Hamas group's weekend attack on Israel, Iran's top authority Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday, but hailed what he called Israel's "irreparable" military and intelligence defeat.

"We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime," said Khamenei, who was wearing a Palestinian scarf, in his first televised speech since the attack.

"This destructive earthquake (Hamas' attack) has destroyed some critical structures (in Israel) which will not be repaired easily ... The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster," said Khamenei.

Israel has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas. Tehran, which does not recognize Israel, says it gives moral and financial support to the group, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Backing the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution and a way the Shi'ite-dominated country has fashioned itself as a leader of the Muslim world.

The United States said on Monday Iran was complicit in Hamas' assault on Israel, but added it had no intelligence or evidence supporting this assertion. The top U.S. general on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis, saying he did not want the conflict to the broaden.

Israel said earlier on Tuesday it had re-established control over the Gaza border and was planting mines where militants had toppled the barrier during their bloody weekend assault, after another night of relentless Israeli air raids on the enclave.

Khamenei said an attack on Gaza would "unleash a much heavier torrent of anger'.

"The occupying regime seeks to portray itself as a victim to escalate its crimes further ... this is a misguided calculation ... It will result in even greater disaster," Khamenei said.

Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians were killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

(Additional reporting Elwely Elwelly in Dubai,Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Gareth Jones and Bernadette Baum)
By Laila Bassam, Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets onto northern Israel on Monday in response to at least three of its members being killed in Israeli shelling on Lebanon.

The exchange of fire marks a significant expansion of the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants to the Israeli-Lebanese border further north. Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel fought a brutal month-long war in 2006.

Hezbollah in a statement on Monday said it had fired rockets and mortars on two Israeli military posts in the Galilee. The Israeli military said it identified a number of "launches" from Lebanon into Israel, without any injuries. It said it was responding with artillery fire onto Lebanon.

Hezbollah said in consecutive online statements that three of its members had been killed in Israel's "aggression" on southern Lebanon on Monday afternoon. Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters two more Hezbollah members were killed.

Israel shelled southern Lebanon on Monday after a cross-border raid claimed by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which has been fighting alongside Hamas since it launched its surprise attack on Israel on Saturday.

The Israeli army said soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the frontier. A Hezbollah official had earlier denied the group was involved in the cross-border raid.

Two sources, both close to Hezbollah, had said Israel's deadly shelling of the Hezbollah observation post in southern Lebanon would draw a response from the group.

Hezbollah and Israel have traded sporadic fire over the border since 2006 while avoiding a major conflict. They exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday.

Some residents of southern Lebanon said they were leaving homes along the border with Israel on Monday amid heavy shelling that had so far pounded the outskirts of towns and villages.

The state news agency reported heavy traffic on main roads due to people fleeing the border area and schools in the area will remain closed on Tuesday.

UN URGES RESTRAINT

A series of incidents over the past months had already elevated the risk of escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border before the fighting erupted in Israel and Gaza.

In a statement, the Israeli military said its soldiers "killed a number of armed suspects that infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory". It did not elaborate on the number.

Military helicopters "are currently striking in the area," the statement added.

A security source in Lebanon and a source in Lebanon's border area said a group of men had approached the border, with one firing at an Israeli observation post.

Israel's Army Radio gave the location as being near Adamit, across from the Lebanese border towns of Aalma El Chaeb and Zahajra.

A spokesperson for the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission said its head Major General Lazaro was "in contact with the involved parties, urging them to exercise maximum restraint."

Lebanon's army confirmed shelling had taken place in border areas and asked people to be cautious in their movements.

Gabi Hage, a father of three with a house in Lebanon near the border described heavy shelling close to him.

"Our house is really close to the border, so we're leaving and going down to the village. All my neighbours are doing the same," he said.

The French consulate in Lebanon told its nationals to postpone any travel to southern Lebanon. Britain also said tensions were high and that the situation could escalate.

(This story has been corrected to say at least three dead instead of four in paragraphs 1 and 4. It also corrects to say security sources saying a total of five were killed in paragraph 4)

(Reporting by Laila Bassam, Timour Azhari and Maya Gebeily in Beirut and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by Nick Macfie, Tomasz Janowski and Toby Chopra)
By Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel following the weekend's attacks by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Washington believes it is likely U.S. citizens are also among those being held hostage by Hamas, Biden said in a statement.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby later added it was not yet confirmed if Americans were taken hostage.

"I can't say definitively that we know Americans are being held hostage. That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that some are," Kirby told reporters late on Monday.

Biden said the United States was working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to the whereabouts of U.S. citizens who are still unaccounted for.

"For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts," Biden said.

"For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available," he said, adding that they should take precautions and follow the guidance of local authorities.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured.

Israel subsequently battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

Biden said he has directed his team to work with Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage situation, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from the U.S. government.

Police departments across the U.S. have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, Biden said.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Dan Whitcomb, Rosalba O'Brien and Jamie Freed)
Israeli military drive on a road in the southern part of the country during operations against Hamas fighters

The scope of Hamas's attack against Israel was unprecedented and the US response reflects that.

It already supplies its Middle East ally with $3.8bn (3.1bn) of military aid every year.

And it has always backed Israel's right to defend itself when conflicts with Hamas erupt, albeit intervening with ceasefire calls after a few days or weeks of Israeli air strikes.

But this Hamas offensive will trigger a wide-ranging Israeli campaign and could lead to an escalation in other parts of the region.

The US will be part of Israel's lengthy and punishing response.

Warships are a show of force

The Pentagon has quickly dispatched an aircraft carrier with guided-missile cruisers and destroyers to the waters near Israel.

The fleet was already in the Mediterranean Sea, so didn't have far to go. It is not unusual for the US to deploy naval vessels in the region when there are flare-ups, a "classic American response to the unexpected in the Middle East," says Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and Middle East adviser to four presidents.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, shown here off the coast of Italy in 2018, is heading to waters near Israel

It hasn't done so during previous battles between Hamas and Israel, which have been self-contained. But this isn't about Hamas. The Pentagon is worried the conflict may spread.

A senior defence official said the warships and planes are meant to demonstrate a concrete commitment to Israel's defence, and to deter any country or militant group from joining the fight.

Chiefly that means Iran, which backs Lebanon's powerful Hizbollah movement, as well as Hamas.

The official said the fleet could do everything from gathering intelligence to launching long range strikes. But its deployment is essentially a show of force.

Giving Israel extra firepower

The Biden administration has ordered the Pentagon to send "additional equipment and resources" to Israel. That includes air defence and munitions.

Much of this equipment is already in the pipeline from annual US military assistance to Israel, and will be fast tracked. Some of it could come from existing US stockpiles.

But Israel's request for aid on the first day of the war signals how much firepower it expects to use in what it's signalling is going to be a long war.

Further funding would require approval from Congress, which is currently paralysed by an internal battle over who will be the next Speaker of the House.

And it might compete with US commitments to Ukraine. These already stand at more than $46bn (37.5bn) since the war there began - although the senior defence official said the US has the resources to support both.

US officials say military aid to Israel won't compete with efforts to arm Ukraine

The risks and calculations

It's unlikely that deploying the aircraft carrier fleet will increase the risk of drawing the US directly into conflict, says Seth Jones, a security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But the urgent attention on Israel "may take some of the focus off of other theatres, like Ukraine," he says, at least in the short term.

A big part of that will be the fate of dozens of hostages captured by Hamas, both in terms of how the conflict plays out on the ground and in US politics.

President Biden has said it's likely American citizens are among them and plans to deploy experts and share intelligence to assist recovery efforts.

More broadly, the war has upended the core of his Middle East policy - a new regional security alignment between Israel and Saudi Arabia that would have further isolated Iran.

More on Hamas-Israel attacks

That deal is now on pause, with a future that may grow even more uncertain if, as expected, Palestinian casualties mount in Gaza.

"That will mean Arab states will have to criticise Israel very strongly," says Bruce Riedel, suggesting some who have already signed normalisation agreements with Israel may "flip".

That concern was implicit in the Pentagon's characterisation of the attack as a new "Isis-level savagery" from Hamas.

The Department of Defense is stressing that language because across the region "there's been an instinct to see this as the same kind of tensions or conflicts that we've seen between Palestinians and Israelis," said the defence official. "This is different."

Where the US will draw the line

A lot of Palestinians in Gaza will die if Israel carries out a lengthy and ferocious air and possibly ground campaign to dismantle Hamas.

In previous battles between Israel and the militant group, which governs the densely populated enclave, the US has eventually drawn a line, urging Israel to accept a ceasefire. But the goalposts have changed.

No Arab state has ever imposed this kind of civilian damage on Israel, says Mr Riedel. The surprise attack from Egypt and Syria in 1973 was just as much of a shock, but most of the casualties were soldiers.

"Now they're fighting inside Israel proper," he says, with hundreds of civilians dead.

According to the senior defence official, the US holds Israel to robust standards and monitoring procedures for the protection of civilians, applied to all who purchase US weapons.

But, the official said, "that's absolutely something that Hamas did not do" and "we recognize that there's going to need to be a response for Israel to restore deterrence".
By Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

GENEVA (Reuters) -Russia failed in its bid to return to the United Nations' top human rights body on Tuesday, with rivals winning considerably more votes at the General Assembly in an election seen as a key test of Western efforts to keep Moscow isolated.

In the secret ballot, Russia won 83 votes versus 160 for Bulgaria and 123 for Albania, which had competed against it in the same eastern Europe grouping for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for a three-year term beginning on Jan. 1.

"UN member states sent a strong signal to Russia's leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesn't belong there," said Louis Charbonneau, United Nations director at Human Rights Watch.

Russia was ousted from the council 18 months ago in a U.S.-led diplomatic push following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

A U.N.-mandated investigative body said in March that Russia had committed a wide range of war crimes in Ukraine such as wilful killings, torture and the deportation of children.

The International Criminal Court has also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children. The Kremlin rejects the accusations and the court's jurisdiction.

A senior Russian official accused the United States of deploying unmatched efforts to ensure Russia remained out of the Human Rights Council.

"The United States campaigned for Albania," Maria Zabolotskaya, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, was quoted as saying by RIA news agency. "Such a campaign directly aimed against us is unprecedented."

'NOT EVEN THAT CLOSE'

Amid some signs of Ukraine war "fatigue", some diplomats earlier said Russia had a reasonable chance of getting voted back onto the council.

"It was not even that close in the end," said Richard Gowan, the U.N. Director of the International Crisis Group. "I think Western diplomats may have been overstating the risk of a Russian win to keep UN members on their toes."

China and Cuba were also among the winners of Tuesday's vote, drawing objections from human rights defenders.

"Crimes against humanity and genocide apparently (are) not disqualifying actions for UN's top human rights body," the Uyghur Human Rights Project, which advocates against what rights campaigners say are China's grave human rights abuses against the mainly Muslim ethnic minority, wrote on messaging platform X.

Juan Pappier, deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, wrote on X in the run-up to the vote that Cuba was unfit to be a member of the Council.

"Its record of systematic human rights violations speaks for itself," he wrote.

(Reporting by Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, editing by Deepa Babington)
By Luc Cohen and Jody Godoy

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Caroline Ellison, the former chief executive officer of Sam Bankman-Fried's hedge fund Alameda Research, testified on Tuesday that she committed fraud together with the former crypto mogul.

Ellison, who said she previously dated Bankman-Fried, is one of three former members of the 31-year-old former billionaire's inner circle who have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and agreed to cooperate with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office.

"Alameda took several billion dollars of money from FTX customers and used it for our own investments and to repay debts that we had," said Ellison, one of the trial's most highly anticipated witnesses.

She said Bankman-Fried directed Alameda to take around $10 billion in FTX customer money to repay loans, and that he told her to share a misleading Alameda balance sheet with the fund's lenders that made the fund's finances look less risky than was truly the case.

When asked why FTX ran out of money in November 2022, when the exchange declared bankruptcy, Ellison said, "Alameda had taken it to make our own investments and to repay our lenders."

Prosecutors say Bankman-Fried plundered billions in customer funds to prop up Alameda, buy real estate and donate more than $100 million to U.S. political campaigns.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and five counts of conspiracy, and has argued that while he made mistakes running FTX, he never intended to steal funds.

In his opening statement last week, defense lawyer Mark Cohen told jurors to question whether cooperating witnesses like Ellison were putting a new, nefarious spin on old decisions by Bankman-Fried which they had originally agreed with.

Gary Wang, FTX's former technology chief, testified that Bankman-Fried directed him to allow Alameda to run a negative balance on FTX and borrow up to $65 billion from the exchange - privileges other customers lacked. A third cooperating witness, former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh, is also expected to testify at the trial, which could last up to six weeks.

BANKMAN-FRIED THOUGHT HE COULD BE U.S. PRESIDENT

Ellison testified that she met Bankman-Fried while both were working at Jane Street, a Wall Street trading firm. Bankman-Fried left in 2017 to found Alameda, and Ellison followed when he offered her a job as a trader.

"He was very ambitious," Ellison told the court, adding that Bankman-Fried spoke frequently of wanting to use his money to have influence on politics and even told her there was a 5% chance he would become president of the United States one day.

But shortly after she joined, Ellison said Alameda's lenders asked for their money back. She said it was a "big priority" for Bankman-Fried to get more loans so Alameda could make more trades, or make investments and acquisitions.

Bankman-Fried eventually turned to FTX for funds to use for Alameda's trading, Ellison said, adding that to her knowledge FTX customers were not aware their deposits were being used in that way.

"He said that FTX would be a good source of capital and he set up the system that allowed Alameda to borrow from FTX," Ellison said.

While Bankman-Fried has written blog posts and granted interviews to reporters since his December 2022 arrest, Ellison has maintained a low profile since she pleaded guilty that same month.

In July, the New York Times published a story citing Ellison's private writings from before FTX's collapse in which she described feeling overwhelmed at work and hurt by a breakup with Bankman-Fried. After defense lawyers acknowledged that Bankman-Fried had shared the writings with a Times reporter, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan revoked his $250 million bail and sent him to jail for probable witness tampering.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jody Godoy in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder, Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis)
Samjong KPMG may also face penalty depending on regulators conclusions

By Park Jae-hyuk

Doosan Enerbility is under investigation by financial authorities over an allegation that the company had intentionally delayed reflecting losses in its balance sheet to exaggerate earnings, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Tuesday.

If the financial regulator rules against the plant constructor, a heavy fine could also be imposed on Samjong KPMG, which has issued qualified opinions on Doosan Enerbilitys audit reports.

The probe on Doosan Enerbility began three years ago as some politicians claimed that the company had tried to conceal a nearly 300 billion won ($222 million) loss from a $2.3 billion project to build two thermal power plants in India. The order was placed in 2016 with the firms foreign subsidiary, Doosan Power Systems India (DPSI).

DPSI posted net losses of 31.9 billion won in 2017, 29.1 billion won in 2018 and 44.4 billion won in 2019. However, its net loss abruptly soared to 331.4 billion won in 2020.

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) claimed that Doosan Enerbility had to reflect losses from rising costs in its balance sheets between 2017 and 2019 but didn't. Last month, the FSS finished its investigation and sent the case to the supervisory committee under the FSC, after giving the company a prior notice on heavy punishment.

In response, Doosan Enerbility refuted the financial watchdogs claim, saying that it had reflected costs after finishing talks with the client. The company also said the client will compensate the loss, once the construction is completed.

"Our audit reports received qualified opinions from a credible auditor overseas," Doosan Enerbility said in a statement. "We disagree with the FSS, so we will prove our innocence by convincing the supervisory committee members."

Samjong KPMG also denied any irregularity regarding this issue.

Once the supervisory committee concludes, the case will be sent to the Securities and Futures Commission under the FSC. The FSC commissioners will make the final decision on penalties.

The supervisory committee reportedly reviewed the case twice. It is said to be planning to have another meeting with officials of the FSS and Doosan Enerbility later this month, with the aim of making a conclusion by next month.

The supervisory committee is reviewing the case, so nothing has been decided regarding disciplinary measures, the FSC said in a press release.
(Clarifies date in paragraph 3)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate could confirm President Joe Biden's nominee to be ambassador to Israel, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, as soon as next week, Senate aides said on Monday, as Washington responded to a devastating weekend attack on the Jewish state by Hamas gunmen.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced that it would hold Lew's confirmation hearing on Oct. 18.

The aides said Democrats, who hold a slim majority in the chamber, hoped to vote to confirm Lew as soon as Thursday, Oct. 19.

Biden nominated Lew for the position in September, a move that won immediate praise from his fellow Democrats.

Because he served as a cabinet secretary, Lew has undergone Senate confirmation before.

In addition to serving as Treasury secretary, Lew under former Democratic President Barack Obama was a White House chief of staff and deputy secretary of state for management and resources.

The position has been vacant since July, when Tom Nides left the post.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by David Gregorio)
By Hyunsu Yim

SEOUL (Reuters) -The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is due to dock at the South Korean port of Busan on Thursday, as Seoul warned of a greater threat from North Korea and held joint maritime drills with the United States and Japan.

The carrier, which is expected to remain in Busan until Oct. 16, will strengthen the defence posture of South Korea and the United States in case of any North Korean provocations, South Korea's defence ministry said.

The Ronald Reagan last visited South Korea in 2022 for the first time in about four years, joining other military vessels in a show of might intended to send a message to North Korea.

North Korean state media KCNA on Tuesday criticised the deployment of U.S. strategic assets, including submarines and bombers, in the Asia-Pacific region while defending its plans for a spy satellite program as "indispensable".

Pyongyang has failed twice to place a spy satellite in orbit, in May and August, and has vowed to try again as early as October.

South Korea's defence minister Shin Won-sik told reporters on Tuesday that South Korea faces a more severe threat from North Korea, according to news agency Yonhap.

The visit of the carrier comes after the United States pledged to enhance the "regular visibility" of its strategic military assets in the Washington Declaration, which President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. leader Joe Biden issued during a summit in April.

The South Korean and U.S. navies held joint maritime drills with Japan's defence force in waters near South Korea's Jeju Island on Monday and Tuesday, the South Korean navy said.

The drills, which are the first of their kind since 2016, are aimed at deterring and responding to North Korea's "advancing nuclear and missile threats", the navy said in a statement.

A meeting was also held on the carrier on Sunday, attended by South Korea's Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Kim Myung-soo and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, to discuss countermeasures to Pyongyang's "underwater threats" as well as its nuclear and missile programs.

(Reporting by Hyunsu YimEditing by Ed Davies and Gerry Doyle)
By Daphne Psaledakis and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday declared that the July takeover in Niger was a military coup d'etat, which results in officially suspending assistance to Niger, but there are no plans to change the U.S. troop presence in the country, senior administration officials said.

Niger has been a key partner for Washington's fight against Islamist insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

The decision, which limits what assistance Washington can provide the country, was made after it became clear the junta did not want to abide by constitutional guidelines to restore civilian and democratic rule, a senior official said.

Assistance that would be affected by the coup designation was already paused, but Tuesday's decision officially suspends it.

"We're taking this action because over the last two months, we've exhausted all available avenues to preserve constitutional order in Niger," the official said.

The United States has been pressing for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis that erupted on July 26 when Niger military officers seized power, deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and placed him under house arrest.

"Any resumption of U.S. assistance will require action by the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP) to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Despite the coup designation, the United States at this time has no plans to change its troop posture in the country, another official said.

Over the past decade, U.S. troops have trained Nigerien forces in counterterrorism and operated two military bases, including one that conducts drone missions against Islamic State and an Al Qaeda affiliate in the region.

One official said that counterterrorism operations in Niger will remain paused in the interim and activities to build the capacity of Niger's armed forces will be suspended.

"This coup assessment demonstrates that we cannot continue business as usual in Niger," the official said.

The Pentagon in September repositioned some troops and equipment within Niger and withdrew a small number of non-essential personnel.

There are now about 1,000 Department of Defense personnel in the country, one official said. Before the movement, there were 1,100 troops.

While there are no plans at this time to change posture, the Pentagon will continue to evaluate any next steps on presence in the country based on the security environment, force protection and counterterrorism interests, among other factors.

The first official said Washington had urged the junta to abide by the constitution, which in the view of the United States stipulated a "transition government dealing with a national emergency would have to restore civilian and democratic rule within 90-120 days."

"As time has passed, it's become clear that the CNSP officials that we've been dealing with did not want to abide by these constitutional guidelines and, in fact, they've told us that they've chosen to repeal that constitution," the official said.

Washington in August paused certain foreign assistance programs totaling nearly $200 million that benefit the government of Niger, but said it would continue giving humanitarian and food assistance.

The junta has been informed of Washington's need to suspend certain assistance, the official said, adding that the United States will maintain humanitarian and health assistance that benefits the people of Niger.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Phil Stewart and Jasper Ward; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
When researchers trekked through a tiger reserve in India, it wasnt the big, striped cats that piqued their interest.

Instead, it was a handful of small toads hidden in rock crevices that grabbed their attention.

The amphibians, they learned, belonged to a never-before-documented species of rock toad, one that is likely critically endangered, according to a study published in September in the journal Biodiversitas.

The creatures are likely critically endangered, the study said.

Researchers discovered three specimens, two males and one female, taking refuge in streambed rock formations within the Dampa Tiger Reserve, a sprawling jungle reserve located in the far eastern Indian state of Mizoram.

After photographing the toads, researchers euthanized and deposited them at a herpetological collection for further analysis.

DNA extracted from the specimens revealed the creatures belonged to the genus Bufoides, a family of small toads endemic to India currently known to include only two species.

The newfound species was given the name bufoides bhupathyi in honor of noted herpetologist Subramanian Bhupathy.

The bhupathyi toads are distinguished by their black and yellow skin, golden irises and subtle differences in interdigital webbing and skin texture, according to researchers affiliated with various research institutions in India and the United Kingdom.

The toads were found in crevices in an Indian jungle, according to the study.

The toads, about an inch in length, are covered in black, medium-sized tubercles, or warts.

Because their range is likely restricted to the tiger reserve, the toads likely meet the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) standard for being labeled as critically endangered, researchers said.

Amphibian species currently make up 41% of the 42,000 animals on the IUCNs list of threatened species.

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House Republicans are bracing for what could be a divided and drawn-out speaker's fight this week as they appear to struggle to unify behind one candidate.

The GOP conference gathered late Tuesday to hear from the two candidates running to be speaker of the House: Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Republicans are facing increased pressure to coalesce around one candidate quickly so the House can provide aid to Israel after Hamas-led attacks have left hundreds of Israelis dead in the most devastating assault on Israel in five decades. At least 14 Americans are among those killed in the attacks.

Scalise is a known survivor. He is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for blood cancer, and in 2017 he was shot at a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. His competition is combative Jordan, the chairman of House Judiciary Committee, founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and one of the Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

MORE: Who are the contenders to replace McCarthy as speaker of the House?

PHOTO: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who is vying for the position of Speaker of the House, speaks to members of the media as he leaves a House Republican Conference meeting on Capitol Hill, Oct. 9, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

While both candidates have received endorsements, it's not clear if either has 217 votes, the number needed to win the top spot on the House floor.

PHOTO: Rep. Jim Jordan a candidate to be the next Speaker of the House, departs a House Republican conference meeting at the Capitol, Oct. 9, 2023. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images)

Even former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from speakership last week in a historic vote, said Monday that he's willing to serve as speaker again if neither candidate can garner enough support.

"I'm going to allow the conference to do their work. But the one thing I would ask my conference: You have 96% of the conference in one place, and you're allowing 4%, with the Democrats playing politics, that now are putting the doubt inside this body," McCarthy said at a press conference Monday, referring to those who voted to oust him from speakership.

PHOTO: Former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks during a news conference at the Capitol, Oct. 9, 2023. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Republicans plan to hold an internal conference vote Wednesday morning, but a full House floor vote has yet to be scheduled.

"That's our goal," Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry said when asked if the full House plans to vote for a new speaker on Wednesday.

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik posted on X (formerly Twitter) that during the speaker candidate forum, each candidate will have five minutes for opening remarks, followed by a question-and-answer session with members, and then two minutes for closing remarks.

Republicans met Monday night for more than two hours and are still far from uniting around one candidate.

Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, said the conference needs an "extra week" to find the right leadership.

MORE: McCarthy, touting his support for Israel, doesn't rule out returning as speaker

"We're dealing from whiplash. We have a lot of people who did everything they could to get Speaker McCarthy elected. It's been less than a week. The body is still warm," Miller said.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., said the party was "all over the map" on a way forward.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., raised concerns about Scalise's health as he battles cancer.

"I was honest with Scalise, I think his health is an issue. I don't want somebody that is going to deteriorate in the job. This is a tough job. You got to be everywhere," Norman said.

But almost every Republican agrees: they want to avoid the 15-round fight McCarthy had to endure.

"How many rounds was Rocky?," Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., joked. "Quite frankly, I don't want to repeat what we did on the floor with multiple candidates, and neither did the candidates," he told ABC News' Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott.

The crisis in Israel is also adding a new sense of urgency to move quickly.

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: IDF finds bodies of 1,500 Palestinian militants near border

"If we remove the speaker in the middle of a war in the Middle East, a war in Ukraine, a crisis at our southern border. These folks need to be serious about the government," Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Scott.

"If anything, you know, doesn't demonstrate more than Hamas and a terrorist organization funded by Iran invading Israel -- if that doesn't wake up the members of my conference, then I don't know what else would," Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, said Monday night.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul told ABC News that the lack of a speaker "projects weakness" on the world stage amid the war in Israel.

"We're tired of the childish games. We have to be adults in the room, get this thing done, and get the work of the American people done -- but also help the people of Israel defend themselves," McCaul said.

On Tuesday, the McCaul and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, along with 390 lawmakers, introduced a bipartisan resolution to support Israel.

The bipartisan resolution condemns Hamas and offers military assistance for Israel. It almost certainly wouldn't come up for a vote until a new speaker is selected, McCaul said.

"The eyes of the world are watching Congress. We don't have a speaker. It's a bit dysfunctional. And I think that projects weakness. We have to elect a speaker immediately," he said.

McCaul said he believes there could be a vote on a new speaker of the House this week, "given the events of late."

"...It just shows the dire necessity that we have to," McCaul said. "Hopefully we won't have 15 rounds and a lot of drama."

ABC News' Jay O'Brien contributed to this report.

Republicans still divided on who will be the next House speaker amid mounting pressure originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WATERTOWN TWP., Michigan  Authorities in Central Michigan on Tuesday morning entered day two of a search for a missing toddler with special needs.

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office said the 2-year-old boy, who is autistic and non-verbal, was reported missing about 2 p.m. on Monday. Initially, law enforcement incorrectly posted the child's age.

The toddler was last seen walking away from his home on South Bauer Road, just north of Clark Road in north Watertown Township, a rural community about 15 miles northwest of Lansing, Michigan.

Missing Kentucky mom update: Ex boyfriend arrested in case of Crystal Rogers, Kentucky mom who disappeared in 2015

Boy last seen wearing gray-and-blue shorts and a blue sweatshirt

In a post on X, Michigan State Police said the boy was last seen wearing gray-and-blue shorts and a blue sweatshirt.

Authorities, who have not released the toddler's name, said the child has long, curly dark hair and did not have shoes on when he disappeared.

"The missing boy is reported to also be a climber and could be in a tree or any other elevated structure," the sheriff's office reported.

Temperatures dipped into the low 40s overnight in the area, according to the National Weather Service, and as of 7:45 a.m. ET Tuesday the temperature registered 43 degrees at the Capital Region International Airport in Lansing.

Updates: More than 123K displaced in Gaza after attack, UN says; US sending warships, ammunition to Israel

A search through late Monday night, plea for help

The sheriff's office reported law enforcement from several agencies, as well as numerous civilian volunteers, spent most of Monday night searching for the boy.

"Specialized units worked throughout the night and at this time, have been unable to locate the missing child," the agency wrote in a post about 7 a.m. ET.

The sheriff's office said the search for a missing boy would continue Tuesday morning after searchers failed to locate him overnight.

A photo of a boy reported missing Monday afternoon in the area of South Bauer Road in Clinton County.

'Keep the family in your prayers'

The sheriff's office asked residents to check their sheds, outbuildings, or areas of shelter or bodies of water.

Anyone who sees the boy is being asked to immediately call 911.

"Please keep the family in your prayers as we move forward," the sheriff's office posted on social media.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Watertown Township Michigan Police search for missing autistic toddler
Former President Trump will not visit Capitol Hill Tuesday to meet with congressional Republicans as they consider a next speaker of the House, a source familiar with the 2024 GOP front-runner's plans told Fox News Digital.

The former president told Fox News Digital last Thursday that he would visit Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill to take part in a House Republican Conference as members considered who would become the next speaker of the House, following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

A source familiar, though, told Fox News Digital on Monday that the president's plans had changed, and he will no longer visit Washington or Capitol Hill to take part in those discussions or the House GOP candidate forum set to begin Tuesday evening.

Trump, early Friday morning, endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to serve as House speaker.

TRUMP EXPECTED TO VISIT CAPITOL HILL NEXT WEEK AMID HOUSE SPEAKER RACE: SOURCES

Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is up against House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., for the role.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, Trump, last week, said he would accept a short-term role as speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as a "unifier" for the Republican Party until lawmakers reach a decision on who should take on the post.

McCarthy was removed as speaker of the House last Tuesday after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a measure against him known as a motion to vacate, accusing him of breaking promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, left, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise

"I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress," Trump told Fox News Digital. "If they dont get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer term, because I am running for president."

TRUMP WOULD ACCEPT HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP FOR A 'SHORT PERIOD' WHILE REPUBLICANS DECIDE ON A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT

"They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion  Im not doing it because I want to  I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision," Trump said.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

Trump did not specify who had asked him, although a number of GOP lawmakers have said he is their preference for speaker.

Trump stressed that if Republicans cannot come to a consensus, he would take the speakership for a short "30, 60 or 90-day period."

"I would only do it for the party," he said, emphasizing that his focus is on his presidential campaign.

Back in January, as the House considered who should become the speaker after Republicans took the majority in the chamber, Gaetz opted not to vote for McCarthy or Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who was floated as an option, but voted instead for the former president.

When Gaetzs name was called during the seventh round of voting, he responded: "Donald John Trump."

Original article source:Trump will not visit Capitol Hill ahead of House speaker race: source
By Lee Min-hyung

Korean Air will likely divest Asiana Airlines cargo business in a bid to obtain approval for its takeover of the latter from the European Unions antitrust authorities, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

The proposal for Korean Air to acquire Asiana Airlines has remained in deadlock for the past three years, as the European Commission (EC) maintains its position that the takeover may weaken the fair trade ecosystem of the global aviation industry.

Korean Air is known to have contacted a domestic low-cost carrier (LCC) to sell Asianas cash cow cargo business. Last year, Asiana generated sales of 2.99 trillion won ($2.22 billion) in the cargo business, which accounts for almost half of its annual sales.

We are still in close talks with the European Unions antitrust watchdog before finalizing details ahead of the takeover, a Korean Air spokesman said. Korean Air will submit our updated plans to the authority as late as the end of October.

But the airline declined to comment on other specifics, citing antitrust rules regarding the takeover. It also needs approval from the United States and Japan.

An airline industry official said no specifics have been confirmed so far which LCC will be selected to purchase Asianas cargo business from Korean Air.

Korean Air looks to have plans to finalize the long-lasting takeover procedure by the end of this year, but it looks unclear which LCCs the airline is communicating with at the moment, an official from one of the nations LCCs said.

Airlines are moving to diversify their revenue streams, leaving open the possibility of acquiring the downsized cargo routes of Asiana. Air Incheon plans to bring in five Boeing cargo planes by the end of the third quarter of 2024, with a view to targeting North American routes. For now, Air Incheon is operating cargo flights mostly in Asia, including to China, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Jeju Air also plans to introduce its second-ever cargo plane no later than the end of this month. Last year, the LCC started its cargo business, aiming to generate more revenues from increasing cargo demand in Southeast Asian countries.

Jin Air is excluded from the list of potential buyers of Asianas cargo business, as it is an LCC subsidiary of Korean Air.

Chances are slim that Korean Air will contact overseas LCCs for fear of a possible controversy over the outflow of national wealth.

The outlook for the cargo business remains promising as demand for overseas transportation increases, according to data from the nations land ministry.

Data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport showed that Korean Air transported more than 430,000 metric tons of cargo on international routes in the first half of this year. Asiana came in second with almost 220,000 metric tons.
WASHINGTON  The White House has been working urgently in the past 24 hours to get a Senate confirmation process in motion for President Joe Bidens nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to two White House officials.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is now expected to hold a confirmation hearing for Jack Lew, a former Treasury secretary and White House chief of staff during the Obama administration, as early as Oct. 18, according to three people familiar with the plans. Biden nominated Lew more than a month ago.

The Senate is not in session this week. But the White House officials said they hope lawmakers in both parties will agree with the president on the need to quickly confirm Lew amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

Everyone understands the importance behind it, one White House official said.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in the fighting so far, with at least 700 dead in Israel, according to the military, and more than 570 dead in Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The Biden administration said Monday that nine Americans have been killed in the conflict and more are believed to be missing.

Tom Nides, Bidens former ambassador to Israel, told NBC News in an interview that the Senate needs to confirm his successor immediately upon return.

They need to get the committee hearing done. He needs to be on the ground. Hell be a phenomenal ambassador and he needs to be there, Nides said. Ambassadors are always important. In crises, theyre even more important.

Some Democratic senators agree.

Now is not the time for politics. The Senate should confirm those awaiting votes the day we are back in session, and immediately schedule committee hearings to expedite confirmation of the remainder, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Sunday in a statement. Democrats and Republicans must work together to support our ally Israel.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., noted the U.S. is without an ambassador in multiple countries in the region and said partisan wrangling that leads to such vacancies sends a dangerous signal and encourages adventurism by our adversaries.

The Senate should move the confirmation through the committee and the floor quickly, said Coons.

The nominees for U.S. ambassador to Oman, Kuwait and the State Departments Coordinator for Counterterrorism all await a vote on the Senate floor. The nominees for U.S. Ambassadors to Israel and Egypt and the assistant administrator for the Middle East at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) await committee hearings.

Beyond that, there hasnt been a confirmed top USAID official for the Middle East for nearly three years and no State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism for nearly two years

Senate Republicans will have influence over how long it could take to confirm Lew, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has been holding up several Middle East nominations, has raised concerns about Lew specifically.

Sen. Cruz has not yet interviewed Mr. Lew, let alone had the opportunity to question him in the context of testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee," a Cruz spokesperson said. "Sen. Cruz has said since the summer that it was becoming impossible to expeditiously advance Biden administration nominees because those nominees keep lying to Congress and the American people, testifying publicly that they are committed to countering Iran and deepening the U.S.-Israel relationship then implementing the opposite policies in secret once confirmed. He will evaluate Lews nomination against the backdrop of those concerns.

Still, White House officials said they believe the Senate should be able to proceed more normally and work quickly on a hearing for Lew. The Senate is scheduled to return to Washington early next week.

One official said Lew is eager to get to work, and the White House hopes he is confirmed with bipartisan support.

Lew served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Bill Clinton.

In that position, he helped develop the memorandum of understanding at OMB on multiyear funding for Israel and worked to sustain it during the Obama administration and, on several occasions, per a White House official, Lew worked to provide crucial funding for Israeli missile defense systems to protect citizens from attacks.

Lew also worked as the deputy secretary of state for management and resources and played a key role in supporting Israels effort to join the Organization for Economic Operation and Development, a White House official said.
Starbucks (SBUX) is the latest company to rethink its presence in San Francisco.

Effective Oct. 22, the coffee giant plans to close seven stores in San Francisco. Following these closures, there will be 52 remaining Starbucks locations in the city.

Starbucks did not disclose the reason for the closures. In a letter to employees, Jessica Borton, the Northern California regional vice president, stated: "There are several factors Starbucks considers when tasked with the tough decision of closing a store, but it is all part of ensuring a healthy store portfolio."

Starbucks isn't the only consumer-facing giant to take a second look at its San Francisco portfolio this year.

Other companies that recently closed locations in San Francisco include Amazon (AMZN), which closed a Whole Foods Market just 13 months after opening it earlier this year and all four Amazon Go Stores in March; Office Depot (ODP), which closed a store in April; and Anthropologie (URBN), which left Union Square after two decades in May.

Gap (GPS) also shuttered Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta stores this year, while Nordstrom (JWN) closed its flagship store in August, and Saks Off 5th shut its doors this fall.

The Starbucks stores being added to this list are located on Mission and Main, Geary and Taylor, 425 Battery, 398 Market, 4th and Market, 555 California, and Bush and Van Ness. It's worth noting that none of the stores set to close are unionized and employees at the stores will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other locations.

San Francisco sluggish in returning to offices

What's behind the exodus? Hybrid and fully remote companies may be partly to blame.

"A big component for sure is that people are remote working and not coming into those offices as much," John Zolidis, president of Quo Vadis Capital, told Yahoo Finance. "That's got to be one of the driving forces  just less traffic from office workers."

A customer leaves a Starbucks coffee shop in San Francisco, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2018. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images) (Robert Alexander via Getty Images)

Per foot traffic analytics platform Placer.ai, San Francisco has the lowest number of visits to offices of any major US city. In August 2023, office visits were down 52.7% compared to August 2019, before the pandemic disrupted workplaces.

San Francisco is "by far the slowest to come back," Ethan Chernofsky, senior vice president of marketing at Placer.ai, told Yahoo Finance. "When you think about what that means for retail more broadly ... lots of people work there and then shop there and eat there, so that's obviously going to have an impact. ... Then, even [the] people who are coming back to the office [are] not doing so five days a week."

Migration patterns  such as people moving out of the city  are a factor too, Chernofsky said, affecting cities across the US as well as San Francisco. And if retailers leave a city, it can lead to fewer visits to that area as well, causing companies to further reconsider their real estate portfolios.

"We see significant headroom for new store growth in underpenetrated areas in the US, including smaller cities, as well as new formats in larger metros," Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said on a call with investors following its Q3 earnings results.

However, the tide may be turning for San Francisco, with the artificial intelligence boom acting as a bright spot for activity. Just as the tech industry was the first to move to remote work during the pandemic, it may be a leader in bringing workers back to offices.

"San Francisco and the Bay Area in general is really a market that's led by the tech industry," Colin Yasukochi, executive director at CBREs Tech Insights Center, told Yahoo Finance. "Over the last six months ... they're starting to see growth perk up in the tech industry. Artificial intelligence is one of those particular areas where the companies are actually looking to expand  they're looking to upgrade the [office] space that they currently have to provide a better experience for their employees."

Pedestrians and vehicles are visible at the base of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, Calif., on May 5, 2022. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)

A 'difficult operating environment'

Crime and safety may also be playing a role.

On Sept. 26, Target (TGT) announced plans to close nine stores at the end of October, including three in the San Francisco and Oakland area. Target said crime and retail theft were the reasons behind the decision to close stores.

"We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance," the company said in a statement.

According to crime data on the city's website, theft has been the top issue, followed by burglary. That has affected not only whether companies open retail space in the city but also where they choose to expand.

"On-the-ground type of issues have probably impacted where companies are willing to be located in terms of their office space," Yasukochi said, "which is why we've seen a greater concentration of companies looking for space in the central business district and less so in the South of Market or mid-market areas."

For Starbucks, though, it's a bit harder to understand if crime truly was a factor. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on whether safety played a part in the decision in particular.

"There's not large quantities of merchandise to steal and resell," Zolidis said about Starbucks stores, though he added: "It's just a difficult operating environment from an employee safety perspective."

Another factor affecting how companies position themselves in the Golden State could be the approach of a minimum wage law that goes into effect on April 1. The law, which raises starting pay for fast food workers to $20 an hour, is one to watch, Zolidis said.

But, he added, "if that were a deciding factor [for Starbucks], it wouldn't be seven stores in San Francisco [but] a much broader group of stores."

Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed remains optimistic about the city's future, despite its challenges.

"People still want to be here," Breed told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview at Salesforce's annual Dreamforce conference. "They're starting their companies, their businesses here."



Brooke DiPalma is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan is leading a delegation to the Czech Republic at the invitation of First Vice President of the Senate of Czech Republic Jiri Drahos.

The Vice Speakers delegation includes MP Arman Yeghoyan, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration Affairs, and MP Hasmik Hakobyan, member of the Armenia-Czech Republic Parliamentary Friendship Group.

On October 9, Arshakyan met with President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Milos Vystrcil.

Arshakyan briefed Vystrcil on the situation resulting from the September 19 Azeri attack in Nagorno-Karabakh that has led to the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population.

The Azerbaijani aggressive policy against Armenias territorial integrity, as a result of which nearly 150 square kilometers of territory of Armenia is under occupation, was also discussed.

Theres no alternative to the peace agenda in our region, weve adopted the path of peace and democracy, we are resolute in our choice and we expect support from international partners, the parliaments press service quoted Vice Speaker Arshakyan as saying.

The support programs for the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh and the cooperation with international partners in this direction were also discussed. Hakob Arshakyan thanked the Czech government for the assistance.

President of the Senate Milos Vystrcil welcomed the latest European Parliament resolution condemning the Azeri attack in Nagorno-Karabakh. He expressed support to Armenias territorial integrity, sovereignty and democracy.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. The WCIT 2024 cup has been relayed to Armenia during the 27th World Congress on Innovation & Technology 2023 and the 6th International Digital Economy Conference in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Armenia will host the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) in 2024.

UATE Chairman of the Board Alexander Yesayan accepted the ceremonial handover on stage.

This is one more victory and one more opportunity for the Armenian IT sector to show to the world what makes us the new hub. Get ready, because the next WCIT is going to be bigger, more resonant and better than ever before, Yesayan said.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Two seriously injured young people from Nagorno-Karabakh were evacuated to the United States to receive specialist medical care, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said in a statement.

This weekend, two seriously injured young people from Nagorno-Karabakh were evacuated to the United States to receive specialist medical care. Many thanks to all our partners who helped make the urgent medical evacuation happen, the embassy said.
Corporate execs, PM, K-pop stars included in Expo delegation to France

By Ko Dong-hwan

A Korean delegation of business leaders, senior government officials and K-pop artists met with state representatives from around the world at a symposium promoting Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030, according to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Tuesday.

The large-scale Paris visit came with less than 50 days remaining until the Bureau International des Exposition (BIE) votes for the host city of the international event.

The 200-member delegation was headed by KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who jointly represent the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's special envoy Jang Seong-min and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon were also key members of the delegation.

The participation of 25 business leaders in the French trip has particularly loaded the delegation with firepower. In addition to Chey who chairs SK Group, Parisians and international visitors saw Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, Doosan Group Chairman and CEO Park Jeong-won, Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee and LG Corp. President and CFO Ha Beom-jong.

Representatives of POSCO International, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Aerospace, HD Hyundai and GS Engineering & Construction also joined the team as the country "gives everything it's got," according to the KCCI.

The delegation organized the symposium on Monday, local time, at Pavillon Gabriel. Titled "Why Korea? Why Busan?" the symposium was held in attendance of BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes and representatives of the organization's 181 member states.

American economist Jeremy Lifkin, founder of the Foundation on Economic Trends, took to the podium and said Busan is currently witnessing a "harmony between GDP and quality of living," which makes the city ideal for hosting the Expo. Sam Richards, a professor of sociology at Penn State University, said that innovation, education and cooperation are key strengths that transformed the country from an assistance beneficiary to a benefactor.

Chey said that by hosting the Expo, Korea will propose customized solutions to countries with unique problems. To back up to his idea, the symposium exhibited a special side booth called "WAVE." It demonstrated an online platform developed earlier this year by Busan Metropolitan City whereby people from around the world share their local problems and possible solutions.

The problems humanity currently faces, including climate change and energy transition, cannot be solved by a few advanced countries, Chey told the symposium audience. He said World Expo 2030 Busan will be a place for people from around the world to gather and discuss feasible solutions together.

The symposium momentarily turned into a concert as Korean soprano Sumi Jo performed seven songs including "Ah, je veux vivre" from Romeo and Juliet.

The symposium was one of the self-promoting opportunities given by the BIE to three candidate cities competing to host the World Expo 2030. Busan, Rome and Riyadh were thus allowed to give five presentations and one symposium to the BIE member states before the organization's 173rd General Assembly hosts an election on Nov. 28 to vote for the winning city.

The Korean delegation invited BIE member state representatives to a gala dinner on Saturday with celebrities like PSY and Carla Bruni expected to appear. The gala is a bid voluntarily taken by the Koreans without any obligation from the organization. The following day will see K-pop TV program "M Countdown" shooting live at Paris La Defense Arena. It is the first time the program will be filmed in Paris, with K-pop acts NCT DREAM, TREASURE and ZEROBASEONE performing in front of an expected audience of around 30,000.
YEREVAN, 10 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 10 October, USD exchange rate down by 6.58 drams to 397.52 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 4.51 drams to 420.93 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 3.99 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 4.67 drams to 487.12 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 53.92 drams to 23586.53 drams. Silver price up by 2.37 drams to 276.70 drams.
Palestinians will never accept their present subordinate position as permanent subjugation.

Now is the time for Prime Minister Naren-dra Modi to claim the global role that he yearns for instead of appearing to be a servile camp follower of the West. Sadly, that chance was missed on October 7, when the first day of the recrudescence of vicious violence between Israel and the Palestinian militants prompted the Prime Ministers announcement: We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

It would have been far more to the point for Mr Modi to commit himself to the negotiating strategy finalised at the peace conference in Madrid in 1991 which led to the now virtually forgotten 1993 Oslo Accords whereby American-protected Israel and the Palestinians recognised each other, and Israel ceded some governing functions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority. Although the two-state formula of Israel and Pales-tine co-existing side by side as sovereign entities was not explicitly stated and never formally accepted by Israel, it remains the only rational answer to a problem that is otherwise bound to erupt every so often in bloody rebellions.

No other country in the world has been allowed to conquer neighbouring territories and get away with it. No other power rules and bullies its neighbourhood through a mix of armed might, fear of imminent attacks, nuclear blackmail, American dollars and technological assistance. India should note, however, that the latest Hamas attacks reveal that all the military and technological assets are not on Israel's side. If Hamas can once penetrate Israels formidable and supposedly invincible Iron Dome air defence system, it can do so again. The war must send ripples of nervousness through conservative Arab societies like those of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and cause deep consternation in the Pentagon which sees Israel as a prized protege.

Not that the religious identity of Israels adversaries are of much interest to Washington, something that cannot be said of todays official India. Tel Aviv had always held that Congress-ruled New Delhi opposed Israel not because it feared the Islamic worlds United Nations response but because it depended on Muslim votes at home. Religion may still be a major factor in Indian calculations, explaining the Prime Ministers response to Hamas's action. His condemnation of terrorist attacks (reminiscent of Indian political rhetoric about Jammu and Kash-mir, as well as Pakistan) was also a reminder that in the eyes of millions of West Asians (and possibly also Indians), Hamas activists are not terrorists but freedom fighters. On both counts, Mr Modis seemingly spontaneous post on X (formerly Twitter) ignored the first rule of mature and effective diplomacy  recognising that there is more than one side to every quarrel.

New Delhis propagandists can say that India is in good company, and that several international leaders, including from the United States, Argentina, Brazil and most European countries, similarly condemned Hamas. What is more relevant is that even some Arab League countries (Oman, Yemen, and Qatar) and non-Arab countries like Iran expressed support for the Palestin-ians, blaming Israels occupation of their homeland for the continued violence. A number of other countries (not India up to the time of writing) have also called for a ceasefire. Pro-Hamas demonstrations have been reported from many West Asian countries like Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Turkey, Bahrain and Iran. There was a small rally even in Berlin.

True, Mr Modi and his government must correct the imbalance of the past. India has been far from even-handed, instinctively taking the Palestinian side in most disputes. But lurching from one extreme to another only exposes the lack of substance behind Mr Modis dream of a global role. True, also, no government or BJP spokes-man has claimed the position of a global peacemaker, which often appeared to be the specialty of the Nehru years. But the repeated stress in recent weeks on India as the worlds most populous nation, its position as the fourth or fifth biggest economy, and the geopolitical implications of the Chan-drayaan-3 moon mission has underlined the importance attached to the self-assumed titles of Vishwa Mitra (universal friend) and Vishwa ka atut saathi (worlds reliable partner) that India flaunts.

New Delhis specific position seems to be that being acknowledged as a developed country with a United Nations Security Council seat would benefit others. As the Prime Minister proclaimed from the Red Forts ramparts on this years Independence Day: With Indias participation in the global economy and the global supply chain and with the place that India has earned for itself, I can say with full confidence that the current scenario in India today has brought a guarantee of stability in the world.

Perhaps it has. But any continuation of that good work demands facing up to at least two realities. First, Israel was founded in 1948 by dispossessing the regions native Palestinian population to make room for Jewish settlers, mainly from Eastern Europe, at least partly as a sop to the guilty conscience of the Western powers who did nothing to prevent Hitlers barbaric treatment of Jews under Nazi control, which led to the Holocaust. Palestinian villagers are still paying a bitter price for Europes collaboration with Hitler. Second, this latest upsurge  which is already being called the Third Intifada (uprising)  confirms that the position on the ground may have changed for all time.

It has exposed the irrelevance of the Palestinian Authority which supposedly rules the conquered territories of the West Bank and Gaza (legally, also the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 war and says it will never surrender) and of the 87-year-old Mah-moud Abbas whom the West used to weaken Yasser Arafats authority and who is now recognised as the President of Palestine. More to the point, it confirms that the Palestinians will never accept their present subordinate position as permanent subjugation.

Irans Islamic Develop-ment Organization may have been a trifle premature in celebrating this Third Intifada with hoardings advertising Salam to beginning of the end of Israel. But the beginning of the end of Palestinian suffering may be within sight. A process of talks must now be initiated to hasten the process by harmoniously identifying rights on both sides and the basis of an amicable settlement  a firm end to the Jewish housing colonies for instance  that leaves enough territory for a viable Palestinian state. Only the United States can underwrite that process. As a friend of both sides, India can play a constructive role.
Mr Bidhuris rants in Parliament also signify that the going isnt good for the BJP in the Assembly elections

At one time, Vimal was a brand close to the late Dhirubhai Ambanis heart. Reliance was taking baby steps at that time. The tagline of the Vimal brand of sarees was: A woman expresses herself in many ways Vimal is one of them.

Turning to the present-day kamal, the BJP's poll symbol, and what it signifies under the Modi-Shah duo is brashness. Brazening it out with brashness could be the tagline of the new BJP, which has dumped its Atal Behari Vajpayee ways entirely while seeking greener pastures.

Nothing succeeds like success. The Prime Minister is being shown as the Vishwa Guru. His brand has brought to the fore Bidhuris, Biren Singhs and Braj Bhushan Sharan Singhs as torchbearers of a brash politics that fails to give any quarter to the Opposition, minorities and women. Sadly, this BJPs symbol could be a bulldozer or a raging bull. What else could one think of?

Mr Bidhuri is a symbol of what is wrong with todays BJP. Living in the time warp of Akhand Bharat, the new BJP wants to make it known that its Hindutva brand must always be seen as hardline. So, it is natural that the Bidhuris and their kind will be let loose here and there.

It is no secret Operation Bidhuri was to keep the Hindutva pot boiling. The passage of the womens reservation bill and the ifs and buts over its implementation have failed to bring much kudos to either the ruling party or its leader. The demand for a OBC quota and similar suggestions have almost punctured the balloon.

Mr Bidhuris denigration of a fellow MP, Danish Ali, and the attack on his faith was tantamount to the desecration of Parliament, but the way the BJP has treated him is a signal that he is virtually the male version of the controversial Pragya Thakur, MP from Bhopal. The tragedy is that BSP supremo Mayawati has also treated the entire affair lightly, even though Danish Ali was once the leader of her BSP in the Lok Sabha. This speaks volumes of her marginalisation and her being co-option by the BJP.

Mr Bidhuri has always been a Hindutva hardliner and BJP loyalist. The South Delhi MP is no paratrooper and is a darling of the Sangh Parivar. But the tragedy with the Modi bhakts is that he always remained a backbencher who had taken up the task of hooting out the Opposition in the House whenever the situation warranted. The likes of Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal were like red rags. Missing the skills of a Meenakshi Lekhi or the softness of a Manoj Tiwari, Mr Bidhuri depended almost entirely on his rabble-rousing skills.

Mr Bidhuris rants in Parliament also signify that the going isnt good for the BJP in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana. That paradoxes never cease in politics is clear from the fact that the Congress is emerging as the bugbear for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has failed to generate fresh ideas and appears stale as the Lok Sabha polls are nearing.

Despite the setbacks, Mr Modi hasnt given up on his pet project of a Congress-mukt Bharat. That was evident from the BJPs recent rally in Bhopal. In his 50-minute speech there, the PM referred to the grand old party some 40 times in not-too-glowing terms. The brashness stems from the belief that those opposing the BJP are not made of sterner stuff.

Mr Modi might have virtually kept mum on troubled Manipur and failed to visit the key northeastern state for the past three months. But the brashness of chief minister N. Biren Singh and the backing provided to him by the Modi-Shah duo is virtually being exposed by the state BJP itself, which has brought the unease in the state to the notice of the party high command. What a tragic irony, the BJP state chief in Manipur is herself confiding that she is in constant fear of an angry mob attempting to burn down her house. The actions or otherwise of Mr Biren Singh have ensured that the BJP has politically become unsettled in the Northeast.

The Braj Bhushan Sharan Singhs know their place in the system and they also know the system inside out. The controversial Bahubali stands unfazed despite allegations of sexual harassment and protests against him. The law is taking its own sweet time to catch up with the BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, given his reach and influence. But his conduct has cost much to the ruling party.

Brashness is the symbol of arrogance of those who always have their way. But this is playing less dividends for the BJP, as is evident from the Assembly results in Karnataka a few months back. The Modi-Shah duo had pushed aside an unwilling veteran leader B.S. Yediyurappa and brought in Basavaraj Bommai in his place as the chief minister.

The party was beaten lock, stock and barrel so much that it is looking shaky in the five state elections due soon. The way it is going about in these states does not indicate it has learnt any lessons from the Bengaluru flop show. The PM might be campaigning hard but he looks more like a man under siege than a confident general marshalling his forces to demolish the opponent. It is not to question who and why  looks to be the order of the BJP high command, which has thrown three Union ministers, four MPs and a general secretary into the fray in a blitzkrieg action.

This audacity is bound to grow by leaps and bounds with the clock ticking for the Lok Sabha polls.
Today the UN General Assembly will vote in new council members. Human rights groups want China to be excluded because of its repressive policies; however, other candidates also fall short in terms of human rights. Four countries are up for Asias four seats, but China must still get a majority to get one.

New York (AsiaNews)  About 90 human rights groups issued a statement urging the members of the United Nations General Assembly not to vote China onto the Human Rights Council and leave instead an "empty seat" because China is demonstrably unfit to hold a seat on the UNs top body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.

Today, the UN General Assembly is set to pick 15 new members of its human rights body to serve for three years starting in January 2024.

The Council has 47 members, elected by direct ballot in the General Assembly on the basis of an equitable geographical distribution: 13 seats are reserved for Africa, 13 for Asia-Pacific, six for Eastern Europe, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven for Western Europe and Other states.

China is an incumbent member of the Council, but it is seeking another term. Four countries are running for four seats in the Asia-Pacific region: Japan, Kuwait, Indonesia, and China.

Although it got the fewest votes in past elections, China will win a seat, effectively unopposed, said the human rights groups opposed to Beijing.

In other regions, many countries do not fully respect for human rights, like Kuwait, Cuba for Latin America, and Malawi and Burundi for Africa.

Russia is also a candidate for a seat in the Eastern European region, but it is likely that the two available seats will go to two other candidates, Albania and Bulgaria.

UN resolutions governing Council elections require candidates to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, but for the joint statement, China has utterly failed to meet these expectations for candidates, and has actively sought to undermine the promotion and protection of universal human rights around the world.

Indeed, The Chinese government has used its power and influence to attempt to silence the voice of civil society at the UN. The UN Secretary-General has recognized China as engaging in patterns of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders and remains one of the top perpetrators of reprisals globally.

In fact, China allowed only one human rights expert into the country since 2018. The High Commissioner for Human Rights [Michelle Bachelet] was granted limited access in May 2022, accompanied by government officials, she said, not able to speak with Uyghurs detained or their families.

In particular, "Most independent civil society groups have been disbanded and their members jailed, tortured, or forced to continue their work underground or forced into exile. Even so, they face harassment, surveillance, and detention for attempting to continue to defend the rights of those left behind or repressed by the Chinese system.

Chinas repression has focused on Uyghurs, a Turkic Muslim group living in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, also known as East Turkestan by the indigenous population.

And they are not alone. "Over the past 12 months, multiple UN human rights bodies have raised alarm at the escalation of human rights abuses in Tibet, with at least one million Tibetan children separated from their families, with many relatives forced into a labour transfer programme, their religious and linguistic freedom denied.

The statement also looks at Hong Kong, where the promulgation of the National Security Law (NSL) by the Central Government in 2020 dismantled the civil society and peoples fundamental rights and freedom, targeting academics, media outlets, and civil society organisations.
by Melani Manel Perera

The 'seismic swarm' in Sri Lankan politics continues after revelations by foreign intelligence services that differ from the official version in Colombo. The bishops ask the president for the sharing of materials since churches have been the main target of terrorists.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Episcopal Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) renewed its request to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to share internal reports on the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday on 21 April 2019 - in which 3 churches, 4 luxury hotels and a residential complex were attacked resulting in a total of 269 victims.

The request was relaunched following Wickremesinghe's admission that he had received information from the American FBI, but also from the British, Indian, Pakistani and Chinese secret services.

The "seismic and political swarm" continues in Sri Lanka following the video interview that Channel 4, the British public broadcaster, broadcast a month ago on the Easter massacre in which Azad Maulana, a former militant of the Tamil Tigers (the secessionist rebels) who betrayed to join the national army that fought them.

He maintains that although the alleged authors o fthe attack, the Thowheeth Jama'ath, were arrested within a few weeks they were not responsible for the massacre which was also claimed by Islamic State.

This casts doubt on the official version that attributed all responsibility to them. Moreover: he accuses the Colombo intelligence leaders of having orchestrated the massacre with the Islamists in a meeting that he himself had organised.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, continues to call for an international investigation into the attacks. Moreover, the Catholic Church in the country was the main target of the massacre and has never said it was fully convinced of the country's intelligence version.

This is not the last chapter, because President Ranil Wickremesinghe responded to the requests of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka during an interview with Deutsche Welle News to which CBCSL wrote: President - read Deutsche Welle News journalist, Martin Gak, - you admitted that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the British, Indian, Chinese and Pakistani secret police provided reports of the Easter 2019 attack. This fact was first reported brought to the attention of the general public and the CBCSL only now after years. In these circumstances, we would like you to share copies of the reports with us as well."

Wickremesinghe then lashed out at the German press agency journalist, saying that "it is not necessary to launch an international investigation into the issue of the Easter Sunday attacks. The Western media think - he added - that we are the bad guys. You have come here to corner me, he lashed out at the journalist.

During his interview, the president then said that he did not speak directly with Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, but with the country's Catholic Episcopal Conference.

In its response letter to the interview, the Catholic Bishops' Conference underlined that "Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is a key member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, to whom a response in this regard is therefore due, as well as the sharing of material on Easter massacre is necessary for the entire Catholic Episcopal Conference which includes the bishops of the twelve dioceses of Sri Lanka and three auxiliary bishops of Colombo", concludes the CBCSL note.
by Fady Noun

The repercussions in the 'northern flank', where today there is a climate of apparent calm. Washington's warning to Hezbollah to stay away from the fighting. Seven Shiite militiamen killed in the south. Under consideration is the creation of a crisis unit in the Land of the Cedars, where there is already a first exodus from the south. Army and Unifil engaged in controls.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The "al-Aqsa flood" operation launched by Hamas has caused a situation of profound instability also in neighboring Lebanon, especially in the south where in the early hours of today a situation of "apparent calm" seems to reign while the Israeli helicopters continuously patrol the area. The widespread feeling within the political class of the Land of Cedars is that this operation was "predictable" considering the repressive policy of the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A hard line towards the Palestinians with raids and attacks, especially in the West Bank, which caused 247 deaths in the first nine months of the year, with an average of one victim per day.

Planning in Beirut

The offensive conducted by Hamas in Israel on 7 October had been planned for months in the Lebanese capital. L'Orient-Le Jour (LOJ) writes this today, relaunching information from the Wall Street Journal confirmed to the French-speaking newspaper by members of the so-called "axis of resistance" formed by the al-Quds Brigades, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad. We are observing developments and could intervene - a Hezbollah leader told OLJ - particularly in the case of a ground offensive in Gaza. A confirmation of the analysts' theses according to which "Hezbollah will not let Israel destroy Hamas" and is closely following the progress of operations with Iranian soldiers in Beirut. However, according to OLJ, Hezbollah is waiting to see what happens in the West Bank, which will likely flare up in reaction to Israeli attacks on Gaza deciding to enter the scene only in a third phase.

With the death yesterday of three fighters from the "party of God" killed in an Israeli bombing in southern Lebanon, the fear of the opening of a front with Israel has increased. In the Land of Cedars, the memory of the 2006 invasion is still alive, with over 1,500 deaths, mostly civilians, and fears grew this morning following a warning from a senior defense official in Washington quoted by AFP: Hezbollah, he underlines, will not must make the wrong decision to open a second front against Israel on the border with Lebanon. The order to deploy the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest warship, to the eastern Mediterranean shows Iranian-backed armed groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah, that they must not "doubt the United States' commitment to support the defense of Israel." The previous day, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper cited by the Ici-Beyrouth online information site, Israel had already warned Hezbollah, via France, that it would attack the southern suburbs of Beirut in the event of the movement's active role in the conflict in Gaza.

Hezbollah's first response

On the ground, Hezbollah announced the death of seven of its fighters, killed in an Israeli attack on one of the observation posts in Aita el-Chaab. These losses, Hezbollah explained, were due to Israel's unilateral change of the "rules of engagement", which took the Shiite fighters by surprise. In general, artillery exchanges between the two forces were limited to unoccupied areas and primarily as a warning. The militiamen said they responded by bombing two Israeli barracks in Brannit, home to their northern headquarters, calling the attack a "first response" to the deaths of their members. Also yesterday morning, the Jewish State had given free rein to its artillery, with a barrage of fire that had not been seen for 17 years according to local sources, in reaction to an internal infiltration into its territory later claimed by Islamic Jihad. The Israeli command later announced that it had killed "several armed suspects" in the operation, while Hezbollah denied any involvement of its fighters.

Appeal for moderation

Yesterday the Lebanese army and Unifil issued a call for moderation to the parties involved in the conflict, which also affected some villages in the districts of Marjeyoun and Bint Jbeil. However, following the bombings and the Israeli decision to evacuate civilians from border villages and kibbutzim, hundreds of Lebanese families and Syrian refugees preferred to move to the more internal areas of the country. As a precaution, the Ministry of Education ordered the closure of schools bordering the bombed areas, which had been emptied of part of their population.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nagib Mikati, who received the army commander General Joseph Aoun, in turn met with the head of the UN military mission who assured him that "the government's priority is to maintain calm on the border".

The religious authorities have called for a "just and lasting" solution to the Palestinian problem, taking into account that the Maronite patriarch, whose voice is particularly respected, is participating in the synod of bishops in the Vatican. Finally, the creation of an emergency unit is planned to manage the situation but, contrary to what is said, at the moment there are no compromises or critical issues in the movement of passengers at Beirut international airport.
Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Asias sufferings but also its gifts echoed yesterday at the Synod Assembly in the Vatican through the words of Vanessa Cheng, a lay woman from Hong Kong and a member of the Focolare movement, and Fr Clarence Devadass, a priest from Malaysia, during the public session that opened the days dedicated to the examination of the second part of the Instrumentum Laboris.

Hong Kong society has been torn apart after two years of social unrest, the synodal process has helped the Church to restart. Walking together" bears the fruit of healing, said Vanessa Cheng, citing the continent-level report.

In her description of the synodal path in Asia, she cited the image of "taking off our shoes", which is deeply connected to the sense of the sacred that inhabits local communities.

Although Christians are but a "small flock": 6.5 per cent, with Catholics just above 3 per cent, they stand side by side with other great religions born in the continent, as well as all those who have no faith of their own and await the Good News. This is why listening rooted in respect is so central.

For Vanessa Cheng, we must also be aware that many Asian cultures do not favour outspokenness for a variety of reasons, such as the fear of making mistakes and losing face, of not being accepted by one's social circle, of being identified as problematic, disrespectful and challenging in front of all kinds of authority, and so on.

As a result, many faithful may tend to remain silent instead of voicing their own views and concerns. Therefore, we need to pay even more attention to those who are silent for some reason. It is very important that the experiences of joy and wounds and the issues raised in the Report should be taken seriously.

For his part, Fr Devadass notes, Some may see us as small and insignificant, but we consider ourselves as unique and valuable parts of not just the church but also building and transforming human society.

In many parts of Asia, the Church takes the lead in the service of integral human development and the common good, especially in the fields of education, healthcare, and reaching out to the poor and marginalised groups in society beyond the boundaries of our churches.

Dialogue is crucial. We share many experiences of fruitful engagement with other Christians, persons of other religions and traditions, including indigenous spiritualities, and with the society as a whole.

Some expressed reservations about these dialogues for various reasons, including mistrust and suspicion regarding the motives for such dialogues. Nevertheless, for unity in humanity, Churches in many parts of Asia play a pivotal role in building bridges for peace, harmony, reconciliation, and even justice and freedom.

Lastly, Fr Devadass brought to the attention of the Synod the experiences of basic ecclesial communities (BECs) present in many Churches in Asia.

Such groups bring about not only spiritual transformation but also social transformation. They have been the beacons of hope for gospel witnessing in society and have become a leaven of Christian life, care for the poor, and commit to transforming society through a lived gospel experience.

Ultimately, They are our visible signs of a synodal Church that is relevant and, at the same time, relational.
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Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the war's death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.

In the war's third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri  around 10% of its population  after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings.

The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel.

Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists  a massive mobilization in a short time.

The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday , pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.

We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014.

Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, already have been killed in Israel, according to media. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

In response to Israel's aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Attacks by both sides laid ruin to more homes Monday and added to the ranks of families in mourning.

In Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house. The blast shattered windows and set cars on fire.

In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp.

In the early evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods  a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded.

Also Monday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel.

An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries.

In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital.

The U.N. said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza  many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from.

Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed.

New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front.

Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border.

After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning.

He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers.

Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities.

Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel.

On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. (AP)
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LG Energy Solution to Provide EV Batteries to Toyota

LG will invest $3 billion in its Michigan facility to produce batteries for Toyota beginning in 2025.

Written by Autobody News Staff

Published Oct. 10, 2023

Under an agreement announced Oct. 4, LG Energy Solution will supply lithium-ion batteries to Toyota, to be used in its battery electric vehicles (BEVs) assembled in the U.S.

LG Energy Solution will supply battery modules at an annual capacity of 20GWh starting from 2025, to be manufactured in its Michigan facility.

The agreement will support Toyotas expanding line of BEVs, including a new model that will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in 2025, and its goal to offer 30 BEV models globally and produce up to 3.5 million BEVs annually by 2030.

At Toyota, our goal is to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible, as fast as possible, said Tetsuo Ted Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. Having secure supplies of lithium-ion batteries at scale with a long-term relationship to support Toyotas multi-pathway approach and growth plans for BEVs in North America is critical to achieve our manufacturing and carbon reduction plans. Working with LG Energy Solution, we are excited to be able to offer products that will provide the performance and quality our customers expect.

To fulfill the supply agreement, LG Energy Solution will invest $3 billion in its Michigan facility to build new production lines exclusively for Toyota, with completion slated for 2025. Initially, the battery modules will go to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky to be assembled into battery packs and equipped onto BEVs.

Were excited to have Toyota, the best-selling global automaker, as our new customer. With our 30 years of experience in lithium-ion batteries, we will provide innovative power solutions to support Toyotas push further into battery electric vehicles, said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. The agreement also presents another big opportunity for us to strengthen our production capacity in North America, thereby bringing more real-life, large-scale progress toward electrification in the region.

LG Energy Solution now supplies batteries to all top five global automakers, with eight battery manufacturing facilities currently operating or under construction in North America.
NC Man Sentenced for Stealing IDs to Buy $1M in Vehicles

Basilio Rafael Garcia used victims' Social Security cards and birth certificates to buy dirt bikes, SUVs and more from dealerships in North Carolina.

Written by Autobody News Staff

Published Oct. 10, 2023

Basilio Rafael Garcia, of Raleigh, NC, was sentenced Oct. 5 to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring with others to use the personal identifying information of Puerto Rico residents to finance more than $1 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in North Carolina.

Garcia pleaded guilty May 11 to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

Garcia traveled from Raleigh to Columbia, SC, and used the stolen identifying information of a Puerto Rico victim to apply for and obtain a South Carolina identification card. The supporting documents Garcia provided to the South Carolina DMV included a Social Security card and a purported Puerto Rican birth certificate in the victims name, as well as a counterfeit bank statement. Garcia successfully obtained the identification card with his photograph but the victims identifiers.

The following day, Garcia used the identification card and the victims personal information, including his Social Security number and credit report, to finance the purchase of Honda dirt bike from a dealership in Wake Forest, NC. Garcia used the same victims identity to fraudulently finance the purchase of multiple vehicles from dealerships in the Raleigh and Durham areas, including two Jeep Wranglers, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a BMW X5 and a Range Rover.

A search warrant was later executed at Garcias residence, during which officers recovered drivers licenses, birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards and vehicle titles in the names of other people. Raleigh-based law enforcement officers recovered some of the vehicles, working with counterparts in other states.

Two of Garcias co-conspirators in the case, Jarlin Javier Sanchez and Warlin Mateo-Tejeda, were previously sentenced to prison following their guilty pleas.

Michael Easley, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.

This defendant ran a scam to buy high-end luxury cars using other peoples credit. He was driven by greed and greed alone, said Easley. Identity theft like this can leave victims with ruined credit and dire financial straits. We are prosecuting the fraudsters and reminding consumers to protect themselves by securing personal identifying information and monitoring credit reports regularly for suspicious activity.

The U.S. Secret Service, based in Raleigh, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Chevrolet's full-size lineup put the company back on the map in the late '50s, propelling the GM brand to the leading spot in the United States after years of Ford domination.

The full-size strategy worked like a charm for Chevrolet , with models like Bel Air, Impala, and Biscayne targeting and eventually capturing a huge market share in the home market.All these models shared a common platform, most parts, and the engine lineup, eventually targeting different audiences. For example, Biscayne was the cheapest model in the full-size lineup, lacking the bells and whistles available on its more premium siblings.The Biscayne still built a solid customer base in the United States, so it remains a highly desirable classic today. Many people restore the Biscayne to factory specifications, but most projects transform the project into an Impala clone for obvious reasons.The 1962 Biscayne in these photos has a different goal in mind. It wants to be half-Chevrolet, half- Pontiac , as the powertrain has been tweaked for a Pontiac big-block unit.The Biscayne rolled off the assembly lines with the famous Blue Flame six-cylinder engine. It wasn't the best choice for a full-size car, but it did its job just right for someone who wasn't interested in performance. eBay seller barrluma says the Blue Flame has been modified specifically to make room for a big block donated by Pontiac, though no further specifics were shared. An automatic gearbox has also replaced the factory manual transmission.The car's condition is rough, to say the least. The body is rusty, and I'm certain the floors and the trunk pan exhibit a similar rough shape. The photos don't offer a thorough look under the carpets, but you can easily tell there's plenty of rust.The seller says the car has no wheels and tires, but the buyer will get all the glass and trim. The vehicle has been parked for 40 years, so it makes sense not to expect anything in tip-top shape. The interior is rough and comes without many parts, including the seats. The steering wheel also appears to be missing, though the dash doesn't seem cut.Finding a new owner for this rough Biscayne is an ambitious mission despite a very low starting price for the bidding. The owner hopes to get at least $500, as they haven't even configured a reserve. This means whoever sends a bid might take the car home unless someone submits a higher offer. The auction is scheduled to end in approximately four days.If you want to see this Biscayne in person, you can do it in Wister, Oklahoma. Considering its shape and the engine conversion, you'll need a trailer to take it home, as this Biscayne shouldn't by any means be considered road-worthy.
Rivian admitted during its Q3 earnings report that it loses around $33,000 per vehicle it sells. RJ Scaringe now wants to cut production costs by $40,000, which would give the company a $7,000 profit per unit. This report from the Wall Street Journal is not the only piece of evidence that discounting battery electric vehicle (BEV) prices would be suicidal for startups like Rivian. According to the New York Times, NIO also loses $35,000 for each car it sells. Traditional carmakers like Ford and Volkswagen are not different. Tesla claims to make a profit with BEVs. Even if it really does, cutting prices will kill the electrification shift.

BEV

Photo: Ford

Photo: General Motors

Photo: via Erlend Mrch

Just think about it: if the Americanmaker makes money selling electric cars, almost everybody else is wasting it while trying to figure out how to change that scenario. It may be the case that even Tesla is not pulling that out. As I wrote on July 20, the BEV maker's numbers make no sense. If it made $9,574.50 per car in Q3 2022, the discounts should have killed that profit because they were higher than that for most of its vehicles apart from the Model 3 ($8,500 until April). Yet, Tesla claims to have made $5,805.12 per car in Q2 2023.If that were not enough, the company cut the Model 3 and Model Y prices on October 6 by an average of $2,000. It did so shortly after failing to meet sales and production expectations  with prices that were already significantly reduced. After that cut, the Model 3 discounts are also higher than the profit per unit the Q3 2022 numbers allowed analysts to calculate. We'll have to wait until October 18 to discover how much profit Tesla will say it had per car. Remember that Tesla now has a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Vaibhav Taneja replaced Zach Kirkhorn in August. This will be the first earnings report after he took the helm.BYD also said it is making a profit, but it is the trustworthy exception that confirms the rule. The Chinese company disclosed that it tripled its earnings in H1 2023 compared to the same period one year ago, going from RMB3.6 billion ($493.7 million at the current exchange rate) to RMB10.95 billion ($1.5 billion). BYD makes its own batteries and has released several new products in the last few years. It also is aggressively expanding abroad. Everybody else is taking financial hits.If you lose money with every car you sell, you are paying to keep your doors open. The bad thing about budgets is that they are limited, including the largest ones. On top of that, executives have to justify their decisions to shareholders. If investors have to pay instead of being paid for their investments, these executives will soon get the pink slip. If the company is a startup, the money people will just leave. This will prevent more BEVs from being sold and break the electrification shift governments and activists urge the automotive world to take  even if it is responsible for less than 15% of carbon emissions.When Tesla lowers the price of its cars, it depreciates its own vehicles and also puts a strain on a competition that already had to admit it is losing cash with BEVs . Suppose they were not losing money, only breaking even. How could they offer discounts with no fat to burn?Only two hypotheses for Tesla's price cuts (barely) make any sense. The first is that it wants to ruin any company willing to sell electric cars, even if that makes a dent in its own profits. Why would anyone care to hurt its own investment capacity just to get rid of competitors, especially when you desperately need to expand your lineup? As Alfred P. Sloan once said, an automaker's goal is "to make money making cars." Why would you cut your capacity to earn more bucks per unit with discounts?The second is that Tesla simply has no alternative other than to lower prices to keep production and delivery levels higher than in the previous quarters. That can help it keep the stock prices high or even increase them. This is what Giga Grunheide employees told Stern that the company's priority is. The German magazine published a series of demolishing stories about the American BEV maker, some of which throw in the trash can the idea that it worries about the environment. Of the two hypotheses, it is the one that sounds less preposterous.On Tesla's blog, Elon Musk used to write that the company's mission was "to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy." He even said that his company would have fulfilled it even if it only pointed out the way to follow. I discussed how the company may be undermining this transition instead of helping the world get there in March 2022. At the time, I already mentioned this looked just like cheap talk, considering how Musk dealt with Tesla's competitors  particularly with BYD. More than a year later, that text is still up to date.If Tesla is reducing prices because it wants to kill its competitors, it is doing no favor to electric mobility. If it is doing that to keep share prices high, it is damaging its own customers and also hurting electric mobility as a whole.Please don't get me wrong: reducing prices when production costs drop is fantastic. It is what made smartphones, TVs, washing machines, and several other goods affordable to more people. Doing that when costs are still high is unsustainable. It will kill the companies that follow the same path, especially when they don't even claim to be making money like Tesla does. Amplifying losses to buy market share is something that cannot last for long. If the companies promoting the electrification shift die, who will carry the torch?
kWh

kW

Photo: Lamborghini

Thus, the GIMS (Geneva International Motor Show) Qatar is now underway, with its gates opening on October 5, and it will end on the 14th. One of the big names at the event is Lamborghini, which was keen to put the spotlight on its electrified future by showcasing the Revuelto and the Lanzador Concept to the local audience in the presence of chief Stephan Winkelmann."This new motor show in a significant region is the perfect opportunity to present these important Lamborghini models to Middle East audiences," Winkelmann commented. "We are delighted to be here today, in the year that Lamborghini celebrates its 60th anniversary and six decades of our rich brand heritage while providing visitors to GIMS Qatar a preview of our innovative future as we shape our path towards electrification."Replacing the Aventador and serving as the Sant'Agata Bolognese brand's new flagship supercar, the Lamborghini Revuelto was presented earlier this year. It manages to keep the tradition alive by retaining the naturally aspirated V12 recipe, albeit with electrification. Thus, the 6.5L unit is assisted by three electric motors, which are fed by a 3.8battery. The combined 1,001 hp (1,015 ps/747) enables the 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in 2.5 seconds and a 217 mph (350 kph) maximum speed.Those who want to place a deposit for a brand-new Revuelto are in for a long wait, as the supercar is sold out until the end of 2025. We still don't know how much it costs officially in the United States, but depending on whom you ask, you are looking at in excess of $600,000. The smaller Huracan is not available anymore as Lamborghini is gearing up its successor and is sold out through the end of its lifecycle. The replacement is scheduled to premiere next year and will also use electrified power.Previewing the brand's fourth model after the Revuelto, Huracan successor, and ultra-popular Urus, the Lamborghini Lanzador is described as a "high ground-clearance Ultra GT" with seating for four. It looks like an Urus from the future, though, unlike the production crossover, the show car uses two electric motors, with each one powering an axle. The total output is one megawatt, or 1,341 hp (1,360 ps), and the production version is believed to retain this power.Mind you, while it sounds like it would dominate the world of hyper EVs today, it will likely face stiffer competition by the time it launches, supposedly in 2028, according to the Italian automaker. The Lanzador was shown to the world at the Monterey Car Week a couple of months ago, breathing the same air as some iconic models from the brand's past and present, including the Miura, Countach, and the Huracan Sterrato jacked-up supercar.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started.

Netanyahu delivered the pronouncement in a nationally televised address as Israel pressed ahead with a third day of heavy airstrikes in Gaza following Hamas' unprecedented and deadly incursion into Israel.

We have only started striking Hamas, he said. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

Israel formally declared war on Sunday. The hostilities so far have killed around 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, according to authorities on each side.

At least 11 U.S. citizens have been confirmed dead in the surprise Hamas attacks, U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday.

Biden also said the U.S. government believes it is likely that Americans are among those currently being held hostage by Hamas militants, while other U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for after the deadly assault.

My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days, Biden said in a statement. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.

He stressed that the State Department is offering assistance for U.S. citizens who are currently in Israel, and air and ground options to leave the country are still available for those who choose to do so. He also said federal law enforcement officials are closely monitoring potential domestic threats stemming from the weekend attacks.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined a large crowd gathered for prayer at a London synagogue on Monday to underline his solidarity with Israel.

Addressing the congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London, Sunak condemned Hamas' bloody incursion into Israel on Saturday as evil.

There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel, he said. The United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always.

He also sought to assure Britains Jewish community that he will do everything to protect them amid concerns about the rise of antisemitism.

Thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters held vocal but peaceful gatherings Monday, at a historic French plaza and outside Israeli embassies in London and Athens, Greece.

Several thousand people rallied in Paris in support of Israel, marching to the Trocadero Plaza overlooking the Eiffel Tower. The monument was lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag, with a white Star of David in the middle, in a gesture of solidarity announced by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

In Athens, an estimated 250 people, mostly Palestinian expatriates and members of Greek left-wing groups, held a peaceful protest outside the Israeli embassy to show solidarity with Palestinians. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans, while a strong police contingent blocked off access to the embassy building.

In London, hundreds chanted Israel is a terrorist state and Free Palestine and some waved signs calling for Israel to end the occupation.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., supporters of Israel and of the Palestinians held competing rallies in several cities , including in New York, where rival protesters shouted at each other near U.N. headquarters amid a massive police presence.

The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas.

There will be no suspension of payments at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be immediately suspended.

No immediate explanation for the reversal was given. The reversal on a 691 million-euro ($730 million) program capped an embarrassing day at the EUs executive at a time of extreme geopolitical sensitivities.

The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said Monday that more than 680 people have been killed in Israels retaliatory strikes following an unprecedented Hamas attack.

The ministry said more than 3,700 people have been wounded.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the Saturday attack, striking hundreds of targets and leaving vast destruction.

The United Nations says intense diplomatic activity is taking place aimed at ensuring that regional and international leaders are on the same page in trying to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Monday that he and U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland are engaging with key parties in the region.

Guterres has spoken to Israels president and Jordans king and expects to talk to the Palestinian president, Israels prime minister, Egypts president and Lebanons prime minister, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Wennesland has been in touch with his counterparts from the United States, European Union, Qatar, Lebanon and others.

Israeli rescue service Zaka says more than 100 bodies have been recovered from a small farming community that was the scene of a hostage standoff during Hamas attack against Israel.

The figure is part of the total 900 reportedly killed in Hamas multi-pronged attack. Beeri, a kibbutz, had a population of about 1,000 people before the attack.

U.S. President Joe Biden plans to speak with several allies Monday regarding the situation in Israel, according to the White House.

Earlier Monday, Biden convened a meeting with top national security aides, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients.

During that meeting, Biden urged continued coordination with Israel and other regional partners, the White House said.

The White House has called a lid for the day, meaning the public wont lay eyes on the U.S. president until Tuesday.

Biden has spoken at least twice with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House says his top national security aides have been in regular contact with their counterparts in the region since the surprise Hamas attack on Saturday.

American oil giant Chevron Corp. said Monday that at Israels instruction it had stopped production at its offshore Tamar natural gas rig in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel.

In a statement announcing the action, the company declined to discuss any security issues and didn't say why Israel ordered it.

The Tamar field, which went online in 2013, is believed to hold more than 300 billion cubic meters of gas. Chevron and the Israeli-American company Isramco each own around a third of Tamar, with the remainder held by smaller firms.

There have been threats previously against Israels offshore oil rigs by militant groups in the region and Lebanon has disputed Israels maritime boundaries.

The ongoing fighting in Israel and the Gaza Strip has sparked a jump in crude oil prices, in part over a fear of a wider regional conflict breaking out. Israel and the Palestinian territories dont produce oil. Benchmark Brent crude traded up Monday to over $87 a barrel.

Lebanons Hezbollah group says only three of its members were killed along the border with Israel during an exchange of fire Monday.

Earlier Monday, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group had said that five members were killed during Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon.

Also Monday, the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said in a statement that it sent four gunmen across Lebanons border into Israel as part of the Hamas-led attack that started over the weekend. Israeli Defense Forces reported that its troops shot and killed several gunmen who crossed into the country from Lebanon.

The Lebanese military called on residents of border towns to take the utmost precautions. Families in several towns in southern Lebanon started fleeing north as the Israeli shelling continued.

The top Palestinian diplomat in the U.K. says Israel is committing a war crime by cutting off water and electricity supplies to Gaza.

Husam Zomlot told a gathering of Palestinian supporters at the Labour Partys annual conference that Palestinians need justice, not revenge.

And what Israel is doing now is revenge, sheer vengeance.

The left-of-center Labour Party has been riven in recent years by allegations that antisemitism was allowed to spread under previous leader Jeremy Corbyn, a strong advocate of the Palestinian cause.

Labours leadership has strongly condemned Hamas weekend attacks, and conference delegates held a minutes silence for the victims at the conference on Monday.

The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has warned that it will kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel's military bombs civilian targets in the Gaza Strip without warning.

Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said in an audio released Monday night that the threat was a response to intense air strikes by Israel on civilian areas.

We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding, he said.

In a video statement Monday, Israels foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza. Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home in the spirit of mutual responsibility.

We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. This war crime will not be forgiven, he added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held back-to-back telephone calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to Erdogans press office.

Erdogan and Abbas discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. President Erdogan stated that Turkey is making every effort to end the conflicts in the region and ensure calm as soon as possible a statement from his press office said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he and French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the situation in Israel with U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak late Monday.

Scholz, who was hosting Macron at a joint German-French Cabinet retreat in Hamburg, called Hamas attack on Israel barbaric. But he added that Germany, France, the U.S. and the U.K. agree that there must not be a conflagration in the region, and no one should further fuel terror in this situation.

Macron pledged his "full support and solidarity for Israel."

The secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, an international aid organization, warns that the Israeli government's vow to besiege and blockade the Gaza Strip would spell utter disaster for the more than 2 million Palestinians living in the small territory.

Jan Egelands comments came after Israels defense minister ordered a complete siege on Gaza after an unprecedented incursion by Hamas fighters into Israel early Saturday. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and has since retaliated against Hamas for the attack.

If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of a lack of energy, electricity, and supplies, it could amount to war crimes, Egeland told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Egeland also slammed donor countries for halting humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

French police have arrested 10 people in connection with antisemitic acts that were reported since the latest fighting between Israel and Hamas militants began.

The 20 reported incidents included threats to synagogues or people frequenting Jewish stores, the interior minister said Monday.

Prosecutors have also opened 44 investigations into antisemitic hate speech online or posts glorifying terrorism in connection with the violence, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanins office.

While France sees sporadic acts targeting Jews or Muslims, Darmanin said the number of antisemitic incidents since Saturday was dramatic.

France has the worlds largest Jewish population after Israel and the U.S.

The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, says it is near maximum capacity in accommodating internally displaced people in Gaza.

The agencys director of external communications, Tamara Alrifai, said Monday that nearly 137,000 people have sheltered so far in over 70 U.N. schools around Gaza. Alrifai said the agency can host up to 150,000 people at up to 79 schools around the territory.

She added there is fuel in Gaza that could last for up to 10 days.

Arab foreign ministers plan to convene Wednesday in Cairo for a meeting on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.

Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The meeting was called by the Palestinians.

Major U.S. airlines have suspended flights to Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas.

American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for the region, citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest.

EgyptAir, Egypts national carrier, suspended its flights to Israel until further notice, Cairo airport officials said. EgyptAir normally operates a daily flight between Cairo International Airport and Ben Gurion International Airport, just outside Tel Aviv.

Germanys Lufthansa and its subsidiaries also suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday as fighting between Israel and Hamas continued.

An open-air electronic music festival will go down in Israeli history as the site of the country's worst civilian massacre after paramedics recovered at least 260 bodies from a field near the border with Gaza.

The Tribe of Nova festival brought together thousands of young people to dance and revel in the swirl of bass-heavy beats. Dozens of Hamas militants who had blown through Israels heavily fortified separation fence and crossed into the country from Gaza opened fire on the Israelis.

We were hiding and running, hiding and running, in an open field, the worst place you could possibly be in that situation, said Arik Nani from Tel Aviv, who had gone to the party to celebrate his 26th birthday. For a country where everyone in these circles knows everyone, this is a trauma like I could never imagine.

Egypt has engaged in negotiations with Israel and Palestinian militant groups to release Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by Hamas militants, the state-owned Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported Monday.

The daily paper quoted an unidentified source as saying that the negotiations were aimed at finalizing an agreement on the trade.

Palestinian militant groups have claimed to be holding over 130 people who were captured in Israel in the past two days. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press by phone that the groups fighters had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities would cut electricity to Gaza and block the entry of food and fuel there as part of a complete siege he ordered.

The announcement on Monday came as Israels military scoured the countrys south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks, while it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air.

Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.

The leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on Monday discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed on the importance of  advancing diplomatic efforts that aim to deescalate violence, protect civilians, spare blood, a statement from the Egyptian president's office said. Such efforts should include establishing a comprehensive, just and permanent peace, it added.

Egypt was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in the 1970s, and shares borders with both Gaza and Israel. The UAE normalized ties with Tel Aviv as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. (AP)
Just because a company is turning a profit doesn't mean that it couldn't do better. Luxury Dutch shipyard Damen Yachting could do better  and it should be doing better, were it not for sanctions against Russian oligarchs.

Photo: Damen Yachting

No compensation for damage

Photo: Damen Yachting

Money has no allegiance

Photo: Damen Yachting

File this under "here's yet another surprising outcome of sanctions" and a new page in the twisted saga they paved the way for.Damen Yachting, the biggest shipyard in the Netherlands and the go-to specialist when it comes to shadow vessels , military ships, custom superyachts, or dredgers, is suing the local government over the 2022 sanctions against Russian oligarchs, claiming loss of profit.Shortly after Russian troops invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, EU country members, the U.S., and the UK, among others, decided to instate sanctions against Russian oligarchs in the hope that cutting off the cash flow into Russia would convince Putin to cut the war short. This led to a wave of seizures of luxury assets, including superyachts, private jets, auto fleets, and real estate, many of which remain in a state of limbo as we speak.In the European Union, sanctions also meant that shipyards working with any Russian citizen could no longer continue doing so, regardless of whether the citizen was on a sanctions list or not. Indirectly, sanctions impacted local businesses, and no form of compensation was offered. That's one aspect that Damen Yachting is taking issue with, as sanctions meant severing contracts, shutting down Russian branches and cutting off partners, and calling off deliveries of completed projects.Damen Yachting is perhaps one of the best-known names in the luxury sector. Under the Amels brand, it's delivered an impressive list of custom superyachts  Here Comes the Sun is just one of those, the proverbial jewel in the crown. Under the SeaXplorer and the Yacht Support brands, it's responsible for truly iconic builds, including the Dapple shadow vessel and the more recent Pink Shadow and Abeona, the latter being the support vessel for Jeff Bezos' (in)famous Koru, the world's largest sailing yacht.Despite the extensive Damen portfolio, the name is synonymous with multi-millionaire toys , specifically shadow vessels that toe the fine line between custom superyachts (of the most luxurious kind), competent explorers, and floating garages that can fulfill a gazillion other functions at the same time, including that of a state-of-the-art hospital or laboratory.As it so happens  and as the world got to find out with the overly enthusiastic wave of seizures that followed the publication of the first list of sanctions  most of these multi-millionaires are Russian oligarchs by birth, if not necessarily by association with Putin. Since the Netherlands decided Damen couldn't do business with them regardless of whether they were sanctioned or not, business was cut short.Arguably worst of all, Damen says in court filings obtained by one media outlet , is that the government didn't offer any compensation for the damage, unlike it did in the aftermath of the 2020 international health crisis with businesses affected by the shutdown, i.e., a force outside their control.The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages over loss of profit but doesn't mention an estimate of how much of it Damen believes it lost. In a statement, the shipyard notes that they have every intention of abiding by the sanctions but that the same sanctions rendered them "unable to deliver a number of orders [,] the consequences of the sanctions are fully classified as entrepreneurial risk by the government and that there is no form of compensation."While word of the lawsuit broke earlier this month, the filing itself is not recent: Damen filed the court papers in May this year. Even so, the earliest possible hearing date is for next year, so it doesn't look like the sanctions saga is anywhere near its final chapter.Other than the aforementioned statement, the shipyard has refrained from further commenting on the proceedings. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to offer a comment on the record, but "sources" are already whispering about how the lawsuit paints Damen in a very unfavorable light  the money-grabbing kind.According to one such insider , the lawsuit shows that "the true north on Damens moral compass always seems to point at the owners wallet." As they say, money has no allegiance and no loyalty, and this is proof.The court filings mention no amount for the lost profit, but just to be clear, we're talking about a fortune . Shipbuilding is a very lucrative business in the Netherlands, and sanctions put a serious damper on it indirectly by barring the business community from dealing with any Russian citizen.Figures released by the Chamber of Commerce for 2020 offer a hint of how much cash shipbuilding brings in: Damen, Feadship, Oceanco, and Heesen had combined sales of more than 1.5 billion ($1.6 million) that year. Even with sanctions, Damen Yachting was able to produce 2.5 billion ($2.64 billion) worth of ships in 2022.
It's not often that the automotive and space travel industries intersect in a way that people from both sides of the aisle can appreciate. The old NASA Astrovans immediately pop into mind, but is there anything else out there? Well, as it turns out, there is! Although it's probably not from a place you'd expect. Just take a look at this 1969 Ford Galaxie XL coupe with the 429 cubic-inch V8. At the same time Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were galavanting around the Lunar Sea of Tranquility, this Galaxie was purported to be a support vehicle at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia.

In its day, the fourth-generation Ford Galaxie was something like the era's equivalent to the Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-Series . A large, comfortable, family-oriented runabout that was just as suited to dropping the kids off at school every morning as it was bringing that same family on a cross-country road trip that summer. With a plethora of straight-six and V8 engines ranging in size from 240 cubic inches (3.9 L) up to a colossal 460 cubic inches (7.5 L), the Galaxie was the archetypal large American family car of the day.With its striking white paint with a black hood flanked by an amber warning light on the vehicle's roof, the outward appearance of this Galaxie sure screams "government vehicle," as do the white-painted steel wheels. But it's only when one peeps the NASA-certified inspection sticker for the Langley Research Center that you get an idea of the kind of life this Galaxie once led decades ago. It's tough to say what kind of work this car found itself involved in all those years ago. Since the original Craigslist advertisement for the vehicle is now deleted, that won't lend us any clues either. But a series of photos posted to Reddit's r/NASA forum , presumably by the current owner, seem to yield more fruitful results.Testimonies in the comments sections from genuine NASA employees indicate there was indeed research being conducted by Langley on the physics of hydroplaning during the time this Galaxie was at the base. It's because of the research done at Langley as well as elsewhere that all modern automobiles sold in the U.S. Domestic Market come equipped with anti-lock braking systems that prevent spinouts in heavily wet road conditions. It'd be easy to assume this old Ford land barge was utilized either directly or indirectly in this line of work.Whatever the case, it's hard not to be star-struck by any NASA vehicle that operated at the same time as the Apollo program. Safe to say, whoever owns the car nowadays has some stories to tell every time they have new company over. Hopefully, they're just as into classic cars and space travel as we are.
While compact crossovers, full-size trucks, and large CUVs dominate the US market, mid-size high-riders aren't far behind the third place, and they might soon overtake the subcompact CUVs and mid-size cars.

SUV

As such, it is no wonder that every automaker is heavily involved with the segment. Models like the Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Atlas, Honda Pilot and Passport, Kia Telluride, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento, Subaru Ascent, Dodge Durango, Mazda CX-90, Hyundai Palisade and Santa Fe, Buick Enclave, or the Nissan Pathfinder all feature a host of advantages in their fight to persuade as many customers as possible.Notice, though, how we should have mentioned even one Toyota model? Well, it would be hard to choose from their lot, actually, as they feature a quartet of cool options: Venza, 4Runner, Highlander, and Grand Highlander. The first one is the rebadged sibling of the Japanese market XA80 Harrier and is only offered with five seats but compensates with affordable pricing  it kicks off at just $34,920 with hybrid power.The second nameplate needs no introduction as the long-lasting 4Runner is Toyota's classic-looking mid-size off-roadfighting the likes of Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. As for the Highlanders, this year, the first-ever, all-new 2024 Grand Highlander took the spotlight with its bigger wheelbase and additional space for up to eight people onboard. So, perhaps now it's time for the smaller Highlander to take charge and try its best to become the best mid-size crossover SUV in America.However, in order for that to happen, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators thinks Toyota needs a couple of CGI hints or so. Thus, the good folks over at the Q Cars channel on YouTube now aim to daze and amaze the audience with the potential styling of their vision for the redesigned 2025 Toyota Highlander CUV. By the way, don't mind their commentary when they refer to the 'Grand Highlander.'I wonder if the host's narration is also done with AI software tools, just like their designs  they're entirely missing the point when speaking about the 2024 Grand Highlander as a 2025MY and showcasing what is clearly their interpretation of a small-wheelbase 2025 Highlander CUV , as stated in the video feature's title.Anyway, let us focus on the visuals for a change  if the commentary is too annoying, you can mute it, just like we did when it became a little exhausting, to try and make up the logic behind it. Just like with other unofficial projects, the resident pixel master has not one but two variants for the hypothetical 2025 Toyota Highlander  one is closer to the current model's styling both at the front and rear, while the second takes more considerable design liberties, especially at the back of the crossover SUV. So, which is your favorite?
kW

EV

The decision hasn't been officially confirmed, but according to Autocar, the last copy of the VW Up! recently rolled off the line at the company's facility in Bratislava, Slovakia. A quick look on certain official European websites reveals that the model is still on sale, though it likely refers to the units that can still be found in dealer lots.When it first launched in the United Kingdom back in 2011, it used to kick off from just under 8,000 (equal to $9,765 today), and that price went up to over 15,000 ($18,310) this year. In Germany, it is listed from 14,555 ($15,356), and it is significantly more expensive in other European countries like Italy and France. There, it starts at 17,750 ($18,727) and 19,400 ($20,468), respectively.The decision to phase off the Up! came a few months after Volkswagen retired the Up! GTI for good. The tiny hot hatch, which has a 113 hp (115 ps/85) and 148 lb-ft (200 Nm) of torque 1.0-liter three-pot, was retired at the beginning of the year. It was initially believed that it was only temporary, but as it turns out, the Up! GTI won't make a comeback, not as we all knew it, anyway.Introduced in 2011, the Volkswagen Up! was the brand's smallest production vehicle. The A-segment hatchback succeeded the Fox, which replaced the Lupo in turn and was offered with different gasoline powertrains and a CNG (compressed natural gas) alternative, joined by a battery-electric variant. It had a front-engine and front-wheel drive layout, and customers were able to choose between two body styles at one point: a three-door and a five-door hatchback.The VW Group's NSF construction wasn't exclusive to this model, as it also gave birth to rebadged city cars made by Skoda and SEAT. We're talking about the Citigo and Mii, respectively, which were also killed for good. The Skoda Citigo left production in 2020, followed one year later by the SEAT Mii.As you can probably guess, the Volkswagen Up! won't make a comeback for the next generation, as it has been reported that its successor could be electric. Allegedly christened the VW ID.1, it might be some four years away from being introduced, and it should be the automaker's most affordable electric vehicle.In the meantime, the brand's small car role goes to the bigger Polo. The supermini remains on sale in Europe for now, and it has been reported that it might be dropped for good in the coming years due to the Euro 7 emission regulations, with its successor also being an, supposedly dubbed the ID.2.
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10 October 2023 22:35 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

During the 30 years of occupation of Azerbaijani lands, Armenian forces destroyed towns, villages, and all infrastructure attached to them. People of all ages were brutally killed without a drop of remorse. Over one million people were left without homes, lost relatives, friends, and families, and more than 4000 thousand went missing. Finally 30 years later, after the return of the occupied lands from the Armenians, Azerbaijan started another mission to find the truth of Armenian crimes that are hidden under the ground.

To date, the Armenians, clenching their teeth and biting sticks, do not want to give the coordinates of mass graves of civilians and soldiers killed by them during the first Garabagh war like they did with mine maps. The occupied territories were all sown with anti-infantry and anti-tank mines, which today makes it difficult to search for mass graves and remains of people killed by Armenian forces.

During the first Garabagh war, a total of 3,890 citizens went missing as a result of the Armenian occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan. There is irrefutable evidence that totally 872 missing persons were captured or remained in the previously occupied territories.

The above facts prove that Armenians committed a crime against Azerbaijan by ill-treating prisoners during the war and in non-war times. It should be noted that Armenia also tried to mislead the Azerbaijani side by providing mine maps.

According to expert Parviz Heydarov, who commented to AZERNEWS, during the period when the Armenian side occupied the territories of Azerbaijan and in the period after 30 years, a series of crimes against humanity were revealed one after another, and it will take many years to uncover more Armenian cruelty and merciless crimes.

"Now we know that the appropriate conditions for the conclusion of a peace agreement are indicated, especially since the Azerbaijani side in this matter suggests that Armenia puts the issue on the negotiating table once and for all. It seems inevitable, but even after the conclusion of the peace agreement, I am not sure that the Armenian side, whether in the matter of the exact provision of maps and afterward, will provide Azerbaijan with information about the atrocities committed by them, in mass graves, graves as well as maps with minefields. I'm not sure about that." Heydarov said.

10,815 biological samples were taken from 3,407 family members of the 3,890 people who went missing in the First Garabagh War. At least 98 corpses were found in Aghdam, Shusha, Goygol, Tartar, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrail, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts during large-scale construction works covering all districts of the liberated territory. Complex investigations are being carried out on the remains.

According to political analyst Samir Humbatov, during and after the first Garabagh war, some 3,890 Azerbaijani soldiers went missing and there is no thorough information about them. "Some of them have been found, but the remains of some others have been destroyed and there is no precise information about others," Humbatov said.

Touching on the issue of finding graves, the political analyst said that Armenia avoids giving any points about the locations of the mass graves.

"Armenia has committed grave offenses against Azerbaijanis and we can say that there are very few countries in the world that react to the fact that such large-scale decisions are made to search for the missing persons. And Armenia has given us locations that are not true in reality, they are trying to manipulate it. But the fact remains that Armenia refuses to give Azerbaijan accurate data so that mines planted there are not found, and Azerbaijanis falling in the mines died in those areas for almost three years since the search for missing persons was carried out. This shows that Armenia is violating the principles of international law." the analyst added.

In conclusion, the expert added that it is pointless to expect any help from foreign organizations, as well as from representatives of foreign countries in the consideration of crimes committed by the Armenian side against Azerbaijan, as they consider these crimes as income.

According to the latest data, at least 107 remains were found in Dashalti village of Shusha district, 12 in Farrukh village of Khojaly district, 27 in Edilli village of Khojavand district, 9 in Yukhari Seyid Ahmedli village of Fuzuli district and 31 in Shusha city prison, at least 98 corpses have been found in Aghdam, Shusha, Goygol, Tartar, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrail, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts in the course of large-scale construction works covering all districts of the liberated territory. Complex investigations are being conducted on the remains.

During the recent excavations of mass graves, among them was the National Hero of Azerbaijan Riad Ahmadov, at First Garabagh war, he was wounded in a battle with the intelligence group he led in the village of Dashalti and went missing on 26 January 1992.

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10 October 2023 12:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan joined the Russian-Chinese joint project on the construction of the International Scientific Lunar Station (ILRS), Azernews reports.

It is worth noting that at the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC-2023) held in Baku from October 2 to 6, the space agencies of China and Azerbaijan signed a cooperation agreement on the MNLS project. Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation on the implementation of the program, which includes the installation of scientific devices, provision of personnel training, and conducting of scientific and technological experiments.

To date, in addition to Azerbaijan, Pakistan, UAE, CAR, Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and Switzerland's Nano-SPACE company have also joined the program.

According to the received information, the main model of the lunar station will be completed by 2028 and will be used for the study of the lunar surface and testing of the main systems and equipment of the mission. The station is planned to be further upgraded until 2040 when scientists make new discoveries about the nature of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Possible improvements include the creation of a constellation of man-made satellites for future manned lunar landings and deep space exploration missions.

The economy related to space is a huge and promising industry. Many say that it is not the economy of today, but tomorrow, because currently space is a big void for us and we cannot reap the benefits of space comprehensively. However, developing technology makes this industry available to us gradually. Actually, despite the cosmos not being well investigated and explored in comparison to other spheres, day by day its new sub-branches emerge. It is obvious that the more we explore the cosmos, the more new specialties and branches will emerge in the economy and science that will broaden the horizon before humankind.

Besides, due to the potential of the industry, countries are competing with each other to become one of the space-industry-owning countries. However, despite the big potential of the industry, currently, satellite-related businesses are the main profitable sector in the industry and Azerbaijan is one of these countries. It is worth noting that Azerbaijan has been the first country to own the space industry in the region since 2010. However, the history of the space industry traces back to that date. During the Soviet Union, several companies in Azerbaijan manufactured types of equipment for space projects.

In addition, Azerbaijan is going to launch Azersky 2 into orbit next year. Surely, Azerbaijan will not limit its space industry capacity to three or four satellites but will develop and increase it further, because it enables Azerbaijan which suffers from Dutch Diseases to diversify its exports. Today, Azerbaijan exports only services, but if the country can revive its previous space industry, more precisely equipment production, the volume of its exports will increase as well. Moreover, more job places for high-tech engineers will be created. In a nutshell, Azerbaijan's joining the such a huge project can contribute to the creation of great opportunities, both today and in the distant future.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
10 October 2023 11:15 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum invites art lovers to enjoy a unique exhibition themed "The Beauty of Patterns Motifs" on October 12-18.

Over 40 exhibits from the ethnographic collection of the Kazakhstan Central State Museum will be on display as part of the project, Azernews reports.

The exhibition is organized within the 2nd Meeting of Museums of the Turkic World on the theme "Carpet as a Symbol of the Turkic World". Pile- and flat-woven carpets, carpet and felt products, samples of clothing and jewellery, weaving tools, household items, decorations for horses and other things that reflect the rich culture and worldview of the Kazakh people, the unique traditions formed by the nomadic way of life for millennia will be demonstrated.

A special place at the exhibition will be occupied by small-sized kilem, traditional Kazakh carpets and carpet products of high artistic and historical value, distinguished by texture, beauty and richness of ornaments.

The exhibits reflecting the uniqueness of Kazakh culture, aesthetically pleasing and giving special harmony to the interior will be organized in the same way as in the alachig. In this way, the exhibition visitors will experience the special atmosphere inside the traditional Kazakh tent.

The exhibition is co-organized by Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, Kazakhstan Ministry of Culture and Information, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the Kazakhstan Central State Museum with the support by the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

The museum, initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, is beautiful inside and out. The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet.

Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution in popularization and promotion of the Azerbaijani Carpet Weaving Art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with beautiful pile carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

Moreover, the Carpet Museum won Travelers' Choice Awards for the fourth time in a row last year.

The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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10 October 2023 16:46 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Historical and cultural monuments are a vital part of humanity's shared heritage. They offer a glimpse into the past, which makes their protection of utmost importance.

From the centuries-old sites to majestic palaces, Azerbaijan boasts an array of impressive monuments. The country has countless historical and cultural sites, making it a sought-after destination.

An international conference themed "Viable and sustainable heritage cities" in Baku highlighted the importance of this as an excellent reminder of the significance of cultural and historical landmarks.

Azerbaijan Deputy Culture Minister addressed the conference, co-organized by the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

In her speech, Saadat Yusifova touched upon the historical and cultural sites on Azerbaijan's territories from occupation.

"Despite the fact that three years have passed since the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation. However, the monitoring of monuments in those territories has not yet been completed," said Saadat Yusifova.

"Although three years have passed since the cessation of the occupation factor, the monitoring is still underway. The reason is the massive mining of these territories by Armenia. It will take many years and substantial financial resources to clear these areas of mines," she added.

Deputy Culture Minister underlined that there are 705 historical and cultural registered monuments and many immovable objects of historical and archaeological importance without state registration.

She pointed out that monitoring of the liberated territories showed that 95 percent of more than 2,600 samples of cultural heritage were destroyed, vandalized, or appropriated.

After the Second Garabagh War, Azerbaijan Culture Ministry has launched preliminary monitoring of cultural property in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. Results of the initial monitoring were officially submitted to UNESCO.

The monitoring report has also included photos of the destruction of all Azerbaijani religious and cultural monuments as well as the desecration of local mosques in the territories once occupied by Armenia.

During the plenary session moderated by head of the Icherisheher International Relations and Protocol Department Elsever Mammadov provided insight into the works and future plans related to the protection of historical heritage in Icherisheher. He noted that the historical monuments of each nation are considered an integral part of the world cultural heritage.

Other speakers at the session, Vice-President of the International Council on Monuments and Historic Sites Riin Alatalu, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Tourism Agency's Reserves Management Center Sadagat Davudova, Executive Director of the Shusha City State Reserve Tural Novruzov, Director General of Lahore Historical Fort City in Pakistan Kamran Lashari and Executive Director of the Network of European Museum Organizations (NEMO) Julia Pagel gave information about the historical monuments. They highlighted the works carried out in the direction of protecting the monuments. Photos showing the previous and subsequent periods of the monuments were displayed.

The speakers pointed out that the protection of historical and cultural heritage is one of the important issues for our society. In this field, a number of measures are being implemented worldwide.

It was brought to attention that the climate changes that have occurred in recent years have had an impact on the cultural heritage. There are many analytical techniques for the protection and sustainability of cultural heritage.

The value of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage and its initiatives were also discussed in the session. It was noted that Shusha city is known as Azerbaijani cultural capital, a homeland of many outstanding cultural and art figures.

In the session, it was also noted that museums play an important role in the processes of modernization of cultural life.

The speakers emphasized that all the opportunities should be mobilized in order for the relics of our history preserved in the museums to create comprehensive knowledge and outlook in the young generation.

Furthermore, the Baku Declaration on the establishment of the Turkic Monuments Managers Network of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has been signed.

The declaration was signed between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The document is an instrumental tool for ensuring the protection of the historical and cultural monuments.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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10 October 2023 11:36 (UTC+04:00)

"We are closely following what is happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The UN Security Council session can be convened if there is an appeal from any party," Ambassador Sergio Franca Danese, Brazil's Permanent Representative to the UN, who chaired the UN Security Council in October, said this at a press conference, Azernews reports.

Stating that he was aware of the report of the UN mission that visited Garabagh, the ambassador said he was closely following what was happening in the South Caucasus.

"As you know, the UN Security Council can hold a meeting if one of the permanent representatives of both countries at the UN applies. We have not yet received a request from any country. If there is a request from any side, we will call a meeting."

---

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Chinese FM immediately activates emergency consular protection mechanism as Israeli-Palestinian situation deteriorates

10:33, October 10, 2023 By Zhang Yuying ( Global Times

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Given the unprecedented scale of the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that it has immediately activated the emergency consular protection mechanism, coordinating and engaging in work on protecting Chinese nationals and institutions in Palestine and Israel.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks during a routine press conference on Monday, when asked whether the Chinese Foreign Ministry had any information on how Chinese people in the region were affected, and what help the ministry would provide them.

Mao reminded Chinese nationals not to travel to Palestine or Israel and ask those already there to follow closely the security situation on the ground, take extra precaution, and avoid going outdoors. "In case of emergencies, we urge them to contact the Chinese Embassy in Israel and the Office to Palestine for help," Mao said.

"I have experienced five air defense warnings, with four on Saturday and one today," a Chinese surnamed Chen, who is in Israel's Tel Aviv, told the Global Times on Monday, noting that it was terrifying to wake up to the sound of bombs.

Chen said that due to the conflict, many flights were delayed or canceled, and there were significantly fewer people at airports compared to usual. However, Chen noted that the current life is still relatively stable, with sufficient supplies and stable prices, and there have been no large-scale incidents of panic buying or hoarding.

"Today, I basically worked from home, and some of my colleagues were called up," Chen said. "Overall, life is tense but orderly, while the locals may have become accustomed to it."

Lin, another Chinese who is currently living in Nahariya, the northernmost coastal city in Israel, told the Global Times on Monday that there have been no rocket attacks in the northern part of Israel, unlike in the southern part. "However, all schools are closed, and many people are not working. The streets are deserted with very few people," Lin said.

According to the Israel China Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, three Chinese were injured in attacks and were receiving medical treatment, with another four reportedly missing.

Additionally, the Chinese Embassy in Israel issued an emergency security alert on Saturday reminding Chinese nationals in the country to pay close attention to the local security situation and evacuate to bomb shelters as soon as they heard air defense warnings. Also on Saturday, the Office of China in the State of Palestine issued another safety alert to maintain contact with local Chinese nationals and to ensure their safety.

According to media reports on Monday, Israel's defense minister has ordered a "full siege" on the Gaza Strip, adding that a total blockade in the city means that no electricity, food or fuel will be able to enter the region.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
President Joe Biden was interviewed as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents by Special Counsel Robert Hur, the White House counsel's office said on Monday.

The Democratic president's interview was voluntary and conducted over two days, concluding on Monday, said Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel's office.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in January named Hur as special counsel to look into the improper storage of classified documents at Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, home and at a Washington think tank office set up for Biden after his 2009-2017 vice presidency.

Such special counsels are appointed to handle sensitive cases - usually involving political figures or allegations of serious wrongdoing by the government - and have more independence than is usually afforded to federal investigators to decide whether to bring charges.

Hur's interviews with Biden suggest the investigation, which has proceeded quietly, may have advanced to its final stages. Biden has said he was surprised by the discovery of classified materials and expected it would eventually be deemed inconsequential. His team said they have cooperated with the investigation.

"As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation," Sams said in a statement.

The White House declined to comment further, referring questions to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A wider-ranging inquiry into handling of classified documents has been directed at Biden's main Republican potential rival for the 2024 elections, Republican former President Donald Trump.

Trump was criminally indicted in that case, one of several legal cases against the former president, with the federal documents case in Miami set to go to trial in May. Trump has denied wrongdoing. (Reuters)
10 October 2023 10:25 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continues, Azernews reports.

Another group of former IDPs consisting of 21 families or 88 people left the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in Garadagh, for Fuzuli on October 10.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Fuzuli, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 165 families - 602 people.

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10 October 2023 12:47 (UTC+04:00)

After thirty years, we are returning to our hometown. Our joy knows no bounds. Fuzuli resident Zarnigar Aliyeva said this during the ceremony of leaving the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district on 10 October in an interview with local media outlets, Azernews presents the interviews.

Noting that she is very happy to return to her native Fuzuli, Z.Aliyeva said that her family died and she is a bit sad about it.

"May God protect our state, our army, and have mercy on all our martyrs. May God prevent our nation from going through difficult days again," the Fuzuli resident said.

Zarnigar Aliyeva also expressed her wish to start a new life in her native country.

"The rebuilding of houses in our neighborhood is another feeling. I have always waited and believed in the day when we will return to our ancestral home."

Raifa Gasimova, a resident of Fuzuli district, said such words in an interview with local media outlets.

Expressing satisfaction with the realization of this conviction, R.Gasimova said that she is a primary school teacher. The resident of Fuzuli said that Azerbaijan land, for the sake of which the lives were given and the blood of our martyrs was mixed up, now breathes freely and embraces its native inhabitants.

"We, the people of Fuzuli, have always relied on our state, on our President, on the Commander-in-Chief General and we continue to rely on him. We knew that we would eventually achieve what we wanted, and our territorial integrity would be restored. Fortunately, those days have come. May God have mercy on our martyrs," said a Fuzuli resident.

"I left Fuzuli with my father when I was two years old and now I am returning to my homeland without my father."

Salmanova Shabnam, a resident of Fuzuli, said this in an interview with the local media

According to her, she is now feeling great joy about returning to Fuzuli.

"Long live our president and our army. Conditions have already been created in Fuzuli, we are highly motivated to return there," she said.

I vowed to give a kiss to my native Fuzuli land as soon as I reached it.

Sara Salmanova, a resident of Fuzuli, said it in an interview with local media outlets.

According to her, she did not sleep last night from the joy of returning to Fuzuli.

"God bless the health of our Commander-in-chief General, our veterans, and may the souls of our martyrs be happy for giving us this joy," she said.

"I am returning to the land I have longed for for 30 years"

This was reported by Fuzuli resident Abbasov Rashid in an interview with local media outlets.

According to him, he is very happy to return to his homeland.

"I myself participated in the First Garabagh war for 5 years. My grandson is also a Garabagh shehid. God grant health to our President and have mercy on our martyrs. May the souls of our martyrs be happy for giving us such a day. As soon as I reach Fuzuli, I will kiss this land," a resident said.

I wish all our displaced people to return to their homeland - Fuzuli resident

I wish all our citizens, who were forced to leave their homes for many years, to return to their homeland.

This was reported by Fizuli resident Khanalieva Gamar in an interview with local media outlets.

According to her, to return to the homeland after 30 years is a wonderful feeling. There can't be a better feeling.

"I am returning to Fuzuli with my sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. "I am honored to live in my native land," she said.

"Under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Azerbaijan, we were happy to return to our country."

This was reported by Vagif Veliyev, a resident of Fuzuli in an interview with local media outlets.

According to him, Azerbaijan regained its lands at the cost of the lives of our martyrs.

"God bless our President and our veterans, and have mercy on all our martyrs."

"We could never believe that our lands and homeland would be liberated from the Armenian Dashnaks. We are very happy to return to our native land," he said.

"Under the leadership of our President, thanks to our martyrs and veterans today the residents of Fuzuli are returning to their homeland."

Fuzuli resident Shamilov Elchin said in an interview with local media outlets.

"May God have mercy on all our martyrs, and give health to our President and our veterans. Fortunately, all conditions have been created there. I am now sending my son to Fuzuli. My son left there when he was 5 years old. Now he is returning to his homeland with his family. I am waiting for my turn to return," resident said.

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10 October 2023 14:11 (UTC+04:00)

For the purpose of the military-patriotic upbringing of young people, instilling a sense of devotion to statehood, the delegation of the National Defense University met with students of the Azerbaijan Technical University, Azernews reports.

First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Shehids (Martyrs), who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the Motherland, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

The meeting, which was also attended by the teaching staff of Azerbaijan Technical University, discussed the measures being taken in Azerbaijan in various fields in the direction of upbringing the younger generation in the spirit of commitment to national roots, spiritual values, historical traditions, love for the Motherland, and devotion to statehood.

It was noted that one of the important factors of victory in the Patriotic War, as well as in other successful operations, is effective work on instilling patriotic spirit in youth.

Cooperation in the field of science and education was also discussed during the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, the students' questions were answered.

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10 October 2023 15:04 (UTC+04:00)

The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has kicked off in the city of Shusha, Azernews reports.

The meeting is being attended by Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan, Tajik FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Irans Deputy FM Mehdi Safari, and officials of foreign policy departments of other ECO members.

Moreover, Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is participating in the event as an observer. The meeting will evaluate the work done within the framework of cooperation in the context of the ECO in 2023 and its results, and discuss the current issues on the organization's agenda.

Azerbaijan has been in cooperation with ECO since 1992.

The Meeting discussed and finalized the agenda of the 27th COM Meeting along with the draft Shusha Declaration to be adopted by the COM during its meeting in Shusha, on October 10, 2023. The Declaration is expected to focus on the importance of regional cooperation and the need for increased collaboration between ECO Member States.

The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is also being attended by Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as an observer. The meeting is to evaluate the work done within the framework of cooperation in the context of the ECO in 2023 and its results and discuss the current issues on the organization's agenda.

Azerbaijan has been in cooperation with ECO since 1992. The ECO is composed of nine member states, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The ECO's mission is to promote regional economic cooperation and integration and to foster economic development and prosperity in the region.

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10 October 2023 15:27 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

"The Great Return Program related to the liberated territories is among the main priorities of our state. Within the framework of this Program, former internally displaced persons have already been resettled in Lachin, Fuzuli, and the villages of Aghali, Zabukh, and Talish," the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, said at the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the city of Shusha, Azernews reports.

According to Azerbaijan FM, about 100,000 former IDPs are planning to return to their homes in the next 3 years:

"In addition to the revival of the economic regions of Garabagh and East Zangazur, the continuous relocation of the population and the implementation of projects create conditions for the transformation of these areas into a developed region," Minister Bayramov said.

The Azerbaijani FM also emphasized that important infrastructure projects have been implemented in the liberated territories in a very short time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said at the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the city of Shusha.

According to FM, immediately after the liberation of the ancient lands from the Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan began to implement large-scale restoration and reconstruction work.

Minister noted that infrastructure projects of great importance have been implemented in those areas in a very short time, including the construction and commissioning of two international airports: The third airport is being constructed in Lachin, the Minister added.

Bayramov expressed his gratitude to brotherly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for the already commissioned school and the creative center under construction in the city of Fuzuli and considered it a clear example of brotherhood and solidarity between the countries.

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10 October 2023 15:40 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent an appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Shusha.

The letter reads:

Dear meeting participants,

I sincerely welcome you to the 27th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Shusha, the sacred city for the people of Azerbaijan and our cultural capital.

Azerbaijan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organization and attaches particular significance to developing relations with its member states. ECO enjoys favorable opportunities to utilize our regions vast economic potential better and advance the ties in economy and trade between the regional countries. Azerbaijan is in favor of expanding cooperation within the organization across every domain. I extend my gratitude for declaring the city of Shusha  the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026 several days ago.

You have arrived in Azerbaijan at a very notable and historic time. Our people are experiencing the joy and pride of restoring Azerbaijans sovereignty and constitutional order. Eliminating a grey zone in our territory after 30 years and ending separatism is a culmination of international law and justice.

Azerbaijan has always been a proponent of peace and the author of peace initiatives in the region. Stemming from the principle that regional matters must be resolved with the involvement of the countries of our immediate region, Azerbaijan has proposed the 3+3 cooperation format. A historic environment has emerged today for normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, signing the peace treaty and transforming the South Caucasus into a region of peace and cooperation.

Immediately upon the liberation of our ancestral lands from Armenias occupation in 2020, we have launched large-scale reconstruction and development efforts here. Critical infrastructure projects have been implemented across these territories in a short time, including constructing and putting into service two airports. The construction of the third airport in Lachin is underway. I want to thank the brotherly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for the already commissioned school and the ongoing construction of a creativity center in the city of Fuzuli. We regard this as a vivid testimony to our countries' brotherhood, solidarity and friendship.

The program of the Great Return to the de-occupied territories is among our national priorities. As part of successfully implementing the program, the displaced persons' return has been ensured to the cities of Lachin and Fuzuli and the villages of Aghali, Zabukh and Talish. Nearly 100 hundred thousand displaced persons are envisaged to be returned to their homes in the coming three years. Along with the revival of Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions and ensuring sustainable resettling of the population, implementing the projects also enables conditions for turning these areas into a developed region.

One of the gravest consequences of a 30-year occupation for the Azerbaijani people was the deliberate damage to our cultural heritage of universal significance, including all the sites associated with the Islamic faith. Regrettably, throughout that time, 65 out of 67 mosques were razed to the ground, and the remaining ones were desecrated by being used for housing animals. The fact of destroying another mosque was revealed most recently where the Malibeyli mosque was used as a barn. All of this is an insult to the feelings of Azerbaijanis and the worlds Muslims.

The choice of the theme of Azerbaijans ECO chairmanship as Green Transition and Interconnectivity is particularly relevant today. Such matters as decarbonization and adding green energy types are at the core of our countrys sustainable development agenda. In the meantime, the large-scale reconstruction and renovation work across Karabakh and East Zangezur  declared energy zones  are implemented according to smart city and smart village concepts.

Azerbaijan is also a reliable transit country, and our transportation and logistics infrastructure is available to all the ECO nations. Given the increased demand for cargo shipping along the East-West route, we aim to increase the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway from the current 1 million to 5 million tons. Furthermore, an agreement has been reached with the Islamic Republic of Iran to use this countrys territory for the construction of a highway and a railway to ensure access to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. Simultaneously, Azerbaijan is working on expanding the throughput capacity of the North-South transportation corridor.

I am confident that this meeting will be a substantial platform for a productive discussion around the cooperation opportunities targeting the lasting development and prosperity of our nations and region as a whole and coordinating efforts while enriching our mutually beneficial cooperation with new substance.

I extend to you my best wishes and wish the meeting success.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 9 October 2023

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10 October 2023 17:05 (UTC+04:00)

"The time has come to utilize all opportunities for sustainable peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus", Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during his speech at the 27th Ministerial Council meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Shusha on 10 October, Azernews reports.

Turkish FM expressed satisfaction with his stay in Shusha: "Organising a meeting in ancient Shusha is a source of happiness and pride. We applaud our Azerbaijani brothers for ending 30 years of occupation and removing historical injustice".

Azerbaijan has been in cooperation with ECO since 1992. The ECO is composed of nine member states, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The ECO's mission is to promote regional economic cooperation and integration and to foster economic development and prosperity in the region.

---

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10 October 2023 18:35 (UTC+04:00)

The program of the Great Return to the de-occupied territories is among our national priorities. As part of successfully implementing the program, the displaced persons' return has been ensured to the cities of Lachin and Fuzuli and the villages of Aghali, Zabukh and Talish. Nearly 100 hundred thousand displaced persons are envisaged to be returned to their homes in the coming three years. Along with the revival of Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions and ensuring sustainable resettling of the population, implementing the projects also enables conditions for turning these areas into a developed region, President Ilham Aliyev in his appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO.

One of the gravest consequences of a 30-year occupation for the Azerbaijani people was the deliberate damage to our cultural heritage of universal significance, including all the sites associated with the Islamic faith. Regrettably, throughout that time, 65 out of 67 mosques were razed to the ground, and the remaining ones were desecrated by being used for housing animals. The fact of destroying another mosque was revealed most recently where the Malibeyli mosque was used as a barn. All of this is an insult to the feelings of Azerbaijanis and the worlds Muslims, the President said.

---

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10 October 2023 19:56 (UTC+04:00)

A group of foreign NGOs and civil society activists started a petition called Global Initiative for a Mine-Free World, Azernews reports.

The petition was announced on the Jotform international platform as part of the international campaign World for Peace in the Caucasus. The petition states that landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose a serious threat to the health, life and safety of civilians, and that landmines continue to kill and maim people even after conflicts have ended. Landmines cause lifelong disability and become a tragedy for families.

The campaign addresses the UN and declares that 60 million people in the world are still under the threat of landmines. The Lao People's Democratic Republic, Angola, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam are among the countries most polluted by landmines in the world.

In addition to various countries, a large space was allocated to Azerbaijan as well. It is reported that Azerbaijan suffers a lot from the landmine problem. In the last 30 years, more than 3,400 people became victims of landmines in Azerbaijan. Some 90 percent of them are civilians.

The authors of the campaign declare that Armenia planted landmine in the territories of Azerbaijan, and this process did not stop even after the 44-day war in 2020. The situation was brought under control only after Azerbaijan established a border crossing point on the Lachin road. The authors of the petition are horrified that as a result of the last anti-terrorist measures carried out on September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijan discovered that at least half a million additional mines were placed by the remnants of the Armenian armed forces along the 480 km line. The authors of the petition demanded that Armenia should immediately hand over the maps of newly buried mines to the state of Azerbaijan.

Foreign NGOs and civil society activists welcomed President Ilham Aliyev's initiative to announce the goal of Mine-Free World as the 18th Sustainable Development Goal of the UN. They called on the UN to increase its attention to the global mine problem.

The appeal caused serious resonance, despite its new announcement, more than 100 civil society activists from about 10 countries have already declared that they joined the global mobilization campaign against landmines and supported the global solution to this problem.

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10 October 2023 20:18 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Azernews reports.

The head of state noted that there is a wide range of issues on the agenda of relations between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that the period since the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation showed that the bilateral relations are indeed of allied nature, and underlined that it manifested itself in all spheres.

The President of Azerbaijan expressed confidence that the cooperation would continue to strengthen in regional security, economic relations, transport and other fields.

Nikolai Patrushev, first of all, conveyed President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putins greetings and best wishes to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings and asked Nikolai Patrushev to pass on his own greetings to Vladimir Putin.

The Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council paid his respect to Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in connection with the 100th anniversary of the National Leader.

The head of state expressed his gratitude over the conduct of events at the state level in Russia on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the Great Leader.

Nikolai Patrushev reiterated that bilateral relations had deepened even more since the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.

They shared their opinions on global and regional issues including cooperation within international organizations, and discussed regional cooperation.

The head of state underscored the need to solve regional issues in the 3+3 format with involvement of the regional countries and noted the conduct of meetings in this format at respective levels.

During the conversation, they shared their views on the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran cooperation to develop the North-South Transport Corridor.

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Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmars southern areas has displaced more than 14,000 people and disrupted traffic on the rail lines that connect the countrys biggest cities, officials and state-run media said Monday.

State television MRTV reported Monday evening that the number of displaced people in Bago township, about 68 kilometers (42 miles) northeast of Yangon, the country's biggest city, had climbed to that figure, and they were taking shelter in 36 relief camps. It said almost 1,000 more people in Mon state's township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations in a northern part of Yangon.

A senior official at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said that constant rainfall in the Bago region that began last week caused the flooding in the low-lying areas of its capital, Bago township. She said there were no casualties reported so far.

Bago township recorded 7.87 inches (200 millimeters) of rainfall, its highest level in 59 years, Myanmars Meteorological Department said Sunday. Rain or thundershowers was forecast for across the country until noon on Tuesday.

One of the leaders of an emergency rescue team in Bago told The Associated Press that the flooding was up to about eight feet (2.3 meters) deep in low-lying areas and four feet (1.2 meters) downtown.

Almost the whole area of the town was flooded, Thant Zin Maung, chairman of the Mizzima Thukha Charity Foundation said by phone on Monday. It is the third flood in the town this year and the worst in many years. All the monasteries in the town have opened relief camps. Charity organizations are evacuating people from low-lying areas as much as they can.

A 55-year-old resident of Bagos Pan Hlaing ward interviewed by phone said the floodwaters were as much as six feet (1.8 meters) deep in her neighborhood, and her family members were living on the second and third floors of their house.

The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Myanmar's military government prefers to tightly control the release of information, said the water was still rising steadily in her neighborhood, which had never flooded badly before.

Social Welfare Ministry official Lay Shwe Zin Oo said Bago evacuees were sheltering in relief camps, schools and Buddhist monasteries, while the authorities were providing food, drinking water and other essential assistance.

Reports in the state-run Myanmar Alinn newspaper on Monday said that trains that departed from Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city in central Myanmar, and from southern Mawlamyine township were halted en route. Scheduled departures from Yangon, the biggest city in the country, were canceled after rail lines were flooded by the rapid flow of water from mountain torrents and the spillage from dams in the Bago region.

MRTV said almost 1,000 people in Mon states Kyaikto township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations as well in a northern part of Yangon.

Myanmar experiences extreme weather virtually every year during the monsoon season. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 people. In July and August this year, floods in Mon, Kayin and Rakhine states and the regions of Bago and Magway killed five people and displaced about 60,000. (AP)
10 October 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

The Turkish Coast Guard said Sunday that it rescued 57 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea after Greek authorities pushed them back into Turkish territorial waters, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Coast guard units saved 35 irregular migrants from a rubber boat off Mugla provinces Bodrum district while 22 others were rescued off the provinces Datca district, said the Turkish Coast Guard in the statement.

The migrants were later transported to the provincial migration department.

Turkiye and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

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10 October 2023 17:27 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan announced the date of resumption of flights from Baku to Tel Aviv, Azernews report.

The Israeli Embassy shared a post on Facebook and noted that the flight would be resumed on October 13. Besides, it was added that the relevant website for ordering a ticket would be uploaded. It should be noted that due to the emergency situation in Israel, flights to this country have been postponed.

The post reads:

To all the Israelis in Baku!

Israeli flight is expected this Friday, 13/10.

It will soon be uploaded to Israel's website and you will be able to order a ticket.

Please follow the Israelair website.

To recall, Palestinian militant groups headed by Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. It is the first direct conflict within Israel's boundaries since the 1948 Arab-Israeli military bases. As a result, Israel formally declared war. An Israeli operation launched in response was called Iron Swords by the Isreali Defense Forces (IDF).

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10 October 2023 21:10 (UTC+04:00)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer with an official ceremony at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan and Nehammer will hold one-on-one talks and inter-delegation meeting, to be followed by a joint news conference. The Turkish leader will also host a dinner in honor of his guest.

They will discuss all aspects of relations between Turkiye and Austria as well as steps to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Current regional and international issues will also be on the agenda.

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10 October 2023 22:15 (UTC+04:00)

The military wing of the Hamas movement - the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades - claims to have carried out a strike on Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier that air raid sirens had gone off in Tel Aviv and the central part of Israel.

According to Reuters, an airport official has denied reports of Ben Gurion Airport having been hit, saying that it continued to operate uninterrupted.

Israel came under a missile attack from the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7. Simultaneously, several groups of Palestinian militants from the Hamas movement infiltrated the Jewish state, engaging in fighting with Israeli forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of readiness for war and launched retaliatory actions dubbed Operation Iron Swords. Hamas Politburo Head Ismail Haniyeh described the Palestinian operation as a response to aggressive actions by the Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized the call-up of IDF reservists and ordered that "the special security situation" be expanded nationwide.

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Foodies in Bahrain should mark their calendars for the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism because it is taking place in Bahrain in 2024!

Read More: Cipriani Announces Opening of its Restaurant in Bahrain

The World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism is one of the world's largest gastronomy tourism events, which makes it a big deal for Bahrain to host it!

The forum allows experts in the fields of gastronomy and tourism to exchange their expertise and promote good practices within these industries.

Read More: Cutest cafes in Bahrain

The United Nations World Tourism Organization made the announcement at the eighth edition of the forum, which took place in Spain.

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority will organize the event in the Kingdom.

The ninth edition of the forum will take place at the Exhibition World Bahrain venue in Sakhir, Bahrain in 2024.

Read More: Best Shawarma Spots in Bahrain

The BTEA has worked diligently to position Bahrain as the most sought-after destination for gourmet and gastronomy enthusiasts, and this world forum will make the Kingdom a very popular gastronomy destination.

If you're a food lover in Bahrain, keep a lookout for the latest updates about the 2024 World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in Bahrain!
Less than a week after becoming the first U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives voted out by his own caucus, Republican Kevin McCarthy said on Monday he would take the job back if asked to, as his colleagues contemplated their next move.

McCarthy at a press conference stressed the need for House leadership at a time of international crisis with Israel at war with Palestinian militant group Hamas. But rather than putting himself forward for the top job, he said the decision should be taken by his fellow Republicans.

"That's a decision by the conference. I'll allow the conference to make whatever decision," the California Republican said, while laying out his own plan for the Middle East crisis.

"I can lead in any position," he said, but added: "The House can do nothing without a speaker."

A number of House Republicans endorsed McCarthy's return as speaker late on Monday at a closed-door conference meeting, where tempers flared during more than two hours of discussion.

"At this point, unless Kevin McCarthy says otherwise, that he's out-out-out, I'm supporting Kevin McCarthy," said Representative Carlos Gimenez.

McCarthy earlier in the day had told radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview that he stood ready to retake the speakership if asked to do so.

"Whatever the conference wants, I will do. I think we need to be strong. I think we need to be united," McCarthy said.

Representative Tim Burchett, who voted for McCarthy's ouster last week, said he and his fellow rebels faced the anger of their fellow Republicans at the Monday meeting.

"People were upset," the Tennessee Republican told reporters. "Some people were mad and they've got a right to be mad. But I've got a right to represent my constituents too."

House Republicans face new pressure to select a speaker after Israel declared war on Sunday, following a rare attack by Hamas militants that has prompted calls for more U.S. military aid.

In their first gathering since McCarthy's ouster, House Republicans were due to meet on Monday evening.

Republicans were expected to hear from speaker candidates behind closed doors on Tuesday and vote to choose their nominee on Wednesday. There could be a House floor vote to elect a replacement for McCarthy later in the week.

Until then, the chamber cannot approve new aid.

Representatives Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, and Jim Jordan, a leader of the party's conservative wing, are campaigning to succeed McCarthy, but neither candidate has the election sewn up. At least one other lawmaker, Kevin Hern, has said he may run as well.

Eight Republicans on Oct. 3 joined all House Democrats in a vote to remove McCarthy as speaker, the first time in history that the House removed its leader. McCarthy told reporters that day he would not make another run for speaker.

The full House votes on a speaker. Republicans hold a 221-212 majority and can only spare four votes if opposition Democrats stick together. (Reuters)
Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org.
Israeli warplanes pounded downtown Gaza City, home to Hamas' centers of government, with relentless bombardments into early Tuesday, after Israels prime minister vowed retaliation against the Islamic militant group that would reverberate for generations.

The 4-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighborhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if strikes targeted civilians without warning.

Israels military said it had found the bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas militants in Israeli territory as it gained effective control in the south and restored full control over the border. It was not immediately clear if those numbers overlapped with deaths previously reported by Palestinian authorities.

Israel said that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard .

As the Israeli military activated 300,000 reservists in a massive mobilization, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014.

Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes leveled buildings.

The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday , pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.

We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gazas City Rimal neighborhood, which is home to Hamas ministries and governing buildings, overnight.

The massive devastation in Rimal signaled what could be a new Israeli tactic in Gaza: warning civilians to leave certain areas and then hitting those areas with airstrikes of unprecedented intensity.

The heavy bombardment began in areas of Gaza bordering Israel over the weekend, and overnight shifted to the center of Gaza City. If these types of bombardments continue, Gaza civilians will have fewer and fewer places to shelter as more neighborhoods become uninhabitable.

In a briefing Tuesday, Hecht suggested Palestinians should try to leave through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, but the military later said the crossing was closed.

Asked if Israel considered Hamas' civil government, such as parliament and ministries, legitimate targets, Hecht said if theres a gunman firing rockets from there, it turns into a military target.

In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house.

In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp.

Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods  a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded.

Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel.

An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries.

Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes  the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000.

UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others.

In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital.

Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed.

New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front.

Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border.

After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning.

He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers.

Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N. (AP)
As School Choice is beginning to take shape in North Carolina: What is your position on what it should evolve into?

6.25% School Choice is only a distraction from the promise of real public education.90.63% School Choice, as it evolves into its best model to serve the public' s education needs, this benefit will provide choices outside of the historic construct supporting the public school monopoly.3.13% School Choice - I cannot see how it serves the Education Industry.
Here are five hospitals who have closed departments or ended services since Sept. 26:

25-bed critical access facility Herington (Kan.) Hospital has closed its doors, citing financial troubles and low patient volumes. La Grange, Texas-based St. Mark's Medical Center will shutter Oct. 12 due to financial issues. The hospital can no longer sustain its $13 million of mortgage debt as revenue declines. Six clinics run by the recently closed WIlliamston, N.C.-based Martin General Hospital will close. HCA Healthcare closed New Richey, Fla.-based HCA Florida Trinity West Hospital, which was previously temporarily closed, and consolidated services to two nearby hospitals. West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health sold eight urgent care centers and will close five others. The centers are being sold to Birmingham, Ala.-based American Family Care Network.
Batesville, Ark.-based Lyon College released plans for the site of its upcoming dental school.

The School of Oral Health and Dental Medicine will be housed on Heifer Internationals Little Rock campus along with the college's new School of Veterinary Medicine, according to an Oct. 9 news release.

Lyon College President Melissa Taverner, PhD, said the college will announce the groundbreaking date for the site soon.

The state's first dental school is expected to welcome its first class of students in 2024 or 2025. Burke Soffe, DMD, was appointed dean of the dental school in January.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute estimates that the freestanding cancer hospital it will construct in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston will cost $1.68 billion, according to the Boston Business Journal.

The systems announced the Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Collaboration Sept. 14. Under the agreement, the proposed adult cancer hospital will operate under the license of Dana-Farber while each organization remains fully independent.

The hospital will have 300 beds and measure at approximately 688,100 square feet, according to a legal notice obtained by the Business Journal. It will be constructed in Bostons Longwood Medical Area and connect to Dana-Farbers existing facility. Dana-Farber plans to relocate 30 inpatient beds from a space that it currently shares with Brigham and Womens Hospital.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital have been clinically affiliated since 1997 and their current agreement runs through 2028.

A specific timeline of the Dana-Farber-BIDMC cancer partnership and the changes it entails was not provided in the announcement, although the systems said they anticipate "several years" of planning to finalize the operational model, obtain regulatory approvals and construct the inpatient hospital.
Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai has launched a 24/7 virtual care app that uses artificial intelligence to evaluate patients.

Cedars-Sinai Connect offers virtual urgent care around the clock and same-day primary care appointments. The health system developed the platform as a joint venture with digital health company K Health, which uses AI for clinical intake and data entry to speed up appointments.

"Cedars-Sinai Connect is a natural extension of the high-quality care Cedars-Sinai already provides to patients in person," said Jill Martin, executive vice president of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network, in an Oct. 10 news release. "What could be more convenient than getting the care you need when you need it  in the palm of your hand  in your home or office?"

When patients log into Cedars-Sinai Connect, an AI chatbot collects health details and symptoms and then generates a summary for the virtual clinicians. The app, which is integrated with Cedars-Sinai's EHR, is available for California patients and accepts any insurance that the health system takes.
UC Davis Health, based in Sacramento, Calif., as well as the University of California health systems, will be leading a new generative artificial intelligence collaborative.

The collaborative, dubbed VALID AI, will include members from health systems, health plans, nonprofit associations, and technology and research partners, according to an Oct. 9 news release from UC Davis Health.

The group will focus on uses, pitfalls and best practices for generative AI in healthcare and research, and focus on five core values: vision, alignment, learning, implementation and dissemination.

The members of VALID AI will participate in a panel at the Future and Health Summit in Las Vegas, with Dennis Chornenky, chief AI adviser of UC Davis Health, serving as the executive director of the collaborative.
A lawsuit has been filed against Costco that alleges the warehouse club company shared customers' protected health information with Facebook parent company Meta, The Seattle Times reported Oct. 9.

The lawsuit, filed Oct. 6 in Washington Western District Court, alleges that Costco installed Meta Pixel technology on the healthcare portion of its website that allowed Meta to gain access to consumer's personal and health information.

"Costco represents to patients that its website, which includes its pharmacy webpages, is a secure platform," the suit, which is seeking class-action status, reads. "Yet, Costco fails to disclose or omits the fact that it shares patient online activities and personal health information with Meta via Pixel."

Patrick Callans, executive vice president of administration of Costco, said the company cannot comment on pending litigation.

According to the publication, the retailer has not filed an answer in court.

Meanwhile, Meta, which is not named as a defendant in the suit, told The Seattle Times it educates advertisers on how to properly set up business tools to prevent sensitive information from being retrieved.

The lawsuit comes shortly after the retailer announced it would be offering customers $29 virtual primary care visits through a partnership with healthcare marketplace Sesame.
Two rural community hospitals will be locking their doors between Oct. 9 and Oct. 12, citing wilting demand and unsustainable financial situations.

Herington (Kan.) Hospital shuttered abruptly Oct. 9, informing staff of the closure on the same day they were sent home. "Lengthy financial struggles and consistently low patient volumes" informed the decision to close, according to a statement from the hospital.

Three days after Herington Hospital locked its doors, St. Mark's Medical Center in La Grange, Texas, will do the same. The hospital will close Oct. 12 after unsuccessful attempts to satisfy its financial obligations  including $13 million of mortgage debt.

"St. Mark's would have faced closure years earlier had it not been for COVID-related funding and an agreement with the hospital's mortgage lender and HUD to pay less than the full mortgage since February 2020," said Dudley Piland, the hospital's board chair.

The back-to-back closures are not an anomaly. Forty-three rural hospitals have shuttered since 2020, and some health systems are trimming services in less populous areas.

Although federal and state programs aim to support struggling rural hospitals, they aren't always enough to save them. St. Mark's converted to the Rural Emergency Hospital designation in February, giving it access to payments of $187,500 per quarter for six quarters from the Texas government. Despite the additional support, and a $50,000 commitment from a local economic development group, the hospital could not stay afloat.

"Closure is certainly not the outcome that anyone wanted for our community, the staff or their families," Mr. Piland said. "But without the additional local funding support HCOE [a local investor group] was seeking, the hospital is out of options."
Oroville (Calif.) Hospital has dropped a request to restructure $19.6 million in bonds that were going to be used for new medical equipment, software and a telephone system, the Enterprise-Record reported Oct. 10.

The $19.6 million in bonds were issued in 2018. In April, the hospital requested to restructure the bond, with $16 million remaining in its balance. The hospital was looking to add an additional $7 million to create a 2023 bond.

The $7 million would be used for diagnostic medical equipment and software upgrades.

The hospital gave no reason to the city why it no longer wanted to restructure the bond. The hospital is working on opening a delayed five-story tower project in November 2023.
Nearly four months after Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport, N.Y., closed its doors, another hospital is celebrating opening day in the same city.

Catholic Health Lockport Memorial Hospital opened to the public Oct. 10, rounding out a plan years in the making for the Buffalo, N.Y.-based system. Catholic Health signed an operating agreement with Eastern Niagara Hospital after the facility filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2019, and had been planning to close the old hospital as it launched the new Lockport Memorial.

Eastern Niagara Hospital officially shuttered June 17, temporarily leaving Lockport residents without access to a community hospital. This added pressure on first responders and EMT services, who had to drive patients at least 20 minutes from Lockport to the nearest hospital.

"Without having to drive 20 to 30 minutes, like I said, is a big blessing," Lisa Swanson-Gellerson, a Lockton resident, told ABC-affiliate WKBW. "It's a huge sigh of relief for the community. We needed this."
Less than three weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat beside President Joe Biden and marveled that a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia seemed within reach  a diplomatic advance that he predicted could lead to lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Biden was equally optimistic, telling Netanyahu during their meeting in New York, If you and I  10 years ago  were talking about normalization with Saudi Arabia, I think wed look at each other like, Whos been drinking what?

Now, the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinians after a devastating Hamas attack on Israeli soil is threatening to delay or derail the yearslong, country-by-country diplomatic push by the United States to improve relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

The so-called normalization push, which began under former President Donald Trump's administration and was branded as the Abraham Accords , is an ambitious effort to reshape the region and boost Israels standing in historic ways. But critics have warned that it skips past Palestinian demands for statehood.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Hamas attacks may have been driven in part by a desire to scuttle the United States' most ambitious part of the initiative: the sealing of diplomatic relations between rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Middle East's two greatest powers share a common enemy in Iran, a generous military and financial sponsor of Hamas.

Such a pact between Jerusalem and Riyadh would be a legacy-defining achievement for Biden, Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It's one that could pave the way for even more Arab and Muslim-majority nations to abandon their rejection of Israel since its 1948 founding in lands long inhabited by Palestinians. Under Trump, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco all signed on to normalization agreements with Israel.

But the startling attack by Hamas  and much of the Arab worlds response to it  has also raised new questions about whether Palestinian ambitions for sovereignty can be put aside while the U.S. tries to help Israel move ahead with improving relations with the rest of its Middle East neighbors.

With Netanyahu vowing to turn all Hamas hideouts in Gaza into rubble, the region is now bracing for even more death and destruction and an expansive military operation by Israel. Biden is set to address the attacks on Israel in a White House speech on Tuesday afternoon.

Were going to see a rather significant operation from air, land and sea that costs many, many, many lives," said Steven Cook, a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. "I think this dynamic of normalization will likely slow down or come to a halt, at least for a period of time.

The attacks were a shock to American, Israeli and Saudis officials, who all were riding high on the prospect that an Israeli-Saudi agreement was starting to come into focus.

Netanyahu, in a CNN interview last month, called the potential pact a quantum leap for the region. The Saudi crown prince also noted the steady progress, telling Fox News Channel, every day we get closer."

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan noted at a recent event hosted by The Atlantic that challenges in the Mideast remained, but the amount of time he was spending on crisis and conflict in the region compared with his recent predecessors was "significantly reduced.

The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades," Sullivan said.

In a matter of days, that optimism has vanished.

Social media showed crowds take to the streets with Palestinian flags in Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait and elsewhere in the hours after the Hamas attack. A policeman in Egypts coastal city of Alexandria opened fire on Israeli tourists , killing two Israelis and one Egyptian.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry in a statement soon after the attacks did not condemn Hamas. Instead, the ministry noted that it had repeatedly warned that Israel's occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations led to this moment.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the Saudi response.

We still believe that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only good for the people of those two nations but for the American people and for everybody else in the region, and we have every intention to continue to encourage a process where normalization can occur, Kirby said.

Yousef Munayyer, who heads the Palestine-Israel program at the Arab Center, a Washington think tank, said the Saudis in their statement were reminding the administration that weve been telling you guys over and over again that if you ignore the Palestine issue the regions going to explode. And I think theres just been a tremendous amount of hubris on the part of the Biden administration thinking they could do that."

To be certain, Biden and U.S. officials have privately made clear to Netanyahu that any deal needed to include significant concessions for Palestinians, although members of Netanyahus far-right coalition have made clear that an independent Palestinian state is not something theyd abide.

The Saudis had said they, too, expected Israel to make concessions. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said there is no other way to solve the conflict than by establishing a Palestinian state.

Other allies in the region had also underscored that Palestinian concerns could not be overlooked.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, whose country in the early 1990s became the second Arab nation after Egypt to sign a peace deal with Israel, told a global summit last month that the prospect of a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel offered promise for the Middle East but no guarantee of stability in itself.

This belief, by some in the region, that you can parachute over Palestine, deal with the Arabs and work your way back  that does not work, the Jordanian king said then. And even those countries that have Abraham Accords with Israel have difficulty moving publicly on those issues when Israelis and Palestinians are dying. So unless we solve this problem, there will never be a true peace.

U.S. officials say they intend to press ahead, but they also acknowledge efforts are unlikely to bear fruit while there is an active conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Blinken had been planning a trip to the Middle East, with stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, later this month, but those plans are now on hold, according to three U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations.

While Blinken may still visit Israel and several neighboring countries to look for ways to ease tensions, he is no longer expected to go to Saudi Arabia, and the Morocco stop for a meeting of foreign ministers in the so-called Negev Forum will almost certainly be postponed, according to these officials. The Negev Forum brings together the top diplomats from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States to look at ways to advance Arab-Israeli cooperation with an eye also on improving conditions for the Palestinians.

Analysts note that the Saudis have reason not to walk away from efforts at forging a normalization deal.

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that in the long term bin Salman is looking to diversify the oil-rich kingdom's economy and strengthen its security. As part of any pact, Saudi Arabia is pushing Biden for a nuclear cooperation deal and defense guarantees from the U.S.

He needs normalization and will continue to move forward, Dubowitz predicted. Of the crown prince, Dubowitz added, "the Saudis had better be careful because they are playing with fire in Washington." (AP)
Struggling One Brooklyn Health has hired multiple lobbyists to help ease its way out of a financial and existential crisis, sources have confirmed to Becker's.

The three-hospital system in New York City was plunged into uncertainty in late September after news broke that its board of governors had suddenly voted to oust CEO LaRay Brown.

Soon after, board Chair Alexander Rovt signed a $10,000 monthly contract through September 2024 with Albany, N.Y.-based Bolton-St. John's to help guide the system through the crisis.

That contract followed others, signed by Ms. Brown, with Albany-based Brown & Weinraub and New York City-based 610 Collective, sources confirmed. Those two contracts total an additional $15,000 a month.

Such lobbying efforts are essential for the much-need system to survive, Juanita Scarlett, a partner at Bolton-St. John's, told Becker's.

"One Brooklyn Health is a vital hospital network serving the most disadvantaged communities across Brooklyn," she said. "We are all committed to preserving this safety-net community hospital."

One Brooklyn Health has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Commercial reimbursement is poised for a fade-out and corporate giants may ramp up their demands and scrutiny. Are hospitals and health systems ready?

Hospitals and health systems rely on commercial reimbursement to supplement the money they lose from governmental payers. Private insurers paid nearly double Medicare rates for all hospital services, on average, according to a KFF analysis of 19 studies comparing Medicare and commercial payment rates. Medicaid fee-for-service payments for physician services are even lower  nearly 30 percent  than those from Medicare.

This isn't to say that working with commercial payers is anything close to utopia. Their reimbursement rates to providers may be higher than those of their governmental counterparts, but the cost-control tactics they deploy when making payments are disruptive. Throughout the first three months of 2023, about one-third of inpatient and outpatient claims submitted by providers to commercial payers went unpaid for more than 90 days, according to an analysis from Crowe.

The provider-commercial payer relationship, albeit flawed, allows for the cross-subsidization that determines the financial sustainability of most hospitals and health systems. It is essential. And now, as employers brace for rising healthcare costs, the provider-commercial relationship is also increasingly volatile.

"The strong U.S. economy and a general labor shortage have collectively served as a great buffer for payers and providers, but in recent conversations with employers and their advisors, we hear that employers' ability to continue to invest in rising healthcare costs is fraying (one advisor described employers as approaching a 'benefits cliff') and they are willing to consider healthcare cost management options they had not seriously considered in the past," Joyjit Saha Choudhury, managing director with Kaufman Hall, wrote in an Oct. 10 analysis.

Nearly half of Americans receive health insurance through an employer. Average costs for U.S. employers that pay for employees' healthcare will increase 8.5 percent in 2024 to more than $15,000 per employee, according to a projection from Aon. The increase is nearly double the 4.5 percent bump to healthcare budgets that employers experienced from 2022 to 2023.

This forecast builds on recent cost increases: The annual premium for family coverage in 2022 averaged $22,463, with the worker contributing $6,106 annually  an increase of 20% over the previous five years and 43% over the previous 10 years.

There are a few ways commercial reimbursement could weaken, some familiar and some intensified by employers' growing cost burden, according to Mr. Choudhury. Employers may shift more costs to employees via premiums, deductibles, copays and coinsurance or turn to narrow networks. Health plans may ramp up reference based pricing, in which the payment amount for a service is capped regardless of the provider's usual unit cost for that service. Or employers may negotiate "best price" clauses into their contracts with insurers. Most extreme, employers could drop coverage altogether, which has been playing out over the past decade with small businesses with 47% of companies with three-49 employees offering health insurance in 2022, according to KFF.

Although employers have a menu of cost containment strategies for healthcare costs, they have been slow to use them so far due to fierce competition for talent. Shifting healthcare costs to employees doesn't make for the most alluring benefits package when competing to attract and retain top talent.

But if and when employers turn up the dial on healthcare cost containment or quality control, providers will feel a variety of impacts either directly or indirectly. Spillover effects include: increased competition and rate concessions if payers narrow network participation; shifts in revenue and volumes if enrollees move from commercial group markets to individual or exchange markets; more cash price-seeking patients; and increased scrutiny or measurement toward quality of care, which varies widely for covered employees.

An analysis from JP Morgan released in August shared specific examples of the variation in care delivery for employees, finding that in a sample of 809 Ohio cardiologists, among the top 10% of providers, an average of 73% of their patients are taking statins regularly. Among the bottom 10% of providers, about half as many patients adhere to statins. Among 3,121 Texas obstetricians, the instance of a woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy undergoing a C-section ranges from 14% for 10th percentile to 61% for the 90th percentile, depending on the obstetrician who delivers the baby.

Although the clinical variation is stark, managing it is difficult. Neither employers nor employees can reliably learn which physicians are low- or high-performing without provider-level quality data.

"Even though employers do not often interface directly with health care providers, employers can shift their health plans toward accountable care models, where physicians manage cost and quality across the spectrum of care delivered to their patient panels," JP Morgan wrote in its analysis. "Within these arrangements, provider quality data can be leveraged to both improve a provider's own clinical practices and to facilitate high-quality specialty referrals."

If employers and payers lean more heavily on providers to demonstrate appropriate, high-quality care, it will have been a long time coming. While "value-based care" has been in the zeitgeist for years, fewer employers by name have publicly stepped up to command greater control over the cost and quality of care. This pursuit may have been the stuff of closed-door rate negotiations or health plan network design. But in a time when employers are miscalculating union tactics and demands while seeking stabilized talent, it would make sense if large corporations looked outward and turned up the heat as healthcare purchasers.

Walmart is one of the few and early major employers to recognize and act on the variation it experienced in employee healthcare. After establishing its Centers of Excellence program in 2013, in which it partners with vetted health systems for defined episodes of care, the retail giant learned of the complete lapses in quality that employees had previously received from healthcare providers that Walmart did not vet or approve.

Lisa Woods, vice president of physical and emotional wellbeing with Walmart, said in 2019 that 10% of employees who received a cancer evaluation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., learned that they, in fact, do not have cancer. They receive a different diagnosis entirely; 55 percent receive a different treatment plan. Some Walmart associates learned that their cancer diagnoses were based on biopsies that were never completed at their local hospitals or medical groups. Another 54 percent of Walmart associates were told they need spine surgery locally, only to visit a COE to learn they could avoid surgery in their treatment.

Ms. Woods said pre-pandemic that the deficiencies and variation in care  from misdiagnoses to inappropriate care  are not limited to one region. "Unfortunately, it is all over the country. It's everywhere," she said.
Pete Delgado, president and CEO of Salinas (Calif.) Valley Health, announced his resignation to staff Oct. 9.

Mr. Delgado led the organization, formerly known as Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, since 2013. His resignation is "effective at a date to be determined," he wrote in his email to colleagues, which is made available by Monterey County Weekly.

"The realization that there is never a 'perfect' time to step away from a role I love has weighed heavily on my decision," Mr. Delgado wrote. "Yet, I am confident that change, while challenging, is an opportunity for growth and renewal for both the organization and myself."

Salinas Valley Health includes a 263-bed acute care hospital, more than 2,000 employees, a medical staff of more than 300 physicians, a network of urgent care clinics, a rural health clinic, and a mobile clinic. The hospital dates back to 1953.

Most recently, Salinas Valley Health was in the news for its contract impasse with Anthem Blue Cross after five months of negotiations failed to reach agreement, resulting in SVH patients going out of network with Anthem effective Aug. 1.

Mr. Delgado previously served as CEO of Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center from 2003 to 2012. He has held leadership roles with Christus Santa Rosa in San Antonio; Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas; and Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif.
Mobile, Ala.-based USA Health has named Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, the next CEO of its Children's and Women's Hospital.

Ms. Browning has been with the hospital  which is affiliated with the University of South Alabama  since 2021, according to an Oct. 10 news release shared with Becker's. She has served as its chief nursing officer and, most recently, its interim administrator.

Prior to joining Children's and Women's Hospital, Ms. Browning served as chief nursing officer of Oklahoma Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City.
Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare is selling its 302-bed Alvarado Hospital Medical Center to UC San Diego Health for $200 million.

The systems are working to close the deal in December, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

The approximately 800 employees of the San Diego hospital learned of the transaction in a companywide announcement Oct. 9, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health, told the local news outlet that Alvarado Hospital will function as the academic health system's "east campus" and will be available as a new option for existing and new patients. She said the system is planning to add beds at its current locations, but that capacity is seven or eight years away.

"We've got to solve a lot of capacity problems, and we can't afford to wait that long," Ms. Maysent told the San Diego Union-Tribune, noting that the cost of buying Alvarado Hospital at less than $1 million per bed is a "massive" cost difference from building new.

Prime acquired Alvarado Hospital in 2010 from Plymouth Health, a privately held, Los-Angeles-based company that owned and operated the hospital since 2007. Since 2010, 45-hospital Prime has invested more than $90 million into the hospital, according to the system's news release.

"With significant investments and dedicated service to our patients over the past 13 years, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center has now reached the point where divestiture to a world-class academic institution like UC San Diego Health, will lead to a new era for this award-winning community hospital," Kavitha Bhatia, MD, chief medical officer of strategy for Prime, said in a news release from the system. "We are proud of the care that has been provided and the legacy that will continue as UC San Diego Health expands access to specialized care, while preserving and building on Alvarado's 50-year history."

Alvarado Hospital was established in 1972. It employs 800 with a medical staff of 300. Hospital employees will immediately transition to UC San Diego Health employment, according to a news release from the academic health system.

"More than 700 positions will be transitioned to employment at UC San Diego Health," Tonya Jackman Hampton, EdD, chief human resources officer for UC San Diego Health, said in the release. "Multiple employee forums will be held to help explain the opportunities and benefits of employment at the university and to help future team members navigate the application process."
A labor coalition of 11 unions, which staged a strike earlier this month involving tens of thousands of workers in multiple states, is giving Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente a few more weeks to reach a new labor contract before facing another strike in November.

Kaiser and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions have been negotiating a new labor deal since April. Here are six things to know about where things stand:

1. More than 75,000 workers began a three-day strike Oct. 4 at Kaiser hospitals and medical office buildings in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, and a one-day strike in Virginia and the District of Columbia. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions deemed the strike as the largest healthcare worker strike in the U.S.

2. After the strike, employees remain concerned about alleged unsafe staffing levels, alleged labor law violations by Kaiser, securing adequate wages to recruit and retain workers, and Kaiser's alleged refusal to agree to certain limitations on subcontracting and outsourcing, according to a coalition news release shared with Becker's.

3. "It's simple: Kaiser executives need to be investing in healthcare workers right now amidst this short staffing crisis, not discarding them through a variety of expensive outsourcing schemes," Tamara Chew, a healthcare plan representative at Kaiser in Roseville, Calif., said in the coalition release. "I can't understand why anyone in the Kaiser boardroom thinks corporate outsourcing threats are the way to treat a workforce that just a short time ago were being hailed as heroes."

4. Additional bargaining sessions were scheduled for Oct. 12 and Oct. 13. However, the coalition warns of another significant work action from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8 if a new labor deal is not reached in the next few weeks.

5. The coalition said an additional contract covering Kaiser workers in Seattle expires Oct. 31, and waiting until Nov. 1 would enable another 3,000 healthcare workers to join strike lines in another major West Coast metropolitan area.

6. Kaiser shared the following statement with Becker's: "We have received notice from the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions for a potential second strike beginning Nov. 1 to Nov. 8. We are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Oct. 12 and Kaiser Permanente remains committed to reaching an agreement that is good for our employees, our members, and our organization, and we will continue to bargain in good faith with the coalition."
Brian Hyatt, MD, the former leader of Arkansas' medical board, was arrested Oct. 9 for alleged Medicare fraud. Dr. Hyatt is also facing lawsuits from more than 40 former patients accusing him of holding them against their will when he ran the locked behavioral health unit at an Arkansas hospital, according to NBC News.

The psychiatrist is accused of billing Medicaid for some of the most costly codes while running the locked behavioral health unit at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Ark., according to an affidavit filed with the arrest warrant and obtained by the news outlet. The affidavit was signed by a Medicaid fraud control investigator and accuses Dr. Hyatt of billing Medicaid for treatment he never provided, adding that he was rarely in the facility and "did not want patients to know his name."

More than 40 former behavioral health patients have also filed lawsuits claiming they were imprisoned against their will when Dr. Hyatt was running the locked unit between February 2018 and May 2022. His contract with the hospital was terminated in May 2022, when fraud allegations first emerged and he resigned from the state's medical board in the same month.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin set a bail hearing for Dr. Hyatt for later in October. NBC News reported that the psychiatrist's civil attorney did not respond to a request for comment, and there was no response from messages sent to his practice. In August, an attorney told Arkansas Business that Dr. Hyatt denies the allegations and "has become the target of a vicious, orchestrated attack on his service and character."

Northwest Medical Center previously told NBC News that it believes "hospital personnel complied in all responses with Arkansas law, which heavily relies on the treating physician's assessment of the patient, including in decisions related to involuntary commitment."
A Washington hospital nurse filed suit against a state insurance agency after being denied coverage for Wegovy, a weight management drug, The New York Times reported Oct. 10.

The plaintiff is Jeanette Simonton, RN, a 57-year-old nurse at Kittitas Valley Healthcare, a medical center in Ellensburg, Wash. Because the state recognizes obesity as a disability, the lawsuit accuses the Washington State Health Care Authority of discriminating against her and others who have the disease.

Ms. Simonton was taking Eli Lilly's weight loss medication Mounjaro in 2022 to help treat her osteoarthritis, but when the drugmaker's cost assistance dried up, her physician prescribed her Wegovy in February. The Washington State Health Care Authority, which did not respond to the Times' request for comment, refused to cover the drug that can cost about $1,000 per month.

"They're being penny wise and pound foolish," Ms. Simonton told the Times. "What will they be paying in 10, 15 years if I don't continue to lose the weight?"

Medicare and some other payers don't cover weight loss medications  but that trend might change as popular weight management therapies such as Ozempic and Wegovy skyrocket in use. The market for this medication class is predicted to reach $100 billion by 2035.

Ms. Simonton now takes a compounded version of Wegovy  a practice that its maker, Novo Nordisk, is working to restrict. She and her husband told the Times they are reducing their spending on groceries and reducing retirement savings to afford the drug.

Ms. Simonton and her lawyers are asking the state court to deem the case a class action, and they are asking the court to compel the payer to cover weight loss drugs and reimburse Ms. Simonton. Hearings are scheduled for early 2024, according to court documents.
Two men with loaded handguns were arrested Oct. 8 at Rochester (N.Y.) General Hospital, CBS affiliate WROC reported.

Police responded to reports about a potential armed visitor around 4 p.m. In conjunction with hospital security, police found loaded handguns on two 19-year-old men at the facility.

The men, Phillip Warren and Daymeir Cane, were taken into custody and each charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, the report said.

We are grateful to the Rochester Police Department for their swift and effective response to the incident that occurred at Rochester General Hospital yesterday," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's. "The safety and security of our patients, team members and visitors is a top priority. Over the last year, under new leadership, our teams have been upgrading the security infrastructure across our vast footprint."

Those efforts have included hiring a new safety and security expert, increasing security patrols and updating access control security measures to limit unauthorized access to the facility, the spokesperson said.
Police are searching for a man who escaped custody at Mount Sinai West in New York City on Oct. 9, according to CW affiliate PIX11.

The 36-year-old man walked out of the hospital around 12:40 a.m., according to the New York City Police Department. The man's identity has not been released, and it is not clear why he was brought to the hospital.

The suspect was arrested Oct. 8 on charges of petit larceny.

The incident marks the sixth in-custody hospital escape Becker's has reported on since early August. While the custodial officers escorting prisoners to hospitals are primarily responsible for ensuring they remain safe and in custody, hospital police and security officers can also take proactive steps to mitigate the risk of escapes. See five best practices here.
Nearly two years after Mark Cuban launched a mail-order pharmacy with low-cost medications, the entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" star has secured more than a dozen collaborators.

In September, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. penned a deal with Avanlee Care, which runs an app designed to help caregivers for elderly patients. The app, called Ava, will feature an option for its users to order medications from Cost Plus Drugs. Mr. Cuban's company also teamed up with two fertility health companies to reduce the burden of the pink tax, or inflated prices on women's products.

Cost Plus Drugs has also expanded its in-person services by signing deals with pharmacies spanning multiple states and grocery chain pharmacies, such as Kroger. The affiliate network aligns Cost Plus Drugs' pricing with medications at independent pharmacies.

In an insurance industry shake-up, Blue Shield of California chose Cost Plus Drugs and a few other vendors to take over services historically filled by CVS Caremark, CVS Health's pharmacy benefit manager. Mark Cuban's company is now a preferred pharmacy network for the insurer serving 4.8 million members.
After seeing success from CVS pharmacy workers calling out of work over staffing concerns in Kansas City, Walgreens employees organized a walkout  but it's unclear whether the scattered labor action will result in change.

Five things to know:

1. Walgreens pharmacy workers planned walkouts Oct. 9-11 in a non-union planned action, causing locations in Arizona, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington to pause operations, CNN reported.

2. Thousands of Walgreens employees are participating in the walkout, according to The Washington Post. Since there isn't a union leading the walkout, specific numbers on participating employees and affected locations are sparse. An organizer told CNN more than 500 of the chain's 9,000 stores could be participating, but Walgreens told Fox Business operations at only 10 locations were affected.

3. Organizers cited multiple reasons for the walkout, including burnout from understaffing and heavy workloads, patient situations escalating in violence, and the lack of mandatory training hours for incoming staff. A Walgreens spokesperson told the outlets that the pharmacy chain is "committed to ensuring that [its] entire pharmacy team has the support and resources necessary to continue to provide the best care to [its] patients while taking care of their own well-being."

4. A few health systems with locations in Arizona and Washington told Becker's their hospital pharmacy operations have not been affected by the walkout. But, if the walkout extends to other states, reduced access to pharmacies could strain medical offices, urgent care centers and emergency rooms because of an influx of patients, according to NBC News.

5. In late September, at least 22 CVS pharmacies in the Kansas City metro area were temporarily closed after pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and support staff called out of work. The locations reopened Sept. 28 after CVS executives flew to Kansas City and agreed to provide additional staffing and paid overtime. On Reddit, Walgreens workers are reporting that corporate leaders are scheduling visits to some locations once the walkout ends.
Cleveland Clinic has established a joint advisory council with the largest private healthcare network in Chile to share best practices and strategic guidance around patient care and growth.

As part of the relationship, RedSalud will have access to Cleveland Clinic experts for guidance on patient safety, quality and patient experience, according to an Oct. 10 news release. Cleveland Clinic leaders will also support RedSalud with leadership development and educational opportunities.

"We hope that through this advisory agreement, the best of international health practices will be brought to our country," Sebastian Reyes, CEO of RedSalud, said in a statement.

RedSalud has 30 ambulatory clinics, nine hospitals and more than 40 dental clinics in Chile.
Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth is relocating an urgent care center to a more central location in Eugene, Ore., as it takes steps to close a hospital in the city.

In August, the health system shared plans to close the "underutilized" Eugene University District Hospital and shift services to its Riverbend campus by early 2024.

The decision was met with backlash from Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, who alleged the closure would violate an agreement between PeaceHealth and the city to maintain emergency care in the area. Ms. Vinis was concerned about transferring Eugene patients to the Riverbend location, located on the opposite side of the Willamette River, and asked the Oregon Health Authority to deny the hospital closure or impose restrictions on it.

PeaceHealth has since conversed with the Oregon Health Authority and found a way to maintain same-day and walk-in services for Eugene patients, James McGovern, MD, interim chief executive and chief medical officer for PeaceHealth Oregon network, said in an Oct. 10 news release.

The health system will relocate its West Eugene Urgent Care staff and clinic to a medical group building on the University District campus, less than 4 miles away. This will ensure that patients who live downtown or on campus without a car can still access care.

The move is planned for December, pending minor renovations to the medical group building. PeaceHealth is exploring other clinic options for the West Eugene facility, the release said.
Health systems face various challenges when it comes to recruiting and retaining top talent. And in some places, the lack of availability of affordable housing is preventing workers from taking jobs.

To provide housing stability, health systems nationwide are providing apartments to employees.

Most recently, Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth and Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colo., announced their investment in long-term employee housing.

This is a nearly $30 million investment in a 42-unit housing development in the Steamboat Springs community.

"The incredible patient care that is delivered at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center cannot happen without our most valuable resource  our staff and providers," Soniya Fidler, president of YVMC, said in an Oct. 9 news release shared with Becker's. "Living in Steamboat Springs and northwest Colorado presents housing challenges for many members of our team. The rental and real estate markets over the last few years have made affordable housing options difficult to come by. We know these units will provide housing stability for our employees."

The complex sits on land about a mile from the YVMC campus. The development has six one-bedroom units, 24 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units within two, three-story buildings. The units will be available to full-time staff at YVMC by the end of 2024.

The hospital will allocate the units based on a weighted lottery, according to the release. Rent amounts will be determined according to the household's gross income, size of household and type of unit, with subsidies provided to employees who meet certain income criteria.

YVMC is only one example of how hospitals are providing employees with housing. Hilton Head (S.C.) Hospital is offering new employees free housing, at least temporarily.

This is through an agreement by Hilton Head Regional Healthcare to rent nearby loft apartments on a short-term basis, according to a Sept. 27 news release. The organization will offer the units to clinical staff who are new to the area  including travel nurses  at no out-of-pocket cost.

Joel Taylor, the health system's CEO, said he hopes the apartments will help attract and retain workers and provide a better work-life balance for employees.

The hospital is working with the Richardson Group, a Hilton Head-based property management company, to renovate the units.

This year, Becker's has reported on other health systems offering employee housing, as well. This includes Burlington-based University of Vermont Health System, which in April celebrated the opening of its first investment in employee housing in South Burlington. The building includes 61 apartments for employees and their families.

"We're continuing to recruit people who are excited to join our team, but too often they are unable to secure housing, and have to decline our offer of employment," Rebecca Kapsalis, associate vice president of talent acquisition for the UVM Health Network, said in an April 27 news release. "Being able to offer these units will help more new employees relocate here, and will keep more of our colleagues working with us as well."
Why Northern Ireland is a Goldilocks region for renewable energy

Kailash Chada of Phoenix Energy looks ahead to a major renewables conference this month

Solar energy saw its highest growth ever recorded at 24.4%, according to the analysis (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Kailash Chada Tue 10 Oct 2023 at 18:45

There isnt any responsible business operator, or indeed any reasonable individual that doesnt acknowledge the need to genuinely tackle the climate challenge and to find new, innovative and sustainable ways to heat our homes, to power industry and to plan for generations to come.
Following the Belfast Telegraphs In Focus series on the housing crisis last week, Chloe Ferguson, president of the NUS-USI, looks at how members are affected

The private rented sector is an unliveable nightmare for students

As the cost-of-living soars and the demand for affordable housing woefully outstrips supply, the very essence of the student experience is being marred by the harsh reality of exorbitant rental fees, financial strain and the need for students to juggle extra work on top of a busy study schedule.

The private rented sector is an unliveable nightmare for students, with some monthly rents now over four digit costs.

The steep demand for quality housing has created a rental lottery, leaving students vulnerable to pressure selling and uncapped rental costs, where students have no scope for negotiating rent.

Thats not to mention that students are often met with living conditions that would fall well below acceptable standards.

These housing hurdles can be insurmountable for some students, jeopardising their wellbeing and hindering their academic success.

Worries of overdrafts and maxed-out credit card limits are part and partial of the student existence, with a survey by NUS finding that 92% of students are concerned about their ability to manage financially and 38% being extremely or very concerned.

As the crisis has deepened, student-led foodbanks and free breakfast mornings have become a jarring reality of student life. We are struggling to survive in a broken education and housing system.

What can be done?

NUS-USI is calling for a rent freeze in the short-term to address the cost-of-living crisis but in the longer term a Student Renters Bill to further protect renters rights.

We need to see a return of the Northern Ireland Assembly to address this worsening situation  action is critically needed to ensure that all students can access education.

While rents have soared, student incomes have not. As outlined in our Cost of Survival report, we are calling for a cost-of-living payment for all students in Northern Ireland.

When will we realise that an investment in students is in everyones interest?

We must not forget that students are the future workforce and economy.

It is in everyones interest to fix this broken system and invest in the future of our society.

Chloe Ferguson is president of Northern Ireland students union, the NUS-USI
Some companies within specialist tech sectors still have to look outside Northern Ireland for funding, one top entrepreneur and company funder has said.

Mary McKenna is co-founder of AwakenHub, a network of female founders across Ireland, and SheGenerate, an accelerator programme aimed at early stage female founders, recommends that start-ups play the long game in their quest for capital.

Speaking to Ulster Business she said while there are opportunities here, some specialist companies must still look outside these shores when it comes to funding.

If youre building a significant tech business  something capital intensive such as a medical device company  you will not be able to raise the money that you need in Northern Ireland, she says.

Within Northern Ireland, though, there is a close ecosystem of support, programmes, and investment opportunities. Mary McKenna recently launched AwakenAngels, Irelands first and only women-led angel investment syndicate.

Our target is to bring on board 50 new women angels on the island, of which about a third need to be in Northern Ireland for their first 12 months. Northern Ireland is backward in terms of the number of women that angel invest. The range of the investments will be between 35,000 to about a quarter of a million  so its early stage first money.
The novels were written by Lord Archer between 1977 and 1982 (Ian West/PA)

Jeffrey Archers Kane and Abel book trilogy is to be adapted for television as a major new series by the producers of Sex Education.

The three best selling novels  Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter and Shall We Tell The President  about two men obsessed with destroying each other and their descendants, were written by Archer between 1977 and 1982.

The TV series will be adapted for television by Eleven, the producers of Sex Education and Ten Pound Poms, as well as Sony Television International.

The first book tells the story of two men, one Polish, an illegitimate son of a baron, the other rich and privileged from a wealthy Boston banking family.

Born on the same day on opposite sides of the world, their paths cross only once in their ruthless bids to build a fortune, but what follows is an epic story of revenge that spans sixty years.

Lord Archer (Ian West/PA)

Linked by an all-consuming hatred after one catastrophic incident, the two patriarchs blindly commit their lives to destroying one anothers empires.

It is only when Abels strong-willed daughter, Florentyna, meets Kanes son Richard, that the enemies start to understand that their feud is going to come at great personal cost.

The series will be written by His Dark Materials Sarah Quintrell and executive produced by Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell for Eleven, and James Baker and James Archer for The Jeffrey Archer Company.

Former MP Lord Archer said: I am thrilled to be working with Sony, Joel and the Eleven Productions team, and Sarah, to reimagine the Kane and Abel Trilogy for a new TV series.

Quintrell added: Its exciting to be adapting Jeffreys epic and extraordinary Kane and Abel trilogy,

The big themes of power, privilege, pride, love and loss, exploring what man does to man and the ramifications of our behaviour across generations, feel incredibly timely.

The bold storytelling and wonderful twists and hooks meant I couldnt put the novels down. Its a writers dream to adapt such a rollercoaster ride especially alongside Joel, Sophie and the brilliant team at Eleven.

Kane and Abel is one of the best-selling books in the world and has sold 37 million copies to date and is in its 132nd reprint.

The book was previously adapted into a miniseries in 1985, starring Peter Strauss as Abel Rosnovski and Sam Neill as William Kane.

There have also been two Indian adaptations, as well as a Hindi movie based on the book.

Wilson said: Sarah is the most wonderful writer.

The combination of Sarah and Jeffreys incredibly compelling trilogy is a deeply fascinating one and I cant wait to find a broadcaster who shares our vision for the long-running series we have in mind.
Youth worker Alex Pelan from Belfast who use to be homeless from the age of 18-21. Photo: Peter Morrison

The head of a homeless charity has warned that 250 people are now finding themselves with nowhere to live every single week in Northern Ireland.

The Simon Community is struggling to cope with demand on its services as the crisis worsens  with just one in 15 people seeking help being offered shelter.

Chief Executive Jim Dennison fears that no one is paying attention to the scale of the invisible problem, which is being highlighted by the charity to mark World Homeless Day.

There's a huge number of people in Northern Ireland who have no fixed abode, you just don't see them, he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"There's a perception that if you are homeless you are on the street.

Simon Community CEO Jim Dennison.

But most people who become homeless are invisible because they present at hostels, B&Bs, hospitals or stay with friends or family.

The charity boss blamed years of underinvestment in the housing sector which has seen 45,000 families and individuals added to the Housing Executive waiting list.

Youth homeless is rising and we are seeing more and more young people falling out of the care service at 18 with nowhere to go, said Mr Dennison.

"The shift in demographic is big  nearly half of the people we support are under 30.

"It used to be single middle aged men. But young people can't afford mortgages and spiralling rents.

"Homelessness is a big problem and once you are in it, it is like quick sand. It is very hard to get out of.

Alex Pelan (24) knows just how hard it is after she became homeless at the age of 18 following a breakdown in her family relationships.

She was lucky enough to find emergency accommodation in a homeless hostel run by the Simon Community in south Belfast.

"It was the lowest point in my life, she recalled. I really struggled with the change of environment and my mental health deteriorated quite a lot.

I found it hard to see a positive future, or any future at all. I hit rock bottom."

The then teenager found herself in a spiralling crisis which was made worse by the stigma surrounding homelessness.

"I remember people looked at me in a different way, Ms Pelan said.

"I stood outside the hostel, which was near a school, to get some fresh air and I would get funny looks.

"Children would shout degrading comments as they passed.

"I became hypervigilant. its not a nice feeling  I only realised the impact afterwards because I was so numb at the time.

Ms Pelan spent two years in the shelter and reached out for all the support available to help her get back on her feet.

She now looks back at her hardship with a great sense of accomplishment.

"I feel proud that I came out the other side and I wear that as a patch, she said.

Youth worker Alex Pelan from Belfast. Photo: Peter Morrison

"I survived it. I knew I needed to change and I started to build relationships with staff.

But that was hard because I had trust issues.

They showed me through their actions that they cared about me and that brought me out of my shell. I eventually saw hope.

The young woman seized education opportunities which allowed her to obtain qualifications in youth work.

Now Ms Pelan is passionate about helping others.

Its a cycle thats easy to fall into and you can become addicted to the environment  that feeds into trauma, she explained.

Intervention is the only way to break that.

People need permanent solutions rather than a temporary fix.

"Simon Community staff helped me get on a course for youth work and Ive been on a mission to help people ever since.

Ms Pelan is determined to share her adverse experience to help others overcome the same obstacles she faced.

"Theres a quote that stuck with me and it says be who you needed when you were younger and thats what Im doing, she said.

I want people to know that problems dont define you or your future.

In the past year the Simon Community has supported 33 people under the age of 18 by providing temporary accommodation.

A further 45 families, including 65 children, received support through the charitys family accommodation service in 2022/23.

Mr Dennison is warning 1,000 people become homeless in NI every single month and he expects that number to increase dramatically.

"For every person we take in, there are 14 we cannot, he said.

"The average stays in our hostels is also up to 339 days  it used to be six to eight weeks.

"The Simon Community was borne out of a response to the Troubles when people were being burned out of their homes.

It's a sad indictment of our society that we have forgotten about people and allowed them to become marginalised and excluded.

The charity boss is using World Homeless Day to call for urgent action to address the crisis which he said must include a more joint departmental approach.

We need to have a serious look at why our housing system doesn't work and how government money is spent here, he added.

The current system is too fragmented.
A north Belfast man accused of murdering two Catholic workmen on a building site in May 1994 was excited, hyperactive and really pleased after the double shooting, a court heard today.

As a trial into the murders of Gary Convie and Eamon Fox commenced, a senior prosecutor said much of the evidence against accused James Stewart Smyth has been provided by UVF commander turned supergrass Gary Haggarty.

It was Haggarty who told police Smyth was the gunman who shot the workmen on the orders of fellow UVF member Mark Haddock.

As the Crown opened its case against Smyth (57), a senior prosecutor told Mr Justice OHara the accused mowed down two totally innocent men in cold blood in broad daylight doing a decent days work in the name of the UVF and naked sectarianism.

Smyth, from Forthriver Link, denies five charges arising from the fatal incident.

As well as denying the murders of Mr Convie and Mr Fox on May 17, 1994, Smyth has also denied the attempted murder of a third workman on the same date.

He has also denied possessing a Sten sub-machine gun and a quantity of ammunition with intent, and of being a member of the UVF.

Belfast Crown Court heard Mr Convie and Mr Fox died in a hail of bullets that were fired from a gunman standing in an adjacent childrens playground.

Prior to the shooting, a hole had been cut in a fence which gave access to the gunman who was seen fleeing across the playground after the shooting and who was heard shouting: Up the UVF.

Mr Convie, Mr Fox and a third man had been working on a building site in the North Queen Street area and were sitting in Mr Convies blue Vauxhall Polo on their lunch break when the gunman opened fire at around 1.10pm.

Builders Eamon Fox (left) and Gary Convie

A senior KC told Mr Justice OHara that despite the attempts of paramedics who rushed to the scene, Mr Convie and Mr Fox displayed no signs of life.

Post-mortems carried out on both men concluded Mr Convie (24) died from a bullet to the chest whilst 41-year old Eamon Fox sustained bullet wounds to his trunk.

A third workman who was sitting in the back seat of the Polo recalled seeing something black out of the corner of his eye then falling to the floor of the vehicle.

After exiting the vehicle, the third man observed both Mr Convie and Mr Fox lying on the ground outside the vehicle. He then ran to the site hut and alerted colleagues about what had just happened.

Other witnesses recalled seeing a man dressed in dark clothing and a dark hat or hood firing shots at the parked car from the fence area then fleeing.

This man, the Crown say, was Smyth  with the prosecutor saying this was based both on DNA evidence and the evidence of Gary Haggarty.

Gary Haggarty (Photo: Pacemaker Press)

Revealing Haggarty will be giving evidence during the non-jury trial, the prosecutor said that whilst he was a man who had committed multiple murders and a catalogue of other offences, he was nonetheless a credible witness.

The court heard Haggarty joined the UVF in January 1991 and was recruited by Special Branch in 1993.

A senior figure within the Tigers Bay battalion of the loyalist paramilitary group, he turned supergrass in later years and provided police with information on a string of murders including those of Mr Convie and Mr Fox.

Mr Haggarty told police Smyth  who had the nickname Jimmy Shades  was the gunman and he acted on the orders of Mark Haddock.

He said that in May 1994 he was asked by Haddock to store weapons, which included the Sten sub-machine gun used in the double murder, and a Barbour jacket belonging to Haddock which the Crown say was worn by Smyth on the day of the murders.

Mark Haddock (Photo: Pacemaker Belfast)

The prosecutor said a holdall containing the gun, jacket and other items was located in a derelict house in Alexander Park Avenue in the days after the killing after information on their whereabouts was provided by Haggarty  who at the time of the murders was a Special Branch informer.

He added that when the jacket was forensically tested, Smyths DNA was located on the inside of the coat.

Mr Haggarty told police that after the killing Smyth was driven away in a waiting vehicle to a safe house.

The supergrass also said that when he met Smyth later that night in a pub, Smyth was exited, hyperactive and really pleased and that he said it was a full clip and I emptied it until it stopped firing.

In March 1995, a man was convicted of aiding and abetting the murders of Mr Convie and Mr Fox and was handed a life sentence.

Following information supplied by Haggarty, Smyth was arrested in March 2013 and was interviewed 12 times.

Whilst he told police I know nothing about these murders, Im definitely not guilty, he refused to answer any further questions.

He gave no response to questions including why his DNA was found on the inside of the Barbour jacket which was found along with the murder weapon.

Regarding Haggarty, the prosecutor said he has admitted his own guilt in relation to the murders of Mr Convie and Mr Fox which included both storing and test firing the murder weapon prior to the shooting as well as being close to the scene of the double murder.

The KC said that whilst the Crown accept that Haggarty was a serious serial terrorist offender... who has committed multiple murders, this does not mean he was incapable of proving a truthful account about the involvement of James Smyth in the Convie and Fox murders which he was also involved in.

He told the senior judge there will be other evidence presented during the trial that will support Haggartys evidence against Smyth.

At hearing.
The 41-year-old, of Loughan Road, Dunnamanagh, Co Tyrone, appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court along with co-accused Thomas Gerard OHara (39), of Lisnahunshin Road, Cullybackey, Co Antrim, for an arraignment hearing.

Both pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office between September 1 and September 24, 2015.

The charge states that they conspired together to commit an offence of misconduct in a public office in respect of a public office holder, namely Daithi McKay, who, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the publics trust, by the manipulation of the presentation of evidence before the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Finance and Personnel.

McKay further pleaded not guilty that [on] September 23, 2015, being a public office holder, [you] wilfully misconducted yourself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the trust of the public in that, having directed the witness Jamie Bryson in relation to the hearing of the Committee for Finance and Personnel held on September 23, 2015, you presided as chair of the committee during that hearing and deliberately caused the committee to be misled as to the circumstances in which Jamie Bryson would give evidence without reasonable excuse or justification.

Read more Closing of bank accounts targeting the earners who have done nothing wrong

The arraignment of co-accused Jamie Bryson, of Rosepark, Donaghadee, Co Down, did not proceed today and was adjourned for four weeks.

The 33-year-old faces a single charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

During the arraignment hearing today, Judge Donna McColgan KC was told that the non-jury trial will last four weeks.

The date for the trial was set as Monday, June 3, 2024. The case will also be reviewed in four weeks time.

The charges arise out of events relating to the working of the Committee for Finance and Personnel (CFP) of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

At the time, Mr McKay was a Sinn Fein MLA and chair of the committee. The CFP conducted a review of the sale of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) property loan portfolio in Northern Ireland.

This sale had become controversial, with allegations that there was corruption in the sale and it was a matter of public interest. The sale was also under investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

As part of the process, Mr Bryson offered himself as a witness to the CFP and the committee met three times in September 2015 to consider how his evidence would be taken.

Read more Tyrone man refused bail after police uncover 1.7m drugs haul in lorry

On September 23, Mr Bryson gave his evidence to the CFP, during which he made various comments about alleged political influence in relation to the sale and alleged involvement of a specific politician in relation to a 7.5m success fee paid to a specific part of the NAMA loan transaction sale.

It later transpired that contacts had been made between Mr Bryson, Mr McKay and Mr OHara prior to his evidence being given, which had not been known to other committee members.

On August 17, 2016, an assistant to TUV leader Jim Allister MLA received an email from an account in the name of Mr Bryson which contained a selection of private Twitter messages said to be between Mr Bryson, Mr McKay and Mr OHara.

Mr Allister passed the messages over to the police. Detectives from the PSNIs Major Investigation Team launched an investigation into the messages.

Daithi McKay resigned as an MLA on August 18, 2016, and issued a public apology, stating that his conduct with a witness to the CFPs inquiry into NAMA was inappropriate, ill-advised and wrong.
A Co Tyrone man been refused bail after appearing in court on charges linked to the discovery of a vast cannabis haul with an estimated street value of 1.7m.

Peter OConnor (41), of Loughdoo Road, Pomeroy, is accused of possessing and being concerned in the intended supply of cannabis on October 8.

A detective from the PSNIs Organised Crime Unit told Enniskillen Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.

He explained that a search of OConnors home was conducted, during which officers uncovered 185 kilograms of herbal cannabis.

A Scania low-loader was also searched, which contained two JCBs and a number of tyres in the rear in which the drugs had been secreted.

Objecting to bail, the detective contended OConnor appeared to be living a lifestyle beyond his means, suggesting his involvement as a trusted and senior member of the organised crime group responsible for the drug supply.

This was challenged by a defence solicitor, who stated there was no substantiating evidence of this, emphasising his client lived in a house, which he built more than 20 years ago, with his partner and their four children, refuting claims of extravagant living.

The detective conceded OConnor did not have a relevant criminal record, but expressed concerns OConnors release could lead to further criminal activity, as he might have a substantial debt to repay.

He added: The investigation is still in its early stages and authorities are actively working to identify and apprehend other suspects involved. It is believed the defendant may have access to other phones, potentially allowing him to alert other individuals involved in this matter.

The defence stressed OConnor cooperated with police by surrendering his phone and PIN number in order to assist them in tracing the arrangements related to the drug shipment, pointing out it may take months to examine the device thoroughly.

It was contended OConnor had transported a load to Scotland on his truck and was returning with an empty vehicle.

To maximize his profits, he had advertised his availability in a WhatsApp group consisting of over 1,500 members in the haulage business, detailing his intent to use the return journey for potential financial gain, said the defence.

OConnor had also provided information regarding the individual who had collected the load and the precise location of this transaction.

Despite assurances that OConnor would comply with any conditions imposed by the court, District Judge Alana McSorley ultimately refused bail due to concerns about the risk of interfering with witnesses.

District Judge McSorley remanded OConnor in custody, to appear again by video-link at Dungannon Magistrates Court on November 1.
Belfast is the second friendliest city in the UK, according to Conde Nast Traveller magazines readers choice awards.

Ten cities across the UK were featured on "The friendliest cities in the UK 2023" list.

Northern Irelands capital was pipped to the post by the Welsh capital, Cardiff.

Praising Belfast, the magazine said: The people of Northern Ireland are known for their upbeat nature so it's little wonder that Belfast is the second friendliest city in the UK.

Visitors past and present have often remarked on the inclusive nature of the residents here, the birthplace of the Titanic, as well as the joyful atmosphere found within the myriad watering holes.

The magazine said the United Kingdom is a nation known for, among other things, its great hospitality, welcoming visitors from all over the world to its mix of fast-paced urban centres and long-stretching swathes of countryside.

Readers were asked to vote for the UK cities they consider home to the friendliest people in its 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.

With cities from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland appearing on this list, the friendliest spots in the country range far and wide.

Ten cities appear on this list  but three cities are tied for second place, with Liverpool and Manchester placing alongside Belfast.

London meanwhile came sixth on the list with Glasgow and Edinburgh coming fourth and third respectively.
Brian Frizzell, one of three Catholics shot dead at a mobile shop in Craigavon in 1991

James Mitchell's farm in Glenanne, Co Armagh, in May 2004 (Pic: Alan Lewis)

Imported loyalist paramilitary weapons stored by a Co Armagh farmer were moved to safety after police warned him about an imminent raid, the High Court has heard.

An officer phoned James Mitchell just before his land was searched for the deadly shipment smuggled into Northern Ireland back in 1988 under a joint arrangement by three groupings.

Intelligence on the tripartite deal by the UDA, UVF and Ulster Clubs to procure arms from overseas emerged in legal actions over their use in subsequent murders.

In the first disclosure of its kind, the details feature in an agreed summary of sensitive material held by the PSNI and Ministry of Defence (MoD) on the importation of hundreds of rifles, pistols and grenades from South Africa.

Further information must remain confidential to protect national security.

Patrick Frizzell and Margaret Lundy are both suing the police and MoD amid allegations the arsenal of weapons was allowed to be brought into Northern Ireland and distributed among paramilitary groups for use in a series of killings.

Brian Frizzell, one of three Catholics shot dead at a mobile shop in Craigavon in 1991

In March 1991, Mr Frizzells brother Brian Frizzell was shot dead by the UVF in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Mrs Lundys husband, Alan Lundy, was gunned down by a UDA unit at the west Belfast home of Sinn Fein representative Alex Maskey in May 1993.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs claim the security forces knew about the arrival of the arms shipment but did nothing to intercept it.

It is also alleged that detectives were not informed about intelligence that the weapons were being stored at Mitchells farm in January 1988.

Mitchell, a former RUC reserve officer who died in 2008, had a conviction for a previous arms dump discovered on his premises near Glenanne during the 1970s.

With writs lodged in connection with a number of other legacy killings containing similar allegations about the imported guns, Mr Justice Humphreys set out the full summary, or gist, of the information which can be made public.

Alan Lundy was shot dead by loyalists in 1993

The court heard how the UDA, UVF and Ulster Clubs  a network of organisations which operated at the time  were making efforts to source weapons across Europe, the Middle East and North America.

In July 1987, loyalist paramilitaries robbed the Portadown branch of the Northern Bank in a bid to finance an arms deal, according to intelligence.

Later that year, MI5 learned that a major consignment may be coming in from South Africa and began researching shipping routes.

Based on estimates, the total shipment included 200 rifles, 100 pistols, 24 boxes of grenades and 48 boxes of ammunition.

Documents in the case indicate senior UDA figures learned in January 1988 that the container full of arms had cleared customs, was in the hands of an unknown intermediary and was being stored at an unknown farm in Co Armagh.

The following day, police seized some of the imported weapons from two cars stopped in a surveillance operation at Mahon Road in Portadown.

The haul included 61 Czech VZ58-type rifles, 30 Browning 9mm pistols, 150 Soviet anti-personnel grenades, ammunition, magazines and pouches.

MI5 assessed it as an impressive list of equipment, out of character with previous loyalist procurements.

Police obtained further information that the weapons had been unloaded and hidden at Mitchells farm, where they were to be divided out and collected by the various loyalist organisations.

But there was a last-minute change to those arrangements following the seizure of the UDAs share at Mahon Road.

Reading from the agreed summary, Mr Justice Humphreys said: Police then went to search Mitchells farm, but Mitchell was warned that police were en route and the remainder of the weapons were removed to a safe location.

In 2016, police received information that a police officer made a phone call to Mitchells farm before a police search.

James Mitchell

A further 38 VZ58 rifles, 15 pistols, rocket-propelled grenade launcher and 100 hand grenades from the same consignment were recovered when the RUC raided an address at Flush Road in Belfast the following month.

Information indicated those weapons were in the possession of the UVF and destined for units throughout Northern Ireland.

At one stage, MI5 considered it possible that the South African government had facilitated the shipment  due to the potential involvement of a well-connected American arms dealer  without actually supplying the weapons.

Investigators were in no doubt, however, that the UDA was dealing with South Africa over the supply of a British missile system, the court heard.

Based on intelligence, an unknown proportion of the original consignment had evaded seizure by the security forces and reached the paramilitary groupings.

Amid continued loyalist attempts to gain access to the remainder of the arsenal, it was believed that by the autumn of 1988 the UDA and UVF had lost 70% and a third of their respective allocations respectively.

As these organisations were the biggest contributors to the deal and had to receive additional weapons to make up for their losses, there was a shortage of weaponry for smaller groups, Mr Justice Humphreys said.

In November that year, the RUC seized a further quantity of the weapons from hides in the Markethill area of Armagh.

Officers also recovered a stolen Javelin missile-aiming device.

The judge added: After the November weapons seizures, police had information that these weapons represented the majority of the Ulster Clubs/Ulster Resistance share of the January 1988 arms shipment.

Following disclosure of the gist, the plaintiffs solicitor Kevin Winters said: This is a very important ruling with far-reaching significance for many of our clients in other linked cases.
PSNI officers investigating an attempted murder in Crossmaglen on September 4 have issued an appeal for information.

Five arrests have been made to date, with all arrested persons bailed to allow for further enquiries.

The victim, a man aged in his 30s, was shot just after 6.10am as he sat inside his car in the Ballsmill Road area.

The car was a silver coloured Volkswagen Passat.

The attack took place early on a Monday morning. Although this is a rural area, its also a road well used by motorists for their morning journey to work  linking with onward routes to both Dublin and Belfast.

Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who noticed a dark coloured Hyundai Tuscan believed to have been in the vicinity of the Ballsmill Road area.

Anyone who can help to identify this vehicle, has information regarding its movements on the day of the incident or has dash-cam footage is asked to contact detectives via 101.
A protester, who named himself as Yaz Ashmawi, throws glitter over Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer before his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool

Sir Keir Starmer has outlined his plans to usher in "a decade of national renewal at the Labour Party conference  a vision he formed during his time in Northern Ireland.

The Labour leader promised to deliver a "Britain built to last" with a new generation of towns in all four nations if he becomes the next prime minister after being attacked by protester Yaz Ashmawi.

The 28-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance after throwing glitter over Sir Keirs head before being dragged off stage by security.

Watch: Protester storms stage and covers Keir Starmer in glitter during speech at Labour conference

"I have looked into the eyes of the people that we must serve at the Crown Prosecution Service, in my work in Northern Ireland, and I have seen reflected back the knowledge that Government can make or break a life," he said.

"Its that responsibility that drives me on towards the reforms that I know we must make, the Britain I know we must build  so lets get to work.

Delegates at the annual party conference in Liverpool applauded loudly as Sir Keir outlined his intention to build 1.5 million homes in five years and give opportunities to first time buyers.

Sir Keir contrasted the achievements of the previous Labour Government with the current Conservative Government.

The former human rights adviser to the NI Policing Board cited the creation of devolution and peace in Northern Ireland as being among the partys biggest accomplishments, however there was no mention of the current impasse at Stormont.

Referring to the electoral threat posed to his party by the SNP, Sir Keir acknowledged that securing the keys to Number 10 will be a fight as the biggest party in Scotland will argue that nationalism can provide a bridge to the world.

"We have to remind them that it can barely provide a ferry out of the Hebrides, he added.

Sir Keir explained how his Government will build a series of new towns across the country to stop housing become "a luxury for the few", replicating the policy of Clement Attlee's government that built 10 new towns during the 1950s.

He said the party would "bulldoze through" a planning system that was "an obstacle to the aspirations of millions, now and in the future, who deserve the security of home ownership".

Sometimes the old Labour ideas are right for new times, Sir Keir added.

"So where there are good jobs, where there is good infrastructure, where there is good land for affordable homes, then we will get shovels in the ground, cranes in the sky, and build the next generation of Labour new towns."

Locations for new towns will be identified on the basis of proximity to busy transport hubs, very high levels of housing need and avoidance of nature spots and important green spaces  with sites designated in the first six months of a Labour government.

Labour will release "dreary" green belt land such as disused car parks under the plans which will see more powers devolved to towns and cities across England.

"If we want to challenge the hoarding of potential in our economy then we must win the war against the hoarders in Westminster," Sir Keir said.

Delegates were repeatedly reminded that power has shifted in the party since Jeremy Corbyn was in charge  meaning it is no longer "in thrall to gesture politics".

They rose to their feet after Sir Keir condemned the "senseless" killings unleashed by Hamas "terrorists" in Israel over the weekend.

"I utterly condemn the senseless murder of men, women and children - including British citizens - in cold blood by the terrorists of Hamas," he said.

"This party believes in the two-state solution - a Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

"But this action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians and Israel must always have the right to defend her people."

The man seeking to be the next Prime Minister vowed to turn the page on the cycle of "drift, stagnate, decline" under the Tories by steering the ship on industrial policy.

This, he said, would involve building "a new generation of colleges" to train nuclear technicians, automotive engineers and computer scientists.

Sir Keir vowed to end the age of insecurity by building a country where everyone, regardless of background, by smashing the "hardest class ceiling of all" faced by the working class.

The opposition leader also pledged to "transform" the NHS by boosting capacity, getting the health service "working round the clock" while paying staff "properly" to do it, and using technology to drive efficiency and early diagnosis.

In a direct message to Tory voters, Sir Keir said: "If you look in horror at the descent of your party into the murky waters of populism and stability, with no argument for economic change, if you feel that our country needs a party that conserves, that fights for our union, our environment, the rule of law, family life, the careful bond between this generation and next, then let me tell you: Britain already has one. And you can join it. It's called the Labour Party."

Last week the Prime Minister mentioned Northern Ireland just three times in his speech at the Conservative Party conference.

Rishi Sunak only briefly referred to the political crisis at Stormont in his keynote address which acknowledged "a feeling that Westminster is a broken system and the same goes for Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont".

The region was namechecked another two times however one of them was simply in passing as he rhymed off other UK regions.

The third occasion was while the PM pledged to upgrade the A75 in Scotland to boost links between NI and Great Britain.

Around 40% of NI exports are transported along the route which connects the M74 and M6 at Gretna with Cairnryan ferry port near Stranraer.
UUP MLA Robbie Butler has told Lord John Kilclooney that he will be seeking legal advice over what he alleged was a scandalous lie made by the peer in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The pair engaged in a back-and-forth on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after Lord Kilclooney claimed Mr Butler defended the killing by Israel of children and civilians in Gaza.

Mr Butler responded and said he will be seeking legal advice to the scandalous lie.

The conflicts death toll continues to rise, with 900 Israelis and 700 Palestinians reported as dead.

Thousands of Israeli soldiers have amassed near the Gaza fence for an anticipated ground offensive.

Cross-bench peer Lord Kilclooney, who was a UUP MP for Strangford from 1983 to 2001, wrote on X: Robbie Butler MLA defends the killing by Israel of children and civilians in Gaza contrary to opinion of the UN. Claims that Israel is exercising its right to defend its nation and people.

In response, Mr Butler said: For this absolute scandalous lie I will be seeking legal advice, John. An abominable lie.

Not deterred, the former MP told Mr Butler he has an opportunity to condemn the killing of children and civilians in Gaza, adding: Do it now.

He later added: Robbie Butler MLA has still to make it clear if the right of Israel to defend its people is (1) in Israel only (2) in the illegal settlements in Palestine or (3) in Gaza only.

When another X user pointed out that Mr Butler had condemned those killings, the UUP MLA thanked the woman for her intervention.

Over recent days, Lord Kilclooney has said he understands criticism of Hamas from the Conservative and Labour parties, but asked: Were they also critical of the Israeli illegal settlements within Palestine?

He condemned attacks on civilians in Israel and Gaza as the worst of humanity.

Mr Butler has also condemned attacks on both sides, posting: As images come onto our screens showing, graphically, the brutality of war, murder, savagery and the brutalisation of children, women and men, we still see those who celebrate this barbarity.

With over 600 Israelis dead and more than 300 Palestinians dead, the only gatherings worthy of attending are those demanding peace.

Prayers with the Damti family as they wait on news.

In a separate post, he commented: All deaths in Israel and Palestine are needless and tragic. Anyone who glories in these deaths or feels some satisfaction is deplorable.

The innocent and ordinary will carry the burden of terror and political failure. I really cant fathom some of the comments and justification flowing easily from people on here.

According to United Nations data, there have been 6,407 Palestinian fatalities and 152,560 injured between January 2008 and September 21, 2023.

Over the same period, there have been 308 Israeli fatalities and 6,307 injuries.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has called for civilians especially children  medical facilities, humanitarian personnel health workers and journalists to be protected.

With electricity and water supplies to Gaza being cut off by the Israeli authorities, OCHA added: All relevant actors must allow humanitarian teams and goods to immediately and safely reach the hundreds of thousands of people in need.
President Michael D Higgins has called for an end to the violence in Israel and Gaza (Brian Lawless/PA)

Irish president Michael D Higgins has called for a cessation of violence in Israel and Gaza for the protection of the lives of innocent civilians.

His comments came as the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs criticised a unilateral announcement from an EU commissioner which said payments under a development portfolio for Palestinians would be suspended.

In a statement, Mr Higgins said: May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families.

Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible. Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life.

Such actions will not lead to such a constructive approach as might achieve the necessary conditions for the co-existence of all in conditions of peace, for which we must all aspire.

Mr Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to all the families of the victims of the recent violence.

He said his thoughts are particularly with the family of 22-year-old Irish-Israel citizen Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for since the attack against Israel.

The president also said an ongoing diplomatic failure to address the conflict is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved.

Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled.

Those international voices who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life, for restraint, realise how difficult this is to achieve.

Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure.

Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency.

What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all.

I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians.

Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Meanwhile, Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has said the protection of civilians has to be the centre of work towards a just and sustainable peace.

In a statement, Mr Martin said: I am horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days. I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel.

The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately.

Yesterday, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago.

It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence.

Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: I am working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis, including by speaking today with Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki and with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi.

I will discuss the situation with my EU counterparts in an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers tomorrow.

These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events.

We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated.

This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was also critical of a tweet from EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi which said all payments for a Palestinian development programme immediately suspended.

A spokeswoman said: It is our understanding there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid.

The Commission later clarified that it is launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel.

It said no payments have been suspended as there were no payments foreseen.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

Irish funding provides emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic public services.

Ireland has also consistently funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which addresses the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestinian refugees.

Irelands funding plays a crucial role in the livelihoods and welfare of Palestinian civilians  currently up to 80% of the Palestinian population is dependent on international assistance for basic human needs.

Ireland remains committed to delivering this vital support to Palestinian civilians and their needs should continue to be a central part of the overall response to this crisis by the international community.
With 8,794,726 votes, representing 36.61 percent of the total vote cast; Bola Hammed Tinubu, candidate of the ruling APC, won a highly contested and contentious general election. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP, came second with a total vote of 6,984,520 votes, representing 29.07 percent of the total. But, the greatest upset in this particular election was the performance of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, who scored a total vote of 6,101,533 (25.40 percent) coming in third but with an almost non-existing party structure. This is a clear indication that the Nigerian masses are looking for an alternative on the political front.
Asylum seekers are being told about their return to the Bibby Stockholm barge after it was evacuated following the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply (PA)

Asylum seekers are being told about their return to the Bibby Stockholm barge after it was evacuated following the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

The Home Office said all necessary tests have been completed on the floating vessel, which has been out of use since August.

Letters are being sent to asylum seekers confirming their re-embarkation, although it is understood no date has been given yet.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Office has started to send letters to asylum seekers to confirm the re-embarkation of the Bibby Stockholm and notify them that they will be accommodated on board, following the vessel completing all necessary tests.

The letters confirm the next steps for asylum seekers and reiterate that all asylum accommodation continues to be offered on a no-choice basis.

Delivering alternative accommodation sites, such as the vessel, is more affordable for taxpayers and more manageable for communities, due to healthcare and catering facilities on site, 24/7 security and the purpose-built safe accommodation they provide.

The update comes as a Dorset resident is bringing legal action against the Home Office over the use of the barge, which is docked in Portland Port.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats crossing the Channel one of his top priorities (PA)

Carralyn Parkes, who lives on the Isle of Portland, is set to ask the High Court for approval to challenge the Government department over the barge, arguing the Government requires planning permission.

Ms Parkes is the mayor of Portland but intends to bring the challenge in a personal capacity.

A hearing will take place on Tuesday.

The barge is part of Government efforts to provide cheaper alternative housing for migrants waiting for their asylum application to be processed, with former military sites also converted into accommodation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping boats crossing the Channel one of his top five priorities ahead of a likely general election next year.
The weekend deluge left some parts of Scotland under water (PA)

Scotlands Transport Secretary has said she is hopeful the rail network can withstand more rain as another weather warning was issued.

The country was battered by heavy rainfall over the weekend, causing flooding and leading to train cancellations and road closures.

Pictures on social media showed some train stations flooded, with tracks under feet of water.

Another yellow weather warning has been put in place by the Met Office for rain on Tuesday, with 15mm-25mm (0.6in-1in) forecast quite widely, with peak totals of 40mm-50mm (1.6in-2in) possible over high ground.

Speaking to the PA news agency from the Network Rail control room in Glasgow, Mairi McAllan said the forecast rain would not normally result in a yellow warning, but the recent weather has led to caution from the Met Office.

Asked if she is confident the rain will not overwhelm the rail network, Ms McAllan said: Im hopeful that it wont.

The advice from the Met Office is that the rain thats expected today wouldnt normally constitute a yellow weather warning.

But it has been issued on account of the deluge over the weekend and the fact that the ground is already saturated.

The guidance, she said, is there to warn people to heed warnings to be wary of further flooding.

Mairi McAllan said the forecast rain has resulted in a weather warning because it comes in already-deluged areas (PA)

The weather warning covers western Scotland between 6am and 9pm on Tuesday.

The Met Office said: Following disruptive rainfall across much of Scotland in recent days, a further period of fairly heavy rainfall is likely to affect many western parts of Scotland during Tuesday, though nothing like the amount seen on Saturday, before the rain begins to clear away southwards during Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Across many western areas, 15mm-25mm of rain could fall quite widely, with peak totals of 40mm-50mm possible over and around the high ground.

This may bring further impacts from flooding, including the disruption of travel, given the recent wet conditions.

Ms McAllan also praised the work of Network Rail during what she described as an exceptional event.

She said: I think they responded very well. I think that is seen in how quickly the network recovered.

Despite a raft of cancellations as a result of the flooding, just one part of the network between Dunblane and Perth remains closed, with hopes of it reopening on Wednesday.

Two severe flood warnings issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency remain in force on Tuesday for Aviemore/Dalfaber and for part of Perth, while there are 33 flood warnings and 10 flood alerts in place.

Meanwhile, the search for a 77-year-old man reported missing in a river continues, after specialist resources including a police helicopter and drones were used to look for him on Monday.

Flooding over the weekend in the Kingussie area (Jane Barlow/PA)

A search operation was launched at about 5pm on Sunday after police received a report of concern for a man seen in the River Tay, near Strathtay.

Ten motorists were airlifted to safety on Saturday due to landslides on the A83 in Argyll and Bute, which dislodged 2,000 tonnes of debris. Another four were airlifted in Kilmartin, Argyll and Bute.

The A83 between the Rest And Be Thankful and Inveraray has closed for work to remove debris from landslips.

Six further landslips were identified as a result of the work, Bear Scotland said.

The road maintenance firm said it had removed 9,500 tonnes of debris from the A83 so far, with a further 2,000 tonnes on the hillside likely to need removing before the road can safely open.
Former Texas congressman Will Hurd, a critic of Donald Trump, has ended his presidential bid and endorsed Nikki Haley as the Republican candidate.

His brief campaign was largely built on criticising the former president who continues to be the partys frontrunner.

Writing on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, he said: While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognise the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden.

He said Ms Haley, a former US ambassador to the United Nations under Mr Trump and governor of South Carolina, has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy.

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley (Meg Kinnard/AP)

Responding to the endorsement, Ms Haley wrote on X: America is at a crossroads and its time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president. Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!

A clandestine CIA officer who worked in Pakistan, Mr Hurd served three terms in the House until January 2021 and was the chambers only Black Republican during his final two years in office.

The 46-year-old has long been a fierce Trump antagonist, even encouraging the then-Republican presidential nominee to leave the 2016 race when the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump brags about sexually assaulting women was made public in the final weeks before the election.

His few memorable moments as a White House candidate came when he was heckled by Republican crowds after repeating assertions that Mr Trump would lose the general election to President Joe Biden.

Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison, Hurd declared at a July GOP dinner in Iowa. When sustained booing followed, he responded: Listen, I know the truth is hard.
Demonstrators outside the World Court hold pictures of people they say disappeared in Syria (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

The Netherlands and Canada are taking Syrias government to the United Nations highest court on Tuesday, accusing Damascus of massive human rights violations against its own people.

Launching the case at the International Court of Justice in June, the two said: Since 2011, Syrians have been tortured, murdered, sexually assaulted, forcibly disappeared and subjected to chemical weapon attacks on a mass scale.

Twelve years on, human rights violations at the hands of the Syrian regime persist.

Members of the delegations for Canada and the Netherlands attend preliminary hearings at the International Court of Justice (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Syria did not attend the hearing Tuesday, the delegations seats in court were empty as the case got underway.

The courts president, Joan E. Donoghue said: The court regrets the non-appearance of the Syrian Arab Republic.

A group of Syrians gathered outside the court before the hearing, carrying photos of people they claim are victims of torture and enforced disappearance, and holding banners emblazoned with the text End torture now! and Where are they?.

Syrias conflict started with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assads government in March 2011 but quickly morphed into a full-blown civil war after the governments brutal crackdown on the protesters.

The tide turned in Mr Assads favour against rebel groups in 2015, when Russia provided key military backing to Syria, as well as Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

In a written filing to the court, the Netherlands and Canada said torture in Syria includes severe beatings and whippings, including with fists, electric cables, metal and wooden sticks, chains and rifle butts; administering electric shocks; burning body parts; pulling out nails and teeth; mock executions; and simulated drownings.

Seats, reserved for the Syrian governments legal delegation, remained empty in the World Court as the hearing began (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Two days of hearings, which open on Tuesday, focus on the Dutch and Canadian request for judges to issue an interim order for Syria to immediately cease the torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of its people, while the case proceeds through the world court, a process likely to take years.

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said the case provides an important opportunity to scrutinise Syrias long-standing heinous torture of countless civilians.

Mr Jarrah said in a statement the court should urgently put in place measures to prevent further abuses against Syrians who continue to suffer under nightmarish conditions and whose lives are in serious jeopardy.

In their filing with the court, Canada and the Netherlands level the blame directly on Mr Assads government.

They argued that consistent uses of different torture methods at different locations throughout Syria demonstrates the systematic and widespread nature of the practice, which extends from the highest levels of the Syrian government.

Orders by the court are legally binding but are not always adhered to by countries involved in proceedings.

Canada and the Netherlands say that Syrians have been tortured, murdered, sexually assaulted, forcibly displaced and subject to chemical weapon attacks on a mass scale (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Last year, the judges issued such an order in another case calling on Moscow to cease hostilities in Ukraine.

Canada and the Netherlands are accusing the Assad administration of breaching the United Nations Convention Against Torture and argue that the conventions conflict resolution mechanism gives the Hague-based court jurisdiction to hear the case.

The war in Syria has so far killed half a million people, wounded hundreds of thousands and destroyed many parts of the country.

It has displaced half of Syrias pre-war population of 23 million, including more than 5 million who are refugees outside Syria.
A Portadown undertaker just back from holiday in Israel has applied for clearance to return to help with humanitarian efforts, including organising funerals for the hundreds of dead.

Ian Milne, who was a negotiator during the Drumcree crisis, said he has been left heartbroken by the unprecedented attacks by Hamas terrorists, which have been met with fierce retaliation from Israel. The death toll has already passed 1,000.

He said: The videos on social media of Israeli soldiers and old women and children being dragged out of their vehicles and their homes have been stomach-churning and reminded me of the horrible murders of the two corporals, Derek Wood and David Howes, in west Belfast in 1988, said the former RUC and UDR member.

Watching the footage of young people pleading for their lives after being kidnapped from a rave in Israel was the first time Id been brought to the same emotional position since that Saturday afternoon when the corporals were abducted and shot dead.

Obviously, there are a lot of parallels between Northern Ireland and Israel, but the savagery that was unleashed at the weekend was staggering, and unfortunately its clear theres a lot more bloodshed ahead.

Mr Milne paid his first visit to Israel late last year and loved the country so much that he returned earlier this month.

He said: Its the most beautiful place imaginable. Tel Aviv is a wonderful cosmopolitan city where the joy of life was outstanding.

Tel Aviv has escaped the worst of the rocket attacks in recent days, but it has been targeted too.

When I was there we had a warning of a missile attack, but thankfully it didnt come to anything.

However, I simply couldnt believe what I saw at the weekend.

Its little wonder that Israel hit back and declared that they were now at war. Terrorism is terrorism, no matter where it is.

I rang the staff at the hotel where I stayed to pass on my support and my condolences and they were in tears to think that someone so far away was thinking about them and praying for them.

Mr Milne has now applied to the authorities in Israel to be a volunteer.

He said: Im ready to go at the drop of a hat if they want me, and if I can arrange flights. I was already planning a third visit, but after whats happened I am doubly determined to return to assist them.

Mr Milne, who worked behind the scenes for several years in an unsuccessful bid to broker a deal over the Drumcree stand-off, also criticised Celtic fans after they displayed Free Palestine and Victory to the Resistance banners and flags at Parkhead on Saturday during a match with Kilmarnock.

He shared a social media message from ex-Celtic player and Israel international Nir Britton, who criticised his former clubs supporters, adding: Shame on you.
More than 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians dead as conflict continues

Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel

Hundreds of people have been injured in the attacks, with at least 22 Israelis dead, according to Israeli officials.

Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis

Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has branded a tweet from Alliance leader Naomi Long pathetic and said the party is sitting on the fence amid ongoing violence in Israel after Hamas.

In a post on the website X, formerly Twitter, Ms Long called for justice for all instead of lighting up buildings in solidarity.

Instead of lighting up buildings in solidarity with either 'side' in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, maybe we should instead light a candle for peace in the darkness of war, and in memory of all those whose lives have been lost. My prayer is for peace and justice for all x, she posted.

The tweet was met with criticism from Ms Lockhart who claimed the Alliance Party was refusing to condemn Hamas, which launched a series of surprise attacks on the nation over the weekend.

"Pathetic from the Alliance party, the DUP MP wrote.

Not one word of condemnation for the terrorists of Hamas. Over 700 people dead in Israel and not a word of condemnation from the party.

Sitting on the fence for political expediency doesnt cut it, wrote Ms Lockhart.

Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Ms Longs post referred to several buildings across the world, including No 10 Downing Street, demonstrating support for Israel by projecting the flag or lighting up the building in the flags blue and white colours.

Ms Lockhart also reposted a tweet which showed the Brandenburg Gate with the Israeli flag projected onto it and asked why Belfast had not done the same.

When challenged in the replies to her tweet, including by former police officer Jon Burrows who claimed Ms Long was showing neutrality and therefore a dereliction of leadership duty, the Alliance leader hit back to disagree.

Jon, I didn't suggest 'neutrality'. I suggested that a ceasefire is the interests of all of the people - Israeli and Palestinian - though not necessarily what their respective governments will seek. Standing for peace in the face of violence isn't a neutral position, she responded.

Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow

Many political figures in Northern Ireland have waded into the commentary over the violence which has so far killed over 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians.

Over the weekend, Sinn Fein was branded shameless over social media posts following the deadly attack by Hamas.

DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly hit out after the partys youth wing Tweeted a photo of a Palestinian flag, saying it was a disgrace.

The post was also criticised by UUP leader Doug Beattie, who also described a post from the partys South Down MP Chris Hazzard in support of Palestine as crass.

It came as the Assembly watchdog was urged to probe a disgusting pro-Palestinian Tweet from People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

In the most serious escalation in the decades-old conflict in a generation, Palestinian militants launched an unprecedented assault into Israeli territory, sending fighters across the border and firing thousands of rockets.

Israel retaliated with strikes in Gaza City, reducing buildings to rubble. Its premier Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel will take "mighty vengeance for this black day".

He warned people living in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn parts of the territory "into rubble" in revenge.

Massive shooting of rockets amid unprecedented Hamas operation against Israel

A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army is among the dead. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defence Services when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday.

His death comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlow, who went to the same London school at Mr Young, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza border.

Dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants. The Israeli Embassy to the United States put the figure at 100 in a social media post.

There has been widespread condemnation, with US President Joe Biden saying support for Israel was rock solid and unwavering.

However, Sinn Feins youth wing, Ogra Sinn Fein, was criticised after Tweeting an image on Saturday evening of a Palestinian flag.

Ms Little-Pengelly said it was shameful by Sinn Fein.

She added: No matter the view on the region SF may have, the murder and torture, including of many, many civilians, is wrong and evil. To allow the official Sinn Fein youth organisation to post this of all days is a disgrace.

Mr Beattie said he was staggered by what he said was Sinn Feins support for Hamass actions.

He also described as unbelievably crass comments by Mr Hazzard on X, where he said: Palestinians must be free to live without oppression, apartheid & colonisation, adding Free Palestine.

Sinn Fein was contacted for comment on both posts. The party referred to an earlier statement from TD Matt Carthy

Mr Carthy said: The attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians and military targets, and the Israeli bombardment on Gaza, must stop immediately. These events have the potential to lead towards a new dangerous tipping point.

He added: A lasting and just peace between Palestinians and Israelis requires an end to the occupation and apartheid systems being imposed upon the Palestinian people.

Earlier, West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll sparked anger after Tweeting: Victory to the Palestinian Resistance, accompanied by two clenched fist emojis.

Mr Beattie has reported the post to the Assemblys Standards Commissioner.

UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler said Mr Carrolls comments were utterly disgusting and despicable.

Such acts, as with any act of terror, must be condemned in the strongest sense by all right-minded people. To act or comment on this horror with triumphalism is nothing short of abhorrent, he said.

Therefore, I was shocked and disgusted to see a People Before Profit MLA - Gerry Carroll - tweet 'victory to the Palestinian resistance' as these images were being broadcast on our screens.

Promoting violence and a terrorist attack in this manner is not acceptable and brings Stormont into disrepute.

"On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party MLA group, my party leader is reporting him and his comments to the Standards Commissioner.

Alliance MP Stephen Farry said the post was shameful.

Former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster said: Surely this is against the Assembly pledge against violence. Its absolutely disgraceful.

On Saturday evening, Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities were hit by a new barrage of rockets.

President Biden reaffirmed the US's full support for Israel, saying its support is "rock solid and unwavering".

"This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, to seek an advantage. The world is watching, he added.

Israels ambassador to the UK says the country is now in a necessity war with Hamas to protect our people.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast from Givat Shumel in Israel, Tzipi Hotovoley says Israelis woke up to a nightmare, and called Hamas a terrorist organisation that targets civilians and innocent children.

Read more US and European leaders condemn Hamas attack on Israel

Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas gained control of the territory in 2007 and the two have fought wars ever since.

Hamas caught Israel off-guard on Simchat Torah, a major holiday, with the strength, sophistication and timing of the attack shocking Israelis.

On Sunday an Israeli military official said "hundreds of terrorists" have been killed and dozens captured amid ongoing fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza and southern Israel.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke to reporters more than 24 hours after the Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented assault into Israel.

Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in streets in the south of the country on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group in the north.

The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after the attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict.

Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early on Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel.

They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza.

Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers.

More than 400 Palestinian militants have been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and dozens more have been captured, according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari.

On Saturday, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pick-up trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast.

They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities.

On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places.

An Israeli military spokesperson said two hostage situations had been "resolved" but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive.

In a televised address on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities.

"All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," he added.
A neighborhood in Gaza City hit by an Israeli airstrike lies in rubble

A United Nations expert has said an Israeli blockade of Gaza would be like the British state laying siege to Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Mark Seddon, who is the director of the Centre for United Nations Studies at the University of Buckingham, shared his thoughts on social media in a post which has attracted thousands of likes.

This would be the equivalent of the British state ordering a complete siege of Northern Ireland during the Troubles; cutting electricity, food, water & humanitarian supplies & demolishing Belfast, building by building, he wrote on X.

The post, which has been viewed by more than 250,000 people, was in response to remarks made by Israels Defense Minister as he announced the military response to the surprise terror attack by Hamas on Saturday.

Politics: The Israeli-Hamas war and the NI split over it

Yoav Gallant confirmed on Monday that a total blockade would be imposed on one of the most densely populated areas in the world which is home to 2.3m people.

"I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, he said.

"There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we will act accordingly."

According to the UN website Mr Seddon is the media adviser at the international organisation and works in the Office of the President.

"He works with the spokeswoman for the President to ensure that United Nationsbased and other correspondents in broadcast, print and social media are briefed on the activities and programme of the President.

"He also prepares some of the Presidents speeches, remarks and statements.

Mr Seddon, a former UN Correspondent for Al Jazeera English TV, also has experience in speechwriting and worked in the communications unit for former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

For a time. the former journalist served as director of communications for former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown, who is the UNs Special Envoy for Global Education.

His comments on social media prompted others to compare Israels war against Hamas to the Troubles.

"When the IRA bombed Northern Ireland the UK were not permitted to pursue the terrorists into Ireland  can you imagine if the UK started bombing apartment buildings in Ireland and other countries lit their buildings with the Union Jack? one person replied.

Another posted: So many parallels with the British occupation of Ireland.

However some others disagreed.

"No it wouldnt, because Northern Ireland is part of the UK  Gaza is not part of Israel, one noted.

"Gaza is ruled by Hamas. Israel is at war with Hamas. Israel is not responsible for supplying people it is at war with.

Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow

A number of local politicians have been criticised after commenting on the violence which has killed over 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart described a tweet by Alliance leader Naomi Long as pathetic and accused the party of fence sitting.

It was in response to Ms Longs call for justice for all instead of lighting up buildings in solidarity.

Over the weekend, Sinn Fein was criticised over a post by the partys youth wing featuring a photo of a Palestinian flag.

A pro-Palestinian post by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has been referred to the Assemblys Standards Commissioner.
Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest (Andreea Alexandru/AP/PA)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met his counterpart in Romania on Tuesday for talks on regional security and to strengthen bilateral ties against the backdrop of Russias invasion of his country.

He described the partnership between the two countries as key to stability for Europe and beyond on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after meeting President Klaus Iohannis in the capital, Bucharest.

The two discussed security in the Black Sea region, economic co-operation, shared infrastructure projects and Ukraines requests for military support, Mr Zelensky told reporters after the meetings.

He also thanked Romania for providing both military and humanitarian support to his country.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president described the Nato and European Union member country as a friend who came to our help on our darkest day and whose support gets stronger with time, on X.

In recent weeks, Russia has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraines Danube River ports  located just across the river from Romania  as Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraines ability to export grain to world markets.

Romania has confirmed drone fragment findings on its territory, the type used by the Russian army near its border with Ukraine.

In Romania, it is well known how dangerous Russian terrorism is, how dangerous the drones and missiles are that attack the villages near the Romanian border, Mr Zelensky said.

Ukrainian pilots will be trained in Romania and I discussed this with the Romanian president. We discussed our military requests.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis pose with a joint statement signed before a press conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania (Andreea Alexandru/AP/PA)

In July, Romanias Supreme Council of National Defence said the country aims to open a regional training hub for F-16 fighter jet pilots from fellow Nato countries and other partners, including Ukraine.

For his part, Mr Iohannis said Romania is focused on helping Ukraine win the war against Russia and that supporting Ukraine is in his countrys strategic interest.

Strengthening Ukraines security means strengthening Romanias security, he said.

Ukraine and Romania signed an agreement in August to try to boost Kyivs grain exports through Romania after Russia withdrew from a wartime agreement a month earlier that ensured safe passage through the Black Sea.

Romanias Black Sea port of Constanta has become a key transport route for the wartorn nations grain amid the war.

Ukraine is a major global supplier of wheat, barley, corn and vegetable oil and has struggled since Russias invasion to get its food products to parts of the world in need. After Russia blocked the grains Black Sea passage, that left more expensive overland routes through Europe as the main path for Ukraines exports.

The Ukrainian presidents trip to Romania is his first official visit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. In the wake of the invasion, millions of Ukrainian refugees fled to Romania before moving on to other countries.

Around 85,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently registered in Romania, under the EUs temporary protection scheme.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to neighbouring Romania on Tuesday for talks with his counterpart on regional security and strengthening bilateral ties against the backdrop of Russias invasion of his country.

Mr Zelensky met with President Klaus Iohannis in the capital, Bucharest. The two are also expected to discuss security co-operation in the Black Sea region, Mr Zelensky said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

After he arrived in Romania, Mr Zelensky described the Nato and European Union member country as a friend who came to our help on our darkest day and whose support gets stronger with time.

Romanias Black Sea port of Constanta has become a key transport route for Ukrainian grain (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

In recent weeks, Russia has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraines Danube River ports  located just across the river from Romania  as Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraines ability to export grain to world markets.

Romania has confirmed drone fragment findings on its territory, the type used by the Russian army near its border with Ukraine.

Ukraine and Romania signed an agreement in August to try and boost Kyivs grain exports through Romania after Russia withdrew from a wartime agreement a month earlier that ensured safe passage through the Black Sea.

Romanias Black Sea port of Constanta has become a key transport route for the war-torn nations grain amid the war.

Ukraine is grateful for Romanias support, which strengthens our state, as well as its constructive solidarity, which enables our nations to be security donors for the world, notably in food security, Mr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

More than 85,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently registered in Romania under the EUs temporary protection scheme (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Ukraine is a major global supplier of wheat, barley, corn and vegetable oil and has struggled since Russias invasion to get its food products to parts of the world in need.

After Russia blocked the grains Black Sea passage, that left more expensive overland routes through Europe as the main path for Ukraines exports.

The Ukrainian presidents trip to Romania is his first official visit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year.

In the wake of the invasion, millions of Ukrainian refugees fled to Romania before moving on to other countries.

Around 85,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently registered in Romania, under the EUs temporary protection scheme.
Since the start of the pandemic, Singapore has seen an unprecedented level of capital inflow. More than $400 billion SGD (nearly $300 billion USD) in capital flowed into the country in 2021 alone. The capitalists of the region and beyond sense the coming economic crisis and accompanying political and social turmoil and are betting big on Singapore to be the safe harbour to ride out the storm. However, the crisis of capitalism on a world scale will only worsen, and the capitalists will find that

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West Papua independence activist Benny Wenda (blue shirt) is pictured amid Morning Star independence flags at the opening ceremony for the 7th Melanesian Arts & Culture Festival in Port Vila, Vanuatu, July 19, 2023.

UPDATED at 6:26 a.m. EDT on 2023-10-10

Indonesia canceled a regional meeting this week on the human rights situation in its Papuan provinces on the grounds that the leaders of Melanesian nations werent attending it, a member of Papua New Guineas delegation said on Tuesday.

The canning of the meeting comes after the Papuan independence movement had its application to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group rejected in August. The U.N.-recognized organization comprises the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonias indigenous Kanak independence movement.

Indonesia, an associate member of the Melanesian group, has lobbied against the liberation movements membership aspirations for at least a decade.

I am disappointed that the meeting was canceled by the Indonesian government at the last moment, Powes Parkop, the governor of Papua New Guineas National Capital District, told BenarNews.

Leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group nations agreed at a summit in August to create space for dialogue with Indonesia on the human rights situation in its Papuan provinces  often known as West Papua  rather than encouraging the independence movement, which has strong grassroots support in Melanesian countries.

Possible measures included an annual parliamentary dialogue between Indonesia and Melanesian nations.

Poorly armed Papuan fighters  collectively known as the West Papua National Liberation Army  have battled Indonesia since the early 1960s, when it took control of the western half of New Guinea island from the Dutch.

Papuans, culturally and ethnically distinct from the rest of Indonesia, say they were denied the right to decide their own future. Indonesian control was formalized in 1969 with a U.N.-backed referendum in which little more than 1,000 Papuans were allowed to vote.

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop (left) receives Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins (right) at Port Moresby International Airport on May 21, 2023, ahead of the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation Summit in Papua New Guinea. [AFP]

Documented and alleged killings and abuses by Indonesian military and police, from the 1960s until the present day  along with impunity and the exploitation of the regions natural resources and widespread poverty  have fueled resentment of Indonesian rule.

The Papua New Guinea governments invitation to Parkop to be a member of its delegation said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo had called for Melanesian leaders to have a historical meeting with him on West Papua issues.

He was about to leave Papua New Guinea for the meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday in Bali, alongside a summit of island and archipelagic states, when he was informed of the cancellation.

Parkop said he spoke to Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her explanation for the cancellation was the nonattendance of the leaders of Melanesian nations.

I have impressed on her to allow dialogue to commence initially with those MSG leaders like myself  who have been pushing this agenda and not to wait for prime ministers, said Parkop.

I am hopeful that this meeting will take place soon so we can see progress toward resolving the long standing political and human rights issue in our region.

Abdul Kadir Jaelani, the director general for Asia, Pacific and Africa at Indonesias foreign ministry, said the leaders of Melanesian countries couldnt attend because of domestic priorities.

Therefore, the dialogue is currently difficult to hold, he told BenarNews. Indonesia is always open to dialogue with any country.

Of course, any dialogue should be conducted in accordance with international principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This handout picture taken on Sept. 10, 2019 and released by the Indonesian Presidential Palace shows President Joko Widodo (right) meeting with some 61 Papuan and West Papuan religious and student leaders, customary and communities chiefs at the state palace in Jakarta. [AFP]

Papuan groups that peacefully advocate for independence from Indonesia suffered a setback in August when the Melanesian Spearhead Group denied the United Liberation Movement for West Papuas application for full membership.

The official communique from the August summit was not released publicly, but a copy seen by BenarNews said leaders could not reach a consensus on West Papuan membership, which meant it could not be approved.

It reiterated long standing international calls for Indonesia to allow a U.N. human rights delegation to visit the Papua region.

Fijis Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had earlier in the year made a public show of support for West Papua and Vanuatu is a longstanding bastion of support for the independence movement.

But Papua New Guinea, which has a 760-kilometer (472-mile) border with Indonesia and is dwarfed in both military and economic strength by the Southeast Asian country, has made improving relations with Jakarta a foreign policy priority.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, formerly a supporter of West Papuan independence, said earlier this month that self-determination is an internal matter for Indonesias Papuan provinces.

Melanesian politics are pretty fluid, a change of governments will result in a different conversation about self-determination and human rights in the region, Hipolitus Wangee, a researcher at Australian National University, told BenarNews.

There is another chance for the ULMWP application as long as the Indonesian government fails to address the root causes in West Papua.

Charley Piringi in Honiara, Stephen Wright in Wellington, and Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Chinese Coast Guard boats close to a floating barrier are pictured on Sept. 20, 2023, near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

The Philippines military chief on Tuesday rejected a claim that its navy vessel was driven away from a disputed reef in the South China Sea by the Chinese coast guard, calling it Beijings propaganda.

Early on Tuesday, the China Coast Guard said a Philippine Navy gunboat came into Chinas jurisdictional waters near the Scarborough Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

On Oct. 10, a Philippine Navy gunboat intruded into the waters adjacent to Chinas Huangyan Island, ignoring Chinas repeated warnings, Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement, using the Chinese name for a shoal the Philippines calls Bajo de Masinloc.

Gan said that China Coast Guard ships took necessary measures, such as tracking and controlling the ships route, to drive away the Philippine vessel according to the law.

Beijings claim  which comes against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the neighbors  was rejected by the Philippines top military commander, who denied such an incident had taken place.

That is just propaganda from Beijing  to show that they are doing something, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told BenarNews on Tuesday.

A Philippine navy boat was in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc, but it was carrying out a maritime patrol.

It was sailing and it just so happened that the China Coast Guard was there and we issued a challenge, Brawner said. Our ship continued with its mission.

He added the boats were far away from each other.

A China Coast Guard ship is seen from a Philippine fishing boat at the disputed Scarborough Shoal April 6, 2017. [Reuters]

Both Beijing and Manila claim sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, which China seized after a standoff with the Philippines in 2012 and has maintained control over since.

A United Nations arbitration tribunal in 2016 had dismissed Chinas sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea, including shoal, but Beijing has refused to recognize it.

Gan accused the Philippines of violating Chinas sovereignty over the shoal, adding: We call on the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement.

On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also warned Manila against making provocations and creating trouble at sea.

The ministry was responding to a statement by the Philippines on Saturday that Chinas unfounded claims in the South China Sea and Beijings actions in the waterway were irresponsible.

Stirring up trouble

This week, U.S. and Philippine warships are conducting a bilateral training exercise called Samasama (Together) 2023 in the waters off the Philippines. The exercise, joined by several other U.S. allies, is seen as a testament of the strong bond between the two militaries.

Currently, the Philippines is at the vanguard of challenging China at sea, much more aggressive than any other party including the United States, said Beijing-based think tank, the South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI), in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Wait and see, it added in a thinly veiled threat, The Scarborough Shoal Incident in 2012 is a wake-up call for both China and the Philippines.

The 2012 standoff began on April 8, 2012 after the Philippine Navy attempted to arrest Chinese fishermen for alleged illegal fishing in the waters near Scarborough Shoal, but the attempt was blocked by Chinese maritime surveillance ships.

Naval vessels from both sides were deployed in the standoff that lasted more than two months. The Philippines pulled its two ships out on June 15, 2012, but China kept its ships at the shoal.

It is now one of the regions most contested maritime features and a flash point between China and the Philippines in the contested South China Sea.

Most recently, in late September, the Philippines said China had installed a 300-meter (984-foot) floating barrier to block Philippine fishermen from accessing the waters around the shoal.

The Philippine coast guard carried out a special operation to cut the barrier and remove its anchor.

An aerial view shows the BRP Sierra Madre on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023. [Reuters]

The risk of confrontation has also risen in recent days over another disputed atoll in the South China Sea, known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal.

The Philippines, which calls it Ayungin Shoal, maintains a military post there with fewer than a dozen marines stationed on a rusty WWII-era landing craft, the BRP Sierra Madre.

Manila has accused China of regularly blocking its resupply missions to the troops on the Sierra Madre, including by firing a water cannon at one of the Philippine boats delivering goods to the outpost in August.

The Chinese name for the atoll is Renai Jiao.

Six parties  China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan  claim parts of the resource-rich South China Sea, but Beijings is by far the most extensive, covering nearly 90% of the sea.
The man identified by Thai media as the father of the mall shooting suspect prays to Khin Win, the mother of Moe Myint, one of the victims, at Moe Myints funeral at Phasuk Maneechak temple in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Oct. 7, 2023.

It was the evening of Oct. 3, and Moe Myint had just deposited cash from the days sales at the toy store where she worked at the bank in Bangkoks swanky Siam Paragon shopping center.

As the 31-year-old migrant worker from Myanmar walked back to the store, a 14-year-old boy opened fire with a pistol at the crowded mall, killing her and a Chinese national. Five others  including a Lao national, one Chinese and three Thais  were wounded in the shooting that sent hundreds of shoppers fleeing for safety.

At the weekend, Moe Myints mother, Khin Win, traveled from southern Myanmars Mon state to Thailands Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, to cremate her daughter at a Buddhist temple in the country where she had lived for the last decade.

Im in a daze and cant get her death out of my mind  its the only thing I can think about, said Khin Win, who had relied on her daughter to support her as she dealt with chronic kidney disease back home in Thaton townships Don Won village. There is nothing that compares to losing a child. You cant trade your child for anything. I am devastated.

A photo of Moe Myint is seen at her funeral this past weekend in Thailands Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, Oct. 7, 2023. [Screenshot from Reuters video]

Moe Myints employer, Aksorn Chantarojvanich, described her to Thai media as a hard worker and a good daughter whose death was a great loss.

Aksorn attended Moe Myints funeral and pledged to send her family 10,000 baht (U.S. $270) a month for the rest of her life, to make up for the money she sent home each paycheck.

Like a big sister

Moe Myints colleagues noted that she was fluent in Thai, Chinese and English and called her well-spoken and helpful to those she worked with.

She used to take care of us like a big sister, said Ma Ni, who worked with Moe Myint at the toy store in Bangkok. Our boss trusted her the most and considered her the stores manager ... I cant believe she is gone. I was about to cook her a meal of her favorite food.

Ma Ni said Moe Myint always did her best to resolve issues at work fairly and patiently, and never blamed anyone for anything.

When guests sometimes raised their voice at her, she used to handle it well, always with a smile on her face, she said.

Mourners attend the cremation ceremony of Moe Myint, a 31-year-old Burmese victim of the Thailand mall shooting, at a temple in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Oct. 8, 2023. [Jorge Silva/Reuters]

Moe Myints alleged shooter, who police said had suffered a psychological breakdown, has been accused of premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and other charges.

The parents of the suspected gunman published an open letter on Oct. 6 saying that they were cooperating fully with authorities and asking for forgiveness, as well as expressing a profound sense of regret, according to a report by BBC News.

Now held in Thailands juvenile observation and protection department, the boys motives for the shooting remain unclear.

Thailands government announced that 200,000 baht (U.S. $5,500) compensation would be paid to those who died in the shooting, as well as assistance to family members for their funerals.

Ballooning migration

Aung Myo Thant, a Thailand-based lawyer who represents Myanmar workers, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that several businessmen and organizations in Thailand were also planning to provide additional funds for the deceased.

The Thai government said that since [the shooting] happened in their country and the shooter was a 14-year-old Thai youth, they would pay more compensation, he said. The Thai employer also plans to compensate the family, out of mercy. There are some organizations in Thailand that will provide financial assistance for the people who have been killed as well.

A relative of Moe Myint mourns at the Central Institute of Forensic Science in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 4, 2023. [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]

According to the Migrant Workers Rights Network, the number of people crossing into Thailand from Myanmar increased from 100 per day in 2020 to 2,000 per day in 2022, in part spurred on by the fighting in their country after the Burmese militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat. Thai authorities reported that 60,000 migrants were arrested for illegal entry last year, including up to 45,000 that fled Myanmar.

Since the coup, the Foundation for Education and Development has reported that arrests of Burmese migrants have at least doubled with deportations also on the rise. The Thai NGO recorded 1,400 migrants and 181 arrests in 2022.

A recent report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that between 2,000 to 5,000 people a month returned to Myanmar from Thailand in 2022. Most of them were deported. For those forced into exile, the risks loom large over their lives.

Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews, produced this report.
The idea that European countries can be divided into those of the chaotic and unstable South, and the stable and efficient North, is officially finished. After Britain and Germany, the time has now come for the Netherlands to drop the label, a boring place where nothing never happens. In the past months, almost all the party leaders across the political spectrum have resigned. And in the coming elections, 70 political parties have so far registered possible candidates! Chaos and fragmentation loom.

In the country where the capitalist system was essentially born, the ruling class is proving utterly feeble and devoid of perspective.

As students and workers are being made to pay for a crisis created by this ruling class, it ought to come as no surprise that 75 percent of Dutch people do not trust parliament, and even more (79 percent) do not trust politicians. These politicians and the system they represent are precisely the ones responsible for our problems!

The bourgeoisie has no ways out

Last July, after just one-and-a-half years, the fourth Rutte government fell. This was never a popular or stable government, and it could only count on a very thin majority, whilst being riven by internal differences.

The next elections will therefore take place in November, at a time of confusion, instability and general stagnation for the country.

Rutte was proud of having no personal vision / Image: Minister president Rutte, Wikimedia Commons

After the fall of his government, Mark Rutte, who was the longest serving Prime Minister (on 14 October 2023, he will have been the Dutch Prime Minister for 13 years), declared that this was his last term as Prime Minister and as leader of the VVD party, and that he intends to abandon politics.

It surely is the end of an era. Mark Rutte was the perfect man for the Dutch ruling class: a sly politician, a perfect caricature of the ideal Dutch capitalist, pragmatic and without principles. In fact, Rutte was proud of having no personal vision. In his own words, vision is like an elephant that blocks your view. He is someone the ruling class will have great difficulty replacing.

But Rutte is not alone. As the clouds gather overhead and the forecast for Dutch capitalism grows ever darker, no one wants to be in charge in the period ahead. No one wants to be blamed for what they know is coming. One after another, all the public faces of the traditional parties have stepped down, starting with those who were in the governing coalition.

Sigrid Kaag, leader of the D66 party (social-liberal) and Minister of Finance followed in Ruttes footsteps with a delay of just a few days after, and will not be the face of the party at the next elections.

Its the same story for the Christian Democrats (CDA)  for decades, the main party of Dutch capitalism. Wopke Hoekstra, Deputy Prime Minister in the last government and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will not guide his party at the next elections either. Instead, he will lead the European Commission work on climate action We are sure his past experience working for Shell and his years in a government that utterly failed to take serious measures on climate change will stand him in good stead in his new role!

Despite the best efforts of the capitalist media to boost the VVD in the polls  its new party leader Dilan Yesilgoz has been hailed as the first woman of colour who may yet become Prime Minister, and the change of faces has given the party a fillip in the polls  nevertheless, all the traditional bourgeois parties are in crisis.

The gender or race of the individual heading the party is irrelevant. What really matters are the class interests that the VVD represents. With Rutte out of the way, Geert Wilders far-right PVV has now made clear that it is open to possible agreements with the VVD  and the feeling is mutual.

The list of those trying to avoid leading their party into the next elections is long. No one wants to take responsibility for what is to come. But nature abhors a vacuum, and without a serious class alternative on offer, other parties will temporarily and partially fill that vacuum.

Vacuum filled by right-wings demagogues

With all of the traditional parties in crisis, new adventurers and demagogues are profiting from the vacuum: in particular, the Citizens and Farmers Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging, BBB) of Caroline van der Plas, and the New Social Contract (NSC) of Pieter Omtzigt.

The former, which won the provincial elections of last spring, is pursuing a culture war tactic. They are counterposing the excessively internationally focused, metropolitan, liberal-elitist cities to the sober, hardworking countryside, and above all to the farmers who feed everyone. As we explained previously, this party is financed by big agro-business and has no intention of breaking with capitalism. They can use very radical words and speeches to get the attention of a confused layer of workers and ruined petty bourgeois. But should they join the next government, it wouldnt be long before Dutch workers come to see that these radical words are a mere facade.

New adventurers and demagogues are profiting from the vacuum: in particular, the Citizens and Farmers Movement / Image: Sjoerd Luidinga, Flickr

A slightly different yet similar phenomenon is that of Pieter Omtzigt and his NSC. On account of his role as a CDA dissident and his treatment by the cabinet parties in the aftermath of the childcare benefits scandal (in which he was a whistleblower), he is seen by many as a rare sincere politician in the rotten swamp of The Hague. And this was apparently confirmed for many by his announcement that he would participate as an independent in the elections.

After his announcement, the party immediately leapt to number one in the polls  without having even announced its programme! Of course, behind the friendly face is another demagogue who wants to reform the institutions of capitalism in order to preserve them. And boy, are they in need of reform!

The phenomenal rise of these parties is simply down to one fact: they have the benefit of being as-yet untested in government, and the mass of people are prepared to vote for anyone who is not the status quo. Needless to say, this will not solve the problems of the Dutch working class, and these parties will crash down as quickly as they have risen, particularly if they enter the next coalition. But these events are of the utmost symptomatic importance. They show just how fluid the consciousness of millions of people among the working and middle class in the Netherlands has become.

Confusion on the left

Whilst right-wing, bourgeois demagogues politically profit from the crisis of capitalism in the Netherlands, the same cannot be said for the so-called left. Why?

In a time of great turnover among party leaders, one exception stands out in the form of Socialist Party (SP) leader Lilian Marijnissen, regularly described by the party bureaucracy as the best leader that the SP could have ever had, who has led the SP into deeper and deeper electoral losses in every election since 2017. The party has sunk so low that it now agitates against economic migrants, in an (unsuccessful) attempt to lure backward Dutch workers away from the right. It has even made this agitation one of the main pillars of its electoral campaign.

In recent years, the leadership has also expelled its youth section, ROOD, along with other more left-wing elements in the party that it has accused of being Marxist conspirators. At the next elections, the SP will probably get its worst results since the 1990s, when it first emerged as an electoral force, and will continue its journey towards being nothing but a bad copy of the social democrats.

There is nothing to the left of the SP that can capture the leftward moving mood among workers and youth. The left-wing, identity-politics-based party, BIJ1, is also in crisis. In the summer, the Amsterdam branch of the party experienced a split and its party leader, Sylvana Simons, will now also step away from politics. This is the natural result of basing a party on left identity politics: fragmentations and attacks based not on political questions, but on personal and clique interests.

As a result, the only left group that will probably gain votes in the coming elections, is the GreenLeft-Labour (GroenLinks-PvdA) coalition, where Frans Timmermans, former Minister and European Commissary, is playing the role of undisputed leader.

As the only strong candidate on the left, no doubt he will manage some small gains, merely because he is the only visible option that is not the VVD or the right-wing demagogues and reactionaries. This will mostly be a layer of older workers who traditionally voted Labour, and a part of the middle class, disillusioned with the liberal D66. Still, this GreenLeft-Labour fusion project  or, rather, inward collapse upon one another  is not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness. Indeed, in the early 2000s, Labour would gain many more votes and seats on its own than this coalition is projected to achieve now. And whatever minor boost they get now comes on the back of years of downward descent for both parties.

The social situation and the tasks of the communists

All this shows how even here, in one of the strongholds of European capitalism, bourgeois democracy is in a state of complete decay and fragmentation. Some 70 political parties have registered to potentially run candidates for seats in The Hague.

But the present situation in the Netherlands  one of economic stagnation and crisis  leaves no space for weak and cowardly left-reformist parties.

The material conditions of the Dutch working class are worsening year by year. In this rich country a big layer of the population must now choose between energy and food. According to the Red Cross, some 400,000 people are currently unable to provide food for themselves; 28 percent of people are worried about being able to make it to the end of the month; and statistics show that 5 percent of Dutch people will fall into poverty in the next year. All this was unthinkable until just a few years ago. It has enormously jolted consciousness.

Dutch capitalism, and Dutch capitalist democracy, are not immune to the general crisis of capitalism; the same contradictions we see in other countries are to be found here as well.

We are now seeing a modest recovery of the workers movement. In the first three months of 2023, there were 23 strikes, while in the whole of 2022 there were only 33, which was nonetheless a record figure not surpassed since 1988. As yet, these remain limited to small actions rather than a general mobilisation of the whole working class.

However, the working class is more powerful today than ever before. When a strike is planned, bosses and the trade union bureaucrats manage to quickly patch up an agreement, as we saw with the teachers strike and the KLM pilots strike, originally planned for 5 October and 25 September respectively. This indicates two things: firstly, that the ruling class is afraid of workers becoming conscious of their own strength and putting that into action  and rightly so! And secondly, that the trade union bureaucracy is not interested in defending the long-term interests of our class, but only in achieving small reforms that at least guarantee social peace. But these reforms are becoming ever-more impossible to achieve in the current conditions, as they have become ever-more unaffordable for the ruling class.

The workers movement doesnt have a real political expression yet. Nevertheless, more and more workers and students are willing to fight, and sooner or later this will lead to a social explosion. The best elements among the students and young workers are already looking for a revolutionary force, and we see a growing interest in communist ideas.

These feelings of frustration and anger must be transformed into the conscious building-up of a revolutionary alternative. Small actions are not enough to change the situation. What is needed is a concrete plan for the long term.

The picture that the aforementioned facts paint is one of an almost complete rejection of the political system of the bourgeoisie in its present state: the time is ripe for a radical change!

The Dutch ruling class is weak and at an impasse. Now is the time to seriously organise and to go on the offensive. As comrades of Revolutie, the Dutch Marxists, we are working hard to build the alternative that students and workers of this country deserve. There is no better time to be a communist! Join us!
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One of the last things I did at work before I retired last month was to plan and manage a weeklong visit in the Berkshires with a group of 11 Italian students and their two chaperones. Almost three decades ago, the Latin teacher before me began this exchange with a school in Gubbio, Umbria, Italy.

This was a phenomenal visit, and I like to say that our guests arrived thinking their favorite part of the trip was going to be seeing iconic American sights, and they left having realized that being part of American high school culture for a week was the most meaningful.

In addition to the day trips to Boston and New York City, and visits to places up and down Berkshire County, we hosted a typical potluck cookout for all the Italians and their host families. Someone brought macaroni and cheese as a side dish, and one of the chaperones liked it so much that she decided on more macaroni and cheese for lunch the next day at Quincy Market!

As many times as I have run these exchanges, I have never, ever made pasta for any of my Italian friends. Its much too daunting! But I would say that macaroni and cheese is decidedly not pasta as much as it is an American casserole.

For most of us, macaroni and cheese means opening a box and following the stovetop or microwave directions. And I get it. Thats just so fast and easy. I openly admit that when my kids were young, they went through a phase of eating only hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. I would alternate days, and, at the time, Annies was still a small company, so I would order cases directly from them in the days before online shopping.

Now, however, I have happily figured out a way to make an easy homemade macaroni and cheese with several time savers compared to many other recipes. You dont cook the pasta first, and you dont make a roux. I usually shred bricks of cheese myself, but pre-shredded, while not quite as good, will be just fine. Once I had a lot of cheese left over from a cocktail party  hard cheeses cut in cubes  and I put a pound of it into the food processor with the chopping blade, and it was still good!

This recipe uses half of most standard containers of ricotta or cottage cheese. For this type of preparation, if you dont want to make a second batch right away, you can freeze the remaining ricotta or cottage cheese. And speaking of that, this recipe freezes well! If it looks like were not going to finish it, I have cut wedges, wrapped them, and put them in the freezer to be defrosted later and warmed in the microwave for a last-minute side dish or work lunch.

EASY HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Serves 6-8 as a side

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound elbow pasta, about 2 cups (really measure this out, otherwise theres not enough liquid for the pasta)

1 pound cheese (I like 8 ounces of cheddar and 8 ounces of Monterey Jack)

2 cups milk (low-fat or whole, not skim)

1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese (low-fat or whole, not fat-free)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper (white, if possible)

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional, or to taste

Optional topping:

1/2 cup panko crumbs

2 tablespoons butter or olive oi

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a casserole dish (with lid or not) with cooking spray or butter. (This will make clean up easier later.) Place the pasta in a large bowl.

Use the shredding disk with large holes on your food processor or a box shredder to shred the cheese. If you are using the optional breadcrumbs, set aside about 1/4-1/3 cup of cheese shreds in a small bowl. Put remaining cheese, or all the cheese, into the bowl with the uncooked pasta.

Remove the shredding disk from the food processor and insert the chopping blade. Add the milk, ricotta or cottage cheese, salt, pepper, dry mustard, nutmeg and cayenne. Process for 30-45 seconds. (You can use a blender or an immersion blender in a large bowl, or even a whisk if you dont have a food processor.)

Add the milk mixture to the cheese and pasta. Mix with a large spoon to combine. Pour into the prepared casserole dish and level the top. Cover tightly with the lid or foil and cook for 30 minutes.

During this period of baking, for the optional crumb topping, melt butter in a small skillet and add panko crumbs. Toast, stirring constantly, until light brown, and remove from the heat. Depending on your pan, if it retains a lot of heat, the crumbs may continue to brown for a little bit even off the heat so keep an eye on them so they dont burn.

After the first 30 minutes of baking remove the lid or foil. If you have reserved 1/4-1/3 cup of cheese shreds, spread that over the top now and then add the optional toasted crumbs. Return to the oven uncovered for another 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool 15 minutes before serving.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
The wild turkeys continuing success story in Berkshire County may partly hinge on the behavior of humans to keep the states official game bird, well, wild.

Habitat loss caused the downfall of the bird in Massachusetts with the last bird killed in 1851. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife reintroduced wild turkeys to the commonwealth in Beartown State Forest with just 37 birds in the early 1970s. The agency then trapped and released the bird into different areas of Massachusetts to help the turkey population expand.

The first spring hunt was authorized in 1980. The first fall hunt took place in 1990.

Now, the estimated population of genus Meleagris gallopavo is between 35,000 and 40,000 across the state. Its in nearly every city and town, with the exception of Nantucket. While it can feel like wild turkeys are everywhere, experts warn of the many dangers humans and natural predators pose to a species that often helps other animals and insects thrive.

'PEOPLE ARE THE PROBLEM'

In past decades, hunters from across the commonwealth would converge on Berkshire County to bag males in the spring. Now, with an abundance of birds in other areas, more turkeys are killed in Worcester County than Berkshire County.

Fall deer and turkey shotgun and archery seasons coincide. In the Berkshires, shotgun season runs from Oct. 16 to Oct. 28. From Oct. 30 to Nov. 25, hunters are permitted to take wild turkey during bow hunting season.

Those who are keen to bring home a turkey sooner can try their luck in eastern Massachusetts, where the shotgun deer and turkey hunt opened Oct. 2.

Wild turkeys may seem benign and generally are as long as they fear humans.

In eastern Massachusetts, where turkeys wander about on city streets, there have been some unfortunate encounters with humans.

People are the problem when it comes to nuisance wildlife, more often than not, said David Scarpitti, wildlife biologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. So theres a huge variety of different issues from the semi-comical to the semi-serious when turkeys really kind of get comfortable and abundant in populated areas where people are.

Scarpitti noted the parallel sorts of issues that arise when bears become comfortable with humans.

I don't talk to folks in Berkshire County about these sorts of things hardly ever, Scarpitti said. But I can tell you that like in the past handful years, I hear about it more in Worcester County than I have previously.

He said some complaints are cropping up in the Springfield area, as well.

He warned against feeding turkeys and explained that hunters are forbidden from baiting them. Turkeys are motivated by food, he said, calling them really vulnerable to that free, easy food.

They're just trying to find food and reproduce like any wild animal does, he said.

AN 'UMBRELLA SPECIES'

As to habitat, the winter population in Berkshire County used to be largely concentrated on dairy farms, where turkeys picked at corn, Scarpitti said. Now, with fewer dairy farms, the population has fanned out into mature woods during the winter.

Matt DiBona, who is district biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation, works to protect turkey habitat across the five New England states.

Flocks of wild turkey may be more visible this time of year because this is the end of breeding season, DiBona said.

So we're probably at a relatively high point in the annual population cycle, he said. And so you're seeing a lot of these family groups just moving around.

He said there are often big flocks in the winter.

But during the spring, you're more likely to see these smaller groups, DiBona said. And it's maybe one or two hens surrounded by a couple males or one male that's on display.

The wild turkey benefits from a mix of habitat, including forest, field and woodland, DiBona said.

With that mix of habitat needed, DiBona often partners with agencies to conserve habitat that helps other forms of wildlife, including the New England Cottontail in southern Berkshire County. Supporting habitat for pollinators also benefits other insects, which wild turkey eat.

When I talk about the wild turkey, it's an umbrella species, DiBona said. Because so many other benefits trickle down to other species when I'm doing management for the wild turkey.

PREDATORS

DiBona said turkeys are constantly in and out of the woods and for that reason a bit difficult to survey.

So oftentimes, we use harvest is an index of what our population is, DiBona said.

In the spring harvest of 2023, there were 3,082 males harvested. During a youth hunt prior to the main hunt in April and May, there were an additional 117 males taken. Last falls harvest was just 230 birds of either sex.

As a turkey hunter, DiBona makes little yelp vocalizations to lure the gobbler into shooting range.

DiBona said turkeys dont have a strong sense of smell, but they have a wide field of vision without blind spots.

The idea that you can sneak in on a flock of turkeys is a pretty big misconception, because by the time you see them, they've already seen you, he said.

Turkeys are polygamous, with one male mating with several females, particularly those near the top of the pecking order.

Males dont take part in raising young, so hens typically lay eggs in a field or forest and nest on them until they hatch.

There's a ton of nest predators, DiBona said, listing coyotes, snakes, skunks and raccoons.

Owls, bobcats and hunters may be the top predators of adult turkeys.

DiBona said the first two weeks of life for poults, or baby turkeys, are particularly rough and theres a lot of mortality. Without fully developed feathers, theyre unable to fly.

In addition to predators, they're also very susceptible to weather conditions, DiBona said. So even if a poult gets wet on a 50-degree day, that's enough for it to go hypothermic and die.
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Anti-China forces politicize human rights council by attempting to deny China seat

10:34, October 10, 2023 By Liu Xin ( Global Times

While the politicization of human rights has alarmed more academics and nations, some Western countries and anti-China forces have not ceased their efforts and are attempting to reduce China's votes at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council that is slated to take place on Tuesday, using unfounded accusations about China's human rights record.

Analysts said the West's moves to incite ideological divides at the UN human rights body have not only raised concerns about the spread of a Cold War mentality, but also diverted international attention from core human rights issues.

On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to elect 15 new members to the UN Human Rights Council, which will serve for a period of three years starting in January 2024. The slate for the 2023 Asian group is uncontested since China, Japan, Kuwait, and Indonesia are vying for the four Asia slots.

To be elected, candidates must get a simple majority of the votes. However, certain Western countries and anti-China organizations are touting a campaign to pressure other countries to deny China a seat. For example, Human Rights Watch, a nongovernmental organization known as one of the US' tools to manipulate human rights issues, said in a release on October 5 that China's rights record "disqualified" it from the Human Rights Council.

Some Western countries are also working to deny Russia a seat at the council as Albania, Bulgaria and Russia are vying for two seats in the Eastern European group.

Analysts raised their concerns about the growing severe ideological rift incited by the West against China and other developing countries, and lambasted the US and some Western countries for playing politics in the UN Human Rights Council.

To further their geopolitical goals and maintain their hegemony, the US and some Western countries have set up ideological camps and exploited human rights as instruments. They also tried to use baseless accusations about China's Xinjiang region to smear China, Wang Fuliang, deputy dean of the School of Law in Beijing Institute of Technology, told the Global Times on Monday.

Some anti-China parties have been using the human rights of ethnic groups in China's Xinjiang and Xizang regions as a focal point for their criticism of China at several Human Rights Council meetings. However, analysts noted that more countries that uphold justice have firmly backed China.

Since the falsehoods about China's Xinjiang and Xizang regions have been rejected by the facts, more countries, particularly developing ones, have come out in support of China, Zhu Yuanqing, deputy dean of the Human Rights Institute School of the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times on Monday.

Moreover, the growing recognition of China's exploration of its own path on human rights development is another factor in the expansion of China's "circle of friends" in the UN Human Rights Council, said Zhu.

While China has included the right to subsistence and development in its definition of human rights, the West mainly takes political rights into consideration when defining it. The US and the West were concerned about China's increasing influence at the UN Human Rights Council, said the expert.

As a result, some Western media have accused China of using its "power and influence" to try to silence criticism of its human rights. But it is the US and the West that have long adopted double standards on human rights issues to bully developing countries and point fingers at those countries' internal affairs while turning a blind eye to their own deep-seated problems, analysts said.

Wang, who attended the 54th session of the Human Rights organization in Geneva, claimed that given the US and the West's deep involvement in the international organization's operations, scholars and NGOs from these countries may also occasionally sense bias and injustice toward the human rights situation in China and other developing countries.

The Human Rights Council should act as a platform for all of its members to better promote a variety of human rights, and it should be reformed to make it more equitable and to reverse the politicized tendency and the impact of the Cold War mentality that the US and the West supported, said Wang.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
The economic system we live under today is capitalism: based on competition, private ownership and the production for profit. Karl Marx revolutionised our understanding of the capitalist system. With his vast collection of economic writings  including the three volumes of Capital  Marx stripped away the mysticism surrounding capitalism, uncovering and explaining its inner processes, emergent laws, and intrinsic contradictions.

Marx built upon the work of his classical predecessors  in particular the British economists Adam Smith and David Ricardo. These enlightenment thinkers had attempted to examine capitalism on a scientific basis. In doing so, they hit upon the idea that labour was the source of all new value within society.

By developing this labour theory of value, Marx was able to explain an enigma that had eluded the classical economists: that of profit. This, Marx demonstrated, arises from exploitation  that is, from the surplus value produced by the working class. Simply put, the capitalists profits are obtained from the unpaid labour of the workers.

But this fact, in turn, led Marx to an even more shattering conclusion: that the capitalist system is inherently prone to periodic crisis of overproduction  crises that break out and paralyse the entirely of society, as the forces of production crash up against the narrow limits of the market.

This is the picture we find ourselves in today, as workers and youth are forced to pay for the crisis of capitalism. Armed with the ideas of Marxism, we can see that there is no way out of this crisis within the confines of capitalism. The only solution is socialist revolution.
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For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land (Ezekiel 36:24).

"I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." (Zechariah 12:2-3)

Simply mention the End Times, and you are sure to generate as many different opinions as people have favorite colors. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but you understand the point.

The study of eschatology (the study of the End Times) and apocalyptic writings in the Bible certainly bring no end to varying interpretations and opinions. Especially when it comes to understanding Israel's role in the End Times.

The truth is, none of us knows the specific events that will occur, or especially when. Even Jesus stated that only the Father knew the precise day or hour of the eschaton  the end of all things as we know them:

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36).

While there is much about the End Times, that is unknown and falls into interpretation or even speculation, a lingering question remains  what about Israel? After all, throughout Scripture  both Old and New Testament, the nation of Israel is Gods chosen people.

Where does the nation of Israel fit into Gods plan for the End Times? What does God have in store for Israel and the gift of eternal life at the end of the world? Is the existence of the current State of Israel a fulfillment of Gods promises to them?

Old and New Testament Prophecies of Israel

Biblical prophecy about what happens to Israel in the end times is a topic of significant interest and debate among most Christian denominations and theological traditions. These prophecies are primarily found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Here are some key themes and passages related to Israel in end-time prophecy:

Old Testament Prophecies:

1. Restoration of Israel: Several Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, prophesied about the restoration of Israel in the end times. This includes the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel after a period of exile and dispersion. See: Ezekiel 36:24-28 (NIV): "For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God."

2. Rebuilding of the Temple: Some prophecies suggest the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, often associated with the coming of the Messiah or a future period of spiritual renewal. See: Ezekiel 40:1-4 (NIV): "In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the cityon that very day the hand of the LORD was on me and he took me there. In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. The man said to me, 'Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.'"

3. Land of Promise: The promise of God to Abraham and his descendants regarding the land of Canaan (later known as Israel) is seen as an enduring covenant, and the fulfillment of this promise is often associated with end-time events. See: Genesis 17:7-8 (NIV): "I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

This promise is foundational to the Abrahamic covenant and holds great significance in the biblical narrative. It is often associated with end-time events and the restoration and fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham's descendants in the context of eschatology. Many interpretations within both Judaism and Christianity see the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel as a sign of God's faithfulness to this covenant and as part of His unfolding plan for the end times.

These Scriptures are generally seen as a hopeful expectation of God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel and the fulfillment of His promises.

New Testament Prophecies:

1. Return of Jesus: In the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels and the book of Revelation, there are references to the return of Jesus Christ. His return is often linked to the restoration and salvation of Israel. See: Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV): "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords."

2. End-Time Events in Israel: The book of Revelation contains passages that describe end-time events taking place in Israel, including the Battle of Armageddon, which is often seen as a final confrontation between the forces of good and evil. See: Revelation 16:16 (NIV): "Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon."

It's important to note that interpretations of the Battle of Armageddon and its connection to Israel can differ among scholars and believers. Some see it as a literal battle, while others view it more symbolically, representing the ultimate confrontation between the forces of righteousness and evil in the cosmic struggle for God's kingdom.

3. Conversion of Israel: Some interpretations of Romans 11 in the New Testament suggest that there will be a future turning of the Jewish people to faith in Jesus as the Messiah, leading to their spiritual restoration. See: Romans 11:25-26 (NIV): "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: 'The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.'"

4. Jerusalem as a Center: Jerusalem is frequently mentioned in both Old and New Testament prophecies as a central location for end-time events and as the future capital of God's kingdom. See: Zechariah 8:3 (NIV): "This is what the LORD says: 'I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.'" and Isaiah 2:2-3 (NIV): "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

As you can see, these verses emphasize the future role of Jerusalem as a central location in God's plan for the end times. They speak to the significance of Jerusalem as a place where God will dwell, where His law will go forth, and where all nations will gather. Additionally, they point to Jerusalem's role in end-time events, including conflicts and the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom.

The Current State of Israel

The name of the nation of Israel is derived from the name given to Jacob  the grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac.

Jacobs 12 sons were the forefathers of the 12 tribes that became the Jewish nation  the nation of Israel.

It is easy to recognize the trials that the people of Israel  in other words, the nation of Israel, the Jewish people  have survived over the past 3,500 to 4,000 years:

1. Four hundred years of exile and slavery in Egypt, then escape only to wander in the desert for another 40 years before arriving in the land of milk and honey.

2. Another 70 years of exile in Babylon after the defeat of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

3. Two thousand years of dispersion and exile from their homeland under the rule of multiple empires. While the Romans are best known, there were also the Babylonians, Persians, Greek Hellenists, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans, British  even Christian Crusaders who came from Europe to capture the Holy Land.

4. Dispersion throughout other lands  referred to as the Diaspora  which, of course, could easily have resulted in absorption into other cultures through mixed marriages and simple assimilation or absorption, yet did not.

5. Subjugation  many nations did not willingly accept the Jews into their countries. Russia, for example, was known for its harsh treatment of the Jews, who had no rights. Even during the British rule of their lands, the Jews suffered a great deal of violence at the hands of nearby Arab populations.

6. Genocide  the Holocaust, wherein six million Jews or more were brutally murdered. As much as 60% or more of the entire Jewish population.

And then...in 1948, against all odds, a return to the Promised Land. The new State of Israel. The Jewish community re-established Israel as a sovereign nation with a declaration of independence.

At the time, many orthodox Jews and non-Jews around the world were horrified. Political clashes exist to this day.

And yet, with all of this, the people of Israel have endured. Charles Krauthammer once had this to say about the Jews of Israel:

"Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store" (Weekly Standard, 5/11/1998).

Against all odds, the Jewish people have once again returned to the land of milk and honey promised by God in Exodus and as exclaimed by prophets throughout the Old Testament.

But  is this the true and final fulfillment of Gods promises and the multitude of prophecies, or simply an event that foreshadows what is to come?

Israel Events Foreshadowing in Scripture

We can certainly disagree on many things in Scripture, but we can agree on this  the Bible is replete with events and promises that often serve only to foreshadow later events.

For example, Abrahams call to sacrifice his son Isaac foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross  Gods one and only son.

Dr. Dan Sered, COO of Jews for Jesus, makes the point:

Israel (the people) have never really occupied the full land that God promised Abraham in Genesis 15, just like the people of Israel have never really all 100% believed and followed the Lord. It seems that there has been partial fulfillment all throughout redemptive history but the full fulfillment of all of Gods promises will only occur in the future after the 2nd coming (It should be noted that this and other statements represent Dr. Sereds personal views and does not represent those of his organization).

Dan absolutely sees another, more fulfilled future for the nation of Israel:

With regards to Israel I find that there are many passages and examples of how God fulfilled His promises to Israel and those examples give me all of the assurance and confidence that God will also fulfill all of His promises to Israel in the future. For example, the prophecy that we find in Ezekiel 37:1-14. This text is written while Israel is in exile. And God fulfilled the promise of gathering the dry bones back to the land of Israel (Ezra & Nehemiah) in 538 BC.

Ezekiel 36:24-27 indeed states Gods promise.

Again, from Dr. Sered:

But in this prophecy, we see that God would also at some point (future point) fill all of Israel with His spirit and that all of Israel would serve the Lord (in Ezekiel he even refers to Israel as an army for the Lord and in the explanation of the prophecy vs. 11-14 the Lord mentions that all of Israel would know Him). That still has not happened. And following the first return of the people of Israel to the Land, we had another exile and are now back in the land of Israel (1948). So I see this prophecy is being fulfilled again but still Israel is in unbelief.

Certainly, a national spiritual revival or regeneration by turning to Jesus is not foretold by the Bible prior to Christs return, nor is such a prerequisite for the Jewish people to return to the land of Israel. Dr. Sered sees fulfillment upon Christs return, as foretold by the prophet Zechariah:

Romans 11:25-27 assures me that this wont always be the case. I believe that when Jesus returns all of Israel (all of the Jewish people that are alive in that moment in history) will be saved, will come to know the Lord, they will recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah(Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

The Valley of Dry Bones and Israel's Restoration

In Ezekiel 37:4-6, the prophet describes a rather unforgettable vision of a valley of dry bones. These dry bones come back to life in stages: tendons, then flesh, then skin.

Then God tells Ezekiel,

Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off (v. 11).

And yet, God clearly has plans for Israel. Dr. Sered put it perfectly:

God is NOT done with the Jewish people and that in the future God will fulfill all of the promises that He has made to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (i.e., the Jewish people) in the flesh. This does NOT mean that God wont fulfill His promises to the church and to humanity. God will fulfill all of His promises to all people according to what we are told in Gods word.

The dry bones. Israel, in exile, without hope, and cut off from their God, and yet, still with Gods promises of a return to their land. Their entire land. To him (Ezekiel 36:27).

And as we know, God will fulfill his promises.

Zechariah 14 describes a future day when Jerusalem will be plundered by her enemies. This is foreshadowed in 2 Kings, when the forces of Nebuchadnezzar broke through Jerusalems walls, conquering the city. But then in verse 14, the prophet says this:

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south(Zechariah 14:4).

That day is a reference to the very day of the return of our Lord  the second coming of Christ  to the very spot from where he ascended 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:9-12).

Indeed, God is not done with Israel.

(Thank you to Dr. Dan Sered for his awesome contribution and cooperation with this article!)

The Conflict in Israel: What Can I Do?

For further reading:

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/e-crow

Greg Grandchamp is the author of "In Pursuit of Truth, A Journey Begins"  an easy-to-read search that answers to most common questions about Jesus Christ. Was he real? Who did he claim to be? What did he teach? Greg is an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else  in pursuit of truth. You can reach Greg by email greg.grandchamp@gmail.com and on Facebook.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.

WATCH: A Prayer for Israel
To facilitate exchanges in experience, knowledge, skills, competencies, and technology within the healthcare sector

Rainbow Childrens Medicare Limited (RCML) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to establish a comprehensive inter-institutional cooperation. The Rainbow group is spread across 6 cities with 16 units and 3 clinics in India with over 1655 beds.

The collaboration recognises the potential for exchanges in experience, knowledge, skills, competencies, and technology in the health sector between the two countries especially in the areas of pediatric heart surgery, pediatric neurological surgery, and pediatric kidney transplant.

The MoU facilitated through the Ministry of Health (MoH) will strengthen the friendly relationship and enable both the countries to collaborate primarily on two fronts 

Specialised services 

Setting up fully functional pediatric Centre with Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and pediatric cardiac catheterization facilities in Tanzania Establishment of the Pediatric bone marrow transplant program at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania Conduct planned operative Cardiothoracic/Pediatric surgeries missions on biannual and or annual basis for selected cardiac patients through consultative engagements as well as follow-up missions in mentorship and technical supportive supervision in support of fully trained cardiac team

Human resources development 

Training of pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, interventionists, pediatric intervention cardiologists, cardiac nurses and perfusionists Facilitation of joint specialised clinic/OPD in Tanzania each year for examining and screening Tanzanian children. The MoH will assist in getting an OPD site and patient registrations relevant to travelling specialists

This MOU will be valid for a period of three years and the financial arrangement to cover expenses will be mutually undertaken as an agreed cost-sharing responsibility between Rainbow Childrens Hospital and the Ministry of Health, subject to the availability of funds and resources.
The Finance Minister's amendment to the Customs and Excise Act and Vat Act banning the duty-free sale of alcohol and tobacco products to foreign diplomats is a turning point in the enforcement of stricter measures on curbing the illicit trade of alcohol. The South Africa Liquor Brands Association (Salba) welcomes this ruling and encourages more decisive action of this nature.

The 4 October 2023 Constitutional Court ruling to amend the act will put an end to the illegal trading of duty-free products by diplomats. The South African Revenue Services (Sars) estimates that this illicit trade resulted in a loss of revenue to the fiscus, of more than R100m a month.

The illicit trade of alcohol by volume currently represents 22% of the South African alcohol market, making it the second largest contributor to the local industry. The illicit trade of alcohol by volume[1] currently represents 22% of the South African alcohol market (from 13% in 2012), making it the second largest category in the local alcohol industry.

The illicit trade of alcohol poses significant threats as it does not comply with official regulatory standards and more importantly results in significant losses for the fiscus due to tax non-compliance. South Africas market for illicit alcohol is historically large, with SARS estimated to be losing out on R11 billion in excise tax revenue a year due to the illicit liquor trade.

Salba confirmed the integral role the industry plays in terms of its contribution to employment and state revenue collection. Based on 2019 data, the legal liquor industry supported roughly a million livelihoods and contributed R173 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), including the payment of R72bn to the fiscus in indirect taxes.

The Constitutional Court ruling is momentous: it signals a turning point in the states stance on curbing illicit activities in the areas of alcohol trade, and will serve to restore levels of trust and cooperation between the state and the industry. It also demonstrates the sixth administrations commitment in implementing steps to improve the countrys ability to tackle illicit trade, signifying the government's ambition and resolve to root out this illegal activity.

Decisive action, legislative support and cooperation are essential in ensuring that the illicit trade of liquor is adequately addressed. The impact of Covid-19 prohibition measures had the unintended consequence of increasing the market share of illicit alcohol trade, which, as things currently stand, will continue to pose significant challenges for both industry and the states revenue collection framework.

Salba welcomes this ruling and encourages more decisive action of this nature. The association further affirms its continued support for the Ministry, Sars and law enforcement.
Savanna x Wanda Lephoto 'Dry Goods' waterproof apparel raises R200,000 for GreenUp

In March this year, Savanna Premium Cider partnered with local fashion superstar Wanda Lephoto to introduce some dryness to an ever-wetter world, a limited-edition fashion collection of Savanna 'Dry Goods,' waterproof apparel for a world underwater, available for sale to persons over the age of 18.

This premium, sustainably produced range went beyond the aesthetics of cool and made a meaningful statement about sustainability by creating awareness on the inevitability of climate change. As the ultimate dry brand, it only makes sense that Savanna would bring you a clothing range that would allow you to stay dripping and dry in a world of rising sea levels, melting icebergs, and unpredictable weather.

All the profits from the 'Dry Goods' premium waterproof apparel range collaboration between Savanna and Wanda Lephoto were donated to GreenUp, a leading organisation focused on circular economy, environmental education, and community resilience. The donation handover occurred on 29 September at Disoufeng Pub & Restaurant, a Savanna Lighthouse Outlet in Soweto. The GreenUp partners, Heineken Beverages stakeholders, media, and friends of the brand were in attendance.

In picture from left to right, Bongani Semenya, Heineken Beverages corporate events specialist; Isaac Sikhakhane, founder of Livelihood Horizon NPO; Kolosa Kokolo, brand manager at Savanna Premium Cider; and Zanele Makoko from Greenway Africa/GreenUp

#SavannaDryGoods #SiyavannaSA

Savanna promotes responsible drinking. Not for persons under 18.

For more information, follow Savannas social media channels or go to www.savanna.co.za.

Instagram: @savannacider

Facebook: @SavannaCider

Twitter: @SavannaCider

YouTube: SavannaCider

About Savanna  Its dry, but you can drink it.

Savanna is a premium, crisp apple cider with a distinctive dry taste. It is one of the largest cider brands in the world and is available in over 60 countries. Since its launch in 1996, Savanna Premium Cider has won consumers' hearts and funny bones with its intelligent, dry and witty sense of humour.
From opportunities to cycle through sugar cane fields to vineyard weddings, farm-based tourism is growing in South Africa, as it is across the world. The thing is, it could and should grow faster.

In a constant effort to increase revenue streams and diversify their operations, farmers are constantly looking at new opportunities. Adding a new revenue stream such as an agritourism venture to a farming operation can improve a farmers financial stability in an increasingly uncertain agribusiness environment.

Climate change is making farming increasingly complex, as is a growing body of international laws and regulations governing the export of farm produce. Apart from allowing farmers to move away from the obvious risks in monoculture  soil degradation, pest infestations, biodiversity loss, and more  agritourism can help them broaden their revenue streams and improve their financial stability.

By expanding their core business to include agritourism, farmers can put more money in their bank accounts and create new agritourism roles. This will increase job opportunities, which are sorely needed in South Africa - plagued as it is by high unemployment.

Global attitudes towards tourism

The global farm-based tourism market is growing quickly. It was valued at $5.95bn in 2021 and is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4% from 2022 to 2030, according to the International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group.

Agritourism offers a world of opportunity in a growth market and getting started does not always require a huge capital outlay.

It takes advantage of a shift in global attitudes towards tourism. Tourists preferences were already changing when the Covid-19 pandemic all but shut down tourism for at least a year. People were looking for depth of experience over the surface-level encounters that conventional tourism so often offers. The pandemic consolidated this trend.

Travellers are now more interested in connecting with local cultures and exploring off-the-beaten-track destinations. They also want to make sure their environmental impact is reduced.

Benefits for local communities

The rewards of branching out into new money-making activities, such as those to be gained from agritourism, can be big. Agritourism can also benefit farmers local communities. In rural South Africa, economic progress and the ability to foster an environment where safety, security and progress blossom is 100% dependent on a vibrant and successful agricultural sector. The ability of hospitality and tourism to create jobs and growth is a given.

By combining agriculture and tourism, local communities enjoy a capital injection through the growth of agritourism. Apart from its potential to improve a farming communitys financial and social stability, agritourism can also contribute to South Africas national food security and trade balance by making farming operations more viable and by bringing in more cash. These are just some of the many reasons for farmers to join the switch to adding agritourism to their operations.

Still, this is a relatively new industry. Theres a lot to think about. Diversifying your operations inevitably increases your exposure to risk.

Personal liability and safety, security

With the right cover in place, new agritourism ventures can be more secure. There is cover available for the risks inherent in adding a tourism aspect to a farming operation. Insurance can help.

A conventional farm insurance policy does not take any of this into consideration, but insurance cover can  and should  be adjusted, along with management practices on the farm. Failure to do this could destroy a property and/or a farmers financial stability in one fell swoop. A guest who breaks an ankle on your wonky footpath could literally sue you for millions.

Suddenly, you have people you do not know on your property moving around and people who have particular expectations about facilities, safety and more. Many will not understand why it is important to keep gates closed, or that goats can be dangerous, snakes are part of the package and a horse is not always placid.

They also have access to many of your assets and could potentially wander off with them or think it a good idea to make a fire only to have it burn down your century-old thatch house, all the veld or your neighbour's farm.

Running an agritourism operation

A well-informed broker is a valuable asset. They can help a farmer to properly structure their policies and create economies of scale that cut out duplication of cover. If done properly this should lead to a cost-effective solution without reducing cover.

A knowledgeable broker can help a farmer ensure their insurance covers all risks, including protecting one of the most important assets a farmer has in their care: the natural environment a farm offers. Its the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg. A farmers key expertise is being a farmer.

A brokers key expertise is understanding the various insurance options on offer, the potential exposures, and the available solutions to mitigate potentially crippling losses.

Andries Wiese, National Business Development Manager: Hollard Insure

Insurers have a corporate responsibility to help protect our natural resources, and this finds expression, among others, in how risk to this environment is managed.

This includes facilitating the replacement of conventional hot water systems with those that use alternative energy sources should a loss occur; insisting on fire breaks to prevent fires from spreading, but also ensuring that the fire breaks do not compound or start erosion. Sometimes preventative measures are important as risk mitigators, ultimately saving time, money and energy.

Hollard case study

At Hollard Insure, for example, our business model is underpinned by a focus on local is lekker and ensuring that we are where you are. This physically demonstrates our deep commitment to the communities we serve, from Sandton to tiny rural villages.

Through our vast broker network, we have a presence in rural South Africa and our contribution to local economies is solid  our people live there, spending their salaries in rural towns. Plus, when we honour a claim in a rural community, that money is spent there, more often than not.

We also, for example, support local charities and non-governmental organisations such as Huis Klippe Drift in Napier in the Western Cape, where we assist the organisation in generating funds for the care of the elderly. This not only adds to the greater economy in the region but also ensures less depletion of valuable resources for that community. It is not a hit-and-run scenario but a long-term commitment to being where our customers are and enabling them to create a better future for all.

We can use agritourism to grow South Africas rural economies. Lets get going.
Smart Money with Alishia Seckam is South Africa's premier investment podcast and has grown tremendously since it was launched at the start of 2023.

Key to Smart Moneys success is Seckams excellent discussions with South Africas top investment minds.

They are must-watch interviews for anyone interested in the South African investment sector, as well as those interested in offshore investing.

We have outlined four Smart Money interviews that offer excellent investing advice, below.

Michael Jordaan shares his investment insights

As a venture capitalist and the co-founder of Bank Zero, Michael Jordaan is widely regarded as one of South Africas foremost financial thought leaders.

In his Smart Money interview, Jordaan explains how he chooses which companies to invest in.

Vestact CEO Paul Theron reveals his best share investment

Paul Theron is Vestacts CEO and has forged a reputation for being a trailblazer in the South African financial services industry.

In his Smart Money interview, Theron outlines his approach to investing, and reveals the best share purchase hes ever made.

Ninety Ones Sangeeth Sewnath discusses the benefits of investing offshore

Sangeeth Sewnath is Ninety Ones deputy managing director of the Africa Client Group and has been with the company for over 23 years.

In this interview, Sewnath discusses the key benefits of investing offshore.

Rand Swiss founder Gary Booysen on the evolution of the local investment industry

Gary Booysen is the founder of Rand Swiss.

In his Smart Money interview, Booysen explains how the South African investment industry has evolved over the past 10 years and discusses the exciting opportunities that are now available.
Can an employee may be dismissed if they have misrepresented their qualifications and/or professional memberships, but nevertheless met the minimum requirements of the position to which they were appointed?

Image source: Ion Chiosea  123RF.com

Facts

The above issue was considered in the Labour Court (LC) in the case of Lesedi Local Municipality v Mphele and Others [2023]. The facts of the matter are briefly as follows:

Lesedi Local Municipality sought to appoint a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2015. Mr TP Mpele ("the employee") completed an application, submitted his CV, went through the Municipality's recruitment process, and was ultimately appointed into the position.

In and during 2018, the Municipality conducted a forensic investigation into the employee's qualifications. It emerged that the employee, so it was contended, misrepresented his qualifications and professional memberships in his CV. The Municipality subsequently instituted disciplinary action against the employee on the grounds of gross dishonesty. A disciplinary hearing was held, where the employee was found guilty as charged and was dismissed.

Aggrieved by his dismissal, the employee referred an unfair dismissal dispute to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

At the CCMA, the forensic investigator led documentary evidence and testified that the employee factually misrepresented having the qualifications and memberships below -

"15.1 A BCom Accounting ("BAcc") degree from the University of Durban Westville, whilst in fact he only obtained a BCom degree.

15.2 An Honours Degree in GRAP (Generally Recognised Accounting Practice), from the University of Stellenbosch, whilst this was not an honours degree but an executive short course with a NQF 8 recognition level;

15.3 Memberships with the Institute of Internal Auditors of South Africa, entitling him to use the title GIA (General Internal Auditor), whilst he had on 7 November 2013, cancelled his membership with the IIA SA and could not thereafter, have used that designation;

15.4 Holding out to be a Registered Accounting Officer with the Institute of Administration and Commence (IAC) whilst he has not been a registered Accounting Officer with the IAC since 2008".

The forensic investigator acknowledged that the employee "met the general requirement for the position as CFO". He was, however, considerably favoured above the other applicants on the basis that claimed to be a BCom Accounting graduate.

Despite being unable to justify the rationale for overstating his accounting qualification, the employee argued that he was not being dishonest. The employee conceded, after initially being evasive, that he did not have all the qualifications as set out in his CV. He was unable to properly explain why he overstated his qualification, indicating rather that it was an error on his part. He denied that he had been dishonest. Insofar as his statement, that he had an honours degree and held certain professional memberships, the employee offered up certain explanations but conceded that, in certain respects, the information was incorrect.

The Arbitrating Commissioner found the employee's dismissal to have been substantively unfair and ordered his retrospective reinstatement with backpay in the amount of R2,058,333.27. The Commissioner did so on the basis that the employee had met the qualifications for the position to which he was appointed.

Labour Court

The Municipality instituted review proceedings in the LC on the ground that the ruling is not one that a reasonable commissioner would reach.

In reaching its decision, the LC reiterated that the test for review is that of a reasonable decision-maker, as set out in Sidumo and Another v Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd and Others (2007) (CC).

In essence, when applying the reasonableness test, a Commissioner's conduct is assessed against that of the reasonable decision-maker. Moreover, two interrelated components are considered when applying the test (a) the process followed in the enquiry and (b) the assessment of the evidence placed before the commissioner in arriving at the decision. The LC stated that "this constitutes the true nature of the enquiries before the commissioners".

Moreover, the review test dictates that a decision is unreasonable if it is not justifiable when regard is had to the evidential material placed before a decision maker. A decision is reasonable if it is just, rational and appropriate in the circumstances. Similarly, a decision is unreasonable if it is unjust, irrational and inappropriate.

In applying the test above, the LC stated importantly that the true nature of the enquiry was not whether the employee met the requirements for the position that he applied for, but rather, whether he was grossly dishonest when he presented himself as the holder of degrees and professional memberships, which he did not possess.

In this regard, the conclusion arrived at by the Commissioner did not accord with the evidence placed before him. The LC held that the Commissioner failed to properly assess the evidence presented. The Commissioner did not expound why the one party's version was "more compelling than the other".

Furthermore, the LC was not swayed by the employee's argument that he had made an error when he reflected his qualifications and memberships in his CV. Rather, upon a consideration of various application judicial authorities, the LC found that the employee was grossly dishonest and that this warranted his dismissal.

Had the Commissioner properly assessed the evidence and the true nature of the enquiry, he would have found that the employee misrepresented himself. As such, the Commissioner's "decision to reinstate [the employee] in circumstances where he misrepresented his qualifications and professional status, was unreasonable and constitutes a decision a reasonable decision-maker could not reach."

The award of the CCMA was, therefore, set aside and the employee's dismissal was held to be both procedurally and substantively fair.

Importance of the case

This case is a further example, in a long line of previous examples, indicating that where an employee misrepresents their qualifications/professional status it is, on its own, a serious offence that may warrant dismissal. This is regardless of whether the employee met the requirements of the post, or not. The fact is that whether or not the employee meets the minimum requirements of the post does not detract from the dishonesty of misrepresenting one's qualifications.

Furthermore, employees should be aware that aside from being dismissed, the latter can potentially lead to further legal consequences (ie. being found to have committed a criminal offence etc).

Employers are also reminded of the importance of the need to verify all qualifications and professional memberships employees record in their CVs.
In a dynamic masterclass on Black creativity and its global impact, hosted by Greg Edwards, the president and CEO of UniWorld Group (UWG), a resounding call was made for African youth to actively participate in the burgeoning wealth generated by content creation.

Gregory Edwards, Sbusiso Gumbi, Iris Fynn and Jolene Roelofse in conversation. Source: Karabo Ledwaba.

Edwards was speaking at a masterclass at The 45th Loerie Awards which took place this past week 2 - 6 October.

"In the next ten years, content creation will create more millionaires than were created in the first 500 years," he said underlining the unprecedented potential of this industry.

He emphasised: "What better place and what better time than now for African youth and African people to be a part of this wealth creation?"

Diverse voices

Carlo Murison, founder and CEO of Two Tone Global and a key speaker at the event, stressed the significance of diverse voices and perspectives in the advertising world. He pointed out a crucial issue where global and South African brands often fail to grasp the nuances of culture, religion, emotions, spirituality, and socio-economic contexts.

Murison says that campaigns have faced criticism due to their insensitivity to culture, something he experienced as a jury member in Cannes.

He also highlighted the importance of preserving culture, stating, "Exploitation occurs when there is a lack of cultural preservation. We gravitate toward Western brands because they have successfully preserved their culture."

Iris Fynn, CEO of RiverGirl celebrated the resurgence of African storytelling in the era of social media. She stated, "As Africans, storytelling is in our DNA, and for the longest time, our stories went untold. However, with the rise of social media, our narratives have gained significance."

Fynn cited examples like the natural hair movement, which empowered Black individuals to take ownership of their hair and pressured brands to adapt, accommodating space for natural hair products.

Transformative marketing

Fynn underscored the vital need for African people to be the storytellers of their own experiences, emphasising, "It's crucial that African people tell African stories."

Jolene Roelofse, founder of Fluence Africa discussed the transformative role of influencers in marketing. She noted that brands used to create universal campaigns designed to appeal to all audiences. However, influencers provide an opportunity to connect with diverse cultures, languages, and beliefs. By allowing influencers to convey brand messages authentically, brands can bridge gaps and resonate with a broader spectrum of consumers.

Roelofse acknowledged the hesitancy of some brands to embrace this approach, citing a lack of bravery. She also highlighted the value of content creators like MacG, who, despite criticism, understand their audiences intimately.

Sbusiso Gumbi, SABC's head of marketing said Amapiano and its global surge is a strong example of how authenticity can have global reach. "I have yet to see SA musicians who are travelling overseas like Amapiano artists."

Roelofse concluded that the only way for African stories to be told is through access.

"We need everybody's culture to be celebrated and known, and that can only be done if we give everyone access and opportunities," she said.
The Loeries Creative Week might be done and dusted, the glitter and shine of the awards' evenings blown away by the Cape Town Black South Easter, but the Loeries are far from over.

The facilitators and the high school learners who attended the inaugural Loeries High Schools Programme (Image: Danette Breitenbach)

The Loeries is much more than a week of events and two awards evenings, it is a programme that runs all year and works for the sustainability and development of the industry.

And it starts with young people.

Young Creative of the Year

The most recognisable of these is the Young Creative of The Year Award.

This year's recipient, Bernice Puleng Mosala is a copywriter at Joe Public United and joins her fellow Joe Public colleague, Raphael Kuppasamy, an art director, who was the 2022 Young Creative of the Year.

Earlier this year, the duo won the Young Lions gold at Cannes this year, showing the great talent that is coming through the ranks of the industry.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg and underneath this is the dream of a young person that started many years ago. As Mosala says, I have dreamt of this moment since university when I first found out about the Award."

Loeries Student Awards

This dream can start with the Loeries Student Awards which recognise young people studying in the creative fields at creative schools across the country.

But the industry needs this dream to start sooner than this. These young people are the lifeblood of the industry  in an industry that is not always popular with parents, where the perception is often that art is not a career, or the creative industries dont pay. Even young people today are not as inclined to join an industry with a reputation for long hours and no life.

Many parents and their children are also unaware of the creative industries and the opportunities it can provide. Hence the Loeries Creative Future Scholarship.

Loeries Creative Future Scholarship

Started in 2008, this grabs matriculants while they are still at school and assists them with full-time bursaries to study in the brand communications field. To date, 19 students completed their degrees and successfully embarked on careers in agencies across South Africa.

But to do this, they need to be aware of the programme. This year, for the first time ever, the Loeries Creative Week included a high school programme, where learners would learn and be exposed to the industry and be encouraged to apply for the programme.

Loeries High Schools Day

The inaugural event hosted 50 learners from schools in the Western Cape for the day at Creative Week. The learners were introduced to the world of brand communications by a panel who led and facilitated the activities. The day also included a practical group exercise where the learners had to develop a brand case study.

The panel included Touch South Africas cofounder Robyn Phillips. Touch SA works to transition young creatives in Africa into the creative industry and to foster skills development.

Also, a member of the panel is Yanis Sookloll, CEO, FCB Cread Mauritius as well as Nix Winterburn, a student from the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business and a Loeries Creative Future Scholarship recipient.

Sookloll says that initially, the learners were quite reserved. It took them a while but once they got going the engagement was great.

Phillips says that this generation is smart and very in touch with who they are. This is the next generation of storytellers and creatives of the industry, and they are very smart.

Both say that it is programmes like the Loeries Schools Day and its bursary programme that bring these learners closer to achieving their dreams.

Phillips and Sooklall believe that the day achieved this. Each of them has big dreams and it feels like they left today a bit closer to that dream, says Phillips.

All these students need is someone to tell them that they believe in them and in their generation, adds Sooklall.

For 2023 the Loeries has four new scholarships available for the 2024 intake.

The learners also toured the Student Expo at Creative Week which features final-year students from all schools across South Africa. All the work has QR code which when scanned takes the viewer to the students full portfolio of work.

Youth Committee

The Loeries also has a Youth Committee, which comprises young professionals, aged under 30, from the brand communications industry, the LYC was first set up in 2021 with the aim of giving young professionals a voice that can resonate across the industry.




This year's Loeries Hall of Fame was awarded posthumously to Teboho Mahlatsi, the Shaka Ilembe and Yizo Yizo director and Bomb Shelter Film Productions executive producer who passed away earlier this year due to cancer.

Teboho Mahlatsi was awarded posthumously. Source: Loeries.

His untimely passing is really something that has struck a chord in the entire industry and because of all of his efforts and the impact that he has made, he has been chosen as the 2023 Loeries Hall of Fame recipient posthumously, says Preetesh Sewraj, Loeries CEO.

Notable

The Loeries Hall of Fame Award recognises the most select creative individuals for their notable and continuous contributions and success and impact in the industry.

Mahlatsi did some amazing work in advertising and as an ad man and was one of the founders of the production company, Bomb Shelter Film Productions, working with great brands like South African Tourism.

He was also involved in the industry in so many different ways, working to grow the industry and was always an active part of the Loeries community.

Over the years he won three Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze Loeries.

Nurturing talent

Mahlatsi was chosen to receive this award because his work in the brand communication space has resonated with the industry. He was also known as someone who grew and nurtured young talent in the industry and helping them grow through his work in film productions, says Sewraj.

Mahlatsi joins previous esteemed Hall of Fame recipients including last years recipient, Joe Public Uniteds cofounder and group chief creative officer, Pepe Marais.

In 2021 Darling Films South Africas co-owners and executive producers Lorraine Smit and Melina McDonald received the honour and the year

before it was Boniswa Pezisa, then Net#work BBDOs group chief executive.

The Loeries first introduced the Hall of Fame Award in 2008 to recognise select creative individuals for their notable and continuous contributions to the growth of the industry.

Each year, a shortlist is compiled based on the individuals success and impact in the industry. From this shortlist, the Loeries Committee chooses the recipient for that year.
Hundreds of people were killed yesterday in the bombing of the Al-Ahli al-Arabi (Baptist) Hospital in the Al-Zeitoun district of Gaza City. The hospital was not only looking after its own patients  many injured in Israeli airstrikes  but was also sheltering thousands looking for safety from the IDF onslaught. As the news spread, tens of thousands of angry protesters immediately took to the streets in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Tunisia and the West Bank, attacking Israeli embassies and the US and French imperialists buildings. A summit between Arab leaders and Biden in Jordan has now been cancelled.
Procter & Gamble continues to drive meaningful action to advance equality for girls.

11 October marks the 11th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child. The objective of this day is to recognise girls' rights and the unique challenges they face worldwide. Over the past 11 years, there has been increased attention to issues that matter to girls among governments, policymakers, and the general public, resulting in more opportunities for girls to have their voices heard on the global stage.

Procter & Gamble's (P&G) unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for young girls has led to collaborations with young female leaders and partnerships with global organisations such as Women Deliver and Global Citizen.

Recently the global leader in consumer-packaged goods took center stage during UN week at the 11th edition of the Global Citizen Festival, a renowned international event. Global Citizen, a leading international organisation dedicated to ending extreme poverty, was recently named, for the first time, one of the coolest campaigns targeted at the youth market at the prestigious Sunday Times GenNext Awards. This year's festival, which was streamed globally, shone the spotlight on the P&Gs commitment to addressing period poverty and providing access to sanitary pads for underprivileged girls. South African actress and global activist Nomzamo Mbatha and Chantal Alison-Konteh, founder of Her Village and Always Period Hero, introduced the pivotal on-stage moment during the event.

P&G brought the recently launched Always #Bloodsisters movement and call to action to the global stage in Central Park, New York, amongst tens of thousands of concert goers and millions of viewers worldwide. The movement is geared towards ending period poverty and the campaign includes a catchy and empowering song about the power of collective action and sisterhood. The song which has gained global recognition, has a dance choreographed and curated by Bontle Modiselle, the South African Always Keeping Girls in School ambassador.

Through the Always Keeping Girls in School initiatives, the organisation has already empowered over one million girls through the donation of 50 million pads across sub-Sahara Africa. These donations have empowered young girls with the necessary education to overcome the stigmas associated with menstruation.

Bontle Modiselle also lent her voice at the festival alongside fellow activists Nomzamo Mbatha, Chris Rock, Charlize Theron, Katie Holmes, Patrice, and precious Motsepe. Modiselle is a passionate advocate for helping the less fortunate, bringing awareness to the fact that one in three girls miss school as a result of their period.

"P&G South Africa believes that we are all global citizens responsible for making the world a better place and the time to do so is right here, right now," says Anele Nzimande, Communications Leader of P&G South Africa.

P&G has partnered with other Global Citizen organisations, including World Vision and the UN Foundation, for the festival to address various pressing issues, including poverty and education.

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate global poverty by 2030 as its first goal. Specifically, SDG Goal Five calls for gender equality within the same timeframe. "Participating in the Global Citizen Festival allows us to shed light on these urgent issues," concludes Nzimande.

Globally, the percentage of females among Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates is below 15 per cent in over two-thirds of countries.

About Blood Sister campaign

Procter & Gamble (P&G)  home of Always sanitary products  launched its new campaign in South Africa Always #BloodSisters, working to break down the barriers to education caused by period poverty.

Watch the full P&G stage moment and check out the #BloodSisters movement.
Emirates, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and the Association of South African Travel Agents (Asata) have teamed up to launch online training courses for new travel professionals. These courses are designed to help participants develop and strengthen their skills, as well as learn about the key principles of the travel and tourism industry.

Source: Supplied

This initiative is aimed at supporting the wider travel and tourism sector.

Using the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourisms already established Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) online platform, travel professionals in South Africa have free access to various online courses and training resources to help them develop the essential skills required to enter the industry or expand their abilities, improve their knowledge around industry systems and processes, ultimately helping them to maximise their career potential and employability.

Courses start with the fundamentals:

 Understanding the role of a travel agent,

 Gaining familiarity with key industry terminology,

 Understanding different procedures in relation to travel bookings, from the initial quotation stage through to the time of travel.

Participants will explore the types of enquiries and proposals common within the industry, alongside developing the skills and knowledge required to prepare quotations, book supplier products and services and process travel-related documentation.

The rich, interactive content delivered in the courses contextually uses Dubai as the primary market example when explaining the skills and terms associated with the travel industry value chain. Emirates products and services are also utilised to simulate and explain the airline retailing journey and the fundamentals of distribution systems for travel agents.

In addition to acquiring valuable industry knowledge, professionals gain extensive insight into Dubai as a destination, already a popular city for South Africans, as well as Emirates products and services.

Upon completion of the courses, participating travel professionals will receive a certificate of completion endorsed by the Association of South African Travel Agents, Emirates and the Dubai College of Tourism.

Building travel back stronger

Afzal Parambil, Emirates regional manager for Southern Africa remarks on the airlines role in the rollout of the new initiative: "The travel industry in South Africa is slowly regaining momentum and a key driver in building back stronger will be having the right people with the right skills for that much-needed reinforcement to develop a more agile and future-proof travel sector.

"Emirates is proud to do our part and offer courses delivered in partnership with the Dubai College of Tourism and Asata that will provide significant skills that meet the needs of the sector, offering recognised knowledge and qualifications to develop a solid pool of highly trained, effective travel professionals."

Essa Bin Hadher, general manager, Dubai College of Tourism says: "Knowledge through training is critical for career development, skill enhancement, and increased employability. Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) via our online training platform is happy to play a pivotal role in meeting the aspirations of tourism professionals by offering programs meticulously tailored to the specific requirements of the industry, thereby enabling students to flourish in their working environment."

Otto de Vries, CEO of Asata says: "The Association of South African Travel Agents believes that offering free online training courses to existing travel professionals will empower them with essential skills and underscores the commitment to quality education and development within the sector when it comes to selling Dubai.

"This initiative exemplifies how collaboration can drive progress and equip professionals with the tools to excel in a dynamic industry."

More info for travel professionals is available here.
The Top 10 finalists for the first 2023 Mpumalanga green solutions pitch challenge have been selected, from a wide range of cross-cutting green economy entries.

The projects encompass renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, circular economy, water and sanitation green solutions. 90% of the entries are from black-owned businesses, and 46% are female-owned, said Nathi Nkonyane, Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency CEO. We are excited to celebrate and showcase early-stage green economy solutions in Mpumalanga, and want to ensure that investment and job creation in the green economy is catalyzed through initiatives such as these.

These pre-venture and early stage start-up green businesses will now be preparing to pitch to a panel of judges at a shark tank-style networking event, hosted in Emalahleni on 1 November 2023. The finalist will have the opportunity to network with potential investors, business incubators, local government decision-makers and green economy experts.

The judging panel will include representatives of the Presidential Climate Commission, the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, Grindstone, Untapped Global and Seriti Green.

Sponsors and partners

The winners of the 2023 Mpumalanga green solutions pitch challenge stand to win cash and in-kind business support prizes from Seriti Green, Anglo American Foundation (for the best youth-focused project), Sarebi, The Ethical Agency and a marketing video worth approximately R40,000. Thinkroom Consulting will be sponsoring Thinkubate licenses for all the pitches. The workshop and pitch challenge is supported by GreenCape in partnership with the UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions).

Mpumalanga is the energy heartland of South Africa and the just transition towards a sustainable future without leaving anyone behind is key. This initiative provides opportunities to future proof Mpumalanga, said Peter Venn, CEO of Seriti Green.

The Anglo American Foundation is delighted to support the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency and their Green Solutions Pitch Challenge. We are inspired by the creativity and trailblazing innovation of the finalists to tackle their community's toughest challenges with green solutions. They are the architects of tomorrow's greener, more equitable world, and we are proud to shine a spotlight on the youth-driven project that epitomises this vision that this is well aligned with the foundations focus on youth empowerment. said Maike Von Heymann, head of Anglo American Foundation.

The top 10 will also be attending an investment readiness workshop, sponsored and hosted by Grindstone in the build-up to the pitch event.

The 2023 top 10 finalists are, in alphabetical order:

Clearfountain: Providing sustainable solutions for the effective and efficient isolation of chemicals from water treatment sludge, promoting environmental and social responsibility. They customise chemical isolation of water treatment residue at water utility plants.

Providing sustainable solutions for the effective and efficient isolation of chemicals from water treatment sludge, promoting environmental and social responsibility. They customise chemical isolation of water treatment residue at water utility plants. Green Guru Solutions with their Conscious Waste Management Services: Implementing Black Soldier Fly farming for sustainable food waste disposal in Mbombela and surroundings, offering safe disposal and producing valuable resources for agriculture and animal feed.

Implementing Black Soldier Fly farming for sustainable food waste disposal in Mbombela and surroundings, offering safe disposal and producing valuable resources for agriculture and animal feed. GMS with their E-pacer 100: An electric cargo bike ready for piloting, supplying to recyclers and buyback centers.

An electric cargo bike ready for piloting, supplying to recyclers and buyback centers. House Harvest Produce: An aquaponics startup that sells leafy greens and fish using a circular model of waste management by incorporating Black Soldier Fly.

An aquaponics startup that sells leafy greens and fish using a circular model of waste management by incorporating Black Soldier Fly. Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere region (NPC) with Agri SSME aggregation: Establishing a production kitchen facility that will support the market access systems for rural based smallholder farmers.

Establishing a production kitchen facility that will support the market access systems for rural based smallholder farmers. Smart Food Growing (SFG) Technologies with their WickBoxTM & The WickTrayTM grow trays: Smart food growing solutions that are self-watering and made from recycled plastic. Water-use efficient and high crop-yielding with little effort.

Smart food growing solutions that are self-watering and made from recycled plastic. Water-use efficient and high crop-yielding with little effort. Samanjalo: A flyash beneficiation business based in Emalahleni that uses technology to beneficiate the coal waste into green products used in construction and infrastructure environments such as green cement, bricks, pavers, barricades etc.

A flyash beneficiation business based in Emalahleni that uses technology to beneficiate the coal waste into green products used in construction and infrastructure environments such as green cement, bricks, pavers, barricades etc. SolaGeyza: Solar heated hot water for households without running water.

Solar heated hot water for households without running water. Solar Rais: Enabling the monetisation of carbon offsets. Their product is an online platform where energy certificates can be bought for the trade of CO2 of projects, after creating the virtual asset for trading (creating a voluntary carbon market).

Enabling the monetisation of carbon offsets. Their product is an online platform where energy certificates can be bought for the trade of CO2 of projects, after creating the virtual asset for trading (creating a voluntary carbon market). Thrive Land Restoration (Pty) Limited with their hyper-accumulator crops: Working with mining companies to regenerate degraded soil and water resources, developing communities of waste collectors, composters, growers and food and fibre processors supplying each other in a sustainable circular economy.

This initiative forms part of a multi-year project delivered in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency by GreenCape in partnership with the UK PACT.

We are delighted to support the Green Solutions Pitch Challenge in Mpumalanga. Identifying and supporting entrepreneurs with new and exciting green business ventures can help create new jobs and economic opportunities and contribute to a genuinely just transition. It is part of a range of wider efforts being developed by the UK with the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency to drive economic growth opportunities in Mpumalanga. Having supported the establishment of the Agency we are also please to commit funding towards its activities for a further two years, said British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson.

The winner will be selected by a judging panel on the day of the event. Their decision is final.

Terms and conditions apply.




It has been widely reported that South Africa is poised to overtake Nigeria as the continent's capital for cybercrime. According to the latest research conducted by Interpol, South Africa has seen a staggering 100% increase in mobile banking application fraud over the last year and is estimated to experience as many as 577 malware attacks every hour. While the broader media have made great strides in bringing awareness to the prominence of cybercrime in the country, the message needs to be amplified in the small business sector in particular.

Ben Bierman, Business Partners Limited

Busting the myths

One of the biggest misconceptions held by South African small businesses is that their ventures are too small or relatively insignificant to present an attractive prospect for opportunistic cybercriminals. Another commonly held belief among the small business community is that there is no viable reason for cybercriminals to target them  no personal vendetta to act upon or score to settle. Both opinions, however, are unfortunately misguided.

Recent estimates published by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) puts the annual cost of cybercrime in South Africa at over R2bn, with most of the attacks being targeted at small businesses and individuals.

The reality is that even the smallest, seemingly insignificant dataset can be immensely valuable to criminals looking to sell data on the black market. And even one email hack or OTP scam can catalyse a ripple effect that can rob someone of their entire identity or clean out their bank account.

Experts also caution small business owners against believing that without a clear motive, cybercriminals would simply not be interested in hacking their businesses. In fact, a growing body of research suggests that cybercriminals are simply playing a numbers game  using automated scripts and bots to scan companies for cyber vulnerabilities and attacking them in large volumes, knowing that a few of their 'leads' may materialise in lucrative results.

The real cost of cybercrime

Some of the most common forms of cybercrime include ransomware attacks, malware, online banking scams, cryptocurrency trading scams, phishing and website hacks. At this stage, most business owners are aware of the immediate financial implications of losing valuable data or money. However, there are other, more far-reaching consequences to consider as well.

The reputational damage of a cyber breach could stretch on for months  or even years  after the initial attack and could deteriorate to the point of forcing a business to close its doors for good. This is largely due to the breakdown of customer trust and confidence that a hack can catalyse.

There is also the possibility of litigation  businesses being sued by customers whose data has been stolen, for example. In many cases, the data lost can be irretrievable  even in the case where data is held for ransom and then released, business owners simply have no guarantee that the data recovered has not been duplicated for sale elsewhere on the dark web.

A further harsh reality is that cybercrime is notoriously difficult to investigate and prosecute in South Africa. While the Cybercrimes Act (ratified in 2021) has gone a long way in remedying this situation, the South African Police Service is still relatively under-resourced, with little statutory means by which to convict and charge criminals, let alone help companies recover their losses. The real cost of cybercrime is therefore far more extensive than most realise.

Three steps to better cybersecurity

South African small businesses cannot afford not to build a robust line of defence against cybercrime. Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken to implement risk mitigation policies and procedures that dont necessarily require large capital outlays. Although making a substantial investment into top-notch security software comes highly recommended, there are a few other simple steps that can be taken in managing the associated risks. These include:

Using a managed cybercrime security service Many businesses have hesitated to adopt outsourced Security Operations Centre (SOC) due to perceived high costs, while others using security information and event management (SIEM) platforms have found them inadequate and overwhelming with alerts, draining resources. international Cyber Security Specialists, KHIPU Networks "Secure the Data Centre" initiative aims to address these challenges. Starting at an annual cost of R469,392.37, the initiative aims to make outsourced SOC services accessible to South African businesses. It provides ongoing cybersecurity monitoring and is ideal for organisations looking to enhance the integrity of their cybersecurity systems. Implement strong password policies In the world of cybersecurity, passwords are the keys to your digital kingdom. Small businesses often underestimate the importance of robust password policies, but they're the first line of defence against opportunistic cybercriminals. Encourage your employees to use passwords that are complex and robust. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more forms of identification before gaining access. Encourage employees to use password management tools like LastPass, Dashlane, or 1Password. These tools can generate secure passwords, safely store them, and even autofill login details, making it easier for your team to use strong and unique passwords without the burden of remembering them all. Consider cyber insurance This specialised insurance is designed to mitigate the financial impact of a breach, covering costs like legal fees, data recovery, customer notifications, and even reputation management. It's not a replacement for strong cybersecurity practices but rather a crucial supplement, ensuring that if the worst happens, your business can bounce back financially without crippling losses. Investigate your options and consult with insurance experts to find a policy that suits your business needs.






A specialist home which provides temporary safety care for orphaned and relinquished babies has benefited from a kind-hearted donation from a local business.

Tiny Owls Baby Home in Durbanville, has been boosted by a R20,000 donation from business outsourcing company, Sigma Connected.

The funding from Sigma Connected, which offers contact centre services from its offices across Western Cape, aims to support the charitys staff and essential costs as it cares for orphaned and vulnerable babies to give them the best possible start in life, bridging the gap before they are adopted or returned to their biological family.

The baby home was founded by Wayne and Kim Allen in 2018 after converting their garage into a nursery space. Since 2018, they have taken in 51 babies, which includes 42 being successfully adopted and four reunited with their families.

Sigma Connecteds Nicole Pillay, who nominated the charity, said: Through suggestions from our staff, we regularly donate funds to worthy local charities as part of the Community Foundation.

This latest donation to the team at Tiny Owls Baby Home really is something special for us. The work that Wayne and Kim have put in over the past five years is inspiring as not only have they homes dozens of babies, but they have cared for them and prepared them for adoption.

Both they and the charitys work is an inspiration and as a mum myself, I really wanted to help after hearing about some of the stories. I am delighted the foundations committee chose my nomination and I hope the donation will take some pressure off and help give many more babies the start they deserve in life.

Kim Allen, the founder of Tiny Owls Baby Home, added: We are overwhelmed at the generosity of everyone at Sigma Connected and thank them from the bottom of our hearts. They have shown a huge interest in what we do and the impact we try to make, so we truly are grateful. It is already making a difference.

For more information on Sigma Connected South Africa and its services please visit www.sigmaconnected.com.

Readers can also find out more about Tiny Owls Baby Home by visiting https://tinyowls.org.za/.




The Are You a Communist? campaign is going from strength to strength in the Spanish section of the International Marxist Tendency. In just one month, thousands of posters and stickers have been put up across 12 different cities. Our posters carry the same simple yet effective message of the campaign as all our comrades in all other parts of the world: we invite all of you who identify as communists to join us in the fight against capitalism.
Young prospect's hockey journey takes him to British Columbia

Fred Sherwin

Oct. 10, 2023

The road to a professional hockey career can often take a few twists and turns. Such is the case for 17-year-old hockey prospect Aidan Souligny.

Aidan began his hockey journey with the Cumberland Minor Hockey Association, but his talent would soon see him join the Ottawa Jr. 67s AAA peewee team. He progressed up through the various age divisions until he was drafted by the Navan Grads Junior A team in 2021.

Navan native Aidan Souligny is playing Junior A hockey in British Columbia with the dream of one day playing in the NHL. FILE PHOTO

Unfortunately, things didnt quite work-out with the Grads and Souligny decided to play elsewhere. A family advisor put out a few feelers to see if any teams needed a defencemen and he ended up in New Jersey playing for a U16 major midget team.

While in New Jersey he was scouted by Boston University, which happens to have one of the best Division 1 hockey programs in the United States. They expressed interest in Souligny joining the program on a full ride scholarship and he made a verbal com-mitment to go there in either 2024 or 2025.

The only question that remained was where would he play hockey this season?

Although he was drafted by the Oshawa Generals last spring, the OHL was not an option because to play there would mean losing his NCAA eligibility.

His only other option was to find a Junior A team in a competitive league where he could continue to develop as a player.

After weighing several different offers and opportunities he settled on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Salmon Arm, B.C. near Kelowna.

The Silverbacks finished fourth in their conference in the British Columbia Hockey League last season and made it all the way to the semi-finals in the playoffs.

The decision to play in B.C. was made on the advice of his father, his agent and Boston University which endorsed the move.

It hasnt been the easiest of transitions, however. Salmon Arm, B.C. is a long way from Navan, Ontario where his parents live and where he grew up.

When I played in New Jersey last winter, I was away from home, but it was only an eight hour drive. Salmon Arm is on the other side of the country, explains Souligny. Its been a huge adjustment. In fact, Im still adjusting to the lifestyle and to the hockey. Its a lot quicker than in New Jersey.

Souligny is also adjusting to having to study online while hes playing hockey.

Technically, he is still enrolled at Ecole secondaire Garneau and he does all of his courses asynchronously through the French Catholic school board.

The challenge is in maintaining his marks so he wont lose the academic requirements to get into Boston University.
A group of Galway locals who are at their wits end are urging the High Court to order a halt to a quarrys allegedly intensifying operations.

Oughterard-based Corrib Community Association claim the site operated by Killola Quarries has significant impacts on the local environment, the mental health of locals and the structural integrity of some of their properties.The claims are denied.

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The groups director, engineer Tomas Doyle, whose home at Rosscahill is about 400 metres from the Killola quarry, said in a sworn statement that the alleged significant increase in the intensity of operations at the quarry is predominantly associated with the supply of aggregate for the Moycullen bypass.

Mr Doyle said the group was formed after it became apparent that Galway County Council the agency responsible for enforcing planning and environmental law was hopelessly conflicted in the matter as it allegedly entered a contract for the construction of the bypass with a firm that sources aggregates from the quarry.

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The council, which is a notice party in the High Court case, allegedly issued enforcement notices against the quarrys owner, Michael Power, and operator, Noel Welby, in September 2022 requiring them to stop quarrying and to clear the site immediately.

However, Mr Doyle alleges, this did not happen and the notices are the subject of judicial review challenges by the owner and operator.

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Mr Doyle said blasts continue, with one causing his whole house to tremor. More recently, he said, the constant rock breaking was like Chinese torture.

Reading planning documents related to the quarry, Mr Doyle said, it became apparent conditions were not being complied with, including in relation to operating times, dust, noise or vibrations.

He said he could often hear work underway from about 6am until 11pm, but sometimes the work continues past midnight.

A meeting attended by between 80 to 100 people in September 2022 revealed a real feeling of anger among the community, he went on.

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Childminder Hilary Sharpe said in a sworn statement that children she looks after in her house, some 300 metres from the quarry, are terrified of the blasts, while her dogs are petrified. She now brings the children and dogs away whenever a blast is due to occur.

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The dust is affecting her asthma, and she has cracks in her home she believes are from the explosions.

The local community are at our wits end with this unregulated quarry We have been forced to take this legal action to defend our families and our homes, she added.

Also supporting the case, Doirin McLoughlin, who lives about 200 metres from the site, said the quarrys operations did not bother her initially but the activity has escalated at a mad rate.

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Her black car is covered in a white skim each day, while she and her partner are often awakened by the sound of mechanical digging at 6.30am, she wrote.

The Corrib Community Associations case came before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys at the High Court for the first time this week.

The groups barrister John Kenny, instructed by FP Logue solicitor Eoin Brady, said he intends to bring an application seeking an injunction to restrain the quarrys operations until their court case concludes.

Michael ODonnell BL, for the respondents, said the challenge should not have been brought in the High Court and should be handled by a lower court.

Mr ODonnell, instructed by OConnell Clarke Solicitors, said he expects he will oppose any application for the case to be entered into the High Courts planning list, and he may seek to have the case remitted to a lower court.

The judge adjourned the case for one week.
An Bord Pleanala has rejected a request from north Dublin residents that it stage an oral hearing into plans by Dublin airport's operator to ease restrictions on the operation of its 320 million runway.

It is now over 14 months since Fingal Co Council granted planning permission to Daa to amend two planning conditions attached to the 2007 planning permission for the runway.

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Dublin airport's operator, Daa, was seeking amendments to the runway's 2007 planning permission that would allow the 3.1km runway be used between midnight and 6am and that a noise quota system would be used to dictate the number of night-time flights at the airport.

The 2007 planning permission - which remains in place - curtails flights between 11pm and 7am.

Appeal

The airport operator in August of last year succeeded on both fronts with the Fingal County Council decision and the decision was appealed by local residents' groups as part of the long-running planning saga.

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Fourteen separate third party appeals were lodged against the grant of permission and now in a letter to all parties in the dispute, An Bord Pleanala has stated that it has decided to determine the case without an oral hearing.

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The letter states that the board has concluded that the case can be dealt with adequately through written procedures.

St Margarets The Ward (SMTW) Residents Group has lodged an extensive appeal against the Fingal Co Council and requested that the appeals board hold an oral hearing.

In response to the decision not to stage an oral hearing, a spokesman for SMTW said that "SMTW and the communities we represent in Fingal and East Meath are very disappointed with the decision not to hold an oral hearing.

The spokesman said that Daas application to relax night-time restrictions at Dublin Airport "is something that will significantly, negatively alter the noise environment for thousands of residents.

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He said: "We feel that there are significant local issues and therefore an oral hearing is necessary.

The spokesman added: "We are concerned that without an oral hearing our opportunities to effectively advocate on behalf of our communities is seriously hampered. This decision only favours one party, the daa."

A spokesman for Daa said that it wouldnt be commenting on An Bord Pleanala's decision.

After the Fingal Council planning green light in August 2022, a Daa spokesman said that the decision helps provide the operational flexibility required by Dublin Airport to enable the regrowth and development of international connectivity at Irelands main gateway.

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Ireland Challenge brought against noise levels at Dublin A... Read More

As part of a planning condition attached to the permission, Daa faces a potential bill of 6 million to insulate up to 300 homes in the vicinity of Dublin airport from night-time air traffic noise.

This followed Fingal County Council making it a condition that eligible householders around the airport are to receive a 20,000 grant from Daa to insulate their homes from night time air traffic noise.

As part of its 245-page planners report into the case, Fingal County Council concluded that the application would further safeguard the role of Dublin Airport and the long term amenity of residents in the area.

Daa has stated that the new runway will support the creation of 31,200 new Irish jobs and 2.2 billion in additional economic activity by 2043.
Beaumont Hospital has apologised in the High Court for the failings in care and the devastation caused to the family a young girl who died there six years ago.

Ella Noonan was only 11 years of age when hours after successful brain surgery to insert a shunt she went into cardiac arrest and died.

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In the High Court on Tuesday, Beaumont Hospital in a letter read to the court said it wished to express sincere regret and sincerely apologise for the failings in care which have resulted in the death of Ella.

The familys counsel Jeremy Maher SC instructed by Michael Boylan solicitor told the court that it was their case that a pulse oximeter on the girls toe which was to check the oxygen levels in the blood had fallen off, but the audio alarm signal was disabled apparently for patient comfort over patient safety.

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Mr Maher said it was their contention had the oximeter been in place the problem with Ellas oxygen levels would have been detected and cardiac arrest would not have taken place.

Ella, Counsel said is missed every day by her family, who are devastated and continue to be devastated.

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Outside court, Ellas parents John and Claire Noonan from Westport, Co Mayo said they had taken on their legal battle for their beautiful brave daughter, Ella, who they said filled the world with joy and laughter during her short time on earth.

We are not a family who ever took on legal battles, and never wanted to end up here.

We soon realised, that it was the only way we would ever uncover the truth about the mistakes that were made in Ellas care, they said.

Standing outside the Four Courts, John Noonan speaking for his family said they had come to the end of a process, that on many occasions, we felt like giving up.

He added:  We hope this case will highlight the massive deficiencies in the care of Ella and will help save other childrens lives who may end up in a similar situation.

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He said they will continue to live our lives, with the love, light and presence of Ella, who was, and remains very much the brightest star guiding us along the way.

In the letter of apology read to the court Beaumont Hospital, on behalf of management, staff and the team that cared for Ella, extended sincere condolences on her tragic death at the hospital on January 15th 2018.

It added: We offer our sincere apologies for the devastation caused to you and your family. We of course accept that neither the terms of this apology nor any financial compensation can negate the continuing heartache that your family must feel every day."

The hospital said it had endeavoured to achieve a clear understanding of the events that occurred in order to prevent such a tragedy occurring in the future.

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"On behalf of the staff of the hospital I wish to express sincere regret and sincerely apologise for the failings in care which have resulted in the death of Ella and in particular those failings in care which resulted in the various recommendations made by the Dublin City Coroner at the inquest into Ellas death.

Beaumont Hospital said it had commissioned external reports to assist with reviewing the circumstances surrounding Ellas care and tragic death.

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It said, on the recommendations in those reports and from the recommendations made by the coroner, Beaumont Hospital said it introduced post-operative monitoring of patients undergoing similar surgery to Ella in the Intensive Care Unit.

From the learning that has arisen, every effort has been made to ensure that a similar tragic event does not occur in the future, it concluded.

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In the proceedings, It was claimed that an audio alarm on the little girls pulse oximeter machine which records the level of oxygen in the blood was allegedly muted to turned down in the post-operative period on January 15th 2018.

It was contended if it had been if it had been audible, it would have alerted hospital staff to the disconnection of the alarm and Ellas falling oxygen saturation level, prior to her cardiac arrest.

Ella, it was claimed, was denied the chance to have earlier intervention with cardio-respiratory support which if it had occurred it was claimed, would have prevented her death.

The family settled an action over Ellas death and also an action by Ellas parents for nervous shock.

Noting the settlements Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was a heartbreaking case and he offered his deepest sympathy to the Noonan family.
Lawyers for Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, have argued that the prosecution had "zero appetite" to ask any questions of a key witness who had her testimony interrupted and were instead driven to keep the defendant's trial going under any circumstances.

They also submitted that although no investigation into the interruptions took place, the jury were read a transcript of an exchange between an unseen man and the witness that occurred in their absence, a decision that Brady's counsel submitted was "baffling" and "completely unlawful".

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However, it was submitted on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal (CoA) by Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), that it had been thrown about like "brickbats" that the prosecution "sat on their hands" and did nothing to address unfolding events, none of which the barrister said could have been anticipated.

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Counsel for the DPP said "an inquiry" into how key witness Molly Staunton - who gave testimony via video link from New York during the Covid pandemic - came to be interrupted by an unseen man "would have been an exercise in futility".

On the fifth day of the hearing before the three-judge appeals court senior counsel Michael O'Higgins, representing Brady, said the court erred in refusing to direct An Garda Siochana to carry out an investigation into the circumstances under which Ms Staunton's evidence was interrupted.

He said the court also erred in failing to investigate the "blatant and serious contempt" of court for the purpose of protecting the integrity of the trial process.

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The lawyer further submitted that the court erred in determining that the deficiencies in her evidence could be cured by a warning to the jury, and in deciding to inform the jury by way of a summary of what had transpired in their absence.

Father of one Brady, who was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 40 years for the murder of the detective, is bidding to overturn his conviction in a six-day hearing before the CoA.

Covid

Witness Ms Staunton was initially expected to travel from her New York home to Dublin to give evidence, but that plan was scrapped when Covid swept through New York.

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The extent of the lockdown there was such that plans to have her give evidence via video link from a government building also had to be scrapped.

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In the end, she gave her evidence despite complaints by Brady's defence that the scenario took away from the proper gravitas of a criminal trial.

Ms Staunton told the murder trial that Brady said he had to "carry around the guilt of having murdered a cop in Ireland".

Ms Staunton said in her direct evidence that Brady also claimed during a drunken "rant" to be "the most feared man in Ireland".

While Ms Staunton was giving evidence in front of the jury via video link from a New York apartment, an unseen man interrupted her.

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Mr Justice White told the jury that there was a previous interruption by the same man when the jury was not present.

On that occasion, a radio could be heard in the background in the apartment and when the judge asked her to turn it down, she said to the man: "The judge says you have to leave. I don't want anyone else in the room."

Mr Justice White said the man became difficult when asked to leave and said: "Call another boy, you should be with a lawyer" and later he said: "Just f**king do it," and, "Tell them what you're supposed to tell them." Ms Staunton replied: "I'm not telling them."

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In one dramatic incident, Ms Staunton was interrupted at a critical point in her evidence by the man, who could be heard saying "You f**k off" and then "put a stop to it, you can stop it right now, no more testimony", before the feed was cut off.

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'Shot a cop'

The key part of her evidence was that she heard Brady admit that he "shot a cop" while he lived in Ireland.

Brady's lawyers argued that the jury would see the interruption as prejudicial against their client and even though there was nothing to suggest the man was acting on Brady's behalf, they said he could no longer get a fair trial.

The judge ruled the issue could be dealt with by a warning from the judge that it may be dangerous to rely on Ms Staunton's evidence.

Mr O'Higgins, for the appellant, submitted on Tuesday that the unseen man heard via the video link indicated a very aggressive person influencing Ms Staunton's evidence against a fraught and tense backdrop.

He said the procedure to be carried out when something like this unfolds should mirror as much as possible a witness giving evidence in court.

Counsel said the court should have established from a base level what was going on but that "no effort whatsoever" was made in this instance.

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The barrister added: "There is a full-concerted policy simply not to ask any questions at all and then to proceed."

Mr O'Higgins submitted the jury might have thought his client was benefiting from this interruption or that he had something to do with it, or perhaps nothing to do with it, but that some "bad bad-minded friend had leaned on them".

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy asked the lawyer what process would he envisage if this event had occurred in a more usual environment where a witness was giving evidence in court. Mr O'Higgins said an independent investigative guard would be appointed and the witness would be interviewed.

"Then we have the information and are in a position to make an assessment," he said.

Instructions

Mr O'Higgins suggested there was a contempt of court by Ms Staunton as she was given crystal clear instructions and a very stern warning at the end of the first day not to have anyone present where she was giving evidence.

He said the State felt entitled to turn their back on or ignore the interruption and not even ask witnesses to explain what had happened.

"They are saying they have an entitlement to do that; and it's an impertinence. There seems to be zero appetite to ask any questions," he said.

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Failing that, counsel added, the court should have obtained statements from Ms Staunton and the unseen man to find out what had happened.

Counsel for the appellant went on to say that giving the jury a transcript of what had happened in their absence was "completely unlawful" and in breach of their jury oath to give a true verdict in accordance with the evidence.

He added: "I find it absolutely baffling that the court needed to explain to the jury how it all came about in this minute detail and yet there is a mountain out there and no one wants to look at it. Telling the jury about things that went on which they never witnessed is so legally unsound it would invalidate any conviction."

The appellant also said the only solution was to discharge the jury once the court said it was powerless to act and that the gardai were not looking into it. However, he submitted the prosecution's drive was to keep the case going under any circumstances.

In reply, Brendan Grehan SC, for the DPP, said the judge was entitled to decline the application to discharge the jury as the matter was capable of being dealt with.

He said the judge made a decision based on what he saw in front of him and directed that the matter should proceed.

The judge, he submitted, was within his jurisdiction to do that, particularly at all times averting to the fairness of the trial being of paramount concern.

"It did not justify a discharge of the jury, but it did justify what the judge did in giving the jury very specific directions," he added.

'Vehement submissions'

Mr Grehan said the judge gave a summary to the jury of what had transpired in their absence during Ms Staunton's testimony and that this was done for the benefit of the defendant to enable them to look at her evidence with a jaundiced eye.

He said the judge was entitled to explain additional information to the jury to which they had not been party.

"The judge did this in ease of the position of the defence, and it is now ironic, having done it, it is now the subject of such vehement submissions," he said.

The barrister said the option for the prosecution at the time was no evidence from Ms Staunton or for her to give evidence from an apartment; "that was how stark it was". He accepted that the interruption during Ms Staunton's evidence was unusual, unfortunate and unanticipated but said it had no effect on her testimony.

Mr Grehan said he did not accept that it is always necessary to procure a statement from a witness and the judge had made enquiries to satisfy himself. "It has been thrown about like brickbats that the prosecution sat on their hands and did nothing about unfolding events, none of which could be anticipated," he said, adding that an inquiry would have been an exercise in futility.

Aaron Brady (32), previously of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum having been found guilty in 2020 of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41) at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth on January 25th, 2013.

Brady was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, a sentence that will run concurrently with the life sentence.

Det Gda Donohoe was on a cash escort when he was ambushed by a five-man gang and shot dead. The raiders stole 7,000 in cash during the robbery, which lasted 58 seconds.

Brady's trial was also the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasting 122 court days. He was found guilty of the murder of Det Gda Donohoe by an 11-1 majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020.

He was sentenced to the mandatory term for murder of life imprisonment in October 2020. As he had been found guilty of murdering a garda acting in accordance with his duty, the trial judge ordered that he serve a minimum of 40 years.

The appeal continues on Wednesday before Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Tara Burns.
A former school caretaker sexually abused his daughter in the family home over a seven-year period when her mother was at work, a court has heard.

The 77-year-old Dublin man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of orally raping his daughter and three counts of sexually assaulting her in the family home on dates between 1991 and 1997. She was aged between six and 13 at the time.

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The man, who can't be named to protect the anonymity of his daughter, worked for 30 years as a caretaker at his local primary school, the court heard.

A local detective garda told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the abuse started when the man orally raped his daughter as she was preparing for her first holy communion. He continued to sexually assault her over the years in the family home when her mother was doing shift work.

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In her victim impact statement, which she read out on Tuesady, the woman outlined how she went to gardai in 2021 and divulged the horrible secrets I had held on to for 25 years.

It was as if the effects of the abuse are stored in a secret grave inside me, she said, adding it felt like an unexploded bomb.

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I look at my own children and recognise that it is not normal for a child to be so terrified to go asleep...It is not normal for a child to want to hide in the boot of their mother's car all night so they won't be left at home with their father.

The woman said the abuse at the hands of her father made her feel unlovable, vulnerable and alone. My father let me down.

Scared

She said when she eventually told her mother about the abuse, she was afraid her mother would leave her. Ultimately, she said, the abuse has irrevocably damaged their relationship.

Whatever bond we had is shattered by my father's actions, she said, adding there are precious few subjects they can now discuss.

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I'm grateful to be here today to stand up for the six-year-old girl who was so scared and alone in her bedroom at night, she said.

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The woman's mother was present in court and a letter was handed in on her behalf. Defence counsel, Gerardine Small SC, said this letter was simply to outline (her husband's) medical difficulties.

The court heard the man has no previous convictions.

Ms McGowan told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) places the offending at the more serious range of sentencing of 10 to 15 years. She said this was because of the breach of his position of trust, the young age of the complainant and the period of time over which the offending took place.

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In her plea of mitigation on behalf of the man, Ms Small said her client has a number of medical conditions, including prostate cancer and poor mobility. His wife has also had medical issues.

Ms Small said the man was deeply ashamed of his actions and was aware of the profound effect on his daughter. He fully accepts the breach of trust.

She said he wanted to offer an apology to his daughter for what it's worth. She asked the court to be as lenient as possible to the man, given his personal circumstances.

Ms Justice Melanie Greally noted this was a case where a substantial sentence would be imposed. She adjourned to matter to October 24 for finalisation, noting this would give the man two weeks to get his affairs in order before going into custody.
A legal challenge to the UK governments new laws to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles will be heard over five days in November, a High Court judge has directed.

Delivering his case management directions, Mr Justice Colton said the court has now received 20 applications for judicial review from Troubles victims challenging various aspects of the legislation.

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The judge said he has identified a lead case to be examined by the court.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received royal assent last month despite widespread opposition from political parties, victims organisations in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government.

Aspects of the laws include a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences to those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

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The ICRIR will be headed by former lord chief justice Sir Declan Morgan.

The new Act will also halt future civil cases and inquests.

In his directions, the judge said the court recognises the real and genuine concern of all the applicants who have issued proceedings.

He added: The courts objective is to ensure that the legal issues that arise in relation to the Act are heard and determined as expeditiously as is reasonably possible.

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It is recognised that multiple issues are raised by the individual applications.

Equally, it is clear that there is a huge degree of overlap in respect of the applications.

It is simply not practical, nor fair, to agree to hear all 20 applications, something which is accepted by all the parties.

The judge said challenges to the Act are focussed on a number of areas, including the establishment of the ICRIR, the cessation of police investigations, the cessation of inquests and civil proceedings and the potential immunity from prosecution.

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However, he said the courts primary focus will be the argument that sections of the Act are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The legal challenges will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast. Photo: PA.

Mr Justice Colton directed that the lead case will be a joint submission brought by Martina Dillon, John McEvoy and Linda McManus.

He also granted leave for the cases brought by Patrick Fitzsimons, Teresa Jordan and Gemma Gilvary, as their applications raised issues not covered by the lead case.

The judge also granted an application from the Wave Trauma Centre, a cross-community victims group, to provide written submissions in the case.

The judge directed that the hearing will begin on November 20th and is set to last for five days.
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Gardai arrested a man following a 720,000 cannabis seizure made by Revenue officers at Dublin Airport on Monday.

Revenue officers stopped and searched the baggage of a passenger who had come in on a flight from New York, and discovered 36kg of herbal cannabis.

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The man, aged in his 20s, is currently detained at a garda station in north Dublin under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
Minister of State Peter Burke has said that Ireland will have to ensure that humanitarian aid gets through to Gaza and the West Bank to keep key services going.

Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Mr Burke added that as far as he was concerned, from the Irish perspective, the 700 million humanitarian aid that goes to the Palestinian Authority from the EU will go ahead.

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All EU decisions in relation to humanitarian aid are taken at a council level under qualified majority voting, he explained. That process was key in ensuring that humanitarian aid gets into Gaza and the West Bank to keep all the public services going, schools, safe water, hospitals.

Irish aid

The funding will not go to Hamas, he said. It was very clear that the 16 million that the Irish Government contributes will go through UN agencies and NGOs that work in the region and do not have any link to Hamas.

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In response to a call from Independent TD Cathal Berry on Monday for the Government to suspend financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, Mr Burke said absolutely not as it was very clear who would be the victim if that were to happen.

We have to be very understanding here. And this aid goes directly on the ground to people who are very vulnerable, who are under very difficult circumstances, and it provides their basic human rights, and we as a country have stand out in our history in doing that in very, very difficult regions, operating on the ground and that will absolutely continue.

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Mr Burke said he had been assured by organisations working on the ground in the region with the UN that the funding was getting through to the people who needed it. Ireland needed to ensure that people get that support because 80 per cent of Palestinian citizens relied on this type of funding.

The case of the missing Israeli-Irish woman Kim Damti was very distressing, he said. And anyone who has their family or loved ones caught up in this awful atrocity, it's a terrible space to be in. So the Irish Government, obviously, through our consular services and the Department of Foreign Affairs, are working very closely on the ground now with the Israeli authorities as well. And we are providing consular assistance as we speak to the family in question.

But I just can't go into the details of the case as we've had a number of citizens contact our consular services as well, it's important for citizens in the region to register with our consular services. That's very important so we can assist them and give them the best and up to date advice as it breaks on the ground.

When asked if the Government had any lines of communications with Hamas, he said: No, it absolutely does not. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. He did not think that any government could have connections with them or work or give funding to them. Its the people that need to get the funding.
A tax relief for landlords announced in the budget will not stem the flow of property investors out of the market, a letting agent has warned.

Kersten Mehl manages more than 1,000 properties in Limerick on behalf of landlords.

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Budget 2024 included a temporary tax relief designed to benefit small landlords.

The measure would see rental income of 3,000 for 2024, 4,000 for 2025, and 5,000 for 2026 and 2027 disregarded at the standard tax rate  as long as landlords stay in the market for that full, four-year period.

Property manager Kersten Mehl at his offices in Limerick. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

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Mr Mehl described the move as too little, too late.

Some people may stay in, but it wont stop the general flow out of the market, he said.

He said continuing to blame landlords for the housing crisis will see even more leave the market and worsen the supply problem.

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Mr Mehl said an increasing number of landlords feel vilified and see no win in renting out properties and are deciding to sell up.

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He said one of the main factors driving people out of the market is rent pressure zones, a system introduced in 2016 that places a cap on the total rent landlords can charge, with annual increases limited to 2%.

I dont think the political parties have the courage to do whats necessary, which is just remove all this pressure zone nonsense, theyre not going to do that, he said.

Mr Mehl, who has worked in property management for 45 years, said while he is seeing new landlords entering the market, targeting properties not caught in the pressure zones, he said there are more owners constrained by the zones selling up.

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So you have this conundrum  will the landlords leaving exceed the landlords coming in, I believe they will. So the supply issue doesnt improve. And thats the central point, he added.

I dont think theres going to be a fundamental shift in landlords leaving the market, which ironically creates a more limited supply, which creates increased rents.

If you actually stand back, the whole thing is a mess.

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Mr Mehl said most landlords were very ordinary people who were just looking to build a small nest egg.

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The media is blaming the landlord for anything and really the housing shortage is a consequence of failed state policy, its not because of landlords, he said.

Most landlords are buying a house for their kids education down the road or whatever, they are the mom and pop landlord, and that sector will ultimately disappear.

They are vilified. They have been vilified for the past five or six years.

Mr Mehl said politicians know the problem but are reluctant to do anything that would be seen as supporting landlords.

Budget 2024 Budget 2024: Everything you need to know Read More

Theyre afraid of the media reaction and the trolls on social media, the politicians are afraid of them, he said.

And, consequently, they know that landlords are getting beaten up, a lot of them know that these people who bought properties and an investment are being beaten up.

But they wont step in and say hold it now, we need a supply.

Mr Mehl did not confine his criticism to the current Government and said another factor causing landlords to leave the market was the prospect of a Sinn Fein-led administration and the potential of it introducing a policy that meant owners would be unable to ask tenants to vacate their properties ahead of selling them  meaning the purchase process would go ahead with tenants still in-situ.
Former Texas congressman Will Hurd, a critic of Donald Trump, has ended his presidential bid and endorsed Nikki Haley as the Republican candidate.

His brief campaign was largely built on criticising the former president who continues to be the partys frontrunner.

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Writing on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, he said: While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognise the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden.

He said Ms Haley, a former US ambassador to the United Nations under Mr Trump and governor of South Carolina, has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy.

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Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley (Meg Kinnard/AP)

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Responding to the endorsement, Ms Haley wrote on X: America is at a crossroads and its time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president. Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!

A clandestine CIA officer who worked in Pakistan, Mr Hurd served three terms in the House until January 2021 and was the chambers only Black Republican during his final two years in office.

The 46-year-old has long been a fierce Trump antagonist, even encouraging the then-Republican presidential nominee to leave the 2016 race when the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump brags about sexually assaulting women was made public in the final weeks before the election.

His few memorable moments as a White House candidate came when he was heckled by Republican crowds after repeating assertions that Mr Trump would lose the general election to president Joe Biden.

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Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison, Mr Hurd declared at a July GOP dinner in Iowa. When sustained booing followed, he responded: Listen, I know the truth is hard.
US President Joe Biden has condemned militant group Hamas for sheer evil for its multipronged attack on Israel that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 Americans.

His comments came as the US State Department said secretary of state Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week to show US support after the Hamas attacks.

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State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Mr Blinken would travel in coming days to deliver the message of solidarity. He said Mr Blinken will also talk about what additional resources we can give them.





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Mr Blinken will leave on Wednesday and is expected to arrive on Thursday.

Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground.

Mr Biden spoke of the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about sickening reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians.

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Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, Mr Biden said.

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He added: Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israels back. Well make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.

Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. Their stated purpose is the annihilation of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.

They use Palestinian civilians as human shields.

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He renewed his warnings to adversaries who might want to exploit the turmoil. Let me say again to any country, any organisation, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, Mr Biden said, I have one word: Dont.

Mr Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault  a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and US intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.



US President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House about the war between Israel and Hamas, as Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken listen (Evan Vucci/AP/PA)

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Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area, one the poorest places in the world.

The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummelled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into UN shelters.

Mr Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the US believes that Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US does not know the precise number of American hostages that were taken.

Mr Sullivan said the US, at the moment, has no plans of putting US troops on the ground.

As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, Mr Biden said.

Mr Sullivan said US intelligence did not pick up signs of the Hamas attack.

We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold any more than the Israelis did, Mr Sullivan told reporters.

As other White House officials have done in recent days, Mr Sullivan also reiterated that the US government has also not seen any direct linkage between Iran and the Hamas attack over the weekend.

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While Iran plays this broad role  sustained, deep and dark role  in providing all this support and capabilities to Hamas, in terms of this particular, gruesome attack on October 7, we dont currently have that information, Mr Sullivan said.

The White House on Monday confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.
US President Joe Biden plans to use a speech on Tuesday about the four-day-old war between Israel and Hamas to condemn the militant group for a shocking multipronged attack on Israel that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 11 American citizens, according to a White House official.

Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground.

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The president was also expected to speak of the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He also planned to address the brutality of the militants toward Israelis who were captured by Hamas in the operation, including rape and torture, the official said.

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Rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday (Hatem Moussa/AP/PA)

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Mr Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has talked of his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault  a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and US intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area, one the poorest patches of territory in the world.

The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummelled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into UN shelters.

The White House on Monday confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.

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The US Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge US military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, a US official told The Associated Press.

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The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the arrival ahead of an announcement.

The Pentagon has said that the US warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes.



Nahal Neta, son of Adrienne Neta, 66, a nurse living in Kibbitz Beeri and now missing, weeps during a news conference by US citizens whose relatives are missing, in Tel Aviv, Israel (Maya Alleruzzo/AP/PA)

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Along with the Ford, the US is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt, and the US is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

According to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research four in 10 Americans (44%) said the US gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the US should offer more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of support is given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more support.
An Israeli military official says the death toll from Hamas surprise attack over the weekend has now risen above 1,000.

Brigadier General Dan Goldfus announced the figure during a briefing with reporters on Tuesday.

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He spoke as Israel was pressing ahead with a fierce offensive of airstrikes in Gaza that has claimed 830 lives on the other side and caused widespread destruction.





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We are going to go on the offence and attack the Hamas terrorist group and any other group that is in Gaza, he said.

We will have to change the reality from within Gaza to prevent this from happening again.

The Hamas incursion is by far the deadliest militant attack in Israeli history.

The announcement came as Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighbourhood by neighbourhood on Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory as Israel vowed a retaliation for Hamas attack that would reverberate  for generations.

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The United Nations human rights chief said Israels announcement of a complete siege of Gaza would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the strip, as he condemned alleged mass killings and executions by Palestinian militants.

Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement that such siege risks seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the capacity of medical facilities to operate.



Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqs Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani pose for a photo prior to their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow (Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP/PA)

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Russias embassy in Israel said the number of Russian citizens killed in the latest Israel-Palestinian war has risen to four.

The embassys spokesperson Marina Ryazanova told the Russian state news agency Tass that the victims had dual Israeli and Russian citizenship. She said six others remain missing.

Previously, two Russian citizens were believed to have been killed and four were missing, according to Anatoly Viktorov, Russian Ambassador to Israel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the latest Israel-Palestinian war as a result of failed US foreign policy.

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Speaking at the start of his talks with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani, Mr Putin said in his first comment on the war that many will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of the US policies in the Middle East.

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He added that the US has tried to monopolise the settlement, but, regrettably hasnt bothered to search for compromises that would be acceptable to both parties and, just the opposite, sought to enforce their own view of how it should be done, exerting pressure on both parties.

Mr Putin said the US has failed to take vital interests of the Palestinian people into account, ignoring UN General Assembly resolutions envisaging the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt said on Tuesday the ongoing escalation between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza is very serious, warning of repercussions on the regions security and stability.

Mr El-Sissi, whose government maintains ties with Israel and Hamas, said they have intensified their efforts to reach a ceasefire of the ongoing war, according to the state-run MENA news agency.

We are communicating with all international and regional parties in order to reach an immediate cessation of violence and achieve de-escalation, he was quoted as saying.

The Egyptian leader affirmed his countrys position on establishing a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.





Meanwhile, an official at the International Committee of the Red Cross said his organisation has been in touch with both Hamas and Israeli officials about accessing prisoners, but so far have had no access to them.

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Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that included the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during their unprecedented incursion into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

The level of violence is still very high but weve asked for access, Mr Carboni said from Geneva.

We ask also for the civilians who have been captured to have an opportunity to communicate with their family, to tell them that they are safe and well.

We also ask that some people who have nothing to do in prison or shouldnt be captured to be released.
The European Unions digital policy chief has said misinformation about the war between Israel and Hamas abounds on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in a letter to owner Elon Musk.

X says it is trying to take action on a flood of posts sharing graphic media, violent speech and hateful conduct about the war and is treating the crisis with its highest level of response.

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But outside watchdog groups and European Commissioner Thierry Breton say misinformation and fake and manipulated imagery is circulating on X.





Following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against , we have indications of X/Twitter being used to disseminate illegal content & disinformation in the EU.



Urgent letter to @elonmusk on #DSA obligations  pic.twitter.com/avMm1LHq54  Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 10, 2023 Advertisement

This includes repurposed old images of unrelated armed conflicts or military footage that actually originated from video games, said the letter to Mr Musk from Mr Breton on Tuesday.

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This appears to be manifestly false or misleading information.

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Mr Breton also warned Musk that authorities have been flagging potentially illegal content that could violate EU laws and you must be timely, diligent and objective in removing it when warranted.

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mr Bretons letter.

But a post late on Monday from Xs safety team said: In the past couple of days, weve seen an increase in daily active users on @X in the conflict area, plus there have been more than 50 million posts globally focusing on the weekends terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.

As the events continue to unfold rapidly, a cross-company leadership group has assessed this moment as a crisis requiring the highest level of response.

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That includes continuing a policy frequently championed by Mr Musk of letting users help rate what might be misinformation, which causes those posts to include a note of context but not disappear from the platform.

The struggle to identify reliable sources for news about the war was exacerbated over the weekend by Musk, who on Sunday posted the names of two accounts he said were good for following the war in real-time.

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Analyst Emerson Brooking of the Atlantic Council called one of those accounts absolutely poisonous.

Journalists and X users also pointed out that both accounts had previously shared a fake AI-generated image of an explosion at the Pentagon, and that one of them had posted numerous antisemitic comments in recent months. Mr Musk later deleted his post.

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Mr Brooking posted on X that Musk had enabled fake war reporting by abandoning the blue check verification system for trusted accounts and allowing anyone to buy a blue check.
The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, says it is trying to take action on a flood of posts sharing graphic media, violent speech and hateful conduct about the war between Israel and Hamas.

X says it is treating the crisis with its highest level of response. But outside watchdog groups say misinformation about the war abounds on the platform that billionaire Elon Musk bought last year.

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A post late Monday from Xs safety team said: In the past couple of days, weve seen an increase in daily active users on @X in the conflict area, plus there have been more than 50 million posts globally focusing on the weekends attack on Israel by Hamas.

As the events continue to unfold rapidly, a cross-company leadership group has assessed this moment as a crisis requiring the highest level of response.

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That includes continuing a policy frequently championed by Mr Musk of letting users help rate what might be misinformation, which causes those posts to include a note of context but not disappear from the platform.

The struggle to identify reliable sources for news about the war was exacerbated over the weekend by Mr Musk, who on Sunday posted the names of two accounts he said were good for following the war in real-time.

Analyst Emerson Brooking of the Atlantic Council called one of those accounts absolutely poisonous.

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Journalists and X users also pointed out that both accounts had previously shared a fake AI-generated image of an explosion at the Pentagon, and that one of them had posted numerous antisemitic comments in recent months. Mr Musk later deleted his post.

Mr Brooking posted on X that Mr Musk had enabled fake war reporting by abandoning the blue check verification system for trusted accounts and allowing anyone to buy a blue check.

Mr Brooking said on Tuesday that it is significantly harder to determine ground truth in this conflict as compared to Russias invasion of Ukraine last year and Elon Musk bears personal responsibility for this.

He said Mr Musks changes to the X platform have made it impossible to quickly assess the credibility of accounts while his introduction of view monetization has created perverse incentives for war-focused accounts to post as many times as possible, even unverified rumours, and to make the most salacious claims possible.

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War is always a cauldron of tragedy and disinformation; Musk has made it worse, he added. Further, Mr Brooking said via email Musk has repeatedly and purposefully denigrated the idea of an objective media, and he made platform design decisions that undermine such reporting. We now see the result.



Elon Musks actions since buying Twitter, now known as X, have been criticised by watchdog groups (Patrick Pleul/Pool via AP/PA)

Part of Mr Musks drastic changes over the past year included reducing its staff, including many of the people responsible for moderating toxic content and harmful misinformation.

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One former member of Twitters public policy team said the company is having a harder time taking action on posts that violate its policies because there are not enough people to do that work.

The layoffs are undermining the capacity of Twitters trust and safety team, and associated teams like public policy, to provide needed support during a critical time of crisis, said Theodora Skeadas, one of thousands of employees who lost their jobs in the months after Mr Musk bought the company.

X says it recently changed one policy over the weekend to enable people to more easily choose whether or not to see sensitive media without the company actually taking down those posts.

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X believes that, while difficult, its in the publics interest to understand whats happening in real time, its statement says.

The company says it is also removing newly created Hamas-affiliated accounts and working with other tech companies to try to prevent terrorist content from being distributed online.

The company said it is also continuing to proactively monitor for antisemitic speech as part of all our efforts. Plus weve taken action to remove several hundred accounts attempting to manipulate trending topics.

Linda Yaccarino, whom Elon Musk named in May as the top executive at X, withdrew from an upcoming three-day tech conference where she was scheduled to speak, citing the need to focus on how the platform was handling the war.

With the global crisis unfolding, Linda and her team must remain fully focused on X platform safety, the company told the organisers of the WSJ Tech Live conference being held next week in Laguna Beach, California.
Rishi Sunak has said he will stop at nothing to keep Britains Jewish community safe, before promising support for Israel along with other world leaders after the Hamas attacks.

The UK prime minister addressed a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel and to reassure Britains Jews.

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We stand with Israel, the United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always, Mr Sunak said.

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Later on, Mr Sunak, US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni promised their steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, UK home secretary Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs to encourage them to step up patrols in areas with large Jewish communities amid concerns they could be subjected to antisemitic abuse.

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It comes after Palestinian militant group Hamas sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel according to the Israeli military with authorities in Gaza saying more than 680 have been killed in the territory, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.

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Mr Sunak told the United Synagogue in Finchley: I know that at moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe.

We have already seen vile words on our streets and attempts to stir up community tensions.

I say: Not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century.

My first duty is to protect you. We will not tolerate this hate, we will not tolerate this antisemitism.

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And I promise you: I will stop at nothing to keep you safe.

Protesters at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

On Monday evening, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington.

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Fireworks were let off, flares were lit and chants of Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar rang out.

Police separated pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups at High Street Kensington tube station.

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In Westminster, around 2,000 people attended a Jewish community vigil, arranged by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

People attending a vigil outside Downing Street for victims and hostages of the Hamas attacks (Lucy North/PA)

Mr Sunaks address at the synagogue came after he had chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A joint statement by world leaders, including the UK prime minister, said: We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism.

In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.

They warned that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.

The leaders said they recognised the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, but Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

At least two Britons were killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing.

Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by the group, which began on Saturday.

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Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas gunmen.

UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said he was uncomfortable speculating on the total numbers of British people affected by the violence after it was reported that more than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing.

He said Israels unique status meant there were a large number of British-Israeli dual nationals, with UK government estimates suggesting about 50,000 to 60,000 Britons are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza.

The British Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region and as flights out of Israel are still available for those wanting to leave there are no plans for a UK-facilitated evacuation of British citizens.

Mr Sunak, who spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any diplomatic, intelligence or security support it needs as it hits back at Hamas.

The US has dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid.

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Downing Street said the UK is not planning to redeploy military assets to the Middle East, with warship HMS Duncan already in the Mediterranean as part of Nato patrols.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel has only started its fierce offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas unprecedented attack.

What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, he said.

Israel sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for the Hamas attack, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides.

Hamas pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks targeted civilians in Gaza without warnings.

The most senior Palestinian diplomat in the UK accused Israel of a war crime against civilians.

Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission in London, condemned the killing of civilians by Hamas, but said Israel is seeking sheer vengeance in its retaliation.

Speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event in Liverpool he said: Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. Its a war crime. Its not going to lead anywhere.

The British Red Cross has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to provide humanitarian support in Israel and Gaza.
Hasht-E Subh, October 9, 2023

The Earthquake in Herat province has claimed the lives of more than two thousand people and injured thousands more. As a result of this earthquake, approximately 13 villages have been destroyed, and hundreds are still trapped under the rubble. Video footage from the earthquake-stricken areas has circulated widely on social media, revealing that specialized search and rescue teams have been notably absent for over 24 hours from the incident. Published videos from the earthquake zones indicate that survivors lack even basic tools for rescuing those trapped. Shortages of medical facilities for the wounded, the absence of specialized rescue teams, and delayed cooperation from relief organizations have been identified as fundamental challenges in managing the earthquake disaster in Herat province.

On the other hand, this earthquake has witnessed unity and empathy from various segments of the citizens of Afghanistan. Some provinces have dispatched initial aid shipments to Herat, while others have declared their support.

Mullah Janan Saeiq, the spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) under the control of the Taliban, initially stated that the devastating earthquake in Herat had claimed the lives of 2,053 people and left 9,240 others injured. However, later, in a statement, the figures were revised, and an apology was issued to the public. According to the statement from this authority, the number of casualties has been corrected based on the number of destroyed villages due to the earthquake. He added that this count pertains to the villages of Naib Rafi, Kernal, Wardakha, Panjab, Sarboland, Kashkak, Kajkal, Siah-Ab, Aghzalak, Butan, Gharmushk, Naw Abad, Cheshma-e Ghori, and Nayak, where 1,320 homes have been destroyed, and lives have been lost.

However, a reliable source from Herat Regional Hospital informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily that 150 people have been confirmed dead, and approximately 600 have been transferred to this hospital with injuries. The source does not consider these figures definitive and emphasizes that due to a lack of space and facilities, victims and the wounded have been transferred to other government and private health centers, leaving room for the possibility of an increase in the number of victims from the earthquake.

Another source from a non-governmental organization told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that around 20 villages have been destroyed, and over two thousand people have been killed or injured. This source also acknowledges that the numbers are subject to change, stating, I visited Naib Rafi village, and the impact was severe. Except for their concrete school, all the houses were demolished.

One of the individuals involved in distributing aid to the affected area says that the casualty figures are, in fact, contradictory, and no one can confirm their accuracy. He states, Its likely that 1,500 people have lost their lives. We went to Naib Rafi village, and locals told us that there used to be 400 houses in the village, all of which are now completely destroyed. About 600 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in this village. The source emphasizes that out of the 13 villages that were destroyed, five are completely wiped out, with no signs of life remaining.

However, video footage and images depicting the tragic scenes from this disaster have been widely shared on various media and social platforms. These visuals reveal that, even after 24 hours, there is a notable absence of rescue teams, and survivors are making desperate efforts to retrieve victims using rudimentary tools and manually clearing debris.

Amidst the numerous images and videos, a particular video clip stands out, portraying a man in profound grief due to the loss of his loved ones. In the video, he reveals that 14 members of his family remain trapped beneath the debris, leaving him with a sense of helplessness. This video has garnered criticism on social media, with users pointing fingers at the Taliban for what they perceive as shortcomings in their rescue and disaster management efforts. Nevertheless, the Taliban have responded by forming a commission to aid the affected individuals and allocating 100 million Afghanis in assistance to the victims.

Another video that has attracted considerable attention captures the moment a child is rescued from beneath the soil. In the video, relatives of the child can be seen using their hands to clear away the dirt from around the child.

One video shared by a user depicts a devastated village. The videos recorder refers to this village as Siah-Ab in the Zinda Jan district, where it is evident that the entire village has been leveled to the ground.

On the other hand, sources report that on the first day of the earthquake, the Taliban prevented women who had left their homes for safety from venturing outside. These sources alleged that the Taliban told women they had no right to leave their homes without a male escort. Additionally, the Talibans office in Herat had arranged transportation for male journalists to go to the disaster site on the previous day but did not provide the same facilities for female journalists.

Simultaneously, local sources say that some women who wanted to go to the disaster site to assist injured women were barred by the Taliban. According to sources, women were not allowed to distribute clothing and essential supplies to the women rescued from under the debris.

Sources further added, For the past two days, women with white scarves have been trying to obtain permission to open two or three public baths for women. The idea was that when women are rescued from under the rubble and dirt if they are unharmed, they could use these baths for hygiene and cleanliness. But, as of today, the Taliban have not granted permission.

However, some women have complained about the absence of female morticians. They have stated that men have been washed and shrouded at the disaster site, but due to the lack of female morticians, women have not been washed or shrouded. The Taliban have not officially commented on this matter.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale has struck Herat province at a time when environmental experts say Afghanistan is one of the vulnerable regions in terms of natural disasters, especially earthquakes. According to them, Afghanistan has three earthquake fault lines, making earthquake seismology knowledge and preventive measures crucial.

Sayed Abdul Basit Rahmani, an environmental expert, states that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to climatic events and has active seismic areas, including parts of northeastern and southeastern Afghanistan. He explains that several earthquakes occur every week in the Hindu Kush mountain range.

Mr. Rahmani attributes the increase in casualties and earthquake damage in Herat to the lack of flexibility and failure to adhere to construction standards. He emphasizes that the destroyed houses in Herat were constructed with basic local tools and were not compatible with engineering principles.

This environmental expert adds that earthquakes can be geographically identified by geological institutions. According to him, geological uplifts and tectonic activities are examined, but earthquakes are not predictable in terms of timing. He still anticipates the possibility of another significant earthquake in the future.

Mr. Rahmani considers the absence of advanced and specialized search and rescue teams as one of the factors contributing to the increased casualties. He states that advanced resources for rescue are not available, and these are essential issues for the rescue of earthquake victims and survivors.

This earthquake has been accompanied by the solidarity of citizens and residents of other provinces. Athletes, politicians, and international organizations have expressed their support. The very first shipment of non-food aid was sent from Ghor province to Herat. These aids include 215 tents, 240 blankets, 47 cooking sets, 89 water containers, and some essential items.

Some residents of Badghis, Khost, Ghazni, Oruzgan, and Kandahar provinces have launched campaigns to collect aid for the earthquake victims in Herat resulting from the recent seismic activities. The process of aid collection both inside and outside Afghanistan continues. Additionally, some investors and merchants have pledged to assist the affected.

The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, various political parties, political figures, and former government leaders have issued statements expressing solidarity with the earthquake victims. They have called upon humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to those affected.

However, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, has called for assistance to the earthquake victims in Herat. In a tweet, he wrote: In the ruins left by the earthquake, a teenager who has lost his entire family says, I am alone! Yes, Afghanistan, your homeland, and your people are one and alone. We must rely on our own strength and liberate and prosper our homeland. There is no other way.

In addition to domestic efforts and public aid, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN agencies have stated that they are assessing the earthquake damages in Herat. The UNHCR mentioned in a tweet: While Herat province in Afghanistan grapples with a devastating earthquake, the UNHCR, alongside institutions and other UN agencies, is on the ground assessing the damages and responding to immediate needs.

This comes after the United Nations had previously announced that relevant UN entities had sent medical assistance and emergency supplies to the area to provide essential services to the affected.

Condolences From Select Embassies and Foreign Nations for Herat Province Earthquake Victims.

Takashi Okada, the Japanese Ambassador to Kabul, stated in a message that he is monitoring the situation. In his message, he mentioned that Japan has always stood by the people of Afghanistan. The Iranian Embassy in Kabul has also expressed solidarity with the affected and called for the activation of a regional contact committee to assist the earthquake victims in Herat. Countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, and several others have also expressed sympathy for the earthquake victims in the province of Herat.

It is worth noting that the residents of Herat have spent the second consecutive night outdoors. Yesterday, some users in Herat claimed that a relatively mild earthquake had shaken the province yet again.

Its worth mentioning that Afghanistan has experienced more than six earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 6.5 on the Richter scale from the year 2000 until now. In 2002, Nahrin District in Baghlan Province experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 Richter. The government at the time reported the death toll from that earthquake as 1,100 people.

Following that, the second-largest earthquake occurred on Monday, October 26, 2015. This earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale. The U.S. Geological Survey reported its epicenter at a depth of 196 kilometers near Jurm District in Badakhshan Province. The former government reported the death toll from that event as over 100 people and around 600 injured.

The third earthquake, causing substantial human and financial losses, struck last year in Spera District, as well as in Gyan and Bermel districts of Paktika Province. The Taliban reported 1,000 casualties and over 1,500 injuries due to this earthquake.
A Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in Russia on espionage charges has lost his appeal against his arrest, meaning he will stay in jail until at least the end of November.

Evan Gershkovich, wearing a blue shirt, T-shirt and jeans, appeared in a glass defendants cage at Moscow City Court on Tuesday as he once again appealed his release.

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He stared at the cameras in court with a blank expression.

It was the second time in less than a month that the journalist had appeared before a judge after the Moscow court declined to hear his appeal in September owing to unspecified procedural violations.

The US Embassy in Moscow said in a statement that it was deeply disappointed that Gershkovichs appeal was rejected, adding: Evan should be released.

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The latest decision means Gershkovich, 31, will remain jailed at least until November 30, unless an appeal is heard in the meantime and he is released, though this is an unlikely outcome.

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The Wall Street Journal reporter lost his appeal and will have to remain in jail until at least the end of November (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

The journalist was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) east of Moscow, and a judge ruled in August that he must stay in jail until the end of November.

The court proceedings are closed because prosecutors say details of the criminal case are classified.

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Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Gershkovich and the Wall Street Journal deny the allegations, and the US government has declared him to be wrongfully detained.

Russian authorities have not detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges.



Evan Gershkovich is being detained at Moscows Lefortovo prison (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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He is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions.

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Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for US News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after US-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine.

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At least two US citizens arrested in Russia in recent years  including WNBA star Brittney Griner  have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the US.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial.

In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met his counterpart in Romania on Tuesday for talks on regional security and to strengthen bilateral ties against the backdrop of Russias invasion of his country.

He described the partnership between the two countries as key to stability for Europe and beyond on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after meeting President Klaus Iohannis in the capital, Bucharest.

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The two discussed security in the Black Sea region, economic co-operation, shared infrastructure projects and Ukraines requests for military support, Mr Zelensky told reporters after the meetings.





I am delighted to be visiting Bucharest for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I'd like to thank President @KlausIohannis and his team, as well as all Romanians, for their genuine support for Ukraine and Ukrainians through this violent and tough period. pic.twitter.com/L8T2KrkkHB Advertisement  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) October 10, 2023 Advertisement

He also thanked Romania for providing both military and humanitarian support to his country.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president described the Nato and European Union member country as a friend who came to our help on our darkest day and whose support gets stronger with time, on X.

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In recent weeks, Russia has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraines Danube River ports  located just across the river from Romania  as Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraines ability to export grain to world markets.

Romania has confirmed drone fragment findings on its territory, the type used by the Russian army near its border with Ukraine.

In Romania, it is well known how dangerous Russian terrorism is, how dangerous the drones and missiles are that attack the villages near the Romanian border, Mr Zelensky said.

Ukrainian pilots will be trained in Romania and I discussed this with the Romanian president. We discussed our military requests.

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Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis pose with a joint statement signed before a press conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania (Andreea Alexandru/AP/PA)

In July, Romanias Supreme Council of National Defence said the country aims to open a regional training hub for F-16 fighter jet pilots from fellow Nato countries and other partners, including Ukraine.

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For his part, Mr Iohannis said Romania is focused on helping Ukraine win the war against Russia and that supporting Ukraine is in his countrys strategic interest.

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Strengthening Ukraines security means strengthening Romanias security, he said.

Ukraine and Romania signed an agreement in August to try to boost Kyivs grain exports through Romania after Russia withdrew from a wartime agreement a month earlier that ensured safe passage through the Black Sea.

Romanias Black Sea port of Constanta has become a key transport route for the wartorn nations grain amid the war.

Ukraine is a major global supplier of wheat, barley, corn and vegetable oil and has struggled since Russias invasion to get its food products to parts of the world in need. After Russia blocked the grains Black Sea passage, that left more expensive overland routes through Europe as the main path for Ukraines exports.

The Ukrainian presidents trip to Romania is his first official visit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. In the wake of the invasion, millions of Ukrainian refugees fled to Romania before moving on to other countries.

Around 85,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently registered in Romania, under the EUs temporary protection scheme.
George Case | INOV8 PR

NASHVILLE, TN - Today, acclaimed Christian artist George Case releases a deeply personal and touching song, "Down Right Beautiful." As part of the Christian AC and Inspirational format, the single comes as a tribute to his son, John Nolan, a remarkable young man with Down Syndrome.

The heartfelt lyrics share the tale of hopes, dreams, and the unexpected beauty found in life's surprises. George writes of the divine hand behind it all, singing, "But God had a greater plan / When He made you with His masterful hands." The song is not only a testament to his son's spirit but a beacon of awareness for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

In addition to the song's deep significance, George dedicates "Down Right Beautiful" to GiGis Playhouse, an organization committed to transforming lives through educational, therapeutic, and career development programs tailored for individuals with Down Syndrome. With 58 locations worldwide, GiGis Playhouse continues to make a monumental impact on countless families and communities.

"Down Right Beautiful" is now available across all streaming platforms, with publishing under the reputable Carpenters Way Music. As both the writer and producer, George Case continues to blend his vast experiences with his unwavering faith to deliver songs that reach the heart.

About George Case:

From serving in the global military to fostering a rich Christian music ministry, George Case has journeyed through diverse experiences. His adventures in Germany, Poland, and Israel have shaped him, and now settled in the Blue Ridge mountains, he crafts songs that resonate with believers globally. His track, "There is a Place," saw overwhelming success with over 500K YouTube views and audiences from 111 countries. "Down Right Beautiful" promises to continue Georges legacy of inspiring listeners with messages of faith and hope.

Connect with George Case:

https://georgecasemusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeCaseMusic

Connect with and Donate to GiGi's Playhouse:

https://gigisplayhouse.org/
Australias competition watchdog has approved the takeover of the nations biggest energy retailer Origin Energy by Canadian fund giant Brookfield and its consortium partner MidOcean, but the $18.7 billion deal still needs the backing of large shareholders who think the bid undervalues the company.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said its decision on the deal was finely balanced, ultimately deciding in the consortiums favour after a detailed review found the acquisition was likely to result in enough public benefit to outweigh competition concerns.

Brookfield has outlined ambitious plans to spend another $20 billion to $30 billion on renewable energy projects.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Brookfields proposed investment of between $20 billion and $30 billion to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy projects would lead to a more rapid reduction in Australias greenhouse gas emissions.

We found that the public benefits and public detriments in this matter were finely balanced. Likely detriments, particularly anticompetitive effects from vertical integration, had to be weighed against likely benefits to Australias renewable energy transition, Cass-Gottlieb said.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Loyalist Militiaman at the Moment of Death, Cerro Muriano, September 5, 1936. The title is so specific, the image so authentically grainy, the soldiers fall so sudden and ungainly. You can almost hear the crack of the snipers bullet echo through the desolate landscape. Capturing decisive moments doesnt get much more definitive than Robert Capas famous image from the Spanish Civil War (later retitled Death of a Soldier, Spain). But was it sniper or machine-gun fire? Was it Cerro Muriano or Espejo, 50 kilometres away? Was it even Capa who took it, or was it his partner Gerda Taro? Was it staged? These questions and more arose some 40 years after the shot was taken. The dictum goes that the first casualty of war is truth. We might add that naivety dies alongside it. While the jury is out on whether the photograph was simply miscaptioned, Capas possible betrayal hits hard. Perhaps its because in this age of loose truths  accusations of fake news, legal and political obfuscation and plausible deniability  we expect old-fashioned integrity and truth from photojournalism, particularly its patron saint Capa, martyred covering the Indochina war in 1954. Loading Susan van Wyk, the National Gallery of Victorias senior curator of photography, says its not the only image in an upcoming exhibition whose authenticity was later thrown into question. She was shocked to learn that Joe Rosenthals famous World War II image of soldiers raising the stars and stripes on Japans Mount Suribachi was restaged. Louis Lowery took the original image. But the military brass, seeing a propaganda opportunity, called for a bigger flag and a reshoot. Joe Rosenthals recreation became the image we remember. It did make me question, why did I just assume Joe Rosenthal was at the front of the battle at that exact moment? says van Wyk. Maybe he was, maybe he wasnt. And some of thats got to do with the iconic status of that image. Images sometimes take on other lives and do become the tool of propaganda, or [in Lowerys case] do disappear from history. Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson in Juvisy, France, in 1938. Credit: Nicholas Umek/ NGV

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Photography: Real and Imagined is the first retrospective in 20 years of the NGVs massive collection. Van Wyk calls the show an open invitation to inquiry. We should question everything. The exhibition includes more than 270 images (selected from 15,000 in the collection) and is packed with masterpieces from a whos who of photography: Julia Margaret Cameron, Man Ray, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Horst P. Horst, Dora Maar, Lee Friedlander, Cindy Sherman, Hiroshi Sugimoto, the Starn twins, Max Dupain and Tracey Moffatt, to name a few. Across 21 themes  including narrative, consumption, work, play, conflict and death  the works range from conceptual to documentary, vernacular to fashion and advertising. Loading From the outset, photography carried the expectation of representing the truth, says van Wyk. But, pondering the collection, she admits: I dont know that theres anything there that you could say categorically hands down this tells you the entire truth of this moment, this event, this person. One of the questions you have to ask straight up is, well, whose truth? The subjects truth? The photographers truth? The viewers truth? How do you represent truth? Its incredibly nuanced. Compare the way photographers documented the impact of industrialisation. Lewis Hines images of children working in factories changed US labor laws. Others are less clear-cut. Kusakabe Kimbeis interior of a carpet factory in Meiji-era Japan is presented next to Viv Mehes Melbourne textile factory workers. They look almost identical but were made 100 years apart. One celebrates industrialisation, and the other reflects poor working conditions for largely migrant women, says van Wyk. From left, Wolfgang Sievers Shift change at Kelly & Lewis Engineering Works, Springvale, Melbourne 1949; Kusakabe Kimbei, Weaving carpets, 1880s-1910s; Viv Mehes, A Melbourne textile factory, 1981. Credit: NGV Contrast that with Wolfgang Sievers 1949 image of workers entering a Springvale engineering factory. Sievers came from a Bauhaus tradition that valued modernisation. He didnt see factory work as soul-destroying. His photography reflects a deeply held conviction in the dignity of workers and he depicts workers with upturned smiling faces waiting to enter the factory, she says. Ironically, by the 1970s, when photography was being recognised as a collectible commodity, writer and critic Susan Sontag was lamenting the mediums bankruptcy. Through oversaturation the vast photographic catalogue of misery and injustice was losing its power.

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In the last decades, concerned photography has done at least as much to deaden conscience as to arouse it, she writes in On Photography. The age of Instagram and 24-hour news has done little to enliven our numbed conscience. To revivify the documentary image and compel us to feel, conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas almost adopts the tactic of the selfie. Thomas appropriates an image of a pivotal moment in the US Civil Rights movement, known as Black Sunday. On March 7, 1965, police beat civil rights activists as they marched on Alabamas state capital. Press photographer Spider Martin captured civil rights leader Amelia Boynton at the moment she collapsed from a police assault. In Amelia Falling (2014) Thomas removes the background and places the activists on a mirror. Hank Willis Thomas Amelia Falling, 2014 places the original photograph on a mirror. Credit: Christian Markel/ NGV The image becomes empowered again because were confronted with the extraordinary reality of it, says van Wyk. You cant be indifferent to the scene in front of you because suddenly Thomas has made you part of it. Youre with Amelia as she falls to the ground. Its like us all becoming part of history. Where Thomas literally reframes history, Indigenous artist Maree Clarke reclaims it by subverting formalist photography. Traditionally a thumbprint on an image would indicate a mistake or rough handling. In Clarkes case her thumbprint on a landscape image reclaims Country. Maree Clarke, On the banks of the Murrumbidgee River II (Army tent and suitcase) 2019. Credit: Maree Clarke If photographers have always been drawn to documenting the truth, they are also aware of the fun in staging a scene and messing with reality. Van Wyk cites Hippolyte Bayards 1840 Self-Portrait as a Drowned Man. Of course, he wasnt a drowned man, but there he was creating this image and putting forward the proposition that maybe he was. But right from the outset, the medium had that capacity to be used to tell stories and to present ideas and information as the photographer wished.

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In the lead-up to the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, Australias own Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth took to Instagram to encourage his millions of followers to vote Yes to marriage equality.

Dear open-minded, free-speaking, laid-back, life-loving Aussies, wrote Hemsworth. Marriage is about love and commitment, and in a country based on equal citizenship, it should be available to everyone! Vote now for marriage equality.

Hemsworth was far from the only high-profile Australian to take this position, with Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue all joining him in publicly campaigning for the Yes vote.

At the time, Crowe tweeted: Hey Australia, I love you. Thanks for being you. Please send a clear message with your vote and your voice.
Its like Festivus for Seinfeld fans. Jerry Seinfeld has hinted that he and his fellow cast members might make a return to the classic 90s sitcom.

Answering a question from the audience about whether he liked Seinfelds final episode at a stand-up show in Boston, the 69-year-old comedian said he had a little secret about the ending.

Its a secret: Kramer, Jerry, Elaine and George in Seinfeld. Credit: AFP

But I cant really tell it because it is a secret, he said. Heres what Ill tell you, OK, but you cant tell anybody. Something is going to happen that has to do with that ending. Hasnt happened yet.

Seinfeld indicated to the audience that he was already in discussions with Larry David, who created one of the greatest sitcoms in television history with him.
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Say hola to Four Hundred, the latest restaurant to open in so-hot-right-now North Sydney.

Having poured his first drinks at North Sydney in the early 1990s, Nick Wills, co-owner of hospitality giant Tilley & Wills, has witnessed three decades of twists and turns for the postcode. And the industry veteran has never been more bullish on North Sydney  in late October, Tilley & Wills will open 250-seat

Mexican-inspired bar and kitchen Four Hundred.

Mexican-inspired dishes and cocktails on the menu at Four Hundred. Fabiola Zamora

Theres a real resurgence here (in North Sydney), a real energy. We want to do something cool and aspirational, he says of the incoming standalone venue, which will serve tacos and ancho spatchcock. Itll slide into the former site of Hunter Gatherer restaurant on the rooftop of Greenwood Plaza.

Four Hundred takes its name from an Aztec myth about 400 rabbits going a little too hard on the agave, a moniker its owner describes as a cheeky acceptance of different drinking personalities. And Wills has seen a few. In 1992, while still at university, he worked as a part-time barman at North Sydneys Greenwood Hotel, a pub that is now part of Tilley & Wills sprawling portfolio, which also includes Verandah Bar in the Sydney CBD, and The Buena in Mosman.
A dozen interest rate hikes are taking longer than usual to squeeze household budgets due to the sizeable share of fixed rate loans.

RBA assistant governor Christopher Kent said in an address that it was taking longer than usual for higher interest rates to lower demand at a whole-of-economy level.

Some households had been insulated from mortgage repayment pain because they secured a low fixed rate loan during the pandemic.

But many borrowers were hurting, collectively forking over a record 10 per cent of their household disposable incomes to their monthly repayments, up from seven per cent.

This number is set to move higher as the remaining pandemic-era fixed term loans expire.

Kents speech, which walked through the various ways higher interest rates were at work in the economy, reiterated the RBAs focus on the obvious cash flow channel.

Kent said many borrowers had had to cut back on spending to meet higher mortgage payments and account for the rising cost of living.

This has led to slower growth in demand for goods and services, he said.

The 400 basis points of interest rate hikes are expected to slash household spending by between 0.4 per cent and 0.8 per cent a year, RBA modelling suggests.

Kent also kept the door open to more tightening as consistent in recent RBA communications.

The board is paying close attention to economic developments here and overseas, and some further tightening of monetary policy may be required to ensure that inflation, which is still too high, returns to target in a reasonable time frame, he said.

AAP
Since it began lighting itself for special events, the Opera House has tried to avoid turning its sails into a political billboard.

In the past decade, according to its own count, the Opera House has lit its sails on 343 nights. More than half have been for the Vivid festival. Most of the others have been for health awareness days (autism, cancer, diabetes and epilepsy), national community celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Diwali and St Patricks Day, and recognition of sporting events.

The Sydney Opera House has been illuminated for 343 nights over the past 10 years. Credit: Fairfax Media

This weeks decision to illuminate the Opera House in the colours of the Israeli flag is not the first time the sails have shown solidarity with victims of terrorism. In 2015, the sails were tricoloured for three nights to recognise the 130 people slain in Paris by Islamic State. In 2019, the sails were lit in sympathy for victims of the Christchurch massacre and the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. The assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was recognised last year. The past two Februaries, the sails have been illuminated for Ukraine, victims of state terrorism.

The Opera House has only picked sides when it is confident that the colours enjoy near-unanimous local endorsement. It has declined to make a Yes statement on its sails, disappointing many staff and patrons, but avoiding politics. Its missteps have been rare, such as when it was lit in 2018 for The Everest horse race, seen as a celebration of gambling and a violation of the Opera Houses own policy against illuminating its sails for corporate identities.
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Pro-Palestine protesters may be ordered to stay home this weekend and face arrest if they do not comply as the state government vows to prevent a repeat of the abhorrent scenes outside the Sydney Opera House in which people yelled antisemitic chants and burnt Israeli flags.

Beamed around the world, the images sparked a fierce backlash from Jewish groups outraged the rallies were allowed to take place and that Jewish people were advised to avoid the area.

Palestine supporters ignite flares during a rally outside the Sydney Opera House. Credit: Lisa Maree

Police Minister Yasmin Catley refused to say whether a further demonstration planned for this Sunday should be permitted and said it was up police to approve or reject the application.

She added: I dont want to see protests on our street at all, from anybody. I dont think anybody really does. Catley said if police rejected Sundays protest  which she indicated was likely  they would escalate their response.
Ben Roberts-Smith has been ordered to pay almost $1 million into court to cover the legal costs of Nine newspapers in the event he loses his appeal against his devastating defamation loss.

In a historic decision on June 1, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smiths multimillion-dollar defamation case against The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Ben Roberts-Smith has agreed to pay almost $1 million into court as security for Nines legal costs in the event he loses his defamation appeal. Credit: Philip Gostelow

Besanko found the newspapers had proven to the civil standard  on the balance of probabilities  that Roberts-Smith was a war criminal who was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners in Afghanistan.

He also found the news outlets had proven the former Special Air Service corporal had bullied a fellow soldier.
A Perth fly-in, fly-out worker has admitted his role in the kidnapping and torture of a Chinese national during a failed extortion plot in Perths north-eastern suburbs earlier this year.

The 68-year-old victim was lured to Australia to discuss a business deal, however when he arrived in April, he was taken to an Airbnb property in Caversham where three men restrained him and bound his arms and legs with chains and padlocks.

Te Putu Hawkings has admitted his role in the kidnapping and torture of a Chinese man lured to Perth under the false pretense of a business deal.

A police prosecutor said the men carried out the torture of the man for money.

He was detained by the [trio] for the purpose of attempting to extort some money from various family members and associates of the victim, with threats being made to the victim, he said.
WA Police have released shocking footage of a drive-by shooting in Baldivis last week allegedly involving two rival bikie groups in the hope it will prompt witnesses to come forward.

Two patched Rebels members, Jacob Hughes, 26, and Joshua Da Cruz Joaquim, 23, have already been charged over the shoot-out, which occurred on Amazon Drive outside the home of a Mongols member about 3pm last Thursday.

The CCTV footage shows a firearm being discharged on the quiet street, as Adam Wragg runs across the road and jumps over a neighbours fence as bullets are being sprayed in his direction.

Acting Gang Crime Squad boss, Detective Senior Sergeant Bevan Roe said four vehicles and eight co-offenders were involved and described the incident as laughable.
Uluru: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has broken down in tears in a moving Inma ceremony at Uluru in which traditional owners sang, danced and presented him with a copy of the Uluru statement from the Heart.

Albanese arrived in Uluru accompanied by the member for the NT seat of Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, Indigenous leader Noel Pearson and the chief executive of the Central Land Council, Les Turner, who has endorsed the Voice to parliament.

After meeting with traditional owners and hearing their stories, an emotional Albanese joined hands with local women, climbed down into the red dirt, and speaking off the cuff, he said the visit was one of the great honours of his life.

I came here when I became leader of the Labor Party and committed right here with Linda Burney to hold a referendum in our first term for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to our parliament, and that is what we are doing, he said.
It was mid-August and Wang Yi was feeling optimistic. The Chinese foreign minister had just had a phone call with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Irans foreign minister, where he told him he believed a wave of reconciliation was washing over the Middle East.

China had brokered a peace deal between decade-long rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had finished a four-day state visit to Beijing, and in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been gifted a copy of Chinese President Xi Jinpings book.

Chinas President Xi Jinping has met with the leaders of Syria, Iran and Kuwait in Beijing this year. Credit: Illustration: Aresna Villanueva

We are friends closer than brothers, Palestinian Fatah Central Committee official Abbas Zaki told Chinese state media. Netanyahu had told US officials he had begun planning a trip to Beijing this year.

Now as the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas fires barrages of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, kidnaps and murders Israelis, and Israel declares war, no other country can claim to have stable relations with the two sides and with their influential neighbours Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The King of Jordan says there will be no security or stability in the region unless Palestine achieves a sovereign state alongside Israel.

Jordan shares a border with Israel and until 1994 had been at war with the Jewish state since its post-war creation.

King Abdullah II of Jordan. Credit: Bloomberg

King Abdullah told his deputies that a two-state solution was the only option.

The dangerous escalation and acts of violence and aggression currently taking place in the Palestinian Territories are proof that confirms, once again, that our region will never be secure nor stable without achieving just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, in order for the Palestinian people to gain their independent and sovereign state on the June 4th, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and so that the cycles of killingwhose ultimate victims are innocent civiliansend, he said.

For there can be no security, no peace, and no stability without a just and comprehensive peace, to which the only way can be through the two-state solution.

Our compass will always point to Palestine, with Jerusalem in its heart, and we will never falter in defending its interests and just cause, until the brotherly Palestinian people regain their legitimate rights in full, in order for our region and all our peoples to enjoy peace, which is a right and a necessity for us all.

Jordans position will remain unwavering, and we will not abandon our roleno matter the challengesin safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship.

Jordan is a key voice in the region and an ally of the United States.
Speaking from the state dining room at the White House, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden likened Hamas to the terror group Islamic State. He said the US would deploy experts to help with hostage recovery efforts. Citing the stomach churning reports of babies being killed and women raped, assaulted and paraded as trophies, he also vowed to continue to support Israel as it prepares for a complete siege of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the attack. US President Joe Biden, center, speaks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, and Vice President Kamala Harris in the State Dining Room of the White House. Credit: AP Sadly for the Jewish people its not new, Biden said. This attack has brought to the surface painful memories and scars left by millennia of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people. So in this moment, we must be crystal clear: we stand with Israel. During his speech, which came soon after he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time since Saturdays attack began, the president did not ask Israel to exercise restraint.

Loading Instead, he said the US would continue to provide the military support it needed to ensure it did not run out of tools to defend itself. This included surging equipment to replenish the Iron Dome missile defence system, which allows Israel to detect and shoot down incoming projectiles, and repositioning ships and aircraft in the region to act as a deterrent. Biden also confirmed the American death toll had now risen to 14 - up from 11 on Tuesday and that some US citizens had been taken as hostages. He had directed his team to share intelligence and deploy additional US government experts to help Israels hostage recovery efforts.

Blinken will also travel to Israel this week to show support. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, Biden said. Bidens comments came as Israel continued to pummel Gaza with airstrikes on Tuesday, saying its military had regained control over border towns, while Hamas threatened to kill a hostage every time Israel strikes the strip without warning. Israeli soldiers take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza strip. Credit: AP However, back in Washington, the leader has come under growing attack by those who believe he has been too weak on Iran, which is a known backer of Hamas.

In particular, the administration has been criticised over its recent decision to unfreeze $US6 billion ($9.3 billion) in Iranian funds in exchange for the freedom of five wrongfully detained American citizens. Supporters of Israel and Palestine gather at the Israeli consulate in New York on Monday. Credit: AP Missing from president Bidens speech is, first, any sense of what America will do to avenge the savage murders of our citizens and, second, the word Iran, said Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican and former military officer. It is our responsibility, not Israels, to avenge those deaths. And the refusal to even warn Iran by name will only embolden the ayatollahs. Some are also concerned about how long the goodwill towards Israel will last, despite Bidens claims of rock solid support.

A Gallup poll released in March, before the war began, found that Democrats sympathies in the Middle East favoured the Palestinians over Israelis, 49 per cent versus 38 per cent. Some progressive Democrats, such as congresswoman Cori Bush, have struck a much different tone to Biden, saying in a statement that violation of human rights do not justify more violations of human rights and a military response will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis alike. Loading Blinken also deleted a tweet hed posted on Sunday urging a ceasefire, while the State Departments Office of Palestinian Affairs deleted a tweet urging all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. And across the US, authorities are now monitoring domestic threats in connection with the Hamas attack on Israel and security has been ramped up at Jewish centres as protests erupted over the conflict.
Washington: US authorities are monitoring domestic threats in connection with the Hamas attack on Israel and security has been ramped up at Jewish centres across America as tensions escalate over the conflict.

Declaring that this is not a distant tragedy, President Joe Biden has also confirmed that the number of Americans killed in the attack had risen to 11, but many more were still unaccounted for or believed to be among the hostages held by Hamas.

Supporters of Israel and Palestine gather at the Israeli consulate in New York on Monday. Credit: AP

The safety of American citizens  whether at home or abroad  is my top priority as president, Biden said in a statement.

I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.
Latest News Brokers react to CBAs mortgage slide Have the big four mortgage wars reignited?

Industry creates mens mental health event It follows four suicides in six weeks

A former BDM at Pepper Money ANZ has taken on a new role at tech-driven non-bank lender, Bridgit.

Michael Balshaw (pictured above) has joined Bridgit as regional sales director, to oversee the continued growth of Bridgit in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia, specifically expanding the non-banks accredited broker network, which currently exceeds 3,000 in these states.

Prior to Bridgit, the Melbourne-based Balshaw was a top-performing commercial manager at Pepper Money ANZ, having settled the largest commercial transaction within a national team. He was also the fastest BDM to reach 100 settled deals.

Balshaw is also an expert in alternative funding options who has supported and educated more than a thousand commercial brokers. He also held senior roles at ALI Group (Australia) and big bank NAB.

Stephen Doyle, head of distribution at Bridgit, said Balshaw was the perfect person to spearhead the non-banks efforts in Victoria, SA, Tasmania, and WA. Since the business was founded in 2021, Bridgit has experienced continuous and rapid growth, processing over $2 billion in bridging loan applications.

Balshaws unrivalled expertise and knowledge of non-bank lending along with strong broker relationship skills will no doubt help cement Bridgit as the go-to-solution all brokers can trust, Doyle said.

Balshaw said he was thrilled to be joining the company.

With housing in demand, an increasing number of homeowners are struggling to find and secure their dream home, he said. For those lucky enough to find their ideal property, many of those people lose out on the opportunity due to not having enough time to sell their existing home or being unable to access enough liquidity to complete the purchase.

Bridgit wants to change that. Its mission is to help everyday Aussie homeowners progress through their property journey. As regional sales director for Bridgit, my goal is to continue this mission and help Australian brokers and their clients access a trusted and dependable bridging solution.

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Latest News Brokers react to CBAs mortgage slide Have the big four mortgage wars reignited?

Industry creates mens mental health event It follows four suicides in six weeks

A mortgage broker has funded more than 200 small businesses worldwide through a program that turns brokers into lenders that help traditionally excluded communities.

Joanne Nugent (pictured below), a Brisbane-based Mortgage Choice broker, provides a US$25 loan plus a donation to a small business owner for every loan settled through her brokerage.

Since July 2018, Nugent has helped fund 212 small businesses in over 53 countries through the Kiva microloan platform.

These loans prominently help women who are establishing themselves to be financially independent and to supplement the income earned by the husbands to provide their children a better start in life, Nugent said.

Turning brokers into SME lenders

Kiva is an online platform that connects lenders with borrowers in developing countries.

The platform works with a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to identify and vet borrowers and once a loan is funded, the MFI disburses the funds to the borrower and collects the repayments.

Nugent said most of these small business owners did not have access to small business lending such as in Australia.

There is no local bank or financier for them to borrow from  so KIVA provides a means by which they can access funds to invest in their business  whether it be to buy a dairy cow, repair their machinery, or buy new nets for their fishing boat, Nugent said.

The mantra of Kiva is that its a loan, not a donation allowing businesses to cycle money as a lender would.

Some people comment that Oh it's a loan? I thought you gave them the money  but the fact is that Kiva loans give people the power and resources to build the life they choose  and for many it's about being independent and not just receiving charity, Nugent said.

I have actually re-lent to a few borrowers as they continue to expand their business ventures and/or as they require additional funding. And the beauty of the model is that as loans are repaid you can lend the money back out to others who need it.

For example, Nugent helped Lindiwe (pictured in main photo, and below), a 22-year-old entrepreneur from rural Zimbabwe. She started her own juice and soda business, Lee Juice, with a $500 loan from Kiva.

Lindiwe's business was inspired by the thirsty labourers working at the mine near her village. She knew that they needed a refreshing and affordable drink, so she started making her own juice and soda from scratch. She priced her products at half the price of national and international brands, and her business quickly took off.

The loan boosted this business up. I used to make only 20 litres a week, only 20, Lindiwe said in an article by Kiva. Now Ive expanded to 200 litres a week.

Not just for small businesses

Another important aspect of Kiva is that its not just for small businesses. Many loans are made for education, medical needs, and housing  and not just for individuals.

Nugent said there are opportunities to contribute to much larger funding initiatives such as providing larger communities with infrastructure such as clean water or community hubs.

And for some initiatives there are funding partners who will match what is raised by contributors such as myself, Nugent said.

As any lender will attest, there still exists a risk that borrower will not repay the interest-free loan.

However, the risk is small with Kiva borrowers having a 96% repayment rate out of $1.6 billion worth of loans from 1.9 million lenders.

Nugent said it was fine by her even if she didnt get the funds back.

Receiving the repayment to re-lend the funds to someone else is just a bonus, Nugent said.

These crowdfunded microloans are a force for good, creating a space where people can have one-to-one impact, and together, expand financial access for all  in other words with lots of people making a small capital contribution, it makes a significant impact to those who receive the funding.

Calls for more broker-SME lenders

Nugent urged other brokers to consider becoming an SME lender through Kiva.

Its so easy to sign up and you know where your money is going as you decide who you want to support and why. Choose your impact, from gender equity to organic coffee farming, and support a real person, Nugent said.

Do a lot with a little and make a big impact even if you dont have much to give.

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Will Hurd Bows Out of 2024 Presidential Race, Throws Support Behind Nikki Haley (Photo: Office of U.S. Rep. Will Hurd/Public Domain)

In a surprising turn of events, former Texas Congressman Will Hurd has announced the suspension of his 2024 presidential campaign, endorsing former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Hurd's decision to withdraw from the race and back Haley has added a new dimension to the already dynamic Republican nomination contest.

Will Hurd, who once served as a CIA operative before transitioning to a political career, launched his presidential bid in June. However, he faced an uphill battle from the outset. His campaign's decision to suspend operations was announced via social media, where Hurd stated, "it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign." This move makes Hurd the second Republican presidential candidate to exit the race, following Miami Mayor Francis Suarez's departure in August.

Hurd's political journey has been marked by his vocal criticism of former President Donald Trump, who is currently leading the pack in the race for the GOP nomination. Despite Trump's dominant position, Hurd has chosen to endorse Nikki Haley, a fellow critic of the former president. In his endorsement, Hurd emphasized the nation's need for a leader capable of uniting its citizens and adeptly handling national security challenges. He expressed his belief that Haley, with her experience as a U.N. Ambassador and her distinct vision for the country, is best suited for the role.

"Our nation deserves a leader who can unite us and navigate the complex challenges we face, particularly when it comes to our national security. I believe Ambassador Nikki Haley is the best person in this race to do that," Hurd shared on social media and in an email to his supporters. He further praised Haley's willingness to present an alternative vision for the country, distinct from Trump's, and lauded her understanding of foreign policy intricacies.

Haley's campaign has been gaining traction, with her performances in the initial Republican presidential debates earning her praise. Recent polls indicate her rising popularity, placing her second to Trump in states like New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina.

However, Hurd's campaign faced challenges from the beginning. Despite his unique background as a former CIA spy and being the sole Black Republican in the House for a portion of his tenure, he struggled to meet the polling and donor criteria set by the Republican National Committee for debate participation. His decision not to seek re-election in 2020 further distanced him from the political limelight.

Yet, Hurd did capture national attention with his book, "American Reboot: An Idealist's Guide to Getting Big Things Done." The book, part memoir and part political strategy, was seen by many as a precursor to his 2024 presidential aspirations. In it, Hurd urged the Republican party to evolve its political approach and proposed reforms to ensure America's competitiveness on the global stage.

Reflecting on his campaign's journey, Hurd expressed gratitude for the support he received and highlighted the achievements of his team. He reiterated his concerns about the GOP's future if it continues to align with divisive figures like Trump. As he concluded his campaign, Hurd emphasized the importance of uniting the party to present a formidable challenge to both Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden.
TikTok said the removed profiles accounted for fewer than 1% of its international users. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake/file photo)

Following a ban by the Indonesian government, TikTok suspended its TikTok Shop operations in Indonesia on October 4. Bob Kang, the head of TikTok's e-commerce division, discussed the situation internally. He mentioned that the incident occurred unexpectedly and the underlying reasons are intricate. The company is striving for an early resumption of services.

On September 27, Indonesia's Ministry of Trade held a press conference, announcing a prohibition on social platforms like TikTok from conducting product transactions within their platforms or using user data for e-commerce purposes. According to the new regulations, social media platforms are not allowed to engage in direct product sales transactions but can only promote products and services. This directive gave social platforms, including TikTok, just a week to adjust and respond.

Kang stated that they need to modify their products and operations to comply with regulatory requirements, leading to a temporary halt in operations. "Later today, we will communicate with our users, merchants, logistics partners, payment partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Our team will work diligently to ensure the fulfillment of existing orders and provide post-sales customer service. We will also maintain communication with our seller community. At the same time, we are actively engaging with local authorities and relevant parties to expedite the product and operational modifications and resume operations."

It's understood that Indonesia is one of the regions where TikTok's e-commerce operations have been particularly successful. Data from FastData shows that in the first half of 2023, Indonesia had the highest number of TikTok Shop stores with sales exceeding 10,000, and two of the top three global stores in terms of sales revenue were from Indonesia. Kang revealed during the internal discussion that TikTok's e-commerce platform has served 80 million Indonesian users in the past two years, offering millions of sellers and creators opportunities to grow alongside the platform.

This implies that the Indonesian government's ban has significantly impacted TikTok's e-commerce Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and revenue.

Indonesian officials have repeatedly mentioned that social e-commerce poses a threat to local small and medium-sized enterprises. Reports suggest that vendors at Tanah Abang, Southeast Asia's largest textile and clothing wholesale center located in Jakarta, displayed posters in front of their stalls protesting the decline in sales and urging the government to shut down TikTok Shop. Due to TikTok's competitive pricing, many stores were forced to close, leading to layoffs.

Kang stated, "While we work on product and operational solutions, we continue to actively engage with relevant authorities to find the best way to continue serving Indonesian businesses and users."

A bigger challenge for TikTok's e-commerce is that other Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam, are also evaluating whether to introduce similar bans on social e-commerce. TikTok has yet to provide further comments on this matter.
Inside Gaza: Life Under Israeli Blockade (Photo: Doncram2/CC-BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0))

After being caught off guard by Hamas, Israel, a Middle Eastern military powerhouse, initiated a robust counterattack. The Gaza Strip, under Hamas control, became the storm's focal point.

On October 9th, Israel announced a comprehensive blockade of the Gaza Strip, severing electricity, water, and fuel supplies. The Israeli Defense Forces proclaimed their intention to retake all towns near the Gaza border and intensify their airstrikes on the region.

As of now, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 1,600 deaths, with thousands more injured. Israeli casualties have reached 900, while the West Bank and Gaza Strip have reported 704 and 687 deaths, respectively.

In preparation for their counteroffensive, Israel mobilized 300,000 reservists within 48 hours. The possibility of a ground invasion of Gaza by Israel has increased, and in response, Hamas has threatened to execute Israeli hostages.

A Closer Look at Gaza

The Gaza Strip is among the world's most densely populated areas. Over 2 million people reside in this 365-square-kilometer territory, with up to 1.7 million being Palestinian refugees. Due to Israel's prolonged blockade, Gaza is often dubbed an "open-air prison." Residents face severe restrictions on movement, coupled with dire economic and living conditions.

Should Israel launch a large-scale ground offensive in Gaza, civilian casualties would inevitably surge. UN data reveals that of Gaza's over 2 million inhabitants, nearly half are children.

Geographically, Gaza is a narrow strip, 41 kilometers in length and 6 to 12 kilometers wide, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, and Egypt.

Historically, Gaza was part of Palestine, once under the Ottoman Empire and later a British "mandate" after World War I. The British divided Palestine along the Jordan River: the east became modern-day Jordan, while the west, including present-day Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, remained Palestine.

In 1947, the UN proposed a partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. The Arab state, covering 44% of the total area, included Gaza and the West Bank. The Jewish state occupied the remaining 56%. Despite the Arab population being significantly larger, they received less land, and the territory allocated to the Jewish state was more fertile.

This resolution led to Israel's establishment but was met with strong opposition from Arab nations. In 1948, the First Arab-Israeli War broke out. During this conflict, Egyptian forces occupied the Gaza Strip, maintaining control until 1967.

In 1967, the Six-Day War occurred. Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Israel's control over Gaza lasted 38 years, during which they established 21 Jewish settlements. However, Palestinians continuously resisted Israeli rule, resulting in two major uprisings.

After the first uprising, Israel restricted movement from Gaza in 1991. In 1994, under the Oslo Accords, Israel began transferring some autonomy in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

Following the second uprising, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed a "unilateral disengagement" plan in 2003. By 2005, Israeli soldiers and over 7,000 settlers had left Gaza, and all Jewish settlements were dismantled. Control of Gaza was handed over to the Palestinian Authority, led by the Palestine Liberation Organization (Fatah).

However, Israel retained control over Gaza's airspace and continued military operations in its territorial waters. Israel also began extending the separation barrier around Gaza.

In 2006, Hamas won a majority in the Palestinian legislative elections. A brief unity government with Fatah quickly collapsed, leading to a civil war. By June 2007, Hamas had taken control of Gaza, which remains under its control today, while Fatah governs the West Bank.

After Hamas's takeover, Israel designated Gaza as "enemy territory" and imposed a comprehensive blockade.

Israel and Egypt control Gaza's land crossings. Since 2007, Israel and Egypt have frequently closed these crossings, with only two remaining operational before the current conflict.

Gaza's economic and social conditions have continuously deteriorated. The region's economy and job-creating capabilities have been destroyed, preventing it from developing into a skilled and well-educated society.

The UN has repeatedly called on Israel to end the blockade of Gaza, warning that it punishes ordinary citizens. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, due to the prolonged blockade, 81.5% of Gaza's population lives in poverty, and 63% are food insecure, relying on international aid.
Researchers awarded NSF grant for Lahaina wildfire simulation

Damage in the harbor of Lahaina on the island of Maui following a devastating wildfire on Aug. 8, 2023. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard

Interdisciplinary team to combine AI, high-performance computing and modeling to better understand Lahaina fire; reduce likelihood of future disasters

Our preliminary simulation of the overall timeline of the fire spread in Lahaina aligns with witness observations and video recordings. We are using the simulation results to understand the drivers of fire spread during the event. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  A wildfire swept through the west Maui community of Lahaina on Aug. 8 killing at least 97 people and destroying more than 2,000 buildings.

Shortly thereafter, an interdisciplinary research team from the University at Buffalo (UB), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) took what information was available on the fire and began modeling the event.

Researchers knew that strong winds and other conditions helped the blaze spread rapidly, but they wanted to better understand how non-natural factors  including buildings, utility lines and other infrastructure  helped fuel the fire.

The UB researchers  Negar Elhami-Khorasani and PhD student Fernando Szasdi Bardales  used a tool they previously created called SWUIFT (short for Streamlined Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Tracing) to simulate the Lahaina fire.

Our preliminary simulation of the overall timeline of the fire spread in Lahaina aligns with witness observations and video recordings. We are using the simulation results to understand the drivers of fire spread during the event, says Elhami-Khorasani, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

NCAR researchers generated wind input for the model.

Given the complex topography of Maui, we used a state-of-the-art weather model to simulate the evolution of the windstorm and the resulting highly variable wind flow, says Timothy Juliano, PhD, project scientist at NCAR. Conducting our simulations at fine spatial scales was necessary to understand the local wind patterns that affected the island and fire spread during the event.

The UNR team then analyzed the wind flow, which showed the tell-tale signs of a down-slope windstorm, a culprit in high-impact wildfires such as the Camp Fire in California and the Marshall Fire in Colorado.

What is unique in this case is that after the initial westward fire run into town, the winds reverse direction and become extremely variable, which drove the fire north, south and east making escape from the fire extremely challenging, says Neil Lareau, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Hamed Ebrahimian, PhD, assistant professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at UNR, says the increasing pace of wildfires has outgrown the technology thats available to prepare for and respond to wildfires.

There is currently a gap between available research capabilities and operational digital technologies that can be used for wildfire response simulation, prediction and situational awareness, Ebrahimian says. In our simulations, we observed the unfolding mechanism of the Lahaina fire disaster. Timely dissemination of the information could have been vital to enable informed decision-making to enhance emergency response management. This underscores the need to join forces and develop prime-time technologies that can move the needle.
As MG Motor India prepares for its potential partnership with JSW Group, the car company is planning to overhaul its dealership network in the country. It aims to close its underperforming showrooms and open new dealerships in different locations, The Economic Times (ET) reported, citing individuals aware of the development.





Also Read: MG Motors has assured its dealers of the continued operation and sustenance of its India operations and the MG brand after the deal's completion, the automaker informed its dealer partners last week, according to the newspaper. The company also discussed plans to add new dealerships.Also Read: Sajjan Jindal's firm, SAIC Motor to take over MG Motor India: Report

Speaking about the company's plan to expand its retail network in India, a spokesperson for MG Motors stated, "Customers are at the core of everything we do at MG India. We are exploring all avenues of growth and expansion in the country, and network development is an integral part of our growth strategy. We are fortifying our pan-India presence from the current 330 touchpoints in 158 cities to 400 in 270 cities by December 2023."

However, the car company declined the request to share details about capacity expansion plans and the company's discussions with dealers, saying the "questions are speculative," the ET report added. China's SAIC Motor and JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal are conducting the final rounds of talks to establish their partnership.

Earlier reports suggested that JSW Group and MG Motors would collaborate to advance the MG brand. The two companies have finalised an agreement, and an announcement is expected by the end of this month or by Diwali. Under the terms of the agreement, a private company owned by Sajjan Jindal will initially acquire a 32-25 per cent stake in MG Motor India, while SAIC will retain 51 per cent ownership. For the financial year ending in 2023, MG Motor India had a 1.26 per cent share in India's passenger vehicle segment.
Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and state Congress chief Kamal Nath announced on Tuesday that his party will unveil its list of candidates for the Assembly elections in the state after the Pitru Paksha period.

Pitru Paksha, the time during which Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, commenced on September 29 and will conclude on October 14 this year.

"The Congress's list will be released after 'Shraadh' [another term for Pitru Paksha]," Nath was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India (PTI).

On the other hand, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections. With this list, which includes 57 names, the saffron party has thus far declared candidates for 136 seats for polls to the 230-member House.

Elections are scheduled to be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, and Telangana on November 30.

The forthcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are critical for both the BJP and the Congress. While the BJP aims to retain power in the state, the Congress is striving to make a comeback.

The Congress was the principal Opposition party in Madhya Pradesh for much of the past three decades. However, it made a resurgence in the 2018 Assembly elections, securing 114 seats. The BJP won 109 seats in those elections.

In March 2020, the BJP regained power in Madhya Pradesh after the collapse of the Congress government. Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sworn in as Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time.

A win for the BJP in the upcoming polls would further consolidate its standing as the dominant political force in Madhya Pradesh. Conversely, a victory for the Congress would signify a major setback for the BJP and could also impact the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The National Health Authority (NHA) has said that it has seen more than 10 million out-patient department (OPD) registrations under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) since its inception.

The service is currently available at 2,600 health centres across 419 districts in 33 states and Union Territories.

Speaking about the significance of this digital service, RS Sharma, chief executive officer (CEO), NHA, said that ABDM aims to add ease and efficiency to healthcare delivery.

The scan and share service at OPD counters is a simple tech intervention, which is helping close to 100,000 patients save time spent in hospital queues on a daily basis.

This service, launched in October 2022, is a paperless one, which helps patients scan QR codes placed at OPD registration counters and share their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) profile for instant registration.

Uttar Pradesh, with 3.74 million tokens generated, is the top state in implementing the digital OPD service for patients. It is followed by Karnataka (1.85 million tokens) and Jammu and Kashmir (1.19 million tokens).

Data for October 2023 shows that the highest usage of the token service was by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. It was followed by AIIMS Raipur and AIIMS Bhopal.

Fifteen of the top 26 healthcare facilities/hospitals where the digital OPD registration scheme was implemented are located in UP.

With an intention to alleviate the pain points of patients when they access healthcare services, we plan to extend this service for pharmacy counters and laboratories. The ABHA-based registrations would also give patients digital access to their prescriptions, pharmacy slips and diagnostic reports, Sharma added.

8,000 out of 12,500 facilities operational: Ayush secy

Ayush secretary Rajesh Kotecha on Tuesday highlighted the achievements of his ministry at a curtain raiser, ahead of the 8th Ayurveda Day to be celebrated on November 10.

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Of the 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres, 8,000 have been operationalised last year, he said, adding that, till date, the centres have seen a footfall of 84.2 million patients across the country.

Kotecha added that the Ayush manufacturing industry has grown eightfold from $3 billion to $24 billion in the last nine years.


The Election Commission (EC) on Monday heard the claims of the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP over its claim on the party's name and poll symbol, even as the Sharad Pawar-led group contended that there were discrepancies in the documents submitted by its rival.

The EC fixed November 9 as the next date for hearing the warring factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar over their claims to the party's name and election symbol.

It also asked the Sharad Pawar camp to file its rejoinder to the claims made by the Ajit Pawar faction by October 30.

Sharad Pawar faction's counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi claimed that the EC had found discrepancies in the more than 9,000 documents submitted by the Ajit Pawar group to support its claim over the NCP's name and poll symbol.

Ajit Pawar, who had moved the EC staking claim to the party's name and poll symbol, submitted that he had the support of 42 of the 53 NCP MLAs in Maharashtra, six of the nine MLCs, all seven MLAs in Nagaland and one member each in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

The faction led by Ajit Pawar had rebelled against NCP leader Sharad Pawar in June and moved the poll panel staking claim to the party's name and symbol.

Two days before the rebellion against his uncle Sharad Pawar to join the Maharashtra government in early July, Ajit Pawar had approached the EC on June 30, staking claim to the party's name as well as symbol and subsequently, also declared himself as the party president with the support of 40 lawmakers.

Recently, the Sharad Pawar-led faction told the EC that there was no dispute in the party, except that a few mischievous individuals have defected from the organisation for their personal ambitions, a reference to the rebel group headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

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The earthquake in Herat province of Afghanistan has claimed over 4000 lives and has destroyed thousands of residential houses, Khaama Press reported citing the Taliban ministry.

The Ministry of Disaster Management of Afghanistan has announced that on Saturday that 1,983 residential houses have also been destroyed in 20 villages in Herat.

The Taliban has not yet broken down the number of deaths and injuries brought on by the earthquake in Herat. The Ministry reported in a news release that 35 national and foreign search and rescue teams with 1,000 individuals were on the scene of the earthquake on Monday following a press conference in Kabul, according to Khaama Press.

The Taliban said that a team led by the group's commander, Hibatullah Akhundzada, also travelled to Herat and pledged support for earthquake victims.

According to the Taliban, rescue and relief efforts for those buried under debris are still underway.

The European Union, and the World Health Organization have pledged cash, food, and medical aid to the Herat earthquake victims.

Herat and surrounding regions were shaken by the magnitude 6.3 earthquake and its powerful aftershocks on Saturday.

A representative of the Natural Disaster Management Authority was quoted by Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, as saying that 2,053 people had died and 1,240 more had been injured, reported Pajhwok News.

According to him, 1,320 homes were entirely destroyed, and the number of people in need of rescue is continually growing in the impacted districts.

The province's Zinda Jan and Ghorian districts saw the majority of the fatalities.Moreover, the Disaster Management Authority head of the region, Maulvi Musa Ashari, told Pajhwok Afghan News the earthquake had razed 12 villages and wounded 600 people in the two districts.

Whereas, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in a post on X, noted that it had sent drugs and supplies to Herat hospitals to help treat the injured. It offered to provide any additional help that was required, according to Pajhwok News.

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According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), six earthquakes occurred in western Afghanistan the largest one was at a magnitude of 6.3. Based on the information from (USGS), the latest earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 occurred at a depth of 7.7 km in the "Zinda Jan district of Herat."

The quake also was felt in the nearby provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports.
Major airlines have suspended flights in and out of Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas.

Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport.

Scores of arriving and departing flights at Ben Gurion were cancelled or delayed, according to the airport's online flight board, which also showed a steady trickle of flights. Most were operated by Israel's national airline El Al along with others by regional carriers like Turkey's Pegasus Airlines and Greece's Blue Bird Airways.

American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for the region citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest.

American suspended service to Tel Aviv through Friday. The airline said that it has issued a travel alert providing additional flexibility for customers whose travel plans are impacted.

We continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed, American said.

United said it allowed two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday and accommodated its customers, crews and employee travellers who were at the airport. The airline said that its Tel Aviv flights will remain suspended until conditions improve.

Delta said its Tel Aviv flights have been cancelled through Oct. 31. The airline said it's monitoring the situation and making schedule adjustments accordingly. The company said customers with cancelled flights or who want to change their Tel Aviv ticket should check the Delta app, website or call Delta reservations to make adjustments.

Airlines in Europe and Asia also put flights on hold amid the hostilities, offering refunds and waiving rebooking fees for passengers.

Air France said that it has suspended services to Tel Aviv until further notice after coordinating with French and Israeli authorities.

The airline is constantly monitoring the geopolitical situation in the areas served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety, Air France said in on its website.

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Germany's Lufthansa, which suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday, said Monday that the decision regarding its planes and those of its subsidiaries was made due to the still unclear developing security situation in Israel and after an intensive analysis of the situation.

The Lufthansa Group includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines as well as Lufthansa itself.

Hong Kong's main carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, said that in view of the latest situation in Israel, it was cancelling its Tel Aviv flights scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

The safety of our passengers and crew are our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely, the airline said on its website, adding it would provide another update on Friday ahead of its third weekly flight on Sunday to the Israeli city.

Virgin Atlantic cancelled its service between London's Heathrow Airport to Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday as well as part of that route on Wednesday.

Budget airline Wizz Air, which flies to Israel from Abu Dhabi and more than two dozen airports in Europe, said it was cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.

The U.K. discount carrier easyJet said that due to the evolving situation in Israel, it has decided to temporarily pause operations," by cancelling its Monday flights from London Luton and Manchester airports to Tel Aviv.

Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority, easyJet said in a statement.

British Airways said it's planning to continue operating flights to Israel over the coming days with adjusted departure times.

Dutch carrier KLM said it's scrubbing flights to Tel Aviv until and including Wednesday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Niger's deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on Monday ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup d'etat.

The State Department said Blinken called Bazoum to stress that a restoration of a freely elected government remains the best way for Niger to not only succeed for its people but also to remain a key partner of the U.S. and others in countering extremism.

In the call, Blinken reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region," the State Department said in a brief statement.

The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover, the department said.

Blinken's call came as the administration is preparing to make a formal determination that July's military takeover in the central African nation meets the legal standard for a coup, according to officials familiar with the matter. That determination could come as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement has not yet been made.

Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned. Some U.S. aid to Niger has been suspended since Bazoum's ouster but it wasn't clear if the determination would halt American military activity in the country.

The administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africa's Sahel region. Niger has been hosting some 1,100 American troops in regional outposts for wide-ranging patrols by armed drones and other counterterrorism operations against Islamic extremist movements.

The officials could not say if the expected coup determination would result in the withdrawal of any U.S. personnel from Niger. The officials said the Pentagon had resisted such a move and hinted that the administration may have found a legal rationale to continue counterterrorism cooperation with the military junta.

Niger has battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group for years. And the junta's capacity to improve Niger's security has increasingly been questioned recently as attacks have increased since mutinous soldiers toppled the government.

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Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel that Western nations could partner with to beat back the jihadi insurgency in the vast expanse below the Sahara Desert.

The U.S., France and other European countries had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up the Nigerien military.

But late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to withdraw France's ambassador and troops from Niger after demands from the junta and amid widespread anti-French sentiment in the former colony.
The Netherlands and Canada are taking Syria's government to the United Nations' highest court on Tuesday, accusing Damascus of massive human rights violations against its own people.

Since 2011, Syrians have been tortured, murdered, sexually assaulted, forcibly disappeared and subjected to chemical weapon attacks on a mass scale, the Netherlands and Canada said when they launched the case at the International Court of Justice in June.

Twelve years on, human rights violations at the hands of the Syrian regime persist, they added.

Syria's conflict started with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad's government in March 2011 but quickly morphed into a full-blown civil war after the government's brutal crackdown on the protesters. The tide turned in Assad's favour against rebel groups in 2015, when Russia provided key military backing to Syria, as well as Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

In a written filing to the court, the Netherlands and Canada said torture in Syria includes severe beatings and whippings, including with fists, electric cables, metal and wooden sticks, chains and rifle butts; administering electric shocks; burning body parts; pulling out nails and teeth; mock executions; and simulated drownings.

Two days of hearings opening Tuesday focus on the Dutch and Canadian request for judges to issue an interim order for Syria to immediately cease the torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of its people, while the case proceeds through the world court, a process likely to take years.

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said the case "provides an important opportunity to scrutinize Syria's long-standing heinous torture of countless civilians.

Jarrah said in a statement the court "should urgently put in place measures to prevent further abuses against Syrians who continue to suffer under nightmarish conditions and whose lives are in serious jeopardy.

In their filing with the court, Canada and the Netherlands level the blame directly at Assad's government.

They argued that consistent uses of different torture methods at different locations throughout Syria "demonstrates the systematic and widespread nature of the practice, which extends from the highest levels of the Syrian government.

Orders by the court are legally binding, but are not always adhered to by countries involved in proceedings. Last year, the judges issued such an order in another case calling on Moscow to cease hostilities in Ukraine.

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Canada and the Netherlands are accusing Assad's administration of breaching the United Nations Convention Against Torture and argue that the convention's conflict resolution mechanism gives the Hague-based court jurisdiction to hear the case.

The war in Syria has so far killed half a million people, wounded hundreds of thousands and destroyed many parts of the country. It has displaced half of Syria's prewar population of 23 million, including more than 5 million who are refugees outside Syria.
The Israeli military on Tuesday announced that it considers Gazas parliament and civilian ministries as legitimate targets in its offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, reported the Associated Press. The Israeli military said it had also regained control of the border with Gaza.

When asked if Israel considered Hamas civil government, such as parliament and ministries, legitimate targets, Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht said if theres a gunman firing rockets from there, it turns into a military target.

Hecht also said there might not be the same level of fidelity in warning targets before strikes because Israels air force is stretched thin.

Approximately 1,500 bodies of Hamas (fighters) were found in Israel around the Gaza Strip, Hecht told reporters.

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year conflict with the Palestinians, razing whole districts to dust despite a threat from Hamas militants to execute a captive for each home hit.

Israels military said early on Tuesday that a deputy Israeli commander was killed in clashes on the northern border with Lebanon. The military identified the deputy commander as Alim Abdallah, but did not specify the exact circumstances of his death.

An Israeli military official said the death toll has now risen above 1,000.

Gazas health ministry said Israels retaliatory strikes had killed at least 770 people and wounded over 4,000.

Meanwhile, General CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has warned Iran not to get involved in Hamass attack on Israel. Brown told reporters that a recent US decision to move a carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel was specifically aimed at deterring Iran.

Irans allies in Iraq, Yemen threaten US over intervention in Israel

Senior Iraqi and Yemeni leaders aligned with Iran and in charge of heavily armed groups have threatened to target US interests if Washington intervenes to support Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

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In Yemen, the leader of the powerful Houthi Movement warned on Tuesday that the group would respond to any U.S. intervention in Gaza with drones, missiles and other military options.

UAE President orders $20 mn urgent aid to Palestinians

United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed has ordered $20 million in urgent aid to be sent to the Palestinian people, the state news agency (WAM) said.
Amid protest rallies over the Israel-Hamas conflict, groups of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters clashed at High Street Kensington Tube Station in London on Monday evening.

Police officers were dispatched to restrain tensions between sympathisers on opposing sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their priority was keeping the peace and avoiding violence between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters as events overseas triggered heated demonstrations in London.

Videos on various social media platforms showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube Station as a pro-Palestine rally taking place outside the Israeli embassy started to escalate.

In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country, killing over 700 people.

Meanwhile, UK PM Rishi Sunak has branded the people supporting Hamas for the "appalling attack" as "terrorists".

"The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists," posted Sunak on X.

Thousands gathered for the pro-Palestinian protest in front of the Israeli Embassy on Monday evening at around 6 pm (GMT). Some protestors were seen climbing lampposts with flags and flares. Protesters chanted "Israel is a terrorist state" and "Allahu Akhbar." Stalls were set up selling "Free Palestine" merchandise. Some launched fireworks towards the embassy building.

"Events in central London this evening - following the attack in Israel and the escalation of conflict along the border with Gaza in recent days - have now concluded, with three arrests and further live arrest enquiries underway," said Metropolitan Police in a statement.

In contrast, weeping Israelis held a vigil outside Downing Street in the evening to honour victims and hostages taken by Hamas during an assault over the Gaza border on Saturday. UK PM Rishi Sunak also visited a London synagogue in a show of support for Israel.

On the other hand, Suella Braverman, Member of Parliament of the UK called for zero tolerance of terrorism on the streets of Britain.

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"There must be zero tolerance for anti-semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews," Braverman posted on X.

The protests reflected growing overseas tensions over the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine.

Earlier on Monday, a Kosher restaurant in the Golders Green area in London was vandalised, and a nearby bridge was graffitied with "Free Palestine." The UK's Chief Rabbi said hardly any Jewish family is unaffected by the Hamas attack, calling it a time of "grief and worry".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan posted online, "There is no tolerance for hate in our city. I remain in close contact with the Met Police. Whoever did this will face the full force of the law.

"I stand with Jewish Londoners, today and always," he said.

The pro-Palestinian rally featured angry condemnation of Israeli military actions in Gaza, which they view as occupation. Meanwhile, pro-Israel demonstrators mourned recent casualties and emphasized Hamas's role in instigating unrest.

As emotions run high, the Metropolitan Police is on alert.

Londoners will continue to see officers on the streets, in our communities across London in the days to come following days to reassure and protect, the Metropolitan Police's statement added.

More protests are scheduled in London by both sides through the week. A huge pro-Palestinian rally is to take place in front of the BBC building on Oxford Street.
The World Bank has suggested closing all tax exemptions and bringing agriculture, retail, and real estate under a tax bracket that can fetch three per cent of GDP in the cash-strapped Pakistan's kitty, media reports said on Tuesday.

The people in two major areas in the provincial jurisdiction real estate and agriculture had most of the untaxed wealth, which should be taxed by the provincial governments to be able to improve services and reduce the financial burden on the centre, which was financing these services, newspaper Dawn quoted WB's Country Director Najy Benhassine and senior economist Tobias Haque as saying.

The lender has projected that if agriculture income and properties tax is enforced properly then it could fetch three per cent of GDP in the tax collection on an annual basis, equivalent to slightly over Rs 3 trillion, the Dawn newspaper quoted Haque as saying.

He said real estate and agriculture should yield revenue of two per cent and one per cent, respectively, of the GDP (or about Rs 2.1 trillion and Rs 1 trillion, respectively, according to official GDP size).

Referring to a detailed policy paper that the World Bank has submitted to the Pakistan government, Haque said, the paper advocates increasing revenues through improved, expanded and progressive agriculture income taxation.

This should be done immediately to reduce or refine the current 12.5-acre tax exemption threshold to bring more agricultural land into the tax net and ensure appropriate categorisation of land on the basis of size, location, irrigation status and area-based productivity aspects into tax rates, the World Bank official was quoted as saying.

Newspaper The News International said the World Bank is also expecting the RISE-II (the second Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy) of USD 350 million for Pakistan to be approved but no date for the meeting of the Executive Board can yet be confirmed.

Pakistan is in a very difficult situation as its fiscal deficit is unsustainable. There is a need to undertake a combination of measures to generate revenues and reduce expenditures. We are recommending taxing the rich and wealthy while protecting the poor, the News International newspaper said quoting Haque.

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Earlier in September 2023, the World Bank had said that poverty in Pakistan shot up to 39.4 per cent as of last fiscal year, with 12.5 million more people falling into the trap due to poor economic conditions, i.e. falling below the poverty line of the USD 3.65 per day income level taking the total to 95 million, and urged the cash-strapped country to take urgent steps to achieve financial stability.

Haque stated that the World Bank has recommended a comprehensive package of tax and expenditure reforms to reduce unsustainable fiscal deficits and has consistently emphasised that the poor should be protected through any reform process, including through increased social protection expenditures, the report said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is on an official visit to Italy, held a meeting with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Rome and signed an agreement on Defence cooperation between India and Italy.

Rajnath Singh who is on a two-nation visit to Italy and France, also held discussions on issues pertaining to defence corporation, including training, information sharing and maritime security.

In a social media post on 'X', Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated, "Had a warm and productive meeting with the Italian Defence Minister Mr Guido Crosetto in Rome. We discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation which included training, information sharing and maritime security."

He further added that both nations look forward to further consolidating the defence partnership.

"An Agreement on Defence Cooperation was also signed between India and Italy. We look forward to further consolidating our defence partnership," he added.

The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023 during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India. The two countries enjoy a cordial relationship. There has been a regular exchange of visits at political and official levels between both countries.

During Rajnath Singh's first leg of his two-nation visit, he was scheduled to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crisetto in Rome.

Whereas, during the second and final leg, he will conduct the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his counterpart, French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastian Lecornu in Paris.

India and France recently celebrated 25 years of Strategic Partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation.

The defence minister's visit to France comes at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters from that country for the indian Navy.

In both Rome and Paris, the minister will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation.

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The United Nations on Monday expressed growing concerns about humanitarian needs in Palestinian areas as Israel ratchets up a muscular military riposte and lockdown of Gaza, after the weekend attack by Hamas militants who killed and kidnapped hundreds of civilians in Israel.

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres led the clarion call Monday, putting the focus on civilians in both Israel and Gaza and renewing his condemnation of the fatalities and hostage-takings by Hamas. He also warned of the prospect of more innocent lives lost.

Guterres said in a statement that over 137,000 people in Gaza or about 6% of its population were now sheltering in sites run by UNRWA, the aid agency for Palestinians. He cited reports of Israeli missile strikes on places like schools, health facilities and high-rise apartment buildings.

I am deeply distressed by today's announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in -- no electricity, food, or fuel, he said.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially, Guterres said, stressing the need for medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies and aid providers.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has already hindered services for more than 400,000 people or about one-sixth of the total population.

As of late Sunday, OCHA said Israeli authorities had halted supplies of electricity to Gaza, cutting power to no more than four hours per day.

The Gaza Power Plant was the only source of electricity in the area, and it could run out of fuel within days, said OCHA in a brief statement on Monday, adding that cash assistance was urgently needed for beleaguered Palestinians.

Humanitarian relief and essential supplies must be allowed to reach people in need, rapidly and without impediment, OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said in a text message. All parties must ensure freedom of movement for humanitarian workers.

OCHA also noted displacement in Israel because of the violence and damage to civilian homes and infrastructure.

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World-leading flat-panel satellite antenna company, Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), announced today at AUSA 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition the launch of the Osprey u8 HGL, a hybrid geostationary/low Earth orbit (GEO/LEO) terminal purpose-built for military users. Leveraging Eutelsat Groups (formally known as OneWeb) LEO satellite network, the Osprey u8 HGL is a complete, customizable solution that can be easily mounted on a wide array of military vehicles and vessels, providing connectivity on-the-move. This marks the first commercially available multi-orbit terminal and the first multi-orbit terminal on Eutelsat Groups LEO network. Kymeta is taking orders now, with the first shipments set to go out in early Q1 2024.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010282273/en/

The Osprey u8 HGL terminal (Graphic: Business Wire)

This new hybrid solution builds upon Kymetas existing portfolio of products and expertise. Kymetas military-focused Osprey u8 GEO terminal was launched in March 2022 and is currently in use by multiple branches of the United States Department of Defense in ongoing conflicts. In January 2023, Kymeta launched the Hawk u8 LEO, followed closely by the Peregrine u8 LEO for maritime customers in March, which have both been type approved on the LEO network, with shipments going out daily to global customers. With the Osprey u8 HGL, Kymeta will deliver truly resilient, auto-PACE ready communications for the armed forces to meet the demands of challenging and rugged military environments. The multi-orbit capabilities of the Osprey u8 HGL will offer even greater availability, while being durable, highly customizable, low power, low visibility, and easy to use, requiring no satcom expertise.

In todays modern military environments, connectivity on the move has cemented itself as one of the critical keys to success, said Walter Berger, President and Co-CEO, Kymeta. More than any sector, the military demands truly reliable, flexible, and durable on-the-move communications to enable its operational and training requirements. Our new terminal delivers military customers the resilient communications they need by allowing them to easily switch between LEO and GEO multi-orbit networks, always ensuring availability and redundancy. With the collaboration of both Eutelsat and OneWeb, now Eutelsat Group, were proud to continue our proven track record with the military to provide innovative, market-leading solutions.

Chris Moore, retired 2* RAF Officer and VP Defence & Security at Eutelsat OneWeb added, Each orbit has its unique strengths, so if you combine LEO and GEO together, you get the benefits of both, especially if you create a multi-layered architecture to make them work together. Its this that will prove invaluable to armed forces, with users being able to route their data via the most optimal means.

By partnering with Kymeta and its innovative terminal solutions like the Osprey u8 HGL, we can provide militaries with fast, high bandwidth and low latency connectivity  wherever they are in the world.

The Kymeta Osprey u8 HGL multi-orbit on-the-move antenna is a leap forward in innovation, offering warfighters in military environments a lifeline when no other communications source might be available, said Kevin Steen, CEO of OneWeb Technologies, the U.S. proxy of Eutelsat OneWeb. We are proud to put this innovative new LEO-GEO multi-orbit solution in the hands of our U.S. military customers, empowering them with unmatched, truly reliable and resilient global connectivity capabilities.

Attendees of the upcoming AUSA 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, DC on October 9-11 are encouraged to visit booth #4256 to see the Osprey u8 HGL in person and to speak with a member of the Kymeta team.

About Kymeta

Kymeta is the industry leader in flat panel satellite antennas, providing purpose-built solutions across a variety of enterprise and military applications and unlocking the commercial value of space to address the vast, unmet demand for ubiquitous broadband and truly mobile connectivity for customers around the world. Its innovative metasurface technology, coupled with a software-first approach, delivers the first commercially available, metamaterial-based and electronically steered flat panel satellite antenna. Kymetas low-cost, low power and high throughput solutions make it easy to connect on the move or while stationary  for any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or fixed platform  enabling industries on earth to transform their operations by harnessing capacity in space.

Kymeta is a privately held company based in Redmond, Washington.

For more information, visit kymetacorp.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010282273/en/
The Humsafar Trust

News Summary

Project NETREACH (www.netreach.co.in) - an online platform now connects individuals to a vast network of government and private healthcare testing and treatment centers across India. The website netreach.co.in is a quick resource that helps assess risk factors and connect one to a network of healthcare providers. NETREACH also has a team of region wise counsellors, who provide free counselling support for sexual health and mental health concerns.
U.S. states move to secure Jewish institutions amid raging Middle East violence

Xinhua) 13:01, October 10, 2023

HOUSTON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday the second largest U.S. state is allocating 4 million U.S. dollars to secure 31 Jewish schools, synagogues and other institutions amid raging Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"Working with local partners across Texas, we are actively increasing security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools," Abbott said in a statement.

The governor's office said Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to "work with local partners and federal intelligence agencies on heightened public safety measures, with an intensified focus by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Texas Fusion Center to elevate awareness about potential threats by Hamas or Hezbollah organizations against the Jewish community in Texas."

Meanwhile, the governor issued an executive order directing all state agencies to refrain from purchasing goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced enhanced security at synagogues and "other potential venues" in the fourth largest U.S. city.

From this week, police in New Orleans, the largest city in U.S. southern coastal state of Louisiana, have deployed officers and added patrols to synagogues, Jewish communities and other Jewish institutions.

"The New Orleans Police Department is aware of the situation in the Middle East," said New Orleans police Superintendent Anne E. Kirkpatrick in a statement on Sunday.

The city's Jewish community has about 12,000 members, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department told local media that the decision was precautionary.

From New York to California and Florida, multiple U.S. states are enhancing security to Jewish mosques and synagogues following the attacks by militants from Gaza on Israel on Saturday, according to local media reports.

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City which hosts the largest Jewish population in the world outside Israel, said on Monday he had directed the police "to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe."

As a precaution, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also "directed the New York State Police to work with local law enforcement to ensure Jewish community spaces are safe."

In California's Los Angeles area, which has the second-largest Jewish population outside Israel, police have also deployed extra patrols in Jewish and Muslim communities from this week.

A rabbi in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was forced to stop services on Sunday and evacuate the synagogue after the congregation received a bomb threat. Salt Lake City police officers searched three local Jewish institutions but did not find anything suspicious, CNN reported.

Jewish Insider reported on Monday that holiday festivities will continue as usual but that they are increasing security measures as hate crimes targeting diaspora Jews tend to spike when there is conflict in Israel.

According to the Jewish Insider report, the Community Security Service (CSS), an organization that has trained more than 3,000 volunteers around the United States to protect synagogues and other Jewish institutions, has sent detailed guidance for the coming days and weeks as they are anticipating a heightened threat level on American Jews.

"In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday.

The Israeli government formally declared war and greenlighted "significant military steps" to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military labored into Monday to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

More than 1,000 people have been killed, with thousands wounded on both sides, according to media reports.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
by Lionel Bopage





The 13th Amendment





The accord with India signed in 1987 was followed up with the enacting of the 13th Amendment[i]. This established nine provincial councils within a unitary state, with limited legislative and executive powers. These councils became toothless tigers in that the executive president held powers to override any of the provisions the amendment empowered. This doomed the process even before it could be implemented. Since then, nationalists of almost all tendencies from the right to the left including the JVP, made every effort to place hurdles against any attempt at the full devolution of power.





President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Sajith Premadasa and Dulanjali Premadasa with Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. [Photo: Special Arrangement ]

Developments since the Accord





In 2003, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghes administration offered a LTTE dominated interim administration in the North-East, however, the LTTE demanded an Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA). Under the existing unitary form of Constitution, this was not possible as some powers that were asked for could not be granted. Yet, negotiations could have continued to find some middle-ground. However, President Chandrika Kumaratunga took over the ministries of defence, interior and media held until then by the Prime Minister. President Kumaratunga also dissolved Parliament in 2004.





During the last phase of the armed conflict, President Mahinda Rajapakse appointed an All Party Representative Committee (APRC) with a 17-member panel of experts to make specific proposals for a constitutional settlement of the conflict. However, a divided panel of experts produced a majority report with eleven members favouring strong power-sharing, while othermembers disagreeing[ii]. The majority went on to state that the countrys multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural character be recognised, while safeguarding its unity and territorial integrity. It also proposed to recognise the peoples of the island as the constituent peoples of Sri Lanka with every constituent having the right to its due share of state power. Its recommendations were ignored by the central government yet again making a mockery of the governments commitment to devolution.





The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC)





The LLRC appointed in May 2010 after the end of the civil war submitted their report in 2011 and made a number of extensive recommendations. The well-received report stressed the obligation to develop a political solution with the government taking the initiative by presenting its own thoughts in a formal proposal to address the causes of the national question through a high level national dialogue inclusive of the representatives of the minorities. It also emphasised that implementation of any power-sharing mechanism needs to be done within the broad framework of a sovereign, politically independent and multi-ethnic Sri Lankan state.[iii]





The Rajapakse Administration repeatedly assured the international community, particularly India of its commitment towards a political solution[iv]. Despite this, like past regimes, it took no meaningful steps towards that end. Many attempts were made to dilute the 13th Amendment, against which there was opposition from some members of the UPFA itself. The regime tried to divert attention away by appointing another Parliamentary Select Committee. However, the Tamil parties and the UNP demanded that the government first put its position on a political solution on the table. The regime did nothing to address the issues that fuelled the armed conflict.





Indian factor





Sri Lanka reluctantly abided by Indias demand to accept the 13th amendment as the purported solution to the national question, as the ruling elites have been undermining any meaningful solution. The sad and inescapable fact was that the political elite and many of the left cynically used ethno-linguistic and religious differences to mobilize electoral advantage. As a result, in the south, there was intense opposition not only to the Indo-Lanka Accord, but also to the alleged Indian interference in Sri Lankas internal affairs.





Certain factions within the ruling United National Party (UNP), the main opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) opposed both the Accord and devolution. The SLFP mounted a legal challenge to the Thirteenth Amendment. With the change of leadership to Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the SLFP adopted a pro-devolution position and strongly advocated for power-sharing in order to address the national question, as pertained to the Tamil community of North and East backgrounds in the island.





President Kumaratunga presented the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka Bill in August 2000. The Bill proposed a non-unitary framework, and a clear division of powers between the Centre and the Regions with no concurrent list to dispute. However, due to the political manipulations, the Bill was not put to a vote. Manipulations for grabbing political power between the leaders of the SLFP and the UNP, and the chauvinist positions the JVP had taken towards addressing the unjust problems the Tamil community faced, resulted yet again in another missed opportunity.





The issue of devolution once again came to the front during the regime elected in 2015. A steering committee comprising all political parties represented in Parliament and chaired by the Prime Minister was set up to make proposals on prevailing constitutional matters including centre-periphery relations. The interim report presented to the Constitutional Assembly in 2017 covered subject matters including principles of devolution[v]. Yet again it did not proceed due to the lack of political commitment and leadership.





Highlighting the escalating tensions in the north and east due to land acquisition for expansion of military installations, Buddhist heritage conservation at Hindu and Muslim sites, and forestry protection, India continues to press Sri Lanka on power devolution citing the two guiding principles of supporting both the aspirations of Tamils for equality, justice, dignity, and peace; and the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. India is also concerned due to the ongoing lack of progress by the Sri Lankan government in addressing the issues the Tamil community have been subjected to, and has asked the Sri Lankan regime to work meaningfully to keep its promises[vi]. At the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council Indias representative has asserted that:





 progress on the same is inadequate and we urge the Government of Sri Lanka to work meaningfully towards early implementation of its commitments to ensure that the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all its citizens are fully protected 





Prior to the 13th Amendment, Sri Lanka was a typical centralised and unitary state. Legislative power was exercised by Parliament, executive power by the President, and judicial power through courts. During the armed conflict, the Rajapaksa regime pledged multiple times, to provide a solution based on a 13th + (plus) arrangement. Yet, they were shrewd enough not to define it. It can come as no surprise that the Tamil youth turned to militancy to gain their rights as equal citizens.





Judicial interpretation





It is difficult to find a set of core constitutional principles that are coherently and judicially developed in relation to devolution within the unitary state. Legal challenges against the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Councils Bill were based on arguing that those were inconsistent with Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution in that Sri Lanka is a unitary state, and the devolution proffered was an unconstitutional alienation of the sovereignty of the people. If the Supreme Court determined that devolution was materially affecting the unitary state and the sovereignty of the people, then the amendment can be validly enacted only if it was approved at a referendum as well as a two-thirds majority in Parliament. A full bench of the Supreme Court by a majority decision held that the Amendment did not require a referendum and once enacted by Parliament, the Provincial Councils Bill would be constitutional. Both the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Councils Bill were enacted in November 1987.[vii].





[i]https://www.lawnet.gov.lk/thirteenth-amendment-to-the-constitution-2/





[ii] Edrisinha R, Gomez M, Thamilmaran T A & Welikala A 2008, Power-Sharing in Sri Lanka: Constitutional and Political Documents, 1926-2008, Colombo: CPA





[iii] Fernando L 1981, The End of Village Committees, In Tribune (Ceylon News Review) September 12, 1981, and cited in Matthews B Nov 1982, District Development Councils in Sri Lanka, Asian Survey, 22 (11), 1117-1134, University of California Press





[iv] Daily Mirror 2012, Full Implementation of 13th Amendment Plus, MR Tells Krishna, By Dianne Silva, http://www.dailymirror.lk/16141/full-implementation-of-13th-amendment-president-tells-krishna





[v] Constitutionnet 2017, Steering Committee, The Constitutional Assembly of Sri Lanka, The Interim Report of the Steering Committee, https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-09/Interim%20Report%20of%20the%20Steering%20Commmittee%20of%20the%20Constitutional%20Assembly%20of%20Sri%20Lanka_21%20September%202017.pdf





[vi]The Hindu 14 Sep 2023, Citing inadequate progress on rights front, India urges Sri Lanka to keep its promises, Availalble at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/citing-inadequate-progress-on-rights-front-india-urges-sri-lanka-to-keep-its-promises/article67298994.ece




Kannada Rajyotsava is celebrated on November 1 with great pomp in the state of Karnataka. Kannadigas celebrate the day as the Karnataka State formation day where all the Kannada language-speaking regions of South India were merged to form the State.

Many schools and educational institutions across Karnataka host various cultural events along with an essay writing and elocution on Kannada Rajyotsava. Here, we have listed some interesting points about Karnataka State that will help students to draft an effective Kannada Rajyotsava essay or Kannada Rajyotsava speech.

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Kannada Rajyotsava History Today's Karnataka was originally called as the Mysore State, which is within India from 1948 until 1956.

Maharaja of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar agreed to become the part of India after independence.

Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar became Rajpramukh of Mysore State from 1950 to 1956 and the Governor of Mysore State.

The State Reorganization Act renamed the Mysore State as Karnataka on November 1, 1973.

Karnataka State Formation The Reorganization Act, 1956 merged the parts of Coorg, Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay into the Mysore State.



Belgaum (except Chandgad Taluk), Bijapur, Dharwar, and North Canara were transferred from Bombay State to the Mysore State.



Bellary district was transferred to Mysore State from Andhra State.



South Canara was transferred from Madras State.



Koppal, Raichur, Gulbarga and Bidar districts were transferred from Hyderabad State.



Coorg also became a district of Mysore State.



The state was renamed Karnataka on 1 November 1973.



There are 19 districts in Karnataka when the state was formed.



Kannada Rajyotsava Celebrations Kannadigas celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava across the state without any distinction of religion, caste and gender.





Many people celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava by hoisting the Karnataka State flags (red and yellow) and chanting of the Kannada anthem (Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujate).





The celebrations also include carrying of multicoloured tableaux along with performances of the folk artists and classical Carnatic music.





The State Government of Karnataka announces Rajyotsava awards, which are awarded on this day.





The Rajyotsava awards are awarded to people who contribute to the development of the state.





Kannada Rajyotsava Flag Students can consider the official flag of a Karnataka (Kannada flag) to participate in school activities.







The Kannada flag was designed and popular during pro-Kannada movements in the 1960s.







The yellow-red flag is present everywhere across the state starting from atop buildings to road junctions.







Kannada Rajyotsava Speech Students can participate in the Kannada Rajyotsava speech only after a lot of groundwork regarding the topic.









Aspirants should be clear with the topic to deliver on Kannada Rajyotsava.









One should practice their speech effectively and try to speak from your tummy.









It is also advised to feel the rhythm in your body during Kannada Rajyotsava speech.









Candidates should practice their Kannada Rajyotsava speech in a large or open space to understand the pitch of voice.









Kannada Rajyotsava Essay One can start writing an essay on Kannada Rajyotsava based on history, celebration and importance. However, students should take utmost care about their work. Some tips to write Kannada Rajyotsava essay.











While writing Kannada Rajyotsava essay in English, students are advised to be clear with the type of essay - narrative/descriptive/persuasive.











An essay on Kannada Rajyotsava is huge to write. Hence, do brainstorm on this point.











It is also advised to do some research before writing an essay.











Prepare an outline of your essay before writing.











Never go wrong with spelling mistakes or grammatical errors

Speech on Kannada Rajyotsava

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens,

Today, we gather to celebrate an occasion that holds immense significance for the people of Karnataka - Kannada Rajyotsava. This day, the 1st of November, marks the formation of our beloved state of Karnataka, and it is a time for us to reflect on our rich heritage, culture, and the spirit of unity that binds us together as Kannadigas.

Karnataka, with its diverse landscapes, languages, and traditions, is a microcosm of India's incredible cultural mosaic. Our state is renowned for its contributions to art, literature, music, and science. It is the birthplace of luminaries like R.K. Narayan, Dr. C.V. Raman, and R.K. Laxman. The Kannada language, with its poetic beauty and rich literary history, is at the heart of our identity, and today, we celebrate its vibrancy and resilience.

Kannada Rajyotsava is not just a day of revelry but also a day to reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of democracy, diversity, and progress. It is a day to remember the visionaries who worked tirelessly for the unification of Karnataka and the formation of our state in 1956. We owe a debt of gratitude to leaders like K. C. Reddy and S. Nijalingappa for their unwavering dedication to our state's welfare.

As we commemorate this day, let us also take a moment to acknowledge the immense natural beauty of Karnataka, from the lush forests of the Western Ghats to the architectural marvels of Hampi and the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru. Let us pledge to protect our environment, preserve our heritage, and embrace innovation to build a prosperous and sustainable future for our state.

Kannada Rajyotsava is a reminder that while we cherish our unique cultural identity, we are also an integral part of the diverse tapestry of India. Let us celebrate our differences, foster inclusivity, and work together to make Karnataka a model state for progress, social harmony, and cultural preservation.

On this Kannada Rajyotsava, let us renew our commitment to the principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity enshrined in our Constitution. Let us strive for an inclusive Karnataka where every citizen, regardless of their background, can flourish and contribute to the state's growth.

In conclusion, I extend my warmest wishes to every Kannadiga, both within our borders and across the world, on this joyous occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava. May our state continue to flourish, and may the spirit of Karnataka inspire us all to work towards a brighter and more prosperous future. Jai Karnataka! Jai Hind! Thank you.

10 historical facts about Karnataka

Ancient Civilization: The region that is now Karnataka has a history dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization, making it one of the oldest inhabited places in India. The excavation at sites like Banavasi and Ujjani attests to this ancient heritage.

Empires and Dynasties: Karnataka has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties throughout history. Notable among them are the Mauryas, Satavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, and the mighty Vijayanagara Empire.

Vijayanagara Empire: The Vijayanagara Empire, which thrived from the 14th to the 17th century, was one of the most powerful and prosperous empires in South India. Its capital, Hampi, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a testament to its grandeur.

Wodeyar Dynasty: The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysore for centuries, making significant contributions to art, culture, and governance. The city of Mysore is known for its grand palaces and rich cultural heritage.

Tipu Sultan: Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, was a prominent ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He is remembered for his resistance against British colonialism and his innovations in military technology.

Kannada Language: Karnataka is the birthplace of the Kannada language, which has a rich literary tradition dating back to the 5th century. Notable Kannada poets and writers include Pampa, Ranna, and Kuvempu.

Architecture: Karnataka boasts magnificent architectural wonders, including the temples at Belur and Halebidu (Hoysala architecture), the rock-cut caves at Badami, the Chalukyan temples at Pattadakal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the monolithic statue of Gommateshwara at Shravanabelagola.

Scientific Advancements: Karnataka has a history of scientific achievements, with renowned scholars like Aryabhata, who made significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy.

Independence Movement: Karnataka played a significant role in India's struggle for independence from British rule. Leaders like Kittur Rani Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna were key figures in the region's fight against colonialism.

Formation of the State: On November 1, 1956, the state of Karnataka was officially formed by merging various Kannada-speaking regions, including the princely states of Mysore and Hyderabad. This date is celebrated as Kannada Rajyotsava.
In what comes as a bit of a shock, Mazda has announced that will cease production of the CX-8 in its home market of Japan by December 2023. ...
Photo: The Canadian Press Destruction made by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip is seen in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday.

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.

The Israeli military said it is responding to fire from Syria with artillery and mortar shelling.

The military said Tuesday that unidentified projectiles were fired from Syria and appeared to have fallen in an open area. The flare-up comes as Israel is striking in Gaza in response to a stunning attack by Hamas and as exchanges of fire with the Lebanese Hezbollah have continued.

There was no immediate comment from Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor, said a Palestinian faction conducted the rocket attack from Syrian territory.

Humanitarian groups pleaded for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza, warning that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has fired Israel's determination to crush the group's hold in Gaza  raising the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday morning, slaying hundreds of residents in homes and streets near the Gaza border and bringing gunbattles to Israeli towns for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold about 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

Israel stepped up its offensive on Tuesday, expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000, according to Israeli media. Israels military said Tuesday that it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza  a 40 kilometer-long (25 mile-long) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after warplanes bombarded it for hours the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

ORIGINAL 5:50 a.m.

Israel bombarded downtown Gaza City on Tuesday and expanded a massive mobilization of reservists, vowing punishing retaliation against the Hamas militant group that increasingly left residents of the tiny Palestinian territory with nowhere to go.

Four days after Hamas militants stormed into Israel, bringing gunbattles to its streets for the first time in decades, Israels military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over its south and the border.

The war has already claimed at least 1,600 hundred lives on both sides  and perhaps many hundreds more. Israel has also said that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are also holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage.

The conflict is only expected to escalate from here. Israel expanded the mobilization of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the countrys media.

And one major question is whether it will launch a ground offensive into Gaza  a tiny strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

While U.N. agencies appealed for a humanitarian corridor to bring in food and medical supplies, the Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets overnight in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, an upscale district that is home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, as well as universities, media organizations and the offices of aid organizations.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened by the airstrikes.

"I sell toys, not missiles, the 46-year-old said, weeping. I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job.

After hours of nonstop attacks, residents left their homes at daybreak to find some buildings torn in half by airstrikes and others reduced to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets that had been transformed into moonscapes.

The devastation in Rimal signaled what could be a new Israeli tactic: warning civilians to leave certain areas and then hitting those areas with unprecedented intensity. On Tuesday afternoon, the military began issuing a new warning for residents of another neighborhood in Gaza City to evacuate.

If these airstrikes continue, Gazas civilians will have fewer and fewer places to shelter as more neighborhoods become uninhabitable  and they may not be able to flee either.

Since Hamas took control, Israel and Egypt have severely restricted the flow of goods into the territory and the movement of people in and out.

Now Israel is saying it will lay total siege to Gaza, cutting off all fuel, food and electricity. Meanwhile, Hamas said Tuesday that Israeli strikes had made the Rafah crossing into Egypt  the only other way out with the Israeli side sealed  impassable.

The bombardments and Israels threats to topple Hamas sharpened questions about the groups strategy and objectives. Hamas leaders have not spoken publicly about whether they anticipated Israels ferocious retaliation  and the potential risk of losing much of the groups government infrastructure  when they launched the weekend attack.

In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis.

The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 people have left their homes in Gaza  the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000.

UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, 765 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas militants have been found on Israeli territory, but it wasnt immediately clear whether the numbers supplied Tuesday by the military overlapped with deaths previously reported by Palestinian authorities.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria  and even those deaths happened over a longer period of time. The weekend attack was also notable for the high number of civilians killed.

That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a complete siege on Gaza.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that a siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

Hamas says it is ready for a long battle against Israel. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.
Photo: BCIT

The development and adaptation of artificial intelligence has created challenges for tech educators as they explore ways to prepare their students to adapt to a fast-changing industry.

Educators from local B.C. institutions say they have integrated AI in the courses they are teaching and have made updates to the way they interact with their students, but there is no course that can teach everything about AI given how quickly it is advancing.

We are working through it and changing what we do. Now were going to use certain courses that have a lot of flexibility in what we can teach them around using AI tools to help a software engineer, says Aaron Hunter, director for the Centre for Cybersecurity at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

Last year, the institute had a five-week project to have students solve particular problems in a creative way using available AI tools. BCIT has also added AI components to their programs to teach students about fundamentals of AI, machine learning and predictive analytics, which have been popular.

Then broadly, our other electives are just being impacted more and more by it. Both things are teaching the students how to write AI, as opposed to teaching the students how to use AI for their other topics, says Hunter.

Lighthouse Labs, a Vancouver-based coding education organization, has also integrated AI education into their existing programs.

AIs going to put every school on its toes in terms of keeping up with what is changing in the job market, says Jeremy Shaki, CEO of Lighthouse Labs.

As we looked at AI within Lighthouse, we absolutely had to integrate the proper LLMs [large language models] into the workflow of our students. We had to make sure that were teaching them how to use AI tools proficiently and showing them instances of where they are using AI thats not working, ... making sure that were introducing resources for students to keep up with all the changes.

Curriculum cant keep up with changes in AI

Although both BCIT and Lighthouse Labs have added AI to their existing courses, they havent made fundamental changes to their curriculum or offered an AI-specific course, due to how fast the technology and the industry around it is involving.

Fundamentally, as of this moment, we still need software engineers who know the whole subject. We havent gotten to the point where the knowledge we embedded is unnecessary, but we are preparing, because we know some of that will become unnecessary, Hunter says.

Shaki also says the speed of change in AI is much faster than any curriculum can keep up with, so its more important to help students develop a good foundational understanding of how to use it properly instead of teaching them specific AI tools.

People can be really good at one tool and then all of a sudden, those tools are going to change because theyre changing so rapidly, says Shaki.

They need to be very curious and interested learners, he adds. Theres still a lot of room for growth on this side. For any professional right now, this stuff is changing too quick.

Hunter says AI has been a major disruption for computing education as some of the basic coding tasks he used to ask students to do can now be easily done by AI tools.

It changes the way we have to teach. We have to focus on having the students explain, for example, how their code works, and we have to get them to engage with us in a way so that they can show us not just that they can hand in the work, but they understand what it does, he says.

Shaki says he believes AI will not replace tech workers but put in more emphasis on their capabilities to use AI properly and explain to their clients how it works.

I think that were still going to want people who are strong in terms of their knowledge of how software works, even if theyre not necessarily people who are going to be writing code from scratch, Shaki says.

The communication aspect is just going to be increasingly important. A big part of software development may end up being explaining how software works and why it makes the decisions.
Photo: The Canadian Press Ford Motor Co. executive chairman Bill Ford.

On the picket lines at a Ford factory west of Detroit, many striking workers don't think the electric vehicle revolution is coming for their jobs  at least not in the near future.

But just in case, they're backing United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain's quest to unionize EV battery factories at Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis, matching a breakthrough concession made by General Motors last week.

So far, neither Ford nor Stellantis has agreed to the change, which would pull employees at all 10 U.S. battery factories proposed by Detroit automakers into national contracts with the UAW, all but assuring they'll be unionized.

Fain also wants workers at the plants to make top UAW assembly plant wages, which now are $32 per hour.

With the UAW strike now in its fourth week, EVs and their potential impact on job security have become central to union negotiations with the automakers. Contract talks are likely to determine whether those plants  mostly joint ventures with South Korean battery companies  are union, which may have long-lasting consequences as the auto industry transforms itself.

The battery plants are going to be the make-or-break issue, said Sam Abuelsamid, a mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights. Its going to be a critical factor for them to get good labor agreements at these plants.

In short, if electric vehicles replace gas-powered ones, most UAW workers at engine and transmission plants will lose their jobs. And if lower-paying battery plants aren't union, workers won't have anywhere to get the same wages and benefits.

Ford and Stellantis thus far dont want to pay top union wages, fearing that will push up their costs over Tesla and other competitors with nonunion battery plants mainly in the U.S. South. That could make Detroits EVs more expensive and harder to sell.

The issue, festering for months behind pay and cost-of-living increases, restoration of retirement benefits for new hires and even a 32-hour workweek, became huge Friday when GM agreed to unionization.

Stellantis didn't comment directly on GM's move, but Ford said workers will have to choose once they are hired at plants that havent been built yet. Although Ford said it's willing to work with the union, the company said it's investing billions in battery plants that have to operate "at sustainably competitive levels.

Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley accused the union of using the battery plant issue to hold a potential contract agreement hostage. Ford has decided to locate three of its four proposed battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee, states where workers and politicians could be more hostile to the UAW. The company has put on hold a fourth plant to be built in Michigan by Ford itself.

Before GM changed its stance, the automakers said they have South Korean joint venture partners at nine of 10 battery factories, and those partners have to be at the bargaining table.

Automakers are telling workers their jobs are secure, but the union doesn't see that in the transition to electric vehicles, Fain said. Instead, the companies want to pay poverty wages at the new plants and drive down pay in the industry, he said.

It's really hard to envision a future for us where we have no piece of the battery, said Fain, adding that 20%  almost 30,000  of the unions 146,000 members at the Detroit Three now work in factories that make internal combustion engines and transmissions.

Farley and other auto executives have said that because EVs have fewer moving parts, they will require 30% to 40% fewer workers to assemble than gasoline vehicles. But GM CEO Mary Barra insists there will be enough work to bring everyone along.

A study by Carnegie Mellon University backs her up, in part, finding that it will take more labor to build electric vehicle batteries, motors and drivelines than engines and transmissions for combustion engine vehicles.

On the picket line at the Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan, where Bronco SUVs and Ranger pickups are made, workers questioned whether people would buy EVs because of their limited travel range and lack of charging stations. But they also see a future where buyers could switch, and they think wages at the battery plants should match what they make.

Theyre part of Ford and should be unionized as well," said Chris Jedrzejek, who has worked for the company 23 years. I'm sure that Ford would rather not have their battery plants unionized, but with the actions of GM, they set the precedent.

He doesn't believe the company line that higher-wage union battery plants would make Detroit's EVs too pricey. The pay at nonunion Toyota assembly plants, for instance, is similar to the top wage of UAW workers, he said, although Jedrzejek concedes that many Ford workers have better benefits such as pensions.

I think its just a bunch of rhetoric just to try to scare us into signing a bad deal, he said.

Worker Todd Lauerman, who has been with Ford a dozen years, said making the battery plants union is crucial because fewer workers may be needed to build EVs, and the issue has to be settled this year because if the plants start running and arent union, its going to be a lot harder to get it in the next contract.

It's likely GM agreed to unionize its four U.S. battery plants because workers probably would have voted for the union anyway, Abuelsamid said. The UAW, he said, will use this to try to organize other Korean-owned battery plants.

One GM plant in northeastern Ohio already has voted for the UAW, two more are right next to GM assembly plants in Tennessee and Michigan, and the fourth is near South Bend, Indiana, not far from other GM factories.

They may have thought they were going to get unionized one way or another, let's just get it done, said Harry Katz, a professor of collective bargaining at Cornell University.

Stellantis' staying quiet may mean it's willing to work a deal, but Ford's public statements so far indicate it will fight bringing its plants into the national UAW contract.

Katz, though, thinks Ford will eventually have to agree to the template set by GM. On a matter of principle like this, I don't see them agreeing to anything other than the pattern, he said.

Without organizing the battery plants, union wins on wages and benefits could be only temporary because membership would decline if the battery factories are nonunion, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University.

It could turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory if inroads arent also carved out at the nonunionized factories that will play a pivotal role in the industrys future," Masters said.
A year ago Israel introduced the fifth version of its Merkava tank. The Merkava 5 was quietly developed, built, tested and deployed in small numbers during late 2022. This was ahead of schedule because the original delivery date was supposed to be early 2023. Like the earlier Merkava models, Merkava 5 is an improved version of the previous model and proved to be such an impressive upgrade that it was given a name; Barak.

This new version of the Merkava appeared relatively quickly after the 65-ton Merkava 4 entered service in 2005. Merkava 4 received major upgrades in 2011. Further upgrades of Merkava 4 turned out to be so extensive that this version was designated Merkava 5, which weighs the same as Merkava 4. Several hundred Merkava 4 tank deliveries will instead incorporate the Merkava 5 features and enter service as Merkava 5s. This means there will be 360 Merkava 4s and 300 Merkava 5s. The price per tank will also increase from $4.5 million for each Merkava 4 and over $5 million for each Merkava 5 Barak.

Improvements in the Merkava 5 include a more effective engine along with upgrades to the Iron Vision system that provides the commander a view of what is happening outside the tank. The new version provides a more realistic day/night view of what is outside as well as indications of where enemy fire (bullets or projectiles) hitting the tank is coming from and how best Merkava can respond. This was the result of upgrading the fire-control system. The Trophy APS (Active Protection System) has also been updated to be more effective and incorporate some of the lessons of the war in Ukraine. In addition to Iron Vision, Barak also has a much more capable fire control system featuring improved sensors that can detect and track enemy armored vehicles at night and in bad weather. The gunner can more quickly fire on any enemy tank detected no matter the weather or if Barak is on the move. All crew members have touch screens to access information on the status of Barak systems and any activity outside the tank. The improved sensors and Iron Vision enable the Barak crew to stay inside the tank during combat. Barak can operate in combat without the need for the commander to stand up and so that his head and shoulders outside the turret in order to get a better look at whats going on. This eliminates the risk of the commander being killed or wounded, which was always bad for crew morale. Israel is a small country and has always strived to keep combat casualties as low as possible.

Israel is the smallest nation in the world to design and build its own tanks. This was the result of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, which took Israel by surprise, and inflicted heavy losses, before Israel counter-attacked and defeated Egypt and Syria and their larger number of modern Russian tanks. Israel carefully analyzes the results of each war it fights and makes changes to deal with problems encountered. The 1973 war prompted Israel to start designing and building its own tanks.

By 1979 the 61-ton Merkava entered service and 250 were built by 1983. That was the year the first of 580 62-ton Merkava 2s entered service. Production of Merkava 2 ended in 1989. The first two Merkava models were similar in design with both using a 105mm gun. The Merkava 2 had additional armor, a five percent more powerful 950 HP engine and a 20 percent higher top speed of 55 kilometers an hour. The external 60mm mortar, mainly for firing smoke shells, was moved inside for the Merkava 2. There were a lot of other mechanical and electronic upgrades. By 1989 all the active-duty armored brigades had Merkavas and many of the reserve armored brigades as well.

Using lessons learned from the 1982 fighting in Lebanon, Israel developed a much improved 63.5-ton Merkava 3, which entered service in 1990. By 2002 680 Merkava 3s were built. The main improvements in Merkava were a 120mm main gun and much more powerful 1,200 HP engine that produced a 60-kilometers an hour top speed, faster acceleration and a more maneuverable and nimbler tank. All the armor was of a modern composite design. Fewer main gun shells could be carried; 46x120mm ones compared to 60x105mm shells in the Merkava 2. Merkava 3 could load shells faster because of a five-round mechanical drum. The fire-control system was also upgraded, as were many other components. The Merkava 3 is still used, mainly by reserve armor brigades.

In 2003 the 65-ton Merkava 4 was introduced. So far 360 of these have been produced and most have already undergone several major upgrades. Merkava 4 has improved armor, a redesigned turret, 25 percent more powerful 1,500 HP engine and a top speed of 65 kilometers an hour. Merkava 4 is even more nimble and maneuverable than Merkava 3. Merkava 4 carries 48 rounds of 120mm shells and uses a 10-round electric powered drum for quick loading. Merkava has a smoother ride because of an improved suspension system. There is also improved protection for the crew against mines and roadside bombs. By 2021 360 Merkava 4s were built.

All Merkavas feature a unique design feature; the engine is in the front. This adds more protection for the four-man crew and any passengers in the large rear compartment. That compartment can hold more 120mm shells or other supplies or up to eight passengers. Usually six infantrymen are carried, providing Merkava with its own infantry support. This is especially useful in built-up areas.

Merkava 4 underwent several major upgrades. In 2012 Israel completed equipping all the Merkava tanks in an armor brigade with the Trophy APS. In 2010 the first battalion of Merkavas was equipped with the APS. In 2011 Trophy defeated incoming missiles and rockets in combat for the first time. This included ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles), possibly a modern Russian system like the Kornet E. This ATGM was introduced in 1994 and sold to Syria, who apparently passed some to Hezbollah and Hamas. A few weeks before the ATGM intercept, Trophy defeated an RPG warhead, an unguided rocket propelled grenade fired from a metal tube balanced on the shoulder. As it was designed to do, Trophy operated automatically and the crew didn't realize the incoming RPG and missile warheads had been stopped until after it was over. That is how APS is supposed to work.

In 2017, a ground vehicle VR (Virtual Reality) system called Iron Vision was introduced and Merkava 4 was the first tank to get it. Iron Vision meant a tank could largely dispense with tanks traditional dependence on the tank commander spending a lot of time with his head sticking out of the turret to get a better view of the situation. The VR helmet display helmet is worn by the tank commander and not only shows real-time video of what is outside, but also an overlay of other information or even a map. Israel pioneered the development and use of such helmets, and the F-35 stealth fighter was designed to use a VR helmet. Most modern tanks are equipped with these small external digital video cameras but Iron Vision makes the external cameras much easier to use.

In 2020 Fire Weaver fire control network software was first installed in Israeli tanks and will soon be installed in warplanes, artillery and other armored vehicles. In 2021 at least two of the four active-duty armored brigades had Fire Weaver. Once all the active-duty armor brigades have it, the six active-duty infantry brigades will receive it. Some of the 22 reserve brigades, nine of them armored, may get the system as well.

Fire Weaver takes data from existing sensors on tanks and other armored vehicles as well as artillery and warplanes and rapidly (within five seconds) lets vehicles, warplanes and artillery know which available target each combat system should fire at. This eliminates a common battlefield situation where too many weapons fire on some targets while other targets are not initially fired on at all. Currently, tank crews and artillery spotters (troops who call back to tell artillery which targets to hit) have manual procedures for picking which targets they should fire at. That often works quite well, especially during a situation where a tank unit encountering the enemy has an opportunity to fire first. Fire Weaver automates these decisions and makes more effective choices more quickly. The troops and pilots can override Fire Weaver-selected targets but tests have shown that Fire Weaver is usually quite effective in selecting the best targets for each tank, artillery unit or aircraft.

Fire Weaver is easy to implement in the Israeli military because the Israelis have already been providing their troops with better sensors and battlefield networks. For example, in mid-2019 three Israeli firms, responding to an IDF proposal for bid, showed off their versions of the proposed Carmel Concept for future armored vehicles. Three different armored vehicles; the Merkava 4 tank, Namer IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and the Eitan 8x8 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) had proposed versions of Carmel installed. Carmel involves several existing technologies plus proposed new ones that would turn an armored vehicle into a combat system that would operate with, a crew of two or a robotic vehicle operated remotely (like a UAV) or autonomously, to benefit from more information about where friendly and suspected enemy forces were. This information would often be delivered in real-time. This sort of thing provides a tremendous advantage in combat.

The best example of similar (to Carmel) existing tech is used in the F-35 where numerous sensor and communications systems are controlled by software that uses data fusion. This is merging data from many sources and presenting it to the pilot in a comprehensible fashion to provide the F-35 pilot with unprecedented situational awareness. That means an accurate picture of where the pilot and everything else in the vicinity is. It had long been known that superior situational awareness was the key to victory in combat be it in the air, at sea or on land. Carmel proposes that manufacturers find ways to effectively combine existing tech with improved software. This would include more AI (Artificial Intelligence) to analyze sensor and situational data at high speed and either act autonomously (as ADS, or Active Defense Systems, do) or present options to the vehicle operators.

Although the Merkava was introduced in 1979, it wasnt until mid-2006 that Israeli tanks saw their first heavy combat in 24 years. It was also the first combat for the then new Merkava 4. Actually, it was the first heavy combat for the Merkava 2 (introduced in 1983) and Merkava 3 (1989). In 1982, 180 Merkava 1s saw action during the war with Lebanon. Until 2006 Merkavas had only been used in peacekeeping and counter-terror operations with the Palestinians.

The Israelis, as they have in all past wars, collected detailed information on each tank that was hit by enemy fire. Israel won't, for obvious reasons, release all this information, but they have provided some data. "Several hundred" Merkavas were sent into southern Lebanon in 2006. Of those, ten percent were hit by enemy fire, including mines and roadside bombs. Merkava faced modern ATGMs for the first time in 2006. Only 18 tanks were seriously damaged, and only a third of those were from several hundred ATGMs fired by Hezbollah. Only two of the 18 heavily damaged tanks were destroyed, and both of those were damaged by roadside bombs. In those two cases, the tank was over the bomb when it was detonated.

The experience in Lebanon again proved that ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) tend to be overrated. Israel first encountered ATGMs during the 1973 war, and quickly adapted. ATGMs were much less effective in the 1982 war, and didn't do all that well in 2006 either. The Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah quickly learned that the Merkava frontal armor was impervious to their Kornet ATGMs. Getting side and rear shots was more difficult, and not a lot more successful. While the ATGM warhead often penetrated, the Merkava was designed to take this kind of hits and survive, and survive it did. In addition to fire extinguisher systems, the ammo and fuel are stored in such a way that secondary explosions are rare. The crew normally survives these hits, as does the tank.

One of the biggest problems with Israeli tanks in Lebanon had to do with the crews. Because of the heavy use of Israeli troops in counter-terror operations since 2000, most tank crews have spent a lot of time without their tanks, serving as security troops (light infantry). The lack of training in their tanks reduced the effectiveness of the Merkavas in Lebanon. This was not a critical factor, but it annoyed the tank crews quite a bit.

The tank crews were also peeved at the lack of protective devices, like smoke grenades on some tanks, or active defense systems like the Trophy APS. This was because so much money was diverted to counter-terror operations. While only six tanks were destroyed in Lebanon, over a hundred tank crewmen were killed or wounded by ATGMs. Hezbollah would often use a missile just to get the vehicle commander, who often was standing up, with his head and chest out of the turret hatch to get a better look at what's going on. Tank commanders would like to see some money spent on sensor systems (cameras) that enable the tank commander to get a good look around the tank, from inside the tank. The Lebanon operation was a wakeup call for the Israeli government to stop shortchanging efforts to improve their tanks.

As good as the Merkava is, there are not a lot of export customers. There was apparently only one export customer and Israel did not reveal who it was and no other public information about a foreign user has appeared so far. One difficulty with export orders is that Israel builds the Merkava itself and cannot afford large production facilities. Moreover, many key components come from the United States, which gives the Americans a veto power over who exports go to. Merkava is also very expensive, with the most modern Merkava 5 costing over $5 million each.

Israel cannot afford to keep all its Merkava in service. Currently 220 of 550 Merkava 4s are in storage, while only 160 of 730 Merkava 3s are in use, the rest in storage. There are still 370 Merkava 2s available, but all are in storage. If there is a major war, the stored Merkavas can be ready for combat in a few days, or less. These storage tanks would be used to replace tanks out of action for combat or non-combat reasons. Because the Merkava is designed to reduce crew casualties, most of the crews of damaged or destroyed tanks are available for duty within hours. While storage tanks dont get many of the upgrades, the basic controls of Merkava were kept the same or similar from one model to another to make it easy for crewmen who started out in a Merkava 4 to operate an earlier Merkava model taken out of storage.

The success of Merkava and the need for a new APC (armored personnel carrier) to replace the current 18-ton American M113s led to the production of several hundred Namer IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles). These were basically Barak tanks without the turrets. At first the chassis of the 61-ton Merkava 1 was used but the protection for the infantry and three-man Namer crew was considered inadequate. Instead, the chassis of the 65-ton Merkava 4 was used. This Namer used the Trophy APS and that seemed to provide the needed protection. The Namer is the best protected IFV in service. It is armed with a small RWS (remote controlled weapons station) containing a 30mm autocannon. There is also a 60mm mortar and a 7.62mm machine-gun that are manually operated by crew or passengers. The latest addition is two Spike ATGMs that are carried and launched from a metal pod that is inside the vehicle and raised from inside the Namer for use. The passengers and crew are seated in blast resistant seats to protect them from injury if Namer encounters a large roadside bomb or anti-tank mine. This approach proved successful when such large explosions were encountered.
Photo: The Canadian Press The RCMP has launched an investigation into the Greenbelt land swap. Cows cool off in a pond on a farm in the Ontario Greenbelt near Guelph, Ont., on Monday, July 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

The RCMP has launched an investigation into the Ontario government's decision to open up parts of the protected Greenbelt for housing development, a probe the premier's office said the province will co-operate with.

The police force said Tuesday that its "sensitive and international investigations" unit is leading the investigation.

The province removed 7,400 acres of land from the Greenbelt last year as part of its broader push to build 1.5 million homes by 2031, while adding land elsewhere. The swap triggered a public outcry and investigations from two legislative watchdogs.

In January, the Ontario Provincial Police said it was working to determine whether it should investigate and in August the force referred the matter to the RCMP out of concern over a perceived conflict of interest.

The RCMP had been assessing whether to launch a probe since then. On Tuesday, the Mounties said an investigation into the land swap had begun.

"Following a referral from the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP O Divisions Sensitive and International Investigations unit has now launched an investigation into allegations associated to the decision from the Province of Ontario to open parts of the Greenbelt for development," Cpl. Christy Veenstra wrote in a statement.

Veenstra said no further details would be released to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Premier Doug Ford's office said the government would work with the Mounties.

"We have zero tolerance for any wrongdoing and expect anyone involved in the decision-making about the Greenbelt lands to have followed the letter of the law," it wrote in a statement.

"Out of respect for the police and their process, we will not be commenting further at this time.

Ford has previously said he is confident nothing criminal took place.

The RCMP's sensitive and international investigations unit specializes in "sensitive, high risk matters that cause significant threats to Canada's political, economic and social integrity of its institutions across Canada and internationally," the force's website says.

The squad performs political investigations that examine elected officials on allegations of fraud, financial crimes, corruption and breach of trust.

Ontario created the Greenbelt in 2005 to protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area from development.

Two legislative watchdogs examining the government's land swap found the process to select which lands were removed from the Greenbelt was flawed and favoured certain developers.

The province's integrity commissioner, J. David Wake, found Steve Clark, the province's housing minister at the time, violated ethics rules.

Clark resigned shortly after the commissioner's report was released.

The auditor general, Bonnie Lysyk, in a separate report found the developers stood to see their land value increase by $8.3 billion because of the land swap.

Both the integrity commissioner and the auditor general focused their probes on Clark's chief of staff at the time, Ryan Amato.

Lysyk found that more than 90 per cent of the land removed from the Greenbelt was in five sites passed on to Amato by two prominent developers Amato met at an industry dinner.

Wake found no evidence of developers being specifically tipped off that the government was considering Greenbelt removals  though he found one developer "questionable" on that point  but that Amato's actions and conversations with them had that effect.

Amato resigned shortly after the auditor general's report.

He has previously said he did nothing wrong and declined to comment Tuesday.

"On the advice of my legal counsel it would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing police investigation," Amato wrote in an email.

Ford has since apologized for the land swap and said in September that the 15 parcels of removed land would all be returned to the Greenbelt.

The premier also pledged to not touch the Greenbelt in the future.

The aftermath of the watchdog probes saw several high-profile resignations, including Clark and another cabinet member, Kaleed Rasheed.

The province is soon set to table legislation so future changes to the Greenbelt would have to be done through the legislature and not by regulation, as the Ford government did last November.

The opposition roundly supported the RCMP probe on Tuesday.

New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles said Ford's government is "spiralling out of control."

"It is absolutely shameful that under Premier Fords leadership this government has appeared to have acted so improperly that the RCMP was compelled to launch an investigation," Stiles said.

Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser also welcomed the probe.

?"Where theres smoke theres fire, and we need to get to the bottom of why a handful of the premiers friends and fundraisers were given the inside track for an $8.3-billion windfall," he said.

Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner said an RCMP investigation is key to delivering justice and accountability to Ontarians.

"I am pleased to hear that the RCMP is investigating the corrupt process that saw a few wealthy, well-connected land speculators cash in $8.3 billion on Ontarios Greenbelt," Schreiner said.

"The people of this province put their trust in the premier, and he chose deals for developers over everyday Ontarians."
Adani reduces use of wholesalers

10 October 2023

In a bid to boost profitability, Ambuja Cements Ltd and ACC Ltd has reduced the number of distributors it uses in the Gujarat region of India from 12 to three. The move is part of a trial by the Adani Group to reduce its reliance on distributors or wholesalers, reports Live Mint.

According to local sources, the cement producers plan to build stronger relationships with retailers, the last point of sales for cement. For large bulk projects, such as a flyover, sales will also now be handled directly with Ambuja or ACC instead of via a wholesaler.

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Seven Rings Cement used to build new airport terminal in Bangladesh

10 October 2023

Seven Circle Bangladesh Ltd of Bangladesh announced that it supplied 333,000t of cement and approximately 1.27Mt of the aggregates for the newly-built terminal of Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated on 7 October.

Shun Shing Group of Hong Kong established Seven Circle Bangladesh Ltd to produce and market cement under the Seven Rings Cement brand. The first factory of Seven Rings Cement was established at Kaligong, Gazipur, Dhaka, under the name of Seven Circle Bangladesh Ltd.(SCBL) on the bank of the Shitalakha River, 38km from Dhaka. With its current production capacity of 1.9Mta, the plant serves the markets of Greater Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Cumilla.

The second factory of Seven Rings Cement (Shun Shing Group International) was established in 2014 in Labanchara, KDA Industrial Area, Khulna, under the name Shun Shing Cement Mills Ltd (SSCML) on the bank of Rupsha River, only 7km from Khulna. The 1.5Mta plant covers the demand of the southwestern and northern districts of the country.

The exponential expansion of consumer preference has driven Seven Rings Cement to expand its production base by a further 5Mta of capacity, using the latest VRM technology. To date, a 3.5Mta plant has been completed at Kaligonj, Gazipur.

Another greenfield VRM project construction has been installed on the bank of the Shikolbha River mouth towards Karnafuly River at Shikolbha, Chattogram, with the capacity of 1.5Mta under a new company, Shun Shing Cement Industries Ltd, to cover the demand of Greater Chattogram and Noakhali.

The combined production capacities of the factories are now 8.4Mta, making Seven Rings Cement one of the largest cement manufacturing plants in the country.

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Bangladesh posts 101% cement export revenue growth in 3MFY24

10 October 2023

Bangladesh has recorded 100.9 per cent YoY growth in cement export revenue to US$4.38m in the first three months (July-September 2023) of FY23-24 from US$2.18m earned in the same months of the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This figure includes minor amounts of salt, stone and related products. A target of US$3.38m for three months was also surpassed by 29.6 per cent YoY.

Bangladesh had set a higher target export revenue of US$15m for FY23-24 against US$13.66m earned in FY22-23. Generally, most cement exports from Bangladesh are shipped to India, particularly from the northeastern states of Bangladesh. Other popular destinations include Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

In the first three months of FY23-24, Bangladesh saw total export revenue of all merchandise of US$13.68bn, up 9.5 per cent YoY. The full-year target stands at US$62bn.

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Ukraine ready to lift import duty on Moldova

10 October 2023

Ukraine is ready to end its anti-dumping duty on cement from Moldova by the end of 2023, according to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation of Moldova. The announcement comes after a meeting between the co-chairs of the Moldovan-Ukrainian Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade in Odessa.

Along with the duty removal, the two countries also agreed to help remove other barriers to trade by simplifying border controls to optimise the flow of goods, review environmental duties, and ensure transparent, uniform application of legislation, reports InfoMarket.



The duty on cement from Moldova into Ukraine was introduced in 2019 by the Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade and stood at 94.46 per cent as part of efforts to protect Ukraines domestic cement producers. The measures were imposed for a period of five years, making them valid until June 2024. In the 1H23, exports of Moldovan products to the Ukraine increased by 44 per cent YoY and imports of Ukrainian products advanced by 42.6 per cent YoY.

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Cemtech Europe opens in Istanbul: Turkey prepares to launch domestic ETS

10 October 2023

Cemtech Europe 2023, the leading cement industry conference in Europe organised by International Cement Review, has opened in Istanbul, welcoming over 300 delegates from 40 countries.



Welcoming delegates to the conference, Volkan Bozay, CEO of the Turkish Cement Manufacturers Association, TURKCIMENTO, highlighted the strengths of the domestic industry, which now includes 120Mta of clinker capacity and is ranked as the fifth-largest industry worldwide. Mr Bozay acknowledged the earthquake of south-central Turkey in February that has displaced 3m people. Reconstruction will require the building of 430,000 new homes. Mr Bozay highlighted the industrys commitment to decarbonise as a priority, which will be driven by CBAM in Europe and the new domestic emissions trading system in Turkey.



Eyup Kaan Moral, Head of Carbon Pricing Department, Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Government of Turkey, set out the steps Turkey is taking to implement a carbon Emissions Trading System (ETS) in Turkey, which will be enshrined in the forthcoming Climate Change Law. Turkeys ETS will be designed with close reference to the EU ETS and operate as a cap-and-trade system. It will commence with a pilot phase, in which cement producers as large emitters will be required to participate. The full allocation methodology for the trading system will be based on the grandfathering principal, but more details have not been disclosed.



Turkeys two largest cement manufacturers, Oyak Cement and Limak Cement, both presented detailed decarbonisation roadmaps. Mr Galip Tekiner, Resource Recovery & Environment Director, explained that Oyak Cement aims to reduce its CO 2 emissions by 22.8 per cent to 609kg/t by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Oyak is a pioneer in using calcined clay for clinker substitution. The company commissioned a calcined clay production line in Cote dIvoire in 2020, and will commission the first industrial scale flash calciner for calcined clay production in Cameroon in the last quarter of 2023. Oyak aims to reduce specific CO 2 emissions per ton cement from 730kg to 400kg using calcined clay blended cements.



Erkam Kocakerim, CEO, Limak Cement, disclosed the companys comprehensive roadmap to net zero by 2050. Limak emissions will be reduced to 547kg CO 2 /t cement by 2030 from 775kg CO 2 /t cement in 2022, and ultimately to net zero by 2050. Limak is investing in the deployment of green hydrogen for all its plants in Turkey, involving the construction of hydrogen electrolysers and logistics. Mr Kocakerim also announced the launch of Limaks Triple Transition Project (TTP), which seeks to leverage digital technologies to deliver sustainable operations and accelerate the companys green transition.



At Cemtech, Limak also launched 3DC-101, which is a unique and environmentally friendly mortar mixture suitable for printing on 3D printers, using CEMPLUS+ cement with a low-carbon footprint.



For a full review of this conference, subscribe to International Cement Review.

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Limak Cement launches Triple Transformation Project at Cemtech Europe 2023

ICR Newsroom By 10 October 2023

Turkish cement producer Limak Cement has launched its Triple Transformation Project (TTP) at Cemtech Europe 2023  Decarbonising the cement industry, the conference organised by International Cement Review and supported by TURKCIMENTO. The companys most important project to achieve net zero emission, the TTP is supported by the twin transition approach leveraged by the Federal Centre of Excellence (LCoEdx) and Green Data Center Projects in the global cement industry.

Limak Cement CEO, Erkam Kocakerim, explained how the groups digitisation and sustainability journey will contribute to its green-based competitive advantage with the TTP, which focusses on human resources (HR). Mr Kocakerim continued to highlight the importance of developing people that will take part in this transformation journey. Limak Cement Academy, one of the basic disciplines of the TTP, will guide the groups HR processes with the competency and professional development programmes needed. He emphasised that they were taking firm steps towards their goal with strategies in line with the Green Job definition in the green transformation taxonomy.



Limak Cement established the LCoEdx in the global cement industry in 2022 and aims to reach the first maturity phase of the TTP by the end of 2025. It expects to complete. Its full-scale Green Data Center studies by the end of 2027.

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The Starlink satellite network, with about 5,000 satellites currently in orbit, lost 212 of these between mid-July and mid-September. Starlink satellites are designed with a service life of at least five years. At this point the satellites are supposed to move into a lower orbit that will soon degrade and the satellite will fall into the atmosphere and burn up. This is now a standard feature with new satellites, to avoid crowding orbital space with derelict satellites that no longer function. This is important because American firm SpaceX is the first of many companies worldwide to put a large number of small communications satellites into orbit. Within a decade there are to be over 100,000 of these satellites in orbit.

Currently SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) has over 5.000 Starlink satellites in orbit. The number was achieved with the August 26 use of a SpaceX Falcon 9 SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) carrying 22 Starlink satellites, raising the Starlink count to 5,005. Ultimately, SpaceX wants to have 30,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. This would provide the entire planet with low-cost, high-speed Internet access via a multiple-satellite ISP (Internet Service Provider) system. Users will need a small ground station consisting of a small satellite dish and a special modem, costing $600 with service costing $90 a month. In large quantities these stations cost about $100 each. Some nations will not allow their citizens to access Starlink while others seek to regulate what portions of the Internet users can access. This has been the experience of major competitors like ViaSat and HughesNet. When all the Starlink satellites are in orbit, Starlink will be the planets major provider of satellite Internet service. Starlink needs about ten million monthly fee paying customers to be profitable. SpaceX turned profitable in early 2023.

The original gen1 Starlink system was designed to expand to over 40,000 satellites if demand by paying customers was large enough to justify and pay for it. Starlink gen2 is designed to provide so much more customer bandwidth (data transmission) that far fewer Starlink satellites will be needed. That could be up to 90 percent less than gen1. Gen2 is designed to operate more efficiently over countries that outlaw Starlink as an ISP. Nearly half the Internet users on the planet live in countries that heavily censor Internet use. Starlink makes it much more difficult to censor Internet users. Originally designed to provide affordable high-speed Internet use to those in remote areas, Starlink discovered it had gained a lot of new customer interest because of its experience in Ukraine.

The gen2 satellites are described as nearly ten times more capable than the gen1 (original) Starlink satellites. Gen2 are designed to work with gen1 satellites and gradually replace them. Gen1 birds are designed to last for about seven years. At that point the satellite gradually loses altitude until it burns up reentering the atmosphere. The true capabilities of gen2 wont be known until some of them are in orbit. Gen1 satellites proved more effective than expected but the list of suggested improvements indicated that a larger gen2 satellite would be the way to go. Eventually this will mean fewer Starlink satellites in orbit but there will still be thousands of them.

The main function of Starlink is to provide cheaper, more powerful and globally available access to the Internet or any other communications network that can pay for the use of the Starlink network. That includes military users that are friendly to Starlink and not considered a threat. The threat nations include China, Russia and several smaller countries like Iran, North Korea and Cuba that are hostile to Internet access they cannot control. China estimates that Starlink is able to increase the speed and throughput of military communications over a hundred times what it is now.

Starlink is not the only multiple-satellite ISP system. There are similar efforts underway in several countries, including Russia and China. These efforts have fallen far behind Starlink in terms of numbers and capabilities. Starlink is unique in that it was the first to enter service and quickly proved it could do what it was designed to do. That included quickly adapting to the needs of military users. This was demonstrated in Ukraine where Starlink was activated over Ukraine days after Russia invaded in February 2022. The first of thousands of free user kits were delivered in less than a week. Currently there are over 100,000 user kits in Ukraine, most of them serving as small, local ISPs by adding an inexpensive router. As long as the Ukraine War continues, SpaceX and the U.S. government will pay for the service in Ukraine.

In 2022 SpaceX announced a new subsidiary called Starshield with enhanced versions of Starlink technology on larger earth-imaging satellites with sensors to provide whatever sensing capabilities a national security customer wants. This includes photos, real-time video and all manner of data which U.S. military-grade satellite sensors can collect. Potential users include the NSA, CIA and equivalent agencies of American allies.

While Starlink has achieved market dominance in space-based communications for personal and commercial users, that largely consists of high-speed Internet datalinks and inexpensive ground links that can be stationary or moving in a vehicle or ship. Starshield plans to do that same with classified data government agencies collect. Starshield satellites are designed to accept many types of capabilities provided by user-supplied modules designed for compatibility with the Starshield interface. Starshield data and control links use much more robust encryption. Starshield will use larger SpaceX SLVs (satellite launch vehicles) to put new Starshield satellites in orbit. Currently Russia is actively seeking ways to disrupt Starlink service. These attacks are nothing new, because government and military users of space-based communications systems have long worked on improving security.

Starshield is organized to take business away from commercial firms like Blacksky and Maxtar that already have billions of dollars in government contracts to provide persistent imaging, including real-time video, of specific areas on earth. The United States provides these specialized imaging services to Ukraine and that provides satellite data on Russian forces superior to what the Russians can provide to their own troops.

Ukrainians were impressed by the potential for Starlink and rapidly came up with new uses, some of them military. This gave Starlink a realistic test under very adverse conditions. So far this has been a success even though Russia, apparently with some help from China, is still seeking ways to shut down or disrupt Starlink.

Another advantage of Starlink is the rapidity of upgrades or modifications to deal with problems, including Russian efforts to jam or disrupt performance in Ukraine. Not only were the Russians unable to disable Starlink, but found its encrypted signals far superior to communications Russian troops had to use in Ukraine. Worse for the Russians was the Ukrainian ability to rapidly integrate Starlink with Ukrainian communications and fire control systems.

Before Gen2 satellites were ready, SpaceX pointed out that it could put additional Starlink satellites into orbit faster and more cheaply than Russia or anyone else could destroy them. This capability was part of the Starlink design that not only allowed satellite and user software to be quickly updated, but new Starlink satellites often had new features added to improve performance and that included more resistance to hacking and jamming. Complaints that Starlink satellites would become so numerous that they would be a hazard for other satellites are unproven and even less likely once the gen2 satellites are operating. Starlink operates in LEO (low earth orbit) between 300 and 600 kilometers from earth, where there is already a lot of space junk too small to quickly fall back into the atmosphere and burn up. Any plans to destroy a lot of Starlink satellites would make the situation worse without shutting down Starlink services. If left alone the gen1 and gen2 Starlink satellites are designed to burn themselves up in the atmosphere when no longer operational.

China sees Starlink as a serious threat to its current government Internet censorship and control over the population, as well as the political reliability of its military. Thats no speculation because its already happening, often live on TV, in Ukraine. China has not yet come up with a workable plan to disrupt or destroy Starlink, and considers Starlink a major obstacle to China eventually becoming the most powerful military force on the planet. That was supposed to happen before 2050. With Starlink it may take longer.

Starshield also aims to provide users with a dominant position in space-based sensing. Starshield is meant to be cheaper and more responsive than any existing competitor in providing a wider array of earth sensing capabilities. SpaceX has not revealed the schedule for lifting Starshield satellites into orbit, and some may already be there testing the services Starshield will provide. Starshield activities will be less public than Starlink, which is how intelligence agencies like it.
During the last year the Philippines has faced growing pressure and threats in the South China Sea from China over territorial disputes. There are growing instances of illegal Chinese operations in the South China Sea. This is nothing new because these intrusions have increased since 2016. Its all about fishing, and natural gas oil deposits in the bottom of the shallow offshore waters. The first Filipino offshore oil discovery began producing off Palawan Island in 1976. There were indications that a lot more oil and natural gas was present off the coasts of various islands, including some in the South China Sea but within the Filipino EEC (Exclusive Economic Zone). By 2000 China was on its way to becoming the largest importer of oil in the world and that led to more Chinese threats against any oil field development in the South China Sea that was not controlled by China. This violates international law but China simply ignores that and threatens to use force against any other offshore oil production development efforts. The Chinese threats never escalate into actual violence.

Despite the Chinese threats, the South China Sea situation is becoming more difficult for China because the Philippines came up with several ways to reduce that threat. One effort was aimed at reducing corrupt Chinese influence in the Philippines. That is the main reason why the Filipino government canceled three Chinese-financed railroad construction projects worth nine billion dollars. This was part of a $24 billion Chinese proposal for projects that improved Filipino ports and transportation networks. Cancelation of these projects has been under consideration for over a year because of vague loan terms and Chinese failure to perform. The Chinese are believed to be using the loan program as a weapon to coerce the Philippines into making concessions in the South China Sea, especially when it comes to offshore oil and natural gas.

A national opinion survey conducted in 2022 found that Filipinos trusted the United States, Australia and Japan the most while trusting China and Russia the least. Respondents were asked to rank a list of ten nations in terms of trustworthiness. The results of the survey were, in order of trust; the United States, Australia, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Britain, Indonesia, India, Russia and China. There was some support for China but the U.S. had more than three times as much support. This meant the Americans had the support of most Filipinos while China had only a small minority. Only Russia and China had the majority of Filipinos mistrusting them. Trust of Russia used to be positive but the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Chinese support for it made Russia nearly as untrustworthy as China to most Filipinos. Until China expanded its lost territory claims to the South China Sea two decades ago. China was seen as a potential ally of, and investor in, the Philippines. Despite numerous Filipino diplomatic efforts, China refused to compromise on its claims. At this point China is seen as the greatest threat to the Philippines, especially since the Chinese appear to have additional claims on Filipino territory and independence as a nation.

The United States is the most powerful ally against Chinese South China Sea claims. The U.S. Navy continues to conduct FONOP (freedom of navigation operations) by sending warships, usually just a destroyer, near South China Sea islands China claims as their territory. This includes the Spratly Islands, which are an important part of the South China Sea areas that China considers within its territorial waters. The Philippines has military detachments on nine of the disputed islands or reefs. These are part of an effort to oppose the illegal Chinese claims. The U.S. carries out most of the FONOPs in the South China Sea while also declaring Chinese claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea as completely unlawful, as is the Chinese campaign of bullying to control these resources. In 2016 an international court ruled against China and stated that occupying uninhabitable rocks and building artificial islands did not confer an EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Ownership of rocks gets, at best, 22 kilometers of territorial waters from the edge of each rock rather than 360 kilometers for EEZ rights. Before this change the U.S. merely called for China to comply with the court ruling, something China said it would not do even before the court completed its deliberations. The Americans did continue to carry out aerial and naval FONOP with warships to assert the right of innocent passage. This annoyed the Chinese, who claimed most of the South China Sea was under Chinese control and no foreign ship or aircraft could enter without permission. China has been claiming areas long recognized as belonging to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines. That has caused all these nations, plus the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia to form an alliance to halt Chinese aggression. European nations whose merchant ships travel through the South China Sea also carry out FONOPs.

Chinese counters FONOPS with its own unique tactics. This includes hundreds of unarmed Chinese fishing trawlers that receive subsidies from the government in return of occasional duty as a seagoing mob of trawlers that blocks Filipino access to fishing grounds long used by Filipino fishermen. Chinese coast guard ships are equipped with a powerful water cannon that can quickly cover another ship with a powerful stream of seawater. China recently added another novel tactic, a string of connected floats several hundred meters long that blocked Filipino access to a shoal where the Filipinos long used for fishing. This is a form of Non-Lethal Aggression the Chinese have long used with some success. Not this time, a Filipino scuba diver with a knife cut the line connecting the floats and Filipino fishing boats had their access restored. The Chinese coast guard and fishing ships withdrew with the attitude of disdain and well be back.
The Hamas attack on Israel meant the end of one of Irans major paramilitary assets. The Israeli military is one of the best in the world and did not expect Hamas to self-destruct like this, killing as many Israelis as it could before Hamas was gone and their base in Gaza severely damaged. Iran may have ordered this in an effort to disrupt the recent alliance between Israel and the Gulf oil states against Iran. The Hamas attack was a major intelligence failure for Israel and the Arab neighbors realize that this was an Iranian intelligence victory. If Iran could do this again it would most likely be used against one the Arab states that oppose the expansion of Iranian influence in the region. Expending Hamas to accomplish this attack on Israel reminds Arab states that it could happen to them. Iran is a common enemy or threat to Israel, Arabs and Turks. Surviving Hamas members were surprised to discover that Iran had not ordered Hamas to attack. It was Hamas leaders that approved the attack and many of them died during the subsequent fighting.

The end of Hamas was another side-effect of the long, since 1979, Iranian efforts to destroy Israel and America, which Iran called the two Great Satans, has been largely one-sided but increasingly expensive as the Iranian defeats piled up. It didnt take long for many Iranians to figure out that this war against former allies was not really a war but rather an excuse for the clerics to spend a lot of money on an army of Islamic terrorists whose main job was to protect the ruling clerics from the Iranian people. The clerics thought they could control popular dissent by maintaining a militia of religiously minded volunteers who could earn some extra cash and other favors by bullying or beating anyone who openly opposed the religious dictatorship. These government approved thugs were a common feature of dictatorships, Nazis and communists both used them. By the 1990s the government had organized street gangs, composed of young men who are Islamic conservatives, paid to break up pro-reform demonstrations by force and attack any groups that openly oppose the government for whatever reason. There has always been the risk that a series of street brawls could escalate and lead to another mass revolution like the one in 1979. So far that has been avoided but more and more of the young men who were prime candidates to join these gangs have changed sides. Once more there are protests and even attacks on local religious leaders in towns and cities that do not have a lot of religious conservatives, or a local Islamic conservative militia unit. The militia had a name; the Basj, which provided the manpower for pro-government street gangs since the 1990s, when popular protests against the dictatorship became more common and threatening. The Basj is actually part of the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) whose main job is to protect the religious rulers from any internal threat (including from the national police or regular armed forces). Although the Basj officially has 11 million members, the number that the government could depend has been declining. A few years ago, it was several hundred thousand but now it is less than 100,000 and falling. Basj have families and feel the economic decline like everyone else. The IRGC also decided to aid Hamas, a militant Palestinian group that appeared in the 1980s and took control of Gaza after the Israelis left in 2007. Hamas always had one primary goal; the destruction of Israel. Since the United States was a steadfast supporter of Israel, the Americans would have to be eliminated as well. Few believed Hamas would choose self-destruction and try to act on their goals of destroying Israel. At the same time, Hamas eventually became dependent on Iranian financial support, which enabled Hamas to buy a lot of support and some loyalty in Gaza. The Sunni Palestinians in Gaza were not happy about being dependent on Iranian cash. The rest of the Arab was not happy with Hamas becoming subservient to Iran, which was at war with all Arab governments, plus Israel and the United States. Arabs say Iran as a potential threat and a perpetual nuisance. Subsidizing and then expending Hamas was seen as typical Iranian behavior with allies and against enemies. The large number of Israelis Hamas killed pleased Iran, even as it horrified most of the world. With Hamas gone, attention is turning to Hezbollah, an earlier and larger Iranian creation in Lebanon. Hezbollah is also, like Hamas, seen as a ruthless Iranian tool that is capable of anything. As Hamas attacked Israel it called on Hezbollah to join in. Hezbollah declined. Hezbollah has always been more cautious and rational than Hamas. Hezbollah continues to concentrate on its own survival. The definitely does not include another war with Israel. Hezbollah aways saw Hamas as an erratic and undependable ally and the feeling was mutual. With Hamas gone, Hezbollah continues to concentrate on preserving its power in Lebanon, which is threatened by the Lebanese government. Israel and Hezbollah fought a five week war in 2006 that could have meant the end of Hezbollah were it not for an UN effort to arrange a truce and then a peace deal. While Lebanon wants Hezbollah gone, they also want to avoid an extended war with Israel to get Hezbollah gone. This is why Hezbollah ignored Hamas calls the join in attacking Israel. Hamas had a death wish, Hezbollah does not. While both Hamas and Hezbollah receive financial support from Iran, Hezbollah generally ignored Iranian calls to attack Israel. Hezbollah knows that does not work while Iran doesnt care as long as some Israelis get killed. Iran appears willing to continue subsidizing Hezbollah as a potential threat to Israel but does not want another suicidal conflict with Israel like the one that destroyed Hamas and increased Arab resolve to ally with Israel against the Iranian threat.

Iraq

Iran continues to be the main threat for neighboring Iraq for reasons of current political power, but not any of the ancient animosities of the area. Both Iran and Iraq have dominant Shia majorities. Iraq has a clear majority of Arabs while Iran is half Indo-European and half everything else, with only a small minority of Arabs.

A few years ago, Iran seemed close to taking control of Iraq but now appears to be losing most of its influence. Iraqs internal problems were the major contributor to Irans no longer growing dominance, chiefly Iraqs rampant and persistent corruption. Historically, what is now known as Iraq was seen as the most corrupt region in the Middle East, if not the world.

According to international surveys of corruption, Iraq is no longer the most corrupt country in the world. For the last 30 years Transparency International has monitored corruption worldwide and reported their findings annually. The corruption is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The nations with the worst score are currently Syria (score of 14), South Sudan (12) and Somalia (12). The least corrupt nations are currently Denmark and New Zealand, each with a score of 88. Iraq does better than you would expect with a corruption score of 23 in 2022, up from 21 in 2020, 20 in 2019, 17 in 2017-18 and 16 in 2013.

Iraqs reduction in corruption played a part in convincing a growing number of formerly pro-Iran Iraqis to change their minds about backing Iran. The current Iranian government has been an economic, diplomatic and military disaster for everyone in the area, not just Iranians. Few Iraqis want to emulate Iran and this now includes Iraqi members of pro-Iran militias. Initially Iran encouraged and maintained pro-Iran attitudes in Iraq by supplying Iraqi militiamen with weapons and regular cash payments. Growing economic problems inside Iran reduced the money available to pay the Iraqi militiamen enough to keep them loyal to Iran. The longer the Iraqi militiamen went unpaid, the less willing they were to serve Iranian interests. How much is left is questionable.

Iraqis were also put off by the brutality Iran used to suppress the hijab protests'' that began a year ago and only began to diminish earlier this year because so many women were simply not wearing hijabs to cover their hair. There were too many of these women for the Iranian government to arrest or otherwise punish. The Iranian government has not given up on enforcing the use of hijabs and is seeking ways to force women to comply. A proposed new law would criminalize failure of women to wear hijabs but the government is unsure what impact trying to enforce such a law would have. Most women and many men oppose the hijab restrictions and consider these laws another reason to overthrow the religious dictatorship that has misruled Iran for decades

Iraqis see this Iranian obsession over the hijab as odd and scary because this is the sort of thing Iran would try to impose on Iraqis if it could. Iraq and Iran were long known as much less fanatic about this sort of thing than, say, the Saudis. That is changing in Saudi Arabia, as it already has in Iraq and, until recently, Iran. The growing protests are seen as similar to what led to the successful rebellion against the Iranian monarchy (Shah) in 1979. Iranian clergy played a role in this rebellion and eventually took control of the government. At that point the religious assets were much smaller and were supervised by government officials. The clergy did not like this at all, and that supervision was quick to disappear once the monarchy was gone. Another post-Shah change was that, rather than wait for pious Iranians to donate property to religious institutions, the clergy seized the assets of wealthy "enemies of the state" and turned the goodies over to religious institutions which they operated for their personal gain. The clergy try to portray themselves as pious stewards of these assets.

The truth is less savory and not invisible. All that PR and propaganda just enraged Iranians even more. A growing number of people from these wealthy clerical families are trying to reform the system before there is yet another civil war, something Iranians have been noted for since antiquity. Such an uprising now would rip the country apart and probably leave Iranians worse off than they are now. These reformers believe that the violence could be triggered by something like photos of adult children of clerics enjoying the company of polo ponies and immodest women who dont cover their hair, or much else either.

It should be no surprise that some of the growing protests call for a return of the monarchy. In part that is because nothing irritates the religious dictatorship more than calling for a return of the monarchy. The Shia clerics led a revolution that enabled them to oust the monarchy in 1979 and then take over the government in the 1980s. The current generation of Iranians is too young to have experienced living under the monarchy but it is clear from photos, videos and whispered confirmation from their elders that life was better under the monarchy even though there was always corruption, favoritism and secret police. In short, the Shah (emperor) was never as crazy, oppressive or destructive as the current religious dictatorship. It is telling that the overseas Iranians, whose numbers have grown enormously since the 1980s, are organizing to support another revolution and many of the exiled aristocracy are involved, including the children and grandchildren of the last shah.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan, Irans eastern neighbor, is also a problem but for different reasons. With the withdrawal of American troops and financial support in 2021, the Taliban, as the IEA or Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, took over but had a difficult time running Afghanistan or dealing with Islamic terrorists and local rebel groups. That has sent a growing number of Afghan refugees into Iran. Relations between Iran and the IEA have been tense but, so far, not violent.

Lebanon

And then there is Lebanon. Iran continues to have problems in Lebanon where its Hezbollah militia is having a difficult time. This is because of all the Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The Lebanese government has been expelling Syrian Sunni Arab refugees. Lebanon also began registering and attempting to deport these refugees. The nearly two million Sunni Arab Syrians that fled to Lebanon since 2012 radically changed the demography of Lebanon. Before 2011 the Lebanese population was only five million. Since nearly all those refugees are Sunni Moslems, it changed the religious mix of Lebanon from 27 percent Shia, 27 percent Sunni, and 46 percent Christian (and other religions) to a more volatile combination. With the refugee influx there were now seven million people in Lebanon and 47 percent were Sunni, 19 percent Shia and 34 percent Christian (and others). This put the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in a bad situation. Their better armed and trained fighters have been able to dominate the other minorities since the 1980s. That was possible because of Iranian cash, weapons and advisors. But the Iranian help and better organization is no longer enough when the Sunnis are nearly half the population and out for blood because of the slaughter the Iran-backed Shia Syrian government inflicted on Syrian Sunnis. Not to mention that Iranian financial support has largely disappeared.

Lebanon does not want another civil war over this and it was becoming difficult to contain the anger. Hezbollah and Iran have had some success attracting non-Shia factions, especially Christians, to be part of the Shia coalition. This is traditional Lebanese politics, with the Christians surviving by forming a coalition with non-Christian groups. Now even these Christian factions are backing away from Hezbollah. By 2023 Lebanon felt itself capable of dealing with the refugee crisis, especially since large-scale violence in Syria has largely disappeared. During the Syrian war some 5.5 million Syrians fled to neighboring countries. Turkey has 3.6 million, Lebanon two million and there are 250,000 in Iraq. There are also several million Syrians in Saudi Arabia, who are considered part of the large (over six million foreigners) expatriate workforce. About a third of those workers are Syrians. While many fled to Saudi Arabia because of the war in Syria, they were not treated like refugees and have jobs and status in Saudi Arabia. Countries bordering Syria want their refugees to go home. That cannot happen without the cooperation of the Syrian Assad government. Syria needs a lot of those refugees to revive the economy and the Arab League is willing to allow Syria to rejoin if they reduce their cooperation with Iran. That has always been a dangerous option for the Assads because the Iranians have enough armed operatives inside Syria to threaten the lives of key Assad clan members. Currently, Iranian power is unusually weak inside Iran and inside Syria. Now is a good time for the Assads to make a break from Iran, especially since he has the support of the Arab League and assurances that the League will help, not hinder Assad use of force to maintain their rule in Syria. The Arab League looks after its members and Syria recently rejoined the Arab League. Turkey does not belong to the Arab League but is eager to send its Syrian refugees home. The Assad offer is acceptable if it will finally get those Syrians out of Turkey.

October 10, 2023: The recent Hamas attack did not involve any support by Russia, other than cheerleading. Hamas leaders have had several meetings with Russian officials in the last few years. Some of these meetings took place in Russia while others took place in Iran. While Israel visibly refrained from any involvement with the Ukraine War, Russia is losing that war and needs a distraction that Hamas was eager to provide. Western nations voiced support for Israel against Hamas but continue sending their military aid to Ukraine. Israel is not short on weapons or military capabilities. The Israeli military is one of the best in the world and not in need of the kind of aid sent to Ukraine. Israel needs more cooperation from its Arab neighbors and further Israeli economic cooperation depends on some Arab diplomatic and intelligence support. The Hamas attack was a major intelligence failure for Israel and the Arab neighbors realize that this was an Iranian intelligence victory. If Iran could do this again it would most likely be used against one the Arab states that oppose the expansion of Iranian influence in the region. Expending Hamas to accomplish this attack on Israel reminds Arab states that it could happen to them. Iran is a common enemy or threat to Israel, Arabs and Turks.

October 8, 2023: Russia has approached Iran about the purchase of Fateh 110 short range ballistic missiles. These have a range of 250 kilometers and were used by Iran in 2018 to attack Iranian Kurdish separatist bases in northern Iraq. Russia has placed a large order for Fateh -110 missiles but one of the 200 missiles ordered has been delivered yet.

October 7, 2023: In southern Israel Iran-backed Hamas launched an unprecedented and surprise rocket attack on Israel, firing over 3,000 rockets into Israeli towns and cities. Hundreds of Israelis were initially killed and more than 1,500 seriously wounded. At the same time, Hamas gunmen crossed the border and moved into southern Israel, capturing 52 Israelis and taking them back to Gaza. Israel then announced that Israel was at war with Hamas and Israeli forces would recapture Gaza and kill or capture all the Hamas gunmen they could. Despite the imminent loss of Gaza, Iran declared this a great victory over Israel because of the number of Israeli civilians and soldiers killed in the attack. Israeli leaders admit they were taken by surprise and promised swift retaliation and permanent elimination of the Hamas threat in Gaza as well as an end to the independence of Gaza. For Iran, this is a small price to pay for such a striking attack on Israel. Iran will protest the loss of Gaza and the deaths of Hamas members and Gaza civilians. The reality is that Hamas has been losing support from the civilian population of Gaza over the last decade and many Gazans approve of the destruction of Hamas. Israeli occupation of Gaza is another matter. Israeli troops occupied Gaza until 2005, when they decided to abandon Gaza and evacuate all Israeli settlers living in and near Gaza.

Hamas was a violent offshoot of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood, which did not believe in violence. Hamas broke away from the Brotherhood in 1987 to wage war on Israel and eventually destroy Israel. After the current attack, Hamas will suffer heavy losses and survivors plan to regroup in Lebanon. Israel has told Lebanon that if they provide sanctuary for Hamas, Israel will bomb Lebanon back in the stone age. Lebanese take this threat seriously and to avoid it they will attempt to control Hamas activities in Lebanon. In the past Lebanese have informally cooperated with Israel to eliminate a mutual threat, like Hamas, based in Lebanon. Given a choice between being bullied by Hamas and cooperating with Israel against Hamas, Lebanon will do what it has to do to eliminate the Hamas presence in Lebanon. None of the Arab countries in the region support Iranian military efforts in their countries, even if the Iranians do manage to kill some Israelis. This is a cause for public celebration in most Arab countries. This backfires on Arabs because it demonstrates how homicidal and determined the Arab hatred of Israel is. Arab governments were also surprised and agreed with Israel that Iran was behind the attack. Officially, Arab governments do not support Israeli retaliation against Hamas or Gaza. Unofficially these same governments cooperate with Israel and the West to limit Iranian power in the region. Iran is seen as a threat to Israel and Arabs. Israeli retaliation was swift, massive and continues. Air strikes by warplanes, helicopters and missiles were launched within hours of the Hamas offensive. These attacks will continue as long as there is visible Hamas activity. Israel is quietly coordinating these attacks with Arab governments that also want Hamas gone and Iranian influence in Arab countries reduced. This includes eliminating Hamas presence in Gaza. Israel will have to again take control of Gaza, something it gave up in 2005 when they pulled their troops out. This seemed to be a good idea at the time, but that proved to be a false hope as Islamic terrorists and eventually Hamas took control of Gaza, using it as a base for attacks on Israel. Over the last decade Iranian support for anti-Israel groups in Gaza, especially Hamas, grew. This made the recent attacks possible. The Israeli intelligence failure was the worst since the one 50 years ago that turned into the 1973/Yom Kippur War. Israel won the 1973 War but at substantial cost. The current war does not involve Egypt or Syria, both of whom were the major antagonists during 1973. Israel was able to eventually obtain peace deals with these two countries. Hamas is not a country and Israel has made clear that peace with Hamas will involve the extermination of Hamas. Some Hamas members will survive this and go into hiding, because Israel will pursue, with assassins, opponents who survive a major attack on Israel.

October 6, 2023: The United States has sent weapons and ammunition to Ukraine that was seized from Iranian smugglers in the Middle East. Iran has been smuggling weapons to Yemen Shia rebels for a long time. Despite the American led naval blockade of rebel-controlled Yemen coastlines, the Iranian smuggling of weapons to the rebels continues but at a lower intensity, and consists mainly of infantry weapons rather than cruise and ballistic missiles used to attack Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are negotiating directly with the Iranians about the fighting in Yemen and how to reduce it. This is part of an effort, brokered by the Chinese, to improve relations between the Saudis and Iran and reduce the tensions in the Persian Gulf and Yemen. All this smuggling costs Iran a lot of money, both for the smuggled cargos and personnel including shipyard technicians to modify the boats to carry smuggled cargo. The crews of these boats are also well paid for the risks of getting caught and jailed. Iran has been short of cash since economic sanctions were revived in 2020 and increased in 2022 because of Iran support for Russian forces in Ukraine. There were also higher costs for preparing the boats and bonuses for the crews limiting the amount of smuggled cargo that reaches the Yemen rebels. Those expenses were one of the reasons for the nationwide anti-government protests which began in September 2022 and continue. The IRGC (Islamic Republic Guard Corps), which guards the religious dictatorship that has ruled Iran since the 1980s, also handles Irans many foreign wars including Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and now Ukraine. Iran controls the leadership of the Yemen rebels, in large part because Iran supplies weapons. With that weapons pipeline disrupted during the last three months, the rebels responded by observing a ceasefire with their many opponents.

IRGC leaders were reluctant to give up gains made in Yemen and are unsure when or if they can revive support for the Yemeni Shia because of the growing economic sanctions on Iran as well as the demands of supporting Russia in Ukraine. Because of the sanctions imposed in 2017, the Quds force saw its budget cut by half ever since. This meant major reductions in Quds activities in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Yemen was always the least expensive Quds operation and did not suffer noticeable aid cuts after 2017. Yemen was the only IRGC operation that was able to attack arch-enemy Saudi Arabia directly and that counted for something. The Yemen operation was allowed to continue. This was only possible if the smuggled weapons from Iran kept getting through. The Iranian weapons smuggling has now been greatly reduced. This sharply limits Irans ability to directly attack Saudi Arabia by arming Shia rebels in Yemen. The Shia rebels in Yemen received over a thousand ballistic missiles and UAVs between 2016 and 2021. Most of these were aimed at southwestern Saudi Arabia. Less than one percent of those UAVs and missiles hit anything of consequence in Saudi Arabia. Iran sought to carry out a similar campaign against Israel using Iran-backed militias in Syria. That hasnt worked so far because Israeli intelligence capabilities and airstrikes have been much more effective in Syria than Saudi efforts in Yemen, despite the facts that Israel and Saudi Arabia have similar aircraft, smart bombs and air defense systems.

Iranian smuggling efforts have been less effective over the last few years because the international naval blockade has been detecting and intercepting more of the Iranian smuggling efforts. The Saudis had already put a stop to cross country smuggling via Oman. The Iranians have not tried to revive it, in part because Oman has backed the halt to Iranian smuggling.

October 1, 2023: In the capital (Tehran) another young woman was seized and beaten by the morality (lifestyle) police for refusing to cover their hair with a hijab (scarf). The victim is in a coma and police wont let her family visit. A similar incident a year ago left a woman dead after being seized for the same crime. Iran is increasingly desperate to force women to conform and wear the hijab, which has been mandatory since 1983. The women are defiant, so the government tried closing businesses that have women employees or customers who refuse to wear hijabs. That did not succeed so the religious dictatorship decided to use more force against the anti-hijab demonstrations. This led to nearly 800 protestors killed and over 30,000 arrested. By early 2023 the protests had stopped. The religious dictatorship seems determined to resume its deadly campaign against protestors. Some of the senior clerics caution that this escalating violence is how

September 27, 2023: Iran launched its third military space satellite into orbit, using a Qasem three-stage solid fuel ballistic missile as an SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle). The use of ballistic missiles as SLVs is nothing new and it is a convenient way for Iran to test its ballistic missiles without being accused of testing ballistic missiles. Iran has been doing this for over a decade and many of the early SLV launches failed to put a satellite into orbit. The missions failed because the SLVs encountered problems, often with the third stage of the missile unable to release the satellite into orbit. These launches were also tests for long range ballistic missiles, as the same rocket design is often used for satellite launchers as well as long range ballistic missiles. The only difference is that the satellite launcher is carrying satellites high enough to put them into orbit while the same missile with a warhead would be programmed to move in the direction of its target and at a lower altitude (and for a longer distance from the launch site) than when putting a satellite into orbit.

September 12, 2023: An August 7 Israeli air strike near Damascus apparently killed a Syrian army officer who was working on a project that would enable Hezbollah in Lebanon to launch another missile attack into Israel using some new Iranian technology. Israel is generally successful in detecting and launching airstrikes on Iranian weapons shipments into Syria or moving through Syria to Lebanon. Iranian technology transfers to Syria or Hezbollah are more difficult to detect, which is why Israel launches air strikes in Syria against any site where new Iranian tech is being installed. Syria has several military bases where such work is carried out and Israel attacks these bases whenever they suspect something is going on.

September 10, 2023: Iran announced it had developed a new long range UAV called Mohajer-10. This comes two years after the similar but smaller Mohajer-6 was offered for export. Mojaher-6 entered service in 2017 and an upgraded model entered service in 2021. Mojaher-6 weighs 670 kg (1,477 pounds) with a payload of 150 kg and max endurance of 12 hours. Max range on a one way mission (as a cruise missile) is 2,400 kilometers with a 100 kg payload. This is not a large enough payload to do much damage to the target. Thats one reason the larger Mohajer-10 was introduced in 2023. This version can carry a 300 kg explosive payload on a one way cruise missile mission to targets over 2,000 kilometers away.

Iran pointed out that this puts the Israeli nuclear reactor near Dimona as well as several other Israeli cities and military bases. Not mentioned was the fact that Israeli air defenses have long been capable of detecting and destroying such attacks. Iran has been trying to fly smaller surveillance UAVs from southern Lebanon into Israel without success. A larger Mohajer-10 coming from Iran to hit Dimona in southeast Israel has to get past Israeli air defenses built to stop attacks by aircraft and ballistic missiles. These defenses failed earlier to stop a Syrian anti-aircraft missile that missed its target and kept flying for another 200 kilometers until it exploded in the air near Dimona. The Dimona air defenses failed to intercept the missile, which exploded in the air as anti-aircraft missiles are designed to do when they miss. This incident led to the Dimona air defenses being upgraded. The 2021 era air defenses probably would have destroyed a slower UAV, but Israel was taking no chances when it upgraded those air defenses. Iran claims Mohajer-10 is equipped with countermeasures to defeat air defenses but those have never been tested against Israeli air defenses. A UAV attack against the Dimona reactor or an Israeli city would trigger retaliation whether it succeeded or not. The Israelis have ballistic missiles carrying conventional warheads that can reach Iranian targets and Iran does not want to see how effective those would be against Iranian air defenses.

The Mohajer-6 has been in use since 2017 against Kurdish separatists and Syrian rebels, is thus combat tested and that is used to attract export customers. Mohajer-10 has not been offered for export yet and if it was it would be more expensive than Mohajer-6 because of the longer range and larger explosive payload.

Iran has long been an exporter of weapons, usually cheaper versions of Chinese and Russian assault rifles, mortars and RPGs. Iran has long had a trading relationship with North Korea in ballistic missile technology. Both nations are banned from exporting that sort of thing but desperation will find a way.
Chattanooga has been awarded a major grant to build a multi-behavioral community to address needs of veterans experiencing homelessness

Mayor Tim Kelly said the major investment "will contribute significantly to supporting a vulnerable population of our community: Veterans experiencing homelessness."

Frontline Response International, a faith-based non-profit organization based in Atlanta, will supply $12.5 million over three years to build a Freedom Homestead in Chattanooga, a 90-100 acre campus for veterans experiencing homelessness.

The amount is expected to be maximized to $25 million over that period.

Frontline Response chose Chattanooga over Atlanta, Houston and Sacramento, due to the citys favorable economic factors, proximity to its headquarters, and level of support given to the organization by the veterans in the community along with the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. The announcement was made at the 20th anniversary celebration of the non-profit, which raised $3.1 million last Thursday evening in Atlanta.

For more than a year, we have been having conversations and exploring options to best meet the needs of the Veterans experiencing homelessness across our area  and Frontline Response is going to help us do just that, said Mayor Kelly. Frontlines strategic strength is their expertise in being a service-gap provider, and their decision to choose Chattanooga for their first Freedom Homestead is a perfect fit for us. Their presence will be a powerful complement to the successful strategies weve implemented and an important force multiplier as we look to build upon the progress were making toward addressing homelessness in Chattanooga and Hamilton County.

The Freedom Homestead community will provide housing consisting of about 100 245-square-foot homes which will include living spaces with fully-functioned kitchens with a sink, stove, refrigerator, and storage; a bathroom with a full-size shower and toilet; floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light; and mechanical systems for HVAC, water, power, and waste. Homes will also be ADA compliant. The campus will also feature a chapel, hiking opportunities, a gym and recreation area, workforce training facilities, a veterans care clinic, a veteran transition care home, and housing for survivors of trafficking.

We are thrilled that Chattanooga will be the home for a national pilot project to serve the needs of Veterans experiencing homelessness, said Jeff Shaw, national expansion officer for Frontline. Chattanooga has been engaged and welcoming to us over the last year and were looking forward to a partnership that will lead to an independent and sustainable future for those whove served our country. Theres a significant amount of work ahead and were looking forward to the opportunity in Chattanooga.

Frontline Response International received $12.5 million of the initial financial commitment from Heart of a Lion Foundation and will work in conjunction with the Veterans Empowerment Organization, the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, Warriors Set Free, and other partners who are stepping up to assist those whove been on the front line for our country. Now that the project has been awarded, site selection, planning, and construction will follow over the next three years.

Frontline Response (Frontline), was founded in 2003 and has assisted over 1,700 victims out of sex trafficking through outreach, rescue, emergency housing, and serving on the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Hotline. Frontlines anti-trafficking work is done through the department known as Out of Darkness. Frontline serves on the Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking, the Statewide (Georgia) Human Trafficking Task Force, and is a member of the Atlanta Airport Regions Not In My County Anti-Human Trafficking Collaborative working with the city of Atlanta, Fulton and Clayton County Sheriffs Offices, G.B.I., Homeland Security, and other law enforcement agencies. Frontline also provides training to law enforcement, fire departments, emergency rooms, judges, and other civic leaders. The organization has helped lead anti-trafficking efforts around large events including the Super Bowl in numerous cities. In addition to anti-sex trafficking, Frontline has a strategic focus on Homelessness Outreach and Youth Prevention Programming. In 2022 alone, the organization rescued over 382 individuals from sex trafficking and homelessness, exceeding 3,200 since 2011.

In 2023 Frontline launched the Freedom Reimagined movement, designed to provide strategic outposts in communities across the country to provide life-saving resources. There are currently eight communities either providing services or in the process of assessment by the organization to determine strategic growth.

Frontline Response holds a Platinum Level ranking from GuideStar, the worlds largest source of information on nonprofit organizations, and has an 18,000 square foot facility located in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Lea Mulligan, a 24-year-old native Chattanoogan, recently traveled to Chamonix, France to compete in the International Trail Running Series Ultra Trail Mount Blanc CCC.She took part in a lengthy 100-kilometer race through France, Italy and Switzerland, and was the 10th American female finisher and 31st female overall. She finished 126th out of 2,200 people from all over the world, completing the challenging 62-mile race with almost 20,000 feet of elevation in 15 hours and 3 minutes.A teacher at St.Nicholas School, Ms. Mulligan was captain of her Maryville College cross country team and has participated in numerous trail races in the United States. She was the first-place female at Chattanooga's 2022 Stump Jump, setting the course record. Ms. Mulligan has raced the Pinhoti 100-Mile Endurance race, the 52K Broken Arrow Sky Race in Tahoe, Canyons100K in California and the Black Canyon 100K in Arizona.
Southern Adventist Universitys Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum will host Klaus Wagensonner, PhD, from Yale University in Connecticut on Monday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in Lynn Wood Hall Chapel. He will present Between Doom and Glory: The Treatment of Babylon by the Last Assyrian Kings, surveying the ups and downs in the relationship of the later Assyrian kings with Babylonia.Dr. Wagensonner is a lecturer and associate research scholar in the Department of Near EasternLanguages and Civilizations at Yale.He specializes in Sumerian literature and early lexicography inMesopotamia. Between 2019 and 2022, with funding from the National Endowment for theHumanities, Dr. Wagensonner conducted a full digitization of the c. 35,000 cuneiform artifactshoused in the Yale Babylonian Collection and is currently producing online editions of the textualartifacts.The free event is open to the public and will be livestreamed at southern.edu/streaming.For more information, call 423-236-2030.
This week a Chattanooga non-profit will mark its 25th anniversary helping families fight childhood malnutrition in Haiti. The Childrens Nutrition Program of Haiti, or Kore Timoun as it is known in the country, was founded by local physician Dr. Mitch Mutter."CNP has endured political unrest, a devastating earthquake, floods and hurricanes in its effort to educate mothers and provide medical care to children suffering from childhood malnutrition," officials said.This Thursday evening the non-profit will hold its annual Heart for Haiti benefit.The program will celebrate its 25th anniversary and will honor Dr. Mutter for his efforts in founding the organization. Dr. Mutter started CNP in the late 90s after returning from a medical mission where he watched helplessly a young Haitian child die of malnutrition. "There was nothing medically that could have been done to save the child," he said.Anyone who knows Mitch knows he has a big heart. He has done so much for his community here in Chattanooga, but in Haiti as well. When that child died in Haiti, he knew that temporary medical care was only a band-aide to the problem. He set out to implement a program that educated women and their families in how to properly provide the proper nutrition for their children and help communities build a sustainable future, said Patricia Cyr Watlington, the executive director of CNP Haiti.The benefit will also award Chattanooga physician Dr. Chuck Sternberg and his wife, Martha, with its Heart for Haiti Award for their long term commitment to CNP and the families in Haiti.Chuck and Martha are an integral part of our program. For years, Chuck and Martha have committed themselves to our cause, and we are so thrilled to be able to honor them in this way, said Ms. Watlington.The Heart for Haiti benefit will be held in Chattanooga this Thursday evening. Tickets and sponsorships are still available. For more information, go to www.cnphaiti.org
Lee Universitys School of Nursing celebrated Healthcare Simulation Week by hosting four different events on campus.

Healthcare Simulation Week 2023 offered a moment to stop and reflect on the vital role of hands-on experience that our students are afforded while in the program, said Shannon McBrayer, director of simulation and experiential learning and lecturer of nursing. It is heartening to witness the students embrace the opportunities they have in the simulations and begin to realize the gravity of their opportunities here at Lee University Simulation Central.

On Monday, nursing students participated in COPE, the Cost of Poverty Experience, hosted by United Way of Cleveland. The students in this simulation were able to experience what it is like to be a family living in poverty. The students were divided into family units and had to complete tasks given to them for four weeks, which were represented by four 15-minute rotations.

Throughout the week, food trucks from Sweet Caroline Cheesecakes and Moh Mohs Asian Cuisine, along with other treats, were available on campus to celebrate the weeks events.

On Friday, senior nursing students took on roles as nurses in a complex obstetrical simulation, taking care of emergent deliveries, sick moms, and resuscitating a newborn.

Simulation for me is the perfect learning opportunity, said Abby Bayles, senior nursing major. I have the space to work through a scenario and implement skills that I might not have the opportunity to do otherwise. I can make mistakes and learn from them and my peers without risking a negative patient outcome, which is priceless.

Lees School of Nursing celebrates healthcare simulation every September through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Healthcare simulation is one of the best ways for us to not only learn our hands-on skills but also the critical thinking aspect thats necessary for nursing, said Makena DeLuca, also a senior nursing major. We get to practice in a safe environment without repercussions and then look at our mistakes to see how we can learn from them. I believe healthcare simulation is building our next generation of nurses to practice safely and effectively and is definitely something to celebrate.

SSH serves a global community of practice enhancing healthcare quality and seeks to improve performance and reduce patient care errors through simulation. The organization fosters the improvement and application of simulation-based modalities such as human patient simulators, virtual reality, standardized patients, and task trainers. Recognizing that simulation represents a paradigm shift in healthcare education, SSH promotes improvements in simulation technology, educational methods, practitioner assessment, and patient safety that in turn promote better patient care and can improve patient outcome.

Simulation learning offers a range of easily accessible learning opportunities as well as the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment. Experiences can also be customized to the level of the learner, and detailed feedback and evaluation are available after the experience to show the learner the areas where they need improvement.

For more information about SSH, visit ssih.org/About-SSH.

For more information on Lees School of Nursing, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/.


St. Elmo Dental has opened in the heart of St. Elmo at 3918 Tennessee Ave. to provide comprehensive dental care for both children and adults. The dental office offers general dentistry services, cosmetics, implants and restorative services.St. Elmo Dental is led by Dr. Helen Jang and Dr. Sydney Olson.Dr. Jang graduated from Loma Linda School of Dentistry. She chose to be a dentist after working in mobile dental ministry. She has traveled to Kenya, Ugwanda, Nigeria, Malawi, China and North Korea with medical and dental mission teams.Dr.Sydney Olson is originally from the Nashville area. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in chemistry and biology. She went on to earn her doctorate in dentistry in Memphis at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Olson is a member of the American Dental Association. She entered the field of dentistry to help others feel confident about their smile and to help the community be more comfortable going to the dentist.To schedule an appointment or to learn more at St. Elmo Dental, call 423-821-9771 or visit www.stelmodental.com.
Gregory Andrew Champion passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, after an unexpected medical event.

He was born to Maurice and Elizabeth Champion in Ashtabula, Oh., on March 5, 1975. His family lived in Ohio until 1981 when they moved to Kansas City, Mo. They eventually settled in Lincoln, Ne., where Greg graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1992 and attended The University of Nebraska Lincoln, graduating with a BA in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville in 2009.

He met the love of his life, Vena Bagwell, in 1990 at an Episcopal Youth Event in Montana. After several years in a long-distance relationship, they began seriously dating in 1996 and were married at St Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Tn. on Aug. 9, 1997. They lived in Cookeville then Mount Juliet, Tn.; eventually settling in Chattanooga. They were blessed with two wonderful children Gregory Andrew II and Emmy, both of whom love the arts, theatre, and acting like their mother. Greg was very outgoing. He never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a hand to a friend in need. He was active in his church, St. Martins, and worked in their food outreach, as part of the Diocesan Episcopal Churchman of Tennessee and the Dubose Conference Center. He dearly loved his children, the Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Titans.

Greg worked in sales for most of his career, first at Gallup, Enterprise, and then Verizon. Most recently he had been working in business insurance. Tragically, his wife succumbed to cancer in 2022 after a long illness. He then fell in love with Dominique Drake. They were engaged to be married when he suddenly passed.

He is survived by his father, Rev. Maurice Champion-Garthe retired, and his wife Marybeth; his mother, Elizabeth Greenshields and her husband Sam; his children Gregory Andrew (Drew) Champion II and Emmy Champion; his brother, Chris Champion and his wife Michelle; his step-sister, Eve Ringsmuth and her husband Simon; nephews, nieces, and many extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Vena Champion (Bagwell) and his grandparents.

His wishes were for cremation. Gregs services will be on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Saint Martin of Tours Episcopal Church at 2 p.m. A private family service and interment will follow at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Fayetteville, where he will be interred next to Vena.

Visit the online obituary at www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.
Every child deserves a safe and secure learning environment, free from any fear or threat. It is an absolute necessity that we prioritize and invest in school safety measures. The protection of our children should never be up for debate.

A dispute is ongoing on whether the Nashville-Metro Council should accept $3 million from the state to fund school resource officers. The issue is infuriating from a commonsense standpoint. Council member Courtney Johnston argues that since having SROs is a done deal, it makes sense to accept the money. Ms. Johnston is correct. And our schools must be safe zones for students and teachers.

Safety is a fundamental aspect of creating an environment that is conducive to learning. Ensuring the safety of individuals should always be a top priority. Early identification of safety concerns is crucial. Regular risk assessments, safety audits, and stakeholder involvement can help. Proactive measures can prevent issues from escalating.

Clear response protocols are vital for safety. This includes reacting to emergencies, regular training, and comprehensive safety plans with clear procedures and communication channels. Consider unique needs, provide support for vulnerable individuals and special needs students, and ensure safety plans are inclusive.

Schools are targeted by those who wish to cause significant harm. Unfortunately, premeditated attacks and school shootings are typically over within minutes, leaving law enforcement with limited time to respond. As a result, many lives are lost needlessly. Intruders who wish to harm students and teachers are often familiar with the school's defense system and plan accordingly.

Maintaining safe physical infrastructure in the learning environment involves regular maintenance, prompt addressing of issues, and increased safety measures. Security measures like access control systems, surveillance cameras, ballistic glass, and school resource officers are essential to prevent unauthorized access and protect against threats.

SROs have three major roles: Safety Expert and Law Enforcer, Problem Solver, and Liaison to Community Resources and Educators. The primary role should focus on law enforcement and safety. SROs maintain order, promote safety, and respond to critical incidents. They are not school administrators or emergency instructors. It's important to define SRO programs and measure their effectiveness. School and District Leaders should defer to law enforcement professionals. These armed professionals serve as the last line of defense for our kids in case of emergency.

Educating students and staff on safety procedures and best practices is vital, which includes emergency response training for students and regular safety training for all staff members. Involving the local community and parents in safety initiatives can enhance overall safety and inform parents about measures in place.

Tennessee schools already have a zero-tolerance policy for mass threats, resulting in a one-year suspension for offending students. Senator Ferrell Haile has proposed new legislation that threatening mass violence on a school or government building be a Class D felony, punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Safety measures must be regularly reviewed and improved. This includes analyzing incident reports, safety drills, and stakeholder feedback. Effective crisis communication informs all stakeholders during emergencies. It involves notification systems and designated spokespersons.

Proactively addressing safety concerns can improve the learning environment and promote effective teaching and learning. Safety should always be a foundational consideration in education. Any viable option that can lead to a safer environment in our schools and communities should be on the table. There is simply no room for debate on this matter.

JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
CHI Memorial is kicking off the public phase of its Care Closer to Home capital campaign to support the new hospital it will build in Ringgold. On Tuesday, hospital leadership and community leaders announced more than half of the campaigns $5 million goal has already been raised thanks to the lead gifts from the Frank Pierce Foundation and Rich and Barbara Kramer.

Now, the health system invites local residents and community members to join these donors in supporting the new hospital.

The goal is to raise the final $2 million by June 2024. All gifts, regardless of the amount, will help achieve the fundraising goal. Online donations can be made at supportmemorialfoundation.org/ donate or by calling 423 495-4438. All donations designated for CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia will stay in the Northwest Georgia community to support the new hospital project.

Our citizens have rallied behind this project since day one, to have their own first-class community hospital, said Angie Stiggins, CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia administrator. The public phase of the campaign is an invitation for everyone who cares about Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties to make a gift to have their health care closer to home.

CHI Memorial acquired the license to operate the current CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia in Fort Oglethorpe, in December 2017. At that time, hospital leadership committed to build a new hospital facility better designed and capable of accommodating the equipment and technology standards of today.

Since receiving the certificate of need (CON) from the State of Georgia in December 2022, CHI Memorial has been completing the project plans to get ready for construction on the new facility.

Teams of hospital employees, clinicians, and physicians have been working with design and construction experts for several months to complete the design that will support the services to be provided to patients, said Andrew McGill, chief strategist at CHI Memorial. The final design documents will be submitted to the State of Georgia for review this month, and we anticipate approval in late fall.

The new hospital in Ringgold will feature 64 inpatient beds including an intensive care unit (ICU), as well as a full service emergency department, operating rooms, comprehensive imaging services and non-invasive cardiac imaging. The new facility will join together with the existing CHI Memorial Rees Skillern Cancer Institute and medical office buildings to create a comprehensive campus providing a seamless inpatient and outpatient care experience.
Members of the Chattanooga Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) on Tuesday slammed a new state-mandated setup based on the system used by Knoxville.

PARC member Dee Visser said, "Knoxville's system is a joke, and this new committee will be a joke. This is bad for our city and it's bad for our state."

Christy Rashed, another current member, said the change "just makes us a rubber stamp. We need a voice in what is going on."

The state Legislature passed a law that went into effect July 1 setting up a seven-member board and a separate executive director. All meetings would be open to the public. The panel would only review cases after the police chief had acted. The mayor would name the committee members and executive director with confirmation by the City Council.

City Attorney Phil Noblett has drawn up a proposed resolution for a new PARC committee in conformity with the new state law. He said the Legislature had "taken a sledge hammer" to the prior legislation on police advisory panels.

Members of the nine-member City Council said having just seven members would leave out some communities. City Councilwoman Carol Berz suggested making nine appointments with two listed as alternates, who could still take part in committee discussions. Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod also urged nine members.



Attorney Noblett said on the going from seven to nine that the city would find out "if the state attorney general's office is going to fuss with us."

Councilwoman Berz said, "I've never minded taking on the state."

PARC Chair Mary Anne Hensley said it would be hard to find people willing to serve on the new board. She said the current panel had gained a close working relationship with Chief Celeste Murphy and she had been receptive to their ideas on pending police discipline cases.

She said, "A lot of trust has been built up with the police department and we just hate to see that go away."

PARC member Kanika Jones said it would also be difficult to find someone who would act as executive director at $30,000. She said that is "entry level" at the company where she works.

Members said in their closed meetings they had been able to review body camera evidence and hear other sensitive information.

The law says the committee could not examine cases filed before Jan. 1, 2023.

Currently, with the PARC committee inactive due to a council moratorium, the cases are under the total purview of Chief Murphy.




Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host a special 30-minute ranger-led program on Friday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. highlighting the restoration work currently being done at the Chickamauga Battlefield on the 31st Indiana Infantrys regimental monument, located on Battleline Road. Staff from Northern Stone Carving, who is conducting the restoration work, will be on hand as well.Participants should consider bringing a folding chair and dress accordingly for the weather.Officials said, "The 31st Indiana Infantry was raised in Terre Haute, In., in September 1861, but by September 1863, its members were battle hardened veterans.At Chickamauga, they once again proved their mettle. Today, their monument stands as a testimony to their efforts to help preserve the Union. Join us for this special program to hear the story of the men of the 31st Indiana, their role during the Battle of Chickamauga, their effort to be remembered through their monument, and the work presently being done to restore their monument for future generations."For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch.
Happy Hallelujah Night Fall Festival will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. at Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church, 1735 E. 3rd Street in Chattanooga.



The event will include music, food, fun and community partners.



All are welcome.

See www.orchardknob.org for more information.
11/1/2023

The Collegiate Conference of the South announced Men's Golf Player of the Week awards on Wednesday. Wiley Hickerson, for the first time in his career was named Player of the Week. This comes ... more
Some downtown businesses and residents were evacuated on Monday night after a chemical spill and active leak.

Cleanup continued at the scene through the early morning, but the leaking tote has been offloaded.

The evacuation order has been lifted and residents were told they could return. A shelter at Avondale Community Center was closing.

Crown Subaru, Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall, a medical office, and dental office in the immediate vicinity will remain closed at this time.

The intersection of MLK and Riverfront Parkway will remain closed until cleanup is complete. Traffic will be diverted off of Riverfront at Chestnut Street and Main Street. Any westbound traffic on MLK will be turned around at Boynton Drive.

At 6:11 p.m., the Chattanooga Fire Department and Chattanooga Police Department responded to Riverfront Parkway and Martin Luther King Boulevard after a rollover accident involving a tractor trailer. The semi had 13 totes of chemicals with 42,000 pounds of organic peroxide on board.

One of the totes was leaking onto the metal of the truck.

Fire officials on the scene asked that businesses and residents in a quarter mile of the crash site evacuate - north of the accident site to Molly Lane (including the two residential buildings and one business north site of the accident site on the east side of Riverfront Parkway to Molly Lane), and west of the accident site to the river. That could be expanded if the incident commanders deem it necessary for public safety, officials said.

Emergency personnel identified the product involved in the incident, isolated the scene, and evacuated the area. Two entry teams went in and confirmed the chemical they were dealing with. They located the leaking tote, but could not get to the leak.

Marion Environmental came to the scene to stabilize the situation and begin the cleanup process. The firm began to transfer the chemicals into new totes and conduct cleanup. They have to offload all 13 totes on the truck. Marion Environmental will work through the night to finish at the site.

Firefighters used soda ash to absorb chemicals. They created a dam to contain the spill and prevent runoff from getting into storm water drains.

The Red Cross was overseeing the shelter site.

There were no injuries to the truck driver. No exposures have been reported.




Actor Hayden Panettiere has opened up about if she is able to keep in contact with her daughter now who has been living in Ukraine for years.

Actor Hayden Panettieres daughter spent time living in Ukraine with her father. Millions of people around the globe watched in horror when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. And it was even more devastating for those watching like Panettiere, who have family living near the front lines. Following the invasion, many werent able to get in touch with their loved ones right away.

Panettiere has revealed if she is able to keep in touch with her daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, who lived in Ukraine with her father for several years after the actor relinquished custody.

Why did Hayden Panettiere lose custody of her daughter?

Wladimir Klitschko and Hayden Panettiere attend an event in Miami Beach | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Panettiere and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko began dating in 2009. They got engaged in 2013 and welcomed their daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, the following year.

After an on-and-off relationship for nine years, Panettiere and Klitschko called it quits in 2018.

In 2015, Panettiere checked herself into a treatment center to help treat her postpartum depression. The Scream 6 star later opened up about her decision saying: The postpartum depression I have been experiencing has impacted every aspect of my life. Rather than stay stuck due to unhealthy coping mechanisms I have chosen to take time to reflect holistically on my health and life.

The Nashville actor previously was open about her experiences. She has advocated for seeking mental health services while acknowledging the complex emotions that can accompany motherhood.

Additionally, Panettiere sought treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. It was during this time she made the decision to give Klitschko full custody of Kaya. The father and daughter moved to Ukraine.

Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko attend the Ein Herz Fuer Kinder Gala in Germany | Luca Teuchmann/Getty Images

Did Hayden Panettiere get her daughter out of Ukraine?

When the war broke out in February 2022, the Heros alum assured fans that Kaya was safe.

Kaya is primarily with her dad and his family in Europe and Florida, a source said at the time per E! News. Hayden and Wladimir are on great terms and friendly. They are a big part of each others lives and will continue to be.

Panettiere revealed her daughter now is safely out of the warzone. Kaya and her father left Ukraine due to the countrys war with Russia, and Panettiere has been able to see her daughter and spend quality time with her.
Over the weekend, Hamas initiated new attacks on Israel, plummeting the region into war. In this special episode of The Bulletin, hosts Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore engage with guests Dan Senor and Robert Nicholson to make sense of the eventsthe context, the stakes, and the importance of Christian interest in the region. Special guest Darrell Bock joins the conversation to talk about the theology that motivates Christian interest in Israel.

Joining us this week:

Dan Senor is co-author of the forthcoming book The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World, which will be released on November 7, 2023. He is also co-author of The New York Times bestseller Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israels Economic Miracle, which has been translated into more than 30 languages. He was a senior advisor to former House Speaker Paul Ryans campaign for vice president and foreign policy advisor to Sen. Mitt Romneys presidential campaigns. He has written for The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. In addition, he is the host of the podcast Call Me Back.

Robert Nicholson is the president and executive director of the Philos Project. He is also co-founder and board member of Passages Israel, an advisory board member of In Defense of Christians, and a former adjunct professor at The Kings College in New York City. A former US Marine and a 201213 Tikvah Fellow, Robert founded Philos in 2014 to stimulate a new generation of religious and cultural exchange between the Near East and the West. His written work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Telegraph, New York Post, Jerusalem Post, Newsweek, Providence, First Things, The Hill, and National Interest.

Darrell Bock is the executive director of cultural engagement for The Hendricks Center and senior research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has earned recognition as a Humboldt Scholar (Tubingen University in Germany), is the author of over 40 books, including well-regarded commentaries on Luke and Acts and studies of the historical Jesus, and works in cultural engagement as host of the seminarys Table podcast. He was president of The Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) from 2000 to 2001, served as a consulting editor for Christianity Today, and serves on the boards of Wheaton College and Chosen People Ministries. His articles appear in leading publications. He is often an expert for the media on NT issues. Dr. Bock has been a New York Times best-selling author in nonfiction; serves as a staff consultant for Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas; and is elder emeritus at Trinity Fellowship Church in Dallas.

Read More from Christianity Today about Todays Topics:

Pew: Israelis and Palestinians Find Favor in the Eyes of Americans

The Surprising Staying Power of Dispensationalism

Rockets, Riots, Sermons, and Soccer: Christian Views on the Conflict in Gaza and Israel

Under the Law: Israeli Christians Worry About Secondary Status in Jewish Nation-State

Why Many Christians Want to Leave Palestine. And Why Most Wont.

How Should Christians Disagree? Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians Try a New Model

How Palestine Divides Messianic Jews

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government provided an unusual lifeline to tens of thousands of Christian organizations and churches through forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the CARES Act.

That aid amounted to roughly $7 billion in forgiven loans, according to an analysis of federal data by Christianity Today. Most of that fundingabout $5 billionwent to churches. Federal aid has gone directly to churches before, in the form of disaster assistance, for example, but rarely at this level.

A new study on the impact of COVID-19 on the American church from Arbor Research Group and ChurchSalary, a ministry of Christianity Today, estimates that slightly more than one-third of all US churches received a PPP loan of some kind. (Almost all of those loans were forgiven, though there were rare instances of churches repaying the federal government.)

The individual loans to Christian organizations ranged from a few hundred dollars to over $10 million. Heritage Christian Services, a Christian organization serving those with disabilities, received one of the largest forgiven loans at about $10 million. Life.Church in Oklahoma received about $7 million.

Some ministries did not seek the aid because they wondered about future conditions attached to it. Steve Smith, the administrative bishop for the New York state Church of God in Christ, told CT that some of his pastors in the state worried there might be some attachment later on that will have negative effects, he said.

Early in the pandemic, both Christian financial advisor Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial Ministries CEO Chuck Bentley urged churches not to take the PPP money. Ramsey argued it allowed the government into the management of churches, which turned out to not be the case in this instance.

A pastor whose church took PPP funding, Mike Vaughn, told CT in 2020 that the program was a worthwhile exception to the general rule that his church shouldnt take money from the government.

The goal of the CARES Actestablished during the Trump administration in the early pandemic days of 2020was to help small businesses and organizations retain staff amid COVID-19 lockdowns. Staff compensation is the largest part of the average church budget, and survey respondents who received PPP aid told ChurchSalary that their churches would have struggled to retain staff without the grants.

The survey by ChurchSalary also showed that for people in ministry who were laid off, more than 40 percent were still looking for similar work in 2023.

Eighty percent of the churches that reported receiving outside financial assistance during the pandemic said it came in the form of a PPP loan. Churches receiving PPP funds tended to be older and larger or were led by older pastors, according to the ChurchSalary study, and tended to be in large cities rather than in rural areas by a wide margin.

The PPP aid is little acknowledged by ministries themselves. Almost no Christian nonprofits returned requests for comment on the aid they received, even when it was in the millions. Some ministries that defied government health orders regarding COVID-19 also took PPP funding.

But a few were happy to share what the aid did for their organizations.

It helped us out a great deal, said James Brooks, the CEO of Chicago-based Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC), which received $5.6 million in the form of a forgiven loan.

Lawndale serves roughly 70,000 patients a year, most of them Medicaid recipients or uninsured.

Between March 2020 and December 2021, LCHC conducted 41,000 COVID-19 tests. Their staff set up vaccine clinics on the west side of Chicago, and also went door to door with the vaccine.

Though the organization works in health care and remained busy through the pandemic, Brooks said that without the extra PPP support, they would have had to lay off staff who worked on ancillary ministries that were shut downlike a cafe that the organization runs. Instead, LCHC redirected those people to other roles and new projects.

One new outreach that LCHC staff were able to do was to manage a downtown hotel for 259 unhoused individuals, at the city of Chicagos request. Lawndale helped those who were high-risk to isolate in the hotel and provided medical care for chronic conditions around the clock. The hotel operation also offered services for substance abuse and mental health.

A 2021 study of Lawndales work at the hotel found that the high-risk individuals had a significant reduction in contracting COVID-19 compared to those in city shelters, and they had better health indicators like lower hypertension and glycemic control. Most of the participants entered housing upon leaving the hotel.

Our staff did a wonderful job. It was a hard time, but we saw the hand of God at work, said Brooks. None of the LCHC staff died from COVID-19. Every day they came in risking their lives to share the love of Jesus.

Some legal scholars questioned the validity of the PPP program for religious organizations, calling it the quiet demise of the separation of church and state. But no significant constitutional case has moved forward against the aid to religious groups.

The US Small Business Administration, which manages the program, put out a paper explaining why faith-based organizations were eligible for the program, saying that an otherwise eligible organization shouldnt be disqualified from loans just for being religious.

Religious recipients noted that the government had ordered the COVID-19 closures of their churches and schools, so it made sense to them that they could receive the same aid that every other closed business (even strip clubs) received.

Stanley Carlson-Thies, the founder of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, argued in an email to CT that the program was clearly constitutional, and the alternative would have been to single out for disfavored treatment certain religious organizationslike a fire department fights fires in every building except religious facilities.

The government provides grants to religious organizations for other things like historic preservation, disaster recovery, and protecting buildings (like synagogues) from hate crimes, he noted.

This kind of equal treatment is well established in constitutional analysis and in federal law, although sometimes new challenges come up and have to be taken on individually, he said.

PPP loans helped many organizations keep the lights on, but some millions went to organizations that did shutter laterlike Alliance University and The Kings College.

Of the governing member schools in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), more than half received forgiven loans adding up to $174 million in aid. Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University), for example, received one of the largest amounts at $6.5 million in forgiven loans. The school did not respond to a request for comment.

Organizations with more than 500 employees were not eligible for PPP loans, a rule that excluded CCCU member Union University in Tennessee, for example, from the program.

Christian colleges could also receive PPP loan forgiveness for expenditures to expand remote learning. Philip Dearborn, the president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), a Christian accreditor for about 200 institutions, said he watched ABHE schools take advantage of that.

The technology they purchased met the immediate COVID-impacted demands and now, post-COVID, is being leveraged to continue developing and expanding delivery methodologies beyond the traditional face-to-face classroom, he said in an email.

While some schools went remote with their federal funding, organizations like Lawndale became more involved face-to-face with their community through the funding.

Lawndales roots are in its neighborhood, having been born out of a neighborhood church, Lawndale Community Church. CEO Brookss father and grandfather were both pastors in the community. He lives there, as well as most staff.

One of our values is proximity, said Brooks. That means being close to the pain. We use the John 1:14 text, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  I like how Eugene Peterson puts it: The Word became flesh  and moved into the neighborhood. Even in a pandemic, he said, the ministry was never remote.
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Serving as the Bay Area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Rigo Lopez didnt expect that his work would involve court depositions and early morning emails with lawyers. Or that hed have to pray for and defend students whose teachers campaigned against their club and its convictions.

But Monday marks a long-awaited milestone in the Christian organizations legal fight in California. FCA learned it can finally return to San Jose public schoolsfour years after losing its official recognition over its faith statement and a month after a significant First Amendment ruling in federal appeals court.

Following major religious liberty decisions at the Supreme Court, the FCA ruling offers a new precedent for free exercise protections. It makes other cases much more likely to succeed, according to Becket senior counsel Daniel Blomberg, part of the legal team for FCA along with the Christian Legal Societys Center For Law & Religious Freedom.

FCAs case was the latest in a string of lawsuits over campus access for Christian clubs. The Christian Legal Society at UC Hastings, the Chinese Student Christian Fellowship at the University of Iowa, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Tufts, Vanderbilt, Wayne State, and Cal State have gone through similar fights.

After almost 20 years in operation in San Jose local schools, FCA was similarly denied approval as a student club in 2019, when it was declared in violation of district-wide nondiscrimination policies. A teacher at one school, Pioneer High, had campaigned against the clubs anti-gay prerequisites, since FCAs faith statement for student leaders included a line about God instituting marriage between a man and a woman.

Following the pandemic, the San Jose school district officially adopted an all comers policy, which also barred faith statements: Approved clubs could not discriminate in membership or leadership. So FCA filed suit on First Amendment grounds, pointing out that other clubs hold their own requirements around identity or ideology without punishment.

Last month, the Ninth Circuit backed what many of these student organizations have been saying all along: that its unfair to subject people of faith to unequal treatment, whether or not the policies in question called out religious groups in particular.

The Courts 100+ page opinion overturned a major prior precedent and is a ringing endorsement of the [First Amendment] rights of students with implications well beyond high school campuses, tweeted attorney Casey Mattox, vice president for legal and judicial strategy at Americans for Prosperity.

A lower court had previously sided with the San Jose school district, saying its policies did not target the Christian club and rejecting FCAs plea for an injunction to meet as its case proceeded. The Ninth Circuitthe largest federal appeals court in the countryheard the case earlier this year and overruled the decision on September 13, citing the merits of [the FCAs] free exercise claims.

The District, rather than treating FCA like comparable secular student groups whose membership was limited based on criteria including sex, race, ethnicity, and gender identity, penalized it based on its religious beliefs, the majority opinion said. Because the Constitution prohibits such a double standardeven in the absence of any motive to do sowe reverse the district courts denial of FCAs motion for a preliminary injunction.

Ed Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center noted that FCA had a very good draw, with nine Republican appointees among the randomly selected judges for the en banc panel that reviewed the case on appeal. Ninth Circuit ruled 92, with both Democratic appointees dissenting.

In the majority opinion, judge Consuelo Callahan referenced 2021 Supreme Court decisions on behalf of a Catholic foster agency (Fulton v. City of Philadelphia) and Californians who wanted to worship at home during the pandemic (Tandon v. Newsom).

Previous rulings allowed for neutral, generally applicable laws that happened to restrict religious activities, under the Smith precedent. But justices ruling in these more recent cases clarified how even broad policies can unconstitutionally target religious expression when the government applies them selectively.

In Fulton, justices held that the mere existence of government discretion is enough to render a policy not generally applicable. In Tandon, treating any comparable secular activity more favorably than religious exercise kept a law from being neutral and generally applicable.

For the FCA case, the San Jose school district allowed exceptions for other clubs to restrict membershiplike Senior Women or the South Asian Heritage Clubbut didnt allow the Christian group to hold faith requirements for its leaders.

Time and time again, the label of all comers has been slapped on policies that are anything but, in an effort to engage in viewpoint discrimination in a manner that might fool courts, but which certainly chills the expression of students in both high school and college, wrote Robert Shibley, an attorney and senior fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free speech advocacy group.

The Ninth Circuits FCA decision makes that harder to get away with, which can only benefit the individual rights of everyone at public colleges and high schools, he said.

Blomberg said the students in the FCA case also showed a remarkable level of grace when faced with severe hostility in their school setting, where classmates protested FCA meetings with signs and formed a Satanic Temple Club to mock FCA after it lost its recognition as a student group.

The support of a national organization meant that FCA could undergo the legal fight and be ready to return; another Christian club who didnt meet the district requirements no longer exists, he said.

FCA is excited to be able to get back to serving our campuses, Lopez said in a statement. Our FCA teams have long enjoyed strong relationships with teachers and students in the past, and we are looking forward to that again.
Christian college awarded $1.2M to create new Center for Preaching

The private Christian liberal arts school Milligan University in Tennessee received an award grant of over $1 million from a private philanthropic foundation to strengthen and expand the preparation, support and development of engaging and effective preaching.

Lilly Endowment Inc., a foundation that aims to "support the causes of religion, education and community development," awarded Milligan University a $ 1.2 million grant to foster and support preaching initiatives and establish a Center for Preaching at the university.

"We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for providing this crucial support, which will enable us to further prepare and equip future preachers for service to the Kingdom," Milligan University President Bill Greer said in a statement.

"The funds will enable us not only to cultivate future preachers but also to assist and encourage preachers at every level of experience throughout their careers."

The funds are provided through Lilly Endowment's Compelling Preaching Initiative, a program that aims to "inspire, encourage and guide people to come to know and love God and to live out their Christian faith more fully."

Lilly Endowment launched the initiative in 2022, seeking to aid projects that help foster the growth and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States.

The university's new Center for Preaching will seek to benefit independent Christian churches nationally, with a primary focus on roughly over 350 independent Christian churches located within 100 miles of the college.

The new center will collaborate with the university's existing undergraduate Ministry Leadership Program and the seminary's Ministry Resource Center to "foster compelling preaching" in various ministry settings.

"We are thrilled to receive this grant from Lilly Endowment," Dr. Ron Kastens, the academic dean of Milligan's Emmanuel Christian Seminary, said. "This grant, focused on Compelling Preaching, will enable us to create a center for preaching that will serve both our students and preachers in our region and around the country."

"Milligan and Emmanuel have a rich history of equipping preachers, and this grant will provide us the opportunity to strengthen and expand our service to churches."

Milligan is one of 81 organizations that have been awarded grants through a competition round of the initiative.

The organizations, which reflect the diversity of Christianity in the U.S., are affiliated with mainline Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, Anabaptist and Pentecostal faith groups.

Many of the organizations have roots in the black Church as well as Hispanic and Asian American Christian traditions.

"Throughout history, preachers often have needed to adapt their preaching practices to engage new generations of hearers more effectively," Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment's vice president for religion, said.

"We are pleased that the organizations receiving grants in this initiative will help pastors and others in ministry engage in the kinds of preaching needed today to ensure that the gospel message is heard and accessible for all audiences."

The roots of Milligan University date back to 1866 in what is now Hopwood Memorial Christian Church in Carter County, Tennessee, where it served as a secondary school before becoming an institution of higher learning. It was renamed in honor of Robert Milligan, a former professor of biblical studies at Kentucky University who "modeled the virtues of Christian discipleship and intellectual formation." Today, Milligan has over 1,100 students and offers over 100 majors.
German homeschooling family given 1-year stay on deportation

A German homeschooling Christian family facing deportation after living in the United States for 15 years has been given a one-year stay of removal, according to the legal group representing them.

The Home School Legal Defense Association announced that the Romeike family would receive a one-year stay on their deportation order on Wednesday.

"I spoke personally with the ICE officer in Knoxville, who told me we can anticipate them signing the order of supervision out for another year," attorney Kevin Boden said in a statement. "And while we are very grateful for this news, we are continuing to advocate for a long-term solution for the Romeike family to allow their permanent stay in the United States."

The Romeike family, which has lived in Tennessee since 2008, was recently told that they would be deported back to Germany, where they fled due to the European nation's homeschooling ban.

The stay came fairly last minute, as the Romeike family reportedly was slated to be deported this week, according to an alert email from the Tennessee Independent Baptists for Religious Liberty.

The Baptist group noted that Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee was sponsoring legislation aimed at granting the Romeikes "permanent residency status" to remain in the United States.

In September, several Tennessee lawmakers signed a joint letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement saying that deporting the family would be "cruel and unnecessary."

In 2008, the Romeikes immigrated to the United States from Germany after experiencing harassment from the government over their decision to homeschool their children as homeschooling is banned in Germany under most circumstances.

The Romeike family has dealt with years of legal battles in the U.S., as federal immigration officials argued that they did not meet the parameters to receive asylum.

In May 2013, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled against the Romeikes, arguing that the German government was not persecuting them.

"Congress might have written the immigration laws to grant a safe haven to people living elsewhere in the world who face government strictures that the United States Constitution prohibits. But it did not," read the panel opinion.

"There is a difference between the persecution of a discrete group and the prosecution of those who violate a generally applicable law. As the Board of Immigration Appeals permissibly found, the German authorities have not singled out the Romeikes in particular or homeschoolers in general for persecution."

In 2014, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security granted the Romeike family a special status that allowed them to stay in the country.

Last month, during a routine checkup with the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, the family was told that they had four weeks before they were going to be deported.

Uwe Romeike, the father of the German family, said in an interview with the Knoxville-based WBIR News that being forced to move back to Germany would be disastrous.

[My family members] work here. Everything is here in America," said Romeike. "We don't have any place to live there. I don't have any work to provide for my family over there."
'Fasten your seat belt': Pastor Greg Laurie talks potential fulfillment of Bible prophecy in Israel-Hamas war Author, evangelist says Jerusalem is the 'focal point of End Times events'

Does the ongoing bloodshed in Israel point to a potential fulfillment of Bible prophecy?

Greg Laurie, author, evangelist and pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California, delivered a sermon last weekend in which he said the attacks on Israel by Iranian-backed terror group Hamas might be the start of a series of events predicted centuries ago in Scripture.

In his message, Laurie noted this latest attack comes exactly 50 years to the day of the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when Egypt, Syria and other nations also attacked Israel.

This war, however, said Laurie, is very different.

Is this attack on Israel by the terrorist organization, Hamas, which is funded by Iran a fulfillment of Bible Prophecy? I answer that here. We also Pray for the peace of Jerusalem as Scripture tells us to. (Ps. 122:6) Join me. pic.twitter.com/c6ONMomWi4  Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) October 9, 2023

Thousands of rockets rained on Israel from multiple directions, and Hamas gunmen invaded by land, sea and sky, he said.  ... They went literally home to home and door to door, looking for the young and for the elderly.

Noting Irans stated objective of destroying the state of Israel, Laurie pointed to a quote from one Iranian military official who spoke of the ultimate objective of the liberation of Palestine in Jerusalem.

He noted how all of Bible prophecy is focused on one city  Jerusalem.

Interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem. The Bible predicted, thousands of years ago, that the End Time events would revolve around Jerusalem, he said. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris.

But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. Its the focal point of End Times events.

Laurie quoted how roughly 2,500 years ago, the prophet Zechariah foretold how God would use the city of Jerusalem to bring His judgment upon the world:   On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves, (Zechariah 12:3).

Now the irony of this is the Biden administration and the United States of America just gave $6 billion to Iran, he said. What a bad move that is.

While the Church is often divided over topics involving Bible prophecy, Laurie said there is no question that the super-sign which set the prophetic clock ticking is the re-gathering of the nation Israel into their homeland.

On the heels of the Holocaust, who would have ever thought that these Jewish people who lost 6 million of their people to the Nazis would somehow re-gather in their homeland? he said. But it happened against all odds. And on May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation. I'm proud to say the United States was the first nation to acknowledge that.

Its this regathering, said Laurie, that was foretold by Ezekiel in Chapters 37 and 38 in what will ultimately lead to an invasion from the north by Magog  long speculated by many Bible scholars to be Russia and her allies  on the land of Israel.

Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel? Well, there's another thing the Bible says about Magog, if she is indeed Russia, and that one of her allies that will march with her is Persia, he explained.

Persia, noted Laurie, is the ancient name for what is known as modern-day Iran.

So the Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered, and one of the allies that would attack Israel with mother Russia or Magog, whoever it is, would be Iran, or Persia.

While its still unclear where exactly the current conflict will lead, Laurie said if Israel were to attack Iran  as many have already speculated even prior to Hamas' attack  we could be on the cusp of the series of events foretold in Ezekiel 37 and 38.

I'm not saying this is going to lead to [that] scenario, he said. But I'm saying it's very interesting. If you get up in the morning and read this headline: Russia attacks Israel, fasten your seat belt.

You're seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime, in real-time before your very eyes.
Israel-Gaza updates: Irans Khamenei praises Hamas' assault as death toll climbs

As the combined death toll continues to rise three days after Hamas attacks on Israel and the taking of hostages, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei lauds the assault, stating that his country kisses the hands of those behind it.

According to the Israeli Defence Forces, 1,000 Israelis have been killed in the Hamas assault, and Israel's retaliatory airstrikes have killed 800 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

At least 1,500 Hamas fighters have also been killed, primarily through air bombardments of Gaza and border security operations, the IDF said, disclosing that the bodies of the militants were found on Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that Beeri, a kibbutz near Gaza, was one of the first and hardest-hit areas in Israel. More than 100 bodies were found there, most of whom were local residents, it said.

Videos showed militants arriving on motorbikes and committing atrocities, including taking hostages and killing civilians. A search and rescue spokesperson was quoted as saying that some of the bodies were of Israeli security forces.

The kibbutzim, traditionally agrarian communities, have about 125,000 residents across about 250 locations in Israel, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel. The IDF also acknowledged that Beeri was very badly hit.

Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei praised those behind the Hamas attacks, NBC News reported. Khamenei stated that Iran kisses the hands of the orchestrators but denied his countrys involvement. He also referred to what he termed as Israels irreparable intelligence and military failures.

Fears are growing for the dozens of hostages. Hamas has threatened to start executing hostages if Israel targets civilians in Gaza.

In an audio clip, Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said the threat to execute hostages comes in response to Israeli airstrikes.

We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding, Obeida was quoted as saying.

The New York Times detailed how Hamas initiated Saturday's early morning assault.

Thousands of rockets were fired, hitting targets as far away as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, according to the Times, which said, an hour later, militants infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air. They took hostages and infiltrated 22 Israeli towns and army bases.

Many of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas were taken into Gaza.

Muhammad Deif, the leader of Hamas military wing, was quoted as saying that the operation aimed to make Israel understand that the time of their rampaging without accountability has ended.

Deif cited several reasons for the attack, including Israels occupation of the West Bank and recent police raids on the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. He also mentioned the detention of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails, as reported by the Times.

At least 11 Americans have also been confirmed dead and several others remain missing. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine U.S. citizens, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement Monday. We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described the assault as the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 carried out by Egypt and Syria, differentiating the current situation from past conflicts and emphasizing that this is a terrorist assault involving home invasions and kidnappings of civilians.

Israeli officials have described Hamas' attacks as akin to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor combined.
Oklahoma can ban trans surgeries, puberty blockers for youth, court rules

A federal court has upheld an Oklahoma law that prohibits healthcare providers from doing cosmetic sex change surgeries and prescribing puberty blockers for trans-identified minors.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma issued an opinion and order last Thursday that upheld Oklahoma's Senate Bill 613, which was signed into law in May.

"Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a fundamental right for parents to choose for their children to use puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for the purpose of effectuating a gender transition," read the decision.

"It is rational for the Oklahoma Legislature to regulate the Treatment Protocols for minors while the democratic process resolves ongoing questions of safety and efficacy.  Indeed, courts have upheld restrictions designed to protect and prevent minors from engaging in behaviors that are far less risky than the procedures banned by SB 613."

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, celebrated the ruling.

"I am pleased with the court's decision to uphold Oklahoma's common sense law protecting children from dangerous, permanent sex change surgeries. Here in Oklahoma, we protect our kids. Plain and simple," Stitt said in a statement.

The American Civil Liberties Union, The ACLU of Oklahoma, Lambda Legal and Jenner & Block LLP, which represent the plaintiffs, vowed to appeal the district court decision.

"This is a devastating result for transgender youth and their families in Oklahoma and across the region," the organizations maintained in a joint statement.

"Denying transgender youth equality before the law and needlessly withholding the necessary medical care their families and their doctors know is right for them has caused and will continue to cause serious harm."

Signed into law by Stitt in early May, SB 613 prohibits healthcare providers from giving children "surgical procedures that alter or remove physical or anatomical characteristics or features that are typical for the individual's biological sex."

The law also prohibits giving "puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, or other drugs to suppress or delay normal puberty or to promote the development of feminizing or masculinizing features consistent with the opposite biological sex" for youth suffering from gender dysphoria.

Shortly after SB 613 was signed into law, the ACLU and other progressive groups filed suit on behalf of five trans-identified youth and their parents, as well as one healthcare provider.

The suit named as defendants Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, members of the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, the University Hospitals Authority and the University Hospitals Trust.

Nearly two dozen states have enacted laws or policies that restrict medical providers from conducting cosmetic sex change surgeries or hormone interventions on minors with gender dysphoria.

In late September, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to uphold laws in Kentucky and Tennessee that prohibit sex-change surgeries and hormonal interventions for minors who identify as the opposite sex.

In a majority opinion, Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that when "the Constitution is neutral about an issue, legislatures have considerable discretion to regulate the matter."

In June, a federal judge struck down Arkansas' law banning sex change surgeries and hormonal interventions for minors with gender dysphoria. Judge James M. Moody, Jr., an Obama appointee, ruled that while "gender-affirming medical treatments can have potential risks and side effects," these risks were "not categorically different than the types of risks that other types of pediatric healthcare pose."
Hamas Attack On Israel And Iran's Involvement, Turkey's Treatment Of Christians, PTC Pushes For Family-Friendly Streaming Content

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:51 06:51

Top headlines for Tuesday, October 10, 2023

In this episode, we examine the distressing recent offensive by Hamas against Israel, which has led to numerous American casualties and possible hostages. Official sources indicate the death toll exceeding 1,100, and with suspected Iranian involvement, the implications could be far-reaching. Secondly, we turn our focus to Turkey, currently under heavy scrutiny for its treatment of religious minorities, particularly Christians. We look into the discussions conducted in Poland this week, where experts and civil society representatives convened to address the issue. Lastly, we discuss the call from a parental advisory group pressuring streaming services to offer more family-friendly content amid concerns that mature content significantly outweighs that suited for families.

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Top headlines for Tuesday, October 10, 2023

In this episode, we examine the distressing recent offensive by Hamas against Israel, which has led to numerous American casualties and possible hostages. Official sources indicate the death toll exceeding 1,100, and with suspected Iranian involvement, the implications could be far-reaching. Secondly, we turn our focus to Turkey, currently under heavy scrutiny for its treatment of religious minorities, particularly Christians. We look into the discussions conducted in Poland this week, where experts and civil society representatives convened to address the issue. Lastly, we discuss the call from a parental advisory group pressuring streaming services to offer more family-friendly content amid concerns that mature content significantly outweighs that suited for families.
Humor amid the horror: The Babylon Bee stings the gender beast

If you've spent the last several years staring into the abyss of transgenderism, you learn to endure it by drinking deeply of some good biblical medicine: laughter (Proverbs 13:22).

And for that, I thank God for The Babylon Bee.

Memorable are the times when Ive found myself laughing hysterically at some of their greatest hits. Im thinking in particular of their hilarious article during the height of the pandemic speaking about a newly-developed mask with a nose hole cut in so Joe Biden could still sniff peoples hair through it.

Or another fave, the breaking news report from the spirit realm in 2017 announcing that Satan was responsible for kale, a vegetable he designed as an act of terrorism against mankind. Apropos the topic of this column, their articles explaining how puberty blockers were being put in infant formula, Flintstones vitamins, a Dr. Seuss book, and how they were recommended as a treatment for strep throat and also added to cigarettes so that they can be made legal for kids had me laughing uproariously.

Babylon Bee editors Kyle Mann and Joel Berry have now assembled a hilarious book, The Babylon Bees Guide to Gender, in which the authors help readers unpack the ubiquitous gender argle-bargle that has saturated our culture. While readers chow down on a bowl of Honey Nut Queerios, they learn the Ten Commandments of Gender. Commandment IV is: Remember Pride Month and Keep it Holy.



Each of the book's 12 chapters is a satirical spoof on a dimension of contemporary gender identity ideology ranging from pronouns and compelled speech (chapter 4) to gender in the workplace (chapter 8) to raising woke "theybies" (chapter 10). The final section of the book contains a gender glossary with helpful definitions of all the gender-speak and it's sure to elicit a few chuckles. Neopronouns (like xe, xem, or faers), for example, are defined as pronouns used by Keanu Reeves.

Its some much-needed levity. And the absurd humor is precisely the point. Despite its disproportionate influence over society, gender ideology is, in fact, ridiculous. It itself reads like satire. What comedian worth his or her salt wouldnt want to crack jokes about it?

According to Mann and Berry, the guidebook was fairly easy to write because its actually funny by itself. But its beyond merely making people laugh.

A telltale sign of recognizing what irritates a tyrant is what youre not allowed to laugh at and tell uncomfortable truths about, particularly if the humor and truth can be used to disarm said tyrant and thus undermine its power. Trans activists and Big Tech overlords, which are often one and the same, sure cant handle gender jokes.

Before Elon Musk took over Twitter, which is now X, The Babylon Bee was booted from the platform for joking in March of last year that Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine was selected as their Man of the Year, a riff on USA Today naming him as Woman of the Year. Days later, when The Christian Post tweeted our news article about USA Today naming Levine as Woman of the Year, and reported that he is, in fact, a man, we were frozen out of our Twitter account. We refused to retract the tweet and were locked out of the platform for approximately nine months. Our account was restored to full use on December 31, 2022.

When The Bee was barred from Twitter, CEO Seth Dillon didnt skip a beat, Berry explained, recalling how he vowed that they would never take their tweet down, even though the situation was unnerving from a business perspective as they were unable to reach their readers through one of the platforms where they had a huge following.

I admire that stand he took, and I think that the effect that it had was a kind of spreading courage around. Courage can be contagious and sometimes all it takes is one person to make that stand, he said.

Maybe it was just an instance where youve got the immature goofy guys in the corner, being the first ones to say something because were just not polite enough to not say something.

Mann observed that people might be afraid to speak out but one of the great functions of The Babylon Bee is that they can make a joke and readers will feel a lot more comfortable posting it online.

Theres a sense in which The Babylon Bee is saying what everyone else is thinking. But because we have the shield of humor we can be the idiots and then they can share it. And then theyre safe from the criticism, Mann added.

Like the kid in the story The Emperor's New Clothes who was first to point out that the emperor was naked, The Bee was among those to blurt out the truth creatively, and in a way that caught the general publics attention.

Whether joking or reporting the cold hard facts, it seems that the so-called gender identity of a person must remain off-limits from any questioning, humorous or real. Given that, it behooves us to ask: If something as innocuous as documenting the biological sex of someone warrants prohibition from speaking on a major social media platform under a convoluted notion of hate, what else is going on?

As Ive come to learn over the years, a whole lot more is occurring. And its horrific.

In 2017, for the first time, I stumbled upon a photo of radial forearm phalloplasty surgery and it was as though the bottom had dropped out of the world. This was several years before the general public saw the courageous Scott Newgent pull down a shirt sleeve during a poignant moment in Matt Walshs widely-viewed documentary What Is A Woman? and expose her own disfigured forearm  the tissue from which was used to fashion a non-functional penis. But in the years prior, whenever I tried to talk about this particular atrocity with people, many would look at me as though I had four heads. But I actually know a mom whose daughter has undergone this very gruesome surgery at age 19.

Coupled with the horror of learning about how chemical puberty blockers were being used in children, after seeing the carnage of a phalloplasty, I knew immediately that we were dealing with a monstrous, ideologically entrenched medical scandal. Both Bee writers describe what were currently living through as a real-life horror novel or film.

Berry recounted how he was once dinged on Twitter (now X) for tweeting a photo of the results of a carved-up forearm to construct a phallus. In what he considered an ironic message, Twitter Safety subsequently sent him an email claiming hed been sent the warning because he was sharing images of violence and torture.

Interestingly enough, hed first heard of this grotesque operation and other surgeries such as mastectomies, vaginoplasties, and hysterectomies on teens and young adults, some of which are done on minors, after he saw on YouTube a speech that I gave at the Ruth Institutes Summit for Survivors of the Sexual Revolution in July 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

To realize that theyre actually doing that stuff for real, to children, you hear it and you almost get vertigo. You get sick to your stomach. And you suddenly feel this rage, like How do I stop this? he said.

Mann became aware of it through reading Abigail Shriers watershed book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, which also emerged in the summer of 2020. Shiers even-handed journalistic deep-dive into the issue was, for him, the scariest horror novel Id read that year. And Ive been catching up on the works of Stephen King, Mann recalled.

But it is shocking. And its something that is hard to believe until you actually look at the numbers and read the stories of whats happening, he added.

But the great gift of The Babylon Bee is that their humor has a way of shedding light on the darkness. The core of any good joke is the truth. And when the truth is pointed out with hilarity, a fortunate byproduct of it is that it just might shift a cultural debate.

May The Bees mercilessly humorous stinging of this behemoth in their guidebook do just that.
11 killed, 60 injured after Mexico church roof collapses during baptism

Eleven died and around 60 were injured in Mexico after the roof of a church collapsed while its pastor was baptizing congregants last Sunday, according to reports.

The roof that once covered the Holy Cross Church in Ciudad Madero in Tamaulipas state reportedly gave way and caved in during a baptism service when roughly 100 attendees were inside the house of worship, ACI Prensa cited authorities as saying.

At a press conference, state authorities said that the bodies of three minors and seven adults (five women and two men) were pulled from the rubble.

An 18-year-old woman died the day after the incident after succumbing to her injuries at the hospital.

While dozens were initially taken to hospitals, Vicente Joel Hernandez Navarro, the secretary of health in Tamaulipas, stated that at least 13 remained hospitalized with injuries, one dealing with serious injuries, as of last Wednesday.

Bishop Jose Armando Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico said in a recorded message posted to social media that the church roof crumbled as worshippers were receiving communion, and he requested that others pray for the survivors, according to Reuters.

Luis Gerardo Gonzalez de la Fuente, the state coordinator for civil protection, said no more people were found underneath the debris after a canine rescue team, sensors and thermal cameras were used to search the area.

Authorities believe the collapse was not caused by deliberate or malicious intent.

Father Angel Vargas, who had been performing baptisms in the church when the incident occurred, took to social media to express grief and sorrow.

"To the affected families, my blessing in the love of Christ, may they know that for the remainder of my life they will always be in my prayers and that from this day we are brothers in grief, but also in the faith that unites us," the priest wrote on the Facebook page of Holy Cross Parish in Ciudad Madero, according to ACI Prensa.

The Bishop Alvarez said he is saddened for the "people who were celebrating the baptism of their children." He prayed for "eternal rest and consolation of their relatives" as well as for the people who have been rescued.

In a post on social media, The Mexican Bishops' Conference sent up to Heaven "their prayers to the Most High that he would pour out his consolation and peace on the affected souls and their families."

"The Church is a community of faith, love, and mutual support, and in these difficult times, we join together as one body to express our solidarity with all those who have suffered from this tragedy. We ask the Lord to grant them strength to endure this difficult path of mourning and healing," the conference's statement reads, according to ACI Prensa's translation.

The prelates requested that other Catholic church leaders offer their condolences at masses and "to pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary for our brothers in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas."
NKOYOYO - A soldier who was held hostage together with customers at an Asian shop reportedly stabbed three of four men alleged to be part of a syndicate which robs shops around the country.

According to video footage, the robbers entered the shop situated at Nkoyoyo armed with a gun at around 2pm this past Sunday. Upon entry, it is said that one man drew a gun and pushed all the customers towards the shelves, forcing them to surrender their money and cellphones, little did they know that they were being captured by closed circuit television camera (CCTV). The video footage retrieved from the CCTV camera showed the men entering the shop as a group and one proceeded to the other side of the counter and demanded money and cellphones from the shop assistant. He was seen taking money from the cash register. At the time, his other colleagues forced the customers to surrender their money and gadgets.

Gun

The man on the other side of the counter was seen receiving a gun from one of his colleagues. He then cocked the gun before assaulting the shop assistant, while forcing him to show him all the money. The shop assistant was seen showing the gunman where the money was. The gunman who had already taken some money and the gadgets left the counter and joined his colleagues who were still busy robbing the other customers. At that time, the soldier who was identified as Coolio Dacosta based at Nsingizini Army Barrack had surrendered his bag with his bank cards, personal identity cards, cellphones and money to the robbers. Noted was that Dacosta was watching every step taken by the robbers.

He then unexpectedly pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed three of the robbers, starting with the one carrying the gun. Dacosta managed to grab the gun as the quartet competed for the entrance, in an effort to flee. During a visit to the shop, the situation was calm, though the employees were still traumatised. The businessman who was with his countrymen confirmed the attack. However, he declined to comment further, stating that he was still waiting for the police. Dacosta who was injured and bleeding in the arm shared that he was at the shop to buy some stuff with his girlfriend when he was held hostage by the robbers. He stated that they robbed him of his bag, three cellphones, and one which he recently purchased for his girlfriend.

Dacosta said, allowing the men to do as they pleased would have meant he was not fit for his job after a hard training at Mbuluzi. It would mean I am not a trained soldier. I cannot undergo hard training and allow robbers to do as they please. My intention was to deal with them after I had grabbed the gun. However, I discovered that it was a pellet gun when I cocked it. They will live to tell a tale for the rest of their lives, he said. The soldier stated that the robbers were so confused that one even tried to hit him with a cardboard. It was gathered that the quartet drove a grey VW Polo, which was parked along the Mbabane -Ngwenya Freeway at Nkoyoyo adjacent to the shop. Police arrived shortly after and left with the soldier. Residents of the area shared that the quartet was allegedly the same that went around robbing shops in the country. Businesspeople operating shops at Nkoyoyo shared that the men met the description of the quartet that had been to their shops recently. It was gathered that one of the four men had been to the shop earlier on the day. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident. Vilakati said investigations were ongoing.
Israel-Hamas war: 7 presidential candidates react to terrorist attacks, US response

President Joe Biden and other 2024 presidential hopefuls reacted to the terrorist attacks launched against Israel Saturday, an assault that many candidates asserted resulted from the Biden administrations weak foreign policies that have led to the Israel-Hamas war.

On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise assault against Israel during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot  a time when Orthodox Jewish civilians would have all of their gadgets turned off, including their computers and phones  firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating the border near Gaza. Hamas is the terrorist group that gained control of Gaza after winning elections in 2006 and seized control from the Palestinian Authority.

As The Christian Post reported Monday, the death toll continues to surge, with at least 900 Israelis killed and 700 killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. Between 100 and 150 hostages are being held by Hamas in Gaza, including Americans. The Biden administration confirmed in a statement Monday afternoon that at least 11 Americans were killed in Israel by Hamas.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah claimed that Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the attacks against Israel.

Following the assault on the Jewish state, a majority of candidates appear to be united in their support for Israel; however, many condemned the Biden administration for policies they believed paved the way for Hamas invasion.

Here are seven presidential candidates reactions to Hamas terrorist attack against Israel and the U.S. response.

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Judge sides with Christian teacher, rejects 'new secular faith' of 'transgenderism'

An administrative law judge in Florida has sided with a Christian teacher punished for refusing to use the preferred pronouns for a trans-identified student, denouncing "transgenderism" as a new secular faith.

Judge John Van Laningham advised last week that Miami-Dade County teacher Yojary E. Mundaray should be exonerated after being punished for refusing to use the chosen pronouns of a student named Pat.

The punishment stemmed from a 2019 incident in which a female student asked to be addressed with male pronouns, to which Mundaray refused, citing her Christian beliefs as a reason.

Van Laningham rejected the argument that Mundaray was imposing her religious views on the student, writing in his decision that the case is not about proselytizing but about transgender ideology.

Given that Mundaray made no attempt to force Pat to accept, conform to, or even acknowledge any Christian doctrine, the allegation that she imposed her personal religious views on Pat is untrue, wrote Laningham in a recommended order, as quoted by CBS News.

At most, Mundaray expressed her view that God is inerrant, which is about as anodyne a theological statement as one could make. Further, she did so only in defense of the God she worships. Surely, such cannot constitute a disciplinable offense in a country whose foundational principles include religious freedom.

Van Laningham argued in a footnote that transgenderism was a new secular faith and that its supporters can be as doctrinaire as religious zealots these days.

As this case demonstrates, adhering to the traditional view that gender is biologically determined can get a person excommunicated, from a job in this instance, he added.

Van Laninghams opinion will go to the Florida Education Practices Commission, which will make a final decision as to whether or not to discipline Mundaray for the incident.

In recent years, there has been increased controversy over whether public school teachers and professors are required to use the preferred pronouns of trans-identified students.

In 2021, for example, the Loudoun County School Board in Virginia suspended elementary school teacher Byron Tanner Cross because he objected to a proposed policy requiring teachers to address students by their preferred pronouns.

Cross sued the school district, with the Virginia Supreme Court upholding a lower court injunction to reinstate him and agreeing to hear the merits of his case back in August 2021.

In March of last year, Pamela Ricard, a Kansas math teacher, sued officials with the USD 475 Geary County School District after she was suspended for refusing to use the preferred name and pronouns of a trans-identified student.

The Kansas school district eventually agreed to pay $95,000 in damages and attorneys fees for suspending Ricard and agreed to recognize that the teacher was in good standing.
Pakistan court denies kidnapped Christian womans request to return to family

A court in Pakistan has ruled against a kidnapped Christian womans plea to return to her family. The woman, Adeeba Amjad, was abducted by her former Muslim employer on May 16 from her home, according to the rights group CLAAS-UK.

Amjad, a young Christian teacher, was abducted from her home in Pak Colony, Lassi Road, Hub in Baluchistan province, by Muhammad Bashir, her former employer and a local businessman, reads a statement by the group in the U.K., which focuses on the plight of Christians in Pakistan, sent to The Christian Post.

She was teaching at a local private school in Hub, which is owned by Bashir. Due to pandemic-induced financial difficulties, many teachers, including Adeeba, lost their jobs. Bashir offered alternative employment within his other businesses to several affected teachers.

In 2022, Amjads parents arranged her engagement to a Christian young man, leading her to resign from her teaching position. Months later, Bashir abducted her.

Three days after the abduction, a police complaint was filed at the Bayroot Hub Police Station. However, the police investigation did not ensure her safe return.

Amjads father, Amjad Masih, was quoted as saying that a court has denied his daughters return home despite her confession statement about her abduction, where she expressed her desire to live with her parents.

The victims statement was tampered with by a female judge, CLAAS-UK said, adding that the judge, under questionable circumstances, declared her married and thus ineligible to return to her parents.

Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, expressed grave concerns over the judgment. After Amjads statement in court, imposing a decision against her will is legally unacceptable, he said.

Amjad has been in contact with her family, stating that she fears for her life and her familys safety, the group said.

Its not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern that puts Christian and Hindu minor girls at great risk in Pakistan, Saeed said, explaining that they are subjected to abuse and sometimes even prostitution, often with kidnappers escaping punishment. The suffering of victims continues until they are allowed to return home, he stressed.

While both the Pakistani government and the courts are aware of this issue, the international community must play a more active role in ending their persecution, Saeed urged.

Last June, the parents of a 15-year-old Roman Catholic girl in Punjab province reported a similar abduction. The girls father, Nadeem Masih, a sanitation worker at a textile factory, said his daughter, Saba Masih, was abducted on May 20, 2022, from the Madina Town area of Faisalabad city when she was going to work with her older sister. The family promptly called the police, but there was no progress in the case.

A 2014 report by a local group, The Movement for Solidarity and Peace Pakistan, estimated that hundreds of women and girls from Pakistans Hindu and Christian communities are abducted, forcibly married, and converted to Islam every year.

The U.S.-based International Christian Concern reported that religion is often injected into cases of sexual assault to place religious minority victims at a disadvantage. Perpetrators play upon religious biases to cover up and justify their crimes by introducing an element of religion.
Pro-life pregnancy center files FACE Act lawsuit after DOJ fails to indict vandals

A network of pro-life pregnancy centers that saw one of its offices vandalized multiple times by pro-abortion activists is suing two individuals responsible for vandalism against the facility after the U.S. Department of Justice declined to press charges against them.

In a statement Tuesday, CompassCare announced that it filed a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act complaint in federal court last week against pro-abortion activists Jennifer Page and Hannah Kamke in connection with incidents that took place at its Amherst, New York, facility.

The FACE Act "makes it unlawful for a person to use force, the threat of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure or intimidate a person because he or she is or has been obtaining or providing reproductive health services."

The complaint, filed Thursday, maintains that Page violated the FACE Act by engaging in a counterprotest to CompassCare's May 2021 "Walk for Life," where "pro-abortion extremists banded together in disguise to block the public highway, to prevent pro-life citizens from exercising their first amendment rights, and to threaten and intimidate patients, employees, prospective patients and supporters of CompassCare from working at, seeking services from or supporting CompassCare."

The complaint alleges that other actions taken by Page include "trespassing on the property and writing graffiti in the driveway of the facility, thereby blocking entrance to the facility's parking lot and intending to deter, and in fact deterring, staff, volunteers and patients from entering the facility." Page was also charged with theft by Amherst Police after stealing a "No Trespassing" sign from the facility.

Kamke was charged in connection with the Mar. 16, 2023, defacing of CompassCare's roadside sign by spray-painting the word "Liars" on it. She pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct last month and was ordered to pay $2,580 in restitution.

The complaint asks a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York to issue an order preventing the defendants from going within 100 feet of any pro-life pregnancy center in the state of New York and any CompassCare facility as well as a "judgment against Defendants, jointly and severally, in the amount yet to be determined for compensatory and punitive damages." CompassCare is also asking the court to award its attorney's fees.

While Kamke has been charged by local law enforcement with defacing the CompassCare sign that received national attention, the perpetrators of the firebombing of the facility last year remain at large. The incident is one of several examples of pro-abortion vandalism following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 determination in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion.

"It is ridiculous that as pro-life citizens we are forced to do the job of both the FBI and the DOJ," CompassCare CEO Rev. Jim Harden declared in response to the lawsuit. "The FBI refused to investigate so we hired private investigators. The DOJ refuses to indict, so we brought FACE Act charges."

The CompassCare CEO has been a persistent critic of the Biden administration's handling of the investigation into the targeting of pro-life pregnancy centers following the Dobbs decision. CompassCare previously partnered with the Thomas More Society to hire private investigators to find the vandals responsible for the attack.

While the FBI has offered a $25,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of the firebombing of CompassCare, Harden believes that "If the FBI is interested in quelling the nationwide hate crimes against pro-life organizations, they would offer a reward for information leading to the arrests of all [pregnancy center] attacks, not just for the pro-abortion terrorists who bombed our facility."

Harden has expressed concern that federal law enforcement has operated under a double standard when it comes to charging people with vandalism of "reproductive health" clinics based on whether or not the facility performs abortions.

Harden said the prosecution and arrest of a man who set fire to a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Illinois slightly more than a week after the attack took place and the capture of a man who attempted to set fire to a Michigan Planned Parenthood within four days are examples of how "the FBI has the tools, skill, and manpower to bring these criminals to justice when it is politically favorable."

In March, Attorney General Merrick Garland was questioned during a U.S. Senate hearing about the Justice Department's handling of violence and vandalism at pro-life pregnancy clinics.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said that from 2022 to early 2023, the federal government charged 34 pro-life activists for "blocking access to or vandalizing abortion clinics," while two individuals have been charged for vandalizing pro-life churches and pregnancy care centers.

Garland stated that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act "applies equally to efforts to damage, blockade clinics, whether they are a pregnancy resource center or they are an abortion center."

"You are quite right, there are many more prosecutions with respect to the blocking of the abortion centers, but that is generally because those actions are taken with photography at the time, during the daylight," Garland said. "Seeing the person who did it is quite easy."

"Those who are attacking the pregnancy resource centers, which is a horrid thing to do, are doing this at night, in the dark," he added.
I woke up in Israel to war. I am living in a nightmare

Its been hard to write this, not just because of whats going on in Israel but because I have had a hard time pulling myself away from the live and virtually uninterrupted TV reports here of whats going on.

Two days ago we woke up to war. But I feel like I am living in a nightmare. I havent felt this paralyzed and nervous since 9/11. That says a lot because we have had more than our share of military operations here. But something is different this time.

Like 9/11, yesterdays attack was a surprise. But it shouldnt have been. It was perpetrated by the same evil Islamist ideology as that sunny day 22 years ago that saw nearly 3,000 perish. Three thousand in a country of more than 300 million.

Yesterday, more than 600 Israelis were murdered. In many cases in cold blood. Civilians. Innocent men, women, and children. Many were executed in the streets.

Armed Islamic terrorists from Gaza bulldozed the border, infiltrated Israel, broke into peoples homes, and murdered entire families. Dozens or more have been taken hostage, including foreign workers, young children, and elderly adults, in Gaza.

Should there be any doubt, just look at the terrorists' own social media. Not only did they commit all these crimes, but they also filmed it, they celebrated it, and they documented it for all the world to see how they sanctify their god, Allah, through their evil hatred. Even the Nazis had some shame and hid their crimes.

Beginning at 6:20 a.m., they shot thousands of rockets into Israel to terrify the population, and no doubt provide early cover for their infiltration by land, sea, and air. Doing so, they not only violated Israels territorial integrity, and any sense of humanity, they violated the sanctity of Shabbat, the sabbath, the day of rest, and one of our joyous holidays. Just like the Egyptian and Syrian surprise attack 50 years and one day earlier, on our most holy day, these evil Islamic terrorists calculated and planned to catch us unprepared.

I overslept and was jolted out of bed at 9:00 a.m. when the first of several air raid sirens in our community sent us scurrying for cover in our bomb shelter. Yes, all Israeli homes are built with bomb shelters. As it was Shabbat, we were offline. No phones, no internet, no radio. So, we had no idea what had been going on for three hours as we sat in the dark room, the window covered by a steel shutter. All we knew was it was bad because even though Hamas has used rockets before that can reach Jerusalem and the Judean Mountain community south of Jerusalem where we live, its rare.

The military call-up has been massive. We speculated that my son-in-law had already been called up into reserves. We saw from our apartment a level of traffic many times that which we would ever have on Shabbat when we also dont use our cars. We saw young men in uniform driving, hitching rides with others. Then at 4:00 pm, our son came home. He had been called up and came to get his uniform and equipment.

Thankfully, for the moment at least, much of the world also recognizes that we are in the right and Hamas is on the wrong side. But as surely as I am breathing, as soon as there are significant casualties in Gaza, and if anyone else dares to open another front as Hezbollah in Lebanon has been testing, I fear that right and wrong, the black and white, will become clouded with moral equivalence. Calls for restraint on both sides will soon resound from the media and political elites.

For the time being, President Biden has said all the right things. He could have been stronger. He could have called out the inhumanity, the war crime, of deliberately targeting and kidnapping civilians. He could have said more. But what he said was good. The problem is that the terrorists dont care what he and others say, just what they do. They saw the recent Iran ransom deal, pumping $6 billion into the coffers of the Iranian Islamist regime, as a license to do the same.

Hamas is learning well from their Iranian masters, now with dozens or more Israeli hostages on top of two other Israelis, and the remains of two soldiers theyve held for ransom for years as well. Someone in the White House needs to have a serious come to Jesus moment if they dont realize that these are all the same evil Islamists, and emboldening one breathes life into the other.

Most Israelis like me do not seek wanton destruction in Gaza, or anywhere else. But yesterday, and whats coming, was a bitter pill to swallow. Hamas leaders hide in underground bunkers. The problem is that they place their bunkers under hospitals and in civilian areas, knowing that the IDF is in fact a moral army and wont wantonly bomb them, even if they deserve it.

In parallel to a punishing military operation, Israel has already cut off electricity and fuel to Gaza (thats right, as good neighbors we provide the power for Hamas to build its weapons and bunkers). Thats a start. We must cease the delivery through any Israeli port or border crossing of anything. Not even a roll of toilet paper. We must cut off any boats going out, much less coming back in. This is war, and while Judaism has clear rules about going to war, there is no room for empowering or emboldening the terrorists one bit.

Admittedly, theres anger in my words. As much as I want the terrorists to pay a heavy price, and as much as I dont want my son or any other Israeli soldier having to go into Gaza to root out the terrorists (and free our hostages) by putting their own lives at risk, we need to do whatever needs to be done to restore deterrence. It needs to be done in such a way that nobody will ever think, for a very long time, about raising a hand against Israel.

Maybe, just maybe, if Gazans suffer enough, they will realize that its not Israel that is the problem but being held hostage by Hamas/Iran is. Maybe they will do something to take back their prime coastal real estate and build a society with a future, not one that exists to destroy ours. Alas, I dream again.

Pray for Israels swift military victory. Pray for the soldiers. Pray for the return of every Israeli hostage. Pray for the families of the hostages and those murdered. Pray that as deeply as all of this hurts, Israel will restore deterrence, be victorious and that we will heal and continue to thrive.
Revelation 17: The seductive harlot, false religion and the worldly stage

Imagine that you are seated in a grand theatre where the stage is set for an epoch drama. The actors are preparing to take their places. You watch as the spectacle unfolds with two pivotal characters: one representing the imperishable truth of unadulterated Christianity, and the other, an enigmatic figure embodying the allure of false religion coupled with worldly power. This theatre is a microcosm of the cosmic battle that has been taking place between good and evil, truth and deception, and wisdom and ignorance, for several millennia.

As the curtain rises, the spotlight falls on these two characters. Their roles are clear, their destinies intertwined, and the audience in awe and apprehension, watches as this ages-long struggle rapidly advances to the final scene.

This is the setting for Revelation chapter 17, where one of the seven angels who had participated in the pouring out of the seven bowls of Gods wrath, now takes the apostle John to witness the judgment of an illustrious prostitute. To put it in the vernacular, she is a courtesan  a high-class sophisticated working girl. She has an almost irresistible allure, ensnaring countless nations and souls with her seductive powers.

This captivating and glamorous call girl sits atop a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns, bearing blasphemous inscriptions. She holds a golden goblet filled with moral decay and vulgarities, and across her forehead, there is this mysterious name: Babylon the Great, Mother of all Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World. She is disgustingly inebriated, drunker than a fish in a whiskey barrel on the blood of Gods holy people.

This woman of ill-repute serves as a symbolic depiction of gross spiritual and moral corruption, representing various false religious and political systems that have opposed Gods authority throughout history, all set against the backdrop of the epic cosmic battle between light and shadow.

Revelation chapters 17 and 18 are among some of the most difficult to interpret. Perhaps it would be good to navigate this section with keen attention and thorough observation. So much of what is happening in mainline churches today seems to be laying the groundwork for this global, religious, and political entity, referenced as some translations call her, Mystery Babylon.

Here again is Revelation 17:1-6:

One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. 'Come with me,' he said, and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality. So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand, she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: 'Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.' I could see that she was drunk  drunk with the blood of Gods holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.

Great men of God who were tremendous scholars have interpreted the great harlot as Rome, and the arguments are compelling. Others have said that Babylon represents apostate Jerusalem. Still, some insist that in the last days, the literal city of Babylon, with the help of the United Nations or a future world government, will rebuild and restore Babylon to its past glory and majesty.

I genuinely do not think of myself as a scholar worthy to shine the boots of these saints with extraordinary gifts of erudition.

However, I am not inclined to agree with them. I am persuaded the late Alan F. Johnson, who taught the New Testament at Wheaton College for 30 years and wrote the commentary for the book of Revelation in The Expositors Bible Commentary, offers an excellent analysis of Mystery Babylon. Johnson writes:

[T]he great prostitute, Babylon, that Revelation describes is not any mere historical city with its inhabitants, whether in Johns past, present, or future. Rather, the city is the mother of all these historical prostitutes, the archetypal source of every idolatrous manifestation in time and space. Therefore, it is as much a mistake to identify Babylon with Rome as it is with Jerusalem. Babylon could equally well be seen in any of these classic manifestations from the past or in modern times  Amazingly, all the harlot-city societies mentioned in Scripture have certain common characteristics that are also reflected in Johns description of the Great Babylon, in which he merges the descriptions of ancient Babylon and Jerusalem into one great composite Wherever and whenever these characteristics have been manifested historically, there is the appearance of Babylon.

Consider the characteristics of Babylonish-type religious systems as described by Revelation chapter 17 verses 1-6.

The false religion as represented by the spiritual whore in these verses is portrayed as one who rules over many waters (vs. 1). The expression, many waters, is a reference to the many nations over which she rules. She has a connection to and has significant influence over political and worldly systems. She is declared to have made the earth drunk with the wine of her spiritual infidelity.

John F. Walvoord, one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation and author of the commentary, The Revelation of Jesus Christ has written:

The alliance of the apostate church with the political powers of the world during this future period of time not only debauches the true spiritual character of the church and compromises her testimony in every way but has the devastating effect of inducing religious drunkenness on the part of the inhabitants of the earth. False religion is always the worst enemy of true religion, and the moral wickedness involved in the union of the church with the world imposes a stupefying drunkenness as far as spiritual things are concerned. The hardest to win to Christ and the most difficult to instruct in spiritual truth are those who have previously embraced false religion with its outward show of a worship of God. The concept here presented  makes plain that the apostate church has eagerly sought and solicited the adulterous relation with the world political powers.

In the early 1930s, there was a movement known as Deutsche Christen within the Protestant Church in Nazi Germany. It sought to merge Christianity with Nazi ideology and policies, thereby seriously compromising Christian principles for political purposes.

German Christians (Deutsche Christen) promoted a perversion of the Christian faith that incorporated Nazi anti-Semitic beliefs. They Aryanized Christianity by eliminating its Jewish influences.

With the support of the regime, Deutsche Christen gained control of key leadership positions within the Protestant Church and used their influence to purge clergy who opposed their views to promote loyalty to the Nazi government and the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler.

The alliance between these German-professing Christians and the Nazi state resulted in a flagrant compromise of core Christian values, such as the rejection of racism, the defense of religious freedom, and protection of the most vulnerable in life. Deutsche Christen supported Nazi policies, which included, the persecution and infanticide of the Jewish people.

It was a disaster for Germany and the Church.

Revelation chapter 17 verse 4 also says the woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. This indicates her association with great material wealth and indulgence. False religion promotes a love for worldly pleasures and extravagant lifestyles. It is enraptured by the siren song of opulence and has an inordinate desire to dance in the gilded ballroom of excess.

Evangelist David Wilkerson, best known for authoring the book, The Cross and the Switchblade, once slammed those who preach a Prosperity Gospel. The Prosperity Gospel erroneously asserts Gods blessings and financial prosperity are assured to those who have sufficient faith and make financial contributions to religious leaders or organizations.

With the heart of someone broken and his voice trembling, Wilkerson made the following comments:

This past week I was given a videotape  and I listened to the speakers, and I was dumbfounded. Listen to what was said: A speaker got up and said if a poor widow on welfare hands you 5 dollars, you better take it. Elijah took the widows last meal. You are the anointed one. You deserve it. You take it. The same speaker said I live in an 8,000-square-foot house. Im going to build a bigger one now  one that King Solomon would be proud of. I just paid 15,000 dollars for a dog. You see this gorgeous ring on my finger? I was in Jamaica and paid 32,000 dollars for it. He said I want you to know that when the people in my town come past my mansion and they see my Royals Royce sitting in the driveway, then they will know there is a God in Heaven. Now you tell me thats the Gospel??!! You tell me you cant weep over that!!!!

Indeed, a false gospel emphasizes the material over the spiritual, or it equalizes the material with the spiritual. Either way, its unacceptable.

Jesus admonished, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Mark 8:36). Nothing takes precedence over a right relationship with God, and being right with God can be costly. Moreover, walking upright before God often means living sacrificially.

False religion has no desire for Christ and his righteousness. Instead, it treats God like a celestial ATM. Its not about loving and obeying God. Its about what one can get out of him.

The woman is described as holding a golden cup filled with abominations and impurities, symbolizing her promotion of false teachings and practices. Walvoord says:

The picture of the woman as utterly evil signifies spiritual adultery, portraying those who outwardly and religiously seemed to be joined to the true God but are untrue to this relationship. The symbolism of spiritual adultery is not ordinarily used of heathen nations who know not God, but always of people who outwardly carry the name of God while actually worshipping and serving other gods.

Prominent in the news lately have been controversial statements and actions made by Pope Francis and Pastor Andy Stanley, son of the famed pastor from Atlanta, the late Dr. Charles Stanley.

Pope Francis responded to questions from five conservative cardinals, affirming the Catholic churchs teaching on marriage as a union exclusively between one man and one woman. However, the Pope suggested the Church should explore forms of blessing same-sex unions that do not convey a mistaken conception of marriage. This has prompted pushback from conservative Catholic cardinals, who have legitimately expressed concerns about potential confusion and the presentation of homosexual acts as morally acceptable.

Will the Church also bless the union of heterosexual couples that cohabitate? What about the unions of those who are polyamorous? Shall the Church bless sin? God forbid!

Blessing same-sex marriages, as well as other unions that do not constitute a marriage, no matter how well-intended, would be like attaching a Jaguars hood ornament to a Ford Focus in the hope of making it seem a little more like a luxury car. Yet, all it would really do is confuse people as to what both cars are. One is a high-end car, with advanced technology, and designed for superior performance. While the other is just a compact car, with very few comforts or amenities, and made for fuel efficiency. In terms of automotive hierarchy, one is and one isnt!

In a parallel development, evangelical Pastor Andy Stanley hosted a conference addressing the Churchs relationship with LGBTQ, and featuring gay speakers who promote LGBTQ on the platform. This move by Stanley understandably garnered criticism from conservative Christians, including Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler Jr., who argued it could seriously water down Christian doctrine.

The Church of England is also considering formal recognition of same-sex relationships through blessings, sparking serious discussions among Anglicans.

In her hand, she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. The nations drink from her golden chalice the wine of her spiritual obscenities, impurities, and immorality.

Nevertheless, this kind of religion is tasteful to the world. It is an appealing religion for the sinful masses  one that craves power  one that does not need to rely on God because it relies on the state  one that is rich and comfortable  one that requires no cross to bear  one where there is no narrow road  one where there is little or no resistance  one where sensual pleasures can be freely indulged  one where material possessions are the measure of all things, and personal arrogance is a virtue.

Note, the woman is said to be intoxicated with the blood of the saints. Mark it down: False religion will not tolerate or live long with true faith in Christ before it seeks to stamp it out.

In America today, most mainline churches are doctrinally compromised and there has been insufficient influence for right living on the nations culture. The result has been unprecedented assaults on religious liberty and the marginalization of Christians who are determined to live by the Bibles teachings.

In the end, this temptress, this spiritual turncoat, this mercenary of faith, who is dressed to the nines and soused by the blood of the Lords precious martyrs, rides upon the back of a scarlet beast with seven heads and 10 horns.

In the past, this fornicating woman has been Egypt, literal Babylon, apostate Jerusalem, the Roman Empire, the historical Papal States, and more recently totalitarian regimes which have suppressed religious freedom, promoted atheism, and persecuted people who have lived by the apostle Pauls motto: For me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better (Philippians 1:21). Out of her lust for power, popularity, and prominence, she has made her bed of whoredom with many rulers through the ages.

Her last manifestation will be her grand finale. United with the Antichrist and his global government, she will be unsparing of all things godly. As Johnson suggests, she will be the complete or full source of evil power and blasphemy. Walvoord puts it succinctly, saying that what has been true of her in the past will be brought to its ultimate in this future time.

But her destruction will come suddenly, and the curtain will fall for the next scene  the greatest scene of all  Jesus will appear in power and glory.

The drama now nears its happy ending. Everyone who repents and believes in Christ, while there is still time, will share in the blissful conclusion.

With earnestness, the Scriptures reprove, saying:

The day of the Lords return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, Everything is peaceful and secure, then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant womans labor pains begin. And there will be no escape  So be on your guard, not asleep  Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation (I Thessalonians 5:2,3, 6-8).

Are you confident of salvation? If not, you need to settle the matter with God quickly.
The forgotten white people

White privilege is a myth. It doesnt exist. It especially doesnt exist in a small town near where I live in central Ohio, a small town called La Rue.

Its been a culture shock since I moved to a small city of less than 40,000 people almost two years ago. But La Rue is a significantly bigger culture shock.

Im from a big city near Toronto (Brampton) in Canada. The population of Brampton is 100 times bigger than La Rues population. My wife was born and raised in La Rue, so when she first told me shes from a town of that size  I didnt hear her say she was from a town of 600 people, I heard her say shes from a town of 60,000 people.

Ive lived in big cities like Accra, Montreal, and Brampton all my life. I just couldnt imagine a town that small.

Brampton is also well-known for its multiethnic and immigrant population. Unlike every major city in Canada, White people are not the majority in Brampton. They represent less than 20% of the population. However, except a handful of people, La Rues population is entirely white.

According to the concept of white privilege, La Rues almost entirely white population is almost entirely privileged. If people in La Rue have white privilege, it would be news to them  and it would be news to me. Especially since Im more privileged than many of them.

If youre familiar with me, you probably know I havent had what many would consider a privileged life. I was raised by a poor, single woman in Ghana. Then when we immigrated to Canada, we lived in a shelter for months and government housing for almost a decade.

Years later, my wife and I are eagerly anticipating the birth of our son. But by the grace of God, though my wife and I are not anywhere near wealthy  were hopeful hell have a less difficult upbringing than I did.

My son is probably going to be more privileged than the average white child in La Rue. This is because poverty is seemingly more common than privilege in this small town.

Their white skin hasnt made them more privileged. Its made it easier for others to ignore and forget them.

La Rue is a rural community with mostly low-income households. Its poverty rate is 27%, more than double the national rate.

Many families depend on the welfare system, not fathers. The opioid crisis has devastated the entire community. Many parents often choose to buy drugs over groceries. Its high school graduation rate is probably even lower than the countys 63% graduation rate  which is less than the Ohio average of 86%.

Except for gang-related crimes, the only difference between towns like La Rue and inner cities is that small towns like La Rue are populated by mostly white people, not black people.

The biggest issues in inner-city households are also the biggest issues in rural white towns like La Rue: bad or absentee fathers, the welfare system, drug addictions, and poor work ethic.

Ohio Senator, J.D Vance, covered some of these problems in his memoir about his white, low-income family in Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. Also, Thomas Sowell addresses similarities between poor, white towns and black, inner-city neighborhoods in his book, Black Rednecks and White Liberals. He brilliantly traces ghetto culture to redneck culture, which explains many of the similarities.

But the biggest difference between poor black people in inner-cities and poor white people in rural towns is that poor white people in rural towns are ignored and forgotten.

Since leftists have minimized their original Marxist theory that white working-class people are oppressed members of society to position black people as systemically oppressed, poor white people have become inconvenient. This is why Democrats and the media refuse to care about poor white people the way they pretend to care about poor black people.

Nevertheless, there is one institution that hasnt forgotten about people in La Rue: the Church.

La Rue Baptist Church (my local church) is truly the light and salt of La Rue. In a town of 600 people, a church with over 100 members is the towns most important institution.

The town seemingly acknowledges that. When people need help, they often turn to the local church. La Rue Baptist has paid for peoples groceries and it welcomes everyone for its weekly potluck. The church has also helped people plan their budgets and helped them fight their drug addictions.

One of the pastors (my father-in-law) has even welcomed people in the community to stay with his family for months to help them overcome their challenges.

And above all, every person in the community who comes to the Church for help will get what they need most: the Gospel.

I talked to my father-in-law about La Rue Baptist Churchs vital role in the town, he said, this kind of help far surpasses what the government can do. Because they make policies from Washington or Columbus. Its not all about money.

The government isnt what La Rue needs most, what it needs most is God. Thats true for every poor, rural town and its also true for inner cities. Communities and families change when individuals change  and the only thing that can create real change in individuals is the good news of Christ.

Therefore, Im especially grateful that Jesus and His Church havent forgotten about poor, white people in rural towns.

Originally published at Slow to Write.
For some, terrorism is acceptable

This is terrorism

At the weekend Hamas fighters murdered and raped their way through southern Israel and kidnapped anyone from infants to the elderly to use as hostages. Hamas are even boasting of breaking the international conventions of war, posting videos of their terrorists beheading captured Israeli soldiers.

Be in no doubt, despite the BBC's insistence that these are 'militants', they are terrorists. Gangs of armed men who rampage through villages entering peaceful homes to murder whoever they encounter are terrorists.

Social media is a swamp to be entered with care in case you are overwhelmed by the content. But who can deny that if we were left with only the BBC and Sky News we would know much less of the ghastly slaughter perpetrated by the Gaza jihadis? There is a refusal among many on the left to recognise barbarity when it is perpetrated by those they support.

With the response in the West to these vile acts we get a glimpse of the depth of depravity of many who see themselves as supporting the struggle of those they see as oppressed and victims. They approve the rape of women and the murder of children. They applaud the parading of the naked body of a young woman around the streets to be spat upon. This is the true nature of those on the left who think that there is no act so savage that they will not condone it if it brings about 'freedom'.

Student approval

Left-wing student groups at British universities have been accused of 'glorifying' the Hamas attack on Israel. Instagram accounts of student organisations at the University of Warwick, University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have described the scenes as a 'heroic fight' by 'the martyrs' against 'fascist and criminal settlers'. There are students at UK universities who consider themselves progressive, who support the rights of women, yet openly applaud as 'necessary' the rape and murder of Jewish women.

At SOAS, the student Palestine Society wrote on Instagram: 'The Palestinian people have the right to resist occupation by any means necessary.' The Justice for Palestine society at University College London endorsed a quote from the Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh. They posted on Instagram his statement: 'Our brave and hard-working Palestinian people, those freeing the world, the Palestinian resistance, in these historical moments are engaged in a heroic fight for Al-Aqsa Mosque, our sacred sites, and our prisoners. Over the last few days, thousands of fascist and criminal settlers desecrated the shrine of the Prophet [Muhammad] and performed their prayers there to impose sovereignty over the area. If the world will be silent, we will not be silent about this aggression.'

In the US, at least 35 student organisations at Harvard have declared that the murders, rapes, kidnappings and other atrocities committed by Hamas against innocent people are in no way the fault of Hamas, but entirely the fault of Israel. Something is deeply, deeply wrong in academia.

Israel to blame

In Scotland, Green MSP Maggie Chapman is typical of those on the left who know who is to blame for the atrocities: Israel. Perhaps those like her claiming that 'Israel brought this on themselves' could explain to the rest of us how massacring 260 young festival-goers and abducting families, children and elderly will in any way help alleviate the very real plight of the Palestinians?

In major cities throughout Europe and North America there have been noisy demonstrations in support of Hamas, glorying in the atrocities. Cars racing through streets, horns blaring and Palestinian flags flying, fireworks being let off. There have been pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London while Manchester, Bristol and Reading have seen buildings vandalised.

In the UK Hamas has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation since 2021, which means anyone wearing clothing or carrying articles in public such as flags which 'arouse reasonable suspicion' that they support the group can be prosecuted. Anyone found guilty faces up to ten years in jail. The Home Secretary has said that she expects the police to 'use the full force of the law' against anyone displaying support for Hamas.

As pro-Palestinian demonstrators who support the religion and ideology which led to the atrocities parade their enthusiasm for the appalling crimes of Hamas we have to ask how long will British Jews be safe in the land of their birth? Anti-Semitic incidents have already taken place in the aftermath. A kosher restaurant in Golders Green, London, was vandalised and a nearby bridge graffitied with 'Palestine Will Be Free'.

All the attack on Israel will achieve for the Palestinians is death, destruction and even more misery as Israel retaliates and hunts down Hamas terrorists sheltering amongst the people. This will suit Shia Iran, the paymasters of Hamas, as it will make impossible the increasing detente between Israel and Sunni Saudi Arabia, their major opponents in the struggle for supremacy in the region. Meanwhile ordinary citizens of Israel and Gaza who just want to get on with their lives will continue to suffer.

Campbell Campbell-Jack is a retired Church of Scotland minister. He blogs at A Grain of Sand.
It's time to be blunt about Andy Stanley and gay Christians

I do my best to be sensitive in the language I use, not wanting to drive people away from a life-giving message because of controversial terminology. Yet there are times when being blunt is essential, and now is one of those times. That is why Pastor Andy Stanley must be called out publicly for inviting practicing homosexuals to speak at his Unconditional Conference. The fact that these men claim to be committed Christians makes the sin all the more grievous.

I'm speaking specifically of Justin Lee and Brian Nietzel, both of whom are not only openly "gay Christians" but are also "married" to their same-sex partners. This means that, according to the plain teaching of Scripture, they will not inherit the Kingdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) and their actions are detestable in His sight (Leviticus 18:22).

Justin and Brian might be very gracious and kind men. Their partners might be terrific people in many ways. They might even model certain aspects of Christian compassion and grace and profess some orthodox beliefs. But that only magnifies the level of deception involved, since Satan himself comes as an angel of light (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

It is true that, on the Sunday following the Unconditional Conference Pastor Stanley reaffirmed that biblical marriage is the union of a man and a woman and claimed that his church did not condone sin, although he made other statements that muddied the water and caused confusion.

But he also stated that both Justin and Brian have spoken to his people before, with his blessing and approval. This means that on several occasions, he has willfully exposed his flock to their message and example, thereby undermining the positive statements he made in his sermon. This is as destructive as it is confusing.

Pastor Stanley, with whom I've been in friendly correspondence and interaction since 2015, pressing him for clarity on these issues, emphasized that the purpose of the conference was not to debate theology. Rather, it was to help parents understand how they should deal with their kids who identify as LGBTQ+.

He didn't want this generation of Christians to perpetuate the errors of past generations, where parents often rejected their kids or tried to strongarm them into becoming straight. It was time, he said, for this to stop. The Church must do better.

On this, we agree, point for point. We need to do better. We need to show unconditional love. We need to recognize how deep these struggles can be. And we need to understand the degree to which Christian young people, in particular, can suffer an acute conflict over these feelings, which they did not ask for. Yes, let us be educated and let us love well.

But under no circumstances should we affirm a child's gay or bi or trans or queer identity. Even more emphatically, under no circumstances should we tell them that they can follow Jesus and be in a same-sex, sexual or romantic relationship. God forbid. To do so is to be complicit in their demise.

In a statement to The Roys Report, Justin Lee claimed that he didn't "take any position on topics like same-sex marriage or sexual behavior" at the conference.

Instead, he stated, "My primary message was that Christians should look to Jesus and to Scripture  not to me or any human source  for determining what is God's will. And that Christians who follow Jesus's example can treat others with love and empathy without compromising on truth."

But what about his personal example? What about the example of Brian? What about their online resources and teachings?

To paraphrase, "I'm not taking a public position here on same-sex marriage or sexual behavior. But in my personal example, in which I am in a same-sex marriage and have sex with my male partner, I'm shouting quite loudly to all of you."

The very presence of Justin and Brian at the conference, along with men like Christian ethicist David Gushee, who believes that God affirms committed, same-sex relationships, sent a clear message to all those in attendance. "Yes," they were saying, "your kids can practice homosexuality and follow Jesus at the same time."

And these men were not just given a platform but were honored and celebrated for who they are. Otherwise, they would not have been invited to speak.

Consider that it was Justin who founded the "Gay Christian Network," with most of the adherents in the network affirming same-sex, "Christian" relationships.

Justin's new organization, called Nuance Ministries, recommends groups like the Reformation Project, which actively seeks to change church views on the Bible and homosexual practice. (See https://gaychristian.net/, one of the Nuance Ministries links; while still under construction, the site links to the Reformation Project and others of like mind.)

As for Brian, his bio states that he "is a gay man committed to his faith and love for Jesus. He grew up in the Evangelical Church and struggled with his sexuality, then later in life found his peace with God. He is now happily married to his husband Dan and is a proud father. He founded the organization Making Things Right to invite Christians to reimagine their relationship with LGBTQ+ people" (my emphasis).

To repeat: this is detestable in God's sight, no matter how loving, kindhearted, caring, and "Christian" Dan and his partner may be. They are in fundamental violation of the order and plan of the God who Himself is love. They are sinning and they are leading others into sin.

Yet it is men like Brian and Justin whom Andy chose to have speak at his conference  not ex-gays, not compassionate Christian counselors with a very different approach, not biblically grounded theologians, not parents of LGBTQ+ identified kids who unconditionally love without affirming.

How many parents, then, were misled by the examples of Justin and Brian? How many will, in turn, fail in their responsibilities towards their children? How many will embrace a grace (really, pseudo-grace) at the expense of life-changing truth?

To give an extreme example, think of having a conference on sexual purity in which you invited a "Christian porn actress" to share her own story. "Don't look to me," she says to the interested audience. "Look to God and to the Word. I'm just encouraging you to be compassionate and understanding towards those who struggle with porn. And if you'd like more information, you can visit my website, 'Christianporn.com.'"

As crazy as this seems, is it any crazier than Andy Stanley inviting professing Christians who are "married" to their same-sex partners to speak at an LGBTQ+ related conference? Can you imagine Paul asking a homosexual "Christian" couple to share with the Corinthian church about the importance of being loving towards children who struggle with same-sex attraction?

On the contrary, Paul would have lovingly and firmly called them to repent, and if they refused to repent, he would have called on the Corinthians to excommunicate them (see 1 Corinthians 5).

Rather than do this, Pastor Andy Stanley gave them a platform  a very big, influential platform. What a horrible shame. And what lasting damage this will do.

To be sure, all of us fall short of God's glory and live in daily need of His grace and mercy. And without question, if we turn to Him in repentance, the blood of Jesus will wash us clean. But if we continue in unrepentant sin, let alone justify it, we will face His judgment.

It was the Puritan Thomas Manton who said, "First we practice sin, then defend it, then boast of it."

This is exactly what Andy Stanley and the Unconditional Conference have done, platforming practicing homosexuals who claim to have the blessing of God on their same-sex relationships.

May God grant them repentance before it is too late. And may all of us take careful stock of our lives before Him.

Almost 2,000 years ago, Paul wrote these words to Timothy:

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage  with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:14).

Need I say more?

Dr. Michael Brown(www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book isWhy So Many Christians Have Left the Faith. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
Praying for a swift de-escalation of violence in Holy Land

Christian charity Embrace the Middle East has issued an urgent appeal for prayers for the Holy Land after Hamas' attack on Israel.

At least 800 people have been killed in Israel, including some 260 mainly young people at a music festival. As many as 150 people are being held hostage by Hamas.

There have been chilling reports of the kidnap, murder and rape of Israelis. Hamas has said it will kill hostages if Israel launches air strikes without warning.

In Gaza, hundreds have died in retaliatory strikes by Israel since Saturday.

Embrace the Middle East said the news from the region was "troubling and distressing".

"As violence and tensions increase, please join us in praying for a swift de-escalation to the violence and for peace to prevail," it said.

Embrace's senior church engagement manager, the Rev Su McClellan, has written a prayer to help Christians intercede for all those affected by the crisis:

God of light and salvation, our refuge and our strength,

We pray for the people of Israel and Palestine amid the escalating violence.

We pray for those killed and injured by rockets from Gaza in southern Israel. May your rod and staff comfort them. We pray for those who are grieving. May they know your ever-present help.

We pray for the protection of those who have been taken hostage by Hamas. As they walk through this dark valley, may they fear no evil.

We pray for the civilians of Gaza. May they know that their help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth. We especially remember all of those who have been killed and wounded in Gaza today - may you comfort and heal those who are in pain and those who have lost loved ones.

And we pray for those in leadership in Gaza and Israel. May you guide them along the right paths. We ask all this in union with Christ and trusting in the power of your Holy Spirit.

Amen.
NHLANGANO - The punter who tried to commit suicide after losing over E75 000 in betting was found dead in a forest, after he went missing for almost two weeks.

The deceased, according to sources, left clues of where he would be found as it is believed he committed suicide. It was gathered that he called his girlfriend whom he told that he was on his way to end his life. This is the same man who reportedly lost over E75 000 in one of the gambling platforms in August 2023. In the first incident *Musa, who was a Mobile Money (MoMo) agent around Nhlangano Town, first won over E20 000. In his second attempt, he won about E40 000. Sources informed this publication that Musa then went on to bet all the money he had won and lost all of it. It was said that he then used his business money to play but lost again.

Deposit

He is said to have then called an agent they used to load MoMo units and requested him to deposit about E15 000 into his account. He allegedly promised to refund the agent on the following day. According to the sources, Musa gambled with this money and lost. The sources further revealed that Musa then tried to commit suicide by hanging himself, but the tree he chose was too short. He then tried to ingest a poisonous substance and locked himself inside his house, said the source. The agent who had sent him the E15 000 is said to have called him several times for his money but he did not respond.

Taxi

The agent is said to have hired a taxi to Musas house, where he found his car parked outside and the keys to the house were in the key hole inside. He was not picking but his phone was ringing inside, narrated the source. It was further gathered that the agent called the landlord and they broke into the house and found Musa in a very bad condition. Musa was rushed to hospital, where he was later treated and discharged. As he was discovered dead last Sunday, it was said that he had been missing since September 28, 2023. It was said that a week before his death, he sold his car; two of his pieces of land and used all the money to gamble. When he went missing, he sent different text messages to his friends and relatives, including his girlfriend. It was said that he sent his girlfriend a message of where he would be found as he went to commit suicide.

Girlfriend

It was gathered that the girlfriend then went to the police station to report the matter and when the police called him, he answered his cellphone and told them he was not returning as he was determined to do what he wanted to do. He told the police he would not change his decision and would not return, narrated the source. A group of relatives went to search for him, where he had directed them to and they did not find him. On Sunday, he was found by a young boy who had gone to fetch firewood in the forest where he had said he would be. It was gathered that his body was decomposed was decomposed when he was found. One family member, who did not want to be named, confirmed the matter and stated that they were devastated about the incident. He stated that they were preparing for a funeral scheduled for Thursday and that they were still gathering finances to bury him as he left no money behind.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that there was a man who was found in the forest in a decomposed state.

*Not his real name
Mack Trucks workers on strike after rejecting tentative contract deal

Xinhua) 13:02, October 10, 2023

CHICAGO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Union workers at Volvo Group-owned Mack Trucks went on strike Monday after a majority of the company's union members in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida rejected a tentative agreement Sunday.

Covering 4,000 unionized workers, the tentative agreement differs based on location and job. For many Mack employees, it included about a 19-percent wage increase, a 3,500-U.S. dollar ratification bonus and an increased 401(k) contribution. It reduced the length of time to the top wage by one year to five years.

But the tentative agreement doesn't include reinstating pensions, a cost-of-living adjustment or a shorter workweek.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) representing Mack workers in the three U.S. states reached this tentative agreement with Mack Trucks on Oct. 1.

In a letter to Volvo Trucks, the parent company of Mack Trucks, UAW President Shawn Fain said UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits.

"I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it," Fain was quoted by The Detroit News as saying in the letter. "The members have the final say, and it's their solidarity and organization that will win a fair contract at Mack."

In response, Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement Sunday night that the company is "surprised and disappointed" that the union chose to strike.

Mack is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the United States, competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries, said the statement.

The company is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the company's future, it said.

Rejection of the tentative agreement may result from high expectations UAW has set in bargaining with the Big Three U.S. automakers, local media reported.

In its talks with the Big Three, the UAW has asked for a 36-percent wage increase over four years. Ford has offered 23 percent so far, and the other two firms are at 20 percent.

With Mack workers going on strike, the total number of UAW members that are on strike now exceeds 30,000 across 22 states, the union said Monday.

Founded in 1900, Mack is one of North America's largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and its trucks are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
SITEKI  Campaigning agents (bogalajane) for one of the unsuccessful MP candidates in one of the constituencies in the Lubombo Region are demanding their promised E5 000 each.

This is payment for campaigning for the former Member of Parliament (MP) candidate. One of the campaigning agents confided in this publication that they had been waiting for the payment for the past two weeks, but the aspiring legislator had not been cooperative when they confronted him with their grievance. The campaigning agent said many of his peers were still waiting for payment, including those whose MPs won the secondary elections. There are about 10 campaign agents who are awaiting payment from the former MP candidate.

Police

The name of the losing MP will not be mentioned for now, as the matter has not been reported to the police and the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). Interestingly, another campaign agent whose candidate won said after voicing out their concerns to the newly-sworn MP, he promised them that he would be hosting a party this coming weekend as a way to thank and appreciate their efforts. Natsi sonkhe kelapho solo siyigadzile (some of us are still waiting for payment) and Saturday we go partying. Maybe we will be paid after the party. Some of us were promised E5 000 as the figures differ. It is true that we are owed but we cannot lose hope now, said the campaigning agent who asked that his identity be concealed.

The agent for the loser MP, when asked if they had reported or opened a case with the police or engaged the EBC on the matter, *Zembe said they were still nursing hopes that they would be finally paid what was due to them.

Promised

We have not reached that stage, but if the delay in the payment of what was promised to us persists, we will meet to decide on the next step to take, Zembe said. Called to shed light about the matter, the former MP candidate asked not to comment about it. I cannot comment, he briefly said. EBC Communication Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said it was unfortunate that agreements have been breached between the concerned parties. Bhembe advised the aggrieved bogalajane to exercise patience and resolve their grievances amicable. It is a matter between the concerned parties and my advice would be that they must exercise patience in resolving the matter amicable, he said.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said any matter of a dispute nature should be reported to the police. Vilakati said the police would then appropriately advice the aggrieved people considering the information they have shared. The police welcome any matter of dispute and it is important that they visit the nearest police station, where their case will be treated with urgency and in accordance with the law, she said. The secondary elections marking the final stage of the national elections were held on September 29, while the swearing-in and taking of oath and allegiance of the newly-elected MPs took place last Friday.

Meanwhile, some of the campaign agents, who are widely referred to as bogalajane, have raised concern that the size of chiefdoms where candidates were nominated was one of the key determining factor in the eventual results.

Guaranteed

In their view, the bigger chiefdoms had an advantage over the smaller ones, because by virtue of having a high number of voters, their candidates for the position of MP were almost guaranteed. They said the current scenario did not promote individual merit. This is despite the fact that in the past, there had been quite a number of candidates who won despite that they came from smaller chiefdoms

*Not real names
Canada hopes to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2023 under its Immigration Levels Plan. By 2025, the goal is 500,000 new permanent residents.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the top countries of residence for new immigrants to Canada. Canada is a popular destination for UAE residents because of the country's many economic opportunities in a wide variety of sectors, including the information and technology sector, the health sector and engineering-related fields.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is a very popular option for those coming from the UAE. The FWSP invites applicants with work experience and no job offer or no connection to Canada to apply for permanent residence.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

The FSWP is one of the programs managed by Express Entry, the Canadian federal governments application system that manages the FWSP, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

The UAE is among the top countries for Express Entry immigrants to Canada, therefore most UAE residents come to Canada as skilled workers in the economic category.

In order to be eligible for the program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

One year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3;

Validated language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French across all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking); and

A Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.

At least 67 points on IRCCs six immigration selection factors.

Enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.

Once you determine you are eligible for the FSWP, you may apply by creating an Express Entry profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. By creating a profile, you will receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on human capital factors such as age, education, language ability, work experience and more.

IRCC has also recently launched new category-based Express Entry draws. Candidates are selected through this program if they have a strong French language proficiency or have work experience in the following professions:

Healthcare

STEM professions

Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors

Transport

Agriculture and agri-food

The Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another major option for UAE immigration candidates.

Canada has 10 provinces and three territories, the majority of which have the PNP (except for Quebec and Nunavut). Through the PNP, each province and territory get to design immigration pathways based on their economic, job market and demographic needs.

The provinces and territories will nominate skilled worker candidates for immigration to their respective jurisdictions though the PNP. Each province will have their own eligibility criteria that a candidate must meet in order to be nominated.

Candidates can also enter the Express Entry pool and be nominated through the PNP by a province that will select candidates from the federal pool. If a candidate is nominated through Express Entry, they will receive an additional 600 CRS points, which essentially guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Work permits

Individuals residing in the UAE come to Canada to work by getting a Canadian work permit, which are divided into two programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The main difference between the two is that a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for the TFWP, while it is not for the IMP.

The LMIAs purpose is to demonstrate that hiring the foreign worker will either have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian job market.

The IMP exists to promote Canadas economic and social policy objectives, which is why the program does not require an LMIA. Under the IMP, for example, is the Intra-Company Transfer, which allows key personnel of a company or business to transfer from their branch to a location in Canada. Another example is the Significant Benefit stream, which issues work permits to foreign nationals when their proposed benefit to Canada is significant, meaning their work is important or notable.

Applicants usually need a job offer from a Canadian to apply for a work permit. However, there are some situations in which applicants can get an open work permit, which are not tied to a particular employer and allows the individual to work almost anywhere in Canada.

Study permits

Canada is one of the leading destinations for international students due to factors such as the high quality of Canadian education, affordability, and post-graduation benefits.

A massive benefit of studying in Canada for international students completing post-secondary education in Canada is that they may have the opportunity to transition to permanent residence. Canadian education can help when it comes to pursuing Canadian permanent residence, as many federal and provincial immigration programs value candidates with Canadian education and work experience.

In addition, after finishing your studies in Canada, you may get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) which depending on your academic program, can enable you to work in Canada for up to three years.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration
MBABANE  An emphatic discussion and tearful submissions were some of the highlights of a meeting between EEC Pension Fund Principal Officer Churchboy Dlamini and its beneficiaries yesterday.

The beneficiaries, whose pension was invested in Likhwane Beneficiary Fund, demanded to have an audience with Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) Managing Director Ernest Mkhonta, wanting answers to the delay in the distribution of their benefits. Likhwane clients are almost exclusively the Boards of major corporate entities and in the event that the employees of such a company pass away, the Board provides Likhwane with the funds that are held in their pension or provident schemes, so that they may be managed appropriately.

Invests

Likhwane invests the death benefits and uses the interest earned to provide for the basic needs of the minors. These include paying the childrens daily living expenses such as food, transport and school fees. This means that Likhwane assumes the financial responsibility that would ordinarily be borne by the minors parents or family members. They also pay tuition and school fees for children who are in universities or primary and high school. Likhwane was one of the investors in ESW/Ecsponent, where individuals, companies and organisations lost a total investment of E340 million, thus failing to deliver on its mandate. Likhwane lost an investment amounting to E63 million. Yesterday, at least 14 parents/guardians of the beneficiaries of the pension that was invested in Likhwane were locked in a two-hour meeting with the companys Pension Fund principal Officer, at the companys headquarters in Mbabane.

The meeting was aimed at unpacking the difficulties they experience due to the delay in the distribution of the benefits, owing to the situation at Likhwane. The parents/guardians told Dlamini that some of their children had been expelled from school for owing school fees while those whose school fees for the year were paid in full, owed transport fees in respect of vehicles that ferried them to and from school. The issue of hunger due to lack of grocery money was one that saw some of the parents actually breaking down and crying while narrating their ordeal. This was a common submission from most of the parents who wanted Dlamini to give them a solution to as it was a thorn in their flesh. One of the parents said the situation was so dire that she wished her husband was still alive to assist her in raising the children. She said when her husband passed on, she was pregnant and she was now struggling to meet the needs of the child in respect of nutritious food, clothes and sometimes medical bills, among other things.

The teary-eyed woman said making it past each day was a hustle and to think that there was money saved by her late husband in the form of a pension, which she now had no access to, was immeasurable pain. Identified as Sukati, one of the guardians, whose beneficiaries are his late brothers children, submitted that he was now taking from his own pocket to assist his nephews and nieces, especially with transport fee. We are sinking in debt because we have been soliciting the services of shylocks to make ends meet, hoping that the situation will go back to normal and we will get our monthly up-keeps and the other benefits. Shylocks are bothering us on a daily basis, demanding that we pay back their monies and this is having a toll on our health. The rights of the children are being violated in the worst possible manner, said one of the parents.

The parents then told Dlamini that they would not be leaving the office until he gave them money or vouchers to buy food because the children back home were expecting them to come back with hope in the form of the basic commodities and answers on their school fees money, among other things. Responding to the submissions made by the parents, Dlamini said the Pension Fund Board was currently engaging with the companys management, seeking assistance in the form of funding to bail out the fund and the negotiations were ongoing.

He explained that the pension fund was an independent body that had its own Board, hence the company had no business in its operations. That was after the parents expressed their discontent in the response that was given by Dlamini on their challenge. They then demanded to see the MD of the company to directly demand answers from him. One of the queries that the parents had was how EEC got into an agreement with Likhwane to have the pension invested with the latter, without their knowledge or consent to which Dlamini said it was a decision taken at an executive level.

Demand

The response did not sit well with the parents and it intensified their demand to have an audience with Mkhonta to appreciate how the entity got into an agreement with Likhwane without their consent. The parents actually demanded to see the contract between the two parties, which they claimed was agreed upon without their knowledge. If you have to call the police on us, so be it but we want to meet with the MD and have him explain to us how the company decided to take our money and invest it with Likhwane without our consent and we also want him to give us a clear and straight forward response on our food and school fees issues, said the parent. Dlamini explained to the parents that having an audience with the MD at such short notice was not possible, but he could arrange for them to meet the Pension Fund Board members, a platform where they could voice out their grievances and craft a way forward.

However, the parents shared that the only way that could be possible was when the company gave them food vouchers so that they could get groceries and also reimburse them the money they used to get to the EEC headquarters. After a 15-minute caucus Dlamini had requested to have with his team, he reported back to the parents that the entity could only meet one of the conditions forwarded by the parents and that was the reimbursement of the transport fare. Despite resistance from the parents who insisted on getting food vouchers, a consensus was reached by the meeting that they would be reimbursed their transport money and the issue of food and school fees would make the agenda of the meeting scheduled for this Friday.

Agreement

A questionnaire, which sought to get clarity on the parents submission that they did not consent to the investment into Likhwane and to also appreciate how the entity got into that agreement, was sent to Dlamini. He confirmed that the parents met the principal officer and would only meet the Board of Trustees at a later date than they have been advised of.

It then becomes difficult to comment or pre-empt the meeting and its outcome and as such would not be able to answer the other questions you raised, he said. Likhwane Principal Officer Freddy Magagula, when asked to shed light on the process that led to the agreement between the two entities as enquired by the parents, said the matter was in court and it would not be proper for him to address any issues relating to it outside of court. It is worth mentioning that the parents will be meeting with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) today to engage on the same issue.
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Breaking Barriers has announced plans to triple in size by 2030 as it appoints its second-ever chief executive.

Ciara Devlin will succeed Matt Powell, who established the refugee employment charity in 2015, and take on the post from 6 November.

Devlin will oversee the charitys plan to grow its income from 4.8m to 15m by 2030, increasing its staff numbers from 80 to over 300 in that time.

It also aims to quadruple the number of refugees it supports to 4,000 a year and expand its five locations.

Devlin has spent nearly 20 years in the charity sector, including several roles at Crisis.

On her appointment, she said: While working in the homelessness sector I met many individuals living here as refugees, an experience that opened my eyes to the huge challenges and barriers they face while trying to make new lives here in the UK. To now have the opportunity to lead an organisation committed to helping to break down those same barriers is very exciting.

I feel delighted and privileged to be joining Breaking Barriers as CEO and Im looking forward to working with the team to help grow the scale of our impact even further.

Powell said: Im immensely proud of the team at Breaking Barriers and all we have achieved in the last eight years. I set up the charity to provide a simple solution, to link up refugees with businesses so that they could find meaningful employment in the UK.

Since then we have gone on to become and to achieve so much more, thanks to the businesses, volunteers, funders, supporters, staff, and friends and family who have stepped up to make things happen. To those people I want to say thank you. What we have achieved together has been phenomenal.

Looking ahead there is still more to do, and I predict an extremely exciting future for Breaking Barriers. I know that Ciara will not only do a great job of continuing the work I started, but that she will also build on this further, enabling the charity to help even more people across an even wider geography.

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BANGKOK (AP)  Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmars southern areas has displaced more than 14,000 people and disrupted traffic on the rail lines that connect the countrys biggest cities, officials and state-run media said Monday.

State television MRTV reported Monday evening that the number of displaced people in Bago township, about 68 kilometers (42 miles) northeast of Yangon, the country`s biggest city, had climbed to that figure, and they were taking shelter in 36 relief camps. It said almost 1,000 more people in Mon state`s township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations in a northern part of Yangon.

A senior official at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said that constant rainfall in the Bago region that began last week caused the flooding in the low-lying areas of its capital, Bago township. She said there were no casualties reported so far.

Bago township recorded 7.87 inches (200 millimeters) of rainfall, its highest level in 59 years, Myanmars Meteorological Department said Sunday. Rain or thundershowers was forecast for across the country until noon on Tuesday.

One of the leaders of an emergency rescue team in Bago told The Associated Press that the flooding was up to about eight feet (2.3 meters) deep in low-lying areas and four feet (1.2 meters) downtown.

Almost the whole area of the town was flooded, Thant Zin Maung, chairman of the Mizzima Thukha Charity Foundation said by phone on Monday. It is the third flood in the town this year and the worst in many years. All the monasteries in the town have opened relief camps. Charity organizations are evacuating people from low-lying areas as much as they can.

A 55-year-old resident of Bagos Pan Hlaing ward interviewed by phone said the floodwaters were as much as six feet (1.8 meters) deep in her neighborhood, and her family members were living on the second and third floors of their house.

The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Myanmar`s military government prefers to tightly control the release of information, said the water was still rising steadily in her neighborhood, which had never flooded badly before.

Social Welfare Ministry official Lay Shwe Zin Oo said Bago evacuees were sheltering in relief camps, schools and Buddhist monasteries, while the authorities were providing food, drinking water and other essential assistance.

Reports in the state-run Myanmar Alinn newspaper on Monday said that trains that departed from Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city in central Myanmar, and from southern Mawlamyine township were halted en route. Scheduled departures from Yangon, the biggest city in the country, were canceled after rail lines were flooded by the rapid flow of water from mountain torrents and the spillage from dams in the Bago region.

MRTV said almost 1,000 people in Mon states Kyaikto township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations as well in a northern part of Yangon.

Myanmar experiences extreme weather virtually every year during the monsoon season. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 people. In July and August this year, floods in Mon, Kayin and Rakhine states and the regions of Bago and Magway killed five people and displaced about 60,000.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Audi Middle East has announced the appointment of Rene Koneberg as its Managing Director, bringing onboard an industry expert to steer the brands future in the dynamic market.

Under his new role, Koneberg represented Audi Middle East at GIMS Qatar, where he presented Audis flagship SUV, the new Q8 for the first time in the world, shared the success of 2023s first half and the brands outlook for the next few years, while also engaging with regional business partners to discuss the brands future in the region.

During the recent Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) in Qatar, the Audi team also hosted a pivotal investor conference. The attendees included Andre Konsbruck, Vice President of Sales Overseas at Audi AG, with Koneberg representing Audi Middle East.

The conference brought together investors to engage in a comprehensive conversation about the brand's trajectory. Furthermore, Konsbruck highlighted Audi's global strategies and plans, while Koneberg directed attention toward future growth plans for the region.

Koneberg joins Audi Middle East with an extensive career spanning several notable automotive industry roles. Beginning his career with Audi in 2000, Koneberg played an important role in helping to develop Audi AG's European Sales and Distribution Strategy in line with new legal and economic developments. His passion for innovation and adaptability led him to explore new territories, where he made significant contributions to Audi's fleet sales strategy within the Volkswagen Group and his successful tenure as Sales Manager for the GCC at Audi Middle East.

Koneberg's dedication to achieving excellence and driving transformative change is reflected in his more recent roles. As Head of Corporate & VIP Sales for Audi Middle East in 2007, he established a comprehensive Corporate Sales Strategy for the region, forging key partnerships and solidifying Audi's presence in various high-profile segments.

His expertise also extends beyond the Middle East, as showcased during other key roles with Audi, such as Director of Brand Operations Audi China, where he was responsible for brand marketing and establishing the first digital showroom in Asia, "Audi City." Most notably, Koneberg managed the importer for Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley, and Lamborghini in Korea, leading a remarkable turnaround for Audi Volkswagen Korea (AVK) post-crisis, propelling AVK's businesses to new heights and with solid brand strategy throughout.

As Managing Director for Audi Middle East, his visionary leadership and experience will play a central role in shaping Audis growth, customer and brand experience, and further electrification development across the region. His focus on regionalising the global strategies through digitalisation and improved customer experience will undoubtedly drive Audi's commitment to providing cutting-edge mobility solutions for discerning customers in the region.

"I am thrilled to return to Audi Middle East and contribute to a brand that consistently pushes boundaries, embraces transformation, and leverages global expertise to drive continued success in the region. Having witnessed remarkable evolution, I am eager to further unlock the brands vast potential. The Middle East presents a fast-developing market, and I look forward to leading Audi towards sustained success, using my experience from other Audi markets, and from my past tenure here in the Middle East. I and the entire team at Audi, look forward to shaping the company's future in this dynamic market," shared Koneberg. - TradeArabia News Service
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A grand jury in Louisiana has decided against indicting anyone in the deadly collapse four years ago of a Hard Rock Hotel that was under construction in New Orleans.

The panel, which heard evidence in the case over several months, met once more on Thursday. It was the last chance to file criminal charges before a four-year window closed to pursue gross negligence charges under state law.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams decided to have the panel hear testimony and vote on potential charges, rather than directly filing them, and it returned a no true bill verdict, meaning at least nine jurors did not find sufficient evidence to establish criminal liability.

Williams said in a statement that the grand jury did not hear enough evidence to meet the threshold for a criminal case.

Unfortunately, criminal negligence carries a much higher burden than civil negligence, and upon deliberating, the jurors decided there simply wasnt enough certainty to proceed, Williams said.

His office also expressed frustration at the grand jurys decision, calling it a disheartening day.

Our entire team  is frustrated with this outcome, it said in the same statement. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with (the families) as they continue their healing from such an emotionally taxing process.

The collapse of the building on Oct. 12, 2019, killed three men  36-year-old Quinnyon Wimberly, 49-year-old Anthony Floyd Magrette and 63-year-old Jose Ponce Arreola  injured others, damaged nearby property and led to the closure of Canal Street for more than a year.

Following the grand jury`s decision, Magrette`s sisters said in comments to WVUE- TV that the legal system is cruel and they remain without closure after four years of waiting.

Angela Magrette, the victim`s twin, said the family will continue clamoring for justice.

Theres no way another buildings not going to fall, because nobody was held accountable. Its going to happen again, she said.

Top photo: Two large cranes from the Hard Rock Hotel construction collapse are seen in this aerial photo after crashing down, after being detonated for implosion in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. A grand jury in Louisiana on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, has decided against indicting anyone in the deadly collapse hotel that had been under construction in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
BRECKSVILLE, Ohio -- Councilman Dominic Caruso, who is seeking re-election this fall, has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, in which he has agreed not to trespass on a business property next to his company, Carusos Coffee, on Miller Road.

Under the agreement, Caruso has also promised not to harass or retaliate against the neighboring property owner, David McLean, CEO of Garage Creative Studios, a motion picture production company.

In addition, Caruso agreed to pay for a damaged security camera and, to the best of his ability, prevent damage to a fence on the Garage Creative Studios property.

If there is a violation of any of the above conditions within a period of 18 months of (a Nov. 29) incident, the prosecutor has the option to file criminal charges against Dominic Caruso, the deferred prosecution agreement says.

The charges might include criminal trespassing, criminal damaging and criminal mischief, according to the deferred prosecution agreement, signed Dec. 30 by Caruso and William T. Doyle, a special prosecutor.

The agreement was the culmination of an ongoing feud between Caruso and McLean that started in 2019, about two years after Carusos Coffee -- a roaster and distributor of specialty coffees headquartered on West Snowville Road -- opened a second Brecksville location on Miller, next to Garage Creative Studios.

Over the years, semi-trucks delivering supplies to Carusos Coffee have driven onto and damaged McLeans property while backing up into Carusos loading docks. Caruso and McLean have been unable to resolve the problem.

The feud came to a head Nov. 29 when Caruso allegedly walked onto McLeans property, damaged one of McCleans security cameras and knocked over a no-trespassing sign.

A few days later, in December, McLean called Brecksville police, who made a report about the incident.

Caruso denied to police, the special prosecutor and cleveland.com that he damaged the security camera, even though he agreed to pay for the cameras repair. He paid $150, as required under the deferred prosecution agreement.

I consider this a private matter between business neighbors, Caruso told cleveland.com in an email. It was resolved in a way that was mutually agreeable to both parties. At the advice of (legal) counsel, I have been instructed not to discuss details.

The spirit of the agreement is one of confidentiality and I would not want to say anything that would potentially antagonize what has since been a harmonious situation between our two companies, Caruso said.

McLean has said that hes satisfied with the deferred prosecution agreement, in which he states that he does not want to pursue criminal charges against Caruso.

Nevertheless, the feud continued into 2023, with at least one additional truck damaging McLeans property while delivering products to Carusos Coffee. Caruso has since made restitution, paying $507 for a banged-up guardrail.

Also, Caruso promised to install a new dock or docks away from the side of the building facing Garage Creative Studios. McLean told cleveland.com last week that hes not aware that the new dock or docks have been built.

Dominic Caruso (Photo Courtesy of Dominic Caruso)

Heres what happened, according to the December Brecksville police report, the deferred prosecution agreement, email exchanges with police, previous cleveland.com articles and McLean:

2017: McLean and the neighboring buildings previous owner, Precision Printing, agree to build a small concrete pad on McLeans property so that trucks can have more maneuverability when backing into a loading/unloading dock in the Precision building.

That same year, Precision Printing sells the building to the Caruso family. The city gives Carusos Coffee $160,000 in financial incentives to open its second location on Miller next to Garage Creative Studios. Carusos was expected to create four to six new jobs.

Later summer or early fall 2019: According to McLean, Caruso enlarges the pad on McLeans property without his permission, cutting down trees and dumping several tons of gravel onto the Garage Creative Studios lot.

Meanwhile, trucks continue to drive onto McLeans property, some getting stuck in and damaging the soft ground, and creating excessive noise.

Fall 2019: McLean, after surveying his land, installs a line of concrete ingots 6 to 8 feet inside his property line to block trucks from Carusos Coffee. He also posts a no-trespassing sign.

Subsequently, someone and/or something pushes the ingots farther into McLeans property line, perhaps using a truck or forklift. McLean then connects and reinforces the ingots with braided steel wire.

November 2019: Caruso is elected to Brecksville City Council.

June 2022: The concrete ingots are moved and damaged again, apparently by a jackhammer, according to McLean.

After that, McLean installs security cameras on a tree on his property. The cameras record trucks, delivering to Carusos Coffee, hitting the ingots and rutting the ground. Truck drivers shake their fists and yell at the cameras.

Late summer 2022: An engineer recommends that McLean build a concrete retention wall, backed with 3 or 4 feet of landscaping, along his property line. Caruso opposes the idea, saying it would disrupt the watershed, according to McLean.

Nov. 26: McLean installs guardrails, backed by the concrete ingots, along his property line, after city officials tell him the guardrails dont need a permit.

Nov. 27: Caruso complains to the city that McLeans dumpster doesnt comply to municipal code because its not enclosed. McLean agrees to enclose the dumpster.

Dec. 4: McLean calls Brecksville police about a Nov. 29 incident in which one of his security cameras was damaged and his no-trespassing sign knocked over. He blames Caruso and gives police security video of the incident.

The video shows a man, later identified by police as Caruso, arrive in a car and walk toward a wooded area on McLeans property. A wooden object appears, and the camera shakes and stops working momentarily. The video then shows Caruso walking toward Carusos Coffee.

Police find a piece of a wooden pallet on the ground near the camera. The camera mount was damaged and askew. The no-trespassing sign was lying on the ground.

McLean tells police that he has attempted to resolve the truck issue with Caruso several times but without results. He says Caruso and his family members have verbally harassed him and his workers, and repeatedly reminded them that he is a city councilman.

Dec. 15: Police interview Caruso, accompanied by his attorney, at the Brecksville police station. Caruso concedes that he trespassed on McLeans property to investigate the guardrail and security cameras. He says he doesnt remember damaging one of the cameras or knocking over the sign.

Caruso tells police he has purchased a new loading dock door and plans to install a new loading dock on a side of his building not facing Garage Creative Studios. He says it would be done by spring 2023.

Police advise Caruso to have his employees guide trucks into the existing dock, so that the trucks dont damage McLeans property, until he installs the new dock.

Last week, McLean told cleveland.com that hes not aware that Caruso has installed the new dock yet.

Dec. 30: Caruso signs the deferred prosecution agreement.

Jan. 5: Police receive a $150 reimbursement check from Caruso for damage to McLeans camera. They pass the check along to McLean.

Feb. 6: A truck heading to Carusos Coffee hits and damages a bollard post, part of McLeans guardrail.

Feb. 23: Police ask Caruso to send them a reimbursement check for damage to McLeans guardrail. Caruso agrees, but first says McLean should instead pursue reimbursements from the truckers that cause the property damage, not him.

Also, Caruso complains that McLean installed a barricade on McLeans property from the Carusos Coffee lot, and that a chain Caruso uses to lock his driveway was somehow cut.

Caruso says that whoever repairs McLeans guardrail should stay off his property.

Now that I have (security) cameras, if he (McLean) sends his contractor on our driveway again, I will pursue it to the fullest extent of the law, Caruso says in an email to police.

April 16: McClean tells police that the guardrail repairs have been completed, using a crane to avoid using Carusos property.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council heard Monday (Oct. 9) from two lawyers representing commercial property owners about plans for the CVS/Pharmacy building at 5901 Mayfield Road and a proposed new business -- a Popeyes chicken restaurant -- that may be built in the parking lot in front of the Lakshmi Plaza storefronts, situated behind and to the east of CVS.

Lawyer Benjamin Chojnacki, of the law firm Roetzel & Andress, spoke on behalf of the Landis Group, which owns the CVS property at Mayfield and Mayfield Ridge Road and the parking lot directly to its east.

Chojnacki told council that he and the Landis Group had hoped on Monday to share details of a plan that would lead to the coming of a Popeyes restaurant, but world events intervened.

Some of the projects decision makers were unable to attend the meeting, he said, due to reasons related to the Hamas attacks in Israel over the weekend.

Chojnacki said that as of now, plans call for the property owners to present their project to council at its next meeting in two weeks.

Chojnacki said the Landis Group has been leasing its property to CVS for 20 years. Landis has a total of 17 real estate assets in Northeast Ohio.

We are not some disinterested out-of-state developer, he said. We are integral to Northeast Ohio and this community. Were excited about two major projects that will be forthcoming (in Mayfield Heights) in the future.

Theyre both currently the subject of non-disclosure agreements. We are eager and will continue to be a part of this community.

That being said, the property at 5901 Mayfield Road is going to be changing. We have received some notice that CVS plans to vacate the premises in 2025.

Chojnacki said the Landis Group is now considering what may be the best use for the CVS site.

We have a desire to ensure that this project, moving forward, is a win for the community, rather than a loss, which would be CVS leaving and the property remaining vacant, he said.

The council agenda had included two motions that are now delayed -- one for council to approve a preliminary site plan for the Popeyes restaurant and another to approve a preliminary site plan for what might replace the CVS building.

Immediately after Chojnacki spoke, lawyer Rob Zimmerman, of the Benesch law firm, took to the speakers podium representing Mayfield Ridge Limited Partnership, owners of the Lakshmi Plaza. The plaza includes the businesses Dollar General, Inland & Asian Grocery, Cosmo Prof and Euro Deli Deluxe.

Zimmerman also stated that the events in Israel and their impact on the Sokolov family that owns the property necessitated a delay in his full presentation. Ivan Sokolov, the senior principal and owner, was in Israe, Zimmerman said. As of Monday morning, he was unharmed.

Zimmerman, a former Shaker Heights councilman of 16 years, thanked Mayor Anthony DiCicco for the moment of silence held at the start of the council meeting in prayer for the Israeli people and those killed or taken hostage since the attacks began Saturday.

As for the plaza, Zimmerman said, Over the years, the parcel has always been treated as a unified parcel, and we hope to continue doing that.

Law Directory Paul Murphy said the Lakshmi Plaza owners are concerned that building a Popeyes, and whatever else the Landis Group has in mind for the CVS portion of the lot, may obscure the Lakshmi Plaza from those traveling on Mayfield Road.

Chojnacki said he has been in contact with the Mayfield Ridge Limited Partnership lawyers to try to work out a satisfactory agreement.

Council took no action Monday and will await the two sides presentations in two weeks.

Remembering Larry Ottino

Also at Mondays meeting, DiCicco and council remembered and honored late developer Larry Ottino, as the mayor presented a proclamation to Ottinos family members. Ottino died July 3 at age 74.

Ottino, over the years, and with partners Ray Negrelli and Michael Occhionero, redeveloped the former Spitzer Dodge dealership, now the home of Ken Ganley Nissan, 6060 Mayfield Road; razed his fathers former Ottinos Restaurant, which has since become home of Panera Bread, 6036 Mayfield Road; and built the Mayfield Town Center shopping center on SOM Center Road.

Most recently, Ottino, a Mayfield Heights native, and his partners redeveloped the 13-acre Mayland Commons site, now home to Starbucks, Raising Canes and Sheetz, with saved green space.

At the time the Mayland redevelopment began in 2020, Ottino granted the wish of city leaders not to have apartments built at Mayland.

Well be forever enriched by Larrys love, friendship and service, said DiCicco, reading from the proclamation. He has left an indelible mark on our community and in our hearts.

The presenting of the proclamation earned a standing ovation from those in attendance.

Larry Ottino (Photo Courtesy of the Ottino family)

Spa building plans approved

Also on Monday, council approved a preliminary site plan for construction of an 11,659-square-foot, two-story building at 30055 Cedar Road.

The building, to be constructed on a property formerly zoned for residential use, will be home to Trouve Medspa, which specializes in anti-aging solutions at its current Beachwood location, 24100 Chagrin Blvd.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Shaker school board officials and local opposition continue to make their respective cases for and against Issue 13, the proposed 9.95-mill property tax request coming before voters Nov. 7.

The combined bond issue and accompanying tax levies would fund a $187 million plan to relocate the middle school, put fifth-graders back in the elementary buildings and expand the pre-kindergarten program.

The fact that the State of Ohio will kick in 37 percent -- about $47.5 million -- remains a key selling point, making the net cost to district taxpayers less than $140 million for the Building Shaker Schools initiative.

It would cost taxpayers more to do nothing, Shaker Board of Education Vice President Lora Cover said at a Sept. 28 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Thats because you dont get a 37 percent match just to react to problems in your buildings.

But arguing that it is the wrong plan at the wrong time, Helen Sheehan with the Committee for Shakers Future said the millage on a house valued at $300,000 in in the school district could add up to $1,045 annually, or the equivalent of an extra mortgage payment over the 40-year life of the proposed bond issue.

This is a generational expense that deserves detailed planning with measurable educational outcomes, Sheehan said.

Shaker Heights Board of Education President Emmitt Jolly said district officials worked on a plan with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) that took years of listening, collaborating, pausing and evolving to provide for the needs of students.

Its also the first operating levy presented to voters since 2014. What amounted to a warm, safe and dry 3.75-mill bond issue and permanent improvements levy passed in 2017, when the school board scrapped larger plans for a new middle school.

Sheehan countered that this phase is only the first segment of a plan that next will call for another 6.5 mills to rebuild Shaker Heights High School.

What Segment One proposes would be the conversion of Woodbury Intermediate School, currently housing all of the districts fifth- and sixth-graders, into a new middle school for grades 6, 7 and 8. A competition swimming pool is also included in the plans.

In moving fifth-graders back into the elementary schools, those buildings would be renovated to the Fernway level, which Sheehan argued was developed out of a crisis (a fire in 2018) and went 20 percent over budget.

Segment One includes 3 mills for remodeling the old Ludlow school building to accommodate 180 slots for pre-K -- and possibly more if needed -- striking a balance in equity, supporters said.

Sheehan said the plan does not address long-term race-based inequities of our elementary school attendance zones and the resulting busing of Moreland (neighborhood) students.

In terms of reaching the breaking point on tax burden, Sheehan added that the city administration and school district officials should look at what was done in Beachwood between the city and schools there by deferring charter levy millage, especially if a land swap is in the works in Shaker.

If were going to consider giving the city the (current) middle school property and the school bus depot, those properties are worth $11 million, Sheehan said. The city could defer 3 mills from our current 5.5 mills in charter levy property taxes for five years.

Responding to an audience question about a reported $66 million cash balance in the districts budget, Cover said this should provide a good example of strong fiscal management, although some of that came in the form of federal COVID-19 relief and recovery funds.

And its kept us from going back to the voters on an operating levy for over a decade as well, Cover added.

To watch the nearly two-hour LWV forum, hosted in the Shaker Heights High School small auditorium and moderated by Venezuela Robinson, visit the website at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKFvruJ0rIU.

Read more from the Sun Press.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Three City Council incumbents face opposition from three challengers for their at-large seats in the Nov. 7 election. The winners will serve four-year terms.

All six candidates took part in a League of Women Voters forum last month that touched on everything from citywide housing and neighborhood development initiatives to current council dynamics and the future of ramshackle parking meters that have gone unused since the start of the pandemic.

Most criticism of the fledgling form of government remained constructive from the candidates, listed in alphabetical order:

-- Jon Benedict is a lifelong Cleveland Heights resident who grew up on Kingston Road with parents who were public school teachers. He now lives in Coventry. A strategic communications specialist, he works with Say Yes! Cleveland, which finds scholarships for Cleveland Metropolitan School District students.

He said council needs to do a better job of compromising and collaborating for the good of all.

As you can see, we agree on much more than we dont, Benedict said at the conclusion of the nearly two-hour program. This has been wonderfully collegial. If only City Council meetings were the same.

-- Councilwoman Janine Boyd is a Cleveland Heights Boulevard resident who returned to City Hall on appointment six months ago after serving nearly two terms as a state representative, then joining the Biden administration as Region 5 director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Boyd arrived late for the Sept. 20 forum, returning from Columbus where she was the keynote speaker for the Public Childrens Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO).

Im a policy nerd at heart, Boyd said at the forum, adding that council members need to focus on their role as legislators.

Thats what our job is -- to pass things that fill gaps and help residents and communities grow.

-- Jeanne Gordon is a Scarborough Road resident and tax attorney with a background in finance-econ, including pensions. She said she spends a lot of time looking at regulations in her line of work.

She helped draft the Citizens for an Elected Mayor charter amendment and organize the political action committee (PAC) that successfully opposed Issue 9 last spring for a proposed park where the city was already under contract for The Marquee at Cedar-Lee mixed-use development.

It comes down to efficient and transparent delivery of city services, Gordon noted.

-- Council President Melody Joy Hart, a Monmouth Road resident and certified public accountant, is seeking her second term after putting in place a robust budget process with the new administration.

In addition to co-authoring legislation that created the Racial Justice Task Force, Hart also worked on major changes in housing justice, helping to set up a diversion program that keeps homeowners with building code violations out of municipal court as they fix them with assistance from the Home Repair Resource Center (HRRC).

We need a holistic development plan for Noble, a pathway forward for Severance (Town Center) and making beat cops the norm, Hart said.

-- Councilwoman Gail Larson is running for the second time in as many years after her 2021 appointment to the vacancy created when former Council Vice President Kahlil Seren became the citys first elected mayor.

In that time, the Noble resident, with a speech pathology degree and an accounting certificate, said she has answered every email, text and phone call shes received from residents, running unopposed for the remaining year on Serens term last November.

In addition to working on Lead Safe legislation to keep children safe who live in rental units built before 1978, Larson says equitable and inclusive development for residents must prevail in Cleveland Heights.

-- Jim Petras has already gotten involved in the actual election process as secretary for the Cleveland Heights Democrats, where he noticed that when the Ohio Secretary of States office purged 124,000 residents from the voting rolls, 524 of them hailed from Cleveland Heights.

The Cedar-Fairmount resident and project director for Case Western Reserve Universitys IT division launched a Voter Outreach Committee effort to get them re-registered if they were still residents.

Petras believes that if council works together, the city still has the ability to revitalize city parks, uplift the Oxford and Caledonia neighborhoods, rejuvenate Coventry and Taylor (business districts) and finally redevelop Severance (Town Center).

Getting along

Although League of Women Voters moderator Susan Taft asked those in attendance at the Cleveland Heights Community Center to refrain from audible responses to candidates answers, some chuckles could be heard on a question asking how will you support civil and efficient City Council meetings?

Petras responded that after 20 months, council still needs to formulate its own set of rules and goals and appears adrift at sea without a rudder.

Boyd disagreed, saying that when she started on council six months ago, the initial goal was to appoint a Charter Review Commission.

From there, Boyd said council now continues to focus on remaining allocations for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), although another question dealt with delays there. Council will soon embark on 2024 budget hearings, Boyd added.

Hart said that council does have Roberts Rules of Order, but we could use more, with members now leaning more in that direction.

Decorum is important and collaboration cannot be forced, Hart added. Its the individual responsibility of council members. We need to be Team Cleveland Heights.

Pooling resources

Some of the more spirited discussions came with a question about renovating Cumberland Pool and potentially building a new aquatic facility.

Gordon said that while its a great lap pool, Cumberland does not meet the needs of families with multiple children, with no zero-depth access, a (closed) wading pool that sits too far away from the main one and deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed.

Im not looking for the Disneyland of swimming, Gordon said, just some things that make it easier for all people to enjoy water recreation.

Benedict agreed, adding that he watched a fascinating Committee-of-the-Whole meeting (Sept. 18), where officials said that Cumberland may be so far past deferred maintenance that repairs could leave it out of commission for a season.

He recalled that the community supported a $135 million bond issue for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District including a pool with public access at Heights High. It was briefly available to this community, but not any longer.

And theres no good reason why that is not the case, Benedict added. Its in the citys court to make that happen.

Hart does not see closing the pool for summer repairs without adequate alternative amenities.

While public swimming hours at the high school were held out to voters a decade ago, we dont have use of the pool now because lifeguards are needed, she said.

And the city administration and school board are not in agreement on who should pay for them, Hart added, going on to refer to the cost for lifeguards as chump change.

With the lifting of pandemic restrictions, the CH-UH school board has offered to reopen the Heights High natatorium for public swimming, but members said they are prohibited from paying for lifeguards and the city has to sell the pool passes.

We need to be delivering on the (bond issue) promise to residents and make it a reality, Hart said, adding that she plans to bring the matter up at the next joint meeting of the school board, both city councils and the Heights Library board.

There have been no joint meetings for over a year, with Gordon saying that she finds the city separated and disconnected from the school district. She and Larson said they liked the joint meetings and expressed disappointment that they have not continued.

Hart said the school district requested the halt, but there could be another session convened soon.

Other issues

Further questions dealt with housing stock and inspections, which Hart and Larson want to bring back in-house, rather than outsourcing due to a current inspector shortage.

In terms of economic development, candidates generally agreed that the recent denial of a proposed development agreement for Noble Station pointed to the need for more community input from all sections of town, as well as an updated strategy.

Larson said the city needs to move forward in the Noble neighborhood on the MayfieldTriangle, targeted for redevelopment, including the demolition of the old Hillside Dairy.

As for public safety, several candidates want the city to revisit its Vision Zero legislation, designed to eliminate traffic fatalities.

Saying that lowering the speed limit can give pedestrians and cyclists a false sense of security, Petras believes the city should also look at speed bumps, traffic tables and chicanes (traffic-calming bump-outs).

In a question addressed only to Boyd, the term-limited state representative was asked how her role on council differed from her time in the Statehouse.

The policy work is similar, Boyd said. The biggest difference on City Council is that were all pretty much on the same side -- but our differences can seem bigger than the aisle that separated the Democrats and the GOP in Columbus.

Candidates were also asked for their respective positions on parking meters, brought up by a resident at a recent meeting.

Boyd recalled talking about parking meters back in 2013 when she was on council the first time, noting that people have asked if they could at least be used to raise money for revolving charities.

Larson and Gordon questioned whether the parking meter revenues were necessary, since the city seems to be getting by without them for over three years.

Benedict said free parking is attractive in itself, but if the city needs meters, officials should consider digital replacements and get rid of the ones that are falling over.

I dont know if the parking meters are needed, Gordon said. But it looks like a hot mess out there.

To view the entire forum, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slhGRVahPhk.

Read more from the Sun Press.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael J. Russo died late Monday night after a yearlong battle with an undisclosed illness, the court announced.

Russo had been away from the bench receiving treatment for much of the past year.

Judge Michael Russo was tenacious in his efforts to overcome his medical challenges and return to the courtroom, Judge Brendan J. Sheehan, the courts administrative and presiding jurist, said in a statement. He felt it was an honor to do the work of the community that we are proud to serve each day.

Russo, 68, said while campaigning for judgeships in the late 1990s that becoming a judge was a careerlong goal.

Russo began his legal career in the Cuyahoga County prosecutors office, where he spent four years as an assistant prosecutor. He left for a job at the law firm Ulmer & Berne in 1990. He ran for a seat on the common pleas bench in 1998, challenging Republican incumbent Peggy Foley Jones. He lost by about 13,000 votes.

Russo ran again in 2002 and defeated Republican Thomas Curran. Russo took the bench in January 2003, and he has been re-elected three times.

During his career, Russo presided over a number of high-profile criminal and civil cases. He was assigned the case of Ariel Castro, who kidnapped Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus and held them captive in his Tremont home for years.

Russo also found himself at the center of a courtroom fight between Cleveland officials and the state legislature in 2012. The Republican-controlled general assembly passed a law that outlawed a Cleveland ordinance that required public construction contractors to hire city residents.

Russo ruled that the state politicians overstepped their constitutional authority in violating Clevelands home-rule rights to enforce its so-called Fannie Lewis Law.

The Ohio Supreme Court later overturned Russos decision and allowed the state law to take effect.

Retired Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy J. McGinty, who has been sitting in Russos place as visiting judge since May, will continue to oversee the docket until Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appoints a replacement.

The appointed judge must win election in 2024 to fill the remainder of the term, which expires in 2026.

Russo received his bachelors degree from the University of Dallas, a masters degree from Old Dominion University and his law degree from Cleveland State University.

Russo is the third judge in the Cuyahoga County court system to die while in office in the last two years. Common pleas judges Joseph Russo and Nancy McDonnell died less than a week apart in September and October 2021. Ohio 8th District Court of Appeals Judge Larry Jones died unexpectedly during a trip to Florida later in October 2021.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A 58-year-old man stabbed at a home in Painesville last week died from his injuries Monday, police said.

Three men were taken to the hospital with stab wounds after an argument at a home in the 150 block of East Prospect Street at approximately 10:26 p.m. Oct. 4, police said.

Gabriel Lopez-Reyes, from Painesville, was stabbed in the chest and transported to University Hospitals Tri-Point Medical Center by Fairport Harbor paramedics. He was later airlifted to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center where he died, according to the Cuyahoga County medical examiners office.

Painesville police said a 57-year-old man suffered an apparent stab wound to his abdomen and was taken by ambulance to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. A 27-year-old man suffered a laceration to the left side of his head and was taken to Hillcrest as well.

The Lake County Sheriffs Department and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification assisted Painesville Police officers in clearing the two-story residence.

The homicide investigation is ongoing and no criminal charges have been filed, police said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Painesville Police Department at 440-392-5840 or the Painesville Police Tip Line at 440-392-5839.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Starting Saturday morning, Hamas terrorists snaked out of the Gaza Strip they control, into Israel to slaughter over 900 civilian elders, children, men and women, who they raped repeatedly. They butchered over 200 young people at a music festival. There barbarism bounty includes over 100 seniors, men, women and children theyve taken hostage and vowed to execute one by one on video if their demands are not met.

There is no justification for the worst single day attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas hell-scape puts it in league with ISIS and the Nazi SS.

So, far 1,600 have been killed in the Hamas terror war, including 14 Americans. It would be the equivalent of 30,000 being killed in the United States. 30,000 U.S. elderly, children and women also raped repeatedly.

While Iran has applauded the Hamas horror show, the U.S. has not been able to confirm any direct Iran involvement, though its still suspected because of the sophisticated planning needed for the surprise attack.

Its believed the attack may have been spawned by the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which Hamas and Iran oppose. Hamas hopes to spark a wider conflict that directly brings in Hezbollah, Lebanon, Iran and Syria.

President Biden has already declared Americas full support for Israel and will address the nation Tuesday afternoon. Monday, President Biden issued a joint statement with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom condemning the attack. In part of the statement, they emphasized Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people:

All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestine alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

Shalom !
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Cleveland Orchestra has canceled its upcoming tour of Israel because of security concerns amid the countrys war with Hamas.

The orchestra was scheduled for three performances in Israel in late October -- the Haifa Auditorium (October 26); Charles Bronfman Auditorium at Tel Aviv Culture Center (October 27), and the Jerusalem Theatre (October 28). British conductor Daniel Harding, currently Music and Artistic Director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, was scheduled to lead the performances.

The safety of our musicians and staff is a top priority, and this decision was based on State Department guidelines in consultation with security advisors, the orchestra said in a statement released this morning. The orchestra will still travel to Austria to perform concerts in Vienna on October 18 and Linz on October 20.

Our thoughts are with friends and family in Israel right now, and we hope for their continued safety.

Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Most is scheduled to conduct the ensemble in his native Austria. He will then take medical leave to undergo additional medical treatment for a cancerous tumor, which was removed earlier this year. His doctors expect a full recovery, with plans for the distinguished Austrian conductor to resume his duties at the beginning of 2024.

RELATED: Daniel Harding to step in for Franz Welser-Most during Cleveland Orchestra performances in Israel
Gibraltar Literature Week 2023 - School Authors & Interviewers

As part of the varied programme of Gibraltar Literature Week 2023, schools will also be treated to visits, talks and storytelling sessions for all school ages.

Robert Santos and Clive Beltran return this year dipping into Gibraltars past, our changing urban landscape and customs and traditions. Mother and daughter writer and illustrator team, Amanda Simmons and Phoebe Noble will entertain the younger cohort with a book focusing on Gibraltar and a character that tries to overcome their struggle to fit in. Susan Cabezutto will share a message of hope to older pupils talking about people living with mental health issues. The value of reading and writing will be discussed by Sonia Golt & Audrey Alecio sharing their varied writing experiences. Levi Attias will appeal to the younger pupils with his ventriloquist puppet storytelling, as well as offering a talk on goal placement and time management for the older students. Gabriel Moreno returns to put Llanito in the spotlight, offering a session where students can discover their own Gibraltarian literary voices.

The An Audience With... interviewers will be in conversation with the featured authors. Former GBC News Editor Stephen Neish will be speaking to Her Worship the Mayor, Carmen Gomez providing insights into what drives and motivates her as a writer. Davina Barbara will delve into the benefits of reading and writing with Sonia Golt and how poetry is good for our health. Alice Mascarenhas who has supported the event from its inception, will be interviewing Richard Garcia on how he was attracted to Gibraltars social history in the first place and how he has been telling the story of Gibraltar. The Broadcast Journalist will also be joining Jonathan Pizarro to discuss how he tells Gibraltar Stories. Broadcast Journalist Clive Golt will be sharing the paparazzi experiences of his colleague Juan Carlos Teuma in a candid book that tells the story behind the photo. Broadcast Journalist, Jonathan Sacramento will be interviewing his colleague Ros Astengo on the challenges of writing and investigating a true - crime story. Louis Emmitt Stern will be sharing the set with GBCs CEO James Neish as they delve into the demands of writing for performance. And Marlene Dalli from the Equality Ministry will speak to the Heritage Trusts Claire Montado & illustrator Bea Garcia on the Women of Gibraltar, Forgotten Narratives publication.

Tickets and more details on buytickets.gi
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Columbus Day remains a federal holiday in the United States. That means dont bother checking for the mail today.

But today is no longer exclusive to Christopher Columbus. Its also Indigenous Peoples Day, which is being celebrated by more and more cities across the nation in response to the controversy surrounding the Italian explorer, including in Ohio cities such as Columbus and Akron. In 2021, Joe Biden became the first president to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day, but it still isnt a federal holiday.

This day is about reclaiming histories, Kyle Mays, an associate professor of American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, tells PBS. Its acknowledging the history of dispossession and violence against Indigenous people.

Columbus came to parts of the Americas in 1492 in search of a new sea route to bring back spices from Asia, according to history.com. He instead landed in the Bahamas, mistaking it for parts of Asia, where different groups of indigenous people were already present. Columbus and his men forced the native people into slavery and also used torture as a punishment.

HIs arrival was the onset of the colonization of the Americas, which brought deadly diseases, such as small pox and influenza, and also led to deadly conflicts that claimed the lives of millions of native people. Many people see Columbus as a symbol of the injustices that indigenous people endured through the colonization of the New World.

Still, Columbus Day has been a federal holiday since 1937, and it remains a time for many to celebrate his accomplishments and Italian-American heritage.

Here is what will be closed and open this year in Cleveland and in the region:

Federal offices: Closed.

State offices: Closed.

County and city offices: Closed.

Common pleas, municipal courts throughout the region: Closed.

U.S. Postal Service: There is no mail delivery today.

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority: The main office will be open and buses and trains will be operating on a weekday schedule.

Schools: Most school districts will be open for classes.

Libraries: Cleveland Public Library system will be open, but the Cuyahoga County Public Library system will be closed for a staff development day.

Stores: Major retail stores will be operating on regular hours.

Banks: Most banks will be closed.

Trash pickup services: There will be no disruption in trash pickup in Cleveland. For information on your communitys trash pickup schedule, contact your local city hall.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  A 34-year-old woman who worked as a child behavior analyst at an educational center is facing criminal charges after police say she sent sexual messages to a 12-year-old boy who was a student.

Franklin County Municipal Court records show Mackenzie Sokol, of Commercial Point, Ohio, has been charged with three counts of importuning, a third-degree felony. She was arrested Sunday but posted a $50,000 bond during a court appearance Monday, records show.

RELATED: Ohio social worker accused of having sex with 13-year-old boy she was counseling

WBNS Channel 10 reports Sokol was employed at Reach Education Services in Dublin. The school offers tutoring and other therapy services for children with disabilities, WBNS reports.

Investigators discovered Sokol was using Facebook to send sexual messages and photos to the boy, WCMH Channel 4 reports. Sokol and the boy also messaged three times about arranging a meeting in order to engage in sexual activity, police tell WCMH.

WBNS reports that Sokol and the boy messaged about the legality of their relationship but said they would only get in trouble if they were caught.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Eleven of the 19 members of the Ohio State Board of Education met Tuesday for a monthly meeting and composed a list of questions they want answered to provide clarity over how the states education system is being run.

The meeting continued the weekslong murkiness over who is controlling Ohios K-12 agency, and whether those who are running it are complying with a court order prohibiting the state from making several changes.

State lawmakers, in the budget they passed in late June, removed most of the powers the Ohio State Board of Education has over education policy and put them under a new agency, called the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) which is to be under Gov. Mike DeWines control. The move came less than a year after three Democrats were elected to the state board.

The budget specified the changes were to begin last week. But on Sept. 19, five board members, parents and others sued to halt the transition, stating among other arguments that it violates a 1953 constitutional amendment that voters passed that created the state school board, believing education policy had become too political.

Franklin County Judge Karen Held Phipps has issued two temporary restraining orders barring the state from following four of the changes the legislature passed to create the new agency and gut the state board. The temporary restraining order now expires Oct. 20.

On Tuesday, 11 members met, coming from both conservative and liberal backgrounds, factions that in the past have bitterly battled over culture wars in schools. All the members who attended were elected to the board, except for Walt Davis, a Cincinnati-area member who was appointed by DeWine.

Board President Paul LaRue of Fayette County and Vice President Martha Manchester of Logan County were not present. LaRue last week announced the meeting was indefinitely postponed after advice from legal counsel. But by Sunday, 11 members decided to hold the October meeting, saying that LaRue hadnt followed the boards policy for postponing meetings.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com was unable to contact LaRue for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesdays meeting, even though there was a quorum, was not a typical meeting. No one from the Ohio Channel was present to broadcast the meeting. No Department of Education staff was present to update the board on agency programs. Minutes before the meeting began, Jessica Voltolini, the departments chief of staff, talked briefly to board member Brendan Shea, who chaired the meeting, that under advice of counsel no staff would be present.

At the beginning Shea, a conservative who is not a plaintiff in the litigation, explained why the 11 members decided to hold the meeting.

Regarding the pending litigation, members are concerned that President LaRues indefinite postponement of Octobers duly scheduled business meeting could violate a temporary restraining order from Franklin County Judge Karen Phipps, he said.

The 11 board members composed a list of questions that they voted to send LaRue and Manchester. Among the questions:

- Who directed Voltolini to tell Ohio Department of Education staff to not show up to the Tuesday meeting?

-Has board leadership been in contact with the governors office or ODE regarding the potential transition to DEW since September 19, 2023 (when the lawsuit was filed,) and if so, what subjects were discussed?

- Does Ohio have an interim superintendent? And if we do, does he work for the board?

- Will board leadership provide copies of the contract or memoranda of understanding prepared for ODE transition to the DEW?

- Was board leadership told to postpone the October meeting or did LaRue make that decision on his own? If he was told, who is the person who told him to do so?

Parties in the lawsuit are still awaiting clarity from Phipps, the Franklin County judge, over details regarding the temporary restraining order. Shortly after Phipps extended the order, the school board members and other plaintiffs in the case sought clarity.

DeWine maintains that the Ohio Department of Education ended last week and became DEW, not because he created it but because its formation was in state law. He also maintains that he has followed the judges order by not appointing a director over DEW or shifting other functions of K-12 system to his cabinet. He said hes ensured Ohios education system continues to run, with payments being sent to public schools, officials reviewing applications for private school vouchers, among other functions traditionally handled by the Ohio Department of Education.

The plaintiffs believe he could be flouting the court order.

A spokesman for DeWine on Tuesday did not answer specific questions about Tuesdays meeting and the status of the K-12 education agency, just emphasizing that the judge chose just four education laws to prohibit the state from following, instead of all of them, which is what the plaintiffs wanted.

Court records show Phipps has written an order providing more guidance, but the paperwork hasnt yet been made public.

Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Upset that a Democratic colleague is flying a Palestinian flag outside her office after Saturdays Hamas attack on Israel, Rocky River GOP Rep. Max Miller is introducing a legislative amendment that would ban Congressional offices from spending tax dollars on non-US flags.

The amendment that Miller wants to attach to an upcoming legislative branch spending bill would limit flags bought with money the bill contains to the flag of the United States, the flag or pennant of any state or territory or possession of the United States, or the POW-MIA flag.

The halls of Congress belong to America. Miller said in a social media post. They should be reserved for flags that embody our great nation. The Palestinian flag should not have a place here. Thats why I sponsored an appropriations amendment to end this silliness.

Millers office said he authored the amendment in response to a published report that U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is flying a Palestinian flag outside her office. Cleveland.com has reached out to Tlaibs press spokesperson for comment on Millers actions.

Tlaib, whose parents are Palestinian immigrant parents, is known for criticizing Israels treatment of Palestinians. After the attack, she posted a statement on Instagram to express grief about the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost, calling for peace, and seeking an end to the occupation and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.

She is also a close ally of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilan Omar, whom Miller successfully sought to remove from the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year over remarks he views as antisemitic.

Miller is one of two Jewish Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. He visited Israel earlier this year with a bipartisan congressional delegation led by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California.

After the attack on Israel, Miller called for the U.S. to strongly support Israels right to exist in peace & safety.

Democrats & Republicans must condemn the Iranian backed Hamas war crimes. Miller continued in a social media statement. Terrorists should have no safe place.

Other Congress members who represent northeast Ohio also condemned the Hamas attack.

These acts of terrorism are an affront to human rights and our shared values of peace and democracy, said a statement from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat. I want to be clear: Israel is our oldest, strongest ally in the region and has the right to exist and the right to self-defense. I will keep working with both parties to ensure continued support for Israel.

U.S. Sen. JD Vance, a Cincinnati Republican, issued a statement that said the United States must unequivocally condemn these heinous acts of violence against innocent civilians and the Iranian regime for funding the terrorists who carried them out.

Today, it is of utmost importance that the United States stand with our allies in Israel and offer our prayers for the victims of these attacks, Vance continued. We must also recognize the intent behind these acts of war. As our allies in Israel strive for peace in the Middle East, the Iranians hope these attacks will undermine the progress our allies have made toward stability in the region.

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, a South Russell Republican, called for Congress to move swiftly to enact the funding bills passed by the House of Representatives that contain billions in security aid for Israel.

The US must stand firm in support of Israels right to defend themselves against this evil terrorist attack, said a social media statement from Joyce.

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, a Bowling Green Republican, urged the United States to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our greatest ally in the Middle East as they defend themselves from this abhorrent and unjust attack on their people.

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, a Warrensville Heights Democrat, strongly condemned the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel, and called for the United States to continue to stand with Israel in its defense.

U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, posted a social media statement that said she stands with Israel and share my deep commitment to supporting the state of Israel. We will not let terrorists win.

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
OTTAWA, Ill.  Dorothy Hoffner, who earlier this month became the oldest person to ever skydive at the age of 104 years old, has died.

Hoffners death Monday night was announced by Skydive Chicago and the U.S. Parachute Association, both of which assisted with her record-setting freefall on Oct. 1 in Ottawa, Illinois.

We are deeply saddened by Dorothys passing and feel honored to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality, Skydive Chicago and USPA said in a statement, CBS News reports. Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tucked away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that its never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime. We are forever grateful that skydiving was a part of her exciting, well-lived life. Her legacy is even more remarkable because of the attention the world gave to her inspiring story.

Skydive Chicago is collaborating with the Guinness Book of World Records to have Hoffners skydive certified as the official record for oldest person in the world to tandem skydive. The previous record was set by a 103-year-old skydiver in Sweden in 2022, according to NBC Chicago.

RELATED: Man eats 50 Carolina Reaper peppers in new Guinness World Records fastest time

Hoffners tandem skydive on Oct. 1 at age 104 wasnt her first jump, though. She previously went skydiving at age 100, according to reports.

What has age got to do with what youre doing? Hoffner told the Chicago Sun-Times one day after her jump on Oct. 1. Im 104 years old, so what?

Hoffner was due to celebrate her 105th birthday in December. She never married and she never had children.

RELATED: Billionaire philanthropist who donated $8B fortune dies at 92

Im an unclaimed treasure, she told Today after her jump earlier this month. I dont know how life would have been (with a husband) and I dont think I even contemplated it.  Everyone is different. You dont know how it turns out and you have to decide for yourself what to like.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  A state-level effort to squash an upcoming Cleveland charter amendment that would grant citizens direct control over a sliver of the citys budget is dead, House Speaker Jason Stephens said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Stephens, a Lawrence County Republican, said Senate Bill 158 will not pass through the House before the Nov. 7 election. The bill already has passed the state Senate and was awaiting movement in the House.

No, it is not on the [House floor] agenda tomorrow, Stephens said.

This neutralizes a major threat that has hung over the Peoples Budget amendment, which would set aside about 2% of the citys general fund each year  about $14 million based on this years budget  to give residents control over how its spent via a voting process overseen by an 11-person steering committee.

The state legislation, sponsored by Kirtland Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino, prohibited localities from any budgeting scheme that would allow public funds to be distributed or otherwise disbursed by a vote of residents.

Cirino, who grew up in Cleveland but doesnt represent the city, previously called the proposal an affront to the city councils fiscal responsibility and an egregious attempt to strip it of its duty. He didnt respond to an inquiry Tuesday about Stephens remarks.

City Mayor Justin Bibb and Council President Blaine Griffin oppose the Peoples Budget amendment, warning it could force cuts to critical city services like first responders, though Bibbs administration also opposed the state effort to quash it on the principles of home-rule power. The Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association, representing police officers, warned it could take officers off the streets amid an ongoing labor shortage. Other unions have announced their opposition as well.

Proponents of the idea say giving limited budgetary control to citizens will make government more responsive to the needs of the people, foster civic engagement, and boost voter turnout, which has lagged in the city.

The Ohio Senate quickly voted on SB158 late last month less than 10 days after it was introduced. It passed 25-6, with 24 Republicans and one Democrat in support. It would have needed 50 votes to pass in the House but 66 votes to skip over the typical 90-day waiting period and take effect before the elections. It would also need approval from the governor.

Stephens, the House Speaker, said he thinks its important that taxpayers money is spent transparently, but that decisions ought to be made by elected officials who are accountable to voters. However, when asked whether SB158 might pass after the November elections, he said no, citing a potential violation of the home rule provision in Ohios Constitution which reserves certain powers to local governments.

But he left the door open to considering what he called proofs and controls on city spending.

Thats what well have to look at as time goes on, he said.

Jake Zuckerman covers state and local politics for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
JERUSALEM  Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.

In the wars third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri  around 10% of its population  after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings.

The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel.

Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists  a massive mobilization in a short time.

The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.

We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

Israeli firefighters in Ashkelon, Israel, extinguish a fire Monday at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. (Tsafrir Abayov, Associated Press)AP

As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israels southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house.

In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp.

Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods  a sign of Hamas reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded.

Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel.

An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries.

Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gazas 2.3 million people have left their homes  the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000.

UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others.

In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital.

Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed.

New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front.

Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border.

After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning.

He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers.

Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N.
(The Center Square)  Opposition is mounting as Louisianas Board of Elementary and Secondary Education prepares for a final vote next week on a proposal to allow students who failed state tests to graduate by other means.

The proposal published in the Louisiana Register aims to allow students not meeting the current graduation standard to complete a project or portfolio that their teacher would grade. With a passing grade, students would receive a diploma that would count toward their schools accountability rating score.

For roughly 30 years, students have had to earn 10-38% of available points on state tests to earn a diploma, which served as a safeguard against turning out graduates who cant read or do basic math.

Public comment on the proposal has been overwhelmingly opposed to the change, with 16 letters from citizens and organizations across the state pushing back on the plan. Cade Brumley, the state superintendent, has also joined the chorus with a letter to the board describing the proposal as "bad public policy," urging members to "abandon the rulemaking process."

"At its core, the proposed graduation appeals process dangerously signals to our state and nation that Louisianas educational system is incapable of providing  and students are unable to attain  a minimum standard of proficiency in required subjects," he wrote.

"We should continue the exploration and expansion of academic and support options for students, not impose a government-sanctioned excuse for mediocrity."

Brumley also outlined several "missteps" in creating the proposed rule, including failure to consult the Accountability Council, inadequate input from stakeholders such as teachers and business leaders who would be impacted, and failure to consult with the Senate and House finance committees that would be required to appropriate funds for the changes.

Proponents of the plan, led by state board President Holly Boffy, elected to District 7, and board member Belinda Davis, appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, argue some students simply struggle with tests but understand the content. Others have argued the tests are unfair for minorities.

"There are many examples throughout the state of students with unique testing difficulties being tested repeatedly without success, despite having a strong understanding of the content," Boffy said this summer. "The goal of the policy  is to provide an appeals process for these students in confirming their graduation eligibility and readiness for postsecondary opportunities."

Opponents including the Pelican Institute, ExcelinEd in Action, Greater New Orleans Inc., Business Council of New Orleans, and numerous citizens who have weighed in argue the change will further distort the states accountability system and ultimately result in less focus on helping students achieve basic proficiency.

Statewide, just over a third of Louisiana public high schools students perform on grade level, yet 70% of schools are rated "A" or "B," a situation that has prompted efforts to reform the system.

"The new appeals process would lower the bar for graduates, put them at a disadvantage and harm those students who need the most help," Katherine Munal, legislative director for ExcelinEd in Action, wrote in her comments to the board.

"One way or another, Louisiana must stay the course in improving its educational system and truly empowering its people with opportunity that comes from receiving a great education," Erin Bendily, vice president for policy and strategy at the Pelican Institute, wrote this week in a commentary on the plan. "Workarounds and waivers wont help our children prepare for an increasingly demanding world and it certainly wont make for a strong Louisiana workforce and economy."

The board is expected to vote on the plan when it meets on Oct. 10 and 11. A prior vote to move forward with the policy was 6-5, with Edwards three appointees joining with three elected members.
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Maggie Doherty in The Yale Review:

NEARLY ALL REVOLUTIONS start with a meeting. When a group of female journalists gathered at Gloria Steinems uptown Manhattan apartment in the winter of 1971, they were facing a common problem: none of them could get real stories about women published. The male editors of the major womens magazinescalled the seven sisters, like the collegeswould not accept pitches that did anything other than advise readers to be better, happier, more productive housewives and mothers. General-interest publications, also edited by men, were no better: according to Steinem, her editor at The New York Times Sunday Magazine rejected all her pitches for political stories, saying something like, dont think of you that way. Fed up and fired up, the journalists decided to start their own publication. But what kind of publication would they create, and for what kind of reader? Steinem proposed a newsletter, the kind of low-budget, low-circulation flyer that many feminist groups in New York City favored. But the lawyer and activist Brenda Feigen suggested something different: We should do a slick magazine, something colorful and glossy that could be sold on newsstands nationwide.

Not everyone was keen on the idea. As Vivian Gornick recalled forty years later, Radical feminists like me, Ellen Willis, and Jill Johnstonhad a different kind of magazine in mind, one that might argue against the institutions of marriage and motherhood. When it became clear that Steinem and others wanted a glossy that would appeal to the women who read the Ladies Home Journal, Gornick and her radical sisters bowed out. But others hoped that a glossy magazine might strengthen the feminist movement. Letty Cottin Pogrebin thought a slick magazine could be a stealth strategy to normalize or mainstream our message. As a riposte to The New York Times, which until 1986 refused to refer to a woman by anything other than Mrs. or Miss, they decided to call their magazine Ms.

More here.
Republican presidential candidate former Texas Congressman Will Hurd speaks to guests at the Republican Party of Iowa 2023 Lincoln Dinner on July 28, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Former Rep. Will Hurd of Texas on Monday suspended his presidential campaign, becoming the second notable GOP candidate to end his run for the Republican nomination.

"Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign," Hurd said in a statement announcing the suspension of his campaign.

Hurd struggled to gain momentum from the start. The former Texas congressman garnered some attention with his consistent criticism of former President Donald Trump, but he failed to qualify for both GOP debates so far. Now, he's calling on the rest of the Republican field to follow his lead so that the party's voters can consolidate behind a Trump alternative.

"It is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump" and President Joe Biden, Hurd said in his statement.
Advanced Micro Devices announced Tuesday it will acquire Nod.AI, an open-source artificial intelligence software startup, to expand the chipmaker's AI software operations.

Nod.AI, or Nod Labs, builds open-source technologies "for future AI systems," according to the startup, and it mainly specializes in reinforcement learning, a type of system that "learns" via trial and error.

The acquisition is part of AMD's "AI growth strategy" that it hopes will better shore up its competition against rival chipmaker Nvidia , which saw its revenue spike more than 100% year over year for the quarter ending July 30, 2023. During the same period, AMD reported a revenue decline of 18% but still beat analysts' estimates for sales and profit.

The acquisition is expected to close this quarter, an AMD spokesperson told CNBC.

"Nod.ai's team of industry experts is known for their substantial contributions to open-source AI software and deep expertise in AI model optimizations," an AMD spokesperson told CNBC, adding that the deal "augments AMD's AI software capabilities."

Prior to founding Nod in 2013, Anush Elangovan, the startup's CEO, was part of the first Chromebooks team at Google and a lead engineer at Cisco. Harsh Menon, Nod's co-founder and chief technology officer, previously worked at Kitty Hawk, the electric aircraft company backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, which shut down in 2022.

Nod Labs was initially billed as an AI hardware company focusing on gesture recognition and motion-tracking wearables, such as Bluetooth-connected rings for use in gaming  think: Making a real-life hand gesture using your thumb and forefinger to shoot a gun in a virtual reality game. The startup raised millions in funding from venture capital firms such as Menlo Ventures and Sequoia Capital, and team members reportedly hailed from Apple, Google, Samsung and more.

Nod.AI did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden denounced Hamas' attacks as terrorism and said the United States stands with Israel. "There are moments in this life, I mean this literally, when a pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. People of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend," Biden said. "This was an act of sheer evil: More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered, not just killed, slaughtered in Israel. Among them at least 14 American citizens were killed," he added. The militant group Hamas over the weekend launched a surprise land, air and sea attack on Israeli civilians, sparking retaliatory airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamas' attack on Israel "a terrible mistake" and warned the retaliatory strikes were "just the beginning." "The brutality of Hamas, its bloodthirstiness, brings to mind the worst, worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism," Biden said. "Sadly for the Jewish people, this is not new."

Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip

The death toll from the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 1,800, with over 1,000 killed and 2,700 injured in Israel and at least 830 people killed and 4,250 injured in Gaza, according to Palestinian and Israeli health services. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Netanyahu Tuesday morning to discuss coordinated efforts to provide support to the country under siege. Biden has held nearly 30 internal meetings and calls with U.S. and international officials since the violence began and said he is pressing Congress for "urgent action" when it returns to session. Speaking Tuesday from the White House, Biden confirmed there are Americans among the hostages being held by Hamas. The president noted Hamas is threatening to execute the hostages "in violation of every code of human morality."

U.S. President Joe Biden makes remarks after speaking by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in Israel following Hamas' deadly attacks, from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S. October 10, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Workers install solar panels during the completion phase of a 4-acre solar rooftop atop AltaSea's research and development facility at the Port of Los Angeles, in the San Pedro neighborhood, on April 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday gave the greenlight for the state's transportation and energy officials to figure out how to install solar panels, battery storage and other renewable energy sites along highways.

The bill, named SB 49, commissions California's Department of Transportation to establish clear guidelines for companies and public agencies to develop highway-side renewable energy.

SB 49 gives the department until the end of 2025 to collaborate with the state's utilities and energy agencies to "evaluate the suitability" of the empty land along the state's highways for renewable energy production and storage sites.

According to the state's Department of Transportation, California has 250 state highways containing more than 15,000 miles of road.

The empty land alongside those roads could be used to generate one gigawatt of potential solar energy, which could power over 270,000 California homes, according to a joint report from Environment California, a nonprofit backer of SB 49, and highway solar advocate The Ray.

The bill will also require the interagency analysis to assess inhibiting factors like existing laws or safety issues, along with helping "establish a process for entities interested in leasing" the highway's land for renewable energy development.

State legislators passed SB 49 in September and had since been awaiting the governor's signature.

State Sen. Josh Becker, the original author of the bill, called it a "win-win-win." SB 49, he said in a statement, will help California develop more renewable energy, all while creating new green jobs and extra state revenue.

California would join several other states in developing roadside renewables.

In 2008, Oregon became the first state to develop a solar highway project, which now has nearly 600 solar panels. Since then, 36 states and 15 countries have contacted Oregon to explore creating similar programs, according to the state's website.

Using empty space along highways to install clean energy sites would help alleviate pressure on the state's deserts where many solar panels are currently housed.

SB 49 was among a flurry of climate bills that received Gov. Newsom's signature over the weekend, including two high-profile corporate disclosure bills that, starting in 2026, will require companies to annually report their carbon emissions and the financial impact of climate change on their business.
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Caroline Ellison, the former head of Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto hedge fund and the government's star witness in the criminal fraud case against the FTX founder, testified Tuesday that she and her ex-boss defrauded customers, investors and lenders. "Yes, we did," Ellison said, when Danielle Sassoon, assistant U.S. attorney, asked if she committed a crime. "I mean Sam and I and others." From a courthouse in downtown Manhattan, Ellison then listed her crimes: "fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering." Ellison, who ran Alameda Research, pleaded guilty in December to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Part of the 28-year-old's plea deal with the government has involved cooperating with the prosecution's case against Bankman-Fried. Ellison's testimony started at 12:37 p.m. and lasted less than 10 minutes before the court broke for lunch. It resumed a little after 2 p.m. and ran for two separate hourlong blocks in the afternoon. Prosecutors said Ellison will likely be on the stand for most of Wednesday as well. Donning a red dress with a loose gray blazer and glasses, Ellison provided a brief background of how she got to know Bankman-Fried. They met when she was an intern at Jane Street, a proprietary trading firm in New York. They later worked together at Alameda and dated for a couple of years, she said, adding that Bankman-Fried was her boss during that time. Ellison was one of Bankman-Fried's earliest recruits to Alameda in 2017. Bankman-Fried had reportedly convinced the Stanford graduate to ditch her job at Jane Street to join Alameda as a trader when the hedge fund was still in its original office in the San Francisco Bay area.

Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, center, arrives at court in New York on Oct. 10, 2023. Yuki Iwamura | Bloomberg | Getty Images

When asked by Sassoon to identify the defendant, Ellison stood up and, for almost 30 seconds, looked around the room. She turned her head all the way to the left to the jury box and back to the right again multiple times before finally identifying Bankman-Fried as sitting "over there and wearing a suit." The two hadn't made eye contact when Ellison walked by earlier. Bankman-Fried, who was known for his floppy hair and beach shorts, got a fresh haircut prior to the trial, reportedly from a fellow inmate at the jail in Brooklyn where he has been held since August. Ellison said Bankman-Fried was the original CEO and owner of Alameda. "Sam directed me to commit these crimes," she said. He "directed us to take customer money to pay loans." Bankman-Fried, 31, faces seven federal charges, including wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering, all tied to the collapse of FTX and Alameda late last year. If convicted in the trial that began a week ago, Bankman-Fried could spend his life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.

'We don't really have money for this'

Central to the case against Bankman-Fried is the billions of dollars that flowed from customer accounts at FTX to Alameda, which had a massive hole in its balance sheet after the crypto markets turned in 2022. Ellison said Alameda took several billion dollars from FTX customers and that Bankman-Fried had not only set up a system to steal the funds, but also directed Ellison and others to use customer funds to repay loans in the ballpark of $10 billion. "We ultimately took around $14 billion, some of which we were able to pay back," she said. "I sent balance sheets to lenders at the direction of Sam that incorrectly stated Alameda's assets and liabilities." She said the numbers were adjusted to make Alameda look less risky as an investment. Following lunch recess, Ellison was asked about her relationship with Bankman-Fried. She said they began dating in the summer of 2021 though they had been sleeping together from time to time before that. The relationship was on-again, off-again until the spring of 2022, when they broke up for good. Ellison said she quickly discovered after being hired that Alameda was in much worse shape than she'd anticipated. The firm had suffered large losses, lenders had pulled out and many employees had quit. Regarding the comingling of funds, Ellison said Bankman-Fried was still CEO of Alameda when the practice of funneling money from FTX to the hedge fund began. Ellison said she was under the impression that it was FTX customer money because the sums exceeded the exchange's profits and the amount of capital it had raised. In mid-2021, when FTX bought equity in the company back from rival exchange and early investor Binance, it used $1 billion in customer money for the transaction, Ellison testified. That followed an in-person conversation between Ellison, Bankman-Fried and Sam Trabucco, Alameda's co-CEO.

In this courtroom sketch, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan presides over the fraud trial of Sam Bankman-Fried over the collapse of FTX, the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, at Federal Court in New York City on Oct. 3, 2023. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters

"We don't really have money for this," Ellison recalled saying. "We'll have to borrow from FTX to do it." Bankman-Fried told her that was OK because it was important and "we have to get it done," she said. Enter the FTT token. Bankman-Fried created the digital coin and Alameda initially owned 60% to 70% of the supply, having paid nothing for it. In the heyday of crypto, projects commonly created their own currencies, which often traded on various exchanges in a fashion similar to stocks. When the FTT token was offered in a seed round, the price was 10 cents. By the time it went public on exchanges in 2019, the price was $1. FTT eventually traded at about $50 a token, lifting Alameda's stake to billions of dollars. Ellison said she was instructed to put FTT coins on Alameda's balance sheet to get more loans from companies like Genesis. Ellison testified that she thought the move was misleading, though she said Bankman-Fried reassured her that it would be a separate item and it was OK. Other crypto coins were also added to Alameda's balance sheet and were internally called "Sam coins." Solana and Serum were examples. Another problem Ellison highlighted was the roughly $5 billion in personal loans that Alameda gave to insiders, including a $35 million loan to former top FTX executive Ryan Salame that went to donations for Republican political candidates. Ellison said she learned of the loans when she was preparing Alameda's balance sheets. Ellison said she was concerned about the loans because they were going to really "illiquid things like early-stage companies." Due to the structure of the loans, they could be called at any time, creating the risk that Alameda would be pushed into bankruptcy. "Sam directed us to borrow as much money as we could at whatever terms we could," she testified. Ellison said her analysis showed that Alameda had $9.4 billion in loans from third-party lenders, and $8 billion in liquid assets. Subtracting "Sam's coins," the net asset value was negative $2.7 billion. Bankman-Fried gained attention for his hefty political donations, which he said were "very effective," with "very high returns in terms of influence by spending relatively small amounts," according to Ellison. She gave the example of a $10 million donation from Bankman-Fried to U.S. President Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Ellison testified that her base salary was $200,000, with two bonuses a year, ranging from $100,000 to $20 million. She also received compensation in FTX equity, equal to about 0.5% of the company.  CNBC's Dawn Giel contributed to this report. WATCH: Caroline Ellison testifies Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to commit crimes

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The Xpeng G9 SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, April 18, 2023.

Chinese automaker Xpeng on Tuesday said it suspended Li Feng, its vice president in charge of supply chains, for a corruption probe.

"Xpeng has a strict stance against corrupt activities. We remain vigilant in identifying and rectifying any instances of corruption promptly," a spokesperson for the company told CNBC.

"We would like to clarify that our recent internal anti-corruption measures implemented by the company are a part of our continuous commitment to promoting ethical conduct and integrity and this incident has had limited impact and will not disrupt our business or production processes."

Feng oversaw procurement at the Chinese electric vehicle maker.

Xpeng shares were up around 2% in pre-market trade on Wednesday.
A woman spreads cocoa beans during the sun-drying process in the backyard of her house in Asikasu, Ghana on December 19, 2020. Cristina Aldehuela | Afp | Getty Images

El Nino is here to stay  and that's bad news for cocoa crops which are highly sensitive to weather changes. Frequent extreme weather events caused by El Nino and climate change hurts cocoa production. Hotter temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns can also damage cocoa pod development and promote the spread of pests and diseases. According to the the latest El Nino-Southern Oscillation Outlook, El Nino is expected to last through January to March 2024, with a 71% chance it will intensify from November to January. An intensified and frequent El Nino effect could significantly reduce the amount of arable land for cocoa cultivation. This not only poses a threat to food security, but also endangers the livelihoods of farmers, especially those in West African countries, which are most at risk from extreme weather changes. "El Nino conditions are often historically associated with drier conditions in West Africa where three-quarters of the world's cocoa is produced," Jonathan Haines, research director at Gro Intelligence told CNBC.

Top cocoa producers

Cocoa comes from the seed of the cacao tree and is an essential ingredient for chocolates. But it's not only used in food and confectionery. Cocoa butter  a byproduct of cocoa processing  is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for skincare products and cosmetics.

Cocoa farmers facing critical decisions may start looking to higher-altitude regions where the weather is more favorable for cocoa cultivation... Kerry Daroci Rainforest Alliance

Africa accounts for nearly 75% of global cocoa production, while the Americas  including Brazil and Ecuador  make up 20%, according to the International Cocoa Organization. Asia-Pacific produces the remaining 5%, with Indonesia and Papua New Guinea being the largest producers in the region. West Africa's Cote d'Ivoire  or the Ivory Coast  is the world's largest cocoa producer, accounting for about 44% of global production, while neighboring Ghana accounts for about 14%.

Cost of climate change

As temperatures soar, more and more suitable cacao cultivation areas will be pushed uphill by 2050, according to Climate.gov, a climate change science and information portal run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With the optimal altitude for cacao cultivation expected to rise, cocoa farmers may be forced to move harvests to higher ground. "Cocoa farmers facing critical decisions may start looking to higher-altitude regions where the weather is more favorable for cocoa cultivation, or some may decide to leave cocoa cultivation altogether," Kerry Daroci, the cocoa sector lead at the Rainforest Alliance, told CNBC. The financial damage of climate change can be extremely costly, especially since top cocoa-producers like Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia, are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

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According to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a high intensity El Nino may result in severe economic disruption across Africa. Businesses in the agricultural sector are also at risk from an increase in farm input prices that can drive up overhead costs. The financial cost of El Nino and climate change remains unquantified for Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. However, as profits from cocoa make up 70% to 100% of Ghanaian cocoa producers' income, any decline in yields will have a substantial impact on their livelihoods, said Daroci from the Rainforest Alliance. West African producers aren't the only ones impacted. "In Indonesia, climate change is reducing productivity by approximately 50%, leading to an estimated loss of $666 per hectare, affecting up to one million hectares," Daroci added.

We have reached a juncture in the climate crisis where harm reduction is no longer enough. Kerry Daroci Rainforest Alliance

As it stands, cocoa prices have already surged to "high premiums," according to the International Cocoa Organization. At the end of August, cocoa futures settled at $3,730 per tonne in London, and $3,633 per tonne in New York, ICCO's latest data showed. That's a 78% jump from $2,095 per tonne in London a year ago and a nearly 50% year-on-year surge from $2,427 per tonne in New York. "This represents the highest nearby contract price for the 2022/23 season," the report said. Prices of cocoa are at their highest in 50 years, according to a Reuters report.

Adaptation and mitigation

Climate change is not a new phenomenon, but the impact of an intensified El Nino this year has made it more urgent to stem its adverse impact on cocoa production. "We have reached a juncture in the climate crisis where harm reduction is no longer enough," said Daroci. Agricultural adaptation and mitigation efforts are some ways to tackle specific climate threats  but they can be costly. Climate adaptation refers to adjusting processes and structures to prevent or minimize potential damages caused by climate change. Mitigation involves lessening the impact of climate change by cutting down on emissions of greenhouse gases.

"Research indicates that investments in these initiatives must triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2050," Daroci said. "This would result in a total investment of up to $8.1 trillion over time, with an annual investment rate of $536 billion in the future." "Despite the urgent need to invest in nature-based solutions, a significant funding gap remains," she added. Separately, a report by the Environmental Protection Agency  an independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for environmental protection matters  underscored financing as a key challenge to investing in adaptation in Ghana. "The understanding of climate change in main cocoa producing countries like West Africa and Indonesia, is very rudimentary," Steffany Bermudez, policy advisor at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, told CNBC.

Helping cocoa farmers

Additionally, adaptation methods often do not have immediate returns, and that deters financial institutions from investing in these areas. "Private sector capital can be instrumental in the adoption of actions to adapt to climate change," Bermudez said, adding that support from the private sector can be "a bridge for engagement with key financiers to build the sector's resilience." Projects and initiatives organized by non-profit organizations can also help alleviate the financial burden on cocoa farmers learning to adapt to climate change.

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Peltz called off his previous proxy fight in February, choosing to give just-back CEO Bob Iger time to turn things around at Disney. Since then, however, shares have fallen roughly 24% as the company struggles to make streaming profitable.

If you like this story, sign up for Jim Cramer's Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free .

Troubled Disney (DIS) is facing a new fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz over board seats and the direction of the company  efforts that CNBC's Jim Cramer welcomes.

So some nine months later, the Trian Fund Management founder is back at it  seeking multiple board seats and looking to push his turnaround ideas. Peltz also expanded his stake in Disney to some 30 million shares, according to CNBC reporting, worth more than $2.5 billion at current prices of around $85 each. Last week, Disney stock reached a 52-week low below $79.

Cramer said Tuesday that Disney, a holding in the CNBC Investing Club portfolio, has been declining for some time now, so it makes sense why shareholders would question its value. "Peltz correctly noticed that the stock is down huge and that's probably not right," Cramer added.
Wall Street analysts expect defense stocks will continue to move higher as a result of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war making it less likely Congress will delay or curb the nation's defense budget. Defense stocks have underperformed as a group this year amid concerns that partisan divisions in Washington point to lower military spending. For example, the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is down more than 6% in the past three months, even after climbing 4.5% Monday in its best day this year. The defense exchange-traded fund gained another 0.7% Tuesday. ITA 5D mountain ITA Many Wall Street analysts now anticipate the conflict along the Gaza-Israel border will support the passage of the Defense Department spending bill for fiscal 2024 by the end of this year. On Monday, the Pentagon said it is working with major U.S. defense contractors to fill Israeli weapon orders. "From the perspective of the DoD budget, the events over the last few days likely provide a smoother path to seeing a 2024 DoD budget done before year-end, and one which either explicitly bypasses spending caps, or provides emergency funding/supplements that indirectly bypass them," Deutsche Bank's Scott Deuschle wrote Tuesday. "This is a clear positive for the entire sector, and meaningfully weakens the bear case on defense, which was heavily contingent on slowing DoD budget growth," Deuschle added. Elsewhere, Citi analyst Jason Gursky said Monday that "the potential for near-peer conflict is likely to accelerate military modernization as the U.S. invests in the tools of deterrence." Some analysts disagree, though they appear to be in the minority. Notably, Bernstein analyst Douglas Harned doesn't expect the Israel-Hamas conflict will change the path of U.S. defense spending. He cited prior conflicts, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, that didn't end up boosting the defense budget. "The broader focus of the Pentagon and Congress has been on China as a much greater threat, as well as other situations, which include Russia as a global threat (beyond just Ukraine), North Korea, and the Middle East," Harned wrote Tuesday. "One should not expect the Israel situation alone to substantially change that path." LMT 5D mountain Lockheed Martin Regardless, Wall Street broadly anticipates defense stocks could continue rising from current levels. Deutsche Bank expects that Northrop Grumman , which gained 11% Monday, is "arguably one of the largest beneficiaries of an improved ability to get a 2024 DoD budget done." Morgan Stanley has a $532 price target on Lockheed Martin , implying more than 20% upside from Monday's closing price. Deutsche Bank expects increased demand from Israeli Defense Forces could support buying both F-16 and F-35 aircraft. Lockheed shares are down more than 10% this year but gained more than 8% Monday. L3Harris Technologies could see more demand for its ground warfare products including Army radios and night vision goggles, according to Deutsche Bank. It's lower by 14% this year but popped 9% Monday.
X CEO Elon Musk leaves a U.S. Senate bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 2023. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images

A European regulator has issued Elon Musk a stern warning about the spread of illegal content and disinformation on X, formerly known as Twitter, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Failure to comply with the European regulations around illegal content could result in fines worth 6% of a company's annual revenue. Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for the internal market, said in a letter addressed to Musk on Tuesday that his office has "indications" that groups are spreading misinformation and "violent and terrorist" content on X, and urged the billionaire to respond within a 24-hour period. The letter comes after numerous researchers, news organizations and other groups have documented a rise of misleading, false and questionable content on X, creating confusion about the current conflict.

Breton shared his letter via an X post, tagging Musk's handle and including a hashtag that refers to the Digital Services Act, the newly enacted legislation by the European Commission  the executive arm of the European Union  that requires platforms with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU to monitor for and take down illegal content as well as detail their protocols for doing so. He reminded Musk in the letter that the DSA "sets very precise obligations regarding content moderation," and that X needs "to be very transparent and clear on what content is permitted under your terms and consistently and diligently enforce your own policies."

EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan July 3, 2023. Issei Kato | Reuters

The commissioner said that recent "changes in public interest policies" caused confusion in "many European users." Breton seemed to be referring to a change that X made over the weekend to its public interest policy that influences whether the company decides to leave certain posts available for everyone to see despite the messages violating policy rules. "Public media and civil society organisations widely report instances of fake and manipulated images and facts circulating on your platform in the EU, such as repurposed old images of unrelated armed conflicts or military footage that actually originated from video games," the letter said. "This appears to be manifestly false or misleading information." Breton said that he wants Musk to ensure that X's "systems are effective" and "report on the crisis measures taken to my team." He added that he expects X "to be in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol, and ensure that you respond promptly to their requests." "I remind you that following the opening of a potential investigation and a finding of non-compliance, penalties can be imposed," Breton wrote. X did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Watch: Elon Musk has "cut off the good guys, empowered the bad guys."

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An AI sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, July 6, 2023.

The buzzy generative artificial intelligence space is due something of a reality check next year, an analyst firm predicted Tuesday, pointing to fading hype around the technology, the rising costs needed to run it, and growing calls for regulation as signs that the technology faces an impending slowdown.

In its annual roundup of top predictions for the future of the technology industry in 2024 and beyond, CCS Insight made several predictions about what lies ahead for AI, a technology that has led to countless headlines surrounding both its promise and pitfalls.

The main forecast CCS Insight has for 2024 is that generative AI "gets a cold shower in 2024" as the reality of the cost, risk and complexity involved "replaces the hype" surrounding the technology.

"The bottom line is, right now, everyone's talking generative AI, Google , Amazon , Qualcomm , Meta ," Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told CNBC on a call ahead of the predictions report's release.

"We are big advocates for AI, we think that it's going to have a huge impact on the economy, we think it's going to have big impacts on society at large, we think it's great for productivity," Wood said.

"But the hype around generative AI in 2023 has just been so immense, that we think it's overhyped, and there's lots of obstacles that need to get through to bring it to market."

Generative AI models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google Bard, Anthropic's Claude, and Synthesia rely on huge amounts of computing power to run the complex mathematical models that allow them to work out what responses to come up with to address user prompts.

Companies have to acquire high-powered chips to run AI applications. In the case of generative AI, it's often advanced graphics processing units, or GPUs, designed by U.S. semiconductor giant Nvidia that large companies and small developers alike turn to to run their AI workloads.

Now, more and more companies, including Amazon, Google, Alibaba, Meta, and, reportedly, OpenAI, are designing their own specific AI chips to run those AI programs on.

"Just the cost of deploying and sustaining generative AI is immense," Wood told CNBC.

"And it's all very well for these massive companies to be doing it. But for many organizations, many developers, it's just going to become too expensive."
Palestinian members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, take part in a gathering on Jan. 31, 2016, in Gaza City to pay tribute to their fellow militants who died after a tunnel collapsed in the Gaza Strip. Mahmud Hams | Afp | Getty Images

Hamas launched a devastating and coordinated land, sea and air assault on Israel over the weekend, sparking chaos in the region and thrusting the nationalist movement firmly into the global spotlight. The militant Palestinian group orchestrated an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, killing many hundreds of people and injuring thousands more. Hamas' fighters have also taken more than 100 Israeli civilians, soldiers and foreign nationals hostage. The attack marked the deadliest assault the country has suffered in generations and led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare that his country is at war. Israel's counteroffensive against Hamas has seen its military conduct a barrage of airstrikes across the enclosed territory of the Gaza Strip, also killing many hundreds of people. Israel is mobilizing a record 300,000 reservists and imposed a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip, seeking to stop the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel to the already blockaded population of roughly 2.3 million people. It says it has now secured control of the Gaza-Israel border.

Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip

A smoke rises over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 during an Israeli air strike. Sameh Rahmi | Nurphoto | Getty Images

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday morning that 770 people have been killed in Gaza, and 4,000 injured. The Israeli Defense Forces said that over 900 Israelis have been killed, and over 2,700 injured. This brings the total death toll as a result of the conflict so far to over 1,600. The violence raises questions about the history, motivations and future of Hamas, a group that has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Japan, Australia, Israel, the European Union and many other countries  although some only apply this label to its military wing. What is Hamas? Founded in 1987 and led by Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or the "Islamic Resistance Movement." It is dedicated to the establishment of an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine and has controlled the Gaza Strip  one of two Palestinian territories, along with the West Bank  since 2007. The United Nations classifies Israel as an occupier state over the Palestinian territories, whose occupations and annexations following the 1967 Six-Day War remain in violation of international law. Hamas is one of two major political forces in the Palestinian territories, the other being Fatah, a rival group previously known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement. Fatah retains control of the Palestinian National Authority in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest at Puerta del Sol square amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Madrid, Spain, October 9, 2023. Juan Medina | Reuters

A power struggle emerged between Hamas and Fatah shortly after the former won the 2006 Gaza Strip elections which took place a year after Israel withdrew from the territory. Hamas' fighters seized Fatah's headquarters by force to claim control of the strip and the group has since maintained political control of the area. The military wing of Hamas is known as the al Qassem Brigades, the largest and best-equipped military group operating within Gaza.

Life in Gaza

Since 2007, Israel has imposed an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip, saying the move was necessary to prevent Hamas attacks on the country. The United Nations and international human rights groups have condemned the blockade, and have described Gaza as the "the world's largest open-air prison." Residents of Gaza are surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire fences, unable to leave the territory without Israeli-approved permits. Between 2008 and 2023, Israeli airstrikes killed 6,407 Palestinians in the occupied territories, 5,360 of whom were in Gaza, according to the U.N. Israel suffered 308 fatalities in that time period. Israel says its strikes targeted Hamas operatives, though they drew condemnation from the U.N. and other groups over reported high civilian casualty counts.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli airstrike on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 10, 2023 Yousef Mohammad | Picture-alliance | dpa | AP Images

Half of Gaza's population is under the age of 19 but faces dire economic prospects, as 16 years of Israel's blockade and a ban on imports and exports have crippled the economy. The unemployment rate in Gaza is above 40%, more than 65% of the population is under the poverty line, and 63% of Gazans are deemed food insecure, according to the U.N. On Tuesday, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency said that conditions in the Gaza Strip remain "difficult" as heavy airstrikes continue, with some shelters overcrowded. It comes shortly after Israel imposed a complete siege on the already impoverished enclave, an order that threatens to exacerbate the situation. "I am deeply distressed by today's announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. Nothing allowed in, no electricity, food or fuel. The humanitarian situation was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday.

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Basim Naim, head of international relations for Hamas in Gaza, told BBC's "World at One" radio show on Monday that civilians in the Gaza Strip had been living in a "suffocating siege" for around 17 years, one that "unfortunately [has been] supported by the international community." "All this together has accumulated a huge anger by the Palestinians, and we have always warned the diplomats and the politicians we have met that this situation is unsustainable," Naim said. "People under occupation has always the right to resist by all available means, including armed resistance." Israel's Netanyahu has pledged to take "mighty vengeance" for what he called Hamas' "cruel and wicked war."

What about Iran?
If not for his fraternity brothers, Shawn Tsao would probably be an architect today. Instead, he's a co-founder of a $400 million food delivery company. Tsao launched the company, Caviar, with four of his best friends from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012. They convinced some San Francisco restaurants to commit to online delivery, and spread to seven major U.S. cities before selling Caviar to Jack Dorsey's payments platform Square  now known as Block  in a 2014 all-stock deal that valued their company at more than $100 million, Tsao says. Five years later, Square sold Caviar to rival delivery service DoorDash for $410 million. "A lot of the best companies solve the simplest of problems," Tsao, 34, tells CNBC Make It. "For us, it was: 'Give me a sandwich.'" Their path was anything but straightforward. Caviar nearly never existed at all: The co-founders' first idea was a daily deals app similar to Groupon, but for food. When it fell completely flat, Tsao and his friends thought long and hard about folding up shop and going their separate ways. Their futures hinged on a fateful meetup at a University of California, Berkeley campus pub at the end of 2011, where they had a difficult discussion: Would they stick it out together and try a new idea or go their separate ways and look for jobs? "After a couple of beers, we decided we were going to continue this startup journey and come up with something new," Tsao says. Here's how Caviar was born from that tough decision.

From 'Groupon for food' to 'Uber for food'

Tsao majored in architecture and sustainable design at Berkeley. He aspired to start his own design firm and "become the next Frank Lloyd Wright or Frank Gehry," he says. He even had a job at an architecture firm lined up ahead of his 2011 college graduation, he says. But the idea of working side-by-side with four of his best friends  Caviar co-founders Abel Lin, Andy Zhang, Richard Din and Jason Wang, the latter of whom would serve as CEO until 2016  proved more alluring. Their Groupon-like startup, Munch on Me, earned a slot at startup accelerator Y Combinator, leading to $180,000 in investment money. Then, Groupon started posting losses and saw its market value drop 80%. Investors became wary of backing a startup billed as "Groupon for food." "It was all the signs of a failing company," Tsao says. "We came to the realization that we had $10 in the bank."

Shawn Tsao, a co-founder of food delivery app Caviar, was craving food from his favorite sandwich spot across town when he and his four friends came up with the idea for the company. CNBC Make It

Tsao's mother strongly urged him to go back to school and get an MBA, rather than try to revive the startup. The co-founders didn't want to delay getting jobs if they didn't have another idea that could legitimately take off. So, after selling Munch on Me's data for "barely anything" to another startup, CollegeBudget, they gave themselves six months to figure out a new direction, says Tsao. While scribbling concepts on a whiteboard, Tsao got "really hungry" and wished he could get his favorite sandwich from Ike's Place, a restaurant across town, without leaving his neighborhood. "I was like, 'OK, we can do this,'" Tsao says. Building "Groupon for food" didn't work, "so we were like, 'Let's be the Uber for food.'"

'We just blew up'

At the time, most of today's food delivery apps didn't exist yet. GrubHub and Seamless had been around for roughly a decade. Postmates launched the same year as Caviar. DoorDash started a year later, and Uber Eats  the literal "Uber for food"  arrived in 2014. Caviar's model was somewhat specialized: The service focused on curating a list of top-notch, desirable restaurants that didn't offer delivery. Caviar provided its own fleet of delivery drivers to pick up food and drop it off with customers. Tsao's role as "operations lead" primarily involved building partnerships with popular restaurants, he says. "We realized that if we sign [the] best burger or best taco in the neighborhood, all of a sudden everyone's talking about us in an indirect way," says Tsao. "They would say, 'Hey, Little Star Pizza does delivery now.' And they would go to their website that would backlink to us." One of the biggest benefits of indirect buzz: spending next-to-nothing on marketing. "[It] was super-cheap because all the marketing work was actually done by the restaurants themselves," Tsao says, adding: "We just blew up." As the company accrued more funding  from investors such as the Winklevoss twins, Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global Management  other tech companies took notice. While Wang and Tsao were on a scouting trip to Miami, Square called them with a "nine-figure [acquisition] offer," Tsao says. They immediately called their other co-founders. "After some discussion over the phone, I think we all said, 'Yeah, OK, let's do it. Let's see where this takes us,'" Tsao says. He and Wang headed to a nightclub to celebrate the deal, which included a $2 million cash sign-on bonus split between the founders.

'The best direction for the company'

The decision wasn't as easy as it might sound. The co-founders weighed the possibility of building Caviar to a higher valuation than Square's offer. Instead, by getting stock in the combined company, they essentially bet that Square's ownership could take Caviar to higher heights, more quickly than they could on their own. "One of the promises that Square told us was that they were going to bring 20 of their best engineers over to the Caviar team on Day 1," Tsao says. The offer "was hard to turn down, because we knew that would be the best direction for the company."

Five college friends founded Caviar in 2012, at a time when GrubHub and Seamless were the only major online food delivery businesses. CNBC Make It
President Joe Biden confirmed at least 11 Americans were killed in Israel. "Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

Commenting on hostages, Biden said: "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts."

Read the full statement from the president:

Statement from President Joe Biden on American Citizens Impacted in Israel

As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel.



It's heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence. We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.



The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.



For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts. For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available. Please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities.



This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people. In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel.



In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.



The United States and the State of Israel are inseparable partners, and I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu again when we spoke yesterday that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people.
An Israeli soldier gestures in an armoured vehicle as they drive along a street near the northern town of Kiryat Shmona close to the border with Lebanon on October 10, 2023. Israeli forces on October 10 launched artillery fire at Lebanon after rocket fire towards Israel, the army said.



Several Israeli and Jewish schools are reportedly urging parents to delete social media apps like Instagram, TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter, from their children's smartphones to prevent them from seeing violent images and videos related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

One Tel Aviv school's parents' association warned of the possibility that Hamas fighters may release graphic videos of hostages "begging for their lives," CNN reported on Tuesday.

"We cannot allow our kids to watch this stuff. It is also difficult, furthermore  impossible  to contain all this content on social media," the message said. "Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

Several Jewish schools in the U.S. have also issued similar warnings, reported the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which added that "It was not clear where the information about forthcoming hostage videos was coming from."

The principal of The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey, reportedly sent an email to parents urging them to tell their kids to delete Instagram and TikTok "immediately."
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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella listens to an audience member's question during the company's annual shareholder meeting in Bellevue, Washington, Nov. 30, 2016. Stephen Brashear | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Microsoft on Tuesday announced new data and artificial intelligence products that aim to help health-care organizations easily access and learn from the mountains of information collected by doctors and hospitals. The health care and life sciences industry is responsible for generating more than 30% of all data produced globally, according to a recent report from Deloitte. But it can be challenging to leverage all that information since it is stored across a variety of different systems and formats. Around 97% of all the data generated by hospitals remains unused, for instance. To help address this issue, Microsoft said Tuesday at the HLTH conference in Las Vegas, it developed new health-care-specific tools in Fabric, a data and analytics platform the company announced in May. It can combine data from sources such as electronic health records, images, lab systems, medical devices and claims systems so organizations can standardize it and access it in the same place. Microsoft said the new tools will help eliminate the "time-consuming" process of searching through these sources one by one.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Microsoft Fabric for health-care organizations

Microsoft has been trialing Fabric for health care with select customers including Northwestern Medicine, Arthur Health and SingHealth, and it is available in a preview capacity starting Tuesday. Doug King, the chief information officer at Northwestern Medicine, said Northwestern is still in the process of moving its data into the Fabric system but that the organization is already excited about the potential. He said consolidating disparate data will ultimately help health systems improve care and see more patients. "Data is king now within health care, and that goes from everything from understanding what's happening in the OR, to how many patients are coming in? How many patients are leaving the house or the hospital? And then how can you get them in faster?" he told CNBC in an interview. King said Northwestern is deploying Microsoft's technology thoughtfully, but it could be a "game changer" if it is done well. He said the organization is thinking about future applications such as managing patient flow and staffing, as well as how to integrate broader population health data, such as where food deserts are located, into care. "The current state of technology and Microsoft Fabric and Azure and generative AI, all of that, it's going to change the way we live. And it's going to change the way we take care of patients. And it's probably one of the best shots that we have to solve some of the biggest problems we have within health care," he said.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Microsoft's new patient timeline model

New Azure AI health tools
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has entered a new chapter in its 100-year history  thanks to its newfound success with two products: Ozempic and Wegovy.

The drugs are once-weekly injectables of a medication called semaglutide, prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Their skyrocketing popularity has boosted Novo Nordisk to new heights.

Novo Nordisk's share price has more than quadrupled in the past five years, making it Europe's most valuable company by market cap.

"It's clear that nobody had expected that it would be taking off this quickly," said Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen in August. "We all along knew that obesity was a serious chronic disease also when most others did not see it like that. So we knew we were onto something big."

In 2018, the first full year with Ozempic on the market, Novo Nordisk's net sales were 111.8 billion Danish krone, or $17.7 billion, using an average exchange rate at the time.

In the last three months of 2022, U.S. health-care providers wrote more than 9 million prescriptions for Ozempic, Wegovy and other diabetes and obesity drugs, according to analytics firm Trilliant Health.

Ozempic accounted for more than 65% of total prescriptions as of the end of 2022.

And it was only up from there: In the first six months of 2023, sales of Ozempic and Wegovy rose by 58% and 363%, respectively.

"There has not been any performance near what we've seen over the last year or two," said Jared Holz, health care sector specialist at Mizuho, adding that semaglutide alone could be worth up to $300 billion annually over time.

Semaglutide falls under a drug class called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic GLP-1 receptors in the body and produce more insulin, helping to lower blood sugar levels and decrease appetite.

Novo Nordisk's treatments are not the only GLP-1 treatments available, but they are the only semaglutide products currently on the U.S. market, as the company holds a patent until 2032.

Eli Lilly has developed its own GLP-1 drug, tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro, and other companies, such as Pfizer, are creating their own injectables. Mounjaro was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for Type 2 diabetes in May 2022. It is not yet approved for weight loss

Watch the video to learn more.

Correction: Mounjaro was approved by the FDA for Type 2 diabetes in May 2022. An earlier version misstated its status.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Government Exhibit 1802 SDNY

Caroline Ellison, the government's star witness in its criminal case against the disgraced former CEO of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, is expected to take the stand on Tuesday, as the criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried resumes in a downtown Manhattan courthouse. Ellison, who ran FTX's sister hedge fund Alameda Research, pleaded guilty in December to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Part of Ellison's plea deal with the government has involved cooperating with the prosecution's case against Bankman-Fried, similar to the arrangement struck with Gary Wang  the lesser-known co-founder of FTX and Alameda, whose cross-examination picks up at 9:30 a.m. Ellison offers a unique view of the defendant, having been one of the company's earliest recruits in 2017. Bankman-Fried had reportedly convinced the Stanford grad to ditch her Wall Street trading job at Jane Capital to join Alameda as a trader, back when the hedge fund was still in its original office in the San Francisco Bay area. Ellison also spent years as Bankman-Fried's on-again, off-again girlfriend and, at times, his roommate.

Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, center, arrives at court in New York on Oct. 10, 2023. Yuki Iwamura | Bloomberg | Getty Images

U.S. Attorney Thane Rehn teed up Ellison's prospective testimony in his opening statement to the jury last week, saying that Bankman-Fried "was using her as a front" when "in reality, he was still calling the shots at Alameda." Rehn went on to allege in his opening that it was Bankman-Fried who had concocted a "scheme to take money from FTX and give it to Alameda" and that Ellison would share the details of how she and her former lover stole customer money from FTX and deployed that cash through Alameda. Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried's lead defense attorney Mark Cohen spun a far different narrative in his opening remarks in court, casting Ellison as a leader who held firm control over the firm and whose leadership ultimately ran the company into the ground. In Cohen's recounting of events, Bankman-Fried had urged his former deputy at Alameda to "put on a hedge," but "she didn't do so at the time." Noticeably absent thus far in proceedings is the mention of Ellison's co-CEO Sam Trabucco, who was a classmate of Bankman-Fried at MIT. Trabucco left Alameda in Aug. 2022 and has stayed relatively under the radar.

Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney's office entered into evidence photos featuring Sam Bankman-Fried and his fellow co-workers at their shared $35 million Bahamian penthouse. SDNY
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana and ranking member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, right, speaks with Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, while arriving to a hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Powell said inflation had picked up but should move back toward the U.S. central bank's 2% target once supply imbalances resolve. Photographer: Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner/Bloomberg via Getty Images

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan will make their case to Republican lawmakers Tuesday evening as the party struggles to coalesce around a candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives.

"This is a dangerous world right now," Scalise said after leaving a Republican conference meeting Monday evening. "The House needs to get back to work. That means we've got to elect a speaker and we saw strong resolve to make sure we can come together quickly."

Scalise and Jordan will address the House GOP during a candidate forum at 5 p.m. this evening. Republican lawmakers will hold a vote Wednesday morning to select a candidate for speaker, which will then face a full floor vote.

It is unclear whether Scalise or Jordan can secure the 217 votes needed to win the speakership on the House floor. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California faced a grueling 15 ballots before he was elected speaker in January.

The war in Israel and the Gaza Strip added urgency to the search for a candidate to replace McCarthy, who was ousted as speaker by a faction of Republicans a week ago.

The U.S. also faces a potential government shutdown if spending legislation is not passed by Nov. 17. McCarthy's decision to work with Democrats to fund the government last month is what ultimately led to his ouster by a faction of eight Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.

The leadership void in the House has raised concern in Washington that Congress will be unable to pass security assistance for Israel if the speaker race drags on.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that his administration will ask Congress to take "urgent action" to fund the national security needs of U.S. partners in the wake of terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel.

A senior Biden administration official told reporters over the weekend that the lack of a duly elected House speaker has created "a unique situation we're going to have to work through."

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, and Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New York, have said they plan to introduce legislation to replenish Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system

Scalise and Jordan have both voiced unequivocal support for Israel in the wake of the devastating weekend surprise attack by Hamas on Israeli towns that border Gaza.

Scalise said Monday that House Republicans needed to "get back on track" after McCarthy's ouster exposed deep divisions between hard-right Republicans led by Gaetz and more centrist members.

McCarthy has expressed skepticism that the House will elect a speaker this week: "I don't know if that happens quickly," the California Republican told Fox News over the weekend.

McCarthy said he would be open to running for speaker again in an interview on a conservative talk show Monday: "Whatever the conference wants, I will do," he said.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Arkansas, said several Republican lawmakers mentioned nominating McCarthy again during the party's Monday evening conference meeting.

"There are there are a couple of members that spoke up and are still in the camp of not letting the 4% dictate the outcome that we saw on Tuesday," Womack said, referring to McCarthy's ouster.

Paul Ryan, a former speaker of the House, told CNBC he doesn't see a path forward for McCarthy.

"I don't know if these eight nihilists are going to reverse their position or if the Democrats would reverse theirs," Ryan said of the Gaetz faction.
Daymond John attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on March 12, 2023. Leon Bennett | Filmmagic | Getty Images

"Shark Tank" star Daymond John is looking to give Black business owners a boost for the fourth year running. The FUBU CEO's Black Entrepreneurs Day, billed as a celebration of Black business, will return Nov. 1. The event will feature a lineup of celebrity guests such as Whoopi Goldberg and Shaquille O'Neal and insights from top Black business leaders. Eight winners of a $25,000 entrepreneurship grant will also get the opportunity to appear alongside John during the event. The event will take place at the Apollo Theater in Manhattan and will also be broadcast online via livestream. This year marks the fourth year of the event, which was first created in part to address "frustration over injustice" after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Black Entrepreneurs Day was launched later that year to "celebrate" Black business owners amid a focus on systemic racism and economic inequities. "I remember when Rodney King happened," John told CNBC. "I did not go and burn businesses  I built one."

Early support wanes

Since 2020, Black Entrepreneurs Day has attracted big-name corporations including JPMorgan Chase 's Chase for Business and Shopify . As the event enters its fourth year, enthusiasm among corporate sponsors has not matched what it was in 2020, when it launched on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic and widespread Black Lives Matter protests pushing for racial equity. "It was very easy [to get corporations on board] the first year," John said. "I said, 'Will you stand by me and say that you are on the right side of this discussion?'" Many of the companies standing behind Black Entrepreneurs Day have launched initiatives to support the Black community. Chase allocated $30 billion as part of a racial equity commitment in 2020, which has since been used to deploy 15,000 small business loans, among other initiatives. John said companies need to show continued support for Black businesses beyond a one-time commitment. "If you don't have people in your organization that look like the ones you are serving, then you're going to chase what's shinier every day," John said. "You may think that the systemic issues were solved" by the donation you gave. John lauded brands including Chase, T-Mobile, The General Insurance and Shopify, which he said have stayed on the "right side" of the issue. He said the companies don't just hand over money, but also go the extra mile to invest in the Black community. This year, Black Entrepreneurs Day will feature a star-studded guest list including Goldberg, O'Neal, Cedric the Entertainer, Anthony Anderson and Rick Ross, to discuss their journey as Black entertainers and entrepreneurs. "People want to know what they did at their lowest point and how they got out of circumstances that many of us have been in or are currently in," John said.

Grants up for grabs
Vistors to Marina Bay walk on a bridge with a view of the Central Business District in Singapore on Sunday, 18 June 2023. (Photo by Joseph Nair/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Photo by Joseph Nair/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  Singapore's digital economy contributed to more than 17% of its gross domestic product in 2022  higher than the 13% logged in 2017, according to a report by the country's Infocomm Media Development Authority.

The study, published Friday, revealed that the economic contribution of the digital economy to Singapore's GDP nearly doubled to 106 billion Singapore dollars ($77.5 billion) in 2022, up from SG$58 billion in 2017, according to CNBC's calculations.

The digital economy is divided into two parts: the information and communications sector; and digitalization in the rest of the economy.

One-third of the digital economy was driven by the information and communications sector and two-thirds by digitalization in the rest of the economy.

The I&C sector drove digitalization providing services such as telecommunications, computer programming & IT consultancy, cloud computing and software development.

Digitalization in the rest of the economy measures the value generated from investments and spending in digital capital across all sectors excluding those from the I&C sector. They include economic outcomes as a result of firms investing in digital technologies that build value such as reach customers better, optimize business processes as well as innovate products and services.

"The expansion of the digital economy has come on the back of increasing adoption of digital technologies by enterprises, which in turn contributed to the robust growth of tech manpower," IMDA said in the report.

Based on the latest available data, the digital economies of Estonia, Sweden and the United Kingdom accounted for 16.6%, 15% and 16.1% of their respective GDPs in 2020. Comparatively, Singapore's digital economy performed better, contributing to 16.7% of its GDP in 2020.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear arguments in a case challenging the Food and Drug Administration's authority to reject approvals of flavored electronic cigarettes.

The case is one of several challenges to the FDA's regulation of the vaping industry, which has hooked members of a new generation on nicotine, and ballooned into an $8.2 billion market in less than a decade.

The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in December ruled that the FDA has the power to deny applications for flavored e-cigarette products because of its mandate to protect public health by discouraging younger people from smoking.

The lower court ruling rebuffed an appeal by Avail Vapor, a vape retailer, which argues that the FDA unfairly denied its product applications based on requirements the agency "secretly" changed without notifying companies.

Avail's attorney, Eric Heyer, told CNBC on Tuesday that the company is "disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to review the flawed process by which FDA issued its marketing denial orders to Avail without adequate prior notice of the specific longitudinal comparative efficacy study requirements the agency ultimately imposed."

The FDA issues marketing denial orders to reject product applications.

A spokesperson for the FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Supreme Court's decision.

In 2016, the FDA determined that e-cigarettes were subject to its regulation, like traditional tobacco products. E-cigarettes are handheld devices used to inhale a vapor, which usually contains nicotine, flavoring and other chemicals.

The agency gave companies until September 2020 to submit applications for approval of each of their vape products, even if they were already on the market.

The FDA in March said nearly seven million applications were submitted by that deadline, but the agency has rejected more than 1 million of them.
"The Kremlin is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks in Israel to advance several information operations intended to reduce U.S. and Western support and attention to Ukraine," the ISW said .

Russia is likely to try to use the eruption of violence in Israel to distract from its operations in Ukraine, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted in analysis on Saturday.

A New Year decoration stylized as the "Kremlin Star," a tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, in Moscow, on Jan. 2, 2023.

Noting that the Kremlin had already amplified several information operations after Hamas' attacks in Israel on Saturday  primarily blaming the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine  the ISW said Russia was claiming the international community will cease to pay attention to Ukraine.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claimed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the U.S. and its allies should have been "busy with" working on "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" rather than "interfering" with Russia and providing Ukraine with military aid.

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry accused the West of creating the basis for the current violence, saying it was a "direct consequence of the chronic failure to comply with the relevant resolutions of the UN and its Security Council and the actual blocking by the West of the work of the Middle East "quartet" of international mediators consisting of Russia, the USA, the EU and the UN."

The ISW also noted that a prominent Russian propagandist Sergei Mardan stated on Telegram that Russia will benefit from the escalation as the world "will take its mind off Ukraine for a while and get busy once again putting out the eternal fire in the Middle East."

Commenting on the emergence of such narratives, the ISW said "these Kremlin narratives target Western audiences to drive a wedge in military support for Ukraine, seek to demoralize Ukrainian society by claiming Ukraine will lose international support, and intend to reassure Russian domestic audiences that the international society will ignore Ukraine's war effort."

 Holly Ellyatt
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden before he speaks at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Aug. 10, 2023.

Utah is the latest state to file suit against TikTok, alleging the social media site misled its citizens about its relationship to its Chinese parent company and deceptively touted its platform as safe.

TikTok has already faced similar lawsuits from Arkansas and Indiana, while Montana has chosen to ban the app altogether, a move that TikTok and creators have challenged. The action among states targeting TikTok stands in contrast to stagnation in Washington, where proposed legislation that could lead to a ban of the app has stalled following an early wave of bipartisan momentum. It underscores how states have taken the lead on many tech policy issues given the difficulty of moving legislation through Congress.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox invoked research about social media's effect on adolescents, including a recent U.S. Surgeon General report, in announcing the lawsuit Tuesday.

"Social media companies must be held responsible for the harms they are causing," Cox said in a statement.

In the complaint, filed in state court, Attorney General Sean Reyes alleges TikTok violated Utah's consumer protection laws in three ways:

By deploying and marketing "an addictive product with design features intended to manipulate children."

By misrepresenting the safety of the app and deceptively claiming it "can effectively maintain a safe digital environment for children."

By misleading consumers about the degree of its relationship with China-based parent company ByteDance.

"TikTok has industry-leading safeguards for young people, including an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement in response to the lawsuit. "We will continue to work to keep our community safe by tackling industry-wide challenges."

TikTok's ownership by a China-based company has been at the crux of many government officials' concerns about the company. That's because Chinese law could compel companies based there to hand over internal information if the government cites national security concerns.
Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: UBS upgrades Rivian to buy from neutral UBS said in its upgrade of the electric vehicle maker that it sees an attractive risk/reward." "We upgrade RIVN to Buy seeing an improved set-up, though our 12-month PT goes to $24 from $26." Read more about this call here. Bank of America reiterates Apple as neutral Bank of America said Apple Services is the "next leg of growth." "We rate Apple Neutral as we see risk-reward as balanced." Wells Fargo reiterates Amazon as overweight Wells Fargo said it sees "earnings power" ahead of the e-commerce giant's quarterly report later this month. " Amazon is at a positive inflection in North America (NA) retail OI [operating income] margins and AWS revenue growth unlocking the earnings power of the company." Wells Fargo reiterates Alphabet as equal weight Wells Fargo said it's standing by its equal rating on the stock heading into earnings later this month. "Despite higher '24 estimates, see '24 as a pivotal year for Google shares. 1H24 DOJ search trial decision expected, AI conversational search concerns in hibernation now but will likely reawaken, and the investment race for AI supremacy is likely to persist." Jefferies reiterates Tesla as hold Jefferies lowered its price target to $250 per share from $265 and said it's concerned about deteriorating fundamentals. "In the last few months, tracking Tesla fundamentals has felt a bit like watching paint dry. More margin erosion in Q3 and uncertain growth in 2024 still raise questions whether Tesla's earlier profit edge was structural or a timing difference." Citi downgrades Skyworks and Qorvo to sell from neutral Citi said it's concerned several chipmakers may be replaced in certain phones in China. "We downgrade smartphone specialty semis QRVO/ SWKS to Sell from Neutral on increased China substitution risk post recent Huawei Mate 60 phone launch which we believe uses domestic RF/connectivity chips." UBS reiterates Skechers as buy UBS said it's standing by its buy rating on shares of the shoe company. "We believe Skechers' brand and products continue to resonate with global consumers." JPMorgan reiterates Disney as overweight JPMorgan lowered its price target on the stock to $120 per share from $125 but said it's standing by its overweight rating. "While it may take 6-12 months before we have better clarity on Disney's strategic direction, including Hulu, an ESPN investment, and linear sale (or, more likely, not), which could be needed before shares begin to work, we remain Overweight shares given the company's favorable asset mix vis-a-vis media peers." Bank of America upgrades Electronic Arts to buy from neutral Bank of America said it sees a more balanced risk/reward for the video game maker. "We upgrade EA to Buy as the balance of risk appears more favorable." Bank of America reinstates Northern Trust as buy Bank of America resumed coverage of Northern Trust and said the regional bank is "well positioned to navigate the cycle." "We believe that the stock offers a compelling entry point to gain exposure to a hard to replicate wealth management franchise that caters to high-net and ultra-high-net worth clientele." Daiwa initiates Arm Holdings as buy Daiwa said the semiconductor conductor is well-positioned for upside. "Fast forward to now, Arm's architecture is the most widely used in the world, 265b chips have shipped to date, all due to aiding customer time to market and lowering cost." JPMorgan downgrades Juniper Networks to neutral from overweight JPMorgan downgraded the networking company and said it sees better value elsewhere right now. "We are downgrading shares of Juniper to a Neutral rating from an Overweight rating, as we look for the best positioning within our coverage given the current macro backdrop, with favoritism toward recovering spend in relation to Enterprise customers as well as accelerating spend from Cloud companies toward AI infrastructure." JPMorgan downgrades Corning to neutral from overweight JPMorgan said it sees a more "muted" earnings upside for the glassware company. "We are downgrading shares of Corning to Neutral led by our expectation that the magnitude of earnings upside in the near- to medium-term is likely more muted than previously anticipated as the broader "recovery investors had been hoping for appears to be stretched out over a longer time period." TD Cowen initiates O'Reilly as outperform TD Cowen said the auto parts company is "best-in-class." " ORLY is our top idea as we are constructive on its best-in-class execution and supply chain management that we believe position the company to take outsized DIFM [do-it-for-me] share and support DIY growth." Bank of America reiterates Block as buy Bank of America said investors should buy the dip in shares of the company formerly known as Square. "We are bullish on SQ's full-fledge dual-sided ecosystem (Square and Cash App). Shares underperformed in '22 due to macro concerns, but we believe the stock is not being given enough credit for the general resilience the business has shown to date as well as its opex discipline." Read more about this call here. Morgan Stanley reiterates Microsoft as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on Microsoft shares. "Microsoft (OW, $415 PT) continues to screen well with favorable alignment to key secular AI themes and: 1) scope to monetize Generative AI across its broad portfolio; and 2) leverage to consumption pricing (via its Azure Cloud business) enabling investors to see any pick-up in demand earlier."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) renewed NOW Telecom's radio license to operate a mobile telco network.

The regulator granted it a permit renewal in the 800 MHZ band, making it the fourth company allowed to run a mobile telecommunications system after Smart, Globe Telecom, and DITO Telecommunity.

NOW Telecom, an affiliate of listed media and technology holding firm NOW Corp., said it received the license from the regulator on Oct. 2.

"This license renewal with the most coveted 800 MHZ frequencies shall strengthen the communications security and connectivity to vital critical infrastructures in the country," Mel Velarde, NOW Group chairman, said in a statement Monday.

Velarde said the group is targeting to fire up 16 critical infrastructures identified by the Philippine government and the US Department of Homeland Security.

Late last year, NOW Telecom secured grant funding from the US government for the development and rollout of 5G in the local market.

READ: NOW Telecom's US-funded 5G project 'in full swing'
Museums in N China's Tianjin offer night tours, attract visitors with immersive events

People's Daily Online) 13:39, October 10, 2023

Museums in north China's Tianjin Municipality launched various night tour activities during the eight-day national holiday that ended Oct. 6. These tours offer visitors a unique cultural and artistic experience, immersing them in scenarios that expand their knowledge.

Xu Yanqing, curator of the Memorial Hall for Liang Qichao, a pioneering reformer, explained that the memorial hall provides a mixed-reality experience through activities such as light shows and immersive performances at night.

Visitors take part in an immersive night tour at Tianhou Temple, north Chinas Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 5, 2023. (Photo/Wang Zaiyu)

"A live-action drama depicts important moments in Liang Qichao's life and the inheritance of his family's patriotic spirit. Through interactions, the drama enables audiences to transcend time and space and have a 'dialogue' with Liang Qichao. It also allows visitors to enjoy Tianjin's vibrant cultural atmosphere that combines Chinese and Western elements while integrating ancient and modern styles," said Xu.

Liang Baiyou, the granddaughter of Liang Qichao, expressed her hope that young people would visit museums and memorial halls, partake in innovative cultural activities, learn about the past and history, and preserve cultural heritage.

Visitors participate in an immersive night tour at the Former Residence Memorial Hall for Li Shutong, a renowned master of literature, painting, calligraphy, seal cutting, and music, in north Chinas Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 5, 2023. (Photo/Wang Zaiyu)

The Former Residence Memorial Hall for Li Shutong, a renowned master of literature, painting, calligraphy, seal cutting, and music, introduced a live-action and immersive riddle-guessing night tour. This was the first of its kind to be open to the public on a regular basis in Tianjin, according to Shen Yan, curator of the memorial hall and deputy curator of Tianjin Museum.

Tu Jinge, responsible for the riddle-guessing night tour, explained, "The immersive night tour at the memorial hall enhances visitor participation and experience. Visitors can engage in games while touring the memorial hall, solve culture-related riddles, and interact. For instance, a tourist may be invited to sing a song or recite a poem written by Li." Such activities have proven to be particularly popular among visitors.

During the eight-day holiday, which coincided with the unique alignment of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday this year, Shen noted that approximately 260 people visited the memorial hall every night, reaching its visitor limit.

Visitors engage in an immersive night tour at the Memorial Hall for Liang Qichao, in north Chinas Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 5, 2023. (Photo/Wang Zaiyu)

"Visitors could solve riddles and learn about Tianjin's history and culture, and Li's outstanding achievements in poetry, music, drama, seal cutting, law and other fields. Meanwhile, the memorial hall offered performances. Visitors could enjoy a cultural feast here," Shen said.

Shen emphasized that night tours in museums have not only created new consumption opportunities and facilitated urban consumption through cultural heritage but have also popularized cultural knowledge among visitors in an innovative manner, achieving a fusion of economic and cultural value.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  A 66-year-old American was barred by Philippine immigration authorities from entering the country last October 8 due to sex crimes committed in his homeland.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Charles Harry Cooper from Colorado in the United States was convicted in 2009 for statutory rape, sodomy with a minor, and molestation.

"These predators are not welcome in the Philippines. Any sex offender who attempts to enter the country will be turned back and blacklisted," said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco in a statement on Tuesday.

The BI said Cooper arrived on board a China Air flight from Taiwan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. He claimed to be staying in Pasay City as a tourist, it added.

Cooper was required by BI to board the next available flight back to the US.

In 2019, the US government commended the BI for barring the entry of 200 American registered sex offenders to the Philippines in 2018.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The Department of Education (DepEd) has suspended the teacher who allegedly slapped a grade 5 student at Penafrancia Elementary School in Antipolo City 11 days before he died due to brain edema.

The Education department confirmed the 90-day suspension on Tuesday. DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said details cannot be disclosed as the administrative investigation is ongoing.

The DepEd found in the initial probe that the teacher violated the agency's Child Protection Policy, the Anti-Child Abuse Law and the Family Code, educators' group Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) said.

The teacher reportedly pulled grade 5 student Francis Gumikib's hair and slapped him near the neck when he was reporting about his noisy classmates.

Gumikib was found to have internal bleeding in his brain, which caused him to go into a coma before he died on Oct. 2.

The Antipolo police earlier said they are waiting for the autopsy report and gathering testimonies before filing a homicide complaint against the teacher.

READ: Homicide case eyed vs. teacher accused of slapping Grade 5 student who

The TDC urged the public to do away with jumping to conclusions and wait for the final result of the investigation. They also said they will not tolerate any of their colleagues who abuse students as it will reduce their profession's honor.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun earlier said the details in Gumikibs death certificate are vague because the underlying cause of the death  an important detail  was left blank. It failed to explain where the edema came from.

Aside from trauma, edema can also be caused by a rare condition called meningoencephalitis, she added.

READ: Student slapped by teacher apparently died after brain swelling; expert says non-traumatic causes possible
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is urging Filipinos in Israel to prioritize their safety for now, while also assuring them the agency is ready to implement repatriation at any time.

DMW Officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac told CNN Philippines The Source that Philippine authorities have prepared evacuation and repatriation plans since the conflict between Israeli forces and militant group Hamas began on Saturday.

We stand ready at any given time but we have to balance the situation...with the advisory for all to stay indoors and not to move, he said on Tuesday.

Citing latest data from the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, the Department of Foreign Affairs said nine families have requested repatriation from Gaza, consisting of 38 Filipino nationals, including 17 minors, and 11 Palestinian spouses.

Cacdac said around 300 of the 30,000 Filipinos in Israel are in conflict areas in the southern portion of the Jewish state.

He said DMW personnel are already making the rounds in Israel to check on rescued Filipinos. The departments representatives are coordinating with the Philippine embassy and Israeli authorities given the security risks, he added.

According to Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr., 23 of the 29 missing Filipinos have already been rescued, while five remain unaccounted for. He added that they are still looking into the reported death of a caregiver earlier said to be missing.

Cacdac said DMW officers have also visited two injured Filipinos who were given financial assistance.

Latest casualty reports showed at least 900 people in Israel and over 680 in Gaza have been killed in the conflict.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  Former Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) official Jeffrey Tumbado is urging Malacanang to protect the truth amid his allegations of corruption in the transport sector.

Nananawagan ako sa Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos [Jr.] sa kanyang anti-corruption campaign na panatilihin po ninyong buhay ang inyong kampanya at hindi pagkukunwari, Tumbado said in a statement on Tuesday.

[Translation: Im calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to keep his anti-corruption campaign alive and this should not be hypocrisy.]

Marcos ordered the suspension of LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III amid Tumbados allegations that Guadiz takes bribes in exchange for franchises, additional routes, and special permits.

Tumbado used to work as executive assistant to Guadiz.

While he didnt name names, he said Guadiz was not acting alone in taking bribes as he was merely following orders from higher ups or officials from the Department of Transportation and Malacanang.

Patuloy po ako na maglalahad ng katotohan sa malawakang kurapsyon at katiwalian sa loob ng ahensya na kinasasangkutan pa ng ilang personalidad sa Legal at Technical Division, Tumbado said.

[Translation: I will continue to expose the truth about the wide-scale corruption and anomaly inside the agency, in which some personalities from the legal and technical divisions are also involved.]

Tumbado is planning to file corruption complaints against those involved in what he calls the ruta for sale scheme.

READ: Corruption charges to be filed vs. LTFRB officials

Meantime, transport group Manibela will push through with its planned nationwide transport strike beginning Oct. 16 despite the suspension of Guadiz.

Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena added that the group is also protesting the deadline for the traditional jeepney franchise set on Dec. 31.

READ: Group to push through with Oct. 16 transport strike
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10)  The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public that local food production will not suffer due to the ongoing conflict in Israel, one of the Philippines major partners in agriculture and trade.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DA said it only sees minimal effect on the sector amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

READ: Israel is at war with Hamas. Heres what to know

The Israel government has been a long-time partner of the DA in various initiatives, particularly in water management and fertilization, and so we hope for the immediate resolve of the conflict in the Middle East, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa said.

The official said the national government has also been teaming up with Israel for training, monitoring, and evaluation to boost agricultural productivity.

Aside from innovative farm and water systems, we have longstanding trade partnerships with Israel, he added.

Some of the local products being tapped by Israel include desiccated coconut, pineapple juice and concentrates, and other mixtures.

In the first six months of 2023, the DA said more than 3.36 million kilograms of various agricultural commodities were purchased by Israel.

Authorities have started preparing for the possible repatriation of Filipinos affected by the conflict in Israel, which erupted over the weekend.

Officials said a total of 22 Filipinos were already rescued, while seven more remain missing.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9)  Jeepney drivers do not need a fare matrix to charge the 1 provisional fare hike, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and transport group Pasang Masda said on Monday.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz said the fare matrix would be needed only when a fare hike petition is officially granted.

Pasang Masda, meanwhile, said jeepney operators just need to post the LTFRB order for now.

Transport groups earlier sought to raise jeepney fares to as much as 5. That petition will again be tackled with regulators in early November, Pasang-Masda President Obet Martin told reporters.

Wala po tayong matrix, lahat ito is all encompassing na piso," Guadiz said. "Pagsakay mo plus one peso ng original rate dahil provisional increase pa lang ito. Halimbawa, nagdagdag kami ng isang piso pa, that will be the time na maglalagay na kami ng matrix.

[Translation: There is no matrix as it is one peso. Passengers just have to add one peso to the original rate because this is only a provisional increase. If another peso is added, that will be the time for a matrix.]

Martin said drivers and operators are willing to negotiate a lower fare hike of 2 given the two successive weeks of pump price rollback.

Ok na ho sa amin ang dalawang piso," he said.

[Translation: We are fine with two pesos.]

But the trigger price point for them to withdraw their petition would be 55-56 per liter of diesel.

However, the LTFRB said fuel prices are unlikely to fall to that level anytime soon.

"To quote Ka Obet, pag bumaba ng 56 (pesos), pag-aaralan pa ho ng board. Hindi ho automatic yan," Guadiz said. "Pagaaralan ng board kung tatanggalin ang provisional increase. Pero malayo pa ho yang mangyari, 60 (pesos) plus pa ho tayo sa ngayon. Number two dahil sa digmaan sa Gitnang Silangan, baka tumaas uli ang presyo ng langis."

[Translation: To quote Ka Obet, if it goes down to 56, the board will look into it. That isn't automatic. The board will see if the provisional increase will be removed. But that is far from happening, as it's over 60 now. Number two, because of what's happening in the Middle East, oil prices might still go up.]

He added they are instead.looking closely at the petition for fare increase

"Kaya po meron kaming ginagawang pag-aaral ngayon dun sa petition ng jeepney operators dun sa hinihingi nilang additional increase. Yun po depende po yan sa magiging resulta sa nangyayari sa mundo ngayon," said Guadiz.

[Translation: We are now studying the petition of jeepney operators for an additional increase. That will also depend on world events happening now.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9)  Palestinian Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Mohammad refuted claims that Israeli soldiers are only targeting Hamas militants, citing the amount of destruction they left in Gaza.

Israel formally declared war on Oct. 8, setting the stage for a major military operation in Gaza as fighting rages on Israeli soil following a surprise assault by the Islamic militant group on Sunday.

Israel responded with airstrikes and military forces on the ground to fight Hamas in villages, army bases, and border crossings. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was "clearing terrorists" out of Israeli communities and "restoring control."

"Just saying that we're not targeting civilians is absolutely untrue," Mohammad told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

He accused Israeli soldiers of also targeting mosques, markets, schools, and civilian compounds.

"Hamas is not within the similar civilians," the envoy said. "I'm not defending whatever but we should call this made the spade a spade."

READ: PH condemns surprise attack on Israel

Asked if the Palestinian government condemns Hamas' attacks, Mohammad did not answer directly  only saying, "you cannot understand what's going [on] today without realizing the reality of Israeli daily practices."

He also asserted that the source of violence is coming from Israel, accusing it of disrespecting the signed agreements between two parties that should have been implemented years ago.

According to Mohammad, they were supposed to have an independent state of Palestine 25 years ago after signing a deal with the Israeli government.

READ: Hamas has launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. Here's what to know

"Our demand is very simple. The realization of our national aspiration of our national rights of establishing an independent state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital and the return of the refugees from the diaspora," he said.

Netanyahu earlier said his country is "embarking on a long and difficult war," vowing "mighty vengeance" on Hamas and declaring that Israel is stopping the supply of electricity, fuel, and goods to Gaza.

As of Monday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health recorded a total of 413 Palestinians killed, including 78 children, and 2,300 others wounded in Gaza since Saturday.
Today is Oct. 10, 2023, and here's what you need to know:

Members of Colorado's congressional delegation condemned the surprise weekend attack on Israel by Hamas and expressed solidarity with the longstanding U.S. ally, which declared war on the group and began to retaliate.

U.S. officials confirmed on Monday that at least 11 Americans were killed in the violence that began early Saturday when the militant group fired thousands of rockets into Israel from Gaza and launched assaults by land, air and sea. The Associated Press reported on Monday that hostilities had so far killed an estimated 900 people in Israel, including at least 260 who were attending an outdoor music festival, and more than 680 people in Gaza.

"We will remember Oct. 7 as the day Israel came under attack by terrorists who sought to destroy it, and everything it stands for and everything it means," U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said Monday in a letter read at a vigil organized by Colorado's Jewish community at Temple Emanuel in Denver.

"Even with a world already wracked by violence, the death and destruction weve witnessed over the last two days has been brutal  especially the wanton targeting of civilians," said Bennet, a Democrat, who apologized that he couldn't attend the vigil because he was on a congressional visit to Mexico City.

Hours after the terrorist organization Hamas launched a surprise holiday attack on Israel, Colorado Rep. Tim Hernandez joined around three dozen participants at a rally at the state Capitol and waved a Palestinian flag.

The Palestine Solidarity Rally was described in a flyer as "An Emergency protest for Palestinian Resistance." It appeared to be organized by the Colorado Palestinian Coalition.

Hernandez's place among the crowd may have gone unnoticed except that it was caught by television cameras gathering footage of the event.

Almost immediately, lawmakers on both sides jumped on Hernandez' action.

He voiced his approval of the slaughter of innocent people, said Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock. I find that to be contrary to anything that I hold dear.

There is no rule that prohibits legislative house members from participating in a rally or protest. Still, Frizell bemoaned Hernandez's "absence of decorum," saying she doesn't believe he "respects the institution he was appointed to."

But Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, said it is unfair to single out Hernandez for "expressing his beliefs that all people should be afforded human rights." She pointed out that there has been "massive precedent" of other elected officials who have also attended rallies, voicing opinions on the west steps of the state Capitol during the repeal of Roe v. Wade and most recently when conflicts arose in Sudan and Ethiopia.

Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants have been found in Israeli territory, the Israeli military said Tuesday after announcing it had largely gained control in the south and restored full control over the border on the fourth day of fighting following an unprecedented surprise attack.

Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since Monday night, although infiltrations could still be possible. Israel has previously reported 900 soldiers and civilians killed, and Palestinian authorities have reported about 700 deaths in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Israeli government promised Monday to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack that killed more than 900 people in Israel, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the countrys worst civilian massacres.

Following the legislature's decision to dissolve a commission on criminal and juvenile justice, Gov. Jared Polis on Monday announced the establishment of a new group to carry on some of that work but ultimately help create a permanent entity that would regularly recommend policy changes for lawmakers to tackle.

In an executive order, the governor created the Working Group on Transforming Criminal and Juvenile Justice, tasking the body to study evidence-based best practices, conduct outreach and develop a recommendation by March 1 on forming an entity  or entities  similar to the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.

Lawmakers decided not to extend the life of the commission beyond September of this year.

Polis told Colorado Politics that not having such a permanent entity is "shortsighted," particularly in light of what the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice accomplished  more than 100 bills and 150-plus policy recommendations.

The commission was successful, Polis said, because it involved legislators but also engaged prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, victim advocates, human services and others in coming up with common-sense recommendations that were then introduced in the legislature.

Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics' roundup of news from the third branch of government.

The state's Court of Appeals continues to find fault with orders for criminal defendants to pay financial restitution to their victims, and Masterpiece Cakeshop will press the Colorado Supreme Court about the boundaries of the First Amendment.
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Dope Is Shown In All Its Forms

One of the most interesting expositions ever seen here has been on view the past week at the Hood River Drug Co.s store. It consists of a very complete display of the various forms of dope and the impedimenta of the dope fiend.
Apple takes emerging markets seriously. As the tech giant seeks to build foundations from which to achieve future growth, it is taking position in those markets.

Just look at the rollout.

Since 2019  even during COVID  Apple has continued to expand the number of stores it has in place across more established markets, while opening for business in global markets including India, Vietnam, South Korea, UAE, Turkiye, Thailand, and Mexico.

Chasing growth, Apple has global ambitions and is doing its level best to establish a foothold in every territory that may deliver economic buoyancy as traditional markets face steep decline.

Thats a lesson for every enterprise, of course, in that the myriad of interlinked challenges we face inevitably tear strips from traditional models of continued growth. We need to make more from less, in every sense  Apples work to build circular manufacturing systems points to another facet of this.

With this as the current environment, it must then be only a matter of time before Apple takes a position in Africa.

Apples birds-eye view

We know Apple is taking a high-level interest in such matters.

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with USAID administrator Samantha Power just the other day to discuss cooperation in support of Ukraine and the potential to support development in other emerging democracies.

Administrator Power and Cook also discussed the potential for partnerships in support of addressing shared development challenges, such as support for burgeoning democracies, enhancing educational opportunities, capacity building for governments, and trade integration, a USAID press release claimed.

While much of Africa remains politically fractured, some nations are primed for business.

The continent offers huge potential for next-generation technology and communication services; innovative connected manufacturing and agricultural systems; resource and water management services; and, at the consumer level, payment and banking services.

Africas new digital opportunity

Not only this, but Africa also now accounts for 70% of the worlds $1 trillion mobile money value, with over 600 million mobile wallets used across the region. In Kenya, 84% of internet users were using mobile payments in 2021, according to the World Economic Forum. In Nigeria that figure was 60%, with South Africas adoption in third place at 21%.

It is interesting to note that both Kenya (23%) and Nigeria (34%) have yet to get internet connectivity to the majority of the population, while in South Africa, connectivity has reached 68%.

The connectivity challenge across much of the region can be summed up by a lack of legacy fixed-line infrastructure. 5G deployment is relatively slow, though the GSMA estimates that some of the biggest African economies (including Kenya and Nigeria) will gain access to 5G networks by 2025.

Satellite may well be part of the answer, and that is certainly what existing incumbents in the satellite connectivity space are hoping for.

This is also what smartphone manufacturers appear to be preparing for as Apple, Samsung, and others build devices that make use of satellite. Apples Emergency SOS by Satellite feature is almost certainly a precursor to a global iMessaging service, I think, with voice calls via satellite likely to become normalized with the dawn of 6G toward the end of the current decade.

With all this in mind, the impetus and direction of travel should offer up a salutatory lesson to any enterprise seeking something like growth in our challenging, fast-changing business environment. Apple is struggling with the same challenges, and also seeks growth.

What happens next?

Apple will open its first verified Apple store in an African country by 2026, predicts CCS Insight.

Following the opening of its first Indian store in April 2023, Apple seeks to tap into growing circular economies in developing countries. Its pioneering African outlet focuses on refurbished smartphones, tempting consumers into its lucrative services ecosystem with certified products, the analyst firm said in research published today.

I agree.

I think Apple will begin to roll out its own-branded retail stores at strategic locations across Africa, most likely in Egypt, Nigeria, and potentially also in Kenya and South Africa. Apple allegedly acquired space for a store in Egypt way back in 2021, though that claim was never confirmed. In South Africa, it already has a presence via authorized reseller iStore South Africa. Elsewhere, a network of resellers exists, most offering Apple-style retail experiences.

While widening its business interests in African nations will impose fresh challenges and expose strategic barriers, not least around political instability across the continent, the potential to harvest growth will be too tempting to ignore.

After all, with mobile wallets already seeing major use and investments in digital infrastructure already taking place, tech firms can see a real opportunity to contribute economic benefits now to draw economic benefits later from within these markets.

Services strategy support

The company already has toes in African waters.

The App Store came to eight African nations in 2020. It is now available in 40, including the bigger economies. Customers in Nigeria and Kenya get access to Apple Music and iTunes (books, TV, music) purchases, while in South Africa Apple offers its full stack, including Apple Arcade, Apple Music/Music Classical, TV+ and Apple One.

It may be interesting to note that the Apple One is also available in Gambia, Niger, Guinea-Bisseau, Botswana, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Uganda, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.

This hints to the quiet way in which Apple is laying local foundations and the extent to which it is already seeking growth in high-margin Apple services as it explores market potential. These offerings should give the company insight into how ripe individual nations have become.

It is also interesting that Apple is making big investments in Africas music scene.

The companys music people put a lot of energy behind promoting fast-rising African artist Burna Boy, while the Apple-owned Platoon service has become a major player on Africas music scene. That kind of cultural connection is incredibly valuable for any company seeking to build relationships with local consumers, and of course its services arm is also the ultimate high-margin revenue tap for the company.

As that tap flows, watch what happens. I see it this way: in environments (such as Africa) in which second-user devices dominate, offering services people want that can be accessed via those devices raises revenue, builds B2C contact, and helps finance additional business expansion in critical markets.

This make sense, given that not every benefit when entering new markets needs to be immediate. Like fine wines, many such markets ripen over time. The work Apple began in India nearly a decade ago is only now delivering substantial gains.

Cook: Theres still a lot of countries ... we would like to go into

Cook discussed retail during the companys Q3 earnings call earlier this year.

At that time, he said: Theres still a lot of countries out there that dont have Apple stores that we would like to go into. We continue to see it as a key part of how we go to market and love the experience that we can provide customers there.

Will Apple go to Africa? Of course. It is already there.

Perhaps your business needs to plan to go there too.

Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
In the world of cartoon dogs, Goofy is one A-list mutt and probably only second to Scooby-Doo in popularity. BFF to Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, the awkward pooch has enjoyed many an animated adventure over the years, much to the ire of Walt Disney. Read on for more on that, his forgotten son (decades before Max) and other tidbits about the character lovingly described as the good-natured bonehead who never did anything right if he could get it wrong.

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15 Some People Think That Goofy Is a Cow Some folks are under the impression that the fedora-loving Disney pooch is actually a cow. This, according to Snopes, is mainly due to a tongue-in-cheek satirical article written by Reel Rundown in 2012. Of course, not everyone got that it was all fictitious fun, and claims of Goofy being a farm animal soon scattered across the internet like some new-found revelation. Art Babbitt, Disney animator and Goofy developer, described his character as Pluto (the dog), only with more human-like features. It is true that there is a vague similarity in the construction of the Goofs head and Plutos, Babbitt once said. The use of the eyes, mouth and ears are entirely different. One is dog, the other human. The Goofs head can be thought of in terms of a caricature of a person with a pointed dome  large, dreamy eyes, buck teeth and weak chin, a large mouth, a thick lower lip, a fat tongue and a bulbous nose that grows larger on its way out and turns up. His eyes should remain partly closed to help give him a stupid, sloppy appearance, as though he were constantly straining to remain awake, but of course, they can open wide for expressions or accents. He blinks quite a bit. His ears, for the most part, are just trailing appendages and are not used in the same way as Plutos ears except for rare expressions.

14 Not a Dog? So, is Goofy a dog or not? Bill Farmer, his voice actor since 1987, says not so much. At least, not in the way that Plutos a dog. Farmer explained that Goofy surely belongs to the canine family but that hed rather label the character as his own branch called Canis Goofus instead of dog. In other words, Goofy is just Goofy. Erin Glover, Director of Publicity and Communications at Disney Animation, told Snopes, The Disney Animation Research Library and the Walt Disney Archives agree that this question was best answered by Disney Legend Dave Smith: Goofy was originally created as a human character with dog-like characteristics, thus why he walks upright, wears clothes, talks and has animal features that resemble a dog.

13 His First Appearance Goofy made his Disney debut in 1932 as an audience member loudly munching on peanuts in the animated short Mickeys Revue.

12 The Claim That Walt Disney Didnt Like Goofy Neal Gabler, historian and writer of Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, wrote in Disneys biography that the man apparently hated The Goof. He talks constantly about how much he hates (those early characters) but never really specifies what he hates about them, Gabler explained during an interview. He thought they were stupid, I think, at some point. There was no emotional engagement in them. Theyre just a bunch of stupid cartoons with gags tied together, which, in a way, was getting way back to the early days of animation. Walt had striven so hard to get away from that notion of just putting a bunch of gags together that have no kind of larger narrative context and no emotional context. Walt always hated Goofy, and he wouldve deep-sixed Goofy a long time ago if the studio didnt need to make those movies to give make work to so many of the animators. Boy, he hated Goofy. Advertisement Advertisement

11 No Name For a while, Goofy wasnt named Goofy. Following his on-screen debut, the anthropomorphic mutt starred in a newspaper comic strip as Dippy Dawg. It wasnt until 1939 that he would officially be named Goofy in the film Goofy & Wilbur.

10 The Origin of Goofy The idea for the definitely-not-a-cow character came from his original voice actor, Pinto Colvig. In his autobiography, Its a Crazy Business: The Goofy Life of a Disney Legend, Colvig shared how he created a stage character called The Oregon Appleknocker, inspired by a half-baked village nitwit from his hometown of Jacksonville, Oregon. When Disney came knocking to add characters to the world of Mickey Mouse, Colvigs character evolved into the Goofy we know today. Advertisement Advertisement

9 When Art Babbitt First Met Goofy Goofys designer and ultimate developer said he first encountered the character in one of Goofys earliest drawn-up shorts. The first time I came across Goofy was in a black-and-white short called Mickeys Service Station (1935), Babbitt remembered. In that picture, Goofy was on top of an engine block and, as he reached down into it, his own hand came up behind him and goosed him. Then, there was a bit of monkey business before he found out it was his own hand. I wanted that scene very badly because I thought I could have fun with it. But they had only allotted, I think, 7 or 8 feet of film for the whole business. I thought you couldnt do anything in that. Babbitt explained that he practically begged Disney to give him the scene, and a deal was made. The Goofy thing would up 57 feet long, and after that, I was always kidded about padding scenes. Mickeys Service Station would become the first short featuring the fleshed-out character of Goofy.

8 A Change in Goofy During the 1940s, Goofy underwent a change in presentation. Most of his voice and dialogue disappeared, keeping only that goofy laugh and some random exclamatory sounds. The biggest reason for this was that animation was becoming too expensive, so Disney adopted a simpler, economical approach to their properties. The decade also saw less character development and more slapstick comedy implemented throughout cartoons. Advertisement Advertisement

7 The Jack Kinney Era During those changing times, Disney Studios set up a production unit for each of their individual characters. Kinney, a former newspaperman turned Disney director, was assigned as head of Goofys unit and, specifically, his How To cartoon series. Kinney employed narration in these shorts to solve the problem of Goofys voice artist, Colvig, going to work on Fleischer Studios Popeye the Sailor in 1939. We needed a voice that would be completely at variance with what was happening on the screen, the screwy situations that only Goofy could get into, Kinney explained. We wanted someone who could project a heavy, omniscient quality. Someone who talked it straight and pontifical, no matter what our gonged-out hero was doing! John McLeish would ultimately serve as the narrator to counter Goofys on-screen antics.

6 Kinney Was Inspired by the Bonus System The first one I did, when we started that series, was Goofys Glider (1940), Kinney explained. Then I got to thinking, Ive got to dream up something  because they put in the bonus system, and the bonus system is a pretty handy thing because if you did a picture under $35,000, you got a piece of change back. Everybody on the thing, not just the director, but the story guys, and the animators, and everybody else. We had a gung-ho group going for a while till they stopped that, and when they stopped that, pictures went up from $35,000 to $45,000 to $55,000 to $65,000 to over $100,000 for 500 feet. So  I dont know when it happened  why not do a how-to-do-it series? We used to have to send in a piece of paper every week to Walt if we had any ideas. So I wrote out a little synopsis of stuff, and I suggested titles  How to Ride a Horse was the first one, and How to Ski, and how to do this, and I sent them, and I said, I think this could be made with one character, and maybe a few incidental characters, with narration over rather than mouth action. Advertisement Advertisement

5 Colvigs Return Goofys original voice actor returned in the 1944 short How to Be a Sailor and would continue voicing him until he died in 1967. Following Colvig, several others played Goofy, including Jimmy MacDonald (the voice of Mickey), Peter Hawkins (the Daleks in Doctor Who) and Hal Smith (Winnie the Pooh), who took over from Colvig until 1983.

4 A Goof with a Different Name In the 1950s, Goofy became the working everyman, even getting himself a new name: George Geef. He was married to a human woman (whose face we never saw) and had a son, George Junior, who didnt have dog ears like his dad. Advertisement Advertisement

3 An Uncredited Voice Actor While Tony Pope is credited for voicing Goofy in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Bill Farmer  the voice of Goofy since 1987  also provided lines for the character that made it into the film.

2 Disneys First Superhero Character? Goofys alter ego, Super Goof, is believed to be Disneys first-ever superhero character. Super Goof first appeared in the 1965 Walt Disney comic The Phantom Blot Meets Super Goof. Donald Ducks comic super alter ego, Paperinik, would make his first appearance in 1969. Advertisement Advertisement
Things have gotten a little crowded in the lounge at the SNL Five-Timers Club in recent years. The Five-Timers used to be a pretty exclusive group, made up of celebrity stalwarts popular and funny enough to warrant at least five invitations to host the show. The club now has 24 members, with John Mulaney, Paul Rudd and Woody Harrelson joining the ranks since 2021.

Since the philosophy seems to be the more the merrier, Season 49 will likely see new members getting their Five-Timers jackets, right? Not so fast there, Chevy  while there are a dozen potential hosts with four appearances and counting, most of them wont be knocking on that door anytime soon. Heres the best bet on which host will become the next Five-Timer

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The Disgraces Advertisement Lets start with three guys who likely wont be returning any time soon. Louis C.K. last hosted in 2017, mere months before the New York Times published a story about the comics nasty habit of masturbating in front of female comedians. James Franco also made his last appearance in 2017 (a banner year!), but it was Times Up for Franco when several women and former students came forward with troubling allegations. And Season 49 doesnt seem like an opportune time to welcome back four-timer Ashton Kutcher after his impassioned pleas on behalf of convicted sex criminal Danny Masterson. Consider these three banished to the Land of Never Again.

Extremely Unlikely, But Who Knows? Play Advertisement Advertisement Monty Python legends Eric Idle and Michael Palin have both had four cracks at hosting. But seeing as both men are 80 (with nothing to promote), it would probably take a Betty White-style fan uprising to bring back either Python. As long as were on the subject of too old to host, we should probably mention 82-year-old Paul Simon. He seems to have been accepted into the club already (he shows up in the robe in Five-Timer sketches) even though technically hes only hosted four times. Perhaps Lorne Michaels considered his several other cameos and musical appearances and grandfathered him in. Were crossing Cameron Diaz off the list since shes mostly retired from acting (even though Jamie Foxx talked her into some Netflix movie that hasnt seen the light of day). Lindsay Lohan doesnt exactly belong on The Disgraces list, but a series of scandals seem to have derailed her acting career for the time being. Plus, seeing as Lohan is a new mother, she likely has enough on her hands without hosting SNL. Advertisement Consider Charles Barkley a dark horse to join the Club. The guy never has anything specific to promote, but he kills every time hes given the chance. Barkley no longer wears the Cool Weird Sportsguy crown he was sporting in the 2010s, but who knows?

The Former Cast Contenders Advertisement Advertisement Its a good bet that Kristen Wiig will join the club eventually, but will Season 49 be the year? She doesnt have a lot in the hopper other than voicework in Despicable Me 4 and Sausage Party: Foodtopia  the guess here is shell be back when she has something more substantial to promote. Dana Carvey seems to have newfound relevance in SNL circles thanks to his weirdly nostalgic Fly on the Wall podcast. As an all-time cast member, would it make more sense to schedule Carvey for a victory lap in Season 50? More of a sure thing for Season 49 would be one-season cast member Martin Short. Hes got two things going for him  an Emmy-nominated performance in prestige comedy series Only Murders in the Building and the prize of hosting last seasons most-watched episode with Steve Martin. Ratings still count for something around here. Advertisement
When we want to stop people from actions we dislike, we turn to a default solution: We call it a crime, and we threaten jail. Sometimes, this doesnt work. Maybe we cant realistically declare it a crime. Maybe the action is already a crime, and we have no way of catching the perpetrator. Maybe they weigh the risk and decide to go through with it anyway. Thats when authorities have to get really creative.

5 Swinging Concrete Balls Will Knock People Off Train Roofs In some countries, so many people travel by rail that the train cars dont have room for them all. People hang out of the open doorways, and sometimes, enterprising passengers will climb up and park themselves on the roof. In Indonesia, some of these train surfers skip paying for tickets, while others pay but still head there because theres no room anywhere else. Still others head up because surfings plain fun. You can pass laws against train surfing, but that wont work, as how do you catch and arrest someone as acrobatic as that? So, Indonesia turned to other tricks. They set up paint guns to spray offenders, for later capture (the offenders destroyed the guns). They urged religious leaders to preach against train surfing (shockingly, this swayed no one). Finally, they installed swinging concrete balls, which train riders will slam into at high speeds, knocking them off the train and maybe killing them. Advertisement The balls are cartoonish, which is the point. They could achieve something similar by installing horizontal barriers slightly above the train at various points, much like the kind in front of tunnels and bridges that warn your car about the limited clearance. The balls, however, aim to be obvious and terrifying. The authorities dont want to sweep off all the surfers; they want to warn them  but theyre willing to sweep them off if it comes to that. The balls, however, did not immediately result in an end to surfing. Officials installed them too high, leaving enough room for surfers to safely zoom right under them.

4 Lights Highlight Acne to Humiliate Loitering Teens Teenagers are the number one threat to a citys peace, embracing strange fashions, purchasing outrageous phonograph records and engaging in other such activities that Britain describes as anti-social behavior. Anti-social behavior (stuff like loitering and humming  very different from what psychologists call antisocial behavior, which tends to be a lot more murdery) is not illegal. Authorities still want to crack down on it. Advertisement Enter pink lights. Pink street lights aim to calm the public. They also have the effect of highlighting acne (or spots, as theyre called in Britain). via Wiki Commons They started with the word spotlight and worked backwards from there. Stick a few of these lights in public places, says the logic here, and teens would keep away, preserving the area from delinquency for a little longer. However, maybe this is a tactic for a bygone time. Between better medication and a wider use of cosmetics, acne may not be as big a deal among teens as it once was. If some kid with a switchblade whistling Singing in the Rain in front of your store has pimples, theyre probably cool with that. Advertisement

3 Or We Can Scare Off Teens With Alarms Only They Can Hear If exotic light doesnt work, perhaps we can try exotic sound. Your ability to hear changes as you age. Long before you grow fully old and fully deaf, you lose the ability to hear higher frequencies. Sounds that a teenage hears easily may be inaudible to an adult or may sound like something entirely different. Advertisement The Mosquito  an invention originally from Britain but used in several American cities  broadcasts a blaring noise with a frequency of 17.5 kilohertz. If youre above the age of 25, youll hear nothing, but much younger than that and itll torture you, especially when cranked up to the maximum output of over 100 decibels. This will deprive nearby business owners of all youthful customers, and may spark physical illness in autistic people, all of which is considered well worth it if it keeps kids from playing catch nearby. About a minute into the following video, youll hear a demonstration of the Mosquitos output: Advertisement Advertisement At least, thats allegedly a demonstration of the Mosquitos output. We couldnt hear a thing, so we dont know for sure. For accuracys sake, we knocked on several doors and asked to borrow children, saying we wanted to hurt them, but no parents proved willing to lend us any test subjects.

2 Sweden Keeps Away Russian Subs by Calling Them Gay In 2014, Russia was up to its tricks again, sending its subs secretively into the waters of Western Europe. This worried the Swedish military so much, they spent millions on surveilling the water to figure out exactly what was happening. A few million may not sound like much of a defense expenditure to you, but it was their biggest military operation in decades, since Sweden doesnt involve itself in that many wars. Advertisement The following year, the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society figured they needed alternate means of keeping Russia back. They lowered into the water what they called the Singing Sailor Underwater Defense System. A neon sailor danced back and forth, and the sign broadcast a message, in Morse code: This way if you are gay. Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society Russian invader say WHAT? This was not an anti-gay message but a pro-gay message, mocking Russias own anti-gay policies. The sign also said, Welcome to Sweden  gay since 1944. You might say that Russias recent activities show that encounters with this sign did not exactly leave them chastised and defeated. However, they never did go and invade Sweden, did they? By that measure, the Singing Sailor has been fully effective. Advertisement
If youre one of the countless thousands of Seinfeld fans who still feel unsatisfied by the shows finale, youre in good company  so does Jerry.

The 56-minute, aptly named two-part episode The Finale is the most controversial Seinfeld installment through 9 seasons and 180 total episodes. When the episode aired on May 14, 1998, 76.3 million Americans tuned in to see every sin of Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer aired out in a court of law before the four were carted off to prison for criminal indifference. For the last quarter century, many of those millions have been complaining that the Larry David-written send-off for the greatest sitcom in TV history was underwhelming and inappropriate, and the episode is guaranteed an appearance on any listicle chronicling the most disappointing series finales of all time.

And, 25 years later, Jerry Seinfeld is still fielding annoying, repetitive questions about the Seinfeld ending. At a stand-up set in Boston this past weekend, Seinfeld was asked if he personally liked how Seinfeld wrapped up, to which he coyly replied that he has a little secret about the shows terminus. And, no, the secret is not just Georges ATM code.

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Heres what Ill tell you, but you cant tell anybody  something is going to happen that has to do with that ending. It hasnt happened yet, Seinfeld teased to the Beantown crowd. Just what you are thinking about, Larry (David) and I have also been thinking about. So, youll see.

Of course, this is not the first time that some kind of Seinfeld reunion or revival has been teased  not even close. Larry David reassembled the Seinfeld cast for the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode Seinfeld in 2009, which revolved around David using a Seinfeld reunion show as an excuse to win back his justifiably estranged ex-wife Cheryl.

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Then, in 2014, Seinfeld and Jason Alexander reunited to film a Super Bowl commercial with a surprise cameo from Wayne Knight.

In 2018, Seinfeld told Ellen DeGeneres that he thought a Seinfeld revival was possible, but, just as he did in Boston on Saturday, he refused to elaborate and left Seinfeld fans with more questions than answers.

Despite his most recent seemingly encouraging remarks, fans should remain wary of Seinfelds secrets until more details emerge. Seinfeld has expressed his regret over how the show concluded in the past, telling the audience of the New Yorker Festival in 2017, I sometimes think we really shouldnt have even done it.  There was a lot of pressure on us at that time to do one big last show, but big is always bad in comedy. No matter how he and David could ever decide to handle another Seinfeld follow-up, the past quarter century of build-up would inevitably make any reunion, revival or resurrection immense in terms of audience expectations  which, so says Seinfeld, is exactly where they went wrong the first time.
Summary Table

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AUD/JPY

AUD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 24.75% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 3.04 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 17.89% lower than yesterday and 38.41% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 18.08% higher than yesterday and 37.05% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests AUD/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger AUD/JPY-bullish contrarian trading bias.

AUD/USD

AUD/USD: Retail trader data shows 65.93% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.93 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 8.31% lower than yesterday and 23.54% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 34.95% higher than yesterday and 90.07% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests AUD/USD prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current AUD/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

Oil - US Crude

Oil - US Crude: Retail trader data shows 76.38% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 3.23 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 3.35% lower than yesterday and 10.60% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 7.52% higher than yesterday and 3.62% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Oil - US Crude prices may continue to fall.

Positioning is less net-long than yesterday but more net-long from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed Oil - US Crude trading bias.

Germany 40

Germany 40: Retail trader data shows 44.52% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.25 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 19.41% lower than yesterday and 30.24% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 36.83% higher than yesterday and 47.10% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests Germany 40 prices may continue to rise.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger Germany 40-bullish contrarian trading bias.

EUR/CHF

EUR/CHF: Retail trader data shows 63.29% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.72 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 0.36% higher than yesterday and 27.76% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 14.79% higher than yesterday and 49.54% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/CHF prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current EUR/CHF price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

EUR/GBP

EUR/GBP: Retail trader data shows 41.17% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.43 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 23.03% lower than yesterday and 10.88% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 16.35% higher than yesterday and 1.11% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests EUR/GBP prices may continue to rise.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger EUR/GBP-bullish contrarian trading bias.

EUR/JPY

EUR/JPY: Retail trader data shows 25.06% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 2.99 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 19.63% higher than yesterday and 35.42% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 3.55% higher than yesterday and 1.04% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests EUR/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current EUR/JPY price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short.

EUR/USD

EUR/USD: Retail trader data shows 57.70% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.36 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 23.34% lower than yesterday and 24.24% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 36.35% higher than yesterday and 21.64% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/USD prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current EUR/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

France 40

France 40: Retail trader data shows 39.00% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.56 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 27.62% lower than yesterday and 39.71% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 48.38% higher than yesterday and 80.74% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests France 40 prices may continue to rise.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger France 40-bullish contrarian trading bias.

FTSE 100

FTSE 100: Retail trader data shows 65.51% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.90 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 16.78% lower than yesterday and 15.07% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 45.91% higher than yesterday and 38.55% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests FTSE 100 prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current FTSE 100 price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

GBP/JPY

GBP/JPY: Retail trader data shows 27.92% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 2.58 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 12.74% higher than yesterday and 13.24% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 5.38% lower than yesterday and 8.29% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests GBP/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Positioning is less net-short than yesterday but more net-short from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed GBP/JPY trading bias.

GBP/USD

GBP/USD: Retail trader data shows 68.33% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 2.16 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 5.75% lower than yesterday and 10.57% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 14.69% higher than yesterday and 5.19% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests GBP/USD prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current GBP/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

Gold

Gold: Retail trader data shows 60.29% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.52 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 0.56% higher than yesterday and 4.15% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 3.37% higher than yesterday and 6.50% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Gold prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current Gold price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

NZD/USD

NZD/USD: Retail trader data shows 68.41% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 2.17 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 13.06% lower than yesterday and 15.08% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 19.86% higher than yesterday and 3.05% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests NZD/USD prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current NZD/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

Silver

Silver: Retail trader data shows 88.72% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 7.86 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 1.48% higher than yesterday and 5.15% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 9.43% lower than yesterday and 10.28% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Silver prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger Silver-bearish contrarian trading bias.

US 500

US 500: Retail trader data shows 53.71% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.16 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 12.98% lower than yesterday and 20.13% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 28.95% higher than yesterday and 32.22% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests US 500 prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current US 500 price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

USD/CAD

USD/CAD: Retail trader data shows 30.76% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 2.25 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 18.75% higher than yesterday and 7.39% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 25.17% lower than yesterday and 22.56% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests USD/CAD prices may continue to rise.

Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current USD/CAD price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short.

USD/CHF

USD/CHF: Retail trader data shows 72.09% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 2.58 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 9.59% higher than yesterday and 1.16% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 25.08% lower than yesterday and 9.80% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests USD/CHF prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger USD/CHF-bearish contrarian trading bias.

USD/JPY

USD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 16.04% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 5.24 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 13.80% higher than yesterday and 16.92% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 11.09% lower than yesterday and 4.50% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests USD/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current USD/JPY price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short.

Wall Street

Wall Street: Retail trader data shows 44.18% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.26 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 21.17% lower than yesterday and 32.11% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 36.36% higher than yesterday and 52.79% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests Wall Street prices may continue to rise.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger Wall Street-bullish contrarian trading bias.
CRUDE OIL PRICES OUTLOOK

Oil prices soften after Mondays strong rally.

Despite Tuesdays move, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East create a constructive backdrop for energy markets in the near term.

This article looks at oil s key technical levels to watch in the coming days and weeks.

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Most Read: Market Q4 Outlook - Gold, Oil, Stocks, US Dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen, BTC at Tipping Point

Oil prices, as measured by West Texas Intermediate futures, fell on Tuesday, erasing some of the previous sessions rally induced by this past weekend's events in the Middle East. To provide some context, the militant group Hamas launched a deadly incursion into Israel from the Gaza Strip early Saturday, resulting in the most devastating massacre of civilians in the Jewish nations history.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acted swiftly and declared war on the adversary, conducting extensive airstrikes in Gaza to target the Islamic terrorist organization's strongholds in the coastal enclave. As of Tuesday, the casualty count on both sides has continued to rise, surpassing a grim total of 1800 lives lost according to official sources.

Israel's position as a minor crude producer should not overshadow the potential significance of the conflict's impact on oils outlook, particularly if major players in the space become entangled in the situation. For example, if strong evidence emerges linking Iran to the terrorist attacks, the West could be forced to impose new economic sanctions on the country, with the aim of blocking its energy exports, a move that could further tighten markets.

Curious about where oil is headed? Download our free trading guide for Q4, offering an in-depth technical and fundamental analysis of how energy markets could unfold and the events that might contribute to increased volatility!

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To anticipate future market dynamics, traders should watch closely how the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East evolves. If tensions escalate and bring the United States and Iran into direct confrontation, oil prices could soar overnight. This risk is heightened if Tehran decides to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for any perceived aggression, as this navigational passageway is of paramount importance to global supplies.

From a technical standpoint, oil prices are sitting above the psychological $85.00 mark after Tuesdays pullback, close to the 50-day simple moving average, a key support to watch in the short term. If the bulls fail to defend this floor and prices fall below it in a decisive way, we could see a descent towards the $83.00 handle, which corresponds to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the 2023 rally.

On the other hand, if WTI manages to resume its advance, initial resistance appears at $88.00. Although it may be difficult for buyers to overcome this barrier, a breakout could reinforce the upward pressure and pave the way for a retest of this year's high.

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CRUDE OIL (WTI FUTURES) TECHNICAL CHART

Light Crude Oil Futures Chart Created Using TradingView
Euro, EUR/USD, US Dollar, Federal Reserve, Gold, Crude Oil, Treasury Yields - Talking Points

Euro support appears intact for now with a potentially vulnerable US Dollar

Treasury yields rolled over after recent peaks with the Fed hopeful of a soft landing

If the Euro is unable to break above resistance, will EUR/USD resume its downtrend?

Recommended by Daniel McCarthy Get Your Free EUR Forecast Get My Guide

The Euro has held recent gains with currencies settling into Tuesdays trade after a busy start to the week as markets look to decipher the implications of a protracted conflict evolving in Israel and Palestine.

Spot gold remains above US$ 1,860 on perceived haven status and an overall weaker US Dollar that is on the backfoot with Treasury yields peeling lower after dovish Fed speak overnight.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan both cited the backing up of long-end Treasury yields as potentially doing the desired tightening that the Fed had been trying to achieve.

Physical Treasury markets re-opened today after a holiday Monday and the 10-year note is trading below 4.65% after nudging 4.88% last Friday.

Equities have been buoyed by the prospect of the Fed holding fire on any further hawkishness.

Japans Nikkei 225 index rallied over 2% today after returning from a holiday on Monday. Most APAC equity indices are in the green with the exception of mainland China where the CSI 300 index slid around 0.50%.

Equity indices futures are pointing toward a steady start for European and US bourses.

EUR/USD is trading near 1.0560 at the time of going to print while GBP/USD is holding above 1.2200.

Crude oil and natural gas futures remain buoyed on the unfolding Middle East situation with the WTI futures contract near US$ 86 bbl while the Brent contract is a touch above US$ 87.50 bbl.

Several fed speakers will be crossing the wires later today, including Roberto Perli, Raphael Bostic, Christopher Waller, Neill Kashkari and Mary Daly

The ECBs Francois Villeroy de Galhau will also be making comments today.

The full economic calendar can be viewed here.

Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade EUR/USD Get My Guide

EUR/USD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS SNAPSHOT

EUR/USD remains in a descending trend channel despite the recent rally.

Nearby resistance could be at the breakpoint and recent high at 1.0617 ahead of another prior peak at 1.0673 that coincides with the 34-day simple moving average (SMA).

Further up, the 100- and 200-day SMAs may offer resistance near the breakpoint at 1.0830.

On the downside, support might lie near the recent lows of 1.0480 and 1.0440.

Chart created in TradingView

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--- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com

Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCarthyFX on Twitter
Poets have a way of expressing emotions in a manner that we mere mortals cannot. Watching the unspeakable horrors of the past few days, I have not been able to get the famous words, written in 1946 by the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller, out of my mind.

'Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.'

Different times, different politics  but the fundamental principle remains. Don't ever think it can't happen to you. Don't ever think you are safe from the forces of evil, whether they be men in black shirts with swastikas on their armbands  or killers in combat trousers descending from the sky to gun down, kidnap and rape young women.

Don't look at what is happening in Iran, in Ukraine and now in Israel and think: 'That doesn't concern me, it's not my problem.' It does  and it is.

Especially since the twisted dogma and blind fanaticism that fuels these atrocities does not just exist in the tower blocks of Gaza, the mosques of Tehran or the corridors of the Kremlin, but in our own backyard.

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life

For all the moderate, intelligent people of different cultures who live in this country, it appears there are far too many who openly decry and despise everything we stand for, who take our kindness for weakness, who view our tolerant, liberal democracy not as a haven, but as a Trojan horse for their extremist beliefs.

You don't have to look hard to find frank apologists for these horrors. And the fact that many of those celebrating and supporting Hamas have been welcomed to Britain with open arms is testament only to our naivety in thinking our way of life is unassailable. It is not. It is precious, and fragile.

That is the awful truth. That those who marched on the Israeli embassy in Kensington, who celebrated in the streets of West London on the night of the attacks, who joyously shared videos of atrocities as glorious victories against the Jewish people, are living among us.

They are not some abstract enemy, they are our neighbours: teachers, doctors, journalists.

Rivkah Brown, commissioning editor at the hard-Left Novara Media website, proclaimed on Twitter/X that the actions of Hamas were 'a celebration for supporters of democracy and human rights worldwide'. Dr Mennah Elwan, an NHS neurology registrar, posted a series of abhorrent messages online, mocking the Israeli victims and accusing them of cowardice for fleeing the gunmen.

Yet in some ways, failure to condemn Hamas's violence is just as bad.

Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, was seen at the party's conference in Liverpool openly supporting the notorious Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which was responsible for the protest outside the Israeli embassy.

Maggie Chapman, the Scottish Greens MSP, said Hamas's actions were a 'consequence of apartheid, of illegal occupation, of imperial aggression by the Israel state'.

John McDonnell, shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, told a pro-Palestinian fringe event that Israel's retaliation against the attacks would cause a 'nightmare situation' in Gaza. He has said nothing to condemn the rapes and murders committed by the sadists of Hamas.

Not forgetting, of course, the BBC, which informs so much public opinion and yet still  incredibly, shamefully  refuses to use the term 'terrorists' in relation to Hamas. I'm sorry, but if the 'beheading' of babies and the rape, slaughter and mutilation of civilians isn't terrorism, then what is?

But why precisely do the world's hardline Islamists so despise Israel? It's not just anti-Semitism. They especially hate the Jewish homeland because it is one of the only places in the Middle East that does not treat women as second-class citizens, that does not suppress free speech, that does not condemn homosexuality, that does not impose religious autocracy on its people.

Survivors of the attack on Saturday, who posted videos of the ordeal to social media, explained how they were forced to hide under bushes to avoid the Hamas gunmen

How is it that Hamas has defenders? How does barbarism have any place in our modern age? A post-Holocaust world that vowed 'never again' has, this weekend, witnessed Jews ripped from the safety of their homes and places of business. (Pictured: A hostage is held by Hamas).

Video shows a smiling Shani, who loved to travel according to her family, dancing at the music festival moments before she was captured by the terrorists

In Israel, women proudly serve in the military alongside men. They are emancipated, courageous and bold  everything the likes of the Taliban, or Isis, or Boko Haram, or the regime in Iran hates. Such extremists can't handle that. They don't want women to have power or autonomy because it scares them: it blows their tiny, misogynistic minds. They see us as chattels and slaves, whose only value is in serving them. They have proven that time and time again.

Take Iran. If you were to travel back in time to that country in the 1960s and 70s, before the Islamic Revolution, you would have found a nation that resembled modern Israel, where women were free to study, work, wear what they wanted and live their lives as equals.

Now many of them lie in hospital beds and morgues, their bodies smashed and broken by the so-called religious police who roam the streets enforcing the oppressive dogma of the regime. That is the fate that awaits all women when nations succumb to extremism.

As a mother and a daughter, that is what shocks and saddens me so much about the number of women you see supporting Hamas, not just in the crowds protesting but also in the professions.

How would they feel if their grandmothers were being carted away by fighters, their beautiful daughters raped, mutilated and murdered simply for not doing as they were told by a bunch of old men with a medieval mindset and an army of brutal, gun-toting rapists imposing their will?

Those girls at the Supernova music festival. That young woman with her bloodstained tracksuit bottoms being led by her hair to face God knows what horrors at the hands of baying men; that young student caught on camera reaching desperately for her boyfriend as she was carried away on the back of a motorbike; the female tattoo artist paraded half-naked and broken in the back of a pick-up truck; the grandmother whose death was uploaded to her own Facebook account by her killer  they are all our mothers and daughters.

Police had to separate protesters bearing Palestine and Israeli flags on Monday in High Street Kensington tube station

Suella Braverman has urged officers to use the 'full force of the law' against shows of support for Hamas

If it can happen there, it can happen here. Indeed, it is already beginning here, in the entrance to a Jewish restaurant smashed up in Golders Green, in the screaming mobs outside the Israeli embassy, in the graffiti scrawled on walls, in the noisy celebrations of death on our streets and on social media.

There can be no possible justification for any of it, no earthly reason why we should accept it. And if we turn a blind eye in the name of 'tolerance' and a 'diverse society', we are betraying not only ourselves and future generations, but also those who look to Britain as one of the few countries in the world where equality, freedom of speech and basic human rights still exist.

Israel has a right to defend itself from extremism, and so do we. Otherwise, in the end, the terrorists will come for us  because that is what they do. And who will speak for us then?
Was King Charles irked by the inclusion, in the first segment of the BBC Jimmy Savile biopic The Reckoning, of footage of him lauding the paedophile's fundraising abilities?

As producers used publicly available news footage rather than items where the Palace retains copyright, there was no need for the BBC to seek royal permission.

But the King would have been relieved there was no mention of Savile's boast of ingratiating himself into Charles's circle via Lord Mountbatten.

Bragged Savile: 'It was the respect that Lord Louis had for me... that's how I got to know all these people.'

Was King Charles irked by the inclusion, in the first segment of the BBC Jimmy Savile biopic The Reckoning, of footage of him lauding the paedophile's fundraising abilities? Pictured: Charles, then-Prince of Wales, and Sir Jimmy Savile in 1999

Queen Camilla, celebrating the 20,000th episode of The Archers last month, wished for 'the end of Rob Titchener once and for all!'

Ambridge's bad boy, whose coercive control led to him being stabbed by wife Helen, isn't going quietly.

Now terminally ill, he is demanding that the local vicar baptise him. As baptism, except in extremis, has to be a public event, the vicar doesn't want to. Maybe Camilla could help.

Despite Church law, royal children are routinely baptised in private, and Meghan was baptised and confirmed privately. Could Camilla lend Ambridge a King's Chaplain?

Queen Camilla, (pictured in Paris last month) celebrating the 20,000th episode of The Archers last month, wished for 'the end of Rob Titchener once and for all!'

Santa Palmer-Tomkinson shares her embarrassment at a book launch when she was chatting and eating nibbles with a woman in a low-cut dress with a jumbo cleavage.

'She was charming,' recalls Santa, now wed to historian Simon Sebag Montefiore.

'I leaned over because I saw that there was a nut down her cleavage, and I said 'by the way, you've got a pistachio stuck down your cleavage'.

She says: 'Oh no, it's a mole.' How do you get out of that?'

Writer Anthony Holden, who has died aged 76, once threatened to resign from the judging panel of the Whitbread Prize after describing a shortlisted book as 'a tedious, clunkily written version of Billy Bunter on broomsticks'.

It was JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Writer Anthony Holden, who has died aged 76, once threatened to resign from the judging panel of the Whitbread Prize after describing a shortlisted book as 'a tedious, clunkily written version of Billy Bunter on broomsticks'

Tony, who also wrote a biography of Prince Charles and became a friend of Diana, described her grandmother Ruth, Lady Fermoy as 'the ghastliest woman I've come across in my researches'.

And when the trial of butler Paul Burrell for theft collapsed in 2002 after it came to light that the Queen was aware that Burrell was in possession of some of Diana's personal effects, Holden called for the monarch to face legal action for wasting police time.

The disclosure that David Cornwell, alias spy writer John le Carre, enjoyed at least 11 mistresses prompts his half-sister Alexandra Williams to label him 'a philanderer who didn't like women'.

'My view is that his actions were more likely a reaction to his mother having been absent from an early age,' she concludes, adding: 'It is time the seedier part of David's life is put to bed.'

Appropriate perhaps, as priapic John spent an inordinate amount of time there!
We take a look at the women who shaped the early years of the Duke's life

The Duke of Edinburgh's family history is a complex one, filled with a greater share of tragedy than normal.

Prince Philip was the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and his wife, Princess Alice of Battenberg, who gave birth to him on a dining table in a Corfu villa.

Despite being a Prince of Greece, he did not live there for long.

When he was only 18 months old, the Greek royal family were exiled, forcing his parents to bundle him into an orange crate and escape on a British warship.

Philip grew up apart from his older sisters, spending time at boarding school in England and Scotland, bouncing from relative to relative in the school holidays.

Three of his sisters ended up marrying German aristocrats who became members of the Nazi party.

Prince Philip was the fifth child and only son from the marriage of his parents, Princess Alice of Battenberg, and Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. While he was born in Greece, at 18 months his family was forced to flee the country following the downfall of the Greek monarchy. Pictured: The Duke with his mother at Westminster Abbey in 1960

The youngest of the sisters, Sophie and her husband Prince Christoph of Hesse were so close to Hitler that they were invited to private lunches and even named their child after the dictator.

While the Prince's opposition to the Nazi Party was never in doubt, having fought for Britain during the war, including in the Battle of Crete, the Battle of Cape Matapan in Greece, and the Allied invasion of Sicily, his sisters were not invited to the Royal Wedding.

The Queen and Prince Philip married in 1947, just two years after the war, and so the decision to exclude his siblings was unsurprising.

The Duke of Edinburgh did not comment on the matter until 2006 when he broke his public silence about his family's ties to the Nazis.

He said that like many Germans, his sisters found Hitler's early attempts to restore Germany's power and prestige 'attractive' but he stressed he was never 'conscious of anybody in the family actually expressing anti-Semitic views'.

Prince Philip had four older sisters, but was raised separately from them. Three of the sisters went on to marry Nazis. Pictured pictured left-right: Sophia, Margarita, Cecilie, known as Cecile, and Theodora, in 1922 ahead of the wedding of Louis Mountbatten and Edwina Ashley, where they were bridesmaids

Princess Alice was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. It means Prince Philip and the Queen were distantly related through their great-great-grandmother

As well as being apart from his sisters, the Duke also spent a large proportion of his life away from his mother Princess Alice.

After she had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, resulting in religious mania and a mental breakdown, she was exiled to an asylum where she was imprisoned for two and a half years.

Following her release, she went on to help a Jewish family hide in her home during the war, before becoming a nun, creating a convent and an orphanage.

Here, more than two years on since the death of the Queen's beloved husband, who died peacefully at Windsor Castle in 2021, we look back on the women that shaped Prince Philip during the early years of his childhood.

Prince Philip's mother: Princess Alice of Battenberg - Queen Victoria's Greek great-granddaughter - who went on to survive a revolution, exile and asylum before becoming a nun

Princess Alice of Battenberg was born in 1885 at Windsor Castle, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

She was raised as an English princess despite her parents, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine and Prince Louis of Battenberg, being German.

Alice was one of four siblings, her sister Louise, brother Louis and George.

Louise later became Queen of Sweden and her brother Louis 'Dickie' Mountbatten, later Lord Mountbatten, was Prince Philip's beloved uncle.

The Battenbergs were told to Anglicise their surname to 'Mountbatten' during the First World War to drop the German connection.

Alice was congenitally deaf, however, could speak clearly. Photographs of her as a young woman showed her beauty, often pictured with upswept hair and lace gowns.

Prince Alice and Prince Andrew of Greece following their wedding in 1903. The pair had met a year earlier at the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902

Alice was congenitally deaf, however, could speak clearly. Photographs of her as a young woman showed her beauty, often pictured with upswept hair and lace gowns. Pictured, circa. 1945

Princess Alice of Battenberg (fifth from the left) pictured with the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day in 1947. None of Prince Philip's sisters were invited to the celebration because of their connections with the Nazi Party

While at the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, she met and fell in love with Prince Andrew, a younger son of the King of Greece - a year later the couple were wed.

When the Balkan Wars began in 1912, Prince Andrew was reinstated in the army, while Prince Alice helped assist war efforts by setting up field hospitals.

She was later awarded the Royal Red Cross in 1913 by King George V, the late Queen's grandfather, for her hard work.

By 1914, Alice had given birth to four daughters, with a revolution brewing in Greece, where she was living at the time.

Shortly after her youngest child and only son, Prince Philip, was born in 1921, the Greek royal family were exiled.

While he was just a toddler, the future Duke of Edinburgh was placed into a makeshift cot - an orange crate - as his family fled to Paris on a British warship.

Once in France, they lived on handouts from relatives. The stressful period caused strain on Alice, whose ardent religious beliefs had slowly become more eccentric over the years.

By 1930 she was hearing voices and believed she was having intimate relationships with Jesus and other religious figures.

Princess Alice remained in Greece until 1967, when Prince Philip and the Queen flew her back to England, where she spent her final days until she died in Buckingham Palace in December 1969. Pictured: The Duke and his mother in 1957

How The Crown fictionalised a 'tell all' interview with a journalist The third series of The Crown claims Princess Alice gave a tell-all interview with the Guardian, stepping in to take the place of publicity shy Princess Anne. In the scene Anne feigns a cold and excuses herself from the interview and sends her grandmother (Jane Lapotaire) out into the hallway where journalist John Armstrong (played by Colin Morgan) is waiting. Princess Alice, the mother of the Duke of Edinburgh, proceeds to give the journalists details about her tragic life, including her time spent in mental institutions. This was all fictionalised, although Princess Alice did live at Buckingham Palace from 1967 until her death in December 1969. Jane Lapotaire as Princess Alice in Netflix's The Crown Advertisement

She was later diagnosed as schizophrenic before being treated by Sigmund Freud at a clinic in Berlin.

Under the advice of the renowned psychoanalyst, her ovaries were blasted with X-rays which were said to cure her of her frustrated sexual desires.

This treatment is believed to have prompted early menopause.

Following the treatment, she was admitted to a Swiss sanatorium where she remained imprisoned for two and a half years.

At the time she was locked away, Prince Philip was just nine years old. He had been taken out for a picnic with his grandmother and when he arrived home his mother had gone.

Prince Andrew effectively abandoned his wife to go live on the French Rivera with his mistress, despite never getting divorced. He died in 1944 in Monaco.

During this time, young Prince Philip spent his time at boarding school in England and Scotland, being bounced from relative to relative during the holidays, including his uncle Lord Mountbatten.

When his mother was eventually released from the sanatorium in 1932, she drifted between modest German B&Bs.

The mother and son were not reunited until 1937, when they met at the funeral of Philip's sister Cecilie who died in a plane crash at the age of 26.

At this point, Alice wanted 16-year-old Philip to return to Athens with her, following the restoration of the Greek monarchy in 1935.

But Philip already had his future etched out in the Royal Navy, so his mother was left alone in Greece.

By 1941, Alice was stranded in Nazi-occupied Greece. Lord Mountbatten sent her food parcels which she handed out to those in need.

After the war, diamonds were used from Alice's tiara so Philip could present a ring to Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen. Pictured: Princess Alice arriving in London in June 1965

Alice sold the rest of her jewels following the war to create her own religious order, the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary. Pictured: Prince Philip and Alice in 1957

During the war, she hid a Jewish family on the top floor of her home, just yards away from Gestapo headquarters.

When the Gestapo became suspicious and questioned the Princess, she used her deafness as an excuse not to answer their questions.

Following the war, diamonds were used from Alice's tiara so Philip could present a ring to Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen.

Alice sold the rest of her jewels to create her own religious order, the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary, in 1949, becoming a nun.

She went on to build a convent and orphanage in a poor suburb of Athens.

She remained in Greece until 1967, where there was a Greek military coup. Alice refused to leave the country until Prince Philip sent a plane and a special request from the Queen to bring her home.

She spent the final years of her life living at Buckingham Palace with her son and daughter-in-law before she died in December 1969, aged 84.

The last few months of her life were fictionalised in the third season of Netflix's The Crown, played by Jane Lapotaire.

The series incorrectly suggested she gave a tell-all interview with the Guardian, covering topics about her mental health condition.

Shortly before her death, she wrote a heartbreaking letter to her only son, that read: 'Dearest Philip, Be brave, and remember I will never leave you, and you will always find me when you need me most. All my devoted love, your old Mama.'

Margarita, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1905-1981): Prince Philip's oldest sister, whose Nazi husband later plotted to assassinate Hitler

Margarita, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, was the oldest of Prince Philip's four sisters, born in 1905 at the Royal Palace in Athens.

In 1931, Margarita married Gottfried, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg - a German aristocrat who later became a Nazi.

Margarita, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, was the oldest of Prince Philip's four sisters. Here she is pictured standing behind the Queen, holding Princess Anne in her arms. Also pictured: Lord Mountbatten (left), Andrew Elphinstone, a cousin of the Queen, Alice Countess von Athlone and the Queen Mother

Photos from the funeral of his other sister Cecile, show Prince Philip (pictured second right in the first full row) during the procession in 1937. He is surrounded by those in the uniform of the SA, known as the 'storm division' or 'brown shirts'. On the right walks Prince Philipp von Hessen, brother of Philip's brother-in-law, Prince Christoph, who is next in line in full SS regalia

Gottfried was son of Princess of Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, through her second son, Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and his wife Gotha, Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, a daughter of Alexander II of Russia.

During the Second World War, after joining the Nazi Party, Prince Gottfried fought for Germany on the Russian front where he became badly wounded.

Later on during the war, however, he turned against Hitler and joined other aristocratic officers in a plot to assassinate the Fuhrer on July 20, 1944.

This resulted in the Prince being dismissed from the army.

Not long after the war, however, Gottfried succeeded his father as Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg in 1950.

Margarita and Gottfried had six children together, however, one died during childhood.

Despite the ties to the Nazis, Prince Philip remained in contact with his sister, visiting the UK shortly after the birth of Princess Anne.

She died in 1981.

Theodora, Margravine of Baden (19061969): Prince Philip's only sister who did not marry a Nazi

Prince Philip's second oldest sister Theodora was born in 1906 at Tatoi Palace - the summer residence of the Greek royal family.

She ended up being the only one of Philip's four sisters not to marry a man who was in the Nazi party.

Prince Philip's second oldest sister Theodora was born in 1906 at Tatoi Palace. She was the only one of the Duke's sister's not to marry a Nazi

Theodora died just five weeks before her mother on 16 October 1969 at Budingen, Germany. Pictured: Prince Philip with his sister Princess Theodora in 1960

In August 1931 she married her second cousin Berthold, Margrave of Baden.

They went on to have three children together: Princess Margarita, who later married Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia; Prince Maximillian, who married Archduchess Valerie of Austria; and Prince Ludwig, who married Princess Anna Maria Henrietta Eleonora Gobertina of Auersperg-Breunner.

Theodora died just five weeks before her mother on 16 October 1969 at Budingen, Germany.

Her husband lived for six years after her death.

Cecilie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Hesse (1911-1937): Died while pregnant when her plane crashed

Prince Philip was close to his sister Princess Cecilie, who was born in 1911, known affectionately as 'Cecile'.

Her godfather was King George V, grandfather to the late Queen.

As with her older sister, she also married a man with links to the Nazi Party.

Princess Cecilie was killed while eight months pregnant after the plane she was travelling on to London crashed. She died alongside her husband and two sons, as well as the aircraft staff

In 1931, she married Georg Donatus Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, her first cousin once removed. In May 1937, the couple are both thought to have joined the Nazi Party. Pictured: The Princess with her children Alexander, Ludwig and Johanna

How The Crown wrongly blamed Prince Philip for the death of his sister Cecile Cecile's death features in the penultimate episode of entitled Paterfamilias  of the second series of The Crown which explores Prince Charless unhappy school days at Gordonstoun, interwoven with flashbacks to his fathers time there. It is suggested  wrongly  that in November 1937, Philip, then 16, was due to spend half-term with 26-year-old Cecile, married to Grand Duke George Donatus of Hesse. This arrangement is said to suit his sister, apparently terrified of flying, because it will enable her to avoid travelling to London for a wedding. But Philip then punches a fellow pupil and as punishment is forced to remain at school during the holiday, leaving Cecile no choice but to accompany her family to London. Philip rings his sister hoping she will support him. Speaking from a German airport, she tells him she agrees with the heads decision and says she is now obliged to fly to the wedding. The camera then cuts to her boarding the plane. It is true that Philip travelled to Germany for the funeral. But what happens next in The Crown, say Royal experts, is pure fiction. Young Philip, played by Finn Elliot, is presented to his mother Princess Alice and father Prince Andrew at the funeral. His father says: 'Had it not been for Philip and his indiscipline she would never have taken that flight. Its true, isnt it boy? Youre the reason were all here burying my favourite child. Get him out of here.' Advertisement

In 1931, she married Georg Donatus Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, her first cousin once removed.

In May 1937, the couple are both thought to have joined the Nazi Party.

Months later, in November, Cecile was flying while eight months pregnant with her third child from Germany to London for a wedding.

But the plane crashed after hitting a factory chimney in fog near Ostend, Belgium.

The fatal accident killed Cecile, her husband, her mother-in-law, as well as their sons, aged four and six, lady-in-waiting and the best man for the wedding.

The pilot and two crew men also died in the wreck.

While searching through the debris, firemen also found the remains on infant that appeared to have been prematurely delivered when the plane crashed.

The child was found lying next to his mother, which led to the conclusion the pilot had been trying to land because Cecile prematurely began to give birth.

Prince Philip was 16 at the time and recalled being told to go the headmaster's study at Godonstoun where he was told the tragic news.

Years later he said it was one of the worst moments of his life. He wrote: I have the very clearest recollection of the profound shock with which I heard the news of the crash and the death of my sister and her family.

Cecile was buried with her husband and her three sons, in Darmstadt at the Rosenhohe, the traditional burial place of the Hesse family.

Photographs from the funeral show the young Prince Philip surrounded by grieving relatives, many wearing the distinctive Nazi uniforms.

One is clad in the uniform of the Brownshirts while another wears full SS regalia.

The street in Darmstadt, near Frankfurt, is lined with crowds  many giving the 'Heil Hitler' salute.

Cecile and Georg's surviving daughter Johanna was adopted by Prince Ludwig and Princess Margaret.

Tragically, she died just two years later after contracting meningitis.

Princess Sophie of Hanover, 1914 - 2001: The youngest of Prince Philip's four sisters, who was close to Hitler and named one of her children after him

Sophie was the youngest of four sisters, however, she was the first to get married.

She wed her second cousin-once-removed Prince Christoph of Hesse just age 16 in 1930.

Christoph was the son of Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse and Princess Margaret of Prussia.

He was also a great-grandson of Queen Victoria, through her eldest daughter Victoria, Princess Royal and German Emperor, Frederick III.

Sophie was the youngest of four sisters, however, she was the first to get married. She went on to marry Prince Christoph became director in the Third Reich Air Ministry and an SS colonel. The couple had a close relationship with Hitler, naming one of their children after him. Pictured: Sophie and Prince Philip at the funeral of Dowager Lady Brabourne in 1979

Prince Christoph was killed in October 1943 during a plane accident over Italy. Sophie went on to get remarried to Prince George William of Hanover, with whom she had three children. Pictured: Sophie with George of Hanover and Prince Philip in Munich

Prince Christoph became director in the Third Reich Air Ministry, an SS colonel and the chief of Luftwaffe commander Hermann Goering's secret intelligence service  responsible for spying on anti-Nazis.

The couple had extremely close ties with Hitler. A photo from 1935 shows Sophie sitting opposite the dictator at the wedding of Goering and his bride Emmy.

In her memoirs she discussed the times when both Goering and Hitler visited her flat near Frankfurt, with Goering coming for tea before the Nazis got into power in 1933.

She wrote: 'He talked a lot about the new political party which he had joined, the 'Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'.

'He was very enthusiastic about it all, especially about the party leader, a man called Adolf Hitler.

'As Germany was going through hard times and there was a lot of poverty and general dissatisfaction everywhere, we were interested to hear about the great improvements his party was planning to do.'

After the insistence from Goering that she also meet Hitler personally, the Nazi leader was welcomed into their flat.

Prince Philip's sister Princess Sophie is seen sitting opposite Adolf Hitler at the wedding of Hermann Goering

'I had been warned he was a vegetarian, and found it difficult to plan an appropriate meal,' she added.

'In those days we had a cook-housekeeper, which was just as well, as my ideas about cooking and housekeeping were fairly hazy (being only 18 at the time).

'We settled for an assortment of vegetables which turned out to be a great success.'

She added following the lunch she thought he was a 'charming and seemingly modest man'.

In the memoir she was keen mention, however, that she and her husband 'fundamentally' changed their views from the dictator, adding that they had initially been impressed 'by this charming and seemingly modest man, and by his plans to change and improve the situation in Germany.'

The pair were so devoted to the Nazis that they named one of their five children Karl Adolf to honour Hitler.

Prince Christoph was killed in October 1943 during a plane accident over Italy.

Sophie went on to get remarried to Prince George William of Hanover, with whom she had three children.

She remained in contact with Prince Philip and the late Queen until she died in 2001 in Munich.
This is the touching moment a bride who was getting married by proxy cried tears of joy when her groom made a surprise appearance at the altar.

Giovana Vital Senise da Silva, 26, from Brazil was expecting to tie knot remotely over a video call because her partner lives in the US.

Brazilian law recognises proxy marriages when one partner is not present at the wedding.

But she couldn't contain her joy when Danilo Alcolea de Azevedo, 28, who is based in Florida, walked in and embraced his wife-to-be.

The sweet reunion last month was captured on TikTok by Giovana's brother-in-law Icaro Furlanetto (@icarofurlanetto) and has now racked up some 1.8 million views.

'My sister-in-law was thinking that she would marry my brother by proxy, because he was in the United States,' a caption on the video read.

Giovana Vital Senise da Silva, 26 years, in Brazil was expecting to tie knot remotely over a video call as her partner lives in the US

'At the time of the ceremony, we called via Facetime but he "didn't answer" and showed up by surprise! It was beautiful!'

Viewers took to the comment to express their joy, with one saying they were left in tears by the gesture.

'What a beautiful thing!!' one remarked. 'I think there is no more beautiful affection than crying with happiness to be with someone.'

'Beautiful,' a second gushed.

A third added: 'I'm crying like hell.'

A proxy marriage is one where one of, or both of the people are not physically present.

It comes as a couple have revealed how they pulled off a surprise wedding in the comfort of their own home for a fraction of the cost - having lured their friends to join them for the ceremony with an invite to a fake housewarming party.

Wedding photographers Elizabeth Hasier and Holden Blanco have seen their fair share of nuptials in their line of work, so they knew what they did - and didn't - want when planning their own celebration.

The sweet reunion last month was captured on TikTok by Giovana's brother-in-law Icaro Furlanetto (@icarofurlanetto) and has now racked up some 1.8 million views

The bride couldn't contain her joy when Danilo Alcolea de Azevedo, 28, walked in and embraced his wife-to-be

The comments were full of endeared viewers, with one saying they were left in tears by the gesture

Elizabeth in particular always knew she wanted her own wedding to be a unique and intimate affair - so she decided to hold a surprise wedding in their living room, disguised as a housewarming.

The 27-year-old, from Philadelphia, and her now-husband, Holden, originally floated the idea of tying the knot in Colombia, where his extended family lives.

But after purchasing their first home in December and planning a housewarming they had a better idea - to combine the two celebrations.

'Marrying the love of my life in our living room was never how I thought I would get married - but now I can't picture it any other way,' Elizabeth gushed in a TikTok video, in which she shared some of her wedding details.

The bride explained she wanted to avoid not meeting their guests' expectations about her wedding, admitting she found the thought 'stressful.'

'You're just putting all of your taste on display for a hundred people and hoping they like it,' she told Insider.

Instead, the newlyweds, who dated for eight years before getting married, revealed to 'truly pull one over on people,' they decided to opt for a sneaky surprise ceremony and celebration in July.

Elizabeth shared the moment they revealed to their 45 guests that they were actually having a surprise wedding rather than the housewarming in a now-viral TikTok.

'We didn't want to wait to get married,' the photographer can be heard saying in the clip, which has been viewed more than 854,000 times.

'So we're actually going to get married right now.'
In a somewhat surprising move for a popular holiday destination, the mayor of Dubrovnik has implemented a new controversial policy, banning people from using wheeled suitcases in the old town.

The ban came about after local residents complained about noise pollution caused by the wheelie bags clattering on the cobbled streets, disrupting their peace.

So from November onwards, holidaymakers will be required to leave all luggage at the ancient town's walls. If any guest requires their bags to be transported to a hotel, they must pay extra for a courier to use an electric vehicle for delivery.

So far, the policy has inevitably resulted in an outcry from tourists, sparking debate about the use of wheelie suitcases generally.

While the old town residents are clearly in favour of the ban, others supporters have expressed approval of the move due to the hazard caused by these bags, which can trip people up and run over their feet. This has led some commenters to call for a similar ban in UK cities with high levels of tourism like London.

Critics on the other hand believe this to be a particularly over-the-top measure from the Dubrovnik mayor. They argue that travelling is already exhausting, and wheelie bags make it significantly easier and more convenient to transport heavier luggage after a long journey.

More serious concerns have also been raised about the impact of the ban on elderly and disabled travelers, who may struggle to manage the weight of their luggage more than others.

Critics have even predicted that this inconvenient regulation will result in a decrease in tourism to the region, particularly amongst travelers with physical ailments.

What do YOU think? Would the wheelie bag ban put YOU off travelling to Dubrovnik, Croatia? Join the debate in the comments.
Meghan Markle appeared in the video shared by the Invictus Games

Meghan Markle has appeared in a video for the Invictus Games - showing her secret visit to a home for military families.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, visited the Fisher House Foundation in Los Angeles, a charity that provides homes for military families while their loved one is in hospital, a day before flying out to Dusseldorf last month.

In a clip shown during an Invictus seminar on Monday, Meghan - dressed in a striped Ralph Lauren shirt and black skirt - is shown meeting and hugging veterans' families.

The former actress also narrates the clip, partially set over footage from the Invictus Games, showing athletes embracing their families and celebrating sporting success.

'What does recovery mean to you? For some, it means reclaiming their narrative, revolutionising your mindset,' she says in the voiceover.

Meghan Markle has appeared in a video for the Invictus Games highlighting the work Prince Harry 's foundation does to support military families

'It's a change that's not only physical, it's mental, emotional, social.'

She added: 'The Invictus Games show that this growth is about more than what meets the eye.

'The spouse coordinating doctor visits, the children celebrating milestones. The mother, father, fellow veteran, the friend. There is a community near and far, surrounding servicemen and women when they deploy and long after they come home.

'Healing does not happen alone, it takes a village - and is for the village. And one of the most essential parts of the process is having people surround you who understand. To grow as one unit, to achieve limitless potential.

'To remind us above all else, in this international family no one gets left behind. Because this is Invictus, we are Invictus together.'

After arriving a day late to the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last month, Meghan revealed the visit to the home caused her delay.

Speaking on stage at the time, she said: 'I was really fortunate to go and visit one of the houses in Los Angeles just a couple of weeks ago, and I was so moved by everything that they do because they understand  as you do, as my husband does in creating the Invictus Games  how much the value of rehabilitation matters, not just as a solitary experience, but as a family'.

The Fisher House Foundation is one of the main sponsors of the Invictus Games.

The charity sets up homes near military and Veterans Affairs medical centres around the world.

The Duchess of Sussex , 42, visited the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides homes for military families while their loved one is in hospital, a day before flying out to Dusseldorf last month

In a clip shown during an Invictus seminar on Monday, Meghan - dressed in a striped Ralph Lauren shirt and black skirt - is shown meeting and hugging veteran's families

The former actress also narrates the clip, partially set over footage from the Invictus Games

The homes have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths.

Families share a kitchen, laundry facilities, a dining room, and a living room.

The video is not the first time Meghan has lent her voice to projects - she famously did voiceover work for Disney+ film Elephant.

Meghan also made a subtle nod to the Princess of Wales with her look, by wearing the $590 (480) Ralph Lauren Collection button down shirt in blue and white stripe that she first wore to Wimbledon Ladies final in 2019 alongside her sister-in-law.

She paired it with her Lafayette 148 Rafferty midi skirt in black.

The royal added Princess Diana's Cartier watch and her 50,000 Lorraine Schwartz pinky ring made with 'diamonds gifted from the Middle East' with various other bracelets.

Prince Harry, who served in the British Army for ten years and served two tours in Afghanistan, created the Paralympics-style competition for injured, sick and wounded service personnel and veterans, with the first event taking place in 2014.

The Fisher House Foundation is one of the main sponsors of the Invictus Games. The charity sets up homes near military and VA medical centres around the world

Meghan looked delighted to meet families of veterans

The clip also showed Meghan and Harry hugging athletes

Meghan's appearance is the latest in a string of royal-style engagements.

Meghan and Harry are set to return to New York City today for Archewell's mental health summit, the first in-person event for the foundation.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in the Big Apple for the event, five months after their 'near catastrophic car chase' through the city.

The Archewell Foundation's Parents' Summit is aimed at helping families navigate children's mental health and wellness in the digital age.

The event has specifically invited parents who have experienced a loss due to or connected to their child's social media use.

'The families have been engaged with The Archewell Foundation for the past year, bolstering community and driving towards solutions,' a spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told PEOPLE.

'Together, they are united in their mission to share personal experiences, data, and research to ensure the same does not happen to other families,' they said.

They will also be joined by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to discuss mental health in a panel hosted by Carson Daly.
Freya Harris from Lincolnshire achieved second place at the dog competition

Pride of Britain's 'Child of Courage' award winner went through 'hell and back' after being diagnosed with a rare cancer.

Eight-year-old Freya Harris, from Horncastle in Lincolnshire, and her mother Gemma, appeared on ITV's Lorraine this morning after she was recognised at the ceremony, hosted by the Daily Mirror.

The cancer warrior was recognised after she won second place at Crufts with her Australian Shepherd dog, Echo, even though she was undergoing chemotherapy for kidney cancer at the time.

Since taking part in the annual dog competition, the eight-year-old has attended the glitzy award ceremony and introduced her canine to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which involved 'lots of kisses' on Echo's behalf.

But Gemma revealed that her daughter's journey did not always look positive, and at one point, she prepared for the very worst.

Freya Harris (pictured left), her dog Echo (centre) and mother Gemma (pictured right) featured on Lorraine after winning a Pride of Britain award

When she was seven years old, Freya was diagnosed with Wilms' Tumour, a form of kidney cancer that affects around 80 children in the UK each year.

Freya's family received the devastating news that she had cancer in December 2021 after first becoming ill two months earlier.

Soon after, it was confirmed as stage four cancer and Freya underwent a kidney removal, lung surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for a year.

Freya was later diagnosed with a rare side effect from the chemotherapy triggering internal organ failure, which luckily, she managed to overcome.

'She's been through hell and back and it's been a definite battle,' Gemma told Lorraine.

'We did nearly lose her at one point, and I had a courter prepare me for the worst.

'But what Freya does, is she pulls through, and she doesn't give up her fight, which is just the epitome of Freya.'

During the treatment process, Echo was Freya's reason to get home. 'She was my aim if I was at hospital, I had to get home to see her,' Freya said.

The young 'cancer warrior' was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer at the age of seven

Since the award win, the eight-year-old introduced her canine to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which involved 'lots of kisses' on Echo's behalf (pictured)

What is a Wilms' tumour? The disease is a form of kidney cancer that affects around 70 children in the UK each year. It most often develops in youngsters below the age of five. Wilms' tumours, also known as nephroblastomas, begins to develop when a baby is still growing inside their mother. However, it may not cause any symptoms until a few years after the child is born. They are most common in children under five but can appear in older children and adults on rare occasions. Wilms' tumours usually only affect one kidney (unilateral) but in about seven out of every 100 children it can affect both (bilateral). Most Wilms' tumours are quite large when they are found - very often much bigger than the kidney itself. Fortunately, most of them have not spread to other parts of the body. The most common symptom is a swelling in the abdomen, which is usually painless. Occasionally, the tumour may bleed slightly and this can cause irritation in the area of the kidney, which may be painful. Children with the condition may have blood in their urine, or their blood pressure may be raised. The child may also have a fever, upset stomach, weight loss or a lack of appetite. Advertisement

Freya's love of dogs formed at an early age, when she would help her mum who used to work as a dog walker, and the two would always sit down to watch Crufts together.

Gemma and Freya's father decided to buy puppy Echo to encourage their daughter to go for walks after having to spend weeks at a time in hospital.

The inseparable duo inspired thousands when they walked onto the world's most famous dog stage at the NEC Birmingham.

Describing her experience as 'amazing', Freya achieved second place at the Cruft's show. She added: 'I did it for cancer warriors.'

However, the pair almost didn't make it through qualifiers after Freya had a around of intensive treatment the night before.

Previously, Gemma explained: 'She had to have a massive transfusion that lasted for about six hours.

'We didn't get back home until the early hours of the morning, which was the same day as the [Crufts qualifier] show, but she was adamant, 'We're not staying at home, we're going.'

'It was an absolute whirlwind of a day, she was just absolutely buzzing to get in the ring, and it wasn't until after the show finished that we told her that she had qualified for Crufts.

'That's when she was screaming and jumping around with joy and nearly crying with how excited she was.'

Gemma said: 'Bad days, she's there. Good days, she's there. She's never fussed with her tubes or anything.

'She understands what's out of bounds with the NG tube or wigglies as we call them that come out of her belly, she's brilliant and she has never looked at them.'

It's not only emotional support that Echo provides for Freya but physical.

As Gemma continued: 'Echo has definitely encouraged her to get out. Freya had issues with her muscles when she was hospitalised for so long, her muscles shortened.

'And then the chemo can cause things like drop foot and so Freya has suffered with that.

'She has to wear splints to try and help her to walk, which was hard for her but Echo is the reason she would get every day and do it.

'She's got the responsibility of feeding, watering, brushing, everything, so it's a reason to get out of bed and get home from treatment and look forward to the future.'

When starting on their showing journey, the Harris family came across a ring craft class for Freya that catered specifically for those with additional needs.

Freya's parents bought Echo to encourage the youngster to get outside and go for walks after spending weeks in hospital

'People were very welcoming, they accommodated what her requirements were, they just accommodated whatever she needed to be done,' Gemma added.

'We are really grateful for that because it has let her follow her dream. She's following it and they guided her in the right direction as to what she needs to do, so they've taken us under their wing.'

Both Echo and Freya have loved honing their craft and training for the huge dog show.

Gemma added: 'Echo really enjoys whatever she's doing with Freya. So it doesn't matter if she was curling up on the sofa or showing off, she loves it.

'She loves the attention that she gets from it. She's a working breed anyway so she needs that extra stimulation as it goes to keep her happy, so she loves it.'

Freya is excited to be taking part in Crufts and to be surrounded by thousands of dogs and dog lovers.

When it comes to the competition the youngster has a positive outlook.

Freya said: 'It's all about the participation. It doesn't matter if you win  it is just about trying.'
Grayson Perry's wife Philippa has warned it is now 'fashionable' to have ADHD, adding she is 'worried' by the increased number of people being diagnosed with the condition.

The mother-of-one, 65, who lives in Islington, revealed her belief that some people claim to have the condition if they are forgetful or restless as a way of avoiding 'self-responsibility'.

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder is recognised by the NHS as a condition that affects people's behaviour and can cause them to act on impulse. It can also be linked to sleep and anxiety disorders.

Clarifying her comments in a later post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Philippa stressed that she is not denying the existence of ADHD, but believes it should not be 'self-diagnosed'. She added: 'We are more than our diagnoses.'

The psychotherapist, who has been married to the artist Grayson Perry for more than 30 years, told The Times there is a danger that 'buzzwords' can become 'part of someone's identity'.

Psychotherapist Philippa Perry, 65, has warned there is a danger of ADHD being a 'fashionable' term which people are using to avoid 'self-responsibility'

She argued that, where ADHD is currently the mental health term on everyone's lips, it has taken over from bipolar disorder, which was once the 'fashionable' condition to have.

Philippa said: 'Its social contagion that drives this. You dont know where your keys are. It doesnt mean youve got ADHD. You cant sit still. That doesnt mean youve got ADHD...

'I get a little worried. Im not saying all labels are bad, Im saying some labels give you an excuse not to take self-responsibility.'

After reading her comments, people with ADHD took to X to criticise the psychotherapist. One person, who claims to have both ADHD and autism, wrote: 'We are a group of disabled people that have been repeatedly let down and we deserve better.'

Philippa was quick to clarify her comments about the mental health condition in response. She posted: 'Oh dear. Ive upset a lot of people. I didnt mean to. Im not saying ADHD doesnt exist, Im saying it shouldnt be an identity and it shouldnt be self-diagnosed.

'We are more than our diagnoses - thats what Im trying to say.'

Research carried out by University College London between 2000 and 2018 found that there has been a significant rise in the number of people diagnosed with ADHD.

Philippa, who has been married to artist husband Grayson for more than 30 years, said she doesn't think all labels are bad

Around 20 times more people were diagnosed with the condition on 2018 compared to 2000, with diagnoses around two times higher in more deprived areas.

Dr Doug McKechnie, UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, who authored the report, said: 'ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions for ADHD medication by a GP have become more common over time.

What is ADHD? According to the NHS, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects how people behave. It is often characterised by restlessness, difficulty concentrating and impulsive acts. The cause of the condition is unknown, but some studies suggest it may run in families. ADHD is usually diagnosed in children under the age of 12, although in some cases, it is not diagnosed until adulthood. Treatment for the condition includes medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Source: NHS Advertisement

'Whilst ADHD is most likely to be diagnosed in childhood, an increasing number of people are diagnosed for the first time in adulthood. We do not know exactly why this is happening, but it may be that ADHD has become better recognised and diagnosed.'

Philippa, who herself has dyslexia, argued that she might prefer to refer to herself as someone who doesn't understand words very well, rather than giving a label to her condition.

Elsewhere in the interview, Philippa recalled how she was determined 'thick' as a child because she struggled with reading.

After growing up in Cheshire and attending boarding school from the ages of 10-15, Philippa's parents sent her to finishing school in Switzerland - to the same institution attended by Princess Diana.

She joked that her parents wanted her to meet a wealthy young man and marry well, thinking it would be her best chance of succeeding in life.

Although she noted her scepticism in the 'fashionable' terms within the lexicon of mental health, Philippa made a strong argument for attending therapy, which she believes is beneficial to many people - and stressed her hope that politicians would one day be open to seeking it.

She revealed she first sought therapy in her early 30s, not long after she first met husband Grayson.

As for her marriage to the artist, who is known for cross-dressing as alter ego Claire, Philippa has previously revealed that she and her husband hardly ever argue.

We do have our differences!' said Philippa, speaking to The Times. 'Quite a lot. But then we work out how much I can stand, how much he can stand, who can stand it the most, who can stand it the least.

And from that, if we're both kind of fair-minded, we can find a compromise.'

The author, whose husband often appears in public, as well as in his own artwork as his alter ego, explained that most people experience relationship problems because they dwell on petty facts, when they should just be honest and express how they're feeling.

'It's such a waste of love when people don't know how to argue properly,' she said. 'Don't talk about facts, talk about feelings.'

Philippa went on to say how the first month of the initial lockdown came as a relief to her as she was able to clear her diary which had 'got a bit out of control' and was causing her to get 'quite stressed'.

However, as time progressed and the novelty wore off, she admitted to 'not doing well under lockdown, at all'.

But for Philippa, the problem stemmed from a physical crisis rather than psychological factors - adding that she and Grayson reacted to the news of government guidelines very differently.

'I went, "Phew!" And Grayson went, "Well, I live in the future. My plans are what get me out of bed in the morning. Now Ive got nothing."

And then he really learnt all this stuff about appreciating the everyday, living in the moment, all of that.

'But I  Mrs Therapist-Pants  went the other way. Because my body needs to be around other bodies. The rule I find the most difficult is the two-metre rule.'

Philippa also recalled bursting into tears when her daughter Flo, 28, dropped a bag of food shopping on her doorstep.

She went on to explain that while she knew the important reason as to why Flo didn't hug her, her body made up its own reason and interpreted it as a form of rejection.

Philippa and Grayson married in 1992 and have one daughter, Florence together.
The heir to the Spanish throne will turn 18 on October 31

She's only 17, but Princess Leonor of Spain is already proving her royal chops.

With solo engagements, speeches and military training under her belt, it certainly seems the daughter of Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain is being prepared to take a bigger role in the spotlight ahead of her 18th birthday this month.

The future queen of Spain, who reaches the milestone on October 31, has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy.

Both the royal and her sister Infanta Sophia, 16, have been taking a bigger role in the spotlight as they come of age - with Leonor giving yearly speeches at the Princess of Asturias awards and often taking centre stage at family outings.

Unlike Prince Christian of Denmark - who is just two weeks older than her and also a future European monarch - Leonor's 18th birthday celebrations will be decidedly low-key.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain are preparing Princess Leonor to enter the spotlight ahead of her 18th birthday this month.. Princess Leonor (right) and Princess Sofia of Spain attended a workshop on creativity, innovation and teamwork in Gironda in the summer

The future queen of Spain , who reaches the milestone on October 31, has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy. Pictured in a recent ceremony

Princess Leonor is seen giving a speech during the Princess of Asturias awards in 2022

Princess Leonor with her mother Queen Letizia of Spain in July - she often takes centre stage at family events

While Christian is set to celebrate with a gala to mark his 18th, the heir to the Spanish throne will instead swear an oath to the Spanish constitution before the congress and senate on her big day.

There will be some fanfare however, the Royal Mint of Spain will create a limited edition 40-euro coin to mark her birthday. Up to one million of the coins will be put into circulation by the Bank of Spain during the last three months of this year.

The coin will weigh 18 grams and be made of a mixture of silver and copper with the effigy 'Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias' engraved on it.

The 17-year-old is currently undergoing military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.

The school dubbed Spain's equivalent to Sandhurst and follows a strict timetable, but the princess is able to return home at the weekends if she is not on manoeuvres.

Before starting at the academy, she took place in her first engagement without her parents as she headed to Gironda with sister Sofia.

She has also cut a professional figure at the Princess of Asturias Awards.

The UNESCO-approved awards reward scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work. She has delivered a speech at each one since the age of 13.

She has also cut a professional figure at the Princess of Asturias Awards. The UNESCO-approved awards reward scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work. She has delivered a speech at each one since the age of 13

After the Princess's year in Zaragoza, before moving to a naval school and will then spend her third and final year of training at the General Air Academy.

Images shared by the Royal Household show Princess Leonor of Spain (pictured) getting stuck into a training exercise

Leonor appeared regal in military uniform while standing in formation alongside her fellow cadets. Pictured right: As per tradition, the ceremony saw Leonor kiss the Spanish flag after swearing an oath of allegiance to her King

After the Princess's year in Zaragoza, before moving to a naval school and will then spend her third and final year of training at the General Air Academy.

The heir to the Spanish throne will become commander-in-chief of the armed forces once she is monarch.

Snaps shared by the Royal Household last month suggested that this is a role Leonor will be comfortable in- despite saying she was feeling 'a little nervous' when she was dropped off at military school.

One of the snaps, taken during a training exercise, shows the princess smiling with her fellow cadets, while dressed in fatigues and holding what appears to be an automatic rifle.

Another of the photos shows her posing with fellow students, dressed in camo and protective gear.

The princess revealed her enthusiasm for being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, in Catalonia, on July 5.

She said: 'I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.

'I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces... it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.'

Meanwhile, to celebrate turning 18 Princess Leonor will also receive the symbolic Collar of the Order of Charles III from her father on her birthday.

Princess Leonor of Spain looked radiant in white as she joined her parents to visit the military academy where she now studies

Infanta Sofia and her older sister, Princess Leonor, have been stepping into the limelight in recent years as they prepare to enter adulthood on the world stage

The Collar is a historic gift, created by Carlos III in 1771, and represents the possibility that Princess Leonor will one day assume the crown.

King Felipe VI received the Collar of the Order of Charles III on his 18th birthday in January 1986.

Princess Leonor will be given it in a ceremony attended by the royal family, senators and elected representatives. This will be the second honour the Princess of Asturias has received from her father King Felipe VI.

In 2015, on the day before her tenth birthday, he granted her the Order Of The Golden Fleece. The Order Of The Golden Fleece is a Catholic order of chivalry that was established in 1430 by the Duke of Burgundy.

Princess Leonor's 18th birthday celebrations will mark the end of a busy month for the heir to the Spanish throne.

Before starting at the military academy, Princess Leonor was a pupil at the UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.

The cadets smiled as they took part in the flower offering ceremony at the Spanish cathedral last week

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain looked every inch the proud parents as they watched Princess Leonor take part in her flag swearing-in ceremony

Princess Leonor, Queen Letizia, Queen Sofia and Infanta Sofia leave a restaurant over the summer holiday

Sofia and Leonor are taking on a bigger role at royal engagements

The school is often referred to as 'Hippie Hogwarts' thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.

Leonor's sister, Infanta Sofia of Spain, 16, began her studies at UWC Atlantic this autumn.

In September last year the Spanish palace announced that Princess Leonor will go to university to study law once her three years of military training have been completed.

While Leonor's choice of university is unknown, the Princess's academic background already bears a resemblance to that of her father King Felipe.

After graduating from high school at Lakefield College in Canada, Felipe returned to Spain and attended the General Military Academy of Zaragozo, and went on to study at the Naval Military School in Marin.

He ended his training with a stint at the General Air Academy in San Javier.

His also completed his military training with a stint on the shop Juan Sebastian Elcano aged 18 in 1987, and went on to study law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
A woman who was abused by Jimmy Savile from the age of 11 until she was 13, after she met him in the chapel at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, says watching herself as a little girl on screen in new BBC drama The Reckoning was 'difficult'.

Speaking yesterday ahead of the first episode of the four-part series, which sees Steve Coogan playing Savile, she told Woman's Hour how Savile targeted her after spotting that she took the collection plate around every week at the hospital's Saturday evening church service.

Savile died in October 2011 aged 84 having never been brought to justice for his crimes - the drama recounts the story of the disgraced children's entertainer's upbringing, his early career and horrific child sex offences, and has faced a backlash from some of his victims.

Brown, who's married with children, told Woman's Hour host Emma Barnett that she was abused 'continuously' after first meeting Savile.

Steve Coogan playing paedophile Jimmy Savile in new BBC drama The Reckoning, the first episode of which aired last night

Abuse survivor Sam Brown appeared on Woman's Hour ahead of the first episode, saying she 'felt sorry' for the little girl she saw on screen as her own story of abuse was retold

Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84 having never been brought to justice for his crimes,

She explained how her family went to church on Saturday evenings every week and it became her job to take the collection at the service, which Savile would attend every few weeks.

She says she 'sensed a power' in Savile and 'knew straight away that he was going to touch me in ways I didn't like to be touched.

She said the paedophile 'was very good at doing taster sessions to see who he could do what to.'

Brown said Savile silenced her such was his depraved behaviour, saying: 'I had to stretch past him to get a collection plate in church - I could see everyone in the congregation. I turned around, he'd touch my shoulders and my back.

'When he used to put his whole fingers and his whole hands into my mouth, there was no plainer way for him to tell me I had no voice. I had no voice, I had no power.'

Brown told Woman's Hour host Emma Barnett that the abuse began when she was 11-and-a-half after Savile attended church on a Saturday evening at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at the same time as she and her family did

Revealing how Savile would often put his fingers and whole hand into her mouth, she said 'There was no plainer way for him to tell me I had no voice' - and that she grew up feeling 'invisible'

Brown said the abuse left her feeling 'invisible, unimportant, I wasn't really a person'.

She also told the programme that she hoped it would awaken people to the fact that children are still abused daily, saying: 'I want everybody to learn. I worked for Social Services and people think this is something that only happens now and then. Abuse of children is every single day - kids are being brought into care daily who have been used and abused.'

Brown also appeared on GMB on Tuesday, revealing what it was like being involved in the making of the controversial drama.

Ms Brown told Susanna Reid and Ed Balls that she felt invincible until during filming, when she first saw Steve Coogan dressed as her abuser, and did not realise she was speaking out loud her thoughts of panic.

The four-part series is being screened by the BBC, despite backlash from victims of the sex offender

Steve Coogan filming the BBC drama 'The Reckoning' as he plays the part of paedophile Jimmy Savile

'When I saw that child, when me and my husband Jim just watched it by ourselves, I felt really sad for that little girl'

She revealed how Coogan had tried to reassure her saying: 'Sam, I'm in dress, I'm in character, I'm not him. Remember I'm acting.'

Ms Brown also spoke about what it was like when she first saw actor Steve Coogan as Savile on set.

'I kind of thought that I'm a bit invincible and everyone was saying "have you thought about how this is going to feel" and I was like "Yeah no problem".

'Then there was a graveyard scene, so he [Steve Coogan] began to walk up to us and inside of my head I was screaming like "Give me a minute, give me a minute, step back."

'I was doing all of this in my head, not realising that this was coming out of my mouth, I didn't even know I was saying this.'

When Susanna asked Ms Brown what it is like to see what she went through represented on screen in the new drama, she revealed: 'I am an adult looking back on a child, with my adult views.

'It started when I was about eleven and this went on for about three years. When I saw that child, when me and my husband Jim just watched it by ourselves, I felt really sad for that little girl.

'I really felt sad for her and Jim was like, "Well that's you". But it was quite a lot to see me as a child because I looked at her as a child.'

'You're not having that opportunity to learn and this is very relevant to all the other groomers. The pattern is the same.'

Ms Brown, who was abused by Jimmy Savile at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Church, spoke to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls

The Reckoning, which will trace the disgraced former star's upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences, finished filming in January 2022 (Jimmy pictured in 2006)

Savile, who died before his 'monstrous' crimes were exposed, hid in plain sight and abused his position as a TV star to prey on vulnerable children and get close to them.

Allegations against Savile indicate that he sexually assaulted more than 400 people over a 54-year span, with his victims ranging from five to 75 years old.

The BBC's decision to chronicle Savile's life has received backlash from victims who feared the drama would exploit their pain for ratings and glorify his crimes.

The public service broadcaster has said it worked with his some of his victims to portray the story 'with sensitivity and respect'.

Ms Brown said she wants The Reckoning to be a hard watch 'because this wasn't easy for us guys and if it isn't a hard watch, you aren't coming away with anything.

'You're not having that opportunity to learn and this is very relevant to all the other groomers. The pattern is the same.'

She also shared why she believed that Savile was able to get away with his crimes for so long.

'Do you know what, I think it is the same with any groomer, they have an absolute charm.

'He had a charm to everyone else, not to me. I knew that when I walked into that little presbytery room, that I had to go in and get the collection plate from, I knew when I walked in there that he filled that room with power and I couldn't look up.'

When Ed asked Ms Brown why she didn't think she was brave, she said: 'I don't think I am brave, I use all of these opportunities for everyone that can't. That's not bravery, that's my job.

'I feel strongly enough to do this and my life is to do this. We all kind of think that everyone looks at us and kind of thinks we are a bit rubbish and you know we aren't really worth much and that is what you feel like.

'I want everyone at home to know that We are strong and we have succeeded as people, that's really important for me.'

In August the first official still for the new drama was released ahead of its broadcast

When asked what Ms Brown would say to the people who 'allowed' Savile's abuse to continue, she replied: 'I don't know who I would have been. I'm a person that couldn't fit education in my brain because I was too busy being alive.

'You know the general thing of not loving anyone and not feeling worthy of love. I don't know who I would have been if they would have stopped it and if they would have saved all these people and now I would say to them "It's your fault and you are accountable."'

She continued 'Anybody who knows about any abuse, and that is every day of the week, if you do not raise that, you are party [to it].

'You need to raise that and if somebody isn't going to listen, then you talk to somebody higher than that because otherwise, you are the person enabling for us to have a real tricky life.'

The next episode of The Reckoning will air on October 10th on the BBC at 9pm.
The Royal Family are bracing themselves for 'painful' scenes showing Princess Diana appearing as a ghost in the final series of The Crown.

In the episode following her death in Paris, the late princess, played by Elizabeth Debicki, has an emotional reconciliation with a grieving Prince Charles, played by Dominic West in the controversial Netflix series, which will air from next month.

She tells him how 'handsome' he is and how much she loved him as he weeps with regret.

The imagined scene comes after Charles has been depicted sobbing over her body in a hospital morgue in Paris.

Diana tells him: 'Thank you for how you were in the hospital. So raw, broken  and handsome. I'll take that with me.

Princess Diana (pictured with Charles in 1981) will appear as a ghost to both her ex-husband and HM the Queen in extraordinary scenes in the forthcoming sixth and final series of Netflix drama The Crown

'You know I loved you so much. So deeply, so painfully too. That's over now. It will be easier for everyone with me gone.'

A Netflix source said that the appearances of Debicki as Diana after her death were 'visualisations of innermost thoughts' rather than intended to be interpreted as supernatural.

Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the series, which has attracted both commercial success but also criticism for its historical inaccuracies and fictional liberties.

However, royal insiders suggested the latest instalment will likely be considered in poor taste, particularly as 'deeply painful memories for members of the family are reduced to sensationalism'.

One source told the Mail it seemed the makers had 'jumped the shark', the description of a creative work which has exhausted itself and is reduced to seizing on gimmicks.

Another likened it to the 'Bobby Ewing shower scene' where the popular star of the 1980s soap Dallas was killed off, only for his wife to realise it was a dream when he walked out of the shower at the end of the series.

The drama will be broadcast in two parts, with the story up to Diana's funeral streaming from November 16. The second installment, which concludes with the wedding of Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles, will stream from December 14.

As the show has moved towards the current era, it has been increasingly hit by charges of fictionalisation and wholesale reinterpretation of events.

In the last series, Charles was seen apparently plotting against his mother with Prime Minister John Major  leading to furious condemnation by Sir John among others.

This time around, the drama attempts to navigate the tragic early death of the princess, in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. She was travelling in a car with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, the son of Harrods boss Mohammed Al-Fayed.

The ghostly appearances, written by Crown creator Peter Morgan, are a bold dramatic stroke which appear to take on the critics of his 'make believe' head-on.

The late princess, played by actress Elizabeth Debicki (pictured), has an emotional reconciliation with a grieving Prince Charles, played by Dominic West

In the series Diana will appear to the Queen as she discusses plans for a state funeral with Prince Charles  and reduces the Queen to what looks like tears. Here she is pictured with the late monarch in 1987

Diana appears to the Queen as she discusses plans for a state funeral with Prince Charles  and reduces the Queen to what looks like tears.

The two women hold hands as the monarch tells the princess that she has started a 'revolution' with the public mourning her in the streets.

Diana tells her: 'I know it must be terrifying As long as anyone can remember you've taught us what it means to be British. Maybe its time to show you're ready to learn too.'

This is suggested to be the prompt which made the Queen change her mind about travelling from Balmoral to London and famously addressing the nation.

She said: 'We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness.'

Last autumn Netflix bowed to pressure and started to preface the show with a disclaimer which runs: 'Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.'

The drama will be broadcast in two parts, with the story up to Diana's funeral streaming from November 16. William, Harry and Charles are pictured at the event in 1997

In the Netflix scene, the two women hold hands as the Queen tells Diana that she has started a 'revolution' with the public mourning her in the streets. The late monarch is pictured at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey in 1997

Executives insisted at the Edinburgh TV festival in August this year that the depiction of Diana's death had been done with the utmost sensitivity. The princess is pictured in 1994

Charles's relationship with Camilla is the dominant storyline of the coming series, and his efforts to persuade his family, and the country, to accept her. It closes with their wedding in April 2005.

The Crown, created and written by Morgan, has been a hit for Netflix since it was first released in 2016. The show has won 21 Emmy awards and seven Golden Globes  including prizes for Queens Claire Foy and Olivia Colman; and for Morgan's girlfriend Gillian Anderson, who played Margaret Thatcher.

Executives insisted at the Edinburgh TV festival in August this year that the depiction of Diana's death had been done with the utmost sensitivity.

Producer Suzanne Mackie said: 'The show might be big and noisy, but we're not. We're thoughtful people and we're sensitive people. There were very careful, long conversations about how we were going to do it.

'The audience will judge it, in the end. But I think it's been delicately, thoughtfully recreated. Elizabeth Debicki is an extraordinary actress and she was so thoughtful and considerate. She loved Diana. There's a huge amount of respect from us all. I hope that's evident.'

In an earlier interview Morgan admitted to 'unavoidable accuracy blips' but said: 'I'm absolutely fastidious about there being an underlying truth.'

Morgan is understood to be considering ideas for a prequel series or film series which would begin the story with the death of Queen Victoria.
READ MORE: Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper step out for dinner date in NYC

Two relationship experts analyse why younger women are drawn to older men

Since the moment Gigi Hadid, 28, and Bradley Cooper, 48, were first photographed leaving a surprise dinner date last week, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive about the potential new 'it couple'.

And while reports indicate the supermodel and movie star are just 'having fun' together, eagle-eyed fans will have noticed a familiar trend in Gigi's dating style following another alleged romance with an older Hollywood hunk, Leonardo DiCaprio, also 48, last year.

Her links to men 20 years her senior follow Gigi's turbulent six-year romance with 30-year-old popstar and father of her three-year-old daughter, Zayn Malik, which ended in 2021.

Now relationship experts have revealed to Femail what might be behind the star's apparent preference to date an older man - from Bradley and Leo in particular being close to their mothers, to seeking someone who is ready to commit.

Gigi Hadid, 28, and Bradley Cooper, 48, enjoyed a surprise dinner date in New York City on Thursday - months after the supermodel ended her romance with The Hangover star's BFF Leonardo DiCaprio, 48

As rumours swirl of a new romance between Gigi and Bradley, two relationship experts assess why women are drawn to older men

CLOSENESS TO FAMILY IS A GREEN FLAG

British relationship expert Annabelle Knight, from Lovehoney says that Bradley and Leo being close to their families is likely a major attraction for Gigi.

She explained: 'Now, in her late twenties and a mother to a three-year-old daughter, Gigi is likely looking for something a little different and someone who shares her own experiences and mindset. In short  her priorities have shifted'.

Zigi were on and off numerous times throughout their tumultuous relationship before finally calling it quits owing to an alleged physical incident between Zayn and Gigi's mother, Real Housewives star Yolanda Hadid.

Annabelle continued: 'Its also well known that Gigi is extremely close to her famous family, especially her mother, Yolanda Hadid.

'While there were a number of reports around Zayns clashes with her family - which is said to have been the final nail in the coffin for their relationship  in contrast, Bradley and Leo are known to be very close to their mothers.

'Both actors have regularly taken their mums along as their dates to movie premiers and awards shows, which will be a big green flag for Gigi.

'After a bad breakup, its also natural to try and learn from it and avoid doing the same thing again.

'This can mean that people will make vows like Ill never date someone my own age again or next time Ill date someone older and more mature in an attempt to avoid history repeating itself.'

Mom: Gigi and Zayn share three-year-old daughter Khai (pictured) together

BRADLEY COOPER IS ALSO A SINGLE DAD

Additionally, now as a single mother, Gigi has had to navigate new co-parenting territory, an experience Bradley has been through with his ex, model Irina Shayk, 37 - eleven years his junior.

The ex lovers share daughter, Lea De Seine, six together.

'As a mother, its likely that Gigi is also looking to more stable and long-term romantic relationships,' added Annabelle.

OLDER MEN MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT

Meanwhile, relationship psychologist Limor Gottlieb, of Brunel University, London, suggests Gigi could be ready to settle down, and points to the theory that older men are more likely to show a 'willingness to long-term commitment'.

She explained: 'From an evolutionary perspective this is easily explained. Age is a universal trait that influences how we select mates. For one, older age in men is an indicator of greater maturity, resource availability and willingness to long-term commitment.

'Although we dont know the exact reasons why Gigi and Zayn broke up, it could be that at this stage in her life she prefers someone whos more mature and ready to commit in the long run.

'Biologically, women are drawn to high status and resources and older men generally tend to have stable jobs and get promotions.

'Although Gigi has a successful career and surely doesnt need to be financially supported by a man, these mate preferences are deeply ingrained in us and subconsciously motivate our dating decisions'.

Former flame: Meanwhile Gigi dated ex Zayn Malik, 30, on and off from 2015 until their split in 2021; seen in 2016

Leonardo DiCaprio had been pictured getting close to Gigi at a party in New York City last year. It was the first time they were pictured together since news they were dating first broke

BUT DADDY ISSUES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!

A popular myth is that women who date mature men have 'daddy issues', causing them to seek love in the arms of an older lothario.

Limor shed light on this theory: 'According to attachment theory perspective, our adult relationships can often reflect the way we were treated by our caregivers.

'So from this perspective, insecurely attached women who seek security from their fathers may look for it from an older male.

'However, theres no research to back this up and one study using this framework found that daddy issues had nothing to do with women dating older men'.
Queen Letizia of Spain looked remarkable in a stylish green midi dress as she stepped out for a World Mental Health day event in Madrid today.

The monarch, 51, commanded attention in the elegant Sandro number which she first debuted in 2018, and has since gone on to wear many times.

Despite its reappearance, the chic dress looked fresh off the runway, and so did the royal, whose trim physique accentuated the dress to perfection.

The outfit was the perfect choice for today's duties, with the queen presiding over The Institutional Act event in honour of World Mental Health day.

The incredible dress appeared to be sewn with smooth silk and decorated with a fine pattern using multiple shades of green.

While the top half of her dress featured a v-neck cross over style, the bottom half was finished with a pleated design and stopped just short of her ankles.

Queen Letizia of Spain, 51, looked typically stylish in a silk green midi dress today, as she stepped out for a World Mental Health day event in Madrid (Pictured left to right: The Minister of Health, Jose Manuel Minones, Queen Letizia and the President of the Mental Health Spain Confederation, Nel Gonzalez Zapico)

The monarch commanded attention in the elegant Sandro number which she first debuted in 2018, and has since gone on to wear many times

The institutional event is put on every year on October 10 as part of World Mental Health Day

The mother-of-two, who is typically dressed to impress, made no exception today as she teamed the look with luxurious leather accessories.

For her footwear, she donned a pair of trendy slingback black pumps which she matched with a black satchel bag.

Often the minimalist, Letizia accessorised her look with just one gold ring and a pair of diamond encrusted earring studs.

The royal's sleek chocolate locks were parted at the centre, while her tresses were styled in loose waves and placed on her shoulders.

Typically known for her love of nude make-up, the queen added a slight touch of glam today by way of a glossy a nude lip and full on black mascara.

The institutional event is put on every year on October 10 as part of World Mental Health Day.

This year, the theme focused on 'mental health, global health: a universal right' and is part of the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) in more than 100 countries.

She was photographed on the podium delivering a speech to the attendees, as well as mingling with officials in attendance.

Typically known for her love of nude make-up, the queen added a slight touch of glam today by way of a glossy a nude lip and full on black mascara

The hard working mother-of-two was photographed on the podium delivering a speech to the attendees

She was also seen mingling with officials in attendance and presiding over the day's matters

The royal, who is typically dressed to impress, made no exception today as she teamed the look with luxurious leather accessories

Ever the busy monarch, Letizia was also spotted with her husband King Felipe of Spain last week as the proud parents watched Princess Leonor take part in her flag swearing-in ceremony.

Their 17-year-old daughter, who is the heir to the Spanish throne and holds the title of Princess of Asturias, appeared regal in military uniform while standing in formation alongside her fellow cadets.

The ceremony at the Military Academy of Zaragoza was presided by her father, King Felipe, 55, who was joined by Queen Letizia.

While the monarch wore his military uniform, his wife opted for a sleeveless blue and black polka dot dress which featured drop hem detailing and a cinched waist.

As per tradition, the ceremony saw Leonor kiss the Spanish flag after swearing an oath of allegiance to her King.

For her footwear, she donned a pair of trendy slingback black pumps which she matched with a black satchel bag

Often the minimalist, Letizia accessorised her look with just one gold ring and a pair of diamond encrusted earring studs

The royal's sleek chocolate locks were styled in loose waves and placed on her shoulders

This year, the event's theme focused on 'mental health, global health: a universal right' and is part of the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) in more than 100 countries

After the Spanish anthem was played, King Felipe reviewed the troops, walking in front of his daughter.

The princess, who will be 18 at the end of this month, had spent all week rehearsing for four hours a day, local media reported.

Her sister, Infanta Sofia of Spain, 16, was notably absent from the event because she is studying at the UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.

The school is often referred to as 'Hippie Hogwarts' thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.

Leonor's General Military Academy of Zaragoza, meanwhile, follows a strict timetable during the week, but the princess free to return home at the weekends if she's not on manoeuvres.
She quipped that seeing a man reading in a park was 'means for an affair'

Jenna gushed over men who read books, adding that they make her 'dehydrated'

The mom-of-three admittedly went 'too far' with her joke about having an affair

Jenna Bush Hager became 'defensive' after she admittedly went 'too far' by making a joke about having an affair.

During an episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, the hosts were discussing the 'thirstiest' things a man could do, which prompted Jenna to get candid about her turn-ons.

Jenna, 41, and Hoda, 59, were reading an article titled 'The Thirstiest Thing a Man Can Do Is Read' when the former agreed with the statement and even joked that she became 'dehydrated' when she saw a man with a book in his hand.

The mom-of-three  who has been married to her husband, Henry, for 15 years  raised eyebrows as she said that seeing a man with glasses reading a book in a park was 'means for an affair.'

Jenna became 'defensive' after she admittedly went 'too far' by making a joke about having an affair

The hosts were discussing the 'thirstiest' things a man could do, which prompted Jenna  who has been married to her husband Henry for 15 years  to get candid about her turn-ons

Jenna, 41, and Hoda, 59, were reading an article titled 'The Thirstiest Thing a Man Can Do Is Read' when Jenna agreed with the statement and joked that she became 'dehydrated'

The conversation began with Hoda noting that she thought it was 'hot' when a man flipped through a book.

'I'm dehydrated when a man takes out a book,' Jenna responded.

While the conversation started out lighthearted, things took a turn when the 59-year-old host posed a hypothetical scenario.

'OK, you see a man with a book sitting on a park bench in Central Park reading, what is the first thing you're thinking?' Hoda asked.

Jenna added: 'If they have little eyeglasses too, just sitting reading, and if they're reading something I respect? I mean that could be a means for an affair.'

The mom-of-three immediately backtracked on her comment and emphasized that she was only 'joking.'

She added: 'I would never. Henry and I are very happy, and he reads.'

Hoda then questioned why her pal and co-host was getting 'defensive' about the comment.

The mom-of-three raised eyebrows as she said that seeing a man with glasses reading a book in a park was 'means for an affair'

The mom-of-three immediately backtracked on her comment and emphasized that she was only 'joking'

The duo gushed over Michael B. Jordan as Jenna revealed that she was flustered by the sight of the actor wearing a tank top and sitting next to a bathtub with a book in his hand

Jenna confessed: 'Because I shouldn't have said that! I went too far.'

Following the hilarious exchange, the anchors looked at photos of several celebrities, including Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan, and Channing Tatum, who were pictured with books.

The duo gushed over Michael as Jenna revealed that she was flustered by the sight of the actor wearing a tank top and sitting next to a bathtub with a book in his hand.

Then the pair agreed that the lack of interest in reading would be a 'turn-off,' adding that they want their partners to want to go to 'Barnes and Noble' with them.

Jenna met her husband in 2004 while he was working on her dad's presidential campaign.

In an episode that aired on Tuesday, Jenna confessed that her husband played 'hard to get' at the start of the relationship, adding that it was the 'reason' the couple tied the knot.

'There are many [reason we got married]. I don't want to downplay his great qualities. One was he knew how to play hard to get. And at that stage in my life...,' Jenna said.

Hoda chimed in: 'Give me an example.'

Jenna responded: 'Well, he would not call every day. I knew that he was into me.'

She noted that she could tell Henry 'knew how to play it real well,' adding that she never asked why he wasn't calling.

The mom-of-three added: 'By the way, I think in a relationship that's committed, sometimes it's nice to play a little hard to get because you are reminded.'

Hoda and Jenna are chatting about an article that says the hottest thing a man can do is read.



Im dehydrated when a man takes out a book, Jenna said.  Do you think a man reading makes him more attractive?  pic.twitter.com/dvBcgikr6L  TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) October 9, 2023

In an episode that aired on Tuesday, Jenna confessed that her husband played 'hard to get' at the start of the relationship, adding that it was the 'reason' the couple tied the knot

Jenna met her husband in 2004 while he was working on her dad's presidential campaign

The couple,  who are parents to three children, daughters Mila, 10, and Poppy, eight, and son Hal, four  eventually tied the knot in 2008 at the Bushes' ranch in Crawford, Texas

Hoda agreed with her pal before Jenna added: 'He wasn't, like, being anybody but himself. But he just would not write every day or call every day. He was busy. Then every once in a while he'd have berry and be like, "miss you." It's like the equivalent, "you up?"'

She previously admitted on the Today show a few years ago that she asked him to marry her after just three months of dating  but he turned her down because she was too young.

The couple  who are parents to three children, daughters Mila, 10, and Poppy, eight, and son Hal, four  eventually tied the knot in 2008 at the Bushes' ranch in Crawford, Texas.

They celebrated their 15th anniversary on May 10, with Jenna posting a tribute on her Instagram that read: '15 years with HH's hand in mine. I love him. A lot.'

Jenna previously revealed that her husband was so nervous to ask her father for her hand in marriage that he read the Bible for courage before getting his blessing.

'[It was] not easy,' she said.

'He actually read the Bible. I was like, "Come see the movie," or "We're going to go do this."

They celebrated their 15th anniversary on May 10, with Jenna posting a tribute on her Instagram that read: '15 years with HH's hand in mine. I love him. A lot'

The former First Daughter noted that her other half was more than prepared when the time came to share his intentions with his future father-in-law

Last month, Jenna gushed as she recalled falling head over heels in love with her husband  despite their romance blossoming in a freezing cold Washington D.C.

'We had friends there, and he was like, "No". He called my dad. He's like, "I'd like to come speak to you".

'He's like, "I'm taking a nap. Come in a couple hours." So he had to sit and stew.'

The former First Daughter noted that her other half was more than prepared when the time came to share his intentions with his future father-in-law.

'He had like a seven-point plan of why he wanted to marry me and how he was going to take care of me,' she explained.

'My dad goes, "Henry, I said yes. You don't need to go through anything else  Laura, Henry's proposing," and that was that. Good thing he did it.'

Last month, Jenna gushed as she recalled falling head over heels in love with her husband  despite their romance blossoming in a freezing cold Washington D.C..

'I don't remember cold,' she insisted. 'I was never cold. I just remember feeling warm inside and loved.'
Lady Victoria Starmer has been dubbed a 'reluctant political spouse' - but she always seems to support her husband Sir Keir Starmer when it comes to the big occasions.

The glamorous mother-of-two and NHS occupational health worker was snapped with her spouse of 16 years at the annual Labour conference in Liverpool today.

Looking characteristically stylish, she sported the 'Dada' dress from London based, Canadian-British fashion designer, Edeline Lee, a brand which has previously been highlighted for its sustainable credentials.

She looked vibrant in the red midi length dress, with a frill hem detail, as she supported her husband - who had glitter thrown at him while making a speech, as a protestor stormed the stage.

Lady Victoria was snapped with her arms around her husband as they took to the stage at the event, during which her husband praised her 'beautiful dress'.

The couple, who wed in 2007, met when they were both working as lawyers in the noughties (pictured: Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer on the third day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool)

They were married in 2007 - 13 years before Sir Keir became Labour leader. They met sometime in the early 2000s, when both were working as lawyers

Lady Victoria Starmer (pictured watching her husband give a speech during today's conference) has been described as a 'reluctant political spouse'



Lady Victoria - who met Labour leader Sir Keir as lawyers in the noughties - 'is quite sassy in that shes quite unbothered by what [her husband's] doing,' a party insider has previously told The Telegraph.

'If he ever gets into Downing Street, shes going to be very much leading her own life,' they added.

But despite the couple, who share son Toby and a daughter together, wanting to keep their family life private, they aren't afraid to pack on the PDA at public outings - with Lady Victoria and her husband often seen sharing a kiss or a peck on the cheek.

They were married in 2007 - 13 years before Sir Keir became Labour leader. They met sometime in the early 2000s, when both were working as lawyers.

Victoria drafted documents for a case her future husband was working on during his time as a barrister at Doughty Street chambers, according to the Evening Standard.

Their first date was at a Camden pub, where they enjoyed inexpensive pizzas - but they now live in a 1.75 million Camden townhouse in Sir Keir's Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

Speaking on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2020, Sir Keir revealed how he met Victoria, explaining: 'I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate.

'I [asked the team] who actually drew up these documents, they said a woman called Victoria, so I said let's get her on the line.'

PDA: The couple are snapped sharing a kiss during the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool today

Lady Victoria (pictured with her husband Sir Keir) looked characteristically stylish today, as she donned a red dress for the conference

SUPPORTIVE: Victoria was snapped applauding while looking at her husband, before his keynote address today

When he spoke to Victoria, who was then working as a ward sister in the NHS, he grilled her on the documents.

Shortly before hanging up, he said he heard just one comment from her.

He explained: 'She said, "Who the bleep does he think he is?", then put the phone down on me. And quite right too.'

Lady Victoria grew up in Gospel Oak, north London, where her mother was a doctor, before forging out a career as a solicitor.

She served as a governor at her children's school and now works in occupational health for the NHS.

Unlike her husband, Lady Victoria appears to prefer to stay out of the spotlight.

Her first public appearance was at Labour's 2021 conference in Brighton, where she 'wowed crowds', according to The Telegraph.

Yet one Labour insider told the publication: 'Shes not going to be in the spotlight like Cherie Blair, but more of a background Sarah Brown type figure. Ive never known her to be particularly political  shes always had her own interests.'

The couple's son Toby was born in 2008; the name of their daughter has never been made public. The children are being taught their mother's faith, which is Jewish.

Despite the couple, who share son Toby and a daughter together, wanting to keep their family life private, they aren't afraid to pack on the PDA at public outings - with Lady Victoria and her husband often seen sharing a kiss or a peck on the cheek

Speaking on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2020, Sir Keir revealed how he met Victoria (pictured on Saturday), explaining: 'I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate'

Lady Victoria (pictured in 2021) grew up in Gospel Oak, north London, where her mother was a doctor, before forging out a career as a solicitor

Her first public appearance was at Labour's 2021 conference in Brighton, where she 'wowed crowds', according to The Telegraph

In an interview on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs show, Keir spoke about his wife Victoria's Jewish family.

He said: 'It is perfectly true that my wife's father is Jewish - they came from Poland - and my wife's mother converted when they got married. There is a long tradition of family and faith there.

'We observe some of the practices, for example Friday night prayers, occasionally with my wife's father  her mum sadly passed away earlier this year.'

He then added: 'My wife in particular wants our children to know the faith of her family.'

Meanwhile speaking at Limmud Jewish learning festival, he said the family spent time together every Friday, saying: 'Just carving out that tradition, that bit of faith on Friday is incredibly important, because we get together, and we do Zoom prayers now.'

The family belong to London's Liberal Jewish Synagogue, which is situated in the St. John's Wood neighbourhood.

Yet one Labour insider told the publication: 'Shes not going to be in the spotlight like Cherie Blair, but more of a background Sarah Brown type figure. Ive never known her to be particularly political  shes always had her own interests.' Victoria pictured in 2017

The couple took part in Clap for Carers as well as a candlelit vigil for Sarah Everard in March 2021 (pictured)

Victoria's mother Barbara, who converted to Judaism, died two weeks after suffering an accident in February 2020.

The mother of the Labour leadership hopeful's wife had been in critical condition following the incident. It came as Keir was campaigning to lead the Labour Party.

He cancelled his appearance at a hustings in Nottingham to be with his family, later saying: 'It's been a terrible year for my wife and her family.'

And when Keir later spoke about the accident on Piers Morgan's series, the camera panned to an emotional Victoria in the audience.

Keir said: 'The accident came out of the blue.'I've seen intensive care many times but I'd never seen anything as awful as this.

'Vic [his wife Victoria] obviously got a message through to me, I was in the Chambers of Parliament and I went straight to the hospital.

'We were in the leadership election. It was very difficult for Vic and I took the decision to cancel the leadership campaigning and withdrew completely to be with her.

'That was the right thing to do, it didn't take me any time to make up my mind that was what I was going to do. Every day we went to the hospital. Tragically, Vic's mum didn't make it.

'I had to do something I'd never done before which was to comfort someone who was going through grief.

'My dad had died, my mum had died. I'd been through my version of that grief. But to see your wife go through it it's deep.'

Victoria was also snapped alongside the Arsenal supporter at the Euro 2020 final in Wembley

The former solicitor has made few public appearances since Keir came to be Labour party leader, joining him at the service for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September 2020

Meanwhile Victoria's father, who was born Jewish and has roots in Poland, lives on the same street as Starmer and his family.

Throughout lockdown, Victoria was spotted joining Keir on the doorstep of their North London home to Clap for Carers.

Meanwhile she also stood alongside her husband as they took part in a candlelit vigil for Reclaim These Streets after Sarah Everard's death in March.

The former solicitor has made few public appearances since Keir came to be Labour party leader, joining him at the service for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September 2020.

She was also snapped alongside the Arsenal supporter at the Euro 2020 final in Wembley in 2021.
If you're single and looking to date, it's a good time to be an Australian in New York.

The 2023 Highlands Titles Study surveyed 1,000 Americans about their perceptions of different accents; finding an Aussie one was deemed the most attractive in both females and males.

However, having a New York twang may set you back when trying to secure a romantic partner, with it found to be the least appealing.

The study found after an Australian accent, in terms of attractiveness, was having a Scottish, London, Irish, French, Italian, Welsh and Brummie voice.

The least attractive accents was New Yorker, followed by a Boston drawl, American midwestern, Canadian, American Southern, Spanish, German and Yorkshire.

Survey respondents were also asked to determine what stereotypes are usually associated with particular accents.

The most boring accents were Canadian, American Mid-Atlantic and New York and the most calming were Canadian, Scottish and Australian.

Those who sound confident may have a Boston, New Zealand or German accent, and the most intelligent accents reign from London, Germany and Birmingham.

The most sophisticated of people are likely to be found in London, Germany or Birmingham, as per the study.

Among the study respondents, 52 per cent were men, and 48 per cent were women. Additionally, 47 per cent were attracted to men, and 62 per cent were attracted to women.

Generationally, 15 per cent were baby boomers, 25 per cent were Gen X, 50 per cent were millennials, and 10 per cent were Gen Z.

According to the Highlands Titles Study, those single, having an accent may be an advantage if looking to secure a date, with 71 per cent of survey participants responding that theyre interested in dating someone with an accent.

The study surveyed 1,000 Americans, asking what they thought about particular accents. They were also quizzed about actors' accents

There are some evolutionary theories that suggests people find foreign accents attractive because they suggest a more exotic gene pool

The study also surveyed participants on celebrity accents, asking who they thought had hardest accents to understand and who had the most enjoyable.

Over three-quarters of people attracted to women wanted to date someone with an accent, and in those attracted to men, 67 per cent did.

The audio samples used to survey respondents were taken from the Speech Accent Archive, created by George Mason University.

The draw to particular accents is not a new concept, with studies showing attractiveness is linked to voices.

There are some evolutionary theories that suggests people find foreign accents attractive because they suggest a more exotic gene pool.

Australian accents like Hugh Jackman's (pictured) were deemed the most popular in males and females

The love of an Aussie accent could come from the association with famous Australian actors, such as Margot Robbie (left) and Chris Hemsworth (right)

Survey respondents said the most intelligent accents come from London, Germany and Birmingham. Pictured is British actress Keira Knightley

But others say it comes down to cultural bias.

So the love of an Aussie accent could come from the association with famous Australian actors like Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman  who have both been named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive on separate occasions  as well as popular actress Margot Robbie.

'It all has to do with aesthetics,' Susan Tamasi, a sociolinguist at Emory University, told Your Tango.

'There is nothing linguistically sound about saying one accent is more pleasing than another.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have paid a visit to a Brooklyn school that has been touted as an 'alternative to college,' with the Duchess of Sussex wearing the letterman jacket she was gifted during her last solo engagement as a working royal.

Ahead of their appearance at New York City's Hudson Yards for the Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age, the couple appeared at The Marcy Lab School, which aims to prepare 'young adults of color for rewarding, wealth-generating careers in the tech sector' within just one year of education.

Images shared by Harry, 39, and 42-year-old Meghan's friend and go-to media member Omid Scobie show the duo posing alongside several students at the school, with the Duchess sporting black skinny jeans, a form-fitting black top, and a pair of Jennifer Chamandi heels  along with the letterman jacket that she received from a debate team at a school in the UK back in March 2020.

'Today, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan visited @MarcyLabSchool in New York,' Scobie wrote.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has paid a visit to a Brooklyn school, with the Duchess wearing a letterman jacket she was gifted during her last solo engagement as a working royal

The visit came ahead of their appearance at New York City's Hudson Yards for the Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age

Meghan was gifted the jacket by the Senior Debate Squad' during a visit to Robert Clack School in support of International Women's Day in 2020 before she left the royal family (pictured)

'It's one of America's only alternatives to a traditional four-year college, offering a one-year, full-time fellowship in software engineering. Students pay no fees  it's funded by philanthropic support.

'Fun fact: Meghan's varsity letterman jacket was given to her by the debate team at the Robert Clack School in Essex, England during her March 2020 visit.'

Scobie added that Harry and Meghan joined a 'mindful meditation session' during which the students open up about how they are feeling. He said that the Duke of Sussex advised the class: 'If one of you starts to go quiet, doesn't show up, you need to find out why.'

As she entered the school, which benefited from an Archewell Foundation grant earlier this year, Meghan reportedly told students: 'We're happy to be back in New York City.'

During their visit, Harry encouraged the students to look out for one another.

'Everyone's got their own story, a reason for being here, your life is still going to be filled with complications and challenges. And if one of you starts to go quiet, doesn't show up, you need to find out why,' he said, according to People.

He also asked the group: 'What excites you the most and scares you the most about the online world?'

His wife then chimed in saying: 'I think my husband was asking about online spaces because it's a place where so much community can be built, but there's also so much vulnerability.

Images shared by Harry and Meghan's friend and go-to media member Omid Scobie show the duo posing alongside several students at the school. The Duchess is pictured sneaking in a hug

The Duchess sported black skinny jeans, a form-fitting black top, and a pair of heels - along with the letterman jacket that she received from a debate team at a school in the UK back in March 2020

Scobie added that Harry and Meghan joined a 'mindful meditation session' during which the students open up about how they are feeling. Pictured is Harry with some students

'There's a lot of saturation, and as parents, we can be hopeful knowing that your bright minds [are at work], knowing that they will be seen, valued and growing in the right direction. And that's why it's so important what you're doing at the Marcy Lab.'

After departing The Marcy Lab School, the pair made their way to Hudson Yards to begin preparing for their summit.

They made their appearance at the venue about 11:30am, two hours before they were scheduled to take to the stage for the event.

During the event, the couple said they would endeavor to 'give voice to families who are passionate about building a safer online world for children and teens', according to a statement shared with People.

They were set to discuss initiatives that are 'creating positive change' and speak with parents who had suffered 'tragic loss connected to their child's social media use.'

According to the Archewell Foundation's website, Marcy Lab Fellows are aged between 18 and 24 years old who take part in a year-long fellowship that teaches them software engineering jobs, which sets them up to land tech jobs.

The program also integrates mental wellness and civic engagement into their curriculum.

After departing Marcy Lab School, the pair made their way to Hudson Yards to begin preparing for their summit

They made their appearance at the venue about 11:30am, two hours before they were scheduled to take to the stage for the event (pictured)

During the event, the couple will endeavor to 'give voice to families who are passionate about building a safer online world for children and teens'

Dressed in all white Meghan, 42, met with Carson Daly met with second annual World Mental Health Day Festival and The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit

Meghan cut a serious figure as she met with Carson Daly during the event in New York

During their on-stage chat, Meghan described being a mother as 'the most important thing in her entire life... outside of being a wife' to Harry

Meghan no longer has an active public social media account, however before she began dating Prince Harry, she was a prolific Instagram user, sharing regular updates about her life and her time working on TV show Suits with her two million followers

The Duchess is seen with Vivek H. Murthy on stage

Meghan discussed mental health and how parents can help their children

Meghan opted for a simple gold chain and white outfit for the day out

The Duchess of Sussex was typically expressive during the day out

Meghan looked delighted to chat to crowds during the summit

Meghan looked engaged while speaking on stage

Today's event marks the latest time that Meghan and Harry have spoken out to issue warnings about the dangers of social media - with the Duke of Sussex penning an entire opinion piece in 2020 in which he warned that it is stoking a 'crisis of hate'

In March 2020, Meghan and Harry announced that they would be withdrawing from social media altogether, issuing a statement on their Sussex Royal Instagram account that they wanted to find a 'new chapter to understand how they can best contribute

Meghan candidly discussed her fears for Archie and Lilbet on social media in the future

Meghan cut a serious figure as she met with Carson Daly during the event in New York

Meghan opted for an all white outfit for the occasion

The couple met with the surgeon general during Project Healthy Minds

Meghan went on to describe her role as a mother as the 'most important thing in her life... outside of being a wife' to Harry

Meghan greets the Surgeon General of the U.S. Vivek Murthy following a panel during Project Healthy Minds'

The royal couple cut a serious figure as they discussed mental health

The royal couple cut a serious figure as they discussed mental health

The Duchess expressed that she is 'frightened' by the way social media is constantly changing - and is concerned about how it will impact her kids

The school was founded in 2019 and since then 128 of their graduates have gone into software engineering, with jobs 'at companies around the world.'

Arriving at the summit, Meghan sported a strapless white strapless blazer with matching white pants and heels, while her husband donned a dapper navy suit.

The couple were all smiles as they arrived at the venue, however they appeared to get emotional once the event kicked off, with both seen looking incredibly somber as the panel commenced  with parents who have 'suffered tragic loss connected to their child's social media use' taking to the stage to share their stories.

Video taken inside the event, which was posted on Twitter, shows Meghan embracing several of the speakers after they walked off the stage after addressing the gathered crowd.

Harry and Meghan's appearance at the festival comes just hours after Harry's brother Prince William and his wife Princess Kate hosted their own mental health day event in the West Midlands.

The Sussexes pulled up to the summit in a convoy of seven blacked-out vehicles five months after the pair were involved in what they described as a 'near catastrophic car chase' in Manhattan.

The couple arrived at the World Mental Health Day Festival in Manhattan in a fleet of seven blacked-out vehicles

Harry and Meghan drove straight into an underground garage where they were closely monitored by a team of security guards

It marks their first-ever in-person event for their charity, the Archewell Foundation.

Tuesday's event, which sees the couple joined by Today show host Carson Daly and US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, marks the couple's first joint appearance in New York since the notorious 'car chase' that they were caught up in back in May, after attending the Women of Vision awards.

On this occasion, the pair appeared to have taken rather stringent steps to ensure their safety - with a marked NYPD escort accompanying their SUV fleet to the event location at Hudson Yards.

Questions still remain over Harry and Meghan's account of the car chase, which a statement from the couple's spokesperson described as being 'near catastrophic'.

The spokesman said the couple, as well as Meghan's mom Doria Ragland, were the victims of a 'relentless pursuit lasting more than two hours' at the hands of 'highly aggressive paparazzi'.

It has been suggested that they were trying not to be followed to where they were staying on the Upper East Side of the city.

However, New York police subsequently told NBC that they did not believe the chase was 'near catastrophic', instead describing it as a 'bit of a chaotic scene'.
Meghan Markle has candidly admitted that she is 'frightened' about the prospect of her children, Archie and Lilibet, one day using social media - while issuing a warning about the dangers of the online world for today's youth.

The 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex - who once boasted more than 11 million followers on her and Harry's now-defunct Instagram account - laid bare her 'worries' about her four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter while appearing at a World Mental Health Day panel event in New York City on Tuesday alongside her husband Prince Harry.

After hearing the stories of several parents who have suffered 'tragic loss connected to their child's social media use', Harry and Meghan took to the stage to open up about their own experiences with social media - and their own fears for its future as parents to two young children.

'As parents, though our kids are really young, they're two and a half and four and a half... but social media is not going away,' she said during the event.

'I think by design, there was an entry point that was supposed to be positive in creating community and something has devolved, and there's no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.'

Meghan Markle has candidly admitted that she is 'frightened' about the prospect of her children, Archie and Lilibet, one day using social media

Meghan, pictured arriving with Harry, attended a panel during the Project Healthy Minds second annual mental health day

Dressed in all white Meghan, 42, met with Carson Daly met with second annual World Mental Health Day Festival and The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit

The 42-year-old mother-of-two said she 'worries' about the impact social media will have on her four-year-old son Archie and two-year-old daughter Lilibet when they start to use it

Meghan went on to admit that, while her children are still not yet at an age where they are using - or are even aware of - social media, she knows that the time is fast approaching when they will be exposed to it in some way.

She described her role as a mother as the 'most important thing in her life outside of being a wife' to Prince Harry, saying: 'Being a mom is the most important thing in my entire life... outside of course being a wife to this one.

'But I will say, I feel fortunate that our children are at an age, again, quite young, so this isn't in our immediate future, but I also feel frightened by how it's continuing to change.

'And this will be in front of us. As they say, "Being a parent, the days are long but the years are short." So it worries me, but I'm also given a lot of hope and a lot of energy by the progress we've made in the last year.'

Meghan no longer has an active public social media account, however before she began dating Prince Harry, she was a prolific Instagram user, sharing regular updates about her life and her time working on TV show Suits with her two million followers.

That account was deleted soon after her engagement to Prince Harry was announced and she has not established another public personal Instagram since.

In March 2020, Meghan and Harry announced that they would be withdrawing from social media altogether, issuing a statement on their Sussex Royal Instagram account that they wanted to find a 'new chapter to understand how they can best contribute'.

Speaking about the stories shared by the parents who participated in the panel, the Duchess of Sussex admitted that she was reduced to tears by the 'devastating' experiences that they have shared with her and Harry, who have been working with a group of mothers and fathers over the past year in their efforts to create a safer online space for young people.

'A year ago when we met some of the families, not all of them, it was impossible to not be in tears as I'm sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories,' she said.

'You can hear these stories again and again and again, and it's still going to have the same emotional impact because it's just that devastating.'

Both Meghan and Harry, 39, have been outspoken about the dangers of social media in recent years - with the Duke of Sussex warning in 2020 that it was stoking a 'crisis of hate'

The Duchess of Sussex said: 'I feel fortunate that our children are... quite young, so [social media] isn't in our immediate future, but I also feel frightened by how it's continuing to change

The event was hosted by Today host Carson Daly, who joined the Sussexes up on the stage

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, participate in The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit Mental Wellness in the Digital Age

Meghan and Harry sat down with Dr. Vivek H. Murthy speak onstage at The Archewell Foundation

The Duchess expressed that she is 'frightened' by the way social media is constantly changing - and is concerned about how it will impact her kids

The royal couple cut a serious figure as they discussed mental health

Meghan greets the Surgeon General of the U.S. Vivek Murthy following a panel during Project Healthy Minds'

Meghan went on to describe her role as a mother as the 'most important thing in her life... outside of being a wife' to Harry

The couple met with the surgeon general during Project Healthy Minds

Meghan opted for an all white outfit for the occasion

Today's event marks the latest time that Meghan and Harry have spoken out to issue warnings about the dangers of social media - with the Duke of Sussex penning an entire opinion piece in 2020 in which he warned that it is stoking a 'crisis of hate'.

In the piece, which was written for business magazine Fast Company and was headlined 'Social media is dividing us. Together, we can redesign it,' Harry said that social media, as it stood, was 'unwell'.

'The digital landscape is unwell and companies like yours have the chance to reconsider your role in funding and supporting online platforms that have contributed to, stoked, and created the conditions for a crisis of hate, a crisis of health, and a crisis of truth,' he wrote.

He called for online communities to be 'defined more by compassion than hate; by truth instead of misinformation; by equity and inclusiveness instead of injustice and fearmongering; by free, rather than weaponized, speech.'

Meghan and Harry have often spoken about their own struggles with mental health

Meghan cut a serious figure as she met with Carson Daly during the event in New York

Meghan candidly discussed her fears for Archie and Lilbet on social media in the future

In March 2020, Meghan and Harry announced that they would be withdrawing from social media altogether, issuing a statement on their Sussex Royal Instagram account that they wanted to find a 'new chapter to understand how they can best contribute

Today's event marks the latest time that Meghan and Harry have spoken out to issue warnings about the dangers of social media - with the Duke of Sussex penning an entire opinion piece in 2020 in which he warned that it is stoking a 'crisis of hate'

Meghan looked engaged while speaking on stage

Meghan looked delighted to chat to crowds during the summit

The Duchess of Sussex was typically expressive during the day out

Meghan opted for a simple gold chain and white outfit for the day out

Meghan discussed mental health and how parents can help their children

The Duchess is seen with Vivek H. Murthy on stage

Harry and Meghan - who have both been open about their own mental health struggles - are seen

One fan took a video of Harry speaking

Back in 2019, he also suggested that social media is 'more addictive than drugs and alcohol' while taking part in a roundtable discussion on young people's mental health at a YMCA in London.

'Social media is more addictive than drugs and alcohol,' he said during the event.

'Yes it is more dangerous because it is normalized and there are no restrictions. So we are in a really mind-altering time.

'But we are in an exciting time because everybody in this room has an opportunity to actually make a real difference so that young people coming through are less connected to their phones.

'They can be as connected as they want to be but they have to have a human connection as well. Without that human connection when you do have a problem you have nowhere to go and the only place you might go is online and you [are] probably getting bullied.

'Every single one of us has mental health. There is good mental health and there is bad mental health and just because you suffer or might not suffer from mental illness, your bad mental health is affecting everyone around you.

'The younger generation feel so much more positive about this. There is no point in saying ''I'm fine, I feel fine''. Everyone in this room is susceptible to mental illness.'
An American woman living in the UK has shared her surprise at the 'cheap' and 'high quality' groceries available in Tesco.

Mrs Haas, who moved from Alaska to the UK with her 11-year-old daughter to study for a PhD at Warwick University shared a video of her amazement while wandering through the aisles.

In a video shared to TikTok, the mother-of-two said: 'One of the biggest moments I've been waiting for - getting to shop at an English grocery store and seeing the difference in the food, it's everything I dreamt of.

'Ella [my daughter] just found something we've never seen before,' she added before picking up some Quorn scotch eggs.

She then excitedly shared her trolley, full of fresh fruit including grapes and plums.

'Here's what we have so far, I'm very excited,' she added.

She then picked up chicken thighs and mince meat before declaring: 'Look at the quality of the meat. It's because there's not a tonne of chemicals in there'.

She added that she was delighted that it was 'affordable', meaning she can eat healthily on a student budget.

After picking up a variety of fresh food, the mother-daughter duo headed to pick up three ready meals - delighted they could get them for 7.50.

'We have a busy week, I'm starting my doctorate and Ella is starting secondary school, we need pre-made stuff'.

The mother-of-two added that she was 'still on the same aisle' and that she 'can't get down it' because she 'loves European food so much'.

'I'm just in heaven,' she added.

The mother-of-two, whose husband and youngest daughter stayed in the US to join them at a later date, said her three reasons for moving to the UK are 'no guns, healthcare and food quality'.

An American woman living in the UK has shared her shock at the 'cheap' and 'high quality' groceries in Tesco. Mrs Haas, who moved from Alaska to the UK with her 11-year-old daughter to study a PhD at Warwick University shared a video of her amazement while wondering through Tesco

Mrs Haas excitedly shared her trolley, full of fresh fruit including grapes and plums.

It comes after another American mother living in the UK has broken down the price difference in groceries on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving people surprised by how much cheaper food is in Britain.

Abigael Lanai, who is from Colorado but living in London, often shares videos on the differences between the two countries on her TikTok page.

However her followers were stunned to learn that many of the UK's basic food items are typically a lot cheaper than in the US.

In a video, which racked up more than 300,000 views, Abigael decided to compare the price of milk, apples, minced meat and carrots, taking into account the currency conversion.

She said: 'Before I start, just for context, I'm going to be comparing Sainsbury's here in England - which is the grocery story I go to - to the grocery store I shopped at in Colorado called King's Super, literally down to the location.

Abigael Lanai, who is from Colorado but living in London, compared food prices in the US versus the UK on TikTok and people are shocked

'This might vary depending on where you're located in the US or what store you're shopping at.'

Abigael went on to compare milk saying in the US it costs 50 cents or 40 pence more for the exact same amount.

She said: 'Let's start with whole milk. I need to buy this every few days for my daughter. It's 1.65 for 2.27 litres.'

So if you put that into a conversion, you're expecting 1.65 to convert to $1.99 in the US, if we were expecting the prices to be similar.

'You can do the math if you want to, but 2.27 litres is equivalent to half a gallon in the US and where you would expect to pay $1.99 if you were here in England, it's $2.49.

'So that's 50 cents or 40 pence more for the exact same item.'

She went on to examine the prince of apples, which can be double or even triple in the US.

Abigael added: 'One red apple 25p, that's the equivalent to 30 cents an apple if you were expecting the same in the US.

'But it's sure not - 67 cents for a small one or 95 cents for a large, so it's depending on the size.'

Moving on to the minced meat she said 500g costs 1.99 from Sainsburys however in the US the same portion would be $5.49.

In a video, which racked up over 300,000 views, Abigael decided to compare the price of milk, apples, minced meat and carrots

Her followers were stunned to learn that the content creator found the UK's food items are typically a lot cheaper than the US

She added: That's $3.09 or 2.56 more in the US for the same product.'

Lastly, Abigael said a 1kg bag of carrots is 50p in the UK, while in the states it would be $1.99, which works out as 1.15 more.

Ending the video she said: 'If you want me to compare other products please let me know in the comments. I felt like that was fairly well rounded with a dairy, a protein, a veg and a fruit.

US V UK Food Price Comparison WHOLE MILK UK price 1.65 APPLES UK price 25p MINCED BEEF UK price 1.99 CARROTS UK price 50p US price $2.49 US price 96 cents US price $5.49 US price $1.99 Difference 40p/50 cents Differnce 54p/66 cents Difference 2.56/$3.10 Difference 1.15/$1.39 Advertisement

'Obviously it's going to vary a little bit because the salary that people make out here is typically less than the salary people will make in the US so that definitely plays a role. But for my family in particular, we went from being a two-income household because I was working full-time, to being a one-income household.

'And my husband makes the same amount, so his money goes a lot further here.'

Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on the price of food.

One person said: 'Lived in the UK in 2017, I was shocked at how much cheaper food was. Restaurants seemed more expensive though.'

Another said: 'Sainsburys is expensive, but yes we are so much cheaper than anywhere in the world x

Someone else said: 'Im blown away by how expensive the US prices were compared to UK! Had no idea US was so much more expensive.'

A fourth wrote: 'America is so expensive! how are apples so affordable in England !? I usually pay $5-6 dollars for 4 apples not organic at Walmart...ridiculous.'
Kmart Australia has confirmed changes are afoot in store - with new digital initiatives and services to be put to the test.

Daily Mail understands the new ideas include moving the cash registers from the centre of the store back to the front, to make way for expanded product lines.

The changes are being trialled at the Eastland store in Melbourne - and have already been picked up by fans of the popular franchise.

One woman posted a video of the 'new location for the registers' back at the front of the store, admitting she was delighted by the development.

'Having the checkouts in the middle of the store was literally the dumbest move ever,' she said.

'So this is such a good move from Kmart, I hope they do it across Australia.'

The store started moving the registers to the centre of the store in 2015 - but it continues to be a talking point for customers.

This is reflected in the comments on the woman's video.

'I couldnt agree more! I hate the middle counter so much,' one woman said.

'And then they treat you like a thief by checking your receipts at the exit,' said another.

Kmart Australia has confirmed changes are afoot in store - with new digital initiatives and services to be put to the test

Another laughed at the fact the 'store of the future' is 'basically same as they all were before'.

Some people said they don't care where the checkout is - they just prefer 'staff to be more friendly'.

Kmart told FEMAIL there will be a 'range of new store elements and ideas' trialled at the Eastland store over the next 'year or so'.

'As a business, we are always looking for ways to make our customer experience better, so trying out new things is just part of what we do.'
A New York plastic surgeon has charted the slew of cosmetic tweaks Madonna has had over the years - after fans raised concerns about her health.

Photos of the star, 65, re-emerged on social media over the weekend in which she looked unrecognizable, causing some users to say her face looked 'painful'.

Despite years of speculation, Madonna only recently admitted she has had plastic surgery, but she has not revealed what the procedures were or how often she has gone under the knife.

Board-certified surgeon Dr Barry Weintraub, who reviewed before and after images of Madonna, said he saw signs of at least 12 cosmetic facial procedures, which he estimates would have cost 'multiple six-figure sums'.

Dr Weintraub said one of the most obvious changes was to her cheeks which are now 'inflated' and 'much fuller', likely due to multiple dermal filler injections, which see gel-like substances injected under the skin.

He pointed out that Madonna has also lost her characteristic dimples, likely due to the fillers.

Starting at the top of her face, Dr Weintraub said she had clearly had a brow lift  which was indicated by her 'unusually high' forehead and higher than normal eyebrows.

'You see a flatter straighter line, which indicates there may be an incision in front of the hairline [to pull up the skin],' he said.

'Her eyebrows are [also] higher than the position of her brows in 1986, meaning the distance between her eyelashes and her eyebrows is much higher than ours. You see a lot more volume in the upper third of her face.'

Brow lifts are usually done by making an incision along the top of the scalp and then also pulling the skin back in order to remove wrinkles and sagging.

He also said work had been done to her eyelids in order to give them a younger appearance and remove wrinkles.

'When you go into your 60s, there are often puffs of fat in the lower eyelids and some excess skin in the upper eyelids,' he said.

'In these pictures, however, you see none of each. Her lower eyelids are totally smooth, which means skin has probably been removed. The fat pads have also been removed.

'So what you're seeing is this smoothness and tightness all around and that is from surgical lifting volumization.'

He added the star had also likely had botox into areas of the forehead and around the eyes because there were no wrinkles present when she moved her face.

He also pointed out that Madonna's characteristic mole above her lip appeared much more faint, which may simply be the lighting in the photos or a side effect of the facial tweaks.

Dr Weintraub believes she has also had at least one nose job.

Pointing to a 1986 photo, he said: 'In the original picture, the tip of the nose is blunted and the nostrils are not arched,' he said.

'[But now] the nose is more pointy. And if you look closely, the left nostril is also slightly higher than the right.'

He also said her much fuller facial appearance was down to repeated filler and fat injections.

'Her cheekbones are much, much fuller,' he said, 'and that is secondary to either fat or filler injections'.

'We see this all too often in our field, but unfortunately people tend to fill their faces to try to plump out wrinkles.

'She also has... two little dimples on each side [in the original picture], which you don't see now because they are filled with fat.'

The above video was posted by the star in October last year, but has recently resurfaced online

2008: After Madonna appeared to display facial bruising in 2008, fans began to speculate that she had undergone lower eyelid surgery

2021: Madonna's changing appearance began to cause concern among fans who have speculated how she achieved her remarkably smooth visage

He added: 'If you look at her '86 picture, she had a nasal-labial fold like a normal person  that's a crease going from the corner of the nose to the mouth,' he said.

'But in the newest picture, she's totally flat, meaning that not only has she had a lot of filler but she also had a facelift.'

Previously, there have been suggestions that her larger cheeks are down to implants. But Dr Weintraub dismissed this, saying that if it was the case then the implant outline would be visible.

He also said her lips were 'very large', which was likely also the result of repeated fat or filler injections.

'Those are not normal lips, and look nothing like what she had in '86 and the filler also,' he said.

He said filler had likely also been applied to her jawline to 'build it out' and minimize wrinkles  and there were signs her jaw had been re-shaped.

A neck lift had also been carried out, he suggested, to avoid skin sagging around the neck.

He suggested she may also have had laser resurfacing surgery on the skin, where a laser is used to remove the outer layer of the skin and stimulate the production of collagen.

And he said it was also possible she had had a mid-face suspension, which involves lifting and tightening the tissues in the mid-face area to help avoid sagging.

'The whole key to excellent cosmetic surgery is to look like no one touched you,' he said.

'You need to look natural and you need to preserve your anatomical landmarks that we're all born with.

'But there are major differences between 1986 and pictures of her [Madonna] within the last year or so.'

2023: Dr Horn believes Madonna not only had a 'facelift' - which he said was 'obvious because her skin' appeared 'tight and pulled back with no wrinkles'

The picture of Madonna from within the last year has recently re-surfaced on social media, sparking concerns among fans over the 'painful' appearance.

More concerns were raised over her 'unrecognizable' appearance at the Grammy's this year  with the star reportedly 'affected' by the comments.

She accused those making the comments of 'ageism' and 'misogyny' at the time, but later admitted to having plastic surgery after posting a photo with the caption: 'Look how cute I am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol.'

Fans began to suspect Madonna was experimenting with facial surgery back in the 1990s when there were rumors she was trying out Botox and was undergoing a nose job  allegations she never confirmed.

In 2008, she was photographed with facial bruising, which fans suggested may have been due to surgery done on her lower eyelid.

And in the 2010s, she revealed she was a fan of Dr Frederic Brandt  also known as the 'Botox Baron'  although made no claim she had botox.

Madonna is currently gearing up for her delayed Celebration World Tour, which was pushed back after she suffered a life-threatening bacterial infection.

It is scheduled to kick off later this week at the O2 Arena in London before seeing the star travel across Europe and the United States.

Dr Weintraub compared a photo of Madonna in London from 1986, during her heyday, to the image taken within the last year which has sparked concern.
A new report warns that three out of four undiscovered plants are at risk

Humanity faces losing around half of all future medicines because so many plants face extinction, according to a new report.

Nearly half of all flowering plants on Earth are threatened - some 100,000.

As most medicines are based on plant compounds, scientists estimate that because 45 per cent of flowering plants are endangered, it means humans potentially risk losing a large potential source of future medicines.

The findings are contained in The State of the World's Plants and Fungi, a major report by scientists at Kew.

The Kew scientists also warn that many plants are going extinct before they have even been discovered. They estimate that three out of four plants yet undiscovered by science are at risk.

Scientists estimate that humans potentially risk losing a large source of future medicines as 45 per cent of flowering plants are endangered (Stock Image)

This is based on the estimate that of the 2,500 new plants discovered each year, on average, three quarters are immediately classified as at risk of extinction, suggesting that future discoveries will be equally threatened.

Conservation analyst Dr Matilda Brown said: 'We're looking at over 100,000 [plant] species that are threatened - that's more than the total number of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, all of our vertebrates put together.

'And when we consider that nine out of 10 of our medicines come from plants, what we're potentially staring down the barrel of is losing up to half of all of our future medicines.' Over 200 scientists from 102 institutions in 30 countries across the world contributed to Kew's report.

Mycologists - those who study fungi - estimate there are around 2.5 million fungi species, in total of which just 155,000 have been catalogued.

The report also warned that an estimated three out of four plants yet to be discovered are at risk (Stock Image)

Professor Alexandre Antonelli, director of science at Kew, said: 'We know more about the surface of Mars than we know about fungi on this planet.'

Fungi are also a rich potential source of medicines and useful compounds - including those that are able to help industrial processes such as breaking down plastic.

The report said over 59 per cent of new plant and fungi species described in 2020 are likely to meet the criteria for Endangered and 24 per cent are likely to meet the criteria for Critically Endangered.

The report highlights that new types of fungi are even being uncovered in the UK.
Buckling A&E departments are seeing a rise in people attending with sore throats because of the GP appointment crisis, experts say.

Figures reveal 340,441 attendances to emergency units in England last year were because of a sore throat  77 per cent more than the 190,900 logged in 2021/22.

Meanwhile, the number of sick Brits seeking urgent care for coughs and earaches spiked by 50 per cent and a fifth, respectively.

Health service bosses today said that the 'persistent strain on primary care services including GPs'  with patients routinely facing waits of more than a week to be seen  is forcing many to attend emergency units.

Minor ailments must instead be managed through appropriate services, such as pharmacies and NHS 111 online, they urged.

Latest NHS A&E data showed that patient care plummeted in August as emergency departments faced their busiest summer yet. Just under three-quarters of emergency department attendees (73 per cent) were seen within four hours in August, down from 74 per cent in July. NHS standards set out 95 per cent should be admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour window

Fresh analysis of NHS data shows cases where sore throat was the chief complaint rose 77 per cent between 2021/22 and 2022/23, from 191,900 cases to 340,441. Health service bosses today said that the 'persistent strain on primary care services including GPs'  with patients routinely being told they face a wait of more than a week to be seen  is leaving many patients resorting to attending emergency units

According to the analysis of NHS data by the PA news agency, patients going to A&E with coughs rose 47 per cent from 219,388 in 2021/22 to 322,500 in 2022/23.

Attendances for earaches rose 22 per cent from 191,387 to 233,723, while nosebleeds cases jumped by a fifth from 47,285 cases to 56,546.

In most cases, these ailments can be managed at home or with help from a pharmacist, the NHS says.

Emergency medics treated 324,443 patients with backache last year, up two per cent from 317,149.

People also went to A&E requesting medication, with cases rising by a fifth from 31,960 to 38,435.

Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: 'The rise in A&E admissions is piling even more pressure on to an already-stretched NHS.

'Persistent strain on primary care services, including GPs and dentists, means patients often resort to A&E when they cannot access timely care elsewhere.

'Minor ailments such as coughs, earache, fever, nausea and hiccups can and should be managed through more appropriate services, such as pharmacies and NHS 111 online.

'This could ease pressure on emergency departments, whose priority is to deliver urgent care for those most in need.

'Boosting capacity of staff, beds and equipment in these settings would also significantly help.

'However, this requires proper funding and support from the Government.'

Latest NHS data shows there were 27.8million GP appointments in July but three in 10 patients waited more than a week for their consultation.

Less than half were on the same day (43.6 per cent), while around one in 20 had to wait more than a month.

Over two-thirds (68.3 per cent) were in-person. Most other appointments were conducted over the phone (26.5 per cent).

However, NHS data also shows that GPs are under huge pressure and treating a record number of people.

Family doctors are responsible for up 2,600 patients each in some areas, up from an average 1,900 in 2016.

Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), said: 'While there has certainly been an increase in issues which may not have traditionally been thought of as requiring emergency care, it is not the main problem, and is symptomatic of a much wider issue.

'Our communities need good access to healthcare. This requires an adequately resourced and staffed system with sufficient capacity at every level.

'Community-based services are massively stretched, A&Es remain dangerously overcrowded, and in-patient care does not currently have anywhere near the bed capacity needed.

'Many of my patients have tried not to come to A&E and have tried other all other routes before attending.

'People do not, and should not be expected, to know the severity of their condition without clinical expertise or examination. And those who feel they require urgent and emergency care should attend A&E.

'One change which certainly would have an impact is greater clinical input into the NHS 111 service to help direct patients to the right care for them  be that in the community or, when necessary, at hospital.

'Concern over pressures on A&Es should not fall on the public. An adequately staffed and funded health service with enough capacity can meet patient demand.'

GP workforce data for May 2023 shows there are 27,200 fully-qualified GPs in England. This is down from 27,627 one year earlier. GP numbers peaked at 29,537 in March 2016

Around 7.68million patients in England  or one in seven people  were in the queue in July for procedures such hip and knee replacements, official figures show. This includes almost 390,000 patients who have waited at least one year for treatment, often in pain. The monthly performance data showed the waiting list grew by more than 100,000 between June and July

The RCEM has previously warned difficulties in seeing a GP were leading to a crisis in emergency departments.

A report in October 2021 by the college also highlighted that the lack of GPs, which is leading to difficulties with access, is one of a number of factors contributing to increased demand.

'Small deteriorations in the number of people accessing appropriate GP consultations have the potential to put great pressure on the urgent and emergency care system,' it warned.

According to the PA analysis, 44 per cent more complaints in A&E were for fever compared to the previous year, rising from 566,531 to 813,609.

Hiccups cases also rose 3 per cent from 794 to 819, while insomnia cases increased 6 per cent from 1,265 to 1,343.

Nasal congestion and nausea cases were among other rises, of 30 per cent 14 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, diarrhoea cases jumped 12 per cent from 106,072 to 119,019.

Overall, some 8.6million attendances resulted in the patient being discharged with written advice.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'When people are ill, they want timely care and attention and we cannot expect them to make clinical judgements about how ill they are, nor should we blame them if they access care in a place that might not be best to meet their needs.

'Unfortunately, the entire NHS is heaving under unsustainable pressures and patients are increasingly looking for any port in the storm.

'While some of the presentations to A&E may not be indicative of a medical "emergency", conditions such as fevers  which saw a 44 per cent increase in admissions over the last year  can be symptomatic of something more serious that needs the skill and expertise of a medical professional to diagnose and treat.

'As the front door of the NHS, GPs play a vital role in alleviating pressures from other services, but we are in the grip of a workload and workforce crisis and in desperate need of financial and staffing support if we are to continue keeping the NHS upright.

'We share our patients' frustrations when they face long waits for a GP appointment but last month alone, general practice delivered five million extra appointments for patients than in August 2019  equating to 150,000 extra appointments per day  all with 883 fewer GPs than in 2019.

'GP teams are working their hardest to deliver safe, timely and appropriate care  there simply are not enough of us to meet demand that is growing in both volume and complexity.'

Latest monthly performance data also shows the NHS waiting list grew by more than 100,000 between June and July.

The 7.68million toll marks the highest figures logged since NHS records began in August 2007 and a rise of nearly three quarters of a million (742,000) on July 2022.

For comparison, around 4.4million were stuck in the system when the pandemic reached the UK.

The expansion of pharmacy services is part of a wider 'primary care recovery plan' designed to restore public satisfaction with GP services after the pandemic. Graph shows the ratio of GP patients to practices, which an average of 9,740 patients per surgery in March

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said long waiting lists mean patients will often be unable to tolerate symptoms 'necessitating them to access urgent and emergency care'.

He said long lists also reduce people's faith in being able to access services in a timely manner and so some will use acute care services.

'This adds to the overwhelming pressure on an extremely overstretched urgent care system and undoubtedly will increase appalling and intolerable experiences for emergency patients this winter,' he said.

'Mitigation is possible and it is essential that action is taken that helps restore the confidence of patients and staff over the next few months.'

Separate NHS data for A&E also shows that patient care plummeted in August as emergency departments faced their busiest summer yet.

GP patient satisfaction has too, as a result of the appointment crisis, plunged to its lowest level on record.

In recent months, patients have continually expressed their frustration over access to GP services, particularly regarding in person face-to-face appointments.

But why Brits are struggling with their surgeries is a complicated issue.

GPs say they overwhelmed due to the pressures of the rising and ageing population, a lack of government funding and a shortage of doctors.

Under recommendations implemented by the BMA and European Union of General Practitioners, GPs today should not deliver more than 25 appointments a day to ensure safe care.

But some doctors are reportedly having to cram in nearly 60 patients a day in some areas.

Ministers have also silently binned a promise to hire 6,000 more GPs, which was a major part of Boris Johnson's election-winning manifesto.

Just 2,000 more family doctors have been recruited since 2019.

Worsening the staffing crisis is the fact that many current GPs are retiring in their 50s, moving abroad or leaving to work in the private sector because of soaring demand, NHS paperwork, and aggressive media coverage.

GP surgeries have also faced rising levels of harassment, assaults and verbal abuse targeted at staff in recent months.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said it was supporting primary care to prevent unnecessary trips to emergency departments and has already made improvements in A&E waiting times.

A spokesperson said: 'There are more than 2,000 additional doctors and 31,000 additional staff working in general practice compared to June 2019 and our Long Term Workforce Plan will create a more sustainable NHS.

'Our Pharmacy First service, backed by up to 645 million, will enable community pharmacies to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP and the Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan is creating 5,000 permanent staffed hospital beds.'

They added: 'We are also on track to deliver 10,000 virtual ward beds ahead of winter, allowing patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes where appropriate.'
EXCL: Charity said the NHS should take action over the repugnant comments

A doctor who mocked terrified Israelis fleeing Hamas gunmen is today facing calls to be suspended over her 'repugnant' comments.

MailOnline yesterday revealed how Dr Mennah Elwan stated 'if it was your home, you would stay and fight' in response to horrifying footage of Palestinian terrorists opening fire on innocent party-goers.

The neurology registrar also claimed 'there are no civilians in Israel' in her series of abhorrent posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism has now called for Dr Elwan to be suspended from the NHS and investigated by the UK's medical regulator.

Meanwhile, a Tory source said she should face 'immediate disciplinary action' for the 'sickening' comments.

Dr Mennah Elwan in her British Medical Association kit during NHS industrial action organised by the union last week

Dr Elwan, a neurology registrar, posted on social media mocking people fleeing a massacre by Hamas at a music festival

The source added that the views posted by the medic  who appeared at a British Medical Association (BMA) rally on NHS pay this month  posed 'serious questions' about how the union is run.

It comes after a wave of protests about the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas.

One British pro-Palestine activist called the terror attacks over the weekend, where gunmen murdered and kidnapped Israeli civilians, 'inspiring' and 'beautiful' in a public rally.

Clashes also occurred last night between pro-Palestinian and Israel supporters in High Street Kensington, as police desperately tried to keep the peace.

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity told this website there was no place in the NHS for comments like those made by Dr Elwan.

'These despicable comments demonstrate, at a minimum, a lack of empathy unworthy of an employee of the NHS, and we shall be submitting a complaint to her regulator,' they said.

'But, at worst, rhetoric such as this fuels anti-Semitism in the UK, and we will also be exploring legal options. '

They added that such attitudes could make Jewish patients and staff feel unsafe in the NHS.

Dr Elwan has described herself as working at the NHS's The Walton Centre, a major neurology hospital in Liverpool

READ MORE: Who are Hamas? Everything you need to know about the Palestinian terror movement that has launched war on Israel Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, October 7, 2023 Advertisement

'The NHS has a responsibility to ensure that its patients, who are among the most vulnerable in society, feel safe,' they said.

'How can a Jewish person entrust their care to NHS doctors, nurses and other frontline medical workers who espouse repugnant views such as these?

'Surely it is obvious that NHS staff, too, must be allowed to work in an environment free of people who defend the murder of innocent civilians, Jewish or otherwise.'

The spokesman added that NHS staff who express such views should face an immediate sanction from their employer.

'It flies in the face of the oaths that they have taken, and it should go without saying that anyone who expresses such language must immediately be suspended by the NHS and be investigated,' they said.

A Tory source also told MailOnline that the comments from Dr Elwan were inexcusable and needed immediate NHS action.

'This is a sickening comment from a BMA activist, who should face immediate disciplinary action,' they said.

They added that her comments cast a cloud over the internal attitudes at the BMA, which has launched a series of devastating NHS strikes in recent months.

'Given that it follows just months after one of the BMA's leaders had to be suspended for vile anti-Semitic slurs, it suggests there are serious questions to answer about how this union is being run,' they said.

Dr Elwan previously wrote how 'great' it was to attend a rally organised by the BMA in Manchester on October 3 to coincide with the Tory party conference.

On social media she wrote about 'Manchester turning orange' with the hashtag #BMAPayRally' and pictures of her attending the event.

The BMA was contacted for comment, but previously told MailOnline that Dr Elwan's comments 'do not reflect its values' they will be 'investigating' her post.

Strike action by medics has led to almost 1.2million NHS appointment cancellations, official figures show.

Comments by Dr Elwan come after a horrific series of attacks in Israel.

Some 900 Israeli soldiers and civilians  including 270 slaughtered at the same music festival Dr Elwan posted footage of  have been killed, with many more wounded.

In another post, Dr Elwan even shockingly claimed that 'there are no civilians in Israel' in apparent support of violence over the weekend

She also advocated for the removal of Israeli people from the country as an apparent soultion to the long-running conflict

Dr Elwan, an NHS medic part way through her training to become a neurology specialist recently boasted of taking in strike action that has devastated the NHS

Dr Elwan's NHS employer, the Walton Centre  a major neurology site in Liverpool  has said it did not 'support any behaviour that marginalises an individual or community'.

In response to footage of revellers running for their lives from the barbaric attack, Dr Elwan mocked those fleeing.

Reposting a terrifying clip of people attempting to dash to safety at the Supernova Festival, which took place close to the Gaza Strip, she wrote: 'If it was your home, you would stay and fight. You wouldn't just run away.'

Egyptian-trained Dr Elwan then closed off her statement with a smiley emoji.

People can be heard screaming as shots are fired while police are seen trying to help people evacuate.

Other footage from the incident has since emerged showing gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets.

Corpses of victims have since been piled up in makeshift tents as Israeli emergency responders work to identify the remains.

In another post, Dr Elwan also appeared to support the wave of horrific violence towards Israeli civilians and tourists over the weekend.

She wrote: 'Israel kills Palestinians everyday, didn't see anyone caring', again ending the statement with a smiley face emoji.

Dr Elwan went on to add: 'Also, there are no civilians in Israel.'

In another post, a reply to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressing his support Israel, she said the UK should simply take the Israeli population away from Palestine.

'Just take all the Israelis to the UK from terrorist Palestine a win for everyone, no?' she wrote.

MailOnline approached Dr Elwan about her posts  but she made her profile private after this website reached out to her.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City yesterday

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City yesterday

READ MORE: Timeline of Israel and Palestine's violent conflict as Hamas terrorists reignite historical war after Gaza attack Israeli soldiers patrol a road in Israel during the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli war Advertisement

Britain's medical regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), which has the power to officially sanction medics for inappropriate behaviour, yesterday said its standards apply to posts made by medics on social media.

Standards state medics should 'make sure that your conduct justifies your patients' trust in you and the public's trust in the profession'.

A spokesman for the regulator added: 'The GMC can investigate where there are concerns that patient safety or the public's confidence in doctors may be at risk and take action if needed.'

Survivors of the music festival massacre have since posted chilling footage of hiding in nearby vegetation for hours as they penned goodbyes to their families, not believing they would see them again.

Israeli authorities have asked distraught relatives of those missing to bring personal items such as combs and toothbrushes so investigators can attempt to match their DNA to bodies.

The massacre was one just one of many bloody attacks launched by Hamas after the group infiltrated communities in Israel's south.

One of those captured at the music festival was 30-year-old German tattoo artist Shani Louk.

Her lifeless, half-naked body was believed to have been paraded on the back of a Hamas pick-up truck as terrorists sat on top of her and jeered following the violent incursion.

Dr Elwan's comments aren't the only ones to spark outrage in Britain.

MailOnline yesterday revealed that a pro-Palestine activist who called Hamas terror attacks against Israel 'inspiring' and 'beautiful' is an elected women students' officer at the University of Sussex students' union.

Hanin Barghouti was seen addressing a crowd by the Clock Tower in Brighton during a protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign on Saturday  just a day after terrorists began murdering and kidnapping Israeli civilians.

Describing herself as a Palestinian, Ms Barghouti said: 'Yesterday was a victory.

'For freedom fighters to break out of a 15-year blockade so successfully under the inhuman genocide of Israel was so beautiful and inspiring to see.

Mourners react as they pray during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, today

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter

'It shows the world we will always fight and always resist and we need to celebrate these acts of resistance because this was a success.'

She added: 'Revolutionary violence initiated by Palestinians is not terrorism  it is self-defence.'

Her words were greeted by applause and several cheers.

Today, a University of Sussex spokesman told MailOnline: 'We have received a complaint about a Sussex student expressing views on the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel.

'The University is currently seeking to establish the facts, and, if necessary, will take action in line with our policies and the law.'

Police last night arrested three people following pro-Palestine protests held near to Israel's embassy in Kensington.

Of those arrested, one was taken in for assault on an emergency worker.

Pro-Palestinian and Israeli supporters also clashed at High Street Kensington station as police officers attempted to separate both groups.

Fireworks were seen launched by protesters  some towards the boarded up Israeli embassy.

There were banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party

Hanin Barghouti, who is women students' officer at the University of Sussex students' union, called Hamas attacks 'inspiring' and 'beautiful'

A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday

In stark contrast to the dancing, singing and flares in Kensington, and other heated protests across the UK, weeping Israelis gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas, who launched a violent assault over the Gaza border on Saturday.

Mr Sunak also visited a London synagogue to show his support for Israel.

The PM condemned Hamas in a joint statement with his French, German, American and Italian counterparts.

Some speakers also held a rally outside the Labour party conference defending the terrorists' incursion into Israel.

Banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party, were held by demonstrators yesterday.

In fiery scenes, one Labour member took on around 100 of the flag-waving crowd, telling them they were apologists for murder and should be ashamed of themselves.

They responded by booing, chanting 'racist Israel' and demanding he be removed by police  which officers refused to do.

Security is currently being ramped up across the UK amid fears spiralling violence in the Middle East will fuel a rise in anti-Semitic hate crime.

'Free Palestine' was seen daubed onto bridges this morning in Golders Green, home to London's largest Jewish community. Patrols have been increased in London.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for police to 'use the full force of the law' against displays of support for Hamas, which is a proscribed terror group.

Israel overnight began a series of retaliatory strikes on the Gaza strip, with its leaders ordering a 'complete siege', cutting off food and electricity to its residents.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has declared an intention to obliterate Hamas as he metes out revenge for the deadly surprise attacks over the weekend.

Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the Israel Embassy in London chanting 'free free Palestine ' and lighting flares

Palestinian and Israeli supporters have clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately try and keep the peace

Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to divide demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station while a pro-Palestine rally took place outside

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

Thousands of Hamas targets have already been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed.

However, harrowing clips circulating social media showed how rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht claimed security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the roughly 2m Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives.

Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria, fomenting calls for Israel to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Israel is run by its most hard-Right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation that it says is no longer tolerable.

Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will stick by its recommendation for everyone including babies to get vaccinated against Covid.

In fresh guidance issued today, the health agency said that all Americans aged six months and up should get the new updated booster shot this fall.

The CDC said healthy children and adults 'still experience severe COVID-19 illness' and that 'antibodies from vaccination, previous infection, or both weaken over time'.

The new booster rollout began last month and includes vaccines that have been updated to protect against sub-variants that have been driving a rise in cases.

The vaccines have been shown to be highly safe, carrying a vanishingly small risk of serious side effects, but questions about their efficacy have grown over time.

The CDC's recommendation means the vaccine is safe for even very young children, but some health officials have questioned if a shot for babies is necessary

This graph shows the uptake for the fall 2022 booster in America across different age groups. The dark purple line represents those aged 65 and older, the dotted pink line is for 50-64-year-olds, the solid green line for 25-49-year-olds, dotted green for 18-24, solid yellow for 12-17, thickest dotted yellow for 5-11 and dotted yellow line at the bottom for 2-4 years.

America is an international outlier in recommending Covid boosters for younger age groups, with other countries previously only offering them to older adults.

But doctors in the US say the recommendation is because of the country's healthcare model, with the blanket recommendation needed to ensure health insurance companies cover the costs.

The UK, for comparison, is rolling out the updated Covid booster only to adults aged 65 years and older  saying they are the group most at risk for severe disease.

Dr Ashish Jha, the former White House Covid coordinator, said the UK's decision was not based on calculations about who would benefit the most, but because the government cannot effectively afford to offer the shots to everyone.

Last year, the CDC also recommended the Covid bivalent booster for everyone aged six months and over.

Dr Paul Offit, who advises the FDA on a range of shots for infectious diseases, previously told DailyMail.com that middle-aged and younger Americans without chronic diseases don't need another Covid booster shot because they already have strong enough immunity through previous Covid vaccines and infections to prevent severe illness this winter.

The FDA previously said that starting at age five, most people can get a single dose of the newest booster even if they've never had a prior Covid shot.

Children aged five and above can get a single dose of a booster Covid vaccine, as long as it has been at least two months since their last Covid shot.

Kids between six months old and four years old, on the other hand, are eligible for one or two doses of the booster shot. Timings of the injections will depend on when they received their last Covid vaccine.

If the child is under five and is yet to receive any Covid vaccines, they will be able to get three doses of the Pfizer booster or two doses of the Moderna booster.

Americans can get the latest shot from health clinics or pharmacies. After the vaccine rollout was handed off to private companies, most Americans are still able to access the Covid vaccine for free under their insurance.

The uninsured and most of the underinsured are also able to get a free shot.

The CDC recommends people wait at least two months since their last Covid shot.

Since September last year, bivalent mRNA Covid boosters have been recommended in the US, but they were designed to protect against variants that are no longer widely circulating.

Over the past couple of months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the newest booster, made by Pfizer and Moderna, which protects against the Omicron variant XBB.1.5.

Also approved is biotech company Novavax's protein-based shot.

New variants EG.5 and BA.2.86 sparked alarm in recent months over evidence they were the most infectious yet, with EG.5 currently being dominant in the US.

The updated vaccines are targeted at variants XBB.1.5  which are now only behind a small proportion of cases  but tests show they should still provide protection against the currently circulating strains.

Official data showed there were 18,139 Covid hospital admissions nationwide over the week ending September 30, down six percent from the previous week.

The number was well-below this year's peak of 44,400 admissions recorded in January.

Overall, there has been a dwindling appetite for Covid boosters. Since the newest shots became available, just four million Americans, or one percent, have been inoculated with the latest version.

And only 17 percent of eligible Americans got the last Covid booster.
A woman is suing her health insurance company for $700,000 for refusing to cover her obesity treatment and claiming she owes them.

Luci 'Lynette' Solorio is suing Regence Blueshield over claims it is refusing to provide her with the 'lifesaving' bariatric surgery she had in 2017.

At the time she got the initial op she was covered by her insurer at the time, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Four years later, she needed to have a follow-up operation. According to a lawsuit she filed in Washington state court in June, Ms Solorio's new insurer would not cover it because it was linked to her previous obesity treatment.

'When I needed surgery in 2022, it was essential and lifesaving,' Ms Solorio said in a statement released Tuesday by her lawyer, Rick Spoonemore.

'I paid my premiums to Regence like everyone else. My surgery should have been covered because it was medically necessary.'

Luci Solorio is suing her health insurance company for refusing to cover her obesity treatment and claiming she owes them almost three-quarters of a million dollars (stock pic)

Ms Solorio claims in the lawsuit that Regence's actions were 'illegal and unreasonable' under Washington state law.

Because of Regence denying coverage, Ms Solorio claims she owes more than $700,000 to multiple medical providers and the hospital where she had the follow-up surgery.

Ms Solorio sought treatment for her diagnosed morbid obesity in 2017.

She had sleeve gastrectomy surgery, where a large part of the stomach is removed and left behind is a narrow 'sleeve'.

The surgery was pre-approved to be covered by Anthem Blue Cross.

The operation was successful, and she was able to lose enough weight to keep her BMI below 30.

She also had a pre-existing diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus.

In September 2021, she had more surgery to convert her gastric sleeve to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, in the hopes of solving her chronic GERD.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is another type of weight-loss surgery, where small incisions are made in the abdomen to reduce the size of the upper stomach to around that of an egg.

'The surgery Solorio required was medically necessary under the Regence Bariatric Surgery clinical guidelines,' the lawsuit said.

A staggering amount of Americans (42 percent of adults) are obese. Most insurers cover bariatric surgery, which reduces the amount of food a patient can eat by shrinking the size of the stomach.

But patients may still have to meet certain criteria to qualify, and less than half of employers cover bariatric surgery within their workplace health insurance policies.

Even fewer insurers cover new drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic that don't require surgery to lose weight. Medicaid and Medicare do not.

According to a benefits consultant cited by the Associated Press, less than half of employers' health insurance plans cover obesity drugs.

Companies stopped covering the drugs because they are very expensive, costing up to $1,300 a month for each patient.

Ms Solorio's lawsuit is one of two recent cases confronting insurers for not covering obesity treatments.

Jeannette Simonton, from Kittitas County, Washington, was insured under Washington State Health Care Authority, which does not cover any obesity treatments.

After paying for her Ozempic prescription herself, she sued the insurer in September 2023.

Under Washington state law, obesity is categorized as a disability. Both lawsuits argue the rejection of the coverage is an unlawful form of discrimination.

Ms Simonton said: 'It is discrimination to deny medically indicated treatment that my physician prescribed just because it treats obesity.

'There is no scientific or medical basis for this exclusion, plain and simple.'
Officials at the Bank of England are so concerned about fraudsters using artificial intelligence technology for scams in the UK that it hosted an urgent summit for big banks and tech firms last week, Money Mail can reveal.

Leading banks and fraud prevention experts fear advanced technology could open the door to a wave of new scams.

Insiders say Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey opened the meeting by warning of the growing risks the cutting-edge technology poses to the financial future of British households and called for an urgent response to counter the threat.

Executives at Google and OpenAI (the firm behind ChatGPT and co-founded by Elon Musk), and social media giant Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) were asked about their safety measures to stop the software from falling into the wrong hands.

Tech firms were warned scams will get much more sophisticated, but Britain still has a window to shore up its defences.

Fraud threat: Leading banks and fraud prevention experts are fearful new AI technology coming to our shores and opening the door to a wave of new scams

The UK is grappling with a tsunami of fraud, costing consumers more than 1.2 billion last year, according to trade body UK Finance.

But the number of attacks could soon surge out of control as criminals begin to incorporate the use of AI to make their operations far more sophisticated.

Anti-fraud champion and MP Anthony Browne, who was at the summit, says AI scams are on their way.

He says: The Government is taking the risks associated with AI very seriously. It is clearly a threat we need to prepare for.

Banks are beginning to deploy a host of AI-powered chatbots to combat fraudsters in a trial led by Stop Scams UK, the cross-industry group behind last Fridays summit.

A group made up of banks, tech and telecom companies is piloting a project to gather intelligence on scammers.

An estimated 300 phone numbers and 100 email addresses will be operated by members of the Stop Scams UK group, which includes Britains biggest High Street and challenger banks; telecoms BT, TalkTalk and Three; and tech companies Meta and Google.

These numbers and accounts will be assigned chatbots  computer programmes that simulate human conversation. They are often used for customer service queries as they can answer questions with great accuracy.

Because they can mimic human messages, criminals have been known to use chatbots to manipulate victims and impersonate trusted authorities or companies.

The chatbots can send messages on social media platforms that appear genuine and trick victims into handing over money or personal details by pretending to be someone they know and trust.

Paul Davis, director of fraud prevention at TSB, says these chatbots allow criminals to scale up their operations, with large numbers of bots messaging multiple victims simultaneously.

However, the banks chatbots will be pitted against them in the trial. Theres an opportunity to delay chatbots in order to disrupt criminals, Mr Davis says.

We might end up with two AI chatbots talking to each other  one controlled by the banks, the other by criminals. They can waste each others time.

Its a numbers game. Fraudsters can automate large parts of the process where they would have had to use a human before. That means the number of attacks will increase.

Because they can mimic human messages, criminals have been known to use chatbots to manipulate victims and impersonate trusted authorities or companies.

Alex West, director of banking fraud and investigations at PwC, which provided research at the AI summit at the Bank of England, says the technology is providing a powerful set of tools to detect scams and track down fraudsters. However, consumers should beware of the high credibility of these scams.

Mr West says: AI tools can be used by fraudsters to create highly convincing scams. AI-generated messages, cloned voices and deep-fake videos are increasingly being used to con people out of money.

Natalie Kelly, chief risk officer, Visa Europe, which is also a member of Stop Scams UK, says: For every AI tool available on the world wide web, there are criminal versions. Criminals have adapted quickly to adopt AI.

It is a constant battle and we are laser-focused on our AI always being better than the fraudsters.

Fraudsters can use AI in a number of ways to fool their target and typically use social media platforms to do so.

Money Mails Stop the Social Media Scammers campaign is calling on tech firms to do more to protect users and prepare for the new threats.

One of the fastest-growing techniques employed by fraudsters is to use cheap online software to clone a voice.

By doing this they can impersonate a loved one or family friend and lure unsuspecting victims into handing over their money.

For example, criminals may make a phone call using a cloned voice to make it sound as if a loved one is in trouble and needs financial help.

All you need is three seconds from a voice recording or video to replicate someones voice, according to research by ant-virus firm McAfee.

Imposter: Criminals are making a phone call using cloned voice to make it sound as if a loved one is in trouble and needs financial help

Anyone can clone a voice and can dictate the text that they want the voice to say in an audio clip. Money Mail took this to the test on Play.Ht, an AI-voice generative start-up, using its 5,000-words-a-month free trial.

The website allows you either to clone someones voice using a 30-second audio clip or to use an existing AI voice. The range of voices are AI generated, but are realistic and can be set to speak almost every language in the world.

Once you have uploaded an audio clip, you write in a text box the words you want the cloned voice to say. After a short wait, you can play and download a new audio clip of the voice saying it.

The technology is becoming so advanced that you can prompt the voices emotions: for example, to sound happy, sad or worried.

In one high-profile case in the U.S. a mother became distraught when scammers used AI to fake her daughters kidnap.

The woman received a call from an unknown number but when she picked up, she believed it was her 15-year-old daughter, who was away training for a ski race. Fraudsters had used the software to generate a clip of the teenagers voice crying for help, before demanding a $1million ransom.

The scam has already made its way to the UK, according to research from McAfee.

Oliver Devane, a security researcher at McAfee, says: In most of the cases were hearing of, the scammer says they have been in a bad accident, such as a car crash, and need money urgently.

Chris Ainsley, head of fraud strategy at Santander, warns that criminals typically pose as bank staff, the police and other trusted authorities as part of impersonation scams. Action Fraud, the UKs official fraud hotline, says it does not hold reliable data on AI voice-cloning scams, as most people do not realise AI has been used.

However, there were 82 reported scams involving AI between May 2019 and August 2023.

NatWest tells Money Mail that AI could be used in a number of ways to target customers and that it is increasingly important that consumers stop and take a moment before making any payments that might appear unusual.

Liz Edwards, of comparison site Finder.com, says it is crucial to concentrate on what is being said whenever you watch a video or receive a phone call.

Ms Edwards says: Although these videos look realistic, a lot of the content will have been written by AI technology, so listen carefully and try to decipher whether it really sounds like something a human would say.
Retired university professor Ian Kershaw is sitting at a table toying with a white plastic box.

The 80-year-old former modern history lecturer weighs up the phone charger-sized gadget in his hand before passing it to his wife Betty, 79, a former nurse, for further inspection.

On a damp October morning, they are among the dozens of visitors filing into St Thomas Centre in Manchester for a BT roadshow.

Two bouncers in BT purple T-shirts flank the gates, making sure crowds dont get out of hand. They dont need to worry as the respectable-looking older crowd is here only for verbal sparring  not fisticuffs.

Beneath the impressive 30ft-high ceiling  with its neo-Roman plastered cornice and pillar design  people sit at a dozen tables that have been put out, each with four chairs.

Expert advice: Reporter Toby Walne (right) tests the digital phone with BTs Lee Barlow

The layout and atmosphere make it feel more like a school parents evening rather than a BT event explaining to the public how phones will be going digital over the next couple of years.

Proceedings are being presided over by no nonsense headmaster Lee Barlow  a migration senior manager who has brought along two dozen BT experts for lessons.

Ian and Betty are clearly no fools  but the BT staff patiently go back to basics with the equipment on the table.

After being shown the difference between an internet and traditional phone socket  the couple are told the 20 digital voice adapter they have been handling is not the only option.

Ian, who used to lecture at the nearby University of Manchester and is also a critically acclaimed biographer of Adolf Hitler, has a 20-minute chat with staff.

Afterwards, he and Betty share their experience with me. Ian says: We can handle the change, and the face-to-face guidance today has made it easier to understand.

But it is vulnerable people that concern us. Fortunately, it appears no one will simply be cut off  but it is still a concern for people living alone who are unaware of Digital Voice.

Going digital

telecoms giant BT is switching all ten million of its home-phone customers to new lines over the next two years as part of a programme called Digital Voice.

In total, 29 million homes across Britain will be forced to make the switch. This monumental challenge means everyone pulling their old handset wire out of the traditional phone socket on the wall at some point  and then plugging that wire into either an adapter or into a new hub.

You can also replace your old set-up with a new digital handset. All these options will need to be connected to the mains electricity.

The call quality will be similar, but uses so-called Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology instead of traditional analogue signals.

To tackle this logistical headache, BT is switching homes over region-by-region and on specific days.

Plug in: You will be able to replace your old set-up with a new digital handset

The telecoms giant relaunched the rollout in the East Midlands only this summer  after suspending it last year due to concerns that vulnerable people could be stranded during a power cut when their phone stopped working.

BT says it has now solved this problem by offering free battery back-ups and hybrid phones to the most vulnerable that will work even in a power cut.

But as part of the task it must educate households about what on earth is going on.

BT says the tight deadline was set because old copper wires used for traditional phone calls are getting too expensive to repair and so must be replaced by fibre-optic cables more suitable for VoIP.

Homes are targeted with letters, cards, emails and texts in the eight weeks up to a switch.

Face-to-face sessions are also offered in a travelling BT roadshow touring the nation, with more than 200 venues to be visited  at town halls, pop-up events in libraries and a touring demonstration vehicle.

This summer it went to the Midlands, Yorkshire, Humberside, then Northern Ireland, and is now in the North-West.

The roadshow moves to London in November, followed by other parts of England, Scotland and Wales, with everyone switched over by December 2025.

How it works

you plug the old phone line into a digital adapter and then insert it into an electric socket. There is alternatively the latest 200 BT hub (Smart 2) with a green socket that accepts old phone lines. Or thirdly, perhaps users might prefer a new 30 digital phone instead.

The pricey catch

Despite reassurances at the roadshow that any necessary digital change goodies will be sent to you for free, the onus is still on customers to ensure they get the upgrade equipment.

If you want a 12-month reprieve because you are vulnerable  perhaps you dont have a mobile or are aged 75 or more  you may still have to call BT to explain this.

To get the free upgrades, many are told they must visit the EE shop website  the link is sent by BT when it provides details of the switch.

You may be given a code which will get you the 20 adapter for free and 7 off a digital phone.

Power problem

The Achilles heel of digital is that it stops working in a power cut  as VoIP requires both the internet and an electricity supply to work. So those without a mobile phone are stranded if they want to call 999 emergency services.

Lee Barlow says: Often the best solution  which we offer for free to vulnerable people  is a hybrid phone. In a power cut, it switches to a mobile signal.

Our Motorola hybrid has a SIM card in the back that automatically switches on in a power cut, with eight hours of reserve.

However, for those living in rural areas with poor mobile phone reception, the BT boss admits this 80 hybrid phone may not be enough  and an 85 battery pack, which weighs 3kg and lasts for four hours, could be necessary.

It plugs into the modem and power socket. On the front is a cold start button. This is not for starting cars on a freezing winter morning, but to keep the landline alive during a power cut.

These battery packs are available for free if you are vulnerable. But it may be necessary to ask BT to supply you with these extras.

Ageing network: BT says the tight deadline is set as old copper wires used for traditional phone calls are getting too expensive to repair so must be replaced by fibre optic cables

Help, please!

Everyone I spoke to agreed that having face-to-face support where you can handle the digital device helped them understand the switch, as well as get answers to questions they could not find on the BT website or waiting for it to answer a phone call.

Church minister Richard Ingham turned up with a list of queries. The 76-year-old says: It concerned me that other electric devices that use the internet could be disrupted. They have reassured me this should not be the case.

Action stations

A pop-up event in Macclesfield town library the following day was a far more subdued affair. This once wealthy silk town is now the poor cousin of nearby Manchester.

The main draw of the day was rhymetime  songs and rhymes for the under-5s. No mention of BT. But a table was being set up inside by two BT staff.

A dozen people turned up over a couple of hours. But although less popular than a nursery rhyme sing-song, BT attracted more interest than a jigsaw swap being offered on an adjacent table.

Jimmy Jones, 78, and his wife, Janet, 76, were among the first to attend  having been invited via email a couple of weeks earlier.

Retired administrator Janet says: There has to be a catch somewhere as BT is only really interested in making money.

She adds: The staff say they send free adapters without asking. But, of course, we pay for these extras in our high bills. We will drop our landline and stick to our mobile phones if Digital Voice ends up costing more. BT says Digital Voice will not cost customers more  for now  and that the sound quality of calls should not suffer.

Retired computer programmer Steve Hull, 74, wanted to know if Digital Voice might sound different through copper wires rather than fibre optic cables. I was reassured that it should work on traditional copper lines and not affect internet speeds, he says.

Joan Payne, 75, a volunteer for the local hospice, came so she could share what she had found out with her neighbours.

She says: One friend was due to transfer to Digital Voice today  but has still not received an adapter or upgraded hub, so her old phone will work. Staff here say it should have been sent. I hope their words will be backed up by action.

Am I sold?

A BT Digital Voice roadshow is worth attending  but it also exposes how little many of us understand the rollout that will affect everyone in the UK in the next two years.

And despite the slick sales talk, the reality is that those free gadgets might only arrive if you demand them.

BT enjoyed pre-tax profits of 1.7billion in the year to March. With all that cash sloshing around  and a 14.4 per cent hike in phone rental prices also in March  you wonder why the company is not offering more face-to-face support.

For the most vulnerable who cannot attend such an event, including those who live alone and have health pendants that may stop working after the digital switch for BT landlines, thats a huge concern.

If BT offered better help through customer support lines  answering phone calls promptly, having help centres able to address specific issues, and real experts rather than online chatbots  the roadshow might not be vital.

And I cannot help but fear that unless the roadshow circus knocks on your front door, many customers will still miss the message.

Of major concern is that some of the most vulnerable customers might learn about the switch only when their phone stops ringing.

So while it may sound impressive on paper, even with stop-offs at a few hundred venues, BT is providing nothing more than lip service to its ten million customers.
I wonder if you might be able to throw some light on an inheritance tax matter?

As I objected to paying inheritance tax I made the decision to apply for a retirement visa to live in Australia in 2004. I also needed sunshine.

The rules for such visas changed shortly afterwards. The question of 'residential status' for tax purposes became a factor.

Passing on wealth: I moved to Australia to avoid inheritance tax (and for the sunshine) 18 years ago

I finally departed the UK in 2005. As all my income (from pensions) is UK based, I only pay tax in the UK.

My understanding was that if I only owned a property in Australia, showed that my ties to the UK were cut (only occasional trips back to visit relatives) and lived here long enough my estate would fall outside of any UK Government inheritance tax claim.

Australia, being a far more enlightened country, does not have this death tax - pay during your lifetime and get clobbered again when you die.

Whilst I am not wealthy, my estate is likely to exceed the current UK inheritance tax threshold.

I am divorced (this was in the UK) and have not remarried. My estate will primarily be left to my grandchildren and children (all living in the UK).

Am I correct in thinking I will be exempt from inheritance tax having been 'out' of the UK for 18 years and counting?

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW TO ASK HEATHER YOUR TAX QUESTION

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Heather Rogers replies: How your estate will be taxed depends not only on your residency but on your domicile.

This is important and so I will explain how this works and its bearing on your case more fully below.

But in short, having moved permanently to Australia and having been there for 18 years, you appear to have acquired a domicile of choice there as well as being resident outside the UK.

There are other relevant issues to be aware of based on the personal information you provided, which are worth flagging upfront.

- Any individual with UK assets could still have a UK inheritance tax liability, even if they are domiciled and resident elsewhere when they die.

- Pensions are exempt from inheritance tax (see the box below on how inherited pensions are taxed).

Hopefully the above and what follows will give you some general guidance, but as you can see already before I even get into the details, the answer to your question depends on your specific financial assets and circumstances.

Therefore, you should consult a professional tax accountant in Australia - ideally one with experience in dealing with UK expat clients - for an individual response to your question.

It might be worth consulting a solicitor in Australia who deals with UK expats as well, as the domicile question often falls better within their remit.

Residence and domicile: What are they and how do they differ for tax purposes?

Domicile is not the same as residence for tax purposes - they are two completely separate matters.

Tax residence is based on a person being present in the UK over the course of the tax year for a certain number of days.

Domicile is about a person's long-time home. Possessing a UK passport does not necessarily mean that you are domiciled in the UK but it is an indication of someone's intention to spend the rest of their life in the UK.

Inheritance tax thresholds Tax of 40 per cent is typically levied on a deceased person's assets worth over and above 325,000, which is called the nil rate band, explains Heather Rogers in a previous column on inheritance tax. Many people are allowed to leave a further 175,000 worth of assets without them becoming liable for inheritance tax, if their home forms part of their estate and they leave it to direct descendants. That means children, including adopted, step or fostered, and those children's linear descendants. This extra sum is what is called the residence nil rate band, and it is available to claim on deaths on or after 6 April 2017. Both protected amounts or 'bands', adding up to 500,000 per person, can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner if unused on the death of the first spouse.

However, on its own it does not confer domicile. Domicile is different from one's nationality.

The Government has details about tax residency as opposed to domicile here.

Why is domicile important?

Domicile is used to determine a person's tax position including where they pay income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax both in the UK and in the country where they live.

It also has significant implications in relation to the succession of assets and could, therefore, determine how an individual's estate is passed on in the event of their death, particularly if they own property or financial assets abroad as some countries restrict how assets can pass after death.

Common law assigns a domicile of origin to every individual at birth. This is normally determined through their parents - their father's, or in the case of a single mother, their mother's domicile - and it can be different from where the individual is born.

A person is domiciled in the UK for example, if their parents were born in the UK.

A person can instead have a domicile of choice. This may occur by moving permanently to another country to live.

An individual can change their domicile when they become an adult, but it is only possible to have one country of domicile at any time.

Meanwhile, deemed domicile applies only to your tax situation and is based on how many years you have been resident in the UK.

There is also the domicile of dependence which is the one the law assigns to an individual because of their lack of legal capacity and legal dependence upon another person.

So how do you work out if you are domiciled in the UK?

For some, working out their domicile may be relatively easy, but for those with connections to more than one country, it may be more complicated.

HMRC will treat you as being domiciled in the UK if you either: a) Lived in the UK for 15 of the last 20 years or b) had your permanent home in the UK at any time during the last three years of your life.

In your case, as mentioned above, the information you provided points to you being domiciled by choice in Australia.

Anyone reading this who is in any doubt about where they are domiciled should seek advice from HMRC, a professional tax accountant or a lawyer.

How are you taxed if you are domiciled outside the UK?

If your domicile is deemed to be outside the UK, inheritance tax is still paid on your UK assets, for example the property or bank accounts you have in the UK.

It's not paid on certain excluded assets:

How are inherited pensions taxed in the UK? At present, beneficiaries either pay no tax on inherited pensions up to the deceased's lifetime allowance limit if the owner dies before age 75, or their normal income tax rate if they are 75 or over, writes This is Money. However, the Government is currently considering tighter tax rules for pensions inherited from people who die aged under 75 starting from April 2024. It may levy income tax on withdrawals from pots inherited from younger savers too, but tax might still be avoided if beneficiaries take the cash as a lump sum outside of a pension.

- Foreign currency bank accounts

- Pensions overseas

- Authorised unit trusts and certain investments.

The rules are different for government gilts and trusts.

Care is needed however because assets that appear to be non-UK based but derive their value from UK property are deemed to be UK assets for inheritance tax.

A non-domiciled individual still has the standard nil rate band to offset, which is currently 325,000.

If someone is non-domiciled in the UK, but their main residence is in the UK, they may also be able to claim the residence nil rate band of up to 175,000. See the box above for more on inheritance tax thresholds.

Therefore, as you can see any individual with UK assets that are subject to inheritance tax could have a UK inheritance liability. However, as noted inherited pensions are taxed differently, if at all.

One other thing worth mentioning is that if you were to move back to the UK at any time within three years of your death, then you would be deemed to be domiciled in the UK.

The onus is on the executors of an estate to show that the deceased was non UK-domiciled at the date of their death.

In other words, they must prove that:

- The deceased was physically present and tax resident in their new country

- They lived there permanently and never intended to return to the UK to live.

Finally, let me stress again to all readers that matters like where you are domiciled for tax can get complicated and if you are in doubt this is an area where you should seek professional legal and tax advice.
It's been a turbulent and rapidly evolving few days for Metro Bank.

Metro Bank shares tumbled last week amid reports it was on the lookout for huge sums of cash in a quest to boost its ailing balance sheet.

During a frenetic weekend, Metro Bank secured fresh financing and a debt refinancing package.

The lender's chief executive, Dan Frumkin, has vowed to protect the group's branch network, while launching a multi-million pound cost-cutting drive.

Turbulence: Metro Bank secured a rescue package over the weekend

The bank plans to open more branches, at a time when many other lenders are closing them.

Here, This is Money looks at what has happened at Metro Bank, how the group's share price has been affected, what the plans for branches are and what all the twists and turns mean for the bank's current account holders, savers and borrowers.

What has happened at Metro Bank?

Last week, Metro Bank shares nosedived after reports surfaced claiming the group was seeking to raise millions of pounds in a bid to bolster its balance sheet.

Reports claimed the bank needed to raise about 600million. As a result, the group's share price fell by around a third to an all time low of 34p.

At the time, Metro Bank said it 'continues to consider how best to enhance its capital resources.'

Ratings agency Fitch placed it on 'rating watch negative.'

On Thursday, Metro Bank said its options included a combination of equity and debt issuance, as well as refinancing and asset sales.

It said that it met its minimum capital requirements and had not made a decision on fundraising plans.

The stock then rebounded on Friday following reports Metro Bank was looking to offload 3billion worth of assets from its mortgage book.

Over the weekend, the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority approached a number of UK lenders this week to see if they were interested in taking over Metro Bank.

According to the Financial Times, NatWest and Lloyds were among rivals weighing up bids for parts of Metro Bank.

HSBC and JP Morgan studied bids for Metro Bank before opting not to proceed on Saturday after being deterred by the extra capital a buyer would have to put in, the report added.

Since then, there's been a big development. On Sunday night, Metro Bank secured cash to boost its finances. Notably the financing was secured before markets opened again on Monday, bringing the total lifeline to 925million.

In a stock market statement on Monday, the bank said it had secured a 325million capital raise and 600million worth of debt refinancing.

Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal will take control of the lender by becoming its largest shareholder, amassing a 53 per cent stake by investing 102million into the group.

He is contributing to Metro Bank's 325million fund raise, which comprises of 150million worth of new equity and 175million of new debt.

Gilinski must now secure an exemption from takeover rules that normally require an investor to make a bid for the entire company if they raise their stake above 30 per cent.

What does this mean for Metro Bank shares?

Metro Bank shares are performing strongly this week and were up 3.39 per cent or 1.7p to 51.9p on Tuesday afternoon, having fallen over 29 per cent in the last year.

The shares rose by around 25 per cent following the group's announcement on Monday.

The lender's stock market value is now less than 100million. Five years ago it was valued at around 3.5billion.

As well as getting a cash injection, the deal gives the lender breathing space to further consider plans to sell off 3billion worth of its residential mortgages - a move which would boost its bottom line.

But the deal agreed over the weekend will have an impact on the lender's investors.

The equity raise was led by Metro's largest shareholder, Gilinski-owned Spaldy Investments, which contributed 102million. Spaldy will become the controlling shareholder once the transaction is completed.

The shares in the equity raise will be priced at 30p per share, or a discount to Friday's closing price of 45p.

Bondholders will also face a hit, with holders of a 250million Tier-2 bond taking a haircut of 40 per cent.

Gary Greenwood, an analyst at Shore Capital, said the deal appeared to secure the bank's immediate future, but represented 'a very painful rescue' as it entailed a hit for both shareholders and bondholders.

Earlier this week, Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'The value of the company's bonds and shares shot up on the fundraising plan as they were previously priced as if the company was in serious trouble.

'The fundraising now removes a lot of the risks, yet existing shareholders who do not participate in the equity raise will suffer significant dilution. Bondholders also get a big haircut.'

Why does Metro Bank want to open more branches?

This week Metro Bank has vowed to open more bank branches across the UK.

With swathes of banks shutting large numbers of branches up and down the country, this move is firmly bucking the national trend.

According to Which?, almost three in five bank branches, or 5,600 sites, have closed in the past nine years.

Since 2015, Barclays has been the individual bank that has reduced its network the most, with 1,098 branches now closed, according to its data.

Metro Bank's plan to open more branches emerged as the lender confirmed it was looking to make cost savings of 30million per year.

Since unveiling its rescue package, the lender has insisted that all of its 76 branches are safe and doubled down on plans to open 11 more sites in the north of England over the next two years. The location of the 11 sites has not been revealed.

Branch focus: Metro Bank were always keen for branches to be a focal point of their business

In a call with analysts, Frumkin said the bank would stick with its branch-based approach.

He said: 'There's nothing wrong with the Metro business model. With the capital we've just obtained, we're very confident in where we go next.'

Branches cost a lot of money to run, but Metro Bank's focus on them is entrenched.

When the lender first opened in 2010 it positioned itself as a challenger bank and vowed to revitalise UK high streets with bank branches open seven days a week - and it vowed to have 200 branches by 2020.

Metro Bank aimed to make their swish new branches a focal-point of the business at a time when conventional banks were closing them down or curbing plans to open new ones.

James Daley, the founder of campaign group Fairer Finance, told This is Money: 'Metro Bank may be committing to keep its branches open for the longer run - but it's not going to be a sustainable proposition over the long run.

'Footfall in most branches is decreasing and demand for face to face service is diminishing.

'I always thought it was rather bold of Metro Bank to buck that trend and make a virtue of having a growing branch network - and I think it was a key reason why they were so successful at attracting business customers.

'But the sharp reduction in cash usage over the last decade has meant that many businesses have much less need for traditional branch based banking services - and most younger banking customers have barely set foot in a bank.

'The most important thing is that Metro Bank get themselves on a permanently stable financial footing. It's very unnerving for business customers - ourselves amongst them - to be worrying about whether your bank is financially robust.

'I'd happily see them cut their branches and dog bowls if it helps them build long term stability.'

AJ Bell's Russ Mould, said: 'A high-cost base is unsustainable, so something has to change.

'If not, Metro Bank might find itself gobbled up by a bigger company whose first job will be to shut down its expensive branch network.'

What is the bank's co-founder saying about branches?

On Tuesday, the co-founder of Metro Bank claimed the lender faced a 'limited future' if it continued with its strategy of focusing on high street branches.

Anthony Thomson, the bank's chairman from 2010 to 2012, told the BBC he thought the idea was a 'flawed strategy.'

He said that the combination of pursuing a branch-based strategy given its financial position gave Metro Bank 'a very, very limited future.'

He added: 'I would not like to be the chairman or the chief executive of Metro Bank today.'

Mr Thomson left Metro Bank in 2012 to set up Atom Bank, an internet-only company that has no bricks and mortar branches.

What does this all mean for current account holders?

Metro Bank, which has around 2.7mllion customers, is operating as normal and not currently facing any immediate threat to its viability.

Current account customers can continue to withdraw or add money to their accounts as normal.

Any overdraft arrangements or fees linked to the account remain and are operating as normal.

Customers can still switch their current account to another provider or open a current account with Metro Bank.

What's the impact on savers?

Metro Bank savings accounts are operating as normal, with interest still accruing.

Customers can still open and close Metro Bank savings accounts as normal and withdraw or add cash to them.

As with many banks and building societies, customer deposits up to 85,000 are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which guarantees that if a bank runs into trouble, depositors will get their money back up to that level.

That guarantee would cover the majority of Metro Bank's 15.5billion in customer deposits.

What does this mean for borrowers?

Anyone with a Metro Bank mortgage won't see any immediate changes. Repayments and interest accruals are operating as normal.

Metro Bank has said it is considering offloading 3billion worth of its residential mortgage book.

If this happened, customers with a Metro Bank mortgage could end up having their loan managed by a different provider, namely a lender or investor, in the future.
Metro Bank has agreed a deal to raise emergency funding on Sunday following speculation over its financial stability

Metro Banks founder has warned it faces a limited future if it continues with its flawed strategy of focusing on High Street branches.

The embattled lender agreed a deal with Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal to raise emergency funding on Sunday, following speculation over its financial stability.

Announcing the deal, it said it will continue to focus on its High Street sites, at a time when other banks have been axing their branch networks.

Co-founder Anthony Thompson, who was the banks chairman between 2010 and 2012, criticised the flawed strategy.

He said pursuing a branch-based strategy gave the bank a very, very limited future.

I would not like to be the chairman or the chief executive of Metro Bank today, Thompson told the BBC yesterday.

Metro Bank has 76 branches across the country as well as offering online and mobile banking services.
Tuning out: Netflix's UK division only grew its user base by 4% in 2022

The fewest number of UK subscribers joined Netflix last year in a decade thanks to the cost-of-living crisis and life returning to normal after Covid.

The streaming platforms UK division only grew its user base by 4 per cent in 2022  despite enjoying yearly growth rates of around 20 per cent in previous years.

Netflix had seen numbers boosted by the Covid lockdowns when Brits were forced to cosy up at home with series such as Stranger Things and The Crown.

But as households felt the pinch last year following Russias invasion of Ukraine, fewer viewers signed up for Netflix accounts.

Netflix boasts almost 15m subscribers in the UK after launching here in 2012.

Revenues lifted 12 per cent to 1.54billion compared to 1.38billion in 2021.

British customers paid an average of 14 per cent more a month last year when compared to what they paid in 2021.
The bungalow, Allt-na-Reigh, is yet to be demolished or lived in since his death

Savile is believed to have assaulted up to 20 victims in the Glencoe property

Graffiti daubs the crumbling walls of a condemned cottage on a remote Scottish hillside. Its mouldy carpets torn up, its ceilings shredded.

Since Jimmy Savile's death on October 29, 2011, his Glencoe retreat, Allt-na-Reigh, has been uninhabited despite multiple owners - but trophy hunters and vandals have left their mark.

The late presenter is believed to have assaulted up to 20 of his estimated 500 victims - women and children - at the bungalow, which has been in line for demolition for almost two years - but still stands today.

A new BBC documentary drama The Reckoning documents how the depraved star abused power and manipulated his vulnerable victims throughout his life, with Steve Coogan playing the paedophile who was hidden in plain sight.

The broadcaster has denied that the series was a 'face-saving exercise' with many of their former presenter's crimes committed with the help of the status he cultivated as a public figure on TV and radio.

The building - pictured in 2013 - has been unoccupied since Savile died

Jimmy Savile's Scottish bungalow in which he is believed to have assaulted up to 20 of his roughly 500 victims is still standing

The Glencoe property shows no sign of having been the paedophile's former home besides the graffiti directed at the former TV presenter

Savile owned Allt-na-Reigh for the 13 years before his death, but it is now owned by businessman Harris Aslam

The most recent photos - from April 2023 - show Savile's former cottage is now a dilapidated mess with the roof in pieces and graffiti lining both interior and exterior walls.

Nothing remains to indicate that Savile owned the house for 13 years, besides bright red graffiti reading 'paedo' and 'Jimmy the beast' plastered across its white walls.

Another notable former owner is Scottish climber and mountain rescue leader Hamish MacInnes, leading some to say the property should be given to a climbing group.

These include Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Angus MacDonald, who said according to The Press and Journal: 'This would result in a satisfactory result for most.'

However, the land's current owner, retail tycoon Harris Aslam, plans to replace the eyesore with a futuristic new-build family home.

Following Savile's death in 2011, the two-bedroom bungalow was purchased for 212,000 with the buyer intending to live there.

But the family of the businessman then bought it for a reported 335,000.

The new plan has drawn criticism, including from The National Trust for Scotland and Mountaineering Scotland.

New BBC documentary drama The Reckoning has faced criticism in the run up to its release

New plans have faced a backlash for drawing attention away from the natural landscape

The former said the contemporary design 'does not reflect Glencoe's long-established, distinct built heritage and would insensitively dominate the landscape in this highly visible location at the heart of the Pass of Glencoe.'

Mr Aslam, who is in his 20s, is director of Fife-based Scottish convenience store operator Eros Retail, which is part of the family's Glenshire group of companies.

He said they wanted to turn it into a family home with its 'beautiful location'.

During a question-and-answer session with around 20 people, it was made clear that while Mr Aslam and his business partner Raza Rehman had looked at renovating the main existing building, which would be the easiest and cheapest option, it was concluded this was not viable if they wanted to rid the site of its association with Savile.
Adrian 'Lambo Guy' Portelli has slammed allegations he stole $100,000 worth of goods from a home featured on The Block.

The property investor known for his flashy lifestyle and love of luxury cars, claimed to have purchased the home in Gisborne, located 54 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, for $4.25million in November last year after it passed at auction on the reality TV series.

He then 'sold' it to the Griffin family via a giveaway through his lottery company, LMCT+.

CCTV taken a day after the property was sold shows Portelli and a group of men taking items from the home including wine, a toolbox, a meat smoker, treadmill, kitchen appliances and a robomower.

Portelli claimed in a video posted online that the items taken by himself and his team in the clip 'weren't part of the giveaway'.

Property investor Adrian 'Lambo Guy' Portell has slammed allegations that he stole $100,000 of dollars worth of goods from a home a day after it was sold to a family

CCTV taken a day after the property was sold shows Portelli and a group of men taking items from the Gisborne property

'It was just part of the show, it wasn't in our t's and c's (terms and conditions),' he said.

'Our t's and c's say this is a fully-furnished house, which is what we delivered on.'

The winner of the giveaway and the owner of the home, Kevin Griffin and his wife Andrea, saw the vision of Portelli and the other men taking the goods after going through security camera footage.

The couple discovered there were items missing after moving from Ballarat into their 'dream home'.

'We were just like, what the hell?' Ms Griffin told the Herald Sun.

'Why has he done this?'

The couple had been paying a $20 per month membership with Portelli's business LMCT+ for over a year before they won the home through a giveaway.

LMCT+, which Portelli founded in 2018, sells subscriptions that cost up to $100 a month.

Subscribers are entered into exclusive competitions, with prizes including homes, bikes, cars and boats, and they also get offers from motor vehicle businesses.

Portelli (pictured left) hit back at the stealing claims in a video he posted, where he claimed the items taken by himself and his team in the clip 'weren't part of the giveaway'

The entrepreneur was featured on the 2022 season of The Block where he 'purchased' the Gisborne home (pictured, Portelli with Scott Cam)

'Whatever I do with these items is up to me. Wherever I want to use them personally or I want to use them to stage future giveaway houses, who bloody cares,' Portelli said.

Portelli claimed he had been sent abusive and threatening messages labelling him and his team 'thieves' as a result of the vision being posted online.

He said he's also been issued legal letters.

He then played 'behind the scenes footage' of the Griffins inspecting the house, where they appear irritable over superfluous faults inside the property.

Portelli also showed a screenshot of a website domain titled 'OUR LMCT PLUS NIGHTMARE' that he said was bought out by the Griffins and sent to him.

LMCT+, which Portelli (pictured, centre) founded in 2018, is being investigated over allegations that it broke gambling laws

Portelli (pictured), who is also known as 'Lambo Guy' and lives a life of luxury, previously told Daily Mail Australia $500million was a 'conservative estimate' of his net worth

'Unfortunately, it's people like this that ruin it for everyone and it makes us not want to do things like this again,' Portelli added.

It comes as Portelli's business, LMCT+, is being investigated in two states over allegations that it broke gambling laws.

South Australia's Consumer and Business Services and the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission have each received complaints about LMCT+ and are investigating.
ITVX's true crime documentary, The Long Shadow is well underway, with episode three airing last night.

The seven-part series delves into the horrific crimes of one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, Peter Sutcliffe.

Sutcliffe's heinous crimes sparked one of the largest criminal investigations in UK history, during which he was dubbed by the British press as The Yorkshire Ripper.

Written by George Kay and directed by BAFTA-winning Lewis Arnold, The Long Shadow draws upon the archive of the investigation, which comprised of hundreds of case files, transcripts and police reports.

During his reign of terror, he was married to his then-wife Sonia, who stayed married to him long after his arrest.

But who was Peter Sutcliffe's ex-wife Sonia? Here is everything you need to know about the teacher as the series continues.

Peter Sutcliffe was married to his ex-wife Sonia (pictured) while he carried out 13 grisly murders targeting women across the north of England

ITVX's true crime documentary, The Long Shadow, delves into the complex criminal investigation around Peter Sutcliffe. The next episode airs on Monday 9 October, at 9pm

Who was Peter Sutcliffe's ex-wife Sonia?

Sonia was born on August 10, 1950, and grew up in Bradford - just seven miles from Peter Sutcliffe's home in Bingley.

She is the daughter of Ukrainian and Polish-born refugees who fled to Britain from Czechoslovakia after the war.

Sonia married Sutcliffe on August 10, 1974, and two years later, she began treatment for schizophrenia.

Sonia was working as a teacher while her husband carried out attacks on young women across the north of England and had no idea that her husband was a rapist and serial killer.

When her husband was found guilty of the murders of multiple women in 1981, Sonia stood by him and continued to live in their Bradford marital home.

Sonia visited him at a police station, where he confessed: 'It's me, luv. I'm the Yorkshire Ripper'.

They separated in 1989 and divorced in July 1994 on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour.

How did Peter and Sonia meet?

Peter Sutcliffe met Sonia Szurma in 1967 at a disco night in a local pub.

It was after Sutcliffe had got a job as a gravedigger at Bingley Cemetery in 1964, he and his work friends went drinking at the Royal Standard in Bradford's red-light district.

Sonia was just 15 when she met Sutcliffe, and the two married on her 24th Birthday, when Sutcliffe was 28 years old.

Less than a year later, Sutcliffe began attacking women, two in Keighley and one in Halifax.

All three survived and police did not notice the similarities between the attacks.

The first fatality was Wilma McCann, a 28-year-old mother of four and sex worker who was battered to death in the early hours of October 30, 1975.

Less than a year after their marriage, Sutcliffe began attacking women. He killed 13 women during his reign of terror (pictured)

Sutcliffe once described Sonia as an 'angel' for sticking by him, though she re-married in 1997 to hairdresser Michael Woodward

Sonia visited Sutcliffe in prison several times, reportedly saying she felt 'compassion for him'. Her sister Marianna, once said: 'He's the only man in the world for her and always will be.'

In 2017, Sutcliffe was moved from Broadmoor Hospital to Frankland Jail in Durham, according to Yorkshire Live, it was around this point Sonia stopped visiting him.

Sutcliffe once said: 'She stuck with me for many, many years, before she even thought of a separation, and all credit to her. Then even after that, when I suggested she find somebody else, she still keeps coming to see me.

'She really must have loved me a lot. Most women would have just washed their hands of somebody, but she knew me so well, my personality and that, she couldn't let go.

'No one could have asked for a more loyal wife than Sonia and as a friend she still is as loyal and I'm very proud of her. She's an angel.'

What happened to Sonia Sutcliffe?

Sonia is now 71 years old and not much is known about her life.

READ MORE: Why was Peter Sutcliffe known as the Yorkshire Ripper? The true meaning behind the chilling name Advertisement

She was notably seen in 2018, with her hairdresser husband Michael Woodward, The Sun Reported.

The pair were pictured arm in arm while out shopping.

The couple married in 1997 but have spent the majority of their married life living apart, the publication reported.

She was the first to be informed of Sutcliffe's death in November 2020, being his next of kin.

In 2015, Sonia told the Sun on Sunday: 'People have claimed to have interviewed me when the truth is they have not.

'There have been a lot of bad things written about me and they are not accurate.

'I would like the truth to come out one day, but I am afraid to be extremely busy for the next two or three years. I have commitments I cannot get out of. I do not want to say what they are.

'One day I might do something, but I don't want to get your hopes up that is going to happen now.'
Shoppers trying to arrest shoplifters could expose themselves to legal action and even imprisonment for assault, a lawyer has said.

Chris Philp told a fringe event at last week's Tory Party conference that members of the public should make citizen's arrests on thieves and called on security guards to step in where it is safe to do so.

But Ed Smyth, partner at Kingsley Napley, said that the law generally only permits citizen's arrests for serious cases that could be tried in a crown court. They could also be used for low value shoplifting cases, but the force used must always be reasonable in the circumstances.

This means that if someone incorrectly and forcibly detains an apparent shoplifter for a lesser offence they could find themselves liable to prosecution.

Muscalu Valentine casually strolls into the glasses shop with the intention to swipe the designer frames

Two brave passers-by apprehended Valentine and forced him to return the stolen frames

The Romanian pleaded guilty to theft at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 18

Ed Smyth, partner at Kingsley Napley, said that the law generally only permits citizen's arrests for serious cases that could be tried in a crown court

He said: 'Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which was introduced on 1 January 2006, explicitly permits a person who is not a police officer to arrest another person who is in the act of committing an ''indictable'' criminal offence, a person who is guilty of such an offence, or someone who the bystander has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing or to have committed an indictable offence.

'The potential hero must therefore understand which offences fall into the ''indictable'' category.

'Even a trained police officer, or a criminal lawyer, may struggle here.

'The relevant offences are the more serious ones, triable at a Crown Court: rape, murder, grievous bodily harm, and illegal possession of a firearm are obvious; less obvious is the fact that most motoring offences, low-level criminal damage (except in cases of arson), and disorderly or threatening behaviour do not fall into this category.

READ MORE - The brazen shoplifters now targeting charity shops: CCTV captures thieves stealing clothes, a TV and even a WIG from stores Advertisement

'These are classed as summary-only offences, meaning they are to be tried at a magistrates' court.'

Mr Smyth said that due to the complex nature of the law 'it is no coincidence that many shop-workers have been trained not to intervene in suspected shoplifting'.

He said it was best for shoppers not to try and arrest criminals and leave it to the police instead, adding that 'in the worst case' have a go heroes could find themselves being convicted and jailed for assault.

'In almost all cases, it's best to leave the apprehension of criminals to the professionals (and so to ensure that those professional services are effectively resourced),' he said.

'The only exception may be where there is a real and direct threat to personal safety, when the law on self-defence is likely to be engaged.'

Last week, dramatic footage captured the moment a shoplifting gang were tackled as they allegedly tried to flee a Tesco with electronic goods worth 3,000. The men were seen throwing items in a shopping trolley into a car in a Tesco car park in Waltham Abbey, Essex

As they try to drive away, the men surround the car and manage to open the door and try to drag the alleged thieves out

Mr Philp, the MP for Croydon South, called for the public to take on shoplifters during a fringe Tory Party conference event hosted by Policy Exchange, a think tank.

During his speech, he reminded members of the public, shop staff, and security guards that they have the power to carry out a citizen's arrest, The Times reported.

'Where it's safe to do so I would encourage that to be used, because if you do just let people walk in and take stuff and walk out without proper challenge, including potentially a physical challenge, then it will just escalate,' he said.

'While I want the faster and better police response they can't be everywhere so I would still think about stores setting that up in some cases.'

Under Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, anyone can arrest a person committing an indictable offence. This is an offence that can be brought before the Crown Court - for example a burglary.

They can also arrest someone if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they are committing an indictable offence.

Chris Philp told a fringe event at last week's Tory Party conference that members of the public should make citizen's arrests on thieves and called on security guards to step in where it is safe to do so

Mr Philp's comments have also been questioned by Tesco boss Ken Murphy.

While Mr Murphy said he would 'applaud the sentiment' of the minister, he would 'absolutely do not want' either customers or staff to put themselves in harm's way.

'We don't want anyone getting hurt is the short answer,' he said.

He added that abuse of retail staff was 'totally unacceptable' and admitted shoplifting had become a national problem for 'civil society'.

Last week, dramatic footage captured the moment a shoplifting gang were tackled as they allegedly tried to flee a Tesco with electronic goods worth 3,000.

The men were seen throwing items in a shopping trolley into a car in a Tesco car park in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Footage shows them jumping into a black BMW as another group run towards the vehicle.

As they try to drive away, the men surround the car and manage to open the door and try to drag the alleged thieves out.

Mr Philp's comments have also been questioned by Tesco boss Ken Murphy, who said he would 'absolutely not want' to put staff or shoppers in harm's way

A security guard can also be seen attempting to open the boot and shocked witnesses are heard saying 'call the police'.

A struggle ensues as the apparent shoplifters are forced to the ground and restrained.

Police arrived on the scene and arrested two of the men, aged 17 and 27, on suspicion of theft.

They have been released on conditional bail and have been banned from the Tesco store.
Former police officer Mark Williams-Thomas is known for a 2012 documentary

A former police officer turned-investigative journalist has opened up about how he put his career on the line to expose the 'untouchable' prolific paedophile Jimmy Savile.

Savile's horrendous crimes, that spanned throughout his decades-long career, were only exposed and investigated fully after his death at the age of 84 in 2011.

Mark Williams-Thomas described the journey to expose Savile as 'difficult', largely due to his status and inability to defend himself.

And while he had so-far evaded justice, Williams-Thomas' 2012 documentary tipped the balance, and news broke of Savile's crimes, leading to a huge criminal investigation.

Mark Williams-Thomas's 2012 documentary Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile was essential in uncovering the TV presenters sexual offences

The BBC 's new documentary drama series The Reckoning explores Jimmy Savile's exploitation of power and fame to commit up to 500 sexual offences

The documentary, Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Saville, aired on 3 October 2012.

Mark Williams-Thomas conducted the in-depth allegations that Saville had sexually abused vulnerable teenage girls at the height of his career.

In an interview with LADbible TV in 2021, he explained: 'One of the things about being an investigator is: talk to everybody. And when you talk to them, say: 'Is there anybody else I need to talk to?'

Williams-Thomas started to track down a range of victims and managed to 'build up a picture that he [Savile] had sexually abused quite a number of children.'

In his lifetime, Savile was one of Britain's biggest stars, known for appearances on Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix it.

He became the recipient of numerous honours, and was awarded an OBE in 1971 and was knighted in 1990 in recognition of his charity work.

William-Thomas described Savile as 'untouchable', he explained: 'The fear that existed around him still remained even though he had died.'

The gravity of exposing Savile's crimes became apparent as Williams-Thomas attempted to bring the story to light.

Williams-Thomas said he first brought the story to BBC Newsnight, who were initially going to run the programme but despite evidence pulled the broadcast from schedules in December 2011.

The reason why, he explained: '[was] quite simply because they decided that the police had carried out their investigation correctly, there wasn't any criticism to be applied to them, that they knew of, and therefore, there wasn't a story in it'.

With the conviction that the story needed to be told, Williams-Thomas brought it to the attention of ITV.

The journey to expose Savile's behaviour was not straightforward, and complications to comission a documentary arose

In his lifetime, Savile was one of Britain's biggest stars, known for appearances on Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix it

He began gathering evidence and talking to victims before coming to the conclusion Savile had sexually abused 'quite a lot of' children.

Though ITV was 'incredibly nervous' by the claims, as the evidence began to build Williams-Thomas explained: 'We said: 'Listen, we have to get this out there and we have to let the public decide.'

Williams-Thomas received backlash while investigating the accusations brought against such a prolific public figure, receiving outraged phone-ins which even left his mother concerned.

While working at ITV Birmingham, he told LAD Bible that he was sent an incendiary device which was 'capable of causing significant damage'.

But Williams-Thomas was convinced he couldn't let the story go, and even contemplated financing the documentary himself if he couldn't get it commissioned.

Williams-Thomas said it was 'difficult' to complete the documentary, he explained: 'We'd put our lives into it.'

When it finally aired the documentary resulted in a huge police investigation - and the results were damning.

Several women interviewed by Exposure said that they had been sexually abused by Savile as teenagers.

It was aired that Savile obtained access to young girls through the television programmes he presented as well as through his charity work.

The Reckoning will air on Monday 9 October and stars Steve Coogan as Savile (pictured left)

Williams-Thomas has questioned the purpose of the new series, describing its impact on survivors as 'massive'

The Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service released a joint report in 2012, which stated that Savile had sexually assaulted up to 500 people, the majority of whom were young girls.

They concluded the the crimes were primarily committed on BBC premises and in over 10 hospitals.

Reflecting on the documentary, Williams-Thomas said: 'It changed the outlook of television of current affairs and it was probably the biggest tidal change that's occurred by revealing that this man was quite clearly a predatory paedophile.'

He credited the five 'brave' women that initially came forward and allowed him to tell their story.

A new BBC documentary drama series The Reckoning explores how Jimmy Savile's exploitation of power and fame to commit up to 500 sexual offences was unearthed.

All four episodes, written by Neil McKay and directed by Sandra Goldbacher, will air tonight, Monday, 9 October.

Ahead of the new BBC series, starring Steve Coogan as Savile, Williams-Thomas has taken to Twitter to contemplate the impact of the series on Saville's victims.

He wrote: 'The major question for the BBC and those that have made the Jimmy Savile drama The Reckoning is what exactly is its purpose?

'It will rate high I am sure but for the survivors the impact is massive.'
The backlash against holiday homes could be extended to a virtually unbroken 30-mile stretch of coast at one of the country's most popular destinations.

Towns and villages along the north Norfolk coast have already imposed curbs following public votes, such as limiting newbuilds to those using them as principal properties.

Now two more locations  Old Hunstanton and Wells  are planning to go to the people to ask if they want to crack down on the invasion of outsiders snapping up weekend homes and investors buying lucrative rental properties.

Other referendums at the idyllic location have been passed overwhelmingly, with nine in ten locals supporting prohibitions in some cases. Just 50 per cent need to be in favour for them to be passed.

If approved, most of the coastline between Heacham and Blakeney would have clauses written into their Neighbourhood Plans  which must be taken into account by planning authorities - limiting who can buy into the area.

A crackdown on second homes could extend to a 30-mile stretch of the north Norfolk coastline with two further locations planning referendums

Villagers in Blakeney voted overwhelmingly in favour of a crackdown which will mean all newbuild properties must be the owner's principal residence

Residents of Burnham Market in Norfolk voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning secondary dwellings in a village-wide referendum

Blue painted beach huts amongst the sand dunes at Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

Wells-Next-The-Sea harbour, North Norfolk, on a busy summer evening

Other conditions include developers having to prove converting homes into lets won't have an adverse impact on the area, such as excessive noise or problems parking.

Roger Arguile, a Wells town councillor who chaired the working party which drew up its Neighbourhood Plan, said: 'Blakeney has gone through, Burnham Market has gone through and hopefully we'll do the same.

'The three plans have all majored on the importance of homes for local people and the problems that excessive numbers of second homes create.'

Nick Eastwell, the chairman of Old Hunstanton Parish Council, said: 'Like most villages in north Norfolk, we and residents are keen to maintain a healthy and sustainable balance between main residences and second homes and holiday lets.'

But business owners have reacted with fury, warning they cannot survive if the wealth brought in by holidaymakers is threatened.

Maxwell Graham-Wood, who owns a wine merchants in Burnham Market, complained last week: 'If we had to rely on local people for business then there wouldn't be a single business left in the village because they don't shop here.

'Businesses love second home owners and holidaymakers and the sooner these extremists can drop this ridiculous attitude towards the people that keep our economy going, the better.'

Arthur Howell, of Arthur Howell Butchers in nearby Wells-next-the-Sea, added: 'We need the business that holidaymakers bring in over the summer to get us through the winter. It would be very worrying if that was to stop.'

Roger Arguile, a Wells town councillor who chaired the working party which drew up its Neighbourhood Plan, said he is hopeful it will go through

Mother-of-three Leanne Welch, who works at the King's Arms pub in Blakeney, said the only reason she had been able to stay in the village was because she had been given social housing

Left, Bruno High, 76, who lives in neighbouring Cley-next-the-Sea, was shopping at a convenience store in Blakeney. Right, Carolyne Shepherd, 64, who was having a drink in the pub and whose family have been in the area for 'generations', also described how she had to live in a council house

The income filtered down to traders including builders, farmers and plumbers, he said.

Studies have also indicated bans can work against local communities as developers relocate to other areas, causing some house prices to rise for locals as availability plummets.

Measures against wealthy outsiders have been introduced around the country in recent years, including in Cornwall, Dorset and North Yorkshire, as locals complained of being unable to afford homes and of communities becoming 'ghost towns' in the off-season.

The distinctive striped cliffs at Old Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast

Some have fewer than half of dwellings occupied by full-time residents.

Heacham was one of the first coastal communities in Norfolk to impose restrictions around 18 months ago.

But the referendums in Blakeney, which was announced as having passed last week with 90 per cent approval among voters, and Burnham Market, which had 80 per cent in favour a week earlier, are seen by some as a tipping point that could influence attitudes not just locally but further afield.

Terry Parrish, the leader of West Norfolk Council who represents Heacham, claimed the protectionist schemes were starting to take effect.

'It's had an impact on a couple of small developments because they didn't realise the condition was in place,' he said.

'It changed the mind of someone, they've changed the plans, and it's going to be a principal residence.

'If properties are being built for second homes, they're not improving matters for people who need a first home.'

More than a third  125 out of 349 properties in Old Hunstanton are second homes. The figure doesn't include holiday lets.

Its Neighbourhood Plan states: 'Even second home owners in Old Hunstanton feel that the number of second homes and holiday lets is jeopardising the village community, a case of killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

'Of particular concern is the trend for developers to buy up properties and replace them with more or larger properties specifically designed for the second home/holiday let market.'
Little more than two weeks after its release on this day in 1963, From Russia With Love was being described as the 'biggest crowd puller since films talked'.

Sean Connery's second outing as Ian Fleming's suave super spy James Bond proved so popular with viewers that there were queues outside cinemas.

And perhaps part of the draw was the fact that the new film was the first Bond production to feature a pre-title sequence - an element that is now a mainstay of the franchise.

Those opening minutes shocked viewers into believing Bond had been garroted by villain Grant, before a life-like mask was pulled off the corpse's face, revealing another man entirely.

The film was released the year after Connery had made his debut in Dr. No, which received a more mixed reception than its successor.

Little more than two weeks after its release on this day in 1963, From Russia With Love was being described as the 'biggest crowd puller since films talked'. Above Sean Connery as James Bond in the 1963 film

The Daily Mail's original review

Terence Young returned as director and second time around he blew the critics away with a plot that saw Bond head to Istanbul amidst the Cold War.

Meanwhile, secretive organisation SPECTRE - which haunts Bond in successive films - was looking to kill Bond as part of a revenge plot after his vanquishing of Dr No.

From Russia With Love also delighted viewers with the truly fascinating gadgets that Bond was given by MI6 tech chief Q, played by Desmond Llewelyn.

They included what Q described in the film as a 'nasty little Christmas present' of a briefcase which concealed a folding rifle, throwing knife, gold sovereigns and a tear gas cartridge.

Also there was a car phone that to today's audiences would seem primitive but back then was hugely exciting.

Llewelyn would go on to portray Q for a further 16 Bond films before he died in a car crash in 1999.

The film's main antagonist was Colonel Rosa Klebb, a Russian soldier and member of SPECTRE.

The villain, who was portrayed by Austrian actress Lotte Lenya, gave viewers one of the most memorable scenes in the series when she was seen testing Grant's endurance by hammering his stomach with her steel knuckles.

She also boasted a venom-spiked shoe which she used to great effect.

Grant - who was played by Robert Shaw - was Spectre's fearsome assassin.

His clash with Bond at the end From Russia With Love is considered by critics to be one of the best in the franchise.

But Bond's interactions with women in the film certainly fall foul of acceptable modern behaviour.

Sean Connery's second outing as Ian Fleming's suave super spy James Bond proved so popular with viewers that there were queues outside cinemas. Above: The moment in the film's opening sequence when Bond appears to die

The film's main antagonist was Colonel Rosa Klebb, a Russian soldier and member of SPECTRE. Above: Lotte Lenya as Klebb with Robert Shaw as Grant, the huge assassin

Connery is seen kissing leading lady Tatiana Romanova, who was portrayed by Daniele BIanchi

A poster advertising Froms Russia With Love, which was Sean Connery's second outing as James Bond

Another poster luring viewers to go and see From Russia With Love

Connery is seen as Bond with Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny in From Russia WithLove

From Russia With Love also delighted viewers with the truly fascinating gadgets that Bond was given by MI6 tech chief Q, played by Desmond Llewelyn. They included what Q described in the film as a 'nasty little Christmas present' of a briefcase which concealed a folding rifle, throwing knife, gold sovereigns and a tear gas cartridge

Bond meets villain Grant, who is portrayed by Robert Shaw. The pair go on to have a showdown at the end of the film

Daniela Bianchi as Tatiana Romanova in From Russia With Love

Lotte Lenya's Rosa Klebb also boasted a venom-spiked shoe which she used to great effect

Lois Maxwell portrayed Miss Moneypenny in the first 14 James Bond films produced by Eon. She passed away in 2007 aged 80

He was seen selecting the more 'gifted' of two women to sleep with and also slapped leading lady Tatiana Romanova, who was portrayed by Daniele BIanchi.

In his glowing review of the film for the Daily Mail, Cecil Wilson wrote: 'If you thought Sean Connery reached the limit of invincibility in the first James Bond film, just see what he gets up to in the second, and you will realise that the man had hardly started.

'In the process of stealing a magic decoding machine from the Russian Embassy in Istanbul this laconic blend of Tarzan and Superman in Savile-row dress, Bulldog Drummond, Raffles and the Scarlet Pimpernel lives more lives than any cat ever knew.

He added: 'Terence Young directs this orgy or strip cartoon blood and thunder with the zest of a lounge-suited Western.

'Incredible twaddle it may be, but I for one find such twaddle irresistible.'

Connery went on to portray Bond a further five times, with his last appearance coming in 1983's Never Say Never Again.

He is considered by many fans to have been the best Bond of all-time.

Younger viewers favour the likes of Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, whilst others prefer Sir Roger Moore, who also portrayed Bond seven times.
A British woman whose elderly parents were abducted by Hamas from their home close to the Gaza border has pleaded for their safe return as she reveals her father spent his retirement driving Palestinians to and from the hospital.

Sharone Lifschitz, 52, said her mother, 85, and father, 83, were taken hostage from their home in Nir Oz on Saturday, a small kibbutz in southern Israel bordering Gaza.

Speaking exclusively to the MailOnline, the London-born artist explained she had been in contact with her parents early on Saturday as the fighting began, with her father telling her at the time: 'We hear gunfire, but we feel safe'.

From that point onwards, Mrs Lifschitz has been unable to get in touch with them, saying 'my family and I were absolutely horrified' as they watched the violence on TV.

Scrambling for information alongside other family members of the community, Mrs Lifschitz recalled being sent a video by a friend from an Arab news network.

The clip showed a journalist talking in Arabic, saying: 'We have now conquered Nir Oz'.

Mrs Lifschitz said: 'The journalist was standing on a path directly behind my parents house. They had overtaken the whole area.

Sharone Lifschitz, 52 has revealed that her mother, 85, and father, 83, were abducted from their home in Nir Oz on Saturday, a small kibbutz bordering Gaza

A view outside the home of Mrs Lifschitz's parents, where they were abducted by Hamas on Saturday

The kibbutz is in southern Israel, a small distance from where Hamas terrorists infiltrated the border

'In the background of the video there were military vehicles and people standing with machine guns. It was terrifying to not know what happened to them', she added.

According to Mrs Lifschitz, the Israeli army didn't start to arrive at the scene until roughly seven hours later.

It then took them around three hours to gather the remaining survivors, leaving them in a community centre. 90 people from the kibbutz remain missing, she said.

'We have learnt about some people through horrifying videos that have surfaced. It is absolutely petrifying', Mrs Lifschitz added.

She continued: 'My father is 83 and my mother is 85. She needs oxygen and he has a lung disease. They cannot survive on their own in this environment.

'What kind of person would do this? In my life I just cannot imagine a type of person that could do this.

'My father is not the enemy. He spent his retirement driving Palestinians from the border to and from the hospital. He is not the enemy. He believes in humanity in all people.'

Still not knowing what has happened to he parents, Mrs Lifschitz explained that the forces have not been in contact for over 48 hours.

She said: 'This is our moment of reckoning. It's bigger than the Yom Kippur War, it's bigger than 9/11.

'This is what Israel was founded for, so we weren't running or hiding, or shot in our own homes and chased to our deaths. But it is happening.

'This whole place has been erased like a little Jewish village in wartime Russia. There is no difference. It does not exist anymore.

'Now is not the time to do anything but fight for the safe return of our people. Once they have returned, we can rise from the ashes. But we need to get these people home.

'The time is short and it is running out - they will not survive. We cannot sit here and talk about who's done what. Not until we've brought them home.

'The British Government must do everything in their power to help the safe return of these people. We don't want to ignite, we want to save.'

Tamar and Yonatan Kedem, along with their children Shachar, Arbel and Omer, were all murdered by Hamas in the same kibbutz

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip

It comes after the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared intentions to obliterate Hamas as he metes out revenge for the deadly surprise attacks by the Palestinian militant group this weekend that saw hundreds of Israelis killed.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

Also on Monday, Israel found more bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns.

Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri - around 10 per cent of its population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life as Hamas militants abduct her and drive her into Gaza

A smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz after Hamas attackers used paragliders to cross the border and fire indiscriminately into the crowd.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel.

In a video statement Monday, Israel's foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza.

Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home 'in the spirit of mutual responsibility.'

'We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. 'This war crime will not be forgiven,' he added.

Hamas seized more than 100 hostages amid their surprise attacks this weekend, forcibly deporting some soldiers as well as innocent civilian women and even children back into Gaza.

Unsettling footage showed women being marched into vehicles, bloodied and bruised, often with their hands bound behind their backs.

A student who attended a desert rave and a mother and her two young girls were among the innocent victims snatched on Saturday.

Particularly shocking footage showed the abduction of Noa Argamani, 25, a student who was torn from her boyfriend's arms and driven away on the back of a militant's motorcycle as she screamed and pleaded for her life.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 9 it had carried out more than 500 strikes on targets across the Gaza Strip overnight.

Palestinian officials said almost 500 people were killed, including 91 children, and over 2,700 were injured.

The death toll is expected to rise significantly. Some 300,000 reservists have been called up as Israel desperately looks to turn the tide.

'I got caught in a firefight and some of the the Israeli troops engaging were 70, 75-years-old,' Helm said.

He suggested it was unlikely the threat of executing hostages would do much to deter Israeli airstrikes.
Republicans in Congress have accused Joe Biden's homeland security chief Alejandro Mayorkas of making a 'coldly calculated' decision to open the U.S.-Mexico border, leading to criminals and fentanyl pouring into America.

A new report published by the Republican-led Homeland Security Committee focuses on the 'human cost' of the growing and unprecedented border crisis.

The committee is conducting an investigation of Mayorkas, Biden's Homeland Security Secretary, which could lead to him being impeached.

The report released Tuesday was phase three of five before a final report is handed to the Judiciary Committee, which will then decide whether to move forward with articles of impeachment.

The report tore into the effects the Biden administration's 'political decision to open the border' is having on Americans, migrants and law enforcement.

The Homeland Security Committee is releasing another phase of their report that sets the stage for possible impeachment against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (pictured in May 2023)

'This self-inflicted crisis has exacted a terrible human cost all across our country,' Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green told DailyMail.com in a statement on the report.

'Since Secretary Mayorkas took office, we've watched in horror as fentanyl has increasingly spread into our communities, criminal illegal aliens have poured across the border, and law enforcement has been completely overwhelmed. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of vulnerable people, including children, have been trafficked or smuggled across the border by the cartels into forced labor, the sex trade, and other horrific situations,' Rep. Green (R-Tenn.) added.

Green believes there is still a 'potential' to impeach Mayorkas, he told DailyMail.com last month, even as much of the House GOP conference has set their sights on an impeachment inquiry of President Biden.

'Secretary Mayorkas' dereliction of duty is central to these horrors, and instead of changing course on the policies that brought us here, he has only doubled down in their defense. It's unacceptable, and we're going to keep informing the public about what this crisis has cost all of us.'

The second section of the report honed in on the effects law enforcement faces from the extremely stressful position - pointing to the 152 border agents who committed suicide since 2007.

Section one focused on fentanyl, noting 105,000 have died from overdoses in the U.S. of this dangerous narcotic as well as others illegally trafficked over the southern border.

The Drug Enforcement Agency seized some 58 million fentanyl-laced pills and 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022.

The second section of the report honed in on the effects law enforcement faces from the extremely stressful position , including 152 instances of border agent suicide since 2007

The fentanyl and drug trafficking crisis has exploded under Mayorkas' leadership at the border. Section one of the report notes that 105,000 people have died from fentanyl overdoses in 2022  and the Drug Enforcement Agency seized some 58 million fentanyl-laced pills and 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in that same year

Fentanyl has so permeated the country that communities in the Alaskan wilderness - only accessible by seaplane or snow machine - like the 800-person town of Chevak, have found fentanyl pills, according to testimony from Sandy Snodgrass with the AK Fentanyl Response Project.

And with facilities backed up, more agents are being pulled off the front lines to do administrative work, thus 'the cartels have more gaps to exploit,' according to the report.

'They frequently use sophisticated tactics like pushing one group of illegal aliens across the border in one sector, knowing Border Patrol agents will respond, and then smuggling drugs like fentanyl across in the unguarded sections of border their initial tactics created,' it read.

CBP and ICE personnel report feeling 'completely overwhelmed,' telling the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (IG) they feel unable to do the job they signed up for and want to quit and many are seeing significant declines in their mental health.

The report also notes that though Mayorkas has instructed agents to prioritize arresting those who have escaped into the U.S. with criminal backgrounds, the number of criminal migrants arrested as a percentage of the total arrests has dipped.

In fiscal year 2020, 90 percent of ICE arrests were migrants with a criminal record - in fiscal year 2022, only 32 percent of those arrested by ICE had a criminal record.

CBP has also stopped reporting how many migrants have died on US soil - the report states.

Which is all due to Mayorkas' 'coldly calculated, political decision to open the border,' they say.
If there is a face to the unprecedented terror attacks unfolding in Israel, its 25-year-old Noa Argamani.

This young Israeli woman was one of countless revelers kidnapped at a desert rave on Saturday, forced onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away by armed savages as she screams, Dont kill me! No! No! No!

What has become of her, as of this writing, is unknown.

At least 260 people were slaughtered by Hamas at this festival alone  with rockets, grenades and assault weapons. The event was billed as a tribute to friends, love, and infinite freedom.

You know, all the things Islamic fundamentalists hate.

Hamas, backed by Iran, were reportedly ordered to kill on sight, as they attacked Israel by land, sea and air, using motorized paragliders to rain death from the sky.

At least 150 Israelis have been taken hostage. Over 900 already lay dead.

If there is a face to the unprecedented terror attacks unfolding in Israel, its 25-year-old Noa Argamani. What has become of her, as of this writing, is unknown.

This young Israeli woman was one of countless revelers kidnapped at a desert rave on Saturday, forced onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away by armed savages as she screams, Dont kill me! No! No! No!

On Tuesday, in reports that truly defied belief, we heard that Hamas has beheaded babies.

A horrified i24NEWS journalist, Nicole Zedeck, told cameras near the Gaza Strip: 'I'm talking to some of the [Israeli] soldiers and they say what they've witnessed as they've been walking through these different houses... babies  their heads cut off. Families completely gunned down in their beds. This is nothing that anyone could ever have imagined.'

How is it that Hamas has defenders? How does barbarism have any place in our modern age? How could those who think the Palestinian cause righteous ever defend this unprovoked carnage?

A post-Holocaust world that vowed never again has, this weekend, witnessed Jews ripped from the safety of their homes and places of business.

Hamas is now threatening to execute one hostage for every strike by Israel that comes without warning  executions they vow to film and release.

Who among us hasnt heard the pleas of mothers, fathers, siblings, husbands and wives, begging for the safe return of their loved ones and felt their abject fear?

I think especially of the women and girls of Israel, going about their day as we might in the West, and try to conjure the surreality of being snatched by armed militants, beaten and stripped and made to walk through the streets while men spit and jeer, subjected to atrocities too obscene to print.

This is ISIS-level terror, moving from hard targets  planes, buildings, stadiums, subways  to a mass extinction event, innocent civilians picked off one-by-one.

The horrors accrue: A young Israeli couple managed to stash their 10-month-old twins in a hidden shelter before terrorists broke down their door and shot them to death, the babies miraculously surviving.

Blood-curdling video of a terrified, weeping Shiri Silberman-Bibas and her babies  one aged 3, the other nine-months  being taken hostage at gunpoint.

The testimony of Gaya Kalderon, a 21-year-old student living in Tel Aviv, who told reporters that her entire family was abducted from Nir Oz in southern Israel.

I was terrified to wake up Saturday morning and receive messages like, The terrorists are in my bedroom, she said. Now I cant do anything.

Her 16-year-old sister, father and 10-year-old brother were all taken.

How is it that Hamas has defenders? How does barbarism have any place in our modern age? A post-Holocaust world that vowed never again has, this weekend, witnessed Jews ripped from the safety of their homes and places of business. (Pictured: A hostage is held by Hamas).

Yoni Asher told the New York Times that his wife Doron called him in blind panic as Hamas invaded her mothers home.

His mother-in-law and his two small daughters were with her. They were all kidnapped. Two little babies, he cried. I cant sleep  Im living outside my own body.

To call this the depths of depravity isn't nearly enough.

Just look at the footage of armed men cheering over the beaten body of young tattoo artist Shani Louk, naked but for her underwear, limp and face-down in the back of a pick-up truck.

They chant Allahu Akbar  God is great. One militant grabs Louk by her hair. Others spit on her.

Make no mistake: This isnt just about land control. This is about fundamentalism and a deep, centuries-abiding hatred of women. These would-be warriors, targeting societys most defenseless, are cowards.

Which brings us to those who would defend Hamas.

Lets begin with that dubious D.C. cohort known as The Squad, led by four Democratic congresswomen  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.

One would think that U.S. women in power would stand up for other women and girls who are being brutalized as we speak.

But no. Never underestimate the ability of the hard-Left to sink beneath subterranean depths.

Here was AOC calling for a ceasefire  really, telling Israel not to defend itself or its civilian hostages  followed by Tlaib and fellow Democrat Cori Bush blaming U.S. aid to Israel for provoking, in part, this barbarous attack.

Tlaib actually called it Palestinian resistance, leading to swift condemnation from New York Democrat Ritchie Torres.

Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, he slammed. It is reprehensible and repulsive.

Yet we see such sentiment thriving on the Left.

To call this the depths of depravity isn't nearly enough. Just look at the footage of armed men cheering over the body of young tattoo artist Shani Louk (pictured), naked but for her underwear, limp and face-down in the back of a pick-up truck.

They chant Allahu Akbar  God is great. One militant grabs Louk by her hair. Others spit on her. Make no mistake: This isnt just about land control. This is about fundamentalism and a deep, centuries-abiding hatred of women. These would-be warriors, targeting societys most defenseless, are cowards.

Thirty-one Harvard organizations, including their branch of Amnesty International, have said Israel is entirely responsible.

The New York Times ran a story Monday morning headlined: Across the Mideast, a Surge of Support for Palestinians as War Erupts in Gaza.

War didnt erupt. Israel was blindsided in an unprovoked terrorist attack on a scale and scope to rival 9/11.

The attack was further characterized in this piece as an eruption of violence  as if both sides were to blame.

The American Jewish Committee reported that the Times never once used the word terrorist in their Saturday coverage.

As for the supercilious female congresswomen who were so quick to excuse these atrocities  AOC especially, that self-described firebrand feminist  they should be shamed out of office.

Not least because their sophomoric, simple-minded stance is complete repudiation of what happens to women in war, a historical atrocity that dates back at least to the ancient Greeks. Rape has been used to terrorize the enemy, psychologically destabilize or to ethnically cleanse. In Rwanda in the 1990s, Tutsi women were raped by HIV-positive men recruited especially for just that purpose.

So commonplace was rape as a weapon that the United Nations didnt declare it a war crime until 1995.

As for the shouts this weekend of Allahu Akbar! over the naked, brutalized bodies of women, alive or dead, paraded through the streets  let us not shy away from this either, although some media outlets, the aforementioned New York Times and CNN among them, certainly are.

What a betrayal. What a cowardly refusal to report the truth. Ever since Hamas came to power in the Gaza Strip in 2006, the region has been subjected to Taliban-level repressions.

One would think that U.S. women in power would stand up for other women and girls who are being brutalized as we speak. But no. Never underestimate the ability of the hard-Left to sink beneath subterranean depths. (Pictured: Hamas terrorists capture an elderly Israeli woman).

Supercilious female congresswomen who were so quick to excuse these atrocities  AOC especially, that self-described firebrand feminist  should be shamed out of office. (Pictured: Israeli police evacuate a woman and child from the site of a rocket blast).

Women and girls have been forced to wear the hijab since 2007. Two years later, females were forbidden to ride behind men on scooters or to dance  ever. An Islamic group called Swords of Truth threatened female TV personalities with beheading if they refused to conform to strict dress codes.

Hamas promotes Sharia law, which metes out punishments for the smallest infractions through honor killings, amputations, crucifixions, beheadings, stoning, beating.

We are now seeing such horrors writ large on the nation of Israel.

On 9/11, the world  the sane part, those nations that value freedom of thought and movement and equality for all  rallied around America and came to our aid in the face of unspeakable Islamist terror. Israel deserves no less.
Hong Kong: Choi Yuk-lin visits Xian schools

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today concluded her visit to Xian after attending education meetings and calling on local schools.

Ms Choi led a university delegation to attend the University Alliance of the Silk Road Forum 2023 on October 8. Leaders of various organisations and representatives of over 50 universities from 21 countries or regions discussed education-industry integration and innovative talent cultivation; digital technology and innovative practices in higher education; and education collaboration under the Belt & Road Initiative.

The Hong Kong group also participated in a meeting to exchange opinions on fostering closer co-operation between higher education institutions in Hong Kong and Central Asia.

During the meeting, Ms Choi noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government hopes to attract global academic talent and has set up the Belt & Road Scholarship to encourage outstanding non-local students to further their studies in the city.

Separately, to learn about the countrys latest technological developments she visited iHARBOUR, jointly established by the Ministry of Education and the Shaanxi Provincial Peoples Government.

Afterwards, the delegation attended a seminar on the admission of Mainland students to Hong Kongs higher education institutions, where they voiced views on admission work and support for Mainland students. They also met Hong Kong students studying at Xian Jiaotong University to understand their learning and daily lives.

Yesterday, Ms Choi met Department of Education of Shaanxi Province Director-General Wang Shusheng as well as visited Changqing No. 8 High School to learn about its fine arts education.

Wrapping up her trip, the education chief today called on the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Peoples Government to explore further promotion of education exchanges and co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong.

Ms Choi will return to Hong Kong tomorrow.

This story has been published on: 2023-10-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
U.S.-China forum calls for revitalizing relations through music

14:57, October 10, 2023 By Yuer Lin, Yang Shilong, Kuma Long ( Xinhua

Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society, Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, Chen Yi, professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and founder of the innovative pre-professional orchestra The Orchestra Now, and Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and conductor of the Bard's East/West Ensemble (From L to R), participate in the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Academic exchange is an important way to promote academic development and cultural exchange between the two countries. Its implications are abroad and far-reaching.

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Experts from China and the United States called for enhancing music education cooperation and exchanges between the two nations to energize bilateral ties.

The "U.S.-China Music Forum - Confronting Challenges and Looking to the Future" took place at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at The Asia Society on Saturday afternoon in New York.

The panelists said classical music exchanges between the two nations over the past five decades demonstrate the harmonious interplay between art and diplomacy.

They noted that, in an ever-changing world, music remains a timeless bridge that connects hearts and minds, fostering understanding and empathy between cultures.

Citing the successful cooperation between the Bard College and China's Central Conservatory of Music in the past five years, Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and conductor of the Bard's East/West Ensemble, opened the event by demonstrating his hope to strengthen the connections between China and the United States through music.

"The West and the East have been communicating through music historically," Cai pointed out, "as the Chinese traditional instrument Pipa was initially from Persia, traveled its way by the Silk Road, and reached Western China in the 4th century AD."

Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music, performs during the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Yu Hongmei, professor and director of the Chinese Music Department at the Central Conservatory of Music, shared her perspective on advancing the friendship between China and the United States by employing music-cultural exchange.

"Academic exchange is an important way to promote academic development and cultural exchange between the two countries. Its implications are abroad and far-reaching," said Yu. "Civilization is more colorful through communication, and culture is enriched through mutual understanding and learning."

Yu concluded her speech by stating her firm belief that "educational and cultural exchange between China and the United States, especially through music, will continue to develop, and it will add a positive energy to bilateral relations."

Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and founder of the innovative pre-professional orchestra The Orchestra Now, highlighted the universality of music. "Collaboration and exchange is a long-term game to share what we have in common as human beings, regardless of one's nationality and background."

Botstein illustrated that such communication through music could foster bonding among people from different countries, as it encourages people to put down their guards and induces more friendly interactions.

Another prominent panel speaker, a distinguished professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Chen Yi, signaled that the harmonious resonance of music can transcend political barriers and pave the way for a brighter future of collaboration, friendship and mutual respect.

Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music, performs during the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

She noted that "not only the instrumental music but also the power of theater and musical storytelling, all these components will become the new language in which you will be shaped and influenced. I thought that it brought us back to our traditional roots."

"I adore classical music, and I do think it is one of the last areas where we can all sort of comfortably enjoy something together," said Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society, expressing his hope Washington and Beijing "can use it constructively" to help stabilize the bilateral relationship.

Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, spoke of his recent trip to China.

"I can't wait to go back with the full orchestra," said Ginstling, referring to his trip to Shanghai with a small group of the orchestra's musicians.

The discussion was followed by music performances by pipa virtuoso Liu Xiaojing from the Central Conservatory of Music and Anita Balazs, a cellist of the Bard East/West Ensemble.

The U.S.-China Music Forum is a novel addition to the China Now Music Festival, now in its sixth year following its launch in 2018 by the U.S.-China Music Institute and China's Central Conservatory of Music.

Themed "The Bridge of Music," this year's festival is expected to conclude on Sunday.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Aussies in one state caught with small quantities of illicit drugs will have the option to get counselling rather than go to court, under a major overhaul of drug laws,

The NSW government is expected to introduce to parliament the plan to divert drug users from court and towards rehabilitation programs, and the laws could come into effect as early as next year.

The changes will give NSW Police discretionary powers to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone caught with small amounts of illicit substances for their first two offences instead of a court attendance notice.

Offenders receiving the $400 fine can either pay the penalty or attend a mandatory counselling program.

NSW Police will soon have discretionary powers to fine people caught with small quantities of illicit drugs. Pictured are officers at the recent Listen Out festival in Sydney

READ MORE: Inside the deadly Knockout Festival in Sydney Advertisement

The fine will be waived if they complete the NSW Health program successfully.

The 'two-strike' scheme could see thousands of recreational ice, cocaine and MDMA users avoid criminal penalties.

Third time offenders will charged and ordered to face court.

'This is about users, not dealers and it utilises the existing criminal infringement notice or on-the-spot fine regime,' NSW Attorney General Michael Daley told 2GB on Tuesday.

'Police will decide at the time, they will have the discretion about what to do based on the circumstances of the person that they see in front of them.'

'We're treating the possession and use of small amounts of drugs - not commercial quantities, not supply, not manufacture - small uses will be treated under a health intervention.'

The proposed reforms comes a week after two men died after attending the Knockout festival at Sydney Olympic Park.

Drug users may be able to escape a court notice under the proposed 'two strike' policy reform (stock image)

The proposed laws will enact reforms announced but never legislated by former Premier Dominic Perrottet, which at the time was given 'in-principle' support by then Opposition now in power.

'This is an evidence-based approach in line with community expectations,' health minister Ryan Park said.

'It responds directly to expert evidence, and recommendations from the Special Commission of Inquiry into the drug ice.'

Police minister Yasmin Catley added 'Providing the police with more options to manage drug offences allows a proportionate response to the offending behaviour and health issues that officers are seeing in the community.'

Greens MP Cate Faehrmann supported the drug reforms but called for sniffer dog operations conducted at train stations, in pubs, clubs and on the streets and at music festivals to be scrapped.

She also urged the government to implement all recommendations of a 2020 inquiry into the drug ice.

'The Greens will continue to push for the removal of all penalties, including fines, for personal drug use and possession,' Ms Faehrmann said.

The Greens support the reforms but called for police operations to be scaled back. Pictured are NSW police officers patrolling the recent Listen Out festival in Sydney

Uniting NSW/ACT described proposed reforms as long overdue but stressed more need to be done.

'This is a good step forward, but the proposed imposition of a large $400 fine is clearly most damaging to those who can least afford it,' advocacy and external relations general manager Emma Maiden said.

'Any positive change to the way we approach drug use and dependency in Australia is always welcome - we know that the system still grossly impacts the vulnerable and further changes must be explored and adopted.

'The proposed reform plan for these fines to be discharged by being referred for a health intervention is a recognition of what we have long been saying.

'Drug use and dependency is health issue and should be treated as such.'
The United States must urgently resolve the chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border, Kevin McCarthy has warned, or else risk allowing terrorists into the country unnoticed and succumbing to a similar attack to that in Israel this weekend.

McCarthy, who until last week served as speaker of the House, told The Washington Free Beacon on Monday that the attack should be a 'wake up' call for the White House, and blamed the Biden administration for emboldening Iran to back the plot.

He pointed out that known terrorists had already been found among those claiming to be migrants.

As of July, 160 migrants whose identities match those on the Terrorist Screening Dataset were stopped by Customs and Border Protection at the southern border - a significant increase on the 100 in fiscal year 2022, NBC News reported last month.

Fiscal years end on September 30.

'We should wake up ourselves. We could have the same thing happen next week to us,' McCarthy said.

'We caught more people on the terrorist watchlist in February than we caught in the entire administration. We could have cells sitting inside of America right now.'

Kevin McCarthy on Monday told The Washington Free Beacon that the terror attack at the weekend in Israel should serve as a warning for the United States, because terrorists could have snuck into the country across the U.S.-Mexico border

Migrants from Cuba are seen on Friday crossing the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas

Long lines of migrants, mostly from Venezuela, are seen waiting to enter the United States along the banks of the Rio Grande on October 5

An armed Palestinian militant is seen walking around the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel

Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape

An armed Palestinian militant leading a man during the Supernova music festival

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday

The FBI said on Monday it 'does not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel.'

But, the agency added it was closely monitoring the situation and 'will share relevant information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners.'

The FBI added: 'We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people.'

McCarthy, however, accused the Biden administration of complacency, and said there was a direct line between the $6 billion the U.S. government unlocked for Iran, in return for the release of U.S. citizens held in the country, and the weekend's attacks by Iran's ally, Hamas.

The Biden administration has spent the weekend denying that the cash, which was Tehran's money, frozen in South Korean bank accounts, had anything to do with the Hamas attack.

Israel has referred to the weekend as their 9/11, because - like with the al-Qaeda attacks on the U.S. - no-one saw it coming.

McCarthy said that the comparison was accurate, and should serve as a warning to the United States.

'We should take a step back and look at ourselves,' he told the paper.

'Your intel is never perfect and we've got a wide-open border. They're coming from 160 different countries.'

Migrants have been registered coming from countries such as Afghanistan and Syria, where terrorist cells operate.

McCarthy asked why neither Mossad nor the CIA had any warning that the plan to attack Israel was being hatched in the Gaza Strip.

'Everybody should look at their own intelligence right now,' he said.

At least 260 were killed in the massacre while many are still missing  either dead or taken hostage by the bloodthirsty militants

Aftermath: Burnt-out and abandoned cars where revellers tried to escape the onslaught

The California congressman also said the Biden administration's policies helped Iran fund Hamas, saying they were '1,000 percent' responsible for creating the right conditions.

'From day one when the Biden administration came in, they changed the policies with Iran to appeasement,' he told the paper.

Republicans argue that the Biden administration's decision to pour millions in U.S. taxpayer funds into the Palestinian territories helped Hamas organize and launch its attack.

The State Department, in communications obtained earlier this year by the Free Beacon, assessed there is 'a high risk Hamas could potentially derive indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza.'

McCarthy said the White House's decisions 'built up and created what's happening in today's world.'

He warned that the conflict would not be easy to resolve.

'You have to understand this isn't going to be a short time,' McCarthy said.

'This is something different. This is a long-term battle.'

And he said his party's decision to remove him as speaker last week caused turmoil, which could slow support from getting to Israel.

'It's unfortunate a few members did the actions they did, and now we don't even have a speaker sitting there,' he said.

'It shows the weakness.'

McCarthy's comments echo those of Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential candidate and Donald Trump's former UN ambassador.

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life

Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon

On Sunday she tore into Anthony Blinken on Sunday after the Secretary of State insisted that releasing $6 billion to Iran played no role in Saturday's attack.

Speaking on NBC's Meet The Press, Blinken said Iran had not yet seen a penny of the $6 billion in sanctioned oil revenue earmarked for 'humanitarian purposes' last month in exchange for five American prisoners.

But Haley told the same program that Iran was already banking on the money to finance its terror campaign.

'It was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that the $6 billion doesn't weigh in here,' she added.

'I mean, let's be honest with the American people and understand that Hamas knows and Iran knows they're moving money around as we speak, because they know 6 billion is going to be released.

'That's the reality.'

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken insisted that Iran has spent nothing of the $6billion they received in a cash for hostages deal, but Nikki Haley said they are spending on account

'This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran,' Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said when asked about a del to unlock $6 billion in oil revenues as part of a deal to release five U.S. citizens

Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel on Saturday

The former South Carolina governor said she knew from her dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency that funds released by previous administrations had gone to militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

'They go and spread terrorism every time they get $1,' she added.

'It doesn't go to the Iranian people. It does go to terrorist attacks, and Secretary Blinken, it's just wrong to imply that this money is not being moved around as we speak.'

The deal with Iran helped free US citizens Siamak Namazi, 51, Emad Sharqi, 59, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, a duel U.S.-U.K. national, as well as two unidentified U.S. citizens.

Five Iranians detained in the US were also released under its terms.

'Not a single cent has been spent from that account,' Blinken said.

'When any money is spent from that account, it can only be used for medical supplies, for food, for medicine, and those who are saying otherwise are either misinformed or misinforming, and it's wrong either way.'

But Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi laughed at the idea that Tehran's spending would be controlled.

'This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and naturally, we will decide  the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide  to spend it wherever we need it,' he told NBC last month.

'Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need, so this money will be budgeted for those needs.

'And the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.'

U.S officials arranged a group photo after freed Americans Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi arrived back in the US last month

Freed Iranians Kambiz Attar-Kashani, Kaveh Afraisiabi, and Amin Hasanzadeh decided not to return to Iran. Two are staying in the US, and one is going to another country. They were all convicted of acting against the US

Blinken said he had 'not yet seen evidence' that Iran was involved in the attack that killed at least 700 people, but he admitted that Israel's growing ties to its Arab neighbors may have inspired the terrorists.

'It's no surprise that those who are opposed to the talks, those who are opposed to Israel normalizing its relations with its neighbors and with countries beyond the region, are: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.'

But senior members of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah claimed that the attack was given the green light by Iranian security officials.

Hamas plotted the air, land and sea invasions with help from officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a Wall Street Journal report, with the final go-ahead given at a Monday meeting in Beirut.

Haley who is now second only to Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination according to some recent polls, also said that Hamas attack should act as a 'wake-up' call for the US itself.

'We have an open border,' she claimed.

'People are coming through. They're not being vetted. We don't need to wait for another 9/11.

'You also look at the fact that America is incredibly distracted and incredibly divided, and when America's distracted, the world is less safe.

'And look at what happened to Israel. They waited for them to be distracted, and that's when your enemies move in. America needs to wake up.'
A mother who was slaughtered by terrorists in Israel alongside her husband and three children sent a final WhatsApp message to her Australian friends to say her family was safe.

Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov texted her Sydney friends, Yishai and Mor Lacob, from the concrete bunker of her home in Nir Oz kibbutz, in southern Israel, at about 2.45pm on Saturday.

The message read: 'Hi guys, we got into the shelter in our house, we're all going okay.'

An hour later, she stopped responding to calls and texts.

The Lacobs started to panic and tried contacting everyone they knew in the village to find out what was going on, before they received the heartbreaking news that the Tov's safe room had been raided by militants.

Tamar, her husband Johnny, their six-year-old daughters Shachar and Arbel, and their two-year-old son Omer had been murdered by Hamas-linked terrorists.

Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov with her husband Johnny and their six-year-old daughters Shachar and Arbel, and their two-year-old son Omer. They were murdered on Saturday

A mock-up of the final WhatsApp message Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov sent her friends in Sydney

'Our hearts are shattered,' Yishai wrote on Facebook on Monday.

'An entire family was killed by evil murderers who shot the children and parents simply because they were Jewish.

'And this is just one story, among so many. It's unbearable.'

Nir Oz is a farming village with a population of about 400 and is 3km from Gaza.

Despite its proximity to a conflict zone, Mor told the Sydney Morning Herald it was considered a peaceful place to live and raise a family.

'They wouldn't have thought such a thing can happen,' she said.

Tamar was a social activist who had been campaigning to become the head of Eshkol Regional Council, in Israel's southern district.

'She was such a special woman,' Mor told the publication.

'She always cared about the poor people, always made sure that people less fortunate will have the same opportunities.

The family were hiding in a concrete bunker at their home in southern Israel, before it was breached. Tamar (left) uploaded this photo four days ago

Friends flooded Facebook with tributes to the young family (pictured)

'She was a living example to these values.'

Just four days ago, the mother-of-three had been posting photos of her council campaign on Facebook.

'Half-week summary post, because even Facebook can't keep up with me this holiday,' she wrote on Thursday, in a post translated from Hebrew to English.

'The area speaks for itself - we want an attentive head of the council, who sees the residents - from young to old.'

She aimed to improve health, employment, safety and security across the region.

Her posts were flooded with messages of support on Thursday.

By Tuesday, they were overcome with tributes.

'My heart is torn,' one person wrote.

Another said: 'What a tragedy... Can't believe that we are four days later.'

Pictured: Tamar and her husband Johnny, who were living in southern Israel when their village was attacked

The attacks began about 6.30am Israeli time on Saturday when thousands of Hamas rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and as far as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

READ MORE: Sydney Opera House Israel-Palestine protest Advertisement

At the same time, hundreds of Palestinian militants paraglided across the heavily guarded frontier, while others stormed towns by boat or after blasting holes in the GazaIsrael barrier.

They then went door to door gunning down innocent civilians and soldiers before kidnapping more then 100 Israelis and taking them into Gaza.

In response, the Israeli army said on Monday that it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight retaliatory strikes on the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3million people.

Officials there reported at least 413 Palestinian deaths.

In Australia, pro-Palestinian protestors were allowed to chant 'gas the Jews' and burn the Star of David in front of Sydney's Opera House on Monday night.

Counter-demonstrators were arrested for attempting to fly the Israeli flag at the protest site.

Police are now under fire for allowing the protest to go ahead - while telling Jewish Australians to 'stay home' for their own safety.

The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching to the Opera House.

Chaotic scenes ensued when the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims - some wearing black masks - who threw lit flares at police and chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews' beneath the steps of the iconic harbouside venue.

Pictured: Chaotic scenes at the Sydney Opera House, as a demonstration was highjacked pro-Palestinian protesters - some wearing black masks - who chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews'

At one point, there were even chants of 'gas the Jews'.

A large crowd of men attempted to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before stamping on it and tearing it to shreds.

Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is great' in Arabic) and 'death to the Jews' rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police barrier, brandishing torn pieces of the Israeli flag - despite the rally organisers calling for protesters to respect the police.

More than 100 cops formed a ring of steel along the steps of the Opera House and didn't intervene when flares or other projectiles were thrown at them.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he 'deplored' the rally and described it as being 'against the tenets of our multicultural community'.

'We lit up the Opera House in support of innocent people who have had their lives slaughtered or loved ones kidnapped,' Mr Minns told Sunrise.

'The community expectation from the vast majority of people I have spoken to in the past 48 hours has been horror at the actions of Hamas and also the demonstrations that have taken place in Sydney in the past 48 hours.'

Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the rally.
A teacher who was sacked after sending a 'reply all' email and travelling to Bali while on sick leave has had a major win.

Stanislaw Kosiek was let go from Brisbane's Marist College Ashgrove on August 9 before he took the matter to Queensland's Federal Court.

The case was withdrawn after a month and Mr Kosiek took an 'early retirement' in September, marking the end to his 22-year-long stint at the school.

Mr Kosiek had accidentally sent a 'reply all' email criticising his bosses in February.

The school later expressed concern he had travelled to Bali for a holiday despite the fact he was on sick leave and unable to attend his 'normal work duties'.

Federal Court Justice Berna Collier sided with Mr Kosiek and said in an interim decision he had made it clear of his intention to travel to the holiday hotspot.

Stan Kosiek, who taught at Brisbane's Marist College Ashgrove for 22 years, has withdrawn his unfair dismissal case against the college after months of discussion

Marist College Ashgrove (pictured) head, Michael Newman had dismissed Mr Kosiek for taking an unapproved holiday while on sick leave, which a federal judge said was doubtable

'I accept (Mr Kosiek's) submission that the evidence before the court showed that at all times he had been completely honest concerning the basis on which he wished to travel to Bali during his sick leave, including that his attending medical practitioner had endorsed that travel as beneficial to the applicant's health,' Justice Collier ruled.

Marist Schools Australia told the Federal Court Mr Kosiek had been sacked because he made the trip while on sick leave and before he had received approval to change it to unpaid leave, the Courier Mail reported.

READ MORE: Students support fired teacher Former students have come to support Stan Kosiek after he was abruptly fired. Advertisement

Mr Kosiek had handed in the medical certificate which said that he would be out of work from April 17 to May 28.

A letter from the college was included in court documents.

'On May 3, you provided the College with a medical certificate confirming that you were 'currently being treated for a medical problem and  unable to attend [your] normal work duties from April 17 to May 28',' the letter read.

'The College has become aware that during this period of alleged unfitness, you in fact travelled to Bali for a holiday and informed several colleagues of this fact.'

Months earlier, Mr Kosiek had sent a 'reply-all' email on February 17 and insisted it was only meant for his union representative, Madonna Spillane, according to court documents obtained by the Courier Mail.

Instead he hit 'reply all' which sent the email where he chastised the IT department's inadequacies to all staff.

'Recently, leadership in the IT area has been less than adequate,' the email read.

'Continuous leaning on past breaches for excuses for not getting current breaches fixed are not cutting the mustard.

'We have amazing IT staff, but recently the big end of town stop feeding at the pool tuckshop (sic) and live up to their $250,000 job.'

Two days after sending out the email, Mr Kosiek sent a follow up where he withdrew his comments but within a week he was stood down with pay.

According to court documents filed by Mr Kosiek, he had actually been fired for criticising his superior in an email that he accidentally sent to all faculty instead of just his union manager

Marist College head Michael Newman said the email had 'caused great upset'

Marist College head Michael Newman said the email had 'caused great upset'.

On July 11 Mr Kosiek directly apologised to the head of the IT department.

But on August 9, he was told he'd been sacked.

Mr Kosiek withdrew his case from the Federal Court on September 27.

A social media post by the college notified students and staff the science teacher had entered 'early retirement' effective September 7.

'Stan Kosiek has been a highly valued staff member at Marist College Ashgrove,' the college wrote.

'We thank him for his contribution during this period of service, and wish him well in his future endeavours.'

Marist College has declined to provide further comment on the mediation discussions 'out of respect to all parties involved'.
One of Australia's most powerful public servants has used predictions about an ageing population and a falling birth rate to justify record-high immigration.

Steven Kennedy, the secretary of the Treasury who also sits on the Reserve Bank board, slammed the notion a rapidly ageing population would be temporary.

'There is sometimes a perception that the ageing of population is a temporary phenomenon particularly as the baby boomers age,' he told the Committee for Economic Development of Australia think tank on Monday.

'However, this is not the case.'

Dr Kennedy quoted from Treasury's Intergenerational Report predicting the proportion of people aged 65 and over would climb to 23.4 per cent by 2062-63, up from 17.3 per cent during the last financial year.

The share of those aged 85 and over was predicted to surge to five per cent, up from 2.9 per cent.

One of Australia's most powerful public servants has used predictions about an ageing population and a falling birth rate to justify record-high immigration (pictured is Sydney's Town Hall station)

This is occurring as Australia's fertility rate falls, where couples are on average having less than two children, or below replacement level.

'So long as the fertility rate is below replacement, successive generations will be smaller,' Dr Kennedy said.

READ MORE: The daily items that will get more expensive in Australia after the latest attacks on Israel Australia's cost of living crisis is set to worsen as the terrorist attacks on Israel push up crude oil prices - potentially sparking another rate rise with the local currency at the weakest level in a year. Motorists, already paying more than $2 a litre for E10 unleaded petrol, face paying even more for fuel as oil producing nations take advantage of geopolitical conflict in the Middle East Advertisement

Australia's fertility rate has been below 2.1 since the 1970s, with the 1.98 level of 2008-09 a temporary high point in recent years.

Higher immigration over recent decades has failed to stop Australia's population getting older, with Treasury's Centre for Population calculating the nation had a median age of 38 years and six months in mid-2022, up from 32 years and eight months three decades earlier.

Nonetheless, Dr Kennedy said Australia's population would be even older without the immigration surge of the past two decades.

'Higher migration has been the primary driver of the larger and younger population,' he said.

'Our population growth has been higher than all the G7 nations reflecting higher migration.'

A record 454,400 migrants moved to Australia in the year to March, with this figure including both the permanent intake of skilled migrants and long-term international students.

Australia's net overseas migration rate, based on arrivals minus permanent departures, is quadruple the 110,104 level of two decades ago.

An immigration surge, to make up for Australia's border closure in 2020 and 2021, has also coincided with a productivity plunge, where output for every worker is falling.

Productivity, based on gross domestic product per hour, fell by 3.6 per cent in 2022-23.

During the past decade, when 200,000 migrants have been moving to Australia a year, productivity growth has been stuck below one per cent.

This is a far cry from the two per cent pace of the 1990s, when annual immigration was mainly below 100,000.

But Dr Kennedy said an ageing population would mean weaker-than-average economic growth in decades to come.

'The lower growth reflects slower productivity and population growth, and reduced participation due to ageing,' he said.

'Projected slower productivity, population growth and lower participation is not unique to Australia.

'These outcomes are anticipated for most developed countries.'

Steven Kennedy, the secretary of the Treasury who also sits on the Reserve Bank board, slammed the notion a rapidly ageing population would be temporary

Dr Kennedy quoted from Treasury's Intergenerational Report predicting the proportion of people aged 65 and over would climb to 23.4 per cent by 2062-63, up from 17.3 per cent during the last financial year

Australia's population grew by 2.2 per cent in the year to March with immigration making up 80.7 per cent of the increase.

But Treasury is expecting that to slow to 1.1 per cent over the next 40 years, putting it below the 1.4 per cent level of the past four decades, as Australia's population grows from 26.5million to 40.5million by 206263.

Treasury advocates higher immigration so it can reap more taxation revenue.

The Business Council of Australia, which represents big corporations, has lobbied for higher immigration since the borders were reopened in late 2021.
An Australian woman has gone missing in Israel amid the deadly Hamas attacks, with grave fears she may have been kidnapped by the militant group.

The woman was reported as unaccounted for after chaos erupted when Hamas - considered a terrorist organisation by the Australian government - fired around 2200 missiles into Israel from Gaza on Saturday, 7News reports.

The conflict has so far claimed more than 1500 lives and injured thousands, with the death toll expected to rise.

According to 7News, the woman's friends have been trying to locate her and have contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for help.

A DFAT spokesperson said the department is currently seeking 'to confirm the welfare of Australians who may have been caught in the attack'.

'Australian officials are monitoring the situation closely and remain in touch with local authorities,' the spokesperson said.

'We are aware that some flights from Tel Avivs Ben Gurion International Airport have been delayed or cancelled.

Palestinian militants brandish weapons as they pass through Israeli territory on trucks

Rockets are fired from Gaza toward Israel on Saturday night, October 7

'Australians are encouraged to check with their airline for the latest updates before travelling.'

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was unable to confirm any details about the woman, but said authorities were working to contact Aussies caught up in the 'horrific' conflict.

'Theres about 10,000 Australians who live in Israel, there are more who are there as tourists, and right now were in the process of trying to assess the wellbeing of all of those Australians,' he told Sunrise on Tuesday.

'At this point, weve not had any reports of any Australians being killed or being hospitalised and we will be pretty reticent about talking any individual cases, as Im sure youd understand.'

Mr Marles added that his thoughts were with the people of Israel at this time. 'This has been an act of terror,' he said.

'There is nothing that justifies the murdering of innocent people which is what we have been witnessing and clearly, Israel, in this moment, has a right to defend itself and to seek to protect and to liberate its citizens.'

The attack - which is one of the deadliest in Israel in decades - caught the country by surprise as it was celebrating religious holiday.

Revellers were attending the Supernova music festival (pictured), around 6km east of Gaza, when explosions began ringing out across the region

People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes

An Israeli woman is seen being forced into a car by a terrorist before she is taken to the Gaza Strip

Israelis were wrapping up the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot on Saturday morning when the Palestinian militant group rained bombs down from Gaza.

The bloodshed marks an escalation in the decades-long military and political conflict between Israel and Palestine.

In Israel, at least 900 people have died and more than 2300 have been injured by Hamas forces - including dozens of foreigners from the US, Thailand, Nepal, France, Ukraine, the UK, Brazil and Canada.

Among those killed were young people who had travelled to attend the Supernova dance festival near Re'im kibbutz, in southern Israel near the Gaza strip.

Footage shows horrific scenes, including festival-goers fleeing for their lives and Palestinian groups celebrating as they paraded the naked body of a German woman on a truck through Gaza.

Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities estimate 560 people - including many civilians - have been killed and another 2900 injured in Gaza due to retaliatory attacks.

The murder of civilians has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say the country is at 'war'.

World leaders and diplomats - including Australian politicians - have thrown their support behind Israel.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday morning condemned the 'abhorrent attack on Israel', tweeting Australian 'stands with our friend Israel in this time'.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles described the 'horrific' Hamas attacks as an 'act of terror'

Pictured: An Israeli retaliatory airstrike in Gaza after the Hamas attacks

The protestors marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting 'Free Palestine'

'This is a dreadful circumstance that people didn't see coming,' he later told ABC's Insiders.

'We of course are worried about escalation.

'There is no precedent for what is occurring here.'

Mr Albanese had earlier come under attack by the Coalition for taking over 12 hours to respond to the attacks, writing on social media site X at 6.23am on Sunday that Australia 'stands with our friend Israel in this time'.

Senator Penny Wong said: 'Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities and civilians.'

'We call for these attacks to stop and recognise Israel's right to defend itself,' she wrote on X - formerly known as Twitter.

'Australia urges the exercise of restraint and protection of civilian lives.'

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Sydney Opera House on Monday night to demonstrate against the iconic building's sails being lit up in support of Israel.

The incident sparked anger as pro-Palestine protesters were allowed to chant vile anti-Semitic comments while counter-demonstrators were ordered to stay home and arrested for trying to fly the Israeli flag.
A teenage drug dealer has been jailed after his mother make the shock discovery of a gun in her son's bedroom while tidying.

Owen Walker, now 20, had stowed away the deadly firearm, which was wrapped in a towel, which was found by chance while his mother was hoovering and cleaning the teenager's room last December.

Alarmed at the discovery of the pistol in her own home, on Green Lane, Worcester, she called the police and Walker's father.

The gun was seized along with a mobile phone containing incriminating messages which linked Walker to drug dealing.

The teenager was bailed out following the discovery, but only eight months later was caught with a knife while out dealing an array of drugs in Worcester.

Owen Walker, now 20, pleaded guilty to several offences including including possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a knife

On June 21, police were called to Gillam Street where Walker was found dealing drugs and on his arrest, officers caught him with 15 wraps of cocaine and a 'large lock knife', as well as hundreds of pounds in cash.

Police also searched through Walker's house, seizing several deadly weapons including a knife, a machete and a mallet.

Walker, was also found to be in possession of cocaine and heroin, along with nitrous oxide canisters at the property.

Two mobiles were also seized from Walker linking him to drug dealing, including a video on his phone which showed Walker and his friends using the canisters, also known as whippets or laughing gas.

During another search of his home, police also found a bag containing 24g of cannabis.

Walker, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to seven years at Worcester Crown Court, after admitting to several offences including possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a knife.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a psychoactive substance (nitrous oxide) with intent to supply and possessing cocaine and diamorphine and cannabis.

the judge imploring him that he could choose 'a fruitful law-abiding life' after leaving prison or 'to engage in serious crime', but that he could not make make that choice for him.

Walker, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to seven years at Worcester Crown Court

Alarmed at the discovery of the pistol in her own home, on Green Lane, Worcester, Walker's mother called the police and his father

Judge Nicholas Cartwright added that he had been 'immature' and should have engaged with police after his first arrest last December, following his mother's discovery of a firearm in his bedroom.

Defender Lee Masters said Walker had become addicted to drugs and had built up debts, which forced him into criminal lifestyle in order to pay those higher up in the drug-dealing chain.

He said that the young man 'bitterly regretted' being pulled into what he thought of as the 'gangster lifestyle'.

Mr Masters also said that Walker's family did not hesitate in 'doing the right thing and calling police' upon discovery of the gun last December.

He added Walker had weaned himself off drugs during his time in custody and was working towards getting a 'legitimate job'.
Harrowing pictures of bruised and bloodied children fleeing from hellfire in Gaza and Israel show the devastating impact of the conflict which has killed over 1,500 people in just three days.

Hamas leaders last night threatened to execute civilian hostages if Israel continues its retaliatory airstrikes against Gaza.

The military wing of the Islamist group said it would kill a captive any time homes were hit 'without prior warning'.

Israel has been pounding Gaza from the air after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack on Saturday, killing more than 900 people and seizing about 130 more. Authorities in Gaza said Israel's airstrikes had hit a refugee camp, a hospital and mosques, and had killed 687 people and injured a further 2,900.

As the bloody conflict enters its fourth day, shocking photos from the ground provide a horrifying insight into the atrocities taking place as both sides continue to trade blows and lives, with innocent children and civilians caught in the middle.

Amid the horrors of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, innocent lives are being claimed on both sides. Pictured: A ball of fire erupts in Gaza City on Monday

GAZA: A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday

GAZA CITY: Palestinian girl walks on the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on the Shati refugee camp

GAZA CITY: Wounded children receive treatment in hospital for their injuries as the war rages on

ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip

ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip

ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Israelis - including a child - evacuate a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip

GAZA CITY: A wounded child is carried towards medical assistance after being caught up in an airstrike

GAZA CITY: A child injured in an Israeli airstrike is carried to a hospital as the number of casualties rose even higher

GAZA: A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday

Desperate parents have been pictured cradling their children as they run through war-torn areas in search of medical assistance.

Other photos show bruised children receiving medical aid in hospitals, while young kids have been seen looking lost as they navigate through the rubble and clamber through the billowing smoke to safety.

READ MORE: Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel's Defence Forces to besiege Gaza Advertisement

Images too harrowing to publish show heartbroken parents carrying the bodies of innocent children who have lost their lives at a tragically young age during the conflict.

Heartbroken parents have also had to bury their innocent children who have no role in the bloody violence.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Monday night: 'I recognise the legitimate grievances of the Palestinians. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. I recognise Israel's legitimate security concerns, but also remind Israel civilians must be respected and protected at all timed.'

Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu described Hamas as worse than ISIS in a damning speech where he vowed to destroy them.

'Children were executed and entire families were exterminated by Arab Terrorists,' he fumed. 'There were atrocities that I will not describe here. Hamas is ISIS and we will destroy it as the world defeated ISIS.'

It comes as pro-Palestine activists set off flares and fireworks and proclaimed 'let there be bloodshed' as heated protests took place across the UK last night.

Police arrested three people after protests outside Israel's London embassy on Monday night, with further arrests possible after criminal damage to a building on Kensington High Street.

Of those arrested, one was taken in for assault on an emergency worker, another for racially-motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon, the Metropolitan Police said.

Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately tried to keep the peace on a night of fury.

Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station in west London as more than 1,000 pro-Palestine activists gathered on the streets outside.

Fireworks were seen being launched by protesters on High Street Kensington - some towards the boarded up Israeli embassy - as those supporting Palestine told MailOnline that there is 'no way to change the Middle East peacefully'.

In stark contrast to the dancing, singing and flares in Kensington - and other heated protests across the UK - weeping Israelis gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas.

GAZA CITY: An emergency service member carries an injured child at Al-Shifa hospital

GAZA: A man carries the draped body of a child from the Palestinian Abu Hilal family who was killed with other relatives in an Israeli airstrike

GAZA: A medic runs as he carries an injured Palestinian child to ambulance in this screengrab taken from a video

GAZA CITY: A Palestinian child walks past damaged cars amid the rubble of a destroyed area after Israeli air strikes

A Palestinian man carries a child rescued from the Tattari family home which was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000

Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday

An member of the Israeli security forces stands close to a car hit by a rocket fired from Gaza, in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, on October 9

Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel on Monday. The conflict shows no sign of stopping

Benjamin Netanyahu has called up 300,000 army reservists and signalled a ground assault against the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas. Pictured: Damage from Hamas tockets in Ashdod, Israel

Israeli soldiers stand guard near damage caused by a rocket after if was fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Ashkelon, southern Israel October 9

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men inspect a damaged road after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Beitar Illit

Destruction made by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip is seen in Ashkelon, Israel, on Monday

This photo shows damaged cars along a desert road after an attack by Hamas terrorists at a music festival

Benjamin Netanyahu has called up 300,000 army reservists and signalled a ground assault against the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister has reportedly told US President Joe Biden: 'We have to go in, we can't negotiate now. We need to restore deterrence.' He has vowed to use 'enormous force' to punish Hamas and said Israel's actions would 'change the Middle East'.

The rising death toll prompted the chilling threat to execute hostages seized during Saturday's deadly attacks, the bloodiest on Israeli soil for 50 years.

The Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, threatened to execute the hostages one by one, and to film their murders.

Spokesman Abu Obeida said: 'We have decided to put an end to this as of now and we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one of the hostage civilians we are holding.'

Israel warned that any harm to the hostages would constitute a war crime and 'will not be forgiven'.

The threats of escalating violence came as:

Israel warned its citizens to prepare and stow food for three days inside safe rooms and bomb shelters;

Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel after four of its members were killed by Israeli shelling;

At least ten British citizens were reported to be among the dead and missing;

Harrowing stories continued to emerge of families killed in Saturday's assaults;

Anti-Semitic graffiti was spotted around London, as pro-Palestine groups celebrated the terrorist attacks;

Labour's party conference was marred by yet another anti-Semitism scandal after a shadow minister posed with a pro-Palestine group;

The BBC was criticised over its refusal to call Hamas terrorists.

The Al Qassam threat to execute hostages has heightened tensions still further in the region. Hamas has continued to send rockets from Gaza into Israel, which has promised a 'complete siege' of the territory to cut off supplies of food, water, electricity and fuel.

Gaza has been hit with up to 1,000 airstrikes since Israel launched Operation Swords. Its officials likened Saturday's attacks to the 9/11 terror atrocity in the US or the Pearl Harbor bombing.

In a televised address to the nation last night, Mr Netanyahu warned that the three days of airstrikes carried out so far were only the beginning.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' he said. 'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.'

He vowed to 'do everything' to free those held captive in Gaza, adding: 'I promise you this, citizens, at the end of the war our enemies will know it was a terrible mistake to attack Israel.'

He likened Hamas's actions to the atrocities carried out by the Islamic State terror group, with captives bound and killed.

Israel's president Isaac Herzog said: 'To my mind, not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day.

'And not since the Holocaust have we witnessed scenes of Jewish women and children, grandparents  even Holocaust survivors  being herded into trucks and taken into captivity.'

Smoke rises over the buildings as the Israeli airstrikes continue in Al-Rimal Neighbourhood of Gaza City, Gaza on October 9

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London said Israelis had been warned to 'prepare for a three-day stay in bomb shelters/secure rooms'.

Rishi Sunak chaired an emergency Cobra meeting and was due to speak with Mr Biden and key European leaders to coordinate a response.

The Prime Minister pledged to provide diplomatic, intelligence and security support to Israel if requested. Speaking at an event last night, Mr Sunak said 'terrorism will not prevail'.

He told the Future Resilience Forum: 'Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and to deter further incursions.

'We are working with the Israeli authorities to support them and we're doing everything possible to support British citizens who were caught up in the attacks and the families of those who perished.'

Downing Street said up to 60,000 British nationals could be in Israel and Gaza.

Mr Sunak visited a London synagogue last night to show his support for Israel - and later condemned Hamas in a joint statement with his French, German, American and Italian counterparts.

The Prime Minister was hailed as a 'great and wonderful friend' of Israel and the Jewish people.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told a congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London that Mr Sunak had 'turned your diary upside down in order to be here'.

Sir Ephraim said: 'Good friends are able to differentiate between the forces of darkness and the forces of light, between true and false, between right and wrong, 'And Prime Minister, you are a great and wonderful friend of our Jewish community and of the State of Israel.'

Mr Sunak told those who attended: 'I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you, to stand with you in this hour of grief as we mourn the victims of an utterly abhorrent act of terror, to stand with you in this hour of prayer, as we think of those held hostage and your friends and loved ones taking refuge in bomb shelters, or risking their lives on the frontline.

Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday

Israeli army reinforcements take position outside the southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Monday

Israeli soldiers gather near tanks, as violence around the nearby Gaza Strip mounts following a mass-rampage by armed Palestinian infiltrators on Monday

Israel continued to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip in the early hours of this morning

After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage

Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building

Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization

'And perhaps above all, I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you in solidarity in Israel's hour of need.

'As the Prime Minister of this country, I'm unequivocal. The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack.

'They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.'

Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel.

In a joint statement with his French, German, American and Italian counterparts on Monday night, Prime Rishi Sunak expressed his 'unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.'

The communique was issued following a joint phone call between Mr Sunak, President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy and US President Biden.

The five leaders said: 'We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned.

Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday)

Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City

'There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.

'Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.'

They added: 'All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

'Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region.'
A good Samaritan was nicknamed the 'Angel of the Gap' after stopping hundreds of people from jumping off a cliff near his house and taking their own lives.

Don Ritchie is believed to have saved almost 500 people from taking their own lives at The Gap at South Head, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, over 50 years.

He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his efforts before passing away aged 85 in 2012.

His heroic efforts made him known as 'an angel that walks among us' with the heartwarming message engraved in the prestigious medal.

The remembrance of his contribution comes as World Mental Health Day kicked off on Tuesday.

Don Ritchie (pictured) saved around 500 people from committing suicide at The Gap, a cliff face in Sydney's eastern suburbs

Mr Ritchie lived across the street from the site in Watson's bay, which is infamous for being frequented by people who end their own life from atop of the 100 metre cliff.

The former life insurance salesman would often see people visit the site before he noticed they would disappear.

Mr Ritchie decided to intervene and engaged in a simple act of kindness that would deter a person from falling to their own death.

He was filmed in a video for mental health charity R U OK some ten years ago with the footage detailing how he invited strangers to discuss their problems.

'I have spoken to many of them just that way of saying, "What are you doing over here",' Mr Ritchie said.

'Please come and talk to me, come over and have a cup of tea...come and have a beer or something like that to get them away from their mind away [sic] from going over while I'm there'.

Every morning he would look along the edge of the cliff and if he noticed anyone standing near the edge he would rush over and help them.

'We've [Don and his wife Moya] been involved in lot's of these incidents and it's just become part of a way of life,' he said.

'for me to sort of selling [sic] the idea that why not come over talk about it and see how we can fix it'.

While he stopped 160 people from committing suicide in his lifetime, Mr Ritchie's family says he helped save the lives of around 500 people.

During his younger years the former World War Two veteran physically stopped several people from taking their own life.

While he was physically holding back the potential victims from committing suicide his wife Moya would call the police.

He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his efforts before passing away aged 85 in 2012

The site (pictured) is often a place several people tragically plunge to their death from the edge of the 100metre high cliff face

Later on as he grew older and Mr Ritchie became less strong he began to invite people into his home for a cup of tea.

He would always lend a helping hand by offering up a cup of tea or breakfast to those who were struggling and would simply ask them if they wanted to talk.

Mr Ritchie confined himself to just speaking to people in need and never ventured out to offer his advice or counsel on how to deal with their issues.

His efforts to help others almost led to his own death several decades ago when he was trying to rescue a woman who was standing just centimeters from the cliff's edge.

The woman attempted to jump to the depths of the sea and rocky surface below before Mr Ritchie managed to haul her back up.

The terrifying incident could have ended badly if the woman had jumped which would have led Mr Ritchie to tumble off the cliff as well.

Mr Ritchie (pictured right) who passed away in 2012 aged 85

Mr Ritchie lent his support for mental health workers and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to raise funds to prevent suicide at The Gap.

Mr Ritchie told news.com he felt compelled to help those in distress.

'You can't just sit there and watch them, you gotta [sic] try and save them,' he said.

World Mental Health Day raises awareness of mental health was set up by the World Health Organization in 1992.

Life Line Australia: 13 11 14
Insists it has nothing to do with Australia Day

A local council has sparked outrage after changing the date of its Australia Day awards - but insists it isn't politically motivated.

Knox City Council, in Melbourne's east, moved next year's outstanding citizen award ceremony to later in the year.

The award was made to recognise the achievement of everyday locals 'who have gone above and beyond' in their community.

The change has sparked backlash from the community, who have slammed a 'handful of councilors' who they suspect are trying to cancel Australia day.

Knox Mayor Marcia Timmers-Leitch said it was not a statement on the city's stance on the date, instead blaming the dwindling interest in the ceremony with the council receiving just 19 nominations for the awards.

Numerous Victorian councils, including those from Shepparton, Geelong and Strathbogie Shire, have opted to cancel January 26 celebration all together in 2024

Knox Mayor Marcia Timmers-Leitch has insisted that the move is not the council taking a stance on Australia Day, but that it is instead trying to drum up more nominations (pictured, a recipient of the award in the Northern Territory)

More than 160,000 people live within the Knox City Council, and Cr Timmers-Leitch said that she would like the awards to reflect that.

'We're hoping by changing the timing of the awards, so that the nomination period doesn't coincide with summer holidays, we will increase participation,' she said in a statement.

'However, we do recognise that for some people in our community Australia Day is not a day of celebration.'

This is the first time in 29 years that the awards won't be held on Australia Day.

READ MORE: The Voice to Parliament won't change the date The Indigenous Affairs minister has sparked mass confusion and outrage after claiming a Voice to Parliament would have no interest in trying to change the date of Australia Day. Advertisement

At a council meeting in September, Cr Darren Pearce suggested scrapping the awards all together before it opted instead to simply push back the date.

He said that while he was a 'big supporter of Australia day', it was inevitable that some community members would see the change as a move to undermine the national holiday.

Cr Nicole Seymour said the decision was 'definitely not about Australia Day' but instead about engaging with the community and creating civic pride.

However, contradictions in the council's reports into shifting the date of the awards were pointed out by residents who opposed the decision.

They said that one report reflected a desire to improve the award ceremony, while another one said that keeping them on Australia Day was at odds with its desire for recognition.

A handful of local residents have since began petitioning the council to reconsider such a 'significant decision'.

'This proposal is clearly being driven by certain councilors wanting to scrap Australia Day, and it is not representative of our local community,' they wrote on social media.

'It is important that a decision as important as scrapping the Knox Community Australia Day Awards not be taken lightly, and should not be decided by a small handful of councilors.'

A follow-up report will be presented by the council at a later date to determine when the award ceremony will be held in 2024.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Knox City Council for comment.

Knox City Council has announced that it will delay their outstanding citizen awards, which were slated to be presented on Australia Day, after receiving an underwhelming amount of nominations

Bass Coast Council in the city's outer north also changed the date of their awards to create a 'more inclusive' celebration, it said in a statement.

The council fought back against a larger proposal to change the date of Australia Day after it received a huge backlash from members of the community.

The majority of Australians oppose changing the date of Australia day, according to Dr Bella d'Abrera, Director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs.

'Australia Day is more than just a date, it represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country, which we should celebrate,' she told the Herald Sun.

Despite this, other Victorian councils like Greater Shepparton City Council, Strathbogie Shire Council and Geelong City Council have cancelled all January 26 celebrations in 2024.

Members of each council cited the fact that many Indigenous peoples associate it with the great pain that British settlement inflicted on their people.
Former President Barack Obama issued a statement about the Hamas terror attacks on Israel 72 hours after they first occurred.

Early Monday evening, a statement was released on Obama's X (formerly Twitter) account condemning the violence that has left some 900 Israelis dead and thousands injured.

'All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians,' wrote the 44th president.

'We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those whove been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it dismantles Hamas.

'As we support Israels right to defend itself against terror, we must keep striving for a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,' he concluded.

The Obama Administration had an infamously rocky relationship with the US's closest ally. President Obama himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were not close, and there was tension over the brokerage of the Iran nuclear deal - a passion project of Obama's team.

Former President Barack Obama issued a statement about the Hamas terror attacks on Israel 72 hours after they first occurred

In 2015, Netanyahu delivered a speech to the Republican-controlled House, criticizing the Obama-designed nuclear agreement.

Shortly after Obama released his statement, former President Bill Clinton also released a message, days after the barbaric attacks on Israel began.

In a post to his X page, Clinton said: 'I condemn the horrific terrorist assault carried out by Hamas in Israel, and mourn the senseless loss of life. My heart is with all those affected by the violence, including American families. Now is a time for the world to rally against terrorism and to support Israeli democracy.'

'I stand with the government of Israel and all Israelis, and urge them to stand together. This is a moment to focus on purpose over politics.'

Clinton had a much closer relationship with Israel and its leaders than Obama. In the mid-90s he helped broker the ultimately unsuccessful Oslo Accords between Palestinian leadership and the Israeli government.

President Joe Biden released a written statement about the terror attacks on Monday as well, though he had previously issued a statement through the White House

Statements from the two most recent Republican Presidents - George W. Bush and Donald Trump - were issued over the weekend, as was a statement from the Carter Center on behalf of 99-year-old former President Jimmy Carter.

Trump, whose administration oversaw the signing of the Abraham Accords - bilateral agreements on Arab-Israeli normalization signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - called the attacks a 'disgrace' and encouraged Israel to defend itself with 'overwhelming force.'

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump wrote: 'These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration.'

'We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden whittle it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible. Here we go again.'

He later said that, like the war between Russia and Ukraine, the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians would not have happened were he the president.

SEI*175333158 Smoke rises after the Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip

Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton touches the flag-draped coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, after eulogizing him during his funeral ceremony at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel in 2016

I condemn the horrific terrorist assault carried out by Hamas in Israel, and mourn the senseless loss of life. My heart is with all those affected by the violence, including American families. Now is a time for the world to rally against terrorism and to support Israeli  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 9, 2023

The George W. Bush Presidential Center also issued a statement following the attack that condemned in no uncertain terms Hamas' brutal attack.

'We urge the United States and our allies to stand unequivocally with Israel, its government and people, and support Israels right to defend itself against these threats,' read the statement.

'Attacks on free and democratic states anywhere are attacks on all of us, whether in Israel, Ukraine, or elsewhere.'

Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria.

Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

The mother of Israeli Col. Roi Levy cries during her son's funeral at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Col. Roi Levy was killed after Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns

Israeli soldiers and civilians fought Hamas militants on the streets of southern Israel following a barrage of 2,000 rockets sent over the border by the Palestinian terrorists, in addition to a savage ground assault.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country.

Israeli Defense Forces have begun bombarding key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and issued warnings to civilians in certain regions before a wave of retaliatory attacks began Monday morning.

Along with the 900 Israelis who have been killed so far by the brutal Hamas attacks, at least 11 Americans died in the weekend ambush, and several have likely been taken captive along with the scores of Israelis who are being held hostage by Palestinian terrorists.
A White House spokesperson broke down in tears and struggled to get his words out on live television Monday after being asked about the shocking surprise attack by Hamas on Israel.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council who has been consistently briefing the press with updates on American hostages, was interviewed by Jake Tapper Monday and asked Kirby about the images he was seeing in the Middle East.

'I, uh, I - sorry. It's very - excuse me. It's very difficult to look at these images, Jake, and the human cost. These are human beings,' he said, unable to keep his composure and eventually breaking down.

'They're family members, they're friends, they're loved ones, cousins, brothers, sisters. Yeah, it's difficult and I apologize,' Kirby said, struggling to get the words out.

President Joe Biden finally released a written statement Monday condemning 'inexcusable hatred and violence' in the terror attack on Israel, as he revealed 'at least' 11 Americans have been killed in the carnage.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council who has been consistently briefing the press with updates on American hostages, was interviewed by Jake Tapper Monday and asked Kirby about the images he was seeing in the Middle East

These are human beings. White House spokesperson John Kirby breaks down on live TV while discussing the depravity of Hamas attacks. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/aMfVDSEDIi  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 10, 2023

Tapper reassured Kirby that 'he has nothing to apologize for' on his CNN program.

'Some of the images I was referring to had to deal with elderly people at a bus stop who had been slaughtered. Young women taken hostage, their pants filled with blood presumably because of being repeatedly raped,' Tapper added.

CNN reporter Nic Robertson also professed on air to being 'hit emotionally' by images from the attacks.

Uncertainty remains over the number of American hostages now being held in Gaza.

Kirby confirmed earlier Monday that the U.S. and Israel had been in touch.

Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, the IQB, said: 'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding.'

The head of the Israeli Defense Forces has already threatened to lay siege to Gaza.

'I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, said Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. 'We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.'

'I, uh, I - sorry. It's very - excuse me. It's very difficult to look at these images, Jake, and the human cost. These are human beings,' Kirby told CNN, unable to keep his composure and eventually breaking down

'Some of the images I was referring to had to deal with elderly people at a bus stop who had been slaughtered. Young women taken hostage, their pants filled with blood presumably because of being repeatedly raped,' Tapper added

A direct hit of a missile in Sderot during the third day to the attack of Hamas on Israel

CNN reporter Nic Robertson also professed on air to being 'hit emotionally' by images from the attacks

Kirby provided an evening briefing to reporters where he said the administration was still gathering information on any potential hostage situation involving Americans  with no firm information yet.

'We can't confirm that they are in fact holding hostages,' Kirby said. 'We are working literally by now to try to get more information about these unaccounted for Americans. The truth is, we don't have a solid idea of how many total are unaccounted for,' he said.

He said Biden 'has directed his team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.'

'That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that some are. I don't want to say we're assuming it, but we have to accept that grim possibility.'

Biden used his statement to speak in emotional terms about the devastation in Israel.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 8, 2023

Israeli emergency responders inspect a damaged car after a barrage of rockets that were launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 9, 2023. 'Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel,' said Biden

FILE - Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike on the Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

He said: 'Its heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence.

'We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.'

'The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.'

Biden said Americans stand 'shoulder-to-shoulder' with Israel, and said the U.S. State Department is providing consular assistance to the many U.S. citizens who may have been traveling there.

'Please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities,' he urged.

He cited close ties between the U.S. and Israel, in a relationship that goes back to minutes after Israel was founded. It is a relationship that also carries great weight in domestic politics. Biden also spoke of steps to guard against potential domestic threats and antisemitism.

'This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people,' Biden said.

'In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel.'

'In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis,' he continued in his statement, which ran seven paragraphs. 'We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.'

With Biden keeping his head down Sunday and Monday, National Security Advisor John Kirby appeared on Fox, Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on CBS Sunday after standing at Biden's side Saturday, and security official John Finer was on CBS Monday morning.

John Finer told CBS News on Monday that Iran was 'broadly complicit in these attacks' but that the U.S. had not seen 'any sort of direct involvement in the immediate attacks that took place over the last couple of days.'

Kirby also said Iran was 'complicit' while saying the U.S. had not evidence of Iranian involvement in the attack at this time.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Hamas 'wouldnt be around in the way that it is without the support that its received from Iran over the years,' but also said 'we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack.'

The White House also released a joint statement from the leaders of the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom expressing 'steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.'

'We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism,' they said.

Earlier, Biden was lambasted for staying silent on Monday as war raged and nine Americans were confirmed dead in 'Israel's 9/11'.

The president delivered a speech lasting less than three minutes on Saturday condemning the brutal Hamas terrorist attack.

On Sunday, he was briefed that Americans were among the victims but he said nothing publicly all day, and still went forward with hosting a staff BBQ, featuring a live band, at the White House.

Then, on Monday morning, as the world awaited his response to the loss of American life, the White House said Biden would not be making any appearances for the second day in a row.

Meanwhile, other world leaders publicly expressed support for Israel.

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby assured on Monday that Biden was at the White House despite the lack of public events.

'You've got to be sh***ing me?!? It's Monday at noon,' Donald Trump Jr. posted to X upon hearing news the president had decided not to make any remarks.

He added: 'Our greatest ally in the Middle East is at war, women and children are being slaughtered and raped in the streets, and our imbecile president is checking out before lunch?'

Following an intense backlash, the White House was forced to release a detailed account of what Biden was doing Monday to respond to the conflict.

It included meeting earlier in the morning with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients.

'He directed his team to follow up on coordination with Israel on all aspects of the crisis and to continue their work with regional partners to warn anyone who might seek to take advantage in this situation,' a White House statement said.

'This afternoon, President Biden will be speaking with several of our close allies about the latest developments in Israel and we will have more to share soon.'

In the last two days, Biden has posted several tweets from the official POTUS account about a wide variety of topics including student debt relief, taxing billionaires, creating good-paying union jobs and backing technology innovations.

He did post once on X about the ongoing conflict, writing: 'This morning, I spoke with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to express my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists.'

'We will remain in close contact over the coming days,' the president assured in the Sunday post. 'The U.S. will continue to stand with the people of Israel.'

During the call, Netanyahu reportedly told Biden that a ground offensive in Gaza against Hamas is critical and there is no time for negotiations.

Instead of hearing from Biden on Monday regarding the American deaths, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates released a statement slamming Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for using the violence as an 'opportunity' to put the blame on the president.

'At least nine Americans have lost their lives in these brutal terrorist attacks against the State of Israel. Hundreds of additional innocent people are dead,' Bates wrote in a statement.

He added: 'While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a great opportunity, most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy.'

'As the administration provides assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, this is a moment in which all Americans, regardless of political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder with one of our closest allies. No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united.'

Republicans were quick to claim that Biden's three-minute remarks on Saturday were not enough to show the extent of the U.S. support for Israel.

Hamas terrorists based in Palestinian enclave of Gaza launched a multi-front terrorist attack in Israel on Saturday, killing 900 Israelis in the three days so far of conflict

Pro-Palestinian protesters convened outside the White House over the weekend to seemingly show support for the heinous attacks against the Jewish State

They also blame Biden for the attack and say his un-freezing of $6 billion to Iran last month in exchange for the release of five Americans detained in Tehran is what funded the Hamas attacks.

Biden notably announced the release of these funds from the frozen account in South Korea on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks last month.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that he has yet to see evidence Iran 'directed or was behind' the Hamas attack.

Matt Miller, Department of State spokesperson, echoed the sentiment on Monday that there is no 'direct intelligence' that shows Iran was 'directly involved in this terrorist attack.'

'But that said, Iran has been a longtime supporter of Hamas,' Miller clarified. 'That's why we've taken action to hold Iran accountable for its support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations.'

'We will continue to examine what information we can about what directly led to these attacks and whether Iran or any other country may have been involved,' he told CNN. 'But at this point, we don't have any evidence to confirm that.'

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates did release a statement on Monday regarding the los of U.S. lives in Israel  but took the short statement to attack RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

Iran's United Nations mission has denied Tehran's involvement in Hamas' terrorist operation.

It is unclear how many American citizens were injured in the attacks, and whether any are being held hostage by the Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

While the names of those killed are not yet released, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Monday morning that the agency is in touch with their families 'and providing all appropriate consular assistance.'

'We cannot confirm that [Americans were taken hostage] at this point,' he told CNN. 'There are reports of that, but there are Americans who are unaccounted for, and our first priority is to locate those Americans, find out what their status is in the coming hours and days.'

As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead  and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least.
Humza Yousaf has been urged to tear up the SNP's deal with the Greens after one of its MSPs posted 'disgusting and shameful' online comments justifying murderous attacks in Israel.

Maggie Chapman sparked outrage after claiming the brutal killing spree by terrorist group Hamas at the weekend was a 'consequence of apartheid, of illegal occupation, of imperial aggression by the Israel state'.

The remarks by the Scottish Greens MSP for North East Scotland were condemned as 'callous' amid mounting calls for the 'extremist' party to be ousted from government.

In a letter to the First Minister yesterday, Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw urged Mr Yousaf to cut ties with his coalition partners in the wake of the 'abhorrent' social media post.

The Greens are the only Scottish party to refuse to sign up to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

Maggie Chapman sparked outrage after claiming the brutal killing spree by terrorist group Hamas at the weekend was a 'consequence of apartheid'

Posting on Twitter, now X, on Saturday following the attacks, Ms Chapman said: 'What's happening in #Palestine is a consequence of #Apartheid, of illegal occupation, & of imperial aggression by the Israel state.

'Palestinian civilians have seen their homes destroyed, their water stolen & their land appropriated illegally. #GazaUnderAttack #VivaPalestine.'

The following day, she doubled down on her comments on X, adding: 'We'll never have peace in Israel or Palestine if we don't recognise why those who've been subjected to blockade, occupation & worse retaliate.

'Peace-making requires honesty. Including acknowledging awful violent acts by different actors. But we cannot erase context of occupation.'

Mr Carlaw, whose Eastwood constituency is home to Scotland's largest Jewish community, said: 'Maggie Chapman's vile comments in the wake of Hamas's appalling attack, which has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians, has rightly provoked outrage on social media.

'It lays bare the disgusting bigotry that pollutes the Scottish Greens and makes them totally unfit to be a party of government.

'This post doesn't come in isolation  her colleagues regularly post or like messages that are grossly offensive to Jews, while the Greens' refusal to sign up to the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism tells you all you need to know about their extremism.

'Maggie Chapman's comments are so unacceptable that Humza Yousaf must end the toxic Bute House Agreement and kick the Greens out of his government.

Humza Yousaf has been urged to tear up the SNP's deal with the Greens after one of its MSPs posted 'disgusting and shameful' online comments justifying murderous attacks in Israel

'[External affairs minister] Angus Robertson, like every right-minded person, has condemned Hamas's actions, so we can only assume he is uncomfortable being in government with a party which refuses to view Hamas as a terrorist organisation.'

Mr Carlaw said Ms Chapman should be removed from her position as deputy convener of Holyrood's equalities, human rights and civil justice committee.

He added: 'It defies belief that Maggie Chapman can hold views as callous and abhorrent as these while serving on the equalities committee. Her position on that committee is now untenable.'

Ms Chapman has not responded to the criticism and Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater have not commented on the tweet, despite requests.

Ross Greer, the party's external affairs spokesman, who had earlier also been criticised for not calling out terrorism, said his party 'condemn Hamas without hesitation'.

Ross Greer, the party's external affairs spokesman, who had earlier also been criticised for not calling out terrorism, said his party 'condemn Hamas without hesitation'

He added: 'Deliberately massacring innocent civilians is a war crime and an act of pure evil. Palestinians have the right under international law to resist the Israeli occupation by force, but Hamas fighters murdering young people at a music festival and kidnapping wheelchair-bound pensioners is no act of resistance.'

He went on to blame Israel's occupation of Palestine as a 'root cause' of the violence, saying: 'Both Hamas and the Israeli government must be held to account for the war crimes they have committed.

'There is no military solution that does not consign thousands more innocent people, Palestinian and Israeli, to their deaths. The only path to peace starts with Israel ending its siege of Gaza and the occupation of all Palestinian territory. Half of the population of the Gaza Strip are children, so it is critical that a ceasefire is reached before Israel follows through on the threats issued by its leaders.'

A spokesman for the First Minister said he would respond to Mr Carlaw's letter of complaint.

He added: 'It's crass to reduce the horrendous situation unfolding in the Middle East to our domestic politics in Scotland. Maggie Chapman speaks only for herself.

'The First Minister speaks for the Scottish Government and we are clear the terrorist acts of Hamas are unjustifiable, inexcusable, and we condemn them.'

Posting on X, Mr Robertson said: 'The scale and horror of Hamas terrorism against Israel and Israelis sadly keeps growing. There is no justification for their actions.'
A heated confrontation between Yes and No supporters at an early voting centre for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum has resulted in one man being hospitalised and another arrested.

The confrontation, initially a shouting match, escalated into a violent incident at the North Ipswich early voting centre.

Police claim that at around 11:30 am on October 3rd, a 30-year-old man engaged in a verbal argument with a 65-year-old man, which later turned physical when the younger man assaulted the older individual.

Early voting has opened at centres across Australia for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum with a confrontation breaking out at one Queensland centre (file image of an early polling centre in NSW on Monday)

'It will be further alleged the Raceview man initially left the scene before returning a short time later, where he was taken into police custody,' a police spokesman said.

He has since been charged with serious assault and is due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on November 17.

The 65-year-old man was taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment.

The elderly man is understood to have suffered serious head injuries.

Campaign efforts are intensifying in the race to referendum day and senior Labor figures maintain there is still hope of the voice getting up despite polls showing otherwise.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said enshrining an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution would be a moment of national unity.

'We have five days in which Australians can have a look at what the question is - the constitutional change is very clear,' he told Nine's Today program on Monday.

'There will be a body that may give advice on matters affecting Indigenous Australians and the parliament remains supreme.

'For the parliament and government, the decision-making process doesn't change but you get better outcomes if it's an informed decision.'

The Yes campaign is continuing to fall behind as Australians prepare to head to the voting booths on October 14

Both the Yes and No camps are ramping up their final pitches to the public

Frontbencher Jason Clare says he's focused on Saturday's referendum, not what comes on Sunday.

'This is the political equivalent of climbing Mount Everest,' he told reporters in Canberra.

'But it's worth it if what we do here helps to change the lives of people doing a tough.'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton maintains Australians would not vote for something without seeing a significant amount detail.

'Our nation's rulebook, which has been the underpinning of success in our community and in our country, doesn't change without good reason,' he said.

'The prime minister just hasn't made that case.'

But Mr Clare hit back at the coalition, saying they were always against it for political gain rather than engaging with the proposal.

He pointed to a report that opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price hadn't ruled out launching an inquiry into corporate donations to the 'yes' camp.

'Peter Dutton is just interested in politics and division and if you want proof of that ... they're thinking about holding a Senate inquiry and calling companies into (parliament) just for disagreeing with him,' he said.

'There's the evidence that Peter Dutton has only ever been about one thing and that's him and his own political advantage ... and now about political payback.'
READ MORE: Police form ring of steel around the Sydney Opera House

Police defended decision, saying it was 'for his own safety'

NSW Police has defended the removal of a protester waving an Israeli flag at a pro-Palestine rally on Monday, claiming it was for 'his own safety'.

Around 1,000 protesters flocked to Sydney's Town Hall on Monday evening for a Free Palestine rally in the wake of reignited violence between Palestine and Israel.

The rally kicked off with various chants including 'Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied', 'Israel, Israel you cant hide youre committing genocide' and 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.'

But police leapt into action when a man, who has since been identified as Sydney businessman Mark Spiro, was carrying an Israeli flag - which he had not even unfurled - before three police officers dragged him away.

In an video of the incident, filmed by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Spiro can be heard repeatedly saying 'I've done nothing wrong'.

There were scenes of chaos as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims - some wearing black masks - who hurled lit flares at police and chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews' beneath the steps of the Opera House (pictured)

An officer told him: 'You've been arrested in relation to a breach of the peace.'

On Tuesday morning, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke defended the decision to arrest Mr Spiro, claiming his presence 'could have caused significant risk to him and others'.

'I understand his view... (but) it was necessary,' Mr Cooke said.

'In the circumstances the best option for us was to take the actions we did.'

Mr Cooke added: 'He was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace for his safety. He was removed and released.'

Mr Spiro later told Sky News he felt the officers' actions were 'excessive' and that he felt like a 'ragdoll'.

'It was excessive and at the time having both your arms pinned back for effectively having a rolled up Israeli flag was shocking and confronting,' Mr Spiro said.

'The police they should feel ashamed of themselves quite frankly. I was an innocent bystander with a rolled up Israeli flag.'

Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before resorting to stamping on it and tearing it into shreds (pictured)

Meanwhile, Sydney businessman Mark Spiro (pictured) was arrested by police for holding an unfurled Israeli flag while repeatedly saying 'I have done nothing wrong'

In total, Daily Mail Australia witnessed three individuals attempt to fly an Israeli flag before being chased away by protesters or arrested by the police 'for their own safety'.

Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the word 'peace' taken from her by police.

'A police officer came and snatched it out of my hands and said: "Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think you're doing?",' she said.

'I said: "I'm not Palestinian, I'm not Israeli. I'm just Irish-Australian and I don't like that we are inciting hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate".

'I don't think inciting more anger and violence is the solution.'

Shockingly, NSW Police felt compelled to warn Sydney's Jewish community from entering Sydney's CBD on Monday evening over safety concerns.

The protesters marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting 'Free Palestine'

The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD on Monday evening before marching to the Opera House where its sails were it up in blue and white in support of Israel.

In the end, the sails were only lit up for a short time and in muted colours.

Israeli supporters largely stayed away, with some watching the illumination from the other side of Circular Quay.

There were scenes of chaos at the Opera House as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims - some wearing black masks - who threw lit flares at police and chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews' beneath the steps of the iconic harbouside venue.

At one point, there were even chants of 'gas the Jews'.

Israel supporters kept their distance, watching the display from the other side of Circular Quay

Below the steps of the Opera House, a large crowd gathered waving Palestine flags

Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before stamping on it and tearing it to shreds.

Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great in Arabic) and 'death to the Jews' rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police barrier, brandishing torn pieces of the Israeli flag - despite the rally organisers calling for protesters to respect the police.

Over 100 cops formed a ring of steel along the steps of the Opera House and didn't intervene when flares or other projectiles were thrown at them.

Instead, they placed the lit flares in buckets of water as acrid smoke filled the air.

On Tuesday morning, Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said police were looking at CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the flare-throwers.

'I'm very disappointed in the strongest possible terms that people ... utilised flares,' Mr Cooke said.

'The entire rally was covered by CCTV ... (and we are) attempting to identify people who committed offences.'

Mr Cooke added: 'This is New South Wales, we do not expect people to bring conflict from other places to the streets of Sydney.

'Violence will not be tolerated and we were able to manage that to assure that there was no conflict last night.'
A man wounded while sitting beside suspected gangland figure Robert Issa when he was shot dead in a busy carpark has survived the attack but refused to help police.

The two men were sitting in a luxury Mercedes SUV when it was sprayed with bullets by four balaclava-wearing men outside Craigieburn Central shopping centre, in Melbourne, last Saturday.

Issa, who is understood to have links to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, died at the scene.

The survivor, a 28-year-old Hadfield man, was rushed to hospital after being seriously injured.

A man gunned down in a brazen drive-by shooting in Melbourne 's north on Saturday afternoon was named as Comanchero associate Robert Issa (pictured)

Mr Issa, 27, was shot dead in a luxury Mercedes SUV riddled with bullets (pictured), while another man, 28, survived despite being seriously injured

He was released from hospital on Monday but has so far refused to cooperate with Victorian detectives.

Police later called the shooting a 'targeted' attack.

'This is a particularly serious and concerning incident, which would have been incredibly frightening for the people who were in the carpark at the time,' Crime command commander Paul O'Halloran told media.

'Its a terrible incident and we are thankful that no one else was injured.'

The gunmen responsible remain at large.

They fled from the scene in a luxury SUV and the police are investigating if a black Range Rover Sport, which was later found burnt out, is linked to the attack.

One of the offenders may have suffered burns while torching the car, Victoria Police Crime Command Commander Paul O'Halloran said.

Police are investigating whether a a shooting at a Keilor house in September was related to the victim.

The incidents are believed to be the latest act in an underworld war for control of the illegal tobacco trade which has also seen a number of homes and businesses firebombed in recent months.

Police swarmed the Craigieburn Central shopping centre carpark after the shooting

The shooters fled from the scene in a luxury SUV and the police are investigating if a black Range Rover Sport (pictured), which was later found burnt out, is linked to the attack

'A significant investigation has been underway into a series of incidents linked in the last six months to organised crime groups involved in the importation and sale of illicit tobacco in the state of Victoria,' Anti-Gangs Superintendent Jason Kelly said.

'Police believe that the current situation is because of competing organised crime entities that are in conflict over the illicit tobacco trade here in Victoria and Australia more broadly.'

Groups involved in the conflict include Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
They have treated a pregnant woman shot in the stomach and a police officer shot in both legs

The only major medical center in southern Israel, they have treated 700 patients so far, approximately 130 are in critical condition

Photos have revealed the chaotic scenes inside the only major medical center in southern Israel where hundreds of patients have been rushed for urgent care in the 72 hours after the deadly surprise attack by Hamas.

Images from the Soroka Medical Center approximately 25 miles from Gaza show frontline workers tending to seriously wounded Israeli victims which included a pregnant woman shot in the stomach and police officer shot in both legs.

'A pregnant woman came in after being shot in her abdomen. She survived but the baby did not  killed in a terror attack before being born,' Dr. Shlomi Codish, CEO of Soroka told the New York Post.

'The extent of the injuries to civilians, children, the elderly was unprecedented. In the first 18 hours, we saw 700 people and treated them under fire  literally. Bombs were falling around us and air raid sirens were going off.'

Codish said they treated a police officer who was shot in both legs in the city of Ofaquim who struggled to get to the road where an ambulance met up with him.

A bloody faced patient (pictured) holds up a peace sign while being treated. The Soroka Medical Center, located 25 miles from Gaza, has treated 700 patients from the deadly Hamas attack

Frontline workers tend to a patient (pictured) while providing care to victims of the Hamas attack. Shlomi Codish, CEO of Soroka, said they treated a pregnant woman who was shot in the stomach. The woman survived, the baby did not

The medical team have been treating victims (pictured) non-stop since Saturday's horrific attack. Codish said they have treated injuries to civilians, children, the elderly in unprecedent numbers

The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, visited Soroka Medical Center to support their work. Of more than 700 patients treated there, approximately 130 arrived in a critical condition.

'People walked for miles with gunshot wounds and distanced themselves from terrorists with assault rifles,' said Codish.

'People shot in the settlements where EMS could not reach hiked to the highway and got picked up by passing motorists.'

'We had a patient come in, wearing her pajamas after being shot in bed. What are they protecting against?' Codish said.

In one image, an Israeli officer can be seen making the peace sign as he's wheeled into the medical center with blood all over his face.

Another shows medics frantically transporting a wounded patient on a stretcher to a waiting military helicopter to be moved to a different hospital.

At least 260 people were killed at Supernova music festival near the Gaza Strip in the surprise attack, and many are still missing.

President Joe Biden said at least 11 Americans were killed and as of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead while more than 2,000 are injured.

Soroka's medical team (pictured) have been serving as 'Israel's Iron Dome for Health. The doctor said they treated a police officer who was shot in both legs and struggled to get to safety where an ambulance was able to pick the officer up

Isaac Herzog (pictured), President of Israel, visited Soroka Medical Center on Monday to support their work treating victims of the Hama's attack

Israeli soldiers and medical personal transfer a victim to a hospital in Jerusalem. The hospital used helicopters to transport the first wave of 700 patients to make room for others

'In a military event, soldiers wear protective equipment. A gunshot when you are protected causes significant damage, but not significant injuries. For young civilians, shot while enjoying a party, that is not the case,' said Codish.

According to the medical center website, the staff is working around the clock in the face of personal loss and fear.

Staff is working on 36-hour shifts and administering medical treatments wherever possible, including preforming surgery in the emergency department.

'The whole time we were cognizant of staff members who had been killed or who were missing,' the doctor said.

Codish said of the 700 treated, 18 people have died. He said they transported the first group of patients to make room for the next wave.

'They went out in fleets of helicopters, headed to hospitals further away from Gaza. 'We need to make room.'
A pro-Palestine crowd with their faces covered ripped apart an Israeli flag in Manhattan on Monday chanting their wish for Israelis to die, as they faced off with a pro-Israel group yelling at the Palestinians: 'They all need to die now!'

A large number of NYPD officers were stationed in between the rival gatherings, keeping them apart.

Some in the pro-Palestine camp blamed Israel for the terror attacks over the weekend, launched by Hamas, which have left 900 Israelis dead.

One pro-Palestine demonstrator roused their crowd with a chant of: 'When Palestine is under attack. What do we do?'

Their colleagues replied: 'We fight back.'

Another group began shredding the Israeli flag, to widespread cheers. Some stamped on it.

Pro-Palestine activists are seen on Monday shredding the Israeli flag in Manhattan

A pro-Palestine woman yells into a loud hailer at the tense Monday rally

Pro-Palestine demonstrators are seen on Monday in front of the consulate of Israel

Pro-Palestine demonstrators stamped on the Israeli flag, and appeared to set fire to it

In Boston, another pro-Palestine group stood on the U.S. flag, calling the United States 'legit gangsters'.

In Manhattan, near the Israeli consulate, The New York Post reported that one member of the pro-Palestine group shouted: 'We gotta kill them all! We're going to kill them all! You better leave our country! You better get out of there!'

Jesse, 45, of Nolita, told the paper he thought Hamas' attack was justified.

'Fighting back isn't terrorism,' he said, brandishing a sign that read: 'End aid to racist Israel.'

'They're not just occupying. They're controlling, they're murdering. They're bulldozing schools. They're filling wells with cement.

'They have every right to fight back.'

Jesse likened the Israeli government to slave owners.

'You cannot compare. It's like comparing what the slaves did to get out of slavery,' he said.

One pro-Palestine activist shouted at the Israeli contingent that they should prepare to 'get barbecued'.

'We're going to liberate Palestine,' the protester said, according to Fox News.

'We already liberated parts of it already. So get ready to get barbecued.'

Pro-Israel demonstrators light candles in Manhattan on Monday

People take part in a rally against the violence wave on the Gaza Strip in New York City on October 09, 2023

The pro-Israel crowd responded with their own taunts.

'They all need to die now!' a man yelled at the Palestinian supporters, according to The New York Post.

'We need to protect Jews here and in America!'

Karen Lichtbraun, who leads Yad Yamin New York, where members 'encourage Jewish self-defense', told the paper that Hamas were terrorists, and were not pro-Palestine.

'They are bombing our homeland,' she said.

'They've kidnapped our people. They're torturing our people. They've invaded our homes. They're dragging our women through the streets. They're grabbing children directly our of their mothers' arms.

'There's nothing pro-Palestine about it. They're terrorists.

'They just committed war crimes,' she added, comparing the group to the Nazis.

Pro-Palestine activists are seen on Monday by the Israeli consulate

A crowd of pro-Palestine activists confronted the pro-Israel demonstrators

Several pro-Israel activists performed the Am-Yisrael-Chai, a religious celebratory dance, when music played

On the pro-Israel side of the protest, demonstrators brandished the national flag

New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. We stand with Israel tonight and every night. Join us now: https://t.co/110H2tnqyN  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 9, 2023

There was tension within the pro-Israel group about the rhetoric, The New York Post reported.

One young pro-Israel supporter yelling, 'Death to Hamas!' into a megaphone was silenced by another pro-Israel woman.

'Please stop,' she said. 'You're making us look psychotic.'

The man replied: 'That liberal s*** needs to stop now.'

New York Mayor Eric Adams joined a vigil for Israel on Monday night, where he said: 'I am devastated and I am angry, and I am going to really refrain from allowing that anger to really display the human part of me.

'I am in so much pain from what I saw and what I witnessed.

'Nothing can justify pulling innocent children from their homes, murdering them, dragging them through the streets laying your feet across their bodies.

'Nothing can justify what we witnessed.

'And my friends and associates that have been side by side with me for years, of different religious communities - the Sikh community, the Muslim community, the Christian community, the Jewish community - all the different communities have reached out to me and stated that what we witnessed was reprehensible and disgusting, to state that terrorist act that we saw cannot be defended anywhere on this globe.'

He went on: 'It is not acceptable what we witnessed in Israel. Not acceptable.

'You cannot rationalize it, you cannot state that how it was done and why it was done - it was clear that it was anger, antisemitism at the highest level and a total mindset of inflicting pain at one of the most holiest days of the year in a pre-meditated, barbaric action that is unacceptable and it will go down in history as one of the most draconian, disgusting acts you could ever witness.

'And no one should be celebrating this, no-one. Humanity should be angry.

'Yes I stand with Israel - yes I stand with the Jewish community. But most importantly I stand with humanity. I stand with human behavior that should never have reached this depth.'
A dying Australian great-grandmother has been granted her final wish by paramedics in a heartwarming gesture.

The ambos took Shirley McHugh, 94, to her favourite spot overlooking Newcastle's Bar Beach, in NSW, so 'so she could feel the salt breeze one last time' in August.

When they stopped, the great-grandmother relaxed and told ambo Brittaney Banks 'I'm home'.

Ms McHugh was gifted a beautifully fine day to take in the famous stretch, which is busy with swimmers, surfers, lifesavers and families most days.

A respected member of the Catholic and broader community, she died 15 hours later.

Paramedics took Shirley McHugh to her favourite spot overlooking Newcastle's famous Bar Beach, so 'so she could feel the salt breeze one last time'

Ms McHugh was a grandmother to 10 and great-grandmother to six. She was farewelled by her family in August

'When I opened the doors of the ambulance, Shirley said 'I'm home', and breathed a sigh of relaxation it's one of those jobs I will remember forever,' Brittaney Banks said.

Her granddaughter expressed her gratitude on social media thanking the ambulance crew for respecting the special request from the stylish great-grandmother known to many as 'Shirl the Pearl'.

'Thank you ladies for fulfilling my Nan's final wish on her way home,' Emma Brown wrote.

'She had such a beautiful soul, it was really my pleasure,' Ms Banks replied. 'I am so glad we could bring her home.'

Ms McHugh had 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

'When 94-year-old Shirley McHugh asked to see the ocean while being transported from Sydney to Newcastle, paramedics went above and beyond to make her wish come true,' NSW Ambulance wrote in a Facebook post.

'Brittaney and Hannah were recently thanked by Shirleys emotional family for taking her to her favourite spot at Bar Beach so she could feel the salt breeze in her hair one last time, only 15 hours before she died.'

When they stopped, the great-grandmother relaxed and told NSW ambos Brittaney and Hannah, 'I'm home'
Anthony Albanese will visit the spiritual heart of the country as part of a final push for the Indigenous voice just days out from the referendum.

The prime minister will touch down at Uluru on Tuesday evening where he will meet with representatives from the Central Land Council.

The visit will be part of a nationwide blitz advocating for enshrining an Indigenous voice to parliament and executive government in the constitution ahead of Saturday's referendum.

The trip to Uluru will be more than six years since the call for the Indigenous voice was laid out as part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Mr Albanese said he would be meeting with some of the architects of the statement.

'As the Uluru Statement from the Heart says, it speaks about the children and how Indigenous Australians just want a better future, and love and hope and optimism for future generations, and that's what (the referendum) is about,' he told reporters in South Australia.

The prime minister will head to Uluru as part of a final nationwide campaign blitz before the voice referendum day.

'The words in the constitutional change make it very clear it doesn't change the way that decisions are made by parliament and by government, all it asks ... is for people to be listened to.'

But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the voice would be divisive.

'We've got a situation now where I think Australians in their millions are increasingly wanting to vote 'no' for the voice,' he said.

'The constitution is our nation's foundation document and rule book and it shouldn't be changed lightly, and the prime minister has made a deliberate decision to not give details of how the voice will operate to the Australian public.'

Meanwhile, the Australian Electoral Commission has expressed concern over 'unacceptable conduct' of a small number of voters in the lead-up to the voice referendum.

With early voting under way, electoral commissioner Tom Rogers urged greater civility, saying tensions were heightened compared with a federal election.

'That's probably a reflection of the kind of debate that we're seeing in public in any case, which I think during a referendum always tends to be a bit more visceral than at a normal election,' he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

'A referendum unleashes passions that can boil over and we've seen what I would call unacceptable conduct, including some filming of our staff who are just trying to do the right thing.'

More than 21,800 people have cast votes in remote communities before polling day - exceeding all remote votes cast in last year's federal election.

So far, 2.87 million votes have been cast.

Mr Rogers said he was aware of misinformation being circulated by campaigners about the referendum process, calling it 'nonsense'.

'Votes are treated with the utmost respect, we treat them like a democratic blank cheque that we cash on behalf of all Australians,' he said.

The comments come as research from the University of Melbourne into popular Chinese messaging app WeChat found discussion about the voice on the platform has been dominated by right-wing rhetoric and misinformation.

One particular account called YamiChew published 'no' campaign videos featuring misinformation about the potential for the voice to undermine constitutional integrity and Indigenous privilege.

The videos have received tens of thousands of reposts and hundreds of comments.

Pro-voice content and videos from official political groups were lucky to receive more than 20 likes.
The choice of lighting on the Empire State Building on Monday night appeared to cause some confusion with some mistaking the lights for that of the Palestinian flag, which shares identical colors to those of Italy.

In a tweet the Empire State Building stated how the choice of colors of red, white and green on Monday night was to celebrate Italian Heritage / Indigenous Peoples' Day.

But the shared similarities in the colors of the flags of Italy and Palestine were not lost by those on X.

'Unfortunate optics/colors right now,' wrote Fox journalist Kassy Dillon.

On Monday night, the Empire State Building was illuminated in red, white, and green to commemorate Italian Heritage / Indigenous Peoples' Day

The choice of lighting led to some confusion, with some mistakenly interpreting the colors as those of the Palestinian flag, which shares identical colors

Several users on social media were not impressed with the choice of colors on Monday night

'My God. They need to change those lights now. Same colors as Palestine. Not a good time for that,' noted history teacher Kelly Norton.

'I'm gonna stick my neck out and say that it's not a coincidence,' wrote one user.

'Oh, oh that is unfortunate,' added another.

The Jewish population in New York is the largest in the world outside of Israel, with 1.77 million Jews living across the city according to 2023 data.

The Empire State Building was lit up in blue and white, the colors of Israel's flag on Saturday night in support of the country.

It was a similar story in Washington D.C. with the White House also lit in blue and white to underscore U.S. solidarity with Israel.

The White House was lit in blue and white to underscore U.S. solidarity with Israel

People stand with a Israeli flag outside the White House, lit in blue and white on Monday night

The White House is illuminated in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday

Over the weekend the Empire State Building was lit in blue and white in solidarity with Israel

The Empire State Building illuminates in the colors of the flag of Israel as seen from New Jersey
There has been a dramatic twist to Monday night's pro-Palestine rally at Sydney Opera House, as it's revealed the protest was entirely illegal.

Daily Mail Australia has confirmed with the NSW Police Commissioner's office that the organisers did not submit an application to hold the march.

Radio station 2GB initially threw doubt on the rally's legality when Independent NSW MP Rod Roberts said no Form 1 - which is required to legally hold a protest - had been signed by the organisers.

Show host Ray Hadley also said the state's Police Minister Yasmin Catley was 'missing in action'.

'So last night's protest was illegal from start to finish,' he said. 'There was no application for the protest to go ahead.

'Somehow, Assistant (Police) Commissioner Tony Cooke has stood before the media this morning unaware there was no Form 1.'

There has been a dramatic twist to Monday night's pro-Palestine rally (pictured) at Sydney Opera House, as it's revealed the protest was entirely illegal

New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley (pictured) has been accused of being 'missing in action'

Hadley said that 'We all assumed, probably incorrectly, that there was approval sought and given for this protest to go ahead.'

He then detailed the steps necessary to hold a protest in NSW, which involves going to the relevant police commander, getting permission and filling in Form 1.

Opera House under fire for lacklustre tribute to Israelis slaughtered in Hamas massacre Advertisement

Mr Roberts, who previously served as a police detective, said he had come by the information because he 'had 20 years in the NSW Police ... and I still have a number of contacts inside the organisation'.

He said he had it 'on very good authority' that no Form 1 was submitted for Monday night's protest.

'Therefore, the bottom line is that it was an unlawful gathering,' he said.

Mr Roberts said he was shocked that Ms Catley did not appear at NSW Premier Chris Minns' press conference on Tuesday morning.

'Everybody would know that this is the topic of the day I'm sure that if I was the Premier, I would have my Police Minister standing right beside me,' he said.

'Instead, she's not even there, she's missing in action and this isn't the first time.'

Hadley agreed, saying 'One would have thought that given the gravity of what happened last night and given the road crash interview by Attorney General Michael Daley this morning, that he would have summoned Yasmin Catley to be by his side.

'But he's now running a protection racket for her.'

Mr Daley admitted on 2GB he had no idea about the rally where protestors lit flares and chanted 'gas the Jews' outside the Opera House on Monday night.

Mr Roberts intends to use a NSW Legislative Council motion called Standing Order 52 to find out all the information relevant to the legality or otherwise of the protest and the police intelligence behind it.
A shocking video shows a naked man being attacked by parents at a JCPenney store near Seattle after he allegedly attempted to inappropriately touch their children.

The person recording the clip explains that they're on the first floor of the kids' department of the location, as the man is attempting to evade people chasing him wearing nothing but socks.

'He's like, holding the kid,' the recorder claims, suggesting that the unidentified man was trying to touch two kids that he had with him in the store.

As the woman recording asks where a cop is, the men chasing begin to jog after the man as he disappears behind a pole.

He is then seen a few seconds letter grabbing a pair of pants from the store and attempting to put them on.

A shocking video from near Seattle shows a naked man confronted and attacked by shoppers at a local JCPenney after he allegedly attempted to inappropriately touch children

A man in a black hat then decides to throw punches with the man, as the accused pervert fights him off.

Two other people eventually grab him and attempt to wrestle him under control after he pushes off the first chaser.

Once they get him under control, the man in the black hat throws an additional punch at the naked man while someone is heard in the background saying: 'C'mon, let's get him!'

He then starts to throw further punches and swings violently at the man as the clip ends with people heard warning: 'Okay, enough. Enough.'

The video was initially posted by a Seattle-area Twitter account from the JCPenney location in Tukwila, about 10 miles south of the city.

A Seattle-area reporter did not identify anyone in the video but confirmed with local police that the attack took place on Sunday, October 1.

The location at the Southcenter Mall in Tukwila is one of just over 600 remaining in the United States.

A reporter said Tukwila Police described the naked man as 'someone in mental crisis' and adding that he was soon detained and taken to the hospital.

The person recording the clip explains that they're on the first floor of the kids' department of the location, as the man is attempting to evade people chasing him wearing nothing but socks

As the woman recording asks where a cop is, the men chasing begin to jog after the man as he disappears behind a pole

He is then seen a few seconds letter grabbing a pair of pants from the store and attempting to put them on

A man in a black hat then decides to throw punches with the man, as the accused pervert fights him off

Two other people eventually grab him and attempt to wrestle him under control after he pushes off the first chaser

Once they get him under control, the man in the black hat throws an additional punch at the naked man while someone is heard in the background saying: 'C'mon, let's get him!'

A reporter described the naked man as 'someone in mental crisis' and adding that he was soon detained and taken to the hospital

It is unclear if he was charged with a crime in connection with the incident or if the man who punched him was.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Tukwila Police and JCPenney for further comment on the incident.

According to Neighborhood Scout, the town has a crime rate of 162 per one thousand residents, an abnormally high level.

In 2016, it was declared 'America's Most Dangerous City,' according to KING.
Hardline Muslim leaders in Australia told followers to destroy 'filthy Zionist pigs' hours before the shocking scenes at Sydney Opera House on Monday evening.

Chilling footage of masked pro-Palestine activists chanting 'Gas The Jews' and 'F*** The Jews' on the forecourt of the global landmark have shocked the world.

They were gathering to celebrate the massive Hamas attack on Israel, which saw hundreds massacred in the surprise offensive out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

The young radicals were also protesting against the sails of the Opera House being lit up in the blue and white of Israel's flag as a sign of solidarity with the Jewish state.

But they were spurred into action by words of hate from Muslim leaders in Australia who spread their message on social media and in targeted videos.

Sydney-based Mohamed Shaar, who also calls himself Abu Hamzu, branded opponents 'Zionist pigs' just hours before Monday's rally began.

Sydney-based Mohamed Shaar (pictured) who also calls himself Abu Hamzu, branded opponents 'Zionist pigs' on Monday afternoon, just hours before the rally began

Mohamad Shaar posted a picture of himself outside Jerusalem's ancient Al Aqsa mosque and added: 'May Allah protect Al Aqsa mos from the filth of the Zionist pigs.'

'Destroy all the settlers and the Zionists,' Shaar told his 4,300 followers on Monday. 'Just in case you have forgotten who is the oppressor here...'

Saturday's terror attack on Israel was codenamed Operation Al Aqsa Flood, named after the Al Aqsa mosque on Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

On Monday, Shaar posted a picture of himself outside the ancient mosque and added: 'May Allah protect Al Aqsa mos from the filth of the Zionist pigs.'

Another Australian preacher, Abdulghani Albaf, told his flock to 'destroy their enemies' minutes before the rally began.

'Oh God, honour Islam and Muslims, humiliate polytheism and polytheists and destroy the enemies of religion,' he posted at 4.44pm on Monday.

In another post, he added: 'Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) till you follow their religion.'

The Palestine Action Group also rallied supporters to attend the protest and told them: 'Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied.'

Among the protesters at the Opera House were some activists wearing menacing black face masks and carrying ISIS-style black flags with Arabic writing on them.

One of the flags being carried through the protest bore the Arabic words of the Islamic shahada, the Muslim pledge to Allah.

The stark black and white banner said in Arabic: 'I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his servant and his messenger.'

Hardline Muslim leaders in Australia rallied followers to destroy 'filthy Zionist pigs' hours before the shocking scenes at Sydney Opera House on Monday evening

One of the flags being carried through the protest bore the Arabic words of the Islamic shahada, the Muslim pledge to Allah

Minutes before Monday's protest began, Sydney's Lakemba Mosque-based Lebanese Muslim Association blasted NSW Premier Chris Minns for lighting up the Opera House sails in Israel's honour.

At 4.30 pm on Monday, the LMA posted a lengthy statement branding the premier as a hypocrite.

'Hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli lives have been lost over the past 36 hours following military hostilities in Palestine,' the statement added.

LMA president Hafez Alameddine said Palestinian losses since the conflict began were far higher than 'any Jewish lives lost'.

'Hundreds of Palestinian lives have also been lost in these exchanges,' he said.

Among the protesters at the Opera House were some activists wearing black face masks or scarves over their face and carried ISIS-style black flags

Chilling footage of masked pro-Palestine activists chanting 'Gas The Jews' and 'F*** The Jews' on the forecourt of the global landmark have shocked the world

The protesters were gathering to celebrate the massive Hamas attack on Israel, which saw hundreds massacred in the surprise offensive out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday

The Palestine Action Group which organised Monday's rally in Sydney distanced themselves on Tuesday from the foul chants at the Opera House and blamed it on a small group of 'about 20'.

'They were quickly condemned for their chants and asked to leave,' said a spokesman.

'Long-standing Palestinian organisers and activists, Palestinian, Arab and Muslim elders attending the protest were disgusted and deplored by the action.

'This is not what our movement stands for. We oppose Zionism, an ideology distinct from Judaism.

'We oppose Israel, a racist state which has waged genocide on Palestinians. We are an anti-racist and anti-colonial movement and we refuse to fight racism with racism.'
Hamas terrorists have abducted an Australian's two grandsons and daughter-in-law while also murdering his son's girlfriend in cold blood during Saturday's bloody sneak attack on Israel.

Mother-of-two Adi Kaplon, who is Australian man Yonadav's daughter-in-law, is believed to be among hundreds captured by the insurgents after they poured into southern Israel.

Family friend Moses Ben-Giat told The Australian newspaper Ms Kaplon's infant boy was used as 'a human shield' by the raiding gunmen, who have taken hostages back to the Gaza Strip.

Mr Ben-Giat said Yonadav's two sons and their families live in the village of Kibbutz Holit, which is just two kilometres from the Gaza border.

Young mother-of-two Adi Kaplon, who is the daughter-in-law of an Australian, has been reportedly kidnapped by Hamas fighters

At the time of the surprise attack Yonadav's sons were in a neighbouring kibbutz where they were pinned down by Hamas gunfire.

Meanwhile in Holit Ms Kaplon barricaded herself and her four-month-old and four-year-old sons within the family home.

The terrified mother sent messages to neighbour Avital Aladjem as they desperately hid from the marauding gunmen who were shooting anyone who resisted.

'Adi tried to hang on as much as she could,' Ben-Giat said.

He reported Hamas fighters threw a grenade into the living room of Ms Kaplon's house, blowing open the front door.

They then stormed the house and dragged away Ms Kaplon and her boys.

Mr Ben-Giat said the merciless Hamas insurgents had earlier stormed the home of Yonadav's youngest son and shot dead his girlfriend while she slept.

'Her body is still there, on the bed, we can't reach that yet,' Mr Ben-Giat said.

A family friend said Ms Kaplan had desperately tried to hide in a shelter even as terrorists threw a grenade into the family home, blowing open the front door

The attack on the kibbutzim began around 6am but the Hamas fighters were only able to breach the fencing around Holit later in the morning.

Mr Ben-Giat said the brutal assault was launched from 50 trucks, which each had four to five terrorists in them who were 'heavily armed with RPGs, with M16s and machine guns'.

Once inside the kibbutz the gunmen methodically went house-to-house killing or kidnapping the occupants.

'They weren't struck by a bomb, they were killed one by one,' Mr Ben-Giat said.

Mr Ben-Giat said he was acting as family spokesperson because Yonadav was too distraught to talk about what had happened.

In a terrifying new development the armed wing of Hamas' said on Monday evening it would begin executing an Israeli civilian captive for each new Israeli bombing of civilian houses without pre-warning.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one of the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

The group has abducted at least 100 people including women and children since clashes began on Saturday.
EXCLUSIVE

Australians trying to flee war-torn Israel claim they are being charged thousands of dollars to change flights they booked through Qantas, while Emirates is offering the same service for free.

Asher Lilley, from Darwin, was enjoying a holiday with her sister and parents in Israel on Saturday when thousands of Hamas rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip sparking widespread conflict across the region.

The 28-year-old and her family locked themselves in a hotel and could hear missiles and fighting from their room, but have since been forced to leave their refuge after the situation became too dangerous.

They were able to change their return flights with Emirates to leave Israel as quickly as possible, at no extra cost, but were shocked to learn Qantas was charging others thousands for the same privilege.

While Qantas does not fly directly to Israel, customers can book flights there on the national carrier's website with partner airlines.

Their airline has denied claims it is charging exorbitant fares to flee the warzone and that any extra costs were from other carriers - not Qantas.

Ms Lilley told Daily Mail Australia that one person she knows was charged 'a couple of thousand' to reschedule their flights.

Another Australian woman, Bev, has friends stuck in Israel and took to Facebook on Tuesday, saying: 'Their flights keep being cancelled and Qantas is currently wanting to charge them $10,000.'

Asher Lilley is pictured at the front, with her family in Israel before war broke out on Saturday

Pictured: Ms Lilley's sister asleep in the bomb shelter her family stayed in between Saturday and Tuesday

Ms Lilley took to Instagram on Monday to slam Qantas: 'Emirates are allowing people to change their flights for free to an earlier date and Qantas is charging people thousands to do the same.

'I didn't think they could get any lower, yet here they are. Charging Aussie citizens $$$ to flee.'

A few hours after being contacted by Daily Mail Australia about the claims, a Qantas spokesperson said that 'all customers can get a refund if they no longer wish to fly or we will waive the change fees if they want to move flights', subject to availability.

READ MORE: Anger as Jews are told to stay home and dragged away from protest in Sydney Advertisement

'We have been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and offered support for Australians in Israel.'

'Customers who are trying to leave Tel Aviv and are having difficulties with flights can contact us to discuss alternatives,' the airline said.

Ms Lilley also pleaded with the Australian government to help tourists escape Israel, saying her family has barely received any communication at all.

'We're stuck here and have no info given to us at all from the embassy or government,' she said.

'Registered 24 hours ago told we would be updated and haven't heard from them once.

'Just a generic email telling us to keep an eye on flights, as if we aren't doing that, it's been terrifying.'

Her family was in northern Israel when war broke out, but they didn't realise and went outside for a bite to eat.

Ms Lilley took to Instagram to slam Qantas and the Australian government (pictured)

She said the Australian government had barely contacted them, even though they were in a war-torn region

Ms Lilley asked Australians to contact the Australian government and urge it to repatriate citizens

'We had to run and hide in the staircase while missiles flew overhead,' she said.

'We could hear them landing next to us.'

They were in lockdown on Monday because Lebanon started to approach the border and there was gunfire and bombs going off near their shelter.

By Tuesday, her family still hadn't heard anything from the government.

'Spent the afternoon locked in the house hearing fighting and missiles not far from us,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Where is the support for Australians?

'It's not good enough, why have other countries been successful in helping their people get out yet Australia hasn't? No excuse.'

After being stuck in a bunker for four days, Ms Lilley's family was forced to make a harrowing two-hour train trip to the Tel Aviv - surrounded by gunfire, explosions and armed soldiers.

Ms Lilley is pictured in Italy, where the family travelled before heading to Israel

Pictured: Missiles flying through the sky in Israel, above where Ms Lilley was staying

Bev and Ms Lilley have encouraged Australians to contact Foreign Minister Penny Wong to campaign for travellers stuck in Israel to be repatriated.

Ms Lilley also explained she was stuck in the UK when Australia locked its borders during the Covid pandemic, and that the situation was similar - 'no contact, no info, no help,' she said.

'It's their job to keep Australians safe when in crisis in other countries yet we haven't heard from them in 24 hours,' she said.

The attacks began about 6.30am Israeli time on Saturday when thousands of Hamas rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and as far as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Israel has been pounding Gaza from the air after the surprise terror attack, killing more than 900 people and seizing about 130 more.

Authorities in Gaza said Israel's airstrikes had hit a refugee camp, a hospital and mosques, and had killed 687 people and injured a further 2,900.
Sasha Obama was enjoying a peaceful weekend in Los Angeles as she soaked up the late summer sunshine with a book and a cigarette on Saturday.

The former first daughter was looking casual in an off-the-shoulder purple top and easy-fitting white trousers, blending in with other park-goers as she relaxed in a stripy fold-up chair.

Topping the look off with a pair of owlish spectacles she seemed engrossed in a Daniel Quinn novel as she sipped from a hunter-green Hydro Flask, breaking away occasionally to glance at her phone.

Blocking out distractions with a pair of $550 Airpods Max headphones the 22-year-old kept it natural with minimal makeup, and her long, braided, brown locks pulled back in a ponytail.

The 1996 novel  The Story of B  tells the story of a Catholic priest who is sent by his order to spy on a charismatic environmentalist they think might be the antichrist.

In the book, written by Daniel Quinn, the priest infiltrates B's inner circle to learn more about his beliefs, including his idea that people should return to a hunter-gatherer way of life because agriculture leads to famine and overpopulation.

B also believes that people should seek out their own understanding of the universe rather than relying on religious authorities - much to the ire of the priest's Catholic order.

Sasha isn't the only one enthralled with The Story of B - the book has garnered an impressive 4.6 star rating on Amazon, with reviewers hailing the novel as 'mind-blowing' and 'life-changing'.

Bookish: Sasha Obama seems engrossed in a novel as she relaxes in an LA park on Monday

But there is always time for a cheeky cigarette and a glance at the phone on a sunny day

The former first daughter looked casual and relaxed as she strolled across the grass for a day in the park

Sasha has been frequently seen out and about in the city following her graduation ceremony at USC with proud parents Barack and Michelle Obama looking on in May.

But her parents have seen little of each other since as Michelle has enjoyed a prolonged summer holiday with friends Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on the director's new $250 million super yacht as it cruises around the Mediterranean.

And the couple were thousands of miles apart as they marked their 31st wedding anniversary on October 3.

But they did post gushing anniversary tributes to one another on social media with Barack describing the former First Lady as 'brilliant, kind, funny, and beautiful'.

She in turn uploaded a photo that featured her and her husband of more than three decades posing in front of a city backdrop.

'31 years, and a lifetime ago,' she wrote.

'I love going through life with you by my side, @BarackObama. Happy anniversary, honey.'

On Thursday the couple's youngest daughter was spotted working up a sweat on a treadmill at a gym in downtown Los Angeles and a few days earlier she was spotted handing her car keys to a Subaru dealer in the city.

The 1996 novel by Daniel Quinn tells the story of a Catholic priest whose faith is tested when he is sent to spy on a charismatic environmentalist

With a pair of $550 Airpods Max headphones to block out distractions the 22-year-old seems oblivious to her surroundings as she enjoys her book

Her sneakers are off as she kicks back in her low-slung folding chair under the shelter of a tree

Sasha has followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Malia Obama, 25, who relocated to LA to pursue a career as a screenwriter after graduating from Harvard University in 2021.

The pair now share an apartment despite mother Michelle revealing 'there was a period of time when they couldn't stand each other'.

'The thing that I love the most is that those two girls are each other's best friends,' she told Today hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager in November.

'I said, you wait, you are going to wake up one day and you're going to look over at that other person, and you're going to know that you two share something very unique, especially given what they've been through,' she explained.

'To see them in that place where they're one another's support systems and they've got each other's backs, it's the thing that a mother would want.'

But both daughters have been repeatedly spotted smoking, a habit they may have picked up during their father's prolonged attempts to kick the habit.

Barack, 62, began smoking as a teenager and he famously promised his wife, Michelle, 59, that he would stop before he campaigned for president.

In 2009, he admitted during a press conference, 'As a former smoker I constantly struggle with it.

'Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. Am I daily smoker or a constant smoker? No. I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in front of my family.

'And, you know, I would say that I am 95 per cent cured, but there are times where I mess up.'

The sociology graduate appears to be making short work of her paperback as the shadows grow longer

The 22-year-old kept it natural with minimal makeup, and her long, braided, brown locks pulled back in a ponytail

The former White House resident goes unrecognized by her fellow park users as she sits in the shade

A flask, a phone and a comfortable chair make for a perfect afternoon in the park

Another check of the phone as the book is momentarily abandoned for a newer medium

The former president appears to have brushed off claims he had cocaine-fuelled gay sex after conman Larry Sinclair alleged the future president performed oral sex on him twice in Chicago in 1999.

Sinclair - who has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions on forgery, fraud and larceny charges, and has served prison time in Arizona, Florida, and Colorado - first made the claims in 2008, while Barack was gearing up to run for president.

But the claims were given a new lease of life in August when The New York Post released a letter written by Barack in 1982, when he was 21 years old, to his girlfriend Alex McNear.

In it, he wrote that he 'loves making love to men daily, but in the imagination,' according to the publication.
Palestinian-American Representative Rashida Tlaib is still displaying a Palestinian flag outside of her House office following the invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists over the weekend.

Over the weekend, Palestinian terror group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing at least 900 Israelis (in addition to 11 Americans), injuring thousands more, and taking dozens hostage.

The progressive Michigan Democrat failed to specifically condemn Hamas in her statement about the horrific violence that occurred in Israel over the weekend, and instead called upon the US government to stop funding Israel.

Tlaib and other members of the The Squad have made their position on Israel abundantly clear over the years. Several of them boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to Congress earlier this year.

According to the Washington Examiner, the flag that stands outside Tlaib's office has been there for at least the majority of the current Congress.

In total, eight progressive members of the Democratic caucus failed to back Israel against the existential threat it is facing: Reps. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Greg Casar, and Summer Lee all came up short over the weekend.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib failed to specifically condemn Hamas in her statement about the horrific violence that occurred in Israel over the weekend, and instead called upon the US government to stop funding Israel

The Palestinian flag that the Squad member has on display outside of her office remained there Monday following the weekend of terror in Israel

Members who failed to stand with Israel following Hamas' terror attacks from Top Left to Bottom Right: Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Greg Casar, Summer Lee

In her statement following the attacks Tlaib said the path forward 'must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.'

'The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere, should have to suffer or live in fear of violence.'

Tlaib's office did not post her statement on either of the congresswoman's X accounts. But underneath older posts, users have begun to questions the rep's failure to condemn the Palestinian terror organization.

'Are you going to condemn Hamas?' wrote one user.

Another attached an image of Tlaib's statement and wrote, 'This is an apology for terrorism.'

'Terrorist sympathizer...' wrote a third.

Tlaib is one of eight members of the Democratic caucus whose statement on the barbaric terror attacks executed by Hamas explicitly criticized Israel for the situation.

The other members of the progressive Squad, who some online are calling the 'Hamas caucus,' including Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Rep. Greg Casar, and Rep. Summer Lee.

My statement on the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel  pic.twitter.com/NIt9G7aLMI  Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 8, 2023

Congresswoman Bush, I am a Democrat, but this is like putting out a statement mourning the deaths of the nineteen hijackers along with the 2900 murdered in the 9/11 attacks.



The grandchildren of the Holocaust deserve stronger support against terrorism than this.  Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) October 8, 2023

Smoke rises from Gaza following a retaliatory Israeli airstrike on October 9, 2023

The aftermath of a large explosion in Gaza, as Israel ramps up its war effort following attacks that have left more than 900 Israelis dead

Bush's statement following the invasion called for the US to 'end support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.'

Under Bush's statement on X, dozens of damning comments flooded into the replies section.

'Cori Bush mourns the death of the Palestinian terrorists and equates that to the brutalities and butcherings the Palestinians committed of Jewish civilians,' wrote Marina Medvin, a conservative defense attorney.

Another commenter offered the words of advice: 'When people tell you who and what they are ... believe them.'

Public Safety expert Benjamin Mannes simply wrote: 'Antisemite.'

Christopher Hale, whose X bio identifies him as a Democratic operative, wrote: 'Congresswoman Bush, I am a Democrat, but this is like putting out a statement mourning the deaths of the nineteen hijackers along with the 2900 murdered in the 9/11 attacks.

'The grandchildren of the Holocaust deserve stronger support against terrorism than this.'

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, who along with Tlaib one of the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress, did identify Hamas in her condemnation of the violence in Israel.

'I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas.'

'Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle weve seen,' she wrote.

This is collective punishment, a war crime, and the U.S. should oppose any violations of international law if we truly support a rules-based international order.  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 9, 2023

At the beginning of this Congress, Omar was kicked off the House Foreign Affairs Committee by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who justified the call by citing Omar's past comments on Israel

She also expressed compassion for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

'Reminder, Gaza doesn't have shelters or an iron dome and to please pray for them,' the progressive lawmaker wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'May peace prevail in the region and move us towards a moral awakening to care about the human suffering we are seeing. Palestinians are human beings who have been in besieged and are deserving of protection from the international community.'

Some were moved to remind Omar that Hamas, the democratically elected leaders of Gaza, should have considered spending government funding on shelters instead of rockets used to attack Israel.

On Monday, Omar continued to stoke outrage when she publicly called for the US to reconsider its policy of giving Israel 'unconditional weapons sales and military aid.'

She also suggested that Israel, rather than Hamas, is the entity committing war crimes.

In a lengthy X thread, Omar wrote: 'The Israeli Defense Minister has called Palestinians human animals and promised to cut off all electricity, all food, and all fuel to civilians in Gaza.'

'Instead of continuing unconditional weapons sales and military aid to Israel, I urge the United States at long last to use its diplomatic might to push for peace,' she wrote.

Omar was met with another round of backlash, including from New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who responded: 'Israel was just brutally attacked by terrorists, funded by Iran, and you want to cut off funding and military aid and equipment.'

'You are out of your mind and unfit to serve in the House of Representatives. This is why you were removed from the Foreign Affairs committee.'

At the beginning of this Congress, Omar was kicked off the House Foreign Affairs Committee by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who justified the call by citing Omar's past comments on Israel.

Mediate writer Isaac Schorr also condemned Omar's latest thoughts about the conflict: 'Ilhan calls for the U.S. to abandon Israel as Hamas parades rape victims survivors throughout the streets of Gaza. May God have mercy on your soul.'

Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/xGb8FYnqit  Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) October 7, 2023

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for an 'immediate ceasefire and de-escalation' after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday

Other Squad members, including Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, called for an 'immediate ceasefire and de-escalation' in the region.

'Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights. I condemn Hamas attack in the strongest possible terms. No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region,' wrote AOC.

Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley said: 'These devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims & their loved ones. We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence & trauma, and work toward a just & lasting peace in the region.'

Her statement was slammed for dismissing the need for Israel to defend itself.

'The squad telling Israel to stand down after it was attacked and hundreds of its citizens were massacred,' responded one X user to the statement.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman said: 'I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives, especially on the holy day of Simchat Torah We need a way to end this deadly violence that is killing and traumatizing generations of Israelis and Palestinians alike - including the blockade of Gaza.'

'I have been to the Gaza border and know that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly living in fear. We must work harder to ensure peace in the region.'

Conservative radio host Jason Rantz replied: 'Bowman can't merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel.'

Inside their own caucus, the eight reps are taking heat as well. New York Congressman Ritchie Torres called Tlaib and Bush's statements 'reprehensible and repulsive' for glorifying 'as 'resistance' the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust.'

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy condemned House members who have chosen to stand against Israel following the attack.

'Allowing the elected members of this body to speak antisemitism and not condemn it is wrong,' he said at a press conference, adding that antisemitism in the House must be confronted.

My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/bf9wfKu66X  Congresswoman Summer Lee (@RepSummerLee) October 7, 2023

Squad members Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Greg Casar also delivered lackluster statements following the inhumane Hamas attacks that have now been seen the world over.

Casar, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America - a group that rallied in support of 'Palestine' on Sunday in New York City's Times Square, where members cheered on Hamas' terror campaign - wrote in a three sentence statement:

'We must de-escalate this before the cycle of violence worsens further - and work toward a lasting peace without terrorist attacks, occupation, & war.'

Lee, formerly of the DSA and a newer member of the Squad, condemned the Hamas-led violence before singling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 'reportedly already target[ing] densely populated civilian areas.'

Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country.
EXCLUSIVE

The ex-wife of a blue collar company boss whose staff protested in extraordinary scenes outside the Family Court in Sydney claims that her estranged husband rounded up the boys to intimidate her.

Further, the woman embroiled in the bitter divorce carve-up insists that she's been paying the bills while her Fendi-wearing ex has been frittering away money living the high life.

The former wife of the business boss did not attend the Family Court on Monday after being warned it was the scene of a huge gathering of his staff in hi-vis gear 'clearly there to intimidate' her.

'What occurred yesterday was an act of intimidation and bullying,' the woman's court support person told Daily Mail Australia, adding they stayed away from the scheduled hearing for fear of having to run the gauntlet of the company's men.

The ex-wife of the blue collar boss (pictured, with his second wife) whose staff protested outside the Family Court on Monday said her former husband had rustled up the boys to 'bully and intimidate' her

The court heard on Monday the Family Court proceedings threatened the business with possible liquidation and the men's jobs, with the husband's lawyer blaming 'the wife'.

But the wife's support representative said 'it needs to be made clear that the husband needs to be entirely accountable for his staff and business' and that the man - who the court heard had borrowed $1.7 million - was spending big.

'He recently married (to his second wife) in a lavish wedding with no expense spared.

'I find it hilarious how he can make out that (someone) in such financial difficulty would be dressed in head to toe Fendi.'

The friend claimed the wife 'has been responsible for paying their son's school fees while the husband has been living the high life ... and continuing on like there is no problem at all.'

She 'never wanted the business to be involved' and 'the husband needs to take accountability for his actions and close this chapter once and for all'.

It is unclear when the marriage began to f;ounder, but court records reveal the wife took out an Apprehended Violence Order against her ex-husband in 2014.

The tussle between the two parties reached its acrimonious height as dozens of staff clustered outside the court's entrance in the city's CBD as the court hearing was due to begin.

A company's entire staff gathered outside the Family Court on Monday to support their boss's bitter battle with his ex-wife.

Passers-by watched on curiously as the men displayed their company's logo in a show of strength on the footpath near the extremely private and security conscious court complex.

Denying the group was conducting a protest, one of the men told Daily Mail Australia: 'We haven't got signs or banners, we're just here to show support for the boss.'

At the lunchtime hearing before a Family Court judge, the husband's lawyer claimed the company boss was 'trying to keep the business afloat, keep the employees working' and blamed 'the wife' for the fact that the company was threatened with liquidation.

The employees in hi-vis jackets clustered around the entrance of the privacy and security conscious Family Court of Australia in Goulburn Street

He said the wife had placed an injunction on one of the company's properties 'to prevent its sale ... leading to the financial peril of this current business'.

The court was told: 'The husband is the ... person at the helm who is running the day-to-day operations.

'The wife seeks to remove him from that and install a professional (receiver)'.

'The husband has significant contacts with third parties, personal relationships. Things may never be the same again.'

However the wife's lawyer argued that there had been a downturn in the business's financial credibility, cash flow issues and an outstanding tax bill of almost half a million dollars.

He said the wife was still waiting for information 'anything about the present financial situation of the group'.

The court heard the business had current commitments of more than $11 million, and debts of $8m.

As the men put on their show of strength outside, inside the boss's lawyer argued that he was 'trying to keep the business afloat, keep the employees working'

The judge was 'far from convinced' by the husband's argument and questioned his objections to installing a receiver.

The judge said that if financial remedies were not applied 'it's not a receiver who will be appointed, it's a liquidator'.

The judge said the way financial and other documents had been presented to the court is 'just extraordinary'.

The judge also questioned the fact the husband had borrowed $1.7m to keep the business in liquidity, and said that the management of appointing a receiver 'is all in (the husband's) hands. (He) has to come to terms with what he has created'.

'The husband has been doing his absolute best trying to save this business, its employees and its stakeholders,' the lawyers claimed.

The case continues. None of the parties involved in this story could be identified for legal reasons.
A young boy has been rushed to hospital after running into a car in a horror accident outside a childcare centre on the Gold Coast.

Emergency services raced to the scene following an incident involving a pedestrian and vehicle in a car park on Pine Ridge Rd at Biggera Waters shortly before 10am on Tuesday.

It's understood the boy ran into the vehicle in the car park of Creative Garden Early Learning Centre, a police spokeswoman said.

He ended up underneath the vehicle which appeared to have 'rolled backwards'.

A boy has been rushed to hospital after he was hit by a car outside a childcare centre

Queensland Ambulance said the boy suffered injuries to his abdomen and legs.

He was taken 'under lights and sirens' to Gold Coast University in a serious condition.

Police launched an investigation but for now are treating the incident as an accident.

No charges are expected to be laid at this stage.
Five women on Monday sued the founder of an anti-child-trafficking group that inspired a popular movie this year, alleging he sexually manipulated, abused and harassed them on overseas trips designed to lure and catch child sex traffickers.

Tim Ballard's life story and work with Operation Underground Railroad inspired Sound of Freedom, a 2023 film popular with conservative moviegoers.

He recently resigned from the group amid sexual abuse and harassment allegations which he has denied.

The complaints against Ballard center on a 'couple's ruse' he allegedly engaged in with Operation Underground Railroad women who he persuaded to pose as his wife to fool child sex traffickers into thinking he was a legitimate client, according to the lawsuit filed in Utah state court.

The ruse began with Ballard and women in the organization taking cross-country trips to 'practice' their 'sexual chemistry' with tantric yoga, couple's massages with escorts and performing lap dances on Ballard, the lawsuit claims.

A lawsuit alleges the famous child-trafficking opponent Tim Ballard sexually abused five women and then forced them to pose as his wife

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, according to one source

While promotional materials portrayed the group's overseas missions as 'paramilitary drop-ins to arrest traffickers and rescue children,' they mostly involved 'going to strip clubs and massage parlors across the world, after flying first class to get there, and staying at five-star hotels, on boats, and at VRBOs across the globe,' the lawsuit alleges.

Several women, meanwhile, were eventually subjected to 'coerced sexual contact,' including 'several sexual acts with the exception of actual penetration, in various states of undress,' the lawsuit alleges.

Even in private: 'Ballard would claim that he and his female partner had to maintain the appearance of a romantic relationship at all times in case suspicious traffickers might be surveilling them at any moment.'

The 47-year-old is alleged to have pushed the women into sharing a bed with him or showering together, telling them it was to convince traffickers they were married, even though the accommodations were always at designated 'safe houses' which provided separate bedrooms and bathrooms.

Following its initial US release, the film hit UK and Irish cinemas on September 1

It accuses Ballard of compelling the women to practice their romantic interactions through massages, escorts, and lap dances  all financed by the group.

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear, covered in fake tattoos, and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, according to one source.

The lawsuit also states that two marriages ended due to Ballard's actions, with him offering to cover one victim's divorce attorney fees.

Ballard would claim to the women on operations with him that if his wife were to die, he would immediately marry them.

Ballard would insist that the women stay silent about their alleged sexual encounters with him because if they told anyone, it would put everyones lives at risk on the undercover mission saying that it was necessary to save the trafficked children.

The women said Ballard would also cite scripture to the women, using a passage of scripture where a prophet is told by the Holy Spirit to kill a man, claiming that sometimes the Holy Spirit would ask people to perform unconventional tasks.

According to the lawsuit, it wasn't until Spring 2023 that some of the women came forward to OUR management, leading to Ballard's termination.

In a video posted to Instagram, he appeared to acknowledge that some of his missions did involve pairing up with fake wives, but he claimed this was a legitimate tactic known as the 'couples ruse' that was deployed to fool traffickers.

He claimed it allowed male operatives to turn down offers of underage sex from traffickers by claiming their wife would disapprove, while retaining credibility.

The women, who filed the lawsuit under pseudonyms, allege Ballard used his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and connection to church leaders to persuade them what he was doing was just for the good of children in need of help.

A screenshot of the Mormon church's internal database shows Tim Ballard's does not appear on a family directory, with his wife, Katherine, instead listed as 'Head of Household'. His children's names have been redacted to protect their anonymity

Ballard said church President M. Russell Ballard, no relation, gave him special permission to use couples ruse 'as long as there was no sexual intercourse or kissing.'

The church in a September statement condemned Tim Ballard for 'unauthorized use' of the church president's name for personal advantage and 'activity regarded as morally unacceptable,' without stating what this activity was.

But it appears the church has now severed ties with the married father-of-nine altogether, with a search of its internal database failing to produce his records.

It follows reports that a church disciplinary council was held on September 27 before Ballard received a letter notifying him of his excommunication two days later.

The church has not confirmed this and Ballard's wife, Katherine, said that the couple were 'in touch' with their local church leaders, but that 'such conversations - as required by the church - are strictly confidential and extremely personal'.

Ballard's wife, Katherine, has stood by her husband in the wake of the allegations against him. The couple are pictured in August

Tim Ballard had claimed his anti-trafficking activities had been blessed by Mormon church Elder M. Russell Ballard as a means of converting more Americans to the Utah-based faith, according to a since-closed FBI investigation. The church denies Elder Ballard did so

Sources have told DailyMail.com the Mormon church is seeking to protect its own legal position by distancing itself from Ballard, but its tentative public position suggests it is fearful of alienating its base, many of whom are fiercely loyal to Ballard and his work.

Excommunication would mark a dizzying fall from grace for Ballard who had recently touted a run for the Senate.

Tim Ballard claimed a passage in the Book of Mormon justified performing 'unconventional' tasks, the lawsuit alleges.

'Ballard would get ketamine treatments and have a scribe come in with him while he would talk to the dead prophet Nephi and issue forth prophecies about Ballard's greatness and future as a United States senator, president of the United States and ultimately the Mormon prophet to usher in the second coming of Christ,' the lawsuit states.

Just last month Ballard had said he was 'seriously' considering a run for the Utah Senate following the success of Sound of Freedom, a movie based on his anti-trafficking exploits

Days before the church condemned Ballard, Mitt Romney announced he would not seek a second term representing Utah in the U.S. Senate.

Ballard, who has said he was considering running for Senate, has blamed political opponents for the recent sexual allegations against him.

Days after Ballard touted his candidacy, Vice News reported seven women who had worked with OUR had made claims of sexual misconduct against him.

Ballard's prominence as an opponent of child sex trafficking got him invited to the White House under President Donald Trump.

Previously a special adviser to Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, Ballard was appointed to a White House anti-human-trafficking board in 2019.
No evidence that it transmits through people

The number of Victorians diagnosed with a flesh-eating bacterial skin infection has increased as health authorities warn cases have spread beyond previously known hotspots.

Chief Health Officer Clare Looker on Tuesday warned cases of Buruli ulcer in the state were increasing, with 238 identified as of October 2 this year compared with 207 at the same time last year.

There were even fewer cases reported in the years prior, with 197 in 2021 and 135 in 2020.

Dr Looker, in a health alert, warned the infection was spreading across Victoria and was no longer restricted to specific areas on the state's coast.

Instead, there was a recent increase in cases linked to multiple suburbs in Geelong including Belmont, Highton, Newtown, Wandana Heights, Grovedale and Marshall.

Cases of Buruli ulcer are on the rise throughout Victoria

Chief Health Officer Clare Looker warned the infection was spreading across Victoria and was no longer restricted to specific areas on the state's coast

There was also a recent increase in cases linked to Melbourne's inner north and west, including in the suburbs of Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Brunswick West, Pascoe Vale South and Strathmore, Dr Looker said.

Buruli ulcer cases have also been reported on the Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula, Phillip Island, Surf Coast and Aireys Inlet, as well as in the Westernport region, Frankston and Langwarrin regions, South Eastern Bayside suburbs and in East Gippsland.

READ MORE: Young dancer nearly dies from flesh-eating infection Caitlin Cooper, 17, was rehearsing a solo routine she had choreographed herself in May when she banged her left foot on the floor. Advertisement

Buruli ulcer was not transmitted from person to person, but there was increasing evidence mosquitoes and possums played a role in people becoming infected in Victoria, Dr Looker said.

Bacteria causing the ulcer was found in possum excrement, she said.

People with Buruli ulcer normally initially develop a painless lump or wound, which could be mistaken for an insect bite.

The lumps or wounds could slowly develop into a destructive skin ulcer, and it usually took between four and five months for an ulcer to develop after someone was infected, Dr Looker said.

The chief health officer warned early diagnosis was key, and said people could prevent becoming infected by avoiding mosquito bites, mosquito-proofing their homes and reducing mosquito breeding sites.

They should also cover up when spending time outdoors, protect cuts and abrasions, quickly wash and dress any fresh scratches or cuts, and wash their skin after it was exposed to soil or water outside.

Dr Looker urged doctors to quickly test patients for Buruli ulcer if they were in a hotspot and had an unhealing ulcer.
Playboy has cut ties with porn star and content creator Mia Khalifa after comments that sparked fury online loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead.

She wrote multiple tweets making light of the horror conflict, joking about a 'Zionist apartheid regime being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci shirts'.

Khalifa's page now shows a 'Not Found' graphic on the website, as the adult magazine released a statement confirming that she is no longer creating content for their CENTERFOLD platform, which she joined in February 2022.

'We are writing today to let you know of our decision to terminate Playboy's relationship with Mia Khalifa, including deleting Mia's Playboy channel on our creator platform,' they wrote in an email to users.

'Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas' attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women, and children,' they added.

Playboy has cut ties with porn star Mia Khalifa after comments that sparked fury online loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead

'At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand her words and actions have consequences,' the statement finished.

The 30-year-old repeatedly supported the group's bombings and kidnappings to her five million followers on X, urging the aggressors to film horizontally so she could better watch the carnage.

The Lebanese-American posted: 'Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.'

Khalifa also shared an image of the terrorists riding in the back of a pick-up truck, calling it a 'Renaissance painting.'

She attempted to do damage control earlier Monday, tweeting: 'I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is enticing spread of violence, I specifically said freedom fighters because that's what the Palestinian citizens are fighting for freedom every day.'

Centerfold - created by Playboy as a way to allow models to sell content to and interact directly with fans - highlighted Khalifa's opinions when she joined the platform.

'Mia's fearless, direct, thought-provoking and fun-loving approach to life and her career make her an important addition to our Centerfold community,' said PLBY Group CEO Ben Kohn at the time.

Khalifa sparked massive backlash online after she loudly supported the terror attack by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead over the weekend

Khalifa's page now shows a 'Not Found' graphic on the website, as the adult magazine released a statement confirming that she is no longer creating content

'Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of our Playboy legacy, and Centerfold is all about empowering creators like Mia to express themselves in a safe, accepting environment.'

Over the weekend Hamas militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, seizing settlements and capturing and murdering civilians celebrating a Jewish holiday.

The Supernova music festival was one of the first sites to be attacked by the terrorist group, with 260 revelers massacred there.

Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims and posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one.

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday.

This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars.

But the former porn star was not moved by the criticism, and continued defending Hamas' actions as justified.

Khalifa was born in Beirut and moved to the stages as a kid in 2001 during the South Lebanon conflict with Israel

She reposted a message saying 'the United States of America is also a terrorist state' and went after Kylie Jenner for sharing and then deleting a message in support of Israel.

'If true journalism exists, the next person to talk to Kylie Jenner will ask for her opinion on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and not break eye contact until she can string one coherent sentence together since she wants to take a stance to her 400M followers so badly,' Khalifa wrote.

Khalifa apparently lost a business deal following her posts, with a company named Red Light Holland informing her she had been 'fired effectively' due to her 'horrendous' posts, but she doubled down.

'I'd say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I'm more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad,' she said.

She continued defending her request that the terrorists film horizontally: 'I just wanna make sure there's 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison they've been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid.

'I'm from LEBANON, are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism you f***ing weirdo.'

Khalifa was born in Beirut and moved to the stages as a child in 2001 during the South Lebanon conflict with Israel.

She has always expressed support for what she calls Palestinian's 'right to end Israeli occupation' and often denounces 'Zionists.'

The US-based star, whose real name is Sarah Joe Chamoun, used to work in the porn industry but now speaks out against it.

Khalifa is no longer creating content for Playboy's Centerfold platform, which she joined in February 2022

Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighborhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City

She became a controversial figure after filming sketches while wearing a hijab, and revealed in 2019 that she had received death threats over her work.

Saturday's attack on Israeli citizens marks the start of what could be the deadliest conflict in decades between Israel and Palestine.

As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead  and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least.

President Joe Biden finally released a written statement Monday condemning 'inexcusable hatred and violence' in the terror attack on Israel , as he revealed 'at least' 11 Americans have been killed in the carnage.
Some of the most prominent Labor MPs backing a Yes vote have found themselves opposing the majority of their constituents in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, Disability Minister Bill Shorten, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles all represent areas set to vote No in Saturday's poll.

Ms Burney's seat of Barton, in Sydney's inner-south, is forecast to vote No by a margin of 53 per cent to 47 per cent, new data from the UK-based Focal Data has found.

Mr Shorten's seat of Maribyrnong in Melbourne's inner north-west is also likely to vote No by 53 per cent to 47.

The divide is even more stark in Mr Chalmers' southern Brisbane seat of Rankin, where a massive 62 per cent of his constituents intend to vote No.

Some of the most prominent Labor MPs backing a Yes vote have found themselves opposing the majority of their constituents in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, including Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney (pictured)

Disability Minister Bill Shorten's (pictured centre) seat of Maribyrnong, in Melbourne's inner north-west, is also likely to vote No by 53 per cent to 47

The divide is even more stark in Treasurer Jim Chalmers' (pictured) southern Brisbane seat of Rankin, where a massive 62 per cent of his constituents intend to vote No

In Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles' (pictured) seat of Corio in Geelong, Victoria, 58 per cent of people intend to vote No and just 42 per cent are set to vote Yes

Things are closer, but just barely, in Mr Marles' seat of Corio in Geelong, Victoria, where 58 per cent of people intend to vote No and just 42 per cent are set to vote Yes.

The high-profile Labor ministers and Yes backers are far from alone, with the referendum on track to lose all six states and win in just 22 out of 151 electorates in Australia's federal parliament.

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Focal Data forecasts the nation will vote No by 61 per cent to the Yes campaign's 39 per cent after polling 4,500 Australians and modelling the outcome in every seat.

The only firm Yes seats are in the inner cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's seats of Grayndler and Sydney, respectively.

The Yes campaign has also won over Greens-held strongholds including Adam Bandt's electorate of Melbourne and the south-east Queensland seats of Brisbane and Griffith, which were won by Greens young guns Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather at the last election.

But 129 seats out of a total 151 seats in the House of Representatives are on track to vote No according to the polling estimates, including a series of teal electorates in Sydney - including Warringah on the northern beaches and Wentworth in the eastern suburbs.

One seat in Queensland - Bob Katter's northern seat of Kennedy, which is home to Cairns and Townsville - is forecast to vote 84 per cent No to the Voice. Eight of the 10 seats most likely to vote No are based in Queensland.

If the polling is correct, the No vote will triumph in every state - the worst case scenario for Mr Albanese and Yes campaigners. A referendum needs a majority of states and a majority of the national vote to get up.

Just 22 electorates (the darkest purple on the map) are on track to vote Yes in the upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, according to a survey by an international polling group, but there are 15 other electorates (light purple on the map) which are very close to a Yes vote with 47 per cent support or higher

The Prime Minister and his son, Nathan, cast their ballots on October 7

Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's seat of Sydney are on track to vote Yes

While several polls, including Redbridge, Newspoll and Essential, have been tracking the falling Yes vote over the course of the campaign, this is the most detailed projection to date.

The seats of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are all trending toward a Yes vote, but out in the suburbs, voters are less convinced.

The city of Sydney is registering the highest voter support for the Voice so far at 70 per cent in favour, with the PM's seat of Grayndler following at 64.5 per cent.

Melbourne is tracking a 64 per cent approval rating, with Canberra at 62 per cent and Adelaide at 59 per cent.

Beyond that, most of the 'Yes' suburbs are just scraping over the line, the data suggests.

'It leaves Australia more divided than ever on an inner city versus rural basis,' a Focal Data spokesperson said in a statement.

'More broadly, its a fallout which could have been lifted straight from the UK Brexit analysis - except the Yes side does materially worse than Remain.'

Bennelong in NSW - which takes in Chatswood, Ryde and Gladesville - Ryan in Queensland and Chisholm in Victoria - which includes Glen Waverely and Mulgrave - all have support around the 50 per cent mark, with Cooper in Victoria sitting at 51 per cent.

Greenway and Kingsford Smith in NSW, Wills in Victoria, Griffith in Queensland, Bean in the ACT and Perth all registered Yes votes with a support rate of about 52 per cent.

The remainder of the Yes electorates - Clark in Tasmania, Fenner in the ACT, Higgins and Macnamara in Victoria, and North Sydney and Reid in NSW - have support somewhere between 56 and 57 per cent.

No Liberal Party held seats are on track for a Yes vote, according to the data.

The referendum will be held on October 14, and polls suggest it will be defeated

But there are 15 seats where the Voice has the support of 47 per cent or more of the poll's participants - meaning the referendum could still prevail in those areas when accounting for a small margin of error.

The affluent seats held by the 'teal Independents' are divided on the Voice. While Kylea Tink's North Sydney is on track for a Yes vote, Monique Ryan's Kooyong and Allegra Spender's Wentworth are narrowly voting No at this stage, polling at 49 per cent support.

In Warringah, which includes wealthy suburbs on the lower northern beaches, support for the Voice in the latest poll is at about 44 per cent, meanwhile it drops to 37 per cent in the upper northern beaches suburbs of Mackellar.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney's seat of Barton, comprising Kogarah, Bexley and Hurstville, is one of the 15 seats with over 47 per cent support, but less than the 50 per cent threshold needed for a Yes vote.

Queensland is leading the charge against the Voice in the Focal Point poll, making up eight of the top 10 highest No-voting electorates.

In Bob Katter's electorate of Kennedy, including Cairns and Townsville, opposition to the Voice is polling at about 84 per cent, while Nationals leader David Littleproud's enormous division of Maranoa sits at about 81 per cent.

Capricornia, Dawson, Flynn, Hinkler, Wilde Bay and Wright in Queensland all oppose the Voice at rates of 75 per cent or above according to the data.

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Mallee in Victoria and O'Connor in Western Australia are the only two electorates outside of Queensland where opposition to the Voice is at 75 per cent or above.

The latest poll comes after The Australian released the most recent Newspoll, which found support for the Voice to Parliament declined before Saturday's referendum.

National support for the Voice fell to 34 per cent in the past fortnight, reaching its lowest ebb since it was first proposed, while support for the No vote rose two points to 58 per cent.

About eight per cent of voters are still undecided but with the 'don't know' category removed as an option the split becomes 37/63 in favour of the No vote.

The poll, which surveyed 1,225 voters nationally between October 3 and October 6, found a troubling trend for the Yes campaign among its key group of voters.

For the first time, support for the referendum slumped to below 50 per cent in voters aged between 18 to 34 years old.

Young voters who intend to vote No rose eight percentage points to 49 per cent, with those planning to vote Yes dropped four points to 46 per cent.

Support for the Voice fell to 34 per cent in the past fortnight ahead of Aussies casting their vote on October 14
The horror that faced festival-goers as they were murdered by Hamas terrorists was captured in dashcam footage from a car at the site.

At least 260 people were killed in the dawn attack on the Tribe of Nova festival just two miles from the Gaza border on Saturday.

More are thought to have been kidnapped after hundreds of terrorists stormed the site, shooting the legs off some to prevent them from escaping.

The latest nightmarish video shows a heavily armed fanatic darting about, apparently ordering a cowed target to get out of his hiding place as the gunman spews bullets from his assault rifle into the ground.

Seconds later the Islamist grabs the bloodied young man by the scruff of the neck and drags him across screen in an apparent kidnap attempt.

Dashcam catches the moment a gunman lets off a flurry of bullets from his automatic rifle sending dust flying around his terrified victim

Seconds later he drags his helpless victim by the collar across the frame and off to an unknown fate as another festival-goer pretends to be dead behind a car

As they disappear from shot a second festival-goer who appears to have been pretending to be dead behind another car briefly pops his head up to assess the danger.

Within seconds another militant dressed in a red T-shirt and track suit bottoms moves in and shoots him in the head, only for others to start rifling through the pockets of the now lifeless reveler.

The footage was recorded nearly three hours into the attack and eerie sirens are heard blaring as black smoke drifts across the site.

But it would be another six hours before Israeli forces arrived at the site.

Music lovers, mostly in their 20s and 30s, had gathered for the peaceful festival in the desert completely unaware that within minutes members of the Hamas militant group were about to descend from the skies to inflict terror.

They appeared to be oblivious to the impending terror floating hundreds of feet above their heads in the distance in footage posted to TikTok.

Footage shot soon after sunrise, showed the eagle-eyed cameraperson suddenly zoom in on grey dots in the air, which turn out to be Palestinian militants.

Hamas fighters managed to infiltrate Israel essentially undetected by paragliding across the normally heavily guarded frontier.

With the coast seemingly clear another festival-goer who has been pretending to be dead behind a car briefly raises his head to check his surroundings

But his reprieve is brief as a second gunman moves in and casually shoots him dead

Another armed fanatic is caught by the dashcam as he looks for victims in the festival car park

More than 260 are thought to have died in the attack when hundreds of gunmen stormed the festival site just two miles from the Gaza border

Bloodied bodies were stacked in tents while they awaited identification in the desert site

Moments later, the dancing stops.

'Guys, we have red alert,' a voice over the loudspeakers warned. 'Red alert.'

Initially, some of those dancing didn't even notice the sound of explosions going off with the beat of the music drowning it out.

Music at what had been described as a 'beautiful party' with 'good vibes' played all night until round 6.30am when a siren began blaring warning of rockets.

Hamas terrorists then cut the electricity as rockets flew overhead and jeeps filled with gunmen ran onto the site.

'We heard sirens and rockets, tons of rockets,' 27-year-old Millet Ben Haim told the Washington Post. 'We started running; we didn't know where to go. Nobody knew what to do.

'I took the car keys from a friend of mine that was really wasted and got as many people in the car as possible and started driving like crazy,' Haim explained. 'The people who stayed, most of them got kidnapped or murdered.'

When Haim couldn't go any further, they were forced to run across fields to escape.

'Every direction we ran we had more people shooting at us; we were running for two hours trying to escape. We started crawling in bushes. Eventually I realized I couldn't run anymore.'

Scores were taken hostage including Noa Argamani, a 25-year-old student who was filmed screaming 'don't kill me' as she was dragged away on a motorcycle by Hamas thugs.

German tattoo artist Shani Louk, aged in her 20s, was paraded partially naked through the streets by Hamas militants.

Now the group has announced that it will execute hostages one by one in retaliation for any new Israeli bombing of civilian houses without pre-warning.

Israeli festival goers could be seen dancing in the desert at dawn on Saturday, completely unawares that within minutes members of the Hamas militant group were about to descend from the skies and inflict terror

In footage posted to TikTok revelers appeared to be oblivious to the impending terror floating hundreds of feet above their heads in the distance

Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military

People could be seen hurriedly packing their cars in a desperate effort to get away

Israeli festivalgoers run for their lives through the desert after being warned of an incoming rocket attack just as Hamas invaded the country on Saturday

Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, the IQB, said they have been acting in accordance with Islamic instructions by keeping Israeli captives safe.

He blamed the intended move on Israel's stepped-up bombing and killing of civilians inside their homes in air strikes without warning them.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' he said.

Gaza City was bombarded by airstrikes on Monday as Israel ordered a 'complete siege' of the city, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people.
A sleepy Welsh village is still living in fear of a crime family which built up a drugs empire from farmland even though two of its members have been jailed for 17 years and the matriarch is on the run, MailOnline can reveal today.

Three members of the notorious Leyson family used guns, knives and a pack of untrained Doberman dogs to threaten villagers suspicious of what was going on at their remote farm in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

One family was 'visited' by one of the Leysons and told 'you will be killed' if you report us to the police again. Other locals were warned their tyres would be slashed if they dared to call police. An off-duty police officer was even bitten by a Rottweiler after Stephen Leyson and his son Samson were jailed for drug offences.

Samson's mother Lynne - the so-called 'Godmother' of the family's criminal operation - is now on an Interpol wanted list after fleeing the country before she was sentenced.

The Leysons ran a drugs empire using quad bikes to run drugs through forestry to meet up with couriers at a designated spot on the A48 near Carmarthen. The family knew if the police were on to them they could escape through forestry tracks back to their headquarters.

A neighbour, too frightened to be named, told MailOnline: 'It was like the Wild West living close to that lot - people were scared stiff. One family complained to the police and were visited by one of the Leysons carrying a shotgun. They were told they would all be killed if they complained again. Two of them may have been locked up but people are still frightened of them.'

The Leysons' 'farm' near the village of Capel Dewi is nothing more than a collection of ramshackle wooden buildings and Portacabins

Farmer's wife Lynne Leyson operated a hidden double life as the godmother of a family crime gang

Lynne's husband Stephen Leyson (left) and his son Samson (right) were jailed for a total of 17 years in July after the farm was raided by police

The Leysons were running a large-scale drugs empire using quad bikes to run drugs through forestry to meet up with couriers at a designated spot on the A48 near Carmarthen. The family knew that if the police were on to them they could escape on their quadbikes through forestry tracks back to their headquarters called Pibwr Farm

The Leysons' 'farm' near the village of Capel Dewi is nothing more than a collection of ramshackle wooden buildings and Portacabins.

Nearby are red kite nests, a trout stream and protected woodlands along with a 1.5million mansion and country cottages.

The Leysons moved in six years ago and at first annoyed neighbours by driving their second-hand Range Rover around country lanes.

Locals were suspicious of how the family made its money and there were rumours that they were growing cannabis on their land. They were nicknamed 'the druggies' by worried villagers who installed CCTV cameras to protect their rural properties.

But

Another neighbour said: 'That's how they were running drugs - they would turn up at an arranged lay-by on the A48, hand the cocaine over and be gone.

15,615 of cannabis was seized by the police at Pibwr Farm, near Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire

'It was all over in a few seconds so it was very hard for the police to detect what was going on.'

Local builder Mark Jones, 42, said: 'The first we knew was when police started flying a drone over the farm - after that there was a lot of police activity in the area. I didn't know the people but they weren't very popular, they would drive around the lanes as if they owned them.'

The Range Rover was seized by police along with the family's pack of Rottweilers.

The family's farm and its yard containing a large motorhome, silver Audi car, VW Beetle, Calor gas canisters and mountain bike is now deserted.

But a family member calls around every day in a Smart car to feed other pet dogs belonging to the three convicted dealers.

Locals in Capel Dewi said the Leysons lived two miles out of the village and everyone stayed 'well clear' of them.

Retired forestry manager Tom Emerson said: 'Most people here avoided them, I met the older fellow once and didn't make much of them. There were second-hand BMW and Mercedes going back and for and there was talk of drugs. But I didn't even know they were in jail until I saw it in the local paper.'

Before their misdeeds were uncovered in Capel Dewi, the Leysons menaced another community 12 miles south in Kidwelly.

Here, with views of a Norman castle in the distance, the stench of cannabis coming from the 'filthy' home was unmissable.

The family had an ice-cream van from which neighbours hinted they were selling more than ice-cream.

Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun which was found stashed at the farm

The family claimed that cash seized by police was from a 'house sale'

And if locals dared to call the police, they would wake the next morning to find the tyres on their cars had been slashed and deflated as a menacing Stephen glared down at them from the balcony.

The gang was caught with 60,000 of cocaine, 15,000 of cannabis and a 9mm handgun when police raided Pibwr Farm in Capel Dewi. Police also discovered two dealers in Pembrokeshire, who were working on behalf of the family to sell drugs, including one who was known as 'Mr Pickles'.

Stephen, 55, and Samson, 24, were put behind bars for a combined 17 years, but farmer's wife Lynne is still on the run three months after being sentenced for nine years, with it thought she might be in Thailand.

Neighbours would witness dozens of cars arriving at the farm at all hours and speeding away within minutes of arriving.

Villagers, once feeling safe tucked away in their sleepy village, became terrified by the law-breaking family and all went out and bought cameras for security.

After a decade of living in Kidwelly they sold up the home for 109,000 when men in smart suits had arrived days earlier and demanded money from Stephen, it is claimed.

'They lived here for nearly ten years, they nearly put me in the [psychiatric] hospital, it was unbelievable,' one former neighbour told The Times. 'I didn't want to stay here, but who was going to buy this house?'

Swansea Crown Court heard husband and wife Stephen and Lynne Leyson denied any wrongdoing when they were questioned.

Lynne Leyson was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and possessing criminal property. A bench warrant was issued after she previously failed to turn up to court for sentencing - and she has now been jailed for nine years in her absence.

Judge Catherine Richards said: 'Lynne Leyson has chosen not to attend her sentencing hearing. It appears to be a deliberate attempt to evade justice. She presented at trial as someone who controlled a number of people working for her in this serious offence.'

Stephen was jailed for 11 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property.

Samson was handed a six-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

After the case, one neighbour said: 'We just couldn't believe it. They seemed like a normal farming family - well, a bit rough around the edges like a lot of country people. Lynne seemed very normal really - not a cocaine dealer like she was. It is all very odd.'

A Crimestoppers appeal said: 'Arrest enquiries have been conducted at known addresses where Lynne is likely to frequent. These premises are across Carmarthen and parts of Swansea. To date these have been negative enquiries.'

A request is being made for Lynne Leyson, also known as Annelyn Caldicot, to be placed on Crimestoppers as a wanted person.

She is described as being 5ft 4in, with black hair, brown eyes, right handed, a surgical scar on her left leg and having a Welsh accent.

Anyone who sees her is asked to call anonymously on 0800 555 111.
President Joe Biden will address the nation from the White House on Tuesday afternoon following Hamas' unprecedented terror attack on Israel.

Biden's remarks are set for 1pm and come days after Hamas fighters invaded part of southern Israel killing at least 900 people, most of them civilians, while taking around 100 hostages in a rapidly evolving war.

In a statement on Monday, Biden said 11 Americans had been killed in the conflict but noted that it was likely more US citizens could be among Hamas' hostages.

'We are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy,' Biden said.

'In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage.'

President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the nation from the White House on Tuesday afternoon in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel

Hamas fighters invaded part of southern Israel killing at least 900 people, most of them civilians

Hamas is believed to have taken around 100 hostages in a rapidly evolving war

In his statement, Biden reaffirmed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would 'continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people' while Israel battles militant extremists.

Earlier on Monday, other the leaders of Germany, Britain, France and Italy issued a joint statement condemning the attacks and expressed their 'steadfast and united support' for Israel.

'Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region,' said the statement by Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

'We offer our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism,' the leaders stated.

Israel has now responded by launching deadly retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza after the defense minister called for a 'full siege' of the coastal territory.

On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledge his 'steadfast support for Israel. He attended a synagogue in north London, for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks

Israel has now responded by launching deadly retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza after the defense minister called for a 'full siege' of the coastal territory. Pictured, smoke rises and ball of fire can be seen over a buildings in Gaza City on Monday during an Israeli air strike

The Israel Defense Forces said 300,000 reservists have been called up with speculation that a ground offensive into Gaza could be launched within the coming days.

The Biden administration is also sending ships from the Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in support of Israel.

One U.S. official told NBC News that the U.S. plan to keep some F-16 and A-10 fighter jets in place.

Aside from Israel's rising death toll, at least 700 people in Gaza and the West Bank have also been killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The UK, France, Germany have all signed a declaration of support for the Jewish state

Early on Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south and 'restored full control' over the border.

Spokesperson Richard Hecht said 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants have been found in Israeli territory and no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since Monday night, although infiltrations could still be possible.

Hecht said the military struck hundreds of Hamas targets overnight in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, which is home to many of Hamas' ministries and government buildings.

He said residents were being notified over social media before the strikes to evacuate, but did not elaborate further.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has 'only started.'

'We have only started striking Hamas,' he said. 'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.'
Students, who believed they were in peril, were injured while attempting to flee the vigil

Dozens of University of Florida students were sent to a local hospital late Monday evening after chaos and confusion erupted at a vigil for victims of the terror attacks in Israel.

Some 30 students were reportedly taken to UF Health Shands Hospital for their injuries, following what officials say was panic driven by a misunderstanding that caused the crowd to begin screaming and running for safety.

The school's Chabad Rabbi, Berl Goldman said he was with University President former Senator Ben Sasse at the vigil when someone fainted or fell in the crowd and people began yelling '911,' which others understood to mean danger was afoot.

The Gainesville Sun reported that some in the roughly 1,000-person crowd said they feared they had heard gunshots, though none were fired.

As scared students ran, many tripped and fell over one another. Witnesses at the hospital said students were treated for concussions, lacerations, and one broken leg.

Chanie Goldman, the co-director of the Chabad Jewish Student Center, described the incident as 'a real stampede.'

'Kids are very shaken up ... People came to the event on edge to begin with because there is a fear for going to any Jewish event that something could happen,' she added.

Despite reports of significantly higher numbers, UF Public Safety posted to its social media accounts that only five people were injured and treated on the scene.

A joint statement from UF Chabad and Hillel read: 'Today our campus Jewish community gathered in the hundreds to stand with Israel at a unity gathering in Turlington Plaza.

'It was a moving and beautiful evening. Unfortunately, during the program a noise led a panic to ensue While we do not definitively know the cause, we feel certain this was rooted in misunderstanding. Everyone is safe with the exception of minor injuries.

'Our institutions exist to support Jewish students. We remain united in our commitment to this sacred work.'

The vigil is being postponed to a later date.

Sasse, who spoke prior to the unfurling of the chaos, delivered a statement to the Sun: 'Tonight's vigil was an opportunity for our community to condemn Hamas' terrorism and stand by our Jewish Gators. I'm grateful for each and every Gator who came to show their support. I'm grateful for Rabbi Jonah and Rabbi Berl for their leadership.'

The University of Florida has about 9,000 Jewish students between undergraduate and graduate enrollment.

Officials said a miscommunication in the 1,000-person crowd sparked a panic that led to a stampede resulting in the hospitalization of dozens of students

As scared students ran, many tripped and fell over one another. Witnesses at the hospital said students were treated for concussions, lacerations, and one broken leg

Over the weekend, Palestinian terror group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing at least 900 Israelis (in addition to 11 Americans), injuring thousands more, and taking dozens hostage.

The surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country.
Violence erupts between Yes and No

Wild footage has captured the moment a Yes and No supporter clashed as tensions continue to flare over the Voice to Parliament referendum.

The pair scuffled at an information booth on Maryland Street at Stanthorpe, in the Southern Downs Region of Queensland, on September 30.

Footage showed a male Yes voter striking up a threatening pose as he towered over an elderly female No campaigner while children walked in the background.

The No supporter was wearing a board with the words: 'Reject racism. Vote No.'

The Yes voter nonsensically tells the woman that he is over a century old and has died numerous times.

'I'm over 110. I've died nine times in a row,' he claims before noticing that he is being filmed by another man.

A Yes voter who claimed to be over 100-years-old was filmed berating No campaigners in Stanthorpe, in the Southern Downs Region of Queensland on September 30

When the Yes voter notices that he is being filmed, he begins chasing the cameraman before smacking his camera

The Yes supporter then turns on the camera man and tries to slap the camera out of the man's hand.

The cameraman warned: 'I'll deck you.'

READ MORE: Gen Z's plan to rig referendum Young supporters of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament have been told to 'groom a boomer' into voting Yes on referendum day. Advertisement

'So this is what the Yes voters do,' he continued.

The footage was shared to Facebook where social media users were quick to condemn the Yes supporter.

'It's sad to see how some people behave, just because it doesn't sit with you the way others think and vote doesn't give you the right to behave like that,' one wrote.

In another video filmed at a Tawoomba pre-polling place, in Southern Queensland, MP Garth Hamilton is approached by an elderly man who proceeds to swear at him.

Mr Hamilton, who was campaigning for the No vote at the time, wishes the man a good day after he is sworn at, only for the man to turn around and continue shouting.

'I can't have a good day mate, I've already had a f***ing bad day and coming here to vote in something that is only a matter for First Australians is b***** wrong,' he snaps.

The elderly man walks away while continues to shout obscenities as Mr Hamilton calmly turns his back.

Other instances of violence have been reported around the country which have stemmed from the Voice.

IN another unpleasant incident, an elderly man was filmed swearing at MP Garth Hamilton, who was campaigning for the No vote at a Tawoomba pre-polling place, in Southern Queensland

A heated confrontation between Yes and No supporters at an early voting centre in Ipswich resulted in one man being hospitalised and another arrested.

The confrontation, initially a shouting match, escalated into a violent incident at the North Ipswich early voting centre in inner Brisbane.

Police claim that at around 11:30 am on October 3rd, a 30-year-old man engaged in a verbal argument with a 65-year-old man, which later turned physical when the younger man assaulted the older individual.

The 65-year-old man was taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment.

The elderly man is understood to have suffered serious head injuries.

Another incident occurred when an Aboriginal man who went to vote early in Rockhampton, in Central Queensland, was humiliated by Yes campaigners in front of his wife and daughter.

'I went to vote early and as I'm going to the voting place, I was abused because I took a pamphlet from the No vote and I didn't take a pamphlet from the Yes vote,' he told Brisbane 4BC host Sofie Formica.

Three weeks ago, more than 1,000 No supporters visited the Adelaide Convention Centre to hear Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and other No campaigners speak at the Fair Australia rally.

But the event was gatecrashed by Yes campaigners who called attendees 'racist'.

Liberal senator Alex Antic filmed a crowd of protesters who screamed at him as he walked into the event.
Now one of the corporation's most respected figures, you'd have thought he was always destined to become a BBC newsreader.

But Clive Myrie didn't watch any of his predecessors growing up as his family thought the BBC was 'too posh, too poncey' and 'didn't have any black people on it.'

The journalist, 59, who grew up near Bolton with his Jamaican parents, said they only watched ITV at home as the news felt more 'human.'

Despite now presenting the BBC News at Ten himself, Myrie said when he was growing up it felt like the corporation's newsreaders were 'handing down tablets of stone.'

He told the Radio Times: 'The BBC was too posh, too poncey and they didn't have any black people on it.

'ITV had Big Trev [McDonald]. It was more human the way ITV did the news. I hope the BBC has now got to that level, but in those days it was like handing down tablets of stone, 'This is public service broadcasting, these are your greens'.'

Clive Myrie (pictured) didn't watch any of his predecessors growing up as his family thought the BBC was 'too posh, too poncey' and 'didn't have any black people on it'

The journalist (pictured), 59, who grew up near Bolton with his Jamaican parents, said they only watched ITV at home as the news felt more 'human'

Myrie recalled watching Sir Trevor McDonald, who he referred to as 'Big Trev', as a youngster

'Whereas ITV was like, 'Let's stick a bit of chocolate cake in there.'

Myrie said his parents, who moved to the UK in the 1960s, had been 'initially disappointed' by his chosen career path, having wanted him to pursue a 'proper job.'

He said: 'My parents left the life that they knew in Jamaica - beautiful, hot, sandy beaches - for a cold and sometimes inhospitable place.

'They didn't do that for their kids to grow up to be bums. They wanted doctors, dentists, accountants - proper jobs! They were initially disappointed, especially as I'd got a place at Middle Temple to be a barrister.'

Myrie, who took over from John Humphrys as the host of Mastermind in 2021, said that it is 'vital' that the BBC 'hold fast to due impartiality.' 'That doesn't mean 50/50 on either side,' he said.

'If 99 per cent of scientific institutions conclude that climate change is man-made, or if it's clear that Vladimir Putin has launched an illegal invasion, that's how you report it.

'I think calling a spade a spade is a good way of keeping the public on side.'
A Thai woman running a respected massage business has had enough of 'rude' Aussie men demanding a 'happy ending' and decided to lock them out.

Darunrat Chansopha, who owns Pha Thai Massage in Cairns, says the increase in premises offering 'sexy massages' has made her job more dangerous.

Ms Chansopha, who completed business studies in Bangkok, only offers authentic therapeutic Thai massage services but still has to decline seedy requests for 'extras' every day.

Such callers are met with a polite but firm 'mai ow, krap' which means 'No thanks'.

In the tidy waiting room of her well-reviewed shop, the wall is covered with framed qualifications and a prominent sign that says: 'No happy endings - excellent massage only'.

Darunrat Chansopha (pictured) has had enough of seedy requests from customers and decided to lock out men

Ms Chansopha, who owns Pha Thai Massage in Cairns, says the increase in premises offering 'sexy massages' has made her job more dangerous

In the tidy waiting room of her well-reviewed shop a prominent sign says 'No happy endings - excellent massage only'

In the massage room another sign repeats the message: 'Not sexual. No happy ending, just happy massage.'

Pha Thai gets excellent scores on google - an average of 4.6 stars out of 5.

Reviews mention the shop's staff are 'extremely professional with years of experience' and provide excellent massages.

'My hubby loves this place,' one Cairns woman wrote.

'This gorgeous little Thai lady is as strong as anything. She gives a firm massage that will leave you crying if you're not tough.'

'Best massage of my life. Ive had 100s of massages and always struggle with never getting enough pressure or not getting deep enough,' another woman wrote.

But the dodgy phone calls keep coming.

'We get phone calls constantly asking, everyday  do you do extra? Today already one call at 1pm and they are so rude about it,' Ms Chansopha told the Cairns Post.

'[Now] I lock my door in the day so men cant just walk right in and ask for it.'

According to a survey of its members by Massage and Myotherapy Australia, skilled massage therapists experience sexual harassment every day.

The organisation has called on the Queensland government to decriminalize sex work so that it cannot be misrepresented as massage.

In the massage room another sign repeats the message: 'Not sexual. No happy ending, just happy massage.'
Police Scotland's new chief constable has declared the force is 'institutionally discriminatory' on her first day in the job.

Jo Farrell backed her predecessor Sir Iain Livingstone's comments in May that the force is racist.

In a no-holds-barred and controversial statement, the outgoing Sir Iain heavily criticised Police Scotland with prejudice and bad behaviour within the force 'rightly of great concern'.

In a lengthy statement, Chief Constable Farrell said it was a 'difficult message' for staff to hear but she was determined to 'drive an anti-discriminatory agenda'.

The former Durham Constabulary chief constable said: 'I know the acknowledgement of institutional discrimination is a difficult message for many dedicated and honourable officers and staff.

Police Scotland's new chief constable Jo Farrell has declared the force is 'institutionally discriminatory' in her first day in the job

Chief Constable Farrell has agreed with her predecessor Sir Iain Livingstone's (pictured) comments in May that the force is racist

'Having considered Sir Iain's reasons, I agree Police Scotland is institutionally discriminatory. People with different backgrounds or experiences, including our officers and staff, have not always received the service that is their right.

'The onus is on us to challenge bad behaviour and prejudice, address gaps and eradicate bias, known or unwitting, at every level. Our Policing Together programme drives this moral, legal and operational imperative so that we maintain and build confidence with all communities.'

READ MORE: Sister of engineer who died after being restrained by police reveals their family still receive racist abuse as inquiry into his death resumes Advertisement

A report earlier this year uncovered 'instances of ongoing discrimination against minoritised communities, including first-hand accounts of racism, sexism and homophobia' by serving officers.

The review also heard instances of people being 'punished' for raising their concerns about the culture within Police Scotland.

Speaking at the time, Sir Iain, who retired on August 10, put the 'onus' on the force to rid itself of institutional racism.

'The right thing for me to do as chief constable is to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist,' he said.

'Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory.

'Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service.

'It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society.

'Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing, as highlighted by court and conduct cases, various independent reviews and by listening to our own officers and staff over recent years, is rightly of great concern and is utterly condemned.

'There is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values and standards.'

Speaking in May Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf hailed Sir Iain's 'historic' statement and said it was 'monumental'

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf hailed Sir Iain's statement as 'historic' and 'monumental'.

Mr Yousaf said in May: 'There is no doubt that institutional racism exists in our society, and I want to take a moment just to say as a person of colour the statement from the chief constable is monumental, historic.'

Patrick Corrigan, head of nations and regions at Amnesty International, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Chief Constable Farrell 'needs to set out what action she intends to take without delay to address this serious problem'.
A mental health campaigner who helped thousands of people overcome their struggles has died in a suspected suicide.

The sudden death of Dr Tom Mulholland, 61, on Sunday was confirmed by his family on social media the following day, with the case referred to the coroner.

The New Zealand celebrity physician hosted numerous TV and radio shows, penned two best-selling books and was a public speaker.

That comes off the back of a distinguished medical career where he worked as an emergency department doctor and GP for over 25 years.

He also started his own general practice, founded Taranaki's first Accident and Medical Clinic White Cross, started Doctor Global, ran workplace health seminars and was an honorary lecturer in psychological medicine at the University of Auckland.

New Zealand celebrity physician and mental health advocate Dr Tom Mulholland (pictured), 61, died suddenly on Sunday

Dr Mulholland's son, Tommy Mulholland, announced in a post to social media that funeral preparations were being made for his father in Wellington.

'This is a loss for so many people, and we are all devastated. He has always been an advocate of mental health and dedicated so much of his life to the cause,' he wrote.

Tributes have been published by friends, family, former colleagues, and many others who knew the beloved physician - who died just two days before World Mental Health Day.

Broadcaster Brooke Howard-Smith described Dr Mulholland as a 'hero' in a moving tribute shared on Facebook.

'We've lost one of our best and brightest stars, a tower of purpose who had so many of the necessary tools at his fingertips,' he said.

'Dr Tom Mulholland will always be a hero of mine and I'm guessing for the thousands who he inspired and helped, thousands whose lives he changed forever.'

'An incredible life, and in the end the most important lesson. Whatever you are feeling, no matter how alone you are I guarantee others are feeling the same. Please reach out.

'For now, buddy, just know we are so bloody proud of the amazing life you lived and of you. The world is going to miss the hell out of you.'

Moving tributes have been shared by friends, family, former colleagues, and many others who knew the beloved physician (pictured left)

Medical entrepreneur, fellow doctor and author Sam Hazledine also shared a post online decided to Dr Mulholland.

READ MORE: Queensland doctor humiliated by Virgin after wheelchair incident at Brisbane Airport Advertisement

'I'm sad. I'm confused. And to be honest, I'm a bit angry,' he began.

'He was Tom to me, but to the world he was Dr Tom Mulholland, 'The Attitude Doctor'.'

'Tom was the definition of 'larger than life.' With a gregarious personality and a huge heart, Tom positively impacted the life of anyone he encountered.

'But in the end, I guess that wasn't enough. He had demons, as we all do, and I guess two days ago they got too much for him. Whether that was an intense spur of the moment thing, or a longer-term thing, I don't know.

'But I wish I did know. I wish I'd been a better friend and had pried under that ebullient exterior deeper.'

Dr Hazledine revealed that he had spoken with Dr Mulholland just a couple of weeks before his death and said he 'sounded good' and there was 'no indication that he was struggling'.

'I'll miss that booming voice answering the phone with an enthusiastic, 'Dr Sam!' I don't understand why he's gone, but I hope that wherever he is that he's found peace,' he added.

'Goodbye Tom. Love you mate.'

In recent years, Dr Mulholland (pictured right) had been travelling around New Zealand doing health checks on Kiwis wherever he went

University of Auckland Emeritus Professor of Psychological Medicine Robert Kydd said Dr Mulholland was a passionate and tireless mental health campaigner.

'He was particularly innovative in the ways he tried to deliver services,' he said, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.

'He did a lot of work in rural areas, driving his mental health 'ambulance' and talking to farmers about how it was important to look after the 'top paddock' - their mental health.'

'Personally he was warm, friendly and caring. I will miss his spontaneous phone calls, wanting to discuss a new idea. He will be missed.'

In recent years, Dr Mulholland had been travelling around New Zealand in an old ambulance and a boat that acted as pop-up medical clinics so he could perform health checks on thousands of Kiwis wherever he went.

For confidential support 24/7 call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared intentions to obliterate Hamas as he metes out revenge for the deadly surprise attacks by the Palestinian militant group this weekend that saw hundreds of Israelis killed.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

On Tuesday morning, air raid sirens were blaring in cities across Israel, suggesting Hamas was launching another salvo of rockets.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

The death toll from the unprecedented assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on its territory rose to 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza (pictured)

Rockets stream from the Gaza Strip towards Israel

A Palestinian walks through the rubble while smoke rises from a damaged residential building nearby, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City, October 10, 2023

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

This aerial photo shows heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10, 2023

Lightning strikes as smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Mourners react as they pray during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 10, 2023

Palestinian men cry as they mourn the dead following Israeli air strikes in Gaza

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life as Hamas militants abduct her and drive her into Gaza

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (R) have vowed to crush Hamas

Covered bodies of dead Palestinians lie on the floor at the Al-Shifa hospital after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 09 October 2023

Mourners react as they pray during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 10, 2023

Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian killed in the Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 10, 2023

Israeli soldiers take a position near the southern city of Sderot close to the Gaza Strip

An Israeli soldier runs next to a self-propelled howitzer near the southern city of Ashkelon

Hamas published footage showing for the first time the homemade Mubar 1 short-range air defence system on Monday Oct 9, 2023

The use of rockets by Hamas has been a significant source of tension and conflict in the region, as they have targeted Israeli civilians and cities, resulting in casualties and property damage

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site.

But this time, the context has become more explosive.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria, fomenting calls for Israel to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy.

On Monday, thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions.

In the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes levelled buildings.

The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished region where 2.3 million people live on top of each other in squalid conditions.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its 'Swords of Iron' campaign, while the IDF said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gaza's City Rimal neighbourhood, which is home to Hamas' ministries and governing buildings, overnight.

IDF spokesman Richard Hecht said Gazans were being told to evacuate 'over social media' before strikes, but did not give details.

Also on Monday, Israel found more bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns.

Rescue workers found 108 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri - around 10 per cent of its population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz after Hamas attackers used paragliders to cross the border and fire indiscriminately into the crowd.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Israel pounded Hamas targets in Gaza on October 10 and said the bodies of 1,500 Islamist militants were found in southern towns recaptured by the army in gruelling battles near the Palestinian enclave

A Palestinian man stands in front of the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets

People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike

Israeli soldiers gather at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, 09 October 2023

A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday

A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday

A huge fireball engulfs part of the Gaza Strip following an Israeli airstrike

Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night

In a video statement Monday, Israel's foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza.

Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home 'in the spirit of mutual responsibility.'

'We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. 'This war crime will not be forgiven,' he added.

Hamas seized more than 100 hostages amid their surprise attacks this weekend, forcibly deporting some soldiers as well as innocent civilian women and even children back into Gaza.

Unsettling footage showed women being marched into vehicles, bloodied and bruised, often with their hands bound behind their backs.

A student who attended a desert rave and a mother and her two young girls were among the innocent victims snatched on Saturday.

Particularly shocking footage showed the abduction of Noa Argamani, 25, a student who was torn from her boyfriend's arms and driven away on the back of a militant's motorcycle as she screamed and pleaded for her life.

As violence escalates, Israel has responded with devastating airstrikes into the Gaza Strip, bringing down residential buildings they say contained military infrastructure.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 9 it had carried out more than 500 strikes on targets across the Gaza Strip overnight.

Palestinian officials said almost 500 people were killed, including 91 children, and over 2,700 were injured.

The death toll is expected to rise significantly.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA said an airstrike early on Monday hit a market area 'killing and wounding dozens and causing heavy destruction'.

A school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was also hit in the attack on the camp.

'The school was severely damaged and was housing about 225 people, though no casualties were recorded among the displaced, but the school sustained significant structural damage,' UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily press briefing.

All UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip are closed, and more than 300,000 people students are impacted, according to the UN.

The Times of Gaza reported 'dozens' had been 'killed and burned alive' during the attacks on Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023

A Palestinian mourns the death of her relative following an Israeli airstrike on the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, 9 October 2023

A smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinian officials said almost 500 people were killed, including 91 children, and over 2,700 were injured in the strikes. Pictured: smoke rises over Gaza on October 9

Palestinians sit among rubbles of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City, October 10, 2023

With no sign of either side losing momentum, Israel declared a 'complete siege' of the Strip on Monday, ensuring 'no electricity, no food, no fuel' would reach the 2.3mn people living there.

The country's defence minister said: 'We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.'

The EU also said it would review all of its development funding to the Palestinian territories in response to Hamas' attack on Israel.

Brussels was later pushed to clarify this would not include humanitarian aid.

Speaking from Jerusalem on Monday evening, Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent at The National, told MailOnline he had witnessed missiles hitting the city today, injuring a ten-year-old child.

He suggested there are no indications at present of the conflict waning.

He said: 'The thinking has been that [Hamas] launched their [strongest missiles] in the first barrage. But if they are still hitting Jerusalem now, it shows they still have a desire to escalate.'

With today's response of a 'complete siege' of Gaza, Israel is now 'trying to prepare their backers' for the possibility that 'this is going to be a long war', Helm added.

Some 300,000 reservists have been called up as Israel desperately looks to turn the tide.

'I got caught in a firefight and some of the the Israeli troops engaging were 70, 75-years-old,' Helm said.

He suggested it was unlikely the threat of executing hostages would do much to deter Israeli airstrikes.

Along with hundreds of other young Israelis, Noa (pictured) and Avi had been enjoying a peace festival in the desert when they were forced to flee for their lives

A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9, 2023

Israeli emergency responders inspect a damaged car after a barrage of rockets that were launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 9, 2023

The spiralling conflict has been felt globally, with oil prices surging on fears of tightening supplies.

US energy firm Chevron said it suspended operations at a natural gas platform off Israel's coast at the request of authorities.

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in a phone call that the Gulf kingdom was working to prevent the conflict spreading across the region, state media said early Tuesday.

Qatar meanwhile sought to mediate de-escalation talks with Israel and Hamas, aiming to secure a deal whereby both sides release captives.

The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are 'moving positively' a source told Reuters earlier today.

'We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover,' foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said.

Reports of artillery shelling and gunfire near the Israel-Lebanon border fuelled growing fears that the fighting could spread to other areas in the region, should Israel's opponents decide to strike against it following the attacks by Hamas during the weekend.

Arab League foreign ministers are set to meet tomorrow to discuss 'the Israeli aggression' against Gaza, the group said.
The NSW Opposition Leader has called for a Labor MP to publicly condemn his 19-year-old son for attending the controversial pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney on Monday night or be sacked.

Liberal Leader Mark Speakman issued an ultimatum to Premier Chris Minns to sack Mark Buttigieg, the multiculturalism secretary, if he didn't do so.

The extraordinary call made been lashed the government and Mr Buttigieg who accused the Opposition of "rat sewer tactics" and "politicising the issue".

Mr Buttigieg's son Gerard was pictured at the protests. It's understood the university student left before protesters began making anti-Semitic chants and engaged in widely criticised acts including burning the Israeli flag.

However, on Tuesday, Mr Speakman said that if Mr Buttigieg didn't "condemn the actions of his son," it would make his position as the parliamentary multiculturalism secretary untenable.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman called on NSW Labor MP Mark Buttigieg to disown and disassociate himself from his 19-year-old son after he was seen attending a pro-Palestinian rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Speakman said as the multiculturalism secretary, Mr Buttigieg was responsible for making sure culturally and linguistically diverse communities felt safe, protected and embraced.

"He either condemns it, or he resigns, or he is sacked," he said.

"Of course, we can't control the choices that our adult children make, but we can disown them and disassociate ourselves.

"He (Mr Buttigieg) has not done that."

Mr Buttigiegs son reportedly attended part of the rally for a free Palestine in Sydney on Monday night. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

While Mr Buttigieg said he backed the Premier's condemnation of the protests, he also said his son is an individual entitled to his own beliefs.

"I stand with the NSW Premier in condemning what occurred last night," he said.

"The scenes we witnessed last night were absolutely horrible and do not represent the people of NSW. The actions of Hamas must be condemned."

The upper house MP also lashed the Opposition Leader for his "sewer rat" politicisation of his son.

"To call for a Premier to sack an MP because his teenage son attends a rally is nothing short of sewer rat tactics," he said.

"I think the person who should be considering their position is the Opposition Leader who has demeaned his role and cheapened the cause of the Israeli people by politicising the issue in bringing a politician's child into it. It's absolutely reprehensible and I'm disgusted by it."

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman called on Mark Buttigieg to disown and disassociate himself from his son. Picture: NCA NewsWire /pool/ Dan Himbrechts

A NSW government spokesperson also said Mr Speakman's comments were "completely inappropriate".

"The NSW government's position has been clear; what occurred last night is intolerable," they said.

"However the Leader of the Opposition calling for a member of parliament to disown his 19-year-old son is completely inappropriate."

A spokesman for Mr Speakman later clarified his comments were in reference to Mr Buttigieg disowning his son's actions in his capacity as the parliamentary secretary for multiculturalism.

Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Chris Minns condemned the protest which he labelled as "abhorrent".

Protesters met at the Town Hall in Sydney's CBD at 5.30pm and marched to the Sydney Opera House where the monument was illuminated in the blue and white colours of the Israeli flag.

Later in the night, some members of the crowd made anti-Semitic chants, lit flares and set fire to the Israeli flag.

"I think that they're the opposite of what we want in our modern multicultural community," he said.

"To have some people celebrate atrocious indiscriminate killing and kidnapping in Israel is appalling."
Keir Starmer will demand 10 years in Downing Street today as he gives potentially his last Labour conference speech before an election.

Sir Keir is calling for a 'decade of national renewal' to 'heal' the country, as he tries to seal the deal with voters - and outlines controversial plans to reclassify the green belt.

But he will warn activists at the gathering in Liverpool against complacency, despite the latest poll showing the party in an 16 point lead.

Worryingly for the Tories, their standing has actually gone backwards since Rishi Sunak wrapped up their conference last week.

The address at 2pm is expected to be an 'emotional appeal' to the country, rather than laden with new policies - as Labour is still keeping its powder dry until closer to an election.

Sir Keir will put a 'big build' at the heart of his pitch, vowing to reclassify 'low quality' green belt land.

Labour wants to construct thousands of new homes, and even new towns, by streamlining planning and removing obstacles.

He will also try to quell fears that taxes will spike again if he gets into No10, stressing that government should 'tread lightly on people's lives'. But Sir Keir will repeat shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves' hints that there will be pain for wealthier Brits.

Keir Starmer will demand 10 years in Downing Street today as he gives potentially his last Labour conference speech before an election

Worryingly for the Tories , their standing has actually gone backwards since Rishi Sunak wrapped up their conference last week

Sir Keir's comments suggest he believes he is now on course to hold power until the mid-2030s.

Shadow international development minister Lisa Nandy yesterday hinted at the plan, telling activists at a Labour fringe meeting: 'We're going for more than two terms.

Keir's big ideas Reclassify 'low quality' green belt to allow more homes to be built

Boost devolution by giving all towns and cities in England new powers and funding

Boost borrowing to invest in the economy while ensuring debt is falling over long-term

Close tax loopholes for the 'wealthy' while protecting ordinary workers from more pain

Encourage doctors to work more overtime to help stabilise the NHS

Crack down on government waste to save 'billions' and recover Covid fraud cash

Order police to tackle lower-value shoplifting and create specific offence for assaulting retail staff Advertisement

Labour frontbencher Pat McFadden tried to play down the suggestion this morning, insisting Sir Keir is just levelling with the public about the challenge.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'What he's doing is he's setting out realistically that after 13 years of the Conservatives it's going to take time to turn things round.

'He is levelling with the public here. He's saying we can't solve everything overnight but what we can do is turn the page and begin a process of national renewal.

'He's assuming nothing. He's being honest with the people about the time it's going to take to face up to the challenges the country is facing right now.'

Insiders said Sir Keir would reveal 'little if any' new policy in today's speech, fuelling concern that Labour is hiding its agenda for fear of public scrutiny.

A senior Labour source yesterday said that even the party's election manifesto next year would be only a 'slim volume', setting out Sir Keir's five missions for government, with relatively little in the way of detailed policy.

In his speech today, Sir Keir will accuse the Government of breaking Britain during 13 years of 'Tory decline'.

But he will say that 'what is broken can be repaired, what is ruined can be rebuilt'.

He will add: 'People are looking to us because they want our wounds to heal and we are the healers. People are looking to us because these challenges require a modern state and we are the modernisers.

'People are looking to us because they want us to build a new Britain and we are the builders.'

Sir Keir will insist that Labour has been transformed since the days of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, saying he now leads 'a changed Labour Party, no longer in thrall to gesture politics, no longer a party of protest... Those days are done. We will never go back.'

Instead, he will claim that Labour is now 'a party of service... country first, party second'.

Sir Keir is expected to echo shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in hinting that any Labour tax rises will be levied on business and the better off rather than 'working people'.

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, UK shadow chancellor of the exchequer during day two of the Labour Party conference on Monday

In light of the cost of living crisis, he will say: 'We should never forget that politics should tread lightly on peoples' lives, that our job is to shoulder the burden for working people - carry the load, not add to it.'

Sir Keir will promise a major expansion of devolution, with councils and combined authorities getting control over housing and planning, skills, energy and transport.

That would essentially mean the same powers as London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

'If we want to challenge the hoarding of potential in our economy then we must win the war against the hoarders in Westminster. Give power back and put communities in control,' he will say.

The Labour leader will double down on pledges to tear up Britain's planning system to 'get Britain building'.

He will suggest that a new Labour government would oversee a 'big build'. But previous pledges to build 100,000 new council houses a year have not been repeated this week.

Michael Gove yesterday said that Labour's proposals to reform the planning system for infrastructure projects appeared to recycle initiatives the government has already made.

The Levelling Up Secretary said: 'I hope everyone covering today's non-announcements from Labour notes that they have literally no idea what to do on infrastructure.'

Sir Keir yesterday said he was ready for an election as early as May next year - and predicted the Conservatives would fight a dirty contest.

Addressing business chiefs, he said he expected Rishi Sunak to 'go low' in the fight to cling to power, and warned that the campaign was likely to 'descend into a place which isn't about big politics'.
This is the shocking moment Hamas militants opened fire on an Israeli civilian vehicle as its driver tried to flee the unprecedented assault by the terror group.

The footage was captured on a dashboard camera with a timestamp of 7.39am on Saturday morning, less than two hours after the surprise attack was launched.

By Tuesday, Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 injured, and dozens taken captive.

Among the Israeli dead were 270 mostly young people gunned down at the Nova desert music festival - just 3.7 miles from the GazaIsrael barrier - where some of the hostages were abducted.

It is understood the driver was one of the festival-goers attempting to flee, but was shot as they approached a Hamas roadblock.

This is the shocking moment Hamas militants opened fire on an Israeli civilian vehicle as its driver tried to flee the unprecedented assault by the terror group

The video opens with the car speeding down an otherwise abandoned road in southern Israel. One car is seen pulled over, while another is seen tipped on its side.

As the vehicle rounds a bend in the road, dark-clad figures are seen in the distance, prompting the driver to slow the car down.

As the car decelerates, one of these figures walks out into the middle of the road and another appears from the bushes down the left-hand-side of the tarmac.

It quickly becomes clear that the two men are armed, and as the car steers to go around the first man, he raises a rifle and opens fire on the vehicle.

Somehow, the driver manages initially to avoid the first two Hamas militants, but as the car steers around them, more fighters appear further down the road.

Suddenly, the windscreen shatters as bullets slam into the car. It continues to roll down the road towards what is now in the footage clearly a Hamas roadblock.

At least four more militants can be seen firing on the car, which veers slowly to the left and eventually comes to a halt when it crashes into the back of another vehicle that is pulled over to the side of the road - suggesting the driver has been shot dead.

Two Hamas militants (left) are seen approaching the Israeli civilian vehicle in dashcam footage that was capture at 7.40am on Saturday, around an hour after the Palestinian militant group launched its deadly assault from Gaza

The windscreen on the vehicle is seen cracked after a hail of bullets fired by Hamas militants struck it as it drove down a road, seemingly unwittingly into a Hamas roadblock

Four armed militants are seen blocking the car and firing rifles into the front of the vehicle

In the footage, the car veers slowly to the left and eventually comes to a halt when it crashes into the back of another vehicle that is pulled over to the side of the road - suggesting the driver has been shot dead. Militants (pictured) are then seen checking the car for survivors

A second part to the same dashcam footage shows several heavily-armed militants around the car, seemingly checking to see if there are any survivors in the vehicles that are pulled over on the side of the road.

Others are seen driving up the road in cars and on motorbikes - back in the direction from where the car came.

It was not clear from the footage why the driver slowed down as the armed men approached, but some speculated that they may have initially thought they were members of the Israel Defense Forces (IFD) as opposed to Hamas militants.

By the time they realised who the men were, however, it was too late.

It was also not clear exactly where the attack on the vehicle took place, but given the time stamp of the video, it was likely in southern Israel where on Saturday the Palestinian militant group launched its deadly surprise assault from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas's attack penetrated the Gaza border fence - long deemed impregnable and guarded by surveillance cameras, drones, patrols and watchtowers - and reached as deep as 10 miles into Israeli territory before turning back.

In a second video that has emerged, also captured on a dashcam, Hamas terrorists are seen attacking Israeli civilians hiding in a bomb shelter.

The shelter was also near the Nova festival, just miles from the Gaza Strip.

One shirtless man is seen being held at gunpoint outside the shelter, being kicked and threatened by a group of militants.

But once the assailants realise people are hiding in the shelter, they throw a grenade inside and shoot at those who attempt to escape.

Pictured: Aerial footage shows the aftermath of an attack on the Nova music Festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8

Several cars - some of them burnt-out - are seen pulled over to the side of the road after people fled the Nova music festival in southern Israel

Footage shows terrified young Israelis fleeing Hamas militants as they launched a deadly attack on those attending the desert Nova music festival

A picture taken on October 10, 2023 shows the abandoned site of the weekend attack of the Nova desert music festival by Palestinian militants near Kibbutz Reim

Abandoned cars and strewn objects are seen in the aftermath of the festival attack

An aerial picture shows the abandoned site of the weekend attack on the Nova desert music festival by Palestinian militants near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel on October 10

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of the music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, where it is believed the driver was coming from. Other revellers were feared to be among the captives taken into Gaza.

The Nova festival had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im.

Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing festival-goers.

Some survivors posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims shot dead one by one in front of their eyes.

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed Israeli rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

Seperate harrowing dashcam footage from the attack showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars.

Israeli soldier Ephraim Mordechayev told AFP news agency he witnessed Hamas attackers firing RPG missiles into the crowd. 'Imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses or tanks, fired on a group of 20 civilians,' he said.

One of the around 270 victims of the festival attack was revealed to be a young woman by the name of Shani Louk.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 10

The tattoo artist was captured by Hamas terrorists and massacred.

READ MORE: Tragic last dance for peace-loving tattoo artist murdered by Hamas Advertisement

Shani, who was in her early 20s and grew up in Israel, would then be stripped naked by the same fighters and paraded through the streets in front of jeering crowds who spat on her motionless body in sickening scenes.

Harrowing video shows her naked body splayed in the back of the truck while surrounded by the four Hamas terrorists who were shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

Her family, who are desperately hoping that Shani is still alive despite the footage of her body, said she was a pacifist who refused to take up the military service that is mandatory in Israel due to her views.

Further tragic footage showed a smiling Shani dancing enthusiastically at the music festival - moments before she was captured by the terrorists.

Video shows Shani dancing with a group of other revellers while smiling broadly at the camera - a far cry from the harrowing footage that emerged later of her naked body being paraded through the streets by the Hamas terrorists.

Meanwhile, overnight from Monday to Tuesday, Israel kept up its deadly bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza Tuesday after the Palestinian militant group threatened to execute some of the around 150 hostages.

Israel already imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, and sparking fears that an already dire humanitarian situation will swiftly deteriorate.

Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault, likening it to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The Israeli army said Tuesday it had 'more or less restored control' over the Gaza border after Saturday's mass breach by Palestinian gunmen.

It said it had recovered the bodies of around 1,500 Hamas militants inside Israel, confirming the scale of Saturday's assault.

It said it had 'nearly completed' evacuation of Israeli communities around the border.

Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday as explosions sounded and sirens wailed.

Hamas said Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of its hostages.

It later said it could start killing them itself.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

In a televised speech late Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force'.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu said.

He also vowed to 'strengthen other fronts in the north against Hezbollah', where militants and Israeli forces exchanged fire for a second day.

Hamas launched more rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its 'Swords of Iron' campaign.
Military experts have revealed that Israel's army faces an uphill battle in finding and safely evacuating the dozens of hostages taken by Hamas in the region's bloodiest conflict in decades.

The terror group has kidnapped at least 100 civilians since war broke out on Saturday, after its terrorists first attacked a music festival just a mile from Israel's border with Gaza.

Harrowing footage showed women being marched into vehicles, bloodied and bruised, often with their hands bound behind their backs. One video showed Noa Argamani, a 25-year-old student who was filmed screaming 'don't kill me' as she was dragged away on a motorcyle by Hamas thugs.

The IDF is under immense pressure to get the hostages as quickly as possible, as Hamas said on Monday that it would begin executing an Israeli captive every time Israel bombs a civilian home without warning.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

Alexander Grinberg, of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said that Israeli 'strikes will first of all target Hamas command centres and troops, with fire coming from everywhere'.

Hamas terrorists have taken at least 100 people as hostages

City fighting is 'a 360-degree battlefield as the threats can be all around you', said one military expert

'Using artillery can make the situation worse, as while it may kill some defenders, the rubble then provides them with cover', former British Army officer Andrew Galen said

'At the same time, the army will prepare to enter Gaza,' he said.

Such urban fighting will force combatants into hand-to-hand combat, reduce visibility, increase the risk of traps, blur boundaries between civilians and soldiers and render armoured vehicles next to useless.

'Everyone knows it will be long and difficult, with many losses,' Grinberg said, although technology such as robots could work in the assaulting forces' favour.

Former British army officer Andrew Galer, who works as an analyst at private intelligence firm Janes, said that the IDF's fight in the Gaza Strip would be tough, as city fighting is 'a 360-degree battlefield as the threats can be all around you.'

Going house-to-house to secure potentially booby-trapped buildings means bringing in bomb disposal experts with cumbersome gear like ladders, ropes and explosives - 'possibly all while taking fire' and in the dark, he added.

And there are 'inherent risks' of friendly fire given 'the difficulties of situational awareness', Galer said.

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life as Hamas militants abduct her and drive her into Gaza

Hamas is currently sending its attackers into Israel in a bid to gain territory

'Using artillery can make the situation worse, as while it may kill some defenders, the rubble then provides them with cover'.

Gaza's roughly 2.3 million Palestinian inhabitants have been living under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Its overcrowded, narrow web of streets is doubled underground by a dense tunnel network known to Israeli troops as the 'Gaza Metro'.

Gaza's nine-mile border with Egypt was once burrowed under with hundreds of tunnels used to smuggle fighters, weapons and other contraband - although many have now been destroyed.

But since 2014, Hamas has been digging underground pathways to get around territory it controls.

Some tunnels are as deep as 130 feet below ground, allowing militants to change position away from the danger of strikes.

Rocket batteries, hidden just a few feet beneath the surface, can be uncovered with a trapdoor just for the time it takes to fire a salvo.

Israel's army and intelligence are certain to know about a portion of the network, and bombarded it heavily in 2021.

But other parts remain secret and will make any IDF ground operation in Gaza more difficult.

Social media footage of Shiri sobbing as she and her children are taken away by the militants has sparked anguish

Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, is believed to have been abducted along with her nine-month-old Kfir and three-year-old Ariel

Shiri and her little boys appear to have been pushed into armoured vehicles by Hamas fighters after their village was stormed

Israel supporters at a vigil outside Downing Street in London held up pictures of the mum and her boys being taken, with one placard begging: 'Let the children go'

READ MORE - Jeremy Corbyn risks fresh fury by suggesting Israel 'occupation' is the root cause of Hamas atrocities Advertisement

Hamas 'knows its tunnels by heart,' said Colin Clarke, research director at the New York-based Soufan Center think-tank.

'Some are probably booby-trapped. Preparing to fight in such terrain... would require extensive intelligence... which the Israelis may not have,' he added.

Underground fighting would hand a major tactical advantage to the Hamas defenders and their leadership.

On the other hand, Hamas' tunnel advantage 'could also turn out to be a trap,' he added.

'When tunnels are found, they can be closed off to shut in the people inside. In this case, the order is likely to be for no quarter' to be given.

'Israeli society wouldn't forgive it if the hostages' lives are not a priority,' said Sylvaine Bulle, a sociologist studying Israel at France's National Centre for Scientific Research.

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets

People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike

Citizens' attitude would be 'you have failed to ensure our security, bring us the hostages back,' she predicted - leading to 'conflicts... between politicians and the military.'

The government is unable to negotiate for now, said Kobi Michael, a researcher at the Tel Aviv-based INSS think-tank.

'With all the sorrow, with all the pain... the hostage issue cannot be the first priority,' he said.

'Israel will reach to the hostage issue only with the upper hand and when Hamas will be defeated and weak, not a second before,' Michael added.

Though Israel is under immense pressure to get the hostages, dozens of countries, including the US, UK, and much of the EU, have backed the Jewish state.

Several nations, including Iran and Algeria, have backed Hamas following Saturday morning's attack on Israeli citizens, but others declined to condemn the violence in the region, instead choosing to wait and see how the bloodiest conflict between Israel and Palestine in half a century will play out.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.
Mr Loophole today claimed there is no need to wait for the Government to outlaw American XL Bully dogs, because they are already banned under existing legislation.

The celebrity lawyer, real name Nick Freeman, said the XL Bully already fulfils the criteria of a dangerous dog according to the existing Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

He said this is because it is a cross breed of an American Pitbull Terrier  which is one of four dogs already banned  and because the law states that 'any dog of the type known as the pitbull terrier' is outlawed, this therefore applies to the XL Bully.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last month that XL Bully dogs will be banned by the end of 2023 following a series of attacks in Britain in recent months.

There have been six fatal maulings over the past year carried out by dogs known or suspected to be of the XL Bully breed. The latest victim was Ian Langley, 54, a father who died after an attack while walking his puppy in Sunderland on October 3.

American XL Bully dogs have been involved in a string of attacks across Britain (file picture)

Celebrity lawyer Mr Loophole, real name Nick Freeman, has spoken out about XL Bully dogs

American kennel clubs have different definitions of what an American XL bully is, but it is not recognised as a specific breed by the UK's The Kennel Club.

READ MORE I created the XL Bully to be docile - blame greedy breeders for making them killers: American who first bred the animal hits back as deadly dog is set to be banned in Britain Advertisement

The American Bully Kennel Club defines the XL Bully as a crossbreed of the American Pitbull Terrier, Olde English Bulldogge, English Bulldog and the American Bulldog. And the American Dog Breeders Association defines it as a crossbreed of the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier.

Because of the link to the Pitbull, Mr Freeman claimed anyone in position of an American XL Bully or American Bully dog is already breaking the law in owning such a dog and that action can be taken.

He said: 'An American Bully XL is a cross breed of a Pitbull and an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which is itself described as a Pitbull. So, the dogs fall squarely within the definition of dangerous dog as outlined by the Act.

'This means that the Government has no excuse to drag its feet over acting immediately to curb the widespread dangers posed by these animals.'

In the UK, it is currently against the law to own the Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.

It is also illegal to sell a banned dog, abandon a banned dog, give away a banned dog, and breed from a banned dog.

But Mr Freeman, who is known as Mr Loophole for his ability to win cases for celebrities based on legal technicalities, said the Dangerous Dogs Act further states that to own a dog of that 'type' - which can include a cross breed - is also a criminal offence.

Dog walker Ian Langley, 54, was mauled to death by an XL Bully in Sunderland on October 3

Mr Freeman said: 'I can't help wondering why (Home Secretary) Suella Braverman, herself a qualified lawyer, hasn't previously picked previously up on this point. Given the provisions of the Act, these dogs are clearly already illegal.

What happens if you own a banned dog? The police or local council dog warden can take it away, even if it is not acting dangerously and there has not been a complaint made. A police or council dog expert will judge what type of dog it is and whether it is (or could be) a danger to the public. The dog will then either be released or kept in kennels while the police (or council) apply to a court. It is the owner's responsibility to prove the dog is not a banned type. If it is proved, the court will order the dog to be returned. If the owner cannot prove it (or they plead guilty), they will be convicted of a crime. The owner can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months (or both) for having a banned dog against the law. The dog will also be destroyed. If the dog is banned but the court thinks it is not a danger to the public, it may put it on the Index of Exempted Dogs and let the owner keep it. The owner will be given a certificate of exemption, which is valid for the life of the dog, and comes with a number of conditions. The dog must be neutered, microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public, and kept in a secure place so it cannot escape. The owner must take out insurance against the dog injuring other people, be aged over 16, show the certificate of exemption when asked by a police officer or council dog warden, either at the time or within five days, and let the Index of Exempted Dogs know if the owner changes address, or the dog dies. Owners of the American XL Bully will not see their pets culled but will likely face new restrictions when the law is changed  including a requirement to have the dogs neutered. Advertisement

'There is no need to wait for an official 'ban', as Rishi Sunak has promised. As such the police have full authority to remove these dogs from society and in doing so the risk they pose to general public and their pets.'

The Dangerous Dogs Act gives the Government the right to ban any breeds that appear to be 'bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose'.

Owners can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months, or both, for having a banned dog. The maximum sentence for a fatality is 14 years in jail.

Mr Freeman continued: 'The American Bully XL is not only a crossbreed of a banned dog, but it has also been bred for fighting.

'On both counts the legislation is robust and makes it clear that these dogs are illegal. That's why in many countries they are classified as a Pitbull and already outlawed.

'Of course, for the purposes of clarity it would help for the American Bully XL to be specifically mentioned in the Dangerous Dogs Act.

'But in the interim, the Home Secretary must make it clear to the police that these are banned dogs and that anyone seen owning one will be penalised and the dog destroyed.'

Government guidance on banned dogs from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) cites a court case in 1993 that involved Pitbull owner Gary Dunne.

His mastiff-terrier cross Judd was in police custody after he missed the deadline for registering the animal under the then-new Dangerous Dogs Act.

A judge at the Queen's Bench Divisional Court concluded that the word 'type' in relation to dogs had a broader meaning than 'breed', and a court could therefore conclude that a dog was 'of the type known as the Pitbull Terrier' within the meaning of the act.

The court also said at the time that the dog's characteristics must substantially conform to the standard set for the breed by the American Dog Breeders Association, even if it does not meet the standard in every respect.

This therefore gives more credence to Mr Loophole's claim - if a lawyer such as him could successfully argue in court that an XL Bully was of the Pitbull 'type'.

Mr Sunak has said XL Bully dogs will be banned by the end of the year. Owners of the dog will not see their pets culled but will likely face new restrictions - including a requirement to have the dogs neutered.

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Chief Veterinary Officer Professor Christine Middlemiss confirmed last month that there would be an 'amnesty' approach, echoing the way the ban on Pitbull Terriers under the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in the 1990s.

READ MORE Nine out of 10 say XL Bully dogs should be banned as toddler nearly loses his leg and 54-year-old is killed in latest attacks Advertisement

She said owners will need to register their XL Bully, with the dog required to be neutered and muzzled and on a lead when in public. They will also need to be insured.

Because the dog is not recognised as a specific breed by The Kennel Club, there have been concerns that it could be hard to define - with some fearing that a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs.

Police or dog experts can judge a type of dog, which is done with lists of characteristics, so it can be classed as a banned breed if it ticks the boxes, even if the dog is crossbred with a breed which is not banned.

Professor Middlemiss has said officials would work with vets, dog experts, the police and NGOs to find an 'appropriate breed definition'.

Downing Street has said measures will be put in place to cover the 'existing population' of the dogs in response to concerns that they will still be allowed on the streets once a ban on new owners comes in.

Last weekend, dozens of XL Bully owners protested against plans to ban the breed in a demonstration at a park in Leicester spearheaded by mother-of-three Hannah Smith.

XL Bully dogs have been involved in a string of attacks across Britain.

There have been eight serious dog attacks in the UK in the past year, most involving XL Bully dogs, which have caused six fatalities. The number of fatal dog attacks hit a record high last year.

There were a record 9,424 hospital admissions from dog attacks last year, a number that has risen by a third in a decade, according to NHS data.

A Defra spokesman told MailOnline today: 'The Government is taking urgent action to bring forward the Prime Minister's commitment to ban XL Bully dog types following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities, which appears to be driven by this type of dog. We will be setting out next steps shortly.

'Whether a dog falls within the scope of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 depends on the individual dog in question and the police and court's assessment of whether it meets existing criteria.'
The police chief who has been accused of stolen valour after wearing a Falklands War medal despite being just 15 at the time of the conflict flashed it on Remembrance Day as he posed with a group of veteran officers.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley, 57, of Northamptonshire Police, was pictured with the medal and wearing what appears to be a Navy Officer hat on Armistice Day in 2019, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

It comes as the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launches an investigation into the 'Walter Mitty' police chief, who was once tipped to take over the Met Police.

Adderley has claimed the medal was given to him by his brother, along with a second awarded for service in Northern Ireland given to him by another sibling - but pictures emerged last week which appeared to show Rick Adderley wearing his Falklands medal after it was supposedly gifted to Nick.

The new photo, which emerged in a Facebook group for current and former officers, shows Adderley grinning broadly as he poses with nine other veterans, all wearing poppies, with the medal pinned to his chest and a Navy officer hat on his head - a position it is claimed he has not held.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley (centre, white hat) is accused of wearing the Falklands medal and an officer's hat on Remembrance Day in 2019

Adderley, 57, has been previously described in press releases and an interview with online police magazine Police Oracle as a Falklands veteran

The police chief has been previously described in press releases and an interview with online police magazine Police Oracle as a Falklands veteran with ten years of experience in the Navy.

In a letter seen by MailOnline, Adderley is described as having 'over 10 years' experience in the Navy, but it has since been claimed he actually spent just two years in the forces and was not, as previously claimed, an officer.

Having enlisted in 1984, he joined the police in 1992, just eight years later.

The Chief Constable has repeatedly posted on X, formerly Twitter, to celebrate the Armed Forces. On Remembrance Day 2022, he wrote: 'To those who serve, have served and the families who support them, we say thank you.

'No greater honour than to serve and protect your country.'

As Northamptonshire's chief constable, he stressed the need for officers to be 'beyond reproach'.

Following the sentencing of Met Police monster David Carrick, Adderley said: 'Several months ago, Northamptonshire police set up Operation Admiral, headed by the Deputy Chief Constable, looking at all the current and future processes to ensure we unearth and "out" any officer or member of staff who is not fit to serve the public.

'Operation Admiral is a further commitment to allow members of the public, members of staff or police officers, to report any behaviour which falls below the standards of professional behaviour; moreover, the standards expected of police officers should be beyond reproach.

'This is not about a witch-hunt or a breach of process but I, and the many thousands of decent, hardworking police officers and staff, will not tolerate the abhorrent behaviour of some, which tarnishes the whole.

What is stolen valour? 'Stolen Valour' is the term commonly applied to the act of wearing military medals or decorations that have not been earned with the intent to deceive. It is not an offence in the UK for individuals to wear medals or decorations that they were not awarded - but it is an offence to wear a military medal without permission, according to the UK Parliament's briefing on the subject. Advertisement

'It must be reported, investigated and dealt with.'

Questions were first raised around Adderley's history in the forces after it was revealed he had worn the South Atlantic Medal, given to those who served in the Falklands, despite being just 15 at the outbreak of the conflict.

Chief Constable Adderley said the medal had been given to him by his brother when he emigrated to Australia around 2013.

But last week further photos emerged which showed his brother Rick wearing the South Atlantic Medal in 2020, seven years after it was supposedly gifted to the policeman.

Adderley said that following advice he would begin wearing the two medals gifted to him on the other side of his chest, as is often done by those who have lost a loved one in the forces.

It is understood Adderley actually enlisted in the Navy in 1984 aged 18, two years after the Falklands War ended, but was in the cadets since the age of 15.

He has repeatedly been described by his force as having more than 10 years experience in the Navy - but joined in 1992, eight years after enlisting.

It is now said he actually only served in the Navy for two years, leaving in 1984, and that he served as a sailor and not an officer.

A photo from 2020 appears to show brother Rick wearing his Falklands medal - despite Adderley claiming he was given it in 2013

Adderley has worn the medal to multiple events over the years since his brother's emigration

But an article on Police Oracle repeated the claims: 'He is as enthusiastic now about policing as when he joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1992 after being in the Royal Navy for ten years, during which time he served in the Falklands War.'

Veterans have since called for Adderley to be sacked from his role over the 'disgusting' allegations.

Tom Herring, chairman of the South Atlantic Medal Association, told MailOnline that Adderley must have been aware of the rules around service medals, and the tradition of wearing medals of loved ones on the opposite side of the chest.

He said: 'He should have known better. Everyone in the armed forces knows campaign medals awarded to someone else should not be worn on the lefthand side.'

The 165,000-per-year police chief said he is 'very proud of his Cadet, Royal Navy and Police Service' and that he also wears medals awarded to his brothers.

'I wear all my medals with pride and have always worn the two medals my brothers gave me to wear when one became critically ill and one emigrated, alongside my own.

'Having been made aware of this complaint, which has a private family impact upon me personally, I immediately took advice last week regarding the protocol and have changed the side of my chest on which these medals are worn.

'I look forward to providing the IOPC with a fulsome response at the earliest opportunity and I fully appreciate that they have a job to do.'

The police watchdog is looking into allegations of misrepresentation of his military service. The probe could lead to him being hauled in front of a misconduct hearing.

Chief Constable Adderley has been contacted for comment.
John Cleese told Ed Balls to 'shut up' during an awkward ITV interview today in which the comedian accused the presenter of regularly interrupting his answers.

The Fawlty Towers star was asked about the chaos at GB News as he prepares to launch his new ten-part show 'The Dinosaur Hour' on the channel from October 29.

Cleese is joining the broadcaster at a time of turmoil that saw Laurence Fox sacked following sexist comments he made on-air about female journalist Ava Evans.

GB News is still carrying out a probe into Dan Wootton as the comments were made on his programme. Calvin Robinson, who hosted a religious current affairs show on the channel, was also dismissed after sharing support for Wootton online.

Today, Cleese appeared on Good Morning Britain and was asked by former Labour politician Balls about his new show  but became frustrated at being interrupted.

Asked about The Dinosaur Hour, Cleese said: 'It's for dinosaurs. It's for people who are completely out of touch. It's for people who are badly out of touch.

Ed Balls and Susanna Reid interview John Cleese on ITV's Good Morning Britain today

John Cleese is preparing to launch his new ten-part GB News show 'The Dinosaur Hour'

'Lots of people are happy to be dinosaurs because it's very hard to understand what's going on at the moment. And if you're a dinosaur you have no chance of understanding it all. So a programme, this is a huge demographic, you know.

'We're going to get people of course who are out of touch because they want to be out of touch, but also people who are out of touch and who have no idea who are out of touch. We're going to have a massive amount of happy dinosaurs on Sunday 29th October.'

The show will see Cleese, 83, interview a number of older celebrities such as Stephen Fry, 66, Sir Trevor McDonald, 84, Tim Rice, 78, and Caitlyn Jenner, 73.

When Balls made the point that the show was on GB News, Cleese said: 'They made me, Ed, they made me the best offer anyone has ever made anyone in television. They came to me...'

But Balls then interrupted him, saying: 'You're the only presenter joining them rather than leaving at the moment.'

Cleese appeared not to hear the question, saying: 'What?'

When Balls repeated the question, Cleese said: 'Well they're clearing out a certain amount which is not a bad idea, because they do believe in free speech.'

Balls then said: 'Get the old wood out and the new blood in.'

But Cleese said: 'Will you shut up?'

And co-host Susanna Reid then added: 'Well, er, yeah, you asking a question and then talking over the answer I suppose, I'm often accused...'

Cleese then said: 'That's right, he's getting another question in. If you'd like to tell me which one you want me to answer?'

Balls said: 'It's what us interviewers do, you'll find out.'

Laurence Fox (right) spoke about Ava Evans on Dan Wootton (left) Tonight on September 27

Ava Evans was the target of Fox's comments, and appeared on Channel 5 to discuss the row

But Cleese replied: 'Yes, I know, I've done quite a few.'

He then went on to talk about the show, saying: 'They came to me and they said would you like to make ten programmes? You can do anything you like.

John Cleese poses for a photo at the ITV studios for Good Morning Britain today

'Nobody's ever said that to anyone because most television executives, as you both know well, have no idea what they're doing but they want to control things anyway.'

Ms Reid said: 'I would never say that about my bosses, no.'

Cleese added: 'Well, not on air.'

She replied: 'I'm full of respect and admiration for them.'

Cleese then continued: 'My experience was, that with the very few exceptions of the BBC about 40 years ago, they don't know what they're doing.

'But they want to control everything and they don't trust the talent. So the moment they get someone, 'talent', and they say what sort of show are you going to do, then they want to make lots of suggestions.

'They will say we want to know what we're getting. I will say, you're getting me, but if you don't trust me, don't hire. And that's why BBC comedy is in such a parlous state at the moment.

'The young comedians tell me how hard it is to get anything accepted because it's all committees. And the BBC is now run like a bureaucracy, and that's not good for nurturing talent.'

As the interview came to close, Cleese had one final parting shot for Balls, saying: 'The trouble with most interviews in British television and American television is that people can't get their opening statement out before they get interrupted.'

Ms Reid asked: 'Did you find that in this interview?'

John Cleese starred in the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers with Connie Booth and Andrew Sachs

And Cleese said: 'Oh, let me think about it. You're naughty, I like you.'

He then tried to interrupt Balls when he was talking about the next segment on the programme.

READ MORE Chaos at GB News as broadcaster sacks Laurence Fox and Calvin Robinson after they were suspended over actor's rant about Ava Evans Advertisement

Cleese created and starred in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers and was one of the comedy troupe members behind the surreal sketch show Monty Python, which both first aired on the BBC.

But he has been outspoken on cancel culture in recent years and said in another interview that the famous episode in season one of Fawlty Towers titled The Germans would 'probably not' get made today.

Last week he described GB News presenter Mark Dolan as 'really appalling' on Twitter, sharing a video compilation of him describing Meghan Markle as 'Woko Mono' on several occasions.

Cleese added: 'It seems to me that GB News is harming itself by putting out this nasty, vulgar rubbish.'

UK media watchdog Ofcom has received a total of 8,846 complaints about Fox's remarks, in which he made a series of personal remarks about Ms Evans, including asking 'who would want to s**g that?', on the Dan Wootton Tonight programme on September 26.

Since the broadcast, MailOnline has terminated its contract with Wootton, who was a columnist for the website.

Robinson revealed he was suspended from GB News after he stood in solidarity with Wootton online, adding that GB News will be on 'borrowed time' if it does not stand by Wootton.

GB News boss Angelos Frangopoulos previously said he was 'appalled' by the remarks, adding that they were not in keeping with the values of the channel.
A British family whose son went missing after Hamas gunmen stormed a music festival in Israel has revealed his fiancee was tragically found murdered.

Miryam Shafir, 55, yesterday held back tears as she urged the UK and Irish governments to apply pressure on the Palestinian terror group that rules the Gaza Strip.

Her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, both 30, were attending the music festival near Nirim, a kibbutz in the south of Israel close to the Gaza border when Hamas militants soared over the fence using paragliders.

They landed and began shooting indiscriminately into the crowd, forcing the hundreds of attendees to scatter in terror.

At around 7am on Saturday - roughly half an hour after the attack began - Dor sent a text to say he and Savion had managed to escape the initial slaughter and found shelter.

But the Shafir family today told Good Morning Britain that Savion was later found dead, murdered by the ruthless militants who later captured hostages and fled back to Gaza.

Meanwhile Dor remains unaccounted for, with his desperate family unsure of his fate and holding onto what little hope remains that he is still alive.

Nearly 260 bodies have been recovered from the festival ground, almost all of whom were civilians gunned down in cold-blood.

Miryam Shafir, 55, with her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, at a bowling alley

Festivalgoers at the nature party near Nirim, in the south of Israel, close to the Gaza border

Revelers at the trance music rave before the terror of the gunmen's arrival began

Yesterday, Miryam gave an impassioned plea to Good Morning Britain.

'We know from a person that saw them at the party that when they heard the first rockets my son and his girlfriend were the first to run to their car and leave. Within minutes everyone fled,' she said.

'They ran into the forest or got into their cars and started driving all over the place. Some of them were met by Hamas terrorists. Some of the people were shot, some were taken hostage.

'We don't know if they are alive or dead. There were hundreds, hundreds of young people killed. We don't even know who they are or where they are.'

'Savion and Dor were planning to get married next year, and I want to make them a wedding,' she said, through tears.

Savion sent a final text message at 7.03am on Saturday to a friend, saying: 'We fled the party and we found shelter.'

The couple has not been heard from since.

The police managed to track Savion and Dor's mobile phone signal.

Miryam said: 'We know that Dor's phone was shut off manually at 1.30 on Saturday. We don't know who shut the phone off, if our son shut off the phone, maybe to save battery or to be silent wherever he was, or if he was taken physically by Hamas and they shut the phone. Savion's phone was giving signals until 11.30 on Saturday night.'

Dor and his father, Itzik in the mountains

The happy family together at a bowling alley

Both phones' signals were traced by police to Re'im, another kibbutz in southern Israel, where a cellular antenna serves a 5km radius area. This could place the couple in Gaza. Miryam added: 'Even 40 hours after the attack started, there are still terrorists in the area who aren't allowing anyone even to come close, to search.'

Miryam, whose father is from Reading and whose mother was from Dublin, urged the UK and Ireland to get involved.

She said: 'We are citizens, they should help stop this war crime from going on. There are hundreds of innocent people, women, children, young people, who are hostages in Gaza. We don't even know if they are dead or alive.

'My son is British and Irish and this is why I want the international community to intervene. We need help. I don't know where our children are.

Israeli festival goers dancing in the desert at dawn on Saturday, completely unaware that within minutes members of the Hamas militant group were about to descend from the skies and inflict terror

Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempted to escape

Drone footage taken in the aftermath of the attack shows cars left at the roadside, near Kibbutz Re'im, close to Gaza, from which Hamas launched its shock assault, many of them destroyed or pockmarked with bullet impacts

READ MORE: Chilling video shows terrified revellers hiding in undergrowth and recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked Israeli festival in massacre that left 260 dead Advertisement

'We don't know if they are hostages. We don't officially know if they are in Gaza. I don't know if he's alive. I am praying that he's alive.'

Hundreds of cars abandoned in the scramble to flee the massacre underline the scale of the deadliest attack on Israel in decades.

Drone footage taken in the aftermath shows cars left at the roadside near Kibbutz Re'im, close to Gaza, from which Hamas launched its shock assault, many of them destroyed or pockmarked with bullet impacts.

Thousands of young people attended the nature party, which became one of the first targets of Palestinian gunmen who breached Gaza's border fence early on Saturday under cover of massive rocket barrages from Gaza.

Video footage circulating on social media shows the gunmen descending in paragliders on the gathering in the Negev Desert.

Other social media footage shows some of those taken captive from the party being led away by jubilant gunmen.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday that regional governments did not want the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to spill out into other parts of the region

At least 700 Israelis were killed in unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks and dozens more were abducted into Gaza in profoundly shocking scenes.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that regional governments did not want the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to spill out into other parts of the region after the Islamist group Hamas assaulted Israel from Gaza on Saturday.

He was asked by broadcasters about concerns that Hezbollah could get involved, following the attack by Hamas.

Mr Cleverly said: 'We should recognise that Hamas are a terrorist organisation. They are not acting on behalf of the entirety of the Palestinian people, or indeed the other countries in the region.

'Israel has told us they are very focused on dealing with this specific terrorist threat from Hamas.

'I have spoken with representatives and governments around the region and we are all agreed that nobody wants this to spill out into other parts of the region.

'Israel are very focused on dealing with a specific terrorist threat from Hamas emanating from Gaza. That remains their focus.'
A senior professor at the University of Manchester has told colleagues that a student who said she was 'full of pride and joy' at Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel 'is being supported at this difficult time'.

Dana Abuqamar, president of Manchester Friends of Palestine, was interviewed by Sky News during a pro-Hamas event in the city on Sunday - a day after militants gunned down 260 innocent civilians at a music festival.

She said: 'We are full of pride. We are really, really full of joy (at) what has happened.... We are proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point.'

Ms Abuqamar was condemned by policing minister Chris Philp, who wrote: 'This is sick. I'm appalled that anyone holds these repugnant views.'

But in an email to colleagues, Professor Claire Alexander - head of the university's School of Social Sciences - failed to condemn the remarks and repeated the student's claim that they had been 'misrepresented'.

She wrote: 'Some of you may be aware that one of our students was recently interviewed on Sky News about the Israel/Gaza conflict. A clip of the interview has been circulating on Twitter and has raised concerns among staff and students.

'The student has contacted us in considerable distress about the misrepresentation of their views, and we are supporting them through this difficult time.' The email was posted online by Christian Calgie of the Daily Express.

More pro-Palestine protests are planned in the coming days - raising the prospect of clashes between activists defending Palestinians and supporters of Israel. Rival groups had to be kept apart during a demonstration last night in Kensington, West London.

Dana Abuqamar, president of Manchester Friends of Palestine, was interviewed by Sky News during a pro-Hamas event in the city on Sunday - a day after militants gunned down 260 innocent civilians at a music festival

In an email to colleagues, Professor Claire Alexander - head of the university's School of Social Sciences - failed to condemn the remarks and repeated the student's claim that they had been 'misrepresented'

A University of Manchester spokesperson said today: 'We are investigating the television interview conducted by one of our students on Sunday and the comments they made about the current conflict in Israel and Gaza.

'Our University community - particularly those with friends, family or close ties to the region - will be deeply concerned about the escalating violence and loss of life in Israel and Gaza over recent days.

'In line with our values, we reaffirm the importance of mutual understanding and tolerance at this very difficult and distressing time. Any and all forms of racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, discrimination and abuse have no place in our community.'

MailOnline asked the university what about the interview required investigation but a spokesman said they had 'nothing to add'.

Last night, officers separated rival groups at High Street Kensington Underground station in west London, while in the street outside a large crowd lit flares and chanted 'Israel is a terrorist state', 'Free Palestine' and 'Allahu akbar'.

Protesters also let off fireworks, some directed at the boarded up embassy. The Met made three arrests, one for assault on an emergency worker, another for racially-motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon.

READ MORE - Israel and Palestine supporters are separated by police after protest outside Israel's London embassy turns ugly Advertisement

Community leaders have warned of an antisemitic backlash sparked by the war between Israel and Hamas, and yesterday pupils at a major Jewish school in London were told they do not have to wear blazers in public.

Its headteacher also suspended after-school detentions to allow children to travel home on a school bus.

The Community Security Trust said it was already seeing incidents of 'antisemitism against Jewish people and property' since Hamas forces began murdering and kidnapping civilians on Saturday. Overnight, pro-Palestine graffiti was removed from a bridge in Golders Green - which is home to a large Jewish community.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Police are investigating after a pig's head was left outside the site of a proposed mosque in Pendle at 2.10pm on Sunday. Officers are treating the incident as a racially aggravated public order offence and have stepped up patrols.

In Kensington yesterday, pro-Palestine protesters banged drums and chanted 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'. At other protests across the UK, activists proclaimed: 'Let there be bloodshed.'

Around ten protesters scaled a Bupa Dental Care building on High Street Kensington where they scrawled 'free Palestine' in red and green spray paint onto the wall. Various activist groups turned up in support, including the Socialist Worker, which had set up at least three stalls.

But Israelis caught wind of the protest and swarmed the area, forcing police to hold back rival groups inside High Street Kensington Tube station.

Police had to escort supporters of both countries onto the platforms where tensions threatened to boil over. One Israeli goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington.

Brit Patricia Ryan, who was at the rally with her Palestinian husband, told MailOnline she was 'surprised like everybody' by the Hamas attack, but added: 'We feel that there had to be a huge tectonic movement for any change to occur in the Middle East. 75 years is a long time. Nothing, nothing was happening.'

Further protests are planned in the coming days, including one outside the BBC's Broadcasting House in London on Saturday.

Pro-Palestine protesters gathered near the Israeli embassy in London last night to chant 'Israel is a terrorist state', 'Free Palestine' and 'Allahu akbar'

Police had to hold back rival groups inside High Street Kensington Tube station last night

Protesters waving Israeli flags with pro-Palestine placards seen in the background

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly today urged pro-Palestine supporters in the UK not to protest, saying demonstrations are creating 'distress', and arguing that there is no 'equivalence' between Hamas's attack and Tel Aviv's response.

He told Sky News: 'There is no need, there is no necessity for people to come out. It causes distress. This is a difficult, delicate situation.'

He said the protests are causing concern in the Jewish community, 'who have often been on the receiving end of prejudice and threats of violence'.

Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign co-ordinator, declined to tell people not to protest in support of the Palestinian people, but made clear that his party stands with Israel's 'right to defend itself'.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel and to reassure Britain's Jews.

Mr Sunak told the United Synagogue in Finchley yesterday evening: 'There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel.'

Mr Cleverly echoed the Prime Minister's stance, saying it is 'inappropriate' to attempt to compare the acts of Israel's military to the incursion by Hamas.

'The truth is that the reason we express our solidarity with the people of Israel is because terrorists took action to murder, to kidnap, and we're now seeing reports that they are threatening to execute people that they have kidnapped,' he told Sky.

'The idea that somehow there is an equivalence, there is a kind of a balancing act between the actions of the Israeli government and their self-defence, and the actions of Hamas and their terrorists, is completely inappropriate.

'I wouldn't want to do anything which would imply that to be the case. Of course, we want to see the minimisation of loss of life.'

One Israel supporter goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington

Overnight, pro-Palestine graffiti on a bridge in Golders Green was covered over with black paint

The North London borough is home to a large Jewish community

Police across the country are on high alert for any sign of tension in the Middle East spilling out onto British streets, with reassurance patrols mounted in some parts of London.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan predicted antisemitism would inevitably rise in the capital and across the country following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. He told Times Radio: 'Londoners are feeling frightened for no other reason but they're Jewish.'

It comes as police in Lancashire investigate a possible incident of Islamophobic hate after a pig's head was left outside a former Methodist church that is set to be reopened as a mosque.

Inspector Claire Pearson, from the Pendle and Ribble Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said officers are carrying out house to house visits and CCTV checks following the horrific discovery. They are also calling on local butchers and abattoirs.

Ibrar Ahmed, from the Barnoldswick Islamic Centre, said 'This incident is not aligned with the spirit of Barnoldswick, where Muslims have been an integral part of the community since the 1960s.

'The Barnoldswick Islamic Centre remains committed to fostering peace and harmony, working alongside everyone in our town to promote understanding.'

It comes as police in Lancashire investigate a possible incident of Islamophobic hate after a pig's head was left outside a former Methodist church that is set to be reopened as a mosque

Supporters of Israel gathered outside Downing Street yesterday to fly the country's flag amid Hamas' unprecedented assault

Attendees at the Downing Street vigil held up placards saying 'I stand with Israel'

Manchester has the largest Jewish population in the UK after London.

Yesterday, the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester said it was 'concerned' about videos of people celebrating Hamas atrocities against Israel in the streets.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for police to 'use the full force of the law' against displays of support for Hamas, which is a proscribed terror group.

Rivkah Brown, commissioning editor at Novara Media, wrote on X to call the first day of the bloody rampage 'a day of celebration'.

She said on Saturday: 'Today should be a day of celebration for supporters of democracy and human rights worldwide, as Gazans break out of their open-air prison and Hamas fighters cross into their colonisers' territory.

READ MORE - Harrowing pictures show bruised and bloodied children fleeing from hellfire in Gaza and Israel Advertisement

On Sunday, a woman called Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel 'inspiring' and 'beautiful' at a pro-Palestine protest in Brighton.

MailOnline later named her as Hanin Barghouti, an elected Women Students' officer at the University of Sussex students' union.

Meanwhile, the murders were applauded at a left wing event, called The World Transforms, on the sidelines of the Labour conference.

Clapping for the bloody violence broke out amongst audience members at a meeting to mark 75 years since the Nakba or 'catastrophe' that led to the creation of the Jewish state.

Yasmin Elsouda, an activist and member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told the audience: 'I'm honoured to be speaking at such an historic moment, certainly in my lifetime, in our struggle'

The event is not officially linked to Labour but was created while Jeremy Corbyn was the party leader.

Rachel Riley, the Countdown presenter who is Jewish, posted a video on her X account, which showed a number of people celebrating the Hamas atrocity on Saturday night outside a cafe in Acton, West London.

She tweeted: 'People have been brutally murdered and kidnapped and there are people in London dancing.'

Scotland Yard said yesterday that the force had been made aware of a number of incidents in the capital in connection with the conflict in Israel, with protests also planned in the coming days.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) attended Finchley United Synagogue in central London last night

The Palace of Westminster illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag last night

A spokesman added: 'We are aware of a number of incidents, including those that have been shared on social media, in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza.

'The Met has increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities.

'We remain in contact with partners and community leaders to listen to any concerns.

'Anyone who experiences threatening behaviour or is worried about their safety is urged to contact police.'

Ms Braverman said she had spoken to the Community Security Trust (CST) to ensure that the 'the government is doing everything necessary for the protection of our Jewish communities.'

'There must be zero tolerance for antisemitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain,' she said.

'I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews.'

More than 1,000 Hamas gunmen streamed across the border from Gaza into Israel on Saturday, and began indiscriminately shooting civilians while taking others hostage

Palestinians watch a fire burn among the rubble of a damaged residential building following an Israeli airstrike today in Gaza City

The CST said last night: 'We are already seeing incidents of racist antisemitism against Jewish people and property in response to the awful terror attack in Israel.

'This disgraceful and cowardly abuse strips bare the deep hatred and extremism that is faced by both Jews and Israelis.

CST and our many partners will continue doing all in our power to protect British Jews.

'These attempts to intimidate will not stop our community from leading its way of life. We thank the police, the government and other leading political figures for the strong support that they have shown.'

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his intention to obliterate Hamas, which he compared to ISIS.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996, said Israel planned to deploy an 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS.'

Hamas terrorists have taken up to 150 people as hostages

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed.

But harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the aerial bombardment, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.
Crown alleges Ms Graham was the architect of the murder

A woman charged with the murder of her ex-partner was allegedly the architect of the gruesome 'Shakespearean' plot to have him fed to a wood chipper, a jury has been told.

Sharon Graham is on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court charged with the murder of her former lover Bruce Saunders, 54, at a rural property northeast of Gympie in Queensland six years ago.

Mr Saunders was fed into a woodchipper, with only his legs left protruding from the machinery.

Ms Graham, 61, has pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder.

During his opening on Tuesday, crown prosecutor Todd Fuller KC told the jury Mr Saunders' death on November 12, 2017 had appeared to be a 'tragic accident at first blush' when he was dragged into an industrial wood chipper.

Sharon Graham (pictured), 61, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of ex-partner Bruce Saunders in November 2017

'But the reality is something far more sinister than that,' Mr Fuller said.

'His death was no accident. It was, in fact, an intentional killing.'

Mr Saunders was clearing trees at a property in Goomboorian, northeast of Gympie, with two other men, Peter Koenig and Gregory Roser, for the recently-widowed female owner.

The jury was told Mr Saunders was allegedly struck in the head with an iron bar by Mr Roser, falling unconscious, before his body was 'gruesomely' disposed of in the woodchipper by Mr Roser and Mr Koenig.

'Only parts of his legs, to the top of his thighs, remained after he was put through the machine,' Mr Fuller said.

The crown alleges Ms Graham had procured the murder of Mr Saunders, her former lover, by her new lover Mr Roser.

The jury was told Ms Graham had been romantically involved with all three men and they would seemingly do anything for her.

'It's almost Shakespearean in the way it unfolded, but this is no work of fiction,' Mr Fuller said

Mr Saunders (pictured) was allegedly fed into an industrial wood chipper by two men, with Ms Graham accused of orchestrating the plot

It's alleged Ms Graham (pictured right) had procured the murder of Mr Saunders by her new lover Gregory Roser (pictured left)

Mr Saunders was allegedly struck in the head with an iron bar before his body was 'gruesomely' disposed of in the woodchipper by Mr Roser and Peter Koenig (pictured)

Mr Fuller explained Ms Graham stood to benefit from Mr Saunders' death as she was the sole beneficiary of his will, including his house, car and his savings.

It also included a readjusted life insurance policy worth $750,000.

'You'll hear financially while he (Mr Saunders) was asset rich, he was cash poor, and he was worth more dead than alive,' Mr Fuller told the jury.

Mr Fuller said the jury would hear evidence from Mr Koenig that he was asked by Mr Roser to help dispose of his body.

The jury was told Mr Koenig would give evidence they used branches to wipe away drag marks near the chipper, then discussed what they would tell police.

Mr Koenig would give evidence both men decided to say they did not see Mr Saunders fall in and when they found him he was in the position inside the wood chipper.v

Crown prosecutor Todd Fuller said Ms Graham stood to benefit from the death of Mr Saunders (pictured) as she was the sole beneficiary of his will

Mr Fuller said police recordings of Ms Graham, Mr Roser and Mr Koenig at her address would also be played to the jury.

Peter Richards, Ms Graham's defence barrister, told the jury his client did not 'counsel or procure' either Mr Roser or Mr Koenig to kill Mr Saunders.

'As far as Sharon Graham understood it, Mr Saunders died as a result of an accident,' he said.

Mr Richards urged the jury to examine Mr Koenig's reliability and credibility as a witness when he gave evidence.

The trial continues.
A couple whose 2,000 camera was stolen received a letter from the thieves saying it was 'karma' and the gadget paid for their holiday.

Greg Crawford, 56, from Livingston, Scotland, left his expensive device on a bench on the island of Barra during a holiday tour of the Outer Hebrides with his wife Julie.

The couple had taken a seat to enjoy the view of the island's small airstrip, setting their camera next to them - but forgot to pick it back up.

They realised their mistake after leaving the island and the couple quickly contacted a friend who worked at the destination.

After investigating, the friend came back empty-handed, so the desperate couple took to local Facebook pages and urged people to come forward if the camera was found.

Greg Crawford, 56, from Livingston, Scotland, left his expensive device on a bench on the island of Barra during a holiday tour of the Outer Hebrides with his wife Julie. Pictured: Photos from the couple's trip to Barra

The desperate couple took to local Facebook pages and urged people to come forward if the camera was found. Pictured: Photos from the couple's trip to Barra

After weeks of waiting for information, Mr Crawford received a phone call on October 3 from the Barra police.

A letter had arrived at the station containing the couple's memory card as well as a typed note from the thieves.

It claimed the thieves had been 'meant to find the camera' and that they had used the money to pay for a holiday.

It read: 'We found a camera at the bench on Barra Airport on the 6th of September.

'We decided that we would keep it as it was obviously meant to be found by us and we sold it to fund our holiday. We believe this was karma.

'We have returned the memory card as we realise there will be memories of somebody's holiday in there.'

Mr Crawford said: 'We were on holiday with our motorhome to tour the Outer Hebrides, starting with Barra.

'Around the time we were leaving, we decided to have another run down to the beach to watch the planes landing and taking off.

'We went down to the bench at the end of the runway on the beach. We parked the motorhome behind the bench.

Mr Crawford said that he and his wife parked their motorhome behind the beach. Pictured: Photos from the couple's trip to Barra

The couple had taken a seat to enjoy the view of the island's small airstrip setting their camera next to them - and forgot to pick it back up. Pictured: Photos from the couple's trip to Barra

'My wife sat on the left side of the bench, and I sat on the right - but when we went to leave, the camera was still sat between us and neither of us realised.

'We went to the ferry, but when we got off on the other side, we realised that we didn't have the camera.

READ MORE: Man is flown to hospital after being surrounded and attacked by a herd of cows on beach on the picturesque island of Barra Advertisement

'I have a friend who is a crew member on the ferry, so I contacted him. He went back to the bench to check - but it was gone.

'We posted on Facebook and nothing ever came of it - until Tuesday last week.

'We received a phone call from Barra Police. The policewoman I spoke to told me she had good news and bad news - I thought they'd found the camera.

'She went on to explain that they had received a typed letter inside an envelope sealed with tape.

'The letter said that these people found the camera on the bench - but believed it was a sign for them to fund their holidays.

'The postmark on the letter was from England - so it was probably a tourist.

'They believed that it was meant to happen, so they took the camera, and they sold it on.

'They said they felt guilty because there were photographs on the memory card, so they returned the memory card to the police.

'We couldn't believe it - how can anybody think like that?'

Now reunited with his memory card - but sadly, not his camera, Mr Crawford and his wife have begun to see the funny side of the situation.

One of the photographs of a sandy beach from the couple's holiday to the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides

Luckily, the couple still love the Outer Hebrides and plan to return again - once Mr Crawford has replaced his equipment. Pictured: Photos from the couple's trip to Barra

Mr Crawford and his wife got their memory card back, but they are now left without a camera. Pictured: Photos from the couple's trip to Barra

Luckily, the couple still love the Outer Hebrides and plan to return again - once Mr Crawford has replaced his equipment.

'I'm going to replace it with a second-hand version of the same camera because they don't make that one anymore,' said Mr Crawford.

'My insurance company wouldn't cover it because it was an unattended loss. It was my own fault, I can't blame anybody - but it's quite an incredible story.

'It was our second time back in the Outer Hebrides because we loved it the first time - it's an amazing place.

'We still had a really good time - and we'll definitely be back.'
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly today lashed out at Labour MPs who shared a party conference platform with the Palestinian ambassador in the aftermath of Hamas's bloody assault on Israel.

John McDonnell and Bell Ribeiro-Addy attended an event in Liverpool alongside Husam Zomlot at which they criticised the behaviour of the Netanyahu regime and its predecessors towards the Palestinians.

He and the hard left backbench allies of the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who are both former shadow ministers, were among the speakers at the event organised by the Labour and Palestine pressure group and the Unite union.

Ms Ribeiro-Addy, the Streatham MP, contemned the violence and the loss of life on both sides, before calling for peace talks, saying: 'I have seen it said that this weekend's events have interrupted or damaged peace talks. That is fiction, There are no real peace talks and there have not been for years.'

This morning Mr Cleverly told Sky News: 'I've met with him, I speak with him. Maintaining diplomatic relations is important.

'But I have said that Palestinian voices, particularly those in leadership positions, should criticise the appalling behaviour, the atrocious actions, that have been perpetrated by Hamas.

'These indiscriminate killings, these murders, these kidnaps, these terrorist actions, should be condemned by the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, because otherwise there will be this perception that all Palestinians support Hamas, and they don't.'

John McDonnell and Bell Ribeiro-Addy attended an event in Liverpool alongside Husam Zomlot at which they criticised the behaviour of the Netanyahu regime and its predecessors towards the Palestinians.

He and the hard left backbench allies of the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn were among the speakers at the event organised by the Labour and Palestine pressure group and the Unite union.

This morning Mr Cleverly told Sky News: 'These indiscriminate killings, these murders, these kidnaps, these terrorist actions, should be condemned by the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, because otherwise there will be this perception that all Palestinians support Hamas, and they don't.'

Mr Zumlot told the event he 'regretted' the Hamas violence that has left hundreds dead. He also revealed six members of his family had been killed that day by an Israeli bombardment as he accused the nation of a 'war crime' by cutting water an electricity from Gaza.

He told told a Labour and Palestine event on the fringes of the party conference: ''What Israel is doing now is revenge. Sheer vengeance. Those are civilians, families. It's not gonna resolve anything. Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. It's a war crime. It's not gonna lead anywhere.'

This morning Pat McFadden became the latest Labour frontbencher to criticise Hamas, as the leadership seeks to put clear water between the mainstream of the party and hard Left elements.

There have been visible and voluble pro-Palestinian protests outside the conference venue in Liverpool but none inside the secure zone.

Mr McFadden, Labour's national campaign co-ordinator, declined to tell people not to protest in support of the Palestinian people, but made clear his party stands with Israel's right to retrieve those taken hostage by Hamas.

He told Times Radio: 'I'm not going to police protest. What I'm going to make clear is the Labour Party stands with Israel, stands with its right to defend itself. Stands with its right to get its own people back who have been taken hostage. And its right to use force to do so.'

Mr McFadden said the consequences of Hamas's actions will have been known to the militant group and 'if they wanted to show more concern for Palestinian civilians right now what they would do is they would return every single hostage that was taken, and they would do it today'.

Last night shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves urged pro-Palestinian demonstrators who protested outside the event to stay at home, saying the party backed Israel's fight against the 'terrorist threat' of Hamas.

Speaking to the News Agents podcast she said: 'Israel was subjected to a terrorist attack on Saturday, people have been killed, hostages have been taken. And Israel has every right to defend itself, as does any sovereign country against terrorists.'

Shadow business minister Afzal Khan apologised last night after visiting the Labour conference stand of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which issued a statement in the aftermath of the slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking suggesting it was the consequence of Israeli violence.

He is the latest Labour politician to pose with the group and its banner accusing Israel of 'apartheid' , with backbencher Apsana Begum avoiding censure for doing the same thing on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared intentions to obliterate Hamas as he metes out revenge for the deadly surprise attacks by the Palestinian militant group this weekend that saw hundreds of Israelis killed.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

On Tuesday morning, air raid sirens were blaring in cities across Israel, suggesting Hamas was launching another salvo of rockets.
Comes after thousands of Palestinian supporters descended on Israeli embassy

Hamas has called for those in Arab and Islamic world to show their support

Hamas today called for a 'mobilization' of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday 'in support of Gaza', describing it as a day of 'heroism and sacrifice'.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been obliterated by an Israeli aerial bombardment that has relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip after the terrorists launched a surprise assault that has so far killed at least 900 Israelis.

But now, the terrorist leaders have called for those in the Arab and Islamic world to 'mobilise' and show their support for Hamas and the Palestinian people on Friday.

They also called on the 'revolutionary youth' throughout the West Bank and those in Jerusalem to clash with 'cowardly' Israeli soldiers.

It comes after thousands of Palestinian supporters descended on the Israeli embassy in London, waving flags, singing and setting off flares. Hundreds more clashed with Israeli supporters at a London Underground station as police desperately tried to keep the peace.

Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station in west London as more than 1,000 pro-Palestine activists gathered on the streets outside.

It comes after thousands of Palestinian supporters descended on the Israeli embassy in London , waving flags, singing and setting off flares

Palestinians watch a fire burn among the rubble of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City on Tuesday

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Monday

'This is an appeal to our Palestinian people and the masses of the Arab and Islamic world and people of the free world,' the Hamas leaders said on Telegram. 'We are announcing the general mobilisation on Friday in order to support Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and the struggling Gaza.'

They called on those in the free world to mobilise their support for Hamas and Palestinians on Friday, describing it as a day 'to show our love and support for Palestine and Jerusalem'.

While Israel has been able to wipe out thousands of Hamas targets with airstrikes, harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site.

But this time, the context has become more explosive.

Israeli soldiers patrol a road near the border fence with Gaza on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel on Monday

Palestinians inspect the massive destruction from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday

A Palestinian man walks through debris amid destruction from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's al-Rimal neighbourhood early on Tuesday

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria, fomenting calls for Israel to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy.

On Monday, thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions.

In the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes levelled buildings.

The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished region where 2.3 million people live on top of each other in squalid conditions.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its 'Swords of Iron' campaign, while the IDF said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gaza's City Rimal neighborhood, which is home to Hamas' ministries and governing buildings, overnight.

IDF spokesman Richard Hecht said Gazans were being told to evacuate 'over social media' before strikes, but did not give details.

Also on Monday, Israel found more bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns.

Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri - around 10 per cent of its population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz after Hamas attackers used paragliders to cross the border and fire indiscriminately into the crowd.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.
A survivor the of the Israeli festival massacre has shared her harrowing experience, after smearing herself in blood and pretending to be dead for three hours in order to survive.

May Hayat, 30, was among the crowd at the Tribe of Nova festival in Re'im when Hamas gunmen stormed the site and opened fire, killing at least 260 people.

She had been working at the festival, three miles from the Gaza border, with her girlfriend Liron - and the pair had been 'having so much fun' together.

But she recalled the moment the music stopped and 'the nightmare' began, when the terrorists attacked the festival and started gunning down innocent revellers.

Ms Hayat said on Instagram that as she made her way towards their trailer to watch the 'beautiful sunrise' on Saturday morning, she noticed rockets flying over their heads.

May Hayat, 30, was among the crowd at the Tribe of Nova festival in Re'im when Hamas gunmen stormed the site and opened fire, killing at least 260 people

Ms Hayat recalled the moment the music stopped and 'the nightmare' began, when the terrorists attacked the festival and started gunning down innocent revellers

The Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies have been removed from the festival site. Pictured: Partygoers fleeing the festival scene on Saturday

She said: 'The music stopped and we waited for the situation to calm down so we could go home.

'Suddenly I get a phone call from a friend who says that she and everyone whos started driving back home from the party is being shot', she said.

Ms Hayat then explained how she ran towards the police officers closest to her, asking them to go and protect those being attacked.

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered, after volunteers removed hundreds of bodies Advertisement

But after realising there were more terrorists coming in, they were powerless. 'There was one big chaos', she said.

She continued: 'We went to hide in the police command room and we all sat down on the floor. Some people cried, some shouted, some had anxiety attacks and some were completely silent.

'I hugged everyone who cried and couldnt catch their breath, and Liron helped the wounded while we were under attack.

'The noise of the gunshots began to get closer, the policemen stood in the doorway ready with their weapons and looked at each other with a frightened look and shouted to storm!

'They turned to us just before leaving the room and told us to run and pray.'

Ms Hayat then explained how each officer was shot one after the other, with bursts of gunfire entering the room.

'For a moment there was a shocking silence', she said, before she made a run for it out of the danger area.

'We left the room running to the battlefield and whilst I'm running, I turned back and I saw Liron. She stayed there and didn't come with us. We tried our best and ran as fast as possible until we reached an ambulance and hid behind it. The shots came from every direction.

'I saw someone in the distance shouting "come here, it's safer". I ran towards him, but no one came with me', she recalled.

Ms Hayat explained how she and another festivalgoer then started running together until they saw a vehicle approaching them. It was one of the party members who offered to try and help them escape.

Sharing the testimony on her Instagram, Ms Hayat revealed: 'The music stopped and the nightmare began'

The aftermath of an attack on a music festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8

In a fit of frenzy, the car's wheels got stuck in the sand, with gunfire coming from all directions,' she said.

'We ran out of the car until we noticed a hole in the ground. We entered inside, held hands and prayed. It was just the two of us.

'I told him "Do you know the stories of the Holocaust in which people pretended to be dead so they wouldn't be noticed? This is what is going to happen to us."'

The other party attendee then helped cover themselves in sand, with the pair being silent for about an hour, she said.

But 'they found us', Ms Hayat said, as eight terrorists gathered around the two civilians.

'I closed my eyes tightly because I was sure they were going to shoot us. But then they grabbed us and lifted us from the ground. They took our phones and everything we had in our pockets. They announced in their walkie-talkie "We have two more abductees"'.

One of the terrorists then began talking to Ms Hayat in Arabic, to which she responded that she 'didn't understand'.

'I didn't shout, I didn't go crazy, I became apathetic', she said.

She continued: 'He put his jacket on me while the rest of them looked at me like I was a piece of meat because I was wearing a tank top.

'In one hand, he holds my hand, and in the other, he holds a missile'.

The group started walking, with Ms Hayat noticing that they were looking on the ground for things like 'cigarettes and drinks'.

'So I helped them', she said. 'I didn't want to resist. They guy who was with me didn't stop crying and begging for his life', she added.

'I tried to explain to him that he needs to stop crying, "It annoys them, stop crying and everything will be fine", I said.

'They had knives and hammers. At first he listened to me, but very quickly he returned to his initial reaction and fell on his knees, begging for his life.

'And then - he didn't scream anymore. They murdered him in front of my eyes', she added.

Ms Hayat was then left alone with the Hamas terrorists, as they tried to taunt her, hitting her over the head and approaching her with a knife.

She explained: 'The terrorist who held my hand shouted at them and "took me under his wing".

As they reached the cars, Ms Hayat realised they wouldn't start. 'The terrorist with the knife, the one who a moment ago murdered the guy who was with me, said "If you try and escape I will kill you like I killed your friend", she said.

'I remained standing, and the terrorist who "took me under his wing" told me I can go. I didn't know what to do, and just started running. I ran like crazy'.

Ms Hayat harrowingly recalled: 'I hid under the stage of the party and laid down next to three dead people. I smeared myself with blood that dripped from one of the bodies next to me and pretended to be dead for three hours.

Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military (pictured: an alleged paraglider crossing into Israel)

'Three hours that felt like an eternity. Three hours where terrorists passed me, shooting everywhere and burning every possible piece of land, while rockets floated above my head. For three hours I lay among corpses, wondering what would happen to me.'

Ms Hayat then heard people in the distance speaking Hebrew. She recalled screaming for help, as army soldiers arrived to take her to a trailer with paramedics, alongside other survivors.

She said: 'So it's true. They murdered my soul, and I hope that one day I will be able to heal it. But Liron, remember Liron from the beginning of the story? My girlfriend. They killed her. They killed my hero and unfortunately no one will ever be able to return her to me in my lifetime.'

At least 260 people were killed at the festival in southern Israel on Saturday.

Countless more were injured in attacks as armed Hamas militants swept through.

Some 3,500 people had reportedly been at the festival, though reports vary.

Gunmen infiltrated the festival in vans while others descended from motorised paragliders.

Hamas took an unknown number of hostages from the festival.

Fears have grown for the safety of British national Jake Marlowe, 26, missing since Saturday.

He was working at the Supernova Festival, near the Gaza Strip, when Palestinian militants stormed onto the site at the crack of dawn, firing rockets and sending in terrorists armed with guns to attack.

More than 100 people have been taken hostage since the incursion began on Saturday.

Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent for The National, told MailOnline on Saturday locals had been expecting a rocket attack, but were stunned by the nature of the full assault.

'What's so shocking about this one is the creativity. People were planning for a large rocket barrage. That's what we have been worrying about for a long time. But for people to be flying in on hang-gliders, it's unreal,' he said.

READ MORE: Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel's Defence Forces to besiege Gaza Advertisement

'What it does more than anything else is shatters this sense that Israel... whenever you speak to an Israeli General they're obsessed with deterrence. And they worry that their deterrence has been diminished in recent months. But this shatters it.'

Israel has responded with devastating airstrikes in the last couple of days and today announced it would push through a 'complete siege' of Gaza, affecting 2.3million people living on the Strip.

Yoav Gallant, Israel's defence minister, said today: 'There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza].

'We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly.'

Some 300,000 reservists have been called up as Israel gathers momentum.

With the siege, the country is now 'trying to prepare their backers' for the possibility that 'this is going to be a long war', Helm told MailOnline this evening.

At the same time, continued strikes on Jerusalem today indicate Hamas still has large stockpiles of premium weapons, he said.

'The thinking has been that [Hamas] launched their [strongest missiles] in the first barrage. But if they are still hitting Jerusalem now, it shows they still have a desire to escalate.'

Hamas has responded to mounting airstrikes by threatening to execute its hostages and share evidence online.

Qatar has since sought to mediate de-escalation talks with Israel and Hamas, aiming to secure a deal whereby both sides release captives.

The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are 'moving positively' a source told Reuters earlier today.

'We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover,' foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said.
Sickening footage has emerged of the moment murderous Hamas gunmen shot dead an Israeli family's dog before storming their home, raiding their fridge and setting their home alight amid a campaign of civilian slaughter.

The deplorable attack was just one of dozens which unfolded in the kibbutz of Be'eri, a tiny farming community of 1,000 people where Israeli security forces and rescue workers later found 108 bodies after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.

The clip, obtained from the GoPro camera attached to the helmet of one Hamas fighter, showed how the dog came bounding out of the house towards the attackers and was immediately mowed down with several bullets.

Hamas terrorists promptly invaded one house and rifled through the family's belongings, drinking orange juice from their fridge and gorging themselves on its contents.

Then one militant drew a lighter from his pocket and took it to the wall, sparking house plants and hanging ornaments that quickly set ablaze before the heavily armed men made their exit.

Another harrowing scene from the same kibbutz showed how a second group of Hamas militants gained access to the gated compound by slaughtering civilians at near point blank range as they sat in a car.

The deplorable attack was just one of dozens which unfolded in the kibbutz of Be'eri, a tiny farming community where Israeli security forces and rescue workers later found 108 bodies

One militant withdrew a lighter from his pocket and took it to the wall, sparking house plants and hanging ornaments that quickly set ablaze before they made their exit

The dog came bounding out of the house towards the attackers and was immediately mowed down with several bullets

CCTV camera footage, timestamped at 6:05am on Saturday morning, caught a group of Hamas gunmen in fatigues lying in wait

Another harrowing scene from the same kibbutz showed how a second group of Hamas militants gained access to the gated compound by slaughtering civilians at near point blank range as they sat in a car

As soon as the civilians stopped at the gate and activated the electronic barrier, the gunmen sprang out from cover, pointed their rifles at the car windows from mere feet away, and blasted the occupants

Bodies of dozens of Israeli civilians are seen loaded into a truck following the slaughter

Body bags from Israeli Hamas attack

The footage of the brutal attack was captured by cameras mounted at various points overlooking the entrance to the kibbutz, protected by a yellow metal gate.

CCTV camera footage, timestamped 5.55am on Saturday, shows two Hamas militants armed with AK-47s and dressed in camouflaged military clothing, body armour and combat boots approaching the gate that blocks a two lane road.

At first, the two fighters are seen trying to find a way through the gate, with one testing to see whether he could fit through the small gap underneath.

He soon changes his mind, and instead breaks into a small guardhouse that sits to one side of the kibbutz entrance, using his rifle to smash his way inside.

Seconds after he climbs through a window, the other combatant spots the approaching car. He hides behind a tree, while the first soldier hides inside the guardhouse, setting an ambush for the approaching vehicle.

At 5.57am, barely two minutes after the two militants were first seen inspecting the entryway to the kibbutz, the driver and passenger are seen pulling up to the gate.

Both are seemingly unaware that the two armed men are lying in wait, and the electronically-operated gate starts to open.

As the driver briefly leans out the window, seemingly to address whoever is inside the guard-house, the armed militant is seen running out from behind the tree.

Once he is feet away from the car, he mercilessly opens fire from point blank range through the passenger side window, blasting the two Israelis with several rounds.

From the other side, the Hamas militant in the guard house also opens fire, hitting the driver several times, who is seen being buffeted as he it hit by the bullets.

As the militants run through the now open gate, the footage shows the car continuing to gently roll forward into the kibbutz which has now been breached.

The victims inside the car remain motionless, covered in blood. Both are presumed to have been killed in the attack, likely among the first victims on Saturday which saw more than 1,000 Hamas gunmen stream across the border from Gaza and into Israel, where they indiscriminately shot civilians while taking others hostage.

The times of Israel reported Hamas had control of the Be'eri kibbutz for 17 hours.

A kibbutz is a settlement unique to Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture, and began as being centred around the idea of being a utopian Jewish community.

In recent decades, some have been privatised and changes have been made to the communal lifestyle, but the fundamental ideas remain the same: a voluntary society in which people live in accordance to a specific social contract.

All income generated by the Kibbutz is put into a communal pool, and is spent on running the Kibbutz to benefit all of its residents.

'They walked around Be'eri like they owned the place,' Haim Jelin, a survivor of the Be'eri attack and a former local politician, told Army Radio on Sunday.

'They shot indiscriminately, abducted whoever they could, burned down people's homes so they'd have to escape through the window, where the terrorists would wait,' Mr Jelin added. He described the attack on the village as a 'massacre'.

Other footage has emerged of civilians, who appear to have their hands tied behind their backs, being led down a residential street by gunman.

A second video then shows at least four bodies lying on the ground in the same location, with matching hair and clothes to those who were previously seen alive.

They are among 900 Israelis to have been killed in Hamas' brutal attacks, which prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war against the Palestinian militant group and begin a campaign of crushing air strikes on Gaza.

Israeli security forces and rescue workers later found 108 bodies - around 10 per cent of Be'eri's population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen

Hamas militant is seen taking a civilian hostage after shooting many others in cold blood

More than 1,000 Hamas gunmen streamed across the border from Gaza into Israel on Saturday, and began indiscriminately shooting civilians while taking others hostage

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinians watch a fire burn among the rubble of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City, October 10, 2023

Israeli soldiers stand near the body of a Palestinian militant in Kfar Aza, in the south of Israel, bordering Gaza Strip on October 10, 2023

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered Advertisement

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night. 'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing more than 770 civilians.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

The IDF now is under immense pressure to get the hostages as quickly as possible.

This aerial photo shows heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10, 2023

Hamas terrorists have taken up to 150 people as hostages

Alexander Grinberg, of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said that Israeli 'strikes will first of all target Hamas command centres and troops, with fire coming from everywhere'.

READ MORE: Terrifying dashcam footage shows Hamas terrorists open fire on driver Advertisement

'At the same time, the army will prepare to enter Gaza,' he said.

Such urban fighting will force combatants into hand-to-hand combat, reduce visibility, increase the risk of traps, blur boundaries between civilians and soldiers and render armoured vehicles next to useless.

'Everyone knows it will be long and difficult, with many losses,' Grinberg said, although technology such as robots could work in the assaulting forces' favour.

Former British army officer Andrew Galer, who works as an analyst at private intelligence firm Janes, said that the IDF's fight in the Gaza Strip would be tough, as city fighting is 'a 360-degree battlefield as the threats can be all around you.'

Going house-to-house to secure potentially booby-trapped buildings means bringing in bomb disposal experts with cumbersome gear like ladders, ropes and explosives - 'possibly all while taking fire' and in the dark, he added.

And there are 'inherent risks' of friendly fire given 'the difficulties of situational awareness', Galer said.

As Israel continued to mass troops around the Gaza Strip, Iran's Supreme leader said 'we kiss the hands on those who planned the attack', amid fears the Islamic Republic provided Hamas terrorists with weapons and training for the surprise incursion.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed what he called Israel's 'irreparable' military and intelligence defeat after Saturday's attack.

'We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime,' Khamenei said in incendiary remarks during his first televised speech since the incursion.

Khamenei, wearing a Palestinian scarf and speaking from a military academy, added: 'This destructive earthquake (Hamas's attack) has destroyed some critical structures (in Israel) which will not be repaired easily.

'The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster,' he said, but insisted Iran, a key long-term ally of Hamas, was not involved in the attack on Israel.

Israel has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas, categorised by many countries as a terrorist organisation.

And Western officials last night said Tehran had provided Hamas militants with military training and logistical help as well as tens of millions of dollars for weapons ahead of the surprise incursion.

The officials said Hamas had been planning the assault on Israel for at least a year, reports the Washington Post.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured today at a military base) hailed what he called Israel's 'irreparable' military and intelligence defeat after the gunmen rampaged through the towns and slaughtered families and young festivalgoers

They said that while they have no evidence that Tehran authorised or directly coordinated the attack, the incursion reflected Iran's years-long ambition to surround Israel with paramilitary fighters armed with sophisticated weapons.

'If you train people on how to use weapons, you expect them to eventually use them,' said a Western intelligence official.

Backing the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution and a way the Shi'ite-dominated country has fashioned itself as a leader of the Muslim world.

The top U.S. general on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis, saying he did not want the conflict to the broaden.
Comedian David Mitchell caused something of a stir at the weekend when he branded Battle of Agincourt victor King Henry V a 'warmonger' and 'nasty'.

The star of hit sitcom Peep Show was speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival to promote his new book about the history of England's kings and queens.

Thanks in part to William Shakespeare's play Henry V, the monarch's victory over the numerically superior French at Agincourt in 1415 has become the stuff of legend.

Mitchell however insisted Henry was a 'troublemaker' and 'not very civilised' in his desire to take over France.

But, writing in The Times, historian Dominic Sandbrook called Henry a 'hero' and said he was a monarch who proved 'formidably impressive' after coming to the throne at the age of 25 in 1413.

Comedian David Mitchell caused something of a stir at the weekend when he branded Battle of Agincourt victor King Henry V a 'warmonger' and 'nasty'. Above: The 1944 adaptation of Shakespeare's play Henry V was directed by Laurence Olivier, who also starred as the monarch (above)

David Mitchell, the star of hit sitcom Peep Show, was speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival to promote his new book about the history of England's kings and queens (file photo)

On the battlefields at Agincourt, English troops led by Henry were outnumbered by up to six to one by a French army of 36,000 soldiers.

But, despite the numerical superiority, the French slumped to defeat against Henry and his 6,000 longbow archers, knights and men-at-arms.

The French also suffered problems with their armour which historians believe left them so exhausted they were unable to fight.

Their armour also made it much harder to advance across the fields of sticky mud.

Mr Sandbrook said it is now 'fashionable' among younger academics to 'shudder' at Henry's military ambitions.

The historian pointed to how the director of a recent production of Henry V at the Globe Theatre had called the original play the 'pinnacle of English mythologising and white supremacy, and toxic masculinity.'

He added that it is 'high time someone stood up' for the king.

Historian Dominic Sandbrook called Henry a 'hero' and said he was a monarch who proved 'formidably impressive' after coming to the throne at the age of 25 in 1413

He added: 'In medieval Europe, war was a fact of life. Taking the struggle to France was a sensible way of shoring up support at home, winning respect abroad and bolstering national security.'

He pointed to the 'real test' of the view of Henry's contemporary Thomas Walsingham, who called the king 'far-seeing in counsel, prudent in judgment, modest in appearance [and] magnanimous in his actions.'

According to the Telegraph, Mitchell had told his audience: 'I think if there has been misrepresentation it would be that Henry V was that terrific.'

Of his aim in taking over France, he added: 'It is a nasty thing to do, so I think representing him as a nationalistic hero is misrepresenting him.'

Mitchell also said Henry's House of Plantagenet was 'obsessed' with their 'supposed rights to be kings of France', but added: 'By the standards of our time, that is just warmongering.'

Henry ruled for nine years between 1413 and 1422, when he died aged just 35 from what is commonly believed to have been dysentery

On the battlefields at Agincourt, English troops led by Henry were outnumbered by up to six to one by a French army of 36,000 soldiers

Mitchell was speaking to promote his new book Unruly: A History of Kings and Queens.

It documents the lives of English monarchs up until the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603.

Henry was most recently portrayed on screen by Timothee Chalamet in 2019 film The King.

And Kenneth Branagh's star turn as the monarch in his 1989 film Henry V - an adaptation of Shakespeare's play - was highly praised by critics.

The 1944 adaptation of the play was starred in and directed by Laurence Olivier.
READ MORE: Why two fitness influencers and locked in a legal battle

It's over Ms Olholm's new business, Train With Cass

The company founded by Instagram fitness tycoon Kayla Itsines has continued its fight against a former employee in court, arguing the rising influencer's rival exercise app could cost it up to $1million in lost revenue.

The Bikini Body Training Company, founded by Ms Itsines, is trying to block Queensland Crossfit guru and Instagram star Cass Olholm from launching her new fitness app, Train With Cass, set to go on sale on the Apple App Store from Thursday.

The company, represented in the South Australian Supreme Court by Nicholas Swan, on Tuesday said Ms Olholm, who worked as a contractor for Ms Itsines before leaving in February this year, had breached restraint of trade by preparing her new business.

Bikini Body wants Ms Olholm to obey a 12-month restraint of trade clause, which would prohibit her from competing with the company until February 2024.

Ms Olholm, represented by Thomas McFarlane, argues the restraint period expired after six months and her new business can proceed.

At a hearing last week, Judge Dart recommended the two parties pursue mediation to avoid spending 'very large sums of money' on lawyers,

However, the two influencers failed to reach a settlement and returned again on Tuesday to battle it out at court, with potentially millions of dollars hanging in the balance.

The Bikini Body Training Company's Kayla Itsines (above) launched a legal battle against her former employee, Cass Olholm

Mr Swan argued Ms Olholm had potentially pulled custom from the Sweat app, reading out a number of comments left on her Instagram celebrating the proposed launch of her new venture.

'The time couldn't be more perfect for me, my Sweat subscription ends in October, so excited for your app',' Mr Swan said reading out one reader's post.

He also argued Ms Olholm's 'attractive force', or the goodwill she possessed and which Bikini Body had paid her for, should not be used to build up a rival business inside of the 12-month restraint clause.

'The main question in this case, as we see it, is whether until February next year is a reasonable time,' he said.

'That is the core point. In our respectful submission, 12 months, in the context of the history of this matter, in the context of the nature of the business, in the context of what is involved, is eminently reasonable.'

Mr Macfarlane said it was unreasonable for the company to try and restrain Ms Olholm's goodwill, something he said she had built up herself over several years, including years when she was outside of the company, and something that was outside of non-compete protections.

Ms Itsines want's Ms Olholm (above) to delay the launch of her new fitness app, Train with Cass

READ MORE: Fitness influencer Kayla Itsines parades her svelte physique in a G-string bikini as she packs on the PDA with fiance Jae Woodroffe at the beach Advertisement

'What is being sought to be enforced against my client is a restraint upon my client using her own skills and experience,' he said.

'Using those skills and experience in areas in fitness and training, she has got qualifications for that, in competition with the applicant's product.'

He said there was no allegation Ms Olholm had accessed confidential company information, including client lists, or that she had used confidential information to develop her own business.

The court heard Bikini Body feared Ms Olholm's move into the app market could cause them losses of up to $1million from subscribers moving from Sweat over to Train With Cass.

Mr Macfarlane disputed the figure and said any identifiable loss to Bikini Body would be 'minimal' and 'nowhere near the figure of $1million'.

Ms Itsines sold Sweat to US company iFit in 2021 for a reported $400million.

The court heard Bikini Body boasts annual revenues of about $65million.

The two influencers were close collaborators in the fitness space, with Ms Olholm regularly appearing in Ms Itsines' Facebook videos after she joined the company in 2020.

The Train With Cass program, if it goes ahead next week, will be billed at $21.99 a month or $139.99 a year.

The two influencers (above) were close collaborators in the fitness space, with Ms Olholm regularly appearing in Ms Itsines' Facebook videos

The court heard Ms Olholm had spent some $580,000 preparing the new business.

Mr Swan wants the court to order an injunction blocking Ms Olholm from launching her new business until the contract's 12 month restraint of trade clause expires.

Mr Macfarlane wants the court to dismiss Bikini Body's application.

Judge Jack Costello said he would deliver his ruling on Thursday at 2.15pm.
An Asda shopper claims she toppled over her trolley and exacerbated an existing back injury when it 'stopped dead' when the store's security system kicked in.

Lucy Cousins, 47, had self-scanned her groceries and was exiting the supermarket giant's Llandudno store in North Wales when she says her trolley jolted to a stop by the doors and caused the alarms to go off.

Miss Cousins, who has endometriosis and two slipped discs in her back, complained about the pain to a security guard who had come to check to see if her receipt was valid and ended up leaving the store in tears.

She now wants Asda to apologise and claims it has triggered an existing back injury which she has had to restart physiotherapy for.

The store is fitted with a 'gatekeeper' security device that locks the trolley's wheels when sensors detect it has not passed through the tills or the self-service checkouts.

Lucy Cousins, 47, was exiting Asda's Llandudno store in North Wales when she says it suddenly jolted to a halt, causing her to crash into it and fall over

Miss Cousins, who has endometriosis and two slipped discs in her back, wants Asda to apologise. The store is fitted with a 'gatekeeper' security device which causes the trolley's wheels to lock

Miss Cousins said: 'I walked straight to the door and as I got to the door my trolley stopped dead, causing me to crash into it and fall over the trolley. I lean on the trolley and use it as a walking aid.

'I plough along with it in an effort to get through the shop as quickly as I can because I've got limited time upright.

'It was a fright and the alarms went off. I don't understand why it stopped..'

Bosses at the supermarket chain say trolleys are fitted with a security system to stop thieves.

Miss Cousins said: 'I told the security guard how much it had hurt and he said 'yes, it does hurt'. He waved his hand to indicate the trolley sign which is on the glass next to the door.

'But at the time it was early so the opticians wasn't open and their stuff was piled up in front of the sign. I came out in tears.

'I couldn't phone the customer helpline because it didn't open till 9am. So I drove to my parents and phoned from there.

The store (pictured) is fitted with a 'gatekeeper' security device which causes the trolley's wheels to lock

'They were apologetic but the store manager said there was nothing wrong with their trolleys, that it was not a mistake and that it was my fault for not going to a pay point which is completely wrong as I did.

'I'm hurt physically. The whole thing was quite upsetting. If they'd said at the time it happened 'here's a 25 voucher, we're desperately sorry, can you please forgive us?' I would have walked away thinking that they cared.

'Now, I'm upset with them. I'm cross.'

An Asda spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The trolley-lock system is designed to prevent trolleys being taken out of the store without passing through a payment zone such as a till or the self-service checkouts first.

'All stores equipped with this technology have clear signage informing customers of this system. We always want customers to have a positive experience when shopping with us and we have apologised to Ms Cousins for her experience at our Llandudno store.'
London Heathrow was partially evacuated today as passengers claimed a suspicious package was found inside a terminal building.

Travellers catching fights at the west London airport took to social media from about 9.20am to say they were told to leave Terminal 3 due to a 'security incident'.

Sources at Heathrow confirmed to MailOnline that staff had been investigating a bag, but this was later stood down and passengers were allowed back in.

One X user posted a photograph of huge crowds standing outside the Virgin Atlantic and Delta terminal building with their suitcases as they waited for information.

They posted: 'T3 evacuated at London Heathrow due to suspicious package found. #lhr #heathrow #london #security.'

Another said on X: 'Great, I was in line to drop my luggage off at Heathrow and they are evaluating the terminal because of a security incident.'

And a third added: 'That's everyone at the Delta/Virgin Atlantic terminal at Heathrow being told to leave then. Oh dear.'

A Heathrow spokesman told MailOnline: 'Terminal 3 was evacuated for a very short amount of time this morning. Passengers have now returned to the Terminal and Heathrow is operating as normal.'

MailOnline has contacted the airport today to confirm the reason for the evacuation. Further information has also been requested from the Metropolitan Police.

It comes after Heathrow's Terminal 4 was evacuated for around 30 minutes yesterday due to a man causing a disturbance on a train on its way to the airport.

He activated the manual call alarms at the Elizabeth Line station for the terminal, before being arrested under the Public Order Act and taken into police custody.

Speaking about yesterday's incident, a Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were alerted at around 9.30am on Monday, 9 October, to a man causing a disturbance on a train travelling to Heathrow.

'He activated push button "manual call alarms" at the Elizabeth Line station in Terminal 4. The man was arrested under the Public Order Act and taken into police custody. The station area was evacuated for a short period of time.'

Terminal 3 opened in 1961 and is known for housing the UK's first moving walkways. Other companies that use it include British Airways, KLM, Air France and Finnair.
A senior Labour MP has hinted that 'conversations' about ditching Britain's first-past-the-post voting system could take place if the party wins the general election.

Lucy Powell, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, told a fringe event at Labour's conference she was 'personally' in favour of 'looking at electoral reform-type stuff'.

Her comments will ring alarm bells among Tories, who fear a loss at the general election could see Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to overhaul Britain's voting system.

There are concerns a deal stitched-up between the two parties on proportional representation could lead to the Conservatives being shut out of power for a generation.

Critics of electoral reform say replacing first-past-the-post ballots for electing MPs would simply lead to weak coalition governments, with parties haggling over who to share power with after each general election.

Tory chair Greg Hands MP today hit out at 'another desperate attempt to rig elections' by Labour.

Lucy Powell, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, told a fringe event at Labour's conference she was 'personally' in favour of 'looking at electoral reform-stype stuff'

Her comments will ring alarm bells among Tories , who fear a loss at the general election could see Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to overhaul Britain's voting system

There are concerns a deal stitched-up between Labour's Sir Keir Starmer and Lib Dems' Sir Ed Davey on proportional representation could lead to the Tories being shut out of power for a generation

In her remarks at the fringe event on Monday at Labour's conference in Liverpool, as reported by the New Statesman, Ms Powell said: 'I'm personally for, kind of, looking at electoral reform-type stuff.'

She added that electoral reform was 'a bit of a distraction' and 'we've got to win the election with the rules which we're operating under, and we should be laser-focused on that for now'.

But Ms Powell suggested that 'conversations can come later' after Labour takes power.

'I do believe quite strongly that one of the counterbalances to political alienation is that direct relationship that we have with our voters through the constituency link,' she added.

'Polling is always pretty clear about how people feel about their own actual MP versus MPs and politicians in general.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has previously ruled out striking any deal with the Liberal Democrats after the general election in the face of Tory warnings about a 'coalition of chaos'.

If Labour fall short of a majority at the general election - but are the largest party in the Commons - the Conservatives have claimed Sir Keir could seek agreements with other parties, such as the Lib Dems or SNP, in order to prop him up as prime minister in a hung parliament.

At their party conference last year, Labour delegates overhwelmingly backed a motion calling on the party to embrace proportional representation.

It stated: 'Labour must make a commitment to introduce proportional representation for general elections in the next manifesto.'

Some of Labour's biggest trade union backers, such as Unite and Unison, have moved towards supporting proportional representation in recent years.

But Labour's national policy forum blueprint for potential policies to put to voters at the next general election has made no explicit commitment to changing Britain's voting system.

'The flaws in the current voting system are contributing to the distrust and alienation we see in politics, but there is no consensus for a new system,' the document states.

'Any proposed change to our voting system must be carefully thought-through  it cannot be dictated by political leaders or forced upon the country from the top down.'

Sir Keir has previously said that electoral reform is 'not a priority' for him and ruled out including proposals for a shake-up in Labour's general election manifesto.

Responding to Ms Powell's comments, Mr Hands said: 'This is just another desperate attempt to rig elections.

'When Labour run things, they run them badly - so they know the only way to win power would be by manipulating the system.

'Britain had a referendum on electoral reform in 2011, and it was decisively defeated.

'This is classic Labour, playing short-term politics for their own political gain rather than focusing on whats right for the British people.'
Police in Majorca have arrested two British men accused of raping a third who they met through the popular gay dating app Grindr.

The alleged victim ended up in hospital needing stitches for tear injuries he suffered during the alleged sex attack.

The incident that led to the arrests of the two men - both 36 - happened at an unnamed hotel in the east coast tourist resort of Cales de Mallorca.

The man who arranged to meet the two suspects is said to have told them in messages before and conversations after they hooked up that all he was interested in was 'kisses and cuddles' because he had never had full sex, according to reports.

The alleged rape occurred last Friday after he accepted an invite to the other two men's room after they had enjoyed drinks around the pool.

Police in Majorca have arrested two British men accused of raping a third who they met through the popular gay dating app Grindr

Respected island newspaper Ultima Hora said he fled the room following the 'sex attack' and after realising he was hurt, went to a hospital in the nearby town of Manacor where medics diagnosed a 'large tear' and gave him stitches.

The suspects, who have not been named, are said to have been released on bail pending an ongoing criminal probe after appearing before a judge on Saturday.

The hearing took place behind closed doors as is normal in Spain where only trials are held in public.

The alleged victim is understood to have given investigators screen grabs of the messages he exchanged with the other two Britons on Grindr where he made it clear what his limits were.

'National Police officers in Manacor arrested two British men last Friday as the alleged perpetrators of a crime of sexual assault in a hotel in Majorca,' a National Police spokesman said.

'The victim began chatting through a dating application with two men who invited him to their room and proposed a trio.

'The complainant agreed to go to the room but made it clear he did not want sex, just company and demonstrations of affection.

'Once the three men were in the room the evening began as the alleged victim had envisaged it, but things then began becoming sexual,' the spokesman added.

'Despite distancing himself from it, he ended up being allegedly sexually assaulted, suffering injuries and having to go to a hospital.

'In view of the situation, the protocol for this type of crime was activated, with an investigation beginning that concluded with the arrest of the two men as alleged perpetrators of a crime of sexual assault,' the statement ended.

Friday's detentions follow a number of other summer arrests over rape in Majorca, in cases involving British holidaymakers.

The most high-profile saw five French and one Swiss tourist arrested on August 14 at the BH Mallorca Resort in Magaluf following the alleged gang-rape of a British 18-year-old. All five were remanded in prison by an investigating judge leading an ongoing probe.

The alleged rape occurred last Friday after the victim accepted an invite to the other two men's room after they had enjoyed drinks around the pool

Two more suspects were subsequently held in France on European arrest warrants so they could be extradited to Spain.

Less than a fortnight later three British holidaymakers were arrested on suspicion of raping a woman at another Magaluf hotel.

The trio were held as they tried to board a flight to Manchester.

The woman who raised the alarm - who well-placed sources said at the time was also British - had claimed she may have been drugged.
Asylum seekers have been told they will return to the Bibby Stockholm 'next week' after it was evacuated following the discovery of Legionella - as a Dorset resident began a High Court fight to persuade a judge to ban its use.

The Home Office said all necessary tests have been completed on the floating vessel, which has been out of use since August after bacteria was found in the water supply.

Letters are being sent to asylum seekers confirming their re-embarkation. It is understood no date has been given yet, but Home Office sources reportedly said it could be soon as next week.

The update comes as the mayor of Portland appeared in court to begin legal action against the Home Office over the use of the barge, which is docked in Portland Port.

Carralyn Parkes says she is 'deeply concerned' by the Government's 'planned accommodation' on the Bibby Stockholm. She wants a judge to give her the go-ahead to challenge the lawfulness of the use of the barge.

The Home Office said all necessary tests have been completed on the Bibby Stockholm, which has been out of use since August. The vessel is pictured in Portland in September

The update comes as Carralyn Parkes, Mayor of Portland, arrived at the High Court in London today to challenge the use of the barge to house asylum seekers

Lawyers representing Ms Braverman say Mrs Parkes' challenge should be dismissed.

Mr Justice Holgate is considering arguments at a High Court hearing in London, expected to last a day.

'She is deeply concerned by the planned accommodation of around 500 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge by the (Home Secretary), especially by the fact that the (Home Secretary) proceeded on the basis that she did not require planning permission and without any adequate consultation with the local community,' Alex Goodman KC, who is leading Mrs Parkes' legal team, told the judge, in a written case outline, on Tuesday.

'The public importance of the claim is self-evident.'

READ MORE - What is legionella and how dangerous is it? Advertisement

Mr Goodman said Mrs Parkes argued that the housing of asylum seekers on the barge was a 'breach of planning control' and that there had not been 'compliance' with environmental impact assessment duties.

He said she had an 'arguable case'.

Paul Brown KC, who is leading Ms Braverman's legal team, said the challenge was made to a decision, taken in April, to house 'destitute asylum seekers on a specially adapted' barge 'temporarily moored' in Portland Port.

He argued that Mrs Parkes' claim was 'out of time', 'without merit' and said the judge should refuse to give permission for the challenge to proceed to a trial.

Mrs Parkes is also arguing that Ms Braverman has not complied with duties under the 2010 Equality Act.

Mr Goodman said 'segregating non-British people' raised links to 'racial segregation' that was 'so obnoxious'.

He said it was something 'obviously required to be considered' in relation to a 'public sector equality duty'.

Government lawyers said the local planning authority did not think planning permission was required.

They also argued that there was no 'general principle' that housing 'non-British asylum seekers' together on a vessel was 'unlawful' under a public sector equality duty.



There has been a major local backlash against the barge, with residents fearful over the impact the new arrivals will have on their community.

They fear that already overstretched services such as GP surgeries will not be able to cope with the influx of 506 men, who will be able to come and go as they wish.

Protesters in Portland in August holding placards reading 'Time to bin the barge' and 'Portland Port imports disease'

In one photo, two people holding a flag with the words 'No barge, stop the boats' could be seen stood next to a woman holding a placard with 'My outrage can't fit on this sign' written on it

Local people have also raised fears of an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour, risk to their personal safety and the impact on tourism.

Opposition has also come from organisations including the Fire Brigades Union, which has warned over 'serious fire risks'.

In response, Home Secretary Suella Braverman pointed out that the barge moored off Dorset has been used as accommodation numerous times before.

'I believe the barge is safe,' Ms Braverman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme in August.

'This barge has accommodated people in the past - asylum seekers, oil rig workers and barges of this kind have been used to accommodate asylum seekers, for example in Scotland, so I'm very confident that this barge is safe for human habitation.

READ MORE - Home Office lawyers tell Supreme Court there is 'strong public interest' for the Rwanda deportation scheme Advertisement

'We followed all of the advice and protocols in anticipation of embarkation.'

On the issue of asylum seekers returning to the Bibby Stockholm, a Home Office spokesman said today: 'The Home Office has started to send letters to asylum seekers to confirm the re-embarkation of the Bibby Stockholm and notify them that they will be accommodated on board, following the vessel completing all necessary tests.

'The letters confirm the next steps for asylum seekers and reiterate that all asylum accommodation continues to be offered on a no-choice basis.

'Delivering alternative accommodation sites, such as the vessel, is more affordable for taxpayers and more manageable for communities, due to healthcare and catering facilities on site, 24/7 security and the purpose-built safe accommodation they provide.'

The barge is part of the Government's bid to reduce the 6million-a-day cost of placing 50,000 Channel migrants in hotels.

Today, the Home Office u-turned on plans to house hundreds of asylum seekers at a four-star Welsh spa hotel.

The proposals for the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, led to 100 staff losing their jobs and sparked major protests.

One man filmed the breakfast on offer aboard the Bibby Stockholm in August. It included a selection of cereals, eggs, cheese, jam and butter

A range of meals will be served from the barge's canteen. Food is available 24 hours a day, including breakfast and a three-course lunch and dinner

Locals were concerned about the building's suitability for such a facility and last week the local fire service served a prohibition order on the building deeming it unsuitable as accommodation in its current form.

A fire service spokesman said: 'Following information received on a change of use at the Stradey Park Hotel and Spa in Llanelli business fire safety officers from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service recently undertook a fire safety inspection at the premises.

'Further to this inspection the responsible persons for Stradey Park Hotel and Spa have been issued with a prohibition notice, which prevents the premises from being used for sleeping accommodation.'

Carmarthenshire council confirmed on Tuesday that the Home Office has withdrawn its plans.

The government is facing a separate legal fight over its controversial scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Those on board the controversial barge can make the most of comfortable sofas in the TV room

Yesterday, Home Office lawyers insisted there is a 'strong public interest' in deterring migrants from making the 'perilous' journey across the Channel as judges consider the fate of the Rwanda scheme.

The Government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the multimillion-pound deal - which would see asylum seekers deported to the east African nation - was unlawful.

Sir James Eadie KC, representing Suella Braverman's department, said the Government attached 'considerable importance' to its Rwanda deportation policy.

The barrister said there was 'a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel, from a safe country'. He added that such journeys were often 'facilitated by people smugglers'.

Sir James said there was a 'strong public interest in the legitimate, and indeed key, policy aim'.


Haunting images reveal the eerie quiet that has settled over the site of the Nova festival, near Israel's border with Gaza, where 260 partygoers lost their lives in a vicious Hamas massacre.

Dozens of cars were abandoned after terrorists stormed the Nova Festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault on Saturday.

Several vehicles were burnt out and missing key parts including tyres.

Whole windows are missing from many of the cars, after attackers wantonly shot at civilians in the early hours of the morning.

Camping gear, including sleeping bags, was left behind as thousands of revellers ran for their lives, as were everyday items, such as bottles of water and items of clothing.

Several tents, including those used to host events at the festival, were also abandoned by organisers and festivalgoers alike.

The land around the festival site appears to have been torched by Hamas terrorists

Tents and festival equipment were abandoned during the attack

Discarded belongings and rubbish was left lying around the Nova festival area

Festivalgoers ran for their lives, as at least 260 people were killed in the attack

Aerial footage of the festival site, meanwhile, revealed a torched swathe of land, seemingly done by Hamas' terrorists.

IDF soldiers are currently patrolling the area around the festival site.

The Israeli rescue service Zaka said it has so far recovered at least 260 bodies in the aftermath of the attack.

Distraught relatives, hoping to find their loved ones, were asked to bring personal items such as combs and toothbrushes belonging to their missing children so investigators can attempt to match their identification.

Music at the deadly rave, which survivors said initially had 'good vibes', played all night until around 6.30am, when a siren began blaring warning of rockets.

IDF soldiers are currently patrolling the area around the festival site

Several cars were burnt out and left to rust by Hamas fighters

Dozens of cars were abandoned by the festival's attendees

The site was abandoned by festivalgoers on Saturday morning as Hamas fighters stormed the area

Festivalgoers knew there was a risk of rocket attacks. But they didn't expect a truckloads of gunmen cutting power to the festival and storming the site, firing indiscriminately into the crowd.

Peleg Orev, a barman who was working at the festival and left the premises moments before Hamas launched their deadly attack, told Good Morning Britain of the atrocities from the site.

'They were looking to kill as many people as they can with the main objective to kill innocent people,' he said.

Some 260 people have been confirmed dead at the festival ground, but a number of festivalgoers remain missing - with many fearing they are amongst those women, children and elderly victims who have been abducted by Hamas.

One heroic Israeli father, Mark Peretz, 50, had raced down to the scene as the scene horror unfolded in hopes of rescuing his 20-year-old daughter Maya who is amongst the unaccounted for.

Maya was with a group of 12 when she managed to escape the festival by car but they were later forced to abandon the vehicle.

Personal belongings, including sleeping bags and clothes, were left in the frenzied rush to leave

Car windows were show out by Hamas fighters during the attack on Saturday

This is the first time the festival site has been visited since Saturday's attack

Mark knew he had been heading into danger when he began his journey south and had been on the phone with his family when gunshots sounded and the call was cut off.

No one has heard from Mark since, with his son's friends - all of whom are ex-military - began searching for him. They found his car but no trace of the distressed father.

'[He] dropped everything and drove there. Even given the situation, given the fact that there were rockets being thrown over our heads.

'Given the fact that he saw Hamas terrorists riding into Israel, taking parachutes into Israel he went to go rescue Maya,' Mark's daughter-in-law, Jessica Cohen, 24, told The New York Post.

He had been around 20 minutes away from Maya when the phone cut out. 'We were on the phone with him and we heard gunshots, and don't know exactly sure what happened,' Jessica added. Both Mark and Maya remain missing.
Billionaire entrepreneur Chuck Feeney who dreamed of giving his entire fortune away has died at the age of 92 in his rented San Francisco apartment.

His death was announced Monday by Atlantic Philanthropies, the foundation he launched in 1982. The foundation was wound up in 2020 when its funds were all donated.

Feeney was a graduate of the Ivy League Cornell University who made his fortune when he co-founded Duty Free Shoppers, a chain of airport stores, along with a college friend, Robert Miller.

He sold the company to LVMH in 1996. In retirement, Feeney adopted the 'Giving While Living' lifestyle, dedicating his life to contributing to causes - and most of his $8billion fortune - he believed in.

'It's much more fun to give while you are alive than to give when you are dead,' he said in the biography, The Billionaire Who Wasn't.

Chuck Feeney, pictured in 2007, was participant in Bill and Melinda Gates' Giving Pledge

Feeney pictured with his second wife, Helga Flaiz, who previously worked as his long time assistant

Feeney lived in this modest apartment in San Francisco

In its just under 30 years of existence, Atlantic Philanthropies donated $8 billion to various causes across the world.

In Ireland, where Feeney's ancestors hailed from, he gave to universities and hospitals, in Vietnam he spent money on infrastructure, he gave to human rights groups in Israel and Jordan while also paying for research into diseases, including cancer, in every continent.

According to his profile on the foundation's website, Feeney lived in a rented apartment in San Francisco in the last years of his life, he did not own a car or any property. Forbes described his apartment as being similar to college dorm room.

During his philanthropic career, Feeney sought to remain anonymous and thus recipients were largely paid in cashier's checks. His foundation was incorporated in Bermuda and therefore he did not have to disclose donations for US tax requirements.

In 1984, he transferred his 35 percent shares in Duty Free Shoppers to Atlantic Philanthropies. In 1997, he sold his position in LVMH.

He was on record as saying that he had made financial provisions for his five children after his passing and retained around $2 million from his business career.

The former billionaire married twice in his life, first to French national Danielle Morali-Daninos, with whom he had five children, and later to his long-time assistant Helga Flaiz.

In addition to his wife and children, he is also survived by his 16 grandchildren.

Feeney fulfilled his four-decade mission of giving away his $8billion fortune to charity. He kept aside $2million for his and his wife's retirement

Feeney raked in billions with the creation of Duty Free Shoppers with Robert Miller in 1960

Feeney was born hard into a working class Irish-American family in northern New Jersey during the Great Depression that struggled to pay their $32 per month mortgage.

After spending time in the Air Force where he was stationed in Japan, Feeney became the first member of his family to go to college when he was accepted into Cornell, where he studied hotel management.

After graduation, he moved to Barcelona, where he began he got the idea to sell goods, especially booze, cigarettes and perfume, to Americans returning home.

After making a fortune through Duty Free Shoppers, Feeney smartly invested in Silicon Valley and at one point he owned homes in New York, London, Paris, Aspen, Hawaii and along the French Riviera. At one point he was the 24th richest person in America, according to Forbes.

A tribute to Feeney on the school's website calls him Cornell's 'third founder' thanks to the masses of financial contributions he made over the years, totaling $1 billion. Atlantic Philanthropies final donation was a $7 million gift to the school.

Since 2011, Feeney was a member of Bill and Melinda Gates' Giving Pledge, a group of billionaires who promised to give away most of their wealth before their deaths.

'I cannot think of a more personally rewarding and appropriate use of wealth than to give while one is living  to personally devote oneself to meaningful efforts to improve the human condition,' Feeney said at the time.

Speaking to Forbes in 2012, Bill Gates called Feeney a 'remarkable role model' and the 'ultimate example of giving while living.'

Another philanthropic billionaire, Warren Buffet called Feeney his 'hero' and added 'he should be everybody's hero.'

Feeney was prominent with his giving to Northern Ireland, donating both to the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fein, and to their enemies Ulster Defence Association, a move which helped to pave the way for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Feeney, whose ancestors came from Fermanagh, was one of those present at the dawn of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland in 2007.

His donations to Ireland are thought to have been close to $2 billion.

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams called Feeney a 'good friend' and an 'extraordinary human being' in a statement following news of his passing.

Meanwhile in Australia, one tribute referred to him as 'Queensland's Godsend' thanks to his nearly $600 million in donations to the region.

In the Billionaire Who Wasn't, author Conor O'Clery wrote that Feeney felt during his business career that he had doubts about whether or not he had the 'right to have so much money.'

'When asked many years later if he was rich at this point in his life, he replied: "How much is rich?" Beyond all expectations. Beyond all deserving, so to speak. I just reached the conclusion with myself that money, buying boats and all the trimmings didnt appeal to mem,' O'Clery added.
A DIY expert who starred in ITV's 60 Minute Makeover is fighting for his life in hospital after he nearly died when he fell asleep with a chip pan on the stove and almost burnt down his home.

Specialist floor layer Ben Bryant is lucky to be alive today after a fire ripped through his flat in The Maltings, in Clifton Road, Gravesend, Kent.

His neighbours raised the alarm after they spotted smoke coming from his ground floor flat.

The 35-year-old was on life support for three-and-a-half days after being rescued.

His mother Sarah Bryant, who lives in Orpington, said she can't thank the residents enough. She added: 'If they hadn't done that I wouldn't have had a son to visit this weekend.'

Specialist floor layer Ben Bryant is lucky to be alive today after a fire ripped through his flat when he left a chip pan on the stove

Ben Bryant, 35, was on life support for three-and-a-half days after being rescued

Bryant (second left) starred as a specialist floor layer on ITV's 60 Minute Makeover in 2013, where experts were filmed improving people's houses

Mr Brynat has been in hospital for a week following the fire on Monday, October 2. Doctors worked to clear his lungs of soot due to breathing in smoke.

Ms Bryant, 57, said: 'There was loads of it in his lungs. The investigating officer said if he had been found on the bed he wouldn't be here today.

'And if his neighbours hadn't rung the fire service when they did, he wouldn't be here.'

Mr Bryant said he remembers putting chips in a pan on the cooker and falling asleep.

Three fire engines were sent to Mr Bryant's home.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: 'Crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued one person from the property and used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames, which were out by 7.19pm.

'The person was passed into the care of paramedics after inhaling smoke.'

Ms Bryant said the flat is now uninhabitable and her son had been left 'fragile and emotional'.

Mr Brynat's neighbours raised the alarm after they spotted smoke coming from his ground floor flat at The Maltings (pictured), in Clifton Road, Gravesend, Kent

She added: 'Ben has lost everything he owns. He's very upset and worried about being homeless.

'There's a lot to sort out.

The housing department are trying to find somewhere for him to go when he is discharged.'

Mr Bryant starred as a specialist floor layer on ITV's 60 Minute Makeover in 2013, where experts were filmed improving people's houses.
Israel is on the cusp of an armed military incursion into the Gaza Strip to battle Hamas militants who slaughtered hundreds of civilians this past weekend in a series of ruthless surprise attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations', with 300,000 military reservists mobilised in plans for an overwhelming ground attack.

But the operation will be fraught with danger.

Unlike the last Israeli ground invasion of Gaza in 2014, in which some 2,300 Palestinians were killed, this time Hamas has captured up to 150 Israeli soldiers and civilians, who are now almost certainly dispersed throughout an intricate network of tunnels and hiding spots built in the past decade by the militant force.

Hamas has already declared its intention to execute civilian captives one by one if Israel continues its policy of devastating airstrikes on military and civilian targets in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Besides, Hamas has consolidated its power since the 2014 incursion and its military wing is thought to be tens of thousands strong - and could be supported by Hezbollah - with access to a serious arsenal of weapons provided over many years by Iran.

This means Israel would need to deploy hundreds of thousands of troops if it is to launch a full-scale invasion to wipe out Hamas - and the operation would likely share stark similarities with the bitter urban warfare seen in Mosul and other areas of Iraq.

With this in mind, MailOnline spoke to leading military and defence analyst and RUSI Associate Fellow Sam Cranny-Evans to find out exactly how an Israeli boots-on-the-ground military operation could unfold.

An Israeli soldier wears a mask as he looks on following an attack by Gazan militants on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023

Israeli soldiers ride on an armored personnel carrier in kibbutz Kfar Azza on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the crowded Palestinian enclave

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Hamas published footage showing for the first time the homemade Mubar 1 short-range air defence system on Monday Oct 9, 2023

'At present, it seems likely that Israel is seeking the decisive defeat of Hamas and its military wing al-Qassam. That may result in very protracted and violent fighting,' Cranny-Evans said.

'We are already seeing the first phase of any full-scale ground invasion. Israeli airstrikes are most likely aimed at al-Qassam's leadership, ammunition stockpiles and locations used to house and hide personnel.

'In this way, the IDF is likely seeking to degrade their ability to put up a coordinated resistance once troops move in on the ground.

He continued: 'The next phase may include movements to encircle the cities in Gaza and establish greater control over the whole area with troops and drones.

'All of this will be accompanied by a build-up of supplies, munitions, medical facilities, food etc. Urban warfare consumes a lot of ammunition and leads to a lot of casualties. So, there will be efforts underway to ensure appropriate stocks in appropriate locations.

I think we should also expect to see the IDF taking measures against small drones with electronic warfare, as well as gathering signals intelligence on al-Qassam to improve its targeting capabilities.'

However, Hamas has already shown its willingness to engage in particularly brutal warfare, and is also more technologically advanced than previously thought, having demonstrated an ability to deploy aerial munitions via drone and makeshift anti-aircraft munitions.

This means Israeli forces would be in for a particularly bloody fight, Cranny-Evans said, likening the potential conflict to scenes from the most bitter urban fighting amid the Iraq war.

This satellite photo provided by Planet Labs PBC shows the damage to the Erez border crossing separating the Gaza Strip from southern Israel after a Hamas attack Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023

An Israeli soldier takes positions near the Israeli military base of Har Dov on Mount Hermon, a strategic and fortified outpost at the crossroads between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, on October 10, 2023

Israeli soldiers take positions near the Israeli military base of Har Dov on Mount Hermon, a strategic and fortified outpost at the crossroads between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, on October 10

Israeli army Merkava tanks are positioned near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 10, 2023

A Palestinian points to the Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City early on October 9, 2023

'The tactics employed by the IDF will depend in part on the tactics used by al-Qassam.

'It is likely that drones will be used to drop bombs on Israeli forces, and that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) will be deployed to slow them down. The IDF has experienced these technologies, but they do have the ability to inflict serious casualties.

'So, if al-Qassam has a lot of fighters who are determined to hold their ground, the Israeli forces may be faced with several Mosul-type operations requiring each urban area to be encircled and gradually cleared street-by-street.

'The predominant approach will be to use combined arms tactics where the efforts of armoured formations are coordinated with air power, artillery, and electronic warfare  as well as information warfare  to defeat al-Qassam.'

Cranny-Evans added that Israeli forces could attempt a multi-pronged assault, deploying troops amphibiously into Gaza from the Mediterranean sea, but cautioned that such units would only be lightly armoured and supplied, meaning they'd need to be bolstered by other units on the ground or via air support.

'There is a possibility for an amphibious assault, but it would have to be coordinated with the main thrust of operations and serve a useful purpose,' he concluded.

'The forces used for amphibious operations are inherently light  no or little armour available. So, the risk to them when fighting other light infantry is high relative to an armoured formation. Nevertheless, if the IDF feels there are targets worth seizing or engaging on the coast, that are within the capabilities of light and special infantry, it is reasonable to presume that they might try.'

Israel also has advanced technology at its disposal to help its forces fight Hamas.

'The IDF has a developed and capable communications and battle management infrastructure, which will really be key to this operation. It enables commanders to keep tabs on where their units are and understand what enemy forces they have encountered. It also makes communication between units easier, which is a major challenge in urban settings,' Cranny-Evans said.

'The IDF also has other systems like the Fireweaver fire control system, which coordinates sensors and shooters through a central battle management system and uses AI to suggest the best-placed shooter to the commander.

'They have relatively advanced multi-domain capabilities and are well-versed in coordinating air strikes with ground operations.'

A missile erupts in a fireball as it strikes a building in Gaza

Aerial photos show the scale of destruction in Gaza City.

Missiles streak over the Gaza Strip towards Israel

Hamas militants are seen assaulting Israeli border positions on October 7

As with any urban conflict, the risk for civilians is extremely high.

Israeli airstrikes have already obliterated several civilian buildings in Gaza with the Palestinian death toll set to increase dramatically.

In turn, Israeli hostages taken captive by Hamas militants are likely to face the possibility of execution if their captors feel they are unable to escape, or if they choose to enact revenge if Palestinian casualties begin to mount.

In the aftermath of this weekend's attack, former UN senior advisor and one of the world's most experienced hostage negotiators Scott Walker said: 'It is understandable and reasonable for IDF to be preparing for an armed hostage rescue - but these operations are some of the riskiest.

'Hostages are likely to be dispersed and moved around and it will be highly unlikely that an Israeli force could just go in and liberate the hostages in one fell swoop without suffering significant losses, either of hostages or their own men,' he said.

Walker added that the hostages taken by Hamas are likely to be well treated if they are to be used as political prisoners or bargaining chips - but that their fate could be something far more sinister if Hamas has an ulterior motive.

'Hostages need to be kept alive - fed and watered at a bare minimum. If Hamas' intention is to use them as bargaining chips or with a view to prisoner swaps, the hostages are likely to be treated reasonably well... if you want to use the hostages as currency in political bartering, you can't damage the goods.

'Having said that, Hamas is evidently very capable of being harsh and brutal - so it's possible - though unlikely - they could subject one or some of the hostages to brutal treatment and potentially execute them to show they mean business by sowing fear and further instability in the region for their own gain.'

Cranny-Evans added: 'The risk to civilians is being mitigated by urging them to leave their houses. However, some will almost certainly remain, as has been the case in many past wars.

'Israeli forces might make further efforts to encourage civilian evacuations as the fighting continues but a lot really depends on Israel's war aims and how much it is willing to risk for them.'

The extent to which Israel will send its military into Gaza remains to be seen. But with the Prime Minister and his right wing cabinet openly declaring their intent to demolish Hamas, it's likely the coming conflict is going to be extremely brutal.
Iran's Supreme leader today said 'we kiss the hands on those who planned the attack' on Israel while Saudi Arabia's ruler vowed to 'stand by the Palestinian people'.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed what he called Israel's 'irreparable' military and intelligence defeat after the gunmen rampaged through the towns and slaughtered families and young festivalgoers.

'We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime,' Khamenei said during his first televised speech since the incursion.

Khamenei, wearing a Palestinian scarf and speaking from a military academy, added: 'This destructive earthquake (Hamas' attack) has destroyed some critical structures (in Israel) which will not be repaired easily. The Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster.'

But Khamenei insisted Iran, a key long-term ally of Hamas, was not involved in the attack, which has left 900 Israelis dead and hundreds more injured.

It comes as Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the kingdom will continue to stand by the Palestinians.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed what he called Israel's 'irreparable' military and intelligence defeat after the gunmen rampaged through the towns and slaughtered families and young festivalgoers

'We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime,' Khamenei said during his first televised speech since the incursion

Israeli soldiers inspect burnt cars that are abandoned in a carpark near where a festival was attacked by Hamas gunmen from Gaza that left at least 260 people dead on Tuesday

This aerial photo show heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday

It comes as Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the kingdom will continue to stand by the Palestinians

Bin Salman told Abbas, who heads the Fatah movement which controls the West Bank, that Saudi Arabia will continue 'to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace.'

Crucially, Abbas is a political rival of Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip and launched the attack on Israel. Bin Salmon told Abbas he was working with international parties to prevent 'an expansion of the conflict'.

Saturday's assault, the biggest incursion into Israel in decades, coincides with U.S.-backed moves to push Saudi Arabia towards normalising ties with Israel in return for a defence deal between Washington and Riyadh, a move that would slam the brakes on the kingdom's recent rapprochement with Tehran.

Meanwhile, Khamenei hailed Hamas's assault on Israel before denying it had any part in it Israel has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas.

And Western officials last night said Tehran had provided the Hamas terrorists with military training and logistical help as well as tens of millions of dollars for weapons ahead of the surprise incursion.

The officials said Hamas had been planning the assault on Israel for at least a year, reports the Washington Post.

They said that while they have no evidence that Tehran authorised or directly coordinated the attack, the incursion reflected Iran's years-long ambition to surround Israel with paramilitary fighters armed with sophisticated weapons.

'If you train people on how to use weapons, you expect them to eventually use them,' said a Western intelligence official.

Backing the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution and a way the Shi'ite-dominated country has fashioned itself as a leader of the Muslim world.

The top U.S. general on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis, saying he did not want the conflict to broaden.

At least 900 Israelis have been killed by the terrorists since they launched the surprise attack on Saturday. And in response Israel has pounded the Gaza strip with the fiercest air strikes in the 75-year history of its conflict, killing 770 Palestinians and wounding 4,000 more.

Israel said earlier on Tuesday it had re-established control over the Gaza border and was planting mines where militants had toppled the barrier during their bloody weekend assault, after another night of relentless Israeli air raids on the enclave.

Uri, 83, talks on the phone after a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip damaged his home when it landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Tuesday

A Palestinian youth sits in front of a charred building as a fire rages through its interior, following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's al-Rimal district on Tuesday

Hamas terrorists have taken up to 150 people as hostages

Khamenei said an attack on Gaza would 'unleash a much heavier torrent of anger'.

'The occupying regime seeks to portray itself as a victim to escalate its crimes further... this is a misguided calculation... It will result in even greater disaster,' Khamenei said.

Iran took the lead on Saturday in celebrating the Hamas assault in which at least 1,500 gunmen stormed the border before carrying out a bloody rampage through Israeli communities that left more than 900 dead and saw streets strewn with bodies.

The Israeli army said it was the single deadliest event in the nation's history, and has responded with a ferocious bombardment of Gaza where officials say at least 770 people have been killed.

It has called up hundreds of thousands of reservists and placed the Gaza Strip, the crowded home to 2.3 million people, under a total siege.

Israeli media said the death toll from the Hamas attacks had climbed to 900 people, mostly civilians gunned down in their homes, on the streets or at a dance party. It dwarfs the scale of any past attack by Islamists apart from 9/11. Scores of Israelis were taken to Gaza as hostages, with some paraded through the streets.

Nearly 700 Gazans have since been killed in Israeli strikes, according to officials, and whole districts have been flattened.

The United Nations said 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools. Smoke and flames rose into the morning sky, while bombardment of the roads often made it impossible for emergency crews to reach the scene of strikes.

At the morgue in Gaza's Khan Younis hospital, bodies were laid on the ground on stretchers with their names written on their bellies. Medics called for relatives to pick up bodies quickly because there was no more space for the dead.

There were heavy casualties in a former municipal building struck while being used as an emergency shelter for displaced families.

'There is an extraordinary number of martyrs, people are still under the rubble, some friends are either martyrs or wounded,' said Ala Abu Tair, 35, who had sought shelter there with his family after fleeing Abasan Al-Kabira near the border. 'No place is safe in Gaza, as you see they hit everywhere.'

In Israel, there has still been no complete official count of the dead and missing from Saturday's attacks. In the southern town of Be'eri, where more than 100 bodies have been retrieved, volunteers in yellow vests and face masks solemnly carried the dead out of homes on stretchers.

Israeli forces transport military equipment, armoured vehicles and artillery to the Gaza border as airstrikes continue on Tuesday

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinians watch a fire burn among the rubble of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City, October 10, 2023

A long, wide trail of blood wound along the floor of a house where bodies had been dragged out to the street from a blood-soaked kitchen strewn with overturned furniture.

'The thing I want the most is to wake up from this nightmare,' said Elad Hakim, a survivor from a music festival where Hamas had killed 260 partygoers at dawn. 'Everything was so amazing, the best party I've been to in my life, until it... from paradise to hell, in one second.'

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered, after volunteers removed hundreds of bodies Advertisement

Israel's next move could be a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, territory it abandoned in 2005 and has kept under blockade since Hamas took power there in 2007. The total siege it announced on Monday would block even food and fuel from reaching the strip.

Israel was caught so completely off guard by Saturday's attack that it took more than two days to finally seal off the multi-billion dollar high-tech barrier wall, meant to have been impenetrable.

Military spokesman Hagari said early on Tuesday there had been no new infiltrations from Gaza since the previous day.

Israeli leaders will now have to decide whether to constrain their retaliation to safeguard the hostages. Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida issued the threat on Monday to kill one Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning - and to broadcast the killing.

Saturday's attacks and Israel's retaliation tore up the plans of diplomats in the Middle East at a crucial juncture, when Israel was on the verge of reaching an agreement to normalise relations with the richest Arab power, Saudi Arabia.
Controversial plans to house asylum seekers at a four-star spa hotel in south Wales have been dropped after a dramatic Home Office U-turn.

The proposals, which saw Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli sack its entire workforce so it could house more than 240 migrants, sparked fury amongst local residents and further afield.

Some protestors opposed to the plans have clashed with the police over the past few months. Last week, six people were arrested after they forced their way into the grounds of the hotel and started a fire.

Eyewitness also reported seeing five 'riot vans' on Wednesday evening and Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were pelted with fireworks and other missiles, while vehicles were moved in an attempt to block fire engines from accessing the site.

The Home Office confirmed it would no longer be taking forward plans to adapt Stradey Park Hotel into asylum accommodation and added it would not be commenting further on contractual details.

Controversial plans to house asylum seekers at four-star Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli have been dropped

Protestors opposed to the plans have frequently clashed with the police over the past few months

Asylum seekers had been set to arrive at the former spa hotel in the middle of summer but July, August, and September all came and went with no arrivals despite the Home Office saying months ago that people would start arriving 'within weeks'.

Carmarthenshire Council leader Darren Price said he welcomed the 'right decision' for the hotel and the people of Furnace.

He added: 'Now is the time for the community of Llanelli to come together to heal from the experience of the past few months.

'On the issue of providing sanctuary to people in desperate need I will reiterate Carmarthenshire County Council's desire to continue to welcome our share of asylum seekers from countries such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syria to our county via the dispersal model which has worked successfully in Carmarthenshire for many years.'

Mr Price and chief executive Wendy Walters said they wrote to Home Office ministers and senior civil servants last week 'outlining their concerns with regards to escalating community tensions and urging the UK Government to withdraw from the site'.

The Home Office's decision comes as Mid and West Wales Fire Service said the hotel was deemed unsafe following an inspection due to a 'change of use' last week.

Last week, six people were arrested after they forced their way into the grounds of the hotel and started a fire

Protesters have been opposing the use of the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli for months (pictured: a protest in July)

A police officer speaks to demonstrators outside the hotel in July

The Home Office confirmed it would no longer be taking forward plans to adapt Stradey Park Hotel into asylum accommodation

This was mainly due to 'insufficient fire separation between certain areas of the ground floor as well as insufficient means of detecting and giving warning of a fire'.

READ MORE: Police arrest six people after protesters force their way into luxury hotel being used to house asylum seekers and start fire in the stairwell, lob fireworks and break windows Advertisement

Hotel owner Gryphon Leisure was notified of a prohibition that 'prevents the premises from being used for sleeping accommodation'.

Local residents have recently launched a plan to buy the hotel.

As of June 2023, there were more than 50,000 asylum seekers in hotels, costing 8.2 million a day.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The number of people arriving in small boats is down compared with last year but we must go further to stop the boats in the first place.

'That is why we are determined, through the Illegal Migration Act, to ensure that anyone arriving in the UK illegally is detained and swiftly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.

'We are also working hard to reduce the unacceptable use of hotels by moving asylum seekers into alternative, cheaper accommodation, doubling them up in hotel rooms, and clearing the legacy backlog.'

Following last week's portests Superintendent Ross Evans, commander for the Carmarthenshire region, accused some of going 'far beyond' what he called 'lawful, peaceful protest' against the hotel's intended use as a migrant centre.

Police guard a hole in a fence at the hotel in July to stop protesters from getting onto the hotel site

Locals voice their concern to police officers outside the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Wales

Videos shared on social media showed a convoy of motorbikes arriving, riders revving their engines in front of a line of police officers as other protesters, including some wearing balaclavas and masks over their faces, attempted to enter the grounds.

Some of the bikes then raced into the grounds to the cheers of those who had turned out to protest, as metal security fencing could be seen scattered nearby

Other footage shared online showed protesters gesturing and swearing at cars, believed to be carrying security staff, as they entered and left the site.

Stradey Park Hotel has warned protesters not to enter the grounds of the hotel - adding that it had installed CCTV cameras with facial recognition.
Women would be given more rights to financial support when their relationships end in sweeping changes to co-habiting laws under a Labour government, Emily Thornberry said today.

The shadow attorney general used her conference speech to lash out at rules that currently mean they can end up on the street if they leave or are thrown out of the family home.

She told delegates in Liverpool that the party would reform the law so women who do not own a share of the family property do not have to stay in unhappy or abusive relationships  and even marry  just to feel financially secure.

She said the current rules are slanted in favour of the bigger earner in relationships  usually men.

The plan would bring the rules closer in line with those for married couples or those in civil partnerships. It would be modelled on similar schemes in Ireland, New Zealand and Scotland, where partners have rights to 'equal shares' of goods and property and can make a claim for short-term financial support against their ex.

Ms Thornberry told the conference: 'For too long, women in co-habiting couples have been left with no rights when those relationships come to an end. If there is no joint property or parental responsibilities, a man can leave his partner with nothing, especially if he has the means to go to court, and she does not.

'It is time we reviewed this issue in England and Wales, as it has been in New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland. No woman should be forced to get married or stay in an unhappy relationship just to avoid ending up on the street.'

Emily Thornberry used her conference speech to lash out at rules that currently mean they can end up on the street if they leave or are thrown out of the family home.

The shadow attorney general told delegates in Liverpool that the party would reform the law so women who do not own a share of the family property do not have to stay in unhappy relationships  and even marry  just to feel financially secure

The plan was welcomed by charities and advocacy groups. Jo Edwards, law reform lead for the family justice body Resolution, said: 'Cohabiting couples currently have little to no legal protection when they separate, with no safety net in place to protect those left financially vulnerable if their relationship ends.

'If a couple separates or a cohabiting partner passes away without making a Will, it is invariably women who face significant financial difficulty. This is regardless of the level of commitment shown, including the length of their relationship or the birth of children.

'Even more worryingly, many believe they do have some legal protection, in the form of a mythical ''common-law'' status, and only find out too late that this does not exist.'

The changes would target those in cohabiting relationships where one party earns less than the other. This, Labour argues, predominantly affects women, who may have given up full-time work to raise children. This can mean they have not contributed as much in monetary terms to the value of the property, or have no legal record of the contributions they have made.

In those situations, they can find themselves without any right to financial support or a share of the property when the relationship ends, and if they try to pursue a claim, they will almost always find themselves up against an ex-partner who can afford legal representation, when they cannot.

Labour cited two groups who especially face this problem: Women with young children from a previous relationship and those who had non-Christian religious-only weddings, which have no legal recognition in the UK.

Olive Craig, from Rights of Women, said: 'The law for cohabiting couples is unfair and confusing. It can leave women and children in financially desperate situations especially when fleeing an abusive relationship.

'Lots of couples are not aware that they do not have the same legal rights as married couples and this leads to inequality when they separate. Survivors of domestic abuse can feel trapped and unable to leave abusive situations because of the lack of legal rights they have.

'We welcome this announcement which recognises the importance of providing equal rights to cohabiting couples and make the law fairer for everyone.'
An Australian dual citizen living in Israel has vowed to fight Hamas terrorists on the frontline after her friends were savagely gunned down at a music festival she was supposed to attend.

Mai Gutman, 28, who was born in Israel but moved to Australia when she was 18 months old, is part of the 465,000-strong Israeli Reserve Army and is waiting for the call to take up arms.

On Saturday, Israel suffered one of the darkest days in the Jewish state's history when Palestinian militants rampaged through southern towns killing at least 1.000 people and carrying out mass-abductions as thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza.

Among those targeted where young revellers at the Supernova music festival, where paragliding gunmen dropped in from the sky shooting dead 260 helpless people as they desperately tried to flee.

Ms Gutman had been set to join the rave but at the last minute decided to stay in Jerusalem.

'My phone started pinging from a WhatsApp group saying "help us, help us",' she told A Current Affair.

'All these different girls were texting... they're coming at us, they're shooting at us, my friend is dead, people are dying there are bodies everywhere.

Mai Gutman, 28, who was born in Israel but moved to Australia at just 18-months-old, is part of the 465,000-strong Israeli Reserve Army and is waiting for the call to take up arms

Ms Gutman had been set to join the rave where hundreds were killed but at the last minute decided to stay in Jerusalem

'To think that could have been me, to think my friends were there, to think that these people were just young people my age who just went to have a good time.

'You wouldn't think ... that's where your life would end.'

While Ms Gutman has the ability to flee to the safety of Australia, she is adamant that she is not going anywhere.

'I have a moral imperative to be here,' she said.

'I think if I took the moment to sit down and internalise what's really going on I think there would be an element of fear, but living in Israel and living in a period of such heightened tension I don't have the luxury.

'I'm currently on standby waiting, my bags are packed, I just have to be given the call.

'If things heat up in the north then I'll be sent there, I just don't have the luxury to sit down and be scared and have a cry, it's not the time.'

If called upon, Ms Gutman will join reservists who have already been drafted to launch a counter-offensive against Hamas as part of its 'Swords of Iron' campaign.

She had planned to go to the Supernova music festival which was targeted by Palestinian terrorists leading to the deaths of at least 260 young revelers (pictured)

Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military (pictured: an alleged paraglider crossing into Israel)

Hamas today warned Israeli civilians to get out of the port city of Ashkelon or face death 'in response to the airstrikes' that are relentlessly pounding the Gaza strip, suggesting that more bloodshed is imminent.

The terrorists also warned it will not hand over hostages until the fighting ends - a day after they warned they would execute Israeli civilian captives if the airstrikes continued.

It comes after Israel warned Hamas they had 'nowhere to hide' and that its air force was launching 'extensive attacks' on the Palestinian terrorist group in revenge for its deadly surprise incursion that saw hundreds of Israeli's slaughtered.

Israeli forces have already used its strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza strip, with airstrikes and artillery destroying thousands of Hamas targets and killing 770 Palestinians.

But Israel today issued a fresh warning to Hamas, with the military saying the terrorists have 'nowhere to hide' in Gaza and that its air force was carrying out 'extensive' airstrikes in waves of every four hours.

'We will reach them everywhere,' military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to obliterate Hamas.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

But in response to the airstrikes, Hamas's armed winged warned the residents of Ashkelon to leave before 5pm Israeli time.

Palestinians carry a wounded man at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday following Israeli airstrikes

Israeli soldiers walk through the remains of a residential area of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers carry a dead body as they collect bodies following attacks by Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, on Tuesday

Palestinians walk through debris amid the destruction from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's al-Rimal neighbourhood on Tuesday

A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, on Tuesday

'In response to the enemy's crime of displacing our people and forcing them to flee their homes in several areas of the Gaza Strip, we give the residents of the occupied city of Ashkelon a deadline to leave it by 5pm this evening,' the Al Qassam Bridgades said.

Minutes after the sinister warning was made, Hamas claimed it had launched rockets at Israel's international Ben Gurion airport, located just 61km from the port city. But this claim was quickly denied by a spokesperson at the airport, who said it had not been hit by any rockets and that operations there continue.

Hamas also warned today it will not hand over hostages until the fighting ends - a day after they warned they would execute Israeli civilian captives if the airstrikes continued.

Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, told NBC News the terrorist group is not open to a prisoner exchange, before issuing the sinister message: 'The colonial occupation will pay a price for the devastation inflicted upon the Palestinians in Gaza.'

Prior reports had suggested that Qatar had been mediating a potential swap of Israeli hostages in exchange for imprisoned Palestinians. It comes after Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

There has still been no complete official count of the dead and missing from Saturday's attacks - but Israeli media say more than 1000 Israelis have been killed.

In the southern town of Be'eri, where more than 100 bodies have been retrieved, volunteers in yellow vests and face masks solemnly carried the dead out of homes on stretchers.

A long, wide trail of blood wound along the floor of a house where bodies had been dragged out to the street from a blood-soaked kitchen strewn with overturned furniture.

In response, Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night: 'We have only started striking Hamas. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has brought gun battles to the streets Israeli towns for the first time in decades while neighbourhoods in Gaza have been reduced to rubble.

Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there.

At one point, the Israeli military advised Gaza civilians to flee to Egypt, only to issue a quick clarification confirming that the crossing was closed and there was no way out.

Palestinians carry a wounded man at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday following Israeli airstrikes

A Palestinian man cries while carrying the body of a journalist killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday

Palestinians perform funeral prayer during the funeral ceremony of Palestinian journalists Saeed Al-Taweel, Mohammad Sobh and others, including children who were killed in Israeli airstrikes, in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers remove the body of a compatriot, killed during an attack by the Palestinian militants, in Kfar Aza, south of Israel bordering Gaza Strip on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers prepare to remove the bodies of their compatriots, killed during an attack by the Palestinian militants, in Kfar Aza, south of Israel bordering Gaza Strip, on Tuesday

Palestinians walk through a ravaged street following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on Tuesday

Rockets fired from Gaza are neutralized in the air by Israel's 'Iron Dome' air defense system on the fourth day of the clashes in the city of Ashkelon, Israel on Tuesday

A Palestinian youth sits in front of a charred building as a fire rages through its interior, following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's al-Rimal district on Tuesday

Uri, 83, talks on the phone after a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip damaged his home when it landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Tuesday

On Tuesday morning, air raid sirens were blaring in cities across Israel, suggesting Hamas was launching another salvo of rockets.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site.

But this time, the context has become more explosive.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria, fomenting calls for Israel to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

The death toll from the unprecedented assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on its territory rose to 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza (pictured)

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinian men cry as they mourn the dead following Israeli air strikes in Gaza

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life as Hamas militants abduct her and drive her into Gaza

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter

Covered bodies of dead Palestinians lie on the floor at the Al-Shifa hospital after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 09 October 2023

Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian killed in the Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 10, 2023

Hamas published footage showing for the first time the homemade Mubar 1 short-range air defence system on Monday Oct 9, 2023

On Monday, thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions.

In the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes levelled buildings.

The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished region where 2.3 million people live on top of each other in squalid conditions.

The IDF said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gaza's City Rimal neighbourhood, which is home to Hamas' ministries and governing buildings, overnight.

IDF spokesman Richard Hecht said Gazans were being told to evacuate 'over social media' before strikes, but did not give details.

Also on Monday, Israel found more bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns.

Rescue workers found 108 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri - around 10 per cent of its population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Israel pounded Hamas targets in Gaza on October 10 and said the bodies of 1,500 Islamist militants were found in southern towns recaptured by the army in gruelling battles near the Palestinian enclave

A Palestinian man stands in front of the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets

People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike

Israeli soldiers gather at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, 09 October 2023

A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday

A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday

A huge fireball engulfs part of the Gaza Strip following an Israeli airstrike

Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night

In a video statement Monday, Israel's foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza.

Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home 'in the spirit of mutual responsibility.'

'We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. 'This war crime will not be forgiven,' he added.

Hamas seized more than 100 hostages amid their surprise attacks this weekend, forcibly deporting some soldiers as well as innocent civilian women and even children back into Gaza.

Unsettling footage showed women being marched into vehicles, bloodied and bruised, often with their hands bound behind their backs.

A student who attended a desert rave and a mother and her two young girls were among the innocent victims snatched on Saturday.

Particularly shocking footage showed the abduction of Noa Argamani, 25, a student who was torn from her boyfriend's arms and driven away on the back of a militant's motorcycle as she screamed and pleaded for her life.

As violence escalates, Israel has responded with devastating airstrikes into the Gaza Strip, bringing down residential buildings they say contained military infrastructure.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 9 it had carried out more than 500 strikes on targets across the Gaza Strip overnight.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA said an airstrike early on Monday hit a market area 'killing and wounding dozens and causing heavy destruction'.

A school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was also hit in the attack on the camp.

'The school was severely damaged and was housing about 225 people, though no casualties were recorded among the displaced, but the school sustained significant structural damage,' UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily press briefing.

All UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip are closed, and more than 300,000 people students are impacted, according to the UN.

The Times of Gaza reported 'dozens' had been 'killed and burned alive' during the attacks on Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023

A Palestinian mourns the death of her relative following an Israeli airstrike on the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023

A smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinian officials said almost 500 people were killed, including 91 children, and over 2,700 were injured in the strikes. Pictured: smoke rises over Gaza on October 9
A man whose mother was the Yorkshire Ripper's first victim has revealed he phoned the serial killer's family to offer his 'condolences' when he died  having forgiven him after hearing a lecture from Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Richard McCann, 53, was just a child when his mother Wilma, 28, was slain by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975.

In a podcast interview, Mr McCann said: 'I just felt the urge to call Peter Sutcliffe's brother to offer my condolences.

'I have to say, I did want revenge. My sister Sonia and I once planned to kill Sutcliffe.

'But that hatred left me in 2010 when I met Tutu, who gave a lecture on forgiveness.'

Richard McCann was just a child when his mother Wilma, 28, was slain by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975. He phoned Sutcliffe's brother to offer his condolences upon the killer's death in 2020

Peter Sutcliffe (1946-2020) was a serial killer dubbed 'the Yorkshire Ripper' who claimed the lives of 13 women in West Yorkshire from 1975 to 1980

Mr McCann says he moved on from his anger in 2010 after listening to a lecture on forgiveness by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (pictured), Nobel Prize Peace laureate

Mr McCann revealed that the plan was for his sister to write to Sutcliffe under an assumed name, and gain his trust as a pen pal.

Eventually, the plan was for Sonia to visit their mother's killer in prison, where she would attack and kill him.

But Mr McCann says he was able to move on from his hatred in 2010, after hearing a talk from peace activist Tutu, who chaired South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Afterwards, he said he told Tutu that he'd helped him to forgive the man who murdered his mother.

Mr McCann added: 'I didn't become Peter Sutcliffe's friend, but what I learned by listening to [Tutu's] words, was that forgiveness is for you.

'Letting go of that anger and resentment and need for revenge  wanting to kill him  that's not good for me and for those around me.

'So that was something that I knew I needed to do.'

Wilma was the first of Sutcliffe's victims  she was a 28-year-old mother-of-four from Scott Hall in the Chapeltown area of Leeds.

She was separated from her husband when she left home on the evening of October 30, 1975, leaving her eldest child in charge while she visited several pubs.

After accepting a lift from Sutcliffe, she was attacked and brutally murdered just 100 yards away from her house.

Sutcliffe hit her with a hammer and stabbed her 15 times in the chest, neck and abdomen.

Mr McCann praised ITV for dropping 'Yorkshire Ripper' from its drama series The Long Shadow.

He said the name only served to 'traumatise' families of victims because it signified the methods used by Sutcliffe to kill and injure them.

Lost childhood: Mr McCann, aged five, with his sisters Sonia, seven, Angela, three, and Donna, four

Wilma McCann was attacked and brutally murdered just 100 yards away from her house on October 30, 1975

Detective Chief Superintendent Dennis Hoban, played by Toby Jones in ITV's new drama on the killings, The Long Shadow, was among the first to realise the killings were linked - and initially led the investigation before being replaced

Sutcliffe is taken to Frimley Park Hospital from Broadmoor Hospital for eye blindness treatment in September 2015

Wilma, who is portrayed by Gemma Laurie in the ITV drama, lovingly kissed her children goodnight before heading out for the evening.

The drama shows her spreading a sheet over the youngsters and putting her overcoat over them so they could keep warm before she left the house. They wake up to find she hasn't returned home.

That last evening, Wilma went to at least four pubs, including the Regent and White Swan, and later continued consuming alcohol at a drinking club.

She was a sometime sex worker, but her son Mr McCann has criticised the way police described his mother and some of Sutcliffe's other victims.

Speaking in 2020, he said: 'My mum was more than just a "good time girl" or a "woman of loose morals", as she was described by the police.

'I hate the things that they said about some of the women, including my mum. It's like they seem to forget the person behind that black and white mugshot that I hated for years.'

The drama makes a point of showing Detective Chief Superintendent Dennis Hoban telling his officers how, regardless of her possible lifestyle, 'nobody, whoever they are, deserves to die like Wilma died last night' and later says 'prostitute don't come into it'.

His efforts proved not to be successful and the sexism of investigating officers and their attitude towards sex workers has long been cited as one of the reasons catching Sutcliffe took so many years.

Wilma left the club after 1am, tried to find a lift and was spotted by Sutcliffe, who stopped his car and picked her up.

Toby Jones stars as Detective Chief Superintendent Dennis Hoban in The Long Shadow

Say again? With fans taking to Twitter to complain about the show's poor sound and lighting, with come claiming they were forced to watch it with subtitles

Her body was found in Prince Philip Playing fields, just 100 yards from her home on October 30, 1975. Sutcliffe had hit her with a hammer and stabbed her 15 times in the chest, neck and abdomen.

Hoban set up an incident room at the former Leeds City Police Headquarters in Brotherton House and initially the case was treated as a separate incident from the non-fatal attacks on other women carried out by Sutcliffe, among them Olive Smelt and Anna Rogulskyj.

The next murder victim was Emily Jackson, 42. Sensitively depicted in the drama by Katherine Kelly, she was stabbed 52 times with a screwdriver on January 20, 1976.

The drama shows how she and her husband Sydney were driven to desperation by poverty and she had taken up sex work to get through the Christmas period for their children. Sutcliffe picked her up outside the Gaiety pub on Roundhay Road. He drove her to a derelict patch of land where he launched his deadly attack.

Hoban was given this case too, setting up a new incident room at Millgarth Police Station.

Judge Barrington Black believes police processes themselves held the detectives back.

Writing in his memoir Both Sides of the Bench, he said: 'Various police forces did not know what other police forces were up to or doing so there was duplication and mistakes.

'We have to bear in mind that the organisation of the police, of police forces throughout the country round about that time, was not of the best. Many of the larger investigations were conducted by card file index systems, bits of paper, notebooks, a type of filing which we wouldn't recognise today.

'Absolutely nothing to assist by way of electronic data or documentation and therefore it was a pretty backward situation.'

The police struggled to manage such a huge case, vast amounts of paperwork gathered and there were repeated failures to connect related piece of information.
A female Met Police officer complimented a woman on her body then put her hand up her skirt after drinking Prosecco on a night out, a court heard.

PC Rachel Bright, 45, attached to the South West Command Unit, allegedly assaulted the woman in Wandsworth, southwest London, last 5 December.

She allegedly put her hand up the woman's skirt and touched her private parts over her clothing.

PC Bright appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court today wearing a blue top, black blazer and black trousers.

The police officer, of Sutton, denied sexual assault and elected a jury trial.

PC Rachel Bright, 45, attached to the South West Command Unit, allegedly assaulted the woman in Wandsworth, southwest London, last 5 December (stock image)

PC Bright appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court today wearing a blue top, black blazer and black trousers

PC Bright denies sexual assault and elected for a jury trial

Prosecutor Melanie Hardwick said the officer was on a night out in Wandsworth at the time of the alleged incident.

She said: 'The defendant is a senior police officer...on the evidence the defendant had been drinking Prosecco and gradually became more inappropriate towards the complainant.

'She was acting in an overtly affectionate manner and complimented the complainant on her body.'

District Judge Devinder Sandhu bailed her ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Kingston Crown Court on 6 November.

The judge warned her: 'If you don't attend Kingston Crown Court for 10am on that day you will be committing a second offence as not turning up to court late or at all is an offence on its own.'

PC Bright was released on bail on the condition she does not contact the complainant either directly or indirectly.

She has been suspended since she was charged and the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards are aware of the case.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain behind bars in Russia on spying charges after losing his appeal.

Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court Tuesday for his hearing, where a judge denied his request to be freed.

The move will keep the journalist in jail until at least Nov. 30 - unless another appeal is heard, which is unlikely.

The journalist was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow. He has been held in jail since on espionage charges, which can be punished by up to 20 years in prison.

Weeks ago, a Moscow court declined to hear his appeal for release, citing a procedural violation and returning the case to a lower court.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain behind bars in Russia on spying charges after losing his appeal

Gershkovich, wearing a blue shirt, T-shirt and jeans, appeared in a glass defendants cage at Moscow City Court as he once again appealed his release

Gershkovich, wearing a blue shirt, T-shirt and jeans, appeared in a glass defendants cage at Moscow City Court as he once again appealed his release. He stared at the cameras in court with a blank expression

Cameras were allowed to photograph him before the hearing began. The court proceedings are closed because prosecutors say details of the criminal case are classified.

Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, 'acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.'

Gershkovich and the Journal deny the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities havent detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges.

He is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years - including WNBA star Brittney Griner - have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial. In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year.

Gershkovich is seen in court on October 10 before his appeal was denied

Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, 'acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex'

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a prisoner swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial

He is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since 1986

The parents of Gershkovich said Joe Biden promised he will 'do whatever it takes' to free their son.

Parents of the 32-year-old reporter also said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made similar assurances and claimed he 'would not rest' until their son was returned.

Gershkovich has spent more than five months in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo prison since his arrest on espionage charges on March 29 while reporting on the Wagner Group.

Mikhail Gershkovich and Ella Milman met while working in New York after fleeing the Soviet Union in 1979, and raised Evan and his sister in New Jersey.

In an interview with ABC News, the pair gave an update on Gershkovich's wellbeing and their ongoing conversations with US officials.

'President Biden spoke to us and gave us a promise to do whatever it takes. He talked to us as a parent and he told us he understands our pain,' said Millman.

Gershkovich parents said President Joe Biden had assured them he would 'do whatever it takes' to free their son from Russian imprisonment

Gershkovich in Russia. Gershkovich was put in Moscow's Lefortovo prison, which dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times

Mikhail Gershkovich reiterated the support the couple had received from Biden and suggested the president's commitment was reassuring and credible.

'President Biden did say it's a personal matter for him, because of his son, and we take a lot of comfort in that,' he said.

Millman indicated that it was not just Biden whom they had spoken with since their son's arrest.

'We also met secretary of state Mr. Blinken as well. He showed us his card with the names of all the wrongfully detained Americans around the world,' she said.

'Evan's name was on that list as well, and he promised us he was not going to rest until all the names are crossed out from his card.'

Since his arrest in March, the parents made multiple trips to Russia. They attended a court hearing last month in which it was ruled that he would remain in jail until at least last August.
Actor Lior Raz went to the frontlines of Israel's battle with Hamas in order to help save isolated families in the southern part of the country

Netflix star Lior Raz has revealed he has joined his 'brothers in arms' on Israel's frontline to help rescue stricken families in the isolated town of Sderot.

Raz, 51, the star of the Israeli hit Fauda, can be seen in the dramatic video he posted to X (previously Twitter) alongside the show's creator, Avi Issacharoff, ducking behind a wall as Hamas fired rockets overhead.

'Acompanied by Yohanan Plesner and Avi Issacharoff, I headed down south to join hundreds of brave 'brothers in arms' volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families,' Raz wrote in the caption.

Raz's role in the rescue operation has not been confirmed by Israeli officials. It's thought at as many as 100 people have been taken hostage by Hamas in the wake of Saturday's shocking attacks.

Fauda is based upon Issacharoff's real experiences in the Israeli Defense Forces. It began in 2015 and is set for a fifth season. The name translates from Hebrew into English as 'Chaos.'

Actor Lior Raz pictured cowering in terror as Hamas rockets fly overhead in Israel as the Netflix star joined in a rescue operation in the southern part of the country

Raz's character, Doron Kavillio, is a top agent who is hunting a Hamas terrorist named The Panther. In addition, Raz has appeared in Mary Magdalene alongside Joaquin Phoenix and 6 Underground with Ryan Reynolds and will appear in Ridley Scott's long-awaited sequel to Gladiator.

In an earlier post on his Instagram Story, Raz said: 'Remember who started the massacre. Hamas is an organization that wants to destroy the Jews and does not want to talk about peace in any conditions.'

'When the war turns, and we promise you that we Israelis will turn it, and Gaza will absorb the losses, remember that we go into this war with a heavy heart, with no desire to kill innocents, and with no choice in the face of those who come against us.'

Both Raz and Issacharoff served in the special forces during their mandatory service in the Israeli military.

Raz was born in the West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to an Iraqi father and an Algerian mother. His father was a career office in the Israeli equivalent of the US Navy Seals.

Following his graduation from high school, Raz enlisted in the counter-terrorism unit, Duvdevan, which means 'cherry-on-top.'

After his service was up, Raz moved to Los Angeles where he worked as Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodyguard.

'This is my heritage and why I live in Israel. I'm very connected to my heritage and my Judaism. In Israel, it's not a question at all. It's something you're born into when you live in the Jewish state. You fight for the Jewish state. You belong to the Jewish state,' he said of his pride in being Israeli during a 2018 interview.

In Fauda, Raz plays Doron Kavillio, is a top agent who is hunting a Hamas terrorist named The Panther

Raz attends Apple TV+'s The Crowded Room New York Premiere at Museum of Modern Art in June 2023

Israel bombarded downtown Gaza City on Tuesday and expanded a massive mobilization of reservists, vowing punishing retaliation against the Hamas militant group that increasingly left residents of the tiny Palestinian territory with nowhere to go.

Four days after terrorists stormed into Israel, bringing gun battles to its streets for the first time in decades, Israel's military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over its south and the border.

The war has already claimed at least 1,600 hundred lives on both sides  and perhaps many hundreds more. Israel has also said that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are also holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage.

The conflict is only expected to escalate from here. Israel expanded the mobilization of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the country's media.

And one major question is whether it will launch a ground offensive into Gaza  a tiny strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

While U.N. agencies appealed for a humanitarian corridor to bring in medical supplies, the Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets overnight in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, an upscale district that is home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, as well as universities, media organizations and the offices of aid organizations.

After hours of nonstop attacks, residents left their homes at daybreak to find some buildings torn in half by airstrikes and others reduced to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets that had been transformed into moonscapes.

The devastation in Rimal signaled what could be a new Israeli tactic: warning civilians to leave certain areas and then hitting those areas with unprecedented intensity. If these airstrikes continue, Gaza's civilians will have fewer and fewer places to shelter as more neighborhoods become uninhabitable.

Israel's chief military spokesman emphasized the unprecedented nature of the current campaign, saying 'all options are on the table.'
Labour today tried to stoke tensions in the Conservative Party by vowing to support Rishi Sunak's plan to bring in a rolling ban on smoking.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told a Labour conference fringe event on cancer care that opposition MPs will be whipped to back the PM's plan, which would see a gradual increase in the age at which people can buy tobacco products.

Mr Sunak has allowed Tories a free vote on the subject, with many backbenchers, including his predecessor Liz Truss, saying it is illiberal.

It means that the law could pass the Commons only with the support of the opposition, if the Tory rebellion is large enough.

Mr Streeting said: 'I know he's given Liz (Truss) a free vote because the Conservative Party sadly dances to the tune of Nigel Farage these days, quite literally.

'But the good news I can offer Rishi Sunak is that when it comes to that free vote, Labour will be whipping, we'll be whipping in favour and we will deliver the votes he needs.

'So this generation of children grow up smoke-free and are in fact even less likely to smoke than they are to vote Conservative.'

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told a Labour conference fringe event on cancer care that opposition MPs will be whipped to back the PM's plan, which would see a gradual increase in the age at which people can buy tobacco products.

Allies of Ms Truss, Mr Sunak's predecessor, said that she would vote against the change when it is put to MPs. It is to be treated as a 'conscience vote' by the Tories, meaning MPs do not have to follow a party line.

How have UK laws changed on smoking? 1965 - Cigarette TV adverts banned 1971 - Tobacco industry voluntarily agrees to include health warnings on cigarette packs 1974 - Government asks the tobacco industry to allocate some of its advertising budget to health education 1981 - Cigarette taxation increased by 14p on a packet of 20 1984 - Smoking is banned on London Underground trains 1990 - Government introduces larger EC-mandated health warnings on packets 1991 - New laws tighten up restrictions on sale of cigarettes to under-16s 1998 - EU directive to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship 2002 - Parliament passes UK tobacco advertising ban 2006 - Scotland bans smoking in nearly all workplaces and enclosed public places, including pubs and clubs 2007 - Smoking ban in England comes into force, legal age for purchasing tobacco is raised from 16 to 18 2012 - Tobacco is banned from display in large stores 2014 - Buying cigarettes for anyone under 18 is made an offence, while the Government gets new powers to introduce standardised packaging 2015 - Ban on displaying tobacco in small shops comes into force, while MPs vote in favour of a ban on smoking in cars with children 2019 - Government makes commitment for England to be smoke-free by 2030 Advertisement

The Prime Minister used his Conservative Party Conference speech to unveil plans to change tobacco laws in the same way as New Zealand.

It would see the current age limit of 18 rise by a year every 12 months and would mean anyone aged 14 or younger now will never be old enough to legally purchase fags.

Health groups and cancer charities lauded the announcement and said it would save thousands of lives from cancer.

Ministers have previously set an objective for England to be smoke-free by 2030.

Labour has previously indicated it would look at a New Zealand-style ban.

In January, MrStreeting said the party would consult on phasing out the sale of cigarettes as part of 'fresh radical thinking' to ease pressures on the NHS.

New Zealand is set to implement new laws this year that will make it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to be sold tobacco.

In what is believed to be the first such legislation in the world, the annually rising legal smoking age is aimed at preventing the country's next generation from ever taking up smoking.

But thinktanks and smoking rights groups reacted with anger to the ban proposed by Mr Sunak, labelling it as 'hideously illiberal and unconservative'.

Allies of Ms Truss, Mr Sunak's predecessor, said that she would vote against the change when it is put to MPs. It is to be treated as a 'conscience vote', meaning they do not have to follow a party line.

Downing Street could not specify when a free vote on the crackdown on buying cigarettes will be held, but the Prime Ministers press secretary last week said: 'Rishi Sunak is a man in a hurry.'

The PM also announced a crackdown on vaping amongst children promising to look at banning child-friendly flavours and packaging that encourage kids to pick up the habit. Disposable devices are also in the firing line.

Mr Sunak's announcement comes after a major review last year led by Dr Javed Khan backed England following in the footsteps of New Zealand.

Dr Khan recommended 'increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no-one can buy a tobacco product in this country'.

In his Government-commissioned report published in June 2022, Dr Khan said that without urgent action, England would miss the 2030 'smoke-free' target by at least seven years, with the poorest areas not meeting it until 2044.

He put the annual cost to society of smoking at about 17billion  2.4billion to the NHS alone.

The legal age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products in England and Wales is 18, having been raised from 16 in 2007 by the previous Labour government.

Ministers were originally wary of the proposal, citing concerns of imposing a 'nanny-state' policy on the public.

However, surveys have suggested the majority of the public support the policy.

A YouGov survey last year showed 57 per cent of Brits supported the progressive age-based ban.
Routledge, 23, was known for his YouTube dispatches from warzones

He, along with three other British men, have been released from Taliban custody

Miles 'Lord Miles' Routledge has been a prisoner of the Taliban for months

A YouTube 'danger tourist who spent several months living with his 'trusted friends' the Taliban is among four British men who have been released in Afghanistan.

Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old YouTube star who calls himself 'Lord Miles', was one of four UK prisoners to be released by the Taliban on Tuesday after spending months 'living in the lap of luxury' during his time as their prisoner.

Charity medic Kevin Cornwell, 53, who was detained during a raid on a hotel in Kabul in January accused of spying was also released following months of pleas from his wife.

The identities of the two other men are not yet known. UK humanitarian non-profit group Presidium Network said they were 'relieved' at the news.

'They are coming home! Thank you to everyone for their support of these men during this difficult period. We are all relieved,' the oganisation said on X, formerly Twitter.

Miles Routledge (pictured) reportedly lived in the lap of luxury while a prisoner of the Taliban

Kevin Cornwell (pictured) was accused of being a spy after Taliban agents allegedly found an illegal firearm in a safe in his hotel room

Cornwell was accused of being a spy after Taliban agents allegedly found an illegal firearm in a safe in his hotel room.

But Routledge's family have previously said they had no idea why he was being held.

At least a dozen foreigners or dual-nationals were believed to be in detention in Afghanistan, but authorities have not acknowledged any arrests.

The UK Foreign Office apologised to Afghanistan's authorities for 'any violations of the laws of the country.'

A statement from the department read: 'We welcome and appreciate the release by the current administration of Afghanistan of four British nationals who were detained on allegations of breaking the laws of Afghanistan.

During the past few months in 'prison' Miles Routledge is said to have been in talks with Taliban officials over a gold mine, as he apparently has 'picnics and dinners with higher ups'

'Danger tourist' Miles Routledge from Birmingham was arrested on March 2 by fighters from the extremist Islamic group

MailOnline has obtained the final picture he took before being held which shows the 23-year-old Miles Routledge (left) giving the thumbs up while standing next to a member of the Taliban who is holding an automatic rifle

One of Miles's friends, who asked not to be named, said: 'I am now very worried for Miles. No one has heard anything from him in weeks after he said he was being arrested for withdrawing money from a Western Union. Miles is pictured with meeting a Taliban fighter for one of his YouTube videos

Charity medic Kevin Cornwell (pictured),53, and an unnamed British hotel manager are among the other prisoners being held by the Taliban

'On behalf of families of the British nationals, we express their apologies to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country,' added the spokesperson.

Routledge's mother previously told MailOnline she had no idea of his whereabouts, as her only contact is from following his social media postings.

'Of course, I am very worried, but I do not know anything or what has happened to him,' Susan Routledge said.

'No one has been in contact with me. I have not been contacted by the Foreign Office or anyone. I just hope that he is safe, and nothing happens to him.'

The former physics student, from Birmingham, is known for travelling to off-beat destinations and posting about his experiences on social media.

He was evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021 by the British armed forces as the Taliban retook the country, but later returned and was arrested by Taliban forces in March.

The 23-year-old shared footage of himself shooting an assault rifle given to him by a Taliban fighter. The video has since notched up more than a million views on Miles's YouTube channel

Danger tourist: Miles is pictured dangling off the gun of a Russian tank with its 'Z' insignia on it during one of his trips abroad

Routledge was reportedly in talks with Taliban officials over a gold mine, as he apparently has 'picnics and dinners with higher ups'.

Last month, a friend of his took over his X account, and tweeted: 'Miles is in a guesthouse and not an actual prison so he's very comfortable.'

The anonymous friend added the 'prison' is more like a hotel, as Miles has access to an Xbox, orders takeaways and has a 'servant'. According to the friend the Taliban are fans of Lord Miles' book and think he's a 'goofy guy'.

The friend said he can't post photos of Miles 'for obvious reasons' and said this could lead to speculation that 'he's dead'. But added that people 'have no idea what Lord Miles is capable of thriving in'.

The thrillseeker's friend said: 'At first, like all of you, I was worried he was struggling in some bad place but then he described how the Taliban like the Titanic movie and Rambo 3.'

He added that Miles is writing his second book titled: 'Lord Miles' holiday in Taliban prison.'

'If he wants eggs, his servants buy him eggs, if he doesn't like a dish, he gets pizza. When we called him he said "lovely holiday".

'When we learnt of his hotel like conditions Miles then said "Ill consider British ambassador to Afghanistan if the King asks nicely".'
Hamas today launched a barrage of rockets at the port city of Ashkelon - hours after the terrorists warned Israeli civilians living there to leave before 5pm or die in response to the airstrikes relentlessly pounding the Gaza strip.

Video shows a series of rockets being fired at the city in southern Israel just after 5pm local time (3pm UK time), with residents being urged to shelter from the onslaught.

Air raid sirens were heard across the city, with footage showing frantic parents picking up their young children before sprinting into an airport to take cover from the rocket attack.

Panicked civilians, many of whom were desperately trying to flee the carnage on flights, were seen cowering as the sound of shells exploding resounded around them. One woman cried: 'They've closed the doors. Oh my god, I am so scared, we heard a boom and now we wait and see, oh God.'

Hamas' armed wing had warned residents of the city to leave before 5pm Israeli time or face death in response to the Israeli airstrikes that have destroyed thousands of Hamas targets and killed 770 Palestinians.

It comes after Israel warned Hamas they had 'nowhere to hide' and that its air force was launching 'extensive attacks' on the Palestinian terrorist group every four hours in revenge for its deadly surprise incursion that saw more than 1,000 Israelis slaughtered.

Rockets fired from the Gaza Strip are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system over Ashkelon on Tuesday

Palestinians carry a wounded man at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday following Israeli airstrikes

A Palestinian man carries the body of a child killed in overnight Israeli shelling during a funeral in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip

People sleep in a bomb shelter as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers walk through the remains of a residential area of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers carry a dead body as they collect bodies following attacks by Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, on Tuesday

Israeli journalists take cover during a rocket attack from Gaza in the southern Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza near the border with the Palestinian territory, on Tuesday

Palestinians walk through debris amid the destruction from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's al-Rimal neighbourhood on Tuesday

A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, on Tuesday

Israeli forces have already used its strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza strip.

'We will reach them everywhere,' military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to obliterate Hamas.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

But in response, Hamas's military wing said that it would launch rockets at the city of Ashkelon while warning the residents there to leave there by 5pm this evening or die. And that promise came true, with video showing a series of rockets being fired by Hamas terrorists towards the city.

Footage also showed Israel's Iron Dome air defence system destroying many of the rockets after they were fired from the Gaza strip.

Earlier today, Hamas mounted a huge rocket barrage at central Israel, including the countrys main city Tel Aviv, at 3.30pm today, in which two civilians died. A second attack followed less than 20 minutes later.

The terrorists also warned today they will not hand over hostages until the fighting ends - a day after they warned they would execute Israeli civilian captives if the airstrikes continued.

Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, told NBC News the terrorist group is not open to a prisoner exchange, before issuing the sinister message: 'The colonial occupation will pay a price for the devastation inflicted upon the Palestinians in Gaza.'

Prior reports had suggested that Qatar had been mediating a potential swap of Israeli hostages in exchange for imprisoned Palestinians. It comes after Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Since the incursion began on Saturday, Hamas fighters have abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000, dwarfing all modern Islamist attacks on the West bar 9/11.

In the southern town of Be'eri, where more than 100 bodies have been retrieved, volunteers in yellow vests and face masks solemnly carried the dead out of homes on stretchers.

A long, wide trail of blood wound along the floor of a house where bodies had been dragged out to the street from a blood-soaked kitchen strewn with overturned furniture.

In response, Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night: 'We have only started striking Hamas. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Palestinians carry a wounded man at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday following Israeli airstrikes

A Palestinian man cries while carrying the body of a journalist killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday

Palestinians perform funeral prayer during the funeral ceremony of Palestinian journalists Saeed Al-Taweel, Mohammad Sobh and other people including children who were killed in Israeli airstrikes, in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Tuesday

The death roll has steadily risen since Hamas launched the surprise attack on Saturday - with the US embassy now claiming more than 1,000 Israelis have been killed. And in response Israel has pounded the Gaza strip with the fiercest ait strikes in the 75-year history of its conflict.

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered, after volunteers removed hundreds of bodies Advertisement

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

On Monday, Israel ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there.

At one point, the Israeli military advised Gaza civilians to flee to Egypt, only to issue a quick clarification confirming that the crossing was closed and there was no way out.

sraeli soldiers remove the body of a compatriot, killed during an attack by the Palestinian militants, in Kfar Aza, south of Israel bordering Gaza Strip on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers prepare to remove the bodies of their compatriots, killed during an attack by the Palestinian militants, in Kfar Aza, south of Israel bordering Gaza Strip, on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers drive in a military vehicle by Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers take position at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, on Tuesday

Palestinians walk through a ravaged street following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on Tuesday

Rockets fired from Gaza are neutralized in the air by Israel's 'Iron Dome' air defense system on the fourth day of the clashes in the city of Ashkelon, Israel on Tuesday

A Palestinian youth sits in front of a charred building as a fire rages through its interior, following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's al-Rimal district on Tuesday

Uri, 83, talks on the phone after a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip damaged his home when it landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Tuesday

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. But this time, the context has become more explosive.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria, fomenting calls for Israel to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable.

Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

The death toll from the unprecedented assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on its territory rose to 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza (pictured)

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinian men cry as they mourn the dead following Israeli air strikes in Gaza

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life as Hamas militants abduct her and drive her into Gaza

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter

Covered bodies of dead Palestinians lie on the floor at the Al-Shifa hospital after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 09 October 2023

Mourners carry the body of a Palestinian killed in the Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 10, 2023

Hamas published footage showing for the first time the homemade Mubar 1 short-range air defence system on Monday Oct 9, 2023

On Monday, thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions.

In the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes levelled buildings.

The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished region where 2.3 million people live on top of each other in squalid conditions.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its 'Swords of Iron' campaign, while the IDF said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gaza's City Rimal neighbourhood, which is home to Hamas' ministries and governing buildings, overnight.

IDF spokesman Richard Hecht said Gazans were being told to evacuate 'over social media' before strikes, but did not give details.

Also on Monday, Israel found more bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns.

Rescue workers found 108 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri - around 10 per cent of its population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz after Hamas attackers used paragliders to cross the border and fire indiscriminately into the crowd.

Israel pounded Hamas targets in Gaza on October 10 and said the bodies of 1,500 Islamist militants were found in southern towns recaptured by the army in gruelling battles near the Palestinian enclave

A Palestinian man stands in front of the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets

People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike

Israeli soldiers gather at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, 09 October 2023

A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday

A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday

A huge fireball engulfs part of the Gaza Strip following an Israeli airstrike

Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night

In a video statement Monday, Israel's foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza.

Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home 'in the spirit of mutual responsibility.'

'We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. 'This war crime will not be forgiven,' he added.

Hamas seized more than 100 hostages amid their surprise attacks this weekend, forcibly deporting some soldiers as well as innocent civilian women and even children back into Gaza.

Unsettling footage showed women being marched into vehicles, bloodied and bruised, often with their hands bound behind their backs.

A student who attended a desert rave and a mother and her two young girls were among the innocent victims snatched on Saturday.

Particularly shocking footage showed the abduction of Noa Argamani, 25, a student who was torn from her boyfriend's arms and driven away on the back of a militant's motorcycle as she screamed and pleaded for her life.

As violence escalates, Israel has responded with devastating airstrikes into the Gaza Strip, bringing down residential buildings they say contained military infrastructure.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA said an airstrike early on Monday hit a market area 'killing and wounding dozens and causing heavy destruction'.

A school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was also hit in the attack on the camp.

'The school was severely damaged and was housing about 225 people, though no casualties were recorded among the displaced, but the school sustained significant structural damage,' UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily press briefing.

All UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip are closed, and more than 300,000 people students are impacted, according to the UN.

The Times of Gaza reported 'dozens' had been 'killed and burned alive' during the attacks on Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023

A Palestinian mourns the death of her relative following an Israeli airstrike on the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, 9 October 2023

A smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023

Palestinian officials said almost 500 people were killed, including 91 children, and over 2,700 were injured in the strikes. Pictured: smoke rises over Gaza on October 9

Palestinians sit among rubbles of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City, October 10, 2023

With no sign of either side losing momentum, Israel declared a 'complete siege' of the Strip on Monday, ensuring 'no electricity, no food, no fuel' would reach the 2.3million people living there.

The country's defence minister said: 'We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.'

The EU also said it would review all of its development funding to the Palestinian territories in response to Hamas' attack on Israel.

Brussels was later pushed to clarify this would not include humanitarian aid.

Speaking from Jerusalem on Monday evening, Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent at The National, told MailOnline he had witnessed missiles hitting the city today, injuring a ten-year-old child.

He suggested there are no indications at present of the conflict waning.

He said: 'The thinking has been that [Hamas] launched their [strongest missiles] in the first barrage. But if they are still hitting Jerusalem now, it shows they still have a desire to escalate.'

With today's response of a 'complete siege' of Gaza, Israel is now 'trying to prepare their backers' for the possibility that 'this is going to be a long war', Helm added.

Some 300,000 reservists have been called up as Israel desperately looks to turn the tide.

'I got caught in a firefight and some of the the Israeli troops engaging were 70, 75-years-old,' Helm said.

He suggested it was unlikely the threat of executing hostages would do much to deter Israeli airstrikes.

Along with hundreds of other young Israelis, Noa (pictured) and Avi had been enjoying a peace festival in the desert when they were forced to flee for their lives

A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9, 2023

Israeli emergency responders inspect a damaged car after a barrage of rockets that were launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 9, 2023

The spiralling conflict has been felt globally, with oil prices surging on fears of tightening supplies.

US energy firm Chevron said it suspended operations at a natural gas platform off Israel's coast at the request of authorities.

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in a phone call that the Gulf kingdom was working to prevent the conflict spreading across the region, state media said early Tuesday.

Qatar meanwhile sought to mediate de-escalation talks with Israel and Hamas, aiming to secure a deal whereby both sides release captives.

The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are 'moving positively' a source told Reuters earlier today.

'We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover,' foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said.

Reports of artillery shelling and gunfire near the Israel-Lebanon border fuelled growing fears that the fighting could spread to other areas in the region, should Israel's opponents decide to strike against it following the attacks by Hamas during the weekend.

Arab League foreign ministers are set to meet tomorrow to discuss 'the Israeli aggression' against Gaza, the group said.
Former prime minister John Howard has slammed Anthony Albanese's 'pussyfooting' response to anti-Semitic protests in Sydney following Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

Some 700 pro-Palestinian protesters were seen chanting 'gas the Jews' and burning the Star of David in front of Sydney's Opera House on Monday night as part of a rally organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney.

The horrific actions were condemned by leaders on all ends of the political spectrum, but Mr Howard, who led Australia in the wake of the September 11 attacks, said the Prime Minister's denouncement did not go far enough.

'Mr Albanese should make some unequivocal statements, as should the Foreign Minister,' he told The Australian.

'Instead of that there is pussyfooting and lukewarm condemnation. Then you have the New South Wales Attorney-General (Michael Daley) saying everyone should remain calm and go home.

'How can you remain calm when demonstrators are invoking the memory of the Holocaust? People remain calm in that?

'I never thought we would crumple to this ... We need leadership from the top, we aren't getting that at the moment.'

Former prime minister John Howard has slammed Anthony Albanese 's 'pussyfooting' response to anti-Semitic protests in Sydney following the Hamas attacks on Israel

Some 700 pro-Palestinian protesters (above) flooded Sydney Opera House on Monday night and seen chanting 'gas the Jews' and burning the Star of David

On Tuesday, Mr Albanese called for conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian communities in Australia to calm.

'We need to lower the temperature,' he said.

'I don't want to see conflict here in Australia and I don't want to see the sort of scenes that I saw last night ... they certainly don't have a place.'

Mr Albanese earlier used time on 2GB to call for pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the Opera House protest, saying there was 'nothing to celebrate from the loss of innocent lives'.

'I just find it abhorrent and it should be condemned, but unequivocally by everyone,' he said.

NSW Labor and Police Minister Yasmin Catley have faced particular backlash for allowing the protest to go ahead.

More than 100 officers were seen in a ring of steel along the steps of the Opera House but did not intervene in the protests, even when flares were thrown at them.

On Sunday night at Lakemba train station, prominent Muslim preacher Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun was filmed riling up the crowd by applauding militant group Hamas for slaughtering at least 1,000 Israeli civilians.

Protesters (above) on Monday night were not arrested by police, despite some throwing flares at attending officers

The horrific actions were condemned by leaders on all ends of the political spectrum, but Mr Howard said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's denouncement did not go far enough

'I'm smiling and I'm happy. I'm elated,' Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun shouted.

'It's a day of courage. It's a day of pride. It's a day of victory. This is the day we've been waiting for!

'This brings pride to the heart, this brings joy to the heart, my brothers and my sisters... you and I, standing in Australia we support our brothers and sisters in Palestine.'

However, during Monday night's protest, a handful of people with Israeli flags were arrested on sight in a move police said was for their own protection.

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Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said police are looking at CCTV footage of the rally to make arrests.

However, Police Minister Yasmin Catley refused to apologise for a controversial email sent to Jewish leaders warning the community to avoid the CBD.

'NSW police are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House or Town Hall this evening,' an email from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to members read.

'Community members already in the CBD should be vigilant as protesters are likely to seek to march from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House.

'The events tonight may pose a risk to the safety of community members and you are strongly urged not to attend.'

Robert Gregory, CEO of the Australian Jewish Association said 'Australians should be very worried'.

'The police gave a warning for Jews not to come into the area,' he said.

'Think about that. Imagine if there were mobs hunting blacks or gays in Sydney's CBD.

Pictured: Pro-Palestinian supporters are seen at the Opera House rally

Mr Howard said following the protest (above), 'We need leadership from the top, we aren't getting that at the moment'

'Imagine if the police warned blacks or gays not to come into Sydney's CBD.'

Mr Howard applauded NSW Premier Chris Minns for properly condemning the actions of the protesters.

'You can have strong views, you can argue about the Middle East but for people to invoke the memory of the most appalling crime in humanity, the extermination of six million Jews in gas chambers is terrible,' Mr Howard said.

'It's totally beyond the pale as far as I'm concerned. ... To have people chanting those things, it is a catastrophic descent from civility that I never thought I'd see.'
A Royal Navy diver broke a Royal Marine's jaw with a single punch after the victim tried to break up a fight between him and a group of Americans in Guam, a court martial has heard.

Fraser Malek allegedly hit Captain Ewan Zielinski with such force he was knocked 'cleanly' off his feet and needed titanium plates screwed into his jaw.

Leading diver Malek - who was topless at the time - had been involved in a fight with a group of Americans when Royal Marine officer Mr Zielinski tried to intervene 'peacefully' to split it up.

The attack happened on the island of Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific Ocean which is known for its beautiful beaches, in August 2021.

LD Malek, then 28, was with Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth and its Carrier Strike Group, which is made up of fighter jets, nuclear submarines, and an array of units including minesweepers.

Royal Navy diver Fraser Malek (pictured) allegedly broke a Royal Marine's jaw with a single punch after the victim tried to break up a fight between him and a group of Americans in Guam

LD Malek allegedly hit Captain Ewan Zielinski (pictured) with such force he was knocked 'cleanly' off his feet and needed titanium plates screwed into his jaw

Malek is part of the 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM2), an elite Navy unit which uses hi-tech equipment to detect and hunt mines.

Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, heard LD Malek, had been out in Tumon, Guam, with a Navy colleague and the pair were in a fight with a group of Americans, thought to be civilians.

Commander Matthew Rees, prosecuting, said the duo were 'aggressive' to the Americans and that a US man was punched and fell to the floor while an American woman was pushed to the ground.

Mr Rees said Mr Zielinski - on his first ever deployment - did 'exactly what you would hope' and tried to intervene.

He did not know any of the parties involved in the fight but 'led the way', and he and two friends who had also been out went over to help.

However, as soon as he crossed the road he was punched and knocked to the ground.

'Capt Zielinski had only been punched once but it was a hard punch', Mr Rees said.

'It transpired that his jaw had been broken in two places. His deployment was over, he was transported back to the UK and had two metal plates screwed in.'

Leading diver Malek - who was topless at the time - had been involved in a fight with a group of Americans. Pictured: LD Malek outside Bulford Military Court

The prosecutor said that, in his police interview, LD Malek 'accepted' he had been in an argument with Americans, punched an American man and pushed a woman, but denied punching Mr Zielinski.

Giving evidence, Mr Zielinski told how he tried to break up the fight and was 'peaceful'.

He said he and two colleagues had been enjoying a night out drinking and were returning to their hotels when they noticed the fight around 1am.

Mr Zielinski told the court: 'I saw a group of people the other side of the street distressed.. about 20 metres away, an altercation was taking place.

'There was a group of people, five to eight men and women, who were arguing with two men. One of the two men punched one of the male members of the group, and one of the men grabbed a woman and threw her to the ground.

'I thought it was my duty to go and help these people. I planned to talk to the two males and resolve it peacefully.

'I went to walk to one of the two men with my hands raised to show a peaceful gesture.

'In my eyes he was in a violent state of mind.

Lieutenant Henry Saunders, who was out with Mr Zielinski and also tried to help break up the fight, described the man who punched his colleague as 'aggressive'

'As I approached, the next thing I recall was being hit in the face. I can't recall who hit me in the face. It was very quick and I didn't see it coming.

'From my recollection I fell to the floor but got straight back up. It was quite a hard punch, it was hard enough to break my jaw. I'd say it was a nine out of 10 [on a scale of not hard to hard].'

He added: 'I was bleeding a lot from my mouth, it was non-stop bleeding but I could not swallow it due to the pain from my jaw.'

Mr Zielinski said he cannot recall what his attacker's face looked like - but added: 'I believe he was shirtless at the time.'

He said the morning after the punch he felt like he had a 'wobbly tooth' so the Navy sent him to see the dentist - but following an X-ray it emerged he had broken his jaw.

Lieutenant Henry Saunders, who was out with Mr Zielinski and also tried to help break up the fight, described the man who punched his colleague as 'aggressive'.

Lt Saunders, known as Harry, said: 'It was a pretty hard hit, it knocked him off his feet pretty cleanly and into the bush by the road.'

Prosecutor Mr Rees said LD Malek and his friend fled but were tracked down by police and arrested after people at the scene of the fight informed officers as to which way they went.

Lt Saunders said he later 'recognised' LD Malek when he assisted in an identity parade as part of the investigation.

LD Malek denies inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.
Yvette Cooper today unveiled plans for a 'tough love' youth programme as part of Labour's promise to make Britain's streets safer.

The shadow home secretary used her speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool to repeat Tony Blair's mantra of being 'tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime'.

Ms Cooper pledged action on domestic abuse, rapes, shoplifting and knife crime as she looks to take charge of the Home Office after the general election.

She also took a swipe at the Government's handling of the Channel migrant crisis and blasted Home Secretary Suella Braverman for 'scapegoating' gay asylum seekers.

It came after Ms Cooper used a radio interview this morning to speak of the 'tragedy' of violence against women and girls.

She revealed she gets her keys out for protection when she's walking home alone at night.

Yvette Cooper used her speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool to repeat Tony Blair's mantra of being 'tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime'.

The shadow home secretary pledged action on domestic abuse, rapes, shoplifting and knife crime as she looks to take charge of the Home Office after the general election.

It came after Ms Cooper used a radio interview to reveal she gets her keys out for protection when she's walking home alone at night

The shadow home secretary told LBC: 'Like most women, most of the time I feel safe.

'But actually I always have that sense of, if your walking home, if your walking home from the bus stop, if your walking home on your own, and it's dark, of just getting your keys out.

'There's just that thing we do. The tragedy is, I feel like these are things we've been doing for generations. Has it changed?

'We've all talked about tackling violence against women and girls for generations and yet so little has changed. We can't stand for this.'

Later this morning, in her conference speech in Liverpool, Ms Cooper shared her family's own experience of domestic violence as she spoke of how her great-great grandmother was attacked by her husband with a poker.

She told Labour members: 'My great-great-grandmother was attacked by her husband. First when she was pregnant. The report says he struck and kicked her so she could not sit or lie in bed.

'Then he attacked her with a poker. In front of her daughter. The case went to court, the magistrates bound him over to keep the peace.

'But you know the most shocking thing about that story? That is more protection from the police and courts than many domestic abuse victims get today.'

Ms Cooper reiterated Labour's pledge to use counter-terror style tactics to monitor the 1,000 most dangerous abusers and sex offenders in England and Wales.

She said: 'Enough is enough, we will not stand for this anymore.

'The next Labour government will put rape investigation units in every force, domestic abuse experts in every 999 call centre.

'We will require police forces to use tactics normally reserved for organised crime or terrorist investigations to identify and go after the most dangerous repeat abusers and rapists and get them off our streets.

'Know this: if you abuse and hurt women, under a Labour government the police will be after you.'

The shadow home secretary also claimed that young people had been 'totally let down' by the Tories as she announced efforts to crackdown on youth crime.

'We need urgent interventions to stop young people getting drawn into crime or exploitation in the first place,' she said.

'For too long, teenagers have been pushed from pillar to post between local authorities, mental health services, the police and youth offending teams.

'Thats why we are setting up a cross-government "tough love" initiative, with new youth hubs and proper local plans to identify those most at risk and help them access the support they need.

'And for those who repeatedly cause trouble in their community or are found carrying knives, there also need to be stronger interventions and clear consequences to stop their behaviour escalating and to keep other young people safe.

'A Labour government will give young people their future back.'

In a swipe at the Conservatives' handling of the Channel migrant crisis, Ms Cooper claimed the asylum system was in 'total chaos'.

She jibed that the Tories had 'sent more home secretaries to Rwanda than migrants' following the stalling of Government plans to deport asylum seekers to Africa.

The shadow home secretary also took aim at a recent speech by Mrs Braverman in which the Home Secretary declared that fearing discrimination for being gay should not be enough to qualify for international refugee protection.

'Labour will never scapegoat people because of who they are and who they love,' Ms Cooper said.
Long shot presidential hopeful Will Hurd announced Monday night that he is dropping out of the 2024 Republican race and endorsing former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

The Republican primary field, which most see as a race for second place, is finally shrinking as political strategists say the smartest move is for the Party to get behind one candidate to take on Donald Trump.

But there are still 12 candidates in the contest  leading to worry from anti-MAGA Republicans that Trump will be the nominee yet again.

Hurd exited the race after Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also ended his campaign in August when he failed to qualify for the first debate. They are the only two candidates so far to drop out.

The former U.S. congressman from Texas struggled to gain popularity since launching his bid and didn't meet the polling qualifications to reach the stage for either of the first two primary debates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in August and Simi Valley, California in September. He did, however, meet the donor thresholds.

Hurd coincided his campaign's suspension with his backing of Haley, whom he claims is uniquely positioned to deal with 'the complexities of our foreign policy.'

Former congressman from Texas Will Hurd suspended his campaign for president on Monday evening

Hurd endorsed former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley upon suspending his own campaign and urged his former competitors to do the same

'America is at a crossroads and it's time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president. Thank you Will Hurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!' Haley wrote on Twitter after she received the former candidate's endorsement.

Besides making a lengthy post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hurd also penned an op/ed in the Wall Street Journal that ran Monday evening and detailed his decision to back Haley.

'I've always tried to follow my own advice, which is why I have suspended my campaign for president to support Nikki Haley,' Hurd wrote. 'Our nation deserves a leader who can unite us and navigate the complex challenges we face, particularly on national security.'

'Ms. Haley is the best person in this race to do that. I encourage donors, fellow candidates, Republican elected officials, conservative influencers and anyone worried about our republic to support her too.'

He warned that if the Party waits too long, 'we will anoint Mr. Trump as the leader of our party.'

Haley, once the governor of South Carolina, has seen a boost in polling following her first two debate performances that saw her solidify her spot as part of the two three contenders in the 'race for second place' with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

These three were center stage at the second debate last month considering their polling is the highest among the seven who were on stage.

DeSantis had an early polling lead that many thought indicated he was the only one that could take on Trump  but some surveys show him slipping all the way to fifth place.

Hurd wrote that it's a 'fallacy' to think that 'DeSantis can rise from the ashes and beat Mr. Trump.'

There are still 11 candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination against far frontrunner Donald Trump

'The prevailing narrative has been that the Florida governor is the only person suited for the job,' he continued in his WSJ op/ed. 'It's time to accept that despite having a name-recognition advantage and an impressive war chest, Mr. DeSantis is a flawed candidate who has failed to establish himself as an alternative to Mr. Trump.'

Hurd essentially admitted that since launching his campaign in June, he was aware it was a longshot that he would ever earn the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

'Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign,' Hurd wrote on X Monday evening. 'While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden.'

He urged his competitors, donors and overall the American voters to 'unite' around a single alternative nominee to Trump  and said he hopes that could be Haley.

The contenders still vying for the nomination are Trump, DeSantis, Ramaswamy, Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Dallas-based businessman Ryan Binkley, conservative radio host Larry Elder and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson.

Hutchinson was on-stage for the first debate, but was the only one who was at the first who did not qualify for the second.

The rest of the candidates in the field are still considered far longshots.

'Ambassador Haley has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy,' Hurd wrote on X.

'I wholeheartedly endorse Ambassador Haley and look forward to supporting her for the remainder of this race.'
A New York congressman railed against Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar after the Minnesota Democrat asserted that Israel should not fight back against Hamas and called its military efforts a 'war crime'.

On Monday, Omar said she opposed an Israeli military response and said that 'peace and justice will not come from the barrel of a gun.'

Rep. Mike Lawler, a republican representing New York's 17th congressional district, wrote on X: 'Israel was just brutally attacked by terrorists, funded by Iran, and you (Omar) want to cut off funding and military aid and equipment.

'You are out of your mind and unfit to serve in the House of Representatives. This is why you were removed from the Foreign Affairs committee.'

In February, Omar was removed from the committee with fellow Republicans in Congress citing her anti-Israel rhetoric in the past as the reason.

The surprise terror attack by Hamas on Israel at the weekend killed more than 900 people.

In her statement on Monday, Omar attacked Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's actions against Hamas, calling it 'collective punishment' and a 'war crime.'

Rep. Ilhan Omar made headlines again with incendiary comments in which she called Israel's response to Hamas' brutal attacks a 'war crime'

Omar's came as Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza in response to Hamas' heinous attacks

Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, called out Omar and said that she is not fit to serve in Congress

'The Israeli Defense Minister has called Palestinians human animals and promised to cut off all electricity, all food, and all fuel to civilians in Gaza,' she said.

Omar is a member of the left-wing group of Democrats in Congress known as The Squad.

They have made their position on Israel abundantly clear over the years. Several of them boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to Congress earlier this year.

On Monday, Omar said on X that the humanity of both 'innocent Palestinian civilians' and the 'the hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians and 9 Americans who were killed this weekend' should be honored equally.

'As the world is condemning Hamass attacks, we must also oppose an Israeli military response that has already taken the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, including nearly two dozen children.'

She added: 'The solution to this horror, as ever, is a negotiated peacewith Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal rights and security guarantees.

'Instead of continuing unconditional weapons sales and military aid to Israel, I urge the United States at long last to use its diplomatic might to push for peace,' the Democrat, who has been accused of marrying her brother in the past, added.

Gates McGavick, the communications director for the Republican National Committee, was also angered by Omar's words.

In a series of posts on X, Omar called out the Israeli response to the attack

Rep. Mike Lawler fought back against the claims

Omar called for 'international' protections in Gaza after the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched surprise multi-front attacks in Israel on Saturday

In a statement, Rep. Rashida Tlaib referred to Israel as an 'apartheid government' which is responsible for the 'suffering' that caused the attacks. That was followed by a similar statement from Rep. Cori Bush

'This is the literal definition of negotiating with terrorists,' he wrote.

It emerged on Monday that fellow Squad member, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, was still displaying a Palestinian flag outside of her House office following the weekend attacks.

The progressive Michigan Democrat failed to specifically condemn Hamas in her statement about the horrific violence that occurred in Israel over the weekend, and instead called upon the US government to stop funding Israel.

In total, eight progressive members of the Democratic caucus failed to back Israel against the existential threat it is facing: Reps. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar , Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush , Greg Casar, and Summer Lee all came up short over the weekend.

Also on Monday, liberal Democrat Ritchie Torres took aim at Tlaib as well as Rep. Cori Bush calling their comments on the bloody conflict 'reprehensible and repulsive.'

In a statement, Rep. Tlaib referred to Israel as an 'apartheid government' which is responsible for the 'suffering' that caused the attacks. Tlaib referred to Hamas as the 'resistance' in the same statement. Both representatives called on the Biden administration to stop supporting Israel.

'I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity.'

'The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance,' Tlaib said in her statement.

Rep. Cori Bush later released a similar statement.

Meanwhile in a statement to the Jewish Insider, Rep. Torres struck a different chord compared to his other liberals. 'US aid to Israel is and should be unconditional, and never more so than in this moment of critical need. Congress must act decisively to provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself in the face of unprecedented terrorism.'

'Shame on anyone who glorifies as 'resistance' the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. It is reprehensible and repulsive.'

Torres, 35, was elected to represent New York's 15 congressional district in 2020. In 2019, he called himself 'the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive' in 2019.
What British travellers need to know if they are currently on holiday in Israel

British travellers have been issued advice by the UK Foreign Office as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to intensify.

Warnings from the British Government come after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday.

Air raid sirens have been sounding across Israel, with the military saying more than 4,500 rockets have been fired since the weekend.

But what exactly should British travellers in Israel and Lebanon do? Read on below for everything you need to know about the latest travel advice.

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Palestinian attacks amount to 'war', on Saturday

A map on the Foreign Office website shows which areas of Israel should be avoided by British travellers

Is it safe to travel to Israel?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) office has issued a warning against all but essential travel to Israel and the West Bank.

It said: 'In Israel and the West Bank, there is a risk of violent incidents, including stabbings, shootings, arson, vehicle rammings and stone throwing attacks on people and vehicles.

READ MORE: Who are Hamas? Everything you need to know about the Palestinian terror movement that has launched war on Israel Advertisement

'These incidents have involved protestors (both Israelis and Palestinians), Israeli security forces, and civilians (including Israeli settlers). There is a risk that tourists or bystanders could be caught up in any of these types of incident.'

Further advise on its website says that, if you are in an area affected by the fighting, you should follow the instructions of Israeli Home Front Command.

This can be done by visiting the Israeli Home Front Command website (available in Israel only) or calling 104 if you are in the country.

What should I do if my flight to Israel has been cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, you have a number of different options.

You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that you won't use in the same booking, such as onward or return journeys.

You are also entitled to a replacement flight to get you to your destination.

If your cancelled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have the legal right to be helped with costs.

If the replacement journey offered to you has delayed you by two hours or more, and you were given less than two weeks' notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.

Which regions should you avoid in Israel?

Along with its advice warning against all but essential travel to the West Bank and Israel, the Foreign Office warns Britons against all travel to Gaza, the Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar, within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the 'Blue Line') east of Metula.

This includes the northern edge of the town and within 500m of the border with Syria (the 'Alpha Line'), southwest of Ashkelon, the area south of route 35 and west of route 40 as far as Tlalim, not including Be'er Sheva, the area west of Be'er Sheva and the area north of route 211.

Which airlines are still flying to Israel?

EasyJet

easyJet advice to customers states: 'Due to the evolving situation in Israel, we have paused our flight operations to and from Tel Aviv until the 13th of October'

EasyJet has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until Friday.

The airline said: 'Due to the evolving situation in Israel, we have paused our flight operations to and from Tel Aviv until the 13th of October.

'We will be contacting customers who are due to travel to and from Tel Aviv on these dates, by email and SMS with the details provided at the time of booking and check in.

'Any easyJet flight-only customers whose flights have been cancelled, will be able to request a voucher for the full value of their flight, a refund or transfer their flights free of charge for future travel.

'If you're an easyJet holidays customer due to travel up to the 21st of October, we're offering the option to change your destination with no change fee or cancel your holiday and receive the full holiday cost back as easyJet holidays credit, to book an alternative holiday at a later date.'

Ryanair

A Ryanair statement addressing flight cancellations to and from Tel Aviv aiport states: 'We have regrettably been forced to cancel flights to/from Tel Aviv airport between Monday 9  Wednesday 11 Oct due to operational restrictions beyond Ryanair's control.

'Affected passengers will be notified of their options to either change flight or to receive a full refund by email/SMS.'

Ryanair said it apologises for these unavoidable cancellations and advises customers to check its app for updates.

British Airways

British Airways has released advice to customers due to travel with the airline, which states: 'If you are due to travel with us to or from Tel Aviv on a flight up to and including 22 October 2023 but no longer wish to travel, you can change your travel dates free of charge'

A British Airways statement said: 'We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel and our flights are currently continuing to operate.

'If you are due to travel with us to or from Tel Aviv on a flight up to and including 22 October 2023 but no longer wish to travel, you can change your travel dates free of charge.'

It continues: 'Please contact our team on 0800 727 800, or if you are calling from outside of the UK, please call +44 203 2500145. If you have booked with a travel agent or third party, please contact them directly.

'We're keeping this situation under review and will update this page if anything changes.'

Virgin Atlantic

Advice from the airline reads: 'Due to the ongoing situation in Israel, some of our flights to and from Tel Aviv may face delays or cancellations. We would advise anyone booked to travel to check their flight status on the website before travelling to the airport.'

WizzAir

WizzAir said that all journeys to Tel Aviv between Monday and today had been cancelled. Affected passengers would be notified via SMS or email.

A statement on its website added: 'Further updates regarding flights to/from Israel beyond 10 October will be issued in due course. If you are to travel on Israel flights in the next days please proactively check Flight Info for the latest updates on your departure.'

Can I get a refund for my cancelled Israel holiday?

Customers who have booked to travel to Israel and are due to go there imminently can cancel free of charge and receive a full refund based on advice from the Foreign Office.

This applies equally to customers of British Airways Holidays and easyJet Holidays.

However, your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
Two Hamas terrorists were killed in a high-speed chase down an Israeli highway after a police officer shot them with a pistol while firing his pistol.

Israeli authorities released a video of the incident, which is understood to have taken place on Highway 25, just north of the city of Nevitot, which lies just five miles from the border with Gaza.

Headcam footage, which appears to shows that the chase was heading towards Israel's border with Gaza, shows the motorcycle-riding officer taking out his service weapon and firing upon a gray car with its boot open.

After the marksman fires his weapon three times, the car is seen slowing down and turning to the rightly slightly, before coming to a full stop.

Two more officers can be seen getting out of a police car and rapidly firing upon the vehicle.

After the officer fires his weapon three times, the car is seen slowing down and turning to the rightly slightly

Israeli police said its officers killed two Hamas terrorists. Pictured: Headcam footage of the incident

The officer said 'eliminated, eliminated' as he shot the pair during the incident near the Gazan border

READ MORE: Tragic last dance for peace-loving tattoo artist murdered by Hamas Advertisement

The officer can be heard saying 'eliminated, eliminated' in Hebrew, before radioing in that 'two terrorists' were killed.

The cop then goes over to the car, where a pair of limp arms can be seen in the lap of an unnamed man.

It is not known exactly when the video was taken, but it appears to have been shot as deaths in the bloodiest conflict between Israel and Palestine for decades have skyrocketed in the last four days.

Palestine's health ministry said today that Israeli forces have killed 704 people, including 143 children and 105 women.

Israel, meanwhile, says that Hamas has killed over 900 people since Saturday, since the terror group launched a complex attack on Israel.

Israeli Police said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that officers from the country's border guard assisted in the incident.

The terrorists' deaths come hours after new dashcam footage of Hamas militants opening fire on unarmed civilians was published.

The footage was captured on a dashboard camera with a timestamp of 7.39am on Saturday morning, less than two hours after the surprise attack was launched.

The video opens with the car speeding down an otherwise abandoned road in southern Israel. One car is seen pulled over, while another is seen tipped on its side.

As the vehicle rounds a bend in the road, dark-clad figures are seen in the distance, prompting the driver to slow the car down.

This is the shocking moment Hamas militants opened fire on an Israeli civilian vehicle as its driver tried to flee the unprecedented assault by the terror group

Pictured: Aerial footage shows the aftermath of an attack on the Nova music Festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8

Several cars - some of them burnt-out - are seen pulled over to the side of the road after people fled the Nova music festival in southern Israel

Footage shows terrified young Israelis fleeing Hamas militants as they launched a deadly attack on those attending the desert Nova music festival

As the car decelerates, one of these figures walks out into the middle of the road and another appears from the bushes down the left-hand-side of the tarmac.

It quickly becomes clear that the two men are armed, and as the car steers to go around the first man, he raises a rifle and opens fire on the vehicle.

Somehow, the driver manages initially to avoid the first two Hamas militants, but as the car steers around them, more fighters appear further down the road.

Suddenly, the windscreen shatters as bullets slam into the car. It continues to roll down the road towards what is now in the footage clearly a Hamas roadblock.

At least four more militants can be seen firing on the car, which veers slowly to the left and eventually comes to a halt when it crashes into the back of another vehicle that is pulled over to the side of the road - suggesting the driver has been shot dead.

It also comes after unearthed footage revealed that asenior Hamas commander warned that the group sees the domination of Israel as only the beginning.

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered, after volunteers removed hundreds of bodies Advertisement

Footage of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar re-emerged, with the 78-year-old co-founder of the group vowing that they envisaged controlling an area far beyond Israel.

'When we speak about the army of Jerusalem and the Battle of the Promise of the Hereafter, we are not talking about liberating our land alone,' he said in a December to MEMRI TV - a news channel from the Israeli-founded, DC-based Middle East Media Research Institute.

'We believe in what our Prophet Muhammad said: "Allah drew the ends of the world near one another for my sake, and I have seen its eastern and western ends.

'The dominion of my nation would reach those ends that have been drawn near me."Al-Zahar said he believes ultimately the whole world will fall into line with their views.

'The entire 510 million square kilometers of Planet Earth will come under [a system] where there is no injustice, no oppression, no Zionism, no treacherous Christianity and no killings and crimes like those being committed against the Palestinians, and against the Arabs in all the Arab countries, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and other countries,' he said.
Ten Hardee's workers in Indiana allegedly stole nearly $15,000 from customers in a complex credit card fraud scheme to bail inmates out of jail.

The Hardee's employees in Michigan City, Indiana, have been charged with fraud or conspiracy to commit fraud last week, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office.

Workers at the famous fast-food chain restaurant were accused of taking photos of customers' credit and debit cards at the restaurant's drive-thru window in August and September.

They then deposited money into the communication accounts of inmates with low bond amounts to bail them out.

'The inmates were bonding out almost immediately utilizing the fraudulent funds on their Securus account,' according to the Laporte county police.

Three Hardee's workers have been charged with fraud and criminal organizational activity

Ten employees at Hardee's (pictured) in Michigan city, Indiana, were accused of taking photos of customers' credit and debit cards at the drive-thru window in August and September

After being released, the inmates were 'transported' to ATMs and withdrew remaining balance in cash from their jail-issued debit cards.

LaPorte County Jail commander, Andrew Haha, and other staff in the jail administration noticed that large sums of money were placed onto the inmates' communication system accounts from a source outside the jail.

Along with Chief of Detectives Andy Hynek, the police and staff at the jail monitored the suspicious activity on inmates' account and started investigating the case - which uncovered a total of $14,700 in the alleged 'complex fraud scheme'.

Three Hardee's workers - Darrien R. Ward, Prince C. Arnold, and Kristin R. Vanschoyck - have been charged with fraud and criminal organizational activity.

The other seven - Anisa C. Higginbitham, Madison M. Zuk, Lawrence Armstrong, Carissa A. Bealor, Hollie D. LaChapelle, Moesha Monique Savanna Payne and Dylnn V. Scott - have been accused of conspiracy to commit fraud.

Seven suspects (including three pictured) have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and criminal organizational activity

Nine (including three pictured) have been arrested last week

The police are now seeking public assistance in locating Dylnn V. Scott (pictured in her prior mugshot)

The police arrested nine out of ten suspects last week and are now seeking public assistance in locating Dylnn V. Scott.

'If you know of Scott's whereabouts, you are encouraged to provide your tip(s) to FAST (219-608-9572) or Michiana Crime Stoppers (800-342-7867),' the police statement reads.

'We are very fortunate Captain Hahn, and the Jail Administration caught the irregularities shortly after they began to occur before more citizens were victimized,' the sheriff's office told Fox.

The alleged fraud scheme only involved employees from one Hardee's store at 5223 Franklin St. in Michigan city.

The sheriff's office reported that the victims, who went to make purchases at the fast-food restaurant's drive-thru and had their card numbers stolen, are working with their banks to recover their lost funds.
Students at Columbia and Yale are among the institutions that have supported Hamas, a militant faction in Palestine

The California students hung bedsheets bearing slogans such as 'the illusion of Israel is burning', and defending Hamas for fighting for Palestine by 'any means'

Stanford University students have hung bedsheets bearing slogans defending Hamas terror attacks on Israel, echoing sentiments shared by pupils at several elite institutions in America.

More than 700 Israelis were slaughtered over two days when Hamas launched its attack at the weekend, and hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza have now also been killed as Benjamin Netanyahu's government hit back.

As the tensions escalated into all-out war this week and the death toll breached quadruple figures, Stanford students hung bedsheets from their windows backing the Hamas terrorists.

'The Israeli occupation is NOTHING but an ILLUSION OF DUST' read one banner, while another claimed: 'The illusion of Israel is BURNING.'

Some supported Palestine with slogans like 'the land remembers her people' alongside drawings of the nation's flag, while others went further by attacking Israel and defending Hamas for taking land back 'by any means necessary.'

Stanford University students have hung bedsheets bearing slogans defending Hamas terror attacks on Israel, echoing sentiments shared by pupils at several elite institutions in America

Referring to a cartoon character symbolic of Palestinian identity called Handala, one of the Stanford drapings read: 'Handala is returning, by any means necessary'

Hamas members ride an Israeli military jeep in the streets of Gaza during the storming of Israeli settlements. Rocket barrages were launched from the Gaza Strip early Saturday in a surprise attack claimed by the Islamist movement

Hundreds of Palestinians have now also been killed in the latest strikes as Benjamin Netanyahu 's government struck Gaza, vowing to obliterate Hamas and their homeland

Referring to a cartoon character symbolic of Palestinian identity called Handala, a fourth draping read: 'Handala is returning, by any means necessary.'

The banners were shared by a former Stanford student on X, formerly known as Twitter, who questioned what the university policy is towards 'students that paint bedsheets red with incitements to genocide against Israeli Jews'.

More than 150 people commented, largely in support of his question and describing the slogans as 'disgusting' and 'repulsive.'

'It's beginning to appear that the elite universities in this country continue to tolerate antisemitism among other things,' one person said.

Some Stanford students have also hit back - including Julia Steinberg, a writer for the university's newspaper, who said she is 'not excited to be a Jew on Stanford's campus today'.

She condemned the pro-Hamas banners which have emerged and described 'the difficulties of living on a college campus where Zionism is a dirty word, often used as a proxy for apartheid and genocide'.

'In the past year, a Jewish student living in my dorm had their door plastered with a portrait of Adolf Hitler. Swastikas were carved in bathrooms across campus,' Steinberg wrote in the Stanford Review.

'Last spring, while walking to class, I overheard a student say to her friend that shes Jewish, but politically good.

'The history of Israel is undeniably fraught and complex. But Zionism is not a question to be relitigated.

'Israel does exist, and without the countrys continued existence, there is no guarantee that the seven million Jews living there now will be kept alive.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Stanford for a comment on the banners. The university's website has issued a lengthy statement on the conflict generally, and offered counseling to students.

As the tensions escalated into all-out war this week and the death toll breached quadruple figures, Stanford students hung bedsheets from their windows backing the Hamas terrorists

'The Israeli occupation is NOTHING but an ILLUSION OF DUST' read one banner, while another claimed: 'The illusion of Israel is BURNING'

'Stanford University as an institution does not take positions on geopolitical issues and news events,' the website reads.

'This is grounded in a principled belief that the appropriate role of university administrators in relation to geopolitical events is not to take positions or issue statements, but to create an environment in which faculty and students are free to develop and exchange ideas free from institutional orthodoxy.

'As a general matter, Stanford is unambiguously opposed to all forms of racial, ethnic, or religious hatred.

'The university encourages respectful discourse and communication across differences, and works to support students of all backgrounds, nationalities, and religions in successfully pursuing their studies and the broader experience of campus life and engagement.'

On the issue of whether it would condemn banners, the California institutions stated it 'does not typically comment on students' constitutionally protected speech'.

It added that the banners it has reviewed 'do not appear to cross that legal boundary' but they 'do run afoul of the university's viewpoint-neutral time, place and manner rules,' which outline where banners can be placed and how big they can be.

Skirmishes broke out in New York City's Times Square on Sunday amid full-scale war in Israel and Palestine

This comes after students at several Ivy League institutions, including Harvard and Columbia, condemned Israel.

A group of 31 Harvard organizations, including its branch of Amnesty International, has placed the blame on Israel for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack that has killed at least 700 Israelis.

The organizations released a letter to the public as a 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence.

They said that Hamas' attacks, which are still ongoing, 'did not happen in a vacuum' and the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.'

'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the groups wrote.

Harvard's President Emeritus Larry Summers condemned the letter, saying he was 'sickened' by it.

Summers, who is Jewish and led Harvard University from 2001-2006, addressed the school, tweeting: 'In nearly 50 years of affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today.

'The silence from Harvard's leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.'

It marked another moment of contention for the school after a professor was forced to apologize for implying the Hamas attack on Israel was an attempt to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu's 'own corruption.'

Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine have also said that Hamas' actions were a 'counter-offensive against their settler-colonial oppressor.'

'The weight of responsibility for the war and casualties undeniably lies with the Israeli extremist government and other Western governments,' their statement, which was also signed by a group named Jewish Voice for Peace, read.

Columbia University is located in New York, the city with the world's largest Jewish population.

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to incite 'mighty vengeance' against Hamas by reducing Gaza - which is also home to around two million innocent Palestinians - to 'rubble'. Many of the attacks have struck mosques in Gaza (pictured)

The protester pointed the swastika - the symbol used by Nazis during the Holocaust - at the Israeli counter protesters

Fiery protests over the conflict have broken out in the Big Apple and beyond. Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters clashed with Israel demonstrators in Times Square on Sunday - just 3.5 miles away from Columbia's campus.

As NYPD erected metal barricades to separate the two groups, one pro-Palestine protester brandished a swastika at Jewish demonstrators in the opposing pen.

The Hamas atrocities came after the UN carved the colonized nation formerly known as 'British Palestine' into two separate states known as Israel and Palestine - and decades of violent sparring between various factions ensued.

U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk has condemned Israeli retaliatory air strikes against the Hamas militant group for targeting residential buildings and schools across the Gaza Strip. He added that 'sieges' were illegal under international law.

Turk also condemned 'horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups' and said the militants' abduction of hostages was also forbidden under international law.

An Israeli fire fighter walks through the aftermath of burned cars after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit Ashdod, Israel, on Monday

The Israeli military said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attacks by Hamas gunmen.

Israel's air attacks - the worst in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians - also hit 'premises of the UN relief and works agency, UNRWA (U.N. Palestinian refugee agency),' a U.N. rights office statement said, adding that civilians were among the dead and injured.

Netanyahu vowed to take 'mighty revenge' after the Hamas attack left its streets strewn with bodies.

Israeli media said 900 people were killed in the attacks and most were civilians, while nearly 700 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza officials, with entire districts flattened.

The United Nations said more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools.

At the morgue in Gaza's Khan Younis hospital, bodies were laid on the ground on stretchers with names written on their bellies. Medics called for relatives to pick up bodies quickly because there was no more space for the dead.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva criticized Turk's statement. 'He cannot bring himself to condemn those who carried out the (Hamas) attacks as terrorists,' it said.
The grieving widow of Julian Assange's lawyer has lost her 5m compensation claim against one of the psychiatrists she blamed for his death.

John Jones, who also worked alongside George Clooney's lawyer wife Amal, died after walking out of north London's Nightingale Hospital, where he was being treated for acute depression, on April 18, 2016.

Mr Jones, who was head of international law at the acclaimed Doughty Street barristers' chambers, was fatally injured after stepping in front of a morning train at West Hampstead station.

Following his death aged 48, his widow Misa Zgonec-Rozej, 47, sued his psychiatrist Dr Stephen Pereira, initially alongside his colleague Dr Neelam Bakshi and the Nightingale for damages.

But following a trial in May, High Court judge Mr Justice Bourne today rejected Mrs Zgonec-Rozej's 5 million claim, saying she had not proved Dr Pereira contributed to Mr Jones's death.

Human rights barrister John Jones, 48, died after being hit by a train near West Hampstead station in April 2016

Mr Jones' widow Misa Zgonec-Rozej (pictured) took legal action against her husband's psychiatrist Dr Stephen Pereira, initially alongside his colleague Dr Neelam Bakshi and London's Nightingale Hospital for damages

The widow will still receive a much smaller - but 'confidential' - payout after the judge revealed that she has agreed out-of-court financial settlements with Dr Bakshi and the hospital.

During the trial, Ms Zgonec-Rozej's barrister Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC said Mr Jones had held down a dynamic practice as a leading barrister for over a decade, and had gone through Oxford University and gruelling legal training despite suffering an earlier mental breakdown aged 17.

He carved out a name as a pioneering human rights barrister in the field of war crimes and represented the former president of Sierra Leone, Charles Taylor, who was later jailed for 50 years.

He later switched to extradition law and acted for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

He encountered barbaric violence in his work, representing men charged with the most horrific atrocities, and also appeared in last-chance death penalty appeals.

Opening the case against Dr Pereira, Ms Gumbel claimed the risk of self-harm had not been 'managed' effectively due to 'a number of overlapping deficiencies in the care provided to Mr Jones by Dr Pereira'.

'He was provided with no effective treatment, no effective therapy and no effective management,' she alleged.

The pattern of Mr Jones' care at the Nightingale became confused, because although Dr Pereira arranged for his urgent admission, responsibility for his care was subsequently transferred to another psychiatrist as Dr Pereira went on holiday, she continued.

Mr Jones was head of international law at the renowned Doughty Street Barristers' Chambers and represented Julian Assange (pictured) among other high profile clients

Ms Zgonec-Rozej (pictured outside the High Court) will receive a much smaller - but 'confidential' - payout after the judge revealed that she has agreed out-of-court financial settlements with Dr Bakshi and the hospital

'On 10 April, Dr Pereira returned from holiday and resumed responsibility for Mr Jones' care as his treating consultant,' said Ms Gumbel.

'He retained that responsibility up to Mr Jones' death on 18 April 2016..'

Mr Jones' death came after he left the Nightingale in the early morning of April 18, 2016, having told staff he needed to go for a walk.

'At 6.50am, Mr Jones called the hospital and said he would be back in one hour,' Ms Gumbel told the court.

'At 7am, he died when he was struck by a train at West Hampstead station.'

In her evidence, Ms Zgonec-Rozej said her husband had felt 'like a naughty schoolboy' during some therapy sessions and was reluctant to attend group sessions.

Although he seemed to make some progress under treatment, it was 'momentary' and 'the next day all that was gone'.

Ms Zgonec-Rozej accepted that she had not raised specific concerns that Mr Jones was in a 'bad way', but added: 'he was under the hospital staff supervision and I thought they knew what they were doing'.

'I thought they were observing him, I trusted that he was in a safe place,' she told the judge.

In his ruling today, Mr Justice Bourne found that Dr Pereira had breached his duty to Mr Jones, but did not find he had contributed to the lawyer's death.

Central to the case was the failure to 'expeditiously' set in train the process of getting individual therapy sessions organised for Mr Jones, which an expert said might have 'given him hope.'

'That process should have begun on or very soon after 11 April,' said the judge.

'The evidence is that a recommendation by a consultant would be followed by a visit to the ward by a psychologist for an assessment, leading to a decision on what type of individual therapy to pursue.

'An available therapist would have to be identified and then, no doubt, the first session would be scheduled.

At the time of his death, Mr Jones was being treated at the private Nightingale Hospital (pictured) in Marylebone, north London, for acute depression

'I therefore do not know when any psychotherapy would have taken place if the process had started early in the week of 11 April 2016. It is possible that a session might have taken place before 18 April, but that is uncertain in itself, and I certainly cannot say that there would probably have been more than one.'

One expert witness had said that therapy needs to occur on a 'a long-term basis if it is to lead to beneficial effect' and in a case like Mr Jones' would take a 'gradual process over months of building trust and a therapeutic relationship.'

Another psychiatric expert witness, Dr John Meehan, said one or two sessions in the crucial final week before Mr Jones took his life 'might have given him hope,' the judge continued.

'In my judgment that answer was both perceptive and precise,' he said.

'Dr Meehan was pointing out that even one session might indeed have engendered new hope, but did not exaggerate by claiming that it would definitely have done so or that a single session would have had some probable and identifiable impact on Mr Jones' illness.

'In addition to the considerable uncertainty about whether an initial session would have had a positive or any effect on Mr Jones' feelings, I must also contend with the lack of evidence of why he took his life on 18 April.

'I can infer that he felt a lack of hope, but I cannot know what else he may have felt in his disordered state that day.

'There is consequently even more uncertainty about whether any new development, such as a note of optimism arising from starting a course of therapy, would have been sufficient to dissuade him from taking his life.

'Combining the uncertainties of whether a session would have taken place, whether it would have given Mr Jones some hope and whether such effect would have been sufficient to change the outcome, it is far from probable that the failure to take prompt steps to arrange psychotherapy caused or contributed to his death.

'The claimants are therefore unable to succeed in their claim because they cannot prove that any breaches of duty caused the loss arising from Mr Jones' death.'

The judge said that, had Mrs Zgonec-Rozej proved that her husband had died because of Dr Pereira's care, he would have awarded 1,776,122 in damages.

However, the smaller sums which she had already agreed outside court with the hospital and Dr Bakshi would have to had to have been deducted from that.

'From any overall liability would fall to be deducted the sums obtained by agreement from the second and third defendants,' he said.

'The court, and the first defendant, have seen the terms of those agreements, which are said to be confidential.'
Biden administration says it will do 'everything possible' to bring them home

She is among at least eight Americans who are feared to have been taken

Twenty Americans remain missing in Israel following the weekend's brutal Hamas attack, including some whose relatives say they have been taken hostage.

Among them is 18-year-old Chicago high school graduate Natalie Raanan and her mother, and 34-year-old Daniel Ben Senior, whose father says she was working at the Nova musical festival when Hamas terrorists struck.

Hersh Polin-Goldberg, 23, is another American now being held captive by Hamas. His mother says he had his arm 'blown off' from the elbow down.

Fourteen Americans have been confirmed dead. The total number of US citizens who have been taken hostage or remain missing is more than 20, according to the State Department.

Natalie Ranaan was visiting family for the High Holidays with her mother, Judith, when the assault began on Saturday. Since then, relatives have not heard from either woman

Raanan and her mother were visiting family in Israel for the High Holidays. Their relatives

Judith Raanan was also taken hostage along with her daughter. Their family in Illinois has not heard from them since Saturday

Daniel Ben Senior, 34, was working at Nova festival on Saturday when Hamas militants attacked

'Unfortunately, what we heard about Hersh [from eyewitnesses] is that his arm was blown off from his elbow down. He tourniqueted his own arm,' Rachel Golberg told CNN.

This morning, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House confirmed 11 Americans have been killed.

Their names have not yet been publicly released, and the number is expected to rise.

'We know that 11 Americans have been killed. Sadly we're preparing for the very distinct possibility there will be more death for Americans here.

'We also have a number of wounded and another number that are unaccounted for. We just don't know where they are.

'We have to accept grim possibility that unaccounted for Americans could be among those held hostage,' National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, said during an appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday morning.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 35-year-old American citizen who is among those missing

Itay Chen, a US citizen fighting in the Israeli Defense Force, who is also missing

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you. Im sorry' at 8.11am on Saturday - as Palestinian militants declared war on Israel, took dozens of people as hostage and killed hundreds during the Jewish high holiday

Adrienne Neta, 66, is also missing. She is a nurse and midwife who moved to Israel from California in 1981

Adrienne's son Nahal cried at a press conference today where he and the relatives of other missing Americans pleaded for information and help

The families of missing Americans in Tel Aviv today begging for information

The State Department is yet to confirm the number of Americans missing in the conflict.

Today, the families of some of those who have been taken captive held a press conference in Tel Aviv to raise awareness.

Among their missing relatives is Itay Chen, a former New Yorker serving in the Israel Defense League.

'You would think that after 70 hours, if he's not in the state of Israel, he might be somewhere else. He is, by definition, a POW.

'We are asking for the US government to ask Hamas to treat him as a POW should be treated,' his father, Rubi, said.

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, is also missing. He moved to Israel with his family in 2008 after first attending elementary school in Los Angeles.

Sisters Norelle and Roya Manzuri, who attended Temple Israel of Hollywood school, are missing along with Amit Cohen.

Murdered: Debbie, a Missouri native, and Shlomi Matias were killed in front of their son on Saturday

The families of missing Americans in Israel gathered at a press conference in Tel Aviv today to share their stories

Sagui Deke-Chen, 35, is also missing. His father, Jonathan, spoke at the press conference today along with the families of other US citizens taken hostage.

Adrienne Neta, 66, is also missing. Her son, Nahar, is desperately trying to find her.

He today lambasted the Israeli government for not providing any information about what is being done to find the missing.

The Biden administration says it will do 'everything it can' to bring the hostages home, but it's unclear if that will extend to negotiating with Hamas.

'We will do everything possible to get them home.

'I don't want to get too far ahead of where we are right now,' Kirby said

Israel's response to Saturday's attack continued today with dozens of airstrikes. Hamas, a designated terrorist group, has persisted with rockets.

Today, its militants ordered residents in the town of Ashkelon to evacuate.

Israeli soldiers remove the body of civilian, who was killed days earlier in an attack by Palestinian militants on this kibbutz near the border with Gaza, on October 10, 2023 in Kfar Gaza, Israel
He left the deer in agony for more than an hour before posing up for sick photos and video, animal-rights groups say

Animal rights activists are calling for a 21-year-old Vermont hunter to face unprecedented animal cruelty charges after he shot and paralyzed a deer before posing with it for social media posts instead of ending its suffering.

Logan Bogie, from East Ryegate, shot and maimed the animal with a crossbow last fall.

But rather than end its misery on the spot, the hunter decided to pose up with the creature and film himself petting it for social media, according to an animal-rights group.

The footage shows the deer panting and bleeding while Bogie strokes it and calls it 'good boy'.

Under Vermont legislation, animal cruelty laws do not apply to hunting, trapping and fishing. But, the group demands he face the counts.

Bogie has been charged with 18 other wildlife crimes for poaching with a suspended license - as his relatives are also accused of illegal hunting.

In video taken by Bogie he can be seen petting the wounded deer and calling it a 'good boy'

Activists claim Bogie's behavior was 'egregiously cruel' and are now calling for him to face prosecution under animal abuse laws, which is punishable by up to a year in jail.

Brenna Galdenzi, president of Protect Our Wildlife Vermont, said: 'It seems clear to us that Bogie subjected the deer to prolonged pain and appeared to relish in it by videotaping the frightened, suffering animal.

'What he did fell outside of the bounds of what is considered lawful hunting and for that reason, he should be charged with cruelty to animals.'

The heartbreaking footage was discovered by a state warden during the course of an investigation into alleged poaching by Bogie, his grandfather Calvin Bogie Jr, 72, and Wyatt Roy, 18.

Bogie faces 18 criminal charges for allegedly poaching seven deer and a black bear while his hunting license was suspended last year.

DailyMail.com has contacted Bogie for comment about the call for new charges.

His grandfather faces five charges related to allegedly tagging and checking in deer Bogie shot illegally, while Roy was accused of helping drive the kills home.

Bogie told a state warden who interviewed him that he shot the eight-point deer seen in the video from his car and did not initially realize it was dead.

He then drove 45 minutes to friend's house for help lifting the animal back into his truck.

Activists are calling for Logan Bogie, 21, to be charged under animal cruelty laws after footage emerged of him prolonging the suffering of the deer (pictured) which he maimed with a crossbow

Bogie, his grandfather Calvin Bogie Jr and friend Wyatt Roy already face various charges relating to wildlife crime

Bogie allegedly shared the harrowing footage on his social media pages, where he often shows photos of his kills such as this deer above

But after noticing it was still alive, he extended the deer's agony by driving it five miles to his grandfather's house and posing up with it for social media posts.

Wildlife warden Will Seegers wrote in his affidavit: 'The buck can be seen panting, likely with some type of spinal trauma from a broadhead [arrow] or bullet wound, rendering it mostly paralyzed.

'One of the videos shows Logan petting the deer and saying 'good boy,' as if it were a dog or other pet.'

Caledonia County States Attorney Jessica Zaleski branded Bogie's behavior 'disgusting', but said she will not be pursuing criminal charges as the actions do not 'fit into our animal cruelty statute'.

She told the Boston Globe: 'My hands are tied with what the law says. Im not going to violate the law to make a point.'
Sir Keir Starmer today lashed out at Hamas 'terrorists' who murdered men, women and children 'in cold blood' as he tacitly slapped down pro-Palestinian hard Left Labour members.

The party leader used his keynote conference speech in Liverpool to hammer home the party's support for Israel after the anti-Semitism crisis of the Jeremy Corbyn era.

To applause - after he had been targeted on stage by a protester - he said that Israel had a right to defend itself and tore into Hamas, saying its bloody campaign that has left hundreds dead 'does nothing for Palestine'.

It came after leftwing Labour MPs shared a platform with the Palestinian ambassador in the aftermath of Hamas's bloody assault on Israel, and refused to blame the terrorist group directly for the killing, raping and kidnapping of civilians.

John McDonnell and Bell Ribeiro-Addy attended an event in Liverpool alongside Husam Zomlot at which they criticised the behaviour of the Netanyahu regime and its predecessors towards the Palestinians.

The backbench allies of the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who are both former shadow ministers, were among the speakers at the event organised by the Labour and Palestine pressure group and the Unite union.

There have also been hard Left protests outside the secure conference zone, with Labour refusing to let them take place inside as the party seeks to restore its relationship with British Jews.

The party leader used his keynote conference speech in Liverpool to hammer home the party's support for Israel after the anti-Semitism crisis of the Jeremy Corbyn era.

John McDonnell and Bell Ribeiro-Addy attended an event in Liverpool alongside Husam Zomlot at which they criticised the behaviour of the Netanyahu regime and its predecessors towards the Palestinians.

He and the hard left backbench allies of the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn were among the speakers at the event organised by the Labour and Palestine pressure group and the Unite union.

Sir Keir told the audience he was 'shocked and appalled by events in Israel'.

He added: 'I utterly condemn the senseless murder of men, women and children - including British citizens - in cold blood by the terrorists of Hamas.

'This party believes in the two state solution. A Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

'But this action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians, and Israel must always have the right to defend her people.

'And conference, these events, the war in Ukraine, they show precisely the test of our era. The world is becoming a more volatile place.'

Hours earlier, at a second event today, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Mr McDonnell said he was concerned at the 'potential loss of life' despite hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians already having died.

He urged people to 'mobilise' to press for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel as he warned of an 'annihilation of civilians' in Gaza.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign deputy director Ryvka Barnard accused the Government of being 'actively complicit in these crimes in the collective punishment of the Palestinian people' as she hit out at the Israeli 'apartheid'.

She said 'there can be no excuse or justification' for the killing of civilians, but added: 'Despite what British political leaders and the press may be presenting the events of the past few days, as absolutely shocking as they have been, they should come as no surprise to any of us.

'For decades, Palestinians have endured brutal colonial violence and control, mass expulsion, military occupation and apartheid.'

And last night, Ms Ribeiro-Addy, the Streatham MP, condemned the violence and the loss of life on both sides, before calling for peace talks, saying: 'I have seen it said that this weekend's events have interrupted or damaged peace talks. That is fiction, There are no real peace talks and there have not been for years.'

In addition, Labour MPs including a shadow minister have poised with the PSC, which has blamed Israel for the violence wrought upon it.

Shadow business minister Afzal Khan apologised last night after visiting the Labour conference stand of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which issued a statement in the aftermath of the slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking suggesting it was the consequence of Israeli violence.

He is the latest Labour politician to pose with the group and its banner accusing Israel of 'apartheid' , with backbencher Apsana Begum avoiding censure for doing the same thing on Saturday.

This morning Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Sky News: 'I've met with him, I speak with him. Maintaining diplomatic relations is important.

'But I have said that Palestinian voices, particularly those in leadership positions, should criticise the appalling behaviour, the atrocious actions, that have been perpetrated by Hamas.

'These indiscriminate killings, these murders, these kidnaps, these terrorist actions, should be condemned by the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, because otherwise there will be this perception that all Palestinians support Hamas, and they don't.'

Mr Zumlot told the event he 'regretted' the Hamas violence that has left hundreds dead. He also revealed six members of his family had been killed that day by an Israeli bombardment as he accused the nation of a 'war crime' by cutting water an electricity from Gaza.

He told told a Labour and Palestine event on the fringes of the party conference: ''What Israel is doing now is revenge. Sheer vengeance. Those are civilians, families. It's not gonna resolve anything. Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. It's a war crime. It's not gonna lead anywhere.'

This morning Pat McFadden became the latest Labour frontbencher to criticise Hamas, as the leadership seeks to put clear water between the mainstream of the party and hard Left elements.

There have been visible and voluble pro-Palestinian protests outside the conference venue in Liverpool but none inside the secure zone.

This morning Mr Cleverly told Sky News: 'These indiscriminate killings, these murders, these kidnaps, these terrorist actions, should be condemned by the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, because otherwise there will be this perception that all Palestinians support Hamas, and they don't.'

Mr McFadden, Labour's national campaign co-ordinator, declined to tell people not to protest in support of the Palestinian people, but made clear his party stands with Israel's right to retrieve those taken hostage by Hamas.

He told Times Radio: 'I'm not going to police protest. What I'm going to make clear is the Labour Party stands with Israel, stands with its right to defend itself. Stands with its right to get its own people back who have been taken hostage. And its right to use force to do so.'

Mr McFadden said the consequences of Hamas's actions will have been known to the militant group and 'if they wanted to show more concern for Palestinian civilians right now what they would do is they would return every single hostage that was taken, and they would do it today'.

Last night shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves urged pro-Palestinian demonstrators who protested outside the event to stay at home, saying the party backed Israel's fight against the 'terrorist threat' of Hamas.

Speaking to the News Agents podcast she said: 'Israel was subjected to a terrorist attack on Saturday, people have been killed, hostages have been taken. And Israel has every right to defend itself, as does any sovereign country against terrorists.'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared intentions to obliterate Hamas as he metes out revenge for the deadly surprise attacks by the Palestinian militant group this weekend that saw hundreds of Israelis killed.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

On Tuesday morning, air raid sirens were blaring in cities across Israel, suggesting Hamas was launching another salvo of rockets.
The father of a teenager who was stabbed to death in Brighton spat at the boy accused of killing him, as he appeared in court for the first time.

Mustafa Momand, 17, was fatally stabbed on the main road leading up to Brighton station at around 5pm on Thursday evening.

As commuters made their way to Brighton station at the end of the working day, police received 999 calls from members of the public saying they had seen a male wielding a large knife chasing another male.

Today, a 16-year-old boy appeared in Brighton and Hove Magistrates Court - he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

As Mustafa's father left the court, he dramatically turned and spat towards the dock. The family of the defendant looked on as Mr Momand consoled his wife.

Mustafa Momand (pictured), 17, was fatally stabbed on the main road leading up to Brighton station at around 5pm on Thursday evening

Forensic investigators at the scene in Brighton where 17-year-old Mustafa Momand was fatally stabbed

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at court in the city in front of District Judge Teresa Szagun and was remanded in custody.

Victoria Grey for the prosecution told the court: 'A woman saw a male wielding a knife, chasing another male in the direction of Brighton station.'

Queens Road was still stained with blood days after the paramedics battled to save Mustafa.

The 16-year-old will appear again at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday.

Journalists are legally prevented from publishing the 16-year-olds name because he is below the age of 18.
Keir Starmer's big pitch to be the next Prime Minister descended into chaos before it began today after a protester linked to eco-pests Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion stormed the Labour Conference stage and hurled glitter on him.

Before Sir Keir could start his speech setting out how he would run the country for a decade, Yaz Ashmawi, 28, reached the Labour leader completely unchallenged while shouting 'democracy is in crisis'.

In a shocking security breach in Liverpool this afternoon, Mr Ashmawi had his arms around the opposition leader and gripped him for several seconds before bodyguards tackled him in an incident that could have been much worse.

As he was finally pinned to the ground and carried away by the arms and legs, he shouted: 'We demand a people's house. We are in crisis, we are in crisis. Our whole future is in jeopardy'. Merseyside Police confirmed a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance.

A political splinter group with links to XR and Just Stop Oil, called People Demand Democracy, appears to have claimed responsibility for the incident, saying they are a 'new group calling for an upgrade to the UK political system using civil disobedience'.

JSO also shared footage of the stage-invasion linking it to their demand that Sir Keir 'commits to revoking the oil and gas licenses granted by this zombie Tory government'.

After being showered in glitter, Sir Keir was cheered as he took off his jacket and continued after the man was removed saying: 'If he thinks that bothers me he doesn't know me.' He also joked that he was glad it hadn't happened to his wife Victoria because her dress was 'beautiful'.

The incident raises questions about the Labour leader's personal protection and security at the conference on Merseyside. Those at the event had already criticised how search points at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool has no security arches with rudimentary bag searches instead.

One conference attendee, Kyle Sewell, complained bag searches at the event were 'the worst I've ever seen', adding: 'My bag was barely searched at conference and at the education speech. It's a security risk for everyone in the hall'.

The Labour leader was just about to start his speech when a protester identified as Yaz Ashmawi, 28, ran up to the podium and started shouting and seemed to throw something on his jacket

Mr Ashmawi physically had hold of Sir Keir before security arrived

Starmer pushed him away just as his speech was about to start

Mr Ashmawi yelled at Keir Starmer calling for a change to the political system

The protester was wearing a T-Shirt advertising the new People Demand Democracy group

Mr Ashmawi was wrestled to the ground by security after his protest, with Sir Keir resuming his speech saying he was not 'bothered'

Sir Keir was left rubbing glitter from his hair after the extraordinary incident

The protester is demanding the current political model in the UK is torn down using civil disobedience

Mr Ashmawi - who has his own website - describes himself as an Extinction Rebellion strategist and has acted as their spokesman

The incident raises questions about the Labour leader's personal protection and security at the conference on Merseyside. One conference attendee, Kyle Sewell, complained bag searches at the event were 'the worst I've ever seen'

They appear to be demanding that the first-past-the-post system used at general elections to be abandoned, declaring on their new website: 'The UK needs a proportional voting so every vote counts and a permanent Citizens' Assembly made up of people from all walks of life to discuss major long term issues without party political pressures'.

It came after one of JSO's main funders, Dale Vince, distanced himself from the group to back Labour instead.

People Demand Democracy, whose Twitter account had just ten followers this morning, wrote to Sir Keir on September 4 warning they would direct action against him if they ignored them.

They demanded: 'We urge you, the leader of the Labour Party, to announce that you will hold new national elections with a proportional voting system and set up a House of Citizens within six months of getting into office. We encourage you to embrace this upgrade to our democracy: proportional voting so every vote counts and a permanent Citizens' Assembly made up of people from all walks of life to discuss major long term issues without party political pressures.

'If you do not do so by 30th September, People Demand Democracy will take proportionate action to get our message across to you and the Labour Party leadership. We are left with no other choice but to take a stand for what's right and take back our power as citizens'.

And less than two weeks after the deadline, a member of the group stormed the stage.

The extraordinary incident will raise huge concerns about the protection for the Opposition leader. It is the second time during this year's event that an interloper managed to get to the podium.

Protester Yaz Ashmawi interrupts the keynote speech of Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer was completely unprotected

Security were slow to react

Sir Keir's wife Victoria was watching in the audience, as he said he was glad the protest had not ruined her 'beautiful' dress

Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer kiss as the speech ended

Soon after the attack the group People Demand Democracy, which apparently has links to Just Stop Oil, shared this tweet

PDM sent this letter to Mr Starmer warning they would act

Unlike the Tory gathering Labour conference has delegates speaking during debates in the main hall, and the numbers in the audience are far higher.

Keir's big ideas Reclassify 'low quality' green belt to allow more homes to be built

Boost devolution by giving all towns and cities in England new powers and funding

Boost borrowing to invest in the economy while ensuring debt is falling over long-term

Close tax loopholes for the 'wealthy' while protecting ordinary workers from more pain

Encourage doctors to work more overtime to help stabilise the NHS

Crack down on government waste to save 'billions' and recover Covid fraud cash

Order police to tackle lower-value shoplifting and create specific offence for assaulting retail staff Advertisement

Sir Keir used the speech to claim the 'tide is turning' for Labour today as he gives potentially his last conference speech before an election.

Sir Keir insisted he is the leader to 'heal' the country - but warned it will require a 'decade of national renewal'. Sir Keir said he had turned Labour into a 'party of service', 'renewed' after the Corbyn era.

Sir Keir praised the spirit of the British people despite the 'Tory project to kick the hope out of this country'.

Promising to reshape the country with 1.5 million homes including new towns, modernised infrastructure and support for green industries, Sir Keir said 'the fire of change still burns in Britain' and it 'lives on in Labour'.

With a general election next year and Labour enjoying double-digit poll leads, Sir Keir warned that the 'dangerous' Tories would 'scorch the earth just to get at us'.

And if he did win the keys to No 10, the scale of the challenge would be immense compared with his predecessors.

'If you think our job in 1997 was to rebuild a crumbling public realm, that in 1964 it was to modernise an economy left behind by the pace of technology, in 1945 to build a new Britain out of the trauma of collective sacrifice, then in 2024 it will have to be all three.'

Sir Keir put reforming the 'restrictive planning system' at the core of his plan to secure economic growth.

The system was 'a blockage that stops this country building roads, grid connections, laboratories, trainlines, warehouses, windfarms, power stations' and 'an obstacle to the aspirations of millions'.

The plan to 'get Britain building again' would 'fight the blockers who hold a veto over British aspiration'.

The 1.5 million homes promised by would involve new development corporations with powers to cut through red tape and the creation of the 'next generation of Labour new towns'.

He insisted his plans would not mean 'tearing up the green belt' but building could take place in areas where that protection was 'clearly ridiculous'.

Keir Starmer pictured arriving at conference with wife Victoria before delivering his big speech, which started badly

Worryingly for the Tories , their standing has actually gone backwards since Rishi Sunak wrapped up their conference last week
Video footage shows the moment Alabama cops shot dead a man while helping a tow truck driver repossess a vehicle, in what the victim's family called an 'ambush.'

Steve Perkins, 39, was reportedly given less than seconds to respond to officers before he was gunned down on September 29 at his home in Decatur, Alabama, a town 30 miles southwest of Huntsville.

The confrontation began with a tow truck driver trying to repossess Perkins' truck in the middle of the night.

In home surveillance footage, Perkins can be heard saying, 'Hey, give me my truck back!'

The accompanying officers could be heard responding: 'Hey, hey, police! Get on the ground! according to video published by WAFF.

Police did not wait more than a fraction of a second before they pulled the trigger - shooting more than a dozen rounds at Perkins in less than five seconds.

Steve Perkins, 39, (pictured with his daughter and wife Catrela) was shot dead by cops helping a tow truck driver repossess a vehicle from his home at Decatur, Alabama on September 29

Perkins, 39, was given less than seconds to respond to officers before they opened fire, unleashing more than a dozen rounds

Perkins leaves behind a family, including his wife Catrela, and two daughters who were in attendance for a vigil for him Thursday night.

According to police, the tow truck driver reported that Perkins was armed and flashed a gun, so officers accompanied him when he returned to the home.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Perkins had a handgun with a light on it.

The Decatur Police Department said Perkins 'turned the gun toward one of the officers,' and they shot him.

Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Perkins, said officers did not give Perkins enough time to respond before they opened fire.

Merritt said officers accompanied the tow truck driver onto the property without announcing themselves and opened fire within a second of telling Perkins to get on the ground.

He said Perkins did not seem to be aware of the presence of police.

'They jumped up. They shouted. ... Pow,' Merritt told The Associated Press.

'The policy of not announcing yourself and creeping up into people's onto people's properties.

'They will tell you it's for officer protection, so that they're not ambushed, but what they did here was ambush Steve.'

Perkins' family (pictured with wife Catrela Perkins) said his truck was not in repossession, which is why he went outside to dispute the tow

Police said the tow truck driver reported that Perkins was armed and flashed a gun, so officers accompanied him when he returned to the home.

In a statement, Perkins' family said his truck was not in repossession, which is why he was disputing the tow

Perkins' family said his truck was not in repossession, which is why he was disputing the tow.

City and state officials asked for patience during the investigation, which the ALEA vowed would be 'very thorough and methodical.'

The agency said the findings will be turned over to the Morgan County District Attorney's Office.

Protests have taken place daily in the north Alabama city since the shooting, with hundreds of people gathering outside of Decatur City Hall on Thursday night in a vigil for Perkins.

'The thing that has been consistent is looking for answers. We understand that. That is something everyone wants and they want answers now. Unfortunately, we don't have control of that,' Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling told news outlets.

Protests have taken place daily in the north Alabama city since the shooting

Hundreds of people gather outside of Decatur City Hall on Thursday night in a vigil

People march along Lee Street in downtown Decatur, Ala., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, during a protest against the killing of Steve Perkins by police a week earlier

'Not only was I his brother, but I was his friend. You have no idea how it feels to be born a protector, and the job is taken away from you, unjustly, and unwarranted,' Nicholas Perkins said during the vigil, according to WAFF.

'From the immediate footage that we're seeing, it looked like an ambush of him not even knowing who was in his yard,' family spokesperson Brenton Lipscomb old NBC News on Monday.

'They were in uniform, but it's a very dark neighborhood. No police cars were in front of the house, they were parked down the street, hiding in neighborhoods' yards, hiding around the house.'

Representatives of the Decatur Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) did not provide any additional information.
Main venue for 2023 Chengdu Science Fiction Convention

Ecns.cn) 16:16, October 10, 2023

Drone photo shows Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, the main venue for the 2023 Chengdu Science Fiction Convention, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 10, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Lang)

The venue is located at the bank of Jingrong Lake of Science and Innovation New City, Pidu District, with a construction area of 59,400 square meters, and a total building height of 31.9 meters.

Chengdu will be the first city on the Chinese mainland to host Worldcon, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society and one of the world's largest sci-fi events.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
A man accused of murdering his university lecturer wife by stabbing her to death in their kitchen said he suspected she was cheating on him, a court has heard.

Ertan Ersoy had previously told a man, who, like him, was Turkish and living in Colchester in Essex, about 'difficulties with his wife'.

Dr Antonella Castelvedere was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor of the couple's home in Colchester on June 1 last year.

Mahmut Bektas told Chelmsford Crown Court he did not know anyone in the area after arriving from Turkey in 2021 and was given Ersoy's contact information by an agency in London that same year.

Mr Bektas described an occasion when he met Ersoy two years ago. He said: 'He mentioned his difficulties with his wife.

Ertan Ersoy (pictured) had previously told a man, who, like him, was Turkish and living in Colchester in Essex, about his 'difficulties with his wife,' a court heard

Dr Antonella Castelvedere (pictured) was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor of the couple's home in Colchester on June 1 last year

'He said that he's finding it difficult and their relationship is very tense.'

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC asked Mr Bektas if Ersoy, 51, had raised any suspicions about his 52-year-old wife, Dr Castelvedere.

'He did mention he's suspecting his wife might be cheating on him,' said Mr Bektas, who was assisted in court by a Turkish interpreter.

He said that during their meeting, Ersoy was 'mainly' talking about his issues with his wife.

'I was telling him "Look, I'm a therapist. Do you want to speak with me in my professional capacity as a therapist?" - because my understanding is he was seeking my help - "Or do you just want my help as a friend?"

He said Ersoy told him Dr Castelvedere was 'constantly thinking about her previous relationships'.

'He was being cross and angry to this,' said Mr Bektas.

'Why she's married with me, she's still keeping these old letters or anything to do with the previous relationships?'

Mr Bektas said Ersoy told him he 'checked her emails' and 'there was an individual from a previous relationship talking about he cannot forget about her'.

Ersoy also 'said a couple of times Antonella hit him,' Mr Bektas claimed.

Asked by Mr Paxton if Ersoy had said how she hit him, Mr Bektas replied: 'I'm not quite sure, but I think he mentioned about throwing some items at him.'

He said he met Dr Castelvedere in March 2022 and she said she was 'not happy'.

'As a question I asked her "Do you love him or not?" and she said "Yes, I do, but I'm unhappy",' said Mr Bektas.

Emergency services were pictured on the scene in Colchester, Essex. Ersoy denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter

He said Ersoy later asked about their meeting, and Mr Bektas told him they 'both need to see a therapist and you can have couple's therapy as well or you can select for one-to-one therapy'.

Dr Castelvedere wrote to Mr Bektas on May 31, in a message read to the court by the prosecutor.

She said: 'Ertan has fallen back into a dark state of mind and I fear for my safety.'

In his reply, Mr Bektas said he had offered to put Ersoy in touch with a psychotherapist and he 'hoped this time he will start to take professional help'.

Dr Castelvedere was a lecturer at the University of Suffolk, teaching an MA course in English and creative writing, and Ersoy also worked as a lecturer.

Ersoy denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The trial continues.
A manhunt is underway after two men 'pistol-whipped' police officers escorting a British inmate at an Ibiza jail to the dentist in a botched prison break attempt - before scarpering themselves.

An all-ports alert was issued for the pair on Tuesday after the suspects fled empty-handed following a struggle and torched their getaway car on a rural road near Ibiza Town.

The man, who they were attempting to help escape, was recaptured after he tried to run in the opposite direction during the commotion yesterday morning.

He was quizzed by Spanish detectives today as police tried to track down his accomplices and prevent them from leaving the popular holiday island.

Police sources confirmed this morning the unnamed prisoner is a UK national.

The drama occurred around 11am yesterday in the centre of the island capital Ibiza Town. An all-ports alert was out for the pair today after they fled empty-handed following a struggle and torched their getaway car on a rural road nearby

Firefighters extinguishing flames from a a vehicle that is allegedly the getaway car used and then set alight

One local media outlet described him as a fugitive from British justice who had been held two months ago at a villa in San Jose in the south-west of Ibiza on an international arrest warrant.

Ibizan paper Diario de Ibiza reported that UK authorities were trying to get him extradited so he could serve a prison sentence there following an earlier conviction, adding: 'He is apparently linked to the world of drug trafficking.'

He is thought to have been on remand at Ibiza Prison on the orders of a judge at Spain's Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid, which among other things rules on extradition requests.

Witnesses have described the attempted escape as being like 'something out of a film.'

One told a local paper he saw one of the masked men who held up the police pull a gun on the officer and use it to pistol-whip him.

The Civil Guard has not confirmed officially weapons were used but a police source said today: 'One of the officers was assaulted with what would appear to be a pistol but until arrests are made and the weapon seized, we won't be in a position to determine if it was real or fake.'

A police car in Ibiza. Police sources confirmed this morning the unnamed prisoner is from the UK

Firefighters extinguishing flames from a burning a vehicle allegedly used by the two men

The drama occurred around 11am yesterday in the centre of the island capital Ibiza Town.

Two masked men intercepted police officers walking the unnamed inmate from the private dental surgery after being taken from the prison van.

The prisoner reportedly tried to flee on foot 'with handcuffs on just one wrist' as officers wrestled with his accomplices.

The incident ended with the assailants speeding off in a black 4x4 thought to be a Land Rover and the prisoner being recaptured and taken back to jail.

The gutted remains of a vehicle believed to be the getaway car, said to have been stolen and fitted with false number plates, were being analysed by police forensic experts.

The vehicle was allegedly set alight on a rural road in the municipality of Santa Eularia a short drive from the island capital in the early hours of this morning. The alarm was raised around 12.30am.

Firefighters working on the car that was allegedly used by the two men. The gutted remains of a vehicle believed to be the getaway car, said to have been stolen and fitted with false number plates, were being analysed by police forensic experts

A spokesman for the Civil Guard, one of two major police forces in Ibiza which is involved in the ongoing manhunt, said today: 'I can confirm we are still hunting for two men who tried to help a prisoner escape yesterday in Ibiza Town following a visit to a dentist.

'He was being walked from the dental surgery to a police van when the officers were confronted.

'The officers managed to resist the attack and the two assailants escaped in a dark-coloured vehicle. The prisoner remains in custody after the attempt to free him failed.'

A Civil Guard source, confirming the man is British, added: 'Thankfully none of the officers were injured.'

The Audiencia Nacional investigates major crimes such as terrorism, currency forgery, drug trafficking and fraud committed at national level as well as international crimes that come under the competence of Spanish courts.

The centralised court, which is currently probing former Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales over the infamous 'Kissgate' scandal, also decides on extradition requests.

The unnamed dental clinic near to where the drama happened is in Ibiza Town's modern part called the Eixample.

The police operation to close the net on the assailants will now focus on trying to make sure they are unable to leave Ibiza.

The man they tried to help escape is expected to be transferred to a more secure prison on the Spanish mainland once detectives on the island have finished with him.
Hamas has warned Israeli civilians to get out of the port city of Ashkelon now or face death 'in response to the airstrikes'.

It comes after Israel warned Hamas they had 'nowhere to hide' and that its air force was launching 'extensive attacks' on the Palestinian terrorist group in revenge for its deadly surprise incursion that saw more than 1,000 Israelis slaughtered.

But where exactly is Ashkelon? How close is it to Gaza and Jerusalem? Read on below for key information on the location of Ashkelon.

An infographic shows where armed Palestinian groups from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israeli settlements along the border. Ashkelon can be seen in the top right hand corner of the graphic, with the city lying just eight miles north of the Gaza strip border

Where is Ashkelon?

Located on the Mediterranean coast in the Southern District of Israel, the city of Ashkelon lies 30 miles south of Tel Aviv and eight miles north of the Gaza Strip border.

Ashkelon also lies 48 miles away from the Israeli capital of Jerusalem.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) office has issued a warning to British tourists against all but essential travel to Israel and the West Bank.

It said: 'In Israel and the West Bank, there is a risk of violent incidents, including stabbings, shootings, arson, vehicle rammings and stone throwing attacks on people and vehicles. These incidents have involved protestors (both Israelis and Palestinians), Israeli security forces, and civilians (including Israeli settlers). There is a risk that tourists or bystanders could be caught up in any of these types of incident.'

Along with its advice warning against all but essential travel to the West Bank and Israel, the Foreign Office warns Brits against all travel to Gaza, the Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar, within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the 'Blue Line') east of Metula.

This includes the northern edge of the town and within 500m of the border with Syria (the 'Alpha Line'), southwest of Ashkelon, the area south of route 35 and west of route 40 as far as Tlalim, not including Be'er Sheva, the area west of Be'er Sheva and the area north of route 211.

The death toll from the unprecedented assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on its territory rose to 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza (pictured)

Why are Hamas targeting Ashkelon?

On Tuesday, October 10, a Hamas spokesperson issued a warning to the residents of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon to leave the city before 5pm local time (3pm in the UK).

A spokesman for the militant groups armed unit Al Qassam announced that it would attack the southern city of Askelon with rockets.

'In response to the enemy's crime of displacing our people and forcing them to flee their homes in several areas of the Gaza Strip, we give the residents of the occupied city of Ashkelon a deadline to leave it by 5pm this evening,' the Al Qassam Bridgades said.

Minutes after the sinister warning was made, Hamas claimed it had launched rockets at Israel's international Ben Gurion airport, located just 38 miles from the port city.

But this claim was quickly denied by a spokesperson at the airport, who said it had not been hit by any rockets and that operations there continue.

Hamas mounted a huge rocket barrage at central Israel, including the countrys main city Tel Aviv, at 3.30pm on October 10, in which two civilians died. A second attack followed less than 20 minutes later.

How many people have died on both sides of the conflict so far?

At least 900 Israelis have been killed by the terrorists since Hamas launched the surprise attack on Saturday.

In response, Israel has pounded the Gaza strip with the fiercest air strikes in the 75-year history of its conflict.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have already used its strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza strip, with airstrikes and artillery destroying thousands of Hamas targets and killing 770 Palestinians.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.
Many of the cars, which had been sitting in a barn, were barely driven, including several Corvettes

However, the extent of his obsession was not fully realized until two men - John Pierce and John Clay Wolfe - stumbled upon the collection

Earl Trammell died in 2022 and was known as a passionate car collector

An Alabama man's vintage car collection was uncovered after his death - and the new buyers were surprised to find that many cars in the $1million portfolio were in near-pristine condition.

Earl Trammell, 88, hailed from the tiny town of Warrior, with a population just over 3,000.

He was known for his love of cars, especially Corvettes, and stored the vehicles he purchased in places ranging from the basements of investment properties to a barn.

'He would just buy Corvettes and put them up, brand new. Wed buy houses and hed put them in basements,' Trammel's brother-in-law, John Hollander, said.

However, the world didn't know about the extent of Trammell's collection of barely-used vehicles until after his death in May 2022.

This included a 1998 Indy Pace Car with just 23 miles on the odometer.

Earl Trammell died at 88 in 2022, leaving behind an expansive vintage car collection

Trammell, who hailed from Alabama, was known to many as an avid collector

However, the extent of his passion was not realized until after his death, when two men purchased his 22-car collection

Many of the cars were in near perfect condition, including a 1998 Indianapolis 500 pace car with only 23 miles on the odometer

When Trammells widow, Patricia, settled his estate, she sold the vehicles to Alabama car wholesaler John Pierce and his business partner John Clay Wolfe.

Although Patricia sold the duo a 1996 Porsche about one and a half years ago, she recently called them to say she was trying to unload a 1997 Corvette with only 100 miles on it.

This grew into her wanting to sell the entire collection - which, to the business partners' surprise, was stored in a barn.

'It was a tiny little barn in Alabama that looked ridiculous. Like, you would never expect theres a million dollars worth of cars there,' Pierce said.

He and Wolfe negotiated with Patricia and sent payment the next day for the 22 vehicles, all purchased between the 1970s and 1990s.

Moving the cars required some intensive labor, as they had not been driven.

Pierce and Wolfe used rollers, not wanting to add radiator fluid, oil or fuel, as they had bigger plans for the vehicles.

'These cars that are new from 1971, 1978, theres no reason to make them wet because the odds are theyre going to live the rest of their lives in a museum or a collection,' Wolfe said.

'Right now, its going to be our collection because Im selling nothing. This is the biggest day Ive had in a long time, Im really excited.'

John Pierce and John Clay Wolfe bought the cars from Trammell's widow, Patricia, who decided to sell the entire collection

The vehicles had been stored in a small, unassuming barn in Alabama

Using rollers, the men moved the cars out of the barn, not wanting to add oil or 'make them wet'

The cars are likely going to go to a museum or collection, according to Wolfe, though he and Pierce have conflicting opinions about whether they should sell or hold on to the vehicles

Wolfe showcased the collection on his YouTube channel, The John Clay Wolfe Show.

Standouts included a purple Indy pace car with yellow interior that he described as obnoxious - 'but in muscle cars, obnoxious is a good thing.'

He also highlighted a white Stingray with red leather interior. Its window sticker was still affixed and seats were encased in plastic.

Several of the cars were nearly brand-new, including Trammell's beloved Corvettes - two of which, a 1988 35th Anniversary Corvette and a 1990 Corvette ZR1, only had 25 miles on them.

'I've heard of situations like this...not very often,' Wolfe said.

'These were properly stored. They're still in the hospital, it's like a bunch of new babies.

'This is the goofiest thing Ive seen in my career. Ive been doing this 31 years, Ive never seen anything like this. I don't know what to do!

'This is by far the biggest find of my career.'

However, Wolfe and Pierce are conflicted about next steps.

'Hes gonna want to sell them and I dont wanna sell them  Im not gonna screw him out of anything, but I dont want to sell them,' Wolfe said.

When Trammell died, his brother-in-law encouraged sister Patricia to sell the vehicles, saying: 'These cars need to be out where people can see them.'

Trammell began rebuilding 1957 Chevrolets and later rented a garage from a relative to refurbish damaged cars

A few years later he opened his first auto shop, 'Foreign Car Paint and Body,' and found instant success

'Earl taught people how to Do Better, Be Better and pushed you because he could see your potential,' Trammell's obituary reads

Trammell's obituary describes him as a hardworking man who quit school to work and help his family financially.

'He had determination and the will to make a better life for himself and his future,' it reads.

Trammell began rebuilding 1957 Chevrolets and would store them in warehouses.

But his passion grew, and in 1960, he rented a four-car garage from a family member where he could repair wrecked vehicles.

He quickly found that he had a knack for fixing cars, as he could match any paint color simply by looking at it could paint a perfectly straight pinstripe by hand.

A few years later he opened his first auto shop, 'Foreign Car Paint and Body.'

Trammell found instant success and was able to buy his dream building in the eighties, a property in Birmingham, where he stayed until retiring in 2020.

'Earl taught people how to Do Better, Be Better and pushed you because he could see your potential,' the obit reads. 'He will truly be missed.'
Finland suspects Russia could be behind damage inflicted on a major gas pipeline and phone cable to neighbouring Estonia, insiders have claimed.

Finnish authorities expect the Baltic Connector gas pipeline, as well as its sister phone cable, to be out of service for months after discovering that it had been damaged with on October 8.

While no official cause has yet been announced, Finnish defence sources told the Iltalehti newspaper that from the beginning of their enquiries, the government considered it possible that Russia sabotaged the key pipeline.

Finland's president, Sauli Niinisto, said in a statement: 'It is likely that the damage to both the 94-mile-long gas pipe and the communication cable is the result of external activity.'

He said that Finland was cooperating with Estonia to investigate the root of the problem, adding that he had spoken with NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said on X, formerly Twitter: 'NATO is sharing information and stands ready to support allies concerned.'

The 94-mile-long pipeline supplies a third of Finland's gas demands

The pipeline is able to send up to 2.6 billion cubic metres of natural gas every year

Finnish defence sources said the government considered the possibility of Russian interference from the get-go

Finland's president, Sauli Niinisto, (pictured) said the pipelines and phone cable was damaged by outside interference

Several other countries have also announced that they are standing by Finland and Estonia.

Sweden's foreign affairs minister, Tobias Billstrom, said: 'Sweden stands with our Nordic-Baltic colleagues and are ready to offer any help regarding the damage to undersea infrastructure.'

And Latvia's president, Edgars Rinkevics, said he was 'very concerned about reports that the damage to the gas pipeline and the data cable between Finland and Estonia is caused by external activity.

'Looking forward to the results of the investigation.' he added.

The pipeline is able to send up to 2.6 billion cubic metres of natural gas every year, enough to power up to a third of Finland's gas demand.

Relations between Finland, one of the newest members of NATO, and Russia are fraught.

Earlier this year, Finland expelled nine Russian diplomats from the country for allegedly working with Russian intelligence.

And last year, it was reported that the navies of both Finland and Sweden were stepping up their preparations for if Russia decides to attack either of their energy grids.

Russian submarines and 'research vessels', which are reportedly used to disguise espionage activity, are often seen off Finland's coast.

As recently as August, Finns living on the coast of the Hanko Peninsula were able to take snaps of a Russian submarine that was lurking on the Gulf of Finland, in the Baltic Sea.

Russia is known for sending spy ships into Nordic waters

One spy ship was seen manned with armed and masked soldiers

Espionage activities allegedly undertake by Russian vessels include mapping offshore wind turbines, underwater cables and other key infrastructure

Espionage activities allegedly undertake by Russian vessels include mapping offshore wind turbines, underwater cables and other key infrastructure.

An investigation by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland found the Kremlin often deployed 'ghost ships' to map out areas for possible disruptive activity.

Up to 50 suspected Russian spy ships were said to have been identified sailing through Nordic waters. One ship was seen manned with armed soldiers.

Nils Andreas Stensones, the head of Norwegian intelligence, told the broadcasters the alleged spy programme was considered 'highly important' to Russia and was likely controlled directly from Moscow.
Tim Ballard, the anti-trafficking activist who inspired the movie 'Sound of Freedom', took ketamine while dictating revelations that his future US presidency would usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, a lawsuit claims.

The married father-of-nine used the revelations from a dead Mormon prophet to coerce women into sexual acts with him, claiming the liaisons had been 'blessed' by the Utah-based religion, it is alleged.

Ballard is being sued by five women over allegations he sexually manipulated, abused and harassed them on overseas trips designed to lure and catch child sex traffickers.

It comes just a month after he touted a run for the Senate following the global success of 'Sound of Freedom', which was loosely based on his exploits with Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), the anti-trafficking organization he founded in 2013.

The bombshell lawsuit, filed Monday, claims the 47-year-old concocted a 'couple's ruse' tactic, which he used to persuade women to pose as his wife to fool child sex traffickers into thinking he was a legitimate client.

A lawsuit alleges the famous child-trafficking opponent Tim Ballard sexually abused five women after forcing them to pose as his wife on overseas anti-trafficking missions

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, according to one source

The lawsuit reveals the full extent of Ballard's alleged messiah complex, presenting an oil canvas painting depicting him carrying a swaddled child along a railroad

Ballard has claimed it allowed male operatives to turn down offers of underage sex from traffickers by claiming their wife would disapprove, while retaining credibility.

But the women allege the ploy was ultimately set up for him to coerce them into intimacy, including 'several sexual acts with the exception of actual penetration, in various states of undress'.

The lawsuit, filed in Utah's 3rd District Court, contains a litany of extraordinary claims against the OUR founder, including that he used a henchman to threaten one of his alleged victim's husbands and that he regularly frequented Salt Lake City strip clubs with women he planned to take on missions to get drunk, 'ingest pills' and 'practice' their sexual chemistry.

It delves into how Ballard was able to become 'a character of mythical proportions with unquestioned legitimacy' thanks to his 'enmeshment with the Mormon church' and endorsements from high-profile public figures, including Donald Trump and Utah State Attorney General Sean Reyes.

The full extent of Ballard's alleged messiah complex is also revealed, with the document citing an oil canvas painting of him carrying a swaddled child along a railroad that elevated him 'to an almost Mother Teresa altitude'.

It had previously been reported that a former OUR member told a since-closed FBI probe that 'Tim is fully convinced that he is supposed to be the "Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church"'.

But while Ballard presented himself as a messianic figure whose overseas missions were saving countless lives, his foundation was ultimately a front for a globetrotting lifestyle of first-class flights, five-star hotels, 'strip clubs and massage parlors across the world' enjoyed by the OUR founder and his entourage of wealthy, untrained accomplices, the women claim.

Despite this, Ballard, a devout Mormon, would allegedly appeal to divine authority to justify his actions.

He did so to spiritually manipulate his female victims, almost all of whom were also Mormon, it is claimed.

One extraordinary passage from the lawsuit states that Ballard 'would get ketamine treatments and have a scribe come in with him while he would talk to the dead prophet Nephi and issue forth prophecies about Ballard's greatness and future as a United States Senator, President of the United States, and ultimately the Mormon Prophet, to usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ'.

The missionary, who purports to be a former CIA agent, allegedly told women his methods had been blessed by the Mormon church, who had endorsed him as a future US President and Prophet.

Ballard also argued that a passage from the Book of Mormon, in which a man kills another man on the promptings of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated that the Holy Spirit could ask people to perform 'unconventional tasks', the lawsuit states.

Ballard (center) allegedly took ketamine while dictating revelations from a Mormon prophet who foretold he would be the next US President. Ballard had already forged a connection with former president Donald Trump, pictured here on an episode of the anti-trafficking activist's podcast, with Jim Caviezel (right), who played Ballard in Sound of Freedom

Just last month Ballard had said he was 'seriously' considering a run for the Utah Senate following the success of Sound of Freedom, a movie based on his anti-trafficking exploits

The lawsuit also alleges that Ballard (right) told women on his missions that his 'couple's ruse' tactic had been endorsed by senior church leader M. Russell Ballard (center), no relation

Tim Ballard claimed his anti-trafficking activities had been blessed by the Elder Ballard as a means of converting more Americans to the Utah-based faith, according to a since-closed FBI investigation. The church denies Elder Ballard did so

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes appeared set to endorse Ballard for the candidacy before distancing himself from his lifelong friend after the sexual misconduct allegations emerged

The filing also reiterated reports that the OUR founder claimed President M. Russell Ballard, an unrelated senior member of the church's second-highest leadership body, had signed off on his activities.

It is alleged that the anti-child trafficking activist said the Elder Ballard had approved the 'couple's ruse' tactic 'as long as there was no sexual intercourse or kissing on the lips' - and had given Tim Ballard 'a special priesthood blessing as such'.

But this did not stop the OUR missionary allegedly engaging in other sexual acts with female colleagues, with Ballard developing a sex position that made it appear as if he was having 'full on sexual intercoursewhile not actually penetrating'.

Other sordid activities he coerced women into included tantric yoga, couple's massages with escorts and performing lap dances on him, the lawsuit claims.

Even in private: 'Ballard would claim that he and his female partner had to maintain the appearance of a romantic relationship at all times in case suspicious traffickers might be surveilling them at any moment.'

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear, covered in fake tattoos, and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, a source had previously told Vice News.

The lawsuit states that two marriages ended due to Ballard's actions.

In one case, Ballard offered to cover one victim's divorce attorney fees and had a henchman threaten her husband on voicemail, the lawsuit alleges.

Ballard allegedly warned the women that speaking out about their alleged sexual encounters it would endanger the lives of those on anti-trafficking operations.

The women claimants say they were given burner phones that they were told they were being tracked on, ordered to delete messages, sign NDAs and threatened with legal action if they leaked anything about Ballard's tactics.

A former member of Operation Underground Railroad, the anti-trafficking organization Ballard founded, told an FBI investigation that the former CIA agent 'is fully convinced that he is supposed to be the "Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church"'

Caviezel is most famous for playing Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Ballard has said he believes that he was directly called by God to 'find the lost children'

Following its initial US release, the film hit UK and Irish cinemas on September 1

It wasn't until Spring 2023 that some of the women came forward to OUR management, leading to Ballard's termination.

The Mormon church excommunicated Ballard upon learning the full details of how he was using the 'couple's ruse' tactic, the filing states, backing up evidence of his ecclesiastical axing first reported by DailyMail.com last week.

The church has not confirmed this and Ballard's wife, Katherine, has said that the couple were 'in touch' with their local church leaders, but that 'such conversations - as required by the church - are strictly confidential and extremely personal'.

She added: 'We are complying fully and remain committed to our family and our faith.'

It marks a dizzying fall from grace for the 'former CIA agent' who had looked set to secure the endorsement of Attorney General Reyes for Utah Senator.

The profile he gained from OUR's activities and the subsequent Sound of Freedom movie had meant he was well placed to replace Mitt Romney, a fellow Mormon, who had announced he would not be running again.

The lawsuit filed on Monday also documented how Ballard had forged strong connections with public figures, including American author Tony Robbins and conservative media personality Glenn Beck, to furnish his ambitions.

He was appointed as special advisor to Ivanka Trump in October 2017 and joined the White House Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking in 2019.

Meanwhile, his relationship with M. Russell Ballard, whom he met with in Salt Lake City to discuss OUR's work, and his authorship of three books promoting Mormon Nationalism, 'further created the myth of Tim Ballard', the lawsuit states.

Ballard's wife, Katherine, has stood by her husband in the wake of the allegations against him

She said the couple were in touch with their local church leaders and 'remain committed to our family and our faith'

OUR reported a revenue of almost $57million to the IRS in 2022, with Ballard receiving a salary of $525,958. Yet former employees claim Ballard earned more than $14million through his personal ventures, launched off the back of OUR's success.

Ballard initially angrily denied allegations of sexual misconduct against him, first reported by Vice News last month.

'It's not true, nothing you hear is true,' he said in a video filmed by one of his supporters.

The Mormon church has condemned Ballard's activities in a rare public rebuke, stating that he had used Elder Ballard's name without permission for 'personal advantage and activity regarded as morally unacceptable'.

OUR, for its part, has confirmed that Ballard resigned on June 22 this year and is permanently separated from the organization.

A spokesman added that it is 'dedicated to combatting sexual abuse, and does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone in its organization'.
A 'pure evil' boyfriend has been jailed after he ordered his girlfriend to self-harm and isolated her in such a shockingly cruel campaign of domestic abuse it 'absolutely destroyed her life' and she hanged herself.

Marc Masterton's 'despicable' psychological and physical assaults 'significantly contributed' to the 'demise' of Chloe Holland's mental health before she killed herself, a court heard.

Controlling Masterton, 26, regularly beat Miss Holland, told her to take her own life, handed her a knife and ordered her to self-harm, isolated her from friends and family, and belittled her.

Masterton deliberately gave Miss Holland, 23, black eyes so she would not be able to see her baby son.

Police investigators today said the domestic abuse is 'one of the most appalling and heartbreaking cases they have ever come across'.

Masterton has now been jailed for three years and nine months following his 'utterly unforgivable' campaign of abuse between January 2022 and February of this year.

Miss Holland hanged herself on February 1 this year and died in hospital.

A fundraising page for Chloe Holland described her as a 'much loved Mummy, Daughter, Sister, Aunty and a loving friend to so many'

Marc Masterton has now been jailed for three years and nine months following his 'utterly unforgivable' campaign of abuse

Just two days earlier, on January 30, Masterton ordered her to steal a car with him and use a stolen bank card.

The court heard Masterton regularly abused Miss Holland at his home in Southsea, Portsmouth, as well as at hotels and on public transport across Hampshire.

Masterton beat her with a gym dumbbell, then handed her a knife and told her to harm herself after she threatened to kill herself.

Masterton controlled what clothes Miss Holland wore, kept her away from her friends and family, and tracked her phone so that when she escaped the relationship he was able to 'suck her back in to his cycle of abuse'.

At a Travelodge, Masterton beat his victim while shouting 'say goodbye to your son'.

On January 30 this year, Masterton had Miss Holland accompany him to steal a car, then crashed it, then ordered her to use the stolen bank card found inside it so he was not caught on CCTV.

Miss Holland followed his command 'due to fear of extreme violence if she did not comply'.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard 'the physical and psychological impact of the abuse significantly contributed to the demise of her mental health'.

Miss Holland's family say they will be 'scarred forever' following the death of the young mother.

Hampshire Constabulary said evidence from Miss Holland was used posthumously to help convict Masterton, who admitted coercive and controlling behaviour and aggravated vehicle taking.

Police Staff Investigator Nikki Brogan said: 'This is one of the most appalling and heartbreaking cases of domestic abuse I have ever come across.

'The violence, control, and psychological abuse suffered by this poor young woman absolutely destroyed her life. She felt there was no escape from her abuser.

'Her family said that during the times she was away from Masterton she seemed positive, but when he drew her back into his web of abuse she simply disappeared - becoming withdrawn and unable to eat.

'This man is pure evil. What he did was utterly unforgivable, and the judge remarked that he is clearly a danger to women before sending him to prison.

'Sadly, the victim in this case was unable to see justice served, but I want it to be known that she was so brave, and it was because of her evidence, her strength, her courage that this despicable man is now behind bars.'

Detective Chief Inspector Nikki Burton added: 'The evidence gathered over the course of this investigation is harrowing and my thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim in this case.

'Domestic abusers perpetrate some of the worst offending imaginable, leaving lifelong physical and emotional scars on those affected.

'I commend the bravery of the woman in this case who reported the abuse to police.

'Her evidence was used posthumously as she had sadly died before this case reached the courts, but the power of her words and her evidence has helped protect other women by ensuring a domestic abuser has been jailed.'

A fundraiser made in Miss Holland's memory has raised more than 4,500. All funds given 'will be utilised to give our Chloe the most beautiful send off to her next journey,' the page says.

The page says: 'Chloe was a much loved Mummy, Daughter, Sister, Aunty and a loving friend to so many.

'At such a young age of 23, Chloe's death has been a huge shock to everyone.

'So many people feel so much pain for the loss of such a fun, outgoing, bubbly, outspoken, beautiful young lady.

'If you were fortunate enough to have been in Chloe's company, ever, you'd understand the immediate positive impact she had on those around her. There was never a dull moment or a moment of silence in Chloe's presence.

'Unfortunately, Chloe took her own life due to domestic violence.

'The pain this has caused her family and friends is immense however it is important that people know the truth and the seriousness and damage that domestic violence causes.'

Contact Samaritans for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Video has emerged of a 10-year-old boy being kidnapped from his homeland by Hamas terrorists as they launched their attack against Israel over the weekend.

The disturbing footage shows the youngster being dragged towards an opening in border fence between Gaza and Israel by the gunmen, who kidnapped around 150 people in their surprise offensive launched on Saturday morning.

Erez Kalderon, who was taken from his home in Nir Oz in the south of Israel by Hamas, looks terrified as he is led through the streets by the heavily armed men.

His father Offer and sister Sahar, 16, were also abducted in Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault that has left Israel reeling.

The chaotic footage, posted on social media, shows the young boy being held by the arms by a much larger man who is accompanied by another holding a rifle.

Video has emerged of a 10-year-old boy being snatched at gunpoint from his home by Hamas terrorists as they launched their attack on Israel over the weekend

One of the rifle-wielding man's hands appears to be covered in blood.

READ MORE: The siege of Sderot... Hamas terrorists gun down motorists before seizing control of police station Advertisement

Other fighters are seen moving up and down the road, including one who drives past the group dragging Erez on the back of a motorbike.

A barbed-wire-lined fence, presumed to be the Gaza-Israeli border fence, can be seen in the background, as can smoke rising into the sky in the distance.

A man, who is not identified in the video clip, is heard pleading with the gunmen dragging him down the road, saying: 'Don't harm them, these are young, leave them, this one's a young boy maybe only 10 years old'.

It was not clear from the footage whether this was one of the kidnappers saying they should leave the young Israeli alone, another Israeli who had been kidnapped pleading with his captors in Arabic, or another bystander entirely.

The footage cuts off before the youngster is seen being taken into Gaza.

Erez's family have since spoken about his abduction, saying that he, his father and sister were hiding on Saturday morning and have not been heard from since.

'Yesterday at 8.30am messages were sent from them that the terrorists are outside their house... and they are hiding,' a message from a relative, which was circulated online, said. 'Since then their voices have not been heard.'

Erez's sister Gaya Kalderon, 21, who lives in Tel Aviv, told Sky News: 'Everything I have in my life - my family - is missing. I'm terrified from the photographs and can't believe my eyes. It feels like a horror movie that would never come true. But it did.'

Erez Kalderon, who was snatched from his home in Nir Oz in the south of Israel by Hamas, looks terrified as he is led through the streets by the heavily armed men

The war began after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on Saturday, bringing gunbattles to its streets for the first time in decades.

At least 1,600 lives have already been claimed on both sides, and perhaps hundreds more, with Israel saying on Tuesday its death toll had risen passed 1,000, although seperate reports suggested the total toll could be much higher.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas fighters were found on Israeli territory, the military said. It wasn't immediately clear whether those numbers overlapped with deaths previously reported by Palestinian authorities.

Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza currently hold more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel, with Hamas threatening to execute hostages if the Israeli Defence Forces strike targets in Gaza without warning.

The conflict is only expected to escalate. Israel expanded the mobilisation of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the country's media.

After days of fighting, Israel's military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gaza - a 25 mile-long strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets overnight in Gaza City's Rimal neighbourhood, an upscale district that is home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, as well as universities, media organisations and aid organisations.

After hours of nonstop attacks, residents left their homes at daybreak to find buildings torn in half by airstrikes or reduced to mounds of concrete and rebar.

Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets that had been transformed into moonscapes.

The devastation signaled what appeared to be a new Israeli tactic: warning civilians to leave certain areas and then hitting those areas with unprecedented intensity.

Palestinians rush through a cap after taking down the fence on the Israel-Gaza border and enter Israel after clashes and attacks in Gaza City, Gaza on October 7

Smoke is seen rising near the border fence between Gaza and Israel on October 7

The bombardments and Israel's threats to topple Hamas sharpened questions about the group's strategy and objectives.

But it is unclear what options it has in the face of the ferocity of Israel's retaliation and the potential of losing much of its government infrastructure.

Hours after Saturday's incursion began, a senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri said the group had planned for all possibilities, including 'all-out war,' and was ready to suffer 'severe blows.'

Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, Hamas' armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida told residents of Israel's port of Ashkelon to leave the area by 5pm on Tuesday, without giving any further details, in an ominous warning to its residents.
A former New York City Pix11 reporter trapped in Israel with her eight-month-old baby and husband just an hour from the Gaza strip says 'she's starting to break.'

Rebecca Solomon has been visiting family for the Jewish holidays in Rishon LeZion, where nine people have already been injured and rocket sirens have been blaring daily since Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel at the weekend.

The married new mom is among many Americans who have not yet left the country as the unprecedented war rages on and President Benjamin Netanyahu says he doesn't expect to see the end of for a long time.

Solomon has been keeping her family, friends and followers updated with her moves through social media as she scrambles to find a flight home.

Rebecca Solomon is trapped in Rishon LeZion, Israel with her eight-month-old baby Mia and husband (pictured together) after visiting family

The former New York City Pix11 reporter is just an hour from the Gaza strip and says 'she's starting to break'

'Trying to get out of Israel sooner than scheduled Thursday... any suggestions?? Please don't refer me to embassy or step. It's not helpful at this time,' she wrote in one post.

While Solomon has had difficulty with the U.S. Embassy, members of Congress from across the country claim they're trying everything they can to help extract stranded Americans.

'We now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel,' President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday.

'While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.'

Solomon, filming herself from the balcony of her home said: 'I don't know where to begin, I'm just starting to break a little bit.'

'I want you guys to see what it's like, the emotions, and I'm just afraid that, you know, our flight for Thursday is going to be cancelled.'

Solomon said she originally booked a flight with Delta which was changed to Virgin Atlantic at the last minute but added she understands that airlines have been grounded.

'I feel like its important for me to go on here because I'm starting to break,' she repeated.

'Anything at this point, the embassy and step do not count, do not send me their information they're not helping.'

Solomon posted an email from the embassy which read: 'Dear Rebecca, If you can, please book any available flight to any destination and then continue on to NY from there.'

The post was captioned: 'This is the email I received back from @israelinusa ... how does this even help if there are NO flights??? Am I missing something here????'

Another post in which a teary Solomon continued to explain her situation she said: 'I'm on hold right now with El Al, I know people say, that people go out on those flights.'

'I haven't been able to find one I've been on hold with them for an hour, I don't even think they open yet.

'But maybe there will be an opening to get out today, we know a ground invasion is imminent and I just want to get out before Thursday now.'

Solomon explained that she had originally had a flight booked with Delta which changed to Virgin Atlantic at the last minute but added she understands that flight have been grounded

Solomon posted an email from the embassy which read: 'Dear Rebecca, If you can, please book any available flight to any destination and then continue on to NY from there.'

In a desperate attempt to keep focus on the happier moments, Solomon posted a video of her and her daughter Mia laughing while her husband was on the phone with a travel agent.

This was quickly contrast to Solomon, just mere hours later, in a bomb shelter with her eight-month-old as sirens erupt outside.

'Just checking in with everyone, the alarms are now sounding for more rockets going on in Rishon where we are,' she said while feeding her daughter.

'We are in the bomb shelter, I just got here, that's what we're dealing with. I don't know if you can hear the sirens.'

On Monday, Mediate spoke to the former Emmy award-winning journalist about what she had been witnessing.

'We've had wars for all of eternity everywhere  but what happened on Saturday just takes it on to a whole new level and things are going to get a lot worse before they get better I fear,' Solomon told the outlet.

'What we've been seeing, where I am, which is about an hour north of Gaza where most of the turmoil is happening, up in the sky are rockets, and we hear the missiles, and when that happens we hear sirens, and when the sirens go off we have to take shelter.

Solomon is an award winning journalist who spent four years with News 12 before joining the Pix11 team in New York City

Israelis in Rishon LeZion taking cover

'The one part that is our saving grace, and I'm counting my blessings for, is the Iron Dome, which intercepts the missiles up in the sky so they don't make landfall.

'Every now and then they do because nothing is perfect, but in that case we're protected by the bomb shelters.'

Solomon said there are no restrictions in place at the moment to stay indoors but she doesn't feel safe leaving her in-laws' apartment, which is equipped with a bomb shelter.

'I've chosen to be at home at their apartment. I like being right where I know I can get to safety especially now as a new mom,' she said.

'My daughter she'll be eight months in a couple days and I feel most comfortable here.'

Solomon has tickets booked for Thursday but the trip to the airport could prove perilous.

'As far as getting to the airport that's my number one fear. The airport from here is only a twenty minute drive,' Solomon said.

Solomon said she was: 'petrified because I don't know what could happen on the drive there and as we're seeing with these reports, and my own eyes, the airport, they are getting bombed out.'

She says life in Israel is a husk of its former self since the war began.

'It's scary. It's very eerie. Israel is a lively nation. It is so developed, and there's so much love and excitement in the air when you land in Israel,' she explained of previous visits.

A firefighter was seen walking towards a building in Rishon LeZion as rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip on Saturday

'In Tel Aviv, wherever you go people are welcoming and shoving food down your throat, and wine and music, and dancing, and shopping and there's none of that right now.

'Everything has come to a halt. You have some people who are scared and rightfully so, children who have to stay in the bomb shelters and sleep, and it's scary.

'And then you have people who are no longer active military, they're in the reserves or what have you, and they are like 'put me in. I'm ready to fight. I want to serve my country.' Yes, it's scary but there's a lot of strength as well.'

Solomon is an award winning journalist who spent four years with News 12 before joining the Pix11 team in New York City.

Prior to News 12, she worked in various markets as an anchor and reporter, including in her hometown market, Harrisburg/York, Pennsylvania.

It was here, she was nominated for an Emmy stemming from a three part series about a Holocaust survivor who built a strong relationship with the man who liberated him from Dachau.

As she awaits details about getting home, tens of thousands of Israeli troops are on the move as the country prepares for a possible ground operation in response to the surprise attack launched by Hamas early Saturday morning.

More than 300,000 troops have been called up, the largest mobilization on short notice in Israel's history, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.

The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets

The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East

Those in the south are readying ahead of the forthcoming operation in Gaza and defending the border.

Jeeps, tanks and other large military vehicles have been seen heading south as well.

Along the northern border with Lebanon, the IDF has deployed tens of thousands of troops, including reservists and regular units, Conricus said. Tanks have also been spotted in the area.

Israel's UN ambassador told CNN the country's priority is 'to obliterate Hamas terrorist capabilities' after the militant group threatened to kill civilian hostages and broadcast the executions if airstrikes target Gaza without warning.

So far an estimated 100 to 150 hostages are being held in Gaza, while Hamas has claimed they have more then 100 captives, including members of the Israel Defense Force.

More than 900 people have died in Israel and 830 people in Gaza since the conflict erupted.
New York City Fire Department confirmed a man was taken to hospital

Police briefly cordoned off the North Tower Memorial following the incident

Jeffrey Hernandez has been charged with criminal mischief and trespass

Police have charged a New Yorker with trespass and criminal mischief after he launched himself into the 20ft 'central void' of the 9/11 reflecting pool.

Jeffrey Hernandez, 33, was taken to hospital with a leg injury after initially hurling himself 30ft into the basin of the NYC memorial.

Horrifying video footage showed him lying prostrate and peering over the edge into the abyss before sliding himself forward and falling headfirst down to the bottom on Monday afternoon.

Hernandez, of Pearl Street in Manhattan, had already sustained an injury after throwing himself 30ft into the basin of the memorial in front of terrified onlookers. Video showed a gash on his head and the water filled with blood.

An NYPD spokesman confirmed that he had been charged after being assessed by medics ad Bellevue Hospital.

This is the horrifying moment Hernandez slid into the 20ft 'central void' of the 9/11 reflecting pool after hurling himself 30ft into the basin of the NYC memorial

They said: 'On Monday, October 9, 2023 at approximately 1330 hours police officers responded to the North Pool at the World Trade Center within the confines of the 1 Precinct.

'Upon arrival, it was discovered that a 33-year-old male jumped into the North pool.

'The male was taken into custody at the scene. EMS responded and transported the male to NYC Health & Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition with a left leg injury. The investigation remains ongoing.'

The Fire Department quickly rushed to rescue the man from the central drop which is filled with around 18 inches of water. He reportedly told one of the officers he 'did this for his father.'

Hernandez was rushed to a local hospital, complaining of 'back pain' and suffering from an injured leg. The area was reopened a short time later.

Officials received a call at 1.30pm on Monday to reports of a 'jumper in the fountain', with one person transported to Bellevue Hospital.

Following a mental evaluation the man could face trespassing charges.

It is unclear if anyone has thrown themselves into the reflection pools in the past, with police previously raising concerns over the potential issue.

Another piece of footage showed the jumper had already sustained an injury after throwing himself the 30ft into the basin of the memorial. A gash was visible on his head and the water through which he trudged to the edge was filled with blood

The man trudges over to the edge of the void as horrified onlookers watch and then lies down to peer over the edge

Officials received a call at 1.30pm on Monday to reports of a 'jumper in the fountain', with one person transported to Bellevue Hospital

Former Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said they had to consider the 'possibilities' someone might try to commit suicide in the monument.

Grief experts also claimed the memorial could set off a 'negative psychological reaction', especially those who have a direct connection to atrocities.

Officials at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum said that a physical landmark for a tragedy is a 'trigger for grief'.

Kari F Watkins told the New York Times previously: 'People come to these places and begin to understand the meaning of them.

'We're teaching lessons of remembrance and resilience, and no matter what people are going through in their personal lives, they can relate to some story that is told here.'

The New York Police Department and the 9/11 Memorial did not immediately respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com.

Before the reflection pools were constructed, counterterrorism issued concerns that the sites could be an attraction for terrorist activity.

Glenn P. Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College, said: 'Our big worry several years ago, in the original design, was terrorism, and now we add suicide to the equation.

'I think it's going to happen  a suicide. I think it is an unbelievably emotional site.'
Just Stop Oil eco-zealots sprayed orange paint over the University of Oxford's iconic Radcliffe Camera building before targeting Exeter University library, in their latest climate stunt.

Protestors Daniel Knorr, 21, and Noah Crane, 18, used a fire extinguisher to spray Oxford's iconic library - which dates to the 18th century - bright orange at around 12pm today.

Elsewhere, a third student George Simonson, 23, used buckets of paint and spray cans to paint the glass facade of 'The Forum' on the Exeter University's campus.

Just Stop Oil has described the spray painting of the building in Oxford city centre as 'resistance against the UK Government's plans to license new oil and gas projects.'

Knorr, who studies at Oxford University said before the protest: 'I am taking action to resist the destruction of my generation.

Protestors Daniel Knorr, 21, and Noah Crane (pictured), 18, used a fire extinguisher to carry out the stunt at around 12pm today

George Simonson, 23, was videod using buckets of paint and spray cans to paint the glass facade of 'The Forum' on the Exeter University's campus

'Oxford academics are fully aware of the scale of the climate crisis  this year Oxford scientists said that in a few years climate breakdown will routinely expose people to unsurvivable heat and humidity.

'In other words, hundreds of millions of people will be forced to move, or die.

'This is mass murder. It is genocide. It is no good to study the annihilation of everything we care about and do absolutely nothing about it, we have to act!'

In a video posted to Twitter, now X, a police officer can be seen awkwardly holding a protestor's hand to stop him running away, as they stand in front of the garish orange paint.

Two protestors were arrested at the scene and had their orange paint seized by police.

The protest comes following reports in the Daily Mail last week that University of Oxford's student union invited Just Stop Oil to host a stall at this year's freshers' fair.

Knorr was pictured manning the stand and recruiting students to join the radical eco-protest group.

He also posted 17,000 JSO leaflets to Oxford students via their college cubby holes.

The Radcliffe Camera was built between 1737 and 1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library.

Daniel Knorr (right), who studies at Oxford University said before the protest: 'I am taking action to resist the destruction of my generation'

In a video posted to Twitter , now X, a police officer can be seen awkwardly holding a protestor's hand to stop him running away, as they stand in front of the garish orange paint.

George Simonson said: 'Studying engineering taught me that we already have the solutions to address the climate crisis, what we lack is the political will'

Just Stop Oil students have used fire extinguishers to paint Oxford University's library with bright orange paint, in their latest protest

Its circular shape, position in the heart of Oxford and separation from other buildings makes it one of the citys most iconic landmarks.

Just Stop Oil also targeted the glass facade of The Forum on the Exeter University campus with orange paint at lunchtime today.

The protests in Oxford and Exeter come following the arrest of five Just Stop Activists on October 4 after they hijacked a performance of Les Miserables in Londons West End.

The crowd booed and jeered as eco-activists, holding the group's orange banner, clambered onto the stage at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury.

One furious theatre-goer shouted: 'Get off you stupid people. How dare you.'

Another yelled: 'You naughty people, you naughty people.'

One man near the front of the audience snatched away one of the eco-protestors banners.

The stage invasion occurred during the musical's famous protest song of Do You Hear The People Sing? which is often seen as a call to action and has been used all over the world in rebellions including the 2019 Jong Kong demonstrations.

The protestors are calling on staff and students to join the protest group's march in London in November.

Protestor Daniel Knorr, 21, said he was taking action to 'resist the destruction of my generation', while another said protesting 'gives me hope'.

Just Stop Oil has described the spray painting of the building in Oxford city centre as 'resistance against the UK Government 's plans to license new oil and gas projects'

Two protestors were arrested at the scene and had their orange paint seized by police

Both Knorr, a biochemistry student and Noah Crane, 18, a recent A-Level graduate, were pictured painting the historic Radcliffe Camera building earlier today.

George Simonson, 23, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Edinburgh, was responsible for the paint on the glass facade of 'The Forum' on the Exeter University campus.

Simonson said: 'Studying engineering taught me that we already have the solutions to address the climate crisis, what we lack is the political will. The politicians have been bought, and educational institutions are absolutely complicit in allowing them to continue this genocide.

'Universities are accepting tens of millions in dirty money and letting the fossil fuel companies come to careers fairs to give out free pens. Students have a duty to step up and show teaching institutions we won't stand for it anymore.'
Sam Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend has arrived at court in New York to testify against him in the trial over FTX's collapse.

Caroline Ellison was seen entering Manhattan Federal Court Tuesday morning as she prepares to take the stand against the failed cryptocurrency king.

Bankman-Fried, 31, is currently facing federal charges over the company's stunning collapse last year.

Ellison, 29, ran FTX's sister company Alameda Research while the two were an item, but she cut off all communication following their break up in 2022.

She arrived at court sporting a blue baseball cap and dark sunglasses to take the stand against her former lover.

Caroline Ellison was seen entering Manhattan Federal Court this morning as she prepares to take the stand against the failed cryptocurrency king

Ellison ran FTX's sister company Alameda Research while the two were an item

Ellison and Bankman-Fried had a professional and romantic relationship for around five years

Bankman-Fried, 31, has denied 13 counts between 2019 and 2011 including wire fraud, money laundering and violations of campaign finance laws which could see him jailed for 115 years.

Seven of the allegations are being dealt with at the current trial with the rest due to come to court next year.

DailyMail.com previously exclusively reported how he blamed his ex-girlfriend when the scale of the company's $11 billion debts became clear.

Court documents showed that the FTX founder wrote to his male colleagues that Ellison 'is not a natural leader, and probably never will be.'

Ellison and Bankman-Fried had a tumultuous five year relationship featuring multiple breakups and reconciliations.

During their time together, the disgraced crypto boss sent her a list of pros and cons of being in a physical relationship with him.

The note was written in 2018, according to Michael Lewis, the author of Bankman-Fried's biography 'Going Infinite'.

Court documents show that Bankman-Fried blamed his ex-girlfriend for massive debts at his company

Sam Bankman-Fried's parents Barbara Fried and Joseph Bankman were also seen entering court today

The FTX founder said he didn't think they would last due to his 'lack of empathy' and the fact it would be 'bad PR'.

He told her: 'There's a pretty decent argument that my empathy is fake, my feelings are fake, my facial reactions are fake. I don't feel happiness.'

However, he did concede Ellison is 'smart and impressive' in his notably shorter pros list.

Although the memo was not enough to deter her the former couple eventually parted ways for good in 2022 and Ellison cut off all communication.

In April of that year Ellison wrote in her diary: 'I felt pretty hurt/rejected. Not giving you the contact you wanted felt like the only way I could regain a sense of power.'

Bankman-Fried decided to shutdown Alameda in September last year amid a slump in crypto prices and speculation it was closer to FTX than previously thought.

He drew up another list with reasons to wind down the company, but did not share it with Ellison despite her being in charge.

Prosecutors claim Alameda operated as a slush fund for $8 billion of FTX customers' money which was used for extravagant expenses, real estate purchases and to make political donations.

Wang claimed Bankman-Fried ordered a $700million loss be put onto the accounts of its sister company because they were more secretive than FTX

FTX partner Gary Wang (left) and Bankman-Fried's attorney Mark Cohen (right) both returned to court today

Ellison pleaded guilty in December last year to two counts of wire fraud and several financial conspiracy charges.

It is thought today she may be asked about blog posts she wrote during 2021 while in charge at Alameda, which referenced her polyamorous lifestyle and drug use.

Bankman-Fried's parents Stanford law professors Barbara Fried and Joseph Bankman were also seen entering court today.

The couple are facing legal action themselves in the form of a lawsuit by FTX who claim they used the company to enrich themselves.

The lawsuit claims the couple accepted a $10 million cash gift from their son as well as as a $16.4million home in the Bahamas.

They are also accused of respectively, accused of helping cover up complaints from the exchange's former attorney, and helping executives evade necessary disclosures for political donations.

Ellison is expected to be asked about blog posts written in 2021 which describe her polyamorous lifestyle and use of amphetamines

Caroline Ellison and Bankman-Fried's sexual relationship continued for multiple years while they both spearheaded the now-disgraced crypto firm FTX

Bankman also funneled $5.5 million of company funds to his employers, to 'curry favor with and enrich' Stanford 'at the FTX Group's expense', the lawsuit claims.

Stanford has since confirmed it will be handing back the funds, 'in its entirety'.

Gary Wang, the FTX co-founder, retook the stand Tuesday. He told the jury that months before the company's collapse in November 2022, Bankman-Fried had told Ellison to put on a hedge, or an investment to reduce risk.

Wang said: Earlier that year in some chat (message) Sam mentioned the possibility of selling short some S&P 500 futures.

A few days after that a bunch of crypto prices fell.

Wang said that Bankman-Fried became angry at Ellison because she did not place the hedge that he suggested and sent them both a bunch of messages.

Bankman-Frieds lawyer Christian Everdell said: Sam was angry Alameda did not hedge its positions?

Wang said: Yes.

Everdell asked if the decision led to Alameda losing money, and Wang said yes.

Everdell asked if it was Ellisons decision not to put the hedge on.

Wang said: Caroline was the CEO of Alameda at the time. I dont know what the exact (decision making) process was.

Everdell asked that if Bankman-Fried had the ability to put on the hedge, he could have put on the hedge he wanted?

After an objection, the witness did not answer and Everdell moved on.

The jury heard that in September last year, Bankman-Fried considered shutting down Alameda and blamed Ellison for its troubles.

In a memo to Wang and Nishad Singh, FTXs chief of engineering - but not Ellison - Bankman-Fried wrote: The fact that we didnt hedge as much as we should have alone cost more than all the money Alameda has ever made or ever will make, and thats the kind of critical mistake were likely to make if Im not actually running the show there.
The network of schools presided over by the Pentagon has consistently ranked among the nation's best - even with interruptions wrought by the pandemic.

Supported by years of statistics, news of the phenomenon comes as public schools in places like Maryland and Illinois are still struggling - after social distancing measures threw a monkey wrench into students' lessons.

Run by the US military, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) today oversees 160 schools - with most being found at one of the country's nearly 500 military bases.

Serving 66,000 kids of service members and DoD employees aged five though 18, the system last year outperformed all 50 states on reading and math scores from eighth and fourth graders - both key markers in measuring students' progress.

Released by the National Center for Education Statistic, the test scores showed how 55 percent of DoD eighth graders have reading scores considered proficient - a full 21 percent more than the national average.

In terms of Math, more than 41 percent of middle schoolers in grade eight scored above the grade-level marker - eight percent more than the number representing all Americans.

In comments to The New York Times, several sociologists credited the score discrepancy on standards set by the military-run machine, which they said has created a disciplined classroom culture.

The network of schools presided over by the Pentagon has consistently ranked among the nation's best - even with interruptions wrought by the pandemic

Several sociologists credited the score discrepancy Tuesday on standards set by military-run machine, which they said have created a disciplined classroom culture

Lacking such discipline, according to the National Center statistics, were states like New Mexico and West Virginia, both of which recorded proficient rates near 20 percent for both reading and math.

States like New Jersey and Massachusetts, however, fared much better, scoring first in reading and math respectively, but still fell well short of markers set by the DoDEA.

Helping the DoDEA stay ahead of the curve, experts said, was that schools within the de facto district - such as like Faith Middle School in Fort Moore, Georgia, reopened relatively quick post-pandemic compared to its contemporaries.

Virtually unaffected, though, has been the DODEA - a system that figures like Marvin West, an education professor at Harvard, said that in recent years has emerged as the country's gold standard.

'If the Department of Defense schools were a state, we would all be traveling there to figure out whats going on,' said West of the system's far-flung facilities.

Another contributing factor are the more completive salaries being offered to DODEA staffers - supported by a Pentagon budget that allocates $3 billion to its schools each year.

'I doubled my income,' said Heather Ryan, a teacher at E.A. White Elementary near Georgia's Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning.

She told the Times how she rakes in $88,000 a year at the military-run school, compared to the $31,900 she made early on in her career in Florida.

Jessica Thorne, the school's principal, explained to the paper how plum pay bumps such as Ryan's are not unusual, and help retain staff - at a time where teacher turnover rates have hit never-before-seen highs.

Another contributing factor are the more completive salaries being offered to DODEA staffers at schools like Georgia's E.A. White Elementary - which are supported by a Pentagon budget that allocates $3 billion to its schools each year.

Jessica Thorne, the school's principal, explained to the paper how plum pay bumps such as Ryan's are not unusual, and help retain staff - at a time where teacher turnover rates have hit never-before-seen highs

She further touted how at her school - which has some 350 students - teachers typically have 10 to 15 years of experience, a statistic pretty much unheard of anywhere else, sans top-performing countries like Finland and Singapore.

Those countries' teachers are also well-paid in relation to the rest of the world, statistics show - a factor likely attracting top talent that then trickles down to the student body.

The outsized budget - comparative to that of city's like New York and California - also helps in other way, with much of it helping the federal-run system run more smoothly.

For example, the supply closets at DoD schools, staffers and students told the Times, tend to be well-stocked, leaving teachers in a markedly better situation than their state counterparts.

In places like the Big Apple - whose scores for fourth graders were twice as bad as the national average - teachers are often forced to fork over for necessities like paper, pencils, and books, as local budgets regularly fail to cover all the bases.

And while much of the funds secured by the DoDEA goes toward the somewhat daunting task of running schools internationally, roughly $25,000 is allocated per student, the DOD estimates.

That's on par with New York - the biggest spender out of the 50 states when it comes to education - and markedly more than places like Arizona, where spending is roughly $10,000 a year.

Brown University sociologist Prudence Carter, an expert on educational inequality, told the Times that the discrepancies seen between the Defense Department and the rest of the country are indicative of something greater.

Brown University's Prudence Carter, an expert on educational inequality, said the discrepancies seen between the DOD and the rest of the country show what could happen when students were given access to things that a typical middle-class kid may take for granted

Another contributor to the DoDEA apparent success, experts said, is their curriculum - overhauled to deviate from the rest of the country in 2015 due to criticism surrounding Common Core - along with the fact that each student has at least one parent with a job

She said the results - released by city and state officials last week - showed what could happen when students were given access to things that a typical middle-class child may take for granted.

'We arent even talking about wealth - whether they get to go to fancy summer camps,' Carter said, citing resources like housing, health care, food, and experienced teachers available to students thanks to their ties to the government.

'We are talking about the basic, everyday things,' she added, citing how soldiers who double as parents sometimes boast six-figure salaries and live in paid-for houses. Also helping, she said, is the fact all students' have at least one parent with a job.

To support her point, low-scoring locales like New Mexico - which recorded the lowest scores by far - have a large portion of its population living below the poverty line.

Another contributor to the DoDEA apparent success, experts said, is their curriculum - overhauled to deviate from the rest of the country in 2015 due to criticism surrounding the often controversial Common Core.

The program - which has since been repealed in states like Indiana, Arizona, Oklahoma, and South Carolina - sought to align standards across states, but was marred by a messy rollout that was worsened more by the pandemic.

In contrast, the Defense Departments replacement plan was adapted with precision that likely could only be achieved by the military - one that was methodical and focused on one subject area at a time.

Average math and reading scores plummeted during the pandemic, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress

Virtually unaffected, though, has been the DODEA - a system that figures like Marvin West, an education professor at Harvard, said that in recent years has emerged as the US gold standard

The outsized budget - comparative to that of city's like New York and California - also helps in other way, with much of it helping the federal-run system run more smoothly

The rollout took a full six years - a timeline that finished just as other school scores began to be affected negatively by the pandemic.

The Times noted how the timetable was less than the average tenure of an American public school superintendent, which is a little more than three years

Logistical planning, including a uniform budget, 'isnt very sexy,' Defense Department School Director Thomas M. Brady told the paper, but it is paramount to public schools' success, he said.

Moreover, prior to the pandemic, military schools still did well but were not ranked nearly as high as they are now - showing how officials' actions over the past year, aside from only now paying off, could widen the gap even further in years to come.

The schools also have smaller learning gaps between white and students of color, indicating that integration also played a part in the system's test score success.

Nationwide, the average American child fell six months behind in math due to Covid school closures, with students in the nation's poorest areas behind two-and-a-half years, a study in October found.

Also helping, experts and school officials told the paper, was that schools within the system, like Faith Middle School in Georgia , reopened relatively quickly post-pandemic compared to its contemporaries - lulls that are now making themselves known with students' test scores

According to the Education Recovery Scorecard, which gathered a district-by-district analysis of test scores, the average student lost more than half a school year of learning in math and nearly a quarter of a school year in reading.

The report said the pandemic devastated children's well-being, not just by closing their schools, but also by taking away their parents' jobs, sickening their families and teachers, and adding chaos and fear to their daily lives.

'When you have a massive crisis, the worst effects end up being felt by the people with the least resources,' said Stanford education professor Sean Reardon, who compiled and analyzed the data along with Harvard economist Thomas Kane.
Ultra top secret invasion maps designed to confuse the Germans ahead of the D-Day landings have been discovered in a suitcase.

They were owned by Captain Thomas Dawson, who was one of the few officers entrusted with the highly classified details of the Allied invasion of occupied France.

The maps were designed so that, if they were to fall into enemy hands ahead of Operation Neptune on June 6, 1944, they would be harder to decipher.

The map for Operation Neptune has 'Bigot' printed on it, which was the highest level military security classification, above even 'Top Secret'.

Bigot stood for the 'British Invasion of German Occupied Territory', and was chosen by Winston Churchill before America came into the Second World War.

The 1:25,000 scale map shows Sword Beach, with French place names changed to European and African cities such as Lisbon, Vienna and Tunis.

It is titled 'Cairo' and calls the three sections of the beach 'Peter', 'Queen' and 'Roger'.

Ultra top secret 'bogus' invasion maps designed to confuse the Germans ahead of the D-Day landings have been discovered in a suitcase. They were owned by Captain Thomas Dawson, who was one of the few officers entrusted with the highly classified details of the Allied invasion of occupied France

Also in the suitcase were photographs and mementoes that include a pair of binoculars

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 was the biggest of its kind in history

The select officers who were given Bigot clearance received place and date information for the impending amphibious invasion, which was the largest of its kind in history.

These correspond to the sections from Luc-Sur-Mer to Lion-Sur-Mer, Lion-Sur-Mer to La Breche d'Hermanville, and La Breche d'Hermanville to Ouistreham.

There are numbers printed in red throughout the towns and landing area which are thought to signify camps and ammunition dumps.

Captain Dawson had already fought in the First World War when, now middle aged, he re-enlisted with the Royal Engineers to defend Britain from the Nazis.

He served in the Beach groups that landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Captain Dawson's wartime possessions, which have been passed down generations of his family, also include his uniform, badges and paperwork.

They were discovered in a suitcase at the London home of a deceased family member which was being emptied.

The map for Operation Neptune has 'Bigot' printed on it, which was the highest level military security classification, above even 'Top Secret'

The maps show the French coast and were prepared ahead of the Allied invasion in 1944

They were owned by Captain Thomas Dawson, one of the officers entrusted with the top secret plans

Diaries, first aid books, atlases and German books are in the collection

Also on offer are the uniforms that Captain Dawson wore during the war

The suitcase also contained a series of photo albums compiled by Captain Dawson

The archive has emerged for sale for 700 at C & T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent.

A C & T Auctions spokesperson said: 'This is a superb and comprehensive grouping belonging to Captain Dawson, a veteran of World War One who served in the Beach Groups in the Royal Engineers, landing on D-Day on 6th June 1944.

'Amongst the paperwork archive is his original 'top secret' invasion maps of the Normandy beaches with the beaches and areas having the names changed for counter intelligence purposes.

'Other items include maps of the Normandy area and a formation sign for the Royal Engineers beach groups.

'His wartime possessions were found in a suitcase in the home of a deceased descendant.'

The forces were roughly divided across five beaches: Gold and Sword were attacked by British troops, Juno by Canadian, and Omaha and Utah by the US
The two surviving people inside an Idaho house where four college students were slaughtered were texting each other during the massacre, a new report claims.

The details of the messages have not been released but apparently were exchanged as the killer went room to room in the spree, according to an AirMail piece on the murders. The texts were revealed by a grand jury source.

The piece offered an in-depth look at the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, housemate Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, on 13 November 2022.

The piece was written from Kaylee's father's point-of-view and drew the ire of the dad who said he never agreed to an interview for the artcile.

AirMail writer Howard Blum, 75, insisted that his profile of the grieving father was created via interviews with people close to him, as well as a 'trove of texts.'

Airmail writer Howard Blum, 75, was slammed by Steve Goncalves - whose daughter Kaylee was murdered inside her college home last year in Moscow , Idaho - for writing the highly dramatized, 'fictional' report

Steve Goncalves with his daughter Kaylee

In response to the story, Steve Goncalves said in a statement: 'As it is common in these situations people try to make money off of the dead. It's a free world and people can write and say pretty much anything they want these days.

'Most of the time my family and I just ignore the chatter and the noise, but line shave to be drawn somewhere. I was recently sent an article on 'Airmail' by Howard Blum, describing Kaylee, apparently quoting me, and completely making up a fictional story about FBI letters, etc.

'Mr Blum recently has used the murders to get back into the spotlight appearing on an NBC show as well as a 'book' he is writing.

'He has reached out through our attorney several times to speak to us but we have declined.

'I just want to make it very clear to the public that we have not spoken to Mr Blum about the death of our daughter.

'In his article he writes as if he were Mr Goncalves and has gone through the tragedy of having a murdered daughter and what he has experienced and is still experiencing.

'This is nothing more than grandstanding and a very, very poor attempt and getting attention. This piece is obviously fictional but written in poor taste.

Bryan Kohberger , 28, has been charged with the murders of the four University of Idaho students in November last year

'The Goncalves Family would ask that everyone please respect the victims of this tragedy and continue to support trustworthy journalism.'

In the Airmail piece, writer Blum stated: 'Airmail reached out to Steve for comment, but Steves attorney said neither he nor his client can comment due to a gag order.'

The writer made reference to a grand jury source, who allegedly told Steve that the surviving two girls were 'texting one another as the murderer methodically went from one room to the next.'

Blum then hypothesized: 'The possibility that two people had a sense of the horror while it occurred and had not acted, calling neither friends nor 911, left Steve floored.'

At the beginning of his piece, he also dramatized words in the first person, as if they were being written by one of the victims' family members.

Victims (L-R) Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle

Blum said in a statement following the backlash from the Goncalves family: 'One: I have no wish to get into a public argument with Mr. Goncalves; he and his family have already suffered too much pain.

'Two: We both agree on that I never interviewed him (as the article clearly states).

'Three: My portrait of a grieving father was based on a trove of texts he wrote that were made available to Air Mail, his public statements, and interviews with people close to him.'

Bryan Kohberger, 28, has been charged with the murders of the four University of Idaho students. Steve previously revealed that Maddie was likely the first to die.

Steve believes Kaylee was stuck between her friend's body and the wall before the assailant attacked her, citing the coroner's report.

Speaking to CBS News' Peter Van Sant, he said: 'There's evidence to show that she awakened and tried to get out of that situation, [but] she was assaulted and stabbed.

'The bed was up against the wall. The headboard was touching the wall and the left side of the bed was touching the wall.

'And we believe that Maddie was on the outside and Kaylee was on the inside. The way the bed was set up[Kaylee] was trapped.'

Kaylee's mother, Kristi, said that she thinks the killer's plan 'went awry', adding that he 'intended to kill one and killed four'.

Their comments come after Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, pushing back the court case until at least next year.

He refused to answer when asked for his plea, so a judge entered a not guilty indication on his behalf. His legal team denies the allegations against him.

Family members of the victims spoke with Van Sant in 'The Night of the Idaho Murders,' with Xana's sister Jazzmin opening up for the first time.

'I don't know why [the murders] happened,' she said. 'I wish we knew. They were, all four of them were, just such great people and made such an impact on the lives around them.'

Xana's father said that he believes his daughter fought back against her killer, adding, 'It's upsetting to think about'.

The Goncalves family believes that alleged killer Kohberger made several scouting trips to the property on Kings Road.

'He had to know when people were coming, people going,' says Steve.

A police affidavit states that Kohberger visited the property on at least 12 occasions prior to the killings.

The Goncalves family have been undertaking their own investigation and were regularly speaking out before a gag order was put in place.

The family say the probe revealed that Kohberger was following both Kaylee and Maddie on Instagram, adding that it 'appeared to be' his real account.

Steve said: 'We're not going to just sit back and cross our fingers and pray we're going to get justice.'

His wife said that she believes Kohberger is responsible for the slayings, adding: 'He's going to feel all of us just staring at the back of his head. And he knows what he did to our daughter.'

But Kohberger's defense team says that there is 'no connection' between him and any of the victims, rubbishing the social media claims.
The son of an American woman believed to be a Hamas hostage has told Biden to take responsibility and act fast to secure the release of all prisoners snatched from Israel by the terrorist group.

Nahar Neta, a 42-year-old agri-tech executive, has not heard from his mother Adrienne, a 66-year-old retired nurse and midwife who hails from California, since Saturday morning when the attacks unfolded.

The grandmother-of-seven, who moved to Israeli in 1981, was drinking coffee on her porch in Beeri, a kibbutz close Gazas eastern frontier, when the terrorists struck.

It is where they broke through Israels border barrier and slaughtered at least 100 people at the weekend.

Adrienne Neta, who moved to Israel in 1981 from California, recently retired from her work as a nurse at a local hospital

Her 42-year-old son, Nahar, urged the Biden administration to step in and help free those held hostage by Hamas terrorists

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Nahar called on the current U.S. administration to step up their efforts to free her mother and the other missing Israelis who have not been named among the dead.

I want President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken to take responsibility and act fast to release all the hostages, with the American citizens at the top of list, and not be a second player to the Israeli government, he said from Tel Aviv.

The US has a responsibility to its citizens who are currently being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

I expect the U.S. government to act fast for my mom and the other hostages to be released immediately.

Nahar also described how gunmen broke into Adriennes home just before 9:45 a.m. local time.

It was just one hour after the Islamist group unleashed a barrage of rockets on towns and cities in southern Israel.

He and his three other siblings had joined an hour-long group phone call in which they tried to calm their mother down and reassure her that she would be safe.

It started with a bombardment of missiles and bombs around the kibbutz, then she went into her safe room in her apartment and then the shooting began.

My mom was very scared, and she made sure to tell us how much she loved us. And we made sure to tell her the same thing and that everything is going to be OK.

At some point, screaming in Arabic started in the room. My mum was a nurse at the regional hospital in Beersheva, and she spoke a little bit.

So, she tried screaming in Arabic at the terrorists and they were shouting back. After a couple of seconds, the line went dead.

Nahar, who now lives in Fresno, California, said he and the other relatives of those missing have been left completely in the dark since Saturdays terror attacks as to the precise whereabouts of their loved ones.

But in a potential blow to freeing any hostages, Hamas warned the residents of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon to evacuate and ruled out any negotiations until the fighting is over.

We have informed all parties that contacted us regarding the enemys prisoners held by the resistance that this file will not be opened before the end of the battle, said Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau.

And it will only be at a price that the resistance will accept.

Israel said earlier on Tuesday that It had reclaimed control of the Gaza border, pounding the enclave with the fiercest air strikes in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system took down rockets fired by terrorist groups from the Gaza Strip earlier on Tuesday

Hamas terrorists beheaded babies and gunned down entire families in their homes in a small kibbutz in Israel, Israeli soldiers have revealed

Its government has vowed to take mighty revenge since gunmen rampaged through its towns, leaving streets strewn with bodies in by far the deadliest terrorist attack in its history.

It has called up hundreds of thousands of reservists and placed the Gaza Strip, a crowded home to 2.3 million people, under a total siege.

Israeli officials said earlier on Tuesday that the death toll now stands at least 1,008, and that more than 3,418 people injured.

Its military could soon plot a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, territory it abandoned in 2005 and has kept under blockade since Hamas took power there in 2007.

The total siege it announced on Monday would block even food and fuel from reaching the strip.

Israel was caught so completely off guard by Saturday's attack that it took more than two days to finally seal off the multibillion-dollar high-tech barrier wall, meant to have been impenetrable.
The child's parents are suing the city and police department for charges including 'battery/unnecessary force'

Two Oveido police officers are seen handcuffing the child on bodycam video and threatening to send him 'to jail'

The fourth grader is a special needs student who has 'physical aggression' listed as a behavior problem in his school file

The parents of a 9-year-old Florida boy are suing the city of Oviedo and local police after officers handcuffed their child in a school mailroom during a violent outburst and threatened to send him to jail.

The parents say excessive force was used when a cop handcuffed their son, in a shocking moment captured on body cam footage that was released to the public on Thursday.

The fourth grader is a special needs child who is prone to outbursts - to the point where the school, Stenstrom Elementary, had a specific procedure in place.

The student's Individual Education Plan and Behavior Intervention Plan mentions 'physical aggression' as a behavior problem, according to a complaint filed September 27.

Staff were instructed not to 'engage in any conversation other than having him complete the task' and otherwise 'limit the level of attention directed to him,' the complaint says.

The parents of a nine-year-old boy are suing the city of Oviedo, Florida and local police after officers handcuffed their child during a violent outburst

The child's hands were cuffed behind his back, forcing him to the ground in the mailroom of Stenstrom Elementary School, in a moment caught on bodycam footage

The complaint filed September 27 alleges that the fourth grader - a special needs child - is prone to aggression, to the point where it is mentioned in a 'Behavior Intervention Plan'

Officers were called to the school back in February after staff were unsuccessful in deescalating the situation, as the child cursed, screamed and threw pieces of mail

Two Oviedo police officers were called to the school mailroom on February 2 after school staff failed to deescalate a situation where the fourth grader was 'cursing, screaming and throwing things,' according to a police report.

School resource officer Yashira Moncada turned on her body camera after she arrived.

In the footage, the child can be seen sitting on the floor with pieces of mail scattered around him. He picks up several pieces and throws them at Moncada.

Moncada is heard saying 'This is why I cant be an SRO' and asking the boy 'if he wants to go to jail' before calling officer Scott Moseley for backup.

'I am going to handcuff him,' Moseley says, despite being advised not to do so by a school counselor.

'You can do that, I cant,' Moncada tells the officer before he cuffs the screaming child's hands behind his back.

The officers tell the boy to calm down as he lays prone on the floor.

The child asks to go home, to which Moncada replies: 'Youre not going to go home, so do you want to go to jail?'

Around 13 minutes later, the handcuffs were removed.

The boys parents are suing the city of Oviedo and both officers, accusing them of excessive force and 'battery/unnecessary force.'

They seek at least $75,000 in damages.

In the footage, the child is seen picking up pieces of mail and throwing them at school resource officer Yashira Moncada, who says 'This is why I cant be an SRO'

She asks the boy if he 'wants to go to jail' before calling officer Scott Moseley for backup

'I am going to handcuff him,' Moseley says when he arrives, despite being discouraged by a school counselor

'Youre not going to go home, so do you want to go to jail?' Moncada says when the boy asks to leave

After the boy was handcuffed, his parents met with school staff and Moncada, according to the complaint.

During this meeting, Moncada allegedly told the parents they were 'lucky that she did not arrest' their son.

The complaint argues that he 'has suffered physical and emotional abuse and injury, mental anguish, violation of (his) right, humiliation, discomfort, embarrassment, loss of dignity, aggravation of an existing disease or mental defect, and medical expenses.'

The suit mentions that the Oveido and Seminole County school board has a school resource officer agreement banning the use of handcuffs on 'disabled students' through fifth grade.

It also cites an Oviedo Police Department general order reading: 'Juveniles less than 12 years of age are NOT placed in handcuffs or other restraints unless they pose a risk or danger to themselves, the officer, or others.'

The parents are demanding a trial by jury.

Oviedo Police said the department will not be conducting interviews, as the lawsuit is ongoing.

However, the family's attorney, Drew Moss, issued a statement.

It read: 'Nine-year-old children should not be handcuffed by police officers at school. The City of Oviedo has failed to reach out to the family to make any effort to address this unfortunate situation.'

Moss said it was not the family's 'preference' to sue, 'but the citys failure to investigate this incident and the officers involved left them no alternative.'

It is unclear what triggered the child's tantrum, if anything - an investigation is pending.
The protester who ambushed Keir Starmer at the Labour Conference is an Extinction Rebellion eco-zealot who describes himself as 'a little bit of a weird one'.

Yaz Ashmawi, 28, was seen tipping glitter over Sir Keir just before he prepared to give the speech of his career to his supporters.

The black confetti looked to have alarmed the politician as Ashmawi yelled incoherently: 'We demand a people's house. We are in crisis, we are in crisis. Our whole future is in jeopardy'.

He was taken out of the conference hall to a Merseyside Police van and arrested.

JSO also shared footage of the stage-invasion linking it to their demand that Sir Keir 'commits to revoking the oil and gas licences granted by this zombie Tory government'.

Ashmawi - who has his own website - describes himself as an Extinction Rebellion strategist and has acted as their spokesman.

Laughing Ashmawi has posted a number of pictures from far-flung locations around the globe

Yaz Ashmawi, 28, was seen tipping glitter over Sir Keir just before he prepared to give the speech of his career to his supporters

The protester is also a talented photographer and posts examples of his work online on his site

He claims to be a physicist with a particular interest in the study of entropy.

Ashmawi, who is from Surrey, says on his website: 'Sup, hi, hello, I'm a little bit of a weird one.

'I do a whole lot of different things.

'I work on physics a lot of the time, with particular interest in a quantity called entropy.

'I take photographs of many subjects: friends; strangers; small things; living things; places to see; spaces to pray.'

He certainly appears to be something of a globe-trotter, which may be at odds with his climate concerns.

One picture clearly shows him enjoying the incredible sights of Egypt.

The protester is also a talented photographer and posts examples of his work online.

He has taken part in climate change protests at COP26 and London.

Asked who inspired him, he said in an interview: 'To answer this honestly I have to say that my faith is actually the source of hope, purpose and inspiration in my life.

'I think people can do brilliant and wonderful things, and yes work can be inspiring absolutely but regarding individual people?

The protester is demanding the current political model in the UK is torn down using civil disobedience

Keir Starmer reacts after a protester threw glitter on him at the start of his keynote address to delegates on the third day of the annual Labour Party conference

Ashmawi in Egypt, which the climate change activist would have had to fly to on gas guzzling plane

'Im not sure I have someone in mind maybe Greta Thunberg? For just being an all-out legend and speaking the truth.'

In April 2003 he said as an XR spokesman: 'We have changed.

'We're not just blocking random junctions anymore, we're coming to the centre of power.

'We are doing actions that do result in arrests but we're targeting all those actions at the pillars in society that are most responsible and have the most power and influence to make a difference.

'There is a difference, we're not going for the big, public mass disruption that we have in the past.'

He is keen on the UK pursuing a Net Zero strategy and has deep concerns about climate change.

His social media page shows him in a number of protesting situations as well as in picturesque locations

The stunt on Starmer has raised questions over how someone could have evaded security

In June this year he said on Twitter: 'Only citizens' assemblies can get this done  our politicians don't have a grip on the scale of change that's needed.'

Extinction Rebellion this afternoon confirmed he was one of their activists, but said the stunt was not on behalf of them.

An XR spokesperson said: 'We agree with Yaz that true democracy is citizen-led and that our politics needs an update.

'The greatest crisis we are facing is the climate and nature emergency and it is clear the political system is unable to cope with this.

'This is why XR is demanding a UK-wide, independently-run citizens' assembly on the climate and nature emergencies.'

A political splinter group with links to XR and Just Stop Oil, called People Demand Democracy, claimed responsibility for the incident, saying they are a 'new group calling for an upgrade to the UK political system using civil disobedience'.

After being showered in glitter, Sir Keir was cheered as he took off his jacket and continued after the man was removed saying: 'If he thinks that bothers me he doesn't know me.'

He also joked that he was glad it hadn't happened to his wife Victoria because her dress was 'beautiful'.

The incident raises questions about the Labour leader's personal protection and security at the conference on Merseyside.

Those at the event had already criticised how search points at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool has no security arches with rudimentary bag searches instead.
But her mother said she's received word Shani is still alive in critical condition

Videos showed her lifeless body being paraded through streets in militant truck

The mother of German tattoo artist Shani Louk, who was believed to have been murdered by Hamas gunmen during Saturday's brutal attack on an Israeli music festival, has claimed she received word from Palestine her daughter is still alive.

The shocking revelation, if true, provides a glimmer of hope for a despairing family who were forced to watch videos of an unconscious and partially naked Shani paraded through the streets on the back of a pickup truck by Hamas terrorists as onlookers spat on her motionless body.

Shani's mother Ricarda Louk told German outlet Bild: 'We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical.

'You have to act quickly and get Shani out of the Gaza Strip!' she declared in the message directed at German officials. We shouldnt argue about questions of jurisdiction now!'

Shani, 22, is German but grew up in Israel, and was one of hundreds of unsuspecting partygoers at the Nova festival where Hamas conducted a massacre of some 260 civilians.

Earlier clips showed Shani dancing with a group of other revellers while smiling broadly at the camera - a far cry from the harrowing footage that emerged later showing her captors gleefully carrying her like a trophy.

Shani Louk, 22 (pictured), was at a music festival for peace when she was captured by Hamas terrorists who had stormed the event and massacred 260 Israeli revellers during their assault on Israel

Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's partially naked body on the back of a pick-up truck

Her family, who are desperately hoping that Shani is still alive despite the footage of her body, said she was a pacifist and a peace campaigner who was known for her involvement in organising music festivals

Video shows a smiling Shani, who loved to travel according to her family, dancing at the music festival moments before she was captured by the terrorists

Shani's mother, Ricarda, holds up a picture of her daughter on her mobile phone in an emotional video appeal begging for help to find out what happened to her daughter

Shani, who grew up in Israel but had a German passport, was a peace campaigner and conscientious objector to military service, her aunt Orly Louk, told the German newspaper Der Spiegel.

Orly said Shani had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her pacifist views, adding that her German passport helped with this.

It comes as Shani's mother, Ricarda, released a heartbreaking video begging for help to find out what happened to her daughter.

Holding a picture of Shani on her mobile phone, Ricarda said on Sunday: 'This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas.

'We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip.

'I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much.'

Hamas had claimed the body was a female Israeli soldier - but it was confirmed to be Shani by her cousin Tomasina Weintraub-Louk, who told MailOnline that the family recognised her distinctive leg tattoos and dreadlocked hair.

She said: 'We have heard nothing. We are hoping for positive news. It is definitely Shani.

'She was at a music festival for peace. This is a nightmare for our family.'

Tomasina said she and other family members had been desperately trying to contact Shani as well as her Mexican boyfriend, but they couldn't get through.

'We knew she was in the party, she didn't answer,' Tomasina said.

Her parents say they have not heard from their daughter since a phone call early on Saturday, just after Hamas launched their first rockets.

But her family have said they have since received information from her bank that Shani's credit card had been used in Gaza.

Shani, who grew up in Israel but had a German passport, had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her views

German tattoo artist named Shani Louk, who is in her early 20s, was in Israel to attend a peace rave

Palestinian fighters can be seen cheering and driving away as Shani's body lies motionless in the back of the truck

The tragedy comes as Palestinian militants launched its worst onslaught for 50 years on Saturday by unprecedented land, sea and air attacks - even using hang gliders to avoid detection.

In a coordinated, multi-pronged assault, Palestinian terrorists crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, seizing settlements and capturing and murdering civilians celebrating a Jewish holiday.

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered, after volunteers removed hundreds of bodies Advertisement

Dozens of people are feared to have been snatched off the street and returned to Gaza, or simply killed on the spot.

The music festival attended by Shani was one of the first sites to be attacked by the terrorist group, with 260 revellers massacred there.

Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims.

Clips posted to social media show how revellers were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one.

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Nova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday.

This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars.

Palestinian militants brandish weapons as they pass through Israeli territory on trucks

Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken off the street and driven back into Gaza

In a second video widely shared on social media, a woman screaming 'Don't kill me!' can be seen being driven off on a motorbike by a gunman.

She has since been identified as Noa Argamani, 25, a student who was seized at the same outdoor peace festival she had attended with her boyfriend close to the border.

Esther Borochov, who fled the rave party, said she survived by playing dead in a car after the driver trying to help her escape was shot point blank.

Bodies of Israeli civilians were strewn across the streets of Sderot in southern Israel, near Gaza, surrounded by broken glass. The bodies of a woman and a man were sprawled across the front seats of a car.

'I went out, I saw loads of bodies of terrorists, civilians, cars shot up. A sea of bodies, inside Sderot along the road, other places, loads of bodies,' said Shlomi from Sderot.

Terrified Israelis, barricaded into safe rooms, recounted their plight by phone on live TV.

Other footage showed captured soldiers and civilians  some dead  being paraded through Gaza's streets.
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has once again set the Middle East on fire.

For as the world watches videos and reads reports of savage Hamas terrorists murdering, raping and kidnapping Israeli civilians, to truly understand the evil purpose behind this slaughter one must look further east to the Islamic Republic.

After years of igniting wars in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, Khamenei and his Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have returned to their main purpose: the destruction of what he sickeningly calls the 'cancerous tumor.'

Iranian agents have long plotted to surround Israel with a 'ring of fire,' a phrase coined by a former Israeli National Security Adviser to describe a network of at least 19 armed groups on each of Israel's land borders; Gaza in the south, the West Bank in the east, and Lebanon and Syria in the north.

The largest of these groups, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, collectively receive nearly $1 billion annually from their benefactors in Tehran.

Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups also rely on Iranian technology and logistical support to locally produce arms, such as rockets and armed drones.

What the terror group does not produce it smuggles into the Mediterranean enclave through tunnels under its southern border with Egypt.

Now, Khamenei has decided to activate this terror network.

Iranian officials reportedly gave the greenlight for the surprise Hamas assault on Israel during an October 2 meeting in Beirut.

For as the world watches videos and reads reports of savage Hamas terrorists murdering, raping and kidnapping Israeli civilians, to truly understand the evil purpose behind this slaughter one must look further east to the Islamic Republic. (Above) Israeli woman kidnapped and driven into Gaza

Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza collectively receive nearly $1 billion annually from their benefactors in Tehran. (Above) Iranian lawmakers chant 'Death to Israel' before an open session of the parliament on October 7, 2023

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has once again set the Middle East on fire.

The operation's particulars were fine-tuned over the course of weeks by IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-supported factions, sources inside the terror groups told the Wall Street Journal.

But evidence of Iranian manipulation of these terrorists is not new.

During the May 2021 Gaza War, Tehran reportedly established a joint command operation - a war room of sorts - in Lebanon to coordinate the IRGC, Hezbollah, and Hamas. And Israeli officials have long warned the United Nations that Hamas is covertly building a military force inside Lebanon.

In fact, much of this dark scheming is carried out in plain sight.

In May, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi publicly met with Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders during a visit to Syria during which he reportedly called for 'unity and cohesion of the resistance forces.'

The following month, Khamenei and Raisi met again in public with 'resistance' forces in Tehran, where the Iranians congratulated Islamic Jihad leaders for an attack on Israel and urged more cooperation with Hamas.

But why, after years of planning, was Khamenei determined to strike now?

The primary reason was to derail a developing peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel that has been in negotiations for months and pushed by the Biden administration.

The agreement was an existential threat to Khamenei's vision of a 'Shiite crescent' - an unbroken chain of Islamist theocracies stretching from Beirut to the Persian Gulf - all committed to the Iranian Islamic Revolution.

Standing in his way is the sole democracy in the region and the Arab nations that have increasingly found common cause with the Jewish state.

Iran's Sunni enemy, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman has offered an alternative to Khamenei's extreme vision by building on the successful model of the Abraham Accords, negotiated under the Trump Administration, which normalized relations between Israel, the United Emirates and Bahrain.

After years of igniting wars in Syria , Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq , Khamenei (above) and his Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have returned to their main purpose: the destruction of what he sickeningly calls the 'cancerous tumor.'

Iran's Sunni enemy, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (above) has offered an alternative to Khamenei's extreme vision by building on the successful model of the Abraham Accords, negotiated under the Trump Administration, which normalized relations between Israel, the United Emirates and Bahrain.

To Khamenei, this is an existential threat that he needed to kill before it devoured him and his twisted dream.

However, Khamenei had another rationale to unleash Hamas: his belief that America is weak, or as his predecessor Supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini once said: 'America can't do a damn thing against us.'

The Biden administration fed this confidence.

President Biden promised during the 2020 election campaign to abandon the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign of crippling sanctions and international condemnation on Iran.

Then, as president, Biden persuaded Tehran to join talks to return to a nuclear weapons agreement that Trump abandoned in 2018.

In response, Iran dramatically escalated its illicit nuke program. And stunningly, the administration did little to deter it.

The Biden White House actually stopped enforcing sanctions leading to a sharp spike in Chinese oil purchases resulting in the flow of tens of billions of dollars into regime coffers.

More recently, the Biden team unfroze an additional $16 billion in sanctioned oil revenues, $10 billion from Iraq and $6 billion from South Korea, in exchange for Iran's release of five imprisoned Americans.

And finally, after the calamitous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden's unwillingness to use meaningful military force in response to recent Iranian-backed attacks on American troops, and divisions within the Republican Party over military support for Ukraine, Khamenei believes America is a paper tiger.

Khamenei had another rationale to unleash Hamas: his belief that America is weak, or as his predecessor Supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini once said: 'America can't do a damn thing against us.'

Even as the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group moves into the Eastern Mediterranean in a show of support of Israel, Khamenei believes he has little to fear from Washington.

How this all plays out in the coming days remains to be seen, as Israeli's bombardment of Hamas militants and weapons caches in the Gaza Strip escalate in preparation for an expected ground invasion.

In a televised speech on October 9, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared the murder, torture and abduction of Israeli women, children, and elderly to the horrors of ISIS.

The United States and its allies responded to the atrocities of ISIS, with overwhelming military force. Israel expects American support to do the same.

Once Israel's Gaza military mission is complete, Jerusalem should turn its full attention to Khamenei, the regime leadership, and terrorist operatives abroad in a campaign of targeted assassinations and covert actions that will make the pursuit of the Palestinian terrorists who massacred Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic games look like a minor operation.

Potential strikes on Iranian nuclear sites can also not be ruled out.

Make no mistake - the prospects for a greater regional war are growing.

Perhaps that's what Khamenei desired all along.

But he may live to regret his decision as he now contends with the fighting spirit of Israelis and a world  hopefully  awakened to the viciousness of the regime that rules Iran.

Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a nonpartisan policy institute. An expert on Iran's nuclear program and global threat network, he was sanctioned by Iran in 2019
Graves says that the whistleblower accounts are not accurate

Whistleblowers accused U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves of denying David Weiss' request to bring tax fraud charges against Hunter in D.C.

A Biden-appointed prosecutor is denying allegations that he contributed to improper political interference during the federal investigation into Hunter Biden.

IRS whistleblowers who worked the Hunter tax fraud case previously told Congress that Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss tried to bring tax fraud charges against the president's son in Washington, D.C., but was denied.

They said Weiss was blocked by the district's top federal prosecutor Matthew Graves, a former Democratic campaign operative who was appointed by Biden.

The 'special treatment' for Hunter by U.S. Attorney Graves and others became an ongoing pattern, accused the whistleblowers.

However, Graves pushed back on those allegations during a closed-door interview with Republican-led investigators on Oct. 3.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves

According to a transcript reviewed by DailyMail.com, Graves said he was 'surprised' by the allegation by the whistleblowers that his office blocked a request by Weiss to bring charges against Hunter.

The allegations were 'not consistent with my recollection,' Graves told congressional investigators.

During a phone call in February or early March 2022, Graves said that Weiss told him he was preparing to bring charges against the president's son in Washington.

The charges included $124,000 that Hunter did not pay in taxes in 2014 while he was serving on the board of Burisma, an Ukrainian energy company.

Graves said that he turned down Weiss' suggestion during the call that the two U.S. attorneys offices partner on the case - calling it unusual to do so.

But he said that he made it clear that his office would provide 'all the logistical support' necessary for Weiss to bring the charges in D.C.

Graves went on to say that he has personally worked many whistleblower cases and understands the 'garble' that can occur when 'you label hearsay on top of hearsay on top of hearsay.'

In addition, Graves said that despite his pervious work on the Biden campaign, there was 'no conflict of interest' when discussing the Hunter case.

'We have investigations all the time  of individuals who are members of the administration.  A family member of the administration? I dont see it as necessarily a conflict of interest or perception of a conflict of interest,' he told investigators.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has maintained that Weiss always had the 'full authority' to bring charges against Hunter without restraint and in any district across the country.

But Weiss has contradicted himself, at first telling the House Judiciary Committee over the summer that he had 'responsibility for deciding where, when, and whether to file charges', then latter saying his charging authority 'is geographically limited to my home district.'

Graves' transcribed interview also states that Weiss would have needed to get clearance from DOJ's Tax Division to move the Hunter case to a grand jury in D.C.

That further contradicts Weiss' public statements.

David Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the State of Delaware and special counsel into Hunter Biden's federal investigation

As a result of increasing scrutiny following the IRS whistleblower claims, Garland appointed Weiss to special counsel status on August, giving him the direct authority to bring charges in any district.

Weiss charged Hunter last month with three felony counts related to lying on a federal gun application form while under the influence of drugs. The president's son has pleaded not guilty.

The new guilty plea comes after what Republicans called a 'sweetheart' plea deal - that would have seen Joe Biden's son avoid jail time - collapsed over the summer.

Last month, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unilaterally launched an impeachment inquiry of President Biden over his alleged connections to his son's business dealings.

As part of the inquiry, the GOP is also examining potential political interference by the Justice Department in the Hunter Biden criminal investigation.
President Joe Biden is facing pressure from Republican senators to reimpose a freeze on $6 billion in Iranian funds following this weekend's brutal Hamas terror attack in Israel.

The Iranian regime was allowed to access the money under a recent deal that freed American hostages, and the funds are supposed to be used for humanitarian purposes.

But the Republicans say it could allow Tehran to 'reallocate' resources to finance further terror attacks.

Hamas continued to fire rockets at Israel from Gaza on Tuesday, following a coordinated attack on Saturday which killed over 900 Israelis and raised immediate suspicion of outside support.

Israel is preparing a potential ground invasion in response to the attacks.

GOP senators are calling on President Joe Biden to put back a freeze on $6 billion Iranian funds out of concern it could go to fund Hamas terror operations

'To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable,' 20 Republican senators wrote Biden on Monday.

'Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.'

Allowing the funds to flow into Iran's economy 'allows the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to supporting terrorism,' they added, saying oversight of the funds is 'not enough.'

The White House says there is 'complicity' due to Iran's support for Hamas, but say there are facts that establish the Saturday operation

Signing onto the letter are Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), as well as Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)

They are demanding the administration rescind waivers that allowed for the funding to be transferred to Qatar under a deal that freed five Americans who were being held in Iran.

The deal got completed last month. Following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Biden administration was forced to explain that the funding, which was already controversial, had not yet been released.

Signing onto the letter are Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), as well as Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In public comments this week, the administration has walked a delicate line  saying they had no information pointing to Iranian support for the attack, while acknowledging its past support for Hamas and for terror groups.

'There's a degree of complicity here, but Iran has been supporting Hamas for many, many years  tools, training, capabilities  certainly rhetorically but in more much more tangible ways than that,' said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. 'So, absolutely, there's a degree of complicity here writ large.'

'That said, we haven't  and we are looking through the information streams. We haven't seen hard, tangible evidence that Iran was directly involved in participating in or resourcing and planning these sets of complex attacks that Hamas pulled off over the weekend,' he said.

He said the administration was 'going to keep looking at it. Our Israeli counterparts are also actively looking, and even they have publicly said they don't see the quote, unquote smoking gun.'

Kirby and other officials have refused to confirm a Wall Street Journal story that Iran helped plan the attack and gave the go-ahead during a Beirut meeting last Monday.
The two declared candidates for House speaker are making their final pitches for the job on Tuesday but face a stumbling block as allies of Kevin McCarthy plot a potential comeback.

McCarthy supporters are expected to nominate him again for speaker despite the ousted House leader not formally putting his name forward.

That could delay plans for a vote as some loyalists throw their support behind McCarthy even though he won't to get the support of 217 lawmakers - a majority in the lower chamber.

The path for either Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee, or the House's number two Republican, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, to get a majority is far from clear too.

Without an elected House speaker, the lower chamber cannot move on to other legislative priorities - namely passing spending legislation to avert a government shutdown next month, and aid to replenish Israel's defense capabilities amid attacks from Hamas.

Republicans will hear a final pitch from the two announced candidates for speaker on Tuesday before a vote on Wednesday - but now face a wrench in the plans with Kevin McCarthy allies gunning for his comeback.

Jordan and Scalise will speak to their colleagues at a candidate forum on Tuesday evening before an internal vote Wednesday morning.

Republicans must first vote within their conference for a candidate for speaker. Only a simple majority is currently needed to become the GOP candidate.

But then that candidate must be elected on the House floor. To get a majority on the House floor, Republicans can only afford four defections, assuming all Democrats vote against their candidate.

DailyMail.com has learned that some supporters of Scalise believe throwing McCarthy into the race is a tactic meant to shut out McCarthy's former deputy from the job.

McCarthy loyalists are more likely to support Scalise than conservative firebrand Jordan.

If McCarthy is in the race to split votes between himself and Scalise, Jordan may come out on top with a majority of votes - at least within the Republican conference.

He then could still have trouble getting to 217 on the House floor.

Tension between McCarthy and Scalise is an open secret in Washington.

It first boiled over publicly when conservatives became angry at the a deal McCarthy did with Joe Biden on the debt ceiling.

Instead of involving Scalise in debt ceiling talks, McCarthy relied on his close friends, Rep. Garrett Graves, R-La., and Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to negotiate with the White House.

McCarthy could abelieve he has a real path to get his old job back.

The former speaker refused to rule out a comeback as he gave a press conference and made the rounds on broadcast TV appearances on Monday.

He repeatedly said it would be up to the conference whether they put him up for speaker again during a press conference where he touted his foreign policy expertise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

'That's a decision for the conference. I'll allow the conference to make whatever decision,' he told reporters of a potential nomination to the speakership. 'Whether I'm speaker or not, I'm a member of this body.'

The path for either Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee, above, or the House's number two Republican, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both candidates in the race, is far from clear too

DailyMail.com has learned that some supporters of Scalise, above, believe throwing McCarthy into the race is a tactic meant to shut out McCarthy's former deputy from the job

'Look, whatever the conference wants, I will do,' he told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday morning.

'There are a lot of people who believe Kevin McCarthy is the right person to lead us,' GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, N.Y., told reporters on Monday.

'"A lot of people" < 218,' GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, Fla., who led the movement to oust McCarthy, wrote on X. 'Math is real. Time to move forward.'

McCarthy antagonist Nancy Mace, R-S.C., added: 'It is not at all surprising that people who vote for trillion dollar deficits, massive omnibus bills and CRs can't count.'

California Republican John Duarte insisted Democrats should allow McCarthy to be voted back into the speakership.

'What we do know is that there is no greater friend of Israel than Kevin McCarthy,' said Duarte.
An Evangelical Christian family who begged Biden administration to stop their deportation back to Germany has been granted a one-year stay in their case.

The Romeike family has been granted a one-year stay after Tennessee lawmakers intervened and asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reconsider their case, Fox News Digital reported.

'We are asking you and your office to give this family a chance to continue building their lives in Tennessee, lawmakers pled in a letter to Patrick J. Lechleitner, the deputy director of ICE.

The letter continues: 'It is our understanding a court has ruled they are allowed to stay indefinitely, as long as they fulfill their obligation of checking in as ordered by ICE. To our knowledge they have been faithful in doing so.'

The family previously begged the Biden administration to intervene in their deportation after living in East Tennessee for the past 15 years seeking asylum.

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in 2008 after being threatened with prosecution for homeschooling their five children.

The Romeike family has been granted a one-year stay after Tennessee lawmakers intervened and asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reconsider their case

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in 2008 after being threatened with prosecution for homeschooling their five children

The couple begged the Biden administration to intervene in the decision, after they were told to obtain German passports on September 6

'To uproot this family who has been contributing to our city, county and state in many ways seems unduly cruel and unnecessary,' lawmakers pled in their letter.

'As time is of the essence, we ask that a review of their circumstances be made and at least give this family more time.'

The family was facing a $9,000 fine in Germany, where homeschooling is illegal, so they moved to East Tennessee and filed for asylum.

Authorities denied their claim in 2013, with the family attempting to appeal the decision after the Obama administration challenged the initial ruling that was approved. They do not have citizenship in the US.

They have been able to live in the US under an 'indefinite deferred action status', but were told earlier this month they must return to Germany.

The family were reportedly not giving any prior warning or explanation, other than there had been a 'change of orders'

During a routine check-in the family were told that their deferred status had been revoked and were given four weeks to apply for German passports

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) said in a statement: 'In the 10 years that the Romeikes have lived peacefully in the United States, they've built a second life'

Their bid came as millions of asylum seekers are pouring into the US near the Texas border.

In their initial argument, the family claimed that 'God was calling them to homeschool their five children', claiming that the 'anti-Christian' message in German schools was also a factor.

The couple begged the Biden administration to intervene in the decision after they were told to obtain German passports on September 6.

During a routine check-in, the family were told their deferred status had been revoked and were given four weeks to apply for German passports.

Speaking to Fox and Friends, Uwe said: 'They did not tell us anything. We don't really know why. We wonder ourselves because we can't understand.'

His wife added that the 'laws haven't changed' in Germany so they would still face 'the same persecution.

The family was reportedly not giving any prior warning or explanation, other than there had been a 'change of orders.'

In a legal brief in 2014, the Justice Department wrote: 'The goal in Germany is for an open, pluralistic society. Teaching tolerance to children of all backgrounds helps to develop the ability to interact as a fully functioning citizen in Germany.'

Kevin Boden, an attorney representing the family, said: 'They found that the Romeike family did have a well-founded fear of persecution based on their participation in a particular social category, that being homeschoolers.

'The Obama administration appealed that to the Board of Immigration Appeals. That appeal court agreed with them, as did the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court denied it.

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in 2008 after being threatened with prosecution for homeschooling their five children. They had a further two children after moving to the US

'We think this is, in fact, an asylum case. We do think they have a well-founded fear as we testified.

'I can tell you today, I talked to families today that have fear in Germany and the fight there, the persecution there, is very real today as it was 15 years ago.'

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) said in a statement: 'In the 10 years that the Romeikes have lived peacefully in the United States, they've built a second life.

'They have two children who are American citizens, and two other children who married American citizens (one of these couples recently welcomed their first child).

'Deportation to Germany will fracture these families, while exposing the Romeikes to renewed persecution in Germany, where homeschooling is still illegal in almost every case.

'But there is still hope. The United States executive branch intervened once before to grant the Romeikes a respite, and it has the power to do it again.'

Kevin Boden, an attorney representing the family, said that they entered the country legally and have a right to stay

After moving to the US, the couple had two more children, Sarah, 12, and Rebecca, 10, who were born in America.

Their other five children, Daniel, 26, Lydia, 25, Joshua, 23, Christian, 21, and Damaris, 18, were born in Germany, but are facing deportation.

Daniel and Lydia both married American citizens, with the entire family previously living in Bissingen, Baden-Wurttemberg.

The family's plea for help comes as record-breaking numbers of migrants from Latin America, Africa and beyond are crossing the US to Mexico border by foot and train.

Around two million migrants are thought to have crossed the US southern border in 2023, with many citing Biden's lax policies as a reason. Another 500,000 could cross by the end of the year.

A police officer in Eagle Pass told DailyMail.com: 'We have a crisis. I don't care what the federal government says.'

Recently, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that 800 more military service men and women would be sent to the border to aid the crisis joining the more than 2,500 National Guardsman who are already present.
A freelance journalist has been slammed over a tweet seeming to back Hamas, amid an escalating war of words on social media over the horrific violence unfolding in Israel and Palestine.

Najma Sharif, who has written for Teen Vogue and InStyle, was described as 'sick' after referring to the Islamic militant group's rape and abduction of civilians as 'decolonization' - while her post was also 'liked' by more than 100,000 people.

'What did y'all think decolonization meant? Vibes? Papers? Essays? Losers. "Not like this" Then like what. Show us LOL,' Sharif wrote to her 45,300 followers.

Supporters of Sharif's comment seem to include Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, who 'liked' her post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

More than 700 Israelis were slaughtered over two days when Hamas launched its attack at the weekend, and hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza have now also been killed as Benjamin Netanyahu's government hit back.

A writer has been slammed over a tweet seeming to back Hamas, amid an escalating war of words on social media over the horrific violence unfolding in Israel and Palestine. (Pictured: People mourn at the graveside of Eden Guez, who was killed by the Islamic militants)

Najma Sharif, who has written for Teen Vogue and InStyle, was described as 'sick' after referring to the Palestinian militant group's rape and abduction of civilians as 'decolonization' - while her post was also 'liked' by more than 100,000 people

Sharif's comment came on Saturday when Hamas' attacks began with abductions at an Israeli festival. The violence has since escalated into all-out war - with the death toll on both sides breaching quadruple figures.

The writer's X post sparked conflict in the comments, with more than 3,000 people weighing in.

Several accused Sharif of supporting 'war crimes' by Hamas, and one person wrote: 'May you never suffer the horrific fate that you LOL about here.

'However should the worst ever happen I hope you remember this moment.'

'There are multiple videos of women and children being kidnapped, murdered and dragged around the street in Gaza while people cheer and spit on their corpses,' another incensed X user wrote.

'They were most likely raped as well. How are you going to defend that.'

One commenter said Sharif had 'single-handedly alienated thousands of people' from her cause, while another pointed out that Palestinian people would also suffer widespread devastation amid retaliation from Israel.

'Enjoy the absolute carnage that the Palestinian people will suffer this week from the comfort of your Minnesota IP address,' one person wrote.

Sharif describes herself on her website as a 'Somali-American writer based in the digital world' who was 'born in Virginia and raised in Minnesota'.

The former Teen Vogue journalist has written for several publications and appeared on the cover of Soho House Magazine. She declined to provide context to her tweets when DailyMail.com approached her for comment.

DailyMail.com has also approached the Washington Post and Karen Attiah, who 'liked' Sharif's tweet, for comment. They did not immediately respond.

Attiah has worked for the newspaper for almost a decade and is currently a columnist covering issues related to race, gender and international politics.

After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets

A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday

The war of words on social media over the Israel-Palestine crisis has intensified into fiery protests in cities around the world, from New York to Sydney.

On Sunday, hundreds of protesters clashed in the Big Apple - the city with the largest Jewish population in the world - and one man in the pro-Palestine crowd brandished an image of a Swastika.

NYPD deployed dozens of armed officers to the scene in Times Square and they used metal barricades to separate the two groups.

Similar clashes were seen outside Israeli Consulates in both Manhattan and London the following day.

In the UK capital, Israel and Palestine protesters clashed in a Tube station as police desperately tried to keep the peace and made three arrests for assault, racially-motivated criminal damage, and possessing an offensive weapon.

Meanwhile in Australia, pro-Palestine supporters chanted 'gas the Jews' and burned the Star of David in front of Sydney's Opera House on Monday night.

Skirmishes broke out in New York City's Times Square on Sunday amid full-scale war in Israel and Palestine

The protester pointed the swastika - the symbol used by Nazis during the Holocaust - at the Israeli counter protesters

The Hamas atrocities came after the UN carved the colonized nation formerly known as 'British Palestine' into two separate states known as Israel and Palestine - and decades of violent sparring between various factions ensued.

U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk has condemned Israeli retaliatory air strikes against the Hamas militant group for targeting residential buildings and schools across the Gaza Strip. He added that 'sieges' were illegal under international law.

Turk also condemned 'horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups' and said the militants' abduction of hostages was also forbidden under international law.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attacks by Hamas gunmen.

Israel's air attacks - the worst in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians - also hit 'premises of the UN relief and works agency, UNRWA (U.N. Palestinian refugee agency),' a U.N. rights office statement said, adding that civilians were among the dead and injured.

Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza

Netanyahu vowed to take 'mighty revenge' after the Hamas attack left its streets strewn with bodies.

Israeli media said 900 people were killed in the attacks and most were civilians, while nearly 700 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza officials, with entire districts flattened.

The United Nations said more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools.

At the morgue in Gaza's Khan Younis hospital, bodies were laid on the ground on stretchers with names written on their bellies. Medics called for relatives to pick up bodies quickly because there was no more space for the dead.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva criticized Turk's statement. 'He cannot bring himself to condemn those who carried out the (Hamas) attacks as terrorists,' it said.
The two men who were on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket are holding a closed-door event with a few 2024 candidates  but noticeably absent from the lineup are Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Sen. Mitt Romney and his former running mate Paul Ryan are hosting the two-day summit in Park City, Utah with the goal of finding an alternative to Donald Trump winning the GOP nomination next year.

The candidates at the forum Tuesday and Wednesday are former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Other speakers include Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former attorney general Bill Barr.

Ryan said on CNBC Tuesday that all 'non-indicted' candidates are welcome to attend, but DeSantis and Ramaswamy are notably not attending.

Sen. Mitt Romney (right) and former House Speaker Paul Ryan (left), who ran on the 2012 GOP presidential ticket together, are hosting their 11th annual summit in Utah this week

The main focus this year is finding  and ultimately funding  an alternative candidate to Trump

While Haley is constantly polling toward the top of the pack, the other three candidates are still considered long shots.

The E2 Summit, which is on its 11th year this year, mostly focuses on discussions about foreign policy, tech and business.

The annual gathering, however, is a powerful coming together of tuned-in and well-connected Republicans who want to find  and ultimately fund  an alternative to Trump.

The summit's maestro Spencer Zwick said that those hosting and attending the summit don't accept the assumption that former President Donald Trump will automatically be the nominee in 2024.

'[They] don't just accept that Donald Trump is the nominee,' he told Axios.

'That's not in their DNA,' Zwick added. 'They're genuinely interested in a candidate they can get excited about and get behind.'

Trump is by far the highest polling GOP candidate and it is presumed that he will ultimately clinch the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election since none of the other 11 candidates in the race are close to closing the gap.

Among those attending the two-day, closed-door summit are ex-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (left) and former Vice President Mike Pence (right)

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who consistently polls in the top five candidates, said summits like the E2 with Romney and Ryan are what is 'wrong with the broken GOP'

For a while, DeSantis had an early lead against the rest of the field that had many thinking he was the only one that could maybe give Trump a run for his money. But in recent months, his polling has dropped off and some polls even put him as far as fifth place down the line.

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy isn't pleased about the lack of invite to Romney and Ryan's summit.

'Here's a radical idea: voters should decide who the nominee is, rather than Super PACs or closed-door mega donor summits,' he posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added: 'This epitomizes all that's wrong with the broken GOP.'
The New York Police Department will conduct perimeter searches in key areas around the city, including synagogues, following the terrorist attacks in Israel.

Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday that houses of worship should consider hiring security, as he asked New Yorkers to keep vigilant in the wake of the violence in the Middle East.

'We cannot let our guards down... Don't underestimate lone wolfs,' the Democrat told the press, adding that 'lone wolves are real' - specially those radicalized o social media.

The mayor noted that 'there are no threats' to the city regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, but still said citizens should remain attentive.

'We can't believe that it happened thousands of miles away... we're the largest Jewish population outside of Israel,' the mayor said as he urged New Yorkers to refrain from being distracted on their phones and stay alert of their surroundings.

Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday the NYPD will conduct perimeter searches in areas around the city after the terrorist attacks in Israel

Adams attended a prayer vigil with the city's Jewish community on Monday night where he pledged his support for Israel

NYPD chief John Chell said his late shift will do the perimeter searches of key institutions but didn't specify which ones. Adams said areas with a large Jewish and Hassidic population such as Williamsburg, Flatbush and Rockaway will be on the list.

'If someone is hanging around a synagogue or you see someone it the community that is suspicious- see something, say something, do something,' Adams said.

Adams attended a prayer vigil with the city's Jewish community on Monday night where he pledged his support for Israel.

He was slammed by critics on Sunday after the Democratic Socialists of America held a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square just hours after a horrific attack by Hamas terrorists left over 900 Israelis dead.

The mayor, who returned from had been on a trip to Latin America on Sunday, spoke out against the rally organized by the Democratic Socialists of America - which saw a demonstrator wave a swastika at a Jewish crowd.

'At a moment when innocent people are being slaughtered and children kidnapped in Israel, it is disgusting that this group of extremists would show support for terrorism. I reject this. New York City rejects this. Do not use our streets to spread your hate,' Adams wrote.

But the Democrat 's comment was not enough for many social media users, who expressed rage that Adams did not shut down the demonstration. 'Why didn't you shut it down then?' asked one X user.

'MONITORING? You've been monitoring? But what ACTIONS have you taken??' wrote another.

Many Adams' critics took the opportunity to slam the mayor's trip to Latin America, seen as a useless publicity stunt by many New Yorkers fed up with the migrant crisis, which has seen over 120,000 asylum seekers arrive in the city in just 18 months.

'from where? Ecuador? lol' said one X user. 'Aren't you in Mexico?' added another. 'Yet you're still in Mexico?' said a third.

Hamas unleased dozens of attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. In one kibbutz in southern Israel, terrorists massacred at least 40 babies and young children before beheading some of them and gunning down their families.

New York City has the l largest Jewish population outside of Israel

Hamas terrorists beheaded babies and gunned down entire families in their homes in a small kibbutz in Israel, Israeli soldiers have claimed

About one thousand demonstrators gathered at Times Square in solidarity with Palestinians as pro-Israel marchers counter-protested.

'We are here in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are fighting 75 years of Israeli settler colonialism, settler violence and 16 years of military blockade of Gaza,' said Munir Atalla, a 30-year-old member of the Palestinian Youth Movement group, which was among the demonstration's organizers.

'What we saw yesterday was the people of Gaza breaking out of their open-air prison,' he continued.

The demonstrations came as the United States quickly affirmed its support for Israel, with US President Joe Biden ordering US ships and warplanes closer to its ally and sending fresh military aid.

On Saturday, Adams capped off a four-day trip to Latin America by calling for a 'right to work' for migrants in the United States.

Speaking from a dock in northern Colombia where migrants take boats toward the jungle, the embattled mayor said countries in the region need to 'come together' to find solutions to the immigration crisis being felt across the Americas as well as in cities in the United States, including New York.
Police probing the disappearance and death of Suzanne Morphew have set up a tip line for the public in a bid to reignite the probe as her family hopes that 'all hands are on deck' to find out what happened.

Morphew, 49, went missing from near her home in Salida, Colorado, a while out for a Mother's Day bike ride in 2020.

The wife and mother-of-two's remains were found in a shallow grave last month during a search for another missing woman, Edna Quintana, 55.

Morphew's husband, Barry, was initially charged with her murder despite there being no body.

However, the charges were dropped the following year and no new arrests have been made, prompting detectives to set up the hotline.

Investigators looking into the disappearance and death of Suzanne Morphew have set up a hotline for the public to get in touch with information

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is still examining the circumstances of Suzanne Morphew's disappearance more than three years ago and confirmed there are no developments in the case

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said: 'CBI has set up a tip line for the Suzanne Morphew investigation.

'The public is asked to report any information about this case by sending an email to cdps_suzannemorphew_tipline@state.co.us or by calling 719-312-7530. There is no new information in the case at this time.'

Morphew's husband and daughters also issued a fresh plea for information.

Iris Eytan, an attorney for the Morphew family, told Fox News Digital: 'The Morphew family wishes that all hands are on deck to find the person(s) responsible for Suzannes death.

'The Morphews also want to send love to Edna Quintanas family and hopes that the authorities find her soon.'

Morphew's remains were discovered in a remote field near Moffat in Saguache County, 50 minutes from her home.

Police were initially searching for Quintana, who vanished on May 3.

Barry Morphew was initially arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Suzanne despite there being no body but the charges were later dropped

At the time of her May 2020 disappearance Morphew and her husband's marriage was breaking down and she was undergoing cancer treatment for the second time in her life.

Both parties had engage in extramarital affairs and in the days before she vanished, Morphew texted her husband to say she was 'done' with the relationship.

Morphew's bike was discovered discarded in a ravine later on the day she disappeared.

Police conducted a search of the couple's $1.5 million mansion but found nothing.

Barry was arrested almost a year after her disappearance and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and attempting to influence a public servant.

In a 130-page affidavit, made public in September 2021 after Barry was arrested, prosecutors suggested 'that from 2:47pm on May 9, 2020 until 5:37am on May 10, 2020, he took steps to dispose of evidence in Suzanne Morphew's disappearance and death, create a false alibi for himself and stage a crime scene.'

The charges were later dropped 'without prejudice' meaning he could be recharged if new evidence comes to light and prosecutors said they wanted more time to find the body.

The couple's two daughters Mallory and Macy have also supported him since the arrest.

The case was abandoned shortly before trial, and Barry launched a $15 million defamation case against the local authorities, which is still pending.

In May, Barry and his daughters spoke to Good Morning America about the case.

When asked about Suzanne, Barry told ABC News on Monday morning: 'We had a wonderful life, a wonderful marriage. She was just so loving and giving, and such a good mother.

'I know that she was going through chemotherapy for the last couple years before her disappearance.

'I know she was going through some hard things and made some bad decisions. She was really having trouble with the chemotherapy and the drugs.'

Barry said that his heart was 'broken' when he found out his wife was having an affair with a man who she went to high school with.

Holding back his tears, he told ABC News: 'My heart was broken. I didn't believe it.'

When asked how the ordeal has left them, her daughters Mallory and Macy told ABC: 'Very very sad. Very confused. So traumatic. Literally our worst nightmare.'

Suzanne and her husband Barry had two daughters together. She vanished on Mother's Day in 2020

Barry Morphew with his daughters Macy (left) and Mallory (right)

Barry Morphew, 55, the husband of Suzanne Morphew, has since filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking $15M claiming he was wrongfully charged with Colorado mom's disappearance and murder

Following the discovery of his wife's body, Barry said he was 'relieved'.

A source close to him told the Sun US: 'It's a relief but also a great sadness,' a source close to Barry Morphew told the website.

'We now know she's not alive, which we'd desperately been hoping (for).

'But we hope that Barry's name can be cleared because of the location where she was found and the timing of it all.'

Barry is now suing for $15 million damages claiming he was wrongfully charged.

Meanwhile Morphew's sister Melinda Balzer also spoke of her relief, she said: 'My heart continues to feel a quiet relief and peace with the settled knowing that my beautiful sister, Suzanne Morphew was recently found.

'I am grateful for the closure for which I have prayed since May of 2020.' She also thanked law enforcement and urged the public to keep the search for Quintana's in the public eye.

She added: 'This has been a journey which no family ever thinks they will take yet many do. I have experienced that no one is exempt from evil in this broken world.

'I choose, however, to focus on the next road of this ever changing journey into finding the truth of what happened to Suzanne on that fateful day of Mother's Day weekend, May 9th, 2020. We are now closer than ever to the truth.'
A student group at California State University has been slammed for its 'sickening' pro-Palestine protest poster which depicts a paraglider.

The La Fuerza Student Association shared the poster on Monday for their 'Day of Resistance: Protest for Palestine' event organized for Tuesday for students 'united against apartheid.'

The poster sparked fury online after Hamas terrorists used paragliders to descended on Israel and butcher inncoent civilians during its brutal attack on Saturday.

'I can't believe you actually used a paraglider in your poster. You're sick,' said one user.

'Despicable, I can't believe blatantly supporting the rape and murder of women and children by a bunch of modern day Nazi's is allowed and condoned on the @csulongbeach campus,' said another.

California State University's La Fuerza Student Association has been slammed for its 'sickening' and distasteful pro-Palestine protest poster (pictured) which depicts a paraglider

The poster sparked fury on campus (inset) and online - with many calling it insensitive after Hamas terrorists used paragliders to invade Israel

They added: 'Literally celebrating the worst attacks against Jews since the Holocaust on the flier. Cowards.'

One user said that the 'attacks aren't even about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.'

'The reality is that a terrorist organization has committed a violent act of antisemitism by killing hundreds of Jews on a holiday,' they said.

'It's really inappropriate that the conversation is being shifted to how to free Palestine, when the country doesn't have the infrastructure to prevent these hate groups like Hamas from rising from it.

'Rally against terrorism and the need for Palestine to first of all have the tools to prevent attacks like these, or else you're just celebrating antisemitic violence.'

La Fuerza wrote in a caption for the Tuesday event: 'Join us and CSU Students United Against Apartheid tomorrow at the Central Quad from 1:30  4:30.'

'We will be rallying and marching in support of the Palestinian liberation and against Zionist occupation in Palestine.

'FROM PALESTINE TO THE PHILIPPINES, STOP THE US WAR MACHINE.'

In a video posted to the group's Instagram story, it appeared faculty was taking down the groups previous banners, but it remained unclear their stance on the protest poster.

Chief Communications Officer, Jeffrey D. Cook told DailyMail.com that the university 'rejects the glorification of war or celebration of death.'

'In recent social media posts, a student group here at the university expressed support for recent attacks against Israel,' he said.

'For many, those posts  and an event the group is planning for this afternoon  are deeply offensive in light of the loss of life and unspeakable violence during this conflict.

'We reject any glorification of war or celebration of death, and we acknowledge the pain caused by speech that does.'

Cook went on to note that while the university works to foster an 'environment of mutual respect and civility,' they 'have a constitutional and educational responsibility to uphold freedom of expression  even for ideas and opinions that many find objectionable or abhorrent.'

CSU faculty was seen taking down the groups previous banners, but it remained unclear their stance on the protest poster

La Fuerza has organized a 'Day of Resistance: Protest for Palestine ' event for Tuesday afternoon

In an email sent to the campus yesterday, CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said: 'The conflict engulfing the region is horrifying, and the loss of innocent lives is heart-wrenching.'

'The historical roots of this conflict are deep. The prevailing dynamics in the region are complex.

'We all know that perspectives vary widely when identifying the source of the crisis and ways to move forward.

'But in the face of all this complexity one thing is clear, human life is sacred, and indeed of immeasurable value.

'An aspiration we can share is, perhaps, that we all wish not only for the absence of conflict but for a lasting and just peace  as elusive as that may seem.

'Our role as a place to understand history, appreciate diversity of thoughts and backgrounds, stand for peace and against violence, and to find strength in community continues to be at the heart of who we are.'

La Fuerza was also contacted for comment following the backlash as well as the California State University, Long Beach Hillel division.

Hillel are dedicated to creating a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students.

About 1.3 percent of the 33,666 undergraduate students enrolled in CSU Long Beach are of the Jewish faith, while 0.9 percent of the 5,399 graduate enrollments are.

The 'insensitive' display is the latest in a number of student organizations throughout the country that have expressed their support for Hamas since Saturday's kidnappings and killings.

The Students for Justice in Palestine is also planning a National Day of Resistance for its campus chapters to be held on Thursday, and at least six SJP chapters have announced they will be holding campus events on that date including: Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Butler University, University of Louisville, University of Binghamton and the University of Virginia.

Meanwhile, two other chapters at Michigan State University and University of Mary Washington have similar events at off-campus locations, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The group previously described Hamas' attack as a 'historic win for Palestinian resistance.'

They called for 'not just slogans and rallies, but armed confrontation with the oppressors.'

At Stanford University, students hung bedsheets bearing slogans defending Hamas.

This comes after students at several Ivy League institutions, including Harvard and Columbia, condemned Israel.

A group of 31 Harvard organizations, including its branch of Amnesty International, has placed the blame on Israel for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack that has killed at least 700 Israelis.

The organizations released a letter to the public as a 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence.

They said that Hamas' attacks, which are still ongoing, 'did not happen in a vacuum' and the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.'

'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the groups wrote.

Harvard's President Emeritus Larry Summers condemned the letter, saying he was 'sickened' by it.

Summers, who is Jewish and led Harvard University from 2001-2006, addressed the school, tweeting: 'In nearly 50 years of affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today.

'The silence from Harvard's leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.'

It marked another moment of contention for the school after a professor was forced to apologize for implying the Hamas attack on Israel was an attempt to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu's 'own corruption.'

Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine have also said that Hamas' actions were a 'counter-offensive against their settler-colonial oppressor.'

Fiery protests over the conflict have broken out in the Big Apple and beyond.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attacks by Hamas gunmen.

Israel's air attacks - the worst in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians - also hit 'premises of the UN relief and works agency, UNRWA (U.N. Palestinian refugee agency),' a U.N. rights office statement said, adding that civilians were among the dead and injured.

Stanford University students hung bedsheets bearing slogans defending Hamas

Israeli media said 900 people were killed in the attacks and most were civilians, while nearly 700 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza officials, with entire districts flattened (pictured)

Netanyahu vowed to take 'mighty revenge' after the Hamas attack left its streets strewn with bodies.

Israeli media said 900 people were killed in the attacks and most were civilians, while nearly 700 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza officials, with entire districts flattened.

The United Nations said more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools.

At the morgue in Gaza's Khan Younis hospital, bodies were laid on the ground on stretchers with names written on their bellies. Medics called for relatives to pick up bodies quickly because there was no more space for the dead.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva criticized Turk's statement. 'He cannot bring himself to condemn those who carried out the (Hamas) attacks as terrorists,' it said.
A gunman accused of planning a mass shooting had designed a rocket launcher to fire a chemical weapon at police, a court heard.

Reed Wischhusen, 32, said the ballistic projector would contain a 'mind control substance' based on weapons developed by Russia.

The Lidl warehouse worker told his trial at Bristol Crown Court he 'quickly gave up on the idea' and never purchased the materials to build the weapon - describing the project as 'fantasy'.

Wischhusen is accused of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition, which were discovered when police searched his home.

The jury has previously been told Wischhusen was fascinated with mass shootings and infamous killers such as the Dunblane gunman, Thomas Hamilton, and Raoul Moat.

Reed Wischhusen (pictured), 32, who is accused of planning a mass shooting, had designed a rocket launcher to fire a chemical weapon at police, a court heard

Video grab from police bodycam footage of the police search of Reed Wischhusen's home in Wick St Lawrence, near Weston-super-Mare

Pictured the 'Revenge' document that was seized by police and read out in Bristol Crown Court

During the police search, Wischhusen attempted to take his own life in the bathroom with a pistol he had hidden in his coat but when that failed, he ran at armed officers pointing the gun at them and hoping they would 'finish the job'.

The police officers fired three times - hitting him twice - as he ran down the stairs of his home in Somerset.

It is alleged he had drawn up plans to carry out a 'hitman-style attack' on his former school in a document he had called 'Revenge'.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, defending, took Wischhusen through his lengthy written journal in which he discusses mass shootings and the manufacture of bombs.

'Did you ever build a rocket launcher?' he asked him. Wischhusen replied: 'Pretty quickly I gave up on it. I designed one to launch a chemical weapon - not an explosive charge.

'I was going to make some mind control substance and launch it at the police.'

Mr Vaitilingam asked: 'Were you going to do this?' The defendant replied: 'No. It's just fantasy.'

Wischhusen said he never completed the rocket launcher or had all the materials to complete it.

He added: 'I had done some research in mind control substances and there was an incapacitant the Russians were experimenting with.'

Undated handout photo issued by Avon and Somerset Police of the handgun Reed Wischhusen was holding when he was shot by police

Police are heard shouting at Mr Wischhusen during a search of his house to 'put the gun down' before firing three shots at him as he came rushing down the stairs

Mr Wischhusen, of Somerset, is standing trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of firearms offences

In the revenge document, Wischhusen is alleged to drawn up plans targeting people who had bullied him at school, as well as the Avon and Somerset Police firearms licensing staff who twice rejected his shotgun certificate application.

The four-page document also lists the types of weapons and explosives he would need to carry out his attacks.

Wischhusen told the court he had no intention of hurting anyone named in the document.

'It was a psychological release and feelings like I am getting back at people,' he said.

'It's why people write their feelings down and tear it up and throw it away - just I forgot to throw it away.

'I got power over them by writing it down.'

Mr Vaitilingam asked: 'Did you intend to harm anyone?' The defendant replied: 'No.'

Jurors also heard why the defendant had bought 1,000 primers, which he said were for manufacturing 9mm rounds at home for the submachine gun he had made.

Wischhusen said he only made about 10 rounds in total and had never fired them in the gun and did not have any intention of harming anyone with that weapon.

He told the court he had tried to join the Army in 2021 but was rejected because he had the eye condition blepharitis.

Wischhusen, of Wick Road, Wick St Lawrence, Somerset, denies charges of having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, having an explosive substance, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm without a certificate.

He has admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate in relation to the handgun incident last year.

The trial continues.
Israeli airstrikes struck the only land exit from Gaza into Egypt today, shortly after a senior IDF spokesperson advised civilians in the Strip to flee through it.

Sinai for Human Rights, an Egyptian NGO, said that strikes through Tuesday had forced the border shut. Witnesses claim a building was damaged, Afp reported.

The Israeli military confirmed area strikes, claiming hits on 'an underground tunnel for smuggling weapons and equipment'. No casualties were reported.

The strikes came as a senior IDF spokesperson today advised Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to flee through the crossing - before the military issued a correction.

The IDF's international media spokesman, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, had said: 'Rafah crossing is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out.'

The military later clarified: 'In recent days, the IDF has been instructing the population inside of the Gaza Strip to distance themselves from designated areas.

'We emphasise that there is no official call by Israel for residents of the Gaza Strip to exit into Egypt.'

Entire districts in Gaza were 'razed' in airstrikes today as Israel continues its response to an ongoing incursion launched by Hamas on Saturday.

Israel announced yesterday it would put the region under 'complete siege', making the Rafah crossing into Egypt the sole route out of the Gaza Strip by land.

Hamas, in turn, launched a barrage of rockets at the port city of Ashkelon - hours after warning Israeli civilians had to leave before 5pm or die.

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Smoke billows from the Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10, 2023

A Palestinian sits on the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip October 9, 2023

Smoke billows from the Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10, 2023. Gaza's border crossing with Egypt was hit by three Israeli air strikes Tuesday

Trucks leave Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10

The movement of people and goods across the border is strictly controlled under a blockade of Gaza enforced by Egypt and Israel, in place since 2007.

The Rafah crossing is restricted to humanitarian cases and requires lengthy authorisations.

Hamas claims the strikes today have made the border impassable, according to The Times of Israel.

Witnesses have said Egyptian employees at the border post have now been evacuated while 'dozens of Palestinian families' who had tried to enter Gaza were turned back towards El Arish, Egypt, in light of recent airstrikes.

Egyptian officials have been in talks with Israel and the US, aiming to set up humanitarian corridors in Gaza to deliver aid, according to an Egyptian official.

There were negotiations with the Israelis to declare the area around the Rafah crossing a 'no fire zone,' the official said, speaking to AP on condition of anonymity.

Airstrikes into the Gaza Strip have killed and displaced hundreds, if not thousands, over the last four days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had advised civilians in the Gaza Strip to 'get out of there now' in a televised address on Saturday, stressing the IDF would use all of its military might to avenge the victims of Hamas' attacks into Israel.

But strikes near the border have seen 'disruption' at the Rafah crossing in and out.

Egypt is also looking to prevent a mass exodus from the Gaza Strip into its Sinai Peninsula.

Israel's assault on Gaza has caused alarm in Egypt, which has urged Israel to provide safe passage for civilians from the enclave rather than encouraging them to flee southwest towards Sinai, two Egyptian security sources said.

Egypt today held talks to 'settle the people of Gaza in [Egypt's] Sinai Peninsula,' state-linked TV channel Al Qahera News reported.

But sources said the country 'has rejected and will reject this matter, which was also rejected by the Palestinian people.'

Earlier today, Al Jazeera reported Israel had threatened to strike any trucks carrying aid that attempted to enter Gaza through the crossing.

It follows Israel's decision late on Monday to impose a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people.

The country's defence minister said yesterday: 'We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.'

Rights groups and charities have urged against the siege, claiming it will 'lead to a humanitarian catastrophe', and pleading with Israel not to prevent aid from reaching 'an already vulnerable population'.

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Oxfam Acting Country Director in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel said: 'Oxfam is horrified by the recent attacks. Violence never paves the way for peace. The international community must use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to secure an immediate ceasefire.

'The decision to implement a "total siege" by the Israeli government, in addition to the ongoing blockade, will further deny Gazan civilians essentials like food, water and electricity.

'This constitutes collective punishment of a population that bears no responsibility for the violence and is illegal under international law.

'It will not contribute to peace and security, instead, it will further fan the flames of this crisis.'

Humanitarian organisations have called for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza, warning that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded were running out of supplies.

Explosions illuminate the sky during Israeli strikes on Gaza City on October 10, 2023

Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings hit by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday

Smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 during an Israeli air strike

General view of Gaza City on Monday after Israel launched air strikes in response to attacks by Hamas

Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday, October 9, 2023

Israeli soldiers gather near tanks, as violence around the nearby Gaza Strip mounts following a mass-rampage by armed Palestinian infiltrators on Monday, October 9, 2023

The conflict shows no signs of abating, despite efforts by Qatar and the United States to mediate peace talks between Hamas and Israel.

Israel expanded the mobilization of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the countrys media.

READ MORE: Who are Hamas? Everything you need to know about the Palestinian terror movement that has launched war on Israel Advertisement

After days of fighting, its military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive into Gaza in the coming days, though plans have not yet been announced.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged to strike Hamas with 'unprecedented force' in retaliation to harrowing attacked launched on civilians in Israel since Saturday.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late on Monday.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations,' he added.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

In response to mounting Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, killing hundreds of civilians, Hamas yesterday threatened to kill hostages taken for each strike on civilian houses in Gaza without pre-warning.

Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip, has committed chilling atrocities in Israel over the past four days.

The group launched its incursion into Israel on Saturday with an early attack on the Nova trance festival in southern Israel.

The event was billed as a celebration of friends, love and infinite freedom.

Video shows a smiling Shani, who loved to travel according to her family, dancing at the music festival moments before she was captured by the terrorists

Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's partially naked body on the back of a pick-up truck

The body of a motorist lies on a road following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel October 7, 2023

Israeli rescue teams evacuate the wounded near the southern city of Sderot on October 7

Hamas militants opened fire on civilian attendees, killing some 260+ in the attacks.

Early reports claimed many may have been taken hostage.

Among those reported dead was Nicole Louk, a 22-year-old tattoo artist and German-Israeli citizen, who was seen in harrowing footage stripped and paraded around in a truck.

The IDF claimed today that Hamas fighters had killed and decapitated babies at one kibbutz near the Gaza border. The claims have not been verified.
SAS headquarters deleted digital files before military police investigating claims of alleged unlawful killings by British troops in Afghanistan could view them, an inquiry has heard.

The computer server was supposed to be preserved by Special Forces commanders under an agreement with detectives probing allegations of war crimes in the country.

But instead contractors at UK Special Forces (UKSF) headquarters in London cleared the ITS1 server, the inquiry heard, either in error or in a deliberate bid to destroy evidence.

On the second day of hearings at The Royal Courts of Justice, a judge was read an extract from the policy log of a Royal Military Police (RMP) senior investigator from December 2016.

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave is leading the High Court inquiry into claims Special Forces personnel executed more than 50 unarmed captives. It could lead to the reopening of a criminal investigation and the possibility of murder charges against SAS soldiers.

SAS headquarters deleted computer files before military police investigating claims of alleged unlawful killings by British troops in Afghanistan could view them, an inquiry at The Royal Courts of Justice (pictured) heard

It is alleged by lawyers representing relatives of the deceased that SAS troops went beyond their Rules of Engagement then filed misleading reports to justify their actions. These reports were stored on computers at the headquarters of UKSF.

The RMP senior investigator wrote following the data deletion: It appears UK Special Forces headquarters have deleted material from the preserved ITS1 server.

That deletion process has been conducted in such a way that it is irreversible and impossible to determine what has been deleted.

This is in direct disobeyance to our demand to preserve the data in its entirety.

ITS1 contained data relevant to Operation Northmoor, a 10million investigation set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions by special forces.

Lawyers acting for the Afghan families claim the RMP probe was not fit for purpose.

As well as the allegations that numerous killings were carried out, the independent inquiry is examining alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the RMP.

It emerged yesterday that the RMPs Gold Commander, who was responsible for Operation Northmoor, decided to take no action over the deletion of data.

The inquiry heard how this decision was challenged by the RMPs senior investigating officer who sent the Gold Commander an email requesting confirmation of their intent.

The Gold Commanders decision meant investigators made no attempt to recover whatever data had been deleted.

Counsel to the inquiry Oliver Glasgow, KC said: Accordingly, after nearly 15 months of negotiations to recover the entire data set from the UK special forces server, the SIO was instructed not to take any steps to secure what was promised and not to investigate why it was that (the UK special forces headquarters) had permitted data to be deleted.

Mr Glasgow said the inquirys investigations have suggested that the data transfer was undertaken by contractors and done as part of the process to speed up the transfer, had run a programme that had the effect of permanently deleting already deleted data.

The computer server was supposed to be preserved by Special Forces commanders under an agreement with detectives probing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan (Pictured: Badge of the Special Air Service)

Mr Glasgow said: The issue with the ITS1 server engages a number of the matters that this inquiry is required to examine: whether material was deleted, why it was deleted, and what prevented this being independently investigated, are matters that the inquiry will consider with care.

Whether this was, as has been suggested in some quarters, part of a conspiracy to cover up wrongdoing by UK Special Forces, and designed to prevent Operation Northmoor from recovering the truth, or whether this was simply the result of a server migration error, will need to be examined and determined in due course.

The inquiry will examine the way in which Operation Northmoor was handled, both by those in charge and those who carried out the investigation itself. Ultimately it will determine whether Operation Northmoor was fit for purpose.

Destruction of evidence was one of a number of issues which compromised the RMP investigations, the inquiry heard.

Paul Greaney KC, counsel for the RMP, said military police had been affected by delays in referrals, limited resources and the physical dangers of conducting criminal inquiries in a war zone.

He said: The RMP accepts that, for a variety of reasons, Operation Northmoor was not conducted with sufficient promptness.

The operation faced significant policy, resourcing and investigative difficulties, particularly in its early stages.

Often such allegations are made substantially after the event, which renders the development of lines of investigation more difficult.

The RMP is the only UK police force that operates with such significant constraints on its initial investigations.

Operation Northmoor did not lead to any soldiers appearing in court. The RMP recommended charges were brought against five British Special Forces troops but the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) argued the evidence did not reach the required standard.

Representing the Ministry of Defence, Brian Altman, KC acknowledged Operation Northmoor should have started sooner after the suspicious shootings and admitted there may be further lessons to learn from the inquiry.

He said: The MOD remains committed to assisting the inquiry. To this end it has devoted and continues to devote considerable time, effort and resources to it.

The inquiry continues.
Labour is facing questions over security at its conference after a protester linked to environmental groups stormed the stage to pour glitter on Sir Keir Starmer - amid claims of lax protective measures at the event.

Yaz Ashmawi, 28, rushed the stage before Sir Keir gave his big pitch to be Britain's next prime minister, yelling that 'democracy is in crisis' as he poured the sparkly material over the former public prosecutor's head unchallenged,

Questions have been raised as to why Mr Ashmawi was able to reach the stage and put his arms around the opposition leader for several seconds before bodyguards tackled him to the ground.

One conference attendee, Labour youth organiser Kyle Sewell, tweeted that his bag was 'barely searched,' adding: 'Bag searches are the worst I've ever seen...It's a security risk for everyone in the hall.'

MPs have also privately expressed concerns to MailOnline about the suitability of the Liverpool conference's safeguarding measures.

The Labour leader was just about to start his speech when a protester identified as Yaz Ashmawi, 28, ran up to the podium and started shouting and seemed to throw something on his jacket

Mr Ashmawi physically had hold of Sir Keir before security arrived

Starmer pushed him away just as his speech was about to start

Mr Ashmawi yelled at Keir Starmer calling for a change to the political system

The protester was wearing a T-Shirt advertising the new People Demand Democracy group

Mr Ashmawi was wrestled to the ground by security after his protest, with Sir Keir resuming his speech saying he was not 'bothered'

Sir Keir was left rubbing glitter from his hair after the extraordinary incident

The protester is demanding the current political model in the UK is torn down using civil disobedience

Mr Ashmawi - who has his own website - describes himself as an Extinction Rebellion strategist and has acted as their spokesman

The incident raises questions about Sir Keir's personal protection and conference security as a whole. One attendee said bag searches were 'the worst I've ever seen' while others said security measures were 'cursory' and 'utterly terrible'

Following Ashmawi's publicity stunt, one member of parliament said: 'A lot of people are really worried about the security.

'He could have had a knife or anything. They are going to need the airport security arches from now on.

'You can't have this happening. People have been able to just walk in without any real searches.'

Laura McConnell, chair of Edinburgh East Labour, wrote: 'Worrying how long it took security to get there. Very glad it was only glitter and that Keir is ok.

'Unfortunately, in the world we live in, the toxic rhetoric around politics does leave you worried.'

Evie Aspinall, president of the British Foreign Policy Group think tank, is attending the conference - and echoed security concerns shared by others.

She tweeted: 'Security for Labour conference has been utterly terrible. The least officious bag searches Ive ever seen. So unsuprised this (the glitter incident) happened.'

Wildlife campaigner Dominic Dyer, who is also at the event, added: 'No airport security scanners at Labour conference just cursory check on bags.

'Keir Stamer was lucky today, that man could have had a knife. We need better security for politicians not least looking at events in Middle East at moment.'

Ashmawi, a one-time Extinction Rebellion spokesperson who describes himself as 'a bit of a weird one' , bounded onto the stage and gripped Sir Keir's hand as he yelled: 'True democracy is citizen-led. Politics needs an update.'

The Labour leader looked bemused and tried to keep Ashmawi at arm's length until security tackled the protester and led him off stage.

Sir Keir then brushed off the glitter, and told a cheering conference: 'If he thinks that bothers me he doesn't know me.'

Merseyside Police confirmed a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance.

Labour has seemingly downplayed the incident, with a spokesperson telling BBC News that Sir Keir leader was 'fine' and 'completely unfazed by what happened'.

The spokesperson added: 'It shows his strength of character that he got on and delivered the speech of his life.'

MailOnline has contacted the party for further comment. But the extraordinary incident will raise huge concerns about the protection for the Opposition leader.

It is the second time during this year's event that an interloper managed to get to the podium.

People Demand Democracy, a political splinter group with links to XR and Just Stop Oil, claimed responsibility for the incident, saying they are a 'new group calling for an upgrade to the UK political system using civil disobedience'.

JSO also shared footage of the stage-invasion linking it to their demand that Sir Keir 'commits to revoking the oil and gas licenses granted by this zombie Tory government'.

After being showered in glitter, Sir Keir was cheered as he took off his jacket and continued after the man was removed saying:' He also joked that he was glad it hadn't happened to his wife Victoria because her dress was 'beautiful'.

The incident raises questions about the Labour leader's personal protection and security at the conference on Merseyside. Those at the event had already criticised how search points at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool has no security arches with rudimentary bag searches instead.

They appear to be demanding that the first-past-the-post system used at general elections to be abandoned, declaring on their new website: 'The UK needs a proportional voting so every vote counts and a permanent Citizens' Assembly made up of people from all walks of life to discuss major long term issues without party political pressures'.

It came after one of JSO's main funders, Dale Vince, distanced himself from the group to back Labour instead.

People Demand Democracy, whose Twitter account had just ten followers this morning, wrote to Sir Keir on September 4 warning they would direct action against him if they ignored them.

They demanded: 'We urge you, the leader of the Labour Party, to announce that you will hold new national elections with a proportional voting system and set up a House of Citizens within six months of getting into office.

'We encourage you to embrace this upgrade to our democracy: proportional voting so every vote counts and a permanent Citizens' Assembly made up of people from all walks of life to discuss major long term issues without party political pressures.

'If you do not do so by 30th September, People Demand Democracy will take proportionate action to get our message across to you and the Labour Party leadership. We are left with no other choice but to take a stand for what's right and take back our power as citizens'.

And less than two weeks after the deadline, a member of the group stormed the stage.

Protester Yaz Ashmawi interrupts the keynote speech of Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer was completely unprotected

Security were slow to react, taking several seconds to reach Sir Keir as the protester gripped his hand

Sir Keir's wife Victoria was watching in the audience, as he said he was glad the protest had not ruined her 'beautiful' dress

Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer kiss as the speech ended

Soon after the attack the group People Demand Democracy, which apparently has links to Just Stop Oil, shared this tweet

PDM sent this letter to Mr Starmer warning they would act

Unlike the Tory gathering Labour conference has delegates speaking during debates in the main hall, and the numbers in the audience are far higher.

Sir Keir used the speech to claim the 'tide is turning' for Labour today as he gives potentially his last conference speech before an election.

Sir Keir insisted he is the leader to 'heal' the country - but warned it will require a 'decade of national renewal'. Sir Keir said he had turned Labour into a 'party of service', 'renewed' after the Corbyn era.

Keir's big ideas Reclassify 'low quality' green belt to allow more homes to be built

Boost devolution by giving all towns and cities in England new powers and funding

Boost borrowing to invest in the economy while ensuring debt is falling over long-term

Close tax loopholes for the 'wealthy' while protecting ordinary workers from more pain

Encourage doctors to work more overtime to help stabilise the NHS

Crack down on government waste to save 'billions' and recover Covid fraud cash

Order police to tackle lower-value shoplifting and create specific offence for assaulting retail staff Advertisement

Sir Keir praised the spirit of the British people despite the 'Tory project to kick the hope out of this country'.

Promising to reshape the country with 1.5 million homes including new towns, modernised infrastructure and support for green industries, Sir Keir said 'the fire of change still burns in Britain' and it 'lives on in Labour'.

With a general election next year and Labour enjoying double-digit poll leads, Sir Keir warned that the 'dangerous' Tories would 'scorch the earth just to get at us'.

And if he did win the keys to No 10, the scale of the challenge would be immense compared with his predecessors.

'If you think our job in 1997 was to rebuild a crumbling public realm, that in 1964 it was to modernise an economy left behind by the pace of technology, in 1945 to build a new Britain out of the trauma of collective sacrifice, then in 2024 it will have to be all three.'

Sir Keir put reforming the 'restrictive planning system' at the core of his plan to secure economic growth.

The system was 'a blockage that stops this country building roads, grid connections, laboratories, trainlines, warehouses, windfarms, power stations' and 'an obstacle to the aspirations of millions'.

The plan to 'get Britain building again' would 'fight the blockers who hold a veto over British aspiration'.

The 1.5 million homes promised by would involve new development corporations with powers to cut through red tape and the creation of the 'next generation of Labour new towns'.

He insisted his plans would not mean 'tearing up the green belt' but building could take place in areas where that protection was 'clearly ridiculous'.

Keir Starmer pictured arriving at conference with wife Victoria before delivering his big speech, which started badly
President Joe Biden delivered a dramatic address on Tuesday promising to stand with Israel and denouncing the 'unadulterated evil' of terrorist attacks which killed more than 1,000 people, including 14 Americans, over the weekend.

Biden's remarks come three full days since he put out a short video following the initial attack Saturday. He has been criticized for a sluggish response to the crisis, hosting a barbecue for staff on Sunday and not appearing in public on Monday.

But he broke his silence with a speech dripping with anger at the horrors unleashed by Hamas terrorists and warned that U.S. citizens were also among civilians captured by the gunmen.

'You know there are moments in this life  I mean this literally  when a pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world,' he said Tuesday afternoon, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

'The people of Israel, lived through one such moment this weekend.'

U.S. President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, makes remarks after speaking by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Biden was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and senior security officials for a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in the Situation Room before delivering his speech

The president listed the atrocities committed at the hands of Hamas.

'Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children,' he said.

'Stomach turning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain.

'Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace ... to celebrate peace ... women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies.'

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday with the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year-old conflict with the Palestinians, turning districts to dust despite a threat from Hamas militants to execute a captive for each home hit.

Biden addressed the nation after holding his third phone call in four days with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

'I told him, 'If the United States experienced what you're experiencing, our response would be swift decisive and overwhelming,' Biden said during his remarks Tuesday afternoon.

He said they discussed how democracies worldwide were 'more secure when we act according to the rule of law.'

A day earlier, the White House said it expected to fulfill additional security requests from Israel as quickly as possible.

Biden notably skipped explicitly mentioning Iran during his address, but warned hostile actors of taking 'advantage' of the situation

People mourn at the graveside of Eden Guez, who was killed a festival that was attacked by Hamas gunmen that left at least 260 people dead, at her funeral in Ashkelon, in southern Israe

Rockets fired from the Gaza City (R) being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system (L) on October 10, 2023

The president noted that Israel has the 'right to respond - indeed has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks' and the U.S. is already assisting the nation including by providing Iron Dome interceptors and ammunition.

Biden said in his remarks that that the U.S. has 'enhanced our military force posture in the region to strengthen our deterrence.'

'The Department of Defense has moved the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean and bolstered our fighter aircraft presence. And we stand ready to move in additional assets as needed.'

Biden notably skipped explicitly mentioning Iran during his address, but warned hostile actors of taking 'advantage' of the situation.

'Let me say again, any country, any organization anyone thinking of taking advantage of situation? I have one word, don't.'

The White House has been cautious about laying direct blame on Iran for the attack which has killed over 1,000 Israelis.

Israeli soldiers remove the body of a compatriot, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

A baby's seat and child's dress is seen covered in blood in the aftermath of a Hamas attack

A day earlier, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby only went as far as to say Iran is 'complicit' in Hamas' deadly attack on Israel.

The United States does not plan to put American military forces on the ground, Kirby also told reporters.

Biden went on to say he plans to ask Congress to quickly approve additional funding for the security of American allies.

'When Congress returns, we're going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners,' Biden said.

'This is not about party or politics. It's about the security of our world, the security of the United States of America.'

This ask may prove more challenging than usual as the House of Representatives just ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a power vacuum remains. Infighting within the GOP may drag out the process to confirm a new House leader for days.

And the House cannot move any legislation to the floor without a speaker in place.

Biden also confirmed that there are Americans being held by Hamas as hostages in Gaza.

'We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas,' he said without providing additional detail.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan revealed to reporters immediately following Biden's remarks that there are at least 20 Americans who remain missing in Israel.

'We do not know about their condition, and we cannot confirm a precise number of American citizens,' he said.

He noted that doesn't mean they all have been captured by Hamas, and that they are just not accounted for.

Israel has called up an unprecedented 300,000 of its own reservists.

Biden and Netanyahu, despite differences on the way forward in the Middle East, have been thrust into a wartime partnership following the multipronged attack by Hamas militants from Gaza into Israel.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000, dwarfing all modern Islamist attacks on the West since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Biden also address the potential of threats within the U.S., saying additional security measures especially at houses of worship are being put in place.

'We're also taking steps at home, in cities across the United States of America. Police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life,' he said.

'The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working closely with state and local law enforcement and Jewish community partners to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks,' the president continued.

Immediately after the president's address, the State Department revealed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be traveling to Israel 'in the coming days' in order to directly engage with Israeli partners.

'The secretary looks forward to meeting with senior leaders in the Israeli government and continuing the discussions he and the president have been having with them since the initial attacks on Saturday,' spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday during a press briefing.

President Biden's speech in full: 'We must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel'

'Good afternoon. You know there are moments in this life - I mean this literally - when a pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend at the bloody hands of the terrorist organisation Hamas, a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews.

'So in an act of sheer evil, more than 1000 civilians slaughtered, not just killed  slaughtered in Israel. Among them at least 14 American citizens killed.

Biden said a 'pure unadulterated evil' had been unleashed on the world

Biden delivered his remarks in the State Dining Room of the White House on Tuesday

'Parents butchered, using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach turning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace  to celebrate peace.

'Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies.

'Families hid their fear for hours and hours desperately trying to keep their children quiet to avoid drawing attention

'And 1000s of wounded. Alive but carrying with them the bullet holes and the shrapnel wounds and the memory what they endured.

'You all know these traumas never go away. There's still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones. Not knowing if they're alive or dead or hostages, infants in their mother's arms, grandparents and wheelchairs Holocaust survivors abducted and held hostage .

'Hostages who Hamas now threatens to execute in violation of every code of human morality.

'The brutality of Hamas  brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism.

'But sadly for the Jewish people, it's not new. This attack has brought to the surface painful memories, the scars left by a millennia of anti-Semitism and genocide of the Jewish people.

'So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel.

'We stand with Israel and we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, respond to this attack. There's no justification for terrorism. There's no excuse.

'Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self determination. The stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel on the murder of Jewish people.

They use Palestinian civilians as human shields. Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard to who pays the price.

Biden participates in a phone call with Quint leaders Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Monday, October 9, 2023, in the Treaty Room of the White House

The loss of innocent life is heartbreaking. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond indeed has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks.

'I just got off the phone with a third call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I told him if the United States experienced Israel's experience our response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming.

'We also discussed how democracies like Israel and United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. Terrorists purposely target civilians, kill them. We uphold the laws of war law. It matters; there's a difference.

'Today, Americans across the country are praying for all those families who have been ripped apart. A lot of us know how it feels. It leaves a black hole in your chest when you lose family. Feeling like you're being sucked in  the anger, the pain, the sense of hopelessness.

'This is what they mean by a human tragedy, an atrocity on an appalling scale. We're going to continue to stand united supporting the people of Israel who are suffering unspeakable losses and opposing the hatred and violence of terrorism.

'My team has been in near constant communication with our Israeli partners and partners all across the region and the world. From the moment this crisis began we're surging additional military assistance including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome.

'We're gonna make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was among top officials who met with Biden Monday

'My administration has consulted closely with Congress throughout this crisis. And when Congress returns, we are going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners. This is not about party or politics. It's about the security of our world, security of the United States of America.

'We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas. I'm directing my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

'Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.

'The United States has also enhanced our military force posture in the region to strengthen our deterrence. The Department of Defense has moved the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and bolstered our fighter aircraft presence and we stand ready to move in additional assets as needed.

'Let me say again, to any country, any organisation anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation I have one word: Don't, don't.

'Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear.

'Yesterday I also spoke with leaders of France, Germany, Italy and UK to discuss the latest developments with our European allies and coordinate our united response. This comes on top of days of steady engagement with partners across the region.

'We're also taking steps at home in cities across the United States of America. Police departments have stepped up security around centres of Jewish life and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working closely with state and local law enforcement and Jewish community partners to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks.

'This is a moment for the United States to come together to grieve with those who are mourning.

'Let's be real clear. There is no place for hate in America. Not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody. We reject  what we reject His terrorism. We condemn indiscriminate evil, just we've always done. That's what America stands for.

'You know, just over 50 years I was thinking about it this morning talking to the secretary of state the , the vice president in my office  over 50 years ago as a young senator I visited Israel for the first time as a newly elected senator. And I had a long long meeting with Golda Meir in her office just before the Yom Kippur War.

'I guess she could see the consternation of my face as she described what they were facing. We walked outside in that sort of hallway outside her office to  she looked at me all of a sudden and said, "Would you like to have a photograph?" And so I got up and followed her out.

'We're standing there silent, looking at the press. She could tell I guess I was concerned she leaned over and whispered to me she said: "Don't worry, Senator Biden. We have a secret weapon here in Israel.'

'My word this is what she said: "We have no place else to go. We have no place else to go."

'For 75 years Israel has stood soon as the only guarantor of the security of Jewish people around the world, so that the atrocities of the past could never happen again.

'Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israel's back. We will make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today tomorrow, as we always have.

'It's as simple as that. These atrocities are sickening. We are with Israel. Let's make no mistake.'
Academics at some of Britains top universities have been accused of legitimising Hamas' attacks on Israel that have so far killed an estimately 1,000 people.

Professor Dr Ashok Kumar at Birkbeck University of London and Dr Mahvish Ahmad, an assistant professor at the London School of Economics (LSE) appeared to express justification for the attacks in posts that were condemned on social media.

Professor Dr Kumar claimed the gunning down of innocent Israelis at the Supernova outdoor rave was a consequence for partying on stolen land while Dr Ahmad called on students to show solidarity with the 'Palestinian struggle'.

Their comments have sparked outrage from experts who accused the institutions of pandering to extremism.

Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert at the University of Buckingham, said: It reeks of hypocrisy that universities will allow academics and students to back a terror organisation but yet they are so quick to no-platform academics.

Young impressionable minds are being manipulated under the guise of academic freedom. They [universities] are pandering to extremism.

Professor Dr Ashok Kumar, of Birkbeck University of London, tweeted that the slaughter of Israeli citizens at an outdoor music festival was a 'consequence' of 'partying on stolen land'

Dr Mahvish Ahmad called on students to express solidarity with 'the Palestinian struggle'

Professor Dr Kumar's tweet, featuring images of the music festival at which an estimated 260 people died. He has since removed the post

Dr Ahmad, of the London School of Economics, has since deleted her account on X, formerly Twitter, after a backlash to this tweet

Professor Anthony Glees, of the University of Buckingham, claims universities are 'pandering to extremism' if they allow support for groups such as Hamas to go unchallenged

A spokesman for the Union of Jewish Students added: It is unconscionable for anyone to seek to justify the murderous and barbaric actions of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist group.

There is never a legitimate reason to rape, murder and kidnap innocent civilians.

It comes after the womens officer at Sussex University's student union gave a speech on Monday describing the murder of Israelis as beautiful, while a Manchester student said she was 'full of pride' at the Palestinian milita's incursion.

None of the academics who spoke out on X, formerly known as Twitter, have been suspended or sacked, it is understood.

This is despite warning from Suella Braverman that police would use use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas.

Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK - meaning showing support for it is a criminal offence.

The Home Office says that the group 'commits and participates in terrorism', using 'indiscriminate rocket or mortar attacks, and raids against Israeli targets'.

But despite the Home Secretarys intervention, academics and students continue to showcase their support for the terrorists.

Dr Kumar, senior lecturer of Political Economy, wrote on X: Sometimes partying on stolen land next to a concentration camp where a million people are starved has consequences.

Meanwhile LSE professor Dr Ahmad urged followers to take part in protests against Israel.

She wrote: Join this demo in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. Decolonisation is not a metaphor.

It comes after Israel and Palestines supporters were separated by police as they clashed outside Israels London embassy last night.

Hundreds of Israelis fled in terror as Hamas gunmen moved in and fired on an outdoor music festival on Saturday, killing an estimated 260 people

Revellers were shot as they tried to flee the gunmen, who arrived in pick-ups bearing assault rifles and body armour before firing into the crowds

Mourners at the grave of Eden Guez, who was among the 260 people killed at the Supernova music festival, in Ashkelon in Southern Israel earlier on Tuesday

Dana Abuqamar, president of Manchester Friends of Palestine, was interviewed by Sky News during a pro-Hamas event in the city on Sunday - a day after militants gunned down 260 innocent civilians at a music festival

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters descended on the embassy as police tried to keep the peace.

One was taken in for assault on an emergency worker, another for racially motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon, the Metropolitan Police said.

An LSE spokesman said: The LSE community is deeply concerned about the dramatic escalation of violence and terrible loss of life across Israel and Gaza.

READ MORE: Pictures show bruised and bloodied children fleeing from hellfire in Gaza and Israel Advertisement

As our Code of Practice on Free Speech clearly sets out, academic freedom and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE and we do not police or control the social media use of our faculty as long as it remains within the law.

That said, students and staff are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world in a mutually respectful manner.

We believe Dr Mahvish Ahmad has now deleted her social media account.

A spokesman for Birkbeck University of London added: The views of individual members of staff employed at Birkbeck should not be taken to represent the views of the College and the College community.

Whilst individual members of staff are free to express their personal views, provided they do so within the law, Birkbeck expects high standards of mutual respect and conduct among staff and students.

We understand that this tweet has now been deleted.

Their comments came as university said it was providing support to a student who said she was 'full of pride' at the Hamas attacks.

Dana Abuqamar, president of Manchester Friends of Palestine, was interviewed by Sky News during a pro-Hamas event in the city on Sunday - a day after militants gunned down 260 innocent civilians at a music festival.

She said: 'We are full of pride. We are really, really full of joy (at) what has happened.... We are proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point.'

But Ms Abuqamar was condemned by policing minister Chris Philp, who wrote: 'This is sick. I'm appalled that anyone holds these repugnant views.'

Police had to hold back rival groups inside High Street Kensington Tube station last night

Protesters waving Israeli flags with pro-Palestine placards seen in the background

One Israel supporter goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington

Overnight, pro-Palestine graffiti on a bridge in Golders Green was covered over with black paint

Supporters of Israel gathered outside Downing Street yesterday to fly the country's flag amid Hamas' unprecedented assault

In an email to colleagues reported by the Daily Express, Professor Claire Alexander - head of the university's School of Social Sciences - said that the student's comments had been 'misrepresented'.

She wrote: 'Some of you may be aware that one of our students was recently interviewed on Sky News about the Israel/Gaza conflict. A clip of the interview has been circulating on Twitter and has raised concerns among staff and students.

'The student has contacted us in considerable distress about the misrepresentation of their views, and we are supporting them through this difficult time.'

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: 'We are investigating the television interview conducted by one of our students on Sunday and the comments they made about the current conflict in Israel and Gaza.

'Our University community - particularly those with friends, family or close ties to the region - will be deeply concerned about the escalating violence and loss of life in Israel and Gaza over recent days.

'In line with our values, we reaffirm the importance of mutual understanding and tolerance at this very difficult and distressing time. Any and all forms of racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, discrimination and abuse have no place in our community.'

Israel's embassy in Washington said on Tuesday that the death toll from the weekend Hamas attacks had surpassed 1,000, reports Reuters.

The victims were overwhelmingly civilians, gunned down in homes, on streets or at an outdoor festival.

Scores of Israelis and some foreigners were captured and taken to Gaza as hostages, some paraded through the streets.

Gaza's health ministry said Israel's retaliatory air strikes had killed at least 830 people and wounded 4,250 up to Tuesday.

The strikes intensified on Tuesday night, shaking the ground and sending columns of smoke and flames into the sky.
Another aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, was already scheduled to travel to the Middle East and could now be deployed alongside the Ford

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest warship, has already been mobilized with a carrier strike group that includes other ships and a fleet of fighter jets

A second US aircraft carrier could be deployed to the east Mediterranean alongside another sent to the region after the attack by Hamas on Israel

A second US aircraft carrier could be deployed to the east Mediterranean alongside another sent to the region after the attack by Hamas on Israel.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest warship, has already been mobilized along with a carrier strike group that includes other warships and a fleet of fighter jets.

Military officials are now weighing whether to also send a second carrier strike group led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The warship was already scheduled to visit the Middle East, but Pentagon leaders are now deciding whether it should accompany the USS Gerald R. Ford.

Placing both carriers and their accompanying ships in the eastern Mediterranean, close to the coast of Israel and the Gaza Strip, would amount to a massive show of force that would also serve as a deterrent against other groups who could join the conflict.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he ordered the Ford carrier strike group to be ready to assist Israel after the attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides.

Military officials are weighing whether to also send a second carrier strike group led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the east Mediterranean, where the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest warship, has also been deployed

The United States has deployed a carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest warship, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel. Another aircraft carrier could also be sent to the region

Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building

Americans are among those killed and missing.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.

America's deployment of its most sophisticated and expensive military hardware marks a major show of force and comes along with the pledge of weapons and equipment to the Israeli Defense Forces.

A carrier strike group is a naval force comprised of an aircraft carrier at its center, along with a fleet of support ships and often attack submarines. The US has 11 carrier strike groups, each with enough firepower to match the forces of many small and mid-sized countries.

The large deployment reflects a U.S. desire to deter any regional expansion of the conflict. But the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, pictured left in March with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, said America could 'further reinforce' its military presence in the region 'if required'

Along with the Ford the U.S. sent the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

'The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,' Austin said in a statement.

In addition, the Biden administration will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days, Austin said.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group led by the Ford was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment.

It is not clear whether the Eisenhower would replace the Ford or whether both strike groups would remain there as the conflict continue.
Suella Braverman has urged officers to use the 'full force of the law' against shows of support for Hamas or bids to intimidate the UK's Jewish community in the wake of the terror group's attack on Israel.

Waving a Palestinian flag on British streets 'may not be legitimate' if it is deemed to be a show of support for acts of terrorism, the Home Secretary told police chiefs.

Police should also consider whether chants such as 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', which is popular with the Palestine solidarity movement, 'should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world' and amount to a racially aggravated public order offence.

Her comments come after tensions peaked in London last night with thousands of pro-Palestine protesters filling the streets near the Israeli Embassy, holding flags, chanting and lighting flares.

There were three arrests, with a man, 70, arrested for racially-motivated criminal damage, a 15-year-old male on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and a third man, 29, for possessing an offensive weapon, the Metropolitan Police said.

Suella Braverman has urged officers to use the 'full force of the law' against shows of support for Hamas

Police had to separate protesters bearing Palestine and Israeli flags last night in High Street Kensington tube station

Anti-social behaviour related to the conflict has been reported across the UK since Saturday, when Islamist militants crossed the Gaza border and mounted a violent attack on civilians, which has so far seen over 1,000 Israelis killed.

Video last night showed police having to separate protesters bearing Palestine and Israeli flags last night in High Street Kensington tube station.

Reports also emerged of fireworks being shot towards Israel's Embassy and a Palestinian flag being draped over a post opposite it.

Scotland Yard said it would increase the presence of officers in response to a 'number of incidents' of people celebrating the attack on Israel, which was followed by retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Talks have also been held between the Home Office and the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides safety, security, and advice to the Jewish community.

The charity has increased footfall to reassure local communities across Britain, it confirmed to MailOnline.

The Home Secretary visited Golders Green yesterday, where she sought to reassure the community alongside the Met's Deputy Commissioner after a suspected burglary at a Kosher restaurant and pro-Palestine graffiti appearing on a railway bridge.

In a letter addressed to chief constables in England and Wales today, Mrs Braverman said: 'Sadly, experience indicates that whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists seek to use legitimate Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews and increase fear within the Jewish community'.

The Met Police has confirmed that officers will step up patrols in London amid fears of anti-Semitic attacks and protests

Home Secretary, Suella Braverman (second right) and and Dame Lynne Owens, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (right) meet with members of the Jewish community in London

The Cabinet minister set out examples of protest that she said could amount to public order offences, including targeting Jewish neighbourhoods, waving pro-Palestinian or pro-Hamas symbols and chanting slogans that could be interpreted as anti-Israeli.

She said: 'I encourage all chief officers to ensure that any protests which could exacerbate community tensions by way of offensive placards, chants, or behaviours that could be construed as incitement or harassment, have a strong police presence to ensure perpetrators are appropriately dealt with, and that communities feel protected.

'I would encourage police to give similar consideration to the presence of symbols such as swastikas at anti-Israel demonstrations.'

Hamas is a banned terrorist group in the UK and showing support for it is a criminal offence. But police now face the difficult task of deciding when lawful expression of support for Palestinians has crossed the boundary into harassment.

There was a heavy police presence on Kensington High Street last night as Palestine supporters marched near the Israeli Embassy

'Context is crucial,' she added. 'Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism.

'Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at.

'Where harassment is identified, I would encourage the police to take swift and appropriate enforcement action.'

Any decisions on whether to make arrests were 'rightly an operational matter for the police', she added.

Offences on the internet should be taken equally seriously, the Home Secretary went on, as she advocated a 'swift and zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism'.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to 'hold people to account' if they are found to be supporting Hamas in Britain, and was unequivocal in calling the group 'terrorists'.

Addressing a Synagogue in north London last night, he added: 'The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack.

'They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.' Hamas is proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters on Tuesday that police have been given 'clear guidance' to 'clamp down on any behaviour that falls foul of the law'.
New York University's Law School Bar Association president stated that Hamas' slaughter of children in Israel was 'necessary,' in an email send to members of the university community.

Ryna Workman, 24, a non-binary student at NYU's School of Law sent a weekly newsletter saying the murder of innocent Israeli children, women, and citizens this past week was is Israel's 'full responsibility.'

Workman, from Simpsonville, South Carolina, also refused to condemn Hamas - an internationally-recognized terrorist group who have triggered the all-out war.

New York University told DailyMail.com that Workman's statement 'does not in any way reflect the point of view of NYU.'

University spokesman John Beckman said: 'Acts of terrorism are immoral. The indiscriminate killing of civilians and hostage-taking, including children and the elderly, is reprehensible. Blaming victims of terrorism for their own deaths is wrong.'

President Joe Biden today called their actions 'pure, unadulterated evil.'

Ryna Workman, 24, a non-binary student at NYU's School of Law sent a weekly newsletter saying that the innocent slaughtering of Israeli children, women, and citizens this past week was is Israel's 'full responsibility'

As well as studying at NYU, Ryna completed their undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina and also studied at the University of Warwick in the UK on an exchange program - where they took classes in international law.

Workman, who goes by the pronouns they/them, wrote in a weekly newsletter to fellow Student Bar Association students: 'Hi y'all.

'This week, I want to express, first and foremost, my unwavering and absolute solidarity with Palestinians in their resistance against oppression toward liberation and self-determination.

'Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life.

'This regime of state-sanctioned violence created the conditions that made resistance necessary.'

Referencing violent terrorist group Hamas, who have murdered innocent Israeli children, Workman said: 'I will not condemn Palestinian resistance.'

Workman has worked as a summer associate for two years at Winston & Strawn.

They continued in the email: 'I condemn the violence of apartheid. I condemn the violence of settler colonialism. I condemn the violence of military occupation. I condemn the violence of dispossession and stolen homes. I condemn the violence of trapping thousands in an open-air prison.

Before joining NYU, they graduated from University of South Carolina with a degree in history and global studies

'I condemn the violence of collective punishment. I condemn the violence of phosphorous bombs. I condemn the violence of the United States military-industrial complex. I condemn the violence of obfuscating genocide as a "complex issue."

'I condemn the violence in labeling oppressed people as "animals." I condemn the violence in removing hospital context. I condemn the violence of silence. Palestine will be free.'

The newsletter was signed off: 'Your SBA President, Ryna.'

NYU's Law School Dean Troy McKenzie also said: 'This message was not from NYU School of Law as an institution and does not speak for the leadership of the Law School.

'It certainly does not express my own views, because I condemn the killing of civilians and acts of terrorism as always reprehensible.'

The student bragged on their social media that they 'embrace organizing for whats right and push for real change in my community.'

Workman said that they: 'Push for economic justice, anti-racism, and gender equality.'

The student said they want to 'become someone who breaks down systems to help make the world we live in more equitable. I hope to continue to be an advocate for underserved and minority communities.'

Workman bragged that they: 'Push for economic justice, anti-racism, and gender equality'

Ryna also studied at the University of Warwick in the UK on an exchange program - and took classes in international law within the institution's prestigious Law School

This comes after students at several Ivy League institutions, including Harvard and Columbia, condemned Israel after the war broke out.

Students at Stanford University also showed their support for Hamas as they hung bedsheets with slogans from their dorms.

A group of 31 Harvard organizations, including its branch of Amnesty International, has placed the blame on Israel for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack.

The organizations released a letter to the public as a 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence.

They said that Hamas' attacks, which are still ongoing, 'did not happen in a vacuum' and the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.'

'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the groups wrote.

A student organization from Columbia has joined in the chorus of equivocation by calling the terrorism a 'counter-offensive.'

The Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said: 'The weight of responsibility for the war and casualties undeniably lies with the Israeli extremist government and other Western governments,' the statement, which was also signed by a group named Jewish Voice for Peace, read.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee holding banners outside of Harvard University

Workman's statement - just one of many student organizations refusing to condemn Hamas - comes just hours after reports surfaced that the terrorists massacred at least 40 babies and young children during an attack in a small kibbutz in Israel.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Israeli residents now lay on the ground among burned out houses, strewn furniture and torched cars. Solemn Israeli soldiers today went from house to house to take away the scores of people massacred there.

The death toll among Israelis now stands at over 1,000 - making it the single largest massacre of Jewish people since Hitler's Holocaust.

Israel and the IDF's counteroffensive have also caused mass fatalities in Gaza after a 'complete siege' of the region was ordered.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'.

The airstrikes have so far flattened many towns in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks.

The war was started by Hamas in the early hours of Saturday morning, during the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah.

Terrorists massacred 260 Israeli revelers at a festival in a hail of bullets, with survivors describing how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims.

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9

After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage

Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday)

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden delivered a dramatic address promising to stand with Israel and denouncing the 'unadulterated evil' of terrorist attacks who killed more than 1,000 people, including 14 Americans, at the weekend.

Biden's remarks come three full days since he put out a short video following the initial attack Saturday. He has been criticized for a sluggish response to the crisis, hosting a barbecue for staff on Sunday and not appearing in public on Monday.

But he broke his silence with a speech dripping with anger at the horrors unleashed by Hamas terrorists and warned that U.S. citizens were also among civilians captured.

'You know there are moments in this life  I mean this literally  when a pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world,' he said, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

'The people of Israel, lived through one such moment this weekend.'
A female Arizona inmate was left with excruciating burns after she was sucked into an MRI machine when a technician told the prison guard to not remove the metal shackles on her waist.

In the horrifying incident, Lacey Windust, 38, was at a SimonMed Imaging Center in Avondale when a technician told the guard to not remove the shackles from her waist, causing her to fly towards the MRI machine and get stuck in the hole.

The incident took place in May 2022 but photos have only recently been released, showing the extent of Windust's injuries.

The images showed a deep cut on her hand that required stitches, bruises, and horrific brush burn imprints from where the metal shackles pulled on her body.

Windust, who has been in prison for forgery since 2012 and is currently at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Perryville, described the pain as 'being cut into half' to her sister in a letter.

MRIs, which stands for Magnetic Reasoning Images, use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body. They are known to be 30,000 times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field.

Lacey Windust, 38, was at a SimonMed Imaging Center when a technician told the guard to not remove the shackles, causing her to fly towards the MRI machine and get stuck in the hole

She wrote: 'As I walked closer to the machine about three to four feet away  the magnet flew me off my feet up into the air and threw me into the machine, up in the circular hole.'

In a separate report, the prison guard wrote that the SimonMed tech asked him to go in and help Lacey after she was sucked in, but he too ended up stuck to the MRI machine because of his gun.

Windust, who has been in prison for forgery since 2012 and is currently at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Perryville described the pain as 'being cut into half' to her sister in a letter

The images showed a deep cut on her hand that required stitches, bruises, and imprints from where the metal shackles pulled on her body

It is not known whether the guard sustained any injuries and why Windust was getting an MRI scan

It is not known whether the guard sustained any injuries and why Windust was getting an MRI scan.

Prison records show that the guard removed Windust's leg shackles, asked the technician whether they should remove her waist shackles to which he replied, 'No. They should be fine'.

MRI safety expert Tobias Gilk, who is familiar with the records in this case said: 'We have two people trapped and injured because of failure to effectively screen or control access to this area.'

'The problem is that there are so few regulations or standards with respect to what constitutes minimum appropriate training in an MRI provider.

'From a regulatory standpoint, MRI safety is really the wild, wild west. So, I would ask who are they regulated by?

'I would describe it as a pretty catastrophic failure. All these things suggest that best practices were not followed,' said Gilk.

The incident took place in May 2022 but only recently pictures of how severe Windust's injuries were have been released

She wrote: 'As I walked closer to the machine about three to four feet away  the magnet flew me off my feet up into the air and threw me into the machine, up in the circular hole'

The lab's own incident report stated that the employees stood by for the lead engineer, who had advised them to wait until he got on scene

ABC15 was able to investigate the reason why state regulators were unable to investigate or take enforcement action.

Many SimonMed locations, including the one where the accident took place, are not currently licensed or regulated by the state health department due to an exemption.

The Arizona Department of Health Services regulates and licenses imaging centers, but records show SimonMed, one of the largest imaging centers in the country, is not registered with them.

The lab classifies itself as a private provider and according to ADHSs website, private providers are only exempt from licensing if they are owned by a doctor or doctors who are treating patients at the clinic.

This was why an entire year went by before any investigation could be done into how and why the accident took place.

The channel also discovered that even though Windust and the guard kept yelling for help, several minutes went by before anyone hit the emergency shutoff button.

The lab's own incident report stated that the employees stood by for the lead engineer, who had advised them to wait until he got on scene.

The Arizona Department of Corrections confirmed the incident but shifted the blame at the lab.

'This secondary medical situation, and resulting injuries, were caused by errors made by the staff at the imaging lab,' the agency said in a statement.

The channel also discovered that even though Windust and the guard kept yelling for help, several minutes went by before anyone hit the emergency shutoff button.

The Arizona Department of Health Services regulates and licenses imaging centers, but records show SimonMed, one of the largest imaging centers in the country, is not registered with them

The lab classifies itself as a private provider and according to ADHSs website, private providers are only exempt from licensing if they are owned by a doctor or doctors who are treating patients at the clinic

SimonMed operates more than 60 imaging centers across Arizona but a search for its license on the health department's website showed 'no records.'

After the incident, ADHS has begun reviewing the 'reasons' for the lab's exemption from registering.

Regarding the accident, SimonMed told ABC15: 'Any incidents that occur are fully investigated and all such incidents are reported to the appropriate regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies, consistent with the obligations imposed under HIPAA and other state and federal laws and regulations.'

Gilk explained MRI best practices include screening patients for metal before they ever step foot into an MRI room as MRI machines act as very strong magnets.
Encampment-overrun Denver is set to break ground on the first of many micro-communities designed to house the homeless - with 1,000 taxpayer-funded homes set to open by the end of the year.

The site, located on S. Santa Fe Drive, is one of 11 being propped up by the famously progressive city, which is currently in the midst of an unprecedented homelessness crisis.

Worsening matters is the fact the homeless are not exactly roughing it - with tent-laden processions complete with furniture and other amenities now a common sight in the Mile High City.

On Monday, the 48-year-old Democrat Mayor Mike Johnston announced the city is taking its first steps in combating the crises - by erecting a fully staffed commune with 130 70 square-foot homes, and 70 larger domiciles measuring in at 120 square feet.

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Denver is set to break ground on the first of many micro-communities designed to house the homeless - one of 11 being propped up by the famously progressive city

The community is the brain child of new mayor Mike Johnston - who said each home will cost between $13,900 and $18,900 to construct

Each, the mayor said, comes complete with a complementary bed and a desk, and will have access to community areas with restrooms, showers, a kitchen and multiple gathering spaces.

The residences - comprised of the increasingly popular pallet shelters now being used as 'tiny homes' - cost between $13,900 and $18,900 to construct, with each being assembled in under an hour, Johnson said.

In total, the single community will cost the city a total of $7million - not including the other amenities set to be offered. There will also be no sobriety requirement for prospective tenants, the mayor's office said Monday.

It's the first step of Johnstons House1000 initiative, which claims it will be able to house 1,000 people by the end of 2023.

The end goal of the venture, officials said, is to eventually close all the encampments across Denver - a little over two months after Johnston declared a citywide state of emergency to address the crisis.

At a town hall meeting late last month, Johnston hinted he was not going to approach the problem like others before him - as he continues to face criticism since for two separate sweeps that have failed to clean up the mess.

Last Wednesday, the city cleared out a homeless camp on 16th Avenue and Sherman Street - and Johnston promptly heard an outcry from progressives for failing to give the evicted vagrants different housing properties as alternatives.

'This sweep was something that was not something that resulted in any kind of housing opportunity offered, hotel stay, anything like that,' V Reeves, with the homeless advocacy group Housekeys Action Network, told Fox 31 last week.

'People now are realizing that what the mayor has been saying has been a lot of lies.'

On Monday, the 48-year-old Democrat announced the city is taking its first steps in combating the dueling crises - by erecting a fully staffed commune with 130 70 square-foot homes, as well as 70 larger domiciles measuring in at 120 square feet.

The site, located on S. Santa Fe Drive, is one of 11 being propped up by the famously progressive city

It's the first step of Johnstons House1000 initiative, which claims it will be able to house 1,000 people by the end of 2023

The end goal of the venture, officials said, is to eventually close all the encampments across Denver - a little over two months after Johnston declared a citywide state of emergency to address the crisis

Worsening matters is the fact the derelicts are not exactly roughing it - with tent-laden processions complete with furniture and other amenities now a common sight in the Mile High City

At a town hall meeting late last month, the mayor hinted that he was not going to approach the problem like others before him - as he continues to face criticism since for two separate sweeps that have failed to clean up the mess

The comment - which came a week after the city also made a point to clear out an encampment at Eighth Avenue and Logan Street near the Governors Residence - apparently hit home for the mayor, spurring him to finally make headway on the new effort announced more than a month ago.

At the time, Johnston - a member of the state senate from 2009 to 2017 - touted how the plan will cost taxpayers an estimated $48.6 million, and christened it House1000.

'Were shuffling people without long-term resolution,' he said at the time, criticizing his own efforts that saw city officials force individuals sometimes just a block away.

Of the $48.6million, he said, just $19.6 million would go toward the conversion of purchased pallet shelters into tiny homes, while $18.9million is set to go toward the purchase of a Best Western in Central Park that will also be bolstered by a micro community.

Another $5.4 million of the city budget is set to be spent on leasing and operating additional hotels for homeless housing, while $4million will go to setting up individuals in their new digs in a timely fashion.

The city is also set to spend another $750,000 on its ongoing encampment response, which includes costs incurred by official's outreach, transportation, and temporary bathrooms and washing stations.

In total, the community will cost the city a total of $7million - not including the other amenities set to be offered like a full 24-hour staff

In total, the single community will cost the city a total of $7million - not including the other amenities set to be offered. There will also be no sobriety requirement for prospective tenants, the mayor's office said Monday

Once 1,000 are housed, Johnston said the city will 'permanently' close all of its encampments - aiming to clear up the now clogged streets, parks, and public spaces in the process

A former state senator, Johnston recently said of the effort: 'The plan is fully paid for. We have a path for success on that plan.' He says all 11 communities will be taking in homeless by January

Once 1,000 are housed, Johnston said the city will 'permanently' close all of its encampments - aiming to clear up the now clogged streets, parks, and public spaces in the process.

It is unclear how long that will take, though Johnston promises everything will be said and done before the end of the year.

'The plan is fully paid for,' the mayor said recently. 'We have a path for success on that plan.'

According to his office, each community - while still being constructed - will be able to house somewhere between 40 and 100 people, depending on the site and its size.

Some, however, may be able to house more - including the site at South Santa Fe where a planned 125 people will lay their heads at a time.

The plan is for the people to live in the units until they are eligible for permanent housing.

That said, each micro-community has to be operational for at least two years to be financially feasible, the city said, citing how zoning laws allow for them to be in place for increments of four years.

If this solution fails to solve the city's problem, a long economic downfall - and more instances of homelessness - likely awaits.

The Denver metropolitan area has seen a 32 percent rise in homelessness this year compared to 2022.

It had 9,065 unhoused people in January compared to 6,884 the year before, according to data collected by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative.
A teenager who was diagnosed with cancer twice and just had a baby has died in a car crash with her two friends in Kansas City, Kansas.

Aria Mia Gonzalez, 17, was in the passenger's seat of her friend's car around 1am on October 1 when the car crashed into a tree.

Gonzalez's friend Ashanti Hill, 19, was behind the wheel of a black Ford Taurus driving north on Emanual Cleaver II Boulevard when she lost control and slammed into the tree.

Her other friend Anaiyah Lewis, 19, was in the back seat at the time of the accident and the three girls died at the scene.

'She was a beloved family member/friend who brought immense joy to those around her. Our real life warrior who overcame so many tough obstacles,' said the GoFundMe page that her cousin Ari Ella created in honor of her.

At 13-years-old Gonzalez was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare cancer that occurs in the bones and soft tissues.

Aria Mia Gonzalez, 17, was in the passenger's seat of her friend's car around 1am on October 1 when the car crashed into a tree

Gonzalez with her baby girl, Se'vyn Sayori, who she had given birth to just two weeks from her second diagnosis on May 17 this year

She beat the cancer and went into remission, when just four years later she found out it returned.

This time around she was in her third trimester with her daughter Se'vyn Sayori Gonzalez.

According to her Facebook, Gonzalez gave birth to her baby girl just two weeks from her second diagnosis on May 17, 2023.

'She gave birth to her daughter and had to go through the challenges of being a young mom and battling cancer again,' Ella said on the donation page.

The money raised in honor of Gonzalez is set to be used for memorial expenses and for her baby who is now four months old.

Ella said: 'The funds raised will contribute to organizing a meaningful memorial to celebrate Mia's life and provide a lasting tribute to the beautiful memories she created. Additionally, a portion of the funds will be allocated to support the ongoing well-being and upbringing of baby Se'vyn, ensuring she has the necessary resources for a stable and nurturing environment.'

Friends and family of Gonzalez have taken to social media to share their condolences and support for the young mom.

Kiyara Nichelle Johnson posted videos of homemade tacos she is selling to raise funds for all three of the victims families.

'My heart goes out to these babies families, loved ones, children, s/o's etc. the only way I can think to help is to continue praying & trying to support in any way possible,' Johnson said in a Facebook post.

Kansas City Discover posted a touching tribute for Gonzalez, who was also known as Freeway Mueneyg on their Instagram.

Gonzalez's friend Ashanti Hill, 19, was behind the wheel of a black Ford Taurus driving north on Emanual Cleaver II Boulevard in Kansas City when she lost control and slammed into a tree. Pictured: Aria Mia Gonzalez

Gonzalez was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare cancer that occurs in the bones and soft tissues, when she was just 13 years old. She beat the cancer and went into remission, but just four years later she found out it had returned

Gonzalez is pictured in a hospital bed with a therapy dog

Aria Mia Gonzalez died aged 17 after she had been diagnosed with cancer twice and given birth to her baby girl earlier this year

Gonzalez's cousin Ari Ella is now raising funds for the family including her four-month-old baby girl. Pictured: Aria Mia Gonzalez

The GoFundMe for Gonzalez has raised $1,575 of its $5,000 goal so far. Pictured: Aria Mia Gonzalez

'Her family is trying to raise funds for her mom who is now going to take custody of Mia's 4 month old baby girl,' Kansas City Discover said.

They then went on to promote another taco benefit sale that will be going towards her 'celebration of life and to help alleviate some finances for her mom'.

Kansas City Discover ended their post with 'LONGLIVEMIA'.

The GoFundMe for Gonzalez has raised $1,575 of its $5,000 goal.

'Your generosity will make a significant impact on helping this family navigate through the difficult days ahead. Any contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated and will go directly to supporting Mia's family during this challenging time.

Thank you for your compassion, support, and keeping Mia and her family in your thoughts and prayers,' Ella said.

Gonzalez was just shy of her 18th birthday, and it is unclear what exactly caused the car to crash into the tree.
Maryland's former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan hasn't shut the door on a 2024 presidential run but said he wouldn't jump in the race unless there was a path to victory.

Hogan, 67, left office earlier this year as one of the country's most popular governors and initially declined to jump in the Republican primary race.

He's served as a national co-chair for No Labels, a centrist political organization, since 2020 and the group is securing a place on the 2024 general election ballot in all 50 states to potentially field a moderate presidential candidate.

'However I can serve, I'm still trying to figure that out, but I'm not walking away,' Hogan said at a Bloomberg News event Tuesday in Washington. 'I don't want to run a race and nibble around the edges. If I thought there was a path to success to win the race, then I just said I wouldn't shut the door on that opportunity.'

The Maryland Republican observed that former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley was 'on the ascent' and could still emerge as a formidable opponent to keep former President Donald Trump out of the White House - something that Hogan desires.

Maryland's former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan hasn't shut the door on a 2024 presidential run but said he wouldn't jump in the race unless there was a path to victory

Hogan said that former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley (third from right) is 'on the ascent' while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (center) 'continued to fail' as they run for the 2024 GOP nomination

'DeSantis has continued to fail throughout the campaign. He started with all the advantages,' Hogan also acknowledged.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis initially looked like a strong contender to keep Trump from winning the Republican nomination in 2024 but his campaign has sputtered.

In New Hampshire, the state that holds the first presidential primary after the Iowa caucuses, Haley was risen to second place, while DeSantis has fallen to third in the Real Clear Politics polling average.

DeSantis did have a strong debate performance at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, but Haley did as well.

Hogan thought it wasn't probable that another Republican could get in the race now and be successful in the GOP primary.

One top GOP billionaire was trying to nudge Virginia's first-term Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in the race, while Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's name has also been floated.

Hogan doesn't want to see another White House term for former President Donald Trump, who is currently leading all the GOP primary polls

'That's not going to happen,' Hogan said. 'I mean, they've missed the deadlines already.'

Next April, No Labels will hold a convention to determine if the group will field a 2024 presidential candidate.

Much of the country is dreading a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden, who were 2020 general election foes.

Polling in April found that 60 percent of Americans don't think Trump should run again, while 70 percent believed that of 80-year-old Biden.

Two independent candidates have also entered the race, academic Cornel West, who's expected to appear on the ballot as the Green Party's candidate and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was vying to unseat Biden in the Democratic primary until Monday, when he announced an independent run in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

An NBC News poll from late September that included a Green Party candidate, a Libertarian and a No Labels candidate found that each garnered between 4 and 5 percent and Biden lost to Trump 36 percent to 39 percent.

Turning to Capitol Hill, Hogan said he was 'disgusted' by the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

McCarthy's removal was plotted by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, an ally of Trump's, who Hogan told Bloomberg was 'a cancer on the party and on the Congress.'

'It's a train wreck. I mean, it's embarrassing, and I think it's terrible for the Republican Party,' Hogan said. 'I think it's terrible for Congress and for the country.'
The multi-millionaire said: 'Ive already lost a cousin, but we are prepared to fight for our freedom and for the right for Jews to be safe'

He told MailOnline that he has two sons in the military and other relatives who are preparing to fight

Eisenberg runs Aleph, a venture capital firm that invests in emerging Israeli companies, and has helped to raise funds and gather supplies

An Israeli American multi-millionaire has revealed how his two sons are preparing to fight Hamas terrorists and that one of his beloved cousins has already been killed in a gun battle with them.

Michael Eisenberg is a leading businessman who runs Aleph, a venture capital firm with a 700 million fund that it invests in emerging Israeli companies.

He is considered one of the countrys leading figures in economic and social matters after moving to Israel from the US in 1993, raising eight children in Jerusalem with his wife Yaffa.

Speaking to MailOnline, he revealed how all Israelis, regardless of wealth, influence or social class have pulled together after taking the biggest hit since the holocaust.

He said: I have two sons in the Israeli military who are at their army base waiting for instructions. I have other family members like nephews and cousins who are also preparing to go and fight.

Ive already lost a cousin, but we are prepared to fight for our freedom and for the right for Jews to be safe. The world now understands that Hamas are animals and butchers. I feel angry and sad, but I am very determined that we will triumph.

Multi-millionaire Michael Eisenberg posted a message to X sharing that one of his cousins had been killed in a gun battle

'Our angelic cousin Joey Z...with tears in our eyes,' Eisenberg wrote

He is a leading businessman who runs Aleph, a venture capital firm that invests in emerging Israeli companies

Mr Eisenberg, 52 posted a picture of his cousin, Yosef Malachi on X and wrote: Our angelic cousin Joey Z... with tears in our eyes.

He said: The whole of Israel has taken a big hit, probably the biggest since the Holocaust but unlike in the 1930s and 1940s we are still standing. The goal of Hamas is just to kill Jews and the world now understands this.

In a tribute to his fallen cousin, he wrote: Joey was a lion, fleet of foot and one of the best ultimate frisbee players I ever saw (my favourite family activity at the get togethers). He was a drone expert and a commando with an empathetic heart of gold and deep faith. He was always there first to help anyone and everyone. And I mean everyone. From first-hand accounts, we have learned that Joey fought the Hamas animals like a lion, saving many civilians. He fought alongside another cousin, shoulder to shoulder and home to home to save people.

He added: May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration for us all. The human spirit and the lovers of humanity and empathy will ultimately overcome these animals. Stay strong.

Mr Eisenberg said that he could not reveal the names of his two sons in the Israeli army or share their photographs because of security reasons.

He told MailOnline: What the Hamas terrorists have done has been a massive wake up call for all of Israel and the entire world. Im proud of our kids, my sons, cousins and nephews and what they are doing. All the Israeli soldiers are our kids.

Since the surprise offensive, Mr Eisenberg has been actively involved in helping to raise funds and supplies as the country braces itself for more military action.

He said that he has been particularly impressed with the way ordinary Israeli citizens have responded to the crisis.

Eisenberg said: 'What the Hamas terrorists have done has been a massive wake up call for all of Israel and the entire world'

In the wake of the destruction, he revealed hundreds of Israelis have been donating food and supplies to soldiers ahead of a possible ground offensive into Gaza

The multi-millionaire said two of his sons are in the Israeli military and are waiting for instructions at an army base

Hamas opened gunfire on a music festival on Saturday, killing 250 people and taking others hostage. Bodies and belongings were left strewn about the dirt

He said: Israel is the strongest and most resilient civil society in the world. What we have done over the last 72 hours is nothing but extraordinary. Groups of people have dropped everything, jumped in their jeeps with their weapons and headed to the south of the country to save hundreds of people from Hamas terrorists.

Mr Eisenberg also revealed that hundreds of ordinary Israelis have been donating food and other supplies to soldiers ahead of a possible ground offensive into Gaza.

Others have started up WhatsApp groups offering services such as babysitting, because so many men have been called up or collecting toys for children from families who have been forced from their homes.

He also revealed how Israels tech sector, one of the fastest growing in the world has also come to the countrys aid.

Tech gurus from a company he invests in have built an app and created a website that allows Israelis, particularly those living close to Gaza to upload images and information about their location and if they are safe or not.

He revealed that another tech entrepreneur he works with used technology to identify people in their homes or had been injured to help co-ordinate rescue efforts.

Mr Eisenberg insisted: When you see the images of barbarism and the blood of innocent being spilled its very difficult. But the world will see that we are beacons of light fighting the darkness. We will emerge from this stronger.

Hamas terrorists killed at least 40 children before beheading them in a Kibbutz in Israel. A baby's seat and child's dress is seen covered in blood in the aftermath

Shocking video showed 10-year-old Erez Kalderon being kidnapped by a Hamas fighter and dragged towards a border fence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formerly declared war on October 8 and approved 'significant military steps' to counter Hamas

Israel has retaliated since Saturday's surprise attack, killing at least 830 Palestinians and wounding 4,250

A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. said the death toll in Israel had surpassed 1,000 by Tuesday afternoon.

The violence began on Saturday, when Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack, firing rockets into Israel as hundreds of fighters infiltrated the border.

The country was thrown off guard on Simchat Torah, a major holiday when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll.

Gunmen stormed towns and communities outside the Gaza Strip, firing at civilians and IDF soldiers. More than 250 people who had been attending a music festival in southern Israel were gunned down.

An additional 2,700 Israelis were injured, and at least 830 Palestinians were killed and 4,250 injured in the counteroffensive, according to health services from both countries.

Around 150 people have been held hostage, according to Hamas.
President Joe Biden didn't mention Iran by name in his speech to the nation Tuesday despite reports the country's regime helped plan the brutal Hamas terror attack on Israel.

Biden, speaking publicly for the first time since Saturday, instead offered a generalized warning to any state or actor seeking to exploit the crisis.

'Let me say again, any country, any organization anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: don't,' Biden said.

Biden called the October 7 atrocity 'unadulterated evil' and his administration is going back over intelligence to see if Iran or its proxies aided the effort. The White House said it cannot currently confirm that Iran helped with the attack.

Biden also didn't mention his recent decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a deal that freed five Americans.

President Biden called out 'unadulterated evil' in the Hamas attack on Israel, in a speech where he did not specifically name Iran, who the administration says has supported Hamas for years

Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan said: 'We've said since the beginning, that Iran is complicit in this attack in a broad sense, because they have provided the lion's share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas.

'They have provided training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over years and years.'

But he added: 'Whether Iran knew about this attack in advance or helped plan or direct this attack, we do not, as of the moment have confirmation of that.'

Sullivan said the administration was talking to the Israelis and 'looking back through our intelligence' seeking information.

He said the administration did not regret the prisoner swap deal involving the unfreezing of the $6 billion in Iranian assets.

'The United States does not regret bringing home American citizens who have been unjustly detained abroad,' he said. 'The President has no higher priority than to get Americans home.

'Right now. We have Americans who are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. That is a high priority.'

'Iran is complicit in this attack in a broad sense,' national security advisor Jake Sullivan said at the White House

The president met with his security team at the Situation Room, as seen in a photo handed out by the White House

Biden is facing pressure from Republican senators to reimpose a freeze on the $6 billion.

Under the deal that freed American hostages the funds are supposed to be used for humanitarian purposes.

But the Republicans say it could allow Tehran to 'reallocate' resources to finance further terror attacks.

Hamas continued to fire rockets at Israel from Gaza on Tuesday, following a coordinated attack on Saturday which killed over 900 Israelis and raised immediate suspicion of outside support.

Israel is preparing a potential ground invasion in response to the attacks.

'To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable,' 20 Republican senators wrote Biden on Monday.

'Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.'

Allowing the funds to flow into Iran's economy 'allows the Iranian regime to reallocate even more funds to supporting terrorism,' they added, saying oversight of the funds is 'not enough.'

GOP senators are calling on President Joe Biden to put back a freeze on $6 billion Iranian funds out of concern it could go to fund Hamas terror operations

The White House says there is 'complicity' due to Iran's support for Hamas, but say there are facts that establish the Saturday operation

Signing onto the letter are Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), as well as Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)

They are demanding the administration rescind waivers that allowed for the funding to be transferred to Qatar under a deal that freed five Americans who were being held in Iran.

The deal got completed last month. Following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Biden administration was forced to explain that the funding, which was already controversial, had not yet been released.

Signing onto the letter are Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), as well as Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In public comments this week, the administration has walked a delicate line  saying they had no information pointing to Iranian support for the attack, while acknowledging its past support for Hamas and for terror groups.

'There's a degree of complicity here, but Iran has been supporting Hamas for many, many years  tools, training, capabilities  certainly rhetorically but in more much more tangible ways than that,' said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. 'So, absolutely, there's a degree of complicity here writ large.'

'That said, we haven't  and we are looking through the information streams. We haven't seen hard, tangible evidence that Iran was directly involved in participating in or resourcing and planning these sets of complex attacks that Hamas pulled off over the weekend,' he said.

He said the administration was 'going to keep looking at it. Our Israeli counterparts are also actively looking, and even they have publicly said they don't see the quote, unquote smoking gun.'

Kirby and other officials have refused to confirm a Wall Street Journal story that Iran helped plan the attack and gave the go-ahead during a Beirut meeting last Monday.
A group of people in Nazi costumes were seen eating at Torchy's Tacos in Fort Worth

A shocking video shows a group of people dressed in Nazi costumes siting and eating at a Torchy's Tacos in Fort Worth, Texas.

The viral video posted by Jessica Gregorio on TikTok captures the shocking moment when about ten people in Nazi clothing were served food at a Torchy's Tacos in Fort Worth's medical district on Sunday.

A man can be seen wearing a swastika armband over a tan uniform, while another was in a sweatshirt featuring an image of a skull and the slogan 'Gott Mit Uns'God with usused in Nazi Germany. A swastika patch can be seen on his backpack too.

The group appeared to have just finished their food and walked comfortably through the restaurant in Nazi paraphernalia on Sunday, a day after the surprising attack by Hamas that pushed Israel's death toll surpass 1,000.

'I just can't stop staring at them because I was just so angry, uncomfortable,' said Gregorio, who shot another video to explain what happened when she was eating with her mom at the Torchy's Tacos.

A group of people in Nazi costumes were eating at Torchy's Tacos in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday

The group appeared to have just finished their food and walked comfortably at the restaurant in Nazi paraphernalia

Gregorio started recording them and saying, 'how dare you'. After she stopped recording, one of the men walked by her, saying 'white power'.

It was the moment when she had a 'verbal altercation' with the group in Nazi clothing, Gregorio said. The 'white power' remarks were made after she told them she is a proud Jew.

The group left the store after the verbal fight. the woman said. But they returned to order more food and this time - they were denied.

'I'm posting this because I want to spread awareness,' she said in the video. 'I started crying after they walked out. 'It's very hard to grow up Jewish,' she said.

Gregorio said a staff at Torchy's, who also felt uncomfortable, told her a regional manager instructed staff to serve the group and getting them out of the restaurant as quickly as possible.

'I just felt like, silence is compliance, and I can't sit and watch these people in public comfortably,' Gregorio spoke with the Star Telegram after the incident.

Torchy's Tacos posted a statement on social media Tuesday acknowledging the incident and denouncing the group.

'Let us be clear, we do not stand for hate and do not support this group or any hate group,' the statement reads.

'In a difficult situation, our team acted to first ensure the safety of the other guests and our team members. When the group tried to come back, they were not allowed.'

'We will continue working closely with local authorities to ensure the safety of our guests and team members. We are taking this matter extremely seriously.'

Jessica Gregorio shot another video to explain what happened when she was eating with her mom at the Torchy's Tacos

Gregoria said she was disappointed by how Torchy's Tacos handled the situation, plus the fact that no one said anything to the group at the restaurant.

'I see all these comments on TikTok with people who say, Oh, if I was there I would have stood up, she said.

'But, you know, there were other people in the restaurant and nobody stood up. Nobody said anything.'

The same day a group of people dressing in similar Nazi uniforms with swastikas on their shoulders, carrying red and black Nazi flags protested in front of a church in Dallas.

The group was armed with knives and mace, chanting 'down with Israel, down with the Jews.

'All gays should be gassed. Annihilate the gays. Annihilate the Jews, the protesters chanted at the Oak Lawn church, known for its primary LGBTQ+ membership.
More than 700 Israelis were killed when Hamas launched its attack over the weekend, and hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza have now also been slaughtered

She added the 31 student groups who pledged to support the militants 'don't speak for the university or its leadership'

Gay condemned the 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel ' in a statement posted on Harvard's website on Tuesday

Harvard President Claudine Gay has finally condemned the 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' - at odds with the widely publicized views of many students at the college.

Following intense criticism over how the Ivy League college has responded to the weekend's violence in Israel and Gaza, Gay said the 31 student groups who pledged to support the Islamic militants 'don't speak for the university or its leadership.'

'Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership,' Gay said.

Hamas, which controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, attacked Israel on Saturday in the worst breach of the country's defenses since Arab armies waged war in 1973. Israel has responded with air strikes on Gaza.

The leaders of one of America's most prestigious colleges avoided condemning the abduction and suspected rape of Israeli civilians, while the death tolls on both sides breached quadruple figures - until today.

Harvard President Claudine Gay (pictured) has finally condemned the 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' - at odds with 31 student groups at the Ivy League institution who have pledged support to the militants

The Palestine Solidarity Committee holding banners outside the prestigious college

In a statement published on the Ivy League institution's website, Gay said the 31 student groups who pledged to support the militants 'don't speak for the university or its leadership'

'As the events of recent days continue to reverberate, let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas,' Gay said in a statement.

'Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever one's individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region,' she said.

The president then added: 'We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame.

'And I appeal to all of us in this community of learning to keep this in mind as our conversations continue.'

A coalition of 31 Harvard student organizations said they 'hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence' following decades of occupation, adding that 'the apartheid regime is the only one to blame.'

The organizations signing the letter included Muslim and Palestinian support groups, plus others named for a variety of backgrounds, including the Harvard Jews for Liberation and the African American Resistance Organization.

'The apartheid regime is the only one to blame,' they said. 'Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years.

'From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden.'

The Hamas movement, which controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, attacked Israel on Saturday in the worst breach of the country's defenses since Arab armies waged war in 1973.(Pictured: a hostage taken by Hamas)

Israeli soldiers stand next to the bodies of Israelis killed by Hamas militants in kibbutz Kfar Azza on Tuesday

People mourn at the graveside of Eden Guez, who was killed a festival that was attacked by Hamas gunmen that left at least 260 people dead, at her funeral in Ashkelon, in southern Israe

Gay and senior leadership, including 15 deans at Harvard, issued a statement on Monday saying they were 'heartbroken by the death and destruction unleashed by the attack by Hamas that targeted citizens in Israel this weekend'.

But the statement avoided direct references to the student letter or the reaction to it.

Harvard is the most influential university in U.S. politics, having produced eight former presidents and four of the nine current Supreme Court Justices.

Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary under Democratic President Bill Clinton and former university president, was one of several Harvard graduates to criticize the current Harvard leadership for failing to respond.

'The silence from Harvard's leadership ... has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel,' Summers wrote on social media platform X. 'I am sickened.'

It marked another moment of contention for the school after a professor was forced to apologize for implying the Hamas attack on Israel was an attempt to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu's 'own corruption.'

While universities traditionally have been a bastion of free speech and radical ideas, the student letter struck a chord within the political establishment.

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets

A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to incite 'mighty vengeance' against Hamas by reducing Gaza - which is also home to around two million innocent Palestinians - to 'rubble'. Many of the attacks have struck mosques in Gaza (pictured)

Hundreds of Palestinians have now also been killed in the latest strikes as Benjamin Netanyahu 's government struck Gaza, vowing to obliterate Hamas and their homeland

Elise Stefanik, a Republican U.S. Representative from New York and a Harvard graduate, called the statement 'abhorrent and heinous' for excusing the 'slaughter of innocent women and children.'

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a Harvard Law School graduate, wrote on X: 'What the hell is wrong with Harvard?'

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, also a Harvard graduate, called the college's silence 'intellectually weak and morally repugnant' .

'Terrorism is never justified nor someone else's fault,' he said on X.

'This rhetoric from more than two dozen Harvard groups is not morally or intellectually honest, it's intellectually weak and morally repugnant.

'The university's silence is complicity.'
A Sydney-born grandmother has become the first Australian fatality confirmed in Israel as fears grow for a number of missing others feared dead.

Galit Carbone, 66, was among those killed in the Be'eri kibbutz, 5km from the Gaza Strip border, heartbroken relatives back home in Australia have confirmed.

Her lifeless body was found just metres from her home, where she had previously worked as a librarian and raised her three children.

It comes as the civilian death toll from the Hamas attacks on Israel climbed to more than 1,000 as the overall tally of fatalities reached 3,100.

Ms Carbone has been remembered as 'a very much loved mum, grandma, sister and cousin'.

Her family back in Sydney are in a 'state of numb shock' after their worst fears were confirmed late Tuesday.

Sydney born grandmother Galit Carbone (right) has been killed

READ MORE: Australian-Israeli woman who was supposed to be at the music festival where hundreds of revellers were gunned down vows to stay and fight Hamas terrorists Advertisement

'Over the last few days they've just gone through all the ranges of emotion, from hearing what happened to thinking that she's been a prisoner to hearing confirmation that she was killed,' cousin Julian Cappe told the Herald Sun.

'We're not sure if she was killed in her home or dragged out and killed, but her body was not found in her house. She may have been dragged around.'

Ms Carbone was one of 108 civilians found dead in the kibbutz where she lived.

'The idea that terrorists could walk into such a peaceful place and find an elderly, a 66-year-old lady, and other elderly people and gun them down in cold blood. It's just devastating to feel that such a thing could happen,' Mr Cappe added.

He added his cousin had been planning to go to Sydney.

'We used to love spending time with her when we were in Israel,' he said.

There are also growing concerns for a number of Aussies who are still missing in Israel following the attacks.

Around 10,000 Australians are in Israel, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

Galit Carbone (left) has been remembered as a a very much loved mum, grandma, sister and cousin. She's with daughters Maia (middle) and Nicole (right)

Back in Australia, a former prime minister has slammed Anthony Albanese's 'pussyfooting' response to anti-Semitic protests in Sydney following Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

John Howard, who led Australia in the wake of the September 11 attacks, said the Prime Minister's denouncement did not go far enough.

'Mr Albanese should make some unequivocal statements, as should the Foreign Minister,' he told The Australian.

'Instead of that there is pussyfooting and lukewarm condemnation. Then you have the New South Wales Attorney-General (Michael Daley) saying everyone should remain calm and go home.

'How can you remain calm when demonstrators are invoking the memory of the Holocaust? People remain calm in that?

'I never thought we would crumple to this ... We need leadership from the top, we aren't getting that at the moment.'
Labour has pledged to crack down on shoplifters and change the law to protect retail workers in a bid to 'rebuild security' on the country's streets.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said thefts under 200 are not investigated  even if the perpetrators are repeat offenders.

In an attempt to curb the epidemic of shoplifting and violence against workers, she vowed to end the 200 rule to tackle shoplifting gangs.

She told the Labour conference her party would bring in a law and tougher sentences for attacks on shopworkers  a key demand of The Mail on Sunday's campaign to end the shoplifting epidemic.

Ms Cooper said: 'We will rebuild security on our streets. Our town centres should be the beating heart of our communities. Instead, we've got local shops chaining fabric conditioner to shelves, putting security tags on packs of cheese and butter to fend off organised gang raids.

In an attempt to curb the epidemic of shoplifting and violence against workers, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured at the Labour Conference in Liverpool on Tuesday) vowed to end the 200 rule to tackle shoplifting gangs

Labour has pledged to crack down on shoplifters and change the law to protect retail workers in a bid to 'rebuild security' on the country's streets (stock image of woman shoplifting at supermarket)

'An epidemic of shoplifting and violence against shop workers.'

She said a Labour government would bring in Respect Orders to ban repeat offenders from town centres.

'We'll restore neighbourhood policing  13,000 more police and PCSOs back on our streets and patrols in the heart of our towns.'

Labour would amend the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 to scrap the category of low-value shoplifting, which it believes has led to shoplifting under 200 going unpunished.

Ms Cooper pledged to set up 90 youth hubs to give teenagers the 'best start in life' and to stop the knife crime that is 'killing our children'.

In a deliberate echo of Tony Blair's 1993 conference speech, she said: 'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime. We said it, we mean it, that means we have to act.'
A Scots landowner was swept away during the weekend floods as his helpless wife watched on.

The family of Struan Robertson, 77, who owns the Pitcastle Estate in Strathtay, Perthshire, fear he has lost his life.

Mr Robertson was engulfed by the swollen River Tay and dragged downstream by the powerful current as he tried to clear a clogged hydropower device.

His distraught wife Patricia was assisting him when he lost his footing and fell into the water.

A massive rescue operation was launched on Sunday evening, with river search teams and a helicopter scouring the area late into the day on Monday.

Struan Robertson slipped into the water

The focus of the search then moved further down river yesterday.

Mr Robertsons son Euan, 49, said the family dont have a lot of hope of finding him alive.

He said his father had been trying to clear a hydro intake from the Tay, which powers the electricity, as it can become clogged up when the water is so high.

He said: He lost his footing and was swept into the river. The current dragged him away.

I was in Perth at the time. My mother was with him when it happened.

He added: The search is continuing.

Search teams scouring the River Tay after Mr Robertson was reported missing on Sunday

'But Im told it has moved to a grid search, looking at places further along the river where things tend to wash up.

His father had owned the 1,500-acre estate for 20 years and lived there for the last five.

The family now face an anxious wait for news. Mr Robertson said: We are speaking with the police, who are providing us with daily updates. Until the water subsides theres not a lot of hope of finding him at this stage.

The dam is still releasing water so the water level will stay high for the next three days and then the chances of finding him improve, but we dont have a lot of hope of finding him alive.

Mr Robertson is a popular figure in the area and opened the Grandtully and Strathtay Gala Day this summer.

Police have been using drones and the Police Scotland helicopter as part of a multi-agency search for the missing landowner.

The tragedy came during a weekend when Scotland was hit by heavy downpours, causing flooding across the country.

The severe flooding caused the Spey at Kingussie to burst its banks

A landslide swept a car off the A816 at Ardfern

Sections of the North Inch in Perth were under floodwater as levels in the River Tay continued to drop

Yesterday, the A83 road remained closed after several landslips between Inveraray and Tarbet, in Argyll.

Road maintenance firm BEAR Scotland also identified six further incidents between Inveraray and the Rest and Be Thankful, removing 9,500 tons of debris from the road.

A further 2,000 tons still have to be removed before the route can safely reopen.

A yellow warning remained in place across much of western Scotland yesterday.

Several flood warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency were also still in force last night across much of the Highlands, Perthshire and central areas.

Forecasters said sunny spells and showers were expected today and tomorrow. A north-westerly wind will see temperatures fall.

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: We will start to see showers turn to sleet and snow on the tops of the mountains on Friday into Saturday.

However, he added that it was currently expected to be largely dry next week  saying that this was good news for those suffering from the rain and flooding at the weekend.
Dozens of Labour MPs shunned private school heads who invited them to discuss the party's plan to introduce VAT on fees.

More than 40 MPs including several shadow cabinet ministers had been invited to a private reception at their Liverpool Conference to discuss the proposed tax raid. But bosses were left furious when none of them showed up.

James Lockwood, headteacher of Woodhouse Grove School in Bradford said it was 'extremely disappointing' that not one MP attended Monday's event.

He said that scrapping tax exemptions will 'hit the least wealthy families hardest' and make 'independent schooling unaffordable for those who work the hardest to afford it'. He added: 'It is disappointing that there was so little engagement from the Labour Party.

'Pupil movement from independent schools will make it harder for all parents to get the school of their choice.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to add the tax as part of a plan to smash the 'class ceiling

'In short, we are not the enemy, we are just schools that form a valuable part of the whole education ecosystem in this country.'

Labour has U-turned on plans to abolish the charitable status of private schools. However, it will press ahead with its proposals to charge private schools 20 per cent VAT and scrap the 80 per cent relief they receive on business rates.

It means bursars could be forced to hike charges from as early as next September  effectively pricing families out of fee-paying schools.

The Independent Schools Council, which hosted the reception, said: 'Headteachers and schools are keen to talk with their MP to look at the local implications of Labour's proposed policy.

'We are disappointed MPs did not take the opportunity to do so at Labour conference.

James Lockwood, headteacher of Woodhouse Grove School in Bradford (pictured) said it was 'extremely disappointing' that not one MP attended Monday's event

'ISC would welcome the chance to work together with Labour on our shared goal of improving outcomes for more students.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who was a pupil at Reigate Grammar School when it transitioned into a fee-paying institution, has pledged to add the tax as part of a plan to smash the 'class ceiling'.

He told the Labour conference: 'People will say 'don't rock the boat, we've always done it like this, is this really necessary?' But it's our responsibility to do it... the prize is huge.

'If we ignore appeals for the status quo on private school tax breaks or outdated national curriculum, then we can have mental health staff in every school, more expert teachers in the classroom, more creativity, speaking skills, confidence.'
Recordholder Chicago centenarian, Dorothy Hoffner died yesterday after she set the Guinness World Record for the oldest skydiver in history less than a week ago.

The 104-year-old broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest tandem parachute jump set in 2022 by 103-year-old Linnea Ingegard Larsson in Sweden.

Hoffner's close friend Joe Conant told the Chicago Tribune that she died peacefully in her sleep and her death came unexpectedly.

'She was just indefatigable. She just kept going,' Conant said.

Dorothy Hoffner has become the oldest person ever to skydive after jumping out of a plane at 13,500ft in northern Illinois. She died on October 9 in her sleep.

He described Hoffner, who he called 'grandma', as someone who had not seemed to age at all in the last decade, barely napped or canceled plans.

'It came as quite a shock,' he said of her death. 'She gave an incredible amount of her spirit and life to all of us, and it inspired all of us.'

Joe Conant met Hoffner five years ago when he was working as a caregiver for another resident at Brookdale Senior Living, where she too resided.

A spokesperson for Hoffner told the Chicago Sun-Times they were honored the skydiving experience from Oct. 1 was able to serve as an incredible cap to her 'exciting, well-lived life.'

'Age is just a number,' Hoffner told a cheering crowd after touching the ground Sunday at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, about 85 miles southwest of Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Hoffner took her first skydiving plunge four years ago after she turned 100 years old simply because 'it sounded interesting,' she told Conant who joined her in both that initial jump and the recent one on Sunday.

'The whole thing was delightful, wonderful, couldn't have been better,' she said after landing.

Hoffner's jump was originally scheduled for early September but was delayed three times due to bad weather.

She left her walker behind just short of the plane - a white Skyvan - and was helped up the steps by two instructions to join the others waiting inside

Once her jump is certified, she is likely to break the Guinness World Record for the oldest skydiver

Relieved to make it back to the ground, Hoffner said her skydiving record made her feel 'old'

On Sunday, she left her walker behind just short of the plane - a white Skyvan - and was helped up the steps by two instructions to join the others waiting inside.

'Let's go, let's go, Geronimo!' she said after boarding the plane and seated.

She was the only passenger not wearing ear plugs as the plane rose quickly. With a confident smile, she insisted on taking the lead when the aft door opened for the jump.

She said she had to be pushed out of the aircraft four years ago, but 'wanted to take charge' this time.

Finally, she leaped into the air from 13,500 feet, immersing herself in the sight of river streams and patches of greenery before making her historical landing.

The dive lasted seven minutes. Coming into land, the wind pushed Hoffner's white hair back as she clung to the harness over her narrow shoulders, picked up her legs and plopped softly onto the grassy landing area.

Friends rushed to Hoffner to share their congratulations as someone brought over her red walker.

When a reporter asked her how it felt to be back on the ground, Hoffner said, 'wonderful, but it was wonderful up there'.

Skydive Chicago is working to have Guinness World Records certify Hoffner's jump as a record, WLS-TV reported, but she didn't seem too concerned about it.

When asked what it felt like to hold the age-based record, she answered quickly: 'Like I'm old.'

Her mind turned to the future and other challenges. Set to turn 105 in December, Hoffner said she might take a ride in a hot-air balloon next.

'I've never been in one of those,' she said.

She said she had to be pushed out of the aircraft four years ago, but 'wanted to take charge' this time

She took her first skydiving plunge four years ago after she turned a century old simply because 'it sounded interesting'

Born in 1918 after World War I, Hoffner had survived both the Spanish flu and Covid pandemics. She spent her whole life in Chicago.

Growing up poor and unable to afford college, she worked as an operator for Illinois Bell, a telephone company later became a part of AT&T.

She never married or had a child. Describing herself as 'an unclaimed treasure,' Hoffner said she never had to deal with the responsibility of kids.

She told the Chicago Tribune: 'Or the pettiness and the mess of a husband. I never had to take care of anyone but me.'

It gave her life more freedom and chances for beautiful adventure, she said when interviewed by the New York Times.

She enjoyed weekend trips across the country driving in her blue Dodge Coronet; bus rides with friends to beachy town in Mexico; and boat rides on the Danube River in Germany.

She also traveled to England, Panama, Italy twice and France.

Hoffner encouraged everyone to try skydiving because it's 'surprisingly affordable and so peaceful.'

She also advised those who want to try: 'When youre coming down, make sure youve got someone with you. Thats the important thing.' She planned on going on a hot balloon trip after her skydiving success.

Funeral arrangements are set for early November and the family has not yet released an obituary for her.
The boss of a luxury Highland resort was fired after Ukrainian refugees housed there hit out at the harrowing conditions they were forced to live in.

Iain Miller lost his 120,000-a-year role following their complaints, including claims Strathspey Hotel was infested with vermin and only served nuggets and chips.

An employment tribunal heard Macdonald Aviemore Resorts managing director was also blamed for leaving 85 rooms un-serviced while a film crew was staying.

Mr Miller was sacked after senior executive Natalya Macholla found his egregious failings had damaged the companys reputation.

He sued for unfair dismissal but a tribunal in Glasgow threw out his case after concluding he was to blame for the issues.

An employment tribunal heard managing director Iain Miller was blamed for leaving 85 rooms un-serviced

Mr Millers remit consisted of four hotels, two resorts and a conference centre.

The tribunal heard that in June 2022 the firms founder, Donald Macdonald, reported that one of the resorts was a complete disaster and Mr Miller had let the place go.

Later that year a film crew complained the towels and linen werent changed at the 85 rooms they had taken for five days.

Mr Miller lost his 120,000-a-year role following complaints by Ukrainian refugees

The tribunal was also told that in August 2022, a number of Ukrainian refugees arrived.

Their harrowing stories of living conditions soon reached the local paper.

A disciplinary hearing held in December found the failings at Strathspey Hotel and the resulting reputational damage were egregious and Mr Miller was fired.

Employment judge Rory McPherson yesterday found the decision to sack the 58-year-old was a reasonable one. He said: As the most senior person based wholly on site, he was accountable.
He received 27,345 additional pay for 277 hours of work over the past two years

Wes Streeting has been accused of 'staggering hypocrisy' for spending almost two months on outside work after saying MPs should be banned from doing second jobs.

Labour's shadow health secretary received 27,345 in additional pay for 277 hours of work over the past two years, official documents reveal.

His lucrative side hustles include authoring a new book and working as a radio presenter and audio narrator.

Based on a typical working week of 37.5 hours, it means he has spent almost two months on these activities over this period.

Meanwhile, he was serving as an MP for Ilford North and sitting on Labour's front bench.

Wes Streeting (pictured at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Sunday) has been accused of 'staggering hypocrisy' for spending almost two months on outside work after saying MPs should be banned from doing second jobs

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting pictured in July this year

Health workers protesting outside the Conservative Party Conference last week

Mr Streeting, who will deliver his keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Wednesday, also undertook an extensive publicity blitz around the launch of his memoir, 'One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up'.

This may benefit him by increasing sales but would not have been recorded in the official figures, published in the MP's register of interests.

It comes despite Mr Streeting previously saying he thought 'being an MP is more than a full-time job' and that he believed it disrespectful to voters to take on extra work.

Speaking on Times Radio in November 2021, Mr Streeting said: 'I think it is time to just ban MPs from having second jobs. I don't know where people find the time, to be honest.

'I find being an MP is more than a full-time job, it is also an enormous privilege, and we ought to treat the voters with respect by focusing on that job.'

Since saying this, he has registered 277 hours of paid work from second jobs, including 15 hours of radio presenting, 250 hours of writing and 12 hours of narration.

This work generated total payments of 27,345 or an average of 99 an hour.

Mr Streeting, who will deliver his keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Wednesday, also undertook an extensive publicity blitz around the launch of his memoir, 'One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up'

Doctors and medical staff from the British Medical Association (BMA) stage a protest outside the Mancheser Library during the Conservative Party annual conference last week

A Conservative source said: 'This is staggering hypocrisy from Wes Streeting,

'It is this kind of short-term decision making than dominates the Labour Party and shows that Streeting is just the same old Labour.

'If he wasn't so busy on his side hustles or self-publicity, he might have found time to come up with more credible ideas on health.'

It came as Mr Streeting yesterday said Labour needs to be shaken out its 'rose-tinted dewy-eyed nostalgia' for the NHS so its failings can be addressed.

Speaking at a fringe event at the conference yesterday[TUE], he described the service as 'awful in many cases' and warned historic sentiment risks getting in the way of necessary reforms.

Mr Streeting also said that too often the NHS treated those who were prepared to be 'pushy' and 'sharp-elbowed' better than those who simply waited their turn - saying he himself had hurried doctors when he was being treated for cancer.

And he hinted to delegates on Monday that Labour will cave in to junior doctors' huge pay demands in a bid to end strikes that are crippling the NHS.

At the Labour conference on Tuesday, Professor Philip Banfield, (pictured in January) chair of the British Medical Association, failed to rule out further doctors strikes over winter, when the NHS is under most pressure

Mr Streeting said he has 'much more sympathy' for junior medics who are demanding rises of 35 per cent than for better paid consultants and would offer them the 'pay they deserve'.

At the Labour conference on Tuesday, Professor Philip Banfield, chair of the British Medical Association, failed to rule out further doctors strikes over winter, when the NHS is under most pressure.

Meanwhile Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, called for 'serious discussions' between the BMA and Government to prevent further disruption.

She revealed doctors have now been out on strike for 720 hours since March - the equivalent of a whole month. A Labour source said Mr Streeting wrote his book while on holiday.
The White House revealed on Tuesday that 20 or more Americans are unaccounted for in Israel following the Hamas terror attack, and officials don't know how many are being held hostage.

President Joe Biden said at least 14 Americans were among more than 1000 people killed during a weekend of bloodshed as he promised to stand with Israel.

And he said American citizens were among hostages snatched by Hamas.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was later asked what the administration knew about their condition.

'We do not know about their condition and we cannot confirm a precise number of American citizens,' he told reporters during a briefing. 'We believe that there are 20 or more Americans who at this point are missing.

A man looks at photos of American-Israelis that are missing and believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, displayed for a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel

'But I want to underscore and stress that does not mean necessarily that there are 20 or more American hostages. Just that is the number who are currently unaccounted for.'

Hamas launched a blitz by land, sea and air from Gaza on Saturday, surprising Israeli and American intelligence agencies.

Israel responded with strikes on the 141-square mile Gaza Strip.

Biden expressed his shock and revulsion at the brutality of Hamas and promised to stand with Israel as it mourned its dead.

'We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas,' he said. 'I'm directing my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

'Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.'

Hamas claimed it took dozens of prisoners back to Gaza and signaled that it might use them to trade for Palestinians jailed in Israel.

Sullivan said: 'We will work hour by hour, both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans, or to confirm exactly what the number of Americans are being held hostage, and we will come back to you with that information as soon as we have it.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that 20 or more Americans are missing in Israel following the Hamas attack, and officials don't know how many are being held hostage

Israel Defense Forces artillery soldiers prepare around their vehicles on October 10, 2023 in Netivot, Israel. Israel has sealed off Gaza and conducted airstrikes on Palestinian territory

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 10, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. Almost 800 people have died in Gaza, and 187, 000 displaced, after Israel launched sustained retaliatory air strikes after a large-scale attack by Hamas

President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressed the terrorist attack on Israel with a speech on Tuesday

'As you know, very sadly and tragically, the number of dead has risen with each passing hour, and that's true of the total number, it's also true of Americans, which has gone up just today from an earlier report this morning of 12 and 13  now 14.'

On Tuesday afternoon, the administration announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel to Israel on Wednesday.

His spokesman said he would to deliver a message of solidarity and discuss what resources were needed in the region.

President Biden's speech in full: 'We must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel'

'Good afternoon. You know there are moments in this life - I mean this literally - when a pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend at the bloody hands of the terrorist organisation Hamas, a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews.

'So in an act of sheer evil, more than 1000 civilians slaughtered, not just killed  slaughtered in Israel. Among them at least 14 American citizens killed.

Biden said a 'pure unadulterated evil' had been unleashed on the world

'Parents butchered, using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach turning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace  to celebrate peace.

'Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies.

'Families hid their fear for hours and hours desperately trying to keep their children quiet to avoid drawing attention

'And 1000s of wounded. Alive but carrying with them the bullet holes and the shrapnel wounds and the memory what they endured.

'You all know these traumas never go away. There's still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones. Not knowing if they're alive or dead or hostages, infants in their mother's arms, grandparents and wheelchairs Holocaust survivors abducted and held hostage .

'Hostages who Hamas now threatens to execute in violation of every code of human morality.

'The brutality of Hamas  brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism.

'But sadly for the Jewish people, it's not new. This attack has brought to the surface painful memories, the scars left by a millennia of anti-Semitism and genocide of the Jewish people.

'So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel.

'We stand with Israel and we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, respond to this attack. There's no justification for terrorism. There's no excuse.

'Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self determination. The stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel on the murder of Jewish people.

They use Palestinian civilians as human shields. Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard to who pays the price.

Biden delivered his remarks in the State Dining Room of the White House on Tuesday

Biden participates in a phone call with Quint leaders Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Monday, October 9, 2023, in the Treaty Room of the White House

The loss of innocent life is heartbreaking. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond indeed has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks.

'I just got off the phone with a third call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I told him if the United States experienced Israel's experience our response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming.

'We also discussed how democracies like Israel and United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. Terrorists purposely target civilians, kill them. We uphold the laws of war law. It matters; there's a difference.

'Today, Americans across the country are praying for all those families who have been ripped apart. A lot of us know how it feels. It leaves a black hole in your chest when you lose family. Feeling like you're being sucked in  the anger, the pain, the sense of hopelessness.

'This is what they mean by a human tragedy, an atrocity on an appalling scale. We're going to continue to stand united supporting the people of Israel who are suffering unspeakable losses and opposing the hatred and violence of terrorism.

'My team has been in near constant communication with our Israeli partners and partners all across the region and the world. From the moment this crisis began we're surging additional military assistance including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome.

'We're gonna make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was among top officials who met with Biden Monday

'My administration has consulted closely with Congress throughout this crisis. And when Congress returns, we are going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners. This is not about party or politics. It's about the security of our world, security of the United States of America.

'We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas. I'm directing my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

'Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.

'The United States has also enhanced our military force posture in the region to strengthen our deterrence. The Department of Defense has moved the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and bolstered our fighter aircraft presence and we stand ready to move in additional assets as needed.

'Let me say again, to any country, any organisation anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation I have one word: Don't, don't.

'Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear.

'Yesterday I also spoke with leaders of France, Germany, Italy and UK to discuss the latest developments with our European allies and coordinate our united response. This comes on top of days of steady engagement with partners across the region.

'We're also taking steps at home in cities across the United States of America. Police departments have stepped up security around centres of Jewish life and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working closely with state and local law enforcement and Jewish community partners to identify and disrupt any domestic threat that could emerge in connection with these horrific attacks.

'This is a moment for the United States to come together to grieve with those who are mourning.

'Let's be real clear. There is no place for hate in America. Not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody. We reject  what we reject His terrorism. We condemn indiscriminate evil, just we've always done. That's what America stands for.

'You know, just over 50 years I was thinking about it this morning talking to the secretary of state the , the vice president in my office  over 50 years ago as a young senator I visited Israel for the first time as a newly elected senator. And I had a long long meeting with Golda Meir in her office just before the Yom Kippur War.

'I guess she could see the consternation of my face as she described what they were facing. We walked outside in that sort of hallway outside her office to  she looked at me all of a sudden and said, "Would you like to have a photograph?" And so I got up and followed her out.

'We're standing there silent, looking at the press. She could tell I guess I was concerned she leaned over and whispered to me she said: "Don't worry, Senator Biden. We have a secret weapon here in Israel.'

'My word this is what she said: "We have no place else to go. We have no place else to go."

'For 75 years Israel has stood soon as the only guarantor of the security of Jewish people around the world, so that the atrocities of the past could never happen again.

'Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israel's back. We will make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today tomorrow, as we always have.

'It's as simple as that. These atrocities are sickening. We are with Israel. Let's make no mistake.'
The war between Hamas militants and Israel has threatened to engulf the Middle East as neighbouring countries were drawn into the conflict and US president Joe Biden urged aligned groups not to get involved.

Upwards of 1,900 people have been killed on both sides since Saturday when the Al-Qassam Brigades, the militia arm of Hamas, staged a surprise attack on Israel that saw a fusillade of missiles launched into the country and gunmen invade its streets.

The war has threatened to draw in surrounding territories after shells were fired from Syria and Lebanon into Israel and Israel shelled the only land exit from Gaza into Egypt - shortly after an Israeli military spokesperson told civilians to flee through it.

Israeli troops are gathering on the border of the Gaza Strip, which has a population of more than two million, prompting questions over whether the country is preparing to mount a ground offensive against Hamas in the occupied Palestinian territory.

It came after Israel mounted an intense bombing campaign on Gaza from the air, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people running for cover as retaliation was enacted for Saturday's violence, which has killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis.

Fire burns in the village of Jal al-Allam in southern Lebanon after Israel returned fire on Tuesday, following shelling from an unknown party into Israel

Men carry the coffins of two Hezbollah soldiers who were killed by Israeli troops on Monday following an exchange of gunfire near the border with Lebanon

Hezbollah fighters wearing military-style fatigues and wearing face paint attended the funeral

US President Joe Biden has warned external actors not to get involved in the Hamas-Israel conflict as it threatened to consume the wider Middle East

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah in the Gaza Strip, closing the last exit out of Gaza

A Palestinian sits on the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip October 9, 2023

The AP news agency reports that Israel is ready to mobilise 360,000 reservists after regaining control of the border with Gaza - which was unexpectedly breached by Hamas militants on Saturday.

Rescue officials in Gaza said 'large numbers' of people were still trapped under the remnants of leveled buildings, with rescue equipment and ambulances unable to reach the area.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened.

'I sell toys, not missiles,' the 46-year-old said, weeping. 'I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job.'

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate neighborhood after neighborhood, and then inflicting devastation, in what could be a prelude to a ground offensive.

On Tuesday, the military told residents of the nearby al-Daraj neighborhood to evacuate. New explosions soon rocked it and other areas, continuing into the night.

In all, dozens of fighter jets hit more than 70 targets in the area, according to Israeli military officials, who said Hamas had directed attacks against Israel from the neighborhood.

One blast hit Gaza City's seaport, setting fishing boats aflame.

Hamas may have been counting on the fight to spread to the West Bank and possibly for Lebanon's Hezbollah to open a front in the north.

Days of clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the West Bank have left 15 Palestinians dead, but Israel has clamped down heavily on the territory, preventing movement between communities.

The violence also spread into east Jerusalem, where Israeli police said they killed two Palestinians who hurled stones at police late Tuesday.

Brief exchanges of fire across Israel's northern border have taken place nearly daily. Palestinian militants fired rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon and from Syria on Tuesday, each bringing Israeli artillery and mortar fire in return.

In hopes of blunting the bombardment in Gaza, Hamas has threatened to kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza 'without prior warning.'

Sinai for Human Rights, an Egyptian NGO, said that strikes through Tuesday had forced the border between Gaza and Egypt shut.

Israeli troops gather at Netivot, near the border between Israel and Gaza, as speculation mounds of an Israel ground offensive in the occupied territory

Smoke and flames rise from a neighbourhood in Gaza City after Israel carried out shelling and bombing in retritibution for Hamas attacks

One round of Israel airstrikes at the port of Gaza City took out a fishing boat

Palestinians rescue a man from the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli air strike on Tuesday

A Palestinian man walks through rubble following Israeli airstrikes in multiple neighbourhoods across Gaza City

The Israeli military confirmed area strikes, claiming hits on 'an underground tunnel for smuggling weapons and equipment'. No casualties were reported.

The strikes came as a senior IDF spokesperson today advised Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to flee through the crossing - before the military issued a correction.

The IDF's international media spokesman, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, had said: 'Rafah crossing is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out.'

The military later clarified: 'In recent days, the IDF has been instructing the population inside of the Gaza Strip to distance themselves from designated areas.

'We emphasise that there is no official call by Israel for residents of the Gaza Strip to exit into Egypt.'

Egyptian officials were talking with Israel and the U.S., pushing to set up humanitarian corridors in Gaza to deliver aid, an Egyptian official said.

The U.N.'s World Health Organization said that supplies it had pre-positioned for seven hospitals in Gaza have already run out amid the flood of wounded.

The head of the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.

But the conflict is threatening to spread into neighbouring territories after salvos were fired into Israel from two border states.

Late on Tuesday, Lebanese officials confirmed that six rockets were fired into Israel from the south of the country.

The barrage, from the southern village of Qlaileh, prompted UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL to urge 'everyone to exercise restraint at this critical time'.

Officials from the Hezbollah militant group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said they had no information on the rockets.

The firing of the rockets from southern Lebanon came a day after three Hezbollah fighters were killed along the border, alongside an Israeli army officer.

Smoke billows from the Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10, 2023. A senior IDF spokesperson had encouraged Gazans to use the crossing - before the military rolled back his comments

Israeli forces launch artillery fire towards southern Lebanon on Monday after IDF troops clashed with Hezbollah soldiers, killing three

A Lebanese man points out the damage caused by Israeli shelling in the border village of Dhayra. Israel says it fired on Hezbollah observation posts in response to rockets that were fired from Lebanon

Israeli shells explode over southern Lebanon on Tuesday in an exchange of fire between Israel and an unknown aggressor, believed to be the militant group Hezbollah

United Nations peacekeepers on the Blue Line - the border marking the Lebanon-Israel border - on Tuesday. The UN has urged 'restraint'

Funerals were held for the Hezbollah fighters on Tuesday, with their comrades turning out in military-esque fatigues and facepaint, alongside hundreds of other mourners.

Hezbollah itself is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, and is committed to seizing Palestinian territories from Israel.

The group, which is backed by Iran, has advocated for acts of terrorism in the past.

Elsewhere, the Israeli military said it had returned fire after shells were launched from Syria, landing in open areas. There were no reports of damage or injuries.

It said its soldiers had fired 'toward the origin of the launching in Syria'. It did not provide details.

US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has urged groups and countries with an interest in the Hamas-Israel war not to get involved.

In remarks delivered on Tuesday, Mr Biden said that at least 14 U.S. citizens were killed in Hamas' attack and that Americans are among those being held hostage in Gaza.

Biden, who spoke earlier in the day with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said 'there is no justification for terrorism.'

Biden added an apparent warning to Hezbollah, saying: 'To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Don't.'

Israeli Prime Minister Mr Netanyahu has warned Israel's military campaign following Saturday's onslaught is only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and 'change the Middle East'.

Entire districts in Gaza were 'razed' in airstrikes today as Israel continues its response to an ongoing incursion launched by Hamas on Saturday.

Israel announced yesterday it would put the region under 'complete siege', making the Rafah crossing into Egypt the sole route out of the Gaza Strip by land.

Hamas, in turn, launched a barrage of rockets at the port city of Ashkelon - hours after warning Israeli civilians had to leave before 5pm or die.

Smoke billows from the Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10, 2023. Gaza's border crossing with Egypt was hit by three Israeli air strikes Tuesday

Trucks leave Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10

The movement of people and goods across the border is strictly controlled under a blockade of Gaza enforced by Egypt and Israel, in place since 2007.

The Rafah crossing is restricted to humanitarian cases and requires lengthy authorisations.

Hamas claims the strikes today have made the border impassable, according to The Times of Israel.

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Witnesses have said Egyptian employees at the border post have now been evacuated while 'dozens of Palestinian families' who had tried to enter Gaza were turned back towards El Arish, Egypt, in light of recent airstrikes.

Egyptian officials have been in talks with Israel and the US, aiming to set up humanitarian corridors in Gaza to deliver aid, according to an Egyptian official.

There were negotiations with the Israelis to declare the area around the Rafah crossing a 'no fire zone,' the official said, speaking to AP on condition of anonymity.

Airstrikes into the Gaza Strip have killed and displaced hundreds, if not thousands, over the last four days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had advised civilians in the Gaza Strip to 'get out of there now' in a televised address on Saturday, stressing the IDF would use all of its military might to avenge the victims of Hamas' attacks into Israel.

But strikes near the border have seen 'disruption' at the Rafah crossing in and out.

Egypt is also looking to prevent a mass exodus from the Gaza Strip into its Sinai Peninsula.

Israel's assault on Gaza has caused alarm in Egypt, which has urged Israel to provide safe passage for civilians from the enclave rather than encouraging them to flee southwest towards Sinai, two Egyptian security sources said.

Egypt today held talks to 'settle the people of Gaza in [Egypt's] Sinai Peninsula,' state-linked TV channel Al Qahera News reported.

But sources said the country 'has rejected and will reject this matter, which was also rejected by the Palestinian people.'

Earlier today, Al Jazeera reported Israel had threatened to strike any trucks carrying aid that attempted to enter Gaza through the crossing.

It follows Israel's decision late on Monday to impose a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people.

The country's defence minister said yesterday: 'We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.'

Rights groups and charities have urged against the siege, claiming it will 'lead to a humanitarian catastrophe', and pleading with Israel not to prevent aid from reaching 'an already vulnerable population'.

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Oxfam Acting Country Director in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel said: 'Oxfam is horrified by the recent attacks. Violence never paves the way for peace. The international community must use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to secure an immediate ceasefire.

'The decision to implement a 'total siege' by the Israeli government, in addition to the ongoing blockade, will further deny Gazan civilians essentials like food, water and electricity.

'This constitutes collective punishment of a population that bears no responsibility for the violence and is illegal under international law.

'It will not contribute to peace and security, instead, it will further fan the flames of this crisis.'

Humanitarian organisations have called for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza, warning that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded were running out of supplies.

Explosions illuminate the sky during Israeli strikes on Gaza City on October 10, 2023

Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings hit by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday

Smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 during an Israeli air strike

General view of Gaza City on Monday after Israel launched air strikes in response to attacks by Hamas

Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday, October 9, 2023

Israeli soldiers gather near tanks, as violence around the nearby Gaza Strip mounts following a mass-rampage by armed Palestinian infiltrators on Monday, October 9, 2023

The conflict shows no signs of abating, despite efforts by Qatar and the United States to mediate peace talks between Hamas and Israel.

Israel expanded the mobilization of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the country's media.

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After days of fighting, its military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive into Gaza in the coming days, though plans have not yet been announced.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged to strike Hamas with 'unprecedented force' in retaliation to harrowing attacked launched on civilians in Israel since Saturday.

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late on Monday.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations,' he added.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

In response to mounting Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, killing hundreds of civilians, Hamas yesterday threatened to kill hostages taken for each strike on civilian houses in Gaza without pre-warning.

Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip, has committed chilling atrocities in Israel over the past four days.

The group launched its incursion into Israel on Saturday with an early attack on the Nova trance festival in southern Israel.

The event was billed as a celebration of 'friends, love and infinite freedom'.

Video shows a smiling Shani, who loved to travel according to her family, dancing at the music festival moments before she was captured by the terrorists

Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's partially naked body on the back of a pick-up truck

The body of a motorist lies on a road following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel October 7, 2023

Israeli rescue teams evacuate the wounded near the southern city of Sderot on October 7

Hamas militants opened fire on civilian attendees, killing some 260+ in the attacks.

Early reports claimed many may have been taken hostage.

Among those reported dead was Nicole Louk, a 22-year-old tattoo artist and German-Israeli citizen, who was seen in harrowing footage stripped and paraded around in a truck.

The IDF claimed today that Hamas fighters had killed and decapitated babies at one kibbutz near the Gaza border. The claims have not been verified.
Babies beheaded, grandparents slain and families torn apart  the full horror of 'Israel's 9/11' was starting to emerge last night.

Hamas gunmen massacred 40 children in one farm settlement alone, their small bodies lying in their rooms riddled with bullets.

And as shellshocked survivors told their stories, one bereaved grandson, Shmuel Harel, told me: 'They are the new Nazis. This was a holocaust, pure and simple.'

He said his terrified 90-year-old grandmother's last moments were being dragged into her living room and shot twice in the head.

A sobbing Israeli woman said she had to listen in helpless horror as her 12-year-old autistic daughter was kidnapped while clinging desperately to her grandmother.

Israeli forces extracting dead bodies of Israeli residents from a destroyed house as fighting between Israeli troops and Islamist Hamas militants continues

Cars and a stroller left behind at the scene of a rocket attack from Gaza on the weekend are pictured on a main road near the entrance of the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza

Israeli soldiers prepare to remove the bodies of their compatriots, killed during an attack by Hamas in Kfar Aza

An Israeli soldier carries a dog as they take position next to Kfar Aza kibbutz near the border with Gaza

Israeli soldiers remove the body of a compatriot, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

As vengeful Israel unleashes hell in military retaliation, stunned survivors are gathering at refugee hotels a safe distance from the front line  where they weep.

Last night at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel on the Dead Sea, dozens were sat in the lobby and coffee shop, some carrying photos of loved ones butchered or kidnapped.

Galit Dan, 53, told how her daughter Noya, 12, went off for a sleepover with her grandmother Carmela, 80. As the sickening attack unfolded, Noya sent a harrowing voice message to her mother, whispering: 'Mummy, I'm scared. There are people in the house. Help me.'

Her mother said: 'These animals came for them. We have heard nothing from them and their bodies have not been found among the dead, so we believe they have been taken. I am living every parent's nightmare  every parent in the world will feel our pain.'

Hamas terrorists beheaded babies and gunned down entire families in their homes in the Kfar Aza kibbutz, the Israeli military said. Bodies there litter the streets among burnt-out houses, strewn furniture and torched cars.

Yesterday Israeli soldiers going house to house removing the dead raged that innocents were killed 'not in war, not a battlefield, but in their beds'.

At nearby Kisufim kibbutz, a settlement of 375 peace-loving souls tending to avocado trees and herds of dairy cows, horror was unleashed at 6.20am on Saturday as the grenade-lobbing Hamas terrorists swept in.

Kibbutz resident Mr Harel, 33, told me: 'They came to kill, and to abuse, and to desecrate. They came to my grandmother's house. She was 90.' Jina Semiaitz, who had lived on the kibbutz since she was a young woman, had heard the shots and gone into her armoured shelter, but did not lock the door, he said.

Shmuel Harel (L) said his terrified 90-year-old grandmother's (R) last moments were being dragged into her living room and shot twice in the head

Shmuel Harel (L) survived along with kibbutz veteran Benny Hason (R) after Hamas terrorists swept in

The Leonardo Plaza where Kisufim Kibbutz residents have come for refuge. Last night dozens were sat in the lobby and coffee shop, some carrying photos of loved ones killed or kidnapped

Brimming with anger, her grandson said: 'She was terrified and confused, and doesn't hear very well, and she didn't realise what was going on.

'She was the sweetest old lady, and they pulled her out of her shelter and dragged her to her living room.

'They shot her twice in the head. A 90-year-old - what possible harm could she do them? Then they went to her 71-year-old cousin, Ofer Ron, and shot him too in exactly the same way. These are the new Nazis.'

The Hamas terrorists continued their sick manhunt throughout the communal farm. Mr Harel said: 'An 80-year-old man was handcuffed behind his back.

'They shoved him on to the back seat and kidnapped him in his own car. We don't know what has happened to him or if he is still alive.

'There was a family  a mother, father and 15-year-old boy. They hid in their shelter. So the terrorists set fire to their house.

A baby's seat and child's dress is seen covered in blood in the aftermath of a Hamas attack

Gunshots and blood stains are seen on a door and walls of a house where civilians were killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas on this kibbutz near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

Hamas terrorists beheaded babies and gunned down entire families in their homes in a small kibbutz in Israel, Israeli soldiers have claimed

Outside the destroyed homes, the soldiers told i24News correspondent Nicole Zedek (pictured) how they saw the bodies of babies next to their cots, their heads chopped off, in a sign of the depraved acts committed by the terrorists since they attacked Israel on Saturday

A view of a house left in ruins after an attack by Hamas militants on this kibbutz days earlier when dozens of civilians were killed near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

An aerial view shows the bodies of victims of the Hamas attack on the Kfar Aza Kibbutz on Tuesday

An IDF Soldier covers his nose while walking past Hamas militants and Israeli civilians who were killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas militants on the Kfar Aza Kibbutz on Tuesday

'They torched it, ransacked it and took food from the fridge. The family burnt to death. Can you imagine the terror of their final moments together?

'My friend saw the fire and tried to help but it was too ferocious. He managed to rescue the 80-year-old woman next door, in her wheelchair.'

Mr Harel, who is a business consultant, said: 'We live on a kibbutz. It is peace-loving. But these people behaved like Nazis, like Isis.

'They killed and then they abused the bodies. We need the world to know what happened in Kisufim Kibbutz so it never happens anywhere ever again.'

At the Leonardo Plaza, Mr Harel and some 300 survivors from Kisufim  half a mile from the Gaza fence, and lying close to the outdoor festival where hundreds were massacred  huddle together in groups after being evacuated.

Flame and smoke rise over Lebanon as seen from Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel

Huge explosions illuminate the sky during retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza City on October 10, 2023

Palestinians watch others looking for injured in the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike

Israeli soldiers patrol near burned houses after an attack by Palestinian militants on this kibbutz near border with Gaza

Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas as the war's death toll passed 3,000 on October 10

Palestinians rescue a young girl from the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 10

Smoke and flames rise after Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The Israel-Gaza war entered its fourth day on Tursday

A picture shows rockets fired from the Gaza City (R) being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system (L)

Palestinians rescue a man from the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike

The Israeli government is funding their stay in the hotel, which is more used to welcoming tourists visiting the Dead Sea, the nearby salt lake famous for its rejuvenating mud treatments.

Nothing like that can help. Across the hotel lobby where I am writing this, a grandmother sobs as a younger woman tenderly strokes her arm. A group of parents are angrily swapping horror stories, jabbing the air with their fingers. Others just hug silently. But all around, children are gleefully chasing each other apparently oblivious to the fury and drama.

And in a surreal juxtaposition, two clowns recently showed up in brightly coloured bobble hats to entertain the youngsters, while a flautist is performing a calming melody. Every so often, locals arrive bearing cardboard boxes of donated clothes and toys  filling the hotel's restaurant.

Benny Hason, a 66-year-old veteran of the kibbutz, goes around consoling people table by table. He said: 'They were stalking outside our houses, shouting 'Slaughter the Jews' in Arabic and firing guns and shotguns.

'They were throwing grenades into people's houses. Most people had got into their shelters and locked the doors  but the terrorists were trying to blast open the doors with their bombs. Not everyone was lucky. Today our community is smaller.'
Deputy leader of the Australian Greens Mehreen Faruqi has been slammed after calling the Australian government a 'disgrace' for showing support of Israel following the sickening Hamas terror attacks on innocent civilians.

In response to an announcement Parliament House would be lit up blue and white, the colours of the Israeli flag, Senator Faruqi, who is of Pakistani heritage, tweeted on Monday: 'One colonial government supporting another, what a disgrace'.

Her comments, which included a #FreePalestine hashtag, follow a surprise attack by Palestinian extremists on October 7 who crossed the border from Gaza into Israel and indiscriminately slaughtered or kidnapped hundreds of Israelis, including women and children, at an outdoor music festival and in their homes.

In a tweet earlier that day, she wrote: 'My thoughts are with those living the brutal savagery of war in the Middle East at the moment. Civilians should never be the target.

'Gazas civilians are on the precipice of annihilation because the blockade means they have nowhere to go.

'If we are serious about ending violence and moving to peace, there has to be an end to the blockade, an end to Israels occupation and oppression, and freedom for Palestine.'

Commenters on Senator Faruqi's tweet were furious that she took an opportunistic swipe at the Australian government but did not condemn the horrific attacks.

'So no outright condemnation of terrorist group Hamas?' one person asked.

'As an immigrant I'm appalled at this. Ms Faruqi, your words make me feel unsafe. Your words are violence. You have no right to be in any parliament in any civilised country,' another said.

Greens Deputy Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi has been slammed after taking a swipe at the Australian government for showing solidarity with Israel following appalling terrorist attacks

Some commenters said Senator Faruqi's comments were divisive and inflamed tensions especially considering they coincided with an 'appalling' pro-Palestine protest held in front of Sydney Opera House on Monday night.

'Disgusting... Dark day for the Greens. Just bizarre,' one said.

'Shame on you. What a divisive scoundrel you are,' added another.

'Hope you reflect on your heartless and inhuman words,' added a third.

'Aren't Jews indigenous to that land Mehreen?'

'Jewish people have been living in the Levant & surrounding area for thousands of years. That's not colonial.

Some pointed out Senator Faruqi's comments could be seen as hypocritical.

'You immigrated here and became a parliamentarian. What a hollow statement,' one said.

'So, you sit in a colonial parliament. That makes you a colonialist,' another agreed.

Another said: 'We pay tax dollars for this? I don't think you are fit to lead.'

"Shame on you.'

Monday's rally was organised by the Palestine Action Group with NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong sharing the event details on Twitter beforehand, describing the decision to light the Opera House sails in the Israeli colours as 'appalling'.

'What about all of the Palestinian lives lost since occupation?' she asked.

Former Prime Minister John Howard has taken aim at Anthony Albanese for not being firm enough in his condemnation of the pro-Palestine protests

About 700 pro-Palestinian protesters attended and some were seen chanting 'gas the Jews' and burning the Star of David in front of Sydney's Opera House on Monday night as part of the rally.

There were scenes of chaos as a rally outside the Opera House was hijacked by radical Muslims - some wearing black masks - who hurled lit flares at police and chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews'

Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before resorting to stamping on it and tearing it into shreds (pictured)

In stark contrast, a handful of people with Israeli flags were arrested on sight in a move police said was for their own protection.

The horrific actions were condemned by leaders on all ends of the political spectrum, but Mr Howard, who led Australia in the wake of the September 11 attacks, said the Prime Minister's denouncement did not go far enough.

'Mr Albanese should make some unequivocal statements, as should the Foreign Minister,' he told The Australian.

The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching to the Opera House. A NSW Greens MP shared the details of the event beforehand

'Instead of that there is pussyfooting and lukewarm condemnation. Then you have the New South Wales Attorney-General (Michael Daley) saying everyone should remain calm and go home.

'How can you remain calm when demonstrators are invoking the memory of the Holocaust? People remain calm in that?

'I never thought we would crumple to this ... We need leadership from the top, we aren't getting that at the moment.'

Senator Faruqi has been contacted for comment.
A two-truck crash and chemical spill near Sydney Airport has sparked widespread chaos for commuters and travellers.

It's understood two B-doubles collided on Joyce Drive at Mascot at about 4.45 am on Wednesday, causing litres of chemicals and oil to spill onto the road.

Emergency services and Hazmat crews remain on the scene cleaning up the spill.

For several hours, Joyce Drive was closed in both directions between Wentworth Avenue and O'Riordan Street.

A massive clean-up continues after a two truck crash near Sydney Airport on Wednesday

Joyce Drive was closed in both directions for several hours, causing traffic chaos

The road has since reopened and is operating under contra flow conditions.

Motorists should expect heavy delays throughout the morning.

Travellers heading to the Sydney Airport domestic terminal are urged to allow for plenty of extra time or consider getting the train.

'Local diversions are in place, but avoid the area if you can as traffic's already heavy,' a Live Sydney Traffic alert states.

'You can travel past it both ways under contra flow conditions, but continue to factor in plenty of extra travel time.'

There is currently no access onto Joyce Drive from Ross Smith Avenue.

Fire and hazmat crews raced to Joyce Drive shortly before 5am
The UK faces an exodus of office staff as new data shows millions of Brits are plotting to work abroad from sun loungers.

More than seven in 10 workers (72 per cent) plan to become so-called 'digital nomads' - where all that's needed is a laptop, Wifi and sunscreen - according to research from the Post Office.

Nearly one in three employees reported having already tried the lifestyle, while more than a third claim they would work just as efficiently from the beach as the office.

Some 83 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials - those aged 42 or below - would jump at the chance if their boss agreed, with the figure standing at 56 per cent for Baby Boomers.

It came as a third of firms said they now allow workers to log on from foreign climes and almost three quarters are thinking about adopting the policy.

The UK faces an exodus of office staff as new data shows millions of Brits are plotting to work abroad from sun loungers (stock photo)

Almost a third of the 2,000 UK adults quizzed said they would swap their desk for a sunlounger to save cash in sunny boltholes that are cheaper than Britain.

Nine in 10 believe working from the side of a pool or beside a glistening ocean will become a reality for more people in the future.

Lisbon and Porto, both in Portugal, the Greek capital Athens, Lille in France and Zagreb, Croatia, are the best value locations for Brits based on food, accommodation and beer prices, the study found.

Some 12 per cent complained of already being forced into overseas remote working by responding to calls and emails while on their booked holidays.

More than half are keen to become digital nomads full time because they believe it would improve their work-life balance.

A similar number said it would allow them to see the world, while around a third cited increased freedom and more time with loved ones.

Three in 10 see it as a way to dodge the daily commute and 16 per cent said it would give them the opportunity to learn a new language.

The report said: 'Working remotely from a cheaper country while on a UK salary could be a savvy way of navigating the cost-of-living crisis - although people should consider the tax implications of working abroad.'

Lisbon (pictured) and Porto, both in Portugal, the Greek capital Athens, Lille in France and Zagreb, Croatia, are the best value locations for Brits based on food, accommodation and beer prices, the study found

It added: 'The Post Office urges those jumping on the trend to consider what it entails to avoid any unforeseen issues - do you need a visa, what is your tax liability, is it a favourable time zone, what travel insurance is needed?'

Head of travel and protection at the Post Office, Paul Paddock, said researchers found more than a quarter of UK travellers rarely or never take out travel insurance.

Mr Paddock said: 'If you're planning on working abroad, it's essential to take out travel insurance at the right time so that you're covered financially.

'With a significant number opting to work from a cheaper city abroad to save money, the last thing needed is a hefty expense if things go wrong.'
The two declared candidates for House speaker are making their final pitches for the job on Tuesday - after Kevin McCarthy discouraged allies from putting his name forward for the job.

A last-minute McCarthy nomination by his allies could have delayed plans for a vote even further since some loyalists would jump to support him and splinter the votes between the other two candidates: Reps. Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise.

The path for either Jordan, who chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee, or the House's number two Republican, Majority Leader Scalise, to get a majority is far from clear even without McCarthy's entry into the race.

And without an elected House speaker, the lower chamber cannot move on to other legislative priorities - namely passing spending legislation to avert a government shutdown next month, and aid to replenish Israel's defense capabilities amid attacks from Hamas.

McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that he asked allies not to nominate him and that he'll vote for 'whoever comes out of there' as the consensus candidate.

Republicans will hear a final pitch from the two announced candidates for speaker on Tuesday before a vote on Wednesday - but now face a wrench in the plans with Kevin McCarthy allies gunning for his comeback.

Jordan and Scalise will speak to their colleagues at a closed-door candidate forum on Tuesday evening before an internal vote Wednesday morning.

Republicans must first vote within their conference for a candidate for speaker. Only a simple majority is currently needed to become the GOP candidate.

But then that candidate must be elected on the House floor. To get a majority on the House floor, Republicans can only afford four defections, assuming all Democrats vote against their candidate.

Some Republicans have insisted the entire conference get on board with one candidate internally before letting divisions play out on the House floor similar to the 15-ballot series to get McCarthy the gavel in January.

They may also vote to change the conference rules so that a unanimous vote is needed before a candidate can be elected on the House floor.

McCarthy had fueled speculation he wanted his old job back as he gave a press conference touting his foreign policy chops amid war in Israel and appeared on a number of TV networks.

McCarthy moved his stuff out of the speaker's three-floor office and into the Capitol hideaway office that was formerly occupied by ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a source familiar told DailyMail.com - signaling he did not have any plans to keep occupying the speaker's office.

He repeatedly said it would be up to the conference whether they put him up for speaker again during a press conference where he touted his foreign policy expertise amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

'That's a decision for the conference. I'll allow the conference to make whatever decision,' he told reporters of a potential nomination to the speakership. 'Whether I'm speaker or not, I'm a member of this body.'

The path for either Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee, above, or the House's number two Republican, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both candidates in the race, is far from clear too

DailyMail.com has learned that some supporters of Scalise, above, believe throwing McCarthy into the race is a tactic meant to shut out McCarthy's former deputy from the job

'Look, whatever the conference wants, I will do,' he told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday morning.

'There are a lot of people who believe Kevin McCarthy is the right person to lead us,' GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, N.Y., told reporters on Monday.

''A lot of people' < 218,' GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, Fla., who led the movement to oust McCarthy, wrote on X. 'Math is real. Time to move forward.'

McCarthy antagonist Nancy Mace, R-S.C., added: 'It is not at all surprising that people who vote for trillion dollar deficits, massive omnibus bills and CRs can't count.'

California Republican John Duarte insisted Democrats should allow McCarthy to be voted back into the speakership.

'What we do know is that there is no greater friend of Israel than Kevin McCarthy,' said Duarte.
Supporters of Israel were branded Nazis and pigs when they turned out to challenge pro-Palestinian demonstrators as police struggled to keep control outside Harvard University.

A group of around 150 brandishing placards and Palestinian flags occupied the steps of Cambridge City Hall after dozens of Harvard student groups blamed Israel for the Hamas terrorist onslaught that killed at least 1,000 of its citizens.

Harvard president Claudine Gay finally distanced her college from the claim on Monday insisting the students did not speak for its leadership.

But that did little to quell the ugly scenes just half a mile away where Israeli supporters found themselves outnumbered by anti-Zionists.

Animals, animals, you pigs, animals, Nazis, Nazis, Nazis, one man in a keffiyeh with Palestinian colors yelled at them, waving his finger across the thin line of police separating the groups.

Nazis, Nazis, Nazis, one man in a keffiyeh with Palestinian colors repeatedly chanted at the counter-demonstrators

Why are you killing kids and women? demanded a woman on the microphone. Why dont you fight against the military. Lets see how brave you are'

Palestine will be free, shouted another as he broke through the cordon and lunged at a counter demonstrator.

One was seen stamping on a US flag as he slammed the 'brutal treatment of Palestinians since 1948'.

But they soon found themselves drowned out by the Israeli supporters who had brought an amplifier along and berated the protesters as terrorists and cowards.

Rape is not resistance, they chanted.

Why are you killing kids and women? demanded a woman on the microphone.

Why dont you fight against the military. Lets see how brave you are."

Youre so brave over here with your Starbucks. Youre so brave over here at MIT.

What did you do for your people in Gaza? You support Hamas, you all support Hamas.

I want to do peace, another shouted draped in the Israeli flag.

I want to live in a nation. You dont want to live in a nation? You want to fight, you want to kill, you want to be a terrorist?

Tensions have been running high in the university town since 31 Harvard organizations, including the Ivy League institution's affiliate of Amnesty International, placed the blame on Israel for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack.

In a joint statement on Sunday they said the attack 'did not happen in a vacuum' and claimed the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.

'Palestine will be free' yelled one demonstrator as he came within feet of the Israeli group

Police struggled to keep the demonstrators apart as some tried to force their way through

I want to do peace, shouted one draped in the Israeli flag, 'You want to be a terrorist?

The smaller pro-Israeli group managed to drown their opponents out by bringing a speaker

The crowd armed with placards, banners and Palestinian flags occupied the steps of Cambridge City Hall

The Palestine Solidarity Committee holding banners outside the prestigious college

In a statement published on the Ivy League institution's website, Gay said the 31 student groups who pledged to support the militants 'don't speak for the university or its leadership'

Harvard President Claudine Gay (pictured) has finally condemned the 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' - at odds with 31 student groups at the Ivy League institution who have pledged support to the militants

'The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years,' they wrote.

'From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden.'

The statement provoked disgust in many former students of the college including Senator Ted Cruz who wrote on X: 'What the hell is wrong with Harvard?'

US Representative Seth Moulton, also a Harvard graduate, called the college's silence 'intellectually weak and morally repugnant', adding: Terrorism is never justified nor someone else's fault.

The Anti-Defamation League denounced the statement as antisemitic and others accused the university of tolerating hate speech.

Dailymail.com has asked the university whether the groups that signed it will face any sanctions or repercussions.

And the slowness of the college to distance itself from the remarks also sparked fury with Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers calling it sickening.

'The silence from Harvard's leadership has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel,' he wrote on social media platform X.

'I am sickened.'

His successor Claudine Gay finally issued a statement on Tuesday condemning 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' and insisting the 31 student groups 'don't speak for the university or its leadership'.

'Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership,' Gay said.

'As the events of recent days continue to reverberate, let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas,' Gay said in a statement.

'Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever one's individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region,' she said.

The president then added: 'We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame.

An aerial view shows the bodies of victims of the Hamas attack on the Kfar Aza Kibbutz on Tuesday

Smoke and flames rise after Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The Israel-Gaza war entered its fourth day on Tursday

Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas as the war's death toll passed 3,000 on October 10

'And I appeal to all of us in this community of learning to keep this in mind as our conversations continue.'

Dozens of protests have broken out in major US cities since Saturday's attack by Hamas fighters crossing he border from Gaza.

A group of pro-Israel demonstrators partied outside the Israeli consulate in New York City on Monday while being screamed at by pro-Palestine activists.

A separate protest in the city's Times Square on Sunday saw one protestor brandish a swastika at Israel supporters.

A student group at California State University was been slammed for its 'sickening' pro-Palestine protest poster which depicts a paraglider.

The La Fuerza Student Association shared the poster on Monday for their 'Day of Resistance: Protest for Palestine' event organized for Tuesday for students 'united against apartheid.'

The protester pointed the swastika - the symbol used by Nazis during the Holocaust - at the Israeli counter protesters

Pro-Israeli protesters joined the counter-protest on Sunday in New York City

Swathes of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday following rocket attacks, pillaging, and murders on the streets of Israel over the weekend. Hamas, the terrorist organization and de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip, ambushed and killed hundreds of Israelis during their high holiday

The poster sparked fury online after Hamas terrorists used paragliders to descended on Israel and butcher innocent civilians during its brutal attack on Saturday.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000, dwarfing all modern Islamist attacks on the West since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

The State Department revealed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be traveling to Israel 'in the coming days' in order to directly engage with Israeli partners.

'The secretary looks forward to meeting with senior leaders in the Israeli government and continuing the discussions he and the president have been having with them since the initial attacks on Saturday,' spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday during a press briefing.
One of Donald Trump's relatives has claimed attorney-client privilege in an effort to protect documents and communications in the January 6 case, according to a new legal filing by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The document, which was filed Tuesday, states that 'at least 25 witnesses withheld information, communications, and documents based on assertions of the attorney-client privilege under circumstances where the privilege holder appears to be the defendant or his 2020 presidential campaign.'

'These included co-conspirators, former campaign employees, the campaign itself, outside attorneys, a non-attorney intermediary, and even a family member of the defendant,' according to Smith's filing.

What the filing doesn't say is which Trump family member is involved in the legal spat, as Trump's lawyers and prosecutors jockey in advance of the March trial date.

'At least 25 witnesses' including a Trump family member made an attorney-client-privilege claim, according to Special Counsel Jack Smith's office

Only one of Trump's children, Tiffany, 29, is a lawyer, having graduated from Georgetown University Law School.

She isn't known to have testified to the grand jury for Smith's probe leading up to Trump's August indictment as part of a conspiracy linked to his election overturn effort.

The filing doesn't state whether the family said they were an attorney, or perhaps were in possession of attorney-client work product.

Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were both reportedly subpoenaed to testify, the New York Times reported in February. Both were senior White House advisors to Trump.

Both testified to the House January 6 Committee. Kushner provided one of the hearings' memorable quotes, when asked by former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) if he knew about instances when former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone threatened to resign.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner reportedly were subpoenaed by prosecutors in the January 6 case. Neither is an attorney

Tiffany Trump (r) is a lawyer. She is seen with Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Trump Jr. during the 2020 Republican National Convention during their father's acceptance speech

'I  I kind of  like I said, my interest at that time was on trying to get as many pardons done. And I know that, you know, he was always to  him and the team were always saying, "Oh, were going to resign. Were not going to be here if this happens, if that happens." So I kind of took it up to just be whining, to be honest with you,' he responded.

Kushner was traveling in the Middle East on the day of the Capitol riot. Ivanka Trump in video testimony said she was in and out of the Oval Office on January 6. Her aide Julie Radford testified that Ivanka was upset when Trump called then-Vice President Mike Pence an expletive.

Smith's indictment describes Trump's efforts to pressure Pence to refuse to accept certified votes during the electoral count a key part of the alleged conspiracy.

Trump calls the indictment and other charges against him a witch hunt.

The purpose of the filing is for Smith motion to be notified in advance of trial whether Trump's team plans to rely on a an 'advice of counsel' defense. Trump was advised during the effort by lawyers including Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and John Eastman, who were each indicted in a separate case in Georgia.

Smith's indictment says Trump privately called Powell's lawsuits 'crazy.'

Smith's team wants to know if plans to use the defense, and cite public comments by his lawyer John Lauro suggesting he might use it. Prosecutors want to know by December 18 as they prepare for trial.

The filing was submitted by Smith and written by senior assistant special counsels Thomas Windom and Molly Gaston.

'The Court should build an appropriate interval into the pretrial schedule to ensure that all disclosure, investigation, and litigation resulting from notice of the advice-of-counsel defense can be addressed and resolved in an orderly fashion,' they wrote.

The development came on a day when former Trump Organization exec Allen Weisselberg appeared in a Manhattan court where Trump and his company are facing a civil trial after a judge found fraud.
The US Coast Guard says that it has retrieved 'presumed human remains' from the Titan sub, the vessel that imploded around 10,000 feet below sea level in June while taking tourists to view the wreckage of the Titanic.

The USCG said that the recovery and transfer of remaining parts was completed last Wednesday, and released a photo showing the intact titanium endcap of the 22ft vessel.

Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titans debris and transported for analysis by medics, the Coast Guard said.

The salvage mission, conducted under an agreement with the U.S. Navy, was a follow-up to initial recovery operations on the ocean floor roughly 1,600 feet away from the Titanic.

The new materials were offloaded at an unnamed port.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that they recovered presumed human remains along with parts of the Titan. Pictured: U.S. Coast Guard marine safety engineers conduct a survey of the aft titanium endcap from the Titan submersible

The doomed Titan submersible disappeared during a tourist trip run by OceanGate Expeditions

The Coast Guard previously said it recovered presumed human remains along with parts of the Titan after the debris field was located at a depth of 12,500 feet.

Investigators believe the Titan imploded as it made its descent into deep North Atlantic waters on June 18.

The Coast Guard's Marine Board of Investigation said investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada joined the salvage expedition, and the Coast Guard is coordinating with international investigative agencies to schedule a joint review of the evidence to determine the next steps for forensic testing.

The Marine Board of Investigation, meanwhile, will continue its analysis and witness interviews ahead of a public hearing on the tragedy, officials said Tuesday.

The doomed Titan submersible disappeared during a tourist trip run by OceanGate Expeditions, which has since gone out of business.

After a nail-biting search for the vessel, it was announced a few days after the mysterious disappearance that the five passengers on board were killed instantly when the submersible suffered a 'catastrophic implosion' just 1,600ft from the bow of the wrecked ocean liner.

The victims were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French Navy veteran Paul-Henri (PH) Nargeolet, British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, who was just 19.

Some of the men had paid as much as $250,000 each to see the famous shipwreck.

Safety fears had been repeatedly raised by experts who said the vessel was not suitable for the deep waters it traveled to.

Critics said its carbon fiber hull was not fit for purpose and also raised concerns about its viewport, which was not certified to such depths.

The Coast Guard said it had created a marine board of investigation (MBI), its highest level of probe.

Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, which launched, Titan, perished on board the submersible last Sunday along with his four passengers, including PH Nargeolet (right)

Shahzada Dawood, 48, one of Pakistan's richest men, who along with his teenage son Suleman Dawood, 19, (together, left) died on the Titan along with British explorer Hamish Harding (right)

The USCG launched an investigation into the cause of the underwater implosion that destroyed Titan. Pictured: Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St. John's, Newfoundland, Wednesday, June 28, 2023

A previous discovery in June found debris from the Titan submersible which was hauled ashore. The huge chunks of metal included the nose with the porthole the five men would have used to see the Titanic

A previous discovery June found debris from the Titan submersible which was hauled ashore.

The huge chunks of metal, including the nose with the porthole the five men would have used to see the Titanic, were unloaded from the Horizon Arctic ship at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St John's, Newfoundland, Canada, this morning.

They were quickly covered in large tarpaulins before being lifted by cranes on to trucks that took them away for assessment. The pieces included a large, white section of curved metal. Another object was full of cables and other mechanical parts.
Israel stepped up its ferocious air strikes on Gaza last night  with its armed forces vowing to hunt down and take out Hamas.

Several top officials of the terror group and some 1,500 of its gunmen have already been killed.

The offensive accelerated after the Israeli Defence Force finally regained control of its borders yesterday  72 hours after gunmen bulldozed through barriers and launched Saturdays bloody massacre.

More than 300,000 reservists, tanks and military vehicles were being mobilised before a widely expected ground invasion.

Thousands of rifles, helmets and jackets were being distributed to Israeli civilians in its border communities while hospitals are put on standby for an all-out war.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, speaking to soldiers near the Gaza fence, said last night: Hamas wanted a change and it will get one. What was in Gaza will no longer be. We started the offensive from the air, later on we will also come from the ground. We are on the offensive. It will only intensify. He spoke as:

More than 300,000 reservists, tanks and military vehicles were being mobilised before a widely expected ground invasion. Pictured: Explosions in the sky above Gaza City last night

Buildings damaged and destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to meet opposition leaders to discuss a unity government;

Reservists drafted into active service swelled the IDFs ranks to more than 600,000;

The scale of Hamass brutality was laid bare amid claims women and babies had been beheaded;

The Home Secretary wrote to chief constables urging warning pro-Palestinian slogans could constitute a hate crime;

President Joe Biden confirmed 14 US citizens had been killed and at least 20 taken hostage;

The FA continued to drag its feet over illuminating Wembley Arch to show support to the victims of the Hamas atrocity;

The Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote to the Culture Secretary to complain about BBC coverage of the attacks.

Last night there were fears of escalation after Israels military said a number of shells were fired from Syrian territory. Syrias government did not comment.

Blockaded Gaza has already been placed under total siege and pummelled with strikes since Hamas killed 900 people and kidnapped 150 four days ago.

Plumes of smoke and flames continue to rise across the skyline yesterday while the bombardment has left many roads impassable for emergency crews.

Smoke billows from a boat after a strike by Israel on the port of Gaza City

Smoke rises over the buildings as the Israeli airstrikes continue in Al-Rimal Neighbourhood of Gaza City

At least 830 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza officials, while whole districts in the densely populated enclave have been flattened and food, power and water cut off. The bombardment comes despite a threat from Hamas that it would execute a captive each time a Palestinian home is hit without warning.

Israel says it has killed more than 1,500 militants amid fighting along the border since Saturday.

In retaliation Hamas has fired rockets towards the port of Ashkelon from Gaza after warning those living there to leave before 5pm local time. Israeli Iron Dome rockets were launched to intercept the rockets.

Rockets were also fired from southern Lebanon. The IDF said it was responding with artillery fire.

Israel has vowed to take its mighty revenge on Hamas and warned militants they had nowhere to hide as airstrikes hit more than 1,500 targets. The strikes were said to have killed two senior Hamas officials  Jawad Abu Shammala and Zakaria Abu Maamar in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza strip. IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said troops were now in full control of Israels communities around Gaza and at high readiness near the northern border.

We will reach them everywhere, he warned. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, another IDF spokesman, told the Mail: We have amassed more than 300,000 reserve soldiers and once the tactical timing is right they will start implementing the goal that the Israeli government has defined, which is to strip Hamas of all of its military capabilities.

He said the military were actively trying to hunt and take out the Hamas gunmen behind Saturdays atrocities. He added: We are striking Hamas with an intensity that we havent done before.

President Joe Biden confirmed last night that 14 US citizens had been killed and at least 20 taken hostage

Photo shows rockets being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system

We are also hunting and trying to find Hamas senior operatives, so-called commanders, in their homes, hideouts, underground, wherever they may be. IDF phone messages have warned Palestinians to flee, indicating an imminent raid on the densely populated Gaza strip. But most Gazans have no way of leaving the besieged and blockaded enclave.

The UN said Israeli air attacks had hit homes, schools and UN buildings. Gazas health ministry said at least 830 civilians  including seven journalists  have been killed and 4,000 wounded by the air strikes since Saturday.

More than 180,000 had been made homeless, with many left looking for shelter on streets or in schools. The mortuary in Gazas Khan Younis hospital was said to be overflowing and, with gas and electricity cut off, hospitals have had to ration generators and keep electricity for operating rooms.

Professor Ghasson Abu Sitta, a surgeon, said children made up a huge percentage of the injured.

Mr Biden condemned Hamas last night, describing its onslaught as an act of sheer evil. He added: Sadly for the Jewish people, its not new. Its brought to the surface painful memories of anti-semitism over the last century.

Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israels back. Well make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself, as we always have.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week to show US support.
San Diego County has more than 10,000 homeless individuals as of 2023

The plan would cost $1.25 million and the city and county will contribute $550K

San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is proposing paying individuals $1,500 to keep them from being homeless

One San Diego leader is proposing paying residents on the brink of losing their homes $1,500 each to help nearly 1,000 individuals avoid homelessness.

In a press conference, San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said the plan, known as the Homeless Diversion Initiative, will keep 800 people off the street.

'We can help six times more people through diversion than we can through the traditional approaches we've been following,' Lawson-Remer said.

The $1.25 million plan would help to address the city's already massive epidemic of unhoused individuals throughout the area.

According to recent tabulations, San Diego County has more than 10,000 individuals who are either fully unhoused or in transitional housing.

One San Diego leader is proposing paying residents on the brink of losing their homes $1,500 each to help nearly 1,000 individuals avoid homelessness

'We can help six times more people through diversion than we can through the traditional approaches we've been following,' said Terra Lawson-Remer, county supervisor

Lawsom-Remer and others said the diversion initiative has proven to be a smart and successful way to keep residents housed in the past.

Data from the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness found that similar programs have kept 2,000 people in the area from becoming homeless.

Their data also found that on average, a $1,500 one-time payment was enough to keep 85 percent of households stably housed.

'The whole idea here is small amounts of money can make a massive difference in people's lives,' said Steve Cushman of the Cushman Foundation, a partner.

The initiative is a venture between the city, county, and philanthropic organizations.

In total, the City of San Diego will contribute $50,000 while San Diego County is hoping to have some $500,000 to add. Another $675,000 will come from charities.

The goal of the program is to provide the individuals with a payment that will help them cover expenses that may otherwise put them over the edge.

One person behind the initiative called the solution a 'no-brainer' when compared to the cost of dealing with homeless individuals once they end up on the street.

'If we can invest, on average, $1,500 per person to help them avoid the streets, compared to the average of unsheltered homelessness, which can easily exceed $35,000 per person, this is no-brainer,' said Lucky Duck Foundations' Drew Moser.

The homeless epidemic in San Diego has skyrocketed over the past several years

'The whole idea here is small amounts of money can make a massive difference in people's lives,' said Steve Cushman of the Cushman Foundation, a partner

Drew Moser with the Lucky Duck Foundation called the solution a 'no-brainer' when compared to the cost of dealing with homeless individuals once they end up on the street

Lawson-Remer said while tackling homelessness is 'not a one-size-fits-all approach,' she believes this program will significantly help with San Diego's problem.

'Every person's story is different, and every person's story requires their own intervention,' the San Diego County supervisor elaborated.

'Diversion is a proven practice where we try to intervene right before someone falls off the cliff into chronic homelessness and provides immediate, meaningful solutions to prevent them from ending up permanently on the streets,' she said.

NBC 7 reported that San Diego's Regional Task Force on Homelessness will provide monthly reports of tracked data and the results of the program to the county.

San Diego is no stranger to issues stemming from its homeless population.

Earlier this year, the city opened the first of two 'safe-sleeping' areas in just weeks after the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments.

Democrat Mayor Todd Gloria announced the plan to open the areas in June as a way to combat the city's homeless crisis, which has been exacerbated by opioids.

The city's leaders have spoken out in the past about the need for sites like the one opened in June in an effort to get people off of the streets.

'We are bringing forward a comprehensive shelter strategy with detailed proposals for the short, medium and long terms that include expanded shelter, more safe parking and safe sleeping offerings,' Mayor Gloria said.

San Diego opened its first of two 'safe-sleeping' areas in the border-city in July

In June, the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments throughout the city

San Diego has some 10,000 homeless and unhoused individuals throughout the county

In June, DailyMail.com reported on a homeless woman from San Diego who said that vagrants in the city are 'spoiled' with free phones, food and clothes.

Marine Corps veteran Kate Monroe shared video of her talking with several homeless people in an area known as the Bottoms, one of whom, Mary, described the situation as 'not that hard.'

'I think we're spoiled to be honest with you,' the woman added while talking with Monroe. 'My sister's like, "Where do I sign up?"'

'Usually we're low income and when you're low income, you get free phones, free food, free clothing, there's so many resources that are just give and give and give,' the homeless woman said.

Others who spoke with Monroe did not agree with Mary's description, however, saying they have seen sexual assaults, robberies, and brutal beatings.

'This ain't easy, being out here,' one man who talked with the Marine vet said.
Protesters scaled Sheffield Town Hall and ripped down the Israeli flag, replacing it with the Palestinian flag to applause from crowds below, dramatic video shows.

Two men climbed the council building during the stunt before getting down and fleeing the scene, police have said.

Shocking footage of the incident shows a hooded man shuffling along the ridge of the roof, around 60 metres off the ground.

After reaching the mast he pulls down the flag, video shows, before successfully raising the Palestinian flag in its place.

Gathered crowds celebrated as the blue and white banner was thrown to the floor, with Palestine supporters cheering the man who then climbed down and absconded.

Shocking footage shows a hooded man shuffling along the ridge of the roof of Sheffield's council building

The suspect pulled the flag down before replacing it with the Palestinian one

Police said 'minor disorder' ensued as they tried to disperse the crowds, meaning the suspect and another man were able to escape and are now being looked for.

The Town Hall only raised the Israeli flag on Monday morning, according to local reports.

Following Hamas' violent attack on Israeli civilians on Saturday, the UK Government asked that all public buildings across the country display Israel's flag as a show of solidarity.

Tensions between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups have been widespread since, with police separating protesters at a London tube station on Monday night.

Scotland Yard said it would increase the presence of officers in response to a 'number of incidents' of people celebrating the attack on Israel, which was followed by retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

And last night, Suella Braverman urged officers to use the 'full force of the law' against shows of support for Hamas or bids to intimidate the UK's Jewish community.

The Home Secretary issued a warning to police chiefs that the waving of Palestinian flags and chanting 'may not be legitimate' if it is deemed to be a show of support for acts of terrorism.

On Tuesday's incident in Sheffield city centre, South Yorkshire Police said: 'Officers attended reports of public order at the Town Hall on Sheaf Street in Sheffield this evening (October 10) at around 6.20pm.

The protester threw the Israeli flag to the ground before putting up the Palestine flag in its place, to cheers from the crowd

'It is believed that two men climbed onto the roof of the building and removed the flag that was being flown.

'During officers' attendance and their attempts to disperse the crowds, minor disorder led to the two suspects fleeing the scene.

'Enquiries are ongoing to identify those involved and anyone with information is asked to report online, via live chat or by calling 101 quoting incident.'
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called statements made by some Democratic members of Congress 'repugnant' as she told reporters Tuesday 'there are not two sides' when it comes to the terror attacks in Israel.

Jean-Pierre was asked about comments made by Democratic lawmakers who 'seem to be equating the Hamas terror attack with actions that were previously taken by Israel.'

A trio of members of the left-wing 'Squad' - Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush - are under fire for their reactions to the heinous attacks, which have killed at least 1,000 Israelis, mostly civilians.

Omar called Israel's efforts to fight back against the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas a 'war crime,' while Tlaib and Bush both called on the U.S. to stop sending funds to Israel.

'Look, I've seen some of those statements this weekend and we are going to continue to be very clear, we believe they are wrong,' Jean-Pierre said. 'We believe they are repugnant and we believe they are disgraceful.'

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called statements made by some Democratic members of Congress 'repugnant' as she told reporters Tuesday 'there are not two sides' when it comes to the terror attacks in Israel

Reps. Ilhan Omar (left) and Rashida Tlaib (right) are under fire for comments they've made in the aftermath of Saturday's heinous Hamas terror attack against Israeli civilians

'Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, and kidnapped hundreds - hundreds of Israelis,' she continued. 'There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here, there are not two sides.'

Omar, who is Muslim and has gotten in trouble before for using anti-Semitic stereotypes, initially condemned Hamas' attack on Saturday.

'Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we've seen, which we cannot allow to continue,' she posted to X, formerly Twitter.

She also asked the international community to pray for the Palestinians as Israel responded to Hamas' attack.

'Reminder, Gaza doesn't have shelters or an iron dome and to please pray for them. May peace prevail in the region and move us towards a moral awakening to care about the human suffering we are seeing. Palestinians are human beings who have been in besieged and are deserving of protection from the international community,' Omar said.

On Monday, Omar called out Israel's response to the terror attack.

'The Israeli Defense Minister has called Palestinians "human animals" and promised to cut off all electricity, all food, and all fuel to civilians in Gaza,' Omar wrote on X. 'This is collective punishment, a war crime, and the U.S. should oppose any violations of international law if we truly support a rules-based international order.'

Rep. Cori Bush, one of the members of the leftwing 'Squad,' called on the U.S. to stop funding Israel

In a series of posts on X, Omar called out the Israeli response to the attack

Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat who is of Palestinian descent, posted a statement to her Instagram account saying that she grieved the 'Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day.'

She continued that the 'path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.'

'As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,' she added.

Bush, a Missouri Democrat, said in a statement posted to X Saturday that she was 'heartbroken by the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel.'

'Our immediate focus must be saving lives, but our ultimate focus must be on a just and lasting peace that ensures safety for everyone in the region,' the statement went on. 'Violations of human rights do not justify more violations of human rights, and a military response will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis alike.'

'As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid,' Bush added.

Reps. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, and Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, slammed Tlaib and Bush's comments in statements to Jewish Insider.

'Two of my colleagues called for America to end assistance to Israel, despite the countless images of Israeli children, women, men, and elderly, including Americans, murdered by radical Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists,' Gottheimer said in a statement.

A salvo of rockets were fired by Palestinians militants from Gaza toward Israel on Tuesday in the aftermath of Saturday's brutal Hamas terror attack

'It sickens me that while Israelis clean the blood of their family members shot in their homes, they believe Congress should strip U.S. funding to our democratic ally and allow innocent civilians to suffer,' the New Jersey lawmaker added.

Torres said U.S. aid to Israel 'should be unconditional, and never more so than in this moment of critical need.'

'Shame on anyone who glorifies "resistance" in the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust,' he continued. 'It is represhensible and repulsive.'

Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, distanced herself from Tlaib's comment in a statement to Jewish Insider.

'We must continue to come together as a Congress and a country to disavow terrorism and support the Jewish state, our democratic ally, Israel,' Stevens said. 'Israel has a right to exist and defend herself.'

Christopher Hale, a Democrat who ran for a Tennessee U.S. House seat, responded to Bush's post on X writing, 'Congresswoman Bush, I am a Democrat, but this is like putting out a statement mourning the deaths of the nineteen hijackers along with the 2900 murdered in the 9/11 attacks.'

'The grandchildren of the Holocaust deserve stronger support against terrorism than this,' Hale said.

The Anti-Defamation League also criticized Bush's comments.

'More than 600 Israelis have been murdered, more than 200 injured, and countless are being held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas,' the ADL said. 'To take this moment to slander our ally Israel and suggest the U.S. cut off military assistance is tone-deaf, heartless, and beyond reason.'
A Briton has told of the horrific moment he discovered his 78-year-old mother had been kidnapped from a retirement home in southern Israel by Hamas gunmen who left nothing behind of her but bloodstains on the walls where she was living.

Noam Sagi, 53, said he woke on Saturday morning to frantic phone calls from relatives in Israel worried for the safety of his mother, Ada Sagi.

Ada, whose parents survived the Holocaust, was among 90 residents of the Nir-Oz Kibbutz who were shot, injured and abducted during a terrifying raid on the settlement close to the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning.

Speaking to MailOnline, Noam told of his fears, saying: 'My aunt was in touch with my mum at 9.20am. She said she had heard a lot of noise outside and that she was going to the safe room.

'Then I saw on the internet footage of a Palestinian reporter doing a broadcast from her front lawn in the Nir-Oz Kibbutz.At 4pm we heard from the army that my mum was nowhere to seen.

Noam Sagi (L), 53, said he woke on Saturday morning to frantic phone calls from relatives in Israel worried for the safety of his mother, Ada Sagi (R)

Ada (pictured), whose parents survived the Holocaust, was among 90 residents of the Nir-Oz Kibbutz who were shot, injured and abducted during a terrifying raid on the settlement close to the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning

'There were blood stains in the house, and she was not in safe room. Now she is not on the dead list, not on the injured list and not on the rescue list.'

Mr Sagi, a physiotherapist, from Hampstead, north London, was born on a kibbutz in Israel and moved to Lindon 23 years ago.

His mother, Ada, a widow, was born in Tel Aviv where her parents moved after the war  but moved to a Kibbutz as a young child.

Mr Sagi went on: 'I believe my mother has been kidnapped and is being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.'

'We are talking about a massacre and the kidnap of vulnerable people. She lived on her own. Her husband passed away last summer.

'The terrorists went into a care home and stole them out of their beds - cancer patients, people with dementia.

Mr Sagi, a physiotherapist, from Hampstead, north London, was born on a kibbutz in Israel and moved to Lindon 23 years ago

His mother, Ada (pictured in recent family photo), a widow, was born in Tel Aviv where her parents moved after the war  but moved to a Kibbutz as a young child

'They gassed them, they butchered them, they looted them, and they took them with them.

'The first priority must be to get the hostages out  the old, the young, and the sick, and get them medical attention, without negotiation.

'I call on every Arab leader around the world to intervene.'

'I call on them to intervene. This is against all rules of war or conflict. This cannot be allowed to happen.'
Well, they had it coming. If the Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman was to speak honestly and candidly about her position on the murder of 900 defenceless Israeli citizens, that is what shed say.

It is, after all, what her position implies. The children gunned down alongside their parents in their homes: they had it coming.

The women shot and paraded around the streets of Gaza like trophies: they had it coming.

The hundreds of hostages who wait in agony this week, fearing the inevitable: they all have it coming too.

If, as Ms Chapman argued in her notorious tweet on Sunday, you believe that whats happening in Palestine is the consequence of apartheid, of illegal occupation and of imperial aggression by the Israeli State, and if you approve of other tweets that argue Hamass actions werent acts of terrorism but of decolonization, then your position is clear.

Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman's views on the terrorist attack in Israel sparked outrage

It is that the barbarism seen at the weekend can be explained away by the way Palestine has been treated. Its that ordinary Israeli citizens reap what their state sows. Sorry to all those parents and families grieving over their dead this week: tough.

The atrocities carried out by Hamas terrorists in Israel on Saturday morning were, like the 9/11 attacks just over 20 years ago, a clarifying moment. For most of us, I suspect, the first response is shock  and deep human sympathy.

Whatever your position on Israel and Palestine, most people will have felt little but disgust at the men who charged over the border between Gaza and Israel to kill entire families in their homes and to murder young people enjoying themselves at a rave.

But then  mercifully few in number  there are the Chapmans of this world, for whom such acts are opportunities to underscore your pre-existing political ideology.

I remember how, within hours of the twin towers coming down in 2001, the same people were blaming America, declaring that the USs disregard for the countries of the Middle East was the core reason behind the killing of 2,000 innocent people in New York. They had it coming too.

Callous

Now, with bodies piling ever higher in the morgues of the Middle East, they are back, excusing the inexcusable, justifying the unjustifiable.

The only difference today is that, with the rise of social media, they dont even have the decency to wait a few days.

Its ironic how it is often morally righteous people such as Ms Chapman who are the ones capable of such a callous response. It comes, fundamentally, from a hatred of our way of life.

These wine bar revolutionaries  as Nationalist MSP Fergus Ewing memorably dubbed the Scottish Greens  see the injustice and inequalities in the world and, with sophomore simplicity, conclude that western imperialism is to blame.

The undeniable challenge of climate change has only increased their fervour and loathing of the modern capitalist societies in which they live. From there, it is but a short step to see dead Israeli bodies on the TV and type #VivaPalestine on your Twitter account.

I wonder if Ms Chapman has the courage to shout these words into the faces of those Israeli families grieving their dead at countless funerals this week. I doubt it somehow... #coward.

Hearteningly, our main political leaders in the UK, irrespective of political allegiance, have shunned Ms Chapmans awful example over the past few days and risen to the moment, making it clear there can be no justification for the slaughter.

They include First Minister Humza Yousaf, who spoke bravely on Monday both to condemn the attacks and to reveal that his wifes parents are trapped in Gaza, unable to escape.

It brought home vividly the human cost of war  one that has already claimed one Scottish life, that of Bernard Cowan, murdered in his home by Hamas terrorists.

Violent conflict will, as always, create thousands of victims on both sides.

It is a ghastly position for Mr Yousaf and his family.

Asked yesterday about his view of Ms Chapmans tweet, he distanced himself from her comments. And pressed about calls by the Scottish Conservatives for him to sever his coalition agreement with the Scottish Greens, he described such talk as crass.

It is easy to sympathise with that view. As people are killed in Gaza and as the conflict threatens to escalate, the question of the grandly titled Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens here at home is, as he suggests, utterly trivial.

But Mr Yousaf, at some point, needs to confront this head-on. On this occasion, thats true both for his own partys interests and for the country as a whole. Ms Chapmans words show he should get on with it.

Divisive

The Scottish Greens are not a cuddly, pro-environmentalist party.

This, remember, is a party so ideologically puritanical that it not so long ago decided to formally suspend ties with the Green Party of England and Wales over its position on trans rights.

As its former leader Robin Harper recently pointed out, not long after tearing up his membership card, its a movement that is intrinsically divisive, arrogant and abrasive in his words. Its a party that takes a childish delight in recruiting enemies, all the better for it to feel relevant and just.

We know why the SNP went into government with them. After being scarred by numerous parliamentary battles in the previous parliament, the Nationalists saw an opportunity to lock down Holyrood by running as a majority administration.

Doubtless, Nicola Sturgeon also spied the opportunity to burnish her international environmentalist credentials.

But, as they have proved over their mismanagement of green projects in Scotland, theyre not even helping to support the environment, never mind anything else.

Extreme

Theyre now only damaging both the SNPs reputation and Scotlands too. That was the inevitable consequence of putting an extreme anti-growth, anti-western party at the centre of power.

Mr Yousaf has an immediate test facing him this coming weekend when he will attend his first SNP conference as party leader.

The Mr Continuity act hasnt cut it so far. He should therefore change tack. If he wants to establish himself as a leader of seriousness, there would be no better time to tell his coalition partners that its over.

In its place, he should make a big open offer to opposition parties to work on a new plan to grow Scotlands flatlining economy and fix our ailing health service.

Put the Scottish Greens where they belong, on the backbenches and the fringes.

It is, after this week, the very least they deserve.
New York University's Law School Bar Association president has had a job offer from a pro-LGBTQ+ law firm rescinded after she stated that Hamas' slaughter of children in Israel was 'necessary.'

Ryna Workman, 24, a non-binary student at NYU's School of Law sent a weekly newsletter saying the murder of innocent Israeli children, women, and citizens this past week was is Israel's 'full responsibility.'

On Tuesday, the law firm Winston & Strawn - which regularly highlights its legal work representing the LGBTQ+ community - told DailyMail.com in a statement that their offer of employment to Workman has been rescinded.

'Today, Winston & Strawn learned that a former summer associate published certain inflammatory comments regarding Hamas recent terrorist attack on Israel and distributed it to the NYU Student Bar Association,' the statement reads.

'These comments profoundly conflict with Winston & Strawns values as a firm. Accordingly, the Firm has rescinded the law students offer of employment.'

Ryna Workman, 24, a non-binary student at NYU's School of Law sent a weekly newsletter saying that the innocent slaughtering of Israeli children, women, and citizens this past week was is Israel's 'full responsibility'

Winton & Strawn says it has made clear its feelings on the surprise, shock attack clear.

'As communicated yesterday to all Winston personnel, we remain outraged and deeply saddened by the violent attack on Israel over the weekend. Our hearts go out to our Jewish colleagues, their families, and all those affected.'

Workman, from Simpsonville, South Carolina, also refused to condemn Hamas - an internationally-recognized terrorist group who have triggered the all-out war. Winston & Strawn did so in their statement.

'Winston stands in solidarity with Israels right to exist in peace and condemns Hamas and the violence and destruction it has ignited in the strongest terms possible,' they said.

'We look forward to continuing to work together to eradicate anti-Semitism in all forms and to the day when hatred, bigotry, and violence against all people have been eliminated. Our strength lies in our unity, empathy, and shared humanity.'

New York University told DailyMail.com that Workman's statement 'does not in any way reflect the point of view of NYU.'

University spokesman John Beckman said: 'Acts of terrorism are immoral. The indiscriminate killing of civilians and hostage-taking, including children and the elderly, is reprehensible. Blaming victims of terrorism for their own deaths is wrong.'

President Joe Biden today called their actions 'pure, unadulterated evil.'

On Tuesday, the law firm Winston & Strawn - which regularly highlights its legal work representing the LGBTQ + community - told DailyMail.com in a statement that their offer of employment to Workman has been rescinded

As well as studying at NYU, Ryna completed their undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina and also studied at the University of Warwick in the UK on an exchange program - where they took classes in international law.

Workman, who goes by the pronouns they/them, wrote in a weekly newsletter to fellow Student Bar Association students: 'Hi y'all.

'This week, I want to express, first and foremost, my unwavering and absolute solidarity with Palestinians in their resistance against oppression toward liberation and self-determination.

'Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life.

'This regime of state-sanctioned violence created the conditions that made resistance necessary.'

Referencing violent terrorist group Hamas, who have murdered innocent Israeli children, Workman said: 'I will not condemn Palestinian resistance.'

Workman has worked as a summer associate for two years at Winston & Strawn.

They continued in the email: 'I condemn the violence of apartheid. I condemn the violence of settler colonialism. I condemn the violence of military occupation. I condemn the violence of dispossession and stolen homes. I condemn the violence of trapping thousands in an open-air prison.

Before joining NYU, they graduated from University of South Carolina with a degree in history and global studies

'I condemn the violence of collective punishment. I condemn the violence of phosphorous bombs. I condemn the violence of the United States military-industrial complex. I condemn the violence of obfuscating genocide as a "complex issue."

'I condemn the violence in labeling oppressed people as "animals." I condemn the violence in removing hospital context. I condemn the violence of silence. Palestine will be free.'

The newsletter was signed off: 'Your SBA President, Ryna.'

NYU's Law School Dean Troy McKenzie also said: 'This message was not from NYU School of Law as an institution and does not speak for the leadership of the Law School.

'It certainly does not express my own views, because I condemn the killing of civilians and acts of terrorism as always reprehensible.'

The student bragged on their social media that they 'embrace organizing for whats right and push for real change in my community.'

Workman said that they: 'Push for economic justice, anti-racism, and gender equality.'

The student said they want to 'become someone who breaks down systems to help make the world we live in more equitable. I hope to continue to be an advocate for underserved and minority communities.'

Workman bragged that they: 'Push for economic justice, anti-racism, and gender equality'

This comes after students at several Ivy League institutions, including Harvard and Columbia, condemned Israel after the war broke out.

Students at Stanford University also showed their support for Hamas as they hung bedsheets with slogans from their dorms.

A group of 31 Harvard organizations, including its branch of Amnesty International, has placed the blame on Israel for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack.

The organizations released a letter to the public as a 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence.

They said that Hamas' attacks, which are still ongoing, 'did not happen in a vacuum' and the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.'

'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the groups wrote.

A student organization from Columbia has joined in the chorus of equivocation by calling the terrorism a 'counter-offensive.'

The Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said: 'The weight of responsibility for the war and casualties undeniably lies with the Israeli extremist government and other Western governments,' the statement, which was also signed by a group named Jewish Voice for Peace, read.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee holding banners outside of Harvard University

Workman's statement - just one of many student organizations refusing to condemn Hamas - comes just hours after reports surfaced that the terrorists massacred at least 40 babies and young children during an attack in a small kibbutz in Israel.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Israeli residents now lay on the ground among burned out houses, strewn furniture and torched cars. Solemn Israeli soldiers today went from house to house to take away the scores of people massacred there.

The death toll among Israelis now stands at over 1,000 - making it the single largest massacre of Jewish people since Hitler's Holocaust.

Israel and the IDF's counteroffensive have also caused mass fatalities in Gaza after a 'complete siege' of the region was ordered.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'.

The airstrikes have so far flattened many towns in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks.

The war was started by Hamas in the early hours of Saturday morning, during the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah.

Terrorists massacred 260 Israeli revelers at a festival in a hail of bullets, with survivors describing how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims.

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9

After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage

Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday)

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden delivered a dramatic address promising to stand with Israel and denouncing the 'unadulterated evil' of terrorist attacks who killed more than 1,000 people, including 14 Americans, at the weekend.

Biden's remarks come three full days since he put out a short video following the initial attack Saturday. He has been criticized for a sluggish response to the crisis, hosting a barbecue for staff on Sunday and not appearing in public on Monday.

But he broke his silence with a speech dripping with anger at the horrors unleashed by Hamas terrorists and warned that U.S. citizens were also among civilians captured.

'You know there are moments in this life  I mean this literally  when a pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world,' he said, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

'The people of Israel, lived through one such moment this weekend.'
NSW Premier Chris Minns has called off an upcoming Free Palestine rally in Sydney after hundreds of protesters caused chaos outside the Opera House.

Minns said organisers had already shown they were not peaceful based on the wild scenes on Monday, during which protesters chanted 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** the Jews'.

More than 1,000 people are dead after the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israeli towns from the Palestinian territories on Saturday.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the premier apologised to the state's Jewish community for failing to provide a safe place to mourn following devastating attacks launched by terrorists over the weekend.

'The intentions were to light up the Opera House as a space for the Jewish community to commemorate what happened in Israel, the number of family and friends caught up in the conflict,' Minns said.

During the wild scenes at the Sydney Opera House protesters chanted 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** the Jews'

The premier apologised to the state's Jewish community for failing to provide a safe place to mourn following the attacks which killed more than 1,000 Israelis

Premier Chris Minns said protest organisers had already shown they were not peaceful

'We didn't do it. I take responsibility for that. I want to ensure it won't happen again.'

Mr Minns said paperwork for a second protest had been submitted to police, but that he expected the application would be denied.

'The protest organisers have already proven they're not peaceful.

'Shouting racial epithets is not the definition of a peaceful protest.

'The idea they're going to commandeer Sydney streets is not going to happen, and I am sure NSW Police will make that clear this morning.'

Tense protests on Monday night, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw a burning of the Israeli flag, anti-Semitic chanting by protesters, and flares set off in the Opera House forecourt.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Hudson said on Wednesday morning that the paperwork for the second protest was not submitted within the seven-day timeframe.

'Police are currently in negotiations with the organisers of that event,' assistant commissioner Hudson told reporters.

'It is unauthorised at this stage. Organisers might decide to move it and if that is the case, there will be considerations.'

Asked if police can stop Sundays protest going ahead if organisers decide to proceed regardless, Assistant Commissioner Hudson said they were powerless to stop people gathering.

'At this stage, I would encourage people not to attend that assembly on Sunday,' he said.

Assistant commissioner Hudson was asked whether police would step in if people starting making anti-Semitic chants like those heard on Monday night.

'We have received criticism over the last few days that there were not... more arrests on Monday night,' Assistant Commissioner Hudson replied.

Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before resorting to stamping on it and tearing it into shreds (pictured)

Protest organisers from the Palestine Action Group have defended their right to protest in Australia, saying media coverage had focused on a tiny fringe of 'vile anti-Semitic attendees'

'Investigations into those matters are continuing. Identification of the individuals involved proved exceptionally difficult at the time, so [were] going through an investigative process at the moment.

'Anyone committing offences, we will take action.'

Among the dead in Israel was Sydney grandmother Galit Carbone, who was executed at the Be'eri kibbutz, kilometres from the Gaza Strip.

Protest organisers from the Palestine Action Group have defended their right to protest in Australia, saying media coverage had focused on a tiny fringe of 'vile anti-Semitic attendees'.

More than 1,000 people attended a pro-Palestine rally outside the Victorian State Library on Tuesday evening.

Reports from Victoria Police indicated there were no major incidents or arrests amid a strong police presence.

A vigil for Israeli victims of the attacks is due to be held in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Wednesday evening.
Police are investigating reports a car pulled over in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra with occupants who told a man they were 'on the hunt to kill Jews'.

Officers said a car pulled in near a man on Toorak Road near Williams Road and made the threats at around 4pm on Tuesday.

Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the reports of the alleged threats.

'There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour and Victoria Police is committed to responding to any such acts,' a police spokesperson said.

The shocking report follows an illegal pro-Palestinian rally held in Sydney on Monday night after Hamas terrorists murdered hundreds in Israel last weekend.

Police are investigating reports a car pulled over in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra (pictured) and the occupants told a man they were 'on the hunt to kill Jews'

The man who claims to have been subjected to the slurs made a recording 10 minutes after he said it happened.

Daily Mail Australia has heard the recording, in which the man said he had 'Just had a car full of four little Arab boys telling me to wind down my window.

'They asked me ... "Do you know where any Jews are?" I go "No, don't know where any Jews are, but why?"

'They were like "I don't know what we're going to do with them when we're done with them", and the guy in the back was like "We're on the hunt to kill Jews".'

'I've made a report with CSG (Community Support Group, a local Jewish organisation), I've made a report with the cops,' the man who made the recording said.

'These guys look like they were f***ing scary,' he said.

Speaking about the situation on Melbourne radio station 3AW, host Neil Mitchell said 'It might be a car full of idiots thinking they're funny, it might be a genuine threat.

'Either way, it is a horrendous thing to do on the streets of Melbourne in this atmosphere.'

The shocking report follows an illegal pro-Palestinian rally (pictured) held in Sydney on Monday night after Hamas terrorists murdered hundreds in Israel last weekend

Mitchell added: 'That's the sort of thing we've got to stand against ... whether there was evil intent or they thought they were being funny, we don't know.

'But even if it's the latter, it's bad enough.'

A caller to the show said there are private Jewish schools in the area where the alleged incident happened.

'My daughter knew the person in the car and she came home very, very upset,' the caller said.
A second pro-Palestine rally in Sydney is unlikely to go ahead after Premier Chris Minns said organisers had already shown they were not peaceful.

A widely-condemned rally was held on Monday night as the NSW government lit the Opera House in the blue and white of the Israeli flag in solidarity with victims of this week's terrorist attacks.

More than 1000 people are dead after the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israeli towns from the Palestinian territories on Saturday.

There is unlikely to be a second pro-Palestine protest in Sydney following the wild scenes at the Opera House on Monday (pictured above)

The widely-condemned rally was held after the NSW government lit the Opera House in the blue and white of the Israeli flag in solidarity with terrorism victims

Premier Chris Minns said protest organisers had already shown they were not peaceful

Among them was Sydney grandmother Galit Carbone, who was executed at the Be'eri kibbutz, kilometres from the Gaza Strip.

Opera House rally organisers from the Palestine Action Group have defended their right to protest in Australia, saying media coverage had focused on a tiny fringe of 'vile anti-Semitic attendees'.

Mostly young teens shouting 'f** the Jews' and other racial slurs were quickly condemned and asked to leave, the group said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Mr Minns said he took 'full responsibility' for the protest and promised it would not happen again, despite organisers planning another rally for the weekend.

'The protest organisers have already proven that they're not peaceful: shouting racial epithets at Jewish community members is not the definition of a peaceful protest,' he told reporters on Wednesday.

'So the idea that they're going to commandeer Sydney streets is not going to happen and I'm sure NSW Police will make that clear this morning.'

More than 1000 people attended a pro-Palestine rally outside the Victorian State Library on Tuesday evening.

Reports from Victoria Police indicated there were no major incidents or arrests amid a strong police presence.

A vigil for Israeli victims of the attacks is due to be held in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Wednesday evening.
The newly-appointed president of the Rebels bikie gang has died suddenly at a Perth police station.

Jamie Ginn, 50, was reportedly arrested for breaching a firearms prevention order on Tuesday.

He was taken to the Perth watchhouse where he reportedly suffered a seizure and died.

Jamie Ginn, the newly-appointed president of the Rebels bikie gang, has died suddenly at a Perth police station

His death comes as tensions between the Rebels and Mongols bikie gangs have been escalating

In March, Ginn was convicted alongside two other motorcycle gang members for flaunting outlawed gang tattoos under laws introduced in 2021.

The Rebels members were said to be brandishing club ink, and all were alleged to be showing '1 percenter' ink.

Their insignia is a Confederate flag with a cap-wearing skull and 1 per cent patch in the centre to signify they are part of the small minority in society who rebel against the rule of law.

Ginn was charged after attending a pool party.

'Wheres the war on paedophiles, and the war on government corruption, we no longer live in a free country, we cant have on our bodies what we want, we cant wear what we want, we cant hang around who we want,' Ginn said outside court after the ruling.

'Im not taking my tattoos off, theyre staying.'

At the time of his death, Ginn had an outstanding matter in the Perth Magistrates Court for the same charge, due to be heard in November.

Ginn's death comes as tensions between the Rebels and Mongols bikie gangs have been escalating.

A spokesperson for WA Police said: 'He (Ginn) was lodged at the Perth Watch House and subsequently charged with a number of drug and firearm offences.'

'About 7pm, the man was observed by officers to be suffering a medical episode inside his cell.

'Immediate medical assistance was provided until the arrival of St John WA, however, the man could not be revived.

'The death is not being treated as suspicious and as per standard protocol officers from the Major Crime Division will prepare a report for the Coroner.'
The son of a British-born woman and his financee have been confirmed as the latest victims of the Supernova music festival massacre instigated by Hamas that has killed more than 260 people.

Dor Shafir, 30, and his wife-to-be Savion Kiper, 31, are among those to have been slain by the Palestinian militant group after troops wielding assault rifles opened fire on crowds in the Negev desert on Saturday at the start of a surprise attack on Israel.

Mr Shafir's mother Miryam Shafir, 55, said earlier that Ms Kiper's body had been found, but she had been holding out hope that her son would be found alive - prior to the tragic outcome being confirmed.

She earlier said that her son had been able to send her a text message at around 7am on Saturday, roughly half an hour after the all-out assault on Israel began, to say that he and Ms Kiper had found shelter.

Ms Shafir did not hear from her son again, and his phone was turned off manually at 11.30pm on Saturday night; news of Ms Kiper's death was first reported earlier today.

Miryam Shafir, 55, with her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, at a bowling alley

Festivalgoers at the nature party near Nirim, in the south of Israel, close to the Gaza border

Revelers at the trance music rave before the terror of the gunmen's arrival began

Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempted to escape

Mr Shafir and his father, Itzik. His mother said his phone had been manually switched off on Saturday night, hours after she last heard from him

She told Good Morning Britain on Monday, before learning of her son's fate: 'We know from a person that saw them at the party that when they heard the first rockets my son and his girlfriend were the first to run to their car and leave. Within minutes everyone fled.

'They ran into the forest or got into their cars and started driving all over the place. Some of them were met by Hamas terrorists. Some of the people were shot, some were taken hostage.

'There were hundreds, hundreds of young people killed. We don't even know who they are or where they are.'

Ms Shafir, whose parents are from Reading and Dublin, had urged the UK Government to get involved in efforts to trace British citizens.

She had added: 'We are citizens, they should help stop this war crime from going on. There are hundreds of innocent people, women, children, young people, who are hostages in Gaza.'

Mr Shafir's death, reported by The Times, comes as British authorities try to calculate exactly how many UK nationals may be caught up in the Hamas-Israel war. At least 10 Brits are believed missing or dead.

Among them is Nathaniel Young, 20, who was fulfilling a boyhood dream to serve in the Israeli army when he was killed in the unannounced Hamas attack. His funeral in Jerusalem was interrupted by air raid sirens and loud bangs.

Corporal Nathanel Young, 20, from London, was a soldier in the 13th Battalion who lived in Tel Aviv

Glasgow man Bernard Cowan, who lived in Israel, was killed on Saturday by Hamas as it staged a mass incursion into the country

Jack Marlowe was last seen attempting to rescue revellers from the killers. He remained missing last night

This is the last picture of Brit Dan Darlington and German girlfriend Carolin Brohl, taken just one day before the attack

Glasgow man Bernard Cowan, 57, was murdered 'in cold blood' by Hamas militants at his home in Israel.

Jake Marlowe, 26, was providing security at the Supernova festival where Mr Shafir and Ms Kiper were killed when Hamas struck; his family have not heard from him since he sent a final text reading: 'Signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you'.

Photographer Dan Darlington is missing, presumed dead, after the kibbutz he was visiting was attacked by Hamas fighters.

He was meant to have left for Tel Aviv a day before the militants struck - but stayed for one more day to explore the close-knit community.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Tuesday that a 'significant number' of British-Israeli dual nationals had been caught up in the fighting, but has been reluctant to give specific numbers.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against 'all but essential' travel to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the border area between Israel and Lebanon known as the Blue Line.

It currently urges great caution around using Brits in Gaza using the Rafah crossing to escape into Egypt.

Israeli forces have been shelling the area as Egypt, the US and Israel hold talks to discuss the opening of a corridor for humanitarian aid.

A Foreign Office spokesperson told the PA news agency: 'We have been speaking with Egypt about maintaining the land crossing from Gaza into Egypt.

'We have to remember Hamas is bringing pain on the Palestinian people on purpose. They murdered many hundreds of Israelis, knowing Israel would be forced to react.

'Israel of course has a right to defend itself with a proportionate response.

'We need to remember this was initiated by a widespread terrorist response by Hamas.'

Police had to hold back rival groups inside High Street Kensington Tube station last night

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) attended Finchley United Synagogue in central London last night

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday that regional governments did not want the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to spill out into other parts of the region

In the UK itself, Israel and Palestine supporters had to be separated by police on Monday night outside Israel's London embassy.

Supporters on both sides clashed at High Street Kensington Underground station as police desperately tried to keep the peace, while pro-Palestine protesters launched fireworks at the boarded-up embassy.

Rishi Sunak visited a London synagogue to show support for Israel following Saturday's attacks, which are believed to have killed more than 1,200 Israelis and 900 people in Gaza.

He later put his name to a joint letter of solidarity for the country, alongside the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the US, which also contained 'unequivocal condemnation' for Hamas' 'appalling acts of terrorism'.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is stepping up patrols around the capital amid heightened fears of antisemitic attacks in the wake of Saturday's events.
His ID was found in the footwell of the truck used in Monday's attack which claimed 12 lives and injured 48

He was suspected of dealing drugs and planning robberies to finance the purchase of assault rifles

German security officials had Amri under close surveillance between March and September this year

Lifelong criminal was jailed for four years in Italy and convicted of aggravated theft with violence in Tunisia

Security services face difficult questions after it emerged that he should have been deported months ago

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Most wanted: Police today revealed they are hunting Anis Amri, 24, pictured, a refugee who came to Germany last year. His paperwork was found in truck's footwell. The driver is believed to be armed and dangerous

A string of security blunders left a failed Tunisian asylum seeker free to carry out the Berlin Christmas market massacre, it was feared last night.

German security services face difficult questions after it emerged that Anis Amris, a lifelong criminal, should have been deported months ago.

The 24-year-old, who has a 100,000 euro reward on his head, was under the surveillance of German intelligence for several months following his arrival in the country in 2015.

He had been arrested three times this year and his asylum application was rejected, but deportation papers were never served and he disappeared.

The Tunisian radical was known to be a supporter of Islamic State and to have received weapons training.

He also tried to recruit an accomplice for a terror plot  which the authorities knew about  but still remained at large.

He was under investigation for planning a 'serious act of violence against the state' and counter-terrorism officials had exchanged information about him last month.

Reports suggest intelligence services might have even lost track of Amri as recently as just a few weeks ago after he went underground.

The potentially fatal mistakes heaped further shame on the German security services, who wasted several hours questioning an innocent Pakistani asylum seeker in the aftermath of the truck rampage, which killed 12 shoppers and wounded 48.

German police are in a desperate race to detain Amri, described as being probably armed and highly dangerous before any further terrorist attack.

There were reports police had carried out raids on two addresses in Berlin last night but this was later denied by police.

Last night it emerged Amri spent four years in an Italian prison for acts of violence and vandalism inside a migrant centre where he was being kept following his arrival in Europe. The prison in Palermo, Sicily, is where mafia bosses and gangsters are locked up.

Tunisian security officials also revealed he was convicted in absentia for aggravated theft with violence in his home country.

A senior foreign German politician today blamed the atrocity on 'institutional political correctness', arguing that Amri would not have been free to act if police had enforced the law.

Meanwhile a European arrest warrant issued for Amri reveals the fugitive has used at least six different aliases under three different nationalities. Photographs show how he has changed his appearance over the years.

Today his family, who remain in Tunisia, were questioned by local police as his siblings condemned acts of terrorism, saying Amri 'deserves every condemnation' if he is guilty of the massacre.

Manhunt: The ISIS killer behind Germany's worst terror attack since 1980 on Monday night has been given an 18 hour head start after police bungled the probe - Amri's blood may have been in the cab and believe the driver is injured

A European arrest warrant from Germany, indicates that Anis Amri (pictured) has at times used six different aliases and three different nationalities. German police were tracking him for months amid fears he was involved in an earlier terrorist plot - but lost him before the Berlin Christmas market massacre

German authorities have revealed there is a 100,000 euro (84,000) reward for information leading to his capture

The Christmas market where the atrocity took place remained closed on Wednesday as the city reels from the terror attack

A group of refugees from the Tempelhof emergency shelter were seen laying flowers near the site of the attack

CHANGING FACES OF PRIME SUSPECT ANIS AMRI A European arrest warrant issued for Amri reveals the fugitive has used at least six different aliases under three different nationalities. Here, four photographs show how he has changed his appearance over the years: Advertisement

Amri became Europe's most wanted man after his identity papers were found in the footwell of the lorry used in the atrocity.

Last night it emerged that Amris application for asylum was turned down last summer because he did not possess the correct papers.

But under a peculiarity of the German asylum system he was granted toleration papers allowing him to stay temporarily, for unknown reasons. He was due to be deported before the end of the year.

The German authorities were in touch with their Tunisian counterparts to get him a passport so he could be sent home. But Tunisia reportedly said it had no record of him being a citizen.

The country has now been accused of delaying his extradition as it emerged new ID papers only arrived in Germany yesterday, two days after the carnage.

He was put on a danger list shortly after arriving in Germany in June last year, which meant authorities considered him prone to extreme violence. Yet just how much surveillance he was under remains unclear.

The German authorities watched Amri for several months this year to try to determine whether he had planned a robbery to fund the purchase of automatic weapons for a possible attack with accomplices. But the covert surveillance operation ceased after the security services could not prove their suspicions, a judicial source said.

In July he was arrested for an unknown offence while travelling on a bus to Berlin, and was later charged with assault for a knife fight over drugs. In August he was arrested for possessing a fake Italian document, but again released.

He had contact with preachers who promoted jihad among young German men who converted to Islam. According to media reports, Amri lived for a time with a hate preacher in Dortmund who is under arrest for his involvement with IS.

He is also known to have attended hate sermons by Abu Walaa, now in custody after being arrested last month for radicalising young men. The so-called faceless preacher delivered online video sermons with his back to the camera, often draped in a black hood and cloak.

The preacher, who is believed to have three wives, had 25,000 Facebook followers and even offered his own app in 2014.

Will the lorry killer strike again? Police and the security services are hunting the terrorist behind the Christmas market attack

Mourners placed flowers and candles at the site while German flags flew at half-mast and Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate was lit in the national colours in honour of the victims

Candles, flowers ans wreathes have been laid near the spot where the lorry was driven in to crowds of people at the market

Link? A Facebook profile in his name shows 'likes' linked to Tunisian terror group Ansar al-Sharia, a Tunisian group with followers linked to extremists who murdered 22 at Tunis' Bardo Museum in March 2015 and then 39 tourists at a beach resort in Sousse

WHO IS ANIS AMRIS? Terror suspect Anis Amri, 24, was born in Tataouine, Tunisia in 1992. The desert town, close to the Libyan border, is a well-known ISIS stronghold. He is understood to have racked up a string of criminal offences - including violent car robberies - before illegally entering Europe with a group of Syrian refugees. A European arrest warrant issued for Amri indicates he uses six different aliases and has three different nationalities. Today Amri's father claimed his son left Tunisia seven years ago and first settled in Italy, where he reportedly spent four years in jail for burning down a school. German records show he arrived in Italy in 2012 and entered Germany last year. Since his arrival in Germany, Amri, who has a 100,000 reward on his head, has been arrested at least three times. In June German authorities reportedly tried to deport Amri after learning he was planning a 'serious act of violent subversion,' a source told the Washington Post. Amri is known to have attended German hate sermons by Abu Walaa, an ISIS recruiter who is in jail on remand after being arrested last month for radicalising young men for the terror group. Apparently Walaa wanted to send him to Syria. But he did not want to, preferring instead to formulate plans for an attack in Germany. A Facebook profile in his name shows 'likes' linked to Tunisian terror group Ansar al-Sharia, a Tunisian group with followers linked to extremists who murdered 22 at Tunis' Bardo Museum in March 2015 and then 39 tourists at a beach resort in Sousse. As recently as last month, German authorities raised concerns over Amri's alleged links to Islamic extremists. Advertisement

Apparently Walaa had wanted to send Amri to Syria. But he did not want to, preferring instead to formulate plans for an attack in Germany.

Another investigator said: 'Supposedly the evidence was not strong enough to arrest him.'

A Facebook profile in his name shows 'likes' linked to Tunisian terror group Ansar al-Sharia, a Tunisian group with followers linked to extremists who murdered 22 at Tunis' Bardo Museum in March 2015 and then 39 tourists at a beach resort in Sousse.

He was in contact with Islamist militants in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and was known to German security agencies, the state's Interior Minister Ralf Jaeger said.

As the hunt for Europe's most wanted man continues, it was revealed that:

ID belonging to Anis Amri, 21, a Tunisian asylum seeker, is found in the footwell. The is blood in the cab and the drive may be seriously injured

Police get 500 calls and insist they could arrest killer truck driver today despite bungling initial investigation. They say DNA and GPS linked to the lorry could lead to breakthrough

Twelve people are dead and 48 are injured - 16 seriously - after a lorry is driven at 40mph through crowds at the famous Breitscheidplatz Square Christmas market at 7pm on Monday night.

Hours earlier the lorry was hijacked from a Polish driver taking steel to Berlin from Italy. Lukasz Urban, a father of one, was found shot dead in its cab. It is not yet clear when he died.

Police arrested Naved B based on a witness description who say him run a red light but later released their sole suspect because of a lack of evidence.

Angela Merkel faces storm over her asylum policy and admits: ' It would be particularly hard to bear for all of us if it was confirmed that a person committed this crime who asked for protection and asylum in Germany'

This afternoon, police raided a migrant shelter in the town of Emmerich, western Germany, where he is believed to have lived.

Amri, who was born in the desert town of Tataouine in 1992  a well-known ISIS stronghold close to the Libyan border - is believed to have entered Europe through Italy with Syrian refugees.

It remains unclear when Amri left his native Tunisia for Europe.

His father told Tunisia's Mosaique FM radio that his son left his homeland about seven years ago, spent four years in a prison in Italy after being accused in a fire at a school there then moved to Germany more than a year ago. Official records suggest he arrived in Italy in 2012.

Citing security officials, Mosaique FM said Amri had been convicted in absentia for aggravated theft with violence in Tunisia and sentenced to five years in prison. No dates were given.

Tunisian anti-terror police interrogated Amri's relatives Wednesday in the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia. It is not known how many family members were present.

Previous: Amri, who was born in the desert town of Tataouine in 1992  a well-known ISIS stronghold close to the Libyan border - was apparently recently arrested for GBH but vanished before he could be charged. He was also found with a fake passport

A wanted notice for a Tunisian suspect in the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin says the man should be considered armed and dangerous

Police patrol a Christmas market in Berlin which has reopened following the terror attack on a separate attraction on Monday night

Security has been tightened across Berlin since the attack, but another Christmas market reopened today under heavy security

Floral tributes have been left at the scene in the wake of the terror atrocity in Berlin. Police are hunting a Tunisian suspect

Grief: Flowers and candles defy the terrorists as Germany looks for hope after yet another terrible terror attack

Christmas shoppers are out again in the streets in the German capital, and Berlin mayor Michael Mueller said it was 'good to see that Berliners aren't being intimidated'. Visitors are pictured sitting around an open fire at the Christmas market in Alexanderplatz

Wanted: Amri was living in Berlin but a police operation is now underway in North Rhine-Westphalia - the industrial region of Germany containing Cologne, Dortmund and Bonn

TUNISIA: THE CRUCIBLE OF ISLAMIC TERROR ATTACKS Once Tunisia was renowned for its sunbaked beaches  now it is notorious for being a crucible of Islamist terror. The emergence of Anis Amri as the prime suspect for the Berlin Christmas market massacre would have come as little surprise to anti-terror chiefs across Europe. The Berlin bloodbath is just the latest in a string of attacks that highlight the role of young Tunisian-born men in orchestrating Islamist terror attacks. On his Facebook account, Amri has expressed his support for a notorious jihadist group in his homeland. Ansar al-Sharia Tunisia is a radical Islamist group numbering about 1,000 people with some linked to the 2015 Sousse beach massacre in the North African country, in which 30 British tourists were killed. The group is ideologically guided by two preachers with British links: one is Abu Qatada, who was deported to Jordon in 2013 after first being arrested on suspicion of terrorism in 2001. The other is a militant Egyptian preacher called Hani al-Sibai, who the Mail exposed last year as living on benefits in the UK. The Berlin attack bears all the hallmarks of the Nice truck attack in July, when Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel killed 86 people during Bastille Day celebrations. Tunisians form the largest contingent of fighters with IS in Syria and Iraq by far, numbering up to 7,000. Many occupy senior positions, including a suspect who lived in Belgium and travelled to Syria who is thought to be the chief planner of the Paris and Brussels attacks. Osama Atar is suspected to be the Abu Ahmad who some of the Paris attackers were in contact with, though Atar has refuted the charge online. Advertisement

One of his brothers said Amri deserves 'every condemnation' if he is guilty of the Christmas market massacre.

Abdelkader Amri said the family 'rejects terrorism' and suggested they would cut ties with fugitive brother Anis Amri if he was found to be behind the atrocity.

He said: 'When I saw the picture of my brother in the media, I couldn't believe my eyes. I'm in shock, and can't believe it's him who committed this crime.'

But, he added, 'if he's guilty, he deserves every condemnation. We reject terrorism and terrorists - we have no dealings with terrorists'.

Speaking from his home in Tunisia, another brother, Walid, 30, revealed he had not heard from Anis in two weeks.

Truck driver Walid said Anis first left Tunisia for Italy in 2011 but 'always wanted to go on to Germany to find work. Three or for years later he managed that.'

His brother added: 'He told me often that he couldn't find a flat In Germany and was sleeping here and there. But during our last contact two weeks ago he said everything was good with him.

'He comes from a family of nine children and always sent money back to us. I don't know where it came from. We live as a struggling family, we live a totally normal life.'

He said he last communicated with his brother over Facebook two weeks ago and does not have a mobile number for the fugitive.

'We are as shocked as everyone else in the world,' he added. 'We have no contact to Isis. I only learned my brother was being hunted over Facebook. I am affected the same as everyone else by this news.'

Sister Najoua said: 'I was the first to see his picture and it came as a total shock. I can't believe my brother could do such a thing.

'He never made us feel there was anything wrong. We were in touch through Facebook and he was always smiling and cheerful.'

Despite an unfolding international manhunt the first pictures released of Amri in Germany showed his eyes deliberately covered, thought to be because of strict privacy laws there.

Police are believed to have found blood in the truck's cab and now assume that the suspect may be badly injured.

Squads of officers have been to every hospital in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg. They also arrested another unnamed suspect in connection with the terror attack but have since ruled him out.

Amri was living in Berlin but a police operation is now underway in North Rhine-Westphalia - the industrial region of Germany containing Cologne, Dortmund and Bonn. His ID was issued on the town of Kleve close to the border with the Netherlands and Belgium.

The atrocity could be a political disaster for Mrs Merkel, who will seek a historic fourth term as chancellor next year. She has staked much of her political capital on opening Germany's doors to refugees.

HE'S ON THE RUN - BUT PROTECTING HIS PRIVACY PREVENTS HIS PHOTO BEING SHOWN IN GERMANY Despite an unfolding international manhunt the first pictures of Amri released in Germany have his eyes deliberately covered, thought to be because of strict privacy laws there. MailOnline has uncovered unblurred images By Julian Robinson An international manhunt is underway for the new prime suspect in the Berlin Christmas market massacre - but in pictures released in Germany, the Tunisian's eyes are, bizarrely, obscured with a black bar. The 21-year-old's ID was found under the seat in the lorry used to murder 12 people and maim dozens of others. Yet strict privacy rules in Germany mean newspapers in the country are referring to him only by his first name and the first initial of his last surname - despite a public appeal aimed at tracking him down. Pictures of Anis A, who if he is the driver police believe is probably armed, 'highly dangerous' and a member of a 'large' Islamic organisation, are also partially obscured, blocking out his eyes. Media used the same naming method for Naved Baluch yesterday when the Pakistani was held in the aftermath of the atrocity. The 24-year-old, who arrived in Germany a year ago, was blamed for Monday night's carnage but released 18 hours later. In line with the country's privacy laws, German authorities will not fully name anyone they arrest over the atrocity. It is not the first example of full names being withheld during criminal cases in the country. Last month, only first names were released as two Syrian men, Kamel T.H.J. and Azad R., were charged with membership in a terrorist organisation on allegations they fought with a militant Islamist groups in their homeland. A month earlier, a similar tactic was employed on the arrest of suspected ISIS airport bomb plotter Jaber al-Bakr. The 22-year-old, had built 'a virtual bomb-making lab' in a flat in Chemnitz and was thought to have planned an attack against either one of Berlin's two airports or a transport hub in his home state of Saxony, security sources said. He later hanged himself in his prison cell - despite being on suicide watch. Some newspapers even keep to the rule when referring to Austrian monster Josef Fritzl, who repeatedly raped his daughter, Elisabeth, and fathered seven children by her while keeping her imprisoned in his cellar for 24 years. Advertisement

This afternoon, a wanted notice revealed the Berlin attack suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

The notice, a European arrest warrant from Germany, indicates he has at times used six different aliases and three different nationalities.

It names Anis Amri as having Tunisian citizenship, born in the town of Ghaza. But it lists multiple aliases, many of them variants on his name, and Egyptian and Lebanese citizenship as well.

Amri's home town in north Africa is famous for being the inspiration for Luke Skywalker's home planet in Star Wars but has become an ISIS stronghold for jihadis attacking targets in nearby Libya.

It came as it was revealed the Pakistani asylum seeker held in the aftermath of the Berlin Christmas market massacre was held because he accidentally jumped a red light.

Naved Baluch, 24, who arrived in Germany a year ago, was seized and blamed for Monday night's carnage after witnesses saw him commit a traffic offence a mile away.

Detectives, who flew him out of Berlin and across the country to Karlsruhe to question him, took 18 hours to realise Mr Baluch, who had no blood on his clothes and no injuries, did not drive a lorry through crowds to kill 12 and wound 48 more.

It was only then the security services warned the public that the real ISIS killer was on the run with a gun. Today Berlin is in mourning as police warned 'vigilance' is needed because a second attack could be imminent.

Despite bungling the initial investigation police insist DNA, GPS and mobile phone data tied to the lorry used to murder and maim could lead to an arrest today.

A BBC journalist made the red light claims on the Today programme this morning.

'He was the wrong man,' said a source in the German security services. 'The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause further damage.'

Berlin detectives have revealed that have had 500 calls from the public since Monday night's massacre.

Andre Schulz, chairman of the Federal Association of German Criminal Detectives, said on TV Tuesday night: 'I'm fairly confident that we can present a new suspect maybe tomorrow or in the near future', adding that his colleagues had assembled 'good evidence' and that there were 'very many starting points.

'I have great faith in the police in Berlin and the Federal Criminal Office.'

Schulz claims that the murder squad investigating the first mass terrorist killing in Germany have 500 clues to work from.

Probe: Naved B, a Pakistani asylum seeker, had been detained in the immediate aftermath of the carnage following a tip-off from witnesses who saw him jump a light (pictured with a blanket over his head). However he was released last night due to a lack of evidence

Ring of steel: Armed police continue to guard the Christmas market where 12 were killed on Monday night

Carnage: The area is cordoned off as a crime scene and debris left by the careering lorry remains sprayed across the pavement

Prayers: Berliners cry and pray at the piles of flowers and candles left to remember the 12 dead and up to 48 injured after being hit by a careering lorry

WAS PETTY CRIMINAL RADICALISED IN A JAIL CELL? By Mario Ledwith, Emily Kent Smith and Emine Sinmaz for the Daily Mail As a teenager growing up in a poor part of Tunisia, Anis Amri spent his evenings chasing girls, drinking alcohol and indulging in petty thieving. He had apparently grown apart from the Muslim faith that played a central role in his childhood. But a scrape with the law after making the perilous journey to Europe aged 18 with a group of Syrian refugees saw him embrace religion once again. Relatives yesterday revealed how Europes most wanted man began praying in a possible act of desperation as he spent four years in Italy largely locked up in jail. It was then that his journey into the dark world of extremism is thought to have begun, which led to him fraternising with notorious hate preachers. One of nine children, he grew up on an estate in the small town of Oueslatia in northern Tunisias Kairouan province. Speaking from Tunisia yesterday, the fugitives brother Walid insisted that his sibling was a calm and nice man when he left for Europe in 2011 in search of work. But his behaviour apparently changed after he was jailed in Italy shortly after arriving the following year. We went to mosque when we were younger and then Anis started to drink alcohol when he was a teenager and he had girlfriends, Walid said. My brother changed after he was released from the Italian prison. Before he was drinking and he had a girlfriend, but after he was released his life became secret. He told me when he was in Italy that he was praying again. His lengthy spell in an Italian jail housing mafia bosses and gangsters was for smashing up a migrant centre. Amri, now 24, crossed the border into Germany in July 2015 following his release, and tried to maintain a low profile. He was known to German security officials, who were yesterday forced to reveal how a series of errors allowed him to slip through the net. He was arrested in Germany three times this year alone, local media reported. And despite being refused asylum in July, he was given temporary permission to stay until the end of the year. It is thought the hold-up was because Tunisian officials denied he was a citizen there. Documents proving that he was Tunisian only arrived in Germany yesterday. Amri went by at least six different names and claimed to be from both Egypt and Lebanon. One of his many German homes was an asylum centre in Emmerich, North Rhine-Westphalia, which was yesterday raided by police. His Facebook profile revealed links to Ansar al-Sharia, a Tunisian terror group connected to the 2015 Sousse beach attack that left 38 dead. He is also believed to have known Abu Walaa, an Iraqi fanatic known as the faceless preacher as he has delivered video sermons with his back to the camera. Relatives said they had not heard from Amri for 15 days. Advertisement

The probe centres on the GPS system of the truck may be linked to the mobile telephone of the killer. Fingerprint evidence was also garnered from the cab of the wrecked lorry.

Interior minister Thomas de Maziere this morning shared the optimism of Schulz, claiming that there has been 'real progress' made in the hunt.

Amid claims that police had no idea who they were looking for, prosecutor Holger Munch warned of another significant attack. And interior minister Klaus Bouillon declared Germany was 'in a state of war'.

Within hours of the release of Mr Baluch last night, Islamic State issued its first claim of responsibility for the lorry attack on festive shoppers and revellers.

In a statement, the group's AMAQ news agency said: 'The executor of the operation in Berlin is a soldier of the Islamic state and he executed the operation in response to calls to target nationals of the coalition countries.'

According to Michael Behrendt, crime reporter for Die Welt, Berlin detectives were absolutely at a loss over the attacks. 'The police have no idea who they are looking for,' he said. 'They have no weapon, no DNA traces.' He said officers were studying CCTV footage but that 'until they have any concrete information, it's still completely unclear what they're dealing with'.

As her country began to come to terms with one of its worst ever terror attacks, Mrs Merkel, clad in black, laid a single white rose at the spot where the horror unfolded.

The killer hijacked a juggernaut laden with steel to carry out the attack. The lorry's computer system recorded a series of stop-start manoeuvres 'as if someone was learning how to drive'.

Manhunt: Police are hunting for Europe's most wanted man today after they wasted 18 hours questioning the wrong man

Police stand by a currywurst stand at the scene in the Christmas market where the attacks took place

Residents gathered at the Brandenburg Gate last night, which was lit in the colours of the German flag in tribute to the dead

Remembrance: Lit by candlelight, Mrs Merkel signs a book of condolences at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church last night

A woman formed a cross with candles on the pavement near to where the lorry ploughed into the Christmas market, killing 12

The site of the terror attack in the centre of Berlin was last night transformed into a shrine to those who lost their lives

Horror 2016: These are all the terror attacks carried out on German soil in the past year, claiming the lives of 22 people

At 7pm local time it drove around the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz Square several times, as if to build up speed, before switching off its headlights and charging at 40mph into a crowd.

Victims including children were sent flying like bowling pins and crushed under the 25-ton HGV's wheels. The driver jumped from the cab and raced from the bloodbath.

Berliners continue to flock to the scene where people were killed

Already dead in the cabin was the lorry's driver, Lukasz Urban, a 37-year-old father of one from Poland who had been transporting steel beams to Germany from Italy.

He was found beaten and shot with a single bullet fired from a pistol. His cousin and boss said it was 'really clear that he was fighting for his life'. The gun has not been found.

The attacker was followed by a witness for a mile and a half  updating police on his mobile phone  but who is then said to have lost him in the city's Tiergarten park.

On the basis of the description of the attacker given to police by the witness, officers pounced on Mr Baluch near the park's victory column.

Police celebrated the swift arrest, with spokesman Winfrid Wenzel hailing the 'civic courage' of the witness. But relief later turned to helplessness as the authorities admitted they had been wasting their time with the Pakistani, whose DNA was not in the cab.

Mr Baluch arrived in Germany last New Year's Eve via the Balkans. He was living in a hangar at the old Tempelhof airport in the middle of Berlin, which police commandos raided at 4am yesterday in search of clues and accomplices.

So far, six of the dead have been identified, all German nationals.

One of the other fatalities could be Italian Fabrizia Lorenzo, 31, a transport specialist whose mobile phone and travel pass were found in the crash zone.

Of the wounded, 25 are still in hospital  18 of whom have 'very serious injuries'. Twenty-four others have been discharged. The rest were walking wounded. Last night thousands of mourners including people caught up in the attack held a candlelit vigil at the scene.

Overhead: This is a clear view of the path the lorry took through the now-destroyed Christmas market in central Berlin

Close up: The shattered glass on the windshield of a truck shown after it ploughed through the Christmas market. A wreath and part of a market stall was embedded inside

Carnage: The lorry used to kill a dozen people in Berlin on Monday night was towed away from the scene on Tuesday

Respect: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) lays white roses at the blood-stained scene in Berlin on Tuesday

Brutal: White powder used to soak up blood left by the dead - one witness described a 'rivers of blood' running through the market

Sara Dobler, 26, from Port Talbot in Wales, witnessed the attack, saying: 'One guy was on the floor, lying there trying to get up, but his head injury was quite severe so I just held his hand, told him everything is going to be OK.

'I don't know how he is now but I hope he's OK. It was as if we were in a horror film.

'We tried to get people, mainly families with children, to move away from the area because we didn't want them to see what we saw. It is traumatising.'

German attorney general Peter Frank said it was possible more than one person might be involved.

The atrocity could be a political disaster for Mrs Merkel, who will seek a historic fourth term as chancellor next year. She has staked much of her political capital on opening Germany's doors to refugees.

Speaking yesterday morning, before the suspect had been ruled out, she said that she was 'shocked, shaken and saddened' adding: 'It would be particularly difficult for us to learn that a human being committed this deed who came to Germany to ask for refuge and asylum.'

Horst Seehofer, the minister-president of Bavaria and one of the harshest critics of her open-door asylum policy, caused a storm Tuesday night when he said on TV: 'We owe it to the victims, to those affected and to the whole population to rethink our immigration and security policy and to change it.'

TUNISIAN TRUCK SUSPECT'S DEPORTATION PAPERS ARRIVE TWO DAYS AFTER BERLIN TERROR ATTACK A German regional minister Wednesday accused Tunisia of delaying for months the extradition of a man now wanted over the Berlin market attack, saying required papers had only just arrived, two days after the carnage. The asylum request launched by the man hunted by police, identified by media as Anis Amri had been rejected in June, said Ralf Jaeger, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state. 'But the man could not be deported because he had no valid travel documents,' said Jaeger. 'The procedure for drawing up a document in lieu of a passport was initiated in August, but Tunisia disputed the fact that this person was one of its nationals,' he added. German security sources blamed Tunisian officials for failing to supply documents to allow the deportation of Anis Amri, pictured Amri is the chief suspect in Monday's fatal truck attack in Berlin and a 100,000 reward has been offered for his immediate capture Only after a months-long wait - during which German security services investigated the man for a suspected attack plan - Tunisia came through with the papers, Jaeger told a press conference. Finally, the new Tunisian travel document 'arrived today' in Germany, two days after the Berlin Christmas market attack. Germany has repeatedly accused Tunisia and other Maghreb states of stalling on the repatriation of its nationals from Germany. The subject sparked tensions after the mass sexual assaults in the German city of Cologne, blamed largely on North African and Arab men, last New Year's Eve. Germany this year moved to declare Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco as so-called safe countries of origin, to raise the bar for asylum requests. But the bill has been stuck in the upper house for months over human rights concerns in those nations. Advertisement

There were fresh questions yesterday over whether more could have been done to prevent the attacks.

Europol, the European Union police intelligence agency, warned earlier this month that lone attackers or small cells were plotting mayhem using vehicles as weapons.

Europol also pointed to reports that German authorities were aware of hundreds of attempts by jihadists to recruit refugees.

In November the United States warned its citizens it had 'credible information' that the Christmas markets were a target, while in the UK, the Foreign Office revised its travel advice earlier this month saying there was a 'high threat from terrorism' in Germany.

Islamic State militants had even published a terror manual last month containing instructions on using a lorry to inflict maximum carnage.

Their chilling Rumiyah magazine said using a vehicle was one of the most successful ways of 'harvesting' large numbers of non-believers.

Yet in Berlin, no concrete bollards were in place to protect revellers, with the authorities saying it would be wrong to turn the famous markets into 'fortresses'.

The victims are being cared for in a number of hospitals in the capital. Rene Kochel, 52, is in the Auguste-Viktoria-Clinic where he is being treated for a leg injury.

'I remember buying a mulled wine for a colleague when truck was practically upon us,' he said. 'I remember seeing the wheel of the lorry and me an my female friend managed to jump to one side. The wine stall was demolished and we managed to scrabble away from the wreckage.'

Lukasz Urban (pictured), a 37-year-old father-of-one, was killed in the carnage that saw a 25-tonne truck career through Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Square, which killed 12 and injured dozens more

Fabrizia Lorenzo, pictured, 30, is a transport specialist working in Berlin but her cousin said they had not heard from her since last night

Terror attack chain of events: The polish lorry was hijacked when it arrived in Berlin and hours later was driven through Christmas market crowds. The main suspect was pursued on foot and arrested - but it appears he is the wrong man. Police also raided the hangar he lives in with other asylum seekers at the Tempelhof airport

A young student from Spain survived the terror with multiple broken bones but his life intact.

Inaki E. from Bilbao was at the Christmas market with three female friends when the truck-terrorist struck. Inaki, 21, an Erasmus student, was walking with his pals when the lorry hit the shoppers and the flimsy Christmas huts.

He remembers the lorry shedding a tyre before he was struck. The Berlin School of Economics and Law student suffered multiple fractures - a broken leg in three places and broken bones in his foot.

He underwent emergency surgery Monday night. He was due to travel home on Thursday but is confined to hospital. His parents have travelled to Berlin to be at his bedside as he recovers.

His mum told Germany's BILD newspaper: 'Mentally he is coping well. He said when he lay on the ground waiting for the rescuers he had not really taken in everything that was happening.

'The girls took it much worse than him even though they were not hurt. We have had to cancel his flight home, we do not know how long he will be here.'

The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, said that an Israeli was wounded in the attack, a man in his middle 60's who suffered a serious hip injury and needed emergency surgery.

But there is no sign of his wife who was with him and he hopes she is in a hospital somewhere in Berlin.

'But we cannot rule out that she might be among the dead,' he said.
It's put forward by the man who said we're facing an 'information catastrophe'

New law of physics supports the concept we're living in a computer simulation

In the blockbuster movie The Matrix, protagonist Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, discovers we're living in a simulated reality hundreds of years from now.

While many of us take comfort in the fact this concept is consigned to science fiction, a researcher claims it may actually be true.

Melvin Vopson, an associate professor in physics at the University of Portsmouth, claims we may be characters in an advanced virtual world.

He claims that the physical behaviour of information in our universe resembles the process of a computer deleting or compressing code  a clue that perhaps the machines hope we don't notice.

Professor Vopson has already warned of an impending 'information catastrophe', when we run out of energy to sustain huge amounts of digital information.

In the blockbuster movie The Matrix, protagonist Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, discovers we're living in a simulated reality hundreds of years from now. By the end of the film, Neo is able to see the simulated world for what it is - computer code (pictured)

READ MORE Professor warns of 'information catastrophe' This 'information catastrophe' will mark the point at which the maximum possible digital information has been created Advertisement

'My studies point to a bizarre and interesting possibility that we don't live in an objective reality and that the entire universe might be just a super advanced virtual reality simulation,' Professor Vopson said.

Last year, the academic  from Romania  established a new law of physics, called the 'second law of information dynamics' to explain how information behaves.

His law establishes that the 'entropy', or disorder, in a system of information decreases rather than increases.

This new law came as somewhat of a surprise, because it's the opposite of the second law of thermodynamics established in the 1850s, which explains why we cannot unscramble an egg or why a glass cannot unbreak itself.

As it turns out, the second law of infodynamics explains the behaviour of information in a way that the old law cannot.

'The second law of infodynamics requires the minimisation of the information content associated with any event or process in the universe,' he told MailOnline.

'To put it simply, everything appears to evolve to an equilibrium state where the information content is minimal.

This image visualises the second law of thermodynamics from the 1850s. This old law establishes that entropy  a measure of disorder in an isolated system  can only increase or stay the same. In contrast, the second law of infodynamics establishes that entropy decreases

The simulated universe hypothesis proposes that what humans experience is actually an artificial reality, much like a computer simulation, in which they themselves are constructs. It formed the basis for the 1999 film The Matrix starring Reeves (pictured)

Are we living in a simulated reality? Professor Melvin Vopson at the University of Portsmouth thinks it's possible (file photo)

The second law of thermodynamics One of the most powerful laws is the second law of thermodynamics, which establishes that entropy (a measure of disorder in an isolated system) can only increase or stay the same, but it will never decrease. This is an undisputed law linked to the arrow of time, which shows that time only goes one way. It flows in a single direction and can't go backwards. The law explains why we cannot unscramble an egg or why a glass cannot unbreak itself. Professor Vopson had expected that the entropy in information systems, such as bits of data, would also increase over time. But on examining the evolution of these systems he realised it remains constant or decreases. That's when he established the second law of information dynamics, or infodynamics in 2022. In a nutshell, the second law of information dynamics (2022) states that entropy (disorder) deceases over time. Advertisement

'Such behaviour is fully reminiscent of the rules deployed in programming languages and computer coding.

'Simulating a super complex universe like ours would require a built-in data optimisation and compression mechanism in order to reduce the computational power and the data storage requirements to run the simulation.

'This is exactly what we are observing via empirical evidence all around us, including in digital data, biological systems, atomistic systems, mathematical symmetries, and the entire universe.

'This is what the second law of infodynamics reveals, so one logical conclusion is that, while not giving a definite proof, it surely underpins the simulated universe theory.'

According to Professor Vopson, symmetry that we observe in the everyday world, such as butterflies or flowers or starfish, supports the simulation theory.

His findings demonstrate that high symmetry corresponds to the lowest information entropy state, potentially explaining nature's inclination towards it.

'All biological life presents some form of symmetry, all solids and crystals have symmetries, the laws of physics, etc,' he told MailOnline.

'The universe has this built-in mechanism to optimize the computation of everything.

'Symmetry is the best way of optimising or rendering the digitally constructed world and this is why we have symmetries everywhere rather than asymmetries.'

The simulation theory is not unique to Professor Vopson; in fact, it's popular among a number of well-known figures including Tesla founder Elon Musk.

It comes within a branch of science known as information physics, which suggests physical reality is fundamentally made up of bits of information.

He thinks the prevalence of symmetry in the universe (pictured) can be explained by the second law of infodynamics

Vopson wants to experimentally verify that information bits have mass, which he extrapolated to forecast in 225 years will be half of Earth's mass

Bits are the basic unit of information that power computing and digital communications, including streaming services such as Netflix.

Professor Vopson has already gained attention for his stunning proclamations in the field of physics.

He's already said that information should be considered the fifth state of matter, following solid, liquid, gas and plasma.

This principle has 'attracted a fair share of skepticism', the academic admits, as most scientists consider the fifth state of matter instead to be BoseEinstein condensate.

He even claims that information has mass and so could be the elusive dark matter that makes up almost a third of the universe.

And he warned that the number of digital bits will overtake the number of atoms on Earth within 150 years, leading to 'information catastrophe'.

This will mark the point at which the maximum possible digital information has been created, as well as the maximum power at which to sustain it.

His study has been published in AIP Advances.
Elon Musk has introduced yet another change that makes using X (formerly Twitter) for free more difficult.

Users now have the option to lock their responses to users paying for the 11/month ($7.99/month) Twitter Blue subscription.

In a post on X, the social media site's official account explained how 'you can now limit replies to verified users' and shared a picture of the new option in action.

Upon making a post, users are now given the option to limit who can reply - with options for everyone, verified accounts, accounts you follow, or only accounts you mention.

While Musk says that this feature is intended to limit the number of bots on the platform, many site users are skeptical.

X's official account posted the announcement stating that users would now be able to limit replies to only users who paid for Twitter Blue verification

Elon Musk has previously said that making X (formerly Twitter) a paid service is the only way to reduce the number of bots on the platform

READ MORE: Twitter quietly makes a HUGE change to the platform - and users are absolutely baffled by the update Advertisement

Users of the social media platform have raised their concerns that the site is becoming increasingly unwelcome to non-paying users.

'How long before "only" verified accounts can reply at all?' asked one irate commenter.

Another wrote that 'it's going to be very hard to be on this platform without a verified badge.'

While one commenter joked: 'Can we limit them to exclude verified users?'

Others accused Musk of silencing or censoring users who would not or could not afford to pay for Twitter Blue.

'This is censoring people who don't pay', one user said, while another said they would not be 'silencing my followers/friends who aren't verified.'

Elon Musk, a self-described 'free speech absolutist' has previously courted controversy with his attempts to balance free expression against the risk of spam and harassment.

Commenters on X have accused Musk of censoring those who could not pay for verification and raised concerns that the site might become more hostile to free users

In August, these changes caused an uproar as X announced plans to axe the 'block' feature, removing users' ability to avoid harassment and spam from other users.

This move sparked serious concerns that many users would be subjected to increased levels of abuse on the platform with no way of restricting the comments of others.

X's current official policy on free speech is 'freedom of speech not freedom of reach'.

'On Twitter people are free to be their true selves. Everyday, we work to preserve free speech on Twitter, while equally maintaining the health of our platform', an official statement from X says.

Upon taking over Twitter, Musk announced he would 'defeat the spam bots' and has said that this move will hopefully reduce bot activity

X users pointed out that a number of the bot accounts involved in spam do actually have verified status and therefore would not be affected by the changes

In a post made early this morning, Musk said: 'This should help a lot with spam bots'.

Upon purchasing Twitter in October last year, Musk made tackling the bot problem one of his key priorities, claiming that if he won the bid he would 'defeat the spam bots or die trying.'

While estimates vary, researchers generally suggest that bots currently make up somewhere around 10 per cent of accounts on the site.

Cybra, a tech company which uses artificial intelligence to verify accounts, suggested that 11 per cent of all accounts on the site in 2022 were bots, Insider reported.

In response, Musk has suggested making Twitter a paid platform to cut down on the number of spam bots.

Musk announced the plans as part of an interview with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the subject of antisemitism on the platform.

'I'd say the single most important reason we're moving towards having a small monthly payment for use of the X system is that it's the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots,' Musk said.

However, a number of X users were quick to doubt this claim, pointing out that many of the bots which populate the platform do have verified status and so would be unaffected by the changes.

'Many bots and scammers are verified though', one user commented, while another said: 'I get spammed all day with accounts that have blue check marks.'
Some scientists are already concerned that bird flu could be the next pandemic

Gene editing proof-of-concept is designed to prevent spread between chickens

Gene editing techniques could stop the spread of bird flu among chickens and reduce the risk of it making the jump to humans, a new study shows.

British scientists have used CRISPR-Cas9, a powerful gene-editing tool, to restrict  but not completely block  the bird flu virus from infecting chickens.

Introducing lab-grown, gene-edited chickens to farms could curb the spread of the disease, which has cost the UK poultry industry more than 100 million.

Although the team's method is only designed to prevent bird flu spreading from chicken to chicken, it could also reduce the risk of chicken-to-human transmissions.

Only in rare instances do strains of bird flu  also known as avian influenza  pass to humans, although experts are concerned that an outbreak could be the next big pandemic.

The ongoing UK bird flu outbreak - caused by the H5N1 strain - has seen up to one million birds struck down by the virus

Scientists edited the ANP32A gene in chicken germ cells (precursors of reproductive cells) to restrict bird flu. They found that fully-grown chickens were resistant to a dose of the virus

What is gene editing? Genome editing enables scientists to make changes to DNA, leading to changes in physical traits. Scientists use different technologies to do this. These technologies act like scissors, cutting the DNA at a specific spot. Then scientists can remove, add, or replace the DNA where it was cut. The first genome editing technologies were developed in the late 1900s. More recently, a new genome editing tool called CRISPR, invented in 2009, has made it easier than ever to edit DNA. Source: US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Advertisement

The new research was led by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and the Pirbright Institute in Surrey.

'Bird flu is a great threat to bird populations,' said principal investigator Professor Mike McGrew, from the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute.

'Vaccination against the virus poses a number of challenges, with significant practical and cost issues associated with vaccine deployment.

'Gene editing offers a promising route towards permanent disease resistance, which could be passed down through generations, protecting poultry and reducing the risks to humans and wild birds.'

Gene editing alters an organism's DNA in ways that could be inherited by subsequent generations.

Several gene-editing techniques allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome, the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell.

For the project, the scientists used the renowned genome editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, which is used for making precise edits in DNA.

CRISPR-Cas9 has been likened to a pair of genetic scissors, allowing for tiny snippets of DNA to be removed and replaced.

CRISPR is a DNA-editing technique in which scientists can programme a molecule to target and 'snip' a specific section or element of someone's genetic material (file photo, not to scale)

READ MORE UK should be preparing for bird flu pandemic The ongoing UK bird flu outbreak, caused by the H5N1 strain, has seen up to one million birds struck down by the virus Advertisement

They edited the section of DNA responsible for producing a protein called ANP32A in chicken germ cells (precursors of reproductive cells).

During an infection, flu viruses hijack ANP32A to help replicate themselves.

Once fully grown in the lab, 10 gene-edited chickens were exposed to a normal dose of a strain of the virus that causes bird flu.

Researchers found that the vast majority of chickens  nine out of 10  remained uninfected and there was no spread to other chickens.

The birds showed no signs that the change in their DNA had any impact on their health or egg-laying, according to the team.

To further test the birds' resilience, the scientists then exposed the gene-edited birds to a much higher dose of the virus.

When exposed to the high dose, half of the group  five out of 10 birds  became infected, although the gene edit did provide some protection.

They found the amount of virus in the infected gene-edited chickens was much lower than the level typically seen during infection in non-gene-edited chickens.

Crucially, the gene edit also helped to limit onward spread of the virus to just one of four normal, non-gene-edited chickens placed in the same incubator.

This highlights the potential of the edit to stop the spread of bird flu amongst normal non-edited populations of chickens.

As expected, there was no transmission from a gene-edited bird to another gene-edited bird.

Left, a normal hen and right, a gene-edited hen from the experiments. The authors say: 'Chickens genetically resistant to avian influenza could prevent future outbreaks'

Bird flu is a major global threat, with a devastating impact in both farmed and wild bird populations. In the UK alone, the current outbreak of H5N1 bird flu has decimated seabird populations and cost the poultry industry more than 100 million in losses. Pictured, a National Trust ranger clears dead birds from Staple Island, Northumberland, in July 2022

Researchers say additional genetic changes would be needed for the virus to infect and spread effectively in humans, brought on by mutations.

Currently, no human-to-human transmission has yet been detected in the UK, but some Brits have tested positive for the disease.

Professor James Wood at the University of Cambridge's veterinary medicine department said the new work demonstrates 'significant but not absolute resistance of chickens to bird flu'.

'This study provides an important proof of principle for the genetic control of avian influenza and its transmission between chickens,' said Professor Wood, who was not involved with the study.

'[It] provides important proof of principle of the utility of utilising gene editing in introducing genetic resistance to disease caused by influenza in farmed animals.

'The use of gene edited, disease resistant chickens in farming would be an exciting advance, and the pyramidal structure of the global poultry industry could allow rapid introduction of these influenza resistant chickens across many countries and continents.

'Findings would need first to be demonstrated on a larger scale before introduction into commercial farming.'

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
While they are criticized, experts have revealed reasons for this enthusiasm

Disney Adults are childless people who are obsessed with the brand and parks

Crowds of childless individuals storm the gates of the Magic Kingdom each day, dressed as their favorite characters and ready to spend thousands of dollars.

These so-called Disney adults have become somewhat of an enigma, but there is a science behind this group's obsession with the 'happiest place on Earth.'

Psychologists investigating this fandom found it could stem from personal trauma, a way to revive core memories or a sense of belonging.

These so-called Disney adults have become somewhat of an enigma, but there is a science behind this group's obsession with the 'happiest place on Earth'

The concept for Disneyland began when Walt Disney watched his two daughters, Diane and Sharon, ride the carousel at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

At that moment, he envisioned a place where adults and their children could go and have fun together.

Some Disney Adults find a haven inside the walls of the Magic Kingdom.

Many see the travel destination as an experience of a childhood they never had, a way to allow their inner child to flourish in a safe environment.

A woman named Susan shared her story on a Disney discussion forum regarding how she suffered trauma but felt saved when she first visited the park.

She went to Disney World at age 19 and recalled watching the 'Wishes' show at the Magic Kingdom.

'This was at a point where I was really suicidal and didn't feel like there was anything left to hope for. I hadn't even really wanted to go to Disney World,' Susan shared.

'Just being there, surrounded by all that magic and hope, and being surrounded by all these things that appeal to childhood and belief in your dreams, it made me feel like there was this child inside me who just wanted to be able to alive again.'

She continued to explain how now, as an adult, she 'trips whenever money allows' and misses the park when she is not able to.

'No horrible relatives or abusers will bump into me there, and it's okay there to want to be a kid again and to think of childhood in a happy light,' Susan concluded.

The concept for Disneyland began when Walt Disney watched his two daughters, Diane and Sharon, ride the carousel at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. At that moment, he envisioned a place where adults and their children could go and have fun together

A Reddit user shared their reason for being a Disney Adult in a post that reads: '[I was a] poor kid who grew up and decided that they wanted to finally take their money to the place they could never go as a kid.'

READ MORE: We spent $3,758 in ONE DAY at Disney World - it was 'daylight robbery' Summer Reign Henning made a video breaking down the costs throughout the day and captioned it: 'Robbery in broad daylight and we still have two more parks to go.' Advertisement

Melissa Tierney, another so-called Disney adult, has turned her passion for its magic into a career as an influencer.

She told Bustle she owns more than 400 pairs of Mickey Mouse ears, and according to her Instagram, Mickey and Minnie were honored guests at her wedding, which was held at the Orlando location.

'There are a lot of Disney adults I'm friends with who had really rough childhoods,' Tierney told Bustle.

'Disney is like an outlet for them to feel like they're having the childhood they didn't get to have.'

But Tierany's obsession does not stem from a rough childhood but a magical one.

'I grew up with Disney because my parents loved bringing us there. Those are my fondest vacation memories,' she said.

A Reddit user had a similar upbringing that led to them falling in love with Disney.

'Im a Disney-Lifer. Grew up in Florida, went for almost every school holiday, my dad and his family worked there (my grandma was the opening/first manager for the Disney store in the Orlando airport and my dad still works there), my husband and I watched a Disney movie on our first date and went for our honeymoon, our guest room is Disney themed, and we used to go every year,' users 'MrsCaptainFail' shared.

Psychologist Jaime Zuckerman told Bustle: '[Disney parks are] one of the few places you can go back to,' she said. 'You can actually recreate that nostalgic feeling within your control.'

Studies have shown rewards associated with nostalgia, such as optimism, more robust social bonds, reduced anxiety and improved mood.

And people return to see if they can obtain those feelings repeatedly.

Sometimes, Disney Adults do not take their obsession to the parks but to events to meet others with the same enthusiasm.

There are meet-ups across the US specifically for people who love the Magic Kingdom and even online groups, one called Fellowship of the Mouse, which lets people schedule going to the parks in a group.
Utah has become the third US state to file a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming the app knowingly made addicts out of the state's children.

Utah officials alleged that 'the social media giant illegally baits children into addictive and unhealthy use, misrepresents the app's safety,' and deceptively portrays itself as independent of its China-based parent company.'

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox announced the suit Tuesday, joining Indiana and Arkansas which have made similar allegations.

The lawsuit seeks to force TikTok to change its 'destructive behavior' while imposing fines and penalties to fund education efforts and otherwise address the damage done to Utah children.

Officials are also seeking a digital curfew for minors, requiring parental consent to sign up for social media apps and forcing companies to verify the ages of all their Utah users.

However, not all Americans are on board with a TikTok ban and agree with the social media platform that such a law violates their freedom of expression.

Utah officials alleged that 'the social media giant illegally baits children into addictive and unhealthy use, misrepresents the app's safety,' and deceptively portrays itself as independent of its China-based parent company'

And tech companies would be required to grant parents access to their children's accounts, including private messages.

A TikTok spokesperson told DailyMail.com: '"TikTok has industry-leading safeguards for young people, including an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts.

'We will continue to work to keep our community safe by tackling industry-wide challenges.'

Officials said that TikTok's 'conduct' in the state is concerning because it has the largest percentage of children per capita in the nation - more than 27 percent of Utahans are under 18.

'We will no longer tolerate TikTok misleading parents that its app is safe for children,' said Gov. Cox. 'Social media companies must be held responsible for the harm they are causing.

'The experts  from the U.S. Surgeon General and behavioral science researchers to parents and teens  all agree that social media is affecting our children's mental health, and it's time to intervene.'

Utah officials alleged that 'the social media giant illegally baits children into addictive and unhealthy use, misrepresents the app's safety,' and deceptively portrays itself as independent of its China-based parent company ByteDance.'

TikTok's goal, the lawsuit states, in converting so many youngsters into addicts is to convert their attention 'into advertising dollars.'

The Utah lawsuit is similar to an action brought against TikTok by Indiana in December. That case is pending in state court.

Arkansas sued TikTok and Facebook-parent Meta in March 'for pushing addictive platforms.'

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox announced the suit Tuesday, joining Indiana and Arkansas which have made similar allegations

On Thursday, a judge will hear arguments in TikTok's lawsuit seeking to block Montana's first-of-its-kind state ban on TikTok before it takes effect January 1.

Montana's legislature approved legislation to ban TikTok, citing spying concerns.

However, TikTok countersued the state in May for its state-wide ban of its app, claiming it violates its First Amendment rights.

READ MORE: TikTok is like a 'candy store' full of 'immediate pleasure' for child users, Oxford University ethicist warns There are mounting concerns over how these platforms, which host videos typically lasting just 15 seconds, impact youngsters developing brains. Advertisement

Montana is the first state to attempt to ban TikTok - a maneuver that has already resulted in multiple federal suits alleging unjust censorship - despite Bejing's own appalling free speech record.

But many Americans say banning a social media platform is fundamentally un-American.

Gavin Dees, a TikToker with over one million followers but would not disclose how much money he makes, told DailyMail.com: 'Fighting for TikTok is not fighting for an app. It's fighting for the right to speak.

'It's fighting for even people I may not fully believe the same way. I believe in your right to believe that and to speak about that so. And TikTok allows for that in a way we've never seen.'

However, on the other side of the aisle are those who favor the ban - A CBS poll in March showed 61 percent of adults want to see the app disappear.

'I think, as far as Congress, the privacy issue is valid,' Dees said.

'But my problem with the whole thing, what made me feel some way about it, as we're assuming that TikTok, or this company [ByteDance], is acting in a way that other platforms aren't, like Twitter and Facebook.

'Things [about Twitter and Facebook] have been proven, so now, the hypocrisy is that you don't care about privacy.

'[Congress cares] about something deeper about this platform, even though you may be talking like here about privacy and data, and all of this different stuff, like there's other platforms that have been doing this for years decade.'

Dees also said that while the narrative of TikTok is it is a child's app, at least 60 percent of his followers are over 34.
As they come to terms with the aftermath of Super Soap Week, Emmerdale fans are set for another week of drama in the village.

Lydia and Sam Dingle's marriage is in crisis as she continues to push him away following her rape ordeal, but a supportive word from Rhona helps her slowly begin to move forward.

The Sharma family are in crisis after the arrival of Suni's father Amit, leading to a tense dinner.

And David decides to kickstart a new quest to find love by sending a message to one of his dating app matches.

Here's everything you need to know about next week's drama in the village...

Sam struggles

Ordeal: Sam's gutted when Lydia turns down his offer of spending the day together and he's left unsure of how to handle things

Sam's gutted when Lydia turns down his offer of spending the day together and he's left unsure of how to handle things.

As Lydia is insistent on cleaning the house, Sam's feeling lost and helpless, scared to touch his traumatised wife.

Lydia's immediately on edge when a police officer arrives to update her. Sam's angry and Lydia struggles to hide her disappointment when the officer tells them Craig has been released pending further investigation.

Later, Sam, who's a shadow of himself, sits alone. When Rhona passes, Sam's desperate to unburden and invites her home.

Rhona helps Lydia move forward

Ordeal: Supportive Rhona sits with her as tentative Lydia unburdens

At home, despondent Lydia looks through the crisis leaflets. Nervous Sam arrives with a concerned Rhona.

Supportive Rhona sits with her as tentative Lydia unburdens.

Tormented Sam listens in, furious that Craig may go unpunished.

Later that week, Cain supports struggling Sam and with Cain in his ear, Sam's left wondering whether he can bring Craig to justice?

Sam is full of admiration and sympathy as Lydia returns from her counselling session, and their love is undeniable - can the couple move forward?

Tensions grow at the Sharmas

Oh dear! The Sharma family are in crisis after the arrival of Suni's father Amit, leading to a tense dinner

Amit is secretly pleased when Suni asks him to stay in the country but Suni's incredulous with Amit's attempts to emotionally blackmail him and Suni's conflicted when a comforting Nicky asks what's wrong. Nicky's agog as Suni offloads.

Suni wants the whole thing to go away as a dumbfounded Nicky listens to Amit's secret. Later, Jai's wary of Amit as he recalls old tales.

Suni's prickling with unease as Amit tries to play happy families with them all.

The next day, Suni's worried to know Caleb and Amit are due to have dinner, whilst Nicky's nervous as he and Caleb head up to Holdgate.

Caleb and Amit size each other up as they meet for dinner as Nicky and Suni exchange looks, hoping certain things won't come out.

Caleb, Suni, Amit and Nicky eat together and as they discuss their respective sons, there's some bristling between Amit and Caleb.

Nicky's taken aback when Amit questions his relationship with Gabby and the atmosphere turns icy as Caleb and Nicky make a hasty exit.

Suni is less than pleased with his father, while Caleb's intrigued when Nicky hints at Amit having skeletons in his closet - what does he know?

And elsewhere in the village...

Who is it? And David decides to kickstart a new quest to find love by sending a message to one of his dating app matches

Amelia gets upset when she reads a birthday card from Dan. Belle senses something is off with a subdued Tom.

With encouragement from Pollard and Jacob, David reluctantly messages one of his dating app matches - who will he find?

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Williams's life is put under the microscope in Vice TV's Dark Side of Comedy

The late actor struggled with substance abuse in the late 1970s and early 1980s

Robin Williams' friends have recalled his scarily erratic behavior at the height of his cocaine addiction  revealing that that the late actor couldn't go on stage and preform without drugs.

Williams  who died by suicide in August 2014, aged 63  battled substance abuse issues as he was starting out his career in the late 1970s and early 1980s before being shocked into going sober following the death of his friend John Belushi from a fatal overdose in 1982.

Williams' life is put under the microscope in the second season of Vice TV's Dark Side of Comedy, and his friends have shared jaw-dropping anecdotes from his battle with narcotics.

According to longtime friend and comic Allan Stephan, Williams wasn't able to take to the stage without snorting cocaine.

Robin Williams couldn't perform in front of audiences without cocaine, friends claim

The actor, pictured in 1978, battled substance abuse issues at the beginning of his career

Speaking in Vice TV's new documentary series, friends Allan Stephan (left) and Mike Binder (right) detailed their experiences with Williams and his addiction

Recalling one particular conversation with the late actor, Stephan remembered: 'He said, "Know anyone with any blow? I have to go on and I can't go on without any blow."

'And I sat down and I said, "I'm going to help you". He said, "Do you have blow on you?" I said "No, are you out of your f*****g mind? You're Robin Williams." And after that, I don't think he would get high when he had it before.'

Friend Mike Binder, a fellow comic and filmmaker shared a similar story.

'One night we went to a place called Flippers Discotheque in Hollywood, and I had like a gram of coke,' he said.

Upon learning there was cocaine floating around, Mike recalled how Williams had said 'ooh let me take that' and 'do you mind if I hit that in the bathroom?'

'He came back and it was empty,' Mike said. 'It was like, woah. It was like 8:15pm at night. I was like, "Robin, you did the whole gram?" He was like, "It was an accident, I'm sorry."'

'With drugs, he was a monster,' Mike added.

Williams' drug and alcohol problems first arose while he was starring in Mork & Mindy.

Director Howard Storm detailed Williams' cocaine use in the biography Robin, by New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff, revealing that he would show up to set looking like 'a wreck'.

He wrote: 'He hadn't slept all night. He was snorting coke, and if you snort coke, in order to come down you drink booze. He was out all night and screwing everybody in town.'

Williams' drug addiction began while he was starring in Mork and Mindy in the late 1970s

The comedian (seen in 2013) entered rehab twice in his life - once in 2006 and again shortly before his death in 2014

However, Williams stopped doing cocaine following the death of Saturday Night Live comedian Belushi, who overdosed on a lethal combination of heroin and cocaine, in March 5, 1992.

The night before Belushi's death, Williams had been partying with the star at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

'The Belushi tragedy was frightening,' he told People in 1988.

'His death scared a whole group of showbusiness people. It caused a big exodus from drugs. And for me, there was the baby coming. I knew I couldn't be a father and live that sort of life.'

Williams spent the next two decades sober, before relapsing with alcohol in 2005.

He sought treatment for his addiction in rehab in 2006, before later returning, one month before his death in August 2014.

Williams did not have any illegal drugs or alcohol in his system when he committed suicide, the coroner's report confirmed in November 2014.

It was also revealed at the time that the actor had been struggling with a recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, as well as anxiety, paranoia, and depression.

The legendary comic battled paranoia, according to the coroner's report, and the night before he died, he placed several wristwatches in a sock and gave them to someone because he was worried about their safe keeping.

'On August 11, 2014 the Marin County Sheriffs Office Investigations and Coroner Divisions began investigations into the death of Robin McLaurin Williams who had been pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm at 95 St. Thomas Way in unincorporated Tiburon, California,' the report read.

Williams left behind three children, including a daughter, Zelda (pictured together in 2009)

In 2021, Williams' son Zak (pictured) opened up about his father's battle with drink and drugs, explaining that he himself began experiencing similar issues with his mental health

'The investigations into Mr. Williams death have concluded with the Coroner Division issuing the following findings: Cause of Death: Asphyxia due to Hanging, Manner of Death: Suicide.

'Toxicological evaluation revealed the absence of alcohol or illicit drug. Prescription medications were detected in therapeutic concentrations.'

The report says the last outgoing call from Robin's phone was at 7.08 PM the night before he died. He had called his wife Susan, and it lasted 38 seconds.

In 2021, Williams' son Zak opened up about his father's battle with drink and drugs, explaining that he himself began experiencing similar issues with his mental health, which prompted him to turn to various illegal substances.

'I had obsessive compulsive disorder - having to count out certain actions before I went to bed at night, obsessing over things. I didn't sleep very much as a kid,' he said in Prince Harry and Oprah's Apple TV+ documentary on mental health.

'I had really bad insomnia, a lot of energy and a racing mind and I inherited that to some degree.'

Explaining how that lead to drug abuse, he continued: 'As an adolescent I found using alcohol and drugs helped me calm my mind.

'It became a very normal experience to rely on them and things like that to manage the racing mind.

'I started to realize elements of myself that were like [my dad]. My anxiety, my bouts of depression, OCD, drugs, drinking like him.

'When I wasn't self-medicating, things felt completely overwhelming for me. And it just became part of my identity to get through the day.'
She was born a Balinese princess and is the ex wife of Olympic swimmer Michael Klim.

But Lindy Klim was given no royal treatment during the gripping season premiere of SAS Australia on Monday night.

The Australian-Indonesian model, 45, repeatedly complained about the living conditions inside the camp and her wellbeing, all while boasting about her royal status.

'I literally come from the royal family in Bali,' Lindy bragged to the cameras.

During episode one of the gruelling reality show, the Fig Femme founder complained non-stop about battling allergies and using the camp's 'primitive' facilities while menstruating.

'Oh my god. I've got my period, I've got allergies. This is just great,' she said sarcastically.

'There's no toilet paper... I don't know where to put my used pads.'

Lindy later complained to the cameras about the conditions of the camp, listing everything she hates about the site.

Lindy Klim was given no royal treatment during the gripping season premiere of SAS Australia on Monday night

'I hate public toilets. I hate camping. I hate being dirty,' she said.

'Being with complete strangers, hate that. I've never even had a flatmate.'

'And then you've got, you know, just my physical body,' she continued. 'I don't think physically, I'm not strong. Like I know I'm not.'

Lindy resides in Bali, but shares custody of her three children with her ex-husband, former Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, who lives in Australia.

The Australian-Indonesian model, 45, repeatedly complained about the living conditions inside the camp and her wellbeing, while boasting about her royal status

'I hate public toilets. I hate camping. I hate being dirty,' she later complained to the cameras

She was married to the Olympian for nearly a decade before they split acrimoniously six years ago.

The Klims announced their separation in February 2016, with Lindy previously describing the split as 'painful' and 'traumatic'.

However, the exes have since put their differences aside and now share what Lindy describes as an 'incredible' relationship.

She is now married to property developer Adam Ellis. The pair wed in August 2018, a year after they welcomed daughter Goldie.

Lindy was born a Balinese princess and grew up in the palace before moving to Tasmania with her mother.

Her uncle, Ida Cokorde Pamecutan XI, was the king of Denpasar.

SAS Australia continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven and 7Plus
Anna McEvoy has revealed her health battle after contracting a UTI which morphed into a kidney infection and sepsis.

The Love Island winner, 31, took to TikTok on Monday to explain to fans she had been battling poor health, which has seen her admitted to hospital twice.

Explaining the situation, Anna said: 'I got a UTI [urinary tract infection], I went on antibiotics for seven days and I had bad pain in my side that was getting progressively worse in my left flank, in my back and moving to my front.'

Anna said on day seven, the pain become unbearable with her seeing a doctor who ordered a CT scan, thinking she had kidney stones.

'[I] went and got the scan, said there's no kidney stones, and I think because that was a dead end, I had a bit of a freak out, especially because the pain was so bad,' she said.

Love Island's Anna McEvoy, 31, was rushed to hospital with a kidney infection and sepsis after a battling a simple UTI as she now faces surgery to correct a kidney infection. Pictured

The pain got increasingly worse, with Anna admitted to hospital.

'They gave me lots of antibiotics and hydration. I discharged myself from hospital, thinking I'd get a good night's sleep,' Anna said.

However, after going home it just made the condition worsen.

'[That's when] I woke up, I was shaking uncontrollably, my lips had turned blue, the pain was excruciating,' Anna said.

Anna revealed the story on a Tik-Tok, saying after multiple trips to the hospital they found sheh has either a cyst or abscess, which doctors are treating with a long schedule of antibiotics

The reality TV winner went on to say that's when she was suffering from 'very low blood pressure' and 'had the shakes'.

She was taken to hospital and was told she had a kidney infection which then transformed into sepsis.

After being discharged Anna was given another two CT scans, including one involving injecting dye into her veins.

Anna has been in and out for hospital for the last few weeks, with doctors trying to determine what was causing her high inflammation and pain

Doctors found an 'infected cyst or abscess', which was partially responsible for causing most of the health issues.

A cyst is an abnormal pocket of fluid, like a blister, that can form in many different areas of the body including the skin, genitals and internal organs.

An abscess is a collection of pus inside the body, usually from an infection

Anna is now being treated with a 'long course of antibiotics', but failing that will need an operation to treat the cyst.

Anna revealed she was at Sandringham hospital yesterday getting blood tests. Pictured

Anna shared a photo of Michael taking her flowers to make sure she feels better. Pictured

'They mentioned they might need to put a needle in my kidney to remove some of the puss. Worst case scenario is to go under [to remove it],' she said.

Anna said she was still dealing with the pain, which could take a while to subside.

'As of now, I still have pain. But they did say the pain might take a while to go,' she said of the continuing complications.

Now that she's back at home, Anna did thank everyone for reaching out.

She went Instagram official with Michael Staples, a Group Business Manager at Channel Nine, in September 2021. Both pictured

Anna rose to fame on season two of Love Island Australia in 2019 and won the show with Josh Packham, but they split in December 2020.

She now hosts a podcast 'Where's Your Head At?' alongside Matt Zukowski.

She went Instagram official with Michael Staples, a Group Business Manager at Channel Nine, in September 2021.
Miranda Kerr has shared the sage advice she received from her grandmother about how to keep a man happy.

The Australian supermodel, 40, candidly discussed her private life during an interview with The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Tuesday after recently announcing she is pregnant with her fourth child.

During the chat, Miranda was quizzed about her romance with Snapchat founder husband Evan Spiegel, with co-host Kyle Sandilands cheekily asking whether she wears her famous Victoria's Secret angel wings in the bedroom.

'I haven't tried it,' the brunette laughed, adding: 'You know, it's never too late. My grandma always says, 'You've got to keep it spicy'.'

'She always says, 'Men are visual', so I might have to try that,' she added.

Miranda Kerr, 40, has admitted her grandmother once told her to 'make more of an effort' to look sexy for ex-husband Orlando Bloom, 46, before their split. Pictured together in 2011

Miranda went on to recall the moment her grandmother shared the same advice while she was still married to ex-husband Orlando Bloom, 46.

'I just remember, I was pregnant with Flynn [her son with Orlando], at the time... I wasn't putting makeup on. I was just chilling in my sweatpants,' Miranda began.

'And my nan's like, 'Come on Miranda, just make a little bit of effort. Put a little something on your face. You know, men are visual,'' she mused.

The Australian supermodel, who is married to Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel (right), candidly discussed her private life during an interview with The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Tuesday after recently announcing she is pregnant with her fourth child

Sandilands cheekily interjected: 'Your nan was right because that whole relationship ended!' as Miranda burst into laughter.

Miranda and Orlando were married between 2010 and 2013, and amicably co-parent their son Flynn, 12.

In May, the catwalk queen spoke warmly of the exes' parenting dynamic during an interview with Stellar's Something To Talk About podcast.

During the chat, co-host Kyle Sandilands cheekily asked whether Miranda wears her famous Victoria's Secret angel wings in the bedroom. 'I haven't tried it,' the brunette laughed. Miranda is pictured on the Victoria's Secret runway in 2008

'From day one, Orlando and I really made a commitment to put Flynn's needs at the forefront of everything that we do. So that's how he has grown up  with two loving parents that want the best for him,' she said.

'[Flynn] sees that in the way that we communicate and in all of the special moments that we have together, celebrating different milestones and when we go on holidays together,' Miranda continued.

'I think it makes him feel safe knowing that we are always going to put his needs first, and also that we naturally all get along so well. It's pretty special. I feel very lucky.'

Miranda went on to recall the moment her grandmother shared the same advice while she was still married to ex-husband Orlando. Pictured in 2011

Miranda also explained that she gets along so well with Orlando's fiancee Katy Perry that she sees the American pop star as 'a sister'.

'I literally say how thankful I am for Katy every day,' the beauty gushed, adding that the women often exchange parenting tips.

'I feel very blessed to have that relationship with her. She really is like a sister to me and we've kind of connected from day one,' she said.
Vanna White is trying to embrace her age.

'I think wrinkles are beautiful,' said the 66-year-old star who recently launched a Wheel of Fortune collaboration with Laura Geller Beauty told People magazine.

'Someone who is completely with no lines, they don't have any character. Be natural, be yourself and have personality,' she admonished.

When it comes to adding a nip or tuck in the future, the host is taking a wait and see approach.

'Will I ever have plastic surgery?' she queried.

Nip tuck?: When it comes to having a nip and tuck, Vanna White, 66, is taking a wait and see approach. 'I'm kind of scared to do that. I'm not trying to look 30 years old again because I'm not,' she said

'Maybe. But I'm kind of scared to do that. I'm not trying to look 30 years old again because I'm not.'

The mom of two. who shares son Nikko, 29, and look-alike daughter Gigi, 26, with her ex-husband George Santo Pietro, has been revealing letters on the popular game some for some 40 years.

She recently signed a lucrative contract with Sony Television to stay with the production through 2026.

The former beauty queen will receive $10 million a year, the first raise she has received in 18 years.

Prior to the contract negotiations, Vanna was earning $3 million annually, while exiting host Pat Sajak was pulling in about five times that amount.

Ryan Seacrest will take over hosting duties beginning in season 42.

The Wheel of Fortune x Laura Geller Beauty Limited Edition Collection was created with Vanna in mind.

The products have catchy names tied in to the show such as Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer: Million Bucks Edition, Face The Wheel Blush Palette, a Dual-Ended Eye and Face Brush.

Wrinkles: Vanna is trying to embrace her age. 'I think wrinkles are beautiful,' said the 66-year-old Wheel of Fortune star said. 'Someone who is completely with no lines, they don't have any character. Be natural, be yourself and have personality' (Pictured in Beverly Hills in 2018)

Inspiration: Vanna's longevity in the television business inspired Laura Geller Beauty to create a Wheel of Fortune themed makeup line that the host has collaborated on

Catchy: The collection was created with Vanna in mind. The products have catchy names tied in to the show such as Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer: Million Bucks Edition, Face The Wheel Blush Palette, a Dual-Ended Eye and Face Brush

The items also include Prizewinning Eyeshadow Palette, Kajal Longwear Eyeliner in Glitz-n-Glam, and Modern Classic Cream Lipstick in Big Money Red.

'She's always somebody that I've looked up to,' the beauty line founder said.

'She's aging gracefully and beautifully. She is so strong and such a loving mother. To me that is pure grace and strength.'

'That's how I would depict her, pure grace. It's the best word,' the makeup mogul raved. 'She's just a real lady with a lot of strength.'

Fans of the makeup line which focuses on mature skin have been rapturous about the collaboration.

Personal decision: For Vanna, determining how to age gracefully is a personal decision. 'I think everybody has their own deal, you do whatever you do with aging. I'm just thinking of taking care of myself better'

'Wowza! Vanna is such the glamour icon!' exclaimed one fan.

'Queen Vanna staying strong & standing up for the female roles ' claimed another.

For Vanna, determining how to age gracefully is a personal decision.

'I think everybody has their own deal, you do whatever you do with aging. I'm just thinking of taking care of myself better.'
Snoop Dogg has dropped out of the coffee business.

The Gin and Juice hitmaker, 51, launched the premium coffee brand INDOxyz earlier this year, with Indonesian businessman Michael Riady, but has since backed away from the brand, according to Page Six.

The rapper - who recently partied with Ed Sheeran and Russell Crowe - reportedly exited after the brand's president, Elbert Song, informed the board of alleged issues with Riadys management.

The company went cold just two months after it launched, and Snoop's legal team reportedly investigated, with the musician leaving shortly thereafter.

'It took 16 days to do their investigation Snoop and his team left the company, dropping all ownership and stake in the company and they did not offer a reason,' a source told the publication.

Short lived: Snoop Dogg has dropped his INDOxyz coffee brand, just a few months after its launch; Snoop pictured in 2019

Exit: The Gin and Juice hitmaker, 51, launched the premium coffee brand earlier this year, with Indonesian businessman Michael Riady

Snoop, born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., initially announced the venture with a splashy campaign that showed him as the face of the brand, which offered espresso martinis in a can.

At the time of the launch he promised that the coffee brand was 'going to change the industry.'

And the name of the coffee inspired by a lyric from his 1993 song, Gin and Juice.

Song has also left the brand, telling Page Six: 'Working with Snoop and his incredible team on the launch of Indo was an amazing experience. Im disappointed to see that journey end, but am excited to support a new venture, Flowin Coffee with female founder Tamie Tran.'

Though Snoop has not officially commented on his exit, Riady reportedly claims the split is due to their disagreement over music.

'He's been saying Snoop left because they disagreed on music for marketing,' a source stated.

It's not known whether Riady - who is the grandson of billionaire magnate Mochtar Riady - will continue to run the brand without Snoop.

The brand currently offers a $5.99 cold brew, a $17.99 Sumatra Gayo blend, a $59.00 trucker hat as well as a tracksuit set for $999 and a hoodie for $149 on its online store.

Management issues: He reportedly exited after the brand's president, Elbert Song, informed the board of alleged issues with Riady's management; Riady seen in an Instagram photo

Done: The company went cold just two months after it launched, and Snoop's legal team reportedly investigated, with the rapper leaving shortly thereafter; Snoop pictured in 2011

Unknown: It's not known whether Riady will continue to run the brand without Snoop; The musician seen in 2023

Business mogul: The hip-hop icon has ventured into a number of different businesses over the years, including a cannabis-focused VC firm, a pet products company, and a breakfast cereal brand; seen in 2022

The hip-hop icon has ventured into a number of different businesses over the years, including a cannabis-focused VC firm, a pet products company, and a breakfast cereal brand.

Aside from his businesses, Snoop has also been busy with his music career.

In March he performed at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, and later partied with Ed Sheeran, 32, and Russell Crowe, 58.

Sheeran discussed the night while recently appearing on the Conan OBrien Needs A Friend podcast, where he shared he got so stoned with the rapper that he lost his sense of sight.
NRL WAG Christy Young has shared a sneak peek at her luxury honeymoon in Dubai with her Canterbury Bulldogs player husband Max King after the couple tied the knot last week in Sydney.

The loved-up pair, who abstained from sex for a year and a half during their engagement, looked every inch the happy newlyweds on their romantic getaway.

After exchanging vows at Curzon Hall on Wednesday, Christy, 25, shared a series of sweet snaps of the couple exploring the city to her Instagram.

Captioning them 'Dubai with my husband' next to a heart-eye and ring emoji, the model started the gallery with a picture of the pair in the desert.

Sporting huge smiles, they slipped into matching beige linen outfits and covered their heads with scarves as the hot, dry wind whipped around them.

NRL WAG Christy Young has shared a sneak peek at her luxury honeymoon in Dubai with her Canterbury Bulldogs star husband Max King after the couple tied the knot last week in Sydney

In the next picture they kicked things up a notch, getting racy back at their luxe hotel which looked across the city's bay.

Christy stripped down to a white bikini with the words 'Mrs King' embroidered across the bottoms, before posing up a storm on the balcony of their hotel.

Next the brunette beauty and her doting partner, 25, went out to taste what appeared to be tea.

Christy stripped down to a white bikini with the words 'Mrs King' embroidered across the back, before posing up a storm on the balcony of their hotel

After exchanging vows in Curzon Hall on Wednesday, Christy, 25, shared a series of sweet snaps to her Instagram almost a week later

The reel continued to show off all the exciting locations Christy and Max spent their days, from the desert to the beach and a stunning aquarium.

It comes just days after Christy opened up about her intimate relationship with Max after the pair abstained from sex during their engagement.

The couple, who are both Christians and attend Glow Church together in Sydney's south, exchanged their vows last week surrounded by family and friends.

Captioning them 'Dubai with my husband' next to a heart-eye and ring emoji, the model began the series of photos with a picture of the pair in the desert

The reel continued to show off all the exciting locations Christy and Max spent their days, from the desert to the beach and a stunning aquarium

READ MORE: Canterbury Bulldogs star Max King marries fiancee Christy Young in lavish ceremony - after the couple abstained from sex Advertisement

Following their special day, Christy revealed the newlyweds are enjoying their new relationship as husband and wife.

'We'd like to keep some private things to ourselves but let's just say we're enjoying the fruits of marriage,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Christy went on to say the couple would love to have children in the future.

'Who knows, maybe a honeymoon baby!' she added.

Christy also said she would recommend other couples abstain from sex before marriage because it 'strengthens the relationship'.

It comes just days after Christy opened up about her intimate relationship with Max after the pair abstained from sex during their engagement

Following their marriage, Christy revealed the newlyweds are enjoying their new relationship as husband and wife
Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer, 29, displayed her expensive taste in fashion as she stepped out in Sydney on Monday.

The brunette, who is the niece of casino magnate James Packer, was spotted chatting on the phone while enjoying a sun-drenched stroll, dressed head-to-toe in designer attire.

Flaunting a glimpse of cleavage, Francesca wore a black frilly maxi dress by Caroline Constas worth $1000, paired with $650 Valentino sandals.

She completed her look with a set of square-framed sunglasses and a set of perfectly-polished pink nails.

Francesca went makeup-free and wore her hair out in natural waves.

Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer, 29, (pictured) displayed her expensive taste in fashion as she stepped out in Sydney on Monday

Looking deep in her conversation, Francesca was seen making her way to a parked limousine nearby and climbing inside.

Francesca last made headlines back in March, after it was reported that she was still dating controversial wellness entrepreneur Robert Bates, 43, despite claims they had split.

The pair began dating last year, confirming their romance in December after they were spotted sharing a kiss and cuddling on the deck of a luxury yacht in Sydney Harbour.

Flaunting a glimpse of cleavage, Francesca wore a black frilly maxi dress by Caroline Constas worth $1000, paired with $650 Valentino sandals

She completed her look with a set of square-framed sunglasses and a set of perfectly-polished pink nails

Francesca 'fell head over heels' for the divorced father and even 'confided to friends her desire to start a family' with him, The Daily Telegraph reported.

However in March the same publication reported Francesca and Bates had split in February - around the same time reports emerged claiming he was being chased by wealthy investors for $15million.

Yet just a week later, The Daily Telegraph reported the couple were still together, and that Francesca had swept Bates, away to her swanky Darlinghurst apartment at The Horizon, after he failed to pay rent at his Bondi Beach penthouse over Christmas.

She went makeup-free for the casual outing and wore her hair out in natural waves

Bates is the CEO of wellness brands Aurum+ and Aquamamma and the founder of 7 Trinity Biotech.

Aurum+ claims to be a 'a clinically-proven solution that treats and prevents mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression', while Aquamamma is a 'healthy hydration solution' for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Bates' business acumen has been celebrated in the pages of the Australian Financial Review's annual list of successful young businesspeople - but lately he has come under heavy criticism from his own investors and customers.

Looking deep in her conversation, Francesca was seen making her way to a parked limousine nearby and climbing inside

According to the AFR, Bates is being chased by a series of 'high net worth' investors who want their money back, his businesses' websites have mysteriously disappeared and customers are in uproar on his social media pages.

Bates - who dressed as a cowboy at Francesca's Barbie-themed birthday bash last year - reportedly received a total of about $15million from at least 15 different Australian investors for Aurum+ since 2016.

But the shares in his companies are either registered to Bates himself, or to other businesses he controls, rather than those who have plunged their money into his enterprises, the Australian Financial Review reported.

These investors are now demanding refunds that range from $50,000 to $2million.

Bates is understood to have paid back three investors, but at least 15, of whom are scattered around Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay and Singapore, are furiously chasing the businessman and demanding to know where the money has gone.
Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed that he got help from a comedy legend while promoting his new book on Monday on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

The 76-year-old actor was asked by Stephen, 59, about working with the late comedian Milton Berle, who died at age 93 in March 2002 in Los Angeles.

Arnold shared that he met Milton at a party and the comedian suggested that they should work together.

'I said, ''I need your help, Milton''. Because I'm having to give speeches somewhere. I want to start the speech in a funny way, but I don't really know how to make funny jokes. How to really understand the American sense of humor. I have the German and the Austrian sense of humor, but not the American sense of humor,' Arnold said.

'Now he says, ''Oh, god, now I am becoming the teacher of this Nazi.'' He would be complaining. I don't know if I can do that. But he was lovely. We worked on lines,' Arnold said.

New book: Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed the secret to his success on talk shows while promoting his new book on Monday on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Arnold recalled a joke that Milton wrote for him when he's being given an award.

'They will give you an award, Arnold. And when you thank them for the award, just make a joke out of it. You say "As a body builder, I have gotten a lot of medals and a lot of trophies and awards. And this award here is the most recent'',' Arnold recalled Milton telling him.

'He would come to me after. He was there in the audience, he comes to me afterward and says "You stupid idiot. Why do you say ''most recent'' right away?'' He said that's not the way the line goes. You see how I put dots and pauses. So you go out. You say, ''I have won a lot of metals and trophies is a body building champion and a lot of awards. But this without a doubt is the most...recent." So he taught me about timing,' Arnold said while holding a coffee cup as an awards prop.

'It's all about timing. So, he would beat me up all the time about it. Idiot, Nazi, and all these types of things he called me. But the bottom line is he was always so helpful writing me jokes, writing lines in movies, funny lines in movies. He was an absolute jewel. He came to my engagement party, the wedding and everything like that. Hung out in the house. Brought a lot of cigars. He was a big cigar smoker. He brought me a lot of cigars. One of those wonderful relationships that formed over the years,' Arnold said.

In December 2007, Arnold as California Governor and First Lady Maria Shriver, 67, inducted Berle into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.

Arnold has been on the talk show circuit while promoting his new self-help book Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life.

He admitted that he was a 'probably strict' father last week during a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC.

'Well, it depends what your definition is. For I think the way I grew up, I was lenient. But I think for American standards probably strict,' said Arnold, who has children Katherine, 33, Christina, 31, Patrick, 30, and Christopher, 26, with ex-wife Maria.

Comedy help: The 76-year-old actor was asked by Stephen, 59, about getting help from comedy legend Milton Berle, who died at age 93 in March 2002 in Los Angeles

Worked together: Arnold is shown in November 1996 with Milton Berle in Beverly Hills, California

Late comedian: A May 2002 memorial tribute for Milton featured Arnold speaking

About timing: Arnold recalled a joke that Milton wrote for him when he's being given an award

Fall colors: Arnold wore fall colors for his appearance on the CBS talk show

Busy guy: The actor and former politician has been on the talk show circuit while promoting his new self-help book Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life

Jimmy, 55, asked Arnold for an example of what would be considered strict in his household.

'I think the thing that my kids bring up most often is that my son, for instance, did not make his bed. He had his nanny make the bed, which was not allowed,' Arnold said.

'I said the kids have to make their own bed. They have to scrub their own showers. They have to clean their own toilet, and they have to wash their own clothes,' he continued as the studio audience in Los Angles applauded.

'So, I came in one time and the bed was made so immaculately that I looked at it and said, ''Patrick, did you do that?'' And he said, ''No, I didn't.'' So I grabbed the mattress, opened up the doors, grabbed the mattress and threw it out the balcony and down into the swimming pool,' Arnold said.

He added that Patrick had to drag the mattress and pillows back up.

Arnold, who also has son Joseph Baena, 26, from his affair with housekeeper Mildred Baena, additionally shared with Jimmy the time that he burned Katherine's shoes in the fireplace after she failed to put them away multiple times.

'Those are the kind of things I do with the kids,' Arnold said.

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life from Penguin Press is now available.
Kendall Jenner put her toned legs on display while filming a Calvin Klein commercial by a water fountain in downtown Manhattan on Monday.

The 27-year-old supermodel stunned in a black crewneck tank top and shorts, which she paired with stylish black penny loafers.

The reality TV star  who recently enjoyed a Miami getaway with boyfriend Bad Bunny  finalized her look with a light blue trench coat, as she struck a number of poses in front of the camera.

Keeping the attention on her outfit, the Vogue cover girl's only accessories were her black socks and silver earrings.

Kendall set on the edge of the fountain before eventually making her way in for a cinematic shot that saw her looking up as jets of water splashed around her.

Fun by the water: Kendall Jenner put her toned legs on display while filming a Calvin Klein commercial by a water fountain in downtown Manhattan on Monday

Making a splash! The 27-year-old supermodel stunned in a black crewneck tank top and shorts, which she paired with stylish black penny loafers

The beauty then climbed out and continued to pose with her clothes dripping wet.

The day prior she was pictured on set of the commercial in a number of other looks.

One chic outfit consisted of a pair of loose-fitting slacks as well as a snug blazer that was partially unbuttoned.

She slipped into a pair of black loafers and also wore chunky, silver bracelets on her left wrist for a flashy touch as well as silver-hooped earrings.

The supermodel then switched into an all-white outfit that comprised of a pair of cream-colored slacks as well as a white button up that was partially unfastened towards the collar.

When she wasn't filming, the star was seen sharing a laugh with some of the crew members during a break in between takes.

Jenner made her Calvin Klein debut in 2015 and has starred in multiple campaigns for the company since then.

The beauty has been filtering through a busy schedule, and recently whisked herself to Miami earlier this week to spend time with beau, Bad Bunny, as they celebrated his seven wins at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Chic: The reality TV star finalized her look with a light blue trench coat, as she struck a number of poses in front of the camera

Cinematic: Kendall set on the edge of the fountain before eventually making her way in for a cinematic shot that saw her looking up as jets of water splashed around her

Committed to her art: The beauty then climbed out and continued to pose with her clothes dripping wet

Cover girl: Jenner made her Calvin Klein debut in 2015 and has starred in multiple campaigns for the company since then

The Puerto Rican rapper notably garnered seven big wins at the ceremony which was held in Florida on Thursday, such as winning Artist of the Year and also Top Album Latin Artist Of The Year, Male.

Kendall and the 29-year-old music artist were spotted enjoying a sunny day as they matched in his and hers white T-shirts while spending time on a rooftop.

The couple seemed relaxed and low-key as the hitmaker listened to music in a pair of grey headphones while Kendall looked on.

The Puerto Rico native rocked a short-sleeved shirt with a deep V-neck that flashed his toned chest.

Meanwhile, Jenner looked comfortable in her off-duty look as she donned an oversized T-shirt.

They also paid a visit to a museum called Superblue Miami and then had dinner at Hometown BBQ Miami with close pals, including nightlife guru David Grutman.

The fashionable couple recently starred in a Gucci campaign together as their budding romance continues to heat up - after they were first linked back in February.

And last month in September, the pair were seen sitting front row together at the Gucci Ancora fashion show during Milan Fashion Week.

The rapper opened up about the romance with Jenner during an interview with Vanity Fair last month - but did not officially confirm their relationship.

Busy: The beauty has been staying busy, and was pictured attending the Gucci Ancora fashion show during Milan Fashion Week with boyfriend Bad Bunny last month

Gucci campaign: The fashionable couple recently starred in a Gucci campaign together as their budding romance continues to heat up - after they were first linked back in February

As he touched on how he maintains privacy, he explained, 'I'm not really interested in clarifying anything because I have no commitment to clarify anything to anyone,' adding that he is only 'clear' to his family and close friends.

'There are people who say that artists have to put up with it,' he continued. 'I don't have to accept anything and everything because I wanted to be an artist. At the end of the day, you listen to me because you want to. I don't force you to.'

Bad Bunny was also later asked if he had plans to get married and have children in the future, which he replied with, 'No. I don't think so,' but then stated, 'Not ever, but not now.'

Kendall also whisked herself to Paris for fashion week, and strutted down the runway for a few shoes, including the star-studded Le Defile Walk Your Worth L'Oreal event which took place earlier this month.
She welcomed her first child - a baby boy called Sampson Ryan - last month.

And Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm was seen for the first time with her newborn as she visited her parents in Hendra on Monday.

The tiny tot was seen crying as he left his grandparents' home before Emily placed him securely in the car.

Wearing a grey T-shirt and form-fitting black bike shorts, Emily swept her golden locks back in a loose bun and showed off her post-pregnancy glow by going makeup free.

Emily's mother looked excited about her new grandma status as she helped Emily carry leftover food out to the car.

Emily Seebohm took her newborn baby boy Sampson to visit his grandparents in Queensland on Monday after welcoming her first child with Married At First Sight star Ryan Gallagher

Fiance and new dad Ryan Gallagher did not attend Emily's brief visit back home.

The couple announced the arrival of their first child together last month in a very subtle move.

Ryan quietly changed his public Facebook profile picture on September 13 to feature a photo of himself and Emily with their newly born son.

The tiny tot was seen crying as he left his grandparents' home before Emily placed him securely in the car

The snapshot captured the couple nestled together on a hospital bed with their peacefully slumbering child cradled in his father's embrace.

Although Ryan chose not to include a caption in his social media post, his friends promptly filled the comments section with heartfelt congratulatory messages.

'Omg congrats you lot,' said broadcaster Myf Warhurst.

READ MORE: Married At First Sight star Ryan Gallagher and Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm welcome first child together Advertisement

Emily's mother looked excited about her new grandma status as she helped Emily carry leftover food out to the car

'That's so awesome,' added journalist Natasha Exelby.

Meanwhile, one commenter seemed to give away the name of the couple's new son.

'Hope everything is going well and Em and Sampson are both going okay. Sending love and hugs to you all.'

Ryan and Emily became engaged in December last year, a mere four months after their initial meeting while filming The Challenge Australia.
Michelle Keegan flashed her incredibly toned abs in a khaki green gym set in a sexy picture on Monday.

The former Coronation Street star, 36, who recently enjoyed a lavish getaway with her husband Mark Wright, took to Instagram to share the morning snap.

And after enjoying a sunny break in Dubai, the actress soon jumped back into reality with a gruelling Pilates class.

Michelle showcased her washboard abs in the plunging crop top and leggings set and posed up a storm on the exercise machine.

The Brassic star swept her brunette tresses in a claw clip and hid her gorgeous make-up free face behind the camera in the snap.

Wow: Michelle Keegan, 36, flashed her incredibly toned abs in a khaki green gym set in a sexy Instagram picture she shared on Monday

Captioning her post, Michelle penned: Back on the beds @runwaypilatesuk', before she got stuck into her workout.

Michelle flaunted her sensational figure in a 540 white bikini as she enjoyed her trip to Dubai last week.

The Our Girl star was joined by TOWIE star Mark, also 36, for the romantic trip where they stayed at the pricey Atlantis The Royal hotel.

For one snap giving a glimpse at the trip Michelle she looked over the stunning UAE views in a black two-piece and stylish hat.

She later took to her Instagram Story to share a snap in the expensive white swimwear that highlighted her toned abs and holiday tan.

The stunning item featured a belted beach skirt and a plunging bikini top by London-based luxury brand Sama Danesh.

It comes after it was reported that Brassic - in which Michelle stars - is reportedly set 'to be axed after the next series' as the cast wish to moved on from the Sky comedy to work on other projects.

The show which stars Michelle as Erin Croft launched its fifth season last week, with a special then coming in December.

Luxury trip: Michelle enjoyed a lavish getaway with her husband Mark Wright in Dubai last week

Hunk: Mark also took to his Instagram to share a look at the trip as he showcased his muscles in the pool

Looking good: She flaunted her sensational figure in a 540 white bikini by London-based luxury brand Sama Danesh

But a new report has revealed the show could be 'unlikely' to return after next year as the producers work on a sixth and final instalment.

A Sky insider told The Mirror: 'Brassic is very unlikely to return after next year's sixth series. It's had incredible success, but the feeling among some of the cast is that it's time to move on.

'Ryan was considering leaving after series five, but was persuaded to continue by the bosses at Sky. Michelle is also finding it harder to work her schedule around filming as she's in demand for so many projects.'

A Sky spokesperson has denied that the show will end after series six however, telling MailOnline: 'Brassic has not been cancelled. The show remains one of Sky's best performing original comedies. With a highly successful series five launch just last week, it is a firm favourite with our customers.

A growing number of them continue to discover this award-winning series on demand and as it airs on Sky Max, Thursdays 10pm.'

David Livingston, Executive Producer of Brassic, Calamity Films, added: 'The series isn't being cancelled. We just released series five and the ratings are though the roof with a Christmas special and a sixth series in production. As the Brassic character Farmer Jim might say. 'This is horse #*!!.'

Original comedy Brassic follows Vinnie O'Neill (Joseph Gilgun) and his five friends, including Michelle's single mum character.

The group struggles to get by in Hawley's fictional town and often resorts to petty crime for money.

Gorgeous: In another snap Michelle looked nothing short of sensational as she took to her Instagram Stories to share some gorgeous snaps with her followers of the trip

Uh oh: It comes after it was reported that Brassic - in which Michelle stars - is reportedly set 'to be axed after the next series' as the cast wish to moved on from the Sky comedy to work on other projects

Exciting: Brassic is planning a Christmas special of the hit comedy which will air this year

When Dylan's girlfriend Erin wants out to start afresh in a new town, Dylan is torn between following her or staying with the pals he thinks of as brothers.

Brassic is planning a Christmas special of the hit comedy which will air this year, with the cast seen on set last month.

The BAFTA-nominated series began back in 2019, as season four of the show was released last August on Sky Max and Now TV.
Shannon Beador is in the early steps of moving forward amid the fallout of her DUI crash in Newport Beach, California last month, in which she drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI alcohol and hit-and-run.

The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member, 59, has been enrolled in an 'outpatient behavioral wellness program with an alcohol component,' insiders close to Beador told TMZ on Monday.

Beador - who was arrested in the early morning hours of September 17 - will continue performing with her RHOC colleagues Tamra Judge, 56, and Vicki Gunvalson, 61, in their Tres Amigas comedy shows, which involve alcohol.

Beador will refrain from 'drinking onstage' at the shows, which include a a pre-show cocktail party, according to the insider.

The next Tres Amigas show is scheduled for November 16 at the Phoenix comedy venue Stand Up Live! Phoenix, where attendees are required to purchase a minimum of two drinks inside of the venue's showroom.

The latest: Shannon Beador, 59, has been enrolled in an 'outpatient behavioral wellness program with an alcohol component' after she drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI alcohol and hit-and-run September 17. Pictured last year in NYC

Beador will continue performing with her RHOC colleagues Vicki Gunvalson, 61, and Tamra Judge , 56, in their Tres Amigas comedy shows, which involve alcohol

Beador last month said says she will pay for the damage she caused in the incident, which occurred after she was seen at a Newport Beach, California establishment called A Restaurant.

Beador's attorney Michael Fell has touched based with the owner of the Newport Beach property the reality star damaged while drinking and driving, insiders told TMZ last month.

Beador is looking to 'help make things right' in compensating the property owner for the damage caused, the source said, and has said she will pay for any necessary repairs stemming from the incident.

Beador at the time was also looking at different options to receive treatment, but had not yet committed to a course of action, the source told the outlet.

While the situation remains 'very fresh to her,' the source told the outlet, Beador is focused on receiving professional help in the wake of the dangerous incident.

According to TMZ, Beador was arrested in the luxe Orange County city as authorities said she hit a house, parked in the middle of a street and pretended she was walking her dog. Her vehicle was seized by authorities, and she was was subsequently released without bond.

The Newport Beach Police Department told People that Beador had been 'arrested at 1:17 a.m. on Sept. 17 after fleeing the scene from a collision that caused property damage.'

She was 'booked for two misdemeanors - hit-and-run and DUI alcohol;' and 'released on a citation.'

While the situation remains 'very fresh to her,' the source told the outlet, Beador is focused on receiving professional help in the wake of the dangerous incident. Pictured on the Bravo series Wednesday

The incident occurred Saturday after The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member was seen at a Newport Beach, California establishment called A Restaurant. Pictured on the Bravo series last month

Beador had been 'arrested at 1:17 a.m. on Sept. 17 after fleeing the scene from a collision that caused property damage,' police said. Pictured in LA in October

Fell told DailyMail.com last month: 'Shannon is extremely apologetic and remorseful.

'We will be awaiting the official information on this case as it becomes available, and Shannon is prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions.'

Beador on September 19 was seen visiting with her ex-boyfriend John Janssen, who told DailyMail.com September 20, 'We are friends, I care about her.'

Bravo personality Jeff Lewis, who is a friend of Beador's, said that Beador 'was injured' and is 'going to be recovering' in the aftermath of the incident.

'Shannon and I have been friends for a very long time,' Lewis said on his SiriusXM show last month. 'I was shocked - she called me yesterday and we talked for awhile - and I was shocked because I've never known Shannon to ever, ever drink and drive.

'I will tell you she's accepting full accountability. She is ashamed, she's embarrassed. I personally, as her friend - cause people are like, "Oh she needs rehab," "Oh she's an alcoholic" - I don't think Shannon is an alcoholic.'

He added: 'I think she's been going thorough a lot of personal struggles right now, and I think she has been leaning on alcohol - but I don't think she's an alcoholic.'

Lewis said that Beador is 'going to be entering counseling' following the accident and arrest.

The Real Housewives of Orange County can be seen on Bravo every Wednesday at 8/7c.
Famed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has announced he is set to premiere a six-hour TV version of his big-budget epic film, Australia, next week in Sydney.

Originally released in 2008, the period romance stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and cost a reported US$130million to make.

Luhrmann has spent more than a year re-editing the sprawling saga into a six-part series called Faraway Downs, which will drop on Disney+ on November 26.

The world premiere will take place at the South By South West (SXSW) film and tech conference in Sydney on October 21, where Luhrmann and Kidman will be guests.

Australia, billed as an 'Aussie Gone with the Wind', received poor reviews upon its theatrical release and failed to make a profit despite grossing more than US$211.3million worldwide.

Famed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has announced he is set premiere a six-hour TV version of his big-budget epic Australia next week in Sydney

Luhrmann has spent more than a year re-editing the sprawling saga 'Australia' into a six-part series called Faraway Downs, which will drop on Disney+ on November 26

First released in 2008, Australia starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and cost US$130million to make Pictured: Nicole Kidman on the red carpet last month in New York

Storyline details for Faraway Downs are unavailable, but it's understood the series will use footage shot for the original film, which ran almost three hours.

It will also feature a new ending and updated soundtrack.

'I was inspired to re-approach my film Australia to create Faraway Downs because of the way episodic storytelling has been reinvigorated by the streaming world,' Luhrmann said in a statement a head of the films SXSW premiere.

Announcing the the project in June 2022, Luhrmann, 59, said at the time that fans could look to the mini series as a new variation on Australia.

The Elvis director also indicated the new version of Australia will highlight Indigenous themes and offer 'alternative plot twists'.

'I originally set out to take the notion of the sweeping Gone with the Wind-style epic and turn it on its head,' he said.

Luhrmann explained the original film was 'a way of using romance and epic drama to shine a light on the roles of First Nations people and the painful scar in Australian history of the Stolen Generations.'

Set in the early years of World War II, Australia centred on an unlikely romance between an Aussie cattleman (Jackman) and English aristocrat Lady Sarah (Kidman).

Australia, billed as an 'Aussie Gone with the Wind', received poor reviews upon its theatrical release and failed to make a profit despite grossing more than US$211.3million worldwide

Storyline details for Faraway Downs are unavailable, but it's understood the series will use footage shot for the original film, which ran almost three hours

Faraway Downs is the outback cattle station Lady Sarah inherits when her husband dies. It later comes under threat from sinister competitors.

There is also a major storyline devoted to Lady Sarah's attachment to a young Aboriginal boy called Nullah (Brandon Walters).

The story climaxes with the bombing of Darwin by Japanese Imperial Forces, which occurred on February 19, 1942.

Faraway Downs will drop on November 26 in Australia and other territories on Disney+ and on Hulu in the United States, and Star+ in Latin America.
Hugh Jackman has become one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors.

And now, single women are falling over themselves to snag the newly-single actor.

Ladies are reaching out to the Wolverine star, who recently announced his split from wife Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years, on social media and begging to take him on a date.

'Are we all commenting now because we know this fine man is technically available now? I know I am! Im convinced that sliding into dms does actually work,' one wrote.

'I'll let you take me on a date now, Hugh,' another person said.

Hollywood's most eligible bachelor Hugh Jackman has been inundated with date requests after his shock split from wife Deborra-Lee Furness

'You are the most eligible, hottest bachelor in the world,' a third person commented.

Another person said: 'I'm single too!'

It comes amid rumours Hugh is said to be preparing to release a new tell-all memoir following his split from Deborra-Lee.

According to US Weekly, Hugh is currently in the early stages of writing his bombshell book.

His new memoir is set to feature details of his life and 'bombshell' revelations.

'Hugh is choosing to [write this book] now because he's finally [being] honest with himself [and] the divorce,' an insider said.

'The content will be Hugh speaking about his life. He'll be opening up about his life like never before.'

Ladies are reaching out to the Wolverine star, who recently announced his split from wife Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years, on social media and begging to take him on a date

Hugh and Deborra-Lee shocked fans when they announced they were divorcing last month.

'We have been blessed to share almost three decades together in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,' the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

'Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition.'

The former couple signed the statement as 'Deb and Hugh Jackman,' adding: 'This is the sole statement either of us will make.'

The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18.
Robin Williams' children put on a united front on Monday evening to pay tribute to their late father at the Bring Change to Mind gala in New York City.

Zelda Williams, 34, and Zak Williams, 40, were on hand for the organization's 11th Revels and Revelations event. Bring Change to Mind, which was co-founded by Glenn Close with her sister and nephew, helps to raise funds for mental health treatment and to combat stigma.

The half-siblings were honoring Robin by attending as the seventh annual Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter award was presented to Ryan Reynolds.

Their father died by suicide in 2014 at age 63, and afterward it was revealed that he had been suffering from Lewy body dementia, which had been misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease shortly before his death.

Both Zelda and Zak  who have a younger sibling named Cody who didn't appear to have joined them  have taken up the cause of advocating for mental health treatment and to diminish stigma around mental health issues in the wake of their father's death.

Family affair: Zelda Williams, 34, and Zak Williamsm 40, attended the Bring Change to Mind gala in NYC on Monday to pay tribute to their late father Robin Williams

Gone too soon: Robin died in 2014 at age 63 by suicide. At the time, he had recently been misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was later revealed to be Lewy body dementia. He struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life; seen in 2009 in LA

Zelda looked effortlessly elegant in a plunging black dress that reached to the ground and featured an oval-shaped cutout over her midriff.

The actress and filmmaker showcased her arms in the sleeveless item, and its long skirt was invigorated with bird-like yellow and red designs that stood out against the jet black fabric.

She styled her dark locks with a middle part while her hair reached down to her shoulders with a slight flip at the end.

Zelda added earrings to her ensemble and stood tall in a set of black open-toe heels.

She turned the event into a family affair while posing with her mother, Marcia Garces, who was Robin's second wife.

The two were married from 1989 until their divorce was finalized in 2010.

Marcia wore a chic black double-breasted jacket and styled her brunette hair similarly to her daughters.

She had on a black blouse under the jacket and wore black slacks with matching black boots.

Motherdaughter bonding: Zelda looked effortlessly elegant in a plunging black dress that reached to the ground and featured an oval-shaped cutout. She was joined by her mother Marsha Garces, Robin's second wife, who wore all black

Beaming: Both Zak and his sister looked shockingly like their father. He wore a black tux with peaked lapels, a purple bow tie and tiger-stripe shoes; pictured with Ryan Reynolds

Loved-up: He was joined at the gala by his lovely wife Olivia Williams, who glowed in a sparkling sequined dress decorated with a herringbone pattern and gray, blue and red stripes

Man of the hour: Ryan Reynolds was being honored with the award in their father's name. The Deadpool star was dressed more casually in an olive-colored suit

Zelda bore a striking resemblance to her beloved father, and Zak was similarly a dead ringer for the Good Will Hunting actor.

He wore a classic black tuxedo with peaked lapels, and he added a colorful accent with a thick violet bow tie.

Zak, who followed his father into show business as an actor and producer, sported an infectious smile and added some intriguing to his otherwise minimalist look with tan-and-black tiger-stripe shoes.

He was joined at the gala by his lovely wife Olivia Williams, who glowed in a sparkling sequined dress decorated with a herringbone pattern and gray, blue and red stripes.

Her long blond hair cascaded down her shoulders in thick waves, and she lightened up the muted look with bubblegum pink open-toe heels.

Zak and Zelda also posed on the red carpet with Ryan Reynolds, who was being honored with the award in their father's name.

The Deadpool star was dressed more casually in an olive-colored suit.

The Williams siblings got a chance to catch up with their father's famous friends, including his good pal Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted  with Robin and their friend Billy Crystal  the first Comic Relief fundraiser in 1986.

The fundraiser went on to be a regular event for years to come, and Whoopi and Billy were friends with Robin up until his death.

Afterward, both were natural choices to be honored with the Legacy of Laughter award.

Family: Zak and Olivia joined Zelda and her mother on the red carpet

The boss: They also caught up with Glenn Close, who cofounded the organization with her sister and nephew

Old friends: The Williams siblings got a chance to catch up with their father's famous friends, including his good pal Whoopi Goldberg

Honored: Whoopi co-hosted the first comic relief with Robin and their mutual friend Billy Crystal, and both Whoopi and Billy were later honored with the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter award

Celebrity encounters: Zak and Olivia grinned ear-to-ear while meeting up with Steve Buscemi inside the venue

Their cause: The two have become advocates for mental health treatment and destigmatization in the wake of their father's tragic death

It takes two: They took to the stage together to help present the award to Ryan

Duet: They stood next to each other and took turns remember Robin Williams' legacy and introducing Ryan before the award was presented

Whoopi posed with Zak and his wife and Zelda and her mother while standing out in a black-and-white printed dress.

The group, including Ryan, were also joined by the Bring Change To Mind co-founder Glenn Close.

Both Zelda and Zak have played a major part in preserving their father's legacy, and they took to the stage together to help present the award to Ryan.

They stood next to each other and took turns remember Robin Williams' legacy and introducing Ryan before the award was presented.
Channel Ten has dropped its first trailer for its upcoming MasterChef Australia spin-off called Dessert Masters, and it looks to be an absolutely gripping series.

The footage begins by showing the 10 expert pastry chefs competing on the show working hard to prepare a variety of delicious desserts for the judging panel.

Series judge Melissa Leong, 40, then discusses the high stakes the culinary experts are competing under.

'How sweet is this? Not only will they have to impress me but also fellow judge and global sensation with over 54 million followers, Amaury Guichon,' she says.

The cooks are then seen presenting several mouth-watering dishes for the two judges, who proceed to give them feedback on their creations.

Channel Ten has dropped its first trailer for its upcoming MasterChef spin-off, Dessert Masters. Pictured: Series judge Melissa Leong

The series will be hosted by Melissa Leong and international chef Amaury Guichon (right), with a $100,00 prize on offer for the winner

'Why am I eating so much?' Amaury asks Melissa, who responds with, 'Because it's delicious'.

Earlier this year, Channel Ten revealed the cast for the new season of Dessert Masters, a dessert-themed spin-off of MasterChef Australia.

The network's Instagram account shared a cast photo featuring several MasterChef stars including Reynold Poernomo, Jess Lemon and Anna Polyviou posing on set for a group photo.

Also in the cast is Morgan Hipworth, Andrew Bowden, Kay-Lene Tan and dessert king, Adriano Zumbo.

The series will be hosted by Melissa Leong and international chef Amaury Guichon, with a $100,00 prize on offer for the winner.

'Our cast for Dessert Masters is a loaded-to-the-gills, top-of-the-pops, creme de la creme of Australia's pastry industry,' Melissa said of the cast.

The footage begins by showing the 10 expert pastry chefs working hard

The cooks are then seen presenting several mouth-watering dishes for the judges

The series recently wrapped up filming in Melbourne and will air on Channel Ten later this year.

Guichon is no stranger to TV as he previously fronted the Netflix series School of Chocolate.

Meanwhile, Leong has been a host and judge for the MasterChef Australia franchise since 2020.

The food critic first began her TV career on Netflix's The Chef's Line in 2016 and now she is going head first into the world of deserts with the new Channel 10 show.
Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins is saying goodbye to urban living as he puts his Gold Coast residence on the market.

The Bachelor star, 35, built the luxurious five-bedroom house in Broadbeach Waters in 2020 with his partner, Alexandra George.

The original 1970s dwelling was demolished to pave the way for an opulent two-storey residence that includes a dedicated cinema room.

'It was our first project together and it turns out she's pretty handy on the design front,' Cummins said in an interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2021.

'From when we had it built I was in by myself there sleeping on a swag in the main bedroom. I had a little coffee table my brother had made and I had two camp chairs and I was sort of cool with that, but when Alex got here she talked some sense into me.'

Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins (pictured) is saying goodbye to urban living as he puts his Gold Coast residence on the market. The Bachelor star, 35, built the luxurious five-bedroom house in Broadbeach Waters in 2020 with his partner, Alexandra George

The original 1970s dwelling was demolished to pave the way for an opulent two-storey residence that includes a dedicated cinema room

'It was our first project together and it turns out she's pretty handy on the design front,' Cummins said in an interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2021

The property was listed for rent in May 2022, just before the couple welcomed their son in October of the same year.

Nick and Alexandra are trading their beachside lifestyle for the tranquility of acreage living after acquiring a sprawling estate in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

The Broadbeach Waters house features a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area that seamlessly leads to a multi-level deck, complete with a spa, firepit, and a private pontoon.

'From when we had it built I was in by myself there sleeping on a swag in the main bedroom. I had a little coffee table my brother had made  and I had two camp chairs and I was sort of cool with that, but when Alex got here she talked some sense into me,' he said

The property was listed for rent in May 2022, just before the couple welcomed their son in October of the same year

The listing is currently being promoted by Corey Bedford, a real estate agent from Kollosche - Broadbeach, who has reported significant interest in the property since initiating the marketing campaign.

'We had quite a busy open home last Saturday with good inquiry from both interstate and local buyers,' Mr Bedford told Realestate.com.au.

This property is currently being marketed with expressions of interest set to close on October 20, 2023.

According to PropTrack data, Broadbeach Waters has recently joined the ranks of Gold Coast suburbs with a median house price exceeding $2 million, with the median house price currently standing at $2,018,383.

Cummins, renowned for his international rugby career and subsequent stints on reality television shows such as I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, as well as earlier appearances on The Bachelor and SAS Australia, acquired the 551-square-meter property in January 2019 for $775,000.

The Broadbeach Waters house features a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area that seamlessly leads to a multi-level deck, complete with a spa, firepit, and a private pontoon

According to PropTrack data, Broadbeach Waters has recently joined the ranks of Gold Coast suburbs with a median house price exceeding $2 million, with the median house price currently standing at $2,018,383
Demi Moore looked radiant as ever while stopping by the Jonathan Wright & Company print store in Los Angeles on Monday.

The ageless beauty, 60, stayed comfortable in a long-sleeve black top and matching black pants.

The Indecent Proposal star  who recently stunned at Paris Fashion Week  sported a pair of converse sneakers and black shades for the outing.

The actress also cradled her tiny two-year-old pet Chihuahua Pilaf, who happily sat in a baby wrap carrier worn across her chest.

Demi wore her long raven tresses parted in the middle and cascading down her back.

Effortlessly cool: Demi Moore looked radiant as ever while stopping by the Jonathan Wright & Company print store in Los Angeles on Monday

The star spent over an hour at the invite-only custom print store that specializes in letterpress, stationary and wedding invites.

The mother-of-three accessorized with a black bag and flashed her megawatt smile upon leaving the store.

The outing comes after her youngest daughter Tallulah Willis, 29, gushed over a glamorous snap of Demi attending the Saint Laurent show during Paris Fashion Week.

The actress shared a snap of her at the event - where she suffered an X-rated wardrobe malfunction - to her Instagram.

She sweetly penned underneath: 'Your next husband is so lucky omfg.'

The actress looked glamorous in a sheer black gown with matching underwear underneath.

Demi was posing for snaps when she lifted her arm up and accidentally flashed her cleavage.

The star didn't seem bothered by the racy display as she continued to smiling and posing for the cameras.

Her pup: The ageless beauty, 60, stayed comfortable in a long-sleeve black top and matching black pants, and cradled her tiny two-year-old pet Chihuahua Pilaf in a baby wrap carrier

Cool gal: The Indecent Proposal star sported a pair of converse sneakers and black shades for the outing

Glam: The outing comes after her youngest daughter Tallulah Willis gushed over a glamorous snap of Demi attending the Saint Laurent show during Paris Fashion Week

Family: Tallulah, 29, shared a snap of her at the event - where she suffered an X-rated wardrobe malfunction - to her Instagram, commenting: 'Your next husband is so lucky omfg'; They are seen in March 2023

Demi shares three daughters - Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah - with her ex husband actor Bruce Willis.

Demi's appearance came hours after her ex-husband Bruce Willis made a rare public outing amid his battle with dementia.

Demi and her former partner, 68, remain close friends and share their three daughters.

The family have rallied around the Die Hard actor after he was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) - an uncommon form of dementia that causes a deterioration in behaviour, personality and language.

They publicly revealed his condition in February of this year and his wife Emma Heming recently gave a heartbreaking update on his ongoing battle with dementia.

The Hollywood icon was seen in the passenger seat of a car in Los Angeles, on Monday - the same day that Emma, 45, revealed it's 'hard to know' if he is even aware of what is happening to him health-wise.

Emma fought back tears while she opened up about how she and her two daughters with the actor are coping with the 'grief and the sadness' of watching the actor's health decline in an interview on the Today show.

'What I'm learning is that dementia is hard,' she said, during an appearance at the show's New York studio. 'It's hard on the person diagnosed. It's also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce or myself or our girls.

All together: Demi shares three daughters - Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah - with her ex husband actor Bruce Willis, 68, who's currently battling Frontotemporal dementia; (L-R) Rumer, Demi, Bruce, Scout, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah in 2019

'And when they say that this is a family disease, it really is.'

When asked how she went about explaining his illness to their children, she said: 'I think it's always been... we're a very honest and open household.

'And, the most important thing was to be able for us to say what the disease was, explain what it is because when you know what the disease is from a medical standpoint it sort of all makes sense.

'So it was important that we let them know what it is because, you know, I don't want there to be any stigma or shame attached to their dad's diagnosis, or for any form of dementia.'

When asked by host Hoda Kotb if he is aware of what is happening to him, Emma paused and revealed: 'Hard to know'.

Emma shares daughters Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, nine, with the actor.
MARCH 2020

Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.

She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.'

'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,

'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance'

Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition.

APRIL

Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'.

Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.

'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.'

MAY

Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight.

'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.'

That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers

She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty'

JUNE

On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body

JULY

On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.

On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery.

She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.

On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.

On July 28, Kate revealed she'd paid an 'extra emotional' first visit to Derek, and admitted she's 'frustrated' by his slow progress.

AUGUST

On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was 'still with us,' but it was 'a waiting game.'

On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek's birthday with their two children, and described the day as 'challenging' for her family.

SEPTEMBER

At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care.

Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle.

The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice.

OCTOBER

On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word 'pain' to his wife, who watched on 'in tears' over FaceTime.

Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe.

NOVEMBER

Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest 'body blow' to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help.

She says she feels 'physically sick' at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.

DECEMBER

The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day.

She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative.

On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London.

On New Year's Eve she reflects on a 'calamitous' Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.

JANUARY 2021

Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised.

She also says she's banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government's third lockdown.

FEBRUARY

Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will 'ever be able to recover' following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma

MARCH

Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek's needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek.

The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus.

Kate also revealed that Derek has 'no muscle left' since battling Covid

APRIL

Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home.

MAY

Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were 'minimal' and he 'couldn't really move'

DECEMBER

During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said 'I love you' for the first time.

After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family

JANUARY 2022

Kate revealed that Derek was 'very fatigued' and 'very weak' following the family outing, adding: 'I don't know what this year is going to bring.'

FEBRUARY

Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek

She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself.

JULY

On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a 'downturn,' and in a later interview said she takes things 'day by day.'

On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek's bedside after he took a 'very serious' turn for the worse.

Recalling the day, the presenter told The Sun: 'At one point Derek said to me, "This is it, this time. I am gone." It was just terrifying.

'His sepsis was gut-wrenching for all of us because it had gone undiagnosed until the point where it was about to take his life away again.'

JANUARY 2023

Kate became overwhelmed as she confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock over his handling of the pandemic and his decision to go on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

She then became tearful and looked up as she spoke about Derek, who has been unwell for approaching three years.

Describing public anger towards him, Kate added of his decision: 'This gives the impression you still don't get why they are cross. You still don't get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.'

APRIL

Kate revealed that Derek was once again receiving care in hospital, as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple.

She shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple, writing on Instagram: 'Yes Derek has been back in hospital this week & yes there's such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible.'

It was also reported that Kate was planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a 'final hope' to help her husband.

MAY

Not Kate is reportedly facing a huge 716,000 tax bill after she was forced to close her husband's business two years after he became stricken with Covid-19.

The final total will be settled within the coming weeks, with friends insisting she will pay whatever is owed.

A friend told The Sun: 'The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process.

'When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that's owed.

'It's no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years.

'Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek's terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.'
Craig McLachlan has confessed that he attempted to take his own life after he was accused of assault.

In 2019, McLachlan was charged with seven counts of indecent assault, and six counts of common law assault, against four women who starred alongside him in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show. In 2020, he was cleared of all charges.

During a gripping episode of SAS Australia on Tuesday, the Doctor Blake star, 58, said he was driven to the extreme act when the allegations were made public.

'Talk about panic,' the star said of that fateful morning, as he took part in a death defying helicopter challenge on the show.

'On that morning of January the 8th, on 2018. I woke up, the phone was ringing, the news was everywhere,' he went on.

Craig McLachlan has confessed that he attempted to take his own life after he was accused of assault. Pictured

'He's a monster, he's a bully, he's a calculated predator. It's too easy to ruin your life like that. Where I found myself was in the darkest place imaginable.

'Making sure you don't jump off a balcony. I was sadly, contemplating the unimaginable,' Craig admitted.

'And I made a decision to do something. And in my haste, a miscalculation meant that I managed to get up out of bed the next day and keep soldiering on.'

During Monday's episode the day before, Craig fired up as he told host Ant Middleton about the heavy toll his indecent assault trial took on his career.

In 2019, McLachlan was charged with seven counts of indecent assault, and six counts of common law assault, against four women who starred alongside him in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show. In 2020, he was cleared of all charges

During a gripping episode of SAS Australia on Tuesday, the Doctor Blake star, 58, said that he was driven to the extreme act when the allegations were made public. 'Talk about panic,' the star said of that fateful morning, as he took part in a death defying helicopter challenge

'Where I found myself was in the darkest place imaginable. Making sure you don't jump off a balcony. I was sadly, contemplating the unimaginable,' Craig admitted

'And I made a decision to do something. And in my haste, a miscalculation meant that I managed to get up out of bed the next day and keep soldiering on,' he added

'When I started on Neighbours, I was in people's lounge rooms night after night, day after day,' he told SAS producers.

'But there was something that happened about five years ago that was shocking for the public and shocking for me.

'Craig McLachlan, disgraced actor. Workplace bully, monster,' he continued.

'So I'm here to exorcise some pretty extreme pain with some pretty extreme pain.'

McLachlan went on to admit he now suffers from 'extreme social anxiety'.

'I find it very difficult to trust situations where there are a lot of people, especially women,' he said.

Craig admitted he finds it hard to trust women during the gripping season premiere of SAS Australia on Monday

The Doctor Blake star, 58, fired up when told host Ant Middleton (pictured) about the heavy toll his indecent assault trial took on his career

'I'm more anxious about being in a new group of people than I am about climbing up the side of a mountain. I know that sounds bizarre, but for me, I'm afraid it's true,' he added.

He went on to admit that many people he once called friends had disappeared from his life.

'People who only months before looked me in the eye and said you create the most wonderful work environments imaginable... abandonment, total abandonment,' he told Middleton.

'A tiny handful of courageous people I have friendships with over 30 years were always there, but the vast majority - gone.'

McLachlan went on to admit he now suffers from 'extreme social anxiety'. 'I find it very difficult to trust situations where there are a lot of people, especially women,' he said

'I'm more anxious about being in a new group of people than I am about climbing up the side of a mountain. I know that sounds bizarre, but for me, I'm afraid it's true,' he added

McLachlan, was charged with assault and indecent assault over complaints from female co-stars in a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show in Melbourne in 2014, during which he played the role of Frank-N-Furter.

He was later handed a $500,000 payout in April of this year, after he was acquitted of his assault charges.

He strongly denied the allegations against him.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington found him not guilty of 13 charges following a four-week contested hearing in the Victorian Melbourne Magistrates Court in December 2020.

For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Two high profile SAS Australia contestants walked out on the show during Tuesday's dramatic episode.

Balinese princess Lindy Klim and convicted drug smuggler 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury both decided to call it quits.

Lindy struggled through the second day of challenges and admitted she was 'completely out her comfort zone' but said she was proud of her efforts regardless.

'I hate sand, and I hate being dirty, and I hate camping. I feel quite chuffed that I managed to get through two days, so I feel good,' she said as she left.

Earlier, Lindy had a rough time during the helicopter challenge, and called herself a 'Karen' who needs her comforts.

Two high profile SAS Australia contestants walked out on the show during Tuesday's dramatic episode. Balinese princess Lindy Klim (pictured) and convicted drug smuggler 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury both decided to call it quits

Those included listening to podcasts, playing whale sounds and wearing an eye mask to fall asleep.

Cassie also departed, after being unable to face a challenge in which she had to crawl through a tunnel filled with water.

She worried that the cold, dark, confined space would remind herself too much of her stint in a Colombian jail, and refused to see it through.

After telling the Directing Staff that she was quitting, Cassie said she was leaving behind her 'Cocaine Cassie' nickname on the show.

Lindy struggled through the second day of challenges and admitted she was 'completely out her comfort zone' but said she was proud of her efforts regardless

Earlier, Lindy had a rough time during the helicopter challenge, and called herself a 'Karen' who needs her comforts

Cassie also departed, after being unable to face a challenge in which she had to crawl through a tunnel filled with water

After telling the Directing Staff that she was quitting, Cassie said she was leaving behind her 'Cocaine Cassie' nickname on the show

'When I leave the SAS course, "Cocaine Cassie" dies there. That's it. She doesn't follow me around anymore,' Cassie said

'It is one of the first times in a long time that I feel proud of myself in the sense of facing everything that I didn't ever want to see again.

'When I leave the SAS course, "Cocaine Cassie" dies there. That's it. She doesn't follow me around anymore.

'I'm just Cassie, but I am the Cassie who has gone through a lot. I've come out the other side stronger, with more resilience, and I hope to be able to prove everyone wrong,' she added.

She bid farewell to the camp, saying a final, "See you Cocaine Cassie" as she left.
Ruby Tuesday Matthews has shared an alarming cosmetic concern with her fans.

The influencer, 30, posted a video to Instagram on Tuesday where she revealed she was worried after noticing she had bags under her eyes.

The brunette beauty looks downbeat in the video filmed from her car as she provides the distressing update.

'I have just dropped the kids to school and that is a serious bag. I only get one bag under one eye,' she began.

The brunette beauty then revealed she needed to drink two cups of coffee to make it through the day.

Ruby Tuesday Matthews (pictured) has shared an alarming cosmetic concern with her fans. The influencer, 30, posted a video to Instagram on Tuesday where she revealed she was worried after noticing she had bags under her eyes

The brunette beauty looked downbeat in the video filmed from her car as she provided fans with the distressing update. 'I have just dropped the kids to school and that is a serious bag. I only get one bag under one eye,' she began. Pictured: Ruby with her three kids

'I have two long blacks a day. I need it or I would be non-responsive,' she continued.

Ruby certainly has her hands full after welcoming her third child in September 2022.

In August, Matthews revealed she is still getting used to having three children under the age of five years old.

She posted a video to her Instagram story discussing how difficult it is looking after three young children while sick.

She captioned the clip: 'Becoming a mum is realising being sick alone is a luxury.'

In the video, she explained that she has been suffering from a bad cold, but has to continue to look after her three children Rocket, five, Mars, four, and Holiday, 11 months.

The brunette beauty then revealed she needed to drink two cups of coffee to make it through the day

Ruby certainly has her hands full after welcoming her third child in September 2022

Ruby shares her two eldest children with her ex Ryan Heywood, and youngest, Holiday, with fiance Shannan Dodd.

Rumours were recently swirling that Ruby and Shannan had split up, but the influencer quashed them earlier this year when she shared several photos celebrating his birthday.

'Happy birthday Dadzy. We love you,' Ruby wrote alongside the cute snaps.

It comes after she was forced to deny that she and Shannan had split, after rumours swirled they had called time on their relationship.
Fiona Bruce has been pictured in public for the first time since becoming embroiled in a BBC Question Time race row after she described an audience member as 'the black guy'.

On Thursday night's episode of the BBC One show, the presenter asked Roberto Gocan, 35, from the audience to put his question to the panel - but her racial description was edited out when it was uploaded to iPlayer.

She has since apologised for causing offence and has personally phoned Gocan, saying it was 'wrong to identify him as I did'.

Bruce, 59, was snapped leaving a restaurant in Soho, London on Monday night after going for a meal with a friend for the first time since the row began.

Her arm was still in a sling after breaking her arm during a nasty fall from a horse, which also gave her a nasty black eye.

Out and about: Fiona Bruce has been pictured in public for the first time since becoming embroiled in a BBC Question Time race row

Smiling: Bruce, 59, was snapped leaving a restaurant in Soho, London on Monday night after going for a meal with a friend

She kept it casual by pairing a blazer with a pair of trainers while opting for minimal make-up compared to the heavy make-up for the Question Time studio.

It comes after Roberto Gocan - the man in the Question Time audience - came forward, wanting to know why the broadcaster deleted the clip.

Ms Bruce called him at 10.50am on Friday after the row blew up.

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'Im not going to speak too much about the conversation we had. But she called me personally and I do rate her for that.'

During the live broadcast, there did not appear to be an immediate reaction to her comment by the man in question or anybody else in the audience. However, the remarks drew fury from some on social media.

On Facebook, Mr Gocan himself questioned why the clip had been deleted. He wrote: ' Dear BBC, Why did you cut out Fiona Bruce saying "the black guy in the middle" in the BBC One showing of BBC Question Time last night?

'It was audible on the live showing on BBC iPlayer. Why edit it if you think she said nothing wrong?

'Yours Sincerely, The guy in the blue top.'

Mr Roberto said the situation 'took him back' because he wasn't expecting it.

Evening out: She kept it casual by pairing with a pair of trainers while opting for minimal make-up compared to the heavy make-up for the Question Time studio

Injury: Her arm was still in a sling after breaking her arm during a nasty fall from a horse, which also gave her a nasty black eye

Controversy: Bruce has been involved in a 'racism row' since Thursday night's Question Time episode

Row: In Thursday night's broadcast of the show on BBC One, the host asked Roberto Gocan (pictured) from the audience to put his question to the panel

Topical news panel show Question Time has been thrown into a race row after the BBC deleted a clip of Fiona Bruce (pictured) referring to an audience member as a 'black guy'

Mr Gocan said: 'Im not going to speak too much about the conversation we had. But she called me personally and I do rate her for that'

On Facebook , Mr Gocan himself questioned why the clip had been deleted by the BBC

He added: 'I remember thinking at the time that everyone else was being described by what they were wearing, glasses and clothing. But then it all moved on so quickly.'

'I remember talking to a family member later in the evening about the show and saying that I was going to watch it back to check that Id heard right. But that part was edited out of the show,' he said.

Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal posted the original clip on X, formerly Twitter, writing: 'Let's hear from the 'black guy''.

She had asked the audience in Wolverhampton: 'Is it right to ban mobile phones in schools?'

The BBC presenter, whose arm was in a sling after she fell off her horse, took a question wearing a 'colourful top' and when asking for input from another audience member pointed to a 'guy there in the middle... the black guy in the middle, yes you, sir.'

No one in the studio made a reaction to the comment and the audience member then asked a question about limiting mobile use in schools as well as government funding.

In the version of the programme uploaded to BBC iPlayer, Bruce says, 'the guy in the middle, yes you, sir', with the 'black guy' description removed.

Fiona Bruce pictured today with a black eye and her arm in a sling after she fell off her horse in a recent accident

On Facebook , Mr Gocan himself questioned why the clip had been deleted in a post addressed to the BBC, he ended it with ''=Yours Sincerely, The guy in the blue top'

The BBC have since confirmed that Ms Bruce's comment had been edited out and she has since directly apologised to the audience member. The presenter said: 'I totally understand why my words last night caused offence and I apologise.

'I have spoken to the audience member directly and explained that usually I can see and describe an item of clothing or otherwise to help sound engineers with a microphone find people in the audience.

'Last night that was not the case as my view was obscured. In the split second I had, the easiest thing to do would have been to ignore the audience member and move on, but I felt strongly that his voice should be heard.

'Nonetheless, I feel it was wrong to identify him as I did and that's why it was removed from the later edited programme.'

Ms Bruce's personal apology to the member of the audience is understood to have been positively received.

Mr Roberto said the situation on Question Time 'took him back' because he wasn't expecting it

Sitting on the panel on last night's Question Time were (left to right) journalist and author and Tony Parsons, writer Emma Dabiri Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth, host Fiona Bruce, Transport Minister Richard Holden and Iceland supermarket executive Richard Walker

Ms Bruce's personal apology to the member of the audience is understood to have been positively received

A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'We regret the choice of words used to identify the audience member.

'The intent was to ensure his voice was heard, however we recognise we should not have identified him in this way and apologise for any offence caused.

'As such the recorded version on iPlayer has been edited to remove this.'

Sitting on the panel on last night's Question Time were Transport Minister Richard Holden, Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth, writer Emma Dabiri, Iceland supermarket executive Richard Walker and journalist and author Tony Parsons.
Myer hosted its Our Summer event on Tuesday, with a host of celebrities, designers, beauty influencers in attendance.

Nadia Bartel cut a sleek figure as she led arrivals at the department store's 'styling suite' in celebration of its summer campaign.

The fashion designer stunned in two chic all black looks that contrasted elegantly with the bright orange background of the scene.

Her first look was a black top paired with a long black skirt showing a hint of midriff'

The second look featured stylish black pants and a sleeveless button up jacket. She paired both outfits with chunky black sandals.

Nadia Bartel cut a sleek figure as she led arrivals at the department store's 'styling suite' in celebration of its summer campaign. Pictured

Also in attendance was Married At First Sight bride Martha Kalifatidis.

The reality star opted for loose-fitting black jeans, sneakers, a black top, and a old school trench coat.

Former Big Brother housemate Tully Smyth embodied the spirit of a summer sunset in a pink and orange textured dress.

Meanwhile, MasterChef star Khanh Ong turned up in a head to toe in linen look, comprising of white pants and a delicate summer-ready lace-like shirt.

It comes as Myer announced it had hired Lara Worthington as a new brand ambassador earlier this month.

Myer are banking on the beauty to bring in young consumers, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The model, 36, has become the face of Myer's spring summer campaign, with the hopes that she will be a drawcard for the department store, as she has been for labels Atoir and Local Supply.

Lara models items from Country Road, Witchery, Ralph Lauren and Basque as part of the gig.

Fashion commentator Kellie Hush told the publication that Lara has a unique appeal.

Also in attendance was Married At First Sight bride Martha Kalifatidis. Pictured

Former Big Brother housemate Tully Smyth embodied the spirit of a summer sunset in a pink and orange textured dress. Pictured

Meanwhile, MasterChef star Khanh Ong turned up in a head to toe in linen look, comprising of white pants and a delicate summer-ready lace-like shirt. Pictured

Lara Worthington has become known as a fashion icon. And Myer are banking on the beauty to bring in young consumers, the Daily Telegraph has reported. Pictured alongside Cody Simpson

'She is the girl-next-door living a global lifestyle wearing the most incredible fashion,' she said.

'But she's equally amazing in jeans and a T-shirt running after her little boys,' Hush went on.

'Her realness, combined with incredible beauty, is what makes her so marketable.'

It comes after Lara shocked fans earlier this month when she unveiled her new edgy hairstyle.

While Lara has been sporting shorter hair for some time now, she has cut another few inches off.

Lara's hair now sits just below her ears, and she appeared delighted with her new look in a selfie she posted to Instagram.

The blonde beauty splits her time living in New York and Sydney with husband Sam Worthington and their three children.
They've recently relocated back to the UK to be closer to family after a stint in America.

And James Corden, 45, and his wife Julia Carey, 43, looked very much in love when they enjoyed a romantic stroll around Primrose hill on Monday.

The couple, who married in September 2012, have three children together, Max, 11, Carey, 8, and Charlotte, 5.

James and Julia were seen giving each other a big cuddle throughout their sunny stroll.

They also held hands and were pictured kissing one another before heading off to pick up some coffee and a juice.

Loving life: James Corden and Julia Carey looked very loved-up during a romantic stroll in Primrose hill on Monday

So in love: They embraced one another as they enjoyed their time in the autumnal sunshine

Well-matched: James was casually dressed for the outing, wearing a navy blue jumper and jeans Julia teamed her jeans and trainers with a padded jacket which had a rainbow motif on the back

James was casually dressed for the outing, wearing a navy blue jumper and jeans

Julia teamed her jeans and trainers with a padded jacket which had a rainbow motif on the back.

James lived in southern California for eight years while serving as host of The Late Late Show With James Corden.

It aired its last episode in April 2023 and James subsequently moved back to London with Julia and their three children.

James now appears to be taking a break from showbiz as he has no scheduled appearances in film or television.

The TV personality and his wife are looking to make London home once again by building a new home on the plot of a 1960s property.

James and Julia have been given the green light to demolish an the 8million pad and replace it with a modern six-bedroom home, complete with an outdoor pool, sauna and steam room.

Sweet moments: The couple held hands as they enjoyed some time together

Smiling: James appears happier than ever since relocating back to London to be nearer family

Hpapy days: James and Julia have been given the green light to demolish an the 8million pad and replace it with a modern six-bedroom home, complete with an outdoor pool, sauna and steam room

Love: James nuzzled into Julia's neck - the couple have been married since 2012

We are family: They have three children together, Max, 11, Carey, 8, and Charlotte, 5

Great times: James had a big smile on his face when he caught up with a cyclist pal
Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa filmed gripping gunpoint scenes on a rooftop in Venice for In The Hand Of Dante.

The actress, 38, was seen pointing her revolver at the Aquaman star, 44, who also had a pistol while Oscar Isaac, 44, who had a gag in his mouth, lay tied up at her feet.

As the cameras rolled, the Hollywood stars got into character.

Gal had a worried expression as she clasped the gun with both hands as Jason, who rocked a white suit, edged nearer and pulled out a bigger rifle.

The film follows the story of a priest who has discovered the rarest and most valuable art object ever found.

Action packed: Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa filmed gripping gunpoint scenes on a rooftop in Venice for In The Hand Of Dante

Hold your hands up! The actress, 38, was seen pointing her revolver at the Aquaman star, 44, who also had a pistol while Oscar Isaac, 44, who had a gag in his mouth, lay tied up at her feet

Drama: As the cameras rolled, the Hollywood stars got into character

The film, directed by Julian Schnabel, is in early production and character details are yet to be revealed.

Gal and Jason were pictured filming the lead up to the tense shoot out last week with fake bullets flying as they ran up to the top of the rooftop for the showdown.

Johnny Depp purchased the film rights of the Nick Tosches novel in 2008 but has opted out of featuring in the movie, with Oscar taking his place instead.

The book interweaves two different stories, one storyline is set in the 14th century in Italy and Sicily and featuring Dante Alighieri, while the other is set in the autumn of 2001 and featuring a fictionalised version of Nick Tosches as the protagonist.

The historical and modern stories alternate.

Dante tries to finish writing his magnum opus and goes on a journey for mystical knowledge in Sicily.

Meanwhile, Dante expert Nick is called in by black market traders to attest to the authenticity of a manuscript of The Divine Comedy said to be written by Dante himself.

Face off: Gal had a worried expression as she clasped the gun with both hands as Jason, who rocked a white suit, edged nearer

Snapping out of character: Gal giggled as she struggled to gain her composure during the confrontation

Character: Despite the actress' demure outfit, she had a gun in her hand hinting her character is more complex than first thought

Suspense building: The nail-biting scenes saw the cast film on the rooftop

Plot: The film follows the story of a priest who has discovered the rarest and most valuable art object ever found

Held hostage: Jason pointed his gun at Oscar, who was tied and gagged

As well as Jason's role in the film, he is set to co-star with Dave Bautista in an upcoming comedy action movie, with the same director as Blue Beetle.

Angel Manuel Soto is leading the production for The Wrecking Crew, with deals for the two actors agreed prior to the acting union strikes and the script written before the writers' strikes.

The writer and actors' strikes began in June and July respectively.

Plot details about the new comedy are being kept quiet, but it is expected to be a 'buddy action comedy'.

This comes almost two years after Bautista tweeted the pair should star in a 'buddy cop' movie together.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy star said: 'Just going to throw this out into the atmosphere and see what happens. Here we go...

'Me and Momoa in a Lethal Weapon type buddy cop movie directed by David Leitch. Ok! There it is. Now we wait.'

The two met while working together on sci-fi action series See, and also starred alongside one another in Dune in 2021.

Momoa later shared his co-star's sentiment, speaking on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

He said: 'We love each other, you know, obviously we met on See, we're on Dune together, so I said "absolutely."

'It sells itself. Dave loves wearing speedos. I love wearing board shorts. Both of us with our shirts off. Buddy cop film. He'll be grumpy, I'll be charming. Boom. It sells itself.'

One to watch: The film, directed by Julian Schnabel, is in early production and character details are yet to be revealed

Getting the big guns out: Jason then produced an even bigger gun

At a height: The cast filmed right on the edge of the rooftop with the river below

Friendly: Jason was seen giving a hug

Having fun: Gal looked like she having a blast

Action: Oscar was later pictured filming an alfresco restaurant scene

Filming: Gal blew a kiss at the restaurant

Cameras rolling: The actress rocked a Kate Moss T-shirt as she stood near extras
Keith Richards has admitted his arthritis now affects his guitar playing and age is slowing him down.

The Rolling Stones rocker, 79, and his bandmates are releasing a new album for the first time in 18 years called Hackney Diamonds, which will feature the likes of Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder.

The Kent-born musician is still as lively as ever on stage and the Stones performed a sensational 60th anniversary tour last year.

But although he insisted everybody in the band is still in 'good fettle', Richards admitted he has been forced to change the way he plays the guitar as he has grown older.

Speaking about the way his arthritis affects his musicianship, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: 'Funnily enough, I've no doubt it has, but I don't have any pain: it's sort of a benign version.

It's Only Rock n Roll: Keith Richards has admitted his arthritis now affects his guitar playing and age is slowing him down (pictured on stage in 2022)

Heyday: Richards pictured performing in London in July 1974

'I think if I've slowed down a little bit it's probably due more to age.'

But has found a way to adapt so he can continue performing.

Richards continued: 'Also I found that interesting, when I'm like "I can't quite do that anymore," the guitar will show me there's another way of doing this. Some finger will go one space different and there's a whole new door just opened there.'

The new album will also be the band's first since drummer Charlie Watts died in 2021 and was suggested by frontman Mick Jagger after the tour.

Richards was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as fourth on its list of 100 best guitarists in 2011.

The rock n roll persona, who favours the acoustic guitar, would sometimes play all the guitar parts in a song, most notably in Paint It Black, Ruby Tuesday and Sympathy for the Devil.

In March 2022 Richards revealed he was feeling 'fitter than ever' ahead of the band's 60th anniversary tour after he finally quit smoking after 55 years.

He told how during rehearsals for the shows he felt like he had 'more air in his lungs and voice' after giving up the unhealthy habit.

Still got it: The Kent-born musician is still as lively as ever on stage and the Stones performed a sensational 60th anniversary tour last year (pictured: Sir Mick Jagger and Richards)

Superstar: Richards was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as fourth on its list of 100 best guitarists in 2011

He told CBS' Sunday Morning: 'I didn't notice things until I started rehearsing for the tour last year and when I started working, I noticed I had more air in the lungs and in the voice.'

Keith has been known for his wild partying, heavy drinking and drug use as well as smoking.

He gave up his heroin habit in 1978 and eventually stopped using cocaine after an accident in 2006 in which he fell out of a tree, requiring brain surgery and a metal plate in his skull.

'I've given up everything now - which is a trip in itself', he said afterwards.

But he also joked the secret to his longevity was treating his body like a 'temple' by only taking 'high quality drugs'.

He said in his memoir Life: 'When I was taking dope, I was fully convinced that my body is my temple. I can do anything I want with it and nobody can tell me yea or nay.'

He had a decade-long love affair with heroin and was also a heavy cocaine user.

But he explained in his memoir why he thinks he survived while many of his peers overdosed and died at an early age.

He wrote: 'It's not only the high quality of drugs I had that I attribute my survival to. I was very meticulous about how much I took. I'd never put more in to get a little higher.

'That's where most people f*** up on drugs. It's the greed involved that never really affected me.'

Together: Keith has been known for his wild partying, heavy drinking and drug use as well as smoking (pictured with the band in 1964)

Habit: Keith Richards previously revealed that he's feeling fitter than ever after quitting smoking

But the comparatively more sedate lifestyle still could not keep him out of the way of some unexpected injuries.

In 1998, while on a break in their Bridges to Babylon tour, Richards slipped and fell off a ladder while trying to retrieve a book in the library of his Westchester, Connecticut mansion.

He broke three ribs from the impact and after being hit by books on the floor.

'It was one of those moments where you have to make a decision: take it in the ribs or take a shot in the temple on the desk. All part of life's rich pageant,' he said later.

There were even fears he had punctured a lung when he fell while stretching amid the library's floor-to-ceiling shelves. The NME reported at the time that his agent said he 'had not been drinking'.

Richards' recovery from the fall forced the band to reschedule upcoming tour dates in Berlin, Munich and Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and in Zagreb, Croatia.

When asked later about whether the fall had made him think about quitting the Stones' extensive touring schedule, Richards replied: 'Retire? I can't spell the word. I'd play on in a wheelchair. This is what we do. Otherwise, what's life all about?'

In addition, hot off the Pacific leg of their record-breaking A Bigger Bang Tour in 2006, Richards and Ronnie Wood took their wives for a week-long break on an island off Fiji to recover ahead of shows in Italy.

After an afternoon of swimming at their exclusive resort, Richards perched himself on a tree - described as a 'gnarled low tree that was basically a horizontal branch' only a few feet off the ground.

Group: The new album will be the band's first release since the death of drummer Charlie Watts (left) last August, aged 80

But as he tried to jump down and head for lunch, he slipped and hit his head on the trunk, 'hard'.

Richards claimed not to have felt much at the time, until days later he suffered from a 'blinding headache' while out on a boat ride. The same night, his wife Patti Hansen woke up to Richards having seizures in bed and called for medical help.

He was then flown on an excruciating four-hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand where it was discovered Richards had cracked his skull open and had a potentially fatal blood clot on his brain.

Referring to the journey in his book Life, Richards called the flight 'the worst of my life', adding: 'They strapped me in a straight jacket on a stretcher... I couldn't move. I was cursing the motherf*****. 'Give me painkillers, for Christ's sake'.'

He underwent a successful cranial surgery with hospital neurosurgeon Dr Andrew Law.

'I woke up feeling great,' Richards said. 'And I said, 'Well, when are you going to start?' to which Law said, 'It's all done, mate.''

The incident delayed the Rolling Stones' 2006 European tour by six weeks and forced the band to reschedule several shows. In a brief statement on returning to the tour, Richards said it was good to be back and apologised for 'falling off my perch'.

Though visibly more frail as he recovered, Richards completed the next 40 scheduled shows that year, and kept Dr Law (his 'head man') by his side.

When the band returned to New Zealand on their '14 On Fire' tour in 2014, Richards was reunited backstage with Dr Law and thanked him for tending to his 'tree-induced ills'.

The incident is said to have also precipitated the end of Richards' drug-taking days and wild partying.
Adriano Zumbo and his reality star wife Nelly Riggio have welcomed a son.

The dessert king, 41, and Nelly, 32, announced the joyful news on Instagram on Tuesday evening by sharing a precious black and white photo.

In the image, their bundle of joy is seen lying in his hospital crib with an identification tag wrapped around his little ankle.

They kept the sentiments short and sweet, adding a love heart emoji next to the adorable photo,

The couple did not reveal their bub's name.

Adriano Zumbo and his reality star wife Nelly Riggio have welcomed a son. Both pictured

The dessert king, 41, and Nelly, 32, announced the joyful news on Instagram on Tuesday evening by sharing a precious black and white photo

The couple's glorious news was soon inundated with well-wishers from their celebrity friends.

'Congratulations!' wrote MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong.

'Whoooo!' gushed Sydney dessert queen Katherine Sabbath.

'Congratulations on your beautiful addition to your family,' added star pastry chef Kirsten Tibballs.

The couple announced they were expecting their first child in May.

The pair shared the exciting news to their Instagram pages on Mother's Day, alongside a photo of Nelly's growing baby bump.

'We are baking something very special Most definitely our greatest creation yet. Little baby macaron due November,' they captioned the sweet post.

In the photo, Adriano wrapped his arms around his wife while holding a green macaron in front of her bump.

They kept the sentiments short and sweet, adding a love heart emoji next to the adorable photo, The couple did not reveal their bub's name

The couple's glorious news was soon inundated with well-wishers from their celebrity friends

The announcement came just one year after the pair tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

The couple, who went public with their romance in 2017 after Nelly starred on My Kitchen Rules with then-boyfriend JP Huillet in 2016, exchanged vows at Tiffany's at Maleny with views of the stunning Glass House Mountains in May last year.

In May 2021, Nelly announced her engagement to the pastry chef, sharing the happy news to her Instagram page.

Adriano and Nelly made headlines in 2016 when they began dating shortly after they started working together.
The View host Sunny Hostin has revealed for the first time that her 17-year-old daughter suffers from a rare disability, while opening up about the 'struggle' her family has faced as a result of the teen's condition.

Appearing on a new episode of The View's Behind the Table podcast, the 54-year-old revealed that her daughter Paloma, now 17, was born with Brown syndrome - a rare condition which limits the movement of the tendon that attaches to the outside of the eye.

Sunny said her daughter has special devices to help her read, as she declared: 'It's not anything to be ashamed of.'

'Paloma has something called Brown's disease, that I don't think I've ever shared publicly, but I will share it,' she said.

'She was born with it and it's an eye condition where your eyes... there are muscles in your eyes and one is shorter than the other, and so when you're reading, you can't track and that's pretty difficult because one eye moves one way, and one eye moves another way.'

The View host Sunny Hostin, 54, has spoken about her daughter Paloma's disability publicly for the first time

The TV star confirmed that her 17-year-old daughter has a condition called 'Brown's disease'

Brown Syndrome is an disorder characterized by defects in eye movements and Sunny said it can make reading 'pretty difficult for her daughter

What is eye disorder Brown Syndrome? Brown Syndrome is a rare eye disorder characterized by defects in eye movements and is a problem with the tendon that attaches to the outside of the eye (superior oblique muscle tendon). In Brown syndrome, this tendon can't move freely and this limits the eyes normal movements. The superior oblique muscle tendon attaches to the superior oblique muscle. It moves through a ring of tissue and this is called the tendon sheath. The symptoms of Brown Syndrome are caused by abnormalities of this tendon sheath including shortening, thickening, or inflammation. This results in the inability to move the affected eye upward. This disorder may be present at birth or may occur as the result of another underlying disorder. Advertisement

She continued: 'It causes her to need about two to three times the amount to read the same thing that it would take an average child, because she has a tracking tool that she uses and all of these things.'

Sunny, who also has son Gabriel, 21, with her husband Emmanuel, opened up about the condition as she addressed the moment Paloma rang her live on air midway through an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, on Monday.

She said: 'I've worked for about six months to get her an accommodation so that she could get longer time on her ACTs for reading, she just needs the extra time. And she just got her ACT score back and she just scored in the top ten per cent of the country and so she forgot and she immediately texted.'

Sunny, who switched her phone off when it started ringing mid-interview, confirmed she turned it back on during the commercial break to see a text message from Paloma.

'She finally got her accommodation!' Sunny said, sounding delighted. 'Children that have certain disabilities, you know it's not anything to be ashamed of and we're not ashamed of it. We've been advocates for her and she blew it out of the water and that is why my phone rang!'

The author went on to admit that Paloma was 'mortified' when she realized she had tried to call her mom during an interview with The Terminator actor, and stated that she has instructed her kids not to call her between 11am and midday.

'The only reason I have my phone at all with me for this one hour of television is because of the children, it's the only reason,' Sunny told executive producer Brian Teta.

'And I have it set so that the only time it rings is if it's Paloma or Gabriel. They have been instructed that they cannot call me between 11 and 12. If they text me, I hear a little ding and then at least I can look at the text and that's pretty imperceptible, I don't think you've heard the ding because they've dinged me during the show.'

Brown syndrome can be genetic and causes the muscle tendon to be abnormally short or thick from birth. In most cases it only affects one eye, causing it to pull down or inwards.

The TV star and her husband recently waved Gabriel off to college, which she admitted was 'so hard'.

Sunny pictured with her 21-year-old son Gabriel and her daughter Paloma

The mother-of-two stated that Paloma's disability is 'not anything to be ashamed of'

Sunny's husband Emmanuel Hostin pictured with their daughter Paloma in a post shared in February 2023

Sunny sparked a debate online last month when she was accused of making a 'harsh' comment about one of her son's ex-girlfriends

Posting several photos on Instagram of the moment they moved him into his college dorm at the beginning of September, Sunny wrote: 'Junior Year move in day for Gabriel. I cannot believe its still so hard to drive away. Have a great year sweetheart. Sigh.'

In one sweet snap, Emmanuel was seen hanging some artwork on the wall for their son, and in another shot, the three of them cozied up for a cute family selfie.

A few weeks later, Sunny sparked an intriguing relationship debate online on after she made a 'horrible' comment about one of her son's ex-girlfriends.

The lawyer described one of Gabriel's exes as 'manipulative' because she claimed to have read Sunny's 2020 memoir and viewers weren't overly impressed with her comment.

'Wow! Sunny is harsh on her son's girlfriends! #TheView,' one person accused, while another wrote on X: 'Im not surprised Sunny doesnt like her sons girlfriends #TheView.'

A third viewer asked: 'Why do Mothers think its cute to be horrible to whomever their son is dating young/younger girls?! Sunny?! #TheView.'

A fourth person claimed: 'No woman will ever be good enough for Sunnys Gabriel. @TheView #TheView,' while a fellow mother agreed with the host and commented: '@sunny I see through it... These girls getting close to mom. #theview.'
Carey Mulligan looks incredible in a series of new images for the November issue of Vogue.

Carey, 38, stands out in a red Gucci dress which has a blue ribbon at the waist and appears on the cover wearing a Louis Vuitton dress and a Tiffany brooch.

Her latest project outside of the fashion world sees her plays Leonard Bernsteins wife, Felicia Montealegre, in new movie, Maestro, a 2023 American biographical drama film that centers on the relationship between the pair.

Bernstein is played by Bradley Cooper, 48, who also directed the movie and cast Carey in the part.

The Oscar winner's makeup, which included a prosthetic nose to play the Jewish icon was recently slammed as 'Jewface'.

Knock-out! Carey Mulligan looked sensational in a new Vogue shoot as she discussed her 'soul-baring' relationship with Bradley Cooper and the REAL reason he cast her in Maestro

Love: Her latest project outside of the fashion world sees her plays Leonard Bernsteins wife, Felicia Montealegre, in new movie, Maestro, a 2023 American biographical drama film

Controversy: Bradley's makeup included a prosthetic nose to play the Jewish icon and recently slammed as 'Jewface '

Authentic: And while Carey didn't address the controversy during the interview, she spoke about the real-life couple's union (pictured: Bernstein and his wife Felicia in 1959)

And while Carey didn't address the controversy during the interview, she spoke about the real-life couple's union.

Carey said: 'Their connection was profound. They lit each other up. You can hear it.

'There are tapes of them trading anecdotes and its like theyre dancing.'

The arrangement may have been unorthodox, in that Montealegre accepted her husbands affairs, but Carey insists there was more to the story, saying love was a supernatural attunement to each other.

She insists: 'This was the most intense preparation Ive ever done for a film, Mulligan continues. There was the technical stuffnailing Felicias accent and bearingbut most vital, she says, was tapping into the Felicia-Lenny connection.'

Carey said that she and Bradley had their own way of gaining their connection for the movie.

Operating well outside her usual instinctive process, Mulligan joined Cooper for a five-day 'dream workshop.'

Shaking her head, she said: 'I guess Bradleys been doing this kind of thing forever, using your dreams to connect your subconscious to the characters, but it was new to me. But I had to go all in.'

A new way of doing things: Operating well outside her usual instinctive process, Mulligan joined Cooper for a five-day 'dream workshop'

Shaking her head, she said: 'I guess Bradleys been doing this kind of thing forever, using your dreams to connect your subconscious to the characters, but it was new to me. But I had to go all in'

How did it come about? During the interview, it becomes clear while Bradley had Carey in his sights for his project after seeing her at a performance of Dennis Kellys one-woman show when the stage curtain fell on her head but she carried on regardless

And in an interview Vogue conducted with Bradley prior to the actors' strike, he said: 'I knew her ability. All I asked of her was to please do the prep with me; I said, "Will you go down this road where were basically going to bare our souls to each other?"

'And she was like, "Okay, lets do it, Im game".'

During the interview, it becomes clear while Bradley had Carey in his sights for his project after seeing her at a performance of Dennis Kellys one-woman show.

Bradley was in the audience when the gigantic stage curtain fell on Mulligans head.

She crawled out from underneath it and got on with the show. Right after she took her final bow, Cooper rushed backstage, finding Mulligan dazed and likely concussed.

He demanded they go straight to the hospital. Which they did, but it's thought the incident stuck with Cooper, and that its moral was: Carey Mulligan does not quit.

Maestro  also starring Sarah Silverman, Matt Bomer, and Maya Hawke  releases in theaters on Nov. 22, followed by a Netflix streaming premiere on December 20.

Vogue's November 2023 issue is available on newsstands nationwide on October 24th.
Josie Gibson was left shocked by Mr Motivator's real age as he made an appearance on Tuesday's This Morning.

The presenter, 38, was joined by the fitness instructor, 70, - real name Derrick Errol Evans - who candidly spoke about his mental health and previous homelessness.

First off Josie questioned the star: 'Mr Motivator, I know you shouldn't speak about somebody's age but I have got to ask how old are you?

'You don't look any different from when I used to dance along to you on a morning.

He then replied: 'Well I'm 71 next month.'

Youthful: Josie Gibson was left shocked by Mr Motivator's real age as he made an appearance on Tuesday's This Morning

Opening up: The presenter, 38, was joined by the fitness instructor, 70, - real name Derrick Errol Evans - who candidly spoke about his mental health and previous homelessness

A stunned Josie then gushed: 'You do not look a touch of 71, you look fabulous!'

Viewers at home also couldn't believe Mr Motivator's age, and took to social media to share their surprise.

One said: 'Great to see Mr motivator back on the Telly he doesn't age dose he!'

Another added: '71? Looking good!'

Another penned: 'He looks great for 71', while a fourth asked: 'How does Mr Motivator still look the same as the GMTV days.'

Mr Motivator burst into the spotlight in 1993 as the health and fitness guru on GMTV, leading the nation in their early morning workout sessions.

During the chat he opened up about mental health and his previous homelessness as he told how the dark times have made him who he is today.

He explained: 'When I was down in the barrels in the early days and struggling away you never addressed mental health ever.

'I used to work for Mind the charity and they couldn't get people to donate because families didn't want to admit someone was depressed.

First off Josie questioned the star: 'Mr Motivator, I know you shouldn't speak about somebody's age but I have got to ask how old are you?'

In shock! He then replied: 'Well I'm 71 next month', which left Josie speechless and those at home impressed

Shocking: Viewers at home also couldn't believe Mr Motivator's age, and took to social media to share their surprise

'But I will admit in my family, my children have depression and you question it but it's to do with the hormone release.

'I know that when I was depressed I had to start focusing on me. I had to count my blessings, get myself up in the morning and tell yourself today will be a great day.

'If you practice being positive negativity doesn't come into the picture. The reason I don't dwell on it, on being given away at three months, on being homeless is because those are the foundations stones that made me who I am.'

Josie then questioned: 'You used to be homeless?'

He responded: 'Yes I used to be down by the Arsenal stadium I used to be outside the homeless family unit with my daughter on my arm waiting to be given somewhere to stay. Us and three of four families had to share the same bathroom.

'I get annoyed when I hear these really young motivational speakers talking about mental health and I just think you haven't lived! Every single mountain in front of me I can climb.'

Josie then added of her own experience: 'For me those worst times have got me to where best times and I have needed that!'

It comes after last month Mr Motivator delighted viewers as he returned to daytime TV for an interview on This Morning.

he wowed fans with his youthful looks and abundance of energy as he chatted with Holly Willoughby and Dermot O'Leary before demonstrating an exercise routine.

The lycra-loving legend revealed the key to his demeanour was his mindset, explaining: 'I know being positive every day means negativity doesn't affect me.

'If you practice being positive, you will always be positive.'

Again, he reflected on the period of time when he was homeless.

The Jamaican-born fitness expert said: 'I was living near Arsenal and I went to a homeless family unit and I'd sit outside, on my suitcase, waiting each day for them to give us somewhere to stay and to eat.

'But all through that I really kept hope alive. All of us are going to go through difficulties but it makes you appreciate when the good times come along.'

On his big break in breakfast television, he said: 'My goal was to transform the way we look at fitness. I didn't want it to all be sit-ups and burpees. I wanted it to be fun.'

Talking of his success, he continued: 'There was like a light-bulb moment when I got into fitness. I felt that this was my journey. I didn't know where I was going, I didn't know what doors it would open up.'

And he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as he revealed: 'Join me on the mission I'm on - which is to empower young people and older people - to realise, that as you get older, the greatest thing you can give yourself is an independent, healthier, view.'

Mr Motivator then slipped into his beloved lycra to perform a workout, rocking a red fishnet top, multi-coloured shorts, and an eye-catching bandana.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, during the segment, viewers called on the star to become a permanent fixture on the show.

Viewers shared: 'ITV need to bring back workout segment! I remember the days when Mr. Motivator got Britain moving during the '90s when he was on GMTV #ThisMorning';

'Every time I see Mr Motivator on TV my mood is instantly boosted #ThisMorning'; 'Okay Mr Motivator,Now you have my fullest attention'; 'Mr Motivator has made my morningBRING HIM BACK';

'Love Mr Motivator knackered now.. #ThisMorning'; 'Mr motivator needs to be on every week #thismorning'; '@MrMotivator should bring him back to morning tv # This morning#still looks the same'; 'Loved joining in with #mrmotivator on @thismorning - make him a regular'; 'My guy Mr. Motivator looks great at 70! #ThisMorning.'

While he's now a national treasure, Mr Motivator previously revealed that he faced resistance while trying to launch his TV career, as he was told he wouldn't appeal to viewers as a black man.

The Jamaican-born TV personality told the Radio Times: 'When I walked into my very first job interview and the guy said to me, "Why didnt you tell me you were black?", I replied, "Why didnt you tell me you were white?"

Icon: Mr Motivator burst into the spotlight in 1993 as the health and fitness guru on GMTV, leading the nation in their early morning workout sessions

Strong: During the chat he opened up about mental health and his previous homelessness as he told how the dark times have made him who he is today

Brave: He said: 'The reason I don't dwell on it, on being given away at three months, on being homeless is because those are the foundations stones that made me who I am'

Here he is: Last year, Mr Motivator was appointed an MBE by Prince William during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle for his service to fitness

'Later, When television came along, it took me ten years to get a break as an on-screen fitness trainer.

'Every time I went to the studios, the guys would say, "Look, for a white lady with two kids, a black guy on TV would never work." But I kept on persevering.'

Last year, Mr Motivator was appointed an MBE by Prince William during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle for his service to fitness.

When receiving the acclaimed award, The Duke of Cambridge urged him to 'keep what you're doing'  but rejected the offer of taking one of his trademark lycra outfits.
Heidi and her mini-me daughter Leni Klum were seen posing in revealing lingerie once again in new Instagram photos.

The 19-year-old budding model and the 50-year-old supermodel proved they are both in top shape as their abs were on display.

Heidi was in an ivory satin two piece set while her child was in a fuchsia lace set. The two are working for Italian lingerie company Intimissimi.

Five months ago the ladies debuted as spokespeople for the brand, but were met with fierce backlash.

Some fans felt uncomfortable with a mom posing in no clothing next to their teen child. One wrote: 'First thing I think of when I want to pose in my intimates: "my mom should be here!", with another replying: 'I know, kind of gross.'

Duo: Heidi and her mini-me daughter Leni Klum were seen posing in revealing lingerie once again in new Instagram photos. The 19-year-old budding model and the 50-year-old supermodel proved they are both in top shape as their abs were on display

With robe on: Heidi was in an ivory satin two piece set while her child was in a fuchsia lace set. The two are working for Italian lingerie company Intimissimi. Five months ago the ladies debuted as spokespeople for the brand, but were met with fierce backlash

Another follower typed: 'I would not be proud to show my daughter off in this way. I would feel embarrassed and sad.'

A third fan chimed: 'Somehow it's weird to see mother and daughter in underwear. I mean, how many were photographed like this with their mother.'

'It just looks weird', another added.

However, other followers gushed over the campaign calling Heidi and Leni 'beautiful' and that they were a 'gorgeous family'.

Intimissimi is an Italian clothing label founded in 1996, which specializes in bras, briefs, lingerie, vests, and pajamas for women and men.

Intimissimi clothing was sold through Victoria's Secret's in a third-party partnership arrangement.

Jennifer Lopez also models for the brand.

The day before Leni looked comfortable in front of the camera as she wore her blonde hair down in black lingerie.

Body by Leni: Leni posed in a revealing black lace lingerie over the weekend in Instagram photos

Heidi and Leni were also seen last week at an event.

It was an Intimissimi Dinner held in Berlin's Bode Museum in Germany.

Heidi showcased her sense of style in a fuchsia long-sleeved mini dress with a high collar and floral print.

Her daughter Leni, who is following in her mother's modelling footsteps, donned a daring black sheer bodysuit.

Heidi's mother Erda was also in attendance.

Leni's father is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, however Heidi's ex-husband Seal later adopted her in December 2009 when she was five.

Erna looked elegant in a black blazer which she paired with a leopard print top and a silver necklace.

Year after year, Heidi makes headlines with her unforgettable and over-the-top Halloween costumes - and this year is already shaping up to be no exception.

The catwalk queen teased her next haunting look on Thursday by sharing a clip of an artist sketching out a horror movie inspired poster featuring the model.

Lingerie on the purple carpet too: Leni and her mom Heidi at the Intimissimi Dinner held in Berlin's Bode Museum last week

Family: Leni and her mother with Heidi's mom Erna who wore cheetah

Artist Josh Hernandez drew a creepy image of Heidi in orange chalk, and the results were posted to her Instagram account.

The video showed the pain-staking detail Hernandez put into the artwork - which culminated in a lifelike and hair-raising image of Heidi with a frightening expression.

'Heidi Klum Halloween... coming soon,' the poster announced.

As to be expected, Heidi kept her lips sealed on what exactly she was going to be this year in the caption.

Instead, she included a string of Halloween-themed emojis. '#heidihalloween2023 #comingsoon Artwork by @mad.charcoal,' she added.

What's she going to be this year? Heidi teased her next Halloween costume on Thursday

Heidi has vowed that her 2023 Halloween costume will be as 'extra' as ever - which is saying a lot in the wake of the seven-foot-tall, realistically textured earthworm suit she donned for last year's festivities.

'It's going to be extra. It's going to be really extra,' she exclusively told DailyMail.com from the America's Got Talent red carpet.

The AGT judge added that she's lost sleep agonizing over the concept for her next costume, which is set to follow a decades-long streak of headline-making Halloween disguises for the former Victoria's Secret model.

'I have had sleepless nights over it. You know me,' she said of making the decision.
Jonnie Irwin confirmed his return to TV screens on Tuesday amid his ongoing battle with terminal cancer.

The presenter, 49, revealed in November that his cancer had spread from his lung to his brain after initially being diagnosed in 2020.

The A Place In The Sun star has kept positive throughout the difficult journey, giving his fans regular updates on his condition.

And it was good news on Tuesday as he revealed he was returning to British TV to film a home renovation programme for BBC Morning Live in Newcastle.

Taking to Instagram to announce the news, he wrote: 'So good to be back filming for @bbcmorninglive.

Good news: Jonnie Irwin confirmed his return to TV screens on Tuesday amid his ongoing battle with terminal cancer

'Weve just shot to short films about renovating your home and what to look out for. I think my smug smile betrays the lack of a massive commute for once and the extra couple of hours I got in my scratcher as we filmed in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

'Ill let you know when they are due to go out, when I know myself.'

Fans were elated at the news and commented that Jonnie is looking much more like his usual self.

One fan commented: 'Back on TV where you belong and looking amazing!'

Another said: 'You look fantastic and your eyes are sparkling.'

A third said: 'Looking great Jonnie  its great to see you doing the job you love to do,' while another added: 'You are looking so well in this image Jonnie. Hope you are doing as well as you look.'

Earlier this month Jonnie celebrated his seventh wedding anniversary with his beloved wife Jessica Holmes.

The couple have been married since October 2016 and share three sons together, Rex, four, and three-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.

Difficult: The presenter, 49, revealed in November that his cancer had spread from his lung to his brain after initially being diagnosed in 2020 (pictured in June)

Sweet: His latest post comes days after he paid a touching tribute to his wife Jessica Holmes as they went out for a meal to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary

Treatments: Jonnie Irwin has given his fans an update amid his terminal cancer battle as he revealed he has started hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Last Friday Jonnie took to Instagram to announce that he has started hyperbaric oxygen therapy at home.

HBOT involves breathing 100 per cent pure oxygen inside a pressurised hyperbaric chamber, where the increased air pressure helps the lungs collect more oxygen.

Giving an insight into the process, Jonnie shared selfies of himself sitting inside the chamber on his 'comfy chair' while wearing his specialised mask.

He told how he looks forward to his HBOT sessions and shared that he watches Netflix or catches up on work while inside the chamber.

The Escape to the Country star wrote alongside his post: 'I can't tell you how happy I am with the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber lent to me by @o2worx.

'It's great for people with my condition but also for recovery from injuries and general wellness. I'm not gonna preach but if you're interested Google it - you'll be surprised!

'This chamber is perfect for me, no feelings of claustrophobia and it's just big enough to get my favourite comfy chair in it!

'I actually look forward to each session knowing that's it's doing me good whilst being able to do a bit of work (watching Netflix shhh!) I'm currently in it now!'

Chamber: The TV presenter, 49, revealed that he has been lent a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, sharing snaps of it set up inside his home
The release of a satirical TV series about war hostages starring Sean Penn has been delayed by ITV 'in light of current events' after Hamas fighters attacked Israel.

Comedy C*A*U*G*H*T follows four Australian soldiers sent on a secret mission to a war-torn country where they are mistaken for Americans, captured and appear in a hostage video that goes viral.

According to the show's synopsis: 'When the soldiers reach celebrity status, they realise that being caught might just be the best thing that could have happened to them.'

The programme also stars Lost actor Matthew Fox, as well as series creator Kick Gurry.

It had been due to launch on streaming service ITVX on October 12.

Delay: The release of a satirical TV series about war hostages starring Sean Penn has been postponed by ITV 'in light of current events'

Fighting: A man runs on a road as fire burns after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip

A statement from ITV said: 'In light of current events, the launch date of C*A*U*G*H*T on ITVX will be delayed until further notice. We will be in touch when a new streaming date is confirmed.'

The show has also reportedly pulled out of TV trade show Mipcom in Cannes, France.

Penn, 63, serves as an executive producer and plays himself in the series.

At least two Britons have been killed after Hamas fighters attacked Israel, with another feared dead and more missing.

The Palestinian militant group - which is banned as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government - sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday, which also saw a music festival targeted.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli military, with authorities in Gaza saying about 700 have been killed in the territory and the West Bank, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.

Since the weekend's atrocities, Israel has sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, medicine and other supplies, while launching retaliatory air strikes on the Hamas-ruled territory, which is home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas has pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks target civilians in Gaza without warnings.

Postponed: Comedy C*A*U*G*H*T follows four Australian soldiers sent on a secret mission to a war-torn country

Hamas today warned Israeli civilians to get out of the port city of Ashkelon now or face death 'in response to the airstrikes' that are relentlessly pounding the Gaza strip, suggesting that more bloodshed is imminent.

The terrorists also refused to hand over Israeli hostages until the fighting ends - a day after they threatened to execute Israeli civilian captives if the airstrikes continued.

It comes after Israel warned Hamas they had 'nowhere to hide' and that its air force was launching 'extensive attacks' on the Palestinian terrorist group every four hours in revenge for its deadly surprise incursion that saw more than 1,000 Israelis slaughtered.

On Tuesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared intentions to obliterate Hamas as he metes out revenge for the deadly surprise attacks by the Palestinian militant group this weekend that saw hundreds of Israelis killed.

Netanyahu, who first came to power in Israel in 1996 and has served three separate terms, compared Hamas to the Islamic State group and said Israel planned to deploy 'unprecedented force' that would 'reverberate for generations'.

Violence: A fireball is pictured erupting from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9

Devastation: A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, on Tuesday

'We have only started striking Hamas,' Netanyahu, 73, said in a nationally televised address late last night.

'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

'Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS,' Netanyahu concluded.

Thousands of Hamas targets have been wiped out in brutal aerial bombing campaigns, Israeli defence officials claimed, but harrowing clips circulating social media showed how the rockets and bombs also obliterated Palestinian residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians.

Military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday that the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants had been found around the Gaza border following strikes, adding that security forces had 'more or less restored control over the border' with Gaza.

Israel also ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the 2.3 million Palestinians who for the most part were already living in abject poverty.

The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble.

In a response to the savage aerial bombardment of Gaza, Hamas warned late last night it would begin executing Israeli civilian captives.

Horror: Rockets are fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip

Israeli soldiers walk through the remains of a residential area of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, on Tuesday

'Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,' Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Hamas militants abducted up to 150 people, including women and children, from Israeli territory and dragged them back in Gaza amid their ruthless slaughter.

'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,' Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, later added in a recording released to Al Jazeera.

On Tuesday morning, air raid sirens were blaring in cities across Israel, suggesting Hamas was launching another salvo of rockets.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site.

But this time, the context has become more explosive.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria, fomenting calls for Israel to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy.
Jennifer Garner opened up about being a working mom and how she deals with the 'guilt' that is associated with it in a new interview on Tuesday.

The Peppermint star, 51, admitted that it is easy to get 'freaked out' over trying to balance a career and raising a family, as she is an actress/director/producer and the mother to Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 11 , whom she shares with her ex Ben Affleck.

'Working moms get such a bad we get all freaked out because we're told constantly "you have 18 summers,'" "you have this much time," "time is fleeting," and it makes you panic,' she revealed to Access Hollywood.

'So, if you come from a place of expansiveness instead of feeling just like "I can't be a mom because I'm also working, and I'm supposed to be guilty all the time", you better just lean into wherever you are any day exactly like right now just be here when your kids show up be there and we'll have a great time.'

Jennifer said her positive perspective came from her own mother, Patricia Ann Garner.

Working mom: Jennifer Garner opened up about being a working mom and how she deals with the 'guilt' that is associated with it in a new interview on Tuesday

Co-parenting: The star admitted that it is easy to get 'freaked out' over trying to balance a career and raising a family, as she is an actress/director/producer and the mother to Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 11 , whom she shares with her ex Ben Affleck

'My mom has always said to me "you're their mom forever, don't worry you can do your job. You're their mom forever.

'"I wish I had worked, I would have been a better mom. Your kids are going to be so proud of you,"' Jennifer explained.

'She's always given me that that kind of grounding in that sense,' she added.

With such stable footing, Jennifer has been able to be a co-parenting champ with her famous ex.

Jennifer and Ben met on the set of Daredevil in 2003 and later married in 2005. They welcomed their big brood before splitting in 2015.

Despite the divorce, Ben has also been doing his best as a working father, telling the Today show in 2019 that he tries 'very hard' to be a 'good dad' to Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

'Im lucky they got a great mom,' he added at the time.

Guilt-free parenting: 'Working moms get such a bad we get all freaked out because we're told constantly "you have 18 summers,'" "you have this much time," "time is fleeting," and it makes you panic,' Jennifer said

Make it work: 'You better just lean into wherever you are any day exactly like right now just be here when your kids show up be there and we'll have a great time' Jennifer said

His new wife: Ben is now married to Jennifer Lopez; seen in May in LA

'She helps out a great deal with making sure that we co-parent in as good a way as possible.'

As fans know, Ben would go on to rekindle his romance with Jennifer Lopez, who is coping as a working mom as well, as she shares twins Emme and Max, 15, with her ex Marc Anthony.

Ben and J-Lo initially got together in the early 2000s and quickly became one of Hollywood's most talked-about couples.

However, their whirlwind romance faced intense media scrutiny, leading to their engagement in 2002 being called off.

In 2021, Bennifer 2.0 took shape and the couple wed months later.
Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse has called out people who say she only got her job on the show because she is black.

In a candid new chat the South African dancer, 42, also touched on why society should stop labelling people as she opened up about the racism she still faces.

Speaking on the podcast Reign with Josh Smith she went on to express her negative views on celebrating 'firsts' like her being the first black Strictly judge and as it shows how non-inclusive we have been as a society.

Motsi has been a judge on Strictly since 2019 and joins head judge Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood for this year's series.

Previously she appeared on the German dance competition Let's Dance, originally as a professional dancer, and later as a judge on the show, a position she held since 2011.

Having her say: Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse has called out people who say she only got her job on the show because she is black

Difficult: In a candid new chat the South African dancer, 42, also touched on why society should stop labelling people as she opened up about the racism she still faces

Having her say on the doubts some cast of her experience she said: 'What I really, really, really, really dislike is when people are like, 'she got it because she's black.'

'It takes away from every black woman and in my example, it takes away my experience. It takes away my quality. It takes away everything that I have been through and marched on through to be there.

'When you just see the label, 'oh she's black, you know the first Strictly black judge, the first this,' it takes away 15 years of experience as a judge. It takes away 30 years of my experience as a dancer.

'Maybe my experience as a dancer is not your experience, but maybe my growth coming from South Africa and going through all levels is a different kind of experience, which gives me a different side of the ball.'

She added of why society should stop labelling people: 'I think the barrier that I think we most definitely all have to overcome is to stop the labels. I think if every time the same sex couple gets a different platform, we kind of say, 'this isn't a normal life.'

'It still doesn't make them equal to what people see as normal. So, everything needs to become a normality without saying, 'oh my gosh, we've got one black person, we've got a same sex couple, we've got this,' the labels, this is what we all really need to get over.

'We need to just say, 'that this is life.' We're not breaking barriers if we're suddenly including people, it shows how not inclusive we were before.'

Motsi went on to discuss the racism she regularly experiences when travelling.

Team: Motsi has been a judge on Strictly since 2019 and joins head judge Shirley Ballas , Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood for this year's series

Racism: Having her say on the doubts some cast of her experience she said: 'What I really, really, really, really dislike is when people are like, 'she got it because she's black'

Fair: She added: 'When you just see the label, 'oh she's black, you know the first Strictly black judge, the first this,' it takes away 15 years of experience as a judge. It takes away 30 years of my experience as a dancer'

Giving an example she said: 'Every time I travel, like in Europe, I travel up and down and I was coming from London and there's passport [control] and there's a space where it was the 'world.'

'Everybody goes there and there's a space that says 'European/German passports' and there's this tall tall guy behind me and he's just poking his head behind me. And after five minutes, I'm like, 'dude, what's happening? Can you calm down? What's wrong?'

'He said, 'It's a line, this is the European line,' and I'm like, 'hello the face of Europe has changed, Europe looks different these days.' So he looked at my skin and was like, 'she's not - this is not Europe.' And you face stuff like this.'

It comes after last week Motsi accidentally revealed a family secret live on air during Saturday night's episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

The judge, who is married to husband Evgenij Voznyuk, is often in the spotlight but has chosen not to publicly reveal the name of their daughter, four.

But while speaking to contestant Layton Williams and his professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, she mistakenly called Nikita by her daughter's name.

Giving some pointers on their routine she began: 'I have to say the acting part the sentiment all of that, I think it's so beautiful. Your fingers when you dance, they look so detailed, so beautiful.

'I just feel just as detailed as you are with other things, other things have to be more detailed.

Motsi continued: 'The centre is too open so if it's open it's difficult for [daughter's name]. I'm sorry. I just said my daughter's name. You know I'm a mum!

'Nikita and my daughter's names are quite similar, sorry everybody. So Nikita can't lead it with an open centre and the second thing is watch the feet.'

It came after Motsi hit out at her ex-husband Timo Culczak's lawyer after he claimed she could face a jail sentence in response to her comments in her autobiography.

It was reported in April this year that the German dancer was suing his former wife, 42, for 70,000 after she told how Timo limited her access to money and even dictated what she ate in her memoir, Finding My Own Rhythm, which was released in September 2022.

Motsi, who divorced Timo in 2014 after 11 years of marriage, has since refused to settle the agreement.

It was reported earlier today that Timo and his lawyer are allegedly asking the court to jail the TV judge for up to six months or fine her 250,000 if she were to repeat her previously made claims, the Sun wrote.

But hitting back, Motsi's spokesperson said today: 'No such written court order exists - it is categorically untrue that our client faces imprisonment with regards to her former husband's civil lawsuit, or that a fine, which would only be payable if our client culpably violates a court order, would be more than a nominal amount.

Oh no! It comes after last week Motsi accidentally revealed a family secret live on air during Saturday night's episode of Strictly Come Dancing

Private: The judge, who is married to husband Evgenij Voznyuk, is often in the spotlight but has chosen not to publicly reveal the name of their daughter, four

'There is no legal basis for this lawsuit. To reiterate, our client reserves all rights in this matter.'

The statement comes after the Sun reported that Timo's lawyer Samy Hammad said: 'Ms Mabuse is refusing to pay, and so the court now has to decide.

'All we just want her to do is to retract the untruths published about him, and to compensate him accordingly.

'My client's reputation has repeatedly been trashed.

'You have to threaten a penalty saying if you do it again, this is what I want in terms of money, or in terms of the prison sentence,' he told the publication.
The View's Whoopi Goldberg was left panicked when a 'security incident' interrupted a live broadcast from Israel during Tuesday's show.

Whoopi, 67, and the rest of the panel were speaking to ABC News chief National correspondent Matt Gutman, who was reporting from just outside of Sderot, which was one of the first settlements to come under attack by the Hamas gunman, who moved through the city shortly after dawn last Saturday.

As Matt, 45, explained that there had been 'small arms fire' in his exact location in 'the past hour and a half', he was approached by a man dressed in uniform who told him: 'The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has issued an immediate alert that everybody has to leave. There is some security incident just near us.'

Dressed in a black T-shirt and a bullet proof vest, Matt started walking backwards as he continued speaking to camera as Whoopi ordered: 'Go do what you gotta do, we got you.'

'We're okay, we're walking to the car anyway which is right over there,' he replied, before adding: 'But can I explain what's going on? They've had this battle, and I just want to show you what's going on here...

The View 's Whoopi Goldberg appeared concerned during Tuesday's episode when a live broadcast in Israel was interrupted due to a 'security incident'

Whoopi and the panel were speaking to ABC News chief National correspondent Matt Gutman

Matt, 45, was approached by a man in uniform who told him the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had issued an immediate alert

The Sister Act star urged Matt to 'get in the car' as he made his way to the vehicle

'These armored jeeps are going towards where we've been hearing this incessant gunfire and just on the other side of that bridge, we've seen a large number of troops headed in that direction, you see the ambulances over there.'

As he continued walking and talking, Whoopi told him: 'Get in a car, Matt! Get in the car,' as her co-host Sara Haines added: 'Be careful, Matt.'

Whoopi appeared lost for words as programming cut back to the studio, and said: 'Well, that's what happens when it's live and you're in the middle of it. We got our fingers crossed that he's safe and he's going to remain safe.'

Joy Behar, 81, added: 'Oh my God.'

Alyssa Farah Griffin, 34, praised the 'incredible journalists' who are reporting from the war zone and told her co-hosts: 'We are witnessing true evil and I just... my hearts are with the Israeli people. My heart is praying for a peaceful solution to this.'

When the show returned from the first commercial break, Whoopi and her co-hosts spoke to Matt again - who confirmed he was now safe.

'There is a pretty significant movement of troops here. We're okay where we are right now, but you can hear booms in the distance. There was significant gunfire, there was a helicopter, gunship in the air. Obviously they found something, but we are safe right now, Whoopi,' Matt explained.

'We are just outside of Sderot and about a mile in that direction is the border with Gaza, just a little bit to the left of where I am right now is this town of Kfar aza, which was decimated. This whole area here, all of the towns have been completely evacuated of civilians, many of the people there have been killed.

Whoopi urged Matt to 'get in the car' as he continued speaking to camera despite the 'security incident'

Whoopi said they were 'hoping for the best for everybody' as she wished Matt well

Matt was reporting from Sderot, which he described as a 'ghost town' due to the recent attacks

Smoke is seen rising near the border fence between Gaza and Israel on October 7

Palestinians rush through a cap after taking down the fence on the Israel-Gaza border and enter Israel after clashes and attacks in Gaza City, Gaza on October 7

'The death toll is over 900. So now we understood that the Israeli military had cleared this area, but that does not appear to be the case. So they think that Hamas militants are still around.'

As footage played out of Matt experiencing another 'close call' while reporting on Monday, Sara then asked him: 'This is all incredibly dangerous, what are you feeling like in a moment like that?'

Matt replied: 'I feel for the people who live here. You get an understanding of what it's like to live under those explosions and these towns have completely emptied out. So yes, I was scared, but I also felt, "these people have been living like this".

'It is incredibly difficult and disconcerting, these areas are ghost towns, you don't see anybody moving anymore. And that is the situation in a lot of Israel right now. There is a tremendous amount of trauma, a tremendous amount of anger at this point. Also on the Palestinian side. But that is what is so worrying is that there doesn't seem to be any end in sight.'

Whoopi urged him to 'stay safe' again and said: 'We are with you and we're hoping for the best for everybody,' before taking the show to another commercial break.

Viewers tuning in at home were also quick to send their well wishes to Matt and shared their thoughts online.

'Prayers up for Matt Gutman #theView,' one person wrote on Twitter, while another wrote: ' Matt please be careful! #theview.'

Alyssa Farah Griffin praised the 'incredible journalists' who are reporting from the war zone

The Sister Act star remained somber as her co-host Sara Haines shared her thoughts

Sunny Hostin told her co-hosts that 'there are losers on both sides' of the ongoing fight

Joy Behar appeared lost for words and uttered 'oh my God' as Matt fled his location

A third viewer said: 'This is scary af! Matt and the crew better stay safe #TheView,' and a fourth claimed: 'Matt needs to come back home at this point. Things are going to get worse.'

Someone else added: 'Please get away from there, come home,' while another begged: 'Get off the camera and head to safety!'

Later on in the show, the panel discussed the effects such events can have on people's mental health as Alyssa admitted: 'There is something about if you're just watching horrific atrocities take place, I think it wears on any of us.

'I found myself having nightmares over it and we can't turn a blind eye to bad things that are happening. But we have to take care of our insides,' the 34-year-old added.

When Joy mentioned the fact that she has 'lived long enough to see other bad times', Whoopi was keen to express her thoughts and claimed: 'Every 25 years, it gets nutty and we get through it.'

She continued: 'We fight our way through, we keep doing what we need to do to come together because it has been bad for so many for so long. So the only way it's going to get better is if we take care of ourselves and then take care of each other.'

The devastating attacks began after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel last Saturday, bringing gun battles to its streets for the first time in decades.

At least 1,600 lives have already been claimed on both sides, and perhaps hundreds more, with Israel saying on Tuesday its death toll had risen passed 1,000, although separate reports suggested the total toll could be much higher.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 704 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas fighters were found on Israeli territory, the military said. It wasn't immediately clear whether those numbers overlapped with deaths previously reported by Palestinian authorities.
Gal Gadot revealed her heartbreak over Hamas' attack on Israel which left at least 1,400 Israelis and Palestinians dead as she pledged her support to the victims of terrorists.

The Israeli actress, 38 - who previously said the 'world must not sit on the fence' over the war in Israel and Palestine - urged her followers to donate funds for those affected by the weekend's attacks and slammed people reacting to the atrocities with 'justification not empathy' on Tuesday.

Sharing a post which read 'Israel is under attack and we need your support', she wrote: 'Whoever can, and willing to donate, these peoples lives changed forever yesterday. Theyve lost so much and need help. Only if you can.'

She later wrote on her stories: 'Whoever can and wiling to donate, these people's lives changed forever yesterday

'They've lost so much and need help. Only if you can. If you have less empathy towards victims because of how you feel about their government, propaganda is working on you.

Post: Gal Gadot revealed her heartbreak over Hamas' attack on Israel which left at least 1,400 Israelis and Palestinians dead as she pledged her support to the victims of terrorists

'The goal of propaganda is to dehumanize. It works to dehumanize Israelis and works to dehumanize Gazans

'I like to think most of us are above propaganda. But this weekend reminded me how widespread it is. Because a lot of people reacted to this violence with justification, not empathy

'I guess it's not surprising but it's still heartbreaking. Propaganda is everywhere. It seeps into us over time. It seeks to block our empathy receptors. So when we see violence, we rationalize away our human response

'Killing innocent Palestinians is horrific. Killing innocent Israelis is horrific. If you don't feel the same I think you should ask yourself why that is.'

On Saturday, she also posted a screenshot of an article that detailed how Israeli soldiers and civilians had been taken hostage by militants.

She wrote: 'At least 250 Israeli have been murdered and dozens of women children and elders held as hostages in Gaza, by Palestinian military group Hamas.

'Starting early morning more than 3,000 rockets were fire. Hamas is holding hostages, controlling bases and settlements in Israel. There have been more than 1,500 injured and heavy fighting is still ongoing. I hear their voices and they are banging on the door. I am with my two little children. My heart is aching.'

The former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to support Israel, writing: 'I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!'

Post: Gadot urged her followers to donate funds for those affected by the weekend's attacks and slammed people reacting to the atrocities with 'justification not empathy' on Tuesday.

The Wonder Woman star famously served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat trainer over a decade ago

On Saturday, the former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to speak up in support of Israel, sharing news of the Hamas ' assault on civilians

Kylie Jenner has received support from Jewish organizations in America after she posted then deleted an Instagram Story showing her support for Israel on Saturday - following backlash from some of her fans.

The influencer, 26, took to her social media with image of Israel's flag with the text, 'Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!'

The image she reshared was from nonprofit organization StandWithUs - a body which states that it supports Israel and opposes antisemitism.

On Twitter a video that appeared to be of comments on Jenner's post showed numerous users replying that they supported a free Palestine.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Hamas after the militant group launched a series of attacks on Saturday, in the biggest escalation in the region in decades.

Under Kylie's recent post - as she shared snaps from Paris Fashion Week - many have made their feelings clear by posting the flag of Palestine.

Other penned comments like: 'Free Palestine'.

Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs told TMZ while the group is pleased that Kylie shared their post, 'it's a shame that some people cannot express themselves honestly because of intense pressure and intimidation by Hamas sympathizers.'

American Jewish Committee spokesman Richard Hirschhaut also told the publication Kylie 'did the right thing and acted with her heart with her initial post and should be applauded for speaking up and speaking out.'

But he said Kylie instead became 'a subject of vicious and ugly scorn' but hopes she reposts the message as 'the power of social media and the power of celebrity is desperately needed at this moment when Israel is at war and under attack by a terrorist organization that is barbaric, inhumane and immoral.'

Changed her mind: Kylie Jenner has received support from Jewish organizations in America after she posted then deleted an Instagram Story showing her support for Israel on Saturday - following backlash from some of her fans

Opinion: The influencer, 26, took to her social media with image of Israel's flag with the text, 'Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!'

Hurting: Justin Bieber wrote he was 'hurting for both my Israeli and Palestinian friends' in a message shared on social media. 'I'm not interested in choosing side,' he wrote, but I am interested in standing with the families who have been brutally taken from us'

Backlash: Chelsea tried to walk a fine diplomatic line in a lengthy message on Instagram beginning with 'We desire peace for Israelis and Palestinians.' However, she was concerned about backlash against Jews around the world

Justin Bieber, Chelsea Handler, Jessica Seinfeld encouraged fans to see both sides of the conflict while condemning the violence.

'Truly hurting for both my Israeli and Palestinian friends' the hitmaker wrote.

I'm sure we all instinctively know evil when we see it. To villainize all Palestinians or tall Israeli people seems wrong. I'm not interested in choosing sides, but I am interested in standing wit the families who have been brutally taken from us.'

Chelsea tried to walk a fine diplomatic line in a lengthy message on Instagram beginning with 'We desire peace for Israelis and Palestinians.'

However, she was concerned about backlash against Jews around the world.

"There is humanity involved and while Palestinians have seen their share of terror, Israelis and Jews throughout our world are seeing ours now, once again, 'she said.

Messaging: Jessica Seinfeld wrote, 'Innocent Palestinians who live in Gaza who are not Hamas, deserve to be free. Jews who live in and outside Israel are not the Israeli government. They deserve to live without fear for being Jewish'

Support of Peace: Kyle Richards shared a statement from The Agency, the real estate brokerage where her estranged husband Maricio Umansky works. 'An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,' the message said

'I am for human rights and denouncing terror and for the world to end this violence.'

Jessica Seinfeld shared a similar message encouraging people not to paint both sides of the conflict in broad strokes.

'It is important to be clear about messaging,' the cookbook author who is married to comedian Jerry Seinfeld wrote.

'Innocent Palestinians who live in Gaza who are not Hamas, deserve to be free. Jews who live in and outside Israel are not the Israeli government. They deserve to live without fear for being Jewish (or massacred for the same reason.)'

'But one thing has been made abundantly clear; Israel needs to protect itself from Hamas, which proudly took responsibility for absolute carnage this past weekend in Israel.'

She signed the missing, 'Your Jewish friend, Jessica Seinfeld.'

Kyle Richards shared a statement from The Agency, the real estate brokerage where her estranged husband Maricio Umansky works.

'The Agency extends its deepest sympathies to those who have been impacted by the horrific events on the people of Israel. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. We condemn violence, hate and terrorism in any form against anyone. We stand in support of Peace.'

Sarah Silverman, 52, took to Instagram on Monday to graphically denounce the Democratic Socialists of America for their response on social media.

'The DSA of which I was a proud lifetime member, has lost me forever. They posted this 11 hours ago. This is what they felt they needed to post ELEVEN motherf***ing HOURS ago. If you swipe right, you can see my comment which they deleted. Over 1000 slaughtered as of now. Girls raped over the bodies of their friends. These are kids, babies, children, teens, elderly, many of whom like my family march in the streets nightly protesting Netanyahu and the occupation THAT'S WHO HAMAS MURDERED you F***S. knowing Israel@will retaliate- do you get that they don't give a F*** about Palestinian lives?????,' Sarah posted for her roughly 2 million followers.

'I am still a democratic socialist like my man, Bernie, who, also despite popular understanding, has nothing to do with this f***ed up, arrogant, ignorant, piece of s*** group. I don't like feeling this way and I don't like acting this way, but here I am. @demsocialists F*** YOU. You are not real democratic socialists and you sure as f*** aren't liberal,' she added.

Kourtney Kardashian, 44, after plugging her Lemme gummies supplement on Instagram Stories on Tuesday later shared a post for her roughly 224 million followers about her heart hurting for 'all children'.

'I'm sending endless prayers to the Israeli and Palestinian children who are the ultimate casualties of war. And who always have been,' read the message Kourtney reposted.

Strongly denounced: Sarah Silverman, , shown last month in Nashville, took to Instagram on Monday to graphically denounce the Democratic Socialists of America for their response on social media

Social media: 'They posted this 11 hours ago. This is what they felt they needed to post ELEVEN motherf***ing HOURS ago. If you swipe right, you can see my comment which they deleted. Over 1000 slaughtered as of now. Girls raped over the bodies of their friends. These are kids, babies, children, teens, elderly, many of whom like my family march in the streets nightly protesting Netanyahu and the occupation THAT'S WHO HAMAS MURDERED you F***S. knowing Israel@will retaliate- do you get that they don't give a F*** about Palestinian lives?????,' Sarah posted for her roughly 2 million followers

Horrific details: The comedian shared a post about terrorists beheading 40 Israeli babies

Reality star: Kourtney Kardashian, 44, after plugging her Lemme gummies supplement on Instagram Stories later shared a post for her roughly 224 million followers about her heart hurting for 'all children'

Message of peace: Kourtney's sister Kim also posted a message praying for the victims of the unspeakable violence on her Instagram page

Gigi Hadid, 28, whose father Mohamed, 74, is of Palestinian origin, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a post condemning the 'terrorizing of innocent people' under the Free Palestine movement' and sending love and support to her Palestinian and Jewish friends.

'My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children. I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily,' Gigi posted for her roughly 79.2 million followers.

'I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person,' she added.

'The terrorizing of innocent people is not in alignment with & does not do any good for the 'Free Palestine' movement.'

'The idea that it does has fueled a painful, decades long cycle of back & forth retaliation (which no innocent civilian, Palestinian or Israeli, deserves to be a casualty of) and helps perpetuate the false idea that being Pro-Palestine = antisemitic.

'If you are hurting as I share my condolences today with my loves ones, both Palestinian and Jewish, I'm sending you my love and strength - whoever and wherever you are.

'There are a lot of complex, personal and valid feelings, but every human deserves basic rights, treatment and security; no matter their nationality, religion, ethnicity or where they were born

'I know my words will never be enough or heal the deep wounds of so many, but I pray for the safety of innocent lives, always.'

Unjustifiable tragedy: Gigi Hadid, shown last week in Paris, whose father Mohamed, 74, is of Palestinian origin, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a post condemning the 'terrorizing of innocent people' under the Free Palestine movement' and sending love and support to her Palestinian and Jewish friends

Both Gigi and supermodel sister Bella Hadid, 27, are vocal in their support for the Palestinian cause and have attended marches and demonstrations.

Gigi also shared a post on here Instagram Stories about Palestinian and Israeli women joining together in a peace march.

Australian actress Isla Fisher, 47, also shared posts on her Instagram account about the ongoing conflict.

Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, 19, also shared his solidarity with Jews everywhere on social media.

Jessica Alba, 42, shared a helpful tool for talking to children about Israel and Hamas on social media and also shared information on how to help Israel.

Mandy Moore, 39, in a somber post questioned our collective humanity while reflecting on the terrorism.

Nicola Peltz Beckham also shared that she was 'devastated' while referencing the killing of 40 Israeli babies.

Mia Khalifa has been dropped by Playboy after loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead.

Women march: Gigi also shared a post on here Instagram Stories about Palestinian and Israeli women joining together in a peace march

Ongoing conflict: Australian actress Isla Fisher, 47, also shared posts on her Instagram account about the ongoing conflict

Streaming star: Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp shared his solidarity with Jews everywhere

Show of support: The Netflix star conveyed his feelings in a lengthier statement

Shaming the silence: He made it clear where he stood by writing 'It shouldn't be a difficult choice'

Finding common ground: Noah appealed to the humanity of all his followers with his strong statement

Wise beyond his years: The 19-year-old concluded his statement with a powerful message

Helpful tool: Jessica Alba shared a helpful tool for talking to children about Israel and Hamas

Verified resources: The actress also shared information on how to help Israel

Collective humanity: Mandy Moore questioned our collective humanity

Feeling devastated: Nicola Peltz Beckham posted on Instagram that she felt devastated

Purple prose: Vanessa Hudgens shared a post about how killing civilians is 'never acceptable'

Heart broken: Lisa Rinna shared a post about being heartbroken

Praying for mercy: Hilary Duff stated on her Instagram that she was 'praying' for the 'entire' world to have mercy, challenging her followers to do the same

Not okay: Katherine Schwarzenegger shared a message about none of it being okay

Solidarity on social media: Supermodel Karlie Kloss also conveyed that she was praying for 'safety and peace for all' adding a grey heart emoji

Ask yourself: The daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger also shared a post about the horror of killing innocents

Reaction: Under Kylie's recent post - as she shared snaps from Paris Fashion Week - many have made their feelings clear by posting the flag of Palestine

The 30-year-old repeatedly supported the group's bombings and kidnappings to her five million followers on X, urging the aggressors to film horizontally so she could better watch the carnage.

The Lebanese-American posted: 'Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.'

She made light of the horror conflict, joking about a 'Zionist apartheid regime being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci shirts'.

Khalifa also shared an image of the terrorists riding in the back of a pick-up truck, calling it a 'Renaissance painting.'

She reposted a message saying 'the United States of America is also a terrorist state' and went after Jenner for sharing and then deleting a message in support of Israel.

'If true journalism exists, the next person to talk to Kylie Jenner will ask for her opinion on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and not break eye contact until she can string one coherent sentence together since she wants to take a stance to her 400M followers so badly,' Khalifa wrote.

In an email sent out to its subscribers on Monday Playboy said: 'Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women and children

'At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand her words and actions have consequences,' the statement finished.

Playboy has since deleted Mias Playboy channel from their creator platform - and the former porn star has been removed from the company's Centerfold platform.

Khalifa apparently lost a business deal following her posts, with a company named Red Light Holland informing her she had been 'fired effectively' due to her 'horrendous' posts, but she doubled down.

'I'd say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I'm more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad,' she said.

She continued defending her request that the terrorists film horizontally: 'I just wanna make sure there's 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison they've been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid.

'I'm from LEBANON, are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism you f***ing weirdo.

Khalifa was born in Beirut and moved to the stages as a kid in 2001 during the South Lebanon conflict with Israel.

She has always expressed support for what she calls Palestinian's 'right to end Israeli occupation' and often denounces 'Zionists.'

The US-based star, whose real name is Sarah Joe Chamoun, used to work in the porn industry but now speaks out against it.

She became a controversial figure after filming sketches while wearing a hijab, and revealed in 2019 that she had received death threats over her work.

Over the weekend Hamas militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, seizing settlements and capturing and murdering civilians celebrating a Jewish holiday.

A music festival attended was one of the first sites to be attacked by the terrorist group, with 260 revelers massacred there.

Playboy has cut ties with porn star Mia Khalifa after comments that sparked fury online loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead

Khalifa sparked massive backlash online after she loudly supported the terror attack by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead over the weekend

Khalifa's page now shows a 'Not Found' graphic on the website, as the adult magazine released a statement confirming that she is no longer creating content

Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighborhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City

Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims and posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one.

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday.

Saturday's attack on Israeli citizens marks the start of what could be the deadliest conflict in decades between Israel and Palestine.

As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead  and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least.
Jamie Foxx came bearing gifts as he arrived for a family celebration in Malibu on Monday.

The star was carrying two very large shopping bags from Gucci.

The 55-year-old actor, who was spotted at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights over the weekend, joined with family and friends at Japanese restaurant Nobu to celebrate his daughter Anelise's 15th birthday.

The Oscar winner looked relaxed in distressed jeans and white sneakers. He wore a white T-shirt with a green, red and black graphic design on it and topped it off with a green jacket.

The They Cloned Tyrone star wore a tan fedora over his closely cropped hair.

Bearing gifts: Jamie Foxx, 55, came bearing gifts from Gucci as he arrived for his daughter Anelise's 15th birthday party at Nobu in Malibu Monday

The doting dad carried two large olive green Gucci bags laden with goodies for his youngest child.

A friend carried a third gift bag.

Jamie shares Anelise with former flame Kristin Grannis.

He is also dad to Corrine, 29, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Connie Kline.

In a birthday tribute to Annalise on social media, the proud papa shared a photo carousel of the teen looking at her phone and rocking a full head of long wavy hair.

'Behind that hair is an incredible little girl whos growing up!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANELISE!!!! My beautiful daughter!!!' wrote the star who used to date Katie Holmes.

It's been a tumultuous year for the Day Shift star.

The Ray star was hospitalized in April for a 'medical emergency.'

Casual style: The Oscar winner looked relaxed in distressed jeans, white sneakers and a white T-shirt with a green, red and black graphic design on it, topped off with a green jacket. The They Cloned Tyrone star wore a tan fedora over his closely cropped hair

Birthday message: Jamie sent a loving message to his daughter on her big day

It took him months to recover from the illness, saying 'I went to hell and back' in an update in July.

In August the Spider-Man: No Way Home star revealed that he was 'finally starting to feel like' himself again.

Addressing his 17 million Instagram followers, he opened up about going through 'an unexpected dark journey.'

Despite the challenges in his recovery, the performer said could 'see the light' and was 'thankful to everyone that reached out and sent well wishes and prayers.'

More gifts: Jamie carried two large Gucci shopping bags filled with presents for his daughter, and a friend carried a third for the celebration

'I have a lot of people to thank u just dont know how much it meant

'I will be thanking all of you personally and if you didnt know GOD IS GOOD all day every day,' he concluded in the caption.

Jamie was dealt an emotional blow earlier this month when his longtime friend and co-star Keith Jefferson passed away from cancer.

'We will all miss you dearly. Its gonna take a long time for this to heal. Goodbye, my friend. I love you,' the mourning actor wrote in an emotional tribute on social media.

Electric: Jamie's latest project, The Burial. The Guardian's review called Jamie's performance 'electric'

Drama: The courtroom drama co-starring Tommy Lee Jones, 77, and Jurnee Smollett, 37, opened in theaters October 6 and begins streaming on Prime October 13

Jamie's latest project, The Burial, was released in theaters October 6 and will begin streaming on Prime Friday.

The courtroom drama co-stars Tommy Lee Jones, 77, Alan Ruck, 67. and Jurnee Smollett, 37.

The Guardian's review called Jamie's performance 'electric.'

The Burial has received an 89-percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Kerry Katona has praised Paris Fury for taking her children out of school to follow family traveller tradition.

The former Atomic Kitten star, 43, sang Paris's praises in her column with New Magazine on Tuesday on how she brings her seven children up with Tyson Fury.

Paris, 33, and Tyson, 35, who recently welcomed a baby boy Prince Rico Paris last month, take their children out of school at the age of 11, which is the traditional traveller way.

Their eldest child Venezuela, 14, left school three years ago in primary school to be home schooled and learnt how to clean, cook and look after a family.

Kerry, who believes that 'school doesn't teach kids anything anyway', said: 'I want to say the biggest congratulations to Paris and Tyson Fury for welcoming their seventh child.

'School doesn't teach them anything anyway': Kerry Katona, 43, has praised Paris Fury, 33, for taking her children out of school to follow their family traveller tradition

Praised: The former Atomic Kitten star sang Paris's praises in her column with New Magazine on Tuesday on how she brings her seven children up with Tyson Fury, 35 (Paris and Tyson pictured)

'I'm so happy for them. I love that they've called him Prince Rico Paris as its great that her names is in it as I just think she is so amazing.

'She makes me feel like I'm not doing enough as a mum just because she's so good at it.

'I love the traveller way of living too. I like that they take their children out of school at a younger age. High school doesn't teach kids the right things anyway.'

Paris and Tyson are also parents too Prince John James, 11, Prince Tyson II, seven, Valencia, five, Prince Adonis Amaziah, four, and Athena, two.

It comes after Paris revealed she hasn't ruled out having an eighth child.

Appearing on Monday's Loose Women she spoke about the possibility of further extending their brood.

She said: 'We're on the fence whether this is going be the last one. Every time I have a baby I say no more.

'Then they go off to school and I get this little inkling. But seven is a lot, I'm not going to lie. It's very busy in my house.'

Tradition: Their eldest child Venezuela, 14, (pictured) left school three years ago in primary school to be home schooled and learnt how to clean, cook and look after a family

Family: He is the latest addition to the couple's brood as they are also parents to Venezuela, 13, Prince John James, 11, Prince Tyson II, seven, Valencia, five, Prince Adonis Amaziah, four, and Athena, two

Open: Appearing on Monday's Loose Women she spoke about the possibility of further extending their brood

Honest: She said: 'We're on the fence whether this is going be the last one. Every time I have a baby I say no more'

She added that since her latest little one was born she hasn't slept for three weeks but tries to still make some time for herself.

The blonde beauty said: 'You've got to create five minutes for yourself - a girls night out, half an hour in the gym, a walk - anything for yourself, as a woman you need that to make yourself feel good.'

Speaking about Prince Rico Paris Fury's name choice, Paris told OK! magazine recently: 'All of my kids have got unusual names and obviously it's also really personal to Tyson.

'We also added my name because I've had seven kids and I still haven't had one named after me, so Tyson thought, 'Come on, it's about time!''

All four of the couple's sons share the same first name of Prince with Tyson previously revealing, 'I'm a king and they're princes until they earn their rightful name'.

While Paris is a nod to herself, Rico was chosen to honour Tyson's late cousin, who was murdered last year.

Rico Burton, 31, was fatally stabbed outside a bar in Altrincham, Cheshire, in August last year.

His attacker, Liam O'Pray, 22, was found guilty of murder last month.
Lisa Snowdon has revealed she was once told by a fashion designer to 'lose weight' before a show in Milan.

The fashion model, 51, spoke about how the industry has changed over the years with fashion designer Amanda Wakeley on her podcast StyleDNA.

Lisa started by saying: 'It has changed in a good way, but still isn't where it needs to be. There's more inclusivity, it is less seedy, less manipulative but I'm sure there's still stuff that still goes on that you don't know about.

'I felt a lot of pressure in Paris to socialise and go out with clients, you know rich old men, it never sat well with me. I would always make up some elaborate excuse. That was the agency.

Speaking about working with Amanda in the past, Lisa added: 'You didn't once look at me and say your figure isn't going to work you were so encouraging, enthusiastic and embracing a women's physique.

Throwback: Lisa Snowdon has revealed she was once told by a fashion designer to 'lose weight' before a show in Milan (pictured in 1994)

Speaking out: The fashion model, 51, spoke about how the industry has changed over the years with fashion designer Amanda Wakeley on her podcast StyleDNA

'I previously got booked for jobs then cancelled because I was too curvy.'

When Amanda pointed out that Lisa had a 'washboard stomach when they met, Lisa replied: 'I didn't even do anything back then, I didn't even work out i just had this amazing six pack.

'But in Milan they were measuring me and telling me I have to lose weight. It didn't sit well with me.'

Lisa ended up forging a successful career as a fashion model, regardless of this knock-back.

She got her big break at age 22, modelling The Ultrabra by Gossard in 1994, and swiftly got snapped up by various swimwear brands.

She retained a successful career throughout the 1990s and 2000s, eventually being made the face of Britain's Next Top Model in 2006 as the UK's counterpart to supermodel Tyra Banks.

Lisa typically acts as a fashion presenter these days, but still models too.

She's a regular fixture on the This Morning presenting team, hosting segments about fashion.

Beauty! Lisa typically acts as a fashion presenter these days, but still models too [pictured this week]

Elsewhere, Lisa - who has remained open about her fertility struggle - discussed not having children.

She suffered a devastating miscarriage live on air after a violent attack from an abusive ex boyfriend and admitted she suffered with thoughts that the devastating outcome might be 'punishment' for an abortion she had in her late 20s.

She said: 'Society, if you don't go down the traditional route, is challenging. There's a lot of negativity surrounding that, a lot of questions, a lot of people don't understand.

'You never know what is going on behind closed doors and someone's story. We just need to be nicer to each other and look at the bigger picture.'

Love: The model and presenter first dated George 22 years ago when they both worked for MTV, but it wasn't until the pair were reintroduced to each other through a mutual friend in 2015 that their relationship was rekindled (pictured in 2021)

Lisa has been open about her 'many struggles with fertility' in the past, with the TV star last week opening up about her devastating miscarriage following violent attack from an abusive ex boyfriend.

But the star has since found happiness with entrepreneur George, with the couple content with a life with just the two of them.

The model and presenter first dated George 22 years ago when they both worked for MTV, but it wasn't until the pair were reintroduced to each other through a mutual friend in 2015 that their relationship was rekindled.

In January 2017, the couple announced they were engaged after George proposed to Lisa just five weeks after she left the 2016 series of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
Michael Jackson's custom-made soft leather jacket from his very first Pepsi commercial in 1984 will be auctioned off on November 10 at 3pm BST through Prop Store Auction.

Bidding on the late King of Pop's b&w zippered outerwear - which has no size or manufacturer label - starts at 100K, but it's estimated to fetch between 200K and 400K at auction.

The Jacksons reportedly earned a record-breaking $5M for their promotional endorsement deal with PepsiCo in 1983, and they all appeared in the advert, which was filmed on the New York City streets.

The 13-time Grammy winner even retooled his 1983 hit Billie Jean to create the jingle referencing Pepsi's 'New Generation' of children consumers for the spot, which co-starred a 12-year-old Alfonso Ribeiro.

Michael has also been pictured rocking the jacket on the set of Thriller as well as a private screening in Westwood of the iconic horror-themed music video in 1983.

Own a piece of pop music history! Michael Jackson's custom-made soft leather jacket from his very first Pepsi commercial in 1984 will be auctioned off on November 10 at 3pm BST through Prop Store Auction

Going, going... : Bidding on the late King of Pop's b&w zippered outerwear - which has no size or manufacturer label - starts at 100K, but it's estimated to fetch between 200K and 400K at auction

Jackson actually gifted his jacket to the consignor Wendell Thompson before the commercial premiered, having become friendly with his cosmetologist father in Orlando, FL since 1980.

Thompson's auction lot also includes the original Polaroid of him receiving the jacket, a hand-signed photo from the former child star, The Making of Thriller book, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller LaserDisc, Pepsi set pics, and more.

One person who has both the means and desire to procure the one-of-a-kind jacket is three-time Grammy-nominated rapper Offset, who has worn numerous recreations of MJ's costumes over the past year.

The 31-year-old husband of Cardi B paid tribute to Jackson by donning four of his classic looks - including Smooth Criminal - in his Fan music video, which just dropped September 14.

Sadly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's painkiller addiction began in 1984 after sustaining second-degree burns on his scalp due to a pyrotechnics accident while filming the second Pepsi commercial with his brothers.

Michael - who had 13 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits and sold over 400M records - tragically succumbed to 'acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication' at age 50 back in 2009.

Jackson is survived by his three adult children - son Prince, 26; daughter Paris, 25; and son Bigi, 21 - who receive millions annually from his $100M inheritance.

The Indiana-born star's jukebox musical MJ the Musical has amassed $142.6M and won four Tony Awards on Broadway, and the play is currently running through October 22 at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC.

Lucrative: The Jacksons reportedly earned a record-breaking $5M for their promotional endorsement deal with PepsiCo in 1983, and they all appeared in the advert, which was filmed on the New York City streets

Future DWTS host! The 13-time Grammy winner even retooled his 1983 hit Billie Jean to create the jingle referencing Pepsi's 'New Generation' of children consumers for the spot, which co-starred a 12-year-old Alfonso Ribeiro (2-L)

Lot #563: Michael has also been pictured rocking the jacket on the set of Thriller as well as a private screening in Westwood of the iconic horror-themed music video in 1983

'Lots of Love!' Jackson actually gifted his jacket to the consignor Wendell Thompson (R, pictured in 1984) before the commercial premiered, having become friendly with his cosmetologist father in Orlando, FL since 1980

Not just the jacket! Thompson's auction lot also includes the original Polaroid of him receiving the jacket, a hand-signed photo from the former child star, The Making of Thriller book, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller LaserDisc, Pepsi set pics, and more

Cosplayer: One person who has both the means and desire to procure the one-of-a-kind jacket is three-time Grammy-nominated rapper Offset (L, pictured May 30), who has worn numerous recreations of MJ's costumes over the past year

Smooth Criminal! The 31-year-old husband of Cardi B paid tribute to Michael by donning four of his classic looks in his Fan music video, which just dropped September 14

Downward spiral: Sadly, Jackson's painkiller addiction began in 1984 after sustaining second-degree burns on his scalp due to a pyrotechnics accident while filming the second Pepsi commercial with his brothers
Emily Ratajkowski sure seems to like to shock her Instagram followers.

On Tuesday the 32-year-old Vogue model pulled down the straps of her black tank top which flashed plenty of flesh.

One side of her top was yanked down so low that she had to use her hand to cover her bare breast as she was bra free. Even the tan lines from her swimsuit was seen as she flashed a healthy glow.

The beauty wore her long brunette hair down in soft waves as she was made up with plum toned. She added gold earrings.

'Touched by an angel,' she wrote in her caption as she linked to her glam team.

On her Insta Stories she made it clear she was dining at Manhattan restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

A lot to see: Emily Ratajkowski sure seems to like to shock her Instagram followers. On Tuesday the model pulled down the straps of her black tank top which flashed plenty of flesh. One side of her top was yanked down so low that she had to use her hand to cover her bare breast

The star was seen sitting on a bed in other images where she had the straps of her top up. But in these shots, her tummy could be spied.

The catwalk princess was smoldering for the camera before heading out for a night of fun in New York City.

Hours earlier she was seen with her son Sylvester, age two.

The single mother looked chic in a rust brown leather belted trench coat over a long black dress that had a strong autumn weather feel.

The ex of Sebastian Bear-McClard also held hands with her boy as they walked down a tree-lined street.

This comes days after the brunette bombshell - who wore a leather suit last week - posted saucy throwback photos where she was modeling a thong bikini on the beach in Brazil.

The My Body author is the designer and founder of the swimwear and intimates line Inamorata Woman.

At home: The beauty wore her long brunette hair down in soft waves as she was made up with plum toned. She added gold earrings

Touched indeed: 'Touched by an angel,' she wrote in her caption as she linked to her glam team

In the new images taken in Manhattan, Emily appeared to be taking her son to daycare.

He wore a navy blue cardigan sweater over a royal blue shirt with khaki cargo slacks adding silver shoes as he sucked on his thumb.

The star has been a single mom for a year after leaving Sebastian following four years of marriage.

Emily and Sebastian surprised many by getting married in 2018 just a few weeks into their relationship.

In October 2020, the model publicly announced her pregnancy and welcomed Sylvester in March of the following year.

However, their marriage hit a rough patch in July 2022 after allegations of infidelity and sexual misconduct were leveled against Bear-McClard.

Now with coat on: In this image the cover girl wore a brown leather coat

On her Insta Stories she made it clear she was dining at Manhattan restaurant Eleven Madison Park

Zzzz: Emily looked rather bored when at her dinner table

Since then, Emily has been romantically linked to several people, including Harry Styles and Eric Andre.

The Gone Girl star recently spoke about being a single mother during an interview with Harper's Bazaar.

'I've never had such clear priorities before in my life. Number one is Sly, and that's that,' she stated.

She then discussed how the onset of motherhood inspired her to begin thinking about the lessons she wanted her child to learn for the future.

She said: 'It's made me re-evaluate what's important to me, like, what do I want to teach my son?'

The model also stated that she still had high hopes for her 30s despite her ongoing separation from her former partner.

'I've expected this decade to be the best decade. Even if I didn't see it going this way,' she said.

Last month she talked nearly suffering a 'close call' wardrobe malfunction during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.

Mommy time: Hours earlier Ratajkowski was seen with son Sylvester, age two, in New York City

The model was spotted dancing to one of the performances at the event in New Jersey wearing a green top that daringly crisscrossed her cleavage.

Fans spotted it showed 'major underboob' and said it was 'fun' to see her miss 'close call' exposures to viewers.

Emily was spotted grinning as she constantly adjusted her top to avoid showing off her chest.

The model as at the awards to present an award and appeared on stage late in the show, introducing Karol G ahead of her performance.

Her green ensemble was inspired by 2000s fashion and designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.

The dress featured a halter top that wrapped around to cup her chest, while the bottom was designed to look like a handkerchief.

Bikini babe: Last week she shared a flashback image in a bikini from her brand Inamorata

Emily's thong was also visible.

Emily appeared to be at the VMAs alone despite recently being seen cuddling up to Justin Theroux, 52, days earlier  sparking rumours the pair are an item.

She was at the US Open in New York City with Jennifer Aniston's former husband Justin Theroux on her arm.

Emily and The Leftovers star sat side-by-side and looked cozy at the men's final match between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

The crowd was packed with A-listers including Justin Timberlake, Matthew McConaughey, Jerry Seinfeld, and couple Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.

Justin was married to Friends actress Jennifer, 54, from 2015 to 2018, while Emily has been linked to a series of stars including Pete Davidson, 29, and Harry Styles, also 29, since her divorce from Bear-McClard, 36.
Teresa Giudice and her daughters have revealed their new collaboration with Shein, but the announcement isn't going over so well with some of their fans.

The reality star, who allegedly tried to get out of a traffic ticket by offering a police officer a 'family business card,' made the announcement with the company on social media on Tuesday.

'We are SO excited to finally announce our partnership with @shein to curate the ultimate pre-holiday collection,' the 51-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey star wrote on social media next to a video.

'All of the pieces are a reflection of us,' she claimed, explaining there were 'lots of glamorous, fun, and chic styles that are perfect for everyone!'

Hinting at their lingerie looks she wrote, 'We even made sure to include comfy and luxe sleepwear for your next Girls Night In!'

New collaboration: Teresa Giudice, 51, and her daughters Gia, 22, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 14, revealed their new collaboration with Shein Tuesday. Teresa called the styles 'the ultimate pre-holiday collection'

'We worked so hard to make this special for you all, and we hope you LOVE LOVE LOVE it as much as we do! Thank you so much for supporting the Giudice Girls!' she concluded.

Daughters Gia, 22, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 14, all shared the video on their social media pages as well.

Group looks included Teresa and her daughters modeling sexy monochromatic neutrals while standing by the stairway in their palatial mansion.

Another featured the ladies in black sheer holiday looks as Teresa and Gia toasted the scene with glasses of champagne.

Some viewers were concerned at what they considered the mature looks the young women were modeling.

'Very beautiful ladies... but why do you feel you need to dress as a 30 something year when your a teenager and young adult?' they asked.

'So sad to see children have their childhood taken away from them by parents who are chasing a buck...'

Reflection: Group looks included Teresa and her daughters in sexy monochromatic neutrals. 'All of the pieces are a reflection of us,' she claimed, explaining there were 'lots of glamorous, fun, and chic styles that are perfect for everyone!'

Concerns: The ladies posed in black sheer holiday looks as Teresa and Gia toasted with glasses of champagne. Some fans were concerned about the mature looks. 'Why do you feel you need to dress as a 30 something year when your a teenager and young adult?'

Teresa displayed her toned form in a body hugging white midi dress with ruching and a faux wrap showcasing her toned legs.

The controversial fast fashion company has come under legal scrutiny in the US for some of its business practices which allegedly include copyright infringement.

In July, three designers in California filed a lawsuit, claiming they were 'surprised' and outraged' to see their products 'faithfully copied,' on the Shein website, according to CBS News.

The company has also been accused of human rights abuses and poor worker conditions.

'Well this fits,' wrote one disappointed follower.

'Teresa partnering with one of the most unethical brands in the world. You know what they say, Birds of a Feather. But, love, love, love'

'Is this one really selling out her daughters for money like Kris Demon Jenner?' asked another.

Controversy: Some fans were disappointed with the Giudices' collaboration with the fast fashion company which has been accused of stealing styles from other designers and human rights violations

Praise: Many fans praised the reality star for including her daughters in the collaboration. 'Your daughters will be very strong women because of you,' one wrote

'This makes me never want to shop with Shein. 1. Because of child labor. 2. Because of them,' stated an angry commenter.

The Shein x Giudice Girls items may appeal to shoppers as they come in a variety of sizes and most have a price point less than $25.

Many of the family's followers were anxious to jump to their defense amid the negative comments.

'You are literally the best mom ever, and your daughters will be very strong women because of you. Congrats, beautiful soul.'
Ryan Reynolds opened up about his mental health on Monday evening at Bring Change To Mind's 11th Annual Revels & Revelations Gala in New York City.

The 46-year-old actor and entrepreneur  who was was honored with the mental health nonprofit's Robin Williams Legacy Of Laughter Award  spoke with Page Six about maintaining his mental wellbeing.

When asked how he keeps a mindful balance he replied, 'Not always great, to be honest.'

He admitted, 'I certainly have my own little rituals and those kinds of things that help me stay grounded and keep my mind from spinning out of control.'

The father-of-four, who's married to Blake Lively, added, 'Sometimes Im really good at it, sometimes Im not.'

Candid: Ryan Reynolds opened up about his mental health on Monday evening at Bring Change To Mind 's 11th Annual Revels & Revelations Gala in New York City

Honest: The 46-year-old actor and entrepreneur  who was was honored with the mental health nonprofit's Robin Williams Legacy Of Laughter Award on Monday  said he's 'not always great' at maintaining his mental equilibrium

Reynolds noted that when he notices he's having an 'out of control' moment, he takes time to meditate.

The star added: 'I tend to overbook myself when Im spiraling that way.

'Im sort of aware of that stuff and I manage it as well as you can,' he told the outlet.

It's not the first time he's opened up about coping with stress in his life.

In 2022 he shared with CBS Sunday Mornings: 'Ive had anxiety my whole life really. And you know, I feel like I have two parts of my personality, that one takes over when that happens.'

While at Monday night's star-studded event for the organization founded by Glenn Close, Ryan also discussed how he incorporates mental health practices while raising his and Lively's four children.

Speaking with People, he explained the importance of teaching his kids to be self-aware.

'It's more about talking to them about everything,' he emphasized. 'It's genuine when I say I take a huge interest in their days and how things are going.'

Recent: Reynolds and wife Blake Lively recently enjoyed a KC Chiefs game with pop star Taylor Swift and actor Hugh Jackman

Longtime couple: Reynolds and Lively tied the knot in 2012

Parents: While chatting with People, Ryan said he and Blake make a point to teach their four children 'self-awareness'

Ryan and Blake share daughters James, eight, Ines, seven, and Betty, four, plus their fourth child  born in February 2023, whose name and gender has not been revealed.

'For me, the best time of my day is walking them to school and walking them back.

'I think, as parents, we are so much better equipped to handle the rigors of childhood through our kids now than when I was a kid,' he said.

He added: 'It's just totally different now. People are much more self-aware.

'And that's the thing we sort of hang our hat on the most is self-awareness with our kids. Not be happy, not be anything  just be self-aware and welcome everything in.'
Blake Lively proved she can turn any ensemble into a runway look during an outing in New York City on Tuesday.

The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants star, 36, looked incredible as she battled the brisk weather in a brown cardigan sweater and blue beanie.

Her chic bell bottom jeans gave off a 70s vibe while her designer handbag was a modern twist.

With a set of cool shades and a pair of chunky boots, Blake hit the Big Apple streets with aplomb.

The outing comes after Blake and her husband Ryan Reynolds were spotted alongside BFF Taylor Swift at MetLife Stadium last week to cheer on Taylor's new boyfriend and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce.

Cool cat: Blake Lively proved she can turn any ensemble into a runway look during an outing in New York on Tuesday

Sophie Turner -- who recently announced her divorce from husband Joe Jonas - was also joining in the fun.

While sitting in the stands with Taylor, Blake almost had a hilarious wardrobe malfunction.

Of course, this isn't the first time Blake has shown her support for Taylor's romantic endeavors.

Earlier this year, the actress was seen rocking out at Taylor's concert alongside Taylors rumored boyfriend at the time, Matty Healy.

Blakes husband was not present at the show, but the couple's three eldest children, James, 7, Inez, 6, and Betty, 3, were spotted by Blakes side.

Blake, Ryan and Taylor have quite a history. Two years ago, after Taylors Saturday Night Live performance, the trio were spotted together heading to the afterparty of the famed sketch show.

The Grammy winner also proved her tight bond with Blake and Ryan when she revealed the name of the couple's daughter in one of her songs.

Before Betty was released on Taylors Folklore album in 2020, Blake and Ryan had kept their third child's name a secret.

Warm it up: The Sisterhood of the Pants star, 36, looked incredible as she battled the brisk weather in a brown cardigan sweater and blue beanie

70s vibe: Her chic bell bottom jeans gave off a 70s vibe while her designer handbag was a modern twist to the look

Big Apple beauty: With a set of cool shades and a pair of chunky boots, Blake hit the Big Apple streets with aplomb

Taylor also used the names of Betty's older sisters, James and Inez, in the song.

In February 2023, Blake and Ryan quietly welcomed their fourth child, whose name has not been revealed.

In August, Ryan wished Blake a happy 36th birthday with a heartwarming Instagram post.

Close call: While sitting in the stands with Taylor, Blake almost had a wardrobe malfunction

'The only thing irrevocably mine in the world is the love and appreciation and awe I feel for this person,' he began.

'Witnessing her life is something I couldn't take for granted if I tried. And believe me, I try,' he added.

'Happy Birthday @blakelively. You hung the damn moon,' Ryan ended the note.
While most stars have avoided voicing support for Israel after the Hamas atrocities, for fear of losing fans, former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko bravely put her head above the parapet.

The Ukrainian and French actress, 43, who starred opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace, posted a message on social media expressing her sympathy. However, she received so much abuse that she later deleted her post.

'I'm done with your hatred and with your blood thirst,' she said in a subsequent message.

'Those who support terrorism and people killing each other should be ashamed of themselves. I have deleted my post now and I won't ever post any peace messages.'

While most stars have avoided voicing support for Israel after the Hamas atrocities, for fear of losing fans, former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko (pictured in August) bravely put her head above the parapet

Pro-Israel demonstrators protest near Downing Street in London on Monday

Kurylenko, 43, who starred opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (pictured), posted a message on social media expressing her sympathy. However, she received so much abuse that she later deleted her post

The former model added: 'I'm a kind person and have NEVER taken sides even though you try to interpret me that way. You won't succeed. You have NO idea how I absolutely understand every side in wars.

'And yes, my heart bleeds for both nations that are dying. But you are too angry to understand and you don't deserve my support.'

Other stars who have voiced their solidarity for Israel include Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis, rock band U2 and Kylie Jenner.

Reality television star and make-up mogul Jenner lost one million of her 400million followers on Instagram for her now-deleted post.
Emily Ratajkowski looked stunning as she returned home from a long photoshoot at the Lowell Hotel on the posh Upper East Side.

The My Body author, 32, kept her head down to avoid photographers as she arrived at her home wearing an orange trench coat.

The catwalk veteran was wearing the same black Silk Laundry long bias-cut skirt that she wore yesterday while dropping her son Sylvester, two, off at daycare.

On Tuesday, she paired the versatile garment with bright red snakeskin boots and the sherbet-colored coat, which was belted at her slim waist.

Her dark hair was parted in the middle as she looked down while talking on her cell phone.

Fall look: The catwalk veteran was wearing the same black Silk Laundry long bias-cut skirt that she wore yesterday while dropping her son Sylvester, two, off at daycare. On Tuesday, she paired the versatile garment with bright red snakeskin boots and the sherbet-colored coat, which was belted at her slim waist

The Chicago native carried a a red and white tote bag from bookstore McNally Jackson.

She slopped a pair of Hailey Bieber X Vogue cat eye sunglasses onto her gorgeous face.

The model wore almost exactly the same outfit the day before swapping the orange trench coat for a burnt orange leather trench and the red boots for brown ones.

Emily has been leaning hard into fall looks in recent weeks and these are just the two latest examples.

The iCarly alum is often spotted strutting the streets of New York City like it is her runway.

Whether alone, with her son or with her beloved dog Colombo, she always puts on a stylish display.

Emily split from her husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard, 36, in 2022 after four years of marriage and one child.

She has been linked to a series of stars since her divorce including Pete Davidson, 29, Harry Styles, also 29, and comedian Eric Andre, 40.

Since her spilt, the single mother has frequently been spotted around town with her adorable toddler.

Deja vu: Emily wore remarkably similar looks - including the exact same skirt - on Monday and Tuesday

Lookalike: The model wore almost exactly the same outfit the day before swapping the orange trench coat for a burnt orange leather trench and the red boots for brown ones

Recently, the Gone Girl actress spoke about being a single mother during an interview with Harper's Bazaar.

'I've never had such clear priorities before in my life. Number one is Sly, and that's that,' she stated.

She then discussed how becoming a mother inspired her to think about the lessons she wanted her child to learn.

She said: 'It's made me re-evaluate what's important to me, like, what do I want to teach my son?'
Gigi Hadid has broken her silence on Hamas' attacks on Israel which left at least 1,400 Israelis and Palestinians dead.

The supermodel, 28, whose father Mohamed, 74, is of Palestinian origin, took to Instagram to share a post condemning the 'terrorizing of innocent people' under the Free Palestine movement' and sending love and support to her Palestinian and Jewish friends.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Hamas after the militant group launched a series of attacks on Saturday which killed more than 1,000 people, in the biggest escalation in the region in decades.

Hadid wrote: 'My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children.

'I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily.

'I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.

Post: Gigi Hadid has broken her silence on Hamas' attack on Israel which left at least 1,400 Israelis and Palestinians dead (pictured October 2023)

Statement: The supermodel, 28, took to Instagram to share a post condemning the 'terrorizing of innocent people' under the Free Palestine movement' and sending love and support to her Palestinian and Jewish friends

'The terrorizing of innocent people is not in alignment with & does not do any good for the 'Free Palestine' movement.'

'The idea that it does has fueled a painful, decades long cycle of back & forth retaliation (which no innocent civilian, Palestinian or Israeli, deserves to be a casualty of) and helps perpetuate the false idea that being Pro-Palestine = antisemitic.

'If you are hurting as I share my condolences today with my loves ones, both Palestinian and Jewish, I'm sending you my love and strength - whoever and wherever you are.

'There are a lot of complex, personal and valid feelings, but every human deserves basic rights, treatment and security; no matter their nationality, religion, ethnicity or where they were born

'I know my words will never be enough or heal the deep wounds of so many, but I pray for the safety of innocent lives, always.'

Both Gigi and supermodel sister Bella Hadid, 27, are vocal in their support for the Palestinian cause and have attended marches and demonstrations.

In May 2021 Bella and Gigi sparked a firestorm over an Instagram post that said Israel was not a country, but rather a land settled by colonizers.

Pictured: Gigi is seen with her Palestinian father Mohamed and supermodel sister Bella. Mohamed was born in Nazareth in November 1948, four months after his city was captured by Israeli forces

Bella published the series of cartoons that called Israel 'occupiers' and called Palestinians 'oppressed.'

Gigi then liked the post, amplifying the cartoons riddled with historic inaccuracies and anti-Semitic tropes to her 66.2 million followers.

The Hadid sisters' posts come as Israel pressed ahead with a fierce military offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing as many as 11 senior Hamas terrorist military figures in retaliation for artillery and mortar that had been lobbed into Israel from Palestinian areas.

Mohamed Hadid is a Palestinian born in Nazareth in November 1948, four months after his city was captured by Israeli forces. The family fled to Syria, and ultimately to Washington DC. He has Jordanian and American citizenship.

He shares Gigi, Bella and son Anwar, 24, with ex-wife, Dutch former model, Yolanda Hadid. He is also father to daughters Alana, 38, and Marielle, 43, with ex-wife Mary Butler.

In 2018, Gigi said on Twitter: 'I've said it before and I'll say it again. For me, this is not about religion or one against the other  it's about the greed,' using the hashtags 'Free Palestine,' 'Free Gaza,' and 'Coexist,' with a peace-sign emoji.

She later added: 'My intent is never to further separate groups in hatred. I'm not anti-anyone. I am only pro-coexistence.'

In March 2022, Hadid was slammed for comparing the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an Instagram post

Gigi's sister Bella - who is a stridently pro-Palestine campaigner - has yet to comment publicly on the attacks which killed more than 1,000 people - they are pictured at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards

People mourn at the graveside of Eden Guez, who was killed a festival that was attacked by Hamas gunmen that left at least 260 people dead, at her funeral in Ashkelon, in southern Israe

Israeli soldiers remove the body of a compatriot, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

When Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Bella wrote: 'The treatment of the Palestinian people is unfair, one-sided and should not be tolerated. I stand with Palestine'.

In March 2022. Gigi was slammed for comparing the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an Instagram post.

She announced on Instagram that she would donate her earnings from fall fashion shows to 'those suffering' in both Ukraine and Palestine.

She wrote: 'Following in the footsteps of my friend [Mica Arganaraz], I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support those experiencing the same in Palestine.

'Our eyes and hearts must be open to all human injustice,' she wrote, concluding: 'HANDS OFF UKRAINE. HANDS OFF PALESTINE. PEACE. PEACE. PEACE.'

Vogue magazine would go on to scrub any mention of Palestine from an Instagram post about her efforts to donate her fashion show earnings to the country and also Ukraine - only to put it back in amid backlash and accusations of anti-semitism.

Bella - who is a stridently pro-Palestine campaigner - has yet to comment publicly on the attacks.

This comes after Gal Gadot revealed her heartbreak over Hamas' attack on Israel.

The Israeli actress, 38 - who previously said the 'world must not sit on the fence' over the war in Israel and Palestine - urged her followers to donate funds for those affected by the weekend's attacks and slammed people reacting to the atrocities with 'justification not empathy' on Tuesday.

Sharing a post which read 'Israel is under attack and we need your support', she wrote: 'Whoever can, and willing to donate, these peoples lives changed forever yesterday. Theyve lost so much and need help. Only if you can.'

She later wrote on her stories: 'Whoever can and wiling to donate, these people's lives changed forever yesterday

'They've lost so much and need help. Only if you can. If you have less empathy towards victims because of how you feel about their government, propaganda is working on you.

Post: Gal Gadot revealed her heartbreak over Hamas' attack on Israel this week

'The goal of propaganda is to dehumanize. It works to dehumanize Israelis and works to dehumanize Gazans

'I like to think most of us are above propaganda. But this weekend reminded me how widespread it is. Because a lot of people reacted to this violence with justification, not empathy

'I guess it's not surprising but it's still heartbreaking. Propaganda is everywhere. It seeps into us over time. It seeks to block our empathy receptors. So when we see violence, we rationalize away our human response

'Killing innocent Palestinians is horrific. Killing innocent Israelis is horrific. If you don't feel the same I think you should ask yourself why that is.'

On Saturday, she also posted a screenshot of an article that detailed how Israeli soldiers and civilians had been taken hostage by militants.

She wrote: 'At least 250 Israeli have been murdered and dozens of women children and elders held as hostages in Gaza, by Palestinian military group Hamas.

'Starting early morning more than 3,000 rockets were fire. Hamas is holding hostages, controlling bases and settlements in Israel. There have been more than 1,500 injured and heavy fighting is still ongoing. I hear their voices and they are banging on the door. I am with my two little children. My heart is aching.'

The former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to support Israel, writing: 'I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!'

Post: Gadot urged her followers to donate funds for those affected by the weekend's attacks and slammed people reacting to the atrocities with 'justification not empathy' on Tuesday.

The Wonder Woman star famously served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat trainer over a decade ago

On Saturday, the former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to speak up in support of Israel, sharing news of the Hamas ' assault on civilians

Kylie Jenner has received support from Jewish organizations in America after she posted then deleted an Instagram Story showing her support for Israel on Saturday - following backlash from some of her fans.

The influencer, 26, took to her social media with image of Israel's flag with the text, 'Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!'

The image she reshared was from nonprofit organization StandWithUs - a body which states that it supports Israel and opposes antisemitism.

On Twitter a video that appeared to be of comments on Jenner's post showed numerous users replying that they supported a free Palestine.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Hamas after the militant group launched a series of attacks on Saturday, in the biggest escalation in the region in decades.

Under Kylie's recent post - as she shared snaps from Paris Fashion Week - many have made their feelings clear by posting the flag of Palestine.

Other penned comments like: 'Free Palestine'.

Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs told TMZ while the group is pleased that Kylie shared their post, 'it's a shame that some people cannot express themselves honestly because of intense pressure and intimidation by Hamas sympathizers.'

American Jewish Committee spokesman Richard Hirschhaut also told the publication Kylie 'did the right thing and acted with her heart with her initial post and should be applauded for speaking up and speaking out.'

But he said Kylie instead became 'a subject of vicious and ugly scorn' but hopes she reposts the message as 'the power of social media and the power of celebrity is desperately needed at this moment when Israel is at war and under attack by a terrorist organization that is barbaric, inhumane and immoral.'

Mia Khalifa has been dropped by Playboy after loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead.

Changed her mind: Kylie Jenner has received support from Jewish organizations in America after she posted then deleted an Instagram Story showing her support for Israel on Saturday - following backlash from some of her fans

Opinion: The influencer, 26, took to her social media with image of Israel's flag with the text, 'Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!'

Reaction: Under Kylie's recent post - as she shared snaps from Paris Fashion Week - many have made their feelings clear by posting the flag of Palestine

The 30-year-old repeatedly supported the group's bombings and kidnappings to her five million followers on X, urging the aggressors to film horizontally so she could better watch the carnage.

The Lebanese-American posted: 'Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.'

She made light of the horror conflict, joking about a 'Zionist apartheid regime being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci shirts'.

Khalifa also shared an image of the terrorists riding in the back of a pick-up truck, calling it a 'Renaissance painting.'

She reposted a message saying 'the United States of America is also a terrorist state' and went after Jenner for sharing and then deleting a message in support of Israel.

'If true journalism exists, the next person to talk to Kylie Jenner will ask for her opinion on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and not break eye contact until she can string one coherent sentence together since she wants to take a stance to her 400M followers so badly,' Khalifa wrote.

In an email sent out to its subscribers on Monday Playboy said: 'Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women and children

'At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand her words and actions have consequences,' the statement finished.

Playboy has since deleted Mias Playboy channel from their creator platform - and the former porn star has been removed from the company's Centerfold platform.

Khalifa apparently lost a business deal following her posts, with a company named Red Light Holland informing her she had been 'fired effectively' due to her 'horrendous' posts, but she doubled down.

'I'd say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I'm more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad,' she said.

She continued defending her request that the terrorists film horizontally: 'I just wanna make sure there's 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison they've been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid.

'I'm from LEBANON, are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism you f***ing weirdo.

Khalifa was born in Beirut and moved to the stages as a kid in 2001 during the South Lebanon conflict with Israel.

She has always expressed support for what she calls Palestinian's 'right to end Israeli occupation' and often denounces 'Zionists.'

The US-based star, whose real name is Sarah Joe Chamoun, used to work in the porn industry but now speaks out against it.

She became a controversial figure after filming sketches while wearing a hijab, and revealed in 2019 that she had received death threats over her work.

Over the weekend Hamas militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, seizing settlements and capturing and murdering civilians celebrating a Jewish holiday.

A music festival attended was one of the first sites to be attacked by the terrorist group, with 260 revelers massacred there.

Playboy has cut ties with porn star Mia Khalifa after comments that sparked fury online loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead

Khalifa sparked massive backlash online after she loudly supported the terror attack by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead over the weekend

Khalifa's page now shows a 'Not Found' graphic on the website, as the adult magazine released a statement confirming that she is no longer creating content

Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighborhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City

Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims and posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one.

Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew.

The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday.

Saturday's attack on Israeli citizens marks the start of what could be the deadliest conflict in decades between Israel and Palestine.

As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead  and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least.
Drake blasted retired rapper Joe Budden for telling him to 'grow up' and criticizing his newly-released eighth studio album For All the Dogs - reigniting a feud that originated in 2016.

'[Drake's] rapping for the children! I had to look up how old this n**** was when I finished listening to the album,' the 43-year-old 'Howard Stern of hip-hop' said on his Patreon show The Joe Budden Podcast.

'You gonna be 37 years old. Get the f*** away from some of these younger n****s, and stop f***ing these 25-year-olds. Why are you still f***ing the 25-year-olds? You're a 37-year-old billionaire.'

Joe compared the Canadian crooner to J. Cole, saying: 'Cole used to rap about kid s***, and then he started to grow up. And then the rapping sounded like an adult rapping. I want to hear adult Drake rapping for adult people. That's my issue with him today.'

Drake (born Aubrey Graham) responded to Budden last Saturday by tagging him in the comments of DJ Akademiks' Instagram post and telling him he 'failed at music.'

Longtime nemesis: Drake (L) blasted retired rapper Joe Budden (R) for telling him to 'grow up' and criticizing his newly-released eighth studio album For All the Dogs - reigniting a feud that originated in 2016

The 43-year-old 'Howard Stern of hip-hop' said on The Joe Budden Podcast: '[Drake's] rapping for the children! I had to look up how old this n**** was when I finished listening to the album. You gonna be 37 years old. Get the f*** away from some of these younger n****s, and stop f***ing these 25-year-olds'

'You left it behind to do [podcasts] cause this is what actually pays your bills. For any artist watching this just remember you are watching a failure give their opinion on his idea of a recipe for success,' the five-time Grammy winner wrote.

'A quitter [gives] their opinion on how to achieve longevity. You switched careers cause the things that pop into your brain had you broke living cheque to cheque and the raps you write had 450 men showing up to your shows in dusty Enyce jeans to screw up their face to Mood Muzik 29 and pretend you are the GOAT.'

Indeed, the two-time Grammy nominee - who appeared on four seasons of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York - hasn't released a studio album since Rage & The Machine in 2016.

'[Please] to any artist that's doing what they feel is right don't let these opinions affect your mindset after the fact,' Drake urged others.

'This guy is the poster child of frustration and surrendering. You retired and we never hung up your jersey. We don't even remember your number. We know you for doing this. You withdrew from rap not cause you accomplished all you need to it's cause it wasn't working for you.'

The OVO Sound co-founder continued: 'I never want anybody in the generations to think that the whole "everybody's entitled to their opinion" is a real thing. This is a man projecting his own self hate and the fact I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself.

'If you need it put in simpler terms I own a 767... he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions.'

Joe replied to Drake: 'You'll grow up sooner or later. Father time is undefeated.'

Joe compared the Canadian crooner to J. Cole, saying: 'Cole used to rap about kid s***, and then he started to grow up. And then the rapping sounded like an adult rapping. I want to hear adult Drake rapping for adult people. That's my issue with him today'

'You are watching a failure give their opinion on success': Drake responded to Budden last Saturday by tagging him in the comments of DJ Akademiks' Instagram post and telling him he 'failed at music' (pictured Sunday)

The five-time Grammy winner wrote: 'You switched careers cause the things that pop into your brain had you broke living cheque to cheque and the raps you write had 450 men showing up to your shows in dusty Enyce jeans to screw up their face to Mood Muzik 29 and pretend you are the GOAT'

'This guy is the poster child of frustration and surrendering': Indeed, the two-time Grammy nominee - who appeared on four seasons of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York - hasn't released a studio album since Rage & The Machine in 2016

Drake continued: 'This is a man projecting his own self hate and the fact I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself. If you need it put in simpler terms I own a 767... he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions' (pictured last Friday)

Joe replied to the OVO Sound co-founder: 'You'll grow up sooner or later. Father time is undefeated'

On Sunday, Drake - who boasts 263.7M social media followers -addressed Budden again in an Instagram post reading: 'I thank god for this life and not having to come to rushed conclusions on Best Buy podcast mics'

Congrats! The Degrassi alum concluded his 54-date It's All a Blur Tour on Monday night at Ohio's Schottenstein Center in Columbus

Drake - who celebrates his 37th birthday on October 24 - captioned four Instagram posts on Sunday: 'I feel weightless. I feel loved. I feel valued. I feel accomplished'

On Sunday, the Degrassi alum - who boasts 263.7M social media followers -addressed Budden again with his next five Instagram posts reading: 'I thank god for this life and not having to come to rushed conclusions on Best Buy podcast mics.'

Drake concluded his 54-date It's All a Blur Tour on Monday night at Ohio's Schottenstein Center in Columbus, writing: 'I feel weightless. I feel loved. I feel valued. I feel accomplished.'

The Emmy-nominated Euphoria producer will next celebrate his 37th birthday on October 24.
Jessica Chastain defended herself on Twitter on Tuesday after she received pushback to comments she made about reports of torture and sexual assaults occurring amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

'I am a woman who is scared for the women in this world,' the Oscar-winning actress, 46, tweeted. 'Sexual violence against women should never be justified. It is an inhuman act.'

After a Twitter user wrote to Chastain, 'Be scared for Palestinian women and young girls as well...' she said, 'I am scared for ALL women.'

Another user asked the Zero Dark Thirty actress, 'Why have you only spoken up about it now then,' to which she defended her track record of humanitarianism.

'I've supported women all over the world,' the Sacramento, California-born star said. 'Ive marched with them in Poland. Ive spoken about their struggles on tv and on my socials.'

The latest: Jessica Chastain, 46, defended herself on Twitter on Tuesday after she received pushback to comments she made about reports of torture and sexual assaults occurring amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Pictured earlier this month in Zurich, Switzerland

Chastain continued: 'My biggest desire in my life is to protect women from violence. Please dont allow knee jerk conclusions to divide us.'

The Memory actress continued to defend herself amid pushback, including a user who shared a meme featuring Chastain expressing skepticism in her sentiments with the caption, 'Whatever helps you sleep at night.'

Another user posted a clip of Chastain explaining how she trained with a former member of the Israel Defense Forces for her 2010 movie The Debt.

Chastain pushed back on the assertion that the clip confirmed her political leanings on the topic.

'This is a video about training for a film I made over 10 yrs ago,' she said. 'I was playing a women hunting down a NAZI war criminal in the 1960s. It had nothing to do with Palestine.'

Chastain divulged more information about her preparation for the motion picture, which also starred Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington and Tom Wilkinson.

'I studied Krav Maga martial arts with an Israeli in LA for a film where I fought a nazi NOT a Palestinian,' she said. 'Then I demonstrated a move from the film as graham attacked me with a banana on a late night show.'

She continued: 'Context is not what anyone on this app is really interested in, so I never bothered until now, but Im disturbed by the violent narrative thats been created for "likes" so Im setting the record straight.'

The Sacramento, California-born star pushed back against users and defended her track record of humanitarianism

Chastain defended a clip about how she trained with a former member of the Israel Defense Forces for her 2010 movie The Debt

Chastain defended her work in the film, saying, 'I studied Krav Maga martial arts with an Israeli in LA for a film where I fought a nazi NOT a Palestinian.' Pictured with Sam Worthington in the movie

Chastain also shared a clip featuring Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi expressing a message in support of peace

The Oscar-winning actress went back-and-forth with a number of Twitter users in a discussion stemming from the conflict between Israel and Hamas

Chastain said that posting that specific video about the making of the film was misleading when measured against other projects she worked on.

'There are other videos from that time stating that Im a pacifist who couldnt be more different from the character I played, but sadly, "pacifist" videos dont tend to go viral,' she said.

Chastain also shared a clip featuring Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi with the quotation, 'But in case you are human, Tell me if there is any wrong worse than killing a human? While the holy text of Quran is pointed out that if somebody innocent be killed, is like the whole world society is killed.'
Boy band 98 degrees revealed that Taylor Swift has inspired them to re-record some of their classic hits.

The 90s band, comprised of Jeff Timmons, 50, Nick Lachey, 49, Drew Lachey, 47, and Justin Jeffre, 50, told E! News that the Bad Blood hitmaker, 33, influenced them when she re-recorded three of her albums after losing ownership of her first six records.

'We're actually in the studio now working on a new project. We're gonna rerecord five of our classic hits in kind of the rerecord/get-your-masters-back move,' Nick shared.

'And then we're also gonna have five new songs as well, and a new single coming out at the top of the year,' he added.

'We thought it'd be natural for us to do this, you know, sort of rerecording of our masters,' Jeff stated. 'Taylor Swift sort of brought it to the forefront. The fans have embraced that. And so were like, "OK, nows the time to do it."'

Inspired: Boy band 98 degrees revealed that Taylor Swift has inspired them to re-record some of their classic hits; (L-R) Members Jeff Timmons, 50, Justin Jeffre, 50, Nick Lachey, 49, and Drew Lachey, 47, seen in 2023

Paving the way: 'Taylor Swift sort of brought it to the forefront. The fans have embraced that. And so were like, "OK, nows the time to do it"'; Swift, 33, is pictured 2023

Meanwhile Drew marveled at how the star paved the way for the practice to become more popular.

'I feel like, almost before Taylor did it, it was like, "Oh, youre rerecording the masters,"' he said.

'It was kind of like, "Ill just stick with the original" kind of thing. When she did it and she was like, "No, this is my music. I want to take ownership of it again," people were like, "Yeah Taylor!"'

'Now, everybodys like, "I want to rerecord my masters and get it back out there." So, I feel like theres an acceptance and almost an alliance between the artists and the fans now to support the rerecorded masters.'

98 Degrees released their debut album, 98 Degrees, in 1997, catapulting them to fame in the music industry in the 90s and early 2000s.

The group later went on a break in 2003, before reuniting in 2012.

Swift is currently set to release her fourth re-recorded album 1989 (Taylor's Version) later this month on October 27th.

The star initially announced that she would re-record earlier versions of her albums in 2019, after Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Records and her catalog of master recordings.

Classics: 'We're actually in the studio now working on a new project. We're gonna rerecord five of our classic hits in kind of the rerecord/get-your-masters-back move,' Nick shared, adding they would also record new songs; They are seen circa 1995

Throwback: 98 Degrees released their debut album, 98 Degrees, in 1997. The group later went on a break in 2003, before reuniting in 2012; Seen on stage at The Forum, London, in 1999

Trendsetter: Swift is currently set to release her fourth re-recorded album 1989 (Taylor's Version) later this month on October 27th; she is seen 2023

Feud: The star initially announced that she would re-record earlier versions of her albums in 2019, after Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Records and her catalog of master recordings for over $300million; he is seen in 2021

Throwback: Swift was signed with Big Machine Records at the start of her career. She can now legally re-record her albums because she wrote her own songs and owns publishing rights to them; Pictured with Big Machine Records founder Scott Borchetta in 2013

On the same day that Braun's deal was announced, Taylor claimed that she had pleaded for years to win back her work but was only given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and 'earn' back every album by producing another album.

Scott Borchetta, 61, founded Big Machine Records claimed the songstress had a shot earlier at buying her older work, which fell through when she made a deal with Universal Music Group. Swift's lawyers denied she knew about the $300million sale and said she wasn't given the opportunity to re-possess her music.

Braun, manager to Bieber and Ariana Grande, faced backlash after posting a now-deleted Instagram post in which he bragged about 'buying Taylor Swift'.

Swift re-recorded three of her albums - Fearless, Red and Speak Now - and renamed them by adding 'Taylor's Version' at the end of the album name.

She can legally re-record her albums because she wrote her own songs and owns publishing rights to them.

The popstar is currently on her sixth concert tour - The Eras Tour - which revisits all her musical eras and albums, including the ones that she re-recorded.
She recently split from her longtime beau Callum Jones after three years of dating.

But Molly Smith ensured that she wasn't letting her single status bring her down, as she made a show-stopping appearance at the premiere of Sumotherhood in London on Tuesday.

The Love Island star, 26, flaunted her incredible figure in a sheer nude lace thigh-split gown as she posed on the pink carpet.

Molly stunned in the form-fitting dress with a plunging front and a perilously high split as she posed solo at the event.

The reality TV beauty accessorised her look with a matching silver clutch bag and clear perspex heels.

Wow! Love Island star Molly Smith, 26, set pulses racing in a sheer nude lace gown as she attended the Sumotherhood premiere in London on Tuesday

Revealing: The reality star, who recently split from beau Callum Jones, flaunted her incredible figure in a sheer nude lace thigh-split gown as she posed on the pink carpet

Written by Adam Deacon, Michael Vu, and Jazzie Zonzolo, Sumotherhood is also directed by and stars Adam Deacon, with the movie acting as an action-packed spoof of his previous endeavors Kidulthood and Adulthood.

The official synopsis reads: 'Riko and Kane have got it all big dreams, no respect and a fifteen grand debt. Could things get any worse? Yes! So, it's time to man up and finally be taken serious as 'Roadman'.

'Once putting their heads together on various ways to make some money, they decide to rob a megastar in a nightclub toilet and hold up the local bank but things inevitably don't go to plan

'However somehow a misunderstanding leads them to be desired and acquired for business with one of East London's toughest firms, putting them in the line of fire to the firm's arch-rivals. Can Riko and Kane live up to their name?

'Will Riko win the affection of Tamara and if he does, will Tyrese, Tamara's lunatic stepbrother, allow Riko to live?

'Will his life be worth living if the local London Feds draw a line back to our duo? Anything can happen when Riko and Kane are on the scene in this new action packed urban comedy.'

Molly's outing comes after it was revealed last month that she and boyfriend Callum split after three years together.

The duo met when Molly was a Casa Amor bombshell on the sixth season and are said to be determined to remain friends despite the break-up, while Callum has left their Manchester home and split custody of their dogs.

Glam: Molly stunned in the form-fitting dress with a plunging front and a perilously high split as she posed solo at the event

Sexy: The reality TV beauty accessorised her look with a matching silver clutch bag and clear perspex heels

Tough times: Molly's outing comes after it was revealed last month that she and boyfriend Callum split after three years together

Insiders told The Sun: 'It's really sad as they were a sweet couple together but it's over - and has been for a few weeks...

'They're trying to stay friends - they were together for over three years - but it's difficult. I think in the end, Molly wanted to get engaged and that didn't happen.

'Everyone was really surprised when they split as they were perfectly matched. He's now moved out of the home they shared and they've split custody of their two dogs.

Molly and Callum met on the first-ever winter edition of the ITV dating show in 2020, where they left before the finale.

The couple moved into a lavish four-bedroom house in Manchester that November after meeting on the show.
Target is testing a major self-checkout change at some of its stores in a bid to speed up the shopping process for customers.

The retail giant is limiting the self-service lanes to customers who are purchasing 10 items or fewer - to try and reduce lengthy lines that can build up in store.

Target locations in Maine are among the select stores to impose the rules, according to WCYY.

The company confirmed to DailyMail.com that it was testing the limit on items in order to reduce wait times and better understand guest preferences.

It did not confirm the specific Target locations where the trial was taking place, or whether the policy would later be rolled out nationwide.

The company confirmed it was testing the change in order to reduce wait times

The retail giant is testing limiting the self-service lanes to customers who are purchasing 10 items or fewer

The change comes after Target customers have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to complain about long lines at checkout.

One user in Illinois lamented how the store has 'huge lines' and only '3 registers open out of 18.'

Another wrote: 'We are standing in long lines to get into the store and long checkout lines with one cashier.'

But Target is not the only store where customers are protesting online about long wait times.

Kroger and Walmart shoppers have also expressed their frustration online.

One Walmart shopper complained: ' The line to check out was easily a mile long and they had one lane and a few self checkout lines open.'

'Self check out only on Sunday morning in Commerce, MI,' a Kroger shopper wrote on X. 'Long lines, seniors struggling physically.'

The post prompted a Kroger spokesperson to apologize, commenting: 'We're sorry about the lack of open registers, causing long lines & seniors that are struggling & are not receiving help. That is not the kind of customer service we should be providing.'

Grocery store Giant, which operates about 170 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, has also limited the number of items that customers can buy at once through its self-checkout lanes to 20.

Giant President Ira Kress told WTOP that the chain no longer allows 'full baskets' at self-checkout in a bid to curb rising theft.

Kress said in June that shoplifting rates in-store had increased five to 10 times in the last three years.

Walmart shoppers have also expressed their frustration at long queues at checkout

It comes as stores across the US are battling against a rising wave of crime - forcing many outlets to close.

A recent report from the National Retail Federation said the sector is under an 'unprecedented' threat from crime and violence, with store owners fearing for their livelihoods as well as their safety.

It found that shrink, the total losses incurred by retailers, rose by $20 billion in a year to an eye-watering $112.2 billion in 2022.

And with up to 70 percent of shrink accounted for by theft, it means retailers lost approximately $78.4 billion to shoplifters.

A recent report from the National Retail Federation found retailers lost approximately $78.4 billion to shoplifters last year

The shocking figure has also jumped by almost a fifth from 2021, when it was around $65.7 billion.

The rise has been attributed to the soaring number of violent thefts. Overall, 88 percent of retailers said shoplifters became more aggressive in 2022.

'Retail crime, violence and theft continue to impact the retail industry at unprecedented levels,' the report stated.

'The effects of these criminal acts are not isolated to large national brands or large metropolitan cities. Daily media reports show that no business is immune, and these issues touch retailers of all segments, sizes and locations across the United States.'
Renters are always on the lookout for property where they can get the most bang for their buck.

And a new study has revealed the cities where Americans can get the cheapest rent per square foot - giving them the most room for their money.

Research from New Jersey Real Estate Network ranked Johnstown, in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, as the US city with the cheapest average rent per square foot.

In the city, which is 57 miles east of Pittsburgh, the monthly price of rent per square foot is just $0.65.

This is 63 percent below the average rate of $1.78 per square foot per month, according to the study.

Research from New Jersey Real Estate Network ranked Johnstown, in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, as the US city with the cheapest average rent per square foot

The research analyzed the monthly prices and square footage of rental listings in metropolitan areas with at least 1,000 listings, to establish the cities where renters get the most room for their money.

Second on the list of cheap cities for space-seeking renters was Decatur, Illinois, where rent sits at an average of $0.69 per square foot per month - 61 percent below the national average.

According to the study, current rental listings in Decatur, which is around 45 minutes drive from Springfield, average a size of 1,177 square foot - and the typical monthly rent price is approximately $816.60.

In third place in the ranking was Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where rent averages at $0.76 per square foot - 57 percent lower than the US average.

Current rental listings in Pottsville average approximately 1,000 square foot, making for an average monthly rent price of $760.

The forth best rent-to-space ratio comes from Carbondale, Illinois - at $0.79.

With current listings averaging square footage of approximately 930, the typical monthly rent here is $734, the study found.

In Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which is 57 miles east of Pittsburgh, the monthly price of rent per square foot is just $0.65

This is followed by the cities of Ogdensburg, New York, Peoria, Illinois, Muncie, Indiana, and Altoona, Pennsylvania, in fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth place respectively.

All of these cities boast rent prices per square foot averaging between $0.86 and $0.87 per month.

Ninth place went to Cumberland, Maryland - at $0.89 - and the final spot is occupied by Terre Haute, Indiana, with a typical rent of $0.892 per square foot per month.

It comes as rents are beginning to flatten out after going on a rollercoaster ride during the pandemic.

The median US asking rent rose 0.4 percent year over year to $2,011 in September, according to the latest data from real estate company Redfin.

This is the sixth straight month in which rents were little changed from a year earlier.

Second on the list of cheap cities for space-seeking renters was Decatur, Illinois

Rent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pueblo, Colorado and Tallahassee, Florida, all fall around the average - at $1,78 per square foot per month.

A spokesperson from New Jersey Real Estate Network spoke on the findings: 'There is a clear trend in this data suggesting that renters in the east of the country generally get more room for their money,' a spokesperson from New Jersey Real Estate Network said.

'This top ten of cheapest rent per square foot is occupied solely by eastern cities while conversely, the most expensive cities per square foot are almost solely west coast, mountain state, and Hawaiian, with the one east coast exception of Key West in Florida.'

They added: 'In an increasingly expensive rental market it is interesting to uncover the cities in which renters can find the best value in terms of spacious accommodation.'
House prices are set to plummet for the first time in a decade, claims a former Oppenheimer analyst who was dubbed the 'Oracle of Wall Street.'

Meredith Whitney is famed for sending an accurate research report sounding the alarm overs risks incurred by Citigroup before the financial crisis.

But as warning bells emerge again over the health of the US economy, Whitney told Insider she did not fear another recession thanks to robust consumer spending which has been bolstered by low unemployment rates.

Instead, her focus is on American house prices which she expects to decline for the first time in over a decade. It marks a stark reversal of a pandemic-inspired trend which has seen home values shoot up by 42 percent since March 2020, according to CoreLogic.

She predicts Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and Illinois are at the biggest risk of falling prices thanks to migration trends.

Meredith Whitney is famed for sending an accurate research report sounding the alarm about the risks Citigroup was taking on before the financial crisis. She predicts house prices will plummet

However, Texas could fare much better - after experiencing a huge influx of California residents who migrated there in search of cheaper living costs.

She said: 'This is state-specific. And so I expected this to happen. With 10-years-plus  12 years  of data, now I can look at it and know that, in fact, it did happen and it is happening.'

Four states expected to see house price declines, according to 'Oracle of Wall Street' Meredith Whitney Pennsylvania Connecticut New Jersey Illinois Advertisement

Whitney, who is now the CEO of investment research firm Meredith Whitney Advisory Group, said declines were being driven by an ageing Baby Boomer population who are likely to downsize, freeing up their homes for buyers.

She told Insider: ''I'm always data-driven, so it's just the math. If you look at the percentage of homeowners that are 50 and up, that's a staggering amount.

'And if you look at it historically, 50% of those over 50 typically sell and downsize, and that's expense-driven.'

Figures from the National Association of Realtors show that the average age of a first-time homebuyer is now at a record-high of 36 years old.

Similarly Census data reveals only 10 percent of homeowners are under the age of 35.

Whitney speculates that the surge in Boomers downsizing will ease housing shortages - which have been blamed for keeping the market red-hot despite soaring mortgage rates.

She added: 'It's just a matter of time. Again, it's not something that happens in one fell swoop, but it'll be interesting to see the repercussions of that.'

Her comments come as buyers face a perfect storm of high house prices and elevated mortgage rates.

The latest data from government-backed lender Freddie Mac shows the average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is hovering at 7.49 percent.

But the majority of American homeowners fixed a deal when rates were between two and three percent as recently as 2021.

It means many are reluctant to move as doing so could add another $1,000 to their monthly payments.

Some 82 percent of would-be homebuyers recently told Freddie Mac they felt 'locked into' their current properties.

But despite stalling demand, prices have remained artificially high thanks to limited housing inventory.

Last week Zillow economist Jeff Tucker said buyers were in a 'sweet spot' this fall as 9.2 percent of new home listings had their asking prices slashed in the week to September 23

In August, housing affordability reached its worst level since 2006, according to figures from the Atlanta Federal Reserve.

However new data suggests the tide may be turning, as Whitney predicts.

Last week Zillow economist Jeff Tucker said buyers were in a 'sweet spot' this fall as 9.2 percent of new home listings had their asking prices slashed in the week to September 23.

It marked an increase from 6 percent in April and 7.9 percent in the same week in September 2019.
There is a need to combat and prevent all forms of human trafficking by engaging in a multi-stakeholder consultative process

In September 2023, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, while inaugurating the Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Human Rights in New Delhi, urged all not to treat the issue of human rights in isolation. She further insisted on paying equal attention to nursing Mother Nature, who is deeply wounded by the indiscretions of human beings. Ancient Indian scriptures consider that every particle of the universe is a manifestation of divinity, and protecting it is a primary duty of every citizen, which delineates that Indian ethos goes beyond the rights of homo sapiens. Much before the Western world got acquainted with the concept of equal human rights through the Magna Carta, a revered sage and philosopher from southern India, Basavanna, promoted the concept of individual liberty and equality. He created an assembly of people called AnubhavaMantapa, where people irrespective of their class and gender would participate and determine their collective fate. Similarly, the concept of a republic may appear modern, but nearly 2,800 years ago, India had the worlds first peoples representative government in Vaishali. Since the Republic's inception, our Constitution has recognised universal adult franchise rights, allowing us to usher in numerous silent revolutions in the fields of gender justice and the protection of life and dignity. India has been sharing its developmental experiences and technical expertise with other countries in the spirit of "VasudhaivaKutumbakam". Indias approach to development is mainly human-centric and marked by respect, diversity, care for the future, and sustainable development. Today, the world is Indias oyster.

While the world is expansively expanding and extensively talking about development indicators, human trafficking, the worst kind of human rights violation, is still predominant, and it needs attention from world governments as it needs to be tackled globally. Human trafficking is a silent crime that often goes either unnoticed or ignored; this is becoming more complicated and prevalent in today's warfare world, where the most vulnerable communities have faced severe socio-economic hardship, giving rise to incidents of all types of human trafficking.

There is a need to combat and prevent all forms of human trafficking by engaging in a multi-stakeholder consultative process to amplify their voices and create coordinated and comprehensive social justice and entrepreneurial systems. Human trafficking is a heinous crime and a grave violation of human rights that affects thousands of men, women, and children. Although the Government of India has made considerable efforts to tackle trafficking in the country, the existing legal framework is inadequate to deal with the menace of trafficking on account of the enormous social, economic, and educational vulnerabilities that exist in society.

Social entrepreneurship can become a potent tool for reducing vulnerability and effectively addressing the problem of human trafficking. Social entrepreneurs dont just build organisations; they change systems. We tend to think of charities and governments when we think about ending human trafficking. But what do we think of businesses? Let us understand how social enterprises can act as a form of rehabilitation for survivors in high-traffic communities. There has been much discussion and writing on the benefits of social entrepreneurship as well as the importance of early access to this type of learning. But how can the entrepreneurship ecosystem train and inspire the next generation of anti-trafficking leaders? How can entrepreneurship also be a driver for prevention and a source of economic stability for those at-risk and survivors of human trafficking?

The anti-trafficking movement must advance its innovative efforts and force a true systemic transformation. Potential victims and survivors of human trafficking must be ASSESSED (Aware, Skilled, Self-employed, Empowered, Supported, Educated, and Dignified).

To enable and inspire human trafficking survivors and to support them in developing their small business models, they should be provided with the right skills, capacity building, relevant information, and assistance based on their respective interests. It is significant to build a conversation about the significance of survivors' involvement in legislating social entrepreneurship, legislation, and public policies on human trafficking to facilitate single-minded work towards promoting the cause of human trafficking prevention.

To do this, it is recommended that a multi-stakeholder dialogue be held to hear opinions on how best to combat human trafficking in India through social entrepreneurship. The time is now to act and create social enterprises that will provide innovative goods and services to the public across the nation and even internationally.

(Mishra is an IPS, MP cadre and a Fulbright fellow, Sumit Kaushik is a PhD candidate at OP Jindal Global University; views are personal)
The EU countries want India to be more transparent about its public stockholding (PSH) program and put in place safeguards to prevent illegitimate exports

In a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) - held on October 2, 2023, in Geneva, the European Union (EU) agreed to consider Indias demand for a permanent solution to public stock-holding (PSH) programme for food security. This is a significant change of stance since March 2023, when the EU along with the USA and Canada had challenged it.

India has urged WTO members to start text-based negotiations on the issue as soon as possible, preferably in the senior official meeting scheduled during October 23-24, 2023. Under text-based negotiations, an agreement is finalised around draft texts floated by the chair of a particular committee dealing with the subject. The draft is based on discussions amongst the member countries and is fine-tuned till all the nations are in agreement with it. India is keen to get this deliberated at the WTO ministerial conference (MC) slated to be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. What is the PSH program? What is a permanent solution? Why have developed countries opposed it so far? What has led to their change in stance now? Are they serious?

Under the PSH program, government agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) buy agri-produce such as wheat, rice/paddy, and coarse cereals from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) and distribute it at a subsidised price of Rs 2/3/1 per kg respectively to meet the needs of Indias poor and vulnerable population under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The excess of MSP plus handling, storage and distribution cost over the realisation from the sale (that is, Rs 2/3/1 per kg) is paid as a subsidy from the Union Budget. This includes (a) subsidy to the farmer, being the excess of MSP of, say, rice over its international price also known as External Reference Price (ERP) in WTO parlance and (b) subsidy to the food consumer, being the excess of ERP over the price paid (Rs 3 per kg rice). The WTO is concerned with (a) branded as product-specific subsidies. It is also concerned with subsidies on agricultural inputs like fertilizers, seeds, irrigation, power, etc., referred to as non-product specific subsidies.

The developed countries (most of them also happen to be exporters of agricultural products) argue that such subsidies distort international trade; hence these need to be curbed. Their argument found acceptance at the WTO. Accordingly, Under the AoA, the total of product and non-product-specific subsidies or aggregate measurement support (AMS) is capped at 10 per cent of the value of agricultural production for a developing country. If a member country gives AMS over 10 per cent, it is a violation.

The AoA came into force in 1995. For India, until 2005, MSP was less than ERP. Thereafter, MSP has been higher than ERP and, in the last decade, this gap widened. During 2018-19, in the case of rice, for instance, AMS was at 11 per cent, exceeding the 10 per cent cap. During 2019-20, it was even higher at 13.7 per cent.

For over a decade or so, India along with other developing countries has been making efforts at WTO to wriggle out of the situation. In the 9th Ministerial Conference (MC) held in Bali (2013), it secured sanction for a peace clause. It said, If a developing country gives AMS in excess of 10 percent, no member will challenge this until 2017 when the WTO would look for a permanent solution.

In the General Council (GC) held in December 2014, this sanction was modified to say The peace clause will stay till a permanent solution was found. However, the peace clause comes with several riders, such as the submission of data on food procurement, stockholding, distribution and subsidies. These also include establishing that subsidies are not trade distorting.

India has invoked the peace clause several times at the WTO for breaching the 10 per cent ceiling in case of subsidy on rice. However, developed countries have objected to such invocation. Their argument is that stocks procured under the PSH program are finding their way to the international market resulting in trade distortion. The US has gone so far as to say that India has become a top rice exporter of rice, courtesy of excessive subsidies given under PSH. Indias stand that it exports premium rice varieties which are not part of public procurement fails to cut ice as exports of non-basmati rice are also substantial (during 2022-23, it was 17.8 million tons valued at US$6.4 billion).

If the EU countries are now open to negotiations, this is because they want India to be more transparent about its PSH program and put in place safeguard mechanisms to prevent illegitimate exports from excessive food stocks. They would also want India to demonstrate conclusively that its domestic support doesnt turn into what they term as trade distortion support.

In view of the above, it wont be easy for India to avail of the peace clause. This is all the more because Indias PSH program is open-ended under which the governments agencies buy the highest possible quantities of wheat and rice from the farmers at ever-increasing MSP (courtesy, vote bank politics). These purchases being unrelated to the requirement under NFSA, surplus stocks with agencies are unavoidable which they dispose of by auctioning to private traders etc under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). Under OMSS all the bidders are compulsorily asked to give an undertaking that they wont export it. One wonders whether a mere declaration by private traders acquiring such stocks would satisfy the developed countries. This brings us to the need for a permanent solution. In this regard, last year, India spearheaded a proposal by G-33, the African Group, and the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) asking WTO for total exemption for support to PSH for food security. This coalition of developing countries and LDCs wanted the MC-12 held in Geneva (June 12-17, 2022) to be taken up for consideration. But, the issue was not even put on the table.

The proposal makes perfect sense for a country that produces food essentially to meet the domestic requirements of its population but doesnt export. However, India is a major exporter of agricultural produce as well. That is where the line between its role as a protector of food security and as an exporter gets obliterated. So, at WTO it is unlikely to get a blanket exemption.

Now, India has asked for (a) the inclusion of programs implemented after 2013 under the ambit of the Peace Clause and (b) amendments in the formula to calculate the food subsidy cap. When agreed to at Bali MC (2013), the Peace Clause was meant only for programs existing prior to 2013. It is unlikely that developed countries would agree to the inclusion of programs implemented after 2013. However, Indias best bet lies in (b). The formula for the computation of AMS under the AoA suffers from several flaws. These include (i) taking ERP for the years 1986-88; (ii) not excluding subsidies given to the resource-poor farmers; and (iii) using the entire output instead of quantity procured for PSH. These flaws artificially inflate the subsidy beyond the 10 per cent threshold. India should ask for amendments to get rid of these flaws. Meanwhile, the government should rein in open-ended procurement to avoid landing in a situation whereby even as per the amended formula, the subsidy could exceed 10 per cent.

(The writer is a policy analyst, views are personal)
A prominent Indo-Canadian community member has voiced deep concern over the "ecosystem" in Canada that has enabled Khalistan extremists to use violence, threaten and bully those opposing their "nefarious agendas'.

Amidst the diplomatic standoff between Canada and India over the killing of a pro-Khalistan separatist in Surrey in British Columbia province in June, he cautioned that political appeasement for short-term gains is not in the interest of Canada's future.

"It is very concerning for us as a country, as Canadians the direction which we as a country are taking in the sense of giving freedom of expression, which is our charter right, to people who don't believe in that same freedom of expression for others. Peace-loving Canadians do not believe in (a) certain ideology which is very extreme, which does not belong to Canada," National Convener, Canada India Foundation, Ritesh Malik, told PTI in an exclusive interview here.

Referring to Khalistan extremists in Canada, Malik said these people "create differences in society and disturb communal harmony. They work with a nefarious agenda and are derailing relationships between the two countries," he said.

"Freedom of expression should be for everyone. We have unfortunately created that kind of ecosystem in Canada where these people are very vocal, very violent, very aggressive, and they don't let anybody.... Come out against them. They will bully, they will threaten, they will use every possible illegal means... To counter any sanity," he said, adding that Sikhs across the US, Canada and the UK have come out and said that they don't believe or endorse the Khalistan ideology.

"These (are big issues) that worry us as Canadians, in the long-term interest of Canada. We feel worried about the future of our children, about the rifts between communities," he said, adding that leaders in government and officials in policy and advocacy should take up those issues for the larger interest of Canada.

India and Canada are embroiled in a diplomatic standoff following allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament last month that "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing" of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia, a charge angrily rejected by New Delhi as "absurd" and "motivated".

Malik referred to the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985 and said people and families of victims to date feel they have not got justice.

The Montreal-Delhi Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was to have landed at London's Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.

The bombing was blamed on Sikh militants in retaliation to the 'Operation Blue Star' to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1984.

"As a Canadian, I have no hesitation in admitting that we haven't been able to call out the ideology and people who were responsible for that. We've seen them flourish. We've seen them grow, that ideology has grown, got beyond control. People have suffered. Within (the) Sikh community also, there are people who've suffered because of this ideology. They have not got justice for over 40 years now," he said.

"This ideology has been flourishing and growing, with whatever patronage or whatever support. That is not Sikh ideology. That is not what Sikh people believe in," he said.

He questioned what prompted Prime Minister Trudeau to conclude within four months in Nijjar's case and noted that there are diplomatic ways for countries to deal with issues behind closed doors.

"It looks to us, as Canadians, it's more like appeasement politics or a political move than anything else," he said, adding that the issue should have been dealt with in a different way to ensure the already strained relationship between the two countries due to the matters left unresolved for decades now, is not further spoilt.

Malik added that Canada has been facing challenges, including economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living. "We need countries like India, partners like India," whose economies are growing, he said. "It is in our interest as Canada, and as Canadians, to work closely with countries like India, and if there are issues, they need to be resolved in a way that it does not hamper Canadians' chances to get economic benefit from opportunities which India presents today," he added.

Malik underscored the importance of resolving issues between the two countries sincerely, "leaving aside short-term gains for votes, appeasement."

"Both these countries have a great future. People on both sides are very progressive. They want the relationship to flourish, they want exchanges to take place, students to come here, people come here to set up businesses, people to go (to India) to explore opportunities," he said.

He added that it is important to resolve the issues, not let them escalate and to "nip them in the bud".
India stands firmly with Israel and condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephonic conversation on Tuesday. Netanyahu briefed Modi on the situation in Israel.

In the meantime, Palestine has called upon India to mediate in order to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. Adnan Abu Alhaija, the envoy to New Delhi, highlighted Indias longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian cause, tracing it back to the time of Mahatma Gandhi. He emphasised that India, being a friend to both Israel and Palestine, holds a crucial role in helping to resolve this crisis.

Reaffirming Indias support to Israel, Modi said in a social media message, I thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

A statement from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said Prime Minister Modi thanked his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for updating him on the ongoing situation in his country.

Modi posted on X: I thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

He also highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel. Netanyahu assured him of full cooperation and support.

There are some 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, including about 900 Indian students. Many of the Indians primarily work as caregivers for elders, diamond traders and IT professionals.

The call between Modi and his Israeli counterpart comes at a time when the US, the UK, Germany and France have issued a joint statement expressing their steadfast support for Israel and unequivocally condemning Hamas and its acts of terrorism.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the US, the UK, France, Germany and Italy called Hamas actions appalling and warned against any country trying to take advantage of the current crisis in Israel.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages, the statement said.

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage, it added.

Modi on Saturday had expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country.

Modi condemned it as terrorist attacks in Israel.

The Indian embassy in Israel has asked its nationals living in the country to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities.

Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour, Modi said.

Israels ambassador to India Naor Gilon had said Israel will repel this combined assault of rocket fire and ground infiltration of Hamas terrorists adding We appreciate the support of the people of India as we stand firm in the face of terrorism.
An outreach heart disease screening and awareness health camp was jointly conducted by Department of Community and Family Medicine (CFM) in collaboration with Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery Departments of AIIMS, Bhopal on Sunday at Centre for Rural Health (CRHA), PHC Chiklod. Under the dynamic leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, ED, Senior Residents of CFM (Dr Preeti Prakash) and Cardiology (Dr Jayesh Dubey) under the guidance and support of Dr. Arun Kokane CFM HOD, Dr Yogesh Niwariya Additional Professor (CTVS), Dr Bhushan Shah, Assistant Professor (Cardiology) and Dr Vikram Watti Assistant Professor (CTVS) organized this camp.

The camp was attended by 36 patients.

All the patients were screened for high blood pressure and random blood glucose level. ECG was done for symptomatic patients to detect cardiac illness at present. A health talk was also given to raise awareness about heart diseases- prevalence, major risk factors, how to identify someone at risk for impending myocardial infarction.
A Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) delegation led by its president Sarat Pattanayak on Tuesday submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor regarding the advertisement by the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department in which the BJDs election symbol conch was used.

The memorandum stated that the use of Government and the 5T logos along with the conch symbol flouts all rules and regulations. It is a glaring example of the government funds being used from the State exchequer for the ruling party. This is murder of democracy. In Odisha there is Jungle Raj, alleged Pattanayak.

The party requested the Governor to conduct a probe and take action against the guilty and ensure that in future advertisements the party logo is not be used.
ESL Steel Limited, a steel manufacturer in Jharkhand, demonstrated its commitment to the well-being of the community by hosting a highly impactful Mental Health Awareness Session on World Mental Health Day. The event, held on 10th October 2023, from 12pm to 1pm, was specifically organized for students from the ESL Skill School, Excel 30 Centre (Project Prerna) and Vedanta ESL Archery Academy. The session was organized and conducted by the esteemed CSR Team at ESL Steel Limited, which invited renowned psychotherapist Vaishali Sharma as the key resource person. With over 5 years of experience, Vaishali Sharma has successfully assisted numerous individuals in developing healthier relationships and achieving personal growth and healing.

Notably the session witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 100+ students & NGO partners. The interactive discussion delved into the various stressors faced by students and provided practical strategies to cope with these challenges. Students were educated on the importance of seeking help and provided with valuable resources for support. The event concluded with a productive Q&A session, allowing students to engage effectively with the resource person.

"We believe that mental health is a critical aspect of our community's overall well-being," said Rakesh Mishra, Dy. Head, CSR of ESL Steel Limited. "This Mental Health Awareness Session exemplifies our commitment to the holistic development of our students and the broader community. We are immensely grateful to Vaishali Sharma for sharing her expertise and inspiring our students."
Chhattisgarh Police have arrested five persons and seized gold and silver ornaments valued at Rs 63 lakhs and Rs 1 lakh in cash in Mahasamund district, police said on Wednesday.

Mahasamund Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Singh told The Pioneer that the arrested men were Shanshuram Patel, Brijmohan Mehar, Malay Kumar, Mohammad Islam and Devendra Kumar Jharkharia.

The first three hailed from Odisha and the others lived in Raipur city.

The police on Tuesday night intercepted a car (OD-OE-9090) of first three men at the Temri checkpost on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border and found 912 grams gold and 11.49 kg of silver ornaments totaling Rs 40 lakh and Rs 1 lakh in cash in a trunk.

The two others were held during routine checking at the same spot. The police found 37 kg of silver ornaments worth Rs 23 lakh from them.

The five told the police that they were returning from Odisha after selling some jewellery but they failed to produce any documents.
XLRI - Xavier School of Management is set to embark on a year-long celebration, marking its Platinum Jubilee, beginning on October 11 and concluding on October 10, 2024. The grand event will kick off at 11:00 AM at the prestigious TATA Auditorium, XLRI Jamshedpur, with the Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, gracing the occasion as the chief guest.

XLRI has been at the forefront of management education, consistently shaping leaders and contributing significantly to society. The Platinum Jubilee Celebration serves as a testament to the institution's journey, achievements, and profound impact on the business and academic landscape.

The celebration provides an invaluable opportunity for engagement with leaders, alumni, faculty, and students who have played pivotal roles in XLRI's remarkable journey over the past 75 years.

Commenting on the milestone, Fr. S. George, director of XLRI said, "The jubilee of an institution is a momentous occasion that allows us to reflect on our journey, express gratitude for the unwavering support from our stakeholders, and look ahead to the exciting future that awaits us. XLRI has become a beacon of excellence, and this celebration is a tribute to everyone who has been part of our journey."

As part of the Platinum Jubilee initiatives, XLRI aims to strengthen its commitment to research, publications, and educational infrastructure. Specific projects planned include: Free accommodation and fully funded fellow program, 96 studio accommodation facilities for Married Fellows, Student Hostel Expansion, 240 rooms to accommodate new programs, Modernization of the Library Transformation into a Digital Library, Scholarship Fund, Fr Ed. McGrath, S.J., Research Centre and Chair,

The XLRI family expresses heartfelt thanks to students, professors, staff, well-wishers, and Jesuit Fathers for their continuous support and prayers. The institution looks forward to a year of celebration, reflection, and strategic planning to continue its legacy of excellence in management education.

XLRI is a premier, private management institute in India founded in 1949 by Fr Quinn Enright, S.J. in the steel city of Jamshedpur (www.xlri.ac.in). Over the last six decades, the institute has grown into a top-ranking business management school of international repute with a wide portfolio of management programs and research publications. Its alumni are spread around the globe and have demonstrated responsible business leadership in their organizations. XLRI continually strives to contribute its mite to the professional growth and management of numerous organisations and institutions across industry sectors.
Ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections, the states Chief Secretary Usha Sharma and her Haryana counterpart Sanjeev Kaushal held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to assess and enhance security measures along the border regions of both states.

Kaushal said a collaborative effort will be made to establish joint checkpoints along the Haryana-Rajasthan border. Emphasising the importance of these measures, he highlighted the Haryana Polices dedication to ensure robust security in districts adjoining Rajasthan. Their primary objectives include thwarting the illegal smuggling of liquor and preventing infiltration of anti-social elements during the election period, he said.

To achieve these goals, the law enforcement agencies will maintain a vigil, closely monitoring the transportation of illicit liquor, cash and the movement of suspected criminals in the border areas. Joint checkpoints of the Haryana Police and the excise and taxation department and their counterparts of Rajasthan will be strategically placed in the border areas, he said. Kaushal said, Nakas (joint checkpoints) would be established at various key locations in seven districts, where comprehensive vehicle and passenger inspections, as well as luggage checks, will be conducted. Rajasthan goes to polls on November 23.




Praising farmers for their exceptional contributions, not only in the realm of agriculture but also across various fields, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that the State Government is committed to their welfare.



The Chief Minister was addressing the farmers during the closing ceremony of Haryana Agricultural Development Fair at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar. During the event, he inspected the exhibition and gained insights into various agricultural equipment, fertilizers, and seeds.



Speaking on this occasion, he highlighted the annual agricultural fair as a valuable platform for enhancing farmers' knowledge about innovation and technology. Describing Haryana as a farmer-oriented state, the Chief Minister said that farmers have made a lot of progress in the field of agriculture. Farmers have started cultivating cash crops along with new crops. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to incentivize and educate farmers on farming techniques and technology. Haryana is today moving on the path of progress in terms of development. Farming is our life and wrestlers are our pride, he added.



Khattar took pride in the accomplishments of the state's farmers and their children, who have brought glory to Haryana. He mentioned that in the recent Asian Games, Haryana's players secured an impressive 30 percent of the medals. He said, In todays era, new technology and mechanization are being used extensively in farming. He applauded the efforts of agricultural scientists, particularly those at CCSHAU, Hisar for their role in developing new seed varieties that have boosted crop production.



Calling upon the farmers to get the soil and water of their fields tested, he said that this will give them information about the crops growing in their fields and which fertilizer is appropriate to use. The Chief Minister urged farmers to embrace crop diversification, with the government offering incentives, including Rs 7,000 per acre to promote the cultivation of crops other than paddy, as part of water conservation efforts.



Regarding crop procurement, Khattar assured farmers that the state government is committed to purchasing their produce at the minimum support price, and in some cases, through Bhawantar Bharpai Scheme. Currently, HAFED is buying millet crops at Rs 2200 per quintal, with an additional benefit of Rs 300 per quintal under the Bhavantar Bharpai Scheme for farmers. He stressed the importance of enhancing both crop quantity and quality and encouraged farmers to explore natural farming practices.



Expressing his gratitude to the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister underscored that the court has affirmed Haryana's rights concerning the SYL Canal. He reassured that the canal would unquestionably be constructed in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives. The Chief Minister also called attention to the dual stance of the Aam Aadmi Party on the SYL Canal issue, asserting that the farmers of Haryana understand those doing double-faced politics and their double-faced politics will not work here. He firmly stated that the SYL Canal is Haryana's rightful claim, and its implementation will align with the Supreme Court's decision.



Addresses Jan Samvad at CCSHAU, Hisar



Khattar, while addressing a Jan Samvad at the Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar said that a budget allocation of Rs.151 crores has been made for the removal of all the high-tension wires passing over the houses of the citizens in the state. On this occasion, the Chief Minister shared that necessary directions have already been given to the Energy department to resolve the issue of electricity lines passing over houses. He directed the department officers to strictly ensure that no construction is done under these electricity lines in the future.



During the Samavd, Khattar provided assistive devices to Persons with disabilities (PwDs) sponsored by the Red Cross. He also inspected stalls featuring products made by women's self-help groups to promote local products.



He stated that Haryana is the state that provides the highest pension to senior citizens. The pension for senior citizens will soon be increased to Rs. 3000, he said. The Chief Minister said that senior citizens do not have to go through the hassle of applying for a pension when they turn 60; pensions are automatically generated through the PPP. During the Samavd, the Chief Minister also distributed pension certificates to 22 individuals on the spot.



During the Samvad, differently-abled citizens presented complaints about irregularities in some ration depots in the district. The Chief Minister ordered the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate complaints related to fake ration cards and other ration-related issues.
Himachal govt to withdraw cases registered for violation of Covid-19 norms: CM



Shimla: Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that the present state government would withdraw the cases registered against the people who violated COVID-19 norms during the pandemic. He said that instructions had been issued to the officials concerned in this regard during the DS/SP conference held here. He said that the Covid-19 phase was difficult for everyone and to prevent and contain this pandemic, various measures had been taken and restrictions were imposed on the common people. During this period, hundreds of cases were registered for violation of such norms, but the present state government, adopting a humanitarian approach, will now withdraw such cases.



Hry Chief Secretary reviews stubble burning prevention measures



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Tuesday chaired a virtual meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners of the state to assess and enhance efforts aimed at preventing stubble burning in the state. Recognizing the urgency of the situation and the need for proactive measures, Kaushal outlined a series of key actions to tackle this pressing issue effectively. Kaushal directed them to regularly conduct effective review meetings with agriculture and other concerned officers to formulate and implement strategies that curb stubble burning in the affected areas. He said that these meetings are instrumental in ensuring a coordinated response to this environmental challenge.



7-day long 15th Tribal Youth Exchange Program launched in Chandigarh



Chandigarh: The 15th Tribal Youth Exchange Program was inaugurated on Tuesday by Nehru Yuva Kendra Chandigarh in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs in Chandigarh from October 10-16. In the inaugural session of this program organized at NITTTR located in Sector 26, UT Adviser Dr Dharam Pal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rupesh Kumar, Director of NITTR Prof. BR Gurjar, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan State Director Paramjit Singh and District Youth Officer Sanjana Vatts graced the inauguration ceremony.



Haryana Govt approves Rs 150 crore project to expand water treatment plant near KMP Expressway



Chandigarh: As part of its efforts to improve water supply in the region, the Haryana government has approved a project to expand the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Badli, situated near the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs. 150 crore, aims to augment the WTP's capacity from 32 Million Liters per Day (MLD) to 41 MLD, benefiting Farukh Nagar, Pataudi, Hali Mandi, Nuh Towns, and 28 villages across Gurugram and Nuh Districts. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has granted administrative approval to this crucial initiative.



Two SIs dismissed from service in Chandigarh



Chandigarh: Sub-Inspectors Krishan Kumar and Hussain Akhtar of the Chandigarh Police have been suspended with immediate effect according to a government order. Both were suspended and sent to Police Lines from the Economic Offence Wing for their involvement in a corruption case registered against them by CBI, Chandigarh, said a statement by the UT Police.
A minor girl, who had gone to a madrasa for studies, was murdered in Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri. Her body was found in a sugarcane field on Monday evening. The family members also suspected rape. Enraged over the incident, the villagers surrounded the vehicle of the SP, who was there to inspect the crime scene, and created a ruckus. They alleged negligence on the part of the police. Had the men in uniform acted promptly, the life of the girl could have been saved, they claimed.

As per reports, the 13-year-old student from a village in Singhahi police station area had gone to study in a madrasa on Sunday. When she did not return till evening, her family members searched for her, but in vain. On being informed, the police registered a missing report late on Sunday night, but asked the family to look for the girl on their own. On Monday evening, the body of the girl was found in the sugarcane field of Mohan Singh near Ramuvapur village.

People from nearby villages gathered there as the news spread. Seeing the condition of the body, the victims mother suspected that she might have raped before being murdered. There were injury marks on her head. Deep injury marks were also found near her eyes.

Also, her mouth was found filled with mud. Her clothes were also found to be torn. The police said they were waiting for the autopsy report.

The SP said that three teams of crime branch, SOG, surveillance and cops from nearby police stations had been formed to work out the case. Some suspects were also being interrogated, he added.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in the Anand Nagar area of Jagdishpura in Agra, a youth allegedly stabbed to death his wifes supposed lover on Monday night. The youth was also injured in the process. He later surrendered before the local police and confessed to his crime.

Reports said that Vinod, a resident of Anand Nagar area of Jagdishpura, married Seema a few years back. Few months back, Seema had an affair with Bantu, who also owns a shoe shop in Anand Nagar. After Vinod objected to it, Seema eloped with Bantu. Vinod did not lodge a case with the police.

Reports said that on Sunday, Bantu returned home along with Seema, hoping that the matter was resolved as Vinod has not lodged any case.

When Vinod learnt that Bantu had returned along with Seema, he struck at his house on Monday night and stabbed him to death. Vinod was also injured after some residents tried to overpower him.

Vinod later walked down to the local Jagdishpur police station and surrendered. He confessed to have killed his wifes paramour. A case was registered against Vinod and he was sent to jail.
: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an ATR from the district Collector and Superintendent of Police of Sundargarh on the heart-wrenching incident of two women, who are mother-daughter, walking naked in a busy street in broad daylight without any help from anybody.

The NHRC took up the case acting on a petition of Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.

The petitioner stated that on October 6, 2023, two women found walking naked at College Road, which is one of the busiest roads in Sundargarh town in Odisha. Earlier, it was informed by the victims who are in traumatic situation that they hail from the bordering village of Khairimunda in the adjacent Simdega district of Jharkhand.

Subsequently, the woman, in her mid-40s, and her daughter, in mid-20s, who are currently undergoing recovery at Aastha Gruha, a shelter for mentally-ill women, located in Rangadhipa of Sundargarh town stated that they are from Chhatishgarh.

The two women found walking naked alleged sexual assault and outraging of modesty throughout their walk in Odisha. They were spotted by local MLA Kusum Tete who rescued the duo.

The petitioner contended that the mother-daughter duo was unable to bear the plight and immense pain and lost their mental balance.

Neither the Government machinery nor the civil society could come to the rescue of the victims of consistent crime of high magnitude. Currently they are staying at an Astha Gruha in Sudargarh , Odisha.

The failure of Chhatishgarh Government in punishing the criminals and rehabilitating the victims poses serious violation of human rights. The negligence in rescuing two naked victims walking in full public view in a busy town like Sundargarh poses serious question of human rights in Odisha, Tripathy alleged.

He requested the NHRC to investigate in detail the plight of the victims, take immediate legal action against the culprits, rehabilitate them with reuniting with their entire family along with providing them socio-psychic counselling, compensation and benefits of welfare schemes.
The process of regularization of Tulsi Nagar is likely to be completed after the assembly elections following the district administration's NOC of 537 plots of Tulsi Nagar to the Indore Municipal Corporation.

After regularization of the plots, the stalled development works of Tulsi Nagar will gain momentum and all the infrastructure development works including construction of drainage line, roads of the colony will be completed in the next one year. An assurance to this effect was given by Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava while interacting with the residents of Tulsi Nagar colonies in a meeting held at the Saraswati temple premises.

While assuring the residents of Tulsi Nagar, the Mayor said that the Municipal Corporation is always ready to resolve their basic problems and whatever delay has happened till now in resolving their demands, will also be resolved in the near future. Tulsi Nagar will be provided the benefit of all constitutional facilities, the Mayor added.

Local MLA Mahendra Hardiya assured the residents that the problem coming in the way of regularization of the remaining plots of Tulsi Nagar due to Ceiling Act will soon be resolved in coordination with the Chief Minister and state government officials.
In a bid to accelerate industrial development across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled a groundbreaking plan to establish an industrial belt along its expressways. A sum of Rs 3,000 crore in interest-free loan has been allocated to the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to facilitate this ambitious project.

Additionally, the government has given the green light to the creation of a Pharma Park in Lalitpur.

These decisions were taken during a cabinet meeting held under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna explained that UPEIDA has been entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading the development of the industrial belt along the expressways.

The Rs 3,000-crore interest-free loan will bolster the establishment of warehouses and logistic parks essential for seamless industrial operations.

A Pharma Park will be established in Lalitpur. The land, previously managed by the animal husbandry department, has been transferred to the Industrial department for this purpose.

Khanna emphasised the significance of this move, saying, We lacked a dedicated pharma park. During the investors summit, we witnessed the interest of 104 pharmaceutical companies in investing here, which culminated in the signing of MoUs worth Rs 1 lakh crore.

Furthermore, the cabinet has earmarked Rs 500 crore for the maintenance of urban roads. The funds will be allocated for the development of roads between 45 and 10 meters. This initiative will not only ensure a modernised road infrastructure but also incorporate various amenities such as green spaces, public toilets, e-charging stations, and pedestrian facilities.

The endeavour is part of the Mukhya Mantri Green Road Infrastructure Development Scheme (CM GRIDS), which includes guidelines that reward municipalities for increasing revenue with additional funds.

In another significant development, a sewer system will be constructed in Fatehpur at an estimated cost of Rs 293.68 crore, covering a distance of 123 kilometres. This project aims to improve sanitation and hygiene in the region.

The government has also allocated Rs 50 crore for the beautification and development of the places of religious and historic importance across the state.

Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, cooked food will be provided through over 1.82 lakh Anganwadi centres catering to children aged 3-6 years.

This initiative, akin to the mid-day meal programme, will be funded with 50 per cent contributions from the state government and the remainder from the Centre.

In a move to upgrade bus transportation facilities, the government plans to develop bus stands with amenities comparable to airports.

Initially, five bus stands have been identified for transformation  Lucknow, Agra, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, and Ghaziabad. There are plans to expand this model to 18 more bus stands in the future.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar is set to host a luncheon with 50 farmers from Haryana at the new Parliament House on October 13, the state's Agriculture Minister J P Dalal said on Tuesday.



This extraordinary event promises to be a landmark moment, celebrating the unwavering dedication of those who feed the nation, Dalal said, adding that Haryana has long been at the forefront of the nation's agricultural landscape.



With pioneering initiatives and a strong focus on farmers' welfare, the state government is revolutionising agriculture, ensuring that farmers enjoy prosperity and progress ''Beej se Bazar Tak,'' he added.



''This special luncheon event is a testament to the government's dedication to nurturing its agricultural backbone... it goes beyond just a meal; it's an opportunity for farmers to engage with policy makers, share their invaluable insights, and collectively sow the seeds for a brighter agricultural future,'' he said.



Dalal also said this luncheon not only honours farmers, but also showcases how their hard work, dedication and commitment are central to India's and Haryana's growth and prosperity. ''It's a day when the fields meet the hallowed halls of the Parliament, bridging the divide between those who feed the nation and those who govern it,'' the minister said
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed caste census an "X-ray" of the country that will throw light on the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals, and said his party would force the Centre to conduct this exercise "come what may."

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not speaking on the issue of caste census.

"We will force the central government to conduct a caste census, come what may, to know the truth about the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the country. Our governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have initiated a process for it," Gandhi said.

He was addressing a public meeting at Beohari in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, a day after the dates for the state assembly polls were announced.

"Caste census is an X-ray of the country. Tribals, Dalits and OBCs of the country are injured. Let us check...It will clear the picture," he said.

"We challenged PM Narendra Modi to release the data of the caste census done by Congress. But instead of talking about it, he talks about Pakistan, Afghanistan and South. Speak on caste census," the former Congress president added.

Referring to a book written by Bharatiya Janata Party's veteran leader L K Advani, Gandhi said the book mentioned that Madhya Pradesh, not Gujarat, was the laboratory of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevan Sangh (RSS).

"But Madhya Pradesh is a laboratory of several scams like medical treatment to deceased persons, Vyapam, mid-day meal, atrocities against tribals and women, among others," he targeted the BJP government in the state.

The single-phase assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17.

Rahul Gandhi targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party saying three farmers die by suicide in Madhya Pradesh every day in "BJP's laboratory." Addressing a public rally in MP's tribal district Shahdol, the Congress leader said, "(Lal Krishna) Advani wrote a book in which he stated that the original laboratory of BJP-RSS is not in Gujarat, but Madhya Pradesh. In BJP's laboratory, deceased are being treated and their money is being stolen."

Alleging the BJP government of Vyapam scam, Rahul said that future of one crore youth has been runied and 40 people killed.

"MBBS seats are sold and Rs 15 lakh has to be given to become a registrar, but they (BJP) don't stop there. In BJP's laboratory, 18,000 farmers have died by suicide in 18 years," he said.

"In BJP's laboratory, their leaders urinate on adivasis. This is what Advani meant when he said that BJP-RSS laboratory will be built in Madhya Pradesh, he added.

He promised that if came to power, the first thing the party will do is to conduct caste census.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, and former MP Chief Minister Digvijay Singh was also present at the event.

This is the first rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi after the announcement of the poll schedule for the five assembly states by the election commission.

Madhya Pradesh will be voting on November 17, while the results would be announced on December 3.

The mega rally by the party is aimed at regaining its lost political ground in Vindhya region where the party had won only six of the 30 Assembly seats in 2018.

It will be Gandhi's second public rally in the poll-bound state, the first being in Shajapur district on September 30.

Besides, he would hold a meeting with the senior party leaders. According to a Congress leader, more than one lakh people are expected to attend the Beohari rally.

.
The city police are good with the video that surfaced regarding providing facilities to notorious criminal Zubair maulana. Police officials claim that they have not seen the vidio that went viral on social media.

Addl DCP Crime Shaielndra Chouhan told The Pioneer that the criminal was taken to his home for searches and there he might have sit with his mother and talked cozily.

Notably, a video has surfaced regarding providing special treatment to the accused carrying Rs 5000 reward on his head; notorious criminal Zubair Maulana in police custody was provided kind treatment and was allowed to stay home talking for over an hour.

He was absconding for a month in the case of attempted murder and was caught near a tea shop in Fatehgarh when he had gone to meet his friend, he was caught by the Bhopal Crime Branch.

On Monday afternoon, a procession was taken out in Aishbagh area and there was a smile on his face. After this, the police team took him to his house to search for illegal weapons.

He kept talking to his mother for half an hour. His uncle Babu Mastan gave him a cold drink. Here, after the video came out, the police officials are refraining from saying anything about the entire case.

On Monday afternoon, when the procession of Zubair Maulana was being taken out, he was seen talking to the ASI smilingly. According to Zubair's relatives, the affidavit of compromise by the complainant in the case has been submitted in the court. On this basis, Zubair filed anticipatory bail a few days ago but it was not accepted by the court.

Zubair alias Maulana has been booked for serious crimes like attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, abetment to suicide in various police stations of the city. Once the accused even attacked the police team. Along with this, a case of cattle smuggling has also been registered in Sehore district. Last month, she was involved in firing along with Nafees alias Adalat Par Gurgaon in MP Nagar's Durga Nagar. Since then, Zubair was absconding.

A reward of Rs 5000 was announced for the arrest of accused Zubair. He was constantly managing to evade the police. A team of Crime Branch police station along with two teams of MP Nagar police station were searching for him. On Sunday night he met his friend during which he arrested from Fatehgarh.

Zubair came to Fatehgarh and was staying at Shanu's home who escaped after police arrived. Shanu's mother and sister and younger brother Ashu were detained by the police. After verification, both the women were released around 3 pm on Monday. While Ashu is being interrogated in connection with Shanu.

According to Additional DCP of Crime Branch Shailendra Singh Chauhan, accused Zubair Maulana had opened fire along with 2 accomplices in Durga Nagar in September. The incident was carried out due to an old grudge. After this he was absconding. A reward of Rs 5000 was announced. The crime branch was looking for him for a long time.
Abdul Samad alias Saddam, an active member of Atiq Ahmed's gang, has been shifted to the Budaun jail from Bareilly, officials said here on Tuesday.

"Samad reached the Budaun jail on Tuesday. A team of doctors performed his medical checkup in which he was found fit. He has been kept in a separate barrack," Jail Superintendent Vinay Kumar Dwivedi said.

Saddam, the brother-in-law of Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf Ahmed, was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his arrest, officials said.

The Special Task Force (STF) of UP Police had arrested Samad in Delhi on September 28 when he went there to meet his girlfriend, according to police.

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead at point-blank range by three men posing as journalists on April 15 while police personnel were escorting them to a medical college in Prayagraj for a checkup.

It is alleged Saddam used to facilitate meetings of people with Ashraf in the Bareilly jail where he was lodged.

After the murder of Umesh Pal, the key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal, outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj on February 24, an FIR was filed against Saddam, Ashraf, jail officials and others on charges of conspiracy, extortion and giving protection to criminals, among others.
First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Free Report)  Investment analysts at Wedbush issued their Q3 2023 EPS estimates for shares of First Horizon in a research note issued on Wednesday, October 4th. Wedbush analyst D. Chiaverini forecasts that the financial services provider will earn $0.21 per share for the quarter. Wedbush has a Neutral rating and a $12.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for First Horizons current full-year earnings is $1.43 per share. Wedbush also issued estimates for First Horizons Q4 2023 earnings at $0.31 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $1.38 EPS.

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A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of First Horizon from $13.00 to $14.00 in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an equal weight rating on shares of First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. SpectralCast reaffirmed a reinstates rating on shares of First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of First Horizon in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of First Horizon in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set a neutral rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $12.81.

First Horizon Price Performance

Shares of First Horizon stock opened at $10.38 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.93. First Horizon has a fifty-two week low of $8.99 and a fifty-two week high of $24.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $12.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.98. The company has a market cap of $5.80 billion, a PE ratio of 5.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.96.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The financial services provider reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.01. First Horizon had a net margin of 24.64% and a return on equity of 13.44%. The firm had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $820.19 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS.

First Horizon Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. First Horizons payout ratio is presently 31.75%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Horizon

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FHN. HoldCo Asset Management LP acquired a new stake in First Horizon in the 2nd quarter valued at about $62,869,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in First Horizon in the 4th quarter valued at about $133,345,000. Scout Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in First Horizon in the 2nd quarter valued at about $59,327,000. State Street Corp increased its position in First Horizon by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 23,368,182 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $418,736,000 after acquiring an additional 3,173,357 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Capital Management L.P. grew its position in shares of First Horizon by 1,877.5% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,889,299 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $51,372,000 after buying an additional 2,743,189 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.44% of the companys stock.

First Horizon Company Profile

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First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

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A10 Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ATEN  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at BWS Financial cut their Q3 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for A10 Networks in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, October 5th. BWS Financial analyst H. Khorsand now forecasts that the communications equipment provider will post earnings per share of $0.09 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.18. BWS Financial has a Buy rating and a $15.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for A10 Networks current full-year earnings is $0.65 per share. BWS Financial also issued estimates for A10 Networks Q4 2024 earnings at $0.27 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $0.80 EPS.

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Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on A10 Networks in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Craig Hallum reduced their price target on A10 Networks from $19.00 to $15.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th.

A10 Networks Stock Up 1.6 %

A10 Networks stock opened at $11.66 on Monday. A10 Networks has a 52 week low of $10.03 and a 52 week high of $19.79. The company has a market capitalization of $864.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.43 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $14.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.59.

A10 Networks (NYSE:ATEN  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The communications equipment provider reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.01. A10 Networks had a return on equity of 23.20% and a net margin of 16.74%. The firm had revenue of $65.82 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $62.38 million.

A10 Networks Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th were given a dividend of $0.06 per share. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 14th. A10 Networkss dividend payout ratio is currently 40.00%.

Insider Activity at A10 Networks

In other news, General Counsel Robert Scott Weber sold 1,860 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.48, for a total value of $28,792.80. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 19,132 shares in the company, valued at $296,163.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, General Counsel Robert Scott Weber sold 1,860 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.48, for a total value of $28,792.80. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 19,132 shares in the company, valued at $296,163.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Dhrupad Trivedi sold 6,646 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.37, for a total value of $102,149.02. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 541,953 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,329,817.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 74,122 shares of company stock worth $1,131,591. 5.81% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of A10 Networks

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Comerica Bank purchased a new stake in shares of A10 Networks during the second quarter worth approximately $2,747,000. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its position in shares of A10 Networks by 8.7% during the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 85,448 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $1,247,000 after purchasing an additional 6,866 shares in the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of A10 Networks by 44.3% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 2,419 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 743 shares in the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its position in shares of A10 Networks by 5.7% during the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 21,503 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $313,000 after purchasing an additional 1,163 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Verity Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of A10 Networks by 1.9% during the second quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc. now owns 90,151 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $1,315,000 after purchasing an additional 1,677 shares in the last quarter. 88.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About A10 Networks

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A10 Networks, Inc provides networking solutions in the Americas, Japan, other Asia Pacific, and EMEA countries. The company offers Thunder Application Delivery Controller (ADC) that provides advanced server load balancing; Lightning ADC, a cloud-native software-as-a-service platform to boost the delivery and security of applications and microservices; and Thunder Carrier Grade Networking product, which offers standards-compliant address and protocol translation services for service provider networks.

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Janney Montgomery Scott LLC purchased a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm purchased 293,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,178,000.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 88.1% in the 1st quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 476 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 41.9% in the 2nd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 491 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.73% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Archer-Daniels-Midland

In other Archer-Daniels-Midland news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total transaction of $126,294.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,809 shares in the company, valued at approximately $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance

Shares of ADM opened at $73.90 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $80.02 and a 200-day moving average of $78.12. The company has a market cap of $39.62 billion, a PE ratio of 9.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.83. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a one year low of $69.92 and a one year high of $98.28.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.30. The company had revenue of $25.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.82 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 17.52% and a net margin of 4.14%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.15 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.44%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.03%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Argus increased their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Roth Mkm started coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $92.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $97.50.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ADM

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS  Free Report) in a report released on Monday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

American Shared Hospital Services Stock Performance

Shares of AMS stock opened at $2.65 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.97, a current ratio of 2.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. American Shared Hospital Services has a 52 week low of $2.33 and a 52 week high of $3.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.54 million, a PE ratio of 26.50 and a beta of 0.70. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $2.61 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.85.

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American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 14th. The company reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter. American Shared Hospital Services had a net margin of 3.14% and a return on equity of 4.74%. The company had revenue of $5.57 million during the quarter.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Shared Hospital Services

American Shared Hospital Services Company Profile

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AMS. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 26.3% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,321 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 4,021 shares in the last quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC raised its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 50.0% during the 1st quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC now owns 30,000 shares of the companys stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC raised its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 140.0% during the 2nd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 33,223 shares of the companys stock worth $85,000 after acquiring an additional 19,381 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 158,681 shares of the companys stock worth $465,000 after acquiring an additional 5,899 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CI Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in American Shared Hospital Services during the 4th quarter worth $470,000. 17.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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American Shared Hospital Services provides radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to health care providers. The company offers radiosurgery equipment for the Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, a non-invasive procedure to treat malignant and benign brain tumors, and arteriovenous malformations, as well as for trigeminal neuralgia.

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Ardagh Metal Packaging (NYSE:AMBP  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by equities research analysts at Citigroup from $5.00 to $4.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Citigroups price objective would suggest a potential upside of 41.59% from the companys current price.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on AMBP. Bank of America cut Ardagh Metal Packaging from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $5.00 to $4.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Barclays cut their price target on Ardagh Metal Packaging from $6.00 to $5.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on Ardagh Metal Packaging from $6.50 to $8.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ardagh Metal Packaging currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $5.18.

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Ardagh Metal Packaging Price Performance

Ardagh Metal Packaging stock opened at $2.83 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.32, a PEG ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.71. Ardagh Metal Packaging has a 52-week low of $2.77 and a 52-week high of $5.90. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $3.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.04, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Ardagh Metal Packaging (NYSE:AMBP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.32 billion. Ardagh Metal Packaging had a return on equity of 29.71% and a net margin of 1.49%. Ardagh Metal Packagings quarterly revenue was down 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.11 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Ardagh Metal Packaging will post 0.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ardagh Metal Packaging

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of AMBP. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in Ardagh Metal Packaging by 1,382.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,682,134 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,521,000 after acquiring an additional 4,366,315 shares in the last quarter. Canyon Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Ardagh Metal Packaging by 69.0% during the 1st quarter. Canyon Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,154,743 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,431,000 after acquiring an additional 4,146,893 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Ardagh Metal Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at $5,695,000. Nordwand Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at $5,326,000. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging by 54.0% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,742,682 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,193,000 after purchasing an additional 961,439 shares during the last quarter. 17.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Ardagh Metal Packaging

(Get Free Report)

Ardagh Metal Packaging SA, together with its subsidiaries, supplies metal beverage cans in Europe, the United States, and Brazil. Its products are used in various end-use categories, including beer, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, hard seltzers, juices, pre-mixed cocktails, teas, sparkling waters, and wine.

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Ballentine Partners LLC lessened its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Free Report) by 4.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 37,443 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,894 shares during the quarter. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $629,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HPE. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 98,554.8% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 9,067,367 shares of the technology companys stock worth $152,332,000 after buying an additional 9,058,176 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 12.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 59,288,867 shares of the technology companys stock worth $944,472,000 after purchasing an additional 6,572,347 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 27.8% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 27,661,680 shares of the technology companys stock worth $440,651,000 after purchasing an additional 6,019,701 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 184.9% in the first quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 8,114,000 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $129,256,000 after purchasing an additional 5,265,487 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the first quarter valued at $66,663,000. 81.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on HPE. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They issued a neutral rating and a $18.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Hewlett Packard Enterprise has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $17.33.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Stock Performance

Shares of HPE opened at $16.85 on Tuesday. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 12-month low of $12.06 and a 12-month high of $18.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The company has a market cap of $21.62 billion, a PE ratio of 20.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 1.22. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $17.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.26.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 29th. The technology company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.02. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 3.64% and a return on equity of 5.32%. The business had revenue of $7 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.31 earnings per share. Hewlett Packard Enterprises revenue for the quarter was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 14th will be paid a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 13th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.85%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises dividend payout ratio is presently 58.54%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

In other news, SVP Jeremy Cox sold 21,131 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.66, for a total value of $373,173.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 615 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,860.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, SVP Jeremy Cox sold 21,131 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.66, for a total transaction of $373,173.46. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 615 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,860.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Alan Richard May sold 343,016 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.48, for a total transaction of $5,995,919.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 249,511 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,361,452.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 799,031 shares of company stock worth $13,970,865 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

(Free Report)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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Ziegler Capital Management LLC lessened its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 17.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 780 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 164 shares during the period. Ziegler Capital Management LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $206,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Israel Discount Bank of New York purchased a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter worth about $357,000. United Asset Strategies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 2,176 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $575,000 after buying an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 118,252 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $31,220,000 after buying an additional 5,988 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 281.8% in the second quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 168 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Country Club Bank GFN acquired a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter worth $234,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.72% of the companys stock.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

NYSE BDX opened at $265.83 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $77.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.58. The business has a fifty day moving average of $270.88 and a 200-day moving average of $261.16. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $215.90 and a fifty-two week high of $287.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

Becton, Dickinson and Company ( NYSE:BDX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $4.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.84 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.73% and a return on equity of 13.24%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.66 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.37%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys payout ratio is currently 66.06%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on BDX shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $304.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 4th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $284.00 to $303.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $295.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $286.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BDX

Insider Buying and Selling at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.13, for a total transaction of $360,269.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,157 shares in the company, valued at $1,429,159.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 848 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.66, for a total transaction of $238,847.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,608 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,086,109.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.13, for a total transaction of $360,269.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,157 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,429,159.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 5,581 shares of company stock worth $1,551,429. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company's BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; syringes, pen needles, and other products for diabetes; and prefillable drug delivery systems.

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BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ  Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Hold from the fourteen analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $72.33.

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $80.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. TD Cowen began coverage on BJs Wholesale Club in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. They set an outperform rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $83.00 to $81.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd.

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Insider Buying and Selling at BJs Wholesale Club

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other BJs Wholesale Club news, CEO Robert W. Eddy sold 11,965 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.04, for a total value of $838,028.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 238,667 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,716,236.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, EVP William C. Werner sold 890 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.47, for a total transaction of $64,498.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 29,357 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,127,501.79. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CEO Robert W. Eddy sold 11,965 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.04, for a total value of $838,028.60. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 238,667 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,716,236.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 39,333 shares of company stock worth $2,766,541 in the last quarter. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 771.0% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,719,578 shares of the companys stock worth $234,371,000 after purchasing an additional 3,292,549 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 180.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,615,939 shares of the companys stock worth $173,071,000 after purchasing an additional 1,684,174 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 145.7% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,422,594 shares of the companys stock worth $163,792,000 after purchasing an additional 1,436,785 shares in the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 61.7% during the 2nd quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 3,665,484 shares of the companys stock worth $230,962,000 after purchasing an additional 1,398,257 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in BJs Wholesale Club during the 4th quarter worth about $89,816,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.60% of the companys stock.

BJs Wholesale Club Stock Up 1.6 %

BJ stock opened at $69.46 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.67, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.43. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $68.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.46. BJs Wholesale Club has a fifty-two week low of $60.33 and a fifty-two week high of $80.41.

BJs Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 22nd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $4.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.18 billion. BJs Wholesale Club had a return on equity of 47.80% and a net margin of 2.61%. BJs Wholesale Clubs quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.06 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that BJs Wholesale Club will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current year.

About BJs Wholesale Club

(Get Free Report

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates warehouse clubs on the eastern half of the United States. It provides perishable, general merchandise, gasoline, coupon books, promotions, and other ancillary services. The company sells its products through the websites BJs.com, BerkleyJensen.com, and Wellsleyfarms.com, as well as the mobile app.

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund reduced its stake in CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE  Free Report) by 17.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 146,132 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 31,070 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in CBRE Group were worth $11,794,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its stake in CBRE Group by 213.6% in the first quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 552 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of CBRE Group by 64.7% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 8,493 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $618,000 after buying an additional 3,335 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its position in shares of CBRE Group by 7.2% during the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 279,658 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $20,362,000 after buying an additional 18,874 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in shares of CBRE Group by 0.3% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 53,561 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,900,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the period. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in shares of CBRE Group by 462.4% during the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 275,311 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $20,045,000 after buying an additional 226,356 shares during the period. 96.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $98.00 price objective on shares of CBRE Group in a research report on Monday, September 18th. StockNews.com started coverage on CBRE Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Evercore ISI cut their target price on CBRE Group from $94.00 to $91.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on CBRE Group from $93.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Raymond James cut their target price on CBRE Group from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $91.33.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Brandon B. Boze sold 3,400,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.80, for a total value of $274,720,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,837,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at $471,690,038.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO Lindsey S. Caplan sold 1,305 shares of CBRE Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.08, for a total transaction of $108,419.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 17,215 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,430,222.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Brandon B. Boze sold 3,400,000 shares of CBRE Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.80, for a total value of $274,720,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,837,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $471,690,038.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 4,607,856 shares of company stock worth $376,671,359 in the last three months. 0.53% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

CBRE Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CBRE opened at $72.70 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.54 and a beta of 1.38. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $80.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.24. CBRE Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $66.31 and a 52-week high of $89.58.

CBRE Group (NYSE:CBRE  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The financial services provider reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $7.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.30 billion. CBRE Group had a return on equity of 15.42% and a net margin of 2.74%. The companys quarterly revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.83 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that CBRE Group, Inc. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CBRE Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

CBRE Group, Inc operates as a commercial real estate services and investment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Advisory Services, Global Workplace Solutions, and Real Estate Investments segments. The Advisory Services segment provides strategic advice and execution to owners, investors, and occupiers of real estate in connection with leasing of offices; industrial and retail space; property sales and mortgage services under the CBRE Capital Markets brand; property and project management services, including construction management, marketing, building engineering, lease administration, accounting, and financial services for owners of and investors in office, industrial, and retail properties; and valuation services that include market value appraisals, litigation support, discounted cash flow analyses, and feasibility studies, as well as consulting services, such as property condition reports, hotel advisory, and environmental consulting.

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Channel Wealth LLC raised its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 53.3% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 58,578 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 20,360 shares during the period. Pfizer makes up 1.2% of Channel Wealth LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Channel Wealth LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $2,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. 25 LLC bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the first quarter worth about $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Macroview Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 70.0% during the first quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 962 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 396 shares during the period. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the first quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of Pfizer stock opened at $33.20 on Tuesday. Pfizer Inc. has a 12-month low of $31.77 and a 12-month high of $54.93. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $34.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $37.15. The company has a current ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $187.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.83, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.36 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 28.36% and a net margin of 27.55%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 54.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.04 EPS. Analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 4th. Investors of record on Friday, November 10th will be issued a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.94%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

PFE has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Pfizer from $39.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $75.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, October 2nd. TheStreet lowered shares of Pfizer from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Pfizer from $40.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $45.88.

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About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report).

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by equities research analysts at Barclays from $64.00 to $55.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Barclayss target price would indicate a potential upside of 6.28% from the stocks current price.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Argus lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $81.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $71.03.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SCHW

Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.4 %

SCHW stock opened at $51.75 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $58.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.08. The company has a market cap of $91.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. Charles Schwab has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $86.63.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.97 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Charles Schwab will post 3.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Charles A. Ruffel acquired 833 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $60.55 per share, for a total transaction of $50,438.15. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $205,022.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Charles A. Ruffel acquired 833 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $60.55 per share, for a total transaction of $50,438.15. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $205,022.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total value of $476,880.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 8,014 shares in the company, valued at approximately $477,714.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 19.3% during the 3rd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 69,250 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,802,000 after buying an additional 11,224 shares during the period. Keystone Wealth Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 3rd quarter valued at about $242,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 49.0% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,382 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $565,000 after purchasing an additional 3,412 shares during the period. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 17.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 4,144 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $228,000 after purchasing an additional 617 shares during the period. Finally, IMS Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 15.9% in the 2nd quarter. IMS Capital Management now owns 13,655 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $774,000 after purchasing an additional 1,875 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

Further Reading

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Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Free Report) by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 90,574 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 959 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities were worth $10,279,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ARE. Spire Wealth Management increased its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 115.8% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 246 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Clear Street Markets LLC lifted its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 104.6% during the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 309 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 158 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 453.0% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 365 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HM Payson & Co. increased its holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 400 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.36% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Thursday, July 20th. They set a buy rating and a $142.00 price objective on the stock. JMP Securities lowered their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $180.00 to $160.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Wedbush assumed coverage on Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set an outperform rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $137.00 to $135.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Alexandria Real Estate Equities currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $156.11.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Performance

NYSE ARE opened at $100.45 on Tuesday. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $95.21 and a fifty-two week high of $172.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.97. The stocks fifty day moving average is $112.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $116.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.20 by ($1.69). Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 20.65% and a return on equity of 2.54%. The firm had revenue of $713.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $700.22 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.10 EPS. The companys revenue was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 8.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.24 per share. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess payout ratio is presently 147.18%.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile

(Free Report)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since its founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Free Report).

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Sylvamo (NYSE:SLVM  Get Free Report) is one of 17 public companies in the Paper mills industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Sylvamo to similar businesses based on the strength of its dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, earnings, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

89.1% of Sylvamo shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.7% of shares of all Paper mills companies are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of Sylvamo shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 5.5% of shares of all Paper mills companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Sylvamo and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sylvamo $3.63 billion $118.00 million 6.21 Sylvamo Competitors $8.38 billion $686.61 million 29.26

Dividends

Sylvamos competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Sylvamo. Sylvamo is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Sylvamo pays an annual dividend of $1.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Sylvamo pays out 17.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Paper mills companies pay a dividend yield of 3.8% and pay out 58.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Sylvamo and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sylvamo 0 1 1 0 2.50 Sylvamo Competitors 113 718 474 49 2.34

Sylvamo currently has a consensus price target of $52.50, indicating a potential upside of 24.30%. As a group, Paper mills companies have a potential upside of 32.29%. Given Sylvamos competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Sylvamo has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Profitability

This table compares Sylvamo and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sylvamo 7.87% 55.02% 12.80% Sylvamo Competitors 7.59% 18.89% 6.66%

Volatility & Risk

Sylvamo has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sylvamos competitors have a beta of 1.31, suggesting that their average stock price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Sylvamo competitors beat Sylvamo on 8 of the 15 factors compared.

About Sylvamo

(Get Free Report)

Sylvamo Corporation produces and markets uncoated freesheet, cutsize, offset paper, and pulp in Latin America, Europe, and North America. The company operates through Europe, Latin America, and North America segments. The Europe segment offers copy, tinted, and colored laser printing paper under REY Adagio and Pro-Design brands; and high-speed inkjet printing papers under the brand Jetstar; as well as produces uncoated freesheet papers. This segment also operates paper and pulp mill. The Latin America segment focuses on uncoated freesheet paper under Chamex, Chamequinho and Chambril brands, as well as produces HP papers. This segment also operates integrated mills and nonintegrated mills. The North America segment offers imaging, commercial printing, and converting papers, as well as uncoated papers under Hammermill, Springhill, Williamsburg, Accent, DRM and Postmark brand names. It distributes its products through a variety of channels, including merchants, e-commerce, agents, resellers, and paper distributors. The company was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

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First Republic Bank (OTCMKTS:FRCB  Get Free Report) and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVKEF  Get Free Report) are both financial services companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk.

Profitability

This table compares First Republic Bank and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ)s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Republic Bank 20.45% 11.26% 0.72% Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for First Republic Bank and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Republic Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) 2 1 0 0 1.33

Institutional and Insider Ownership

1.9% of First Republic Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of First Republic Bank shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

First Republic Bank has a beta of 1.48, suggesting that its share price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) has a beta of 0.77, suggesting that its share price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares First Republic Bank and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ)s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio First Republic Bank $6.75 billion 0.00 $1.67 billion 7.48 0.01 Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) $8.66 billion N/A $2.67 billion $1.24 8.95

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) has higher revenue and earnings than First Republic Bank. First Republic Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

First Republic Bank beats Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About First Republic Bank

(Get Free Report)

As of May 1, 2023, First Republic Bank went out of business. Previously, First Republic Bank provided private banking, private business banking, and private wealth management services to clients in metropolitan areas in the United States. The company was founded in 1985 and was headquartered in San Francisco, California. First Republic Bank now trades on OTCPK.

About Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ)

(Get Free Report)

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) provides corporate, retail, investment, and private banking services. The company operates through Large Corporates & Financial Institutions, Corporate & Private Customers, Private Wealth Management & Family Office, Baltic, Life, and Investment Management divisions. It offers research and strategy services; analysis, advisory, execution, and trading services in the foreign exchange, fixed income, equities, and commodities markets; transaction services, including cash management, trade and supply chain finance, and business services; and investor services. The company also provides investment banking services, such as corporate finance advisory services related to acquisitions, divestments, and mergers; equity capital market services related to initial public offerings, rights issues, and placings; debt transaction services comprising bonds, corporate acquisition financing, and general corporate refinancing services; leveraged and structured finance services, as well as real estate and shipping finance services. In addition, it offers venture capital for entrepreneurs and innovators; asset management products that include equities, fixed income securities, hedge funds, commodities, and private equity solutions; and pensions, life insurance, health care insurance, and disability insurance; banking infrastructure, access to capital markets, financing solutions, individually advisory services to entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, foundations, and family offices. The company serves large corporations and financial institutions, private customers, and small and medium-sized corporates. It operates in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Luxembourg, China, Singapore, Russia, Poland, Hong Kong, Ukraine, and internationally. The company was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

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Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR  Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the thirteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation and seven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on EQNR shares. Berenberg Bank lowered Equinor ASA from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Equinor ASA from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Equinor ASA from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Equinor ASA in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Equinor ASA from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, September 1st.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Equinor ASA

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equinor ASA

Equinor ASA Stock Up 5.9 %

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EQNR. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in Equinor ASA by 42.8% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 10,186,246 shares of the companys stock worth $382,086,000 after buying an additional 3,052,907 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Equinor ASA by 30.3% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 9,137,576 shares of the companys stock worth $259,781,000 after buying an additional 2,125,122 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Equinor ASA by 1,107.5% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,280,296 shares of the companys stock worth $64,829,000 after buying an additional 2,091,447 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Equinor ASA in the 1st quarter worth approximately $55,819,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Equinor ASA by 4,648.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,420,252 shares of the companys stock worth $41,486,000 after buying an additional 1,390,340 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.38% of the companys stock.

Shares of NYSE EQNR opened at $33.37 on Thursday. Equinor ASA has a one year low of $25.23 and a one year high of $38.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 1.84 and a quick ratio of 1.73. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $31.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $104.18 billion, a PE ratio of 4.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.97.

Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.82 by ($0.08). Equinor ASA had a net margin of 18.50% and a return on equity of 35.90%. The company had revenue of $22.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.56 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Equinor ASA will post 3.99 EPS for the current year.

Equinor ASA Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Equinor ASA, an energy company, engages in the exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing of petroleum and other forms of energy in Norway and internationally. It operates through Exploration & Production Norway; Exploration & Production International; Exploration & Production USA; Marketing, Midstream & Processing; Renewables; and Other segments.

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Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in shares of Hormel Foods Co. (NYSE:HRL  Free Report) by 2.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 130,626 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,296 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorps holdings in Hormel Foods were worth $5,254,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HRL. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 217.1% during the 1st quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 650 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 445 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Hormel Foods during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 60.5% during the 2nd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 878 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 331 shares in the last quarter. Exos TFP Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 270.0% during the 1st quarter. Exos TFP Holdings LLC now owns 962 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 702 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in Hormel Foods during the 1st quarter valued at about $41,000. 41.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Hormel Foods Trading Down 2.2 %

NYSE:HRL opened at $36.05 on Tuesday. Hormel Foods Co. has a one year low of $35.41 and a one year high of $49.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.40. The firm has a market cap of $19.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.39, a P/E/G ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.20. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.62.

Hormel Foods Dividend Announcement

Hormel Foods ( NYSE:HRL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 31st. The company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.41 by ($0.01). Hormel Foods had a net margin of 7.20% and a return on equity of 12.20%. The business had revenue of $2.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.40 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Hormel Foods Co. will post 1.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a $0.275 dividend. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.05%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. Hormel Foodss payout ratio is currently 68.32%.

Insider Transactions at Hormel Foods

In other news, SVP Pierre M. Lilly acquired 1,454 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $37.25 per share, with a total value of $54,161.50. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,454 shares in the company, valued at $54,161.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Hormel Foods in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $43.71.

View Our Latest Analysis on HRL

About Hormel Foods

(Free Report)

Hormel Foods Corporation develops, processes, and distributes various meat, nuts, and food products to retail, foodservice, deli, and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Grocery Products, Refrigerated Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, and International & Other.

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Forum Financial Management LP reduced its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 38.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,334 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 5,178 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LPs holdings in Aflac were worth $582,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Silicon Valley Capital Partners bought a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. raised its position in Aflac by 85.1% during the 2nd quarter. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. now owns 372 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Studio Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. 66.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup raised their target price on Aflac from $69.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley downgraded Aflac from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $74.00 to $75.00 in a report on Friday, August 18th. Raymond James increased their price target on Aflac from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Aflac from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Aflac from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $76.36.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Virgil Raynard Miller sold 2,626 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.08, for a total value of $202,412.08. Following the sale, the insider now owns 2,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $168,111.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.47, for a total value of $38,235.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 26,598 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,033,949.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Virgil Raynard Miller sold 2,626 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.08, for a total transaction of $202,412.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $168,111.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 30,170 shares of company stock valued at $2,289,435. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Aflac Price Performance

Aflac stock opened at $78.20 on Tuesday. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $56.26 and a 52 week high of $78.43. The companys 50 day moving average price is $75.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a market cap of $46.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.91.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $5.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.52 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 24.48% and a return on equity of 16.10%. On average, equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 23rd were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 22nd. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Aflacs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.46%.

Aflac Company Profile

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

Further Reading

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Hippo (NYSE:HIPO  Get Free Report) and Sagen MI Canada (OTCMKTS:GMICF  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership and dividends.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

30.9% of Hippo shares are owned by institutional investors. 11.3% of Hippo shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Profitability

This table compares Hippo and Sagen MI Canadas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Hippo -240.20% -56.30% -19.30% Sagen MI Canada N/A N/A N/A

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Hippo $119.70 million 1.43 -$333.40 million ($16.02) -0.45 Sagen MI Canada N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

This table compares Hippo and Sagen MI Canadas gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Sagen MI Canada has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Hippo.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Hippo and Sagen MI Canada, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Hippo 0 2 3 0 2.60 Sagen MI Canada 0 0 0 0 N/A

Hippo currently has a consensus price target of $27.38, suggesting a potential upside of 279.68%. Given Hippos higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Hippo is more favorable than Sagen MI Canada.

Summary

Hippo beats Sagen MI Canada on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Hippo

(Get Free Report)

Hippo Holdings Inc. provides home protection insurance in the United States and the District of Columbia. Its insurance products include homeowners' insurance against risks of fire, wind, and theft; and personal and commercial insurance products. The company distributes insurance products and services through its technology platform; and offers its policies online, over the phone, or through licensed insurance agents. It provides care and protection for homeowners, as well as operates an integrated home protection platform. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

About Sagen MI Canada

(Get Free Report)

Sagen MI Canada Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a private residential mortgage insurer in Canada. It provides mortgage default insurance to residential mortgage homebuyers, lenders, brokers, and realtors. The company was formerly known as Genworth MI Canada Inc. and changed its name to Sagen MI Canada Inc. in February 2021. Sagen MI Canada Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Oakville, Canada.

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Latitude Advisors LLC bought a new position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 1,346 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $206,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its holdings in Republic Services by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 16,313 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,206,000 after purchasing an additional 273 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Republic Services by 4.6% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 561,333 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $75,903,000 after buying an additional 24,478 shares during the period. First Interstate Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Republic Services in the first quarter valued at about $243,000. Brown Advisory Inc. increased its stake in shares of Republic Services by 2.5% in the first quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 11,909 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,610,000 after buying an additional 292 shares during the period. Finally, US Bancorp DE increased its stake in shares of Republic Services by 6.0% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 186,766 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $25,254,000 after buying an additional 10,629 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.23% of the companys stock.

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Republic Services Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:RSG opened at $146.66 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $146.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $145.05. The firm has a market cap of $46.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.51, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. Republic Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $120.58 and a 52-week high of $156.65.

Republic Services Increases Dividend

Republic Services ( NYSE:RSG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The business services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.09. Republic Services had a return on equity of 16.53% and a net margin of 10.91%. The company had revenue of $3.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.73 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.32 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 5.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 2nd will be issued a $0.535 dividend. This represents a $2.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 29th. This is a positive change from Republic Servicess previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Republic Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 43.06%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on RSG shares. Raymond James increased their price target on Republic Services from $154.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Oppenheimer upped their target price on Republic Services from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Republic Services from $158.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Republic Services from $158.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Republic Services from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $159.27.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Brian M. Delghiaccio sold 5,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.65, for a total value of $823,075.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 5,071 shares in the company, valued at $758,875.15. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CMO Amanda Hodges sold 2,712 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.66, for a total transaction of $403,165.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 4,969 shares of the companys stock, valued at $738,691.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Brian M. Delghiaccio sold 5,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.65, for a total value of $823,075.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 5,071 shares of the companys stock, valued at $758,875.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Republic Services Company Profile

(Free Report)

Republic Services, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.

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National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 100.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 621,870 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 311,168 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FIs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $35,727,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SCHW. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,847,000 after purchasing an additional 1,452 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $528,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 25.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,101,000 after acquiring an additional 2,648 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $104,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on SCHW. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $77.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $71.59.

Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:SCHW opened at $51.75 on Tuesday. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $86.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The company has a market cap of $91.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.09, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $58.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.08.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.15% and a return on equity of 27.54%. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.61 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.97 EPS. The firms revenue was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is presently 29.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 72,047 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.66, for a total transaction of $4,802,653.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,748,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,982,837,543.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469 in the last 90 days. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT  Free Report) by 120.4% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 206,981 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 113,071 shares during the quarter. National Bank of Canada FIs holdings in Trane Technologies were worth $39,563,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Trane Technologies during the 1st quarter worth about $178,000. Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in Trane Technologies by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 16,727 shares of the companys stock worth $2,554,000 after purchasing an additional 495 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Trane Technologies during the 1st quarter worth about $219,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Trane Technologies by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,133,851 shares of the companys stock worth $2,769,040,000 after purchasing an additional 77,924 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its holdings in Trane Technologies by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 956,177 shares of the companys stock worth $146,008,000 after purchasing an additional 34,591 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.66% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on TT. Bank of America upgraded Trane Technologies from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the stock from $187.00 to $210.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. HSBC assumed coverage on Trane Technologies in a research report on Friday, September 15th. They set a buy rating and a $256.00 price objective for the company. Barclays upped their price objective on Trane Technologies from $210.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Trane Technologies from $231.00 to $234.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Mizuho upped their price objective on Trane Technologies from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $204.29.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Trane Technologies news, SVP Evan M. Turtz sold 6,108 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.21, for a total transaction of $1,253,422.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 19,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,035,659.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Evan M. Turtz sold 6,108 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.21, for a total transaction of $1,253,422.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 19,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,035,659.86. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Keith A. Sultana sold 3,964 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total value of $784,872.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 42,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,338,968. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 18,172 shares of company stock valued at $3,652,865. 0.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Trane Technologies Stock Up 0.0 %

Trane Technologies stock opened at $204.31 on Tuesday. Trane Technologies plc has a twelve month low of $139.07 and a twelve month high of $211.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $202.69 and a two-hundred day moving average of $189.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.19, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.01.

Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $2.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.12. Trane Technologies had a return on equity of 31.22% and a net margin of 11.18%. The company had revenue of $4.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.16 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Trane Technologies plc will post 8.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Trane Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. Trane Technologiess payout ratio is 36.99%.

About Trane Technologies

(Free Report)

Trane Technologies plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services of solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, custom, and custom and transport refrigeration in Ireland and internationally. It offers air conditioners, exchangers, and handlers; airside and terminal devices; air sourced heat pumps, auxiliary power units; chillers; coils and condensers; gensets; dehumidifiers; ductless; furnaces; home automation products; humidifiers; indoor air quality assessments and related products; large and light commercial unitary products; refrigerant reclamation products; thermostats/controls; transport heater products; variable refrigerant flow products; and water source heat pumps.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT  Free Report).

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD  Free Report) by 144.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 41,876 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 24,745 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $12,543,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of APD. Simplicity Solutions LLC increased its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 2.4% during the second quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 6,440 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,929,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,545 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $762,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,437,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the 2nd quarter valued at $57,960,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 42.1% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 40,339 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $11,989,000 after purchasing an additional 11,944 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.62% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

APD has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $328.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $330.00 to $331.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $319.93.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Performance

NYSE:APD opened at $284.36 on Tuesday. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $224.75 and a twelve month high of $328.56. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $290.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $288.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.17 billion, a PE ratio of 28.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.87.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The basic materials company reported $2.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.91 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.29 billion. Air Products and Chemicals had a net margin of 16.88% and a return on equity of 17.18%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.62 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 11.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 2nd will be given a $1.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 29th. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. Air Products and Chemicalss dividend payout ratio is presently 71.21%.

About Air Products and Chemicals

(Free Report)

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally. The company produces atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, such as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and syngas; specialty gases; and equipment for the production or processing of gases comprising air separation units and non-cryogenic generators for customers in various industries, including refining, chemical, manufacturing, electronics, magnetic resonance imaging, energy production, medical, food, and metals.

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Arlington Partners LLC cut its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 24.3% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 10,083 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 3,228 shares during the period. Arlington Partners LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $370,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in PFE. 25 LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the first quarter worth $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Macroview Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 70.0% in the first quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 962 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares during the period. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Pfizer during the first quarter worth approximately $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Pfizer from $42.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of Pfizer from $40.00 to $38.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $62.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $45.88.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.2 %

PFE stock opened at $33.20 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $34.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.15. The company has a market capitalization of $187.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.83, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $31.77 and a twelve month high of $54.93.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.36 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 27.55% and a return on equity of 28.36%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 54.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.04 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 9th. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 43.62%.

Pfizer Company Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 6.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,701 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,735 shares during the quarter. Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $979,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in Pfizer by 98,197.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,948,438,709 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $71,468,732,000 after buying an additional 1,946,456,532 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 89,592.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after buying an additional 160,963,976 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,150,472,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Pfizer by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 218,931,933 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,932,423,000 after buying an additional 19,602,359 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 1,034.0% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 12,149,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $495,718,000 after buying an additional 11,078,514 shares in the last quarter. 68.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PFE has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $40.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $39.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday. Barclays decreased their price target on Pfizer from $38.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $62.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Pfizer from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $45.88.

Pfizer Trading Up 0.2 %

Pfizer stock opened at $33.20 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 2.12 and a quick ratio of 1.82. The company has a market capitalization of $187.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.83, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $31.77 and a one year high of $54.93. The companys fifty day moving average price is $34.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $37.15.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.36 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 28.36% and a net margin of 27.55%. The firms revenue was down 54.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.04 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be given a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is currently 43.62%.

Pfizer Company Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 31.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 107,179 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 25,837 shares during the quarter. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $3,931,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 1.8% in the second quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 2,710,388 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $99,417,000 after buying an additional 47,807 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 436.2% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 8,206,790 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $300,736,000 after buying an additional 6,676,325 shares during the period. Channel Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 53.3% in the second quarter. Channel Wealth LLC now owns 58,578 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,149,000 after buying an additional 20,360 shares during the period. Beam Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 20.2% during the second quarter. Beam Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 7,703 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $283,000 after purchasing an additional 1,293 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 12.6% during the second quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 61,346 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,250,000 after purchasing an additional 6,884 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PFE opened at $33.20 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $34.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $37.15. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $31.77 and a twelve month high of $54.93. The company has a market cap of $187.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.83, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.10. Pfizer had a return on equity of 28.36% and a net margin of 27.55%. The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.36 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.04 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 54.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be given a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.94%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is currently 43.62%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on PFE. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Pfizer in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Pfizer from $42.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Credit Suisse Group downgraded Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the company from $47.00 to $40.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $75.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $45.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pfizer

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Latitude Advisors LLC increased its position in Regis Co. (NYSE:RGS  Free Report) by 43.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 100,100 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 30,100 shares during the period. Latitude Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.22% of Regis worth $111,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its holdings in shares of Regis by 21.4% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 51,866 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 9,148 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Regis by 28.4% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 50,620 shares of the companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 11,192 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of Regis by 304.4% in the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 23,687 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 17,829 shares during the period. HRT Financial LP acquired a new stake in shares of Regis in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Finally, State Street Corp grew its position in Regis by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 121,874 shares of the companys stock valued at $123,000 after buying an additional 24,300 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 23.12% of the companys stock.

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Regis Trading Down 3.1 %

Shares of RGS opened at $0.65 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $1.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.07. Regis Co. has a 52-week low of $0.60 and a 52-week high of $1.85.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Regis ( NYSE:RGS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 23rd. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.05) by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $55.72 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $56.60 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.07) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Regis Co. will post -0.2 EPS for the current year.

Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Regis in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company.

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About Regis

(Free Report)

Regis Corporation owns and franchises hair care salons in North America. The company operates through two segments, Franchise Salons and Company-Owned Salons. Its salons provide haircutting; styling, including shampooing and conditioning; hair coloring; and other services, as well as sells various hair care and other beauty products.

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Equities research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada assumed coverage on shares of Pipestone Energy (OTCMKTS:BKBEF  Get Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. The brokerage set a sector perform rating on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Pipestone Energy in a report on Friday. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Scotiabank started coverage on Pipestone Energy in a research note on Friday. They set an outperform rating on the stock.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on BKBEF

Pipestone Energy Stock Performance

Pipestone Energy Company Profile

OTCMKTS BKBEF opened at $1.37 on Tuesday. Pipestone Energy has a 12 month low of $1.37 and a 12 month high of $3.42. The companys 50 day moving average is $1.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.80.

(Get Free Report)

Pipestone Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Western Canada. It offers natural gas liquids comprising condensate, pentane, butane, propane, and ethane. The company focuses on the Montney asset that covers an area of 90,029 net acres located to southwest of Grande Prairie in Northwest Alberta.

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Simplicity Solutions LLC increased its stake in Cameco Co. (NYSE:CCJ  Free Report) (TSE:CCO) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 99,299 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in Cameco were worth $3,111,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in CCJ. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Cameco by 37.4% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 17,068,688 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $497,555,000 after purchasing an additional 4,644,453 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Cameco by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 454,418 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $13,223,000 after acquiring an additional 9,757 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Cameco by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 25,154 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $733,000 after acquiring an additional 1,414 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Cameco by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 554,571 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $16,138,000 after acquiring an additional 52,341 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC purchased a new position in Cameco during the 1st quarter valued at about $819,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.57% of the companys stock.

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Cameco Price Performance

Cameco stock opened at $37.36 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $36.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 3.64 and a quick ratio of 3.00. Cameco Co. has a 12-month low of $21.02 and a 12-month high of $42.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 249.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.96.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Cameco ( NYSE:CCJ Get Free Report ) (TSE:CCO) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The basic materials company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($0.17). Cameco had a return on equity of 2.74% and a net margin of 4.67%. The company had revenue of $482.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $636.37 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.14 earnings per share. Camecos revenue was down 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Cameco Co. will post 0.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Several equities analysts have weighed in on CCJ shares. TD Securities raised their target price on shares of Cameco from C$55.00 to C$70.00 and gave the company an action list buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Scotiabank raised their target price on shares of Cameco from C$54.00 to C$70.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Cameco in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating for the company. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on shares of Cameco from $49.50 to $56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald cut shares of Cameco from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CCJ

About Cameco

(Free Report)

Cameco Corporation provides uranium for the generation of electricity. It operates through two segments, Uranium and Fuel Services. The Uranium segment is involved in the exploration for, mining, and milling, purchase, and sale of uranium concentrate. The Fuel Services segment engages in the refining, conversion, and fabrication of uranium concentrate, as well as the purchase and sale of conversion services.

Further Reading

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Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON  Get Free Report) had its target price lowered by stock analysts at Citigroup from $69.00 to $65.00 in a report released on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Citigroups target price would suggest a potential upside of 20.19% from the companys current price.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on SON. Argus downgraded Sonoco Products from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Bank of America cut their price target on Sonoco Products from $80.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sonoco Products in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Sonoco Products from $61.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.67.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on SON

Sonoco Products Price Performance

NYSE SON opened at $54.08 on Tuesday. Sonoco Products has a one year low of $52.84 and a one year high of $64.89. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $55.69 and a 200 day moving average of $58.28. The company has a market capitalization of $5.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.08, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.55.

Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 31st. The industrial products company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.12). Sonoco Products had a return on equity of 26.15% and a net margin of 6.89%. The business had revenue of $1.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.76 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Sonoco Products will post 5.2 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SON. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its position in shares of Sonoco Products by 854.4% during the 2nd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,092,809 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $64,388,000 after buying an additional 978,308 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Sonoco Products by 13.4% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,240,829 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $515,546,000 after purchasing an additional 972,157 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Sonoco Products in the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,429,000. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Sonoco Products in the 1st quarter worth approximately $51,618,000. Finally, Earnest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Sonoco Products by 52.2% in the 2nd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 2,043,467 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $120,605,000 after purchasing an additional 700,414 shares in the last quarter. 76.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Sonoco Products Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging.

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State of Alaska Department of Revenue lowered its holdings in Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX  Free Report) by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,536 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 952 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenues holdings in Comfort Systems USA were worth $3,864,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of Comfort Systems USA by 13.5% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 8,607 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,413,000 after acquiring an additional 1,027 shares in the last quarter. SkyOak Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Comfort Systems USA by 6.0% in the second quarter. SkyOak Wealth LLC now owns 1,974 shares of the construction companys stock worth $324,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Hiddenite Capital Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of Comfort Systems USA in the second quarter worth $1,314,000. Artemis Investment Management LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Comfort Systems USA in the second quarter worth $27,310,000. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Comfort Systems USA by 12.6% in the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,800 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,087,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.18% of the companys stock.

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Comfort Systems USA Price Performance

FIX opened at $170.04 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $178.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $161.41. The firm has a market cap of $6.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.12 and a beta of 1.19. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. has a twelve month low of $97.50 and a twelve month high of $192.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

Comfort Systems USA Increases Dividend

Comfort Systems USA ( NYSE:FIX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The construction company reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $1.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. Comfort Systems USA had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 23.24%. The businesss revenue was up 27.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.17 EPS.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 17th were issued a dividend of $0.225 per share. This is a positive change from Comfort Systems USAs previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 16th. Comfort Systems USAs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Comfort Systems USA news, Chairman Franklin Myers sold 30,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.85, for a total transaction of $5,545,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 120,065 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,194,015.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Comfort Systems USA news, Chairman Franklin Myers sold 30,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.85, for a total transaction of $5,545,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 120,065 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,194,015.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Vance W. Tang sold 1,844 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.00, for a total transaction of $335,608.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 25,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,560,556. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 42,594 shares of company stock valued at $7,857,591 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FIX has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of Comfort Systems USA from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Comfort Systems USA in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company.

View Our Latest Analysis on Comfort Systems USA

Comfort Systems USA Company Profile

(Free Report)

Comfort Systems USA, Inc provides mechanical and electrical installation, renovation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services for the mechanical and electrical services industry in the United States. It engages in the design, engineering, integration, installation, and start-up of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems; and renovation, expansion, maintenance, monitoring, repair, and replacement of existing buildings.

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First American Trust FSB trimmed its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 20.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 877 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 223 shares during the period. First American Trust FSBs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $421,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Alera Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,348 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,609,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLC now owns 35,957 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $17,282,000 after purchasing an additional 635 shares in the last quarter. Westwood Management Corp IL acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $529,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $877,000. Finally, Cahaba Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cahaba Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,890 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,389,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. 85.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $526.63 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $497.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $490.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $487.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $445.68 and a 52-week high of $558.10.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.92 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $92.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $90.97 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.72% and a net margin of 6.06%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.57 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.83 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 11th were issued a dividend of $1.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.43%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.65%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UNH. Mizuho lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $549.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $592.00 to $572.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $616.00 to $561.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $595.00 to $603.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $573.52.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on UnitedHealth Group

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $506.19, for a total transaction of $2,024,760.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 78,573 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,772,866.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About UnitedHealth Group

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Upper Left Wealth Management LLC lowered its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,807 shares of the companys stock after selling 62 shares during the period. Upper Left Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $805,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alesco Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.3% during the first quarter. Alesco Advisors LLC now owns 1,450,225 shares of the companys stock valued at $596,159,000 after acquiring an additional 18,317 shares in the last quarter. Verde Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $219,000. HFG Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.0% during the second quarter. HFG Advisors Inc. now owns 2,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,197,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2.4% during the first quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC now owns 48,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,129,000 after acquiring an additional 1,144 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 7.7% during the first quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 201,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,934,000 after buying an additional 14,386 shares during the period.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of IVV stock opened at $434.19 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $335.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. The companys 50 day moving average is $443.37 and its 200 day moving average is $432.87. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 52-week low of $349.53 and a 52-week high of $461.88.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Profile

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Free Report) by 14.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,360 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,550 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd.s holdings in Brunswick were worth $2,457,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Brunswick by 94.8% during the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 18,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,580,000 after purchasing an additional 8,874 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp bought a new stake in Brunswick in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $772,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its stake in Brunswick by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 25,298 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,074,000 after acquiring an additional 577 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Brunswick by 13.6% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 109,161 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,951,000 after acquiring an additional 13,065 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tectonic Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Brunswick by 19.0% in the 1st quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 10,325 shares of the companys stock valued at $847,000 after acquiring an additional 1,646 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.44% of the companys stock.

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Brunswick Stock Up 0.7 %

BC stock opened at $74.70 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.92, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $80.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $81.57. Brunswick Co. has a 1-year low of $64.55 and a 1-year high of $93.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.28 billion, a PE ratio of 9.82 and a beta of 1.53.

Brunswick Dividend Announcement

Brunswick ( NYSE:BC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.32 by $0.03. Brunswick had a return on equity of 33.86% and a net margin of 8.21%. The firm had revenue of $1.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.82 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Brunswick Co. will post 9.29 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 23rd were issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 22nd. Brunswicks dividend payout ratio is 21.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Brunswick from $94.00 to $93.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. B. Riley dropped their price objective on Brunswick from $108.00 to $106.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Brunswick from $122.00 to $105.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Brunswick from $106.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Brunswick from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $109.00 to $79.00 in a research note on Monday, September 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Brunswick currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $95.73.

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Brunswick Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Propulsion, Parts & Accessories, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines for independent boat builders and governments through marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers, and marine service centers; and propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses.

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Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Free Report) by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 40,250 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 955 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF were worth $2,483,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 42.1% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 33,257,638 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,027,053,000 after purchasing an additional 9,855,055 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 12.1% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,981,866 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $303,630,000 after acquiring an additional 536,550 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 80.2% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,261,262 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $259,724,000 after acquiring an additional 1,896,544 shares during the period. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 6.1% in the second quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,921,623 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $239,024,000 after acquiring an additional 224,215 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 13.6% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,840,852 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $239,208,000 after acquiring an additional 460,941 shares during the period.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Price Performance

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF stock opened at $57.50 on Tuesday. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a one year low of $44.99 and a one year high of $63.81. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $59.84 and a 200-day moving average price of $61.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.10 and a beta of 0.95.

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Profile

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.

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Vontobel Holding Ltd. lowered its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB  Free Report) by 3.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,676 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 390 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.s holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $2,399,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in AvalonBay Communities by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,654,737 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,630,935,000 after acquiring an additional 625,179 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in AvalonBay Communities by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,087,597 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,711,547,000 after acquiring an additional 531,677 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in AvalonBay Communities during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,001,550,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,863,429 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $817,348,000 after purchasing an additional 759,388 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,861,951 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $817,098,000 after purchasing an additional 12,865 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.71% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at AvalonBay Communities

In related news, EVP Joanne M. Lockridge sold 3,331 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $186.25, for a total value of $620,398.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 21,558 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,015,177.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial upped their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $190.00 to $211.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $202.00 to $192.00 in a research note on Monday. Colliers Securities upgraded AvalonBay Communities from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $202.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price target on AvalonBay Communities from $190.00 to $186.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $195.44.

Read Our Latest Analysis on AVB

AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance

AVB opened at $174.21 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $24.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.93. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 52-week low of $153.07 and a 52-week high of $198.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 2.49 and a current ratio of 2.49. The businesss fifty day moving average is $179.81 and its 200-day moving average is $180.32.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $690.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $675.67 million. AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 46.32% and a return on equity of 11.01%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.43 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AvalonBay Communities Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $1.65 dividend. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. AvalonBay Communitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.24%.

AvalonBay Communities Profile

(Free Report)

As of June 30, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 294 apartment communities containing 88,659 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development and one community was under redevelopment. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado.

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Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Free Report) by 7.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,014 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,967 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.s holdings in Phillips 66 were worth $2,577,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 37,428,804 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,794,532,000 after purchasing an additional 102,139 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 100,843.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,979,304 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,038,646,000 after purchasing an additional 9,969,418 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 44.3% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,623,978 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $874,299,000 after purchasing an additional 2,646,979 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 16.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,961,625 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $724,566,000 after purchasing an additional 968,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,859,397 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $695,406,000 after buying an additional 366,667 shares during the period. 71.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Phillips 66 Price Performance

Phillips 66 stock opened at $111.21 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $116.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.73. Phillips 66 has a 1 year low of $88.64 and a 1 year high of $125.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.82, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.33.

Phillips 66 Dividend Announcement

Phillips 66 ( NYSE:PSX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $3.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.54 by $0.33. Phillips 66 had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 26.25%. The firm had revenue of $35.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $32.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.77 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Phillips 66 will post 16.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.78%. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio is currently 18.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on PSX shares. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $138.00 to $134.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $130.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 8th. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $131.00 to $116.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $133.00 to $128.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Phillips 66 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Phillips 66 has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $128.27.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Phillips 66

Insider Activity at Phillips 66

In related news, EVP Timothy D. Roberts sold 127,578 shares of Phillips 66 stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.68, for a total value of $14,885,801.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 77,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,020,880.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Phillips 66 news, EVP Timothy D. Roberts sold 127,578 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.68, for a total value of $14,885,801.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 77,313 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,020,880.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy D. Roberts sold 12,970 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.41, for a total value of $1,613,597.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 80,009 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,953,919.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 360,648 shares of company stock valued at $41,396,371. 4.57% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Phillips 66 Company Profile

(Free Report)

Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas.

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Ziegler Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PARR  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 11,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $294,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Par Pacific by 103.3% during the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,035,157 shares of the companys stock worth $54,156,000 after buying an additional 1,034,006 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of Par Pacific by 459.9% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,258,201 shares of the companys stock worth $29,253,000 after purchasing an additional 1,033,480 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Par Pacific by 34.2% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,787,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,297,000 after buying an additional 710,461 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Par Pacific by 14.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,080,201 shares of the companys stock worth $66,956,000 after buying an additional 508,925 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in Par Pacific by 82.2% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 961,800 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,085,000 after acquiring an additional 433,800 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.83% of the companys stock.

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Par Pacific Stock Up 1.1 %

Par Pacific stock opened at $32.85 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $34.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.48. Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $17.63 and a one year high of $37.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 2.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 1.07.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Par Pacific ( NYSE:PARR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $1.73 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.53. The company had revenue of $1.78 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.57 billion. Par Pacific had a net margin of 8.45% and a return on equity of 73.08%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. will post 9.24 earnings per share for the current year.

PARR has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Par Pacific from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Par Pacific in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Par Pacific from $36.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $33.29.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on PARR

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Par Pacific news, President William Monteleone sold 14,063 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.98, for a total transaction of $491,923.74. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 309,720 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,834,005.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Par Pacific news, President William Monteleone sold 14,063 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.98, for a total value of $491,923.74. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 309,720 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,834,005.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Jeffrey Ryan Hollis sold 3,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.69, for a total value of $114,656.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 14,590 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $535,307.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 132,287 shares of company stock worth $4,617,780. Insiders own 4.40% of the companys stock.

Par Pacific Company Profile

(Free Report)

Par Pacific Holdings, Inc owns and operates energy and infrastructure businesses. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Retail, and Logistics. The Refining segment owns and operates three refineries that produces ultra-low sulfur diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, marine fuel, distillate, asphalt, low sulfur fuel oil, and other associated refined products primarily for consumption in Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

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The basement is dark and cold, but its home to Joe Biden, and he is comfortable there. Hes just waiting patiently to be president.

I feel protected by these four slimy walls in my basement, and it keeps me away from the squabbles and attacks up there. Sure you can call it a safe space, but the less people hear me talk the better it is for me and the Democrats, Biden whispered in his cold dark basement.

Its not long now, and despite the numerous scandals whipping around his family, Joe says he is doing just fine.

Crooked Joe looks around in the dark, and stumbles across approximately 15 large sacks.

Lemme take a look in here, what is this? Jeezus! Look at all of this money! Where did this all come from? Ah, heres a note on of these sacks of money! (squinting eyes) Heres your cut dad! Or should I say The Big Guy! Dont worry no one will ever find out about it. Love Hunter. Oh, ahum, yeah during the Obama presidency, shhhh, better push these in the corner.

Biden smiles triumphantly, and starts giggling to himself. Its all in the bag, the polls are 99% proof he will be voted in.

We got the poll numbers, its going to be a landslide Democrat win across the country, thats what they keep telling me. The polls are all taken from Democrat areas, and we limit the Republicans in the polling group so the numbers always look great. Sometimes I open the trap door and peek out to see whats going on, and I also get my food. Like, I open my mouth and they put food in there, sometimes they give me mashed potatoes or mashed beans. Yesterday, I had mashed baby food in a tiny jar. I asked my wife if that was it, and she said yeah!

Suddenly, Joe perks up! A big rat just went up his pyjama trousers and bit one of his testicles.

Whoah! I just thought I felt something. Nah! Nothing! As I was sayin Im gonna beat Georgebeat George W.Trump! When I come outta here I will be president! I b-b-bet you five dullarrrs! (Slurring his words, Joe slowly winds down, his eyes close and a big load of drool drips all over the already wet floor. Time to sleep! Big days ahead for Sleepy Joe)

Its only a matter of time Joe, soon you will come out of the basement to become the next U.S. President of the United States.
Nandana Dev Sen dismissed reports of her father's death as baseless.

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's daughter Nandana Dev Sen has dismissed reports of her father's death as baseless. She took to X to inform that Amartya Sen is well and busy as ever.

In her twitter post, Nandana Sen wrote, "Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever!"

Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever! pic.twitter.com/Fd84KVj1AT  Nandana Sen (@nandanadevsen) October 10, 2023

Amartya Sen's death rumours started after a parody account of recent Economic Nobel Prize winner Claudia Goldin on X stating, "A terrible news. My dearest professor Amartya Sen has died minutes ago. No words.'

The X account has a huge number of followers and claims to be the official account of the Nobel Prize winner. All the top news websites and publications fell prey to the death hoax and carried the news. It was then that the news reached Sen's daughter, who took to social media to explain that her father is as busy as ever and the family just spent a wonderful time with him. She also went on to add that Amartya Sen still teaches two courses a week at Harvard and also working on a Gender book.

Condolence messages flooded social media after the fake news about Amartya Sen spread like wildfire.
Netanyahu called up Modi to update him on the ongoing situation as Israel carries out retaliatory strikes against Hamas after its militants killed hundreds of Israelis in a surprise weekend attack across its southern border. (File Image: DC)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephonic conversation on Tuesday during which Modi expressed grief over the deaths due to the Hamas attack in Israel and assured it of all possible support.

"I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. The people of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Modi wrote on X.

Modi was among the first few world leaders to express solidarity with Israel immediately after news of the Hamas attack broke on Saturday.

Modi expressed his deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded, the PMO said in a statement, and highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel. Netanyahu assured him of his full cooperation and support.

About 18,000 Indians are in Israel as students, caregivers, professionals or tourists. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in Israel as the war between Hamas and the Israeli defence forces escalates.

Expressing concern over the plight of Indian nationals in Israel, Vijayan said about 7,000 of them are from Kerala and the continuing hostilities were putting them to extreme hardship and their family members were in a state of extreme anxiety. "I request your good self to intervene in every possible manner to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel," Vijayan said in his letter dated October 9.

A Kerala-based woman working as a caregiver in Israel was also seriously injured in the Hamas attack and is hospitalised.

Palestinian ambassador to India Adnan Abu Alhaija said that India, being a friend of both Israel and Palestine, is in a better position to negotiate peace and defuse the crisis. Alhaija said India can get in touch with European countries, the United States and West Asia nations to build "pressure" on the Israelis to work towards peace, which, he said, it was refusing to do so far.

The ambassador noted that India has been supportive of the Palestinian cause. "India is a very important country. I think (India) can lead in this matter India can play a good role," he said. To a question whether he was pitching for India to play the role of a mediator, he responded: "(I) hope so."

Asked if he had conveyed this to the Indian government or to the external affairs ministry, Alhaija said he had asked for it around two years ago.

Calling for a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, Alhaija said the current hostilities may end after some time, but it may recur in the absence of a resolution of the long-pending issue.
Representational Image

In response to Hamas' aggressive actions, which include both physical attacks and cyber warfare, Indian hackers have taken up the task of defending Israel's digital infrastructure. The conflict has already claimed the lives of over 700 people and has left hundreds in captivity.

Hamas, known for its multifaceted approach, has not limited its assault to traditional warfare. The group has also deployed skilled hackers to infiltrate Israel's defense systems, with the intent of disrupting the Iron Dome, a crucial element of Israel's national security.

As these hackers attempted to breach Israeli government and defense websites, a message appeared on screens: "We are currently targeting some critical endpoints in the alert system of Israel, which may affect the Iron Dome. Glory to the Palestinian Resistance, we are with you!"

In response to these cyber threats, Indian hacking groups mobilized to safeguard Israel's systems and vital digital assets. Their efforts began with the takedown of the Palestinian National Bank and the National Telecommunications Company. Subsequently, Indian hackers targeted Hamas directly by disabling their official website.

This digital conflict adds a new dimension to the ongoing hostilities. Israel, a nation well-prepared in terms of cybersecurity, now finds itself battling not only on the ground but also in the cyber realm.

The violence escalated when Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, simultaneously firing 5000 rockets into the country. The terror group also infiltrated Israeli territory, perpetrating point-blank shootings against residents and innocent civilians, resulting in a tragic death toll of 70 in just the first few hours of the assault.

As the Israel-Palestine conflict continues to evolve, India's cyber support for Israel underscores the significance of cybersecurity in modern warfare and the global implications of this enduring and complex conflict.
Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new stake in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund acquired 6,866 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $449,000.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Field & Main Bank grew its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 42.3% in the 1st quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 673 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. grew its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 127.1% in the 1st quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 679 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 380 shares during the period. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC grew its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 93.9% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 793 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 384 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.54% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Ingersoll Rand news, CFO Vikram Kini sold 169,153 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.43, for a total transaction of $11,744,292.79. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 47,917 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,326,877.31. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.83% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Ingersoll Rand Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:IR opened at $64.10 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $66.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.60. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 12 month low of $43.57 and a 12 month high of $70.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 1.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.44.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The industrial products company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.11. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 10.89% and a return on equity of 11.20%. The firm had revenue of $1.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.58 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 2.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 22nd. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.12%. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is currently 4.65%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on IR shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $61.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $66.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Cfra increased their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ingersoll Rand presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $69.09.

View Our Latest Research Report on Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand Company Profile

(Free Report)

Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle, and medical technologies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies.

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Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) by 88.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 19,686 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,246 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $936,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 1.9% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 68,234,306 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,700,032,000 after acquiring an additional 1,267,578 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 2.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 21,652,643 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $756,110,000 after acquiring an additional 579,727 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 30.4% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 14,779,351 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $516,095,000 after acquiring an additional 3,445,953 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 2.7% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,168,804 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $459,144,000 after acquiring an additional 351,286 shares during the period. Finally, GMT Capital Corp boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 15.3% in the first quarter. GMT Capital Corp now owns 6,228,200 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $217,489,000 after acquiring an additional 828,600 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.29% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Michael P. Huerta sold 3,350 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.43, for a total transaction of $162,240.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 27,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,330,129.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, Director Michael P. Huerta sold 3,350 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.43, for a total transaction of $162,240.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 27,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,330,129.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Steven M. Sear sold 12,129 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.52, for a total value of $552,112.08. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 85,708 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,901,428.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 40,479 shares of company stock valued at $1,839,353. 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on DAL shares. Susquehanna upped their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Delta Air Lines from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Delta Air Lines from $70.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Delta Air Lines from a c rating to a b rating in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $55.00.

View Our Latest Research Report on Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines Trading Down 4.7 %

Shares of DAL stock opened at $35.27 on Tuesday. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 1 year low of $28.21 and a 1 year high of $49.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 0.46 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $40.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.72. The company has a market cap of $22.69 billion, a PE ratio of 7.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.32.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 13th. The transportation company reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $15.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.44 billion. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 59.56% and a net margin of 5.36%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.44 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Delta Air Lines Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.13%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is 8.62%.

Delta Air Lines Profile

(Free Report)

Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon.

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In a stunning turn of events, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, aged 29, was arrested on federal felony charges upon his arrival from a three-year sojourn in Hong Kong. Schmidt stands accused of offering classified national defense information to the Chinese government. The allegations have sent shockwaves through the intelligence and defense communities, raising concerns about national security.

Schmidts journey into espionage began shortly after his separation from the military. Court documents suggest that he had access to top-secret information related to China, which he offered to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and Chinese security services. Schmidt had traveled to Hong Kong in March 2020 and primarily resided there until his recent return to the United States.

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Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington expressed her concern: Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution. In that context, the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking  not only attempting to provide national defense information but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks.

The charges against Schmidt include attempting to deliver national defense information and retaining national defense information, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each offense. It is important to note that Schmidt is the sole individual charged in this indictment, and there are no related indictments against anyone else.

During his military service from January 2015 to January 2020, Schmidt was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. He was pivotal in supervising human intelligence reporting, analysis, and products directly related to the Indo-Pacific Command, the Department of Defenses combatant command responsible for the Pacific and Indian Ocean region, including China.

Schmidts access to Top Secret information, capable of causing exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization, raised alarm among investigators.

The affidavit filed by Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brandon Tower revealed that Schmidt had previously expressed an interest in Chinese culture and had visited China during his active duty, taking personal leave in 2017. In February 2020, shortly after transitioning to inactive duty status, he conducted internet searches related to extradition and treason, indicating a potential shift in his intentions.

Court documents also pointed to an email Schmidt allegedly sent to the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul on February 24, 2020. The email mentioned his current top-secret clearance and expressed a desire to share information with the government. Additionally, Schmidt created a Word document titled Important Information to Share with Chinese Government.

While it remains unclear whether China received the information Schmidt attempted to transmit, these allegations underscore the seriousness of the charges against him.

Schmidts arrest took place as he arrived in San Francisco from Hong Kong. The FBI is currently investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.

This incident bears similarities to other recent cases involving U.S. military personnel accused of compromising national security. In April, Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was arrested for allegedly leaking classified U.S. intelligence documents online, facing charges of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas trimmed its stake in shares of Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI  Free Report) by 23.4% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 7,086 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 2,170 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in Herc were worth $970,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in HRI. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of Herc by 60.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 10,319 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 3,904 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Herc by 90.9% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 315 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in Herc by 52.6% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 13,202 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,206,000 after acquiring an additional 4,549 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Herc by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 28,368 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,740,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the period. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. acquired a new stake in Herc in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,238,000. 93.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on HRI. Bank of America cut Herc from a buy rating to an underperform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $150.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Friday, July 21st. StockNews.com began coverage on Herc in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. KeyCorp raised their target price on Herc from $150.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Herc from $105.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Herc has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $151.80.

Herc Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HRI opened at $110.06 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $124.98 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $119.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.27, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market cap of $3.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.51, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 2.53. Herc Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.97 and a 1 year high of $162.46.

Herc (NYSE:HRI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The transportation company reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.11 by ($0.42). The firm had revenue of $802.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $811.48 million. Herc had a net margin of 11.14% and a return on equity of 32.16%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 25.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Herc Holdings Inc. will post 12.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Herc Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a dividend of $0.632 per share. This represents a $2.53 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. Hercs dividend payout ratio is presently 21.87%.

Insider Transactions at Herc

In other news, CEO Lawrence Harris Silber sold 3,054 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.94, for a total transaction of $393,782.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 221,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $28,619,006.64. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Herc Company Profile

(Free Report)

Herc Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental supplier. It rents aerial, earthmoving, material handling, trucks and trailers, air compressors, compaction, and lighting equipment, as well as generators, and safety supplies and expendables; and provides ProSolutions, an industry specific solution based services, such as pumping solutions, power generation, climate control, remediation and restoration, and studio and production equipment.

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E&G Advisors LP lessened its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 32,527 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 500 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. comprises approximately 1.7% of E&G Advisors LPs portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. E&G Advisors LPs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $4,731,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in JPM. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 97,681.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 2,056,747,063 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $299,133,293,000 after acquiring an additional 2,054,643,659 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,141,876,000 after acquiring an additional 97,907,897 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 4th quarter valued at $3,894,646,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 71.0% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 30,484,094 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,087,917,000 after acquiring an additional 12,654,947 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,918,506,000 after acquiring an additional 8,088,433 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Atlantic Securities upped their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Oppenheimer cut their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $219.00 to $215.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $160.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Barclays increased their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $179.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Sunday, July 16th. Finally, Societe Generale downgraded JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $168.26.

Insider Activity at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In related news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 4,310 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.16, for a total value of $677,359.60. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 57,735 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,073,632.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Down 0.2 %

JPM stock opened at $144.77 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $148.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $143.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52-week low of $101.28 and a 52-week high of $159.38. The firm has a market cap of $420.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.32, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.10.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $4.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $0.75. The firm had revenue of $42.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $38.66 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 23.45% and a return on equity of 17.29%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s quarterly revenue was up 34.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.76 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Investors of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This is a positive change from JPMorgan Chase & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.90%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.03%.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services to consumers and small businesses; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services.

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Cypress Wealth Services LLC lifted its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 14.5% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 9,864 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLCs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $1,513,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 97,681.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 2,056,747,063 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $299,133,293,000 after purchasing an additional 2,054,643,659 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,141,876,000 after purchasing an additional 97,907,897 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,918,506,000 after purchasing an additional 8,088,433 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,310,456 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,801,125,000 after purchasing an additional 1,061,831 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 32,769,523 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,270,198,000 after purchasing an additional 2,285,429 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

JPM has been the subject of several research reports. Wolfe Research upgraded JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $170.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, July 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $158.00 to $168.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $149.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $168.26.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:JPM opened at $144.77 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The stocks fifty day moving average is $148.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $143.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52 week low of $101.28 and a 52 week high of $159.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $420.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.10.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $4.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $0.75. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.29% and a net margin of 23.45%. The company had revenue of $42.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $38.66 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.76 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 34.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.68 EPS for the current year.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a dividend of $1.05 per share. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.90%. This is a boost from JPMorgan Chase & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio is 27.03%.

Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In other news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 4,310 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.86, for a total transaction of $624,346.60. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 53,425 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,739,145.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services to consumers and small businesses; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services.

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Teacher Retirement System of Texas trimmed its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG  Free Report) by 76.3% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 36,619 shares of the banks stock after selling 117,733 shares during the quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in Citizens Financial Group were worth $955,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 155.2% during the 1st quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 809 shares of the banks stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 492 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Clear Street Markets LLC raised its holdings in Citizens Financial Group by 93.6% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 964 shares of the banks stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the period. Finally, Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. 92.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on CFG shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Citizens Financial Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Citizens Financial Group from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $35.00 price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Citizens Financial Group from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered Citizens Financial Group from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and cut their price target for the stock from $32.00 to $29.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $34.94.

Citizens Financial Group Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of Citizens Financial Group stock opened at $26.34 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $12.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.99 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $27.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $28.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $23.37 and a twelve month high of $44.82.

Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The bank reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.00 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.09 billion. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 10.68% and a net margin of 20.41%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.14 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Citizens Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 2nd were given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 1st. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.38%. Citizens Financial Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 38.18%.

About Citizens Financial Group

(Free Report)

Citizens Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking.

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A local MLA is sponsoring an event in Stormont to mark World Mental Health Day.

World Mental Health Day is today (Tuesday) and the New Script for Mental Health event, sponsored by Mark H Durkan MLA was held in Room 115, Parliament Buildings, from 11.00am to 12.30pm.

The findings of a community consultation aimed at fostering crucial dialogue around mental health, was launched at the event.

The consultation, undertaken by Participation and Practice of Rights, hopes to ignite discussions about mental health and collectively construct a new narrative, especially as the number of suicides in the North continues to rise.

Participation and Practice of Rights is a human rights network mobilising for "change that matters".

The New Script for Mental Health campaign is titled: Choice, Connection and Community and seeks to explore innovative approaches to mental health.

More than 100 individuals actively participated in face to face and online workshops during the consultation process. The diverse group included individuals with lived experience, service users, family members, staff in mental health services and asylum seekers, all sharing their vision for a transformative approach to mental health.

Key themes emerging from the findings advocate for a reform of mental health services, providing individuals with a broader spectrum of options, promoting both individual and collective empowerment, and addressing underlying causes of emotional pain and distress.

Among the recommendations, there was a strong emphasis on prioritising talking therapies as the foundation of a mental health framework, with those who participated in the consultation also calling for early intervention, immediate access to counselling, and help for children and young people to be delivered in a timely manner.

Calls were also made for referrals that involve person to person contact, moving beyond letters or phone calls.

Additional funding for community and voluntary sector and providing peer support in local communities is deemed crucial.

Access to creativity, arts and community based initiatives would enable local people to support each other.

The proposals include the establishment of community networks, alternatives to emergency rooms for addressing emotional distress and rehabilitation services, and offering people the opportunity to experience good mental health instead of fighting bad mental health.

Those who participated in the consultation also suggested that allowing asylum seekers to work would be beneficial to their mental health and provide the ability to access services to live with dignity.

Mary Gould, a midwife from Ballymena, who tragically lost her son Conall at the age of 21, is dedicated to advocating for a new approach to mental health services.

Speaking at the event, Mary said: My sons life was cut short due to the inadequacies of our mental health services.

West Belfast single parent Deirdre McCausland is a survivor of domestic violence.

She said: Im stressed living in poverty and the punitive social security system creates added stress and trauma. I have to fight for appropriate and timely mental health services for both myself and my son.

Kirston Scott from Ballyclare lost her 18 year old son William to an accidental drug related death.

She said: Ten years ago when I lost William I was failed by mental health services and the education system. I am campaigning for changes in mental health services so no other mother has to endure what I have. I am saddened people are still going through this; it hasnt changed, just gotten worse.

Sara Boyce, Organiser with New Script for Mental Health said: "From the UN and the WHO at the global level, to people in local communities everywhere, there is a growing movement to move beyond the now outdated medicalised model of mental health and to stop focusing on chemical imbalances and start focusing on power imbalances.

"The results of New Scripts community consultation show that both people using mental health services, and those working in these services, together have solutions to the current crisis, solutions that put connection and choice at the centre. We look forward to MLAs getting involved in this conversation and helping create a #newscript for mental health."

For more information on New Script for Mental Health campaign, visit: www.nlb.ie/campaigns/mental-health.

Follow the conversation on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/pprproject, https://www.instagram.com/nooneleftbehind_ppr, https://twitter.com/PPR_Org
Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, situated in the heart of Derrys Brandywell is celebrating a milestone birthday.

The Irish Medium primary school, which is 25 years old this year, marked the occasion with a reception in the Mayors Parlour in the Guildhall.

Mayor Patricia Logue met staff and pupils from Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir and a great time was had by all.

Ag foghlaim trid an sugradh.

With sheer enthusiasm shining out of her, Priomhoide Mary Nic Ailin said she was very proud of the achievement. It makes me really happy, she said.

Speaking to Derry Now, Mary said: I have been at Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir now for 20 years and to see how far the school has come in those two decades, and from what I hear about the five years before that, the progress is amazing.

Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir started off with six pupils and we have nearly 200 now. I vividly remember coming in for my interview for the teaching post in June 2003. My daddy had brought me down. There were only four classrooms at the time. There was no playground. It was all gravel. I came out buzzing, thinking the place was amazing.

I loved the people who Id met when I came in. I just got a feeling for the place as soon as I came in. I remember getting into the car and thinking, I really hope I get that job.

I remember my daddy saying, Aye, that might be nice but I could tell he was thinking, Mary, four huts. What even is this place? laughed Mary, who added: You just got a good feeling about Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, even back then and I think it was the people.

On that occasion Mary had met the principal (Antoin de Brun) and vice principal (Risteard Mac Daibheid) and the governors.

Mary recalled: Donncha Mac Niallais was one of the governors. And I just remember the feeling I got from them about how important the school was to them and I felt I just wanted to be a part of it.

You could feel from them how much they wanted the school to grow and even that sense of community. I just felt there was extra in comparison to other schools, other English Medium schools.

I always say, in Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, the children and parents will get everything they would get in another school but you get extra.

I think as a staff member, it is the same. Everyone in an Irish Medium school, teachers, assistants, principals, the secretary, everyone does extra but they want to do it. And I think thats the difference.

In 2008, Mary became acting principal at Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir and from 2009 the school saw major developments.

We got the statutory nursery, said Mary. At that time, I remember going to Stormont with Martina Anderson. The Nursery was a huge development for us because it meant we had guaranteed 26 places in the nursery.

Sport agus ceol ag gach paiste - Every child has the opportunity to take part in music and sport on a weekly basis, after school activities every day, and a breakfast club from 8.15am daily.

Following on from that, we got our new multi-purpose hall. We then got extra classrooms because the numbers were growing. We also got our playground.

The school has just grown since then. We are now at the point where we are out growing this site.

We had a meeting with representatives of the Education Department during the summer, along with Bunscoil Cholmcille (at Steelstown) and Gaelscoil na Daroige (at Ballymagroarty) because all the gaelscoileanna are doing well. But in terms of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, there is nothing more we can do on this site.

We have everything you can have on this site, but we need a new school and the Education Department agreed. But, we need a government in place to fund it. We brought them to visit a possible site but, at the end of the day, until there is a government in place who can fund a news school, we are blocked at the minute.

Mary began her teaching career in Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir teaching Rang a Do.

I loved the time I spent as a teacher, she said. That is my love. I love being with the children and that is why I am here.

In terms of highlights over the years, I loved the dramas we have done, the shows, and the family days, occasions where you saw the pupils shine.

I love how staff all come together to support the children and to allow them to shine and to give them the opportunities to shine.

The last day of Rang a Seacht is always a really sad day but, in many ways, when you look back, and you have been part of the journey of those children since they were three or four years of age, it is a real privilege. And, as much as you are sad to see them move on, you are proud of them.

Mary also paid tribute to the late Donncha Mac Niallais.

Donncha was just there from the start. He was just the person who was there. We really, really miss him.

We had a parent too who was a really important part of the school, Jenni, her wee boys came here, Oscar and Altan. That was a difficult time. We have had other parents who passed away as well and that is hard.

Their loss does impact on you but you have to remember why they wanted their children to come to Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir and that gives you a wee feeling of how important it is to keep going and ensuring children have the opportunity to come here and it only gets better every year.

I would also like to thank everyone who is part of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, particularly the staff. We have a fabulous staff here and I couldnt do it without them, so a word of thanks to them.

My thanks also to Risteard and Tony (Antoin) who were here at the very beginning and Maura who is one of our teachers now, was also there at that stage. Thanks to them for taking that plunge at the time, taking a job in two huts up at the Sean Dolans ground because Im sure that was not easy, said Mary, who also thanked the Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir parents for trusting the school with their children.

We do regard that as a privilege, said Mary, to have these children in our care. Not only that, we have parents who were once pupils here are now bringing their own children here and that is great to see. It is testament to how great they felt about the school they wanted their own children to come here as well and I am delighted to see them back

Now it is a real privilege for me as a mammy now to be part of the school. I am really enjoying now seeing it from a mammys point of view.

I do genuinely love being here but I cant believe it is 20 years. I look forward to the future and I hope we get our new school as soon as possible.
Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust has said it is incorrect to describe the actions of Hamas as "unprovoked".

Speaking about the ongoing situation in Gaza, Trust chairperson Tony Doherty said the organisation was "opposed to all killing of civilians in acts of war, be it carried out by Hamas or the Israeli government".

Mr Doherty addded: "It is nonetheless incorrect to describe the actions of Hamas as unprovoked.

"We agree with the comments made by Mustafa Barghouti, of our partner organisation the Palestinian National Initiative, when he said: 'This situation that has evolved is a direct result of the continuation of the longest occupation in modern history, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land since 1967. 56 years of occupation that has transformed into a system of apartheid, a much worse apartheid than had prevailed in South Africa.'"

Tony Doherty said: "Israel has been waging a war against the Palestinian people for over seven decades through ethnic cleansing, occupation, apartheid and a brutal siege on Gaza.

"In the 15 years prior to last weekend almost 6500 Palestinians have been killed by Israel. In the same period just over 300 Israelis were killed (UN statistics).



"Since 2007, the people of Gaza have suffered under a complete blockade imposed by Israel, which is a collective punishment of its entire population. This ongoing blockade is destroying the lives of over two million Palestinians, many of whom are

living in extreme poverty with little access to clean water and about four hours electricity per day.



"Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have been forced to live under an apartheid regime which denies them even basic elements of freedom. The Israeli army is constantly raiding Palestinian cities and refugee camps, while their government gives

illegal settlers a free hand to seize more and more Palestinian land and property, protecting them as they kill or maim Palestinians trying to defend their homes.



"The Palestinian people have the right under international law to utilize armed resistance in the struggle for freedom and to defend themselves against Israeli aggression.

"The attacks this weekend by Hamas must be seen in light of this situation. While they were wrong, they were a reaction to the situation imposed on the entire Palestinian population by the Israeli government.



"The Israeli reaction to these attacks, which has seen the blanket bombardment of Gaza and the cutting off of all basic humanitarian supplies, is a gross act of injustice which should be taken to the International Criminal Court for judgement as a war crime. A so-called sovereign government, with access to a sophisticated modern army, has different responsibilities and must be made to adhere to them.



"There can be no military solution to Israels crisis with Gaza, nor to the resistance that naturally emerges as a response to violent apartheid.

"Any international response that that fails to acknowledge this reality is not merely hypocritical but serves to further dehumanise the Palestinian people and deny them the justice, peace, and equality that they are entitled to."We call on all governments with influence to work towards a just and lasting solution which will provide long-term peace, security and quality of life for Palestinians and Israelis by ending the ongoing injustices imposed on the Palestinian population.

"Those states who choose to make excuses for Israel, who continue to help them, who arm them, will find themselves on the wrong side of history when this injustice is finally properly recognised and condemned by all."
IT HAS been revealed that concerns are growing among Irish parents regarding the spread of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the upcoming winter season.

RSV, a common virus known to cause lower respiratory tract infections in children, has become a significant worry for parents, with 63% expressing concerns about their child contracting the virus. Its season typically spans from the beginning of October to late February.

The survey, commissioned by Sanofi, found 520 parents in Ireland aimed to assess their awareness and understanding of RSV. While 79% of parents had heard of RSV, the study revealed a lack of knowledge about the disease. Only 22% of parents reported having a good understanding of RSV, compared to other common childhood illnesses such as the common cold (74%), influenza (52%), and pneumonia (38%).

RSV, which primarily affects children under 2 years of age, is known to be the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in babies. It is highly contagious, with approximately 90% of children being infected by the age of two. Several factors, including cigarette smoke exposure, overcrowding, and lack of breastfeeding, are believed to increase the frequency and severity of RSV infections.

It was found that the 2022 RSV season deviated from the norm, likely due to COVID-19 social distancing measures and lockdowns, resulting in fewer exposures to typical childhood viruses. This year, the RSV season started earlier, leading to a noticeable increase in hospital admissions.

Professor Roy Philip, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician at UL Hospitals Limerick, noted that RSV often presents with mild symptoms similar to a common cold but can escalate to lower respiratory tract problems like bronchiolitis or pneumonia in infants. He urged parents to be vigilant and consult a doctor if they notice rapid breathing, reduced feeding, prolonged periods without wet nappies, or persistent high fever.

Mandy Daly, Director of Advocacy and Policy Making at the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance (INHA), highlighted the vulnerability of preterm infants to severe RSV infections, while Dr Maire Finn, a GP at The Ennis Family Medical Centre, advised practical measures to prevent the spread of RSV, emphasising the importance of frequent handwashing, good cough etiquette, and isolating symptomatic family members.

As a precautionary measure, the HSE recommends frequent handwashing, coughing into one's sleeve, and isolating symptomatic individuals to protect infants from RSV.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact a healthcare professional if they have concerns about RSV symptoms in their children and to dial 999 for an ambulance if their child experiences difficulty breathing or prolonged pauses in breathing.

For the latest guidance on respiratory tract infections, visit the HSE website.
HIGHLIGHTS Samsung has released a new video on YouTube to support Google's #GetTheMessage campaign.

This campaign urges Apple to embrace RCS (Rich Communication Services).

In the video's description, Samsung wrote, Dont let Apple cost you love. #GetTheMessage.

Samsung has released a new video on YouTube in order to support Googles #GetTheMessage campaign. This campaign urges Apple to embrace RCS (Rich Communication Services), a cross-platform protocol considered a potential successor to SMS. RCS incorporates various features found in modern messaging apps, including Apples iMessage.

The video, titled Green bubbles and blue bubbles want to be together, portrays a Romeo and Juliet-style conversation between two users who want to be together but are kept apart by one of their parents, reports The Verge.

Also read: Google urges Apple to adopt RCS and fix texting through a new campaign

What did green ever do to them? Were bubbles too, one of them asks.

Also read: Apple plans to go big with its search engine Pegasus: Report

The bubbles refer to the way Apples iMessage shows fancy blue bubbles for messages between iPhone users and plain green bubbles for messages when Android users are involved. This can be irritating when many people use iPhones and others use Android phones, as it creates a difference in the messaging experience.

In the videos description, Samsung wrote, Dont let Apple cost you love. #GetTheMessage.

For those who are unaware, Google had kicked off a publicity campaign last year to pressure Apple into adopting RCS.

What is RCS messaging

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a communication protocol designed to enhance and replace the traditional SMS (Short Message Service) messaging system that has been a standard feature on mobile phones for many years. RCS aims to provide a more feature-rich and interactive messaging experience.

Its important to note that RCS is not a standalone messaging app but rather a protocol that needs to be supported by both the senders and recipients mobile devices and messaging apps. Some popular messaging apps, like Google Messages, have integrated RCS support to enhance the messaging experience for users.
HIGHLIGHTS The iPad Air M1 is currently available on Amazon at a discounted price of 48,998.

Amazon has also given away an exchange offer that promises a discount of up to 45,000.

Here are some more tablets on Amazon, which have received a good amount of discount during the Great Indian Festival Sale.

Apple announced the iPad Air 5th Generation last year in March. This tablet comes with Apples M1 chip, which is quite a powerful chipset for the tablet. The M1 chip uses 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine that helps in running up to 11 trillion operations per second. However, this power-loaded tablet is currently available on Amazon during the Great Indian Festival Sale at a much-discounted price. Heres how.

Apple iPad Air M1 in Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale

The iPad Air M1 is currently available on Amazon at a discounted price of 48,998. Amazon has offered a total of 10,902 off on the tablet as a sale discount. But wait, theres more. The e-commerce platform is also offering a bank offer that promises a discount of 1,250. You can avail of this bank offer by using SBI Credit Card. You can grab the iPad Air M1 from Amazon for just 47,748.

Not just that, Amazon has also given away an exchange offer that promises a discount of up to 45,000. So if you have an old smartphone or tablet, you can use in trade-in offer to get more discount on the iPad Air M1.

Grab the tablet from Amazon as it might not stay at the same price for a long time. Buy iPad Air M1

More tablets in Great Indian Festival Sale to consider

Here are some more tablets on Amazon, which have received a good amount of discount during the Great Indian Festival Sale. Check them out.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is available on Amazon at a price of 48,999. However, the e-commerce platform is offering a 6000 bank discount on SBI Credit Card. Buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Xiaomi Pad 6

The Xiaomi Pad 6 can be bought from Amazon at a discounted price of 24,748. You can buy it at this price by applying a 1,250 bank discount on SBI Credit Card. Amazon has listed the tablet at a price of 25,998. Buy Xiaomi Pad 6

If you are still not sure what tablet you want to buy, heres another story that can help you out:

Read for more tablet deals: 5 attractive tablet deals in Amazon Great Indian Festival 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Microsoft is reportedly planning to debut its first AI chip next month.

This move is likely aimed at reducing the dependence on Nvidia's GPU chips.

This chip will likely compete with NVIDIAs flagship H100 GPU.

Microsoft is reportedly planning to debut its first AI chip in the coming month. This strategic move is likely aimed at reducing the tech giants dependence on Nvidias GPU chips.

According to a report by Gizmochina, Microsoft is expected to unveil its first AI chip next month in a bid to reduce the companys dependence on Nvidias GPU chips, which are in high demand and have been in short supply.

Also read: Microsoft says dont worry, it will protect Copilot AI users from copyright lawsuits

This news was first reported by The Information. Microsofts AI chip, which is codenamed Athena, is designed for data centre servers. This chip will likely compete with NVIDIAs flagship H100 GPU, which Microsoft and other cloud companies use to run large language models (LLMs) and other AI applications.

Also read: Microsoft Translator gets updated with new Indian languages: Here are all of them

The new AI chip is expected to be announced at Microsofts Ignite conference which is scheduled to take place from November 14 to November 17.

Athenas creation coincides with a rising need for AI chips. LLMs, in particular, need significant computing power for training and usage. This high demand for AI chips has led to a scarcity, causing prices to increase.

Meanwhile, Microsoft-backed OpenAI is also reportedly considering the idea of creating its own AI chips. The companys goal is to decrease its dependence on chipmakers like Nvidia for these chips. This might also help Microsoft to cut costs and enhance the performance of its cloud services.

Last month, Microsoft addressed the concerns about copyright issues related to its AI-powered Copilot services with a new commitment. The commitment assures customers that they can use Copilot and its output without worrying about copyright claims. If any legal challenges arise, the tech giant will take responsibility for the potential legal risks involved. This step aims to provide clarity and confidence to users in the ever-evolving landscape of AI tools and creativity.
US grants Samsung and SK Hynix indefinite waiver on chip gear supplies to China; TSMC waiting

The United States has decided to allow exports of its semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix factories in China without a separate approval process, clearing uncertainties over their chip production in China, which partly relies on US equipment, reported Yonhap News Agency on October 9.

TSMC's one-year waiver is going to expire on October 13. Since the two South Korean semiconductor plants have received an indefinite waiver, TSMC should also be able to get the same treatment, if there is no surprise.

The report quotes a statement from the presidential office of South Korea that the US government has already notified the two South Korean companies of its decision, which takes effect immediately. During a briefing, Choi Sang-mok, South Korea's senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, said the most significant trade issue of South Korean semiconductor companies has been resolved.

Samsung and SK Hynix's factories in China are designated by the US government as "verified end users (VEU)," which do not need to apply for licenses from the Department of Commerce to let US exporters ship designated items.

Reuters calls the move "a much-needed relief to the Korean chipmakers". Samsung produces about 40% of its NAND flash memory in its Xi'an plant, while SK Hynix produces 40% of its DRAM wafers in Wuxi of Jiangsu Province and 20% of its NAND flash memory in its Dalian plant.

SK Hynix said in a statement that it welcomes the US government's decision to extend the waiver of export control regulations. The company believes that this decision will contribute to the stabilization of the global semiconductor supply chain.

Meanwhile, Samsung responded that through close coordination with the relevant governments, the uncertainty surrounding the operation of Samsung's semiconductor production lines in China has been greatly eliminated. Samsung promises to continue to work closely with all relevant governments to maintain a stable supply chain for the global semiconductor industry.

In October 2022, the US government launched the most comprehensive export control measures in history. In addition to directly cutting off China's semiconductor manufacturers from access to specific US wafer technologies and equipment, Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC were also subject to US Department of Commerce control measures, and were granted a one-year waiver.

It is important to note that, since the latest guardrail final rule of the CHIPS Act has limited subsidy recipients' China production line expansion for advanced processing nodes under 5% and mature nodes under 10% over a 10-year period, their operations in China will remain under extreme limitations, and thus will not be able to upgrade to advanced technologies in tandem with their fabs in other regions.

This demonstrates the "small yard, high wall" approach of the Biden Administration to control the semiconductor development in certain regions is still intact.
PSNI officers investigating an attempted murder in Crossmaglen on Monday 4 September 2023 have issued an appeal for information.

Five arrests have been made to date, with all arrested persons bailed to allow for further enquiries.

The victim, a man aged in his 30s, was shot just after 6.10am as he sat inside his car, a silver coloured Volkswagen Passat, in the Ballsmill Road area.

The attack took place early on a Monday morning, 4th September, just after 6.10am. Although this is a rural area, its also a road well used by motorists for their morning journey to work, linking with onward routes to both Dublin and Belfast.

Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who noticed a dark coloured Hyundai Tuscan believed to have been in the vicinity of the Ballsmill Road area.

Anyone who can help to identify this vehicle, has information regarding its movements on the day of the incident or has dash-cam footage is asked to contact detectives on 0044 289065 0222 quoting reference number 253 of 04/09/23.

Alternatively, information can be provided online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org


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In 2022, 3,500 people, and 1,060 businesses participated in upskilling with a Skillnet Ireland Business Network in counties Louth and Meath.

Figures from Skillnet Ireland reveal the national agency for workforce development delivered 22,700 training days across both counties last year. 55% of those who undertook training were women and 45% were men, while those aged 30 to 39 years were the largest group of people availing of upskilling supports.

The vast majority (95%) of the 1,060 Louth and Meath companies that upskilled their workforce with Skillnet Ireland in 2022 were small and medium enterprises.

The greatest uptake came from the Food & Drink sector followed by Health, Services, Retail, Manufacturing, Financial Services and Agriculture. Companies based in Louth and Meath undertook upskilling programmes with 65 Skillnet Business Networks, including M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet.

The Skillnet Ireland Annual Report, for 2022 found that nationwide, upskilling and training programmes to the value of 70.2 million, were provided to almost 25,000 businesses and over 92,000 workers across the Irish economy and the regions.

Companies contributed 26.5 million or 37% of the total investment towards upskilling their staff, a 4 million increase on 2021, signalling a high level of buy-in from industry sectors to develop their teams in partnership with Skillnet Ireland.

Skillnet Ireland provides programmes to business of all sizes across all regions in key areas such as digital skills and skills for a green transition.

Every business, large or small, is facing challenges, from the need for digital advancement, to talent shortages and skills gaps. In this, the EU Year of Skills, which runs until May 2024, Skillnet Ireland, the national talent development agency, is making substantial progress in futureproofing businesses in Louth and Meath, as well as enhancing the specialist skills of the Irish workforce through talent development.

Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive, Paul Healy said, As a knowledge-based economy nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness.

"Skillnet Irelands approach is based on flexibility, working with companies to respond to new industry trends in a fast and targeted way. We look forward to growing our partnerships with industry, higher education and State agencies in 2023.

Skillnet Irelands Director of Business Networks, Dave Flynn said, In this European Year of Skills we are making substantial progress in futureproofing Irish business through skills development so employers fully capitalise on the opportunities presented by technological innovation, digitalisation and the green transition.

"As the talent development agency, Skillnet Ireland will expand our engagement with companies to ensure they have the talent to meet these challenges and more.
Realt na Mara National School in Dundalk says that they are delighted to welcome Illana to our school community. Illana is a five year old black lab/retriever cross trained by the Irish Guide Dogs, Cork.

After a process of interview, on-site training in Cork and a facility check the school says it was given Illana at the end of June.

The school's three dog handlers are Mrs Clune, Mrs Shields and Mr Byrne and Illana lives with Mrs Shields in Carlingford outside school time.

A spokesperson for the school told the Dundalk Democrat that: Illana is such a wonderful addition to our school.

She is currently involved in grooming sessions, fetch and retrieve games and just loves to go for local walks with our classes to the park.

She was also part of our school assemblies last week and won Canine of the Month for September! Something tells me she is going to win this every month!!

Sincere thanks to Eimear from the Irish Guide Dogs for all her help and support throughout the process. We are delighted to have been chosen to give Illana her new home and look forward to sharing lots of great times with her in the years ahead.
Pensioner Patricia OMahony has said she feels a TD would laugh at the idea of receiving the same weekly increase offered to her in the Budget.

The 71-year-old from Renmore, Co Galway, said she was hoping for at least twice the 12 euro increase which is promised from next year.

She added: Im not happy. I firmly believe from my own situation, and from lots of other people, that 12 euro is not enough.

If I went up to Dail Eireann and handed 12 euro to a TD, what would they do with it? Start laughing.

Ms OMahony also expressed disappointment that the increase will not begin until January as she is experiencing cost-of-living related pressures.

She said: Im in a wheelchair, Im living in a bungalow with storage heating and I didnt realise how expensive it would be. That was over a year ago and I ended up with ESB bills of over 1,000 euro that Im still trying to pay.

Ms OMahony, a former nurse who suffered two major strokes and has COPD, said she is also crucified with the high cost of medication.

She added: I just feel absolutely desolate at this stage and I dont think its right.

Ms OMahony said a 200 euro lump sum payment in winter 2023 for those living alone will help, but noted that the core allowance had not increased.

That will be a help but its a once-off thing that will help for that particular month but Im back to square one again then after that, she added.

A spokeswoman for the AgeAction advocacy group said the core rate of the pension would need to be increased by a further 19 euro to have the same spending power as 2020.

The group was further critical that, outside of the once-off payment of 200 euro for older people living alone, this is the second year in a row that the core Living Alone Allowance has not been increased.

The said: One in three older people living alone is at risk of poverty, nearly two thirds more since 2020, so it is a real concern that the Living Alone supplement was not increased in this budget.
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A THIRD sculpture has been unveiled in Cork City as part of the exciting new Island City, Corks Urban Sculpture Trail.

The artwork Face Cup by artist Fiona Mulholland sits on the facade of the historic Exchange Building on the corner of Princes Street and Oliver Plunkett St.

It is part of a unique cultural trail of five contemporary sculptures that are being installed around Cork City this year to encourage locals and visitors to explore new areas of the city and bring art to life on the streets.

The artwork of large-scale sculptural reliefs is based on a collection of exceptional Bronze Age ceramic artefacts  a small clay cup decorated with eyes, nose, ears and feet, another pottery vessel with ears and a spoon dating approximately 3800 years old.

The original artefacts were excavated by archaeologists working on the site of the N8/N73 Mitchelstown Relief Road in 2004, who have assisted Fiona with ensuring accuracy for the project.

Artist Fiona Mulholland said, The Exchange Building is such a unique canvas to work on, the three tiers of coursing along the facade reminded me of an Irish dresser and I wanted to pay testament to the rich history of home and hospitality in the building and the surrounding area, to bring history to life and create a museum for an outdoor space.

Fiona Mullholland, Artist speaking with Ken Hanley, Archaeologist, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Chris McKibbon, Failte Ireland and Michelle Carew, Arts Officer Cork City Council about her sculpture for Princes Street, Cork City. Titled The Face Cup. Face Cup is the third of five contemporary sculptures that are being installed in Cork City this year. Picture: Clare Keogh

The Face Cup is a curious anthropomorphic cup. It is a rendering of a human face, which was found with a ceramic spoon, and two other vessels. These wonderful artefacts form the basis of the artwork and are rendered three-dimensionally onto the facade of the building.

She said that she was inspired by the remarkable archaeological finds that were discovered in Mitchelstown, and that they reminded her of the exchanges that we have over tea, and a nod to the buildings name and the streets hospitality culture.

It was challenging to create a 3D sculpture on the side of a building but I had great support from the archaeologists who made the discovery and some talented craftspeople.

I hope that this stops people and they ask what it is. Hopefully, they will see it as a nod to the citys history but with some humour!

Commenting on the unveiling of the sculpture, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, said, The Exchange Building is a significant historic building that informs an important part of our city centres character and streetscape  its a real delight to see the building take on a new role as host to this beautifully crafted artwork and highlighting the Cork regions rich prehistoric past.

Ken Hanley is a Project Archaeologist who oversaw the N8/N73 Mitchelstown Relief Road excavation where the original Face Cup was first discovered.

He said, Its fantastic to see history being brought to life through art like this. The original Face Cup find, dating to the Early Bronze Age, approximately 3800 years old, was truly exceptional in Ireland and virtually unique in Western Europe.

Recreating this invaluable piece of history in a modern format will ensure that our history is honoured in the everyday life of the city.

The Island City, Corks Urban Sculpture Trail is a project by Cork City Council and is funded by Failte Ireland under the Urban Animation Scheme, with commissioning support by National Sculpture Factory.

Michelle Carew, Arts Officer, Cork City Council, said, We are thrilled to see the third sculpture of Island City  Cork Citys Urban Sculpture Trail, installed on one of the busiest pedestrianised streets in Cork.

We look forward to unveiling the final two sculptures on the trail later this year.
BALLINCOLLIG had a big win at this years SuperValu TidyTowns, and was awarded Irelands Tidiest Large Urban Centre, with a prize of 5,000.

Ballincollig also achieved its 11th gold medal and won the County Award for Cork South.

Ballincollig Tidy Towns (BTT) chairperson Tom Butler told The Echo that the win was bittersweet for the volunteers, and was dedicated to BTT stalwart Tony Whelan, who passed away last November.

Tony was a fantastic friend of mine, and he was someone I would have been in touch with every day. Tony left a huge void in our organisation, and it is only right and proper that we dedicate this award to Tony, Mr Butler said.

For us, whats been important has been the work thats gone on 52 weeks of the year has been seen.

This award is for the whole community, and the effect that it has on everything, whether its on businesses, whether its on the price of houses in the area, or whether its just the pride in the area, that effect is just huge.

Picture shows Ian Allen, Managing Director of SuperValu ; Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD and the Ballincollig Tidy Town committee celebrating winning the Tidiest Large Urban Centre for 2023 at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards 2023. Pic:Naoise Culhane-no fee

Mr Butler added that the entire community had received a boost from its participation in the SuperValu TidyTowns.

Its phenomenal, theres huge pride in it, and thats a mark too of Ballincolligs great success as a town over the years.

If you look at our drone footage of Ballincollig, you can see the amount of green areas and trees planted, theres been a huge amount of foresight on the part of the council and the engineers and ourselves down through the years, Mr Butler said. And, as we say, now we are planting trees for our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.

Abbeyleix in Co. Laois was named Irelands Tidiest Town as well as Irelands Tidiest Small Town. Geashill, Co. Offaly was awarded Irelands Tidiest Village and Killarney, Co. Kerry was awarded Irelands Tidiest Large Town.
MEDICAL technology company, Boston Scientific has announced the purchase of the former Logitech building located within the IDA Business Park on Model Farm Road.

It says the acquisition will enhance Boston Scientifics operational capabilities and support the companys ongoing growth in the region.

The 45,000 sq ft building is situated a short walk from Boston Scientifics existing site within the IDA Business Park.

Since its establishment at the Model Farm Road site in 1997, Boston Scientific has experienced strong growth, doubling the workforce to more than 1,700 people in the last five years.

A spokesperson said that with due consideration to the companys focus on sustainability in its operations, it identified the opportunity to acquire the long-vacant Logitech building, which has remained unoccupied for two decades.

This move will enable Boston Scientific to consolidate specific processes into a single location and streamline operations.

The renovation project will focus primarily on reconfiguring the interior of the building with no alterations to the buildings height or shape, an approach which a spokesperson said, will ensure minimal disruption to the surrounding area while optimising the use of the existing structure.

A planning application will be submitted to Cork City Council in the coming months.
CORK City Council and Cork County Council paid out a combined total of more than 8.47m in public liability claims and the associated legal costs in 2022 it has been disclosed in a report of the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) on the performance of local authorities nationwide last year.

The NOAC report gives assessments of the performance of the countrys 31 local authorities across a range of indicators including the turn around time for social housing, the response time for fire crews to get to a fire scene, the amount of kilometres of local and regional roads resurfaced or resealed.

In the report issued at the end of last week, the Commission disclosed that Cork City Council had one of the highest per capita total cost for public liability claims of all the countrys local authorities.

The per person total of 18.58 well above the national average of 11.31 and was only behind County Louth where the per capita cost of public liability claims was 19.25 in 2022 and Dublin City Council which had a per capita cost of 23.48.

18.58 PER CITIZEN

When contacted to contacted by The Echo to confirm the total paid out in damages and legal costs in respect of public liability claims made last year, a Council spokesperson said: The total cost of claims settled in 2022 was 4,131,504.97.

The population of the City in 2022 was 222,333, which gives a per capita figure of 18.58.

The spokesperson confirmed that the majority of the claims were in respect of personal injuries and material damages, for instance the damage to cars caused by potholes.

The Echo also sought confirmation of the sum paid by the authority in respect of public liability claims in 2022 but there was no response from Cork County Council.

According to the NOAC report, the councils per person total was 12. The population of Cork County (excluding the citys population of 222,333) was 358,898. This means that the Council paid out approximately 4,341,876 in total for public liability claims and associated legal fees.

The NOAC was established in 2014 and this years report is the ninth Performance Indicator Report, in relation to its function of scrutinising local authority performance against relevant indicators.

This report has evolved since the first report in 2014 and this year NOAC is reporting on 44 indicators under 11 headings.

Cllr Oliver Moran of the Green Party said that it would be necessary to examine the origin of claims in order to start reducing them.

The Green Party group have asked in the past about the number of claims related to trees, for example, said Cllr Moran.

Prior to 2019, there were numerous calls to remove and cut back trees on the basis of supposed danger. In fact, just four claims were made in relation to trees in the five years before then.

One claim in 2014 and three in 2015.

He suggested that one cause of the claims might be faulty footpaths where, after after works on other matters such as laying pipes or cables, there had been poor reinstatement.

If that was the case, then those areas should be the target for focused investment in infrastructure under the city's charge."
Budget 2024 is to be announced today with Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe set to deliver the details in the Dail at lunchtime.

The total cost of Budget 2024 is around 6.4 billion, with taxation measures worth 1.1 billion of the total.

Mr McGrath indicated on Saturday that peoples standard of living would improve on the back of the budget, and said he hoped the measures would have their desired effect.

Increases in core welfare payments of 12 per week are expected to be announced.

Paddy OBrien, an advocate in Cork for older people, welcomed the reported rise in the State pension that is expected to be announced.

Mr OBrien, who is also the organiser of the long-running Over 60s Talent Competition, said some older people have been finding it difficult to exist from week to week.

He said this was the case, particularly with the rising cost of energy in recent years, and that a 12 increase in the State pension would be a help.

Of course, it would be great to get more but I think 12 would be acceptable, he said.

Mr OBrien said elderly people who are struggling the most to make ends meet are those who are solely reliant on the State Pension.

A high percentage of people have only got one pension and that creates more hardship.

It creates hardship, financial problems, for them.

They cant look after themselves on the money. Hopefully the Government will take that into consideration  I think they will, he said.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath said he believed "it will be a very good Budget focused primarily on helping households and businesses".

"The cost of living we know remains very high for many people.

"We'll do the very best we can to help with direct supports and payments and energy supports. There will also be, as you would expect, a huge focus on housing".
A woman, 40s, arrested in connection with the death of a man in Cork City on Sunday morning has been charged.

The male, aged in his 40s, was discovered unresponsive in a premises on the Kinsale Road.

He was taken to Cork University Hospital by Ambulance Services where he was later pronounced deceased.

She is expected to appear before a sitting of Cork City District Court this afternoon at 2pm.

A post-mortem examination was completed yesterday by State Pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster.

The results are not being released for operational reasons.
INVESTIGATIONS are ongoing in the US State Department in an effort to establish the identity of a 70-year-old man with an American accent in Cork Prison whose identity is unknown.

The unidentified man allegedly had passports in the names of two babies who died within three months of birth in 1952 and 1953.

Detective Garda Padraic Hanley of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation said today that the investigation into the mans identity was still ongoing through Interpol  the international police network which has 195 member countries.

Fingerprints are still being examined in different jurisdictions. In Ireland we have enquiries through the Residential Tenancy Borad, the ESB, VHI. Enquiries are ongoing internationally in relation to fingerprints still. A number of addresses in this jurisdiction that may or may not be linked to this gentleman (are being examined), Det. Garda Hanley said.

Cross-examined by defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, on the ongoing investigations internationally, the detective said, I know for a fact that investigations are still going on in the US at the moment. I know that through Interpol.

Judge Olann Kelleher acceded to the application by Sergeant Pat Lyons to remand the unknown accused in custody for a fortnight. The judge said he had to be satisfied that the prosecution was making reasonable efforts to progress the investigation and that as of now he was so satisfied.

The defendant is prosecuted under the name of Philip Frank Morris. He was remanded in custody until October 24.

We are at a loss as to who this person is. He has offered us no assistance whatsoever, the detective said previously One charge states that on September 11 this year at the passport office on South Mall, Cork, he provided information or documents which were false or misleading, in connection with a passport application.

There are two similar charges referring to an unknown date between September 12 and 25 2012 at the Passport Office on South Mall, Cork and the application for the issue of a passport, and one final, similar charge referring to a different date, June 7 2022.
A MAN in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of Tina Satchwell in 2017.

The investigation has now also been upgraded to a murder investigation. A residence in Grattan Street in the town of Youghal has been sealed off.

This evening a Garda spokesperson said: "Gardai in Midleton District have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the missing person report of Tina Satchwell from her home on Grattan Street, Youghal, Co. Cork since March, 2017.

"The investigation has been upgraded to Murder, and the investigation is being led from Midleton Garda Station.

"This afternoon, 10th October 2023, a male (50s) has been arrested on suspicion of murder and detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in Cork County A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to the family of Tina Satchwell.

"Investigating Gardai have sealed off a residence on Grattan Street in Youghal, Co. Cork and a technical examination has commenced.

"Gardai continue to appeal for any person who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Midleton Garda Station on (021) 462 1550, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666111 or any Garda Station."
A UKRAINIAN refugee accused of dangerous driving causing the death of a fellow Ukrainian man with whom she had been socialising in Cork was brought before the district court where gardai objected to bail saying she was a flight risk.

Detective Garda Gary Brennan charged 43-year-old Kseniia Vasylenko of Cork Airport hotel with dangerous driving in a Hyundai Alantra at Cork Airport causing the death of Andrii Nesterov, who was aged around 50, after 2am on Sunday morning, October 8.

He alleged that she was driving the Hyundai car owned by the deceased and that her driving was dangerous, resulting in his death.

After hearing evidence from both sides in the bail application, Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail saying that while there was a presumption for bail, the more serious the case the more serious the flight risk.

He remanded Ms Vasylenko in custody until October 18.

Applying for bail the accused said her husband was still in Ukraine working in IT and working with the resistance in this capacity. Describing her decision to leave her home she said her child was in Kindergarten and she was working with the local authority in central Ukraine. She now lives in Cork with her five-year-old son and her mother.

I did not want to leave my country. I love my country. I made the decision to come here to save my life and the life of my son. I came across Poland, Romania, Moldova, to Dublin City West to here. I have been in Cork since December 2022. I have been in the airport hotel in accommodation centre.

I can understand police are afraid I will flee because I am not a resident of Ireland. I can agree to everything to be home with my son. I promise I wont be leaving the country. I would do everything suggested to me to confirm I am not leaving the country. I have nowhere to go. I have no relatives who can accept us across Europe.

I love Ireland and Irish people. It is like Ukraine. They accept us like relatives. They love us, Ms Vasylenko testified.

She said that after the war in Ukraine she will be the first to return. But she said would stay in Ireland to face the charge of dangerous driving causing death. She added, I am not a criminal person. I want to be with my son if it is possible, she said, holding back tears.

Detective Garda Brennan said the objection to bail was based on the seriousness of the case and the prosecution belief that the defendant is a flight risk.

He said the incident was captured by dash-camera footage in the Hyundai.

I think there is a real possibility she would leave the jurisdiction if given bail, Det Garda Brennan said.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant left everything, including her husband, behind in the Ukraine to get to Ireland. I wont say it took an extraordinary effort but it took quite a significant effort  She is a person of very good character. She has no convictions. She tells me she worked with the local authority in an administrative capacity in central Ukraine, like someone working in City Council here. Then there was bombing in her home city and she managed to stay there until December or November last year, Mr Buttimer said.

The solicitor said that in the course of the war she took refugees from other parts of Ukraine into her home for relative safety.

Regarding the alleged offence of dangerous driving causing death, Mr Buttimer said, She knew the deceased. They were socialising together on the outskirts of Cork city, leading up to the death of this unfortunate man. The death is connected with alleged driving of the vehicle, of which he was the owner. He had been driving it himself shortly prior to whatever caused his death. There was socialising between them up to the time of his death. She is very aware of the seriousness of the circumstances. She has nowhere to go. She is a refugee in Ireland. She would not in any circumstances leave her mother and child behind her.
IT is unusual that the publication of by-laws would arouse emotion in anyone, but as I read Cork City Councils proposed Street Performer By-Laws, a wave of relief passed over me. Finally, an end to the city centres slow musical torture is in sight.

The draft text of the by-laws states: The sound produced at a distance in the immediate vicinity of Street Performer shall not exceed 75 decibels.

Hark!

The use of backing tracks is not permitted in any circumstances.

Amen.

A Member of An Garda Siochana has the power to direct a Performer to move from a non-specified area at any time.

Music to my sore ears.

My office is located just off Patrick Street and, on a regular, sometimes daily, basis I am subjected to a gig I have no desire to attend.

My working location is infiltrated by the sounds of a band 100 metres away blasting out folk and trad songs for two straight hours.

It is not the songs themselves or the quality of the performance I have a problem with, it is the volume.

The sheer volume of the bands amplifier means it is impossible to ignore them or tune them out. They demand attention, whether you are walking about town doing your jobs or sitting at your desk trying to do your job.

Requests to turn it down have been ignored multiple times. Pleas to the community gardai are met with sympathy and promises to have a word that are, again, ignored.

I am not the only one who finds it irritating. Nearby, demented businesses and residents text each other on extra loud days. I schedule Zoom calls outside the hours when the band is playing because it is hard to convey professionalism when it sounds like there is a pub lock-in happening in the background.

Summertime is particularly bad because we must keep the windows open in our garret office for fear of melting and then there is no escaping the noise.

I like music. I like buskers. I regularly donate to talented performers around the city. However, the buskers who play day-in, day-out at ear-throbbing volumes without regard for the businesses, residents, workers, and city regulars who have to continuously listen to the same ridiculously loud set-list need policing.

These regular buskers set up shop because they make money. Many people clearly appreciate their musical offering, but it is the unnecessary volume that is driving city centre locals nuts.

I also challenge the occasional passer-by, shopper or visiting tourist to listen to the exact same songs daily for a year or more, and see how enchanted with the performance they are then.

In a way, it is a shame that these by-laws have to come into effect, but if a handful of performers continue to disregard those who they share the city with, then rules have to be introduced.

Cork City Council are proposing the introduction of Street Performer Permits for 30 a year (without amplification) and 60 a year (with amplification). Busking will only be permitted at certain locations between 10am-10pm or 12noon-10pm. Some locations will not allow busking after 8pm. Fines of 1,500 can be issued for non-compliance.

The provision I am most excited about is limiting the volume of a performance to 75 decibels. That is the sound of a loud vacuum cleaner.

If someone is hoovering outside my building 100 metres away, I will not hear it, and I am hoping I will not hear the buskers once they are compelled t to turn their amps down from 11.

I hope these new rules make buskers realise that consideration for others will be an important X-factor.

Dr Katalin Kariko, pioneer of Covid-19 vaccine development pictured at University College Cork( UCC). Picture: Daragh McSweeney/Provision.

The Nobel Prize for Persistence

The story of Katalin Karikos patient research of messenger RNA, or mRNA, which led to the rapid creation of the effective mRNA vaccines against Covid-19, and eventually to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023, is a tale of pure perseverance.

The daughter of a Hungarian butcher, she struggled to secure a permanent job in academia and was told by an official at the University of Pennsylvania that she was not of faculty quality.

I would love to see the look on that persons face as news that Kariko and her Penn colleague Drew Weissman were this years Nobel winners.

Ten years ago, she was kicked out of academia and accepted a position in Germanys BioNTech, where she commuted for nine years between the U.S and Europe, discovering how messenger RNA could be manipulated to deliver vaccines to human cells.

On her win, BioNTech, who partnered with Pfizer to make the first Covid vaccine, said: This Nobel Prize is a reminder for scientists around the world to continue to engage in rigorous research and development with the great aspiration to unlock the full potential of new drug classes.

Apart from biological breakthroughs, Kariko also raised two-time Olympic gold and five-time world champion rower, Susan Francia. Speaking after the Nobel announcement, Kariko said she had been referred to as Susans mom for a long time, but more recently Susan has been introduced as Katalins daughter, much to her amusement.

Reflecting on her award, Kariko spoke about her own mothers belief in her, and how she used to tell her that maybe she would win a Nobel Prize some day.

Kariko scoffed at her mothers blind devotion at the time, but now realises that persistence can pay off. She urges others, especially female scientists, to persevere.

Who knows what you might achieve!
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.

Sweden has been investigating the use of feed additives for cows to reduce methane. A new report by the countrys Environmental Protection Agency found that the chemical 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) and red algae seaweed are two of the additives with higher potential.

Adding red algae to the feed of farm animals each day could reduce methane emissions by as much as 90 percent, according to manufacturers, as The Guardian reported.

However, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency said additional investigation was needed.

More research and analysis is required both in terms of todays marketed products and to develop alternative, future feed additives, the report said.

In the European Union, 3-NOP was approved for dairy cows early last year. According to the report, the chemical can reduce methane emissions by about 30 percent on average in dairy cows and by 45 percent in cattle raised for consumption by humans.

The ability of seaweed fed to cows to keep microorganisms in their first stomach from producing the greenhouse gas was first discovered by Australian researchers.

The Swedish study recommended that the government commission further investigation into the potential of additives in feed to reduce methane. They advised more collaboration, research, initiatives to encourage innovation and support for farmers. The report also recommended looking at breeds genetic variations.

The extra costs of additives for feed would be a big expense for farmers.

We were happy with the proposal for financial compensation for farmers to invest in methane-reducing feed additives in the report and we will support the government to turn this proposal into reality, said Cora Taylor, business developer at land-based seaweed factory Volta Greentech, as Volta Greentech posted on Medium.

Animal digestion is responsible for about 70 percent of the methane emissions produced in Sweden.

We believe that this [methane-reducing feed additives] can be a measure to reduce the methane from cattle in Sweden. We dont have very many other measures that can have this [effect] within current production level. But we also believe its still quite new and theres still more research to be done before we can really come in with a clear policy measure, said climate analyst Emma Carlen, who works at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, as reported by The Guardian.

A seaweed factory to make cattle feed is being developed on Swedens west coast by Volta Greentech. Pilot projects by the company at two farms in Sweden had been able to reduce methane emissions by cows by 80 percent a day, said co-founder and CEO of the company Fredrik Akerman.

Volta Greentech has plans for a pilot project at a UK commercial beef farm next year.

We have developed a strategy that makes cows burp and fart less methane emissions. So the additive is included into the cow feed and we have now been able, in several commercial pilot projects, to reduce 80% of emissions per day that the cows emit, which is of course making a big positive impact on climate change and agriculture, Akerman said, as The Guardian reported.
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.

Swedens Vice Mayor for Transport and Urban Environment Lars Stromgren said Stockholm will ban gas- and diesel-powered cars from parts of the city center beginning in 2025 to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution from traffic.

A 20-block environmental zone that includes some of the priciest real estate in the country is included in the new plan, reported Reuters.

Nowadays, the air in Stockholm causes babies to have lung conditions and the elderly to die prematurely. It is a completely unacceptable situation, Stromgren, a member of the Green Party, said in a statement, as Reuters reported.

The Green Party has hopes that the new ban will accelerate the pace at which people trade in their gas-powered cars for electric vehicles (EVs).

We need to limit the dangerous emissions from petrol and diesel cars, and thats why were introducing a class three environmental zone in one part of the city centre, Stromgren said, as reported by The Local.

Under the new regulation, EVs will be the most predominant vehicles permitted in the planned class-three environmental zone, but exceptions will be made for larger plug-in hybrid vans, Reuters reported.

We want to create a better living environment for the people who live and work here, Stromgren told the state broadcaster, as reported by Bloomberg.

Police vehicles and ambulances are exempt from the new regulation, as well as vehicles with a driver or passenger that has a documented disability, Reuters reported.

Transportation companies have said the citys focus should be on more investment in electric charging stations to encourage voluntary change.

Since 2010, we have reduced emissions by 34%. But the Green Party and their colleagues in the city of Stockholm are now in far too much of a hurry, said the Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises, as reported by Reuters.

Stockholm is the first Swedish city to propose a class-three environmental zone.

The new regulation is more strict than diesel car bans in Athens, Paris and Madrid, Bloomberg reported. Other cities like London have instituted low-emission zones that charge daily fees for gas-powered vehicles entering the city center.

The environmental zone is being introduced in an area where there are a lot of pedestrians and cyclists, where the air quality needs to improve. Its also an area of the city centre where we can see high commitment to electrification, where there are key actors who can be a driving force in this transition, Stromgren said, as reported by The Local. Thats why this is a good place to start.




US attorney general calls for sales of Tyson poultry processing plants in Missouri

An attorney general in Missouri, the United States, has urged Donnie King, chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, to sell two of Tyson's poultry processing facilities in the state that are scheduled to be closed in the coming months.

In August, Tyson made the announcement that it would be closing two of its poultry plants in Noel and Dexter, Missouri, along with two others in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Corydon, Indiana.

"These plants are critical to local communities," Attornery General Andrew Bailey wrote about the two Missouri plants in his October 3 letter to King. "The City Administrator of Dexter, for example, recently pointed out that Dexter "has been home to an active poultry production industry since the 1890's, and the current plant location has been active since the Swift Poultry Company opened in the 1930's." Closure will be devastating to the local economy. The same is true in Noel, where the plant employs 1,500 workers in a city whose population is 2,100."

Bailey added: "Closure will have ripple effects that will harm more than just the individuals who would lose their factory jobs. How can a restaurant or grocery store in a town of 2,000 people expect to stay open when 1,500 people lose their jobs? What will chicken farmers and grain growers do if the plants they have long relied on close?"

Later in his letter, Bailey stated that King and Tyson should keep the facilities open or sell to any interested party.

Dexter city officials stated in August that the closing would impact at least 863 jobs. According to officials, Tyson plans to stop operations at the facility on October 13.



- Meat + Poultry
South Korea-based Pulmuone to firm up partnership for cultivated seafood products

Seoul, South Korea-based food company Pulmuone will strengthen a partnership with BlueNalu, a San Diego, US-based food company specialising in cultivated seafood such as tuna-like fish meat.

The two groups agreed in 2020 to commercialise healthy cell-based seafood products without genetic modifications and free of environmental contaminants.

BlueNalu has developed technology to produce various seafood including bluefin tuna. In July 2020, the US company partnered with Pulmuone to cooperate to bring BlueNalu's products to the South Korean market.

Pulmuone said in a statement that the company will upgrade its partnership with BlueNalu to release cultivated seafood products in South Korea. Research projects will be carried out to figure out cell-based seafood market trends.

"Cell-based seafood is an innovative food tech item that can solve global environmental issues caused by the global seafood supply shortage, fisheries and aquaculture," said Pulmuone Institute of Technology head Lee Sang-yun in a statement on October 5. Lee added that his company will solidify its leading position in the food tech industry through the renewed agreement.

The South Korean food maker has been preparing for the alternative market for many years. Pulmuone is also working with green food tech company Simple Planet to commercialise cultivated meat products targeting vegans and other consumers who do not eat meat due to ethical reasons.



- Aju Korea Daily




More increase in Pakistan's chicken prices expected

Chicken prices in Pakistan are anticipated to increase further in the coming months as a result of the federal government's ban on the import of genetically modified (GM) soybeans in October 2022.

Since the ban, domestic chicken prices have surged by more than 35%. This significant price hike has left consumers grappling with higher food costs.

Industry experts are warning that the situation may worsen in the coming months, with Khalil Sattar, owner of K&N's, predicting a substantial surge in chicken prices in 2024.

GM soybeans are key components of poultry feed in Pakistan

Another critical factor contributing to the Pakistani poultry industry's woes is the drastic reduction in annual imports of grandparent stock (GPs). GPs are essential for producing parent stock, which, in turn, leads to the production of broilers for consumption.

This year, Pakistan's annual GP imports have plummeted from 267,000 birds to 65,000. Hence, the country is facing a potential 76% reduction in broilers available for consumption compared to the previous year.

The ban on GM soybean imports has caused soybean prices to skyrocket in Pakistan. A steep price increase has forced approximately 40-50% of farmers and mill owners to shut down their operations due to the unaffordability of essential feed ingredients.

Consequently, poultry growth rates have been severely impacted, with birds now taking at least 18 days longer to reach maturity.

Ghulam Khaliq, senior vice xhairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association, emphasised the importance of importing soybean meal rather than soybean seed. He predicted that chicken prices could potentially drop by 40% once the Ministry of Food Security and Research allows the importation of soybean meal.

As consumers continue to grapple with rising food costs and uncertainties in the poultry industry, the government's approach to managing the soybean import ban and addressing the challenges faced by farmers and mill owners remains a significant concern.

- Samaa




IEC: Global egg industry honours outstanding achievements in Alberta, Canada

The International Egg Commission (IEC) recently recognised notable success and outstanding achievements across the global egg industry with the presentation of its prestigious awards at the recent IEC Global Leadership Conference Lake Louise 2023 held in Alberta, Canada.

The awards, which included the presentation of the inaugural Vision 365 Egg Innovation Award', celebrated individuals and organisations who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and contributions towards a thriving future for the egg industry.

"The IEC awards are always a highlight of the Global Leadership Conference, offering an opportunity for us to honour the passion, commitment and enthusiasm of brilliant individuals and organisations within our industry every year," said IEC Chairman Greg Hinton.

Commenting on the new Vision 365 Egg Innovation award, IEC Vision 365 chairman Suresh Chitturi said it "recognises organisations who push the boundaries to create innovative food products that add value to eggs and support increased egg consumption."

- IEC
Peter Muller, Vice President Product Line Modules at Kontron, in conversation with Markt&Technik editor Tobias Schlichtmeier.

Peter Muller is Vice President Product Line Modules at Kontron. He explains the company's new strategy and assesses the opportunities it presents. In doing so, he does not leave out current topics and challenges  and gives an outlook on the group's next activities.

Mr Muller, last year Kontron adapted its brand identity, aiming to be perceived as an expert for IoT applications. What does that mean for the company's strategy?

Peter Muller: Put simply, from now on we are focusing the expertise of the entire Kontron Group on the IoT market. On the other hand, we are completely dispensing with the IT and SAP services area and have sold the division. For this reason, we were able to generate a high cash flow and use the money to strengthen IoT business areas, for example 5G or artificial intelligence (AI). We also rely on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to build up new technology competencies. We are also expanding our CPU-based hardware business into connectivity and AI and focusing on high-margin segments in industrial, medical, transportation and aerospace.

What consequences does this have for the embedded computer module business?

Little, as we are simply following the Kontron strategy. We want to continue to offer our customers our extensive portfolio of computer modules and processors and generate added value, on the one hand in terms of time to market and on the other hand in terms of integration options. Especially for the 5G area, we are enabling increased connectivity on the modules; for example, we are preparing frameworks for this. On the subject of AI, we are increasingly integrating AI chips from Hailo into our products.

The second major topic in the area of computer modules is a stronger focus on deep-rugged- applications in the areas of transportation, aviation and defence. Here the focus is mostly on soldered components, a very wide temperature range - and all this in a small form factor. Furthermore, all of this should happen as much as possible in accordance with standards, for example COM Express, COM-HPC or SMARC.

Kontron closed the first quarter with record figures. Is this already the effect of this new strategy?

Yes, ultimately this is already a sign of the change in strategy at Kontron, above all the stronger focus on the IoT growth segment. The sale of the IT and SAP business is also having a positive effect. In addition, we are seeing strong growth in the Transportation segment; the subsidiary in France in particular has contributed a lot to sales.

Peter Muller, Kontron: We are now bundling the expertise of the entire Kontron Group on the IoT market.

What is Kontron's strategy for the next five years?

On the one hand, Kontron is sticking to its sales target of 2 billion euros by 2025. This will not be achieved alone in an organic way, but also through M&A. These will mostly come from the areas of 5G and AI. Consequently, we have to prepare our CPU modules and components for 5G and equip them with AI functions - and provide this expertise to the customer.

Solder-on modules are currently experiencing a boom caused by the new OSM standard. Do you also rely on OSM or do you prefer your own standards?

We already offer modules in the OSM form factor; they are based on the i.MX 8M Plus CPU from NXP Semiconductors. Furthermore, we are working on an OSM roadmap, primarily with CPUs from NXP, for example with the new i.MX93 processor. We are already seeing demand for OSM modules, and we are now implementing the first projects. However, we are currently coordinating internally at which point of the value chain we position low-end SMARC products and at which point OSM modules, so that no overlaps occur. We also offer customised applications if a customer wishes so.

PICMG is also working diligently on new standards such as COM-HPC Mini or ModBlox7. How do you estimate the demand for these two standards?

I am not an expert on ModBlox7, but I estimate the demand to be low. I think there is still a lot of scepticism in the market about whether the standard is really necessary. The situation is different with COM-HPC Mini, we were one of the main initiators of the standard and see a great need. It is not yet acute, but that will change soon. It is about providing high-end performance in the smallest possible form factor in a rugged environment. COM-HPC Mini is necessary if a developer needs PCIe Gen 5 interfaces, for example, to map 10- or 25-Gigabit Ethernet.

Ideally equipped for data-hungry IoT applications of the future: COM-HPC server module with carrier board.

Which markets are most interesting for COM-HPC (Mini)?

Every market that requires a small, integrated design or, for example, the rugged market. What we are also noticing is a high demand for COM-HPC in the area of test and measurement as well as in server applications - that was the original idea of COM-HPC. In the meantime, this has expanded to other markets.

We are also currently working on products that integrate other CPUs besides Intel. Being able to offer modules across platforms is a great incentive for us. However, I am not allowed to disclose details on this yet.

AI is a crucial point of the new brand strategy. What applications does Kontron offer for this and at which stage of the value chain are they to be classified?

We do not offer ready-made applications for AI, but provide our customers with the basis so that they can map their own applications more quickly. For this purpose, we provide them with the appropriate hardware, with the corresponding performance or AI support that is possible with Intel CPUs. If developers want to optimize the application in terms of power consumption, Hailo, for example, is a good option. Here we have created reference modules, for example a Hailo M.2 card or a PicoITX module with Arm or Intel technology, where developers can use the Hailo module. It provides 26 tera-FLOPS at 2.5 W, which is good performance for generating inferences or similar.

No AI application without software. Are you building up know-how in this area or are you buying it?

Kontron wants to build up expertise in the AI field; however, there are currently no plans to provide AI software ourselves. In the hardware area, we are increasingly working together with Hailo. We are also integrating products from Nvidia, but only as a pre-integration, for example in the KISS rack  a rack server system. Many customers like to work with Nvidia because they can also use their developer platform Cuda. For this, we provide the hardware fully integrated; the customer then creates the software framework himself. What else  apart from Hailo and Nvidia  will result from M&A remains to be seen.

What about functional safety - is that a topic you deal with?

Yes, this is a topic that is very close to our hearts. Besides AI, we are currently working heavily on products that are designed for functional safety. It is not an original module topic, but it is in high demand at the moment. We see how important prepared applications are to many customers. Especially with Intel, we are increasingly working on developing FuSa-ready applications.

The SGET is currently discussing a standard for FPGAs. Is this interesting for Kontron?

Absolutely, the approach of an FPGA standard is very interesting for us. We develop a lot with FPGAs, have our own team working on this and even integrate them on some CPU modules, for example for voltage monitoring. Many manufacturers are currently using FPGAs to design their own IP on the standard module. This is an interesting approach that we need to look at. SGET's primary concern is to expose the core, but CPU manufacturers like Intel don't want that. I am curious to see how this develops.

13th generation Intel Core processors on all three Kontron COM Express form factors.

There has been a lot of talk about allocations in recent years. How has the situation at Kontron developed in the meantime?

Allocation is not completely over, but the situation has definitely improved. On the one hand, we have been able to reduce the backlog, on the other hand, we have been able to restore the material flow. However, the delivery times of some components are still longer than planned; I think this situation will accompany us into the coming year.

Are there any lessons learned from the allocation period that are now having a positive impact?

Yes, we have further improved our obsolescence management and qualified additional suppliers for B and C parts. Here we had many single sources, which caused us difficulties sometimes. However, that measure is associated with effort and costs, as I have to reduce the volume of individual suppliers. But we see this as necessary and purposeful. A second aspect is that we deal much more intensively with B- and C-part suppliers. In other words, we are building closer partnerships and making better agreements to avoid such situations.

Have you  like many manufacturers  also stocked up in the last two years?

I would like to distinguish between our raw material warehouse and the warehouse for finished assemblies. The raw material warehouse automatically ran up because often only one or two components were missing - the rest had been in stock for a long time. Because we are currently reducing the backlog, we are also reducing the stocks accordingly.

With the finished products, it's the other way round - here our stock has been massively reduced because we delivered all available assemblies immediately, the demand in the market was great. However, the availability of finished products is slowly increasing again because we can manufacture more again.

Do you have your own production or does Kontron manufacture at contract manufacturers?

We assemble finished systems in our plants in Augsburg and Ismaning, and also assemble customer-specific applications there. Board production takes place either at external contract manufacturers in Germany and Asia or at our own locations in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia. In this way, we want to reflect the trend towards being able to manufacture ourselves - in Europe. Particularly internationally, especially from the USA, we receive a great demand for European-made modules.

The shortage of skilled workers is more noticeable than ever. Do you have a strategy to continue recruiting qualified professionals?

Our HR department is increasingly working on new ideas, but it remains difficult to get good skilled workers. I think as Kontron we offer a lot of added value that applicants perceive positively. In addition, the global setup helps us; we have an R&D team in Malaysia and can distribute tasks worldwide and compensate a lot. Nevertheless, we recruit local people and are very present at universities and even at schools already. I also find the dual study model very interesting. Especially in engineering professions, this is a model of the future.

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Thenba expert picks today's games revised Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women will come into force on Jan 1 next year. One of the highlights of the law is that it provides greater protection to women against sexual harassment.

The fact that the term "sexual harassment" appears 12 times in the statute shows that the government attaches great importance to the protection of women. The revised law is the outcome of years of hard work by scholars, lawyers, judges, and women's organizations, and demonstrates the seriousness of the legislature when it comes to protecting women against sexual harassment.

The statute authorizes prosecutors to file public-interest lawsuits against sexual offenders. Also, Article 25 of the law adds a new clause saying that employers are legally obliged to take measures to protect employees against sexual harassment. And the law also stipulates that if they fail to do so and the harassment causes serious results, they will be held to account too.

In the past there were sexual harassment cases in which the employers were not held accountable or didn't bear joint responsibility for the offense. Such a situation may not occur thanks to the revised law.

Victims and women's groups have for years been hoping to include cases of sexual harassment at work into public-interest litigation. The law fulfills their wish, and sounds a warning to not only potential offenders to never harass women but also company owners and managers that they better take precautionary and corrective measures against sexual harassment at work.

Also, the revised law empowers employers to issue a "warning letter" to the perpetrators. Paragraph 1 of Article 80 of the law stipulates that if women face sexual harassment, public security authorities should hold the perpetrator accountable or issue a warning letter to the perpetrator, and the company or owner should penalize and even fire the perpetrator.

Given that sexual harassment is mostly committed due to the asymmetry in power relations between genders, a warning letter issued by the employer, or penalty imposed on the perpetrators will not only expose the true face of the sexual offenders but could also render them jobless. Such punishment will also act as deterrence against potential offenders.

By urging companies to fulfill their due responsibilities to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace, the legislation makes clear the accountability system. Paragraph 2 of Article 80 says the managements of schools and government departments will be disciplined if they fail to take the necessary steps to protect women against sexual harassment.

Holding the management accountable for sexual harassment of employees is the most effective way of forcing them to take measures to protect employees from sexual offenders, because the sword hanging over their heads will force them to establish a proper mechanism to protect employees against harassment.

Since judicial interpretations are needed to define what exactly constitutes sexual harassment and set the standard of proof, Paragraph 1 of Article 23 of the law lists the main features of sexual harassment and its manifestations. For example, the use of words, text messages, images, or physical behavior with sexual connotations or meaning constitutes sexual harassment, and is forbidden by the law. This is a step in the right direction.

Yet it still doesn't clearly define sexual harassment, which has caused confusion, especially because the description of sexual harassment can be narrowed, and the courts, in general, require "foolproof" evidence to punish the offenders. Therefore, it is necessary for the Supreme People's Court to issue judicial interpretations, in order to give a clear definition of sexual harassment, and explain in detail what exactly constitutes sexual harassment, in order to unify the judicial standards in such cases.

Nevertheless, the revised law strengthens the protection of the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups such as poor women, elderly women, and disabled women. In fact, the law provides better protection to women by holding employers to account if women's labor and social security rights and interests are violated.

The author is a professor at the School of Law, China Women's University. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
The former Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, one of the candidates to join the Politburo Standing Committee when it is renewed in October, spoke at the annual National Peoples Congress after a scandal that threatened his political career.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, Mr. Bo, the general secretary of the municipality of Chongqing and has always attracted attention for his unorthodox policies, led the delegation of Chongqing at the press conference and spoke of the struggle against local corruption .

Known for his charisma and penchant for appearing before the media, Bo was one of the strongest candidates for the post in the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party, a selected club of seven to nine members which is renewed every ten years and directs the destinies of the Asian giant.

But the star of Bo went out in February, when the number two in Chongqing, Wang Lijun, surprisingly broke into the U.S. consulate in Chengdu, which caused a diplomatic conflict that damaged his image.

Since then, the independent press, especially from Hong Kong, monitors Bos public appearances for clues to whether the former minister will fall from grace or overcome the crisis, securing key positions in the future government of China.

The appearance of Bo in the National Peoples Congress, highlighted by Xinhua, seems to show that the charismatic leader still in line for the old guard, although the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post noted his absence at previous meeting.

Bo is the son of a prominent revolutionary Bo Yibo, and representative of the Princelings, a faction of the Communist Party calling for a return to more idealistic and social values and to some extent, a return to the Maoist ideals.

The former minister has expressed support for this cause in Chongqing, a city that since he governs has become a kind of national bastion of Maoism: here the people must learn old revolutionary songs, and local television broadcasts programs to disseminate traditional communism.

Faced with Bo, is a more liberal faction, favored a capital and finance driven economy, headed by Wang Yang, Party Secretary General in Guangdong, seeking an growth-oriented economic model.

Analysts say the scandal of Wang Lijun is a symptom of the struggle between two factions and the great competition within the Party to achieve higher level positions in the future Politburo Standing Committee, although the official press tries to maintain an image of stability and continuity.

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An old Beijing neighborhood may be safe from the wrecking ball thanks to the fame of its former tenant, Chinese writer Lu Xun.

Wang Shaofeng, head of Beijings Xicheng District, said Lus former residence will not be demolished, and its surrounding community, which is known for its traditional courtyard-style homes, will also be preserved.

The district government has decided to halt the demolition operation and is considering restoring the residence to its original appearance with the help of historical records and photos, Wang said.

Lu, a 20th century literary master, composed famous works such as New Year Sacrifice during his short stay in the No. 84 Courtyard in Zhuanta Hutong from 1923 to 1924.

The structures fate attracted much attention after the Xicheng district government announced plans to bulldoze the building to make way for public green space, prompting calls for better protection of historical architecture amid rampant urbanization.

Many netizens feared the residence might meet the same fate as that of architect Liang Sicheng and his wife Lin Huiyin, which was reportedly torn down by a real estate developer in January.

In response to public outcry, Wang said that the district government would enhance protection of its 184 cultural heritage sites, including 23 former residences of famous people.

Beijing is famous for its traditional communities composed of siheyuan, or rectangular courtyard homes, and winding alleys called hutong. Many of them, however, have disappeared amid modern Beijings penchant for glitzy high-rises and modern apartment blocks.

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This how can we buy bitcoin in indiaaerial photo taken on Nov. 11, 2022 shows a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

SHENZHEN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Over 100 black-faced spoonbills flew to a mangrove wetland in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, last month. The birds were seen cleaning their feathers and foraging for food in a fishpond in the wetland.

The birds were observed through a high-definition lens by staff at the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve near Shenzhen Bay in late October.

"I didn't expect that more than 100 of them would gather here in just a few days," said Yang Qiong, head of the reserve's research office, adding that about 10,000 migratory birds had already flown to Shenzhen to overwinter.

On November 5, during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in China's Wuhan and Switzerland's Geneva, China said that it will promote international exchanges and cooperation to protect the four bird migration routes passing through China and build an international mangrove center in Shenzhen.

People in this city of scientific and technological innovation are deeply in awe of nature, cherishing and carefully protecting its mangrove wetlands and maintaining international migration routes for migratory birds.

The black-faced spoonbill is one of the rarest birds in the world and has a narrow distribution area. According to the census data of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, a total of 3,941 black-faced spoonbills were recorded worldwide in 2017, of which 375 spent their winter in Shenzhen Bay.

In recent years, Shenzhen has been doubling its efforts to explore ways to achieve balance between environmental protection and economic development.

According to the municipal planning and natural resources bureau, the city has carried out various wetland resources protection strategies and refined the wetland classification protection system in accordance with Wetlands Conservation Law and the regulations of Guangdong Province governing wetland protection. By the end of October this year, the city had officially listed 15 wetland parks, including one of national importance.

The municipal government has curbed disorderly expansion and over-exploitation by delineating ecological red lines. The ecological restoration of the protected areas has been carried out by means of not discharging sewage into the sea, by returning silt to the lake and replanting mangroves.

Among the black-faced spoonbills, Yang again encountered an old friend who has been seen in Shenzhen Bay for three consecutive years. "It wears a bird ring marked K34 on its feet, indicating that it is from the Republic of Korea," Yang said.

At present, more than 100,000 migratory birds stop over in Shenzhen Bay every winter. Shenzhen is not the only city that protects wetlands and preserves an international channel for migratory birds. Black-faced spoonbills have also been observed in the wetlands in east China's Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and south China's Guangxi and Hainan.

"This bird is an indicator of the health of the ecological environment. It mostly feeds on unpolluted small fish, shrimps and crabs. The increase in its population is a proof of the improvement of China's ecological environment," said Zhang Gaofeng, deputy secretary-general of the Shenzhen Bird Watching Society.

The establishment of the international mangrove center means Shenzhen will shoulder more responsibility for international exchanges and cooperation, and become an important base for global mangrove protection and international cooperation, according to the municipal planning and natural resources bureau.

The Shenzhen Wetland Protection Plan (2021-2035) is currently being compiled. It aims to explore a wetland protection form suitable to Shenzhen as an international metropolis, and improve protection of important coastal wetland areas such as Shenzhen Bay, Daya Bay and the Pearl River estuary.

According to the plan, by 2035, Shenzhen will strive to achieve a 50 percent wetland protection rate, maintain a stable wetland area, effectively improve the ecological status of coastal wetlands, optimize the quality of wetland ecological space in built-up areas, and build itself into an international wetland city. 

Birds fly over the a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Ducks are seen at a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 11, 2022 shows a mangrove forest along the coastal area of the Shenzhen Bay in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

A black-faced spoonbill forages at a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Black-faced spoonbills forage at a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 11, 2022 shows a mangrove forest along the coastal areas of the Shenzhen Bay in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Wild ducks are seen at a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Migratory birds are seen at a mangrove wetland in the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali,megaslot casino bonus Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BALI, Indonesia, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo here Wednesday evening, in which the two heads of state reached important consensus on striving towards building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.

The two presidents agreed to take the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries next year as an opportunity to open up new prospects for high-level cooperation.

Xi and Widodo first watched the operational trial of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway through video link and a video presentation on the achievements of China-Indonesia cooperation. They heard the briefing on the progress of the construction of the railway. The Chinese and Indonesian drivers of the trial train each reported that the train was ready.

The two presidents gave the command, "Begin." The dashing brand-new trial train slowly pulled out of Tegalluar station and gathered speed. The venue burst into applause.

The Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway is the first high-speed railway in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Once put into operation, it will reduce travel time from Jakarta to Bandung from the current more than three hours to 40 minutes.

The two heads of state then held talks.

Xi congratulated Indonesia on hosting a successful G20 summit. He said that China-Indonesia cooperation has delivered tangible results, which have not only benefited the two peoples, but also had a positive impact on the region and the world at large.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) identified the central task of the CPC on the new journey in the new era, Xi said, adding that Indonesia is also making faster progress towards realizing Vision Indonesia 2045 set for the country's centennial.

China is ready to join hands with Indonesia for the two countries to be partners and companions and support each other on the journeys ahead, Xi said.

Xi noted that China stands ready to keep forging synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum and bring about the early completion and operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway.

The two sides will continue to advance the development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" to elevate bilateral cooperation to a higher level, the Chinese president said, noting that China will continue to support Indonesia in building a regional vaccine production center, and advance the joint research and development of vaccines.

China welcomes more competitive products from Indonesia to enter its market, and will continue to encourage outstanding Chinese companies to participate in major infrastructure construction projects in Indonesia, take part in the development of Indonesia's new capital and the North Kalimantan Industrial Park, and expand cooperation in digital economy, green development and other areas, Xi said.

Xi underscored that as representatives of major developing countries and emerging markets, China and Indonesia must uphold true multilateralism, focus on key areas such as poverty alleviation, food security and development-oriented financing, build signature projects of the Global Development Initiative, contribute to stronger, greener and healthier global development, and foster a more just and equitable global governance system.

China supports Indonesia's ASEAN rotating chairmanship next year and efforts to focus on development and cooperation, foster a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home in the region, and build an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, he said.

For his part, Widodo said he would like to once again congratulate Xi in person on his re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

He said that just now, the two presidents jointly witnessed the operational trial of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, a symbol of the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Indonesia is ready to work with China and make every effort to ensure that the railway will be put into operation next year as scheduled, Widodo said.

Indonesia is happy with and thanks China for bilateral cooperation in such areas as the research, development and production of COVID vaccines, and is ready to further strengthen medical and health cooperation with China, he added.

Indonesia will work with China for the success of major projects including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor, the "Two Countries, Twin Parks," and the North Kalimantan Industrial Park, he noted. He hoped that the two sides will deepen strategic cooperation and practical cooperation, and jointly build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.

Indonesia is ready to actively promote the growth of friendly and cooperative relations between ASEAN and China, Widodo said.

The two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a Plan of Action for Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia (2022-2026), a cooperation plan regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperation documents covering such areas as economy and trade, digital economy, vocational training and medicinal plants.

The two sides issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia.

Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi and He Lifeng, among others, were present at those events. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Joko Widodo watch together via video the operational trial of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2022. Xi held talks with Widodo here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

This video grab shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Joko Widodo watching together via video the operational trial of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2022. Xi held talks with Widodo here Wednesday evening. (Xinhua)
RAMALLAH,coral free spins code Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian presidency spokesman said on Monday that applying to the United Nations (UN) and other international agencies is a "legitimate right for everyone under legitimate international resolutions."

Nabil Abu Rudeineh made the remarks in response to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid's statements, in which he said that "the way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict does not pass through the corridors of the UN or other international institutions."

Abu Rudeineh said that the continuous Israeli attempts to disdain international legitimacy "pose a challenge to the world and to all countries whose goal is to preserve the rights of all peoples around the world."

The spokesman stressed that Palestine "has the right to resort to international legitimacy and international law," adding that "the Palestinian people and their leadership will not give up their rights guaranteed by international legitimacy and international law."

Earlier, Lapid announced that he had instructed the preparation of a series of security and political tools to respond to the Palestinians' movements.

His decision was made following the adoption by the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly of a draft Palestinian resolution requesting a legal advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the Israeli occupation.

The Palestinians demand establishing a Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem as its capital. 
03:51

It has the smallest coastline in South America,khelo24 but Suriname is losing its battle with the Atlantic. Around 50 meters, or 160 feet, of shoreline is disappearing every year to rising sea levels.

Despite its small size, the fate of Suriname has global significance. More than 90 percent of the country is covered by forest, making in a major carbon sink for the world.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
Under the baton of conductor Ken Lam,sudoku kingdom daily yaa casino the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra presents a concert on Oct 30 at the Tianjin Juilliard School's concert hall, as part of the orchestra's new season program. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Resident conductor of the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra, Ken Lam, is tapping into his vast professional experience to help nurture the next generation of exceptional Chinese musicians, Chen Nan reports.

As the inaugural director of orchestral studies and resident conductor of the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra, Ken Lam led the student orchestra of Tianjin Juilliard School in kicking off the new season with a concert featuring Franz Schubert's Symphony No 8 (also called Unfinished Symphony) and Beethoven's Symphony No 2 on Sept 25 in the school's concert hall.

Throughout the new season, the orchestra will perform symphonies by composers, including Johannes Brahms, Hector Berlioz and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. There will also be contemporary music works, including the world premiere of A Jiangnan Overture, composed by the school's faculty member Niccolo Athens, and Fanfare for Sam, composed by David Serkin Ludwig, who is the dean and director of the music division at the Juilliard School in New York.

The school's music festival, titled Festival Connect, will take place in January 2023, which will celebrate Igor Stravinsky and two contemporary composers: Joan Tower from the United States and Guo Wenjing from China. The program will feature Stravinsky's The Firebird, Tower's Made in America, which won a Grammy Award for best classical contemporary composition in 2008, and Guo's Zhudi (bamboo flute) Concerto No 2, Ye Huo, featuring Chinese bamboo flute soloist Tang Junqiao.

"We want to challenge our students technically and musically with works from different eras and by composers of diverse backgrounds," says Lam, adding that the performance season is designed with the goal of preparing students for their future professional careers. "They not only need to play their own parts, but also need to listen to one another."

For Lam, who only arrived in Tianjin about two months ago, working with the school is a new chapter.

Born in Hong Kong, he lived and worked in the US for decades. He played piano and violin as a child, as well as sang in his school choir. Before launching his career as a conductor, Lam studied economics at Cambridge University and was an attorney specializing in international finance for 10 years.

He says he has benefited from studying multiple majors and gaining working experience besides conducting.

"As an attorney, I had to deal with a lot of people such as clients, especially demanding clients. So I learned to work with them. Those skills also work for me as a conductor, because my job is to inspire the orchestra and enable them to communicate with their musical instruments," he says.

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Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Vice Chairman of Samsung Choi Gee-Sung on Tuesday.

Speaking highly of the trade and economic cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK),top sport betting websites Li said the two countries are important trading partners that have shared complementary economic and technological development.

China is actively fostering strategic new industries, Li said, adding that a memory chip development program that the Samsung Group has invested in is in line with the direction of Chinas industrial policy.

The program, funded with a total investment of more than 30 billion U.S. dollars, is under way in northwest Chinas Shaanxi province.

We welcome more transnational corporations to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side in many areas, including research and development, production and marketing, as well as conduct high-tech programs in central and western China and share development opportunities with us, Li said.

The vice premier also hailed the progress of China-ROK relations in recent years, saying China is ready to work with the ROK to push forward bilateral relations.

Choi briefed the Chinese side on the development of Samsungs business in China and expressed willingness to continue to increase the companys investment in China.

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Thereddit crypto shib guide to crypto debris, which locals claim to be that of a missile, is pictured at the site of an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, in this photograph on Nov 16, 2022. [Photo/Agencies]

BRUSSELS/WARSAW - Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said in Brussels on Wednesday that the explosion at the Polish village of Przewodow near the border with Ukraine on Tuesday night was likely not an attack from Russia but was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile. Two people were killed in the blast.

Addressing a press conference in Warsaw following a meeting of his country's National Security Bureau on Wednesday, Poland's President Andrzej Duda echoed Stoltenberg's statement, saying that "We have no proof at this stage that it was a missile launched by Russia. There are many indications that it was an air defense missile that unfortunately fell on Polish territory." He said the missile was most likely a Russian-made S-300 rocket, probably manufactured in the 1970s.

"There is nothing, absolutely nothing to suggest that it was an intentional attack on Poland. What happened -- that the rocket landed on our territory -- was not intentional ... It was not an attack on Poland," Duda said.

Citing the findings of a preliminary analysis of the debris found at the site of the explosion, Stoltenberg said after a NATO emergency meeting in the Belgian capital on this issue that "We have no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack. And we have no indication that Russia is preparing offensive military actions against NATO."

"The incident," he said, "was likely caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile fired to defend Ukrainian territory against Russian cruise missile attacks."

An investigation is ongoing, Stoltenberg and Duda both said. Stoltenberg called for patience and cautioned against jumping to conclusions -- a stance supported by all NATO allies.

"I spoke to President Duda last night, we agreed on the importance of waiting for the outcome of the investigation. We don't have the final outcome of the ongoing investigation, but all allies agree on the assessment I just shared, that we have no indication that this was a deliberate attack and of course that has consequences for what kind of responses we need to take," he said.

He underlined the need to prevent any escalation.

"We agreed that we need to stay vigilant, calm and closely coordinated. We will continue to consult. And monitor the situation very closely," he said.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that it may not be necessary to activate Article 4 of the NATO Treaty.

Article 4 states that "the Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened."

Nevertheless, Poland has put some military units on a heightened state of readiness.

In Moscow, Russia's Defense Ministry denied reports that Russian missiles had hit Polish territory, describing them as a "deliberate provocation aimed at escalating the situation."

"No strikes on targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border were made by Russian means of destruction," it said in a statement.

Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February, NATO has reinforced its presence on the eastern flank of the alliance.

Asked if Tuesday's incident was a failure of NATO systems in place to keep its territories safe, Stoltenberg explained that NATO's air defense systems were calibrated against specific types of attack missiles and that the Ukrainian rockets did not belong to that category.

NATO and its allies offered condolences for the loss of lives in the incident.
CANBERRA  From exquisite hairpins with flowers and handwoven red bags for Lunar New Year "lucky money",piggs peak hotel prices to Chinese emperors' hats with strings of beads, handicrafts by Australian children in Canberra showed their understanding of traditional Chinese personal accessories.

On Thursday, students from five schools in the Australian capital received awards for the 28th Panda Competition, a signature event hosted by the Australian Capital Territory Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society at the Chinese embassy in Australia, for their works. It is named the Panda Competition after the theme of its first edition in 1995.

The students, aged between 4 and 17, and their entries were judged in different age groups.

According to Carol Keil, president of the Australia China Friendship Society ACT Branch, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made a big difference to the number of schools participating, they have received several hundred entries this year under the theme of traditional Chinese personal accessories, including hats, bracelets, rings, fans and even swords.

"The teachers are very supportive," she says. "Some of the teachers put a lot of effort into helping the children do their research and prepare their entries."

Three 17-year-old girls from St. John Paul II College made a model of a Tang Dynasty headdress as shown in a Chinese TV drama, which grabbed the attention of visitors.

Four-year-old Ava Foster from Mawson Primary School won the third prize in the youngest participant group with a fan she had made.

Talking about why the girl got involved in the competition, her father Andrew Foster says: "Mawson Primary School encourages the children to immerse themselves in Chinese culture."

This is also what Keil would like to see.

At the award ceremony, children and their parents watched lion dances and enjoyed the performance of guzheng, a traditional Chinese seven-stringed plucked instrument.

Andrew Foster says Ava is going to the kindergarten next year at Mawson Primary School, and will do 2.5 days in Mandarin and 2.5 days in English a week.

"China is a big part of the Australian economy right now," he says, noting the decadeslong relationship between the two countries. "For sure it (learning Chinese culture and language) will be beneficial for Ava in the future. Maybe Ava could be a part of that relationship in some way."

Song Yanqun, minister-counselor for culture at the Chinese embassy in Australia, says this year's competition is special, as 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. He hopes that the children would become "ambassadors" for cultural exchanges of the two countries and influence more people around them.

"The aim of the Panda Competition is to promote Chinese culture," he says. "When little children start getting to know about Chinese culture from a symbol, whether it is traditional accessory or musical instrument, as was the theme of a previous edition, they embark on a journey, from understanding to love. It is a good way of promoting cultural exchange.

"Children are the future," he adds. "Understanding each other's culture from an early age lays the foundation for friendship in the future. When they grow up, they might be scientists, doctors, teachers, or social workers. It will be good if they can play their respective parts in boosting the China-Australia friendship."
TOKYO  This gamemania casino argentina predictzyear marks the 30th anniversary of Chinese calligrapher Jin Ou's arrival in Japan.

"In the 30 years since I came to Japan, I have been introducing Chinese culture through calligraphy and seal carving works, and promoting the art exchange of calligraphy and painting between the two countries," he says.

To commemorate the anniversary, Jin recently held an exhibition at the China Cultural Center in Tokyo displaying calligraphy and seal carvings made by him and his students, where Jin said he wanted to help the Chinese people in Japan strengthen their traditional cultural learning and seek their cultural roots from calligraphy.

"Kanji, as Chinese characters are called in Japan, come from China, and calligraphy has always been very popular in Japan," he says.

Jin, who was born in Wuzhen, East China's Zhejiang province, in 1957, went to Japan for study in 1992. During the period of his stay, he studied Chinese and Japanese calligraphy at the same time, and published Jin Ou's Calligraphy, Painting and Seal Carving Works and History of Japanese Ancient Seals and Ancient Seals Research.

Over the years, Jin has actively participated in various large-scale cultural exhibitions in Japan and performed his seal carving skills, which has attracted a lot of attention from the Japanese media.

In 2002, Jin opened the Jin Ou Art Academy, teaching calligraphy, painting and seal carving. "In Japan, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving are generally taught by three teachers, but I teach the three categories at the same time, all by myself, and I modify my way of teaching to suit each student's personal interests and aptitudes," he says.

Because of the distinctive teaching method, many Japanese visit the school to learn art, and Jin's academy is gaining popularity in Japan.

Hajime Matsunaga has been studying calligraphy and seal carving with Jin for nearly 20 years. At the exhibition, his work Four Divine Beasts in Seal Carving is placed in a prominent position. His art and skills shine through the vivid depiction of the four mythical beasts, as well as the carved characters.

"I come to the school almost every day now, and I am very happy to learn calligraphy and seal carving and about classical Chinese culture," Matsunaga says.

In 2004, Jin and several other Chinese calligraphers in Japan established the All-Japan Chinese Calligraphers Association, hoping to provide a greater platform for, and promote more in-depth exchanges between, the Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and seal-cutting circles.

Nowadays, Jin instructs a monthly calligraphy class at the China Cultural Center for overseas Chinese for free. "Calligraphy not only brings peace of mind to people, but also allows them to relive traditional Chinese culture and find the roots of their souls," he says.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Bali, Indonesia on November 15, 2022. Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and South Korea should work together to uphold the international free trade system, keep the global industrial and supply chains secure, stable and unclogged during a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday in Bali, Indonesia.Xi pointed out that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and South Korea, and noted what happened in the past three decades shows that the sound and steady development of China-South Korea relations serves the fundamental interests of their people.China is ready to work with South Korea to uphold, consolidate and advance the bilateral relationship and to provide greater stability for the region and the world, Xi said.Xi said the Chinese and South Korean economies are highly complementary and the two countries need to enhance alignment of development strategies and work for common development and prosperity.The two sides need to accelerate negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, deepen cooperation in such areas as high-tech manufacturing, big data and green economy, jointly uphold the international free trade system, keep the global industrial and supply chains secure, stable and unclogged, and oppose politicizing economic cooperation or overstretching the concept of security on such cooperation, Xi stressed.China and South Korea have huge potential in cooperation, especially in the industrial sector, which relies heavily on the building of industrial chains across countries, Bai Ming, deputy director of the International Market Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Tuesday.Both countries should make use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to create more opportunities for complementary cooperation and the chip industry could be one of the examples, Bai said.However, if South Korea itself sets limits on the scope of cooperation with China and joins the small circles of some countries, it would be bad for its economic development and foreign trade, Bai warned.For some time, South Korea has been under pressure from the US to form a technology alliance to contain China's rise in the tech sphere.The US government has been trying to pressure Asian economies, including Japan and South Korea, into setting up a so-called Chip 4 alliance to exclude China's chip supply chains.South Korea's exports to China have increased more than 160 times since the two countries set up diplomatic ties 30 years ago, much higher than the growth rate of Seoul's overall overseas shipments, Yonhap News reported in August, citing data from the Korea International Trade Association.Also, China has been South Korea's largest export destination since 2003.Chinese experts said strong bilateral trade figures reflect South Korea's unavoidably close economic ties with China and noted that the two countries need to respect each other's core interests and matters of significant concern, and develop China-South Korea relations in a more mature, independent and stable manner.Meanwhile, South Korea is betting on China for its chip industry. South Korean companies have invested heavily in China's chip market, and the country exports a huge amount of chip products to China.According to the Korea International Trade Association, out of South Korea's $69 billion worth of memory chip exports in 2021, exports to China took up about 48 percent.
Jennifer Holstein,hog heaven slots a journalist from the United States. [Photo/China Daily]

How is China's education system different from other parts of the world? Jennifer Holstein, a journalist from the United States who has studied and taught in China, may have the answer.

When she was 16, Holstein went on a gap year experience to a high school in Beijing. She would wake up each morning at 6:30 to a song playing on the school's loudspeaker. Classes would start at 7:15 and end at 5:30, and then dinner was followed by another round of classes  known as "night study"  which didn't end until late at night.

"It was no doubt the hardest year of my life as a student, but it was also the most rewarding. I left my study program with so much knowledge and so much respect for the learning process," Holstein said in her speech.

China has attached great importance to education since ancient times. This is even more the case today as it tries to bridge the gap between rich and poor and urban and rural communities through educational equality.

Holstein gave examples of how China's literacy rates have improved dramatically  from 65 percent in 1982 to over 96 percent in 2018.

She also shared the notable story of Zhang Guimei, a teacher who has fought for the right of girls in rural Yunnan province to get an education.

In terms of access to education, China is a world leader in affordable quality public education. Holstein said that in the US, college students have an average of $28,000 in debt, while there is practically no student debt in China due to much more affordable higher education, allowing more people from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience economic mobility.

"Education can be the defining and distinguishing factor of change in the lives of children and young adults looking for a path to a better life. And for a society or a country, education has the power to lift people out of poverty, to help train more doctors to treat the sick and develop cures to illnesses," Holstein said. "An educated population is an empowered population."
GENEVA,live poker games online Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday submitted a position paper on strengthening the ethical governance of artificial intelligence (AI) to the 2022 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons held in Geneva.

Li Song, China's ambassador for disarmament affairs, told the participants that China finds it important to enhance the understanding of all countries on AI ethics and to ensure that AI is safe, reliable, controllable and capable of better empowering global sustainable development and enhancing the common well-being of all mankind.

"As the most representative disruptive technology, AI, while providing enormous potential development benefits to human society, has also brought uncertainty that may give rise to multiple global challenges and even fundamental ethical concerns," Li said.

The position paper China submitted on Wednesday suggests that governments should give priority to ethics, establish and improve rules, norms and accountability mechanisms for AI ethics, clarify responsibilities and power boundaries of AI-related entities, fully respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of all groups, and respond to relevant ethical concerns at home and abroad in a timely manner.

It stresses that governments should bear in mind worst-case scenarios and enhance risk awareness, better identify potential ethical risks that AI technologies may entail, gradually establish an effective early warning mechanism, apply agile governance and tiered and categorized management, and continuously improve risk management, control and settlement capacity.

According to the paper, governments should prohibit the use of AI technologies and relevant applications that run counter to laws, regulations, ethics and standards. They should also strengthen quality monitoring and evaluations on the use of AI products and services, and formulate emergency mechanisms and compensation measures.

"Governments should safeguard the individual privacy and data security of Al products and services, strictly follow international or regional norms for handling of personal information, improve the mechanism for revoking personal data authorization, and oppose illegal collection and utilization of personal information," it says.

The position paper also urges governments to encourage transnational, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural exchanges and cooperation, ensure that the benefits of AI technologies are shared by all countries, promote the joint participation of countries in international discussions and rules-making on major issues regarding AI ethics, and oppose the building of exclusive groups and malicious obstruction of other countries' technological development.

"China calls on the international community to reach an international agreement on the issue of AI ethics on the basis of broad participation, and to work to formulate widely accepted international AI governance frameworks, standards and norms while fully respecting the principles and practices of different countries' AI governance," the paper concludes. 
BEIJING,vipspel no deposit bonus codes Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's RMB settlements with Belt and Road countries stood at 5.42 trillion yuan (763.4 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, up 19.6 percent year on year, according to the central bank.

It accounted for 14.8 percent of China's total cross-border use of RMB in 2021, said a report released by the People's Bank of China.

The RMB settlements climbed 14.7 percent in trade of goods and 43.4 percent in direct investment.

By the end of 2021, China had signed bilateral currency swap agreements with 22 countries along the Belt and Road and established RMB clearing arrangements in eight countries along the Belt and Road. 
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi received interviews from Chinese state media on Thursday after attending the series of Foreign Ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation,sixers bulls line winclub88 casino visiting Cambodia, Bangladesh and Mongolia, and hosting the ROK and Nepali foreign ministers' visit to China.

ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting and East Asia cooperation

In the interview, Wang Yi introduced the main achievements scored in the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting and highlighted China's efforts in promoting East Asia cooperation.

Wang said that in face of challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic, increases of economic downward pressure on economic and the comeback of the Cold War mentality and camp confrontation, foreign ministers from China and ASEAN's member states gathered in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to make a voice of seeking peace, planning for common development, and promoting stability together. It has demonstrated our firm determination to safeguard international fairness and justice, and has made political preparations for the holding of a series of East Asia cooperation leaders' meetings this year.

In the first half of this year, China-ASEAN trade volume exceeded $450 billion, 11.5 percent increase year-on-year, Wang said, China imported more than $21 billion of agricultural products from ASEAN. The favorable spillover effect of the China-Laos Railway is obvious and the vaccine research, development and production between China and ASEAN member states has increased steadily. All parties believed that China-ASEAN cooperation has become the most successful and dynamic example for all Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, Wang added.

Wang pointed out that the biggest achievements of the meeting came from fully implementing the consensus reached on China-ASEAN Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, carrying out an action plan for the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and outlining the focus and direction for next-step cooperation.

All parties have agreed to prioritize development and share development opportunities, and have agreed to stick to open regionalism, and carry forward multilateralism, he added, China firmly supports ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation, which is widely welcomed by ASEAN countries.

South China Sea issue

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). During the interview, Wang Yi emphasized the important role of the DOC in maintaining overall stability in the South China Sea.

Wang said that the South China Sea is the "common home" of China and the ASEAN and to safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea is the shared interests of China and ASEAN countries. Over the past two decades, all parties have focused on the overall situation, placed the South China Sea issue in an appropriate position, effectively managed differences and disputes, maintained overall stability, and ensured a good environment for the development of China-ASEAN relations, Wang stated.

All parties have highly recognized the important role of the DOC in the South China Sea issue and have agreed to hold the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the DOC, and look forward to issuing a joint leaders' statement to demonstrate our common determination to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, Wang said.

In addition, all parties have agreed to resume the consultations on the "code of conduct" in the South China Sea (COC) and made the COC an upgraded version of the DOC. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and the ASEAN countries will firmly uphold the principles of the DOC, advance the consultation process of the COC, deepen maritime dialogue and cooperation, and firmly grasp the correct direction of properly handling the South China Sea issue, and build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation, Wang said.

Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan and the Taiwan question

When being asked about U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region, Wang said that Pelosi landed in China's Taiwan when the Chinese delegation arrived in Phnom Penh to attend the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting. We immediately condemned Pelosi's visit, Wang said, the move violated the commitments made by the U.S. government to China on the Taiwan question, violated the basic norms governing international relations and infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Countries including Russia, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Bangladesh, Greece, Turkey, and New Zealand clearly stated that they would adhere to the one-China policy and hope to maintain international and regional peace and stability. The ASEAN foreign ministers issued a statement reiterating the one-China policy, calling for upholding the principles of the UN Charter.

Wang emphasized that China's countermeasures to Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan are justified, reasonable, necessary, and appropriate. It is the United States and the Taiwan authorities that are changing the status quo on the Taiwan question. China's countermeasures are for the sake of peace in the Taiwan Strait and maintaining the regional stability.

Wang reiterated that the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs is the "golden rule" for governing international relations. China's move is to safeguard the basic norms of international relations and safeguard the international fairness and justice.

Wang warned against three dangerous trends as the situation develops.

He said that, firstly, it is necessary to be prepared for the United States gathering some accomplices to pour fuel on the fire, enhancing regional military deployments, further escalating the situation and attempting to create a new and bigger crisis.

Secondly, we must be wary of "Taiwan independence" forces misjudging the situation, continuing to collude with external forces, and heading further along the path of splitting the country, he added.

Thirdly, he said we must be wary of politicians in some countries following suit. This will seriously undermine the political foundation for relations between China and these countries, and will seriously undermine the UN Charter and the post-World War II international system.

China's white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" which was released recently, Wang said, stated that we have been closer to, more confident in and capable of achieving the goal of national reunification than at any time in history.

China-Cambodia relations

Wang Yi said that China and Cambodia are important close neighbors and best friends. The friendship between the two countries has stood the test of international situations and is unbreakable.

During this visit, Cambodia adheres to the one-China principle, resolutely opposes any words and deeds that violate China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will stand with the 1.4 billion Chinese people, he emphasized.

In recent years, the two countries have jointly built the "Belt and Road" with high quality, which has brought benefits to the two peoples. During the visit, China and Cambodia agreed to strengthen the docking of development strategies and implement various cooperation, he added.

Meanwhile, Wang said that China will continue to provide vaccine assistance according to Cambodia's needs, carry out cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine, import more Cambodian high-quality agricultural products, increase Cambodian flights to China, and facilitate Cambodian students returning to China to resume classes.

China-Bangladesh relations

Wang Yi expressed that China and Bangladesh are friendly and neighboring strategic cooperative partners, and this visit to Bangladesh aims to continue friendship and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.

During this visit to Bangladesh, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized that Bangladesh cherishes its friendship with China and regards China as an important partner for maintaining peace and common development, Wang added, the Bangladeshi side stated that it abides by the one-China principle, believes that Taiwan is part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, and does not approve of provocative actions by individual countries.

Wang said that China and Bangladesh agreed to enhance political mutual trust, practice the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, support each other in safeguarding national independence, national dignity and core interests, and support each other in taking a development path that suits their national conditions.

In addition, China and Bangladesh agreed to enhance the dovetailing of the Belt and Road Initiative with Bangladesh's Vision 2041, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure construction, digital economy, and green development.

Wang Yi announced that China decided to grant duty-free access to 98 percent of Bangladeshi goods, and support Bangladesh in expanding exports to China.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen social and cultural exchanges, signed a new cultural and tourism exchange plan, and made it clear that exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty alleviation will be strengthened, Wang added, China welcomes Bangladeshi students to return to China to resume classes, and will increase flights between the two countries in an orderly manner.

China-Mongolia relations

Wang Yi said that since his last visit to Mongolia two years ago, he has witnessed encouraging changes in Ulan Bator and felt the vitality of the vast grassland. As a friendly neighboring country, China is heartily pleased for Mongolia's rapid progress and looking forward to its development and revitalization. Wang Yi briefed the broad consensuses reached by the two sides during the visit.

The two sides agreed that faced with the current complex and volatile international and regional situation, China and Mongolia are closely connected with a shared future, and should be good neighbors more valuable than gold, good brothers sharing weal and woe, and good partners striving for common development.

The two sides are willing to promote the in-depth synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Mongolia's Steppe Road Program, the Global Development Initiative and Mongolia's New Revival Policy, and China's "two-step" development strategy and Mongolia's long-term development vision, so as to create three major engines for further development of bilateral relations.

The two sides reaffirmed mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests. China supports Mongolia in maintaining stability, focusing on development and exploring a development path in line with its own national conditions. Mongolia emphasizes the adherence to the one-China principle and opposes other countries' interference in China's internal affairs. This position has been consistent and has not changed.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation at the border, promoting the opening of ports and connection of railways and highways to the largest possible extent, so as to keep the industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded. The two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the cross-border railway connection program at the Gants Mod port will be important in helping Mongolia to expand its opening-up and achieve strong growth.

The two sides will enhance cooperation in afforestation and counter-desertification. China hopes that both sides support each other in greening the common home and guarding the green land and blue sky.

China-ROK relations

Wang Yi said that China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are close neighbors and inseparable partners.

Wang said that ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin's visit to China this time comes on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two countries agreed to strengthen political and diplomatic communication and pragmatic cooperation, negotiate, and sign a joint action plan for the future development of China-ROK relations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

The two sides agreed to hold a high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of the two countries and a "two-plus-two" diplomatic and security dialogue, actively promote the joint research work of the Committee for Future Development of China-ROK relations.

Both sides agreed to speed up the second-phase negotiation on the China-ROK free trade agreement and strive to reach a consensus at an early date; hold dialogues on maintaining the stability of industrial and supply chains, and strive for the integrity, security, smoothness, openness and inclusiveness of industrial and supply chains; stick to trade and investment liberalization, abide by World Trade Organization rules, and uphold the principles of non-discrimination, non-exclusion, openness and transparency.

The two sides agreed to hold the "China-ROK Year of Cultural Exchanges" well, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and the ROK in areas of people-to-people and cultural affairs and media. It's important to launch more direct flights to further facilitate personnel exchanges.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views and expounded respective positions on the THAAD issue. The two sides underlined the need to take seriously each other's security concerns and to strive to properly handle the issue so that it will not become a stumbling block to bilateral relations.

China expects that after 30 years of changes, the relationship between the two countries should become more mature, more independent and more stable.

Park Jin said the ROK is willing to, on the basis of the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership, respect each other, and inclusive cooperation to make bilateral relations more mature and healthier.

China-Nepal relations

Wang Yi said, China and Nepal are good neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, good friends who help each other.

During Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka's visit to China, the two sides also reached an important consensus on cooperation.

China will continue to firmly support Nepal's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, explore a development path in line with its national conditions.

Nepal firmly pursues the one-China principle and will never allow any activities that use Nepal's territory to oppose China and undermine China's interests. Nepal will unswervingly honor this commitment. Nepal supports China's legitimate position on Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and other internal affairs.

The two sides will jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, speed up the feasibility study of cross-border railway.

The two sides will speed up the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project at a faster pace and advance electric power interconnection projects.

Wang Yi announced that China will grant zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of Nepali products. China welcomes Nepal to expand its export to China.

The two sides will strengthen cooperation on justice, combating cross-border cybercrimes, border management, joint prevention and control, and ports, among others.

The two sides will deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and increase direct flights to facilitate personnel exchanges. China welcomes Nepali students to return to China to continue their studies.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
In a report delivered to the recently concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,ledger hardware wallet discount code common prosperity was highlighted as one of the key features of Chinese modernization.

Why does pursuing common prosperity matter? We talked with Zheng Yongnian, the president of the Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, to find out.
A bird's eye view of the Qinling Mountains in Shangluo,earn cash app pragmatic play link Shaanxi province. [Photo/IC]

The China Meteorological Administration will set up a national climate observatory in the Qinling Mountains in Shangluo in Shaanxi province, to carry out scientific research on climate, according to a notice released earlier this month.

The observatory will assess solar energy resources and monitor extreme weather events in the region.

The Shaanxi Meteorological Service plans to finish building the observatory in 2027.

It will serve as the only observatory in the climate zone along the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River.

The Qinling Mountains run west to east across the country and divide not only northern and southern China, but also their climates, fauna and flora.

To date, there are 26 national climate observatories in China.
09:01

It has been a year since the United States rushed out of Afghanistan in chaotic fashion. Thecasino marketing promotions ideas move hastened the Taliban's rapid ascent to power.

So, what has happened in the past year?

The Taliban is firmly entrenched, and is leading the nation of nearly 40-million people.

Problems within the nation are many, but to a person, Afghans praise an element of the new government  peace, and end to decades of bloodshed.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
Illustration: Chen Xia/Global Times

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference exploring ways to diversify German business investments in Asia,German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has, once again, stepped up his exaggerated hype of the "dangers of excessive reliance on single trading partners.""Germany needs to diversify its business interests in Asia to reduce dependency on China," Habeck was quoted by Deutsche Welle (DW) as saying on Sunday.In the era of global interdependence, it won't necessarily be a bad thing if some German politicians prompt their country to diversify its trade partners and strengthens its economic ties with Asian countries, but this ought to be based on a win-win approach, not on a zero-sum mentality.The whole of the East Asia and Southeast Asia is an attractive market for German companies due to the increasing consumption-oriented middle class and stable growth forecasts in the region. It's natural that Germany is seeking to develop its economic relations with countries in the region. The two sides have enjoyed a sound foundation for mutually beneficial economic cooperation, which will help promote regional economic integration and raise the level of economic development of the whole region of East Asia and Southeast Asia.German politicians can prompt their country to diversify its business interests, but should prevent the trap of a zero-sum game and avoid being dragged into a Cold War mind-set. At the very least, any words or acts aimed at inciting hostility or discrimination against Chinese investment and companies should be avoided.Asked how Berlin might encourage German companies to invest in other Asian economies, Habeck said the government was considering revisions to its guarantees on German companies' investments abroad, DW reported.While it remains to be seen whether Habeck's words will become a reality and to what extent his remarks represent the voice of the German government, it should be pointed out that it is inappropriate for a country's economic minister to look at matters related to any single country with a discriminatory attitude.It is unnecessary to worry about the so-called dangers of excessive reliance. Of course, China remains a strategically important market for many German companies, but this is fundamentally a result of market choice. China still has huge potential in terms of domestic consumption, which attracts a lot of German companies to trade with. The so-called excessive reliance, to some extent, reflects only Chinese market's attraction for foreign investment and German companies' success in developing the Chinese market. Some politicians have been calling for artificially reducing "dependency" on China, such efforts will do nothing but harm the interests of German companies.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited China earlier this month with a big team of Germany's top business executives, sending a clear message: There is huge potential for bilateral economic cooperation. Scholz's visit has further enhanced the mutual trust and deepens practical cooperation.A friendly atmosphere between the two countries is the basis for German enterprises to engage deeply into the Chinese market, and the hard-won result should not be undermined by the "decoupling China" theory.China has served as Germany's most important trading partner for six consecutive years. Now, the two sides should further enhance cooperation and strive to find mutually acceptable solutions to problems that arise in existing cooperation. Bilateral economic ties should go forward, not backward.
A visitor is taking photos in the "Einstein Room" at the event. Photo: Qi Xijia/GT

An event dedicated to the centenary of Albert Einstein's visit to Shanghai in 1922 and his receipt of the Nobel Prize was held in the city on Monday, featuring a series of historical documents, letters and images.Co-organized by the Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai and the Consulate General of Sweden in Shanghai, the event was held at the China Securities Museum, the former Astor House Hotel, where Einstein reportedly stayed during his visit to the city.Exactly 100 years ago in November, Einstein made the first of only two short visits to the city of Shanghai on his way to Japan to give lectures. Several days before arriving in Shanghai, it was announced that Einstein had won the Nobel Prize for Physics.The exhibition featured numerous items, including copies of the newspapers in 1922 which covered the reception of Einstein in Shanghai; Einstein's Nobel certificates dated December 10, 1922; the Nobel Prize medal awarded to Einstein; and a telegram to Einstein from the secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announcing the award of the Nobel Prize in Physics.Einstein is believed to have stayed in room 304 at Astor House Hotel, which at that time was the most luxurious hotel of its kind, and he listened to China's traditional opera during his visit.Before being converted into the China Securities Museum, Chinese students reportedly liked to sleep in the so-called "Einstein Room" the night before major exams to absorb some of his wisdom. Einstein's diary suggests, however, that he slept on board a ship while staying in Shanghai.Einstein is a figure who continues to inspire many across the world."Amongst other similarities, I believe that it is the thirst for knowledge and discovery that deeply connects the Israeli and Chinese people today," Eytan Halon, deputy consul general of Israel in Shanghai, said in a speech at the event.
Panama and China said they hoped to reach a mutually beneficial bilateral free trade agreement (FTA),concerts at thunder valley casino after launching negotiations here on Monday.

Chinas Ambassador to Panama Wei Qiang told Xinhua that in negotiations of this kind, the key words are mutual benefit.

The two countries aim to negotiate a modern, ample, comprehensive and high-level FTA that reaffirms Chinas interest in Panama as a Latin American gateway, given its role as a trade and distribution hub, said Wei.

For the Chinese government, the guiding principle for negotiations is to develop and consolidate bilateral and international ties, to have mutually beneficial cooperation, said Wei.

Nothing is beneficial when it is sustainable only for one side, he said.

Chinese companies have been operating in Panama for years, and their number is due to increase as the newly established ties between the two countries have spurred bilateral business and investment, Wei said.

The Panamanian economy is very strong in the finance and services sectors, for which China can offer an attractive market for greater exchanges between the two, he said.

Panama holds numerous advantages for China, and China in turn represents numerous opportunities for Panama, Panamanian Minister of Commerce Augusto Arosemena told Xinhua during a break in a closed-door meeting held at a hotel close to the offices of the Panama Canal Authority.

The first round of talks, set to continue through Friday, is centered on outlining the main areas of the trade deal, said Alberto Aleman, head of the Panamanian negotiating team.

Leading the Chinese delegation is Zhang Shaogang, director of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs at Chinas Ministry of Commerce.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in June 2017, the two countries have stepped up bilateral cooperation and aimed to strengthen trade with an FTA.

The idea is to forge a win-win relationship marked by mutual trust, respect and complementarity, said Arosemena.

For Panama, its highly important to boost our access to the Chinese market and attract Chinese investment, as well as position ourselves as a gateway for Chinese products and investment in the Latin American region, a goal both countries see as one of the essential principles of the negotiation, he said.

The Central American country is ready to export typical regional products, such as tropical fruits, coffee and fishmeal to China, Arosemena said, adding the Panamanian government has met with representatives of the private sector in the past month or so to discuss changes or improvements based on their expectations.

Xinhua

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Whooper swans are seen at Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve in Weihai,bet365 blackjack rigged Shandong province on Sunday. [Photo by Li Xinjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 5,000 whooper swans have arrived at Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve in Weihai, Shandong province, to spend the winter, the reserve said on Sunday.

To make sure the swans have enough food, workers spread corn for them every day.

The swans stay for about five months at the bay in Rongcheng, making it one of the largest wintering grounds for whooper swans in the world.

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Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has called on British businessmen to seize the opportunity in China as the worlds second largest economy is undergoing economic transition.

China will become the worlds biggest importer and consumer market in a foreseeable future. Its inflow and outflow of investment will get more balanced in a relatively long period, which is to bring enormous business opportunities for companies worldwide, including those from Britain, Li said at a business dinner hosted by China-Britain Business Council on Tuesday evening.

Li, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, was on a four-day official goodwill visit to Britain, aiming to boost bilateral ties and promote cultural exchanges.

He said global economic recovery still faces many uncertainties as the eurozone sovereign debt crisis has not been effectively controlled. Both China and Britain are redesigning their growth models, which will result in new opportunities for each other, he said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between China and Britain. In the past four decades, China-Britain trade relations have enjoyed rapid development.

In 2011, China-Britain trade reached 58.7 billion U.S. dollars, which was up 17.2 percent from 2010 and was 185 times the figure when the two nations established diplomatic relations.

Britains exports to China are soaring, with a year-on-year growth of 30 percent in 2011 following a 40 percent annual growth in 2010.

Within the European Union, Britain is now the second biggest investor in China. In 2011, Britain also saw the largest surge of Chinese investment among European countries.

Xinhua

Senior CPC official urges British businessmen to seize opportunity in Chinaadded by chinatimesonline on

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Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Wednesday called for more efforts to ensure the safety of the public and guard against possible disasters amid severe flooding in the country.

Hui, who heads the countrys flood and drought control efforts, said at a national meeting on Wednesday that China faces an extremely complicated and severe situation in its fight against flooding this year.

Noting that areas that used to be free from floods have been hard-hit by heavy rains this year, Hui urged local authorities to actively cope with possible scenarios to minimize losses.

He also asked for efforts to be made in coastal regions to prepare for the approaching typhoon Saola and tropical storm Damrey.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Wednesday upgraded an emergency alert issued for the flooding and imminent approach of Saola and Damrey to the second-highest level.

According to the national observatory, Saola is expected to reach seas off the northeast coast of Taiwan Wednesday night or Thursday morning and land in coastal regions in east Chinas Fujian and Zhejiang provinces Thursday night or Friday morning. Damrey may land on the coast of Jiangsu and Shandong provinces on Thursday.

Hui ordered local authorities to enhance monitoring, improve the early warning system for adverse weather events, evacuate residents from endangered areas and prepare for possible geological disasters and flooding.

Xinhua

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu called for better preparation against floodsadded by chinatimesonline on

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A job fair is held at Huzhou Vocational and Technical College in East China's Zhejiang Province on November 12, 2022. Photo: VCG

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said it will make every effort to encourage college graduates to find employment and start businesses, read a notice issued by the ministry on Wednesday.According to the notice, colleges and universities should create conditions to actively invite employers to recruit on campus. The MOE said it will give full play to the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creating jobs, and encourage more college graduates to work in SMEs. The ministry will also support self-employment and flexible employment.The expansion of local community-level recruitment is also encouraged, in sectors such as health services, elderly care services, social work, judicial assistance and scientific research assistants. The MOE will actively cooperate with the conscription of college students, read the notice.The ministry stressed improving the linkage between employment and college enrollment and training. It will guide colleges and universities to focus more on majors that are in demand for enterprises.The number of college graduates in 2023 is expected to reach 11.58 million, a year-on-year increase of 820,000, the MOE said on Tuesday at a meeting for the promotion of employment for graduates held with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.A series of campus recruitment activities for 2023 college graduates will be held from November to December, according to the MOE.Provinces and cities nationwide have already started campus recruitment activities.For example, the local government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in Northwest China held a job fair with enterprises in early November, which provided more than 1,370 jobs and aims to recruit 10,600 people. About 21,500 graduates applied for jobs, and 8,000 reached initial employment intentions at the fair.For Fushun in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, a total of 23 online and offline recruitment activities for college graduates have been held so far, providing 39,800 jobs for college graduates.More job fairs are expected with policy support, which will effectively reduce the unemployment rate among graduates and young people.In the first nine months of 2022, a total of 10.01 million new jobs were created across the country through policy support.In October, the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.5 percent, unchanged from the previous month, according to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.The surveyed unemployment rate for those aged 16-24 was 17.9 percent and for those aged 25-59 it was 4.7 percent. The surveyed urban unemployment rate in 31 major cities was 6.0 percent, per NBS data.Global Times
Carol Keil,fox bet mount airy foxbet pa login president of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society, speaks in an interview with Xinhua after the awarding ceremony of the 28th Panda Competition in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 10, 2022. TO GO WITH "Feature: Understanding Chinese culture starting from a fan" (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

CANBERRA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- From exquisite hairpins with flowers and hand-weaved red bags for "lucky money" of the Lunar New Year to Chinese emperors' hats with strings of beads..., handcrafts by Australian children in Canberra showed their understanding in traditional Chinese personal accessories.

On Thursday, students from five schools in the Australian capital received awards for the 28th Panda Competition, a signature event hosted by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society in the Chinese Embassy in Australia, for their works. It was named the Panda Competition because the topic of the first edition in 1995 was panda.

The students were between four and 17 years old, and their entries were judged in different age groups.

According to Carol Keil, president of the Australia China Friendship Society ACT Branch, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic which made a big difference to the number of schools participating, they have received several hundred entries this year under the theme of traditional Chinese personal accessories, including hats, bracelets, rings, fans and even swords.

"The teachers are very supportive," she told Xinhua in an interview. "Some of the teachers put a lot of efforts into helping the children prepare the entries and do the research."

Three 17-year-old girls from St. John Paul II College made a model of Tang Dynasty headdress crown as shown in a Chinese TV drama, grabbing visitors' attention.

Four-year-old Ava Foster from Mawson Primary School won the third prize in the group of youngest participants with a fan she made.

Talking about why the girl got involved in the competition, her father Andrew Foster said: "Mawson Primary School encourages them to immerse themselves in the Chinese culture."

This is also what Keil would like to see.

At the awarding ceremony, children and their parents watched lion dances and enjoyed the performance of traditional Chinese musical instrument Guzheng.

Andrew Foster told Xinhua that Ava is going to the kindergarten next year in Mawson Primary School, and will do 2.5 days in Mandarin and 2.5 days in English a week.

"China is a big part of the Australian economy right now," he said, adding that the two countries have had a relationship for decades. "For sure it (learning Chinese culture and language) would be beneficial for Ava in the future...Maybe Ava could be a part of that relationship in some way."

Song Yanqun, minister-counselor for culture at the Chinese Embassy in Australia, said that the competition is special this year as 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. He hoped that the children could become "ambassadors" for cultural exchanges of the two countries and influence more people around them.

"The aim of the Panda Competition is to promote Chinese culture," he said. "When little children start getting to know about Chinese culture from a symbol, whether it is traditional accessory or musical instrument as was the theme in a previous edition, they embark on a journey, from understanding to love. It is a good way for cultural exchange."

"Children are the future," he added. "Understanding in each other's culture from an early age lays the foundation for friendship in the future. When they grow up, they might be scientists, doctors, teachers, social workers, etc. It would be good if they could play their different part in boosting the China-Australia friendship." 
The 18th National Congress of Chinas ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) is scheduled to start on Nov. 8.

The following are some major events in the country during the past five years since the CPCs 17th National Congress was convened, according to information provided by the Party History Research Center of the CPC Central Committee:



2007:

 From Oct. 15 to 21, the CPCs 17th National Congress was convened. The Scientific Outlook on Development was enshrined in the CPC Constitution.

 On Oct. 22, Hu Jintao was elected as general secretary of the 17th CPC Central Committee and named chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission at the first plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee.

Members of the newly elected Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 17th CPC Central Committee were Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.

 On Oct. 24, the country launched its first lunar probe. The circumlunar satellite Change-1 launched successfully and entered into orbit.

 On Nov. 15, the State Council announced China would conduct its second national economic census in 2008. Its major results were publicized on Dec. 25, 2009.

 From mid November to December, the countrys eight non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) conducted their leadership reshuffle.

The eight political parties were the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, China Democratic League, China National Democratic Construction Association, China Association for Promoting Democracy, Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, China Zhi Gong Dang, Jiu San Society and Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.

 From Dec. 3 to 5, China held its three-day Central Economic Work Conference.

The government decided to strengthen and improve macro-control, push forward reform and opening up, as well as technical innovation. It also decided to optimize economic structures and improve economic growth quality, enhance environmental protection and emission reduction. Additionally, it pledged to double its efforts in improving the livelihoods of people and facilitate social harmony, to promote sound and fast development of the national economy.

 On Dec. 31, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council publicized guidelines for enhancing the building of an agricultural infrastructure to promote development and increase farmers income.



2008:

 On Jan. 8, a ceremony was held to reward outstanding Chinese scientists with the State Top Scientific and Technological Awards. Five awarding ceremonies have been held since the CPCs 17th national congress. Hu Jintao has presented awards to 10 outstanding scientists.

 From Jan. 21 to 23, Hu called for enhancing Chinas soft power at a national conference on publicity and ideological work.

 From Feb. 25 to 27, the second plenary meeting of the 17th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee deliberated and adopted a document to deepen the reform of the administrative system and the Plan for Restructuring the State Council.

 From March 3 to 14, the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the countrys top advisory body, reelected Jia Qinglin as chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

 From March 5 to 18, the First Session of the 11th National Peoples Congress (NPC), the top legislature, elected Hu Jintao as president of the nation and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Wu Bangguo as the top legislator and Xi Jinping as the nations vice president. The meeting also decided to appoint Wen Jiabao as the premier and adopted the plan for institutional restructuring of the government.

 In mid-March, riotous activities of robbery, arson and vandalism occurred in Lhasa and other Tibetan regions. The Party and the government adopted resolute measures to control the situation and resume normal social order.

 On April 11, Hu made a keynote speech on Chinas reform, opening-up and global cooperation at the 2008 Boao Forum for Asia, held from April 11 and 13.

 On April 25, the First China-EU High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue was held in Beijing, attended by visiting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

 On April 29, while meeting with Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Lien Chan, President Hu called on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to establish mutual trust and to seek common ground while reserving differences so as to open a new prospect for cross-Strait relations.

 From May 6 to 10, President Hu visited Japan. China and Japan issued a joint statement on promoting a strategic partnership of mutual benefit.   On May 12, a deadly 8-magnitude earthquake occurred in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province, leaving nearly 70,000 people dead and 18,000 missing.

 On May 28, President Hu met KMT Chairman Wu Po-hsiung. The two sides reached consensus on developing CPC-KMT relations and cross-Strait relations.

 From June 11 to 14, a delegation headed by Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung visited Beijing and held talks with his mainland counterpart Chen Yunlin, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, marking the resumption of cross-Strait institutional consultations after a nine-year suspension. As of August 2012, the two sides had held eight rounds of talks and signed 18 agreements.

 From Aug. 8 to 24 and from Sept. 6 to 17, the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games were held, respectively, with China taking the top spot in the gold medal tally.

 On Aug. 20, the State Council, Chinas Cabinet, issued a document on the institutional restructuring of local governments, which was completed at the end of 2009.

 On Sept. 13, the State Council launched a first-level national emergency response to the Sanlu milk powder scandal, caused by the Sanlu Group, one of Chinas largest dairy makers, which produced infant formula adulterated with melamine. The Cabinet established a special committee on food safety on Feb. 6, 2010.

 On Sept. 16, Chinas first high-performance supercomputer Shuguang 5000A came off the assembly line in north Chinas port city of Tianjin. In 2009, Chinas Tianhe-1 supercomputer was confirmed to be the most powerful in the world and one of the few Petascale supercomputers globally.

 From Sept. 25 to 28, the Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft, with three astronauts on board, completed Chinas first space walk, making the country the third in the world to independently acquire the key space technology.

 From Oct. 9 to 12, the third plenary meeting of the 17th CPC Central Committee discussed and adopted a resolution on promoting rural reform and development.

 On Nov. 5, a State Council meeting discussed the impact of the international financial crisis on China and made the plan to invest 4 trillion yuan (about 641 billion U.S. dollars) in two years to stimulate the economy.

 On Dec. 15, the three direct links of shipping, air and postal services across the Taiwan Strait officially started, marking an historical step for the development of cross-Strait relations.

 On Dec. 18, China marked the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening-up drive at a commemorative congress.

 On Dec. 26, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship formation departed from Sanya, Hainan Province, to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia to conduct naval escort missions, the first such missions for China.



2009:

 From March 3 to 12, the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the countrys top advisory body, convened.

 From March 5 to 13, the second session of the 11th National Peoples Congress (NPC) was held. Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a government work report, putting forward that in 2009, the government should focus on tackling the international financial crisis and promoting steady and relatively fast economic growth.

 On March 17, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, Chinas Cabinet, issued a guideline on deepening healthcare reform.

 On May 26, President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, met with Wu Poh-hsiung, Taiwans Kuomintang (KMT) chairman at the time, in Beijing, offering suggestions on advancing cross-Strait relations from a new starting line.

 On April 10, the conference on deepening healthcare reform was convened and Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for providing a basic healthcare system to the people as a public product.

 On July 5, severe violence broke out in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in which rock-flinging and knife-wielding thugs looted shops, torched vehicles and killed nearly 200 people. The CPC Central Committee and the government took decisive measures, handled the incident in accordance with the law and maintained social stability.

 On July 27 and 28, the first round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held in Washington, D.C.

 On Aug. 27, the 10th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th NPC passed a resolution on tackling climate change.

 From Sept. 15 to 18, the fourth plenary session of the 17th CPC Central Committee was held, adopting the committees decisions on major issues concerning strengthening and improving Party building under the new situation.

 On Oct. 1, a grand celebration was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Peoples Republic of China. President Hu delivered a speech reviewing the great achievements made during the previous six decades, concluding on the good practices in the course of development and progress and looking into the future. About 200,000 soldiers and civilians participated in the military parade and mass pageant. President Hu reviewed the parade.

 From Nov. 15 to 18, U.S. President Obama paid a state visit to China and held talks with President Hu. China and the U.S. reiterated in the China-U.S. Joint Statement that both sides were committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century and promised to take concrete action to build a partnership to jointly cope with common challenges.

 From Dec. 5 to 7, the Central Economic Work Conference was held. It was stressed at the conference that China would continue to adopt the proactive fiscal policy and moderately easing monetary policy in the following year and endeavor to improve the quality of economic growth.

It was also stressed at the conference that more efforts would be made to promote the transformation of the economic development pattern and structural adjustments and to enhance the focus and flexibility of economic policy in the following year in line with new situations. More efforts would also be laid on furthering reform and opening up, making innovations, enhancing the vigor and momentum of economic growth, improving peoples livelihood and maintaining social harmony and stability in order to realize steady and relatively fast economic growth.

 On Dec. 17 and 18, Premier Wen delivered a speech titled Build Consensus and Strengthen Cooperation to Advance the Historical Process of Combating Climate Change at the opening session of the leaders meeting of the UN Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 On Dec. 20, President Hu attended a celebration marking the 10th anniversary of Macaos return to the motherland.



2010:

 On Jan. 1, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area went into effect.

 From Jan. 11 to 13, the fifth plenary session of the Communist Party of China (CPC) 17th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Partys anti-graft body, was held. President Hu Jintao addressed the meeting, urging greater efforts in the fight against corruption and the building of a clean government.

 On March 14, Chinas parliament, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), adopted an amendment to the Electoral Law granting equal representation in legislative bodies to rural and urban people.

 From March 31 to April 1, a bipartisan delegation from the United States visited Beijing to attend the first high-level dialogue with the CPC. It was also the first time for the two U.S. political parties to send a bipartisan delegation to China.

 From April 12 to 15, President Hu attended the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington and visited Brazil, where he also attended a meeting of the BRIC nations  Brazil, Russia, India and China  in Brasilia.

 On April 14, a 7.1-magnitude quake hit the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in northwest Chinas Qinghai Province, leaving at least 2,200 dead and 100,000 homeless.

On May 27, the State Council, Chinas Cabinet, released a guideline vowing to basically finish post-quake reconstruction in three years.

 From May 1 to Oct. 31, Expo 2010 was held in Shanghai, making history by drawing more than 73 million visitors and 246 participating countries, regions and international organizations.

 From May 17 to 19, a central work conference on Xinjiang was convened. During the conference, strategic plans were laid down for Chinas far west Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to achieve leapfrog development and lasting stability.

 From June 23 to 27, President Hu paid a state visit to Canada and attended the fourth summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) in Toronto.

 On June 29, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council released a document setting down plans for further implementing the strategy to develop the countrys western regions in the following ten years. A work conference was held on developing the countrys western regions from July 5 to 6.

 From July 7 to 20, top legislator Wu Bangguo visited France, Serbia and Switzerland. During his stay in Switzerland, he also attended the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, where he delivered an inaugural speech on the international communitys obligations in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

 On July 8, the National Plan for Medium and Long-term (2010-2020) Education Reform and Development was released.

 From July 13 to 14, a high-profile national work conference on education was held as President Hu urged the CPC and the whole country to give priority to education in their work while calling for the allocation of financing and public resources in favor of education and human resources development.

 On Aug. 8, a massive rain-triggered mudslide slammed Zhouqu County in northwest Chinas Gansu Province, leaving 1,472 dead and 294 missing. Later, on Oct. 18, the State Council unveiled a set of guidelines aimed at aiding in reconstruction work in the landslide-hit region.

 On Aug. 27, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged government officials at all levels to strictly follow the laws and regulations in a bid to steer away from corruption and ensure public good.

 On Sept. 6, Shenzhen, a southern coastal city neighboring Hong Kong, marked its 30th anniversary as Chinas first special economic zone. President Hu urged special economic zones to continue emancipating their minds and adhering to reform and opening up and spearhead in promoting scientific development and social harmony.

 From Sept. 21 to 23, Premier Wen attended the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals and the general debate of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, calling for common security and lasting world peace.

 On Oct. 10, the State Council released a guideline on strengthening lawful administration.

 From Oct. 15 to 18, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee was convened, approving proposal on drafting the 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015) for National Economic and Social Development. The session was told that China aims to achieve major breakthroughs in economic restructuring and maintain stable and relatively fast economic growth.

 On Oct. 28, the top legislature adopted a decision to appoint Vice President Xi Jinping as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.The social insurance law was also adopted on the same day.

 On Nov. 1, the 6th national census kicked off. On April 28, 2011, census data were released, showing that Chinas mainland population had reached 1.34 billion by Nov. 1, 2010.

 From Nov. 12 to 27, the 16th Asian Games were held in Guangzhou, seeing the participation of more than 14,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions. China, the host country, led the gold medal count as well as the overall medal count.

 From Dec. 10 to 12, the annual Central Economic Work Conference was held. According to a statement released after the meeting, China would enhance and improve macro-economic regulation to ensure stable and healthy economic development in 2011.

 From Dec. 12 to 19, the First Asian Para Games were held in Guangzhou.

 Chinas GDP reached 40.15 trillion yuan (6.43 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2010, making it the worlds second-largest economy.



2011:

 From Jan. 18 to 21, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the United States. He met with U.S. President Barack Obama and made a five-point proposal for enhancing bilateral ties. The two countries agreed to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit in a joint statement issued during the visit.

 From Feb. 19 to 23, a high-profile seminar on social management was held in Beijing for provincial and ministerial-level officials, at which President Hu Jintao, Vice President Xi Jinping, and Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered speeches.

Hu explained the importance and urgency of improving social management and the overall requirements for enhancing and innovating social management in a bid to stimulate vitality in society to the greatest extent, maximize factors conducive to harmony and minimize those detrimental to it.

 From March 3 to March 13, the 11th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the countrys top political advisory body, held its fourth annual session, at which CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin delivered a report.

 From March 5 to 14, the 11th National Peoples Congress (NPC), the countrys parliamentary body, held its fourth annual session, at which NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo delivered a report on the work of the NPC and Premier Wen Jiabao gave a government work report. Chinas 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) was adopted at the session.

 On April 10, China successfully launched the eighth satellite for its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network, the BeiDou Navigation System, or Compass, which marked the establishment of a basic system for the BeiDou.

 On June 30, Chinas top legislature adopted an amendment to the countrys individual income tax law. The amendment raised the monthly tax exemption threshold from 2,000 yuan (307.7 U.S. dollars) to 3,500 yuan.

 On July 1, China marked the 90th founding anniversary of the CPC with a grand gathering, at which President Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech.

In his speech, Hu reviewed the history of the CPC and the achievements it had made, summarized experiences it had created, and raised the goals of improving the CPC under new circumstances and elaborated on the principles of pushing forward socialism with Chinese characteristics at the critical moment.

He stressed holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, keeping to and expanding the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, sticking to and enriching the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and adhering to and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.

 On July 19, a rally was held in Lhasa celebrating the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Vice President Xi made a speech at the rally.

 On Sept. 29, China launched its first unmanned space lab module the Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft on Nov. 1. The two vehicles successfully conducted the first space docking on Nov. 3, and the spacecraft made a safe return to Earth on Nov. 17.

 On Oct. 5, 13 Chinese were killed after their ships were attacked in the Golden Triangle area of the Mekong River. Chinese police conducted a joint investigation into the case with related countries. Later, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand decided to set up the Law Enforcement Cooperation along the Mekong River Mechanism and begin joint patrols.

 On Oct. 9, China held a grand ceremony to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, which ended 2,000 years of imperial rule. In his keynote speech, President Hu said the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation must be achieved by adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics, with patriotism and by upholding peace, development and cooperation.

 On Oct. 15 to 18, the 17th Central Committee of the CPC held its sixth plenary session and approved a decision on deepening the reform of Chinas cultural system and promoting the development of the cultural industry, a move aimed at boosting the countrys soft power and maintaining cultural security.

Also at the session, the CPC Central Committee announced that the CPCs 18th national congress would be held in the second half of 2012 in Beijing.

 On Dec. 11, President Hu gave a keynote speech at a forum to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), pledging that China will implement a more proactive opening up strategy and open more areas to the world.

 From Dec. 12 to 14, the central economic work conference was held in Beijing. The conference agreed to set the main theme of economic and social development as making progress while maintaining stability and to maintain prudent monetary policy and proactive fiscal policy in 2012.



2012:

 From Jan. 6 to 7, a national financial work conference was held. Premier Wen Jiabao said at the conference that China would further open up its financial sector to the outside world in an independent, gradual, safe and win-win way in order to ensure the countrys economic and financial security.

 On Jan. 17, the National Bureau of Statistics said that the number of urban dwellers had hit 690.79 million as of the end of 2011 on the Chinese mainland, accounting for 51.27 percent of total population. For the first time, the urban population exceeded that of the rural areas.

 From Feb. 13 to 22, Vice President Xi Jinping paid official visits to the United States, Ireland and Turkey.

 From March 3 to March 13, the 11th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the countrys top political advisory body, held its fifth annual session.

 From March 5 to 14, the 11th National Peoples Congress (NPC) held its fifth annual session, at which a major amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law was adopted.

 On March 14, the CPC Central Committee announced that Zhang Dejiang had been appointed Party chief of Chongqing, replacing Bo Xilai.

On April 10, the CPC Central Committee said that it had decided to suspend Bos membership in the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the CPC Central Committee; meanwhile, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC would start an investigation.

 On March 22, President Hu Jintao met with Wu Po-hsiung, honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing.

 From April 26 to May 4, Vice Premier Li Keqiang paid official visits to Russia, Hungary, Belgium and the EU headquarters in Brussels.

 On May 4, China held a rally to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the Communist Youth League of China.

 On May 23, a symposium was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of a celebrated speech on art and literature delivered by late Chairman Mao Zedong at the former revolutionary base of Yanan on May 23, 1942.

 From May 30 to 31, the 3rd National Work Conference on pairing assistance projects to support Xinjiangs development was held. President Hu, Premier Wen, Vice President Xi, Vice Premier Li and senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang met delegates to the meeting. Li Keqiang and Zhou Yongkang delivered speeches.

 On June 16, China launched the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, when Liu Yang became the countrys first woman in space. The three-person crew successfully conducted the first manual space docking on June 24 before returning to Earth on June 29.

 From June 20 to 26, Premier Wen attended the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro. He also paid official visits to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.

 On June 21, the central government announced the establishment of the city of Sansha to administer the Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands and Nansha Islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea.

The move raised the administrative status of the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands from county-level to prefectural-level.

On July 24, a ceremony was held in Sansha to mark the official establishment of the city. The municipal governments seat is stationed on Yongxing Island, part of the Xisha Islands.

 On June 27, Chinas manned submersible the Jiaolong set a new national dive record after reaching 7,062 meters below sea level during its dive into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

 On June 30, the CPC announced that its members had surpassed 82.6 million in 2011.

 On July 1, President Hu addressed a gathering for the 15th anniversary of Hong Kongs return to China and the swearing-in ceremony of the fourth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

 On July 4, Chinas Three Gorges Dam, the worlds largest hydropower project, started operating at full capacity when the last of its 32 large turbine generators was put into operation, bringing its generating capacity to 22.5 million kilowatts.

 From July 19 to 20, the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing.

 From July 23 to 24, a high-profile workshop for ministerial officials and provincial heads was held. President Hu addressed the opening session and urged efforts in promoting the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Hu said that a decisive foundation should be laid in the next five years for the formation of a well-off society in an all-around way by 2020 before basically achieving socialist modernization by the middle of the century.

 From July 27 to Aug. 12, mainland athletes took 38 gold, 27 silver and 23 bronze medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

From Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, China grabbed 95 gold, 71 silver and 65 bronze medals during the London Paralympics.

 From Aug. 28 to 30, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi paid a state visit to China and met with President Hu.

 From Sept. 6 to 9, President Hu attended the 20th economic leaders meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Russia.

On Sept. 9, Hu met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on the sidelines of the forum and made clear Chinas position on its relations with Japan and on the Diaoyu Islands issue.

 From Sept. 9 to 23, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, paid official goodwill visits to Iran, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Fiji.

 On Sept. 10, the Chinese government issued a statement on the baselines of the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets.

On the same day, Chinas Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement to express firm opposition to, and strong protest against, the Japanese move of purchasing the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Nan Xiaodao and Bei Xiaodao as well as the implementation of the so-called nationalization of the islands.

On Sept. 13, Chinas permanent representative to the United Nations, Li Baodong, met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and filed a copy of the Chinese governments Diaoyu Islands baseline announcement with the United Nations, which includes charts showing straight baselines and archipelagic baselines as well as lists of geographical coordinates.

On Sept. 15, China released a string of geographic coordinates of the Diaoyu Island and 70 of its affiliated islets, as well as their location maps, three-dimension effect graphs and sketch maps for the Diaoyu Islands.

On Sept. 21, Chinese authorities released a list of standardized names for the geographic entities on Diaoyu Island and some of its affiliated islets, which also provided descriptions of the geographic locations of various mountains, creeks, capes and other geographic entities in the region.

On Sept. 25, the State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled Diaoyu Dao, an Inherent Territory of China.

 From Sept. 21 to 25, senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang paid visits to Singapore, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Zhous visit to Afghanistan marked the first time that a Chinese leader had set foot on the soil of the landlocked Asian country in 46 years.

 On Sept. 25, the Liaoning, Chinas first aircraft carrier, was delivered and commissioned to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

 On Sept. 28, the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau decided at a meeting to submit the proposal on the date of the 18th National Congress to the seventh plenary meeting of the 17th CPC Central Committee, which will be held on Nov. 1. It was proposed that the 18th National Congress of the CPC would convene on Nov. 8 in Beijing.

At the same meeting, an investigation report on Bo Xilais severe disciplinary violations, which had been submitted by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was deliberated over and adopted.

The Political Bureau decided to expel Bo from the CPC, remove him from public office and transfer his suspected law violations and relevant evidence to judicial organs for handling.

 On Oct. 11, Chinese writer Mo Yan won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature. Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun sent a congratulatory letter to the China Writers Association.

 On Oct. 22, the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau deliberated a draft report by the CPCs 17th Central Committee to the 18th CPC National Congress and a draft amendment to the CPC Constitution, which would both be tabled for the seventh Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for further review.

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China's special climate envoy Xie Zhenhua (left) and US climate envoy John Kerry (right) delivers speech during the COP27 summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Photos: AFP

Top climate officials from China and the US started talks after the leaders of both countries endorsed the resumption of communications on climate change, which scientists believe is expected to push the ongoing COP27 summit to be a venue for concrete results and may also point to a possible bilateral consensus at the summit.US climate envoy John Kerry and China's top climate official Xie Zhenhua met for about 45 minutes at the Chinese delegation's offices in the COP27 conference zone, the Associated Press reported.It quoted Kerry as saying "We had a very good meeting." It was "much too early" to talk about any remaining differences, he said. "But we're gonna go to work."The meeting came shortly after the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden on Monday. The two presidents agreed that the two countries will jointly work for the success of COP27.The two countries' communication on climate change was suspended after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's highly provocative visit to the island of Taiwan in August.The two leaders' meeting in Indonesia has assuaged conflicts at COP27, Li Shuo, a senior global policy adviser at Greenpeace China who is attending the summit, told the Global Times. Usually, a consensus on climate between China and the US, the two biggest emitters, can directly push forward multilateral progress during climate summits."Now that China and the US have resumed talks on climate change, it can also help push COP27 to reach a concrete result," said Li.Scientists are also optimistic that it is possible that reopening communication will translate into concrete agreements between Beijing and Washington at COP27, which is scheduled to end on November 18.I believe the two will reach a certain degree of consensus at the meeting, Guan Dabo, a professor from the Department of Earth System Science at Tsinghua University, who is also attending the summit, told the Global Times. The two countries should focus on how to cooperate to jointly lead the globe in achieving carbon neutrality around the mid of century. Further, the two countries should also think about the leadership in global financing system to prevent the risk of climate extremes, which affects both rich and poor countries, certainly the latter will be more vulnerable.Last year, before COP26 convened in Glasgow, China and the US issued a joint announcement in November, vowed to intensify their efforts on tackling global warming.However, the two are at loggerheads about some issues at this year's COP27 summit. The single largest issue facing negotiators in Egypt is whether to create a fund to help poor countries cope with the loss and damage from continuing climate disasters. The agenda item was proposed by Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, yet the US appears to be the most visible blocker of such a mechanism.Speaking at a sideline event last week, Xie said that Beijing is prepared to spend money to help poorer countries. "It is not China's responsibility, but we are willing to help," said Xie, while urging rich countries to pay the promised money.Despite hailing the progress in China-US cooperation on the climate as "shining point" at COP27, experts cast doubts on the stability and consistency of US promises on climate change.The impact of US domestic politics on its promise about climate change makes it hard for the US to make more promises on climate change, and may affect the stability of China's cooperation with the US on the issue, Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.Although Republicans' gains in the US midterms are unlikely to knock Biden's existing climate policies off course, experts still worry that the filibuster may undermine Washington's future climate efforts. Former president Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a bid to regain the presidency in 2024, and it was during his administration that the US pulled out of the Paris Agreement in 2017."The US instability on climate issues leaves room for China to play a larger role in leading climate issues globally, especially among developing countries," said Guan.The reason why climate change was among the first areas where China and the US resumed communications is because it is a less political issue between the two, Li Haidong said.Since the two restarted such communications, it is important that Washington stop weaponizing the issue, such as imposing sanctions on Xinjiang region's photovoltaic industry."The influence of domestic policy, plus the US tendency of using climate change as a weapon to crack down on China, makes Washington the obstacle for bilateral cooperation," said Li Haidong.
A model of Leonardo's AW169 helicopter is embassy suite las vegas nevadadisplayed during the fifth CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 6. [Photo/China Daily]

Leonardo, a Rome, Italy-based global player in the aerospace sector, has made significant investments in China through its helicopter division and deeply explored the potential of the China market since it participated in the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai in 2018.

Four years ago, the company demonstrated its super-medium, twin-engine helicopter AW189 during the first CIIE and after that, Leonardo signed sales contracts with local Chinese partners for eight AW189 helicopters.

Beijing police placed an order for two AW189 helicopters for law enforcement, search and rescue, and firefighting purposes in the Beijing metropolitan area. The other six AW189 helicopters will be delivered to the rescue and salvage bureau of the Ministry of Transport.

The fifth CIIE, which was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, witnessed the delivery of the first AW189 to Beijing police for firefighting and rescue purposes, and all of the above-mentioned AW189 helicopters will be delivered within 2023, Leonardo said.

Currently, various government and civil operators in China fly more than 120 Leonardo helicopters, and those aircraft are mainly used for law enforcement, firefighting, offshore services, emergency services, and search and rescue, it said.

Leonardo considers China as one of the most important and strategic helicopter markets in the world, the company said. It has developed a local service network to provide proximity to Chinese operators with a team of localized customer support managers and technicians.

In 2020, the establishment of Leonardo's subsidiary in China  Leonardo China  showed its willingness to deeply invest and grow in the country, and the subsidiary will help expedite the response speed to local customers.

Leonardo has also established a bonded warehouse to provide spare parts for all kinds of helicopter models in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone, satisfying a growing demand for spare parts in the country. Leonardo is also evaluating the possibility of establishing a training academy in China, which will provide local training services to Chinese customers.

For maintenance and technical support, Jiangxi Changhe Agusta Helicopter Co Ltd, a joint venture between Leonardo and Jiangxi Changhe Aviation Industry Co Ltd, serves as the authorized service center of Leonardo in China. It has been a qualified maintenance organization acknowledged by domestic operators and can provide integral customer support services. Since the first CIIE, the joint venture has extended its repair and maintenance capabilities to all series of Leonardo helicopters, including the recently delivered model AW189.

With robust demand for helicopters in China and relatively small fleet size, investment from foreign helicopter operators has continued to pour into one of the last underdeveloped industries in the country.

Currently, major foreign helicopter manufacturers operating in the Chinese civil turbine market also include US-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, as well as Russian Helicopters JSC, according to business aviation consultancy Asian Sky Group.
HANGZHOU,barstool online casino Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- About 150 guests shared their views on the improved dissemination of Belt and Road stories at the "2022 New Silk Road Story Exchange Keqiao Forum" on Tuesday in Keqiao District of Shaoxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province.

Wang Hao, governor of Zhejiang, said Zhejiang will comprehensively deepen its trade, industrial, scientific and technological cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges, under the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the province will broaden its development space through high-level opening-up to help with its common prosperity and modernization efforts.

Lyu Yansong, editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, said as a collaborative endeavor, the Belt and Road Initiative has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and a cooperation platform. Xinhua has in recent years pooled wisdom and efforts from various sides to become a promoter of the high-quality development of the Belt and Road, a narrator of vivid stories, and a communicator for people-to-people bonds, he added.

The exports of Keqiao, famous for its textile industry, increased by 25.9 percent year on year to 96.67 billion yuan (13.73 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of this year. The district's exports to Belt and Road countries and regions hit 56.22 billion yuan, up 28.2 percent year on year.

The Keqiao Forum was sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and the people's government of Zhejiang Province. It also launched a global collection of Belt and Road stories. 
From January 15. to February 28.,top casinos party poker michigan 2014, Chongqing will dispatch six cultural delegations to seven countries, celebrating Spring Festival with Chinese people living in foreign countries, according to Chongqing Commission of Culture on January 14.

The Joyful Spring Festival is an activity initiated by the Ministry of Culture as a key dissemination project reaching all over the world for the Chinese New Year celebration.

Chongqing will organise a team composed of the Municipal Singing and Dancing Troupe, the Three Gorges Sichuan Opera Troupe, and the Municipal Opera and give performances in foreign cities like San Francisco in the USA, Paris in France and Madrid in Spain. Local people will not only be able to have a close look at abstract cultural heritages of Chongqing, like the wood blocks and paper cuttings, but also enjoy traditional Chinese shows, face changing and the dragon dance.

Chen Siyan

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Chinas flood control authority on Thursday initiated a Level III emergency response,yesterday daily lotto results up from Wednesdays Level IV, to cope with possible flooding as typhoon Kai-Tak approaches the countrys southern regions.

Local governments should closely monitor Kai-Tak, issue warnings in a timely manner and take all measures to ensure peoples safety, said the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Kai-Tak is forecast to make landfall in coastal regions of Guangdong Province at noon or during the morning of Friday, bringing heavy rain and gales to the countrys southern parts, according to China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

The flood control authority has asked local governments to call ships back to harbor, reinforce outdoor facilities, relocate fishermen and marine staff and strengthen inspections on reservoirs and dikes to prevent breaches.

It said the headquarters has dispatched three working groups to Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan to help coordinate flood relief efforts.

Also on Thursday, Chinese marine environment authorities upgraded the alert about sea waves and storm surges to the highest level of red for Kai-Tak.

The move was made at 4 p.m., eight hours after the previous upgrade in the morning, the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center said in a report.

The center uses a four-tier color-coded wave warning system, with red being the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Typhoon Kai-Tak, the 13th typhoon of this year, was about 545 km to the southeast of Zhanjiang city of Guangdong Province at 5 p.m., according to the CMA.

The report forecast that from Thursday evening to Friday, northern waters in the South China Sea will produce waves six to eight meters high, while waters off coastal areas in Guangdong will see waves four to six meters high.

The neighboring Hainan and Guangxi will also witness 2.5- to 3.5-meter-high waves during the same period, according to the forecast.

The center also issued a red alert of storm surges at the southern coastal area of Guangdong, with a forecasted surge of 50 to 250 cm from Thursday evening to Friday afternoon.

The center warned local authorities and the public to take precautionary measures and intensify safety checks on fishing facilities.

Earlier on Thursday, the CMA also raised its emergency response on Kai-Tak to Level II from IV.

The CMA forecast that Kai-Tak would cause heavy rain and gales in coastal areas.

The southern part of Guangdong will be hit hardest as precipitation in some regions is expected to reach 250 to 300 mm, while areas of southern Fujian and Guangxi, most parts of Guangdong, and northern Hainan will see strong downpours, said the CMA report issued at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

The administration urged local governments to monitor possible flooding and landslides in mountainous districts, as well as helping evacuate dilapidated housing and halting massive rallies to avoid casualties.

It also asked local flood control authorities to call back ships and reinforce port facilities to mitigate economic losses.

Since the start of August, several typhoons, including Saola, Damrey and Haikui, have hit southeast China, leaving 51 dead and 21 missing, according to the countrys Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Xinhua

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Bad news for Jade Cargo: Lufthansa pulls itself out from the cargo company backed by Shenzhen Airlines. Theres no more flights of Jade Cargo until further notice.

It was only a small glimmer of hope, as of Monday this week, the partners involved, Shenzhen Airlines and Lufthansa had temporarily parked the fleet because of weak demand around the Christmas holidays.

But the return to heaven is no more. In a brief letter, Lufthansa Cargos freight department stated that theres no flights of Jade freighter anymore until further notice. This gives Lufthansa the final out of the joint venture, said the industry circles.

A spokesman for Lufthansa Cargo declined to comment on this information upon request. However, the wording of the brief letter to the customer leaves no room for interpretation. We thank you for the support to Jade Cargo in the past and hope that we can count on your support in the future, writes Lufthansa in the letter.

Jade Cargo was founded in 2004. The company has six Boeing 747 and 390 employees. Lufthansa has been involved in the joint venture with 25 percent shares, another 24 percent was hold by a subsidiary of the state development bank KfW, the majority of 51 percent is hold by Shenzhen Airlines.

The hopes were high. China is a huge market, dominated by massive imports and exports. Lufthansa wanted to cut a big piece of jade of this cake.

The company came belatedly into operation in 2006. The joint venture has suffered a series of problems from the beginning. First, missing equipment, then licenses for the pilots. The biggest problem was always the liquidity of Jade Cargo. Industry sources said the company has been able to realize only 20 percent of the targeted sales. The debt would have reached a three-digit million amount, the revenue was not even last for the fuel bill.

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The Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said on Sunday in a written interview with the Washington Post that the Sino-US relations were one of the most important, dynamic and promising bilateral relations in the world.

Xi put it this way before his visit to the United States. He left Beijing on Monday to complete the official visit to the United States, Ireland and Turkey.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the U.S. President Nixons visit to China. The leaders of both countries, statesmen with extraordinary wisdom and vision, have reopened the door of Sino-US exchanges forty years ago, Xi said.

The China-United States relationship has made historic progress, bringing benefits to both countries and their people.

In 2011, trade between China and the U.S. reached $ 440 billion, against $ 7.7 billion in 1985 when I visited for the first time in the United States, recalled the Chinese Vice President.

Everything that took place over the last forty years shows that healthy and strong Sino-US relationship is important for both countries and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and world, he said.

During the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the United States in January 2011, the leaders of both countries agreed to establish a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

It is difficult to avoid conflicts and disputes in our trade and economic interactions, said Mr. Xi. The key is to properly handle the disputes through coordination based on equality, mutual benefit, understanding and prevent such conflicts and disputes to undermine the overall interest of Sino-American trade cooperation, he noted.

China and the United States share more common interests in the Asia-Pacific than in any other region. In recent years, the two countries have closely coordinated their efforts in the framework of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Regional Forum of the Southeast Asian Association (ASEAN). We have strengthened the communication and cooperation on regional economic integration, fight against terrorism, poverty and transnational crimes, prevention of natural disasters and regional hot issues, which greatly contributed to peace and prosperity in Asia Pacific.

The vast Pacific Ocean has enough space to China and the United States, Xi said, welcoming the constructive role of the United States in promoting peace, stability and regional prosperity. He also hoped that the United States fully respect and take into consideration the vital interests and the legitimate concerns of the Asia-Pacific.

Today, the negative impact of the global financial crisis and debt crisis in Europe continues to expand. Regional hot issues occur regularly, traditional and nontraditional threats to security are intertwined. In this circumstance, it is vital for China and the United States to communicate, coordinate their efforts to cooperate more closely and work together to play a constructive and responsible role in maintaining and promoting peace, stability and development of the world, said the Chinese vice president.

Xi Jinping: Sino-US relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the worldadded by chinatimesonline on

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Beijings plan to build low-cost housing for residential use has attracted wide attention since last month. Intended buyers can apply for the first batch of flats through a lottery by the end of this m bet sure tips video poker casinomonth, the Beijing News reports.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development unveiled its plan to supply 70,000 units of low-cost housing within two years, at least 20,000 of which will be provided by the end of this year.

The first project will be launched in Chaoyang Districts Dougezhuang area by the end of this month that will provide more than 2000 units of low-cost flats to the area. Intended residents need to register and take part in the lottery for the homes on sale.

The low-cost housing units for residential use are mainly 90 square-meter flats, with some middle-sized units not exceeding 140 square meters. Each flat will be sold at 30 percent below market price. Likewise, the total price for any single unit will be controlled within two million yuan.

Eligibility for the housing lottery is extended to those with permanent residence inBeijingwho do not own a flat and to those who are registered outside the city that meet relevant requirements.

Sun Wanming

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Chongqing has allocated a special fund of 800 million yuan to counties and districts in order to promote the development of micro-,asia bookie tips freebet pokerstar small- and medium-sized enterprises there.

Chongqing Municipal Government has set up a special fund of 2 billion yuan in line with the 1+3 policy which is for private enterprises.

The total of 2 billion yuan will be used for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on liquidity loan discount, encouraged industrial investment loan discount, subsidies for independent innovation platform construction, financial subsidies for industrialization projects of major scientific and technological achievements, and rental subsidies for newly founded SMEs and micro enterprises and so on.

Deng Jun

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New concepts for understanding the world will be presented at an international security forum in Beijing later this global poker free olg slot winnersweek, as previous ones promoted by the West can no longer adapt to reality, the forums organizer said on Monday.

The participants are expected to come up with some new concepts for understanding the world, Yan Xuetong, dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, told a press briefing in the lead-up to the seventh World Peace Forum.

The forum has brought together veteran politicians and leading think-tankers from around the world every year since 2012.

According to Yan, the theme for this years event is Constructing a Security Community: Equality, Equity, and Justice.

He said participants will discuss ways to cope with not only conventional security threats, but also unconventional ones, especially those in the economic sphere.

If all nations have a common need for economic security, then building a shared community of security should be taken into consideration, Yan said.

Main topics of discussion at the upcoming forum, the scholar said, are related to re-evaluating major country relations, the relationship between multilateralism and unilateralism, as well as the role of regional organizations in global security.

Regarding conventional security issues, the forum will focus on persistent challenges to the international order, the wave of anti-establishment thought, relations between major countries, nuclear nonproliferation, and combating terrorism, according to a press release.

Trade disputes and economic security will be new hotspot topics in unconventional security issues, while artificial intelligence and its impact on international politics will also be included in the discussion.

Notable ex-politicians invited to the forum this year include former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and former president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy.

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Li Zhanshu,zort coin market cap qh esports chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Gustavo Porras, head of Nicaragua's National Assembly, via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Wednesday held talks with Gustavo Porras, head of Nicaragua's National Assembly, via video link.

Stressing the key role of mutual political trust and support in maintaining the development of bilateral relations, Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said China will continue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and build bilateral ties into a paradigm of friendly cooperation and common development between countries of different sizes with varied national conditions.

The two countries resumed diplomatic ties in December last year on the basis of the one-China principle, which Li said opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.

China highly appreciates Nicaragua's support in issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, and believes Nicaragua will continue to back China's endeavor of justice to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Li said.

China will firmly support Nicaragua's efforts in defending its national sovereignty and dignity and exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, he said.

He said China is ready to synergize development strategies with Nicaragua, explore more drivers of cooperation, and carry out people-to-people exchanges.

The NPC is willing to enhance cooperation with Nicaragua's National Assembly, speed up the improvement of relevant laws concerning investment cooperation, and strengthen coordination on multilateral occasions, he said.

Porras said Nicaragua will firmly uphold the one-China principle, and strengthen cooperation with China in various fields.

Nicaragua's National Assembly is ready to deepen friendly exchanges with the NPC to contribute to the development of bilateral relations, he added. 

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Gustavo Porras, head of Nicaragua's National Assembly, via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
A large Sino-Euro trade center is to rise according to the news released by Liangjiang New Area management committee of Chongqing on July 13, 2012.

The trade center contains six areas, namely, Sino-Euro shopping section, global brand harbor, exhibition and exchange center of European commodities, logistics & distribution center of imported goods, bonded warehouse of exported goods, and related equipment and facilities according to the initial plan.

Of all six areas, Sino-Euro city of commerce and trade, covering about 6 square kilometers, will be a retail and consumption center in Chongqing for European commodities with over 100 top global brands introduced. The exhibition and exchange center of imported goods as biggest inland center located in Yuelai Expo Hall will launch order transaction and wholesale business such as importing high-end consumer goods and medical equipment. It is also scheduled to kick off the construction of the Euro commodities exhibition, approx. 33 thousand square meters, in 2012. And the relevant commodities on sale covers imported food, daily necessities, maternal and infant supplies, garment, cosmetics, and electronic products. It is worth to note that the warehouse of this exchange center is located in Lianglu Cuntan Bonded Port, Chongqing, so the price is 20% to 40% lower than that of shopping mall.

Tan Jiangang

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The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has signed an agreement with Chinas Avic to assemble its jet model Legacy in Harbin. The first delivery is scheduled for late 2013.

Embraer and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) announced their continued partnership in Harbin as part of a new joint venture agreement. It aims to assemble two models in China: the Legacy 600 and Legacy 650, which belong to the category of super mid-size jets and broad jet respectively.

The first draft should leave the assembly line in Harbin in late 2013. It will be delivered to ICBC Financial Leasing Co., a subsidiary of the Chinese bank ICBC, which signed an order for 10 jets. With this contract, Embraer has received 159 orders for business jets and regional aircraft in China including 20 Legacy jets.

This announcement marks another step in Embraers presence in China and bilateral relations between Brazil and China. Our president believe our partnership with Avic is a model of a south-south cooperation, said Frederico Curado, CEO of the Brazilian manufacturer.

Embraer entered China in 2000, opening a representative office in Beijing. In 2002 it joined Avic to launch the assembling of the ERJ 145, a 50-seat regional aircraft in Harbin, as part of a first joint venture. The plant is designed to provide Chinese airlines. But in several months, the site became idle for lack of new orders.

Embraer and AVIC will give new life to the factory of Harbin by transforming the assembly line of the ERJ 145 to the model Legacy that was developed based on the ERJ 135, a 35-seat regional jet.

Embraer will build its strength in Chinese domestic market. it also wants to break into the segment of business aviation. According to Embraer, deliveries of business jets is expected to reach 635 over the next decade.

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Themega moolah du captain cooks casino Chinese path to modernization aims to meet the expectations of the people, it requires the pursuit of the dream of achieving rejuvenation and it exerts influence upon the world with a global vision, said Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily.

Qu made the comments when addressing the Vision China session on Wednesday about his ideas on the Chinese path to modernization.

This concept was enshrined in the report delivered at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month. It has grabbed global attention and is viewed as an important concept for decoding the Chinese path and envisioning China's future.

Speaking about the target of the Chinese path to modernization, Qu noted that the concept upholds the people-centered philosophy of development.

"People" stands out as a keyword throughout the report, such as "put the people first", and some foreign media organizations have commented that every ambition and goal of the CPC is all about the people, he noted.

"Winning the fight against poverty as scheduled, holistically managing both the epidemic response and economic and social development, meeting the people's ever-growing need for a better life  all these efforts honor the tenets of the Party and the government: that is, 'serving the people'," he said.

Elaborating on the approach of the Chinese path to modernization, Qu said the Chinese path to modernization "is a natural choice for marching toward rejuvenation", because "it is the common pursuit of various countries to achieve modernization".

China is working to achieve modernization for more than 1.4 billion people, and "this is a task of unparalleled difficulty and complexity. It inevitably means that our pathways for development and methods of advancement will be unique," he added.

"The CPC writes new chapters in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times, and charts the Chinese path to modernization."

Qu highlighted the need for "a global vision" when envisioning the implications of the Chinese path to modernization, as the concept and efforts to realize it will offer "more Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions and Chinese strength to the world".

The CPC "is also a party that pursues progress for humanity and common good for the whole world", he said. The Party works to absorb and draw from the essence of other human civilizations, and it embarks on exchanges and mutual learning of experiences in development with other countries, he added.

By pursuing the Chinese path to modernization, the CPC "is blazing a great trail and providing a new choice for mankind to realize modernization", he said.
China announced Friday a contraction of foreign trade in January, Chinese New Year celebrations and the crisis in Europe have affected exports, while imports suffer from weak domestic demand, analysts said.

Imports from China totaled 122.6 billion dollars, down 15.3% year on year, while exports reached 149.9 billion USD, down 0.5%, reported General Administration of Customs.

Chinas trade surplus thus stood at $ 27.3 billion, against $ 16.5 billion in December.

The decline in exports and imports in January were partly related to Chinese New Year, which fell on January 23 this year, and the debt crisis in Europe, the first market for Chinese exporters.

Chinas trade with the EU was down 7.1% year on year, down by 3.9% with the U.S. and by 18.4% with Japan.

The trade fugure has increased with some emerging countries, including a jump of 26.8% with Russia.

The Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming warned Thursday that the numbers would be bad.

Exports in January can not make us optimistic, he said in comments, reported on the website of the ministry.

The Chinese trading companies, especially small and very small businesses, are under increasing pressure, he added.

China has recorded its worst foreign trade figures from the worst of the financial crisis of 2008-2009, said Alistair Thornton, economist at IHS Global Insight, based in Beijing.

The government has been trying for several years to rebalance an economy overly dependent on exports and investment towards more domestic demand by increasing household consumption, but rebalancing has not yet been initiated during the year.

Lu Ting, an analyst at Bank of America  Merrill Lynch, for his part considers that the weakness of Chinas foreign trade in January was due to the New Year holidays and calculated that if taking into account the number of working days, exports had increased year on year by 28.7% and imports by 10%.

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Visitors check out Bayer products during the fifth CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 6. [ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY]

As an old friend of the just-concluded China International Import Expo,best online slots bonus German agricultural and healthcare group Bayer AG said that its business benefits from the expo, which accelerates its momentum to tap into China's vast market and carry out locally inspired innovation breakthroughs.

Werner Baumann, chairman of Bayer AG's board of management, said, "As a five-time participant, we are honored to be both a participant and a beneficiary of the CIIE, with faster-than-expected new product launches in the past four years."

Baumann said that on a global scale, China is one of Bayer's most reliable and robust growth engines. This year marks the group's 140th year in China. Taking the opportunities brought by the CIIE, two major projects in the country will materialize.

"The new production lines of the prescription drug production capacities of our Beijing pharmaceuticals product supply center are set to become operational in the middle of next year. This will increase the annual output of the Beijing site by 40 percent, ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality prescription drugs for more Chinese patients," he said.

In addition, he noted that Bayer Crop Science, another arm of the group, had inked an investment intention deal with Qiantang district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, for a new production site scheduled to begin construction soon.

According to the company, the production site is designed to meet consumer demand from China and the Asia-Pacific. It is also designed to meet Bayer's 2030 sustainability goals while supporting China's low-carbon development path through a series of advanced technologies and initiatives.

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Singapore based domain registrar IP MIRROR to provide China domain service for overseas registrants. With effect from Monday 13 Feb 2012, 09:00 hrs (GMT +8), individuals and organisations registered in United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia will be able to directly own China domains including any level .CN, . . and .. without subscribing to any Local Presence service. Upon passing CNNICs auditing process,3 card poker tips tricks these domain names will be allowed to resolve to active websites and email addresses by removal of server-hold status.

Notice of Correction: Registrants for Active China Domain Names Must Be Organisations

There was an error in the newsflash released by IP MIRROR on 11 Feb 2012. Please be informed that this new launch for resolvable China domain names for overseas registrants is only applicable to ORGANISATIONS only, and NOT individuals.

(See report CNNIC.CN)

Domain names registered by foreign entities can be activated for live sites after having passed CNNICs auditing. These sites are expected to remain compliant to CNNIC policies governing website contents throughout their lifetime or risk suspension by CNNIC if discovered to be non-compliant at any time.

CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center), the administrative agency responsible for Chinas Internet affairs, suspended Chinese individuals and foreign entities registering .cn domains in January 2010, after a series of radical market promotions in which .cn domains were sold at the price of 1 yuan for the first year. In its attempt to save the reputation of Chinas domains, CNNIC announced an indefinite suspension all .CN registrations from overseas registrars in 2010. The active .cn websites have significantly decreased since the suspension.

Applicants under this new scheme will be requested to submit the following:

Registrant business registration number

Identification (ID) number of the contact person. Contact ID provided must be identical to data provided in Registrant Contact field for the respective domain name.

Scanned coloured copy of the Registrants business certificate in .jpg format, max. file size 500KB

Scanned coloured copy of the contact persons ID, in .jpg format, max. file size 500KB

Scanned coloured copy of Letter of Commitment, in .jpg format, max. file size 500KB

Valid ICP Number if websites are hosted in servers located in China

The new offer of IP MIRROR has been made available to Registrants in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Australia only.

.CN domain names available for overseas registrants againadded by chinatimesonline on

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Chinese surveillance ships are continuing to exercise the countrys jurisdiction over waters around the Diaoyu island and its affiliated islets. Its a move that follows the countrys declaration of its territorial baselines on the area.

6 Chineses surveillance ships are continuing patrols around the Diaoyu islands. Officials said the the law enforcement in the waters has been successful.

Xiao Huiwu,big 21 casino topbet app download Deputy Chief of China Marine Surveillance Headquarters, said, Surveillance ships have claimed Chinas jurisdiction over waters around Diaoyu islands, in accordance with the original plan.

3 coast guard ships and 3 helicopters from Japan followed and monitored the Chinese ships, attempting to intercept Chinas patrol activities last Friday.

But no confrontation between the two sides was reported.

Xiao said, We warned them not to infringe on our sovereignty, and successfully drove them away. The China Marine Surveillance began regular maritime patrol in 2006. It is now comprised of more than 300 boats and 9 oceanic surveillance planes.

The China surveillance flagship Number 50, which began patrolling Diaoyu islands waters back in March, is the most technically advanced surveillance ship in the country. It is equipped with helicopters, and can complete a full angle turnaround. Unlike Japans Coast Guard, China Marine Surveillances equipment is not equipped with heavy weapons.

Officials from China Marine Surveillance said the fleets will continue to patrol waters around the Diaoyu islands, and will step up law enforcement activities even fruther over the next several days.

cntv

China claims success in patrolling Diaoyu Islandsadded by chinatimesonline on

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01:29

Thebetmgm app android ma online poker 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party opens on October 16 in Beijing ahead of the 2022 G20 summit held in Bali, Indonesia in November.

Relations between the world's top two economies are expected to be part of the discussions at the summit amid escalating global challenges.

Can China and the U.S. improve bilateral relations and reach common ground? CGTN spoke to an analyst about the complex U.S.-China relationship.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
The French government has welcomed the decision made by the World Trade Organization on Chinas appeal for its restrictive policies in the export of certain raw materials (bauxite, coke, fluorine, magnesium, manganese, silicon, carbon silicon metal, yellow phosphorus and zinc). The European Union had initiated proceedings in 2009, which resulted in a condemnation of China in 2011 at first instance.

The Chinas policies created a distortion of competition by increasing world prices and thus ensuring the benefit of Chinese companies more competitive prices, especially in the sectors of steel, aluminum and chemicals. These measures penalize our companies and the consumers, said in a statement of the French Ministry of Industry.

French government welcomed WTO decision against Chinas restrictive export policiesadded by chinatimesonline on

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Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday the Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of Chinas territory and China will absolutely make no concession on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Despite repeated solemn representations of China, the Japanese government announced Monday it would purchase part of Chinas Diaoyu Islands from private Japanese owners and bring the islands under state control.Also Monday, Premier Wen pledged China wont back down on issues surrounding the Diaoyu Islands.

The Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of Chinas territory, and the Chinese government and its people will absolutely make no concession on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wen said while addressing an inauguration ceremony for a statue of late Chinese leaders Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

China has repeatedly told Japan that it holds a firm stance that the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets have been an inalienable part of Chinas territory since ancient times, and that any of Japans unilateral moves against Chinese nationals is illegal and invalid.

The Chinese government and its people cherish their countrys hard-won national sovereignty and dignity more than anybody, Wen told the students, noting that China has maintained such a firm and unyielding character even in situations of extreme hardship.

cntv

Absolutely no concession on Diaoyu Islands, says Chinese premieradded by chinatimesonline on

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HEFEI,feedinco predictions the top bet Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The teachings of Laozi, a Chinese sage who founded the Taoism school of philosophical thought over 2,500 years ago, are still relevant today.

"The greatest virtue is just like water, nurturing all things without competing with them." "The more that one expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself"... Laozi's words of wisdom are well-remembered, providing inspiration and guidance to modern-day Chinese.

"It is our duty to inherit and carry forward the fine elements of Laozi's thoughts and Taoism," said Mu Ying, director of the Laozi research institute in Guoyang County, east China's Anhui Province. It is believed that Laozi had spent a long time of his life in Guoyang.

Mu noted that the institute has set up a volunteer team of more than 300 people to carry out various activities related to the study of Taoism, such as the one in which some 10,000 people gathered to read aloud Laozi's work -- Tao Te Ching.

The thoughts of Taoism have also been integrated into the education of school children. Zhang Suqin, principal of Guoyang County No. 7 Primary School, said the school has arranged for children of all grades to learn traditional Chinese classics, including Tao Te Ching, since last September.

"The good qualities advocated in Tao Te Ching will be a guiding light for children throughout their lives," Zhang said.

Yin Dongdong, who heads a local charity organization in Guoyang and has worked in the public welfare system for 16 years, said Laozi's thoughts had a profound impact on his career choices.

The wisdom of Laozi has also attracted attention internationally. Since 2017, four international symposiums on Laozi and Taoism have been held in Guoyang, attracting scholars from Japan and France to join discussions with Chinese experts on the global implications of Taoism in modern times.

"Tao Te Ching has been translated into many languages including English, German, French and Spanish, and has a huge circulation around the world," Mu said. "The fine traditional Chinese culture has the power to transcend time and space." 
The 7th Central China Expo, an important event for contract-signing and investment in Chinas central regions, started Friday in Changsha, capital of Hunan province.

More than 30,000 businessmen from 73 countries and regions, including business executives of Carrefour, Citibank, Messer, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, are attending the three-day event.

The expo aims to boost foreign and domestic investment in the central regions, which China has planned to build into favorable destinations for industrial transfers from coastal regions, at a time of economic slowdown.

Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, and Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico were present at the expos opening ceremony.

China revealed The rise of central China strategy in 2004, following similar strategies for the west and northwest of the country, amid efforts to achieve more balanced development in different regions.

The six central provinces of Shanxi, Anhui, Henan, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei are home to one-fourth of Chinas population and account for one-fifth of the countrys economic output.

Xinhua

Central China Expo kicks off in Hunanadded by chinatimesonline on

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Hong Kongs pro-Beijing parties have emerged as the victors in Sundays local elections. After a tumultuous few weeks in Hong Kong politics that saw rolling anti-government protests, the divided pan-democratic movement struggled to capitalize on its grassroots support.

The build-up to Sundays election was a tense affair, with tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside Hong Kong government headquarters just hours before polling stations opened.

Demonstrators demanded the repeal of a mandatory moral and national education curriculum aimed at encouraging Chinese patriotism in Hong Kong schools.

Saturday night, Leung Chun Ying relented. The head of the Hong Kong government, rocked by 10 days of protests and hunger strikes, announced the classes would not be compulsory.

The introduction of moral and national education, specified in the policy that my government inherited, is not something of our making. As soon as we realized there were opposing views in the community, I quickly dealt with the issue, said Leung.

As election results were announced Monday, it appeared Leungs decision to backtrack on the controversial plan had paid political dividends.

The largest party in the legislature  the pro-Beijing DAB  gained three directly-elected district seats. Pan-democratic parties won 18 district-based seats, one less than 2008.



Pro-Beijing electoral system

In part, this may have been because of the idiosyncrasies of an electoral system that is weighted in favor of pro-Beijing parties, suggests Professor Ma Ngok of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The pro-democracy camp got an upper hand in overall vote share, but actually the gap has been diminishing. So this election shows the pro-establishment camp has a very effective way of dividing the vote. In the end they [won] more seats than their vote deserves, said Ma.

Analysts say the four pro-democracy parties appeared to suffer at the polls from in-fighting and the lack of a cohesive political strategy.

Nonetheless, taking into account functional constituency seats  voted on by minority interest, typically pro-Beijing professional groups  the pan democrats expanded their voting base beyond 24 seats in the newly enlarged 70-seat council.

Professor Michael DeGolyer of Hong Kong Baptist University said those results suggest the public continues to view the democrats as best placed to push the government in key policy areas, particularly on poverty alleviation.

The one clear winner out of this race so far are people you might classify as pro-labor or pro-poor, said DeGolyer. You really get a very strong block now in which the wealth gap is a number one live issue. And that is a big shift [in Hong Kong.]



Tilting toward labor, democracy

Hong Kong has the most pronounced rich-poor divide of any developed city in the world. Residents have become increasingly vocal about wealthy Chinese visitors driving up living costs and putting pressure on local infrastructures like transportation and health services.

Improving the minimum wage and the availability of affordable housing are key issues among many in the city. There also is the long-term goal among democrats of universal suffrage and loosening Beijings control over the city.

Margaret Ng is a respected democratic lawmaker who retired from politics at this election.

You will find very few people in Hong Kong of Chinese origin who do not regard themselves as Chinese, said Ng. Our roots are very deep. But we want the China we believe in to be democratic, open and to respect freedoms.

Chinas National Peoples Congress indicated in 2007 that universal suffrage could be introduced in Hong Kong before elections for the citys next leader in 2017.

But as that date approaches, there are concerns the Hong Kong government will backtrack on the plan, passing laws to prevent future councils from being elected entirely on the principle of one-person, one-vote.

While pan-democrat parties were disappointed in their results Monday, they won enough seats to preserve a critical voting minority that allows them to block any efforts to stop the move towards full democracy.

Ivan Broadhead

In Hong Kong election, Democrats gain despite Pro-Beijing reboundadded by chinatimesonline on

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The Swiss Transport Minister Doris Leuthard took the inaugural flight Swiss Zurich  Beijing to visit five ministers of China and intensify bilateral collaboration.

Switzerland has come close to Beijing in early February, and the Sino-Helvetic relations are looking good. Doris Leuthard has arrived with the first flight of the new Swiss direct link between Zurich and Beijing.

The Minister has left China two days later, pockets full of new collaborative projects. Bilateral trade between the two countries is flourishing, the proposed free trade agreement is progressing well and Chinese tourists are more likely than ever to visit Switzerland.



Historical connection

Swiss has invested nearly 300 million francs to Beijing, the third destination after China Shanghai and Hong Kong, says Harry Hohmeister, chief executive of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. It is true that beyond the economic interest, the link is an obvious political dimension.

Swissair was one of the leading European companies which linked the West with Beijing in 1975. It was under pressure that the Swiss company had abandoned in 2003 due to non profitability. The restore of the line represents an important milestone for our company, said Bruno Gehrig, chairman of the board of Swissair. China and Switzerland are really close now.

But it is also this time of making money, said Harry Hohmeister, who regretted an unfavorable time slot (take off from Beijing at 6:45), but expressed confidence that improvements will be available very soon . As for competition, Hainan Airlines, a Chinese company that offered Beijing  Zurich in June 2011, There is room for competition, says Oliver Evans, the director of the cargo division in Swissair: China is becoming the number one market.

Switzerland has come close to China with direct link between Zurich and Beijingadded by chinatimesonline on

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A dozen Spanish companies have signed trade agreements worth 500 million euros with China at the Palace of Moncloa. The signing ceremony took place after the meeting between the Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, and the president of the National Peoples Congress of China, Wu Bangguo during Mr.Wus visit to Spain.

During the meeting, Rajoy thanked the purchase of debt by China in recent months, while the Chinese delegation has expressed Chinas will to proceed with the purchase, as they are committed to support the euro and European Union, reported Spanish government sources.

The Prime Minister intends to make an official visit to China as soon as possible, but no sooner than the transition of Chinese authorities until March 2013.

Before that time, Prime Minister Rajoy will have opportunity to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico in mid June.

Spanish firms seal trade agreements worth 500 million with Chinaadded by chinatimesonline on

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The Court of Huizhou city (Guangdong Province) ruled that a local company Proview Technology owned the trademark iPad, and ordered the local retailers to stop selling the iPad tablet manufactured by Apple.

At the same time, the Associated Press emphasizes that the Huizhou courts decision is unlikely to have noticeable effects. The lawsuit on who is the true owner of the brand iPad in China, is pending in the court of Shanghai.

Representatives of the Proview emphasize that the company owns the rights to the trademark iPad, recorded back in 2000. After six years, Apple had a front company bought the rights to use the mark iPad, however, in 2011 Proview asked the court to identify the illegal transaction.

It should also be noted that representatives of the plaintiffs stated willingness to negotiate.

Meanwhile, against a background of litigation between Apple and Proview, iPad tablets disappear from the online market and offline stores.

Chinese court denied Apples right to brand iPadadded by chinatimesonline on

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China on Friday approved the composition of an electoral committee of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA),7 free no deposit on the blockchain which will choose new national legislators from the military.

Legislators of the 11th National Peoples Congress (NPC) Standing Committee approved the formation of the PLA electoral committee submitted by the Central Military Commission (CMC).

CMC Vice Chairman Fan Changlong acts as the committees director. Xu Qiliang and Zhang Yang are deputy directors.

Chang Wanquan, Fang Fenghui, Zhao Keshi, Zhang Youxia, Wu Shengli, Ma Xiaotian, Wei Fenghe, Du Jincai, Wu Changde, Qin Shengxiang and Liu Bin are members of the electoral committee.

The electoral committee will choose new NPC deputies from the PLA. The deputies will serve a term of five years.

The first annual session of the 12th NPC will convene on March 5, 2013, according to a decision adopted Friday at a meeting of the 11th NPC Standing Committee.

Xinhua

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A special presentation event titled Henan Province Tourism and Aviation Information Session to promote tourism in the central Chinese province of Henan was held Wednesday in Osaka,olbg predictions today attracting more than 100 participants.

The event, held in a major hotel in the city center, was organized by Henan Provincial Tourism Administration. The Osaka event aimed at introducing a number of the provinces rich cultural and historical heritages as the Chinas ideal tourist destination from Japanese cities with a few of flying hours.

Participants, including many from travel agencies and tour operators based in Osaka and its surrounding Kansai area, were introduced the latest information about the world-class tourist spots in the province as well as about air and land transportation systems to/from the province.

Zhang Dawei, Vice Governor of Henan Province, said in his speech that the number of Japanese tourists visiting the province last year recorded about 110,000, the second largest group of foreign tourists, stressing that the figure would further increase from this July when a Chinese airline company will launch direct flight service between Osaka and Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan Province.

Opening the direct air route in the year of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan will play a key role in promoting exchanges between the two peoples, Zhang said.

Chinese Deputy Consulate General in Osaka Yu Shuyuan said she hopes more and more Japanese tourists would visit Henan Province which has four major ancient capitals.

In the event, a team of young monks wearing the traditional costume from Shaolin Temple, showed spectacular performances of the well-known martial arts on the stage, further impressing all the guests with the provinces traditional culture.

Xinhua

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The world number two PC manufacturer Lenovo has seen its sales jump by 37% during its last fiscal year, to $ 29.6 billion. It comes just over a giant HP, which will publish its quarterly results this evening.

The contrast is striking. While yesterday Dell published disappointing results of computer sales, Chinese Lenovo continues its inexorable rise.

The world number two PC again refreshed all records at the end of the 2011-2012 fiscal year (ended March 31), its figures were released this morning. In one year, sales jumped 37% to $ 29.6 billion. Net income increased 73% to $ 473 million. Although the level of profitability is lower than the average American manufacturers, with an operating margin of 2%.

In an ailing PC market, in competition with the success of new devices such as tablets, including the Apple iPad, Lenovo continues to experience exceptional growth in sales. They still have increased by 35% (by volume) last year, representing a growth rate ten times higher than world market. The Chinese computer giant was pleased last year to the Dells second largest computer manufacturer in the world, with a market share of 12.9% according to IDC. Lenovo now eyeing the first place, owned for many years by American HP.

China became the first global PC market last year, which remains one of the key growth drivers of the group, with a 24% increase in turnover over the year. Lenovo will show a growth rate twice of the market. The operating margin was 4.5%. The leaders have entrusted their intention to accelerate the increase in profitability in the domestic market.

Performance in developed countries is also important, for the first time with a market share above 10% in this zone. The successive acquisitions in 2011 of German Medion and PC division of the Japanese NEC obviously contributed to the growth of the group. In the U.S., sales have jumped 26%.

The breakthrough in Lenovos mobile devices is also accelerating. Tablets and smartphones now account for nearly 6% of total turnover (in the last quarter, January to March). Products are currently only available in China. But Lenovo is already a major player in these segments. Its market, the software giant already totals 9.5% of sales of smartphones, and became the second vendor shelves, behind Apple. There is already plans to construct to develop outside of China and repeat the performance in the PC. The challenge may be more complicated.

Lenovo has seen sales jump by 37% to $ 29.6 billionadded by chinatimesonline on

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WASHINGTON,furla 77 slotted spooning Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Republicans will take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to media projections on Wednesday.

CNN is projecting Republicans to have won 218 seats out of all 435 House races, reaching the majority threshold, versus 208 for Democrats while nine elections are still too close to call.

NBC News has also projected Republicans to win control of the lower chamber on Capitol Hill. 
A flood victim pushes his sticky bandits slot cbs mlb picksdonkey cart on flooded highway, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan, September 16, 2022. [Photo/Agencies]

A coalition of low-income countries called on rich nations to pay for climate damages, since wealthier nations such as the US have been the biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses, said US National Public Radio on Monday.

Developing countries have produced very little of the pollution driving climate change, but they are already bearing the brunt of the destructive impacts, like storms, floods and droughts, said the report.

By coalition, the report refers to the Climate Vulnerable Forum group of 58 countries which issued an urgent demand last month for an international funding commitment to help vulnerable countries recover from extreme weather events.

The NPR report took Vanuatu, a South Pacific nation made up of 82 small islands, as an example. The country was hit by a devastating cyclone in 2020 and lost $600 million in damage, representing more than 60% of the country's GDP.

As a Climate Vulnerable Forum member, Vanuatu has laid out a starting point for its loss and damage needs, totaling $177 million.

Vanuatu proposed to create a loss and damage fund, so residents could receive compensation quickly. Other funding would go to setting up systems to help with relocation efforts and support displaced people.

So far, richer countries have delayed committing funds, though they've agreed to take up the issue at the COP27 climate negotiations now underway in Egypt.

At this year's negotiations in Egypt, some support using existing humanitarian aid networks. Others have suggested that countries should have international loans forgiven, if it's linked to their climate vulnerability.

Talks this year could take on new urgency, after the unprecedented damage in Pakistan from extreme floods. Millions of people were displaced, with damage totaling $30 billion dollars. At least 1500 people were killed.

The NPR report cited one study showing that costs from climate loss and damage could reach $290 billion to $580 billion in 2030 and rise to more than $1 trillion per year in 2050.
Fynodoree thanks Shoprite following the supermarket takeover

Local distillery, Fynodoree expressed its gratitude to Shoprite for stalwart support and for being a fantastic advocate for food and drink producers in the Isle of Man.

The thanks comes after yesterdays (October 9) news that all Shoprite stores have been bought by Tesco.

Fynoderee added that the store has been instrumental in ensuring that its range of premium Manx spirits have been made accessible across the Isle of Man.

It said: Their support has also provided a catalyst in helping promote the Fyn brand in the UK and beyond, for the broader benefit of our local economy.

We have a series of exciting new products planned so we look forward to hopefully working constructively in a similar fashion with Tesco over the coming weeks and months.
Concerns raised over Shoprite sell out to Tesco

Several MHKs and local businesses have raised their concerns for where this will leave local producers following the news that Shoprite have sold all of their stores to supermarket giant, Tesco.

Davisons ice cream took to social media and expressed its concerns over the supermarket sell out, it said the sale isnt particularly good news for the Isle of Man food producers.

Adding: 'Shoprite Isle of Man along-side Robinson's Fresh Foods are some of the best supporters for locally produced products, especially when it comes to starting off in the industry, and without that stepping stone to help producers get a foot in the market its going to be hard for anyone thinking of coming in.'

It has called for Isle of Man Food and Drink to look into some form of agreement to allow local producers the chance to get there products in to stores across the Island.

David Ashford MHK for Douglas North took to social media to explain that his primary concern is that the impacts the sale could potentially have on other local businesses.

He said that the Department of Enterprise and Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture need as a matter of urgency to now be engaging with both local suppliers and Tesco on how that is going to be achieved.

Ashford also highlighted that there appears to have been little to no prior consultation with government about this merger before it happened.

Fellow Douglas North MHK, John Wannenburgh commented on the potential redudencies saying: Circa 280 staff in the stores and warehouse will move across to Tesco. Circa 60 staff at head office across finance, marketing and buying will be put on notice of redundancy and 13 will be immediately affected.

The Chamber of Commerce have said it 'understands why this news is of great concern to the business and wider community'.

It said: For generations the owners, management team and staff at Shoprite have been at the heart of the Islands community. During that time the business has been a major employer, and supported the local economy by choosing to partner with many on-Island suppliers and service providers.

As always, Chamber is here to offer whatever support we can to members  including Shoprite and the companys suppliers  who are affected by this news. Looking ahead, we welcome the new owners long-term commitment to operate the nine stores under the Tesco brand  and to support the local food and drink sector. Chamber is keen to see partnerships with IOM businesses continue as Tesco moves forward.
Isle of Man Festival of Choirs this weekend



2019 Festival winners Haydock Male Voice Choir

The Isle of Man Festival of Choirs will be taking place this weelend on the October 14 and 15 in the Villa Marina Royal Hall.

Choirs will be competing across four categories: Mixed voice, Mens voice, Ladies voice and Open voice class.

Several choirs from across the United Kingdom will be joining Manx choirs in the competition.

Two of the travelling choirs include Nelson Civic Ladies from Lancashire who have been finalists in the Sainsburys Choir of the Year and have won the BBC TV Grand Sing.

Also in attendance is the 2015 Choir of the Festival winners Blackburn Peoples Choir will also be in attendance.

The four class winners will sing again on Sunday morning to find the Choir of the Festival where they will be required to sing a 25-minute repertoire of their choice.

The full programme is:

Saturday, October 14

 9:00am Mixed Voice Class

 11:20am Male Voice Class

 13:20pm Ladies Voice Class

 15:50pm Open Class

Sunday, October 15

 10:00am Douglas Council Ensemble Class

 11:30pm Choir of the Festival final

This Tickets are available either online at www.villagaiety.com or by ringing the ticket office on 600555.
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We're into day two of Amazon's latest storewide sale for Amazon Prime members, Prime Big Deal Days, and there are still plenty of hefty discounts on headphones, earbuds and gaming headsets we recommend. Weve sorted through the best headphone deals of the October Prime Day event below, which include new lows on the AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM5, Beats Studio Pro, Amazon Echo Buds and more. Just note that some, but not all, of the offers are only accessible if you subscribe to Prime.

Sony Prime Day headphone deals

Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony WH-1000XM4 $248 $348 Save $100 See at Amazon

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is back down to $248, which is $20 more than its all-time low but roughly $80 below its average street price. This is Sonys last-gen pair of wireless noise-cancelers, but it still delivers powerful ANC, 30-ish hours of battery life and a similarly rich feature set as the newer WH-1000XM5 (which isn't on sale as of this writing). Unlike its successor, it can also fold up for easier storage. It doesnt have the XM5s adaptive ANC system, however, and its mic quality isnt as clear. Its slightly heavier too, plus it sounds a bit boomier out of the box. But for less than $250, it remains a great value. We gave the XM4 a review score of 94 back in 2020.

Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony WF-1000XM5 $278 $298 Save $20 See at Amazon

The in-ear Sony WF-1000XM5, meanwhile, are on sale for $278. Thats only $20 off, but it marks the first discount weve seen for the top pick in our wireless earbuds buying guide. We gave this true wireless pair a score of 87 earlier this year: Like Sonys over-ear models, it comes with a range of useful features, powerful noise cancellation and a warm yet detailed default sound. The design here is also much more agreeable than previous Sony earphones.

Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S $128 $200 Save $72 See at Amazon

The Sony LinkBuds S are on sale for $128, which is a price weve seen in the past but still takes about $30 off the pairs average street price. We highlight the LinkBuds S as an honorable mention in our wireless earbuds guide, as we like its compact design, decent noise cancellation, handy bonus features and warm sound. It cant match the ANC strength or battery life of the WF-1000XM5, but it also costs a fair bit less, which helps.

Apple Prime Day headphone deals

AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods Pro (USB-C) $189 $249 Save $60 See at Amazon

The USB-C version of Apples AirPods Pro is down to $189, which is $60 off Apples list price and a new low. The Lightning version is available for the same price. This is the best for iOS pick in our buying guide. Both models still deliver strong ANC, a superb transparency mode and a pleasingly warm sound. They also come with a variety of Apple-specific features, including hands-free Siri access, Find My tracking and fast pairing with other Apple devices. A recent update added an Adaptive Audio mode that dynamically blends its ANC and transparency modes based on your surroundings, while the new USB-C model comes with improved dust resistance alongside the new charging port. That said, you really need to be committed to the Apple ecosystem to get the most out of this, and the six-hour battery life is just OK. We gave the AirPods Pro a score of 88 last year.

Apple AirPods (2nd Gen)

Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) $89 $129 Save $40 See at Amazon

Apples second-gen AirPods, meanwhile, are back down to $89. Thats $10 off their usual street price. We cant broadly recommend the base AirPods to most people these days, as their one-size-fits-all design wont work for everyone and there are better-sounding options for the money. However, if youre all-in on Apple devices and just want the usual AirPods perks in an unsealed design, this deal makes the pair a little more palatable.

Beats Prime Day headphone deals

Beats Studio Pro

Beats Studio Pro $180 $350 Save $170 See at Amazon

The Beats Studio Pro is on sale for $180, which is a new low and a sizable $170 discount. We gave these wireless over-ears a review score of 81 in July: We cant recommend them over the top picks in our guide, but they offer a pleasant, even-handed sound, helpful ANC and the ability to stream higher-quality audio over a USB-C connection. Like most Beats headphones, they also play nice with Android. That said, multi-device pairing doesnt work with iOS, theres no wear detection and the mostly plastic design isnt super premium. But at this price, the Studio Pro could make sense if you really dig the Beats aesthetic.

Beats Fit Pro

Beats Fit Pro $160 $200 Save $40 See at Amazon

The Beats Fit Pro is down to $160, which is a price weve seen multiple times in recent months but still takes $40 off the pairs MSRP. The Fit Pro is the best for workouts pick in our wireless earbuds guide, as it offers most of the Apple-friendly perks youd get from a set of AirPods  Beats is a subsidiary of Apple  in a sportier, more stable design. Its punchy yet refined sound is a plus, and it uses physical control buttons instead of touch panels. However, it lacks multi-device pairing and wireless charging, and its ANC is a step down from the AirPods Pro. We gave the Fit Pro a review score of 87 in 2021.

Anker Prime Day headphone deals

Soundcore Space A40

Anker Soundcore Space A40 $54 $100 Save $46 See at Amazon

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 is on sale for $54, which matches its all-time low and comes in $25 less than usual. The Space A40 is the top pick in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, as it includes a host of features that belie its price: adaptive ANC, multi-device pairing, wireless charging, a transparency mode and up to 10 hours of battery life. Its audio quality and ANC arent quite as powerful as more expensive pairs, but both are more than effective enough for the money. Unlike many budget wireless headphones, its default sound doesnt completely blow out the bass. Just note that its call quality is mediocre, and it lacks wear detection, so it wont auto-pause when you remove an earbud.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC $80 $100 Save $20 See at Amazon

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC carry most of the same benefits as the Space A40 but use a stem design reminiscent of Apples AirPods. They put a little more emphasis on the bass by default, but you can change that sound profile up with a few EQ tools in Ankers app. They also support wear detection. If you prefer this sort of form factor, the Liberty 4 NC is down to $80, which is a $20 discount and matches its lowest price to date.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 $100 $149 Save $49 See at Amazon

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is on sale for $100, which is a $50 discount and an all-time low. While not as nice as most of the pricier models in this roundup, the Space Q45 is a fine value if you cant spend more than $100. Its adaptive ANC is better-than-average and can be set to a manual mode if needed, it supports multi-device pairing and its design is comfortable to wear for hours at a time. Sound quality is where the price is most evident, as its a little too uneven in the treble, but its bass-heavy profile should work for fans of hip-hop and EDM. You can tweak the sound somewhat through the EQ tools in Ankers Soundcore app.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 $56 $80 Save $24 See at Amazon

If you want a decent set of noise-canceling over-ears for as little as possible, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is also worth considering. Its now down to $56, which is $24 less than usual. This pair isnt built as well as the Space Q45, nor does it sound as nice out of the box, as it massively inflates the bass and degrades when ANC is active. Call quality is worse too. That said, its comfortable, its battery can last more than 40 hours and the ANC itself is excellent for less than $60. You still get multi-device pairing and a customizable EQ as well.

Bose Prime Day headphone deals

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II $199 $279 Save $80 See at Amazon

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are available for $199, which is an all-time low and roughly $75 off their average street price. This pair has technically been replaced by Boses new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which add a new spatial audio mode. That model isnt discounted as of this writing, however, and the two pairs are largely similar otherwise. The QC IIs chief selling point is its ANC performance, which is still among the most powerful on the market. If thats your chief concern, saving $99 to buy the older pair may still make sense. Just note that it lacks multi-device pairing and wireless charging, and that its earpieces are on the bulky side. We gave the QC IIs a review score of 87 last year.

Bose QuietComfort 45

Bose QuietComfort 45 $229 $329 Save $100 See at Amazon

Along those lines, the Bose QuietComfort 45 are down to $229. Thats $30 more than the lowest price weve tracked for these over-ears but still $80 below their average street price as of late. This is another noise-canceling set that Bose recently replaced, but the differences between the QC 45 and the new QuietComfort Headphones appear to be small, so the older model is worth a look when its discounted like this. We gave the QC 45 a review score of 86 in 2021, and we still like its lightweight design, upper-tier ANC and easygoing sound. You cant manually adjust the intensity of the ANC, unlike the newer model, and Sonys XM5 and XM4 provide longer battery life and a more versatile feature set for those willing to pay up. But if thats not you, the QC 45 is a fine alternative at this price.

Sennheiser Prime Day headphone deals

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 $142 $280 Save $138 See at Amazon

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is available for $142, which is a new low. This pair has normally retailed around $180 in recent months. This is the runner-up pick in our wireless earbuds guide, as Engadgets resident audio expert Billy Steele considers it the best-sounding true wireless pair hes tested. That warm yet customizable sound is joined by a solid adaptive ANC system, though Sennheisers pair isnt as effective as the Sony WF-1000XM5 in that regard, nor does it have the same deep feature set.

Sennheiser HD560S

Sennheiser HD 560S $150 $220 Save $70 See at Amazon

Were mostly sticking to wireless headphones here since thats just the way the market has moved, but if you want a quality wired model, the Sennheiser HD 560S is worth a look at $150. While not an all-time low, thats about $35 below the pairs typical street price. We recommend the HD 560S in our guide to the best gaming headphones. Its open-back design lets in and leaks a ton of noise, but it sounds spacious, detailed and well-balanced, which makes it a treat for critical listening. Its comfortable to wear for extended periods as well. Just dont expect much in the way of deep sub-bass response.

Other Prime Day wireless headphone deals

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

Amazon Echo Buds (2023) $35 $50 Save $15 See at Amazon

Prime members can get the latest Amazon Echo Buds for $35, which is $15 off and an all-time low. This is another pick in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds. Specifically, the Echo Buds should appeal to those who prefer a more open design, one that lets in outside noise but doesnt insert directly into your ear canal. They can sound solid for the price with a bit of EQ tweaking, and they support features we dont often see for less than $50, such as wear detection and multipoint connectivity. They also have Alexa baked in, natch. Their IPX2 sweat-resistance rating isnt enough for workouts, and their five-ish hours of battery life is just average, but theyre worth a look if youre on a tight budget and hate the feel of traditional in-ear headphones. We gave them a score of 77 earlier this year.

Shokz OpenRun Pro

Shokz OpenRun Pro $125 $180 Save $55 See at Amazon

The Shokz OpenRun Pro is down to $125 for Prime Big Deal Days, which is $25 more than the lowest price weve tracked but still $55 below its usual going rate. This is a recommended pair of bone conduction headphones, which means it hugs the side of your head and delivers sound by passing vibrations through your skull. (Its not as uncomfortable as it sounds.) The main benefit is that this leaves your ear canals completely open, so you can enjoy a playlist or podcast without being shut out from the outside world. The downside, usually, is that you dont get as full a sound as you would with a traditional pair. Thatll still be the case here, but weve found the OpenRun Pro to deliver more low-end depth than most of its peers. Theyre fairly comfy and get up to 10 hours of battery life beyond that.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Google Pixel Buds Pro $120 $200 Save $80 See at Amazon

The Google Pixel Buds Pro are on sale for $120, which is a new low and $80 off Googles list price. This is the best for Android recommendation in our wireless earbuds guide, and it earned a review score of 87 last year. Its ANC and V-shaped sound profile arent as superlative as our top picks, but theyre fine, and the whole package integrates tightly with Googles line of Pixel phones. An upcoming firmware update promises improved call quality  one of our reviews chief complaints  and the ability to automatically pause music when youre speaking, similar to what pairs from Sony and Apple offer. Those with smaller ear canals may find the fit to be tricky, though we had few issues with comfort in testing.

JLab Go Air Pop

JLab Go Air Pop $16 $25 Save $8 See at Amazon

The JLab Go Air Pop is down to $16.44 for Prime Big Deal Days, which is about $6 less than usual. We highlight this set in our budget wireless earbuds guide, as it gets you a compact shape, IPX4-rated water resistance, eight or so hours of battery life and a full set of functional touch controls for dirt cheap. Its boomy sound isnt exactly great, but its serviceable, which is a victory when were talking about $16 wireless earbuds. Plus, while it lacks a companion app, JLab bakes three EQ presets into the earbuds themselves.

Prime Day gaming headset deals

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 $35 $50 Save $15 See at Amazon

The top budget pick in our gaming headphones buying guide, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, is on sale for $35. Thats just a modest $5 discount but matches the lowest price weve seen. The Cloud Stinger 2 doesnt have the most balanced or detailed sound, but its V-shaped signature gives action scenes a nice level of impact, and its mic quality belies the dirt-cheap price. The design is comfortable too, though its made from cheap-feeling plastic.

HyperX Cloud Alpha

HyperX Cloud Alpha $60 $100 Save $40 See at Amazon

If youre willing to pay a little more, the HyperX Cloud Alpha is another decent value at $60, which is $15 or so lower than its typical street price. We note this as an honorable mention in our guide: Its been around for a few years now, but its comfortable, and its detachable mic is solid. Its better built than the Cloud Stinger 2 as well. At this price, they dont sound bad either, though an underemphasized treble means they arent especially detailed.

Logitech G535

Logitech G535 $80 $130 Save $50 See at Amazon

If youre looking for a wireless headset, the Logitech G535 is back down to $80, which is about $25 below its average street price. This is an honorable mention in our gaming headsets guide, as we like its lightweight design, Bluetooth support and agreeable, relatively well-balanced sound. It forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level though, and its mic makes voices sound a little too thin. It also doesn't work with Xbox consoles. But if you really want a wireless gaming headset for less than $100, its well worth a look.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblogs experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
After Disney releases a new film in English, the company will go back and localize it in as many as 46 global languages to make the movie accesible to as wide an audience as possible. This is a massive undertaking, one for which Disney has an entire division  Disney Character Voices International Inc  to handle the task. And it's not like you're getting Chris Pratt back in the recording booth to dub his GotG III lines in Icelandic and Swahili  each version sounds a little different given the local voice actors. But with a new "AI dubbing" system from ElevenLabs, we could soon get a close recreation of Pratt's voice, regardless of the language spoken on-screen.

ElevenLabs is an AI startup that offers a voice cloning service, allowing subscribers to generate nearly identical vocalizations with AI based on a few minutes worth of audio sample uploads. Not wholly unsurprising, as soon as the feature was released in beta, it was immediately exploited to impersonate celebrities, sometimes even without their prior knowledge and consent.

The new AI dubbing feature does essentially the same thing  in more than 20 different languages including Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Ukrainian, Polish and Arabic  but legitimately, and with permission. This tool is designed for use by media companies, educators and internet influencers who don't have Disney Money to fund their global adaptation efforts.

ElevenLabs asserts that the system will be able to not only translate "spoken content to another language in minutes" but also generate new spoken dialog in the target language using the actor's own voice. Or, at least, a AI generated recreation. The system is even reportedly capable of maintaining the "emotion and intonation" of the existing dialog and transferring that over to the generated translation.

"It will help audiences enjoy any content they want, regardless of the language they speak," ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski said in a press statement. "And it will mean content creators can easily and authentically access a far bigger audience across the world."
Google has successfully convinced a California federal judge that it did not infringe on Sonos' multi-room audio patents. As Reuters reports, US District Judge William Alsup has thrown out a previous verdict that slapped the tech giant with a $32.5 million fine for infringing on patents held by Sonos related to managing groups of speakers.

The judge explained that Sonos' patents for the lawsuit "ostensibly descended from [a] 2006 provisional application." However, the company apparently didn't file the applications for the patents in question until 2019, and it didn't roll out the technology to its own products until 2020. That's years after Google, in 2014, presented Sonos with a plan to use multi-room audio technology while exploring a collaboration.

Since Sonos connected its patents to a 2006 provisional application, they appeared to have predated Google's products. But Judge Alsup said that the early application failed to disclose the actual invention, and that in 2019, Sonos amended the specification of its patent application to insert new matter. "This was not a case of an inventor leading the industry to something new," Alsup wrote in his decision. "This was a case of the industry leading with something new and, only then, an inventor coming out of the woodwork to say that he had come up with the idea first  wringing fresh claims to read on a competitors products from an ancient application."

Sonos sued Google in federal court in early 2020, accusing it of violating five of its speaker patents. Patrick Spence, the company's CEO, said back then that Google had been "blatantly and knowingly" duping Sonos tech and refusing to cooperate on a "mutually beneficial solution." Earlier this year, a California federal jury had ruled that Google did infringe on a patent Sonos holds and ordered the tech giant to pay $32.5 million in penalty. Alsup also served as the judge for those proceedings, but in his newer decision, he said "trial brought to light what happened here."

In a statement, a Sonos spokesperson told Reuters that the new ruling was "wrong on both the facts and the law." Based on that, Sonos is clearly not going to accept the newer verdict: The spokesperson said that the company is planning to appeal the decision.
Gente

Maria Zurita se 'planta' tras el cumpleanos privado de la Princesa Leonor: "Yo no soy la portavoz de la familia"
Major international air carriers have suspended or reined in-flight services to or from Tel Aviv after a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel over the weekend, saying they were waiting for safety conditions to improve.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply distressed by an announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, following an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas over the weekend.
By Nancy Rommelmann, RealClearInvestigations

October 10, 2023

It was a great first date, two-plus hours of conversation and martinis at Portland's Driftwood Room, with its Rat Pack vibe and lighting that makes everyone look 25. Mary Costantino was twice that, as was her date, a fellow physician from out of town. By 10:40 he was walking Costantino to her car, on a block she'd been on thousands of times. She'd lived in the neighborhood 20 years; the city's best public high school, which her sons attended, was in eyesight. The couple held hands and chatted as they moved down the street.

And then Costantino wasn't moving. She was on the ground, her vision blurring, her mouth full of blood.

"There was no yelling, there was no sound of feet hitting the pavement," she recalls, of the July 28 incident. "It was just us walking and talking and then I was hit on the side of the head."

More like her face. What Costantino says "felt like a brick" turned out to be a metal water bottle, hurled by a man who, surveillance video would show, looked like any number of men on the streets of Portland: white, 30s, beard, dark hoodie, backpack. A man who, when confronted by Costantino's date, shouted "She knows what she did!" before stumble-running into the night.

Costantino registered none of this. She was concerned with getting the bleeding under control, bleeding and shaking that made it difficult for several minutes to unlock her phone and call 911. She did not hear her assailant yell that she had somehow harmed him. It was only later while watching the video that she noticed his hands.

"They were in hypertonic extension," she says, of her assailant's fingers, which he held splayed and tensed and away from his body. Having tended to people in drug and mental health crises, it looked to Costantino as though her assailant was in the midst of a psychotic episode.

"I recognize this as a physician a mile away," she says. "And the fact that he backed off when my friend confronted him, this poor person has seen some hard, hard times. This person needs to be in a safe place for himself, be fed, be nourished, be medicated, be cared for."

Instead, he and thousands of others living on the streets of Oregons largest city are on their own, despite the safety nets Portland has in place to help the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill. Which is among the reasons Costantino does not so much hold her assailant accountable as the city itself.

"It is inhumane, how we are allowing people who are psychotic or on drugs to live," she says. "It's inhumane."

The City of Roses, Wilting

The question of what constitutes humanity is at the heart of Constantinos attack and the tensions in Portland, a city buckling under the weight of its ostensible benevolence. Few U.S. cities have offered as fertile an environment for drug addiction and homelessness to take root, via hands-off policies and the idea that a moral society is a tolerant society -- all of which might have stood a fighting chance, had the riots and violence of 2020 not kneecapped a city already struggling under COVID.

With whole blocks boarded up, people exploited Portland's liberal public camping policies and overtook much of downtown, as well as other parts of this city of 635,000. There are 6,297 homeless recorded in surrounding Multnomah County today, compared with 3,120 in 2020. Many, like the man some believe to be Constantinos assailant, are in the grip of addiction. (The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ranked Oregon as having the second-highest drug and alcohol addiction in the nation by percentage of population, after Montana, and last in access to drug treatment.) The criminality that often attends addiction has risen accordingly. Robberies were up 50% in 2022 alone, and according to the Portland Police Bureau, there were more than 10,000 assaults between July 2022 and July 2023.

The decline of civic safety was driven by another 2020 event, the passage of Oregon Ballot Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act. Measure 110's stated aim  that "a health-based approach to addiction and overdose is more effective, humane and cost-effective than criminal punishments"  was in line with Oregon's promotion of harm reduction policies over incarceration, and the measure passed with more than 58% of the vote.

The problem proved to be in implementation. Although the 2014 legalization of cannabis for adult use authorized the allocation of tax revenue to treat substance abuse, the $302 million earmarked for 110's "treatment and recovery" went mostly undistributed; an April 2022 audit showed that, due to bureaucratic hold-ups, $276 million failed to reach providers. With the spigot for treatment and recovery services essentially turned off, the city was flooded with people under no threat of punishment for public drug use, and little to no state help to stop using. And the opiate of choice was now synthetic fentanyl, stronger and as addictive but cheaper than heroin  as little as $1 a pill, which, crushed and smoked, can keep a user high for about an hour. Eleven people overdosed downtown during a 12-hour period in April, many around an abandoned retail plaza turned open-air drug market; three died. Bike cops in downtown Portland can find themselves using Narcan  a medication that reverses opioid overdose  multiple times a day, sometimes on the same people.

"It's like an episode of meth-fentanyl TV down here," a downtown restaurateur said in June. "We need triage."

With a public increasingly demanding a semblance of safety downtown, the Portland City Council voted 5-0 in August to ban public drug use. Hurdles include getting Oregon to change state law, as well as policies imposed by the Multnomah County Health Department. The county was set to distribute free tin foil and straws to fentanyl smokers -- given that heroin use was down and with it demand for free needle exchanges -- but a public outcry in July scotched the plan.

"Oregon's become a guinea pig for the rest of the free world to see if this would even work. And it hasn't," says Ben West, commissioner for Clackamas County, which borders Portland but shares few of its social ills. West, a first-term Republican and registered nurse, has pushed his county to fund recovery-oriented systems and make addiction and mental health treatment available. Like Costantino, he is familiar with the physical and emotional hardships those living on the streets face, and sees the policies pushed by Portland, which he characterizes as "perpetually caught in adolescence," as cruel and enabling.

"They created the environment that fostered the behavior," he says. "They want to make the argument that autonomy is so sacred that you should watch people slowly kill themselves. It's a nihilistic, postmodern worldview."

Recovery, but Not Closure

As she sat propped against the wall, Costantino gave herself a little self-examination. She did not think she had an intracranial hemorrhage. She was pretty sure she had a concussion and knew she had swallowed some blood. Despite her date's repeated entreaties, she refused to go to the emergency room.

"I don't want to answer questions; I want to go home and be left alone," she remembers thinking. And so, about 20 minutes after she was assaulted, and with police yet to arrive, her date drove her home. She drank some water. She put ice on her face. She slept, and feeling woozy the next morning, took her first-ever day off from work. Lying in her bedroom with a big headache, she texted a photo of her injuries to a few friends.

Kaboom.

"They were super upset, very angry," she recalls of her friends, some of whom stay attuned to the vicissitudes of Multnomah County politics. "These yappity-yaps will be, 'Can you believe they're giving people [fentanyl] smoking materials?'" says Costantino. "I'm like, 'Portland's great. The trees are awesome. What's the problem?'"

Her friends impressed her that there was a problem and she needed to get in front of it. Costantino agreed to meet with a reporter from Fox News, which did a segment on the incident. Local outlets picked up the story. Mayor Ted Wheeler's office called the attack "horrific," and a detective from the Portland Police Bureau made contact with Costantino, saying, in her recollection, "We already have the video and we think we have identified the guy."

Others who saw the news reports also identified the guy. They instantly recognized the bearded man with the tensed hands as a regular at the missions downtown. They knew his name, his age, and that he'd been in trouble with the law. They recalled him standing in the free food lines in the morning; the rigidity of his body, his fingers stained dark from smoking meth or fentanyl, his occasional flashes of elation but mostly what seemed a deep depression, perhaps from substance abuse, perhaps schizophrenia. Concerned that he was not okay, one local scoured the Facebook pages said to be of the bearded man's family, looking for clues as to his whereabouts. No luck. Someone else searched the homeless encampments downtown but found no sign of him. The bearded man was gone.

JB in The Pit

The man who identifies himself to a reporter only as JB stands in front of his tent holding one of his machetes. "I don't pull them out if I need to fight somebody or anything," he says by way of reassurance of the two blades he recently accepted in lieu of some money owed him. Bicycle tires, broken generators, cases of Pringles, and a closet-size tent in which one can take a water-bottle shower or a poop in private, everything in the spit of land beside an on-ramp to Portland's Steel Bridge, known as The Pit, is bartered, shared, abandoned, stolen. Last month JB came back to find everything he owned gone.

"I should be able to go to the store and not have my house ransacked, you know?" he says.

JB and the bearded man who may have attacked Mary Costantino have things in common. JB is 38; as is the bearded man; both grew up in Oregon, and each is the father of three children. Each is a heavy drug user and wound up on the streets. JB is a fentanyl addict; police records show the bearded man has seven arrests for possession of meth. As for services provided by Portland or Multnomah County, JB says they are scant. "You sometimes have people drop off water or food," he says, but no authorities come down offering access to detox or health care or job training or housing.

"I had this one guy say that he could get me into a tiny home, and another tell me, 'We could get you housing,' but they never come back," he says, as the light rail rumbles over the bridge, a sound JB says you get used to. At six-foot-three, he's better able to handle the hardships of being homeless, including the ever-present danger of being assaulted; he says women are sexually assaulted "every day." The tenuousness of every aspect of life is especially hard for those experiencing mental illness.

"A lot of meth users, they go into psychosis," he says. "They're unpredictable."

Homicides More Than Double

Costantino heard no more from the police. The Portland Police Bureau today classifies the case as an open and active assault investigation. Contrary to what Costantino was told about the alleged assailant being identified, Sergeant Kevin Allen says the name of the bearded man is not in the case file and even if it were, we virtually never name persons of interest publicly [as] doing so would put the criminal investigation in serious jeopardy. (Lacking official confirmation of the bearded man's identity and because he has not been charged in the assault, RealClearInvestigations is not identifying him.)

Allen said police arrived at the scene about 12 minutes after the attack was reported at 10:51 p.m., but could locate neither the suspect nor the victim. The response time is better than the average 21 minutes it takes Portland police to reach the scene of high priority 911 calls (83 minutes for lower priority calls), and Allen mentions that the department is "piloting a temporary double-overtime rate to help cover patrol shifts, to encourage more officers and sergeants to come in on their time off to help meet minimum staffing."

The force has been stretched thin since Portlands 2020 defund the police effort and a concurrent rise in violent crime, including a soaring murder rate. Portland recorded 36 homicides in the pre-pandemic, pre-George Floyd year of 2019 and 101 in 2022. There are currently fewer sworn members of the Portland police of any rank  803  than the 1,035 on the force in 2005, when 100,000 fewer people lived in the City of Roses.

"Once you have a reduction in the police force, you can't just overnight turn it back on," says Julia Brim-Edwards, a Multnomah County Commissioner elected in 2023, speaking to what the public wants today, not what the electorate was shouting it wanted in 2020.

Compounding the problem, according to Brim-Edwards, is Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. During the pandemic, she said, Portland residents saw its prosecutions essentially "grind to a halt" and it never caught up. (Brim-Edwards notes that nearby Washington County managed to keep pace.) A shortage of taxpayer-provided defense lawyers further ensures that many crimes never reach the prosecutorial stage. "Somebody appears in arraignment court and there's no public defender? You can't hold them," she says.

In a March 2022 op-ed, Schmidt agreed the backlog was due to a critical shortage of public defenders. He further wrote that police are failing to bring most crimes to his office for prosecution, while omitting that of the more than 1,000 protest-related arrests from May-November 2020, his office dropped charges more than 90 percent of the time.

Whether lawmakers anticipated a rise in crime when Measure 110 decriminalized drugs is unclear. What is known is that they were ill-equipped to handle it. The cascade of problems that follow people engaged in sustained hard drug use has been disastrous to both users and the city, including a doubling of drug overdoses between 2019 and 2022, and a downtown office vacancy rate that hovers around 30%, contributing to streets that can feel ghostly and unsafe. And while the public use of drugs is still legal, it is nevertheless jarring to see, for instance, two college-age guys shooting up on the steps of a Victorian home as casually as if they were sipping a beer.

Or jarring to some. Until recently, Portlanders sang in two equally strong voices, those who supported people's rights to do drugs and camp on the streets without fear of arrest, and those who wanted stricter social norms. The ideological battle has seen the two camps move closer. There are few people happy with the current decline in public safety, with those in the throes of addiction languishing and dying in record numbers; or with the sense that the city, so recently a jewel of the West Coast, is being sacrificed to good intentions.

"It's not compassion fatigue, because this isn't compassion, to have people living like this," says Brim-Edwards. "It's not good for the people who aren't getting services, and it's also not good for our community."

Both 'Horrific Case' and 'Everyday Event'

In the weeks that followed the assault, Costantino experienced headaches, a high-pitched ringing in her ears, and fatigue that kept her from doing anything much after 2 p.m. Still, she considered herself lucky, both because her assailant had not escalated the attack  as she lay on the ground she'd braced, she said, "for a kick to my head"  and also because she had every opportunity to heal.

"I had a house to come back to, I took a shower the next day, I had Uber Eats deliver food to my door," she says. "If I'm in a tent, I'm a target for further assault and I can't defend myself. And I lay there until I manage to heal? And somehow try to get something to drink and to eat? If I'm living on the street, I don't think I can get out of this without long-term damage. And then what? Nobody's on my side. Not one person knows or cares what happens to you."

The weeks would pass with no new information or with leads that seemed to evaporate. Her date spoke with police but was never shown a photo of the bearded man, who records show has previously been arrested in Multnomah County for assault, robbery, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. A detective told Costantino's attorney that they thought they could identify the suspect via a piece of clothing, but that didn't go anywhere.

"It's a truly horrific case but it's also kind of an everyday event. That's the saddest part," says Nathan Vasquez, senior deputy district attorney for Multnomah County. "I could name you 10 cases over the past two years, man walking down street minding his own business, is attacked. We see this over and over. You have someone having a mental health crisis, or a substance abuse crisis, or both, they're not getting the help they need and it spirals out of control."

Vasquez will be running for his boss Mike Schmidt's job in 2024, in part because he believes Portland must do better. "In terms of [Measure] 110, the idea of just saying, 'Hey, we're going to be progressive and have essentially zero accountability,' just isn't going to work," he says. "We should lean into people's life issues. Is it substance abuse? Is it mental health? We should look for long-term tools and resources. But it can't just be, 'Here are the resources, go forth.' There has to be supervision and accountability. 'Hey, okay, drug addict, you relapsed? It's okay; you should go back to treatment. It's your third relapse? You should get some jail time.'"

Costantino mentions jail in a different context. "What really actually pisses me off about a lot of this is that anyone thinks that the best place for this person is to be left alone on the streets," she says of her alleged assailant. "If my son has psychotic breaks, I want you to throw him in a cell or take him anywhere off the streets. Ideally, we have a beautiful rehabilitation center, with excellent mental health care. But if we don't have that, I want you to put him in a car and take him right to some isolated cell. Please feed him and protect him from the streets because that guy is not safe either."

A Son Who Does Not Return

The bearded man's mother does not know where he is. He hasn't called in a year, has not contacted her on Facebook for months. While she declined to publicly identified, she is eager to talk about her son, to learn what she can. The last she heard, he'd left Portland, maybe for Seattle, and was scared to go back. She does not know why. She does not know that earlier in the year he'd been found by police sleeping on the sidewalk, cradling a fake gun. She fears he is suffering. She knows that in the latest photos he texted, he looks as bad as ever  gaunt, eyes hooded, face showing an inch of beard  and that she is more worried about him than she ever has been.

She can look on Facebook at photos of him before, clean-cut with chubby cheeks, his eyes shining as he cradles his newborn. Before he had warrants out in both Washington State and Oregon. How long ago was that? Five years? Fifteen? It doesn't matter how long. Though she has to borrow money to pay her cellphone bill this month, she will find a way to make a home for her son, a current post on her Facebook page reading, "How do u as a parent sit back and watch your child struggle??... I will not leave my child out here 2 be homeless, hooked on drugs or killed because the struggle was 2 hard 4 them!"

The bearded man's struggles are decades in the making, growing up in poverty south of Portland, losing his father at 12, a teenage brother in 2012. After a stint in rehab in 2014 did not take, the mother of his children left him. It was then, his own mother believes, that her son let go of the rope that tethered him to them, and still she tugs, every one of her communications transmitting the message, come home come home come home.

He doesn't, he disappears again, another man in an army of bearded men marching toward self-annihilation, men acting out of desperation or madness, men who cannot remember or no longer care that there are people waiting for them to come home.

Abetting Criminality and Waste

It's been more than two months since the assault. Costantino has seen his photo and was told an arrest depended on whether police could find him and get enough evidence, which as far as she knows, has not happened.

She finds this unsurprising, a feature of the systems Portland has fought for and funded or not funded, practices that abet criminality and waste, until the shredding of the social fabric is seen as normal, or not seen at all.

"People walk up and they punch women in the face, and then they turn around and walk away, knowing nothing will happen. And the thing is, we don't expect anything to happen anymore," Costantino says. "When this happened to me, people did not stop. Think about that. It's dystopic. We're so used to seeing bodies on the ground."

One of those bodies is almost certainly the bearded man, who may or may have not set out for Seattle, who may or may not be assaulting others or finding himself under assault. There can be no resolution for Costantino or the bearded man, there is only the continuation of the bind Portlanders find themselves in, until they realize an essential catalyst of the destruction is them.

X (formerly Twitter): @nancyromm
Planned Parenthood in Helena on the Monday after shots were fired at the facility, pictured on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan)

A pink sign reads These doors stay open outside a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Helena Monday, which saw a wave of community and patient support, after a man fired two rounds from a shotgun at the facility last week.

Planned Parenthood is here for the long haul, were not going anywhere, said Planned Parenthood of Montana spokesperson Mary Sullivan on Monday. Montanans are going to continue to seek reproductive and sexual health care, whatever they either need or want, and were proud to provide that care for them.

No one was injured or fired at, according to a Helena Police Department social media post. Planned Parenthood of Montana said the incident took place after the clinic had closed.

Montana politicians commented on the incident after it was reported by the Montana Free Press on Friday, with some blaming heated rhetoric surrounding abortion for the violence. Acts of violence against abortion providers isnt new to Montana, or even the clinic in Helena.

The Helena Police Department asked residents to help identify the suspected man who fired the shots at the clinic, captured by security footage, in a social media post Friday. Police could not be reached Monday, a legal holiday, for an update on the investigation.

Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, spoke on social media to the relationship between heated rhetoric on abortion and incidents like what happened at the Helena clinic.

Every political figure who drums up fear around abortion, sex ed., etc., is fanning the flames of real violence, Zephyr said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Sullivan of Planned Parenthood said Zephyr is spot on.

I dont want to speculate on the exact motivations of this incident but anti-abortion rhetoric and misinformation and talking about reproductive and sexual health care in a way that is stigmatizing or false is really dangerous, Sullivan said.

She said the Attorney General making false claims the organization is tied to human trafficking is an example of said rhetoric.

Its a political statement to serve an elected officials own interests, rather than anything thats based in fact, Sullivan said. Your average person might take those words at their face value and go with thatIm not saying that thats what happened here. But scenarios like that have existed.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, the lone Democrat in Montanas congressional delegation and running for re-election, said in a post on X he strongly condemned the violent threat.

No woman should ever feel threatened while seeking healthcare in Montana, Tester posted.

The New York Times reported the Helena clinic was heavily damaged in an arson in 1992.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a slew of anti-abortion legislation this past session, several of which were temporarily blocked by a judge less than a month after becoming law.

Abortion remains legal in Montana after the 1999 Armstrong vs. State decision protected the right to a womans reproductive care under the states medical privacy protections under the constitution. Montanas Supreme Court reaffirmed Armstrong in a decision this summer ruling advanced practice nurse practitioners can perform abortions.

Staff at the clinic are continuing to rely on their safety protocols, Sullivan said, adding shes heard from patients since the incident who have reached out to say they feel safe there.

Sullivan said patients, community members and local businesses have flooded the clinic with support following the incident.

One local business, Montana Book Company, donated a portion of their Saturday profits to Planned Parenthood, $361 according to Essie Etchingham working at the store Monday. The General Mercantile, a local coffee shop, also posted on Instagram in support following the shots fired.

Per yesterday, per tomorrow, per always  the Merc supports Planned Parenthood, the post read.

The post Were not going anywhere: Planned Parenthood continues services after shots fired in Helena appeared first on Daily Montanan.
The recent flare of violence that left at least four people dead in Kosovo was a tragedy that sent shockwaves throughout the Balkans, raised Serbian and international worries about an escalation of the conflict, and served as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace.

Serbia is determined to protect that peace. The first step is to have a transparent, independent, and international investigation into the incident and, among other things, to determine if excessive force was used against local Serbs. The loss of life is unacceptable. Responsible parties must be held to account.

The event also illustrates the complexity of the situation. The heart of the problem is Prime Minister Albin Kurti who has sewed discord and instability in the region. Rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, Kurti has ignited a series of crises and sent Kosovo into a rapid, downward spiral.

Actions like these are contrary to the spirit of the Brussels Agreement of 2013, which sought to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Under Kurti, hate crimes against Serbs have surged, casting a shadow of fear over the vulnerable non-Albanian population. Ensuring the safety and protection of all ethnic groups is not just a moral imperative, it is also the foundation of a sustainable peace.

The Kurti Administration deployed special police units comprised of ethnic Albanians to Serb-majority areas. These units have enforced unilateral and illegal measures, further eroding trust between communities and violating prior agreements, including the Brussels Agreement.

Serbs have been systematically denied the right to participate in referendums and elections, and their rights are diminishing day by day. Kurti also has refused to initiate the process of establishing the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. This was an essential component of the Brussels Agreement, which aimed to safeguard the rights of the Serbian population in Kosovo by granting self-management to the Serb-majority municipalities. Kurti's intransigence in this matter violates agreements facilitated by the European Union and the United States and agreed to by his predecessors.

The latest tragedy in Banjska grew out of heightened tensions, desperation, and frustrations. The incident is a reminder of the consequences of unilateral decision making and intentionally provocative behavior. It also is part of a pattern that could lead to further violence and instability because where there is oppression, there will be resistance.

Serbia, in contrast, is committed to stability, and has called for the immediate withdrawal of Kurti's mono-ethnic police forces in attempt to de-escalate the situation. Illegitimate "mayors" installed with the support of heavily armed special police forces must also be withdrawn, paving the way for democratic and free elections. Serbia expects the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities to be established as soon as possible.

At this crucial and decisive moment, it is imperative to have a clear overview of the situation. Contrary to claims by some media outlets, Serbia is not deploying troops; rather, we have reduced our military presence by half in the past year, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the preservation of peace. We believe that the top priority at this moment should be conflict prevention by any means necessary. Therefore, we are calling KFOR  the United Nations-mandated, NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo  to increase its presence and assume control of all security aspects and management in North of Kosovo, thus replacing Kurti's police. This measure should be implemented temporarily, pending a return to an EU-facilitated dialogue, a call for new local elections in the North of Kosovo, and the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. Further steps must be taken to ensure the participation of local Serbs and their reintegration into local police structures.

This measure aligns with NATOs legal mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Military-Technical Agreement between NATO, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Serbia. Maintenance of a safe and secure environment  the primary KFOR objective  is at risk and requires concrete action.

At the same time, EU facilitated dialogue should continue. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, supported by successive U.S. administrations, remains a vital avenue for stabilization of the situation. This diplomatic initiative deserves unwavering attention and support from the international community. Through dialogue and compromise, a path toward a more stable and prosperous future can be charted for the region and beyond.

Serbia remains steadfast in its commitment to adherence to agreements and the pursuit of diplomacy over provocation. Incidents like the one in Banjska must become a thing of the past.

Marko Djuric is Serbias ambassador to the U.S.
While homeowners in Nevada receive foreclosure notices and risk losing their homes, the state has only used a small portion of the $120 million the U.S. Treasury Department allocated to help people avoid foreclosure.

Nevada Affordable Housing Assistance Corporation, a small nonprofit, gets the federal funds and is supposed to pay banks directly to bring mortgages current, ProPublica reported.

Waste of the Day 10.10.23

But its slow pace at enrolling people in need and paying those delinquent mortgages ranks Nevada 43rd among the states for getting money to homeowners.

At the end of the first quarter, Treasury reported that the nonprofit had distributed $17 million  less than 14% of the funds  and as of Aug. 15, according to NAHACs data, Nevada had distributed an additional $12 million.

A federal audit found that previous leadership at Nevada Affordable Housing Assistance Corporation had squandered federal aid to homeowners caught up in the 2008 foreclosure crisis, ProPublica reported. Its unclear, other than new leadership, why the same organization would be entrusted to run a $120 million program.

The program continues to have issues, including making timely payments to banks, while homeowners continue to receive foreclosure notices on loans they thought were being paid.

One woman who got a few partial mortgage payments from the program, Shirley Geraci, said when she told the nonprofit that she was getting foreclosure notices, the organization was unable to tell her how much it had paid her bank and why the payment hadnt been applied to her account, and it wouldnt provide anything in writing.

Geraci and her daughter were unsure whether theyd even try to continue getting more aid.

The states are flying by the seat of their pants to run the program and people are suffering, she said.

The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com
Animal welfare campaigners have won their right to appeal against a High Court decision which deemed the government acted lawfully in allowing the use of fast-growing broiler chickens.

In May, the High Court rejected Humane League UK's legal challenge, which saw Judge Sir Ross Cranston ruling that Defra's policies, which allow the rearing of such chickens, were not unlawful.

Now Lord Justice William Davis, when granting the appeal today (10 October), said there is a legitimate argument to the contrary [of the High Court decision] which needs to be considered by the court.

Humane League UK argues that the use of these meat chicken breeds which 'grow unnaturally large, unnaturally fast' breaches animal welfare regulations.

The so-called 'Frankenchickens' reach their slaughter weight of 2.2kg in 34 to 36 days.

Concerns about meat chicken breeds have been frequently highlighted by animal welfare groups, as they say such breeds have been genetically selected to grow so fast that they suffer from health issues.

According to research by animal welfare organisations, faster-growing breeds are more likely to die or need to be culled due to ill health.

Rapid growth rates can contribute to other health problems such as heart failure and sudden death syndrome, whilst other research has shown that around 30% are likely to experience pain from leg and foot issues.

Sean Gifford, managing director of the Humane League UK, welcomed today's news: The court only grants an appeal if there is a very real prospect of success, and we are thrilled our legal challenge will have this final day in court.

"Fast-growing Frankenchickens, whose short lives are plagued by illness, suffering and despair, have been let down by the law.

"While the government has abandoned almost every single one of its animal welfare pledges, this appeal, if successful, could legally force them to end the greatest animal welfare crisis of our time."

Edie Bowles, managing director of Advocates for Animals and solicitor for the Humane League UK in the case, added: We are delighted that this highly significant case has been granted permission to appeal.

"The judge recognised that the interpretation of this law carries immense significance."
Agri-food exporters are currently showcasing the best of British at the world's largest trade event for the food industry, which is taking place in Germany.

Red meat and dairy exporters are showcasing their products at the ongoing Anuga event in Cologne  this years biggest agri-food trade show.

Anuga, which takes place every two years, provides a platform for exporters to connect with international buyers, build new relationships, and expand their presence in the global market.

AHDB and the UK government have underlined their commitment to help British red meat and dairy exporters shine on the global stage.

Here's a flavour of what visitors at #Anuga23 experience when they come to our stand - 14 exporters showcasing the best of British dairy produce, cheese tastings, a VR cheese-making experience and an understanding of the exceptional quality of dairy products we have to offer.???? pic.twitter.com/cs9ihHadQ9  AHDB (@TheAHDB) October 9, 2023

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister for Enterprise at the Department for Business (DBT), threw his support behind UK agri-food exporters showcasing their products.

Mr Hollinrake met with exporters on the AHDB stand in the British Meat Pavilion and the jointly organised AHDB and Government Dairy Pavilion stand at the event which attracts more than 100,000 visitors from around the world.

The red meat stand includes dedicated meeting areas and features high-end dishes for visitors to sample quality meat and dairy products sustainably produced by British farmers.

Addressing around 300 key industry stakeholders, Mr Hollinrake said: Across the UK, our agriculture, food and drink sectors help create thousands of well-paid jobs and grow our economy.

The UK is home to world-class food and drink and this government is committed to supporting our producers and manufacturers as they look to expand further into the overseas market.

We go again, all ready for day 2 @anugacologne 2023. There are 956 exhibitors across the meat halls alone this year, attracting trade visitors from around the globe. The last pre-pandemic edition attracted 170,000 visitors over the 5 days. #exportisgreat pic.twitter.com/nhodj1DhVB  Jono Eckley (@jono_eckley) October 8, 2023

Earlier this year, the government pledged to invest 2m to boost its programme of global trade shows and missions, 1.6m for the GREAT food and drink campaign and a new 1m bespoke export support fund for the dairy sector.

Last month, a recruitment drive to appoint five extra agri-food attaches was also launched to help boost the UKs agri-food exports, bringing the total number of dedicated UK agri-food attaches to 16.

The new attaches will cover Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Australia/New Zealand, South Korea and Africa.

Dr Phil Hadley, AHDBs director of international trade development, said the levy board's participation with Anuga aligned with the government's commitment to support British food and drink exports.

He said: "We are committed to delivering on our objectives as outlined in our export strategy Beyond Borders and helping to attract international markets for our levy payers.

Through the trade show, we are able to strengthen existing partnerships and establish new connections for our levy payers as stated in our export campaign.

Figures show that the UK red meat exports for this year January to June were worth 860 million  up marginally on the same period in 2022.

This was due to increased demand for sheep meat in the Middle East. Dairy exports value for the same six months period was 983 million.
Farmland, crops and infrastructure across parts of Scotland have been dealt significant damage following extensive flooding caused by record-breaking rainfall.

The extreme rainfall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday has left many of Scotlands farmers left to assess the scale of damage and the impact to their businesses.

The Met Office had issued two amber severe weather warnings covering much of Scotland as a month's worth of rain fell in one day.

And with a yellow weather warning for rain in place for Strathclyde, Central Scotland, Tayside and the Highlands for today (10 October), further flooding is expected.

Speaking about the issue, NFU Scotland said that large areas of farmland, including some of the countrys most productive ground, were still under water.

Dozens of hay bails are being washed down the River Aray as flooding hits large parts of the country.

Video by Niall Shaw ?? pic.twitter.com/NH1XdIgw6g  Clyde 1 News (@Clyde1News) October 7, 2023

In Highland Perthshire, amongst one of the worst affected areas, the union's president Martin Kennedy met with local MSP John Swinney to discuss the impact.

He was joined by other local farmers, including Liam Stewart from Stewarts of Tayside, a major grower of root vegetables and soft fruit and Douglas Neill, from Denhead Farms, Coupar Angus.

At the meeting, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said the level of flooding seen in some parts of Scotland was 'exceptional'.

He urged the Scottish government to consider what short-term support it could offer to help the recovery process.

"Significant areas of grassland, arable ground and high value crops such as potatoes, broccoli and turnips [are] under water and the loss of fodder and bedding to flooding are clear indicators of the unprecedented scale of damage in some parts.

What this event clearly demonstrates is that, when it comes to risk, it is the farming industry that is left carrying the can.

"While some losses may be insurable, many will not, and it is likely that farmers will be left with a bill for millions when the mop up is finally completed."

Looking longer term, Mr Kennedy called for 'a realistic margin' from the supply chain that 'builds enough of a buffer to absorb this type of hit'.

"It simply cannot be absorbed by businesses on the current price structures," he said.

Farming charity RSABI issued a call on social media for farmers impacted by the flooding to get in touch if they need support or assistance.
Giving nervous dogs a toy to chew improves their memory.

Nervous dogs need something to chew on

Researchers in the United States gave 34 Labrador retrievers a working memory task in which they had to remember which bucket a treat had been placed in.

The pooches were given a chew toy to bite for five minutes ahead of the task, with the frequency of bites recorded by a computer programme.

The experts from Auburn University in Alabama said: "In dogs with high fearfulness, more frequent chewing when given access to a chew toy was associated with better spatial working memory, while the opposite was true for dogs with low fearfulness."

It is believed that chewing reduces physiological arousal in nervous dogs but creates a distraction for more relaxed pooches.

However, the study found that chewing could help both anxious and non-anxious dogs improve their long-term memory.
Daniel Radcliffe's experience of fatherhood has been "awesome".

Daniel Radcliffe loves being a dad

The 34-year-old actor and his partner Erin Darke welcomed their son earlier this year, and Daniel admits that he's relished the challenge.

Speaking about his baby boy, Daniel told E! News: "He's great, it's amazing.

"There's a short answer and a long answer to that. And the short answer is it's awesome and he's the best thing that's ever happened."

On the other hand, Daniel also acknowledged that parenthood can be "intimidating".

The London-born star said: "It's frankly terrifying to have a human being in the world that I care this much about, and that everything he does is going to affect how I feel about my life for the rest of my life. So, you know, that's intimidating."

Daniel's lifestyle has changed markedly since he became a father for the first time.

He shared: "There's no relation to what we need for sleep.

"The less I sleep, the more I sleep at night. But the less they sleep, the less they sleep! And the more they sleep, the better they sleep! It makes no sense, but it is apparently how they work."

Daniel and Erin, 39, met for the first time on the set of 'Kill Your Darlings', the 2013 biographical drama film.

The actor - who is best known for starring in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise - previously admitted that he and Erin are best friends.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Daniel explained: "I think that's the kind of relationship I always aspire to have with someone I'm in a relationship with. You want that person to be your best friend.

"In the case of Erin, we definitely are."
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have reached a temporary agreement regarding their children.

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have reached a temporary agreement

The former couple have been at loggerheads of the future of their daughters - Delphine, 15 months, and Willa, three - since they announced their split, but Joe and Sophie have now reached an agreement that allows their two daughters to split time between their parents.

In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, it's revealed that Joe, 34, and Sophie, 27, came to an agreement after a "productive mediation" between October 4 and October 7.

The agreement states that the girls will be with Sophie between October 9 and October 21. During that period, Sophie and her children are permitted to travel to England and throughout the US.

The girls will be returned to their dad by a nanny on October 21. The musician will have the same travel permissions up until November 2.

The celebrity duo have been asked to "submit a status report letter", detailing the status of their mediation, while it's also been decided that their temporary agreement will run until January 7.

Sophie previously launched a lawsuit against her estranged husband, alleging that he was been blocking her from taking their two children to the UK.

In response, Joe insisted that he was simply adhering to a Florida Court order.

A representative for Joe said in a statement: "After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce. The Florida Court has already entered an order that restricts both parents from relocating the children. Sophie was served with this order on September 6, 2023, more than two weeks ago.

"Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting this past Sunday in New York, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kids. They have been with her since that meeting. Joes impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup."
Ryan Reynolds would "never compare" himself to Robin Williams.

Ryan Reynolds won't compare himself to Robin Williams

The 46-year-old actor was honoured with the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award at this week's 2023 Bring Change to Mind Gala in New York City, but he has dismissed the idea of drawing any parallels between himself and the late legend, who died in 2014 aged 63.

He told 'Extra': "I would never compare myself to Robin Williams and as much as there was just something blowing through him that blew through no one else"

Ryan pointed to the way Williams' legacy has grown beyond his work on screen as he pointed to the 'Mrs Doubtfire' star's "humanity".

He added: "You know his work lives on, but I can't think of a better legacy for Robin Williams

"There's the body of work, there's the joy, and the laughter, they're left behind, but then there's I think the greatest legacy of his is humanity, and I think that's why everyone's here today and tonight is to celebrate that humanity.

Williams - who tragically took his own life nine years ago - forged a stellar career on screen in a wide range of films from 'Aladdin', 'Hook' and 'Jumanji' to 'One Hour Photo', 'Dead Poets Society' and 'Good Will Hunting'.

Ryan "studied him" as he was learning his own craft, and he insisted there will "never" be another performer like him.

He said: "I am deeply and profoundly honored. I mean, as somebody who  I not just watched Robin my whole life, but I've studied him

"He's quite literally singular Theres nobody else like him before him or after him. There'll never will be.

"So, I'm incredibly honored and touched to be here and also just to spend time with Mr. Williams family This is incredible.
The European Council has taken a definitive step towards environmental sustainability by ratifying the new Renewables Energy Directive. This landmark decision is set to elevate the share of renewable energy in the EUs overall energy consumption to an impressive 42.5 per cent by 2030. An additional aspiration to add a 2.5 per cent top-up might bring this target to a potential 45 per cent. Every member state within the EU is expected to play their part in achieving this collective goal.

The directive has set ambitious targets across various sectors, aiming to fast-track the incorporation of renewables, especially in sectors where the transition has been historically slower. In the transport sector, member states are presented with two distinct options. They can either commit to a binding target to diminish greenhouse gas intensity from renewables by 14.5 per cent by 2030 or ensure that renewables constitute at least 29 per cent of the final energy consumption in transport by the same year.

The European Council has approved the Renewables Energy Directive, aiming for renewable energy to constitute 42.5 per cent of the EU's energy by 2030, with the potential to reach 45 per cent. The directive fast-tracks renewable incorporation in various sectors, including transport and industry. The move seeks to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels.

There's also a combined ambition to achieve a 5.5 per cent representation for advanced biofuels and renewable non-biological fuels, which prominently includes renewable hydrogen. A stipulation is in place to ensure that, by 2030, at least 1 per cent of these fuels derive from non-biological renewable sources.

Industrial sectors aren't exempt from this green wave either. There's a directive for industries to boost their renewable energy use by 1.6 per cent annually. By 2030, it is anticipated that 42 per cent of the hydrogen used industrially should originate from renewable non-biological sources, with an ambitious target of 60 per cent by 2035. However, there's a provision allowing member states to decrease this contribution by 20 per cent under specific conditions, European Council said in a press release.

Furthermore, the directive places a renewed focus on the sustainability of bioenergy. Stricter benchmarks have been laid out for the energy use of biomass to curtail the risks associated with unsustainable bioenergy practices. The emphasis is firmly on upholding cascading principles and providing steadfast support at the national level.

In a strategic move, and as a part of the EUs REPowerEU plan to curtail dependency on Russian fossil fuels post Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the permit granting procedures for renewable projects will witness significant acceleration. To facilitate this, member states are tasked with establishing 'renewables acceleration areas'. These areas will be characterised by streamlined and simplified permit-granting processes. In addition, considering renewable energy as an overriding public interest is expected to considerably reduce legal objections to new renewable installations.

In terms of immediate next steps, with the directive's formal approval, its publication in the EUs official journal is imminent. The directive will spring into action twenty days after its publication. Thereafter, member states will have a window of 18 months to assimilate and enact it within their national legislations.

This is a great achievement in the framework of the Fit for 55package which will help to achieve the EUs climate goal of reducing EU emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. It is a step forward which will contribute to reaching the EUs climate targets in a fair, cost-effective and competitive way, said Teresa Ribera, Spanish acting minister for the ecological transition.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
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You could say the ingredients of her life had the makings of a classic Greek tragedy: All of which has been chronicled in the purple pages of film rags and unauthorised biographies. Which is perhaps just as well because people need to know what goes into the making of a great actor.The Rekha performances are from largely forgotten films like Dulal Guha's Do Anjaane. Her total recall as an actor to reckon with came once again from Ghar. Directed by Maneck Chatterjee who passed away during the making of the film, the film was completed by Gulzar. Ghar is a Gulzar vehicle right from its dialogue to song sequences. Just like Khubsurat was a delightful Rekha show.Ever after Ghar, she flounced around in several commercial chartbusters until Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar Ka Sikandar happened. A last minute addition to the script, an adaptation of Devdas. Rekha's Zohrabai, a modern Chandramukhi, is the entire spice rack in this eminently watchable masala. This same decisiveness she showed in Shyam Benegal's adaptation of Mahabharata. That she's a changeling is also best seen when she switches from cold and calculated in her dealings with her husband Raj Babbar and her warm bordering on sensual with brother in law Ananth Nag.SEE ALSO:The early 80s were her annus mirabilis. After specialising as the other woman or the courtesan, the opportunity came in the form of Yash Chopra's Silsila. Perhaps too dangerously close to real life, people looked for drama. Despite being saddled with an unsympathetic role, Rekha makes you look beyond her glossy lipsticks and china silks.A reflection of her free spiritedness showed in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Khoobsurat! As the goofy Manju, Rekha was in top form. Be it in her Piya baawri classical dance or her final scene at the railway station. This was that phase where the metaphorsis of the tender gosling into the swan had truly begun.She also nailed it in Ramesh Talwar's Basera. From a spirited young wife to a married woman, to a stepmother, to a wife in denial, it was a Rekha show all the way. Her scenes where she attempts to hide the truth of her marriage from her older sister played by Raakhee, are terrific.Also, first rate was her performance in the annoyingly maudlin Jeevan Dhaara. As the sole provider to a pile-on family, Rekha pulls in a measured performance besides drawing in all the sympathy votes. Piquantly her great performances also came from the much derided south side melodramas like Judaai, Ek hi bhool, Mehndi Rang Layegi, Maang Bharo Sajna, Asha Jyoti and Prem Tapasya.Her ascent as a commercially viable top star was punctuated with yet another great turn in Umrao Jaan. Perhaps not as tour de force as Jennifer Kendall's performance in 36 Chowringhee Lane that year, Rekha inhabited the skein of poetess Umrao and gave it the right amount of sadness and DesolationGulzar captured this same desolation in a railway station in Ijaazat. At close to 30, Rekha's body language of a woman with a history is note perfect. And history is often a camera's best friend.Im reminded of that desolate waiting in a station room of Ijaazat. Of unrequited love in Umrao. Or the forbidden love in Kalyug. In her case, you cannot separate the craft from the artiste. Happy birthday.
It's been over a week since Bigg Boss Tamil 7 went on air and while each contestant has been making the headlines on the show, there is one contestant who has been the talk of the town post her participation. We are talking about Vanitha Vijaykumar's daughter Jovika Vijaykumar. The diva has been among the youngest contestants on the show and has been winning hearts with her strong personality.

However, Jovika is now grabbing eyeballs after her mother Vanitha made a big statement and opened up about Jovika's father. For the uninitiated, Vanitha, who has been married twist, has three kids - daughters Jovika and Jainity and son Srihari. While it was reported that Jovika and Srihari were born during her first marriage with Akash, Jainita came from her second wedding with Rajan.

Over the years there have been speculations about Jovika's father and there have been reports about the young diva being born to Vanitha while she was in a relationship with Arun. The reports allegedly surfaced after Rajan's explosive interview about the same. However, as Jovika is inside the Bigg Boss house, Vanitha has finally put all the rumours to rest and clarified that her first husband Akash is Jovika's father.

She made the revelation during an interactive session on social media and emphasised that while Jovika didn't keep her father's name after her name, she made sure to keep his initials. This isn't all, Vanitha was also quizzed about being in touch with Akash.

To this, Vanitha replied that they might have parted ways owing to differences in opinions but she continues to be in touch with both her ex-husbands for the sake of their kids.

Earlier, as Jovika participated in Bigg Boss Tamil 7, host Kamal Haasan quizzed Vanitha about her special advice for her daughter. To this, she asserted, "Sir, if I give tips, she will win. I have been in and out of the house many times. I told her just one thing. Don't change yourself for anyone. Just listen to what your heart tells you".
Katha Ankahee Off-Air News: Aditi Sharma and Adnan Khan are among the most-loved stars on the small screen currently. While Aditi made her debut in 2004 with ZEE TV's India's Best Cinestars Ki Khoj, Adnan's television journey commenced in 2014 when he appeared on Star Plus' Arjun. Over the years, both actors have captured the hearts of numerous viewers.

After achieving success in various popular shows throughout their careers, this dynamic duo finally joined forces for the Sony TV series Katha Ankahee, produced by Sphere Origins. This show serves as the official Hindi adaptation of the Turkish series One Thousand and One Nights, drawing inspiration from the timeless tales of Arabian Nights.

KATHA ANKAHEE TO TAKE A LEAP SOON?

In Katha Ankahee, Aditi Sharma takes on the lead role as Katha Singh, a determined single mother who confronts her most formidable challenge when her son, Aarav, is diagnosed with a severe form of blood cancer. Battling to cope with the extensive medical expenses and receiving no assistance from her in-laws, Katha finds herself at a critical crossroads.

Katha Ankahee TWIST | Will Adnan Khan & Aditi Sharma's Show Take A Major Leap? Actress Shares BIG UPDATE

Educational Qualifications Of Katha Ankahee Leads Adnan Khan & Aditi Sharma Aka Viaan & Katha

On the other hand, Adnan Khan portrays Viaan Raghuvanshi, a successful architect burdened by the emotional scars inflicted by his father's abandonment of his mother, Teji, in favor of another woman. This traumatic experience has left Viaan deeply wounded emotionally, leading him to adopt a cynical perspective on women, perceiving them all as opportunistic.

WILL KATHA ANKAHEE GO OFF-AIR?

The show premiered on Sony TV in December last year and is getting a huge amount of love from its loyal fanbase. Several recent reports suggest that Katha Ankahee is set to take a big leap in December this year and Aditi Sharma even confirmed it. However, the latest rumours have left the show's fans shocked.

Reportedly, the channel has decided to end Katha Ankahee. Yes, you read that right! According to a Tellychakkar report, Sony TV's upcoming show Dabangii is likely to replace Adnan Khan and Aditi Sharma's show at the timeslot of 8.30 pm. However, it is not yet confirmed and an official announcement regarding the same is still awaited.

Meanwhile, the production of Dabangii is under the guidance of Invictus Media, led by Herumb Khot and Nilanjana Purkayasstha.
Mark Antony Movie FAQ



1. What is the release date for Mark Antony?

The release date for Mark Antony is September 15, 2023.



2. Who is the director of Mark Antony?

The director of Mark Antony is Adhik Ravichandran.



3. Who are the cast members of Mark Antony?

The cast members of Mark Antony are Vishal and S. J. Suryah as the lead stars, along with Ritu Varma, Selvaraghavan, Sunil, Abhinaya, Nizhalgal Ravi, and Redin Kingsley.



4. What is the genre of Mark Antony?

The genre of Mark Antony is sci-fi comedy film.



5. Where can I watch Mark Antony?

You can watch Mark Antony in theatres on September 15, 2023. Then watch the film in Amazon Prime from Oct 13.



6. What is the story of Mark Antony?

Mark, a skilled mechanic and the son of a former gangster, stumbles upon a time-travelling phone that can save his estranged mother from a grim fate, but he must navigate through the dangerous consequences of altering the past while facing his own familys legacy.



7. Which OTT platform bought the streaming service Mark Antony?

Amazon Prime Video secured the film's streaming rights before it even hit theaters, signaling its confidence in the film's potential.



8. What is Mark Antony's OTT selling price?

Amazon Prime startted streaming the highly awaitted gangster drama on October 13, 2023.



9. What is the OTT release date for Mark Antony?

The Mark Antony's OTT release date is still under wraps, but don't fret, my dear. Stay tuned for the big reveal!



10. Is the Mark Antony movie directed by a debutant?

Adhik Ravichandran, who had previously marked his mark through TIN and AAA.


CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As work dynamics change, there will be an increased reliance on AI and automation, emerging threats, improved security measures, and a sustained focus on securing remote work settings. Organisations will be able to maintain a solid security posture in the environment of remote work thanks to these improvements.

The Remote Work Security Market is expected to reach USD 136.0 billion by 2028 from USD 51.7 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 21.3 % during 2023-2028, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Remote Work Security Market"

250 - Tables

50 - Figures

300 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units Value (USD) Million/Billion Segments Covered By Offering security type, remote work model, vertical, and region Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America Companies covered The major players in the Remote Work Security Market are Cisco (US), VMware (US), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point (Israel), Fortinet (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Trend Micro (Japan), Broadcom (US), Cloudflare (US), Sophos (UK), ZScaler (US), Citrix (US), CyberArk (US), Crowdstrike (US), Forcepoint (US), Proofpoint (US), ESET (Slovakia), Seclore (US)

The adoption of remote work has experienced a remarkable surge in recent years, driven by advancements in technology and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations of all sizes have embraced this paradigm shift, solidifying its widespread acceptance during the crisis. According to Citrix's 2022 report, 'The State of Security in a hybrid work environment,' 52% of security decision-makers foresee a future where most of the workforce would either be permanently remote or adopt a hybrid work model. Moreover, the advantages of remote work are numerous, offering increased flexibility, cost savings, and access to a global talent pool. Employees appreciate the improved work-life balance and reduced commuting stress, as highlighted by the survey conducted by GitLab in 2022. The study found that 80% of employees experienced reduced job-related stress when working remotely.

Additionally, remote work has contributed to decreased sick leave days (50%) and fewer absences (56%) among remote employees. As a result, the long-term impact of remote work on traditional workspaces is undeniable, fostering a more connected and agile workforce that transcends geographical boundaries. Organizations are embracing this new normal, recognizing the potential for enhanced productivity and employee well-being.

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The network security registers the highest market size in the Remote Work Security Market during the forecast period.

Network security is a fundamental component of remote work security, primarily concerned with safeguarding the communication channels and data transfers between remote employees and an organization's network infrastructure. Network security becomes paramount in remote work scenarios, where employees access corporate resources from various locations, including home and public networks. It involves using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to encrypt data on public networks, firewalls for traffic monitoring and filtering, and Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) for real-time threat detection and prevention. Network security in remote work environments fortifies the connections and data flows between remote employees and the organization's network. This ensures that data privacy, integrity, and confidentiality are upheld, even in remote work's dynamic and dispersed landscape.

The retail & e-commerce segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Retail and e-commerce companies handle sensitive information, including customer payment details, personal data, and proprietary business strategies. Therefore, ensuring the security of this data is paramount. Remote work security measures in this sector encompass various aspects. Firstly, organizations must secure remote access to their systems and networks to prevent unauthorized entry and data breaches. Robust authentication methods and secure VPNs are standard tools used for this purpose. Data encryption is crucial to protect sensitive customer information and payment transactions. Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unintelligible to unauthorized parties. Moreover, businesses in this sector must adhere to stringent compliance standards, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), which sets guidelines for securing payment card data. Non-compliance can lead to severe financial penalties and damage to brand reputation.

Based on region, Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific countries are highly concerned about increased security spending due to the ever-growing threat landscape. The region comprises emerging economies like China, Japan, and India. With effective government regulations and technological advancements, remote work security is witnessing high growth opportunities in this region. The Asia Pacific Remote Work Security Market is experiencing substantial growth, primarily driven by the increasing acceptance of remote work, cloud adoption, and the imperative for enhanced security in remote work environments. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid remote work adoption and prompted significant investments in security control systems to protect remote employees. While the pandemic was pivotal in driving the Remote Work Security Market, a surge in highly sophisticated cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and government entities has further compelled regional organizations to bolster their investments in remote work security technologies.

Top Key Companies in Remote Work Security Market:

The report profiles key players such as Cisco (US), VMware (US), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point (Israel), Fortinet (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Trend Micro (Japan), Broadcom (US), Cloudflare (US), Sophos (UK), ZScaler (US), Citrix (US), CyberArk (US), Crowdstrike (US), Forcepoint (US), Proofpoint (US), ESET (Slovakia), Seclore (US).

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Recent Developments:

In April 2023, VMware and Lookout partnered to offer a secure access service edge (SASE) solution, integrating the Lookout Cloud Security Platform with VMware SD-WAN. The partnership ensures optimized network connectivity, data protection, and enhanced visibility for cloud-first enterprises, providing reliable and secure remote access to applications from any device and location.

In April 2023, Palo Alto Networks and Accenture joined forces to offer AI-powered Prisma SASE solutions, enhancing cyber resilience and enabling secure access control for organizations amidst the complexities of remote work and multi-cloud environments.

In July 2022, Cisco and Ricoh formed a strategic partnership, offering Secure Remote Access Solutions, combining network security and Auto VPN elements, to enhance hybrid working and IoT support services in Hong Kong. The collaboration provides comprehensive smart office solutions for businesses.

Remote Work Security Market Advantages:

Solutions for remote work security shield confidential company information and intangible assets from unauthorised access, data breaches, and cyberattacks.

Secure access to corporate networks, apps, and resources is available to remote workers, enhancing productivity and lowering security concerns.

Endpoint protection is a component of remote work security solutions that guards against malware, ransomware, and other threats on gadgets like laptops and mobile devices.

IAM solutions guard against unauthorised access by ensuring that only authorised users can access corporate systems and resources.

By demanding several forms of authentication, MFA adds an extra layer of security and lowers the chance of unauthorised access even if login credentials are stolen.

For distant employees to connect to company networks securely, virtual private networks (VPNs) build tunnels that encrypt data in transit.

Employee education about cybersecurity best practises is a common component of remote work security solutions, lowering the chance of human

EDR tools improve overall security by keeping an eye out for unusual activity on endpoints and quickly responding to attacks.

Through the use of encrypted communication tools, remote work security solutions enable secure cooperation while safeguarding private communications and files.

Report Objectives

To determine and forecast the global Remote Work Security Market by offering (solution and service), security type, remote work model, vertical, and region from 2023 to 2028, and analyze the various macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affecting market growth.

To forecast the size of the market segments concerning five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the Remote Work Security Market.

To analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall Remote Work Security Market.

To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the Remote Work Security Market.

To profile the key market players; provide a comparative analysis based on business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and key financials; and illustrate the market's competitive landscape.

Track and analyze competitive developments in the market, such as mergers and acquisitions, product developments, partnerships and collaborations, and Research and Development (R&D) activities.

Browse Adjacent Market: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting

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MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - Bluberi (or the "Company") today announced it will debut brand new product lines and product vertical entries on October 10 at the Global Gaming Expo ("G2E") at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas at booth 3359.

"Our tagline this year is 'We Believe'," said Bluberi's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Burke. "It's a statement of belief in our ability to continually produce great products as we execute our growth plan. It also references a series of specific concepts we believe in: our core values and design philosophies like 'Quality over Quantity.' Our philosophies, personalities, and great products will all be displayed during what we believe are the three most important days of the year for us: G2E."





Bluberi's tagline for G2E 2023 is "We Believe"



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At G2E, Bluberi will showcase brand new titles for the Novus B49, one of the best-performing core cabinets in the industry. Titles include Rocket Rumble, a current top-indexing theme, plus Shark's Lock, a highly anticipated spinoff of Bluberi's industry staple Devil's Lock.

"We are thrilled to debut Shark's Lock," said Michael Brennan, Bluberi's Chief Product Officer. "It exemplifies how we make games, using player research, data, and creativity within confines. Shark's Lock is a strategic intellectual property extension and features impactful twists and surprises all within the boundaries of what made the original game, Devil's Lock, so strong."

"Fu Frenzy is another title that is a milestone for Bluberi," adds Brennan. "It is the debut theme from our new Bluberi Pi studio in Reno, as we expand our game studio footprint."

Bluberi will also debut two brand new product lines, Beacon Elite and Phoenix Stepper. Phoenix Stepper is driven by the Jackpot Star Trio launch theme, bringing modern game mechanics to the unique jumbo cabinet and targeting high denomination mechanical reel players, while Beacon Elite is a potential game-changer for the company.

"We believe that Beacon Elite is going to be one of the top-anticipated products coming out of G2E," says Burke. "It's our first entry into the true premium video vertical, and we're launching it with a highly anticipated and well-executed sequel, Devil's Lock All In."

The Beacon cabinet is defined by a high-contrast ultra-bright J-curve screen, an EZ-service player panel with gel-capped comfort buttons, and many other features born from 400 hours of research. The Elite launch package includes broad overhead signage, strata LED dividers, and light-enhancing Fresnel lenses.

"Our trade show is 50% larger this year than last year, and next year will be even bigger," says Burke. "It's symbolic of our growth trajectory and our future goals. Plus, G2E is a chance for our most talented employees to come together for three days and celebrate as a team."

Bluberi is rapidly ascending in North America, growing its market share monthly and adding more jurisdictions to its base daily. This includes the recent addition of Historical Horse Racing that Bluberi will debut at G2E, a substantial gaming market covering states like Kentucky, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Wyoming.

"A key statement that we believe in is that we are the new school," said Casey Whalen, Bluberi's Chief Commercial Officer. "We approach many decisions with this in mind, which drives us to be authentic and somewhat irreverent. We can't wait for G2E to demonstrate how we are different and how being new school translates into success within the industry."

###

About Bluberi

Backed by more than 25 years of industry experience, Bluberi is an established and reliable company with an expansive vision to deliver the highest quality casino gaming experience to players in Class II and Class III markets across the globe. We strive to provide industry-leading customer service by being the easiest company to do business with and are proud to be an agile supplier, able to respond to customer feedback quickly as we grow to become a best-in-class gaming partner. To learn more, visit bluberi.com.

About Global Gaming Expo

For over 20 years, Global Gaming Expo (G2E) has been the leader in uniting the global gaming community. Whether engaging in-person or digitally, G2E offers industry leaders a productive, educational, and rewarding way to connect year-round. G2E's strong foundation and location in Las Vegas continue to showcase innovation while highlighting transformation in the gaming industry. Click here for a free pass to G2E.

Bluberi Media Contact: Christian Smith, Sr. Director of Product & Marketing, christian.smith@bluberi.com

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Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - SLM Holdings, a leading fintech startup, is pleased to announce strategic collaborations with influential Chicago investors, signaling a significant milestone in the company's mission to redefine the future of digital banking. These strategic alliances are poised to reshape the way consumers interact with cash, ensuring a seamless integration into the modern digital economy.

While cash circulation in the United States reaches unprecedented levels, its usage is experiencing a steady decline as consumers increasingly adopt digital payment methods. Existing solutions for digitizing cash, such as bank ATMs, cash-to-crypto ATMs, coin-counting kiosks, and in-store retail deposits, have proven to be restrictive, costly, and inconvenient, impeding the full transition to a digital economy.

Operating discreetly under its private holding entity, SLM Holdings, the company has been diligently crafting a disruptive fintech ecosystem. This ecosystem reimagines cash management and payment services typically offered by banks and large financial institutions. SLM Holdings leverages AI-powered hardware and enterprise software solutions to rejuvenate cash-related services for consumers, retailers, and banks. The company is set to unveil its transformative product in early 2025.

Co-Founders Gabriel Stone, Andre Battles, and Lester Larry

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Raising capital is a formidable task, particularly for tech ventures headquartered in Chicago. Nevertheless, SLM Holdings has experienced early success and remains optimistic about Chicago's potential as a burgeoning tech and innovation hub.

Co-founders Andre Battles and Lester Larry, both originating from Chicago's south side, boast strong connections within the city. Completing the formidable trio, Gabriel Stone, hailing from the North Shore, shares close ties with Larry from their time at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign.





Co-Founders Gabriel Stone, Andre Battles, and Lester Larry

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"At SLM Holdings, we merge our diverse backgrounds in finance, technology, and entrepreneurship to create a nexus of intelligent banking innovations and solidifying strategic collaborations in Chicago's fintech landscape," Andre said.

In the quest for initial backers, the co-founders enlisted Chicago-native Peter Thompson, Chairman of Midwest Advisory of Lazard and a respected figure within the Chicago business community with deep family ties to the city's political landscape. In addition to Thompson, the company has been backed by angel investors who helm some of the most prominent financial institutions in the city, including a prominent Chicago-based cash management firm.

As SLM Holdings charts its course, co-founder Lester Larry believes in fostering cross-sector collaboration, stating, "We're optimistic that by initiating some cross-sector collaboration and cohesion amongst the biggest tech and non-tech players in the city, we might be able to create an ecosystem here that can compete with the larger tech hubs out there."

Contact Info:

Lester Larry

SLM Holdings

lester@slm-holdings.com

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SINGAPORE, Oct 10, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - The sixth edition of Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP) will be the launchpad for over 50 new-to-market and new-to-region products and solutions set to transform the region's advanced manufacturing sector.Organised by Constellar with international partner Deutsche Messe, ITAP 2023 will focus on three key dimensions: Sustainability, Optimising Manufacturing Efficiency, and Supply Chain Resilience; convening over 300 exhibitors, 100 speakers and 18,000 delegates, trade visitors and attendees from 18 - 20 October at Singapore EXPO.Guest-of-Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, will be launching the event at its opening ceremony on 18 October."Recent disruptions have placed a greater impetus for manufacturers and businesses in the global supply chain to adopt new technological innovations and sustainable solutions to remain competitive. As the region's leading marketplace for connecting businesses, ideas, and networks in the advanced manufacturing sector, ITAP 2023 continues to be the preferred platform for industry players to discover Industry 4.0 innovations and gain insight to how emerging technologies such as AI and digital twins contribute to the accelerated pace of industrial transformation experienced in many sectors today," said Paul Lee, Chief Executive (Markets) at Constellar.Key product highlights will be showcased at the I4.0 Tech Capsule stage on the ITAP 2023 exhibition floor, including direct current grids by LAPP Asia Pacific to increase energy efficiency and cost savings for industry 4.0 solutions, a unified data collection and analytics platform by Litmus Automation to make sense of industrial data, as well as Profet AI which empowers organisations to efficiently implement AI solutions that address daily production and business needs.Spanning 20,000 sqm across two halls, the exhibition will also feature made-in-Singapore innovations such as a new plug-and-play IoT-powered Ops-analytics Solution by Auk Industries, an AI-powered AR platform by Clemvision combining machine vision with human dexterity, as well as the industry's first mobile robot-powered dual-unit picking station."For the past five years, ITAP has played an important role in bringing together manufacturers from the Asia-Pacific region to connect with global technology leaders game on meeting the industry's changing needs. I'm confident that this year's edition of ITAP will continue to be a critical platform in fostering international collaboration, catalysing cross-border innovation and further advancing manufacturing capabilities for a better, brighter future," said Dr. Jochen Kockler, Chief Executive, Deutsche Messe.Event HighlightsGlobal industry leaders, decision makers and key players in the region's business ecosystem will be joining the robust three-day conference programme at ITAP 2023, with highlights such as the Industrial Transformation Forum, the invitation-only Future of Manufacturing (FOM) CXO Summit, and the Industrial Innovation Stage.Expert speakers at ITAP this year include President of Boeing Southeast Asia Alex Feldman, Global CTO of Smart Manufacturing, Edge Compute and Digital Twins at DELL Technologies Todd Edmunds, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Semodia GmBH Anna Menschner, Head of Enterprise ASEAN at Amazon Web Services Vikram Rao, Senior Director Factory Automation Sales Asia-Pacific of Siemens Digital Industries Sascha Maennl and General Manager Logistics Technology Business of Cainiao Candice Yuan.On the exhibition floor, delegates and trade visitors can explore cutting-edge technologies and learn from use-cases at interactive experience zones, as well as join off-site tours to leading innovation centres and advanced factories in Singapore. ITAP 2023 Founding Sponsor Siemens will also be presenting solutions such as the open digital business platform Siemens Xcelarator with a curated portfolio of products, services and solutions, as well as Industrial Operations X, which helps to accelerate the engineering, execution and optimisation of industrial operations.Siemens will also showcase how it is applying its industrial automation and digitalisation solutions to a vertical farm from local start-up Artisan Green, boosting the farm's operational efficiency and productivity. Additionally, visitors to the Siemens booth at ITAP 2023 can meet with the winners from Siemens' "This is Industrial Edge" competition, who will be showcasing solutions that can either improve manufacturing processes and/or sustainability, using Industrial Edge products."As a conference that is designed and curated to help companies start, scale and sustain their adoption of Industry 4.0 processes and solutions, ITAP is the perfect platform for Siemens to show how we are combining the real and digital worlds to help our customers become more competitive, resilient and sustainable," said Isabel Chong, Head of Siemens Digital Industries ASEAN.ITAP is also excited to welcome global semiconductor leader Analog Devices as the Platinum Sponsor at the event for the first time. "As the prime event that brings together leading players and stakeholders across the manufacturing value chain, ITAP is the go-to platform for Analog Devices to showcase our innovation and manufacturing capabilities that create long-term value for our customers," said Jerry Fan, Senior Vice President, President of Asia Pacific for Analog Devices.If you'd like to attend ITAP 2023, click here (https://ter.li/4gmtin) to register.To check out the key topics and speakers at this year's ITAP, click here (https://ter.li/z5ai0h).About Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC - A HANNOVER MESSE EventOrganised by Constellar with international partner Deutsche Messe, Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC - a HANNOVER MESSE event (ITAP) is Asia Pacific's go-to platform for companies and governments looking to start, scale and sustain their adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) processes and solutions across industries and sectors. ITAP offers comprehensive content-rich learning avenues and themed activity zones for companies at various stages of business transformation to explore, collaborate and co-create solutions to future-proof their businesses.Cohesively, ITAP brings together a self-contained ecosystem and helps build a professional community for end-to-end engagements among I4.0 practitioners, technology & solution providers, industrial companies, component manufacturers, software companies, manufacturing solutions suppliers, service companies & consultancies and start-ups. For more information, please visit the official ITAP website.About ConstellarConstellar connects a global eco-system of event partners and consumers through a holistic portfolio of intellectual property (IP) in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. As Asia's partner of reference for curating innovative event and venue experiences, Constellar activates impactful networks to bring global markets, businesses and consumers together for sustainable growth. With our expertise and dedication, we are invested in helping you build trusted relationships with stakeholders for the long term and enabling cross-industry collaboration through world-class audience engagement solutions. Visit constellar.co for more information.HANNOVER MESSE - Home of Industrial PioneersHANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading trade show for industrial technology. With the lead theme Industrial Transformation, it spotlights all of the latest trends in industry, including Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, 5G and smart logistics.About Deutsche Messe AGAs one of the world's foremost organizers of capital goods trade fairs, Deutsche Messe (Hannover, Germany) stages a rich array of events at venues in Germany and around the globe. With 2018 revenue of 310 million euros, Deutsche Messe ranks among Germany's top five tradeshow producers. The company's portfolio features such world-class events as (in alphabetical order): didacta (education), DOMOTEX (carpets and other floor coverings), HANNOVER MESSE (industrial technology), INTERSCHUTZ (fire prevention, disaster relief and safety & security), LABVOLUTION (lab technology) and LIGNA (woodworking and wood processing tools, equipment and machinery). Deutsche Messe also stages trade fairs at other German venues, for example parts2clean (industrial parts cleaning) and SurfaceTechnology (surface treatment).The company also regularly hosts a number of internationally renowned events by third parties, among which are AGRITECHNICA (agricultural machinery) and EuroTier (animal production), both of which are staged by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), EMO (machine tools; staged by the German Machine Tool Builders' Association, VDW), EuroBLECH (sheet metal working; staged by MackBrooks) and IAA Commercial Vehicles (transport, logistics and mobility; staged by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA). Deutsche Messe's portfolio also includes trade fairs in Australia, Canada,China, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the USA. Among the sectors addressed at these overseas events are Automotive, ICT & Digital Business, Manufacturing & Processing Industries, Energy & Logistics and Metal Processing. With more than 1,200 employees and a network of 56 sales partners, Deutsche Messe is present in about 100 countries.Media Assets can be downloaded here (https://ter.li/ITAP23_media).For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:Dax LimManager, Communications & CultureDax.lim@constellar.co+65 9019 6133The Constellar Communications team can also be reached at comms@constellar.coSource: ConstellarCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Leading Intake-to-Pay Platform Will Share Key Insights to New Technology and User Adoption

Zip, the world's only intake-to-pay platform, is attending DPW Amsterdam this week and will be leading a keynote address at the event. Zip, trusted by Fortune 500 and numerous publicly traded companies, will be the only tested, enterprise-grade intake and procurement orchestration solution at the event.

This year's theme at DPW Amsterdam focuses on "Make Tech Work." The event commences Wednesday, October 11, 2023, and runs through Thursday, October 12, 2023. DPW Amsterdam is an annual hybrid technology conference and is largely considered the world's biggest and most influential tech event in procurement and supply chain.

WHO:

Zip CTO and co-founder, Lu Cheng, will be delivering a keynote in a session titled, "Ignite Digital Transformation Success: Adoption Powered by Intake."

In addition, Cheng and Zip Head of Research, Nick Heinzmann, will be hosting a virtual session titled, "Why Intake-to-Pay is Eating Procure-to-Pay."

WHAT:

This year's DPW Amsterdam conference is focused around making digital aspirations for procurement a realty, and Zip is bringing intake to the stage. Sessions are centered around the conference theme of "Make Tech Work."

In his keynote speech, Zip's Cheng will share how the key starting point for success in digital transformation is focusing first on adoption.

In their joint virtual session, Zip's Cheng and Heinzmann will explore the ways procure-to-pay software is not delivering its full potential and how intake-to-pay is the new paradigm for success.

WHERE: Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, Netherlands

WHEN:

DPW Amsterdam: Wednesday, October 11 Thursday, October 12

"Ignite Digital Transformation Success: Adoption Powered by Intake" session: Thursday, October 12

"Why Intake-to-Pay is Eating Procure-to-Pay" session: Thursday, October 12

Resources

Learn more about Zip

Request a demo

About Zip

Zip is the world's only intake-to-pay platform. Providing a single platform for any employee to initiate and complete a purchase or vendor request, Zip helps businesses gain clear and timely visibility across all business spend, while dramatically improving the employee experience. The platform's no-code configuration and intelligent workflows integrated across disparate systems enable businesses to automatically route requests for faster approval across finance, legal, procurement, IT, security and other teams. Zip consolidates all the steps and tools used across the purchasing lifecycle in one platform. Leading enterprises and high-growth startups like Northwestern Mutual, Snowflake, Canva, Airtable, Webflow, Databricks and over 250 others use Zip to streamline their procurement processes while delighting their business users.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009464688/en/

Contacts:

Kelsey LaBarbera

Bhava Communications for Zip

zip@bhavacom.com
STOCKHOLM, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyvia Group, a leading provider of business-critical software and expert services, is proud to announce a new partnership with leading banks Danske Bank and DNB.

Lyvia Group's mission is to drive digital evolution by developing and delivering leading technologies that combine software and expert services for business-critical applications. This new partnership with two major Nordic banks will strengthen the company's growth capabilities and open new opportunities to support Lyvia on its continued European expansion path.

"It was natural for us to team up with DNB and Danske Bank. We have had a long-standing relationship with Danske Bank, and the way DNB has supported customers during the pandemic embodies the kind of partnership we admire. We are proud and excited to work with partners who build and value strong relationships. This collaboration demonstrates their confidence in our vision, strengthens our financial base and allows us to continue to grow sustainably. ", said Sebastian Karlsson, CEO of Lyvia Group.

The partnership with DNB and Danske Bank will give Lyvia Group access to leading industry expertise that, together with the bank's products and services, will support the company's growth strategy.

"Lyvia demonstrates a strong ambition and thoroughness in all aspects. We are particularly intrigued by their niche and business model in the future area of digitalisation, as well as with our ongoing and transparent dialogue with Lyvia's strong team. We are more than excited to be part of their development going forward," said Fredrik Magnusson, Senior Banker & Head of Regional Client, Large Corporate Banking SE at Danske Bank.

Lyvia invites investors and stakeholders to join them in their journey as they lead the way in digital evolution. The company's commitment and their excellent technologies, combined with this significant funding, set the stage for continued success and innovation.

"The rapid development and strong portfolio of Lyvia impressed us. It encompasses key macro-trends such as digitalisation, which aligns with our future growth areas. The strong financial and strategically well-positioned profile, coupled with effective management, make it an ideal fit. We look forward to following their journey.", said Jesper Wiberg, Senior Vice President Corporate Banking at DNB.

ABOUT LYVIA GROUP:

Lyvia Group develops and delivers business critical and growth enabling software and services to customers all over the world. We build solutions based on our own IP and partner with leading industry providers to evolve our customers' digitalisation.

Read more about Lyvia Group here: https://lyviagroup.com/

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Erik Martensson, Chief Investment Officer

erik.martensson@lyviagroup.com

+46 (0) 70 458 25 65

Daria Hyppa, Investor Relations Manager

daria.hyppa@lyviagroup.com

+46 (0) 76 307 40 20

CONTACT:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Erik Martensson, Chief Investment Officer

erik.martensson@lyviagroup.com

+46 (0) 70 458 25 65

Daria Hyppa, Investor Relations Manager

daria.hyppa@lyviagroup.com

+46 (0) 76 307 40 20

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/21849/3850516/2348128.pdf Press release - Lyvia Group secures SEK 1.6 billion in financing through partnership with leading banks

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lyvia-group-secures-sek-1-6-billion-in-financing-through-partnership-with-leading-banks-301951772.html
LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World's 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, has revealed the extended 51-100 list. Decided by a voting panel comprising 680 independent drinks experts, from renowned bartenders, educators and consultants to drinks writers and cocktail specialists, the extended list is a forerunner to the live unveiling of The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 on 17 October in Singapore.

The 51-100 List in Numbers

The 51-100 list includes bars spanning 34 different cities across the world

across the world There are 14 new entries , with 3 cities featuring for the first time: Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana

, with 3 cities featuring for the first time: Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana USA leads with six bars across New York, Chicago and Los Angeles

leads with six bars across New York, Chicago and Los Angeles UK leads in Europe with five bars out of a total 17 across the continent

leads in with five bars out of a total 17 across the continent The list includes 14 bars in Asia across Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo

The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 will see the prestigious event leave Europe for the first time, heading to Singapore as it continues its mission to spotlight the world's great cocktail cities. The extended 51-100 list continues to showcase a wider selection of the most excellent bars and destinations around the world.

New entries for 2023 include Lima's Lady Bee (No.52), Tulum's Arca (No.60), Guadalajara's El Gallo Altanero (No.65), New York's Martiny's (No.68), Dubai's Ergo (No.69), Mexico City's Rayo (No.72), Toronto's Civil Liberties (No.73), Seoul's Bar Cham (No.75), Berlin's Velvet (No.77), Mexico City's Kaito del Valle (No.81), Oslo's Svanen (No.84), Tirana's Nouvelle Vague (No.86), Bratislava's Mirror Bar (No.90) and Athens' The Bar in Front of the Bar (No.98). The full list can be viewed here.

William Drew, Director of Content, 50 Best, says: "When we launched the extended list of The World's 50 Best Bars our intention was to shine a light on an even greater cross-section of the most exceptional destinations for cocktail lovers. Now, in its seventh year, we are delighted to recognise the remarkable hospitality experiences offered by these establishments across 34 incredible cities. As we once again take to the road, leaving Europe for the first time in our history to celebrate the greatest cocktail bars in the world in the iconic city of Singapore, we extend our warmest congratulations."

For media centre access, please visit:https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com

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Commerzbank AG (London Branch) - Pre-Stabilisation - European Union New long 20-year & Tap Oct-2026 dual Benchmark Bonds

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 10

Pre-Stabilisation notice

10 October 2023

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

European Union

New long 20-year & Tap Oct-2026 dual benchmark bonds

Commerzbank AG (contact: Daniela Olt-Farrelly; telephone: +49 69 136-20) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised:

Issuer:

European Union

Guarantor (if any):

none

Aggregate nominal amount:

EUR 4billion 2044 Notes

EUR 2026 Tap Notes

Description:

EUR Fixed Rate RegS bearer bonds

Offer price:

tbc

Other offer terms:

maturies 4thApril 2044 and 5thOctober 2026 (tap), backed by the European Union Member States and EU budget, settlement 17thOctober 2023

Stabilisation:

Stabilsation Coordinator

Stabilising Managers:

Commerzbank AG

Deutsche Bank

Goldman Sachs

JP Morgan

Societe Generale

Stabilisation period expected to start on:

10thOctober 2023

Stabilisation period expected to end on:

no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities)

Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility.

The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law.

Stabilisation trading venue:

Luxembourg SE

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

END

Pre-Stabilisation notice

10 October 2023

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

European Union

New long 20-year & Tap Oct-2026 dual benchmark bonds

Commerzbank AG (contact: Daniela Olt-Farrelly; telephone: +49 69 136-20) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: European Union Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 4billion 2044 Notes EUR 2026 Tap Notes Description: EUR Fixed Rate RegS bearer bonds Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: maturies 4th April 2044 and 5th October 2026 (tap), backed by the European Union Member States and EU budget, settlement 17th October 2023 Stabilisation: Stabilsation Coordinator Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG Deutsche Bank Goldman Sachs JP Morgan Societe Generale Stabilisation period expected to start on: 10th October 2023 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities) Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg SE

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

END
LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple Sclerosis Disease, a chronic autoimmune disease affects a large proportion of the world population. According to an epidemiology study conducted by the WHO, more than 1.8 million individuals are affected with MS globally. This growing disease burden has increased the need for efficient MS management solutions.

Multiple Sclerosis predominantly affects the central nervous system and is caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective covering of nerve fibers. This leads to severe inflammation and damage to the brain and spinal cord. MS neurologists have revealed that the damage caused by the ailment hampers the regular flow of electrical impulses along the nerve. Some MS specialists further suggest that this disease mostly impact young adults aged between 20 and 50.

The playing operating in this landscape are emphasizing on strengthening their industry position by bring about the much-needed transformation in the MS management vertical. DLI has been a support system to these players when it comes to treatment gaps identification, MS clinical trials, clinical trial feasibility analysis, product portfolio extension, along with price and market access decisions. By procuring its healthcare consulting services, the industry participants can also get their hands on new product launch services, overall disease insights, post launch services, along with regulatory consulting assistance.

Price and Market Access

MS Disease Insights- Causes and Symptoms:

The exact cause behind the occurrence of this disease is yet to be discovered by the researchers. But certain observations have suggested that immune system dysfunction, viral infections (such as Epstein-Barr virus), smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and exposure to certain toxins, along with environmental factors, such as latitude and climate may contribute to the risk of developing this ailment.

Fatigue, muscle weakness, vision issues, balance and coordination problems, sensory changes, spasticity, pain, cognitive changes, along with mood changes are some of the primary symptoms of MS. It is worth noting that Relapsing-remitting MS is one of the most common forms of MS. It is characterized by a pattern of symptoms that come and go, with periods of relapse (exacerbations) followed by periods of remission (partial or complete recovery).

Learn More About the FDA NDA & BLA Approval (NME) Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis @

https://www.diseaselandscape.com/downloadsample/postid/57

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Early MS diagnosis is pivotal since it paves the way for fast prognosis. Post detection, doctors suggest the best MS treatment to the patients that can improve their quality of life by alleviating the symptoms.

Comprehensive clinical evaluation, MRI, evoked potential tests, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, are some of the most reliable diagnostic techniques.

There is no permanent cure for this ailment therefore doctors suggest MS medications and therapies to alleviate the symptoms to a better extent. Drugs like copaxone, tecfidera, ocrelizumab, and gilenya, are primarily prescribed to the patients. Apart from that, disease-modifying therapies, symptomatic treatments, corticosteroids, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy also works wonders in treating various symptoms of this disease. Notably, regular follow-up appointments and communication with healthcare providers are essential to monitor disease progression, adjust treatments, and address any new symptoms or challenges that may arise.

Unlock the Benefits Today! Get Started Now and Elevate Your Experience @

https://www.diseaselandscape.com/checkout?report_id=57

Final Words:

MS primarily impacts the central nervous system constituting of the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system begins attacking our nerve shield known as myelin. This disease leads to the onset of numerous systems including movement difficulties, vision issues, odd aches, and fatigue, among others. Players are trying to find effective MS management solutions and DLI has been a support system for them. Through its pharma consulting services, players are getting complete assistance on their drug development endeavours. DLI is also helping them with commercial strategy analysis and product pipeline analysis, among others.

Browse Through More Autoimmune Diseases Research Reports.

Related Reports:

Launch of a Medical High-Tech Innovation Case Study

Case Analysis: Development of an Antibiotic

Case Study: Using Emerging Technologies to Discover Antiallergic Drugs

Case Study: Creation and Submission of a New Drug Application (NDA)

Case Study: Trends in API Prices

Collaboration with Commercial Laboratories to Develop Monkeypox Detection Technologies to Support Business Growth

For lung cancer treatment, radiation is employed.

Immunomodulating Drugs for Lupus

To Launch More Affordable Drugs and Boost Productivity Through Cost-Effective Research and Development

Finding a Hemophilia Treatment Facility that Accepts

Launch of a Pneumonia Diagnostic Tool in the Market

Case Study: Clinical Trials for Parkinson's Disease Project Management

Case Study: The Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Landscape is Changing

Case Study: Examining Topical Medicines for Treatment of Psoriasis

Case Study: The Benefits of an Combination for Alzheimer's Drug

Case Study: Vaccine Development

A case study involving the cooperation of a pharmaceutical business with CDMOs and SMOs

Case Study: Expansion of the Australian Product Portfolio

AI application in a healthcare organization: a case study

Case Study: Landscape Analysis of Ovarian Cancer Treatment

About Disease Landscape:?

Disease Landscape, a pioneering company specializing in Disease Intelligence, Pricing, and Market Access. Utilizing the power of data analytics, Disease Landscape Insights is dedicated to healthcare sector with invaluable, finely crafted insights and recommendations regarding global pricing and market access strategies. As a specialized firm, we are committed to delivering unparalleled insights into pricing and market access, custom-tailored to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Our data-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology position us as your trustworthy partner, offering swift, adaptable, and evidence-based alternatives to traditional market access and pricing research methods.?

Our core competencies encompass Market Research Services, Consulting Services, Global Pricing and Market Access, Epidemiology Studies, as well as Product Portfolio and Pipeline Services. Our expertise lies in furnishing comprehensive data intelligence throughout every phase of drug and device research.?

Contact Us:

Disease Landscape Insights LLP

6th Floor, Sr No.207, Office A H 6070 Phase 1

Solitaire Business Hub, Viman Nagar

Pune, Maharashtra, 411014

Contact: +44-2038074155

Asia Office Contact: +917447409162

Email: ajay@diseaselandscape.com

Email: vishal@diseaselandscape.com

Blog: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/blogs

Case Study: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/casestudies

Pharma consulting Services

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

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In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen!

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.
In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen!

DUESSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - Rheinmetall AG (RNMBF.PK), a German aerospace and defense company, announced on Tuesday a further order from German Bundeswehr to supply over 150,000 rounds of artillery ammunition under a framework agreement. The third call-off is worth in the mid-three-digit million-euro range. Under the deal, the company would deliver over a hundred thousand 155mm shells of expal munitions as well as additional DM 121 high-explosive rounds. 'Although the customer is the German government, all the ammunition is earmarked for Ukraine. ...Tens of thousands of rounds are to be delivered in 2023, with the reminder due to ship in 2024,' the company said in a statement. In July, the company had announced a new framework agreement for artillery ammunition with the Bundeswehr and the expansion of an existing agreement, for delivery of several hundred thousand shells, fuses and propelling charges. The framework agreement for 155mm artillery ammunition completed in July runs until 2029, representing gross potential order volume of around 1.2 billion euros. Currently, Rheinmetall shares are trading at 254.70 EUR, down 1.68% on the Xetra Exchange. Copyright(c) 2023 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.
Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Octa Homes, a notable player in the manufactured housing industry, has achieved a significant milestone by swiftly finishing construction of The Vibe @ I69 manufactured housing development within a mere four months. This accomplishment is setting new benchmarks in the manufactured housing market.

The Vibe @ I69 by Octa Homes

The Vibe @ I69, a manufactured housing community located in the Houston ETJ, initiated construction on June 7th, 2023, and has garnered attention for its exceptionally rapid progress. In an industry where projects of this magnitude typically require more than eight months for completion, Octa Homes is redefining expectations by completing this development in just four months.

Mayer Husain, CEO of Octa Homes, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating, "Our team's dedication and determination have enabled this remarkable feat. Completing The Vibe @ I69 with both speed and quality underscores our commitment to addressing housing challenges. We aspire to set new standards in the manufactured housing market, motivating us to create similar high-quality communities."

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 7th, 2023, with Octa Homes Senior Management and key stakeholders in attendance. On August 15th, 2023, The Vibe @ I69 received a Will-Serve letter for water and sewer from the MUD, along with a Certificate of Completion issued on August 18th, 2023.

The strategic location of The Vibe @ I69, situated along the I69 highway and a mere 15-minute drive from Houston's George Bush International Airport, enhances its appeal. This development provides a much-needed housing solution in Montgomery County, one of the nation's fastest-growing counties.

Octa Homes is actively involved in four projects within Montgomery County, including The Vibe at I69, the Vibe at OAKS, the Vibe at 1485, and the Vibe at 494. These communities cater to the increasing demand for high-quality manufactured housing in the region, with additional developments in Dallas MSA, Corpus Christi MSA, and Katy, TX.

Each of Octa Homes' communities prioritizes safety and convenience, featuring paved roads, curb and gutter infrastructure, street lights, and underground utilities, creating welcoming environments for residents.

With a development portfolio spanning over 11.6 million square feet of land and 1,700+ pads, Octa Homes remains committed to addressing the pressing need for quality housing solutions in the region.

The completion of The Vibe @ I69 underscores Octa Homes' unwavering dedication to providing high-quality manufactured housing options, contributing to efforts to alleviate the country's housing crisis.

Contact:

Adnan Ali

Email: info@octa.homes

Phone: +1 346-444-9660

Website: www.octa.homes

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183471
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / SRQ Resources Inc. ("SRQ" or the "Company") (TSXV:SRQ) is pleased to announce that the Phase 2 drilling program on its exciting new discovery, the Lac Brule Ultramafic Magmatic Intrusive Complex ("UM Intrusive"), is scheduled to start on or about October 23, 2023. The UM Intrusive hosts significant nickel and copper mineralisation.

Following the success of the July 2023 Phase 1 drilling program, SRQ is eager to further assess the potential of the UM Intrusive complex and advance the Company's understanding of its mineralisation. Drilling under the fully funded Phase 2 program will focus on the Gossan Zone.

Key highlights of the Phase 2 program include:

Follow-up Drilling: Phase 2 will involve drilling 5 holes for approximately 1,200 meters (" m ") on the Gossan Zone. These holes are designed to follow up on the strong conductors outlined by August 2023 Downhole Electromagnetic Surveys ("DHEM") ( Figure 1 ).

Phase 2 will involve drilling 5 holes for approximately 1,200 meters (" ") on the Gossan Zone. These holes are designed to follow up on the strong conductors outlined by August 2023 Downhole Electromagnetic Surveys ("DHEM") ( ). Geological and Geochemical Studies: Detailed geological and geochemical studies will be carried out on the 51 samples collected from the Phase 1 drilling program to enhance our understanding of the host and the mineralisation's characteristics and distribution.

Detailed geological and geochemical studies will be carried out on the 51 samples collected from the Phase 1 drilling program to enhance our understanding of the host and the mineralisation's characteristics and distribution. Environmental Considerations: SRQ is committed to continuing its drilling activities in an environmentally responsible manner, including adhering to all relevant environmental regulations and best practices.

Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D., P.Geo., CEO and President of SRQ, said, "Our concurrent use of drilling and downhole electromagnetic surveys has delivered promising results with the identification of strong electromagnetic conductors that are coincident with a regional large gravity high. These new targets will be drill tested during our Phase 2 drill program on the Gossan Zone, marking an important step in our journey to unlock the potential of this newly discovered Ultramafic Magmatic Intrusive Complex."

Figure 1: Phase 2 Drill Program is Targeting Conductors Defined by August 2023 DHEM Surveys of the Gossan Zone

Lac Brule Newly Discovered Ni-Cu Mineralisation

The Ni-Cu mineralisation encountered is characterized by cumulate and aggregates of iron, copper and nickel sulfides: pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite, respectively. Pyrrhotite is the dominant sulfide with visible chalcopyrite. Pentlandite can be seen mixed with pyrrhotite. The textures of the sulfide mineralisation vary from disseminated to semi-massive to massive (> 80% of sulfide material) showing net-texture or brecciated sulfides between pyroxene and amphiboles. Thin massive sulfides horizons are intercalated and sometimes associated with garnet-rich xenoliths.

Figure 2 presents a microscope photo of mineralisation from a surface sample collected at the mineralised surface outcrop (gossan) in 2022, confirming presence of the three main sulfide species (LB-40375 C. Picard - June 2022, pyrrhotite (Po), chalcopyrite (Cp), pentlandite (Pn), ilmenite (Il), magnetite (Mt). Silicates are clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, hornblende and olivine).

Figure 2: Microscope Photo of Mineralisation from Surface Sample Collected at the Mineralised Outcrop (Gossan) in 2022

Untapped Geological Potential of SRQ's Lac Brule Property

SRQ's new discovery was made on its 100%-owned Lac Brule property located 50km north-west of the former Renzy Ni-Cu mine on the unceded lands of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community. The former Renzy mine operated from 1969 to 1972 (Figure 3). UM intrusive bodies host mineralisation at both the Renzy mine and at Lac Brule. Both sites present several striking similarities, including mineralogy, petrology and timing of emplacement.

Figure 3: SRQ's Properties in Canadian Province of Quebec

The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ Resources, and a 'Qualified Person', as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About SRQ Resources Inc.

SRQ is a Canadian base metals company exploring for nickel, copper and platinum in the province of Quebec.

A near-surface Ni-Cu project, Lac Brule is located on a 288km virgin exploration property at a five-hour drive from Montreal. The project's prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping, the presence of a surface gossan, and geophysical surveys. The presence of the historic Renzy Ni-Cu mine located 50 kilometers to the south-east and at the heart of the large regional pattern further adds to the area's mineral exploration appeal.

For more information about SRQ, please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com

Contact Information:

Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO

Tel: (514) 726-4158

Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking Information:

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information characterized by terms such as "will", could", "expect", "estimate", "evidence", "potential", "appears", "seems", "suggest", are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; assumptions relating to the trading price of the Company's common shares; the ability of the Company to convert resources in reserves, its ability to see through the next phase of development on any project, its ability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study regarding any project, its ability to execute on its development plans in terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration or development, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made by or expressed on behalf of the Company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: SRQ Resources

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791423/srq-resources-launches-phase-2-drilling-program-on-newly-discovered-ultramafic-magmatic-intrusive-complex-at-lac-brul
New Kaleido Scores & Champion Roaming Vendors Announced for 8 Product Categories

LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023, a leading roaming market research and consulting firm, has announced its latest Roaming Vendor Hub research, providing the most up-to-date product assessment and scores for roaming vendors and service providers across 8 different categories.



The Roaming Vendor Hub: Competitive Analysis 2023research analysed 51 established roaming vendors and wholesale providers. It includes an in-depth evaluation of the service offerings and updated Kaleido Scores for all companies. Kaleido's method entails categorising vendors based on their product excellence, recognising each company's distinct market positioning, problem-solving skills, innovative prowess, and their ability to align with current market needs and future demands.

The study is the culmination of more than 4-months' worth of primary and secondary research, including product demos, questionnaires, and detailed interviews and briefings to collect relevant information.

26 Vendors Receive Champion Kaleido Scores

BICS, Cellusys, Comfone, iBASIS, Mobileum and Syniverse were scored the Number 1 Champion vendors across multiple product categories. These categories encompassed Steering Of Roaming, Sponsored Roaming, Roaming Hubs, IPX, Roaming Analytics & VAS, Clearing & Settlement, Fraud Management, as well as Signalling Security & Firewall. Additionally, 20 other companies were also recognised as Champions in the assessment.

Champion vendors excel in providing leading product ranges and top-tier service quality, ensuring operator success with Kaleido Scores of 12 and above (out of 15).

The Number 1 and Champion vendors across key roaming product segments as scored by Kaleido Intelligence are included in the accompanying infographic.

Quotes from Number 1 Champion Vendors: Cellusys, Comfone, iBASIS, Mobileum

Chris Lennartz, VP Product at Cellusys: "We're honoured to be recognised as the #1 Steering of Roaming vendor. Cellusys focuses on giving operators control of their traffic with our signalling-focused roaming and security portfolio. We are ready to empower operators at every step as they transition to VoLTE, IoT and 5G in both roaming and security."

Roberto Lima, COO at Comfone: "Comfone is honoured to receive this recognition for all core services, and we are particularly thrilled with our Champion #1 ranking for our Key2roam Hub. Our mission is to serve our customers by connecting all people and all things, so to receive such an accolade celebrating the Key2roam Hub is testament to the hard work of our Comfone team. I am proud of this achievement and promise to keep our customer's satisfaction and expectations at the centre of our philosophy, and continue to deliver the best possible quality in the industry."

Guillaume Klein, VP Product Management at iBASIS: "iBASIS is proud to score for the third time in a row as #1 IPX supplier and Champion in Roaming Analytics & VAS, Fraud Management and Signalling Firewall Security. Listening to our customers' needs is at the core of our product development strategy, we have been driven by the demand from our clients to 'EXPAND, MONETIZE, INNOVATE and PROTECT'. I'm glad to see the team efforts recognised this year again among the roaming industry."

Bernardo Lucas, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at Mobileum: "We are honoured to be named #1 Champion by Kaleido Intelligence for our industry-leading Fraud Management And Signalling Security solutions. This recognition is the result of our continuous innovation and commitment to protect telecom operators and its customers from ever-evolving fraud, cybersecurity, and network threats."

Syniverse & BICS Leads Overall Roaming Product Scores

Syniverse was once again scored as the overall leader across all product categories, showcasing remarkable performance in multiple segments, while reinforcing their roaming market positioning. Additionally, BICS has earned significant recognition for offering a comprehensive array of industry-leading roaming solutions and services, securing a high overall score in this regard.

Andrew Davies, CEO at Syniverse: "Our position as the top roaming vendor for the third consecutive year, as well as again being named the top choice for data and financial clearing, is a reflection of how we're relentlessly fulfilling the varying needs of our customers. Being honoured as a 'Champion' in six of Kaleido's eight service areas shows we remain committed to providing innovative solutions to the emerging challenges in the industry - including in wholesale roaming monetisation, where our BCE-compliant product empowers mobile network operators with incomparable billing, charging, and clearing services."

Mikael Schachne, VP Telco at BICS: "BICS is very proud to be recognised by Kaleido as the number one vendor for Roaming Analytics & VAS (value-added services) for the third year in a row, and this year to be the number one vendor for Sponsored Roaming, as well as a Champion of Roaming Hubs, IPX, and Roaming Fraud Management. We are extremely happy with the acknowledgement, reflecting our continuous commitment to providing a highly comprehensive offering of roaming services as we remain devoted to strengthening global connectivity and delivering value to our customers."

Nitin Bhas, Chief of Strategy & Insights at Kaleido Intelligence commented: "The roaming vendors and service providers assessed in our 2023 Roaming Vendor Hub remains dedicated to fostering innovation, particularly in light of the market's shift toward next-generation roaming services and novel use cases. The ongoing technological advancements and pioneering strategies employed by these industry leaders will be pivotal in facilitating operator success amidst the evolving landscape of roaming services in the coming years."

The leadership scoring analysis for 51 different roaming vendors is summarised in the Roaming Vendor Hubreport, along with an assessment of company strengths and opportunities.

About Kaleido Intelligence

Kaleido Intelligenceis a specialist consulting and market research firm with a proven track record delivering telecom research at the highest level. Kaleido Intelligence is the only research company addressing mobile roaming in its entirety, covering industry-leading market insights, data forecasts, historical viewpoints, competitive intelligence and operator market surveys.

Research is led by expert analysts, each with significant experience delivering telco research and insights that matter.

Contact Details:

Phone: +44 20 3983 9843

Email: info@kaleidointelligence.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/356b6346-6601-4e4b-84e8-aa2653d6fd7a
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Pulsar Helium Inc. (TSXV:PLSR)(FRA:Y3K) ("Pulsar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a lease with a private mineral rights holder to expand the area of the Company's Topaz helium project in Minnesota, USA. In addition, the ambient noise tomography (ANT) survey has successfully concluded with all nodes retrieved and data downloaded.

The additional mineral rights are within a 6.2 mile (10 kilometre) radius of the Topaz discovery that was drilled and flowed a concentration of 10.5% helium. The lease is for privately held mineral rights covering a total of 2,840 gross acres (1,049 net acres), over 75 parcels. The lease is for an initial term of 20 years (extendable up to a maximum of 40 years, subject to conditions) with a payment on signing of U$11,000 and a retained production royalty of 3%. The lease gives Pulsar exclusive rights to non-hydrocarbon gases. The mineral rights are adjacent to Pulsar's existing parcels and are considered high-priority with significant potential for hosting helium accumulations.

The ANT survey has been successfully completed with a total of 183 nodes retrieved from the Topaz helium project. ANT is commonly referred to as passive seismic as the technology utilises passive, naturally occurring seismic waves to record data on features in the subsurface. The data has been downloaded and sent to Sisprobe for processing, interpretation and final reporting, with deliverables due in approximately 4 weeks. The survey is expected to further de-risk the drilling program and improve Pulsar's understanding of the extent of the resource.

About the Topaz helium project:

As announced September 25, 2023, the Jetstream #1 appraisal well is scheduled to commence on December 10th and is planned to be drilled to a vertical depth of 2,200 feet (671 metres), with the collar location anticipated to be within 65 feet (20 metres) of the original discovery well, LOD-6, that flowed 10.5% helium. During drilling, a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer will be on location to provide real-time gas composition measurements including helium concentration. Permits from Federal, State, and Local Government entities required for drilling activities are in place. Preliminary civil works were conducted in March and final access and drill-site civil works are expected be completed by mid-November. The drill location is on private mineral rights for which Pulsar has an exclusive lease for non-hydrocarbon gases, in addition, the Company has agreed upon terms to acquire the surface rights.

About Pulsar Helium Inc.

Pulsar Helium Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with the ticker PLSR. Pulsar's portfolio consists of the Topaz helium project in Minnesota, USA and the Tunu helium project in Greenland. Pulsar is the first mover in both locations with primary helium occurrences not associated with the production of hydrocarbons identified at each. For further information visit https://pulsarhelium.com, follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) https://twitter.com/pulsarhelium?lang=en and LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/company/pulsar-helium-inc.

On behalf Pulsar Helium Inc.

"Thomas Abraham-James"

President, CEO and Director

Further Information:

Thomas Abraham-James President,

CEO and Director Pulsar Helium Inc.

connect@pulsarhelium.com

+ 1 (604) 599-0310

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

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the anticipated drill date of Jetstream #1, the cost to drill Jetstream #1 may be higher than expected, the prospective nature of the Topaz area, achievement of the Company's business objectives going forward and other statements that are not historical facts. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward- looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to Pulsar may be unsuccessful in drilling commercially productive wells; drill costs may be higher than estimates; delays in the commencement of drilling, and other factors set forth under "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements and Market and Industry Data" and "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE: Pulsar Helium Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791365/pulsar-signs-lease-for-additional-mineral-rights-and-completes-seismic-survey-at-the-topaz-helium-project-usa
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / iMetal Resources, Inc. (TSXV:IMR)(OTCQB:IMRFF)(FRANKFURT:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") announces the submission of graphite samples for petrographic analysis from the Company's Carheil project, which lies in the Northern Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec. Samples were sourced from each of the multiple graphite horizons intersected during the Phase I 2023, three-hole, 1053 metre program, to characterize the graphite flake size.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO, stated: "Flake size of the graphite within the intersections is an extremely important factor in determining the value of any graphite occurrence. The petrology study of our 2016 drill intersections initially confirmed jumbo flake graphite and this analysis will provide more details on the characteristics of the graphite intersections. We are planning a follow-up drilling campaign to continue to develop our highly prospective Carheil graphite project, lying within one of the most mining friendly jurisdictions in the world, Quebec."

Phase I 2023 drilling encountered a graphite-bearing sedimentary unit occurring between volcanic units. The sedimentary unit hosts several multi-meter graphite-rich horizons: previously reported results (drill length not true width) from these horizons are highlighted below (Cg = Graphitic Carbon):

Hole CA-23-01

 3.90 m at 7.08% Cg, from 151.1 metres, including 11.5% Cg over 1.9 m (ZONE A)

 8.45 m at 2.53% Cg, from 237.6 m, including 7.05% Cg over 1.5 m (ZONE C)

Hole CA-23-02

 4.65 m at 5.11% Cg, from 138.8 m, including 12.9% Cg over 1.2 m (ZONE A)

 10.55 m at 2.89% Cg, from 196.5 m (ZONE B)

 5.30 m at 4.25% Cg, from 242.9 m, including 7.90% Cg over 1.2 m (ZONE C)

Hole CA-23-03

 4.90 m at 1.93% Cg, from 156.1 m (ZONE A)

 4.70 m at 2.76% Cg, from 263.3 m, including 4.70% Cg over 2.1 m (ZONE C)

(See 2023-May-31 News Release)

Phase I 2023 samples have been submitted to AGAT Laboratories in Calgary for Petrographic Analysis, which includes detailed thin section petrography, including: petrographic imaging and analysis of graphite and gangue phases, graphite flake size analysis, interpretation, and discussion.

Carheil is an exploration-stage project with historic graphite intersections as well as multi-metal potential, lying about 170 km north of Rouyn-Noranda in the Northern Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Carheil sits less than 20 km west of the past-producing Selbaie Copper-Zinc-Silver-Gold mine (1.1 billion lbs Cu, 2.4 billion lbs Zn, 71 million oz Ag, 1 million oz Au produced from 1981-2004i), less than 20 km north of Hecla's Casa Berardi Mine (127.5 Koz Au and 28.2 Koz Ag produced in 2022ii), and less than 40 km southeast of Agnico Eagle's Detour Lake mine (713 Koz Au produced in 2021iii). Directly bordering the property to the north is Midland Exploration/Probe Metals' La Peltrie project, which recently intersected a 345.5 m of Cu-Mo-Au-Ag mineralization grading 0.21 CuEqiv. iMetal cautions investors that the presence of mineralization at Selbaie, Casa Berardi, and Detour Lake is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Carheil property.

QA/QC control procedures for the spring 2023 drilling program included the systematic insertion of certified blanks, and two different graphite-certified reference materials (CRM) at regular intervals (one QAQC sample for every 20 core samples) into the sampling stream. Geochemistry analyses consisted of Graphitic carbon by IR Spectroscopy (C-IR18), which uses an HCl leach to remove carbonates and roasting to remove organic carbon in order to only identify carbon in graphitic form in the samples. Select samples were checked for gold by fire assay and atomic absorption spectrometry (Au-AA26) with overlimit values subsequently analyzed using the gravimetric finish (Au-GRA22) technique.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Scott Zelligan, P. Geo (Ontario), VP Exploration of iMetal and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

European Market Consultant - Scandinavian Alliance

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has engaged Scandinavian Alliance (the "Alliance") to advise the Company on its marketing and social media presence as well as to assist with market awareness in European markets. The engagement is for an initial four-month term continuing until January 31, 2024, and in consideration the Alliance is entitled to receive fees totaling $108,500 of which $54,250 is payable immediately with the balance payable upon completion of the next equity financing by the Company.

The Alliance provides access to an unparalleled network of investors and capital markets professionals across Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The goal of the Alliance is to help companies achieve a valuation that reflects their accomplishments through enhanced visibility and communications and through favorable and credible interactions within the investment community and other key audiences.

The Company is at arms-length from the Alliance, and the Alliance is not entitled to receive any securities of the Company in connection with the engagement.

About iMetal Resources Inc.

iMetal is a Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. The Flagship property Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project with a recent discovery hole of 48.5m at 0.85 g/t gold that borders the Juby Deposit and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres W of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

iMetal Resources Inc.

info@imetalresources.ca

Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6.

https://imetalresources.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include 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 guarantees 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 results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, 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 under the applicable laws.

i SIGEOM; Ressources naturelles et Forets,  Gouvernement du Quebec, 2023

ii Casa Berardi|Quebec, Canada|Hecla Mining;  Hecla Mining Company, 2022 (https://www.hecla.com/operations/casa-berardi-quebec-canada)

iii Agnico Eagle Mines Limited - Operations - Operations - Detour Lake;  Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, 2023 (https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/operations/operations/Detour-Lake-Mine/default.aspx)

iv Midland Exploration news release dated December 6, 2022

SOURCE: iMetal Resources, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791400/imetal-resources-undertakes-petrographic-analysis-of-carheil-graphite-and-engages-european-market-consultant
LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a definition cited by the World Health Organization, 'Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.' It is crucial for individuals to take care of their mental health like the way they care for their physical health.

Mental health diseases are conditions that affect a person's thoughts, emotions, behaviour, or a combination of these, and can significantly impact their daily functioning and well-being. There are numerous mental health disorders, each with its own set of symptoms, causes, and treatments. Mental health statistics 2023 suggest that 10.7% of the world suffers from some form of mental illness.

Disease Landscape Insights play a pivotal role in assisting mental health market players across various facets of the industry. These insights provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of mental health disorders, enabling drug development by identifying potential targets and mechanisms. In clinical trial management, they help streamline research efforts by highlighting patient populations, improving trial design, and accelerating recruitment. DLI also aids in treatment gaps identification facilitating the development of novel therapies. For product portfolio extension, it guides companies in expanding their offerings to address mental health unmet needs. Additionally, these insights inform pricing and market access strategies, ensuring that innovative mental health treatments reach the patients who need them most effectively and efficiently.

DLI possess a vast collection of insightful data in the form of research and business documents. Its repository covers mental illness pipeline comprising of-

Bipolar Disorder

Alzheimer's Disease

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Mood Disorder

Eating Disorder

Parkinson's Disease

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) Disease

Others

Mental Health Disorders- A silent killer

Being healthy does not only indicate physical wellness but also involves a healthy mind. If a person is not mentally healthcare, he or she will automatically be susceptible to a wide range of illnesses. Mental health epidemiology studies conducted by leading medical organizations have revealed that a mentally disturbed person's life span gets shorter with time.

Mental health disorders constitute of numerous conditions that negatively impact a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Common symptoms include persistent sadness (in depression), excessive worry (in anxiety disorders), mood swings (in bipolar disorder), hallucinations and delusions (in schizophrenia), and intrusive thoughts (in OCD). These conditions often manifest with traits such as social withdrawal, impulsivity, impaired social functioning, and difficulty in daily life activities. Also, individuals with mental health disorders may experience characteristics like emotional numbness, fear of specific situations, or preoccupation with body image. Each disorder has its unique combination of symptoms and traits, and it's essential to seek professional help for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Price and Market Access

Diagnostic and treatment landscape

Early diagnosis and intervention play an indispensable role when it comes to the effective management of mental health ailments. Recognizing symptoms and seeking help promptly can prevent the worsening of conditions and improve treatment outcomes. Primary care physicians, school counselors, and community mental health centers often play a vital role in identifying and referring individuals who may have mental health concerns to specialized providers. These disorders can generally be diagnosed through a combination of of clinical assessments, interviews, and standardized diagnostic criteria. Diagnostic tools like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 or ICD-11) provide standardized criteria for mental health diagnoses.

Coming to the treatment landscape, the psychiatric drug pipeline is vast. Leading pharma companies have successfully developed psych meds for depression and other illnesses. A wide range of fda approved psychiatric medications are prescribed by physicians for the treatment of such diseases.

DLI has been helping players in their psychiatric drug development endeavours by suggesting drug launch strategies and empowering them with post launch services. It further supports them in clinical feasibility assessment tests and provides them with comprehensive regulatory consulting services.

Pharma consulting Services

Final Words

Mental health disorders represent a diverse spectrum of conditions that profoundly impact individuals' thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for improving the lives of those affected by these disorders. The diagnostic landscape relies on standardized criteria and assessments conducted by mental health professionals to accurately identify and categorize these conditions. By harnessing the power of DLI, players are thriving in the field of mental health, ultimately providing better care and support to individuals grappling with these complex conditions.

About Disease Landscape:?

Disease Landscape, a pioneering company specializing in Disease Intelligence, Pricing, and Market Access. Utilizing the power of data analytics, Disease Landscape Insights is dedicated to the healthcare sector with invaluable, finely crafted insights and recommendations regarding global pricing and market access strategies. As a specialized firm, we are committed to delivering unparalleled insights into pricing and market access, custom-tailored to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Our data-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology position us as your trustworthy partner, offering swift, adaptable, and evidence-based alternatives to traditional market access and pricing research methods.?

Our core competencies encompass Market Research Services, Consulting Services, Global Pricing and Market Access, Epidemiology Studies, as well as Product Portfolio and Pipeline Services. Our expertise lies in furnishing comprehensive data intelligence throughout every phase of drug and device research.?

Contact Us:?

Disease Landscape Insights LLP?

Office number 319, 3rd Floor, Gera's Imperium Alpha, Grant Rd, Near SEZ, Grant Rd, Vitthal Nagar, Kharadi, Pune, pune, Maharashtra 411014

Email: ajay@diseaselandscape.com???

Email: vishal@diseaselandscape.com

Sales:?+44-2038074155?

Asia Office:?+917447409162

Blog: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/blogs?

Case Study: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/casestudies??

Pharma consulting Services?

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2217060/Disease_Landscape_Insights_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/reshaping-mental-health-research-insights-how-dli-empowers-every-step-of-the-journey--disease-landscape-insights-301951806.html
LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XRP Healthcare, a pioneering Web3 Healthcare company, is pleased to announce its listing on Coinstore, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform. This strategic move comes as XRP Healthcare seeks to capitalize on the burgeoning healthcare market in Africa, with a primary focus on Uganda. Coinstore users can now access XRP Healthcare's innovative healthcare solutions and utilize its fast payment system built on the XRP Ledger.

The trading link to access XRP Healthcare's token (XRPH) on Coinstore is now live: https://www.coinstore.com/#/spot/XRPHUSDT

XRP Healthcare's expansion into Africa aligns perfectly with Ripple Labs' increasing presence in the region. As Ripple Labs brings attention to fast-transacting cryptocurrencies and liquidity solutions, XRP Healthcare's entrance into the African market is timely, given the growing interest in crypto adoption across the continent.

Moreover, XRP Healthcare recently secured a listing on LBank, a prominent exchange founded in Indonesia with a strong foothold in Dubai, U.A.E. This dual listing strategy positions XRP Healthcare for greater exposure in the rapidly expanding Asian and African markets, where Coinstore has garnered a devoted following due to its unique market positioning.

In a significant development, XRP Healthcare, in partnership with The Burnratty Investment Group, recently announced plans to acquire and merge between 1500 and 2000 already profitable private healthcare facilities across Africa. This initiative aims to address the highly fragmented healthcare industry in the region by upgrading infrastructure, facilities, services, and equipment.

Furthermore, XRP Healthcare has forged a groundbreaking partnership with Spiritus Medical, a company with NASA-designed ventilator technology. This partnership is bringing the first NASA-designed ventilators into Uganda, a move that is set to have a profound impact on saving lives.

XRP Healthcare remains committed to revolutionizing the healthcare industry in Africa and beyond, leveraging its cutting-edge XRP Ledger fast transactions and strategic partnerships to provide accessible and efficient healthcare solutions.

About XRP Healthcare:

XRP Healthcare is a Web3 Healthcare company with a mission to transform healthcare systems by leveraging blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. The company offers innovative solutions to address the challenges of the fragmented healthcare industry in Africa and Asia, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and accessibility to quality healthcare.

Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an endorsement of any cryptocurrency or exchange platform. Please conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) ("Calibre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 (all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars).



Q3 and Year to Date ("YTD") 2023 Highlights

Q3 cash increased to $97 million, a 26% increase over Q2 2023 and 72% since the start of 2023

4 th Consecutive record consolidated quarterly gold production, 73,485 ounces 50% increase in gold production compared to Q3 2022 (49,081 ounces) Nicaragua gold production of 63,756 ounces and Nevada gold production of 9,729 ounces

Record consolidated YTD gold production of 208,011 ounces 30% increase in gold production compared to YTD 2022 (160,704 ounces) Remain well on track to deliver full year guidance of 250,000 - 275,000 ounces

Exploration success at Libertad yielded an Initial Mineral Resource Estimate at the Volcan Gold Deposit (https://www.calibremining.com/news/calibre-delineates-another-new-open-pit-gold-depos-6357/) and identified additional gold trends proximal to the mill, providing further opportunity to leverage the available surplus processing capacity;

Continued to expand zones of high-grade gold mineralization within the Limon Mine Complex, at Atravesada (https://www.calibremining.com/news/calibre-continues-to-expand-zones-of-high-grade-go-6312/) and along the VTEM Corridor (https://www.calibremining.com/news/calibres-2023-exploration-drill-program-along-the-5750/), demonstrating the expansion and discovery potential across the property; and

Potential to increase resources, grade and confidence around the Pan mine was reaffirmed with high-grade, near surface drill results immediately south and north of the operating mine. (https://www.calibremining.com/news/calibre-reports-additional-near-surface-resource-5773/)

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, stated: "During the quarter Calibre increased cash, after exploration and growth investments, to $97 million from gold production of 73,485 ounces, the company's fourth consecutive record quarter. The Company is in an excellent position to deliver the high end of full year production guidance of 250,000 - 275,000 ounces while continuing to generate strong free cash flow.

October 15 marks the fourth anniversary of our Nicaragua operating complex acquisition which transformed the Company to a growth focused gold producer. Four years on we have built a strong foundation, consistently delivering on our commitments while self funding investments and growth, including;

Joined the World Gold Council, committing to their Responsible Gold Mining Principles, and integrated sustainability into all aspects and phases of our operations;

Permitted and developed five new mines, each self funded through cash flow;

Increased annual gold production 93% to 250,000 - 275,000 ounces (2020: 136,000 ounces);

Grown Reserves 370%, net of production depletion; and

Increased cash from $4 million to $97 million.



I am excited about the future. Calibre presents a compelling investment opportunity with its consistent delivery of strong free cash flow, ongoing reinvestment in exploration and growth, and commitment to conducting operations in a responsible, sustainable, and transparent manner."

Q3 and YTD 2023 Financial Results and Conference Call Details

Third quarter and YTD financial results will be released after market close on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, and management will be hosting a conference call on Wednesday, November 8 to discuss the results and outlook.

Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. (ET) Webcast Link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/uippamra (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/uippamra)

Instructions for obtaining conference call dial-in numbers:

All parties must register at the link below to participate in the Calibre Mining Q3 conference call. Register by clicking https://register.vevent.com/register/BIaeef792eb39c469b8d3571c2423f7f24 (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fregister.vevent.com%2Fregister%2FBIaeef792eb39c469b8d3571c2423f7f24&data=05%7C01%7Cjreid%40calibremining.com%7C6cf582f62bce471cb50608db219de799%7Ca1a3e47a7cb24f6ca1cd26ceaecf2db7%7C0%7C0%7C638140734327058291%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PL2G%2FDQ7WgSGUoP7CHa15e7de4VhZThseqA6MIUzwZ0%3D&reserved=0) and completing the online registration form. Once registered you will receive the dial-in numbers and PIN number for input at the time of the call.



The live webcast and registration link can be accessed here (https://www.calibremining.com/investors/events/q3-2023-financial-results-and-conference-call-details/) and at www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com) under the Events and Media section under the Investors tab. The live audio webcast will be archived and made available for replay at www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com). Presentation slides that will accompany the conference call will be made available in the Investors section of the Calibre website under Presentations, prior to the conference call.

Qualified Person

Darren Hall, MAusIMM, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Calibre Mining Corp. is a "qualified person" as set out under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darren Hall"

Darren Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com (mailto:calibre@calibremining.com)

W: www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com)

About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre Mining 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, 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 in this news release include but are not limited to: the Company's expectations toward higher grades mined and processed going forward; statements relating to the Company's 2023 priority resource expansion opportunities; the Company's metal price and cut-off grade assumptions. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2022, all available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibre's forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibre's 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. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: the Company being able to mine and process higher grades and keep production costs relatively flat going forward; there not being an increase in production costs as a result of any supply chain issues or ongoing COVID-19 restrictions; there being no adverse drop in metal price or cut-off grade at the Company's Nevada properties. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's 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.
Siegel+Gale launches World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition

German grocer Lidl named the world's simplest brand, after placing in the Top 10 in last five editions

Whole Foods Market overtakes Amazon as U.S. winner

Restaurants, Hotels, and Travel Booking industries have greatest post-pandemic increases

X (Twitter) named most complex brand in U.S.

64 percent of people are willing to pay more for simpler experiences

78 percent of people are more likely to recommend a brand that delivers simple experiences

Companies leave $780 billion on the table by failing to simplify versus $402 billion in 2021

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Siegel+Gale, the global brand experience firm-known as The Simplicity Company-has today announced its World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition (WSBX). WSBX ranks the leading brands on simplicity, asking more than 15,000 people across nine countries which brands and industries provide the simplest experiences. According to the research, 64% of people are willing to pay more for simpler brand experiences, and 78% of people are more likely to recommend a brand for its simpler experiences and communications.

Brand complexity results in $780 billion of total annual unrealized revenue among the global brands surveyed. Additionally, since 2009, the publicly traded simplest brands consistently outperform the average global stock index by 1,600%.

From where they shop to how they communicate, people put a premium on experiences that are easy to understand; transparent and honest; caring for and meeting their needs; innovative and fresh; and useful. In short, simple.

"The world has never been more complex, and for consumers, the number of brand interactions has skyrocketed. While brand experiences happen at every touchpoint across a consumer's journey, they're not all created equal. After measuring the value of simplicity across ten editions of World's Simplest Brands, one finding is abundantly clear: When you understand and simplify your most important experiences, it pays," said David Srere, co-CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, Siegel+Gale.

"People today are prioritizing brands that deliver on the promise of simplicity, and they are willing to pay a premium for it," said Howard Belk, co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Siegel+Gale. "From finance to technology to groceries, the findings in World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition reveal that simplicity is not a byproduct of success - it's the reason why brands thrive."

Additional key learnings:

Consumers perceive brands' DEI and ESG communications as complex: Understanding maxes out at 37% and 42%, respectively.

Understanding maxes out at 37% and 42%, respectively. Industry scores signal continued desire to shake isolation: Restaurant, hotel and travel booking industries had significant increases globally.

Restaurant, hotel and travel booking industries had significant increases globally. Post-COVID streaming takes a hit: Several streaming/video-on-demand brands (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Hulu) have fallen in rankings, given new account sharing restrictions for users and increasing provider options.

Several streaming/video-on-demand brands (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Hulu) have fallen in rankings, given new account sharing restrictions for users and increasing provider options. X (Twitter) is most complex: Social media brands have fallen in rankings both globally and domestically, and X (Twitter) now ranks as the most complex brand in the U.S.

Regarding additional unique offerings in WSBX, Brian Rafferty, Global Director of Analytics + Insights, Siegel+Gale, said, "Throughout our studies over the years, we have always seen some industries rated as simpler than others, like internet search. But with a deeper dive into consumer journeys for World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition, we have found opportunities to simplify the consumer experience in every industry to drive business success."

To browse the full rankings by country and industry, visit worldssimplestbrands.com

About World's Simplest Brands

To determine the global state of simplicity, Siegel+Gale fielded an online survey with more than 15,000 respondents in nine countries to gather perspectives on simplicity and how industries and brands make people's lives simpler or more complex. Globally, 25 industries and more than 800 brands were rated on their perceived simplicity. The brands were selected as a representative set that respondents would be most likely to know and/or use in each country.

About Siegel+Gale

Siegel+Gale is a global brand experience firm. With unlimited imagination and a dedication to the facts, the firm builds brands that cut through the clutter-and unlock success for their clients. Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organizations worldwide. A part of Omnicom Group Inc., they have offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai and Tokyo.

About Omnicom

Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries.

Contact:

Daniel Alonso, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Siegel+Gale

dalonso@siegelgale.com

Madeline King, Senior Marketing Manager, Siegel+Gale

madeline.king@siegelgale.com

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GURUGRAM, India, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- South Korea's warehouse automation market is booming, driven by e-commerce growth, demand for efficient logistics, labor shortages, and aging population. This article explores the key catalysts behind its rapid growth.



Storyline

E-Commerce Surge: South Korea's e-commerce market booms, ranking 6th globally with sales surpassing USD 180 Bn in 2022.

Logistics Demands Soaring: Increasing online sales and same-day delivery expectations drive the urgent need for automated warehouses to handle rising logistics demands efficiently.

Labor Shortages Spur Automation: With an aging population and labor scarcity, South Korea turns to automation solutions to overcome labor shortages and scale operations.

Embracing Digitalization: South Korea embraces advanced warehousing techniques like ASRS and digitalization for accurate tracking, forecasting, and streamlined stock management.

Introduction

South Korea's e-commerce industry has grown exponentially, making it the sixth largest market globally with nearly 210 trillion South Korean won in sales in 2022. Fueled by COVID-19, online shopping has surged, necessitating efficient warehousing and logistics solutions. To meet the demand for large warehouses and same-day delivery, companies are turning to automation technologies to streamline operations and address labor shortages. This article delves into South Korea's evolving e-commerce landscape, the emphasis on digitalization, and the growing need for automation in warehousing and delivery services.

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1. E-Commerce Growth: E-commerce sales in South Korea amounted to almost 210 trillion South Korean won in 2022.

South Korea is the 6 th largest market for e-commerce

largest market for e-commerce The value of e-commerce sales in South Korea amounted to almost 210 trillion South Korean won in 2022. The popularity of online shopping via different e-commerce channels has continuously grown over the last years. This was especially true in the last year due to the effects of COVID-19, as the South Korean e-commerce market experienced an increase.

This is rapidly generating need for large warehouse capacity with proper automation to tackle increasing logistics demands with increasing same day delivery demands.

Hence, companies are continuously moving towards automating their warehouses in order to fulfill high volume of order efficiently with minimum possible errors.

2. As labor shortage rises South Korea looks to foreign workers

General merchandise, Retail, E-commerce etc. companies are readily adopting automation technologies to grow and expand their business in line with changing business environment.

This will allow these companies to scale their business independently of issues including expensive labor and labor shortage.

Further, labor shortage is expected in coming years due to fast ageing population of the country and low fertility rate.

This leads to accelerate the demand for automation solutions to offset insufficient warehousing labor.

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3. Rise in demand for Same-day Delivery

Online food delivery is a growing market worldwide, with an estimated number of around 1.96 Bn people using such services in 2021. In South Korea, around 31.5% of households ordered food delivery that same year. This was often done for reasons of convenience and the possibility of limiting contact with others. Mobile and online ordering was the method of choice for around 47 percent of consumers in South Korea.

Increasing customers demand for same-day delivery mainly driven by pandemic which have led to manifold increase in online sales and bulk orders with same-day delivery preference such as grocery shopping. This will influence the companies to automate their warehouses to fulfill the rise in demand.

4. Increasing Focus on Digitalization

The increasing digitization is paving way for automated warehousing technologies, ASRS and several other advanced techniques of warehousing in the country.

Automation allows for more accurate tracking, forecasting and stock replenishment.

According to Ken Research: South Korea's warehouse automation market is thriving due to e-commerce growth, same-day delivery demand, labor shortages, and digitalization. Companies are investing in automated warehousing technologies to scale operations, overcome labor challenges, and achieve efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. Embracing automation positions them for success in South Korea's evolving market.

Market Taxonomy

South Korea Warehousing Automation Market Segmentation

By Type of Automotive Solution

Basic Warehouse Automation

Warehouse System Automation

Mechanized Warehouse Automation & Advanced Warehouse Automation

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By End-User Industry

General merchandise, Retail, Wholesale

Apparel

Grocery & e-Commerce

Post & Parcel

Pharma

3PL

Others (Food & Beverage, Aerospace & defense, Oil & Gas etc.)

By new installation project vs maintenance services market

New Installation Project

Maintenance Service

By Dedicated and Multi Client Warehouse

Dedicated

Multi-Client

By New Installation Project VS Maintenance Services Market

New Installation Project

Maintenance Service

For More Insights On Market Intelligence, Refer To The Link Below: -

South Korea Warehouse Automation Market

Related Reports by Ken Research: -

Australia Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2027 Driven by Rising Meat and Seafood Consumption Owing to Growing demand for Fresh Food

The Australia cold chain market is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 10.3% due to the ever-growing demand Majority of the end users' segments are expected to register a robust CAGR in the Australia Cold Chain Market in the upcoming years Demand for perishable food products is expected to increase due to the rising disposable income and retail spending of the people in the country, which will necessitate the development of cold storage facilities and positively affect the market growth

Vietnam Logistics Market Outlook to 2027 Driven by Infrastructural and Government Investments Coupled with the Growth of E-Commerce Sector in Vietnam

According to Ken Research estimates, the Market Size of Vietnam Logistics has shown increasing trend from 2017 to 2022. However, there was a decline after 2019 due to restrictions imposed during covid-19; however, the conditions have been better as the market recovers from Covid 19. Logistics sector in Vietnam is growing due to surge in e-commerce sector in response to Covid-19 and increase in the use of new technologies to meet customer demands. Vietnam's expanding economy, manufacturing has also added to the growth in the logistics sector.

KSA Warehousing Automation Market Outlook to 2027 Driven by Bolstering Ecommerce Industry & Ambitious Government Plans for Digitalization to Pave Strong Grounds for Automation

The market is expected to grow at high pace in the coming 5 years owing to rapid digitalization and surge in investment. The demand and market share of e-commerce and retail is expected to increase in the future due to increasing focus towards reducing the overall sales cycle duration. Government initiatives, such as Saudi Vision 2030, National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), etc., establishment of new logistic zones, among others is expected to bring massive Greenfield investments. In turn, it would catalyze the requirement for multi-client warehouses in the country.

Saudi Arabia Warehouse Automation Market Outlook to 2026 Bolstering Ecommerce Industry & Ambitious Government Plans for Digitalization to Pave Strong Grounds for Automation

According to Ken Research estimates, the Saudi Arabia Warehouse Automation Market expanded at a CAGR of ~33.8% in between 2016 and 2021 on the basis of revenue generated. The market saw rapid growth owing to its emergence as a transhipment hub, rising number of logistics players, the influx of new investments, Saudi Vision 2030 and increasing focus on digitization. KSA Warehouse Automation Market is estimated to grow at a positive CAGR between 2021 and 2026F.

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teamLab, Resonating Microcosms - Solidified Light Color  teamLab. Courtesy DCT Abu Dhabi, 2023.



From 15 Nov 2023 to 30 Jan 2024, Manar Abu Dhabi, a Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, will transform the city's natural vistas with a series of mesmerising light art exhibitions.

Under the theme 'Grounding Light', the exhibition will showcase over 35 new site-specific commissions and light sculptures, projections and immersive artworks by artists including Alaa Edris, Carsten Holler, Groupe F, Mohammed Kazem, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Samia Halaby, teamLab and more.

Manar Abu Dhabi will extend across the city throughkey locations including Lulu Island, Corniche Road, Samaliyah Island, Fahid Island, Jubail mangroves, Saadiyat Island, and the Eastern mangroves.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Manar Abu Dhabi is set to illuminate the archipelagos and mangroves of the UAE capital from 15 November 2023 to 30 January 2024, with an exhibition of new commissions and site-specific light sculptures, projections, and immersive artworks by local and international artists.

A key pillar of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) earlier this year, Manar (the Arabic word for "lighthouse") will offer residents and visitors opportunities to engage with stunning artworks and experience the transformative power of light.

Held under the theme Grounding Light, the inaugural edition of Manar Abu Dhabi is co-curated by Reem Fadda, Director of Abu Dhabi Culture Programming and Cultural Foundation and Artistic Director of Public Art Abu Dhabi, and Alia Zaal Lootah. Offering an immersive, multi-sensory experience which celebrates the emirate's natural beauty, the exhibition will invite audiences to see Abu Dhabi's coastal areas in a new light.

The artworks will be displayed across several key locations throughout Abu Dhabi, including Lulu, Saadiyat, Jubail, Al Samaliyah and Fahid islands, and other coastal areas such as Corniche Road, and the Eastern mangroves. Visitors will embark on a 2.3-kilometre art journey through Al Samaliyah, witness a Saadiyat Cultural District museum-inspired drone show on Saadiyat, and explore mesmerising displays on Lulu.

HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "Manar Abu Dhabi is more than just an art exhibition. It's a testament to our long standing and continued commitment to public art and the cultural growth of our city. Our vibrant, dynamic city is the canvas, and the light art is a bridge connecting our past, present, and future. While appealing to audiences across the Abu Dhabi community and beyond, we especially aim to inspire the young minds who are our future. Through this immersive experience, we hope to encourage imagination, sense of wonder, and appreciation for our beautiful natural environment."

Rita Aoun, DCT Abu Dhabi's Culture Sector Executive Director, said: "Culture is at the heart of Abu Dhabi's identity. With Manar, we are engaging our community in a dialogue that connects the aesthetic, historical, and social values of the city. The magic of light art is its ability to transcend traditional boundaries, bringing together people from all walks of life. This transformative journey speaks to the emirate's cultural vision anchored in the collective memory of its residents and enhancing the liveability, wellbeing, and accessibility to all forms of art. We hope that every Abu Dhabi resident and visitor will sense a newfound connection to the city, inspired by the visual narrative woven by exceptionally talented artists."

Over 35 site-specific artworks by local and international artists have been commissioned for Manar Abu Dhabi, spanning a diverse array of mediums including light projections, sculptures, installations, and performances. Hailing from Argentina, Germany, France, Japan, India, Mexico, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tunisia, the UAE, UK and USA, artists include Ahmed Al Areef Al Dhaheri, Alaa Edris, Asma Belhamar, Ayesha Hadhir, Ayman Zedani, Carsten Holler, Groupe F, Jim Denevan, Jumairy, Latifa Saeed, Rain Wu, Luciana Abait, Mohammed Kazem, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Nujoom Alghanem, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Samia Halaby, Shaikha Alketbi, Shezad Dawood, Shilpa Gupta, Rawdha Al Ketbi and teamLab.

"Grounding Light is an experience designed to transform our perception of the world around us," said Reem Fadda, Artistic Director of Public Art Abu Dhabi. "The exhibition brings together an extraordinary array of artists whose works are intended to foster a sense of calm, engagement and appreciation of Abu Dhabi's unique biodiversity and natural beauty. It is an exhibition that marries the elements of nature, water, and light art to create a one-of-a-kind experience unique only to Abu Dhabi. Each piece will not only enhance our experience of the emirate's beautiful water landscapes, but also resonate with visitors long after the exhibition, prompting reflection on the bond that connects us to the earth beneath our feet and to each other, as well as on the role of public art in shaping our collective experiences."

Curator of Manar Abu Dhabi, Alia Zaal Lootah, said: "The exhibition programme reflects the rich cultural legacy and contemporary aspirations of our city. This immersive public art platform will further shape the creative expression of the city and inspire community engagement by offering residents and visitors the opportunity to engage and connect with art in some of Abu Dhabi's most beautiful natural locations."

A robust public programme of talks, workshops, and art performances will take place throughout Manar Abu Dhabi's duration.

Manar Abu Dhabi is part of Public Art Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to commissioning public art for the emirate; two other major long-term elements include the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, launching in November 2024, and artist commissions. Since its launch in March 2023, Public Art Abu Dhabi has continued to bolster DCT Abu Dhabi's longstanding efforts in enhancing spaces of historical, aesthetic, architectural, social, scientific, and technological value, paying homage to the vibrant cultural legacy of the city while looking to the future.

Manar Abu Dhabi Press Kit, including imagery, is available here: https://rb.gy/mn70q

Manar Abu Dhabi website is here: http://paad.ae

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Anastasia Lander, Pelham Communications

anastasia@pelhamcommunications.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS



NAME COUNTRY Ahmed Al Areef Al Dhaheri (b. 1988) UAE Ayesha Hadhir (b. 1994) UAE Alaa Edris (b. 1986) UAE Asma Belhamar (b. 1988) UAE Ayman Zedani (b. 1984) Saudi Arabia Carsten Holler (b. 1961) Germany Groupe F (est. 1990) France Jim Denevan (b. 1961) USA Jumairy (b. 1992) UAE Latifa Saeed (b. 1985) UAE Luciana Abait (b. 1971) Argentina Mohammed Kazem (b. 1969) UAE Nadia Kaabi-Linke (b. 1978) Tunisia Nujoom Alghanem (b. 1962) UAE Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (b. 1967) Mexico Rain Wu (b. 1987) Taiwan Samia Halaby (b. 1936) Palestine Shaikha Alketbi (b. 1995) UAE Rawdha Al Ketbi (b. 1997) UAE Shezad Dawood (b. 1974) UK Shilpa Gupta (b. 1976) India teamLab (est. 2001) Japan





About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies, and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about DCT Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit tcaabudhabi.aeand visitabudhabi.ae??

For Abu Dhabi Calendar, please visit inabudhabi.ae??

About Public Art Abu Dhabi

Public Art Abu Dhabi is the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)'s new initiative under its ongoing commitment to commissioning public art for the emirate. Integral to this initiative is its community engagement efforts. The initiative advances the creative legacy, cultural infrastructure, liveability, and wellbeing of the UAE capital's residents through placemaking and collective memory. An investment of over 35 million US dollars is dedicated to the initiative annually, to support the emirate's wider creative industries through public art.

For more information about Public Art Abu Dhabi, please visit http://paad.ae.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3dadf0d3-24cc-4d28-886f-b931aa8b529b
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(OTCQX:MRRDF)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Neil Gregson as a new independent director to the Board of Directors (the "Board"), with immediate effect.

Mr. Gregson has over 30 years' experience of investing in mining and oil and gas companies. From 2010 to 2020 he was a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management where, as a member of the equity team, he was a portfolio manager investing in mining and energy companies globally. Prior to that, from 1990 to 2009 he was Head of Emerging Markets and Related Sector Funds (including natural resource funds) at Credit Suisse Asset Management. Mr. Gregson previously held various positions at mining companies, including a role as a mining investment analyst at Gold Fields of South Africa. Mr. Gregson has a BSc (Hons) Mining Engineering from Nottingham University. He became an associate of the Institute of Investment Management and Research of London in 1994. He holds a Diploma in Business Management from Damelin College, Johannesburg (1988) and a Mine Managers Certificate of Competency, South Africa (1985). Mr. Gregson, who is based in the UK, is also a director of Atalaya Mining Plc and Uranium Royalty Corp.

Ms. Susanne Sesselmann, Interim Independent Chair of the Board of Directors of the Company, comments: "The Board and Management of Meridian is delighted to welcome Mr. Neil Gregson in its Team as new Independent Director. Neil's background as a mining engineer, in combination with his broad experience in financing and managing natural resources projects worldwide will strongly contribute to the further development of Meridian's flagship Cabacal and its exploration assets, whilst at the same time strengthening Meridian's visibility at the European investor markets".

The Company also announces that effective October 6, 2023, the Company's ISIN has changed to GB00BR3SVZ18. Concurrently, the Company's CUSIP has also changed to G60187 138. The change is due to the Company's 2017 change in jurisdiction from the Netherlands to United Kingdom, which resulted in the Company's previous ISIN and CUSIP numbers issued by the Netherlands recently becoming inactive. There is no change in the Company's name, trading symbol or share capital.

About Meridian

Meridian Mining UK S is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS gold-copper project;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt;

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and

Advancing the portfolio of exploration projects in the State of Rondonia, Brazil.

Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit.

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023).

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianmining.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at https://www.sedarplus.ca.

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Ms. Susanne Sesselmann

Interim Chairwoman

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: info@meridianmining.net.br

Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST)

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

Qualified Person

Mr. Erich Marques, B.Sc., MAIG, Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and verified the technical information in this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/ While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791353/meridian-announces-appointment-of-new-independent-director
In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen!

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold prices eased slightly on Tuesday after having hit over one-week highs earlier in the wake of dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials and growing concerns about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The Israeli military has said it has called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, raising expectations of a possible ground assault. Spot gold slipped 0.2 percent to $1,857.83 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures were up 0.4 percent at $1,871.05. Gold rallied about 1.6 percent on Monday, its biggest single day jump in five months, as investors sought safe havens amid the Middle East conflict. A weaker dollar and falling bond yields also offered some support following dovish Fed comments. Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said in a speech that the central bank needs to 'proceed carefully to balance the risk of tightening too much.' Fed officials Mary Daly and Lorie Logan also recently said that tighter financial conditions could limit future rate hikes. Amid easing rate concerns, investors now look ahead to the release of U.S. CPI data and minutes of the Fed's September monetary policy meeting this week for further direction. A collection of speeches from ECB President Christine Lagarde, Fed's Raphael Bostic, Christopher Waller, Neel Kashkari and Mary Daly may sway sentiment as the day progresses. Copyright(c) 2023 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.
AVB-101 is an investigational gene therapy designed to halt disease progression by delivering a functional copy of the GRN gene to restore appropriate progranulin levels in the brain

AVB-101 is delivered as a one-time treatment into the thalamus to facilitate targeted biodistribution in order to reach broad areas of the brain affected by FTD, while limiting treatment exposure to only the brain itself

FTD is a leading cause of dementia in people under the age of 65

AviadoBio, a pioneering gene therapy company developing and delivering transformative medicines for neurodegenerative disorders, today announced that it has initiated the Phase 1/2 ASPIRE-FTD clinical study of its investigational gene therapy, AVB-101, in people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with mutations in the progranulin (GRN) gene.

ASPIRE-FTD is an open-label, multi-center study designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of AVB-101 in patients with FTD-GRN. In the study, AVB-101 will be delivered as a one-time treatment into the thalamus via a stereotactic neurosurgical procedure at expert neurosurgical centers throughout Europe and the United States.

"FTD is a devastating form of early-onset dementia and there are currently no disease-modifying treatments available," said Lisa Deschamps, Chief Executive Officer. "The initiation of our company's first clinical trial demonstrates our commitment to developing and delivering potential transformative gene therapies for those living with neurodegenerative disorders such as FTD."

"While it is known that progranulin protein supplementation is possible using gene therapy, effective brain distribution remains challenging primarily because of the brain's anatomy," said David Cooper, M.D., Chief Medical Officer. "Our aim is to use intrathalamic delivery to facilitate biodistribution of the PGRN protein to the areas of the cortex impacted by FTD. AVB-101 has already shown great promise in preclinical studies, and we now look forward to this important next step in its clinical development."

Preclinical safety and biodistribution data following intrathalamic delivery to non-human primates demonstrate good tolerability and widespread progranulin expression in brain tissues. These data will be presented at the 30th Annual European Society of Gene Cell Therapy (ESGCT) meeting in Brussels, Belgium Oct. 24-27, 2023.

People with FTD who have disease-causing GRN mutations produce a reduced amount of progranulin protein. AVB-101 has been designed as a potential one-time therapy to halt disease progression by delivering a functional copy of the GRN gene to restore appropriate progranulin levels to the affected areas of the brain.

AVB-101 is delivered using a minimally-invasive, stereotactic neurosurgical procedure directly to the part of the brain called the thalamus. The thalamus has extensive connections to other parts of the brain, including the frontal and temporal lobes, which play a critical role in FTD and the symptoms that impact patients and their families. This targeted delivery method aims to limit the treatment to the brain where it is needed most, thereby reducing the dose required and the potential systemic exposure.

More information about the ASPIRE-FTD study can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06064890.

About Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and FTD with GRN mutations (FTD-GRN)

FTD is a devastating form of early-onset dementia that typically leads to death within 7 to 13 years of symptom onset and 3 to 10 years from diagnosis. People with FTD commonly experience personality changes, behavioral disturbance, loss of language, apathy, and reduced mobility.

FTD is a leading cause of dementia in people under the age of 65 with an estimated prevalence at any one time of up to 4.6 cases per 1,000 of people. FTD typically strikes younger than Alzheimer's disease and the majority of FTD cases occur between 45 and 68 years of age. Given the early onset, FTD has a substantially greater impact on work, family, and finances than Alzheimer's disease. Genetic FTD cases account for about one-third of cases and are associated with autosomal dominant mutations in three genes, including the GRN (progranulin) gene. Approximately 11,000 people in the U.S. and EU5 are living with FTD-GRN with approximately 2,200 new cases per year. Some FTD cases may be misidentified, and diagnostic delay is common. As disease education, genetics knowledge, and research and treatment options grow, these numbers are expected to increase.

About AviadoBio

AviadoBio's mission is to develop and deliver potentially transformative gene therapies for people living with devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). With our deep understanding of the brain and suite of proprietary gene therapy platforms and delivery technologies, AviadoBio is working relentlessly to overcome the challenges of delivering the right drug to the right place. Its innovative, neuroanatomy-led approach is designed to maximize the therapeutic potential of gene therapy to halt or potentially reverse neurodegenerative diseases. AviadoBio was founded on pioneering research from King's College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute and has a leadership team with extensive gene therapy development, delivery, and commercialization experience which uniquely positions the Company for success in bringing transformative medicines to patients.

AviadoBio's investors include New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Monograph Capital, F-Prime Capital, Johnson Johnson Innovation JJDC, Inc. (JJDC), Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), Advent Life Sciences, EQT Lifesciences, and LifeArc.

For more information, please visit www.aviadobio.com and follow us on X @AviadoBio and LinkedIn at AviadoBio.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010316566/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Farah Speer

SVP, Head of Communications and External Relations

Fspeer@aviadobio.com

+1-312-543-2881

Jenna Kane

Health+Commerce

jennakane@healthandcommerce.com

+1-480-388-9587
If an organization does not achieve guaranteed metrics within the first year of implementing a Workhuman Social Recognition program, company will refund 100% of its fees*

Workhuman,the company revolutionizing the way employees celebrate, connect with and appreciate each other in the workplace, knows that strategic and pervasive employee recognition delivers profound results. The research backs it up; a 10,000-person company can save up to $16.1M in turnover costs annually, alongside extraordinary workforce productivity gains, by investing in recognition As a result, the company has introduced the Workhuman ROI Guarantee a market first for the HR technology sector. After the first year of a customer's Social Recognition program, Workhuman will refund the transaction fees collected if the customer does not achieve a significant increase in employee engagement or improvement in employee retention.

"With over 20 years' experience delivering break-through, measurable client outcomes, we've developed battle-tested best practices that give us absolute confidence we can guarantee results," said Tom Libretto, Workhuman President. "We know that employee recognition programs, when done correctly, not only increase engagement, reduce turnover, and improve productivity, but also strengthen overall organizational culture and elevate the employee experience. We're putting our money where our mouth is and risking our fees because we know that Workhuman Social Recognition programs deliver results, and we have the unique ability to measure and prove it."

How the ROI Guarantee works:

Clients launch a Social Recognition program, designed for success, using best-practice program design frameworks. Clients achieve program participation and activity levels. Workhuman's analytics team demonstrates achievement of pre-defined ROI metrics related to employee engagement and retention.

Workhuman's employee recognition and experience software is informed by over one billion data points derived from the interactions of millions of real, actual humans. Research shows that an employee recognition program can prevent $91.9M in lost productivity, $3.8M in unscheduled absences, and $2.8M in avoidable injuries, in addition to the millions saved in turnover costs annually.

Click here learn more about Workhuman's ROI Guarantee. For more information on how a Workhuman Social Recognition program can ignite unparalleled productivity and engagement, cultivate a magnetic workplace culture, and improve your company's bottom line, please visit: www.workhuman.com.

*Valid only for select new customers that sign contracts after October 10, 2023. Fees only include transaction fees that Workhuman collects throughout the first year of the customer's Social Recognition program.

About Workhuman:

Workhuman is helping companies meet today's biggest human capital challenges including unprecedented turnover, employee engagement, hybrid work environments, and DEI through the Workhuman Cloud, a secure SaaS platform that provides the industry's best-in-class Social Recognition solution. As the leading global provider of technology solutions, analytics, expertise, and services helping organizations of all sizes build and foster workplace cultures powered by employee recognition and crowdsourced feedback, Workhuman is revolutionizing the way employees celebrate, connect with, and appreciate each other in the workplace. Combined with unmatched data through iQ, we empower HR and business leaders with proactive insight to understand issues as they develop and tools to help them make the right decisions to align business objectives and culture to deliver immediate impact. And, with world-class award redemption from our proprietary global e-commerce network, Workhuman is committed to building more connected human-centered workplaces that recognize the value and potential of each and every employee.

For more than 20 years, Workhuman has been pioneering the human workplace by disrupting legacy and obsolete HR approaches to improve the employee experience at work, with solutions that engage with approx. seven million customer employees in 30+ languages, in 180 countries, generating 100 million instances of human connection. With dual headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and Framingham, Massachusetts, deploys solutions and services at scale and is committed to helping companies improve returns on their most important investment- their people. For more information, please visit www.workhuman.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010785522/en/

Contacts:

Press

Jenna West

Jenna.west@workhuman.com
GURUGRAM, India, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nigeria data center market is expected to generate more than USD ~280 Mn by 2027 owing to the investments happening in hyperscale and co-location services and increasing internet penetration: Ken Research

Ecosystem of Nigeria Data Center Market

The Nigeria Data Center industry is consolidated with top players holding more than 70% market share. The players compete with each other on the basis of number of data centers, IT load, gross floor area, total white space, number of racks, geographical presence, etc.

Key Market Findings:

Nigeria is promoting a fully digital economy by 2030 through the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020-2030).

The growing fintech and startup ecosystem needs dynamic data centers to survive. So far, many of these companies host their data offshore, as reliability and scalability concerns have forced companies to look elsewhere.

However, as the attention of international data center operators shifts to the country, the sector will become more robust and reliant on local hosting.

Interested to Know More about this Report, Request a Free Sample Report

Launch of 5G: The growth of the data center market in Nigeria is owing to the launch of 5G. E-commerce platforms and fintech (financial technology) will greatly benefit from 5G networks. Launch of 5G will strengthen the digital economy in the nation and hereby accelerate growth in data center market. The launch of 5G technology in Nigeria is poised to catalyze substantial growth in the data center market. With its remarkable network speed, low latency, and support for IoT and edge computing, 5G will enable faster and more efficient data processing and transmission.

This boost in connectivity and data processing capabilities is expected to greatly benefit industries like e-commerce and fintech, enhancing the online shopping experience, expediting financial transactions, and supporting the growth of the digital economy. As businesses in these sectors expand their operations and adopt IoT solutions, the demand for scalable and reliable data center services will surge, making data centers a critical infrastructure component in Nigeria's evolving digital landscape.

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Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR): NDPR is a growth driver of data localization initiatives and the increasing development of data centers in the country leading to increased local data storage and computing requirements. Future data center demand, especially from a colocation perspective, will come from sectors such as cloud and large technology companies expanding their operations in West Africa.

Increase Internet Penetration: Improvement in network connectivity, government support, and rapid growth in the adoption of big data, and IoT services have been strong enablers for the growth of the industry in Nigeria. Internet penetration in Nigeria is increasing year over year, which will thereby accelerate data center market in Nigeria.

Analysts at Ken Research in their latest publication "Nigeria Data Center Market Outlook to 2027" observed that the Nigeria data center market is expected to showcase considerable growth in the coming five years. In the upcoming years, it is predicted to expand more rapidly due to increased internet penetration and the launch of 5G. The Nigeria Data Center Market is expected to grow at robust CAGR over the forecasted period 2022 -2027.

Market Taxonomy

By Vertical

Hyper Scale DC

Co-location DC

Managed DC

Request free 30 minutes analyst call

By Type of Co-location

Wholesale Co-location

Retail Co-location

By End User

Telecom and IT

BFSI

Government

E-Commerce

Others

For More Insights On Market Intelligence, Refer To The Link Below: -

Nigeria Data Center Market

Related Reports by Ken Research: -

US Data Center Market Outlook to 2027 by service (System integration, monitoring services, professional services), by solution (power, server, management software, networking technology, cooling), by type (enterprise data centre, managed services data centre, colocation data centres, cloud data centres) & by end user (healthcare, BFSI, IT, Telecom)

According to Ken Research estimates, the US Data Center Market grew at a robust rate from 2017-2022 & is forecasted to grow steadily from 2022-2027 driven by rising technological implementation, government schemes such as green energy integration & entry of new players.

Africa Data Center & Cloud Services Market Outlook to 2027 By service (System integration, monitoring services, professional services), by solution (power, server, management software, networking technology, cooling), by type (enterprise data centre, managed services data centre, colocation data centres, cloud data centres) & by end user (healthcare, BFSI, IT, Telecom)

According to Ken Research estimates, the Africa Data Center and Cloud Service Market which grew at a robust rate from 2017-2022 & is forecasted to grow steadily from 2022-2027 driven by rising technological implementation, government schemes such as green energy integration & entry of new players.

Thailand Data Center and Cloud Services Market Outlook to 2027 Driven by rapid adoption to Digitalization, Strong Governments Initiatives and Huge Investments in the region

According to Ken Research estimates, the Thailand Data Center and Cloud Services Market grew from approximately USD 440 Mn and USD 445 Mn respectively in 2017 to about USD 550 Mn and USD 1,390 Mn respectively in 2022. The data centre and cloud services market is forecasted to grow further into USD 840 and USD 3600 Mn respectively by 2027, owing to the new government policies, Major investments, digitization, high-density demand and tech-savvy population.

Philippines Data Center Market Outlook to 2027F Driven by investment from the global players and the transition from colocation to hyperscale with high internet penetration

According to Ken Research estimates, the Philippines Data Center Market - which grew from approximately USD ~0.2 Bn in 2018 to approximately USD ~0.3 Bn in 2022 - is forecasted to grow further into USD ~0.6 Bn opportunity by 2027F, owing to the new government policies, rapid digitalization and cloud adoption.

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LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Contact Us:-

Ken Research Private Limited

Ankur Gupta, Director Strategy and Growth

Ankur@kenresearch.com

+91-9015378249

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/explore-3-key-game-changing-factors-for-nigerias-280-mn-data-center-industry-ken-research-301952126.html
In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen!

JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden says that 11 American citizens were among those killed in the attacks by Hamas in Israel. Many of them made a second home in Israel. Biden also said he believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. The President said he has directed his team to work with the Israeli government on the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying U.S. experts to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts. Between 100 and 150 hostages are estimated to be held in Gaza, according to Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan. Hamas has claimed more than 100 captives are in their custody, which includes Israeli army officers. France has confirmed the death of its four citizens in the Hamas attacks in Israel. Biden said his administration knows that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and is working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. The State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts for American citizens who are currently in Israel. For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available. American citizens in Israel have been advised to take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities. Police have stepped up security around Jewish centers in cities across the United States in the wake of the attacks in Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the Middle East conflict. Copyright(c) 2023 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.
Salix Pharmaceuticals' Liver Health Annual Trends Report Findings Suggest Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) Deaths Could Triple Before the End of the Decade

Based Primarily on HCP-Market Research, Report Finds a Growing Concern of Staffing Shortages Across Multiple Healthcare Professions that Treat Liver Disease

LAVAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Salix Pharmaceuticals, the gastroenterology business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC), today released the Salix Liver Health Trends Report, Third Edition, which documents the evolving crisis of chronic liver disease (CLD), showing a 9% increase in CLD and cirrhosis mortality marking these as the ninth leading cause of death in the United States in 2021. The report, based on a survey of 400 health care providers (HCPs) who treat CLD, qualitative interviews with HCPs and secondary research from peer-reviewed publications, also stresses the ongoing disparities and gaps in CLD care that affect different populations and geographies, including a shortage of liver specialists in rural areas.

"Over its first three editions, the Salix Liver Health Trends Report has described the enduring disparities and tremendous burden seen across the treatment of chronic liver disease," said Nicola Kayel, senior vice president, Marketing, Salix. "The report makes clear that increased education and awareness on the issues facing CLD care, as well as distinct and practical treatment guidelines are vital tools to help health care providers improve CLD management and provide for better experiences and outcomes for people living with CLD."

Complete findings from Salix's Liver Health Annual Trends Report as well as health care provider resources to help identify and manage patients with CLD and cirrhosis can be viewed at LiverHEalthNow.com.

Select findings from the Salix Liver Health Trends Report, Third Edition include:

A 9% increase in CLD and cirrhosis-related deaths is contributed by the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with mortality expected to nearly triple by 2030

Racial and ethnic disparities exist within the NAFLD population, with an increased burden among Hispanics with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 4 (22.9%) as compared to Whites (14.4%) and Blacks (13%)

Staffing shortages are a growing concern as 72% of respondents reported chronic staffing shortages across many roles, including 80% reporting nursing shortages, 29% of gastroenterologist shortages and 26% of hepatologist shortages

Where CLD patients live may impact the care available as 43% of respondents working in a rural setting reported shortages of primary care physicians as compared to 28% of respondents working in an urban/suburban setting

Thirty-one percent of all respondents were unaware of any national guidelines for the management of CLD

About the Liver Health Trends Report, Third Edition Methodology

The Liver Health Trends Report, Third Edition on chronic liver disease (CLD) includes information collected from an online survey, qualitative telephone interviews and secondary research from peer-reviewed publications. An independent third-party recruiting firm invited over 400 health care providers to participate in this research during April and May 2023. Provident participation (N=400) required national representation and was comprised of 100 gastroenterologists, 100 hospital-based specialists, 100 primary care physicians (PCPs) and 100 nurse practitioners/physician assistants (NPs/PAs). Analysis of the survey data was conducted by utilizing QPSMR data analysis software. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with 20 providers comprised of 16 physicians and 4 NPs/PAs. Quotes from the in-depth interviews throughout the report represent the opinions of those responders.

The report strives to be representative of all physician segments' lived experience and the diversity that exists within the United States with respect to patient management and the economic and social factors that impact the management of CLD patients. Due to the limitations of this report, not all findings may be generalizable to the larger CLD provider and patient populations. In addition, this report does not contain all questions asked in the survey and in-depth interviews.

Secondary Research from Peer-Reviewed Publications

Secondary research was conducted utilizing Google and PubMed searches to identify relevant peer-reviewed publications and sources as noted in the report. Furthermore, treatment utilization claims data were sourced from IQVIA. Secondary research may not reflect all published data. A systematic review was not performed.

About Salix in CLD and HE

To raise awareness and knowledge of CLD/cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is a complication of cirrhosis, Salix offers other online resources, including:

UnderstandingHE.com: offering patients/caregivers HE information and resources on how to work with their HCP to help manage the disease

Liverhealthnow.com: offering HCP's information and resources to help identify and manage patients with CLD, cirrhosis and HE

About Salix

Salix Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the management and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. For more than 30 years, Salix has licensed, developed and marketed innovative products to improve patients' lives and arm health care providers with life-changing solutions for many chronic and debilitating conditions. Salix currently markets its product line to U.S. health care providers through an expanded sales force that focuses on gastroenterology, hepatology, pain specialists and primary care. Salix is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information about Salix, visit www.Salix.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX:BHC) is a global diversified pharmaceutical company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, dermatology, international pharmaceuticals and eye health, through our controlling interest in Bausch + Lomb. With our leading durable brands, we are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. For more information, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

###

Investor Contact:

ir@bauschhealth.com

(877) 281-6642 (toll-free)

Media Contact:

Kevin Wiggins

corporate.communications@bauschhealth.com

(908) 541-3785

Gianna Scalera

salixcommunications@bauschhealth.com

(908) 541-2110

2023 Salix Pharmaceuticals or its affiliates.

HED.0072.USA.23

SOURCE: Bausch Health Companies Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/790378/salix-pharmaceuticals-releases-liver-health-annual-trends-report-identifying-increase-in-chronic-liver-disease-and-cirrhosis-related-deaths-marking-these-as-ninth-leading-cause-of-death-in-us
FEops, a leader in personalized predictive planning for structural heart interventions, announced today its partnership with ConcertAI's TeraRecon, for the commercialization of FEops HEARTguide's for Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) occlusion workflow, with a strong focus on the US market.

"We are thrilled to join forces with TeraRecon and integrate our FEops HEARTguide solution into TeraRecon's software," said Matthieu De Beule, CEO of FEops. "This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of leveraging technology to transform healthcare. By bringing FEops HEARTguide's advanced capabilities to TeraRecon's robust platform, we aim to equip clinicians with a tool that empowers them to provide optimized care to patients with cardiovascular conditions."

FEops HEARTguide is a one-in-its-kind cloud-based procedure planning solution in the structural heart space, based on digital twin technology. With the US introduction for the LAA occlusion workflow, FEops HEARTguide enables US physicians to virtually model clinical scenarios with different implant positions and sizes of FDA cleared LAA devices, aiding physicians in the selection of the optimal size and position for every individual patient, prior to the intervention. Established clinical evidence from the randomized controlled PREDICT-LAA trial has shown that FEops' digital twin-based planning for LAA closure results in improved procedure efficiency and outcomes as compared to standard CT based planning.

"The addition of FEops HEARTguide enhances TeraRecon's comprehensive offerings, particularly in cardiology and cardiovascular care," said Dan McSweeney, President of TeraRecon. "By integrating FEops' advanced digital twin AI solution into TeraRecon solutions, we are poised to provide clinicians with an unparalleled tool that streamlines the pre-treatment CT based planning for structural heart interventions, leading to more informed decision making."

The FEops TeraRecon collaboration represents a significant stride towards personalized and data-driven cardiac care. The fusion of TeraRecon's solutions and FEops' HEARTguide solution exemplifies the potential of AI to reshape the future of medical diagnosis and treatment planning.

About FEops: Privately held FEops, headquartered in Gent, Belgium, is a digital health scale-up altering the course of heart disease by providing physicians with unique digital tools to treat the right patients with the right technology at the right time. FEops is supported by Valiance Advisors, Capricorn partners, PMV and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Connect with FEops at www.feops.com or on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/feops, or contact us via info@feops.com

About FEops HEARTguide

FEops HEARTguide is a unique, stand-alone cloud-based procedure planning environment. It combines digital twin-based predictive simulation with AI-based anatomical measurements to provide clinicians and medical device manufacturers with first-ever insights into the interaction between transcatheter structural heart devices and specific patient anatomy preoperatively. Such insights have the power to improve clinical outcomes in real-world hospital settings, as well as to accelerate research and development of novel device-based solutions.

FEops HEARTguide is available in the USA for use in LAAO with Amplatzer Amulet, Watchman, Watchman FLX and in EU, UK, Canada and Australia, FEops HEARTguide is available for use in TAVI and LAAO.

About TeraRecon: Serving ~1,900 clinical sites globally, TeraRecon, a ConcertAI company, is a Best in KLAS solution provider for AI-empowered radiology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, and vascular surgery. Awarded the 2020, 2021, and 2022 KLAS Category Leader for Advanced Visualization, TeraRecon solutions are independent of any one manufacturer's imaging equipment or PACS system, allowing a single, unified, and simplified clinical workflow that can improve efficiencies and deliver actionable physician-guided insights. For more information, visit us at www.terarecon.com

About ConcertAI: ConcertAI is the leader in Real-World Evidence (RWE) and AI technology solutions for life sciences and health care. Our mission is to accelerate insights and outcomes for patients through leading real-world data, AI technologies, and scientific expertise in partnership with the leading biomedical innovators, health care providers, and medical societies. For more information, visit us at www.concertai.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010772149/en/

Contacts:

Press

Matthieu De Beule, PhD CEO

Tel: +32 (0)474 23 86 98.

Email: matthieu.debeule@feops.com
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Blackwolf Copper and Gold Ltd. ("Blackwolf" or the "Company") (TSXV:BWCG)(OTC PINK:BWCGF) is pleased to announce that, due to overwhelming interest, the Company's non-brokered private placement previously announced on October 6, 2023 (the "Offering") has been upsized and is fully subscribed.

The Offering will now consist of up to 13,000,000 units of the Company at a price of $0.24 per unit for up to total gross proceeds of up to $3.12 Million (all figures in the current release are in Canadian dollars). Each unit will be comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant (the "Units"). Each share purchase warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one common share at a price of $0.35 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance (the "Warrants").

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund exploration activities at the Company's three projects including Niblack, Cantoo and the Harry Project, as well general working capital purposes. Advancing Niblack will be the near-term goal while Blackwolf plans its further campaigns for Harry and Cantoo to begin in the Spring.

The Company will pay to certain finders a cash fee equal to 6% of the gross proceeds from the sale of Units to subscribers introduced by a particular finder (the "Found Units") and will issue finder warrants equal to 6% of the Found Units sold pursuant to the Offering (the "Finder Warrants"). Finder Warrants will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (a "Finder's Warrant Share") at a price of $0.35 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance.

The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to the standard four-month hold.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About Blackwolf Copper & Gold Ltd.

Blackwolf's founding vision is to be an industry leader in transparency, inclusion and innovation. Guided by our Vision and through collaboration with local and Indigenous communities and stakeholders, Blackwolf builds shareholder value through our technical expertise in mineral exploration, engineering and permitting. The Company holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska. In addition, the Company holds 100% interest in five Hyder Area gold-silver and base metal properties located in southeast Alaska and an option to acquire an 80% interest on the Harry gold-silver property located northwest British Columbia in the Golden Triangle. For more information on Blackwolf, please visit the Company's website at www.blackwolfcopperandgold.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Blackwolf Copper and Gold Ltd.

"Morgan Lekstrom"

CEO and Director

For more information, contact:

Morgan Lekstrom

250-574-7350 (Mobile)

604-343-2997 (Office)

mll@bwcg.ca Liam Morrison

604-897-9952 (Mobile)

604-343-2997 (Office)

lm@bwcg.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include statements relating to the Offering (including the payment of finder's fees and use of proceeds) and the Company's future objectives and plans. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, inability to obtain regulatory approvals of the Offering, inability to complete the Offering on the proposed terms or at all, market volatility; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; fluctuations in commodity prices and changes in the Company's business plans. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including without limitation, that the Offering will proceed and be completed as planned, that regulatory approvals will be obtained, and the Company will continue with its stated business objectives. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company seeks safe harbor.

For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE: Blackwolf Copper and Gold Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791457/blackwolf-closes-orderbook-on-oversubscribed-private-placement
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Datametrex AI Limited (TSXV: DM) (FSE: D4G) (OTCQB: DTMXF) (the "Company" or "Datametrex') is pleased to announce that AnalyticsGPT will be featured on an upcoming episode of Advancements TV, hosted by Emmy-nominated actor, Ted Danson. The episode is scheduled to air on Bloomberg on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, at 8 PM EST.

Advancements TV is an educational series known for its informative and innovative content. This exclusive episode will provide viewers with a glimpse into how AnalyticsGPT uses its Artificial Intelligence and GPT technology to solve issues in data analytics and offer faster and more accurate actionable insights to businesses.

The Company is also embarking on a comprehensive advertising campaign for AnalyticsGPT, consisting of various spotlight commercials airing on Bloomberg, FOX Business, CNBC, and the Discovery Channel, targeting businesses and investors in the United States who are interested in the AI and technology industry.

Please note that Advancements TV airs exclusively through Bloomberg via cable and satellite providers. Those who miss the live broadcast can view it on the Company's social media platforms on October 16th, 2023.

Advancements TV is an award-winning educational platform reaching approximately 375 million households. The platform covers innovative topics and trends, and the Company is thrilled to participate in their educational series.

To learn more about Advancements TV, please visit: https://advancementstv.com/

"The Company is thrilled to not only be a part of the educational series Advancements TV and discuss the power of AI in today's world but also be able to present Datametrex and our AnalyticsGPT technology to a larger audience and present its capabilities to the U.S. market," said Marshall Gunter, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

About Datametrex

Datametrex AI Limited is a technology-focused company with verticals in leading industries, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, telehealth, healthcare, and electric vehicles. Datametrex's mission is to provide tools and solutions that support companies in optimizing and fulfilling their operational goals, 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 improve businesses' bottom line.

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 but not limited to the proposed spin-out transaction. 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/183050
The "Private 5G Market by Component (Base Station, Radio Access Network, Core Network, Antennas, Software-Defined Network, Network Management, Network Security), Spectrum (Licensed, Shared), Services, Frequency Band, Deployment Mode Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global private 5G market is expected to be valued at USD 2.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 11.8 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.3% from 2023 to 2028

The report encompasses comprehensive insights into the private 5G market, delving into critical factors such as drivers, constraints, challenges, and opportunities shaping its growth trajectory.

It offers an in-depth analysis of major industry players, furnishing details about their business profiles, product portfolios, strategic initiatives, including contracts, partnerships, agreements, new product and service launches, mergers and acquisitions, as well as recent developments within the private 5G market.

Europe's industrial landscape and businesses are currently undergoing significant digital transformation endeavors. Private 5G networks are pivotal in facilitating this transformation by delivering the essential connectivity required to support advanced technologies like IoT, automation, and data analytics.

With a robust manufacturing base and leadership in Industry 4.0 initiatives, Europe relies on private 5G networks to drive smart manufacturing, optimize processes, and seamlessly integrate robotics and automation across diverse industrial sectors. The increasing deployment of IoT devices and the evolution of smart cities have heightened the demand for dependable, high-speed connectivity. Private 5G networks provide the indispensable infrastructure to underpin these applications, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and overall quality of life.

The widespread integration of IoT devices across various industries necessitates a connectivity solution capable of meeting the requirements for reliable, low-latency, and high-bandwidth communication. Private 5G networks offer the foundational infrastructure to support the extensive proliferation of IoT devices, enabling businesses to harness the full potential of IoT for enhanced operational efficiency, data-driven insights, and fostering innovation.

Key players in the private 5G market landscape include industry leaders such as Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Sweden), Nokia (Finland), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea), and ZTE Corporation (China).

Additionally, the report provides a competitive analysis encompassing emerging startups within the private 5G market ecosystem.

Software component segment to account for second highest CAGR of private 5G market.

Software components allow Private 5G networks to adapt quickly to changing requirements and conditions. This agility is essential for industries that need to rapidly deploy and reconfigure network services to accommodate varying demands and use cases. Software components play a vital role in implementing robust security measures within Private 5G networks.

They enable features such as encryption, authentication, and access control, ensuring data privacy and network integrity. The growth of the software component in the Private 5G market is driven by its ability to provide customization, agility, innovation, security, and cost-efficiency.

Manufacturing vertical to account for the second largest market share of the private 5G market.

The manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation with Industry 4.0, which emphasizes automation, data exchange, and IoT integration. Private 5G networks provide the high-speed, low-latency connectivity required to implement these advanced technologies and optimize manufacturing processes.

The growth of the Private 5G market in the manufacturing vertical is driven by the need for advanced connectivity solutions to support IoT integration, smart manufacturing, automation, and other transformative technologies. Private 5G networks enable manufacturers to optimize their operations, enhance product quality, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital and interconnected manufacturing landscape.

Premium Insights

Technological Advancements and Industry-Specific Needs to Favor Market Growth

US and mmWave Segments to Hold Largest Share of North American Private 5G Market in 2023

China to Capture Largest Share of Private 5G Market in Asia-Pacific During Forecast Period

Private 5G Market in China to Exhibit Highest CAGR from 2023 to 2028

Use Cases in Private 5G Market

Internet of Things (IoT)

Private 5G Networks Provide High-Speed, Low-Latency, and Reliable Connectivity Required to Connect IoT Devices

Case Study: Bosch and Nokia Collaborated to Establish Private 5G Network Within Bosch's Smart Factory

Sports Analytics

Private 5G Drives Innovation in Sports-Related Technologies

Xfinity Centre Enhanced Overall Viewing Experience with Deployment of Private 5G Network

Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR)

Private 5G Enables Wide Range of Applications Within AR/VR

Case Study: Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and SK Telecom Deployed a Private 5G Network at KBS Suwon Center

Smart Infrastructure

Private 5G Networks Help Collect Real-Time Data from Sensors, Devices, and Equipment Embedded in Smart Infrastructure

Case Study: Barcelona Implemented Private 5G Network as Part of Smart City Initiatives

Others

Case Study: Agco and Ericsson Deployed Private 5G Network on Brazilian Farm to Enhance Agriculture Operations

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Emergence of Industry 4.0

Increasing Demand for Internet of Things (IoT)

Rising Adoption of Cloud Computing

Intensifying Need for Security and Privacy in Enterprise Networks

Restraints

Lack of Standardization Guidelines

Limited Availability of Spectrum

Opportunities

Increasing Demand for High-Performance Applications

Growing Adoption of Private 5G Networks for Remote Monitoring and Surveillance

Increasing Interest Among Enterprises to Deploy Private 5G Networks

Challenges

Need for Substantial Upfront Investment

Integration with Legacy Systems

Case Study Analysis

Siemens and Nokia Collaborated to Test Suitability of Private 5G Networks for Industrial Automation

Bosch and Ericsson Collaborated to Deploy Private 5G Network

Walmart and Verizon Collaborated to Explore Potential of Private 5G Networks in Retail

Harbour Air Enhanced Aviation Operations with Private 5G Network

Lufthansa Technik Partnered with Nokia to Deploy Private 5G Network at Its Facility

Technology Analysis

Key Technologies

Network Slicing

Edge Computing

Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)

mmWave

Complementary Technologies

Internet of Things (IoT)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

Big Data Analytics

Adjacent Technologies

Cloud Computing

Robotics and Automation

Cybersecurity Solutions

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

Company Profiles

Key Players

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson

Nokia

Samsung

ZTE Corporation

NEC Corporation

Oracle

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Ciena Corporation

Juniper Networks, Inc.

Other Players

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

Affirmed Networks

Mavenir

Celona Inc.

Airspan Networks

CommScope

VMware, Inc.

Extreme Networks

Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Ltd.

Deutsche Telekom AG

Fujitsu

Verizon

AT&T

SK Telecom Co., Ltd.

Dell Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xk2d19

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010207976/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Minerva Cannabis Weed Dispensary is celebrating its two-year anniversary with three nights of events including their premiere comedy series, Rolling Laughs followed by a night of brand activation and live music. The first two nights, October 19th and 20th will feature 10 comics and 2 hosts who will be performing their stand-up inside the Minerva flagship store with everything kicking off at 8 pm Sharp.

The series of events take place at Minerva Cannabis, 1050 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5R 3G7, Canada. Tickets for Rolling Laughs are available through Eventbrite and are in the form of "Pay-What-You-Can" donations. All money raised is being donated to The Light House: a community hub and neighbourhood Food Bank located at 1008 Bathurst Street just south of Minerva. At the Intermission of Rolling Laughs, guests can expect a complimentary snack from Minerva's neighbor, Tiny Market Co. located at 938 Bathurst St.

On the third night, October 21, 2023, Minerva will feature live music from Toronto-based record label, All Blak Records alongside a handful of Cannabis brands that will be providing unique experiences, snacks, and more for those in attendance. Saturday's event is open to the public and will start at 6 pm.

"We are excited to celebrate our two-year anniversary and feature a fresh set of comics with new outlooks to take us on a journey behind the microphone. This event is not only a celebration of comedy and cannabis, but of our community and thanking them for their continued support of our business," said Paul Macchiusi of Minerva Cannabis.

Minerva is collaborating with Jonny Chronic, Purple Hills/Community, Loosh Brands (A-Ha, Care By Design, Big Pete's Cookies), Thinker, Wellcann (Noodz Cannabis, Far Our Crops), Indiva Inc. (Bhang Chocolates, Doppio, No Future), Pure Sunfarms (SOAR, Super Toast), Stigma Grow (Dab Bods) for Rolling Laughs on October 19 & 20. On Saturday the 21st, Brand Activations, Live Music, and more will be provided by industry partners All Blak Records, Carmel Cannabis, The Proper Cannabis Co., BRZY, Ontarieau, Rilaxe Cannabis, Wildlife Cannabis Co., Dymond Concentrates, Good Supply, RIFF, Cannmart, & Divvy Cannabis.

About Minerva Cannabis:

Minerva Cannabis, a family-owned and operated cannabis dispensary located in the Toronto area, takes immense pride in creating a welcoming space for the entire community. Regardless of one's level of experience with cannabis, Minerva has the knowledge and expertise to guide individuals on their journey. The staff at Minerva has personally tested each product on the menu, enabling them to provide thoughtful recommendations based on the unique preferences of each individual.

CONTACT: Paul Macchiusi

PHONE: 1.416.781.3128

EMAIL: info@minvervacannabis.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183063
Zero-Maintenance Tests That Find Business-Critical App Regressions

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Katalon, Inc., the leading provider of the most modern, comprehensive software quality management platform, announced today the beta launch of TrueTest. This solution introduces three groundbreaking, AI-powered capabilities to the software quality industry that enable quality engineering teams to: (1) understand how the application is truly used in production by real users, (2) autonomously create regression tests that cover critical user needs, and (3) execute business-critical regression tests automatically, thereby freeing up more time for in-sprint new-feature testing.





Katalon

Katalon, AI-Powered Software Quality Platform





Development teams are writing code faster and more efficiently by leveraging AI as their new copilot. While that is great for the business, this is generating the need for running regression tests more frequently to ensure that after each new code build, there aren't any app regressions. That is putting an additional burden on quality engineering teams that are already stretched thin and barely able to keep up with testing new features and changes to the application. Regression testing is often cut short, if not entirely replaced, by very high-level, happy path smoke tests on business-critical workflows.

Testing tool vendors are experimenting with AI-powered features to only slightly improve existing testing activities. However, this is not enough to help quality engineering teams to keep up with the never-before-seen rapid pace of development. Katalon is looking at how to address this new challenge more holistically, and is designing new testing workflows that were not possible to implement before the current level of AI maturity.

"Quality practitioners are overwhelmed and are seeking every advantage possible to keep up with project demand from the business. They are looking at AI-based tools as the means to finally increase their effectiveness in their roles," said Katalon CEO Vu Lam. "TrueTest enables those quality engineers to understand how the application is truly used in production and, from that perspective, they're able to prioritize their testing efforts and automatically generate zero-maintenance regression tests that cover the scenarios that truly matter to real users, ensuring their experience will not break in the next release. We look forward to working with our beta customers on this exciting new AI-powered capability product that will truly enable our customers to focus on releasing higher-quality code at speed."

Key Benefits of TrueTest

Visualize and Understand How Your App is Truly Used in Production. TrueTest captures real user interactions and generates a user journey map that quality engineers can use to prioritize and guide their testing efforts based on the most critical scenarios to the real users.

TrueTest captures real user interactions and generates a user journey map that quality engineers can use to prioritize and guide their testing efforts based on the most critical scenarios to the real users. Catch Business-Critical App Regressions Before Release. TrueTest automatically generates regression tests that reflect what users truly do in the production application. That means no more guessing on what's important to test - TrueTest knows exactly what the real user flows are and it will generate the regression tests to cover those.

TrueTest automatically generates regression tests that reflect what users truly do in the production application. That means no more guessing on what's important to test - TrueTest knows exactly what the real user flows are and it will generate the regression tests to cover those. Always Stay Ahead of the Development With Zero-Maintenance Regression Tests. TrueTest allows quality engineering teams to fully focus on in-sprint, new-feature testing and stop spending time and effort to create and maintain regression tests. TrueTest can automatically update regression tests based on how users change the way they interact with the application as new or changed features are released to production. That means regression tests will always be ready to run before the release goes out.

To request an invite for Katalon's TrueTest Beta, visit https://katalon.com/truetest

About Katalon

Katalon is a comprehensive, all-in-one software quality management platform that enables quality assurance, developer, DevOps and software teams of any size to deliver world-class customer experiences faster, easier, and more efficiently. The platform accelerates end-to-end software development by powering the authoring, execution, and insights of test automation across any app or environment, and flexibly integrates across a team's architecture and processes. Founded in 2016 and servicing customers in over 80 countries, Katalon is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more info about Katalon, please visit katalon.com.

Contact Information

Josh Turner

Si14 Global Communications

katalonpr@si14global.com

+1 (917) 231-0550

SOURCE: Katalon, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791574/katalon-launches-truetest-ai-driven-regression-testing-that-reflects-what-users-truly-do-in-production
Travel App Ranks Top World Wonders Based on Over 1.9 Million Users.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / The travel app Visited, which was developed by Arriving In High Heels Corporation, has published a list of the top 10 most visited World Wonders in the U.S. The world wonders, range from natural such as Grand Canyon and man-made such as Empire State Building. Overall, United States is the 6th most popular country to visit, with the top 5 found in Europe. New York is among the most popular states to visit for those that come from abroad and locals alike.





World Wonders of USA





The list is based on over 1,900,000 users who are avid travelers, that use the app Visited. Visited is a popular travel app that allows users to check off places they've been to or wish to visit, see custom maps of their travels, discover new destinations, and optimize their future travel plans.

The top 10 most visited World Wonders in the U.S. include:

The Empire State Building (New York) The Golden Gate Bridge (California) The Grand Canyon (Arizona) Hoover Dam (Nevada/Arizona) Yosemite National Park (California) The Everglades National Park (Florida) Death Valley (California) Redwood National Park (California) Old Faithful (Wyoming) Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)

To see more top travel lists with the most popular destinations worldwide, users can download Visited on iOS or Android. To learn more about the Visited Map App, visit https://visitedapp.com.

About Visited Travel App

Popular travel app, Visited, is a place to keep track of all the countries, US States and cities a traveler has been to or wants to visit. The users can see their travels on a personalized map, have it printed in a poster form or view their personal travel stats. To help inspire travel, users can select sites from multiple lists by categories such as world wonders, art museums, national parks, ski locations and more. To help decide where to next? Visited showcases countries based on the number of places they added to their bucket-list.

About Arriving In High Heels Corporation

Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk and Visited, their most popular app.



Contact Information

Anna Kayfitz

CEO

anna@arrivinginhighheels.com



SOURCE: Arriving In High Heels Corporation

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (OTCQB: FRERF) (FSE: FR20) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been granted an exploration permit comprising 33.8 km2 over the Urasar mineral district in northern Armenia. Historical Soviet data reveals a non-NI43-101 compliant resource totaling approximately 344K oz Au in the Russian C1+C2 category and 649K oz Au in the P category1 in two separate zones (See Fremont news release dated June 6, 2023).

Background

The Urasar project is located in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, within the NW trending Seven-Amasi metallogenic zone, part of an intensely folded province containing ophiolites that represents the closure of the ancient Tethyan Sea. The belt contains a number of deposits including: the nearby Armanis mine with roughly 600,000 ounces gold equivalent pre-mining; the Archut deposit 30km to the SW with approximately 400,000 ounces gold equivalent; and most notably the Zod mine (also known as Sokt), a >7m ounce epithermal gold deposit. The Urasar project area is located seven kilometers south of the Armanis gold mine, on the same tectonic lineament that hosts the world-class Sotk mine.

Figure 1. Urasar location in relation to nearby deposits and Fremont's Vardenis Cu-Au project



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World Class Potential the Result of Regional Reconnaissance

The area was first visited by Fremont management in September 2021, when Urasar was one of ten prospects evaluated and sampled. It was ranked the highest priority due to wide-spread surface alteration/mineralization and encouraging geochemical results that comprised eight surface rock chip and channel samples, ranging from a minimum of 0.123 g/t Au to a maximum of 12.5 g/t and averaging 2.65 g/t Au. Thirty follow-up rock chip samples were collected in November 2021 from other parts of the license area and returned an average of 0.75g/t Au and 6,285 ppm Cu.

Figure 2. Exploration permit locality



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Historic Soviet-era Exploration

Previous exploration work at Urasar was carried out mostly from 1956 to 1960 by Soviet government exploration teams. The district was explored for copper, base metals and to a lesser extent gold, within a 250-300m wide, 7.5 km long quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone along the Chibukhlu fault. Their exploration comprised 16 shallow trenches, six adits and several drill holes (the latter not currently located). They defined three polymetallic precious metal deposits based on Soviet-style, non-NI 43-101 compliant resource estimates, named the Black River, Chibukhlu and Hanqakutak deposits. Other similarly mineralised areas that constitute additional targets within the Urasar licence property were also identified as part of this historic work. Figure 3 below shows the location of two of these deposits and several prospects defined by this work, while the historic non-NI 43-101 compliant resources estimates are discussed below.

PATANY ERKRABAN LLC based in Yerevan, Armenia, completed a mineral resource estimate for the three deposits in 2008 based on the Russian C1, C2 and P mineral resource categories1 using the Soviet historical data and including several duplicate drill holes. They estimated that the Black River deposit hosts 209,000 ounces Au in the C1+C2 categories and 334,000 ounces Au in the P category. The Chibukhlu deposit was reported to have good potential for Cu with up to 20,000 tonnes of Cu in the P category as well as 135,000 ounces Au in the C1+C2 categories and 315,000 ounces Au in the P category. The Hanqakutak deposit, which lies mostly outside of the Urasar license boundary, is estimated to host more than 500,000 ounces Au in the C1+C2 and P categories (Ounces and tonnes have been rounded to the nearest 1,000).

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve and Fremont is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve. The historic estimate cannot be relied on for the purpose of calculating an updated resource as most of the data was collected during the Soviet era over 60 years ago, and the location of the drill holes and drill core is unknown. However, the information is certainly relevant in that it reveals which areas within the license were defined as being mineralized and will help guide the Company in their exploration work. Fremont's exploration programs will essentially be starting from scratch beginning with surface geochemical and geophysical surveys followed by trenching and a diamond drilling program. Any future resource calculations will be based on the contemporary work program.

1 C1 and C2 are roughly equivalent to CIM's (Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum) "indicated" category, while P is roughly equivalent to CIM's "inferred" category

Figure 3. Urasar geology and mineralized zones/"deposits" defined by historic work



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Fremont CEO Dennis Moore states, "Fremont is a 'first mover' in this new era of mineral exploration in Armenia. With the permitting of the Urasar exploration license plus the recently acquired Vardenis Project, Fremont has a pipeline of properties with world-class potential, positioning the Company for significant exploration success and growth."

Mr. Moore continues, "The Urasar project is one of the few places in the world where one can find unexploited mineralization cropping out at surface along an altered fault zone that has a strike length of more than seven kilometers. We chose this prospect from among many that were evaluated due to: the occurrence of widespread gold and copper mineralization at surface; the long strike length; and widespread argillic to advanced argillic alteration. The Soviet-defined mineralized bodies and its location on the same crustal structure that hosts the world-class Sotk mine, were attributes realized after the Company's initial interest in the area, and reinforced our initial assessment. The addition of this property to Fremont's portfolio, gives us at least two kicks at the can, and significantly increases the shareholder's opportunity for a valuable discovery."

Recent Conflict in Nagorno Karabakh

The Nagorno Karabakh region, also known as Artsakh, is a mountainous area located between Armenia and Azerbaijan that has been in dispute since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. While the recent military action by Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh is a very real tragedy for the people who live in the area, particularly those of Armenian descent, the dispute is restricted to the Nagorno Karabakh region, and does not equate to a war between the two nations. At this time, no wider conflict is expected and a cease fire is being monitored by outside forces. Fremont's CEO was in Armenia during time of the two-day conflict and noticed no effect on daily routines other than some short-lived demonstrations in the capital.

Qualified person

The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Fremont's President, CEO and interim Chairman, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Fremont

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of high-quality copper-gold projects within the central Tethyan Belt of Armenia with the intention of making world-class size discoveries. These projects include the Vardenis copper-gold property located in central Armenia and the Urasar District gold project in northern Armenia. Other opportunities in the belt are being evaluated. The Company also holds three substantial gold properties in Nevada and is in the process of vending these assets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Dennis Moore"

Dennis Moore

President and CEO, interim Chairman

Fremont Gold Ltd.

For further information, contact:

Corporate Information

Fremont Gold Ltd.

Dennis Moore, President and CEO, interim Chairman

Telephone: +351 9250 62196

www.fremontgold.net

https://twitter.com/GoldFremont

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/

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 statements

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "hope", "will be", "expected" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this and other press releases include but are not limited to the potential for the discovery of world class deposits. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fremont undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183355
Billups, a global Out-of-Home (OOH) technology and managed services company, announces the acquisition of OOH Labs, a Canadian independent media agency driven by science, supported by data and managed by OOH professionals. The acquisition will provide Billups and OOH Labs customers with a greater reach across North America, enhanced programmatic capabilities, and extended access to Billups' patented measurement and attribution solutions.

"The decision to unite with OOH Labs goes beyond expanding our geographical footprint; it's about aligning with a team that shares our values and client-focused approach," said Billups co-founder Benjamin Billups. "Kevin's unwavering dedication to his team and clients' success is inspiring and truly commendable. This alliance signifies a melding of expertise and ethos, promising enhanced innovation and comprehensive solutions tailored to the distinct needs of our diverse clientele across North America. It is a very natural alignment for us."

Since its founding in 2020, OOH Labs has experienced rapid growth throughout Canada and has carved out a distinct niche in the local OOH market. With offices in Toronto and Montreal, the company is led by a team of seasoned professionals with diverse backgrounds in client services, agency operations and media ownership.

"I couldn't be more excited to join forces with Billups," said Kevin McDonald, chief executive officer and founder of Agency X, the former parent company of OOH Labs. "Through our countless discussions, it is clear that Billups' culture, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for the OOH space align perfectly with ours. I look forward to our two organizations collaborating to elevate the share of spend in the OOH industry."

The acquisition positions Billups as the largest OOH technology and managed services provider in North America, enhancing the reach of Billups' patented measurement and attribution solutions, which now spans 15 countries across North America, EMEA and Southeast Asia.

"We have admired OOH Labs for some time and after getting to know Kevin and his incredible team, we knew we found the right partner to advance Billups' foothold in North America," said David Krupp, global CEO of Billups. "Joining our companies will amplify our collective reach, enhance our market intelligence, and drive tangible business outcomes for our clients."

The acquisition comes on the heels of Billups' recent acquisition of TAC Media, further solidifying Billups' unwavering commitment to global expansion and developing best-in-class OOH innovations.

About Billups

Billups is reinventing Out-of-Home planning and placement for the performance age. Blending art and science, Billups leads the industry with patented scientific targeting, accurate Out-of-Home measurement and an AI-powered recommendation engine. Billups supports advertisers, agencies and media owners through services and platform technology that make Out-of-Home as automated and attributable as the most effective digital ads. Visit us at www.billups.com.

About OOH Labs

OOH LABS is an independent Out-of-Home Specialist. It is driven by science, supported by data, and managed by a strong leadership team with vast knowledge of outdoor and place-based advertising spaces.

Working in close collaboration with our agency partners, media operators and industry leaders, we spend every minute of every day developing impactful media solutions and planning efficient measurable Out-of-Home campaigns for our clients.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010888703/en/

Contacts:

Allie Mills

SalientMG

allie@salientmg.com
The global risk advisory service market is experiencing growth due to several factors, including an increase in business complexity, growing regulatory compliance requirements, globalization, and digitalization

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Risk Advisory Service Market by Type (Operational Risk, Financial Risk, Compliance and Regulatory Risk, and Others), Organization Size (Large Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, IT and Telecom, Healthcare, Retail, and E-commerce, Government and Public Sector, Manufacturing, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032." According to the report, the global risk advisory service industry generated $115.8 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $448.9 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 14.8% from 2023 to 2032.

A risk advisory service (RAS) is an industry-specific consulting and advisory service that helps businesses identify, evaluate, and manage a variety of risks that may affect their business. These risks may be strategic and operational in nature, or more specific in nature, such as financial risks, legal risks, cybersecurity risks, compliance risks, and more. RAS providers provide expertise and advice to help organizations create effective risk management plans, improve internal control measures, and mitigate risks. They can also help with risk assessments, risk frameworks, risk mitigation plans, and more. The purpose of a risk advisory service is to help businesses make informed decisions about potential risks and proactively manage them, thereby protecting their reputation, financial stability, and long-term success.

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Prime Determinants of Growth:

The global risk advisory service market is experiencing growth due to several factors, including an increase in business complexity, growing regulatory compliance requirements, globalization, and digitalization. In addition, globalization and digitalization which give rise to risks such as cyberattacks, data breaches, and supply chain disruptions have been significant drivers for the adoption of risk advisory services. However, regulatory challenges hamper market growth. On the contrary, growing cybersecurity threats are anticipated to open new avenues for the growth of the risk advisory service market during the forecast period.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $115.8 Billion Market Size in 2032 $448.9 Billion CAGR 14.8 % No. of Pages in Report 175 Segments Covered Type, Organization Size, Industry Vertical, and Region. Drivers Increase in business complexity Growing regulatory compliance requirements Globalization and digitalization Opportunities Growing cybersecurity threats Restraints Regulatory challenges

COVID-19 Scenario:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a moderate impact on the global risk advisory service market. This is due to the widespread adoption of remote work, supply chain disruptions, and financial uncertainties.

This led to a surge in demand for risk advisory services, as companies sought expert guidance to navigate these uncertain times. However, as the pandemic continued, some businesses faced financial constraints and reduced their spending on consulting services, including risk advisory.

The operational risk segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on type, the operational risk segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global risk advisory service market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Businesses are becoming more complex and reliant on technology, which increases the potential for operational failures. Furthermore, regulations and compliance requirements are becoming strict, making companies more focused on risk management. However, the compliance and regulatory risk segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 18.3% from 2023 to 2032. The high-profile cases of regulatory breaches have raised awareness about the consequences of non-compliance, encouraging firms to invest in proactive risk management.

The large enterprises segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on organization size, the large enterprises segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the global risk advisory service market industry revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the fact that large enterprises have a more complex set of risks and vulnerabilities than SMEs which makes them susceptible to losses in case of crises such as market meltdowns, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks. However, the small and medium-sized enterprises segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 17.6% from 2023 to 2032. This is attributed to the fact that SMEs are recognizing the benefits of proactive risk management in protecting their reputation and sustaining growth, prompting them to seek professional advisory services to navigate these challenges effectively which drives the growth of the risk advisory service market in SMEs.

The BFSI segment to maintain its lead position throughout the forecast period-

Based on industry vertical, the BFSI segment held the highest market share in 2022, contributing to more than one-fourth of the global risk advisory service market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its lead position throughout the forecast period. because the BFSI industry is highly regulated, and these regulations are constantly evolving, requiring specialized expertise to ensure compliance. However, the healthcare segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 20.3% from 2023 to 2032. The growth of the healthcare segment is being driven by the increasing regulatory requirements and compliance standards that are making healthcare organizations seek expert advice to navigate complex rules and avoid penalties.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global risk advisory service market revenue. This is attributed to the rising regulatory requirements for risk advisory services in North American countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, which are driving demand from SMEs and mid-size enterprises (MSMEs). In addition, increasing cybercrimes have led to a rise in demand for risk advisory services in North America owing to growing awareness of customers related to their financial data theft incidents. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The same region would also cite the fastest CAGR of 19.1% from 2023 to 2032. This is attributed to its developing economy coupled with the increased adoption of advanced technologies by SMEs operating within the Asia-Pacific region thereby creating lucrative growth opportunities for the risk advisory service market players in this region.

Leading Market Players: -

MBG Corporate Services

KPMG International Limited

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

RSM International Ltd.

Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.

Cherry Bekaert

CLA Global TS

BDO Global

PwC

Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL)

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The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global risk advisory service market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the risk advisory service market analysis from 2022 to 2032 to identify the prevailing risk advisory service market opportunity.

Market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

The Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders to make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the risk advisory service market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing risk advisory service market opportunities.

Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the 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 risk advisory service market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.

Risk Advisory Service Market Key Segments:

By Type

Others

Operational Risk

Financial Risk

Compliance and Regulatory Risk

By Organizartion Size

Large Enterprises

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

By Industry Vertical

BFSI

IT and Telecom

Healthcare

Retail and E-commerce

Government and Public Sector

Manufacturing

Others

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada)

(U.S., Canada) Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)

(UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

(China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific) LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East, Africa)

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The Driveline Additive Market, segmented into Transmission Fluid Additives and Gear Oil Additives, is expected to grow substantially from 2023 to 2033. Fueled by increasing demand from the automotive industry, this market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 15.2 billion by 2033, showcasing a steady CAGR of 5.1%.

NEWARK, Del., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Driveline Additive Market Analysis by Transmission Fluid Additives and Gear Oil Additives Product Type: Opportunities and Forecast 2023 - 2033

The driveline additive market is estimated to be worth US$ 9.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to be valued at US$ 15.2 billion in 2033. Between 2023 and 2033, the market is expected to register a growth rate of 5.1%. The driveline additive market is projected to grow more than the conventional lubricant additives due to its numerous on- and off-road applications.

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The increasing demand for driveline additives in off-road applications in agriculture, construction, mining, and forestry heavy machinery is likely to boost the market growth. OEM requirements for extended drain, fuel efficiency, and temperature stability will create a positive market growth environment for driveline additives during the forecast period.

Engine oil additives are gaining traction in passenger cars. Motor oil additives for passenger cars can aid in reducing emissions, extending engine life, and improving performance and fuel economy, driving the market's growth.

Environmental consciousness and regulations promoting environmentally friendly lubricants and additives can lead to developing and adopting eco-friendly driveline additives. The growth of urban populations and industrialization in emerging markets drive the demand for transportation and industrial machinery, creating opportunities for the driveline additive market.

Key Takeaways

From 2018 to 2022, the driveline additive market demand expanded at a CAGR of 4.0%

Based on product type, the transmission fluid additives segment is expected to account for a market share of 59% during the forecast period.

Global driveline additives demand in the United Kingdom is predicted to account for a CAGR of 4.9% from 2023 to 2033.

In the United States, the market is expected to account for a CAGR of 5.0% between 2023 and 2033.

China is projected to expand by a value CAGR of 4.8% between 2023 and 2033.

By 2033, the driveline additives market in India is anticipated to record a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period.

Countries Expected Market Values in 2033 Forecast CAGRs from 2023 to 2033 Russia US$ 7.1 billion 4.7 % India US$ 6.8 billion 4.5 % The United States US$ 8.2 billion 5.0 % China US$ 7.5 billion 4.8 % The United Kingdom US$ 7.8 billion 4.9 %

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"The increasing application of driveline additives in industrial machinery and agricultural equipment is anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period." Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.).

Competitive Landscape

Players have used product launches and business expansion to grow their market share, increase profitability, and stay competitive in the driveline additive market.

In recent years, prominent players have been involved in corporate tie-ups with automotive OEMs to retain their existing customers and deliver customized products. The leading players involved in the commercialization of their products to leverage immense potential in the market. Some of the recent developments in the market are discussed below.

Afton Chemical specializes in additives for fuels and lubricants, including driveline additives. They offer solutions to enhance performance, reduce friction, and improve fuel efficiency. Afton Chemical Corporation is working with OEMs to meet today's OEM requirements for extended drain, fuel efficiency, and temperature stability.

Chevron Oronite, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, develops and manufactures specialty chemicals, including driveline additives, to enhance the performance and efficiency of lubricants.

Evonik is a global specialty chemical company with a focus on additives for various industries. They offer driveline additives that address friction reduction and protection of drivetrain components.

Valuable Insights Available

Future Market Insights offers an unbiased analysis of the global Internet of Everything (IoE) market, providing historical data from 2018 to 2022 and forecast statistics between 2023 and 2033.

To understand opportunities in the driveline additives market, the market is segmented based on product Type (Transmission Fluid Additives, Gear Oil Additives), Application (Passenger Car, Commercial Vehicles, Off-Highway vehicles), and Region (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Pacific, East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa).

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About the Chemicals & Materials Team at Future Market Insights

Future Market Insights's chemicals & materials team offers expert analysis, time-efficient research, and strategic recommendations to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With a repertoire of over 100+ reports and one billion+ data points, the team has been analyzing the industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides a brief analysis of key trends including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts.

About the Author:

Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries.

His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making.

Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times.

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is estimated to be valued at in 2022 and is projected to increase at a CAGR of in the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. The magnesium hydroxide market was projected to be US$ 992.5 million in 2022. By the end of 2023, the market is likely to reach a valuation of US$ 1,050.07 million. The global market for magnesium hydroxide is expected to garner a 5.8% CAGR and reach a market worth US$ 1,845.32 million by 2033

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Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis helps businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

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Nandini Singh Sawlani

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/driveline-additive-market-is-expected-to-reach-us-15-2-billion-by-2033--future-market-insights-inc-301952096.html
The Handyman Services Company Now Serves States All Across the U.S.

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / FixTman, a nationwide handyman services provider, is excited to celebrate its third anniversary.



FixTman Handyman Services Company Celebrates Third Anniversary

The FixTman Handyman Services Company Now Serves States All Across the U.S.

The company started on October 10, 2020, with just five technicians in one city. FixTman now serves 22 states with more than 450 technicians. FixTman plans to mark the event by launching a mobile app for customers.

It's easy to access handyman services by FixTman. Simply go to their homepage, type in the service you need and your ZIP code into the appropriate fields, and you'll get a list of skilled professionals who can complete the task for you.

FixTman provides a wide range of services, ranging from handyman service and assembly service to swing set assembly and TV wall mounting. If you need something installed, put together or mounted at your home or business, there's a FixTman technician with a proven track record who can help you. The company offers fair, affordable pricing, 24/7 customer support and a 30-day service warranty.

Thousands of satisfied customers have left great reviews of the company. You can view examples of work completed by Fixtman's skilled team of handymen on their website.

FixTman is always looking for new partners to sell or provide home or commercial services. Interested professionals can register as a FixTman on their website. The page features a calculator to help technicians determine how much they can make as a FixTman handyman. The company offers great pay, a flexible schedule and easy payments - no more haggling with customers.

For more information and media inquiries, contact FixTman's knowledgeable team at info@fixtman.com or 1-888-493-0064.

Contact Information:

Damil Martinez

Marketing Associate, OuterBox

info@fixtman.com

1-888-493-0064

SOURCE: FixTman

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/790844/fixtman-handyman-services-company-celebrates-third-anniversary
Financing includes PNC's first EQ2 investment in Indiana to help expand access to affordable housing for the state's most vulnerable residents

INDIANAPOLIS, IN / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Intend Indiana (Intend) and PNC Bank (PNC) announced an agreement for a $2.5 million investment that will support Intend Indiana's multifamily housing initiative for the state's most vulnerable residents. PNC's support includes a $1 million equity equivalent investment (EQ2) and a $1.5 million line of credit. The financing will be leveraged to address the statewide deficit of over 120,000 housing units needed for individuals and families in low- and moderate-income areas that have historically been undervalued and overlooked.

"As a national main street bank, PNC is focused on making a real impact in communities throughout Indiana," said Patricia Gamble-Moore, PNC Community Development Banking market manager for Indiana. "This EQ2 investment enables us to provide low-cost capital solutions to solve for Indiana's affordable housing shortage and reinforces our commitment to work with leading organizations like Intend Indiana to address the housing affordability gap and economic vitality of the communities we serve."

The $1 million EQ2 is PNC Bank's first equity equivalent investment in Indiana created to increase affordable housing options, and the first for Intend. An EQ2 is a deeply subordinated loan product with features that allow it to work like revolving equity and help investors like Intend to support longer-term lending activities of Community Development Financial Institutions. PNC's investment will help accelerate Intend's community development-related initiatives, in particular housing for those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

"Intend Indiana is incredibly thankful to PNC for making this substantial investment into our organization so we can deliver on our mission of connecting people to opportunity," says Steven Meyer, chief executive officer of Intend Indiana. "PNC's commitment will help expand our ability to make a long-term impact in our communities by providing security and stability for those who need it most."

One of the first projects PNC's investment will help fund is The Passage, a multifamily development supported by Intend's Edge Fund. Edge Fund is a mission-driven community development financial institution (CDFI) that helps increase affordable housing options in Indianapolis by providing mortgages, construction loans and bridge loans for both single and multi-family housing. The Passage will provide 39 affordable housing units for low-income individuals and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Indianapolis. Eight units will be set aside for permanent supportive housing units integrated throughout the property.

"Market rents and homeownership are often beyond what many individuals and families can afford in Indiana," added Gamble-Moore. "At PNC, we are proud of the work we are doing with local developers and fund investors to increase and preserve the supply of affordable housing."

PNC's investment stems from its $88 billion Community Benefits Plan, which provides loans, investments and other financial support to bolster economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals, communities, and people of color over a four-year period that began Jan. 1, 2022. As part of the allotted $88 billion, PNC has committed to provide at least $14.5 billion in community development loans and investments across all markets, including at least $400 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that help meet the banking and financial service needs of traditionally underserved communities.

About Intend Indiana

Intend Indiana, Inc. (Intend) is a nonprofit that advances comprehensive community development through innovative financing and development solutions that create and preserve affordable housing, support neighborhood revitalization efforts and foster small business development. Incorporated in 1987 to serve the near northside neighborhoods of Indianapolis, Intend has grown to provide community solutions across the state. Learn more about Intend Indiana by visiting https://intendindiana.org/.

About PNC Bank

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

Media Contacts:

Denise Herd, Herd Strategies

317-796-0514

denise@herdstrategies.com

Maria Pasic, PNC Bank

312-342-1565

maria.pasic@pnc.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The PNC Financial Services Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: The PNC Financial Services Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/pnc-financial-services-group

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: The PNC Financial Services Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791612/pnc-bank-commits-25-million-to-support-intend-indianas-affordable-housing-initiatives
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / COTERIE New York, the contemporary and advanced contemporary women's wholesale fashion event which brings together brands, retailers, experts and influencers in the fashion capital of the U.S., concluded its bi-annual event with three days of energetic buying, community conversations and exploration of new brands.

COTERIE New York is where relationships are fostered on an individual and intimate community level, and where the industry can converge to share information, grow and evolve. Born in New York, COTERIE placed the city at the forefront as New York based designers were the primary focus of COTERIE's GALLERY section of the show floor. Featured brands Arianne Elmy, Louise New York, Onia, Suzanne Rae, WeWoreWhat, Rebecca Taylor were all present alongside New York Fashion Week runway designers, AKNVAS and Batsheva to showcase their Spring/Summer 2024 collections.

"We had a great time showing at COTERIE. The team was amazing and introduced us to several new buyers in both the U.S. and overseas. The GALLERY space was a great location for us, placing us next to other elevated brands. Taking part of the Business of Fashion panel was a great way for us to share how we have been building up AKNVAS for new brands to learn from," says Christian Juul Nielsen, Creative Director and Founder, AKNVAS.

The COTERIE international community represented 36 nations through over 400 global brands with collections spanning Spring/Summer 2024 swim, resort and vacation inspired apparel and accessories to outerwear, footwear and new styles of contemporary clothing. The strong international presence creates opportunities for retailers to find new styles as brands from Canada, Italy, Korea, Turkey, Brazil and France brought their upcoming selections to New York.

Premium denim is a core component of COTERIE, and this season there was a robust selection contributing to the return of the denim focus. The expanded premium denim assortment consisted of AG Jeans and the new addition of Moussy Vintage and Triarchy. The denim presence continued into the sustainability activation on the show floor with an interactive augmented reality activation in collaboration with Arcadia Earth, allowing attendees to explore and activate an exhibit dedicated to sustainable denim practices. Through the holograms information is shared on processes for indigo dyeing, water consumption, cotton cultivation, chemical usage and new technologies were brought to life while unlocking hidden gems, environmental facts and lifelike animations.

The fashion industry gathered to hear from experts on moderated panels and engaging community conversations. This season, COTERIE hosted influential members of AKNVAS, Arianne Elmy and Batsheva to discuss building a brand to engage millennial and Gen Z consumers. In another session, Steven Kolb sat down for a fireside chat to discuss working with the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the CFDA's contribution to American designers.

"Every season COTERIE continues to evolve, focusing on our fundamental pillars of sustainability, community and technology. This September, the event showcased a robust range of new brands from emerging designers, eco-conscious designs, and premium denim. With over twenty percent of brands being new to the show, COTERIE offers unparalleled opportunities for brand discovery. COTERIE increasingly expands the offering in nearly every key category to connect retailers with a comprehensive assortment," says Kelly Helfman, President, Informa Markets Fashion.

Retailers who attended COTERIE New York include Revolve, Shopbop, Monkees, Otte, Hartly, Julian Gold, Ballin's, B Barnett, Gus Mayer, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Anthropologie and Bloomingdale's. Retailers could discover a premier selection of new and emerging brands, over 20 percent of all brands, and over 800 returning designers in women's apparel, accessories and footwear.

COTERIE returns to New York in February 2024. To stay up to date with more information regarding the 2024 event, visit www.coteriefashionevents.com.

Please follow @coterieshow to keep up to date with COTERIE New York.

About COTERIE New York:

COTERIE is the premier women's contemporary to advanced contemporary apparel, footwear, and accessories platform. Connecting emerging and established brands and designers to an elite list of domestic and international retailers, influencers, and media, COTERIE's first-class events build exclusive experiences that fuel discovery, commerce, and connectivity, while inspiring upmarket trends. For more information, please visit: www.coteriefashionevents.com .

ABOUT INFORMA MARKETS FASHION:

Informa Markets Fashion a division of Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc, (LON:INF), connects and inspires the global fashion community through online experiences, industry insights, and worldwide fashion trade events, including MAGIC, COTERIE, PROJECT and SOURCING at MAGIC. From more effective manufacturing and supply chain opportunities to creative design inspiration and retail on the wholesale floor, Informa Markets Fashion's diverse portfolio supports the entire fashion ecosystem - fostering innovation and driving creativity year-round. For more information on upcoming events, please visit: www.findfashionevents.com .

Media Contact:

Abby Portwood

Informa Markets Fashion PR

fashionpr@informa.com

SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - FASHION

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/790642/coterie-concludes-september-edition-having-brought-premier-assortment-of-international-denim-and-sustainable-categories-to-new-york-market
New CFO John Main joins iconic brand in video email messaging

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / BombBomb today announced that John Main has been named Chief Financial Officer. Founded in 2006, BombBomb is the leading innovator in video email messaging and serves customers in 42 countries.

John Main joins BombBomb.com as CFO

New CFO at video email platform company, BombBomb.

"John brings versatility and deep understanding of SaaS and enterprise platforms," said BombBomb CEO and founder, Conor McCluskey. "He's led finance at high-growth businesses, and he knows the complexities of software development and scaling a business."

"John brings versatility and deep understanding of SaaS and enterprise platforms." - Conor McCluskey, Founder & CEO

Main will report to COO Nicole Craine, who runs day to day operations at BombBomb.

"John meshes well with people in every department," Craine said. "He puts the customer at the center of his work. We're thrilled to have John lead the charge to greater growth and profitability."

For more than six years, Main served in roles as CFO and CTO at STRAX Intelligence Group, which provides a common operating platform for local and national emergency response. Prior to STRAX, he worked at Modernizing Medicine, a rapidly growing leader in electronic medical records systems. Main spent five years at Campus Management, now Anthology.com, which scaled and sold to Leeds Private Equity in the largest deal of its kind in the edtech sector.

Main's roles focused on both finance and technology, including modeling, analysis, and enterprise systems to unify sales, marketing, and support. He holds a B.S. in Financial Analysis from Louisiana State University at Shreveport and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business.

"BombBomb is long-time innovator in video messaging with a lot of room for profitable growth," said John Main. "There's more innovation waiting to be unlocked, helping enterprises to harness the benefits of more personalized outreach. I'm excited to help Nicole and the team build up this brand and deliver dynamic new services to our customers."

Contact Information

Tim Gilbert

CEO

tim@mertonway.com

561-676-2378

SOURCE: BombBomb

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/783268/bombbomb-names-john-main-as-chief-financial-officer
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Gerdau Graphene, the nanotechnology company pioneering advanced graphene-enhanced materials for industrial applications, in collaboration with Gerdau, its parent company and Brazil's largest steel manufacturer, has unveiled its state-of-the-art graphene-infused packaging for Gerdau's nail product line manufactured at three facilities in Brazil. Utilizing the new packaging is expected to reduce Gerdau's direct plastic consumption by around 25%, or more than 72 tons per year.

Gerdau Graphene Nails Packaging

Produced with proprietary G2D technology, the new packaging incorporates 1% Poly-G PE-07GM, the company's inaugural polymer masterbatch with graphene dispersed in polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Poly-G is suitable for the production of films, profiles, and sheets formed through the extrusion processes. The new thermoplastic products created using Poly-G PE-07GM are proven to be stronger and offer greater overall performance while costing less to manufacture and producing significantly less waste across the value chain. In addition, the products are lighter and longer-lasting, reducing total plastic waste by up to 40%.

While Gerdau's nail products are known for their 100% recyclable steel composition, the newly developed packaging by Gerdau Graphene enhances its sustainability profile. Apart from the significant mechanical property improvements that include a 25.3% reduction in packaging weight and thickness and 39% decrease in perforations in the nail packaging (due to its tensile strength), the packaging also underscores a commitment to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

"In the evolving world of sustainable plastic innovation, Gerdau Graphene is blazing a completely new trail of innovation for companies around the world," said Alexandre Correa, CEO of Gerdau Graphene. "Collaborating with Gerdau, we've redefined the single-use packaging paradigm for one of the most recognized products in the Brazilian construction industry. This initiative not only increases packaging efficiency but underscores our environmental conservation ethos."

Debora Junge Baum, Gerdau's Marketing Leader, praised the collaboration. "Gerdau Graphene's expertise has ushered in a new era of packaging for our nail products. This not only exemplifies Gerdau's 122-year commitment to sustainability and innovation but also showcases the transformative potential of graphene."

About Gerdau Graphene

Gerdau Graphene is a nanotech company focused on the production, development, and commercialization of graphene-enhanced products including polymers, paints and coatings, rubber, and more. Launched in 2021 by Gerdau, the largest producer of long steel in the Americas, through its Gerdau Next program, Gerdau Graphene enables businesses to harness the revolutionary properties of graphene to deliver industry-leading products. To learn more, please visit gerdaugraphene.com.

Follow Gerdau Graphene

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/gerdau-graphene

Twitter: @gerdaugraphene

Facebook: facebook.com/gerdaugraphenebr

Contact Information

Aaron Endre

Endre Communications for Gerdau Graphene

gerdau@endrecommunications.com

SOURCE: Gerdau Graphene

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791520/new-graphene-enhanced-construction-nail-packaging-to-reduce-gerdaus-direct-plastic-consumption-by-more-than-72-tons-per-year
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Newport Gold Inc. (OTC PINK:NWPG) ("near me Technologies Inc." or the "Company") is excited to announce a significant development in its evolution and rebrand efforts of its 'near me' brand and nearme.cool website. This transformation marks a pivotal moment for the company as it sets the stage for a promising collaboration with Platform OS a multi-award-winning company and globally distinguished development platform specializing in creating efficient and high-quality enterprise applications. Platform OS has achieved significant growth and delivered ground-breaking solutions to major global brands, earning a track record of success.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Partnership Agreement

On October 8, 2023, near me Technologies Inc. signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) (the "Letter of Intent") that outlines a strategic partnership ("Proposed Transaction") with Platform OS. The two companies aim to finalise a Definitive Agreement by January 8, 2024, or a mutually agreed-upon later date.

This Proposed Transaction signifies near me Technologies Inc.'s commitment to a cash and stock agreement with Platform OS, encompassing several critical initiatives:

1. Integrated GPS Business Directory and Marketplace: near me Technologies Inc. will collaborate with Platform OS to redevelop an integrated GPS business directory and local business marketplace solution for the 'near me' brand and nearme.cool website. This initiative also includes the development of a mobile app with innovative GEO targeting/notification solutions for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

2. near-me.com Integration: Platform OS's property, near-me.com, will be redirected to the nearme.cool business directory/marketplace and its associated SaaS Website Builder. Currently, near-me.com ranks among the top search results for 'near me' related queries.

3. Fractional CTO Advisory and Consulting Oversight: Adam Broadway, CEO of Platform OS, will provide fractional CTO advisory and consulting oversight for a period of two years following the launch of the redeveloped nearme.cool website/app. Mr. Broadway, an industry veteran with over two decades of experience, founded Near Me Marketplaces and Platform OS and is renowned for building successful companies and marketplaces, including Business Catalyst, which was acquired by Adobe Systems in 2009.

4. Additionally: near me Technologies Inc. will have the option to purchase 10% of Platform OS at a price independently verified during the due diligence phase. near me Technologies Inc. will also acquire the near-me.com domain name from Platform OS at a mutually agreed-upon price.

Anthony McCabe, Interim CEO, near me Technologies Inc., commented: "We are thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with Platform OS and its CEO, Adam Broadway. Their wealth of experience, expertise, and track record of success will be invaluable as we pursue our strategic objectives to expand and enhance the 'near me' brand and platform, ultimately delivering an exceptional search, discovery, and market place experience for our end users. Furthermore, we are excited about the prospect of acquiring an equity stake in a revenue-generating entity with ambitious plans for rapid growth."

Adam Broadway, CEO, Platform OS, commented: "The focus of near me Technologies to provide hyper local, community focused marketplaces, directory services and innovative promotional services is very aligned with our mission to empower businesses with cutting edge digital solutions.

Platform OS is excited to underpin this success with our decades of technical execution and look forward to working as a team with near me."

About near me Technologies Inc.: We are a dynamic and forward-thinking company dedicated to forging strategic partnerships and pursuing acquisitions within the technology sector. Our goal is to revolutionise the digital landscape of local search, discovery, and marketplaces enhancing the way individuals connect with nearby businesses while delivering exceptional value to our shareholders.

About Platform OS:

Platform OS is an award-winning company specialising in empowering developers and agencies to efficiently develop and operate enterprise-grade applications. With a track record of rapid growth and success stories with global brands, Platform OS is a trusted platform and partner in the world of technology solutions.

Contact:

A.M. McCabe

Newport Gold Inc

+1 514-400-7729

ir@nearme.cool

Twitter: @Newport_Gold

Phone: +15144007729

Website: nearme.cool

SOURCE: Newport Gold, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791632/newport-gold-inc-dba-near-me-technologies-inc-enters-into-loi-to-form-strategic-partnership-with-near-me-marketplaces-dba-platform-os
What's it like to step into the corporate world? One student describes her summer experience

Originally published on Illumina News Center

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / When Adee Newman started her summer as a research associate Intern at Illumina in June 2023, she had no prior industry experience. Originally from Palo Alto, California, she spent two years at De Anza College before transferring to University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Currently, she is a master's student in biology with a research emphasis of epigenetics and genomics at UCSD.

Newman's internship was based in San Diego, but she was able to work remotely. We caught up with her at the end of her internship last month to hear about her experience.

How did you first become aware of Illumina? Why did you apply for an internship?

Adee Newman: We use Illumina sequencers in the lab that I do research in, which is how I first learned about Illumina. I saw a few ads for the internship on LinkedIn and Handshake and applied when I got a message from a recruiter. I was curious about experiencing industry so I can make an informed decision about my next career decision-so this felt like the perfect opportunity!

Has anything surprised you about working in industry?

AN: I wasn't sure what to expect the day-to-day to be like, but it has been wonderful. I appreciate the independent work, but it doesn't get lonely either, as we collaborate a lot. I've learned about organizational structures and various other career paths. There is no "right way" to go about your career path and you should keep an open mind when you are starting out! In speaking with people within the company I've received a lot of advice and fresh perspectives, which is unbelievably valuable to me at this point in my career.

What kind of work are you doing?

AN: I'm interning with the Clinical Affairs team and I've learned so much about clinical trials. My internship project was creating a process map of all the actions and activities that are required during a clinical trial, as well as reviewing the standard operating procedures and work instructions for the various activities. I also met with subject matter experts from various Clinical Affairs teams-protocol and clinical study report writing from Medical Writing, data handling from Clinical Data Management, and others-to better understand the process and better create a process map.

What did you learn about clinical trials?

AN: My favorite thing I learned is that we're able to have a direct impact on people and health outcomes much sooner just with how clinical trials work-it's so complex and has so much cross-functional collaboration, it basically looks like a Chutes and Ladders game. You can take some steps that can move you through the board faster, but if someone wants to change something or if there's an issue with a specific aspect, you might hit a chute and it could take you back almost to the start! Because of that, teamwork and collaboration are extremely important, and I love that about Clinical Affairs.

Are you interested in pursuing any specific area in biotech?

AN: I'd love to work on and support various clinical trials that focus on improving aspects of human health on a large scale. I think it would be amazing to work on a project that would help or provide a solution for a problem that affects a large population. It would also be great to work on oncology and companion diagnostics.

Has your internship experience helped you determine the next steps in your career?

AN: Yes! Hearing everyone's experiences has helped me decide that I will likely work for a few years before deciding if I want to continue or go back to academia. If you want to pursue academia, you should be passionate about it-otherwise it may not be the right career choice for you.

What advice would you give students contemplating moving from academia to industry?

AN: Give it a try! If you are curious about it, you should experience it for yourself so you know what you will be doing. It's one thing to hear from people, but another thing to see it for yourself. Don't be scared of stepping out of your comfort zone.

Illumina's internship program introduces students to the corporate world while remaining centered around learning: learning about yourself, learning about the biotech and genomics industries, and learning from experienced professionals and leaders in your field. Each summer, our interns apply their knowledge to impactful projects and discover the various career paths available to them. The hands-on work, professional development workshops, and simple conversations with mentors and peers can influence one's path forward. Interested in experiencing life at Illumina? For more information about our summer internship program, please visit our intern careers page.

A group of interns during a two-day meeting at Illumina's San Diego headquarters.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Illumina on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Illumina

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/illumina

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Illumina

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791659/qa-an-illumina-interns-shift-from-academia-to-industry
Dufry International AG / Key word(s): AGMEGM

Dufry Publishes Invitation to its Extraordinary General Meeting on November 03, 2023



10.10.2023 / 18:00 CET/CEST





Today, Dufry has published the invitation to its Extraordinary General Meeting 2023. The event will take place on November 3, 2023, at 09.30 a.m. CET (doors open at 09.00 a.m. CET), at Radisson Blu Hotel, Steinentorstrasse 25, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.

The Extraordinary General Meeting invitation and agenda can be accessed here: 2023 Extraordinary General Meeting .

Motions of the Extraordinary General Meeting 2023

The Board of Directors proposes to amend article 1 of the Articles of Incorporation and change the company's name from Dufry AG to Avolta AG.

Please find the announcement and rationale of Dufry to transition to Avolta here .

For further information please contact:

Dr. Kristin Kohler

Global Head

Investor Relations

Phone: +41 61 266 44 22

kristin.koehler@dufry.com Renzo Radice

Corporate Communications &

Investor Relations

Phone: +41 79 461 23 34

renzo.radice@dufry.com

DUFRY GROUP - LEADING GLOBAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE PLAYER

Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN), founded in 1865 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, delivers a revolutionary Travel Experience to consumers worldwide by uniquely combining retail, food & beverage and digital. Our company addresses 2.3 billion passengers in more than 75 countries in 5,500 outlets across 1,200 airports, motorways, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and other locations across all six continents. With the traveler at our core, we are creating value for all our stakeholders including concession and brand partners, employees, communities, and finally, our shareholders.

Sustainability is an inherent element of Dufry's business strategy aiming for sustainable and profitable growth of the company while fostering high standards of environmental stewardship and social equity.

To learn more about Dufry, please visit www.dufry.com

End of Media Release


G&A's Sustainability Highlights ( 09.15.2023 )

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Critics have often called it "the Californication of America" when CA lawmakers move to address an important issue head-on. The good news is that across the land progressive thinkers celebrate many such developments in the "Golden State" - and quite often copy the California legislative or administrative approach for their own state. This is now what we can expect to see very soon in other jurisdictions with passage of the new CA law on climate change disclosure.

The action in CA, as highlighted in our Top Stories: Governor Gavin Newsom signed the first-in-the-nation law making corporate disclosure on carbon dioxide emissions mandatory for companies operating or headquartered in the state. California policymakers are often first movers and in this case did not wait for the Securities and Exchange Commission to move forward on its draft "Final Rule" for corporate GHG emissions disclosure (pending for well more than a year now).

California's new "Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act" will affect about 5,000 companies that will now be required to publicly disclose the amount of GHG pollution directly caused by their operations - and the indirect emissions resulting from their waste disposal practices, employees' travel, and their supply chain operations and partners.

Required: All enterprises with revenues of US$1 billion annually operating in California must disclose all GHG emissions beginning in 2026 with Scopes 1 and 2 and then in 2027 with Scope 3. Covered by the law: corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and others.

Some lawmakers in debating the bill noted that many companies have been announcing their GHG emissions reduction goals and this law will provide transparency in how firms are actually accomplishing reductions.

The foundation of this legislation dates back to creation of the powerful California Air Resource Board (CARB) in 1967. CARB will now create the rules-of-the-road for publicly-traded and privately-owned enterprises to report across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.

Think about the California companies that are affected: Wells Fargo, Chevron, Apple, HP, The Walt Disney Company, Gap, and Kaiser Permanente (these are among the 50+ Fortune 500 companies headquartered in CA) and companies doing business there (WalMart Stores, Amazon, ExxonMobil, and many more).

Companies with revenues of $500 million and more (under separate legislation) will be required to begin reporting all climate risks but not specific emissions.

The legislation has found support in the corporate community, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that companies endorsing the legislation included Ikea, Microsoft, Patagonia, and REI Co-Op.

The G&A Institute team will continue to monitor the rollout of new GHG and climate-related corporate disclosure requirements and share perspectives in this newsletter.

NOTE: If you are not familiar with CARB and its actions, here is more information: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/

This is just the introduction of G&A's Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/governance-accountability-institute-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791667/california-moves-first-on-mandating-corporate-ghg-emissions-disclosure
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 10

For immediate release

10 October 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 100,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 834.64 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 21,071,869; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 203,919,434.

The figure of 203,919,434 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
Bullet Resistant Glass and Film Availability

OREM, UT / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Today, Armitek announced the immediate availability of Bullet Resistant Glass, enabling the purchase of the product to help prevent bodily injury and property loss from violence, shootings, smash and grab, theft, riots, vandalism, intrusions, natural disasters, etc.

Ballistic Glass

"Many customers start out thinking that safety and security products are only for the rich and well-known. We've found that our products, which are the thinnest and lightest in the market, exceeding industry standards, are also affordable," said Dustin Van Wagoner, Managing Director at Armitek.

Positive Customer Impact

Many customers have already benefited from deploying Bullet Resistant Glass. Some of the top customers include businesses, schools, homeowners, law enforcement, etc.

"Imagine the peace of mind in going to work, school, or just being home, and having protection from a bullet or anything coming from someone intent on hurting you or taking you, your family, employees or property; not to mention unforeseen events like natural disasters," said Shawn Cavalli, Marketing and Communications Director at Armitek.

While Armitek provides safe rooms, ballistic glass, armored vehicle items, and more, the company's most popular product is its security film. Clear security film can be installed on business and home windows and doors without the need to replace the frame. This can save thousands of dollars for customers and provide the needed security to stay safe. Even though Armitek offers installation, this is something that can also be done by a local professional installer.

Video: https://youtu.be/2fcya4xeKTI

Bullet Resistant Glass and Film Availability

Bullet Resistant Glass is a product driven by customer feedback and input and demonstrates Armitek's commitment to deliver the latest product updates and services. Bullet Resistant Glass is available for purchase at www.armitek.com.

Founded in 2016, Armitek is a leader in ballistic products. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to protect what matters most before it's too late.

Armitek and Bullet Resistant Glass and Film are all registered trademarks or trademarks of Armitek in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, press only:

Shawn Cavalli

801-898-8424

shawn@armitek.com

For more information on Bullet Resistant Glass:

www.armitek.com

Armitek is a registered trademark.

Contact Information

Shawn Cavalli

Marketing Director

shawn@armitek.com

8018988424

SOURCE: Armitek

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791654/armitek-announces-affordable-bullet-resistant-glass
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Inogen Alliance An uptick in media coverage and public conversations surrounding mental health have spurred greater awareness of mental health challenges. At the same time, a confluence of difficult world events has created an urgent need for mental health resources - both at home and in the workplace.

A global survey by McKinsey found that even though roughly three-quarters of organizations surveyed are prioritizing workplace mental health programs, employee burnout remains high. Their research also found that "positive outcomes-such as job satisfaction and work engagement-are correlated with feeling included and supported, and with freedom from stigma or overwhelming workloads."

As an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) leader, understanding the benefits and key elements of creating a holistic mental health program in your workplace enables you to effectively address workplace culture and offers beneficial resources to your employees.

Benefits of EHS Mental Health Programs

A healthy mind is vital for maintaining both employee wellness and workplace productivity.

How workplace mental health programs benefit your employees

Workers gain several benefits from quality mental health programs in the workplace.

Reduced stress : Comprehensive mental health programs provide employees with tools to manage stress effectively. This leads to lower stress levels and better coping mechanisms.

: Comprehensive mental health programs provide employees with tools to manage stress effectively. This leads to lower stress levels and better coping mechanisms. Better work-life balance : These programs often include resources for achieving a healthier work-life balance. This helps workers avoid burnout and maintain personal relationships.

: These programs often include resources for achieving a healthier work-life balance. This helps workers avoid burnout and maintain personal relationships. Enhanced workplace relationships : Improved mental health translates to better interactions with colleagues. Workers are more likely to communicate effectively, collaborate, and contribute positively to team dynamics.

: Improved mental health translates to better interactions with colleagues. Workers are more likely to communicate effectively, collaborate, and contribute positively to team dynamics. Increased job satisfaction : Feeling supported in terms of mental health enhances overall job satisfaction. Employees who are content and fulfilled are more likely to remain committed to their roles and the organization.

: Feeling supported in terms of mental health enhances overall job satisfaction. Employees who are content and fulfilled are more likely to remain committed to their roles and the organization. Greater focus on wellness: Mental health initiatives are often part of broader wellness programs. These programs encourage healthier lifestyles, encompassing both physical and mental well-being.

How workplace mental health programs benefit your organization

Here are a few ways your organization can benefit from implementing a holistic mental health program.

Increased productivity : A mentally healthy workforce is a more productive one. Employees who have the resources to manage their mental well-being are better equipped to stay focused, make informed decisions, and perform at their best.

: A mentally healthy workforce is a more productive one. Employees who have the resources to manage their mental well-being are better equipped to stay focused, make informed decisions, and perform at their best. Improved talent retention : Organizations that prioritize mental health create a positive and supportive workplace culture. This fosters employee loyalty and reduces turnover rates, leading to cost savings associated with recruitment and training.

: Organizations that prioritize mental health create a positive and supportive workplace culture. This fosters employee loyalty and reduces turnover rates, leading to cost savings associated with recruitment and training. Reduced absenteeism : Mental health programs help employees manage stress and mental health challenges, reducing absenteeism due to mental health-related issues.

: Mental health programs help employees manage stress and mental health challenges, reducing absenteeism due to mental health-related issues. Risk mitigation: Addressing mental health issues early can prevent larger problems from arising. Mental health programs help identify potential challenges and provide interventions before they escalate.

A Holistic Approach to Workplace Mental Health Programs

A holistic employee mental health program examines broader workplace culture to promote well-being at multiple levels. Such a program addresses the fundamental aspects of the work environment, fostering an authentic culture of support, inclusivity, and overall mental well-being.

Here are a few key elements for this approach.

Cultural assessment

The program would start with a comprehensive assessment of the existing workplace culture. This involves evaluating factors such as communication patterns, leadership styles, and attitudes toward mental health. A workplace culture assessment provides insights into areas that require improvement and informs the development of targeted strategies.

C-suite buy-in

As the bridge between the C-suite and the workforce, EHS leaders play a vital role in prioritizing worker mental health programs. Securing commitment from leadership through integrating mental health considerations into the company's core values and mission sets a clear tone of support for your current and future workforce.

Leadership training

Holistic mental health programs prioritize leadership development. Training managers and leaders in empathetic communication, active listening, and stress management equips them to create a supportive environment and respond effectively to employees' mental health concerns.

Policy review and development

The program would involve a thorough review of existing policies to ensure they support mental well-being. New policies could be developed to address work-life balance, remote work flexibility, and accommodation for mental health needs.

Wellness initiatives

A holistic program extends to physical health as well. Initiatives like fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, and healthy eating options contribute to overall well-being and mental health.

Workload management

Ensuring workloads are manageable and realistic reduces stress and burnout. Encouraging breaks, setting reasonable expectations, and providing opportunities for skill development contribute to a healthier work-life balance.

Global Mental Health Regulations and Guidelines

Global employers need to be aware of regulations that impact their workforce across jurisdictions. Here are some examples of workplace mental health regulations and guidelines from around the world.

Australia

Model Code of Practice for Bullying at Work

Australia has a Model Code of Practice on Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying. This code provides guidelines for employers to prevent and address workplace bullying, which can have significant mental health implications. It includes recommendations for risk assessment, creating policies, and providing training.

Model Code of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work

Some States and Territories have now included the requirement to manage psychosocial risks in the workplace in the regulations (e.g. New South Wales).

United Kingdom

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The HSE in the UK provides guidelines for managing work-related stress. Employers are required to assess and manage the risk of stress-related ill health arising from work activities. This includes identifying stressors, implementing control measures, and providing appropriate support.

Canada

National Standard

Canada developed a voluntary standard that provides guidelines for promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. It addresses factors such as workload management, work-life balance, and supportive leadership to prevent mental health issues.

There are also a few specific province acts related to mental health including:

Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act

(Bill 127) which amended several provisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,

those governing the circumstances in which workers are entitled to benefits as a result of mental stress These amendments took effect on January 1, 2018. Workers are entitled to benefits for both traumatic and chronic mental stress that arises out of and in the course of the employment.

Working for Workers Act 2021

Workers in Ontario now have a right to disconnect when their regular work day is completed, which means not engaging in work-related communications or the sending or reviewing of other messages, so as to be free from the performance of work.

New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand provides resources for addressing work-related stress and mental health. Employers are encouraged to create a supportive work environment and identify and manage stressors that could impact employees' mental well-being.

Mental Health Foundation New Zealand

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination. They encourage policies, systems and laws that protect and promote wellbeing alongside providing resources and best practice guidelines for businesses.

Discover how Inogen Alliance can help you stay on top of global workforce needs through our EHS Management Systems

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Inogen Alliance on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Inogen Alliance

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/inogen-alliance

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Inogen Alliance

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791702/the-role-of-ehs-in-workforce-mental-health-programs
The strategic acquisition is another significant leap for NearForm, following investment from Columbia Capital.

DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NearForm, an Irish-founded team of engineers, designers and strategists who build digital capability and software solutions for enterprises, has acquired Formidable, a global design and engineering consultancy founded in Seattle, Washington.

Formidable has established itself as a global leader in product design and engineering. Their collaborative, innovative approach has made them the go-to services business for top-tier enterprises and with a deep thought leadership and expertise in the retail space. Formidable clients include Puma, Lululemon, Starbucks, and Walmart.

Alongside Formidable, NearForm will continue to define, design and build platforms and future-ready products that modernise organisations and connect communities, whilst upholding its unwavering commitment to championing and nurturing exceptional engineering talent.

Ciaran Cosgrave will remain as Chief Executive Officer of NearForm, and welcome Ryan Roemer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Formidable, to the NearForm Executive Leadership team.

The announcement of Formidable's acquisition is a strategic leap forward for NearForm, who have gained significant momentum over the past three years, following the December 2020 investment from Columbia Capital, the 2022 appointment of Satty Bhens (ex-McKinsey & Company Digital Partner) to the NearForm Executive Board, and most recently in May, the appointment of Koby Avital (former EVP of Technology Platforms at Walmart) as Strategic Advisor.

Commenting on the transformative partnership, Ciaran Cosgrave, Chief Executive Officer at NearForm said, "Bringing NearForm and Formidable together felt like a natural fit from the start; we share a common heritage in the craft of design and engineering and a firm belief in the power of code to be a force for good and deliver enduring positive outcomes for our people, our clients and our communities. Our collaboration combines the artistry of expertly-crafted code with a relentless commitment to innovation that will empower a broader spectrum of enterprises. Together, we're in a strong position to become one of the leading premium independent creators of software solutions."

"NearForm joining forces with Formidable brings two pioneers of the open source web platform together to make a professional services powerhouse - we're so excited for what happens next," added NearForm founder Cian O'Maidin. NearForm serves clients including Conde Nast, Uber, Virgin Media O2, and Aer Lingus.

"Partnering with NearForm will allow us to elevate our existing strengths in providing top-notch engineering and product/design expertise with an amazing, unified team with extensive capabilities. By harnessing our collective technical acumen, industry insights and service partnerships, we're set to deliver elevated product integrations. Together, our open-source synergy reinforces our unwavering commitment to nurturing and advancing the technical community. This is a thrilling opportunity to elevate our people while providing clients with new innovative solutions," commented Ryan Roemer, Chief Executive Officer at Formidable.

Clients and partners of NearForm and Formidable can expect the same high standards of service, deep expertise, and dedication to excellence that they have come to rely on, now with an expanded geographic footprint and broader industry offering set. The acquisition represents a commitment to delivering even more value and innovation in the digital solutions arena.

About NearForm

NearForm is an independent team of engineers, designers and strategists who build digital capability and software solutions for ambitious enterprises and organisations seeking sustained business impact. We define, design and build platforms and future-ready products that bring together people, process and technology to modernise organisations and connect communities. Through a combination of expertly crafted code, enhanced capability and collaboration, we empower our partners to deliver great user experiences and create enduring value.

About Formidable

Formidable is a global design and engineering consultancy, and open-source software organisation, specialising in digital products and transformation. Since 2013, Formidable's growing team has worked with companies ranging in size from startups to Fortune 100s to build quality digital products and level-up engineering and design teams.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243239/NearForm_Formidable.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nearform-acquires-formidable-to-expand-global-software-offering-301952630.html
Seneca students now have direct pathway to M.D. program

TRUE BLUE, GRENADA and TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / St. George's University has launched a new partnership with Seneca Polytechnic that will offer qualified Seneca students fast-track status and expedited entry into the five- or six-year M.D. programs at the St. George's University School of Medicine.

"Seneca Polytechnic offers students a first-rate education," said Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of St. George's University School of Medicine . "We're delighted to form this partnership with Seneca and welcome its graduates to SGU to launch their careers in medicine."

The partnership creates two admissions pathways to the School of Medicine: a five-year and a six-year M.D. track. The former track allows students who complete Seneca's Arts and Science - University Transfer diploma program and fulfill all required prerequisites to proceed into the five-year M.D. program at St. George's University. The latter pathway allows students who complete Seneca's Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas & Degrees certificate program and meet SGU admissions standards to enter the six-year M.D. program.

"We are excited to offer this direct pathway to M.D. programs," said Marianne Marando, Vice-President, Academic & Students, Seneca Polytechnic. "This new partnership will provide our students with an outstanding opportunity to pursue further studies in medicine, and the long history of excellent medical education at St. George's University makes them an ideal partner."

Students may apply for the special admissions pathways to SGU when applying to or while enrolled at Seneca. In addition to completing all required prerequisite coursework, interested students must maintain a strong undergraduate GPA and score competitively on relevant entrance exams.

Upon enrolling at St. George's University, students in the five-year track must complete one year of preclinical coursework in Grenada. Students in the six-year track must complete two years of preclinical coursework in Grenada.

Students in both programs then have the option to undertake their first year of medical study in Grenada or at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. Students spend their second year of medical study in Grenada and their final two years in clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

###

About St. George's University

St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The University's over 28,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. St. George's University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). For more information, visit www.sgu.edu .

About Seneca Polytechnic

Seneca Polytechnic provides a great education to prepare our students for great careers. Combining academic rigour with practical, professional and career-focused learning, we offer our students a seamless transition from education to employment. Expert faculty, excellent staff, outstanding campuses, awesome technology, deep connections with industry: that's Seneca Polytechnic. Learn more: senecapolytechnic.ca

Contacts:

Maggie Servais

maggie@keybridge.biz

(202) 516-6584

Ryan Flanagan

Media & External Relations Specialist, Seneca Polytechnic

ryan.flanagan@senecacollege.ca

(416) 764-0996

SOURCE: St. George's University

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791758/st-georges-university-and-seneca-polytechnic-announce-new-partnership
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / CNH Industrial recently announced the winners of India's Industrial Design Program in partnership with UPES, a multidisciplinary university in Dehradun. The winning team of Abhijith MS, Arvind M and Vrushadwaj Gunjari, along with their mentor Lavendra Shukla, triumphed with their 'Coco Harvest' concept.

The Industrial Design Program was a joint effort and based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CNH and UPES. The program aims to foster innovation and creativity amongst young talented students to develop solutions for farm machinery. The partnership encompassed a wide spectrum of cooperative efforts including research, joint projects, academic exchanges, workshops, seminars, and intern co-supervision.

David Wilkie, Head of Industrial Design for CNH said, "It has been a fantastic experience for me and my team to see the research and design creativity of the students. They have been thorough in looking for opportunities to improve fruit harvesting. It's the work of an industrial designer to focus on a problem and design a solution that makes the job easier, faster and safer. Working with the students from UPES has been inspiring for us, while also helping the students develop their creative processes. The design teams have come up with ideas for harvesting coconuts, pineapples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and even mangoes."

Phani Tetali, Dean, School of Design (SOD), UPES, said, "We are glad to partner with CNH to support the development of young talent in India. This partnership will not only provide an opportunity for the students to showcase their talent, but also to receive expert guidance from the experienced professionals at CNH. With this initiative, we hope to equip the next generation of designers with the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the industry and create an impact."

CNH Industrial serves India through its Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and CASE Construction Equipment brands, delivering on the promise to provide world-class products of engineering excellence, with 'Made in India' manufacturing operations for over 25 years. This collaboration with UPES demonstrates the company's firm commitment to recognizing professional talent across the globe, and equipping the future farmers of the world with resources to work efficiently and sustainably.

The 10-week program provided UPES students with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in the design and development of farm machinery.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com.



Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH Industrial

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial

Email: info@3blmedia.com



SOURCE: CNH Industrial

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791772/cnh-industrial-announces-winner-of-its-industrial-design-program-at-upes-dehradun
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) (WKN: A3EP87) (OTCQX: THSGF) ("Thesis" or the "Company") is pleased to announce today that it has completed the closing of the second and final tranche of its brokered private placement previously announced on September 7, 2023 (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $6,341,205, representing 6,818,500 flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares") at $0.93 per FT Share. The Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $11,162,915 from the two tranches of the Offering and issued a total of 6,818,500 flow-through common shares and 4,267,000 premium flow-through common shares ("Premium FT Share", together with the FT Shares, the "Flow-Through Shares") at $1.13 per Premium FT Share. More information about the Offering and the closing of the first tranche of the Offering can be found in the press release dated October 5, 2023 - available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2023.

Pursuant to an agency agreement (the "Agency Agreement") among the Company and a syndicate of agents led by Clarus Securities Inc. and including PI Financial Corp. and Cormark Securities Inc. (the "Agents"), the Company, under the two tranches of the Offering (i) paid the Agents an aggregate cash commission of $669,774,.90 representing 6% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering; and (ii) issued to the Agents 665,130 broker warrants each entitling the holder to acquire one non-flow-through common share of the Company at a price of $1.13 per share at any time for a period of 24 months from the closing date of each tranche of the Offering.

All securities issued pursuant to this Offering are subject to a restricted hold period of four months and a day, under applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of 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 unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO, and Director

About Thesis Gold Inc.

Thesis Gold, following its strategic merger with Benchmark Metals, is unlocking the combined potential of the Ranch and Lawyers Gold-Silver Projects in the Toodoggone mining district of north-central British Columbia, Canada. The 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Lawyers Project alone projected an open-pit mining operation that would yield 163,000 gold equivalent ounces annually over a 12-year span. The Company is now evaluating the integration of the Ranch project, aiming to enhance these figures and bolster the overall potential. Central to this ambition is the 50,000-metre drill program, designed to define the high-grade underground resource at Lawyers and augment the near-surface high-grade deposits at Ranch. The Company's roadmap includes the release of a global Company resource estimate by Q2 2024, followed by an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment in Q3 2024. Through these strategic initiatives, Thesis Gold aspires to rise to the forefront of global precious metals ventures.

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Dave Burwell

Vice President Corporate Development

Email: daveb@thesisgold.com

Tel: 403-410-7907

Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Offering, intended use of proceeds from the Offering, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis, which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183549
EQS-News: Birkenstock Holding plc / Key word(s): IPO

Birkenstock Holding plc: BIRKENSTOCK ANNOUNCES PRICING OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING



11.10.2023 / 00:18 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



PRESS RELEASE

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM || OCTOBER 10, 2023



BIRKENSTOCK announces pricing of INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING



Birkenstock Holding plc ("BIRKENSTOCK") announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 32,258,064 ordinary shares at a public offering price of $46.00 per share. BIRKENSTOCK is offering 10,752,688 ordinary shares and the selling shareholder is offering 21,505,376 ordinary shares. In connection with the offering, the selling shareholder has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 4,838,709 ordinary shares to cover over-allotments.



The ordinary shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 11, 2023 under the symbol "BIRK." The closing of the offering is expected to occur on October 13, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.



Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley (in alphabetical order) are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. BofA Securities, Citigroup, Evercore ISI, Jefferies, UBS Investment Bank, BNP PARIBAS, Bernstein, and HSBC are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering, and Baird, BMO Capital Markets, Deutsche Bank Securities, Piper Sandler, Stifel, William Blair, Telsey Advisory Group, Williams Trading, Academy Securities, Independence Point Securities and Loop Capital Markets, are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.



A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to the offering has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was declared effective on October 10, 2023. The proposed offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed offering may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, via telephone: (866) 471-2526, or via email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014.



This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.



This press release shall also not be considered an offer of securities in any member state (each, a "Member State") of the European Economic Area ("EEA"). This press release does not constitute a "prospectus" within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended and any relevant national implementing measure, the "Prospectus Regulation"). In the EEA, any potential offer of securities would only be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation, as implemented in that Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of securities.



MEDIA CONTACT



Birkenstock Holding plc

ir@birkenstock-holding.com







ABOUT BIRKENSTOCK



Birkenstock Holding plc is the ultimate parent company of Birkenstock Group B.V. & Co. KG and its subsidiaries (the "Birkenstock Group"). BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income and which is committed to a clear purpose - encouraging proper foot health. Deeply rooted in studies of the biomechanics of the human foot and backed by a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774, BIRKENSTOCK is a timeless super brand with a brand universe that transcends product categories and ranges from entry-level to luxury price points while addressing the growing need for a conscious and active lifestyle. Function, quality and tradition are the core values of the Zeitgeist brand which features products in the footwear, sleep systems and natural cosmetics categories. BIRKENSTOCK is the inventor of the footbed and has shaped the principle of walking as intended by nature ("Naturgewolltes Gehen").





11.10.2023 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


FluidAI Medical (formerly known as NERv Technology Inc.), a Kitchener, Canada-based company leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for postoperative patient monitoring, raised $15M in Series A funding.

The round was led by SOSV and Graphene Ventures with participation from Boutique Venture Partners, Threshold Impact, Cur8 Capital, Leva Capital, Kyto Technology & Life Science Inc., Juno Pharmaceuticals, and a number of angels, funds and government funding organizations.

The company intends to use the funds to expand into existing and new global markets, grow its team, amplify R&D efforts, and introduce novel AI-driven solutions catering to a broader range of postoperative complications.

Led by CEO Youssef Helwa, FluidAI is a medical technology company that uses AI to aid with the early detection of postoperative leaks. Its first solution, Stream Platform, uses advanced sensors and an AI-driven algorithm that may prompt surgeons to identify these leaks earlier, helping surgeons improve clinical outcomes.

FinSMEs

10/10/2023
Plan Forward, an Indianapolis, IN-based dental software company, raised $2M in Seed B funding.

The round was led by Elevate Ventures, with participation from IU Ventures and Revere Partners.

The company intends to use the funds to grow the team, and continue to invest in technology.

Led by co-CEOs and co-founders Jane Levy and Megan Lohman, Plan Forward provides a comprehensive solution, including a new platform for enabling the custom creation, management and analysis of dental membership plans, compliant membership agreements, and marketing support to drive membership growth for practices and groups. Its new integrated platform, Plan Forward Advanced, supports the existing workflows in the practice.

The company is working with both large dental organizations, private groups and independent practices across 40 states.

FinSMEs

10/10/2023
Stitch, a Cape Town, South Africa-based fintech company, raised an additional US$25m in Series A funding.

The round, which brought total amount raised in the round to US$52m, was led by Ribbit Capital with participation from existing investors PayPal Ventures, The Raba Partnership and CRE Venture Capital and new investor 9Yards Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to continue building its payments solutions, and expand its business reach.

Co-founded by Junaid Dadan and Kiaan Pillay, Stitch provides payments solutions for businesses to connect to the financial system, so they can accept payments pay-by-bank, debit and credit card, manual bank transfer, recurring debits and cash. Over the last two years, the company has grown from a single-method (Pay by bank) provider to an end-to-end payments solution provider with eight pay-in methods (and counting), comprehensive payouts capabilities and a payments management platform (they call it PayOS), enabling payments orchestration and reconciliation via a single application.

Read here to get in depth info

FinSMEs

10/10/2023
Thread (formerly known as Airtonomy), a Grand Forks, ND-based company which specializes in enterprise-scale autonomous data collection for delivering precise inspection insights, raised $15M in Series A funding.

The round was led by Badlands Capital with participation from Minnkota Power Cooperative, Generational Partners, Rosecliff Ventures, Excell Partners, Homegrown Capital and Kevin OLearys Wonder Fund North Dakota.

The company intends to use the funds to enhance it asset-agnostic autonomous inspection capabilities.

Led by Josh Riedy, Founder and CEO, Thread provides a data solution for enterprises looking to streamline critical infrastructure lifecycle management. Leveraging its proprietary, data-driven platform technology, it embeds unmanned aerial systems and robotics with a suite of applications to automate enterprise inspection workflows and to create an inspection-based digital asset catalog.

The company works across the fleets of several Fortune 500 customers including Xcel Energy and with major asset protection companies such as MISTRAS Group.

Thread also announced the expansion of its relationship with Xcel Energy, one of its earliest customers and co-development collaborators. This work will advance the development of Threads flagship product, UNITI, to ensure its viability for deployment at scale across all asset types in the utility industry globally.

FinSMEs

10/10/2023
The Palestinian terror group Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Saturday. Israeli actress Gal Gadot, known for being Wonder Woman, has shared multiple posts over the last few days on her Instagram and said how these peoples lives changed forever, and how they need help.

Her first post read- At least 250 Israeli have been murdered and dozens of women children and elders held as hostages in Gaza, by Palestinian military group Hamas. Starting early morning more than 3,000 rockets were fire. Hamas is holding hostages, controlling bases and settlements in Israel. There have been more than 1,500 injured and heavy fighting is still ongoing. I hear their voices and they are banging on the door. I am with my two little children. My heart is aching Praying for all of those in pain.

In the next post, she shared a picture that read- I stand with Israel.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot)

And in the third one, she shared another picture that read- Israel is under attack and we need your support.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot)

Nushrratt Bharuccha stranded in Israel

The actress was stuck in Israel after she went to attend the Haifa International Film Festival. The country is currently in a war situation with Palestine as multiple rockets were launched from different locations of Hamas by them.

Soon the reports of the actress going missing surfaced on the internet but her team informed that she has reached the airport, which is a safer place and will soon be boarding the flight. Later reports said that she had landed safely in India.

The actors team told India TV, We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her further safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank god that she is safe and on her way to India.

Statement by Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Amid the escalating war, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel PM, has vowed to turn all known hideouts of the militant outfit into rubble. Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, he posted, The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamass capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote: Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan.

He added, All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.

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Filmmaker Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay, The Namesake, Queen of Katwe, Monsoon Wedding), for this years Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, will preside over the jury of the South Asia Competition. Anupama Chopra, Festival Director at Jio MAMI, says, We are thrilled to welcome Mira Nair as the head of the jury  South Asia Competition. Mira is the OG Disruptor! She has created an indelible mark on global cinema with her outstanding work

Deepti DCunha, Artistic Director, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, added, We are honoured to have one of the most celebrated filmmakers, the Golden Lion Winner, Mira Nair, join us as the Head of Jury. The South Asia competition is an integral part of our vision to serve as a hub for South Asian and South Asian Diaspora filmmakers and to provide emerging film talent with an opportunity to meet and collaborate with some of the best minds in global cinema. Mira Nair is one of our finest; there couldnt be a better name than her to interact with and guide these young filmmakers.

The South Asia Competition will lead the awards categories screening 14 films from debut and second-time filmmakersfrom different parts of South Asia and Diaspora. Jio MAMI is dedicated to hosting the worlds biggest and most prestigious South Asian Film Festival, focused on building an ecosystem for new cinematic voices, facilitating the exchange of ideas, collaborations, and business opportunities, while bringing the best of world cinema to Mumbai. The festival is devoted to highlighting the best of South Asian, South Asian Diaspora, and international cinema, with a focus on supporting and promoting independent and emerging filmmakers from South Asia.

Commenting on her new role as Head of Jury for South Asia Competition, Mira Nair said, If we dont tell our own stories, no one else will. My mantra for a long time, which is why I am honoured to preside over the MAMI jury for the South Asia competition this year. I look forward to being inspired and excited by new voices in cinema from close to home. It is so important that MAMI recognizes the best first or early films because nothing can be more encouraging than ones peers and gurus of cinema putting the wind in our sails! Winning the CameradOr for my first film, Salaam Bombay!, opened horizons everywhere. Our MAMI jury looks forward to doing the same for young filmmakers today.

Mira Nair is best known for her films that cross borders of all kinds: Salaam Bombay! (Camera Dor, Cannes 1988), the pioneering Asian-African romance Mississippi Masala (1991), Golden Globe & Emmy-winning Hysterical Blindness (2001), and the international hit Monsoon Wedding (2001), for which she was the first woman to win Venice Film Festivals prestigious Golden Lion. Also known for her literary craftsmanship of subcontinental fiction, Mira has filmed The Namesake (2006), The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012), Vanity Fair (2004), A Suitable Boy (2020) and Queen of Katwe (2016). Her next film will be AMRI, an experimental portrait of Amrita Sher-Gil. Her most recent endeavor was directing Monsoon Wedding the Musical, which opened in New York City in May 2023 and is bound for Broadway.

An activist by nature, Nair founded Salaam Balak Trust for Indian street children in 1988 and the Maisha Film Lab in 2004, a free school to train filmmakers in Africa. In 2012, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan, Indias third-highest civilian honour.

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It is becoming a common trend in Bollywood these days to bank on sequels of blockbuster hits. For some time now, the reports of the second installment to Silk Smithas biographical musical drama, The Dirty Picture have been doing rounds, starring Vidya Balan as the siren. The reports suggested that Kriti Sanon and Taapsee Pannu are in talks for the role of protagonist in the sequel. Now, the director of The Dirty Picture, Milan Luthria has finally addressed these speculations during a recent interaction with India Today. Here is what he had to say.

Milan Luthria reacts to The Dirty Picture 2 speculations

Milan Luthria revealed that he has absolutely no wish to make the sequel of The Dirty Picture. The filmmaker was quoted as saying, No, not from me, I have given what I had to. He added that while there has been a lot of buzz regarding the sequel, he will not be revisiting the Vidya Balan starrer again. The director added that The Dirty Picture is an extremely special film that took place at a very special time, with a special actor, producer and writer. He further disclosed that this movie is now a part of who he is. Milan Luthria also said that according to him, they cannot improve on this film.

All About The Dirty Picture

The Dirty Picture features Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tushar Kapoor in crucial roles, with Anju Mahendru, Neha Bam, Arya Banerjee, Rajesh Sharma, Imran Hasnee, Mangal Kenkre, Vikas Shrivastav, Mohit Sinha, Shivani Tanksale and Lavin Gothi as secondary cast.

Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, The Dirty Picture reached the big screens on 2 December, 2011. The film was a cinematic adaptation of the life of the late actress Silk Smitha. The project managed to garner a total of more than Rs 100 crore during its tenure.

While Sandeep Shirodkar rendered the score for the movie, VishalShekhar provided the songs for the drama.

What Vidya Balan is up to?

In the meantime, Vidya Balan last graced the screens with the suspense thriller, Neeyat. She was seen essaying the role of a CBI officer. The actress character is on a mission to uncover the truth.

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Was Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned by Egypt a few days before the Hamas attack? We warned them that the situation was going to explode, and that very soon it was going to be something big. But they underestimated those warnings, an Egyptian intelligence officer told the Associated Press.

He claimed that the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had been repeatedly warned by Egypt that the Palestinians were planning something big. Yet Israeli officials downplayed the threat from Gaza and instead focused on the occupied West Bank. Jerusalem, however, denied this information.

General Abbas Kamel, Egypts intelligence minister, is said to have personally conveyed one of these warnings to Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the Ynet news site, which was cited by The Times of Israel, the former told the president of the Israeli government 10 days before the Hamas attack that Palestinians in Gaza were about to do something unusual, a terrible operation. According to the source, Netanyahu dismissed the warning, claiming that the Israeli army was already overwhelmed by the disturbance in the West Bank.

Also Read: From missiles to drones: How Hamas used specialised units to attack Israel

The vast majority of supporters of Benjamin Netanyahus government in the West Bank are Jewish settlers. For the past 18 months, they have urged the government to address escalating tensions in the region.

Egypt, on the other hand, has historically served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.

Israels reaction

Israel has refuted all reports that claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt regarding the Hamas attack. The Israel PM Office stated on X (formerly Twitter), The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false.

It added, No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly. This is totally fake news.

Earlier in the day, in a strongly worded statement, Netanyahu affirmed that the Israeli retaliation has just begun, and Hamas will go through much tough and terrible things, The Times of Israel reported.

Netanyahu also told local politicians from southern Israel that Israel will transform the region as it retaliates for a devastating Hamas attack and works to restore and support traumatised communities.

In a major escalation on 7 October, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country.

Also Read: Israel announces total siege of Gaza: How will people be affected?

According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, the death count in Israel has jumped to 800 Israelis since Saturdays attack. According to Israeli government, over 2,400 people have been injured as well.

I know youve been through tough, terrible things. What Hamas will go through will be tough and terrible  were already in the midst of the battle and weve only just begun, Times of Israel quoted Netanyahu as saying citing the PM Office.

He further praised the soldiers for their steadfastness and says the coming fight would take time.

The nation will turn over every stone to help you all. I ask that you stand strong because we are going to change the Middle East, he said.

Earlier in the day, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. He made the statement after an assessment at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba.

Also Read: Israel-Palestine conflict: Where does India stand? Which countries back Hamas?

I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, Gallant said.

We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly, he added.

The IDF said that it is carrying out a fresh wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it is hitting targets that belong to Hamas terror group. According to the military, further details will be provided soon, according to The Times of Israel report.

With inputs from ANI
Saturdays attack by Hamas was the greatest breach in Israels defence system in decades.

Palestinian terror group Hamas deployed a force of about 1,000 fighters to stage the most devastating attack, organising them into specialised units, a source close to the group told Reuters.

According to the source, they were training in Gaza since the last conflict in 2021, often in plain sight. Some of the operations or training by the units were caught on videos released by Hamas and its armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades. Other footage of the operation came from witnesses.

A video released by Hamas armed wing shows fighters practising for the operation. It depicts the militants constructing a mock Israeli settlement in order to practise a military landing. However, Reutres was unable to confirm the dates and locations of the videos.

Also Read: Israel announces total siege of Gaza: How will people be affected?

According to Reuters, the training would have taken place amid a systematic deception campaign by Hamas, which had convinced Israel that it did not want to fight. Hamas avoided military activities against Israel and was cautious about leaks.

Many Hamas leaders were also unaware of the plans, the Reuters source added.

An Israeli military spokesperson said Israeli troops were fighting Hamas gunmen at half a dozen points around Gaza, more than 48 hours after the assault was launched in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Heres how they managed to catch Israel off guard.

Hamas missile unit

At the start of the operation, Hamas said it had fired 3,000 rockets in the first barrage. Israels military said 2,500 rockets were fired, logging the bombardment at about 6.30 am (0330 GMT).

The rockets were intended to cause shock and confusion while providing Hamas fighters with cover to break through the fortified fence surrounding Gaza and carry out the operation.

Airborne unit of Hamas

Teams of fighters on hang gliders or motorised paragliders, flew over the border and secured the terrain for the main ground assault.

Videos released by Hamas showed the unit, with badges carrying the name Air Force Falcon Squadron, in what appeared to be training for the assault. Some terrorists used one-person paragliders and others used paragliders for two people. It showed them training to land at a target with weapons ready.

Phone footage showed the moment the airborne unit attacked a desert festival in Israel. In some footage, the fighters could be seen in the air.

Also read: Israels war with Hamas complicated by hostage situation: What we know so far

Hamas elite commando ground unit

This was a 400-strong elite force, which broke through the fortified Gaza fence using explosives to open up gaps so they could infiltrate to the Israeli side. After some crossed-on motorcycles, bulldozers were used to widen the holes so teams could enter Israeli territory in four-wheel drive vehicles.

The commandoes attacked the first Israeli defence lines, raided the sleeping quarters of soldiers, and seized bases and the headquarters of Israels military operation for southern Gaza, the source said.

Videos issued by Hamas showed the fighters breaching the security fences, with the dim light and low sun suggesting it was at around the time as the rocket barrage.

Drone unit of Hamas

Drones were used for border surveillance.

Also Read: Israel-Palestine conflict: Where does India stand? Which countries back Hamas?

Hamas released a video showing what it described as drones called Zouari, saying they were the ones used to pave the way for the infiltration. It also released a video of terrorists launching the drones from Gaza.

Hamas intelligence unit

This unit was used to identify the positions and movements of Israeli soldiers and to monitor their headquarters. The source did not provide further details about this unit.

With inputs from Reuters
In a new effort to shed the colonial past, the Indian Navy has decided to revise some ranks and replace them with Indianised designations. This comes as Indian armed forces have been taking steps to do away with colonial traditions in recent years.

Lets take a look at what changes are expected to be introduced by the Indian Navy. What has prompted this?

Indianising designations

The ranks of 65,000 sailors are reportedly set to be changed.

The Indian navy will redesignate several ranks of the personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre, including three titles that are not gender neutral, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report.

Indianising ranks for the PBOR cadre was on our to-do list, an official told the newspaper on the condition of anonymity. The existing terms are an embodiment of British traditions. Also, gender-neutral ranks are a must to make the service environment inclusive. The new designations have been sent to the defence ministry for approval, which is expected soon.

The ranks that will be redesignated are Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class, Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class, Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Seaman, Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class, reported HT.

As per the newspaper report, ranks with petty officer titles were unfavorable among the sailors.

There will be no changes in the Officer ranks, the report added.

Why are the modifications needed?

Adopting gender-neutral terms became a need for the navy after the first-ever batch of women sailors passed out from INS Chilka in March this year. Out of the 2,585 Agniveers who graduated from the navys lakeside training facility in Odisha, 273 were women.

Speaking to HT, officials said the inclusion of women in the navys PBOR cadre propelled the switch to gender-neutral ranks.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, chief of the Naval Staff, told Aaj Tak last December that the Indian military needs to ditch colonial practices. We have formed a team to study what are the practices in the navy that are archaic and have no relevance today. Navies have evolved over many centuries and some practices are still being followed. They have no use today so why follow them, he was quoted as saying by India Today.

He also questioned the need for designations such as petty officers and chief petty officers. There is a rank in our sailors called petty officer. What is petty? Why should it be a petty officer, above that there is a rank called chief petty officer, why should it be a chief petty officer? We can give these ranks a better name, Admiral Kumar told the Hindi news channel.

Discarding colonial practices

India has been on the path of getting rid of its colonial customs, especially in the military. In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the top commanders of the three services at the Combined Commanders Conference in Gujarats Kevadia to rid themselves of legacy systems and practices that have outlived utility and relevance.

The armed forces, especially the navy, have adopted several measures to indigenise their practices since then. The defence ministry has started renaming British-era cantonments as military stations, reported HT.

Last September, the Indian Navy got a new ensign replacing the old one which had Saint Georges Cross with the Tricolour in the canton. The new naval ensign was inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, PM Modi said at the time.

In July, the navy stopped the practice of carrying ceremonial batons for all its personnel. With the passage of time, carrying of batons by naval personnel has become a norm. The symbolism of authority or power pot heated through the holding of a baton is a colonial legacy that is out of place in a transformed navy of Amrit Kaal, the force said in a communication.

Senior officers in command roles, commanding officers of warships, naval bases and other establishments, as well as provost personnel tasked with policing, vigilance and implementing discipline used to carry batons, reported HT.

According to an India Today report last month, the Indian Navy is mulling a proposal to introduce traditional Indian dress in their wardrooms and officers messes to end colonial practices.

With inputs from agencies
Is Israel preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza?

Some think that could Israels next step.

Israel has already called up 300,000 reservists and announced a complete siege  cutting off food, fuel and water  of the 362-square-kilometre strip of land home to just over two million people controlled by Hamas.

But is Israel getting ready for a ground invasion of Gaza look like today? What could the repercussions be? And has Israel invaded Gaza in the past?

Lets take a closer look:

Is ground invasion of Gaza imminent?

This seems to be the case.

Sources told Axios that Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US president Joe Biden over the weekend that they have to go in and have no choice but to respond with great force.

We have to go in. We cant negotiate now, Netanyahu is reported to have said.

We need to restore deterrence, Netanyahu added.

Biden, according to the report, did not attempt to dissuade Netanyahu from any such plans.

Our job is to make sure that at the end of this war, Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israeli civilians with, an IDF spokesperson said on Sunday.

And in addition to that, we are also to make sure that Hamas will not be able to govern the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, Israels chief military spokesman said his country is going on the offensive.

Chief military spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari on Tuesday said Israel has drafted a record 300,000 reservists since Saturday in its response to a multi-front Hamas attack from Gaza

We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area, he said in a televised briefing.

Military officials had previously said that their focus was on securing Israels side of the border before carrying out any major escalation of the counter-offensive in Gaza.

We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale, he added.

Has Israel invaded Gaza in the past?

While Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, it has gone back in on several occasions.

It most recently did so in 2014.

As per Al Jazeera, the seven-week war, which was sparked by the kidnapping and murder of three teenagers by Hamas, left over 2,100 Palestinians dead.

Another 73 Israelis, including 67 soldiers, also died.

As per Rand Corporation, Israels military advanced a few kilometres into Gaza before withdrawing.

Prior to that Israel mounted a ground invasion of Gaza way back in 2008.

That invasion, which lasted around two weeks, saw more than 1,400 Palestinians being killed.

Israel, meanwhile, lost 9 of its people.

What would an invasion today look like?

As per The Guardian, Israels incursions into Gaza tend to follow certain patterns.

First, a barrage of bombs is aimed at military infrastructure such as government buildings, police stations, coastal installations, training facilities and the homes of senior officials.

Only then, after a sustained bombardment, are troops deployed.

Network18 Managing Editor Palki Sharma said, Israel uses land-based artillery to strike Hamas targets and gunboats to strike from the sea. Once the defences have been levelled the troops enter.

Israel has usually preferred these routes  Erez crossing in the north, Burej south of Gaza city and Philadelphi Route in the south. All three have been used in the past.

Indeed, the aerial bombardment of Gaza has already begun even as Israels forces fought pitched gun battles to reclaim villages and towns on the border.

It has retaken control of southern Israel and the Gaza border is back under control.

We have only started striking Hamas, Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

As per India Today, navigating the densely populated Gaza Strip and locating hostages will be a severe test for the Israeli forces.

The Hamas use of its metro system  an underground network of tunnels used to transport weapons and move undetected  will only compound the woes of Israels forces.

As per The Guardian, Hamas operatives have transformed its once basic tunnels into cutting edge and concealed spots that can be used both as command centres and to deploy its militants.

Israels once-vaunted surveillance advantage has also been dulled by the Hamas use of civilian drones.

What could the repercussions be?

Experts say Israel could probably retake Gaza  but only at a huge cost for its own troops, innocent civilians and the hostages.

Sharma added that Gaza, being a concete jungle, would result in urban warfare.

There are plenty of places for Hamas to take cover in Gaza. Also more chances to lay traps. So if Israel invades, it would face a long and drawn out struggle. Not to mention casualties. Because Hamas now has more sophisticated weapons like anti-tank missiles and armed drones, an invasion could be costly for Israel. Having said that, Israels military is world class, they have experience operating in urban centres in Gaza and the West Bank. Theyve done all of it before. Theyre also familiar with Hamas tactics. Theres no doubt about the outcome, Sharma said.

A piece in Business Insider predicted that an invasion would likely be an expensive operation, have to be carried out in terrible conditions, and would likely result in intense urban combat.

It also mentioned that the mere presence of hostages kidnapped by Hamas and currently held in Gaza could make things incredibly difficult for Israeli troops.

Retired US General Barry McCaffrey, speaking to MSNBC, described it as a key dilemma for the Israeli Defence Forces.

He said Israeli troops going into Gaza to retrieve hostages would be a bloody mess and be catastrophic for Palestinians in the area.

The retired four-star general described Israels chances of rescuing hostages as an almost impossible task.

McCaffrey said Israeli troops would have to take control of things on the ground and then go door-to-door.

Armor, infantry force, supported by fighter aircraft, dominate the scene and then try to find them in basements and tunnels, McCaffrey added.

It looks like a long, bloody fight, in which the advantages of the Israelis will be partially neutralized by fighting in urban warfare, McCaffrey told MSNBC.

I dont know how theyre going to solve this without massive casualties in their own forces, never mind catastrophic damage in the Gaza strip.

McCaffrey, posting on X about the hostage crisis, said there will be no good tactical solutions for the IDF.

Lt Col Daniel Davis, speaking to NBC News, compared the situation to Fallujah in Iraq in 2004.

You had the US with Bradleys and Abrams tanks going against the type of jihadis Hamas will be, Davis said. He said that was a a very brutal situation with troops needing to go door-to-door  and pointed out that Fallujah was far smaller than Gaza.

Hamas most likely had a pretty good idea what Israel was going to do in response because of past fighting, the senior fellow at Defense Priorities added.

Davis said preparations for urban combat could involve traps, defensive positions, bunkers and tunnels.

All of those kinds of things is going to make it extraordinarily difficult for Israel to get in there and probably will make the casualties very high, he said.

Hamas, remember, has already vowed to kill a hostage each time Israel bombs a civilian target in Gaza without warning.

This, even as Qatari mediators have held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israels prisons.

A piece on the website Worldview noted, Despite the high number of well-trained and equipped Israeli troops, plus airpower dominance, an Israeli invasion of the strip would be both tactically and strategically very challenging.

It added that the called up reservists had little experience in urban warfare and that such an operation would result in a high casualty count on both sides.

The piece added that the operation would also escalate the chances of violence in the West Bank and result in Lebanon upping the ante  potentially resulting in Israel having to fight a battle on two fronts.

An article in the Daily Beast argued against Israel retaking Gaza.

The piece claimed that doing so would be a huge error on Israels part.

It argued that while Jerusalem might be spurred to do so to take the territory from Hamas, it would result in a virtual abattoir for Israeli conscripts to be picked off by insurgent forces in Gaza.

It might be galling for Israel to see Hamas emerge from the rubble and proclaim victory. But as long as there is an occupation, Hamas and more extreme groups will continue to find a constituency for their extremism. The only entity that can possibly control such militancy is a Palestinian state, the piece contended.

The Guardian piece described a full reoccupation of Gaza as extremely challenging for Israel.

It added that keeping the area and managing it in the long term is probably beyond Israels capacity

Which suggests that if Israel does go for a full invasion its objective is more likely to be a comprehensive defeat of Hamas, the piece concluded.

With inputs from agencies
Israel is mobilising lakhs of its reservists to fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas that rules Gaza. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of the coastal enclave on Monday (9 October) after Hamas militants launched a surprise, multi-front attack on the West Asian country on the weekend.

Israels military spokesperson said that a record 300,000 reservists had been drafted in response to Hamass rocket strikes and infiltration of the countrys territory near Gaza. We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale, Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), said, according to Reuters. We are going on the offensive.

What is Israels reserve army and how are they joining Israels offensive against Gaza? Lets understand.

Israels reservists

Military service in Israel is a defining aspect of its national ethos, as per The Guardian. All Israeli citizens, aged 18 years or above, are required to serve in the military.

According to NDTV, religious women, married individuals, and those with mental or physical disabilities, are exempted from military service. Arab citizens of Israel are also not enlisted in the armed services, as per The Guardian report.

Almost all active-duty military personnel are transferred to the reserve force once they complete their regular service.

Army reservists, including women and men, in Israel are obligated by law to serve a fixed number of days until they turn 40. They are often asked by their officers to volunteer longer, as per Al Jazeera.

Israels small standing army is highly reliant on 465,000 reservists, who can be called up for around 60 days every year even in peacetime, The Guardian reported.

During an emergency, Israel can mobilise its entire reserve force. Reservists are treated as core combat troops in any major operation instead of as supplementary forces.

ALSO READ: How a drawn-out Israel-Hamas war could hurt the Indian economy

Israeli reservists fly home

Israel said it is arranging special flights to bring back its military reservists living overseas. Israels foreign minister, Eli Cohen, said the officials have received many requests from Israelis all over the world who want to return as quickly as possible.

The many requests we have received from Israelis all over the world to return to Israel as soon as possible, to volunteer, to lend a hand, warms the heart, Cohen said, as per The Telegraph. This is the Israeli spirit  we will win.

French media reported on Monday that Israeli-French reservists in France were leaving for Tel Aviv to join the Israeli army. This comes amid speculations of the Israeli military preparing for a major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Israelis abroad were frantic to return home after the weekend attacks  either to join reserve units or to just be with their families, reported New York Times (NYT).

As many international airlines cancelled their flights to Israel ofter the attacks, reservists had to rely mostly on Israels national airline, El Al, to fly them back.

A special emergency flight from Peru has been arranged for Israeli reservists travelling in South and Central America, as per a Haaretz report. Funded by the Union of Jewish Federations of the United States, along with the Israeli embassies in the US and Latin America, the flight will depart from Peru on Tuesday (10 October) evening.

WhatsApp groups have been created for Israeli military reservists stranded in the US, France, Italy, Cyprus, Germany, Spain, Austria, Turkey, England and the Balkans, the report added.

Yotam Avrahami, a reservist who has lived in New York for four years, told NYT on the weekend that he spent $2,000 on a plane ticket to Israel. Its the thought that you have friends that will be in immediate danger, and you cannot help them.

Former PM, actors and more

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett joined troops after Israel declared war on the Hamas. In a footage shared on social media, he was seen shaking hands with Israeli soldiers as he arrived for the reserve duty.

Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister of Israel, arrives for reserve duty. He has joined Israels soldiers on the frontlines to defend Israel. May he and all the soldiers stay safe.pic.twitter.com/2kuDAuazBy  Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) October 7, 2023

Lior Raz, a famous Israeli actor popular for the TV series Fauda, shared videos on social media of him joining the military forces in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, which was infiltrated by Hamas gunmen on the weekend.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lior Raz (@liorraz)

Israeli influencer Hananya Naftali said he is joining the 3 lakh-plus reservists in the fight against Hamas. The reason we are deployed is not just to defend our borders, its literally to defend our homes and families. This is a war between good and evil, he wrote on X.

The reason we are deployed is not just to defend our borders, its literally to defend our homes and families. This is a war between good and evil. #IsraelUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/xNWmJmHhxX  Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 9, 2023

The war between Israel and Gaza, which entered its fourth day today, has claimed at least 1,600 hundred lives on both sides. Israel has claimed that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage.

With inputs from agencies
In the light of the continuing crimes against our people, in the light of the orgy of occupation and its denial of international laws and resolutions, and in the light of American and Western support, weve decided to put an end to all this so that the enemy understands that he can no longer revel without being held to account.

A shadowy voice said in a message on Saturday (7 October) as Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group, unleashed terror on the people of Israel though Operation Al-Aqsa flood  launching a barrage of rockets and its troops being able to hoodwink Israeli intelligence and enter parts of the country and open fire on the people.

The attacks have evoked a large-scale counter from Israel and the ensuing violence has already claimed the lives of nearly 1,600 people.

As the violence ensues, it emerged that the voice on the message was none other than Mohammed Deif, the military commander of the Palestinian terror group Hamas. But who is this shadowy figure, better known as The Guest, who has climbed to the highest rungs of Palestinian leadership.

Deifs early life

Today, Deif, as Mkhaimar Abusada  a professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza  told Medium, is seen as a sacred and highly respected figure among Hamas and Palestinians. But that wasnt always the case.

He came from nothing. He was born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in the Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza during the 1960s, which was at the time under the control of Egypt. The Financial Times reports that either Deifs uncle or father participated in the sporadic raids of the 1950s by armed Palestinians on the same stretch of land where fighters infiltrated on Saturday.

Little is known about him. Theres only a single photograph of him. But according to early friends and people around him, he is gentle, and has a good sense of humour.

As per security dossiers made on him, he was a student at the Islamic University of Gaza, a hotbed for the Egyptian branch of the Muslim Brotherhoods style of political Islam.

Deifs role in Hamas

When in his 20s, Deif joined the Hamas. In 1996, he was held responsible by the Israelis for the deaths of many in suicide bombings, including the one that claimed over 50 lives. It is said that these bombings were Deifs response to the Oslo Peace Accords signed in the early 1990s between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Deif, as well as Hamas, believe the accords effectively meant a loss of territory for Palestinians.

Believed to be a student of Yahya Ayyash, a bomb-maker nicknamed The Engineer, who was assassinated by Israel in 1996, Deifs bomb-making skills became known through the region.

He then further became more entrenched in the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. An Israeli official has also said that it was Deifs efforts that led to Hamas developing its rudimentary rockets. Today, Hamas is known to have a huge stockpile of rockets that it uses against Israel.

The Israeli official, as per the report in the Medium, also said that Deif sought high-impact targets such as settlers and soldiers in the occupied territories, buses in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and personally oversaw rocket barrages. He didnt agree to ceasing hostilities.

In 2002, he assumed leadership of the Brigades after its previous leader, Salah Shehade, was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

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Hiding in the shadows

Deif is not fond of public appearances and is often sequestered away. He also earned the nickname, The Guest, for his penchant for spending nights under different roofs. Before Saturdays message, he was last heard in May 2021, where he cautioned Israel of the heavy price for not meeting Hamass demands related to Jerusalem.

But his actions have earned him the attention of Israels intelligence and security agencies, who have put him right on top of the most wanted list. Theres also been a number of assassination attempts against him; the Daily Mail reports that he has survived five assassination attempts that saw both of his legs and an arm blown off and his wife and two children killed. Hes also managed to lose an eye in the attacks. Some say hes wheelchair-bound.

Ronen Bergman, an Israeli journalist specialising in security affairs, once told the New York Times: Deif is the only prime military figure in Hamas to have survived so long. The fact that he was able to escape multiple assassination attempts and recover from severe injuries has built him the image and prestige of a bulletproof legend.

The new Osama bin Laden

Declared a terrorist by the United States in 2009, Deif is a skilled commander and mastermind of Hamas military strategy.

According to Mkhaimar Abusada, Deif is exactly like Osama Bin Laden. This is an arch-murderer.

Like Osama, he too has a taste for the theatrics, as is evident from Saturdays attack, and this love for drama comes from his time at an acting troupe he joined when he was at the Islamic University of Gaza.

It is reported that it was Deifs clever planning that eventually saw the infiltration of 1,000 Hamas men into Israel, wreaking havoc and taking hostages.

Following the first few hours of the attack, Deif put out another statement, calling it the day of the great revolution.

He also urged Israeli Arabs to take up arms, and encourages Arabs on Israels borders to join in the attack. Today, the people are bringing back the revolution and reviving the March of return, he said, asking Arabs in Jerusalem and inside Israel, in the Negev, the Galilee and the Triangle area to set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers.

With inputs from agencies
The deepening conflict between Israel and Palestine has seen a number of nations being drawn in.

While the US has confirmed the death of several civilians and deployed US warships and warplanes to the region as a show of force, Qatar has reportedly been mediating a prisoner swap, while Egypt and UAE met on Monday to discuss the conflict.

But what have they said? And what are they likely to do?

Lets take a closer look:

United States

A day after it sent troops and ships to the region to support Israel, the White House said it has begun sending arms and ammunition to its ally.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas militants is making its way to Israel.

The delivery came as President Joe Biden prepared to give formal remarks on the attacks from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, after he confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in the violence over the weekend.

I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, Biden said in a statement.

To underscore US solidarity with Israel, the White House was lit in the blue and white colours of the Israeli flag on Monday night.

We fully expect there will be additional requests for security assistance for Israel as they continue to expend munitions in this fight, Kirby said. We will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that were filling their needs as best we can and as fast as we can.

As the White House accused Iran of being complicit in the conflict, the United States top general on Monday warned Tehran not to get directly involved in the crisis in Israel.

General Charles Q Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he did not want the conflict to broaden.

Brown had a simple message for Iran  dont get involved.

Also on Monday, a senior defence department official warned that the US is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of these groups from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel.

The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments.

The official said the US is flooding the zone with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question Americas commitment to supporting the defence of Israel.

However, the question of the use of the US military  colloquially called boots on the ground  remains an open question.

The official, however, would not comment on whether US military forces would be used at all, and Kirby later emphasized that there is no intention to put US boots on the ground.

A piece in Bloomberg argued that the United States, as Israels staunchest ally and the world superpower, would play a special role in the conflict.

Most obviously, it must stand by the victim of the terrorist attack, Israel. Less obviously, it must also prevent the inferno from spreading throughout the region and the world, the piece contended.

The piece noted that conflicts that ostensibly had no link converged into a wider conflagration because the people involved had similar goals.

In 1914, such a chain reaction led, in the space of four weeks, from the assassination of a Habsburg archduke by a Serbian nationalist to all-out war between the Great Powers. Nothing of that sort must happen in 2023, and it falls to the US to make sure of it, the piece argued.

Iran

Tehran, meanwhile, has denied any reports of involvement with the surprise Hamas attack on its arch-enemy Israel.

Irans Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday claimed that Israel has suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence, Irans Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The Iranian leader however said that Tehran was not involved in the Saturday attack by Hamas on Isreal.

But those who say that the recent great event is the work of non-Palestinians are making miscalculations Khamenei was cited in the IRNA report.

This after a report at the weekend in the Wall Street Journal, citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, claimed that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday

Still, Tehran did not hesitate to shows its joy at Hamas attack.

The Islamic republics backing was made manifest by billboards installed in Tehrans major plazas, includin

g Palestine Square.

The great liberation has begun, proclaimed one while a second showed the black and white chequerboard of the Palestinian keffiyeh gradually subsuming the white and blue flag of Israel.

The enormous images went on display just hours after Hamas launched its deadly and unexpected assault, dubbed Al-Aqsa Flood, on Saturday.

Irans president Ebrahim Raisi reacted on Sunday to the attack by saying his country supports the legitimate defence of the Palestinian nation, after phone talks with Palestinian terrorist leaders.

Iran has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy and much is at stake for Tehran in the war between Israel and Hamas.

A piece in Foreign Policy pointed out that Tehran views Israel as an illegitimate state. Tehran also looks askew at the US attempts to normalise ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

That would follow on from historic treaties with Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others.

Iran has been highly critical of these efforts and on Sunday, the chief of staff for Irans armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, called normalisation desperate efforts that will not slow down Israels collapse.

Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last week labelled them a losing gamble.

The piece pointed out that Iran could pressure Hezbollah into getting further involved in the conflict.

As Irans closest partner in the Arab world and a major recipient of its funding, Hezbollah would have a hard time saying no if Tehran asked it to get more involved in the war, even though the group retains independent decision-making power, the piece concluded.

Ahmad Zeidabadi, a political scientist, said it appeared the Islamic republic was unwilling to get directly involved but that they expect Hamas to be able to change the situation on its own.

However, he said, Tehran might be interested at some point in having its other aligned groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon reduce the pressure on Gaza by opening a new front on Israels northern border.

A strengthened Hamas would be a major boon for Iran, said Zeidabadi, but it would be a debacle for the Islamic republic if Hamas were to have all its political, economic and military infrastructure destroyed.

If Hamas is completely defeated, the path to normalisation of relations will open up because there is no other practical alternative to Israel, Zeidabadi added.

But if Hamas wins, this agreement will be postponed for some time.

Lebanon

Lebanon, meanwhile, has claimed that the Hezbollah will not join the conflagration.

The Times of Israel quoted Lebanese foreign minister Abdallah Bouhabib as saying Hezbollah will not participate in the fighting unless it is harassed by Israel.

Hezbollahs influence over Lebanon cannot be understated. Indeed, the terror group is thought to be a state within a state.

This, despite the Iran-backed outfit on Sunday saying it fired large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles at Israeli positions in a contested border area.

The Islamic resistance (Hezbollah) attacked three positions of the Zionist enemy in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa farmswith large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles, the Lebanese Shiiite movement said in a statement.

Hezbollah claimed it directly struck Israeli positions, as per The Times of Israel.

Hezbollah added this was in solidarity with a large-scale air, sea and land attack launched Saturday by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel.

As per Al Jazeera, some Palestinian outfits in Lebanon are eager to join the fray.

Wherever [Israel] is ready for [the fight] to happen, it will happen, Ahmed Habet, a member of the Palestinian party Fatah in Burj al-Barajneh, a refugee camp in Lebanons capital Beirut, was quoted as saying.

Im the blood of my homeland. I live for my homeland. I dont live for the future, he added.

A conflict on that scale will be much more likely if [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu is able to form a unity government, Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow with Carnegie Middle East Center told the news outlet.

Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based expert with the Atlantic Council, was quoted as saying, The Hamas operation is bigger by far than any single operation carried out by Hezbollah [against Israel], although the tactics Hamas used were straight from Hezbollahs guidebook. Hezbollah has been training for these kinds of border-breaching missions since at least 2007.

Blanford said a direct confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah isnt impossible.

This is the big question. At this early stage, I would say all bets are off, he told Al Jazeera.

But according to Foreign Policy, intervention by Hezbollah in the matter is unlikely to be received well domestically.

Lebanons myriad domestic problems of its economy in tatters, raging unemployment, massive corruption and fractured political system would only further deteriorate if it were drawn into the fighting, the piece argued.

Hezbollahs attacks so far appear to be an attempt to square the circle of demonstrating solidarity with Hamas while avoiding a tough Israeli response. Its rocket attacks targeted the Shebaa Farms area, a part of Israel that Hezbollah has claimed, with little justification, as Lebanese territory. Thus, the strikes were a message of business as usual, not opening up a new front. Israels muted response showed that Israeli leaders got the message that Hezbollah did not seek an all-out war, the piece contended.

It argued that Hezbollahs safest avenue would be to support and encourage Palestinians from a distance.

That way, Hezbollah can keep its own fighters and constituents safe and avoid a devastating response in Lebanon in general while gaining stature because of its support for Hamas, the piece concluded.

Qatar

Qatar, a tiny but wealthy energy and investment powerhouse that holds ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas. Qatari envoys have previously helped mediate truces between the Islamist group and Israel.

Doha has recently been under the global diplomacy spotlight, after hosting more than a year of talks between the United States and Iran, which led to prisoner exchanges and fund releases.

While Hamas power base is in Gaza, some leaders are based in Qatar as well as other Middle Eastern countries.

Qatars foreign ministry issued a statement on Saturday saying that Israel alone was responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence with the Palestinian people.

It said Qatar calls on both sides to exercise utmost restraint and calls on the international community to prevent Israel from using these events as an excuse to launch a disproportionate war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Qatari mediators have held urgent calls with Hamas officials to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the terrorist group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israels prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters.

The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are moving positively said the source, who has been briefed on them.

But there are no signs of breakthroughs as both sides dig in.

The source who had been briefed on the Qatar-led talks, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: There has been no agreement on logistics or a mechanism for the release.

Qatar has been in touch with Hamas officials in Doha and Gaza, the source said, after the terrorist group assaulted Israel from Gaza on Saturday, storming into towns, killing more than 700 Israelis, and escaping with dozens of hostages.

The exact number of Israeli women and children hostages Hamas is offering in the potential exchange of 36 Palestinian women and children prisoners Hamas identified is not clear, the source said.

However, Times of Israel quoted a Jerusalem official as denying there were any such ongoing talks.

Details about negotiations focusing on the release of 36 Palestinians from Israeli jails have not previously been reported.

There was no immediate response to requests for comment sent to Qatars foreign ministry.

Egypt

Egypt, which is south of Gaza, has been blockading the strip along with Israel since 2007.

Egypt has been in close contact with Israel and Hamas to try to prevent further escalation in fighting between them and to ensure the protection of the Israeli hostages, two Egyptian security sources said.

Egypt had urged Israel to exercise restraint and Hamas to hold its captives in good condition to keep open the possibility of de-escalation soon, although Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip made mediation difficult, the Egyptian sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A Palestinian official, familiar with mediation efforts with Hamas and Israel in the past, told Reuters that Qatar and Egypt have been in contact with the group but the intensity of the fighting cast shadows over any potential breakthrough.

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates leaders on Monday discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestinian terror groups.

Egypts Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Emirati president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan released a statement stressing the importance of advancing diplomatic efforts that aim to de-escalate violence, protect civilians, spare blood, a statement from the Egyptian presidents office said. Such efforts should include establishing a comprehensive, just and permanent peace.

UAE and Bahrain

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have condemned the abduction of Israeli civilians by Hamas during its assault on Israel, calling for diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.

The Arab Muslim countries both established relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

Their statements came after at least 100 hostages were seized in Saturdays assault which left more than 700 people dead in Israel and triggered reprisal air strikes which have killed over 560 in Gaza.

The ministry stressed that attacks by Hamas against Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza Strip, including the firing of thousands of rockets at population centres, are a serious and grave escalation, the UAEs foreign ministry said in a statement late on Sunday.

The ministry is appalled by reports that Israeli civilians have been abducted as hostages from their homes.

The statement is notably less neutral than the UAEs initial reaction on Saturday, which simply expressed great concern regarding the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

The UAE expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and urges all diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional confrontation, the latest statement said, warning against nihilistic destruction.

On Monday, Bahrains foreign ministry followed suit, saying the attacks launched by Hamas constitute a dangerous escalation.

Bahrain denounces. the kidnapping of civilians from their homes as hostages, the statement said, calling for immediate efforts to stop the fighting.

With inputs from agencies
West Asia continues to be on the boil as the conflict between Israel and Palestine escalates after Hamas stealth attack, which left at least 9000 people dead in the country. The war is just beginning, Tel Aviv warns, as the Israeli military pounds the Gaza Strip amid an order of a total siege. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to go against Hamas with a force like never before (Almost 690 have been killed in Gaza). Yet questions abound about how Hamas, a weaker enemy, hoodwinked Israels sophisticated security and intelligence. Did it get external help? And was Iran involved?

Iran is Israels arch-enemy and has long backed the Palestinian terrorist group. In the aftermath of the Hamas assault, Iran presdient Ebrahim Raisi that his country supported the Palestinians right to self-defence and warned Israel must be held accountable for endangering the region. Iran supports the legitimate defence of the Palestinian nation, Raisi said, quoted by state television.

But backing Palestine is one thing and plotting the attack is another and it comes with grave geopolitical implications.

Did Iran help Hamas plan the attack on Israel?

A report in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said that Iran helped plot the attack on Israel several weeks ago.

Security officials from Iran helped plan the surprise assault and gave Hamas a green signal to go ahead with it at a meeting in Beirut last Monday, the newspaper reports quoting members of the Palestinian militant group, and Hezbollah, another terrorist organisation backed by Iran.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian armed forces, reportedly worked with Hamas since August to devise the attack. Several meetings were held in Beirut between the Iranian officials and representatives of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed militant groups to refine the operation, WSJ reports.

On Sunday, a Hamas spokesperson told the BBC that it had received support from Iran and other unnamed sources.

However, another senior Hamas official denied Irans role. Emphasising that Tehran was not given a heads-up before the attack was launched, he told NBC News in an interview, It was a surprise to everyone, including Iran.

Dont miss: Our coverage from Tel Aviv on the Israel-Hamas war

What Iran has said about its role in the attack?

Iran on Monday rejected unfounded allegations that it had a role to play in the assault. The accusations linked to an Iranian role are based on political reasons, foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told the media, according to a report in The Times of Israel.

The Islamic Republic, he said, does not intervene in the decision-making of other countries, including Palestine.

A spokesperson of Irans mission to the United Nations was quoted by WSJ as saying that while Iran supported Hamas it did not direct it. The decisions made by the Palestinian resistance are fiercely autonomous and unwaveringly aligned with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people, the spokesman told the publication. We are not involved in Palestines response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself.

What is Israel saying?

The Israeli military said that there was no concrete evidence of Iranian involvement in the assault. Iran is a major player but we cant yet say if it was involved in the planning or training, said R Adm Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday.

Israels president, Isaac Herzog, said on Sunday that Hamas was acting as a proxy for Iranian interests, including Tehrans desire to derail a possible peace accord between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

What is the US saying?

Iran is complicit even though the United States has no intelligence or evidence that points to Irans direct participation in attacks in Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, a White House spokesperson said on Monday, according to a Reuters report.

Iran has long supported Hamas and other terrorist networks throughout the region with resources capabilities training, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on MSNBC. And so in that regard, clearly, Iran is complicit here, but in terms of specific evidence on this, these sorts of attacks, no, we dont have anything, he clarified.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted earlier, Iran and Hamas have a long relationship. Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support its had for many years from Iran.

WSJ says in its report, A direct Iranian role would take Tehrans long-running conflict with Israel out of the shadows, raising the risk of broader conflict in the Middle East. Senior Israeli security officials have pledged to strike at Irans leadership if Tehran is found responsible for killing Israelis.

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What is in it for Iran?

In the past decade, there have been several developments in West Asia to normalise ties between the Arab nations and Israel. The Abraham Accords, brokered by the US, led to the UAE becoming the third country to formalise ties with Israel after Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994). The Emirates and Tel Aviv signed a trade deal in May last year.

In 2020, Saudi Arabia, which never recognised Israel, signed a normalisation deal with it, which came into effect the next year.

However, this has not gone down well with Iran. Only a few days ago, Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei said that Israel will be eradicated by the hands of the Palestinian people and the resistance forces throughout the region, as he cautioned Muslim nations against attempting to normalise ties with Israel.

Now the attack has led to increased speculation that Hamas and Iran were unnerved by the progress of the normalisation process between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The deal with Saudi Arabia, which is the most influential of the Sunni nations, meant that the Muslim worlds opposition to Israel would dwindle, leading to their isolation. Riyadhs greatest worry today is a nuclear-armed Iran, according to commentary in Politico.

Part of the normalisation deal is that Saudi Arabia would obtain security guarantees from the United States as well as assistance to develop a civilian nuclear programme.

Iranians egged on Hamas to carry out this attack because they wanted to draw us into a battle that would sidetrack us from what we should be focusing on  Irans nuclear project. Sadly, they have succeeded, former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor Eran Lerman was quoted as saying in the Politico piece titled Iran is the only one likely to benefit from Hamas attack on Israel.

After the attack, Saudi Arabia has come out in support of Palestine. Israels unforgiving response to the strike might leave the kingdom and other Arab nations dismayed. The Hamas attack, experts say, has dealt a heavy blow towards progress on normalisation and could derail it. And that would be a win for Iran.

With inputs from agencies
Israel is infuriated after the unprecedented Hamas attack left at least 900 dead. But the nightmare continues for the Jewish nation, even as the military has threatened a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have been targeting the densely populated enclave; the airstrikes left more than 680 Palestinians dead and displaced 123,000. Hamas, in retaliation, has said it will kill an Israeli hostage every time a bomb hits a Palestinian home.

Since Saturdays assault, Israel has been pounding Gaza. Over the past three days, residential buildings, hospitals, schools and a mosque have been damaged, according to reports in the media.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida issued the threat to kill those kidnapped during the attack and now held captive in Gaza. He said a hostage would be killed for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, reports Al-Jazeera.

Does the hostage situation give the Palestinian terrorists an upper hand? Will Israel back down? We explain.

Dont miss: Our coverage from Tel Aviv on the Israel-Hamas war

How many hostages has Hamas taken?

Israeli authorities believe up to 150 hostages are being held in Gaza as it lays siege to the enclave to obliterate Hamas terrorist capabilities, Israels ambassador to the United Nations was quoted as saying to CNN. Speaking to journalist Kaitlan Collins, Gilad Erdan said, We have an unprecedented number of hostages, estimating the number was between 100 and 150.

Israel has not divulged specific details of those kidnapped by Hamas. Military officials say that the captives include children, women and older people, most of whom were captured from small Israeli downs near the border with Gaza.

Officials from the United States, France and several other countries have said they were looking into reports that their citizens may be among the captives, according to The New York Times (NYT).

Most hostages were taken by Hamas and the second militant group Islamic Jihad, which claimed it is holding more than 30 captives. Palestinian civilians who entered Israel may have also taken captives, a report published in The Guardian on Sunday said.

While the identity of hostages is not known, relatives have shared photographs of those missing on social media platforms and news organisations.

Where are the captives being held? How safe are they?

The exact whereabouts of the hostages are not known. In a statement on the Telegram app, Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamass armed wing, said that it had hidden dozens of hostages in safe places and tunnels of resistance.

Hamas has a network of tunnels which it uses to travel without being detected and move weapons.

There are unverified reports that the Israeli military has targeted the tunnels in northwestern Gaza by deploying a powerful type of bomb, a bunker buster, according to Al Jazeera.

On Monday, Hamass armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said that four Israelis being held by the militants were killed in Israeli bombardment overnight, along with the Palestinians holding them captive. The claim could not be independently verified, reports NYT.

A day after the attack, images and videos of militants taking Israeli civilians captive emerged. Some were seen hooded, others with their hands tied; some were injured. However, many of these videos remain unverified.

Does Israel have a plan to rescue hostages?

Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Gal Hirsch, a retired general, as coordinator for the captives and missing.

Amid complaints that the Israeli government had abandoned those missing or kidnapped, he said, that we are creating a full situational picture and are working at full strength to create an effective system. We have heavy missions ahead of us, and I am with you in the campaign to bring all the missing and kidnapped back home to Israel, added.

Centres have been opened by the Israeli military and police for families to register missing relatives, asking them to bring photos and items from which they can gather DNA samples, the NYT reports.

Does the hostage crisis give Hamas an upper hand?

The Palestinian militant groups will use the hostages as a bargaining chip to negotiate with Israel for a prisoner swap. Thousands of Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons with many convicted for their involvement in terrorism and other security offences.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Qatari mediators held urgent calls with Hamas officials to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the terrorist group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israels prisons.

The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are moving positively said the source, who has been briefed on them.

However, there have been no signs of a breakthrough yet.

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In graphics | A brief history of the Israel-Palestine conflict

Mohammed Deif: Hamas wheelchair-bound military chief who planned Israel attack



Did Iran help Hamas plan the deadly attack on Israel?

Mossad, Aman, Shin Bet: How Israels intelligence agencies failed to prevent Hamas attack

Hamas, Hezbollah & Intifada: A guide to understanding the glossary of Israel-Palestine conflict

Israel-Palestine conflict: Where does India stand? Which countries back Hamas?

Rockets, gliders and more: How Hamas compares to Israel in weapons stockpile

What is the Gaza Strip, which is at the centre of Israel-Palestine conflict?

How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they?

Will Israel slow down the attacks on Gaza?

Israeli ambassador to the UN told CNN that while authorities hoped those held captive would return home safely, their situation would not prevent us from doing what we need to do in order to secure the future of Israel.

We expect the Red Cross, we expect all international organisations to focus on these hostages and how they are treated and that they receive treatment according to international law, but its not going to stop us, prevent us from doing what we need to do in order to secure the future of Israel, Gilad Erdan said.

Israel has called more than three lakh soldiers, including reservists, to join the fight amid signs that they are preparing for a major ground invasion of Gaza. On Monday, it declared a complete siege on the territory, warning that electricity, fuel, and water would be cut off.

So it is unlikely that Israel is going to slow down the offensive.

But what about the safety of hostages?

Israel is known to place high value on its citizens. It has in the past made lopsided prisoner exchange deals in return for its people or the remains of its soldiers. Will this time be different?

A source familiar with the development is quoted by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz as saying, Most of Israels international efforts are focused on receiving legitimacy to execute broad attacks in Gaza, and not on freeing the hostages.

However, this is only going to anger the Israelis. Experts say they will not forgive their leader if rescuing hostages is not a priority. The citizens attitude would be you have failed to ensure our security, bring us the hostages back, Sylvaine Bulle, a French sociologist studying Israel, told AFP.

The government is unable to negotiate for now, said Kobi Michael, a researcher at the Tel Aviv-based INSS think-tank. With all the sorrow, with all the pain the hostage issue cannot be the first priority, he said. Israel will reach to the hostage issue only with the upper hand and when Hamas will be defeated and weak, not a second before.

With inputs from agencies
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia weighed in on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, said his country continues to stand by the Palestinian people.

This comes in the backdrop of Saudi Arabia and Israel, spurred on by the United States, holding talks to normalise relations.

Israel has already penned historic treaties with Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others states in the region.

But what did Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) say? And will this derail Saudi-Israel normalisation talks?

Lets take a closer look:

What did MBS say?

Saudi Arabias state media quoted MBS as telling Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that he was working to prevent an expansion of conflict after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also told Abbas the Gulf kingdom continued to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

MBS has also spoken about the crisis by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordans King Abdullah II, SPA reported.

MBS last month told Fox News l that the Palestinian issue was very important for Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam in Mecca and Medina.

We need to solve that part. We need to ease the life of the Palestinians, he added.

What about the deal?

The United States has been making a yearslong, painstaking diplomatic push  which began under the previous administration and is known as the Abraham Accords  to get Saudi Arabia and Israel to improve relations.

US president Joe Biden, eager for a major diplomatic win before next years presidential election, has pushed for a deal, and more talks were expected in the coming weeks  despite skepticism from some of Bidens fellow Democrats about the proposed security guarantees to the conservative kingdom, whose rights record has long been under scrutiny.

US officials say they intend to press ahead, but they also acknowledge efforts are unlikely to bear fruit while there is an active conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Blinken had been planning a trip to the Middle East, with stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, later this month, but those plans are now on hold, according to three US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations.

While Blinken may still visit Israel and several neighbouring countries to look for ways to ease tensions, he is no longer expected to go to Saudi Arabia, and the Morocco stop for a meeting of foreign ministers in the so-called Negev Forum will almost certainly be postponed, according to these officials.

The Negev Forum brings together the top diplomats from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States to look at ways to advance Arab-Israeli cooperation with an eye also on improving conditions for the Palestinians.

Weeks ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside the Palestinian issue during a speech at the United Nations.

He said normalisation in 2020 with three other Arab nations in the so-called Abraham Accords had heralded a new age of peace.

Netanyahu said at the time that Israel was on the cusp of a bigger prize  recognition by Saudi Arabia, guardian of Islams two holiest sites.

But now Netanyahu has proclaimed that Israel is at war.

A US official said it was premature to discuss the violences effect on normalization, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the conflict with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, by telephone.

What do experts say?

That any progress towards normalising ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia has been dealt a heavy blow by the ongoing fighting.

Saudi Arabia, remember, is yet to recognise Israel as a state.

The Kingdom, led by the United States, was seemingly being inched towards normalisation towards Israel in exchange for security guarantees from the United States as well as assistance developing a civilian nuclear programme.

As Saudi researcher Abdulaziz Alghashian told The New York Times, It doesnt look encouraging for the prospects of this mega deal.

Bernard Haykel, a professor of Middle East studies at Princeton University, told Fortune, The Saudi statement was intended to save face in the Arab and Islamic world in which the Palestinian cause remains important.

If Israels retaliation leads to many tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, then Saudi will have a hard time justifying a peace with Israel, Haykel added.

Political scientist Myriam Benraad, who specialises in the Arab world at Schiller University in Paris, told France24, Beyond the Israeli-Palestinian context, there is an Israeli-Arab context that is going to be extremely tense.

She noted that public opinion in Arab countries is still overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian, even though the proliferation of conflicts in the Middle East have pushed the issue of Palestine into the background.

Hussein Ibish, senior resident school at the Arab Gulf States Institute, said, This is clearly an effort to put a stop to the Saudi-Israeli normalisation process, and I think [Hamas] has a very good chance of doing that.

It seems to me that Israel is in an impossible situation. Anything they do to try and prevent this from happening again is going to mean more suffering for Palestinians, greater occupation, greater restrictions and more brutality on the Israeli side, added Ibish.

That is going to make it harder for the Saudis to move forward.

Ibish noting Saudi Arabias statement on Saturday that mentioned its warnings of an explosive situation in Gaza years in the making, said Hamas would have taken such matters into account.

It was always a tough hill to climb, and that hill just got a lot steeper, said Brian Katulis, vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

The violence throws a spotlight on disputes between Israel and the Palestinians and makes it harder to sweep those complicated issues under the rug the way the 2020 Abraham Accords did, he added.

Joost Hiltermann, Middle East director of the International Crisis Group, which looks to resolve conflicts, said Hamas may have acted in part due to fear of a looming further marginalization of the Palestinian cause in Palestinian eyes if Saudi Arabia recognizes Israel.

With Israel expected to respond forcefully to Saturdays attacks, Arab states will likely feel obliged to take a harder stance in line with public sentiment, he said.

If that all happens, then I would foresee a scenario where, just like we have a cold peace between Israel and Jordan, between Israel and Egypt, we end up with a cooling of the relationship between Israel and the Emirates and probably a delay, at least, of any sort of deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, he said.

Steven Cook, a senior fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations, pointed to a survey that showed just two percent of Saudis backed normalising ties with Israel.

It wasnt that long ago, he noted, that there were telethons happening in Saudi Arabia in support of Hamas suicide bombers.

But analysts also noted that the Saudis have every reason not to walk away from efforts at forging a normalisation deal.

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that in the long term bin Salman is looking to diversify the oil-rich kingdoms economy and strengthen its security. As part of any pact, Saudi Arabia is pushing Biden for a nuclear cooperation deal and defense guarantees from the US.

He needs normalisation and will continue to move forward, Dubowitz predicted. Of the crown prince, Dubowitz added, The Saudis had better be careful because they are playing with fire in Washington.

Iran likely lent helping hand: Experts

Iran, a military and financial backer of Hamas, meanwhile, will undoubtedly be watching closely.

Tehran, the great West Asian rival of Israel and an enemy of Saudi Arabia, labelled a possible deal between the nations as a betrayal of the Palestinian people.

Irans Ebrahim Raisi in September said, Under no circumstances are the regional countries willing for the Islamic countries to abandon the sacred principle of the plight of the Palestinian people because the liberation of the holy city of Jerusalem is at the core of the belief of all Muslims.

Irans clerical leadership, which since last year has suppressed major protests led by women, supports Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah terror group and hailed the offensive.

Though Iran has denied any involvement in the attacks, experts say they likely lent a helping hand.

Its too early to tell, but Hamas/Iran did these attacks in part to stymie the normalisation process, Haykel told Fortune.

Professor Karim Emile Bitar, West Asia expert at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy told France24, I very much doubt that Hamas alone could have prepared and decided to launch the strikes.

I think Iran has been growing increasingly nervous because of the ongoing Saudi-Israeli rapprochement, Bitar added. This could explain this turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This is about Irans priorities in the Middle East, said Danielle Pletka of the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

With inputs from agencies
There will be only one winner in the war that has broken out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. And it is neither Israel nor Hamas.

In an operation coined the Al-Aqsa Storm, Hamas, whose formal name is the Islamic Resistance Movement, fired thousands of rockets into Israel on 7 October, 2023. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed, more than 2,000 injured, and many taken hostage.

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza. In the first day of reprisals, close to 400 Palestinians were killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In the weeks ahead, the Israeli military will surely retaliate and kill hundreds more Palestinian militants and civilians. As an analyst of West Asian politics and security, I believe that thousands on both sides will suffer. But when the smoke settles, only one countrys interests will have been served: Irans.

Already, some analysts are suggesting that Tehrans fingerprints can be seen on the surprise attack on Israel.

At the very least, Irans leaders have reacted to the assault with encouragement and support.

The decisive factor shaping Irans foreign policy was the 1979 overthrow of the US-friendly, repressive Shah of Iran and the transfer of state power into the hands of a Shiite Muslim revolutionary regime. That regime was defined by stark anti-American imperialism and anti-Israeli Zionism.

The revolution, its leaders claimed, was not just against the corrupt Iranian monarchy; it was intended to confront oppression and injustice everywhere, and especially those governments backed by the United States  chief among them, Israel.

For Irans leaders, Israel and the United States represented immorality, injustice and the greatest threat to Muslim society and Iranian security. The enduring hostility felt toward Israel is in no small part due to its close ties with the shah and Israels role in his sustained oppression of the Iranian people. Together with the US Central Intelligence Agency, Israels intelligence service, the Mossad, helped organise the shahs secret police and intelligence service, the SAVAK. This organisation relied on increasingly harsh tactics to put down dissenters during the shahs last two decades in power, including mass imprisonment, torture, disappearances, forced exile and killing thousands of Iranians.

Support for Palestinian liberation was a central theme of Irans revolutionary message. The 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon  in retaliation for Lebanon-based Palestinian attacks against Israel  provided Iran an opportunity to live up to its anti-Zionist rhetoric by challenging Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and checking US influence in the region.

How Iran gave birth to Hezbollah

To that end, Iran sent its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  a branch of Irans military, usually known as the Revolutionary Guard  to Lebanon to organise and support Lebanese and Palestinian militants. In Lebanons Bekaa Valley, Revolutionary Guardsmen instructed Shiite resistance fighters in religion, revolutionary ideology and guerrilla tactics, and provided weapons, funds, training and encouragement. Irans leadership transformed these early trainees from a ragtag band of fighters into Lebanons most powerful political and military force today, and Irans greatest foreign policy success, Hezbollah.

Since the early 1980s, Iran has maintained support for anti-Israeli militant groups and operations.

The Islamic Republic has publicly pledged millions of dollars of annual support to groups and provides advanced military training for thousands of Palestinian fighters at Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah bases in Iran and Lebanon.

Iran runs a sophisticated smuggling network to funnel weapons into Gaza, which has long been cut off from the outside world by an Israeli blockade.

Via the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, Iran has encouraged and enabled Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas violence, and these Palestinian fighters now represent a crucial element in what foreign affairs analysts call Irans Axis of Resistance against Israel and the United States, which constitutes Irans chief purpose.

But Iran cannot risk confronting either state directly.

Iranian weapons, funds and training enable surges in Palestinian militant violence against Israel when frustrations boil over, including during the Palestinian uprisings known as the first and second intifadas.

Israeli-Palestinian conflicts and death tolls have escalated steadily since 2020. Palestinians are outraged by increased evictions and destruction of property, and how Israel allows Israeli nationalists and settlers to violate a long-standing agreement preventing Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque  a site holy to both Muslims and Jews. In fact, a recent incursion by settlers into Al-Aqsa was specifically cited by Hamas as a justification for the 7 October attack.

Treason against Islamic community

That is not to say that Iran ordered Hamas attack on Israel, nor that Iran controls Palestinian militants  they are not Iranian puppets. Nevertheless, Irans leaders welcomed the attacks, the timing of which serendipitously works in Irans favour and plays into the Islamic republics regional battle for influence.

What took place today is in line with the continuation of victories for the anti-Zionist resistance in different fields, including Syria, Lebanon and occupied lands, according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani.

The week before the Hamas attack, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied reports that Saudi Arabia had paused its recent efforts to normalise relations with Israel, which includes a formal declaration of Israels right to exist and increased diplomatic engagement.

Every day we get closer, he said, an assessment praised and echoed by Netanyahu.

Israeli-Saudi normalisation would represent the pinnacle of achievement thus far in US diplomatic efforts, including the Abraham Accords, signed by Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in 2020. The accords aimed to normalise and build peaceful relations between Israel and Arab countries across West Asia and in Africa.

Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei lambasted Arab states for signing the Abraham Accords, accusing them of treason against the global Islamic community.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah praised Saturdays violence against Israel and echoed Khameneis sentiments, warning that the attacks sent a message, especially to those seeking normalisation with this enemy.

Israels expected heavy-handed response is likely to complicate Saudi Arabias normalisation with Israel in the near term, furthering Irans aims.

Netanyahu said that Israels retaliatory operation seeks three objectives: to eliminate the threat of infiltrators and restore peace to attacked Israeli communities, to simultaneously exact an immense price from the enemy in Gaza, and to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war.

This last objective is a subtle but clear warning to Hezbollah and Iran to stay out of the fight.

Israeli troops have already mobilised to secure its borders, and airstrikes have hit Gaza. In all likelihood, Palestinian attackers will be killed or arrested in a matter of days. Israeli troops and air forces will target known or suspected rocket launch, manufacturing, storage and transportation sites, along with the homes of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members. But in the process, hundreds of civilians will likely also lose their lives.

I believe that Iran expects and welcomes all of this.

Iran holds all cards

There are at least three possible outcomes to the war, and they all play in Irans favour.

First, Israels heavy-handed response may turn off Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to US-backed Israeli normalisation efforts. Second, if Israel deems it necessary to push further into Gaza to eradicate the threat, this could provoke another Palestinian uprising in East Jerusalem or the West Bank, leading to a more widespread Israeli response and greater instability.

Lastly, Israel could achieve its first two objectives with the minimal amount of force necessary, foregoing usual heavy-handed tactics and reducing chances of escalation.

But this is unlikely.

And even if this occurred, the underlying causes that led to this latest outbreak of violence, and the enabling role Iran plays in that process, have not been addressed.

And when the next round of Israeli-Palestinian violence occurs  and it will  I believe Irans leaders will again congratulate themselves for a job well done.
The Election Commission of India released the dates for the Assembly elections in five states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram, on Monday. The polls for these five states will begin on 7 November and go on till 30 November, with the votes being counted on 3 December.

Soon after the EC announced the dates, the Mizoram Congress urged the Election Commission to reschedule the date for counting of votes for the Assembly polls on 3 December.

But why?

Church services on Sunday

The date, 3 December, falls on a Sunday, and people in Mizoram, a Christian-majority state, attend church services on that day.

Both the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the main Opposition Congress separately wrote letters to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to change the counting date.

In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Congress president Lalsawta said that Sunday is a sacred day for the people of Mizoram, when no official programmes are held.

We know that not only the Congress party, but the entire Christian community in Mizoram would not like the counting of votes to be held on Sunday, Lalsawta said.

He requested the EC to respect the sentiments of the people of Mizoram, and urged the poll panel to reschedule the date between Monday and Friday.

In a letter, MNF general secretary TC Kaphmingthanga also requested the CEC to postpone the date of vote counting. Rev Dr C Chawnghmingliana, Synod Moderator and Chairman of Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC), the States largest conglomeration of churches, told Hans India, Sunday is our sacred day reserved for worshipping the entire day.

It is most unfortunate that the counting of votes shall take place on a Sunday. We feel that this is a discrimination against the Christian community, he said, adding, 3 December is not just a normal Sunday for Christians in India, it is a date reserved for Bible Sunday. We hope that EC will shift the counting day.

Former Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuangno, who is running for the Aizawl North 1 seat, expressed serious reservations and objections to the choice of Sunday as the counting day by the Election Commission.

This isnt the first instance where the Election Commission of India has scheduled important poll-related dates on Sundays. We have raised objections in the past, and the Election Commission has, on occasion, accommodated our requests, he told EastMojo.

Voting in Mizoram

The EC had earlier on Monday announced that voting for the 40 Assembly seats in Mizoram will be held on 7 November, and the counting of votes will take place on 3 December.

The EC published the calendar for elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, as well as the Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana assemblies, on Monday. According to the schedule, the notification will be issued on 13 October, the deadline for filing nominations is 20 October, the scrutiny of candidates will take place the following day, and the deadline for withdrawing nominations is 23 October.

The counting will be held in all the five states on 3 December. The MNF, Congress, BJP, Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), and other local parties have already begun their election campaigns, with the MNF and ZPM announcing candidates for all 40 seats. The BJP and Congress both stated that the names of their candidates would be announced soon.

With inputs from PTI
Nandana Sen, daughter of Amartya Sen, has refuted reports about her father passing away. She said that her Baba is totally fine.

Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever! Sen wrote on X.

Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever! pic.twitter.com/Fd84KVj1AT  Nandana Sen (@nandanadevsen) October 10, 2023

On Tuesday, a post by Claudia Goldin, going by the username @profCGoldin, said that the 89-year-old economist had died following which reports went viral on social media.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka starting today, Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka from 10th-12th October. EAM will attend the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on October 11. At this meeting, India will assume the Vice-Chair role of IORA for pic.twitter.com/2BAb30B24O  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

EAM will attend the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on October 11. At this meeting, India will assume the Vice-Chair role of IORA for 2023-25, leading to Chairship in 2025-27, read the statement.

The statement added that Jaishankar is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings in Colombo.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar attended an event where Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University, making her the first woman to be bestowed with the honour.

President Hassan arrived in India on a four-day visit on Sunday.

With inputs from agencies
Since the conclusion of G20 Summit, nozzles worth more than Rs 10 lakh have been stolen from fountains newly installed outside Bharat Mandapam and at the Delhi Gate, officials said on Tuesday.

The matter came to light when the agency tasked with their maintenance filed a police complaint.

According to officials of the Public Works Department, the stainless steel nozzles are priced at Rs 4,000 each.

A number of fountains were installed across the central Delhi area in the run up to the G20 Summit.

Twenty-four nozzles have been stolen from fountains outside the Bharat Mandapam while 12 nozzles from the fountain at Delhi Gate. The theft happened after the culmination of the G20 Summit, a PWD official said.

Asked whether the CCTV cameras installed in the areas captured any suspicious movement, he said that the cameras installed by the agency cover only the Gates 6 and 7 of Bharat Mandapam.

There are also cameras installed by the Delhi Police but we do not know whether they are functional. The nozzles are expensive and we are trying to find alternatives to them, the person said.

He said while the PWD replaced the stolen nozzles with plastic ones at Delhi Gate, the ones outside Bharat Mandapam can only be fitted with stainless steel ones since they are large fountains.

Even earlier, the department had filed police complaints about thefts of wires, nozzles, and other fixtures.

The department has deployed security guards around important places to ensure security of the assets created during the summit.

However, it is not possible  to ensure that they are not stolen since they are only a handful in number. Also, it is not possible for the department to deploy security guards everywhere, said the PWD official.

Last month, Delhi PWD minister Atishi had said an agency will be hired for the safekeeping of these assets.
The offshore campus of IIT-Madras in Tanzanias Zanzibar is set to be inaugurated in early November, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday.

The minister made the announcement at an event to confer an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on a four-day visit to India.

I am happy that the first offshore campus of any IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) is being set up in Zanzibar. I am told that IIT-Madras Zanzibar campus is scheduled to be inaugurated early next month, the minister said.

This institute will prove to be a milestone in educational cooperation between two nations and continents by providing students from Tanzania and other African countries access to world-class engineering and technology education, which will help in nation building and drive economic growth, technology, development and research and innovation in Africa, Pradhan added.

An MoU, signed in July between India and Tanzania, was the final procedural step that paved the way for the campus.

The institute will offer two full-time academic programmes  a four-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and a two-year Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
An agreement of Defence cooperation has been signed between India and Italy during visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Rome.

Rajnath Singh met the Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome, and both the leaders discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation including training, information sharing and maritime security.

Had a warm and productive meeting with the Italian Defence Minister Mr Guido Crosetto in Rome. We discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation which included training, information sharing and maritime security. An Agreement on Defence cooperation was also signed pic.twitter.com/TyybqSplp9  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 10, 2023

He further said both the nations look forward to further consolidating the defence partnership.

Rajnath is on a two-nation visit to Italy and France.

The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023 during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India. The two countries enjoy a cordial relationship. There has been a regular exchange of visits at political and official levels between both countries.

During Rajnath Singh's first leg of his two-nation visit, he was scheduled to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crisetto in Rome.

Whereas, during the second and final leg, he will conduct the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his counterpart, French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastian Lecornu in Paris.

India and France recently celebrated 25 years of Strategic Partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation.

The defence minister's visit to France comes at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters from that country for the indian Navy.In both Rome and Paris, the minister will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation.

With inputs from ANI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the Congress after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) affirmed its support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity.

Hitting out at the Congress, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in a post on X asked the how the grand old party will protect the nation and its citizens when it is openly standing with violence.

Congress at it again! Supporting terror organisations and terrorism while innocent civilians lose their lives to bullets, he said.

With this stand, the leading party of I.N.D.I Alliance has exposed itself to the nation. How will the party protect its nation and citizens when it is openly standing with violence, Joshi added.

Congress at it again! Supporting terror organisations and terrorism while innocent civilians lose their lives to bullets. With this stand, the leading party of I.N.D.I alliance has exposed itself to the nation. How will the party protect its nation and citizens when it is pic.twitter.com/sqPwlmzV0h  Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) October 9, 2023

BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, "The problem with Congress is that it moves from the country's ideas and tries to give its own thought."

"... My thought is that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of External Affairs to keep the outlook of the country through the PMO on that international episode... The problem with Congress is that it moves from the country's ideas and tries to give its own thought. In the Doklam issue also same thing happened...," he said.

#WATCH | On Congress CWC resolution on Palestine, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore says, "... My thought is that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of External Affairs to keep the outlook of the country through the PMO on that international episode... The problem with pic.twitter.com/HDN9DJasLz  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023

Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the CWC Monday reiterated its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity while also calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations on all outstanding issues.

In a resolution passed at its four-hour meeting, the Congress's top decision-making body said the CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days.

The assertions in the CWC resolution came a day after after Congress said it "condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel".

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said his party has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine must be fulfilled through dialogue while ensuring the national security concerns of Israelis.

Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning.

Israel said it has brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters in response to the terrorist group's unprecedented incursion into Israel.

More than 1,100 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides.
As many as 11 people were killed and 12 were injured in an explosion at a firecracker godown in Tamil Nadus Ariyalur district on Tuesday.

#WATCH | Explosion in a firecrackers godown in Viragalur of Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu; Police say seven people dead in the incident pic.twitter.com/AODekTlObi  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023

Earlier, the reports had suggested that seven people had been killed in the incident.

Ariyalur District Collector Anne Mary Swarna said that the incident took place in Viragalur town and confirmed that 11 people have lost their lives in the incident.

12 injured people have been shifted to a local government hospital. The case has been registered and two people including the owner of the firecracker godown have been arrested, added Swarna.

More details awaited
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on a four-day visit to India, was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday.

#WATCH | Delhi: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan gets conferred with an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) degree at Jawaharlal Nehru University. pic.twitter.com/9UUj0BVHE6  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

Addressing an event to honour the Tanzanian President at Jawaharlal Nehru University, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, It is a matter of great pride for us to confer the honorary doctorate on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan from JNU. I take particular satisfaction in this as an alumnus of this university. By honouring her with an educational conferment, we not only recognise a long association with India but highlight this particular aspect of our relationship.

#WATCH | Delhi: At Jawaharlal Nehru University, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says It is a matter of great pride for us to confer the honorary doctorate on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan from JNU. I take particular satisfaction in this as an alumnus of this pic.twitter.com/pvmegdPNXu  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

He said over 5,000 Tanzanian nationals have been trained in educational institutions in India.

India also plays host to several Tanzanian students who study in India and in our universities, young minds brim with confidence as they shape, Indias future through the startups, inventions and innovations, said the External Affairs Minister.

Talking about the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology in Zanzibar, Jaishankar said that Tanzania was the preferred destination for the venture.

Classes for the first batch are scheduled to begin this month. The institution has the potential to become the premier centre for technical education for the entire African continent. It is symbolic of our cooperation with the Global South. It is a personal privilege to have been present in Zanzibar at its inauguration. I believe 70 students have been finalised, said Jaishankar.

He said the rise of Africa is central to global rebalancing and inclusion of the African Union into the G20 as a full member was one of the highest successes.

Most of our Embassies that we have opened in the last decade, are in that continent. India and Tanzania enjoy traditionally close and friendly relations marked by some political understanding regular high-level visits, diversified economic engagement, and strong people-to-people contacts, said the minister.

Jaishankar said the trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to East Africa, along the maritime route for trade and commerce.

Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillarOur trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to East Africa, along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides, added Jaishankar.

Thanking JNU for the honour, Tanzanian president said this honorary degree will forever be etched in her history as it is the first to be conferred on her by a foreign university.

This honorary degree will forever be etched in my history, the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country. This is the first one to be conferred by a foreign university, said Samia Suluhu Hassan.

#WATCH | Delhi: At Jawaharlal Nehru University, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan says This honorary degree will forever be etched in my history, the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country. This is the first one to be conferred by a foreign university pic.twitter.com/BVVdGWwx5j  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

The world says, there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad. I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India, the Incredible India added Hassan.

Hassan became the first woman to receive the honorary award from the university.

With inputs from agencies
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said, adding, the search operations are on.

#WATCH | Shopian Encounter Update: Two terrorists killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow: Kashmir Zone Police (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) https://t.co/ULxqMsR7ba pic.twitter.com/zhzmGsSJ7l  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

The killed terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar.

Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay Sharma, said ADGP Kashmir.

Taking to X earlier, Kashmir Zone Police said, Encounter has started at Alshipora area of Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow.

The encounter began after security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in the Alshipora area after receiving information about the presence of militants there.

With inputs from agencies
India, a nation celebrated for its rich tapestry of cultures and religions, faces a unique challenge within its second-largest community, which comprises approximately 200 million individuals. Certain recent events have shed light on a radicalised faction within this community, raising serious concerns about their impact on Indias secular and harmonious ethos.

The Ertugrul-themed celebrations in Madhya Pradesh have sparked considerable debate and controversy all over and rightly so. The question of why we should celebrate Turkish invaders in India when there is no intrinsic connection between these historical conquerors and the Indian Muslim community raises significant contemplation. In scrutinizing the tangible link between Turkish history and Indian Muslims, it becomes apparent that the two are not inherently interwoven. The Turkish or Ottoman legacy, while involving individuals who practiced Islam, does not encapsulate the entirety of the Islamic faith. Rather, it predominantly represents empires and conquerors who happened to embrace the religion as part of their identity.

Moreover, during the Milad rally, there was a conspicuous public display of weaponry associated with the Kayi tribe. To assert that there is no freedom of speech left for the minorities in the country stands in contrast to the substantial evidence of freedom of expression showcased in these opulent public events. When the videos of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally surfaced with youngsters brandishing swords and sticks, there was both a social media outrage as well as police inquiry into the event.

In essence, the crux of the matter lies in the understanding that Indian Muslims ought to derive their heritage and pride from a profound connection to the land rather than affiliations with foreign cultures like Arabs, Turks, Persians or Mughals. These distinct cultures rightfully take pride in their own lands and legacies and there is no reason why the identity of Indian Muslims should be an exception. Failing to forge this profound connection with their own land and heritage may repeatedly prompt questions about their loyalty to the country. Consequently, being labelled outsiders should not evoke resentment when a large number of them wholeheartedly embrace external cultures. Ultimately, the prudent and fitting course of action is to abstain from taking pride in foreign legacies, recognizing that such perplexing practices often stem from a dearth of genuine connection to ones own heritage.

Incidents like the stone-pelting during a procession celebrating the Prophets birthday in Shivamogga, Karnataka have not only disrupted public peace but have also damaged community harmony. Such events raise questions about the misuse of religious occasions and the potential consequences of these actions. These incidents emphasise the importance of conducting religious celebrations with respect for the sentiments of all citizens and in line with the principles of tolerance and understanding. They also bring to light the need for dialogue and education within communities to prevent such misunderstandings.

It is worth noting that India provides a peaceful environment for religious celebrations, especially when contrasted with countries plagued by extremism and terrorism. Recent terror attacks during religious processions in Pakistan serve as a stark contrast to the relative calm in India. During the celebration of Eid Milad-Un-Nabi, a bomb explosion shook Pakistan. This incident occurred in the Mastung district of Balochistan on the afternoon of September 29, resulting in tragic consequences. Initial reports indicated that at least ten individuals, including a police officer, lost their lives, while approximately 40 others sustained injuries. Notably, the blast occurred in close proximity to a mosque, marking the second such attack in Mastung within a single month.

On the contrary, the Indian Muslims have the privilege of celebrating their religious events without fear or intimidation. This situation highlights the importance of maintaining a harmonious social fabric within India and appreciating the safety and freedom that this diverse and inclusive democracy provides.

Reports of celebrating figures like Aurangzeb during an Eid Milad procession in Karnataka have also raised serious concerns. These incidents underscore the need for communities to be aware of the potential consequences of their actions during religious celebrations and to prioritise peaceful coexistence.

Rana Ayyub, a recurring figure in espousing hateful propaganda against India and Hindus in general, has once again articulated her views on a global platform, Al Jazeera. In her statement, she expressed that the struggle of our forefathers to secure Indias freedom from British colonial rule has, in her view, culminated in a situation where proving ones Indianness has become an ultimate humiliation, particularly for Indian Muslims.

However, its important to note that a significant number of Muslims supported the creation of Pakistan, leading to its establishment as a separate nation. The community that played a role in dividing the nation on communal lines may be subject to increased scrutiny, prompting them to openly display their allegiance to India. And the question arises: Why should it be an exhausting task for an Indian Muslim to express their love for their country?

These questions become even more relevant especially when recent arrests of individuals with strong educational backgrounds in connection with an ISIS terror module have sent shockwaves through the nation. These cases involve individuals who come from seemingly privileged backgrounds and have pursued higher education.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended three individuals suspected of being involved in an ISIS terror module. The detainees include Shahnawaz, a mining engineer with a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree from the National Institute of Technology (NIT); Arshad, who completed his BTech in Mechanical Engineering at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and further pursued an MBA and obtained a PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia University; and Rizwan, who possesses a BTech degree in Information Technology. These diverse educational backgrounds underscore the significance of remaining vigilant and implementing proactive measures to counter radicalization across various segments of society.

Following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, there has been a disturbing trend where a large number of Indian Muslims are expressing support for the Hamas terrorists. Disturbing videos have surfaced depicting Israeli civilians who have tragically lost their lives or have been taken hostage, with particularly gruesome displays involving the mistreatment of Israeli womens corpses.

It is important to emphasise that if the goal is a peaceful two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, terrorism must cease as it only perpetuates the cycle of violence and hinders progress towards a resolution.

Furthermore, certain Indian Muslim activists, such as Sharjeel Usmani, have openly expressed support for Hamas terrorists, while simultaneously raising concerns about free speech within India. It is worth noting that these sentiments seem to extend beyond political criticism and extend to disdain for both Hindus in India and Jews in Israel. Sharjeels derogatory description of the Hindu community as a Sada huwa Samaaj (rotten society) is a concerning example of divisive rhetoric that does not contribute to peaceful coexistence and dialogue. Asaduddin Owaisi, the self-proclaimed flag bearer of constitutional rights and free speech also openly came out in the support of Hamas terrorists.

BR Ambedkars perspective on the Muslim communitys identity within India is a point of reflection. He argued that the brotherhood of Islam was confined to Muslims only. Recent events may prompt Indian Muslims to contemplate whether such actions validate Ambedkars perspective and whether there is a need for a broader sense of national identity that includes all citizens.

Indias second-largest community, while being a vibrant and integral part of the nations fabric, faces complex challenges related to radicalisation, identity, and communal harmony. These challenges must be addressed through constructive dialogue, education, and a commitment to upholding Indias secular and inclusive ethos. Education plays a vital role in countering extremism and promoting a sense of shared national identity. Educational institutions can foster an environment where students learn not only about their own cultural and religious heritage but also about the rich tapestry of Indias history and diversity. Its essential to instill in the younger generation the values of tolerance, pluralism, and peaceful coexistence.

The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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On a fateful Saturday during the Jewish Sabbath, a day of peace and reflection for the Jewish community, an unthinkable attack unfolded. Most Jewish families were at home, eagerly anticipating a day of bonding with loved ones when their world was suddenly turned upside down.

The morning barrage

The attacks began at dawn, around 6.30 a.m. local time, as a barrage of rockets rained down on Israel. The Iron Dome defence system leapt into action, attempting to intercept the incoming rockets, but it soon became overwhelmed by the sheer volume. Israel found itself distracted and stretched thin by this unexpected rocket onslaught.

Hamass multi-pronged approach

Hamas had meticulously planned this operation. Simultaneously, on the ground near the Gaza border, their fighters gathered to breach the heavily fortified fence that separates Israel from Gaza. This border is unlike any other, equipped with walls, fences, soldiers, security cameras and sensors. Despite these formidable defences, Hamas successfully breached the border resulting in the loss of Israeli soldiers lives on Israeli soil.

Some Hamas fighters even utilised unconventional methods such as paragliders to land directly in Israel. Others attempted to infiltrate the country via sea routes. In a matter of hours, Hamas fighters were in control of border towns making it the most significant attack Israel had witnessed in a generation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Was it a surprise attack?

While Hamas may claim this was a surprise invasion evidence suggests otherwise. The attack appears to have been in the planning stages for months with rising tensions between Israel and Palestine as a backdrop. Armed Palestinians had been targetting Israelis and Israels government under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pushing for more settlements. The stage was set for a significant conflict.

Warnings of an all-out war

Warnings of an impending all-out war had been sounded by Hamas which Israel seemingly ignored. However, this attacks scale and coordination indicated that it was far from sudden. Multiple reports suggested that Hamas had been preparing for this operation right under Israels nose. They built a mock Israeli settlement in Gaza where they conducted military drills effectively training themselves on how to storm Israel.

The green light from Iran

The go-ahead for the operation allegedly came just a week before the attack. Meetings between the Revolutionary Guards and Hamas in Beirut the month before the attack were believed to be where the final plans were solidified. Essentially, Hamas is said to have acted only after receiving a green light from Iran, even though Tehran vehemently denies any involvement. According to some accounts, 70 per cent of Hamas funding including military equipment and training originates from Iran.

It is a manifestation of resistance and standing up against the fake Zionist regime. The Palestinian people, the Palestinian soldiers, all Palestinian groups, and the Islamic Ummah really should be congratulated for this victory. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said.

The audacious attack by Hamas on Israel was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the result of careful planning, rising tensions and international dynamics. While Iran officially denies involvement, its long-standing support for Hamas cannot be ignored. The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to be a complex and volatile issue in the Middle East with no easy solutions in sight.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The dissonance between the optimistic statement made by Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, a week ago, and the dire reality portrayed by the devastating attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October vividly illustrates the fragility and volatility that pervades the peace  or semblance thereof  in the Middle East. Sullivans previous assessment that the region was quieter was not just abruptly shattered, but it also underscored how beneath the surface of seeming tranquility, bubbling tensions and grievances persist.

The ruthless assault, where Hamas not only launched a barrage of rockets but also infiltrated Israeli territories, engaging in direct combats at multiple locations and resulting in a tragic loss of lives and numerous hostages, stands as a stark contradiction to any narrative of sustained peace and stability in the region.

The tragic incidents of that day will invariably rekindle the historical, deeply-rooted animosities, not only between Israelis and Palestinians but potentially also among their respective allies, further polarising an already intensely divided region. On a global stage, this could precipitate a chain of responses, whereby nations are compelled to reassess their alliances, policies, and strategies concerning the Middle East.

A resurgence of such violent conflicts may revive the diplomatically challenging debate regarding support and alliances in the conflict, not to mention redirecting global resources and attention towards crisis management and potential peacekeeping efforts in the region. The juxtaposition of a sanguine proclamation of peace and the stark, harsh outbreak of violence thereby not only poses a chilling reminder of the delicacy of peace in the Middle East but also casts a shadow on the reliability and stability of international alliances and strategies forged in such ostensibly tranquil times.

This event and its aftermath will most likely prompt nations worldwide to tread more cautiously, revisiting their diplomatic strategies and policies regarding the Middle East, and being ever mindful of the dormant yet potent volatility that characterizes the regions geopolitics.

The short-term impacts extend far beyond the immediate vicinity of the conflict. World leaders and international bodies have strongly condemned the act of violence, and this unified stance against terrorism sets a global precedent. The apparent escalation in conflict leads to potential ripple effects across the Middle East, not just limiting to Israel and Palestine, but drawing in a multitude of actors.

Furthermore, the attacks manage to shake the perceived invulnerability of Israels security apparatus, prompting nations worldwide to scrutinise their own defence mechanisms against such unforeseen and coordinated terrorist activities. The brutal attacks on Israel signified a stark intelligence lapse, catching Israeli and US intelligence unawares and revealing their failure to anticipate such a meticulously planned and comprehensive offensive by Hamas. Recognised experts and former officials have underscored this as a colossal failure, spotlighting grave deficiencies in intelligence systems that resulted in unforeseen and impactful assaults. This multifaceted assault via air, land, and sea not only blindsided Israel but also exposed critical weaknesses within its military intelligence.

Echoing poignant memories of the Yom Kippur War, this intelligence fiasco underscores the deep and enduring impact of such breakdowns. Historically, Israelis, with their skillful surveillance of Palestinian activities, had managed to ward off major threats from Hamas, especially with the installation of the extensive Gaza border wall. Operating under the belief that Hamas, seemingly engaged in sustaining a long-term ceasefire that ostensibly served both parties, would not risk initiating a substantial conflict, Israel was lulled into a deceptive sense of security, further bolstered by the steady economic and tax contributions from the daily influx of Palestinian workers from Gaza.

However, this calculated deception by Hamas not only shattered this confidence but also instigated shockwaves reminiscent of the disbelief following 9/11, raising profound questions about how such a diminutive terrorist outfit could outsmart the might of the Israeli intelligence and defense establishments. This unsettling reality, while yet to be fully deciphered, appears to have been partially facilitated by a rooted belief in the deterrent power of sheer force and a disregard for lingering, unresolved issues.

In the longer term, these events may serve to reconfigure geopolitical landscapes and allegiances. Nations globally might find themselves reevaluating their affiliations and strategies regarding the Israel-Palestine dichotomy, further intensifying global polarization and alliances. Thus, these brutal attacks represent a substantial setback to the peace process within the region, likely deterring further negotiations and hardening stances on both sides. These attacks should be seen against the backdrop of a significant and historic rapprochement unfolding between Israel and the Arab world. The Abraham Accords, which were established in 2020, laid the groundwork for the normalisation of relations between Israel and various Arab nations.

Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were substantially progressing in discussions concerning the full normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The potential diplomatic alignment between Saudi Arabia and Israel would have represented a strategic development in Middle East politics. It would have reflected a significant pivot away from historically hostile relations towards cooperative engagement, mainly driven by shared concerns regarding regional stability and mutual economic benefits. The US has been encouraging Arab nations to establish or enhance diplomatic and economic ties with Israel as a means to foster stability in the region, counterbalance Iranian influence, and facilitate prosperous coexistence among historically conflicting parties. However, these attacks would significantly act as an impediment to these talks.

These attacks will lead to strained relations among the US, Israel, and Iran, with Israel accusing Iran of empowering Hamas. Consequently, the US might experience heightened pressure to vehemently respond to Iran through various means, including diplomatic, economic, or military actions, to appease and back its ally, thereby further deteriorating the already precarious US-Iran relations. This sequence of events may escalate tensions and hinder diplomatic relations and peace endeavors in the delicate geopolitical scenario involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

The potential reassessment of defence strategies by Israel in the face of these attacks may ripple across the globe, influencing worldwide security policies and military strategies. Moreover, economic sectors across the world, especially those closely tied to the stability of the Middle East, might face significant volatility, impacting global economic stability.

Amidst the rising smoke and settling debris in Israel, the future of peace within the Middle East teeters precariously on an unseen fulcrum. The recent, startling violence augments not only local tensions but also global apprehensions regarding the sustainability of diplomatic breakthroughs and accords within this historically contentious region. The stark variance between anticipations of peace and the brutal, manifested realities compels nations to navigate the shifting sands of geopolitical alliances and enmities with heightened caution and recalibrated strategies.

The unseen undercurrents of distrust, retaliation, and historically rooted grievances are now starkly visible, signalling that the path toward a durable peace may be even more labyrinthine and fractured than previously acknowledged. Henceforth, the spectre of this unexpected conflict will inevitably loom over future dialogues and negotiations, casting a long shadow on efforts to stitch together a semblance of stability and cooperative peace in the ensuing years.

The author is OSD, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He tweets @adityasinha004. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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I know theres a lot happening right now. You are being flooded by information. So, lets try to simplify things. Lets look at 10 questions that explain this conflict, where it stands, and what happens next.

Question 1: What is the situation on the front line?

Israel says the border communities have been retaken. Around 1,000 Hamas terrorists had launched an incursion on Saturday. They held on to localities in Israels south. The next day, Israel declared war. They called in the military and the special forces. There were gruelling gunfights in the south but now, most of the border communities have been liberated. And the terrorists? Either killed or driven out.

But the battle isnt limited to southern Israel anymore. Its spread across the region. Israel is carrying out air raids on Gaza. More than 1,000 Hamas targets have been hit. You can see plumes of black smoke across the strip. Many civilian buildings were also hit. But Hamas isnt backing down. In fact, they are hitting back. Hamas fired more rockets throughout the day. Air raid sirens rang across central Israel. People in Jerusalem were seen heading for cover. So, this isnt a localised incursion anymore. Its much bigger.

Question 2: Whats the death toll?

Last we checked it was around 1,200  around 700 dead in Israel, which is their worst toll in decades, and more than 400 in Gaza. At least 4,000 people are injured on both sides. The United Nations says around 1,23,000 people in Gaza have been displaced. They have fled their homes, so the human toll is massive. And remember, this is in just three days of fighting. If the war escalates, it could be worse.

Question 3: What happens next?

Theyre not looking at de-escalation. Not yet. Israel has called up around 300,000 reservists. Their defence ministry has announced a siege: We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza, there will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel, everything will be closed. We are fighting against human animals, and we are acting accordingly, Yoav Gallant, Israeli defense minister said.

Israels immediate priority is this  freeing the hostages held by Hamas, more than 100 of them are in Gaza. But after that, what does Israel do? There is talk of a land invasion to occupy Gaza, to topple the Hamas. Israels government has not officially confirmed this but their prime minister did issue a warning. He asked Palestinians to start leaving. He said Gaza would be turned into an island of ruins. So the operation isnt over. Plus, Hamas has lost the element of surprise, which means its advantage Israel. They decide where this war goes next.

Question 4: Was Iran involved in this attack?

Officially, Tehran has denied any involvement, but Hamas spokesmen say they did get help from Iran. The planning began in August. But frankly, its not surprising. Iran and Hamas have a long history of cooperation. Their support, their weapons, all of it comes from Iran. So, the chances of Hamas going solo are very low.

Question 5: Will the war spill over?

Thats probably the biggest risk right now. The Hezbollah in Lebanon have joined the fighting. Like Hamas, the Hezbollah is also close to Iran, sort of like an Iranian proxy. On Sunday, they began firing at Israeli positions. Hezbollah says their guns and rockets are with Hamas. In other words, they are in full support. So the worry is clear: Hezbollah could open a second front in this war.

Question 6: What is Israels most important partner United States doing?

Well, the US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. He said more military aid is on the way. He also deployed U.S. military assets to the region. One of them stands out  a carrier strike group. The U.S. has deployed the worlds largest aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean  the USS Gerald Ford. They are also sending fighter jets to the region  both the F-15s and the F-35s.

So, Americas message is clear: let Israel do its job, dont dare intervene. And this support is key for Israel. It gives them the freedom to carry on without fearing outside attacks, say from Iran or Hezbollah.

Question 7: What does this war mean for Netanyahu?

He was called mister security. The man who knew Israels military and intelligence inside out. Yet, this happened under him. Its not a good look for any Israeli prime minister. His critics say he was too distracted, maybe by the judicial reforms he pushed or his tricky coalition politics. Either way, he dropped the ball. There are 100 hostages in Gaza right now. Their families are putting pressure on Netanyahu. They want him to negotiate to get them out. But those on the right want him to push on, to punish the Hamas, so he may win this war. But the damage is already done.

Question 8: Is this the end of the Arab-Israel normalisation process?

For now, yes. It will be on hold. No Arab nation will touch the issue, at least not for a while. Maybe that was the whole idea behind this attack.

Question 9: What happens to Palestine?

Well, this attack has complicated matters. Countries like Germany and Austria are rethinking support to Palestine. Austria has ended all aid to Palestine and Germany says it will review whether aid should be given. What does this show? That countries are losing patience with Palestine, their divided leadership, their radical tactics. All of it has fewer takers now.

Question 10: How does this war impact you?

More than 1,000 dead is enough to move any human being. But beyond that, there are other impacts. It doesnt matter where you live. Chances are, it will affect you. Just consider oil prices. War in West Asia always spooks the oil market. Oil prices have already jumped over 5 per cent. Remember, Israel and Palestine dont produce oil, they are not involved in oil shipments, yet this is the impact. So imagine if Iran gets involved or there is fighting in the Gulf. Then oil prices would go through the roof. So, this is a war that will impact everyone.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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We dont know how this war will end. Whether it will escalate even more or maybe spill over into other countries. But we can be sure of one thing. There are lessons here. Lessons for West Asia and the world.

Peace deals arent about peace

For starters, peace deals dont guarantee peace. Certainly not the Arab-Israeli ones, or what we call the Abraham accords. You see, those were political deals. They werent about resolving the Palestinian question or forgetting the Arab-Israeli animosity. Those deals were about convenience. The likes of UAE and Bahrain wanted to cash in on Israels technology and economy. Likewise, Israel wanted recognition. It was never going to work.

The dispute between Israel and the Arabs was never about money or technology. It was about Palestine. Yet the peace deals never dealt with it. As a result, divisions festered underneath.

Does that justify the attack? Of course not. Nothing can justify that sort of violence. But it does explain the attack. And this applies to many conflicts around the world.

Take Ukraine, for example. In 2014, fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine. The Kyiv regime was on one side, Russian separatists were on the other. As the fighting raged on, talks were held. All stakeholders eventually signed the Minsk agreement. It talked about finding a permanent solution but the agreement itself wasnt one. And now look at that conflict. It has escalated into a full-scale war.

Another example is the Korean conflict. Both the Koreas fought a war from 1950 to 1953. They signed a ceasefire, but not a peace deal. And now look at them. Neighbours, but also sworn enemies.

Serbia and Kosovo, same thing. Armenia and Azerbaijan, again, same. Closer home, you have India and Pakistan. These are all unfinished conflicts. They ended with deals or agreements that ignored the root problem.

Whether its land, or race, or religion, thats not what a peace deal means. A peace deal solves the problem, it doesnt ignore it. So in the end, you have a very unstable situation. A peace deal, or something similar, on paper, but a volatile equation underneath.

Power politics at play

Do you know what makes it worse? Big power politics. Just consider the war here. Where did Hamas get thousands of rockets from? Chances are, Iran. And who gave them political support? Again, Iran. In the Korean peninsula, you have China. In eastern Ukraine, you had Russia. These are powerful countries. They can invest millions of dollars into conflict zones or send weapons and artillery.

But who suffers in the end? The people who live there. The point is incomplete peace deals do not work. They only delay the inevitable.

How to make it work

So, whats the solution? A comprehensive peace process. Not a sign-and-forget deal, but a process. In such a process, you address the root problems like old hostilities. Maybe through reparations or formal apologies. Then you address sectarian politics. You bring community leaders and politicians on the same page. You build trust. And finally, you control the flow of weapons and capital.

Lets face it, militants and terrorists thrive because they get support  foreign support. Whether its the Hamas in Gaza, or the mujahideen in Afghanistan or the contras in Nicaragua.

Even countries for that matter, how did the likes of Pakistan and North Korea get nuclear weapons? With foreign help. And such weapons complicate matters even more. So, we need to eliminate outside factors like weapons and big power politics. We need Palestinians to speak for themselves, not via proxies or terrorists. And when they do, the other side needs to listen. Thats crucial too.

If not, groups like Hamas will hijack the narrative. They will torpedo all hopes of peace. The bottomline is this: peace cannot be innovated or imposed, it has to be painstakingly built  with goodwill, with cooperation and with the hopes of the people in mind.

Palestine and Israel never got that. They were pawns in a larger game. And now, those same larger powers are taking sides urging more violence and bloodshed. Its not their people who suffer though, its the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Hamas terror attack on Israel has shocked the world. India was among the first countries to condemn it. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement. He said: Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. Israel has thanked India for this support. Hashtag India stands with Israel is trending on X.

What explains this strong support? India and Israel are more than 4,000 kilpmetres apart, but theyre united in their experience. They share a long and painful history of fighting terrorism. Indians are all too familiar with the pain that the ordinary Israeli is feeling right now. Our right to peaceful existence has been threatened time and again by the depraved actions of our neighbour. So, India understands Israels pain and plight.

But beyond the unmitigated humanitarian tragedy is the geopolitics. Whats at stake for India in this conflict?

A bit of history

Before we answer that, a quick primer. In 1950, India announced its recognition of Israel. It was one of the last non-Muslim states to recognise Israel. But India was the among the first to recognise Palestine. That was in 1988.

And thats not all. In 1974, India became the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). New Delhi accepted this group as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.

So historically, Indias ties with Palestine have run deeper compared to those with Israel. In the 1980s, Yasser Arafat visited India frequently. But beyond the optics, there was disquiet over Indias unabashed support of Palestine. Imperceptibly, the ground beneath was shifting and Pakistan played a role in it.

Allow us to explain. While India supported the Palestinian cause, the Arab nations did not return the favour. They did not show such support for India. In 1962, India and China fought a war. What was the stand of the Arab nations in that conflict? Neutral. And it got worse. Both in 1965 and 1971, India was facing Pakistan on the battlefield. Guess who the Arab world backed? Pakistan.

Geopolitics doesnt quite work as a one-sided love story and India learnt that lesson over time.

Do you know what Israel did in the meantime? It helped India with arms and ammunition -both in 1962 and 1965. But the relationship remained like a secret affair.

The big shift

The major shift came in the 1990s. Iraq had invaded Kuwait. Among Saddam Husseins few allies was Yasser Arafat. And that dangerous gambit alienated the Palestinian leader. In 1991, the Soviet Union disintegrated. West Asia was undergoing a transformation, allies and allegiances were changing and India did not want to be shoehorned into a corner.

In 1992, New Delhi established full diplomatic relations with Israel and over the years, the ties have become stronger. Today, India is Israels seventh-largest trade partner. Israel is Indias third largest defence supplier. Defence, diamonds and drip irrigation dominate the bilateral trade ties. This has come in handy for India, especially during the Kargil War in 1999. India issued an SOS and Israel responded. It supplied India with target bombs and this proved to be crucial in Indias victory.

The second shift

Then in 2014, the Narendra Modi government came to power and ties with Israel came into focus. In 2017, PM Modi visited Israel, the first Indian PM to do so, and he did not go to Palestine then. This was a major shift on Indias part. Modi dehyphenated Israel and Palestine.

His personal equation with the Israeli leader has been much talked about  from the beach walk to the kite flying and spinning Gandhis charkha.

One year later, in 2018, PM Modi did make a trip to Palestine and this time around, he didnt visit Israel. The message was clear: India had not abandoned the relationship with Palestine, merely recalibrated it.

Admittedly, this diplomatic manoeuvring is a difficult balancing act but sometimes, events demand that nations take a clear stand. This terror attack by Hamas was one such occasion. Hamas manipulation of religion  as political tribalism  has few takers. India certainly isnt one of them. By calling it what it is  a terror attack  the Modi government has made its stand clear.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The director of Germanys antitrust authority, the Federal Cartel Office has issued a cautionary statement regarding the potential of AI to enhance the market dominance of major technology companies. He emphasized the need for regulators to remain vigilant in detecting any activities that could stifle competition.

Andreas Mundts remarks highlight the growing regulatory apprehensions about technology behemoths, armed with extensive collections of user data, gaining a significant advantage in emerging technologies applied to smart homes, internet search, digital advertising, automobiles, and various other goods and services.

Alphabets Google and Microsoft have recently become rivals in AI, with the latter investing heavily in OpenAI and the former building the Bard AI chatbot among other investments.

The surge in AI popularity has prompted governments around the world to try to impose rules on the use of the technology, with the European Union in a race to adopt its landmark AI rules by the end of the year.

For us as a competition authority, it is crucial that this new technology does not further strengthen the dominance of the large corporations, Mundt told reporters.

The danger is very great because you need two things above all for AI, powerful servers and vast amounts of data. Big internet corporations have both, he said.

Mundt said the field was still open to competition but regulators need to ensure it remains so.

However, models from smaller providers could also become so popular that they develop in the direction of a kind of operating system, a new platform, he said.

Both developments are possible, and as an authority, we have to be careful that any competitive potential is not buried from the outset, he added.

(With input from agencies)
Governor Gavin Newsom of California has officially signed AB 1394 into law, which will penalize web services for their role in knowingly facilitating, aiding, or abetting commercial sexual exploitation of children. This law is part of a series of online regulations that California has enacted in recent years, some of which have faced constitutional challenges.

According to a press release from Newsoms office, AB 1394, which was approved by Californias legislature in late September, will come into effect on January 1, 2025. It introduces new guidelines and liabilities designed to compel social media platforms to take stronger measures against child sexual abuse material.

It also imposes penalties on platforms that knowingly keep reported content online. Moreover, the law broadens the definition of aiding or abetting to encompass actions like implementing features or systems that significantly contribute to minors falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. Services can mitigate their risks by conducting regular system audits.

The motivation behind this legislation draws from whistleblower complaints alleging inadequate responses from Facebook to child abuse on its platform and a 2022 Forbes article that accused TikTok Live of becoming a breeding ground for adults preying on teenage users. Notable supporters of this law include the child-focused nonprofit organization Common Sense Media.

However, similar to other online regulations, it raises concerns about unintended consequences, such as encouraging platforms to either under-enforce rules to avoid knowingly hosting illegal material or over-enforce them and remove innocuous content. Some liken this bill to a mini-California FOSTA, a reference to the widely criticized federal law that penalized web platforms for content advertising sex services.

Industry trade associations, TechNet and NetChoice, have expressed concerns about the bill, with NetChoice urging Newsom to veto it in September. According to Carl Szabo, Vice President and General Counsel of NetChoice, Unfortunately, in the legislatures desire to decrease CSAM online it passed a bill that imposes liability in a manner inconsistent with the First Amendment.

Despite these concerns, AB 1394 has received less attention compared to several other California internet laws. In September, Elon Musks X (formerly Twitter) filed a lawsuit against AB 587, which requires platforms to establish and publish plans for addressing hate speech.

NetChoice, which successfully challenged social media moderation bans in Texas and Florida, recently convinced a judge to block the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act on constitutional grounds. However, it remains to be seen whether NetChoice plans to mount a similar challenge against AB 1394.

(With input from agencies)
Israel is facing a multipronged attack by a slew of different players. After Hamas attacked and infiltrated Israel through Gaza, several hacking groups have been launching cyberattacks on Israel, targeting their public infrastructure such as power grids, defence systems, and government-owned websites as well as media outlets, as per a report by Bloomberg.

These attacks are being carried out by several hacking groups, including those with suspected ties to Russia, who have forged alliances with the Palestinian military group Hamas.

One of these groups, Killnet, which claims to consist of patriotic Russian volunteer hackers, made an announcement on Sunday regarding its intent to target all Israeli government systems using distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

This cyberattack method inundates websites with traffic, effectively taking them offline. Killnet attributed its actions to Israel, accusing the nation of supporting Ukraine and NATO. The group asserted that it successfully brought down an Israeli government website and the website of the security agency Shin Bet for a period on Sunday.

However, independent verification of the groups claims is currently pending. Nevertheless, both websites did experience downtime on Sunday, as reported by the website monitoring service, check-host.net.

Simultaneously, Anonymous Sudan, a hacking group suspected of having ties to Russia, declared its support for the Palestinian resistance and took credit for briefly disabling the Jerusalem Posts website on Monday morning. The newspaper confirmed it had been subjected to multiple cyberattacks but has since restored its website.

Cybersecurity experts suggest that these actions by Russian hacktivists appear to be opportunistic moves, capitalizing on the ongoing conflict to make headlines and potentially profit from DDoS attacks.

These incidents are indicative of Russia aligning itself with Hamas against Israel, according to Mattias Wahlen, a threat intelligence expert at cybersecurity firm Truesec AB.

Numerous other self-proclaimed hacktivist groups have also claimed responsibility for launching attacks on Israeli infrastructure, targeting websites associated with power plants and missile alert systems. However, many of these claims remain unverified.

In a related development, cybersecurity firm Group IB reported that a hacker group known as AnonGhost compromised a mobile phone application used for issuing missile alerts to Israelis during conflicts. The hackers exploited a vulnerability in the app to insert fake notifications containing messages like death to Israel and the nuclear bomb is coming, along with a swastika symbol. The app has since been removed from Googles Play Store, where it had previously been downloaded over 1 million times. The developers of the app have not issued a comment on the matter.

In a statement posted on Telegram, AnonGhost affirmed its commitment to taking action against Israel. While Israel has been a frequent target of cyberattacks, it remains uncertain whether Iranian hacking groups are involved in the current conflict.

Pro-Israel groups have also retaliated by launching cyberattacks against Palestinian organizations. One group, identifying itself as the Indian Cyber Force, claimed to have disrupted the websites of the Palestinian National Bank and Hamas on Sunday. Both websites were still inaccessible on Monday, and the bank did not provide a comment on the situation.

Gil Messing, chief of staff for Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., noted that the recent cyberattacks have had minimal impact thus far. However, he emphasized that the situation could change in the future.

Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, stated that there hasnt been a major cyber component to the conflict as of yet. Instead, the agency has observed small-scale denial-of-service attacks and minor web defacements.

He anticipates that external parties may become more involved in amplifying Hamass messaging. Joyce highlighted that sophistication may not be a prerequisite for impact in such situations.

The evolving cyber landscape in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict suggests that both state-sponsored and hacktivist groups are actively engaging in cyber operations, with the potential for further escalation.
The Enforcement Directorate or the ED, arrested four executives from Vivo Mobiles India, a Chinese mobile manufacturer, as part of their ongoing investigation into suspected money laundering activities. Among those arrested was a Chinese citizen.

In a related development, Hari Om Rai, the Founder of Lava International, has also been apprehended in connection with the EDs actions. Specific details regarding his involvement have not yet been disclosed.

This enforcement action follows a series of raids conducted across India in the preceding year, covering 48 locations. These raids encompassed the premises of Vivo Mobiles India and 23 affiliated companies, including Grand Prospect International Communications (GPICPL).

The EDs investigation, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was initiated on February 3, 2022, following the filing of an FIR by the Delhi Police. The FIR was lodged in response to a complaint filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which accused GPICPL of engaging in fraudulent activities, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

The ED asserts that several companies were established in India with the primary objective of engaging in unauthorized fund transfers to China.

Additionally, the ongoing investigation has unveiled that Vivo Mobiles India allegedly transferred a significant portion, approximately half of its total sales proceeds amounting to Rs. 1.25 lakh crore, to China. This purportedly occurred with the intent of evading taxes within India.

The company has repeatedly denied the allegations. It has previously said it cooperated with authorities to provide them with all required information and was committed to be fully compliant with laws.

Vivo is owned by Chinas BBK Electronics, which also operates brands such as Oppo and Realme in India. Vivo is the second biggest smartphone brand in India with a 17 per cent market share in shipments, trailing behind Samsung, according to data from research firm Counterpoint.

The first source said Vivo executives were summoned to the EDs Delhi office for questioning, and then arrested. They will appear in court later on Tuesday, the person added.

In 2022, the ED blocked 119 bank accounts linked to Vivos India business, but a court later revoked the move. In the case, the ED alleged Vivo India transferred 624 billion rupees ($7.5 billion) to China illegally to disclose huge losses in India to avoid payment of taxes.

Indian police also have formally accused Vivo of helping transfer funds illegally to a news portal under investigation on charges of spreading Chinese propaganda, Reuters reported last week. Vivo hasnt commented on the matter.

Relations between India and China have increasingly soured since a 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed.

Since then, India has banned hundreds of Chinese apps including TikTok, citing national security concerns and tightened scrutiny of incoming investments from its neighbour.

(With input from agencies)
The recent flare-up between Hamas and Israels IDF, and the way it is playing out, shows what AI has done to warfare. The effect on the ground may not seem that different. However, the manner in which Israel is managing its campaign, shows just how crucial a weapon AI has become outside the battlefield.

After Hamas, launched an all-out attack on Israel, the IDF responded with all its might in what can only be described as one of the most recent brutal military campaigns in Gaza, in recent history. While at least 900 people have died in Israel, over 2500 injured and several hundred abducted, over 1,00,000 people have been displaced in Gaza so far, with about 700 killed.

While the attack by Hamas is being seen as a massive failure for Mossad, one cannot deny the fact that had Israel not incorporated AI in its military doctrine, the attack over the weekend would have been far deadlier.

Heres how Israel has been using AI to deter and retaliate against Hamas

Israels Iron Dome

The Iron Dome, a defence system that uses radar technology, was primarily designed to intercept short-range rockets and mortars targeted at Israel. Its operation involves the utilization of predictive analytics and machine learning to identify and neutralize incoming projectiles. The system can detect an incoming rocket from distances of up to 70 kilometres by considering various factors such as speed, weather conditions, and the projectiles size to accurately calculate its trajectory and potential point of impact.

Upon gathering this critical data, the control centre carefully analyzes it and, when necessary, deploys a counter-missile to intercept and eliminate the enemy rocket threat. If the system determines that a rocket is headed towards an unpopulated area where there will be little or no damage, it may opt not to engage.

Israel reported that Hamas had fired at least 3,000 rockets during the attack on Saturday. The IDF said that their Iron Dome air defence system effectively intercepted nearly 90 per cent of these rockets, leading to minimal to no damage.

However, Hamas insists that they had launched over 5,000 rockets and claimed that each one had successfully hit its intended target. This discrepancy in the number of rockets fired and their purported accuracy underscores the multifaceted nature of the ongoing conflict and the divergent narratives presented by the parties involved.

Fire Factory: AI for logistics

IDF has also incorporated AI into their military operations to improve logistical organisation during conflict and expedite decision-making processes. Israel is also using AI to improve target selection.

The IDF also uses an AI, called Fire Factory, to rapidly coordinate raids and logistics. Fire Factory used target-related data to calculate the required ammunition loads, allocate targets to fighter jets and military drones, and generate a schedule, which saves a ton of time and more importantly, saves lives in the process. In all of these cases, the AI systems merely make suggestions, the final decision is still with a human.

Using AI to takedown launchpads and weapon shipments

Since 2021, Israel has been using AI to identify rocket launchpads and deploy drone swarms, marking a significant advancement in their military capabilities. Furthermore, the IDF has used AI for the analysis of satellite imagery, enabling more efficient and accurate intelligence gathering.

The IDF has also used AI to conduct successful raids on weapon shipments destined for Iran-backed militants such as Hezbollah, located in Syria and Lebanon.

Blue Wolf, the Facebook for Hamas Terrorists

Israel has been using facial recognition technology for about two years as part of an operation known as Blue Wolf. It is aimed at safeguarding the nation against potential terrorist threats.

Reports have suggested that the Israeli military has accumulated a vast database of facial images, likened to a secretive Facebook for Palestinians by a former soldier, as reported by The Washington Post.

According to the head of Israels defence ministry, Israel is determined to become a powerhouse in the world of artificial intelligence. Theyre setting their sights on boosting their capabilities in autonomous warfare and making smarter decisions in combat.

Retired army general Eyal Zamir echoed this sentiment at the Herzliya Conference, an annual global security gathering, pointing out that many believe AI is poised to revolutionize how battles are fought on the frontlines.
The Israeli military on Tuesday said that it has found 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants in its territory and claimed it had largely gained control in the south and restored full control over the border.

A senior member of the Hamas said that the group was shocked by the extent of the operation, saying it had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack.

However, he said the group is ready to fight a long war with Israel.

Israeli military Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since Monday night.

Since last night we know that no one came in .. but infiltrations can still happen, said Hecht.

The army had nearly completed evacuation of all the communities around the border, he added.

Hecht said the military struck hundreds of Hamas targets overnight in Gazas City Rimal neighborhood, which is home to many of Hamas ministries and government buildings.

He said residents were being notified over social media before the strikes to evacuate, but did not elaborate further.

He suggested that Palestinians should try to leave through the Rafah crossing, though he did not specify where they would go or how they would use the crossing that is periodically closed.

Meanwhile, a senior member of the Hamas said the group is ready to fight a long war with Israel and will use the dozens of hostages being held in Gaza to secure the release of Palestinians detained in Israel and overseas.

Ali Barakeh, a member of the groups exiled leadership in Beirut, said that Hamas has an arsenal of rockets that will last a long time.

We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war, the Associated Press quoted Barakeh as saying.

Barakeh said that only a small number of top commanders inside Gaza knew about Saturdays incursion into Israel and that even the groups closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing. He denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack.

However, he added that allies like Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation.

He said even Hamas was shocked by the extent of the operation, saying it had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack.

We were surprised by this great collapse, Barakeh said. We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger.

Israel is reeling under a deadly attack by Hamas militants who stormed through the border fence under a barrage of rocket fire on Saturday morning and killed more than 900 people inside Israel.

In response Israel is carrying out a massive air and artillery bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed at least 687 people in the coastal enclave.

With inputs from agencies
In light of Israels conflict with Hamas in Gaza, as many as 3,000 Thai employees have reportedly requested to be sent home.

The first group of Thai laborers in Israel will return to Thailand on Thursday, according to reports citing Thai Labor Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

The repatriation follows a weekend assault on two Israeli towns close to the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian political and terrorist group Hamas.

According to Phiphat, the foreign and labor ministries are making every effort to remove Thai citizens to a secure area while also making arrangements to return them to Thailand.

The 15 workers will reportedly fly on two different aircraft and land at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

The Thai government also announced on Tuesday that an additional 18 Thai citizens had died in the battle between Israel and Hamas militants, bringing the total up from the previous 12.

The government is working to evacuate hundreds of Thai citizens from the crisis, which erupted on Saturday, according to Jakkapong Sangmanee, Thailands deputy minister of international affairs.

Separately, a spokesman for the foreign ministry reported that 11 hostages had been abducted and nine Thai citizens had been injured.

According to Jakkapong, some 5,000 Thai nationals have been rescued from dangerous locations.

He continued, There are more than 3,000 people requesting to go back to Thailand.

According to the ministry, the foreign minister had spoken with his Israeli colleague and had formally asked Israel to assist in securing the release of the captives.

Israeli police, according to the foreign ministry, are employing facial recognition technology to track for Israelis who have gone missing.

According to Bangkoks labor ministry, there are over 30,000 Thai laborers in Israel, many of whom are employed in agriculture.

Israels death toll increased to 900, and Gazas death toll soared to 687 as a result of Israels retaliatory barrage of strikes.

Nationals from other nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Nepal, are also among those killed in the violence, in addition to Thailand.
Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen, stated in her final national day speech on Tuesday that the island desires peaceful coexistence with China through open and unrestricted communication.

China has been exerting increasing political and military pressure on Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Since August of last year, Beijing has conducted two significant sets of war simulations close to the island, fueling fears that a conflict may break out with widespread consequences.

After two terms in office, Tsai is ineligible to run for president again. She has frequently offered negotiations with China, but it has rejected her because it sees her as a separatist.

Tsai stated in her address to the presidential office that the extent of international support for Taiwan had reached an unprecedented height.

Since this is a time we can now face the world with confidence and resolve, we can also be calm and self-assured in facing China, creating conditions for peaceful coexistence and future developments across the Taiwan Strait, she added.

Tsai asserted that it was her responsibility to protect Taiwans independence, democracy, and freedom while promoting free, unrestricted, and unburdened interactions between Taiwanese and Chinese citizens.

To a loud round of applause, she continued, Differences between Taiwan and China must be resolved peacefully, and maintaining the status quo is essential to ensuring peace.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government was referred to as the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by Chinas foreign ministry in response to Tsais address on Tuesday because they were seeking independence and provocation.

No matter what the DPP authorities say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China. It will not change the general trend that China will inevitably move towards reunification, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing.

Dancers, athletes who had recently returned from the Asian Games in Chinas Hangzhou, where Taiwan won 19 gold medals, and soldiers marching in formation were all present during the parade portion of the event.

The AT-5 Brave Eagle, a new advanced jet trainer for Taiwan, flew in formation of five over the event, highlighting Tsais attempts to enhance domestic weapons development, which includes submarines.

Taiwan has been encouraged by support from other democracies in the face of Chinas threats, especially the United States and its allies, whose politicians and occasionally officials have flocked to Taipei, defying Chinese rage.

With confidence, we will show the world that the Taiwanese people are dignified, independent, warm, and kind. The Taiwanese people are happy to be people of the world and will be a democratic and free people for generations to come, Tsai said.

To an audience that included parliamentarians from Canada and Japan, former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, as well as common Taiwanese, Tsai reviewed her main policy accomplishments since taking office in 2016, including marriage equality, a first for Asia.

Beijing demands that Tsais administration acknowledge that China and Taiwan are both parts of one China, something Tsai has steadfastly refused to do.

Taiwan observes October 10 as National Day to commemorate the 1911 revolt that overthrew Chinas last imperial dynasty and brought forth the Republic of China.

After losing a civil war to Mao Zedongs Communists, who established the Peoples Republic of China, the republican government retreated to Taiwan in 1949.

Taiwans formal name is still the Republic of China, while the government prefers to stylize it as the Republic of China, Taiwan to set it apart from the Beijing-based administration.

(With agency inputs)
Australian political leaders on Tuesday condemned pro-Palestinian protesters who rallied at Sydneys Opera House, some throwing flares and chanting anti-Israel insults.

Following the deadly weekend assault launched by the militant group Hamas, hundreds of supporters of the Palestinian cause marched on Monday evening to the iconic Australian landmark, which was lit up in blue and white in solidarity with Israel.

Protesters lit red flares outside the Opera House, shouted antisemitic slogans and carried banners with messages such as Where there is apartheid resistance is justified.

There is nothing to celebrate from the loss of innocent lives, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a radio interviewer the following morning.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said it was intolerable that the Jewish community had been unable to go to the Opera House because of the pro-Palestinian rally.

We lit up the Opera House specifically to show solidarity with the Jewish community and it is a great shame that they were not able to commemorate solemnly with their community, he said.

Police said they allowed the protest to proceed to avoid conflict and disturbances in the city.

We do not expect people to bring conflict from other places to the streets of Sydney and violence will not be tolerated, New South Wales assistant police commissioner Tony Cooke told reporters.

One person carrying an Israeli flag was removed from the area for his own safety and to prevent a breach of the peace, he said.

Police will try to identify anyone who committed offences during the rally, Cooke said, adding that it had been filmed by closed-circuit television.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would leave London for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to perform Umrah pilgrimage before returning to Pakistan next week, ending a four-year self-imposed exile, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said on Tuesday.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui told journalists that the PML-N supremo would perform Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca) and spend time with his son Hussain Sharif during his stay in the Gulf Kingdom.

I dont have any reports of his meeting with the Royal familyBut he will perform Umrah, spend time with his son most of his stay would be in Medina, Siddiqui said.

He added that Sharif, 73, would leave for the UAE two days before his expected arrival in Pakistan on October 21. He will rest there and is also expected to meet some party leaders.

When asked about the media reports that Sharif would visit China and Qatar, Siddiqui said no such trips were scheduled before October 21.

The PML-N senator rejected the impression that the party was changing its narrative vote ko izzat do (honour the vote) by saying that Sharif never can never reject the narrative as it enjoys the support of the people.

But let me tell you one thing, his speech would not be that of a conventional political leader. He will show the nation the path forward like a political visionary and his speech will determine a new way for us, Siddiqui said while talking about Sharifs planned speech after landing in Lahore.

Sharif recently said that he is excited to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the election likely to be held in January 2024.

Earlier this month, Samaa TV reported that Sharif had booked a business class ticket on flight EY243 of Etihad Airways in advance. The Etihad Airways flight will land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 6:25 p.m. on October 21.

Sharif stepped down as the countrys prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary. He has been living in London since 2019 after the LHC granted him four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment.

He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on medical grounds.

In 2020, an accountability court declared him a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles case. He is also accused of obtaining luxury cars from the treasury house by paying just 15 per cent of the price of these vehicles.

He was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018.

There are question marks on his fate as he had already been declared as an absconder and could be arrested after coming to Pakistan.

However, the PML-N has planned to secure a protective bail so that he can address the rally before going to jail.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other Canadian officials condemned demonstrations across the country by persons they accused of glorifying violence by supporting the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attack on Israel.

I strongly condemn the demonstrations that have taken place, and are taking place, across the country in support of Hamas attacks on Israel, Trudeau said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.

The glorification of violence is never acceptable in Canada, he added.

Trudeau spoke at a support rally for Israel late Monday and criticised Hamas attack. Canadian political figures from all parties have expressed their support for Israel.

When asked if he differentiated between pro-Palestinian protesters and Hamas supporters, his staff failed to reply.

Various groups across Canada held competing marches and rallies through Monday, including in Toronto, where over 1,000 protestors gathered in a demonstration organised by the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow denounced the demonstrations in the city and said they were unsanctioned. Chow added: The government of Canada has rightly listed Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Toronto police Deputy Chief Lauren Pouge said police respected the right to free speech while being against hate speech or speech glorifying violence.

Canadian province Ontarios premier, Doug Ford, also said hate rallies celebrating the kidnapping and slaughtering of innocent Israeli people by terrorists are reprehensible and disgusting.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured.

Israel subsequently battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza. Gazas Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

Mona Ayesh, a 46-year-old Palestinian-Canadian woman, who attended the Toronto protest, condemned the Israeli occupation of West Bank and noted Gazans have lived under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years, since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

The illegal Israeli occupation has to end in order for this violence that happened to end, she told Reuters.
The United States top general advised Iran not to get involved in the Israeli issue and said he did not want the situation to escalate, as the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah launched a barrage of missiles into northern Israel.

The White House stated earlier on Monday that Iran was complicit, despite the fact that the US has no intelligence or evidence pointing to Irans direct participation in assaults in Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Asked what his message for Iran was, General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: Not to get involved.

On Monday, at least three Hezbollah fighters were killed by Israeli shelling in Lebanon, and Israel reported one of its officers was killed in an earlier cross-border incursion claimed by Palestinians in Lebanon.

The cross-border fighting extended a war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Israeli-Lebanese border further north.

In 2006, Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah fought a deadly month-long battle.

We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear, Brown told a small group of reporters traveling with him to Brussels, in his first public comments since being confirmed to the job last month.

The US military is surging new supply of air defences, weapons, and other security aid to Israel in response to Hamas extraordinary weekend onslaught.

The Pentagon revealed on Sunday that it was sending an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel.

It sends a very strong message of support for Israel. But its also to send a strong message of deterrence to contain broadening this particular conflict, Brown said.

He compared Hamas actions to those of Islamic State militants.

Brown has been the deputy commander of US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, and oversaw coalition air operations against Islamic State.
European Union foreign ministers met late on Tuesday to try to resolve divisions over whether to continue aid payments to Palestinians a day after the European Commission backtracked on an announcement suspending all such aid.

The U-turn came after member states including Spain and France said they opposed the suspension announced by Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on Monday following the surprise Hamas attack on Israel.

The EUs disarray reflected longstanding divisions within the 27-nation bloc over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Austria and Germany announced on Monday they were suspending their development aid to Palestinians.

A Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday Varhelyi had not consulted his fellow commissioners, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Commission walked back his announcement on Monday evening, saying there would be a review of aid but no suspension of payments.

The EU ministers were to hold an emergency meeting in Muscat, Oman, where a scheduled gathering of EU and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers was already taking place, the blocs top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added on Tuesday that he had invited Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki to join the meeting.

Some countries had already set out their positions.

Acting Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid opposed the proposed suspension, arguing that Palestinian territories are likely to need more aid in the near future after the Hamas assault and Israels subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

This cooperation must continue; we cannot confuse Hamas, which is on the list of EUs terrorist groups, with the Palestinian population, Albares told Spanish radio Cadena SER.

France said its aid payments to the Palestinian territories were fully consistent with its commitments.

We are not in favour of suspending aid which directly benefits the Palestinian population, and made this known to the European Commission yesterday, its foreign ministry said in a statement.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told parliament that all aid is paid directly to UN agencies on site, meaning that not one euro of aid goes to a terrorist organisation, whether in Gaza or elsewhere.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, speaking in parliament, said aid to Palestinians should continue because they were the victims of Hamas actions.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said a balance needed to be struck between providing aid and cutting off the financing of terrorists.

On the one hand we have to have humanitarian help so people can be supported to have water and things to eat, and at the same time we need to ensure nothing happens that supports structures linked to terrorism, Scholz said on Tuesday at a cabinet retreat in Hamburg with French President Emmanuel Macron and his cabinet.

Scholz added: We are sure this is not happening, but it is essential to check every time.

Denmark has suspended development aid, the government said on Tuesday, while Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he backed a suspension.

I am convinced that it would be right now to suspend payments and start a thorough review of the whole system of aid to Palestinians from the EU, he said in a post on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday denounced unacceptable blackmail by Hamas after the Palestinian militant group threatened to execute some of the around 150 hostages it abducted in a weekend assault.

The blackmail by Hamas after its terrorist acts is odious and unacceptable, Macron told reporters on a visit to Germany.

The French president added that he considered it likely that Hamas had had outside help in its onslaught against Israel.

But he stressed there was no formal trace of any direct involvement by Iran, at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier Tuesday denied any Iranian involvement in Hamass shock weekend attack on Israel despite its strong support for the Palestinian militant group.

Hamas said Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of its hostages, and later warned it could start killing them itself.

Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages, Hamas armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.
The Spanish Acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday that his government opposes the proposed suspension of European Union aid to the Palestinian territories.

This cooperation must continue, we cannot confuse Hamas, which is in the list of EUs terrorist groups, with the Palestinian population, or the Palestinian authority or the United Nations organisations on the ground, Albares said in an interview with Spanish radio Cadena SER, reported Reuters,

He added that Palestinian territories will likely need more aid in the near future after Hamas Saturday attack on Israel and Israels subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip. EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss the issue on Tuesday afternoon.

France is not in favour of suspending aid that benefits Palestinians directly in response to a recent outbreak of violence in Israel, the foreign ministry in Paris said on Tuesday.

We are not in favour of suspending aid that directly benefits the Palestinian people, and we made this clear to the European Commission yesterday, the ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south and restored full control over the border. Spokesperson Richard Hecht said 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants have been found in Israeli territory and no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since Monday night, although infiltrations could still be possible.

Hecht said the military struck hundreds of Hamas targets overnight in Gazas City Rimal neighborhood, which is home to many of Hamas ministries and government buildings, reported The Associated Press.

He said residents were being notified over social media before the strikes to evacuate, but did not elaborate further. He suggested that Palestinians should try to leave through the Rafah crossing, though he did not specify where they would go or how they would use the crossing that is periodically closed.

With inputs from agencies
The tourism sector has globally bounced back strongly. This, of course, doesnt just include leisure travel alone, but travel for business, education and even healthcare. While it hasnt reached 2019 levels just yet, the projections have been rather promising with an 80-95 per cent recovery this year according to UNWTO Barometer, and this is reflected in the recently concluded World Tourism Day celebrations in Riyadh by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The UNWTO is an intergovernmental organisation with 159 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the organization. The Executive Council takes all measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations.

The 2-day celebrations in Riyadh brought together the best and brightest minds from the world of tourism, hospitality and& education. Many prominent dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, India, Tanzania, Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, South Africa, and other member countries were a part of it. This was the largest gathering of the global tourism sector in the 43-year history of World Tourism Day.

To quote Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General: Tourism is a powerful force for progress and mutual understanding. But in order to deliver its full benefits, this force must be protected and nurtured. On this World Tourism Day, we recognize the vital need for green investments to build a tourism sector that delivers for people and planet. So let us all do more to harness the full potential of sustainable tourism. Because investing in sustainable tourism is investing in a better future for all.

The theme for 2023 was Tourism and Green Investments and it centred on the need for using investments to bring about the development of human capital that the tourism industry needs; to develop destinations in ways that go beyond tourism, creating prosperity; and ensuring that travel becomes more sustainable. In essence, the focus through the different sessions remained on people, planet, and prosperity.

The agenda for the first day closely echoed this theme through sessions on investments in people, destinations, and sustainability, in addition to celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship via commemorating the winners of the Women in Tech Start-Up Competition. Day Two focused more deeply on how investments can drive a sustainable future for the tourism industry and aimed at drawing attention to the various forms of partnerships that can make this happen.

With bigger projections for the tourism sector in place, these important conversations happened at the right time, with the right set of stakeholders. The UNWTOs mission when it comes to investments is to promote the development of competitive and sustainable economic growth via tourism through 3 key objectives

Enhance access to finance and investments where they are needed most, by fostering connections to a high-level global network

Promote investments that focus on boosting job creation and sustainability in tourism

Develop sustainable investment mechanisms by partnering with the right stakeholders who can mobilise resources in the right channels

These have the potential to translate into some incredible real-world results and help inch closer to the different SDG Goals and the Agenda 2030.

Through this celebration in Riyadh, the UNWTO also tried harnessing the power of the individual, the innovator, the entrepreneur, and the startup in solving some of our biggest problems. The Startup Competitions have emerged as an exceptional platform for great ideas to continue scaling up through the entire global tourism ecosystem. This support is translated into mentoring, exposure to the sector and investments. The startup competitions fall into two large categories  generic competitions that span the entire tourism value chain, and the thematic ones, focused on a particular product. On World Tourism Day 2023, the Women in Tech Start-Up Competition Finale also came to a close.

Another key announcement was the unveiling of the Riyadh School of Tourism And Hospitality, co-founded by the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and India in collaboration with UNWTO. The academy brings together a first-of-its-kind curriculum of higher education academic and elite vocational training to reimagine tourism education by offering rich, diverse, and innovative learning experiences. It is set to not only bridge the critical skills gap in the tourism sector globally but also empower the next generation of tourism leaders.

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, captured the sentiment of the moment beautifully, The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality is Saudis gift to the world. As we invest in the next generation of tourism professionals, we are not only securing the industrys future but also fostering a legacy of excellence that will drive prosperity, stimulate individual growth of citizens, and foster cultural exchange for years to come.

Overall, the UNWTO requires that sustainable tourism should make optimal use of environmental resources, maintain essential ecological processes and conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. It should also respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserving their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and actively contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance. It lays special emphasis on ensuring viable, long-term economic operations that provide socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders fairly, including stable employment, earning opportunities and social services to host communities, with an aim to eradicate poverty from these communities.

The coming together of the right minds, at the right time, at the right place, will go a long way in shaping the world for years to come, and the World Tourism Day celebrations in Riyadh clearly indicate towards a positive onset.
German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann on Tuesday condemned the Hamas attack on Israel and said that Germany believes that Israel has every right to defend itself.

#WATCH | German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann says, What weve seen over the weekend in Israel is just heartbreaking and appalling. The attacks by Hamas on Israeli soil, the random killing of peoplemore than hundreds were killed. I was completely shocked and I pic.twitter.com/gsQjHhZR3K  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

Speaking to ANI news agency, Ackermann said, What weve seen over the weekend in Israel is just heartbreaking and appalling. The attacks by Hamas on Israeli soil, the random killing of peoplemore than hundreds were killed. I was completely shocked and I couldnt believe what I saw. The pictures we had to see on social media were just terrible. So we believe in the right of self-defence of Israel. We believe that Israel has every right to defend itself.

He questioned militant organisations objective behind the attack and failed to understand what was it trying to achieve.

What is the aim of this attack? What does Hamas want to achieve with this attack? I dont see any improvement in the situation and therefore, I must say I condemn what happened in Israel, said Ackermann.

Israel is reeling under a deadly attack by Hamas militants who stormed through the border fence under a barrage of rocket fire on Saturday morning and killed more than 900 people inside Israel.

In response Israel is carrying out a massive air and artillery bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed at least 687 people in the coastal enclave.

With inputs from agencies
Israel appears likely to stage a ground assault on Gaza in response to deadly weekend attacks by Hamas, risking close-quarters fighting in densely populated areas, including in underground tunnels and around hostages.

Israels government on Monday said it would immediately cut (its) water supply to Gaza as part of a complete siege on the Hamas-controlled territory.

Next, Israel will launch the largest joint (air/sea/land/space) operation against Gaza in history, John Spencer, an expert at the Modern War Institute at US military academy West Point, predicted on X, formerly Twitter.

Alexander Grinberg, of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said that strikes will first of all target Hamas command centres and troops, with fire coming from everywhere.

At the same time, the army will prepare to enter Gaza, he said.

Such urban fighting will force combatants into hand-to-hand combat, reduce visibility, increase the risk of traps, blur boundaries between civilians and soldiers and render armoured vehicles next to useless.

Inherent risks

City fighting is a 360-degree battlefield as the threats can be all around you, said Andrew Galer, a former British army officer, now an analyst at private intelligence firm Janes.

Going house-to-house to secure potentially booby-trapped buildings means bringing in bomb disposal experts with cumbersome gear like ladders, ropes and explosives  possibly all while taking fire and in the dark, he added.

And there are inherent risks of friendly fire given the difficulties of situational awareness, Galer said.

Using artillery can make the situation worse, as while it may kill some defenders, the rubble then provides them with cover.

Gaza Metro

Gazas roughly 2.3 million Palestinian inhabitants have been living under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Its overcrowded, narrow web of streets is doubled underground by a dense tunnel network known to Israeli troops as the Gaza Metro.

Gazas 14-kilometre (nine-mile) border with Egypt was once burrowed under with hundreds of tunnels used to smuggle fighters, weapons and other contraband  although many have now been destroyed.

But since 2014, Hamas has been digging underground pathways to get around the territory it controls.

Some tunnels are as deep as 30 or 40 metres (100-130 feet) below ground, allowing militants to change position away from the danger of strikes.

Rocket batteries hidden just a few metres beneath the surface can be uncovered with a trapdoor just for the time it takes to fire a salvo.

Israels army and intelligence are certain to know about a portion of the network and bombarded it heavily in 2021.

But other parts remain secret and will make any Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operation in Gaza more difficult.

Long, difficult, many losses

Hamas knows its tunnels by heart, said Colin Clarke, research director at the New York-based Soufan Center think-tank.

Some are probably booby-trapped. Preparing to fight in such terrain would require extensive intelligence which the Israelis may not have, he added.

Underground fighting would hand a major tactical advantage to the Hamas defenders and their leadership.

Everyone knows it will be long and difficult, with many losses, Grinberg said, although technology such as robots could work in the assaulting forces favour.

On the other hand, Hamas tunnel advantage could also turn out to be a trap, he added.

When tunnels are found, they can be closed off to shut in the people inside. In this case, the order is likely to be for no quarter to be given.

Bring the hostages back

The dozens of civilian hostages Hamas seized at the weekend present another complication for the IDF.

Israeli society wouldnt forgive it if the hostages lives are not a priority, said Sylvaine Bulle, a sociologist studying Israel at Frances National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).

Citizens attitude would be you have failed to ensure our security, bring us the hostages back, she predicted  leading to conflicts between politicians and the military.

The government is unable to negotiate for now, said Kobi Michael, a researcher at the Tel Aviv-based INSS think-tank.

With all the sorrow, with all the pain the hostage issue cannot be the first priority, he said.

Israel will reach to the hostage issue only with the upper hand and when Hamas will be defeated and weak, not a second before, Michael added.

A Qatar-based Hamas official told AFP Monday there was currently no chance for negotiation on the issue of prisoners or anything else.
Terrorist organisation Hamas has called for huge demonstrations in support of its conflict with Israel throughout the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the entire Arab and Muslim world on coming Friday.

The organization praised the accomplishments of its armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam, and exhorted young Palestinians in the West Bank to rise up and go out in roaring crowds and engage in combat with local settlers and soldiers.

It also addressed Arab Israelis, urging them to assemble on the Temple Mount in Jerusalems Al-Aqsa neighborhood to stop Jews from desecrating it and building on it.

Moreover, Hamas called on the free people of our Arab and Islamic nation everywhere to assemble in the closest point to Jerusalem in order to show their support for the terrorist organization and thwart Israeli plans to judaize Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces took foreign reporters to Kfar Azza on Tuesday, a kibbutz near the border where about 70 inhabitants were killed during the catastrophic attack by Hamas militants.

IDF Major General Itai Veruv declared, Its not a war, its not a battlefield, its a massacre.

Its not a war, you watch the infants, their moms, and their fathers in their bedrooms and safe havens, and how the terrorists killed them.

Its something Ive never witnessed in my life, he declared.

We used to picture our grandparents experiencing the pogroms in Europe. Its not anything that has recently occurred.

(With inputs from agencies)
Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, claims that the question of prisoner exchanges wont be addressed until the war is over.

The terrorist groups commander claims in a statement that the decision has been communicated to parties that have contacted us and offered to mediate a captive release through a prisoner swap.

Haniyeh also praises Gazans for their fortitude and willingness to die for the Palestinian cause, and claims that the destruction the Israeli army is currently inflicting in Gaza as a result of retaliatory attacks is a reflection of the shame of its defeat.

Over 900 Palestinians have died since Hamas unleashed its catastrophic cross-border attack on Saturday, and 150 of them are believed to have been abducted and taken to Gaza, according to sources.

At a meeting of the party leaders, the leaders of the coalition parties in Israel support the formation of a emergency national government by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Although it is anticipated to happen soon, an agreement for Benny Gantzs National Unity party to join such a government has not yet been achieved.

According to a spokesman for the Likud party, every head of the coalition parties, without exception, supported the establishment of an emergency national government and authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act to create it.

According to the health ministry headed by Hamas, 4,000 more Palestinians have been injured and 770 have died as a result of Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, 1,500 Palestinian terrorists have been killed on Israeli soil.
Hamas said it was shocked by the extent of the operation, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa storm and had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership said, We were surprised by this great collapse.

He claimed Hamas which has only planned a small operation was belied by the fact that an estimated 1,000 fighters took part in the incursion, attacking by land, sea and even motorised paragliders.

We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger, he said as he vowed a total blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

Israel and Hamas Saturday locked in a new cycle of escalating violence, after a surprise and unprecedented attack initiated by a Palestinian group from the Gaza Strip. Israel has responded with a deadly bombardment of the blockaded coastal enclave.

Hamas ready to fight a long war with Israel

Hamas is ready to fight a long war with Israel, said Barakeh, adding that it has an arsenal of rockets that will last a long time.

We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war, he said.

We will bring life to a stop in the Zionist entity if the aggression does not stop on Gaza, Barakeh added.

Hamass plan of attacking Israel

Speaking about the plan of attacking Israel, Barakeh said even Hamass closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing.

He further said, The attack was planned by around a half dozen top Hamas commanders in Gaza.

Only a handful of Hamas commanders knew about the zero hour, Barakeh said.

It is worth mentioning here that the attack on Israel had been planned by Hamas for more than a year.

He also denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack or gave the go-ahead at a meeting in Beirut last week.

Barakeh further acknowledged that Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah militant group have helped Hamas in the past, but said that since the 2014 Gaza war, Hamas has been producing its own rockets and training its own fighters.

Hamas believed Israel had plans to kill its top leader

Barakeh denied speculation that the attack was aimed at derailing US efforts to convince Saudi Arabia to normalise ties with Israel.

He said, instead, the attack was driven by a range of actions taken by Israels far-right government over the past year, including provocative visits to a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site and increased pressure on Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. He also said Hamas believed Israel had plans to kill its top leaders.

Barakeh said, so far, Hamas has employed only a small number of its own forces. Nearly 2,000 Hamas fighters have taken part in the latest fighting, out of an army of 40,000 in Gaza alone, he said.

Barakeh, who was Hamas representative in Lebanon for years and is now in charge of coordinating with other Palestinian factions, said his group will use the scores of Israelis it captured in the raid to secure the release of all Arabs detained in Israeli jails and even some Palestinians imprisoned in the United States on charges of funding Hamas.

There are Palestinians held in America. We will ask for their release, he said, without specifying who he was referring to.

With inputs from AP
America once again has a Kennedy running for the White House.

Until Monday, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the scion of the famed US political dynasty, was challenging US president Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic nomination. However, in an abrupt U-turn, Kennedy declared his independence from all political parties  and that he would seek the office of President of the United States as an Independent.

While Kennedy has long identified as a Democrat and frequently invokes his late father, Senator Robert F Kennedy, and his uncle President John F Kennedy on the campaign trail, he has built close relationships with far-right figures in recent years.

He has expressed fringe views such as a vocal distrust of COVID-19 vaccines, which studies have shown are safe and effective against severe disease and death, claimed that vaccines cause autism, the CIA bumped off his uncle JFK, that anti-depressants are responsible for school shootings and that the 2004 election was stolen from John Kerry by George W Bush.

Kennedy now faces the prospect of running against both Biden and former president Donald Trump in 2024.

Experts on both sides of the divide have questioned whose voters Kennedy will draw  Biden or Trump voters  thereby catapulting one of the two main figures to the White House.

The truth is, theyre both right, Kennedy said onstage Monday to roaring applause. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.

Cornel West, a philosopher and Black social leader, is also running as an Independent.

Lets take a graphical look at Kennedy, his prospects in 2024 and the many controversies surrounding him:

All creatives designed by News18
Indias solidarity with the Palestinian cause dates back to Mahatma Gandhis time and its rising global stature and influence over all key players in West Asia make it well-placed to play a crucial role in defusing the crisis arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Palestine Ambassador Adnan Abu Alhaija said on Tuesday.

In an interview to PTI, Alhaija particularly noted that India is a friend for both Israel and Palestine and it is qualified to work towards bringing down the tensions and contribute towards a solution to the Palestine issue.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 1,600 people dead in the last four days, triggering mounting global concerns and confabulations among key players.

Alhaija said India can get in touch with the European countries, the US, countries in West Asia and build pressure on the Israelis to work towards peace, which, he said, is refusing so far.

India knows what is the Palestinian cause from the beginning; since the time of Mahatma Gandhi. So, they are qualified to play that role, especially as India is a friend of both (Palestine and Israel), he said.

The ambassador noted that India has been supportive of the Palestinian cause.

India is a very important country. I think, (India) can lead in this matter.India can play a good role, he said.

To a question on whether he was pitching for India playing the role of a mediator, he responded :(I) hope so.

Asked if he had conveyed this to the people concerned in the Indian government or to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Alhaija said he asked for it around two years ago.

Describing the attacks by Hamas militants as totally unprovoked and unacceptable, Israel has already announced that it will deal with the challenge and punish the perpetrators.

Over the years, India has been maintaining that its position on the Palestine question has been clear and consistent and that it is committed to supporting all efforts to resume direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a two-state solution.

On the attacks against Israel by Hamas, the ambassador said what it has done is a reaction to what Israel has been doing to the Palestinian people for a long, long time.

Asked if he was not condemning the attacks by Hamas that killed innocent civilians, the envoy said: I condemn the killing of the civilian people  whether they are Palestinians or Israelis.

Gaza is an open prison for 2.2 million people. They cant move, they cant go outside for medical treatment unless someone from Israel allows them to come to the West Bank, he said.

The ambassador described the situation in the conflict zone as very bad.

The situation is very bad. For years we were warning the world of whats going on (the actions of Israelis) every day without any accountability. We were always calling for accountability. The failure of accountability leads to what is going on now, he said.

Now, the situation is very bad on both sides, he said.

Calling for a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, Alhaija said the current cycle of hostilities may end after some time, but it may recur in absence of the resolution of the long-pending issue.

This war may end. But if there is no solution, if there is no peace process to the Palestinian cause, it (the hostilities) will come again, he said.

The Palestinian people, like any people in the world, should get their rights. They have the right to live like any other people. We cant live under the pressure of the occupation, he said.

The ambassador said Palestine is looking for peace.

We are looking for peace. We want to live like any other people in the world. We want our children to play freely in their homes and homeland, he noted.

The Palestinian ambassador also held that the US-led initiative of Abraham Accords could not bring peace to West Asia.

The Abraham Accords were aimed at normalising Israels relations with a number of Arab countries.

The envoy said initiatives like Abraham Accords will not pay any dividend if the main issue is not resolved.

Alhaija also trashed Israels allegations that Iran has been providing support to Hamas.

Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon on Sunday alleged that Iran has a hand in the attacks and suggested that the country supplied weapons to Hamas.
Despite a Hamas warning to execute a captive for every home struck, Israel declared on Tuesday that it has retaken control of the Gaza border after bombarding the territory with the strongest air assaults in the 75-year history of its confrontation with the Palestinians.

Israel has threatened to exact mighty revenge after gunmen rampaged through its cities, leaving the bloodiest attack in its history behind them and the streets littered with bodies. It has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists and imposed a complete siege on the 2.3 million-person-strong Gaza Strip.

Despite a Hamas warning to execute a captive for every home struck, Israel declared on Tuesday that it has retaken control of the Gaza border after bombarding the territory with the strongest air assaults in the 75-year history of its confrontation with the Palestinians.

Israel has threatened to exact mighty revenge after Hamas terrorists rampaged through its cities, leaving the bloodiest attack in its history behind them and the streets littered with bodies. It has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists and imposed a complete siege on the 2.3 million-person-strong Gaza Strip.

Bodies were placed on stretchers and lay out on the ground in the mortuary of the Khan Younis hospital in Gaza. There was no more room for the dead, so medics called for family to quickly pick up bodies.

A former municipal building that was being used as an emergency refuge for displaced families was struck and suffered significant casualties.

There is an extraordinary number of martyrs, people are still under the rubble, some friends are either martyrs or wounded, said a Ala Abu Tair, 35, who had sought shelter there with his family after fleeing Abassan Al-Kabira near the border. No place is safe in Gaza, as you see they hit everywhere.

While they were outside reporting, three Gaza journalists were murdered when an Israeli rocket struck a structure. Since Saturday, six journalists have died in Gaza, bringing the total to six.

The Israeli military once suggested that citizens in Gaza move to Egypt, only to quickly clarify that the crossing was blocked and there was no way out.

As for Hamas operatives, they had nowhere to hide in Gaza, said military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. We will reach them everywhere.

There has still not been a full official tally of all those killed and missing in Saturdays strikes in Israel. Volunteers wearing yellow vests and face masks gravely carried the deceased out of homes on stretchers in the southern village of Beeri, where more than 100 bodies had been recovered.

A houses floor was covered in a long, wide path of blood where bodies had been dragged out onto the street from a blood-soaked kitchen where furniture had been flipped over.

The thing I want the most is to wake up from this nightmare, said Elad Hakim, a survivor from a music festival where Hamas had killed 260 partygoers at dawn. Everything was so amazing, the best party Ive been to in my life, until it from paradise to hell, in one second.

The Gaza Strip, which Israel abandoned in 2005 and has kept under blockade since Hamas seized power there in 2007, may be the target of its upcoming ground operation. It announced a total siege on Monday, which would prevent even food and fuel from getting to the strip.

Israel required more than two days to finally close off the multi-billion dollar, high-tech barrier wall that was supposed to be indestructible since the attack on Saturday utterly caught them off surprise.

Early on Tuesday, military spokesman Hagari stated there had been no additional infiltrations from Gaza since the day before.

Now, Israeli leaders must choose whether to restrain their reprisal in order to protect the hostages. On Monday, the spokesperson for Hamas, Abu Ubaida, threatened to kill one person.

At a critical time when Israel was close to agreeing to normalise relations with the wealthiest Arab nation, Saudi Arabia, the strikes on Saturday and Israels response upended diplomatic arrangements in the Middle East.

Israel has been warmly supported by Western nations. There have been protests on the streets of Arab cities in favour of the Palestinians. Iran, who supports Hamas, cheered the assaults but denied having any involvement with them directly.

On Tuesday, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared that Iran had kissed the hands of the attacks architects, but that anyone who thought Iran was responsible for them was mistaken. He claimed that Israel had suffered an irreparable military and intelligence defeat as a result of the attacks.

The Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, Irans other major ally in the region, was drawn into the fighting during a fatal skirmish on Israels northern border on Monday, raising concerns about the opening of a second front in the conflict. It claimed that no incursion into Israel had its approval.

(With agency inputs)
A senior Hamas official on Monday said only a small number of top commanders inside Gaza knew about the wide-ranging incursion launched into Israel, but that allies like Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation.

Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership, spoke to The Associated Press in his Beirut office as Israel bombarded Gaza and vowed a total blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

The surprise attack on Saturday caught Israels vaunted military and intelligence services completely off guard, as hundreds of Hamas gunmen poured through holes blown in the border fence and rampaged through several towns, killing hundreds of soldiers and civilians, and capturing scores of others.

Barakeh said the attack was planned by around a half dozen top Hamas commanders in Gaza and that even the groups closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing. He denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack or gave the go-ahead at a meeting last week in Beirut.

Only a handful of Hamas commanders knew about the zero hour, Barakeh said, adding that no one from the central command or the political bureau of Hamas was in the Lebanese capital last week.

He acknowledged that Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah militant group have helped Hamas in the past, but said that since the 2014 Gaza war Hamas has been producing its own rockets and training its own fighters.

Asked whether the US has seen evidence of Iranian involvement, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby at the White House noted theres a degree of complicity from Iran due to its years of support for Hamas, however, the U.S. hasnt seen hard, tangible, evidence that Iran was directly involved in participating in or resourcing, planning these sets of complex attacks that Hamas pulled off over the weekend.

Barakeh also denied speculation that the attack, which had been planned for more than a year, was aimed at derailing US efforts to convince Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel.

Instead, he said it was driven by a range of actions taken by Israels far-right government over the past year, including provocative visits to a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site and increased pressure on Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. He also said Hamas believed Israel had plans to kill its top leaders.

He said even Hamas was shocked by the extent of the operation, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, saying it had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack.

We were surprised by this great collapse, Barakeh said. We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger.

His claim that Hamas has only planned a small operation is belied by the fact that an estimated 1,000 fighters took part in the incursion, attacking by land, sea and even motorized paragliders.

Israel has declared all-out war and vowed to punish Hamas like never before, and the mobilization of 300,000 Israeli reserves has raised the prospect of a ground invasion or even a reoccupation of Gaza. The Israeli military says it has already killed hundreds of militants and bombed numerous Hamas targets.

Barakeh said Hamas has so far employed only a small number of its own forces. He said nearly 2,000 Hamas fighters have taken part in the latest fighting, out of an army of 40,000 in Gaza alone.

Hamas may also be able to count on its allies if it faces a major setback. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired several rockets and shells at three Israeli positions in a disputed area. On Monday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group claimed it sent four gunmen across Lebanons border into Israel.

The militants said they had wounded seven Israeli soldiers. Israel said its own forces shot and killed several gunmen who crossed into the country from Lebanon. It also shelled southern Lebanon in response.

Barakeh, who was Hamas representative in Lebanon for years and is now in charge of coordinating with other Palestinian factions, said his group will use the scores of Israelis it captured in the raid to secure the release of all Arabs detained in Israeli jails and even some Palestinians imprisoned in the United States on charges of funding Hamas.

There are Palestinians held in America. We will ask for their release, he said, without specifying who he was referring to.

In 2009, a court in Dallas sentenced two founding members of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, once the largest U.S. Muslim charity, to 65 years in prison for funneling millions of dollars to Hamas. Three other men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years for conspiracy.

Barakeh said Hamas is ready to fight a long war with Israel, saying it has an arsenal of rockets that will last a long time.

We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war, he added. We will bring life to a stop in the Zionist entity if the aggression does not stop on Gaza.
The Israel Polices Lahav 433 units cyber division, according to a statement from the police, freezed bitcoin accounts owned by Hamas Tuesday.

According to the police spokespersons section, Hamas had been utilizing accounts to raise money on social media since Saturday.

To stop terrorist organizations from exploiting cryptocurrency channels, Lahav 433 collaborated with the Defense Ministry, Shin Bet, and other intelligence organizations.

Israel and the cryptocurrency exchange Binance worked together to find and terminate the accounts.

Lahav 433 also collaborated with the UK authorities to halt access to a Barclays bank account.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) on Tuesday advised Palestinians living in Gaza to flee to Egypt while they still can amid the ongoing war with Hamas.

According to a report by the Times of Israel, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters, Rafah crossing is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the common crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the Rafah crossing, was partially closed on Monday.

Earlier, Egypt had urged Israel to exercise restraint and Hamas to hold its captives in good condition to keep open the possibility of de-escalation soon, although successive Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip made mediation difficult, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Israel refutes claim that Egypt warned of attacks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office has rejected claims made by Egypt that it has warned Israel of something big repeatedly.

The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false, the prime ministers office said on X, formerly Twitter.

The Prime Ministers Office:

The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false.  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 9, 2023

It added, No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly. This is totally fake news.
As the war between Israel and Palestine rages on for the fourth day, authorities in the capital city of Jerusalem have asked residents to stock on essential commodities like water and food.

According to a report by PTI, locals in Jerusalem were seen rushing to supermarkets to stock essentials. The sudden surge in demand has led to a shortage of water in local stores.

VIDEO | Authorities in Jerusalem city of Israel have asked locals to keep a good stock of water, food and essentials at home. People could be seen rushing to the supermarkets and stocking essentials. The local stores are facing a shortage of water, reports PTIs Harinder Mishra pic.twitter.com/PcnZFc1Ndu  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2023

The war between Israel and Hamas has left at least 1,500 dead on both sides, ie, Israel and Palestine.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war was forced upon Israel in the most brutal and savage way and though it didnt start the war, it will definitely finish it, in a stern warning to Hamas.

In an address to the nation, Netanyahu said, Israel is at war. We didnt want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it.

Supermarket enforces purchase limit

According to a report by the Times of Israel, Israels largest supermarket chain Shufersal has announced that it is putting a limit on how much shoppers can purchase goods like water and eggs.

Shufersal stores will only be selling two six-packs of 1.5 liter water bottles, a rack of 30 eggs or two cartons of 12 eggs, three units of price-controlled milk, and two loaves of price-controlled bread per customer.

Out of responsibility towards all customers, and due to heavy demand, supply difficulties and a partial lack of products in the stores, we have decided to limit the purchase of basic food products such as water, eggs, bread and milk, says Shufersal CEO Uri Watermann.
With most countries scrambling to determine how many of their citizens were either dead, missing or in need of crucial medical help or needed to board flights back to their home countries, the Israel-Hamas war in West Asia entered Day 4 on Tuesday.

A number of countries have offered to mediate to bring about an end to the fighting, which has already killed at least 1,600 people in the region. The death toll is expected to grow as Israel pummelled the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and forced Palestinians to seek refuge in UN shelters.

Israel, meanwhile on Day 4 increased its barrage of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and cut it off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation to Saturdays deadly and sudden infiltration by Hamas militants carried out over land-sea-air with military precision. The militants caught Israel completely off guard early on Saturday morning and even managed to penetrate the nearly impenetrable air defence system, arguably one of the best in the worldIsraels famed Iron Dome.

Not content with inflicting maximum damage on Israeli citizens, Hamas also abducted and took hostages. On Monday night, after reeling from Israels airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, Hamas has threatened to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.

On the wars fourth day, Israel was still gathering bodies from Hamas stunning weekend attack on southern Israeli towns, while continuing to bomb Gaza City, according to emerging media reports. Israel has also started expanding its massive mobilization of reservists, promising crushing retaliation for Saturdays daring attack on its towns and cities.

Israels military on Tuesday morning also said in a statement that it had effectively regained control over its southern areas and the corresponding border.

Carrying out what it claimed were the fiercest air strikes in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians, Israel has allegedly razed whole districts to dust despite a Hamas threat to execute a captive for each home hit. Ignoring the threats, Israel has vowed mighty revenge since Hamas gunmen rampaged through its towns, in what is also being seen as the deadliest attack in its history.

Gazas health ministry on Tuesday said Israels retaliatory strikes had killed at least 770 people and wounded more than 4,000. The air strikes, already the heaviest ever, intensified on Tuesday evening, shaking the ground and pouring columns of smoke and flames into the morning sky.

According to a United Nations estimate, more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools. Bombardment shut roads to emergency crews and has limited access to hospitals.
To protect their children after the Hamas members entered their home, an Israeli couple executed seven of the groups terrorists and later got killed too.

Israels consul in Ukraines Western Region, Oleh Vyshniakov, told the couples tale on Facebook.

Both Israeli army commanders Adar and Itay Berdychivsky of the Kfar Aza kibbutz kept guns at home.

The couple concealed their 10-month-old twins in the mammad, a reinforced security room mandated in all new homes by Israeli law, when the militants drew near their home, and then went back to wait for the militants in the main house to divert their focus away from their children.

Seven militants were murdered by Adar and Itay, who later died themselves.

Before their uncle and grandfather discovered them, their kids had been in the hiding area by themselves for 13 hours.

They are now safe and in a loving and caring environment.

They were discovered by Itays brother and Adars father, who spent hours fighting the terrorists and saving dozens of people but were unable to reach their own relatives in time to save them.

On the morning of October 7, Hamas terrorists penetrated Israels borders and fired many rockets into the country from the Gaza Strip.

Israel claimed to have reclaimed control of all borders and territories bordering the Gaza Strip on October 9.

According to Israeli media, during the weekend raid, Hamas fighters killed roughly 900 Israelis, left thousands injured and kidnapped nearly 100.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, since Saturday, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 770 deaths and 4,000 injuries among Palestinians. They also assert that since Saturday, at least another 100 injuries and 18 fatalities have occurred in the West Bank.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he has invited the top diplomats from Israel and the Palestinian Authority to address an emergency meeting Tuesday of the blocs foreign ministers.

Borrell said Israels Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, and his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, were asked to participate in the hybrid video and in-person talks after the surprise Hamas assault.

The EU has strongly condemned the attack by the Islamist militants on Israel but has sent out mixed messages over the future of its development aid to the Palestinians.

Brussels rowed back comments from neighbourhood commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on Monday that the 27-nation bloc was immediately suspending all payments to the Palestinians.

The EUs executive arm said it was reviewing hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) of development aid from the EU, the biggest donor to the Palestinians, but that payments were not suspended.

The European Commission said it was checking if the funding was indirectly enabling any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel.

Emergency humanitarian aid continues to flow to the Palestinians, the bloc said.

EU nations are split over development aid for the Palestinians.

Economist powerhouse Germany has already said it has temporarily suspended its owns development aid to the Palestinians, while France said it was opposed to halting EU funds.

Borrell and a number of foreign ministers are currently in Omans capital, Muscat, for a long-planned meeting with Gulf counterparts.

Fears of a regional conflagration have surged amid expectations of a looming Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on Saturday.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the countrys 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 687 people killed so far in reprisal bombardments.

Israel said on Tuesday the bodies of 1,500 Hamas militants had been recovered from towns near Gaza.
Irans Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday claimed that Israel has suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence, Iranian News Agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

The Iranian leader however said that Tehran was not involved in the Saturday attack by Hamas on Isreal.

But those who say that the recent great event is the work of non-Palestinians are making miscalculations Khamenei was cited in the IRNA report.

Khamenei made the remarks while attending the joint graduation ceremony for the cadets studying in the academics of Irans Armed Forces.

Since the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the occupying Zionist regime has suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence, said Khamenei.

Khamenei then noted that while everyone talked about the defeat, he would emphasize the irrevocability of it.

I say that this devastating earthquake has managed to destroy some of the main structures of the occupying regimes rule, which cannot be rebuilt so easily, the Iran leader said in his remarks that were televised.

We kiss the foreheads and arms of the resourceful and intelligent designers [of the operation] and the Palestinian youth, Khameni said in his first speech since the weekend attack on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza strip.

So far at least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,616 people injured in the attack, according to The Times of Israel.

Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the attack on Israel.

According to senior members of terrorist groups Hamaz and Hezbollah, Iran gave approval for the assault at a meeting held in Beirut last Monday, according to the WSJ report that was cited by the Israel Foreign Ministry statement on X app.

The attack was planned to coincide with Israels internal political turmoil surrounding Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. In addition, the attack was planned to disrupt the rapidly progressing US-brokered negotiations aimed at normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a development considered as a threat by Iran, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, Wall Street Journal reported.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Hamas has grown stronger with Irans support in recent years. However, he also mentioned that there is no direct evidence of Irans involvement in the specific Hamas attack on Israel.

In an interview with ABC News, Blinken said, Theres a long relationship between Iran and Hamas. In fact, Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support that its gotten over many years from Iran. We havent yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack is involved, but the  the support over many years is clear.

Meanwhile, earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces top spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stressed that the military has regained full control of the Gaza border after Hamas terrorists blew up sections of the border fence during the attack on Saturday, reported The Times of Israel.

Adding to this, he noted that not even a single terrorist entered via the fence.

According to the Israeli Air Force, fighter jets have been striking numerous terror targets belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Overnight, dozens of fighter jets struck over 200 targets in Rimal and Khan Yunis.
A pro-Palestinian statement from students that blamed Israel for the violence engulfing the region was condemned on Monday by prominent Harvard University alumni, who urged the school to take action against the signatories.

The largest breach of Israels defences since Arab armies went to war in 1973 occurred on Saturday when the Islamist militant Hamas movement, which governs the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, assaulted the Jewish state. In response, Israel attacked Gaza with airstrikes.

In both Israel and Gaza, hundreds of civilians have died.

Following decades of occupation, a group of 34 Harvard student organisations stated that they hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence and added that the apartheid regime is the only one to blame.

Along with organisations named for a range of backgrounds, such as the Harvard Jews for Liberation and the African American Resistance Organisation, the letters signatories also included Muslim and Palestinian solidarity groups.

In a statement released on Monday, Harvard President Claudine Gay and senior administrators, including 15 deans, said they were heartbroken by the death and destruction unleashed by the attack by Hamas that targeted citizens in Israel this weekend.

However, the statement avoided making explicit mention of the student letter or the response to it.

With four of the nine presently serving Supreme Court Justices and eight former presidents, Harvard is the most significant academic institution in American politics.

Several Harvard graduates have criticised the present Harvard leadership for failing to respond, including Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers, the former university president and U.S. Treasury Secretary under Democratic President Bill Clinton.

The silence from Harvards leadership  has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel, Summers wrote on social media platform X.

I am sickened.

Although colleges have historically been a haven for radical thought and free speech, the student letter caught the attention of the political establishment.

Elise Stefanik, a Harvard graduate and Republican member of Congress from New York, referred to the speech as abhorrent and heinous for justifying the slaughter of innocent women and children.

Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Harvard Law School graduate, wrote on X: What the hell is wrong with Harvard?

(With agency inputs)
The Manipur government on Tuesday requested that people refrain from trespassing on the properties of those who had fled the northeastern state due to the five-month-old ethnic unrest as this could worsen the law and order situation.

The home department stated that anyone usurping or harming other peoples properties will face legal action, citing a Supreme Court order directing the Manipur government to ensure protection of the properties of the displaced persons as well as those that have been destroyed or burned in the violence and prevent their encroachment.

The state government order came amid reports that properties belonging to members of one of the warring communities are being burnt or razed to the ground by the other in various places.

The state government views with utmost sensitivity as any such incident may further ignite or aggravate law and order situation in the state, the order read.

It said, Deputy commissioners and superintendents of police are advised to take action and implement the Supreme Courts order.

More than 180 people were killed since the violence erupted on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.

(With inputs from agencies)
After calamitous floods hit two thirds of Slovenia in August, one mayor took a radical decision  to raze most of the houses in one village rather than rebuild them.

My role is to ensure people have a safe life, Tomaz Zohar told AFP, and living in Letus is definitely not safe.

Knowing worse was to come with climate change, he said he had no choice.

Augusts flooding was the worst the country of two million has ever seen, with many roads and 100 bridges washed away in 180 out of its 212 municipalities.

While it will cost Slovenia 10 billion euros ($10.6 billion) to rebuild, the knock-on effects of the disaster were felt across Europe, forcing Volkswagen to slow production at several plants after a key supplier was hit.

As the world warms, the risk of such intense downpours is rising, with building on flood plains, bad planning and the runoff from urban areas often multiplying the damage done.

Some 100 homes in Letus were flooded when the Savinja river burst its banks in August, a nightmare mayor Zohar doesnt want to relive.

Showing his plans for Letus, Zohar said he wants to build new homes in a safe area by 2025, with the land containing the existing houses becoming a buffer zone in case of fresh flooding.

No reason to leave

In Letus, where the river cuts the village in two, opinion is divided.

We have been flooded four times so far, said resident Darja Primozic, who wants to leave as fast as she can.

Fear enters your bones, she told the Delo daily. Every time there is heavy rain you panic.

But not everyone is ready to leave their homes.

Businessman Bojan Arcan claimed that if the river bank had been maintained better, we would be safe, there would be no reason for us to leave.

In the courtyard of his home, wooden furniture is still out to dry from the deluge.

Insisting that maybe we wont have new floods for another hundred years, the 43-year-old has collected more than 100 signatures against the move, saying the new site for the homes is worse.

But Zohar, the mayor of Braslovce municipality of which the village is a part, is pressing on. He needs the green light and financial backing from the government for his plans, hoping it will show the wisdom and courage to carry the project out.

Liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob called on the country to prepare for more situations like this after the floods.

When asked about moving homes in Letus, the governments information office told AFP it was looking for lasting solutions in collaboration with local communities.

Never be the same

But renowned Slovenian climatologist Lucka Kajfez Bogataj hopes they back Zohar, saying the mayor is the only one so far who understood what is at stake.

She said others across Europe will also be displaced by global warming.

People believe climate change-related events are cyclic (but in fact) things will never be the same. It is horrible, hard, but we should tell people the truth, said the former member of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

It makes no sense re-building houses on the same river bank that will be flooded again, added the scientist.

Slovenias floods have sent a very clear message that even areas that in the past were very much under stable weather conditions, are pretty much in danger, Slovenias Janez Potocnik, a former European Commissioner for the Environment, told AFP.

Scientists warn that extreme weather is becoming more intense as a result of climate change.

Due to its small size, Slovenia can set an example by adapting, said Kajfez Bogataj. If it doesnt it risks leaving a terrible heritage for future generations.

We will be able to manage it, we just need to start, she said.
The White House has announced that the US has already begun the dispatch of munitions and military equipment to Israel to support it amid war with Hamas. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is currently reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to the country.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed that the first batch of military aid is making its way to Israel in the wake of violent attacks by Hamas.

We fully expect there will be additional requests for security assistance for Israel as they continue to expend munitions in this fight, Kirby said.

He added, We will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that were filling their needs as best we can and as fast as we can.

11 US citizens die in Israel

On Monday, Biden announced that among those killed in the Israel-Palestine attack were 11 American citizens while an unknown number remain missing.

As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed, Biden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The US President also said that it is likely that Americans are among those being held hostage by Hamas and that his government is working with Israeli officials on every aspect of the hostage crisis.

In a statement, Biden said, The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.
In a reported artillery attack by the ruling military on a camp of refugees close to the Chinese border, at least 29 peopleincluding women and childrenwere killed in Myanmar.

Since the militarys coup in 2021, which led to conflict with a resistance movement and armed ethnic groups all around the country, the attack was one of the worst on civilians.

The bombardment, which happened in Kachin State Monday night about midnight, was attributed to the military by the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and the British Embassy in Yangon.

According to a junta official, the military was not at fault.

We are investigating. We always take care of border peace situation, Zaw Min Tun said, adding that the explosion may have involved an ethnic rebel groups own munitions.

Officials told the media that artillery fired from a position in the town of Laiza run by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has been at war with Myanmars military for years, struck a camp for internally displaced people approximately 5 kilometres (3 miles) away.

There were perhaps 30 fatalities, according to sources and the media. According to Myanmar Now, a KIA spokeswoman described it as a massacre against our ethnic people.

The NUG criticised what it referred to as a barbaric assault on civilians and demanded that Myanmars generals be tried in public.

This act of military council is war crime and crime against humanity, NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said, adding an attack at the border with China showed the junta did not respect its neighbours demand for peace and stability.

The military was given the blame for the strike by the British Embassy, which added that it must stop its brutal campaign against the Myanmar people.

The Chinese foreign ministry urged the relevant parties to resolve disputes peacefully,  avoid escalation, and take practical and effective measures to ensure the security of the China-Myanmar border .

Many residents reside in displacement camps in and around Laiza, which is located not far from the Chinese border. According to the UN, the fighting in Myanmar has forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

Laiza was shaken by the explosion, according to a student activist who is now there, and inhabitants were fleeing, she said.

We are on alert because we worry that there can be second bomb attack, said Justin, who declined to provide a last name.

The locals are worried about that and so people are relocating now.

The attack was the deadliest since an airstrike in April that left dozens of people dead, including civilians, in Myanmars troubled Sagaing area.

(With agency inputs)
North Korean official media criticised Israel for the killing in Gaza on Tuesday, weighing in for the first time on the military hostilities between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas.

The ruling Workers Party mouthpiece, Rodong Sinmun, issued a brief report on the conflict and casualties, citing foreign media.

The international community claims that this clash was the result of Israels constant criminal acts against the Palestinian people, and that the fundamental way out is to build an independent Palestinian state, the newspaper said.

After a catastrophic weekend attack by Hamas, the violence has elicited international professions of solidarity for Israel as well as calls for a halt to the conflict and the protection of civilians.

In the face of an impending ground attack by Israel, which has called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and established a blockade on Gaza, Hamas has threatened to execute an Israeli captive.

On foreign matters, North Korean state media has frequently advocated against Western perspectives, particularly those of the United States.

On Monday, state media condemned hostile forces inside and outside Syria for a recent drone attack that caused many casualties in the country, calling it a terrorist attempt to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern Tuesday about the growing popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the party made strong gains in state elections at the weekend.

We have to be concerned about the votes that went to a right-wing populist party in Germany, said Scholz, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Hamburg.

There is no doubt at all that political positions are represented there that are not well compatible with the ideas we have of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, he added.

The anti-immigration AfD gained several percentage points in the key polls on Sunday, coming second in the state of Hesse and third in Bavaria. Scholzs centre-left-led coalition meanwhile suffered heavy losses.

Immigration was among the key topics as Germany, like elsewhere in Europe, is facing a surge of new arrivals that has revived memories of a major influx in 2015.

Asked whether the government planned to change its migration policies after the far rights latest gains, Scholz defended the coalitions approach, saying steps were being taken to deal with surging numbers.

But he also acknowledged the number of refugees coming to Germany is too high, especially considering that many of them have been in other European countries before, where they were not registered or processed through asylum procedures.

Macron, on a two-day visit to Germany, said that rising nationalism was due to an ineffective response to the problems of illegal migration.

Strengthened European cooperation was needed, he added.

EU states last week agreed to the final part of an overhaul for rules on how they handle asylum seekers and irregular migrants, setting up a push to make it law by elections next year.

Once implemented, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum would seek to relieve the pressure on so-called frontline countries such as Italy and Greece by relocating some arrivals to other EU states.
Amid protest rallies over the Israel-Hamas conflict, groups of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters clashed at High Street Kensington Tube Station in London on Monday evening.

Police officers were dispatched to restrain tensions between sympathisers on opposing sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their priority was keeping the peace and avoiding violence between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters as events overseas triggered heated demonstrations in London.

Videos on various social media platforms showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube Station as a pro-Palestine rally taking place outside the Israeli embassy started to escalate.

#WATCH | London, UK: Clashes erupted yesterday between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters at High Street Kensington Underground Station amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. pic.twitter.com/CTKlAmJA3w  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country, killing over 700 people.

Meanwhile, UK PM Rishi Sunak has branded the people supporting Hamas for the appalling attack as terrorists.

The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists, posted Sunak on X.

Thousands gathered for the pro-Palestinian protest in front of the Israeli Embassy on Monday evening at around 6 pm (GMT). Some protestors were seen climbing lampposts with flags and flares. Protesters chanted Israel is a terrorist state and Allahu Akhbar. Stalls were set up selling Free Palestine merchandise. Some launched fireworks towards the embassy building.

Events in central London this evening  following the attack in Israel and the escalation of conflict along the border with Gaza in recent days  have now concluded, with three arrests and further live arrest enquiries underway, said Metropolitan Police in a statement.

In contrast, weeping Israelis held a vigil outside Downing Street in the evening to honour victims and hostages taken by Hamas during an assault over the Gaza border on Saturday. UK PM Rishi Sunak also visited a London synagogue in a show of support for Israel.

On the other hand, Suella Braverman, Member of Parliament of the UK called for zero tolerance of terrorism on the streets of Britain.

There must be zero tolerance for anti-semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews, Braverman posted on X.

The protests reflected growing overseas tensions over the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine.

Earlier on Monday, a Kosher restaurant in the Golders Green area in London was vandalised, and a nearby bridge was graffitied with Free Palestine. The UKs Chief Rabbi said hardly any Jewish family is unaffected by the Hamas attack, calling it a time of grief and worry.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan posted online, There is no tolerance for hate in our city. I remain in close contact with the Met Police. Whoever did this will face the full force of the law.

I stand with Jewish Londoners, today and always, he said.

The pro-Palestinian rally featured angry condemnation of Israeli military actions in Gaza, which they view as occupation. Meanwhile, pro-Israel demonstrators mourned recent casualties and emphasized Hamass role in instigating unrest.

As emotions run high, the Metropolitan Police is on alert.

Londoners will continue to see officers on the streets, in our communities across London in the days to come following days to reassure and protect, the Metropolitan Polices statement added.

More protests are scheduled in London by both sides through the week. A huge pro-Palestinian rally is to take place in front of the BBC building on Oxford Street.
A prominent Indo-Canadian community member has voiced deep concern over the ecosystem in Canada that has enabled Khalistan extremists to use violence, threaten and bully those opposing their nefarious agendas.

Amidst the diplomatic standoff between Canada and India over the killing of a pro-Khalistan separatist in Surrey in British Columbia province in June, he cautioned that political appeasement for short-term gains is not in the interest of Canadas future.

It is very concerning for us as a country, as Canadians the direction which we as a country are taking in the sense of giving freedom of expression, which is our charter right, to people who dont believe in that same freedom of expression for others. Peace-loving Canadians do not believe in (a) certain ideology which is very extreme, which does not belong to Canada, National Convener, Canada India Foundation, Ritesh Malik, told PTI in an exclusive interview in Toronto.

Referring to Khalistan extremists in Canada, Malik said these people create differences in society and disturb communal harmony. They work with a nefarious agenda and are derailing relationships between the two countries, he said.

Freedom of expression should be for everyone. We have unfortunately created that kind of ecosystem in Canada where these people are very vocal, very violent, very aggressive, and they dont let anybody. come out against them. They will bully, they will threaten, they will use every possible illegal means to counter any sanity, he said, adding that Sikhs across the US, Canada and the UK have come out and said that they dont believe or endorse the Khalistan ideology.

These (are big issues) that worry us as Canadians, in the long-term interest of Canada. We feel worried about the future of our children, about the rifts between communities, he said, adding that leaders in government and officials in policy and advocacy should take up those issues for the larger interest of Canada.

India and Canada are embroiled in a diplomatic standoff following allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament last month that Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia, a charge angrily rejected by New Delhi as absurd and motivated.

Malik referred to the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985 and said people and families of victims to date feel they have not got justice.

The Montreal-Delhi Air India Kanishka Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was to have landed at Londons Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.

The bombing was blamed on Sikh militants in retaliation to the Operation Blue Star to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1984.

As a Canadian, I have no hesitation in admitting that we havent been able to call out the ideology and people who were responsible for that. Weve seen them flourish. Weve seen them grow, that ideology has grown, got beyond control. People have suffered. Within (the) Sikh community also, there are people whove suffered because of this ideology. They have not got justice for over 40 years now, he said.

This ideology has been flourishing and growing, with whatever patronage or whatever support. That is not Sikh ideology. That is not what Sikh people believe in, he said.

He questioned what prompted Prime Minister Trudeau to conclude within four months in Nijjars case and noted that there are diplomatic ways for countries to deal with issues behind closed doors.

It looks to us, as Canadians, its more like appeasement politics or a political move than anything else, he said, adding that the issue should have been dealt with in a different way to ensure the already strained relationship between the two countries due to the matters left unresolved for decades now, is not further spoilt.

Malik added that Canada has been facing challenges, including economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living. We need countries like India, partners like India, whose economies are growing, he said. It is in our interest as Canada, and as Canadians, to work closely with countries like India, and if there are issues, they need to be resolved in a way that it does not hamper Canadians chances to get economic benefit from opportunities which India presents today, he added.

Malik underscored the importance of resolving issues between the two countries sincerely, leaving aside short-term gains for votes, appeasement. Both these countries have a great future. People on both sides are very progressive. They want the relationship to flourish, they want exchanges to take place, students to come here, people come here to set up businesses, people to go (to India) to explore opportunities, he said.

He added that it is important to resolve the issues, not let them escalate and to nip them in the bud.
On Tuesday, young Israeli reservists stood in queue at Paris principal airport to board flights back home while expressing outrage at the Hamas strikes and their will to fight.

In houses, on streets, or at a desert dance party, most of the 900 fatalities from Saturdays Hamas attacks, according to Israeli media, were civilians.

After Israel announced on Monday that it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reserve personnel, El Al (ELAL.TA) and Israir Airlines (ISRG.TA) have increased the number of flights to bring reservists home.

It was shocking. It was shocking because we werent expecting it at all, 26-year-old Shimone said of Saturdays attacks. One of his friends was missing, and many others had already joined the army.

Currently, they are all already fully equipped. Theyve already started the work, so we have to join them, thats all.

(With agency inputs)
The White House has been lit in blue and white light in support of Israel following the attacks by Hamas that have left over 900 people dead since Saturday.

Tonight, America says clearly to the Israeli people, to the world, and to terrorists everywhere that we stand with Israel. That will never change, US President Joe Biden said.

White House in White and Blue tonight. We stand with Israel, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk said.

Notable landmarks in the US and other cities of the world have also been lit up in the colours of the Israeli in a show of solidarity. These include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York City and a giant screen that was put up in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

In a telephone conversation with Netanyahu on Tuesday, Biden said, The United States stands with Israel, we will never fail to have their back. When I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, I told him that the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults.

He added, Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop. I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people.

With inputs from ANI
Sweden has temporarily halted development aid to Palestinian territories following a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel over the weekend, Development Minister Johan Forssell told a news conference on Tuesday.

European Union foreign ministers are meeting on Tuesday to work out divisions among its 27 members over whether to continue aid payments to Palestinians a day after the European Commission backtracked on an announcement suspending all such aid.

We have a new situation after the 7th of October, Forssell told reporters. Our decision today is that Sweden will  pause development aid to Palestine until further notice.

Neighbouring Denmark announced earlier on Tuesday that it would pause its aid.

The government said it had also given the development agency SIDA the task of reviewing aid to Palestinians and to report by the start of December.

We dont want Swedish tax-payers money going to actors who dont have a very clear view on these totally fundamental questions; where they reject terrorism, Forsell said.

But humanitarian aid will continue and will not be paused as a result of this decision.
In a new rule to be announced on Wednesday, an area of roughly 20 blocks that crosses the financial district and major shopping thoroughfares of the Swedish capital will only permit electric cars, some hybrid trucks, and fuel-cell vehicles.

In the first half of 2025, a decision regarding a zone expansion might be made.

Stockholm may be the first significant city to enact such a broad ban, which goes beyond Madrids, Paris, Athens, and Athens proposals to outlaw diesel vehicles.

Low-emission zones with daily entrance fees for vehicles with older combustion engines have been implemented in other cities, including London.

Local politician Lars Stromgren, who oversees traffic regulations, told the state television, We want to create a better living environment for the people who live and work here.

It remains to be seen if the proposal will truly increase sales of electric vehicles in Sweden.

As consumers are squeezed by the countrys chronic cost-of-living issue, EV sales are faltering. Earlier this year, the group Mobility Sweden lowered its prediction for new EV registrations in 2023 from 40% to 35% of all registrations.

On 10 important streets in the citys center, Brussels banned non-essential and non-local car traffic in December.

By extending its ultra low emissions zone, London completed one of the most ambitious automobile emissions regulations in the world in August.

However, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak relaxed some major elements of the UK governments green strategy last month, delaying a plan to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles until 2035 by five years.

The Oslo municipal environment agency earlier this year advocated establishing a zero emission zone in the central city that would first target heavy transportation and trucks in 2025 before expanding it to vehicles in 2027 in the capital of neighboring Norway, the pathfinder on EVs.
Syria has tortured tens of thousands of its people and maintains a widespread and pervasive system of abhorrent treatment, world court judges heard on Tuesday at the first international case over the civil war.

Canada and the Netherlands have dragged Syria before the International Court of Justice, asking the court to demand urgent measures to stop the ongoing mistreatment of thousands still detained.

Every day counts, Rene Lefeber, top representative for the Netherlands, told the court.

Persons in Syria who are currently detained or at risk of being detained cannot afford to wait any longer, added Lefeber.

Damascus snubbed the first day of hearings but has previously dismissed the case as disinformation and lies and said the allegations lack the slightest degree of credibility.

Lefeber cited wrenching testimony from detainees, describing gang rapes, mutilation, and a standardised punishment method involving contorting people into a car tyre and administering a severe beating

Canada and the Netherlands have asked the ICJ to urgently demand that Syria stop all torture and arbitrary detention, open prisons to outside inspectors and provide information to families about the fate of their loved ones.

The ICJ can take years to rule on a case but urgent so-called provisional measures can be ordered in a matter of weeks and are legally binding.

It is our sincere belief that the lives and well-being of Syrians are at stake and require the courts immediate attention, said Lefeber.

Nightmarish conditions

Former prisoner-turned-activist Ahmad Helmi told AFP: I was in prison in Syria for three years and I know for sure that torture is happening around the clock. Its happening around the hour.

It doesnt happen only for interrogation. Sometimes it happens for fun. Just because they feel they enjoy impunity, they can do whatever they want.

Hundreds of people are dying under torture every month, said Helmi in an interview before the hearings.

Balkees Jarrah, from Human Rights Watch, said the ICJ needed to act to prevent further abuses against Syrians, who continue to suffer under nightmarish conditions and whose lives are in serious jeopardy.

While there have been individual war crimes cases linked to the Syrian war in some countries, there has long been frustration in Western capitals at the lack of any wider plan for international justice.

The Dutch first launched a bid in September 2020 to hold Syria responsible for alleged breaches of the United Nations Convention against Torture, to which Damascus is a signatory.

Canada joined the case the following March.

The International Criminal Court (ICC)  a war crimes court which, like the ICJ, is based in The Hague  has been unable to deal with Syria as Damascus never ratified the Rome Statute, the tribunals founding treaty.

Russia and China blocked a draft UN Security Council resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014.

The situation has gained renewed attention after the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the international fold in May, when he attended an Arab League summit.

Describing the hearings as a watershed case, Human Rights Watch hoped the ICJ proceedings would shine a spotlight on Assads return from isolation.

Activist Helmi said there was no chance of rogue state Syria accepting any decisions by the ICJ but insisted that any ruling was still important for victims and families.

We are not talking about a local court somewhere. Its not me saying torture is happening. This will be the ICJ saying that torture is happening, he told AFP.

And whoever wants to re-normalise the Syrian regime, they will have this tag on their forehead that you are normalising with a state that is torturing people around the clock.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday that democracy had thrived on the island despite increased Chinese pressure, and vowed that its people would remain free for generations.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, and has in recent years stepped up military and political pressure against Tsais administration.

Taiwan sees near-daily Chinese warplanes incursions around the island, while on the international stage, Beijing has poached its diplomatic allies in a bid to isolate it.

In a National Day speech, Tsai said it was her duty to safeguard our national sovereignty and the democratic and free way of life of Taiwans 23 million people.

In the midst of tremendous internal and external pressures, Taiwans democracy has grown and thrived and we have emerged with even greater resilience, she said.

To protect Taiwans democracy is to protect the universal value of democracy.

The Taiwanese people, she added, will be a democratic and free people for generations to come.

Tsai also appeared to strike a conciliatory tone with Beijing, saying that Taiwan seeks peaceful co-existence, with free, unrestricted, and unburdened interactions between people across the strait.

We are willing to take the Taiwan public consensus as a basis with a process of democratic dialogue and focusing on maintaining the status quo to develop with the Beijing authorities a mutually acceptable foundation for interaction and a path to peaceful co-existence, she said.

She also reiterated that peace is the only option across the strait.

Maintaining the status quo, as the largest common denominator for all sides, is the critical key to ensuring peace, she said.

Since Tsai was elected in 2016, relations with Beijing have deteriorated, due to her and her administrations refusal to accept that Taiwan belongs to China.

In the past year, Beijing has run massive war games around the island, carrying out simulations of a blockade that have raised the worries of Taipei  as well as key allies such as the United States.

Tsai is in her final year of office, unable to run for president again due to the islands two-term limit.

Taiwan will hold national elections in January, with Tsais deputy Lai Ching-te the current front runner for the poll. Lai has previously described himself as a pragmatic Taiwan independence worker.

His opponents  Hou Yu-ih from the China-friendly Kuomintang party and Ko Wen-je from the smaller Taiwan Peoples Party  seek to promote closer ties with Beijing.
Australians attempting to escape Israel amid war with Hamas claimed that Qantas Airlines have been charging thousands of dollars to change flights while Emirates is offering the same for free.

According to a report, Asher Lilley, a tourist from Darwin, was in Israel on Saturday with her sister and parents while thousands of rockets fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip sparked a major crisis in the area.

The 28-year-old and her family barricaded themselves in a hotel and could hear missiles and fighting from their room, but they were later forced to abandon their haven because it was too risky to stay.

They were surprised to learn that Qantas was charging others hundreds of dollars for the same privilege while they were allowed to rearrange their return flights with Emirates to depart Israel as early as possible, at no additional expense.

According to Lilley, one person she knows was charged a couple of thousand to reschedule their tickets.

Another Australian woman, Bev, has friends stuck in Israel. She took to Facebook on Tuesday, saying: Their flights keep being canceled and Qantas is currently wanting to charge them $10,000.

Lilley took to Instagram on Monday to slam Qantas: Emirates are allowing people to change their flights for free to an earlier date and Qantas is charging people thousands to do the same

I didnt think they could get any lower, yet here they are. Charging Aussie citizens thousands to flee.

A Qantas representative responded to Daily Mail Australias inquiry regarding the accusations a short time later by stating that, subject to availability, all customers can get a refund if they no longer wish to fly or we will waive the change fees if you want to move flights.

We offered assistance for Australians in Israel and have spoken with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about it.

Some consumers have made reservations on Qantas.com for flights to and from Israel on one of our partner airlines.

Clients who are trying to depart Tel Aviv but are experiencing flight issues can contact us to discuss alternatives.

Many like Lilly are also begging the Australian government to assist tourists in fleeing Israel.

Lilly claimed to have gotten no information by the embassy or the government. We were promised updates when we signed up 24 hours ago, but we have received none.

Its been terrible, Just a generic email telling us to keep an eye on flights as if we arent doing that.

When the war started, her family lived in northern Israel, but they were unaware of it and went outside to get something to eat.

Thousands of Hamas rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards southern Israel as well as far as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the attacks got underway at 6.30 am Israeli time on Saturday.

Following the unexpected terror incident, Israel has been bombing Gaza from the air, killing over 900 Palestinians and imprisoning another 130.

Authorities in Gaza reported that 687 people were killed and 2,900 were injured as a result of Israeli bombings that attacked a hospital, mosques, and a refugee camp.
Israels total siege of the Gaza Strip, depriving civilians of goods essential for survival, is banned under international law, the United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday.

Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said peoples dignity and lives had to be respected as he called for all sides to defuse the explosive powder-keg situation.

Palestinian militant group Hamas, which abducted about 150 people in its surprise weekend assault on Israel, threatened to execute the hostages if Israeli air strikes continue targeting Gaza residents without warning.

The threat came after Israel on Monday imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, and sparking fears of an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation.

International humanitarian law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks, Turk said in a statement.

The siege risk seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the capacity of medical facilities to operate, especially in light of increasing numbers of injured, the statement said.

The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law, Turk said.

Any restrictions on the movement of people and goods to implement a siege must be justified by military necessity or may otherwise amount to collective punishment, the statement added.
Earlier this week, Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, lambasted the US for sending a carrier strike group closer to Israel, claiming that this will result in serious massacres in Gaza.

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin declared on Sunday that the country will move a carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel in response to a sudden attack by Hamas militants on Israel on Saturday.

What will the aircraft carrier of the U.S. do near Israel, why do they come? What will boats around and aircraft on it will do? They will hit Gaza and around, and take steps for serious massacres there, Erdogan said in a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Ankara.

Erdogan has already stated that Turkey is prepared to act as a peacemaker between the Israeli and Palestinian forces.

The conflict occurs as Turkey, which has supported a two-state solution to the issue, harboured Hamas militants, and supported Palestinians in the past, attempts to mend relations with Israel following years of hostility.

(With agency inputs)
US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, France President Emmanuel Macron, Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pledged in a joint statement on Monday steadfast and united support for Israel and unequivocally condemned Hamas for its appalling acts of terrorism.

Today, we  President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States  express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal pic.twitter.com/mUP4I1MGw0  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages, said the statement released by the White House.

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage, added the statement.

The statement added that the leaders recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people but said Hamas offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

The joint statement came after an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza on Saturday by the Palestinian militant group, with Israel responding with airstrikes and a complete siege of the Gaza Strip.

At least 900 people have reportedly been killed in Israel since the conflict began on Saturday, with more than 650 dead in Gaza. More than 100 people have been taken hostage by Hamas, according to Israels foreign ministry.

With inputs from agencies
In a report that also blames the Jewish nation for its illegal foreign occupation, the UN Human Rights Council minimized the human losses Israel sustained as a result of strikes by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

The UN Council posted a video to social media on Monday noting the observance of a moment of silence for the loss of innocent lives in the occupied Palestinian territory and elsewhere.

The 900 Israelis slain during the brutal Hamas operations were not mentioned by the UN in its release. However, it did provide a video in which Ambassador Zaman Mehdi, the deputy representative of Pakistan to the UN, makes the accusation that Israel is to blame for the fatalities.

He said that the tragically high death toll and ongoing bloodshed were a terrible reminder of more than seven decades of illegitimate foreign occupation, aggression, and disregard for international law.

Mehdi used the occasion to add that the war declaration by Israel is deeply distressing.

The attacks on civilians and their property, along with the alleged declaration of war, are extremely upsetting. Were still worried about how many lives this deteriorating situation may cost, he said.

In the video, one can see the moment when they all surround the representative of Pakistan after Medhi requested that everyone on the Human Rights Council rise up to observe a minute of silence.

However, Michele Taylor, the permanent representative of the United States to the Human Rights Council, used the opportunity of her turn to reiterate a united stand against terrorism and violence and to request a minute of quiet as well.

The @UN Human Rights Council observed a moment of silence to honour the victims of Hamas attacks against #Israel.#HRC54 pic.twitter.com/HdaFZbfVxa  United Nations Human Rights Council |  #HRC54 (@UN_HRC) October 9, 2023

The United States unequivocally condemns these heinous acts of terrorism. We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel in these trying times, she said.
A total of 187,518 people have evacuated their homes in Gaza, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, with 137,427 taking refuge in UNRWA schools at the moment.

The UN agency reports in a flash update that as of Monday afternoon, it is estimated that over 187,518 individuals in Gaza have fled their homes.

UNRWA is housing 137,427 of them in 83 schools, some of which have served as emergency shelters. Since the 50-day escalation of hostilities in 2014, which was the worst escalation ever recorded in Gaza since 1967, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is the biggest number of individuals to have been displaced.

More than 41,000 IDPs, whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, are reportedly being housed by family members and neighbors.

Israeli forces ordered Palestinian populations in Khan Yunis and the Middle Area of Gaza to leave their homes during the night of October 9 due to continued hostilities. This might have an impact on hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

For the third day running, Israeli airstrikes and land shelling persisted through the night and the whole day. The passage of emergency response personnel and medical teams to victims has been hampered by the destruction of streets and infrastructure.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli retaliatory strikes has grown to above 680.
The United Nations humanitarian office said on Tuesday that nearly 200,000 people or nearly a tenth of the population, have fled their homes in Gaza since the start of hostilities and is poised for shortages of water and electricity due to a blockade.

Displacement has escalated dramatically across the Gaza strip, reaching more than 187,500 people since Saturday. Most are taking shelter in schools, Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson, told a Geneva briefing, saying further displacement was expected as clashes continue.

A World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson said it had reported 13 attacks on health facilities in the Gaza Strip since the weekend and said that its medical supplies stored there had already been used up.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday had condemned the Hamas attack against Israel but said he was deeply distressed by the countrys subsequent imposition of a total siege on the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities, Guterres told reporters. Now it will only deteriorate exponentially.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said his country would impose a complete siege on the long blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: No electricity, no food, no water, no gas  its all closed.

Palestinians in the impoverished coastal territory braced for what many feared would be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate hostages.

This most recent violence does not come in a vacuum, Guterres stressed. The reality is that it grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year-long occupation and no political end in sight.

While I recognize Israels legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law, Guterres said.

Following the Islamist groups unprecedented ground, air, and sea attacks, Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have raised the death toll there to 560 people.

Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamas surprise attack.

The militant group surged into Israeli towns on Saturday, storming military bases, spraying gunfire at civilians, and dragging off about 100 hostages. The conflict has only escalated since then, prompting Israels promise Monday to cut off supplies to the region.

I am deeply distressed by todays announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in  no electricity, food, or fuel, Guterres said.

The UN will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to needs in Gaza, Guterres said.
The driver of a car that crashed through the Chinese consulate in San Francisco and into the lobby of the buildings visa office was shot and killed by police on Monday, according to the municipal police.

The police claimed they did not yet know the name of the driver or what caused the collision, and the official information about the incident was vague. Nobody else who might have been hurt in the the incident was mentioned.

At a news conference held hours later, San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Kathryn Winters said, I dont know how many people were inside the visa office at the time of the collision.

When officers arrived here on scene, they found the vehicle had come to rest inside the lobby of the Chinese Consulate. Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred, Winters said. The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. This is an open and active investigation.

Police were coordinating with investigators from the U.S. State Department, she said, adding: Theres very little information that we can give at this time.

The Chinese diplomatic post in San Francisco issued a statement saying an unidentified person drove violently into the document hall of the consulate, posing a serious threat to the safety of the staff and people at the scene, and causing serious damage to the facilities and property of the consulate.

The consulate went on to say that it strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibility for the incident.
The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is scheduled to dock at the South Korean port of Busan on Thursday, as Seoul warns of a heightened North Korean threat and holds joint maritime manoeuvres with the US and Japan.

The carrier, which is planned to remain in Busan until October 16, will reinforce South Koreas and the United States military posture in the event of any North Korean provocations, according to South Koreas defence ministry.

The Ronald Reagan visited South Korea for the first time in four years in 2022, joining other military warships in a show of force designed to send a message to North Korea.

North Korean state media KCNA on Tuesday criticised the deployment of US strategic assets, including submarines and bombers, in the Asia-Pacific region while defending its plans for a spy satellite program as indispensable.

Pyongyang failed to launch a spy satellite into orbit twice, in May and August, and has promised to attempt again as soon as October.

According to the news agency Yonhap, South Koreas defence minister, Shin Won-sik, warned reporters on Tuesday that the country confronts a more serious danger from North Korea.

The carriers visit comes after the US vowed in the Washington Declaration, published in April by President Yoon Suk Yeol and US Vice President Joe Biden, to improve the regular visibility of its strategic military assets.

On Monday and Tuesday, the South Korean and US warships conducted joint maritime exercises with Japans defence forces in waters near South Koreas Jeju Island, according to the South Korean navy.

The drills, which are the first of their kind since 2016, are aimed at deterring and responding to North Koreas advancing nuclear and missile threats, the navy said in a statement.

A meeting was also held on the carrier on Sunday, attended by South Koreas Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Kim Myung-soo and his US and Japanese counterparts, to discuss countermeasures to Pyongyangs underwater threats as well as its nuclear and missile programs.
White House officials are mulling over including Ukraine funding within an emergency aid package for Israel. This move is seen as a strategic measure to compel far-right lawmakers to authorise additional aid for Kyiv.

President Joe Biden had previously announced the imminent dispatch of military assistance to Israel in response to a surprise attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas over the weekend. However, the White House has indicated its intention to seek congressional approval for further aid to Israel.

Both Republican and Democrat legislators and senior administration officials are hinting at the inclusion of provisions for Ukraine within this aid package, Washington Post, NBC News, and other news outlets on Monday.

While no final decision has been reached, The Washington Post quoted an anonymous official saying the move would be wise as it would jam the far right, referring to Republicans who openly support Israel but express scepticism regarding continued aid to Ukraine.

When questioned about the potential linkage of the two aid packages, White House spokesman John Kirby refrained from providing specifics, stating only, We believe both are important.

The debate over this aid allocation is expected to be contentious. Nevertheless, the Pentagon has assured that it had an ample supply of weapons for all US partners. During a background briefing on Monday, a senior defence official said Washington could continue our support both to Ukraine, Israel, and maintain our own global readiness.

The official underscored that the US has been able to fulfil every request that our Israeli counterparts have made.

In terms of foreign aid, Israel stands as one of the largest recipients, having received approximately $3.3 billion in 2022 alone, according to US government statistics. Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has also emerged as a major beneficiary, with the White House approving at least $45 billion in direct military aid through 47 separate transfers.

Following the deadly Hamas attack early on Saturday morning, both Republicans and Democrats have largely expressed support for Israel. This attack prompted a robust response from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), including an intense bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip. The conflict has thus far resulted in more than 1,600 casualties on both sides  Over 900 in Israel and 700 in Gaza. Hamas have also claimed to have captured over 100 Israeli and foreign hostages during their raids.

The IDF has called up 300,000 reservists as it prepares for a larger conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country to be in a state of war as the attack unfolded and
US President Joe Biden spoke to Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday and reiterated that America will continue to have Israels back.

The United States stands with Israel, we will never fail to have their back. When I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, I told him that the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, Biden said.

VIDEO | The United States stands with Israel, we will never fail to have their back. When I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, I told him that the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend pic.twitter.com/VOdoh7FVBh  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2023

He added, Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop. I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people.

I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people.  President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2023

11 US citizens die in Israel

On Monday, Biden announced that among those killed in the Israel-Palestine attack were 11 American citizens while an unknown number remain missing.

As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed, Biden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed. pic.twitter.com/64GmhuoRob  President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2023

The US President also said that it is likely that Americans are among those being held hostage by Hamas and that his government is working with Israeli officials on every aspect of the hostage crisis.

In a statement, Biden said, The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the surge of violence between Israel and the Palestinians showed the failure of US policy, which he said had sought to monopolise negotiations while ignoring Palestinian interests.

I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East, Putin told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

Putin said the United States had sought to monopolise international efforts at forging peace in the region, and accused Washington of neglecting to seek compromises that would be acceptable to each side.

The United States, Putin said, had ignored the interests of Palestinians, including the need for an independent Palestinian state. The Palestinians want a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital  all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war.

The Kremlin earlier said it was in touch with both sides and would seek to play a role in resolving the conflict between them.

According to a United Nations estimate, more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools. Bombardment shut roads to emergency crews and has limited access to hospitals.
A new piece of video evidence from Hamass surprise attack on Israel has surfaced, demonstrating how the terrorists breached the southern kibbutz of Beeri border, where over 100 people were slaughtered on Saturday.

In the video, two terrorists can be seen arriving at Beeris entrance on surveillance camera footage, but they are initially unable to get past the security gate.

Next, they wait for a car entering the town and ambush it from the side of the road and a booth that is typically guarded by a security guard.

As the security gate opens, the two terrorists enter the neighborhood after killing the cars occupants.

Later, more than 100 Israeli dead were discovered in the town.
A video showcasing Israeli AH-64 Apache attack helicopters actively taking part in operations against Hamas terrorists has gone viral on social media as the Israeli Air Force continuously conducts airstrikes against the Islamist group in Gaza.

Its thought that the footage, which surfaced on October 9, shows Israeli helicopters engaged in operations against Hamas terrorists close to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli AH-64 Apache assault helicopters are reportedly spotted employing 30mm chain gun and Hellfire missiles to engage Hamas militants, according to information posted on social media platform X.

Israeli attack helicopters are seen in the video footage pursuing and defeating numerous targets linked to Hamas fighters.

Israeli AH-64 Apache attack helicopters engage Hamas militants with 30mm chain gun fire and Hellfire missiles pic.twitter.com/mkgMAawY30  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) October 9, 2023

Nevertheless, the video received a lot of attention online, with many internet users praising the impressive weaponry displayed by these helicopters, particularly the use of Hellfire missiles and 30mm chain gun fire.

In addition, several other users on the platform talked about how well the Apache dealt with ground targets and questioned why the United States and its allies hadn't given Ukraine access to these helicopters.

One pro-Ukraine report said that Russia had been frequently using its Ka-52 helicopters without suffering substantial material losses recently and demanded a stop to what he deemed to be bogus justifications for keeping this helicopter.

Another pro-Ukraine account expressed the sentiment: Ukraine needs about 100 of these. Or even more.

Israel has two squadrons of American-made Apache helicopters at the Ramon Air Base in the Negev desert.

These two squadrons employ different helicopter models and naming schemes. The 113th Squadron, also known as Seraph, is in charge of the AH-64D models, while the 190th Squadron, also known as Peten (Cobra), is in charge of the AH-64A type.

After identifying a mechanical problem during standard maintenance, the Israeli Air Force decided to stop using its fleet of Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters, commonly known as Seraph in Israel, in late May.

But after just one week of thorough testing, the Israeli Air Force decided to return the Apache helicopter fleet to active service.

These helicopters have had operational problems in the past. An Apache helicopter unexpectedly had to land in a central Israeli kibbutz earlier this year during the Independence Day flypast because of a malfunction.

Another incident that year included a training mission involving an Apache assault aircraft. This led to a collision at a base in southern Israel, sadly resulting in the death of the pilot and major injuries to a member of the crew.

After that, the entire Apache fleet was grounded for two months until the military deemed it safe to fly again.

Despite these instances, the Israeli Air Force still relies heavily on its Apache helicopter, which is essential to achieving a variety of goals.

This significance was highlighted in June 2023 when Israel used a military operation in Jenin to send Apache assault helicopters to the West Bank for the first time in more than 20 years.

At that time, these powerful Apache helicopter gunships were sent out to reinforce Israeli commandos.

This choice was made in response to an event in which Palestinian militants shot a "unusual and dramatic" improvised explosive device (IED) that hit a Panther troop carrier.

Israeli forces are currently conducting one of their largest airstrike campaigns against Hamas in the Gaza metropolis. In a coordinated operation to neutralise Palestinian militants responsible for a large attack on Israel over the weekend, Israel said that fighter jets had attacked hundreds of targets.

According to Israel, the operations are specifically targeted at Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups' command and control centres, manufacturing plants, and storage locations for weapons.
The World Bank has advised Pakistan to impose taxes on its agricultural and real estate sectors. The global financial institution has also recommended merging the income tax thresholds for salaried and non-salaried individuals to establish a progressive Personal Income Tax (PIT) system.

According to the World Banks projections, effective enforcement of taxes on agricultural income and properties could result in an annual tax collection equivalent to approximately 3 per cent of Pakistans GDP, which amounts to slightly over PKR 3 trillion (Pakistani Rupee), Geo TV reported.

Additionally, the World Bank anticipates approval of a $350 million financial assistance package for Pakistan under RISE-II by its Executive Board. However, as of now, no confirmed date for the board meeting has been announced.

Presently, Pakistan exempts annual income up to Rs600,000 for salaried individuals and up to Rs400,000 for non-salaried individuals from income tax.

Tobias Haque, the World Banks lead economist in Pakistan, stressed the urgency of Pakistans fiscal situation, describing its fiscal deficit as unsustainable.

Pakistan is in a very difficult situation as its fiscal deficit is unsustainable. There is a need to undertake a combination of measures to generate revenues and reduce expenditures. We are recommending to tax the rich and wealthy while protecting the poor, he said

Haque, along with the World Banks Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine, briefed a select group of reporters, emphasising the need to simplify Pakistans income tax structure. They suggested aligning the income tax structure for salaried and non-salaried individuals to ensure progressivity. Importantly, the World Bank did not propose a reduction in the current income tax threshold.

Regarding the possibility of introducing the same income tax structure for salaried and non-salaried individuals, Haque supported the idea but suggested implementing it gradually as part of a broader tax reform. He also highlighted that the tax burden should primarily fall on higher income brackets.

The economist underlined that the World Bank has recommended a comprehensive tax package and expenditure reforms to address Pakistans unsustainable fiscal deficits. He reiterated the banks commitment to safeguarding the interests of the poor by increasing social protection expenditures during the reform process.

Haque further detailed that the proposed reforms should encompass reducing subsidy expenditure, eliminating regressive tax exemptions, and enhancing taxation on high-income earners. This includes improving the taxation of agriculture, property, and retail sectors, ultimately increasing the progressivity of the tax system.

In response to inquiries about potentially lowering the current income tax exemption threshold for salaried workers earning below the Rs50,000 monthly threshold, Haque clarified, No, the World Bank certainly does not recommend any reduction in the current nominal threshold. We recommend that Pakistan simplifies its income tax structure, including aligning the income tax structure for salaried and non-salaried individuals, while ensuring progressivity.
The World Health Organisation called Tuesday for a humanitarian corridor to be established into and out of the Gaza Strip, which has been placed under total siege by Israel.

Israel has cut off the water supply, food, electricity and other essential supplies as it bombed targets in the crowded Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks.

The WHO said its supplies in the Gaza Strip were already running out, as it said patients in the territorys hospitals desperately needed those supplies.

Health facilities must be protected and safeguarded, the UN health agency said.

WHO is calling for an end to the violence a humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with critical medical supplies, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a press briefing in Geneva.

We need supplies to come in: hospitals cannot run without fuel, without electricity.

The supplies that we have pre-positioned are already running low so we need those supplies to come.
Samsung India has introduced a new range of BESPOKE Double Door refrigerators. These fridges come in two variants: BESPOKE Premium Cotta Steel and BESPOKE Glass, offering a sleek and stylish design.

These refrigerators come with a versatile 5-in-1 Convertible feature, offering five modes for various needs.

Normal Mode is for regular use, while Seasonal Mode allows you to turn off the freezer when not in use to conserve energy.

Extra Fridge Mode transforms the freezer into additional fridge space for extra groceries.

Vacation Mode keeps the freezer on but turns off the fridge when youre away.

Lastly, Home Alone Mode is perfect for solo living, converting the freezer into a fridge and switching off the main fridge section.

The Twin Cooling Plus technology keeps your food fresh longer by maintaining separate airflows in the fridge and freezer, preventing food odors from mixing. It also uses two evaporators to manage humidity levels, reducing food wastage.

The Optimal Fresh+ drawer has four modes to store different foods. The Soft Freeze mode keeps delicate items fresh twice as long as regular cooling, preserving their natural flavors.

The SmartThings AI Energy Mode helps you save energy by analyzing your fridge usage patterns and suggesting energy-saving actions if your electricity consumption exceeds your preset target.

The Power Cool feature cools your food and drinks quickly with a burst of cold air, perfect for chilling groceries or beverages before a gathering.

You can conveniently control and monitor your refrigerators performance using the SmartThings app because these fridges are Wi-Fi enabled.

Quick specifications: Samsung BESPOKE Double Door Refridgerators 2023

Available in BESPOKE Premium Cotta Steel and BESPOKE Glass variants

Convertible 5-in-1 feature for flexible storage

Five conversion modes: Normal, Seasonal, Extra Fridge, Vacation, and Home Alone

Twin Cooling Plus technology for independent cooling

Optimal Fresh+ drawer with 4 storage modes

Soft Freeze mode preserves delicate foods

SmartThings AI Energy Mode for energy monitoring

Power Cool feature for quick cooling

Control via SmartThings app with Wi-Fi connectivity

Pricing and availability

The BESPOKE Premium Cotta fridge comes in sizes ranging from 236L to 322L, with the following prices:

BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (236L)  priced at Rs. 30,500

BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (256L)  priced at Rs. 31,500

BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (301L)  priced at Rs. 39,500

BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (322L)  priced at Rs. 42,500

On the other hand, the BESPOKE Glass version is available in 415L and 465L sizes, with the following prices:

BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (415L)  priced at Rs. 54,500

BESPOKE Double Door Refrigerator (465L)  priced at Rs. 57,800

You can buy these new BESPOKE Double Door refrigerators at major electronic stores in India and on Samsungs website, Samsung Shop.

Commenting on the launch, said Saurabh Baishakhia, Senior Director, Digital Appliance Business, Samsung India, said:
DOCUMENT Iohannis si Zelenski au semnat o declaratie pentru un Parteneriat strategic bilateral / Ucraina, recunoscatoare Romaniei pentru pachetul semnificativ de asistenta in domeniul apararii

Presedintii Klaus Iohannis si Volodimir Zelenski au semnat o declaratie pentru un Parteneriat strategic intre Romania si Ucraina.

Declaratia confirma sprijinul si angajamentul neconditionat fata de suveranitatea, independenta, unitatea si integritatea teritoriala a Ucrainei in cadrul frontierelor sale recunoscute la nivel international, inclusiv in apele sale teritoriale.

Ucraina este recunoscatoare Romaniei pentru pachetul semnificativ de asistenta in domeniul apararii oferit de la inceputul invaziei pe scara larga, se arata in document.

Declaratia condamna cu hotarare razboiul de agresiune in curs de desfasurare al Federatiei Ruse impotriva Ucrainei si convine asupra imperativului de a continua asistenta practica acordata statului ucrainean atat timp cat este necesar pentru a obtine victoria asupra statului agresor si pentru a stabili o pace cuprinzatoare, justa si durabila.

Documentul exprima sprijinul deplin pentru formula de pace a presedintelui Ucrainei.

Cei doi presedinti au remarcat in mod pozitiv interesul deosebit si implicarea Romaniei pentru punctele Securitate alimentara si Securitatea radiologica si nucleara ale Formulei Pacii si au facut apel la toate statele care respecta normele de drept international si principiile Cartei ONU sa sprijine procesul de implementare a acestei initiative.

iohannis si Zelenski au salutat faptul ca in curand va fi deschisa o noua ruta feroviara pentru tranzitul cerealelor din Ucraina, care va face legatura cu porturile romanesti si au convenit sa mentina o coordonare stransa, transparenta, previzibila si bazata pe principii in ceea ce priveste tranzitul de cereale ucrainene prin Romania, sa continue sa gaseasca solutii comune cu buna credinta si sa le puna in aplicare rapid si integral pe cele deja convenite. Au subliniat importanta imbunatatirii conectivitatii dintre Romania si Ucraina, inclusiv prin dezvoltarea infrastructurii de transport existente, facilitarea trecerilor de frontiera si eliminarea blocajelor, precum si prin crearea de noi puncte de trecere a frontierei.

Este apreciata in mod deosebit asistenta multidimensionala acordata de Romania pentru a raspunde nevoilor Ucrainei si ale cetatenilor ucraineni inca din primele zile ale invaziei militare la scara larga a Federatiei Ruse si este subliniata importanta continuarii acestui sprijin.

Cei doi presedinti au convenit asupra importantei inceperii pregatirii pilotilor ucraineni in cadrul centrului de pregatire specializat pentru F16 din Romania si au convenit ca pilotii ucraineni vor fi inclusi in primul val al acestei pregatiri. Presedintii au remarcat ca acest lucru, impreuna cu participarea soldatilor ucraineni la alte centre de pregatire din Romania, reprezinta o contributie importanta a Romaniei la consolidarea capacitatilor de aparare ale Ucrainei.

Declaratia integrala:

JOINT STATEMENT

BY THE PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA KLAUS IOHANNIS

AND THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY

Upon invitation of the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to Romania.

The Presidents of Romania and Ukraine had talks, following which they:

 underlined that they share the vision of relations between Romania and Ukraine as a Strategic Partnership based on the principles of good neighbourliness, shared democratic values and respect for international law. We decided to build a Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and Romania and asked our teams to begin working on this, without delay;

 agreed to further intensify their efforts aimed at developing a solid and comprehensive relationship between Romania and Ukraine, based on mutual trust, respect, and solidarity; reaffirmed in this context their commitment for a positive, predictable, forward-looking, project-based agenda of cooperation between Romania and Ukraine, to be pursued in a constructive spirit;

 confirmed unconditional support and commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters. Ukraine is grateful to Romania for its meaningful defence assistance package provided since the beginning of the large scale invasion;

 resolutely condemned the ongoing war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and agreed on the imperative to continue practical assistance to the Ukrainian state for as long as necessary to achieve victory over the aggressor state and establish a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace;

 expressed full support for the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Presidents positively noted Romanias particular interest for and involvement in the Food security and Radiation and nuclear security points of the Peace Formula and called on all states that respect norms of international law and principles of the UN Charter to support the implementation process of this initiative;

 confirmed the joint intention to use all available international formats to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including the International Crimea Platform;

 noted the readiness to continue and deepen cooperation on issues of strengthening the security in the Black Sea region, response to the challenges and of the consequences of the Russian armed aggression as well as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. In this context they welcomed the successful First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimean Platform, jointly organized by Romania and Ukraine in Bucharest in April 2023, and expressed their desire that the conference will become an annual event;

 emphasized that today Romania and Ukraine jointly make a critical contribution to ensuring global food security by virtue of the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through the territory of Romania. The Presidents supported ongoing, coordinated efforts to double the transit volumes through Romania from the current 2 million tons to 4 million tons per month;

 welcomed the fact that a new railway route for transit of grain from Ukraine will be opened soon connecting it with Romanian ports. They commended Romanias readiness to step up the export potential for products originating in Ukraine;

 agreed to keep a close, transparent, predictable and principled coordination regarding the transit of Ukrainian grain through Romania, to continue finding common solutions in good faith and swiftly and fully implement the already agreed ones;

 underlined the importance of improving the connectivity between Romania and Ukraine, including through the development of existing transport infrastructure, facilitation of border crossings and the removal of bottlenecks, and the establishment of new border crossing points;

 highly valued Romanias multidimensional assistance to meet the needs of Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens since the first days of the full-scale military invasion of the Russian Federation and noted the importance of continuing such support;

 agreed on the importance of starting training of the Ukrainian pilots within the dedicated F16 training centre in Romania and agreed that Ukrainian pilots will be included in the first wave of such training. The Presidents noted that this, along with the participation of Ukrainian soldiers at other training facilities in Romania, is an important contribution of Romania to the strengthening of Ukraines defence capabilities;

 strongly condemned the grave crimes and atrocities committed by the Russian military and officials, including deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, other war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Presidents confirmed their commitment for full accountability for all crimes committed in Ukraine, including for the crime of aggression. They saluted in this respect the ongoing investigations carried out by the International Criminal Court, the activity of the Joint Investigation Team and the establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine as well as the activity of the Core Group of States aiming at identifying the most adequate legal solutions for the establishment of Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression in Ukraine;

 strongly condemned the deliberate and systematic Russian attacks against the civilian infrastructure, including of the Ukrainian ports on the Danube, which affected both banks of the Danube, pose serious threats to the safety of citizens and are war crimes that further undermine the Ukrainian economy, food security, including at the global level, and violate free navigation on the Danube and in the Black Sea;

 emphasized that the sanctions introduced by the EU and the wider international community against the Russian Federation should be maintained and strengthened until the full restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

 agreed on the importance of implementing an effective policy of isolation of the Russian Federation, as an aggressor state, in the framework of international organizations;

 noted the importance of Romania joining the group of founding countries of the International Register of Damages caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (under the auspices of the Council of Europe);

 stated the importance of Romanias participation in the implementation of projects for the reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine, as well as the use of the Romanian logistics and transport infrastructure as a hub for partner countries participating in the implementation of projects in Ukraine;

 noted Romanias firm support for Ukraines progress towards the strategic goal of full membership in the European Union. The Presidents positively assessed the results of Ukraines implementation of seven recommendations of the European Commission. They took note of Ukraines commitment to carry out and fully implement in a sustainable manner all the reforms required in the process of European integration, notably those aimed at strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the respect of human rights, including those of persons belonging to national minorities. The Presidents emphasized the need for a political decision to be taken by the end of 2023 on opening the EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova;

 noted the consistency of joint efforts to support Ukraines integration into NATO and implementation of relevant standards, including in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Statement of the Presidents of Romania and Ukraine on the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine dated June 1, 2023;

 welcomed the fact that Romania became a signatory of the Joint Declaration of the G7 on support for Ukraine and Romanias willingness to start negotiations for a bilateral framework with Ukraine in this respect;

 emphasized the importance of using existing cooperation mechanisms within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, UNESCO, IAEA, etc., as well as of regional formats  including the trilateral Romania-Republic of Moldova  Ukraine, the Three Seas Initiative, the Bucharest 9  to strengthen practical assistance to Ukraine and foster cooperation between respective countries on security, energy, infrastructure and other projects;

 reaffirmed mutual determination to strengthen practical cooperation between Romania and Ukraine in all spheres of mutual interest. The Presidents emphasized that the first Joint session of the Government of Romania and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in October 2023, in Kyiv should make a new impetus in fostering such cooperation;

 noted the importance of effective cooperation aimed at ensuring the rights of the persons belonging to the Ukrainian national minority in Romania, and of the persons belonging to the Romanian national minority in Ukraine, including by developing the bilateral legal framework, based on the principle of equivalent level of protection of the rights of persons belonging to the Romanian minority in Ukraine and the persons belonging to the Ukrainian minority in Romania, taking into account international obligations and standards;

 tasked the Governments to resolve, without delay, the issue of the artificial distinction between the Romanian and Moldovan languages, with due regard to all legal aspects;

 highlighted the importance of joint efforts, both bilaterally and in multilateral formats, to counter foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), in particular Russian disinformation and propaganda;

 stated that Romania and Ukraine demonstrate resolve to further strengthen interstate relations on the basis of mutual trust and respect, openness and comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of both states.

Signed on 10 October 2023, in Bucharest, Romania, in two copies, both in English.

President of Romania

Klaus IOHANNIS

President of Ukraine

Volodymyr ZELENSKYY
More than 427,000 Arkansas residents were dropped from Medicaid as the Republican-led state became among the first to finish a post-pandemic review of its rolls
Hollywood writers have voted almost unanimously to approve the contract agreement reached by their union leaders that ended a strike after nearly five months
Police search for killer of retired Vermont college dean who was shot on trail near campus

Students and residents in a small Vermont university town are being told to lock their doors and stick together as police search for a killer who shot a retired dean on her favorite walking trail last week
First two Slovak Air Force pilots return to Slovakia after completing F-16 conversion training in U.S.

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

05.10.2023

The first two Slovak Air Force pilots completed their conversion training on the F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in the U.S. at the end of this summer. After returning to Slovakia, they will now assist the Fighter Squadron (F SQN) at Sliac Air Base in the process of converting to F-16 operations. According to the current agreement, F-16s will be gradually delivered into service with the Slovak Air Force, starting form the second quarter of next year.

In a statement, Defence Minister Martin Sklenar said: "I am delighted to congratulate both pilots on their successful completion of a highly demanding training process. In addition to the state-of-the-art fighter jets and their weapon systems, well-trained personnel are instrumental to the successful and effective conduct of air operations. I believe the pilots will now fully apply the acquired knowledge and skills to the conversion training of additional flying personnel and the reorganisation of the Fighter Squadron at Sliac Air Base."

The first Slovak Air Force pilot started the F-16 Pilot Training Programme (PTP) in 2019 and completed it with his Flight Lead Upgrade (FLUG) Qualification and Basic Mission Qualification (BMQ). He is expected to attend the F-16 Instructor Pilot Course in the U.S. at an as yet unspecified date. The other Slovak Air Force F-16 pilot began his training in 2021 and finished it with his Wingman Qualification (WGMQ) and Basic Mission Qualification (BMQ). The pilots will maintain their qualifications to fly with regular test flights until the arrival of F-16s in Slovakia.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Germany Federal Foreign Office

08.10.2023 - Press release

We condemn the heinous, inhuman attacks on Israel by Hamas in which hundreds of peaceful civilians and innocent people have lost their lives. This senseless terrorist violence and the abduction of numerous civilians are shocking and must cease immediately. The Federal Government stands in solidarity at Israel's side.

With regard to German humanitarian assistance in the Palestinian Territories:

We provide assistance to people in need in line with humanitarian principles - in the Palestinian Territories, just as we do in Syria or Yemen. In this context, we constantly verify, that our help really does get to the people who need it. This also applies in the current situation. We provide no direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority.

According to UN estimates, some 2.1 million people in the Palestinian territories are dependent on humanitarian assistance in 2023.

In 2023, the Federal Foreign Office has made available humanitarian assistance of approx. 72 million euro the Palestinian Territories, via international organisations and the UN. These funds are used primarily to ensure that people in need in the Palestinian territories have access to food and healthcare.
President Leendert Verbeek expresses the solidarity and support of the Congress to authorities and citizens of Israel

Council of Europe

Congress

Strasbourg

9 October 2023

In a letter addressed to Haim Bibas, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, expresses his solidarity with the national, regional and local authorities in the face of the brutal terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. The President firmly condemns it and expresses the support of the Congress in particular to the authorities and citizens.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






October 9, 2023

Transcript

Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing on U.S. Force Posture Changes in the Middle East

Senior Defense Official

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Hi, everybody. Thanks for joining in today on short notice. What I'd like to do is just offer a few comments off the top about the current situation and what the Department of Defense - what the actions are that we have taken to date, and then look forward to taking your questions.

So first of all, as you heard from Brig. Gen. Ryder, this is an unprecedented attack on Israel. The Israelis have described this as their September 11th. As you all are tracking, the casualty count and injury count continues to rise.

I want to differentiate this from other times we have seen conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This is ISIS level savagery that we have seen committed against Israeli civilians - houses burned to the ground, young people massacred at music festivals.

So what has been incredibly a high priority for Secretary of Defense Austin and his team over the last 48 hours or so is to make clear our unequivocal support for Israel's right to defend itself. We think it's incredibly important that this message of support for Israel's defense be underscored across the region, across all the phone calls you have seen the Secretary of State, the National Security Council, and here in the Department of Defense make to allies and partners, both in Europe and in the region. And we're also making very clear to adversaries or those that might be entertaining entering this conflict, to escalate it, that they should think twice and not take advantage of the instability.

Secretary Austin spoke to Minister Gallant on Saturday. He spoke to him again yesterday, Sunday. We expect those phone calls to continue on a regular basis. They are exchanging information to receive operational updates. Minister Gallant has heard a clear message from Secretary Austin of his unwavering support to Israel's security and its right to defend itself and its people.

In addition to the active diplomacy you've seen, the Department of Defense is focused on two broad areas of support to Israel. The first is ensuring that we are responding expeditiously to Israel's requests for security assistance. And the second one is posture adjustment.

So let me take those in order. First of all, with supporting Israel's defense, we are surging support to Israel. That includes air defense and munitions. We remain in constant, ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine and then support their most urgent requirements.

I am not going to get into specifics on this call but the bottom line is we are working as fast as possible to provide critically needed munitions of various types and other equipment. We're also contacting U.S. industry to gain expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders for military equipment that otherwise may have been considered routine for movement.

We're also working across the DOD enterprise, including with U.S. Central Command, to assess what munitions and other equipment are in U.S. inventory that can be made quickly available for Israel. All of this are actions we're undertaking within our existing authority and appropriations.

Points on the posture adjustments. Not going to repeat all of the different posture increases ordered by Secretary Austin. You can reference the statement the department issued on Sunday. But let me speak a little bit about what these posture adjustments are going to do.

The USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Group includes an embarked air wing and accompanying cruisers and destroyers which will conduct maritime and air operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in order to assure allies and partners throughout the region and ensure regional stability.

The versatility and mobility of the strike group, which can conduct a full spectrum of missions, from intelligence collection, maritime dominance, to long-range strike, will ensure the United States is postured to respond to any contingencies and minimize the risk of a wider spread conflict that would threaten stability.

These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deed and not only in words of U.S. support for Israel's defense and serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict. Those adversaries should think twice.

Let me stop there. Look forward to taking your questions.

Staff: Thank you very much. For our first question, we'll go to Associated Press, Tara Copp.

Q: Hi. Thank you for doing this. This is Tara with the AP. I know you can't discuss what munitions you're going to be sending but is there concerns that with all of the munitions that have been sent forward to Ukraine, there's not the capacity to surge here in Israel's conflict?

And then with the Ford's role, you said that you have the potential for long-range strike. Is there a scenario where the U.S. would use its own weapons and conduct long-range strike on targets if there are militants either trying to enter Israel or you see activity in Syria? Any sort of discussions along those lines?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure. On the first question, we are able to continue our support both to Ukraine, Israel, and maintain our own global readiness.

And on your second question, I know you're going to be shocked - to say I'm not going to get into hypotheticals. But the the main point of those posture adjustments is that we remain positioned, we're supporting Israel's defense, and the U.S. military can expeditiously deploy dynamic capabilities across the globe to support the defensive needs of our allies and partners.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. Let's go to Jennifer Griffin, Fox.

Q: Yes, can you speak to reports that there was a meeting between Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon that was sponsored by Iran? Have you seen any evidence that Iran was part of the planning for this operation or participated in any way?

And also, can you talk about the impact of having a CR on the Hill? Have you run out of the annual money that - the $3.8 billion that is provided to Israel in foreign military sales? Is this CR impacting your ability to continue providing more weapons and support?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Thanks for those questions. On the first one, I'm not going to comment on intelligence matters today.

And on the second, at this point in time, we have the resources, authorities, and funding to continue our support to Israel within, of course, the Memorandum of Understanding for security assistance. The current one started in Fiscal Year 2018 and pledged the highest level of security assistance and missile defense funding to Israel ever in the history of our bilateral relationship.

But I think this is a moment to comment broadly on the impact of a CR. This is a clarifying moment in which we would welcome working in a bipartisan manner with Congress and the Executive Branch to ensure that we're sending a signal to allies and partners across the world that our government, both parties and both branches of our government, are working together to ensure that their appropriate authority and appropriations are available to support and respond to crises and contingencies.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. Next, we'll go to Luis Martinez, ABC.

Q: Hi, thank you for doing this. You mentioned earlier air defense. Obviously, Israel has its own Iron Dome system. Are you talking additional Iron Dome assets, missiles, or are you talking about different air defense systems that the U.S. could have? And are you considering patriots? And does that mean U.S. troops might be involved? Thank you.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So, again, I'm not going to comment on hypotheticals. Let me just say at this point, for every request that our Israeli counterparts have made of us, we are able to meet those requests. And one of those areas, of course, is ongoing discussion about the air defense needs they have.

GEN. RYDER: Next we'll go to Nancy Youssef, Wall Street Journal.

QUESTION: Thank you. Thank you, Senior Defense Official. I had a question about the Gerald Ford. Do you know how long the Gerald Ford will be there? Is there a time period that you're estimating to keep it there? And given that there are a million American citizens in Israel approximately, is the prospect of a neo, essentially out of the question, given the scale of it? Thank you.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Thanks. Thanks, Nancy. Thanks, Wall Street Journal Reporter. So, first of all, on the timeline, let me just say that now that the Gerald R. Ford Strike Group is heading to the Eastern Med, we will continually be assessing this theater as well as other global requirements. And then on the situation of the 100,000 American citizens you noted in Israel, I'm going to defer you to the State Department.

GEN. RYDER: Let's go to Phil Stewart, Reuters.

QUESTION: Hey there. Could you please give us a timeline, if possible, about when some of these munitions you said you're surging to Israel are going to get there? When will the air defenses get there? Are we talking today, tomorrow? By Wednesday? Any kind of sense of timeline there? And then on the issue of the, I realize you don't want to talk about intelligence matters, but other officials, U.S. officials have been quoted saying that Iran had no involvement. Should we interpret your reticence as a signal that perhaps there might have been some sort of Iranian role? Thanks.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure. Thanks for those questions. So, on the first one, I'm not going to go into the specifics of which bucket of assistance. Needless to say, planes have already taken off, and we anticipate seeing continual delivery on some of the requests Israel has made. And on your second question, look, of course, Iran is in the picture. Iran has provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah, but we have no information corroborating the specifics of the Wall Street Journal story at this time.

GEN. RYDER: All right. Let's go to Missy Ryan, Washington Post.

QUESTION: Hi, thanks so much. Just really quickly, just two very quick questions. Is there a U.S. military role in determining how many U.S. citizen hostages there may be and what their status is? And is the Defense Department providing or the administration providing any guidance or is there a discussion around civilian casualties and the protection of civilians with the Israeli government as you're trying to provide this additional military support in the form of the deterrence assets that you're talking about or the munitions? Is that part of the conversation at all? Thanks.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure. Thanks. So, let me take the second question. First of all, let me say that engagement on mitigating collateral damage and civilian casualties is always part of the conversation with all of our allies and partners. It's no different with Israel. But I want to be very clear about this moment in time, and I want to underscore a comment I made up front.

This is ISIS level savagery, and we back Israel and its right to respond, to ensure that its own citizens and its territory are safe from Hamas terror and recognize that there's going to need to be response for Israel to restore deterrence. And secondly, on your first question, there are continual conversations across the U.S. government with all of our Israeli counterparts about the situation of hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza.

GEN. RYDER: Go to you, NBC Mosheh Gains. Mosheh, are you there?

QUESTION: Hi. Actually, it's a senior NBC News reporter in for Mosheh. Madam senior defense official, you've mentioned several times now that this is ISIS level savagery. And I'm just curious about the terminology that you're using there. Do you have some indication, I know you don't want to talk about intelligence, but just the fact that you keep using that term, do you have some indication that there was some external training or something that these fighters went through that involved other terror networks and that's why you're characterizing it that way? And then also, do you have any indication that some of these fighters that went across into Israel may have been other than Hamas, may have been part of some other group? Thank you.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Thank you, senior NBC Reporter. First of all, the reason that I'm underscoring the ISIS level style tactics and techniques here is because in some of the reactions across the region and others, I think there's been an instinct to see this as the same kind of tensions or conflicts that we've seen between Palestinians and Israelis or in Gaza with Israelis in general. This is different. It's unprecedented. Hamas militants going across Israel, murdering children in front of their parents, massacring with indiscriminate violence music festivals, burning down entire houses while families sheltered in their bunkers.

This is different, and we want to be very clear about what that is. In terms of any external support, again, while I'm not going to get into intelligence matters, I am going to refer back to what I said before, which is obviously Iran is in the picture here. And we've long discussed for years Iran's role in equipping training and providing guidance to militant groups. I'm not talking about any specific intelligence that's here, but we've been very clear for years about Iran's role in fomenting instability and inciting violence across the region.

GEN. RYDER: Let's go to Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg.

QUESTION: Hi. A couple of quick questions. The munitions, I know you don't want to talk specifics, but are we talking air to ground also as well as air defense? And are these weapons, this is resupply of what we've already sold Israel? Then I had a second.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Not resupply of what we've already sold Israel. Essentially, there's different ways in which partners purchase U.S. origin munitions and defense articles. One can be through a foreign military sales contract, another is through a direct commercial sales contract. So, what we're looking at is what was already on the books, which might just be falling in regular, routine delivery. And we're working to accelerate that.

QUESTION: Got it. And are the authorities under this longstanding, this current memorandum of understanding that was signed a couple of years ago, that goes through 2028? Is that the major authority that you're using?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: That's actually a commitment for levels of FMF and missile defense funding. So, the authority is existing authorities. We have both just general through direct commercial sales and foreign military sales with a country who receives the most security assistance of any partner ever, and then a variety of other authorities as well to ensure that we are able to respond expeditiously.

QUESTION: Okay, thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Let's go to Wafaa Jabai from Al Hurra.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you, ma'am. You've certainly seen the horrific scenes of civilians being killed in Gaza. Has the Pentagon reached out to the Israelis about the necessity of avoiding civilians, or do you have any concerns that Israel will be using the weapons the U.S. will provide to kill civilians, giving the Pentagon strict policy regarding civilians? And my second question would be, you're certainly monitoring the situation in southern Lebanon. I'm wondering if you have any indications about a possible escalation of that situation there? Thank you.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Thanks, Wafaa. So, first of all, we hold Israel to the same standards that we hold all partners who purchase U.S. equipment. That includes robust end use monitoring practices and procedures, as well as a constant dialogue engagement and engagement about using our munitions that we sell to others, in accordance with the law of armed conflict. We are in constant dialogue with the Israelis about their operational plans, and I would anticipate that we would continue to do that.

And on southern Lebanon, you zeroed right in on the concerns we have. We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict. We are working with Israel and with our partners across the region to contain this to Gaza. And it's one of the main reasons why we adjusted our posture so quickly to increase our maritime presence in the eastern Mediterranean, because Iran backed adversaries like Lebanese Hezbollah should not question the commitment of the U.S. government to support the defense of Israel.

GEN. RYDER: Thanks. We'll go to Tom Bowman, NPR.

QUESTION: Yeah, thanks for doing this. Appreciate it. A couple of things. First of all, do you expect any U.S. support troops to head to Israel to assist on, you know, provide technical support? And also, what are your views about Israel cutting off food, water and electricity to Gaza?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: On the first one, I'm not going to comment on hypotheticals, except to say that we have a U.S. military security cooperation team in Israel that's part of the U.S. Embassy. And of course, we have been working to deepen military cooperation with Israel for years now, and that has been a specific area of prioritization and focus by this national security team. Sorry, your second question?

QUESTION: Yeah. Israel is cutting off food, water, electricity to Gaza. Is that appropriate in this situation, do you think?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I've seen the reports of that announcement, and I would refer you to the government of Israel.

GEN. RYDER: Thanks, Tom. All right, next, let's go to Jared, Al-Monitor.

QUESTION: Hi, ma'am. Thanks for doing this. Just wanted to ask, you mentioned some of the capabilities that the Forward Carrier Strike Group has, and you also mentioned that the U.S. has the resources and authorities to continue to support Israel. I'm wondering, forgive me, this is, I don't mean this to be an obtuse question, but are Hamas and Hezbollah included under the administration's interpretation of the 2001 AUMF? And would this be needed, say, if Hamas, or excuse me, if Hezbollah were to open a new front against Israel, or say, if it were determined that U.S. citizens are among the hostages in Gaza?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So, on the first question on the 2001 AUMF, the President has determined that it is al Qaeda or successor organizations to al Qaeda, such as ISIS. So, no, Hamas and Hezbollah are not included under the 2001 AUMF, as they are not assessed by our legal community to be successor organizations to al Qaeda. And sorry, Jared, your second question?

QUESTION: Just wondering if that would change at all if, say, for example, are there conversations ongoing right now about a potential U.S. military role in recovering U.S. citizens? Should they be deemed to be among the hostages in Gaza?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I'm not going to get into hypotheticals about future military role. Thanks.

GEN. RYDER: We have time for a few more. Let's go to Barbara Usher, BBC.

QUESTION: Thank you. You're talking about your deterrence with the aircraft carrier group largely as a regional message, largely to Iran, but is it primarily in Lebanon, is it also in Iraq that you are worried about some kind of Iranian activity related to this? And you've been talking about protection of civilians, discussions with the Israelis, and also about how this is an unprecedented situation with 900 dead and so on. And we all know that a lot of Palestinians are going to die. So, is there any sense of where the U.S. will draw the line at some point, or is that really just up in the air at the moment?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Let me take the first question first. So, broadly speaking, we have been very clear publicly about our concerns about the Iran cultivated, equipped and funded network across the Middle East that is the key driver for instability in a variety of countries. So, Iran's partnership with Lebanese Hezbollah, as well as its cultivation of militia groups in Iraq, as well as its supply to Houthis, et cetera, all remain concerns.

So, right now, we are monitoring across the region for any indicators or warnings that these groups would consider piling on or entering this conflict in a way that escalates it. And again, that's why we worked so fast to adjust our posture. What we're doing across the U.S. government is, one, flooding the zone with high level phone calls and engagement to make clear our desire to contain this conflict, support the defense of Israel. So, we are postured in monitoring, for any adversary, that would consider entering this conflict and escalating it.

And on your second question, look again, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals. We are always urging our Israeli partners, as we do any partner, to avoid civilian casualties. And I would note here that's absolutely something that Hamas did not do.

GEN. RYDER: Let's go to Lara Seligman, Politico.

QUESTION: Hi. Thanks so much for doing this. Just one question. You said early on that DoD is able to support both Israel and Ukraine, but there are several examples I can think of, just off the top of my head, of where there's impact between the two. For instance, the War Reserve stockpile. I know the president directed some of that to Ukraine earlier this year. Also, the same defense company, Raytheon, makes both Patriot and Iron Dome. So, just realistically, can you give us sort of more of a detailed answer about what impact you expect the U.S. support to Israel to have on support to Ukraine?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Sure. Let me start out first by just stating the obvious. Israel has a very strong military, and we have provided a significant, in fact, the most historic amount and levels of security assistance ever to Israel, including through that historic memorandum of understanding from fiscal year '18 to '28 that we spoke about previously on this call. So, number one, while we are providing and will continue to provide a significant amount of support to Ukraine, we are careful about ensuring we can also respond to other crises and contingencies, support other partners and maintain our own military readiness and our ability to support others.

And with respect to your question on the stockpile, we maintain stockpiles globally, and we are constantly assessing those levels and are confident that we're going to be able to both maintain the readiness of those stockpiles and support allies and partners in need.

GEN. RYDER: Our last question will go to Jeff Seldin, Voice of America.

QUESTION: Thanks very much for doing this. Wondering if you can give us a quick update first about when the carrier strike group is going to reach the eastern Mediterranean. And once it's there, is it going to help Israel with its siege blockade of Gaza at all? And also, given what Hamas was able to accomplish, is the Pentagon reassessing the threat or the capabilities of all the Iranian proxies across the region? Has Iran been able to train these and equip these better perhaps than you initially anticipated?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Thanks for those questions. So, on the arrival of the Ford Strike Group, the short answer is very soon, but I don't want to talk specifics on this call. And with respect to your second question, look, we're always continuously and continually assessing our understanding of the Iran backed terror network across the region. And we've been very clear for years that Iranian support to a variety of militia groups, the sophistication of weapons it's providing has been increasing. This is not something new. It's been going on for years.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you very much. Thank you to you all again for joining us. As a reminder, today's discussion was on background attributed to a senior defense official. We will post a transcript to the DoD website later this evening. Thanks very much everyone.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3551962/

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The European Commission announces an urgent review of its financial assistance for Palestine

European Commission

Press release

9 October 2023

Brussels

The Commission unequivocally condemns the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel over the weekend. Following these events, the Commission is announcing today that it is launching an urgent review of the EU's assistance for Palestine.

In addition to the existing safeguards, the objective of this review is to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organization to carry out attacks against Israel.

The Commission will equally review if, in light of the changed circumstances on the ground, its support programmes to the Palestinian population and to the Palestinian Authority need to be adjusted.

The Commission will carry out this review as soon as possible and coordinate with Member States and partners any follow up action necessary.

In the meantime, as there were no payments foreseen, there will be no suspension of payments.

This review does not concern humanitarian assistance provided under European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

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President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discuss terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel

Finnish Government

Government Communications Department

9.10.202

Press release

On Monday 9 October, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the attack on Israel launched by the terrorist organisation Hamas starting on Saturday morning.

The President and the Ministerial Committee strongly condemned the attacks against civilians and terrorism in all its forms. The state of Israel has the right to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks in line with international law. At the same time, international humanitarian law must be upheld and civilians must be protected.

The President and the Ministerial Committee discussed the situation of Finnish citizens in Israel and the Palestinian territories. It is now more difficult for many travellers to return to Finland, but commercial air connections are still available. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is assisting Finns with evacuation arrangements and is working in close cooperation with the other Nordic countries and EU Member States.

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China calls for immediate ceasefire of Palestine-Israel violence, deeply saddened by civilian casualties

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Oct 09, 2023 06:23 PM

China is deeply concerned about the intensification of tensions and the rise in violence between Palestine and Israel, and it's profoundly saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday, calling for immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of the situation.

Fighting between Hamas and Israel rages into a third day on Monday with militants launching a fresh barrage of rocket attacks and Israeli forces still battling to expel Hamas gunmen from its soil as jets continued to bombard the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, CNN reported.

More than 1,100 people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip, with thousands more wounded, CNBC said.

China has already expressed its stance on the escalating situation between Palestine and Israel. We are deeply concerned about the intensification of tensions and the rise in violence, Mao Ning, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Monday.

The way to resolve the cycle of Israeli-Palestinian conflicts lies in resuming peace talks, implementing the two-state solution and promoting a proper political settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date as soon as possible, so as to ensure the legitimate concerns of all parties, Mao said. "China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to this end."

In response to a question about whether the Chinese government considered the attacks launched by Hamas against most civilians as acts of terrorism, the spokesperson said China has made clear its position on the current escalation of the situation between Palestine and Israel, and are deeply concerned about rising tensions and violence and saddened that the conflict caused civilian casualties.

We oppose and condemn the harm to civilians, and we think the top priority is ceasefire as soon as possible, to restore peace and work together to cool the situation, the spokesperson said.

Three Chinese were injured in attacks, with one shot in the abdomen and one in the leg, and another found in a hospital with a serious injury, amid the sudden escalation of tensions between Israel and Palestine, the Global Times learned from the Israel China Chamber of Commerce on Sunday.

The foreign ministry has immediately activated the emergency response mechanism for consular protection to coordinate the security protection of Chinese nationals and institutions in Palestine and Israel, the spokesperson said on Monday.

The Chinese Embassy in Israel and China's Office in Palestine have also issued an emergency security alert to maintain contact with local Chinese nationals and to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions.

"We also remind Chinese nationals not to go to Palestine and Israel for the time being. Local Chinese nationals should monitor the local security situation, strengthen security precautions and avoid going outside. In case of emergency, please contact the embassy and office for help," Mao said.

Some posts circulating on social media from Sunday to Monday said a woman of Chinese and Israeli descent was hijacked in the Gaza Strip. When asked about whether the person is a Chinese national, the spokesperson said she has noted relevant reports but did not know the details.

On whether the Chinese side could verify the nationality of the young woman who was said to be taken away by the motorcycle and whether she is a Chinese passport holder, the spokesperson said her colleagues are verifying the situation and she has no information to provide.

When asked about China's stance on the rising conflicts as some Western countries have been calling the attacks as acts of terrorism while Israel hoping that China could condemn the acts of the Palestine side, the spokesperson said on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China has always stood on the side of fairness and justice.

"China is a common friend of Israel and the Palestinians. We sincerely hope that Palestine and Israel can coexist peacefully and share security and development," Mao said, noting that the fundamental way to realize this vision lies in the implementation of the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday called on China to support Israel after deadly attacks by Hamas, adding he was "disappointed" that Beijing showed "no sympathy" for the country over the weekend, Reuters reported.

China is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We also oppose and condemn the violence and attacks against civilians, Mao said, noting that China's position is consistent.

"We believe that the top priority is to realize a ceasefire, stop the war and restore peace as soon as possible. We also expect the relevant parties in the international community to play a role and work together to cool down the situation," she said.

On the questions about the US delivering of ammunition and military equipment to Israel, Mao said that China's position on this issue is consistent, and we always believe that dialogue and negotiation are the fundamental way out to resolve the issue.

We call on all parties to cease fire and stop the war as soon as possible to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation, she said.

Over the past year, China has actively supported the possible resumption of peace talks in the Middle East. On whether such efforts would be affected by the escalation of violence amid the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Chinese spokesperson said the most important lesson of reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran is that no matter how complex the issues and how sharp the challenges are, as long as we have equal dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect, we will surely find a solution acceptable to each other.

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Operational Statement by IDF spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari

IDF Press Release

"Israel has paid a heavy priceour enemies will pay an unbearable one."

09.10.23

IDF Editorial Team

Good evening. We are now in the counterattack stage.

The goal that has been outlined in the IDF is that on the day after the war, every being left in Gaza will understand the price of starting a war with the State of Israel.

The understanding will not come through words but through the actions the IDF will carry out over the next few hours, days, and any other time required.

Throughout the past 24 hours, we have been conducting aerial strikesdestructive aerial operations that include thousands of armaments. To put that in perspective, the pace of the strikes is five times that of the strikes on Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War. I repeat, five times what it was against Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War.

During this very hour, we are concluding a concentrated strike by 60 aircraft in the heart of Gaza. We struck terrorist targets in accordance with intelligence, meaning terrorist hubs, apartments used by terrorists for operational purposes and terrorist operation centers.

Yesterday, we conducted a similar type of strike in the Beit Hanoun area and neutralized tens of terrorists. So far, there are hundreds of neutralized terrorists in Gaza; hundreds we have neutralized in the area of the security fence, and hundreds neutralized in the areas surrounding Gaza.

We are in complete control over the areas surrounding Gaza, and the majority of towns and communities adjacent to the security fence have been evacuated. We finished the evacuation of the communities adjacent to the security fence however, very few families who have chosen to stay there, and we respect their decision.

This afternoon, I accompanied the Chief of the General Staff to the Gaza Division as he held discussions with commanders in the field and at the division's headquarters. We are clearing the areas from terrorists and checking home after home. Our soldiers are scanning the area, looking for terrorists that are waiting to attack us. No terrorists are currently infiltrating over the fence; no terrorists are currently infiltrating from Gaza into Israel. IDF forces in the area of the security fence are highly prepared, and tanks and aircraft are present.

We are ready to neutralize terrorists. Our soldiers' mission right now in the area surrounding Gaza is to clear any terrorist they encounter. Few encounters have occurred since this morning, and none have occurred in the past few hours.

The northern arena:

"A number of incidents occurred in the northern arena over the last few hours. Four terrorists infiltrated into Israel in the north; we neutralized three, while one escaped in the direction of Lebanon. We are not yet familiar with the identity of the terrorists. Following that, we struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in Leabnon.

We are watching each and every front and combat arena and are highly prepared for every single one. Anyone who attacks us in any arena will pay a very heavy price. 300,000 reservists have reported for duty in 48 hours. This is an extremely fast rate of reporting, faster than anything we've seen in the past.

The subject of shortages in equipment, food, and vests has been brought up in the media and on social media. I want to clarify this: the IDF is not experiencing a shortage of equipment. Anyone who is conducting operational activities in the IDF is provided with combat equipment; anyone who is currently conducting operational activities in Gaza has combat equipment. Anyone who will be conducting operational activities in Gaza will have priority in receiving equipment. So anyone who is lacking equipment now will be receiving everything they require.

To the public who is sending food and collecting donations, it is heartwarming to see you embracing the reservists and the IDF as a whole, but the IDF has combat equipment; everyone will receive it. Please be patient.

We set up a civil administration commanded by MG Lior Carmeli dedicated to people who are missing and held captive. High-ranking IDF officers are visiting families, collecting DNA samples and providing them with the details we currently have. We have complete details regarding every person who has been taken captive into Gaza. We have informed 30 families at this point and will provide you with the number of people who are held in Gaza once all families have been informed.

We have established a special team in the Intelligence Directorate dedicated to begin and piece together the location of those held captive in Gaza. We know these are difficult times for everyone. We lost over 700 civilians and soldiers. We spoke with 85 failies, informing them a loved one was killed in combat. We embrace the bereaved families. We wish the hundreds that are injured a full recovery. We are all experiencing very difficult feelings. Fruestration is in the air.

At the end of the day, we must remember one thing: we will achieve victory.

Israel has paid a heavy priceour enemies will pay an unbearable one.

IDF soldiers operated heroically and will continue to operate heroically as long as is required. We have only just begun. We intend to strike back and settle the score with every terrorist that has harmed the civilians of the State of Israel.

Neither our time, our areas of operation, nor our capabilities are limited. We have only one compasssecurity and victory.

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Hezbollah confirms attack on Zionist positions, says several resistance forces martyred

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's resistance movement, Hezbollah, has confirmed that it fired rockets and mortars at two military posts of the Zionist regime in the northern of the occupied territories.

The movement issued a statement on Monday night, confirming the attacks as well as the martyrdom of three of its members in earlier shelling into southern Lebanon by the Israeli regime.

Some news reports put the Hezbollah death toll at 6.

Also on Monday, the Zionist regime confirmed targeting three positions belonging to Hezbollah with artillery fire, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The escalation comes as tensions are running high in the region amid the ongoing battles between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip.

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Qassam warning: 'We'll execute an Israeli captive each time civilians are bombed'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The armed wing of Palestine's Hamas Resistance Movement, the Ezzedine al-Qassem Brigades, has issued a stern warning to the Zionist regime over the killing of civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip, announcing that an Israeli captive will be executed each time Gazans are targeted without prior warning.

"Any targeting of innocent civilians without warning will be met regretfully by executing one of the captives in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution," Al Jazeera quoted Qassam Brigades' Spokesman Abu Obeida as saying on Monday.

"We regret this decision, but we hold the Zionist enemy and their leadership responsible for this," he added, according to the Qatar-based news network.

The Zionist regime's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has said that more than 100 people have been taken captive by Hamas and taken to Gaza since Saturday when the Palestinian resistance movement launched its unprecedented attack on positions in the occupied territories.

The regime has responded with heavy bombardments in the Gaza Strip, killing 560 Palestinians as of Monday night, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza which is run by Hamas.

The Zionist regime has said that its aerial attacks on the coastal enclave are one of the largest it has carried out there. The regime has also announced that it will impose a "total blockade" on the Gaza Strip including a ban on admitting food and fuel.

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Iran proposes Islamic countries' emergency meeting on Palestine

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Top Diplomat Hossein Amirabdollahian has proposed that foreign ministers of Islamic countries hold an emergency meeting on the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and the Zionist regime.

Amirabdollahian on Monday discussed regional developments, including the Palestinian-Zionist conflict, with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi on the phone.

The top Iranian diplomat proposed that foreign ministers of Islamic countries hold an emergency meeting soon over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He said that the Zionist regime has in recent months stepped up its crackdown against Palestinians, from killing women and children to imprisoning people, and constantly desecrated Al-Aqsa Mosque, prompting the ongoing response from resistance groups.

Iran and Oman have always supported the Palestinian people, Amirabdollahian told his counterpart, adding that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank need the support of the Islamic countries more than ever.

The top Omani diplomat said on his part that his country expresses sympathy over the martyrdom of hundreds of Palestinians by the Zionist regime.

He also said that the Palestine issue should be regarded as a top global priority, calling on the international community to recognize the Palestinians' right to decide their fate and liberate their occupied lands.

The two ministers agreed to continue talks over the regional developments and pursue the holding of an emergency meeting of the Islamic countries.

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Rockets fired from Lebanon towards Israeli occupied territories

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Multiple rockets have been launched from Lebanon towards the Israeli occupied territories on the third day of the largest retaliatory attack in decades by the Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas on the Israeli regime.

Israeli media reported on Monday that about a dozen rockets were fired from Lebanon towards occupied al-Jalil and Jabal al-Shaykh.

It was not immediately known who was responsible for the rocket attack but some Israeli media sources blamed Palestinian resistance groups in southern Lebanon.

According to IRNA, on Tuesday, Al Jazeera network reported, citing Zionist media, that 12 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards occupied al-Jalil and Jabal al-Shaykh.

On Saturday, Hamas launched an unprecedented multipronged attack on the Israeli occupied territories that stretched into a third day on Monday, leaving at least 1,000 Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers dead.

The Israeli regime launched a barrage of missiles towards Gaza, killing over 560 Palestinians and injuring more than 2,900 more.

On Monday, the Israeli regime announced a "complete siege" of the already besieged Gaza Strip, including a ban on food and water, raising fears of a wholesale humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel's minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant said on Monday that electricity, food and fuel will be cut from Gaza as part of the complete siege.

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Iran, Iraq call for emergency OIC meeting on Palestine

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq have called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the ongoing developments in Palestine.

During a phone conversation late on Sunday, Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein discussed bilateral ties as well as the latest developments in Palestine.

They called on Islamic countries to take coordinated and effective action to help Palestine and put an end to Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

While underlining the legitimate right of the Palestinian nation to resist aggression and occupation, Amirabdollahian said the operation of the Palestinian resistance groups against the occupation is a "natural response" to the continuous aggression and extreme actions of the Zionist regime against Islamic holy places, including the al-Aqsa Mosque, and its killing of the Palestinians, especially women, children, and prisoners.

The Iranian foreign minister also called on Islamic countries to strive to put an end to the Zionist regime's atrocities against the women and children of Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

At least 700 Israeli settlers and soldiers and 400 Palestinians have been killed since the Palestinian resistance launched a surprise operation dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the regime in response to its desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

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Iran's mission to UN rejects claims Tehran has hand in "Al-Aqsa Storm" operation

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 9 October 2023 / 12:59

Tehran (ISNA) - Iran's Permanent Mission to UN refuted Western claims that Tehran was involved in the recent large-scale operation of "Al-Aqsa Storm" by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas against the positions of the Zionist regime.

An expert at the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, Ali Karimi Magham rejected the claims and said, "The decisions made by the Palestinian resistance are fiercely autonomous and unwaveringly aligned with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people".

"We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine; however, we are not involved in Palestine's response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself," he emphasized.

"The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defense against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime," Ali Karimi Magham went on to say.

He made the remarks in a reaction to an article published by the Wall Street Journal alleging that Iran had helped Hamas plan the October 7 attack on Israel and green-lighted it at a meeting in Beirut on October 2.

End Item



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Continuation of Israeli regime's attacks on Gaza to increase possibility of spread of war: Iranian FM

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 9 October 2023 / 11:07

Tehran (ISNA) - In a telephone conversation with Peter Siarto, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral relations and recent developments in West Asia, especially Palestine.

Referring to the repeated violation of United Nations resolutions, the continued occupation of Palestinian lands, and the continuation of settlement constructions by the Zionist regime, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized, "The continuation of the Israeli regime's attacks on Gaza under the current circumstances will complicate the situation and increase the possibility of the spread of war".

Amir-Abdollahian pointed to the repeated violation of international laws and the expansion of war-mongering policies by the Zionist regime.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, for his part, pointed out that dialogue and cooperation are the right solutions to resolve regional conflicts and stated that Hungary always wants to establish peace and save people's lives in such situations.

Expressing hope for the end of this conflict in the Middle East, he emphasized the need for all countries to take responsibility and play their roles.

In this conversation, both sides expressed their satisfaction with positive relations based on mutual trust.

End Item







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President's message on victories of the Palestinian Resistance; Iran to support legitimate defense of Palestinian nation: President Raisi

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 9 October 2023 / 10:21

Tehran (ISNA) - Congratulating the brilliant victory of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance against the aggressor Zionist Regime, Iranian President emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran's support for the legitimate defense of the Palestinian nation and called on the Muslim states to join the Islamic community in supporting the Palestinian nation honestly.

In a message, President Ebrahim Raisi stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran invites the whole world to observe the fact that the accumulation of oppression and injustice on the oppressed Palestinian nation, the continuation of insults to women and prisoners, and the desecration of Bayt al-Maqdis and the first Qibla of Muslims, is not permanent and will face the resistance of the nations.

He emphasized, "Undoubtedly, the Zionist Regime and its supporters are responsible for jeopardising the security of the nations of the region, and they must be held accountable in this regard".

President's message is as follows:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

And finally, the sigh of an oppressed nation turned into a storm against the oppressors. The sun of divine victory has risen from Palestine once again and has made the hearts of believers happy, the free people of the world proud, and oppressors humiliated.

Peace and blessings of God and all His righteous and free servants on the resilient and wise nation of Palestine, which in a history-making move, shocked and surprised the world of oppression.

Salutations to the Resistance and all its brave men, who threw away the illusion of living under the shadow of captivity of the Zionist aggressor regime and then, by taking the initiative, showed that steely will, which is rooted in faith in God and relying on his people, will prevail over all equipment and weapons.

The Islamic Republic of Iran invites the whole world to observe the fact that the accumulation of oppression and injustice on the oppressed Palestinian nation, the continuation of insults to women and prisoners, and the desecration of Bayt al-Maqdis and the first Qibla of Muslims, is not permanent and will face the resistance of the nations. Undoubtedly, the Zionist Regime and its supporters are responsible for jeopardising the security of the nations of the region, and they must be held accountable in this regard. The Islamic Republic of Iran's support for the legitimate defence of the Palestinian nation and holds a firm belief that as the Almighty God says in the Qur'an, dignity is rooted in faith, resistance and unity. The dignity of the nations is not obtained in reconciliation with oppression; and it is impossible to normalise the captivity of the free nation of Palestine.

Muslim governments should join the Islamic nation in supporting the Palestinian nation honestly. The Zionist enemy should also know that the equation has changed; Warmongering is to the detriment of the Zionists. The Palestinian nation is the winner of this field.

Peace be upon the Resistance from Palestine, Lebanon and Syria to Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen, peace be upon the heroic and resistant Gaza, peace be upon Hamas and Jihad and all resistance groups, peace be upon the brave young Palestinians, peace be upon Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei, who guided and supported the nations in the path of resistance, and peace be upon the martyrs of Resistance and the dear martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani.

Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

End Item











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PM Netanyahu

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

09.10.2023

"Israel is at war.

We didn't want this war.

It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way.

But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it.

Once, the Jewish people were stateless.

Once, the Jewish people were defenseless.

No longer.

Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come.

The savage attacks that Hamas perpetrated against innocent Israelis are mindboggling: slaughtering families in their homes, massacring hundreds of young people at an outdoor festival, kidnapping scores of women, children and elderly, even Holocaust survivors.

Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children.

They are savages.

Hamas is ISIS.

And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas.

I want to thank President Biden for his unequivocal support.

I want to thank leaders across the world who are standing with Israel today.

I want to thank the people and Congress of the United States of America.

In fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its own people.

It is fighting for every country that stands against barbarism.

Israel will win this war, and when Israel wins, the entire civilized world wins".

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Statement by the Spokesperson

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Responding to the media questions regarding the remarks made by the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh about taking back 'Sindhu' (the region around the Indus River in Southern Pakistan), the Spokesperson said:

"We condemn the highly irresponsible remarks made by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, a key member of India's ruling dispensation and a follower of the bigoted Hindutva ideology, at the National Sindhi Convention in Lucknow.

It is equally condemnable that the so-called reclamation of the 'Ram Janmabhoomi' has been cited by the Chief Minister as a template for reclaiming the region that constitutes part of Pakistan. History bears witness that a Hindu supremacist mob had brazenly demolished the historic Babri Mosque on 6 December 1992 to take back the claimed birthplace of Lord Rama in Ayodhya.

Clearly, the Chief Minister's provocative remarks are inspired by the gratuitous assertion of 'Akhand Bharat' (undivided India). These remarks manifest a revisionist and expansionist mindset that seeks to subjugate the identity and culture of not only India's neighbouring countries but also its own religious minorities. They also reflect a perverse view of history.

It is a matter of grave concern that such ideas are being increasingly peddled by individuals belonging to the BJP-RSS combine to further their divisive and parochial political agenda. Instead of nurturing hegemonic and expansionist ambitions, the Indian leaders should resolve disputes with neighbouring countries, and work with them to build a peaceful and prosperous South Asia."

Islamabad

09 October 2023

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Death toll tops 700 in Israel as 413 killed in Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:05, October 09, 2023

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza.

The Israeli army continued its extensive airstrikes on targets in Gaza on Sunday as Hamas militants are fighting with Israeli soldiers on Israeli territories.

Hamas militants remained in control of several communities in southern Israel on Sunday evening, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers engaged in gunfights with them, the IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Zaka, an Israeli rescue service, said in a statement that it has collected the remains of about 260 young women and men who were partying at the Nova festival, an outdoor music event in a rural farmland area near the Gaza-Israel fence.

Many festival attendees were still missing on Sunday night. Social media was flooded with people trying to locate their relatives and friends after Hamas militants raided the festival and other locations in the area as part of the massive surprise attack on Israel that included the firing of thousands of rockets.

- - - -

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that the Pentagon is sending warships and fighter jets to the Eastern Mediterranean region in a show of support for Israel amid escalating conflicts between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters.

Austin said in a statement that he had directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which consists of an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Pentagon had also "taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region," the defense chief said.

He added that the U.S. government "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions."

- - - -

The Security Council on Sunday held emergency consultations behind closed doors following massive attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants in occupied Gaza.

The council did not come up with any document after the consultations.

Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the United Nations, said before the consultations that Israel's impunity and international inaction are to blame for the current situation.

"Regrettably, history, for some media and politicians, starts when Israelis are killed," he said in a statement. "This is not a time to let Israel double down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed."

- - - -

Bangladesh has denounced the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Palestine and deplored the resultant loss of innocent civilian lives and the injury of victims, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.

In a statement, it said Bangladesh underlines that escalation of conflicts and violence benefits no party.

"We urge both Israeli and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and calls for immediate ceasefire to avoid further loss of innocent lives from both sides," said the statement.

It said Bangladesh holds that living under the Israeli occupation and forced settlements in Palestinian territory will not bring peace in the region.

"Therefore, Bangladesh supports a two-state solution, Palestine and Israel, living side by side as independent states free of occupation following UN (Security Council) Resolutions No. 242 and 338, which could bring lasting peace and stability in the region," the statement added.

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U.S. sending warships, fighters to Israel: Pentagon chief

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:10, October 09, 2023

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that the Pentagon is sending warships and fighter jets to the Eastern Mediterranean region in a show of support for Israel amid escalating conflicts between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters.

Austin said in a statement that he had directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which consists of an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Pentagon had also "taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region," the defense chief said.

He added that the U.S. government "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions."

The first round of U.S. security assistance to Israel "will begin moving" on Sunday "and arriving in the coming days," Austin said.

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UN Security Council meets on Palestine-Israel tensions

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:08, October 09, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Sunday held emergency consultations behind closed doors following massive attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants in occupied Gaza.

The council did not come up with any document after the consultations.

Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the United Nations, said before the consultations that Israel's impunity and international inaction are to blame for the current situation.

"Regrettably, history, for some media and politicians, starts when Israelis are killed," he said in a statement. "This is not a time to let Israel double down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed."

"Israel keeps saying: the blockade and repeated assaults on Gaza are to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and ensure security. Clearly and expectedly, its blockade and assaults accomplished neither," he said.

"The only thing they did accomplish was inflicting terrible suffering on an entire civilian population. It is time for an immediate end to the violence and the bloodshed, and it is time to end this blockade and to open a political horizon," he added.

Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group ruling the Gaza Strip, launched a massive surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. In response, the Israeli military conducted tens of airstrikes targeting Hamas sites and headquarters in the coastal enclave. The new round of conflict has led to hundreds of people killed on both sides, with thousands injured.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, called for restraint to avoid further escalation.

During the consultations, Zhang said China is gravely concerned about the clashes between Israel and armed groups in Gaza, and is saddened by the numerous civilian casualties. China is also worried about the prospects of further escalation, according to the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Zhang called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid further escalation and to agree on a cease-fire. He called for efforts to push for the two-state solution with a sense of urgency.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Ren'ai Jiao Issue

People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023-10-09 21:34

Q: On October 7, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that China's claim of "indisputable sovereignty" over "West Philippine Sea" is disputable. China's "unfounded" claim and its actions in the "West Philippine Sea" is irresponsible, he added. How does China respond to this?

A: Recently the Philippines has taken a series of steps at Ren'ai Jiao that seriously violate China's territorial sovereignty. We have made serious demarches to the Philippines on multiple occasions. I would like to reiterate the following points.

First, Ren'ai Jiao has been China's territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of China's Nansha Qundao geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. This was developed and established throughout the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter.

Second, Ren'ai Jiao has never been the Philippines' territory. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, is completely beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory.

Third, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is illegal, null and void. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines directly concerns the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS. Besides, in 2006, pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS, China excluded issues relating to sea boundary delimitations from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal. By unilaterally initiating the South China Sea arbitration, the Philippines contravened the stipulations of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law. Such an award is illegal, null and void, and completely invalid. It is legally untenable for the Philippines to claim that Ren'ai Jiao is part of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the above-mentioned award.

Fourth, by "grounding" a military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines gravely violated China's territorial sovereignty. In May 1999, the Philippines "grounded" a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious demarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the vessel at once. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible. However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines' acts of going back on its words again and again and violating China's territorial sovereignty. The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the "grounded" military vessel.

Fifth, the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely lies with the Philippines. For some time, the Philippines, ignoring China's goodwill and sincerity, has kept sending official vessels and warships to forcibly intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to send construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. These actions seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, contravened international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and disrupted peace and stability in the region.

China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region. China will continue to, in accordance with our domestic laws and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.



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Iran FM: Palestinian resistance's operation natural, legitimate reaction to Israel's criminal, extremist measures

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 10:44 PM

Iran says the ongoing large-scale operation launched by Palestinian resistance groups against Israel is a natural and legitimate response to the regime's crimes against the Palestinian people in recent months.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a phone call with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, on Monday, which was the third day of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against Israel in decades.

Since Saturday, the Gaza Strip-based resistance groups have fired thousands of rockets at the occupied territories. According to Israeli media outlets, more than 900 settlers and troops have been killed, with over 2,600 others injured as a result.

Amir-Abdollahian slammed the West's inaction on the "systematic crimes" of the Israeli regime against Palestinians, saying, "If Europe and the West had stopped [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's crimes without [applying their] double standards, perhaps Palestine was not witnessing this situation now."

The top Iranian diplomat also urged the international community to do its best to support the rights of the Palestinian people.

For his part, Borrell said the EU has been a critic of Netanyahu's behavior, adding, however, that it is necessary to think about promoting peace at the current juncture.

In a post on his X account, Amir-Abdollahian explained his phone conversation with Borrell, emphasizing that the resistance's operation was a "legitimate and natural" response to the Zionist regimes' "extremist and criminal" measures.

He added that Operation al-Aqsa Storm is "also an inevitable result of Netanyahu's extremist actions against the motherland of the Palestinian nation."

Amir-Abdollahian also stressed the need for global efforts "to put an immediate halt to the apartheid Zionist regime's massacre of Palestinian citizens, women and children, particularly the resident of the Gaza Strip."

The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip has recorded the death of more than 700 civilians, including 140 children and 105 women, and injury of about 3,900 others. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.

"Defending Palestinians' rights a duty for all Muslim countries"

In a separate phone call with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said all Muslim countries are duty-bound to support and defend the Palestinian people's rights.

The Iranian foreign minister warned that intensification of the Israeli regime's crimes would further complicate the situation in Palestine and the entire region.

Qatar's top diplomat, for his part, condemned Israel's crimes and said his country has always supported the Palestinian people's rights.

He urged Western countries to exert pressure on the Tel Aviv regime to immediately stop its attacks against Palestinians.

The Iranian and Qatari foreign minister also highlighted the importance of more consultation among Muslim countries to shore up support for Palestine.





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Iraq's top cleric: All Muslims should help people of Palestine, reclaim their usurped rights

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 9:47 PM

Iraq's top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has urged all Muslims across the world to help the Palestinian people amid the Israeli regime's relentless strikes on the Gaza Strip.

"We call on all Muslims to come to the assistance of the Muslim people of Palestine [and] respond to their loud cries for help," the senior cleric said in a message on Monday.

Grand Ayatollah Sistani also urged all Muslims to do their utmost to "deter the aggressors," reclaim the usurped rights of Palestinians, and save them from Israel's onslaught.

He added that the Islamic land of Palestine should be saved from "usurping aggressor."

Calling up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists, Israel has declared a long war on Gaza in response to Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which started on Saturday.

The resistance fighters say they have waged the operation against the occupying regime in response to its decades-long campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Palestinians.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll from the Israeli attacks on the besieged territory has exceeded 700, including 140 children and 105 women, with nearly 3,900 others injured.

Tel Aviv has already been enforcing a permanent ground, aerial, and naval blockade against the coastal territory since 2007. The regime rarely relaxes the siege for entry of essential goods, but has ordered it to be exercised completely since the onset of the ongoing war.

In a statement, the Israeli air force said it had dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 tonnes of bombs on Gaza in the last 20 hours.

The Israeli strikes have also led to the displacement of more than 123,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations.

UN chief says "deeply distressed" over Israel's complete siege of Gaza

In a related development on Monday, Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply distressed" by Israel's announcement that it would initiate a complete siege of Gaza following the Palestinian resistance's large-scale operation against the regime.

"I am deeply distressed by today's announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in - no electricity, food, or fuel," Guterres said.

This, after the Israeli military said it was imposing a total blockade of Gaza in response to Hamas attacks, after calling up hundreds of thousands of reservists.

Guterres said the situation in Gaza was already "extremely dire" before the regime's decision to choke up all the entrances to the territory, adding that it would "only deteriorate exponentially" following Israel's announcement.

Noting that medical equipment, food, and other humanitarian supplies and personnel are needed, the UN chief said relief aid and entry of essential supplies into the territory must be facilitated.

"I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow the United Nations' access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip," he said, while appealing to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support.





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Hamas praises al-Aqsa Storm as 'legitimate' Palestinian right to self-defense

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 7:16 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has lauded the recent surprise attack against Israel as a "legitimate right" of the Palestinians in response to the illegal entity's decades-long aggression and the silence of the international community.

Hamas made the statement on the third day of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the regime in decades.

Since Saturday, the resistance groups in the besieged Gaza Strip have fired over 5,000 rockets at the occupied territories. Israeli media outlets report that more than 900 settlers and troops have been killed, with over 2,600 others injured as a result.

"The battle of al-Aqsa Storm is a legitimate right for our people to defend themselves, their land, and their sanctities, in light of the continued aggression of the occupation and the silence and failure of the world to put an end to its escalating terrorism, and its denial of all the rights of our people and their aspirations to liberate their land and achieve a return to it," Hamas said.

Listing the reasons behind the large-scale operation, Hamas referred to the escalating violations by Israeli settlers against the al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied Old City of al-Quds and the regime's prevention of Muslim worship.

Hamas denounced the Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds.

The resistance movement also said one of the reasons for launching Operation al-Aqsa Storm was Israel's escalation of violations and crimes against Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas pointed to "the brutal war waged by the fascist occupation regime against our people in the occupied West Bank, and the policy of segregation, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing" in addition to "the continuation of the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip for more than 16 years, and the catastrophic effects it has had on more than two million Palestinian citizens."

Hamas renewed its call "to all countries of the world, to assume their political and humanitarian responsibilities, to do justice to our people and support their legitimate struggle for freedom and self-determination, and to establish their independent, fully sovereign state with al-Quds as its capital, and to end the longest and most dangerous ongoing occupation in the world."

Since early Saturday, the large-scale multi-pronged operation has featured heavy rocket barrages and surprise attacks by resistance fighters against Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied territories.

Palestinian resistance leaders have described the operation as a decisive answer to the regime's unabated campaign of bloodshed and destruction.

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Iran, Iraq call for emergency OIC meeting to help Palestine amid Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 6:39 AM

The foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq have called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help Palestine amid incessant Israeli acts of aggression.

During a telephone conversation late on Sunday, Iran's top diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein exchanged views on the unfolding developments across the occupied Palestinian territories.

The two sides emphasized the need for coordination and coherence among Muslim countries in support of the Palestinian nation, calling on the OIC to convene an emergency meeting in order to review ongoing developments throughout Palestinian lands and back Palestinians and the al-Aqsa Mosque against the Israeli regime's atrocities.

The Iranian foreign minister also emphasized the legitimate right of Palestinians to stand up against Israeli aggression and occupation.

He described the large-scale surprise attack by members of Hamas and other Gaza-based resistance fighters as a natural response to the ongoing Israeli aggression, its extremist actions against holy Islamic sites, including the al-Aqsa Mosque, and its massacre of Palestinian people, particularly women, children and prisoners.

'Israeli air raids on Gaza will further complicate situation'

Separately, the Iranian and Hungarian foreign ministers also conferred on the recent developments in West Asia, especially Palestine, and enhancement of mutual ties.

Amir-Abdollahian highlighted Israel's repeated violations of UN resolutions, continued occupation of Palestinian lands, and unabated expansion of illegal settlements during his telephone conversation with Peter Szijjarto.

The Iranian foreign minister also pointed to the Tel Aviv regime's continuous breach of international law and insistence on warmongering policies.

Szijjarto, for his part, described dialogue and cooperation as the optimal solution to resolve regional conflicts, saying that Hungary always favors peace and protection of people's lives in such situations.

He also expressed hope for an end to the conflict, stressing the need for all countries to assume responsibility and contribute their shares to resolving the crisis.

Palestinian medical authorities say more than 400 people have been killed and many more injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip.

Hospital officials in the strip have recorded the death of 436 civilians, including 91 children and 61 women, and injury of 2,271 others. Many buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.

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Washington says 9 US citizens killed in Hamas operation against Israel

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 5:29 PM

Washington says nine US citizens were killed and a certain number have gone missing in the wake of the surprise major operation by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas against Israel.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement Monday, "At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine US citizens."

He said there are "unaccounted-for US citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts."

Meanwhile the BBC reported on Monday that more than 10 Britons are also feared dead or missing in the occupied territories.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he would not speculate on the number of British or dual nationals in the region.

France also said two of its nationals have been killed. A lawmaker representing French nationals overseas, Meyer Habib, said on Monday that "at least eight" French people had been killed, captured or were missing.

Dozens of other nationals have also been reportedly killed, including people from Thailand, Nepal, Ukraine, France, Canada and Cambodia.

Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm on Saturday. It has been without precedent in scale.

Israeli media outlets say more than 800 settlers and troops have been killed as a result of the operation. Some 2,560 Israelis have also been injured.

Israel on Monday stepped up attacks on the Gaza Strip and imposed a total siege on the densely populated enclave.

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Muslim nations must rush to aid Palestinians against Israel, Iran FM tells Omani counterpart

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 5:41 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian urges Muslim countries to rush to support the Palestinian people in their fight against the Israeli regime.

"Under the current circumstances, the [Palestinian] people in the occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank need support of Muslim countries more than ever," Amir-Abdollahian said in a phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi on Monday.

He added that Iran and Oman have always supported the Palestinian people in the face of the Israeli enemy.

Pointing to Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people, the top Iranian diplomat said the regime killed 260 Palestinians, including 40 children and 11 women, in recent months.

He added that the Israeli regime has also arrested more Palestinians in the West Bank as the number of Palestinian prisoners has reached nearly 5,000, about 200 of whom are women and children.

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that the Tel Aviv regime also escalated its attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque and carried out more sacrilegious acts against it.

The ongoing massive military operation by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas was a response to Israel's measures, he pointed out.

The Iranian foreign minister said that in separate phone calls with a number of his counterparts from Muslim countries, he called for an immediate emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the Palestinian issue.

Since early Saturday, the large-scale multi-pronged operation has featured heavy rocket barrages and surprise attacks by resistance fighters against Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied territories.

Palestinian resistance leaders have described the operation as a decisive answer to the regime's unabated campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Palestinians.

The resistance groups in the besieged Gaza Strip have since the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm fired more than 5,000 rockets at the occupied territories, with Israeli media outlets saying more than 800 settlers and troops have been killed and over 2,400 others injured.

For his part, Albusaidi said Oman like other countries in the region and the world expresses its sympathy with the Palestinian people over the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians.

The Omani foreign minister added that the international community must recognize the Palestinian people's right to determine their own fate and liberate the occupied territories.

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Russia warns of foreign involvement in Palestinian conflict as US moves warships

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 3:15 PM

Russia has warned against any involvement of a third party in the ongoing tension in Palestine after the United States relocated its warships to waters close to the Israeli-occupied territories.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that it would urge all parties involved in the ongoing tension to try to reduce any escalation rather than seek a military solution.

"The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high ... It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process in order to reduce this escalation and move away from a military solution," Peskov was quoted as saying TASS news agency.

The comments came a day after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to waters controlled by Israel as a show of support for the regime just after it was caught off guard by a massive attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

In a statement, Hamas has condemned the US decision as "aggression" against Palestinians, saying, "The announcement of the US that it will provide an aircraft carrier to support the occupation [Israel] is actual participation in the aggression against our people."

Nearly 800 Israelis have been killed and many more have been injured in rocket attacks and ground operations launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, the group in based.

Israel has launched rounds of airstrikes on Gaza since Saturday, killing more than 560 people and injuring thousands more.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that the way out of the Palestinian conflict is for the Israeli regime and its backers to recognize Palestine's right to create an independent state.

Speaking in a press conference in Moscow along the visiting head of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Monday, Lavrov said that Russia doubts West's policy on the Israeli regime would work at all.

"They say that (fighting) should be stopped immediately, that Israel should destroy the terrorists," Lavrov said, referring to the way Israel and its backers describe Palestinian fighters.

"But this was done before... and never after the situation calmed down did they come to the fact that the main reason (for the conflict) needs to be eliminated ... The Palestinian problem should not be delayed further," he said.

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Palestinians' anti-Israel operation 'legitimate defense' against decades of occupation: Iran's UN mission

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 2:54 PM

Iran's mission to the United Nations says Operation Al-Aqsa Storm is a "legitimate defense" against decades of Israeli occupation, rejecting allegations that Tehran had a role in the large-scale military operation against the Tel Aviv regime.

In a statement on Monday, the mission said Iran continues its unflinching support for Palestine, amid ongoing massive operation by Palestinian Hamas resistance movement against Israel.

It emphasized that Iran is not involved in Palestine's Operation Al-Aqsa Storm because it has been "taken solely by Palestine itself."

"The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defense against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime," the mission said.

It noted that the Palestinian resistance acts independently in its decisions, which are "unwaveringly in line with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people."

"While recognizing the inherent right of self-defense for all Palestinians under international law, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains steadfast in its belief that the question of Palestine can only be resolved by ending the occupation, recognizing the inalienable rights of self- determination of the Palestinian people and through holding a national referendum with the participation of all Palestinian people, which requires the full restoration and protection of these rights, leading to the establishment of Palestinian sovereignty over entire Palestine," it added.

It also criticized the international community for failing to respond adequately or hold accountable those responsible for the ongoing grave and serious violations.

"The absence of accountability and the unsettling silence of the UN bodies, in particular the Security Council, has allowed decades-old UN resolutions to remain mere words on paper," it said.

According to the statement, the Israeli regime continues to carry out "ever more horrifying atrocities" against the Palestinian people.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran stands firmly behind the aspirations of the Palestinian people and supports the efforts of resistance groups and oppressed Palestinians in their unwavering pursuit of their inherent and indisputable rights against occupation and aggression," it said.

Tehran's support for the Palestinian people is fully consistent with international law and the UN Charter, including the principle of the right to self-determination, the mission said, adding, "This will be Iran's principled position until the occupation ends."

The statement was issued after The Wall Street Journal claimed that "Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday."

Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which got underway by the Gaza Strip-based resistance factions on Saturday, is the biggest operation launched by Palestinian groups against the occupying entity in years.

Israeli media outlets say more than 800 Israeli settlers and troops have been killed as a result of the operation. Some 2,560 Israelis have also been injured.

In a phone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, on Sunday, Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi said the "steely resolve" of the Palestinians heralds the final victory over the Israeli regime.

"What happened with the glorious operation of the Palestinian fighters in the occupied territories was the realization of the 70-year-old expectation of the Palestinian nation and the Islamic Ummah," the Iranian president said.

Operation Al-Aqsa Storm result of decades of Israel's occupation: Iran's top rights official

Iran's top human rights official has also supported the resistance front's measures against Israel, saying the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was the result of over seven decades of the Tel Aviv regime's occupation, aggression and the martyrdom of more than a hundred thousand innocent Palestinians, including women and children.

"The Palestinian resistance's measures are legitimate defense in the face of the crimes and apartheid of the child-killing Zionist regime," Kazem Gharibabadi, secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, said in a post on his X account on Monday.

He condemned Israel's attacks on Palestine's infrastructure, hospitals and civilians and urged an immediate stop to them.

Israel on Monday stepped up its ferocious pounding of the besieged Gaza Strip as its troops struggled to clear out Hamas fighters more than two days after they burst across the fence from Gaza and overran Israeli bases.

Israeli warplanes bombed a densely populated neighborhood at the Jabalia refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

Hospital officials in the strip have recorded the death of more than 560 civilians and injury of 2,900 others. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.

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Israel pounds Gaza, orders 'complete siege', as it calls Gazans 'beastly people'

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 10:31 AM

Israel has stepped up its ferocious pounding of the besieged Gaza Strip as its troops struggled to clear out Hamas fighters more than two days after they burst across the fence from Gaza and overran Israeli bases.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel.

Israeli warplanes bombed a densely populated neighborhood at the Jabalia refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the death toll from the Israeli attacks had reached 510, including 91 children and 61 women, with 2,751 others injured.

In a statement, the Israeli air force said it had dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza in the last 20 hours.

"The Zionist enemy's military targeting and bombing of homes inhabited by women and children, mosques and schools in Gaza amount to war crimes and terrorism," Hamas official Izzat Reshiq said in a statement.

Power outages left hospitals and medical facilities in a tight spot, amid a shortage of medicine and medical equipment.

According to rights groups, Israeli attacks have killed multiple members of several families in Gaza.

The Israeli strikes have also led to the displacement of more than 123,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations.

"Over 123,538 people have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes," the UN's humanitarian agency, OCHA, said on Monday.

More than 73,000 are sheltering in schools, some of which have been designated emergency shelters.

Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said he expected the numbers to increase further.

Gaza, home to over two million Palestinians, has been under Israeli siege since June 2007. The tight blockade has caused a decline in the standards of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

Minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant said on Monday Israel is escalating measures against the Gaza Strip to a "total blockade" including a ban on admitting food and fuel, describing this as part of a battle against "beastly people".

"We are putting a complete siege on Gaza... No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed," Gallant said in a video message, referring to the enclave that is overcrowded with 2.3 million people.

Israel's chief military spokesperson said the regime has drafted a record 300,000 reservists as it is "going on the offensive".

Since Saturday's surprise operation by Hamas, Israeli aircraft have been pounding Gaza targets while its ground forces have struggled to retake control of villages and towns overrun by Palestinian fighters.

On Monday, fighting was still raging at seven or eight locations inside Israel captured by the fighters.

"It's taking more time than we expected to get things back into a defensive, security posture," Israeli Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told a briefing with journalists.

Hamas fighters were continuing to cross into Israel from Gaza, Hecht said.

In the occupied territories, sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area and al-Quds, and witnesses in the latter city heard explosions that may have been from rocket impacts.

The Israeli military said more than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on Saturday, but Yediot Ahronot said it estimated there were 1,000 deaths among the Israelis.

Hamas has said the surprise, unprecedented operation came in response to Israel's crimes against Palestinians in the occupied territories, its 16-year-old blockade of Gaza and the regime's violations at al-Aqsa Mosque.

The group fired thousands of missiles toward Israel and managed to take control of a vast area near Gaza.

Islamic Jihad Secretary General Ziad al-Nakhala has said the number of Israeli forces and settlers that have been captured by the resistance fighters and taken into Gaza amounts to "dozens and more."

In a sign of direct involvement, the US announced that it was sending additional weapons and munitions to Israel and moving an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean closer to the occupied territories.

Austin said he has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist the occupying regime.

Hamas slammed the US aid as an "aggression" against Palestinians.

The Kremlin said there is a "high risk" of a third party entering the conflict.

"The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.

"It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process in order to reduce this escalation and move away from a military solution," he said.

A senior official with Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, Hashem Safieddine, also warned that the move will lead to a regional escalation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a meeting with Secretary General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Moscow that it is necessary to "urgently stop clashes" between Israel and Hamas to spare civilian victims.

He also said there is a need to "pay special attention to the reasons why a solution to the Palestinian problem has not been found for decades."

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Search for survivors as death toll from Afghanistan quake mounts

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 10:05 AM

Rescue teams are searching for those trapped under the debris two days after deadly, magnitude 6.3 earthquakes rattled the northwestern city of Herat and its surroundings, killing thousands of people.

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan said Monday that at least 2,400 people were killed and many more injured in one of the world's deadliest quakes this year.

"The operation is still going on, still some people are being pulled out of the rubble," the spokesman of Heart's governor, Nissar Ahmad Elyias, told Reuters, adding that more than a dozen villages around Herat were also affected.

Afghanistan's neighbors including Pakistan and Iran have offered to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid, while China's Red Cross Society offered cash relief aid.

"Many people have come from far-flung districts to get people out from the rubble," said Khalid, 32, at Kashkak in Zindajan district 30 kilometers northwest of Herat city, capital of the same-named province.

"Everyone is busy searching for bodies everywhere, we don't know if there are others as well under the debris."

"Many of our family members have been martyred, including one of my sons, and my other son is also injured," Herat resident Mir Ahmed told Reuters at a hospital that was treating many survivors.

"Most of the people are under the rubble."

Death tolls often rise when information comes in from more remote parts of a country where decades of war have left infrastructure in a shambles, and relief and rescue operations difficult to organize.

According to a statement by the UN Humanitarian Office all the homes in the Zindajan district in Herat were destroyed.

As winter draws in the mountainous region with cold winters, providing food, clothing, and shelter for the disaster-hit Afghans will be a major challenge for the cash-strapped government.

Afghanistan had already been suffering from a dire humanitarian crisis. Joe Biden administration has frozen the assets belonging to the Afghan Central Bank since the withdrawal of its occupation forces from the country in August 2021.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have since suspended activities in the war-ravaged country.

Many of the US allies and Western governments have also largely suspended their financial assistance to Afghanistan since the US troop withdrawal and the Taliban takeover.

The quake-hit Herat province, which is home to 1.9 million people, has also been hit by drought, affecting produce in an area renowned for top-quality abundant harvest.

Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountain range, which is linked to the Pamir Mountains and the Himalayas, lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates and is prone to frequent earthquakes.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake in the impoverished province of Paktika left more than 1,000 people dead and tens of thousands homeless last June.

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Thailand says at least 12 nationals killed after attacks in Israel

Thousands of Thais work as farm hands in Israel.

By Nontarat Phaicharoen, Wilawan Watcharasakwej, and Mariyam Ahmad for BenarNews 2023.10.09 -- At least 12 Thais have been killed in Israel following attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas at the weekend, Thailand's foreign ministry said Monday.

As of late Monday, the fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military - the deadliest between Palestinians and Israelis in 50 years - had left more than 1,100 dead and thousands more injured on both sides, reports said.

"The death toll has been confirmed at 12 [Thais], based on information from employers that was provided to the embassy," Kanchana Patarachoke, a spokeswoman for the Thai foreign ministry, told a press briefing on Monday.

She said eight Thais were being treated for injuries in hospitals and an additional 11 citizens were being held captive, but Kanchan did not elaborate.

"We have been informed that the Israeli defense force has begun to evacuate Thais to safety from flash points," she said.

Israel's military has hit back hard with the Jewish state formally declaring war on Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist and Palestinian nationalist group, after the militants launched rocket strikes and raids into southern Israel near the Gaza Strip at dawn on Saturday.

Israel has retaliated by fighting with Hamas militants to regain control of areas near the Gaza border and pounding the densely populated Palestinian enclave with airstrikes, reports said. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza, according to reports.

The Royal Thai Air Force, meanwhile, has readied five C-130 transport planes and an Airbus passenger jet to bring citizens home once it was clear to fly, Kanchana said.

While responding on Monday to parliamentary questions about the situation in Israel, Jakkapong Sangmanee, Thailand's deputy minister of foreign affairs, said his department was still awaiting clearance from Israel to allow in Thai flights to evacuate Thai nationals.

As for the nearly one dozen Thais believed to be in Hamas custody, he said the government was negotiating with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt "to help secure the release of the captured people."

"At least 100 people of various nationalities, including Thai nationals," had been "taken hostage," Jakkapong said.

As of August 2023, more than 4,533 Thais were working in Israel, where many are employed as farm hands, according to the Thai Ministry of Labor. In May 2021, a Hamas rocket attack on an agricultural estate near the Gaza Strip killed two Thai nationals and injured eight others.

Early Saturday morning, Hamas launched multi-front attacks that coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and came a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, reports said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has estimated that about 1,000 Hamas militants took part in the initial assault.

Subsequent fighting has killed at least 700 people in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said at a public ceremony in Phnom Penh that the government won't be sending a special transport plane to bring students back to Cambodia unless the Israeli government says it is necessary.

There are more than 400 Cambodian students in Israel, he said.

Many of them are working on farms and studying agriculture near the conflict zone. One Cambodian student was killed in clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants on Saturday.

Sum Phirun, who works on a dairy farm along with two other Cambodians in Israel's Karmia region, told Radio Free Asia on Monday that he was leaving the area, which is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

"Now, I am a bit busy," he said. "I have to move from one location to another, thank you very much."

Meanwhile, the Israeli army has secured the area around the Sedot Negev Agricultural Center, about 10 miles (17 km) from the Gaza Strip, where Cambodian students are studying agriculture, according to student Du Suchin.

The violence has also affected scores of Filipinos working in Israel.

Seven Filipinos remained unaccounted for while 20 others had been rescued by Israeli forces amid the fighting, officials with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

One of those rescued was being treated for moderate injuries at a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva, said department spokeswoman Maria Teresita Daza.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv had also received a report from a Filipina about the possible abduction of her husband by "armed individuals" after she said she had recognized him in an online video, Daza told BenarNews. The matter had been "urgently relayed" to Israeli military authorities, she said.

"[Seven] remain unaccounted for and cannot be contacted via their mobile numbers and social media accounts," the embassy said. "The Embassy is working non-stop with Israeli security authorities and community contacts to ascertain their condition. We continue to await feedback from them."

There are approximately 40,000 Filipinos in Israel, but only 25,000 are legally documented, according to labor and migrant groups.

The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan had begun receiving requests for repatriations, Daza said.

'We pray for them'

Since the fighting began, U.N. officials and Western countries have condemned the attacks by Hamas, while parts of Muslim Southeast Asia have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.

In criticism clearly aimed at the West, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said "the international community continues to take one-sided action regarding all forms of cruelty and oppression to the Palestinian people."

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, said it was deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel, but added: "The root of the conflict, namely the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, must be resolved, in accordance with the parameters agreed upon by the U.N."

Although Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined many other international leaders in condemning the attacks by Hamas, some Malay-speaking Muslims in the country's insurgent-hit Deep South said they felt for Palestinians.

"We feel the pain of our Palestine brothers and sisters when they are at war," said Hazim Salae, a resident of Yala city. "We pray for them to stay safe during this war."

Abdullah Yusof, a resident of the southern province Pattani, said Muslims at several mosques in the region were praying for both Palestenians and the Thais in captivity.

"We are the same beings as Palestinians," Abdullah said. "We have also raised some funds for them."

BenarNews staff in Manila contributed to this report. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China shuts down Lhasa temples during National Day holiday period

Tibetans are told they will lose their jobs or be expelled from schools if they visit religious sites.

By RFA Tibetan 2023.10.09 -- Chinese authorities have closed some of Tibet's holiest Buddhist sites during the National Day holiday week and have been searching people on the streets of Lhasa, two Tibetans inside the region said.

Tibetans and others have been shut out of the Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace and monasteries in Lhasa, capital of the western region, during the observation of the holiday marking the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the sources said.

Officials declared 8 days of public holiday beginning Oct. 1.

The Chinese government has always imposed restrictions on Tibetans and conducted propaganda campaigns in Tibet during the National Day holiday period. But this year, authorities also began searching people traveling on public transportation. Those without proper documents were not allowed to stay in Lhasa, the sources said.

Officials also made Tibetan Buddhist monks in monasteries celebrate National Day on Oct. 1 and undergo political re-education.

Chinese authorities have placed a growing number of restrictions on Tibetans in or entering Lhasa and increased police presence there since 2008. In March of that year, police violently suppressed peaceful Tibetan protests, leading to the destruction of Han Chinese shops in the city and deadly attacks on Han Chinese residents.

The event sparked a wave of demonstrations against Chinese rule that spread into Tibetan-populated regions of western Chinese provinces. Security forces quelled the protests and detained, beat or shot hundreds of Tibetans.

Sacred site

Built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo of the Tibetan Empire, the Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred and important temple in Tibet.

Authorities in Tibet warned government officials, office staff and students not to visit religious sites or go on pilgrimages, or else risk losing their jobs and pensions, or be expelled from their schools, if caught, the two Tibetans said.

"Though it is normal for party cadres not to participate in religious activities in the Lhasa area, these days special restrictions are placed on students from taking part in religious activities," said one source who declined to be named out of fear of retribution.

Yet at the same time, more than 1.9 million tourists have visited Lhasa during the National Day holiday, stopping in museums and historical places that have been open, though places of worship remained closed to the general public as of Sept. 30, according to Chinese state media.

Since the end of September, the Chinese government has cited a pretext of maintaining public safety and security during the National Day holiday period, said a second Tibetan source who declined to be named for the same reason. Officials deployed police in and around Lhasa and began screening and searching the public, he said.

The Lhasa Tsuklakhang Management Committee, which runs the Jokhang temple, issued a notice on Monday, widely read on social media in Tibet, declaring Oct. 10th an additional holiday during which religious sites would remain closed to the public, said the source.

Translated by Rigdhen Dolma for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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UN Food Agency Says It Has Started Distributing Aid To Quake-Stricken Areas Of Afghanistan

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi October 09, 2023

Aid workers have reached some earthquake-stricken areas of western Afghanistan and started distributing emergency food supplies to those affected as rescue efforts continued after a series of powerful earthquakes caused widespread destruction and reportedly killed more than 2,000 people in the quake-prone mountainous country's worst natural disaster in years.

Wahid Amani, a spokesman for the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP) has told RFE/RL that emergency aid has been delivered to several hundred people in Herat Province so far.

"We are prepared to deliver emergency food aid to some 20,000 people" Amani said, adding that the UN food agency was ready to increase that number to 70,000 people.

In addition to the WFP, teams from the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) have rushed to the areas of Herat worst affected by the temblors. WHO employees are already in the field helping with the efforts to rescue and treat people still under the rubble, the Afghan branch of the WHO told RFE/RL.

The WHO has put the number of those affected to more than 11,000 people.

Alaa Abouzeid, the head of the WHO's emergency response in Afghanistan, said women and children make up about two-thirds of those hospitalized.

"Two-thirds of those with severe injuries who are admitted in the hospital I saw yesterday [in Herat] are children and women," Abouzeid told Reuters.

Volunteers have transported truckloads of food, tents, and blankets to the worst-stricken areas some 30 kilometers northwest of Herat city, capital of the same-named province.

The rugged area is difficult to reach, and local officials have given conflicting casualty tolls from the earthquake.

On October 8, a member of the Taliban-led government said the updated death toll had surpassed 2,000.

Mullah Janan Sayeeq, a spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, told a news conference that 2,440 people were dead, about 10,000 were injured, and that more than 2,000 houses had been damaged or destroyed.

Afghanistan's disaster agency said on October 8 that 2,053 people had been killed.

Neither estimate could not be independently confirmed.

The epicenter of the first earthquake was some 40 kilometers northwest of Herat, which has some 700,000 people in the city and the surrounding area. It was followed by at least three major aftershocks.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the largest of the temblors at a magnitude of 6.3, with the latest aftershock coming about 30 kilometers northeast of the city of Zindah Jan, which has a population of about 70,000 people.

"This earthquake was preceded by a 6.3 earthquake that occurred approximately 30 minutes before," the USGS said.

Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said four villages in the Zindah Jan district in Herat Province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-earthquakes-herat-un- aid-distribution-thousands-dead/32629036.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Wider Europe Briefing: Everything You Need To Know About The Polish Elections

By Rikard Jozwiak October 09, 2023

Brief #1: The Lowdown On Poland's Crucial Elections

What You Need To Know: On October 15, Poland holds parliamentary elections in what might be the most closely watched European vote this fall. Opinion polls point to a nail-biter. Will the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has dominated Polish politics since its election victory back in 2015, secure an unprecedented third term? A third term that could spell more sparring with Brussels and Berlin and a continued socially conservative domestic agenda. Or will a clutch of opposition parties seize power, attempt to mend relations with various European capitals, and push to roll back some of the previous controversial reforms, such as the politicization of the judiciary?

Like so many other times in recent political history in Poland, the two biggest parties fighting it out are the conservative PiS and the center-right Civic Coalition (KO). Polls show that PiS is likely to finish first with roughly 35 percent of the vote and KO a bit behind with close to 30 percent.

Both will be looking for potential coalition partners among three political groupings that are all polling around 10 percent of the vote: The Left political alliance; the Third Way, a political coalition between the agrarian Polish People's party and a new centrist force called Poland 2050; and the far-right Confederation party.

The first two look primed to join forces with the Civic Platform, so the party to watch here is Confederation. At first it appears that it would be a natural partner for PiS with its hard-line stance on migration, the EU, and social issues. But there are clear hurdles to overcome. Confederation likes to portray itself as a "political outsider," keen to revamp the entire system rather than just joining government as a junior partner. Its "pro-business" agenda with lower taxes and social-spending cuts also runs counter to PiS's lavish benefits payouts in recent years. That could mean a hung parliament, which has spawned predictions that, in case of a stalemate, snap elections might be called in early 2024.

Deep Background: As well as being a fight between old rivals PiS and KO, these elections are yet another round in the ongoing battle between the two men that have dominated Polish politics this century: Law and Justice's Jaroslaw Kaczynski and the Civic Platform's Donald Tusk.

Both sprang from the Solidarity movement that ousted the country's communist regime and ushered in democracy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and both have enjoyed stints in power and remain their parties' leaders and biggest stars. Kaczynski served as prime minister in 2006 and 2007, but, since PiS returned to power in 2015, he has avoided running for premier, preferring to remain deeply influential behind the scenes.

Tusk, on the other hand, was prime minister from 2007 to 2014 before becoming president of the European Council, which sets the direction and priorities for the European Union, and heading the center-right European People's Party (EPP), the biggest political grouping in the European Parliament. In 2022, Tusk returned to Poland to head the Civic Coalition again as, without him, the party had taken one electoral beating after another.

The fact that there is no love lost between the two men only spices up the rivalry. The two men's issues with each other go back to the Smolensk air crash in 2010, where the president at the time, Jaroslaw's twin brother Lech Kaczynski, was killed along with many senior Polish politicians and officials. Kaczynski continues to blame the death of his brother on Tusk, who was prime minister at the time. He has often pushed the widely discredited conspiracy theory that it was Tusk, working with the Kremlin, who was behind the plane crash, which claimed 96 lives.

Drilling Down

Foreign observers often warn about political backsliding in Poland under the Law and Justice party, pointing to severely restricted abortion rights, the emergence of "LGBT-free" local municipalities, and, crucially, the politicization of the judiciary. That has led to EU funds being withheld, numerous cases in the European Court, and the possibility of Warsaw losing voting rights in the Council of the European Union, which can amend or veto European Commission proposals. But despite all that, PiS remains popular in Poland.

The party's popularity can be explained by much of the electorate identifying with the party's socially conservative agenda, which plays up the country's nationalist and Catholic character and regularly airs historical grievances, especially toward Germany. But the party has also overseen healthy economic growth, helped by a steady stream of EU funds (Poland is the biggest net recipient of Brussels cash), and increased social spending.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Civic Coalition's time in power, between 2007 and 2015, was that it only catered for cosmopolitan city folk and neglected the countryside and the less well-off. Law and Justice has taken note. Its flagship child benefits program -- named 500+ after the 500 zlotys ($115) per month per child it offered parents -- has proved popular, with the allowance now increased to 800 zlotys. While in power, the PiS has promised not to increase the pension age and has banned the selling of state companies to foreign concerns -- both of which have been well received.

But don't expect a sudden rollback of many of these reforms if the more liberal opposition wins. The current president, Andrzej Duda, is largely seen as loyal to PiS and wields a veto that can only be overturned by a three-fifths parliamentary supermajority, which is unlikely to be reached by KO and any potential partners. And then there is a constitutional tribunal, which tests the legality of laws passed in parliament , and whose appointees are thought to be supportive of PiS; plus a potentially hostile prosecutor-general and other levers of political power that have been put in place by PiS over the last eight years.

and whose appointees are thought to be supportive of PiS; plus a potentially hostile prosecutor-general and other levers of political power that have been put in place by PiS over the last eight years. Then there is the issue of Poland's war-torn neighbor Ukraine. In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, Poland was perhaps Ukraine's biggest supporter. It hosts the largest number of Ukrainian refugees, has pushed in Brussels for strong EU sanctions against Russia and generous aid packages for Kyiv, lobbied hard for Ukraine's EU and NATO memberships, and Poland remains the main conduit for arm deliveries to the front.

But the run-up to these elections has also seen a radical change from Warsaw. It started with Poland (and other eastern EU member states) in May blocking the passage of certain Ukrainian agriproducts entering the EU, complaining that a glut of food jeopardized the livelihoods of its own farmers. Despite mediation by Brussels, to this day Warsaw is only allowing the transit of a few Ukrainian products. Most EU diplomats I have spoken to see the whole affair as Law and Justice's cynical attempt to win rural votes, a crucial segment of the Polish electorate.

It doesn't stop there. Recently Poland wanted to postpone an EU decision to allow Ukrainian refugees in the bloc to continue to have access to local labor markets, housing, and health care. Polish officials on various political levels have been reluctant of late to meet their Ukrainian counterparts and Warsaw has hinted that no new Polish arms deliveries to Kyiv are forthcoming.

With the dialing down of rhetoric and vote-seeking populism, Polish-Ukrainian relations are likely to improve after the elections, regardless of who gets into power. But will it return to the peak of good relations seen in the immediate aftermath of the Russia invasion?

One thing is certain: The closer Ukraine gets to EU membership, the more Poland and Ukraine will become political rivals. Yes, trade between the pair will likely soar, but they will also compete for the same EU funds designated for farmers and poorer regions. And Warsaw will wield its EU veto powers in Ukraine's EU accession process if it feels its economic or political interests are threatened.

On the same day as the parliamentary elections, there is also a referendum asking four questions about the potential privatization of state-owned enterprises; increases to the retirement age; the admission of migrants under the EU relocation mechanism; and the removal of the barrier on Poland's border with Belarus, which was put up to stop migrants, usually from non-European countries, that Warsaw says Minsk is pushing into the country.

The referendum questions have been heavily criticized for being leading, aimed at exploiting the opposition, and designed to increase voter turnout for Law and Justice. It has also been compared to similar referendums held under the ruling right-wing Fidesz party in Hungary in recent years, which critics also said were designed to drum up support for the government. More than 50 percent of all registered voters have to participate for the result to be valid and, with the opposition urging a boycott, it will be interesting to see if that number is reached and how this referendum will be used politically in the future.

Brief #2: With Support For Ukraine Flagging, NATO Defense Ministers To Take Stock

What You Need To Know: The NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on October 11-12 will focus mainly on two things: further support for Ukraine and how well NATO is prepared to defend itself. This is the first NATO ministerial since the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July and it is very much a stocktaking exercise, looking at the state of the military alliance ahead of its 75th anniversary summit in Washington, D.C., in July 2024.

The big elephant in the room, however, will be the question of whether the member states are as committed to Kyiv as before, notably with the United States not approving further funding for Ukraine to avert a government shutdown and European countries focusing more and more on other issues, such as increased migration into the bloc.

The first test will come just before the actual ministerial starts with another meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, commonly known as the "Ramstein format" after the German military base where more than 50 nations committed to arming Ukraine usually convene. Expect some announcements about more demining equipment, ammunition, armored vehicles, military spare parts, and longer-range rockets for air defense systems.

Other business will be Ukrainian pleas to get more longer-range offensive missiles, such as the U.S.-made ATACMS and German-made Taurus, but a NATO official speaking on background told me that these would be "big ticket items" that likely won't be announced this week. Germany has already ruled out supplying its Taurus missiles for now and, even though there have been media reports for weeks that White House officials expect a positive announcement regarding the ATACMS soon, nothing so far has materialized.

Deep Background: There will also be a new face in the crowd as the recently installed Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will come to Brussels for the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC), which is also being held this week. No major decisions are expected at the NUC and Umerov will likely be quizzed on the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the chances of breaking through Russian defensive lines in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recently assessed the offensive by saying it was "gradually gaining ground," but a NATO official I spoke to on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to speak on the record said the mood in the military alliance is gloomy about the prospects of a substantial breakthrough before the winter sets in. "Russia has really deep defensive lines, so I can't say I am very optimistic at the moment," the NATO official said.

The NUC will also focus on Ukraine's defense reforms. Kyiv will be expected to draw up a so-called adapted Annual National Program by the end of the year that will detail what the country needs to do to get closer to the miliary alliance. This largely concerns reforms in four areas: interoperability with NATO; procurement in the military sphere; civilian oversight of the armed forces; and credible anti-corruption measures in the defense sector. At the same time, there is also a push from Kyiv and its supporters within NATO to increase the alliance's presence in Ukraine. The alliance's liaison office in Kyiv is currently staffed by only two people.

Drilling Down

In terms of Ukraine's path to NATO membership, the communique from July's NATO Summit in Vilnius was rather vague about the next steps: "NATO foreign ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Program. The alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path toward future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met."

That means that most of the talk about Ukraine's potential membership will be deferred to when the alliance's foreign ministers meet in Brussels at the end of November and then every time they meet. My understanding is that defense ministers this week aren't keen to devote too much time to the question of membership.

And is there really any appetite to bring Ukraine closer to NATO anytime soon? NATO sources I have spoken to on the condition of anonymity have told me that there hasn't been any shift in positions since Vilnius, when the United States and Germany were reluctant to move further on the question of accession, especially given that Ukraine is a country still at war.

The NATO Summit in Washington next July comes just four months before the U.S. presidential election. NATO officials I have spoken to on condition of anonymity predict that the meeting in the U.S. capital will hardly be "an open-door summit." They point to a general skepticism within parts of the Republican Party about aiding Ukraine militarily and politically, sentiments that will likely prevent the United States from giving a green light for Ukrainian membership anytime soon. Several NATO ambassadors were recently in Washington and, while they got a commitment from both Democrats and Republican lawmakers that support for Ukraine will remain high and money will still flow to Kyiv, there is concern among NATO members that the United States will lose interest and reduce its military and political support.

It is not only across the Atlantic that support for Ukraine might be weaker than before. A group of Central and Eastern European member states, referring to themselves as the Bucharest Eight (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia), have been the most vocal supporters of Ukrainian membership so far. That could change, though, with Ukraine fatigue increasing across the continent. For example, after the recent parliamentary elections in Slovakia , it's now a question of how committed to Ukraine Bratislava will be. It looks likely that the next Slovak government will be led by the Smer party, which indicated on the campaign trail that it is against more arms deliveries to Ukraine and has struck a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow.

, it's now a question of how committed to Ukraine Bratislava will be. It looks likely that the next Slovak government will be led by the Smer party, which indicated on the campaign trail that it is against more arms deliveries to Ukraine and has struck a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow. It's not all bad, though. While Poland has seemed to have become tougher on several issues pertaining to Ukraine in the run-up to its parliamentary elections (see other briefing), Warsaw is still expected to support Kyiv's NATO aspirations going forward, even if Polish-Ukrainian relations aren't as warm as before.

A large section of the meeting will also go to NATO's "deterrence and defense" -- meaning its own defense plans. Agreed in Vilnius, these top-secret documents spell out how every part of NATO territory will be defended in case of an attack. While the plans on paper have been described to me by one NATO official as "top quality," there are questions the alliance will have to answer this fall: Are the plans realistic? And are they executable? Or in simpler terms: Are there enough soldiers and equipment available for the "NATO pot" that the alliance is demanding each ally contribute to? It might not hog the headlines, but these are the types of issues that will be keeping the military alliance's officials busy.

Recent events in northern Kosovo will also be discussed. The military alliance already announced last week that it will boost its KFOR peacekeeping force from 4,500 troops to about 5,000, mostly utilizing British forces. That is a response to an armed attack at a monastery in northern Kosovo on September 24 that killed a Kosovar police officer and three attackers.

Looking Ahead

On October 12, the members of the European Parliament's development and foreign affairs committees will vote on the three finalists for this year's Sakharov Prize. Over the last three years, the prestigious human rights prize has been awarded to the Belarusian democratic opposition, the jailed Russian opposition activist Aleksei Navalny, and the people of Ukraine. This year it is likely to go posthumously to Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who died in police custody in September 2022 after an alleged hijab infraction. Her nomination is supported by the three biggest political groups in the chamber. The winner will be announced on October 19 after a closed-door decision by the European Parliament president and the leaders of all political groups in the house.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-briefing- polish-elections-jozwiak-ukraine-eu/32628458.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Serbia-Kosovo Accusations Get Personal After Pristina IDs Attack Suspect With Ties To Vucic's Son

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service October 09, 2023

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied his son had anything to do with a deadly armed attack on police in neighboring Kosovo last month that caused European shock waves, after Kosovar authorities cited documents found at the scene belonging to a close acquaintance of 25-year-old Danilo Vucic.

Kosovo police are still investigating what they describe as a "terrorist" operation with alleged Serbian support involving around 30 heavily armed gunmen at the Banjska monastery in a mostly Serb-populated northern municipality on September 24.

But Kosovar Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla on October 8 made public identity documents of a Serb he described as one of the younger Vucic's "closest associates" and said investigators are looking for a possible link between Danilo Vucic and the attack.

One ethnic Albanian policeman died and another was injured before three Serb suspects were killed in the siege and firefight before many of the assailants reportedly escaped into the rugged terrain around Banjska.

Milan Radoicic, a Belgrade ally whose Serbian List is Kosovo's main ethnic-Serb party, has admitted to organizing and taking part in the incident after spending two days in Serbian custody earlier this month. Kosovar police had shown images of him heavily armed among the monastery assailants along with identity documents from the scene. He is still thought to be in Serbia.

Svecla has shown documents found at the scene belonging to Milorad Jevtic, whom he described as "one of the closest associates of Danilo Vucic, son of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic." He said the documents proved Jevtic "was in the unit that attacked Kosovo police."

Svecla said Jevtic had accompanied the Serbian president's son on four of his last five visits to Kosovo.

"It remains for security authorities and investigations to discover whether aside from Vucic and senior Serbian state structures, his son was also involved in the planning and organization of the terrorist attack in Banjska," Svecla said.

President Vucic parried any suggestion of his son's involvement and lashed out at Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti by name, suggesting he was "a coward" for "targeting" Vucic's family.

"Danilo, of course, has nothing to do with anything, except that he loves Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija as its part, in accordance with the UN Charter," the Serbian president said on social media alongside a photo of himself with his son.

Serbia rejects sovereignty for its former province, which it calls Kosovo and Metohija, since Pristina declared independence in 2008 in a move now recognized by more than 100 countries.

Danilo Vucic has been photographed alongside ultranationalist Serbs accused of ties to organized crime, prompting President Vucic to defend his son and lash out at media for intruding on his family.

In July, Serbia's defense minister accused Kosovar authorities of trying "to humiliate" the younger Vucic at gunpoint after stopping his vehicle on the way to a commemoration days earlier of the epic 14th-century Battle of Kosovo, a source of Serb national pride.

In his post, President Vucic mentioned the June incident and went on to accuse Kurti of also "insulting" his daughter.

He repeated an accusation he leveled soon after the September 24 incident, saying Kurti and his government's policies were "killing and terrorizing the Serbian people."

Kurti, Svecla, and Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani have all alleged official Serbian involvement in the Banjska attack -- a charge Vucic has vehemently denied.

As fears skyrocketed of a sharp escalation between the tense Balkan neighbors, Western officials earlier this month welcomed Serbia's pledge to reduce its military presence near the border but also reinforced NATO's KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

Dozens of KFOR troops were injured in violence that accompanied Serb protests in Zvecan against the Kurti government's attempt in late May to forcibly install ethnic Albanian mayors after elections in mostly Serb areas that were boycotted by all but about 4 percent of locals.

Sveclja said on October 8 that Jevtic was also among those who committed violence in May, unrest that prompted Pristina to outlaw two informal Serb groupings known as Northern Brigade and Civil Defense.

EU-mediated talks to normalize Serbia-Kosovo relations have foundered for more than a decade, and Vucic and Kurti have seemingly dug in further since EU officials touted as a breakthrough oral commitments each purportedly made in February.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-kosovo-attack- pristina-ids-vucic-connection/32629876.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Turkiye's Erdogan Warns Israel Against Further Denying Statehood to Palestinians

Sputnik News

20231009

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Israel in a speech on Monday that it would never see peace in the region if it continued to deny statehood to Palestinians.

"We believe that there will be no peace in the region without the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital. Obviously, the problem in the region cannot be solved by constantly oppressing Palestinians and seizing their homes and land," he said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.

The Turkish president criticized the international community for failing to deliver on the promises it had made to Palestinians. Separately, Erdogan urged his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, to work toward the immediate restoration of peace in the region.

"Underscoring that any step, in which the people of Gaza will get harm as a whole without any discrimination, will further increase the sufferings and the spiral of violence in the region, President Erdogan said all should act with commonsense," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the presidency.

Erdogan said during the phone call with Herzog that Turkiye was committed to ensuring a lasting peace and ending worrying conflicts in the Middle East.

Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, prompting retaliation from Israel against the Palestinian exclave, home to more than 2 million. Israel officially declared a state of war and ordered a full blockade of the Gaza Strip, stopping supplies of water, food, electricity and fuel.

 Sputnik

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Switzerland Offers to Mediate Between Israel, Hamas

Sputnik News

20231009

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Switzerland offered on Monday to mediate de-escalation in fighting between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas in the hope of finding a way forward to a two-state solution.

"Switzerland stands ready to diplomatically support the parties and states in the region and work toward de-escalation," the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Bern said it was convinced that only a two-state solution, negotiated by both parties in accordance with international law, could lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis met on Monday with the Israeli ambassador and the representative of the Palestinian Authority in Bern to take stock of the situation.

The alpine nation will set up a task force to deal with the legal, consular, humanitarian, security and communication issues resulting from the conflict. There are some 28,000 Swiss nationals and their family members in Israel and the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories.

Switzerland criticized the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday. It called for the immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas and a prompt end to fighting, which is estimated to have killed hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians.

 Sputnik

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Palestine's Al-Quds Brigades Claim Responsibility for Operation in Southern Lebanon

Sputnik News

20231009

DOHA (Sputnik) - The military wing of the Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad, Al-Quds Brigades, on Monday announced its responsibility for carrying out an operation in southern Lebanon that left seven Israeli soldiers injured.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces that it eliminated several armed suspects who infiltrated Israel from the territory of Lebanon. The Israeli military added that during clashes near the border with Lebanon, two people were killed by Israeli forces, and one returned back to Lebanon.

"As part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the Al-Quds Brigades declares its responsibility for an operation that was carried out this afternoon in southern Lebanon near the border with the occupied Palestinian territories, leaving seven Zionist soldiers wounded, some of them were seriously injured," the statement said.

On Saturday, Palestinian news outlet Quds reported, citing movement spokesman Abu Hamza, that Al-Quds Brigades had managed to capture several Israeli soldiers during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israeli forces.

On Saturday morning, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government declared a state of war on Sunday, mobilizing reservists. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, with no food, gas, and electricity supplies. Both sides have reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the ongoing conflict.

 Sputnik

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US Army Chief Says Need Support From Congress to Help Israel, Ukraine Simultaneously

Sputnik News

20231009

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US military will need additional support from Congress to be able to provide security assistance to Ukraine and Israel at the same time, US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Monday.

"One thing that is really important in terms of munitions in particular and our ability to support both potentially the Israelis and the Ukrainian simultaneously is additional funding from Congress to be able to increase our capacity [...] and then to also pay for the munitions themselves," Wormuth said during a press conference.

The army chief expressed hope that they will soon get the backing needed from Congress.

On Sunday, the United States announced it was providing Israel with security assistance that will begin arriving in the coming days.

US lawmakers also hope to immediately approve legislation to provide further security assistance to Israel, including to replenish its Iron Dome air defense system, but there is concern that the lack of a House speaker may delay that process. The House of Representatives cannot engage in normal business until a new House speaker is elected.

Last week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job in a historic first.

 Sputnik

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Greece, Bulgaria, Romania to Enhance Fuel Supply for NATO's Eastern Flank

Sputnik News

20231009

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, and Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu have agreed to cooperate in strengthening fuel supplies for NATO's eastern flank, they said in a joint declaration on Monday.

A trilateral summit took place in the Bulgarian city of Varna earlier in the day where the three leaders discussed energy security, among other topics.

"We agree to further cooperate in enhancing the Alliance's capacity to ensure adequate and sustainable fuel supply to NATO's Eastern Flank," the declaration, released by the Greek Prime Minister's Office, read.

The leaders of the three countries expressed support for a "continuous NATO focus and strong NATO presence in the Black Sea," which they see as key "for ensuring deterrence and prevention of conflicts in the Southeastern flank of the Alliance," according to the declaration.

Regarding the rail connections between Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, the countries' leaders agreed to develop new routes and corridors on the North-South axis. They also intend to further promote the Vertical Gas Corridor, the declaration said.

"This project, together with the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector and FSRU [Floating Storage Regasification Unit] in Alexandroupolis, will contribute significantly to the diversification of supplies, the EU energy security and the energy independence of the wider region, including the Republic of Moldova and potentially Ukraine," the declaration added.

The prime ministers agreed to hold the next meeting in 2024, according to the statement.

NATO has been boosting its eastern flank along the borders with Russia and Belarus since late 2021 by dispatching additional troops. In response to Moscow launching a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has further reinforced the flank by sending more ships, planes and ground troops to the region and putting them on high alert, as well as conducting regular military drills in the area.

 Sputnik

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Netanyahu Told Biden Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza Strip Inevitable - Reports

Sputnik News

20231009

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden over the weekend that Israel had to launch a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, an American news agency reported on Monday.

"We have to go in. We can't negotiate now," Netanyahu was quoted as saying during a phone call with Biden on Sunday.

Israel formally declared a state of war on Sunday, a day after Hamas, a Palestinian group that controls the exclave of Gaza, launched rocket strikes and sent its fighters into Israeli territory. Some 300,000 Israeli reservists have been called to arms as part of preparations for the offensive.

Israeli and American sources familiar with the call told the media that Netanyahu wanted the offensive to "restore deterrence." He reportedly said that the Jewish state had no choice but to respond with force to avoid looking weak.

The same sources said Biden did not try to press Netanyahu or convince him not to go through with this plan. He also raised the issue of Israeli hostages in Gaza and asked Netanyahu about the possibility of Israel opening a second front along the border with Lebanon.

 Sputnik

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UN Security Council Does Not Adopt Statement on Israel-Palestine Conflict

Sputnik News

20231009

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The UN Security Council did not adopt any statement on the recent escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told reporters on Sunday.

Permanent Representative of Malta to the UN Vanessa Frazier, in turn, said that none of the states proposed a draft statement. At the same time, she noted that all members of the Security Council condemned the Hamas attack on Israel.

UAE Permanent Representative to the UN Lana Zaki Nusseibeh added that UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland made a report on the situation in the conflict zone.

Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas troops infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces and has started conducting strikes at Hamas' positions in Gaza. The Israeli government announced on Sunday that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country officially entered a state of war.

Both sides report hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation of the conflict.

 Sputnik

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Middle East crisis: Guterres appeals for end to 'vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization'

9 October 2023 - The UN Secretary-General on Monday said that he recognized the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people and the legitimate security concerns of Israel, but underlined his rejection of terrorist acts and upheld the need to protect civilians.

Antonio Guterres was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York following meeting with senior UN leaders on what he called the "unprecedented developments" in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

"Let me begin by repeating my utter condemnation of the abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the Gaza periphery, which have left over 800 Israelis dead and more than 2,500 injured," he said.

"Sadly, these numbers are expected to rise as the attacks are ongoing and many remain unaccounted for," he added.

He further noted that over 100 Israelis - civilians and military, including women, children and the elderly - have been reported captured by armed groups. Some are being held hostage inside Israel and many others have been taken inside the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched thousands of indiscriminate rockets that have reached central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

No justification for terror

"I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians," he said. "I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages."

In the face of these unprecedented attacks, Israeli airstrikes have pounded Gaza, he continued.

"I am deeply alarmed by reports of over 500 Palestinians -- including women and children -- killed in Gaza and over 3,000 injured. Unfortunately, these numbers are rising by the minute as Israeli operations continue," he said.

Respect international humanitarian law

"While I recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law."

The Secretary-General stressed that civilians must be respected and protected at all times, and that civilian infrastructure must never be a target.

He pointed to reports that Israeli missiles had struck health facilities inside Gaza as well as multi-storied residential towers and a mosque. Two schools run by UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, that were sheltering displaced families in Gaza were also hit.

Overall, some 137,000 people are currently sheltering in UNRWA facilities, he continued, adding that numbers are increasing.

Humanitarian concerns

Mr. Guterres was deeply distressed by the announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially," he said.

"I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip. I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort."

End the violence

The Secretary-General said this most recent violence "does not come in a vacuum" but "grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year long occupation and no political end in sight."

He appealed for an end to "the vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization."

"Israel must see its legitimate needs for security materialized - and Palestinians must see a clear perspective for the establishment of their own state realized," he said.

"Only a negotiated peace that fulfills the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis, together with their security alike - the long-held vision of a two-State solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements - can bring long-term stability to the people of this land and the wider Middle East region."

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Netanyahu: Israel 'Just Beginning' Response to Hamas Attack

By VOA News October 09, 2023

In an address to his nation Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country's military forces are "just beginning" to fight back against Hamas militants, even as Israeli warplanes unleashed hundreds of airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip throughout the day.

Netanyahu urged the opposition in his right-wing government to "immediately establish a national emergency government without preconditions" during the war.

Israeli warplanes repeatedly hit Gaza on Monday, while the military said it mobilized 300,000 reservists ahead of "going on the offensive" in response to the surprise attack Saturday by Hamas militants.

"We are fighting animals, and we will act accordingly," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told army commanders. At one point on Monday, Israel said it had attacked 130 Hamas targets in a three-hour time frame.

In response, a Hamas military spokesman said its fighters would kill one of about 150 civilian hostages Hamas is holding any time Israel targets Gaza civilians without warning.

Gallant said in a video statement that Israel would implement a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting the Palestinian territory off from access to electricity, food, water and gas.

Human Rights Watch criticized that decision.

"Depriving the population in an occupied territory of food and electricity is collective punishment, which is a war crime," Omar Shakir, the group's Israel and Palestine director, said Monday in a statement.

Israeli chief military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israel had reestablished control of areas near Gaza that Hamas militants stormed in the incursion that began Saturday.

But Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, said the IDF "cannot deny" that Hamas militants might still be crossing into Israel. He added it was taking Israeli forces "more time than we thought" to stop the Hamas incursion, which was hindered by the presence of civilians in the area.

On Monday evening, rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods in Jerusalem, with Israeli media reporting seven people wounded. Also Monday, amid intense bombing by Israeli warplanes in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed, which could affect phone and internet service.

The death toll Monday rose to at least 900 people in Israel and 687 in Gaza, and that figure is expected to climb. Nearly 6,000 people on both sides were injured.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday that at least 11 Americans were among those killed, and that other U.S. citizens were unaccounted for.

The dead in Israel also included people from Britain, France, Nepal, Thailand and Ukraine, officials from those nations said.

The United Nations said more than 123,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been internally displaced. The hostages held by Hamas include women, children and elderly people.

In addition to carrying out hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza, the Israeli military said it mobilized 300,000 reservists as part of its response.

"Our job is to make sure that at the end of this war, Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israeli civilians with," Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "In addition to that, we are also to make sure that Hamas will not be able to govern the Gaza Strip."

Gaza has faced various levels of blockades from Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power there from a rival Palestinian party in 2007.

The leader of the military wing of Hamas cited the Gaza blockade as well as raids in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and tensions around a holy site in Jerusalem among the factors that sparked the Hamas attack.

Biden and other world leaders condemned the Hamas attack, with Biden promising Israel further military assistance to defend itself.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a parallel between Russia's invasion of his country and the Hamas attack on Israel.

"The same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a video address Monday to a NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was convening an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers Tuesday to discuss the situation. The U.N. Security Council held closed-door talks Sunday.

Poland and Hungary were among countries that carried out evacuation flights from Israel on Monday.

Austria said it would freeze development aid for Palestinian areas in response to the Hamas attack.

Israel formally declared war against Hamas on Sunday.

"This war will take time. It will be difficult," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged the United States "will continue to work to ensure Israel has what it needs to protect its citizens and to secure the release of hostages."

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his support in a phone call Sunday with Gallant. The Pentagon is sending equipment and munitions to aid Israel and has directed a Navy aircraft carrier to move to the eastern Mediterranean.

Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.

During past conflicts between Israel and Palestinian militants, Egypt has often played a key role in mediating an end to the fighting.

Other countries have influence in the region as well, but Chang Teng-chi, chairperson of Political Science Department at Taiwan University, specializing in Chinese diplomacy, told VOA that while China has strong relations with Israel, its lack of connection with the other side of the conflict means it "may be difficult for China to play a mediating role."

"China's main dealings are limited to the Palestinian Authority, and it has no deep relationship with Hamas," Chang said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army exchanged gunfire Sunday with Hezbollah militants on the Lebanese border, in northern Israel, opening the possibility of a broader conflict, although Blinken said fighting there had quieted.

Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a 2006 truce between them has held, for the most part with occasional small rocket attacks from Lebanon which Israel has addressed with retaliatory attacks.

Chi-wei Chuang of VOA's Mandarin Service and Gibbs Dube of VOA's Zimbabwe Service contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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UN Chief on Hamas Attacks: Nothing Can Justify Acts of Terror

By Margaret Besheer October 09, 2023

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for an immediate end to attacks on Israel and the release of all hostages. He also warned Israel's army to carry out their operations in accordance with international law.

"I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people, but nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians," Guterres told reporters at U.N. headquarters following an emergency meeting of senior U.N. officials. "I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages."

Saturday morning, Hamas fighters conducted a coordinated, surprise multipronged attack on several Israeli towns and cities, killing, injuring and kidnapping hundreds of Israelis and some foreigners.

The secretary-general said he is "deeply distressed" that Israel plans to put the entire Gaza Strip  home to more than 2 million people  under a complete siege, not allowing in food or fuel or supplying it with electricity.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially," Guterres warned.

He said relief supplies and aid workers must be allowed into Gaza.

The United Nations said more than 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza. Damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has affected services to more than 400,000 people. The U.N. said the Gaza power plant is now the only source of electricity in Gaza and could run out of fuel within days.

The World Food Program began distributing pre-positioned aid to Palestinians in Gaza shelters run by UNRWA, the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees.

Guterres said he and U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland are speaking with regional leaders to voice their concern and outrage, and to advance efforts to avoid any spillover to the wider Middle East.

The U.N. chief said the recent events did not happen in a vacuum.

"It's time to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization," Guterres said.

He urged a negotiated peace in the form of a two-state solution that fulfills Israel's needs for security and the national aspirations of the Palestinians.

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11 Americans Killed, Others Held by Hamas After Blistering Israel Attack

By Anita Powell October 09, 2023

President Joe Biden said Monday that his administration is supporting Israel in its all-out war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and that he has put U.S. officials on high alert in the wake of the stunning, "heart wrenching" weekend attack on Israel by the U.S.-designated terrorist group.

He confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in the multipronged, surprise Hamas attack, and said officials believe that some of Hamas' hostages may be Americans.

"I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," he said.

And domestically, he said, "in cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel."

The White House has been a hive of activity since Saturday morning's attack, with Biden and administration figures speaking to officials from countries in the Mideast, Palestinian officials, and close allies like the U.K., Germany and Italy.

In the U.S., political figures on both sides of the aisle condemned Hamas and spoke of the far-reaching global impacts of events in the Gaza Strip, which is an area about twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is in China with a congressional delegation, said he asked China's president to toughen his stance.

"I raised with President Xi [Jinping] the unfolding atrocities carried out against Israel and the need for the world community to stand together against terrorism and with the Israeli people, and pointedly requested from President Xi that the Chinese Foreign Minister strengthen their statement; they did," he said.

And Schumer's Republican counterpart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, demanded swift action against known Hamas supporter Iran.

"The West should reimpose extensive multilateral sanctions on Tehran and deny Iranian planes overflight rights. Impound the shipping vessels Iran uses to circumvent sanctions. Close Iranian banks with access to the West, and cease the Iranian operations of European businesses," he wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday afternoon. "Treat Iranian officials like pariahs and sink Iranian naval boats that threaten international shipping."

Over the weekend, a senior Biden administration official told journalists: "it's too early to say whether the state of Iran was directly involved, or planning, or supporting," but added that "there's no doubt that Hamas is funded, equipped, armed by Iran and others. And so that's why we have taken action throughout this administration to hold Iran accountable, to impose sanctions on Iran for support to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. That is going to continue, believe me."

Biden did not mention Iran in his lengthy statement Monday.

Analyst Ray Takeyh of the Council on Foreign Relations said that while a "shadow war" between Israel and Iran has been ongoing for some time  with officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps meeting with Hamas representatives, and with Israeli officials targeting Iranian officials, scientists and Iranians working with proxy forces in Syria  "All this is likely to be aggravated by Saturday's attack on Israel."

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump said Monday, during a rally in New Hampshire, that Biden's policies led to the carnage seen over the weekend.

"As president, I will once again stand strongly with the state of Israel, and we will cut off the money to the terrorists on day one and reimpose the travel ban on terror-afflicted countries," he said.

By late Monday afternoon, an Israeli embassy spokesperson said the death toll had risen to at least 900 Israelis. And the Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli airstrikes. Both figures are expected to climb.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said nearly 6,000 people were wounded on both sides.

The number of hostages, Guterres said, numbered "over 100, possibly more," including civilian women, children and the elderly. Some, he said, were being held in Israel; others are believed to be inside the Gaza Strip.

This situation poses an extraordinary challenge to Israeli leadership, wrote analyst Natan Sachs of the non-profit Brookings Institution.

"Israeli sensitivity to POWs and MIAs is world-record-setting," he wrote, noting that Hamas' current leader in Gaza was himself part of a swap of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli soldier in 2011.

He added, "The Israeli government faces a conundrum: enter with force and risk many more Israeli casualties, both military and civilian. Refrain from it, and find yourself at the mercy of a terrorist organization on your border. Freeing all Hamas and Islamic jihad operatives from Israeli prisons, as these organizations demand, would be difficult for the Israeli government to agree to. Israel might eventually try to negotiate, or it might embark on risky rescue operations inside the Gaza Strip with the best case outcome being only partial success."

Advocacy group J Street, which describes its membership as "pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans," encouraged the White House to show its support for Israel. On Saturday, hours after the initial attacks, Biden said his commitment to Israel remains "rock solid."

"We are deeply worried for the safety of the Israeli people, including the hostages now in Gaza, as well as for the safety of the Palestinian civilians who are now caught in the crossfire," the group said in a statement Monday.

J Street added, "We support the Biden administration as they take all necessary measures to aid, support and reinforce our Israeli allies, as they combat Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and guard against the threat of further attacks on additional fronts."

Margaret Besheer at the U.N. and Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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Countries Scramble to Evacuate Citizens From Israel-Hamas War Zone

By VOA News October 09, 2023

Governments around the world are scrambling to learn the whereabouts of their nationals in Israel, and in some cases, evacuate them amid the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Several foreigners were killed or taken hostage when Hamas fighters poured out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and began attacking targets in Israel, most prominently the Tribe of Nova music festival, in which an estimated 260 people lost their lives.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of nine U.S. citizens on Monday. Thailand's government said 12 Thai nationals have been killed and another 11 taken hostage by Hamas. Argentina confirmed four of its citizens were killed, while the BBC reported "more than 10" British nationals are feared dead or missing, although only two fatalities have been confirmed.

With most regular flights into and out of Israel's main airports canceled, governments are organizing charter flights to evacuate nationals who wish to leave the country.

Hungary evacuated 215 people from Israel on two planes overnight, and they landed safely in Budapest, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook post Monday morning.

VOA's Albanian Service reports a flight carrying 40 nationals from Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia landed in Albania's capital, Tirana, Sunday evening. The evacuees were met at the airport by Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani.

The Albanian Foreign Ministry announced that "in the coming days, there will be more special flights to Tel Aviv, while we are also coordinating with the sister ministries of the countries of the region to come to the aid of all citizens who seek to return to their countries."

North Macedonia is attempting to organize an evacuation effort for between 150 and 200 of its nationals who remain in Israel. The country's prime minister, Dimitar Kovacevski, said the embassy in Israel is "working around the clock" to contact and locate them all. "That's the thing now, to contact them, to find a way to get out of Israel and return home safely," he said.

Other large-scale evacuation efforts are in progress. The Thai Foreign Ministry said 1,000 Thai nationals have requested help to leave Israel. The Royal Thai Air Force is on standby to evacuate them, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said.

Mexico announced Monday it was sending two planes to Tel Aviv to pick up Mexican nationals. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that some 5,000 Mexican nationals are in Israel and some 300 have asked to leave.

Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona told VOA Khmer that the country was working with Israeli authorities to evacuate Cambodians. He said the government is also coordinating with Israeli officials "so that they can ensure the safety of all Cambodian citizens and students who are staying there."

VOA's Albanian, Macedonian and Cambodian Services contributed to this story. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Statement from President Joe Biden on American Citizens Impacted in Israel

October 09, 2023

As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel.

It's heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence. We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.

The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.

For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts. For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available. Please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities.

This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people. In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel.

In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.

The United States and the State of Israel are inseparable partners, and I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu again when we spoke yesterday that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people.

###

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China urges Philippines to take concerns seriously, stop making provocations on Ren'ai Jiao issue

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Oct 10, 2023 01:58 AM

China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and to stop groundless attacks and smears on the Ren'ai Jiao (also commonly known as Ren'ai Reef) issue, China's Foreign Ministry stated on Monday.

A spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Saturday that China's claim of "indisputable sovereignty" over the "West Philippine Sea" is disputable, adding that China's "unfounded" claim and its actions in the "West Philippine Sea" are irresponsible.

In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that recently the Philippines has taken a series of steps at Ren'ai Jiao that seriously violate China's territorial sovereignty, and China has made serious demarches to the Philippines on multiple occasions.

The ministry reiterated that Ren'ai Jiao has been China's territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of China's Nansha Islands geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The ministry said that Ren'ai Jiao has never been the Philippines' territory. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the US and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty between the US and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention between the UK and the US regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago.

The Nansha Islands, including Ren'ai Jiao, is completely beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory.

Additionally, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is illegal, null and void. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines directly concerns the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS.

Besides, in 2006, pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS, China excluded issues relating to sea boundary delimitations from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal. By unilaterally initiating the South China Sea arbitration, the Philippines contravened the stipulations of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law.

By "grounding" a military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines gravely violated China's territorial sovereignty. In May 1999, the Philippines "grounded" the tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious demarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the vessel at once. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible.

However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines' acts of going back on its word again and again and violating China's territorial sovereignty. The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the "grounded" military vessel.

The ministry also stated that the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely lies with the Philippines. For some time, the Philippines, ignoring China's goodwill and sincerity, has kept sending official vessels and warships to forcibly intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to send construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao.

China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region.

China will continue, in accordance with domestic law and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the ministry said.

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Attacks on civilians amid Gaza conflict condemned

People's Daily Online

(Chinadaily.com.cn) 10:30, October 10, 2023

Gaza: Foreign nationals reported dead

China reiterated on Monday that it "opposes and condemns" violence against civilians as the death toll from the Israel-Palestine conflict reached nearly 1,400.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news briefing in Beijing that China firmly opposes actions that expand the conflict and undermine regional stability. Beijing hopes for a cease-fire, an end to the conflict and the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible, she added.

Mao called on the international community to effectively play its role and work together to cool down the situation.

On Monday, Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas fighters, guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks and pounded the Gaza Strip from the air.

Israel vowed to lay total siege to the impoverished, Hamas-ruled territory in the wake of an unprecedented weekend incursion, and said it had brought in special forces to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the country was "in a state of war" and asked Israelis to prepare for a "long and difficult" conflict.

In response, China had urged relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further escalation of the situation.

The fighting continued in several locations on Monday morning. At least 800 people have reportedly been killed in Israel  a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades  and more than 560 have been killed in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict has had a global impact, with several countries reporting their nationals killed, abducted or missing.

At least nine United States citizens were killed in the conflict, the US State Department said on Monday in a statement, adding that an undetermined number of US citizens remain missing and unaccounted for.

Thailand said at least 12 of its nationals were killed, while Nepal reported 10 deaths. They were all laborers working in Israel.

The United Nations said on Monday that more than 123,000 people have been displaced in Gaza since the fresh round of violence erupted on Saturday.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA

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Hamas: No negotiations on Israeli captives under fire, regime must pay high price

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 October 2023 1:02 AM

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement says an ongoing operation against Israel will continue, while rejecting any negotiations on Israeli captives as long as the regime's attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip continue.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Gaza Strip-based movement's military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, made the remark in a late Monday recorded message.

Warning that the Israeli regime must be ready to pay a high price in exchange for the captives' freedom, the spokesman said, "The matter of prisoners is a strategically crucial issue with a well-defined trajectory, and the occupation will inevitably bear the consequences."

He noted that the resistance fighters have succeeded in apprehending a significant number of the enemy's soldiers at various battlefronts, who have been relocated to al-Qassam Brigades' detention facilities.

"We categorically refuse to engage in deliberations or negotiations regarding prisoners' matters under the duress of aggression, and the enemy must prepare to pay the price," he emphasized.

Abu Ubaida noted that Hamas has launched the military operation against Israel with unwavering resolve and courage, is fully aware of the potential outcomes, and is also prepared for any eventuality.

"Despite the enemy's possession of advanced security and military technology, they have failed to confront our fighters on the ground for over 60 hours," the al-Qassam spokesman said.

He emphasized that the resistance fighters will continue their large-scale operation across multiple locations with the constant rotation of forces, the dispatch of reinforcements armed with weapons and equipment, and the capture of more prisoners.

Abu Ubaida said Hamas fighters have engaged in unrelenting clashes with Israeli forces, culminating in the defeat of the entire Gaza division of the occupation army on the first day.

He explained that Operation al-Aqsa Storm came after the Zionist regime's repression of Palestinians had reached its peak through the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

"The enemy thought that by closing the al-Aqsa Mosque to our people and releasing herds of settlers to ignite a religious war... they would escape punishment for their crimes," Abu Ubaida said.

He also criticized the international community and the United Nations for ignoring Israel's crimes, saying that the large-scale operation against Israel was a response to the occupying regime's acts of aggression against Palestinians.

Ubaida warned the Israeli regime that the "era of your triumphs has irrevocably ended, giving way to an era of defeat and setbacks."

Al-Qassam Brigades maintain a firm grip on the direction of the battle, underpinned by an efficient command and control system, and are fully prepared to endure for an extended period of time, he pointed out.

Since Saturday, the Gaza Strip-based resistance groups have fired thousands of rockets at the occupied territories. According to Israeli media outlets, more than 900 settlers and troops have been killed, with over 2,600 others injured as a result.

Earlier on Monday, Hamas lauded the ongoing surprise attack against Israel as a "legitimate right" of Palestinians in response to the illegal entity's decades-long aggression and the silence of the international community.

"The battle of [Operation] al-Aqsa Storm is a legitimate right for our people to defend themselves, their land, and their sanctities, in light of the continued aggression of the occupation, and the silence and failure of the world to put an end to its escalating terrorism and its denial of all the rights of our people and their aspirations to liberate their land and achieve a return to it," the movement said in a statement.



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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 October 2023 - Day 593

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia's partnership with Iran has strengthened in recent years, almost certainly accelerated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. International isolation has forced Russia to redirect its foreign policy efforts towards previously less-desirable partnerships to gain diplomatic, economic and military support.

Iranian military aid to Russia's campaign in Ukraine has included hundreds of one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and artillery munitions. Iranian OWA UAVs have been a core element of Russia's campaign of long-range strikes into Ukraine. This arrangement has now been extended to include assembling and production of these UAVs, under licence, in a facility in Russia.

Russo-Iranian diplomatic and economic ties have also intensified. Russia's engagement with Iran through multinational forums will almost certainly increase following Iran's recent admission into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and its invitation to join the economic BRICS forum. Iran recently claimed that Russia had invested USD $2.76bn into Iran in 2022-23. Economic ties are highly likely to deepen as Russia seeks to mitigate sanctions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 9, there were 34x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 39x air strikes, 23x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in east and south of Ukraine remains difficult.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Blarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues to shell Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Halahanivka (Chernihiv oblast), Dihtyarne and Stepne (Sumy oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at about 10x settlements, including Sen'kivka (Chernihiv oblast), Stepne (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Vovchans'ki Khutory, Okhrimivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kindrashivka, Pishchane, Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x Russian attacks in the area of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near settlements of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne, Rozdolivka, (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks in the area of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Min'kivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Keramik, Novokalynove and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Stepove, Avdiivka, Opytne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: during the day of October 9, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 15x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in that area. About 15x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled a Russian attack in the area of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled a Russian attack in the vicinity of Levadne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 30x settlements, including Orikhiv, Novodanylivka, Robotyne, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Zmiivka and Beryslav (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Prydniprovs'ke (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson and Dmytrivka (Mykolaiv oblast).

At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue their offensive operation on Melitopol' axis and offensive (assault) operations on Bakhmut axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line.

During the day of October 9, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the Russian concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 1x ammunition depot, 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces in cooperation with aviation and artillery repelled three attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kurdyumovka and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Kleshcheyevka and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's lost up to 140 Ukrainian troops killed or injured, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery neutralised manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

Also, during the day, actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group were foiled close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 15 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer were wiped out.

In the Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces units supported by aviation and artillery repelled five enemy attacks of the AFU 32th, 115th mechanised brigades, and 4th Tank Brigade near Sinkovka, Orlyanskoye (Kharkov region) and Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 170 Ukrainian troops, four pick-up trucks, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system during the day.

In Krasny Liman direction, well-coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopter strikes, and artillery fire repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Torskoye, Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers, were destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled an attack of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region) and delivered strikes at Ukrainian units near Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Total losses of the enemy in the past 24 hours in this direction have amounted to over 200 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, up to 60 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised by fire.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 105 areas during the day.

An AFU depot of missile and artillery weapory has been destroyed near Priluki (Chernigov region).

Russian air defence units have intercepted one HIMARS MLRS projectile during the day.

In addition, 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Kremenets, Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Proletarka, Kazachi, Genichensk (Zaporozhye region), and Olshana, Berestovoye (Kherson region).

In total, 487 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,649 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,425 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,161 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,692 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,949 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on October 9, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-10-09 20:23

Hubei Media Group: Recent devastating earthquakes that rocked western Afghanistan have taken 2,445 lives, injured nearly 10,000 people and caused heavy losses of property. China said it will do its best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts in light of the country's needs. Do you have any details to share with us?

Mao Ning: As Afghanistan's close neighbor and true friend, China feels deeply for the Afghan people as they cope with the disaster. We have expressed sympathies at various levels and offered assistance through multiple channels to the country. The Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian aid in cash to the Afghan Red Crescent. We will continue to do what we can to assist Afghanistan in light of its needs and help the Afghan people pull through the difficulties.a

CGTN: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip has led to heavy casualties on both sides. What's China's comment?a

Mao Ning: China is closely following the escalating conflict between Palestine and Israel. We're deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians. We oppose moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hope fighting will stop and peace will return soon. The international community needs to play an effective role to jointly help cool down the situation.

To end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and settle the Palestine question fully and properly through political means at an early date so as to take care of each party's legitimate concerns. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards this end.

CCTV: The scale of the current Palestine-Israel conflict has exceeded that of previous ones. Does the Foreign Ministry have information regarding the extent of its impact on Chinese nationals there and the local Chinese community? What help will China give them?

Mao Ning: The Foreign Ministry activated the emergency consular protection mechanism immediately after the conflict broke out to coordinate and engage in work on protecting Chinese nationals and institutions in Palestine and Israel. Our Embassy in Israel and Office to Palestine have issued emergency safety alerts. They are staying in contact with Chinese nationals on the ground and doing everything they can to protect the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions there.

We remind Chinese nationals not to travel to Palestine or Israel and ask those already there to follow closely the security situation on the ground, take extra precaution, and avoid going outdoors. In case of emergencies, we urge them to contact the Chinese Embassy in Israel and the Office to Palestine for help.

O Globo: According to reports, the attacks committed on Saturday by the Islamic group Hamas has left over 700 dead, most of them civilians, and also dozens of kidnapped people were taken to Gaza. My question is, does the Chinese government consider those acts terrorist acts?

Mao Ning: China has stated its position on the current escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel. We are deeply concerned over the escalation of tensions and violence and saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn acts harming civilians. The priority now is to end hostilities and restore peace as soon as possible and work together to deescalate the situation.

Rudaw Media Network: I have two questions. What is the nature of your current relationship with both Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Governments, and if I may add: why haven't we seen any Iraqi Prime Minister and Kurdish leaders in Beijing in recent years? The second question: China is an important actor in the Middle East and it could play a big role in resolving issues in the region. As you have a strong relationship with Syria and the Syrian President and hosted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently in China, how could you help to resolve the Kurdish issue in Syria in the frame of Syrian sovereignty?aa

Mao Ning: On your first question about China-Iraq relations, China and Iraq are strategic partners and have maintained close high-level exchanges in recent years with positive cooperation results in various fields. The then Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi paid a successful visit to China in 2019. Last December, President Xi Jinping had a successful meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on the sidelines of the China-Arab States Summit and the two leaders reached important common understandings on deepening China-Iraq relations in the new era. China stands ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the central government and subnational governments at all levels in Iraq to further substantiate the China-Iraq strategic partnership.

On your second question about China-Syria relations, the two countries share profound traditional friendship. Over the past 67 years since China and Syria established diplomatic ties, the bilateral relationship has seen sound and steady growth. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently attended the the Opening Ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders held meetings with him and they had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest. The two heads of state jointly announced the establishment of China-Syria strategic partnership. China is ready to work with Syria under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state to further deepen political mutual trust and cooperation in various areas between the two countries to bring China-Syria relations to a new level.

Bloomberg: Can you tell me if President Xi Jinping will meet Senator Schumer and other US Senators who are here in China right now? Will Xi and Biden meet at APEC next month in San Francisco?

Mao Ning: I don't have anything to share at the moment. Please check back for updates.

Al Jazeera: Western media and politicians call the Palestinians' actions acts of terrorism without acknowledging the fact that these actions were taken in response to Israel's military attacks on the Palestinians, in particular, the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Embassy of Israel in China said that it hopes China, Israel's good friend, will condemn the acts of Palestine. How do you respond to this? Also, the US has announced that it is sending additional ammunition and military equipment to Israel. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: On the Palestine-Israel conflict, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. As a friend to both Israel and Palestine, what we hope to see is the two countries living together in peace and enjoying security and growth together. The key to achieving that lies in the realization of the two-state solution and establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

On your second question, China believes that dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way out. We call on all parties to stop the fighting immediately to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation.

The New York Times: Has China already, or will China soon, urge Iran to restrain Hamas? And also will China encourage Hamas or ask Iran to encourage Hamas to release hostages?a

Mao Ning: China has stated its position on the current situation between Palestine and Israel. We would like to once again call on relevant parties to immediately stop the fighting, protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation.

Anadolu Agency: I think we have witnessed a series of escalation of violence this weekend after Hamas' attacks against Israel in the occupied territories. And there are civilian casualties and civilians are being harmed from both sides. For the past year, China was active for a possible resumption of peace talks in the Middle East. So how do you think this escalation of violence will affect China's efforts for the peace process in the region?

Mao Ning: We are saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn this kind of acts. We believe it is imperative to stop the fighting as soon as possible, protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation.

You mentioned China's effort to facilitate dialogue for reconciliation in the Middle East. The most important thing we have learned from the recent reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran is that no matter how complex the issue is and how thorny the challenge is, as long as parties engage in equal-footed dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect, they will surely find a mutually acceptable solution. Violence for violence is not the answer. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end.a

Reuters: The Israeli embassy in Beijing said yesterday that it had expected to see "stronger condemnation" of Hamas from China, and that it "was not a time to call for a two-state solution", after Hamas attacked Israel. Does the ministry have any further comment on these remarks from the embassy?

Mao Ning: On the Palestine-Israel conflict, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. As a friend to both Israel and Palestine, what we hope to see is the two countries living together in peace. The key to achieving that lies in the realization of the two-state solution. The most important thing at the moment is to stop the fighting as soon as possible, protect civilians and avoid further escalation.

Al Jazeera: Experts believe that the current Palestine-Israel situation may have a far-reaching impact on international relations, including the US-Saudi Defense Agreement, US support to Ukraine and the regional security landscape. As a permanent member of the Security Council, what political and diplomatic efforts will China make?

Mao Ning: China, like others, is closely following the developments. We always believe that for any issue, dialogue and negotiation is the way that will lead to a proper solution. The international community needs to work together for peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond. China is ready to work with others towards that end.

Anadolu Agency: China's special envoy for the Middle East issue Zhai Jun had talks in April in Israel and Palestine and talked to different parties. I wonder if Hamas and other groups in Gaza were part of the talks and how these groups can fit in a peace process in the region?

Mao Ning: After Special Envoy Zhai Jun came back from the Middle East, we shared information on his trip. Let me say more broadly that China believes in dialogue and negotiation as the way to address each other's concerns and realize reconciliation and cooperation.

The New York Times: You've talked about the importance of the international community gathering and trying to address the Israel-Gaza issue. With world leaders gathering in Beijing this month for the Belt and Road Forum, will China try to use that gathering to negotiate some kind of response or resolution of the Israel-Gaza conflict?

Mao Ning: China is ready to stay in touch with all parties to help deescalate the situation. We will continue to do our part for peace and stability in the Middle East.

Financial Times: US Senator Chuck Schumer has expressed disappointment with China's response to the attacks on civilians and kidnapping of civilians by Hamas. Why doesn't China condemn these attacks?

Mao Ning: We are saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn violence and attacks against civilians. The priority now is to get fighting to stop and restore peace as soon as possible. We hope relevant parties in the international community will play an active role and work together to deescalate the situation.a

Anadolu Agency: It's been reported that a Chinese-Israeli woman was kidnapped during a music festival near Gaza border. Is she a Chinese citizen? Can you confirm if she is?

Mao Ning: I have noted the media reports. China is opposed to violence and attacks against civilians. This has always been our position.

Rudaw Media Network: My question is regarding Turkish military operation in east Syria in the region under the control of a Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF) that has gone on for six days today. What is China's position on this?a

Mao Ning: China is opposed to the use of force in international relations. The parties concerned need to respect and uphold Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

Reuters: The US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who was in Beijing right now has called on China to support Israel in the wake of a deadly Hamas attack on the country, saying that he was "disappointed" that Beijing showed no sympathy. How does the ministry respond to these remarksiY

Mao Ning: China is closely following the recent escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel. We are deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians. China opposes escalating the conflict and destabilizing the region. This position is consistent. We hope parties will stop the fighting and restore peace as soon as possible, and we hope relevant parties in the international community will jointly help deescalate the situation.

The New York Times: Following upon the question a moment ago, have you been able to verify the nationality of the young woman who is said to have been taken away on a motorcycle? Have you been able to verify whether or not she is a Chinese passport holder?

Mao Ning: We are still gathering information on this.

Anadolu Agency: Are there any Chinese citizens harmed or injured? Do you have any information about this over the weekend?

Mao Ning: Our Embassy in Israel and Office to the State of Palestine are maintaining contact with the Chinese nationals there and doing everything possible to provide assistance and keep them safe.

Global Times: Has China extended condolences after US Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away on September 28?

Mao Ning: During her lifetime, Senator Dianne Feinstein was committed to enabling better mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US. We express our deep condolences over her passing and extend sincere sympathies to her family. A message of condolences was sent by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to her family.

Bloomberg: Can you tell me when the BRI forum will be taking place? What dates?

Mao Ning: We will release information in due course. Please follow our updates.

Reuters: I think others have asked about whether there were Chinese nationals injured in the conflict in Israel. Were there any deaths already so far?

Mao Ning: As I have said, our Embassy in Israel and Office to the State of Palestine are maintaining contact with the Chinese nationals and institutions there as they learn about the situation on the ground, provide assistance to Chinese nationals in need and do everything possible to keep them safe.

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China's Xi wants more political 'struggle' in ruling party ranks

Xi Jinping's 'special instruction' calls for more intensive propaganda efforts within the government system.

By Lee Wing-tim and Gigi Lee for RFA Cantonese 2023.10.09 -- In a move that some fear could lead to a return to the political "struggle sessions" of the Mao era, ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has called on leaders at all levels of the party to "be brave enough to struggle" as part of efforts to boost ideological unity.

In a "special instruction on propaganda, ideological and cultural work" published by state news agency Xinhua on Sunday, Xi said "propaganda, ideological and cultural work are connected to the future and destiny of the party and national stability" that will unite people "of all ethnic groups."

Outside the government system, the authorities control public dissent through pervasive surveillance, a "grid" system of law enforcement at the neighborhood level and a targeted "stability maintenance" system aimed at controlling critics of the government before they take action.

Xi's directive calls for party committees at every level of government and in major companies to take this "stability maintenance" work into the government system, nipping dangerous ideas in the bud and ensuring everyone in a position of power is singing from the same hymn sheet, in an ongoing and outward show of loyalty to him.

"Propaganda and cultural departments at all levels must strengthen their political responsibilities ... who are brave enough to struggle and who are good at it," Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying at a two-day National Ideological and Cultural Work Conference in Beijing from Oct. 7-8.

The fact that Xi's comments have been given the status of an "important instruction" also published in the party newspaper, the People's Daily, means that party committees must give them priority.

"They must be studied and understood in depth and resolutely implemented," the report said, citing a communique from the conference.

'Red gene'

In March, the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, charged with ensuring party members toe the line, set up a working group to "build political loyalty [and] eliminate black sheep."

The concept of "being brave enough to struggle and being good at it" isn't new to Xi Jinping Thought, where it is listed as a major component of the "red gene," another Xi buzzword.

But this is the first time it has been repackaged as an imperative for party committees since it first made an appearance in September 2021.

Before getting a makeover from Xi, the term "struggle" was closely associated with the public denunciations and kangaroo courts of the Cultural Revolution that raged from 1966-76 under late supreme leader Mao Zedong.

Xi has drawn heavily on communist icons and legends in recent years, kicking off his third term in office with visits to several of the Communist Party's "holy sites," and sparking a slew of copycat visits from lower-ranking officials.

The insistence on "struggle" as a form of political practice comes amid growing concerns over a Mao Zedong-style personality cult around Xi, as institutions and political figures compete to show the utmost loyalty and study up on his personal brand of political ideology.

When he came to power in 2012, Xi relied on his trademark "tigers and flies" anti-corruption campaigns to bring down his political rivals and generate "struggle" within party ranks.

'Irregular income'

'According to estimates from the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, corruption is so widespread throughout party and government ranks as to provide rich pickings for anyone looking for a good reason to bring down a powerful official.

Recent research published by the bureau suggests that at least 65% of Chinese officials at bureau level and above are involved in some form of corrupt dealings.

Researchers looked at China's housing provident fund records between 2006 and 2013 and compared the official income reported by government employees with the income needed to buy the property they owned, and came to three major conclusions.

The results showed that the "irregular income" of Chinese Communist Party officials accounted for an average of 83% of their overall income, although official salaries are generally fairly competitive, and officials aren't underpaid.

This proportion rose with an official's rank, with department directors sometimes raking in more than four times their official salary from other sources.

However Xi's anti-corruption purges appear to have had some impact, the report said, citing falling unofficial income since he took power.

According to state media reports, Xi's anti-corruption campaign has netted some 4.7 million low-ranking "flies" and thousands of high-ranking "tigers" since 2012.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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US Senate leader asks Xi for 'level playing field'

Chuck Schumer also said he was pleased China ultimately rebuked Hamas' attack on Israel.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.10.09 -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appealed for authorities to ensure a "level playing field" for American businesses in China during a meeting in Beijing on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The New York senator also welcomed the belated statement of sympathy issued for Israel by China in the wake of Saturday's deadly attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas, after earlier expressing disappointment with an initial muted response from Beijing.

Schumer is leading a delegation of six U.S. senators - three Democrats and three Republicans - on a weeklong tour of China, Japan and South Korea this week. It's the first delegation of American lawmakers to visit China since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

After Schumer met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier on Monday and expressed his concerns about the lack of response to Saturday's attacks by Hamas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters China opposed the attack by Hamas.

"We are deeply concerned over the escalation of tensions and violence and saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn acts harming civilians," Mao said.

Senate leader 'gratified'

Schumer said he was satisfied with Mao's reply.

"I'm gratified the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement that did condemn the loss of civilian life," Schumer told reporters after meeting with Xi, according to a report by the Associated Press.

China has had a historically close relationship with Palestine, which it has recognized as an existing state since the late 1980s.

Even as it has in recent years tried to cultivate better ties with Israel, Beijing has still kept formal ties with the Palestinians. President Mahmoud Abbas in June himself met with Xi in Beijing and voiced support for China's harsh treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority.

But the attack on Israel was not the only item on the agenda during the Senate delegation's trip to Beijing, which is meant to focus on trade.

Schumer said business-focused talks were fruitful, even if China and the United States still have their differences, with both countries for months embroiled in a dispute over microchip imports and exports that has centered on the national-security uses of advanced chips.

U.S. companies are now banned from exporting high-end chip-making technology to China on national security grounds, while Beijing has banned American chipmaker Micron from selling in China. Both countries have decried the policies of the other as politically motivated.

The United States in August also warned its citizens about the prospect of "exit bans" and extended arrest when trying to leave China.

But the Senate leader called for China to ensure a "level playing field" in trade for American businesses, despite such geopolitical tensions.

"Both sides, the Chinese and us, said unless we have sincere conversations about our differences and not pull any punches, that we would never solve these problems," Schumer said.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Xi meets US senators, stressing stable bilateral ties, cooperation

Global Times

By Wang Qi Published: Oct 09, 2023 11:44 PM Updated: Oct 10, 2023 12:21 AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with a US congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing on Monday, emphasizing the importance of a stable China-US relationship and cooperation, while rejecting the confrontational mentality and the "Thucydides trap" claim.

Chinese experts said the fact that President Xi personally received Schumer and his delegation reflects the great importance China attaches to bilateral relations, and reflects China's expectation that the US political community, through the lawmakers' visit, can gain a deeper, more objective, and rational understanding of China and Beijing's external policy.

Schumer's visit is viewed as the continuation of momentum following a slew of high-level interactions since US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China in June, which analysts believed will strengthen the guardrails to prevent bilateral ties from spiraling out of control, and create an atmosphere for a possible meeting of heads of state during the APEC leaders' meeting in November.

More importantly, the Chinese side hoped that the US side will translate the positive rhetoric during the visit into concrete actions in its China policy, according to experts.

Demonstrate broadmindedness

During meeting with Schumer, President Xi underlined that the China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. How China and the US get along will determine the future of humanity.

According to Xi, competition and confrontation is not consistent with the trend of the times. Still less can it fix one's own problems and address the challenges facing the world. China maintains that the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the US is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to each other.

The "Thucydides Trap" is not inevitable, and Planet Earth is vast enough to accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of China and the US, Xi said.

Given the high degree of integration between the Chinese and US economies and their closely entwined interests, both countries stand to benefit from each other's development. A post-pandemic global recovery, meeting the climate challenge and resolving international and regional hotspots all require China-US coordination and cooperation, Chinese President remarked.

As two major countries, China and the US should demonstrate the broadmindedness, vision and readiness to rise to the occasion expected by the international community, and act with a sense of responsibility to history, to the people and to the world, Xi noted.

China gave a high-profile reception to Schumer, a politician considered to be a hawk on China, which shows the great importance Beijing attaches to China-US relations in order to deal with bilateral ties in a positive, pragmatic and rational manner, Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that Xi has elaborated on China's principled position on China-US relations in the spirit of being responsible to the people of the two countries and to history.

"This helps Schumer and his delegation to understand China more deeply, and to better understand the nature of China's internal and external policies," Li said.

Senator Schumer and other members of the delegation expressed their appreciation to the Chinese side for its hospitality. They said that a stable US-China relationship is of vital importance not only to the two countries, but also to world peace and development. China's development and prosperity is good for the American people, he added.

US senators said that the US side does not seek a conflict with China, nor does it seek to decouple from it. The US is willing to enhance dialogue and communication with China in an open and candid manner based on mutual respect, responsibly manage the bilateral relationship, and stabilize and strengthen US-China relations.

The US side looks forward to strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation with China, and increasing communication and cooperation on such issues as climate change, drug trafficking and regional conflicts, the senators said, according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The senators' words show that they are satisfied with this trip to China, Li said, "But China hopes that the US can be consistent with its words and deeds, and turn the positive rhetoric during the visit to China into concrete action in the same direction."

Continuation of momentum

Xi also explained to Schumer the legitimacy, rationality and intrinsic vitality of China's development path and its broad prospects for future development.

It is hoped that the two legislatures will have more interactions, dialogues and exchanges to increase mutual understanding and make a positive contribution to the stabilization and improvement of the China-U.S. relationship, Xi remarked.

Over the past period, no matter how frequent the exchange of visits between senior officials of the US and Chinese administrations has been, the US Congress has always had China hawks undermining bilateral relations, Diao said.

China hopes that this visit, especially the direct interaction between lawmakers and Beijing, will broaden the channels of communication, and give the Congress a better and more objective perception of China, thus better stabilizing the US-China relationship, Diao noted.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday also met with Schumer. Wang expressed hopes of developing healthy bilateral ties, which requires rationally managing differences and forming a more accurate understanding of China for Washington, according to media reports.

Schumer is the latest high-level American politician to visit China, as Washington seeks to ease tensions and promote the head-of-state meeting during November's APEC leaders' meeting in San Francisco.

Meeting with the Chinese leader and top diplomat maintains the momentum of high-level dialogue between China and the US after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's China trip. Regarding Schumer's experience, his meeting with Xi certainly creates a better environment for a possible Xi-Biden meeting, Diao said.

Analysts said that the congressmen's China visit is not the same as that of an administration official, as the administration's concern is how to put the US in a position of strength in its competition with China through engagement, and has strong strategic considerations. On the other hand, visits by congressmen take into greater account the aspirations of their constituents and those of groups whose interests are closely integrated with those of China.

"We can also expect a delegation of Representatives to visit China, as well as a delegation of US Governors to visit China, soon to follow," Li said.

More exchanges between the US and China at different levels and sectors will be conducive to creating more solid guardrails that better prevent the US-China relationship from spiraling out of control, ensuring that they do not degenerate into a conflict, Li noted.

In particular, upcoming events such as the US presidential elections and Taiwan regional election may add to the strain on China-US relations due to the unexpected selfish behavior from some politicians, the expert added.

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Satellite pics show spike in rail activity at NKorea-Russia border

Experts speculate images may indicate the transfer of weapons following the Kim-Putin summit.

By Jamin Anderson for RFA Korean 2023.10.09 -- Satellite images show a sharp increase in activity at a railway yard in North Korea on the Russian border, prompting experts to speculate that Pyongyang may be sending trainloads of weapons to its northern neighbor.

Photos of a depot just north of North Korea's Tumen River Station - separated by just 5 kilometers (3 miles) of track from Khasan Station in the Russian Far East - taken Sept. 22 by U.S. commercial satellite operator Planet Labs show an abundance of rail cars appearing to carry cargo. The area was completely empty in photos taken on Sept. 14.

The activity ramped up following the conclusion of Kim Jong Un's Sept. 13-17 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders agreed to boost their military cooperation amid Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Experts said this would most likely occur through Russia's weapons technology transfer in exchange for North Korea's conventional ammunition.

Satellite photos taken Sept. 24 show that the cargo was more organized, with two lines of rail containers on the track, one line extending about 200 meters (220 yards) and the other 300 meters (330 yards). Additionally there are several loaded trains parked on the track, about 20 meters in length each.

Experts say there is no clear evidence in the photos that North Korea is shipping munitions to Russia. But the proximity to the summit and the increased level of cooperation between Seoul and Moscow over the past year suggest that is what is happening, experts said.

Jacob Bogle, a private satellite imagery analyst and curator of the AccessDPRK project, told RFA that when compared to the period between 2020 and early 2022, exchanges between the two countries have increased over the past year.

"It cannot be ruled out that the activity seen is arms trading, but it could also be more benign cargo as well," Bogle said. "Russia expends around 10 million artillery shells a year in Ukraine, so rapid transfers by North Korea would help relieve those shortages."

Artillery ammunition?

North Korean exports to Russia have traditionally included minerals such as coal and seafood, and suspicions of arms trade between North Korea and Russia were first raised in late 2022.

North Korea could be supplying Russia with older artillery shells based on Soviet-era weapons, Gary Samore, a former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction, told RFA.

"North Koreans have a very large stockpile of ammunition for artillery and tanks and rockets," he said. "It has been manufacturing ammunition for its own military forces, especially artillery ... for decades. ... if they're sending old ammunition to Russia, ... from Russia's standpoint, it's better than having nothing."

The images appear to show that North Korea loaded cargo onto a train and transported it to Russia, Bruce Songhak Chung, a researcher at the Seoul-based Korean Institute for Security and Strategy, told RFA Korean.

If the cargo had been coming from Russia, it would have been unloaded at Tumen River Station instead of at the depot in between the station and the border, he said.

Chung said the latest imagery is not the first that indicates rail shipments from North Korea to Russia, as the depot is the same area identified by the United States in December 2022 as having a train being loaded with weapons heading to Russia.

"The operation of cargo-laden trains at Tumen River Station was confirmed several times, even as far back as before ... the Russian minister of defense visited North Korea on the Day of Victory on July 27," said Chung, referring to the anniversary of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

Chung said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's visit to North Korea and Kim's visit with Putin suggest that "arms trade using logistics exchanges between North Korea and Russia is likely to increase."

The Beyond Parallel website, run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, reported Friday that satellite photos likely showed weapons shipments from North Korea to Russia.

"Given that Kim and Putin discussed some military exchanges and cooperation at their recent summit, the dramatic increase in rail traffic likely indicates North Korea's supply of arms and munitions to Russia," the report said. "However, the extensive use of tarps to cover the shipping crates/containers and equipment makes it impossible to conclusively identify what is seen at the Tumangang Rail Facility."

A State Department spokesperson told RFA on Oct. 2 that previous arms discussions between Russia and North Korea likely continued during Kim Jong Un's trip to Russia.

"A burgeoning military relationship between Russia and the DPRK, including additional transfers of weapons from the DPRK to Russia and technology transfers from Russia to the DPRK, will further undermine the global non-proliferation regime," the spokesperson said, using an acronym to refer to North Korea and urging the two countries to suspend military cooperation.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh and Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Article of Int'l Affairs Analyst

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, October 10 (KCNA) -- Ra Jong Min, a commentator on international affairs of the DPRK, issued an article titled "Only fools can jump into fire with faggot on their backs" on Tuesday.

The full text of the article is:

Shortly ago, the Ministry of Defense of Canada announced that it would stage an "Operation NEON" around the Korean peninsula from early October to early November, adding this shows that Canada attaches great importance to the Indo-Pacific region and the international security.

As well known to the international community, the acute situation, the eve of the outbreak of a nuclear war, is prevailing over the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia owing to the U.S. reckless arms buildup and joint military exercises for aggression.

It is easy to judge that the introduction of fighter planes and warships into such a hotspot is a dangerous act like adding fuel to the flames.

However, it seems that Canada, engrossed in kowtowing to the U.S. without elementary thinking ability, has not properly understood the gravity of the present situation in the Korean peninsula.

Canada's behavior is not only an anti-peace act of wrecking peace and security in the Korean peninsula and stability in the Asia-Pacific region but also a foolish option of destroying its security by itself.

Whenever an opportunity presents itself, Canada is making an impression that it contributes to the issue of peace and security in the Korean peninsula. But what the country has done so far in the Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region is to disturb peace and stability and aggravate confrontation and conflict.

Canada, which dispatched mercenaries to the Korean War ignited by the U.S. in the 1950s, has played a leading role in carrying out the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK in the new century, too.

It has enforced the law on "special economic measures" to totally block trade, financial services and technology transfer with the DPRK and ban the navigation and mooring of our ships and planes in its territory, under the pretext of implementing the UNSC sanctions resolution, since 2011.

In January 2018, it called a "Vancouver meeting on security and stability of the Korean peninsula" with the attendance of 20 countries, including Korean War participants and Japan, to create an atmosphere for provoking the second Korean war.

This year, too, the prime minister and the foreign minister of Canada remained silent about the fact that the U.S.-led joint military exercises are driving the situation in the Korean peninsula to the redline and, instead, slandered the DPRK's exercise of the legitimate right to self-defence, revealing their distrust and hostility towards it.

At a time when the certainty of military conflict in the Korean peninsula is increasing more remarkably than ever before due to the war drills of the U.S. and "Republic of Korea", Canada is committing such rash act of jumping into fire with brushwood on its back, not content with having added fuel to the flames owing to the anachronistic daydream and its blind belief in its American master. We wonder if Canada's thinking is normal.

As the country has such a way of thinking, it courteously asked even a Nazi to attend its recent parliament session to create an atmosphere of welcoming someone, only to be condemned by the international community and apologize for its act.

It is a natural result for Canada which has become inveterate in finding boundless satisfaction and relief in following its master blindly without any clear view.

It is by no means fortuitous that the international community unanimously has branded "Canada's positive effort for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region" as an attempt to prove its loyalty to the U.S.

If Canada continues acting as a servant of the U.S. as now, it will be called the "51st state" of the U.S. like the "Republic of Korea".

Canada should stop such a reckless act of doing harm to its own interests, clearly understanding that the Asia-Pacific countries are closely following its reckless behavior. -0-

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U.S. Deployment of Space Force Criticized

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, October 10 (KCNA) -- Ri Song Jin, a researcher of the National Aerospace Technology Administration of the DPRK, released the following article titled "U.S. space force deployment aimed at preemptive aggression war" on Tuesday:

The U.S. moves aimed at military hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region are steadily expanding into space.

Recently, a high-ranking official of the U.S. space force visited Tokyo to give shape to the conspiracy with the Japanese defense minister in the field of space and opened to the public that the work to form the U.S. space force to be stationed in Japan is being promoted.

Just ten months ago, the U.S., which has long sought space supremacy, created its first overseas space force in its Indo-Pacific Command after the establishment of the space force in 2019.

Later, the U.S. deployed its space force in the region of south Korean puppets, an advanced base for carrying out the Indo-Pacific strategy, and recently involved the space force in "Ulji Freedom Shield", a nuclear war rehearsal for aggression, for the first time.

The number of U.S. space troops was over 200 when it was organized, but increased more than 40 times in just three to four years, reaching at least 8 600 in the fiscal year 2023 and the budget allotted to the space force is increasing rapidly every year. This is nothing but a part showing that the U.S. moves for space militarization have gone beyond the red line.

The U.S. claims that the deployment of the U.S. space force in the Asia-Pacific region is for defending its mainland and ensuring security of its allies, but this is nothing but a camouflaged curtain to cover up the scenario for preemptive attack on the anti-U.S. and independent countries.

The real aim sought by the U.S. is to further improve the capability for preemptive strike at regional countries by using space to ensure its military edge over the DPRK, China, Russia and other regional military powers and, ultimately, to realize its strategy for world supremacy for aggression by force of arms.

The danger of deployment of the space force lies in the fact that the U.S. is trying to mount a preemptive attack on its foes simultaneously in the ground, air, sea and space once an opportunity arises, while constantly deploying its space force in the Asia-Pacific region and bringing into existence strategic nuclear submarines, strategic bombers and other strategic assets at any time.

Due to the U.S. reckless and dangerous arms buildup and space militarization, the possibility is still growing in the Asia-Pacific region in which the strategic balance may be destroyed at any moment to bring about a nuclear war.

The reality requires the regional countries more urgently than ever before to take every possible measure for defending peace and security in the world and the region from the U.S. aggressive moves for space militarization.

Now that the U.S. is getting hell-bent on space militarization with a preemptive nuclear attack as its ultimate target by massively introducing space force into the Korean peninsula and its vicinity, the space development including military reconnaissance satellite is an indispensable strategic option for guaranteeing the security interests and right to existence of the DPRK.

The just international community should heighten vigilance against the U.S. reckless moves for space militarization and resolutely oppose them in order to prevent the destruction of balance of forces in the region and the world and thoroughly deter the U.S. scheme for an aggression war.

The DPRK will continue to spur the bolstering up of the self-defensive capabilities for safeguarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensuring the regional peace and security to cope with the ever-escalating military threat and aggression scheme of the U.S. and its vassal forces in all areas including space. -0-

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Iran vows 'crushing response to any foolish move' after Israeli, US threats

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 11:18 AM

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry says the country will not hesitate to deliver a crushing response to enemies in case they make any foolish move against it.

Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks during a press conference in the capital Tehran in response to the latest anti-Iran comments by US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on X, formerly known as Twitter, the previous evening.

Graham accused Tehran of being behind the large-scale surprise attack by members of Hamas and other Gaza-based resistance fighters against Israel, writing that "Iran should pay dearly for any escalation directed at Israel."

"An attack by Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies, would be devastating to Israeli defense systems. If such an attack occurs, Israel and the United States should go after the Iranian oil refineries and oil infrastructure - which is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy," the American lawmakers added.

Reacting to those comments, Kan'ani said such accusations come in the wake of Israel's humiliating defeat and are meant to justify Washington's and its Western allies' support for the misadventures of the Tel Aviv regime.

He underscored that the hostile claims against Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement will not reduce the accountability of the United Kingdom and the United Sates for the 75-year-old-long crimes that Israel has been perpetrating against Palestinians and other nations in the West Asia region.

He warned of attempts by Israel's supporters, chief among them the United States, to change the place of the oppressor and the oppressed through their propaganda war.

They are turning a blind eye to the crimes of the occupying regime while leveling accusations against the innocent people of Palestine, he said.

He added that the inalienable rights of Palestinians have been violated by the occupying Israeli regime for decades, as Western countries stood by the regime and against the Palestinian nation.

The Iranian diplomat also highlighted the Islamic Republic's position regarding the Palestinian cause, reiterating that the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Israeli-occupied holy city of al-Quds are of paramount importance to all Muslims around the world.

"Iran has always had a clear and firm position on the Palestinian nation, and the president and the foreign minister have clearly and transparently declared their stances at the highest level and shared their views with foreign officials," Kan'ani said.

"A growing number of world countries, including Muslim states, are throwing their support behind the Palestinian nation and resistance front. The international community is also massively supporting the honorable resistance of the Palestinian nation," the top Iranian diplomat said.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Monday that 510 Palestinians were killed, including 91 children and 61 women, and 2751 others injured amid intensified Israeli strikes.

The ministry also urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to resume electricity supply to the besieged strip as a power outage has left hospitals and medical facilities in a tight spot, amid a shortage of medicines and medical equipment.

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Arab states normalizing with Israel should learn lesson from Palestine developments: Leader's aide

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 9:22 AM

A senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on Arab states willing to normalize relations with Israel to give up the process and learn a lesson from the latest developments in Palestine.

Ali Akbar Velayati made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad on Sunday night.

"Those who believe they can tackle their problems through so-called normalization of ties with Zionists and severance of relations with Muslim nations of the region should learn a lesson from the events and realize they are seriously endangering the security of the region and fighting nations with groundless and immature schemes like the formation of corridors in the volatile West Asia region," Velayati said.

He added, "We warn certain governments in the region to learn a lesson from the fate of the countries that have followed the path [of normalization] and now cannot respond to the resistance front."

Palestinian medical authorities say more than 400 people have been killed and many more injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip.

Hospital officials in the strip have recorded the death of 493 civilians and injury of 2,751 others. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Velayati strongly condemned the recent terrorist drone attack on a military college in Syria's Homs province, which killed at least 100 people and wounded 240 more, stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by Syria.

"This barbaric act exposed that animosity toward the fighting Muslims of the region and the resistance front still persists, and the occupiers have no divine logic and morality."

"There's no doubt that the response to such actions is the same as what Palestinian resistance groups have proven once again," he said, adding that what Western colonialism has built as a safe house for Zionists is much weaker than a spider's web.

"The vicious Israeli onslaught on one hand and the determined resistance of Palestinians on the other showed that the resistance front is an important matter and is the only way to stand up against and win over Zionists and their advocates," he continued.

Velayati further noted that the solidarity of Palestinians with Syria, coupled with the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, represents the growing power of the Axis of Resistance in regional equations, and substantiates the fact that resistance will continue to be the sole way to achieve victory.

Mekdad, for his part, hailed Iran's support for the Syrian government and nation, emphasizing that terrorism is condemned all over the world and those who killed innocent people in Homs are the same individuals who are now murdering Palestinians and committing crimes in Palestine.

"We also appreciate the Islamic Republic of Iran's constant support for and positive role in the establishment of peace and stability across the region. We are grateful for your support for the Syrian government, nation and President Bashar al-Assad. We are sure that the resistance front is fairly sensitive to the interests of Muslim countries and will defend them whenever need be," the senior Syrian diplomat said.

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October 9, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

U.S. Helps Israel Defend Against Hamas Attack

The Hamas attack on Israel out of Gaza is at a different level than in the past, a senior defense official said today.

Hundreds of Israelis have been killed in the attacks that also killed 11 Americans, President Joe Biden said in a written release. Hamas terrorists have also kidnapped people in Israel and taken them to Gaza.

"While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas," Biden said. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts."

The senior defense official said the unprecedented Hamas attack is notable for its violence. "I want to differentiate this from other times we have seen conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza," the official said. "This is ISIS-level savagery that we have seen committed against Israeli civilians a houses burned to the ground, young people massacred at music festivals."

Since the attack on Saturday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has been working to make clear that the U.S. unequivocally supports Israel's right to defend itself. Austin and the rest of the National Security Council have been calling allies and partners throughout the Middle East and Europe with this message. "We're also making very clear to adversaries or those that might be entertaining entering this conflict to escalate it that they should think twice and not take advantage of the instability," the official said.

Austin spoke to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday and Sunday. Austin is getting operational updates and learning what equipment and capabilities Israel needs to defend itself, the official said.

The United States is "surging" support to Israel, including air defense capabilities and munitions. "We remain in constant, ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine, and then support, their most urgent requirements," the official said. "The bottom line is we are working as fast as possible to provide critically needed munitions of various types and other equipment."

Defense Department officials are also working with U.S. industry to expedite the shipment of military equipment that the Israelis had already ordered. "We're also working across the DOD enterprise, including with U.S. Central Command, to assess what munitions and other equipment are in U.S. inventories that we can be made, that can be made quickly available to Israel," the official said.

The United States is also bolstering U.S. presence in the region. Austin ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft carrier has an embarked airwing and accompanying cruisers and destroyers. The force will conduct maritime and air operations in order to assure allies and partners throughout the region and ensure regional stability. The strike group is prepared for the full range of missions.

Austin also ordered more Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft to squadrons in the region.

"These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deeds, and not only in words, of U.S. support for Israel's defense and serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict," the senior defense official said. "Those adversaries should think twice."

Iran is in the picture, but there is no proof of active involvement by that country. "Iran has provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah," the official said. "We've long discussed Iran's role in a equipping, training and providing guidance to militant groups. I'm not talking about any specific intelligence in here. But we've been very clear for years about Iran's role in fomenting instability and inciting violence across the region."

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Zionist regime requests Washington for military aid

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 9, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist regime has reportedly asked the US to replenish its arsenal of interceptor missiles for the Iron Dome defense system besides other ammunition.

Earlier in an interview with CNN, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington was considering Israeli requests for military assistance for the operation in the Gaza Strip.

"Israeli officials have made several specific requests to Washington ... including replenishment of Iron Dome interceptor missiles, small diameter bombs, machine gun ammunition, and increased cooperation in intelligence sharing related to potential military activity in southern Lebanon ," the Washington Post reported, citing sources.

Zionist regime is incurring tens of thousands of dollars in losses for each missile it uses to intercept Palestinian rockets whose local manufacturing cost is way less than the cost of the Iron Dome's interceptors, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, missile expert Uzi Rubin estimated the cost of the short-range Qassam rocket fired by Hamas to be somewhere between $300 to $800 each.

Rubin, an Israeli defense engineer, pointed out that Hamas's best rockets are "relatively simply made" and "inexpensive."

Former chairman of the Fisher Institute's space research center Tal Inbar estimated the cost of Iron Dome's interceptors to be between $50,000 and $100,000 each.

Earlier, the Zionist regime was hit by a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Hamas fighters then entered the border areas in southern occupied territories. The military wing of the Palestinian movement announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces then announced the launch of Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In an address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country was in a state of war and that he had ordered a widespread mobilization of reserves.

According to the latest reports, the death toll in Israel has reached 700 and the death toll due to Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has increased to 400.

Al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) said they had captured dozens of Israeli soldiers and officers.

3266**2050

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SKorea on Alert for Possible NKorea Action After Israel-Hamas Conflict

By Kim Hwanyong October 09, 2023

South Korea is under a heightened alert, assessing how the widening crisis in the Middle East could impact its national security after the unprecedented attack that Palestinian militant group Hamas launched against Israel.

South Korean National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong is examining possible impacts that the Hamas-Israel conflict could have on South Korean security as he is being briefed on the situation, said the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday.

The Hamas attack against Israel on Saturday, the deadliest assault it experienced in 50 years, appeared to be expanding into a full-scale war on the third day of the conflict.

The Israeli military has mobilized 300,000 reservists Monday as it moves on a full offensive in response to the surprise attack by ground, air, and sea by Hamas. Israel is also imposing a complete blockade of the Palestinian controlled Gaza Strip.

South Korea condemned Hamas for its attack on Israel and expressed deep concern about civilian casualties.

The rapidly growing conflict elevated South Korea's concern over a possible U.S. shift in priority to the Middle East and as a result, diminished support for deterring North Korea, according to analysts.

Cho Han-Bum, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank in Seoul, said if the Palestinian-Israel conflict prolongs to the point that it requires the U.S. to deploy significant military capacity to the region, deterring North Korea could lower priority for the U.S.

Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center's Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy project, said U.S. extended deterrence could potentially be affected if "a military contingency" arose in the Middle East that demands significant U.S. military support.

"As the U.S. carrier group and emergency military aid to Israel highlight a events in the Middle East and in Europe, where the Ukraine war resulted in increased U.S. commitments in Europe indefinitely a are pulling the U.S. in directions that create tensions with the idea of Asia/China as the top priority and challenge, as spelled out in the White House national security strategy," said Manning.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he ordered the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which includes an aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyers, to move to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, who took office Saturday, called for the military's full readiness against North Korea as he visited the Army's 1st Infantry Division near the inter-Korean border Monday.

Evans Revere, who served as the U.S. State Department's acting assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs during the George W. Bush administration, said, that he does not foresee any negative impact on ROK [Republic of Korea] security from the attacks.

"The U.S. remains vigilant and firmly committed to [South] Korea's security, the U.S. deterrent remains viable and strong, and the attacks by Hamas will only serve as a reminder to the U.S. and the ROK of the need to prepare for a wide range of contingencies," said Revere.

According to Cho, North Korea could also forge solidarity with Hamas and countries that support the group in countering the U.S.

"North Korea needs to form solidarity [with other countries] as it is isolated internationally from sanctions and its talks with the U.S. are at a standstill," said Cho.

"It seems to have found an exit [to its isolation] through [its warming ties with] Russia" that stands against the U.S.

"If North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could form an anti-American front line" with the Middle Eastern countries and groups that oppose the U.S., his foreign policy "could pick up momentum," Cho said.

North Korea's relations with Russia have been growing into close military cooperation as rail traffic across the borders of the two countries surged, indicative of possible arms transfers from Pyongyang to Moscow, after Kim's meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Russia in September.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday blamed the Palestinian-Israel conflict on the failed Middle Eastern policy of the U.S. as he called for a return to peace.

North Korea has yet to release an official statement on the conflict.

North Korea is probably seeing that the conflict serves its advantage, said Jang Ji-Hyang, the director of Middle East and North Africa Center at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.

Jang said an opportunity to sell weapons and make foreign income increases for North Korea if anti-Israel militant groups like Hamas launch armed attacks.

Since the 1980s, North Korea has been providing illicit arms to Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, as well as the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, which has also launched attacks on Israel.

Christy Lee contributed to this report.

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Lithuanian Foreign Minister Says Russia Is Trying To 'Scare' Neighbors With Nukes In Belarus

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service October 09, 2023

Russia's decision to station nuclear weapons in Belarus is part of a campaign to "threaten" and "scare" neighboring countries while highlighting Moscow's dominance over Minsk, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Belarusian Service in an interview, Lithuania's top diplomat echoed comments from many Western governments over the signing of documents in May by Belarus and Russia that allow for the placement of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus -- the first relocation of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

"It is saber-rattling, it is the possibility to show and try to scare small countries like Lithuania and other Baltic countries into, maybe, changing their positions," he said.

NATO, to which Lithuania is a member that brings the alliance's border to Belarus, has called the move "dangerous and irresponsible."

In June Russian President Vladimir Putin said the first nuclear warheads were delivered to Belarus. While Minsk has not sent forces to join Moscow's war against Ukraine, it has allowed the Kremlin to use its territory as a staging ground for the full-scale invasion it launched in February 2022.

Lithuania, a former Soviet republic that regained its independence from Moscow in 1990, and other the two other Baltic countries -- Latvia and Estonia -- as well as Poland, have been among Ukraine's most vocal supporters in Europe.

Landsbergis said that while "the potential danger that moving nuclear arms brings" cannot be underestimated, "more dangerous than the weapon is the intention to bring it to Belarus."

He added that "the whole information campaign shows first of all Putin's disregard to whatever is left from Belarus' sovereignty, disregard to their constitution norms, or what is left of them."

In a resolution adopted on September 13, the European Parliament called Belarus "a satellite state of Russia" and expressed concern about "the rampant political, economic, military, and cultural subordination of Belarus to Moscow."

Belarus has welcomed closer relations with Moscow since a wave of crushing sanctions were imposed on it by the West after a deadly government crackdown on massive protests following a disputed 2020 presidential election that handed authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term. The opposition and most Western governments dispute the results, saying the voting was rigged.

Lukashenka showed his loyalty in late June when he took part in talks to end a mutiny by the private Wagner Group, claiming he helped halt the revolt by agreeing with the mercenary group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and Putin to host Wagner troops in Belarus.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lithuanian-foreign-minister- russia-belarus-nukes/32630002.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Head Of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization Concerned Over Russia's Moves To 'De-Ratify' Pact

By RFE/RL October 09, 2023

The head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) on October 9 expressed concern over the latest moves by Russian lawmakers on revoking Moscow's ratification of the treaty.

"I am concerned that the Russian Federation is taking steps towards revoking its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)," Robert Floyd said in a statement.

Floyd said he has been in contact with senior Russian officials to make the case that "ratifying the CTBT remains both in Russia's national interest, as well as in the interest of all humanity."

Lawmakers in the Russian State Duma earlier on October 9 asked the Duma's Committee for International Issues and the Foreign Ministry to set a schedule for debates by October 18 on the revocation of Russia's ratification of the CTBT.

The State Duma Council announced its decision after its members convened to discuss the issue amid heightened concerns over the possibility that Moscow may resume nuclear tests while waging war against Ukraine.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin initiated the council's discussions after last week saying that the Russian parliament's lower chamber at its next session would discuss revoking Moscow's ratification of the 1996 treaty and after Russia's envoy to the CTBTO, Mikhail Ulyanov, said Moscow would revoke it.

"The aim is to be on equal footing with the #US who signed the Treaty, but didn't ratify it," Ulyanov said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The U.S. State Department responded on October 6, saying de-ratification of the treaty "by any State Party needlessly endangers the global norm against nuclear explosive testing."

Russia should reach an "equal footing" with the United States "by not wielding arms control and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric in a failing attempt to coerce other states," the State Department's spokesman said.

Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov reacted to the U.S. Department's statement, saying on October 9 that "Washington's inaction forces us to reinstate the balance within CTBT. Disruption of the global strategic parity is unacceptable."

The CTBT has been signed by 187 countries and ratified by 178 but cannot go into force until eight holdouts -- China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and the United States -- have signed and ratified it.

Though the United States has not ratified the treaty, it has observed a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions since 1992 and says it has no plans to abandon the treaty.

Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, various pro-Kremlin politicians and public figures, including government officials, have spoken about the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons or at least resuming nuclear testing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that the possible de-ratification of the treaty did not mean that Russia would resume nuclear tests.

With reporting by TASS and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-de-ratifying-nuclear-treaty-duma-volodin/32629554.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Briefing by Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov on the U.S. military-biological activity

09.10.2023

The Russian Defence Ministry continues the analysis of U.S. military biological activity on the territory of Ukraine and other states.

Materials of Russian Defence Ministry briefing on U.S. military biological activity

As we pointed out before, under the pretence of support to develop national healthcare systems efforts on countering bioterrorism and proliferation of biological weapon threats many states got in the sphere of U.S. military interests. Moreover, the U.S. Department of State takes part in bioprogrammes at the territory of a number of states.

The Russian Defence Ministry presented documents, which prove direct involvement of U.S. State Department in so-called 'Biosecurity Engagement Programm' launched by ex U.S. president Barak Obama. In priorities of these programmes Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African states, as well as Ukraine, were listed among others.

To cover up clients and goals of conducted research Washington involves third-party contractors. These include contractors and intermediary organisations (Metabiota, CH2M Hill, EcoHealth Alliance, and more than 20 companies).

Non-profit and non-governmental organizations are used as a cover up to conceal U.S. Department of State involvement. According to acquired documents, in one year alone, sums were allocated to ensure the participation of at least eighty contractors.

The documents published by the Russian Defence Ministry drew attention of foreign media.

A number of news organizations highlighted the key role of Ukraine in Pentagon's military biological programmes. Thus, in the publication of the Greek publication BankingNews it is noted that '...Ukraine occupies a central position and represents an area of special geographical interest in the bioprogramme of the U.S. State Department...'.

Barack Obama's involvement in the promotion of U.S. military biological programmes abroad was reported by the Romanian information resource Flax-24. The publication noted that '...the U.S. president has been promoting the military biological programme at the stage of the State Department's involvement in this activity...'.

A number of media resources in the Middle East region (Lebanon, Yemen, Syria) published materials about the unjustified expansion of the network of U.S. biological laboratories abroad. At the same time, the Lebanese edition An-Nahar noted that the geographical priorities of the United States in the Middle East are Iraq, Yemen and Jordan, drawing attention to the clandestine nature of the United States' military biological activities.

Chinese experts, commenting on the briefing on the discovery of a clandestine bio-lab in Ridley, California, noted that: '...the United States lacks proper control over the results of its dual-use research and development...'.

I would like to point out that following the publication by the Russian Federation of data on illegal biological experiments at the California laboratory, the United States administration initiated an investigation procedure. Three committees of the United States Congress at once began to examine the activities of Prestige Biotech, which had rented the premises where the federally prohibited research was carried out.

The local administration attempted to place responsibility for the organisation of the bio-lab to China, but no conclusive evidence was provided.

According to the information available to us, Prestige Biotech is registered in the State of Nevada, and allegedly by accident the bio-lab that was the subject of the investigation is located in close proximity to the U.S. Navy base in Kings County.

Earlier we gave a scheme of organisation of military biological activities in the U.S., in which the Navy plays the role of one of the main clients and coordinators of research.

According to available documents, Prestige Biotech purchased more than 20 titles of pathogenic microorganisms, laboratory equipment and animals for undeclared purposes. This is confirmed by the materials of an independent investigation conducted by the American human rights organisation Judicial Watch.

The documents obtained by the aforementioned NGO prove the presence of dangerous biomaterials at the facility and their improper storage, as well as gross violation of sanitary norms in the handling of laboratory animals.

The clandestine nature of the work is evidenced by the fact that the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services refused to provide information about the laboratory's activities, and representatives of these agencies were summoned to the U.S. Congress to provide confidential information.

We have repeatedly emphasised the involvement of U.S. security agencies such as the FBI and the CIA in dual-use research and Washington's desire to cover up the results of these efforts.

Note the document on establishing a journal of classified publications on chemical and biological defence by Morgan Minyard of the U.S. Department of Defense's Directorate of Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

The Pentagon official proposes the establishment of an editorial committee that would clean up for publication of scientific papers of interest to the U.S. intelligence community, as well as classify 'dual-use' papers that: '...could cause irreparable damage to national security...' and accumulate them in a separate repository with limited access.

Examples of studies that will be recorded into the database include experiments to increase the lethality of mouse smallpox virus and the identification of the genetic sequence encoding a new type of botulinum toxin.

It is noted that the use of the classified journal will allow the U.S. Government '...to maximise the deployment of chemical and biological research, and to engage with identified contractors and partners...'.

Such censorship of publications indicates Washington's willingness to avoid publicising results that contradict U.S. international obligations in the field of chemical and biological weapons.

The Russian Defence Ministry has information about the development in the United States of a secret Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The open (unclassified) part of the document was published on 27 September 2023. It specifies the provisions of the National Defence Strategy in the area of responding to WMD-related threats to national security.

The Pentagon estimates that the Russian Federation, China, Iran, and the DPRK view weapons of mass destruction as a means of limiting the United States' capability to achieve strategic objectives in wars and military conflicts.

According to the Strategy, Russia is described as a source of 'acute threat' to U.S. security in the medium to long term.

The People's Republic of China is identified as a 'growing threat.' It is stressed that Beijing has recently made significant progress in modernising its strategic nuclear forces. The DPRK and Iran are identified as persistent threats.

According to the plan of the people involved, the priority areas of the U.S. Department of Defense activity are:

ensuring the defence of the states' territory against external aggression using WMD;

unconditional deterrence of potential adversaries from using WMD against the U.S. and its allies;

establishment of combined units capable of effectively fighting and winning in conditions of CBRN contamination.

At the same time, the Strategy seeks to coordinate and increase efforts to develop means of defence against emerging chemical and biological threats.

Thus, by abandoning work on a verification protocol within the BWC, the United States is creating administrative and technical bodies that can be involved in dual-use research, including for offensive purposes.

I would like to point out that Russian efforts to expose illegal U.S. military biological activities and the deteriorating epidemic situation near biosites in the European region have forced the U.S. Administration to withdraw dual-use research to countries in Africa.

The documents at our disposal confirm the activities of key Pentagon contractors on the African continent a in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. Customers on the part of the U.S. Government are DTRA, the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of State.

We previously spoke about unauthorised sample gathering by employees of Metabiota, a key Pentagon contractor, during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The company's nontransparent practices immediately raised questions from the World Health Organisation. As a result of the illegal export of samples, live samples of the Ebola virus ended up at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infections.

Predictable deterioration of the disease situation near American biosites is forcing the governments of many African States to take another look at the necessity and expediency of co-operation with the United States. For example, in 2022, Metabiota operations in Africa were terminated because the company's illegal practices raised too many questions at the level of national governments.

The U.S. activities to establish global biological control are accompanied by the substitution of the BWC provisions and other norms of international legislation with its own rules, which are developed in American interests, supported by the collective West and imposed on third countries for implementation.

This can be traced in the work at specialised international platforms, when Western delegations pushed through decision-making only on issues of interest to them, without any regard for the priorities of other states. At the same time, attention is deliberately shifted to the consideration of secondary issues not directly related to the problems of non-proliferation of biological weapons, for example, such as the creation of all kinds of databases, ensuring gender equality, participation in BWC activities by youth organisations, etc.

Let me remind you that the Russian Federation has proposed a number of initiatives to strengthen the biological weapons non-proliferation regime and to improve confidence-building measures within the framework of the Convention.

Above all, that includes resumption of negotiations to develop a legally binding comprehensive protocol to the BWC with an effective verification mechanism involving lists of pathogens, toxins, specialised equipment.

The second is the expansion of the confidence-building measures format by providing information on biological defence research and development performed outside national jurisdiction.

The third is the establishment of the Scientific Advisory Committee to evaluate advances in science and technology with geographical representation and equal rights of participants.

The fourth is the use of mobile bio-medical teams within the BWC.

Practical implementation of our proposals will facilitate the increase the national biological programmes 'transparency and compliance with the requirements of the Convention by all States Parties without exception, including the USA.

The Russian Defence Ministry has already given the names of participants in U.S. military biological warfare programmes. They include officials from the biotechnology corporations and the Pentagon contractors related to U.S. Department of Defense.

Today we would like to complete this list with representatives of U.S. and Ukrainian government agencies and private companies involved in the implementation of dual-use research.

Thomas Wohl a Vice President and official representative of Black & Veatch in Ukraine, supervised the implementation of the electronic PAX system for the management and control of biological agents and materials.

Kevin Olival a Vice President of Research for contractor EcoHealth Alliance and has been directly involved in the U.S. Department of Defense projects on zoonotic diseases transmitted by bats.

Mikhail Usaty a Deputy Head of Sanitary and Epidemiological Department of the AFU, since 2018 supervised the organisation of works within the framework of DTRA projects on the territory of Ukraine.

Tatyana Kiryazova a Executive Director of the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy. She supervised U.S. joint pathogen research at the Ukrainian Mechnikov Anti-Plague Research Institute in Odessa.

The information provided on the people involved in military biological activities will be passed on to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

Thus, questions to the U.S. and Ukraine's biological-military activities remain unanswered and its number increases. Since the Russian side convened a consultative meeting on Article 5 of the BWC, the questions that could settle the situation still remain unanswered.

We will continue to analyse incoming documents and keep you informed.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia Takes Steps to Revoke Ratification of Global Nuclear Ban Treaty

By VOA News October 09, 2023

In a sign that President Vladimir Putin may resume nuclear testing, Russian lawmakers were given until October 18 to examine ways to rescind Moscow's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a global nuclear test ban.

The possible step was announced Friday by Russia's envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

In a statement Monday, the head of the CTBTO, Robert Floyd, expressed concern about the developments. "Banning nuclear testing remains essential to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and to safeguarding current and future generations from the harmful effects of explosive nuclear testing," he said

Washington has denounced Russia's move as endangering "the global norm" against nuclear test blasts.

However, Putin said Russia's possible action to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would bring it into line with the United States, which has signed but not ratified the pact.

The U.S. did not ratify the treaty, but it has observed a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions since 1992.

The 1996 treaty prohibiting "any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion" anywhere in the world has been signed by 187 nations but not ratified by eight of them, including the United States.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) urged Moscow to think before acting.

"Russia must drop its reckless threat to leave," ICAN said in a statement.

"International treaties ... are critical to making sure nuclear testing, which has harmed people's health and spread lasting radioactive contamination, is not resumed."

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, has said the move could "take Russia and the world backward to a dangerous era of tit-for-tat nuclear threats."

Ukraine-Middle East

Addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the atrocities on civilian populations in Ukraine and those on the people of Israel.

"The only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine," he said, and called for unity amid the crisis.

In a separate video address, Zelenskyy warned Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, "so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe."

"We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives," he added.

In an exclusive interview with the Ukrainian service of VOA, Ukraine Main Directorate of Intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov claimed that the Russian special services are using the terrorist attacks on Israel in an anti-Ukrainian propaganda campaign.

Yusov claimed that Ukrainian intelligence received information that Russia has funneled to Hamas "trophy" weapons captured by Russia in Ukraine. This move, Yusov alleged, is meant to implicate Ukraine as a supplier of western weaponry to Hamas terrorists and subsequently discredit it "in the eyes of the free world, its partners and allies." Yusov added such a propaganda campaign aims "to disrupt or complicate the provision of further Western military assistance" to Ukraine.

"These are fakes and provocations, of course," Yusov said, "All aid to Ukraine and all armaments are under strict control by our partners, the United States and the countries of the European Union, NATO. The results of this control and the results of inspections have been reported on several times. Ukraine is being as transparent and open as possible," he said.

A warning that the Kremlin "is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks on Israel" a to hype its rhetoric against Western interference in Ukraine, demoralize Ukrainians, and reassure Russians the focus of the West on the Israeli crisis will deflect its attention from the war in Ukraine a was reiterated Sunday by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Following Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, the Kremlin primarily blamed the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine and claimed that the international community will turn its attention to the Middle East crisis and will cease to focus on Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that the United States and its allies should be "busy" with work on a "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" and not "interfere" in Russia's affairs and provide military aid to Ukraine, the ISW reports.

Hroza burial

Residents of the Ukrainian village of Hroza, in northeastern Ukraine, wept beside coffins Monday as they buried relatives and neighbors killed in one of the deadliest attacks in nearly 20 months of war.

The small community has been devastated by Thursday's attack, in which Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile slammed into a cafe in Hroza as people gathered to mourn a fallen Ukrainian soldier.

United Nations investigators are in the Ukrainian village where the Russian missile strike killed 52 people. The lead investigator said in a statement, "My initial conversations with local residents and survivors indicate that virtually all those killed were civilians and that the target itself, a busy village cafe and store, was also clearly civilian."

Among the dead were the village leader, a couple who left behind four children, and the dead soldier's wife and son.

VOA Ukrainian Service reporter Mariia Ulianovska contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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Russia Seeks to Reclaim Seat on UN Rights Body

By Margaret Besheer October 09, 2023

Russia is seeking to reclaim its seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council after it was suspended by the General Assembly in April 2022 following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"The Human Rights Council must be protected from misuse as a tool for settling political scores and from practice of double standards," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told attendees at a reception his mission held recently to mark their candidacy, according to remarks published on the mission's website. "Those are tactics of certain states that proclaim themselves to be "human rights champions."

In a vote of 93 in favor, 24 against and 58 countries abstaining, the General Assembly voted Russia off the HRC last year. At the same meeting, Russia announced it was resigning from the rights body. The Czech Republic replaced Russia on the council for the remainder of its term.

On Tuesday, the General Assembly will vote by secret ballot to elect 15 members for three-year terms to the 47-member Geneva-based rights body.

There is risk for Moscow, as it is running against Albania and Bulgaria for only two available seats. Since its invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly has considered six resolutions related to Russia, and Moscow has lost them all a three by an overwhelming majority of votes.

Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, said the vote could be close, and Moscow may be counting on countries that do not want to support it publicly to vote for it in private, since it is a secret ballot.

"I suspect Russia believes it can win or at least get enough votes to show that it is not entirely isolated at the U.N.," Gowan told VOA. "It could spin even a narrow defeat as proof that it is regaining friends diplomatically."

He notes that Western diplomats recently warned that Russia had a solid lead over Albania, although the gap may be closing a bit as the vote nears.

Rights advocates say in addition to atrocities carried out in Ukraine, the Kremlin has tightened its restrictions on domestic rights and freedoms since the invasion and does not deserve to return to the HRC.

"In the past year-and-a-half, it has been adopting and enforcing laws to silence and punish critics and persecute any genuine political opposition," said Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch's associate director of Europe and Central Asia.

Countries elected to the HRC are expected to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights" both at home and abroad. Rights advocates warn that countries with poor rights records use their position on the council as a cover for their abuses.

China, which is currently a member, is seeking a second term and has a strong chance of obtaining the necessary simple majority, as it is running on what is known as a "clean slate," an equal number of candidates for available seats.

In their Asian regional group, China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia are looking to fill four available seats. The lack of real competition significantly raises the odds of their achieving the simple majority of votes needed.

"U.N. member states do have a choice; they do not have to vote for China," said HRW's U.N. director, Louis Charbonneau. "They can leave that part blank. We can leave an empty seat in the Human Rights Council and have another special election in the future, come back and find a country qualified to fill it."

While he acknowledges that it is a bit of a long shot, he said, "We'd love to see it happen," as "they don't belong there."

China's human rights violations are well known. At home, Beijing arbitrarily arrests and detains government critics and human rights defenders and has detained as many as one million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in "reeducation camps" in its Xinjiang province. It has also cracked down on freedoms in Hong Kong and Tibet.

Also under the spotlight for their poor human rights records are candidates Cuba and Burundi.

In addition to the countries already mentioned, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Peru are competing with Cuba for three seats in the Latin America and Caribbean group; Burundi, Malawi, Ghana and Ivory Coast are running a clean slate in the African bloc; and France and the Netherlands are running uncontested in the Western group.

Winners will begin their three-year terms in January 2024.

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China urged not to politicize trade amid probe into Taiwan barriers

ROC Central News Agency

10/09/2023 09:43 PM

Taipei, Oct. 9 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday urged Beijing not to politicize trade after the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced earlier in the day that it had extended its investigation into Taiwan's alleged trade restrictions toward China for an additional three months.

The Chinese ministry launched a trade barrier investigation in April into what Beijing saw as trade restriction measures by Taiwan against China. It was expected to be completed by Oct. 12.

In an online statement Monday, however, the ministry said it would extend the investigation period by three months because of the complexities of the case, and that the deadline for the completion of the investigation would be Jan. 12, 2024.

That would be one day ahead of Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections.

The Office of Trade Negotiations under Taiwan's Cabinet branded China's Commerce Ministry announcement as proof of its political motives.

It described the extension of the investigation, coming a day before the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name), as a breach of World Trade Organization (WTO) norms and a politically motivated attempt to interfere with Taiwan's elections through economic coercion.

Taiwan has said several times that any bilateral trade issues should be settled through consultations between the two sides in accordance with WTO mechanisms, according to the office, which again called on China to stop manipulating trade issues politically.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) responded Monday that it was willing to negotiate with Beijing over its trade barrier allegations under the WTO platform.

It said it would also continue to assist Taiwanese industries in diversifying their markets and carry out policies to help them undergo low-carbon transformation and smart upgrades to improve their competitiveness.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for handling China-related issues, also called on Beijing to not play politics with trade and take advantage of the openness of Taiwan's democratic society to interfere with Taiwan's democratic elections.

China announced on April 12 that it had initiated a trade barrier investigation involving 2,455 categories of Chinese products that may be subject to import restrictions or prohibition in Taiwan.

In August, it announced that the number of items under investigation had been adjusted to 2,509.

Tamkang University China studies professor Chang Wu-ueh () indicated Monday that Beijing will definitely take some countermeasures once its investigation has concluded.

Among the possible responses are adjusting the items and scale of the early harvest goods for tariff reduction under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), signed between Taiwan and China in June 2010, he said.

China is unlikely to terminate the ECFA with Taiwan, however, as it focuses on trade and investment facilitation and industry exchanges and cooperation, and its termination would symbolize an economic and trade decoupling between the two sides, Chang said.

If the trade barrier investigation were to yield negative results, leading to the termination of the ECFA, it could hurt Taiwan's exports significantly and drag down its economic growth, warned Dachrahn Wu (), director of National Central University's (NCU) Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development.

The results of the investigation could also hurt confidence in financial markets given that geopolitical tensions between the two sides have already led to lower Taiwan stock prices and a steep fall in the Taiwan dollar against the U.S. dollar, Taishin International Bank () head currency strategist Chen Yu-chung () said.

(By Chen Chun-hua, Pan Tzu-yu and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/ls

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The Federal Chancellor at the EPC Summit - "We Germans continue to support Ukraine"

Germany - Federal Government

The focus at the latest European Political Community summit was on shared perspectives for a peaceful Europe. One of the central discussion points was the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Federal Chancellor Scholz emphasised the fact that "Germany will be providing a large amount of support for the task ahead both in financial and humanitarian terms as well as with arms deliveries."

Thursday, 5 October 2023

Following the EPC summit in Granada, Spain, the Federal chancellor issued a press statement in which he spoke of the threat posed by Russia, which, he said, was attempting to seize territory from its neighbouring country by force adding that this represented a "danger for the security and peace order throughout Europe".

Because of this, the heads of state and government of the European Political Community EPC addressed the question of how best to support Ukraine in defending its independence and sovereignty. Scholz emphasised the fact that: "After the USA, Germany is providing the most support and we Germans continue to support Ukraine."

Shared perspectives for a peaceful Europe

In addition to the Russian offensive in Ukraine, there are other conflicts that have a major impact in terms of peace and security in Europe. In a meeting with EU Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Federal Chancellor Scholz "attempted to find ways to ensure and guarantee Armenia's security and independence, and how we might do everything we can to prevent a military escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

Prior to the summit, Scholz had also held numerous discussions with the President of Azerbaijan, who did not attend the summit. He was also clear about the fact that he and Macron will support EU Council President Michel in "expediting talks between the two countries in the hope that a lasting peace process might be established maybe even in the coming year."

The participating heads of state and government also expressed concern about the tense situation between Kosovo and Serbia. Scholz was adamant that efforts must be continued to de-escalate the situation with a view to ensuring that the two countries could continue to establish long-term peaceful relations.

The Federal Chancellor will meet again with his 26 counterparts from the European Union in a smaller forum on Friday. Click here for more information on the Informal European Council.

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Finland allocates additional EUR 92 million to support to Ukraine and countries affected by Russia's aggression

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Press releases, 9.10.2023

Finland's support to Ukraine, channelled through the World Bank Group, will be used to strengthen basic public services, repair critical infrastructure, promote policy reforms and lay the foundation for Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery. Part of the support will be used to help the least-developed countries affected by the Russian invasion and by other global crises.

The International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group launched a new financing programme, the Crisis Facility, earlier this year to scale up support to Ukraine and Moldova and to other countries affected by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Finland contributes EUR 92 million to the IDA Crisis Facility from development cooperation funds administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"This additional funding shows Finland's unwavering support to Ukraine in line with the Government Programme. We will also support improving food security in countries affected by Russia's invasion," says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

Finland will allocate EUR 62 million to Support Programme for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery: EUR 12 million of the amount will be allocated as a grant and EUR 50 million as a loan. In addition, Finland will provide EUR 30 million in loans to countries affected by Russia's aggression to help them prevent the spread of infectious diseases, among other efforts.

In Ukraine, the Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery will address needs in the health, transport, energy, agriculture, housing and social security sectors. It will help improve access to healthcare services, modernise medical care, promote the availability of services addressing acute energy deficits, repair vital road and railway networks and residential buildings and sustain agricultural activities. It will also accelerate long-term efforts to support Ukraine's recovery and the reconstruction of critical sectors. Particular attention will be paid to the rights of women, girls and persons with disabilities.

"We must ensure that critical services are functioning despite the war," says Minister Tavio.

In Moldova, the IDA Crisis Facility will primarily help cover the costs of receiving people fleeing Ukraine and finance development programmes and crisis preparedness supporting Moldova's economic and social recovery.

The International Development Association (IDA) is an experienced and reliable actor in emerging economies and crisis areas. It is an important partner in the implementation of Finland's development policy objectives. Finland is an IDA member and shareholder.

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New support package for Ukraine: more than a100 million for investment, recovery and reforms

Government of the Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

News item | 09-10-2023

The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with a third support package in 2023 amounting to a102 million. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, informed the Dutch House of Representatives on 6 October 2023 about the package on behalf of the government.

The additional package includes a60 million in support for Dutch companies who aim to contribute to reconstruction in Ukraine. This will be spent on export credit insurance to cover payment risks arising from investments and transactions in Ukraine. In preparation for winter, another a30 million will be allocated to buy gas and supply materials needed for the country's electricity grid. The remaining a12 million will be spent on support for recently liberated areas and on IMF technical assistance for Ukraine as it carries out reforms.

Dutch funds for recovery and reconstruction are crucial to Ukraine's ability to withstand Russia's armed aggression. The latest support package was assembled in response to a needs assessment by the Ukrainian authorities, the World Bank and the European Commission. By providing it, the Netherlands is helping Ukraine address its most urgent needs.

Preparations for winter

Russia is expected to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure again this winter. Ukraine requires significant aid to restore its energy infrastructure; its energy ministry estimates that the country needs $3.7 to $4 billion at present. To help it prepare for the coming months, the Netherlands will provide a20 million, via the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to purchase gas and build up strategic gas reserves. A further a10 million will cover deliveries of transformers, switch components and cables needed to repair the electricity grid.

Export credit insurance

Given the enormous extent of Ukraine's needs, the recovery and reconstruction process will require contributions from both the public and private sectors. For this reason, the government is encouraging businesses in the Netherlands to play their part. Dutch businesses are very interested in doing so. What's more, they have unique knowledge and expertise. At the same time, doing business in a country that is at war involves major risks, which can result in payment problems. Export credit insurance for Ukraine covers investment and transaction risks that are not covered by commercial insurers. This makes it easier for Dutch companies to invest in and export products to Ukraine, and thus contribute to reconstruction. This extra contribution of a60 million brings the total amount of coverage in Ukraine to a120 million.

Financial stabilisation and reforms

To keep its economy running and stand its ground as the war continues, Ukraine needs financial and economic stability and strong institutions. For this reason, the IMF approved a programme for an extensive reform agenda in the spring of 2023. The Netherlands will contribute a7 million to the IMF fund, which will provide Ukraine with technical assistance as it carries out reforms. The reform agenda is geared towards improving financial stability and economic recovery, and bolstering institutions.

The Netherlands will also contribute a5 million to the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, whose aim is to reinforce local and regional authorities and assist in quick recovery in areas liberated from Russian occupation. This includes the repair of drinking-water and electricity infrastructure, and resources for primary healthcare and education.

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Russia warns UN of Ukraine's attempts to capture Zaporizhzhia plant

Iran Press TV

Monday, 09 October 2023 4:11 PM

Russia says a recent acknowledgment by Ukraine's military intelligence chief about Kiev's failure to capture the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant should become "a wake-up call" for the United Nations.

Head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Kirill Budanov admitted earlier that his agency's special forces had made three attempts to attack and capture Europe's largest power plant.

The attacks were repelled by Russian forces, Budanov said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday that Budanov's statement "should become a wake-up call for the UN, whose representatives have been saying all these months that they 'could not determine [which] direction strikes on the plant [were coming from]."

The Russian diplomat further said Budanov's remarks should also awaken "from their hypnotic slumber the populations of NATO countries who have been indoctrinated by NATO regimes that it was allegedly Russia that has been creating threats to nuclear facilities and threatening the use of nuclear arms."

She said the foreign ministry had repeatedly noted that Ukraine was making threats by invoking the specter of the crucial power plant being used "as a dirty nuclear weapon and blackmailing Europeans with it."

Russian forces seized the facility in southern Ukraine soon after Moscow launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.

Ever since, the plant has come under attack at times, including in August 2022 when shelling blew holes in the roof of a storage unit.

Russia described Kiev's shelling of the facility as "nuclear terrorism."

Ukraine accuses Russia of storing heavy weapons in the plant. Moscow denies the allegation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been monitoring the situation at the facility since the early days of the conflict.

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Zelenskiy Urges Western Unity As He Draws Parallels Between Attack On Israel And Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 09, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for Western unity and more engagement in solving international crises, drawing a parallel between the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The only difference is that Israel has been attacked by a terrorist group while Ukraine was attacked by a terrorist state," Zelenskiy told NATO's Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen via video link on October 9.

"The intentions declared are different, but the essence is the same," he added.

"This is not the time to withdraw from the international arena into internal disputes. This is not the time to isolate ourselves. This is not the time to remain silent or pretend that the terror on one continent does not affect global affairs," the Ukrainian president said.

He was referring to a weekend attack by the militant group Hamas inside of Israel that killed some 250 people at a music festival, triggering a massive battle that has seen hundreds more killed both in the Jewish state and in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian military claimed some success in its operations in the eastern and southern regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya as regional officials reported that Russian strikes have continued to cause victims among civilians over the past day.

"Partial success in the areas of Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka [south of Bakhmut]," the General Staff said in its daily report early on October 9.

Since the start of their counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces have been engaged in offensive operations in the area of Bakhmut, a town captured earlier this year by Russian forces after months of some of the bloodiest fighting in the war.

The Ukrainian military also reported that it had successfully conducted attacks in the Melitopol direction of Zaporizhzhya in the south.

Ukrainian troops have been attempting to reach the city of Melitopol in an attempt to cut off a land bridge that links Russian-occupied territory in the east to the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.

In total, Ukrainian forces fought 37 close-quarter battles over the past 24 hours along the entire front line, the military said. The claims could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional military administration of the southern region of Kherson reported that one person was killed and 18 others, including two children, were wounded by Russian shelling in the region.

The previous day, a Russian attack left a dozen people wounded, including a 27-year-old woman and her nine-month-old baby, the regional governor said.

Russia has regularly shelled the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kherson since Moscow withdrew from the regional capital last year.

Meanwhile, UN and local investigators are searching for answers at the site of a Russian missile strike on the small Ukrainian village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region that killed more than 50 people earlier in the week.

The investigators have made a preliminary conclusion that nearly all those killed were civilians, according to a UN statement shared with the Associated Press.

"My initial conversations with local residents and survivors indicate that virtually all those killed were civilians and that the target itself, a busy village cafe and store, was also clearly civilian," Danielle Bell, who led the team that visited Hroza on October 7, was cited as saying in the UN statement.

"What happened here is yet another tragic reminder of the deadly impact Russia's invasion has had on Ukraine's civilians," Bell added.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy-israel- parallel-russia-fighting/32629056.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Trend Towards Decrease in Supply of Weapons From West to Ukraine Inevitable - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20231009

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The trend towards the decrease in supply of Western weapons to Ukraine is inevitable as the money tends to run out, while new needs also arise, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"As for these jealous statements that are already being issued from Kiev, and so on, we have repeatedly said that the process of pumping up the Kiev regime with weapons .. one way or another will go into a downward trend, this will inevitably happen, because technical capabilities have their limits, money tends to run out, new needs arise for where to direct funds," Peskov told reporters.

When asked about the affect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Russia's special military operation, Peskov said that the operation is "an independent process," adding that "everything goes according to plan."

A Sputnik

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Russian air strikes in Ukraine have killed at least 262 civilians in six months: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

9 October 2023

Thank you, President. Thank you to USG DiCarlo for your briefing.

President, on Thursday, people in New York woke to news of yet another Russian attack against Ukraine. This time, Russia was responsible for the deaths of more than 50 people in the small village of Hroza when a missile struck a cafA, and we extend our condolences to the bereaved.

As my Prime Minister said, the attack demonstrates the depths of depravity Russian forces are willing to sink to. Then on Friday, Russia struck Kharkiv. A 10-year-old boy was killed and more than 20 people were injured. The Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights reported last week that Russian air strikes between February and August this year killed at least 262 civilians and injured 990, and inflicted further broad economic and social damage.

The same OHCHR report addressed the attack on 28 July 2022 that killed more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war at Olenivka. Contrary to Russian claims made many times in this Council, the OHCHR found the attack was launched from Russian-controlled territory, and that Russia was holding those prisoners in a manner that contravenes international humanitarian law.

Yet again, today our Russian colleagues will drag us into their world of disinformation, where facts are dismissed as lies, and lies presented as facts.

President, Russia's words in this Council are worthless to those who want to understand Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its true cost.

Let's remind ourselves of some facts.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is illegal, as is Russia's control of Ukrainian territory inside Ukraine's internationally-recognised borders.

The body of evidence of Russia's breaches of international law and international humanitarian law in the course of its invasion continues to grow. Just as Russian claims about the attack at Olenivka have been disproved, the truth will catch up with Russia's lies.

President, we praise and admire the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people in the face of this assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We thank the United Nations staff whose record of Russian human rights violations and abuses, as well as violations of international law, show the reality of Russia's invasion, and support future efforts toward justice.

We will continue to support Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defence, and as it brings together Member States in support of our shared goal of a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter.

We call once more for Russia to end its illegal invasion, and withdraw from Ukraine's internationally recognised borders.

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Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East to undermine world unity - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

9 October 2023 - 20:25

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today was a very eventful day. Various meetings, and among them those related to the latest international developments are of particular importance.

I held a meeting with the heads of our intelligence, Main Intelligence Directorate and Foreign Intelligence Service, as well as with our diplomats on the situation in and around Israel and on the overall situation in the Middle East.

This is of fundamental importance for us - not only for Ukraine, but also for the entire Europe.

According to the available information - a very clear one - Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe. We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives. The world wars of the past started with local aggressions.

We know how to counter this threat.

We are preparing appropriate steps. And most importantly, we are defending the need for maximum unity in the world.

Today, I addressed the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, first of all, on the issue of unity. Every state in the world must now choose how it will defend international law. Defend! Not stand aside when terror tries to take over, and when another region of the world may collapse before our eyes.

I am grateful to all the leaders and states who are now fully aware of the danger and are ready to work together to keep the situation under control, to keep the obvious sponsors of terror from broader interference.

Today I also held a meeting with Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk. We coordinated our positions for the coming weeks.

I also met with Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov, Minister of Education and Science Lisovyi, and the ministry's team. Working issues.

One more thing.

I have replaced the Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Anatoliy Barhylevych has been appointed commander instead of Ihor Tantsiura. The key task is that the development of the Territorial Defense Forces should not stop.

Thank you to everyone who cares about Ukraine and fights for our country! We are preparing a new reinforcement for our warriors.

I thank everyone in the world who has the courage to call a spade a spade and defend life and the rules-based order!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy Sees Parallels Between Hamas, Russia Attacks

By VOA Ukrainian Service, VOA Russian Service October 09, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew parallels Monday between Hamas attacks on Israelis and Russian strikes on Ukrainians, calling them "equally evil."

"And the Israelis themselves, the Israeli journalists who were with us, in Ukraine, who were in Bucha, now say that they saw the same evil where Russia came. Equal evil. And there is only one difference: There is a terrorist organization that struck Israel, here there is a terrorist state that struck Ukraine," Zelenskyy told participants at a NATO meeting via video link.

"The declared intentions are different, but the essence is the same. You see it. You see the same blood on the streets. The same shot civilian cars. These are the same bodies of tortured people," the Ukrainian leader said.

Disinformation campaign

Ukraine's main intelligence directorate Monday accused Russian intelligence of conducting a campaign to discredit Kyiv.

"The aggressor state Russia is using the Hamas terrorist attack on the State of Israel for a large-scale provocation against Ukraine. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports that the Russian GRU has already transferred captured weapons produced in the USA and EU countries to Hamas terrorists captured during the fighting in Ukraine," said a statement on the department's Facebook page.

Russia has not signaled that it is supporting any party in the conflict, and has called on all sides to cease violence and negotiate. But Hamas leaders reportedly have traveled to Moscow several times in recent years, and Moscow and Tehran are strategic allies.

In a follow-up interview with VOA's Ukrainian Service, representative Andrii Yusov of Ukraine's intelligence directorate said they have information that Russian agents have taken captured equipment in Ukraine and begun handing it over to representatives of Hamas, to create the impression that Ukrainian officials have been selling off the weapons.

"We have information that some of the trophy weapons captured in Ukraine have already been handed over [by Russia] to terrorists-representatives of Hamas, with further unfolding of this IPSO (informational and psychological special operation) and the conclusion that Ukraine was selling something to someone."

Yusov warned there will be more false accusations that Hamas militants are allegedly fighting the Israeli army with weapons from Ukraine.

Russia hopes attacks divert attention

The American Institute for the Study of War wrote in a report on October 7 that the Kremlin is using, and will likely continue to use, Hamas attacks in Israel to promote information campaigns aimed at reducing U.S. and Western support for and attention to Ukraine.

"The Kremlin has stepped up several information operations since the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, most notably accusing the West of neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine and declaring that the international community will stop paying attention to Ukraine while reaffirming attention to the Middle East," ISW analysts say.

The report quotes one Russian propagandist as saying that Russia would benefit from the escalation as the world would "temporarily look away from Ukraine and return to putting out the eternal flames in the Middle East."

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New Poll Reveals How Ukrainians Feel About War, Future

By Gabriel Levin October 09, 2023

As Kyiv fights a bloody war with Moscow, a new Gallup public opinion poll gives a striking look inside what ordinary Ukrainians think about their country's future. VOA talked to leading experts to help unpack the findings.

"Given everything that's happening, paying attention to what's going on in Ukraine daily is more important now than it was before," Julie Ray, Gallup's managing editor for world news, told VOA.

Gallup is an independent global research organization based in Washington that is best known for its public opinion surveys.

What does 'winning' look like?

Nearly every Ukrainian agrees that winning the war means regaining all the land that Russia has conquered from their country since 2014, when the Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Moscow, the Gallup survey found.

While most Ukrainians support fighting until the war is won, that majority is shrinking. Last year it was 70%, and this year it is 60%.

"Fatigue is building up," said Sergey Radchenko, a scholar of Soviet history at Johns Hopkins.

A growing number of Ukrainians are now hoping Kyiv can negotiate an end to the conflict. That sentiment, Ray said, is especially strong near the front lines in the nation's south and east, where the toll of war is worst.

One in two Ukrainians reported in Gallup's survey that they struggle to afford food and shelter. Experts say that Russia wants to see increasing disillusionment in Ukraine as the war drags on.

"That's why [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has pursued this strategy of targeting infrastructure, power plants and so on," Radchenko said. "He wants to exhaust the Ukrainian public."

This winter, Putin could make further headway.

"There are going to be difficult conditions," said Joseph Nye, a former dean of Harvard Kennedy School. "As the Russians concentrate on destroying infrastructure, people are going to go cold and hungry. That's probably going to have some effect on how Ukrainians view the war."

Most Ukrainians have confidence in Zelenskyy, military

"Although there is some evidence of fatigue, Ukrainians overall remain committed to winning the war," Ray said. Continued approval of the army and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she added, are key to victory.

Ukrainians are deeply confident in their military, with approval ratings at a record high of 95%, according to Gallup. Support for Zelenskyy has faltered slightly but is still overwhelmingly strong at 81%.

Gallup's findings show that Ukrainians may back Zelenskyy now, but shrinking confidence in his leadership, however subtle, "sounds sort of like bad news," Radchenko said. "If I were [Zelenskyy] looking at this polling data, I would start getting worried."

Zelenskyy's slight decline in support could owe to the fact that Ukraine's "offensive has been less decisive than last year's," Nye explained.

But Nye does not see any cause for concern. "[U.S. President Joe] Biden," he said, "would be delighted to have such poll numbers, and so would any leader in the democratic world. Ups and downs are natural."

Support is up for Germany but dragging for the US

Zelenskyy's approval ratings depend largely on his diplomatic successes in the West, experts say.

Ukraine's two greatest military aid providers are the U.S. and Germany. Fifty-three percent of Ukrainians approve of the U.S. and German governments, Gallup found. That number was a marked dip from last year's data for the U.S., but an increase for Germany.

"There's a creeping sense of disappointment with the U.S. that it hasn't delivered as much as it could have, given all Ukraine has been doing to hold back Russian aggression," Radchenko said. "All that [Ukrainians] have been asking for is financial help, military help."

As Republican and Democratic politicians in the U.S. spar with one another over sending military equipment to Ukraine, "Germany has come through in its support," Radchenko said.

The survey was conducted on the heels of July's NATO summit, where Biden told the world that Ukraine wasn't ready to join NATO until after the war was over. "It's possible that ... raised some questions," Ray said. "The percentage of Ukrainians who said they didn't have an opinion about U.S. leadership increased to 25% and disapproval also ticked up to 22%."

Unsurprisingly, Ray said, 0% of respondents support the Kremlin, and only a sliver of Ukrainians back the Chinese government (Beijing is Moscow's top trade partner, and one of its closest political allies).

Hopes for NATO, EU membership

Almost three-quarters of Ukrainians believe that their country will join NATO and the European Union within a decade, Gallup's polling shows.

"It will be hard for Ukraine to get into NATO as long as the war continues," Radchenko said, pointing out a contradiction in how most Ukrainians want both NATO membership and to see the war through.

NATO countries are formally obligated to defend each other, so being admitted in the middle of a war is a difficult sell, experts say.

"There's nothing to prevent anyone from wanting more things than they can get," Nye said. "But there's a trade-off. It's hard to see [Ukraine's] accession to NATO being agreed on by all member nations when shooting is still going on."

Nevertheless, Ukrainians are optimistic. "[They] see their future firmly planted with the West," Ray said.

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NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of CS Disco, Inc. (NYSE: LAW) between July 21, 2021 and August 11, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important November 20, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.



SO WHAT: If you purchased CS Disco common stock 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 CS Disco class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=19221 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 November 20, 2023. 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, CS Disco repeatedly touted strong growth in its revenues attributable to customer usage of its cloud-based electronic discovery platform and asserted that it had good advance visibility into changes in the demand from individual customers over time. The lawsuit also alleges that [w]hile the Company also acknowledged that its rapid revenue growth was usage driven and may be subject to volatility, it did not inform investors during the Class Period that it had any indication of significant headwinds to its growth. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the CS Disco class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=19221 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 investors 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

lrosen@rosenlegal.com

pkim@rosenlegal.com

cases@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
October 10, 2023

Hamilton, Bermuda



CEO ystein Kalleklev will be presenting Avance Gas Holding Ltd today at the 15th Annual Capital Link New York Maritime Forum. The presentation is attached hereto and is also available on our website, www.avancegas.com.



For further information, please contact:



Investor and Analyst Contact:

Randi Navdal Bekkelund - Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +47 23 11 40 00

Email: ir@avancegas.com





Media Contact:

ystein Kalleklev, Chief Executive Officer of Avance Gas

Tel: +47 23 11 40 00



ABOUT AVANCE GAS Avance Gas operates in the global market for transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The Company is one of the world's leading owners and operators of very large gas carriers (VLGCs) and operates a fleet of fourteen modern ships including two dual fuel LPG newbuildings for delivery in

early 2024 as well as four medium sized gas/ammonia carriers due for delivery in 2025 and 2026. For more information about Avance Gas, please visit www.avancegas.com.



This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act



Attachment
Results offer micro-scale view of green employment opportunities from deploying low-carbon technologies in retrofit and new buildings

Even with conservative estimations, the journey to net-zero buildings could generate more than 141 million job years

Rueil-Malmaison (France), 10 October 2023  Schneider Electric , the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, together with Boston University, today announces a first-of-its-kind study that finds that more than 2 million new jobs and up to 141 million additional job years can be created in Europe and the United States by adopting clean energy technologies in new and retrofitted buildings. The results come from a research collaboration between the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and the Schneider Electric TM Sustainability Research Institute (SRI).

The open-access paper,  Building a Green Future: Examining the Job Creation Potential of Electricity, Heating, and Storage in Low-Carbon Buildings , is the first to estimate job creation in low-carbon buildings of the future at such a granular level. Taking a micro-scale view, the study estimates the global employment outcomes for low-carbon building archetypes spanning residential, hospital, hotel, office, retail, and education in regions of North America, Europe and Asia. The data focused specifically on the potential around deploying rooftop solar panels, heat pumps, and energy storage batteries for self-produced (or prosumer) renewable energy. These low-carbon technologiesall of which are readily available todaysupport the electrification and digitalization of the buildings sector, which is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. The studys job estimates will be fully realized over time in alignment with global net-zero goals targeting 2050, making this a reasonable timeline for 100% renovation of eligible buildings.

It is increasingly clear that, thanks to modern technologies, it is now feasible to rapidly transition buildings to net-zero, explained Vincent Petit, Senior Vice President of Climate and Energy Transition Research at Schneider Electric and Head of the SRI. What we often do not realize is that such a transition comes with significant socioeconomic benefits. This research is another demonstration of this fact.

Key findings:

Job creation potential depends on both the region and type of building. For residential buildings, approximately 0.05 jobs can be created per building. For commercial buildings, it ranges between 0.3 and 4.7 jobs each. Due to the number of combined residential and commercial buildings, the job creation potential surpasses millions.

Europe envisions substantial job creation, with specific figures indicating the potential workforce growth in several key countries. France could potentially generate 295,000 jobs, closely followed by Germany with 257,000 jobs, Italy with 252,000 jobs, the UK with 247,000 jobs, Spain with 212,000 jobs, and the Netherlands with 66,000 jobs.

Significant job creation is anticipated across various regions of the United States with the West region with 182,000 potential jobs created, while the Midwest is projected to see an increase of 18,900 jobs. In the Northeast, 123,000 jobs are anticipated, and the South and Southeast regions are poised for substantial growth, with an estimated 319,000 jobs.

The greatest job creation potential is in using heat pumps for large buildings and battery storage in regions and building types with surplus solar energy.

For heat pumps, solar PV, and batteries, the largest share of job years comes from construction and installation.

The research expands on two recent findings from the SRI that demonstrated over 60% carbon emissions reduction can also be achieved when implementing these low-carbon solutions and up to 70% when deploying digital building and power management solutions in existing office buildings.

Employment is often a polarizing topic at the center of the transition to a net-zero economy, mired in uncertainty about emerging opportunities in green energy, stated Benjamin Sovacool, Director, Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability and Professor, Earth & Environment, College of Arts & Sciences. This study brings greater detail to the sizable potential for new jobs created by low-carbon buildings, a compelling co-benefit of decarbonization that could have the power to ease social and economic concerns and positively shape climate policy.

These findings can drive significant benefits in the near term, making the detailed estimations useful for informing companies, communities, and governments seeking to engage in building projects. For policymakers, understanding the potential that the transition to net-zero living can have on creating jobs could potentially incentivize skeptics to favor a green energy shift. For business decision makers, job estimates can improve forecasts around scope, investment, lifecycle management and impact for building projects.

Access to the research paper and reference:

Sovacool, BK, D Evensen, TA Kwan and V Petit. Building a Green Future: Examining the Job Creation Potential of Electricity, Heating, and Storage in Low-Carbon Buildings, Electricity Journal 36(5) (June, 2023), 107274, pp. 1-11. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2023.107274

Access to Schneider ElectricTM Sustainability Research Institute report

Schneider Electric, 2022, July 13. Towards net-zero buildings: a quantitative study. Sustainability Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA and Grenoble, France. Retrieved from: https://www.se.com/ww/en/insights/sustainability/sustainability-research-institute/building-a-green-future.jsp



About Schneider Electric

Schneiders purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. www.se.com

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights

Hashtags: #News #Sustainability #Net-Zero #SRI #BuildingsOfTheFuture #Electrification #Decarbonization

Attachment
(Oslo, 10th October 2023) CEO Christian Rynning-Tnnesen has informed the Board of Directors (BoD) of Statkraft AS that he wishes to step down after almost 14 years of leading the company. The BoD will now initiate a process to find a new CEO. Mr. Rynning-Tnnesen will remain President and CEO until further notice.



I would like to thank Christian for his leadership and contributions to Statkraft. Statkraft has become Europes largest producer of renewable energy and a leading player in the global energy markets. Statkraft has a robust platform for continued growth, both operationally and financially, says Chair of the Board of Statkraft AS, Mrs. Thorhild Widvey.

Rynning-Tnnesen assumed the role as President and CEO of Statkraft in 2010. The company has over the last five years delivered an average annual return after tax of 26 percent, including dividend to owner. Statkraft is today one of Norways largest companies with an enterprise value of more than MNOK 300.

Statkraft today operates in 21 countries, with focus on Norway and Europe, as well as activity in Brazil, Chile, Peru, India and the US. The company develops and produces renewable hydro-, wind-, and solar power, and is an important partner to Norwegian and international industry. Statkraft has a leading international analysis and markets department and develops new renewable technologies, such as hydrogen and biofuel.

Statkraft has an ambitious growth strategy with the aim to increase its capacity for renewable energy production by 2,500 - 3,000 MW annually from 2025. Statkraft also has the ambition to develop offshore wind in Ireland and Norway as well as in selected markets.

After almost 14 years as President and CEO, and after careful considerations, I have concluded and informed the Board that it is time to step down. It is a privilege to lead a company that contributes to the green shift through large scale renewable energy development and production. I am proud of what all the employees have achieved and confident that I leave Statkraft fit to deliver on our ambitious growth strategy, says President and CEO of Statkraft, Christian Rynning-Tnnesen.

For additional information, please contact:

Claus Sonberg, SVP Corporate Communication and marketing in Statkraft

Tel.: +47 92 46 23 93

E-mail: claus.sonberg@statkraft.com

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act


EL DORADO, Ark., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (Standard Lithium or the Company) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI) (FRA:S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced it has drilled and sampled, to the best of its knowledge, a new highest confirmed lithium grade brine in North America, with a grade of 663 mg/L lithium. The results reflect lithium sample analyses from a newly drilled well from the Companys significant expansion work in the East Texas Smackover region.



Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium commented, We continue to be very excited by the quality and scale of the lithium brine assets were adding in East Texas. The lithium sample analysis from a newly-drilled well delivered, to the best of our knowledge, a new highest-grade lithium brine concentration in North America and confirmed that we are securing the highest-grade lithium brine resource outside of Chile and Argentina. We continue to expand our footprint in the East Texas Smackover and de-risk the opportunity with additional drilling, sampling and definition work.

East Texas is a significant addition to our two more advanced projects in Arkansas, the Phase 1A and South West Arkansas Projects, added Dr. Robinson. We expect our East Texas landholdings to form a substantially larger and higher-grade lithium brine project for future production. Standard Lithium will continue to progress its portfolio of projects to help meet U.S. demand for lithium over the next decade.

Strategic Importance

The Smackover Formation represents North America's premier lithium brine asset, with grades comparable to certain resources in South America. As detailed in the Companys Definitive Feasibility Study, results for the Phase 1A project in El Dorado, Arkansas, target production of 5,400 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery quality lithium carbonate over a 25-year operating life, with an average lithium grade of 217 mg/L. The Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Companys South West Arkansas Project outlines plans for at least 30,000 tpa of battery quality lithium hydroxide over a 20-year operating life, with an average reported lithium grade of 437 mg/L.

Lithium grades in the Companys projects indicate an increasing trend moving westward from Phase 1A to the South West Arkansas Project and finally, into East Texas. In Standard Lithiums experience, higher lithium grades in brine are directly correlated with lower capital and operating expenses per tonne of lithium produced, thereby enhancing the economic viability of potential projects.

Analysis and Testing Details

The Standard Lithium team, comprised of technically diverse Smackover specialists and a robust team of land professionals, has been working in the Smackover Formation in East Texas for over 3.5 years. The Company shared initial sample analysis from expansion work completed in the latter half of 2022 and early 2023 (see news release dated 28th March 2023).

The data provided in this news release are from a newly-drilled well completed in the East Texas Smackover (ETX New Well #2). Brine samples collected from ETX New Well #2 are provided in Table 1 below. These samples were analyzed, performed and reported by Western Environmental Testing Laboratories of Sparks, Nevada, a third-party, accredited testing facility. Additional representative lithium brine analyses from other lithium brine projects in North America are provided for context.

Table 1: ETX New Well #2 Lithium Brine Analyses in Standard Lithium East Texas Project Area

East Texas Sampling Location Name [1] Lithium

concentration

(mg/L) Average Lithium

concentration

(mg/L) [2] ETX New Well #2 - Upper Smackover Zone Sample A 663 638 ETX New Well #2 - Upper Smackover Zone Sample B 613 Reported Lithium Analyses from Other North American Brine Projects California Salton Sea Geothermal Brine [3] 204 Alberta Oilfield Brine [4] 75 Paradox Basin, Utah [5] 123 Clayton Valley, Nevada [6] 123

Notes:

[1] Smackover Formation descriptors (Upper, Middle, and Lower) are a local project area naming convention

[2] For East Texas wells, average of all samples taken from the wellbore, including duplicates where applicable to provide a representative brine sample

[3] Average brine sample from Salton Sea, Table 1, Warren 2021. Techno-Economic Analysis of Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brines. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5700-79178

[4] Average brine analysis from Table 7, E3 Lithium 43-101 Technical Report: Lithium Resource Estimate, Bashaw District Project, central Alberta, Report date: August 23, 2022, Effective date: July 11,2022

[5] Indicated Resource Concentration, Anson Resources, Paradox Lithium Project, Total JORC Mineral Resource estimation, DFS, September 2022

[6] Average Clayton Valley lithium brine composition, Table 14-3, Pure Energy Minerals, Preliminary Economic Assessment (Rev. 1) of the Clayton Valley Lithium Project Esmeralda County, Nevada, March 23, 2018



Figure 1: ETX New Well #2 in East Texas.

Quality Assurance

Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of lithium-brine bearing properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes brine projects characterized by the highest-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. The Company aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully-integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Companys flagship projects, the Phase 1A Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located on the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line, a region with a long-standing and established brine processing industry. The Company has also identified a number of highly prospective lithium brine project areas in the Smackover Formation in East Texas and began an extensive brine leasing program in the key project areas. In addition, the Company has an interest in certain mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol SLI; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol S5L. Please visit the Companys website at www.standardlithium.com.

Twitter: @standardlithium

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-lithium/

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. This news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, potential exploration expansions, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e90a55c6-946e-4815-a8a9-827915b5eb43
Dublin, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Toaster Ovens Market (2023-2028) by Product Type, Applications, Distribution Channel, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19, Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Toaster Ovens Market is poised for significant growth, with estimates projecting it to reach USD 1259.20 Mn by 2028, up from USD 932.12 Mn in 2023, at a steady CAGR of 6.20%. Toaster ovens, known for their versatility in reheating, baking, broiling, toasting, browning, and defrosting, have become a staple in both residential and commercial kitchens.

Fast-Food Boom Drives Demand

The surge in food outlets and fast-food restaurants worldwide has been a major catalyst for the Global Toaster Ovens Market. As coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, and cafes continue to multiply, they rely heavily on toaster ovens for their speedy cooking and heating requirements. This growing trend in the fast-food industry is boosting the demand for toaster ovens.

Premium Features vs. Budget Constraints

However, the market faces challenges related to the high costs of premium toaster ovens, which come equipped with advanced technologies such as automated cooking modes, digital thermostat controls, and automatic toast sensors. These premium features, while attractive, often come at a premium price, making them less accessible to budget-conscious consumers. This has led to an increased demand for more affordable toaster oven models, further intensifying the competition.

Technological Advancements Open New Avenues

The Global Toaster Ovens Market sees a promising opportunity in technological advancements. Recent launches of toaster ovens with innovative features, such as smart controls, built-in air frying capabilities, and voice command integration, showcase the industry's commitment to staying ahead in the market. For instance, TTK Prestige unveiled its new OTG range with Air Fry, Grill, Toast, and Bake features in February 2023, setting the stage for competition.

Facing Off Against Alternatives

In addition to competition within the toaster oven market, manufacturers must also contend with substitutes such as microwave ovens, traditional ovens, air fryers, and convection ovens. These alternatives offer similar functionalities and may have advantages in terms of cost, convenience, or specialized cooking capabilities. To stand out in the market, manufacturers must differentiate their products by emphasizing unique features, energy efficiency, or versatility.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Growing Disposal Income and Standard of Living: Rising disposable incomes and improved standards of living are driving consumers to seek convenient cooking solutions, propelling the demand for toaster ovens. Increase in the Number of Fast-Food Restaurants: The proliferation of fast-food chains is increasing the reliance on toaster ovens, especially in quick-service settings, fuelling market growth. Increasing Online Sales for Kitchen Appliances: The convenience and competitive pricing of online retail channels are attracting more consumers to purchase toaster ovens online, contributing to market expansion.

Restraints

High Costs Associated with the Toaster Oven: Premium toaster ovens with advanced features come at a premium price, limiting their accessibility to budget-conscious consumers and posing a restraint on market growth.

Opportunities

Technological Advancement in Toaster Ovens: Ongoing technological advancements, including smart controls and innovative features, present opportunities for manufacturers to capture market share. Increase in the Number of Bakeries: The growing number of bakeries creates a demand for efficient cooking solutions, offering prospects for toaster oven manufacturers to expand their presence in this segment.

Challenges

Limited Lifespan of Toaster Ovens: The limited lifespan of toaster ovens may pose a challenge, as consumers seek durable and long-lasting kitchen appliances. Availability of Alternatives: The availability of alternative cooking appliances, such as microwave ovens, traditional ovens, air fryers, and convection ovens, presents a challenge for toaster oven manufacturers to differentiate and compete effectively.

Companies Mentioned

APW Wyott, BLACK+DECKER Inc., Brandt, Moulinex, Breville, Inc., Cuisinart, De'Longhi Appliances, Dualit Ltd., Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., Hatco Corp., Haier Group Corp, LG Corp., Panasonic Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH, Rosewill, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Severin Elektrogerate GmbH, Star Manufacturing, Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, Waring Commercial, Whirlpool Corp.

Why Buy This Report?

The comprehensive report on the Global Toaster Ovens Market provides:

In-depth qualitative analysis

Verifiable data from authentic sources

Market size projections using proven research methodologies

Detailed market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the Ansoff Matrix

Insight into the impact of COVID-19 on the market

Regulatory scenario in the industry

A Self-Assessment Form for market positioning

Customized research options tailored to specific needs

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 195 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value ($) in 2023 $932.12 Million Forecasted Market Value ($) by 2028 $1259.2 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.2% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/311ytp

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Attachment
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- COLLECTIVE METALS INC. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1 ) (the Company or Collective) is pleased to announce the mobilization of an experienced field exploration crew from Bayside Geosciences of Thunder Bay, Ontario to its Whitemud Lake Lithium property (the Property or Project). The Property is located in the emerging Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite field east of Ear Falls in northwestern Ontario.

The Property is hosted within the LCT-prolific English River terrane, about 40 km along the regional strike from Beyond Lithium Minerals recent spodumene discovery north of Ear Falls. Grab samples with assay values up to 4.54% Li 2 O in a 3 km long prospective trend were reported ( See News Release Dated September 17, 2023 ). Green Technology Metals Root Lake project, located 70 km east of the Property, hosts a JORC compliant 12.6 million tonnes of inferred resource at 1.21% Li 2 O and 62 ppm Ta 2 O 5 1 ( See News Release Dated June 07, 2023 ).

Christopher Huggins, Chief Executive Officer of Collective, commented, We are thrilled to mobilize such an experienced Lithium exploration crew before the end of season. The Bayside team has participated in the discovery of numerous LCT pegmatites in northwestern Ontario. This inaugural exploration program is a direct result of the hard work we have been doing at compiling and interpreting publicly available exploration data for our lithium assets in Ontario. We anticipate an effective exploration program that will hopefully lead to discovery at Whitemud Lake. This field project and its results will be used to define our exploration and discovery mission for 2024.

Highlights

The Property is located within 4 km of a terrane boundary between the English River and Uchi terranes in an emerging LCT pegmatite field east of Ear Falls (Figure 1). Most LCT pegmatite deposits in Ontario are hosted in proximity to terrane boundaries between geological domains within the Superior geological province.



Compilation and interpretation of historic geological mapping, elevation models, airborne magnetic, and lake geochemistry data were used to identify multiple priority target areas for the 2023 field exploration program (Figures 2 & 3).



The geology of the Property is composed of granodiorites and tonalites that are part of the Bluffy Lake Batholith and intrude into metasedimentary rocks of the English River (Figure 2). The Bluffy Lake Batholith occurs along strike to the east of the Wenasaga Lake Batholith where Beyond Lithiums Ear Falls project is located.



Several similar granitic intrusive bodies such as the Sharpe Lake Batholith and Root Lake Pluton that occur between 10 to 70 km to the east of the Property are interpreted to be sources of LCT pegmatite deposits in the region, including at Green Technology Metals Root Lake Project (Figure 1).



Northwest striking structural corridors characterized by magnetic lows indicate potential LCT pegmatite traps zones (Figure 3). One of these structures that occurs in the northern part of the Property is a regional structure that splays off the terrane boundary between the English River and Uchi. A historic geological map published by Ontario Geological Survey reported presence of pegmatite outcrops in the area (Figures 2 & 3).



The field exploration program (the Program) is focused on prospecting, sample collection, and geological mapping of priority target areas with reported pegmatites and strong Lithium anomalies in lake geochemistry data.

Figure 1  Regional Location of Collectives Whitemud Lake Property.



Figure 2  Property Map of Whitemud Lake Showing Selected Target Areas for Field Exploration.



Figure 3  Property Map of Whitemud Lake Showing Structural Corridors Characterized by Magnetic Lows.

Whitemud Lake Project

The Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous pegmatite-hosted Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum deposits have been delineated. The Project is located 40 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario, approximately 70 km west of Green Technology Metals Root Lake Project. It covers 7,775 hectares of LCT pegmatite prospective ground within the Lithium-prolific English River terrane.

Qualified Person

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Amanuel Bein, P. Geo., who is acting as the Companys Qualified Person for the Project, in line with National Instrument 43-101 Standard of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The information disclosed is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Project.

References

1 - Green Technology Metals, (2023, June 07). Transformational 22.5MT Mineral Resource Base Reached Across Ontario Lithium Projects. Retrieved October 06, 2023, from https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02673768-6A1153214?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

Beyond Lithium Inc. (2023, September 17). Beyond Lithium discovers new spodumene bearing pegmatite zone at Ear Falls Project in Northwest Ontario. Retrieved October 04, 2023, from https://beyondlithium.ca/beyond-lithium-discovers-new-spodumene-bearing-pegmatite-zone-at-ear-falls-project-in-northwest-ontario

Breaks, F.W., Selway, J.B., & Tindle, A.G. (2003). Fertile Peraluminous Granites and Related Rare-Element Mineralization in Pegmatites, Superior Province, Northwest and Northeast Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt. Ontario Geological Survey.

Breaks, F.W., Bond, W.D., Stone, D., Harris, N., & Desnoyers, D.W. (1976). Geological series, Operation Kenora-Ear Falls, Papaonga-Wapesi lakes sheet, District of Kenora. Ontario Geological Survey.

Breaks, F.W., Bond, W.D., Harris, N., & Westerman, C.J.(1975). Operation Kenora-Ear Falls, District of Kenora. Ontario Geological Survey.

Fenwick, K.G. (1967). Preliminary geological map no. 412, Whitemud lake area. Ontario Geological Survey.

Green Technology Metals. (2023, June 07). Root Project. Retrieved October 04, 2023, from https://www.greentm.com.au/root-project

Ontario Geological Survey. (2017). Ontario Airborne Geophysical Surveys, Magnetic Data, Grid Data (ASCII and Geosoft Formats), Magnetic Supergrids.

Sanborn-Barrie, M., Rogers, N., Skulski, T., Parker, J.R., McNicoll, V.J., & Devaney, J.R. (2004). Geology and Tectonostratigraphic Assemblages, East Uchi Subprovince, Red Lake and Birch-Uchi Belts, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada.

About Collective Metals:

Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1 ) is a resource exploration company specializing in precious metals exploration in North America. The Companys flagship property is the Princeton Project, located in south-central British Columbia, Canada, approximately 10 km west of the currently producing Copper Mountain Mine. The Princeton Project consists of 29 mineral tenures totaling approximately 28,560 ha (70,570 acres) in a well-documented and prolific copper-gold porphyry belt and is easily accessible by road, located immediately west of Highway 3.

The Companys Landings Lake Lithium Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous lithium deposits have been delineated to host significant reserves of Li 2 O. The Landings Lake Lithium Project is located 53 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario and covers 3,146 hectares. The Whitemud Lake Project, with several identified pegmatite outcrops, neighbours the Landings Lake Project and consists of 381 single cell mining claims totaling 7,775 hectares.

Social Media

ON BEHALF OF COLLECTIVE METALS INC.

Christopher Huggins

Chief Executive Officer

T: 604-968-4844

E: chris@collectivemetalsinc.com

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements respecting: mineralization potential of the Project based on the results of the Program; completion of the Program. 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, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f60f0ad8-437f-4924-a48d-bc45d081c74e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e78e1fed-c6c3-49a0-a9f6-8e0a8845adc3
Dublin, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Macadamia Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global macadamia market size reached US$ 1.7 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 3.1 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 9.71% during 2023-2028.

There are three commercially important species of macadamia: Macadamia ternifolia, integrifolia, and tetraphylla. Macadamia nuts are recognized for their nutritional benefits, as they are rich sources of antioxidants, protein, fiber, and vitamins. These properties contribute to improving gut health, managing weight, and reducing the risk of various metabolic syndromes, including blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol-related issues, and heart ailments.

Due to these nutritional qualities, macadamia nuts can be consumed as a snack, used in cooking, and processed into various products across different industrial segments. Currently, they are available in different forms such as raw, coated, and roasted.

In summary, the macadamia market is benefiting from increased health awareness, government support, diverse applications in the food and cosmetic industries, and innovative product offerings, all of which are driving its growth.

Key Trends in the Macadamia Market:

Rising Health Consciousness: Increased health awareness among consumers and a growing understanding of the nutritional benefits of macadamia nuts are driving demand. This heightened awareness is a major factor fueling the growth of the macadamia market.

Government Initiatives: Several countries' governments are supporting macadamia production and trade in the agricultural sector through advanced farming techniques. Such initiatives are contributing to the market's expansion.

Food and Beverage Sector Utilization: Macadamia nuts are extensively used in the food and beverage industry to manufacture confectionery items like pastries, biscuits, and ice creams. This application further boosts market growth.

Cosmetics and Skincare: Macadamia nuts can be cold-pressed to produce oil, which is then incorporated into various cosmetics and skincare products. This diversification of applications expands market opportunities.

Innovative Flavors: Companies are introducing macadamia nuts in innovative flavors such as roasted, salted, honey-roasted, wasabi-flavored, and chocolate-coated. These offerings help expand product portfolios and reach, contributing to market growth.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global macadamia market in 2022?

What is the expected growth rate of the global macadamia market during 2023-2028?

What are the key factors driving the global macadamia market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global macadamia market?

What is the breakup of the global macadamia market based on the nature?

What is the breakup of the global macadamia market based on the form?

What is the breakup of the global macadamia market based on distribution channel?

What are the key regions in the global macadamia market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global macadamia market?

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 139 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $1.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $3.1 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.5% Regions Covered Global

Competitive Landscape:



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

Golden Macadamias

Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company

Health and Plant Protein Group Limited

Ivory Macadamias

Kenya Nut Company Ltd.

Macadamia Processing Company

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation

Mayo Macs

MWT Foods

Nambucca Macnuts Pty Ltd.

Royal Macadamia (Pty) Ltd.

Wondaree Macadamia Nuts..

Key Market Segmentation:



Breakup by Nature:

Organic

Conventional

Breakup by Form:

Raw

Roasted

Coated

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

Online

Offline

Breakup by Industry Vertical:

Food and Beverages

Cosmetics

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lrdy80

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Industrial Chocolate Market by Product Type, Application, and Region 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global industrial chocolate market size reached US$ 7.68 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is set to reach US$ 10.1 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.59% during 2023-2028.

The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape within the global industrial chocolate market. This includes an examination of market structure, market share held by key players, player positioning, top-performing strategies, a competitive dashboard, and an evaluation quadrant for companies.

Several factors are driving the market, including the increasing demand for sugar-free and organic chocolates, the rising popularity of premium dark chocolates, and the growing utilization of industrial chocolates in the bakery and confectionery industry.

Industrial chocolates are mass-produced chocolate products created for commercial purposes, such as baking, confectionery, and beverages. They are produced by processing cocoa beans into cocoa liquor and combining them with various other ingredients like sugar, milk powder, and vegetable oil.

The production involves large-scale mechanized processes, conducted in specialized facilities to ensure efficient and cost-effective production. Industrial chocolate is used in various food products such as candy bars, chocolate-coated snacks, baking mixes, and hot chocolate mixes. Additionally, it finds numerous applications in the food service industry, including desserts, pastries, and beverages.

Industrial Chocolate Market Trends:

Europe has been the largest market for industrial chocolate. The factors driving the industrial chocolate market in Europe include the growing demand for chocolate-based products like candies, snack bars, shakes, and baked goods, the increasing popularity of premium chocolates, and ongoing product innovations.

The shift in consumer preference towards sugar-free, low-calorie, and organic chocolates over traditional chocolates due to health-consciousness is a significant driver of market growth.

Furthermore, the rising demand for high-quality, premium chocolates, increased need for cocoa butter substitutes, and growing consumer awareness about the health benefits of dark chocolate are contributing to a favorable market outlook.

The substantial demand for industrial chocolates from the thriving confectionery industry for candy bars and chocolate-coated snacks, along with extensive use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, is aiding market expansion.

The expanding demand for chocolate-based desserts, snack bars, and beverages, especially among on-the-go millennials and youngsters, presents lucrative growth opportunities. This trend, along with ongoing product innovations, the tradition of gifting chocolates, and the increasing popularity of baked products like chocolate cakes, pastries, donuts, and cupcakes, is fueling market growth.

Additionally, the growth of the food service industry, rising disposable incomes, and the availability of innovative product variants through various online and offline retail channels are positively impacting market growth.

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global industrial chocolate market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years?

What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global industrial chocolate market?

What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the global industrial chocolate market?

What are the key regional markets?

Which countries represent the most attractive industrial chocolate market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?

Which is the most attractive product type in the industrial chocolate market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

Which is the most attractive application in the industrial chocolate market?

What is the competitive structure of the global industrial chocolate market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global industrial chocolate market?

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 139 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $7.68 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $10.1 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.7% Regions Covered Global

Competitive Landscape:

Berry Callebaut AG

Campco Chocolates

Cargill Incorporated

Cemoi Chocolatier

Clasen Quality Chocolate

Foleys Candies LP

Fuji Oil Co. Ltd.

Guittard Chocolate Company

Kerry Group PLC

Natra SA

The Hershey Company

Key Market Segmentation:



Product Type Insights:

Cocoa Powder

Cocoa Liquor

Cocoa Butter

Compound Chocolate

Application Insights:

Bakery Products

Confectionery

Bakery Premixes

Beverages

Frozen Desserts and Ice Creams

Others

Regional Insights:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dfwgu5

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Pune, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market size was valued at USD 5.50 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 55.53 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 34.1% during the forecast period. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report titled, Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market Forecast, 2023-2030.

Retailers are realizing the benefits of adopting advanced technologies and their significance in enhancing customers shopping experiences and boosting their productivity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help retail stores automate their operations, thereby boosting their profit margins. These factors will accelerate the artificial intelligence in the retail market growth. Growing Adoption of AI-Powered Chatbots to Enhance Customer Experience to Boost Market Growth.





Request a Sample PDF:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-retail-market-101968





Key Industry Development:

Perfect partnered with Valmont, a luxury cosmetics brand, for its latest AI-focused beauty partnership. The collaboration brings Valmonts background in skincare with Perfects artificial intelligence solution to offer consumers a detailed skin analysis.

Key Takeaways

Highly Accurate Customer Insights to Boost Adoption of Machine Learning

Adoption of AI Solutions to Rise with Growing Automation in the Retail Sector

Wearable Devices and Innovative Applications Revolutionized AIoT Amid Pandemic

AIoT Revolutionizing Video Surveillance by Enhancing Security with AI-powered Systems

Sustainable Energy Management and Proactive Water Supply Solutions Propel Growth





Discover the Leading Players Featured in the Report:

Companies leading the Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market Are Amazon.com, Inc. (U.S.), Google LLC (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Intel Corporation (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Nvidia Corporation (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), Salesforce.com, Inc. (U.S.), Talkdesk, Inc. (U.S.)





Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 34.1% 2030 Value Projection USD 55.53 Billion Base Year 2022 Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market Size in 2022 USD 5.50 Billion Historical Data for 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 150 Segments covered Offerings, Function Type, Application, Technology and Geography





Browse Complete Report Details:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-retail-market-101968





Drivers and Restraints:

Growing Adoption of AI-Powered Chatbots to Enhance Customer Experience to Boost Market Growth

AI-based chatbots are becoming quite popular among end-users in the retail sector as these bots offer highly efficient customer service. It provides personalized responses to customer queries to offer them a pleasant shopping experience. AI chatbots are backed by advanced technologies, such as Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) that offer real-time insights about customer preferences. These features will drive artificial intelligence in retail market growth.

However, high implementation costs and a lack of adequate infrastructure may impede market growth.





Segmentation:

By Offering

Solution

Services

By Function

Operations-Focused

Customer-Facing

By Type

Online

Offline

By Application

Predictive Analytics

In-Store Visual Monitoring and Surveillance

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Market Forecasting

Inventory Management

Others

By Technology

Computer Vision

Machine Learning

Natural Language Processing

Others

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Latin America





Regional Insights:

North America to Dominate Market with Growing Adoption of AI Technology

North America is expected to hold a dominant share in the global market as the region, especially the U.S. is one of the early adopters of AI technology and is continuously increasing its investments in this technology. The country is also witnessing growth in the number of startups and small-scale businesses, which will further fuel the regional market growth.

The market in Asia Pacific is also expected to grow at a strong pace due to the large-scale adoption of digital technologies to improve customer experience.





Report Coverage:

The Artificial Intelligence in the retail market report covers key regions across the world to provide a better understanding of the industry. Furthermore, the report offers valuable insights into the latest market trends and studies technologies deployed at the global level. It further highlights the growth-stimulating factors and restraints, helping the reader get an in-depth understanding of the market.





Quick Buy - Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101968





Competitive Landscape:

Market Players to Introduce Innovative Products to Cement Their Market Positions

The key players in the market are investing in innovative technologies to offer retailers various solutions that help them manage large volumes of data efficiently. Companies are also focusing on enhancing their product portfolios by introducing novel products and services to cement their market positions.





FAQs

How big is the Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market?

Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market size was USD 5.50 billion in 2022.

How much will the artificial intelligence in retail market be worth in the year 2030?

The market is projected to reach USD 55.53 billion by 2030.





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Artificial Intelligence Market Size , Share, Trends and Forecast

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About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Pune, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. physician groups market size was valued at USD 281.45 billion in 2022 and it is anticipated to grow from USD 292.26 billion in 2023 to USD 397.16 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. Private equity firms investing heavily to acquire various smaller physician practices to provide financial security through partnerships are anticipated to bolster the market.

Physician groups, characterized by the collaboration of more than two physicians, deliver exceptional patient care to enhance healthcare outcomes. The market growth is anticipated to be propelled during the forecast period due to several advantages offered by physician groups, including financial security, expertise, and specialized training, compared to solo practitioners. Fortune Business Insights mentioned this in a report titled U.S. Physician Groups Market, 2023-2030.

Key Industry Development:

July 2022 - Agilon Health initiated a long-term partnership with Entira Family Clinics and Richfield Medical Group to revolutionize healthcare by offering enhanced care for the groups senior patients through a new value-based primary care program.





Request a Free Sample PDF: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/u-s-physician-groups-market-106510





Key Takeaways:

Refresh Mental Health, a Florida-based organization of mental health practitioners was purchased by Optum, Inc. The former corporation wanted to expand its presence across the nation through this acquisition.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the proportion of small groups with 10 or fewer doctors has steadily decreased from 61.4% in 2012 to 53.7% in 2020.

In order to provide services throughout Colorado, Montana, Kansas, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah, two non-profit healthcare organizations, Intermountain Healthcare and SCL Health, joined.

According to the Physicians Advocacy Institute, around 70% of American doctors worked for corporations or hospitals as of June 2021.

Discover the Leading Players Featured in the Report:

The Permanente Medical Group (U.S.), Optum, Inc. (U.S.), Brigham and Womens Hospital (U.S.), Cleveland Clinic (U.S.), HealthCare Partners IPA (U.S.), Ascension (U.S.), Northwell Health (U.S.), Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) (U.S.), Beaumont Health (U.S.), Advocate Aurora Health (U.S.), NYU Langone Hospitals (U.S.)

Report Scope

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 4.5 % 2030 Value Projection USD 397.16 Billion Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2023 USD 292.26 Billion Historical Data for 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 152





Browse Complete Report Details: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/u-s-physician-groups-market-106510





Drivers & Restraints:

Increasing Inclination of Market Players Toward Inorganic Growth Strategies to Propel Market Growth

The market is expected to witness growth due to the increasing inclination of market players toward inorganic growth strategies. Technical and financial obstacles prevalent in smaller groups and the preference of younger physicians to seek employment in larger groups are anticipated to propel market growth during the forecast period. For instance, according to data published by the American Medical Association (AMA), the share of small groups consisting of 10 or fewer physicians has steadily declined from 61.4% in 2012 to 53.7% in 2020.

However, the increasing employment of physicians by hospitals may restrict the U.S. physician groups' market growth.

Segmentation:

2 to 10 Segments Growth Owed to Rising Solo Practice among Traditional Physicians

On the basis of the number of physicians, the market is divided into 2 to 10, 11 to 24, 25 to 50, and more than 50. The 2 to 10 segment secured the highest U.S. physician group market share in 2022 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the projected period. Traditional physicians over 40 years of age tending to work in small practices are expected to fuel the growth of this segment.

Hospital-Owned Segments Growth Driven by the Increase in Obtaining Physician Practices

The market is segmented based on ownership: physician-owned, hospital-owned, and others. The hospital-owned segment will record the highest CAGR during the projected period. Hospitals expanding their ownership stake in the U.S. physician groups market witnessed an increase in gaining physician practices, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Primary Care Segments Increasing Demand for Primary Care Facilities Propels Growth

As per speciality, the market is fragmented into paediatrics, orthopaedics, primary care, OB/GYN, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, psychiatry, and others. The primary care segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is expected to witness substantial growth during the forecast period. The increasing prevalence of acute and chronic diseases and the growing patient demand for primary care facilities are driving the growth of this segment.

Private Health Insurance/Out-Of-Pocket to Continue its Dominance Owing to Enhanced Health Plans

According to the payor, the market is bifurcated into private health insurance/out-of-pocket, and public health insurance. The private health insurance/out-of-pocket segment held the largest market share and is projected to witness a substantial CAGR during the estimated period. The increasing adoption of private health insurance in the country, driven by improved health plans, is proliferating the growth of this segment.

Multi-Specialty Segments Growth is driven by its Several Benefits

By type, the market is divided into single-speciality and multi-speciality. The multi-speciality segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is estimated to witness the highest CAGR during the study period. Groups with multi-speciality facilities offer superior quality care at a lower cost, along with other advantages such as enhanced financial stability.





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By Number of Physicians



2 to 10

11 to 24

25 to 50

More than 50

By Ownership

Physician-owned

Hospital-owned

Others

By Specialty

Primary Care

Pediatrics

OB/GYN

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Psychiatry

Cardiology

Dermatology

Others

By Payor

Public Health Insurance

Private Health Insurance/Out-of-pocket

By Type

Single-specialty

Multi-specialty





Report Coverage:



The report encompasses major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market. It offers comprehensive insights into regional developments, a list of major industry players, key strategies adopted by market players, and recent industry developments, including product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Competitive Landscape:

Major Players Engage in Partnerships, Mergers, and Acquisitions to Increase Market Share

Major players in the physician groups market in the U.S. engage in partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions to augment their market share. Additionally, key market players such as Brigham and Women's Hospital, Medical Education and Research (MEMER), Beaumont Health, and Advocate Aurora Health have witnessed a substantial market share due to their establishment of new facilities and focus on mergers and acquisitions.





FAQs

How big is the U.S. Physician Groups Market?

U.S. Physician Groups Market size was USD 292.26 Billion in 2023.

How fast is the U.S. Physician Groups Market growing?

The U.S. Physician Groups Market will exhibit a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period, 2023-2030





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Pune, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global surgical sutures market size was valued at USD 5.03 billion in 2022 and market is projected to grow USD 8.04 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. Surgical sutures are utilized in surgical procedures, orthopedic surgery, to close open wounds and ligate blood vessels in operation.

Fortune Business Insights displays this information in a report titled, "Surgical Sutures Market, 2023-2030."

Key Industry Development:

February 2023 - Origami Surgical obtained the U.S. FDAs clearance for its StitchKit device to perform robotic surgeries. The device offers safety, autonomy, and efficiency in robotic surgery.





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Key Takeaways:

Surgical sutures used in major surgeries, such as C-sections, cardiovascular surgery, joint replacement, and other procedures.

The growing occurrence of road accidents and chronic ailments has increased the number of surgical procedures, thereby augmenting the surgical sutures market growth.

The growing demand for automated suturing devices due to their efficiency during surgical intervention.

The segment is expected to grow with a CAGR during the forecast period.

North America dominated the market share and stood at USD 1.99 billion in 2022.





List of Key Companies Profiled in the Report:

Companies leading the global Surgical Sutures Market are B. Braun SE (Germany), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (U.S.), Smith & Nephew (U.K.), Medtronic (Ireland), Coloplast A/S (Denmark), Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (U.S.), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), DemeTECH Corporation (U.S.), TEPHA INC. (U.S.), Internacional Farmaceutica (Mexico), Kono Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (Japan), CONMED Corporation (U.S.)

Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 6% 2030 Value Projection USD 8.04 Billion Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2023 USD 5.33 Billion Historical Data 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 158 Segments covered By Product Type, Form, Application, End-user, and Region





Browse Complete Report Details: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/surgical-sutures-market-100660





Segments:

Absorbable Segment to Gain Major Traction due to Numerous Advantages

Based on product type, the market is segmented into absorbable and non-absorbable. The absorbable segment is anticipated to dominate the surgical sutures market share due to numerous advantages such as adequate wound support due to high tensile strength, lesser healing time, and high effectiveness for closing deep and delicate wounds.

Synthetic Sutures to be Widely Used due to Low Chances of Hypersensitivity Reaction

Based on form, the market is divided into natural and synthetic. The synthetic segment is expected to hold a dominant market position as these sutures have lower chances of causing hypersensitivity or allergic reactions.

Orthopedics to Dominate Market due to Growing Incidence of Orthopedic Disorders

In terms of application, the market is fragmented into gynecology, cardiology, orthopedics, general surgery, and others. The orthopedics segment dominates the market due to the growing occurrence of orthopedic ailments among the elderly population and the growing number of people undergoing orthopedic surgeries.

Hospitals & ASCs to Extensively Use Surgical Sutures Due to Growing Number of Surgeries

Based on end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals & ASCs and specialty clinics. The hospitals & ASCs segment is projected to dominate the market due to the growing volume of surgeries and the presence of experienced surgeons in these medical centers.

With respect to region, the market covers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.





By Product Type

Absorbable

Non-absorbable

By Form

Natural

Synthetic

By Application

Gynecology

Orthopedics

Cardiology

General Surgery

Others

By End-user

Hospitals & ASCs

Specialty Clinics





Quick Buy - Surgical Sutures Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100660





Drivers and Restraints:

Growing Number of Surgeries to Boost Market Progress

The volume of knee replacement, hip replacement, bypass, and cosmetic surgeries is rising each year due to high geriatric population and increasing focus on improving aesthetic appearance. This has boosted the adoption of surgical sutures as they are vital in closing open wounds and speeding up patients' recovery time.

However, the growing chances of complications post-surgery and the availability of alternative wound care products may hinder the market progress.

Regional Insights:

North America to Dominate Market due to Growing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

North America captured a dominant global market share due to the rising incidence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and arthritis. This scenario has increased the number of people undergoing surgeries, fueling the demand for surgical sutures.

Europe is expected to register a significant CAGR due to the growing presence of a well-established medical infrastructure in the U.K. and Germany.





Competitive Landscape:

Medtronic and Other Companies to Dominate Market Due to Presence of Innovative Products

The global market is highly competitive due to the presence of reputed companies such as Medtronic, B. Braun Melsungen, and Ethicon U.S. LLC. Growing focus on launching innovative technologies in their products to help doctors perform complex and intricate surgeries effectively has helped these companies dominate the market.





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FAQs

What is the market size for surgical sutures?

Surgical Sutures Market size was valued at USD 5.03 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 8.04 billion by 2030.

How fast is the surgical sutures market growing?

The surgical sutures Market will exhibit a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period, 2023-2030.





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Sharps Containers Market Size, Share, Opportunities & Analysis





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Pune, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The US speech therapy market size was valued USD 4.35 billion in 2022 and market is expected to reach USD 6.93 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.1% over the study period. The expansion can be credited to the favorable policies for reimbursement of language-speech pathology services in the country.

Fortune Business Insights provides this information in its research report, titled US Speech Therapy Market, 2023-2030.





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Key Industry Development:

June 2022- Ascension Saint Thomas and Kindred Rehabilitation Services unveiled the opening of a new Ascension Saint Thomas rehabilitation hospital in Nashville, US This move helped provide care to people recovering from surgeries, illnesses, chronic medical conditions, and debilitating injuries.

Key Takeaways:

The American Speech Language Hearing Association reports that around 5% to 10% of the US population experiences some type of communication disorder.

In 2020, the increase in demand for speech therapy services was amplified by the US government's reimbursement policies for virtual services.

The National Aphasia Association reported that in 2021, over 2 million adults in the US were afflicted with aphasia.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association states that approximately 100,000 to 180,000 individuals in the United States develop aphasia annually.





Discover the Leading Players Featured in the Report:

Powerback Rehab (US), BenchMark Physical Therapy Institute (US), Reliant Rehabilitation (US), Humanus Corporation (US), Smart Speech Therapy (US), Therapy Solutions Inc. (US), Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. (US), Kindred Healthcare, LLC (US)





Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 6.1% 2030 Value Projection USD 6.93 billion Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2023 USD 4.59 billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 63 Segments covered By Type and Age





Browse Complete Report Details:

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Segmentation:

Speech Disorders Segment Leads due to Rising Incidence of Speech Disorders



On the basis of type, the market is divided into language disorders, swallowing disorders, speech disorders, neurological conditions, and others. The speech disorders segment accounted for the largest market share in 2022. The segments growth is attributed to the high burden of speech disorders such as apraxia, articulation disorders, aphasia, and others and the increased demand for treatment options.

Pediatrics Segment Dominates due to Favorable Government Initiatives Offering Care across Schools



In terms of age, the market is bifurcated into adults and pediatrics. The pediatrics segment accounted for the largest US speech therapy market share in 2022. The government in the country is taking initiatives to provide care across education facilities and schools. This factor is bolstering segment growth.





By Type

Speech Disorders

Language Disorders

Neurological Conditions

Swallowing Disorders

Others

By Age

Pediatrics

Adults

Driving factor:

Surging Prevalence of Language and Speech Disorders to Bolster Market Growth

The US speech therapy market growth is driven by the growing incidence of speech and language disorders. The cases of such disorders, including aphasia, stuttering, articulation, and others, are rising. This factor has increased the demand for effective treatment therapy. As per the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the US reports around 100,000 to 180,000 cases of aphasia annually.





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Report Coverage:

The US speech therapy market report highlights the competitive strategies devised by prominent market leaders to gain a competitive edge. Other aspects of the report include the driving and restraining factors and the COVID-19 impact on the market growth. It further highlights the key segments and the latest trends in the market.

Competitive Landscape

Major Players Focus on Capacity Expansion Strategies to Reinforce their Market Positions

Leading market players are deploying competitive strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, and others to capture the largest market share. Several market players are also focusing on capacity expansion strategies to extend their industry footing and broaden product portfolios.





FAQs

How big is the US Speech Therapy Market?

US Speech Therapy Market size is USD 4.59 billion in 2023.

How fast is the US Speech Therapy Market growing?

The US Speech Therapy Market will exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period, 2023-2030





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts:

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Dublin, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Polyurethane Chemicals & Products in the Americas - 2023 Edition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

In 2022, polyurethane product production in the Americas surged to an impressive 5.29 million tonnes, marking a notable 3.4% increase from the previous year. The North American region, with the United States taking the lead, held a dominant position, contributing a substantial 70% to the overall production output. Looking ahead to 2023, the industry anticipates a more modest growth rate of 1.1%, largely influenced by a slowdown in construction activities in both the US and Canada, along with economic instability observed in select South American nations.

However, despite these challenges, the future outlook remains optimistic, as projections indicate that by 2027, the total polyurethane production in the Americas is expected to scale up to approximately 6.15 million tonnes.

Notable Country Insights:

The US is the largest polyurethane market in the Americas, contributing to 70% of production.

Brazil and Mexico are significant players in the region, with promising growth rates.

Colombia stands out with a growth rate of 7.8% in 2022.

Venezuela, although experiencing growth, faces ongoing economic volatility.

End-Use Sector Highlights:

Rigid foam represents the largest end-use market for polyurethane in the Americas, with a 37% share.

Flexible foam follows closely at 29%, while other categories like CASE products and binders contribute lower volumes.

Rigid foam experienced the highest growth rate in 2022, soaring by 7.3%, driven by applications such as flexible-faced panels and spray foam.

Elastomers production increased by 5.8%, driven by various applications and their resilience during downturns in specific industries.

Challenges and Future Trends:

Construction activity in the US and Canada has slowed down, impacting the polyurethane market.

The rigid foam sector is expected to grow at a more moderate rate of 2.4% in 2023, influenced by the construction downturn.

The report highlights the potential for renewable raw materials, which could gain market share due to the industry's focus on sustainability and reduced carbon footprint.

This comprehensive market report delves into the intricate details of the Polyurethane Chemical and Products market in the Americas. Providing insights into market trends, consumption estimates, and forecasts from 2022 to 2027, this report is a vital resource for industry stakeholders.

Geographical Coverage:

North America (Canada, Mexico, USA)

South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Rest of South America, Venezuela)

Polyurethane Raw Materials:

The report offers consumption estimates for various polyurethane raw materials in each country, with the base year as 2022 and forecasts extending to 2027. The raw materials covered include:

MDI (MMDI & PMDI)

TDI

Aliphatic Isocyanates

Standard Polyether Polyol

Polyether Graft Copolymer Polyol

Polyester Polyol (aliphatic & aromatic)

PTHF Polyol

Acrylic Polyol

Market Segmentation:

The report provides detailed data tables on the production of polyurethane products, consumption of related raw materials, and summaries of key market trends. It is presented in eight volumes, categorizing the market into different end-use sectors:

Flexible Foam: Polyether Slabstock

HR/CMHR Slabstock

Polyester Slabstock

Viscoelastic Foam

Moulded Foam for Automotive Seating

Moulded Foam for Commercial Vehicles

Other Transport Foam

Carpet Backing & NVH

Furniture Components

Semi-rigid Foam

Integral Skin Foam

Furniture Component Foam

Bedding Foam

Vehicle Foam

Recycled Foam Rigid Foam: Rigid-Faced Sandwich Panels (Continuous & Discontinuous)

Flexible-Faced Panels

Slabstock

Sprayed Foam (SPF)

Commercial Refrigeration

Domestic Refrigeration

Water Heaters

One-Component Foam (OCF)

Moulded Rigid Foam

Pipe-in-Pipe Insulation

Other Coatings: Architectural Coatings (interior/exterior)

Auto OEM

Auto Refinish

Commercial Vehicles

Industrial Coatings

Maintenance Coatings

Marine Coatings

Plastic (non-automotive) Coatings

Roof, Tank & Deck Coatings

Textile & Leather Coatings

Wood & Furniture Coatings

Other Adhesives: Automotive

Construction

Flexible Packaging

Footwear

General Assembly

Other Sealants: Auto Direct Glazing

Construction

Insulated Glazing

Other Transport Elastomers: Cast Elastomers

Fibres/Spandex

Microcellular Footwear

RIM/RRIM

Technical Microcellular

TPU

Synthetic Leather Resin

Other Binders: Forest Products

Foundry Core

Rubber Crumb

Other

This report provides a comprehensive view of the Polyurethane Chemical and Products market in the Americas, offering detailed insights into market dynamics, consumption trends, and future projections. It is a valuable resource for industry stakeholders seeking to navigate this evolving landscape.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q09s19

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Pune, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global portable gas leak detector market size was valued at USD 3.03 billion in 2022 and is expected to be worth USD 3.19 billion in 2023. The market is projected to reach USD 4.78 billion by 2030, recording a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights displays this information in a report titled, "Portable Gas Leak Detector Market, 2023-2030."

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The report provides elaborate information regarding the Portable Gas Leak Detector market trends, future prospects, growth drivers, regions, and obstacles. Besides these, it highlights all the segments of the market and states the leading ones separately. It further pin-points the competition dynamics to offer comprehensive data about the competitive edge.

Why Should You Get the Sample Report?

Gain insights into the market's current state and future projections.

Understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Portable Gas Leak Detector Market.

Explore the latest Portable Gas Leak Detector Industry trends and technologies driving the market.

Learn about key factors driving market growth and potential challenges in Portable Gas Leak Detector market.

Stay informed about government policies and initiatives shaping the industry.

Discover the top industry players and their strategies.

A portable gas leak detector refers to a device that monitors and examines the presence of various inflammable and hazardous gases on the premises. Concerns regarding environmental pollution caused by the emission of these gases and strict government policies to reduce these emissions in industries are expected to fuel the portable gas leak detector market growth.

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:



June 2023: Ion Science, a prominent gas detector manufacturer, introduced its Panther portable gas detector, a highly sensitive device to detect hydrogen and helium gases. The equipment can easily detect several gases and offer higher sensitivity.

Report Scope & Segmentation



Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 6.0% 2030 Value Projection USD 4.78 billion Base Year 2022 Portable Gas Leak Detector Market Share in 2022 USD 3.03 billion Historical Data for 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 200 Segments covered By Sensor Type, Technology, Product Type, End-user, and Region Portable Gas Leak Detector Market Growth Drivers Focus on Occupational Safety and Growing Industrialization to Drive Market Growth Enhanced User Interface and IoT Integration to Boost Product Demand for Commercial Use

Report Coverage:

The research report analyzes the market in detail and highlights crucial aspects such as key product types, leading companies, and key end-users. It provides important insights into the latest market trends and industry developments. Besides the abovementioned factors, the market covers several other factors that have helped the market grow.

Browse Complete Report Details: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/portable-gas-leak-detector-market-108473

List of the Companies Operating in the Market:

Draeger (Germany)

Bacharach (U.S.)

Emerson Electric (U.S.)

ABB Ltd. (Switzerland)

General Electric (U.S.)

Honeywell International (U.S.)

Danfoss (Denmark)

RIKEN KEIKI (Japan)

PCE Deutschland GmbH (Germany)

SENSIT Technologies (U.S.)

Senko Co. Ltd. (Japan)

Drivers and Restraints:

Rising Concerns about Occupational Safety and Rapid Industrialization to Fuel Market Growth

Industrialization has picked up immense pace in recent years, especially in emerging economies due to their robust economic growth. However, this scenario has increased several concerns regarding occupational safety such as hazardous conditions created by gas leakage. This has prompted government agencies to enforce strict regulations to ensure occupational safety across factories, thereby driving the market growth.

However, high cost of ownership and technical limitations of portable gas leak detectors can restrict the market progress.

Market Segmentation:

Demand for Portable Electrochemical Detectors to Led to Dominance of the Electrochemical Segment

Based on sensor type, the market is classified into electrochemical, catalytic bead sensors, photo-ionization, infrared point, optical, ultrasonic, and others (semiconductor, infrared imaging, holographic).

The electrochemical segment is expected to dominate the market share due to the growing use of portable electrochemical detectors to detect gas leakage in commercial areas. These areas include public sites such as commercial complexes and shopping malls.

Single Gas Leak Detectors to Gain Traction due to their High Precision Capabilities

Based on technology, the market is segregated into single gas and multi gas. The single gas segment is set to dominate the global market share as these devices offer high precision while detecting the presence of gas to facilitate effective processing and piping.

Non-Wearable Detectors to Witness Robust Demand due to Growing Gas Infrastructure

By product type, the market is categorized into wearable and non-wearable. The non-wearable segment may dominate the market as the gas infrastructure is expanding across the world to cater to the growing demand for various gases for industrial and commercial purposes.

Oil and Gas Segment to Increase Product Use due to Growing Commercial Infrastructure for Oil & Gas Exploration

Based on end-user, the market covers oil and gas, energy and power, electronics, steel, shipbuilding and shipping, firefighting and rescue, civil engineering and construction, others. The oil and gas segment may dominate the market in the future as commercial and industrial infrastructures are being expanded to carry out oil & gas exploration activities.

With respect to region, the market covers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America.

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Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific to Dominate the Market sue to Expansion of Gas Infrastructure

Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at a substantial rate and may hold the largest portable gas leak detector market share due to notable expansion of gas infrastructure in developing countries such as Japan and China. Another factor that is contributing to the regional market growth is the rapid economic growth showcased by India due to its switch over to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). These factors will boost the demand for portable gas leak detectors in the APAC region.

Europe is expected to grow at a steady rate as many countries across the region are highly dependent on the gas industry for energy generation.

Competitive Landscape:

Diversification Strategies Used by Key Players to Help them Maintain their Market Dominance

Some of the key market players are using diversification strategies to expand their product range and customer base. oil & gas, steel, construction, and energy & power sectors are implementing product diversification strategies to cater to a wider range of clients.

Major Table of Contents:

Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19

Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Global Portable Gas Leak Detector Key Players Market Share/Ranking, 2022

Global Portable Gas Leak Detector Market Size Estimates and Forecasts, By Segments, 2019-2030

Key Findings

By Sensor Type Electrochemical Catalytic Bead Sensors Photo-ionization Infrared Point Optical Ultrasonic Others (holographic, etc.)

By Technology Single Gas Multi-Gas

By Product Type Wearable Non Wearable

By End Users Oil and Gas Energy and Power Electronics Steel Shipbuilding and Shipping Firefighting and Rescue Civil Engineering and Construction Others (laboratory, etc.)

By Region (USD) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America

North America Portable Gas Leak Detector Market Size Estimates and Forecasts, By Segments, 2019-2030

Key Findings

By Sensor Type Electrochemical Catalytic Bead Sensors Photo-ionization Infrared Point Optical Ultrasonic Others (holographic, etc.)

By Technology Single Gas Multi-Gas

By Product Type Wearable Non Wearable

By End Users Oil and Gas Energy and Power Electronics Steel Shipbuilding and Shipping Firefighting and Rescue Civil Engineering and Construction Others (laboratory, etc.)

By Country (USD) The U.S. By End Users Canada By End Users Mexico By End Users

Europe Portable Gas Leak Detector Market Size Estimates and Forecasts, By Segments, 2019-2030

To be Continue

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Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

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Maharashtra, India.

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U.S.: +1 424 253 0390

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Greensboro, NC, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volvo Trucks North America has unveiled the companys SuperTruck 2, with the debut on the companys YouTube channel. The SuperTruck 2 program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) tasked OEMs with achieving a 100% freight efficiency improvement over their submitted 2009 baseline. Despite the daunting supply chain challenges facing the advanced engineering team throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Volvo Trucks not only achieved the DOE objective but exceeded expectations, achieving 134% increase in freight efficiency. Volvo Trucks SuperTruck 2 will make its first public appearance in the Volvo Trucks booth (#4097) at the American Trucking Associations 2023 Management Conference & Exhibition, taking place October 14-17 in Austin, TX, offering a glimpse at styling and engineering cues for future generations of trucks.

Partnering with the DOE for the SuperTruck program provides an exciting opportunity to push the technology envelope to see whats technically possible for heavy-duty transportation and which solutions can be scaled into production, but equally important, which solutions don't work for scaled production, said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our advanced engineering team who worked on SuperTruck 2. A program of this magnitude pushes the limits in every possible area  creativity, problem solving, feasibility and innovation, to which we feel we did successfully. Some of the technologies on SuperTruck 2 will most certainly shape the future of trucking and change everything we once thought possible.

DOEs SuperTruck 2 program promotes research and development to improve the freight- efficiency of heavy-duty Class 8 long-haul tractor-trailer trucks. The program aims to accelerate the development of cost-effective advanced efficiency technologies not currently available in the market. For SuperTruck 2, all participating OEMs were given the goal of demonstrating more than 100% improvement in vehicle freight efficiency [ton-mile-per-gallon]. Volvo Trucks met that goal and exceeded its internal stretch goal of 120% freight efficiency improvement relative to the 2009 baseline, achieving 134% under real world demonstrator validation.

For Volvo Trucks SuperTruck 2 program, advanced aerodynamics are the key to optimizing fuel efficiency. Starting with a cab perfectly wedge shaped from front to back including a raked and wraparound windshield, a front end designed around a downsized cooling package, a fully aerodynamic trailer with gap fairings, skirts and boat tail, as well as an adjustable ride height. Volvo Trucks also replaced the traditional hood and cab mounted mirrors with a streamlined camera monitoring system to reduce the drag by more than 4%.

The entire tractor trailer combination was designed to smoothly displace air with minimal resistance, resulting in 50% lower drag than Volvo Trucks 2009 baseline. This represents a roughly 20% improvement in aerodynamic drag over Volvo Trucks SuperTruck 1. Around two-thirds of the drag reduction in SuperTruck 1 over the 2009 baseline came from trailer aerodynamic treatments  optimizing the skirt and boat tail. Since SuperTruck 2 also boasts optimized trailer skirt and boat tail, most of its aerodynamic gains over SuperTruck 1 can be attributed to a brand-new cab design, including a radically different windshield, while SuperTruck 1 was a slightly modified version of a VNL 670 cab. SuperTruck 2 demonstrated the potential for significant aerodynamic gains from changing the Body-in-White.

In addition to the aerodynamics advancements, engineers implemented several weight reduction strategies to achieve a significantly reduced curb weight of 27,000 lbs. for the combined truck and the trailer. Volvo Trucks chose to utilize a 4x2 configuration, which is not common in the U.S. but is frequently utilized in Europe using fewer axles for the same payload. The truck was designed so it could be applied to a 6x2 or 6x4 configuration, but that was not part of the specific demonstrator validation for this program. The shorter cab design is lightweight and paired with an aluminum chassis that uses a lightweight optimized drive axle system with a single composite driveshaft.

Volvo Trucks worked with the project partner trailer manufacturer to incorporate a custom, lightweight aerodynamic trailer with an optimized aerodynamic shape of the full truck and trailer to appear as one seamless unit. Volvo Trucks also worked with the project partner tire manufacturer to include lightweight, smaller 19.5-inch advanced low-friction tires on both the SuperTruck 2 and its custom trailer.

With a focus on the driving environment, the Volvo Trucks SuperTruck 2 features a 48-volt micro hybrid system that acts as a generator with an integrated starter. This provides power for driver comfort features, including an all-electric HVAC system that allows the driver to avoid idling during rest breaks and still have power for amenities.

The project team deliberately focused on driving in real world conditions for testing. Data wasnt just gathered in a lab or on flat, empty roads with optimal conditions and a light load. Instead, our SuperTruck 2 was tested in real-world scenarios on roads with traffic and elevation changes with a GCVW of 65,000 lbs. continued Voorhoeve. This is the most aerodynamic and efficient truck Volvo has built to date, and we achieved a freight efficiency that demonstrates the potential for technology innovations to be developed commercially. Our engineers have already begun implementing some of the learnings from SuperTruck 2 into our future truck models. The future of trucks is just around the corner.

Volvo Trucks worked in cooperation with the following SuperTruck 2 project partners:

Bergstrom

Johnson Matthey

Metalsa

Michelin

Motivo Engineering

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Knight Transportation

Wabash National

Wegmans

University of Michigan

To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo SuperTruck 2 visit the company website.

For further information, please contact:

Kyle Zimmerman

Public Relations Manager, Volvo Trucks North America

kyle.zimmerman@volvo.com / (704) 677-9757

Volvo Trucks North America, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, is one of the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers in North America. Its Uptime Services commitment is delivered by a network of nearly 400 authorized dealers across North America and the 24/7 Volvo Trucks Uptime Center. Every Volvo truck is assembled in the Volvo Trucks New River Valley manufacturing facility in Dublin, Virginia, which meets the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, 14001 standard for environmental care and holds a dual ISO 50001/Superior Energy Performance certification at the platinum level, indicating a sustained excellence in energy management. Volvo Trucks North America provides complete transport solutions for its customers, offering a full range of diesel, alternative-fuel and all-electric vehicles, and is part of the Volvo Group global organization.

Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for discerning professional customers with its full range of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Customer support is provided via a global network of dealers with 2,300 service points in about 130 countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 12 countries across the globe. In 2022 approximately 145,000 Volvo trucks were delivered worldwide. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Trucks work is based on the core values of quality, safety and environmental care.

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Pune, India., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new report on  Real Time Production Monitoring Market Size and Forecast (20202030), Global and Regional Share, Trends, and Growth Opportunity Analysis by Component (Solution and Services), Deployment (On-Premise and Cloud), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprise and SMEs), Industry (Process Manufacturing and Discrete Manufacturing), and Geography the market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $5.13 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $12.56 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% from 2022 to 2030.

The growth of real time production monitoring market is driven by the increase in use of predictive maintenance across industries, advent of industry 4.0, and focus on maximizing production capacity. However, cost constraints in deploying solutions in SMEs and possibility of data theft through manufacturing execution system is expected to hinder the market growth.





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Global Real Time Production Monitoring Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in USD 5.13 Billion in 2022 Market Size Value by USD 12.56 Billion by 2030 Growth rate CAGR of 11.8% from 2022 to 2030 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Base Year 2022 Segments covered Component, Deployment Mode, Enterprise Size, Industry, and Geography. Regional scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South & Central America. Country scope Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States Report coverage Revenue forecast, Company Analysis, Industry landscape, Growth factors, and Trends





Integration of real time production monitoring systems with ERP solutions to Provide Lucrative Opportunities for Global Real Time Production Monitoring Market Growth During 2022 to 2030:

ERP is a complete system that enables enterprises to manage suppliers, monitor supply chain activity in real time, and streamline several other business procedures. ERP offers a comprehensive company perspective, considering areas such as finance, inventory management, supply chain, and production. And real time production monitoring software gathers and examines data in real time from the production floor. Thus, integration of real time production monitoring solutions with ERP systems will benefit enterprises in various ways. Production management is considerably enhanced when ERP and real time production monitoring solutions are connected effectively. With the help of this integration, batch production jobs may be effectively planned and managed by being connected to a particular management workspace.

Further, integrating ensures enhanced data quality and traceability and assures that production data is accurate and updated. Costs can be significantly decreased by putting this integration into practice. The integrated solution enhances return on investment by providing better resource management and more effective material utilization.





Global Real Time Production Monitoring Market: Regional Overview

In 2022, North America led the global real time production monitoring market with a substantial revenue share, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. The real time production monitoring market in North America is segmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. The region is an early adopter of digital technology across the world. In May 2012, the Digital Government Strategy was launched to build a 21st-century government and bring digital revolution across the region to pioneer economic growth and technology adoption. In May 2020, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released a Digital Strategy for development and humanitarian assistance in a rapidly evolving digital landscape across the world.

This digital strategy was built to strengthen various industries contributing to the region's economic growth. In 2021, Canada announced its first digital-government strategy to coordinate digital operations, modernize their IT systems, advance technology adoption, and improve service delivery. Thus, the rising digitalization fuels the adoption of digital solutions across North America, which fosters the demand for real time production monitoring solutions by players across the manufacturing sector to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Digitalization has led to the integration of IoT devices, generating a huge amount of data regarding the production process. Real time production monitoring solutions can help manufacturers capture and analyze the data from production machinery and make decisions from data-driven insights in real time.





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Global Real Time Production Monitoring Market: Segmental Overview

The real time production monitoring market is categorized on the basis of component, deployment mode, enterprise size, industry, and geography. Based on component, the real time production monitoring market is segmented into solution and services. By deployment model, the real time production monitoring market is segmented into on-premise and cloud. Based on enterprise size, the real time production monitoring market is categorized into large enterprises and SMEs. Based on industry, the real time production monitoring market is categorized into discrete manufacturing and process manufacturing. The real time production monitoring market, based on geography, is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America.





Global Real Time Production Monitoring Market: Competitive Landscape



Capgemini SE, Oracle Corp, Hitachi Ltd, Rockwell Automation Inc, Siemens AG, Dassault Systemes SE, Aspen Technology Inc, Infosys Ltd, sedApta Srl, and General Electric Co are among the leading market players profiled in the real time production monitoring market report. Several other essential market players were analyzed for a holistic view of the market and its ecosystem. The report provides detailed market insights, which help the key players strategize their market growth.





Recent Developments:

In 2019: Capgemini helped Baker Hughesa GE company (BHGE)to create and implement an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solution that gathers data from all manufacturing machines and devices, including furnaces, cranes, machine tools, and the manufacturing execution system. The solution provides engineers and operators with a new level of ability and insight to adjust production at a moment's notice.

In 2023: Satisloh announced the launch of an upgraded version of its MES-360 manufacturing execution system. MES-360 has been designed to address the needs of lab managers, production supervisors, machine technicians, and quality teams in mid to large-sized Rx labs.

In 2021: GE Digital announced a Proficy Smart Factory manufacturing software suite spanning cloud on-premises and mixed architecture software that brings the digital world organized with the physical world to deliver complete operations performance management for connected enterprises. Improving manufacturers quality and throughput efficiency, Proficy Smart Factory is an effective operations management solution for discrete, process, and mixed manufacturing environments.

In 2021: Plex Systems announced the launch of Plex Production Monitoring, a quick-start solution that helps manufacturers gain visibility into real-time plant floor data. Plex Production Monitoring is an advancement of the widely deployed Plex Mach2 solution originally created by Kors Engineering, which Plex acquired earlier.





Go through further research published by The Insight Partners:

Production Monitoring Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030

Production Monitoring System Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030

Manufacturing Analytics Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030





About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

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Pune, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Based on the SNS Insider report, The High Performance Plastics Market reached USD 21.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to achieve USD 43.95 billion by 2030, exhibiting a 9.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.

Market Overview

High-performance plastics are a category of advanced materials known for their exceptional mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties, making them ideal for demanding industrial applications. These materials are engineered to outperform traditional plastics in terms of strength, temperature resistance, durability, and various other key performance metrics. High-performance plastics can withstand extreme temperatures, both high and low, without significant degradation. This property makes them essential in applications where traditional plastics would melt or become brittle.

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Market Analysis

The high performance plastics market has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, driven by several key factors that are reshaping industries and applications across the globe. The aerospace industry relies on high-performance plastics for components like interior panels, electrical connectors, and structural parts. Their ability to withstand extreme temperatures, resist corrosion, and reduce weight is crucial for modern aircraft design. With the constant evolution of technology, high-performance plastics are in high demand for electrical and electronic applications. These materials offer excellent electrical insulation, flame resistance, and durability, making them ideal for manufacturing semiconductors, connectors, and printed circuit boards. High-performance plastics play a crucial role in the healthcare industry, where they are used in medical devices, implants, and pharmaceutical packaging. They offer biocompatibility, sterilizability, and chemical resistance, ensuring the safety and reliability of medical products.

High Performance Plastics Market Overview & Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 21.9 billion Market Size by 2030 USD 43.95 billion CAGR CAGR of 9.1% over 2023-2030 Key Segments by Type (Fluoropolymers, HPPA, Polyphenylene Sulphide (PPS), Sulfone Polymers (SP), Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP) and Polyamides)



by End Use Industry (Industrial, Electrical and Electronics, Transportation, Medical, Others) Key Market Players Evonik Industries, BASF SE, Dow, Kraton Corporation, DuPont., Ryan Plastics Ltd., RTP Company, Solvay, Eurostar Engineering Plastics, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., Kuraray Co. Ltd, Toray Industries, Kureha Corporation, SABIC, PolyOne Corporation and other players Pricing & Purchase Options Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options.

Key Takeaway from High Performance Plastics Market Study

In the dynamic landscape of high-performance plastics, the fluoropolymers segment has emerged as a dominant force. This rise to prominence can be attributed to the remarkable properties that fluoropolymers possess, making them indispensable in various industries.

The industrial segment stands tall as a dominant force within the market. This segment's ascendancy can be attributed to the diverse range of applications it encompasses and the crucial role it plays in various industries worldwide.

Recent Developments

Envalior, a groundbreaking venture born from the collaborative efforts of Lanxess and DSM Engineering Materials, marks a significant milestone in the world of sustainable materials innovation. This partnership aims to revolutionize the materials industry by pioneering cutting-edge solutions that prioritize environmental sustainability and performance excellence.

GC Ventures, a leading venture capital firm known for its strategic investments in innovative technology companies, has recently announced its latest investment in Interface Polymers, a dynamic UK-based start-up at the forefront of developing cutting-edge high-performance additives for the polymer industry.

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Market Dynamics Analysis

The high performance plastics market is a dynamic landscape shaped by a multitude of drivers, restraints, challenges, and threats. On the driver's side, the increasing demand for lightweight and durable materials across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and electronics, is propelling the market's growth. High-performance plastics offer exceptional mechanical strength, resistance to extreme temperatures, and corrosion resistance, making them indispensable in modern engineering applications. However, these positive drivers are accompanied by significant restraints and challenges. The high cost of production and limited availability of raw materials can act as a barrier to market expansion. Moreover, stringent regulations concerning the use of certain high-performance plastics due to their environmental impact and potential health hazards pose a regulatory challenge. Furthermore, the market faces threats from disruptive technologies and materials, such as carbon fiber composites and advanced ceramics, which could potentially replace certain high-performance plastics in specific applications.

Key Regional Developments

The North American market has been witnessing steady growth, primarily due to the strong presence of the aerospace and automotive industries. Increasing demand for lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles has boosted the use of high-performance plastics. Europe is a major player in the high performance plastics market, with a focus on sustainability and reducing environmental impact. The European Union's stringent regulations on single-use plastics are encouraging the adoption of high-performance, recyclable materials. The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing robust growth in high-performance plastics due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The automotive sector in countries like China and India is a significant consumer of these materials, driven by the expanding middle-class population.

Impact of Recession

The ongoing recession has posed challenges to the high performance plastics market, primarily due to reduced demand in key sectors, supply chain disruptions, and economic uncertainty. However, strategic responses such as cost optimization, diversification, innovation, and market expansion can help companies weather the downturn and position themselves for future growth when economic conditions improve. Additionally, the growing emphasis on sustainability presents opportunities for eco-friendly high-performance plastics even in challenging economic times.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Scope

1.3 Research Assumptions

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Dynamics

3.1 Drivers

3.2 Restraints

3.3 Opportunities

3.4 Challenges

4. Impact Analysis

4.1 Impact of the Ukraine- Russia war

4.2 Impact of ongoing Recession

4.2.1 Introduction

4.2.2 Impact on major economies

4.2.2.1 US

4.2.2.2 Canada

4.2.2.3 Germany

4.2.2.4 France

4.2.2.5 United Kingdom

4.2.2.6 China

4.2.2.7 Japan

4.2.2.8 South Korea

4.2.2.9 Rest of the World

5. Value Chain Analysis

6. Porters 5 forces model

7. PEST Analysis

8. High Performance Plastics Market Segmentation, By Type

8.1 Fluoropolymers

8.2 HPPA

8.3 Polyphenylene Sulphide (PPS)

8.4 Sulfone Polymers (SP)

8.5 Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP)

8.6 Polyamides

9. High Performance Plastics Market Segmentation, By Application

9.1 Industrial

9.2 Electrical and Electronics

9.3 Transportation

9.4 Medical

9.5 Others

10. Regional Analysis

11. Company Profile

11.1 SABI

11.1.1 Company Overview

11.1.2 Financial

11.1.3 Products/ Services Offered

11.1.4 SWOT Analysis

11.1.5 The SNS View

11.2 Dow

11.3 LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.

11.4 KRATON CORPORATION

11.5 DuPont

11.6 Eurostar Engineering Plastics

11.7 KURARAY CO. LTD.

11.8 Toray Industries

11.9 Kureha Corporation

11.10 PolyOne Corporation

11.11 BASF SE

11.12 Solvay

11.10 Utsi Electronics Ltd.

12. Competitive Landscape

12.1 Competitive Bench marking

12.2 Market Share Analysis

12.3 Recent Developments

12.3.1 Industry News

12.3.2 Company News

12.3.3 Mergers & Acquisitions

13. Use Case and Best Practices

14. Conclusion

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Impact of Recession

The ongoing recession has undoubtedly posed challenges to the ground penetrating radar market. Reduced infrastructure spending, delayed projects, and budget constraints have contributed to a decline in demand and revenue. However, the ability of GPR companies to adapt, innovate, and potentially benefit from government stimulus packages may help mitigate the negative effects. As the global economy gradually recovers, the GPR market will likely see a resurgence in demand, but the extent and pace of this recovery will depend on various economic and industry-specific factors.

About SNS Insider

At SNS Insider, we believe that businesses should have access to the best market intelligence and insights, regardless of their size or industry. That's why we offer a range of solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, from startups to big corporations. With a passion for our work and an unwavering commitment to delivering value, we are dedicated to helping our clients achieve their full potential.
Houston, TX, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2023 UNCF Walk for Education, proudly presented by Shell USA, Inc., concluded with resounding success on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. This extraordinary event, aimed at raising $300,000 for UNCF (United Negro College Fund) brought together a diverse community of nearly 2,500 dedicated attendees, sponsors and supporters.

UNCF extends heartfelt gratitude for the support and enthusiasm from sponsors, participants and volunteers who all played a pivotal role in making this event memorable.

The morning was filled with a vibrant atmosphere as attendees engaged with sponsors and vendors before and after the walk. The event featured an engaging program at the start and finish line hosted by Keisha Nicole from Radio One/97.9 The Boxx and remarks from Shell USA, Inc. General Manager Marla Kline, CenterPoint Energy Executive and UNCF Leadership Council Chair Valentine Emesih and UNCF South Texas Area Development Director Zarinah K. Poole.

H-E-B generously provided attendees with healthy refreshment options, such as fresh fruit, granola bars, and yogurt. Shipley's indulged participants with delightful donuts, Starbucks offered a warm caffeine boost with coffee, Whataburger provided delicious honey butter chicken biscuits, Cabo Bobs donated breakfast tacos and Frenchy's treated everyone to a delicious lunch at the UNCF Hospitality/Alumni Village tent. Enterprise Holdings also made an invaluable contribution by providing dedicated volunteers for the event.

UNCF is immensely grateful to alliantgroup for their role as the finish line sponsor and for hosting the fantastic walk kickoff last month.

The event also catered to young attendees with a wide array of engaging activities at the Young Genius Playground. Boeing wowed the youth with an impressive Rocket Demo, a Game On Game Truck provided hours of fun, a Barbie Display by Experiences by Taylor Brione captured imaginations, the Houston Astros Literacy Van promoted education and distributed free books, and Party Epics provided yard games.

Boeing's efficient management of registration streamlined the event's organization, while Omega Psi Phi fraternity played a crucial role in managing logistics, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience for all participants.



UNCF acknowledges the City of Houston and Commissioner Rodney Ellis for their generous contribution to Tom Bass Park and bikes for registered bikers, which enhanced the overall experience.

Though the 2023 UNCF Walk for Education has concluded, the mission continues. UNCF is still accepting donations for this year's walk until Oct. 31, 2023, at www.UNCF.org/southtxwalk. Your continued support can help us reach our fundraising goal.

Mark your calendars for next year's walk, which is scheduled to take place September 2024. UNCF looks forward to once again uniting our community in support of education and opportunity for all.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact UNCF Houston at 713-942-8623 or uncfhoustonevents@uncf.org.

###

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelors degrees, 5% of masters degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

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Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announced today that employment and labor lawyer Debbie Birndorf has joined its Los Angeles office as a partner. Birndorf is the third partner to join the firms Los Angeles office in the last month, following intellectual property lawyer Alesha Dominique and litigator Helen Kim.

With more than 30 years of experience, Birndorf was previously the founding and managing partner at Birndorf Law Offices, an employment counselling and litigation boutique representing California employers and executives. She represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including defense of harassment and discrimination claims, wage claims, wage and hour class actions, Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims, disability claims and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Birndorf also drafts and reviews employment contracts, severance agreements, employee handbooks and personnel policies and advises employers on day-to-day employee relations matters, including hirings, firings, layoffs and compliance with federal and California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) acts.

Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, said:

Our Los Angeles office is experiencing exciting growth that we know our clients will appreciate. Debbie is a fantastic lawyer who will enhance our highly regarded employment and labor offering.

Shauna Clark, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Chair and Head of Employment and Labor, commented:

Debbie is a dynamic and dedicated lawyer with impressive experience in both litigation and transactional matters. I look forward to collaborating with her as we advocate for clients through the everchanging employment and labor landscape in the United States and globally.

Birndorf, who serves on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, and teaches Legal Aspects of Employee Relations at UCLA Extension as part of the HR Certificate Program, said:

I am delighted to join Norton Rose Fulbrights top-tier employment and labor team and to be part of the firms continued growth in California. I serve both individuals and large corporations in a variety of industries, and I know my clients will appreciate the firms extensive capabilities and global reach.

Birndorf was honored by the Los Angeles Times as a 2023 nominee for the Inspirational Woman Forum and Leadership Award, received Super Lawyer recognition from 2015-2024 and earned Women of Influence honors from the Los Angeles Business Journal in its 2022 attorneys edition. She is a frequent speaker on employment law topics who is annually featured at the HR Star Conference and will speak at the 2023 Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA) Conference.

Birndorf is licensed in California and Illinois. She received her law degree from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, her masters in business administration from New York Universitys Stern School of Business and her bachelors degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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RIVERSIDE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor is thrilled to bring their new and revolutionary laser tattoo removal service to Riverside, CA, and surrounding areas.



Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor prides themselves on providing the highest quality service and always strives to offer the latest and most innovative technology. With their new laser service featuring the Astanza Duality, they can safely and effectively remove unwanted tattoos on all skin types.

Whether youre looking to remove a small tattoo or a large body art piece, Madd Tatterz has got you covered. Their team of highly trained and experienced technicians are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and have undergone extensive training to provide the best possible treatments for every client. They are readily available to answer questions and educate clients on the benefits of laser tattoo removal.

Madd Tatterz started as a tattoo parlor and were so excited to now offer tattoo and tattoo removal services, says Alfred Zaragoza, owner of Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor. We understand that the decision to remove a tattoo can be daunting, which is why we are here to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Madd Tatterz offers free consultations and is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all clients. If youre in Riverside, San Bernardino, or the greater Los Angeles area looking to remove an unwanted tattoo, look no further than Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor.

About Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor

In addition to laser tattoo removal, Madd Tatterz also offers a range of other services to cater to all tattoo needs. From custom designs to cover-ups, their team of talented artists can help you get the body art youve been looking for. So why wait? If you're considering removing a tattoo or getting a new one, their team of experts is ready to help. Contact them today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step towards a tattoo-free or ink-filled future.

Call Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor today at (951) 977-9292 or visit their website at www.maddtatterz.com. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on the latest news and promotions. Madd Tatterz Tattoo Parlor is located at 3688 Van Buren Boulevard Suite D, Riverside, California 92503.

About Astanza Laser

Astanza Laser is the provider of FDA-cleared, medical-grade laser devices for tattoo removal, hair removal, and other aesthetic laser procedures. Our powerful product line comprises the Trinity, Duality, EternityTSR, MeDioStar, PicoStar, DermaBlate, and QuadroStarProYELLOW laser machines. Astanza offers an unbeatable support system through The Astanza Experience, which consists of our 3-Business Day Service Guarantee, Lifetime Training and Clinical Support, and unique Business Builder System. This all-encompassing system guides laser businesses every step of the way, providing a complete range of training, service, marketing, and business strategies. Astanza is an award-winning company that has received several accolades from leading aesthetic industry organizations, including Aesthetic Everything and MyFaceMyBody. Astanza is also certified as a Great Place to Work, ranks #33 on Fortunes 2023 Best Workplaces in Health Care and #49 on Fortunes 2023 Best Places to Work in Texas.

Astanza Laser is headquartered in Dallas, TX, with clients practicing throughout North America and Europe. Learn more about Astanza by visiting the website or calling (800) 364 - 9010. Connect with Astanza on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Twitter.
New York, United States, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defoamers are chemical additives that prevent the production of foam in industrial settings. Defoamers prevent macro-foam formation and significant air occlusions in waterborne formulations. Foams typically form when gas is dispersed in liquids during various industrial processes. The global defoamers market size is projected to reach USD 5.39 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.12% during the forecast period (20222030)., stated by Research Manager at Straits Research P. Ltd.

Key Drivers

The market for defoamers is expected to be driven by an increase in the use of paper-based products in the packaging sector over the forecast period. Additionally, there would be significant opportunities for market expansion due to the demand from subsectors like specialty paper, packaging paper, and industrial paper. It is anticipated that stringent regulations by governing bodies, particularly in developed countries, will challenge the market for defoamers. Manufacturers' constant effort to conform to increasingly stringent regulatory standards contributes significantly to the high costs associated with production and quality control.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific is the largest shareholder in the global defoamers market. Strong economic growth in the region has led to positive trends in key end-user industries, which reflect the market's steady growth. In addition to China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia are the leading contributors to the market's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Key Highlights

The silicone-based segment is the most dominant in the global defoamers market.

Based on application, the market is divided into pulp and paper, coatings, agrochemicals, water treatment, food and beverages, and others. The paper and pulp segment contributes the largest revenue share because the product's reduced paper breaking improves the efficiency of the paper machine.

Asia-Pacific is the largest shareholder in the global defoamers market.

The major players in the global defoamers market are:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Ashland Inc. Dow Corning Corporation Evonik Industries AG BASF SE Elementis Plc Clariant AG Eastman Chemical Company

Market News

May 2022- Ashland launched Polyclar brewbrite granules, a more straightforward solution for upstream clarification. Innovation provided clarification and stabilization in one product.

May 2022- Ashland introduced Vialose trehalose dihydrate, a high purity lyoprotectant and stabilizer for biologic medicines and other parenteral formulations.

Global Defoamers Market: Segmentation

By Product

Water-based

Oil-based

Silicone-based

Others

By Applications

Pulp and Paper

Coatings

Agrochemicals

Water Treatment

Food and Beverages

Others

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

LAMEA

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West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center is getting into the Halloween spirit by offering Palm Beach Countys first-ever haunted car wash experience! The Haunted Car Wash will take place at Mint Eco's brand-new location, 1890 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard in West Palm Beach, near I-95 and the Tanger Outlets.

The Haunted Car Wash will be a special two-night event only: Monday, October 30, and Tuesday, October 31. Family-friendly hours will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days and scarier thrills for adults from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event is FREE for everyone, including a FREE car wash. Donations are optional and will go directly to benefit the West Palm Beach Police Fund.

We're excited to be the first car wash to bring a Haunted Car Wash to Palm Beach County," said Founder and CEO Geoffrey Jervis. More importantly, this event gives us an opportunity to support our local police and their families in a tangible way. We have a saying here at Mint Eco: If you wear Kevlar for me, we wash your car for free. Opportunities where we can identify additional ways to be contributing members of our community are always at the forefront of our minds. Not only will this event benefit our local heroes, but it gives us a special occasion to live up to our mission of making people happy and providing an exciting, safe way for families and friends to celebrate Halloween.

The Fund for West Palm Beach Police (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) company) was created to serve and protect the very people who ensure that the community remains a safe, vibrant world-class city. The goal of The Fund is to supplement operational needs and financial limitations for West Palm Beachs finest. We are grateful to Mint Eco for their creative idea to support The Fund this year and create a unique experience that is safe and fun for the whole family, shared Allan Adelson, Board Chair for The Fund. We appreciate all their support to date through their washing all police cars for free and participating in our other annual fundraising events. We hope that this event becomes something that the community can look forward to every year!

Additional details for this event include:

Mint Eco will provide a FREE car wash to all visitors.

There will be trick-or-treating for kids, including FREE candy and a tote bag, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the events family-friendly hours.

SOFLO Jeep Customs will be present with some of their spooky inventory.

Optional donations will be collected for the West Palm Beach Police Fund in support of local West Palm Beach law enforcement.

About Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center

All Progress Occurs Because People Dare to be Different. Fortune Cookie ~2010.

Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center was founded to be different. Different starts with our mission statement: We exist to make people happy. We do not get out of bed to wash carswe get out of bed to make people happy. Happiness is delivered through an experience that goes well beyond any physical service that we provide.

Different includes with our products and services. Mint Eco not only offers modern, state-of-the-art tunnels with free vacuums but also offers interior services, detailing services and a spa-inspired lobby, retail store. Most importantly, Mint Eco prides itself on delivering an extraordinary experience to all its Members and Guests through unparalleled customer service.

Different is exemplified by our employees. Our physical plant and services can only go so farit is our employees who truly deliver the Mint Eco Experience. While we are certainly proud of our pay being the highest in the industry and the benefits that we offer, such as healthcare and free English classes, what differentiates us is our hiring, training and development program. This program is designed to identify employees who want to be a part of our MoveMINTto be differentto change an industry.

Different is being an active member of the Community. We sweat with our neighbors as we clean neighborhood parks and beaches. We support our neighboring educational institutions, religious organizations and charities with donations. We wash first responder cars for free and always make our bathrooms and lobbies are available to first responders on shift.

Different is being a steward of the Environment. We believe that business and the environment can both thrive togetherwe call ourselves tree-hugging capitalists. We believe that a business that takes care of the environment is not only doing the right thing but also will be rewarded for it by its customers.

Awards:

2022 Best Car Wash & Detail Center in Palm Beach County (Palm Beach Post)

2023 Best Car Wash & Detail Center in Palm Beach County (Palm Beach Post)

2023 Top Places to Work in Southeast Florida (Sun Sentinel)

2022 Small Business CEO of the Year (Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches)

2023 Environmental Business of the Year Runner-Up (Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches)

2023 Environmental Business of the Year Runner-Up (North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce)

3x Winner Patriot Award from the Department of Defense (Support of Veterans, the Guard and Reserve)

Seven Seals Award from the Department of Defense (Support of Veterans, the Guard and Reserve)

2023 National Car Wash Solutions Wash Forward Award (Environmental Advancement of the Industry)

2022 Best Car Wash & Detail Center  Regional Winner (Best of Florida)

2023 Best Car Wash & Detail Center (Best of Florida)

Locations:

Mint Eco currently operates four car washes in Palm Beach County, owns eight car wash properties, and plans to develop 50 locations over the next several years.

Open: Mint Eco Car Wash West Palm Beach Southend (316 Southern Boulevard)

Open: Mint Eco Car Wash Okeechobee/FL-Turnpike West (1950 Golden Lakes Boulevard)

Open: Mint Eco Car Wash Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard (1890 Palm Beach Lakes)

Open: Mint Eco Car Wash Jupiter (220 Maplewood Drive)

Coming Soon: Southern Boulevard, Forest Hill Boulevard, Lake Worth Road, West Atlantic Avenue, Woolbright Road, Blue Heron Boulevard, Northlake and Coconut Boulevard and Okeechobee Boulevard.

To learn more, visit mintecocarwash.com/locations.

Attachments
Dallas, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickeys Barbecue Pit will once again treat barbecue lovers across the country to a fan favorite  pulled pork!

This Thursday, October 12th, the Texas-style barbecue brand will be celebrating National Pulled Pork Day by offering guests their famous Pulled Pork Sandwich for only $4.99. The popular menu item features slow-smoked pulled pork on a brioche bun. This deal will be available to guests, at participating locations, ordering in store, on Dickeys.com, or in the Dickeys App found under the DEALS category.

Here at Dickeys, we love treating our guests to a sweet deal on special holidays, says bLaura Rea Dickey, CEO Dickey's Barbeceu Pit, Inc. That's why we are thrilled each year to celebrate one of our favorite historical holidays, National Pulled Pork Day with barbecue enthusiasts from all over the country.

Dickeys National Pulled Pork Day deal is valid at participating locations nationwide for one day only on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

For more about Dickeys, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

For Dickeys Virtual Concepts follow Wing Boss on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok; Trailer Birds on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok ; and Big Deal Burger on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok .

About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue 550 locations across the United States and eight other countries.

Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit dickeys.com.

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HICKSVILLE, NY, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Can B Corp. ( OTCQB: CANB ) (Can B or the Company), a health and wellness company specializing in developing, producing, and selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, is pleased to announce its move and consolidation of its Pure Health Product operations from Lacey, WA to Colorado. This furthers Can Bs corporate consolidations as it previously did with Miami and McMinville operations also relocating to Colorado.



Marco Alfonsi, Can Bs Chief Executive Officer, stated, This consolidation is expected to save the Company nearly $500,000 annually in rent, staffing and shipping related expenses. We have just completed delivery of 3 of the expected 4 semi-loads of equipment and raw materials for Pure Health Products from Lacey, WA, to Colorado. Today, Colorado is the base of operation for all manufacturing, processing, packaging, and shipping of all hemp and non-hemp related, CBD, nutrients, supplements, and Superfood products for all Can B subsidiaries.

The move included relocating all of the Superfood products manufacturing, process, packaging, labeling, and raw materials/ingredients for Integrity Brands by Brooke Burke Body and other brands to the Companys Fort Morgan facility on County Road 21, known as the Budweiser Building.

Pure Health Products expects to have the Superfood production in full operation by mid-October 2023.

The other production equipment, including bottling lines, capsule machines, tablet presses, coating machines, wet and dry pouch machines, and various packing sealing and coding equipment, was split into two segments between Hakala Research, LLC in Glen Rock, Wyoming, under a use agreement and CO Botanicals building on Energy Road in Fort Morgan, CO known as the ICS Building. This equipment will continue production of PHPs white-label and brand-labeled tinctures, salves, roll-ons, oils, supplements, lotions, and related products, both with and without CBD. This equipment is expected to be operational by the end of October 2023 as the Company also has sufficient products in inventory to meet expected demand for 45-60 days at current usage.

About Can B Corp.

Can B Corp. ( OTCQB: CANB ) is a health & wellness company providing the highest quality hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including under its own brands of Canbiola, Seven Chakras, NuWellness, Pure Leaf Oil, and Duramed. Can B utilizes multi-channel distribution to reach consumers, including medical facilities, doctor offices, retailers, online, and direct. Can B Corp. operates R&D and production facilities in Lacey, WA, and Florida. To learn more about Can B Corp. and our comprehensive line of high-quality products, please visit Canbiola.com and www.CanBCorp.com , follow Can B Corp on Instagram and Facebook , or visit one of the 1,000+ retail outlets that carry Can B Corp. products.

For more information about Can B Corp., please visit CanBCorp.com .

Twitter @CanBCorp

Instagram @canbcorp

Facebook @ Can B Corp

YouTube

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect," and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Expected, actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties associated with, among other things, the impact of economic, competitive, and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, and performance. The matters discussed herein should not be construed in any way, shape, or manner of our future financial condition or stock price. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of latest information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investors and Media:

IR@canbiola.com

(917) 658-7878
Fort Wayne, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Wayne, Indiana -

AskAnAudiologist collaborates with Dr. Ginny Veloz to unveil a comprehensive guide on tinnitus. They explore the innovative Lenire Tinnitus treatment, emphasize the importance of professional evaluation, and offer tips for prevention. Tinnitus, though diverse in causes, is generally manageable.

For countless individuals, the persistent ringing, humming, or buzzing only they can hear  known as tinnitus  remains a mysterious and unsettling sensation. Pioneering hearing health platform, AskAnAudiologist, has partnered with esteemed audiologist Dr. Ginny Veloz to address this auditory enigma, offering a fresh perspective and shedding light on the innovative Lenire Tinnitus treatment in their latest article, "Why Do I Hear Ringing In My Ears"

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. While often resulting from age-related hearing changes, ear trauma, or circulatory system disorders, it's important to note it's a symptom, not a disease in itself. The causes of tinnitus can range from earwax buildup, shifting of the ear bones, exposure to loud noises, to complex conditions like Meniere's disease.

"The journey with tinnitus can be challenging. Yet, with expanding knowledge and evolving treatments, there are hopeful paths to relief," says Dr.Ginny Veloz. Spotlighting this sentiment is the Lenire Tinnitus approach, which combines auditory stimulus with neuromodulation, hailed by numerous patients for its effectiveness.

Multiple factors can cause or exacerbate tinnitus, including aging, allergies, stress, high blood pressure, certain medications, and noise exposure. Interestingly, even conditions like otosclerosis or circulatory problems can lead to tinnitus. Despite its frequent occurrence  affecting over 50 million Americans  in most instances, it's not a cause for alarm. However, cases linked to serious issues, such as acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma, demand immediate medical attention

For a deeper dive into the intricacies of tinnitus and potential relief avenues, interested readers can explore the full article at https://askanaudiologist.com/why-do-i-hear-ringing-in-my-ears

Various treatments like hearing aids, sound therapies, cognitive behavioral therapies, and even supplements for tinnitus such as ginkgo biloba and zinc are gaining attention in the search for tinnitus relief. The Lenire Tinnitus procedure stands as one of the pioneering solutions in this spectrum.

Protection is crucial. To prevent tinnitus onset, reduce exposure to loud noises and always employ protective measures like earplugs. Remember, while complete elimination might be challenging, tinnitus is manageable.

Dr. Veloz emphasizes, "Before considering treatments, a comprehensive evaluation by a hearing professional is vital. It's the key to pinpointing tinnitus causes and selecting the right approach."

About Dr. Ginny Veloz:

With a storied career spanning over two decades, Dr. Ginny Veloz, Au.D., has championed the cause of optimal hearing health. Based in Santa Clarita for 15 years, she earned her doctorate from the University of Florida. Her association with AsAnAudiologist reflects her unwavering commitment to public awareness about hearing disorders and their potential solutions.

About AskAnAudiologist:

Leading the charge in delivering accurate, comprehensive hearing health information, AskAnAudiologist collaborates with experts like Dr. Ginny Veloz. The platform prioritizes empirical research to empower audiences seeking solutions to their hearing issues.

###

For more information about Ask An Audiologist, contact the company here:



Ask An Audiologist

Ask An Audiologist

info@askanaudiologist.com

429 E Dupont Road #126 Fort Wayne, IN 46825. USA
Toronto, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the 19th consecutive year, Canada's credit unions have earned the overall award for Customer Service Excellence at the 2023 Ipsos Financial Service Excellence Awards. Canadian credit unions were chosen as the overall winners among all financial institutions in retail banking. This sustained recognition showcases the unwavering commitment to member service and the consistent excellence that differentiates credit unions in the financial sector.

"Credit unions steadfast dedication to serving their members positions us as a sector at the pinnacle of customer satisfaction year after year. Being honored at the Ipsos Financial Service Excellence Awards is a significant acknowledgment of credit unions dedication to putting their members first and tailoring our services to help them meet their financial goals and needs, says Jeff Guthrie, Canadian Credit Union Association President and CEO. The awards credit unions have received highlight the sectors mission to go beyond mere transactions and truly invest in the well-being of our members and the communities we serve.

This year saw Canadas credit unions receive a total of six Ipsos awards, reflecting the continuing high levels of service provided to their members.

The categories in which Canadas Credit Unions were lauded include:

Customer Service Excellence (solo win)

Values My Business (solo win)

Financial Planning & Advice

Branch Service Excellence (solo win)

Online Banking Excellence

Live Agent Telephone Banking Excellence (solo win)

About the Ipsos Financial Service Excellence Awards

Introduced in 1987, the Customer Service Index (CSI) survey generates the winners of the annual Financial Service Excellence Awards (formerly Best Banking Awards). This years awards were based on the combined results of 47,922 completed surveys for the 2023 CSI program year ending September 2023 and are based on a demographically and regionally representative sample of Canadians. The awards are presented across 11 categories.

About the Canadian Credit Union Association:

The Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) is the national trade association for Canada's credit unions and caisses populaires outside Quebec. Canada's 197 credit unions and caisses populaires are leaders in small business lending and hold $301 billion in assets. As the united voice for Canadian credit unions to governments across Canada, CCUA champions and advocates for credit unions as they help Canadians achieve financial well-being. We provide quality research, education and raise awareness of the Canadian credit union sector. CCUA delivers value-driven services to its members, with the success of credit unions at the core of everything we do. To learn more, visit www.ccua.com.




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Disclosure of total number of voting rights and

number of shares forming the capital

as of September 30, 2023

Clichy, France  10 October 2023

Article L 233-8-II of the French Code de Commerce and Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the French Autorite des Marches Financiers.

As of September 30, 2023, the total number of issued shares of SOCIETE BIC is 43,952,226 shares, representing:

64,236,103 voting rights,

62,364,526 voting rights excluding shares without voting rights

ABOUT BIC

A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello, Djeep, Lucky Stationery, Rocketbook, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Us. TM, Wite-Out, Inkbox and more. In 2022, BIC Net Sales were 2,233.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris"," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations team

investors.info@bicworld.com







Michele Ventura

Investor Relations Senior Manager

michele.ventura@bicworld.com







Isabelle de Segonzac

Image 7, Press Relations contact

+ 33 6 89 87 61 39

isegonzac@image7.fr

2023 AGENDA

3rd Quarter and 9 Months 2023 Results October 25, 2023 (post market close)

Attachment
SEATTLE, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has certified the class in Mattson v. Milliman, Inc., a class action lawsuit alleging Milliman breached its fiduciary duties under ERISA and violated the trust of some 4,000 of its current and former employees by mismanaging the companys retirement funds.



The case has been litigated by Sanford Heisler Sharp Partners Charles Field and Kate Mueting; Chairman David Sanford; and Associates Denise Choung, David McNamee and Ari Rubin. Local counsel is Paul Taylor of Byrnes Keller Cromwell LLP.

Milliman failed to remove the in-house target risk funds that significantly underperformed meaningful benchmarks for nearly a decade, said Charles Field, Chair of Sanford Heisler Sharps Financial Services Practice Group. The inclusion of these underperforming target risk funds had negative long-term consequences for a large number of Milliman employees and is indefensible. We are pleased that the court has certified the class thereby paving the way for Plaintiff Mattson to seek and obtain relief on behalf of the thousands of individuals who were harmed by Millimans mismanagement.

Millimans decision not to remove the underperforming target risk funds has cost the Fund and Millimans current and former employees as much as $85 million in retirement savings. In finding that the Rule 23 class certification requirements were met, Judge Zilly rejected the defendants arguments that the class could not be certified because some class members signed arbitration agreements. The court concluded that Munro v. University of Southern California controls and thus employees who signed arbitration agreements did so as employees and not on behalf of the ERISA Plan.

Plaintiffs and the class seek (1) restitution for financial losses to Plan participants and beneficiaries resulting from the Plans underperforming investments; (2) divestiture of imprudent investments; and (3) the removal of the fiduciaries who have violated their duties to the Plans participants and beneficiaries under ERISA.

About Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP is a national public interest class-action litigation law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Nashville, and Baltimore. Sanford Heisler Sharp focuses on employment discrimination, wage and hour, whistleblower, criminal/sexual violence, and financial services matters. The firm has recovered over $1 billion for its clients through many verdicts and settlements.

For the latest news about Sanford Heisler Sharp, visit the firms newsroom or follow the firm on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

If you have potential legal claims and are seeking counsel, please call 619-577-4253 or email david.sanford@sanfordheisler.com. Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp would like to have the opportunity to help you.

For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, at 201-788-0142 or Jamie@newspros.com.
New Delhi, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market to witness impressive growth in coming future

The research and analytics firm Staticker Business Consulting released the updated version if its report on  Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials Market - Country wise Detailed Analysis, Business Opportunities and Forecasts .

According to Staticker Business Consulting, the Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% during (2024  2032), and will reach $3.2 billion by 2032.

As electric vehicles become more mainstream, consumers are becoming more conscious of the potential risks associated with battery fires. This awareness has led to a surge in demand for EVs equipped with robust fire protection systems, creating a positive growth environment for the Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market.

Rising concerns over battery safety and focus on minimizing risk of thermal runaway will drive Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials Market

As the performance and energy density of electric vehicle batteries improve, the risks associated with thermal runaway and fire incidents also increase. This necessitates the development of new and improved fire protection materials that can effectively handle the higher energy levels and offer enhanced safety features. Battery manufacturers are investing heavily in research and development to create advanced fire protection materials that can meet the evolving needs of the electric vehicle industry.

Another driving force behind the market growth is the stringent regulatory environment. Governments and regulatory bodies around the world are increasingly focusing on setting strict safety standards and regulations for electric vehicles. These regulations mandate the use of fire protection materials that meet certain criteria and performance standards. This has created a significant demand for innovative and compliant fire protection solutions, thereby fueling the growth of the Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market.

Competitive landscape in Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market and key market players

The competitive landscape of the electric vehicle battery fire protection materials market is characterized by a mix of established companies and innovative startups, all focused on enhancing battery safety and minimizing the risk of fire. With ongoing research and development, we can expect to see continued advancements in this critical area of the EV industry. Example of few key players in the industry include DuPont, BASF, 3M, Solvay and others. As the industry continues to evolve, new companies and technologies are likely to emerge, further enhancing battery safety and performance.

North America and Europe regions are bigger markets for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials technology

When it comes to the market for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials, North America and Europe emerge as the prominent regions. Both these regions have witnessed significant growth in the EV market, making them the key markets for the technology that safeguards these vehicles from potential fire incidents.

North America, comprising the United States and Canada, has been at the forefront of EV adoption. The region has seen a surge in the sales of electric vehicles, driven by various factors such as government incentives, increased charging infrastructure, and growing environmental consciousness among consumers. As a result, the demand for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials in North America has been steadily rising.

Europe, on the other hand, has also been witnessing a remarkable growth trajectory in the electric vehicle market. Countries like Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands have been leading the way in EV adoption, with supportive government policies and a robust charging infrastructure. With a strong focus on reducing carbon emissions and a higher level of awareness regarding environmental issues, European consumers are increasingly opting for electric vehicles. Consequently, the demand for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials in Europe has also witnessed a significant upswing.

The larger markets in North America and Europe for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, the safety concerns surrounding EVs have made it imperative for manufacturers to invest in technologies that prevent battery fires and mitigate risks. This has created a lucrative market for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials in these region.

Germany is a leading country in Europe Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market

One of the key factors contributing to Germany's dominance in this market is its strong automotive industry. With renowned automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, Germany has a deep-rooted expertise in the automotive sector. This experience has seamlessly transitioned into the development of battery fire protection materials, allowing German companies to create high-quality and reliable products that meet the stringent safety standards of the electric vehicle industry.

In addition to its automotive prowess, Germany also boasts a robust network of research institutions and universities that specialize in materials science and engineering. These institutions collaborate closely with industry leaders to develop innovative fire protection materials that are both effective and environmentally friendly. This emphasis on sustainability aligns perfectly with Germany's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning towards a greener future.

Moreover, Germany's strategic geographical location within Europe provides a significant advantage in terms of market reach and accessibility. With its well-developed infrastructure and transportation networks, German companies can easily distribute their products across the continent, catering to the growing demand for electric vehicles and their associated safety materials.

The Asia Pacific region is also emerging as a promising market for Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials technology

The Asia Pacific region, with its growing EV market, presents a promising opportunity for the adoption of electric vehicle battery fire protection materials. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are among the top EV markets in the world, with significant investments in EV infrastructure and manufacturing. As these countries strive to promote sustainable transportation solutions, the importance of ensuring the safety of EVs becomes paramount.

In recent years, there have been several incidents of EV battery fires reported in the Asia Pacific region. These incidents have raised concerns among consumers and regulators, highlighting the urgent need for effective fire protection measures. Electric vehicle battery fire protection materials offer a solution to mitigate the risks associated with EV battery fires and enhance the overall safety of EVs.

The development of electric vehicle battery fire protection materials involves a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together expertise from various fields such as materials science, chemistry, and engineering. These materials are designed to suppress and prevent the spread of fire in EV batteries. They can withstand high temperatures, provide thermal insulation, and act as a barrier to protect the battery cells from external heat sources.

China will continue to hold a dominant market position in Asia Pacific Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market

China has long been a global leader in the EV market, with a robust manufacturing ecosystem and strong government support. The country's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, coupled with favorable policies and incentives, has propelled its position as a key player in the EV battery fire protection materials market.

One of the main factors driving China's dominance is its extensive network of battery manufacturers. The country boasts a large number of companies specializing in battery production, resulting in a highly competitive market. This competition has spurred innovation, leading to the development of cutting-edge fire protection materials specifically designed for EV batteries.

China's focus on research and development has also played a significant role in its market dominance. The country has invested heavily in advanced technologies and materials, enabling the production of fire protection solutions that meet stringent safety standards. With a strong emphasis on quality and reliability, Chinese manufacturers have positioned themselves as trusted suppliers of battery fire protection materials.

Furthermore, China's robust supply chain and logistics infrastructure provide a competitive advantage in the Asia Pacific region. The country's efficient distribution networks ensure timely delivery of products, reducing lead times and enhancing customer satisfaction. This logistical superiority allows Chinese manufacturers to cater to the growing demand for EV battery fire protection materials in a timely and efficient manner.

Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market go-to-market strategy

Collaboration with key stakeholders, including EV manufacturers, battery suppliers, and regulatory bodies, is essential for a successful go-to-market strategy. By fostering strategic alliances, we can combine expertise, share resources, and expedite the development and adoption of innovative fire protection materials. As part of the go-to-market strategy, it is essential to work closely with regulatory bodies to ensure that our fire protection materials meet all necessary certification requirements. By staying ahead of evolving safety standards, we can position ourselves as a trusted provider of compliant solutions, giving EV manufacturers and consumers peace of mind.

Most comprehensive report on the Global Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market, published by Staticker Business Consulting

Staticker has published the most detailed market research report on Global Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market, covering country-wise market analysis, market trends and business opportunities. Below are the key points covered in the report:

Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market size, industry trend and growth forecast for all major countries

Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials market TAM, SAM, SOM and TAM expansion strategy

Business opportunity analysis, key market segments that are attracting the most investments

Coverage on all major product portfolios and revenue streams

Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Protection Materials Go-to-Market strategy

Target market selection strategies

Competitive landscape, market share analysis and business positioning

Market revenue and forecast for the period (2024 - 2032), by Region:

North America U.S.A Canada

Europe Germany France Italy Spain UK Sweden Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Indonesia Australia Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America Mexico Brazil

Middle East & Africa





About Staticker Business Consulting

Staticker is a business intelligence firm with clients worldwide. We provide the right knowledge and advisory to business organizations and help them to grow and excel. We specialize in areas such as Digital Transformation, Manufacturing Intelligence, Supply Chain Analysis, Supplier Intelligence, Import-Export Insights, Market Trends and Competitive Intelligence.
KINGSTON-PEMBROKE, Ontario, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Serco Canada Inc. (Serco), leading a consortium with Deloitte Canada and Thrive Career Wellness, is pleased to announce the launch of EmployNext, a locally responsive, outcomes-based employment services program for jobseekers and employers across the Kingston-Pembroke region of Ontario, Canada.

EmployNext falls within the Government of Ontarios vision to enhance and integrated the provinces employment services programs, overseen by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. The programs primary focus is to empower job seekers across the entire spectrum of employment readiness by providing them with upskilling and job matching opportunities to achieve meaningful long-term careers.

We recognized the need to establish a distinct brand, separate from Serco, with a singular focus on employment services, said Natasha McLean, Vice President of Serco Canada Inc. This strategic move underscores our consortiums unwavering dedication to local communities, job seekers, and employers. Our aim in creating this independent brand is to symbolize our resolute commitment to ushering in a new era of accessible and impactful employment services in the local communities we serve. We are so excited to continue our collaboration efforts with local organizations and service providers to enhance employment outcomes and build a brighter future together.

Beginning October 1st, 2023, EmployNext will amplify its presence in the Kingston-Pembroke Catchment Area, working hand in hand with the local community and key partners. The goal is to build upon the existing employment services delivery network and enhance employment outcomes for both job seekers and employers in the region. We are committed to achieving this by representing our extensive network of partners, service providers, cutting-edge technology, and services as one unified and seamless experience to facilitate employment opportunities that lead to personal growth, community development, and lasting success.

In the coming months, EmployNext will provide job seekers and employers in the Kingston-Pembroke catchment area with:

A People-First Approach: We prioritize the well-being and success of individuals and communities above all else. Our services are designed with peoples needs and aspirations in mind.

Availability to All: EmployNext is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. We provide equal opportunities for all jobseekers and employers.

Ease of Use: Our program is committed to simplifying the employment process. We offer intuitive, user-friendly suite of self-serve tools and resources that make navigating the job market straightforward.

Credibility and Trust: EmployNext is a service you can rely on. We build trust through transparency, reliability, and delivering on our promises.

Community Immersion: We are deeply embedded in the communities we serve. EmployNext actively engages with local organizations, partners, and stakeholders to ensure our services meet the unique needs of each community.

Continuity: EmployNext provides ongoing support to individuals and employers. We dont just connect people with jobs; we foster long-lasting career success.

EmployNext is more than just a program; its a commitment to transformation. With EmployNext, the future of employment services in the Kingston-Pembroke region is brighter than ever. The community can expect a more accessible, efficient, and effective system that empowers job seekers and benefits the local economy. Together with our partners and the community, we look forward to making a meaningful impact.

For more information about EmployNext, please visit www.employnext.ca or contact:

This initiative is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Jodi OGorman

Managing Director, Employment Services

Serco Canada Inc.

Jodi.OGorman@serco-na.com
New Delhi, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market to witness impressive growth in coming future

The research and analytics firm Staticker Business Consulting released the updated version if its report on  Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market - Country wise Detailed Analysis, Business Opportunities and Forecasts .

According to Staticker Business Consulting, the Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23% during (2024  2032), and will reach $10 billion by 2032.

Furthermore, advancements in motor technology have paved the way for more efficient and powerful electric vehicle motors. Traditional internal combustion engines are being replaced by electric motors that offer higher torque, better acceleration, and improved overall performance. These advancements require the use of advanced materials that can withstand higher temperatures and provide better conductivity. Electric vehicle motor materials, such as copper, aluminum, and rare-earth magnets, play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of EV motors.

Rising EV production and demand for advanced motor materials will drive the Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market

Rare earth metals, including neodymium and dysprosium, have become essential components in the production of electric motors for EVs. These metals are known for their superior magnetic properties, which enable the production of high-performance magnets. These magnets are crucial for the operation of electric motors, as they generate the necessary magnetic fields that drive the rotor and ultimately propel the vehicle. The demand for rare earth metals is expected to witness a significant surge in the coming years, as the EV market continues to grow and the need for advanced motor materials rises.

In addition to rare earth metals, lightweight alloys also play a critical role in the Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market. These alloys, such as aluminum and magnesium, offer a perfect balance between strength and weight, making them ideal for enhancing the efficiency and range of EVs. Lightweight materials help reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, which directly impacts its energy consumption and battery life. As the EV market matures and the demand for longer-range electric vehicles increases, the need for lightweight alloys in motor production will only escalate.

Competitive landscape in Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market and key market players

The competitive landscape in the electric vehicle motor material market is constantly evolving, with companies investing heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the competition. As the demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, the market players are expected to focus on developing advanced materials that offer improved performance, efficiency, and sustainability.

Companies like BASF SE, Toray Industries, Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, Covestro AG, Arkema S.A., Solvay S.A., and SGL Carbon SE are at the forefront of developing advanced materials that enable the production of efficient, lightweight, and high-performance EV motors. Their contributions are instrumental in shaping the future of sustainable transportation and driving the electrification revolution forward.

Europe is a fast-growing market for Electric Vehicle Motor Material

The motor material market in Europe is experiencing a significant surge due to several factors. Firstly, the increasing number of EV manufacturers in the region has created a high demand for motor materials. With established brands like Volkswagen, BMW, and Renault leading the charge, the need for reliable and efficient motor materials has never been higher.

Secondly, the European market is witnessing a shift towards greener technologies, with governments providing incentives and subsidies to promote the adoption of EVs. This has further boosted the demand for motor materials as more people are inclined to make the switch from traditional internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

Moreover, Europe's commitment to sustainable practices extends beyond the EV market. The region is actively investing in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. This clean energy transition aligns perfectly with the electrification of transportation, creating a virtuous cycle where EVs are powered by renewable energy sources, leading to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

Germany, UK, France and Norway are most potential countries in Europe Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market

Among these countries, Germany is leading the way in terms of EV production and technology. German automakers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are investing heavily in electric mobility and are at the forefront of innovation. The country's strong manufacturing capabilities and engineering expertise make it an ideal location for the production of EV motor materials.

The United Kingdom is also making significant strides in the EV market. With the government's commitment to banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, there is a growing need for motor materials to support the production of electric vehicles. British companies are actively involved in developing advanced motor materials and technologies, positioning the UK as a key player in the European market.

France, known for its automotive industry, is also witnessing a surge in demand for EV motor materials. The French government has announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, further driving the adoption of electric vehicles. French companies are investing in research and development to develop efficient and sustainable motor materials, contributing to the growth of the market.

Norway, often seen as a pioneer in electric mobility, has the highest EV adoption rate in Europe. The Norwegian government provides various incentives such as tax exemptions and toll benefits to promote the use of electric vehicles. This has led to a significant increase in EV production, creating a substantial demand for motor materials. Norwegian companies are actively involved in the development of advanced motor materials, establishing the country as a prominent player in the European market.

The Asia Pacific region dominates the global Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market

Japan, with its long-standing expertise in automotive manufacturing, has also played a significant role in shaping the EV motor material market. Japanese companies are renowned for their technological advancements and precision engineering, making them key suppliers of high-quality motor materials for EVs. These materials not only enhance the performance of electric motors but also contribute to the overall durability and efficiency of EVs.

South Korea, home to major automotive manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia, has also emerged as a key player in the EV motor material market. The country's focus on technological innovation and sustainable transportation has propelled its position in the global market. South Korean companies are heavily investing in the development of advanced motor materials, such as lightweight alloys and high-performance magnets, to meet the evolving demands of the EV industry.

Apart from China, Japan, and South Korea, other countries in the Asia Pacific region, such as India and Singapore, are also making significant strides in the EV motor material market. These countries are adopting favorable policies and incentives to promote the adoption of EVs, driving the demand for motor materials. Additionally, the presence of a strong manufacturing base and research institutions further strengthens their position in the global market.

China is the leading producer and supplier of Electric Vehicle Motor Material

China's dominance in the production and supply of EV motor materials can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the country has invested heavily in research and development, fostering innovation and technological advancements in the field of electric mobility. This has enabled Chinese manufacturers to develop high-quality motor materials that meet global standards.

Additionally, China boasts a vast reserve of rare earth minerals, which are essential for the production of EV motor materials. Rare earth minerals such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium are crucial components of the magnets used in electric motors. China accounts for a significant portion of the world's rare earth mineral production, giving it a competitive edge in the EV motor material market.

Furthermore, China's robust manufacturing infrastructure and economies of scale have allowed it to establish a strong supply chain for EV motor materials. The country has a well-developed network of raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors, ensuring a steady and reliable flow of motor materials to meet the growing demand both domestically and internationally.

Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market go-to-market strategy

To effectively penetrate the Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market, manufacturers and suppliers should consider forming strategic partnerships with EV motor manufacturers. Collaborating with established players in the market can provide access to their distribution networks, brand recognition, and expertise. These partnerships can also lead to joint product development and mutually beneficial marketing initiatives, ultimately driving sales and market share.

Most comprehensive report on the Global Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market, published by Staticker Business Consulting

Staticker has published the most detailed market research report on Global Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market, covering country-wise market analysis, market trends and business opportunities. Below are the key points covered in the report:

Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market size, industry trend and growth forecast for all major countries

Electric Vehicle Motor Material Market TAM, SAM, SOM and TAM expansion strategy

Business opportunity analysis, key market segments that are attracting the most investments

Coverage on all major product portfolios and revenue streams

Electric Vehicle Motor Material Go-to-Market strategy

Target market selection strategies

Competitive landscape, market share analysis and business positioning





Market revenue and forecast for the period (2024 - 2032), by Region:

North America U.S.A Canada

Europe Germany France Italy Spain UK Sweden Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Indonesia Australia Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America Mexico Brazil

Middle East & Africa





About Staticker Business Consulting

Staticker is a business intelligence firm with clients worldwide. We provide the right knowledge and advisory to business organizations and help them to grow and excel. We specialize in areas such as Digital Transformation, Manufacturing Intelligence, Supply Chain Analysis, Supplier Intelligence, Import-Export Insights, Market Trends and Competitive Intelligence.
Dallas, TX, United States, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRS Real Estate Partners today announced an expansion of its industrial services to Miami with the addition of a veteran three-person team. Wayne Schuchts will lead SRS industrial practice in Florida and is joined by Andrew Lehrer and Michael Palmer. The team will focus on representing owners, tenants, and investors of industrial property throughout Florida.

The addition of this team and the creation of a Miami office will be a game changer in Florida for SRS, said Chris Maguire, SRS Chairman and CEO. We have been looking for the right opportunity to enhance our capabilities in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, and adding this seasoned industrial team will make a significant impact in the state.

This is the second industrial team to join SRS in the last month. In early September the company announced a significant expansion that included new team members in Atlanta and Southern California.

Wayne, Andrew and Michael are a fantastic addition to our industrial team, said Brant Landry, SRS Industrial Managing Principal. They have an extensive track record throughout Florida providing exceptional services for their clients, and they give SRS a strong presence in the state. Wayne and I worked together at the Staubach Company previously and Im looking forward to teaming up with him again.

Schuchts, previously a partner at Avison Young, joins SRS as Managing Principal and brings more than three decades of commercial real estate experience. Specializing in industrial property transactions for institutional investors and corporate users, he has negotiated more than $5 billion and 12 million square feet of transactions, including 60-plus transactions involving properties greater than 100,000 square feet.

The opportunity to partner with Brant again as well as Chris Maguire and the rest of the SRS team to lead the industrial practice in Florida is the perfect fit, said Schuchts. The culture, client-first mindset and high-level professionals at SRS provide the ideal platform to serve best-in-class clients.

Lehrer joins SRS as a Vice President with the industrial team. He was previously with Flagler Global Logistics, the largest industrial developer in Florida. With almost 20 years of commercial real estate experience, Lehrer has been involved in more than $2 billion in transactions and has handled 11 million square feet of institutional product for landlords. His experience includes build-to-suits, master-planned business park leasing, third-party logistics, sale-leasebacks, manufacturing facilities, and cold storage properties. He focuses on tenant and landlord representation, as well as advising developers in South Florida.

Palmer also joins SRS as a Vice President in industrial. He previously worked with Schuchts at Avison Young. Palmer has seven years of commercial real estate experience, specializing in industrial property transactions on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and corporate occupiers. He earned his SIOR designation and CCIM designation in 2018.

SRS Industrial was formed in April 2022 when Managing Principal Brant Landry and a team of industrial specialists joined SRS to help the firm expand on its retail foundation and offer more extensive commercial real estate solutions to tenants, owners and investors.

The SRS Industrial team works directly with retailers, distributors and manufacturing companies to support their evolving needs for industrial space, while also serving more traditional industrial clients through tenant and owner services, capital markets, and development services. The team has logged more than 1,000 transactions totaling $92.8 billion in transaction value.

About SRS Real Estate Partners

Founded in 1986, SRS Real Estate Partners is building upon its retail foundation to provide extensive commercial real estate solutions to tenants, owners, and investors. Headquartered in Dallas, with more than 28 offices in the U.S., SRS has grown into one of the industrys most influential and respected leaders. Our commitment to excellence is strengthened by our Guarantee of Value and our success is measured in the achievement of our clients objectives, satisfaction, and trust. For more information, please visit srsre.com.

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Covina, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geospatial analytics is a field of data analysis that focuses on the use of geographic and location-based data to gain insights, make informed decisions, and solve complex problems. It involves the collection, processing, interpretation, and visualization of geospatial data to understand spatial patterns, relationships, and trends.

The proliferation of geospatial data from sources such as satellites, drones, sensors, and mobile devices is providing an ever-increasing volume of data for analysis. This growing availability of data fuels the demand for Geospatial Analytics Market solutions.

Geospatial Analytics Market: Growth Factors and Dynamics



Here are concise points about the growth factors and dynamics of the geospatial analytics market:

Location-Based Services: Growing demand due to smartphone use, driving the need for geospatial analytics. IoT and Sensor Boom: Increasing deployment of IoT devices and sensors generates vast geospatial data, necessitating analytics. Government Investments: Governments globally are investing in geospatial infrastructure, boosting market growth. Remote Sensing Advancements: Improved technologies like satellites and drones enhance data quality and applications. AI and Cloud Integration: AI and cloud computing are revolutionizing geospatial analytics, making it more efficient and accessible.

Request a Customized Copy of the Geospatial Analytics Market Report

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Report Scope

Feature of the Report Details Projected Market Size in 2032 USD 290.4 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 87.6 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 12.9% CAGR Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2022-2032 Key Segment By Type of Analysis, Technology, Application, End User, and Region Report Coverage Revenue Estimation and Forecast, Company Profile, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Recent Trends Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America Buying Options Request tailored purchasing options to fulfil your requirements for research.

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(A free sample of the Geospatial Analytics report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.)

Our Free Sample Report Consists of the following:

Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2023 updated report.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis is included in the package.

About 220+ Pages Research Report (Including Recent Research)

Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on the Request.

Updated Regional Analysis with a Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2023

Includes Tables and figures have been updated.

The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis

Prophecy Market Insights (PMI) research methodology

(Please note that the sample of the Geospatial Analytics report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.)

Key Highlights 

In October 2022, AcreTrader Launched Acres, a Geospatial Analytics Platform Providing Comprehensive Insights on Land Value. This new software empowers landowners and land professionals with simplified, intuitive and comprehensive data to analyze land value & productivity.

Key questions answered in this report:

What is the current size and growth trajectory of the geospatial analytics market? What are the primary drivers and barriers affecting market growth? Which industries are the major adopters of geospatial analytics, and what are their specific use cases? What role do government initiatives and regulations play in shaping the market? How are advancements in remote sensing and data collection technologies influencing the market? What are the emerging trends in AI and machine learning integration within geospatial analytics?

List of the prominent players in the Geospatial Analytics Market:

Trimble Inc.

Hexagon

Maxar Technologies

Harris Corporation

Bentley Systems Incorporated

General Electric

Maplarge

RMSI

Topcon Corporation

Google LLC.

Geospatial Analytics Market  Regional Analysis

North America: North America boasts a robust presence in the geospatial analytics market, thanks to its advanced technological infrastructure and early adoption trends. The United States stands as a major contributor, utilizing geospatial analytics across diverse sectors, including defense, agriculture, and urban planning.

North America boasts a robust presence in the geospatial analytics market, thanks to its advanced technological infrastructure and early adoption trends. The United States stands as a major contributor, utilizing geospatial analytics across diverse sectors, including defense, agriculture, and urban planning. Europe: Europe holds a prominent position in the geospatial analytics landscape, driven by the widespread application of these technologies in areas such as transportation and disaster management. Notable contributors within the continent include the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, each making substantial investments in satellite technologies and smart city initiatives. Europe's commitment to geospatial analytics continues to shape its position in the global market.

Europe holds a prominent position in the geospatial analytics landscape, driven by the widespread application of these technologies in areas such as transportation and disaster management. Notable contributors within the continent include the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, each making substantial investments in satellite technologies and smart city initiatives. Europe's commitment to geospatial analytics continues to shape its position in the global market. Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing dynamic and rapid growth in the geospatial analytics sector. This momentum is primarily propelled by emerging economic powerhouses like India and China, which are increasingly leveraging geospatial analytics in a wide array of applications. These applications span precision agriculture, infrastructure development, and disaster response.

Analyst View 

The demand for smart city solutions is being driven by the rising urbanization of the world's population. Urban landscapes may be designed and managed with more efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life thanks to geospatial analytics. Demand for geospatial analytics is growing as environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation become more of a priority in fields including land use planning, resource management, and environmental factor monitoring.

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Irvine, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UnitedAg, the leading employer sponsored health plan for agriculture, is pleased to announce the appointment of Satish Kurian, as its new Chief Digital and Technology Officer. In this pivotal role, Satish will drive UnitedAg's digital transformation and technology innovation strategies.

With a proven track record in the healthcare industry, Satish Kurian brings more than 24 years of experience in spearheading digital initiatives and leading technology-driven transformations. His visionary leadership and strategic acumen will be instrumental in positioning UnitedAg as a leader in the rapidly evolving digital healthcare landscape.

Satish's responsibilities will include:

Digital Transformation: Leading UnitedAg's digital transformation journey by identifying opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and member experience through the adoption of cutting-edge digital healthcare technologies. Innovation: Fostering a culture of innovation within UnitedAg by leveraging emerging technologies and industry best practices to develop new products, services, and solutions that directly benefit the association's members and their families. Technology Strategy: Formulating and executing a comprehensive technology strategy that aligsn with UnitedAg's overall mission and objectives, ensuring scalability and security. Team Leadership: Building and nurturing a high-performing digital and technology team to drive innovation and deliver strategic objectives. Collaborations: Forging strategic partnerships and collaborations with technology vendors, agricultural stakeholders, and industry organizations to stay at the forefront of technological healthcare advancements.

Kirti Mutatkar, CEO of UnitedAg, commented on the appointment, saying, "We are delighted to welcome Satish Kurian to the team. His deep expertise and visionary leadership will play a crucial role in shapping our healthcare digital future and driving our technology strategy forward for the betterment of our members and their families."

Satish Kurian expressed his excitement about joining UnitedAg, stating, "I am thrilled to be a part of UnitedAg's mission to empower agricultural communities through healthcare technology and innovation. Together, we will leverage the power of digital healthcare transformation to enhance the lives of our members and their families."

To learn more about UnitedAg's leadership team, please visit www.unitedag.org.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.

About UnitedAg

UnitedAg represents more than 1,000 agriculture-affiliated member companies and helps its members meet their employee benefits needs, promotes their interests with lawmakers, helps them comply with health legislation and regulation. Based in Irvine, Calif., UnitedAg has offices in Irvine, Salinas, and wellness centers throughout the Central Valley and Northern California. UnitedAg offers health benefits and services to over 55,000 agricultural workers in California and Arizona.

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Washington, D.C., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Biden Administrations Department of Education has begun illegally wiping out $39 billion of student loan debt owed by more than 800,000 people under the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) program by crediting non-payments during periods of forbearance as monthly payments via a One-Time Account Adjustment. Today, the New Civil Liberties Alliance filed an opening brief for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the Cato Institute, calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to stop this scheme that disregards federal law, the Constitution, and the United States Supreme Court.

Moving on an accelerated schedule to deter court review, the Department of Education announced the unlawful plan in July before the ink was dry on the Supreme Court opinion striking down its old $430 billion student loan debt cancellation plan. The Administrations new policy counts certain non-payment periods as monthly payments needed to qualify for loan-forgiveness programs. Doing so results in cancellation of debt for borrowers who have not yet satisfied mandatory statutory conditions for forgiveness. In addition to the $39 billion cancellation, the new plan would cancel even more debt at taxpayer expense for at least another 2.8 million borrowers in the future, an action the Department has no lawful authority to take.

NCLA argues that the Department of Educations decree violates the Constitutions Appropriations Clause, which grants Congress exclusive authority to expend taxpayer funds to pay for debt cancellation. The cancellation further violates loan-forgiveness statutes that require participating borrowers to make a specific number of monthly payments before having their loans forgiven. Additionally, instead of promulgating the plan through the required notice-and-comment and negotiated rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Department simply issued a press release announcing its wishes that did not bother to identify any laws to justify the plan.

Cancelling borrowers debt through this scheme erases their incentive to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program by completing ten full years of work for qualified non-profit employers while making monthly payments. The Administrations substitute plan thus directly harms non-profit organizations that benefit from PSLF like the Mackinac Center and Cato and undermines Congresss goals in enacting the PSLF program. In August, a district court rejected this standing argument in Mackinac Center for Public Policy and Cato Institute v. Cardona, an error the Sixth Circuit should correct. NCLA made similar standing arguments in its successful Biden v. Nebraska amicus curiae brief, in a mooted federal lawsuit with the Cato Institute against the previous debt cancellation plan, and in an ongoing Mackinac Center suit challenging the Departments repeated student loan payment suspensions. We believe this theory of standing should and will ultimately prevail.

On October 4, President Biden announced an additional $9 billion in student loan debt cancellation, including $5.2 billion for PSLF borrowers and $2.8 billion for IDR borrowers. The announcement did not explain what legal authority it was using to accomplish such cancellation, but instead characterized the new policy as fixes made to IDR and PSLF, which suggests that this latest round of cancellations is part of the One-Time Account Adjustment. Hence, preventing further unconstitutional debt erasure is more pressing than ever.

NCLA released the following statements:

The Supreme Court has declared unlawful the Administrations $430 billion student loan program to cancel student loan debt by administrative fiat without involving Congress. Yet, the Administration is still pursuing a series of similarly unlawful loan cancellations by administrative fiat that, taken together, will cost even more than the program the Supreme Court halted. These unlawful giveaways to the Administrations favored constituency are utterly illegal because only Congress can expend funds to pay for debt cancellation.

 Sheng Li, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

It was bad enough for the Administration to pursue unlawful debt cancellation before the Supreme Court held its plan illegal. Now that the Court has ruled, continuing the extreme scheme is constitutionally repugnant. The Administration aims to cancel student loan debtno matter how unlawful its actionson the apparent theory that courts cannot move fast enough to stop it or else will decide no one has standing to oppose its will. Still, non-payments are not payments. Lawless rule by executive decree to the contrary is a dangerous game that makes a mockery of representative democracy and self-government. Statutes passed by Congress bar this conduct. Supreme Court precedent now prohibits it. Yet the President is ignoring both. The Department of Educations ongoing campaign to cancel billions of dollars of student loans by rewriting statutes is disgraceful and despotic.

 Mark Chenoweth, President and General Counsel, NCLA

For more information visit the case 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.

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Los Angeles, California, USA, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nursing homes that use a chlorhexidine bathing routine to clean the skin, and an over-the-counter antiseptic to clean the nose, prevent serious infections and reduce the amount of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the nursing home setting, according to the findings of researchers at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the University of California, Irvine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The cleansing protocol, called universal decolonization, substantially reduced the number of nursing home residents requiring hospitalization due to infection, said lead author and Lundquist Investigator, Loren Miller, MD, MPH. Dr. Miller is the Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California.

The study, Nursing Home Decolonization for Infection and Hospitalization Prevention, involved nearly 14,000 residents at 28 California nursing homes in Orange and Los Angeles counties and was funded by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Robert Otto Valdez, PhD, MHSA, director of AHRQ, said that for an older person having an infection and needing to be transferred to the hospital for care can be life-threatening. Now nursing homes have another tool to help them prevent infections, reduce transfers, and keep our older adults safe.

On any given day, more than 1 million people live in the nations 15,000 nursing homes. Each year, 3 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), bloodstream and urinary tract infections occur in U.S. nursing homes. Residents are at high risk for these infections due to age, wounds, medical devices, and complex illnesses.

MRSA and other pathogens can live on a persons skin and in their nose without making them sick. Proactively removing the potentially harmful bacteria can reduce the chances of developing an infection or spreading it to others.

During the 18-month study, Dr. Miller and his team compared 14 nursing facilities using standard bathing routines with 14 facilities using the antiseptic soap chlorhexidine and nasal swabs with povidone-iodine (iodophor) to remove pathogens from residents skin and nose.

Both antiseptic products have been used in healthcare for more than 60 years.

The nursing homes following the decolonization protocol saw a significant reduction in the overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms, including MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and other resistant bacteria. No change in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms was detected in residents of nursing homes that used routine bathing.



CDC is excited to see the results of a nursing home-focused infection prevention intervention being published. Given the growing concern of harm from antimicrobial-resistant germs in nursing homes, the impact of this decolonization bathing program is quite important and provides a concrete action that facilities can use to protect nursing home residents, said Nimalie Stone, MD, senior advisor for long-term care in CDCs Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, and technical advisory panel member for the trial.

In the routine bathing nursing homes, an average of six residents were hospitalized for infection each month per 100 occupied beds. In contrast, nursing homes using the enhanced bathing routine had two fewer residents hospitalized for infection per month per 100 occupied beds. The decolonization routine didnt need to be perfect to prevent infection and hospitalization: 87% used the antiseptic soap as intended; 67% used the iodine-based nasal swab as intended.

Our findings suggest that changing to an antiseptic soap and cleaning the nose with iodophor is a highly effective way to prevent dangerous infections in nursing homes, said Miller. Compared to other healthcare strategies, this is a relatively simple win for nursing homes. We hope nursing homes will want to adopt it.

Dr. Millers team worked in tandem with the team of Dr. Susan Huang at University of California, Irvine (UCI) to conduct this clinical trial. Dr. Huang is a leader in the field of infection prevention and the medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention for UCI Health and the Chancellors Professor of Infectious Diseases at UCI School of Medicine.

Dr. Miller is a nationally recognized expert treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infection. The findings add to a growing body of Dr. Millers research that has been funded by NIH, AHRQ, and other federal sources.

Attachment
MONTREAL, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received an Environmental Assessment ("EA") Certificate for the Company's 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project ("Cariboo" or the "Project") located in central British Columbia ("BC"), Canada.

The EA Certificate was granted by the Environmental Assessment Office of the Province of British Columbia ("EAO") and is supported by approval decisions from The Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and The Honourable Josie Osbourne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. Receipt of the EA Certificate successfully concludes the EA process for the Project, which was launched in October 2019 (see Figure 1).

Sean Roosen, Chairman and CEO, commented, "We are proud to be the first project, mining or otherwise, in BC to receive an EA Certificate under the new streamlined EA framework of the Environmental Assessment Act, 2018, and we commend the EAO and the Government of BC for establishing this robust regulatory framework. Receipt of the EA certificate marks a major, positive milestone for the Cariboo Gold Project. We continue to be encouraged by the steady progress made to de-risk the Project, bringing it closer to shovel ready status. As we all know, development projects fall into two buckets  those with permits and those without permits  and we are keen to unlock significant value at the Cariboo Gold Project as we move along that path. I would like to thank our team for their dedication and tireless efforts in shepherding the Project through this rigorous EA process that started in 2019. Together with our partners and stakeholders, we remain committed to developing a modern, safe and sustainable operation that benefits all."

Lhtako Dene Nation Chief and Council remarked, "We are extremely proud of the relationship fostered with Osisko Development on the Cariboo Gold Project over the past several years. This relationship has been reciprocal from day one, and Lhtako Chief and Council look forward to many more years of partnership and collaboration. Recently, Lhtako and Osisko engaged in the EA process for the Company's Cariboo Gold Project. Environmental risks, as well as wildlife concerns, are top priorities for both Osisko Development and the Lhtako Dene Nation. With the EA process now complete, we are quite confident that all of our areas of concern have been addressed and mitigated throughout this process."

Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake First Nation ("WLFN") noted, "This decision reflects the importance of meaningful collaboration between industry and Indigenous communities. This is a significant milestone in advancing sustainable mining practices within our traditional territory, particularly the QR Mill Site near Likely, BC. WLFN remains committed to monitoring the Project's progress to ensure it upholds the highest environmental and cultural standards. We look forward to continuing our positive partnership with Osisko Development."

Chief Rhonda Phillips of the Xatsull First Nation added, "Xatsull First Nation would like to congratulate the success of Osisko Development in being awarded approval for the Cariboo Gold Mine Project. We acknowledge the hard work, dedication and collaboration that went into getting the Project to this point. Working together to ensure resource development projects meet environmental sustainability targets and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of our communities is a high priority for Xatsull First Nation. We look forward to continuing work with Osisko and other stakeholders to advance this Project."

The EA Certificate is the first step in the permitting process of the Cariboo Gold Project. As previously disclosed on May 8, 2023, the Company announced the signing of two landmark permitting agreements  the Process Charter and the Joint Information Requirements Table  which establish a defined regulatory process timeline and outline all agreed upon information requirements to support a robust permit application for submission.

A Joint Permit Application for the BC Mines Act / Environmental Management Act is in process. The Company anticipates receiving the permits in Q1 2024.

Figure 1: Cariboo Gold Project  Permitting Timeline Summary





Cariboo Gold Project

The Cariboo Gold Project is an advanced stage gold project 100%-owned by the Company located in the historic Wells-Barkerville mining camp, in the District of Wells, central BC, Canada, that extends for approximately 77 kilometres from northwest to southeast. The Company's total land package consists of 415 mineral titles and covers an area of approximately 1,920 km2. As of December 30, 2022, the Project's probable reserves totalled 16.70 million tonnes ("Mt") grading 3.78 g/t gold for 2.031 million ounces ("Moz"), measured resources totalled 0.05 Mt grading 5.06 g/t gold for 0.008 Moz, indicated resources totalled 14.64 Mt grading 3.32 g/t gold for 1.564 Moz, and inferred resources totalled 15.47 Mt grading 3.44 g/t gold for 1.712 Moz.

The Company completed a Feasibility Study in January 2023 supported by the technical report titled "Feasibility Study for the Cariboo Gold Project, District of Well, British Columbia, Canada", dated January 10, 2023 (amended January 12, 2023) with an effective date of December 30, 2022) ("Cariboo Technical Report"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Cariboo Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile.

For further information on the Cariboo Gold Project, please visit the Osisko Development corporate website at www.osiskodev.com and the Cariboo project website at www.cariboogold.com.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Francois Vezina, ing., P.Eng., MBA, Senior Vice President, Project Development, Technical Services and Environment, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101.

About Osisko Development Corp.

Osisko Development Corp. is a premier North American gold development company focused on high-quality past-producing properties located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company's project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, please contact Osisko Development Corp.:

Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Director, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644



CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forwardlooking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forwardlooking statements. Information contained in forwardlooking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the expected permitting timeline and summary (if at all); the ability of the Project to receive permit; the value that would be created assuming the Project were to receive permits; positive future relationships with Lhtako Dene Nation, Xatsull First Nation and Williams Lake First Nation; the framework for regulatory process and timeline being adhered to; the results in the Cariboo Technical Report; the capital resources available to Osisko Development; the ability of the Company to execute its planned activities, including as a result of its ability to seek additional funding or to reduce planned expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing and the terms of such financing; management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; the timing and status of permitting; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability to generate additional drill targets; the ability of management to understand the geology and potential of the Company's properties; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the ability of the Company to complete its exploration objectives for its projects in 2023 in the timing contemplated (if at all); the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the Cariboo project design and ability and timing to complete infrastructure at Cariboo (if at all); the ability and timing for Cariboo to reach commercial production (if at all); the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain further capital on reasonable terms; the profitability (if at all) of the Company's operations; the Company being a well-positioned gold development company in Canada, USA and Mexico; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company's properties; as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Material assumptions also include, management's perceptions of historical trends, the ability of exploration (including drilling) to accurately predict mineralization, budget constraints and access to capital on terms acceptable to the Company, current conditions and expected future developments, regulatory framework remaining defined and understood, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions and the Company's ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company's properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability to expand operations or complete further exploration activities; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022 as well as the financial statements and MD&A which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the SEC's EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors applicable to the exploration results. Although the Company's believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company 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 law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2042e204-0cb5-4994-a6b9-bb6669f95696
Fort Lupton, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Lupton, Colorado -

Silverline Structures, based in the US, is pleased to reveal a series of stylish metal designs for barns and other structures. The company additionally gives clients the ability to create custom designs with virtually no upfront investment, allowing them to visualize what their next upgrade would look like once complete.

The company is capable of deploying metal structures in a variety of styles, including carports, garages, RV covers, combo units and even buildings intended for a range of commercial purposes. These structures are built from 16-10 ga galvanized steel and 29-24 ga sheet metal, and the same is true for every barn style metal building the company crafts for its clients. The combination of large-scale manufacturing capability and choice of materials (metal) means the company can offer robust, practical and enduring structures at a much lower cost than current alternatives.

A selection of standard designs are available for clients to browse through, though the company encourages everyone to think of these options as starting points if need be. In many cases, a client may be entirely pleased to order the Deluxe Metal Horse Barn, Large Horse Barn, Multi-Barn Garage and so on. However, others may find that these structures would do better on their property if they had other features, such as extra room for vehicles, functional garage doors and more.

Many options are available, Silverline Structures assures, and clients are welcome to use the companys official 3D Builder (available via the companys official website) to drag and drop modules as they see fit. Should a client require a custom tack room, custom stall openings, additional storage space and more, they may add these features in the Builder. Instant pricing may also be obtained through this process.

Notably, this option is also available to those who remain unsure whether they are ready to move forward. Each design can be saved and then revisited at a later time. Silverline Structures says clients have the freedom to take as long as they desire in the design stage, especially considering that construction itself often takes no more than a few hours (depending on the structure and scale in question). Once they are satisfied with their design, an order can be placed with Silverline Structures, and their metal structure will be readied for delivery and construction.

I cant tell you how impressed I am with my building and the speed in which I received it, comments Tina A., a client from Colorado who witnessed the efficiency of Silverline Structures services firsthand. She attests that there were, Only seven days from the time I ordered it until it was here being erected. In total, it took the team only eight hours to have it completed. They were efficient and very conscientious, paying attention to small details, in getting things lined up right.

Silverline Structures believes strongly in precision, and this principle is evident throughout the companys services. To begin with, each of the metal structures the team constructs will meet the precise specifications requested by a client, a point of pride they say they will never budge on because these specifications often have to abide by local building codes and other unavoidable requirements (in addition to the clients preferences).

This precision is accompanied by a strong focus on customer support, such as the company's willingness to offer the aid of building design experts to clients who are not certain of what their situation calls for. While it is true that the in-browser 3D Builder is designed to be as accessible and user-friendly as possible, Silverline Structures nonetheless offers expert guidance to anyone who wants a professional opinion prior to confirming an order. This guidance is also available to anyone who prefers to have assistance designing from scratch for a niche purpose.

Silverline Structures network of steel fabrication facilities stretches across the US, allowing them to deliver to clients virtually anywhere in the country. The company encourages clients to reach out to the team directly over the phone or through email to discuss any other concerns. Similarly, Silverline Structures can be reached via social media.

Recent News: Silverline Structures Offers Modern Metal Designs for Barns and Other Kinds of Buildings

###

For more information about Silverline Structures, contact the company here:



Silverline Structures

3035516988

sales@silverlinesstructures.com
Vancouver, October 10, 2023 - Recharge Resources Ltd. ("Recharge" or the "Company") (CSE:RR) (OTC:RECHF) (Frankfurt:SL5) is pleased to report that the Ekosolve Pilot Plant has produced Lithium Chloride salt ("LiCl") to a purity of over 99% processed from brines sampled from the company's 2022 drill program at the Pocitos 1 Lithium Brine Project located near Pocitos township in Salta Province, Argentina.

Testing of efficiency for separating and purifying lithium and the removal of cations was conducted, with boron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium extracted to the solvents and sodium stripped into the brine. As previously announced Ekosolve Lithium Solvent Exchange Extraction process has been able to extract 94.9% of the lithium ("Li") from the brines provided from the company's 2022 DDH3 drill program.

The brines were processed at the Ekosolve pilot plant using the Ekosolve? 10 stage extraction, washing and stripping process to produce lithium chloride, as contemplated as an end product under the offtake LOI between Recharge and Richlink Capital Pty Ltd. ("Richlink") and its client to provide between 10,000-20,000 tonnes of LiCl per year (the "Proposed Supply Transaction").

This study and process was a pre-engineering step for Ekosolve Extraction performance in consideration for full sized plant scale-up of 10,000-20,000 tonner per year Ekosolve Lithium Brine Extraction plant implementation at the Pocitos project, under the company's technology licensing agreement announced on September 27th, 2022.

Figure 1. Dr April Li conducting tests at Ekosolve Pilot Plant at University of Melbourne - Melbourne, Australia



The next step is to further process the lithium chloride to produce and test lithium carbonate from the Pocitos brines.

Learn more about the Ekosolve process on Recharge's website here https://recharge-resources.com/technology/

CEO David Greenway commented, We are delighted with the Ekosolve pilot plant test results, showcasing the project's potential viability with an impressive 94.9% brine recovery and the successful production of Lithium Chloride with Lithium Carbonate processing on the horizon. The company eagerly anticipates the inaugural NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate, currently under development by WSP Australia, underscoring the exciting times ahead for Recharge, the Pocitos 1 project, and its stakeholders."

Ekosolve pre-engineering studies have previously shown that providing brine flow is in excess of 35,000 megalitres per year, with 110ppm LI content and above have been deemed economic. Recharge successfully completed a 2022 drill campaign at Pocitos 1 assaying 169 PPM Li and over a two-week period averaging 161 PPM Li All three drill holes at Pocitos to date have had exceptional brine flow rates.

Fig 2. Dec, 2022 Drilling at Pocitos 1 Fig 3. 2018 Drilling at Pocitos 1 Fig 4. 2018 Drilling at Pocitos 1

The Ekosolve? Lithium Solvent Exchange Extraction process can efficiently manage the processing of the brines to produce lithium carbonate with a grade higher than 99.5% and a recovery of 96%, far exceeding any ion exchange or adsorption process available to date. Ekosolve? is licensed by the University of Melbourne, Australia to Ekosolve Limited, an unlisted public company.

About Pocitos Lithium Brine Project

The Pocitos Project is located approximately 10 km from the township of Pocitos where there is gas, electricity, and internet services. Pocitos (1 & 2) is approximately 1,352 hectares and is accessible by road. Collective exploration totaling over USD $2.0 million developing the project, including surface sampling, trenching, TEM and MT geophysics and three DDH holes that resulted in outstanding brine flow results. Locations for immediate follow up drilling have already been designed and permits are in place pending submission of final details.

Lithium values of up to 169 ppm Li from laboratory analysis conducted by Alex Stewart were recorded during the project's drill campaigns as recent as December 2022. A double packer sampling system in HQ Diamond drill holes were drilled to a depth of 409 metres. The flow of brine was observed to continue for more than five hours. All holes had exceptional brine flow rates.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 5. Pocitos Lithium Claim Map

Qualified Person

Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol, MBusM, FAusIMM, MAIG, MAIMVA, (CMV), a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 regulations, has reviewed the technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release, and has approved the disclosure herein. Panopus Pte Ltd owns 50% of Ekosolve Limited and Phillip Thomas owns 100% of Panopus Pte Ltd.

Mr. Thomas is independent of the Company and is NOT a shareholder of Recharge Resources. Thomas visited the property to view the core and drilling between January 15th-22nd, 2023 and 8-10 May 2023 to determine if additional flow tests could be arranged.

About Recharge Resources

Recharge Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring and developing the production of high-value battery metals to create green, renewable energy to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle market.

All Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"David Greenway"

David Greenway, CEO

For further information, please contact:

Recharge Resources Ltd.

Joel Warawa

Phone: 778-588-5473

E-Mail: info@recharge-resources.com

Website: recharge-resources.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange 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.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding Recharge's intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Recharge will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including Recharge's results of exploration or review of properties that Recharge does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Recharge assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
SUDBURY, Oct. 10, 2023 - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel"), is pleased to announce the completion of the Phase 1 and 2 drill programs at the West Graham Nickel-Copper Project ("West Graham"), located in the world-class Nickel-Copper mining district of Sudbury, Ontario. The completion of this drill program marks a key milestone in SPC Nickel's development plans for West Graham and an important step towards the completion of a new resource estimate by the end of 2023.

Highlights:

Sixty-seven drill holes completed totaling 14,180 metres. Phase 1 included 5,338 metres in twenty-seven holes while Phase 2 comprised 8,842 metres in forty holes.

100% of the holes encountered mineralization of which over 75% of the drill holes reported mineralized intersections equal to or better than the historical West Graham indicated resource.

Excellent grade and thickness continuity between holes in the mineralized zone.

Semi-massive and massive sulphide intersected in holes WG-23-026 and WG-23-042 represent the highest-grade intersections so far reported at West Graham.

- WG-23-026: 7.90m @ 2.48% Ni and 0.64% Cu

- WG-23-042: 20.2m @ 1.71% Ni, 0.46% Cu

- WG-23-026: 7.90m @ 2.48% Ni and 0.64% Cu - WG-23-042: 20.2m @ 1.71% Ni, 0.46% Cu Assay results from the first forty-four holes from Phase 1 and 2 drilling have been received and reported.

Over 1,600 samples from the remaining twenty-three holes have been submitted to ALS labs with results pending.

Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "We are excited to have successfully completed Phase 2 of our maiden drill program at West Graham. The drill program has accomplished all of the initial goals we set out, namely to: a) confirm the extension of the historic West Graham mineral resource across the Crean Hill 3 Property currently under option from Vale Canada, b) to test the property for zones of higher-grade mineralization, that was accomplished with the intersections reported in WG-23-026 and WG-23-042 and c) to connect the known surface mineralization with the subsurface mineral resource. We're looking forward to announcing additional drilling results and remain on track to complete a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for the Project by the end of 2023."

For detailed sections across the West Graham Property, please click on West Graham Sections.

Highlighted Drill Assay Results

Table 1: Highlighted drill results from the Phase 1 and 2 programs.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)1 Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Estimated True

Width % WG-23-025 42.00 65.00 23.00 0.72 0.42 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.03 2.73 90 WG-23-026 170.00 177.90 7.90 2.48 0.64 0.08 0.15 0.04 0.02 1.82 35 WG-23-028 89.00 110.00 21.00 0.72 0.18 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.75 30 WG-23-037 174.00 188.65 14.65 0.81 0.51 0.02 0.14 0.04 0.05 2.61 50 WG-23-042 286.00 306.00 20.00 1.71 0.46 0.05 0.17 0.06 0.06 2.61 75 WG-23-044 362.35 375.40 13.05 0.74 0.81 0.02 0.22 0.05 0.10 4.84 45 WG-23-047 245.00 263.00 18.00 1.27 0.47 0.04 0.20 0.05 0.04 2.16 80 WG-23-048 216.00 230.00 14.00 0.76 0.60 0.02 0.14 0.06 0.05 3.03 85 WG-23-052 184.60 208.00 23.40 0.78 0.35 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.02 1.63 60 WG-23-062 6.50 19.00 12.50 1.07 0.44 0.04 0.08 0.03 0.04 2.20 90

Notes: 1. Length refers to downhole length. Estimated True Width is expressed as a percentage of downhole length.

West Graham Project - A Transformational Opportunity

On January 23, 2023, SPC Nickel announced the signing of an Agreement with Vale Canada ("Vale") granting SPC Nickel the right to earn an 100% interest in Vale's Crean Hill 3 Property that is located adjacent to SPC Nickel's West Graham Property.

As an advanced project, the combination of the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 assets represent a transformational opportunity for SPC Nickel. The historical mineral resources on these properties form one contiguous near-surface deposit and consists of the following: Crean Hill 3 hosts a historical mineral estimate of 16.78Mt @ 0.43% Ni and 0.30% Cu 1 . West Graham hosts a historical indicated mineral resource of 8.55Mt @ 0.45% Ni, 0.31% Cu along with an inferred mineral resource of 2.0Mt @ 0.38% Ni, 0.30% Cu 2 .



The West Graham Project is located in the heart of the Sudbury Mining District where nine mines are currently in operation and two more are in the development phase. The region benefits from its proximity to well-developed transportation infrastructure including roads, railways, and electrical grid. In addition, West Graham is situated close to processing, smelting and refining assets which include two mills, two smelters and one nickel refinery. Local operators include global mining corporations Vale, Glencore and KGHM.

SPC Nickel considers the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 resource estimates to be historical mineral estimates for purposes of NI 43-101. Neither the Company nor a qualified person on behalf of SPC Nickel have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and SPC Nickel is not treating such historical estimates as current mineral resources. SPC Nickel considers the historic mineral estimates to be relevant to an understanding of the Project but has not done any work to validate the estimates.

Reference

Van Wiechen, A.G (1990): December 31, 1989 Mineral Resource Inventory table in: The Exploration Potential for Sulphide Mineralization in the Crean Hill - Ellen - Crean Hill No.3 Environment, Internal Inco Report, December 13, 1990. Routledge, Richard and Churchill, Bruce (2009): Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario, Canada prepared for First Nickel Inc., January 15, 2009. Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates .

Investor Relations Engagement

SPC Nickel also announces that it has entered into a contract with William Stormont to act as an investor relations representative for the Company. Under the contract, SPC Nickel will pay Mr. Stormont $8,000 per month (based on six-month contract) as consideration for his services. SPC Nickel has had no prior relationship with Mr. Stormont and Mr. Stormont does currently not own or control, directly or indirectly, any securities of SPC Nickel. The arrangement with Mr. Stormont is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About SPC Nickel Corp.

SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the West Graham Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. SPC Nickel also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com.

Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons

The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

SPC Nickel follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium, and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-AES finish. Silver values were determined using an aqua regia digestion and an AAS finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.

SOURCE SPC Nickel Corp.
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2023 - Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd. (TSX: WM, OTCQX: WLBMF) ("Wallbridge" or the "Company") today announced that Marz Kord is retiring from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and director, effective immediately. Mr. Kord will remain employed until December 31, 2023 to support the management team through the management transition. In addition, Parviz Farsangi has decided to retire from the Board of Directors (the "Board"). Both Mr. Kord and Mr. Farsangi will continue as Advisors to the Company and the Board.

Brian Penny, the Company's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), will assume the role of interim CEO and joins the Board as a director. Mary Montgomery will assume the role of interim CFO. Both appointments are effective immediately.

Mr. Penny has over 30 years of mining industry experience in financial management, strategic planning, and financial reporting. Prior to joining the Company as CFO in 2018, Mr. Penny held senior positions such as Executive Vice President and CFO of New Gold Inc. and Vice President of Finance and CFO of Kinross Gold Corporation. Most recently, Mr. Penny served as a director of Maverix Metals Inc. (2019 to 2023). In addition, he has also served as a member of the Board of Equinox Minerals Limited (2004 to 2011), Alamos Gold Inc. (2005 to 2008); and Baffinland Iron Mines Limited (2004 to 2008). Mr. Penny obtained his Diploma in Business-Accounting and Finance from Cambrian College and is a CPA, CMA.

Anthony Makuch, Chair of the Board, stated, "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank both Marz and Parviz for their hard work and long-standing service to Wallbridge. Both individuals have been involved in the advancement of the Company's flagship Fenelon Gold ("Fenelon") project, and their industry experience was instrumental in the completion of the Fenelon Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in June 2023. Marz spearheaded the development and mining of the Sudbury Ni/Cu/PGE Broken Hammer project. His business acumen led the Company to the Fenelon gold project and subsequent acquisition of Balmoral Resources which significantly expanded Wallbridge's land holdings from 10.5 km2 to 830 km2 along the Detour Gold Trend within the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt. We wish them both well in their future endeavours."

"With over 30 years of varied experience in the mining industry, we believe that Brian will provide a seamless transition and is the ideal candidate to assume the interim CEO role. We have been working with Brian as the CFO since 2018, and the Board and I are very confident that Brian will successfully lead the Company as we continue to explore our very large and highly-prospective land position in northwestern Quebec and advance Fenelon," added Mr. Makuch.

Brian Penny stated, "I am excited to take on the role as interim CEO at Wallbridge. I am proud of the Wallbridge team, the relationships that have been established with our local First Nations communities and the work that has been accomplished to date. In addition to our two gold deposits at Fenelon and Martiniere, we control over 90 kilometers of strike length along the Detour-Fenelon gold trend in Quebec and look forward to advancing our projects in this world class mining jurisdiction."

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend while respecting the environment and communities where it operates.

Wallbridge's flagship project, Fenelon Gold ("Fenelon"), is located on the highly prospective Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property in Quebec's Northern Abitibi region. An updated mineral resource estimate completed in January 2023 yielded significantly improved grades and additional ounces at the 100%-owned Fenelon and Martiniere projects, incorporating a combined 3.05 million ounces of indicated gold resources and 2.35 million ounces of inferred gold resources. Fenelon and Martiniere are located within an 830 km2 exploration land package controlled by Wallbridge. In addition, Wallbridge believes that the extensive land package is extremely prospective for the discovery of additional gold deposits.

Wallbridge has reported a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its 100%-owned Fenelon gold Project with an estimated average annual gold production of 212,000 ounces over 12.3 years (see Wallbridge press release of June 26, 2023).

Wallbridge also holds a 19.9% interest in the common shares of Archer Exploration Corp. ("Archer") as a result of the sale of the Company's portfolio of nickel assets in Ontario and Quebec in November of 2022.

Wallbridge will continue to focus on its core Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property while enabling shareholders to participate in the potential economic upside in Archer.

For further information please visit the Company's website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact:

Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd.

Brian Penny, CPA, CMA

Interim CEO

Tel: (705) 682?9297 ext. 251

Email: bpenny@wallbridgemining.com

Victoria Vargas, B.Sc. (Hon.) Economics, MBA

Capital Markets Advisor

Email: vvargas@wallbridgemining.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this document.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as "seeks", "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "continues", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "predicts", "proposes", "potential", "targets" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "should" or "might", "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved."

FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: statements regarding the leadership changes; the future prospects of Wallbridge; statements regarding the results of the Fenelon preliminary economic assessment; the potential future performance of Archer common shares; future drill results; the Company's ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; parameters and methods used to estimate the MREs at the Fenelon Gold (defined below) and Martiniere (defined below) properties (collectively the "Deposits"); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand management's current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Company's financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; and failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Notes to United States Investors

Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources 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.
ROUYN-NORANDA, QC, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Comet Lithium Corp. (TSXV: CLIC) (FRANKFURT: 8QY) ("Comet Lithium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the drilling permit that was submitted on Sept 20, 2023. The Company also announces that it has received the results of the LIDAR survey and now has approval to begin the inaugural heliborne drill program on its 100%-owned Liberty property located in James Bay, Quebec.

The Liberty property is located adjacent to Winsome Resources Adina Lithium project where Winsome has recently discovered a 1.6 kilometres lithium bearing pegmatite system trending eastward (see Winsome news dated January 24, 2023). Comet Lithium wants to highlight a possible structural connection between the Winsome Adina project and the Liberty property.

Comet Lithium is actively following the activities on the neighbouring Winsome Resource's Adina project. According to a drilling update on September 4, 2023, Winsome had reported a position for DDH AD-23-045 collared approximately 700 metres west of the Liberty property limit. The Lithium results that Winsome released included 1.26% LiO2 over 15 metres from 47.4 to 62.4 metres. (ASX: WR1 Winsome Resources announcement 3rd April 2023).

LiDAR SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS:

The LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey was produced by XEOS Aerial Imagery and Lidar Services September 12, 2023. The objective was to obtain a ground image that ignores the vegetation masking effect to facilitate the interpretation of structures possibly related to pegmatite emplacement.

The point cloud survey generated a point density of 0.45 metre at ground level, the final resolution produced after the treatment is 0.5 metre. This data is consistent but not referred at altitude due to lack of ground surveying. Resulting files used included different classification to differentiate water surface, ground, hard ground, low vegetation and canopy. The survey showed the smooth modeling of the glacial sediment blanket in most areas of the property. These details reinforce the preliminary structural interpretation built from satellite imagery and magnetic survey.

The southern half of the survey was done over the Trieste Formation, which is composed mainly of amphibolitized volcanic rocks. Clear east-west magnetic contrast following unit's orientation is cut by north-east breaks apparent on the Lidar model. Based on field observations, the proximity of this topographical feature is also the focus of different episodes of pegmatite veining and late tectonic granitic intrusion hosted in amphibolite*.

* Geological terms such are granite or pegmatite are not evidence of spodumene, the main lithium silicate in rocks.

Both the magnetic and LIDAR surveys identified a well-defined magnetic contrast with a surface expression in the northern half of the property, extending for approximately 6.5 km. It is noticeable that the trend's orientation connects to the west with the Adina pegmatite system. The area is entirely covered by glacial glaciofluvial sediments.

Mr. Mansoor Jan, Comet Lithium's Interim CEO and President, stated: "We are pleased to achieve two important milestones to assist in the planning and execution of Comet Lithium's inaugural drilling program at our Liberty property. We are confident that the interpretation work completed so far is allowing us to better understand the continuity of pegmatites and structural orientation inside the Liberty property."

Qualified Person

Martin Demers, P. Geo (ogq #770, APEGNB L5980, PGO #3785), registered in the Provinces of Quebec, New-Brunswick, and Ontario a consultant to Comet Lithium, is a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.

Comet Lithium is a dynamic lithium-focused exploration company active in the prolific James Bay District of Quebec. Comet Lithium's flagship asset is its 100%-owned Liberty Property contiguous to Winsome Resources' Adina deposit, a growing high-grade discovery. Comet Lithium is advancing Liberty to first-ever drilling.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include, among others, statements regarding the future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Comet Lithium, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, including the exploration programs, the results therefor and development (including results from the ground samples collected on the Liberty property, completion and results from any geophysics program, the drill program and any future exploration programs on he Liberty property, or if it does so, what benefits Comet Lithium will derive from the Liberty property and any such exploration programs. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Comet Lithium's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to the risks relating to the capital market conditions, risk that the Company might not be able to obtain the capital resources necessary to complete a drill program or any exploration program on the Liberty property, as well those risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under "Financial Instruments" and "Risk and Uncertainties in Comet Lithium's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Comet Lithium does not intend, nor does it undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.

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 the release.

SOURCE Comet Lithium Corp.
FIA boss wants full grid of teams and fewer races

If Mohammed Ben Sulayem had his way, F1 would say 'yes' to Andretti-Cadillac and one more brand new entrant - whilst slashing some of the 24 race dates on future calendars.

Max Verstappen, Japanese GP 2023

 Red Bull

According to France's L'Equipe, the FIA president's chat with a select handful of journalists in his office at the Qatar GP was supposed to be just 15 minutes.

But it then turned into a full hour and it could have dragged on even longer if there had not been a race .

The reason for the high interest in his comments? A burgeoning power struggle between the FIA on one hand and the existing ten teams and F1 owner Liberty Media on the other.

Ben Sulayem's FIA has given the green light for Andretti-Cadillac to join the grid as soon as 2025, but he is facing stiff opposition from F1 and the ten teams.

We shouldn't say no to them, he insisted. "The FIA should be asking, even begging, for car manufacturers to come.

We are authorised to have 12 teams, but some say it would be too crowded. Really? We already have a Hollywood team with us! said the Emirati former rally driver, referring to the forthcoming Brad Pitt movie.

The circuits are supposed to have enough garages and space for 12 teams, Ben Sulayem added. "I rather think that the number of races is too high in relation to the number of teams.

We need more teams and fewer races. The teams only look at their piece of the pie, and I understand their concerns. But our concerns are different.

As for the likely clash with Liberty-owned Formula One Management over the issue, the FIA president insisted: "It was never my intention to embarrass anyone, whether it be Liberty Media or FOM.
Red Bull want to respect Perez's 2024 deal

The signs are growing by the day that Sergio Perez should be very worried about the validity of his Red Bull contract for 2024.

Sergio Perez, Qatar GP 2023

 Red Bull

Red Bull bigwigs Dr Helmut Marko and Christian Horner are now making consistently pessimistic public comments about Mexican Perez's flagging form.

We have a contract and we want to fulfil it, 80-year-old team consultant Marko is quoted by the Austrian broadcaster ORF.

However, he also warned that Red Bull has a very healthy roster of contracted drivers vying for Perez's seat, having already indicated his interest in McLaren's Lando Norris.

We have three drivers in Alpha Tauri and (Liam) Lawson is the reserve driver of the four cars, he said.

Many things can happen in that, but although not particularly related to Perez, it is logical that sooner or later Lawson will have a seat in F1.

Austrian Marko also told Kronen Zeitung newspaper: "It's not working with Perez at the moment.

I hope we can save second place, he added, referring to Red Bull's last remaining goal for the 2023 season - the first time the team has finished both first and second in the drivers' standings.

Checo has to deliver now, said Marko.

Now that McLaren has two such strong drivers at the wheel, his performance becomes critical. For a while, Perez's position looked quite comfortable, but now the lead is disappearing like snow in the sun, he added.

Marko said Perez's place at Red Bull wasn't an issue when he was performing better and the team had no consistently challenging team among Mercedes, Aston Martin, McLaren and Ferrari.
Sainz fuel leak probably due to Qatar kerbs

The new 'pyramid' kerbs in Qatar may have posed trouble for more than just the tyres last weekend at Qatar.

Carloa Sainz, Qatar GP 2023

 Ferrari

After qualifying, Lewis Hamilton was actually complimentary of the pyramid-shaped kerbs at the refurbished Losail circuit, believing they might solve the track limits issue.

They look quite big, but when you go beyond the highest point, you lose time, said the Mercedes driver.

I think we need to maybe take these kerbs to a bunch of other tracks.

However, when the drivers returned to the circuit on Saturday, it had emerged that Pirelli discovered micro-cuts caused by the new kerbs - resulting in last-minute track limit changes and mandatory three-stop strategies.

And then, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was unable to even take the race start for the main grand prix on Sunday because of a leak in the fuel tank.

When asked if the excessive vibration caused by the kerbs might be the reason for the failure, the Spaniard told Corriere della Sera newspaper: "Maybe.

We only discovered the leak when we put petrol in.

It is believed a more precise cause of the problem may only be known late on Tuesday, following a detailed analysis back at Maranello.

But team boss Frederic Vasseur revealed that tyres and the fuel tank aside, it had also been necessary to change the battery earlier in the weekend.
I didnt know Piesie Esther until she released Waye Me Yie  Sonnie Badu

Joy Entertainment Showbiz News Oct - 09 - 2023 , 17:20

Sonnie Badu has said in an interview on Joy FM that the first time he got to know of gospel musician Piesie Esther was when she released her award-winning Waye Me Yie.

The gospel minister said this while commending the 2023 VGMA Gospel Artiste of the Year winner for her hard work.

I didnt know Piesie until I heard a lot of people talk about Waye Me Yie. Piesie is well-packaged from visuals to graphics to everything, so whoever is behind her has to push her because the visuals are good and she is a show girl, you can see that, he told Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM's Showbiz A-Z.

He made the comment to dispel the notion that he didnt like Piesie Esther due to his recent endorsement of Black Sherifs VGMA Artiste of the Year win.

According to him, Piesie has even been billed for his upcoming concert slated for December 9, 2023 at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre.

Piesie Esther, who has been in the gospel music industry for about 20 years, shot into the limelight after the release of her song 'Waye Me Yie', which won her Gospel Song and Gospel Artiste of the Year awards at the 2023 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

The massive support by the Christian community during the period of the awards, even shored up her visibility.

She was tipped as the highest contender of the ultimate category (the Artiste of the Year), to Black Sherif who won the slot.

Although Sonnie Badu has acknowledged Piesie's effort, he said on Hitz FM that Black Sherif deserved the award over Piesie Esther.

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The view from here

Unhappy Fatherless Day

Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng The view from here Jul - 01 - 2023 , 20:18

Sunday, June 18, 2023 was celebrated in many parts of the world as Fathers Day. It was a day of celebration for many people, especially fathers and their children who took advantage of the day to deepen the special bonds that weld parents and their offspring together.

Some lucky fathers got special treats such as sumptuous meals or much valued presents; at the very least, most fathers got a nice message.

Unfortunately, for many people, including young children, in Ghana, the day was meaningless because there was no father to celebrate. I know that this is a curious situation given the traditions of kinship succession in all Ghanaian cultures. Traditionally everyone has a father because when the father is deceased, unavailable or even downright irresponsible, there is always a surrogate father, usually related to the absentee blood father.

However, increasingly, there is a crop of children who have no fathers. Literally, no fathers.

A few weeks ago, I explored this phenomenon in a couple of articles in which I described the situation as Ghanas hidden shame.

This situation came into sharp relief during several media discussions over the past weekend when fatherhood was put on the scale.

It is obvious that we have not given much thought to this trend in our national reckoning, but it appears to be a side effect of the rapid urbanisation that has occurred here in the past 30 years or so.

We have gone from a mostly rural country to a situation where the majority now live in urban communities. However, this development has not been planned. It has been spontaneous and haphazard.

The upshot is that accommodation or lack of it is at the centre of this sad phenomenon.

As reported in this column a few weeks ago based on the real-life stories of some poor young women, the problem has turned out to be bigger than it appeared to be at the time. This situation is widespread.

No one knows the number of men who have run away from unplanned pregnancies for which they are responsible, but the number must be hundreds of thousands of fatherless children.

As explained in the previous articles, what happens is simple. A young woman moves into the urban enclaves without a plan.

She meets a man who provides accommodation, however modest. In no time, sexual relations begin, and the inevitable result is pregnancy.

Both would-be parents are surprised and unprepared, but while one can move away from the unpleasant surprise, the other cannot.

The stigma attached to this outcome for young ladies is that they just have the baby and carry on as best as they can with the little they have.

This throws the life of the woman out of gear as she is often saddled with a baby who was not part of the greener pastures dream when she set off from her hometown. Consider for a moment the impact of not knowing ones father.

Interestingly, this subject has come strongly into the public sphere due to Yvonne Nelsons courageous book on her own search for her father. As it is easy to imagine, for people in this kind of situation, Fathers Day must have been a day of sadness, loneliness, and longing.

Naturally, growing up without a father can have a profound impact on a childs life, affecting their emotional, psychological and social development.

The absence of a father can leave anyone, especially a child, feeling empty, lost, and disconnected from the world around them. They may feel like they are missing out on something important, and that they are different from other children who have fathers.

They may struggle with feelings of abandonment, rejection, low self-esteem and may have difficulty forming healthy relationships with others.



Research has shown that fatherless children are at a higher risk of a range of negative outcomes, including poverty, poor academic performance, behavioural problems, drug/alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

This is because fathers play a critical role in a childs life, providing emotional support, guidance, disciplines and serving as a positive role model.

Unfortunately, due to the social stigma and lack of any coherent public policy on this situation, people who find themselves in this situation are suffering in silence and isolation. The state has so far not recognised this situation at any level beyond expecting the poor mothers to take their issues to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).

The point is that neither the women nor their children know where these fathers are or how to track and find them. It is doubtful that DOVVSU can help this huge number of people involved in these situations.

It is important for society to recognise the impact of fatherlessness on children and to take steps to address this issue. This includes supporting programmes and initiatives that help the MEN who make women pregnant in these circumstances to own up and be supported.

As we heard from many discussions on such matters during the Fathers Day weekend, poverty is often the reason why such men run away.

We have to intervene as a society before these unwanted pregnancies occur. There has to be a vigorous programme of sex and social education at all levels, especially involving the media.

In the short-term, that could be an important part of the solution. Men and women have to know that they do not have to bring children into the world that cannot be supported just because they have sex.

In our current inordinately sanctimonious atmosphere, such a message may be deemed to be too provocative since we are pretending that we are a nation of virgins who only break their virginity on their wedding night.

I remember what happened at a church some years ago when a doctor gave a lecture on HIV-AIDS. The doctor was going through the well-known ABC formula: abstain, be faithful and condom.

The pastor, standing next to the doctor, agreed with the medical expert when he recommended abstinence and faithfulness. As soon as he got to the C-word, the pastor interrupted him and declared that in his church no one needed condoms because they were all living a moral life blah, blah and more blah.

We cannot go on leaving the future of millions of people in the throes of ignorance. The state has a duty to intervene, and with our vast array of media, we should be able to launch campaigns that can change attitudes.

That is in the short-term. We also have to tackle the rapid urbanisation by investing in the rural areas to keep people there. In addition, the state has to provide social housing for the millions of people living hard lives in the urban areas of the country.

The most urgent task is to find these men. They must be found in these 238,533 square kilometres or wherever they may be in our universe. Of course, when we find them they must be made to pay for the children's upkeep and education, but the priority must be placed on persuading these men to come forward and acknowledge their children. This will not be easy, but it must be done and education is key.

People must be educated to understand why everyone must know their parents. We know that some mothers also disappear from their childrens lives, but they are known and can be traced.

There are medical reasons why knowing ones parents or ancestry may become critical, but people who have no knowledge of their parents live in a genetic limbo that may prove to be costly.

In the matter of persuading the disappeared men to come forward, the state can collaborate with traditional authorities to mount the campaign and some form of incentives to smoke them out of their figurative holes.
Israel-Hamas war: Militant group issues warning to leave Israeli city

Sky News International News Oct - 10 - 2023 , 15:50

Rockets have been fired towards Ashkelon by Hamas after its deadline expired warning people living in the Israeli city they had until 5pm local time (3pm UK time) to leave.

The warning was issued by the Palestinian militant group's armed wing, known as the al Qassam Brigades, which said it was in response to the "crime of the enemy".

Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, reporting from near the scene, said Israeli Iron Dome rockets were fired to intercept the incoming rockets.

He said: "Looking on the horizon... we can see smoke rising from Ashkelon. It looks like some of the rockets got through, but not many."

It is not the huge barrage Hamas likely anticipated after threatening the entire city, said Waghorn.

"A lot of the city had evacuated already... there wasn't, as far as we could see, a mass exodus from Ashkelon."

Rockets were fired towards Ashkelon

As part of continued rocket attacks across Israel, the fighters claimed to have hit Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, which the Israelis have denied.

Israel, in turn, has said its air force has killed two senior Hamas officials - its minister of economy, Jawad Abu Shamala, and Zakaria Abu Maamar, a member of Hamas's political office.

Israel-Gaza latest: Israel warns its offensive 'won't be clean'

It comes after Israeli authorities said the bodies of about 1,500 militants have been found on their territory after Saturday's surprise attack.

Israel says more than 150 of its civilians and soldiers were kidnapped and are being held hostage in Gaza.

Israeli soldiers walk past a damaged car in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Image:

Israeli soldiers walk past a damaged car in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel

Harrowing tales have emerged of families being taken away, with relatives left with no clue about their fate.

Hamas has warned it will kill a hostage every time Israel launches a retaliatory air strike without a pre-warning to enable civilians to reach safety.

Some 770 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip and 4,000 have been injured in strikes so far, say Palestinian health authorities.

Hamas sources in Lebanon have told Sky News the "operation" on Saturday was in the planning for more than a year.

The source also said if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expands the front, Hamas will too and their allies "will not leave Hamas in this battle alone".

Israeli soldiers take position at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, near Gaza

Gaza under siege

Israel has also announced a siege of Gaza, cutting off food, power and water as it hits back at Hamas targets in the thin coastal strip, which is home to 2.3 million people.

More than 180,000 Gazans have been made homeless, with many huddling on streets or in schools, the United Nations said, while bombardment shut roads to emergency crews.

Ahead of an expected ground assault, Israeli tanks have been gathering at the border to guard against further incursions - with Israel's prime minister promising devastating revenge.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has now increased the number of reservists it has mobilised to 360,000, with at least 35 battalions being organised into four divisions.

Israel will respond in Gaza "very aggressively", the IDF said, adding recent events are a "game changer".

Their response comes as reports suggest the first tranche of US security assistance is on its way to Israel, with more to come.

MSNBC quotes White House spokesperson John Kirby as saying a package was en-route to Israel, but no further details about what was included have been shared.

Israel's air force, meanwhile, said it is launching an "extensive attack against terror targets" in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people have been killed in the Hamas attack - which officials have likened to its own 9/11 or Pearl Harbour.

That number includes about 250 festival-goers slaughtered by gunmen who prowled the site shooting them dead for hours.

Some of the hostages were paraded through the streets in Gaza.

One couple have told Sky News how they managed to escape the massacre by driving across a field.

In one of the worst cases, three generations of the same family are missing.

The abduction of the Bibas Silverman family in kibbutz Nir Oz was filmed by Palestinians and posted online.

In his flat in Tel Aviv, restaurateur and cousin Yosi told Sky News of his agony watching the footage of his relatives' kidnapping.

"The first time I saw the pictures I couldn't believe it. I couldn't comprehend what I saw, then I look at another picture and it was very clear that this is my cousin Shiri and the two little children."

Among the civilians caught in the conflict are a "significant number" or British-Israeli dual nationals, according to James Cleverly, the foreign secretary.

He would not give an exact number due to the "fast-moving" situation, he told LBC, but many "have been in some way involved in the terrorist atrocities".

credit: Sky News
Seyi Tinubu: Nigeria President's son flies presidential jet to watch polo event

punchng.com International News Oct - 10 - 2023 , 07:32

The news of President Bola Tinubus son, Seyi, flying a presidential jet to attend polo games in Kano State has sparked mixed reactions on X (formerly Twitter).

The discussion started when a journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, on Monday, criticised Seyis use of a presidential jet for non-official purposes, citing a similar instance when President Muhammadu Buharis daughter, Hanan, travelled in a presidential jet for a photo tour.

Sharing photos on his X (formerly Twitter), Jaafar wrote, Heres Tinubus golden child, Seyi, travelling in a presidential jet to watch polo in Kano. But this trend did not start today. Buhari set the bad example when he allowed his daughter, Hanan, to travel in a presidential jet for a photo tour in Bauchi. Even if our laws are vague on this, one thing is clear. This is an offence to the moral code of leadership.

Reacting to the post, an X user HGBashar, said, Buhari merely sought the title of President without understanding or respecting the sanctity of the office. The audacity to let his daughter, Hanan, use a presidential jet for a mere photo tour in Bauchi was the beginning of this mockery.

Now we see Tinubus protege, Seyi, hopping on the same jet for a polo match in Kano. Its not just about the laws, its about ethics, morals, and respect for the position. Our leaders must do more than just occupy an office; they must uphold its dignity.

Another user, belloinuwa, said, What about the misuse of a special forces unit as his body guards? See them in the pictures. The other day he went skate boarding in Abuja with them running by his side. This is just a continuation of the culture of impunity from the previous government, perhaps on an even grander scale this time.

This is just a snapshot of what is to come under BAT. Wait until Folashade starts her own gig. This is what you get when self-serving folks make their way to power and those who should know better align with them just to foster ethno-religious sentiments, buzuzu7 added.

Chiding the journalist, X user, GoziconC, said, Thank you for showcasing your frustration. When your father becomes the most powerful man in Nigeria, please dont near the Presidential Jet. Feel free to use wheelbarrow as your means of transport, but until then, continue crying!!

Aiesmerh tweeted, So what do you expect them to fly public flight as a first family? Jaafar this your story wont sell abeg. Its so globally. Get another story to sell.

These guys were rich before entering the villa, stop this hating please. The nation is grappling with many issues and families are struggling too. PJ or No PJ, the boy will still find a way to watch his favourite sport, Masiobi added.

Source: punchng.com
91% Basic schools in Adentan belong to private sector  Study

Emmanuel Bonney Education Oct - 10 - 2023 , 08:49

About 91 per cent of basic schools in the Adentan municipality are private institutions, thereby limiting access to public basic schools by the urban poor, a study has revealed.

It said Adentan had an average class size of 65 at the primary level and 60 in junior high school (JHS) with schools such as AdMA Model Basic School in Ashiyie having up to 80 pupils in some classrooms.

Moreover, it said the percentage of basic school pupils without desks increased from 10 to 20 per cent between 2018 and 2021.

During the period, it said the number of kindergartens (KG) had remained the same, with primary schools increasing by two in Adenta.

There are classrooms under trees in some schools, including the Adentan Community School, located at the heart of the Municipal capital.

Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and other basic education projects at Amrahia and Adjiringanor have stalled, the study said.

Tema

In Tema, the study, conducted by Africa Education Watch and ActionAid Ghana, said 62 per cent of the schools in the metropolis belonged to the private sector.

Again, it said about 10 per cent of pupils lacked desks in basic schools by 2021.

The assemblys plans to provide a face-lift to schools such as the Tema Community Seven Number One Basic School, it said, could not materialise due to limited District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) inflows occasioned by the capping.

The study was on the theme, Tax reforms, education financing and equitable access to public education: Roles of citizens, local and central government.

It aims at identifying existing tax reforms and their implications on education financing, while making recommendation for increased investment at the basic level.

Presenting the findings of the study, a Senior Programmes Officer at Eduwatch, Divine Kpe, said domestic revenues played a key role in financing education development at the national and local levels.

Recommendations

On recommendations, he said the Ministry of Finance must uncap the GETFund and DACF to free resources for completing stalled GETFund projects in basic and senior high schools and that it must also speed up the operationalisation of the exemptions law.

The Ministry of Finance must allocate the constitutionally approved share of the Consolidated Fund to the DACF.

The Ministry of Finance must disburse all Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) arrears on the DACF to enable the financing of relevant socio-economic interventions, it said.

Mr Kpe further urged Parliament to strengthen its oversight on the Ministry of Finance in the allocation and disbursement of the DACF and the GETFund.

A Board Member of Eduwatch, Dorothy Konadu, said the organisation, with support from its development partners, had for the last three years, through different approaches, been instrumental in leading the advocacy to ensure Ghana had the political will that translated the international commitments into budget action.

Society

The Regional Manager of Action Aid, She-Vera Anzagira, said the organisation was looking at a society that would ensure that all children in the country had access to not only quality education, but one that promoted peoples right.

The Administrator of GETFund, Dr Richard Ampofo Boadu, said in spite of all the challenges, the fund would position itself in order to find innovative ways to address them.

The Deputy Director in charge of Administration at the Office of the Head of Local Government Service, Abdul-Jamil Issaka, said the service was key partner in education delivery.

For his part, the Executive Director of Eduwatch, Kofi Asare, said Tema and Adenta were selected for unique reasons.

Tema because it represents one of the metropolitan assemblies. But Adenta is unique because it is a municipality where about 90 per cent schools belong to private owners, he said.
University of Ghana to withdraw Level 200, 300 students with CGPA Below 1.00

Kweku Zurek Education Oct - 10 - 2023 , 15:31

The University of Ghana (UG) will be withdrawing students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.00 in the Colleges of Basic and Applied Sciences, Education and Humanities, effective the 2023/2024 academic year.

This is in accordance with Section 9.26 of the University Regulations for Junior Members (2017), which states that undergraduate students who do not achieve the stipulated minimum CGPA for progression to the next level of study should be withdrawn from the university.

According to a notice from the Academic Affairs Directorate of the UG, current level 200 and level 300 students who have received examination results for all 2022/2023 registered courses and obtained a CGPA below the approved minimum for their college should expect official withdrawal letters from the University via their Official UG email addresses soon.

For those who have already remitted their tuition fees for the 2023/2024 academic year, a refund will be processed upon request.

The notice also stated that the UG recognizes the significance of this announcement and extends an invitation to any student who has questions or requires support to contact the relevant College Academic Affairs Office.

A specific notice for the College of Health Sciences will be issued in due course.

This announcement has come as a shock to many students, especially those who are struggling academically.
Frimpong Boateng failed to provide evidence to support illegal mining allegations - Attorney-General

GraphicOnline Oct - 10 - 2023 , 13:54

The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has cleared government officials of allegations of illegal mining activities made by Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and a former chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

In a 36-page document titled Report on the work of IMCIM so far and the way forward, Professor Frimpong Boateng alleged that some government officials and private citizens were involved in illegal mining activities - galamsey.

Persons cited in the report as being involved in illegal mining activities included Laud Commey, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, Frank Asiedu Bekoe a.k.a. Protozoa, Joseph Albert Quarm, Charles Owusu, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Captain (Rtd.) Edmund Kojo Koda, Donald Entsuah and an unnamed former Member of Parliament for Wassa East Constituency.

Attorney-General

However, the Attorney-General, in an advice to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, said that investigations by the Police have not revealed any evidence in support of the allegations.

The allegations are therefore bare and do not provide a basis for any criminal charge against the persons cited in the Report, the Attorney-General said.

The Attorney-General also noted that Professor Frimpong Boateng refused to provide any further information to the Police to substantiate the allegations in his report.

The Professor refused to provide any further information to the police. He also declined to give a written statement, claiming his Report is an embodiment of his statement and all the information he has on the allegations, the Attorney-General said.

The Attorney-General, therefore, instructed the Police to discharge all government officials who were cited in Professor Frimpong Boatengs report.

However, the Attorney-General said that investigations are ongoing into allegations of illegal mining activities against Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi.
Energy Minister calls for sub-regional energy transition policy

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Oct - 10 - 2023 , 10:53

The Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged his ECOWAS colleagues to support the development of a regional Energy Transition Policy.

He said that the policy was crucial in achieving net-zero targets to ensure the socio-economic growth of member countries.

Dr Prempeh was speaking at a meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Energy in Cotonou, Benin, last Saturday.

Discussions

The meeting, which was attended by 12 ministers of ECOWAS member states, discussed critical matters intended to strengthen efforts at ensuring available, accessible and affordable energy for citizens in the ECOWAS region.

The deliberations centred on a review of the report of meeting of experts on the procedure for granting of licences and authorisations to participate in a Regional Electricity Market, and the regulation of surveillance of the market, among other matters.

The meeting was also aimed at deepening the bond among ECOWAS energy ministers in their quest for affordable, available and accessible energy for the prosperity and progress of member countries.

Blueprint

Dr Prempeh further said that member states needed an energy transition policy that would provide a regional blueprint towards achieving net-zero, adding that as an ECOWAS bloc we must ensure that our respective policies are robust and can stand the test of time.

He said Ghana launched its energy transition framework last year and had proceeded to launch its Energy Transition Investment Plan (ETIP) earlier this month in New York.

The minister explained that it was aimed at consolidating efforts towards achieving our targets in a just and an equitable manner.

On the regional electricity market, Dr Prempeh said the policy should be anchored on transparency, competition, non-discrimination and environmental sustainability.

Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (middle), Minister of Energy, with some of his colleague at the ECOWAS Ministers of Energy meeting in Cotonou, Benin

Context

Dr Prempeh had been advocating the achievement of net-zero targets in line with Sustainable Development Goal Seven (SDG7), which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

On September 17, this year, he addressed a high-level SDG Summit Action Weekend on the theme: From billions to trillions  Scaling-up energy compacts to deliver on SDG7, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, US.

Dr Prempeh told the meeting that developed countries needed to redeem their funding pledges in support of developing countries towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (NPP) for the Manhyia South Constituency, will also address the Africa Energy Week beginning Monday where he is expected to present Ghanas efforts at utilising its hydrocarbon resources for economic prosperity in an environmentally friendly manner.
Ghana condemns Hamas attacks on Israel, calls for restraint

Kweku Zurek Oct - 10 - 2023 , 06:32

The Government of Ghana has strongly condemned the ongoing Hamas attacks on Israel, calling on Hamas to immediately cease the attacks and withdraw its militants from southern Israel.

In a press release issued on October 8, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration also called on the Israeli government to exercise restraint in its response to the attacks.

The Ministry said that Ghana unequivocally condemns the attacks and affirms its support for Israel's right to exist and defend itself. However, it also called on the two sides to the Israel-Palestinian conflict to return to the negotiation table.

The press release comes amid a renewed escalation of violence in the region, with Hamas militants launching rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and Israeli forces responding with airstrikes.

The violence has killed several people on both sides and caused widespread damage.

Ghana's condemnation of the Hamas attacks is in line with the position of the international community, which has largely condemned the attacks and urged Hamas to stop.

However, some human rights groups have also criticized Israel's response to the attacks, saying that it has been disproportionate and has killed innocent civilians.

The Israeli government has defended its actions, saying that it is necessary to protect its citizens from Hamas attacks.
South African traditional leaders confer with Chieftaincy Minister

Vincent Amenuveve Oct - 10 - 2023 , 08:58

A delegation of traditional leaders from the Free State Province of South Africa has paid a working visit to the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng.

The meeting, on the insistence of the South African leaders, is part of activities of the delegations visit to Ghana to enable them consult with traditional rulers in the Eastern and Ashanti regions.

The delegation was led by the Deputy Director-General of Traditional Affairs, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Free State Province, Annah Buthelezi.

It comprised four principal and senior traditional leaders from the Bakoena Ba Mopeli Principal traditional community; Batlokoa Ba Mota Principal traditional community; Makholokoe Senior traditional community and Batlokoa Ba Mokgalong Senior Traditional community all in the Free State Province.

The respective traditional rulers on the delegation included Morena Moremoholo Mopeli, Morena Montoeli Dugaard Mota, Morena Paulos Moloi and Kgosi Nkgahle Tsotetsi.

Accompanying them was the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Grace Jeanet Mason.

Mr Boateng also stressed the need for a closer collaboration between Ghana and South Africa to help protect, strengthen and modernise the chieftaincy institution in both countries.

He explained that already, his outfit was pushing for the amendment of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) to, among other things, transfer more power to traditional authorities to be able to summon to their respective palaces, people who misconducted themselves or flouted local bye-laws.

That, he explained, was to help complement government's role to be able to govern the country more effectively at the local level which would ultimately impact positively on good governance in the entire nation.

Additionally, Mr Boateng said the ministry was advocating the documentation or codification of lines of succession to stools and skins, as well as automation and digitisation of the judicial processes.

This initiative, the minister explained, would ultimately help to reduce the chieftaincy cases in the nation and flush out ineligible people who were not royals to be enstooled.

Chieftaincy Fund

The minister also hinted that he was initiating a move to set up a Chieftaincy Fund that would help maintain the chieftaincy institution and address the funding gap to enable the institution carry out its mandate effectively.

The fund when set up would be managed by the National House of Chiefs to empower them financially and insulate them from being influenced by politicians.

"Traditional leaders without money, basically your power is gone down; so find a route, I have found a route calling it the Chieftaincy Fund, Mr Asamoah Boateng stressed.

He further hinted that the sources of the funds would come from royalties, while chiefs would be empowered to set up the structure to manage the funds, including its disbursement.

Similarities

Morena Mopeli, speaking on behalf of the South African leaders, said the system of selecting chiefs in Ghana was similar to that of the Free State Province and for that matter, South Africa.

He supported the idea for more collaboration between the two countries on how best to share power between traditional authorities and politicians to ensure chiefs did not remain only ceremonial leaders.

The traditional ruler was also not happy about the way civil society groups in South Africa recently took the government to court to prevent measures by the South African government to give more power to chiefs in the country.

The South African High Commissioner, Ms Mason, said the Free State Province was the bread basket of South Africa and shared many similarities with the Ashanti and Eastern regions.

Free State Province has very rich cultural heritage which are inextricably linked to that of Ghana hence the visit is important," she stated.

The Deputy Director General of Traditional Affairs, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, also indicated that the province had a rich political history, including the establishment of the African National Congress in 1912 and the National Party in 1914.
Take care of your kidneys  GKA

Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor Oct - 10 - 2023 , 08:42

The President of the Ghana Kidney Association (GKA), Prof. Sampson Antwi, has called on Ghanaians to adopt a healthy lifestyle to protect their kidneys.

He said the association has noticed with concern the issues with dialysis and, therefore, asked Ghanaians to adhere to treatment of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and to avoid the abuse of painkillers and herbs.

In a release dated October 3, 2023, the president of the association, Prof. Antwi, said the GKA had taken steps to engage stakeholders to make dialysis accessible and affordable to the general population.

He promised to furnish the public with the outcomes of such engagements.

In the meantime, the association entreats the general public to live healthy to protect their kidneys.

Prof. Antwi encouraged the general public to report to the hospital early to slow down the progress of the disease.

Early reporting to hospital for all patients who have been diagnosed with kidney disease can slow down the disease progression.

The cost of treating kidney disease in the country became topical recently following the decision of the renal unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to double the cost of dialysis from GH380 to GH765.14.

However, following a public uproar, the management reversed the decision saying that it was yet to get parliamentary approval to implement it.

GKA

GKA is the professional body responsible for the promotion of kidney health through education on prevention and treatment of kidney disorders, in Ghana.
Kodidi's Obuor Abogyese - Rock with human features

Haruna Yussif Wunpini Oct - 10 - 2023 , 09:39

Situated near Kodidi, a small farming community eight kilometres from Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains North District of the Eastern Region, is a naturally designed rock with human features.

This wonderful work of nature is believed to have been in existence in the area since creation.

It was only discovered by a group of hunters led by one Opanin Atakora from Abetifi-Kwahu in 1920, 103 years ago.

The hunters were looking for prey such as antelopes, grasscutter and rats to kill and their carcasses used for food to feed their families.

In the course of their hunting expedition, they sighted the rock and were initially terrified but with bravado, they stared at the human-form rock for some time.

They abandoned hunting for the animals and went away to break the wonderful news to the headman and people in their village in what is now Kodidi.

Human features

The rock, which has features such as two human eyes, a nose, a mouth and a chin was considered as a god (deity).

In view of its human form, the rock which was then worshipped, was given the name Obuor Abogyese (a rock with a chin and a beard).

In time of war, which was prevalent in those days, the people consulted the Obuor Abogyese on what to do and the outcome of the war and performed the necessary rituals to that effect, which worked to perfection.

The Chief of Donkorkrom Number One, Nana Akuamoah Boateng Tano II, told the Daily Graphic that after the discovery of the Obuor Abogyese, traditional rites were performed because the people considered it as a god for their welfare and protection.

He said thereafter, it had become a sacred object of worship for the people and had till date become not only a place for consultation, but also a tourist site which attracts hundreds of people who come to observe the amazing rock of nature.

More tourists

Nana Tano stated that the number of tourists, especially foreign visitors, kept increasing each year, particularly during the Easter celebrations at the Kwahu enclave, during which many of them crossed the Afram River to the site.

He said the site had the potential to boost both local and foreign tourism when properly harnessed and developed to generate revenue for the community and the district as a whole.

In that respect Nana Tano has, therefore, called on the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and many others to help develop the site to help boost local tourism and generate revenue for the Afram Plains North District Assembly.

Agreeing with the chief, the Afram Plains North District Tourism Development Officer, Aminu Germi Abdulai, said although the rock had become one of the tourist attractions in the area, little attention had been given to it by his outfit.

He said if given the needed attention, it could change the GTA narrative as well as make it more attractive in the near future.

Holiday makers

That, he indicated, could be done by weeding its surroundings to make it tidy for holiday makers, especially couples to relax there to while away the time.

Mr Abdulai said trees would also be planted around the entire enclave so that the natural rock would be properly preserved.

He said in addition, reception facilities should be provided at the site to serve as resting places for tourists who might visit for site-seeing or relaxation.

To make the place more fascinating, Mr Abdulai recommended catering services such as traditional and foreign cuisines to make tourists feel at home.

The District Chief Executive for the area, Isaac Ofori Koree, told the Daily Graphic that it was about time the site was properly developed to attract a lot of people, both in Ghana and abroad to help generate revenue for the assembly.

He said his outfit had already visited the site to ensure its development but lack of funds was delaying that objective.
Koforidua: Tragic fuel reservoir incident claims three lives

Graphic Online Oct - 10 - 2023 , 12:33

In Koforidua in the Eastern Region, a tragic incident which occurred on Monday has prompted the Koforidua Effiduase District Police Command to launch an investigation.

Three technicians lost their lives inside a reservoir situated at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) office. This event, which occurred on Monday, has left the community in a state of shock and grief.

The individuals involved have been identified only as Ashie, Octopus, and Jonathan,

They are suspected to have died of suffocation.

They were part of a five-member technical team contracted to perform maintenance on the fuel reservoir at the COCOBOD office.

The said fuel dump tank is owned, used and managed by Produce Buying Company (PBC), a limited liability company.

The exact circumstances leading to this suffocation remain unclear. Regrettably, in an attempt to rescue their colleague who had entered the reservoir, two other workers also met the same tragic fate.

Prompt reporting of the incident by colleagues at the scene led to a swift response from the relevant authorities.

An emergency response team, comprising personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Municipal Secretariat, Effiduase Police Command, Ghana Ambulance Service, and the Ghana National Fire Service, quickly arrived on-site to assist in retrieving the victims' bodies from the underground tank.

Mr. Kankam Twumasi Daniel, the Deputy Municipal Director of NADMO for New Juaben North, said the police have initiated investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Furthermore, Mr. Twumasi Daniel noted that the deceased have been transported to St. Josephs Hospital mortuary in Effiduase for preservation and autopsy.
Korle Bu appeals for organ harvesting law - Launches centenary celebration

Mary Anane-Amponsah Oct - 10 - 2023 , 07:20

The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has called on Parliament and other agencies to speed up processes towards the passage of the law on tissue donation, harvesting and storage of various organs.

It said that would save the lives of thousands of Ghanaians who were sick and in need of help.

The Board Chairman of the KBTH, Dr David Nkansa-Dwamena, said that at the launch of the centenary celebration of the nations premier hospital in Accra yesterday.

In recent times, there have been concerns about high cost of services for persons diagnosed with kidney diseases, for instance, which has called for certain measures to ameliorate the suffering of such patients.

In this regard, Dr Nkansa-Dwamena said, the board was supporting management to secure the necessary legislative framework to formalise transplantation services in the country, and also to introduce other services and procedures through further training of staff that would make it needless for Ghanaians to travel to other countries for medical care.

Dr Nkansa-Dwamena said the institution had already begun with the introduction of kidney transplant services by a local team of surgeons, nephrologist and other professionals, and, therefore, the law would enhance their activities.

As part of the premier hospitals centenary celebration, he said the KBTH had initiated a campaign to have corporate Ghana, philanthropists and individuals adopt the various wards and maintain their facilities.

Dubbed Adopt a Ward Initiative, the campaign is to help improve on healthcare services at the hospital as it works on attaining universal health coverage for the country.

Dr Nkansa-Dwamena said KBTH was a big hospital with some complexities that required hard work, dedication and commitment to address them, and, therefore, such support from corporate Ghana and philanthropists would place the institution on a higher pedestal.

Already, he said, a number of corporate bodies had adopted some of the wards and were maintaining them, but there was a need for more to join for expansion of services in order to offer quality health care to the people.

KBTH, he said, had embarked on several projects geared towards shoring up the capacity of the hospital to meet the demands of patients, and that although some of the ongoing projects were about to see their successful completion, we also have to provide direction on some of the ageing infrastructure that require replacement.

He, therefore, appealed for support to help the hospital to achieve its mandate.

Activities for celebration

The year-long centenary celebration will be characterised by a series of activities dubbed 100 ways to celebrate 100 years.

The Chief Executive Officer of KBTH, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, outlining some of the 100 activities earmarked for the celebration, said the institution would unveil its infrastructure master plan, secure elevators for maternity, surgical, allied surgery, internal medicine, dental and children blocks, construct a water farm, revamp Korle Bu Trust Fund, launch a staff medicare scheme and rename wards after key personalities.

He said despite the challenges the institution faced, KBTH had undergone several transformational phases, positioning itself to become a medical tourism hub in the sub-region and help the country to achieve universal health coverage.

KBTH, the CEO said, remained a very important institution in healthcare delivery in the country, and that aside from the training of health personnel, it attended to about 2,000 patients on a daily basis and admitted about 250 people every day, offering them quality healthcare services.

Dr Ampomah said the celebration would witness the honouring of people who had contributed immensely to the success of KBTH for the past 100 years, saying it is on the legacy of these people that Korle Bu continues to flourish.

Korle Bu is a national asset. We must work hard and support it to deliver its healthcare mandate to Ghanaians, he said.

Government initiatives

A Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Mensah, said historically, the establishment of the premier hospital marked the beginning of the development of other professions in the field of health in the country.

Professions such as medicine, nursing, laboratory science, radiographical and dispensary services, among others, all sprouted from the establishment of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, she said.

The impact created by KBTH, she said, had been felt far and wide across the country.

KBTH, she added, also derived a decent number of patient traffic from other countries in West Africa such as Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.

The government, Ms Mensah said, would continue to retool the hospital with new infrastructure and equipment to make it stay ahead of competition not only in Ghana, but within the sub-region.

Already completed projects at the hospital, she mentioned, included the reconstructed Fevers Unit and the new Infectious Disease Centre, which were initiated during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a 110-bed Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence which was due for completion by the end of December this year.

Ms Mensah said the sod had also been cut for the construction of a 400-bed 13-storey Women's Hospital valued at 145 million.

There is also the Diabetes Centre Rehabilitation Project, which is at the level of completion, she said.

These and many other projects, she said, were being provided in KBTH to enable it to continue to play a leading role in providing advanced health care to patients.
Lets manage water responsibly  FAO

Doreen Andoh Oct - 10 - 2023 , 09:07

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has called for the judicious use and management of water resources.

It said there was the need for responsible use of water because every drop mattered, adding that people must choose alternatives of life activities that required less water.

The organisation also mentioned rainwater harvesting and storage, eating foods that required less or no water to prepare such as fresh foods, and keeping water bodies clean as some of the measures to ensure sustainability.

It further said that despite water being the driving force for nature and life, the foundation of food production, preparation and other human needs such as energy and domestic activities, it was being taken for granted.

At a press briefing to commemorate World Food Week in Accra yesterday, the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said too many people either went without water or mismanaged it.

Governments, the private sector, academia, farmers and civil society and individuals need to work together towards a food and water secure world. Every one of us can make a difference, he said.

Event

The celebration of the week would be climaxed on October 16, 2023, which is designated as World Food Day.

It would be on the theme: Water is life, and water is food.

Leave no one behind.

It is aimed at emphasising the importance of prudent water management amid challenges such as rapid population growth, economic development, urbanisation and climate change, which are threatening water accessibility.

The event also serves as a platform to raise awareness of hunger and inspire action for the future of food, people and the planet.

It also coincides with the founding of the FAO by the UN in 1945.

Agrifood

Mr Haile-Gabriel further said that with water being the foundation of agrifood systems, there was the urgent need to manage it wisely by ensuring its equitable distribution, preservation of aquatic ecosystems and fostering of sustainable agricultural practices.

With water constituting over 50 per cent of our bodies and covering 71 per cent of the earth's surface, it is the vital essence of life itself.

However, only 2.5 per cent is freshwater suitable for consumption, agriculture and industrial purposes.

Agriculture alone accounts for a staggering 72 per cent of global fresh water withdrawals.

The harsh reality is that freshwater resources per person has declined by 20 per cent over the past decades, he said.

The FAO Representative to Ghana, Yurdi Yasmi, also said that food choices, production methods and efforts to reduce waste, all contribute to responsible water management.

"We need to produce more food and agricultural commodities with less water while preserving aquatic food systems and leaving no one behind," he said.
NCCE condemns attack on UTV, calls for media freedom and political tolerance

GraphicOnline Oct - 10 - 2023 , 06:17

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) of Ghana has condemned the recent attack on United Television (UTV), an Accra-based television station, during a live show.

The Commission called the attack "unfortunate and disturbing," and said it "serves as an impediment to our fledgling democracy."

The NCCE also reiterated the importance of media freedom and political tolerance in a thriving democracy. The Commission said that the alleged attack on journalists and media commentators is "unacceptable and cannot become part of media culture and practice."

The Commission also expressed concern that the attack was carried out by youth and said that this is a threat to peace and security, especially as the country gears up for the upcoming District Level Elections and the 2024 General Election.

The NCCE called on Ghanaians, especially political parties and actors, to avoid intemperate language and uphold the culture of political tolerance enshrined in the Fourth Republican 1992 Constitution. The Commission also urged political parties to practice politics of decency that is acceptable in the democratic ethos to help strengthen and safeguard the peace and unity of the nation.

The NCCE commended the Ghana Police Service for their swiftness in making arrests in connection with the attack and urged the Service to follow the matter to its logical conclusion and punish the offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Commission also reminded all Ghanaians to put Ghana first in all dealings and play active roles in making the country great and strong.
Neonatal, infant mortality rates reduce

Augustina Tawiah & Kezia Asantewaa Osei Oct - 10 - 2023 , 07:14

The rate at which newborn babies in the country die in the first 28 days of life, otherwise known as neonatal mortality, has reduced from 29 per 1000 live births to 17 over the last decade.

Similarly, infant mortality rate reduced from 41 per 1000 live births to 28 during the same period, while skilled delivery grew from 75.5 to 87.6.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, made these known at the fourth Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition Conference of the Ghana Health Service in Accra yesterday.

Conference

The three-day conference, which was attended by key stakeholders in the maternal and child health space, was on the theme: Strengthening Service Delivery for Quality and Accessible Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH&N) outcomes to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) midpoint and beyond.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the achievements made in those areas were indicators that the country was on track in attaining the SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and SDG 3 on Health.

We are not off track.

We have done well but there is plenty of work to be done to get there.

In all, we have to improve quality of care and patient safety so that the outcomes will be good for us, he stressed.

He said the prevailing stagnant situation in some healthcare efforts in the country such as anaemia in women and children and the slow pace in the reduction of neonatal mortality rate undermined the progress towards the achievement of the health-related SDG targets.

He said other threats to improved health outcomes included the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and the triple burden of malnutrition, including overweight, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

Stunting and wasting amongst children under five remain high with wide regional disparities.

The 2020 Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) Assessment has also shown the wide disparities in basic health infrastructure and services which must be addressed, he pointed out.

On the conference, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said it had been established as a platform to engage stakeholders and address critical issues related to maternal, child health and nutrition, adding that RMNCAH&N formed the bedrock of robust, resilient communities with their accessibility, quality and outcomes serving as crucial indicators to achieving the health-related SDGs.

The Team Lead, Universal Health Coverage Life Course Cluster of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Sofonias Asrat, said unless the country doubled its efforts, especially in the areas of service delivery for RMNCAH&N, it was unlikely to meet the SDGs, particularly those related to health.

He therefore called on the government, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, as well as corporate organisations and those in the health sector development partners to make RMNCAH&N a priority in the health sector and contribute towards strengthening service delivery for quality and accessible outcomes to meeting the SDGs midpoint and beyond.

Decline in global child mortality

Quoting data, Dr Asrat said global child mortality rates showed a significant decline but challenges still remained, pointing out that in the year 2021, almost 1.9 million babies were stillborn at 28 weeks or more of gestation with a global stillbirth rate of 13.9 stillbirths per 1000 total births.

Sub-Saharan Africas share of the global number of stillbirths also increased from 26 per cent in the year 2000 to 45 per cent in the year 2021.

Projections indicate that in order to achieve the global targets by 2030, there is the need to accelerate progress to achieve an average Annual Reduction Rate (ARR) of 11.6 per cent for the maternal mortality ratio (MMR), 5.2 per cent for the Stillbirth Rate (SBR) and 7.2 per cent for the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) from what it has been in the past decade - that is 1.3 per cent for MMR, 1.8 per cent for SBR and 2.2 per cent for NMR, he said.

In Ghana, however, he said the trend of MMR mirrored that of the global pattern that showed a higher rate of reduction between 2000 and 2010 but a much slower rate since 2010.

Quoting figures, he said the MMR in Ghana decreased to 244 maternal deaths per 100,000 livebirths in 2019 after it had plateaued around 274 per 100,000 livebirths during the two preceding years.

A Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, who opened the conference on behalf of the sector Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, gave an assurance that the ministry and its agencies would continue to scale up proven interventions that would ultimately reduce maternal mortality rates, enhance access to skilled birth attendants and ensure comprehensive antenatal and post-natal care for all women.

She said the ministry would also continue with efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, train and post healthcare professionals and advocate maternal health issues to ensure that significant strides were made towards ensuring safe and positive birth experiences for every mother.
SG Ghana refurbishes Surgical Unit of KBTH

Joshua Bediako Koomson Oct - 10 - 2023 , 08:25

Societe Generale Ghana (SG Ghana) has renovated the sixth floor of the Surgical Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), as part of activities to mark the banks 20th anniversary.

The renovation, which took five weeks to complete, included the provision of a new bulkhead ceiling for the reception and lounge, replacement of all water closets, wash-hand basins and installation of sliding glass windows in the corridor.

The bank also replaced all rusty and discoloured medical lights, installed fire alarm system, wireless nurse call system and air conditioners in all the wards and offices and painted the floor.

Why the support

During the handing over of the renovated floor of the hospital last Friday, the Managing Director of the bank, Hakim Ouzzani, said the bank was very proud and delighted to give its contribution and support to the KBTH.

As a bank, he explained, its mission was to support the economy, however, it was also necessary to give back to society as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He said this was the reason it had taken that initiative to support the humanitarian mission of the hospital.

According to Mr Ouzzani, the bank chose the KBTH because it was the most important hospital in the country, stressing that it was the only place the vulnerable population could easily have access to healthcare.

The SG Groups Deputy Director of Retail Banking for Africa, the Mediterranean Basin and Overseas, Georges Wega, also added that the bank had survived all the economic turbulence for the past 20 years due to the massive support from its client, regulators, partners and staff.

He said all those who supported it were part of the Ghanaian population who had also benefited from the services of the hospital and, therefore, the gesture was the least the bank could do to thank them all.

We look forward to continuing to build this nation through our humble support to the economy.

We want to continue to listen to the needs of our clients and try as much as possible to respond to those needs in the best possible way, Mr Wega stated.

Appreciation

The Chief Executive Officer of the KBTH, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, said the management and the staff of the hospital were very grateful to the bank for this wonderful gesture which comes at the right time when most of our infrastructure are not in good shape.

He said such gesture would help to reposition the hospital as the leading provider of advanced, tertiary and specialised healthcare in the country and in the West African sub region.

We are a century old and as you can imagine, a hospital that is 100 years old will definitely have a lot of infrastructure challenges and so we call on individuals and organisations to adopt other similar projects as the SG Ghana has done and execute them.

At the end of the day, its the Ghanaian people who we want to serve and we want to serve them in an ambience that accords them dignity, comfort and makes them more confident in the healthcare delivery system, Dr Ampomah said.

Healthcare financing

According to him, the hospital was second to none in terms of healthcare delivery in the sub region and it would continue to improve and make its service available and accessible to Ghanaians.
St Theresa of the Child Jesus Society marks 25th anniversary

Beatrice Laryea Oct - 10 - 2023 , 07:26

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra of the Roman Catholic Church, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, last Saturday performed the rites to dedicate the newly-built St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church building at Gbetile.

The ceremony climaxed the 25th anniversary celebration of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

The celebration brought together over 1,000 members of the society from 91 branches in all the parishes in the Archdiocese.

Some of the branches were Star of the Sea (Dansoman), St. Peters (Tema New Town), St. John of God (Amrahia), Sacred Heart (Derby Avenue), St Catherine (Burma Camp), St. Charles Borromeo (Oyibi), Holy Trinity (Sarpeiman), St Joseph the Worker (Tema Community 8), St. Michael (Nsakinaa), St. Ann & Joachim (Teshie), St. Barnabas (Haatso), St. Dominic Savio (Afienya), St. Paul (Kpehe) and St. Cecelia (Frafraha).

Others were Prince of Peace (Kwashieman), Mary Seat of Wisdom (Oyarifa), St. Anthony (Nungua), Holy Family (Mataheko), St. Augustine (Ashaiman), Queen of Peace (Madina), St. Stephen (Darkuman), Christ the King (Cantonments), Martyrs of Uganada (Mamprobi), Mary Mother of Good Counsel (Airport West), St. John the Baptist (Odorkor), St. John Bosco (Tema), St. Patrick (Domi), St Francis Xavier (Kotobabi), St George (Police Depot) and St. Patrick (Gbetsile).

Rites of dedication

The rites for the dedication of the building, which started in 2011, was considered to be among the most solemn of Catholic liturgical services.

It began from the entrance to the auditorium where representatives of those involved in building the church handed it over to the Bishop.

This was followed by liturgy of the word, prayer of dedication and anointing of the church, as well as the rites of anointing, incensing, covering and lighting of the altar.

Goodness of God

Speaking at the event, Most Rev. Kwofie acknowledged the goodness of God for working through people to build such a huge and beautiful edifice.

Today, we lift up our hands and voices towards heaven and tell God that there is no God like him in heaven or on earth for His goodness endures forever, he said.

Brothers and sisters, the dedication of the church sets the church apart for the things of God. You have met the place where you will hear God speak to us and we also speak to God."

Gratitude

He expressed gratitude to some individuals, other prominent members of the church and the entire Gbetsile congregation who worked tirelessly to realise the vision.

Today, we are acknowledging the goodness of God.

God has been good to us and has worked through people such as Archbishop Palmer Buckle who gave money to buy the land. Dame Gloria Kwasie and her late husband, who got the permission to start the society in Accra which is 25 years today, he said.

He also thanked Mr Seth Agyemang, who contributed and offered his block making machine, late Paul Fianoo who supervised the project when it started, as well as the Chief of Gbetsile, Christian Adjeda, and the project committee for their hard work.

Thankful to Father Sena Korkordzi and Father Melvin Mensah, who were Parish Priests here and current Parish Priest, Father Isaac Donkor, Spiritual Director and Chaplain of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society Archdiocese of Accra, Rev. Father Emmanuel Gosu and the entire church of Gbetsile for your yearly contributions, harvest and thanksgiving you contributed to making the project a reality, he said.

To members of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, Gbetsile today your society leaders have made a long journey to reach here because of love of Gbetsile. Please keep this beautiful house of God as clean and holy always. Make it a welcoming community and a home of peace for all generations, he cautioned.

Success story

Spiritual Director and Chaplain of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society Archdiocese of Accra, Rev. Father Emmanuel Gosu, mentioned that the building had been one of the success stories of the members of the society in the archdiocese, some individuals in the church, patrons and patronesses.

The Archbishop of Accra led us in the dedication of the chapel so that officially it will be used for worship and preaching of the word of God.

The gathering is a joyous one as you can see everybody is happy and we thank God that he has made it possible.

For her part, Founder of the Society in the Accra Archdiocese, Dame Obaapanyin Gloria Peggy Kwasie, expressed appreciation to God and all church members who contributed in diverse ways to complete the building.

Today, we climax our 25th anniversary and somewhere along the line, the Archbishop at that time, Most Rev. Palmer Buckle, gave us a task to build this edifice. Although it was tough, by the grace of God we have been able to accomplish the mission and we give glory to God, she said.
Theresa Kufuor to be laid to rest on November 18 in Kumasi

Chris Nunoo Oct - 10 - 2023 , 14:43

The state funeral for the former First Lady, Theresa Aba Kufuor will take place at the forecourt of the state house on November 16, 2023.

The funeral rites would continue in Kumasi on November 18 after which she would be laid to rest same day.

A thanksgiving service would be held the next day on Sunday on November 19, 2023.

This was announced by the Spokesperson of the family, Papa Kofi Mensah, when the family of the late First Lady called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra Tuesday (October 10, 2023) to formally inform him of her passing.

The visit was also to inform President Akufo-Addo about the arrangement and schedule for the funeral.

Delegation

The delegation was led by the Awua Domase Akyempemhene, Nana Amoah Gyawu Buahin.

Other members of the delegation were Chief Kufuor, Agyekum Kufuor, Kofi Kufuor, sons of the deceased, Nana Ama Kufuor, Nana Saa Kufuor, daughters, Ambassador D. K. Osei, former diplomat, Papa Kofi Mensah, spokesperson and Kojo Mensah, a nephew.

The Spokesperson, Papa Kofi Mensah on behalf of the family said the pedigree of the late First Lady and her husband former President Kufuor was compelling enough for the family to formally inform him (President Akufo-Addo) about the unfortunate news.

He said the late Theresa Aba Kufuor passed on at Peduase on the afternoon of Sunday (October 1, 2023) and announced that the family would mark the one week observation at the residence of former President Kufuor at Peduase on Wednesday (October 11, 2023).

Papa Kofi Mensah said the funeral would start in Accra on November 16 and end in Kumasi on November 19, 2023.

He said Theresa Aba Kufuor would be buried in Kumasi after which a thanksgiving mass would be held in her honour.

Condolence

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in welcoming them to the seat of government expressed his condolences to the family and said the late First Lady was an exceptional personality and lived an exemplary life.

He recalled his long standing relations with the Kufuor family and said he met Theresa Aba Kufuor and her husband former President Kufuor in Oxford, England about 51 years ago in 1962.

She was in Oxford with the husband and I went to their house since then, we had lived very well and so share in your pain the manner she left us, he said.

President Akufo-Addo said on that fateful Sunday, he had visited former President Kufuor at his Peduase residence only to be hit with the news of the passing of the former First Lady.

He assured the family of a befitting state burial and said As long as I am the President I will ensure she is given a befitting burial because she was a very fine and dignified woman and she deserves it."

Recounting his long standing relations with the late J. H. Mensah, a former Senior Minister during former President Kufuors era and a senior brother of the late Theresa Kufuor, President Akufo-Addo said we have been very close allies, in politics and also worked in the government of former President Kufuor.

He said as part of measures to honour the former First Lady flags were made to fly at half-mast last week and that would be repeated on the day of the funeral.

Theresa Kufuor

The late Theresa Aba Kufuor had been a devoted companion of former President Kufuor throughout their 61 years of marriage.

She was a member of a well-known family from Odumase, in the Bono Region and a retired nurse and midwife.

Born on October 25, 1935, Theresa Aba Kufuor 87, died on Sunday, October 1, 2023.

She lived most of her working life in the United Kingdom after her studies at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and Paddington General Hospital in London.

She qualified as a state-certified midwife with a certificate in premature nursing.

She was the last born of her parents.
Walewale: Nurse killed by unknown assailants

Mohammed Fugu Oct - 09 - 2023 , 19:08

Walewale in the North East Region has been thrown into a state of mourning following the death of a nurse at Walewale Government Hospital.

Identified as Salifu Abdulai alias Expensive, it is suspected he was killed by some unknown assailants at Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality.

The deceased is said to have been beaten to pulp and dumped near the Walewale cemetery on Sunday evening.

His body was spotted by a passerby who rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Graphic Online gathered that the deceased had a heated confrontation with the assailants who reportedly attacked him, resulting in his death.

The Municipal Chief Executive for West Mamprusi, Issahaku Aremeyaw Somo who confirmed the incident to Graphic Online said the police are investigating the incident.

We understand he had a misunderstanding with the suspects and they attacked and beat him mercilessly leading to his death. We are saddened by the incident and the police have since intensified investigations to apprehend the suspects, he said.

An eyewitness said the deceased was found lying motionless around 7 pm Sunday.
Adopt new approach to political leadership  Opong-Fosu

Daily Graphic Politics Oct - 10 - 2023 , 08:21

A former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation under the John Mahama led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has called for bold and effective political leadership as the country goes through a time of uncertainty and turbulence.

At an event organised by the Ghanaian Diaspora in the United States, Mr Opong-Fosu said the present economic and political situation in the country required a different approach to leadership to help steer the affairs of the nation onto a path of recovery.

Mr Opong-Fosu highlighted the differences between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stating that an NDC government would do things differently.

Away from the NPP governments focus on debt sustainability, a John Mahama-led NDC government will design and implement a robust sustainability programme to include, social development sustainability (education and health as priority areas), economic development sustainability (infrastructure, Digital Transformation, agriculture and agribusiness), environmental management sustainability (urban renewal, responsible mining) and human capital development sustainability,he said.

He also outlined several key areas where the NDC would focus its efforts, including the restoration of values and the renewal of mindset among Ghanaians, the strengthening of public institutions, and the streamlining of government expenditure.

Attitudinal change

Mr Opong-Fosu, however, emphasised the importance of the diaspora in causing attitudinal change in the country that would propel development and ensure stability.

The Diaspora should make itself heard by actively being part and parcel of leadership. After all, leadership is nothing but influence, he stated.

He argued that the diaspora, with its broad view and exposure to new ideas, could play a key role in shaping the attitudes of Ghanaians towards issues such as corruption, accountability and civic responsibility.

Mr Opong-Fosu also called on the diaspora to make serious and active efforts to help revive the economy by investing in the country.

For instance, he suggested that partnerships between modern health facilities in Ghana and leading health facilities around the world could help make Ghana a leader in the health sector, while also cutting down on government expenditure.

He called on Ghanaians both at home and abroad to work together to build the Ghana we want, with a renewed focus on values, public institutions and economic development.
IGP leaked tape: Im not biased against Dampare  Atta Akyea

Graphic.com.gh Politics Oct - 10 - 2023 , 18:00

Samuel Atta Akyea, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee investigating a leaked tape containing a discussion on how and why the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, should be removed from office, has denied allegations of bias against the IGP.

Council for the IGP, Kwame Gyan, had accused Samuel Atta Akyea of unfair treatment against the IGP, but the Abuakwa South MP has refuted this claim stating that he has steered the affairs of the committee without prejudice.

Related article: First Bugri Naabu leaked tape doctored - Parliamentary Committee

The word doctored is what did not sit well with him, but I said it is deduced from how it started. Was I not together with my committee members who afforded the IGP the best opportunity to speak to the press?

He wondered how he the same chairman who, together with his committee members, afforded the IGP the opportunity to speak to the press could be biased against him.

Its a baseless allegation and the rest of the committee members thought that the lawyer who said it would be bold to say it again, and they will respond, but he didnt.

Atta Akyea also clarified the reasons behind the committees refusal to allow members of the Police Service Management Board into Tuesdays in-camera hearing.

It will not be fair for non-witnesses to be present. That was the thinking of the committee. Whats the meaning of in-camera? Whats the discrimination here? Why should we admit senior officers to come when theyre not going to speak? These are some absurd positions some can say and get away with it, he stated.
When it announced the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro the company went to great lengths to hype their Leica-tuned cameras and for good reason as we found out. Except the phones will miss on the Leica branding and tailored camera modes in certain markets. A reader of ours noticed the Chilean and Nigerian markets are among the unlucky ones. Certain regions are yet to get the phones so the list might expand too.

The Leica goodies are not limited to just lenses, there are a handful of software functionalities as well. For instance, the default Camera app offers two main styles of shooting - Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic, just like the higher-end Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro and 13 Ultra. There are a handful of Portrait mode-related optimizations as well.

One would assume that this would bring down the price of both handsets in the said countries, but this isn't the case. We did a quick market research and found both devices to be selling for about the same price as their Leica-enabled counterparts in Europe. The Xiaomi 13T can be found for a little over 600-equivalent, while the 13T Pro sells for around 800-equivalent in both Chile and Nigeria.

We don't know the reason behind this move - it may be due to some market restrictions or a clause in the Xiaomi-Leica agreement that doesn't allow the smartphone maker to release Leica-branded products in some markets. We are hoping Xiaomi will step in and explain this.

Thanks, Jack for the tip!

Source 1 | Source 2
Oppo A2x will arrive on October 14, revealed the company today on its Weibo profile. The smartphone was also listed in the brand's online store, revealing it will be an affordable handset with a starting price of CNY1,099 (that's about $150).

Specs are yet to be revealed, but reports suggested a Dimensity 6020 chipset. Listed memory configurations are 6/128 GB or 8/256 GB and we can also see there is one camera on the back and another one at the front on a waterdrop notch.

The online store has the Oppo A2x in Midnight Black, but official posters clearly have two more color options  Flying Frost Purple and Mulberry Gold. The power key is large and flat, meaning it will double as a fingerprint scanner, which leads to the assumption the front panel is LCD.

There are still lots of unknown specs surrounding the Oppo A2x, but we'll have a clear picture in four days. The device is launching in China, and we'll be on the lookout for whether it will make it abroad, be it under the same or a different name.

Source (in Chinese) | Via
Last year Sony introduced a new series of gaming headsets under the Inzone brand  the Sony Inzone H3, H7 and H9 over-ear headphones. Now the company is ready to add a TWS model to the series and plug the hole between H3 and H7.

The claim to fame of the Inzone headphones (the H7 and H9 at least) is that in addition to Bluetooth, they also come with a dongle for a proprietary, low-latency connection  games that require quick reaction times cant tolerate even the best Bluetooth latency. All three models can also be plugged into a 3.5mm jack too (the H3 are wired-only).



Sony Inzone Buds WF-G700

The Sony Inzone Buds WF-G700 are skipping the wired option for obvious reasons, but they do keep the dongle  a small USB-C dongle that fits in their charging case. This means that its always available to plug into your phone, tablet, PC or console and drop the latency to just 30ms.

A Bluetooth connection can be active simultaneously too, in case your phone rings while you play or when you. In fact, the Inzone Buds use the new Bluetooth LE Audio powered by the L1 chip. The buds plus case should last up to 24 hours on Bluetooth (12h buds + 12h case) and up to 12 hours in low-latency mode with the dongle plugged in. The buds support fast charging too, so you can pop them in the case for 5 minutes and get 1 hour of battery life.



Sony Inzone Buds WF-G700

Anyway, these buds also support Active Noise Cancellation (something only available on the Inzone H9) as well as 360 Reality Audio and 360 Spatial Sound for Gaming for a more immersive experience. Additionally, there is AI-powered noise suppression for the microphones so in-game voice chat sounds clear even if you are in a noisy environment.

The Sony Inzone Buds WF-G700 have been spotted at a US retailer with a price of $200. They are also showing up on Amazon France, though there is no page for them yet.

You will also see the Sony Inzone H5 on Amazon too (no page for them either). These seem similar to the H7 in that they have Bluetooth/2.4GHz wireless connectivity but no ANC. They are much lighter at 260g (compared to 325g for the H7 and 335g for the H9) but have short battery life  28h (vs. 40h for the H7 and 32h for the H9 with ANC off).



Sony Inzone H5

The H5 will cost $150  for comparison, the H7 have an MSRP of $230 (selling for $130 now), the wired-only H3 are $100.

Source 1 (in German) | Source 2
High winds and heavy rain from Typhoon Bolaven have touched down on Guam, and the island will be experiencing peak conditions for another six to eight hours, according to the National Weather Service.

The likelihood of a direct passage over or near Guam is not likely at this time. That is good news for folks on Guam, said NWS warning coordination meteorologist Landon Aydlett.

Heavier winds may pick up later in the afternoon, and conditions are expected to linger around Guam through around midnight.

Though earlier forecasts showed southern Guam being spared of more serious weather conditions, the entire island is now within the range of tropical storm force winds, according to NWS.

As of 3 p.m., the system was about 90 miles east-northeast of Guam, according to NWS advisories, with typhoon force winds extending out of the center of the typhoon for 35 miles and slower, tropical storm force winds extend out for 140 miles.

To the north, Rota is expected to take a direct hit from Bolaven later this afternoon.

Westward movement of the system has picked up to 8 miles per hour as of 3 p.m., after briefly slowing to being nearly stationary earlier in the afternoon. A stall would have opened the door to a stronger hit especially the northern Marianas.

Bolaven is now expected to intensify as it exits the region.

Flash flooding will remain a concern, as heavy rainfall continues through tonight.
Typhoon Bolaven sent nearly 500 children and adults to emergency shelters starting Monday night, based on data from the Joint Information Center as of Tuesday night.

A total of 481 residents were staying in the shelters, about 34% of the total capacity of 1,422 in all six shelters that the Guam Department of Education designated, as of 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Machananao Elementary School, however, neared its maximum capacity of 208, with 204 residents already taking refuge in it, by the time Bolaven made its closest approach.

Heres the shelter occupancy as of Tuesday night, from JIC:

Astumbo Elementary: 107 sheltered; 182 max capacity

Machanaonao Elementary: 204 sheltered; 208 max capacity

Maria A. Ulloa Elementary: 103 sheltered; 285 max capacity

Upi Elementary: 2 sheltered; 336 max capacity

George Washington High: 33 sheltered; 100 max capacity

Talofofo Elementary: 32 sheltered; 311 max capacity

Three of these emergency shelters  Maria A. Ulloa Elementary, George Washington High, and Talofofo Elementary  were able to accommodate oxygen dependent residents who need a power source.

The number of those who sought emergency shelters during Bolaven was much smaller than the more than 800 during Typhoon Mawar in May. The last Mawar shelter, however, didnt close until early August, given the widespread damage to peoples houses.

With Bolaven, authorities are reminding residents that if they need to evacuate to an emergency shelter, they should check the following before leaving home:

Shut off your incoming electricity at the main breaker or switch, usually located by the electric meter or in the circuit breaker panel.

If you are dependent on an electrically-powered life support system, consider having a backup generator. Otherwise, make plans ahead of time to go to an alternate location where electricity will be available.

What should you take to the shelter?

7-day supply of food and water for all members of your family

Bedding

Personal hygiene products

Medication

7-day of supply for infants and toddlers, including diapers and formula

Valid photo ID

Important documents including birth certificates, passports and medical immunization cards

Shelter rules

Be respectful to fellow residents and staff. No foul language, abusive behavior, stealing or destruction of property will be accepted or tolerated.

Busing to/from shelters is available at the mayors offices.

Bring a 7-day supply of food, water and prescriptions; infants & toddlers should have a 7- day supply of disposable diapers, baby formula & baby food.

Bring bedding, toiletries, toilet tissue, and personal hygiene products.

Must complete registration. Bring a form of valid I.D.

Must report tuberculosis or flu-like symptoms.

Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and weapons are not allowed in the shelter or on the shelter grounds. Persons caught in possession will be asked to leave the shelter and in some cases turned over to law enforcement personnel. Persons determined to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will not be admitted, or readmitted to the shelter.

Public Law 21-139 dictates that there is no smoking on school premises. Smoking is not allowed in the shelter. Smoking is permitted outside the campus in designated smoking areas only. Please dispose of cigarette butts properly.

Quiet hours will be announced and enforced in the sleeping areas. However, sleeping areas should be kept quiet at all times.

If you bring vital documents (i.e. Birth records, passports, etc.), secure them or keep them on you at all times. The shelter is not responsible for these items if stolen.

Parents must maintain responsibility and supervision for their children. Children must never be left unattended.

No cooking or gas stoves.

For your safety do not leave the shelter before COR 4 has been declared.

Only service animals are allowed at this time.

Pets cannot be sheltered at this time. For those seeking shelter for their pets, make plans for them now to stay with a loved one, friend or family member as pets will not be allowed in the emergency shelters.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Joint Region Marianas Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman declared a return to Condition of Readiness 4 at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with the governor saying that Guam has not sustained major damages.

In COR 4, government of Guam operations resume but Guam Department of Education public schools and Catholic schools will remain closed for Wednesday. GDOE employees are to report to work by 12 p.m.

"We are very blessed and fortunate that there are no known major damages. Houses are up. Commercial buildings are intact. All RISE roofs that have been done are standing strong. FEMA tents are up. Every part of our island is pretty much safe," the governor said in a video message shortly before 10 a.m.

The governor thanked residents for their adherence to warnings and for following requests to prepare and plan for the storm.

"Without that, I think we wouldn't be in a very safe place right now. As a result of that, I am declaring Condition of Readiness 4 at 10 am. All government agencies will be open and operational," she said.

But the weather, she said, would still be a little treacherous with rain from Bolaven's tail end.

"Please continue to be safe. We 've been very blessed that this storm didn't hit us with damaging winds. Now our work returns to restoring this island and continue to support all our efforts in recovery,' Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said in the same video message.

Guam was spared the brunt of Typhoon Bolaven. Its closest approach to Guam was at 50 miles around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Most businesses have resumed operations.

But while the island dodged Bolaven, it still got heavy rains, flash floods and strong winds that kept most residents indoors and businesses closed for most of Tuesday.

Bolaven started pulling away from the Marianas late Tuesday night.

It developed into a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, and held steady for six to 10 hours, and then passed right between Rota and Tinian Tuesday night. Bolaven's closest point of approach was about 20 miles from Rota at about 5 p.m. and 25 miles from Tinian at around 7 p.m. Tuesday, NWS said.

At first light Wednesday, the governor did a windshield assessment of damages. This was followed by a decision to return Guam to COR 4.

All major thoroughfares were clear of any major debris and accessible. The community is reminded to conduct assessments around their homes in a safe manner, the Joint Information Center said.

Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz conducted assessments and declared the All Clear.

"For all military base personnel, please report to work when it is safe for you to do so. For base patrons, please continue to visit the JRM Facebook page as well as each of the individual military installation social media pages for all of the latest information about the return to steady state and the availability of services," JIC said.

As of 7 a.m., Bolaven was located 16.4 degrees north latitude and 144.3 degrees east longitude, about 205 miles north of Guam, moving north-northwest at 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.

The typhoon watch and tropical storm warning has been canceled for Guam as of 8 a.m. Wednesday. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more are no longer expected for Guam.

Stay out of the water

Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions, JIC said.

Hazardous to dangerous sea and surf conditions are still expected. High risk of rip currents is in effect. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water.

Residents and visitors of Guam and the CNMI are advised to remain out of the water. Residents and visitors are also advised against venturing along trails close to the water or shoreline, as high surf can knock a person down and sweep them off beaches and rocks. These waves can be deadly, even for the most experienced swimmers.

Reopening updates
The Guam Power Authority on Monday said it will keep power on through the approach of Tropical Storm Bolaven as long as the island wide power systems feeders and circuits remain intact.

Only severe adverse conditions caused by typhoon-force winds will cause an automatic shutdown of the system, GPA stated in a release. Automatic shutdown will help to protect the system and allow for quick repairs.

GPA teams will begin restoration of power immediately after storm or typhoon force conditions pass and Condition of Readiness 4 is declared. Teams will be mobilized once high winds return to a safe level, to begin the recovery phase of the island-wide power system.

Priority for power restoration will be given to hospitals, critical water wells, wastewater facilities, communications facilities, schools, shelters, public health and safety facilities, and ports of entry, GPA stated.

Residents are asked not to overwhelm the GPA trouble dispatch lines with inquiries about service restoration.

The power authoritys automated meter network will inform them of where pocket outages are located, and dispatch calls should be made for downed, sparking lines, damaged poles, or blown transformers.

Consider such situations as dangerous and life threatening. If such conditions are present, please immediately report this situation, the agency stated.

Reach the 24-hour GPA dispatch at 671-475-1472/3/4, or through GPAs Facebook Page.

GPA wants everyone to stay safe and secure and we ask for your patience and understanding as we get through the storm together, the agency stated.
Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas, together with 11 other senators, on Friday introduced a resolution that supports legislation in Washington, D.C. that will cover the costs of shipping for adaptive vehicles for qualified veterans with disabilities.

Under federal law, financial assistance is provided to qualified veterans with disabilities to buy adaptive vehicles or other conveyances.

Currently, such vehicles are not available on Guam, costing thousands of dollars to qualified disabled veterans.

Resolution 218-37, authored by San Nicolas, a Democrat, supports a measure introduced in January 2023 by Republican Del. James Moylan that will amend existing federal law, requiring the Office of Veteran Affairs to cover shipping costs.

I am a veteran and, as lawmakers, we should work to improve the livelihoods of the communities we serve, said San Nicolas, author of Resolution 218-37, and the legislative chairman of the Committee on Veteran Affairs. Amending the Federal law will not only cover shipping costs for adaptive vehicles or other conveyances for disabled veterans, who qualify for financial assistance, but will also help them maintain their independence.

Resolution 218-37 is an act relative to supporting H.R. 522 or Deliver for Veterans Act, introduced in the House of Representatives, which aims to cover the shipping and delivery expenses of adaptive vehicles provided for veterans with disabilities.

I would like to thank Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas, the chairman of the Veteran Affairs Legislative Committee for introducing a resolution supporting H.R. 522, Deliver For Veterans Act and for his unwavering commitment to our veterans, Moylan, Guams representative to the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement. Sen. San Nicolas and I are both veterans and have served our country with pride. We understand the needs of our local veterans and are committed to providing them with the support they deserve.

Moylan said during his campaign for office, he pledged to represent Guams veterans in Congress if elected.

The Deliver for Veterans Act is one of the ways we are achieving this goal. I will continue to fight for our veterans in Congress and ensure they receive the recognition and support they deserve, he said.

San Nicolas bipartisan resolution is co-sponsored by Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, and Sens. Joanne Brown, Roy A.B. Quinata, Frank Blas, Jr., Chris Barnett, Amanda L. Shelton, Christopher Duenas, Joe S. San Agustin, Jesse A. Lujan, and William A. Parkinson.

I really want to thank Sen. San Nicolas for leading the charge on this important issue, Parkinson said. As a caretaker for my veteran father for a long time, I know how difficult accessibility and access can be for veterans with disabilities. This resolution helps veterans, and their families maintain dignity and self-sufficiency.
As a result of Condition of Readiness 1, government agencies and businesses announced temporary closures or limited opening hours for Tuesday and beyond.

Some businesses started closing temporarily on Monday. This list will be updated from time to time.

Canceled, added flights

The Guam International Airport Authority reminds the community that the airport is open 24/7 and will service any and all airline flights. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates. Visit https://www.guamairport.com/ to view live flight data.

GIAA provides the following flight updates from the respective airlines:

Korean Air flights canceled: Tuesday, KE 421 ETA at 1515 from Incheon Tuesday, 422 ETD at 1700 to Incheon Wednesday, KE 423 ETA at 0105 from Incheon Wednesday, KE 424 ETD at 0225 to Incheon

Korean Air flights added: Thursday, KE 8425 ETA at 2307 Friday, KE 8526 ETD at 0025

Jin Air flights canceled: Tuesday, LJ 647 ETA at 1315 from Busan Tuesday, LJ 648 ETD at 1415 to Busan Tuesday, LJ 643 ETA at 1400 from Incheon Tuesday, LJ 644 ETD at 1500 to Incheon Tuesday, LJ 641 ETA at 1445 from Incheon Tuesday, LJ 642 ETD at 1615 to Incheon

Jeju Air flights canceled: Tuesday, 7C 1182 ETA at 1530 from Narita Tuesday, 7C 1181 ETD at 1640 to Narita Tuesday, 7C 3106 ETA at 1605 from Incheon Tuesday, 7C 3106 ETD at 1710 to Incheon Wednesday, 7C 3106 ETA at 0200 from Incheon Wednesday, 7C 3105 ETD at 0310 to Incheon

T-Way flights canceled: Tuesday, TW 9301 ETA at 0210 from Incheon Tuesday, TW 9302 ETD at 0310 to Incheon Tuesday, TW 303 ETA at 1400 from Incheon Tuesday, TW 304 ETD at 1500 to Incheon



Businesses

All Pay-Less Supermarket locations closed starting at 9 p.m. Monday, until further notice. Online shopping with curbside pickup and delivery will also be unavailable during this time.

Two Lovers Point or Puntan Dos Amantes operations are closed and suspended, until the governor declares a return to COR 4.

Agana Shopping Center is closed until COR 4 is declared.

Guam Premier Outlets (GPO) is closed until further notice.

Bank of Guam branches will remain closed Tuesday.

Updated: Bank of Hawaii's Hagatna and Harmon branches will be closed Tuesday.

Community First Federal Credit Union will be closed Tuesday.

First Hawaiian Bank on Guam and Saipan will be closed on Tuesday, until further notice.

Coast 360 Federal Credit Union locations will remain closed during COR 1.

Mobil service stations on Guam will be progressively closed by 5 p.m. Tuesday, the company said. Stations will reopen when it is safe to do so. "There is sufficient fuel in Guam to meet the needs of our customers and the community. We urge customers to buy only what they need," Mobil said.

OPEN: Micronesia Mall and MM Theatre open Tuesday until 1:30 p.m., the mall said. It plans to resume normal operation hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

OPEN: Plaza Shopping Center is open until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Government agencies

At COR 1, the government of Guam, with the exception of essential services, will continue to be non-operational and will remain closed until COR 4 is announced.

Simultaneously, Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz were also in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1 at 10 p.m. Monday. The Department of Defense will delay implementing some of the TCCOR1 actions to minimize impact to installation services.

Trash pickup will be temporarily suspended until COR 4 is declared.

All Guam Waterworks Authority and Guam Power Authority customer service centers are closed.

The Guam Judiciary remains closed, and will reopen when COR 4 is declared.

The Guam Legislature remains closed until COR 4 is declared.

All schools are closed under COR 1.

Hospitals and clinics

Guam Memorial Hospital Authority is accepting pregnant mothers who are 36 weeks or more and all high-risk pregnant mothers who are 24 weeks or more into their pregnancy as of 6 p.m. Pregnant mothers who arrive later will still be accepted. Expectant mothers are asked to please check with their healthcare provider for guidance if they are unsure if they have a high-risk pregnancy.

The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains operational 24/7. The community may call or text the hotline at 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

(Updated) Guam Regional Medical City will suspend visiting hours as of 12 p.m. Tuesday. All GRMC clinics will be open until 12 p.m. and will reopen once the island is placed in COR 4. All appointments will be rescheduled accordingly. All admitted patients are permitted to have one watcher. All emergencies will be properly assessed, triaged, and treated accordingly.

Fresenius Dialysis Centers will be open until 12 p.m. Tuesday. Fresenius facilities have contacted patients regarding their dialysis treatments. The clinics are tentatively scheduled to reopen on Wednesday.

Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic is closed Tuesday.

Emergency shelters open

Northern

Astumbo Elementary School

Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School

Machananao Elementary School

Upi Elementary School

Central

George Washington High School

Southern




Haiti - FLASH : The Haitian army is recruiting cadets, registrations open





The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) notify the public in general and interested parties in particular that cadet candidates will be recruited from 9 to October 29, 2023.



Documents required for registration:

a) The diploma and transcripts from the end of secondary studies;

b) A certificate of good conduct and morals issued by the Haitian National Police;

c) An extract from the Birth Certificate issued by the National Archives;

d) One (1) recent passport photo;

e) A photocopy of the National Identification Card (CIN);

f) A photocopy of the tax registration number (NIF);

g) A cover letter;

h) A letter of recommendation.



Admission criteria and conditions:

1.- Be of Haitian nationality;

2.- Be at least 18 years old and at most 23 years old on January 2, 2024;

3.- Be in good physical and mental health (exams will be required);

4.- Minimum female height 1.60m / Minimum male height 1.70m;

5.- Be available for four years of military training;

6.- Demonstrate good knowledge of the Spanish language (the level B-2 test must be passed at least 60%).



Online registration form : https://forms.gle/xn4tbRGYS1CMCEE47



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Partial reopening of the Dominican border, new measures and an embargo





Monday October 9, 2023, the Spokesperson for the Dominican Government, Homero Figueroa, unveiled new measures at the border following a meeting of the National Security Council:



- Activation of a fund from the Development and Export Bank (Bandex) to finance a vast agricultural mechanization program in order to reduce the hiring of illegal Haitian workers;



- Strengthening the militarization of the border to make access to our territory even more difficult for gang members fleeing the upcoming arrival of a multinational force;



- Maintaining the closure of the border to immigration indefinitely, to prevent the transit of people coming from Haitian territory.



- Indefinite extension of the suspension of the issuance of visas to Haitian citizens.



- Banning the export to Haiti of electronic products, cement, iron rebar and other construction materials to prevent the construction of structures that would threaten our environmental assets.



- Establishment of Provisional Trade Corridors (PTC), with strict military control measures and mandatory biometric registration, in the provinces of Dajabon, Elias Pina, Independencia and Pedernales to facilitate trade in essential Dominican products such as food and medications, especially for infants.



These measures will continue to be the new norm at the border until Haiti returns to normal governance...



Reopening under strict military control of border crossings on Wednesday October 11 from 8:00 a.m. local time (12:00 GMT).



The other measures will begin to be applied from Friday October 13 at 6:00 a.m.



The Haitian Government reacting to these measures recalls that an outcome will only be acceptable if it allows the equitable sharing of water resources, the normalization of relations between the two countries and the complete return to the movement of people and goods of both sides, as was the case between the two Republics before the unilateral closure of September 15.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Contraband : Haitians continue to stock up on Dominican products





While more and more Haitians are saying that Haiti should close its borders to Dominicans who seem "apparently" indifferent to the consequences of the measures taken by the neighboring Government, they advocate the consumption of local products to be less dependent, see self-sufficient "Borders must remain closed. The Dominicans can keep their products, we will buy other things. Instead of eating meat, we will eat herring and cod," declares a very angry and militant nationalist local resident.



But beyond an apparent and rare nationalist unity, Haitians continue "from behind" to obtain supplies of Dominican products thanks to contraband which is exploding in the face of strong demand...



Videos circulating on social media show Haitians crossing on foot to uncontrolled border areas to buy Dominican products and resell them on the Haitian market, and several traders have confirmed that they find all the products through the contraband that exists between the two countries for decades.



"We manage to find products, even if they are more expensive," explained a Haitian vendor who sells salami, hot dogs, meat and chicken wings in Haiti.



Armed gangs also contribute. "As food prices rise, they hold the transporters to ransom and demand more and more money to let them pass," which ends up having repercussions on the price at which traders sell their products https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40693-haiti-flash-ouanaminthe-gunfire-and-tear-gas-at-the-border.html



According to official figures, more than half of what Haitians consume comes from the Dominican Republic. If Dominican food products are among the most demanded, Haiti also needs medicine and construction materials (mainly iron and cement), so since the closure, the shortage has become more and more obvious



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40698-haiti-flash-partial-reopening-of-the-dominican-border-new-measures-and-an-embargo.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40693-haiti-flash-ouanaminthe-gunfire-and-tear-gas-at-the-border.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : The High Court of Kenya suspends for 2 weeks the deployment of the mission in Haiti





On Monday October 9, 2023, the Kenyan High Court issued a precautionary order temporarily preventing the Kenyan Government from deploying the country's security forces in any other country for two weeks, until a complaint filed Friday October 6 by the opponent Ekuru Aukot, former defeated presidential candidate be examined. The latter challenges the decision to lead a multinational force to combat gang violence in Haiti, following a United Nations Security Council resolution affirming that the law authorizing the President to do so was contrary to the articles of the Constitution.



Aukot's complaint also criticizes President William Ruto for agreeing to lead the international mission as Kenya grapples with security challenges stemming from militant attacks and, more recently, ethnic clashes....



The High Court judge, Me. Chacha Mwita, on Monday granted the parties involved, including President Ruto, the Minister of Interior and the Inspector General of Police, three days to file a response to the request for Aukot.



The next court hearing is set for October 24.



Let's recall that last week, Kenyan Opposition Leader Raila Odinga also criticized Kenya's involvement in the mission in Haiti, saying the country had its own security challenges.



Note that Kenya has not yet confirmed the deployment date of the 1,000 officers it plans to send to Haiti. Ruto declared on October 3 that the Kenyan-led force would not let the Haitian people down.



Photo thumbnail : left Ekuru Aukot right President William Ruto



SL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2023/10/09

As the largest film festival in Asia with a similarly important film market to match, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is front and center when it comes to promoting South Korea as a film center and cultural center for the region. Consequently, many have been surprised to see "Because I Hate Korea" opening for BIFF this year. Based on the novel of the same title, "Because I Hate Korea" depicts Hell Joseon, a notion associated with youth malaise over poor economic and social prospects.

Advertisement

Negative depictions of South Korean culture in the country's media are far from new. "Parasite" and "Squid Game" both stand out as popular, wildly lauded titles that depict the country in ambivalent terms. But "Because I Hate Korea" has a far more realist scope. Its heroine, played by Go Ah-sung, simply gives up on South Korea entirely, finding personal fulfillment in New Zealand, away from a tedious commute and a crowded family home.

Hell Joseon is far from a new idea, dating back to the mid-teens. So the continuing, if not increasing relevance of "Because I Hate Korea" is an unsettling trend. It shows a youth culture in South Korea that, rather than wanting to work a job or have a family, simply wants to abandon the country entirely to travel the world. While this is a convincing enough story of personal development, it's difficult to imagine what benefit South Korea has from projecting this kind of brand.

In one sense, for a film like this to headline the Busan International Film Festival, South Korea shows itself as an exemplar of free speech and democracy. But on the other end, the question is begged, if free speech and democracy are so wonderful, how is it that this malaise even exists in the first place? Why is there only serious energy behind films documenting that this trend exists, with no comparably serious efforts to solve these social problems?

These troublesome questions go beyond the aesthetic. Despite the high profile granted to "Because I Hate Korea" at BIFF, it's unclear whether the film will have much distribution beyond that market. As of yet, "Because I Hate Korea" still doesn't have a release window in South Korean theaters.

Written by William Schwartz
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Throughout this extensive project, Helsinki Airport prioritized its passengers, businesses, and airport staff, ensuring that their needs were meticulously integrated into the planning process.

In a historic achievement , Helsinki Airport, operated by Finavia, has successfully concluded its decade-long development program, marking a new era for travelers. With a staggering investment of over one billion euros, Helsinki Airport now stands as Europe's best airport in its category, ready to host 30 million passengers annually.

The airport's architectural finesse not only reflects Finnish design but also showcases the nation's expertise in its services and offerings.

As a result of this transformative endeavor, the terminal's floor area has increased by 45%, introducing modern facilities that enhance passenger experience. The departure and arrival halls have been fully renovated, unifying the airport into a single-terminal model. Furthermore, the security control, shops, restaurants, services, and parking facilities have been comprehensively updated to meet the highest standards.

One of the remarkable outcomes of the development program is the enhancement of Helsinki Airport's shopping and dining options. Nearly 20 new commercial units have been introduced, expanding the terminal's retail space to 29,000 square meters, ensuring travelers have a diverse array of choices.

The introduction of the new travel center has seamlessly connected various modes of transportation, offering convenient links to Helsinki city center and other parts of Finland. This integrated hub, supported by approximately 9.6 million euros in EU funding, integrates local and long-distance bus services, commuter trains, a taxi station, and various airport parking areas, ensuring efficient connectivity.

Airlines have also benefited significantly from this development, with expanded terminal space, additional aircraft parking spots, passenger boarding bridges, and increased baggage handling capacity. Approximately 50 airlines, serving 130 destinations globally, now operate seamlessly at Helsinki Airport, elevating the overall customer experience.

Kimmo Maki, CEO of Finavia, expressed his excitement about the completed project, emphasizing how the airport's functions and services have been consolidated under one roof. This consolidation has not only provided travelers with a world-class experience but has also ensured that all services are easily accessible within the airport's premises.

The international accolades received by Helsinki Airport further underscore its excellence. ACI (Airports Council International) honored Helsinki Airport as the best airport in Europe in its size category, recognizing its sustainability efforts, operational efficiency, innovation, and exceptional recovery from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the physical transformation, Helsinki Airport's development program has also prioritized climate and environmental considerations. By making mindful material choices and implementing innovative energy solutions, the airport achieved carbon neutrality in 2017, setting a benchmark for sustainable practices in the industry.

In essence, Helsinki Airport's monumental transformation not only represents a significant milestone for Finland's global accessibility but also sets a new standard for excellence in the realm of airport services and infrastructure. Travelers can now expect an unparalleled experience as they embark on their journeys through the epitome of Finnish elegance and efficiency: Helsinki Airport.

HT
In a significant and concerning turn of events, Finnish and Estonian authorities, with the support of international allies, continue their investigation into the recent damage to underwater infrastructure. The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the Baltic Sea region, raising questions about the security of crucial connections between the two nations.

President Sauli Niinisto expressed his concerns about the incident, stating, "The damage to the underwater infrastructure has been taken seriously, and its causes have been investigated since Sunday. It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the data cable is caused by external activity. What specifically caused the damage is not yet known."

The Finnish and Estonian governments have taken this incident seriously, initiating a joint investigation to uncover the truth behind the damage. This collaborative effort reflects the shared commitment of both nations to maintaining security and resilience in the Baltic region. President Niinisto also discussed the situation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who offered NATO's support in the ongoing investigation. This international engagement underscores the significance of the incident and its potential global implications.

Despite the disruption to critical infrastructure, the incident has not had any discernible impact on the nation's security of supply, reassuring both the Finnish population and international observers, President Niinisto emphasized, "Finland's level of preparedness is good. These events have no impact on our security of supply."

The damaged gas pipeline at the center of this incident is the Balticconnector, a vital link connecting Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia. Stretching over 77 kilometers, this pipeline plays a pivotal role in ensuring energy security in the region. The investigation was triggered by a sudden and sharp drop in pressure observed on October 8, which suggests a potential leak. Repairing the damage, if confirmed, is estimated to take several months, contingent on the extent of the harm.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with underwater infrastructure and the potential consequences of disruptions. A similar incident in 2022 affected the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea. One year after the event, the investigation has not produced any results. Renown Pulitzer prize winner Seymour Hersh revealed based on his sources in the US establishment, that the Nord Stream was blown up by United States with the help of Norway.

In response to the incident, Finnish gas system operator Gasgrid and Estonian gas transmission system operator Elering have acted swiftly by shutting off the pipeline's valves to prevent further gas leakage. Crucially, consumers in both Finland and Estonia continue to receive gas from alternative sources, ensuring an uninterrupted supply despite the challenges.

HT
The preference for using cash remains strong among Finns, with 95% of citizens considering it crucial for cash to continue being a valid payment method alongside digital alternatives. This sentiment is particularly prevalent among the elderly and those residing in smaller towns, with only 7% supporting the idea of completely abandoning cash transactions. According to a recent study conducted by IRO Research for Nosto ATMs, these results highlight the significance of cash as a secure and reliable payment option for many Finns.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and concerns about supply security have affected the attitude of nearly one-third (28%) of Finns towards cash.

"Cash usage, especially in the context of supply security, is fundamentally tied to social responsibility. Not every Finn has access to bank cards or digital services. Historically, societal upheavals often lead to an increased reliance on cash. The conflict in Ukraine underscored the importance of supply security, prompting Finns to consider multiple payment methods as a prudent approach. People in Finland perceive cash as a safe payment medium, and they recognize the wisdom in maintaining diverse payment options," said Risto Lepo, Country Manager of Nosto ATMs.

The survey findings revealed that 35% of Finns have either reserved or plan to set aside extra cash due to prevailing economic uncertainties. Among them, 67% did so as a precautionary measure for unexpected situations.

Cash is viewed as a source of security: 44% of those reserving extra cash did so to enhance their sense of safety, while 21% believed cash eased their daily life challenges.

The role of cash has diminished in Finland due to the nation's rapid digitization of banking services and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For 48% of Finns, the amount of cash they carry has remained the same, while only 8% reported an increase, according to the study.

"The European Commission recommends that accepting cash payments should be a standard practice in retail. Refusal should require a valid reason. Many situations still necessitate the use of cash. In severe disruption scenarios, maintaining diverse payment methods is crucial for Finland's societal functionality and security. Unlike Finland, Sweden recognizes cash as a legal payment method, making it mandatory to accept cash payments in all establishments. Finland needs clearer legislation to safeguard the use of cash," emphasized Lepo.

As Finland navigates these changes, the study highlights the importance of addressing the diverse needs of citizens and ensuring that payment methods, including cash, remain accessible to all, thereby fostering a resilient and inclusive society.

HT
The Zekki Finland report, a collaborative effort from researchers at DiakHub, presents a comprehensive analysis of the well-being of Finnish youth.

A new report compiled by Diakonia University of Applied Sciences' innovation center, DiakHub, raises concerns about the well-being of Finnish youth. The Zekki Finland report, launched on World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2023, reveals that up to 37% of young people in Finland are dissatisfied with their lives.

The data was gathered through the Zekki digital service, a platform specifically designed for young people, and highlights areas where young individuals require additional support.

"In the happiest country in the world, the satisfaction of young people with their lives is only at a moderate level, rated at 6.1 on a scale of 010. In comparison, the overall satisfaction of adults in Finland is 8.0. While 63% of young people are at least somewhat content with their lives, a significant 37% express dissatisfaction," stated Sakari Kainulainen, a professor, researcher, and specialist at DiakHub.

The report underscores that young people particularly need support in areas related to self-esteem and overcoming life challenges. Nearly half of the respondents indicated dissatisfaction in these areas, with average ratings of 5.3 and 5.8 on a scale of 010. Previous research suggests these are the areas with the least available support services for young people.

Encouragingly, the report also revealed that 79% of young individuals are at least somewhat content with their families and living situations, with average ratings of 7.4 and 7.3 on a scale of 010.

Of significant concern is the well-being of young individuals identifying as non-binary. Their overall life satisfaction, rated at 4.9 on a scale of 010, was lower than that of young men and women in every aspect of life. Only 40% expressed contentment, while 60% reported dissatisfaction.

But what does youth well-being encompass? "The well-being of young people involves the smooth flow of everyday life, engaging activities, sufficient income, a sense of security, supportive social connections, optimism, a sense of purpose, and overall life satisfaction. Resilience is built in a safe atmosphere," explained Reija Paananen, the lead developer of Zekki from DiakHub.

The Zekki Finland report offers policymakers and social service providers a comprehensive overview of the well-being of Finnish youth. Through DiakHub, regional data specific to individual municipalities or well-being areas can be accessed.

"Reducing the distress among young people requires comprehensive measures that consider the entirety of their lives," emphasized Paananen.

Background:

What is the Zekki Finland Report?

Produced semi-annually by Diakonia University of Applied Sciences' DiakHub innovation center, the Zekki Finland report compiles data from the youth-focused Zekki digital service. The report provides insights into various aspects of youth well-being, such as health, daily functioning, and social relationships. The data presented in the current report is from spring 2023, offering an up-to-date snapshot of the well-being of Finnish youth.

About the Zekki Digital Service:

The Zekki digital service, an internationally and nationally recognized social innovation, connects young people with support services while collecting real-time data about the well-being of 1525-year-olds using the 3X10D life situation measure. Nearly 32,000 self-assessments from individuals of this age group have been recorded on the platform. During spring 2023, a total of 7,527 young people, including 4,553 girls/women, 2,265 boys/men, and 304 non-binary individuals, participated in the self-assessment. Responses were collected from all well-being regions and 263 municipalities.

HT
Historically, human rights have focused on essential needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. However, mental health has been recognized as a critical pillar for human well-being.

In a significant move , the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mental health as a universal human right, emphasizing the need for a human-rights based approach in addressing mental health issues. The announcement was made by Poonam Khetrapal , WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

According to WHO's definition, mental health is a state of well-being where an individual realizes their abilities, copes with life's stresses, works productively, and contributes to their community. It's not just the absence of mental disorders but a positive state of mental and emotional well-being. This perspective aligns mental health with the broader conception of human rights, emphasizing the freedom to lead a fulfilling life.

Khetrapal stressed that regardless of location, occupation, or identity, every individual is entitled to achieve the highest attainable level of mental well-being. This includes safeguarding oneself from mental health risks, ensuring access to high-quality mental health care, and promoting freedom and involvement within communities. Mental health intersects with various aspects of life such as education, employment, housing, and social participation. Protecting mental health enables individuals to exercise other rights effectively.

To establish mental health as a universal human right, societal attitudes and government policies must transform. Awareness and education are crucial to destigmatize mental health issues. Discrimination and stigma often prevent individuals from seeking help and support. Accessible mental health services and facilities are essential, irrespective of socioeconomic status or location.

Despite the vital role mental health plays in overall well-being, one in seven people in countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region are living with mental health conditions. Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common conditions, contributing to almost half of the total number of people living with mental disorders in the region.

WHO's South-East Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with its partners, continues to work toward valuing, promoting, and protecting mental health. The organization emphasizes a human rights approach and gender equity in planning and implementing mental health programs and service delivery. The recently launched WHO Mental Health Action Plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region (2023-2030) incorporates these principles.

To further strengthen mental health services, WHO organized a regional workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka, focusing on expanding community-based mental health services aligned with human rights standards. Several Member States have updated their mental health policies and laws to include international human rights components, and progress has been made in providing access to mental health services through primary care and community-based initiatives.

WHO's efforts in 2023 also saw the publication of an interactive dashboard containing regional and country epidemiological and burden data. This dashboard enhances monitoring of the mental health situation in the region, aiding in evidence-based decision-making.

Two essential approaches are being taken to operationalize human rights and mental health. The first involves supporting countries in their deinstitutionalization efforts, moving away from psychiatric hospitals and focusing on community-level mental health treatment and care. The second approach provides individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions, along with their families and caregivers, a platform to discuss their perspectives with mental health and social care program planners. Together, they draft a charter on their rights, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

In conclusion, mental health is undeniably a universal human right, as fundamental to human dignity as physical health. The WHO's declaration marks a pivotal moment in the global understanding of mental health, emphasizing the need for inclusive, accessible, and rights-based mental health services for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.

HT
Finland has reached a significant technological milestone as VTT, a leading research organization, and the Finnish quantum technology company, IQM Quantum Computers, have successfully completed the development of Finland's second quantum computer. This cutting-edge 20-qubit quantum computer showcases Finland's strong national technological expertise and its ability to scale quantum computing solutions to tackle increasingly complex problems.

The development of this new quantum computer represents a leap forward in quantum technology, demonstrating the nation's high level of domestic technological proficiency and robust collaboration among industry players. Finland now stands poised to create an entirely new industry centered around quantum technology, highlighting the immense potential for growth in this field.

"At present, Finland is one of the global frontrunners in quantum technology. By investing in this area, we can maintain this position. Scaling up quantum computers offers Finnish businesses the opportunity to further develop their expertise and technology. This progress will lead to exportable products, attract international talent and investments. The economic benefits will extend far into the future, with innovations benefiting Finland through intellectual property rights and tax revenues," stated Antti Vasara, CEO of VTT.

Crucial advancements have been made in the development of the new quantum computer, enabling the scaling up of quantum bits (qubits), leading to increased computational power and improved capabilities to solve even more challenging problems. These advancements include enhancements in integration methods and signaling. The project has also focused on developing manufacturing and packaging methods, allowing a greater number of qubits to be placed on a single chip and conducting their electronic signals at temperatures close to absolute zero.

"While the new quantum computer currently boasts 20 qubits on a single chip, our manufacturing method allows for scaling the number of qubits even further. This marks a significant developmental direction as we aim to build larger and more efficient quantum computers," explained Pekka Pursula, Research Manager at VTT.

Expressing pride in this achievement, Dr. Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-founder of IQM Quantum Computers, highlighted the significance of this milestone not only for their team but also for the entire European quantum ecosystem. He emphasized IQM's commitment to advancing the strategic European agenda by fostering collaboration among various stakeholders to attract more investments, support ecosystem expansion, and enhance competitiveness.

The new quantum computer is housed in Otaniemi at the national micro and nanotechnology facility, Micronova, which also hosts Finland's first quantum computer. The national project, initiated in 2020, aimed to build a functional 5-qubit quantum computer, showcasing Finland's expertise in quantum computing. The overarching goal of the project is to construct a 50-qubit quantum computer by the end of 2024.

"The completion of the quantum computer is a crucial step towards achieving the project's ultimate goal of a 50-qubit quantum computer. The development work will continue in collaboration with IQM, and our objective is to upgrade the 20-qubit quantum computer to a 50-qubit quantum computer by the end of 2024," stated Pursula.

Looking ahead, with additional funding from the government, efforts will be directed towards even larger goals. The quantum computer will be scaled towards 300 qubits, bringing Finland closer to realizing quantum advantage - a significant stride toward harnessing the power of quantum computing for practical applications.

HT
Shooter 'was in direct violation' of company rules, restaurant owner says

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, who owns the McDonald's where a fatal shooting took place on Monday, issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victim's family and declaring that the employee now charged with second-degree murder "was in direct violation of our organizations rules" prohibiting firearms on company property.

Our entire restaurant team remains in shock after todays tragic events, and our hearts go out to the victims family during this difficult time," Edwards and his wife, Teresa, an executive with the company, said in a statement. "We are concentrating on ensuring our people receive the support they need, and are making crisis counselors available to all employees. We continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation and encourage the community to direct any questions to the Hendersonville Police Department.

The city said in a news release that the McDonald's manager was intervening when the victim was making a disturbance in the restaurant. During the disturbance, the victim reached out and touched the restaurant employee, who shot the victim with a concealed handgun, police said. The shooter, identified as Sam Antwan Ivey, is charged with second-degree order.

Edwards made two points about company policy:

The employee in question was in direct violation of our organizations rules of conduct policy  one that he had acknowledged and signed  which prohibits firearms on company property.

All employees go through conflict-management training as part of their onboarding, and we are looking at expanding that training even further in light of this tragedy.






Consent order bars Edney from working in trusts

Saying that it had received information that he mishandled trust accounts, the North Carolina State Bar won an order in Wake County Superior Court last spring blocking Hendersonville attorney J. Michael Edney from receiving or disbursing money to clients or other people and from serving in any fiduciary capacity until the bar completes an audit of the trust accounts.

A Superior Court judge on April 12 granted a consent order of preliminary injunction after the Bar argued in a court filing that prompt action was needed to preserve the status quo and ensure that entrusted funds are not mishandled.

Edney, who represented himself in court, and attorney Jennifer A. Porter of the state Bar consented to the order.

Although the Bar said Edney desires to cooperate with the North Carolina State Bar, it also said that in the period leading up to the order he had failed to provide documents subpoenaed from him by the State Bar necessary for the State Bar to identify clients and transactions so it could determine whether all funds that should be in the trust accounts for his clients are present in the accounts, the orders findings of fact said.

Edney, who is also a sixth-term Henderson County commissioner and the boards vice chair, called the order six-month-old news and said he would prefer that the Lightning hold off on doing the story until the audit is completed and I can show everything is good. He went on, however, to respond to questions the Lightning asked via text message.

The preliminary injunction, he said, was the result of (a) normal routine audit (that) showed that funds had been taken from my attorney trust account by third parties. Those funds have been recovered. The Bar requested to do a complete audit and I agreed and have provided all documents and records they have requested. Now just waiting for them to complete their work.  I agreed not to do legal work involving trust accounts until everything was done.

The four-page court order:

Enjoins Edney from receiving or disbursing any entrusted funds from an individual or entity in any fiduciary capacity, or from writing checks against or disbursing or withdrawing funds from trust funds including accounts into which misappropriated or mishandled client or fiduciary funds were deposited, or from directing any employee or agent to do so.

Directs him to produce to the Bar for inspection and copying records relating to trust accounts and to turn over records of his firms and his personal bank accounts.

Directs him to produce client files including settlement agreements, HUD1 settlement statements (listing charges and credits to the buyer and seller in a real estate transaction), fee agreements, correspondence, litigation documents and memos.

Bars him from serving in any fiduciary capacity, including trustee, escrow agent, settlement agent, personal representative, executor or attorney-in-fact until further order of Wake County Superior Court.

The last bullet, barring him from fiduciary-related parts of a legal practice, does not mean he cannot work at all, he said.

Office and practice continue as normal, he said.

Katherine E. Jean, counsel for the North Carolina State Bar, responding to the Lightnings questions via email, said last week that the order is still in effect and that there are no other filings subsequent to the April 12, 2023, order.

Grievance investigations are confidential and documents in the possession of the Grievance Committee relating to grievance investigations are not public records, she said. It would not be appropriate for the State Bar to comment on an ongoing investigation.
JOHN Howell has condemned the attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

The Henley MP described the barrage of rocket attacks and fighters entering communities and taking hostages near the Gaza Strip as

horrendous.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, including 260 people massacred by Hamas gunmen at a music festival.

Israel says it has since regained control of its communities close to the border but some militants remain active.

The defence minister has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, cutting off food, fuel, electricity and water supplies to the area, which has also been hit by strikes that have killed more than 1,100 people.

Seventeen British citizens are feared dead or missing in the conflict.

Mr Howell said both sides were suffering from the military action.

Speaking from Strasbourg where he is meeting with the Council of Europe, he said: This is an horrendous attack on Israel and we should all pause to think of the loss of life that has occurred on both sides.

This is part of continuing activity that is influenced by some very key groups in the area.

In the town of Sderot in Israel, the number of pregnant women who have had spontaneous miscarriages has gone up to 59 per cent as a result of these attacks from Gaza and that cannot be allowed to go on.

Thats a fundamental breach of their human rights and we need to stop the bitterness of the aggression in order to move forward.

Mr Howell is vice-chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel, which is a parliamentary group dedicated to strengthening business, cultural and political ties with the UK.

He said: The Palestinians have been arguing for some time for a series of things to happen, such as an airport, which has been refused on security grounds.

I can see the security reasons why they wouldnt want an airport on the edge of Israel but unless discussions on this take place then we are going to get nowhere.

In the short term, what will continue to happen is that Israel will continue to bomb Gaza and what that does is hides the enormous co-operation that exists between the two groups, not forgetting that Israel is also a country with a strong Arab population.

What we all need to recognise is the Palestinians have moved in aggressively to Israel and they should return and the bombings stop.

Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by the UK, USA and European Union, rules the Gaza Strip and is sworn to Israels destruction and wants to replace it with an Islamic state.

It has fought several wars since it seized power in 2007 and in between it has fired, or allowed other groups to fire, thousands of rockets at Israel and carried out other attacks.

Israel has also repeatedly attacked Hamas with air strikes and, with the help of Egypt, has blockaded the Gaza Strip since 2007.

In 2012 Mr Howell was sent death threats after an email exchange about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with one of his constituents was posted on the internet.

 What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters

@henleystandard.co.uk
Aries (March 21 - April 19) - Seven of Cups Aries individuals are known for their fiery and energetic personalities. It's a time for Aries to dream big. This tarot card suggests that the world is at their feet, with opportunities appearing everywhere. It's a rare moment when what Aries wants can become a reality by taking initiative and decisive action. While challenges may arise on some days, the prevailing energy is that of success. Aries should avoid inactivity and instead plant seeds, make decisions, and go after what they desire. Tarot Cards ( Representational Image)(Pixabay)

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) - The Three of Swords

Taurus, an earth sign, is characterized by its stability, loyalty, and practicality. The Three of Swords indicates a need for caution in matters of intimacy and trust. Taurus individuals should cherish and nurture their closest relationships, as there's a risk of betrayal. Whether it's a friend becoming emotionally distant or fears of a lover losing interest, Taurus should pay attention to potential threats in their relationships and address any changes promptly. Open communication is key to maintaining trust and harmony.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) - The Six of Pentacles

Gemini, an air sign, is known for its versatility, curiosity, and sociability. The Six of Pentacles encourages Geminis to find greater fulfilment in life by focusing on sharing themselves openly. It suggests that approaching life with the intention of serving and giving, rather than seeking personal gain, leads to a sense of abundance and hope. This card encourages Geminis to embrace the joy of giving and connecting with others in a meaningful way.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) - The Seven of Pentacles

Cancer, a water sign, is characterized by its emotional depth and intuition. The Seven of Pentacles advises Cancer individuals to exercise patience and persistence when working toward long-term goals. While delaying gratification can be challenging, the card emphasizes the importance of staying positive and focused on the future. Cancerians should visualize the rewards and positive changes that their hard work will bring, including the ability to give back to others. By keeping their eyes on the prize, the journey will feel shorter, and success is within reach.

Leo (July 23 - August 22) - The Page of Pentacles

Leo, a fire sign, is associated with confidence, creativity, and leadership. The Page of Pentacles highlights the importance of paying extra attention to finances. Leos are likely to receive messages related to their money and financial matters. They should be vigilant, checking their mail and email for updates about account changes or modifications to bills. Financial awareness and responsible management will help Leos maintain stability and security in their lives.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) - The Hanged Man

Virgo, an earth sign, is known for its practicality and attention to detail. The Hanged Man card suggests that Virgos may be feeling exhausted, and their lives seem to be on hold for some reason. There's a risk of falling into a routine where each day blends into the next. The key to breaking free from this stagnation is to revisit the promises made to themselves. Virgos should go back to their goals, recommit, and take the necessary steps to pursue them, even if they encounter resistance from others.

Libra (September 23 - October 22) - The Page of Cups

Libra, an air sign, values balance, harmony, and relationships. The Page of Cups encourages Librans to explore their innermost thoughts and feelings. It suggests that taking time for self-reflection, writing, spending time in nature, and self-discovery are essential. Libra individuals should embrace this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotional landscape.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) -The Page of Cups

Scorpio, a water sign, is known for its intensity and passion. The World card signifies that Scorpios are in a blessed phase where things are going well, and more positive developments are on the horizon. A wonderful week lies ahead, and breakthroughs in career, love life, or relationships are on the horizon. Scorpios should remain open to the opportunities coming their way, as this period holds great promise.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) -The Four of Pentacles

Sagittarius, a fire sign, is characterized by its adventurous and optimistic nature. The Four of Pentacles advises Sagittarians to assess their money management skills, as finances continue to change. Seeking better skills, knowledge, and advice is essential. Sagittarians are encouraged to read books, consult experts, or explore informative podcasts for valuable financial tips.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) - The Nine of Wands

Capricorn, an earth sign, is known for its ambition and discipline. The Nine of Wands suggests that Capricorns may be experiencing numerous changes, leading to a whirlwind of growth in their lives. To keep up with these transformations, Capricorns should maintain a strong focus and determination.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) - The Six of Cups

Aquarius, an air sign, is associated with independence and innovation. The Six of Cups advises Aquarians not to dwell on the past but to embrace new opportunities. While cherished childhood friendships remain dear, Aquarians should also allow themselves to grow and cultivate new relationships, becoming better versions of themselves.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) - The Strength card

Pisces, a water sign, is known for its empathy and creativity. The Strength card presents a chance for Pisceans to discover hidden strengths within themselves. While they may encounter unexpected disagreements, Pisceans are urged to exercise patience and respond with understanding, rather than reacting in anger. This card reminds them that true strength is revealed when faced with challenges.

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Introduction BML Munjal University has successfully concluded the BRIJ Leadership Summit 2023. The summit was dedicated to exploring the influential role of Gen Z in technology, climate change, and wellness. Dr. Ritu Chikkara and Dr. Sangita Dutta Gupta, serving as the Chair and Co-Chair of the BRIJ Leadership Summit, shared their perspectives on the summit's vision and findings.



1. How did the BRIJ Leadership Summit create a platform for meaningful discussions and interactions among the participants and attendees?

The BRIJ Leadership Summit, as highlighted in the university's survey report titled "Unveiling Tomorrow: Empowering Gen Z in a Changing World," fostered meaningful discussions by adopting a multi-dimensional and experiential approach. It recognised the current global geopolitical changes and leveraged them for insightful conversations. By focusing on Gen Z, the summit embraced their passion and unique perspective, fostering a platform for dynamic discussions on leadership in the 21st century. The summit's workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities created an engaging atmosphere for participants to share ideas and learn from one another. It also leveraged the wisdom of the past while providing the tools for the future, bridging the gap between generational differences and preparing Gen Z for the unique choices and challenges they face.

2. How does the BRIJ Leadership Summit contribute to the university's broader mission and vision, especially in terms of leadership development and industry collaboration?

The BRIJ Leadership Summit aligns closely with the university's broader mission and vision by actively contributing to leadership development and industry collaboration in several key ways. The summit embodied the university's commitment to a multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary approach to education. Focusing on leadership, the summit helped instil values such as responsibility, nurturance, and inspiration in attendees, which are integral to the university's vision of producing well-rounded, socially responsible leaders.

In terms of leadership development, the summit acknowledged the unique challenges faced by Gen Z, including rapid technological advancements and global issues like climate change. It provided a platform for Gen Z attendees to learn from seasoned experts, facilitating knowledge transfer and skill development. Furthermore, the summit's emphasis on industry collaboration was evident in its panel discussions and workshops bringing together industry experts, academics, and students, to foster a collaborative environment where insights and best practices were shared.

3. The survey indicated that Gen Z views AI positively, but there are concerns about job displacement. How do industry experts see the Gen Z-tech relationship evolving, especially in terms of private-sector recruitment?

When it comes to technology, an impressive 65% of Gen Z individuals believe that AI will play a substantial role in various aspects of human life, and 33% foresee its influence on society in the future. However, a substantial 62.8% of Gen Z respondents express genuine worry about AI potentially disrupting traditional job roles and employment stability. Industry experts foresee Gen Z's tech relationship evolving towards a tech-savvy workforce. Gen Z's proficiency in technology is expected to influence recruitment processes, with virtual methods and AI-driven assessments becoming prevalent. Companies will need to align with Gen Z's values, emphasizing ethics, sustainability, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As Gen Z seeks work-life integration, employers may adapt with flexible arrangements. To address Gen Z's job displacement concerns, ongoing skills development will be essential. In summary, Gen Z's tech affinity will reshape recruitment and workplace dynamics, favouring companies that embrace change and shared values.

4. Could you discuss the survey findings related to Gen Z's concerns about climate change and their suggested measures to address this issue?

Gen Z is deeply concerned about climate change, with approximately 50% expressing significant concern. Their proposed measures include transitioning to renewable energy, stricter emissions regulations, sustainable infrastructure, and climate change awareness. Notably, 41% are willing to support environmentally sustainable companies. These survey findings demonstrate that Gen Z is not only concerned about climate change but also proactive in advocating for meaningful solutions. They view climate change as an urgent issue that requires immediate action and are willing to support initiatives and companies that align with their environmental values.

5. The survey findings also touches upon Gen Z's approach to wellness. How is Gen Z redefining wellness, and what are some notable aspects of their wellness journey?

Gen Z is reshaping wellness with a holistic approach that prioritizes physical, mental, and social well-being. A notable 48% of Gen Z individuals deem mental and emotional well-being as extremely important, reflecting their commitment to self-care. They champion sustainable and ethical choices in products and services, aligning their wellness practices with values of responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Furthermore, Gen Z emphasizes DEI in wellness, both personally and in the workplace. They are conscious consumers who make informed choices, valuing diversity and inclusivity in their wellness products and services.

While seamlessly integrating technology into their wellness journey, Gen Z also acknowledges the need to strike a balance between the digital and real world. Challenges related to stress and anxiety, stemming from a fear of failure, call for tailored support systems. These findings underscore the importance of addressing Gen Z's multifaceted well-being, highlighting their commitment to holistic and inclusive wellness practices.



Attributions:

Dr. Ritu Chikkara, Chair, BRIJ Leadership Summit, Associate Professor of Marketing and Sustainability, BML Munjal University

Dr. Sangita Dutta Gupta, Co-Chair, BRIJ Leadership Summit, Associate Professor of Economics, BML Munjal University



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New York, October 5, 2023: Onix, a highly acclaimed, award-winning Google Cloud partner, today announced the acquisition of Datametica, an IP-powered consulting firm specializing in data migration, modernization and BI/analytics. Datametica leverages its suite of proprietary products to automate the process of migrating and modernizing data warehouses, databases, data integration (ETL), and analytical workloads to Google Cloud twice as fast and with guaranteed outcomes for its customers. The company has been a recipient of multiple awards in this space and was recently awarded by Google as the Data Analytics Partner of the Year for 2023.

The combined business will bring together Onix's expertise in cloud migration, application modernization, Google Workspace productivity, geospatial and Generative AI solutions with Datametica's strength in data migration and modernization and data analytics.

For Generative AI to drive effective business outcomes, businesses require consolidated and curated enterprise data, said Sanjay Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Onix. By combining forces with Datametica, our joint solution portfolio will allow us to accelerate data and AI-driven value to customers that is unmatched in the ecosystem .

We are thrilled to be partnering with Onix. Together, we can deliver to our enterprise customers holistic value and help them on their mission of transforming on cloud with data and AI. Onix, with their industry expertise and broad spectrum capabilities in cloud and enterprise strategy consulting, will help us accelerate business transformation for our customers, says Dr. Phil Shelley, Rajiv Gupta, Niraj Kumar & Deepak Badhani, Co-founders of Datametica.

The combined organization operates in the United States, Canada, UK, Singapore and India, with over 1,000+ deep experts in data engineering, machine learning and data science. The company will provide scale and coverage across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM markets, servicing over 1,800+ customers across multiple industry domains.

Tailwind Capital invested in Onix in July 2022 to support strategic growth and build a leading Google Cloud Partner. Equity financing for the Datametica acquisition was provided primarily by Tailwind, and Tailwind continues to support an aggressive acquisition plan for Onix. Gurvendra Suri, a Tailwind Operating Executive, serves as Executive Chairman of Onix.

BMO Harris served as financial advisor to Datametica, and Avendus Capital served as financial advisor to Onix as part of the transaction.

About Onix:

Onix is a trusted cloud consulting company and a leading Google Cloud partner that helps companies get the most out of their technology with innovative, cloud-powered solutions and services. We are able to deliver exceptional results for our customers because of our 20+ year partnership with Google Cloud, our dedication to customer success, and depth of technology expertise. Visit onixnet.com to learn more about our story and solutions.

About Datametica:

Datametica Solutions is a Google Cloud migration partner that empowers GSI's and enterprises with state-of-the-art solutions for migrating data warehouses, databases, ETL, and analytical workloads to Google Cloud. Leveraging automation and expertise, Datametica provides software and solutions that transform legacy and existing Cloud systems onto Google Cloud's advanced analytics solutions. The company's cutting-edge technologies, including Eagle, Raven, and Pelican products, enable fast, low-cost and low-risk data warehouse assessment, workload and ETL conversion, and data validation, ensuring a smooth and successful cloud migration journey.

About Tailwind:

Tailwind Capital is a private equity firm with a sector-focused approach to investing in U.S. lower middle market services companies within Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain and IT Services. Tailwinds value creation model is centered on its Buy and Build investment strategy, which seeks to scale lower middle market businesses through accretive acquisitions and operational investments, including foundational resourcing, professionalizing operations, implementing technology capabilities and investing in talent. Since inception, Tailwind has invested $4 billion in over 265 acquisitions, including 51 platform companies and over 215 add-on acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.tailwind.com.

PR contact:

Carly Sumlin

1991 Crocker Rd

Westlake, OH 44145

carly@onixnet.com

Phone: 216-529-3000

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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Gadar 2 is set for its world digital premiere on ZEE5 Global on October 6, 2023. The action drama is a collaborative effort between Anil Sharma and Zee Studios. It is a follow-up to the 2001 film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Gadar 2 takes us back into the lives of India's cherished family - Tara, Sakeena, and Jeete - after a gap of 22 years from their last adventure. Set against the intense backdrop of the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971, Tara Singh played by Sunny Deol is once again called upon to defend his country's honor and protect his family against all odds.

This time, the story delves deeper into the enduring love story of Tara Singh and Sakeena. It also sheds light on the powerful bond between Tara Singh and his son Charanjeet, who finds himself in Pakistan and faces torment. Unlike the previous journey where Tara Singh went to Pakistan to bring back his wife, this time, he's on a mission to rescue his son. Apart from Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma will be reprising their roles as Sakeena and Charanjeet Singh, respectively.

Plus, in the movie, we get to see Deol bringing back that iconic handpump scene and groove to timeless tunes like Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava and Main Nikla Gaddi Leke, recreating the same magic we fell in love with back in 2001. After a fantastic run-in theater, raking in a whopping 63 million USD in India, Gadar 2 is ready to continue its success story as it debuts on ZEE5 Global.

Trailer

The trailer shows Tara and Sakeena's son Jeete getting tortured by a Pakistani army general. Tara promises an anguished Sakeena that he'll get Jeete back. He visits Lahore and beats up Pakistani army soldiers with a sledgehammer. It ends with Tara staring at a handpump, and we can guess what's coming next.

Star cast

The film features Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma, Gaurav Chopra, Manish Wadhwa, Manoj Bakshi, Aarya Sharma, Luv Sinha, and Simrat Kaur in pivotal roles.

Release date

The movie's trailer was unveiled on July 26, 2023, and made its theatrical debut on August 11. Gadar 2 is slated for its digital premiere on ZEE5 Global on October 6, 2023.

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Zee5, and it does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times.

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In a groundbreaking move, UNIABROAD, a London-based company established in 2019, is setting new standards in student support services. Being established in India with a mission to empower students pursuing education abroad, UNIABROAD offers comprehensive end-to-end assistance. The company boasts a team of highly qualified staff, all of whom are distinguished graduates from esteemed institutions across the globe.

UNIABROAD stands out as the only company providing unparalleled post-admission support to students. Their innovative tech platforms and services have positioned them as premium partners for over 300 institutions worldwide. This distinction solidifies their commitment to ensuring students' success beyond admission.

One of UNIABROAD's key strengths lies in its dedication to post-admission support. They go the extra mile by offering regular follow-ups, monthly check-ins, and extended assistance until students are comfortably settled in their new academic environment. UNIABROADs guidance extends to helping students navigate the job market, providing invaluable career advice in their chosen destination.

Mr. Vikas Murulidhara expressed, "The genesis of this idea stems from my personal experience. As a student, I encountered numerous challenges in the UK. This led to the pivotal mission of offering students comprehensive post-admission support until they successfully establish their careers.

UNIABROAD currently provides services to Indian students and has offices in 10 Indian cities including Mysore, Bangalore, Pune, Kerala, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mangalore. Looking ahead, they have an ambitious plan to set up offices in 30 other Indian cities in the next 12 months. This strategic move is geared towards providing students with even more personalized and localized support.

UNIABROAD's vision extends beyond this; much like in India, they are establishing offices in an additional 30 countries within the next 24 months. These offices in destinations such as the United States, Ireland, Germany, France, Singapore, Dubai, and Spain will feature dedicated teams committed to ensuring students experience seamless post-admission support.

UNIABROAD's journey is not just about facilitating education; it's about fostering successful careers. Through their unwavering commitment to students' holistic growth and development, UNIABROAD is turning dreams of studying abroad into tangible, lifelong achievements.

UNIABROAD stands out as the rapidly expanding leader in the overseas education sector. Presently, they operate 16 offices both domestically and internationally, employing a dynamic team of over 150 young professionals. Their mission is to transform students' aspirations of studying abroad into tangible realities by seamlessly blending technology with daily life, all while nurturing a brighter future. UNIABRAOD is the only company to provide post-admission support to its students and they dedicatedly offer unwavering support throughout their journey towards a successful career. They are more than just a service providerthey are a steadfast family in every student's journey towards success.

If you are a prospective student aspiring to pursue education abroad, you can register with UNIABROAD at www.uniabroad.io/register

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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As the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies, Google CEO Sundar Pichai reached out via an internal email to provide updates and assurance regarding the safety of employees caught in the war-ridden country. Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc.(Bloomberg)

In his email, according to 9to5 Google, Pichai expressed deep concern about the distressing attacks on civilians in Israel and the heightened conflict that had ensued. Im sure by now youve all seen the news of the terrible attacks on civilians in Israel, and the escalated conflict now underway, he wrote.

Google has two offices and a workforce of over 2,000 employees in Israel.

Our priority is making sure that every Googler in the area is accounted for and safe  beyond our employees based locally, we have identified more who were travelling there, he wrote.

The Global Security and Resilience Services (GSRS) team was actively engaged in conducting safety checks to locate and safeguard every employee. Pichai stated, "We've spent today connecting with most of them, but it will take some time to reach everyone.

Pichai's message was communicated to all Google employees on Sunday, just hours after the Hamas attacks.

The situation in Israel has prompted other companies with a significant presence in the region to take similar actions to protect their employees and their families.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), for instance, is closely monitoring the evolving situation and prioritising the well-being of its employees and their families in Israel.

READ HERE- Israel-Hamas war: TCS keeping watch on employee safety, says report

An unnamed executive said, "We are monitoring the situation and have been in contact with HR officials there. We are actively assisting with their safety, including employees from India and their families."

In another development on Monday, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, led by Gautam Adani, who acquired Israel's Haifa port earlier in the year, issued a statement to reassure stakeholders of the safety of their business operations amidst the recent Hamas attack and the ensuing conflict.

READ HERE- 'All safe': Adani Port on Israel's Haifa Port concerns post Hamas attack

The company also confirmed that its employees were safe and accounted for, underscoring the importance of employee safety during such tumultuous times.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
BMW-owned British automotive brand MINI on Tuesday launched the MINI Shadow Edition in India at 49 lakh (ex-showroom). The model is a limited edition  only 24 units will be sold  and will be manufactured locally, at BMW's factory in Chennai. BMW MINI Countryman Shadow Edition (Image courtesy: BMW)

The MINI Shadow Edition is an edgier and elusive version of the iconic MINI. Inspired by the alluring play of light and shadow of urban nightlife, the MINI is perfect for the unconventional, who like to stand out from the crowd and make a bold statement, a BMW press release quoted Vikram Pawah, the German auto giant's Group President in India, as saying.

Bookings for the car can be made on shop.mini.in. You also get to track your order.

Exterior and interior

The MINI Shadow Edition comes in an all-black body paint with melting silver roof and mirror caps. The interior, on the other hand, comes with the MINI Yours Interior Style Shaded Silver and Leather Chester Malt Brown upholstery.

The cabin also features the MINI Excitement Pack, which has LED interior and ambient lighting to illuminate the cockpit with selectable colours; the pack also has a projection of the MINI logo from the exterior mirror on the driver's side when opening and closing the car door.

Features

The car is equipped with premium features such as the Harman Kardon Hi-Fi Speaker System, Panorama Glass Sunroof, MINI Wired Package (including a Navigation System with Touch Controller, as well as Bluetooth mobile connectivity) etc.

Passenger safety

For this, the model is equipped with cutting-edge safety technology, provided by equipment such as 3-point seat belts, front and passenger airbags, brake assist, crash sensor, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), cornering brake control, emergency spare wheel, run-flat indicator, and more.

Powertrain

It is powered by a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine with TwinPower turbo technology; the unit generates maximum power output of 178 hp and peak torque of 280 Nm. Also, with a top speed of 225 km/hr, it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/hr in just 7.5 seconds.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said most of the victims in the tragic Attibele fire were students who were trying to support their education. They were natives of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, in neighbouring state Tamil Nadu, he said. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar visited the site where a firecracker shop-cum-godown caught fire at Attibele in Bengaluru Rural district. (PTI)

As many as 14 were killed when a cracker go-down caught fire in Attibele, a border town in Bengaluru urban district. While 12 of the victims died on the spot, two others succumbed during treatment.

"Most of those who died were students who worked during the holidays to earn money for their studies. Barring the manager, none was a permanent employee," the chief minister told media after a site inspection.

READ | Attibele cracker shop fire mishap case will be handed over to CID, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also spoke out on the tragedy, calling it a grave incident and saying that the government will come up with an action plan.

"It is a grave incident. We are going to come up with a plan of action, we have to take within two to three days. We have already announced 5 lakhs for those who died, and hospital expenditures will be taken care of," he told reporters.

READ | Karnataka: 5 lakh compensation announced for kin of deceased in fire incident at Attibele

The incident also garnered a response from opposition leaders, with former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai saying the rules over management of crackers were flouted.

"The Attibele incident has been a big tragedy and more such incidents would happen in case the government fails to open its eyes. As many as 14 persons have lost their lives in this gory incident. The government must distribute the compensation to the families of the deceased persons, and arrange for the treatment of the survivors," Bommai told news agency ANI.

Bommai said storage of such a large quantity of crackers was not permitted under law and this had been the second cracker explosion event in the last one and a half months. "In Haveri, four persons were killed and in Attibele, 14 persons have lost their lives. This clearly shows that the rules were flouted," Bommai added.

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Bengaluru woke up to a foggy morning on Tuesday after large bouts of rain last evening, which resulted in severe waterlogging in a number of areas, blocking vehicular movement and causing congestion. The showers filled underpasses and submerged many roads. Bengaluru experiences heavy rain and waterlogging, residents share visuals.(@BalagereConnect/X)

State faces large deficit

The downpour came as a relief amidst a drought-like situation being witnessed in several districts of Karnataka, leading to a renewed debate between southern states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery river water sharing.

However, 24 of 31 districts continued to face a large deficit, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) said after analysing data from the start of the month. Three districts - Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru - saw deficit rainfall, while four others - Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan and Kodagu saw normal rainfall from October 1 to October 9, it said.

READ | Preparations underway to implement Mekedatu project: Karnataka deputy CM

IMD issues forecast, heavy rainfall warning

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted light to moderate rain in many places over coastal Karnataka and south interior Karnataka, while north interior parts of the state are expected to see dry weather for the next two days.

The department issued a heavy rainfall warning in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Ramanagara, Hassan districts, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar, Mandya and Mysuru districts till Wednesday.

For Bengaluru city, the department predicted a generally cloudy sky, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers - heavy at times - very likely, especially towards evenings and night time.

Temperature forecast

Maximum temperature is likely to be above normal by two to three degrees over Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Raichur and Koppal districts, and minimum temperature is also likely to be above normal by two degrees at isolated places over Kodagu, Mysuru, Davanagere and Mandya districts, the IMD estimated.

Minimum temperatures could be below normal by three to four degrees at isolated places over Vijayapura and Bagalkote districts, the IMD added. Maximum and minimum temperatures in Bengaluru are expected to be around 29 and 21 degrees Celsius in the city till Wednesday, respectively. Bagalkote recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 15.0 degrees Celsius across the state, the IMD added.

READ | Over 4,000 people in 4 district affected by fresh floods in Assam

The KSNDMC said two of the top three locations to receive the highest rainfall over the last 24 hours were in Bengaluru Urban district, with Horamavu in Mahadevapura Taluk and Manduru in Bengaluru East Taluk receiving 99 and 95 mm of rain, respectively. Kembalu in Channarayapatna Taluk of Hassan District witnessed 96 mm of rain.

Visuals of Waterlogging

Several residents in Bengaluru shared visuals of the inundation after heavy rain.

Cops also posted traffic advisories for office and school goers on Tuesday morning.

The city saw mist, fog and clouds in the early hours, making residents wonder if the winter is coming.

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The High Court of Karnataka has observed that the government's failure to provide basic infrastructure in schools is pushing people who cannot even afford three meals a day to send their children to private schools. The Karnataka High Court. (ANI)

"Is education reserved for the privileged," the HC bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit questioned while hearing a public interest litigation initiated by the court in 2013 based on media reports about children who were left out of the schooling system.

The court said that the deficiencies in government schools regarding the lack of restrooms and drinking water facilities were brought to its notice in 2013 but action has been lacking.

READ | Notify time-bound approval of licence plate manufacturers: Karnataka HC

Till date, 464 government schools lack restrooms and 32 do not have drinking water facilities, the court pointed out.

Expressing its displeasure at the government's inaction, the court directed that an affidavit on providing basic facilities in all schools should be filed within eight weeks.

"Is it for us to tell all this to the state? This has been going on for so many years. There must have been some amount shown in the budget for the schooling and education department. What happens to that amount," the court said on Monday.

During the hearing, while referring to the state government's free schemes for the poor, the court said it had no qualms about such measures but providing necessary facilities and infrastructure in schools where poor students study should be of paramount importance.

READ | Karnataka HC says no arrest of Aaj Tak Consulting Editor Sudhir Chaudhary, but case needs investigation

"Education is a fundamental right. But governments have failed to provide the facilities in government schools which are turning the poor towards private schools," the court said. This was indirectly helping private schools, it said.

"Because of the lack of basic facilities, the government schools are closed. On the other hand, as there is no other option, parents even when they are financially not well or sound are left with no choice but to admit their wards to the alternate private schools. The learned counsel is also justified in submitting that such a situation frustrates the object of making primary education a fundamental right as ensured in the Constitution of India," the court recorded in its order.

The High Court said that Babasaheb Ambedkar is shown with a book in every image of his which was to show the importance of education. Many developed countries spend more on education than on defence, the court observed.

Allowing time for the comprehensive report by the government, the court recorded that, "The government advocate submits that as the copy of the report prepared by the learned amicus is handed over to her, she will personally look into it and call up the concerned government officials."

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A major fire broke out on the first floor of the PGI's Nehru Hospital in Chandigarh in the early hours of Tuesday. The fire was reportedly doused and all patients are safe. The fire broke out in the computer room of PGI's Nehru Hospital in Chandigarh. (ANI)

"The fire broke out in the computer room which spread further. The administration of the hospital immediately responded and evacuated all the patients safely," said Dr Vivek Lal, director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

"Not a single patient has lost his/ her life... Chandigarh administration immediately swung into action, fire tenders reached the spot and the fire was doused," he said.

"The situation is under control. We have started the restoration process," he added.

The fire and emergency services and the disaster management departments, police and the PGIMER own emergency response system immediately swung into action after the fire was reported.

PGIMER and disaster management department officials also confirmed news agency PTI that all the patients were immediately evacuated. A disaster management department official said they received information about the fire on a floor of the hospital's Nehru block.

"All patients were safely evacuated, we cleared the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), respiratory ICU ... Our rescue team worked in coordination with the police, the fire department and PGI departments," he said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, he added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aniruddha Dhar Have 11 years' experience in print and digital media. Write on politics, defence and world affairs, and have a keen eye for human-interest stories. ...view detail
Minutes before their production in the juvenile court in an ATM theft case last Friday, two frightened boys told police that they were blackmailed into committing the crime after five men threatened to circulate an objectionable video. The five accused were booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act at Jamia Nagar police station.

It took the duo nearly two days to reveal that they were assaulted and robbed by the men, before being stripped naked and their video recorded on Wednesday last week.

Police probed the allegations, which they found to be true, and arrested all the men over four days between Saturday and Tuesday.

The main accused was identified Raju (full name and age not disclosed by police). Police did not identify the other four accused.

They were booked under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to robbery and criminal intimidation and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act at Jamia Nagar police station.

Also read: Fake currency racket busted in Delhi, five arrested

Late on Wednesday night, police nabbed the minors while they trying to break open the ATM in south Delhis Jamia Nagar. The boys, aged 14 and 15,were attempting to steal 5,000, which they were asked to arrange by the accused, said a senior police officer.

We have caught Raju and four other suspects, said Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (southeast), on Tuesday.

According to the police, the men targeted the minor boys, who work at a shop in Jamia Nagar, when they were near a burial ground in the neighbourhood during their work break at around 9.30pm on Wednesday.

The older boy, in his statement to the police, said that the men arrived at the spot, placed a butchers knife on the neck of the younger boy, held him by his arm, and marched them to a sealed building nearby.

There, they allegedly robbed 2,050 from the younger boy. The boys were then stripped naked and their video recorded by the men, who allegedly threatened them to arrange 5,000 over the next five days or their video would be circulated.

The boys were also allegedly kicked and punched. But their cries for help brought to the spot a local resident, who rescued the boys.

The older boy, in his statement to the police, said that he and his friend got the idea to target the ATM on spotting a booth without any security guard.

We thought that the cash would be below the ATM and we began shaking the machine vigorously, the boy said about the alleged theft that they attempted a little after Wednesday midnight.

The act, however, alerted the bank officials who informed the police, and a team soon arrived at the spot and nabbed the suspects. Since, they didnt reveal the alleged blackmail to the police, they booked for theft at the time, officers said.

It was on Friday, while being produced before the Juvenile Justice Board that they revealed the incident.

Their allegation was corroborated by the local who rescued the boys. While the local said that one of the accused, Raju, lives in the area and has a criminal past, police did not share any details in this regard.

The theft case against the boys, meanwhile, continues for now, said the DCP.

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KOLKATA: Hundreds of people took out a procession in Kolkata on Tuesday against the Calcutta high court order that set aside death sentences for three of the six convicts in the 2013 gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old college student on the outskirts of Kolkata. Activists, political leaders and villagers staged a protest rally against the judgment in Kamduni rape and murder of a college student of South 24 Parganas district in 2013 (HT Photo)

A Calcutta high court division bench comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Ajay Kumar Gupta commuted the death sentences of the main accused Saiful Ali and Ansar Ali to life imprisonment and acquitted a third accused sentenced to death, Amin Ali.

The victim, a second-year undergraduate student, was returning home in Kamduni, around 25 km to the north of Kolkata, after appearing in her college exams on June 7, 2013, when she was dragged to a desolate farm and raped. Her mutilated body was found by local residents the next morning, sparking protests.

The high court verdict came on an appeal filed by the convicts against the January 2016 judgment of sessions judge Sanchita Sarkar that prescribed the death penalty for the three accused. Three other convicts, Sheikh Imanul Islam, Aminur Islam and Bhola Naskar, who were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by the sessions court, were released by the division bench against a bail bond of 10,000 each as they had already served the period behind bars. On Monday, they walked out of the Presidency correctional home in Kolkata.

West Bengals criminal investigation department (CID), which probed the crime, has moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court order. Some prominent intellectuals and residents of Kamduni accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of taking the case lightly.

The Calcutta high court judges observed that vital evidences were missing. The state government is now trying to show its concern by moving the Supreme Court, painter Samir Aich, who took part in the protests in the heart of Kolkata, said.

Pradip Mukherjee, a teacher from Kamduni who stood by the victims family for 10 years, said: We have contacted some lawyers in Delhi. We will file a separate petition challenging the high court order.

The Kamduni crime triggered an uproar in Bengal a decade ago and revived memories of the 2012 gang rape of a young woman in a Delhi bus.

Mousumi Koyal and Tumpa Koyal, who were close friends of the victim, campaigned for justice for their friend after the brutal crime. They also led Tuesdays procession that sought justice for their friend.

The states petition before the Supreme Court is nothing but a drama. This government and the CID have betrayed our trust. Now, we have no option but to move the Supreme Court on our own, Mousumi Koyal said.

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Family, friends and party workers in large numbers assembled at the Samadhi of Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav at his ancestral Saifai village in Uttar Pradeshs Etawah district to pay tribute to him on his first anniversary on Tuesday. P national president Akhilesh Yadav, other family members and party leaders paying tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav at his Samadhi in Etawahs Saifai village on October 10. (HT photo)

His son and SP national president Akhilesh Yadav, Akhileshs wife Dimple Yadav, the SP founders younger daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, other family members including Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, Shivpal Singh Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav were prominent among those who paid tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav.

A three-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister and also countrys former defence minister, Mulayam had passed away after prolonged illness on October 10 last year at the age of 82. He had founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992 and remained its national president till January 2017.

Earlier in the day, his family performed a two-hour Havan and Shanti Path for the peace of the departed soul. In a post on X, Akhilesh said, Those who reside in the hearts of people, they dont go anywhere even after they are gone. He said that he bowed to his fathers principles and vowed to make them come true.

Moreover, scores of people from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat travelled to Saifai to pay their homage to the SP founder who was popularly known as Netaji. The event at his Samadhi was marked by recitations of poems and songs dedicated to the late leader.

The ceremony took place under a spacious tent complete with a stage for the dignitaries. After offering their tribute, prominent leaders gathered on the stage. This event is a testimony to the enduring legacy of a leader who continues to be cherished and remembered across the nation, said his younger sibling Shivpal Singh Yadav.

On the occasion, Mulayams cousin and senior SP leader Prof Ram Gopal Yadav said, The way terror has spread today, everyone is remembering Netaji. The injustices happening today will be fought by the party while following Netajis principles. It was the struggle for the weak and marginalised that propelled Netaji to power.

Adequate security was put in place with barricades set up around 500 metre before the Samadhi. While VIP vehicles were allowed, others had to park theirs outside the stadium and then walk to the memorial.

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LUCKNOW From being a largely anti-Congress party in the 1990s to becoming a constituent of the Congress-headed India Alliance, the Samajwadi Party helmed by Akhilesh Yadav has come a long way, but faces a similar challenge  that of trying to overcome the domination of the ruling party (Bharatiya Janata Party), a year after party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadavs demise. Now, Akhilesh is trying a fourth formula -- India bloc -- the national alliance of opposition parties. How it pans out will be seen in the days to come. (File photo)

Just as the Congress was considered largely invincible then, the BJP somewhat has the same status now in Uttar Pradesh.

Mulayam had demolished the Congress domination in Uttar Pradesh by playing regional/caste card and unseated the BJP in 1993 while it was trying to rise in the state in the backdrop of the Ram Temple movement.

He passed away on October 10 last year at the age of 82. Incidentally, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram passed away on October 9, 2006. Before the SP pays a statewide tribute to Mulayam on Tuesday, it paid tribute to Kanshi Ram on Monday.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was instrumental in making Kanshi Ram win his first Lok Sabha election by giving him the Etawah LS seat to contest in 1991. Kanshi Ram won. The SP and the BSP then entered into a pre-poll alliance in 1993 UP assembly polls. The SP contested 256 seats and won 109, and the BSP contested 164 seats and won 67. With Dalit, OBC and Muslim voters supporting the coalition, the two parties managed to keep the BJP out in the hung Assembly, even though the BJP had emerged as the single- largest party with 177 seats. Mulayam became the chief minister.

Akhilesh Yadav became the partys president in January 2017, while he was the chief minister of UP. Sensing the BJPs growing strength in the state, the SP chief tied up with the Congress. The alliance failed, and the BJP came to power. And since Akhilesh took over the reins of the party, he is yet to taste success against the BJP - the SP could not win any major polls since 2017 irrespective of various alliance formulae Akhilesh applied.

The real tribute by the SP will be to improve its performance in elections - from panchayat to parliament polls, said Madhukar Jetley, a senior SP leader and its former MLC.

MULAYAMS ANTI-ALLIANCE SENTIMENTS

Once Mulayam built and consolidated his party, he did not favour pre-poll alliances as he felt it would be detrimental to the rise of the SP. When Akhilesh tied up with the Congress in the 2017 polls, Mulayam (who then had become the chief patron of the SP) opposed the idea of alliance. When the tie-up failed, and the BJP came to power in UP for the first time with a full majority, Mulayam was quick to castigate Akhilesh on the alliance with the Congress.

In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when Akhilesh took a leaf out of Mulayams experiment of 1993 and allied with the BSP, Mulayam again expressed displeasure. This alliance too failed in its basic purpose. The BJP again formed the government at the centre. Akhilesh then vowed to keep the big parties out and tried a third formula -- allying only with small regional parties.

The SP allied with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and Apna Dal (K), but failed yet again in 2022. Now, Akhilesh is trying a fourth formula -- India bloc -- the national alliance of opposition parties. How it pans out will be seen in the days to come.

REPLICATING MSYS 1993 ARITHMETICS

Mulayam tried bringing OBCs, Dalits and Muslims together by joining hands with Kanshi Ram in 1993. The formula had no name then, but it worked and Mulayam became the chief minister for the second time. Akhilesh tried the same formula in 2019, by joining hands with Mayawati and trying to combine the three major castes-community groups that together account for 85% of UPs population.

The SP replicated the same formula in the 2022 UP assembly polls. Though the SP was far from displacing the BJP, it drastically improved its tally from 47 in 2017 to 111. This time, Akhilesh gave this formula a name -- PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak), adding the caste census demand to it --the demand that Mulayam also stood for.

MANDAL 1.0 AND MANDAL 2.0

Mulayam was the face of Mandal politics in UP when VP Singh initiated it at the centre. They won the Mandal vs Kamandal battle, that is OBC quota politics against BJPs Hindutva. Now, Akhilesh is attempting the same with Mandal 2.0 in Uttar Pradesh while the India bloc is angling for it nationwide. Mandal 2.0 is about getting a caste census done for better implementation of reservation in the government sector.

TWO WISHES FULFILLED

While seeing the SP ruling UP again or the party being part of a government at the centre remained unfulfilled dreams of Mulayam, his two other dreams were fulfilled  that of Akhilesh being firmly in the saddle of the SP, which happened during his lifetime, and the family feud sorted out with Akhilesh and Shivpal Yadav back together again.

Akhilesh and Shivpal had a long-drawn political feud over the control of the party, which eventually saw the former becoming the SP president and Shivpal out of the party. Mulayams wish was fulfilled within months of his demise that too through his legacy--Mainpuri LS seat--that fell vacant on his demise. The Yadav family sought Shivpals cooperation for Mulayams daughter-in-law Dimple Yadavs candidature for the seat. Shivpal agreed and helped Dimple win. The family was reunited.

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LUCKNOW The Sultanpur police on Monday arrested two persons in the brutal murder of a doctor about a fortnight ago, including the main accused carrying a cash reward of 50,000. The duo was identified as Ajay Narayan Singh and his driver Deepak Singh, said officials. Dr Tripathi had purchased a land parcel from Ajay Narayan Singh. The accused was demanding more money and not giving possession of the land to the doctor, said police. (Pic for representation)

Before the arrest of these two accused, two others - Jagdish Narayan Singh (father of the prime accused) and Vijay Narayan Singh - had already been arrested, Somen Burma, SP. The SHO of Sultanpur kotwali police station Ramashish Upadhyay was suspended over the incident on September 25.

Dr Ghanshyam Tripathi, 56, a resident of Shastri Nagar in Kotwali Nagar and working at the Jaisinghpur Community Health Centre in Sultanpur, was allegedly thrashed by the main accused and his men over a land dispute on September 23, leading to his death.

Dr Tripathi had purchased a land parcel from Ajay Narayan Singh. The accused was demanding more money and not giving possession of the land to the doctor, said police.

According to Sultanpur district magistrate Jasjeet Kaur, government land worth 4 crore had been freed from the illegal possession of Ajay Narain Singh and his family members.

The post-mortem report revealed that Tewari was beaten with rods and canes following which he suffered five fractures in his hands and leg. Besides, a deep injury was found in the feet apparently caused when Ajai Narain Singh allegedly drilled it with some sharp object. Input from agency

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has said the state government has given jobs to more than six lakh youths in the last six years. He also said the collective dedication and energy of these youths can transform Uttar Pradesh into a developed and prosperous state. U.P. chief minister Yogi Adityanath giving appointment letter to a newly selected homeopathic pharmacist. (HT photo)

Yogi expressed these views on Tuesday at an event held in Lok Bhawan auditorium here where he distributed appointment letters to 393 homeopathic pharmacists selected by Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection.

Under previous governments, the results of recruitment on various posts by the UP Public Service Commission were announced in one-and-a-half to two years. Under the BJP government, the Subordinate Services Selection Commission has streamlined the recruitment process, delivering results within 6 to 9 months and the recruitments are done under a fair and transparent selection procedure, the CM said on the occasion.

The Global Inventors Summit was organised in Uttar Pradesh in February 2023 through which the state received investment proposals worth 38 lakh crore. This will provide jobs to more than one crore youths. Today, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a new destination for employment generation within the country, he added.

The CM emphasised the remarkable progress made by India under PM Narendra Modis leadership over the past nine-and-a-half-years. As a result, India has taken a huge leap in the field of traditional medicine. Ayurveda has always been a part of our lives. Yoga has been associated with the tradition of India since ancient times. People have been using homeopathy in some form or another in villages. But for the first time, the ministry of AYUSH was formed by combining Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha and Homeopathy thereby giving a new identity to the traditional medicine of India, the CM said.

Due to the work started in this direction after 2014, the countrys largest state in terms of population is moving forward strongly. An AYUSH University is being established in the state so that degree and diploma courses can be started in different disciplines of AYUSH, Yogi added.

In the past, pharmacists from Ayurveda were not given government jobs, but today it has become a part of the government system. The government is actively promoting all forms of AYUSH and working diligently to establish Yoga and wellness centres to cater to a population of five thousand, he said.

AYUSH holds the greatest potential for health tourism. Today, the world is looking in this direction. For this reason, it is our responsibility to provide a global-level environment for the people coming for health tourism, Yogi added. Giving a piece of advice to the newly selected pharmacists, he said, Your behaviour towards a patient can solve many of their problems. Half of the patients disease is cured by your benevolent behaviour.

Traditional medicine should be encouraged for career and good health. Doctors associated with Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy should carry forward the research and development programmes without any hesitation. Not only this, the paramedics associated with AYUSH can also play an important role in expanding these disciplines. They can collect patient data and create a data bank which can be used in preparing study reports, the CM said.

On the occasion, Yogi also interacted with a group of selected homeopathic pharmacists. Mohammad Arif from Hardoi expressed his gratitude to the CM. He is the first member of his family to get a government service and pledged to carry out his responsibilities with utmost honesty.

Vivek Mishra from Prayagraj lauded the fair and transparent recruitment process that led to his selection. Sanjana Bharti, who hails from Deoria and comes from a farming background, considered it a stroke of good fortune to receive her appointment letter from the chief minister himself.

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More than 100 stray dogs in Kharghar can now be seen wearing reflective collars around their necks along with a plastic card embedded with a QR code that provides exclusive details about the animal. Ahead of PM visit, over 100 stray dogs in Kharghar get QR-coded collars

The local feeders and activists conducted the drive to ensure stray dogs dont get displaced ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to inaugurate the metro project in Kharghar.

Also read: The descent of Navi Mumbais uncrowned king

The QR code is embedded with details of the location where the dog resides, its vaccination history and the details of the feeders taking care of the animal.

The activity was carried out on October 8, and dogs, especially those residing on the main roads leading to various parts of Kharghar as well as on the Sion-Panvel Highway, were identified and given special tags.

Ahead of the VIP movement, it is anticipated that stray dogs residing in these parts of the city are likely to be picked up. As a result, there is always the probability of the animals getting released elsewhere or even going astray out of fear of getting nabbed. Even during Diwali, too, startled by the sound of crackers, dogs tend to go missing. I realized that QR code with all the details pertaining to the dog and its feeders will facilitate in getting the animal back to its original habitat, animal activist Seema Tank said. She spearheaded the whole tagging activity.

The activist collaborated with Pawfriend.in, an NGO that has recently developed a unique identification for stray dogs through a QR code. She procured 100 cards each, costing 200, through crowdfunding.

On February 14, 2023, the founder of Pawfriend.in, Akshay Ridlan, an engineer by profession, had found the unique way to ensure dogs dont go missing and are easily returned to their original habitat using QR code technology. This is the first time that the technology is being used in Navi Mumbai. The primary goal is to lessen the trauma in the event of dogs going missing for whatever reason. QR tags will aid in locating the dogs easily, Akshay said.

Reflective collars were installed on each dog, and the QR code cards were attached to their collars. Rotaract Club of Smart City Navi Mumbai assisted the activity by providing the required number of reflective collars. It took us nearly two and half hours to locate the dogs with the help of the feeders and install the collars. If any of these dogs go missing or are located elsewhere, then citizens can simply scan their details through phones and inform the concerned feeder about their whereabouts. Later on, I intend to get more reflective collars and write down the number of the feeders so that the safety of more stray dogs is assured, especially during Diwali, added Tank.

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Bhiwandi: The Bhiwandi police arrested four accused for allegedly kidnapping a 30-year-old woman from Bhiwandi over a financial dispute. HT Image

While a woman was arrested from Mumbai, three others were arrested from Bhiwandi. Three accused are still at large.

The police said that the incident took place at a residential complex in Bhiwandi on Bhiwandi-Kalyan road on October 3 evening. The complaint was lodged by a relative of a woman the next day.

According to the complaint, the woman was at her house with her minor son when the woman with six others arrived in a car entered the womans house, and took her away in their car.

The complainant rushed to the spot on Wednesday when the victim did not return home and narrated the entire incident to police. A case was lodged under sections 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person), 368 (Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, a kidnapped or abducted person), and 34 (Common Intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

Suresh Ghuge, Police Sub Inspector, Shantinagar Police Station, A woman, who was part of the group, demanded 3 lakh from the victim when she refused to give and later she along with other people took her away from her home.

The four accused were produced in Court and remanded into magistrate custody for 14 days. During the investigation, we learned that money had been given to the victim by all accused. The victim delayed returning their money and thereafter, they all committed the offense of kidnapping, said Ghuge.

The police said that they could not reveal the name of the accused, the complainant, and the victim as it could hamper further investigations.

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RAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) has given tickets to a riot victim and to an accused in a riot case in two constituencies where communal violence broke out in the last two years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second list of 64 candidates for Chhattisgarh on Monday (ANI FILE PHOTO)

Experts see this as an attempt by the BJP to push the Hindutva narrative in parts of the northern plains of Chhattisgarh.

In Mondays list, Ishwar Sahu, whose son Bhuvaneshvar Sahu was killed in a communal clash in Biranpur village in April this year, has been given a ticket to fight in the Saja constituency in Durg district where the current MLA is state minister Ravindra Chaubey.

In the second case, Vijay Sharma, an accused in the riots that took place in Kawardha in October 2021, will fight election in Karwadha constituency, where minister Mohammad Akbar is the MLA.

Both Chaubey and Akbar have won from their constituencies six times and four times respectively, and are considered influential in their seats.

On Monday, the BJP released its second list of 64 candidates which also included former chief minister Raman Singh, who will contest from Rajnandgaon constituency, taking the total number of candidates to 85 in the 90- member assembly.

The first list of 21 candidates was released on August 17; candidates for the remaining five seats havent been announced yet.

Although the Congress is yet to release their list of candidates, both Chaubey and Akbar are expected to be again given tickets.

Political commentator Harsh Dubey said its a clear sign that the BJP is attempting to build up the Hindutva narrative by announcing Sahus and Sharmas candidatures.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh election 2023: Congress stresses on OBC outreach; BJP flags corruption

The background is this: Riots in Birnapur took place on April 9 2023 in which Bhuvaneshwar Sahu was allegedly killed by Muslim youths over a petty dispute. Two days later, two Muslimsfather and son  were killed by a Hindu mob. A total 14 people were arrested in the case and all are in jail.

Communal riots in Kawardha broke out in October 2021 over a religious flag in which former chief minister Raman Singhs son Abhishek Singh and MP from Rajanandgaon, Santosh Pandey, were among the accused.

Over 80 people were booked for their involvement in the Kawardha violence but trial in the case is yet to commence as some among them have not been arrested.

Sharma was arrested for instigating violence and is on currently on bail . There were 82 accuse in which 73 have been arrested so far a senior district police officer said.

Both the seats are important to us. We believe that by giving ticket to Ishwar Sahu we will cater to both Hindu and Sahu (caste) votes in plains. The Kawardha violence is the biggest incident in the recent past in that area. We have been raising the issue of these violent incidents including Narayanpurs Christian conversion violence in every meeting, said a BJP leader, who did not wish to be named.

The BJP leader added that Sahu never contested any election nor does he have a background in politics but his candidature will help the party. In fact, the party has big plans for Sahu in the upcoming polls.

The top leaders of BJP are planning to send Sahu to around 40 assembly constituencies where Sahus are in significant numbers.

Sharma (who has been fielded from Kawardha) is vocal and aggressive plus he has the support of the Bajrang Dal, said another BJP leader, explaining why he is being fielded.

It is worth mentioning that Sahus are around 12 % of the population in Chhattisgarh, and is the biggest chunk of any Other Backward Classes (OBC) community in the state.

Asked whether the BJP is trying to raise the issue of communal violence in Biranpur (Bemetara district) by fielding local villager Sahu, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said communal violence is not an issue in Chhattisgarh.

No matter how hard they try, it will not be an issue. There were other BJP workers in Saja (from where Sahu has been fielded). He (Sahu) is a purely non-political person, Baghel said.

Experts believe that the BJP is attempting to formulate a strong Hindutva narrative in the Durg region, which may have an impact on at least 10 seats.

BJPs ticket distribution reflects that they are trying to set Hindutva narrative , especially in the Kawardha, Bemetara belt. In the last four years, two incidents of communal clashes occurred in the same region. In one of the incidents, Bhuvaneshvar Sahu, was allegedly lynched to death and now BJP has given ticket his father Ishwar Sahu. Similarly, from the Kawardha seat, who is represented by another senior cabinet minister Mohammad Akbar, BJP has placed former ABVP state president and partys general Secretary Vijay Sharma, who has an image of aggressive Hindu leader, said Dubey, who has been quoted earlier.

In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress won 68 of the total 90 seats while the BJP finished a distant second with 15. The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), founded by former chief minister, the late Ajit Jogi, bagged five seats and its ally Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won in two segments.

The ruling party further consolidated its hold in the state with victories in bypolls in five assembly seats after 2018. The Congress tally currently stands at 71.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail
LUCKNOW In a major drug bust resulting in the recovery of 150 kilograms of MDMA drugs valued at 300 crore in Maharashtra, the U.P. Special Task Force (STF) arrested two men from Maharashtra in Lucknows adjoining Barabanki district while they were attempting to escape across the border into Nepal via Bahraich district. Representative pic (HT Photo)

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy in tablet form or as molly or mandy in crystal form, is a potent empathogenentactogen with stimulant and minor psychedelic properties, primarily used for recreational purposes.

According to a press release from the STF officials, the arrests were made in a joint operation by the STF and the Pune Crime Branch of the Maharashtra Police in connection with the earlier drug seizure in Nashik.

The two arrested individuals were identified as Abhishek Bilas Balakwade, residing at flat no. 8, Vijay NX Takli Road, Nashik, Maharashtra, and Bhushan Anil Patil, residing at flat number 301, Matoshree Nagar, Nashik, Maharashtra. They were arrested from the Bahraich turn under the jurisdiction of the Barabanki city police station around 4:30 pm on Tuesday. During the arrest, six ATM cards, one mobile phone, and 2,100 in cash were recovered from them.

The press release further revealed that Sunil Tambe, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Crime Branch Pune, was personally present during the arrest. Tambe indicated that both accused individuals were currently in U.P. and were planning to escape to Nepal. Additionally, both of them were wanted in several other drug trafficking cases in Pune and Nashik districts.

The Pune officer also disclosed that the duo had conspired to facilitate the successful escape of Maharashtras biggest drug kingpin, Lalit Patil, from police custody on October 2nd. In connection with this case, Dharmesh Kumar Shahi, deputy superintendent of police with the STF, and his team, in coordination with the Pune police, apprehended the two accused.

During their interrogation, the arrested individuals revealed that Bhushan Anil Patil is the younger brother of the drug kingpin Lalit Patil, while Abhishek Bilas is the chief manager of Lalit Patils drug network. They disclosed that they, along with Lalit Patil, had been manufacturing banned MD drugs since 2014, which were used in pubs, bars, and rave parties.

To produce this illicit drug, they had established a factory in Aurangabad, Pune, and Nashik. Following Lalit Patils arrest in 2020, Bhushan Anil Patil and Abhishek Bilas Balakwade assumed control of the entire operation.

Under questioning, they stated that the raw materials for producing MD drugs were supplied by Shivji Shinde of Nashik district. They sold one kilogram of MD drugs to Lalits regular buyers at a price of 1.5 crore per kilogram and converted their earnings into gold through a goldsmith named Abhijeet in Mumbai. Over the last 10 months, they had acquired approximately eight kilograms of gold, which they had hidden at various locations in Maharashtra.

Authorities reported that the duo had planned to flee to Nepal under the guidance of their gang leader, Lalit. Following due legal process, the arrested individuals were handed over to the Assistant Police Commissioner of the Pune Crime Branch for further action.

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LUCKNOW In a move aimed at retaining its experienced medical workforce, the Uttar Pradesh government announced on Tuesday its decision to increase the retirement age for doctors from 62 to 65 years. This change is expected to impact approximately 14,000 doctors currently serving in government hospitals across the state. PREMIUM Representative pic (HT File)

Suresh Khanna, state finance minister, stated during a press briefing following the cabinet meeting that, The retirement age for doctors at levels one through four has been raised to 65 years. However, doctors in administrative positions, such as directors at level six, director-general at level seven, additional directors, chief medical superintendents, and medical superintendents, will continue to retire at the age of 62 years.

Khanna also noted, Doctors who wish to retire early may apply for voluntary retirement. He further clarified that doctors holding positions like district TB officer or district leprosy officer and principals of training centers will not hold administrative roles beyond the age of 62 and may continue to provide clinical services at hospitals.

This marks the third instance of retirement age adjustments for government doctors in Uttar Pradesh since 2001. The retirement age was initially extended from 58 to 60 years on November 27, 2001, and then again to 62 years on July 4, 2017. Although, in May 2017, an order was issued allowing doctors unwilling to continue service to take retirement, the order was subsequently amended to remove the option for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). The health department remains one of the few where VRS is not permitted except under special circumstances.

Under the new cabinet decision, doctors can now continue to serve until they reach the age of 65, with the option of seeking voluntary retirement at 62, at which point they will receive pension benefits.

Statistical data reveals that nearly two dozen doctors retire every month, amounting to an annual figure of around 300, while new doctors joining the workforce number about two-thirds of this figure. This situation has contributed to a decrease in the number of doctors available at government hospitals.

The Provincial Medical Services Association (PMSA), representing government doctors in the state, welcomed the decision, stating that it would provide doctors the opportunity to continue serving patients. Dr Sachin Vaish, President of PMSA, stated, The governments decision will motivate more doctors who are willing to serve, and those with family responsibilities can opt for retirement. This decision will attract more doctors to government service.

Dr Amit Singh, General Secretary of PMSA, expressed gratitude, saying, The inclusion of the VRS option was a longstanding demand, and we thank the government for accepting it.

Uttar Pradesh currently has 19,000 sanctioned doctor positions, serving in 167 district-level hospitals, over 900 community health centres, and approximately 3,000 primary health centres. Doctors are categorised into seven levels, with over 5,000 doctors at level one and slightly over 3,000 at level three.
Already grappling with a suspected scam in the recruitment of thousands of teachers over the years whose files containing their educational records are yet to be traced, Bihar has another problem in its schools  ghost students. Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya at Adalat Ganj in Patna. (HT file)

According to an official aware of the matter, names of more than 5.4 lakh students have been struck off government schools in the state in the last few months after the education department began a drive to improve attendance and found them absent for long periods.

There is apprehension that a large number of them are enrolled elsewhere or studying in private schools, the official said, adding the department would also undertake door-to-door survey with electoral rolls to identify the families whose wards are not attending schools.

The weeding out was done on the directions of additional chief secretary (education) KK Pathak, who has been visiting schools across the state and sending teams.

He (Pathak) has been particular about attendance of students and directed removal of names from the registers if they did not report consistently for more than three days without any valid reason and remained unresponsive for a fortnight despite reminder. That order is being followed. If at any later stage the students report to schools, they or their parents will have to give an affidavit that they will be regular after readmission. Some may have got enrolled in government schools just to avail direct benefit transfer (DBT) and could be studying elsewhere, said departments public relations officer Amit Kumar.

The phenomenon isnt new in Bihar. In 2011-12, rampant fake enrolments in schools had surfaced during the implementation of the health guarantee scheme for all students and later operation register clean had pointed to an astronomical number of missing students, almost 20 lakh. The problem, though, remained unresolved.

The reasons for inflated admissions were attributed to the massive exercise of bringing all out-of-school children to schools since 2006 through the governments Sankalp programme, in which the schools fudged admissions in connivance with local officials to improve their record.

A senior official of the department said the current drive could unravel the real enrolment figures and also save the exchequer a lot of money otherwise going to undeserving and fake students through DBT.

The government gives a lot of incentives for improving education, but it cannot be allowed to become a source of scam. It is public money and meant for improvement in schools helping the needy. The drive will separate the wheat from the chaff. The role of field officials like the block extension officer (BEO), district education officers (DEO) and the district programme officers (DEOs) will also come under scanner, the official added.

The official said that student enrolment in schools was the yardstick on which the entire educational planning in the state was done  be it the requirement of teachers, schools, classrooms or distribution of funds for midday meal (MDM), bicycles, books, dress etc. If the figures are wrong, it would be difficult to achieve the desired objective.

The focus is on improving attendance, but despite improvement over the last three months, the desired outcome is not reflecting. Hence our apprehension that same students are enrolled in two or more schools or are studying elsewhere, he said.

Curious case of missing files

Earlier, the state had to grapple with missing folders containing documents relating to educational qualifications of teachers and despite the Patna High Court order in 2015 for vigilance probe into alleged large-scale appointments on fake certificates, it remains incomplete. According to a senior official in the vigilance, 72,168 folders still remain missing. The bureau has so far lodged 1,352 FIRs, making 2,557 teachers accused in the cases.

The case involves teachers appointed between 2006 and 2015 through Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. With the possibility of finding the folders dimming due to change of guard in the PanchayatI Raj institutions three times after 2006 and the HC expressing displeasure over slow progress in probe, the education department last year put the onus of uploading their documents on the working teachers, whose folders are missing, afresh on the specified portal, but despite lapse of several deadlines, the process could not be completed.

If the documents are not uploaded, it will be assumed that they have nothing to say regarding the validity of their appointment and considering it prima facile irregular/illegal, the process will be initiated for their removal and recovery of salary paid through the recruiting agencies, said a letter from director, primary education, to all the district education officers (DEOs) last year.

A total of 3.52 lakh teachers were appointed in Bihar, between 2006 and May 2015. Of them, 3.11 lakh were elementary teachers, including 1.04 lakh Shiksha Mitras appointed for 1500/month honorarium during the RJD regime and later elevated to the rank of Panchayat teachers. Maximum cases of forgery were suspected to be in the ranks of elementary teachers and a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed the HC against it.

On May 18, 2015, the HC, while ordering vigilance probe, had observed: The extent to which the candidates with fake certificates have been appointed as teachers in the past decade is a matter of deep concernThe state government has soft-pedalled the issue for the past one decadeWe direct the director general, vigilance, to immediately swing into action and verify the genuineness of certificates of the teachers who have been appointed since 2006.

The HC had directed that within three weeks from the date of order, the department of Vigilance shall collect all such folders in every district, which the education department is willing to hand over, besides two-month time for collection of merit list. Though a prayer was made for entrusting the matter to the CBI, we are not inclined to accept the same, for the present. However, we direct the Director General, Vigilance Cell, to immediately swing into action and cause verification of the genuineness of the certificates of the teachers who have been appointed from 2006 onwards till date, it had observed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arun Kumar Arun Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He has spent two-and-half decades covering Bihar, including politics, educational and social issues. ...view detail
By conferring this years Nobel Prize in Economics on Claudia Goldin, the jury has made a significant contribution to humanising mainstream economic theory. Goldin, a professor of economics at Harvard University, has spent over four decades of her career studying factors that explain the difference between labour market outcomes for men and women. That this is a subject worth studying and recognising within the discipline should be obvious to anyone who has seen real world labour markets. But the tyranny of what is often referred to as mainstream economics, which thinks of economic actors as perfectly rational agents, and has been obsessed with quantitative models to predict their behaviour, has managed to ignore the importance of this fact long enough. Recognition of Goldins individual effort, and more importantly, her contribution in encouraging more economists to look at economics from the perspective of gender, is finally an acknowledgement of the fact that identities matter when it comes to economic outcomes and policy must do what it can to ensure that they do not become a source of systemic inequality. PREMIUM Economic historian Claudia Goldin, a Harvard professor who won the 2023 Nobel economics prize for her work examining wage inequality between men and women, speaks at a news conference at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Reba Saldanha (REUTERS)
The gruesome terrorist strike by Hamas and other militant factions from the Gaza Strip against Israel continues to reverberate around the globe. Israeli armed forces have launched retaliatory strikes that have laid waste to vast areas within the Palestinian enclave, one of the most densely populated places in the world. The world has rightly condemned the assaults by Hamas as terrorist attacks. The human cost of this latest upsurge of violence in the seven-decade conflict is staggering  more than 900 Israelis and 700 Palestinians killed so far. Israel has said it is in a state of war and the threat of an invasion continues to loom over the Gaza Strip; such an operation has probably not been ordered by the Israeli leadership only because of scores of hostages taken by Hamas fighters in Gaza. PREMIUM Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)(AP)

While Israel assesses the security and intelligence failures that led to the attacks, it is likely that the assaults were planned over a considerable amount of time. Israel has accused Iran of having a hand in the violence, which Tehran has denied. It is clear that all the hype over Israels efforts in recent years to normalise relations with several Arab states through the Abraham Accords only sought to strengthen the status quo and shift focus away from the Palestinian issue, the main source of tensions between the Israelis and Arabs. The Israeli side did virtually nothing to deliver on the principle of land for peace after the 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Instead, more Israeli settlements have appeared along with hardline Israeli settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem, Islams third holiest site, in recent months. Israels characterisation of the attacks as its 9/11 is ominous and doesnt augur well for a world grappling with economic distress compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. The situation is bound to impact the nuanced West Asia policy India has crafted, building good relations with both Israel and Arab states. Though India has traditionally been loath to intervene in conflicts, it is this policy which gives it the locus standi to act as an honest arbiter should it choose to do so. If New Delhi considers West Asia to be part of the countrys extended neighbourhood, the time may have come to act.
SI-UK India, a UK-based international education consultant company announced an extensive two-month-long UK Education Fair in India. The purpose of the exhibition is to provide Indian students with a unique opportunity to explore educational opportunities in the UK. (Representative image)

According to a press release by SI-UK India, the fair is scheduled to be held in 20 Indian cities, which will kick-start in Ahmedabad and conclude in Pune.

SI-UK India has been curating UK education fairs across the country for many years and this year, representatives from over 80 prestigious UK universities, including University College London, University of Saint Andrews, King's College London, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, and University of Birmingham and many other well-known universities will provide in-depth information about their academic programmes, informed the education consultant company.

The purpose of the exhibition is to provide Indian students with a unique opportunity to explore educational opportunities in the UK. Students can interact directly with university representatives from the United Kingdom to learn more about the desired disciplines and programmes. At the exhibition, students will be able to speak with admissions specialists and scholarship providers, stated the media release.

The education fair will also be held in Nagpur, Coimbatore, Kochi, Calicut, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mumbai, Mysore, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Indore, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Gurugram.

UK is a world-class destination for education, and we are confident that this fair will assist students in making informed future decisions. Our objective is to provide Indian students with the necessary knowledge and guidance to make intelligent choices that lead to their desired future success. The SI-UK Education Fair offers a remarkable opportunity for direct engagement with established universities, facilitating a seamless transition to an unmatched global education experience," said Lakshmi Iyer, Managing Director, SI-UK India.

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Every year, nearly 400 Indian students enrol in the University of Southampton (UK) which was ranked 81st in the QS World University Rankings 2023 and 16th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2023. Located just 1 hour and 20 minutes from central London, the University of Southampton offers standalone three-year Bachelor programmes or as four-year integrated Masters options.

With nearly 10,000 international students from 130 countries, the University has over 360 programmes across five faculties based across seven campuses, including one in Malaysia.

Located just 1 hour and 20 minutes from central London, the University of Southampton offers standalone three-year Bachelor programmes or as four-year integrated Masters options, including placement years and study abroad options.

In an exclusive interview, Kieron Broadhead, Senior Executive Director, Students and Infrastructure, and Deputy Vice President (Operations) at the University of Southampton (UK) talks about the Universitys most popular programs, scholarships, when to start applying and the importance of Statement of Purpose (SoP).

What are the courses offered by the University of Southampton?

The University of Southampton has five faculties: Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Humanities and offers a wide range of quality courses from medicine and life and physical sciences, aeronautics, engineering, and electronics to business, social sciences, arts and design and humanities.

Which courses do Indian students generally opt for?

Our most popular courses for Indian students are MSc Business Analytics and Management Sciences, MSc Computer Science, MBA, MSc Data and Decision Analytics, MEng Mechanical Engineering, MEng Computer Science, MA Design Management.

How early should one start applying? What are the basic language tests mandatory for students to enrol?

We normally encourage students to apply between September and February but if a student is interested in applying for our Presidential or Dean competitive scholarships then it is best to apply by the end of December.

Students do need an English Language test to demonstrate their English proficiency. For undergraduate students, we accept the main boards such as ISC/HSE/CBSE XII marks in English 70%. The student must have graduated within two years.

For Postgraduates, if a student graduated within two years of starting their Masters course then we accept a Medium of Instruction letter from their institution confirming their course was taught and assessed in English.

How important is the Statement of Purpose (SoP)?

A personal statement or statement of purpose is an important part of a students application and is a chance for a student to promote themselves to their chosen university.

Is the University looking beyond academic excellence in student applications? If yes, what are those areas? Voluntary work? Knowing more languages etc?

The University is looking for well-rounded students who are not just focused on academic qualities but also on their hobbies and interests, including community work or volunteering.

At the University of Southampton, we have over 350 clubs and societies which allow students the opportunity to explore themselves more than anything.

How much is the average fee for under-grad, post-grad programs?

Our Undergraduate courses start at 22,300 up to 27,000 while our postgraduate courses 24,000 up to 32,300.

What about living costs?

Living costs range between 1,100-1,400 per month

What about facilities for students with disabilities?

The University of Southampton offers a wide range of support for students with disabilities, health issues and mental health conditions. Details are available on the official website of the University.

The right of students to work?

International students can work up to 20 hours per week in term time and full time in the holidays. At the end of their study, both Undergraduate and Postgraduate students have the right to work for two years in the UK in any role. Postgraduate research students can stay back for three years.

Are there mentors who can help students during the application process?

For undergraduates, the application process is via UCAS and there are lots of guides on how to apply on their website. The University of Southampton also works with education partners who assist students with their application.

If you have a question about studying at the University of Southampton, about the courses you are interested in, what its like living in halls, then on the Universitys website, you can chat with our international students online and find out more about their experience.

Are there any study/information centres in India?

We have two offices in India: in Mumbai and Delhi and we also have a team in the UK. Furthermore, we work with a number of education counselling services.

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Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs has released the written examination results for the Junior Intelligence Officer Grade-II/ Technical ( JIO-II/Tech) examination 2023 ( Tier-I). Candidates can check the written examination results for the post of JIO-II/Tech through the official website at mha.gov.in. Intelligence Bureau releases JIO-II/Tech written exam results 2023

The Tier II Junior Intelligence Officer Grade-II/ Technical ( JIO-II/Tech) examination 2023 is scheduled to be conducted in November/December, 2023.

Candidates would be intimated through email/SMS to download the call letters for Tier-II/III exam (indicating date, time, venue, relevant instructions, etc.) in due course, reads the official notification.

IB Junior Intelligence Officer written exam results 2023: Know how to check

Visit the official website at www.mha.gov.in

On the homepage, click on the JIO-II/Tech Result of Tier-I Exam (IB)

A pdf will be displayed on the screen

Copy the link to the browser

Check the list of qualified candidates

Take print for future reference.

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One cannot stress enough about the importance of mental health and yet there is very little awareness among people around the topic. Mental health issues are now coming to the fore with people trying to analyse it and seek help to make their lives easier. But there is still room for a lot of awareness around the topic.(Freepik)

A topic that was once regarded as irrelevant considering the cultural values and traditions the society holds on to, has become the elephant in the room now.

Mental health issues are now coming to the fore with people trying to analyse it and seek help to make their lives easier. But there is still room for a lot of awareness around the topic.

We are now facing a grave situation of the rise in the suicide rate among students in our country which needs to be tackled carefully. The recent case of Actor Vijay Antony's daughter who died by suicide has sparked a concern among parents and teachers to not take mental health issues lightly.

Helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness -these are the feelings of a depressed person who may find suicide as a way to solve their problems. There are various factors that contribute to an increase in the rate of student suicides. Socio-cultural change that happened over the years is one among them. The difficulty in handling failure, unrealistic expectations of self or parents, academic/social pressure, difficulty in handling romantic or peer relationships, identity crisis, bullying, loss of dear ones, financial constraints, substance abuse, stress, anxiety, emotional or physical abuse are some of the reasons, says Lekshmi Vinayan, a consultant psychologist who is a specialist in handling mental health issue cases among children.

The Ministry of Education recently released the draft UMEED ( Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop) guidelines for schools. The draft guidelines propose a plan of action for schools to deal with the prevention of suicides among children which is on the rise now.

According to the NCRB reports, 8 percent of the suicide victims in 2021 were students. When students are unable to handle their personal-social issues and concerns effectively, it can result in a constant feeling of sadness, dissatisfaction and frustration, mood swings, hopelessness and in extreme cases may also lead to self-harm, including suicide.

All the figures and occurrences are a constant reminder for us to work out on being more serious when it comes to seeking and providing help to people with mental health issues, especially students.

A lot of myths about mental health have developed over the years which makes even the educated fall for it. In an attempt to dispose of these misconceptions, the Ministry of Education in its draft guidelines debunks the myths to help parents, teachers and school authorities in the accurate identification of warning signs of suicide.

The National Education Policy 2020 also envisions promoting mental health and well-being among students, which plays a prominent role in all aspects of an individuals life. 'Every Child Matters' is the underlying belief in developing the guidelines for the prevention of suicide by the Education Ministry.

With this vision, efforts are aimed to be directed towards the prevention of suicide in schools. The guidelines provide directions to schools for enhancing sensitivity, understanding, and providing support in case of reported self-harm.

In addition, the guidelines also emphasise nurturing partnerships between school, parents and community, for fostering societal support as a critical strategy for preventing suicide and reducing the stigma associated with suicidal behaviour.

Students go through a lot of transitions in school life as well as in their personal lives and some of these can have lasting a impact on them psychologically. As time evolves, we are more acquainted with technology which keeps getting better with time. And so is the addiction of children to gadgets and social networking sites.

 Children these days find themselves lonely, stuck in their apartments with no social life and all they have around are gadgets. From what I have observed, most of them lack self-love and being happy for who they are is quite questionable. Due to the online and gadget influence, kids are unable to focus which is not a good sign. They perceive that being perfect is important and cannot accept flaws. It's high time that we gave mental health its due importance, especially in schools, says Nishitha Mohandas who works as a Counsellor at Trivandrum International School.

Setting up dedicated faculty and sessions to help the students becomes the responsibility of the school and periodic assessments need to be undertaken by the school for continuous reflections on actions taken towards the prevention of suicide, as mentioned in the draft guidelines.

As educators, increasingly we have a critical task of nurturing the emotional and mental well-being of our students. On this World Mental Health Day, it is imperative that we recognize the essential role of self-care and resilience in providing a well-rounded education. The integration of mental health awareness into our curriculum equips our students with essential tools not just for academic success but more importantly for effectively navigating life's complexities. To ensure the well-being of our students, it is crucial that our schools employ qualified emotional and mental health counselors who regularly conduct tailored hands-on workshops, addressing the specific needs of different grade levels and individual students. Identifying those in need of one-on-one counseling, with the collaborative support of counselors, parents, and teachers, is paramount, said Dr. Skand Bali, Principal of The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet.

It is a race against time for the adults to complete their office tasks, handle household chores and to set a time for their personal life is often a herculean task.

But in this helter-skelter lifestyle, every moment that we keep apart for the children would make them feel wanted and make them trust in the adults when they face challenges.

Being watchful of the signs, communicating with the children/students and setting priorities can be helpful in gaining their trust. Being extra careful while communicating with students/ children be it at school or at home is imperative.

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Sonipat-based World University of Design is hosting the 15th International Conference on Doctoral Education in Design. According to a press release by the World University of Design, the event, to be held on October 18 is being held in partnership with the Punjab-based RIMT University.

According to a press release by the World University of Design, the event, to be held on October 18 is being held in partnership with the Punjab-based RIMT University. The biennial conference is organised by the European Academy of Design (EAD) to reflect on what is needed to fuel the future of design education. The 2023 conference will be delivered over five one-day events in five cities in the world including Sonipat, Bilbao (Spain), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Espoo (Finland) and Glasgow (the UK). The conference, being held for the first time in India, explores doctoral design research and education and its role in defining agendas for the next 25 years.

Each of the five country hubs focuses on different themes: Beyond Human-Centred Design Research (Sonipat); The Discipline of Design  Transdisciplinary Practices (Bilbao); Living in the Pluriverse (Sao Paulo); Exploring the Social Impact of Design Research (Espoo); and Extreme Making (Glasgow).

According to the press release, the in-person event at the World University of Designs Sonipat Campus will have keynote addresses and presentations by more than 25 researchers. Also, in attendance will be 150 delegates and invitees from major universities of design, industry, stakeholders, and doctoral students. For design academics and researchers, this will be an important networking event.

We are delighted and honored to play hosts to this prestigious global conference by the European Academy of Design which is being held for the first time in India. The event is positioned to address the future requirements of design education. Its tagline What got us here, wont get us there, highlights the fact that design education is going to need a massive rethink and overhaul because the world is changing ever so rapidly. For India, this is even more relevant as doctoral education in design is almost non-existent in the country. While the hosting of this Conference in India shows that the country has come up the ladder of design education to a certain extent, the fact of the matter is that we need even higher levels of education in design if the creative domains are truly to be a catalyst in the development of Indian economy," said Prof (Dr) Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design in the media release.

Registration for delegates is open and for more information visit the official page.

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. The Russian peacekeeping contingent is ready to contribute to the strengthening of trust in the South Caucasus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Now, when leaders in Yerevan and Baku have resolved the issue of mutual recognition of the sovereignty of the two countries, the time has come to establish peaceful life and strengthen trust, Lavrov said in an article. The Russian peacekeeping contingent is ready to maximally contribute to this, he added.

The Russian FM accused the West of destabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus and imposing its mediation upon Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Urbanisation is expanding at a rapid pace, and it is estimated that by 2050, approximately two-thirds of the global population will live in urban areas. By 2030, it is projected that Indians urban population will surge to 40.76%. However, urbanisation brings with it numerous health challenges, particularly significant ones for mental health conditions. The increased rural-to-urban migration and the stressors associated with urbanisation, compounded by the effects of climate change, can have substantial impacts on mental health. Economic and social vulnerabilities are known to enhance the risk of depression, anxiety, and alcohol use. Additionally, climate change-related displacements and extreme weather events can further affect the mental health of communities. Unfortunately, climate risk mitigation approaches often overlook mental health support mechanisms. While one in eight people around the globe live with a mental health condition, over 60% do not seek treatment in the early stages of mental illness, say doctors. (Shutterstock (PIC FOR REPRESENTATION))

Imagine a scenario where we are all 'invisibilised for a day. As human beings, we yearn to be seen, acknowledged, heard, represented, and be part of a group. When we fail to be seen, heard, or recognised, and in contexts this is not achieved, our core sense of identity is shaken. Externally, despite everything seeming to be progressing and functioning even in the urban chaos, the absence of productivity, communication and interaction would be palpable. This is often the harsh reality for new migrants in cities, often marginalised to the peripheries of burgeoning megalopolises.

The term invisible is apt here  as mental health issues often go unnoticed due to the absence of visible symptoms. A lack of awareness and understanding about mental health contributes to apathy and creates an environment where addressing mental health concerns without judgement becomes challenging. The stigma and discrimination associated with mental health further widens the gap in accessing support and care for mental health. This marginalisation extends not only to individuals but also to the mental health conditions that remain unseen and unaddressed, stifling open discourse.

This year, as we observe World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on October 10, the theme mental health as a universal human right takes centre stage. It underscores the need for equitable planning and quality healthcare delivery to ensure access to mental health care and services for all communities. This years theme builds upon the 2022 World Mental Health Report, which recognised that mental health is an integral part of our general health and well-being and a basic human right. The report emphasised the intrinsic and instrumental value of mental health, enabling us to connect, function, cope and thrive.

As we discuss importance of mental health well-being for all, the faces of so many our research participants from different communities and urban geographies come to the fore  the lactating mothers in Ahmedabad, migrant families in the urban slums of Delhi and Bangalore, sanitation workers in Tamil Nadu, vegetable vendors in Bhopal, and the gig workers delivering groceries and food. The acute lack of awareness and availability of mental health services in urban primary care settings is glaring. Services are often confined to specialist care in tertiary institutions. Transition to urban reality thus is complex for migrants who are disenfranchised and inundated with social, economic, cultural adjustments. The recent WHO South-East Asia Regional Paro Ministerial Declaration on mental health challenges acknowledged low investment in mental health (below $1 per capita in several countries), a shortage of trained health workers, significant treatment gap, lack of services in primary care, stigma and data paucity as gap areas in the region. The declaration called for a shift from a disease-centric approach to a focus of well-being, acknowledging broader mental health determinants, and placing communities at the centre of our responses.

Change can begin within our institutions and those we work with. Creating an environment that fosters positive mental health, whether for lactating mothers, children in need of exclusive breastfeeding, the families of sanitation workers, or migrant workers in the informal economy is the need of the hour. Dignity in life, aspirations for the future, and health as a basic common good are core values that should drive our commitment to inclusivity, liberalism, and support for the evolving dynamics of human lives in urban settlements.

Collectively, we all need to take mental health from a realm of being invisible, not noticed, not understood, not discussed, not seen, uncomfortable to being visible, normalised, discussed and mainstreamed. In a year when we have become the most populous nation in the world, this day should be a reminder for us to ensure that mental health and well-being must be at the core of our health planning, including the urban settings.

This article is authored by Aruna Bhattacharya, medical anthropologist, School of Human Development at Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru and Anant Bhan, global health researcher, Sangath.

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Recently, Sana Khan was returning from Umrah with her husband Mufti Anaas and their newborn baby Saiyad Tariq, when the paparazzi started clicking their babys pictures in the pram at the airport, and the video was even posted online. In the clip, Anaas can be seen getting angry and warning the paps to not click their baby, and it went viral. Sana tells us, I was unaware that there would be any media or paps at the airport, because I am not in contact with anyone now and I dont call people, so maybe they were waiting for some other artiste already. In fact, the girl in the burkha is my cousin sister, I did not even know she was going to come, she surprised us. Thats why I look all confused in the video, because I had no idea about the paps and her. Sana Khan on paps clicking her baby's pictures

She also points out that when popular stars in the industry dont want their babys pictures on social media, their decision is respected and adhered to. Yahi agar koi bade log hote and unko privacy chahie ho, toh unke baby ki photo nahi dikhaate ho humko. I have seen their babys picture covered with a heart or star on social media. Why? says the 35-year-old, adding, Toh logic simple hai na, if we have not posted our baby anywhere, why would you post it? Even if you made the video, you could have edited it or put a sticker, but you chose not to.

The former actor also emphasises that every parent wants to prioritise their babys protection. Harr koi apne baby ko protect karna chaahta hai and there is nothing wrong with that. I will decide when I want my child to be seen. Maybe today I am okay, maybe tomorrow I am not okay. Nobody should question me on that, because its on me as a parent, she asserts.

Khan further adds, Everyone understands that the baby can also get scared when you start clicking pictures suddenly, and it was 2 at night at that time. Naturally kisi ko bhi gussa aaega, because you dont want your newborn to be under judgement, stating that trollers dont even leave a baby on social media. Judgements are there, because there are always some idiots who find faults even in a little baby. We generally even get very hateful communal comments on our posts. People are very insensitive. My husband was also mad at them because achaanak se photo leliya. And when I saw the video, I was very angry, ki itna bolne ke baad bhi they put the video. If a parent hasnt revealed their babys face, then you should also not take or post. Ab vo hogaya, and I expect them not to click my babys pictures again, she wraps up.

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The army airlifted 165 more tourists from Lachung and Lachen in northern Sikkim on the second day of rescue operations on Tuesday, six days after the eastern Himalayan state was devastated by flash floods in the Teesta river, which destroyed human habitations, the Bardang army camp, several hydropower projects and important roads, including NH10. Tourists being evacuated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from the flood-affected areas of Lachan, in Mangan district (PTI)

Most of the tourists in Sikkim are stranded at Lachen and Lachung, popular destinations in Mangan district. The MI-17 and Chinook helicopters took off for the first time on Monday, when the weather cleared, and rescued 493 tourists and nine local residents.

Also read: Stranded for six days in Sikkim, tourist families recall trauma before rescue

The flash floods occurred in the early hours of October 4 when a glacial lake at south Lhonak burst its banks following torrential rain. The bodies of most people who drowned were carried downstream into West Bengal by the Teesta. The deaths, which stood at 89 till Monday, rose to 91, as two more bodies were found in West Bengals Jalpaiguri district, officials said.

Over these two days, the choppers made at least 98 sorties and flew for around 55 hours to evacuate stranded people and transport relief materials to remote areas such as Lachen and Lachung. The helicopters are taking off whenever we are getting a window of clear weather, VB Pathak, chief secretary of Sikkim, told the media in Gangtok on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department has forecasted that weather is likely to remain clear over the next two days.

Around 3,000 people, most of whom are tourists, were stranded in Lachen, Lachung and Chungthang in northern Sikkim. A six-member interministerial central team took an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas on Tuesday.

Communication lines at Chungthang have been restored by BSNL with VSAT units, which is a low-cost satellite technology that allows two-way communication, a Sikkim government official said, declining to be named.

During the catastrophe, 23 army personnel, vehicles and crates of ammunition were swept away by the Teesta from the camp at Bardang in Pakyong district. Only one of these missing men was found alive and the bodies of eight soldiers were recovered over the past five days.

Of the 45 bodies recovered so far in Jalpaiguri district, only 11 could be identified. Six of these victims were army personnel, said Khandbahale Umesh Ganpat, district superintendent of police.

Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, the armys chief public relations officer in the region, said in a statement that assessment of the damage suffered by roads has been completed across Sikkim and restoration plans have been worked out by the Border Roads Organisation and army engineers. A number of meetings were held with the state government and ground reconnaissance has been carried out, the statement said.

Chief minister PS Tamang was present at some of the meetings. He assured that his government will provide land and also clear forests for repair and reconstruction, the statement added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joydeep Thakur Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues. ...view detail
An artillery strike that hit a refugee camp near Myanmar's border with China has killed at least 29 people, including women and children, media and sources said on Tuesday, in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since the return of military rule. A soldier stand next to military vehicles as people gather to protest against a military coup in Yangon, Myanmar. (Reuters)

The shelling took place close to midnight on Monday in Kachin State, the sources said, when artillery hit the camp about 5 km (3 miles) from a base in the border town of Laiza run by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has been in conflict for years with Myanmar's military.

Kachin media outlets said 30 people were killed and blamed the artillery strike on the military. Reuters could not independently verify the death toll and spokespersons for the junta and the KIA could not immediately be reached for comment.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a brutal conflict in multiple regions in the wake of a 2021 coup, with ethnic minority armies and a resistance movement battling to undermine military rule after a fierce crackdown by security forces.

READ | Myanmar military on airstrike that killed civilians: some people who were

More than 1 million people have been displaced, the United Nations says.

The shadow National Unity Government (NUG) condemned what it called a vicious attack on civilians and said the world must take action to halt the atrocities and put Myanmar's generals on trial.

"This act of military council is war crime and crime against humanity," NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said, adding an attack at the border with China showed the junta did not respect its neighbour's demand for peace and stability.

Kachin media shared a series of graphic images on Facebook of destruction, which could not immediately be verified by Reuters. One showed casualties on the floor, another more than a dozen body bags lined up.

Others showed men in military attire sifting through wreckage and a man carrying the body of a small child.

The incident was the deadliest since an air strike in Myanmar's volatile Sagaing region in April that killed scores of people including civilians.

The military typically denies targeting civilians and blames "terrorists" for violence.

Laiza is the capital of KIA, among the largest of dozens of ethnic groups that have been battling the military for decades.

It sits close to the Chinese border and is home to many civilians living in displacement camps in and around the town.

Khon Ja, a local activist with the Kachin Peace Network Civil society group told Reuters she had visited the local hospital and was told 29 people were dead and 59 wounded.

"The bomb was too strong ... the village was totally destroyed and disappeared," she said.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging his suspension from the Rajya Sabha. The 34-year-old lawmaker was suspended from the Upper House during the Monsoon Session over a breach of privileges complaint.



Chadha was accused of not taking the consent of five Rajya Sabha MPs before including their name to a select committee. The MP has been suspended from the Rajya Sabha until the committee of privileges probing the case against him submits its report. Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha.(PTI file)

Five Rajya Sabha MPs including S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP, M Thambidurai of AIADMK and Sasmit Patra of BJD  alleged that their name was included without their consent in a select committee moved by Raghav Chadha in the House.



ALSO READ: Raghav Chadha moves Delhi HC against trial courts decision on bungalow allocation



Chadha had actually proposed the constitution of a select committee to consider the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and had included the names of the four MPs.

Union minister Piyush Goyal had accused Raghav Chadha of repeatedly indulged in gross impropriety and misconduct.

"His conduct is far distant from the ethical standards expected of a member of this august house," he had said.

He said on August 7, he moved an amendment under relevant rules for the referring the Government of National Capital Territory Amendment Bill 2023 to a select committee consisting of 19 members, including honourable members Narhari Amin, S Phangnon Konyak, Sasmit Patra, M Thambidurai and Sudhanshu Trivedi.

Responding to his suspension, Chadha had said,"My suspension serves as a stark message from the BJP to today's youth: If you dare to ask questions, we will crush your voice. I was suspended for asking tough questions that left the BJP, the world's largest party, without answers through my speech in Parliament on Delhi Services Bill".

My crime was exposing BJP's double standards on Delhi's statehood and asking them to follow 'Advani-vaad' and 'Vajpayee-vad'. The fact that a 34-year-old MP showed them a mirror and held them accountable, left them scarred, he added.

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A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday sentenced artist Chintan Upadhyay to life imprisonment in the case related to the murder of his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Harish Bhambhani. Artist Chintan Upadhyay. (Hindustan Times)

Additional sessions judge SY Bhosale rejected the prosecutions plea for the death sentence to Chintan Upadhyay and three other convicts Shiv Kumar Rajbhar, Pradip Kumar Rajbhar, and Vijay Kumar Rajbhar. The four were found guilty on Thursday.

The prosecution said Hema Upadhyay, one of Indias leading artists, and Bhambhani were smothered in December 2015 before their bodies were packed in cardboard boxes and dumped. A garbage collector discovered the bodies and alerted the police.

The investigation found that Vidyadhar Rajbhar, who remains at large, used his employees and contacts to get the two killed. Pradip Kumar Rajbhar made a confessional statement before a metropolitan magistrate in March 2016 about Chintan Upadhyays role in the murder. The prosecution relied on the statement as well as Chintan Upadhyays paintings and sketches depicting hatred towards his estranged wife and his diary reflecting these feelings.

Chintan Upadhyay denied the charges claiming he was made a scapegoat. His lawyers Raja Thakare and Bharat Manghani argued their client had no reason to kill his estranged wife as his divorce plea was granted and that he paid a major chunk of maintenance. They insisted there was no evidence of the conspiracy meeting and his role in the murders.

The lawyers for the other accused, Anil Jadhav and Hassan Ali Mooman, questioned the admissibility of Pradip Kumar Rajbhars statement, saying it was involuntary and he also retracted. The defence lawyers questioned the call data records, which the prosecution also presented as evidence.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday hailed India during her speech at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Recollecting her experience in the country the first time she visited here, Hassan said, "The world says, there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad." Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan(ANI)

"I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India, the Incredible India..." she added.

Hassan was also conferred with the honorary doctorate by JNU, becoming the first woman to be bestowed the honour.

"This honorary degree will forever be etched in my history, the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country. This is the first one to be conferred by a foreign university..." she said.

The event was also attended by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and external affairs minister S Jaishankar.

Speaking on India's relations with Tanzania Jaishankar said, Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillar. Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to east Africa along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the (COVID-19) pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides.

Hassan is on a four-day visit to India. On Monday, she met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a joint media interaction, both India and Tanzania pledged to expand cooperation in areas ranging from trade and investment to defence and counter-terrorism.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Ramesh Bidhuri on Tuesday skipped the meeting of the privileges committee in which he was to record his oral evidence in connection with complaints that he hurled religious slurs at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmaker Danish Ali in the Lok Sabha last month. Ramesh Bidhuri, who represents South Delhi in the Lok Sabha, is the BJPs in-charge for Tonk district of Rajasthan (X/rameshbidhuri)

Bidhuri cited a prior engagement in poll-bound Rajasthan for not being able to appear before the committee on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said.

Also read: BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's character certificate jibe at Kejriwal on Sanjay Singh arrest

Bidhuri, who represents South Delhi in the Lok Sabha, has been appointed as the in-charge of the BJP campaign in Rajasthans Tonk district.

The Lok Sabhas privileges committee had sought his appearance to record his statement in the complaints filed by Ali and several other MPs for giving oral evidence in respect of complaints received from various Members of Parliament against him and Kunwar Danish Ali, MP for alleged improper conduct during the discussion on `Chandrayaan-3 Mission` in the House.

Bidhuri sparked a massive controversy during the special session of Parliament when he used unparliamentary language against Ali.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla referred to the privileges committee a complaint against Bidhuri for using unparliamentary language against Ali and BJP lawmaker Nishikant Dubeys complaint that Bidhuri was provoked by Ali to use religious slurs by using highly objectionable comment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The foreign funding of the Centre for Policy Research needed to be stopped immediately as the think tank was receiving and utilising its foreign contribution for undesirable purposes that could affect Indias economic interest, the home ministry has told the Delhi high court. The home ministry also told the court that during the examination of a report of raids shared by the income-tax department, it was revealed that CPR had transferred foreign contributions to other entities (Biplov Bhuyan/HT Photo)

The think tanks licence under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, was suspended by the government on February 27, five months after the income-tax department carried out raids on the premises of CPR, Oxfam India and the Independent and Public Spirited Media Foundation.

During the examination of report of survey operation shared by the Income Tax Department, it has been noticed that the Petitioner is receiving and utilizing FC for the purposes other than that for which it was registered and the Petitioner is utilizing FC for undesirable purposes, the affidavit filed through advocate Arunima Dwivedi said.

The reply was filed in response to CPRs plea challenging suspension of its licence over alleged violation of law. The think tank also stated that without foreign contribution it would be forced to shut down, adding that it has come to a grinding halt in the past six months and 23 researchers have already left the organization.

The high court on August 29 had sought the central governments stand in CPRs plea, which argued that the home ministrys order to cancel its FCRA licence was passed without any inquiry. Justice Subramaniom Prasad had also directed the government to deliberate on the think tanks application seeking release of 25% of the unutilised amount. 

Rule 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011, allows an organisation whose FCRA certificate has been suspended to spend 25% of unutilised funds with the governments approval for declared aims and objectives for which the contribution was received.

The home ministry also told the court that during the examination of a report of raids shared by the income-tax department, it was revealed that CPR had transferred foreign contributions to other entities and deposited the funds in non-designated accounts in violation of the provisions of FCRA.

Against the backdrop of CPRs contention that its order suspending the licence was passed without any inquiry, the ministry, while calling the violations against the think tank as grave in nature, contended that any prior notice regarding suspension of certificate of registration would have defeated the very purpose of immediate stoppage of wrong utilisation of foreign funding.

It was also revealed that the activities of the Petitioner are likely to affect the economic interest of the State. Such violations are grave in nature. Hence to stop continuation of diversion and mis-utilization of FC by the Petitioner and to safeguard the economic interest of the State, the Foreign Funding of Petitioners activities needed to be stopped with immediate effect, the ministry said in its affidavit. In such circumstances, giving any prior notice would defeat the very purpose of immediate stoppage of mis-utilization of foreign funding. The provisions of Section 13 of the Act regarding suspension of certificate of registration do not require any prior notice. Accordingly, no prior notice has been given.
Amidst the war between Palestine terror outfit Hamas and Israel, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking intervention to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in Israel. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan(ANI)

"A good number of people around 7000 are from the state of Kerala. The continuing hostilities are putting these civilians to extreme hardship and their family members are in a state of extreme anxiety," Vijayan said in the October 9 dated letter to the Union Minister Jaishankar.

"I request your good self to intervene in every possible manner to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel," the Kerala chief minister wrote.

A woman from Kerala working as a caregiver in Israel was injured in the conflict on Saturday.

READ | On Indians in Israel, minister says PMO directly supervising situation

On Monday, the CPI-M Kerala Secretariat in a statement had urged the central government to take steps to ensure the safety of the Keralites stuck in Israel.

"Such a situation is based on the widespread occupation of Israeli and Palestinian territories and the killing of Palestinian citizens. It is necessary to understand and solve such problems in a democratic manner. There should be an intervention to create the conditions for that," further stated the statement.

The CPI-M statement also stated that the UN Security Council resolution on a bilateral solution must be urgently implemented and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be protected. There should be efforts to ensure peace by ending the clashes that claim innocent lives, demanded the statement.

READ | Indian students stuck in Israel share their plight: Very nervous and scared

The Israel-Hamas war has meanwhile entered Day 4 with at least 900 Israelis reportedly been killed, and 700 deaths being recorded on the Palestine side. Israel has been at "war" with Hamas terrorists since October 7.

On Sunday, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi had said the Prime Minister's Office was monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel adding "we are on the job" to bring back stranded Indian students.

"Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," Lekhi told reporters.

"Even in the past, many students including people from Andhra Pradesh were stuck across. So whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I am sure the government of India and the Prime Minister's Office is directly in touch with those people and is working and monitoring the situation," added the union minister Lekhi.

Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols.

"In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan on Tuesday met with representatives of Friends of Armenia, Rasmussen Global and the European Council on Foreign Relations think tanks and consultancy groups.

Grigoryan presented the regional security situation and particularly the security environment and threats around Armenia, as well as the policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, Grigoryans office said in a readout.

The course of partnership in the Armenia-EU relations was also discussed, and the opportunities for further developing it was highlighted.
The Collegiums recommendations to appoint judges cannot remain in limbo, the Supreme Court told the Union government on Monday, emphasising that instead of sitting on them indefinitely, the government must either notify those appointments or send them back citing specific objections. The matter will be next heard on October 20 (ANI)

There are nine names for appointments in high courts that were sent afresh in the last few months. Either they should be appointed or if the government has to say anything, they should be sent back with objections...It cannot be a limbo...why should the names lie with you indefinitely, a bench led by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told attorney general R Venkataramani, adding that it should not come to such a pass that the apex court has to issue directions in this regard.

The processes delineated in the judgment of this court and the timeline laid down in it should work out by themselves. It should not require any monitoring by this court, the bench, also comprising justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, recorded in its order while referring to the April 2021 judgment that prescribed a three-month deadline for the government to process the names.

As the bench highlighted that nine recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium for high court judges have been pending with the Union law ministry for several months without any input as to whether they were to be appointed or that the government had any objection to the proposals, the A-G assured the court that he would look into the issue and come back with a solution on October 20 when the matter will be heard next.

The bench was hearing a contempt plea complaining against inordinate delay by the Centre in clearing names when it was also informed by the A-G that the notification to appoint the new full-time chief justice of Manipur high court will be issued soon. HT on October 5 reported first that there was progress on the appointment of Delhi high court judge Siddharth Mridul as the chief justice of Manipur high court with the N Biren Singh-government replying to the Centres correspondence after withholding its opinion for three months. The recommendation to appoint justice Mridul as the Manipur high court chief justice was made on July 5.

The memorandum of procedure (MoP), which guides the appointment of judges and chief justices in constitutional courts, lays down that it is only after the view of the concerned state government is received that the law ministry can submit proposals to the Prime Minister, who will then advise the President as to the appointment.

Even as the bench recorded Venkataramanis statement that the appointment process for the chief justice of Manipur high court is almost complete, justice Kaul observed: I am very clear that I want this done before the next hearing. I have been very polite so far but if this is not done, I wont be.

In its order, the court further recorded that of the 82 names that were proposed by the high court collegium for appointments, 72 have been sent to the Supreme Court collegium for taking a final call and making suitable recommendations. At the same time, the bench clarified in its order that these names cannot be called by the government as pending with the Supreme Court collegium because they were submitted by the ministry in the last three days.

Of 26 cases of transfer of judges from one high court to another, 14 files had been processed while the remaining were still being examined, the court added in its order. We want a substantial part of pendency to be cleared by the next date of hearing. You can be rest assured that collegium will not keep anything pending and will decide as soon as possible. But once this is over, the issue of 10 names, which were reiterated by the collegium but are yet to be appointed, will have to be taken up, the bench told the A-G.

On September 26, the Supreme Court decided to monitor the steps taken by the Centre in processing the collegiums recommendations for appointing and transferring judges, expressing its anguish at the delays. It pointed out that there are nine names of lawyers recommended for appointment as judges in various high courts pending with the government for over seven months. The appointment of a chief justice in a sensitive high court (Manipur) is also pending, the court further flagged.

The contempt plea in the matter has been filed by Advocate Association, Bengaluru, through advocate Amit Pai, highlighting several instances of pending appointments and unexplained holdover by the government.

During the brief hearing, senior counsel Arvind Datar and advocate Prashant Bhushan raised the issues of some pending recommendations for appointment of high court chief justices, transfer of judges as well as a few names which the government was yet to appoint despite the collegiums reiteration.

Bhushan, at one point, requested the bench to consider issuing a directive that there should be a deemed appointment if the government fails to clear a name that has already been reiterated by the collegium. Under the MoP, the government can object only once, and it must process the appointment in cases of reiteration by the collegium.

The bench, however, retorted that there cannot a concept of a deemed appointment in these matters since a constitutional court judge is appointed after the President issues a warrant. How can there be deemed warrant of appointment? The issue will then arise -- should there be direction that the President should sign the warrant within a particular time frame? There are many complications. We cannot get into that. The idea at present is to keep pushing it so that a few things move, it added.

There have been 10 reiterated names yet to be cleared by the Centre. These included appointments of advocates Saurabh Kirpal, R John Sathyan and Somasekhar Sundaresan as judges in the high courts of Delhi, Madras and Bombay, respectively, which have also been in limbo for more than 10 months each despite reiterations by the collegium.

The delay in notifying the transfers of judges was viewed seriously by the Supreme Court during its proceedings in January and February, when it took up the contempt plea. At the time, the bench took strong exception to the government sitting on almost a dozen recommendations pertaining to the transfer of high court judges, making it clear that any delay in transfers may result in administrative and judicial actions which may not be palatable. It added that lack of consistency in the time taken by the Centre to notify the recommendations was creating issues of faith between the judiciary and the executive.

The top courts comments came at a time when the judiciary and the executive were locked in a tussle over judicial appointments. Then law minister Kiren Rijiju issued a series of statements criticising the manner in which the collegium functioned and questioning the division of powers between the two organs.

Between December and February, the top court, in a series of judicial proceedings, responded with reminders to the government that the collegium system is the law of the land that must be followed by the government to a T, while saying that the Centre had delayed a number of decisions without giving adequate reasons.

The hearing on Monday was the second occasion when the Supreme Court took stock of the pending recommendations after Arjun Ram Meghwal took over as the Union minister of law and justice on May 18.

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New Delhi: The heroism of a 23-year-old Indian soldier, who single-handedly captured a well-defended German position during World War II, returned to spotlight on Tuesday when defence minister Rajnath Singh visited a sleepy hill town north of Rome to pay tributes at a war memorial named after him. Naik Yeshwant Ghadge, 23, was posthumously awarded Victoria Cross for his heroism in the Italian campaign during World War II. (National Army Museum, UK)

The memorial, built in July, commemorates the gallantry and sacrifice of Naik Yeshwant Ghadge and other Indian soldiers who fought in the Italian campaign during the war.

Singh visited Montone in Perugia province to pay tributes at the memorial built for Ghadge and other Indian soldiers who fought in the Italian campaign during World War II, the defence ministry said in a statement. Ghadge served with the 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry.

Ghadge was posthumously awarded Victoria Cross (VC), the UKs highest military decoration, for his uncommon courage in one of the fiercest battles of the Italian campaign. More than 50,000 Indian soldiers took part in the Italian campaign, of whom around 5,700 were killed in action and are commemorated in various cemeteries across Italy, the statement added.

Ghadge was one of the two and a half million Indian men, who fought alongside the British during World War II. VC was awarded to 20 soldiers for their heroism in the Italian campaign. Eight of them, including Ghadge, are buried near battlefields where they fought.

On July 10, 1944, Ghadges unit attacked a position strongly defended by the Germans in the upper Tiber Valley. A rifle section led by him came under heavy fire, which killed or wounded all except him. He rushed to the machine gun post and killed three men before being shot by an enemy sniper. He died in the post that he single-handedly captured.

Also Read: India, Italy sign pact to deepen defence cooperation

His VC citation sheds light on his brave actions.

Without hesitation, and well knowing that none were left to accompany him, Naik Yeshwant Ghadge rushed the machine gun post. He first threw a grenade which knocked out the machine gun and firer, after which he shot one of the gun crew with his Tommy gun (Thompson submachine gun). Finally, having no time to change his magazine, he grasped his gun by the barrel and beat to death the remaining two men of the gun crew, his citation reads.

Unfortunately, Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was shot in the chest and back by enemy snipers and died in the post which he had captured single handed. The courage, determination, and devotion to duty of this Indian NCO (non-commissioned officer) in a situation where he knew the odds against him gave little hope of survival, were outstanding, it adds.

Singh was welcomed by Montones mayor, local community, school children and members of the Indian community. He thanked them for keeping the memories of Indian soldiers alive. The visit of Raksha Mantri to the Yeshwant Ghadge Memorial has deepened the unique historical connect India shares with Italy, the defence ministry statement added.

Ghadges widow, Laxmibai, passed away at Raigad in Maharashtra on February 11, 2022. She was 97.
The Delhi Police have summoned Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlots officer on special duty Lokesh Sharma for interrogation on Tuesday in connection with a phone tapping case registered against him in 2021 on Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawats complaint. The Delhi Police booked Sharma in March 2021. (X)

Sharma was summoned a day before the Delhi high court was due to hear on Wednesday the Delhi Polices plea against an interim order staying any coercive action against him. The summons on Monday coincided with the announcement of the poll schedule for five states including Rajasthan.

The Delhi Police booked Sharma in March 2021 for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and unlawful interception.

The high court issued an interim order against any coercive action against Sharma in June 2021 after he sought quashing of the case.

Sharma, who has been named as co-chairman of the Congresss central war room for Rajasthan elections, is expected to get a ticket to contest the polls. He has appeared before the Delhi Police four times. Sharma was last interrogated for about nine hours on March 20. Delhi Police also summoned minister Mahesh Joshi in connection to the case in 2021.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka during October 10-12 to attend the council of ministers meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and to hold bilateral meetings with the leadership in Colombo. Sri Lanka is the current chair of IORA and India will assume the role of vice-chair role of the regional grouping. (PTI photo)

This will be Jaishankars second visit to Sri Lanka this year and it comes two months after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe travelled to India in July to bolster relations between the two sides.

Sri Lanka is the current chair of IORA and India will assume the role of vice-chair role of the regional grouping for 2023-25 during the IORA meeting to be held on October 11.

The council of ministers meeting will review IORAs recent activities and outline future cooperation.

Also Read: Exclusive: Will Sri Lanka wake up to Indian strategic concerns?

India is set to take over the chairship of IORA during 2025-27, the external affairs ministry said.

Besides the IORA engagements, Jaishankar will have bilateral meetings in Colombo, the ministry added.

IORA promotes sustained growth and balanced development within the Indian Ocean region and its 23 members include Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

India and Sri Lanka unveiled a new economic partnership for maritime, air, energy and financial connectivity, including the use of Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system, during Wickremesinghes visit.

The India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision also includes a power grid inter-connection for electricity trade, construction of a petroleum pipeline, a feasibility study for land connectivity, and resumption of talks on an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement to replace an existing trade deal.

Following an agreement between Indias NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lanka Pay, UPI is set to be accepted in Sri Lanka by the end of the year after the completion of certain processes.

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After a gap of more than two years, the Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed October 31 and November 1 to finally hear a clutch of petitions that have challenged the validity of the central governments electoral bonds (EB) scheme as a source of political funding. Supreme Court(ANI)

A bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, clarified that the arguments in the matter will be wrapped up over the two dates , directing the Centre and other parties to submit their written submissions in the meantime.

Also read: Cant micro-manage everything to render apex court dysfunctional: SC

The bench, which also included justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the issue of whether some of the amendments that made the issue of these bonds possible should have been passed as a money bill (the route taken by the government), will not be heard by the bench because a seven-judge bench is hearing a separate case on when a bill can be designated a money bill, and that the adjudication of the EB scheme will confine itself to a raft of other issues flagged by the petitioners.

During the brief proceedings on Monday, advocates Prashant Bhushan and Shadan Farasat, highlighted the chief grounds of challenge to the EB scheme, arguing that the funding is anonymous at various levels: identity of donors is not known; the amount donated by each of such donors is kept under wraps; and even shareholders are not apprised of the details of their companys donation to the political parties. Bhushan appeared for a petition filed jointly by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and non-profit Common Cause in 2017 while Farasat represented the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

According to Bhushan and Farasat, EBs reek of secrecy that violate the peoples right to know, besides promoting corruption in elections that go to the root of democratic functioning in the country.

Representing the Centre, attorney general (A-G) R Venkataramani said that though the government is ready to argue the matter, the challenge to certain amendments passed as money bill could keep cropping up during the hearing of the matter and therefore, a clarity is required on the point.

The bench agreed with the A-G and asked the petitioners whether they wish to await the outcome of a case where the contours and features of a money bill are to be determined or want to go ahead without a reference to the money bill. Both Bhushan and Farasat said that they would want the matter to be argued expeditiously without the reference to the money bill.

The A-G informed the bench that the next 10-day window for purchasing EBs will open on October 14.

Bhushan, during the hearing, also urged the bench to decide the matter as early as possible, and preferably before the EB window for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections open.

At this point, the bench proceeded to fix October 31 and November 1 to finally hear the matter.

In order to bring in the scheme, the government made multiple amendments by way of two Finance Acts Finance Act, 2017 and Finance Act, 2016, both passed as money bills (not necessitating the oversight of the Rajya Sabha). The petitioners challenged the amendments as being unconstitutional, violative of doctrines of separation of powers and violative of an array of fundamental rights. The passage of the amendments as money bills were also challenged.

The EB scheme was first announced by former finance minister Arun Jaitley during the 2017 budget session and was notified in January 2018 as a source of political funding by way of money bills introducing amendments in the Finance Act and the Representation of the People Act. There were certain amendments also carried out in the Companies Act, Income Tax Act Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and RBI Act, to implement the EB scheme.

These bonds are issued by the State Bank of India and donations made under this scheme by companies and even foreign entities enjoy 100% tax exemption, while identities of the donors are kept confidential both by the bank as well as the recipient political parties.

Under the scheme, bonds are available for purchase at any SBI branch in multiples of 1,000, 10,000, 1 lakh, 10 lakh and 1 crore and can be bought through a KYC-compliant account. There is no limit on the number of electoral bonds that a person or company can purchase.

Every party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act and having secured at least 1% of the votes polled in the most recent Lok Sabha or state election has been allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The donor can donate the bond to a party of their choice, which can cash it within 15 days, only through the allotted account.

The bonds go for sale in 10-day windows in the beginning of every quarter  in January, April, July and October, besides an additional 30-day period specified by the central government during the Lok Sabha election years.

In March 2021, the top court dismissed two stay applications moved by the ADR to stop the sale of the electoral bonds ahead of elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. It held that there was no justification to block their sale over concerns of anonymity in political party funding or apprehensions of their misuse and that the sale had continued without any impediment in 2018, 2019 and 2020 as well.

Earlier, in April 2019, the top court introduced an interim safeguard by directing all political parties to submit details of receipts of the electoral bonds to the ECI in a sealed cover. This was done as an interim measure till the pending petitions challenging the validity of these electoral bonds were decided.

At that time, ECI supported the existing system of political party funding through electoral bonds although the constitutional body flagged lack of transparency which it said could be considered at a later stage. The Centre has however maintained that the EB scheme ensures transparency and is a powerful check on the use of illicit money in elections.

The petition by ADR and Common Cause, filed in September 2017, claimed that such an anonymous route of funding amounted to legitimising bribery as corporates could fund the party in power in a state or Centre as a matter of quid pro quo. These donations enjoy 100% tax exemption and even foreign companies can donate through Indian subsidiaries, they added.

The Electoral Bonds Scheme has opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate donations to political parties and anonymous financing by Indian as well as foreign companies which can have serious repercussions on the Indian democracy, ADR claimed, adding that the Finance Act of 2017 exempts contributions by way of electoral bonds to be disclosed to the EC under Section 29C of the Representation of Peoples Act.

Petitions by CPI(M) and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay have also raised issues pertaining to electoral bonds and have been tagged with ADRs plea, which is the lead matter in the case.

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The Andhra Pradesh high court on Monday dismissed the petitions of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking anticipatory bails in three different cases filed against him by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the state police. N Chandrababu Naidu (PTI)

Simultaneously, a special court for Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases in Vijayawada also rejected Naidus plea for regular bail in the multi-crore skill development corporation scandal.

In the high court, a single judge bench headed by justice K Suresh Reddy dismissed Naidus petition for anticipatory bail in the case of alleged irregularities in the alignment of Amaravati Inner Ring Road.

The bench, which reserved its judgement after hearing arguments of Naidus counsel Siddharth Luthra and that of advocate general S Sriram on Tuesday last week, agreed with the contention of the state government that granting bail was not appropriate at a time when the investigation in the case is at a crucial stage.

The high court also dismissed Naidus anticipatory bail petitions in Angallu violence case and as well in the case of alleged irregularities in AP Fibernet project. The Angallu case is connected to the riots which took place during a political rally taken out by the TDP chief on August 4.

Several policemen and supporters of the TDP and the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) were injured in stone pelting, arson and a riot at Angallu in Annamayya district and Punganuru in Chittoor district.

In the ACB court, justice Hima Bindu, who reserved her judgement after hearing the arguments from both the sides on October 5, rejected the TDP chiefs petition for regular bail in the 371 crore state skill development scam case.

While senior Supreme Court advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey argued on behalf of Naidu, additional advocate general Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy put forth his arguments on behalf of the CID.

The ACB court also rejected the CIDs petition seeking the custody of Naidu for further interrogation in the skill development case.

On October 5, the ACB court extended the judicial remand of Naidu till October 19. The TDP chief had been in judicial remand in the Rajahmundry Central Jail since the early hours of September 11, two days after he was arrested by the CID in the skill development scam.

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NEW DELHI: The first offshore campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) will be opened next month in Tanzanias Zanzibar, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at an event on Tuesday. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University for her role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations (X/DrSJaishankar)

The offshore campus will prove to be a milestone in educational cooperation between the two nations and continents by providing students from Tanzania and other African countries access to world-class engineering and technology education, Pradhan said at an event where the visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was being conferred an honorary doctorate by the Jawaharlal Lal Nehru University in national capital Delhi.

The honour was conferred on the visiting dignitary in recognition of her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy, and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism.

President Hassan described herself as a product of Indian education, a reference to the training received at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, under the external affairs ministrys Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme.

It is not just the beauty of its landscape, but also the generosity, and the kindness of its people, that makes India, Incredible India. India is an extended family member simply separated by a coastline, a strategic ally, a dependable partner and a friend for all seasons, she said.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar said the overseas campus of IIT Madras at Zanzibar has the potential to become the premier centre for technical education for the entire African continent. It is symbolic of our cooperation with the Global South and I deem it a personal privilege to have been present in Zanzibar at its inauguration. The first cohort, I believe, has been finalized and it actually reminds me of my own years in JNU, as these were the inception years of the university, he said.

Jaishankar said that the inclusion of the African Union into the G20 was one of the successes of Indias presidency. But I would like to take this occasion to underline that the rise of Africa is, we believe, central to global rebalancing. Our support for that process is therefore unstinted. Most of the embassies that we opened in the last decade are in that continent. I may add that the visit by President Samia Suluhu Hassan is the first visit from Africa after the inclusion of the African Union into the G20 and we recognise that significance as well. he said.

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RAIPUR : Eyeing a comeback in Chhattisgarh in the assembly polls to be held on November 7 and 17, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released its second list of 64 candidates, including that of former chief minister Raman Singh, who will contest from Rajnandgaon, taking the total number of candidates to 85 for the 90- member house. HT Image

The list with more than 20 fresh faces includes names of three sitting MPs and two former Indian Administrative Service officers. It also includes nine women candidates.

Most of the former ministers in Raman Singhs cabinet, including Brijmohan Agarwal , Rajesh Munat , Mahesh Gagda, Amar Agarwal, Kedar Kashyap, Ajay Chandrakar, Punnu Lal Mohale, Bhaiya Lal Rajwade and Prem Prakash Pandey, have been named as candidates.

Of the 64 seats for which nominees were announced by the BJP, 19 are reserved for scheduled tribes and nine for scheduled castes.

BJP state unit president and Bilaspur MP Arun Sao has been fielded from Lormi, Surguja MP Renuka Singh from Bharatpur-Sonhat (ST reserved) and Raigarh MP Gomti Sai from Pathalgaon (ST).

Singh will be contesting from his traditional Rajnandgaon seat, while leader of the opposition in the assembly, Narayan Prasad Chandel, has been renominated from his Janjir-Champa seat.

In the first list of 21 candidates, announced on August 17, there were 16 fresh faces, five former MLAs and five women.

There are five seats on which the declaration of candidates are still pending, which include Bemetara, Khallari, Belatara, Ambikapur, and Pandariya.

The BJP strategically gave a ticket to a Sahu in Saja seat against state minister Ravindra Chaubey to polarize Sahu votes in the state.

By giving ticket to Ishwar Sahu , the father of deceased Bhuvaneshvar Sahu, who got killed in a communal clash at Biranpur a few months back, the party gave a statewide message and also polarized Sahu voters, who are highest in number (around 12%) in the plains of Chhattisgarh, a BJP functionary said, declining to be named. Sahus used to be traditional BJP voters, but they shifted towards the Congress in the last 2018 election. The BJP is eyeing the Sahu voters this time.

The BJP has given two tickets to the family of Dilip Singh Judeo at Chadrapur and Kota. The Judeo family has its influence in the party and the late Dilip Singh Judeos youngest son, Prabal Pratap Singh Judeo, and daughter-in-law Sanyogita Judeo have been given party tickets from Kota and Chandrapur seats, respectively.

It will be Prabal Prataps first election, and Sanyogitas second fight, as she lost to Ramkumar Yadav in 2018.

Two former IAS officers, OP Choudhary and Neelkanth Tekam, have been given tickets.

The first impression after the release of this list was that Raman Singh played a crucial role in finalizing the candidates. However, after the names were declared, party cadres started expressing dissatisfaction because the party has given tickets to the same old faces who contributed to the partys defeat in the 2018 election leading to 15 seats, another BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.

Over the past four years, the Congress created a narrative of Chhattsigarhiyavad to counter the BJP.

It was expected that the BJP would address sub-nationalism of Chhattsigarhiyavad through better ticket distribution, but this did not happen, said Harsh Dubey, a political commentator. In Chhattisgarh, Congress supporters are confident after the BJPs second list, as they believe that Congress has successfully established a strong narrative of insider versus outsider. Since the BJP candidates are mostly the same, Congress only needs to reinvigorate their 2018 campaign with greater aggression and effectiveness,

Another BJP leader who was hoping for a ticket claimed that party workers are not happy with the list.

It was because of these upper caste ministers that we lost the 2018 elections, and the party has again given them a chance, the leader said, wishing to remain unnamed.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh where he accused the ruling party of corruption and mismanagement in the state. During a public rally in Shahdol, Rahul Gandhi quoted veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani from his book where he apparently claimed that the "original laboratory" of the BJP-RSS was not in Gujarat, as widely believed, but in Madhya Pradesh. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (File Photo)

Gandhi said, "In BJP's laboratory, the dead are being treated, and their money is being stolen," in an apparent reference to a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) flagging serious irregularities in the Centre's ambitious Ayushman Bharat scheme in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress leader also expressed concern about the future of the youth in the state, particularly referring to the Vyapam scam, which has cast a long shadow over the educational and employment prospects of thousands of young people. Gandhi said, "The future of 1 crore youths is being ruined in Vyapam, 40 people are killed. MBBS seats are sold, and 15 lakh has to be given to become a registrar."

The Vyapam scam, a massive admission and recruitment scandal that came to light in Madhya Pradesh in 2013, has been a source of controversy and legal proceedings, implicating several politicians and government officials.

Gandhi further said, In BJP's laboratory, 18,000 farmers have died by suicide in 18 years.

"In BJP's laboratory, their leaders urinate on adivasis. This is what Advani meant when he said that BJP-RSS laboratory will be built in Madhya Pradesh," he added.

A massive row erupted in July when a video showed a drunk man, whom the opposition claimed had links to the Bharatiya Janata Party, urinating on a tribal man in Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan later apologised to and washed the feet of the tribal labourer after opposition parties and tribal bodies held massive protests across the state.

Gandhi also doubled down on his demand for a nationwide caste census, saying the exercise would answer the question: What should be the share for OBC and SC communities?

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New Delhi: India and Italy signed an agreement on defence cooperation on Monday during defence minister Rajnath Singhs official visit to the country, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto. (Ministry of Defence)

The agreement will promote bilateral cooperation in areas such as security and defence policy, research and development, education in military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information, and industrial cooperation including co-development, co-production and setting up of joint ventures, the defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The pact was concluded after Singh held talks with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto on a raft of defence cooperation issues.

The focus was on the opportunities in defence industrial cooperation, the statement added.

During the talks, Singh suggested promoting interaction between Indian start-ups and Italian defence companies.

The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to strategic partnership in March 2023 during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India.

Also Read: Defence minister Rajnath Singh to embark on 4-day visit to France, Italy from Monday

In the second leg of his visit, Singh will hold the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in Paris this week. The visit to France comes at a time when India is pursuing some major military acquisitions from that country including maritime fighter jets. A road map for defence cooperation is likely to be announced in Paris.

India and France recently celebrated 25 years of their strategic partnership.

Singhs visit to France comes at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters from the French for the navys first indigenous aircraft carrier, the 45,000-tonne INS Vikrant. The Rafale M edged out the American F/A-18 Super Hornet in a direct competition to equip the navy with new deck-based fighters.

India will also build three more Scorpene-class submarines in the country with technology from France to boost the navys undersea capabilities. The two deals are estimated to have a combined value of 9 billion to 10 billion, though the final price will be determined after complex negotiations between New Delhi and Paris.
Hong Kong: Science collaboration meeting held

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and Vice Minister of Science & Technology Prof Zhang Guangjun today co-chaired the 17th meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science & Technology Co-operation Committee in Hong Kong.

Both sides also witnessed Cyberport being awarded as a State-level Scientific & Technological Enterprise Incubator by the Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST), a recognition of the Cyberports efforts in providing incubation and support services to Hong Kong startup enterprises.

Prof Sun said at the meeting that the National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly indicates support for Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, and provides a new positioning and mission for its development.

Following the promulgation of the Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Development Blueprint last year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government signed two agreements with the relevant Mainland authorities this year, to further promote the citys development into an international I&T centre and its better integration into national development.

The two agreements are: the Arrangement between the Mainland & Hong Kong on Expediting the Development of Hong Kong into an International Innovation & Technology Centre and the Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating Cross-boundary Data Flow Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Expressing gratitude to the central government and MOST for their staunch support for Hong Kong's I&T development over the years, Prof Sun said many important measures were implemented in the past year, including the expansion of national science and technology programmes open to Hong Kong and promoting the cross-boundary flow of key elements of scientific research.

The assessment exercise of five State Key Laboratories (SKLs) in Hong Kong and six Hong Kong Branches of Chinese National Engineering Research Centres has also been completed. Both sides have discussed the restructuring of the SKLs and are drawing up the work plan.

Looking ahead, the technology chief said the Hong Kong SAR Government will deepen co-operation in I&T with the Mainland, and work together with MOST to advance the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre as well as the development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in the Loop.

Both sides will explore the implementation of dedicated cross-boundary measures enabling the co-operation zone to serve as the bridgehead for intensive I&T co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, introducing more facilitation measures to promote I&T elements such as materials, capital, talent, information and technology, and enabling the city to contribute further to the science and technology development of the country, Prof Sun added.

Noting that the country has expanded the scope of future development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong, and opened up a new path for the city's I&T development, he said Hong Kong will live up to its mission the country has entrusted to it and support the high-quality development of the bay area.

We will continue to strengthen I&T co-operation with different Mainland provinces and cities, thereby complementing each other's strengths and leveraging Hong Kong's edge to serve the needs of the country, and to contribute to the country's grand vision of realising self-reliance and self-improvement and building a strong nation in science and technology."

This story has been published on: 2023-10-10. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
On October 10, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with representatives of Friends of Armenia, Rasmussen Global and the European Council on Foreign Relations think tanks and consultancy groups.

October 10, 2023, 14:48 Secretary of Security Council briefs foreign experts on Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 10, ARTSAKHPRESS: Grigoryan presented the regional security situation and particularly the security environment and threats around Armenia, as well as the policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, Grigoryans office said in a readout.

The course of partnership in the Armenia-EU relations was also discussed, and the opportunities for further developing it was highlighted.
Jaipur: Seven parliamentarians, including former Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, featured in the first list of 41 candidates announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections, with party leaders saying the list released on Monday mostly focused on those constituencies that the party had lost in the 2018 polls. HT Image

The members of parliament (MPs) fielded by the BJP are Diya Kumari from Vidhyadhar Nagar in Jaipur, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore from Jhotwara in Jaipur, Baba Balak Nath from Tijara in Alwar, Kirodi Lal Meena from Sawai Madhopur, Bhagirath Chaudhary from Kishangarh, Devji Patel from Sanchore, and Narendra Kumar from Mandawa.

The candidates list was released hours after the Election Commission announced the schedule for polls in five states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. Polling for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly will be held on November 23 and the results will be announced on December 3.

Besides Kirori Lal Meena, who is a Rajya Sabha member, the other parliamentarians on the list are from the Lok Sabha.

The BJP has given me a ticket to serve the people of Sawai Madhopur. On directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, my first responsibility is to serve the people, Meena told reporters on his candidature. With support of well-wishers, we have to bring the BJP to power for the development and prosperity of the state.

Barring Vidhyadhar Nagar seat, which is currently held by BJP legislator Narpat Singh Rajvi, the remaining 40 constituencies for which the BJP announced its candidates are held by the ruling Congress and other parties. Rajvi, a five-time MLA, however, did not feature in the list.

The party is working on seats seen as weak and so the first list focuses on those constituencies, said Narayan Pancharia, former lawmaker and convener of the state BJPs election management committee.

Vijay Bainsla, son of late Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla who led an agitation in the state demanding reservation for the community, will contest from Deoli-Uniara in Tonk district. The BJP also fielded former IAS officer Chandramohan Meena from Bassi, a reserved scheduled tribe (ST) seat.

Six out of the 41 constituencies for which the BJP announced its candidates are reserved for scheduled castes (SC) while 10 are ST seats. Only three women featured on the list.

Political analyst Manish Godha said there were no major surprises in the BJPs list. The only highlight is that seven MPs, including a Rajya Sabha member, have been fielded in the assembly elections, Godha added.

The ruling Congress is yet to announce its candidates.

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Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) will file his nomination papers for two assembly constituencies, namely Gajwel and Kamareddy, on November 9, a statement from the party said on Monday. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (ANI)

The nomination process for the Telangana assembly elections will begin on November 3 and end on November 10. The state is set to go to the polls on November 30 and the results will be declared on December 3.

According to the party statement, on November 9, KCR will leave for Konayapalli village in Siddipet district, where he will offer special prayers to Lord Venkateshwara at a local temple. The chief minister will place his nomination papers before the Lord and seek his blessings. From there, he will go to the municipal office at Gajwel in Siddipet district to file his nomination papers.

Later, he will go to Kamareddy town in Kamareddy district and file his nomination papers. After this, he will address a public meeting at Kamareddy, the BRS statement said.

The chief minister will also address a meeting of all the BRS candidates for the upcoming assembly elections at Telangana Bhavan on October 15 and issue them B-forms (authorising their candidature as official nominees of the party).

He will explain the rules and regulations of the election commission to the candidates and give them direction on how to go about with their election campaign in the next one and a half month, the statement said.

KCR will also release the BRS election manifesto on the same day (October 15). Later in the day, he will leave for Husnabad assembly constituency, where he will address a massive public meeting.

The BRS president is set to begin a tour of districts and assembly constituencies in the next three days to address meetings  starting from Jangaon and Bhongir on October 16, Siddipet and Siricilla on October 17 and Jadcherla and Medchal on October 18.

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Guwahati: The Manipur government on Tuesday urged residents in the violent-hit northeastern state not to encroach on properties of persons displaced by the ongoing ethnic clashes. Ethnic violence in Manipur has claimed at least 178 lives and displaced thousands since May 3. (PTI file photo)

The order issued by commissioner (home) by T Ranjot Singh, issued under orders from Governor Anusuiya Uikey, follows a directive on the same issued by the Supreme Court to the state government in September.

The state government views with utmost sensitivity as any such incident may further ignite or aggravate law and order situation in the state, the order said, adding: Deputy commissioners and superintendents of police are advised to take action and implement the Supreme Courts order.

On September 25, acting on a special leave petition, the SC had directed that religious buildings be protected from encroachment and from damage/destruction.

The Government of Manipur should ensure the protection of the properties of the displaced persons as well as the properties which have been destroyed/burnt in the violence and prevent their encroachment, the SC order read.

The SC order also instructed that in case any property has been encroached, the state government should direct the encroachers to remove their encroachment, failing which the person concerned would be liable for contempt of court for non-compliance of the order of the Supreme Court.

Ethnic clashes between Meiteis, who are in majority in Imphal Valley, and the tribal Kuki, who dominate some of the surrounding hill districts, since May 3, have claimed at least 178 lives and displaced over 50,000 people who are still staying in relief camps.

Also Read: Video of man being burnt in Manipur goes viral; govt says incident of May 4

Following clashes, thousands of Kukis, who were residents of Imphal Valley, fled to the nearby hills where their community was in the majority. A similar exodus of Meiteis residing in the Kuki-dominated hills districts, to safety in Imphal Valley, took place in the first few days of May.

In the past few months, there have been unconfirmed reports that several properties of those who fled have been taken over by residents both in Imphal Valley and in hill districts like Churachandpur.

The state government views the matter very seriously with utmost sensitivity as any such incident may further ignite or aggravate law and order situation in the state, the state government order issued on Tuesday read.

It added that deputy commissioners and superintendents of police have been instructed to take action and implement the directions issued by SC.

Anybody found violating the same shall be booked under relevant provisions of law of the land for the time being in force and shall be liable for contempt of the Supreme Court, the order read.

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Army helicopters began the arduous process of evacuating stranded tourists in Sikkim on Monday, five days after flash floods caused by a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) devastated the hill state and parts of West Bengal and inclement weather hampered rescue operations. The death toll from the disaster rose to 89. HT Image

Overall, the army has compiled a list of around 2,000 people that continue to be marooned in the state, with 493 tourists and nine locals evacuated by the forces Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters, the Sikkim land revenue and disaster management said in a statement on Monday evening. Tourists were airlifted from Lachung, Chaten and Lachen in north Sikkim. The operations came on a day when Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang held a meeting with chief of army staff Manoj Pande and other senior officials in state capital Gangtok, senior state officials said.

Three more bodies were on Monday found in West Bengals Jalpaiguri district, where several corpses have been carried downstream by the Teesta river. Till Sunday, 43 bodies were recovered from Jalpaiguri. Three more have been found in the last 24 hours, said Khandbahale Umesh Ganpat, Jalpaiguri district superintendent of police.

In Sikkim too, senior officials said, four more bodies were found on Monday. There were 32 bodies found inside the territory of Sikkim till Sunday. Four more have been recovered since then, said Bikash Basnet, press secretary to chief minister Tamang.

Over the past five days, central agencies, army personnel and state authorities have been involved in frantic search and rescue operations, after flash floods caused by the GLOF in the Lhonak Lake caused the Teesta to swell, damaging human habitation, the Bardang army camp, several hydel projects and arterial roads such as National Highway 10, crucial for communication in a mountain state.

Lieutenant colonel Mahendra Rawat, chief public relations officer said in a statement on Monday that the army has prepared a list of stranded people at Chaten, Lachen, Lachung and Thangu in north Sikkim. This list, which includes 63 foreign nationals, will now be used to facilitate food, medical aid, accommodation and telephones till the evacuation process is complete, Rawat said.

Soldiers of the Trishakti Corps have also been able to move past difficult terrain and have reached the isolated village of Rabom to the north-west of Chungthang to rescue a batch of between 150 and 200 civilians while the army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel have also built a log bridge over Lachen Chu connecting Chungthang to Pegong, the statement said.

Meanwhile a six member inter-ministerial team sent by the Union government visited the affected areas of Golitar, Singtam and Dikchu in Gangtok on Monday. The team will assess the ground situation and recommend short and long term restoration work, Sikkim officials said.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba also met on Monday, with the members briefed by Sikkim chief secretary VB Pathak. Gauba said that the evacuation of people should be the immediate priority for agencies, both state and central, that are working on the ground, and the union government would offer all support possible. Pathak said that the weather conditions had improved on Monday, with evacuation processes now in full swing, and that the weather forecast would stay favourable for the next three days.

Pathak however said that several affected areas had been completely cut off because of the destruction of infrastructure, and with the permanent construction of new motorable roads and bridges a long term process, bailey bridges were being constructed for the time being. He added that the state government had corresponded with Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman S Somanath, and had requested for surveillance over the South Lhonak and Shako Chu lakes to prevent any further calamities.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pramod Giri I am working with Hindustan Times since 2001 and am posted in Siliguri, West Bengal, as Principal Correspondent. I have been regularly covering vast area of northern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. ...view detail
The shadow of the five-month-long ethnic conflict in neighbouring Manipur will hang over the November 7 elections in Mizoram where the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the opposition Congress and the Zoram Peoples Movement are locked in a three-cornered fight. HT Image

The state is hosting around 72,000 refugees  12,600 Kukis from neighbouring Manipur and about 60,000 from Myanmar, from where the refugee influx started in February 2021 after the elected government was dismantled by a military coup.

851,895 people are eligible to vote in Mizoram, where women voters (438,925) outnumber male voters (412,969)

The handling of the refugee crisis by chief minister Zoramthanga has emerged as one of the biggest poll issues with the Congress and ZPM accusing the state government of ineptness.

Zoramthanga has pointed out that the state has spent 30 crore for relief to the displaced people and sought central help to deal with the unprecedented refugee crisis.

His government had also refused to take biometric details of refugees from Myanmar, arguing that it wont be collected on humanitarian grounds as the Centre may use the data to push the refugees out. The Kukis from Manipur share ethnic bonds with Mizos in Mizoram.

The MNF is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and threatened to walk out of the coalition on the issue of Uniform Civil Code, saying that the state has special cultural protection under Article 371 of the Constitution.

According to local political leaders, the boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram and the increasing influx of drugs into the state are other major poll issues.

In July 2021, violent clashes erupted at the Assam-Mizoram border, and resulted in the deaths of five Assam policemen. Despite a few rounds of talks, both states havent been able to reach any agreement.

In 2018, the MNF returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years, defeating the Congress in its last bastion in the Northeast. The MNF bagged 26 of the 40 seats and secured a majority on its own with a 37.70% vote share. The Congress, which was in power since 2008, came third with just five seats and 30% of the votes.

The ZPM, which was formed in 2022 after the merger of seven political parties, replaced the Congress as the second-biggest party with eight seats and 23% vote share in 2018.

The BJP managed to win just one seat in the Christian-majority state.

Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, vice-president of the Mizoram Congress, said the party was prepared for the polls.

We are ready for polls and confident of victory. The MNF has allied with the communal BJP, which has shed blood of Kuki people in Manipur. We will highlight the failures of the MNF government, he said.

T.C. Kaphmingthanga, general secretary of ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), objected to the counting of votes on December 3, a Sunday when Mizo people attend churches in large numbers. We will ask EC to change the counting dates. The party is ready for polls and is confident of win, he said.

J Doungel, who heads Mizoram Universitys political science department, said the MNF had a strong and well-established organisational structure across the state. To win an assembly election, a strong foothold in the rural areas is crucial. This is where the MNF has an advantage. The issue of refugees is an emotional issue for Mizo people, he added.
A Delhi court on Tuesday send NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and the portal's HR head Amit Chakraborty to ten-day judicial custody in the case filed under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha was arrested on October 3.(HT Photo)

The duo was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on October 3 over allegations that the portal received funds for pro-China propaganda.



Last week, the Delhi high court had refused to grant interim bail to the website's founder and HR head, saying that the allegations against them were not of such a nature where immediate relief could be given.

The allegations dont seem to be of such a nature that can give you immediate relief. You may be right or wrong, but well have to give them (Delhi Police) a hearing, justice Tushar Rao Gedela told senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented the two arrested men.



Last Tuesday, at least 400 Delhi Police officials had raided 30 locations in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, questioning 46 people inlcuding journalists, freelancers, writers and satirists. The crackdown took place following an investigation published in The New York Times alleged that the portal was part of a global network that received money for pushing Chinese propaganda.

The portal founded in 2009 ran into trouble in 2021 when the ED registered a case based on an FIR registered by Delhi Police's Economic Offence Wing in 2020. The allegations included overvaluing of shares, diverting funds, and violation of FDI regulations.



A year later, the central agency searched the premises of the website and its founder Purkayastha. A Delhi Police officer told HT that the company allegedly received crores of funds for the services, out of which 1.55 crore was made to an electrician. "Puryakastha and Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, have incorporated a company together with an American defence supplier company. We have found some e-mails exchanged between Puryakastha and Neville Roy Singham, which were aimed to tarnish Indias image at the international level, the officer added.



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At least nine people were killed and several others were injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadus Ariyalur district on Monday, police officers familiar with the matter said. The accident occurred at Yaazh FireWorks, owned by an individual in Thirumanur in Ariyalur, the police added. (HT Archives)

It is a licensed unit, said a senior police officer, seeking anonymity. The unit has been operating with a licence since 2014 and it was recently renewed until 2024. Around 23 workers were inside the factory when the accident took place, at around 10 am.

According to the police, preliminary reports of investigation indicate that untrained workers were hired for work. The explosion took place when the workers were mixing chemicals. Just this morning three women began working here. They are among those dead, the police officer said.

Factory owner Rajendran and his son-in-law, who was in-charge of this factory, have been booked under (WHICH SECTIONS?) sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Explosive Substances Act. Both have been arrested, the official said, adding that only seven of the nine bodies have been identified so far.

The charred bodies of nine people have been recovered and sent to the Ariyalur Government College Hospital. Those who were injured are undergoing treatment at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

Chief minister M K Stalin has announced a solatium of 3 lakh to the families of each of the deceased, 1 lakh each for those severely injured and 50,000 for those with minor injuries.

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As India is seeking to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president Dennis Francis on Tuesday said the responsibilities were not beyond the capacity of the government of India. According to him, it is quite a weighty responsibility to become a member of the council. UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis (AP)

Well, what I can say is, first of all, to congratulate India, on its ambitions to become a member of the UN Security Council. But also to become a permanent member is an extremely weighty responsibility, which I am sure is not beyond the capacity of the government of India. The question of when that will happen will be a question for, the members of the United Nations to decide, in the context of the reform agenda that's taking place within the Security Council, the UNGA president told news agency ANI.

He added, And let me emphasize consistent with what I have said before that security council reform is not an event. It's a process. In fact, it's an ongoing process.

Last year, India wrapped up its two-year stint as a non-permanent member of the UNSC - where it has been one of the leading voices calling for reforms in the council. India's bid to become a permanent member has been backed by five UNSC members - France, China, Russia, the UK, and the US.

Meanwhile, Francis hailed India as a voice of the Global South and called the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 a master stroke and a stellar achievement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A master stroke. India has been a voice of the Global South, for some time. The inclusion of the African Union in the G20 really constitutes a defining moment, he told ANI.

The African Union was made a full member of the G20 under India's presidency last month.

India is already a role model to the world. With so many different cultures, and so many different languages, India is a very diverse and rich country. And, that in itself is a powerful message for political success. I think India also has many lessons that it can share. Not just with the global South, but with the entire international community, the UNGA President added.

(With inputs from ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed October 31 for final hearing on pleas challenging the validity of the electoral bond scheme for political funding of parties. The Supreme Court building in New Delhi.(ANI)

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of lawyer Prashant Bhushan that the matter needed adjudication before the electoral bond scheme opens for the 2024 general elections.

The anonymous funding through electoral bonds raises corruption and violates the citizens right to have a corruption-free nation, Bhushan, appearing for NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), said.

This promotes corruption as the source of funding is anonymous, it is violative of Article 21 and the 'non-decision' in the case compounding the problem, he submitted.

We are here and hearing this now, the bench said. After hearing some preliminary submissions on the electoral bond scheme, the bench kept as many as four petitions for final hearing on October 31 and said it may continue hearing them on November 1 if the proceedings spill over.

Earlier, the top court had said it may consider whether the pleas challenging the validity of the electoral bond scheme for political funding of parties can be referred to a constitutional bench for an "authoritative pronouncement".

One of the PIL petitioners had said in March that so far 12,000 crore has been paid to political parties through electoral bonds and two-third of the amount has gone to one major political party.

The bench had appointed two lawyers, including Neha Rathi, as nodal counsel for ensuring smooth hearing of the PILs, saying they would coordinate to ensure that common compilation of judgements and other records are filed.

Prior to this, the top court on January 31 had said the three sets of petitions on the electoral bonds scheme, bringing political parties within the ambit of the Right to Information Act and those challenging amendments in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act will be heard separately.

The court had said it will hear in the third week of March the pleas challenging the laws permitting funding of political parties through the electoral bond scheme.

Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring in transparency in political funding.

Lawyer Bhushan has been seeking urgent listing of the PIL by the apex court and a direction to the Centre not to open any further window for the sale of electoral bonds during the pendency of a case pertaining to funding of political parties and alleged lack of transparency in their bank accounts.

The NGO, which had filed the PIL on the issue of alleged corruption and subversion of democracy through illicit and foreign funding of political parties and lack of transparency in the bank accounts of all political parties, had moved an interim application in March 2021 before the assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam seeking the sale of electoral bonds should not be reopened.

On January 20, 2020, the apex court had refused to grant interim stay on the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme and sought responses of the Centre and the Election Commission to an interim application by the NGO seeking a stay on the scheme.

The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme on January 2, 2018.

According to the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.

Only political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than one percent of votes polled in the last general election to Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly of the state are eligible to receive electoral bonds.
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a recent Kerala high court order refusing to suspend the conviction of suspended Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal in an attempt to murder case. On October 3, Mohammed Faizal was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member following his conviction in the attempt to murder case by a sessions court in Kavaratti on January 11 (HT Photo)

A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol directed that an apex court interim order allowing him to remain a parliamentarian passed on August 22 be made operational.

The bench also issued notices to the Lakshadweep administration and the victim in the attempt to murder case and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.

In the meantime, the operation of order of October 3 is stayed. In consequence, the interim order of August 22 passed by this court is made operational. List after four weeks, the bench said.

On October 3, Faizal was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member following his conviction in the attempt to murder case by a sessions court in Kavaratti on January 11. He was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined 1 lakh for attempting to kill Mohammed Salih, the son-in-law of late Union minister PM Sayeed, during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

However, on January 25, the Kerala high court stayed the conviction on the grounds that Faizals disqualification from the Lok Sabha would lead to fresh polls in Lakshadweep, resulting in enormous expenses. The Lakshadweep administration challenged this order in the Supreme Court, which on August 22 sent the matter back to the high court for reconsideration. At the same time, the top court had also stayed Faizals conviction for six weeks and shielded him from disqualification.

However, on October 3 (when the six-week stay on conviction expired), the high court refused to suspend his conviction, prompting the Lok Sabha secretariat to issue a notification on his disqualification from the House.

Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951, a sitting legislator who is convicted for an offence and sentenced to a punishment of two or more years stands disqualified from the date of conviction and for a further period of six years unless they can get the order of conviction suspended.

On Monday, Faizals counsel and senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the bench that the top court had protected the NCP leader from disqualification till the conclusion of proceedings before the high court. He pointed out that Faizals tenure as MP is set to expire in May and his constituency will not be represented if he stands disqualified from the House.

Sibal also claimed that Faizal was assaulted by the victim in the criminal case against him due to political rivalry and that the accused was convicted by the trial court.

Subsequently, the top court issued notices and sought the responses of the UTs administration and the victim in the matter.Additional solicitor general (ASG) KM Nataraj, appearing for the UT administration, opposed any further stay of the conviction and said the August 22 order was passed for a limited period of six weeks and ended with the high court order of October 3.

In the August 22 order, a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said the high court had adopted a wrong approach by relying on the fact that the conviction of the accused MP will result in his automatic disqualification from the House, leading to fresh elections, and causing a huge expenditure on the public exchequer.

Since we are remanding the matter to the high court and in order to see that there is no vacuum created till the application for stay of conviction is disposed, the benefit of the high court order is extended to the respondent (MP) till then, it said.

The victim in the case is represented by senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy who informed the court that Faizal was convicted of committing serious offences and the injuries sustained by the victim were grievous in nature.
US President Joe Biden has been interviewed as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents by Special Counsel Robert Hur, the White House counsel's office says.

The Democratic president's interview was voluntary and conducted over two days, concluding on Monday, White House counsel office spokesman Ian Sams said in a statement.

US Attorney-General Merrick Garland in January named Hur as special counsel to probe the improper storage of classified documents at Biden's Delaware home and a think tank office set up for Biden after his 2009-2017 vice presidency.

"As we have said from the beginning, the president and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation," Sams said.

The White House declined to comment further, referring questions to the Justice Department.

A wider-ranging inquiry into handling of classified documents has also been directed at Biden's main Republican potential rival for the 2024 elections, former president Donald Trump, who has been indicted in his case.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned all forms of terrorism during a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and raised the issue of the safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his counterpart from Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. (PTI file photo)

This was the first contact between the two leaders since the brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas and other factions over the weekend that sparked fresh tensions in the region. Some 900 Israeli nationals were killed in the attacks and another 700 Palestinians have died in retaliatory Israeli strikes.

Modi, who received the phone call from Netanyahu, reiterated that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, said a readout from the external affairs ministry.

He expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel and told Netanyahu that the people of India stand in solidarity with Israel.

Modi highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel, and Netanyahu assured of full cooperation and support, the readout said. The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch.

In a post on X, Modi thanked Netanyahu for his phone call and for providing an update on the situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he said in the post.

Also Read: Over 187,500 displaced in Gaza Strip since Hamass assault on Israel

Hours after Hamas launched the assault on Saturday, Modi had posted on X that he was deeply shocked by the terrorist attacks in Israel. He had also said that India stands in solidarity with Israel.

There are some 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, including about 900 Indian students. Many of the Indians primarily work as caregivers for elders, diamond traders and IT professionals.

People familiar with the matter said there are no plans as of now to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel. Most of the Indians work and live in areas far away from the places targeted by Hamas. Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation and preparations have been made for all eventualities, the people said.

The Indian embassy in Israel had earlier issued an advisory following the attacks that urged Indian citizens to exercise caution and avoid movement.

In a post on X, Netanyahu thanked many world leaders for their unprecedented support for Israel. He said he is in continuous contact with US President Joe Biden, whom he thanked for the US commitment to the security of Israel.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail
New Delhi: The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is set to achieve a nearly tenfold growth in disbursing financial assistance since 2013-14, says Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah. (ANI)

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is set to achieve a nearly tenfold growth in disbursing financial assistance since 2013-14, home and cooperation minister Amit Shah said on Monday at the 89th general council meeting of the state-backed entity.

Disbursement to cooperatives in the current financial year to March will touch 50,000 crore from 5,300 crore in 2013-14, which was a matter of great pride, Shah said, adding the corporation has no non-performing assets, with a loan recovery rate of over 99% in the past fiscal year.

The state-backed NCDC, set up in 1963, is an implementing agency for development programmes of the Union government .

India is looking to boost the economic potential of its large number of cooperatives spread across the country with reforms that can quicken the countrys GDP expansion to reach a targeted $5 trillion by 2025, according to recent government announcements.

Cooperatives are collectives owned by participating members who share profits and losses, such as a rural business or banks. It counts 290 million farmers as members. The popular milk brand Amul, for instance, is a cooperative. So is Indias largest fertilizer maker, IFFCO.

In July 2021, the Narendra Modi government created a ministry for cooperation, helmed by Shah, carving it out of the farm ministry. The Centre has since rolled out several changes to digitise and expand a sector that plays a key role in the rural economy.

The NCDC has helped to foster the economic development of cooperatives in the country, from creating infrastructure facilities involved in agricultural marketing and inputs to processing, storage and cold chain, Shah said. The ambit of NCDC has widened to include areas in keeping with the needs of the society and boost income of youth in the country, he said.

Among a slew of reforms, Parliament had passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2022, in July. The law seeks to bring transparency in the governance of cooperatives, paves the way for a cooperative election authority to bring electoral reforms and prevent malpractices in the sector.

Aside from being a large provider of employment, the sector has nearly 38,000 viable primary agricultural cooperative societies, which are now being digitized.

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The Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday passed a unanimous resolution urging the central government to direct Karnataka government to release Cauvery water as per the directions of the Supreme Court. MK Stalin (PTI)

The resolution was supported by all parties except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In order to protect the livelihood of the Cauvery delta farmers, who are the basis for Tamil Nadus agriculture, this August House unanimously urges the Union government to direct the Karnataka government to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the direction of the Supreme Court, read the resolution passed by the assembly, after four BJP MLAs staged a walked out. The resolution comes admist various protests and bandhs were held over the Cauvery water dispute in both states.

Chief minister M K Stalin moved the resolution on the first day of the current assembly session by detailing the steps taken by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in the past few months to ensure that neighbouring Karnataka adhered to the monthly water schedule, as prescribed by the Supreme Courts final verdict in February 2018. Principal opposition in the state, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), also blamed successive governments in Karnataka of not honouring the Supreme Court verdict.

AIADMK general secretary and leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) said that Stalin should have discussed this issue with the ruling Congress in Karnataka. Getting water from Karnataka is tough. Although we are supporting the resolution moved by Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Cauvery. If we are united only we can get water from Karnataka, he said.

Stalin had visited Bengaluru in July for the INDIA blocs meeting as DMK and Congress are constituents of the 28-member coalition. Reacting to the comments made by EPS, state minister for water resources S Durai Murugan said that holding talks with Karnataka would mean surrendering the states rights, as the Supreme Court verdict is an outcome of decades of struggle by successive governments in Tamil Nadu. This is what Karnataka expects. Talks would mean that we are ready to pledge our rights to Karnataka, the minister said.

The state government should have a plan on how it will ensure water for farmers for samba and to provide drinking water to 20 districts which depend on water from the Cauvery river, EPS said, adding that in 2018, AIADMK MPs had brought Parliament to a standstill over the Cauvery issue.

BJP said that when they ruled Karnataka for five years until this April, there was no issue over sharing Cauvery water. Why is there a problem only after Congress formed the government? asked BJP legislator Vanathi Srinivasan. That they cannot resolve this with their ally who are in the INDI alliance and they are passing a resolution urging the Centre to intervene, shows the DMKs double standards.

There was a heated debate also took place in the House between EPS and Stalin with the latter saying that he doesnt need lessons on how to be courageous from the leader of the opposition. Do I have to prove that our MPs have raised the Cauvery issue ? The Opposition leader should not just raise issue just like that without any proof, Stalin said. He added that Cauvery water is crucial not just for the food security of Tamil Nadu but also to save lives and hence the DMK government would exert pressure on the BJP-led Union government.

The chief minister said, according to the monthly schedule, from June 1 to October 3, only 46.1 (thousand million cubic feet ) of water was released to Biligundlu, from where the Cauvery water from Karnataka enters Tamil Nadu. Karnataka should have released 123.06 tmcft of water between June and September, he added.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will go into what is set to be Telanganas most keenly contested election in its decade-long history, with the Election Commission announcing that the state will vote on November 30 and results will be announced on December 3. Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao will hope to overcome a two-term anti- incumbency. (PTI)

Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao will hope to overcome a two-term anti- incumbency, and win for the third consecutive time. The challenge for him is a resurgent Congress and a BJP that can influence the outcome of the polls.

In the 2014 assembly elections, the BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samiti, or TRS) won 63 of the 119 assembly seats, banking on its decades-long struggle for a separate state.

In his first term, Rao launched a clutch of welfare schemes such as the Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Kalyan Lakshmi and double bedroom houses scheme, as well as development programmes such as Mission Kakatiya (restoration of defunct irrigation tanks) and Mission Bhagiratha (bringing piped drinking water to every doorstep) and major irrigation projects.

Even as the opposition struggled with a leadership crisis, Rao sprang a surprise and dissolved the state assembly eight months early in 2018. The BRS won the 2018 elections even more resoundingly, winning 88 seats. The Congress won 19 and the BJP won just one. Over the next five years, 12 of the 19 Congress MLAs defected to the BRS. After some bypoll wins, the strength of the BRS has risen to 104 in an assembly of 119 seats.

But the fight appears much more intense this time around.

I am sure the people are wise enough to decide who they want to elect, BRS working president and information technology minister KT Rama Rao said on Monday. The Congress leadership in the state is selling tickets to aspirants and if the party is voted to power, it will sell the entire state itself.

Under the leadership of Bandi Sanjay, the BJP sprung a surprise in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections by winning 48 out of 150 divisions in 2020 and prevailed in two assembly bypolls in Dubbak in 2020 and Huzurabad seats in 2021. But since then, it has been roiled by infighting and factionalism.

Telangana wants a change, said state unit chief G Kishan Reddy. The change is possible only with the BJP, he said.

The Congress is buoyed by its electoral success in neighbouring Karnataka, as multiple disgruntled leaders from the BJP and BRS have jumped ship to the principal opposition, strengthening its district-level leadership. With political strategist Sunil Kanugolu helping the campaign, the Congress has also come up with six guarantees that they are taking to the people.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MP A Revanth, while talking to reporters in Delhi said that the people of Telangana would get liberation from the misrule of the BRS after the polls. All the people should come forward to liberate Telangana..., he said in Telugu in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Among the other parties in the fray is the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which has announced that it will contest in more than 40 constituencies, but is likely to be strongest in its old bastions of Hyderabad.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he hoped that KCR will become Telanganas CM again. Speaking to mediapersons after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for five states, Owaisi said, We hope Insha Allah (God willing) that KCR will again become the Chief Minister of Telangana.

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Chennai: A second-year postgraduate resident doctor of a private medical college in Tamil Nadu died by suicide leaving behind a note accusing a senior doctor of sexual harassment and two other doctors of mental abuse, police said on Tuesday. In a handwritten suicide note, the 27-year-old listed three doctors including a woman of sexual harassment and abuse. (Representative image)

Police found the doctor dead inside her hostel room on October 7 in Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Science in Kanyakumari.

Based on the details we have so far, we have registered a case against all three doctors she has named and we are questioning them, said a senior police officer in Kanyakumari who asked not to be named. They have been booked under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, which charges them with abetment to suicide.

In a handwritten suicide note, the 27-year-old listed three doctors including a woman of sexual harassment and abuse. She was working in the department of anaesthesia and the people she has accused were her superiors in the same department, said a member of the medical institute who asked not to be named.

Also Read: Ludhiana: Three booked for abetment after cable operator ends life

She accused the senior most doctor of sexual harassment, physical and mental abuse while she blamed another male doctor of mental abuse and toxicity. She also accused the woman doctor, her superior, of senior toxicity. The victim hailing from Thoothukudi ended the letter apologising to her father and adding that she loved him the most.

The Kanyakumari police have launched a wider probe, also questioning people she knew at graduate college in Chennai. We are not just investigating the faculty and friends associated with her in this institution. She previously studied in Saveetha Medical College (in Chennai). We are questioning people there too, the police official said.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association has demanded speedy justice. The Tamil Nadu government should take immediate action on the issue, said Dr Keerthy Varman, president of the organisation.

If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.

Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669;

Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918,

Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000,

ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290
Two terrorists linked to the proscribed terror outfit Lashkhar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Alshipora area of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter broke out after security forces launched a counter-terrorism operation in the Alshipora area after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma. (Waseem Andrabi/HT file photo)

Kashmir Zone Police said in a social media post, #Encounter has started at Alshipora area of #Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow.

In another update, it said, Two (02) #terrorists killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow.

The slain terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq, alias Abrar, of LeT.

ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma.

Sanjay Sharma was killed in February outside his house in the Achan area of Pulwama. He was working as an ATM guard in J&K Bank and had never migrated from his native place.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) last month conducted raids at seven places in south Kashmirs three districts in connection with Sharma's murder.

Today, the SIA, Kashmir, conducted fresh searches in Case FIR No 14/2023 of Police Station Litter Pulwama. The case pertains to the cold-blooded murder of bank ATM guard Sanjay Sharma, a police spokesperson had said.

The State Investigation Agency has reiterated that the case will be submitted for judicial determination soon. The SIA has also reiterated its commitment to uphold the rule of law and effecting harshest punishment to all those involved in the gruesome murder of Sanjay Sharma, the spokesperson added.

This is a developing storyPlease check back for updates

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday urged people to watch the Hindi movie 'The Vaccine War', saying it "exposes conspiracies against India", celebrates Indian scientific achievements and elevates India's global stature. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath (HT File)

The Vivek Agnihotri-directed movie, which was released theatrically on September 28, is inspired by the work of Indian scientists on the development of an affordable Covid vaccine.

A new film has come - The Vaccine War, which showcases India's outstanding scientific achievements on the global stage. This film is dedicated to exposing the conspiracies against India, highlighting the groundbreaking research conducted by Indian scientists, and fostering greater recognition of India on the global map, Adityanath said while addressing an event in Unnao.

At the function, the chief minister laid the foundation stone of development projects worth 804 crore and unveiled the statue of freedom fighter Raja Rao Rambaksh Singh, an official statement said.

Some individuals are pursuing their agendas and it's crucial to comprehend their motives and expose their actions before the world, Adityanath said praising 'The Vaccine War' as an "excellent initiative" in this regard and calling for public support for the cause.

He emphasised the importance of understanding the conspiracies being hatched against India and Indian values. He also encouraged every student and young person to watch the movie and take pride in India's scientific achievements, the official release said.

During the pandemic, the fight wasn't an individual's battle. With the Prime Minister leading like a captain, certain individuals tried to weaken this fight through false propaganda. 'Vaccine War' sheds light on these conspiracies against the country and reveals the faces behind the relentless attempts to undermine the nation, the chief minister added.

He also shed light on the country's significant achievements during the Covid pandemic, including the distribution of free ration to 80 crore people and the distribution of 220 crore free vaccines, the statement said.

During his address, Adityanath emphasised the significance of Unnao, not just as a religious and spiritual hub, but also as a place where renowned saints have shaped its legacy through their birth and work, it added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the makers of 'The Vaccine War', saying the movie has made every Indian feel proud.
A woman of Indian origin, currently residing in Israel, described the aftermath of a missile attack that struck the city of Ashkelon amid the country's ongoing war with the Hamas on Tuesday. Despite the damage caused by the attack, she expressed confidence in the country's military and said that Israel is their home, where they wish to live peacefully. Ilana Nagaukar, an Indian-origin woman in Israel, explained the aftermath of a missile attack that struck the city of Ashkelon on Tuesday.(ANI)

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Ilana Nagaukar explained, Yesterday, a missile struck here, resulting in vehicle fires and a power outage in nearby buildings. We feel a sense of danger, but we maintain our faith in our army. This is our home, and we have no intention of leaving. We want to continue living here in peace.

During her account of the attack, she showed the precise location where the missile had landed in a video. She also mentioned that her residential building sustained damage, with broken windows and doors, and a damaged car could be seen in the video shared by ANI.

What's happening in Israel?

On the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah (Saturday), terrorist group Hamas launched an unprecendented attack on Israel, in an assault that came 50 years after the outbreak of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The terror group fired thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel and used explosives and bulldozers to breach the security fence surrounding the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

Hamas militants stormed Israel using various means such as motorbikes, pickup trucks, motorized gliders, and speed boats, targeting cities like Ashkelon, Ofakim, and Sderot.

In response, Israel on Sunday declared war on Hamas and initiated a series of airstrikes on the group's positions. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant imposed a complete siege on Gaza, leading to disruptions in essential supplies like electricity, food, water, and gas.

The Israeli military amassed tens of thousands of troops and heavy armor near Gaza and mobilised 300,000 reservists for a campaign known as "Swords of Iron." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce Hamas hideouts in Gaza to rubble, a territory home to 2.3 million people under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for over 15 years.

Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza on Tuesday, with reports of restored control over the border and evacuations of communities near the frontier.

Meanwhile, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Ashkelon on Tuesday, bypassing Israeli air defenses and hitting a residential area.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life on both sides, with over 900 casualties in Israel and at least 830 people, including 140 children, killed in the fighting between Israel and various terror groups in the Gaza Strip.

(With inputs from agencies)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail
A screenshot of a fake resignation letter bearing the forged signature of a chief minister has triggered a legal battle in Tripura and prompted the state police to use a thus far unused provision of Indias information technology law to try and pierce social media giant WhatsApps encryption shield and force the behemoth to give up the originator of a viral message. PREMIUM In its petition in the high court, WhatsApp cited a May 26, 2021 press release by the Union IT ministry that said the originator of information can only be traced in a scenario where other remedies have proven to be ineffective, making the same a last resort measure. (Reuters)

The controversial Rule 4(2) of the 2021 Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, issued under the Information Technology Act, allows for the identification of the first originator of a message if the request is backed by a judicial order in cases involving serious crimes like rape or threats to national security.

Also read: Amended IT rules not meant to curb free speech, criticism: Centre to HC

This provision  known colloquially as the traceability rule  was invoked by the Tripura Police in May this year when it approached a local court for permission to track down the originator of a viral post with the fake resignation letter of chief minister Manik Saha. It is the first time that an Indian law enforcement agency has used the provision against WhatsApp.

A judicial magistrate first class of Agartala, West Tripura, granted the request on May 27, setting off a confrontation with WhatsApp that has touted end-to-end encryption as one of its core offerings. WhatsApp has told several Indian courts in the last few years that it cannot trace the originator of a message without dismantling its own protections.

After four months of wrangling with the Tripura Police, WhatsApp finally approached the Tripura high court on September 22, asking it to set aside the traceability order. The high court granted a stay on September 26.

But the proceedings in the landmark case might hold wider ramifications for privacy, social media companies and law enforcement.

HT has reached out to WhatsApp and Tripura Police for comment but had not received one at the time of going to print.

Fake letter led to a traceability order within three days

On May 25, Tipra Motha (TMP) member Meri Debbarmas Facebook page shared a WhatsApp screenshot of a fake resignation letter dated May 22, bearing chief minister Sahas forged signature. It was posted with a comment that roughly translates to, What is their future? There will be a switch this time too.

The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Saha was named Tripura chief minister in 2022 after Biplab Kumar Debs resignation.

Debbarma, who lost the 2023 state elections from the Kamalpur constituency, told HT that she does not post to her Facebook page and that a member of her IT team, Rinku Debbarma, shared the post in question.

This post, according to Tripura Polices investigating officer (IO) Sukanta Debs application to the judicial magistrate, was a screenshot from a WhatsApp group named Aamader Mukkhomontri, or Our Chief Minister in Bengali. It was forwarded by an individual named Palash Chakraborty Ji to the group.

The officer, in his application, wrote that Meri got this message from multiple places, including in a WhatsApp group named TIPRA 32 Matabari 3 of which she is a member. In his application, Deb listed the number of the sender in this group.

The fake post went viral and eventually caught the eye of Sujata Deb, an advocate who is the social media convenor for the BJPs state mahila morcha. She filed a complaint at the New Capital Complex Police Station in Agartala on May 25 itself. By then, the post had been deleted.

I filed the complaint because it spread fake news about the CM, she told HT.

An FIR was registered under sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 471 (using a forged document as a genuine document), 500 (punishment for defamation), 504 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66D (punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Within a day, the judicial magistrate received the FIR, ordered the IO to investigate and submit a report.

A day later, on May 27, Meri Debbarma said Sukanta Deb questioned her for half an hour, and seized Rinkus phone, a black Oppo F31, along with his Airtel SIM card, according to the polices seizures list. The same day, Deb submitted an application to the chief judicial magistrate of West Tripura district seeking an order under Rule 4(2) of the IT Rules directing WhatsApps nodal officer to identify the first originator of the screenshot. In his application, Deb did not mention that he had already seized Rinkus phone and SIM card.

In his application, Deb wrote that the letter has gone viral and is being circulated across different Whatsapp groups and has the potential to create massive Public Disorder and can act as an incitement for breakdown of law and order in Tripura. He wrote that the message was created with malafide intention to disturb public order and create violence in Tripura. He argued that the perpetrator operating to destabilize the democratically elected Government of Tripura had to be taken to task.

The same day, judicial magistrate Baishali Choudhury ordered WhatsApps nodal officer to disclose the identification of first originator without further delay. HT has seen all the documents cited in this report.

On May 27 itself, the Union of India, uploaded a request to furnish the first originator to WhatsApps Law Enforcement Online Request System. Two days later, the government followed up with WhatsApp with the traceability order and an email from the State of Tripura. On May 31, the State of Tripura too uploaded a request to the Law Enforcement Online Request System.

For almost four months, according to WhatsApp's petition, the messaging service told law enforcement officials that it could not reveal the first originator because of end-to-end encryption but to no avail. It finally filed a writ petition in the Tripura high court on September 22.

Impossible to trace, matter sub judice: WhatsApp

In its petition in the high court, WhatsApp cited a May 26, 2021 press release by the Union IT ministry that said the originator of information can only be traced in a scenario where other remedies have proven to be ineffective, making the same a last resort measure. The IT ministry had issued this press release in response to WhatsApp and Facebook's lawsuits against the traceability rule in Delhi high court.

This, paired with the fact that the traceability order was issued the same day as the IOs application, shows that the order was passed without exploring other available means of identifying the first originator, WhatsApp argued.

Citing the Supreme Courts 2019 Puttaswamy judgment, WhatsApp argued that the IOs application did not demonstrate that all less intrusive investigative methods had failed. In fact, it wrote that Tripura Police resorted to seeking a tracing order under Impugned Rule 4(2) without first pursuing other methods or remedies to identify the first originator. The impugned order, too, does not demonstrate any consideration of possible alternatives, and if they were tested to determine whether such alternatives realize the intended goal of Tripura Police.

WhatsApp, in its petition, argued that finding the originator does not fall within the six reasons given in the already challenged Rule 4(2). It said that Debs application only speculate[d] that the content and alleged offences implicated public order but fail[ed] to allege any facts or show through supporting material that it is reasonably or rather fairly certain that the content creates a clear and present danger or imminent lawless action. It also argued that the IO had not offered any proof of virality of the content.

WhatsApp reiterated many of its arguments from its 2021 petition in the Delhi high court challenging the traceability rule. It also reaffirmed that end-to-end encryption prevents WhatsApp and anybody else from being able to determine who said what on WhatsApp.

It also argued that the police failed to establish an intention to deceive.

Gautam Bhatia, a Delhi-based constitutional lawyer and an adjunct professor at Jindal Global Law School, agreed that there might be individual cases where traceability might be desirable and necessary. However, the question should not be addressed at the level of individual cases but whether that power should exist with the state at all since to grant that degree of power to the state would fundamentally make privacy in terms of messaging or communication online completely redundant, he said.

Threat to public order not established: Tripura high court

Before the Tripura high court division bench comprising chief justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice T Amarnath Goud, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for WhatsApp, said that the investigating officer had not made out a case for an imminent threat to public order in his application. He argued that the judicial magistrate, too, had not referred to any tangible threat to public order which is a requirement for invocation of a traceability order.

Advocate general SS Dey, along with additional public prosecutor Samrat Ghosh, both appearing for Tripura, argued that as an intermediary, WhatsApp did not have any standing to object to a traceability order and said this prerogative lay only with accused people.

Eventually, the division bench ruled in WhatsApps favour and stayed the lower courts traceability order.

They wrote that the trial court had not dealt with the issue of the extent of threat to public order as contemplated under Rule 4(2), especially since the request for traceability was raised only 2(two) days of the institution of the FIR. The case is next listed for December 5.
The veteran actor and evergreen diva of Bollywood, Rekha, turns 69 today. The actor made an everlasting mark with her performances in films like Silsila, Umrao Jaan, Khoobsurat, Khoon Bhari Maang, Aastha and more. However, her undeniable sartorial prowess in traditional silhouettes has inspired generations. Now in her late 60s, Rekha has continued to immerse herself in the finest the fashion world has to offer. While recognised for her signature Kanjeevarams, the star has served incredible and unforgettable fashion moments. So, today, on her birthday, we decided to round up some of Rekha's iconic looks (including sarees) that we love from her red-carpet appearances and movies. Remembering Rekha's iconic fashion moments - from Kanjeevaram sarees to anarkalis of Umrao Jaan.

Happy Birthday Rekha: Remembering iconic fashion moments

The Dior Show Look

Rekha attended the Dior Fall 23 show by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Christian Dior, at the Gateway Of India. She chose a timeless Kanjeevaram silk saree in mauve and gold hues for the occasion. She wore the brocade six yards with a matching half-sleeve blouse, gold and red bangles, a gold embellished potli bag, a Kundan necklace, jhumkis, statement rings, gajras, and heels. A centre-parted sleek bun, shimmery eye shadow, dark pink lip shade, and glowing skin rounded it off.

Umrao Jaan

Rekha in a still from Umrao Jaan.

Rekha's captivating kohl-lined gaze and nazakat captured the heartbreak and tragedy of the 1981 film Umrao Jaan. The career-defining role won her the National Film Award for Best Actress. The film made anarkalis synonymous with the actor's name, and Rekha dressed in a lustrous silk anarkali styled with emerald and pearl jewels, one of the iconic shots of Indian cinema.

The Siren in Red from Parineeta

Rekha in a still from the song Kaisi Paheli Zindangani from Parineeta. (YouTube)

Rekha famously grabbed eyeballs when she gave a scene-stealing performance in the song Kaisi Paheli Zindangani from Parineeta dressed in a red and black embroidered net saree and an off-shoulder blouse. Later, the party-girl ensemble served as a mood board for soirees for many years. Lastly, Rekh's siren eyes, bold red lip shade, a rose hair accessory, and net gloves added an extra oomph.

The Kanjeevaram sarees

Rekha's name is synonymous with silk sarees.

Rekha's name is synonymous with silk sarees. Cultivated without an army of stylists, Rekha's signature look has inspired many to embrace the evergreen six yards. From Kanjeevaram silks to multicoloured Benarasi weaves, the veteran's wardrobe features the ultimate masterclass on wearing heritage silk sarees. Above are some of our favourite silk sarees that Rekha donned during events, including the gorgeous turquoise and gold brocade drape she wore to the NMACC Gala.

The Pant Sarees

Rekha wears two gorgeous pants sarees while attending events in B-town.

While Kanjeevarams and Benarasi sarees are some of Rekha's favourite looks, the veteran actor never shies away from experimenting. Recently, she has started wearing pant sarees while attending awards shows or events in B-town. The first photo shows Rekha in a Manish Malhotra ivory saree featuring intricate embroidery and gold gota patti work. She wore it with a silk full-sleeved blouse, matching pants, embellished platform heels, kadhas, a potli bag, earrings, and bold red lip shade. The second photo shows her in an ivory and gold brocade silk saree, matching blouse and pants styled with similar aesthetics.

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ONONDAGA NATION TERRITORY  The Onondaga Nation has protested for centuries that illegal land grabs shrank its territory from what was once thousands of square miles in upstate New York to a relatively paltry patch of land south of Syracuse.

It took its case to President George Washington, to Congress and, more recently, to a U.S. court.

All failed.

So now the nation is presenting its case to an international panel. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recently allowed the Onondagas to pursue claims their land was taken unjustly by New York state, providing a unique venue for a land rights case against the United States by a Native American nation.

The U.S. government is not expected to abide by any opinion by the commission, which is part of the Organization of American States, a pro-democracy grouping of Western Hemisphere nations.

The Onondagas say they don't want to force people from their homes. But they hope the novel case, which is being watched by other indigenous advocates, brings them closer to negotiations that might lead to the return of some land.

We had to adapt to the coming of our white brother to our lands, said Sid Hill, the Tadodaho, or chief, of the Onondaga Nation. And we just feel that with the talk about justice and equality and all these issues, then why isnt it there for us?"

Once the Onondaga Nation's territory stretched nearly 4,000 square miles in what is now New York.

Today, the federally recognized territory consists of 7,500 gently rolling acres south of Syracuse. About 2,000 people live there, many in single-family homes on wooded lots. A tax-free smoke shop sits just off the interstate. A wooden longhouse used for meetings sits deeper in the territory, testimony to the residents' adherence to traditional ways.

Many feel crowded on their reduced land. They can't even fish the territory's creek because decades of salt mining upstream muddied the waters.

We have freedom, but its on a pinhead, said Kent Lyons, who has lived on the territory since 1970.

The Onondaga's case centers on a roughly 40-mile-wide strip of land running down the center of upstate New York from Canada to Pennsylvania. They claim ancestral land was appropriated over decades by New York, starting in 1788, through deceitful maneuvers that violated treaties and federal law.

The 1788 sale of some 3,125 square miles was agreed to by wrong-headed people who were unauthorized Onondaga negotiators, according to a letter to George Washington from the Onondagas and fellow members of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois, Confederacy.

The nation received $33,380, an annuity of $2,430, clothes worth $1,000 and 150 bushels of salt for their land over several decades. They lost wide expanses of land where they once hunted, fished and lived.

The Onondagas have effectively spent more than 200 years seeking recognition their land was unlawfully taken. They're not seeking money as reparations, but land. Though Syracuse and crowded suburbs sit on much of the ancestral territory, nation attorney Joe Heath said there's land that could be made available, such as state parcels.

Were not going to take land from people that dont want to give it, he said.

The nation filed a federal lawsuit in 2005 claiming the illegally acquired land was still theirs. A judge dismissed the claim five years later, ruling it came too late and would be disruptive to people settled on the land.

"So what about our disruption? Hill asked recently on a break for a longhouse meeting.

After the court loss, the Onondaga Nation and the Haudenosaunee petitioned the commission in 2014, alleging violations of provisions of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. Two claims were ruled admissible in May. Now the commission can consider the merits of whether the nation's rights to equality under the law and judicial protection were violated.

Heath said this was the first land rights case admitted by the commission from a Native American nation against the U.S., though it has heard other Indigenous cases against the United States.

What will the U.S. do if the commission issues an opinion on merits favoring the Onondaga Nation?

If history is a guide, not much.

The U.S. is an influential member of the OAS. But human rights experts note that commission opinions are not considered legally binding to the U.S., which resists having international bodies telling it what to do.

The State Department sends their professional lawyers, who are very talented, to make the arguments. And they participate. And then at the end of the day theyll say, But this is all non-binding, so were not going to follow it, said Paolo Carozza, a Notre Dame Law School professor and former commission president.

Notably, the U.S. took no action after the commission in 2002 found it failed to ensure the rights of two Western Shoshone Nation sisters in Nevada who argued they were denied use of their ancestral lands, according to attorneys.

The U.S. has already argued in response to the Onondaga petition that the commission has no business second-guessing the considered decisions of domestic courts.

A State Department spokesperson said in an email that the U.S. takes seriously petitions filed against it before the commission, calling that a critical regional human rights body.

In the end, the nation's biggest gain in pursuing the case is likely to be attracting more attention to Onondaga's 240-year-old argument. Carozza said a ruling in favor of the nation also would add moral weight to their cause.

"I think a recognition that the human rights of Onondaga and other tribal nations have been violated is a powerful recognition and can be utilized in numerous ways of advocacy, and potentially be used in the courts down the line, said Matthew Campbell, deputy director of the Native American Rights Fund.

While an opinion could be years off, the Onondagas are used to waiting. Jeanne Shenandoah, who has spent decades working to reclaim nation lands, said they will never give up hope.

We are here, and have never not been here. People dont realize that, she said outside the longhouse. And thats why that acknowledgement is so important.
There is good news for skywatchers this month, as soon we will witness a thrilling astronomical experience in our skies. The celestial event - an Annular Solar Eclipse - will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Often called the 'Ring of Fire', will be visible across most of the Americas for the first time since 2012. The phenomenon happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, concealing the Sun partially and leaving a dazzling ring or annulus visible. This Eclipse is also called a 'Ring of Fire' because of the distinctive shape of the Sun caused by the Moon partially blocking it. Scroll through to know if you can witness the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14 if you live in India. An Annular Solar Eclipse or Ring of Fire happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Can you witness the Annular Solar Eclipse if you live in India?

The Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14 will not be visible in India. People in the Western Hemisphere can experience this Eclipse. According to timeanddate.com, it will be visible along a narrow path that crosses the USA from Oregon to Texas. It then passes over Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, parts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. Elsewhere in the Americas - from Alaska to Argentina - a Partial Solar Eclipse will be visible.

Meanwhile, this is the last Annular solar Eclipse that will be visible from the US until June 21, 2039.

Annular Solar Eclipse 2023 Date and Time:

Date: October 14, Saturday

According to NASA, the Annular Solar Eclipse starts at one location and ends at another. It begins in Oregon at 9:13 am (PDT) and ends in Texas at 12:03 pm (CDT).

How do Solar Eclipse occur?

Solar Eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. It temporarily blocks the Sun's light, forming a black shadow. During a Solar Eclipse, even though the Moon is much smaller than the Sun because it is just the correct distance away from Earth, the Moon can block the Sun's light from Earth's perspective.

What is an Annular Solar Eclipse?

An Annular Solar Eclipse or Ring of Fire happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth. Since the Moon is farther from Earth, it appears smaller than the Sun and does not cover the star to form a ring around it. Lastly, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun during an Annular Solar Eclipse without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing.

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A group led by scientists at The University of Texas at Austin has discovered a brand-new, bio-inspired medication that restores the capability of immune cells to combat cancer. The medication increases the effectiveness of immunotherapy and inhibits tumour growth in mice models of melanoma, bladder cancer, leukemia, and colon cancer. How cancer drug helps to restore immune system's ability to fight tumors: Study(Shutterstock)

The findings of the research published in the journal Cancer Cell and could be a game changer for many cancer patients.

ALSO READ: How high-dose radiation can treat older patients with inoperable kidney tumors

A DNA segment known as 9p21, which is frequently deleted in tumours and occurs in 25%-50% of various cancers such melanoma, bladder cancer, mesothelioma, and several brain cancers, is frequently deleted. Long-standing research has shown that malignancies with the 9p21 deletion have worse prognoses for patients and are more resistant to immunotherapies, which are cancer treatments that boost a patient's innate immune system.

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The deletion helps cancer cells avoid getting detected and wiped out by the immune system, in part by prompting the cancer to pump out a toxic compound called MTA that impairs normal functioning of immune cells and also blocks the effectiveness of immunotherapies.

"In animal models, our drug lowers MTA back down to normal, and the immune system comes back on," said Everett Stone, a research associate professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and associate professor of oncology at Dell Medical School, who led the work. "We see a lot more T cells around the tumor, and they're in attack mode. T cells are an important immune cell type, like a SWAT team that can recognize tumor cells and pump them full of enzymes that chew up the tumor from the inside out."

Stone envisions the drug being used in combination with immunotherapies to boost their effectiveness.

The study's co-first authors are Donjeta Gjuka, a former UT postdoctoral researcher and currently a scientist at Takeda Oncology, and Elio Adib, formerly a postdoctoral researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and currently a resident physician at Mass General Brigham.

The 9p21 deletion leads to the loss of some key genes in cancer cells. Gone are a pair of genes that produce cell cycle regulators -- proteins that keep healthy cells growing and dividing at a slow, steady rate. When those genes are lost, cells can grow unchecked. That's what makes them cancerous. Also deleted is a housekeeping gene that produces an enzyme that breaks down the toxin MTA. It's this loss, according to Stone, that lets cancer cells acquire a new superpower: the ability to deactivate the immune system.

"Cancer gets a two-for-one when it loses both of these genes," Stone said. "It loses the brakes that normally keep it from growing in an uncontrolled manner. And then at the same time, it disarms the body's police force. So, it becomes a much more aggressive and malignant kind of cancer."

To create their drug candidate, Stone and his colleagues started with the helpful enzyme that's naturally produced by the body to break down MTA and then added flexible polymers.

"It's already a really good enzyme, but we needed to optimize it to last longer in the body," Stone said. If we injected just the natural enzyme, it would be eliminated within a few hours. In mice, our modified version stays in circulation for days; in humans it will last even longer.

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Stroke, a highly preventable and treatable condition, could lead to nearly 10 million deaths annually by 2050, primarily affecting low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Stroke could cause about 10 million deaths annually by 2050: Study(Unsplash)

This projection comes from the collaborative effort of the World Stroke Organization and the Lancet Neurology Commission under which four studies have been published.

Four research papers emphasizing pragmatic recommendations to reduce stroke burden globally have been published under this Commission.

ALSO READ: 10 ways sitting for 10 hours daily is affecting your brain

This report was published in the esteemed Lancet Neurology journal.

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The report underscores that stroke deaths are expected to surge from 6.6 million in 2020 to a daunting 9.7 million by 2050. By 2050, it is estimated that the contribution of stroke deaths in LMICs will see an increase from 86 per cent to 91 per cent.

The report has emphasized the critical role of evidence-based, pragmatic solutions in combating this looming crisis. Implementing and rigorously monitoring the commission's recommendations, which are firmly grounded in evidence, could lead to a significant reduction in the global stroke burden, effectively countering this ominous projection.

The Commission authors distilled their findings into 12 evidence-based recommendations, addressing stroke surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation.

Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), stressed the importance of implementing evidence-based stroke care to mitigate disability and prevent new strokes. ICMR is actively engaged in crafting country-specific ambulatory care models at the primary care level to combat non-communicable diseases. The Government of India is committed towards formulating evidence-based policies and their implementation through the National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). A notable success is the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), which employed tech-driven innovations to digitally monitor over 2 million patients, achieving real-time blood pressure control in 50 per cent of cases. The IHCI received the 2022 UN Inter-Agency Task Force and WHO Special Program on Primary Health Care Award.

Professor Jeyaraj Pandian, President-Elect of the World Stroke Organization and a lead author of the Commission, shared that there is a need to scrutinize the factors driving this increase.

Dr Ivy Sebastian, Neurologist and Stroke Fellow in Calgary, Canada, and the lead author of the paper on "Stroke Systems of Care in Southeast Asia," underscored the diversities and commonalities in healthcare systems, calling for timely interventions such as intravenous thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and stroke unit care delivered through stroke-ready centers.

Dr Yogeshwar Kalkonde, the lead author of the paper "Stroke Surveillance in Southeast Asia," stated that India's National Stroke Registry Program and Thailand's national database can serve as valuable sources for epidemiological data on stroke.

Dr Prashant Mathur, Director of the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), ICMR, Bangalore, emphasized the importance of National Hospital-based stroke registries and population-based stroke registries conducted by ICMR across India.

Dr Meenakshi Sharma, Scientist-G at the NCD division of ICMR, highlighted the development of stroke care models in India and stressed the importance of screening and treating high blood pressure, which is being achieved through the India Hypertension Control Initiative.

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Fresh off landing a spacecraft near the moons south pole, Indias space agency has a new task: monitor water levels in two lakes in Sikkim where floods have killed at least 86 people. Flash flood was triggered by an outburst of the Lhonak glacial lake in north Sikkim (File Photo)

The Indian Space Research Organisation has been asked to continuously monitor South Lhonak and Shako Chu lakes in the northeastern state via satellites and alert authorities of any abnormal changes to prevent further disasters, according to the federal home ministry.

ALSO READ- Sikkim: Satellite pics show how lake Lhonak rapidly grew in Sept before outburst

Sikkim, a mountainous state tucked between Nepal and Bhutan, is forecast to get more rain after a glacial lake burst last week, causing flash floods and mass devastation. More than 87,000 people were affected and about 100 remain missing, according to the ministry. The Indian Air Force was requested to deploy helicopters to airlift 3,000 tourists stranded in some towns.

ALSO READ: Sikkims aboriginal inhabitants suffer major damage in flash flood

Its the latest calamity to highlight the risk of climate change on weather patterns in South Asia. Almost 2,500 people in India have been killed during this years monsoon season due to incidents such as drowning and lightning, the ministry said. Floods in Pakistan last year because of the heaviest rain in three decades killed about 1,000 people and damages totaled $30 billion.

An army ammunition depot in Sikkim has been washed away, with arms and explosives scattered along a river basin, the ministry said. The authorities have appealed to residents to inform police if they find the explosives.

A national motorway and more than a dozen state highways and other roads have been either washed away or blocked, while a town in Mangan district has been completely cut off due to bridge damage. Rain and floods have severely impacted water supply and electricity and telephone networks in the region, in addition to damaging some hydropower plants.

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Several Android and iOS users once again received an Emergency Alert sent by the department of telecommunication (DoT) of the Indian government, as part of their efforts to enhance emergency communication during disasters. This initiative was launched by the government in July, and a similar test broadcast was conducted just last month on September 15. The message, initially labelled as Emergency alert: Extreme, was delivered in both English and Hindi on Tuesday.(Screen grab of the alert)

The message, initially labelled as Emergency alert: Extreme, was delivered in both English and Hindi. It conveyed the following: This is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through Cell Broadcasting System by Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Please ignore this message as no action is required from your end. This message has been sent to test Pan-India Emergency Alert System being implemented by National Disaster Management Authority. It aims to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during emergencies.

The message also included a timestamp indicating when it was received and was sent to a variety of devices, including smartwatches. In the case of the Apple Watch Ultra, a text message was accompanied by a strong audible alert and vibration. While some users received the alert with a loud sound and vibration, individuals who had set their phones to silent did not receive the message with an audible sound or vibration. Nevertheless, the system has been designed to override the silent mode on smartphones to ensure that the user is alerted.

Why the messages?

The department of telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has announced the implementation of the Cell Broadcast Alert System. This system aims to deliver real-time alerts to citizens during disaster scenarios such as tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes, landslides, and more. The government initiated this effort to enhance public safety in emergency situations.

A government statement released by the ministry of communications in July this year said, In our continuous commitment to the safety of citizens of India and the communities, tests of Cell Broadcast Alert System are being conducted on each Telecom Service Provider. These tests will be performed from time to time in various regions across country to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency alert broadcasting capabilities of the systems in place, of various Mobile Operators and Cell Broadcast System.

About the alert system

According to the ministry's statement, the Cell Broadcast Alert System is a cutting-edge technology enabling the transmission of urgent and time-sensitive disaster management messages to all mobile devices within a specified geographical area, regardless of whether the recipients are residents or visitors.

This system guarantees the widespread and timely dissemination of crucial emergency information. Government agencies and emergency services utilise it to apprise the public of potential threats and to keep them informed during critical situations. Cell Broadcast is frequently employed for the delivery of emergency alerts, including severe weather warnings, public safety messages, evacuation instructions, and other vital updates, the statement further said.

Throughout the testing phase, individuals will receive simulated emergency alerts on their mobile devices. The ministry has previously assured that these test alerts do not indicate an actual emergency and will be clearly labelled as a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE to prevent any confusion.

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Most of us eagerly wait for the newspapers just to solve the brain teasers that challenge us to spot differences. Well, a similar brain teaser is gaining popularity on social media as people try to spot the differences in two seemingly identical parts of a picture. Do you consider yourself a brain teaser master? If yes, spot all five differences in these strikingly similar parts of a picture. Brain Teaser: Find five differences in this picture. (Gergely Dudas)

Can you find five differences? reads the caption to the brain teaser shared on Facebook. It was created by a digital artist from Hungary, Gergely Dudas, who also goes by Dudolf on social media. The brain teaser shows different animals and birds surrounding what appears to be a cart of colourful pumpkins. There are, however, a few differences in both parts and only the ones with eagle eyes can find them all within a mere ten seconds.

Take a look at the brain teaser shared on Facebook below:

Dudolf shared the brain teaser a day ago on Facebook. It has since then received nearly 500 reactions, and the numbers are still increasing. Additionally, over a hundred people shared the brain teaser with their friends and family. Some even left comments after spotting the differences in this brain teaser.

Check out the reactions of people to this particular brain teaser:

This was so hard! But I find every 5, posted a Facebook user.

Another expressed, Cant find the 5th but I see a snowman in the sky now.

Im slipping, only got 1, shared a third.

A fourth commented, A couple were easy. A couple were hard. The last one took me ages!

First 3 differences were easy enough, but the last 2 were really hard to spot, wrote a fifth.

A sixth joined, Got the 5 within 5 minutes, colour scheme & small details made it a bit difficult!

Were you able to spot all five differences? If yes, how much time did you spend? For those still on the hunt and wish to look at the solution, the below image will help you.

Brain Teaser: Five differences are highlighted in the above picture. (Gergely Dudas)

This is not the first time the artist posted a minding brain teaser on social media. He earlier shared a brain teaser where he challenged people to spot a needle cleverly hidden in a haystack. The challenge was to find it in just five seconds. While some could beat the clock, others took it longer to find.

Also Read| Brain Teaser: Can you solve this maths question without using a calculator?

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After a video highlighting the meals served aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight surfaced, a wave of criticism swept in, with many expressing dissatisfaction over the perceived poor quality of the food. Breakasft served in Biman Bangladesh Airlines. (Instagram/@thegushti)

The video, originally shared on TikTok by the handle @ishxn.a99, made its way onto other social media platforms and has been going viral. (Also Read: Flight attendant takes revenge on passenger pretending to be vegetarian)

It opens to show an omelette served with a few chillies and a side of mushrooms. One can also see a croissant and a bowl of fruit next to it. A text inlay on the video reads, "Biman Airlines, is this the worst plane food breakfast?"

Watch the video of the food served on the plane here:

This post was shared just a few hours ago on Instagram. Since being posted, it has gone viral with more than 51,000 views. The share also has close to 2,000 likes. Many even took to the comments section of the post to react to the food.

Check out what people are saying about this post here:

An individual claimed, "That food is coming from 'Newrest'. That's the catering company. It's trash and it seems they are the ones lacking with quality."

A second added, "Biman doesnt do first class. Its business class isnt much better than the economy, the food is still awful, just larger portions."

A third commented, "Bring your own food brother or pay for first class. Everyone knows that airline food is not very good."

"As long as you get to your destination thats all it matters, you can then explore all the nice places in Bangladesh. Dont get discouraged by plane food," posted a fourth.

A few others also mentioned in the comments that the food served on Biman Bangladesh Airlines isn't that bad.

A user said, "Their chicken pulau is delicious though."

Another shared, "Looks fine to me. You're expecting 5 Michelen stars at Biman, that's the problem."

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The parents of a kidnapped American-Israeli dual citizen have been protesting outside the US embassy in Israel, urging Joe Biden to take action after the Hamas attack. 19-year Itay Chen, a member of the Israel Defense Forces, was born in New York city. He is believed to be one of the many people abducted by Hamas militants, and being held captive in the Gaza Strip. Candles are lit for a vigil at Temple Emanu-El of New York on October 09, 2023 in New York City (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

"We are asking the president to do what he can in order to bring our kids back safely home," said Itays father, Ruby Chen, according to USA Today. Supporters wore T-shirts that read Help Find Itay and held signs that read, USA protects its citizens!", "Bring Itay Home Now," and "Help find Itay."

Itay serves in Israels Armed Corps and was on the Gaza border during the attack. He was raised in New York, but Ruby moved his family to Israel later. Ruby and his wife Laity Chen went to the Lahav 433 centre for identifying missing persons after they were unable to get in touch with their son following the Hamas attack. His parents were officially notified that his status was Missing In Action - or MIA.

At least 11 Americans have reportedly been killed during the attacks over the weekend. The Biden administration has not confirmed how many Americans are being held hostage. "While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas," president Joe Biden said in a statement. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis."

Ruby, outside the US embassy in Israel, said that the US government must stand up for all Americans. Kids need to know that the U.S. is behind all of its citizens, he said.

What about liberty, justice, and freedom for all? Ruby asked. Biden needs to step up for all children  all citizens deserve protection, and kids need to know that the United States is behind them 100%.
Several US citizens are reportedly trapped within the borders of Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas attack. Among them is Daniella, who is doing her best to keep her three children safe. Her children are aged nine, six and two. Daniella said she is among the thousands of Americans who went to Israel to celebrate Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday (TMZ screenshot)

Daniella said she is among the thousands of Americans who went to Israel to celebrate Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday. However, the airlines have cancelled flights out of the area as Hamas continues to launch missiles.

Daniella said her family is completely on their own in Israel. The US Embassy is reportedly closed now. She is now looking for other ways to leave the country, instead of on a flight, according to TMZ.

Several Americans are trying to find a way out of Israel. Passengers have flocked Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, trying to flee. "It took four hours to get to the gate.

Daniella said she has to take her children to bomb shelters repeatedly as the attacks continue, and is trying to find ways to tell her kids what the real situation is. She is now in a hotel in Jerusalem. We are really begging the American Embassy to help get American citizens back home and away from this war, she said.

At least 11 Americans have reportedly been killed during the attacks over the weekend. The Biden administration has not confirmed how many Americans are being held hostage. "While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas," president Joe Biden said in a statement. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis."

During the attack, Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli towns and launched missiles, reportedly resulting in the death of at least 250 people in Israel and 232 in Gaza. In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack murderous.
President Joe Biden was interviewed as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents by Special Counsel Robert Hur, the White House counsel's office said on Monday. U.S. President Joe Biden (REUTERS)

The Democratic president's interview was voluntary and conducted over two days, concluding on Monday, said Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel's office.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in January named Hur as special counsel to look into the improper storage of classified documents at Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, home and at a Washington think tank office set up for Biden after his 2009-2017 vice presidency.

Such special counsels are appointed to handle sensitive cases - usually involving political figures or allegations of serious wrongdoing by the government - and have more independence than is usually afforded to federal investigators to decide whether to bring charges.

Hur's interviews with Biden suggest the investigation, which has proceeded quietly, may have advanced to its final stages. Biden has said he was surprised by the discovery of classified materials and expected it would eventually be deemed inconsequential. His team said they have cooperated with the investigation.

"As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation," Sams said in a statement.

The White House declined to comment further, referring questions to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A wider-ranging inquiry into handling of classified documents has been directed at Biden's main Republican potential rival for the 2024 elections, Republican former President Donald Trump.

Trump was criminally indicted in that case, one of several legal cases against the former president, with the federal documents case in Miami set to go to trial in May. Trump has denied wrongdoing.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In September 2023, Honda Motor recorded a retail sales volume of 109,666 units in China, scoring an 8.5% increase compared to the year-ago period and a 7.2% growth from the previous month, according to the company's official sales data.

Notably, the year-on-year rise in September sales came after three consecutive months of year-on-year decrease the Japanese automaker faced in the China market from June to August.

The 11th-generation CIVIC; photo credit: Dongfeng Honda

As for the sales of main products, Honda Motor saw three of its modelsthe ACCORD, the BREEZE, and the CR-Veach register a monthly retail volume of over 10,000 units last month in the world's largest auto market, while the CIVIC logged a sales volume exceeding 20,000 units.

For the first nine months of 2023, Honda Motor's cumulative retail sales in China amounted to 831,305 units, shrinking 20.9% from the previous year.

On September 21, Dongfeng Honda officially unveiled its fire new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, LINGXI, in Wuhan, along with the debut of LINGXI's first concept model, the LINGXI L.

The inaugural mass-produced vehicle under this brand is set to hit the market in 2024.

At the event, Dongfeng Honda also introduced its "Stay Ahead" brand logo and image, which embodies a three-in-one fusion of "technology, smart fun, and passion." This branding reflects the stamp of electrification in the age of intelligence, presenting a youthful, tech-savvy image for the electric mobility brand, said the automaker.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday denounced Hamas and stressed U.S. support for Israel as it mourns the killing of more than 1,000 people, including at least 14 Americans, from a surprise attack launched by the Palestinian militant group. U.S. President Joe Biden (R). VP Kamala Harris (L)(REUTERS)

The president also voiced concern for Americans being held hostage by Hamas, an Iranian-backed Islamist group.

"There are moments in this life and I mean this literally when the pure unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend," Biden said.

 "This is an act of sheer evil," he said.

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday with the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year-old conflict with the Palestinians, razing whole districts despite a threat from Hamas militants to execute a captive for each home hit without warning.

Biden spoke after his third phone call in four days with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He outlined in his remarks the U.S. military assistance being sent to help Israel in its fight.

Biden also offered an overview of the actions the United States is taking with allies around the world to support Israel.

The White House on Monday said it expected to fulfill additional security requests from Israel as quickly as possible.

The United States does not plan to put American military forces on the ground, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. Israel has called up an unprecedented 300,000 of its own reservists.

Biden and Netanyahu, despite differences on the way forward in the Middle East, have been thrust into a wartime partnership following the multipronged attack by Hamas militants from Gaza into Israel.

Biden also offered support for American Jews and said they should be allowed to worship in peace in the United States. Biden said last month that antisemitism in the United States had risen to record levels.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000, dwarfing all modern Islamist attacks on the West since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
California is set to ban Skittles and other candies officially from 2027. This comes after Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill AB 418, which is also known as The California Food Safety Act. The bill will commence on January 1, 2027. California is set to ban Skittles and other candies officially from 2027 (Pixabay)

The bill targets food products containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propylparaben. It also targets red dye 3, which is found in Skittles and other confectionery like PEZ, Hot Tamales and Dubble Bubble gum.

According to the Legislative Counsels Digest, The California Food Safety Act states that a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce a food product for human consumption that contains the substances in question.

What does the bill say?

The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $10,000 for each subsequent violation, upon an action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney, the bill reads, according to Hypebeast.

After the bill was signed, governor Newsoms office shared a statement saying, There have been many misconceptions about this bill and its impacts. For example, attached to this message is a bag of the popular candy Skittles, which became the face of this proposal.

It added, This particular bag of candy comes from the European Union  a place that already bans a number of chemical additives and colorants. This is demonstrable proof that the food industry is capable of maintaining product lines while complying with different public health laws, country-to-country.

What does the National Confectioners Association say?

Meanwhile, opposing the bill, the National Confectioners Association said, Theyre making decisions based on soundbites rather than science. Governor Newsoms approval of this bill will undermine consumer confidence and create confusion around food safety. This law replaces a uniform national food safety system with a patchwork of inconsistent state requirements created by legislative fiat that will increase food costs.

This is a slippery slope that the FDA could prevent by engaging on this important topic. We should be relying on the scientific rigor of the FDA in terms of evaluating the safety of food ingredients and additives, it added.
Pakistan's Punjab government may impose coronavirus-like restrictions here in the provincial capital to control the worsening smog situation, according to a media report on Tuesday. A dark street in a commercial area in Lahore, Pakistan.(Bloomberg)

Quoting the sources, Geo News reported that the authorities are likely to announce a complete shutdown on Wednesdays when all schools, markets, and factories will be closed.

The city's Commissioner said the authorities will also announce a work-from-home policy for two months to combat smog in the Lahore Division.

The decision came after a meeting with traders to discuss the proposal to keep markets closed on Wednesdays.

Traders can open markets on Sundays if they want," Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa said.

Under the new policy, the government departments will operate with 50 per cent strength on Wednesday, the report said, adding that it has also been advised to carry out snap-checking on weekends - Saturday and Sunday.

The report also said that the administration has been advised to impose heavy fines on factories violating the law and shut them in case of continuous ignorance of the directives.

Read more: What global firms with presence in Israel are doing after Hamas attack

The highest level of smog was recorded on the first three days of the week - Monday to Wednesday, the report said.

Meanwhile, a Swiss air quality technology company, IQAir, said that Lahore ranked number one among 109 cities in the world to have the worst air quality.

The provincial capital on Monday recorded 175 AQI US. Simultaneous construction of various mega infrastructure development projects, traffic issues, industries operation and other factors are said to be causing massive pollution in Lahore.

The IQAir measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a maximum PM2.5 concentration of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.

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Donald Trump, the former US president and the leading Republican candidate for 2024, slammed President Bidens foreign policy on Monday and questioned how Jewish Americans could support Democrats after the recent terrorist attack on Israel. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, U.S., October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT(REUTERS)

Speaking in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, Trump said he was baffled by the voting behavior of Jewish Americans and evangelicals, who he claimed were not appreciative of his pro-Israel policies.

I cant imagine how anybody whos Jewish or anybody who loves Israel  and frankly, the evangelicals just love Israel  I cant imagine anybody voting Democrat, let alone for this man, Trump said, pointing to Biden.

He has betrayed Israel.

ALSO READ| Jailed YouTuber Omi in a Hellcat's super luxury cars set to be auctioned

The former President contrasted his own achievements in the Middle East, such as moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, brokering the Abraham Accords between Israel and four Arab countries, and imposing sanctions on Iran, with the current situation of all-out war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza.

Less than four years ago, we had peace in the Middle East with the historic Abraham Accords. Today we have all-out war in Israel, and its going to spread very quickly, Trump warned.

What a difference a president makes.

The 77-year-old repeated his criticism of Jewish Americans who voted for Democrats in previous messages on his social media platform Truth Social. He accused them of voting to destroy America & Israel and urged them to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel  Before it is too late!

According to exit polls, Jewish Americans favored Biden over Trump by 67% to 30% in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump vowed that if he wins back the White House in 2024, he will cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on Day One and increase the pressure on Iran.

ALSO READ| No moral compass: Joe Biden blasted for holding barbeque amid Hamas attack on Israel

Israel has been under attack from thousands of rockets fired by Hamas from Gaza since last week. The Israeli military has responded with airstrikes and ground operations against Hamas targets.

The death toll has risen to over 900 in Israel, including 11 Americans, and more than 2,600 have been injured, according to Israels Army Radio.

Hamas has also claimed to have captured more than 150 hostages and threatened to kill them one by one live on social media unless Israel stops its retaliation.
Israel is in tatters at present. Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli towns and launched missiles, reportedly resulting in the death of hundreds of innocent people. In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack murderous. A grab taken from a UGC video posted on the Telegram channel "South First Responders" on October 9, 2023, shows the aftermath of an attack on the Supernova music Festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8 (Photo by SOUTH FIRST RESPONDERS / AFP) (AFP)

The worst of the attacks, perhaps, was launched at a music festival in Israel. The party descended into chaos when the terrorists attacked the site, killing at least 260 people and abducting many more. Thousands of people attended the party, near Kibbutz Re'im close to Gaza. Palestinian gunmen attacked the site and shot people down as they tried to escape.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Hindustan Times spoke with Mary (name changed due to safety reasons), a woman who escaped death at a time when she thought no hope was left. Mary was at the rave, working at a bar with her girlfriend Linda (name changed), when the attack took place.

There was an amazing sunrise, and we were just walking towards the trailer to sit and drink coffee and rest, when the rocket attack started. The music stopped, Mary recalled.

Police told us to pray and run

A friend called me and told me that they were being shot, and Linda and I ran to the police for help. Moments later, we realised it was a terrorist attack. We hid in the police hideout. Everyone sat on the floor, some cried, some shouted, some had anxiety attacks, and others just sat silently, she said.

Mary recalled how the police, looking frightened, told them to pray and run. They ran to the field as shots continued to be fired from all directions. Amid the chaos, Mary lost touch with Linda.

We pretended to be dead, but they found us'

We started running and saw a vehicle approaching, it was one of the people from the party and he told us to get in with him because he was going to the highway and we needed to escape quickly. We got into his car, and he drove to the road, when terrorists began shooting at us, Mary said.

The vehicle got stuck in the sand, and only Mary and another man remained there. I told him, "You know the stories from the Holocaust where people pretended to be dead so they wouldn't be noticed? That is what we need to do. He covered us with sand, and we were in silence for about an hour until we started hearing footsteps approaching. They found us, eight of the terrorists, Mary said.

I closed my eyes because I thought they would shoot us, but they lifted us out of the pit, took our phones and everything we had in our pockets, and announced to the others, "We have two more kidnapped, she recalled.

Mary said one of the terrorists spoke to her in Arabic, and she told him she did not understand the language. Surprisingly, he put his jacket on her when all the others looked at her as if she was a piece of meat"  she was wearing a tank top.

The guy who was with me begged for his life and cried. I told him, "Don't cry, it will make them angry. Everything will be fine"

Some of the terrorists had knives, some had hammers. The guy dropped to his knees, screamed, cried, and begged for his life. They murdered him right before my eyes, Mary recalled.

I lay under the stage next to three corpses

I was left alone with the terrorists. One of them approached me with a board and gave me several blows on the head to humiliate me, another held a knife and threatened me every few seconds. However, the terrorist who gave me his jacket shouted at them and took me under his wing, she added.

Mary said that they continued walking, surrounded by hundreds of bodies and lots of blood. "If you try to run away, I will kill you just like I killed your friend, one of the men threatened her.

As I stood at one place, the terrorist who gave me his jacket told me to "go. I started running for my life, Mary recalled.

I lay under the stage next to three corpses, and I covered my face with blood. I lay as though I was dead, for the longest three hours of my life. I saw the terrorists shooting, missiles flying, she continued.

Mary was eventually rescued by authorities. There were injuries and sights around me that I could never describe, she said.

They murdered my soul

Her girlfriend Linda was tragically murdered, a devastated Mary said. They murdered my soul and I hope I will be able to heal one day, but they murdered my girlfriend, my Linda, my heroine and no one will ever be able to return her to me in my lifetime, she concluded.

Several videos from the site went viral on social media, one of them showing militants abducting a young woman, Noa Argamani, taking her away on the back of a motorcycle as she screamed for help. The men were seen restraining her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. He was seen being made to walk with his hands held behind his back. They are being considered two of several Israelis who are believed to be held captive in Gaza at present.

(The story reflects personal experiences of the survivor who spoke to Hindustan Times with promise of anonymity)
In the wake of escalating violence stemming from Hamas attacks in Israel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a statement Tuesday assuring the American public that while there is no specific and credible intelligence indicating a direct threat to the United States, the agency is closely monitoring unfolding events and stands ready to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. Israelis evacuate a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.(AP)

"We are closely monitoring unfolding events and will share relevant information with our state, local, federal, and international law enforcement, intelligence, and homeland security partners to ensure they are prepared for any impacts to public safety. We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people," the US federal law enforcement agency said.

The agency also highlighted its coordination efforts with partners both within the United States and abroad. "We are closely coordinating with our counterparts in the region as well as other international partners," the statement continued.

The agency further stated that its Legal Attache' office in Israel is actively working with partners on the ground to locate and identify any impacted Americans.

Reports of deceased, injured, or missing Americans are being treated with the utmost urgency and aggressively investigated, it added.

Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel that combined a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and infiltration using motorised hang gliders. Israel lanched retaliatory airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and formally declared war on Sunday as hundreds were killed on both sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started.

Delivering the pronouncement in a nationally televised address, Netanyahu said, We have only started striking Hamas. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

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French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Iran's condoning of Hamas' attack on Israel was unacceptable and that France was looking into establishing whether it was directly involved. French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP)

"I have no comment to make about the direct involvement of Iran for which we have no formal proof, but it's clear that the public comments by Iranian authorities were unacceptable... and that it is likely that Hamas was offered help," Macron said.

"But I will remain careful on that point until we have stabilised intelligence," he added in a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Macron and Scholz both emphasised Israel's right to defend itself against attacks on its territory.

"I hope the next days will allow Israel to put an end to any attack against Israel's territory and free the hostages", Macron said.

Asked whether Europe should end all financial aid to Palestinians in response to Hamas' attack on Israel last weekend, Macron declined, saying:

One must not confound the fight against terrorism with the most essential humanitarian rights to support the civilian population.
The Israeli military on Tuesday announced that it considers Gaza's parliament and civilian ministries as legitimate targets in its offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, reported the Associated Press. Palestinians sit among rubbles of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza City, October 10, 2023.(Reuters)

When asked if Israel considered Hamas civil government, such as parliament and ministries, legitimate targets, Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht said if theres a gunman firing rockets from there, it turns into a military target.

Hecht also said there might not be the same level of fidelity in warning targets before strikes because Israels air force is stretched thin.

Israels military said early Tuesday that a deputy Israeli commander was killed in clashes on the northern border with Lebanon. The military identified the deputy commander as Alim Abdallah, but did not specify the exact circumstances of his death.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have intensified their retaliatory attack on Hama-controlled Gaza with indiscriminate bombardment.

The death toll rose to more than 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll there to 687.

Israel already imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, as both sides accused each other of committing war crimes.

Hamas has warned it will kill one of the 130 hostages every time Israel's military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning. Hamas said Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of its hostages.

"Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages," Hamas armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

Israel's foreign minister, Eli Cohen, said the country is committed to bringing back the hostages home and issued a warning to Hamas.

We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages," he said. This war crime will not be forgiven.

(With inputs from agencies)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
A mothers last text to herAustralian friends has been revealed, before she was murdered alongside her husband and three children by Hamas terrorists. Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov texted her friends in Sydney  Yishai and Mor Lacob  from her home in Nir Oz kibbutz during the weekend. She is said to have messaged from the concrete bunker of her home. Hamas terrorists slaughtered Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov, her husband Johnny, their six-year-old daughters Shachar and Arbel, and their two-year-old son Omer (Yishai Mor Shlichim Sydney/Facebook)

Hi guys, we got into the shelter in our house, we're all going okay, Tamars message read. However, she stopped responding after an hour. The Lacobs became worried and tried getting in touch with people in the village, only to be told that their friends house had been raided by terrorists. They had slaughtered Tamar, her husband Johnny, their six-year-old daughters Shachar and Arbel, and their two-year-old son Omer.

An entire family was killed by evil murderers who shot the children and parents

Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov, a close friend of ours, was tragically murdered along with her husband Jony and their three beautiful children: Shachar (6), Arbel (6), and Omer (4), in their home in Kibutz Nir Oz during a brutal terrorist attack from Gaza, Yishai wrote on Facebook. We've known Tamar for years, as she led Yishai during his university years in a special program. Our hearts are shattered. An entire family was killed by evil murderers who shot the children and parents simply because they were Jewish.

And this is just one story, among so many. It's unbearable! Yishai added. Our brothers, brothers-in-law, friends, and neighbors in Israelall have been called up for Miluim, and many of them are heading to the Gaza border. So many of them are leaving their wives in advanced pregnancy stages and with little kids. The fear and stress are paralyzing, and we place our trust in Hashem to strengthen the soldiers' hands and bring them all back home safely.
Oct 10 (Reuters) - One of the last three known Black Tulsans who lived through a 1921 race massacre in the Oklahoma town has died at 102, his family said. Hughes Van Ellis died at 102(Getty Images)

Hughes Van Ellis, who sued the city of Tulsa seeking reparations for one of the deadliest acts of racial violence in U.S. history, died on Monday night in Denver, Colorado his family said in a statement.

As many as 300 people, most of them Black, were killed when white residents burned Tulsa's African American neighborhood of Greenwood.

Ellis, an infant at the time, and his older sister fled with their family during the attack in which carloads of white residents staged drive-by shootings, burned homes and businesses and beat Black residents, according to historical accounts.

The Greenwood area, known as Black Wall Street because of the prosperity of its citizens, had a population of over 10,000 Black residents at the time when racial segregation was strict and the Ku Klux Klan had strong membership in Oklahoma.

Ellis, his 109-year-old sister Viola Fletcher, and another survivor, Leslie Benningfield Randle, 108, sued Tulsa for reparations including a 99-year tax holiday for residents who are descendants of victims of the massacre.

An Oklahoma judge dismissed the lawsuit in July and their lawyers have appealed to the state's supreme court.

The massacre began after a white woman told police a Black man had grabbed her arm in an elevator in a downtown commercial building, according to an account by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Police arrested the man, whom the Tulsa Tribune reported had tried to assault the woman.

Whites surrounded the courthouse, demanding the man be handed over. A white man tried to disarm a Black World War One veteran and a shot rang out, touching off violence in which 35 blocks of Greenwood were destroyed. (Reporting By Andrew Hay; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- BAIC BJEV, the new energy vehicle arm of BAIC BluePark, on October 9 sealed a strategic collaboration with Bin Omeir Holding Group Limited, an enterprise based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).



Signing ceremony; photo credit: ARCFOX

This agreement paves the way for BAIC BJEVs ARCFOX premium electric vehicle brand to venture into the expansive Middle Eastern markets, specifically targeting the UAE and Saudi Arabia with its premium electric vehicle models.

Per the agreement, Bin Omeir Holding Group is set to procure ARCFOX vehicles, conduct Gulf region certifications, develop a Gulf-specific emergency call system, and perform high-temperature environmental adaptability testing. These preparations will facilitate the formal introduction of ARCFOX products into the Gulf region.

To kickstart this partnership, Bin Omeir Holding Group has already committed to the initial purchase of 600 ARCFOX vehicles. Furthermore, the two entities will explore the potential for collaboration in other areas, including equity partnerships, in the future.

Notably, on October 8, BAIC BJEV also joined forces with Japan's TURING company to introduce vehicles powered by intelligent driving technologies to the Japanese market. According to the agreement, the initial cooperative car model will be based on the ARCFOX S electric sedan. TURING will make intelligent modifications to adapt the vehicle for the specific needs of the Japanese market, with plans to introduce it for sale in Japan in 2024.
Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday claimed that Israel has faced a military and intelligence defeat beyond repair" amid the ongoing declared "war" between Israeli forces and Gaza-based Hamas militants. Khamenei said he is proud of Palestine and supports Palestinians, but denied Iran's involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday that killed hundreds of Israelis and foreigners. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (AP/File)

In his first televised speech since the attack, Khamenei said, We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime. Those who link Iran to the Hamas attack on Israel are mistaken.

Khamenei's statement comes after the United States' top general warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis and said he did not want the conflict to broaden. Iran makes no secret of its backing for Hamas and has applauded the weekend attack while denying any involvement. Follow Live Updates on Israel-Hamas war

"We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear," General Charles Q Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters travelling with him to Brussels.

Also Read: Israeli man recalls how Hamas kidnapped wife, two daughters: then call got cut off

The attacks on Israel by Hamas militants that began on Saturday have killed more than 900 Israelis, mostly civilians. At least 1,500 Palestinians have also died. Vowing retaliation in a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the response had only started", and what we will do to the enemy will echo down through generations".

The White House earlier on Monday said Iran was complicit even though the United States has no intelligence or evidence that points to Iran's direct participation in attacks in Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Israeli shelling on Lebanon killed at least three Hezbollah militants on Monday, and Israel said one of its officers was killed during an earlier cross-border raid claimed by Palestinians in Lebanon.

The cross-border violence marked a significant expansion of a conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Israeli-Lebanese border further north.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel fought a brutal month-long war in 2006.

The US military is "surging" fresh supplies of air defences, munitions and other security assistance to Israel to help it respond to an unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas.

On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that it was sending an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel.

"It sends a very strong message of support for Israel. But it's also to send a strong message of deterrence to contain broadening this particular conflict," Brown said.

He compared Hamas' actions to those of Islamic State militants.

Earlier, Israeli strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer said in an interview on Bloomberg Television that Iran might have known about the deadly attacks by Hamas militants.

Did they know about this beforehand? Dermer said. Initially, we didnt think that they did. Now theres some evidence that they might have known about it. We are working to verify that evidence.

Its still not clear to us that they might have done it, said Dermer. But I have to tell you they are working right now to bring more and more terror groups into this fight.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The fight between Israeli Defence Forces and Palestine-based Hamas militant group on Tuesday entered its fourth day. It began after Israel on Saturday witnessed an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on its cities. People stand outside a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza Strip on October 8.(AP)

The militants fired thousands of rockets and crossed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip in motorcycles, pick-up trucks, para-gliders and speed boats. They attacked at least 22 locations.

A stunned Israel, which is known for its high-tech intelligence set-ups, initiated a massive airstrike operation in the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas in return. On Sunday, Tel Aviv officially announced a war against the militant group and has since then continued its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Follow Israel-Hamas war LIVE updates here.

Day 4: Here's what we know so far.



1. Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza City with relentless bombardments into early Tuesday. The airstrikes hit residential buildings and reportedly killed at least two Palestinian journalists, according to Al Jazeera.

2. The toll in the conflict has surpassed 1,500 on both sides since it started on October 7. About 900 people have died in Israel, including 260 people who were shot by Hamas gunmen at a music festival near the Gaza border. In Palestine, almost 690 people have died in the retaliatory action from Tel Aviv, the BBC reported.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023.(AFP)

3. According to the United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs more than 1, 87,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict.

4. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the country will use enormous force against the Hamas militant group. We have only started striking Hamas, Netanyahu said in a televised address to the nation. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

5. The warning came even as Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday ordered a total blockage of the already besieged Gaza Strip. This will include a complete shutdown of electricity and a ban on the entry of food and fuel. The Gaza Strip is home to over 2 million Palestinians.

6. Hamas said that it is ready to fight a long war with Israel and warned that it will use dozens of hostages being held in Gaza to secure the release of Palestinians who are languishing in Israeli jails and overseas. We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war, Ali Barakeh, a member of the groups exiled leadership in Beirut told the Associated Press.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, (AFP)

7. Israel said that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians, whom it had abducted during the surprise attack on Saturday.

8. The Israeli military said it has largely gained control in the south and restored full control over the border. Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since last night, reported AP.

9. A joint statement has been issued by the United States, Germany, France and Italy, condemning the "appalling acts of terrorism" by Hamas. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities, the statement said.

10. US President Joe Biden said that 11 Americans have been killed in the attack on Israel. The US has also moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support.

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North Korean state media on Tuesday blamed Israel for causing bloodshed in Gaza, weighing in on the military clashes between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas for the first time. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.(Reuters)

Rodong Sinmun, a ruling Workers' Party mouthpiece, published a brief article on the conflict and casualties, citing foreign media.

"The international community claims that this clash was the result of Israel's constant criminal acts against the Palestinian people, and that the fundamental way out is to build an independent Palestinian state," the newspaper said.

The violence, which has killed more than 1,500 people, prompted international declarations of support for Israel and appeals for an end to the fighting and protection of civilians after a devastating weekend attack by Hamas.

Hamas has threatened to execute an Israeli captive every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning, amid fears of a ground assault by Israel, which called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and imposed a blockade on Gaza.

North Korean state media has often argued against Western views, especially of the United States, on international issues.

On Monday, state media condemned "hostile forces inside and outside Syria" for a recent drone attack that caused many casualties in the country, calling it a terrorist attempt to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

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Facing one of the most sophisticated surveillance states on the planet, Hamas simply went dark. A building is ablaze following rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 7.(Reuters)

The militant groups attack on Saturday caught Israels national security apparatus completely off guard  a shocking fact given the scope of the incursion, which included attacks by sea, air and land, and pushed deep into Israeli territory.

In theory, it shouldnt have been possible. Israels intelligence services have a reputation as some of the worlds most sophisticated. And the Gaza Strip, a slice of land next to Egypt, is one of the most surveilled places on the planet. Phone lines are tapped. Satellites watch overhead. Informants keep tabs on the 2 million residents of an area just over twice the size of Washington, DC.

Israel and the US will need years to sift through all the failings that allowed Hamas to move with such surprise and to such deadly effect, killing hundreds of Israelis and capturing others. But already, a picture has begun to emerge of how the groups fighters did it, according to current and former intelligence officials in the US, Israel and elsewhere.

Israelis donate blood at a hospital in Tel Aviv on October 7, 2023, after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel,(AFP)

While many questions remain unanswered, whats clear is that Hamas went low-tech, avoiding Israels ability to tap its communications, and even, perhaps, exploiting the Israeli Defense Forces confidence that its missile attacks could be repelled or prevented

My suspicion is that Hamas was able to keep such a vast operation  which included many, many trainers, lots of operational training, and bringing in a vast amount of munitions  close-hold because they went very old school, said Beth Sanner, former deputy director of national intelligence.

I suspect they never talked about it electronically, Sanner said. They broke it up into cells and did individual meetings. And each group was assigned to do different things. Very few people understood how each of the components came together as the whole plan.

As dawn broke on Saturday, some 1,000 Hamas fighters burst through the technologically advanced fence designed to protect against threats from Gaza, fanning out across towns and villages. Children were shot in front of their parents. Hostages were dragged from their homes. Overhead, thousands of rockets rained down as other fighters entered the country on paragliders.

A person familiar with Israeli intelligence operations said the success of the attack likely means that the countrys military intelligence, which has primary responsibility for monitoring developments in Gaza, lacked high-quality human sources inside Hamas leadership.

People assess the damage in a street in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.(AFP)

Its also possible that the groups planning relied on encrypted technology, according to Andrew Borene, an executive director with Flashpoint and a former group chief at the US National Counterterrorism Center. I have a feeling there is also a component of clandestine communications using devices, he said.

Alon Arvatz, a former member of Israels Unit 8200, which is responsible for the militarys signals intelligence, said its clear that Hamas has been able to sidestep Israels ability to intercept phone and email communication. That includes some of the perception techniques Israel has used in the past, which he said might be based on computers or phones or anything that can be intercepted.

They obviously learned how the intelligence is being collected, and they learn how to avoid it, Arvatz said.

Underground  Literally

If taking its communications dark helped Hamas circumvent eavesdropping, then going underground  literally  may have helped thwart Israels surveillance satellites.

Hamas has excelled for years at hiding its weapons stockpiles in tunnels or underground, according to a person familiar with US intelligence on the group. As a result, Israel has hit its above-ground depots time and again from the air to no avail, the person said.

The tunnels appeared to have aided the execution of the attack. Instead of seeking to dig underneath the sensor-equipped underground wall that Israel completed in 2021, they chose the alternative of digging up to the obstacle and then popping out by surprise, said Israeli military analyst Eado Hecht. They sent a mass attack that overwhelmed the system beyond its capacity to react quickly enough.

Palestinians evacuate after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9.(AFP)

Hamas planning was also probably helped by the growing sophistication of its own intelligence apparatus. Its capabilities have expanded dramatically since it seized control of Gaza in 2007, according to a May 2023 study in the journal Intelligence and National Security.

Tactical Communications

The groups Military Intelligence Department has devoted significant resources to observing the border with Israel, running agents in the country and listening to the Israeli Defense Forces tactical communications. As a result, Hamas has amassed knowledge on Israeli weaponry, training and troop deployments, according to the study.

Hamas had very good intelligence that the Israeli border was lightly manned, that it could be overrun, that they would able to get close enough to detonate explosives and get through the fences, wires and checkpoints  thats the key, said Kenneth Katzman, the Congressional Research Services former top Middle East expert. All of this information would have allowed Hamas to map out this type of assault, he said.

The ability of Hamas to plan the attack and hide its intentions must also be set against Israels own shortcomings.

Israels government faces charges that its national security establishment was distracted by domestic infighting. Many Israelis have protested for months against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus efforts to strip power from the nations judiciary.

The Times of Israel reported Monday that Egyptian intelligence had repeatedly warned Egypt that Hamas was planning something big, but that Israeli officials chose to focus on the West Bank instead of Gaza. Bloomberg News hasnt independently verified that reporting.

Theres also the possibility that Israel grew too confident, in part because its technological sophistication lulled it into a false sense of security. Two years ago, the Israeli Air Force posted an article on its website entitled, Exclusive: The IDFs Ability to Strike Rockets Before Theyre Launched.

The article outlined a scenario that failed to repeat itself on Saturday as thousands of Hamas rockets overwhelmed Israels air defenses. Throughout the 2014 Gaza war against Hamas, the IDF struck hundreds of terrorists who were caught firing rockets at Israel. Many of them were struck right before launching, others were targeted after the act, according to the article.

Israel also appears to have misunderstood the intent, motivations and capabilities of Hamas in failing to anticipate the possibility off a cross-border raid, according to Sanner, the former deputy director of national intelligence.

They failed in the imagination of how all of these events that were happening came together as a much greater whole, Sanner said.

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Israel said on Tuesday it has re-established control over the Gaza border and was planting mines where Hamas militants had toppled the barrier during their bloody weekend assault, after another night of relentless Israeli air raids on the enclave. Artillery shells are lined up next to an armoured vehicle as Israeli soldiers take positions near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 9.(AFP)

Israel's latest round of air strikes came after Hamas threatened to execute an Israeli captive every time Israel bombed a Palestinian home without warning.

The Israeli military also called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, raising fears it planned a ground assault in response to the most audacious and deadly Hamas attack in decades. Follow Israel-Hamas LIVE updates here.

The violence, which has claimed more than 1,500 lives, prompted international declarations of support for Israel, street protests in support of Palestinians, and appeals for an end to the fighting and protection of civilians.

Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 injured, and dozens taken captive. Among the Israeli dead were 260 mostly young people gunned down at a desert music festival, where some of the hostages were abducted.

In remarks aired by Israel's Army Radio, chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said there had been no new infiltrations from Gaza since Monday. In an apparent response to rumours that gunmen used cross-border tunnels, he said the military had no such findings.

Israeli soldiers take positions in their armoured vehicles near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 9, 2023.(AFP)

Gaza's Health Ministry on Monday said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday's attacks by Hamas.

Apartment blocks, a mosque and hospitals were among the sites attacked, and the strikes destroyed some roads and houses, according to media reports and eyewitnesses.

Israel also bombed the headquarters of the private Palestinian Telecommunication Co., which could affect landline telephone, internet and mobile phone services.

The strikes continued into the night on Monday. The Israeli military said it hit targets in the Gaza Strip from the sea and air, including a weapons depot it said belonged to Islamic Jihad and Hamas targets along Gaza's coast line.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida issued the threat on Monday to kill Israelis among the dozens held captive after the surprise attack on Saturday morning. He said Hamas would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, and broadcast the execution.

There was no immediate response from the Israeli military to that threat. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said more than 100 people had been taken captive by Hamas during the deadly cross-border incursion over the weekend.

FORCED FROM HOME

Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there.

Dozens of people in Gaza City's Remal neighbourhood fled their homes.

"We took ourselves, children and grandchildren and daughters-in-law and we ran away. I can say that we became refugees. We don't have safety or security. What's this life? This is not a life," resident Salah Hanouneh, 73, said.

In Israel's south, scene of the Hamas attack, Israel's chief military spokesperson said troops had re-established control of communities inside Israel that had been overrun, but isolated clashes continued as some gunmen remained active.

The announcement that 300,000 reservists had been activated in just two days added to speculation that Israel could be contemplating a ground assault of Gaza, a territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago.

"We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale," Hagari said. "We are going on the offensive."

Washington  which provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military assistance each year  said it was sending in fresh supplies of air defences, munitions and other security assistance to Israel.

The United States' top general warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis and said he did not want the conflict to the broaden. Iran makes no secret of its backing for Hamas and has applauded the weekend attack while denying any involvement.

"We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear," General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters travelling with him to Brussels.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed US support for Israel in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the State Department said in a statement early Tuesday.

Blinken "reaffirmed our efforts to secure the immediate releas of all hostages," the statement said.

Governments including Italy, Thailand and Ukraine reported that their citizens had perished in the Hamas attacks. In Washington, President Joe Biden announced that at least 11 Americans had been killed and it was likely US citizens were among those held hostage.

As Israel conducted intense retaliatory strikes on Gaza, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing a tightened blockade to prevent food and fuel from reaching the strip, home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas-affiliated media said at least 20 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on houses in the Gaza Strip late on Monday. Palestinian media also reported that an Israeli air strike on a building in Gaza City had killed two Palestinian journalists and seriously wounded a third.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the reports. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas militants on Tuesday, the fourth day of fierce fighting that has left thousands dead on both sides since the Islamists launched a surprise attack. Israeli soldiers patrol an area in Kfar Aza, south of Israel bordering Gaza Strip(AFP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel's military campaign following Saturday's onslaught is only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and "change the Middle East".

Fears of a regional conflagration have surged ahead of an expected Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded, impoverished enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the country's 75-year history, while Gaza officials have also reported 900 people killed so far, and Israel's army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.

Hamas gunmen killed more than 100 people in the kibbutz of Beeri alone, said Moti Bukjin, a volunteer with the charity Zaka that recovers bodies in accordance with Jewish law.

A day after his ally Netanyahu called Hamas "savages," United States President Joe Biden condemned the Hamas attacks as "sheer evil."

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, began its operation saying it aimed to "end all the crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over."

Netanyahu, the veteran leader at the helm of Israel's hard-right coalition, has called for an "emergency government of national unity" after his administration's proposal for judicial reforms split the nation and even its military this year, before the war brought the nation closer together.

The Israeli army has called up 300,000 reservists and massed tanks and other heavy armour both near Gaza and on the northern border with Lebanon, where exchanges of fire continued.

The military said its forces had largely reclaimed the embattled south and the border around Gaza, and dislodged holdout Hamas fighters from more than a dozen towns and kibbutzim.

"Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas (fighters) have been found in Israel around the Gaza Strip," said army spokesman Richard Hecht, adding security forces had "more or less restored control over the border" with the enclave.

In Kfar Aza kibbutz, where Israeli forces say Hamas massacred more than 100 civilians, Israeli soldiers prepared to remove several of their compatriots in black body bags.

- 'Blackmail' -

In a speech on Tuesday Biden confirmed at least 14 Americans were killed, and others were missing.

Washington, which has sent additional military aid to Israel in response to the attacks, said it was taking seriously Hamas threats to execute hostages.

Relatives of Americans believed held in Gaza called on the Biden administration to bring them home safely.

Western powers and many other nations have reported citizens killed, abducted or missing. These include: Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Ukraine.

Hamas has held around 150 captives since its ground incursion, among them children, elderly and young people captured at a music festival where around 270 died.

On Monday, Hamas warned it would start killing hostages every time Israel launches a strike on a civilian target in Gaza without warning. French President Emmanuel Macron called the threat "unacceptable blackmail."

Fear and chaos reigned among the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the coastal territory that has been hammered by thousands of Israeli munitions.

Hamas said the strikes killed two of its senior figures: Zakaria Muammar led its economics section, and Jawad Abu Shamala coordinated ties with other Palestinian factions.

Israel's army also announced their deaths.

Four Palestinian journalists were also killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza City, media unions and officials said.

Explosions again shook Gaza City on Tuesday night.

Earlier, for the third time in 24 hours, an Israeli air strike hit Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, an AFP photographer and an NGO said.

White smoke billowed from among fishing boats after an air strike on Gaza's port.

Late Tuesday a new barrage of rockets was fired from Gaza towards the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

The deserted streets of Jerusalem were also targeted by Hamas rocket fire.

"Israeli people they are scared of the Arabs and the Arabs are scared of the Jews... everybody is scared of each other," said Ahmed Karkash, a shop owner in the Old City.

In Gaza City, entire blocks have been reduced to rubble.

One resident, Muhammad Najib, 70, said he fled his home Monday after receiving an Israeli warning to evacuate. He returned on Tuesday to find the area "devastated, a large number of houses were completely destroyed."

Najib asked: "What is the fault of the children and the women?"

Israel on Monday imposed a total siege on Gaza, which it has already blockaded for years, cutting off the water supply, food, electricity and other essential supplies.

European Union foreign ministers urged Israel not to cut such essentials, and called for humanitarian corridors for those trying to flee.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said such sieges are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Medical supplies, including oxygen, were running low at Gaza's overwhelmed Al-Shifa hospital, said Mohammed Ghonim, a doctor in the overwhelmed emergency room.

- Taken 'by surprise' -

The United Nations said more than 187,500 people had been displaced inside the Gaza Strip, with most taking shelter in UN schools.

Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault that began with thousands of rockets, likening it to the 9/11 attacks on the US.

In the aftermath, soldiers who were on guard duty along the hi-tech security barrier around Gaza recounted how the attack began with an effort to cripple observation cameras and communications.

"They took us by surprise and we weren't ready for it... and (there was) no intelligence at all," a lookout soldier said in testimony posted on Instagram.

Israel faced the threat of a multi-front war after three days of clashes with militants on the northern border with Lebanon

Mourners in the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm carried two caskets, draped in yellow Hezbollah flags, with the bodies of two fighters it said were killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier. A third fighter was also killed, the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said.

On Tuesday, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades claimed a fresh salvo of rocket fire from south Lebanon towards Israel, the Israeli army said, adding it retaliated with artillery fire.

"It's like a state of war," said Yaakov Regev, sipping coffee at a petrol station in northern Israel, a few kilometres from the Lebanon border.

Unrest has also surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where 15 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday.
Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants have been found in Israel around the Gaza Strip, the army said Tuesday, as it pummelled the Palestinian enclave with air strikes. Israel is reeling under a deadly attack by Hamas militants who stormed the border fence under a barrage of rocket fire on Saturday morning.

"Approximately 1,500 bodies of Hamas (fighters) were found in Israel around the Gaza Strip," military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters, adding that security forces had "more or less restored control over the border" with Gaza.

"Since last night we know that no one came in .. but infiltrations can still happen."

The army had "nearly completed" evacuation of all the communities around the border, he added.

Hecht said the military had deployed 35 battalions to the border area. "We are building infrastructure for future operations," he said.

Israel is reeling under a deadly attack by Hamas militants who stormed the border fence under a barrage of rocket fire on Saturday morning and killed more than 900 people inside Israel.

In response, Israel is carrying out a massive air and artillery bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed at least 687 people in the coastal enclave.

Before dawn on Tuesday, the Israeli military struck what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza, especially in the Rimal neighbourhood and in the southern city of Khan Yunis.

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Humanitarian groups are scrambling to assist civilians caught in the war between Israel and Hamas and determine what aid operations are still safe to continue  efforts that are being complicated by an intensified blockade of Gaza and ongoing fighting. Palestinians carrying personal belongings walk past heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City's al-Rimal district on October 10.(AFP)

Two days after Hamas militants went on a rampage that took the world by surprise, Israel increased airstrikes on Gaza and blocked off food, fuel and other supplies from going into the territory, a move that raised concerns at the United Nations and among aid groups operating in the area home to 2.3 million people. Hamas, in turn, pledged to kill Israelis it abducted if the countrys military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, and aid groups operating in the region say there are needs both in Gaza and Israel.

More than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are underway to organize food and other deliveries, according to an Egyptian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. But the United Nations and other aid groups are pleading for more access to help Palestinians who find themselves in the middle of intense fighting.

Palestinians move to safer areas following overnight Israeli shelling in Gaza City on October 10.(AFP)

Doctors Without Borders, which is still operating in Gaza, has to rely on supplies it already has inside the territory because it cant bring any more in, said Emmanuel Massart, a deputy desk coordinator with the organization in Brussels.

The group  which says it only runs programs in Palestinian areas since Israel has strong emergency and health services  reported Monday that it provided treatments to more than 50 people following airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp located north of Gaza City. In addition to helping patients in Gaza, it said it was donating medical supplies to other clinics and hospitals, which have become overcrowded with patients and are experiencing shortages of drugs and fuel that can be used for generators.

If Doctors Without Borders is not able to resupply fairly quickly, Massart said, it will run out of supplies it can use to operate on patients who might be wounded. He also said since the facilities the organization uses are running on generators due to the low supply of electricity, cutting off fuel will present a huge problem.

If there is no fuel anymore, there is no medical facilities anymore because we cannot run our medical facility without the energy, Massart said.

The war has also been deeply disruptive to work Mercy Corps has been doing to provide people in Gaza with necessities like food and water, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East regional director for the organization. Right now, he said the team on the ground is trying to find a scenario that would enable them to get back to work. The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major worry.

We are very concerned with the way things are going at this point because it looks like its going to get worse  very soon, Quemin said. The sealing of Gaza, he said, will create humanitarian needs very quickly.

Governments have also been weighing how to respond.

As the fighting intensified, the European Union on late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities. Instead, the 27-nation group said it would urgently review the assistance it provides in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel. Two European countries  Germany and Austria  said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian areas.

Meanwhile, some organizations are stepping up aid efforts in Israel, which has seen displacement because of the violence.

Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, The Womens Zionist Organization of America, said a trauma center in Jerusalem thats owned by the organization is treating wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians. About 90% of the patients in the center right now are soldiers, who are typically the first to be brought in for traumatic injuries, Adler said. But the center also accepts anyone whos wounded or injured in the country.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Jewish humanitarian organization, said on Sunday that it was activating its emergency response team in Israel, where it runs programs to support people with disabilities, the elderly and children and families whove been impacted by the war and prior conflicts. The organization said it was working with its partners, including in the Israeli government, to address what it called an unprecedented emergency.

JDCs CEO Ariel Zwang said among other things the nonprofit is helping teachers, social workers and other caregivers provide support to those whove suffered trauma and tragedies from the events of the past few days. She said it will help nursey teachers, for example, explain to children why some of their classmates are suddenly missing.

If youre a teacher now, if you know the children are traumatized, you need special skills and special training in order to manage what youre experiencing and provide for the emotional needs, which are extraordinary at this time, of your youngest charges, Zwang said.

One organization that helps Palestinian children is shifting its focus, too. Steve Sosebee, the president of Palestine Childrens Relief Fund, a US-based charity that helps children in need travel to the US for medical treatment, said given the war, the fund is now looking away from long-term programs and toward more urgent needs for food, medication, clothing and other types of basic humanitarian aid. But like others, he noted the blockade and security risks to its Gaza staff makes it more challenging to do that.

There are no areas of security, there are no safe havens, Sosebee said. And therefore, its very difficult for us to be out in the field providing humanitarian aid when there are no safe places from the constant bombing and attacks that are taking place over the last 72 hours.

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Israel-Hamas war Day 4 highlights: At least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air strikes since Saturday, the health ministry in Gaza said. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women.

Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel,(Reuters)

Over 1,600 people have been killed on both sides after Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a triple attack on Israel on Saturday, following which the Israeli government on Monday formally declared war as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce the militant group to rubble". According to reports, over 130 Israeli and other nationals are also feared as taken hostage by Hamas, while more than 900 people alone have been killed in one of the country's worst civilian massacres. The number of those killed in Israeli airstrikes stands at 770.

The declaration of war gave the green light for Israel to take significant military steps against Hamas after which the army called up around 300,000 troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started. We have only started striking HamasWhat we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, he said.
Israeli medical services said more than 900 people have been killed in the country since Palestine-based Hamas militants launched a deadly attack from the Gaza Strip on southern Israel on Saturday. This includes over 100 bodies found in Beeri after a hostage standoff between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces. As retaliatory Israeli airstrikes continue, more than 187,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. A Hamas police officer carries a wounded girl into a hospital in Beit Lahiya, Gaza Strip, on Sunday, (AP)

US President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain, meanwhile, pledged their support for their ally Israel to defend itself which intensified the counteroffensive against Hamas, killing at least 687 people in Gaza.

In a strong message to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it". Netanyahu's warning comes hours after Hamas threatened to execute an Israeli captive every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning. Live Updates on Israel-Hamas war

Netanyahu, speaking to local mayors on Israels southern border, was quoted by his office as saying: What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible; we are already in the campaign and we are just getting started  The state will leave no stone unturned to help all of you. I ask that you stand steadfast because we are going to change the Middle East.

Latest updates on October 2023 GazaIsrael conflict:

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. Netanyahu also lashed out Hamas saying that they will pay the price and will remember the same for a long time.

Branding Hamas as the Islamic State or ISIS, Netanyahu called on the "forces of civilisation" to unite against the Hamas and defeat it. "Hamas is ISIS. And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas," Netanyahu said.

President Biden said 11 Americans have been killed and others are likely being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group after a surprise attack on Israel using what a US official called ISIS-level savagery. Biden said the US, which has moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support, was working with its key ally on hostage recovery efforts.

Dozens of foreigners have been killed, wounded or taken hostage during the attack on Israel by Hamas.

Some of the foreigners have dual Israeli citizenship.

Here is what we know so far:

Thailand: 12 dead, 11 hostages

US: 11 dead, others missing

Nepal: 10 dead

Argentina: 7 dead, 15 missing

Ukraine: 2 dead

France: 2 dead, 14 missing

Russia: 1 dead, 4 missing

UK: 1 dead, 1 missing

Canada: 1 dead, 3 missing

Cambodia: 1 dead

Germany: several hostages

Brazil: 3 missing

Chile: 2 missing

Italy: 2 missing

Paraguay: 2 missing

Peru: 2 missing

Tanzania: 2 missing

Mexico: 2 hostages

Colombia: 2 hostages

Philippines: 1 hostage, 6 missing

Panama: 1 missing

Ireland: 1 missing

Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida issued the threat to kill Israelis among the dozens held captive after the surprise attack on Saturday morning. He said Hamas would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning.

Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 injured, and dozens taken captive. Among the Israeli dead were 260 mostly young people gunned down at a desert dance party. A day later dozens of survivors were still emerging from hiding. The site was littered with wrecked and abandoned cars.

The United Nations says intense diplomatic activity was taking place aimed at ensuring that regional and international leaders are on the same page in trying to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on Monday that he and UN Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland were engaging with key parties in the region.

Palestine called a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday in Cairo on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

Major US airlines have suspended flights to Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas. American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the US State Department issued travel advisories for the region, citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest. EgyptAir, Egypts national carrier, suspended its flights to Israel until further notice, Cairo airport officials said. EgyptAir normally operates a daily flight between Cairo International Airport and Ben Gurion International Airport, just outside Tel Aviv.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- On October 10, Dongfeng Nissans passenger car brand Venucia announced its latest pure-electric SUV, the Venucia VX6, rolled off the production line at the Guangzhou Huadu factory.



Photo credit: Dongfeng Nissan

This marks a crucial development for the brand's new all-electric platform. The VX6 will be officially launched later this month.

The Venucia VX6, conceived as a production model based on the Venucia Ve Concept concept vehicle, underscores the brand's commitment to electrification. Harnessing the brands native pure electric platform, the VX6 aims to deliver remarkable spaciousness and operational efficiency.

Measuring 4,658mm in length, 1,890mm in width, and 1,656mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,850mm, the VX6 incorporates the STAR dynamic design philosophy. It features details such as the "Star Diamond Matrix" LED headlamps and aerodynamic wheel rims, creating a stylish exterior appearance. The familiar family "V" element enhances its brand identity.

In terms of power, the Venucia VX6 is equipped with integrated lightweight electric motors, as well as lithium iron phosphate battery from CATL. The model is able to deliver a maximum power of 160kW and run at a top speed of 165 km/h.
In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(Twitter)

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

As many as 2,300 Israelis have sustained injuries and more than 700 have died so far in the surprise Hamas attack on Saturday morning.

PM Netanyahu lashed out Hamas saying that they will pay the price and will remember the same for a long time.

"Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come," said Netanyahu.

He also highlighted the plight of those taken hostage, saying, "The savage attacks that Hamas perpetrated against innocent Israelis are mindboggling: slaughtering families in their homes, massacring hundreds of young people at an outdoor festival, and kidnapping scores of women, children and elderly, even Holocaust survivors. Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages."

Branding Hamas as ISIS, he called on the "forces of civilisation" to unite against the Hamas and defeat it.

"Hamas is ISIS. And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas," Netanyahu said.

He also went on to thank US President Joe Biden and other world leaders for their support.

"I am in continuous contact with President Biden, and I would like to thank him again, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, for the commitment of the US in words and deeds for the security of Israel," the Israeli Prime Minister said. "Also, I want to thank many world leaders for your unprecedented support for Israel," he added.

"In fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its own people. It is fighting for every country that stands against barbarism. Israel will win this war, and when Israel wins, the entire civilized world will win," Netanyahu said towards the conclusion of his speech.

The Israeli military is going on the offence against Hamas with a force "like never before," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday.

Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN.

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Qatar said Tuesday it was too soon to start brokering talks on a potential prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas after the Islamists seized around 150 hostages in a shock weekend attack. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Trucks carrying aid are seen near the Rafah border in Gaza after entering from Egypt.(Reuters)

Israel has been left reeling by the coordinated ground, air and sea assault from Gaza which saw hundreds of militants storm the border on Saturday, before mounting a bloody rampage that killed more than 900 people.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari said it was "too early" for mediation when asked about the prospects for a potential prisoner exchange.

"At this moment, it is a very difficult point to say that any party can start with mediation. I think we need to see developments on the ground," he told reporters.

Concerns for the safety of those abducted to Gaza took on added urgency on Monday as Hamas threatened to start executing its prisoners if Israel carried out air strikes on Gaza without prior warning.

Israel has launched a ferocious retaliatory bombardment of what it says are Hamas targets in Gaza. Officials say at least 687 people have been killed.

On Monday, an informed source told AFP Qatar was spearheading efforts to negotiate an exchange of prisoners with talks making "some headway".

Late on Monday, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held a call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, whose government is a supporter of Hamas.

"We have discussed with all those we have contacted the need to contain this escalation within the current parameters and for it not to become a regional confrontation with other players," the ministry spokesman said, expressing particular concern over the situation in southern Lebanon.

Qatar, which has hosted a Hamas political office for more than a decade, has provided millions of dollars in financial aid to Gaza.

Late last month, Qatar and Egypt brokered a deal between Hamas and Israel which saw the reopening of border crossings between Gaza and Israel.

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Several global companies have temporarily shut some operations in Israel and asked employees to work from home as the country goes on war footing in response to a surprise attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas over the weekend. Israel-Palestine Conflict: A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City.(AP)

Following are the steps taken by the companies ranging from airlines to banks:

TRAVEL

Several Asian, European and US airlines have suspended direct flights to Tel Aviv.

Delta Air Lines:

The airline has decided to cancel Delta-operated Tel Aviv flights through Oct. 31 as it monitors events in the region.

El Al:

The airline said it would run more flights to take reservists back to Israel to help in the largest mobilisation in the country's history.

Royal Caribbean:

The cruise operator said it was adjusting several itineraries in the area and that impacted guests were being notified directly.

Carnival:

The cruise liner said it has adjusted its cruise itineraries and is not making calls to ports in Israel at this time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings:

The company said it has modified or redirected sailings that visit Israel in October and will evaluate the situation.

OIL MAJORS

Chevron:

The No. 2 U.S. oil and gas producer has been instructed by Israel's energy ministry to shut down the Tamar natural gas field off the country's northern coast, a company spokesperson said on Monday.

BANKS

JPMorgan Chase:

The Wall Street bank has asked more than 200 employees in Israel to work from home, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Goldman Sachs:

The bank's employees at its office in Tel Aviv have been asked to work from home, a spokesperson said.

Bank of America:

The Tel Aviv office will remain closed for the time being, and the bank will continue to closely monitor the local situation in the upcoming days, according to an internal memo, seen by Reuters.

Morgan Stanley:

Bloomberg News reported that the bank has an office in Israel and has also told its staff to work from home for the foreseeable future.

Citigroup

Citigroup, whose local website said it has the largest presence among foreign financial institutions in Israel, had offered flexibility for staff in the country to work from home or office, a source told Reuters.

Bank of America

The bank's Tel Aviv office will remain closed for the time being, the bank told staff in an internal memo seen by Reuters.

LOGISTICS

Adani Ports:

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's Adani Ports, operator of the Haifa Port in northern Israel, said the port was operational but added it was closely monitoring the situation and is prepared with a business continuity plan.

FedEx:

The global delivery firm has suspended its service in the country.

UPS:

The world's largest parcel delivery firm said it was closely monitoring the situation and had temporarily suspended flights in and out of Israel.

While service disruptions may occur, UPS said it has contingency plans to move shipments that are already in Israel to their destinations as quickly as it is safe to do so.

TECH

Nvidia:

The world's largest maker of chips used for artificial intelligence and computer graphics said it had canceled an AI summit scheduled for Tel Aviv next week. CEO Jensen Huang was scheduled to speak at the conference.

CONSUMER AND RETAIL

H&M:

The clothing company said its local franchise partner has temporarily closed all stores in Israel.

Inditex SA:

"Our stores will remain temporarily closed and return timeframes will be extended by 30 days from their reopening," a message on Zara-owner Inditex's website in Israel showed.

The world's biggest fashion retailer has 84 stores in Israel, all operated under franchise.

PHARMA

Eli Lilly and Co:

The pharmaceutical company said it was closely monitoring the evolving situation in Israel and will take all necessary steps to ensure safety of colleagues in and near the affected areas.

It is also working to ensure all critical operations remain in place to provide an uninterrupted supply of Lilly medicines to patients in the region.

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Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia added more flights on Tuesday to bring back reservists, according to their websites and Israel's airports authority, though the prospect of more conflict also stoked sector worries about staff shortages. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed building after Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.(AP)

The flights come after Israel said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and warned residents of Palestinian enclave Gaza to evacuate in a sign it could be planning a ground assault in response to Palestinian militant group Hamas' unprecedented weekend attack.

While many major airlines have cancelled flights to and from Israel, domestic carriers have looked to ramp up capacity, at least in coming days. Many Israelis were travelling abroad the last week for a Jewish holiday.

On its website, Israir Airlines said it was offering flights from Larnaca in Turkey, Corfu in Greece and Batumi in Georgia to help bring Israelis back to the country.

Arkia also offered flights from the Greek capital Athens to Eilat in southern Israel and Marrakesh in Morocco to Tel Aviv, among others.

Flag carrier El Al added a flight from Athens on Tuesday.

Fears of staff shortages at airlines have grown, however, with the prospect of reduced flights looming.

Israir said its flight schedule could be reduced in coming days as its foreign crews were asked to leave the country while some Israeli staff were also recruited to fight.

Flights evacuating foreigners were also leaving Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.

Iceland said on Monday night it had flown out 126 Icelanders, five Faroese, four Norwegians and 12 Germans that had been stranded in Israel from Amman, Jordan, on a government-sponsored plane.

The Israeli airports authority said 67,000 passengers were expected to travel through Ben Gurion on Tuesday, compared to an average of 80,000 under normal circumstances.

The authority added that it would restrict flights to Ben Gurion airport's Terminal 3 due to security concerns.

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All partners in Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition approved a proposed expansion of the government to include politicians now in the opposition, a statement from his Likud party said following the shock Hamas attack from Gaza and Israel's build-up for war. Some centre-left parties have offered to join Benjamin Netanyahu in government to shore up the country in crisis. Israel-Palestine Latest: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu(Twitter)

This comes as Tel Aviv vowed to take "mighty revenge" after the Hamas attack left many killed in the country. At least 900 people were killed in the attacks and most were Israel civilians, while nearly 700 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza officials as entire districts were flattened.

Some opposition leaders, including former prime minister Yair Lapid and ex-defense minister Benny Gantz, said that theyd favor such a move. But an expanded government could dilute the influence of Benjamin Netanyahus far-right cabinet members in drawing up battle plans. Political unrest has been witnessed in Israel in the past months over the Israel PM's plans to weaken the judiciary.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said that the country will respond very severely and aggressively," echoing comments from Benjamin Netanyahu. Israels mass and rapid mobilization means the military is stretched for equipment. The US said security assistance and aid is on the way as US president Joe Biden said that at least 11 Americans had died and others were likely being held hostage. Hamas said that the militant group was prepared to kill hostages.

Earlier in the day, in a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it".

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," he said in an address to the nation.

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US national security council spokesman John Kirby said that the first tranche of a security aid package for Israel was already on the way while additional assistance would be announced soon. The US wanted to press ahead with diplomacy to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel after the Hamas attack, he said as US president Joe Biden confirmed that at least 11 American citizens had died, and it is likely that others were being held hostage by Hamas. Israel-Palestine War: A Palestinian man talks on his mobile phone as he walks through a ravaged street.(AFP)

The chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr., warned Iran to not get involved in the conflict, the Financial Times reported.

We want to send a pretty strong message, he said while en route to a meeting in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, adding, We do not want this to broaden, and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear.

This comes as the US is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster deterrence efforts. This includes an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and guided missile destroyers.

Israeli forces carried out strikes in the Gaza Strip from the air and the sea and the top US general warned Iran to stay out of the fight. The attacks on Israel by Hamas have killed more than 900 Israelis, mostly civilians. At least 600 Palestinians have also died. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the response had only started, and what we will do to the enemy will echo down through generations.

The leaders of the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK spoke in a call after which they released a statement that renewed their support for Israel and condemned Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities, Hoe Biden along with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and German chancellor Olaf Scholz said in the statement.

We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage," they said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
Several international airlines have suspended flight services with Tel Aviv after the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel over the weekend, impacting hundreds of flights. Israel-Palestine War: A departures board announcing flights to Tel Aviv, Israel, is seen in Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus.(Reuters)

Here are airlines that have temporarily halted flights to and from Israel:

AFRICA

Royal Air Maroc cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv on Saturday and Sunday.

AMERICAS

On Sunday, U.S. carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines suspended direct flights to Tel Aviv.

United ran two flights to the U.S. from Israel late on Saturday and early on Sunday but then suspended services "until conditions allow them to resume".

Air Canada cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. The carrier said on Monday it would resume the route "as soon as the situation stabilizes".

ASIA

Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday.

Cathay Pacific cancelled its Tuesday and Thursday flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv and said it would provide further updates regarding its next scheduled service.

Korean Air cancelled its Monday flight between Incheon and Tel Aviv, and expects future flights to be irregular.

EUROPE

A Norwegian Air spokesman said on Monday, that the airline is cancelling its flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv this week and return flights, up to and including Sunday, Oct. 15th.

All airlines owned by Germany's Lufthansa, including Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines and Brussels Airlines, cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Monday.

Britain's easyJet halted flights with Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and said it would adjust the timing of flights in the next few days.

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, said it has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11 due to operational restrictions beyond its control.

Air France KLM suspended flights without providing a time frame. Its unit Transavia France cancelled two flights on Monday, and said it was not yet known what this meant for flights from Oct. 10.

Finnish carrier Finnair also suspended flights without giving a time frame.

Hungarian Wizz Air said on Monday its flights to and from Tel Aviv were cancelled until further notice.

Portugal's TAP cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

Iberia Airlines, owned by IAG, canceled two round trips between Madrid and Tel Aviv on Saturday, and operated only one on Sunday and one on Monday.

IAG-owned Vueling canceled flights from Barcelona to Tel Aviv on Saturday. It will resume daily round trips from Monday evening, while monitoring the situation for possible delays and cancellations.

Spain-based Air Europa canceled a flight to Tel Aviv on Sunday. Operations are back to normal, but the carrier said it was monitoring the situation and would be ready to delay or cancel flights if needed.

Italy's ITA flights to and from Tel Aviv have been canceled until Oct. 10.

Aegean Airlines cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until Tuesday.

Bulgaria Air cancelled a return flight to Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday, and said a flight to and from Tel Aviv on Thursday was scheduled to operate as planned.

Air Malta cancelled two return trips on Monday and Wednesday, saying it would continually adjust operations as needed.

Icelandair said on Sunday the last three scheduled flights to Tel Aviv had been cancelled.

Virgin Atlantic said its flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv could face delays or cancellations.

Poland's LOT said flights from Tel Aviv may be delayed or cancelled in the upcoming days.

MIDDLE EAST

Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday.

Gulf Air cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until Oct. 14.

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Russian president Vladimir Putin said that the sharp escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict was a vivid example of the United States' policy failure in the Middle East. Talking to the visiting Iraqi prime minister, Vladimir Putin said that Washington had tried to monopolise the search for a settlement in the region. Israel-Palestine War: Russian president Vladimir Putin(AP)

"I think many people would agree with me that it's a clear example of the failure of US politics in the Middle East," he said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov earlier said that Moscow has been talking to both Israel and the Palestinians to help search for a settlement when he was asked about a claim by the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow on whether Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will visit Moscow soon. Dmitry Peskov said that the visit had been planned before the war, adding that Moscow will announce the date after its finally determined.

This comes as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that creating a Palestinian state was the "most reliable" solution for peace in Israel as fighting terrorism alone would not ensure security. Sergei Lavrov said that creating a Palestinian state that would live side by side with Israel... is the most reliable path to solve (the conflict).

We cannot agree with those who say that security can only be ensured through a fight with terrorism, he said, adding that Moscow was "deeply concerned that hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have died and that the Gaza Sector has been declared a target for Israeli retaliation."

Sergei Lavrov said Russia had "serious questions" about Western policy on Israel as "they say that (fighting) should be stopped immediately, that Israel should destroy the terrorists. But this was done before... and never after the situation calmed down did they come to the fact that the main reason (for the conflict) needs to be eliminated. The Palestinian problem should not be delayed further."

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A CNN reporter and her crew had a close call with Hamas rockets as they were reporting live from near the Israel-Gaza border on Monday. Clarissa Ward, Chief international correspondent of CNN takes cover in Israel as missiles streak through the sky above.(YouTube/CNN)

Clarissa Ward, CNNs chief international correspondent, was in the middle of a live segment when she heard a loud barrage of rockets flying overhead. She and three others quickly ran to a ditch by the side of the road and took cover.

Its okay, its okay, the cameraman reassured them as they lay low in the ditch.

The sound of explosions and air defense systems could be heard in the background.

Ward apologized to the CNN team for her un-elegant position and explained what was happening.

Clarissa Ward ducking missile at Israel-Gaza border(YouTube/CNN)

"We have just had a massive barrage of rockets coming in here, not too far from us, so we have had to take shelter here by the roadside, she said. She added that they were only about five minutes away from the border, where the conflict between Israel and Hamas had escalated over the weekend.

She said that this road was ground zero for this entire operation of carnage, as it was where Hamas militants had breached the border wall on Saturday and launched a surprise attack on Israel.

They basically drove down this strip just spraying lead wherever they went, she said, pointing to a truck that was used by the militants and later towed by Israeli officials.

Other vehicles were left behind or burned in the attack.

The violence between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, has claimed hundreds of lives since Saturday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that more than 700 Israelis have been killed and 2,150 wounded, while the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 493 people in Gaza have been killed and more than 2,700 injured.

Nine American casualties have been confirmed in Israel, as reported by the US National Security Council.

The New York Times has reported that more than 150 Israelis, including some US citizens who are currently unaccounted for, are being held hostage in Gaza.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump blasts Joe Biden for betraying Israel and slams how anybody whos Jewish could vote for Democrats

The situation worsened on Monday as Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that Israel was putting a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off all supplies of electricity, food, water and gas to the Palestinian enclave.

Its all closed, he said, according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the fight against Hamas, saying that the battle has only just began and that Hamas would suffer tough and terrible consequences.
Former adult film actress Sarah Joe Chamoun, also known as Mia Khalifa, faced is in trouble with her recent business dealings with Canadian broadcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro due to her public support for Palestine during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Mia Khalifa faces backlash and business fallout over support for Palestine amid Israel-Hamas conflict.(AP,miakhalifa/Instagram)(AP/Instagram)

Mia received major backlash on social media for expressing solidarity with war-torn Palestine following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel.

ALSO READ: Mia Khalifa extends support to Palestine amid Hamas attack on Israel, gets blasted on social media

On X, Mia posted a message stating, "If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid, and history will show that in time." She also added another tweet, saying, "Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal."

In response to Mia's tweets, Todd Shapiro, who had plans to collaborate with her, took immediate action by terminating their partnership.

ALSO READ: Israeli man recalls how Hamas kidnapped wife, two daughters: then call got cut off

He expressed his strong disapproval, saying, "This is such a horrendous tweet @miakhalifa.Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage taking is truly gross. No words can explain your ignorance.We need humans to come together, especially in the face of tragedy. I pray for you to become a better person. However, it clearly seems like it's too late for you."

Following this incident, Mia refrained from posting on social media. Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas conflict continued, with more than 1,200 casualties on both sides and thousands of people sustaining injuries.

On Monday, the militant group Hamas expressed openness to a potential truce, giving scope for peace between the respective groups to be resolved and avoiding any further damage and destruction from erupting.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 26, BYD signed an investment agreement with the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade ("MIIT") of the Republic of Uzbekistan, according to BYD's press release. The Uzbekistan authority pledged to provide policy support for BYD and UZAVTOSANOAT JSC ("UzAuto")'s joint venture (namely, BYD Uzbekistan Factory), encompassing the production of both complete vehicles and components.

From left: Mr. Rustamov Olimhon Bakiyevich, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan; Mr. Urmzakov Shavkat, Chairman of the Board, UzAuto; Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD; Mr. Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe; photo credit: BYD

Under the agreement, both parties have committed to establishing the complete production cycle for BYD vehicles in Uzbekistan, involving welding, painting, and assembly processes. Furthermore, the joint venture will make investments in enhancing the skills and knowledge of its employees. The agreement also grants the joint venture the right to export BYD vehicles produced in Uzbekistan, to Central Asian nations.

Jamshid Abduxakimovich Khojaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, stated that Uzbekistan is deeply interested in the joint project and assured BYD representatives his readiness to provide them full support in this direction.

In December 2022, BYD and UzAuto inked an agreement to establish the joint venture "BYD Uzbekistan Factory." This factory, located in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan, is slated to commence production in 2024, focusing on two popular models, the BYD CHAZOR (a streamlined compact sedan) and the BYD SONG PLUS DM-i (C-segment SUV).

In March 2023, BYD introduced its lineup of new energy passenger cars to consumers in Uzbekistan, marking its debut with three distinct models. The aforementioned BYD CHAZOR and BYD SONG PLUS DM-i harness BYD's cutting-edge super hybrid technologies, offering impressive range and low fuel consumption. The third model, the BYD HAN EV, stands as a flagship executive sedan powered entirely by electricity. Since the launch, BYD has successfully delivered over 5,000 vehicles to customers in Uzbekistan and established seven official sales and service centers across the country.
Myanmar's military was not responsible for an artillery strike that killed at least 30 people at a refugee camp in Kachin state on the border with China, a junta spokesperson told local media on Tuesday. Image showing two military personnel of Myanmar

Zaw Min Tun told People Media: "We are investigating. We always take care of border peace situation."
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday the attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas were "savagery never seen since the Holocaust", in a telephone call with US President Joe Biden. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(via REUTERS)

"We have hundreds massacred, families wiped out in their... homes, women brutally raped and murdered. They took dozens of children, bound them up, burned them and executed them. They beheaded soldiers," Netanyahu said.
As many as 2,300 people have sustained injuries and more than 700 have died in the "worst massacre of Israeli civilians" by Hamas, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. People embrace as they attend a demonstration in support of Israel,(REUTERS)

In a major escalation on October 7 (Saturday), Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country.

"What we witnessed two days ago is the worst massacre of Israeli civilians in Israel's history...This is something that we have never experienced before and the horrors that we have witnessed are almost hard to describe in words...," Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Major Libby Weiss said here on Monday night

In an update, Lieutenant Colonel (Reserves) Jonathan Conricus said that as many as 2,300 people have sustained injuries and more than 700 have died. He also believed that the number of casualties could increase.

IDF spokesperson Major Weiss' remarks came during a virtual presser held on Monday night (IST) that was also attended by Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Lior Haiat.

She also lashed out at Iran for being a "supporter of Hamas" and playing a role in the actions of Hamas.

"We know historically Iran has been a very strong supporter of Hamas...Naturally, we do believe that Iran plays a role in the actions Hamas is carrying out...," she added.

On the release of hostages, Major Weiss said that much can't be elaborated on the plans of IDF adding that they are committed to bringing hostages home.

"...For obvious reasons, we can't at this stage elaborate too much about IDF plans or anything along those lines...We are committed & dedicated to bringing the hostages home regardless of what country they came from...," said Major Weiss.

Earlier in an ANI interview, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lior Haiat also reiterated the allegation that Iran is the main financer of the terror organisations in the Middle East.

According to LTC (Res.) Conricus, "dozens of Israelis" have been held in captivity in Gaza under Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

He also said that civilians, women, the elderly, infants and even the disabled have been taken hostage. They were taken back to Gaza and paraded on the streets.

On the hostage issue, Israel's Foreign Minister Cohen said, "I want to assure you that we will defeat the devil because we have no other choice. There are many Israelis and others from different nationalities who have been held hostage. We are committed to bringing them back in the spirit of mutual responsibility. We demand the Hamas not to harm any of the hostages..."

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours."

This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

In another development, the Israeli military has also deployed troops against a suspected infiltration from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the IDF continued to carry out airstrikes, with the military saying it was hitting targets belonging to the Hamas terror group. (ANI)

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Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Israeli-Hamasconflict with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday, the Turkish presidency said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L). Russian President Vladimir Putin (R)(AFP)

The two leaders discussed possible measures to prevent increasing the tensions in the region and initiatives for delivering humanitarian aid there, it said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

In the call, Erdogan said Turkey will maintain its efforts to ensure calm in the region, according to the statement.
Russia was defeated in its bid to regain a seat in the U.N.s premiere human rights body by a significant majority in Tuesdays election in the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine. UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis reads the election results of new members to the Human Rights Council.(AFP)

Russia was competing against Albania and Bulgaria for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council representing the East European regional group.

In the secret ballot vote, Bulgaria got 160 votes, Albania received 123 votes and Russia just 83 votes.

Russia has claimed that it has support from a silent majority, and even though 83 votes came from less than half the 193 U.N. member nations, there is certain to be a concern, especially by Ukraine and its Western allies, that Moscows support was that high.

I think the Russians will be pleased that they persuaded a sizable minority of U.N. members to back them (which) suggests that Moscow is not a total pariah in the U.N. system, despite repeated Western criticism, Richard Gowan, U.N. director of the International Crisis Group, told The Associated Press. That said, the U.S. and Ukraines allies were still able to ensure that Albania and Bulgaria swept the contest for two seats. So, Kyivs friends still have a solid majority in the assembly.

The only other competitive race was in the Latin America and Caribbean group where Cuba, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic defeated Peru for three seats. New York-based Human Rights Watch said Cuba didnt deserve a place on the council because of systematic rights violations including harassment, arbitrary detention, and torture of dissidents but Cuba got the highest number of votes of the four countries  146.

The other closely watched race was in the Asia group where four countries  China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia  were candidates for four seats. Some rights groups also campaigned against Beijing and the size of the vote was closely watched.

Indonesia topped the ballot with 186 votes followed by Kuwait with 183 votes and Japan with 175. China was last with 154 votes.

Human Rights Watch said last week that Chinas rights record should disqualify it from the Human Rights Council. It pointed to last years report by the office of the U.N. human rights commissioner which said Chinas discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.

Two other regional races were also not competitive.

For the four African seats, Malawi got 182 votes followed by Ivory Coast with 181 and Ghana with 179. Burundi, whose rights record was also strongly criticized by Human Rights Watch, was last with 168 votes.

The two Western seats were also uncontested, and the Netherlands topped France with 169 votes compared to 153 votes.

General Assembly President Dennis Francis, who announced the results, congratulated the 15 winners, who will join the Human Rights Council on Jan. 1.

Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watchs U.N. director, said: U.N. member states sent a strong signal to Russias leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesnt belong on the Human Rights Council."

But because two regional slates lacked competition, China and Burundi will be joining the council next year alongside Cuba. Their abysmal rights records should have disqualified them," he said, adding that China's last-place finish suggests that if the Asia race was competitive it would have lost.

But the spotlight in this election was on Russia and its campaign to get back on the Human Rights Council.

Moscows U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the United States on Monday of leading a campaign to prevent their return to the council.

The main phobia of our American colleagues today is electing Russia to the Human Rights Council, Nebenzia told a Security Council meeting called by Ukraine on last weeks strike by a Russian missile on a Ukrainian soldiers wake in a small village that killed 52 people.

The United States and others sent letters to many of the 193 members of the General Assembly urging a vote against Russia, according to diplomats. Felice Gaer, director of the American Jewish Committees Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, was among the non-government letter-writers also urging Russias defeat.

At Mondays council meeting, Albanias U.N. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha also urged those who care about human rights and the credibility of the Human Rights Council and its work to oppose a country that kills innocent people, destroys civilian infrastructure, ports and grain silos and then takes pride in doing so.

U.S. deputy ambassador, Robert Wood told the Security Council that Russias re-election to the Human Rights Council while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations.

In April 2022, less than two months after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly voted 93-24 with 58 abstentions on a U.S.-initiated resolution to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council over allegations that its soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the U.S. and Ukraine called war crimes.

Human Rights Watch last week urged U.N. members to deny a seat on the rights council to Russia, saying its forces in Ukraine continue to commit apparent war crimes, including unlawful attacks, and crimes against humanity such as torture and summary executions. President Vladimir Putin and his childrens rights commissioner are also sought by the International Criminal Court for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children, it said.

The Human Rights Council was created in 2006 to replace a commission discredited because of some members poor rights records. But the new council soon came to face similar criticism, including that rights abusers sought seats to protect themselves and their allies.

The council reviews the human rights records of all countries periodically, appoints independent investigators to examine and report on issues like torture and situations in countries like North Korea and Iran. It also sends fact-finding missions to investigate rights violations, including in Ukraine.

Under the councils rules, its 47 seats are allocated to regional groups to ensure geographical representation. Members are elected yearly by the General Assembly for staggered three-year terms that begin Jan. 1.

In last years election, Venezuela, South Korea and Afghanistan lost contested races, but countries including Vietnam and Sudan, which have been accused of having abysmal human rights records, won seats.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the United Nations believes all countries elected to the Human Rights Council this year have therefore earned their right to be there.

They then need to show and demonstrate while theyre on the Human Rights Council their respect for human rights, he said.
San Francisco police said they shot and killed a driver on Monday who crashed into the Chinese consulate lobby, prompting a massive response from officers and firefighters. Vehicle crashes into Chinese consulate in San Francisco (X)

Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer involved shooting occurred involving the driver, police Sgt. Kathryn Winters said during a short news conference. Despite life-saving efforts, the suspect was pronounced deceased at the hospital, police said.

A heavy police presence descended on the area after 3 p.m. and the department urged the public to avoid the area. Television cameras showed a vehicle that had smashed into the building.

A Honda sedan was seen crashed into the visa office and the area in front of the building was cordoned off.

READ | Khalistan supporters try to set on fire Indian consulate in San Francisco; US 'strongly condemns

Winters said they didn't know why the vehicle crashed into the building or how many people were inside at the time but said they didnt have reports of other injuries.

Police are working and coordinating with investigators from the U.S. Department of State and the Chinese consulate.

I wish I could give you more but this is a very complex investigation, Winters said.

The Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China is on a major street across from the citys Japantown neighborhood.
October 2023 GazaIsrael conflict: Yoni Asher is back at his home in central Israel after his countless bids to get assistance from authorities to rescue his wife, mother-in-law and two children who, he suspects, were abducted by Hamas militants when they launched a surprise assault on Saturday. Ashers wife, Doron Asher Katz, 34, was visiting her mother in the community Nir Oz near the border with their two young daughters when Hamas attacked. Doron Asher Katz, 34, was visiting her mother in the community Nir Oz near the border with their two young daughters when Hamas attacked.

"She told me the terrorists are in the house," Asher told news agency Reuters. Then the call got cut off. Later on, he located her mobile phone through her Google account. Its location was Khan Younis, a city in Gaza. He then saw a TikTok video that spread on social media of them being taken to Gaza.

Doron Asher Katz and her two daughters.(Source: Social media)

"I surely identified my wife, my two daughters and my mother-in-law on some kind of a cart, and terrorists of Hamas all around them," he said.

"My little two girls, they are only babies, they are not even 5-years-old and 3-years-old ... I don't know in what terms they are captive. I don't know what happened to them."

Hamas militants, many on motorcycles and paragliders stormed blockaded areas of the Gaza Strip, shooting indiscriminately at people on the Israel side of the border. Video footage surfaced of Hamas men abducting Israeli citizens  including mothers, children and the elderly  and taking them back across the border into Gaza.

Doron Asher Katz is one of an unknown number of Israelis who have been captured and presumed held hostage after an unprecedented invasion by Hamas militants of southern Israel.

Its unclear how many hostages have been taken. Hamas has said it was holding dozens of commanders and soldiers. Israeli media reported that the number was at least 100, including elderly people and children. The militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, separate from Hamas, said it was holding 30 hostages and wouldnt return them until Palestinian prisoners were freed. The Israeli military confirmed that hostages had been taken but wouldnt give a figure.

I saw she had been taken into Kfar Younis which is deep inside Gaza, Asher, a real estate, told The Independent, adding, The GPS even showed us the route the terrorists took.

Yoni Asher, who saw videos of his wife, daughters, who are under five years old, and mother-in-law, surrounded by Hamas militants before his wife's phone was traced to Gaza, looks at his phone from his home in Ganot Hadar, Israel, (REUTERS)

Alongside his wife was his mother-in-law Efrat, believed to be part of the hostages the Palestinian militants claim to be holding.

On Saturday morning, I received a call from my wife visiting her mother Efrat and her partner Gadi in the kibbutz, The Independent quoted Asher as saying.

I was at home in central Israel and we got news that the Palestinians were firing rockets over there and there was an invasion. My wife was whispering, he added.

According to Asher, Hamas came to Nir Oz and surrounded the house. Doron, her mother and the two girls barricaded themselves inside the family bomb shelter.

Apparently, Gadi had tried to negotiate with them, maybe offer himself up in exchange for the children but they took him. I hung up as I didnt want to put them in danger, that was the last I ever heard from them, he said.

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The Taliban released four Britons who were detained in Afghanistan on allegations that they broke the laws of the country, the U.K. government said Tuesday. Britons who were detained in Afghanistan on allegations that they broke the laws of the country (File)(REUTERS)

The Foreign Office said in a brief statement that it welcomed the release of the four Britons, and expressed apologies on behalf of their families to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country.

The U.K. government regrets this episode, it added.

The Foreign Office didn't provide details on who the four were or what laws they allegedly broke.

Scott Richards, co-founder of the U.K.-based nonprofit Presidium Network, which was involved in negotiations to help secure the Britons' release, said one of the four was Kevin Cornwell, who had been working with the United Nations in a medical capacity.

Cornwell was detained in January in a Kabul hotel housing nonprofit workers, along with an unidentified hotel manager, after Afghanistan's Directorate of Intelligence searched their rooms and found a pistol in the hotel safe, according to Richards.

All four men were on a flight returning to the U.K. on Tuesday, Richards added.

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Reports of antisemitic incidents in Britain since the weekend have tripled compared with the same period last year following the outbreak of new Israel-Palestinian conflict, a Jewish charity said on Tuesday. Pro-Palestine supporters wave flags and hold placards as they demonstrate at Piccadilly Circus in London. (AFP)

The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Britain's estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, did not provide exact numbers but said further incidents could be reported in the coming days.

"We don't have firm numbers yet as we are still logging and verifying everything that has come in, which also means that the number is likely to rise further, but the current rate is roughly triple what it was for the same period last year," a spokesperson said.

The CST says any escalation in violence in Israel and Gaza often leads to antisemitic reactions in Britain.

Interior minister Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs on Tuesday, saying that experience showed "Islamists and other racists" would use the current conflict to stir up hatred against British Jews.

She called on police to take a tough line, not just against shows of support for Hamas - which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain - but also towards some pro-Palestinian displays.

"Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism," she said in her letter.

"Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at," she wrote in the letter published on the government website.

On Monday, hundreds of people gathered at two locations in central London to mark the attacks, with supporters of Israel gathering near the prime minister's residence at Downing Street to hold a vigil, and pro-Palestinian protesters demanding an "Intifada revolution" near the Israeli embassy.

Police said they had made three arrests at the demonstrations.

Antisemitic incidents in Britain hit a record high in 2021, fuelled by a rise in violence in Israel and Gaza, and last year the CST recorded 1,652, down 27% from the previous year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed his solidarity with Britain's Jews and has said he would work to make sure they felt safe, while police have stepped up patrols to provide reassurance to Jewish communities.

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Libraries are under attack in the United States. Libraries in the US face budget cuts, book bans, and lawsuits, undermining their values(Photo by Arif ALI / AFP) / (AFP)

They face budget cuts, book bans, and lawsuits from politicians, right-wing activists, and corporate publishers. These forces are trying to undermine the values of libraries, such as equal opportunity, universal education, and cultural preservation. They are going against the will of the majority of Americans, who support libraries strongly. They are making librarianship a dangerous profession, because of the actions of a hostile minority. Its time to stop this war on libraries.

Libraries have a long and proud history in the United States. They were founded by publishers, lawmakers, and business leaders who recognized the social benefits of libraries, and of making books available to anyone who wanted to read them. They were aware of the dangers of tyranny over the distribution of books, and they created a system that protected the rights of libraries and readers.

Benjamin Franklin, a publisher and printer in his own right, established the inaugural subscription library in the United States with the aim of disseminating knowledge to a broader audience.

Andrew Carnegie, a shrewd capitalist, revolutionized the library system by assisting numerous towns in establishing their own libraries, bearing the inscription 'Free to the People,' as seen on the cornerstone of the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh. In 1908, the Supreme Court rendered a pivotal decision, and in 1909, Congress included provisions in the Copyright Act to safeguard the unrestricted operation of lending libraries.

But now, in the digital age, these cherished legacies are threatened.

ALSO READ| After 128 years on display, mummified American friend receives a proper burial in Reading, Pennsylvania

The traditional practice of libraries is to buy or acquire published materials, preserve and catalog them, and lend them widely and confidentially.

For over a century, the regulations governing book printing on paper were well-defined. However, in the digital era, all of these functions have been restricted or, more recently, deemed unlawful for libraries in the United States.

In the present day, libraries are frequently denied outright ownership of digital books. Numerous books are exclusively provided to libraries in electronic format through restrictive temporary licenses, preventing libraries from ever possessing these e-books and instead requiring ongoing payments akin to streaming services like Netflix.

Several publishers have gone so far as to openly identify libraries as direct economic rivals.

Digital books have been withdrawn from libraries and altered without librarians' consent. Borrowers of digital books can no longer expect privacy, as publishers, distributors, and e-book retailers monitor readers, collecting data for potential sale or sharing with advertisers, law enforcement, landlords, or immigration authorities.

What can the US library authority do about this?

School libraries are an ally to students needing an escape. We cant let them vanish.

 Publishers, and the American Association of Publishers, can sell e-books to libraries according to traditional practices and stop suing libraries.

 Authors have the option to stipulate in their contracts that e-books of their works should be made available to libraries under identical ownership, lending privileges, and pricing terms as their physical counterparts.

 Newspaper and magazine publishers have the ability to sell digital copies of their publications to libraries, thereby safeguarding the archives of journalism, often referred to as the 'first draft of history'.

 Legislatures and legislators can advocate for the principles of digital ownership and lending.

 Antitrust regulators should intervene to prevent the consolidation of publishers into a handful of global media conglomerates and take measures to dismantle those that have grown excessively large.

 Why is Houston closing libraries in certain underprivileged public schools, while readers have the opportunity to contribute to and back all libraries?
WASHINGTONSen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, is the latest liberal Democratic lawmaker to come out supporting the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

Presented as a sweeping online safety measure with bipartisan support, a coalition opposed to the bill argues that KOSA would censor forms of online speech, namely LGBTQ+ speech, protected by the First Amendment.

After a slate of organizations supporting KOSA requested a meeting with her office to discuss the bill, congressional records show Sen. Warren has added her name as a sponsor for the bill.

There is an urgent need for stronger protections of kids online, and we believe KOSA is essential to both the young people of Massachusetts and the country, reads a letter requesting the meeting.

Organizations that signed the letter include Common Sense Media, the American College of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association.

Mike Masnick, editor of Techdirt, and Evan Greer, director of Fight for the Future, writing for Vice News, note Sen. Warrens was added shortly after Common Sense Media and the other groups forwarded her office the letter and met with her and her personal legislative affairs staff.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, and Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, are the prime co-sponsors of the bill. Ideologically opposite of each other, Blumenthal and Blackburn have been working overtime to pitch the bill in the mainstream news media after several blunders. AVN reported several times that many of these blunders are linked to Sen. Blackburn, a socially conservative Republican.

Blackburn was interviewed by a right-wing family policy organization saying that KOSA could be to protect minors from the transgender. Blumenthal has taken to The Washington Blade a few times in a bid to assuage concerns from the LGBTQ+ community.

Id hoped Senator Warren wouldnt make this kind of trade, Greer wrote for Vice. Its a deal that will have deadly consequences for the most vulnerable people in our society, especially transgender youth, who already face disproportionate rates of violence, discrimination, self-harm, and who are actively being targeted by extreme right-wing legislatures and attorneys general."

Note that 46 members of the 100-member Senate support the bill. This also means that not every senator is yet sold. California lawmakers, namely Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, have remained quiet on KOSA. Butler was just appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinsteins position for the rest of the term.

A spokesperson for Sen. Padillas office told The Sacramento Bee on October 9 that he is closely monitoring the legislation but [has] not taken a position as of yet.

Sen. Michael Bennet, a senior Democrat from Colorado, has not signed on to KOSA. His junior colleague, Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper, has signed on as a sponsor for the proposal.

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is opposed. Wyden was one of the original drafters of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. KOSA would significantly reform Section 230.

Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Free Speech Coalition, Greers Fight for the Future, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are all opposed to KOSA.

GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign have dropped their opposition to the bill. Hard-right organizations are still in support of the Kids Online Safety Act, including the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Amid the ongoing "war" between Hamas militants and Israel, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in blue to show France's solidarity with the latter on Monday evening. Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah was also played in the background. In videos, people are seen capturing photos and videos of the tower. This photograph taken on October 9, 2023 shows the Eiffel Tower illuminated with the Star of David and the colours of national flag of Israel.(AFP)

Meanwhile, the White House was also illuminated with blue and white light on Monday night to show support for Israel following the attacks by Hamas. "White House in White and Blue tonight. We stand with Israel," White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, posted along with pictures of the lights.

President Joe Biden also posted the image on X and wrote, "Tonight, America says clearly to the Israeli people, to the world, and to terrorists everywhere that we stand with Israel. That will never change."

READ | Israels 26/11 moment signals political failure

Additionally, other landmarks such as the Empire State Building in New York City, the Sydney Opera House in 10 Downing Street, London, and the Brandenburg Gate in Germany also flashed the blue and white colours as a mark of support for the conflict-ridden nation. The flag of Israel was featured on more than 350 digital advertising screens in Kyiv for half an hour on Sunday, Kyiv Post reported.



Thousands of people were killed in the conflict between the Hamas militant group and the Israeli security forces in the past few days. On Monday, Israel escalated its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and imposed a blockade, restricting the flow of essential supplies such as food and fuel. This retaliation was in response to a violent incursion by Hamas militants. In turn, Hamas heightened the conflict by vowing to harm captured Israelis if attacks on civilians occurred without prior warnings.

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The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, says it is trying to take action on a flood of posts sharing graphic media, violent speech and hateful conduct about the war between Israel and Hamas. Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City(AP)

X says its treating the crisis with its highest level of response. But outside watchdog groups and the European Union's digital policy chief say misinformation about the war abounds on the platform that billionaire Elon Musk bought last year.

Fake and manipulated imagery circulating on X include repurposed old images of unrelated armed conflicts or military footage that actually originated from video games, said a Tuesday letter to Musk from EU Commissioner Thierry Breton. "This appears to be manifestly false or misleading information.

Breton also warned Musk that authorities have been flagging potentially illegal content that could violate EU laws and you must be timely, diligent and objective in removing it when warranted.

X didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Breton's letter. But a post late Monday from Xs safety team said: In the past couple of days, weve seen an increase in daily active users on @X in the conflict area, plus there have been more than 50 million posts globally focusing on the weekends terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. As the events continue to unfold rapidly, a cross-company leadership group has assessed this moment as a crisis requiring the highest level of response.

That includes continuing a policy frequently championed by Musk of letting users help rate what might be misinformation, which causes those posts to include a note of context but not disappear from the platform.

The struggle to identify reliable sources for news about the war was exacerbated over the weekend by Musk, who on Sunday posted the names of two accounts he said were good for following the war in real-time. Analyst Emerson Brooking of the Atlantic Council called one of those accounts absolutely poisonous. Journalists and X users also pointed out that both accounts had previously shared a fake AI-generated image of an explosion at the Pentagon, and that one of them had posted numerous antisemitic comments in recent months. Musk later deleted his post.

Brooking posted on X that Musk had enabled fake war reporting by abandoning the blue check verification system for trusted accounts and allowing anyone to buy a blue check.

Brooking said Tuesday that it is significantly harder to determine ground truth in this conflict as compared to Russias invasion of Ukraine last year and Elon Musk bears personal responsibility for this.

He said Musks changes to the X platform have made it impossible to quickly assess the credibility of accounts while his introduction of view monetization has created perverse incentives for war-focused accounts to post as many times as possible, even unverified rumors, and to make the most salacious claims possible.

War is always a cauldron of tragedy and disinformation; Musk has made it worse, he added. Further, Brooking said via email Musk has repeatedly and purposefully denigrated the idea of an objective media, and he made platform design decisions that undermine such reporting. We now see the result.

Part of Musk's drastic changes over the past year included gutting its staff, including many of the people responsible for moderating toxic content and harmful misinformation.

One former member of Twitters public policy team said the company is having a harder time taking action on posts that violate its policies because there arent enough people to do that work.

The layoffs are undermining the capacity of Twitters trust and safety team, and associated teams like public policy, to provide needed support during a critical time of crisis, said Theodora Skeadas, one of thousands of employees who lost their jobs in the months after Musk bought the company.

X says it recently changed one policy over the weekend to enable people to more easily choose whether or not to see sensitive media without the company actually taking down those posts. X believes that, while difficult, its in the publics interest to understand whats happening in real time, its statement says.

The company says it is also removing newly created Hamas-affiliated accounts and working with other tech companies to try to prevent terrorist content from being distributed online. The company said it is also continuing to proactively monitor for antisemitic speech as part of all our efforts. Plus weve taken action to remove several hundred accounts attempting to manipulate trending topics.

Linda Yaccarino, whom Elon Musk named in May as the top executive at X, withdrew from an upcoming three-day tech conference where she was scheduled to speak, citing the need to focus on how the platform was handling the war.

With the global crisis unfolding, Linda and her team must remain fully focused on X platform safety, X told the organizers of the WSJ Tech Live conference being held next week in Laguna Beach, California.
Ecuador's prison officials confirmed on Friday, October 6, that six individuals apprehended as the accused murderers of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August were killed inside a jail in Guayaquil.

The prison administration has confirmed that six Columbian inmates who died at Litoral Penitentiary were the suspects in the death of ex-presidential candidate Villavicencio. Jhon Gregore R., Andres Manuel M., Adey Fernando G., Camilo Andres R., Sules Osmini C., and Jose Neyder L. are the names given.

In Relation to Murder of Villavicencio

According to CBS News, the news organization had previously stated that "an event occurred inside" the jail, resulting in the deaths of six inmates. Over the previous three years, many disturbances at Ecuador's largest and most deadly jail, Litoral, have resulted in many fatalities there.

The murders happened as prosecutors were wrapping up their investigation into Villavicencio's August 9 shooting death as he left a political gathering.

Villavicencio's suspected assassins were arrested hours after the incident and placed in preventative prison. There have been a total of six further arrests made on suspicion of participation.

On Friday, police did not comment on the murders, but local media said that they took place in Pavillion 7, an area controlled by Los Choneros, a local gang controlled by Adolfo Macias. Villaviciencio made it a point to call out Macias as the source of death threats throughout his campaign.

See Also: Ecuador Gang Violence: Inmates Take Over 50 Law Officers Hostage Following Car Bombs, Unrest

Shift From Calm to Chaos

The 59-year-old lawmaker and former journalist was still a terrible reminder of the rise in crime besetting Ecuador less than two weeks before the election. He said that members of the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico had threatened him. The Sinaloa cartel is only one of numerous international criminal organizations with a presence in Ecuador.

Villavicencio did not hold back his criticism when it came to the ties between organized crime and government officials.

A political science professor at Florida International University, Eduardo Gamarra, told CBS News that Villavicencio's willingness to speak his mind may have contributed to his untimely demise. "One of the most notorious and prescient things that he said, that he always said, is that it would cost him his life."

For a long time, Ecuador has had a reputation as one of South America's most peaceful countries. But Gamarra, a specialist in Latin America, says that the nation is becoming more violent, unsafe, and fatal. The current situation, he added, is reminiscent of Colombia in the 1980s and 1990s, when drug conflicts there led to the deaths of journalists, judges, and even a presidential contender named Luis Carlos Galan.

While traditionally peaceful, violence in Ecuador has increased dramatically over the last year as drug traffickers have rushed to the South American country. This has led to an alarming rise in drug trafficking, violent deaths, and the recruitment of children by gangs.

See Also: US Pledges Funds To Support Ecuador's Anti-Drug Initiatives in Effort To Fight High-Profile Crimes

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Robyn BECK / AFP) (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

A shooting at the Bowie State University left two individuals injured and prompted an investigation following a similar incident at the Morgan State University.

Maryland officials believe that more than one shooter was involved in the incident, leaving two people injured, both 19-year-olds.

The shooting occurred on Saturday night amid the Maryland school's homecoming weekend. The two injured individuals, identified as both men, were found with gunshot wounds at the historically Black university's Center for Business and Graduate Studies and were quickly transferred to a hospital.

Bowie State University Shooting

Officials revealed that neither of the teenagers were Bowie State students nor were they students of nearby Morgan State University. The latter is another historically Black college or university whose students were invited to Bowie State after their homecoming celebrations were interrupted by gunfire last week.

The two shooting incidents both underscored the United States' ongoing epidemic of gun violence as the issue continues to spill into everyday venues of daily life. Bowie State University police initially received reports of shots fired at around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, as revealed by school officials in a Facebook post, as per CNN.

On Sunday, the assistant bureau chief for the state police, Maj. Kenny Brown said that the shooting is believed to be an isolated event. Officers from the Prince George County Police Department were also working this homecoming weekend amid the issue.

No suspects have been identified in the case so far, but law enforcement personnel are pursuing some leads, said Brown. He added that investigators preliminarily believe that more than one shooter was involved in the incident.

Bowie State is based in Prince George's County and is known to have roughly 6,408 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester, as seen on the university's website. The shooting incident at the college comes only a few days after a similar incident occurred at Morgan State University, roughly 45 minutes away.

During that incident, five people were shot during their homecoming week, and one student, Zakaria Smith, said that the shooting was overwhelming for many people. A junior at Bowie State University added that it was difficult to check what people were bringing onto campuses and that it was hard to regulate the types of people coming in, according to CBS News.

Read Also: Man With Rifle Returns to Wisconsin Capitol to See Gov. Tony Evers the Night After Being Arrested for Bringing Hand Gun

Gun Violence Cases

The Morgan State University shooting prompted an hours-long lockdown of the university as students were forced to hunker down while waiting for police to go room to room checking for potential suspects.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said that the five victims of the shooting were identified as four men and one woman, aged between 18 and 22. He noted during a Wednesday news conference that their injuries were not life-threatening.

On the other hand, Morgan State Police Chief Lance Hatcher said that four of the victims were students at the college. Police did not release information about a potential suspect or suspects, and Worley noted that investigators are still in the dark about how many shooters were involved in the attack.

The incident occurred shortly after the coronation of Mister & Miss Morgan State held at the Murphy Fine Arts Center, as students were heading to a campus ball. A sophomore from Baltimore, Konnor Crowder, said that he and his friends were waiting for the coronation to start when they suddenly saw people running away, according to the Associated Press.

Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified

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On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked for "restraint" to protect civilians in the Gaza Conflict.

Hundreds of people were killed in Gaza, which has become a real concern for the Australian prime minister. According to Albanese, the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza create terror and are a form of discrimination.

Australia Extends Sympathy for Israel

Albanese blamed Hamas for the aimless attack, leading to the death of the civilians in Gaza. The Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, also shared her sentiments about the Gaza conflict and showed her support for Israel's right to defend itself.

"Australia's thoughts are with those lost, those injured, those taken hostage, and all their loved ones," Wong told the reporters in Adelaide, as per The Guardian.

Wong advised all parties to protect civilians, especially children, not just those attacked. Primarily, Wong suggested not to travel and be near Gaza's borders.

Read Also: Bowie State University Shooting: Maryland Incident Leaves 2 Injured

Casualties in Gaza Conflict

According to CTV Bordforen, the death toll in Israel has reached more than 1,100 after a shocking Hamas attack. Most people who died from the attack were militants, and the rest were innocent civilians. Albanese revealed that non-Israeli citizens were kidnapped as different nations frequently visited Israel.

Wong checked the Australians who might be hospitalized and injured in the affected areas. But, there was still no information on whether there were Australian victims.

Israel has also broken off electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza, putting their current medical situation under pressure with many injured people. Anas Jerjawi of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor announced that the Israeli warcraft destroyed civilian homes, leaving tens of thousands of Israelis homeless.

"Water and electricity supplies are almost at a standstill, and hospitals face extreme difficulties in continuing to operate due to the huge shortage of medical supplies... the Israeli attack must be stopped immediately," Jerjawi added.

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman also advised to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas militants reportedly use civilian infrastructure and populations as a shield to its operations.

Other than the thousands of deaths, the United Nations discussed that there was too much damage to infrastructure, covering the homes of two million people, forty schools, and four hospitals. The United Nations warned to stop the attack on health care as the medical supplies are running out.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked for a truce while speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Merkel also affirmed that Israel can defend itself against the attacks.

On the side of Israel, US President Joe Biden backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US rejected the UN Security Council to publish a statement calling Israel to stop the attack. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said, "The violence must end immediately."

Moreover, countries like France and Egypt called off the fight and requested a ceasefire.

Related Article: Hamas Attack Update: AA, Other Major Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel-Here's What FAA Says In Updated NOTAM

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(Photo : Morgan Sette / AFP) (MORGAN SETTE/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) provided insights into the 16 Psyche asteroid that is believed to be made mostly out of metal.

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) telescope provides new insights into 16 Psyche, the asteroid believed to be metal-rich and one of the largest in the asteroid belt.

The space agency's Psyche mission and spacecraft will journey to the cosmic object and research its characteristics. The situation comes as the true nature of the asteroid is still largely unknown, and new research from SOFIA and NASA's Ames Research Center could help scientists predict what to expect at Psyche.

NASA's Psyche Mission

In the last few years, scientists have theorized that 16 Psyche's characteristics, especially as Psyche teams have started planning the mission and its goals. One of the primary hypotheses behind the origins of the asteroid is that it was once the iron-rich interior of a planetesimal or a forming planet.

Scientists believe that the surface of the planetesimal was blown away by the near-constant collisions between it and other planetary materials that existed in the early solar system. After the asteroid's surface was blown away, the only thing that remained was the core, believed to be what researchers now know as Psyche, as per NASA Space Flight.

Despite this hypothesis and data to support it, scientists are still largely unsure of the exact nature of the asteroid and its features. The scientists that will study the asteroid are led by Psyche's principal investigator, Maggie McAdam of Ames, and lead author Anicia Arredondo of the Southwest Research Institute.

When SOFIA was still in operation, it was a reflecting telescope integrated into a Boeing 747SP airplane. This unique setup allowed scientists to observe astronomical objects from above the planet's lower atmosphere and any location on Earth, even oceans.

Its observations of Psyche were the first to gather data from every part of the mysterious asteroid's surface. They allowed scientists to research and analyze the materials that make up the cosmic object's surface. This is crucial information for understanding the entire asteroid and could never have been collected by telescopes on our planet's surface.

Read Also: Dead Star Hits Earth With Powerful Energy Blast, Baffling Scientists

Metal-Rich Asteroid

NASA set the launch of its Psyche spacecraft for Oct. 12, and it will be from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to the Voice of America News, the mysterious asteroid orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter and was first discovered by an Italian astronomer in 1852.

The latest mission will be NASA's first trip to an asteroid made mostly of metal, as past missions only explored asteroids made mostly of rock or ice. Psyche is said to be about 280 kilometers at its widest point.

After NASA's Psyche spacecraft launches, it will travel roughly 2.2 billion miles to the main asteroid belt and orbit around the metal-rich asteroid. The spacecraft's journey will take under six years and is expected to arrive in 2029.

The main mission is set for August 2029 and is when the spacecraft will use its instruments, including a camera, spectrometer, and magnetometer, to investigate the Psyche asteroid. The study would provide insights to understand how rocky planets, such as Earth or Mars, formed, said Digital Trends.

Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Witnessed Mysterious Intergalactic Explosion, Prompting Various Theories

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Credit: Skip Bayless

Stop us if youve heard this one before.

Following a particularly bad Dallas Cowboys loss, Undisputed host Skip Bayless ran to his closet, pulled out all of the Cowboys jerseys he could find, stomped into his kitchen, opened up the garbage can, lifted up the jerseys so that he could take one last look at them, and then launched them into said garbage can before storming off.

Bayless, who has long said he doesnt do schtick, trotted out his performative routine Sunday night following Dallass brutal 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Dak Prescotts jersey is the one that ended up in the trash following his three-interception performance in the blowout loss.

Thats it. I am DONE DONE with Dak Prescott. Jerry should be, too.pic.twitter.com/kwQEgabAkW  Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 9, 2023

What happens to the jerseys once theyre in the trash? Well, it seems like they come right back out once Baylesss wife stops filming. As The Big Lead noticed, this comes just nine months after Bayless trashed what appears to be the same Prescott jersey following the teams playoff loss.

Im sorry. Thats it. Ive had it with Dak.pic.twitter.com/1EHRUg8mXe  Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 23, 2023

If not for the appearance of the Micah Parsons jersey, you wouldnt be blamed for thinking he had just re-posted the old video. Skips wearing the same outfit, the kitchen looks exactly the same, and he even huffs and puffs the same pre-planned way in each one.

Perhaps its because Skip has already thrown out all of his blue Cowboys jerseys, as he made sure to trash his Ezekiel Elliott one back in 2019. Presumably, the blue Dak Prescott jersey hes wearing still hangs in his closet.

This was probably an overemotional, overreaction late last night. I just couldn't help myself. pic.twitter.com/u8i8c88pZd  Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 11, 2019

Bayless isnt the only Dak Prescott detractor out there but he does appear to be the only one with an endless supply of his jerseys for the sole purpose of throwing them in the trash over and over again.

Well see if the Cowboys can get back on track following this latest disappointing loss or if that Prescott jersey will be making several more trips to the trash can between now and January.

Just keep the phone ready at all times, Ernestine.

[Skip Bayless, The Big Lead]
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised that the country's next economic package will support AI development.

This innovative initiative comes as the Asian country falls behind in the intensifying artificial intelligence race.

But, will Japan's next economic package really help the country keep up with the likes of the United States, the U.K., and other countries leading AI development?

Japan's Next Economic Package Will Support AI Development, Says Kishida

According to Kyodo News, Kishida announced on Monday, Oct. 9, that they will release a new economic package that will boost the artificial intelligence development of the country.

He shared this upcoming effort at the ongoing Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan. He said that the discussions' outcome will be utilized in the Hiroshima AI Process.

After that, the Japanese government is expected to draw the new economic package around the end of October. The prime minister explained that the economic package will ensure that funds will also facilitate the integration of AI.

These include artificial intelligence incorporations in small and midsize businesses, as well as in medical and other fields essential to Japan.

Another AI effort that the Japanese prime minister announced is the establishment of international guidelines for AI developers.

The Japanese government is doing this with the help of other G-7 leaders, who are also attending the Hiroshima AI Process event.

Read Also: Biden Admin Says NO to AI-Driven Credit Denials; CFPB Orders Lenders to Rely on Customers' Specific Behaviors

Japan Falls Behind in AI Race

The U.S., the U.K., China, and other super countries are all racing to develop their own generative artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

While these nations are making huge AI breakthroughs, CNBC reported that Japan is falling behind in artificial intelligence development.

"Japan's trailing position in the field of generative AI largely stems from its comparative shortcomings in deep learning and more extensive software development," said Kotoba Technology's co-founder, Noriyuki Kojima.

He explained that AIs and MLs need a robust community of software engineers. Unfortunately, Japan is expected to face a deficit of over 780,000 software experts by 2030.

This was shared by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry. As of press time, Japan is ranked 28th out of 63 countries when it comes to AI development and other technological advancements.

Another issue that Japan is facing is the need to be trained to use AI supercomputers, such as Microsoft's Azure and IBM's Vela. These supercomputers are essential to develop LLMs.

This is why Fumio Kishida decided to include AI development enhancements in the next economic package of the country.

Related Article: Canada Privacy Bill's AI Section Fails to Protect People, Claim Experts-Here's What They Suggest

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Some U.S. Republicans claim that China is a bigger threat compared to Russia. Because of this, they believe that Taiwan should receive more military aid instead of giving billions of dollars to Ukraine.

Their warning comes as the Biden Admin officials as both countries are fighting against the invasions of Russia and China.

Is China Bigger Threat Than Russia? US Republicans Say Yes

One of the U.S. Republicans claiming that China is a far bigger threat than Russia is Rep. Mike Collins. He even voted against additional military aid to Ukraine.

Instead, he claims that the Biden Admistration should focus on assisting Taiwan. Collins and other Republican officials consider Ukraine and Taiwan as effective rivals for the limited U.S. military assistance.

But, unlike Republicans who say China is a more serious enemy than Russia, many of Taiwan's supporters believe that assisting Ukraine is as important as helping the self-governed island.

"Ukraine's survival is Taiwan's survival. Ukraine's success is Taiwan's success," said Hsiao Bi-Khim, Taiwan's diplomat in the United States, via Time Magazine.

Meanwhile, some experts said that ever since the U.S. decided to provide military aid to Ukraine, many weapons manufacturers have been able to boost their production. They added that this would also benefit Taiwan in case of a serious clash with the Chinese military.

Although Taiwan wants the U.S. government to provide assistance to Ukraine, the country is cautious when it comes to getting involved in debates regarding funding the Ukraine military.

Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Palestinian Militants Bucher Civilians; US President Joe Biden Offers Support

Americans Consider China as Greatest Threat to US

In July, the Pew Research Center released a study revealing that many Americans consider China as the greatest threat to the United States.

Based on the organization's findings, around 50% of U.S. residents believe that China poses the greatest threat. Meanwhile, 17% of them say Russia is a bigger enemy.

The remaining surveyees believe that the greatest threat to the U.S. is North Korea and the United States itself. Aside from that, the Pew study also analyzed what Americans consider the greatest threat to the national security and economy of the U.S.

When it comes to China, U.S. residents consider the Asian country as the greatest threat to the American economy (78%: a great deal, 20%: a fair amount).

On the other hand, participants believe that Russia is the greatest threat to U.S. national security (66%: a great deal, 31%: a fair amount).

Related Article: Belarus President Claims US Triggers Russia To Use Nuclear Weapons-Should Biden Admin Still Aid Ukraine?

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Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. srael, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) met in an emergency session behind closed doors in response to the conflict between Israel and Gaza but was unable to reach the majority required for a joint statement.

Since Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the blockaded Gaza Strip launched an assault on Israeli towns on Saturday and held hundreds of people hostage, at least 1,100 people have been slain, as per Politico.

UNSC Emergency Session on Israel-Gaza Conflict Fails to Reach Consensus

Israel attacked by declaring war and bombarding densely populated Gaza, killing hundreds. Tor Wennerland, the Middle East peace envoy for the United Nations, addressed the council during its roughly 90-minute meeting.

Diplomats reported that members led by Russia desired a broader emphasis than condemning Hamas. The United Arab Emirates, which promoted relations with Israel as part of a historic agreement for 2020, stated that it anticipated additional UNSC meetings on the crisis.

In addition, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors on Sunday, during which the United States demanded that all 15 members firmly condemn "these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas," but they took no action right then.

Robert Wood, the deputy ambassador for the United States, stated afterward that "a good number of countries" condemned the Hamas attack, but not all council members. According to Aljazeera, he told reporters that they could likely deduce one of them.

Read Also: The World in Shock: Global Leaders React to Gaza's Attack in Southern Israel

Russian, Chinese Ambassadors Reject Claims of Non-Condemnation

The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, told the Associated Press that the Americans attempted to claim during the meeting that Russia does not abhor the attacks, but "that is false." Earlier, as he entered the meeting, the Chinese ambassador, Zhang Jun, expressed a similar view.

He added that Beijing condemns all attacks on civilians, without mentioning Hamas. Wood made it clearly that the United States is focused on condemning Hamas for "this unprovoked invasion and the terrorist attacks," and he stated that Hamas must cease its "violent terrorist activity against the Israeli people."

When asked if it wasn't crucial to resume negotiations on a two-state solution and terminate the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he replied, "There will be a time for that. Currently, we must address Hamas's hostage-taking and violence. and we must address the most important matters first."

The Chinese ambassador stated that the Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, must "be heard." However, Nebenzia stated that no country submitted a statement for the council's consideration.

This could occur in the coming days if disagreements regarding condemning Hamas and decrying civilian fatalities can be resolved, as well as if an agreement can be reached on potential language regarding ending the violence and resuming negotiations.

The ambassador of Malta to the United Nations, Vanessa Frazier, who called for the meeting, stated that she did not know if the council would adopt a statement, but that any condemnation must be directed primarily at Hamas. "Palestinian civilians are also victims in this situation, and Hamas put them in this position," she said, as per the Washington Post reported.

Related Article: Hamas Attack Update: AA, Other Major Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel

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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby speaks as a picture shows Russian rail cars in North Korea during a White House daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. The United States plans to impose additional sanctions against the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, that U.S. officials say has been helping Russia's military in the Ukraine war. The U.S. made public an image dated Nov. 18 that it said showed Russian rail cars traveling between Russia and North Korea.

The revelation follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's trip to Russia, during which he met with President Vladimir Putin and visited vital military installations.

Experts and foreign officials believe Kim's travel was partly motivated by a desire to acquire advanced Russian weapons in exchange for munitions to bolster North Korea's nuclear program, as per to Appnews.

North Korea-Russia Border Traffic Sparks Concerns of Munitions Transfer

Recent satellite imagery reveals a substantial increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, raising concerns about a potential transfer of arms and munitions from North Korea to Russia.

The increase in rail activity has piqued the interest of experts and officials, who suspect North Korea is assisting Russia in restocking its depleted munitions stocks due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

According to a report by Beyond Parallel, a website operated by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the increase in rail traffic along the border may be a sign that North Korea is supplying Russia with munitions.

The report, published on Friday, stated, "Given that Kim and Putin discussed some military exchanges and cooperation at their recent summit, the dramatic increase in rail traffic likely indicates North Korea's supply of arms and munitions to Russia."

The satellite images captured on October 5 reveal a "dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic" at the Tumangang Rail Facility on the North Korean-Russian border. In stark contrast to previous satellite images from the past five years, which showed no more than 20 railcars at the facility, these images depict approximately 73 railcars.

However, the report acknowledged that the extensive use of tarps to conceal shipping crates, containers, and equipment at the Tumangang Rail Facility made it challenging to determine with certainty the nature of the transported cargo, according to VOA News.

Read Also: Walgreens Pharmacies May Be Closed Next Week; Workers Preparing to Strike Over Pay, Benefits

Global Alarm Over North Korea-Russia Ties

This potential arms transfer has raised concerns internationally, with both the United States and South Korea warning of consequences if North Korea and Russia proceed with the reported weapons exchange. Such a transfer would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting all arms commerce with North Korea.

Since last year, the United States has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with ammunition, artillery shells, and missiles. Numerous munitions are believed to be replicas of armaments from the Soviet era.

Officials from South Korea have also asserted that North Korean weapons supplied to Russia have already been employed in Ukraine, further complicating the situation. The suspected armament transfer raises concerns regarding its potential impact on regional stability and the ongoing conflicts involving the involved nations.

It highlights the international community's difficulties enforcing sanctions and averting illicit arms trade, mainly when dealing with secretive governments such as North Korea. Even though the satellite images provide strong indications of increased rail traffic and potential arms shipments, additional concrete evidence is required to corroborate the nature and scope of the loads.

The international community will likely keep a close eye on developments in this region to ensure compliance with existing sanctions and prevent the escalation of conflict or insecurity. In the coming weeks, as experts and government officials continue to analyze the situation, the world will be closely observing how North Korea, Russia, and the international community respond to these worrisome developments along their shared border, SCMP reported.

Related Article: Russia Plans New Naval Base on Black Sea Coast Near Occupied Georfia Region Following Crimea Retreat

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HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 23: A San Mateo County sheriff deputy pulls police tape across the entrance to a family reunification center following a mass shooting on January 23, 2023 in Half Moon Bay, California. Seven people were killed at two separate farm locations that were only a few miles apart in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon. The suspect, Chunli Zhao, was taken into custody a few hours later without incident.

Recent crimes involving teenagers and gang violence in New York have sparked a growing concern among citizens.

In a tragic incident that unfolded on Friday, a 13-year-old boy lost his life after being fatally stabbed on an MTA bus in Staten Island.

Rampant Crimes, Gang Violence in New York

In a tragic turn of events, the young victim, whose aspirations were set on a promising future, has been abruptly cut short. The devastating news has sent shockwaves through the neighborhood as loved ones grapple with the loss of a young life.

Ular has found himself in close collaboration with an organization committed to providing him with guidance and support, ensuring that he stays away from the dangers of the streets.

In a dramatic turn of events, the streets ultimately apprehended him. In a heartfelt statement, Mike Perry, a member of the esteemed mentorship program True 2 Life, expressed the profound devastation experienced by their organization and the individuals affected by an undisclosed loss.

The individual disclosed that he, personally, is a survivor of street violence. This work remains a constant endeavor day after day. In an important approach, young people are being mentored without the need for a tragedy, as reported by our sources.

In a statement, Perry expressed that this endeavor is the culmination of their life's work. Perry, a compassionate individual, expressed his unwavering commitment to assisting Ular, as per CBS News.

Moreover, law enforcement officials have reported that on Friday, a 14-year-old suspect tragically took Perry's life by inflicting a fatal stab wound to his chest while they were aboard a bus.

According to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Cho, it is believed that this motive may once again be gang-related. The use of the word "again" has caught the attention of many, as Ular's demise is not the sole occurrence that is causing worry.

Investigators have revealed that a distressing incident unfolded mere hours prior to the Staten Island stabbing. According to reports, a 17-year-old girl found herself caught in a harrowing episode of gunfire in the borough of Brooklyn.

In a shocking incident near a public school, a bullet struck a woman's ankle during a shooting believed to be gang-related. Schools Chancellor David Banks emphasized the ongoing nature of the issues that have been identified, stating that they persist beyond the confines of the school.

As a result, he stressed the necessity of maintaining an elevated level of communication with the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

In the ongoing battle against street violence, the city is steadfastly moving forward, taking measured steps to address this pressing issue.

According to sources, a stunning revelation has stated that not everyone will be obtained. In a recent statement, Perry warned that individuals may be lost.

In a statement, he expressed that the act of saving one child at a time is deemed worthy of every ounce of effort expended.

Read Also: US Calls for Other Nations To Condemn Hamas Attacks as Security Council Remains Silent

Weekend Crimes in New York

On Sunday, four suspects remained at large in relation to the alleged September robbery of a 72-year-old New York man who suffered a broken mandible and other injuries. Police describe it as a possible hate crime.

Authorities have not made any arrests since the September 15 incident in Chelsea, Manhattan's West Village, where the victim was strolling alone around 10:15 p.m. near West 17th Street and Ninth Avenue.

Per Yahoo, police said the group of assailants could be heard using anti-gay obscenities before beating the defenseless victim and leaving him with wounds and injuries before fleeing the scene.

The victim was treated for his injuries at the hospital and was anticipated to recover. The New York Police Department revealed the crime for the first time on Sunday, releasing photographs of the suspects in the hopes that the public will assist in identifying them.

The images appear to have been captured by a surveillance camera and depict four adolescent males traveling through what appears to be the building's foyer.

However, a historically turbulent Brooklyn neighborhood in which police have clamped down on quality-of-life infractions has witnessed a significant decrease in crime.

In the past six weeks, no homicides have been reported in the 73rd Precinct of Brownsville.

And no shootings had been reported there during the same time period, police say, until early Friday morning, when two men and a woman were shot in a corner of the Crown Heights precinct, according to NY News Daily.

Police urged anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-8477 or submit an online tip. Tips can also be submitted via the @NYPDTips Twitter page.

Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified

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On Sunday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over Times Square in New York City, just one day after the terrorist organization Hamas brutally attacked Israel, killing hundreds of civilians.

Infuriated counter protesters waving Israeli flags clashed with 300 enraged placard-carrying protestors, one of whom was observed on the front line carrying a swastika, as per to Daily Mail.

Tensions Escalate Amidst Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

After a large gathering of Palestinian supporters in Times Square, there was a confrontation between opposing demonstrators near the United Nations headquarters in New York City. In the meantime, American Palestinians demonstrated in front of the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago.

The incursion coincided with Simchat Torah celebrations, a significant Jewish holiday, prompting widespread condemnation from Jewish communities and organizations. A Jewish community congregated at Congregation Sherith Israel, one of the oldest congregations in the United States, in San Francisco.

Some students from Israel's Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, which is 40 kilometers from Gaza, spent a week in San Francisco as part of a Hillel organization delegation. They showed a desire to return home and assist in any way possible. Yuval Appleboim, 26 years old, revealed to USA Today that his family resides less than 20 miles from Gaza.

Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support

Protests Spur Condemnation from NYC Leaders

On Saturday, supporters of Palestine congregated in Times Square for a demonstration that was condemned by both the mayor and the governor. Adams deemed it repulsive, while Hochul deemed it morally unacceptable.

Those rallying in support of Israel condemned the attacks conducted by Hamas over the weekend. They expressed concern for their relatives and those from other nations who are ensnared in the violence.

Eventually, the rallies shifted to Second Avenue. Barricades and a large number of NYPD officers were deployed to prevent violence. Fadi Attan, a supporter of Palestine, stated, "Peace cannot exist without human equality and justice for all."

Sami Steigmann survived the Holocaust. "In this century, the twenty-first century, such hatred has no place. We have distinctions. "The only way we can work and live together is if both sides desire peace," said Steigmann.

At a community vigil in Bennett Park, Washington Heights, the anguish was audible in every voice and visible on every countenance. Rep. Adriano Espaillat stated, "We stand here in solidarity with the state of Israel and to denounce terrorism," adding that he will be in Washington on Tuesday to join President Joe Biden in his unwavering support of Israel.

Mark Levine, borough president of Manhattan, asked the audience, "How many of you currently have a friend or loved one in Israel?" CBS News reported.

The number of individuals who raised their hands indicated how many people in New York are impacted by a surprise and barbaric Hamas attack that disrupted a peaceful holiday.

Related Article: The World in Shock: Global Leaders React to Gaza's Attack in Southern Israel

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(Photo : Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 05: Police tape is pictured near the scene of the fatal fire in the Fairmount neighborhood on January 5, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A fire killed 13 people, including seven children, in a Philadelphia rowhouse on Wednesday morning, officials said.

State police report that a 22-year-old male was killed and eight others were injured early Sunday morning in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, following a mass shooting at a party.

At 12:35 a.m., the gunfire erupted. A private event was being held at a community center in White Township, according to a release from the Pennsylvania State Police.

IUP Homecoming Weekend Shooting

The deceased individual has been identified as a 22-year-old male from Pittsburgh. An 18-year-old from Chicago is in critical condition in the hospital, along with five other injured individuals, as per CNN.

In addition to the 18-year-old victim from Chicago, seven others between the ages of 18 and 23 were injured, one from Florida and the rest from Pennsylvania. At least two of the nine individuals shot, according to an IUP spokesperson, were students.

People leaving the gunfire on Sunday morning left their shoes strewn across the ground just outside the center. Ellen Ober fought back emotions as she recalled what transpired when shots were fired mere feet from her residence, which she shares with her husband Robert Miller. They heard roughly twenty gunfire.

"It's too scary and too much," said Ober. "Bang, bang, bang, repeatedly. It was more than one or two."

Miller glanced out the window and observed people fleeing the center. The entire parking lot was packed with people jogging.

"Everyone was running down there and out there, and then out the back here," Miller said.

They trampled one another, with some leaving by the center's terrace while tearing down a portion of the fence. It was IUP's homecoming weekend, but the circumstances surrounding the celebration are ambiguous. The alert system at IUP instructed students to remain in a secure location until 6:40 a.m. A spokesperson for IUP told KDKA that the institution did not sponsor the event, but students were present.

"There were young people there and they shouldn't been on the sidewalk bleeding," Ober remarked, according to CBS News.

Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support

Chevy Chase Community Center: A Sanctuary of Inclusivity and Community Devotion

The Chevy Chase Community Center was constructed in 1971 by a group founded in 1969 to combat destitution and provide assistance to those in need, according to the organization's website.

The center's stated mission is to "cultivate, nurture, and maintain a peaceful and inclusive culture that brings the community together through positivity, diversity, inclusion, education, nutrition, and love."

On the center's Facebook page, executive director Brandi Ports stated that officials are "praying for everyone involved" and that the center would be closed until further notice.

"Please be in prayer for those involved, our community, and our staff and volunteers," she pleaded.

Lillian Clemons, a local resident and former director of the center, told the Tribune-Review that her brother is among the many individuals who receive meals there. She believes that the center should not be rented out during "crazy weekends" such as homecoming.

Per The Washington Post, she stated, "This was an act of community devotion. This is why we require it, for the people."

Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified

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(Photo: by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) Packs of various condoms stand on a shelf of a CVS store in Washington, DC, on February 23, 2022. - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first condom for use during anal intercourse, in what was hailed as a victory for sexual health by experts.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, vetoed a bill on Sunday that would have provided free condoms to all public high school students, claiming it was too expensive for a state with a more than $30 billion budget deficit.

According to the California Department of Education, there were more than 4,000 high schools serving about 1.9 million high school students in California last year.

Before lawmakers adjourned last month, the Democratic-controlled state Legislature of California passed hundreds of bills.

Since then, Newsom has been signing and vetoing laws, including rejecting on Saturday legislation to outlaw caste-based discrimination, set a price cap on insulin, and decriminalize the use and possession of various hallucinogens, according to The Associated Press.

The law would have mandated that condoms be made freely available to all pupils in all public schools that offer grades nine through twelve. It would have mandated that condoms be made available as part of instructional or public health initiatives at public schools serving students in grades 7 through 12.

Additionally, refusing to sell condoms to minors would have been against the law for merchants.

The bill's author, Los Angeles-based state senator Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat, claimed it would have assisted "youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from (sexually transmitted infections), while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex."

Read also: Japan Approves Trial of Emergency Contraceptives for Over-the-Counter Sales

Costly and Unnecessary?

However, he claimed this bill was one of several measures lawmakers enacted this year that, when combined together, will add $19 billion in spending to the state budget.

Newsom said initiatives improving access to condoms are "important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health."

Conservative groups, such as the California Policy Council, expressed worry over the law, claiming that "handing out free condoms perpetuates" a hook-up culture in which "sex is meaningless and done for fun with multiple partners."

Since lawmakers passed the California Healthy Youth Act in 2016, which established comprehensive sexual education and HIV prevention instruction, the topic of sexual education in California schools has been controversial.

The revised curriculum included lessons on sex trafficking, HIV prevention nutrition, alcohol usage, and skin care, as well as gender-inclusive terminology and other comprehensive topics.

States in the U.S. each have their unique sex education policies and methods.

According to National Institutes of Health research, just 50% of adolescents will learn about contraception in school before they have their first sexual experience. Only 20 states mandate condom or contraceptive information.

A 2018 research on teen pregnancy prevention found that 18 states mandate classes encouraging students to have sex only after getting married, while 27 states have curricula that emphasize abstinence.

Related article: 'Out of Control' STD Cases Prompt Health Officials To Call for New Prevention, Treatment Efforts

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(Photo: MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AFP via Getty Images) A Great Wall 236 submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, billed by Chinese state media as a new type of conventional submarine, participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on April 23, 2019.

The production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines by China is likely to test rising U.S. and international efforts to track them for the first time, escalating the submarine arms race.

According to analysts and regional defense attaches, there is growing evidence that China will be able to operate its Type 096 ballistic missile submarine by the end of the decade thanks in part to technological advances from Russia.

During a conference in May in the U.S., research was discussed, as reported by Reuters.

New Vessels are Harder to Monitor

The new vessels will be far more difficult to monitor, according to research conducted by the China Maritime Studies Institute of the Naval War College and released in August. The opinions of seven analysts and three military attaches based in Asia support that judgment.

One of the main reasons for the U.S.'s expanded deployments and contingency preparation by the US Navy and other armed forces in the Indo-Pacific region is the covert effort to follow China's nuclear-powered and -armed ballistic missile submarines, known as SSBNs. When Type 096s are put into service, that drive is anticipated to intensify.

The Pentagon reported in November that the Chinese navy regularly conducts fully armed nuclear deterrence patrols from its older Type 094 boats out of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, simulating patrols conducted for years by the United States, Britain, Russia, and France.

However, the Type 094s are thought to be relatively noisy, which is a big disadvantage for military submarines as they are equipped with China's most sophisticated submarine-launched JL-3 missiles.

In terms of stealth, sensors, and armaments, the Type 096 submarine will be comparable to modern Russian submarines, according to the study. It stated that the U.S. and its partners in the Indo-Pacific will be affected by the capability jump in "profound" ways.

The report examines more than 50 years of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy's frequently glacial nuclear submarine development and is based in part on Chinese military periodicals, internal speeches by senior PLA leaders, and patent data.

Read also: Taiwan Unveils First Homegrown Submarine in Defense Milestone To Bolster Defense Against China

A Lot Bigger Than the Type 094?

It includes satellite images of the pressure hull construction for a big submarine obtained in November at China's brand-new Huludao shipyard. As indicated in the Pentagon's yearly briefings on China's military, this puts the building on track to have the boats operational by 2030.

The study also describes potential innovations based on "imitative innovation" of Russian technology, such as pump-jet propulsion and interior quieting systems.

The ship is probably going to be a lot bigger than the Type 094, which will enable it to have an inside "raft" built on intricate rubber supports to quieten other sounds, comparable to Russian designs.

Related article: US Reconstructs Cold War Submarine Program as China Bolsters Navy

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10/08/2023 Herat, Afghanistan. Afghans excavate the ruins of demolished buildings to recover bodies after the massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits the city of Herat.

Afghan villagers and volunteers dug for survivors of a series of fatal earthquakes as aid began to trickle into the region.

Volunteers in vehicles stocked with food, tents, and blankets flocked to hard-to-reach areas 30km (19 miles) northwest of Herat city, the capital of the same-named province, struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake Saturday and eight powerful aftershocks, as per SCMP.

Volunteers Rally to Aid Earthquake-Stricken Afghanistan

Volunteers arrived in trucks carrying essential supplies such as food, tents, and blankets, and they rapidly converged on remote areas that were incredibly inaccessible due to the devastation. In addition to delivering aid, these volunteers brought shovels to aid in the arduous process of excavating through the debris of destroyed villages in search of survivors.

Khalid, a 32-year-old volunteer in the Zenda Jan district, characterized the rescue efforts as follows: "Many people have traveled from distant districts to help rescue victims. Everyone scours for bodies everywhere; we do not know if others are beneath the rubble."

Local and national authorities have given contradictory accounts of the casualties. The Taliban administration reported that the earthquakes killed at least 2,400 persons and injured many more.

In contrast, the United Nations Humanitarian Office reported 1,023 deaths, 1,663 reported injuries, and more than 500 people still missing. The World Health Organization reports that over 11,000 people in 1,655 families have been afflicted.

As confined survivors remain inaccessible, the International Rescue Committee warns that a dearth of rescue equipment could result in a higher death toll.

Salma Ben Aissa, the committee's country director for Afghanistan, voiced concern, stating, "There is a lack of disaster management capacity, and the limited capacity that exists cannot encompass the population on the ground. The number of fatalities is increasing hourly."

A pressing issue is the absence of medical infrastructure to heal those injured by the earthquake, resulting in additional deaths. The harsh living conditions, including insufficient access to food, shelter, and pure water, increase the health hazards for the affected communities, according to EuroNews.

Read Also: Campi Flegrei: Italian Authorities Plan to Evacuate Naples as Volcanic Earthquakes Increase

Humanitarian Organizations Respond to Afghanistan's Earthquake Crisis

Numerous humanitarian organizations have mobilized their resources in response to the crisis. The International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders have erected medical pavilions and dispatched healthcare teams to provide injured calamity victims with urgently required medical care.

UNICEF has dispatched winter apparel, blankets, and tarpaulins to assist people in coping with the frigid weather. Despite these efforts, the extent of the devastation is still enormous. The country director for Afghanistan at Save the Children, Arshad Malik, characterized the situation as a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a severe food shortage among children.

He demanded an immediate influx of international aid and support. Neighboring Pakistan has contacted Afghan authorities to evaluate their immediate requirements and offer assistance.

Afghanistan, already one of the poorest nations in Asia, confronts daunting challenges in the aftermath of the earthquakes, exacerbated by decades of conflict and international isolation. The Taliban's takeover in August of 2021 further complicated the humanitarian situation as aid organizations struggled to respond effectively.

The earthquakes have exacerbated the country's problems, highlighting the need for international assistance. Although some countries have offered aid, additional international assistance is required to address Afghanistan's immediate and long-term challenges after this disaster, CNN News reported.

Related Article: Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 2,000 After Villages Destroyed, Civilians Buried

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(Photo : Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Kenzo)

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 23: Ye and Julia Fox attend the Kenzo Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 23, 2022 in Paris, France.

Julia Fox felt like a "little puppet" during the time was in a relationship with Kanye West, a statement made as the controversial rapper's "rules" for the newlywed couple have been "revealed".

Beginning in 2022, Julia Fox, age 33, had a brief relationship with Kanye West, a period she will candidly discuss in her forthcoming memoir, 'Down the Drain,' as per to Mirror.

Julia Fox's Journey with Kanye West

Despite their alleged "instant connection," she reveals in her memoir that she and Kanye West never had a carnal relationship. In one jaw-dropping passage from Fox's memoir, West makes an unexpected offer: "I'll get you a boob job if you want."

While others might have enthusiastically accepted such an offer, Fox declined. Their relationship began with a flourish on New Year's Eve in Miami in 2021 and proceeded to shine throughout Paris Fashion Week.

However, it was short-lived and terminated following West's public appeal to reunite with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. Despite their romantic separation,Fox and West continue to maintain close ties, with a source affirming that they are "good friends and collaborators."

The surprising absence of romance details regarding her relationship with West enhances the intrigue of Fox's memoir. In a recent revelation, she told The New York Times, "It wasn't really about that" about their intimate relationship.

In her memoir, Julia Fox has cautioned those anticipating juicy details about Kanye West to temper their expectations. She revealed to E! News that West's presence in her book encompasses only six pages, indicating that she avoided drama and lingering negativity by treading gingerly on the subject.

Julia Fox has been candid about the reasons for their separation since their split. She identified blatant warning signs and acknowledged West's problems. In an interview with ES Magazine, she candidly confessed, "I thought I could be his savior, but that was just my delusion."

Read Also: Sophie Turner Breaks Her Silence Amid Divorce With Joe Jonas, Reunites With Taylor Swift

Julia Fox Did Not Sign NDA

Despite their separation, she continued to venerate West's artistic aptitude and refused to let his "bad moments" define him. Fox described her straightforward approach to writing her memoir about her time with West.

Although she did not execute a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), she stated, "On principle, I will not sign a f****** NDA. I have never done so, nor will I ever do so, although she may contemplate it for professional opportunities."

Fox also alluded to potential ramifications deriving from her association with the controversial celebrity, who faced censure and brand cancellations in response to his anti-Semitic remarks.

She said, "I know I've turned down certain opportunities because of my relationship with Kanye. It's somewhat bizarre."

Julia Fox emphasized that despite the media attention surrounding her relationship with West, the relationship was not as significant as it appeared to outsiders. She said, "It wasn't that big of a deal, but other people made it such a big deal."

Since breaking up with West, Fox has taken a hiatus from dating and openly confessed she no longer sees the point. Her primary concern is her 2-year-old son, Valentino, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Peter Artemiev.

"All the validation I could ever receive comes from my son - the affection, the proximity, and the intimacy. We share a bed at night. I possess all of it. She revealed that she would not want anyone to step in and steal her attention or time away from her son".

The forthcoming publication of Julia Fox's "Down the Drain" memoir promises readers a forthright look at her whirlwind romance with Kanye West and life beyond the media spotlight, MENZ MAG Reported.

Related Article: Celebrities React to Gaza's Attack on Israel

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The United Auto Workers (UAW) said that union members at Volvo Group subsidiary Mack Trucks went on strike on Monday morning, October 9, after decisively rejecting a proposed five-year contract deal.

The UAW said that 4,000 employees in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland voted against the proposal.

This year, unions in the auto, shipping, and healthcare sectors have utilized labor strikes to catch employers off guard during contract negotiations. Statistics reveal that the majority of Americans agree with the unions' demands.

Expanded UAW Strikes

As of September 15, the UAW strike against the Detroit Three automakers has been ongoing. There are around 25,000 striking UAW members at General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler parent Stellantis.

In a report by Reuters, the intended Mack contract would have given workers a 19% raise, a $3,500 ratification bonus, better retirement benefits, more vacation time, and a shorter time to reach their maximum salary.

Late on Sunday, October 8, UAW President Shawn Fain remarked, "I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it."

After Mack employees rejected the offer, the UAW served a strike notice on the corporation, citing "many topics" as the reason for the upcoming walkout. These topics include pay raises, cost-of-living adjustments, job security, and promotions.

See Also: President Joe Biden Visits UAW Picket Line in Michigan, Showing Support for Striking Workers

'Surprised and Disappointed'

Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy expressed surprise and disappointment at the UAW's decision to strike, claiming that it was needless. "We clearly demonstrated our commitment to good faith bargaining by arriving at a tentative agreement that was endorsed by both the International UAW and the UAW Mack Truck Council."

The UAW said that it will get back in touch with Mack to schedule new negotiation dates. Mack said it was dedicated to the collective bargaining process and was still optimistic a deal could be reached.

In a letter to Mack, the UAW stated, "UAW members and workers across the economy are mobilizing to demand their fair share. The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but clearly, we are not there yet."

The Mack truck company was acquired by Volvo in the year 2000, and is now one of the leading producers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in North America. According to Roy, Mack is a member of the only heavy-truck manufacturing company that builds its vehicles and engines entirely in the USA.

With negotiations progressing, including Ford increasing its proposed salary raise to 23% until early 2028, union president Fain said last week that the Detroit Three strikes would not be expanded. Workers might see wage rises of nearly 30% after suggested cost-of-living adjustments are factored in, according to those with knowledge of the idea.

See Also: UAW's Next Step is the 'More Nuclear Option,' Claims Top Analyst

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Amazon, anticipating a surge in demand just before Christmas, plans to increase compensation for its operations employees in the United Kingdom and hire an additional 15,000 individuals.

Preparations Ahead of Holidays

Frontline operations employees--those who select, pack, store, and transport products in the business' warehouses--will get a basic pay raise to between 11.80 ($14.39) and 12.50 (depending on region) per hour, the company said on Monday, October 9. The raise goes into effect on October 15 for all employees, whether they are full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal.

Amazon has promised to raise its employees' hourly wage to between 12.30 ($15.01) and 13 ($15.87) by April 2024. This range will depend on the employee's area.

While this is going on, Amazon has announced that it will be hiring over 15,000 new seasonal employees at its various locations around the UK. Apparently, this implies a pay investment of $170 million for the company.

The e-commerce firm also notes that this will result in a 20% boost in basic pay for its UK businesses in only two years and a 50% increase since 2018.

John Boumphrey, Amazon's country manager in the UK, stated, "We have some of the most talented colleagues around, and we're proud to offer them competitive wages and benefits, as well as fantastic opportunities for career development, all in a safe and modern work environment."

However, according to CNBC, the GMB Union issued a statement on Monday saying the news will provide "little comfort" to Amazon employees who already endure low wages, hazardous working conditions, and constant monitoring of their every move.

Rachel Fagan, a GMB organizer, said in a statement released, "Amazon has spent millions fighting their own workers over union rights and fair pay. GMB members have forced a pay rise from one of the world's most powerful corporations - but Amazon can and must do better."

See Also: Amazon Bets Big on AI With $4 Billion Investment in Anthropic

To Inspire Global Unionization Wave

Amazon is attempting to satisfy warehouse employees who have been protesting about low pay and unsafe working conditions.

Workers at Amazon's fulfillment facility in Coventry organized the first lawful UK walkout at the firm in January. Together with GMB Union, they put in a proposal to have the company's first union in the UK be recognized by the law. This comes at a time when unionization efforts among Amazon employees are on the rise.

The first organized strike in the UK occurred in January at an Amazon facility in the city of Coventry. Employees feel they have not gotten sufficient compensation increases. The workers have asked for union status so that they may all negotiate pay with Amazon.

However, earlier this year, the unionization efforts of Amazon employees were given a setback when an independent arbitration commission agreed with Amazon and concluded that the workers lacked the necessary support to attain union status.

See Also: Amazon's Cost-Cutting Efforts Include Removal of In-House Private Label Brands

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Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) has revealed that Ukrainian special forces made three failed attempts so far to liberate the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is currently occupied by Russian forces.

GUR Chief Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told Ukrainian news outlet NV on Sunday (October 8) that Kyiv's special operation teams carried out the liberation missions, with the first taking place in August 2022.

The plant - the largest in Europe - has been under Russian control since its invasion of Ukraine began, making it one of the first sites seized by Russian forces. Its six reactors are currently in shutdown mode and its one remaining power line is supplying the electricity needed to prevent a reactor meltdown, Newsweek reported.

When the plant was seized by the Russians in March 2022, concerns were rampant about a potential nuclear catastrophe similar to what happened in Chernobyl in 1986, especially with the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam last June, which drained the reservoir that provided water to cool its reactors.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in March that holding a nuclear power plant "hostage" for over a year was "surely the worst thing that has ever happened in the history of European or worldwide nuclear power."

Read Also: North Korea- Russia Rail Traffic Suggests Arms Deal to Moscow as Carriages More Than Triple

Budanov: ZNPP Missions Crucial in Crimea Landings

Ukrainian forces were forced to retreat during an August 2022 attempt to create a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River that would have paved the way to liberate the plant, Budanov said. Two other attempts were made, but both failed.

"But as the GUR gained experience in landing operations, the Russians in the area became more and more prepared," he added. "And at the moment of the third landing operation, they deployed heavy military hardware, including tanks."

Despite this, Budanov said the operation provided practical skills for everyone involved in the three operations on how to operate on the water, which proved to be effective in Ukraine's latest incursion in Crimea.

An estimated 500 to 600 Russian troops are stationed at the plant.

Related Article: Is China Bigger Threat Than Russia? US Republicans Say Yes

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.son of slain US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of assassinated US President John F. Kennedyannounced on Monday (October 9) that he would run as an independent candidate in the 2024 US election.

A long-time Democrat, as the Kennedys and Fitzgeralds were for generations, RFK Jr. has since distanced himself from the party of his father and uncle, especially in terms of environmental activism and his anti-vaccine stance during the pandemic, the Associated Press reported.

Join Me For A Historic Announcement https://t.co/O8a3TDaPus  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) October 9, 2023

A Breath of Fresh Air From the Red-Blue Dichotomy

Speaking in Philadelphia's Independence Mall, where the US's founding documents were adopted, Kennedy stated there was a "rising tide of discontent" in the country, which prompted him to make a "new Declaration of Independence" from corporations, the media, "cynical elites," and the two major parties - the Republicans and the Democrats.

"I've come here today to declare our independence from the tyranny of corruption which robs us of affordable lives, our belief in the future, and our respect for each other," he said. "But to do that I must first declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic Party and from all other political parties."

Supporters have gathered to see Kennedy speak while chanting "RFK all the way," and flashing campaign signs with the tentative slogan "Declare your independence."

They said they did not identify as Democrat or Republican and viewed Kennedy as a truth-teller and a breath of fresh air.

Read Also: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Back on Instagram After Launch of Presidential Bid; Did Jack Dorsey Endorsed Him?

Both Major Parties Find RFK Jr.'s Bid a Nuisance

Kennedy has been speculated as the candidate that would spoil the campaigns of both US President Joe Biden (D) and former president Donald Trump (R) - both of whom are vying for a second term in office - which he confirmed as his intention.

The Republicans accused Kennedy of supporting conspiracy theories about COVID-19 or "stolen election" claims in the 2000 and 2004 elections which put George W. Bush in the White House.

On the other hand, the Democratic National Committee dismissed Kennedy's primary campaign as unserious.

In response, Kennedy spent weeks accusing the DNC of "rigging" the party's primary against him and threatening that he might need to consider alternatives.

"If they jam me, I'm going to look at every option," he said at a New Hampshire barbecue last September.

Kennedy's Family Divided Over RFK, Jr.

Four of Kennedy's 10 siblings put out a joint statement denouncing their brother's candidacy, saying they were saddened by his announcement.

"The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country," it read. "Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision, or judgment."

However, Politico reported that RFK Jr.'s children were supportive of their father's bid.

The announcement came less than a week after progressive activist Cornel West abandoned his Green Party bid in favor of an independent White House candidate, while the centrist group No Labels was actively securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named bid.

RFK Jr. Explains His Decision to Run as Independent

At the same time as the symbolic speech in Philadelphia, Newsweek published Kennedy's opinion piece about the reason why he ran an independent White House bid.

"Today, I declared my independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government to milk us for profit," he wrote. "I declared my independence from these corrupting powers because they are incompatible with the inalienable rights that our original Declaration of Independence invoked in 1776: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Related Article: RFK Jr. Claims Media Attacks Him More Than Trump, But Still Confident With His Ratings

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The Biden Administration is now surging weapons to Israel as the conflict in the Middle East worsens. A senior Pentagon official confirmed the news on Monday, October 9.

The defense leader said that the US government already sent planes carrying munitions to the Middle Eastern country. Aside from this, the United States is also sending out air defenses to Israel.

Biden Admin Surges Weapons to Israel

Politico reported that the US government answered the urgent requests of Israeli officials, asking for military aid from the Biden Administration.

"Planes have already taken off," said the senior Pentagon official, who could share sensitive information since the government granted him anonymity.

Fox News reported that the warfare weapons aid sent by the US government was announced after 11 American citizens were reportedly killed in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

But, US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said that if the US wants to ensure that Israel and Ukraine receive the munitions and other weapons they need, Congress must pass more funding.

"The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel. But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed," she explained.

Wormuth added that this is essential if the US wants to increase its capacity to expand weapons production and pay for the munitions sent to Israel and Ukraine.

However, Christine clarified that the Biden Administration is still in the early stages of analyzing whether the US can provide what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) needs.

Read Also: Israel Shekel Declines Despite Central Bank's Commitment to Stabilize Currency Amid Conflict With Hamas

US DOD Making Efforts to Help Israel

The US Department of Defense (DOD) works across its enterprise, such as the US Central Command. The defense department is trying to determine the weapons in the US inventory that can be made available to Israel as soon as possible.

The senior Pentagon official said that DOD leaders are in constant, ongoing contact with their Israeli counterparts to identify what the Middle Eastern country needs as the war worsens.

As of writing, the Pentagon said they are not asking Congress for additional aid for Israel. Instead, they are utilizing their existing funds and getting help from authorities to send military assistance to the IDF.

Related Article: US Vs. Hamas: Biden Admin Sends Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier to Israel

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(Photo : Saeed KHAN / AFP) (SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Peruvian police successfully rescued more than 40 Malaysian nationals who were the victims of a syndicate trying to commit online fraud.

Peruvian police rescued at least 40 Malaysians who were being trafficked to commit online fraud organized by a syndicate.

The Malaysian nationals were allegedly forced to participate in what officials called the "Macau scam," where they called companies in Malaysia and Taiwan to demand money while posing as banks, law enforcement personnel, or justice officials.

Peru Rescues Malaysian Victims of Macau Scam

Malaysia's foreign ministry noted that Peruvian police discovered the 43 Malaysian nationals after a raid on a house in La Molina in the capital of Lima on Oct. 7. The ministry added that representatives from its embassy had visited the nationals and found them in good health.

The Peruvian police who rescued the Malaysians also arrested six Taiwanese and two Peruvians during the raid. In a statement, officials said all victims have been investigated and will be repatriated to Malaysia soon.

Additionally, activists and government officials said many Malaysians have been lured by lucrative job offers in Southeast Asian nations, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. However, they end up being made to defraud people online with internet romances and cryptocurrency schemes, as per The Guardian.

The captives allegedly entered Peru in September after being lured via social networks with the promises of work in casinos in the region's capital, Lima. They told investigators they were taken to Amsterdam in the Netherlands before being transported to Peru.

Police said that after the Malaysian nationals arrived in Peru, members of a Taiwanese crime group called Red Dragon took away their passports and cut them off from communicating with relatives. A police operation was conducted after two women managed to escape and alert authorities of the situation.

Read Also: North Korea- Russia Rail Traffic Suggests Arms Deal to Moscow as Carriages More Than Triple

Scam Companies

Investigators seized over $10,000, dozens of mobile phones, and bank cards from the house where the Malaysian nationals were being held. According to Fox News, despite the arrests, officials provided no further details on how the syndicate lured the Malaysians or how they were transported to Peru.

In a similar incident, the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organization (MHO) provided crucial intelligence to the Cambodian police, successfully rescuing a stranded Malaysian victim trapped in a job scam. Furthermore, they were able to dismantle a notorious scam syndicate compound located in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Local law enforcement personnel also managed to arrest three Chinese nationals, including the supposed ringleader, and they liberated more than 200 people who were subjected to forced labor within the scam company.

The MHO representative, Azirul Syafiq, accompanied a Malaysian victim on Oct. 7 on their journey back to Kuala Lumpur International Airport's second terminal. The development marked the end of a two-month struggle that unfolded in the depths of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Syafiq unveiled during a press conference held at the airport the details of how MHO established contact with the victim, gathering invaluable information about the illicit operations of the scam company that took them in and forced them to work against their will, said the Khmer Times.

Related Article: 9 US Nationals in Israel Confirmed Dead in Hamas Attack, Washington Officials Say

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Hackers allegedly affiliated with the Vietnamese government supposedly tried to plant spyware on the mobile devices of United States politicians.

Hackers affiliated with the Vietnamese government allegedly tried to plant spyware on mobile devices belonging to United States politicians, including members of Congress, during negotiations that led to the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The allegation comes after an analysis from several major news organizations detailing a wide-ranging phishing scheme that was carried out on platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Its targets included the Republican and Democratic chairs of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, respectively.

Vietnam's Alleged Hacking Attempt

The efforts appeared to have been engineered towards information-gathering as Vietnam's government was involved in discussions with the US that would later result in an agreement to strengthen economic ties between Washington and Hanoi that sought to weaken China's influence in the region.

There was no evidence that any individuals targeted by the malicious links fell victim to the attack. The links would direct users to a webpage upon which their device would download a sophisticated spyware program, as per Independent.

The targeted individuals were spammed with the links in replies to tweets on the social media platform. However, none of those identified in reports even reported seeing the links, and X's internal software hides suspicious replies to some extent. But journalists who investigated the anonymous account behind the postings were able to find them easily enough.

Experts at Google initially noticed the malicious link campaign and contacted the University of Toronto-based digital threat researchers at Citizen Lab. After examining the attempted hacks, those researchers determined that the campaign was likely being carried out by an inexperienced hacking group.

Additionally, the US State Department did not confirm knowledge of the hack. Still, it somewhat cryptically noted that the agreement signed by President Joe Biden with the Vietnamese government would provide a forum to raise such issues.

Read Also: Ukraine's Intel Chief: 3 Failed Attempts Made to Liberate Zaporizhzhia Plant

Targeting US Politicians

The investigation into the situation found that Rep. Michael McCaul and Sens. John Hoeven, Chris Murphy, and Gary Peters were all tagged in posts earlier this year that featured malicious links to install Predator, which is a spyware that is similar to Pegasus, according to The Hill.

McCaul was allegedly targeted in the supposed hacking attempt in a reply to a tweet from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hoeven was supposedly targeted in a reply to a post from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen about the senator's visit.

The chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Peters, and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Murphy, were both tagged in a reply to a tweet from an Albanian politician regarding their visit to the Balkan nation.

The Predator spyware is a powerful and hard-to-detect surveillance program that can turn on the microphones and cameras of Apple iPhones and devices that run on Google's Android software. It can also retrieve all files and read private messages even when they are end-to-end encrypted.

The program is distributed by an evolving network that includes the European company Intellexa and a related firm, Cytrox. The two of these are those that the US Commerce Department in July added to its "Entity List," which is a designation that requires US businesses to seek a license before doing business with them, said the Washington Post.

Related Article: Hamas Militants Threaten To Executive Hostages on Live Broadcasts as Israel-Palestine Conflict Escalates

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Susan Johnson has lived in Flagstaff for over 30 years and loves to delve into her adopted hometowns past. She has written two books for the History Press, Haunted Flagstaff and Flagstaffs Walkup Family Murders, and, with her son Nick, manages Freaky Foot Tours. Youll find her hiking the trails with her corgi, Shimmer.

All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun.
On Tuesday, the UN reported that only a third of countries include sexual and reproductive health in their national plans, which worsens the climate crisis.

Most countries do not recognize that the climate crisis significantly affects women, which calls for more policies focusing on women.

Violence-Free Environment for Women

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Queen Mary University of London, out of the 119 countries, only 38 have access to contraception maternal and newborn health services, while 15 fight against violence.

Angela Baschieri, an adviser on population and development for UNFPA, said, "If we look at the plan of action for women and girls, national plans show there is more work that could be done."

"We know climate change disproportionately affects women and is not gender neutral, so there is a need to address those gaps and impacts," Baschieri added.

Paraguay, Seychelles, and Benin are already starting to take action to implement more policies for women. They focused on providing climate-resilient health systems for women to give birth safely and access quality health services.

Nine countries, including El Salvador, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, have implemented policies for gender-based violence. While Dominica addressed their need for their lack of contraception.

On the other hand, Vietnam must acknowledge its child marriage problem. They were followed by Bangladesh, which also has an increase in the marriage of girls as their solution to the economic crisis.

Read Also: Biden Admin Surges Weapons to Israel; Pentagon Confirms Munitions, Air Defenses on Their Way

Climate Crisis Effect on Women

According to The Guardian, climate change causes rising temperatures, which also links to poorer maternal health that can complicate women's pregnancies and be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Furthermore, extreme heat causes early deliveries and an increase in stillbirth cases. In East and South Africa, the tropical cyclones destroyed maternal facilities, spreading waterborne diseases such as cholera.

Extreme weather, such as hurricanes and droughts, increases the risk of gender-based violence due to families who cannot support their daughters and choose to marry them off.

"Climate is setting us back on the fight for gender equality. Our point would be to make sure that climate policy recognizes the differential impact on women and takes it into account in the design of policy," Baschieri said.

Environmental deterioration can mostly affect women, primarily fragile during pregnancy and motherhood. There is a significant relationship between women's equality and the climate crisis.

Achieving gender equality is one way to end climate change and ensure the well-being of women.

Related Article: US Study: Climate Change Is Causing Whales, Dolphins to Lose Food, Home



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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Mayor Eric Adams participates in the annual 79th Annual Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue on October 09, 2023 in New York City. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Adams marched in the parade, which is recognized as the world's largest celebration of Italian American heritage.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams harshly criticized a protest in Times Square that proceeded to the Israeli Consulate General's office.

This demonstration followed a violent assault against Israel, as per to Shore News Network, as per to Mail Online.

Times Square Clash: NYC Reacts to Israel-Palestine Protests

New York metropolis, renowned for its cultural diversity and vibrancy, became the epicenter of a contentious debate when supporters of Israel and Palestine clashed in Times Square. The controversial protests followed a surge of violence in the Middle East, resulting in hundreds of casualties and the Israeli prime minister's declaration of a state of war.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who had just returned from a voyage to South America, strongly condemned the protests, emphasizing that the city's streets should not be used to "spread hate."

Adams stated on Twitter, "At a time when innocent people are being murdered and children are being abducted in Israel, it is revolting that this group of extremists would support terrorism. I oppose this. The City of New York rejects this."

Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, echoed the sentiments of Mayor Adams, characterizing the demonstrations as "abhorrent and morally repugnant."

She emphasized that the people of Israel were confronting violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings, making the scheduled rallies inappropriate given the circumstances. Pro-Israel protesters proudly displayed Israeli flags, while pro-Palestinian protestors chanted and brandished their flags nearby.

As pro-Israel demonstrators crossed police barricades to confront pro-Palestinian activists, tensions rose, and a brief altercation ensued. Before the police intervened to separate the two groups, an Israeli flag was trampled.

As they marched towards the Israeli Consulate General's Office, pro-Palestine demonstrators continued to chant "free, free Palestine, long live Palestine '' despite the conflict. In the aftermath of a violent escalation in the competition in the Middle East, Hamas militants were responsible for the deaths of over 700 people in Israel, including at least nine Americans, according to Shore News Network.

Read Also: Afghanistan Earthquake: Rescuers Race to Find Survivors; Aid Group Warns Worse Situation Than Could Ever Imagine

Hamas Attack at Gaza Music Festival Leaves Over 200 Injured

Hamas militants opened fire on a music festival near the Gaza frontier, resulting in more than 200 casualties and the kidnapping of partygoers.

Israel retaliated by launching massive airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in over 400 fatalities and numerous injuries. Uncertain was the number of individuals held hostage by Hamas. The demonstrations in Times Square represented a divided response to the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Proponents of Palestine drew attention to what they perceived to be decades of Israeli settler colonialism and violence. In contrast, pro-Israel demonstrators emphasized solidarity with a nation confronting unrelenting assaults.

The United States swiftly reaffirmed its support for Israel, with President Joe Biden ordering an increase in military aid and bringing US warships and aircraft closer to Israel's borders.

However, this action was criticized by protesters who chanted, "Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes."

Sarah Barqawi, one of the demonstrators, spoke about her family's difficult situation in Gaza, where they were under siege. Like many others, she emphasized that her family was merely attempting to protect its right to exist.

While condemning the Palestinian solidarity rally as "abhorrent and morally repugnant," New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the illumination of state landmarks in blue and white to support Israel. As the protests continued, Jewish supporters of the Palestinian independence movement, such as Morgan Bassichis, implored the US government to reconsider its financial support for Israel.

Bassichis argued that addressing the fundamental causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was crucial for the region's long-term stability. These demonstrations in the center of New York City reflect the entrenched divisions and sentiments surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, a complex issue with no simple solution, Patch Reported.

Related Article: Hamas Attack: Australia Orders Protection for Civilians Living in Gaza, Expresses Sympathy for Israel

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US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R) attends a bilateral meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (front L) at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on October 9, 2023.



US Senate Majority Leader Schumer expressed appreciation for China's highlighted reproach of Hamas' killing and kidnapping of Israeli and foreign civilians.

The statement was issued during a bipartisan congressional visit to Beijing, which included a lengthy meeting with President Xi Jinping, as per Yahoo News

Schumer's Diplomatic Mission

Senator Chuck Schumer led a delegation of six US senators on a critical diplomatic mission to China for high-stakes discussions to stabilize the increasingly contentious relations between the two countries.

In recent years, the relationship between the United States and China has deteriorated sharply due to disagreements over trade, US support for Taiwan, human rights concerns, and other contentious matters.

The visit of the delegation, composed of three Democrats and three Republicans, was a significant event and the first by US representatives since 2019. It comes at a critical time when tensions are rising in Congress over China's rise to global power.

His candid conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was one of the highlights of Schumer's trip. Schumer was dissatisfied with what he perceived as China's failure to forcefully condemn the recent conflict in Israel and express sympathy for the Israeli people.

This statement highlights the increasing complexity of international relations, where unrelated conflicts can have far-reaching consequences. In response, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed China's profound sorrow over the civilian casualties caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mao emphasized China's opposition to civilian-harming actions and the significance of activities that promote regional stability. China has consistently advocated for the resumption of peace negotiations, implementing a two-state solution, and a comprehensive political resolution of the Palestinian issue that addresses all parties' concerns.

A young woman with Israeli and Chinese ancestry was held captive by Hamas fighters during a music festival for peace in southern Israel, according to the Chinese Embassy in Israel. This catastrophe illustrates the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the imperative need for a peaceful resolution, according to PBS.

Read Also: China's Nuclear Submarine Program Nearing Breakthroughs

Transparency Concerns in High-Level Talks

During their visit, Schumer's delegation conferred with other high-ranking Chinese officials, including the president of the Chinese parliament and the minister of commerce. However, details of these meetings, including any statements or commitments made by the Chinese leadership, should have been reported promptly.

Schumer's direct request to Chinese President Xi Jinping to toughen China's stance on the Hamas attack and Israeli civilian casualties demonstrates the senator's resolve to address the ongoing conflict. The fact that China is a friend of Israel and Palestine complicates China's diplomatic role in the region.

A Chinese Communist Party-affiliated editorial in the Global Times highlighted the role of Western nations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with particular emphasis on the United States. It cautioned against taking sides and fueling the conflagration, a message consistent with China's approach to international partner conflicts.

As China navigates the delicate balance between its trade and investment ties with Israel, its broader alignment with the United States, and its friendship with Iran, its diplomatic efforts may come under increasing pressure. Given its significant crude imports from the Middle East and its Belt and Road trade network, China has strategic interests in maintaining cordial relations with Middle Eastern governments.

China has sought to increase its influence by mediating diplomatic ties between regional rivals, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, as the United States decreases its presence in the Middle East. In addition, China has proposed to mediate Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations despite limited progress in this area.

Experts believe China could demonstrate its leadership and mediation abilities by assisting in releasing civilian detainees held by Hamas, including a woman of Chinese descent kidnapped during a music festival. In a situation of escalating regional tensions, China has the potential to contribute to de-escalation and the maintenance of regional stability.

Schumer's visit and the ongoing dialogue between the US and China illustrate the intricate web of global diplomacy and the opportunities and challenges it presents for addressing complex international conflicts, The New York Times Reported.

Related Article: Ex-US Army Sergeant Arrested After Attempting To Spy for China

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European Union enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi addresses a press conference during an EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels on September 5, 2022.

The European Union reversed its decision to suspend aid to the Palestinians in response to Hamas' attack on Israel, following complaints from member states that the bloc's executive had overstepped its bounds.

The confusion started when the EU's top representative for relations with its neighbors, Oliver Varhelyi, stated that the European Commission was reviewing all of its development aid for Palestinians, worth $729 million, as per Reuters.

EU's U-Turn on Palestinian Aid

The European Commission issued a concise statement on Monday evening, contradicting an earlier declaration by EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi that all disbursements from a development program for Palestinians would be suspended immediately.

This abrupt reversal concluded a day filled with diplomatic twists at the core of the European Union, raising concerns during a period of heightened geopolitical sensitivity.

The day began with the 27-nation bloc's unequivocal support for Israel, asserting Israel's right to defend itself in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. However, hours later, Varhelyi made an unanticipated announcement regarding the suspension of development aid.

EU officials quickly clarified that no EU funds were given to Hamas, emphasizing that contacts with the organization had been suspended for the past 16 years due to the EU's designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization.

After hours of ambiguity regarding the scope of these measures and whether they would affect aid for those in immediate need, the European Commission clarified that no payments would be suspended at this time. Instead, they initiated an urgent evaluation of the EU's aid to Palestine to ensure that EU funding does not indirectly support terrorist organizations.

The EU claims to have rigorous screening and vetting procedures to prevent funds from falling into the clutches of militants. In light of changing conditions, the European Commission also signaled a review of its support programs for the Palestinian population and the Palestinian Authority.

Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign policy, criticized Varhelyi's initial announcement, contending that suspending payments would injure the Palestinian people, undermine EU interests in the region, and encourage terrorists, According to AP News.

Read Also: US Calls for Other Nations To Condemn Hamas Attacks as Security Council Remains Silent

EU's Two-State Solution Support Amid Aid Controversies

Since the Oslo Peace Accords 1993, the EU has consistently advocated for a two-state solution by international diplomacy. However, some of its aid programs have been accused of having funds diverted for unintended purposes.

EU foreign ministers will meet in Muscat, Oman, via videoconference to debate the situation and determine the necessary actions. They emphasize the significance of addressing the region's peace, tolerance, and coexistence foundations.

The European Commission has distinguished between Hamas, a terrorist organization, and the Palestinian people, who need humanitarian aid. It is anticipated that the assessment will not affect humanitarian assistance.

Since 2000, the EU has provided humanitarian aid through its humanitarian assistance department (ECHO) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to meet the basic requirements of Palestinians. ECHO has provided 700 million euros in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Germany, the most populous member of the European Union, and Austria have temporarily suspended development aid to Palestinian areas. Germany has pledged 250 million euros for humanitarian programs, focusing on peace and avoiding support for terrorists, while clarifying that it does not provide direct funding to the Palestinian Authority.

Germany wishes to engage in talks with Israel to promote regional stability and security through its development initiatives. Alexander Schallenberg, the foreign minister of Austria, announced a halt on all development aid disbursements totaling approximately 19 million euros.

Austria plans to evaluate all initiatives about the Palestinian territories and consult with international partners regarding the next steps. Meanwhile, international NGOs and the United Nations will continue to provide humanitarian assistance.

The diplomatic storm surrounding the EU's aid decisions highlights the delicate balancing act between humanitarian assistance and geopolitical considerations in the complex conflict in the Middle East, SCMP Reported.

Related Article: Hamas Attack: Australia Orders Protection for Civilians Living in Gaza, Expresses Sympathy for Israel

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(Photo : Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 9: Images of the missing are displayed during a candlelit vigil for Israel at Downing Street on October 9, 2023 in London, England. The Palestinian militant group Hamas has continued its attack on Israel that began in the early hours of Saturday morning. Rockets are being fired across the border and militia are fighting street battles and taking Israeli citizens hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israeli people to prepare for a long and difficult war.

Qatari mediators have attempted to negotiate the freedom of Israeli women and children captured by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, a source apprised of the negotiations described them as 'progressing positively' in coordination with the United States, as per to Aol.

Ongoing Israeli-Hamas Conflict Amid Negotiations

The situation is complicated by the lack of information regarding the number of Israeli captives held by Hamas, even though details regarding the negotiations for releasing Palestinian prisoners have not been previously reported.

During their incursion, it is widely believed that Hamas captured women, children, older persons, and soldiers. Also ongoing are efforts at mediation, with Egypt and Qatar playing crucial roles in communicating with both parties.

Egypt has collaborated closely with Israel and Hamas to prevent further escalation and guarantee the safety of Israeli hostages. The intensity of the conflict, however, has made mediation difficult. Despite the ongoing negotiations, there has yet to be an agreement on the logistics or ways to facilitate the discharge of prisoners.

No approaching resolution is in sight, as the situation remains complex and fluid. Israel's response to the incursion has been robust, resulting in a significant loss of life in Gaza due to intense retaliatory attacks.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant proclaimed a tightening of Israel's blockade on Gaza, affecting the daily lives of 2.3 million people in the region. To maintain the possibility of de-escalation, Egypt has urged Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint and guarantee the appropriate treatment of hostages.

However, persistent Israeli attacks on Gaza have confounded efforts at mediation. The crisis has left Israel grappling with the assault and the images of captured citizens being carried into Gaza. Israel has vowed to secure the release of detainees despite the complexity of the ongoing conflict, according to NDTV.

Read Also: Vietnam Accused of Trying To Plant Spyware on Mobile Devices of US Politicians

Qatar's Mediation Role in International Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution

Qatar, known for its mediation efforts in the area, has direct lines of communication with Hamas and has previously mediated truces between Hamas and Israel. The minuscule but influential nation has been involved in international diplomatic efforts, including US-Iran discussions.

Israel has declared control over towns and villages in its southern territory, indicating that the situation remains volatile. Nevertheless, the potential presence of militants in Israel has kept tensions elevated.

In addition, Israel reported that it thwarted an infiltration attempt by militants operating in northern Lebanon, further complicating the situation. The situation could worsen if Hezbollah, a potent organization with a history of conflicts with Israel, becomes involved.

According to reports, Israel has responded to the infiltration attempt with helicopter attacks on Lebanese territory, resulting in Hezbollah casualties. The announcement by the Israeli defense minister of a siege on Gaza has raised humanitarian concerns in the region.

The UN secretary-general condemned both Hamas attacks and Israel's plan for a complete blockade, highlighting the deplorable humanitarian conditions in Gaza before the hostilities outbreak.

Efforts to negotiate and mediate continue as the conflict escalates, but the path to a resolution remains to be determined. The international community is keeping a close eye on the situation, hoping to see an end to the violence and a path to peace, The Guardian Reported.

Related Article: Netanyahu Denies Egypt's Repeated Hamas Attack Warning Claims

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Xem them

(Construction) - On October 3, 2023, in Tokyo - Capital of Japan, Construction Newspaper of Vietnam, represented by Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung - Editor-in-Chief continued to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Daily Engineering and Construction News of Japan (DECN) with the witness of the MLIT and many businesses in Japan.

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Tin bai cuoi cung

Khong con du lieu e load
Canopy by Hilton Lisbon Praca Sao Paulo will be located in the heart of central Lisbon, within walking distance from the famous Time Out Market, which boasts 4.1 million visitors annually, as well as Lisbons many charming boutiques and luxury retail stores. The property will offer 84 spacious guest rooms, as well as the hotel's hub, complete with a cafe and bar for guests to work, relax and socialize with friends, 120 square metres of meeting space, a fully-equipped fitness centre and parking facilities. The hotel will open to guests in 2026 and will be the first Canopy by Hilton branded property in Portugal.

Canopy by Hilton hotels encourage guests to connect with their local area, with team members at Canopy by Hilton Lisbon Praca Sao Paulo on hand to connect guests to the best of the neighbourhood. After exploring the city, guests can retire to sophisticated guest rooms, complete with Canopy by Hilton's signature canopy bed frame and amenities including Canopy socks and Nespresso machines. Recent Canopy by Hilton openings include Canopy by Hilton Cannes, Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana and Canopy by Hilton London City.

Hotel website
Starting November 10, 2023, travelers visiting the Fort Lauderdale area will be able to enjoy a convenient stay at the new Aloft Hotel at Fort Lauderdale Airport by Marriott. The 138-room, 14-floor property is located at 501 SE 24th Street, Fort Lauderdale, just 3  miles from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and 1  miles from the Port Everglades cruise terminals.

This new Aloft property has a long list of impressive on-site amenities, including an 800-square-foot, premium fitness center, and a serene yoga terrace. It also features a covered deck on the 14th floor, with a 540-square-foot rooftop pool, gaming area, and cabanas. Additionally, Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport contains a 5,000-square-foot lobby located on the second floor, complete with a bar, an outdoor terrace, and an Aloft-branded breakfast establishment called Re: fuel by Aloft.

Aloft Hotels by Marriott are open in space and spirit, with fresh, purposeful environments and vibrant spaces that bring people together. The new Fort Lauderdale location uses technology and design to enhance experiences and move at the pace of their guests. With a commitment to innovation, comfort, and personalized service, Aloft offers an unparalleled experience that blends style and functionality.

The Aloft Hotel at Fort Lauderdale Airport is managed by Green Park Management, a recognized leader in South Florida's hospitality industry that takes pride in curating spaces that reflect the spirit of each locale while maintaining the highest standards of comfort and quality.

Aloft Hotel at Fort Lauderdale Airport contains 138 rooms, with five unique room types ranging from 294 to 475 square feet. Each room is purposefully designed to ensure a no-clutter experience, and the airy nine-foot ceilings offer panoramic views of the Fort Lauderdale city skyline. Guests will also enjoy walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads for the ultimate relaxation experience.

The hotel also features complimentary on-site parking, a valet service, and electric car charging stations. The Aloft welcomes pets for a fee of $50 per night.

Hotel website
TAFER Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Chef Massimo Fongaro's to Chef Patron of NOI Italian Restaurant at the luxe, adults-only Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta. In this role, Fongaro supervises all aspects of operations spanning from food and beverage services to management, ultimately curating an exceptional dining experience for all guests. With an impressive career spanning over two decades, Chef Fongaro brings a wealth of gastronomic expertise to this award-winning resort.

While attending the Alberghiero P. Artusi Institute in Recoaro Terme, Italy, Fongaro quickly discovered his passion for gastronomy. He kickstarted his career as a specialty chef in Mexico with Intercontinental Hotel Groups in Los Cabos and Guadalajara. Throughout the years, he went from joining the GALILEO Restaurant in the United States, before returning to his home country of Italy, where he joined SPLENDIDO Hotels in Portofino and CIPRIANI in Venice. In his most recent position as Executive Chef at the Sagrantino and El Italiano in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Fongaro earned four consecutive Stars Diamond Awards and Canirac's Golden Fork for the best international Italian restaurant. With a fervor for blending traditional Italian cuisine with Mexican and Asian influences, Fongaro now leads as Chef Patron at the contemporary and art-infused Italian eatery, NOI Restaurant.
Born in Lebanon to a family of professionals, Safi was encouraged by his parents to pursue a career in medicine, but he instead contemplated dentistry until a school job fair opened his eyes to the hotel industry. "There was a woman at the fair who worked for a big hotel group," reminisces Safi, "She had a sparkle in her eyes and a real passion for what she did. She invited me to train for a month, and I enjoyed the hotel vibe so much that I chose to pursue hospitality instead."

He then enrolled in a hotel school in France, followed by a short work stint in the United States to learn English, thereafter, moving back to France to earn an MBA. Co-incidentally he arrived in France around the time Four Seasons opened its first property in Paris, the George V. He eventually became its Executive Steward.

A few years later, Safi departed Four Seasons to expand his food-and-beverage knowledge at properties in Paris and Geneva. He returned to the company in 2014 resuming with Bahrain Bay, and joined the opening team in Kuwait City as Hotel Manager two years later. During his tenure he learned the rooms side of the business. "I'd worked within food and beverage departments for a long time, but I always knew I needed to be familiar with the whole operation."

After a fulfilling stint in the Middle East, he moved to Canada, to join the team at Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, as Hotel Manager. "Montreal reminded me of Europe, albeit with a North American edge. The dining scene was spectacular, and I challenged our Head Sommeliers to discover and bring in the best local and Canadian wines to enhance our wine list."

"Heading to America, specifically the Bay Area, California to the heart of Silicon Valley is fantastic. Being in the centre of tech universe is exciting and I enjoy serving our guests at Four Season Hotel Silicon Valley in the most innovative ways that most suit their style," says Safi.
Jennifer Driscoll serves as Vice President of Revenue Management for McNeill Hotels. Ms. Driscoll joined McNeill in 2018 with over 27 years of experience in the hospitality field. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Hospitality Administration, she joined the Hilton Orlando/Almonte Springs. During her time at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs, she held several Management positions. In addition, Ms. Driscoll worked as Revenue Manager with both the Holiday Inn Select Orlando Airport and the Embassy Suites Orlando Airport. In 2004, she joined the Embassy Suites Brand Regional Revenue team in Hilton's Memphis corporate office, assisting both corporate and franchise hotels to achieve optimal mixes and revenues. Ms. Driscoll then joined Hilton's Hampton Brand team, as Director of Revenue Management in 2007. Ms. Driscoll and her team were responsible for strategic guidance and RM support for ten years. She led all Revenue Management initiatives at Hampton while driving performance to achieve optimal revenues and share. In addition to supporting Hilton's largest brand, Hampton, Ms. Driscoll played a key role in the development of Revenue Management support and strategic direction for Hilton's newest brand, Tru by Hilton.
Geneva Rinehart wasselected as the 2023 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) Paragon Award recipient for her significant contribution to the production of a key hospitality technology information resource for nearly three decades. She is also recognized for inhabiting the role as a central connector amongst industry players  vendors, hotel companies, consultants  ensuring that all are apprised of current trends and recognized for their contributions to the evolution of hospitality technology.

Rinehart is senior vice president and managing editor at Hospitality Upgrade, where she has served in multiple capacities since 1995. HFTP and Hospitality Upgrade are long-time allied partners working together to develop hospitality technology information and resources, and Rinehart has worked closely with HFTP and its network to fulfill this relationship. Rinehart will be honored on October 18 at the HFTP Annual Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana USA.

Im honored to be selected as HFTPs 2023 Paragon Award recipient and join an impressive group  many of whom are on my personal admiration list. Ive had the great pleasure of collaborating with so many industry groups, leaders and professionals over the years with Hospitality Upgrade Magazine, The CIO Summit and the Executive Vendor Summit, said Rinehart. And it definitely helped to have surrounded myself with amazing people who are dedicated to the cause, always push the bar higher, and are never afraid to try something new. The HFTP team has been absolutely fantastic to work with on our many projects and events, and I thank them for this recognition.

Geneva Rinehart's publishing career began in 1995 with the launch of H&A Update, the precursor to Hospitality Upgrade magazine. She has been a driving force behind key industry conferences, including the Executive Vendor Summit and the CIO Summit. Geneva's pioneering spirit led to the introduction of the magazines first digital edition in 2003, which incorporated cutting-edge technologies such as QR codes, augmented reality, video and multimedia. In 2017, she curated a special publication on the history of technology for the hotel industry and compiled Hospitality Upgrade's Marriott Americas' IT edition. She also played an integral role in developing and revamping the Hospitality Upgrade and Hotel Online websites and newsletters.

In addition to her industry work, Geneva has logged more than 600 hours of volunteer service to her community. In collaboration with HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductee Sherry Marek she has created a collection of mentor articles to encourage and inspire industry professionals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State Universitys School of Communications. She and her husband, Rick, have two children.

During these 29 years Geneva, as managing editor, has helped to keep the industrys leading source of technology information fresh and relevant and in doing so has helped to educate thousands of hoteliers around the world about technology issues and solutions, wrote Robert Bennett, co-founder of Kalibri Labs, LLC, in support of Rineharts nomination. The conferences hosted by Hospitality Upgrade, and organized with Genevas help, have done so much to promote cooperation among vendors and hotel operators. There is no shortage of examples to show how Geneva has contributed to the betterment of hospitality technology.

Hospitality Upgrade is the exclusive technology magazine for HFTP and sponsor of HFTP events such as HITEC and the HFTP Annual Convention. HFTP also helps coordinate the annual Executive Vendor Summit and CIO Summit, founded by Hospitality Upgrade in 2002.

Established in 1999, the prestigious HFTP Paragon Award recognizes individuals each year who have made a significant and lasting contribution to both HFTP and the hospitality industry. Paragon Award nominees can be HFTP members; representatives of industry-related associations, societies or trade publications; leaders from hospitality businesses, educational institutions and other related disciplines. A panel of industry experts selects the award recipients who are traditionally recognized at HFTP's Annual Convention.

Previous Paragon Award winners include: Alice Banks, CHAE (1999); Henry "Buddy" Weeks, CHAE (1999); Frank Santos, CHAE, CHA (2000); Katherine Cavanagh, CHAE (2001); Raymond Schmidgall, PH.D., CPA, CHAE (2002); Frank Wolfe, CAE (2002); Len Bartello, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2003); John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP (2004); Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2005); Richard Braa, CHAE (2006); Robert Patasnick, CPA (2007); George Glazer (2008); Agnes DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE (2009); Stephen LeBruto, CPA, CHAE, Ed.D. (2009); and Steve Doherty, CHAE, CHTP (2010); Frank Agnello Jr., CMA, CHAE (2011); Howard Field, FBHA, FCA (2012); Joseph McInerney, CHA (2013); Evelyn Adams (2014); Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE (2015); Raman (R. P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE (2016); Kris S. Shoemaker, CMA, CGFO, CHAE, CHTP, CPFIM (2016); Mary Gerdts (2017); Anna McFarland, CPA, CFE, CHAE, CHTP (2018); Thomas Smith, CHAE (2019); Ian Millar, CHTP (2020); Tanya Venegas, MBA, MHM, CHIA (2021); Sanjay Nadkarni, Ph.D. (2021); and Daniel Conti, Jr., CHAE+ (2022).

The HFTP Annual Convention is October 1820, 2023 at the JW Mariott Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana USA. Register to attend. For more information about HFTP events, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], +1 (512) 249-5333. For more information on the Paragon Award, contact the HFTP Communications Department at [email protected] or +1 (512) 249-5333.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in the EU and Middle East. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues, and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.
Ren'ai Reef [File photo/chinanews.com.cn]



(Xinhua) -- China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

On October 7, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that China's claim of "indisputable sovereignty" over "West Philippine Sea" is disputable. China's "unfounded" claim and its actions in the "West Philippine Sea" is irresponsible, he added.

When asked for comments, Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that recently the Philippines has taken a series of steps at Ren'ai Jiao that seriously violate China's territorial sovereignty. China has made serious demarches to the Philippines on multiple occasions.

The spokesperson reiterated the following points.

First, Ren'ai Jiao has been China's territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of China's Nansha Qundao geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. This was developed and established throughout the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter.

Second, Ren'ai Jiao has never been the Philippines' territory. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, is completely beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory.

Third, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is illegal, null and void. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines directly concerns the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS. Besides, in 2006, pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS, China excluded issues relating to sea boundary delimitations from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal. By unilaterally initiating the South China Sea arbitration, the Philippines contravened the stipulations of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law. Such an award is illegal, null and void, and completely invalid. It is legally untenable for the Philippines to claim that Ren'ai Jiao is part of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the above-mentioned award.

Fourth, by "grounding" a military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines gravely violated China's territorial sovereignty. In May 1999, the Philippines "grounded" a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious demarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the vessel at once. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible. However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines' acts of going back on its words again and again and violating China's territorial sovereignty. The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the "grounded" military vessel.

Fifth, the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely lies with the Philippines. For some time, the Philippines, ignoring China's goodwill and sincerity, has kept sending official vessels and warships to forcibly intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to send construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. These actions seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, contravened international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and disrupted peace and stability in the region.

"China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region," the spokesperson said.

China will continue to, in accordance with our domestic laws and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, said the spokesperson.
Ottawa, Ontario  With increasing demand for two-way guest communications, Hotel Communication Network (HCN) is expanding globally. Developer of the widely popular, modern, multi-lingual Navigator 2.0 in-room tablet platform has recently opened a new sales office in London. Mark Brooks-Belcher will serve as VP of Sales for the UK and Europe region.

Hotel brands and independents alike are quickly realizing that tablet technology is the ideal digital tool to engage with 100% of guests and deliver an experience they expect and demand. That means not just delivering a home-like experience, but a better-than-home-like experience. This includes leveraging Navigator 2.0 tablets to control the room environment, turn on/off equipment and appliances, order services, make requests, and even plan future stays. By turning guestrooms into smart rooms and migrating the phone, TV remote, clock/radio, smart room controls and more into one mobile device, operators are meeting and exceeding travelers needs, reducing operational expenses, and driving revenues from traditional and ancillary streams. Mark Brooks-Belcher

All-In-One Engagement Solution

HCNs Navigator 2.0 tablets are an interactive in-room device enabling guests to communicate with the hotel, make purchases, order room service, report problems, and control their room environment. Navigator rolls all peripheral room equipment  phone, TV remote, clock/radio, smart room controls  into one device, and adds extra interactive features to give guests the best in-room experience possible, including: direct in-room messaging, roomservice ordering, group business/event communication, guest stay survey deployment, housekeeping optimization, interactive city guides, in-room marketing, and early/Late check out.

Navigator 2.0 has an elegant look and feel with a Netflix-inspired user interface that appeals to the masses. It provides compelling content in any language the hotel chooses that draws people in to click around, discover on-premises services and amenities, and spend more money on site. Hotel staff can easily and immediately update content to the guest room devices. No need to rely on a service provider to deliver costly content management resources. The solution features a Bluetooth pairable speaker base with high-quality sound, USB A&C charging points, and stunning HD graphics. The speaker base also serves as a voice assistant, enabling guests to request services and amenities, report problems, plus control lights, thermostat, and blinds by voice command.

Sales & Revenue Diversity

Brooks-Belcher comes to HCN with more than 30 years of sales and sales management experience, with 12 of those years dedicated to hospitality. Prior to joining HCN, he served as Head of Sales / chief sales officer for Distributed; chief revenue officer for Hi Japan; CRO, global sales and marketing director, executive vice president global sales for Quadriga; group commercial director for Comtec, and head of operations EMEA for Thompson Reuters. He has a proven track record of taking businesses in global markets and diverse industries through series A funding to growing revenues to three-times their projections.

Mark is the ideal person to spearhead our global expansion. He brings to our growing company a diverse background in both sales and revenue optimization. Mark has been extraordinarily successful in managing local and remote teams across all industry sectors and geographies. His expertise includes direct client relationship management, sales team management, change management, strategic clients strategy, and sales operations management. We expect great things with Mark leading our growth effort, starting in the UK and Europe and eventually expanding to the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Kevin Bidner, HCN CEO

For more information on Navigator 2.0, visit http://www.hcn-inc.com. To reach Mark Brooks-Belcher, email him at [email protected].

About The Hotel Communication Network (HCN)

Founded in 2008, with headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, The Hotel Communication Network has built on years of research and development to provide an innovative high-value guest amenity that keeps each guest connected to their hotel, city and each other. For more information, visit www.hcn-inc.com.

Barbara Worcester
Indonesian President Introduces Indonesias First High-speed Railway

The high-speed railway project estimated to have cost $7.3 billion will connect the cities of Jakarta and Bandung, which has historically been one of the worlds most congested travel corridors. The new rail line will travel with a maximum speed of 350 kilometres per hour and is expected to cut travel time between the cities from three hours to 30 minutes. Indonesias President Joko Widodo led the inauguration ceremony for the countrys first high-speed railway, a milestone for his office and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese leader Xi Jinpings signature foreign policy scheme. The trains had been modified for Indonesias tropical climate and equipped with a safety system to respond to earthquakes, floods, and other emergency conditions. The train has a length of 209 meters and can hold a capacity of 601 passengers. Trial rides have been underway since earlier in September and are expected to continue through October. Future plans include extending the high-speed railway to Surabaya in East Java.

Hainan Airlines Starts Flights From Shenzhen To Italy

Hainan Airlines has launched a new flight route connecting Shenzhen and Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy. The inaugural flight, operated by a Boeing 787, marks Hainan Airlines' third direct route to Italy and its seventh direct intercontinental route from Shenzhen. The route will run three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, catering to both tourism and business travel between China and Italy. Milan Malpensa Airport has been proactive in attracting Chinese airlines due to China's significance as a market, with 700,000 passengers traveling between Malpensa and China in 2019. Hainan Airlines has resumed and opened over 30 international and regional round-trip passenger routes from various Chinese cities, with more planned to meet market demand.

Flights Launched Between Ho Chi Minh And Perth

Non-stop flights between Ho Chi Minh and Perth are set to launch by the 2nd week of December later this year, with three scheduled flights per week. The debut of these flights means Vietnam Airlines will operate 23 round-trip flights per week between Vietnam and Australia, averaging three flights per day. Vietnam Air serves five non-stop routes to Australia, including Hanoi and Ho Chinh to Melbourne, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to Sydney, and Ho Chi Minh to Perth. Perth being the capital and largest city in Western Australia, have 300,000 Vietnamese people living and working there and is the third largest market in Australia for Vietnam. Roger Cook, the Western Australia Premier notes the new direct flights opens an abundance of opportunities between the two countries and represents a whole new inbound visitor market for Western Australias industry, tourism and hospitality sectors supporting jobs and boosting the economy .

Marriott To Debut First Property In Papua New Guinea

Marriott International has entered into agreement with Steamships Trading Company to bring its first property in Papua New Guinea. The property located in downtown Port Moresby will feature one and two-bedroom apartments. Located within the mixed-used development of Harbourside South, Marriott Executive Apartments will feature a retail floor and three floors of A-grade commercial space. Further, plans are in place for a leisure floor that will house a lap pool, leisure pool, a fitness centre, three spa treatment rooms, and a recreational zone for children.

About HVS

HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com.
My job as a hospitality industry conference speaker and training facilitator affords opportunities to speak with lodging industry leaders from a broad spectrum of management companies, brands, and independents. Based on my observations, I think there are a lot of leaders, including some with decades of experience who work at top-tier companies, who do not fully understand the difference between hospitality and guest service.

I often hear these terms used interchangeably, yet while they are related, and while guest satisfaction requires both, they are fundamentally different concepts. Understanding the difference, and being able to convey this to frontline staff, are essential for taking both to the next level at your hotel, company or resort.

So What IS The Difference?

Providing guest service is more about delivering experiences that at least meet, and hopefully exceed, guests expectations. Foundationally, this requires providing safe, clean, updated, and comfortable accommodations. On top of that, excellent guest service requires using communications essentials that rise above merely being polite. A few examples would be:

Holding eye contact with guests long enough to exchange smiles.

Using open body language.

Excellence in telephone communications. (A positive opening greeting, asking permission to place them on hold, supervising call transfers, and ending the call by offering additional assistance, restating the callers name, and thanking them.)

Using guest names conversationally throughout their stay.

Using the language of hospitality such as saying Allow me to check on that not Ill have to check on that, May I suggest that you instead of Youll have to, and saying You are most welcome instead of No problem.

Expressing empathy and apologizing when things go wrong.

And yet I would argue that it is entirely possible for a hotel colleague to use all these communications techniques but completely fall short on delivering hospitality. In our daily lives, Im sure we have all had customer service experiences where the associate said all of the right things, but who spoke in a way that felt scripted, robotic and disingenuous.

Specific to hotels, I often find that some hotels, most often in upscale and luxury sectors, become so obsessed with passing a FORBES, AAA, or brand inspection that they over-emphasize these guest service techniques to the point where it comes across as scripted politeness and feels obsequious to guests.

Guest Services Skills Are Demonstrative; Heartfelt Hospitality Is Philosophical

Enlightened leaders know that hospitality is, at its core, a philosophy for living much more so than it is a script or list of communications standards to be checked off in a mystery shoppers inspection report.

To start, lets look at the root of the word hospitality itself, which is derived from the Latin word hospes, which is a word having the diametric meanings of guest and host. Dictionary definitions of the word hospitality generally include some version of receiving guests in a way that is warm, generous, and friendly.

For decades now in my on-site hospitality training workshops, I often ask participants to work in small groups and to formulate one collective definition. Their results are always interesting and insightful, but the best one yet came out of a group many years ago that came up with this definition: Hospitality means caring about, as well as for, others.

In the hotel industry, when we care for others, we basically do our jobs and provide guest service. We clean the rooms, fix what is broken, and provide a room key in exchange for their credit card. Yet when we care about our guests, we understand that the person on the other side of the desk, counter, phone call, or email exchange is a real person going through a uniquely personal travel experience. We take time to imagine that they might be in town for a wedding, a birthday, or a vacation, but also it might be for a funeral, memorial service, or at the start or end of a hospital stay. They might be in town on business to entertain sales prospects at fancy restaurants, hire new staff, or attend company meetings, but also it might be to testify in a lawsuit, close a branch office, or finalize a divorce proceeding.

Those who have enrolled their front desk staff in KTNs Certified in the Heart of Hospitality program will recognize another definition of hospitality we use, which is Hospitality is the delivery of human kindness, especially to strangers.

However, perhaps the very best definition I have ever encountered was offered by a true industry icon, Howard Feiertag, who was my personal mentor and friend for 34 years until he passed away last March at age 93. Many readers will know Howard as a co-worker from the years he spent as a corporate-level hotelier or his years on the conference speaking circuit. Perhaps he is best known as Professor Feiertag, having joined Virginia Tech as an Adjunct Professor in 1990 and where he still taught classes at age 93.

In my opinion, Howard gave the best and certainly the pithiest definition ever, when he made this comment at a banquet in his honor: Hospitality is making people feel good, Howard said that night, adding, and when we make them feel good it makes YOU feel good too! Note: You can watch this segment of Howards speech at the 6:20 timestamp on this YouTube link https://youtu.be/5JPa78aDZWM.

And so hotel leaders, at your next staff meeting, management conference, or executive committee gathering, take a few moments to ask your leaders to consider the true meaning of hospitality, making certain to differentiate it from the concept of guest service techniques.
This is the groups first Ibis hotel acquisition and its second hotel in Wellingborough

Travelodge acquires new site and opens its second hotel in Wellingborough

This is the groups first Ibis hotel acquisition and its second hotel in Wellingborough

Travelodge, one of the UKs largest hotel chains, announces it has acquired its first Ibis hotel. The 78-room hotel, located at the Wilby Way roundabout junction on the A45, is the groups second hotel in Wellingborough and its tenth hotel in Northamptonshire. During the last few months, Travelodge has upgraded the hotel to its new premium look and feel brand specification.

To mark Travelodge opening its second hotel in Wellingborough, the hotel chain hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony where local MP, Peter Bone and Tony OBrien, Travelodges UK Development Director, officially opened the hotel.

The group also announced at the opening event that Northamptonshire is a key growth area and that they are actively looking for a suitable site to open their first hotel in Corby. This expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create 25 new jobs.

Wellingborough Travelodge features 78-rooms, an on-site restaurant called The Bar Cafe and a car-park. The hotel has been upgraded to the new Travelodge look and feel design - which includes all the low cost efficiencies you would expect from Travelodge but with the added benefit of thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches throughout its interiors.

This includes a new style reception area, a next generation room with features such as bedside charging ports, blackout curtains, a comfy armchair, and upgraded bar cafe.

The new Travelodge design also includes a number of sustainable initiatives. This includes the new carpet being made from recycled fishing nets, which are part of a project supporting clean ocean initiatives, tackling over 640k tonnes of discarded fishing nets currently impacting marine life. The carpet backing is also made of old plastic bottles. Every ten of these bottles that are recycled rather than being sent to landfill saves enough energy to power a laptop for 25 hours. The other features include low energy lighting, motion sensing controls and aerated showers and taps.

Wellingborough Travelodge is managed by Craig Hoole, who has been working with the company for 26 years. Craig started with Travelodge in 1997, working as a Team Member at Kettering Thrapston Travelodge. Over the years, Craig has successfully climbed the career ladder at Travelodge and is now the dual-site manager for the two Wellingborough Travelodge hotels (Wellingborough Rushden and Wellingborough Travelodges).

Rooms at Wellingborough Travelodge are available from 38.

Travelodge has a track record of acquiring a range of mid-market and budget hotels and converting them into successful Travelodge hotels. Over the last three decades, Travelodge has acquired hotels from the following brands: Holiday Inn Express, Ramada Encore, Mercure, Comfort Inn, Thistle and Days Inn.

This hotel is Travelodges first Ibis hotel acquisition. The previous landlord and the tenant, AccorInvest, decided to jointly terminate the lease and the property was forward sold to Kent-based property investment and development company, Cooper Estates, based on the simultaneous grant of a new, 25-year lease to Travelodge Hotels Limited, on standard, institutional terms, including 5-yearly rent reviews in line with CPI, collared and capped.

Tony OBrien, Travelodges UK Development Director said: We are delighted to expand our hotel network with the acquisition of our first Ibis hotel in Wellingborough and become the towns biggest hotel chain. This new addition boosts our hotel network to nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain. It also showcases that we operate an adaptable business model and we have the expertise to remodel not just existing hotels but empty office and retail space into a successful Travelodge hotel.

During the last five years we have opened more than 60 new hotels and this includes the acquisition of existing branded hotels, office and retail conversions, as well as new build and mixed-use developments.

As we look to the future, Northamptonshire is growing at pace and, due to its scenic and commuter-friendly location, it is attracting more business and leisure travellers than ever before. However, there remains a shortage of good quality and great value accommodation across the county. Therefore to fulfil this growing demand we are actively looking to open our first hotel in Corby. This expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create 25 new jobs for locals.
Cendyn Doubles Down on the Future of CRM with Strategic Acquisition of PUSHTech

Leading hotel tech provider takes transformative step towards a next generation CRM platform that empowers hoteliers to build stronger relationships with their guests whilst driving profitable revenue

Cendyn, a catalyst for digital transformation in the hospitality industry, is thrilled to announce its strategic acquisition of PUSHTech, a pioneering force in hotel Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services and marketing automation technology. This milestone solidifies Cendyns commitment to investing in the future of CRM by doubling down investment in innovation, customer-centric solutions, and the empowerment of hoteliers to optimize revenue streams through advanced CRM strategies.

PUSHTech is a cloud-based Customer Data Platform (CDP) and CRM platform that offers an integrated solution for the hospitality industry, excelling at marketing automation across channels, guest journey automation, and sales CRM. Built on a modern tech stack, the platform allows you to unify, segment, and take control of your databases to increase direct bookings, improve guest loyalty, and automate the guest journey using email, SMS, WhatsApp, social media and more.

In an era where cultivating guest loyalty presents an ever-increasing challenge, the acquisition of PUSHTech reinforces Cendyns dedication to growth and advancement in the CRM landscape. This strategic move exemplifies Cendyns commitment to equipping hoteliers with the tools to cultivate enduring relationships with their guests, ultimately driving loyalty and, in turn, profitable revenue streams.

By seamlessly integrating PUSHTechs next-generation technology into Cendyns portfolio, we are poised to elevate the industrys standard for hoteliers seeking to amplify their sales and marketing CRM capabilities, said Jack Blaha, CEO at Cendyn. Our customers are centered around their guests, and our mission is to empower them to refine the guest experience through sophisticated technology and services. This acquisition doubles down on that mission, and were thrilled to explore the boundless potential of PUSHTech to bring it to fruition.

We are incredibly excited about joining forces with Cendyn, said Carlos Moncho, CEO at PUSHTech. The combination of Cendyns CRM heritage and our technology advancements put us in strong stead to drive CRM innovation for our industry. With a combined focus on driving loyalty and profitable revenue for our customers, were excited about the opportunity this acquisition offers to our industry.

The acquisition represents a landmark moment in Cendyns journey, marking a transformative step for the industry as Cendyn looks to provide a next generation CRM platform for the industry. Through this acquisition, Cendyn reaffirms its commitment to innovation and its mission to empower hoteliers, revolutionizing the way they connect with guests, foster loyalty, and drive profitability.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a catalyst for digital transformation in the hospitality industry. We help hotels around the globe drive profitability and guest loyalty through an integrated technology platform that aligns revenue, eCommerce, distribution, marketing and sales teams with centralized data, applications, and analytics, so they can capture more demand and accelerate growth. With offices located across the globe, in the United States, United Kingdom, Paris, Singapore, and India, Cendyn serves tens of thousands of customers across 143 countries. To find out more, visit cendyn.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Michael Bennett

President & CMO

Cendyn

mbennett@cendyn.com

+1 219-384-5705

Nicola Graham

VP, Marketing

Cendyn

ngraham@cendyn.com

+44 7341 661 504
Implementing Sustainability in Service Organizations: A Complex Puzzle

HIGHLIGHTS

Implementing sustainability in service organizations is a complex puzzle, but its worth the effort as a key driver of global sustainability outcomes.

External reporting of CSR information, internal management of CSR initiatives, and internal governance are key managerial anchors in this vast arena.

Organizations and governments must prioritize sustainability and take these key steps today to meet global committments towards reductions in CO2 emissions.

In the wake of the 2015 Paris accord and a global push for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, service organizations are at a crossroads. Countries and industries across the globe, including the EU, the US, Japan, and Korea, have committed to significant reductions in CO2 emissions by 2030. Corporate giants like Microsoft, Moderna, Amazon, Royal Caribbean Cruises, McDonald's, and United Airlines have made bold commitments towards sustainability.

However, these pledges are not just lofty goals; they signify an imminent and transformative change for entire industries and individual businesses. A report from a leading investment bank asserts that companies must profoundly overhaul their business models to be fit for the transition. Services, especially in sectors like tourism, hospitality, financial and commercial banking, and retailers and food, are at the center of this puzzle.

Sustainability challenges for service organizations

Service sectors face the daunting task of doubling the pace of emissions reduction within this decade, accelerating even further in the following years to meet net-zero emissions by 2050. This immense challenge comes with opportunities and hurdles in reducing emissions, embracing sustainability principles, and adopting specific actions like reducing single-use plastic, energy conservation, or adopting circular economy activities.

However, the transition towards system-wide sustainability brings about a level of managerial complexity and uncertainty that most service companies feel ill-prepared to handle.

This article summarizes a research paper that explores this vast landscape, focusing on three anchoring managerial mechanisms: external reporting in sustainability, internal management of sustainability, and internal governance, aiming to understand how leaders can drive innovation and improve the efficiency and impact of sustainability engagements in service organizations.

1. External reporting in sustainability: CSR information specificities and disclosure

The first anchoring mechanism, external reporting in sustainability, serves as a foundation for embedding sustainability principles in service organizations. By understanding the unique characteristics of corporate social responsibility information, adapting reporting frameworks, leveraging technology, and ensuring reliable external assurance, companies can create a robust and credible reporting system.

The complexity of CSR information

Corporate Social Responsibility reporting has become a critical aspect of modern business, reflecting a companys commitment to social and environmental responsibility. However, CSR information is often heterogenous, difficult to verify, and hard to quantify. Its credibility appears to be a significant issue.

Voluntary vs. mandatory disclosure

While CSR information is usually disclosed on a voluntary basis, the pros, and cons of mandating such disclosures are widely debated. Mandatory disclosure may lead to a more standardized and transparent reporting framework, but it might also create additional burdens for companies.

The need for assurance

The external assurance market is evolving, playing a crucial role in making audited CSR information reliable. However, more extensive standardization of audit processes and auditors expertise is required to achieve this goal. Independent third-party assurance, like auditors, adds credibility to the information, increasing its reliability.

The role of stakeholders

Understanding stakeholders' expectations is crucial. New trends and standards will require companies to adapt quickly to a dynamic environment, developing and acquiring digital tools and internal expertise to report relevant and measurable information.

Standardizing reports

Adapting the reporting framework is imperative for evolving towards a more globalized reporting context, making information comparable across companies. This involves understanding the specificities that make CSR information unique and devising standards that reflect these nuances.

Better digital tools

In an age of digital transformation, service companies must leverage technology to report specific, relevant, and measurable information on a timely basis. Investing in digital tools and internal expertise is no longer optional but a necessity to stay aligned with global standards.

2. Internal sustainability management: The need for transformation

The challenges of internal sustainability management are multifaceted and require a comprehensive approach. They encompass everything from supply chain management to employee training and operational efficiencies.

Aligning objectives with realities

The alignment of sustainability objectives with business strategies is paramount. It ensures that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals are not isolated endeavors but are integral to the business's overall mission and vision.

Ensuring that sustainability goals translate into operational realities requires rigorous management control systems and implementation processes. Policies, guidelines, budget plans, targets, and KPIs must be clearly outlined, and regular monitoring and feedback mechanisms should be in place.

Embracing technology

Integrating the latest technology in the pursuit of sustainability and innovation helps in transforming traditional processes. Whether it's implementing energy-efficient systems or developing new products and services that are environmentally friendly, technology is at the core of sustainable transformation.

Building a culture of sustainability

An organizations culture plays a vital role in its success in becoming sustainable. Cultivating a culture that values sustainability involves leadership commitment, employee engagement, and continuous education and training.

Collaborating with stakeholders

Working closely with stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and regulators, ensures that sustainability efforts are synergistic and aligned with broader societal goals.

3. Internal governance: structuring for success The board and executive leadership play a critical role in setting the tone for sustainability within the organization. Their commitment, oversight, and strategic guidance are essential for successful sustainability governance. The Sustainability Board Report is the global benchmark of boards' ESG engagement. Delegation & accountability Roles and responsibilities at every level must be clearly defined to ensure accountability. From the board's oversight to middle management's execution, everyone must understand their part in the sustainability journey. Risk management & reporting Sustainability must be integrated into the organization's broader risk management framework. Identifying, assessing, and managing sustainability-related risks is vital to the overall success of the initiatives. Regular reporting to the board and other stakeholders, coupled with periodic reviews, ensures that sustainability efforts are on track and aligned with the organization's goals. Compliance & ethical considerations Adherence to legal and ethical considerations in sustainability practices is non-negotiable. Ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, while maintaining high ethical standards, builds trust and credibility. Service organizations and governments as drivers of innovation The transition towards a sustainable future is a complex, multifaceted endeavor that requires a comprehensive and coordinated effort. Service organizations are not merely passive players in this journey; they are vital innovation drivers. By embracing sustainability, these organizations can contribute significantly to global efforts to create a more sustainable and responsible world. Essential next steps for service organizations The journey toward sustainability is unending, but the direction is clear. Service organizations must take these steps: Adapt to changing norms: As societal norms and regulations evolve; service organizations must adapt by updating their practices and strategies. Invest in education: Providing employees with continuous learning opportunities ensures that they understand and are committed to the sustainability goals of the organization. Form cross-industry partnerships: By partnering with organizations across different sectors, service organizations can share best practices and innovate together. Encourage community engagement: Working closely with local communities can provide insights into unique local challenges and opportunities for sustainability. Actions for governments and regulatory bodies Governments and regulatory bodies play a vital role in shaping a sustainable future. Heres how they can contribute: Standardizing practices: Creating Regulations: Developing standardized sustainability regulations ensures that all organizations are working towards the same goals. Monitoring and enforcement: Regularly monitoring compliance and enforcing regulations ensures that standards are maintained. Incentivizing sustainable behaviors: Tax Incentives and Grants: Governments can encourage sustainability by providing financial incentives like tax breaks or grants for sustainable practices. Public recognition: Recognizing and promoting companies that excel in sustainability can create positive peer pressure within the industry. Embracing the opportunities for all Sustainability should not be viewed merely as a challenge but as an opportunity for transformation and growth. The following aspects are key: New markets: Sustainability can open new markets and customer segments that value environmentally responsible products and services. Product innovation: By focusing on sustainability, organizations can develop innovative products that meet emerging demands. Cultural shift: Embracing sustainability often leads to a transformation in organizational culture, promoting values such as responsibility, empathy, and long-term thinking. Operational Efficiency: Sustainable practices often lead to more efficient operations, reducing waste and optimizing resources. Multifaceted approach The complexity of the sustainability landscape requires a multifaceted approach. Service organizations stand at a critical junction where their actions can significantly impact the global sustainability landscape. By adopting a comprehensive approach, focusing on collaboration, continuous learning, and embracing the opportunity, they can lead the way to a more sustainable future. Emphasizing the role of governments and regulatory bodies, aligning organizational culture, recognizing the opportunity for growth, and nurturing innovation are key. These elements intertwine to create a sustainable ecosystem where service organizations not only survive but thrive. The call to action is clear: service organizations must rise to the challenge, seize the opportunities, and lead with conviction and purpose. The path is demanding but promising, filled with potential for those who dare to innovate and transform.

Written by EHL Faculty

Written by Dr Carlos Martin-Rios Associate Professor at EHL

Written by Dr Giovanni-Battista Derchi Assistant Professor at EHL

Written by Dr Cedric Poretti Associate Professor at EHL

This article originally appeared on EHL Insights.
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Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

(Global Times) Many people say that this round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted quite suddenly, and on the surface, it does seem so. Hamas launched a surprise attack on the Israel's military, catching them off guard and resulting in significant casualties that have shocked the world. Israel's retaliatory actions are bound to lead to more bloodshed and escalation of violence. Even though none of us want to see this happen, it is difficult to prevent it from occurring. International peace efforts are far from strong enough in the face of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is an unavoidable fact and requires a more powerful collective effort from the international community to change it.

From a deeper perspective, this conflict is not sudden and has a certain inevitability. It once again announces to the world, through bloodshed and loss of life, that if fundamental solutions are not implemented for the Palestinian issue, and if the peace process is not promoted, bloodshed and conflict will recur. This is actually quite evident, but it has long been ignored by Western countries that bear the primary responsibility and influence in the Palestinian issue.

For many years, China has repeatedly called on the international community to prioritize the Palestinian issue on the international agenda on major multilateral occasions such as the United Nations. It has emphasized the need to advance the "two-state solution" with a stronger sense of urgency. Not long ago before the outbreak of this conflict, Permanent Mission of China to the UN was still stressing this point. Now, the necessity and urgency have been elevated to another level, given the high cost paid by Palestine, Israel, and the entire Middle East.

It's necessary to recognize that the Israeli-Palestinian issue is a complex conglomerate of problems, and external interference is one of the main reasons why this problem has not been resolved and even intensifies hatred. The bias and interference by Western countries, led by the US, in the Israeli-Palestinian issue have been evident for a long time, and historical Middle East conflicts have often had US involvement behind the scenes. And after the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the quick decision of the US and some Western countries to take sides not only does not help solve the problem but also adds fuel to the fire. Considering the large number of innocent civilians killed and injured in the conflict over the past two days, the immediate priority of the international community should be to urge both sides to cease fire quickly in order to prevent further humanitarian disasters.

A report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows that the prolonged closure and military operations carried out by Israel during the occupation of Gaza from 2007 to 2018 have pushed Gaza's economy to the brink of collapse. Today, it has become one of the poorest and most volatile areas in the world. It can be said that this large-scale armed conflict between Palestine and Israel once again proves that the means of seeking absolute security, under the guise of peace by the US and the West, cannot achieve true peace and tranquility. It also exposes the essence of the US new Middle East strategy. We urge the US and other Western countries to stop this practice and truly participate in the Middle East peace process.

Middle East peace is by no means a road without a future. The key is to start walking the right path from now on, rather than taking the wrong path or even going back. According to media reports, this round of conflict between Palestine and Israel has already caused nearly 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries on both sides. Moreover, the war may also spread to other countries. The latest development is that Israel and the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon have engaged in a firefight. Many people worry whether this event will eventually lead to the "Sixth Middle East War."

At this moment, the international community should take urgent action. The United Nations issued a statement on October 7, calling it a "dangerous precipice," strongly condemning the attacks on civilians, and calling for an end to violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged "all diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider conflagration." The UN Security Council plans to hold a closed-door meeting on the current situation between Palestine and Israel Sunday afternoon local time in New York to discuss solutions. Fundamentally, all parties involved in the Middle East peace process, including Palestine and Israel, must work toward creating conditions for the realization of the "two-state solution."

It has been 50 years since the Fourth Arab-Israeli War (also known as the Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War) and 30 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords. War or peace? The Middle East is once again at a historical crossroads. The international community must take decisive and effective diplomatic actions to urge both sides to stop violence as soon as possible, exercise maximum restraint, and especially prevent the window of opportunity for peace from being closed by conflicts. China has always supported the convening of a larger-scale, more authoritative, and influential international peace conference to create conditions for the resumption of negotiations. This proposal is now more necessary and urgent.
Kirk Greer speaks at the rededication of a plaque honoring his great-grandfather Mayor William Kirk Greer at City Hall on Monday. Kirk Greer with Mayor Jennifer Macksey and cousin Robert Duker. Local historian Paul W. Marino, left, was instrumental in the plaque's return. Greer's family including great-great-great-grandson Wyatt. PreviousNext

'Missing' Plaque Honoring Former Mayor Dedicated at North Adams City Hall



The bronze plaque originally hung in the warp shed of the Hoosac Cotton Mill and had been purchased by the employees. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  A bronze memorial to a former mayor once thought lost to the ages has found a permanent home at City Hall.

Two great-grandsons of Mayor William Kirk Greer traveled to the city on Monday for the unveiling of the plaque on a column outside City Hall.

"History is very important to us here in North Adams," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "So we're certainly delighted to have an opportunity to restore this."

Greer served as mayor from 1923 to 1924 and while his name might not ring any bells, a century ago he was a prominent and popular citizen.

"This is really a rededication because this was originally in one of the mill buildings here many years ago and it honored somebody who I've come to understand was actually quite a remarkable figure in history," said his great-grandson William Kirk Greer, who goes by Kirk.

Kirk Greer and his cousin, Robert Duker of Arizona, said this was the perfect time for the unveiling, marking 100 years since Mayor Greer took office. It was also two days before his 151st birthday.

The plaque doesn't honor his time in office or his other civic contributions but rather the appreciation of the workers he interacted with during his long career in the Hoosac Cotton Mills.

It was dedicated in front of 350 employees, company executives and union leaders in the now demolished warp room of the Union Street mill, according to an article in the North Adams Transcript. Greer, the mill's agent (similar to CEO), was described as being fair and generous, a leader at a critical time in the '30s, a friend to everyone, and "an upright citizen."

Greer only served one term as mayor and ran as the Republican candidate in 1922 on the "demands of party leaders and civic-minded residents," according to the Transcript.

He won by 720 votes over his opponent in what was the biggest election to date with a 76 percent turnout.

Called the city's first "business mayor," he introduced a pay-you-go policy and was considered to have the most business-like administration at that time. He declined, however, to run again for office despite entreaties and that "he was practically assured of election."

He would serve a few months on the city's charter revision committee, and for years as a director of the North Adams National Bank and of North Adams Savings Bank, of which he was president. He also served during the war as the city's industrial protection director for the Office of Civilian Defense.

"I never met my great-grandfather ... but I did know his children, Henry, Bert and Dorothy," said Kirk Greer, whose grandfather was Henry. He would listen to family members tell stories, and came away with the thought that "here's kind of a really important and dignified gentleman who was a big part of the history of North Adams."

Greer, who attended Williams College, did some research here about his ancestor during one of his trips to the city from his home in Fairfield, Conn.

"What I discovered was a really truly remarkable man," he said. "I now understand why this plaque was raised to him."

Mayor Greer died in 1945 in a New York City hospital. He was only 72. He'd spent his later years in rooms at the Richmond Hotel and at the family farm in Rising Sun, Md., which was sold off in the 1980s.

The plaque that was assumed long gone was found in a workshop on the farm and Kirk Greer decided to take it home.

Local historian and Historical Commission Chairman Paul W. Marino was key to the plaque's return to North Adams.

"One of my cousins sent me one of Paul's articles, a link to the article. ... this little story about this plaque that had gone missing," Greer said. "I said wait a minute, I know where that plaque is."

Greer contacted Marino and discussions about the plaque's future began.

"Everybody thought it would be best that I kept it, but I've never really known what to do with it," said Greer. After 38 years in his possession, and talks with family, it was decided that North Adams was the appropriate place for it.

Macksey said the outside column had been selected because it's a prominent spot that people pass every day. Marino spoke about how too many memorials become "invisible" to residents and stressed the importance of local history.

"This monument used to be seen only by laborers in the Hoosac Cotton Mills," said Marino. "Now it's going to be seen by practically everybody who visits City Hall."
Lenox Library to Host Lecture on Math Anxiety

LENOX, Mass. The Lenox Library will continue its Distinguished Lecture Series on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. when Annette Guertin, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Berkshire Community College.

She will discuss "Are You Afraid of Math? Math Anxiety and Ways to Overcome It."

Annette Guertin will explore the topic of math anxiety, looking at ways to address it on a daily basis. How can breathing, writing, and counting be helpful? Audience members will be invited to participate in this interactive presentation. A resource list also will be provided.

For 41 years, Annette Guertin taught courses ranging from Elementary Algebra to Math of Art and Nature at Berkshire Community College. Embracing the philosophy that math is everywhere, she has researched and implemented biofeedback methods that help students far beyond the math classroom.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Please visit https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page for more information.
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" The proverbial saying 'power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely' conveys the opinion that, as a person's power increases, their moral sense diminishes.

Origin - the short version

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is the best known quotation of the 19th century British politician Lord Acton. He borrowed the idea from several other writers who had previously expressed the same thought in different words.

Origin - the full story-----read if you have time to spare

Absolute monarchies are those in which all power is given to or, as is more often the case, taken by, the monarch. Examples of absolute power having a corrupting influence are Roman emperors (who declared themselves gods) and Napoleon Bonaparte (who declared himself an emperor).

Lord Acton - the origin of

'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" arose as part of a quotation by the expansively named and impressively hirsute John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (18341902). The historian and moralist, who was otherwise known simply as Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

The text is a favourite of collectors of quotations and is always included in anthologies. If you are looking for the exact "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" wording, then Acton is your man. He coined the phrase but he didn't invent the idea; quotations very like it had been uttered by several authors well before 1887. Primary amongst them was another English politician with no shortage of names - William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778. Pitt said something similar in a speech to the UK House of Lords in 1770:

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"



'Absolute power...' is one of the language's best known proverbs.

'Absolute power...' is one of the language's best known proverbs.

Acton is likely to have taken his lead from the writings of the French republican poet and politician, again a generously titled individual - Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine. An English translation of Lamartine's essay France and England: a Vision of the Future was published in London in 1848 and included this text:

It is not only the slave or serf who is ameliorated in becoming free. The master himself did not gain less in every point of view, for absolute power corrupts the best natures.

Whether it is Lamartine or his anonymous English translator who can claim to have coined 'absolute power corrupts' we can't be sure. What we can be sure about is that it came before Lord Acton's more famous version. Whether Acton was aware of Lamartine's essay we can't now tell.

Conclusion

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is one of the proverbial sayings that seems to be proved correct by experience of people's actual behaviour.

It was coined by the English nobleman Lord Acton in 1857, using similar ideas expressed by several of his contemporaries.
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MPs and music industry figures have offered their support to an indie band facing legal action from the brand owner of easyJet over their similar names.

Easy Life, a five-piece indie group formed in 2017 and signed to Island Records the following year, announced earlier this month that they were being sued by the airlines brand company, easyGroup, after being accused of being brand thieves. EasyJet is not part of the legal action.

EasyGroup has claimed that the band, formed of Murray Matravers, Oliver Cassidy, Sam Hewitt, Lewis Alexander Berry and Jordan Birtles, is infringing the rights of online retailer Easylife because their name is too similar.

Easylife is an independent website that licenses its name from easyGroup for an annual fee. The legal action intends to force Easy Life to change their name.

In an Instagram post shared on Tuesday (3 October), the band members of Easy Life issued a statement telling their followers they had worked hard to establish [their] brand and believe that they have not affected Easylifes business.

The band added: Theyre forcing us to change our name or take up a costly legal battle which we could never afford. Although we find the whole situation hilarious, we are virtually powerless against such a massive corporation.

In response, several fans and public figures have been sharing messages of encouragement to the musicians, while condemning easyJet and easyGroup for the legal action.

Massive PR own goal by easyJet... how about supporting young artists rather than crushing them with corporate greed? Kevin Brennan, Welsh Labour MP for Cardiff West, posted to X/Twitter.

Tom Watson, UK Music chair and deputy Labour leader, remarked: If this is true then its an absolute outrage. easyJet, what on earth are you doing?

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Hi @easyJet, why are you suing a young band to change their name? Tom Gray, the chair of music creators association The Ivors Academy, wrote.

Theyve been performing as Easy Life for eight years and you trademarked it last year. Theyve traded under it and they dont compete in anything like the same area. So why are you doing it? Seems cruel here.

(Getty Images)

Harriet Harman, the Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, offered public support for the band on social media. Reposting Grays message, she added a note urging the airline to cease their legal action.

Hi easyJet please confirm that you are withdrawing the legal action launched against my constituents band Easy Life forthwith, she wrote.

Jon Ashworth, the Labour MP for Leicester South, also threw his weight behind the bands cause, tweeting: This is ludicrous from @easyJet  youve got my full support @easylife  Ill do all I can to help.

Gray also defended the bands use of a font and colour that resembles easyJet for a piece of merchandise.

Honestly, folk sharing this thinking @easylife are bang to rights: It is a t-shirt parodying a flight itinerary.

EasyGroup said in a statement last week: With reference to the brand thief Mr Matravers and his fellow band members who have decided to use our brand, easyLife, without permission.

We have a long established record of legally stopping thieves from using our brands and I am confident we will stop Mr Matravers.

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Easy Life and EasyGroup for comment.
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At least 700 tourists that include seven foreigners were evacuated from the flood-hit northeastern state of Sikkim, according to government authorities.

On Tuesday, the evacuation of the stranded tourists continued in the Lachen and Lachung regions of north Sikkim. A majority of them were transported by air from locations like Thangu and Chungthang, besides Lachen and Lachung a day earlier.

About 150 tourists, accompanied by around 500 local residents, crossed a makeshift log bridge in Chungthang on foot too to escape the flood-hit regions.

On 4 October, about 3,000 tourists from different regions of the country found themselves trapped in north Sikkim towns after a cloudburst in Lhonak lake triggered flash floods in the Teesta River.

These floods wreaked havoc in the Chungthang Valley and inundated the river basin areas in four downstream districts.

According to army sources, road connections to Chungthang, a crucial stop on the route to Lachen and Lachung, were completely severed. At least 1,700 tourists were stranded there alone.

A senior Sikkim government official said more than 700 individuals, comprising tourists, locals and labourers trapped in places like Chungthang, were successfully evacuated from the flood-affected areas to safety. This effort included the construction of a bailey bridge, according to local media.

After the disaster, plans were immediately drawn up with the air force and the army to evacuate, by helicopter, the tourists as well as local people who needed medical treatment, a senior Sikkim government official said on Monday.

However, bad weather in the north prevented the choppers from flying to these places during the past four days. Today, as the weather improved, the choppers conducted multiple sorties and rescued the tourists.

Lhonak lake in Sikkim burst its banks on 4 October and caused serious flooding, which authorities said impacted 22,000 people and became the latest deadly weather event in a mountainous region in south Asia that is being blamed on the climate crisis.

In August, over 70 people died in landslides triggered by cloudbursts in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh.

Record rains in July this year killed more than 100 people over two weeks in northern India, as roads were waterlogged and homes collapsed.
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Cambodia reported the death of a two-year-old girl on Monday due to bird flu  making it the second fatality from the virus within a span of two days in the country.

On 8 October, Cambodias health ministry announced the death of a 50-year-old man from Romeas Hek district in Svay Rieng province due to bird flu.

Local media reported that the two-year-old girl was from Prey Veng province and health investigators found dead chickens in her house.

This year, Cambodia has reported a total of four cases with three fatalities.

In February, the country documented an H5N1 case in an 11-year-old girl from Prey Veng province, followed by a confirmed infection in her asymptomatic father, who was isolated at a hospital.

The two cases in February marked Cambodias first H5N1 infections since 2014.

Cambodias ministry of health has urged citizens to be more vigilant about bird flu, which it says continues to pose a threat to people, especially children and vulnerable groups.

This marks the 59th documented case of bird flu in the country since the virus first emerged two decades ago.

Earlier, after the death of the 50-year-old man, the ministry said that their officials are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim.

The disease typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact.

According to the World Health Organization website, since 2003, this virus has spread in bird populations from Asia to Europe and Africa, and to the Americas in 2021, and has become endemic in poultry populations in many countries.

Outbreaks have resulted in millions of poultry infections, several hundred human cases and many human deaths. Human cases have been reported mostly from countries in Asia, but also from countries in Africa, the Americas and Europe, it says.
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A two-month-old baby is among the 29 victims of a devastating airstrike on a refugee camp in northern Myanmar, which the countrys shadow government has condemned as a war crime by the military.

The National Unity Government (NUG)  a shadow administration operating from exile after a 2021 military coup  said the junta government launched an attack on a village near the town of Laiza in Kachin State at 11.30pm (local time) on Monday.

The junta has denied responsibility for the attack and said it is investigating.

Multiple long-range artillery were fired on the camp housing around 300 internally displaced families, NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw told The Independent.

"The bombing was so powerful that everything in the area was destroyed," he said, adding that many women and children were among the victims. At least 56 people are undergoing care at local medical facilities, he said.

Calling the incident a "war crime", Mr Zaw said the NUG strongly condemned the "horrendous attack" on civilians.

The United Nations in Myanmar on Tuesday said it was deeply concerned about reports of deaths of civilians at a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in northern Kachin state.

The UN in Myanmar is deeply concerned by initial reports from Kachin that civilians, including women and children, have been killed and injured in a bombing, it said on Facebook.

IDP camps are places of refuge, and civilians, no matter where they are, should never be a target.

The military in a statement on Tuesday morning denied being involved in the attack. We are investigating. We always take care of the border peace situation, junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told Yangon-based People Media.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a bloody civil war since the junta led by General Min Aung Hlaing wrested power by overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 February coup. The military has been accused of increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule.

More than one million people have been displaced since the coup, the United Nations estimates.

The Kachin Independence Army, which controls swathes of the state, suspects it could be a drone strike as they "didn't hear the sound of any aircraft flying past before the attack".

"I was told the bomb was dropped right on the camp," spokesperson Col Naw Bu told Myanmar Now.

The NUG believes the attack to be a retaliation as the junta continued to suffer losses in fighting the rebel forces in Kachin State, which has a long history of unrest. "Not only are they attacking the displaced people, they are also disrespecting the Chinese border as the neighbour wants a stable border before their Belt and Road summit," Mr Zaw said.

"We are working with our Kachin ethnic allies in supporting victims and families," he said, urging the international aid organisations to provide assistance in the region.

Images published by local media showed the entire camp being reduced to rubble, with make-shift houses and cars destroyed. Other images showed nearly two dozen bodies in bags lined up on the floor.

Monday's strike is the deadliest since the junta attacked the Sagaing region in April, killing over 100 people, including children. The junta claimed it attacked the village of Pazigyi because it was holding a ceremony to mark the opening of an office for their local volunteer defence force.

In October 2022, the junta bombed a community event held by the Kachin Independence Organisation in Hpakant Township, killing at least 80 people.

A report published by the Peace Research Institute of Oslo in June claimed that more than 6,000 civilians had been killed in nearly two years of the conflict following the military coup in the country.
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UK gas prices soared on Tuesday after it emerged that Finlands government believes a leak in an underwater pipeline was caused by external activity.

Authorities said they have opened a sabotage investigation and are working on the presumption that someone had actively impacted the gas pipeline.

They stressed that the investigation is still at an early stage, and is evaluating if the damage was deliberate, or accidental.

A statement by Finnish president Sauli Niinisto said a communications cable had also been damaged.

https://x.com/jensstoltenberg/status/1711733199527678254?s=20

The damage to the underwater infrastructure has been taken seriously and the causes investigated since Sunday, he said.

He added: The state authorities have been kept closely informed of the situation.

It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable is the result of external activity.

The cause of the damage is not yet clear and the investigation is continuing in cooperation between Finland and Estonia.

He said it is likely the damage was caused by external activity, and added that he has been in contact with Nato.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said it appears the leak could not have been caused by normal activities.

The gas pipeline, which started to leak over the weekend, runs between Finland and Estonia, across the bay of Finland.

It comes into land some 25-31 miles (40-50km) to the west of the two countries capitals, Helsinki and Tallinn.

Balticconnector pipeline leak" data-source="">

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said: Spoke with President Sauli Niinisto on damage to undersea infrastructure between Estonia and Finland. Nato is sharing information and stands ready to support allies concerned.

UK gas prices jumped 12.7% to 123.2p per therm on Tuesday after Swedish Radio, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti and state broadcaster Yle all reported that the leak was not thought to be an accident.

The Finnish government has called a press conference at 5.30pm local time (3.30pm BST).

Researchers in Estonia are reported not to have noticed any seismological activity, which could indicate an explosion.

On Sunday morning, the Balticconnector pipeline in the Gulf of Finland, which is shared by the two countries and Russia, was taken out of service due to a suspected leak.

The operators of the pipeline said they had noticed an unusual drop in pressure at around 2am local time.

They have not yet said what they think might have caused the leak, but the companies warned that if they find a leak it could take months to repair.

It comes a little over a year after explosions hit the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic, which transported gas from Russia to Germany.

The Balticconnector pipeline, which opened in 2020, is used to send gas between Estonia and Finland, depending on which country is most in need at any point.

Both countries said their energy security is not under threat due to the potential leak.
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With all the access teenagers today have to the internet and social media, they may see more distressing news stories than even their parents.

Palestinian militant group Hamas  deemed a terrorist group by the UK Government  invaded Israel on Saturday from Gaza, with rocket attacks by air as well as military in boats.

Since then, Israel has sealed the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, medicine and other supplies, while launching retaliatory air strikes on the territory, which is home to 2.3 million people.

The most recent numbers suggest 900 people have been killed in Israel, 700 in the Gaza territory and the West Bank, and many hostages have been taken. Hamas has pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks target civilians in Gaza.

The conflict has sparked protests by pro-Palastine and pro-Israel groups in the UK and prompted political division on social media.

Teenagers are likely to be exposed to a lot of the news, internet discussion and perhaps distressing images of conflict. So how should parents approach this?

Talk about it at home

Dr Jeri Tikare, clinical psychologist at Kooth, a digital mental health platform, believes parents should be as truthful as they can with their teenagers.

This means that it is important for us to not to hide things away from them. It is better for them to hear it from us (their people of safety) as opposed to reading it or hearing it from others, he says.

Also bearing in mind the curious nature of the mind. It is inevitable that for things that they do not understand, they might research and look for answers.

It can be helpful if they get their information from a reliable source which can feel contained and reassuring. But share information at a level that is developmentally right and just enough to help the young person feel contained and safe.

Check yourself

As the parent, learn the basics of what is going in the conflict yourself from reputable sources so you can have balanced, informed conversations with your child.

It can also be useful to be aware of our own reactions as parents or primary caregivers, he says. One of the ways young people learn and develop is via observing and then modelling adult behaviour. Hence, they can pick up anxieties or worries displayed by parents.

Validate and normalise expressing emotion

If your teen is particularly affected by distressing news stories about war and conflict, Tikare encourages parents to give their teenagers the opportunity to express how they are feeling in different ways  such as writing, drawing, stories, songs, and things that feel helpful for the young person.

Some find a feelings box helpful, he adds. It might also be helpful to introduce them to some simple relaxation techniques such as taking three deep, slow breaths, breathing in for a count of three and out for three.

Be there for them

Giving your teenager the space, time and encouragement to open up about how they feel on any subject  world news or otherwise  is key.

I know that life can be hard, busy and sometimes young people are aware of this and might not want to disturb you, Tikare says. Therefore, it might be helpful to make a conscious effort to let them know that you are mindful of how difficult it can be and reassure them that you are available to talk about things.

Giving them extra love and attention at this time can be helpful, especially at difficult times like this.

Discuss social media

Tikare acknowledges that television, social media and other platforms can be very distressing and exacerbating for teenagers.

But you may not be able to prise your child away from posting on their social media accounts altogether.

It would depend on the motivation behind posting and where they are posting, Tikare says. Posting about the feelings experienced around the conflict in a supportive and possibly moderated space, with people sharing similar feelings associated with the conflict, can help normalise the experience and leave them feeling less alone.

On the other hand, it could also expose them to content and comments that could potentially trigger distress. So be sure to make them aware of the content they may come across online.
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It was a not-so glamourous end to Paris Fashion Week, as a widespread outbreak of bedbugs caused panic and disgust in the French capital.

Paris authorities sent out a public warning that no-one is safe, with the small insects making their way through the city. In recent weeks and months, there have been numerous sightings on public transport and other locations.

No one is safe. You can catch them anywhere and bring them home, and not detect them in time until they have multiplied and spread, deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire, told French TV.

Videos posted on social media show insects crawling over seats on the Paris Metro as well as appearing in huge numbers on cinema seats.

Some users have also shared their experiences of being bitten by the critters.

So, how can you help protect yourself against a bedbug infestation? Heres everything you need to know.

How do you know if you have bed bugs?

Bedbugs cause cause itchy welts aroud the body (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

To find out if you have bedbugs, its best to keep an eye out for two things:

1. Bites on your body  these look like little red marks that cause itchy welts. These welts usually appear in a zigzag pattern, the American Academy of Dermatology Association says.

2. You should always keep an eye out for signs of bedbugs, this includes odour, specks of blood on bedding, exoskeletons, tiny blackish specks and eggs.

 Odour: If you notice a sweet or musty smell in your sleeping area, there might be a heavy infestation in the room, the AADA says.

 Specks of blood: Look at your bedding, mattress and furniture  if you notice specks of blood anywhere, the insects might have made their way into your home.

 Exoskeletons: The small insects have an outer shell that they shed and leave behind. Check for remains on your bedding, mattress and cushions.

 Tiny blackish specks: The blackish specks are a sign of beg bug excrement.

 Eggs: After mating, female bedbugs lay white, oval eggs in cracks and crevices, the AADA says on its website. These will be in the size of an apple seed, so keep your eyes peeled.

These small creatures can be found in your mattress as well as other spaces around your home (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

How do I treat bedbug bites?

The NHS says bedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so but there are a few steps you can take to help you during your recovery process:

 Put something cool, like a clean, damp cloth on the affected area to help with the itching and to ease off any swelling.

 Be sure to keep the affected area clean to prevent any further infection.

 Try your best not to scratch the affected area.

You can also get steroid creams like hydrocortisone cream to ease bedbug bites. However, children under 10 and women who are pregnant should get advice from a doctor before using this cream.

Another option would be to use antihistamines, these may help if the bites are very itchy and youre unable to sleep, the NHS says.

How to get rid of bedbugs  the dos and donts

You might have to call pest control to help you get rid of the insects. (Getty Images)

It can be hard to get rid of the small insects on your own, so you might need to contact your local council or pest control service to get rid of the pesky creatures.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce bedbugs:

 Remove the affected bedding and clothing  wash on a hot wash of 60c and tumble try on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.

 You can also put the infested bedding and clothing in a plastic bag and place It in your freezer for 3 to 4 days.

 Its time to up your cleaning game  bedbugs are found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning will help you spot them early, the NHS adds.

Heres what you should avoid doing:

 Do not keep clutter around your bed, try to keep your space as clean as possible.

 Do not bring second-hand furniture indoors unless you have cleaned and carefully checked it.

 Do not take luggage or clothing indoors without checking it properly  especially if you have come from somewhere where you know there are bedbugs.

What are the causes of bedbugs and where do they live?

The wingless parasitic insects are found all around the world and may be linked to, more frequent travel, changes in pest control practices and insecticide resistance.

Bedbugs can be found in:

 Clothing

 Luggage

 Bedding

 Boxes

 Box springs

 Mattresses

 Headboards

 Objects near beds

According to the Mayo Clinic, they can also be found:

 Under peeling pain or loose wallpaper

 Under carpeting near baseboards

 In upholstered furniture seams

 Under light switch plates or electrical outlets

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Can bedbugs reach the UK?

The short answer is yes

Bedbugs have a lifespan of between four to six months and are known to cling onto dirty suitcases  so it is possible that they may hitch a ride on the Eurostar which is just two hours away from London.

The Independents Barney Davis asked David Cain, founder and MD of Bed Bugs LTD and a qualified microbiologist, whether the bugs could survive the journey.

Easily, yes, without a shadow of a doubt, he responded.

Read the latest on the bedbug infestation in Paris here.
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Julia Fox has reflected on her brief relationship with Kanye West, with the model revealing how he asked her out and claiming that he controlled what she wore.

The actor, 33, discussed how she first met the rapper  who she dated for two months in 2022  in her new memoir, Down the Drain, published on 10 October. In the memoir, she wrote that she and West, who she only described as the artist, received each others numbers through mutual friends, before having long conversations on the phone.

According to Fox, they then met in person on New Years Eve in 2021 and had dinner together the next day, which is when he asked her to make the relationship official.

Would you want to be my girlfriend? He added: How would you feel about taking the relationship public? the Uncut Gems star recalled in the book. She wrote that, while she initially turned Wests request down, the musician then said something that ultimately changed her mind.

If youre worried about me embarrassing you, I wouldnt do that. You have a son, and my mom was a single mom, she recalled West telling her, referring to her two-year-old son, Valentino, who she shares with ex-husband Peter Artemiev.

In the memoir, Fox continued to open up about the relationship, with the actor claiming that her ex had sent a variety of clothes to her room after they first met. However, despite the amount of clothes, she said they were all variations of the same skintight, black jumpsuit. She claimed that, by their second date, West told her that he wanted to give her a styling team to help her with her wardrobe.

According to Fox, on her third date with the rapper, she met her stylist in the bathroom of a restaurant, before being offered different outfits to wear. Fox recalled that, after West hired the stylist, she wondered why he hadnt just told her that he didnt like her initial outfit on the date. She also expressed that she felt like a show monkey when the stylist gave her the clothes.

Fox added that, once she tried on a variety of pieces by notable designers for West, he allegedly told her: I could get you a boob job if you want. Although she wrote that she turned down the rappers offer, his comment still hurt her.

"His words stick to me like a piece of lint on my clothes. I cant shake off the uncomfortable feeling, she wrote.

While she only referred to West as the artist, Fox previously noted that hed be featured in her memoir. During an interview with The Los Angeles Times earlier this month, she confirmed she touched on the relationship in Down the Drain, but said that it was only lightly.

Im not signing a f***ing NDA just on principle. I never have, and I never will, she said. Unless its a professional opportunity, then sure.

She also reflected on the brief romance itself, noting that she first viewed the relationship with West as one that had potential and could be something real.

I really understood him on a visceral level, Fox said, adding that she thought ultimately Id be helping a precarious situation when it came to his dynamic with his ex, Kim Kardashian. But I learned very quickly that I was being weaponised, she continued. I just felt like his little puppet.

Julia Fox y Kanye West llegan al show de Schiaparelli (David Fisher/Shutterstock)

Fox also spoke to Rolling Stone about her time with West, saying the weaponising aspect is why the relationship only lasted a month.

It really wasnt that big of a deal, but other people made it such a big deal, she said of their time together, before adding that she suspects shes been blacklisted at times since the end of the relationship. I know for a fact Ive been up for certain things and couldnt do it because of dating Kanye. Its kind of wild.

Since the breakup, the PVT Chat star has spoken candidly about why she and West didnt work together. During an interview with ES Magazine in September 2022, she said that while there was a good amount of chemistry between the two of them, their relationship wasnt sustainable.

I was just going day by day and seeing where it went, she explained. It was just like, he still wants to hang out with me today, lets do it. And then real life set in and the lifestyle wasnt sustainable.

I couldnt fly away once a week. And I tapped out at the first sign of a red flag, she said, adding that she was proud of her decision. When asked what that red flag was, Fox responded: The unresolved issues that he was dealing with.

She also claimed that it seemed like West had a lot to work on while they were together, and she just didnt have time for it, or energy.

I dont have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it. Im proud of myself for that. Pre-Valentino Julia would have definitely stuck it out and been there for longer, Fox added.
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Julia Fox has spoken candidly about her short relationship with Kanye West, with the model alleging that the rapper weaponised her against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian.

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Uncut Gems actress explained that she first viewed the relationship with West as one that had potential and could be something real.

I really understood him on a visceral level, Fox said, adding that she thought ultimately Id be helping a precarious situation when it came to his dynamic with his ex, Kim Kardashian.

But I learned very quickly that I was being weaponised, she added. I just felt like his little puppet.

She told the outlet in her upcoming memoir, Down the Drain, she does touch on the relationship, but only lightly. Im not signing a f***ing NDA just on principle. I never have, and I never will, she told the Los Angeles Times. Unless its a professional opportunity, then sure.

Its, like, six pages, Fox said about Wests appearance in the book during an interview with E! News. I feel like I went very lightly on it. Im not trying to have bad blood or anything, its all in the past.

Fox and West broke up in February 2022, almost two months after they confirmed they were dating. The split also came shortly after the rapper went on a social media tirade in an effort to bring his family back together amid his divorce from Kim Kardashian.

Fox also spoke to Rolling Stone about her time with West, saying the weaponising aspect is why the relationship only lasted a month.

It really wasnt that big of a deal, but other people made it such a big deal, she said of their time together. Fox added that she suspects shes been blacklisted at times since the end of the relationship. I know for a fact Ive been up for certain things and couldnt do it because of dating Kanye. Its kind of wild.

Following the breakup, the Uncut Gems star has spoken out about why she and West  who formally changed his name to Ye  werent a good match. During an interview with ES Magazine in September 2022, she said that while there was a good amount of chemistry between them, their relationship wasnt sustainable.

I was just going day by day and seeing where it went, she explained. It was just like, he still wants to hang out with me today, lets do it. And then real life set in and the lifestyle wasnt sustainable. I couldnt fly away once a week. And I tapped out at the first sign of a red flag.

When asked what that red flag was, Fox responded: The unresolved issues that he was dealing with. She also claimed that it seemed like West had a lot to work on while they were together, and she just didnt have time for it, or energy.

I dont have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it. Im proud of myself for that. Pre-Valentino Julia would have definitely stuck it out and been there for longer, she explained, referring to her two-year-old son Valentino, who she shares with ex-husband Peter Artemiev.

Her memoir is set to be released on 10 October.
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Mark Steel has been diagnosed with throat cancer, the stand-up comedian has revealed in a first-person piece published on Monday 9 October.

Steel, 63, described the moment his diagnosis was confirmed as one of the happiest moments in my life as it preceded an agonising wait for his biopsy results that were initially lost in transit.

He shared that, while the cancer had spread to his lymph glands, it is very treatable and no longer as final as being beheaded.

Steel added he hopes to return to perfoming onstage in around six months, in an article first shared on his website.

He wrote: Im writing this a few days from an operation that I hope will confirm the location of the cancer, from which a programme of treatment can begin. The current estimate is that I should be able to start performing again in about six months.

Steel is a BAFTA-nominated writer, comedian, and author. He is best known for the BBC Radio 4 show Mark Steels in Town, as he travels across towns in the UK and creates custom stand-up sets for the locals he interacts with.

He was also the presenter of the BAFTA-nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC Two, and regularly appears on BBC Ones Have I Got News for You as well as Radio 4s The News Quiz.

He also hosts his hit current affairs podcastWhat The F*** Is Going On? as Steel tries to make sense of the world around us.

After announcing the diagnosis, Steel thanked his followers for their funny caring messages of support in a message on X/Twitter.

And to my brilliant partner and magnificent son and daughter, amazing friends and astonishing staff at St Georges and when this is over you must all come to mine to celebrate good health by getting utterly drunk x, he added.

The English presenter recalled he first noticed how one side of his neck was looking much bigger than the other somewhere around the middle of June.

I Googled Why is one side of my neck suddenly much larger than the other? he continued. Most of the answers suggested theres nothing to worry about unless it hasnt gone down after two weeks. After two weeks I told myself it had sort of gone down, in that it was only a bit bigger.

After an intitial consultation with his doctor, Steel was booked in for a scan before being advised to undergo a fine needle aspirational biopsy  as he grappled with the fear that thats how cancer starts.

He continued: A few days later I had a phone appointment with a doctor. He asked if Id suddenly lost weight, if I had night sweats, couldnt swallow properly, was out of breath, had blood in my mouth, did I smoke, how much did I drink?

These were unsubtle cancer questions, as obvious as a detective leaning towards you in a cell and asking if you have any evidence you were alone at home on the night of the murder, Steel added.

After his biopsy, Steel was told its results would be shared in around seven days, with the podcast host growing more optimistic that the lump wasnt cancer when he still hadnt heard back from the doctors office in five days.

Several people had told me that if the results were ominous, I would hear quickly. So when five days passed, I felt confident. When it got to 12 days, I rang the hospital cheerily and was told the biopsy was still being checked, he said.

Shortly after, he was informed that the results of his biopsy had been lost in transit and he would need to undergo a repeat biopsy to determine what stage of cancer he has.

Hang on, I said, No one has said its definitely cancer, are you saying its definitely cancer? Steel asked a member of the hospital staff.

After the biopsy was found at a different hospital, Steel learned he had secondary cancer  meaning he had cancer in two places. Eventually, he learned that the primary cancer is a lump in his throat, which he had initially discovered while shaving in June.

The results of the PET scan, the Rolls-Royce of scans, showed there was no cancer in me outside the neck and throat area, so there should be no reason why a combination of treatments wouldnt cure it all, he concluded, adding that its a cancer that can be got rid off.
A Hardin man died over the weekend in a motorcycle crash outside of St. Xavier.

The 62-year-old was traveling alone Saturday on a rural highway when his Honda left the road, according to a statement from Montana Highway Patrol. About 15% of all fatal crashes in Montana this year have involved motorcyclists.

The Hardin man was riding north on Secondary Highway 313 just east of St. Xavier, MHP said. Just after 5 p.m., he went off the right side of the road and was thrown off the bike. Emergency crews pronounced the man dead at the scene.

While the crash remains under investigation by MHP, speed is suspected to be a factor. With the road conditions at the scene of the crash reported to be bare and dry, it is currently unknown what caused the man to veer off the highway.

There was a second fatal crash over the weekend outside of Missoula, MHP reported. A 27-year-old Helena man was driving an SUV on Interstate 90. The SUV bounced off two guardrails before going off a bridge and into the Clark Fork River. The driver, who was traveling alone, was allegedly intoxicated.

So far this year, there have been at least 144 people killed on Montanas roads, according to MHP data. Fatal crashes are down compared to the 162 fatalities recorded at around this same time last year. Intoxication has consistently been a factor in more than half of the deadly crashes in Montana.

Of the 144 statewide fatalities in 2023, at least 23 have involved motorcycles. In Billings, the majority of people killed in crashes this year have been motorcyclists.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at a conference to discuss how the internet and social media are affecting young peoples mental health.

Harry and Meghan are on a panel which will discuss the issue at a mental health awareness festival, run by non-profit Project Healthy Minds, in New York.

It marks their first visit to the city since they were caught up in what they called a catastrophic car chase there in May.

The royal couple will speak alongside US surgeon general Vivek Murthy in a discussion moderated by NBC host Carson Daly, who has previously spoken of his struggles with anxiety.

The event, on World Mental Health Day, has been co-ordinated by the duke and duchesss Archewell Foundation.

The duke said: I cant start without thanking all the parents, the mothers and fathers that have been here today, for being with us physically here today  but also being on this journey for the last year, creating this community of shared experience.

The duchess said: A year ago we met some of the families, not all of them. At that time, it was impossible to not be in tears as Im sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories.

As parents, our kids are really young  theyre two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half  but social media is not going away.

I think by design, there is an entry point that is supposed to be positive, in creating community and something has devolved, and there is no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.

In the UK, the Princess of Wales gave a speech to young people gathered in Birmingham for a day of workshops and discussions to mark World Mental Health Day, with her husband in the audience.

Also on Tuesday, Harry and Meghan were all smiles when they visited the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York.

The schools website states it is the alternative to college that you have been looking for for people looking to start a career in tech.

Harry was applauded when he told a meditation class that if one of you starts to go quiet, doesnt show up, you need to find out why and added remember to have fun.

Meghan, who was wearing a varsity letterman jacket given to her at the Robert Clack School in Essex in March 2020, told a class she wishes her children were with her but they are doing well.

Students later rushed to take pictures with the royal couple before the schools co-founder Reuben Ogbonna joked back to class, everyone.
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Tom Holland and Zendaya recently had a puppy play date.

On Thursday 5 October, both actors took to social media to share clips and photos of the two of them with puppies while visiting the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home rescue centre in London.

Holland posted a carousel of photos on his page, including close-ups of many adorable sleeping puppies, as he was seen wearing a blue and white hazmat suit, which some in the comments speculated may have been to either prevent germs from getting to the puppies before they get vaccinated, or to avoid them from leaving any scent on the animals.

And he couldnt not include a photo of Zendaya, who could be seen sitting while holding a puppy on her lap.

Zendaya also shared footage of the visit on her Instagram Story of her holding one of the puppies.

@Battersea puppy heaven, the 27-year-old actress wrote in her Instagram Story. Alongside another snap, she shared: Like  are you kidding me? as a sleeping pup laid in her arms.

Zendaya then posted a clip of her stroking a puppy, writing: Got the lil legs going lol. Noons gonna be so mad when he smells me @battersea, referring to her dog Noons, who has his very own Instagram account.

Battersea also shared the pairs posts on its Instagram Story. Thanks for visiting us and supporting rescue @zendaya, the animal shelter wrote.

They loved you! Thank you for visiting @tomholland2013, Battersea continued alongside the actors carousel.

Tom and Zendaya visited Battersea to find out more about the work we do to support rescue dogs and cats and to meet some of the animals currently in our care, a spokesperson for the rescue added in a statement to People. It was lovely to welcome them to Battersea.

The pair first met while playing Peter and MJ in the 2017 Marvel film Spider-Man: Homecoming. The two first sparked rumours that they were dating that year.

Celebrating Zendayas birthday in September 2021, Holland posted on social media, making the couple Instagram official.

My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays, he captioned a photo taken in a dressing room, which showed Holland in his Spider-Man costume and Zendaya in the mirror. Gimme a call when youre up xxx.

In December of that year, they made their red carpet debut together for the Hollywood premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The two have largely kept their relationship on the more private side, which Zendaya revealed in a recent interview with Elle is because of her rise in fame.

Before, I could get away with going places and getting in and out. But in Boston [last spring], I would end up going right back home, because it was really overstimulating, she pointed out. Everybody would go hang out at a bar or something, and Id be like: Id love to, but I think I could ruin everybodys night. Because its just not going to be fun once Im there.

Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public, she added.
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With many struggling with mental health globally, World Mental Health Day seeks to raise awareness and destigmatise conversations surrounding mental health.

World Mental Health Day - recognised annually on 10 October - was established in 1992 through the World Federation for Mental Health. The organisation sought to bring attention to the ongoing mental health crisis by celebrating mental health advocacy and encouraging people worldwide to prioritise their mental wellbeing.

Mental health advocacy has been more necessary than ever. Each year, one in five American adults experience mental illness, while one in 20 contend with debilitating mental disorders, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). One in eight people reportedly live with a mental health condition that impacts their physical and social health, and these numbers are on the rise.

Advocates are trying to push for a more robust, accessible healthcare system. On a segment on the Today show, Phil Schermer, CEO of Project Healthy Minds, said: It should be as easy to find mental health services in America as it is to book a flight, hotel or restaurant reservation.

For World Mental Health Day 2023, the theme is Our Minds, Our Rights, which, according to the WHO, seeks to emphasise that mental health is a universal human right. The organisation added: Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health.

By checking in with your loved ones and friends - whether its a text, call, or making plans - people can help combat one of the key issues affecting worldwide mental health today: the loneliness epidemic. In May of this year, the US Surgeon General released an advisory warning the general public about the increase in loneliness in the United States and how it has been linked to lower lifespans.

Titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, the report found that, even pre-pandemic, a record amount of US adults had been experiencing loneliness to an unprecedented degree. The advisory added that loneliness could have devastating physical consequences, including a 29 per cent increased risk of heart disease; a 32 per cent increased risk of stroke; and a 50 per cent increased risk of developing dementia among older adults.

In the last few decades, weve just lived through a dramatic pace of change, Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy told NPR. We move more, we change jobs more often, we are living with technology that has profoundly changed how we interact with each other and how we talk to each other. He added to the outlet, And you can feel lonely even if you have a lot of people around you because loneliness is about the quality of your connections.

Nurturing your pre-existing connections and going out of your way to create new ones can not only ease stress, anxiety, or depression, but also influence health-related behaviors, according to the advisory report.

Another way people can celebrate World Mental Health Day is by prioritising self-care and mental breaks. Whether it's taking a day off from work, practicing yoga, or taking a relaxing bath, the National Mental Health Institute (NIMH) says that self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness.

Although there are many ways to practice self-care, the organisation advises that people try to prioritise sticking to a sleep schedule, exercising daily for a minimum of 30 minutes, and eating regular healthy meals. These three acts of self-care can make a big difference when struggling with mental health, and can provide a sense of stability and balance.
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Amid broad debate about French language's place in France's former African colonies, Algeria is denying that efforts to force Francophone private schools to adopt the country's national curriculum constitute hostility toward French.

Education Minister Abdelkrim Belabed said that no languages were being targeted in Algeria and noted that multilingualism was among the education system's major achievements.

All languages are welcome, he said Saturday..

Algeria has more French speakers than all but two nations  France itself and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nearly 15 million people out of the countrys population of 44 million speak it, according to the International Organization of the French Language. But Algeria is among the many nations throughout Africa placing a greater emphasis on English and Indigenous languages and, in the process, reevaluating French's role in school and society.

Neighboring Mali changed its constitution to remove French from its list of official languages and Morocco made English classes compulsory in high schools.

This year, Algeria is expanding English language courses in elementary schools and doubling down on efforts to enforce a law requiring that private schools  including ones that have taught almost exclusively in French  abide by the predominantly Arabic national curriculum.

Enforcement efforts against private schools that prepare students for higher education in French aren't new. They date back to 2019. But authorities hadn't until this year aggressively pursued enforcing them. Their efforts provoked headlines and outcry in French media and among Algerian families who can afford tuition.

Belabed said the law's critics were describing the country's efforts without context and reaffirmed Algeria's position that private schools had to teach the national curriculum, which he called a vehicle for our societies identifying values.

Though French remains widely used in Algeria, the language has been subject to political questions since the country wrested its independence from France after a brutal, seven-year war more than 60 years ago. Langauge has become closely tied to Algerian nationalism since that era, when political leaders adopted the slogan Algeria is my country, Arabic is my language and Islam is my religion.

There are only 680 private schools in Algeria, which educates more than 11 million students. Few operate in French or try to teach double curriculums in both languages to prepare students for higher education.

The effort to crack down on French and private schools teaching outside the nationally mandated curriculum comes as Algeria adds English language courses in elementary schools.

Public universities are making English part of their core curriculums this year as part of a move to transition to the language in science classes.
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Auto workers walked off the job at three General Motors facilities in Canada early Tuesday after failing to reach agreement with the automaker.

Their union, Unifor, represents more than 4,200 workers at the plants. They had warned they would begin a strike if no agreement was struck with GM by midnight local time.

The action came after Unifor workers ratified a new three-year labor contract with Ford. They are seeking a similar agreement with GM.

This strike is about General Motors stubbornly refusing to meet the pattern agreement. The company knows our members will never let GM break our pattern  not today  not ever, Unifor President Lana Payne said in a statement.

She said GM was not meeting the union's demands for pensions, support for retired workers and steps to transition temporary workers to permanent, full-time jobs.

General Motors Corp. said that while very positive progress had been made, the company was disappointed not to be able to strike an agreement.

We remain at the bargaining table and are committed to keep working with Unifor to reach an agreement that is fair and flexible for our 4,200 represented employees at Oshawa Assembly & Operations, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre, Jennifer Wright, GM Canada's executive director for communications, said in a statement.

Payne said earlier that the union had a lot of bargaining leverage with GM because the factory in Oshawa, Ontario, is working around the clock to build profitable Chevrolet pickups.

Workers at Ford of Canada ratified a new deal late last month that raises base hourly pay for production workers by almost 20% over three years.

Unifor had so far avoided going on strike against the Detroit automakers, unlike its U.S. counterpart, the United Auto Workers.

Its members at a fourth GM facility, the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, are covered by a separate bargaining agreement and remain at work, the Unifor statement said.

Unifor is Canada's largest private sector union, with 315,000 workers in many industries.
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A woman claims jetting to Turkey for a boob job saved her life after medics diagnosed a deadly pregnancy complication.

Lauren Parker, 25, flew to Istanbul, Turkey, on September 5, 2023, for a breast uplift and implants.

Before leaving the UK, she experienced unusual bleeding but had been assured by her GP she was fine to fly and put it down to an abnormal period.

But, during a consultation with surgeons on the day of her breast operation, a routine blood test revealed Lauren was around five weeks pregnant.

An ultrasound showed Lauren was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy - a potentially deadly condition where the fertilised egg gets stuck in the fallopian tube.

Concerned doctors advised they needed to act fast and explained there was no other option but to operate.

Surgery and removal of a fallopian tube is the most common treatment for an ectopic pregnancy - however, it does reduce fertility and chances of conceiving.

During a 45-minute keyhole surgery, a surgeon removed her fallopian tube - saving her life as she had started to bleed internally.

Medics then kept her under anaesthetic for another seven hours while they performed her breast enlargement - taking her breasts from a baggy size B to a size E.

Lauren, an aesthetics practitioner and lash technician, from Southampton, Hampshire, said: If I didnt go for that surgery I might not be here today.

I was certain I wasnt pregnant - I didnt believe them at first.

The staff in Turkey were amazing - they saved my life.

On top of that, I got my new boobs too, so it was amazing all around.

I know there are horror stories about Turkish clinics, but I cant recommend this one highly enough.

After booking her 3,600 breast enhancement and lift in August 2023, Lauren was excited to finally get her new bust after becoming sick of her droopy, far apart boobs.

She felt they had become worse than ever after shed dropped six stone during a two-year period - going from 16st8lbs and a size 16 to 10st8lbs and a slender size 10.

But just weeks before going away she began to experience intermittent bleeding, period pains and felt faint and sick.

Lauren even took a pregnancy test to ensure shed be fit to fly- which came back negative.

When the bleeding continued, she reached out to her local GP - who gave her tranexamic acid medication to control the bleeding thinking it was an erratic menstrual cycle.

She said: I was feeling really rough and was worried with all the bleeding that Id not be able to have the operation.

I was worried about my iron levels to be honest and didnt want to bleed out if I did have it.

I was a bit shocked my GP didnt try and find out a bit more or run any tests or see me in person.

But I was told I was fine to go out there, so I went.

Lauren - who travelled with her boyfriend, Bradley Jones, 31, an accounts manager - was shocked when tests at the cosmetic surgery clinic revealed she was expecting.

The pair had not been officially trying to conceive but had stopped using anything after feeling they were ready for children.

I requested multiple tests because I could not believe I was pregnant, she said.

Then the ultrasound scan came back with nothing and the doctors there were all really confused.

It wasnt until they did another closer scan that they found the pregnancy was actually in my tube.

It was scary - they were all really worried about me and offered to do the operation themselves or advised I get back to the UK for it ASAP.

Lauren chose to have the 1.5k operation to remove the egg and fallopian tube at the clinic on September 6 and had her boob surgery at the same time.

She said: They saved my life by being so thorough.

Lauren in a Turkish hospital after receiving keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tube (Lauren Parker / SWNS)

They were absolutely wonderful, they really cared and put me at ease.

It was amazing, I felt in such safe hands.

I knew something wasnt right before I left the UK, I wish Id trusted my gut and been listened to here.

It was weird not knowing if Id wake up with new boobs or not as they said theyd only do them if the keyhole had gone well.

Despite being left with just one fallopian tube, Lauren is feeling positive about the future.

I know it will be harder to get pregnant but Im not going to stress just yet, she said.

Im only 25 and we have lots of time to try.

I have been told Ill have to be quite careful about how I get pregnant and have lots of tests.

Its a bit scary but Ive got lots of information.

I feel much better now, Ive got the look that I want.

I felt so frumpy before.

The shape is amazing, I feel so much better in myself and much more confident now.
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Three people have been arrested during protests and vigils over the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The arrests were confirmed by the Metropolitan Police, who said officers will continue to have an enhanced visible presence on the streets of London to reassure the public.

A special focus will be placed on Jewish communities across the city.

Supporters of both Palestine and Israel took to the streets of London on Monday to attend vigils and protests after the conflict heightened on Saturday when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy in Kensingston (PA)

A police spokesperson said: UK policing has an obligation to uphold the right to protest. However, we are clear that where any activity crosses into criminality, we will, and have, taken action.

British Transport Police arrested a 15-year-old male in Kensington High Street on suspicion of assault on an emergency worker, racially motivated criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon.

A 70-year-old man was also arrested in Kensington on suspicion of racially motivated criminal damage and a 29-year-old man was arrested in Oxford Street on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration in Piccadilly Circus on 9 October (PA)

A police statement said further active arrest enquiries are underway, including into criminal damage to a building in Kensington High Street.

The statement said the force is balancing the right to lawful protest against any disruption to Londoners, while ensuring all communities are supported and reassured.

It said they were aware of concerns about the use of flags and symbols on Londons streets that could lead to people feeling threatened although no offences have been identified.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy in Kensingston (PA)

The waving of a particular flag is not, in itself, a specific criminal offence unless it relates to a proscribed organisation, the spokesperson said.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy in Kensingston (PA)

We have zero tolerance for any hate crimes.

The Israeli embassy in west London was boarded up as hundreds took part in a pro-Palestine demonstration on Monday.

Groups including Stop the War and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign gathered at the embassy in Kensington, waving placards calling for Israel to end the occupation.

A protester climbs a lamp post as people take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy (PA)

Fireworks were let off, flares were lit and chants of Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar rang out.

Around 2,000 people attended a Jewish community vigil in Westminster for Israel, arranged by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

It comes after Palestinian militant group Hamas sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday.

At least 900 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 600 have been killed in Gaza, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.
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A local councillor has begun a High Court fight with Home Secretary Suella Braverman over the housing of asylum seekers on a barge.

Carralyn Parkes wants a judge to conclude that she has an arguable case and give her the go-ahead to challenge the lawfulness of the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland Harbour, Dorset.

Mrs Parkes, a member of Portland Town Council and the Mayor of Portland, says she is deeply concerned by the Governments planned accommodation on the Bibby Stockholm.

Lawyers representing Ms Braverman say Mrs Parkes challenge should be dismissed.

Mr Justice Holgate is considering arguments at a High Court hearing in London, expected to last a day.

She is deeply concerned by the planned accommodation of around 500 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge by the (Home Secretary), especially by the fact that the (Home Secretary) proceeded on the basis that she did not require planning permission and without any adequate consultation with the local community, Alex Goodman KC, who is leading Mrs Parkes legal team, told the judge, in a written case outline, on Tuesday.

The public importance of the claim is self-evident.

Mr Goodman said Mrs Parkes argued that the housing of asylum seekers on the barge was a breach of planning control and that there had not been compliance with environmental impact assessment duties.

He said she had an arguable case.

Paul Brown KC, who is leading Ms Bravermans legal team, said the challenge was made to a decision, taken in April, to house destitute asylum seekers on a specially adapted barge temporarily moored in Portland Port.

He argued that Mrs Parkes claim was out of time, without merit and said the judge should refuse to give permission for the challenge to proceed to a trial.

Mrs Parkes is also arguing that Ms Braverman has not complied with duties under the 2010 Equality Act.

Mr Goodman said segregating non-British people raised links to racial segregation that was so obnoxious.

He said it was something obviously required to be considered in relation to a public sector equality duty.

Government lawyers said the local planning authority did not think planning permission was required.

They also argued that there was no general principle that housing non-British asylum seekers together on a vessel was unlawful under a public sector equality duty.
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Sir Keir Starmer got a standing ovation as he condemned the senseless killings unleashed by Hamas terrorists in Israel in his speech to the Labour conference.

With war between Israel and the militants raging on for a fourth day, killing hundreds on both sides, the Labour leader was forced to tackle the developments head-on in his address in Liverpool.

He said he has been shocked and appalled by events in Israel, which was attacked by Hamas on Saturday, and was met with loud applause as he reiterated his support for Israels right to respond.

I utterly condemn the senseless murder of men, women and children  including British citizens  in cold blood by the terrorists of Hamas, Sir Keir said.

This party believes in the two-state solution  a Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

The world is becoming a more volatile place Sir Keir Starmer

But this action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians and Israel must always have the right to defend her people.

And conference, these events, the war in Ukraine, they show precisely the test of our era. The world is becoming a more volatile place.

Sir Keirs words and the reception in the conference hall  with frontbenchers Yvette Cooper and David Lammy joining in the standing ovation  signals a shift from the era of Jeremy Corbyns leadership when Palestinian flags were waved in the arena.

Labour has been largely united in condemning Hamass wave of violence, while Mr Corbyn, who was attending events in Liverpool outside of the conference, resisted directly criticising the militant group.

Some on the left of the party have spoken up in support of the Palestinian people as Israel implements a full siege on more than two million people.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy called for humanitarian access to Gaza as he maintained support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

After days of lack of clarity over whether he would speak as planned at the Labour Friends of Palestine event on the fringes of the conference, Mr Lammy gave an address after it was confirmed Husam Zomlot  the head of the Palestinian mission in London  would no longer be appearing.

Mr Lammy condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas, but said Israels response must be proportional and in line with international law.

I agree with President Macron when he said we must not confuse the fight against terrorism, with the most elementary humanitarian support for civilian populations, Mr Lammy said.

There needs to be humanitarian access and supplies to Gaza. We must distinguish between Hamas and the Palestinian people because failure to do so would only embolden the terrorists and punish the wrong people.

There will not be a just and lasting peace until Israel is secure, Palestine is a sovereign state and both Israelis and Palestinians enjoy security, dignity and human rights.

He said it may never have felt more distant than it does today he would not give up hope for two steps. living side by side in peace.

Senior Labour MP John McDonnell urged supporters of the Palestinian people to mobilise to press for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel to prevent a possible annihilation of civilians in Gaza.

Mr Corbyns former shadow chancellor told a Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) event on the conference fringe that the Middle East may be set alight in a way never seen before without de-escalation.

Mr McDonnell, who has condemned Hamas for targeting civilians, told the meeting: I think our role as individuals and members of the Labour and trade union movement, and every other organisation that we can possibly mobilise as well, is to try and get some acknowledgement that the key factor now must be the protection of civilians.

Im so fearful, Im so worried that whats happening in Gaza now is that were seeing almost an annihilation of civilians.

And therefore everything we have to do now is to mobilise both within our own country, but internationally as well, to try and put pressure on the international community now to ensure that the attacks on Gaza end and that a form of dialogue is opened up to secure initially, at least some form of ceasefire, de-escalation, and then hopefully the first steps to a longer-term solution.

I know weve been here so often before but Im not sure weve been here on this scale of the potential loss of life  civilian loss of life in particular.

If this continues on in this form, it could set the Middle East alight again on a scale weve not seen, maybe, ever.

Shadow exports minister Afzal Khan apologised after posing for a photograph in front of a Palestinian flag saying end apartheid now at the PSC stall at the conference.

It can only be interpreted as an endorsement of an ongoing military occupation, support for human rights violations and as a green light for the Israeli government to proceed with intended war crimes Ben Jamal, PSC director

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the Aslef trade union, urged Labour supporters at the event to peacefully demonstrate in support of Palestinian people.

If anybody in this room believes that this movement, this party, shouldnt be on the side of everybody for a peaceful and just solution for self-determination, then we shouldnt be in the Labour Party, he said.

I urge you to go out and call for the rights of self-determination for the Palestinian people, the most peaceful and best way possible, as quickly as possible.

Ben Jamal, PSC director, criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and London Mayor Sadiq Khan for having emblazoned public buildings with the Israeli flag, arguing the symbol should be extended to all civilians who will have been killed in the past few days and will be killed in the coming weeks.

It can only be interpreted as an endorsement of an ongoing military occupation, support for human rights violations and as a green light for the Israeli government to proceed with intended war crimes, he added.
Members of an 85-person group trip to religious sites in Israel and Palestine are now on their way home after the vacation took an unexpected turn when Islamic militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, marking the latest installment in the ongoing conflict in the region.

North Dakota residents comprised a large portion of the group, which included members of Christian congregations in Fargo, West Fargo and Grand Forks, along with some smaller western Minnesota communities, according to The Forum. The group has made its way to Jordan, a country that immediately borders the embattled region, according to a Tuesday statement from U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.

Hoeven, alongside U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., has been in contact with the State Department in an attempt to plan for the groups return to the United States. The situation in the region has rapidly evolved since Saturday, when Hamas launched its first attack against Israel in the form of around 1,000 troops and thousands of rockets. In the following days, Israel has declared war and launched a counteroffensive that has the Gaza Strip squarely in its crosshairs.

The State Department committed that the ambassadors office will directly contact the group and assist them in securing flights out of the region, Hoeven said in his statement. We also spoke with Father Ackerman to coordinate with him, and we are relieved that the group has now made their way to Jordan. We continue to condemn this horrific attack by Hamas against Israel and are praying for all of the victims.

Hoeven was referring to the Rev. Phil Ackerman of Holy Cross Catholic Church in West Fargo, who is one of multiple North Dakota faith leaders on the trip.

Meanwhile, Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday directed all government agencies to fly the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff from sunrise Wednesday until sunset Friday as a mark of respect for Israeli victims, and he encouraged North Dakotans to do the same at their homes and businesses. The Governors Residence will be lit up in blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag, to show support for the U.S. ally and its people.

North Dakota joins the international community in condemning these horrific acts of violence against our allies in Israel. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those Americans who have been killed and all the victims of this brutal war waged by Hamas, Burgum said in a statement. We also pray for those North Dakotans trying to come home from Israel and we continue to urge the State Department to assist with their safe return."

The clash is the newest iteration of the decadeslong battle over Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, which stretches back to the 1922 Mandate for Palestine that later led to the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence and subsequent Arab-Israeli War. In the years since, Israeli territory has expanded as many Palestinians have been pushed out of their homes.

The Israeli death toll since Saturday has risen to over 1,000, according to the Israeli Embassy in the U.S. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 830 deaths in the city, which is currently the target of extensive Israeli air strikes, as of Tuesday.

North Dakota elected officials rushed to decry the Hamas attack in the days after the war began, characterizing it as "brutal" and "horrific" while calling for support for Israel, a longtime American ally. Israel is the 15th-highest military spender in the world as of 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II, according to Congressional research, receiving about $3 billion in annual military aid.

The United States has pledged its support to Israel in the conflict, with President Joe Biden signing off on an initial wave of aid. The House of Representatives also introduced a bipartisan measure Tuesday signaling its support of Israel; 390 representatives, including Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., have backed the resolution.
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UK special forces allegedly had a policy of executing males of fighting age in Afghanistan in circumstances where they posed no threat, an independent inquiry has heard.

The central allegation of the probe, which will focus on alleged illegal activity in the war-torn nation between 2010 and 2013, is that special forces abused night raids to carry out the policy.

Counsel to the inquiry Oliver Glasgow KC said there were also claims that Afghan partner units refused to serve with UK special forces due to their behaviour.

Before detailing the circumstances of one alleged unlawful killing on a night raid, also known as a deliberate detention operation (DDO), Mr Glasgow gave a health warning of graphic images that would be shown to the inquiry which could cause upset.

The DDO in question resulted in the death of Mohammed Ibrahim, who, the inquiry heard, worked as an Afghan government official between 2001 and 2007.

Mr Ibrahims family, including his son, Abdul Walli, claim he was an innocent civilian and no weapons were found at the compound when he suffered bullet and dog bite injuries.

A further DDO was then detailed by Mr Glasgow, in which nine men were killed  with their families claiming they were shot in bed, most likely while asleep.

Habibullah Alizai, who was the head of the family living in the compound, said he was woken by the noise of shouting and gunshots and that he was interrogated and beaten by soldiers during the raid.

Mr Glasgow said special forces said lethal force was used by soldiers in both DDOs in self-defence.

Ahead of the substantive hearings, which began at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday, families who allege unlawful killings called on the probe to provide us with the truth.

The probe will look at allegations that numerous killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP).

My family and I request the inquiry team to provide us with the truth and explain to us why and on what basis we had to go through this cruelty Saifullah family member

It was launched in the wake of legal challenges to the Government by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families as well as a number of significant media investigations.

Mr Glasgow said there were claims in a restricted security compartment, which were recovered years later, that there were details of a conversation with a soldier who allegedly admitted there was a policy in special forces to kill fighting-age males.

In his opening submissions, he said: Let there be no misunderstanding for those who have something to hide  the inquiry will use all its powers to make sure that if there is credible information of wrongdoing... no matter how senior their position, they are referred to the relevant authorities.

One member of the Saifullah family, who said his father, two brothers and cousin were killed during a night raid in February 2011, said since a raid by British forces, they are having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties.

My family and I request the inquiry team to provide us with the truth and explain to us why and on what basis we had to go through this cruelty, they said.

The probe is now set to hear submissions on behalf of the families of 33 people, including eight children, who were allegedly killed by special forces.

Our house was raided by foreigners and my brother and sister-in-law were killed and their two children severely injured whilst they were sleeping in their bed Mansour Aziz

Mansour Aziz has called on the inquiry to listen to two children who were allegedly severely injured by British forces during a night raid on his family home in August 2012.

He said: Our house was raided by foreigners and my brother and sister-in-law were killed and their two children severely injured whilst they were sleeping in their bed.

We want to know the truth and why it was our house that was raided. We are asking for the court to listen to these children and bring justice.

Two RMP investigations, codenamed Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro, are set to be scrutinised by the inquiry.

No charges were brought under Operation Northmoor  a 10m investigation which was set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions by special forces, including those of children.

Operation Cestro saw three soldiers referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, but none were prosecuted.

The independent statutory inquiry was commissioned by then-defence secretary Ben Wallace under the 2005 Inquiries Act.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said: The MoD is fully committed to supporting the inquiry as it continues its work.

It is not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry and it is up to the statutory inquiry team, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine which allegations are investigated.
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Sacked GB News presenter Calvin Robinson has raised nearly 30,000 to keep a roof over his head  all while enjoying a dream trip to Disney World, Florida.

The right-wing commentator is enjoying the fun-filled holiday just a week after becoming embroiled in the Laurence Fox misogyny scandal that saw the pair booted off the channel.

Robinson, 37, said God is Good as he shared photos of his pancake buffet and fancy steak dinners, while asking followers to chip into his crusade against cancel culture fund.

The fundraiser, which has so far raised 28,000, reads: GB News was Deacon Calvins primary source of income.

Calvin Robinson enjoying his Disney Florida holiday ( @calvinrobinson/instagram)

We are raising funds to keep a roof over his head so that he can maintain his self-supporting ministry in London. We are also raising funds for a potential legal battle. Dcn Calvin will not take this one lying down!

With lots of spare time on his hands post-sacking, he posted a plane selfie telling his followers: Off on a pre-arranged preaching trip. A good excuse for a break away from a crazy week.

He took the time out of the trip to visit Disney World Florida spending most of his time it appears pretending to be Han Solo and visiting Pixar sections of the theme park.

Mr Robinson responded to requests for comment insisting the trip to Disney World was free.

He told The Independent: Disney World was a nice break from the hostile attacks from the likes of the Independent and the rest of the hard-Left who insist on attacking anyone who does not align with their worldviews.

No, I have not used money raised from my crowdfund. My travel and accommodation were paid for by the organisation that invited me to speak. My Disney trip was free. Thank you for taking such an interest in my activities.

The trip came the week after he filmed the police raid at close friend Laurence Foxs south London home as he was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras.

The pair were sacked minutes later with Fox finding out while still in police custody. He was later bailed.

Robinson shared the video, adding: Laurence has not yet done any Blade Running. This is a pre-crime.

Calvin Robinson, who hosted a religious current affairs show on GB News, was dismissed after sharing support for Dan Wootton and Fox after the actor-turned-activist asked who would want to shag that? referring to political correspondent Ava Evans.

UK media watchdog Ofcom received a total of 8,846 complaints about Foxs remarks.

Post-sacking Robinson told an outraged Megyn Kelly on a YouTube stream: I believed in [GB News].

A home for the people that feel like they have no voice, the silent majority in this country who have been disregarded by the metropolitan liberal elites.

"Weve got politicians and mainstream media all ganging together in the Westminster bubble, Net Zero this, Black Lives Matter that and critical race theory this and gender theory that ands drag queens reading to children.

"Its all abominable to the rest of us.

"Most people in this country believe in traditional British values, Christian values and theres no home for these people... it has been snatched away."

Calvin Robinson films a Toy Soldiers dance routine ( @calvinrobinson/instagram)

Last year, Robinson joined a breakaway conservative Christian movement to become a deacon after he was rejected by the Church of England.

Addressing the recent upheaval in the on-air team at GB News, with the axing of Fox, Robinson and the suspension of Dan Wootton, former Monty Python legend John Cleese said: They are clearing out a certain amount, which is not a bad idea, because they do believe in free speech.

The Independent has approached Mr Robinson for comment.
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A gunman accused of planning a mass shooting had designed a rocket launcher to fire a chemical weapon at police, a court heard.

Reed Wischhusen, 32, said the ballistic projector would contain a mind control substance based on weapons developed by Russia.

The Lidl warehouse worker told his trial at Bristol Crown Court he quickly gave up on the idea and never purchased the materials to build the weapon  describing the project as fantasy.

Wischhusen is accused of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition, which were discovered when police searched his home.

During the search, he attempted to take his own life in the bathroom with a pistol he had hidden in his coat but when that failed, he ran at armed officers pointing the gun at them and hoping they would finish the job.

The police officers fired three times  hitting him twice  as he ran down the stairs of his home in Somerset.

The jury has previously been told Wischhusen was fascinated with mass shootings and infamous killers such as the Dunblane gunman, Thomas Hamilton, and Raoul Moat.

It is alleged he had drawn up plans to carry out a hitman-style attack on his former school in a document he had called Revenge.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, defending, took Wischhusen through his lengthy written journal in which he discusses mass shootings and the manufacture of bombs.

Did you ever build a rocket launcher? he asked him.

Wischhusen replied: Pretty quickly I gave up on it. I designed one to launch a chemical weapon  not an explosive charge.

I was going to make some mind control substance and launch it at the police.

Mr Vaitilingam asked: Were you going to do this?

The defendant replied: No. Its just fantasy.

Wischhusen said he never completed the rocket launcher or had all the materials to complete it.

He added: I had done some research in mind control substances and there was an incapacitant the Russians were experimenting with.

In the revenge document, Wischhusen is alleged to have drawn up plans targeting people who had bullied him at school, as well as the Avon and Somerset Police firearms licensing staff who twice rejected his shotgun certificate application.

The four-page document also lists the types of weapons and explosives he would need to carry out his attacks.

Wischhusen told the court he had no intention of hurting anyone named in the document.

It was a psychological release and feelings like I am getting back at people, he said.

Its why people write their feelings down and tear it up and throw it away  just I forgot to throw it away.

I got power over them by writing it down.

Mr Vaitilingam asked: Did you intend to harm anyone?

The defendant replied: No.

Jurors also heard why the defendant had bought 1,000 primers, which he said were for manufacturing 9mm rounds at home for the submachine gun he had made.

Wischhusen said he only made about 10 rounds in total and had never fired them in the gun and did not have any intention of harming anyone with that weapon.

He told the court he had tried to join the Army in 2021 but was rejected because he had the eye condition blepharitis.

Wischhusen, of Wick Road, Wick St Lawrence, Somerset, denies charges of having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, having an explosive substance, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm without a certificate.

He has admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate in relation to the handgun incident last year.

The trial continues.
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The Home Office ignored serious problems with the UKs plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and failed to scrutinise assurances made by the east-African country, the Supreme Court has heard.

The government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the multimillion-pound deal, which would see migrants deported to Rwanda and have their asylum cases processed there, was unlawful.

Raza Husain KC, who represents a number of asylum seekers, told the UKs highest court on Tuesday that the Home Office had failed to acknowledge problems with the Rwandan asylum system and had ignored the countrys history of abuse of asylum seekers when considering whether it was a safe country to send migrants.

Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office, told the court on Monday that Rwandas promises to the UK marked a break with what has occurred in the past.

But Mr Husain referenced an open letter from Human Rights Watch that said the charity was deeply concerned that asylum seekers will be at risk of abuse if they speak up about their conditions in Rwanda or could be forced to self-censor.

The Home Office has argued that asylum seekers can use their internet-connected phones to express concerns about their treatment to family members or lawyers and said a UK monitoring committee would review 10 per cent of the formal complaints made.

But Mr Husain said refugees in Rwanda had been intimidated in the past by government officials.

He told the court: Senior government of Rwanda officials in 2015 warned refugees not to report attempts to recruit them in military operations ... and were told to go back to those NGOs and change statements.

He continued: Rwanda is a surveillance state. There is a former economic adviser to the president who said in July 2021 that the entire country is a spying machine.

He referenced the fatal shooting of 12 refugees by police in western Rwanda in 2018, where police fired live ammunition at refugees who were protesting outside a UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) office.

Mr Husain also argued that the asylum seekers wouldnt have access to a functioning appeal system if their claims were rejected in Rwanda. In one asylum claim refusal letter seen by the UNHCR, Rwandan officials did not explain why the claim was rejected, simply writing: Refugee status wasnt granted because you do not meet the eligibility criteria and the reasons given in your interview were not pertinent, the court heard.

Rwanda is less attractive than the UK but a safe country to deport asylum seekers to, the government has told the Supreme Court (PA Archive)

The Rwandan court system is not independent of the government, Mr Husain argued, and there are not enough lawyers to deal with any challenges to decisions.

Mr Husain also referenced a prior agreement that Rwanda had entered into with Israel, which saw around 4,000 people deported by Israel.

A report by the International Refugee Rights Initiative found that the majority of the migrants brought to Rwanda under the deal were smuggled out of the country by land to Kampala [in Uganda] within days of arriving in Kigali.

The report said: They are not given an opportunity to apply for asylum, and even if they wish to stay in Rwanda, their refugee claims cannot be assessed.

The Home Office has argued that Rwandas past failure to uphold its agreement with Israel was irrelevant because the deal with the UK is very different.

Mr Husain said: The secretary of state in her written case says that it appears in various respects that it was different. What she doesnt say is that the abuse didnt occur.

He argued: Rwandas breach of an earlier assurance, even with a state other than the UK, is obviously relevant ... How could it possibly not be.

Mr Husain also argued that there was a real risk of asylum seekers being forcibly returned to the countries they came from. The UNHCR has provided a number of examples where Syrian and Afghan refugees have been sent back to their home countries via Turkey and Dubai.

Mr Husain also said the UK governments monitoring committee, set up to scrutinise Rwandas treatment of asylum seekers, lacks teeth and lacks efficacy.

His comments were supported by representatives of the UNHCR who told the court they were very concerned about the involvement of a Rwandan government department, DGIE, in asylum processing.

Laura Dubinsky KC, for UNHCR, said the DGIE was part of Rwandas security service and had repeatedly and recently intervened in asylum applications. The DGIE is deeply embedded in the official decision making system, she added.

Ms Dubinsky expressed concerns that the secretary of state had allowed the agency, which she said has a history of very serious breaches of Rwandan law, into the heart of the asylum agreement between the UK and Rwanda.

The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is expected to end on Wednesday, with a judgment expected in a few months time.
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Scotlands First Minister has urged the Foreign Secretary to call for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.

In a letter to James Cleverly on Tuesday, Humza Yousaf urged him to use the positive relationship between the UK and Israel to push for civilians in Gaza to be allowed to leave.

It comes as Mr Yousafs in-laws remain in Gaza, where he said they are currently trapped but alive.

He wrote: Too many innocent people have already lost their lives as a consequence of these completely unjustifiable and illegitimate attacks by Hamas.

However, innocent men, women and children cannot, and should not, pay the price for the actions of a terrorist group.

As a close friend and ally of Israel, I therefore ask the UK Government to call on the government of Israel to ensure innocent civilians are protected and to put in place an immediate ceasefire to allow the safe passage of civilians through the Rafah border.

Furthermore, it should open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow supplies, including food, fuel, water and medical supplies for those civilians who are trapped, helpless and cannot leave.

Following the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on Saturday and subsequent reprisals, hundreds have been killed and thousands wounded, with the Government in Jerusalem saying they would put Gaza under siege.

Mr Yousaf went on to call on the international community to be proactive and work towards an immediate ceasefire and a long-lasting peace that sees Israelis and Palestinians treated as equal.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Tuesday, the First Minister gave an update on his family in the region, saying his in-laws survived the night but describe the situation as pretty horrendous.

Mr Yousaf said: We heard from my mother-in-law this morning. Thankfully she survived the night, theyre safe for now  but I use that term very loosely in terms of how safe they are.

Throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning, his mother-in-law Elizabeth El-Nakla said they could hear missiles and jets, causing them to be terrified, Mr Yousaf said.

He added: I think the worst thing is that they feel literally trapped.

Theyre being told to leave but they have nowhere to go.

As of an hour ago, the Rafah border had been bombed and even if it was open, theres no guarantee of safe passage travelling between where they live and the Rafah border.

The family  which include a 93-year-old woman previously described as frail by Mr Yousaf  have just one day of supplies left, he said.

The First Minister was also able to give an insight into the medical situation in Gaza, where his brother-in-law is a doctor.

Hes done a 24-hour shift and has said medical supplies are at the lowest hes ever seen, to the point where theyre having to use bits of their own clothes to try to bandage and tourniquet wounds where they can, he said.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson, said: We have been speaking with Egypt about maintaining the land crossing from Gaza into Egypt.

We have to remember Hamas is bringing pain on the Palestinian people on purpose. They murdered many hundreds of Israelis, knowing Israel would be forced to react.

Israel of course has a right to defend itself with a proportionate response.

We need to remember this was initiated by a widespread terrorist response by Hamas.
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A significant number of British-Israeli dual nationals have been caught up in the conflict in Israel and Gaza, the Foreign Secretary has said.

James Cleverly said he is uncomfortable giving exact numbers about the number of Britons affected by the fighting in the Middle East due to the situation being fast-moving.

The Cabinet minister told LBC: Even from the Israeli government, a lot of the figures about the casualties and fatalities are as yet to be fully confirmed.

So I dont really want to speculate but we do know that a significant number of British-Israeli dual nationals have been in some way involved in the terrorist atrocities.

He said the Government is standing ready to support any British citizens who are concerned or whose loved ones have been injured in any way.

Ministers are working with the aviation industry to ensure commercial flights remain available to Britons looking to leave Israel, he added.

The senior Conservative also urged pro-Palestine supporters in the UK not to protest, saying demonstrations are creating distress, and arguing that there is no equivalence between Hamass attack and Tel Avivs response.

Palestinian militant group Hamas  which is banned as a terrorist group by the UK Government  sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday, which also saw a music festival targeted.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli military, with authorities in Gaza saying about 700 have been killed in the territory and the West Bank, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.

Since the weekends atrocities, Israel has sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, medicine and other supplies, while launching retaliatory air strikes on the Hamas-ruled territory, which is home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas has pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks target civilians in Gaza without warnings.

There is no need, theres no necessity for people to come out Foreign Secretary James Cleverly

The conflict has sparked reaction in communities in Britain, with police separating pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups at High Street Kensington Underground station in west London on Monday.

Outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to demonstrate, letting off fireworks, lighting flares and chanting Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar.

The Foreign Secretary said he would encourage Palestine supporters to pause before joining further protests.

He told Sky News: There is no need, there is no necessity for people to come out. It causes distress.

This is a difficult, delicate situation.

He said the protests are causing concern in the Jewish community, who have often been on the receiving end of prejudice and threats of violence.

Pat McFadden, Labours national campaign co-ordinator, declined to tell people not to protest in support of the Palestinian people, but made clear that his party stands with Israels right to defend itself.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel and to reassure Britains Jews.

Mr Sunak told the United Synagogue in Finchley on Monday evening: There are not two sides to these events.

There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel.

Mr Cleverly echoed the Prime Ministers stance, saying it is inappropriate to attempt to compare the acts of Israels military to the incursion by Hamas.

The truth is that the reason we express our solidarity with the people of Israel is because terrorists took action to murder, to kidnap, and were now seeing reports that they are threatening to execute people that they have kidnapped, he told Sky.

The idea that somehow there is an equivalence, there is a kind of a balancing act between the actions of the Israeli government and their self-defence, and the actions of Hamas and their terrorists, is completely inappropriate.

I wouldnt want to do anything which would imply that to be the case. Of course, we want to see the minimisation of loss of life.

At least two Britons have been killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing.

Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by the group, which began on Saturday.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared dead.

A post from Mr Darlingtons sister Shelley on social media said he had been murdered at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. However, his death has not been officially confirmed.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas gunmen.

Noa Beer, 29, was at the Supernova music festival in Kibbutz Reim when 260 attendees were killed by Hamas.

She told The Sun that she fled the festival in her Jeep with three injured strangers and a DJ.

Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, she said, forcing her to drive through them.

There was one looking me dead in the eyes and lifting the gun to shoot us, she said.

I started driving towards him. I put my foot down and drove fast. He shot at us from maybe only two metres away and barely missed the window.

Around 30 British tourists on a church visit to the Holy Land are stuck in Jerusalem as they await a flight out of the country.

Father Nenad Popovic, from the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar in Birmingham, told the PA news agency: We can hear horns here and a lot of detonations, bombs sometimes.

UK citizens trying to fly home from Israel face a struggle to book flights, with routes between Tel Aviv and the UK cancelled, fully booked or with only a few spare seats costing more than 1,200 each.
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At least two Britons have been killed after Hamas fighters attacked Israel, with another feared dead and more missing.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said significant numbers of British-Israeli dual nationals have been caught up in the conflict, although he said he is uncomfortable giving exact numbers in a fast-moving situation.

One Briton, Nathanel Young was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Hamas, which began on Saturday.

The 20-year-old former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News.

Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone Eliot Young, brother of Hamas attack victim Nathanel Young

His brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone.

He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living.

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead.

A post on social media from Mr Darlingtons sister Shelley said he had been murdered at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. However, his death has not been officially confirmed.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died in the attack on southern Israel.

Mr Cowans family told the BBC: We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.

We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed.

Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border.

His mother Lisa told the Jewish News on Sunday that the last message she had from her son was one saying he loved her.

He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, she said.

Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say Signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me.

Dor Shafir, 30, whose mother was born in Britain, remains missing after attending the music festival

His family told GMB News Richard Gaisford on Tuesday that his fiancee Savion had been found dead but there is still no sign of their son.

His cousin, Rob Simmons, told the show: For my cousin Dor, and many others, there are, unfortunately, three options.

Either they are in hiding in the area where they ran to safety, or they were part of the massacre that Hamas carried out, which the Israeli army cannot get to all of the fields in the areas just now.

Or they have been taken by Hamas into Gaza.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at a conference on how the internet and social media are affecting young peoples mental health.

Harry and Meghan are on a panel which will discuss the issue at a mental health awareness festival, run by non-profit Project Healthy Minds, in New York.

It marks their first visit to the city since they were caught up in what they called a catastrophic car chase there in May.

The royal couple will speak alongside US surgeon general Vivek Murthy in a discussion moderated by NBC host Carson Daly, who has previously spoken of his struggles with anxiety.

The event, on World Mental Health Day, has been co-ordinated by the duke and duchesss Archewell Foundation.

The duke said: I cant start without thanking all the parents, the mothers and fathers that have been here today, for being with us physically here today  but also being on this journey for the last year, creating this community of shared experience.

The duchess said: A year ago we met some of the families, not all of them. At that time, it was impossible to not be in tears as Im sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories.

As parents, our kids are really young  theyre two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half  but social media is not going away.

I think by design, there is an entry point that is supposed to be positive, in creating community and something has devolved, and there is no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.

In the UK, the Princess of Wales gave a speech to young people gathered in Birmingham for a day of workshops and discussions to mark World Mental Health Day, with her husband in the audience.

Harry and Meghan were all smiles when they visited the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York earlier on Tuesday.

The schools website claims it is the alternative to college that you have been looking for for people looking to start a career in tech.

Harry was applauded when he told a meditation class that if one of you starts to go quiet, doesnt show up, you need to find out why and added remember to have fun.

Meghan, who was wearing a varsity letterman jacket given to her at the Robert Clack School in Essex in March 2020, told a class she wishes her children were with her but they are doing well.

Students later rushed to take pictures with the royal couple before the schools co-founder Reuben Ogbonna joked back to class, everyone.
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A man has been arrested after a protester disrupted Sir Keir Starmers speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

The 28-year-old from Surrey was arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday.

The protester was wearing a T-shirt linking him to a group called People Demand Democracy, which has named him as Yaz Ashmawi.

As Sir Keir began to address the gathering the heckler began shouting true democracy is citizen-led and threw glitter at the Labour leader.

The Labour leader pushed the activist away from the microphone with his right arm before security arrived.

The protester continued to shout politics needs an update, we demand a peoples house, we are in crisis and our whole future is in jeopardy as he was wrestled to the ground.

Sir Keir, who has repeatedly highlighted how he has shifted the party since Jeremy Corbyns leadership, said protest or power, this is why we changed our party.

After removing his jacket, the Labour leader said: If he thinks that bothers me, he doesnt know me, before beginning his speech with glitter on the shoulders of his white shirt.

A Labour spokesman said Sir Keir had had been completely unfazed by the incident.

It shows his true strength of character that he got on and delivered the speech of his life, he added.

The protester was later removed from the conference building through a back exit by two police officers before being put in a police van.

People Demand Democracy, described as friends by Just Stop Oil, is calling for a a fair, proportional voting system for Westminster elections, as well as a legally-binding national House of Citizens to be selected by democratic lottery.

The group issued a quote from the protester  who they did not name  saying: The Labour Party has been captured, donors and lobbyists have more control over Keir Starmer than his members.

A House of Citizens will force politicians to listen to people, it dismantles their relationships with the rich, it would create meaningful change in our economy and fix inequality.

It would address the climate and ecological emergency and transform our country.

It would listen to scientists and communities and unearth consensus, not profit off conflict and division.

Extinction Rebellion revealed Mr Ashmawi is one of its activists but said the glitter-throwing protest was not an XR action.

An XR spokesperson said: We agree with Yaz that true democracy is citizen-led and that our politics needs an update.

The greatest crisis we are facing is the climate and nature emergency and it is clear the political system is unable to cope with this.

This is why XR is demanding a UK-wide, independently-run citizens assembly on the climate and nature emergencies.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said he was really upset when that young man stormed the stage.

I saw him coming, and there was a bit of Tottenham that came up in me, he said  a reference to his north London constituency.

But he was a bit too fast and I wasnt quite sure.

At a conference fringe event, he said: I was upset because the people of Tottenham need a Labour government  they look in on the news and they will see what Keir Starmer has to say.

And that young man  probably middle class  has an issue, I understand its proportional representation, and he gets his moment of fame and the people of Tottenham, their opportunity is thwarted.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner told LBCs Andrew Marr I thought I was going to do a full John Prescott at one point  a reference to her predecessor who punched an egg-throwing protester.

Green energy industrialist Dale Vince, who until recently donated money to Just Stop Oil, told the PA news agency there was a lot to like in the Labour leaders speech.

Asked if he was confident that Sir Keir could deliver on the vision and things he would like to see happen, Mr Vince replied: I do because he also expressed his commitment to the climate crisis.

Greenpeace UKs head of politics, Rebecca Newsom, also praised the Labour leaders speech, saying his environmental plans are like a breath of fresh air.

After the speech finished, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC: It just shows, doesnt it, that you cant bother Keir Starmer with stuff like that.

Its about power not protest, that is what Keir Starmer was talking about. Were a party of power, not protest.

He kept going and made this amazing speech. We heard the serious points that he was making, and there wasnt any protester that was going to bother him.

A Merseyside Police statement said: We can confirm that a 28-year-old man from Surrey has been arrested following an incident at the Labour Party conference earlier this afternoon.

The man was detained by security at the event and handed over to the police who arrested him on suspicion of S39 assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance.

He has been taken to a police station where he will be questioned by police.

The Liverpool exhibition centre where the speech was disrupted said staff had dealt with the protest appropriately and that it would assist Merseyside Police as required.

It is not the first time one of Sir Keirs speeches has been interrupted by hecklers.

In July, activists from the group Green New Deal Rising interrupted the opposition leaders speech on education in protest at Labour watering down its plans to spend 28 billion per year on a green prosperity plan.

In 2017, Theresa May had her address to the Conservative Party conference disrupted by a comedian who handed her a fake P45.
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Waving a Palestinian flag on British streets may not be legitimate any longer if it is deemed to be a show of support for acts of terrorism, home secretary Suella Braverman has said.

The cabinet minister has told police officers to use the full force of the law against any shows of support for Hamas or bids to intimidate the UKs Jewish community in the wake of the attack on Israel.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington to demonstrate on that same evening, letting off fireworks, lighting flares and chanting Israel is a terrorist state and Free Palestine.

In a letter addressed to chief constables, Ms Braverman gave examples of protest that she said could amount to public order offences  including any that target Jewish neighbourhoods, waving pro-Palestinian or pro-Hamas symbols and chanting slogans that could be interpreted as anti-Israeli.

Putting pressure on police, Ms Braverman said she encouraged all chief officers to ensure that any protests which could exacerbate community tensions by way of offensive placards, chants, or behaviours that could be construed as incitement or harassment, have a strong police presence.

It is not just explicit pro-Hamas symbols and chants that are cause for concern, said Ms Braverman  who on Monday visited Golders Green, a north London area with a large Jewish population, which has seen a restaurant smashed and pro-Palestine graffiti.

I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated Section 5 public order offence.

She added: I would encourage police to give similar consideration to the presence of symbols such as swastikas at anti-Israel demonstrations. Context is crucial. Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism.

Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire)

Asked about Ms Bravermans comments on Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also said waving a Palestinian flag on the streets of Britain could be an issue  depending on the circumstances.

If its provoking or encouraging attacks that might be one thing, there might be other situations, he told LBC, adding: Its very important that at times like this we dont conflate peaceful discussion of Palestinian issues with Hamas.

Mr Starmer also called for the colours of the Israel flag to be displayed at the Wembley arch for Englands match this Saturday, as the FA deliberates whether to do so. He told LBC: I do think they should be on the arch. I think a message needs to go out that we stand with Israel.

The Labour leader also said the BBC should explain why it is not calling Hamas terrorists. The BBC needs to explain why it  I said terrorism and terrorist, and to me thats obviously what we are witnessing. So I think its for the BBC to explain why then not doing it.

Suella Braverman met people in Golders Green on Tuesday (PA Wire)

The BBC has rejected criticism over its decision not to call Hamas militants terrorists, after it was labelled disgraceful by the defence secretary Grant Shapps. Mr Shapps suggested that the BBC needed to fix its moral compass, as he urged it to revise its long-standing editorial position.

A BBC spokesperson said: We always take our use of language very seriously. Anyone watching or listening to our coverage will hear the word terrorist used many times - we attribute it to those who are using it, for example, the UK government.

Ms Shapps described actions by Hamas in Israel as pure evil and suggested he agreed with the characterisation of Hamas as human animals  saying the attacks on Israel were not human behaviour.

Asked on BBC Breakfast if he agreed with a top Israeli politician who had described the fight as one against human animals, Mr Shapps said: Yes. I mean, if you think about what has happened, you know, families being slaughtered and babies being murdered, festival goers, this is not human behaviour to go around and do that.

Grant Shapps says he agrees with description of Hamas as human animals (PA Wire)

It comes after Rishi Sunak vowed to hold people to account if they are found to be supporting Hamas in Britain. The PM said police have been given clear guidance to clamp down on any behaviour that falls foul of the law.

Three people arrested during the protests near the Israeli embassy in Kensington on Monday evening. Only a few miles east, more than 4,000 people joined a vigil outside No 10 organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

Hamas, the Palestinian group behind the surprise strikes on Israel on Saturday, which left more than 1,000 people dead, is proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK. Hamas sent fighters across the border into Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented incursion, which also saw a music festival targeted.

At least two Britons were killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing. Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas charge.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died. Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared dead.
Here's a look at trending topics for today, Oct. 9:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday he will run for president as an independent and drop his Democratic primary bid, adding a wrinkle to a 2024 race heading toward a likely rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Kennedy, a member of one of the most famous Democratic families in politics, was running a long-shot primary bid and has better favorability ratings among Republicans than Democrats. It's unclear whether GOP support would translate to a general election when Kennedy would also be running against Trump. Allies of both Biden and Trump have at times questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against their candidate.

Biden's allies so far have dismissed Kennedy's primary campaign as unserious. Asked for comment on his potential independent run, a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded with an eye roll emoji.

Read more about it here:

Why did Hamas attack

The Israeli government promised Monday to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack killed more than 900 people in Israel, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the countrys worst civilian massacres.

A day after formally declaring war, Israel's military worked to crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza, where almost 500 people have died since Saturday's unprecedented incursion.

The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices.

Here are some key takeaways from the conflict:

Amazon Prime Day

Bargain hunters know the annual Amazon Prime Day retailpalooza as an opportunity to score a bevy of deals on all manner of merchandise. That's why they eagerly await the two-day event.

But if you missed out on the event this summer, there will be more opportunities for Prime members to save this month. Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is taking place October 10 -11, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, in several countries including the United States.

Amazon Prime Day dates back to 2015 when it debuted in July to push sales during retails usual summer doldrums. At that time it was a novelty (and also just a single day.) But even when Amazon Prime Day was moved to October in 2020 due to pandemic issues, Amazon posted record Prime Day sales and ended up kicking off the holiday shopping season a month early.

Find out more here:

***

Get more on today's trending topics here:

Claudia Goldin

Indigenous Peoples Day
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Keir Starmers speech at Labour conference got off to a rocky start on Tuesday after a protester stormed the stage and doused him in glitter.

The man, named as Yaz Ashmawi, rushed on stage of the beginning of the address in Liverpool and shouted: We demand a people's house, we are in crisis  politics needs an update. We are in crisis.

A group which calls itself the People Demand Democracy, which Just Stop Oil describes as friends and which had just five followers on Twitter before the incident, claimed responsibility for the stunt. The protester was wearing a T-shirt featuring the groups name.

Ashmawi was dragged from the room by security after the microphone was cut and shouted democracy first as he was removed from the venue. Police in Liverpool later said a 28-year-old from Surrey was arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance.

Security at the Liverpool venue was notably laxer than that at the Conservative conference in Manchester last week, with limited bag-searched for attendees on the way in, in contrast to the full airport-style security for Rishi Sunaks party.

Following the incident, Sir Keir, who has repeatedly highlighted how he has shifted the party since Jeremy Corbyns leadership, told the audience: If he thinks that bothers me, he doesnt know me. Protest or power?

Thats why weve changed our party, conference. Its just as well it was me, because my wifes dress is really beautiful.

The Labour leader then removed his jacket, before beginning his speech with glitter on the shoulders of his white shirt.

According to its website, People Demand Democracy campaigns to replace the House of Lords with what the group calls a permanent citizens assembly.

This would effectively means the upper house would be selected at random like a jury, or what the group refers to as a democratic lottery.

Sir Keir Starmer was doused in glitter at the start of his keynote speech (REUTERS)

They also support proportional representation for Commons elections. The group is not large, and as of 6pm - four hours after the stunt - had around 300 followers on Twitter.

A statement posted on the groups website attributed to the protester said: A House of Citizens will realign power in society, it will empower people to set the agenda, guide policies and keep politicians in check. We all need a chance for a seat at the table, we all deserve a voice in the room.

A Peoples House brings people together like a jury, and provides the time to hear from experts and scientists to decide what policy is best for everyone.

The Labour Party has been captured, donors and lobbyists have more control over Keir Starmer than his members. A House of Citizens will force politicians to listen to people, it dismantles their relationships with the rich, it would create meaningful change in our economy and fix inequality.

Sir Keir Starmer was doused in glitter at the start of his keynote speech (REUTERS)

It would address the climate and ecological emergency and transform our country. It would listen to scientists and communities and unearth consensus, not profit off conflict and division.

The group says it wrote a letter to both Sir Keir and Mr Sunak asking them to implement our demands by 30th September 2023 or we will take proportionate action to get our message across.

Merseyside Police have mounted a high-profile operation with measures in place including a no-fly zone for drones around the conference venue. But security inside the centre is a matter for The ACC Liverpool group which runs the venue.

All people within the fenced-off secure zone surrounding the centre and the Pullman hotel require a conference pass, which is only issued after an accreditation process.

Attendees bringing bags have them searched or scanned, but otherwise security is relatively light-touch compared with the airport-style operation which was in place at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester  partly due to the increased risks surrounding the presence of the Prime Minister.

A party spokesman said Sir Keir was fine and completely unfazed by the incident.

But the party refused to comment on whether a review of Sir Keirs security arrangements would be launched. I wouldnt get into security matters, the spokesman said.

Sir Keir used the speech to address themes of housing and devolution, pledging Labour would bring the UK a decade of national renewal.

In a nod to New Labour, the opposition leader said the country had 13 years of things can only get better versus 13 years of things have only got worse.

The protester was dragged away by security (PA)

This is what we have to fight: the Tory project to kick the hope out of this country. Drain the reservoirs of our belief, he said.

I have to warn you: our way back from this will be hard, but know this: what is broken can be repaired.

What is ruined can be rebuilt. Wounds do heal. And ultimately that project  their project  will crash against the spirit of working people in this country. They are the source of my hope.

The ACC Liverpool group said it recognises the rights of all groups and individuals to free speech and freedom of expression but the safety of all those attending events including speakers, performers, customers and staff is of the utmost importance.

The venue said highly-trained stewarding and security teams ensured the incident was dealt with appropriately.
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Keir Starmer gave his annual keynote speech to Labour conference on Tuesday  in what could be his last in opposition.

After a rocky start in which he was interrupted by a protester, his speech appeared to go down well in the room, even if it was light on unexpected or new policy announcements.

Here are five key takeaways from the opposition leaders address to members.

Unleashing 'big build'

Sir Keir vowed to build "the next generation of Labour new towns" to prevent home-ownership from becoming "a luxury for the few not the privilege of the many". He said he would release "grey belt" land such as disused car parkers and "bulldog through" the UK's "restrictive" planning system.

Devolution to town and cities

One major focus of the Labour leader's speech was devolution. He said he would give towns and cities across the country powers enjoyed by metropolises like London and Greater Manchester.

Leaving behind the Corbyn years

As with all his speeches since becoming leader, Sir Keir made much of distancing himself from his predecessor. The opposition leader said his party was no longer "in thrall to gesture politics". At the start of his speech was disrupted by a demonstrator, he said "protest or power, this is why we changed our party".

Keir Starmer made it clear to conference that he was leaving behind the Corbyn years (Getty Images)

A decade of national renewal

This was a key theme of Sir Keir's speech, and was briefed in advance. Given parliaments last at most five years, the comments have been widely interpreted as a wish for two terms in power.

Tagging voices

The Labour leader also pledged to use the speech to build a country where everyone, regardless of background, felt "respected" and "valued". He said he would smash "hardest class ceiling of all" - the "nagging voice inside" telling working class people they do not belong.
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Keir Starmer has made a direct appeal to Conservative voters to join Labour, as he promised to lead a mission government in the national interest that would end the chaos of the Tory era.

The Labour leader rolled up his sleeves for his crucial conference speech  pledging to repair a crumbling Britain with a host of new towns and a new approach to economic growth, led by a renewed party.

A plan to build 1.5 million homes would save the dream of home ownership in Britain, he said.

Sir Keir also vowed to stick by Labours climate policy, after the prime minister watered down his net zero commitments. When Rishi Sunak says row back on our climate mission, I say speed ahead, he said.

In a major security breach, Sir Keir was attacked by a protester who rushed the stage  forcing him to brush off glitter and take off his jacket.

It came as Starmer:

Set his sights on a decade of national renewal, suggesting he wants two terms in power

Pledged to bulldoze his way to a series of new towns and restore the dream of home ownership with 1.5 million homes

Vowed to reform the health service, which he described as a sickness service, with technology

Boasted how he had changed party since Jeremy Corbyn and ended gesture politics

Promised to fight the election on economic growth

After the activist, a campaigner for voting reform who was later arrested, was dragged away, Sir Keir said: If he thinks that bothers me, he doesnt know me. Protest or power? Thats why weve changed our party, conference.

Sir Keir also got an ovation and loud cheers for saying he had ripped antisemitism out by the roots. In an appeal to patriotism and a dig at his predecessor Mr Corbyn, he said Labour was no longer a party of protest but a party of service  country first, party second.

Appealing directly to loyal Tory voters, he said all those who despair and look in horror at the descent of your party into the murky waters of populism and conspiracy should now join the Labour Party.

Sir Keir urged Tories to join Labour (PA)

Sir Keir railed against the dangerous Tory government, claiming that Mr Sunaks party had been taken over by populism and conspiracy.

He also warned the Labour faithful that the Tories would get nasty in the run-up to the general election expected in 2024, saying: They will be dangerous. Wherever you think the line is, theyve already got plans to cross it.

He said the Conservatives will deploy a scorched earth approach to policy in a fight to save their own skin ahead of the election  as he mocked Mr Sunak for scrapping HS2s leg to Manchester at the recent Tory conference in the city.

Promising to bulldoze through planning barriers, he announced plans for a series of new towns developed by state-backed companies with compulsory purchase powers  recalling the Attlee governments new towns programme, which would eventually lead to the building of Stevenage, Crawley, Basildon, Milton Keynes and others.

Mr Starmer said he was willing to have a fight with countryside campaigners, as he also committed to building on some green belt areas  saying areas that are scrubland and car parks would be released.

Pledging to build 1.5 million new homes during the five years of the next parliament, he promised to restore the dream of home ownership to young people. If we dont take action, it will only become more distant. A luxury for the few not the privilege of the many, he said.

Senior Tory MP Simon Clarke, the housing secretary under Liz Truss, backed Starmers call to build on greenbelt land. My party needs to respond to this challenge, he tweeted. Lord Frost, the former Brexit minister, said he very much agreed.

The Labour leader was interrupted by a proportional representation activist (AFP via Getty)

The Labour leader also vowed to get the NHS back on its feet by boosting capacity  getting the health service working round the clock with extra overtime payments, and using technology to drive efficiency and earlier diagnosis.

But Sir Keir warned there would be no New Labour-era injection of cash for the NHS. He said he wanted to use technology to overhaul every aspect of NHS delivery and pledged to oversee a reforming state, not a chequebooks state, warning the health service had become a sickness service.

Labour would fight the next election on economic growth, he said. Drawing battle lines with the Conservatives, he claimed they were supporters of the trickle-down nonsense, that sees wealth trickle up and jobs trickle out.

The leader of the opposition was briefly covered in glitter, but laughed off the attack (PA)

He vowed to turn the page on the cycle of drift, stagnate, decline under the Tories by steering the ship on industrial policy. This would involve a new generation of colleges training nuclear technicians, automotive engineers and computer scientists.

Sir Keir won a lengthy standing ovation from the Labour faithful for a section of his speech on class barriers. He pledged to smash the hardest glass ceiling of all  the nagging voice inside telling working class people they do not belong.

There were also jokes. He set his sights on Mr Sunak  mocking the PM for keeping a close watch on the cost-of-living crisis from the vantage point of his short-haul helicopter.

He said he was beginning to see why Liz Truss won as he segued into her being compared to a lettuce by the Daily Star during her short stint in No 10. I still think wed be better off with that lettuce, he quipped.

Labour said the speech had answered the question of why people should vote Labour at the election, saying the choice was now between national renewal or permanent decline under the Tories.

Tory chairman Greg Hands attacked Mr Starmer for failing to say anything about how he would tackle illegal immigration. He also accused him of the same short-term political decision-making of the last 30 years that has failed Britain  all glitter, no substance.

The 28-year-old activist from Surrey who interrupted the speech was arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance. The protester was wearing a T-shirt linking him to a group called People Demand Democracy, which has named him as Yaz Ashmawi.
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Sir Keir Starmer has uneviled Labours plans for a new generation of large towns and suburbs in the UK.

As part of his decade of renewal, he told the Labour party conference in Liverpool that he plans to build 1. 5 million homes in urban areas in an effort to deal with Britains housing crisis.

Plans to do so will mean releasing area of low-quality land such as scrubland, car parks or deserted shopping centres from the greenbelt. These greybelt areas will become brownfield areas, defined as land that has already been built on, and developed into affordable housing.

Its time to get Britain building again. Its time to build one-and-a-half million new homes across the country. Opportunities for first time buyers in every communities, Starmer said.

He added: Where theres good infrastructure, where theres good land for affordable homes, well get shovels in the ground, cranes in the sky and build the next generation of Labour new towns.

However, questions have been raised as to whether these plans could come to fruition. Brownfield development proposals have historically been met with local opposition.

In July, the Conservative government announced a new raft if proposals to increase housebuilding, focusing on developing brownfield sites. But the proposals were met with immediate disdain from MPs labelling them as nonsense plans to impose mass housebuilding.

Below, The Independent looks at key questions surrounding Starmers latest housing proposals:

A brownfield site awaiting development in Leeds (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

What is greyfield land?

The term greyfield land was first coined in the late 1990s in the UK and applies to buildings and land in towns and cities that is underused.

In the UK the term mainly refers to housing developments in airspace above car parks or on rooftops. But it is likely under the new proposals disused amenities such as empty shopping centres will be deemed as greyfield sites, as they are currently in the US.

Many greyfield sites are currently considered to be part of Britains greenbelt, so the policies would mean releasing the land and to make them brownfield sites for planning purposes.

Its thought empty high street shops could be used as greyfield sites (Getty Images)

What are the proposed plans?

Keir Starmer announced today that Labour will get Britain building and announced a new generation of large towns and suburbs, with Georgian-style townhouses in urban developments.

He says these areas would be developed by state backed companies with compulsory purchase powers, with amenities including doctors surgeries, schools and transport links hardwired into the plans.

Labour is set to focus on the south of England, including Cambridge and the M1 corridor around Milton Keynes, according to The Times.

However, Mr Starmer is set for a major row with nimby and countryside campaigners, since he will also commit to building on the some greenbelt areas  saying low-quality green belt such as scrubland and car parks should be released.

Compared to the average European country, Britain has a backlog of 4.3 million homes missing from the national housing market (Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Archive)

Can it work?

Plans to develop brownfield and greenbelt land alike has historically been met with local opposition.

Since the 1990s, governments have historically adopted a brownfield first approach, which sees brownfield land prioritised for development over greenbelt land.

Earlier this year, the Conservative government reiterated their commitment to developing on brownfield land, but was met with opposition almost immediately.

In Brighton, a plan to build nine new houses on a backstreet site occupied by garages was rejected in August after neighbours expressed concern for their sleep, wellbeing and mental health.

Currently, three Leicestershire MPs have called on Harborough district council to refuse almost 2,000 additional homes in the area, expressing concerns of more commuting, pollution and traffic jams.

Adressing the Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Starmer said: In the face of resistance - and there will be resistance - from people who say no, we dont want Britains future here, my message to them is this- A future must be built.

That is the responsibility of serious government and if we continuously wash our hands of this task we all end up in a rut. Just like now. So its time to get Britain building again.
 Close Starmer speech

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Keir Starmer vowed to oversee a decade of renewal if Labour wins the next election after his conference speech got off to a shaky start when a protester stormed on stage and covered him in glitter.

The Labour leader set out his mission for government, promising to build 1.5 million homes in what he described as a new generation of towns.

Shocking footage captured the moment the heckler evades security and dumps glitter over the Labour leader while wrapping his arms around him and shouting we are in crisis before finally being bundled to the ground.

The heckler was heard shouting: We demand a peoples house, we are in crisis  politics needs an update. We are in crisis. Footage emerged online afterwards of the protester being dragged from the building by police.

Removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, Starmer was applauded for keeping his cool and regaining control of the podium. He told the audience: If he thinks that bothers me he doesnt know me. Protest not power, that is why we changed our party conference.
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From reversing the Tories Rwanda policy to lowering bills for those directly affected by energy and housing projects  Labour used its annual party conference to set out exactly what it stands for ahead of the next general election.

Despite a runaway by-election victory in Scotland last week and being 17 points ahead in the opinion polls, there is still work to do for the party as the long campaign begins in earnest.

On Monday, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves set out plans to get Britain building again, fast-tracking planning applications for battery factories, laboratories and 5G infrastructure.

She also revealed proposals for a new Covid corruption commissioner with a hit squad of investigators to recoup money lost in the carnival of waste during the pandemic.

While Labour is tipped to win the next general election, the route to Number 10 will not be a straightforward one.

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer is under greater scrutiny than ever after admitting HS2s northern leg would not be revived under a Labour government, with some natural allies urging him to be bolder on policy in order to give voters a sense of hope.

So will this conference be seen as a successful milestone for the party currently on course for an election win?

Are the policies set out by Labour this week enough to give voters the hope they need? And, more importantly, are they election-winning?

If you have a question on the Labour Party conference, submit it now here, or when I join you live at 2pm on Thursday 12 October for the Ask Me Anything event.

Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article. If youre not already a member, click sign up in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here.

Dont worry if you cant see your question  they may be hidden until I join the conversation to answer them. Then join us live on this page at 2pm as I tackle as many questions as I can.
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Watch as the UK government challenges a ruling that its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful on Tuesday 10 October.

The Home Office is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the UKs multimillion-pound deal with the east African nation over the processing of asylum claims was unlawful.

Lawyers representing migrants facing deportation to Rwanda have told the Supreme Court that the destination is an authoritarian, one-party state with a woefully deficient asylum system.

During the first of a three-day hearing over the case, Raza Husain KC, representing a number of asylum seekers, said Rwanda imprisons, tortures and murders those it considers to be its opponents, adding that Home Office officials had repeatedly recorded their concerns about it.

Mr Husain said home secretary Suella Braverman does not dispute the state of the Rwandan asylum system significantly but rather seeks to ignore it.

He added it was the governments case that Rwandas assurances change everything and that the past is of little relevance, making reference to evidence of large-scale abuse under a similar previous agreement the country had with Israel.

Mr Husain said the governments extravagant claims in its Supreme Court appeal should be rejected.
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The Royal Military Police (RMP) were instructed to take no action despite data regarding alleged unlawful special forces killings in Afghanistan being deleted from a computer server, an inquiry has been told.

The probe heard, according to the RMP, the deletion of the server known as ITS1 at the special forces HQ in the UK was irreversible and a direct disobeyance to our demands to preserve the data in its entirety.

ITS1 contained data relevant to Operation Northmoor  a 10 million investigation set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions, including childrens, by special forces.

Counsel to the independent inquiry, Oliver Glasgow KC, told the probe at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday: Whether this was part of a conspiracy to cover up wrongdoing by UK special forces will need to be examined and determined in due course.

Accordingly, after nearly 15 months of negotiations to recover the entire data set from the UK special forces server, the SIO was instructed not to take any steps to secure what was promised and not to investigate why it was that (the UK special forces headquarters) had permitted data to be deleted Oliver Glasgow KC

The independent inquiry is set to examine whether UK special forces had a policy of executing males of fighting age who posed no threat in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

The probe will look at allegations that numerous killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the RMP.

Mr Glasgow read an extract from the policy log of a senior investigating officer (SIO) at the RMP in December 2016 following the server data deletion, which said: It appears that (the UK special forces headquarters) have deleted material from the preserved ITS1 server.

The deletion process has been conducted in such a way that it is irreversible and impossible to determine what has been deleted.

This is in direct disobeyance to our demands to preserve the data in its entirety.

The hearing was told the SIO advised on January 20 2017 that the ITS1 server should be recovered immediately but the gold commander at the UK special forces headquarters did not agree.

A week later, the SIO emailed the gold commander to say he had been instructed to take no action in respect of data recovery from ITS1 and take no action in respect of the deletion of data from the ITS1 server.

Mr Glasgow said: Accordingly, after nearly 15 months of negotiations to recover the entire data set from the UK special forces server, the SIO was instructed not to take any steps to secure what was promised and not to investigate why it was that (the UK special forces headquarters) had permitted data to be deleted.

The MoD acknowledges the extreme gravity of these allegations which are at the heart of this inquiry and is determined that the inquiry should follow the evidence and arrive at the truth Ministry of Defence

Continuing his opening submissions, Mr Glasgow said: The issue with the ITS1 server engages a number of the matters that this inquiry is required to examine.

Whether material was deleted, why it was deleted and what prevented this being independently investigated are matters that the inquiry will consider with care.

Whether this was, as has been suggested in some quarters, part of a conspiracy to cover up wrongdoing by UK special forces and designed to prevent Operation Northmoor from uncovering the truth, or whether this was simply the result of a server migration error, will need to be examined and determined in due course.

The answer or answers will depend entirely upon the evidence and it would be inappropriate to attempt to form any conclusion about what the evidence might show until it has been called.

Mr Glasgow said the inquirys investigations have suggested that the data transfer was undertaken by contractors and they, as part of the process to speed up the transfer, had run a programme that had the effect of permanently deleting already deleted data.

In its own opening submissions, delivered by Paul Greaney KC, the RMP said it will not shy away from any findings that suggest failings in its investigations.

Mr Greaney added: These were, RMP believes, properly and appropriately substantial investigations staffed by RMP personnel doing their utmost in difficult circumstances.

Following counsel to the inquirys opening submissions, Brian Altman KC, representing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the MoD has an enduring commitment to the inquiry.

He said: The MoD acknowledges the extreme gravity of these allegations which are at the heart of this inquiry and is determined that the inquiry should follow the evidence and arrive at the truth.

The inquiry continues.
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UK citizens trying to fly home from Israel face a struggle to book flights, with options from Tel Aviv either cancelled, fully booked or only have a few spare seats costing more than 1,200 each.

EasyJet usually serves Gatwick, Luton and Manchester Airports from the Israeli city but has paused operations on those routes. Wizz Air, which normally connects Israel with Gatwick and Luton, has also suspended those flights.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its two daily return flights between Tel Aviv and Heathrow until at least Wednesday.

Its other daily return flights are still operating but there is no availability on its UK-bound services until next week.

British Airways is continuing to run flights between Tel Aviv and Heathrow, with adjusted departure times.

People wanting to book a seat on the next available flight are being charged 1,204 to travel on Wednesday  though that is more than treble the price of a flight on the same route a week later, when the cost is just 385.

Israeli flag carrier El Al has no availability on flights to the UK until next week. Several airlines have introduced flexible booking policies, enabling customers to change their travel dates free of charge.

OpsGroup, an international membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff, said today that Israel is now an active war zone and that all lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied.

BA and Virgin Atlantic have adjusted their operations so that crews no longer need to night stop in Israel: their flights are timed to depart from London Heathrow shortly after 8am, arrive in Tel Aviv in mid-afternoon and return after less than two hours on the ground.

On 7 October, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, with its fighters entering communities near the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of residents and taking dozens of hostages.

The UK government has not provided an estimate on how many UK citizens are in Israel, however a travel industry source said the number of UK tourists in Israel is low.

Israels ministry of tourism said it is committed to ensuring that all tourists visiting Israel are safe and informed.

It added that it is operating a hotline via WhatsApp for tourists on +972 55 972 6931.
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Four British nationals who were being held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan have been released and are set to return to the UK on a flight.

The UK Foreign Office said it welcomes the release of the men, who were detained over allegedly breaking the countrys laws.

Non-profit organisation the Presidium Network, which has assisted the men, named three of them as charity medic Kevin Cornwell, from Middlesbrough, Miles Routledge and Ian Purchase.

The other cannot be named for legal reasons.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said the UK Government regrets this episode.

They went on: On behalf of families of the British nationals, we express their apologies to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country.

Scott Richards, co-founder of the Presidium Network, said the men were returning to the UK on Tuesday, but was unaware of which flight they were on.

Mr Routledge is a British holidaymaker who received widespread attention and criticism on social media in August 2021 having travelled to Afghanistan despite the Talibans gains in the nation.

Mr Cornwell had been working for the UN Refugee Agency in Kabul when he was detained in January.
A Detroit man accused of being a leader of a drug trafficking organization that targeted two American Indian reservations that share geography with North Dakota and also distributed drugs in Bismarck has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

Devonsha Dabney, 29, who also goes by the name Kemell, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Fargo to a charge of continuing criminal enterprise, according to U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider. U.S. District Chief Judge Peter Welte ordered Dabney to spend four years on supervised release following his prison time.

The case is part of Operation Letter to Reub, an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into the multistate trafficking of oxycodone and fentanyl-laced pills. The probe led by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement found that Dabney and co-conspirators targeted areas with fewer law enforcement resources where they could distribute illegal drugs at a premium price, according to Schneider. Forty-one people are charged in the case that authorities say is tied to the 5674 Reub Gang, a violent street gang operating out of Michigan.

Thousands of pills were brought to North Dakota and distributed in Bismarck and Minot and on the Fort Berthold and Spirit Lake reservations, authorities said. The Fort Berthold Reservation is home to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. Multiple people identified Dabney as the leader of the North Dakota operations, which began around 2017, according to Schneider.

Co-defendant Jonathan Walker, also known as Jay, was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison and five years on supervised release. Walker pleaded guilty to various drug trafficking offenses including continuing criminal enterprise.

Drug traffickers who think Indian Country is a soft target because of a perceived lack of law enforcement resources ought to think again, Schneider said in a statement Tuesday. This sentence shows that if you prey on tribal communities, you will be doggedly pursued by federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and you will face justice as a defendant in federal court. The success in this case is a product of the determination of our career prosecutors and the cooperative, multiagency approach taken by our law enforcement partners.

MHA Nation Chairman Mark Fox in a statement commended the agencies responsible for the convictions, including the MHA Division of Drug Enforcement.

We will continue to fight against illegal drug traffickers that are entering our boundaries and are extremely dangerous to our people," he said.
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The death of a 62-year-old Atlanta church deacon who was electrically shocked by a police officer was ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report.

As Johnny Hollman, the deacon, was being arrested after a minor car crash, an Atlanta police officer stunned him with a Taser and handcuffed him because he refused to sign a ticket. Hollman had a history of heart disease, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The Fulton County Medical Examiners Office told the outlet that Hollman suffered from cardiac dysrhythmia caused by the stun gun, which in combination with his medical history, led to his death. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The medical examiner, Melissa Sims-Stanley, said in her report that she reviewed the body camera footage of the incident, which has not been made publicly accessible, explaining how she concluded the manner of death was a homicide.

Based on my review and interpretation of the video, Mr Hollman is unresponsive from the time that the energy device (Taser) is deployed, she wrote.

The deacons death has resulted in a police policy change. Now, officers are allowed to write refusal to sign rather than arrest someone who refuses to sign a ticket.

Law enforcement and the lawyer for Hollmans family have different stories of how the incident transpired.

The officer attempted to issue a traffic citation to the at-fault driver. However, the driver became agitated and uncooperative, a previous release from the Atlanta Police Department said. The officer attempted to take the driver into custody, but he resisted, and a struggle ensued. Thats when a Taser was used, and a witness helped the officer place Hollman in handcuffs.

Once the driver was in handcuffs, the officer realized he was unresponsive and requested EMS to the scene, the release said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was asked to look into the incident. The officer involved, Kiran Kimbrough, was placed on administrative leave, the release added.

The GBI largely echoed the polices report. A release based on preliminary information, published in August, described Hollman as non-compliant and reiterated that Officer Kimbrough didnt realize Hollman was unresponsive until after he had taken him into custody.

The familys attorney, Mawuli Davis, however, said he watched the body camera footage and outlined the differences he noticed from the other accounts. Speaking to the AJC, Mr Davis said that Hollman asked for a police sergeant to come to the scene because he disagreed with this officers assessment of who was at fault.

The attorney also said the police officer initiated the physical altercation. As he attempts to reach out to sign the ticket, the officer grabs him by the arm and he begins to put him in custody and take him to the ground, Mr Davis said. And you can hear Mr Hollman begging for him to stop.

The footage in question will not be released until the investigation concludes, the ADP said last week.

Hollmans daughter started a GoFundMe page for funeral services in August. This has been going on too long and my family and I are devastated and overwhelmed over this sudden and tragic incident. My daddy didnt deserve this and we dont deserve this, Arnitra Fallins wrote.
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A cave diver known for his record-breaking dives and contributions to scientific research has died during an underwater expedition.

Divers recovered the body of Brett Hemphill, the 56-year-old president of Karst Underwater Research, on Sunday after he failed to return from a cave exploration with his colleague Andy Pitkin, according to a statement from Karst Underwater Research.

The two divers had begun exploring the Phantom Springs Cave in West Texas at around 10.45am last Wednesday.

The research centre said they started in 450 feet of water at about 7,300 feet of penetration.

At 570 feet, camera footage captured Hemphill tying off a guideline on a rock before the pair became separated.

Hemphill never resurfaced from the cave.

The research centre said it suspected Hemphill was stuck over a mile inside an underwater cave, and so multiple recovery divers travelled thousands of miles to assist in the search.

All cave recovery divers are self-supported  there are no organizations that fund those efforts. Cave diver recoveries are logistically difficult and this one is especially so, the statement said.

He was quite a ways back in there, C.W. Stephens, a deputy at the Jeff Davis County Sheriffs Office told the Tampa Bay Times.

Its supposedly quite technical diving in there. Once they locate (the body), if they do, theres a lot of passages and current going all kinds of ways down there.

Hemphills co-diver and director of Karst Underwater Research Any Pitikin issued a statement through the research centre on Sunday evening to announce that his body had been found and recovered.

Brett Hemphill is credited for scientific research through his organisation Karst Underwater Research (Teddy Garlock)

Please allow us some time to come to terms with his loss, as up until now we have been focused on the recovery, the statement said.

Hemphill was president of Karst Underwater Research, a non-profit organisation based in Florida, focused on scientific research to help preserve and protect underwater caves.

He had an illustrious career as a cave explorer, spending over 25 years smashing diving records and collecting scientific data.

In 2008, the diver and his team of expeditionists set the USs cave depth record at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida and then broke their own record in 2013 at the Phantom Springs Cave in Texas (travelling around 465 feet deep and 8,000 feet into the cave), according to TekDiveUSA.

These deep water caves are infamously difficult to pass through, with Phantom Springs Cave known as a very difficult dive.

When Hemphill and his team originally went diving there back in 2013, they each needed to obtain a scientific research pass as it was owned by the US government.

But, according to Divernet, its ownership has since been transferred to a nearby ranch, making it more accessible to dive there.

Brett Hemphill broke records for diving (Facebook)

Hemphill was also known for advancing geographical and scientific knowledge through his underwater research, with many projects on the research centres website describing the use of data collection equipment in trips, as well as little by little discovering unexplored parts of the caves.

The well-renowned diver is also credited for designing the Armadillo side harness  a more compressed harness used so divers can swim through small passages without bulking air canisters.

He has also explored and researched caves on the Florida coast, Missouri, Bahamas, Cay Sal Banks, Dominican Republic and Yucatan Peninsula, according to his profile on the research centres website.
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Justin Trudeau on Monday condemned the "glorification of violence" at rallies in support of Hamas across Canada as he expressed unwavering support for Israel.

The prime minister attended a solidarity rally for Israel in Ottawa where he met the Jewish community and spoke against the Hamas militant group.

"The glorification of death and violence and terror has no place anywhere including especially here in Canada," he said at the gathering.

"Hamas terrorists arent a resistance, theyre not freedom fighters, they are terrorists. And no one in Canada should be supporting them, much less celebrating them," Mr Trudeau added, according to the Globe and Mail.

He reiterated Canada's support for Israel and its right to defend itself in "accordance with the international law". "We stand with you tonight, tomorrow and everyday."

At least 900 people have been killed in Israel after Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country, firing over 2,500 rockets on Saturday. Israel in retaliation rained rockets and declared a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off electricity, food and fuel.

In Gaza, at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes, the health authorities said.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators participate in a rally in Toronto (Getty Images)

Mr Trudeau condemned the demonstrations that had taken place across the country in "support of Hamas's attack on Israel" in a separate social media post.

"Let's stand against acts of terror," he added.

Canada over the weekend had condemned Hamas's "brutal terror attack", and called for the immediate release of those being held hostage by the militant groups.

While multiple competing rallies were taken out amid the Israel war, a group of 1,000 protesters gathered in a demonstration in Toronto organised by a group called the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Palestinians look at the aftermath of an Israeli air strike on Gaza City (EPA)

Mona Ayesh, a 46-year-old Palestinian-Canadian woman, who attended the Toronto protest, condemned the Israeli occupation of West Bank and noted Gazans have lived under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years. "The illegal Israeli occupation has to end in order for this violence that happened to end," she told Reuters.

Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamass military wing, has said the assault named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation, and a series of recent provocations  including at Al-Aqsa mosque  which have brought tensions to fever pitch.

Toronto mayor Olivia Chow denounced the demonstrations, arguing they were unsanctioned. "The government of Canada has rightly listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation," the mayor added.

But Toronto police deputy chief Lauren Pouge said the police respected the right to free speech while being against hate speech or speech glorifying violence.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City (EPA)

Canadian province Ontario's premier Doug Ford also said "hate rallies celebrating the kidnapping and slaughtering of innocent Israeli people by terrorists are reprehensible and disgusting".

Canada has asked its citizens in Israel to "shelter in place", foreign minister Melanie Joly said. She said 2,500 Canadians have registered with the embassy in Israel and 500 have registered with the mission for West Bank and Gaza.

"Right now, the advice is to shelter in place," Ms Joly told broadcaster CTV. "So, well continue to follow the local authorities security advice. At the same time, were looking at what can be done and working with allies on this very issue."

The Quint group  which includes the US, France, Germany, the UK and Italy  announced its "steadfast and united support" to Israel in a statement on Tuesday.

The United States, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom will remain united and coordinated  together as allies and as common friends to Israel  to ensure Israel can defend itself. pic.twitter.com/aVbfSi4LJy  President Biden (@POTUS) October 10, 2023

"Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage."
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When Claudia Goldin became the first woman offered tenure in the economics department at Harvard in 1990, some young female students were so thrilled they hosted a party.

We threw a reception for her, Sheryl Sandberg, former Facebook executive and Lean In author, told The Independent in an exclusive interview. At the time, Sandberg was an undergraduate studying economics, and shed started a club with two friends called Women in Economics and Government.

And I remember her saying at that reception that shed always been the first woman, but this was the first time anyone had kind of noticed that, said Sandberg, but that really meant something to me, because I felt like that progress was worth noting.

On Monday, 23 years after that party, Goldin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, becoming the first woman to win the prize solo rather than sharing it.

Sheryl Sandberg was an undergraduate student at Harvard University when Claudia Goldin became the first female tenured economics professor at the institution (2022 Invision)

What I really want to emphasise, its not just that shes a woman, said Sandberg. She got the Nobel Prize for her work on women and the labour market, so shes a woman doing work on women  and that really matters.

Back in the late 1970s, when Goldin was forging her way as a thirty-something economic historian in a male-dominated field, she was searching for her niche. The Bronx-born academic had been working on the economic history of the South but found herself sniffing around for something of deeper personal interest  eventually delving into the economics of the family.

That research led her to something of an epiphany around 1980  which in turn sparked a passion that consumed her, she wrote.

I realized that something was missing, she wrote in 1998s The Economist as Detective. I was slighting the family member who would undergo the most profound change over the long run  the wife and mother. I neglected her because the sources had.

She began to focus on wives and mothers and all women, studying the history and reality of females in the workforce  and now shes become a significant figure in womens history by shining the spotlight for decades on the pay gap and ongoing hurdles.

Womens role in the American labor force appeared to be unfolding before me, and I had personally experienced many of the changes I would be studying, she wrote.  I became consumed by the history of women in the labor force.

Growing up in a Jewish family in the Bronx, Goldin had a natural curiosity and love of learning. Shed wanted to be an archaeologist as a child, fascinated by the mummies at New Yorks Museum of Natural History; that gave way to a junior high interest in bacteriology, and by the time she graduated from Bronx High School of Science and enrolled at Cornell University, shed formed a plan to study microbiology  but began a lifelong love affair with the humanities and social sciences instead.

Goldin earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and taught at Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty of Harvard in 1990, where Sandberg and her friends hosted the welcome party for her.

On a personal level, for myself, and anyone studying economics, seeing a woman achieve at that level, seeing a woman welcomed, obviously made a really big difference, Sandberg told The Independent.

Her own senior undergraduate thesis, Sandberg says, was very much inspired by her.

The Nobel committee announced the award, declaring: This years Laureate in the Economic Sciences, Claudia Goldin, provided the first comprehensive account of womens earnings and labour market participation through the centuries, the prize-giving body said in a statement. Her research reveals the causes of change, as well as the main sources of the remaining gender gap.

Lets make no mistake: the fact that she has done what shes done, both for women but also by studying women, that makes a really, really big difference, Sandberg said. She inspired me then; she inspires me now.

Goldin has spent decades following individual career trajectories as well as patterns, incorporating anecdotes as well as statistics into her work  and charting, in book after book, how things have (or havent) progressed. In 1990, she published Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women; three decades later, in 2021 and after many other publications, the title of her most recent book reflected the gains still to be made in Career & Family: Womens Century-Long Journey toward Equity.

Nobel prizes (TT NEWS AGENCY)

Women are making more and more educational and professional advancements and pay is equalising, Prof Goldin writes in that 2021 book after meticulous analysis of years of data. Many start out on an equal or near-equal footing after college and at the beginning of their careers  but gaps soon widen based on the career choices of individuals and couples as professionals consider childcare and babies come along, when women continue to shoulder the largest share of the burden.

One of the main problems amidst tremendous progress, Prof Goldin said, is the uptake by women of what she calls greedy jobs, employing a term utilised in previous writings.

A very simple explanation would be that, if you work twice the number of hours, you get more than twice the pay in greedy jobs, she told The Independent in 2021. Of course, its not just number of hours, because women who work in many of the jobs that we can list  finance, management, law, academia  work many, many hours; they work 45 to 50 hours a week. So its not just generally the number of hours, its which hours: So is it the dinner hour? Is it the weekend? Is it the vacation? Is it two in the morning?

Women who start in these greedy jobs, then, tend not to advance as far or fast in their careers as their male partners because they take a step back to raise families.

The Henry Lee Professor of Economics, however  who says she teaches the extraordinary  remains optimistic in the face of all her research as workplaces (and couples) continue to progress.

I think back at what this amazing student of mine said, which is, when I asked What would you like? She said, I want a man who wants what I want, recounted Goldin.

It might be costly for a while, but it just depends on how much you value couple equity, Goldin said. Its not that theyve [men] given something up, its that theyve gotten something in return  which is time with their children.

Goldin lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and fellow Harvard economist, Lawrence Katz, as well as their 13-year-old Golden Retriever, Pika  from whom the professor derives her username on X and whose exploits she chronicles online. Pika is also a high-achieving performance scent dog.

Passion, Goldin has emphasized, is imperative for excellence. She wrote as much in her 1998 essay, the future Nobel winner offering nuggets of advice for upcoming or aspiring professors.

Whatever you research, choose a subject (in theory or reality) about which you feel passionately. she wrote. You will go to sleep with it and you will wake up with it. Youd better love it or you will hate yourself.
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Hughes Van Ellis, among the last three known survivors of the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, and who remained in a years-long legal battle for justice in the long violent shadow of the attack, has died. He was 102.

Ellis was not yet one year old when a white mob launched one the bloodiest episodes of racist violence in the 20th century, one in which no one has ever been criminally charged.

He died at a veterans facility in Denver, Colorado, on 9 October, according to a statement from his family.

In the late hours of 31 May 1921, in Tulsas thriving Black Wall Street of Greenwood, an armed white mob fired indiscriminately on Black Americans in the street. Planes dropped flaming turpentine-soaked rags and dynamite. Witness accounts reported the bodies of Black victims thrown into the Arkansas River or into mass graves. Survivors were rounded up at gunpoint and detained in internment camps.

Ellis joined two other last-known survivors  his sister Viola Fletcher and Lessie Benningfield Randle  in a lawsuit to call for justice for the families and communities living in the decades-long aftermath of the attack. Earlier this year, a judge dismissed the case. The state Supreme Court said it would hear an appeal, but it remains unclear whether the court will take up the case.

In his testimony to members of Congress 100 years after the attack, Ellis, a veteran of World War II, broke into tears as he told lawmakers that he fought for his country overseas but had not yet received justice at home.

Please do not let me leave this earth without justice, like all the other massacre survivors, he said at the time.

Hughes Van Ellis, centre, appears at a memorial event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre on 1 June, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Getty Images)

He explained that the plaintiffs brought the case because they were taught that when something is stolen from you, you go through the courts to be made whole ... to get justice.

This wasnt the case for us, he said. We were made to feel that our struggle was unworthy of justice, that we were less valued than whites, that we werent fully Americans, that we were shown in the US that all men arent unequal under the law  we were shown that when Black voices call out for justice, no one hears.

Ellis, known as Uncle Red, had bravely served America, even as he spent a lifetime awaiting atonement related to the Tulsa race massacre, according to a statement from state Rep Regina Goodwin, who shared a statement announcing his death on behalf of his family.

In the midst of his death, there remains an undying sense of right and wrong, she said. Mr Ellis was assured we would remain steadfast and we repeated to him, his own words, We Are One and we lastly expressed our love.
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Sobbing families issued a heartbreaking plea for President Joe Bidens help to bring missing Israeli-Americans home as they revealed the harrowing last moments they heard from their loved ones.

Gathered at the Carlton Hotel in Tel Aviv in front of a room full of reporters, the relatives of four American citizens shared their personal drama as they continue desperately searching for their loved ones days after Hamas launched an unprecedented terror attack on Israel over the weekend.

According to local media reports, more than 1,500 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza, while US officials confirmed at least 11 American fatalities in the ongoing conflict. During the press conference on Tuesday, families shared the Israeli governments shortcomings in keeping them informed about the ongoing efforts to bring the missing home and demanded that the Biden administration choose to be on the good side of history.

The adult children of Adrienne Neta, a 66-year-old grandmother and dual citizen who was kidnapped from her home in Berum, recounted the haunting last call they had with their mother when terrorists barged inside her home. Adriennes daughter Dayana Neta said her mother had tried to reason with Hamas militants using the little Arabic she had learned in her career as a nurse before the call got cut off.

When she walked into the delivery room she saw a human being in front of her. Not a religion, not a race, not a hijab, not an orthodox Jew  it was always the human being she saw, Dayana Neta said as she held back tears. When Hamas walked into my mothers room in Berum? They saw her alone. But they did not see a human being.

Weve had zero communication from the Israeli government

Dayana Neta described her mother as a compassionate and devoted healthcare provider who had brought thousands of lives into the world. Adrienes son, Nahar Neta, also broke down in tears as he revealed that he had zero communication with the Israeli government

I want to speak of the responsibility that President Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and that is to bring American citizens home safe and sound. I expect nothing less, said Nahar Neta, who was brought up in Israel by his American mother but moved to the United States five years ago.

Adriennes daughter Dayana Neta said her mother was taken hostage by Hamas (Adrienne Neta/Facebook)

Im Israeli blunt and I want to be blunt ... and say weve had zero communication from the Israeli government, he added. I do have friends who are currently engaging in the combat and I can appreciate the total mayhem that the combat is creating, but I think that after three days it is more than reasonable to request that officials with the Israeli government approach us with any type of info on our family members.

American severely injured, taken hostage

Meanwhile, the parents of 23-year-old Hersh Golberg-Polin said they had reason to believe their son was taken as a hostage by Hamaas at a festival in Reim  a kibbutz about three miles from the Gaza border. More than 260 bodies have been recovered at the site of the Supernova Festival, and hundreds remain missing, the BBC reports.

Hershs mother Rachel Goldberg said that she received two final text messages from her son, hours later she found out through footage and people who were with Hersh when he was taken hostage that he had been severely injured.

I woke up my two daughters so we could get in the bomb shelter. At 8.11, the first [text] said I love you, and immediately at 8.11, he texted, Im sorry, Ms Godlberg said. I took it to mean, Im sorry and I love you because whatever happened is going to cause you tremendous pain and worry. Ive not heard from him since that text.

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since Saturday (The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook)

Ms Goldberg said that she was told by people who were hiding in the same bomb shelter as her son that his arm had been blown off.

He was sitting at a bombs shelter, terrorists came to the door, they were throwing grenades in, shooting machine guns, the mother said. We know that Hershs arm, from the elbow down, was severed, and that he tied a tourniquet around with his shirt. Hamas came after the gunfire settled down and said, Anyone who can walk, stand up and get out.

Ms Goldberg said that she was told her son appeared calm and that his phone last pinged near the border with Gaza.

Following Israels retaliatory attacks on Tuesday, the spokesman of Hamass military wing said the group was responding to heavy bombarding of Gazas residential areas and threatened to execute one civilian hostage every time Israel launched an attack without prior warning.

We ask the US not to take a backseat

Another American missing is Itay Chen, a 19-year-old US-Israeli dual-citizen who was serving with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the border with Gaza, according to his father Ruby Chen. Mr Chen spoke directly to reporters on Tuesday, asking them not to bury his personal tragedy under loaded headlines.

Itay has been described as missing in action after he stopped any communications with his family and the IDF on Saturday morning. He is not listed as deceased and authorities have not located him at any area hospital, prompting fears that he was taken hostage, his father said.

I just want to ask all of you here and those listening to us. Please do not think of us just as a headline, we are more than that, Mr Chen said. Itay, in order to be at home this weekend [for his brothers Bat Mizvah], was at his base this previous weekend. So we could all be home celebrating the Bar Mitzvah, we still hope for that celebration.

Itay Chen, a 19-year-old US-Israeli dual-citizen who was serving with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) on the border with Gaza (Itay Chen/ABC)

Mr Chen said that his son joined the Israeli army a year ago. He said that he had been contacted by the US Embassy but hoped to sit down with State Department officials in the following days to discuss what they could do for their son, whom he described as a prisoner of war.

We want to go back to become a family again, Mr Chen added. We ask the US not to take a backseat, the US has a lot of resources and can do things that the Israeli government cant do.

They had one thing in mind .... to kill, maim and destroy

Jonathan Dekel-Chen also joined the press conference on Tuesday to plead for the safe return of his 35-year-old son Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was led away by terrorists in Nir Oz, a kibbutz of about 400 people. Mr Dekel-Chen spoke out about the tragedies the besieged community had experienced in the last three days, saying that he hoped the US government did anything in its power to rescue his son.

[Nir OZ] was destroyed in a barbaric attack in which dozens of my friends and neighbours were killed and attacked, Mr Dekel-Chen, originally from Connecticut, said. He is an arms length away from me in Gaza, but couldnt be farther from me and my family right now.

35-year-old son Sagui Dekel-Chen was led away by terrorists (Sagui Dekel-Chen/Fox)

Mr Dekel-Chen is a father-of-two with one on the way. The worried father said that the community in Nir Oz had come together, trying not only to make sense of the senseless violence they had experienced but also to gather efforts to help locate their missing loved ones.

The contact with Israeli officials had been limited, Mr Dekel-Chen said.

Hundreds of heavily armed, well-organised terrorists walked and ran over the border with one [thing] in mind, Mr Dekel-Chain said. And thats to kill, maim and destroy civilian life within the border.

He continued: The US always wants to be on the side of good ... the Hamaas are evil and when we witness this kind of savagery, this kind of inhumanity, it must be stopped.
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The parents of a kidnapped Israel-US man joined a protest outside the US Embassy in Israel as they begged President Biden to help bring him home.

Itay Chen, 19, is believed to be among the 130 or more people kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Israel over the weekend.

Itay Chen was on the Gaza border at his base at the time of the attack, awaiting his return home for his younger brothers bar mitzvah this weekend.

The 19-year-old was born in New York City but moved to Netanya, Israel, with his parents and siblings before the attack.

The teenager, who served in Israels Defense Forces, has been confirmed as missing in action (MIA) by the IDF and is believed to be captive in the Gaza Strip.

Now his father, Ruby Chen, who is a US citizen and taxpayer, is calling for more help from US authorities to help find his son.

Ruby Chen joined other family members in a protest outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv on Monday, where they pleaded for President Joe Biden to save Itay.

We are asking the president to do what he can in order to bring our kids back safely home, said his father.

The family gathered outside the embassy wearing t-shirts with the 19-year-olds grinning face on the front that read Help Find Itay. Protesters were also seen holding signs that read: USA protects its citizens! Bring Itay Home Now, and Help find Itay.

Biden needs to step up for all children  all citizens deserve protection, and kids need to know that the United States is behind them 100%, Ruby Chen told USA Today outside the embassy.

What about liberty, justice, and freedom for all? he added.

Mr Chen told CNN he believes US authorities could be more active in helping to find his son, who could be a prisoner of war (PoW).

If he is indeed missing in action and might even be a prisoner of war, I think that the US at a minimum needs to demand that any PoW needs to be treated according to international law, which states that you need to take care of the prisoner, you need to identify him, you need to allow the red cross or the U.N. to visit and see what is the status of that prisoner, he said.

We unfortunately do not get that treatment at the moment. President Biden and the Secretary of State, we have great respect for them. They are saying all the correct things that we expect them to say.

Itay Chen, 19, is missing in Gaza (CNN)

But again, we believe that they could be more active in the actions to be taken to identify and find these US citizens that are missing in action.

Mr Chen said his last contact with his son was on Saturday when the pair had a a very short call in which Itay said his base was under attack.

The soldier was seen two hours after that call, but not since then, his father said.

No one has seen him in the hospitaland no one has seen him in a morgue deceased, Mr Chen told CNN.

So the only thing that the IDF has to say is we dont know where he is.

The desperate father said despite his sons missing status, his family are still hopeful that they will be able to celebrate together as a family at his younger brothers bar mitzvah this weekend.

The State Department has yet to confirm the identity of any Americans missing or killed in Israel since Hamas launched its brutal attack on Saturday morning.

At least 11 Americans are feared to be among the 900 people dead, with thousands more believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear.

It comes after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel early on Saturday morning, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers.

On Monday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Israel has said it is attacking many targets in Gaza as part of a widespread attempt to strike Hamas strongholds.

Palestinian authorities said at least 687 people have died in Gaza in retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces.
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The mother who died saving her son from Hamas terrorists.

The Washington University graduate who longed for peace.

The 23-year-old missing after celebrating his birthday at a desert festival.

These are just some of the Americans killed, kidnapped or feared missing following the attacks launched by Hamas militants on Israel over the last four days.

The State Department confirmed the death toll of US citizens had risen to 22 people on Wednesday. An unknown number are believed to have been take hostage by Hamas militants.

We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts, Biden said in a statement on Monday, when the confirmed toll was at 14.

While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.

The president said that finding the Americans and bringing them to safety is a top priority as he condemned the attacks on Israel by the designated terrorist group.

Amid the Biden administrations efforts, families and friends have spoken out about their loved ones who have been tragically killed  and pleaded for information about the whereabouts of those missing.

Heres what we know so far about some of the Americans caught up in the unprecedented attacks.

Mother who sacrificed life for her son

US citizen Deborah Matias, 50, died sacrificing her own life to save that of her child.

Ilan Troen, professor of Israel studies at Brandeis University in Boston, said that his daughter Deborah, her husband Shlomi and their son Roten, 16, were in their home when Hamas militants stormed across the border, broke into homes and killed those inside.

Professor Troen said that Deborah threw her body on top of her sons in order to protect him from the gunfire.

She and Shlomi were shot and killed while Roten was shot but survived.

Ilan Troen (centre), Brandeis University professor, with daughter Deborah Shahar Troen Matias and her husband Shlomi Matias (Sourced)

They made sure to fall on him and thereby saved his life. Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved, he told WBZ-TV.

Professor Troen said he rushed to hospital to be reunited with his grandson who is recovering from his injuries.

The devastated father told CNN that Deborah was a child of light and life.

She, rather than becoming a scientist or a physician, she said to me one day, Dad, I have to do music, because its in my soul, he said.

Washington graduate who dreamed of peace found dead in home

Dr Hayim Katsman  a University of Washington graduate who hoped for peace in the Middle East  was found dead inside his apartment in Israel after Hamas terrorists tore through the community.

Hayims family last heard from him on Saturday morning when they received chilling messages from him saying that Hamas terrorists had entered Kibbutz Holit in southwest Israel where he lived.

The family never heard from the 32-year-old again.

Hayims friend Avital Alajem told CNN that they both hunkered down together inside a shelters closet to hide from the Hamas militants. But they broke in and fired through the door.

Ms Alajem survived but Hayim was shot and killed.

Hayim Katsman (Hannah Katsman Facebook)

He was murdered, she said. I was saved because he was next to the door and they shot him.

Hayims sibling Noy Katsman told CNN the family spent hours desperately trying to get in touch with him before learning of his murder.

Hayim was born in the US and studied at the University of Washington where he earned a PhD in international studies in 2021.

His parents were originally from Israel before locating to the US more than three decades ago and so Hayim had moved there to carry out research.

Noy Katsman said that Hayim had longed for peace and supported a solution for this bleeding conflict between Israel and Palestinians.

Man, 23, missing after celebrating at festival rave

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since early Saturday morning when he was partying with hundreds of other ravers at the Supernova festival in northern Negev.

During the celebrations, Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack, killing and kidnapping dozens of people from the site.

The Israeli rescue service Zaka said on Sunday that more than 260 bodies had since been found at the music festival site, with the death toll likely to climb higher.

Hershs father Jonathon Polin told The Jerusalem Post that his son was among those partying at the rave.

The 23-year-olds birthday was just days earlier and he was also celebrating his release from Army service at the end of April, he said.

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since Saturday (The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook)

At around 8am local time on Saturday morning, the 23-year-old sent a couple of heartbreaking final messages to his parents.

I love you, one of the messages read. Im sorry, read another.

No one has heard from him since, with the family now desperately trying to find out what happened to him.

In a heartbreaking press conference on Tuesday, Hershs mother Rachel Goldberg said that they had seen a picture of him taking cover in a bomb shelter with other festivalgoers.

She said witnesses had told the family that his arm had been blown off from the elbow down.

The Hamas terrorists then told the group anyone who can walk, stand up and walk out and so Hersh walked out completely calm, she said.

He was then reportedly put on a pickup truck and driven away by Hamas, with his cellphone signal last pinging on the Gaza border.

Hersh was born in Berkeley, California, and moved with his family to Jerusalem when he was seven.

He went on to join the Army, training as a medic and tank driver in the 7th Armored Brigade.

On completion of his Army service, Jonathon Polin said his son got a job as a waiter and was saving up for his lifelong dream of travelling to India.

He is a smiley, fun-loving guy and people of all ages just gravitate towards him... hes the guy that is just fun to be around and makes people have a good time, his father said at the press conference.

Midwife who brought thousands of babies into world  and was last heard screaming on phone

California-born Adrienne Neta has brought thousands of babies into the world as a midwife.

She was last heard screaming down the phone to her adult children as Hamas terrorists stormed into her home.

Her son Nahar Neta said at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that he and his siblings had been on the phone to their mother on Saturday trying to keep her calm as the attacks unfolded and she hunkered in a shelter.

They were still on the call when they heard gunfire in the background.

We were on the call with her when the terrorists barged into her home. We heard a little bit of screaming and that was our last contact with her, he said.

Mr Neta said that they did not hear shooting on the call after the terrorists breached the building so they are hoping that she is being held hostage.

Desperate family members hold press conference to plead for help in finding missing Israeli-American loved ones (YouTube)

Its our hope  its ridiculous to say  our optimistic scenario is that she is being held hostage in Gaza and is not dead in the street, he said, breaking down in tears.

He said that their mother devoted her life to helping people of all races and genders in the hospital where she worked.

My mother is an exceptional human being. She spent most of her life in the community and then as a midwife in a hospital, said her daughter Dayana Neta.

When she walked into the delivery room she saw a human being in front of her. Not a religion, not a race, not a hijab, not an orthodox Jew  it was always the human being she saw. We once calculated our mother brought thousands of lives into this world.

When Hamas walked into my mothers room... they did not see a human being.

New Yorker turned Israeli soldier missing in action

Itay Chen was born and raised in New York before his family later moved to Israel.

Around a year ago, Itay joined the Israel Defense Forces as a corporal.

He was based along the Gaza border when Hamas terrorists breached it on Saturday morning.

His father Ruby Chen said at a press conference on Tuesday that he last heard from him then when Itay said they were under attack.

Since then silence, he said.

Now, the 19-year-old is feared to be among the hostages kidnapped and held by Hamas terrorists.

Itay Chen (Chen family)

Israeli officials have designated him missing in action.

Mr Chen said that they believe his son could be being held as a prisoner of war as no one has been able to physically locate him, identify him hes not in a hospital  not on a deceased list.

Please think of us not just as a headline, we are people, we are family, he said.

We want to go back to becoming family, hopefully as soon as possible.

Itays family joined a protest outside the US embassy in Israel on Monday.

Dressed in t-shirts that read Help Find Itay and holding up photos of the missing 19-year-old, they begged President Joe Biden to help bring him home.

Father expecting third child now believed to be in Gaza

Sagui Dekle-Chen is a married father who was last seen on Saturday in his Kibbutz close to the Gaza border.

His father Jonathan Dekel-Chen said in a press conference on Tuesday that hundreds of heavily armed, well-organised terrorists entered their community of around 400 with an intention to kill, maim and destroy civilian life.

Mr Dekel-Chen, a Hebrew University academic who previously held positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and Rutgers University, said he believes his son has been taken to Gaza by Hamas militants and is being held hostage there.

He is an arms length away from me in Gaza, but couldnt be farther from me and my family right now, he said.

Sagui is the father of two beautiful daughters and his wife is pregnant right now.

Sagui is the kind of son everyone would want, he said of his son.

Mr Dekel-Chen said only 160 of the 400 community members have survived.

The rest died or are prisoners or are missing, he said.
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A Louisiana school principal who punished a student after a video of her dancing by withdrawing her scholarship recommendation has apologised.

Jason St Pierre, the principal of Walker High School in the Livingston Parish Public Schools district, has released a statement issuing an apology to 17-year-old Kaylee Timonet and her mother after he disciplined her for a video of her dancing circulated.

Ms Timonet was at a homecoming afterparty off-campus where she and her friends were dancing with each other.

The student said she was called into the office the Tuesday morning after where she was met with the principal and the assistant principal, she said in an interview with local blog Unfiltered with Kiran.

They basically told me that I was kicked off the student government because of a video that was sent in; I instantly started crying hysterically, she claimed that school officials said. They told me I should be ashamed of myself and that they were concerned for my afterlife and I wasnt following Gods ideals.

She was also allegedly told that her place on the student government body would be revoked and that he would no longer recommend her for a college scholarship programme.

I felt like my life was over since I was little I have always worked hard at school, she told the local blog. No matter all the things I had accomplished, because of this video of me dancing, I felt like a failure

The party took place off-campus on 30 September after a homecoming dance at the school. A DJ hired for the party took a video of the room filled with dancing people and posted it on social media.

Mr St Pierre had requested to take leave for the remainder of the school year.

Walker High School Principal Jason St Pierre has requested to take leave for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, said Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Joe Murphy in a statement on Monday. The district office is awaiting his paperwork to process his request.

The soon-to-be college student had missed out on a scholarship deadline after her prinicple revoked it, then reinstated it when it was too late (WAFB)

In the statement released by the principal on Sunday, a day before his request, he said he would be reinstating Ms Timonet both back into the student government association, as well as her scholarship endorsement.

I have apologized to the Timonets and I am hopeful that my scheduled meeting with Kaylees mom will rectify this situation and allow Kaylee to enjoy the remainder of her senior year at Walker High School.

However, according to the mother of Ms Timonet, the apology has come too little too late, as the deadline for the scholarship had closed on 3 October, she told WAFB.

I let him know that the scholarship deadline was done, and the damage that hes done to her is done, she said to WAFB. I also told him I gave them the opportunity when I came in there at 7 oclock the next morning, to try and rectify the situation at that point. Now, with somebody holding his hand forcing him to do something, an apology being enforced its too late.

The mother also told the outlet that she is consulting with attorneys about the ordeal.

Ms Timonet has only eight weeks left until she is due to graduate early from her senior year.
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San Francisco police fatally shot a man after he crashed his vehicle into the Chinese consulate in the city, officials said on Monday.

At least one person was fatally shot after the car drove through the consulate visa office and remained in the building, reported KTVU.

Witness Sergii Molchanov told The San Francisco Standard that the driver shouted Wheres the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)? as he got out of a blue Honda car.

The incident occurred shortly after 3pm when an unidentified suspect drove their car into the visa office of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China, located at Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard.

I dont know how many people were inside the visa office at the time of the collision, San Francisco police department spokesperson Sergeant Kathryn Winters told reporters.

When officers arrived here on scene, they found the vehicle had come to rest inside the lobby of the Chinese Consulate. Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred, Sgt Winters said.

The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. This is an open and active investigation.

Earlier witnesses told media outlets that multiple gunshots had been fired in the Monday afternoon incident and that a bloodied man was loaded into an ambulance and driven from the scene.

No one else was reported as injured in the incident.

Police advised people on social media to avoid the area.

**AVOID THE AREA**



Please avoid the area of Laguna St and Geary Blvd due to ongoing police activity. A PIO is en-route to the location now. Media staging will be published shortly.



Details will be provided as they become available. pic.twitter.com/ZgJRyfByOa  San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 9, 2023

The Chinese diplomatic post in San Francisco issued a statement saying an unidentified person drove violently into the document hall of the consulate, posing a serious threat to the safety of the staff and people at the scene, and causing serious damage to the facilities and property of the consulate.

The consulate added that it strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibility for the incident.

The US state department, meanwhile, has not yet responded to the incident.

The entrance to the visa office remained covered in a white plastic sheet later on Monday evening, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China is on a major street near the California citys Japantown neighbourhood.

The incident took place a month before Chinese president Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in the city.
A former Emmons County teacher has pleaded guilty to stealing from a school fundraiser but will see no jail time.

Jay Schmaltz changed his plea to guilty Monday after a preliminary hearing in the felony theft case that concluded with South Central District Judge Bonnie Storbakken finding there was probable cause Schmaltz had committed the offense.

The theft charge was filed in June, accusing Schmaltz of embezzling $2,335 from the fundraiser. Schmaltz began overseeing student pizza sales in January, according to a police affidavit. Superintendent Richard Diegel told officers the fundraiser continued until May, considerably longer than normal. Schmaltz eventually turned in $6,414 in checks, but no cash. The pizza company told Diegel the amount collected should have been $8,749. Schmaltz allegedly told school administrators he had taken all the cash, used it for personal expenses and disposed of any documentation concerning the fundraiser.

Schmaltz resigned his teaching position in June, according to the affidavit.

At sentencing Schmaltz requested a deferred imposition of sentence, which Storbakken denied. She did agree to a request by Schmaltz to close the matter as a misdemeanor rather than as a felony that carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Schmaltz was sentenced to 360 days in jail, all suspended, according to Emmons County State's Attorney Joseph Hanson. Schmaltz was placed on two years of unsupervised probation and ordered to make $2,335 in restitution to Linton Public Schools.
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It was just a normal Monday afternoon at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco.

And then all chaos broke out.

A man suddenly drove a car through the consulate visa office on Geary Boulevard shortly after 3pm, officials said.

Police opened fire on the vehicle, striking the driver.

The man, who was identified as 31-year-old Zhanyuan Yang, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Recommended San Francisco police shoot dead driver as car rams into Chinese consulate

No one else was reported as injured in the incident.

San Francisco police are now working with the US State Department to investigate the incident, with many questions still unanswered about what Mr Yangs motives may have been.

Heres what we know so far:

What happened?

A driver reportedly sped into the Chinese consulate visa office in San Francisco shortly after 3pm on Monday afternoon, according to authorities.

Witness Sergii Molchanov told The San Francisco Standard that the driver shouted Wheres the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)? as he got out of the car.

Security guards then approached the bleeding man, according to Mr Molchanov, and held his arms back before police arrived.

Police said that officers arrived on the scene moments later and found a blue Honda car had come to rest inside the building.

Security personnel respond to the driver of a car which crashed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco (Sergii via REUTERS)

Officers entered the building and shot the driver after they made contact with the individual, police San Francisco Police Sgt Kathryn Winters said.

Multiple gunshots were fired during the incident, according to witnesses, before a bloodied man was loaded into an ambulance and driven from the scene.

The driver later died at hospital.

Bomb squad technicians and an explosives-sniffing dog attended the scene, The San Francisco Standard reported.

Mr Molchanov described the incident as terrifying and shocking.

Ive seen this on TV and to witness it in real life is quite different. People were terrified ... I was quite shocked with all that and am still processing that, he said.

San Francisco Police said it is currently unclear how many people were inside the building at the time of the crash.

Police advised people to avoid the entrance to the visa office at Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard, which remained covered in a white plastic sheet on Monday evening, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

Who is the man shot by police?

Police said the man has been identified as 31-year-old Zhanyuan Yang.

No additional information was released.

Yang was reportedly waving a knife in close proximity to officers just moments before he was shot by the police, according to local media.

Investigators say they have recovered a crossbow from the scene and an unnamed White House source told the Associated Press that it is believed the driver was acting with malign intent.

The licence plate of the car Yang crashed into the visa office was registered under a different name, authorities said.

San Francisco police investigate at the Chinese consulate in San Franciso on Monday (Bay Area News Group)

Police said they did not know the motive behind smashing the car into the consulate, which is in a residential neighbourhood next to a major street.

Yang was described as a very reserved person by his roommate. He had a cache of replica firearms at his Inner Sunset home along with a book about political assassinations, The San Francisco Standard reported.

He reportedly had five handguns in the room as well as a pile of assault weapons and a knife in one corner.

Files in Yangs room indicated that he was from Shandong Province, according to the Standard, which reported that postcards on the wall suggest he had been living in the apartment since 2016. A large drone was also found in his room.

His roommate, who refused to be identified, said Yang had been acting oddly in recent months.

She added: If he became radicalised, it was recent.

What has the Chinese consulate said?

The Chinese diplomatic post in San Francisco issued a statement about the incident, saying an unidentified person drove violently into the document hall of the consulate, posing a serious threat to the safety of the staff and people at the scene, and causing serious damage to the facilities and property of the consulate.

The consulate added that it strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibility for the incident.

Our mission has made solemn representations to the United States, demanding that the truth be quickly ascertained and dealt with seriously in accordance with the law, the statement continued.

The US state department, meanwhile, has not yet responded to the incident.

The Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China is on a major street near the California citys Japantown neighbourhood.

The incident took place a month before Chinese president Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in the city.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Nigers deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on Monday ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup detat.

The State Department said Blinken called Bazoum to stress that a restoration of a freely elected government remains the best way for Niger to not only succeed for its people but also to remain a key partner of the U.S. and others in countering extremism.

In the call, Blinken reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region," the State Department said in a brief statement.

The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover, the department said.

Blinken's call came as the administration is preparing to make a formal determination that Julys military takeover in the central African nation meets the legal standard for a coup, according to officials familiar with the matter. That determination could come as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement has not yet been made.

Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup  the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government  typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned. Some U.S. aid to Niger has been suspended since Bazoum's ouster but it wasn't clear if the determination would halt American military activity in the country.

The administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africa's Sahel region. Niger has been hosting some 1,100 American troops in regional outposts for wide-ranging patrols by armed drones and other counterterrorism operations against Islamic extremist movements.

The officials could not say if the expected coup determination would result in the withdrawal of any U.S. personnel from Niger. The officials said the Pentagon had resisted such a move and hinted that the administration may have found a legal rationale to continue counterterrorism cooperation with the military junta.

Niger has battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group for years. And the juntas capacity to improve Nigers security has increasingly been questioned recently as attacks have increased since mutinous soldiers toppled the government.

Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel that Western nations could partner with to beat back the jihadi insurgency in the vast expanse below the Sahara Desert.

The U.S., France and other European countries had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up the Nigerien military.

But late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to withdraw Frances ambassador and troops from Niger after demands from the junta and amid widespread anti-French sentiment in the former colony.
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Vladimir Putin has given Russian lawmakers 10 days to find how best to revoke Moscows ratification of a critical nuclear treaty which bans Russia from testing atomic weapons shortly after he suggested the possibility of resuming such testing.

The chair of the State Duma (lower house of parliament) Vyacheslav Volodin and other parliament heads laid out a deadline for Russian lawmakers to study the de-ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) option until 18 October, a statement from the Duma read.

Mr Volodin said revoking the ratification on testing nuclear weapons will be in Russias national interest as he discussed the matter with parliamentary leaders on Monday.

If revoked, Russia will signal a warning to the US that Moscow can fundamentally change the assumptions of post-Cold War nuclear planning.

This comes just four days after Mr Putin said that Russias nuclear doctrine  which determines the conditions in which he would press the nuclear button  did not need updating.

But he added that Russia could look at revoking ratification of the significant nuclear treaty to bring it into line with the United States, which has signed but not ratified the pact. The US has previously said Russias pulling out from the treaty will endanger "the global norm" against nuclear test blasts.

In a U-turn from Mr Putins remarks on Friday, his envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) said Moscow would revoke its ratification of the pact.

Western security analysts have said such a step from Moscow will be a reminder that it still possesses the worlds largest nuclear arsenal at a time when it is locked in a standoff with the West over Ukraine.

If Russia goes ahead with a nuclear test, it could encourage others such as the US or China to retaliate in a similar test and renew a fresh wave of nuclear arms race between the global superpowers.

These nations have not carried out nuclear tests after the Soviet Union collapse in 1991.

Russias actions have sparked concern, said Robert Floyd, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization. He added that he is in touch with senior Russian officials to make the case for continued ratification, something he said was in the interest of humanity as a whole.

Mr Floyd had requested a meeting with "key leaders" in Moscow as soon as possible, he said.

"The CTBTO operates a global monitoring system which can detect a nuclear test explosion anytime, anywhere," he said in a statement.

"Banning nuclear testing remains essential to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and to safeguarding current and future generations from the harmful effects of explosive nuclear testing."

The de-ratification move can take Russia and the world backward to a dangerous era of tit-for-tat nuclear threats, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association.
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Russia is poised to discover whether its efforts to rejoin the UNs Human Rights Council  using stolen Ukrainian grain to win votes in the process  have been successful.

A secret ballot of UN member states will be held later on Tuesday to allocate 15 seats for the top human rights body, more than a year after Russia was booted out for invading Ukraine.

Experts previously told The Independent that Russia will try to lure African allies and other friendly nations with stolen Ukrainian grain and arms in exchange for their votes. The vote is seen as a key test of Western efforts to keep Moscow diplomatically isolated.

Anna Mykytenko, a senior lawyer for the NGO Global Rights Compliance based in The Hague, said Russias war crimes now are no less cruel or widespread than the ones committed in Bucha in spring 2022, when Russia was suspended from the Human Rights Council.

Russias pattern of flagrant disrespect towards international law remains shockingly consistent, she told The Independent. Although now most of these crimes do not make it to the front pages of the international media, the aggressor state that keeps on committing war crimes and violating human rights cannot benefit from decreasing attention to the war in Ukraine and an opening to slink back into a UN Human Rights Council seat.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the Security Council that Russias re-election while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations.

Diplomats who were aware of Moscows attempts to woo nations using grains said the US and others had distributed letters of their own to many of the UN General Assemblys members, asking them to vote against Russia.

Russia is up against Bulgaria and Albania for two Eastern Europe seats. The successful candidates each need a majority  at least 97 votes  to win a three-year term starting on 1 January. A total of 47 member states are part of the UNHRC based on geographic distribution, with the UNs five regional groups sending names to be added to the shortlist.

And Moscows competitor Albania has also ramped up its campaign to join the UNHRC by calling out Russias atrocities in Ukraine.

Albanian UN ambassador Ferit Hoxha said those who care about human rights and the credibility of the Human Rights Council and its work should oppose the nation which kills innocent people, destroys civilian infrastructure, ports and grain silos and then takes pride in doing so.

The General Assembly had mustered the required two-thirds majority to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council in April last year  nearly halfway through its three-year term and shortly after Ukraine recaptured the town of Bucha and accused Moscow of large-scale atrocities. Russia denied the accusation.

The council does not have legally-binding powers, but its meetings raise scrutiny and it can mandate investigations to document abuses which have sometimes formed the basis for war crimes prosecutions.

Experts warned against Russias pattern of flagrant disrespect towards international laws and bringing it back onto the panel amid the continuing invasion, especially with the latest attack on the Ukrainian village of Hroza in Kharkiv.

At least 51 people died in the missile attack, wiping out members from almost every family. While Russia says it does not strike civilian targets, a two-day-old baby boy was killed after a Russian missile struck a hospital in the city of Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia.

A child was also among the dozens killed when Russian missiles hit a grocery store and cafe in the village of Hroza.

International rights group Human Rights Watch has said Russia and China are unfit to serve on the Human Rights Council.

Every day, Russia and China remind us by committing abuses on a massive scale that they should not be members of the UN Human Rights Council, Louis Charbonneau, UN director of Human Rights Watch said last week.

The rights group said Russian forces in Ukraine continue to commit apparent war crimes, including unlawful attacks and crimes against humanity, torture and summary executions.

It pointed out how Mr Putin and Russias commissioner for childrens rights Maria Lvova-Belova are sought by the International Criminal Court for alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.

Wayne Jordash KC, president and co-founder of Global Rights Compliance, said any attempts to allow Russia back to the seat of the Human Rights Council are not only unacceptable and indecent but signify a dangerous global drift into untrammelled violence against the most vulnerable and innocent.
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Ukrainian soldiers fighting off Russian attacks in the eastern battlefield achieved partial success in the past 24 hours while troops in southern Ukraine inflicted over a hundred Russian casualties, officials said as the war was close to clocking 600 days.

The troops secured partial success near Andriivka, a small Ukrainian village captured last month along with the nearby locality of Klishhiivka, said Ilia Yevlash, a spokesperson for Ukraines eastern group of forces.

"We are repelling constant attacks near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, the spokesperson told national television.

"Every day we are making headway in the Bakhmut sector. We are talking about hundreds of metres at a time that we are liberating from our enemies and strengthening our positions. It is, however, too early to talk about achieving concrete goals, he said.

The partial headway in territorial advance was also reported in southern Ukraine by general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of forces in the south.

We have partial success west of Verbove. During the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out eight airstrikes, 18 combat encounters, and also launched 455 artillery barrages, the top military official said on his Telegram channel.

Verbove is one of the cluster of villages that Ukraine is targeting, with the larger town of Tokmak as the next large target.

The Ukrainian units of rocket troops and artillery from the Tavria Air Defence Forces launched 795 fire missions during the day, he said.

The total losses of the enemy amounted to 147 people, he said but did not give details about the injuries, deaths, and capture of Russian soldiers as prisoners of war. Three Russian ammunition depots were also bombed, along with two tanks and an artillery system, he said.

This comes amid first signs of deterioration in battlefield conditions due to weather as Russian military bloggers said rainfall has worsened visibility in southern Ukraine.

Experts monitoring the war said changing weather conditions will hinder the reconnaissance drone operations on both sides.

One Russian milblogger claimed that the ground has become muddy and obstructs tracked vehicle movement, though another milblogger claimed that the ground has not yet become muddy enough to inhibit vehicle movement, said the Institute for the Study of War in its latest assessment on Monday.

It added that exact conditions likely vary along the frontline, though weather conditions are generally worsening.It cited Yevlashs report stating that the Russian forces are relying less heavily on aviation and drone activity in the Kupiansk-Lyman direction due to heavy rainfall.

The Russian accounts of fighting claimed its forces thwarted Ukrainian attacks near Bakhmut and inflicted heavy casualties in strikes on Ukrainian positions outside the city.

Now on the edge of entering its fifth month, Ukraines counteroffensive aims to secure control of areas around Bakhmut in order to recapture the town, which was seized by Russian forces in May after months of heavy battles.
 Close Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Ukraine mail depot that killed six

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Russian forces are trying to regroup and recover their losses near the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, where heavy fighting has been ongoing since mid-October.

This comes after Putins troops bombarded 118 Ukrainian towns and villages over the course of 24 hours, the most intense day of shelling this year, Kyiv said.

Communities near the front lines in the east and south were targeted, with 10 out of 27 of Ukraines regions coming under attack.

Vladimir Putins warplanes have dropped explosive objects into the paths of civilian shipping lanes in the Black Sea, the regions military command said.

The occupiers are continuing to terrorise the paths of civilian shipping in the Black Sea with tactical aviation, dropping explosive objects into the likely paths of civilian vessel traffic, it said.

There were three such drops registered in the last 24 hours. However, the navigation corridor continues to function under the watch of the defence forces.

Ukraine is trying to build up a new shipping lane without Russian approval to revive its vital seaborne exports. But Russia said it would consider any vessel a potential military target after it quit UN-brokered deal allowing Ukrainian goods to pass through.
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Israels defence minister has ordered a total siege on Gaza that would sever all power and water supplies, as well as blocking food and fuel, a move Palestinian medics warn will be catastrophic for the embattled civilian population.

Israel has turned the full might of its army onto pounding the 42-km long territory in retaliation for a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas at the weekend which has killed more than 1,400 Israelis.

The military told The Independent its troops were still battling militants across six different locations in the south of Israel.

As part of the surprise attacks, Hamas militants blew open border fences, infiltrated towns, killed civilians and soldiers and took over 100 hostages.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike (AFP via Getty Images)

In quick retaliation, Israels defence minister then announced a total closure of Gaza, which is home to two million people, and was already subject to a crippling Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

I ordered a full siege on the Gaza Strip, Yoav Gallant said in a terse statement shared on social media. No power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.

Israel formally declared war and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, signalling a bloody battle is ahead after the unprecedented assault by Hamas.

In the early hours of Saturday, October 7, as many as 1,000 Hamas militants stormed Israel by land, sea and air, killing hundreds of civilians and seizing hostages.

Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and the elderly, British and American citizens.

Senior Israeli military officials told The Independent that due to the unprecedented nature of the attack, all options are on the table including possible ground assault into Gaza  a move not seen since 2005.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of a long and difficult war ahead and vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group, which is deeply rooted in Gaza .

On the ground, Nizar, a father-of-five who lives in Beit Lahia in the north of Gaza and asked not to be fully named, said a ground invasion would be our worst nightmare for families.

Israeli army soldiers are positioned with their Merkava tanks near the border with the Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images)

We have no shelter, no safe place to go. My house is already hosting two other families of relatives who fled from the border regions, he said in desperation.

We lost two children in the 2008 war, and have been displaced multiple times. Bombing is taking place every minute.

Palestinian hospitals meanwhile said they were already struggling to treat the wounded from the relentless Israeli attacks because of pre-existing shortages of medical supplies.

Gaza, which is one of the most densely populated places on earth, has been subject to 16-year blockade by Israel and Egypt, ever since Hamas violently seized control of the strip in 2007.

This sparked a humanitarian crisis even before this latest war erupted. Mahmoud Shalabi, acting director of UK based Medical Aid for Palestinians charity, said the current restrictions already means nearly half the essential drug list is missing.

The Gaza health ministry said on Monday that at least 680 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday, including dozens in airstrikes on Jabalia refugee camp.

A full siege would be a catastrophic we already only have three or four hours of electricity a day, water comes every once every 3 days, we lack antibiotics, saline even disposable medical gloves, Mr Shalabi told The Independent from Gaza City.

Israeli military tries to strengthen borders with Gaza as battle enters third day (EPA)

Now we add this unparalleled escalation. We have never seen this level of violence in the initial days, so we dont know what is going to happen.

He said medics at al-Shifa hospital , the largest medical centre in the strip, likened the influx of wounded from Israeli strikes to a slaughterhouse.

Another problem is the lack of electricity in Gaza, he added, which relies on Israel for a large part of its power supplies.

No electricity in a hospital means death. Already hospitals are having to turn off generators and they are running out of fuel. The list goes on.

Maha Hussaini, a Palestinian human rights advocate also in Gaza City, said the complete siege announced by the Israeli defence minister would cut Gaza off from the outside world entirely.

There will be a total blackout as without electricity areas are already struggling with internet connections. People will be in total black out, being killed and wiped out in silence, she added.

So far Israel says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in Gaza, and has levelled much of Beit Hanon in the northeast of the country where it says Hamas has been staging attacks.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images)

Across the border in southern Israel, tanks and drones are guarding the half-destroyed openings in the border fence.

Israeli military spokesperson Major Nir Dinar said the IDF was trying to wrestle back control of at least six areas, after militants had blown open border fences in as many as 30 places.

We are striking hard and will continue to strike hard, he said, saying Hamas was worse than Isis.

Throughout the day, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens as far north and east as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Video posted online appeared to show plumes of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage.

Back in Gaza, civilians showed The Independent text messages they had been sent by the Israeli military, urging them to evacuate to different parts of the strip or risk being hit in further bombardments.

A member of the Palestinian civil defence carries a wounded boy rescued from rubble (AFP via Getty Images)

Literally there is nowhere to go, said Ms Hussain, adding that tens of thousands of Palestianins have already been displaced, after receiving text messages telling them to leave their homes.

There is no safe place here, every place is targeted and can be targeted at any given moment. There are no shelters. Even the United Nations schools, which have received 74,000 people, can be hit. Yesterday an Unrwa school came under direct fire.

Egypts state media reported that Cairo is trying to mediate an initial deal in which would see Hamas release captive women in exchange for Israel freeing female Palestinian prisoners.

It said that if both sides agree, there would be a temporary cease-fire to facilitate the exchange.
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The bodies of around 1,500 Hamas militants have been found in Israel, as the nations military announced it has now sealed the border with Gaza.

Minor firefights with militants erupted in two communities near to Gaza overnight. However dozens of breaches in the fence have been closed, and the military is in control, Lt. Col Richard Hecht, Israeli military spokesperson said.

The military has meanwhile mobilised 300,000 reservists, with speculation a ground invasion of Gaza is imminent.

We have more or less restore full control over the border fence in the next few hours, it will be final, said Lt. Col Richard Hecht, adding that there were no further infiltrations from Gaza overnight.

We have nearly completed the evacuation of all the communities around the border. Right now we are focusing on our offensive in the Gaza Strip, he added.

At least 1,600 people have been killed on both sides since Hamas launched a surprise attack into Israel on Saturday triggering unprecedented street battles between militants and Israeli soldiers in Israeli towns.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel a death toll not seen in half a century since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The number of dead is expected to rise as first responders discover more bodies in communities which were under militant control.

In Gaza and the West Bank, 770 people have been killed, including dozens of children, in Israeli strikes according to authorities there. Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Hamas has also taken around 130 soldiers and civilians hostage in its deadly raids of communities and a music festival near to Gaza. Hamass leader said on Monday that the militant group would begin executing them in response to Israels heavy bombing of Gaza.

Lt Col. Hecht said Israel would continue the bombardment, that 35 battalions and 4 divisions were fully deployed and ready and that they were building an infrastructure for future operations, a guarded hint at a possible imminent ground invasion.

This is not a regular event this is a war, this is a massive massive dramatic epic event in Israeli society there will be books written about this he said.

We should all change the paradigm here this is not regular contained tit for tat.

It echoed a late night address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said "We have only started striking Hamas.

What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, he said.

On Monday the Israeli defence minister announced that Israel would impose a total siege on Gaza, which is home to more than two million people and is already struggling with a 16-year Egyptian and Israeli blockade that has strangled medical, fuel and electricity supplies.

Palestinian medics warned that this would be catastrophic for the civilian population, that was already dealing with just four hours of power a day.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, said there was no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law.

If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes, he told the AP.

The Israeli military initially suggested that Palestinians "get out" via Rafah border crossing to Egypt but this was revised as the border is closed. The United Nations refugee agency said that more than 185,000 Palestinians are internally displaced within the tiny 42-km strip, including 137,000 people sheltering in UN schools.

Three UN schools and a rehabilitation centre for the visually impaired were damaged in Israeli airstrikes, with one taking a direct hit.

Firefights also erupted along Israels northern border with Lebanon with Lebanese militant groups. threatening to expand the conflict into a wider international arena. Lt. Col. Hecht said that four Islamic jihad fighters opened the border fence with Israel and got through but were killed in a firefight.

A Lt. Col, and second in command of an Israeli brigade was also killed in this attack, Hecht confirmed.
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Israel is laying siege to Gaza after a deadly attack by Hamas left hundreds of people dead.

The country is drawing on its huge military capabilities to hit back at the terrorists and say they have already killed around 1,500 militants following Saturdays incursion.

We are going to go on the offense and attack the Hamas terrorist group and any other group that is in Gaza, Israeli Brigadier General Dan Goldfus said. We will have to change the reality from within Gaza to prevent this from happening again.

An Israeli tank drives toward the southern border with the Gaza Strip (Getty Images)

The surprise Hamas attack is by far the deadliest by militants in Israeli history, with Goldfus telling reporters on Tuesday the death toll had topped 1,000.

In response, the military has mobilised 300,000 reservists, with speculation a ground invasion of Gaza is imminent. Below we look at the significant resources Israel can call on in its war on Hamas.

How big is the Israeli military?

Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel (REUTERS)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military. It has three branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.

Fixed-term military service has been compulsory in the country since the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.

All citizens over 18 years of age, regardless of gender or ethnicity, are required to serve for at least 24 to 32 months. There are a few exceptions, such as religious women, married individuals, and those with disabilities.

There are currently 173,000 active soldiers in the Israeli army, including 8,000 commanders.

Soldiers and a civilian take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets (AP)

The military has also called up 300,000 reservists to prepare for its largest ever mobilisation, with special flights being organised to bring reservists from abroad to join its efforts.

Israel is also drawing on its special forces from the Sayeret Matkal unit to fight against Hamas. It is believed that they will be aiming to neutralise high-ranking fighters within the terrorist organisation and rescue Israelis who have been taken hostage.

In 2021, the Israeli military spend was $24.34 billion.

What weapons does the Israeli army have?

Soldiers with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) near Israels border with Lebanon (REUTERS)

Israeli forces have already used 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to strike the Gaza Strip.

The ground troops are also drawing from Israels arsenal of 300 military tanks, with a further 2,000 available for use.

Israels Merkava tank is similar to the German Leopard 2 battle tank that has been widely used in Ukraine. The tank has a thick front armour plate to provide maximum protection for its crew and is armed with a 120mm main gun.

On Monday the Israeli Air Force said it had dropped around 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 tonnes of bombs on Gaza aimed at over 10,000 targets in less than 24 hours. The air force is known for its Kfir fighter jets and also has a number of F-35 Lightning II jets obtained from the USA.

The IDF is believed to have maintained a nuclear weapons capability since 1967, with an estimated 90 warheads according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NFI), although Israel does not officially confirm this.

Fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (AP)

What is the Iron Dome?

The Iron Dome is an Israeli mobile air defence system and Israel is the only country in the world operating such a system on a national level.

The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells whose trajectory would take them to a populated area.

The missile defense system is one of Israels most important tools and has saved many civilian lives since it became operational in 2011.

The IDF said the system had a 95.6% success rate during a missile raid fired by Islamic Jihad in May.

There are 10 Iron Dome batteries across Israel and each one can carry 11 kilograms of explosives.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip (REUTERS)

The USA contributed to the construction and maintenance of the Iron Dome, spending $1.6 billion on the system from 2011 to 2021.

Each missile costs around $40,000, so intercepting thousands of incoming Hamas rockets can become costly.

The IDF says the Iron Dome is a purely defensive system and has no attacking capabilities.

Israel has now asked the US to assist in restocking the defence system after suffering large missile barrages during Hamas attacks.
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Partygoers at a rave in the desert near the border with Gaza have told how the first hint of the horror raging towards them in the early hours of Saturday was a barrage of rockets roaring through the morning sky, as it emerged more than 260 people had died in the attack.

It was 6am. Most of the attendees, including a British and a German citizen, had not been to bed and were dancing to trance music under multicoloured tents set up for the Supernova festival.

The music stopped briefly and they dropped to the floor  a well-rehearsed drill for Israelis in the south of the country used to frequent cross-border exchange of fire with the Hamas militant group.

But this was so much worse than usual.

Peleg Oren was one of the revellers at the desert rave music festival in Israel when Hamas attacked (Peleg Oren)

For five minutes there wasnt a seconds break without a rocket, says bartender Peleg Oren, 26, one of those who escaped safely. The barrage was so relentless that his friend started to have a panic attack, and begged him to help her leave.

I had my own car, I tried to convince friends to leave with me but some had already arranged taxis and wanted to stick together so they wouldnt listen, he told The Independent.

The main problem was many of the festivalgoers arrived on buses and had no transport. Minutes later, Hamas operatives who had blown through the border fence into Israel burst into the campus with grenades and assault rifles.

Israeli festivalgoers flee as Gaza strikes begin

They shot and killed and kidnapped dozens of people, according to eyewitnesses and friends. They hunted down partygoers  many dressed in just swimsuits and shorts  as they tried to hide in the wooded area surrounding the encampment.

Parents and friends received panicked messages, seen by The Independent, desperately asking for help and for the army to deploy, saying they were wounded and had no way out.

Partygoers run from the rave in the Israeli desert after it was hit by bombing (supplied)

One girl named by Israeli media as Karin had a pre-existing broken leg, her brace preventing her from being able to run.

She had no way to escape, her mother Inbal told the Israeli news network Mako. Those who escaped the initial onslaught were then filmed running through dusty fields against the backdrop of machine-gun fire with some dropping to the ground.

Then videos from Gaza started appearing online, including one showing a young woman Noa Argamani being abducted by Hamas militants as she rode with her boyfriend on a motorcycle.

We last heard from Noa around 10am and then the next thing we see is her on a Hamas propaganda video, says Yad Gorjalstan 27, a childhood friend.

You can hear her screaming, No, no, no, I am innocent! he added breaking down. Yad shared the last screenshots of Noas messages moments before she was captured where she says she was hiding with a group, while assailants were lynching people.

She repeatedly called for help, asking for soldiers to come and help them. She was saying there are terrorists going crazy killing and kidnapping people, Yad added, audibly shaken.

Among those believed to have been taken hostage in Gaza is Jake Marlowe (Jake Marlowe/Facebook)

Among those believed to have been taken hostage in Gaza is a British man  named locally as Jake Marlowe  who had been doing security at the event according to Daniel Aboudy, a friend who spoke to The Independent.

He sent a last voice note saying he was watching militants round up people from the party in front of our eyes. We are telling everyone to get the f*** outta there, he said in the voice note.

We have spoken to the home front command in Israel and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but so far, we dont know anything about what happened after that, Daniel added.

On Sunday night, Israels search and rescue agency said more than 260 dead bodies had been recovered from the music festival. They havent all been collected yet, added the agency, called Zaka.

The Israeli military had earlier told The Independent they had no firm figures of how many had been abducted to Gaza from the festival  saying very significant numbers of people had been killed and taken hostage.

Noa Argamani appeared in a chilling video being abducted by Hamas militants as she rode with her boyfriend on a motorcycle (Telegram)

They are beginning the impossible task of trying to locate and retrieve them. It is unlike anything we have ever seen, said Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, the international spokesperson for the army.

There is a deep concern for the wellbeing and lives of the hostages. At this stage, I dont think anyone can guarantee they will be returned alive. We do not know who is alive and who is dead.

The hostages were not only taken from the Nova party. In Kibbutz Nirim, just 8km south of the festival, militants raided the town, going from house to house trying to abduct people.

One resident who asked not to be named said she knew of a family of three who had been kidnapped: No one knows what happened to them.

Terrorists broke into their house and took them hostage. It took the army almost eight hours to get here, she told The Independent. We have been hiding in our shelter all day.

As for Peleg, the bartender, he only survived because he left the Nova festival just in time. He described manically driving through farmlands trying to find safety past bombed-out cars full of shot-up Israeli civilians who had been killed trying to flee.

There was no army or any help there at all. We used [navigation app] Waze to navigate through the fields, we saw a car returning that had been near us, the passenger circling his hand saying go back go back.

A childhood friend of Noa shared her last messages moments before she was captured where she says she was hiding as people were lynched (Sourced)

There was a car full of holes and dead bodies inside. So we drove back into the fields.

There was so much gun and missile fire that he parked by the side of the road and hid until help finally came.

My friend Ori is still missing, as are the other bar staff, he added.

Family members of the missing put out desperate pleas for help. The mother of Shani Louk, a tattoo artist whose body was filmed being driven around Gaza, released a video in German begging for her body to be returned.

Yad, Noas friend, says the family is devastated.

My heart is broken as its Noas birthday coming up very soon and knowing she will be in Gaza is killing me.

I was with Noas dad and family yesterday  to see him crying for help because his only child has been taken, he is broken, you can not imagine what this feels like.
A North Dakota Department of Transportation worker suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a truck while patching a highway in northeastern North Dakota.

Levi Smaage, 25, from the town of Michigan, was working on U.S. Highway 2 about 2 miles east of Lakota when he was struck by a passing International 4000 truck driven by Randall Pike, 58, of Emerado, around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to the Highway Patrol.

The International 4000 also hit an unoccupied DOT pickup, patching equipment and a DOT International 7600 plow truck driven by another worker, before coming to rest in the median of the four-lane highway, authorities said. Pike is not a DOT employee, according to the Patrol.

Smaage and Pike were taken to a Grand Forks hospital. The driver of the International plow truck wasn't hurt. He was identified as Adam Slettebak, 37, of Petersburg.

The Patrol is continuing to investigate.
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The modern state of Israel was founded in May 1948 in the aftermath of the Holocaust and Second World War but the conflict that has raged between Israelis and Palestinians since can be traced back much further.

Historians and commentators offer differing opinions as to when this chapter of history begins. In her series Al Nakba (2008) on Al Jazeera, documentary maker Rawan Damen begins her story with Napoleon Bonaparte, who proposed a Jewish homeland in Palestine as long ago as 1799 in the wake of the siege of Acre during his war against the Ottoman Empire.

Pre-1900

The French commander was ultimately defeated in that conquest but his attempt to establish a European stronghold in the Middle East was revived by the British 41 years on, when foreign secretary Lord Palmerston wrote to his ambassador in Istanbul, urging him to press the Sultan to open up Palestine to Jewish immigrants as a means of countering the considerable influence of Egyptian governor Mohammed Ali.

While there were only around 3,000 Jews living in Palestine at that time, wealthy benefactors such as French aristocrat Baron Edmond de Rothschild began to sponsor others from Europe to join them and establish settlements, the most notable being Rishon Le Zion, founded in 1882.

Austrian writer Nathan Birnbaum coined the term Zionism in 1885 as Jews, particularly from eastern Europe, continued to arrive in Palestine.

Austro-Hungarian journalist Dr Theodor Herzls book The Jewish State appeared a decade later, envisioning the establishment of such an entity with the coming of the 20th century. According to Al Nakba, two rabbis were sent by Herzls friend Max Nordau to Palestine to investigate the feasibility of the prospect and reported back: The bride is beautiful but she is married to another man, although the authenticity of this exchange is contested.

Birnbaum, Herzl and Nordau organised the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897 to discuss their dream of an independent Jewish nation and plans to lobby European powers for its realisation.

By 1907, Britain was considering the need for a buffer state in the Middle East to bolster its dominance. British Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, a biochemist, would arrive in Jerusalem at this time to establish a company engaged in buying up land near Jaffa. Within three years, about 10,000 dunums, an old land measurement equivalent to acres, had been acquired in the Marj Bin Amer region of northern Palestine, forcing out 60,000 local farmers to accommodate Jewish arrivals from Europe and Yemen.

As a Jewish militia, Hashomer, was established to protect the growing number of settlements, Palestinian pharmacist Najib Nassar set up a newspaper, Al-Karmel, to warn against what he considered to be a colonising force.

The First World War  1914 - 1918

The outbreak of the First World War prompted a Britain distrustful of Mohammedans to intensify its interest in developing an allied presence in Palestine, not least to strengthen its grasp on the Suez Canal.

In January 1915, Liberal Party politician Herbert Samuel drafted his secret memo The Future of Palestine, which was circulated among the Cabinet and in which he backed annexation and the country gradually becoming an autonomous Jewish state under the protectorship of the British Empire.

Samuels recommendations were discussed privately by diplomats Sir Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot the following year, architects of the Sykes-Picot Agreement that demarcated British and French spheres of influence in the event of the collapse of Ottoman rule.

Austro-Hungarian journalist Dr Theodor Herzl who wrote The Jewish State advocating a nation in Palestine (Getty)

The Balfour Declaration  1917

The British governments Balfour Declaration followed on 9 November 1917, formally declaring support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine in a letter between David Lloyd Georges foreign secretary Arthur Balfour and Jewish community leader Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, effectively assuming ownership over a land that many would argue it had no legal right to give away.

Rothschild, Samuel, Sykes and Weizmann addressed a celebratory meeting in London a month later before, on 11 December 1917, General Edmund Allenby captured the holy city of Jerusalem.

Following the Kaisers defeat and the Great Wars end, US president Woodrow Wilson commissioned a report into the non-Turkish regions of the fallen Ottoman Empire conducted by academic Dr Henry King and orientalist Charles Crane, who found that the almost 90 per cent non-Jewish population of Palestine were emphatically against the Zionist project. The authors warned of the intensity of feeling and argued that Jewish immigration should be limited in the greater interests of peace but were roundly ignored by the international community, their conclusions suppressed until 1922.

At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, lieutenant-colonel TE Lawrence (much-mythologised as Lawrence of Arabia) mediated the signing of an agreement between Weizmann, now leader of the Zionist delegation, and his Arab counterpart Prince Faisal bin Hussein, agreeing in principle the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and an independent Arab nation in the Middle East.

In 1922, the League of Nations recognised the British Mandate to rule Palestine under the jurisdiction of Samuel, now high commissioner, who was instrumental in enacting at least 100 legal initiatives to establish a Jewish presence, including recognising Hebrew as an official language and permitting a separate Jewish educational system and Jewish army. The Hebrew University and Histadrut, a labour union, were in place by 1925.

As the decade progressed, mass protests began to erupt opposing Jewish immigration as the Palestinian movement tried in vain to counter and resist what its members considered a usurpation backed by the military and diplomatic muscle of imperial Britain.

Black flags were raised by Palestinians when Balfour visited Jerusalem and almost 250 Jews and Arabs were killed and many more wounded in August 1929 at the Wailing Wall in a tragedy that became known as the Buraq Revolt. Three Muslim men were put to death by Samuels successor, Sir John Chancellor, for their part in the unrest, an act of brutality intended as a deterrent.

Foreign secretary Arthur Balfour, right, formally declared British support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people (Getty)

But the protests continued, reaching fever pitch in 1933, as more Jewish immigrants arrived to make a home for themselves, the influx accelerating from 4,000 in 1931 to 62,000 in 1935. That same year, Muslim revolutionary leader Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam was shot dead by British soldiers in the hills above Jenin.

In 1936, the intensity of opposition to British colonial rule imposing the Balfour Declaration on a people who deplored it resulted in a six-month-long general strike, an impressive feat of organisation that nevertheless resulted in a backlash in which Palestinian homes were destroyed.

The Second World War  1939 - 1945

The wider world would once more be plunged into war in 1939 in the fightback against Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany, whose Third Reich would ultimately be found responsible for executing six million Jews in extermination camps, and concentration camps.

Not long after the US entrance into the conflict, American-Zionist relations would be cemented with a 1942 conference at the Biltmore Hotel in New York. This occurred against a backdrop of several years activity by an armed Zionist paramilitary force known as Irgun, that had been attacking local Arab groups in Palestine.

Irgun would become notorious for the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 22 July 1946, in which 91 people died, and the Deir Yassin Massacre on 9 April 1948, carried out in collaboration with another organisation, Lehi (or the Stern Gang), in which 107 were killed.

That summer, Lehi would assassinate Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat dispatched by the United Nations to mediate the dispute.

Following the Allied victories in Europe and the Pacific in 1945, world powers turned their attention towards ending the violence in Palestine.

UN Partition Plan (or two-state solution)  1947

A two-state solution to the disputed territory almost came into being in 1947, when the UN General Assembly volunteered Resolution 181, which proposed carving a new state from Palestine west of the River Jordan: one housing Jews, the other Arabs.

The resolution was adopted after a vote, allegedly as a result of diplomatic pressure from the US, but rejected by the Palestinians, who argued that Jewish residents owned no more than 5.5 per cent of the land at the time and so had no right to receive 56 per cent, in addition to the accompanying international legitimacy. Jewish jubilation met with Arab hostility and a civil war duly erupted.

The first Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion officially proclaims the state of Israel in Tel Aviv in 1948 (AFP/Getty)

The Arab-Israeli War and Nakba  1948

The state of Israel was nevertheless founded under prime minister David Ben-Gurion on 14 May 1948 with the end of the British Mandate, winning immediate recognition from the US and Soviet Union but prompting the outbreak of the bloody Arab-Israeli War, which saw 3,000 resistance fighters rise up against the new nation and forced 700,000 Palestinian people to flee the fighting, seeking refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza, often without citizenship being granted.

The displacement of the Palestinian people on that date is still marked every year on Nakba Day, named for an Arabic word for catastrophe and on which Palestinians give speeches, hold rallies and brandish the keys to the homes they were forced to leave behind and still hope to return to.

In December of 1948, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 194, recognising that Palestinian people who want to return to their homes and live in peace with their neighbours should be given the right to do so as soon as possible. Israel though rejected the notion as a threat to the exclusively Jewish nature of the new state. A year later, the chamber would establish the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to further support those displaced.

In the interim between those two events, Israel had signed armistice agreements with its neighbours in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

Six-Day War  1967

Jordan assumed administrative control of the West Bank in 1950 and Egypt would hold Gaza, an arrangement that would last until the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israeli forces conquered those territories.

Prior to that, the violence continued sporadically. Notable massacres took place in the villages of Qalqilya, Kufr Qasim and Khan Yunis in 1956 and in as-Samu in 1966.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation was founded in Cairo in 1964, dedicated to fighting for the liberation of Palestine through armed revolution rather than dwelling on rights issues, a stance the PLO would not abandon until 1993 and which would see it labelled a terrorist organisation by both Israel and the US. It would be recognised as the sole representative of the Palestinian people by the Arab League in 1974.

Israels military advance on the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights and Egyptian Sinai in 1967 sparked fresh bloodshed and saw the UN Security Council pass Resolution 242 ordering it to withdraw from territories it considered occupied. The council was ignored.

Following the Yom Kippur War, the Security Council would pass another resolution, 338, calling for a ceasefire and again demanding Israel retreat from its 1967 incursions. Again, Israel refused.

On 30 March 1976, Israeli land confiscations were met with uprisings, strikes and further violent reprisals in towns from the Sea of Galilee to the Negev, a date commemorated by Palestinians ever after as Land Day.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was befriended by Donald Trump (AP)

An apparent breakthrough for peace in the Middle East occurred on 17 September 1978 when Israeli PM Menachem Begin met Egyptian president Anwar Sadat to sign the Camp David Accords at the Maryland retreat of president Jimmy Carter. One of the framework agreements clinched harmonious relations between their two nations and won the signatories the Nobel Peace Prize but the other, concerning the future of the disputed territories Palestine, would be condemned by the UN for being agreed without a Palestinian delegations involvement.

The First Intifada and Oslo Accords  1987 - 1993

Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 while the first Intifada in Palestinian territories would erupt protesting occupation at the decades end. However, further incremental steps towards peace did occur when the PLO accepted UN Resolutions 242 and 338, formally recognising the state of Israel. Talks stalled again in 1991 and 1992, with no resolution in sight.

Then, in summer 1993, the Oslo I Accord was signed by Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, providing for the creation of a Palestinian interim self-government, the Palestinian National Authority, and the withdrawal of Israeli Defence Forces from zones still widely considered occupied. A second agreement, Oslo II, followed in 1995 and granted Palestinian autonomy in certain parts of the West Bank and Gaza but, again, did not offer statehood.

The Second Intifada and Gaza wars  2002 - 2021

An uneasy truce held until a second Intifada saw Israel reoccupy West Bank cities in 2002, a destabilising event that would be worsened by the death of Arafat in 2004, a great blow to the Palestinian cause.

Since that time, violence has returned, with Israel declaring war on Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and launching repeated assaults on Hamas in Gaza, including Operation Cast Lead (2008), Operation Pillar of Defence (2012) and Operation Protective Edge (2014). Further violence blew up on Nakba Day in both 2017 and 2018, the latter severe enough to merit a UN war crimes investigation.

The election of Donald Trump as US president further shook up the situation, with the former reality television star befriending Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as a gesture of recognition that the city is its capital before designating the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, in defiance of the broad international consensus that the region was illegally annexed.

Mr Trump also cut US funding to the UNRWA and absurdly tasked his Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with developing a plan to bring peace to the Middle East, something the junior property developer was confident he could achieve without bias having read no fewer than 25 books on the subject.

The tensions have subsequently erupted again, after Hamas sent fighters across the border and fired thousands of rockets at Israel in what it said was a new operation on Saturday. Israel has responded by saying the country is "at war" and fired at targets in Gaza in response.

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An Israeli grandmother was murdered by Hamas terrorists with her killers posting it on her own Facebook account, her family has said.

Describing her as pure and good, the unnamed womans granddaughter Mor Bayder claimed the horrifying videos were shared publicly on social media, reportedly showing the elderly woman being slaughtered in her own home.

A terrorist came home to her, killed her, took her phone, filmed the horror and published it on her Facebook wall, Ms Bayder said. This is how we found out.

She was killed inside her own home shortly after telling her family that she was safe (Facebook )

When the incursion by Hamas into Israel began on Saturday morning, the grandmothers family spoke to her on the phone and she reassured them she was in a protected space and was okay.

A lifelong resident of the Nir Oz Kibbutz, near the Gaza border, she was accustomed to the sounds of sirens and told her family that she had not received any special instructions since the first rockets were launched.

Follow our live blog coverage for all the latest updates

However, her other granddaughter Adi Bayder said that just a short while later they became aware of the videos and pictures posted on her Facebook page.

Im used to my grandmother answering me straight, I called her millions of calls, she didnt answer and I knew straight away, she wrote in a tribute on social media. Im broken and I miss her so much.

My grandma was the best woman I know, she was the anchor of my family, she saved me and my whole family, she had one big heart only dealing with the good in life, she never did anyone wrong for the world. I never thought I would reach such a reality at all.

Israeli authorities have said that at least 1,00 people have been killed since Saturday, while thousands more have been injured.

Her other granddaughter Adi Bayder described her as 'the best woman (Facebook )

Around 100 people were taken hostage by Hamas, with distressing footage on social media showing a young woman being carried away on the back of a motorcycle while screaming for help.

At the site of a music festival just three miles from the border of Gaza, emergency services recovered the bodies of 260 partygoers, who were killed when Palestinian gunmen opened fire and blocked escaping cars.

In retaliation, Israel has launched strikes from the air and sea with around 700 killed in Gaza and the West Bank.

In a televised address on Monday, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensive had only started and said: What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

The country has formally declared war on Hamas and has called up 300,000 reservists for duty, while their defence minister announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip.

Israel has ordered a complete siege of Gaza in retaliation (AFP via Getty Images)

While ordering the blockade of electricity, fuel, water and fuel, Yoav Gallant said: We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.

Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, said that they would kill an Israeli civilian captive in return for any new Israeli bombing of civilian homes without prior warning.

In an audio statement, he said: We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, and we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one of the hostages of civilians we are holding.

The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, condemned the Hamas attacks as acts of terror and said he was deeply distressed by the Israeli governments plan for a complete siege.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now it will only deteriorate exponentially, he said.
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Palestinians living in Gaza have shared their fears as the enclave comes under siege by Israeli forces.

More than 1,000 Hamas militants stormed Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning, killing hundreds of civilians and seizing hostages.

Israel declared war on the terror group on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists after the deadly assault.

Palestinian rescuers work at the site of Israeli strikes, in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip (REUTERS)

The Independent has spoken to residents living in Gaza who described the sounds of war planes and rockets and their fears over what is to come as tensions continue to mount.

Amira Nassar, a freelance reporter, said: We are under complete aggression from Israel, constantly surrounded by the sounds of war planes and rockets. The sky is covered with black clouds from the missile strikes, and I can hear the cries of children being targeted  it is tragic.

Ms Nassar said many of her friends are missing, feared dead, and her sisters house - full of beautiful memories - had been destroyed by air attacks.

She added that a local ambulance crew had been hit by Israeli missile strikes, affecting the rescue efforts by emergency services, with a mosque and a school also damaged.

On Monday, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of Gaza, saying the government would disconnect electricity and prevent food and fuel from entering the territory. He said Israel was at war with human animals.

People stand outside a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip on Sunday (AP)

Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power, but in recent years Israel had provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out.

Israeli TV channels say Hamas fighters killed some 900 people in the weekend attack including 260 at a desert music festival, while Gazas Health Ministry puts the Palestinian death toll at 770 in retaliatory strikes.

Gaza residents are concerned for their safety after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israels retaliation against Hamas had only just begun.

There are currently no IDF (Israel Defense Force) ground troops in the Gaza strip, but we fear they will be here soon, Ms Nassar said. Since I was 14 years-old we have had to deal with IDF forces killing our people and destroying our houses. Only yesterday, Israel launched a large number of explosives on very small areas of land.

My neighbour has lost all his family and he is now alone.

Israeli soldiers drive in military vehicles by Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel (REUTERS)

Mohammed Mhawish, a Gaza resident, said he had to leave his house and flee the neighbourhood in fear of being killed.

Israel have initiated a relentless barrage of airstrikes targeting a wide range of locations across the strip, including hospitals, public spaces, and residential compounds, he said. My wife and our two-year-old son have been living a daytime nightmare

On Monday, amid the bombardment of air strikes targeting the besieged strip, Israeli missiles landed on the Jabalia refugee camp, north of Gaza City.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Asmaa Tayeh, who lives in the camp, said when bombs started to fall, she could hardly keep herself calm.

Palestinians gather at the site of Israeli strikes, in Jabalia refugee camp (REUTERS)

She recalled the horrors of the sounds of ambulances and cars filled the area, but the voices of people screaming and rushing to the bombing area to find their family following the raid was more harrowing.

Death seems to be closer, but I can do nothing about it, just like the people who were killed only minutes ago, she added.

In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said on Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

Israels chief military spokesman has emphasised the unprecedented nature of the current campaign, saying all options are on the table.

Hamas terrorists wont have a place to run to in Gaza, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. We will reach them wherever they are.

Charities have raised concerns that a humanitarian crisis looms as civilians on both sides are caught up in the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas.

Palestinians walk through a ravaged neighbourhood as they move to safer areas, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images)

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he said. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

Volker Turk the United Nations Human Rights chief condemned horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups but warned that sieges were illegal under international law.

This risks seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the capacity of medical facilities to operate, especially in light of increasing numbers of injured, he said.
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Israel is at war after Hamas militants broke through the border from Gaza to inflict the deadliest attack the country has suffered in half a century.

The surprise and highly sophisticated incursion, a major failure of much-vaunted Israeli intelligence, has claimed the lives of more than 700 civilians and soldiers living close to the Gaza border, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) still seeking to root out militants embedded in Israeli settlements two days later.

In retaliation, Israel has launched relentless air strikes on Gaza and its tightly-packed civilian population  among whom Israel says Hamas militants are hiding  and has declared a complete siege of the enclave by cutting off supplies of electricity, food and fuel.

The unprecedented attack has raised fears of the conflict spilling over, with all eyes on Hamass allies in Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and their backers in Iran, while the United States is sending military assistance to Israel.

The incursion unfolded without warning at 6:30am on Saturday, nearly 50 years to the day since the outset of the brutal Yom Kippur war, with Hamas launching thousands of rockets into Israel and sending warning sirens blaring as far afield as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Announcing the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif said the group had targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications with more than 5,000 missiles and shells.

Footage released by Hamas suggests they used drones to blow up border observation posts and weapons systems, with one militant filmed flying into Israel on a motorised paraglide, in a possible ode to the night of the gliders incursion during the run-up to the first Intifada uprising in 1987.

Minutes later, Hamas used explosives and other means to breach the border fence, with fighters pouring through in at least four locations  on foot, in vehicles and on motorbikes  reportedly near the northern Erez border crossing, Kerem Shalom in the south, and Nahal Oz and Beeri in the east.

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Multiple military outposts  some lying several kilometres from the frontier  were stormed, with soldiers reportedly killed and taken captive.

Also directly in the path of the militants were thousands of partygoers attending the Supernova psytrance festival, a rave held in the Negev desert, not far from the Reim millitary base, which houses the IDFs Gaza Division and was among the three outposts targeted, alongside bases at Erez and Zikim.

Revellers first saw the barrage of rockets fly overhead before militants armed with assault rifles and grenades, gunning down revellers as they tried to flee on foot and in cars, and taking at least one hostage back to Gaza on the back of a motorbike.

Israeli rescuers say at least 260 bodies have been recovered from the site of the festival, with aerial footage showing the burnt-out remains of cars apparently abandoned as people attempted to escape.

One woman said she had survived by playing dead in a car after the driver trying to help her escape was shot, while another told the BBC she had hidden under a tree for three hours while gunmen roamed the area shooting all in their sight.

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Elsewhere, militants rampaged through settlements near the border, opening fire as terrified Israeli residents hid in safe rooms commonly installed in their homes. The Independent was told of one family in the neighbourhood of Nirim forced to hide for nine hours with a 10-day old baby.

Bodies were pictured lying in the streets in Sderot, and at the height of the incursion on Saturday the IDF said it was fighting to dislodge militants from 22 locations, which it later reduced to eight.

By Sunday morning, Hamas said its fighters were still engaged in the towns of Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Beeri, Yatid, Kissufim and Ofakim, the latter of which sits some 15 miles from the border. Footage broadcast that afternoon showed a gun battle breaking out on the Route 4 highway between Ashdod and Gaza, as terrified motorists ducked for cover.

By Sunday, Israel had announced the deaths of 600 people, with 100 taken hostage.

Moments after the incursion began on Saturday, Israel said it was responding with hundreds of air strikes on Gaza, as news footage showed missiles raining down on high-rise buildings in the background of reporters live broadcasts.

By Sunday, Israeli strikes had targeted old Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the southern city of Rafah, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. One man told the Associated Press that 19 members of his family including his wife were killed when an airstrike hit their home in Rafah.

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As well as housing blocks, Israeli air strikes have now so far hit a hospital, a mosque and the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp.

Accusing Hamas militants of deliberately hiding among civilians, Mr Netanyahu on Saturday gave the trapped residents of the 2.3 million-strong enclave just 24 hours to evacuate, despite them being unable to do so due to Israeli and Eygyptian border controls.

As the onslaught continued on Monday, Palestines health ministry said that 560 people in Gaza had been killed and some 2,900 wounded, as fears grew of a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe.
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At least five Palestinian journalists were killed and two went missing while reporting on Israel's ongoing war with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

Journalists Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih were killed on Tuesday when Israeli warplanes struck an area housing several media houses in Rimal district in western Gaza, the Associated Press quoted Palestinian news agency Wafa as reporting.

Three other Palestinian journalists were killed over the weekend while reporting from Gaza, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said, citing Palestinian press freedom groups.

Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi, a photographer for Ain Media, was shot dead while reporting from the Gaza Strips Erez Crossing on Saturday, while Mohammad Jarghoun, a reporter with Smart Media, was killed in the southern part of the region.

The CPJ confirmed freelance journalist Mohammad El-Salhi was also shot dead in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Two Palestinian photojournalists  Nidal Al-Wahidi from the Al-Najah channel and Haitham Abdelwahid from the Ain Media  have been missing for the past three days, the press freedom watchdog said.

At least 900 people have been killed in Israel after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared "war" on Hamas following the militant group's surprise attack on the country. Israel responded by raining missiles on Gaza, which killed nearly 700 people since Saturday.

Palestinians inspect the destruction from Israeli airstrike in Gaza (AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli authorities have ordered a complete siege of Gaza, cutting off food, electricity and fuel as the Hamas threatened to execute hostages.

The CPJ said it was "extremely concerned" and called on all sides to "remember that journalists are civilians and should not be targeted".

"Accurate reporting is critical during times of crisis and the media has a vital role to play in bringing news from Gaza and Israel to the world," said Sherif Mansour, CPJs Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator.

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (AFP via Getty Images)

Multiple videos and images on social media showed journalists taking cover during the bombardment of Gaza and Israel.

Critics have accused the Israeli defence forces of targeting Palestinian journalists and evading accountability in the deaths of 20 journalists over the past two decades.

A television crew for Sky News Arabia was allegedly assaulted by the Israeli police in the southern city of Ashkelon and damaged their equipment during the conflict.

Correspondent Firas Lutfi said the police aimed rifles at his head, forced him to remove his clothes, confiscated the teams phones, and made them leave the area under police escort, according to CPJ.

Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist with the Al Jazeera, was killed last year while covering the Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

The army has said Abu Akleh was likely killed by Israeli fire, but said the shooting was accidental and did not announce any disciplinary action.
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The mother of a tattoo artist, believed to have been killed by Hamas terrorists at a music festival, has claimed her daughter is alive but in critical condition.

Shani Louk, 22, was recognised by her distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks as the partially naked body inside a pick-up truck that was paraded through the streets by Palestinian gunmen.

She and her friends had been attending the Supernova festival just three miles from the Gaza border when they were caught in the crossfire during Saturdays shock attack.

Shani Louks mother has claimed she is alive in a Gaza hospital (Sourced)

Her mother Ricarda Louk has now told German outlet Bild: We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical.

You have to act quickly and get Shani out of the Gaza Strip! she declared in a message directed at German officials. We shouldnt argue about questions of jurisdiction now!

Clips on social media had shown Ms Louk, a German citizen raised in Israel, dancing and singing with her friends just hours before Hamas militants crossed into Israeli territories and opened fire on partygoers.

Around 260 bodies have been retrieved from the festival site, with numerous others missing while Hamas claims to have taken around 100 people captive.

Burnt cars are abandoned in a carpark near the Hamas festival attack (REUTERS)

During a media appeal over the weekend, Ms Louks mother held a picture of her daughter and said: This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas.

We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip.

I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much.
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A young German tattoo artist was caught dancing and laughing on camera, just hours before she was stripped naked and killed by Hamas militants near the Gaza border.

Shani Louk, 23, was among hundreds of victims at an outdoor music festival near Kibbutz Urim when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the crowds during the early hours of Saturday morning.

In a video posted on social media, Ms Louk can be seen beaming into the camera with her friends, while music blasts in the background at the Supernova trance event.

Shani Louk has been identified as the body paraded in the back of a pick-up truck (Sourced)

A short while later, gunmen would send terrified partygoers fleeing into the desert, with Ms Louk becoming caught in the crossfire of the unexpected attack.

A video, too disturbing to be published, later showed her naked body being paraded through the streets on a flat-bed truck, while armed fighters shouted Allahu Akbar.

Follow our live blog coverage here

As her family became aware of Hamass attack on Israel, her family desperately attempted to contact her, only to become aware of a video circulating on social media. While the woman is lying face down, her family and friends identified her from her distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks.

Holding a picture of Ms Louk on her mobile phone, her mother Ricarda said that her daughter had been kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas.

"We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip," she said. "I ask you to send us any help or news. Thank you very much."

It is currently unknown if Ms Louk is captured or dead, with her cousin Tom Weintraub Louk telling the Washington Post: We have some kind of hope. Hamas is responsible for her and the others.

British citizen Jake Marlowe is also missing from the music festival (Jake Marlowe/Facebook)

The Palestinian militants have claimed to be holding over 130 captives, while the Israeli forces have placed it at around 100 people.

Other people reported to be held hostage by the Palestinian group include British citizen Jake Marlowe, who was working as a security guard at the festival.

Videos on social media also appeared to show another woman, identified as Israeli Noa Argamani, being kidnapped and taken on a motorbike by two men.

The Israeli authorities said that around 260 people had been killed at the music event, while many were still missing while the rescue service Zaka said it had retrieved hundreds of bodies.

The countrys defence minister Yoav Gallant has officially announced the blockade of the besieged enclave, saying authorities will cut electricity and prevent the entry of food and fuel.
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Palestinian group Hamas has launched its largest-ever attack on Israel, with militants launching thousands of rockets and storming through the Gaza border in an unprecedented assault.

In the deadliest assault Israel has suffered in generations, hundreds of soldiers and civilians living in settlements close to the border have been killed or abducted, after Hamas blew up observation posts and other fortifications and broke out of beseiged Gaza on motorbikes, speedboats and paragliders.

Two days after the shock incursion, Israel is still engaged in gunfights with Hamas fighters lodged within eight locations on its territory, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to root out every last militant and fire on all those hiding in Gaza  one of the worlds most densely-populated regions.

With Israel reporting at least 260 fatalities at a trance music festival in the Negev desert raided by Hamas militants armed with assault rifles and grenades, the groups actions have been widely condemned internationally, with the United States sending military assistance.

Here, The Independent takes a brief look at the groups history and aims:

What is Hamas?

The Hamas movement was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, shortly after the first of the intifada uprisings by Palestinians against Israel.

An acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, which also means zeal in Arabic, Hamas was created on the three pillars of religion, charity and the fight against Israel  also establishing a military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, named after the militant Syrian preacher first active in the 1920s.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on the third day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel (AFP via Getty Images)

Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since winning the most recent elections in 2006, held a year after Israels withdrawal from the enclave, since which time its borders and airspace have been strictly controlled by Israel and Egypt.

While much of Gazas young population was born under Hamas rule, some older Palestinians who voted them in  many in frustation with corruption in the rival Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO)  have expressed regret over years of fatal repression from Israel partly stoked by Hamas militance.

What are Hamass aims?

Unlike the PLO, which has been the internationally recognised Palestinian leadership since its acceptance of Israels right to exist peacefully in 1993 led to the Oslo Accords, Hamas does not recognise the state of Israel.

Instead, Hamas advocates for a Palestinian state stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River based on its historical borders.

However, since 2017, Hamas has said it accepts a Palestinian state shaped around the borders of 1967, which existed prior to the war in which Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip  after it was invaded in a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria, echoed nearly 50 years to the day later by Saturdays incursion.

A Palestinian demonstrator throws rocks towards Israeli soldiers during clashes in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images)

What has Hamas said about the new attack?

Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, has said the assault named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation, and a series of recent provocations  including at Al-Aqsa mosque  which have brought tensions to fever pitch.

Weve decided to say enough is enough, said Mr Deif, announcing the launch of the attack on Saturday, adding: This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth.

Ismail Haniyeh, the exiled political leader of Hamas, said on Saturday that the group was engaged in these historic moments in a heroic operation to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh said the incursion was a heroic operation as hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

He claimed the assault would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem, adding: This was the morning of defeat and humiliation upon our enemy, its soldiers and its settlers. What happened reveals the greatness of our preparation. What happened today reveals the weakness of the enemy.

How is Hamas received internationally?

Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Egypt, United States, Canada and Japan.

However it has long been provided with funding and weapons by Iran, and has the support of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which on Sunday exchanged rocket and artillery fire with Israel amid fears the conflict could spread.
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OpenAI boss Sam Altman has labelled bitcoin the super logical next step for technological progress, just months after launching his own cryptocurrency.

Mr Altman, whose company launched the viral AI assistant ChatGPT last year, made the comments on a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, during which he also lamented the role of government regulation in the crypto space.

The war on crypto... that makes me quite sad about the country, Mr Altman said.

I think this idea that we have this global currency that is outside of the control of any government is a super logical and important step on the tech tree.

The price of bitcoin fell sharply in 2021 and 2022, largely driven by the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has since filed lawsuits against other exchanges like Binance and Coinbase as part of a crackdown against the industry.

A crypto bill has also been introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren in an attempt to address cryptos use in money laundering, drug trafficking, and financing of terrorism and rogue nations.

The OpenAI boss spoke briefly about his own cryptocurrency project, called Worldcoin, which has faced several controversies since officially launching in July.

The project involves collecting peoples biometric data through an iris-scanning orb in exchange for a share of the crypto token WLD.

The idea is to use the data to verify each individuals unique personhood in order to ensure that no one is able to claim more than their allotted share of the cryptocurrency.

The unique approach has been branded both outlandish and revolutionary by crypto commentators, with some warning that the sensitive nature of the data means it could be exploited by nefarious actors.

Regulators in several countries, including France and Germany, are investigating Worldcoins operations to see if it is in violation of data security practices.

Worldcoin has acknowledged the privacy concerns, noting in a blog post in August that everything is optional and that no personal information needs to be tied to the iris scan.

[The Orb] validates a persons humanness locally on the device, without needing to send, upload or save images, the post stated. By default, the Orb promptly deletes iris images after the creation of the iris code.
https://apnews.com/article/fentanyl-us-china-mexico-sanctions-drugs-c9ee14f171f1fcbd4db3452cd0bd1d90

One of the examples cited by the Justice Department involves a Chinese pharmaceutical technology company that advertised xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that is often mixed to fentanyl to ensure a more potent high, and shipped the chemicals to the U.S. and to Mexico. One of the purchasers in Mexico, officials said, was a drug trafficker associated with the Sinaloa Cartel.

https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/insights/blogs/chew-thisxylazine-legislation-here

Xylazine is a non-scheduled, non-opioid sedative/analgesic medication that is widely used in veterinary medicine. Xylazine was first produced by Bayer Pharmaceuticals in 1962, but investigations for use in humans were not successful as it caused severe low blood pressure and central nervous system depression.

BY ERIC TUCKER AND FATIMA HUSSEIN

Updated 7:11 PM EDT, October 3, 2023

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration took aim Tuesday at the fentanyl trafficking threat, announcing a series of indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies and executives blamed for importing the chemicals used to make the deadly drug.

Officials described the actions, which include charges against eight Chinese companies accused of advertising, manufacturing and distributing precursor chemicals for synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as the latest effort in their fight against the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history. The moves come one day before senior administration officials are set to visit Mexico, whose cartels are part of the global trafficking network, for meetings expected to involve discussion of the drug threat.

We know that this network includes the cartels leaders, their drug traffickers, their money launderers, their clandestine lab operators, their security forces, their weapons suppliers, and their chemical suppliers, Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference. And we know that this global fentanyl supply chain, which ends with the deaths of Americans, often starts with chemical companies in China.

Besides charging eight companies, the Justice Department also indicted 12 executives for their alleged roles in drug trafficking. In a coordinated action, the Treasury Department announced sanctions against 28 people and companies  mostly in China but also in Canada  that will cut them off from the U.S. financial system and prohibit anyone in the U.S. from doing business with them. None of those charged has been arrested, but Garland said prosecutors intended to bring every one of these defendants to justice.

OTHER NEWS

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., third from right, speaks during a press roundtable with Schumer and his delegation at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to China, in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)

US senators see a glimmer of hope for breaking a logjam with China over the fentanyl crisis

FILE - Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, left, argues a point with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, right, between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX Business Network and Univision, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Some GOP candidates want to use force against Mexico to stop fentanyl. Experts say that wont work

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, and other members of the delegation arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Aly Song/Pool Photo via AP)

US Senate leader raises trade and fentanyl at start of 1st congressional visit to China since 2019

Its the latest step in the rapid scaling up of our work targeting the financial flows that power the global illicit drug trade, said Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo. He said Treasury is also seeking out the friends, family members, and affiliates of the people who benefit from drug sales.

If you benefit from the proceeds of this illicit activity, we are going to come after your assets, he said.

Mexico and China are the primary sources for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the U.S., according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is tasked with combating illicit drug trafficking. Nearly all the precursor chemicals that are needed to make fentanyl come from China. And the companies that make the precursors routinely use fake return addresses and mislabel the products in order to avoid being caught by law enforcement.

One of the examples cited by the Justice Department involves a Chinese pharmaceutical technology company that advertised xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that is often mixed to fentanyl to ensure a more potent high, and shipped the chemicals to the U.S. and to Mexico. One of the purchasers in Mexico, officials said, was a drug trafficker associated with the Sinaloa Cartel.

This latest action follows a series of measures taken this year against members of the Sinaloa cartel, cash couriers and cartel fraud schemes.

Republicans have complained, however, that the administration isnt doing enough to stop fentanyl and the issue is likely to figure prominently in next years presidential campaign.

In February, 21 Republican state attorneys general wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on them to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Last year a group of Republican attorneys general asked the president to declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. No such actions have been taken.

Fentanyl, a powerful opioid, is the deadliest drug in the U.S. today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that drug overdose deaths have increased more than sevenfold from 2015 to 2021.

More than 100,000 deaths a year have been linked to drug overdoses since 2020 and about two-thirds of those are related to fentanyl. The death toll is more than 10 times as many drug deaths as in 1988, at the height of the crack epidemic.

The U.S. has taken a slew of actions to stem the tide of fentanyl coming into the country. Overall, the Biden administration has imposed over 200 sanctions related to the illegal drug trade.

State lawmakers nationwide are responding to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history by pushing harsher penalties for possessing fentanyl.

In a speech at the Family Summit on Fentanyl last week, Garland said the Justice Department was sending out some $345 million in federal funding over the next year, including money to support mentoring for at-risk young people and increase access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.

On Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of legislators out of the Senate Banking and Armed Services committees has introduced legislation that would declare fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and prod Treasury to use its sanctions authority to quell the proliferation of the drug in the U.S.

It would also impose reporting requirements and enable the president to confiscate sanctioned property of fentanyl traffickers to use for law enforcement efforts.

__

Associated Press reporter Lindsay Whitehurst in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to this report.

FATIMA HUSSEIN

Hussein reports on the U.S. Treasury Department for The Associated Press. She covers tax policy, sanctions and any issue that relates to money.
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Google is trialling artificial intelligence (AI) in Manchesters traffic light system to reduce stop-and-go emissions and improve the flow of vehicles.

The technology giant announced the UK launch of its Project Green Light on Tuesday, working alongside Transport for Great Manchester (TfGM) to run the pilot.

It coincides with Google hosting a major sustainability event in Brussels, where the firm will outline the innovations it has been working on across high-emission industries like transport and energy, including how it is using AI for climate solutions.

The company said it found that half of emissions at traffic intersections come from vehicles stopping and starting.

To help reduce these emissions, Googles Green Light research initiative uses AI as well as driving trends from Google Maps to model traffic patterns and make recommendations for making the existing traffic light plans more efficient.

Google said city engineers can implement these plans in as little as five minutes using existing infrastructure.

The Green Light programme is live at 70 junctions across 12 cities, including Haifa in Israel, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Bangalore in India.

Early data from those cities indicate a potential for up to 30% reduction in stops and up to 10% reduction in emissions at junctions, Google said.

Manchester, the first UK city to host the pilot, has around 2,400 traffic signals and sees millions of journeys each week.

Debbie Weinstein, Google UK managing director and vice president, said: AI is the most profound technology that were working on today, with the potential to boost the UKs productivity and support net zero ambitions.

Thats why were excited to be partnering with Transport for Greater Manchester to pilot Project Green Light here in the UK.

Our aim is to make the network run as efficiently as possible and we look forward to seeing how we can use what weve learnt from this pilot to improve journey times for all road users David Atkin, Traffic for Greater Manchester

Already, this early stage AI-powered tool uses existing infrastructure to provide city planners with a cost-effective and efficient way to improve traffic flow, reduce stop-and-go traffic and cut emissions.

We look forward to partnering with more organisations across the country to help drive innovative solutions that unlock the benefits of AI.

David Atkin, TfGMs analysis and reporting manager, said Greater Manchesters road network is complex, adding that the needs of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users need to be balanced.

With traffic levels now at or beyond pre-pandemic levels, we are working really hard to tackle congestion and are delighted to be amongst the first areas in the world  and the first in the UK  to work with Google on the innovative Green Light initiative, he said.

The pilot provided valuable insights and teams from both Green Light and TfGM brought expertise and ideas to the table to improve journeys by up to 18% and reduce emissions.

Our aim is to make the network run as efficiently as possible and we look forward to seeing how we can use what weve learnt from this pilot to improve journey times for all road users.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have urged social media companies to reduce the amount of harmful content children can see online to protect their mental health.

Harry and Meghan made the remarks at a mental health awareness festival run by non-profit Project Healthy Minds in New York on Tuesday.

They are visiting the city for the first time since being caught up in what they called a catastrophic car chase there in May.

The royal couple, who have spoken about their own mental health challenges in the past, took part in a panel discussion alongside US surgeon general Vivek Murthy moderated by NBC host Carson Daly, who has previously spoken of his struggles with anxiety.

The event, on World Mental Health Day, has been co-ordinated by the duke and duchesss Archewell Foundation.

The couple called on social media firms to adopt better content moderation policies and tweak apps which can prove addictive for youngsters.

They spoke after hearing from parents who have lost children to mental health issues linked to social media use.

The duke urged tech bosses to stop sending children content you wouldnt want your own children to see.

The duchess said she and her husband are focusing on what they can do behind the scenes to make social media use safer, better and more positive and that the couple have spoken to tech executives about the issue.

She added: People are getting hurt  and people, specifically children, are dying.

A year ago we met some of the families, not all of them. At that time, it was impossible to not be in tears as Im sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories.

As parents, our kids are really young  theyre two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half  but social media is not going away.

I think by design, there is an entry point that is supposed to be positive, in creating community and something has devolved, and there is no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.

In the UK, the Princess of Wales gave a speech to young people gathered in Birmingham for a day of workshops and discussions to mark World Mental Health Day, with her husband in the audience.

Harry and Meghan were all smiles when they visited the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York earlier on Tuesday.

The schools website claims it is the alternative to college that you have been looking for for people looking to start a career in tech.

Harry was applauded when he told a meditation class that if one of you starts to go quiet, doesnt show up, you need to find out why and added remember to have fun.

Meghan, who was wearing a varsity letterman jacket given to her at the Robert Clack School in Essex in March 2020, told a class she wishes her children were with her but they are doing well.

Students later rushed to take pictures with the royal couple before the schools co-founder Reuben Ogbonna joked back to class, everyone.
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WhatsApp has said warnings about cyberattacks targeting Jewish people are a hoax with no basis in reality.

The Meta-owned platform has debunked several messages widely circulating on social media platforms that warn Jewish people will be the target of cyberattacks through forwarded messages.

But WhatsApp said the forwarded messages, which have been widely shared on the platform as well as across other social media including X/Twitter, are a hoax.

The clarification comes amid the ongoing conflict in Israel after an unprecedented surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday.

The hoax messages said clicking on pictures of the fighting shared on WhatsApp as a file called Seismic Waves CARD would quickly enable phone hacking if opened.

Crypto influencer Scott Melker, who has nearly a million followers on X, was one of the users who shared the false warning.

Do not open it, it will hack your phone in 10 seconds and cannot be stopped in any way, Mr Melkers post on his verified X account falsely claimed.

WhatsApp pointed out that the same rumour circulated after an earthquake struck Morocco last month that left nearly 3,000 people dead and thosands more injured.

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, messages began circulating on social networks that photos of the quake shared in a file named Seismic Waves CARD on platforms would enable hackers to access ones phone if opened.

The file is called Seismic Waves CARD, dont open it or see it, it will hack your phone in 10 seconds and it cannot be stopped in any way. Pass the information on to your family and friends, the false message had read.

WhatsApp also told the fact-checking site Snopes that these messages were false.

Another Italy-based fact-checking website, Bufale.net, also said the purported hack was a hoax.

The recent use of the same message adds to the steep levels of misinformation and disinformation being spread following the conflict in Israel.

Elon Musk, the multibillionaire owner of X, has also come under heavy criticism for the spread of misinformation on his platform over the attack.

The Tesla titan pleaded with X users on Sunday to try and stick to the facts and stay as close to the truth as possible.

Old videos are being repackaged and circulated on X as if they are from the most recent attack on Israel.

One such widely shared video, that falsely claimed to show a Hamas militant shooting down an Israeli helicopter, was later found to be a clip from a video game.

Another clip of Israel bombing a Gazan office tower that was shared widely was found to be from fighting that actually occured in 2021.

X has not immediately responded to The Independents request for comment.
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I was put in a boxy single hotel room at the end of a corridor, which I remember being cold and damp. A few days later I had bites  in a line, in threes. A GP friend said thats bed bugs. Then I had an allergic reaction. It was horrible, and it took many weeks for the scars to disappear.

The hotel in question was in London, not Paris  but the experience literally scarred this traveller. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), says: Bedbugs, a problem worldwide, are resurging.

Reports from Paris and elsewhere in France talk of an infestation by bedbugs. Some prospective visitors are seeking to cancel their trips and get their money back  and there are concerns about the problem getting worse ahead of the Paris Olympics next summer.

Whats going on with bedbugs?

Cimex lectularius, as they are known medically, are small insects (around 5mm long) that are rarely happier than when feasting on human blood  causing itchy bites that can be painful. The NHS warns bedbugs can hide on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures and under loose wallpaper.

Reports from Paris and more widely in France talk about an infestation from bedbugs taking hold, with the parasites apparently increasingly resistant to insecticide. They can be transported inadvertently in travellers luggage. Paris is the capital of the worlds most visited country, so bedbugs have a fair chance of a trip to the city.

For people booked to the City of Light, what are their options?

It is difficult to know the extent by which social media may have exaggerated the current problem in Paris and beyond. But assuming there is genuinely a growing public health threat from the insects, I still cannot see any prospect of the UK government warning against travel to France as a result. Such a move is reserved for very serious health threats.

The NHS says with the rare exception of a severe allergic reaction there is no reason to worry if you are bitten. Unlike mosquitoes, which also enjoy dining out on blood meals from humans, bedbugs do not transmit disease. Bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so, the official advice says.

Isnt there anything people can do?

Some fellow travellers say you should look for online reviews about your intended place to stay and see if bedbugs are mentioned. I am afraid that even if they are, and you are booked to go there, you will not be in a position to insist on a refund.

All you can do is travel to the destination and, on arrival at your accommodation, inspect the room for any sign of the nasty creatures. I accept that is not a great way to begin your stay.

Check in the fold of mattresses and sheets. Tell-tale signs, according to the CDC, include bedbugs exoskeletons after moulting and rustycoloured blood spots due to their blood-filled faecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture.

That may not be the start of a much-needed holiday you were dreaming of. But if you can prove the room is infested with bedbugs, you can reasonably expect a refund or a rebooking elsewhere.

Can anything be done to reduce the spread of bedbugs?

Yes, according to the Australian Youth Hostels Association. It tells prospective guests: Sleeping bags are prohibited by Australian health regulations. Many hostels, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, specifically ban travellers from bringing their own sleeping bags for fear of importing an infestation.

Youve stayed in a few unusual places. How often have you encountered bedbugs?

Never, to my knowledge. Mosquitoes have always been the problem in terms of night bites  and they are much more lethal than bedbugs because of the diseases they transmit.
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Eurostars chief executive says Kents two currently disused stations on the high-speed line to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam will only reopen once we can afford it.

Speaking at the brand launch for Eurostars merger with rail firm Thalys, Gwendoline Cazenave said her priority was on ensuring the passenger experience at London and Paris is the best it can be.

Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International were part of the original High Speed 1 plan connecting London St Pancras International with the Channel Tunnel.

Ebbsfleet is close to the M25 and A2 in north Kent, providing a park-and-ride facility for travellers from locations outside London. Ashford is the main rail hub for east Kent, with links from Maidstone, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, Hastings and Tonbridge.

Before the Covid pandemic, both stations had direct services to Continental Europe. But they closed swiftly as the virus spread. Eurostar has never committed to a firm reopening date, though the company has successively said it would be no earlier than 2022, 2023 and  most recently  2025.

Ms Cazenave said: It has not been an easy decision to make not to stop in these stations anymore.

As you know, we are getting through operational issues, financial issues.

Eurostar was harder hit by the pandemic than almost any other transport provider. While it kept a skeleton service running between London and Paris, often travel restrictions meant that only a handful of passengers were on board each train  with numbers falling below 1 per cent of normal levels.

Eurostar, which is majority owned by SNCF (French Railways) lost hundreds of millions of pounds during the pandemic.

While demand has picked up very strongly, capacity is limited by post-Brexit passport control issues: the UK asked to be treated as a third country by the European Union, meaning that London St Pancras now houses a hard EU border where British passports must be inspected and stamped.

Some Eurostar trains are capped in the number of passengers they can carry in order to reduce the pressure on French passport control.

Ms Cazenave said the Kent stations will reopen when we can afford reopening, having enough resources in Ashford and Ebbsfleet to cross the borders. This would involve investing in eGates as well as paying for Eurostar and French Police aux Frontieres staff at both stations.

We dont want to put at stake the borders at St Pancras or Paris Nord, where the number of customers are really much, much bigger.

We still have a lot of challenges in front of us.

The much-delayed EU Entry Exit System, which the UK also asked to be subject to, requires British passengers to have facial biometrics and fingerprints taken. This will have to happen in the very constrained Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras.

Ms Cazenave added: We very often meet Ebbsfleet and Ashford people. But she did not give an estimate for reopening the stations.

Meanwhile passengers from Kent who wish to travel by train to France must take a domestic train  often on the High Speed 1 tracks  to London St Pancras, only to return on the same line an hour or two later.

Eurostars merger with Thalys will provide UK passengers with better connections to destinations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany through the hub at Brussels Midi station.
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My sole experience of the train operator formerly known as Thalys was distinctly odd, and involved my inadvertently becoming The Man Who Didnt Pay His Way.

These were the circumstances: it was near the end of the first day of last summers amazing 9 travel-anywhere deal on German Railways. I had boarded my first train shortly after midnight on 1 June, and had travelled far and wide.

But, during the evening, the regional express schedules I depended upon had started to unravel badly. At around 11pm I found myself in Essen, with no coherent strategy for covering the last 40km from my appointed night-stop in Dortmund.

Several platforms away, I spotted an eastbound express drawing in: a Thalys train from Brussels, which was heading my way. Such a luxury conveyance was certainly not covered by my 9 ticket. A very brief discussion with the train crew established that, yes, I could buy a ticket on board. I jumped aboard.

From my point of view, the next few minutes started badly but swiftly improved.

The bad news: the fare for such an impromptu trip was 39. The good news: after several attempts by the on-board team to connect to the internet in order to process my credit card, they admitted defeat. Since the train was already racing along the Ruhr and they could not sell me a ticket, the staff graciously invited me to travel with the compliments of Thalys.

During the ensuing 20 minutes I assessed the Thalys product. Not worth 1-per-kilometre (except, as in my situation, when desperate). And strangely rooted in the 1980s from a design point of view. The decor  a subtle mixture of red, purple and fuchsia  felt drab and tired (as, coincidentally, did I).

The seats looked and felt as though they had been bought at an airline clearance auction of 1980s business class. Yes, I did feel ungrateful as I wrote my notes.

Sixteen months on, Thalys is no more. Nothing to do with me: it has merged with, and adopted the name, Eurostar.

The Thalys network is an odd one. The core artery is from Paris via Brussels to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The other main line connects the Belgian capital with Liege, Aachen, Cologne and Dusseldorf  with that Ruhr extension from which I benefited, to Essen and Dortmund.

Thalys was never the strongest brand in travel. According to Railtech.com, the word has no particular meaning. Marketeers coined it as a brand name that could be pronounced in all the languages of the countries served.

Au contraire, Eurostar is known around the world. Eurostar means cross borders; means European sustainable travel; means care for customers. So says Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of the newly expanded enterprise.

We had to decide which brand would we go for. The thing is: Eurostar is very well known overseas. In the United States when a tourist wants to travel by train in Europe, 50 per cent of them connect to the Eurostar website. They know us very well. So this is why we kept the Eurostar brand.

Whats in the new name, though, for British travellers? Francois Le Doze, chief commercial officer at Eurostar, says its all about connectivity.

If we talk about France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, we can already improve and invest in those connecting experiences, help customers, guide them and make sure that they are taken care of all along the way  and also when things go wrong.

I think what people fear when connecting trains is when things go wrong, they usually think about What if I miss my train?

We really want to reassure them that we want to be there for them and work with other operators so that we really take care of the end-to-end journey.

There is huge potential. Rather than sending trains further out, we can play on those trains that are there already but improve that connectivity.

Cheap(ish) through tickets are already available: from London via Brussels to Essen, I am seeing plenty of seats in the weeks and months ahead for 65 one-way. The journey is scheduled for seven hours  because the morning connection at Brussels is over two hours. Sharpen that up, and Ill be on board. Only this time Ill pay.
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The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high  that is the stark warning from an aviation organisation about the conflict in Israel.

The alert comes from OpsGroup, an international membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which continue to fly from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv, insist they would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.

In a bulletin, OpsGroup says: Israel is now an active war zone. As such, all lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk anti-aircraft missile that belonged to the Russian army.

All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack.

The bulletin adds: The ultimate sentiment from MH17 still echoes: What were they doing flying over a war zone? We truly hope the same question doesnt need to be asked in Tel Aviv airspace this week.

For many operators, risk assessment is extremely challenging to get right. Commercial and political pressures go against the normal err on the side of caution principle in flight operations.

For decades, we have seen sporadic conflict in Israel - even in quieter periods, rocket attacks on Israel are the norm. Despite this, operations to Tel Aviv have continued routinely, and operators have become used to raised threat levels in Israel.

The secondary risk is a multitude of factors from operating in a conflict zone: misidentification, debris from air defences, GPS spoofing, false EGPWS [enhanced ground proximity warning systems] alerts (now common in Israeli airspace), and reduced route and diversion options in the event of an aircraft emergency.

OpsGroup says it caters for the people at the sharp end of aviation  the pilots, dispatchers, controllers, managers.

It has issued recommendations  which have no official status  for full avoidance of Israeli airspace and says airlines should carefully consider route choices into Jordanian airports, notably Amman.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review.

Both BA and Virgin Atlantic have outstandingly good safety records.

The two airlines have adjusted their operations so that crews no longer need to night stop in Israel: their flights are timed to depart from London Heathrow shortly after 8am, arrive in Tel Aviv in mid-afternoon and return after less than two hours on the ground.

The three big US airlines  American, Delta and United  have suspended flights to Israel. One reason is that the length of trips means crew must rest on arrival in Tel Aviv.

El Al, Israels national carrier, is operating a full schedule. It says: El Al Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces.

We are making great efforts to assist Israeli passengers return home from abroad as soon as possible. We have added flights from several destinations in the world and will continue to add flights as much as we can.

In May 2021, Tel Aviv airport closed on several occasions as air defence systems were activated around the country to repel rocket attacks from Gaza.

Budget airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have suspended operations to and from Tel Aviv.
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After hundreds of its citizens were killed in a sudden assault from Gaza, Israel has declared war on Hamas.

The conflict is ongoinf, and Israels prime minister has pledged mighty violence and threatened to reduce Gaza to rubble.

Israel, long popular with tourists, is still accessible by air  but hundreds of flights have been cancelled and cruise ship itineraries have been changed.

Over the first 24 hours following the start of the attack, many flights were diverted or returned to their departure airport  including a United Airlines flight from San Francisco that went on a 13-hour flight to nowhere.

These are the key questions and answers.

What does the Foreign Office say?

The Foreign Office has strengthened its travel warning to read: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories [OPTs].

This has the effect of requiring holiday companies with clients in Israel to be brought back as soon as possible, and prevents mainstream tour operators from sending out further groups until the advice against travel is withdrawn.

The Foreign Office also says: If you are a British national in Israel or the OPTs, please register your presence which includes recording your up-to-date contact information. Your registration will allow us to share any updates to this travel advice.

Anyone who is in Israel continues to be protected by their travel insurance until they leave by the swiftest safe means; conversely, standard travel insurance policies are not valid for people who choose to travel to Israel while the no-go warning is in force.

What do the Israeli authorities say?

The Israel Ministry of Tourism has issued a statement to The Independent about provisions for UK travellers to Israel:

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the events that have taken place in Israel over the weekend. We offer our condolences to those who have been affected by the current situation.

We are monitoring the situation and are committed to ensuring that all tourists visiting Israel are safe and informed. Israels Ministry of Tourism will provide all necessary assistance to those who need it and is operating a tourist hotline via WhatsApp for tourists to stay informed on the situation as it evolves.

We appreciate the support of the UK and fellow nations in a difficult time for the Israeli nation.

The Ministry of Tourism is operating a virtual office contactable by WhatsApp (+972 55 972 6931) or email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il).

Travellers currently in Israel can dial 104 for information and advice in several languages or contact Home Front Command on WhatsApp or SMS on +972 52 910 4104.

Are Israel flights continuing?

Yes. Ben Gurion International Airport, south of Tel Aviv, remains open and operational  as does Eilat Ramon airport, outside Eilat in the far south of Israel.

These are the key policies of the main airlines from the UK to Israel.

British Airways

British Airways has suspended flights to and from Israel due to safety concerns, after a flight to Tel Aviv made a mid-air U-turn and flew back to Heathrow.

EasyJet

A spokesperson said: Due to the evolving situation in Israel, easyJet has taken the decision to temporarily pause operations to and from Tel Aviv on Monday 9 October. As a result two flights from London Luton and one from Manchester and their return flight today will no longer operate.

Any customers affected by cancellations are eligible for a refund, voucher, or a free of charge transfer to a new flight.

Due to the situation we understand that some customers travelling in the coming days may no longer wish to travel. Any passengers due to fly to Tel Aviv who would like to change their plans can contact our customer service team for assistance with their options.

Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJets highest priority.

El Al

The carrier is telling passengers: El Al Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces. Our flights are operated as scheduled.

Passengers who are booked but who no longer want to travel can cancel for a credit voucher. Those who are booked to travel up to 21 October and who want to return early can do so at no extra charge. A dedicated emergency line for those who wish to change the date of their flights due to the situation has been set up on +972 3 940 4040 for phones and +972 3 977 1111 for WhatsApp.

Virgin Atlantic

The airline says: Due to the ongoing situation in Israel, some of our flights to and from Tel Aviv may face delays or cancellations. We would advise anyone booked to travel to check their flight status on the website before travelling to the airport.

Virgin Atlantic cancelled one daily round-trip on each of 7 Saturday to Tuesday 10 October, though the second service will be flying as planned on all those dates. On 17 October, the airline confirm they would be operating flight VS457 from Heathrow into Tel Aviv, and the return, flight VS458, from 20 October.

Wizz Air

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: Due to the situation in Israel, we have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and are in touch with the relevant authorities. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and all affected passengers will be contacted via email or text.

What are the risks to passenger aircraft?

Virgin Atlantic says: The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review.

The fact that Virgin Atlantic, as well as El Al and British Airways, are continuing to fly to and from Tel Aviv indicates these extremely professional airlines are confident their passengers and crew will be safe.

But a flight operations organisation, Ops Group, has issued a warning about the risk of civilian aircraft being shot down following the attacks on Israel. The group warns: Lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied. The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk anti-aircraft missile that belonged to the Russian army. All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack.

Ops Group, a membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff, added: The ultimate sentiment from MH17 still echoes: What were they doing flying over a war zone? We truly hope the same question doesnt need to be asked in Tel Aviv airspace this week.

Going nowhere: Flightpath of United Airlines UA954 from San Francisco, which turned back halfway to Tel Aviv (Flightradar24) open image in gallery

What if I have booked a package holiday to Israel?

Travellers who have booked packages to Israel and are due to travel imminently can cancel without penalty for a full refund because of the no-go warning from the Foreign Office. This applies equally to customers of British Airways Holidays and easyJet Holidays.

A spokesperson for Abta, the travel association, said: We are liaising closely with the Foreign Office and our members to offer help and advice to customers, both those currently on holiday in Israel and those that are due to travel there imminently.

Anyone due to travel to Israel imminently should speak to their travel company for the latest advice and monitor updates from the Foreign Office.

Are cruise ships to Israel affected?

Yes. A cruise ship that was due to arrive at Haifa in Israel in the early hours of Sunday morning changed course to sail to Limassol instead. Celebrity Apex had just begun a Holy Land cruise from Athens to Israel and Egypt.

The subsequent departure with the same ship, on 16 October, appears to have been changed so that the two days at Israeli ports will instead be spent at sea.

A spokesperson for Celebrity said: Our global security team is closely watching the evolving situation in Israel. For the safety and security of our guests, were adjusting several itineraries in the area. Impacted guests will be notified directly.

While the war continues, all cruise ships are likely to avoid Israel.
Meghan Markle has appeared in a new charity video meeting and hugging military family members.

The Duchess of Sussex visited the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides homes for military families while their loved one is in hospital, the day before she flew out to Dusseldorf for the Invictus games last month.

As well as embracing those she meets, the 42-year-old also narrates part of the video clip.

In her voiceover, the Duchess says: What does recovery mean to you? For some, it means reclaiming their narrative, refining your approach, revolutionising your mindset.

Its a change thats not only physical, its mental, emotional, social.
An employee of the Deutsches Museum was busted for snatching paintings, swapping in fakes, and then selling the originals at auction. According to one of the auction houses, "simply wasn't possible to identify them as stolen property." The unnamed 30-year-old man used the proceeds from the heist to pay off debts and buy a Rolls-Royce along with luxury wristwatches. From Oddity Central:

The unnamed museum employee stole "Das Marchen vom Froschkonig" (The Tale of the Frog Prince) by Franz von Stuck, replaced it with a fake, and put the original up for auction. he told the auction house that the artwork had belonged to his grandparents or great-grandparents, and managed to earn almost 50,000 euros ($52,000) in cash, after the auction fees were deducted. He subsequently swapped "Die Weinprufung" (The Wine Test) by Eduard von Grutzner and "Zwei Madchen beim Holzsammeln im Gebirge" (Two Girls Collecting Wood in the Mountains) by Franz von Defregger and sold them at the same auction house, earning tens of thousands of euros. He also stole "Dirndl" by Franz von Defregger, and tried selling it through a different Munich auction house, but it did not sell.

The judgewho said the culprit showed "genuine remorse"gave him a 21-month suspended jail sentence. He must also pay $64,000 back to the museum.
Footage shows the moment a dog in Massachusetts was rescued from a waste water pipe over the weekend.

Video shows emergency crews pulling Zena, a black labrador retriever, to safety.

Authorities responded to reports of a dog trapped in a culvert and drowning at around 5:15pm on Saturday 7 October.

Crews arrived at Cranberry Bogs in Carlisle, located northwest of Boston, where they rescued Zena.

We hope she has a speedy recovery after being trapped for approximately one hour, the Carlisle Police Department wrote, sharing footage of the rescue on social media.
A young woman in Gaza filmed herself sheltering as bombs dropped outside her window on Monday 9 October.

Journalist Plestia Alaqad explained that she and her neighbours were gathering in their homes far away from the windows as the airstrikes hit.

They decided to stay in their homes instead of evacuating.

Ms Plestia described how she couldnt breathe and was heard coughing as she turned the camera to show smoke engulfing the area after the bombing.

In later videos, she provided further updates, confirming her electricity and internet had been knocked out by the strikes, and also recorded footage of the damage outside her home.
Israels military has released footage of what it says are airstrikes targeting infrastructure used by Hamas in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies on Monday 9 October, in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides.

Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.

Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including airstrikes that levelled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner.
The smell of death dominates the air in Kfar Aza after Hamas breached the nearby Gaza border and committed a savage massacre in the village.

The Independents Bel Trew is on the ground in Israel after Hamas militants launched a brutal attack early Saturday 7 October.

They came with one mission, to kill more and more Jews, said Major David Ben Zion as he stands among the wreckage.

The IDF claimed they entered homes and found residents bodies decapitated in the rural farming community of around 800 people left decimated by the attack. (The Independent was shown no evidence of this)

At least 900 Israelis and almost 800 people in the Gaza Strip have lost their lives in the attack.
White House spokesperson John Kirby choked up while being interviewed on CNN about Hamas attacks on Israel.

Joe Biden said on Monday, 9 October, that at least 11 Americans have been killed in Israel while other US citizens are likely among the hostages being held by Hamas.

After seeing images of the victims, Mr Kirby said: Its very difficult to look at these images and the human cost.

Its difficult, and I apologise.

The White House has confirmed that the US is deploying experts to help Israel find the hostages and is sharing intelligence.
Rishi Sunak has told Britains Jewish community I will stop at nothing to keep you safe amid concerns they could be targeted as Israel laid siege to the Gaza Strip following the Hamas atrocity.

The Prime Minister addressed a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel following the Hamas attack and to reassure Britains Jews.

Mr Sunak said: I know that at moments like this when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe.

We have already seen vile words on our streets and attempts to stir up community tensions.

I say: Not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century.
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Fox News and MSNBC are in an unholy alliance to build a uniparty state.

The GOP is ruled by Banana Republicommunists.

Undocumented migrants are training in US camps to learn how to be terrorists.

And a global, deep state conspiracy is responsible for... Russell Brand losing monetisation on his YouTube channel.

These are a few of the non-facts I learned spending some time with the videos and comments on Rumble, a YouTube competitor that has boldly framed itself as the only truly neutral media platform.

The site indeed has a more relaxed approach to content moderation, but this has allowed a paranoid, right-wing, sometimes violent culture to develop among its users, one thats bleeding into the offline world. But fixing the problem isnt as simple as removing bad actors.

The video-sharing service came to many peoples attention last month, when Brand, a performer and vlogger who regularly broadcasts on the site, used it to passionately rally his supporters (and seek their paid subcriptions) not long after being accused by four women, including one who was 16 years old at the time of the alleged incident, of rape or sexual assault. (Brand denies all wrongdoing. In a separate Rumble video, he said his past relations have all been consensual.)

Russell Brand addresses followers in a 25 September broadcast on YouTube and Rumble (Russell Brand/YouTube/Rumble)

In a series of recent videos which only obliquely reference the allegations, Brand claimed a cartel of the globalist elite and the centralist state had conspired to censor him and his fellow creators, a sign of collusion between big tech and government and an apparent concerted effort by legacy media and now the state and big tech to silence independent media voices.

As evidence, he pointed to the anti-fake news media coalition the Trusted News Initiative and a letter British MP Dame Caroline Dinenage wrote asking social media platforms including Rumble, X, Facebook and TikTok if they would follow YouTubes lead as well as what these platforms do to ensure that creators are not able to use the platform to undermine the welfare of victims of inappropriate and potentially illegal behaviour. (YouTube, a private entity to which the US First Amendment does not apply, said on 19 September it demonetised Brands channel because he violated their Creator Responsibility policy, which allows punishments for off-platform behaviour if it harms our users, employees or ecosystem.)

The actors other Rumble videos feature a similarly feverish tone, from an interview with an academic who claims Googles search algorithms shifted six million votes to Joe Biden, to monologues from Brand about how there doesnt seem to be any moral centre in any of our establishment institutions, whether thats the media, the government, the corporate world, or the judiciary.

This is the general vibe on Rumble, a mixture of overheated arguments, intellectualised self-interest, and conspiratorial thinking, where everyone is in it together against you. The only person left to trust happens to be the content creator, and would you mind liking and subscribing and using my discount code, link in bio?

In between standard-issue videos of cute puppies, gaming, and guys talking about sports, you can find any kind of ugly right-wing thinking youre after if you keep following the recommended videos and trails of comments.

The hosts of Revenge of the Cis discuss their theory that women dont know left from right (Revenge of the Cis/Rumble)

On the Revenge of the Cis show, after an ad from a mathematical genius claiming to have found a secret to winning the lottery, I watched as the semi-ironic podcast bro hosts mocked Black police officers and claimed women dont know the different between their left and their right.

On LFA TV, host Jeremy Herrell took a real recent news story, about an emotionally disturbed man who allegedly bit the finger off a New York police officer, and spun it into a blood and soil-style call for violence against immigrants.

Theyre going to take your homes, he said. Better load up. Now youll probably face jail time if you put a bullet between one of these biters heads, but its worth saving your home and your family, isnt it?

LFA TV host Jeremy Herrell calls for Americans to load up and shoot migrants (LFA TV/Rumble)

Commenters on various videos, meanwhile, joined in the frenzied atmosphere, writing about the dangers of uniparty globalists and how you dont actually have to pay taxes.

Rumble told The Independent in an email it has strict moderation policies banning the incitement of violence, illegal content, racism, antisemitism, promoting terrorist groups (designated by the US and Canadian governments), and violating copyright, as well as many other restrictions. Rumble did not reply when shown specific examples of content on the site that appeared to violate these rules and asked for a response. Prior to the publication of this article, Rumbles CEO shared a screenshot on Twitter/X of The Independents request for comment and claimed, They are trying so hard to create a bullshit narrative because they hate that independent creators are kicking their ***.

On a macro level, Rumble may not matter all that much. A Pew survey found last year only about 20 per cent of Americans have heard of it, and 2 per cent regularly get their news from it.

But what happens on the more bizarro corners of the internet rarely stays put; these days, its often a central force in US politics.

For instance, 2000 Mules a widely seen (and thoroughly debunked) documentary claiming a shadowy network of mules commiting illegal voter fraud helped Biden win the 2020 election, aired on Rumble, helping fuel talking points in Donald Trumps continued campaign of election denial.

Died Suddenly, a documentary suggesting Covid vaccines are a plot from Bill Gates and the global elite to depopulate the world, a film which has been roundly condemned as innacurate by public health experts and fact-checkers, has been viewed on Rumble nearly 20 million times.

Meanwhile, a right-wing troll with a large following on Rumble  a man dubbed Catturd  has found the ear of Elon Musk, Trump, and Tucker Carlson.

Catturd  who gained prominence online for views like mocking gender pronouns, claiming the FBI interfered in the 2016 and 2020 elections, and suggesting Pfizer sponsored Satanic performances at the Grammys  is a regular presence on the video site.

Choosing a random episode of Catturds show on Rumble, I watched as he claimed that the major news networks had blacked out coverage of the Biden impeachment hearings, which was patently false and easy to check.

My point is not to argue that we need to nuke Rumble or weed out every last sketchy claim and vulgar comment on the internet. If that was even possible, it would suggest a kind of universal speech moderation done by oligarchic private tech companies, a solution just as frightening as the underlying problem. Plus, with right-leaning financiers like senator JD Vance and Silicon Valleys Peter Thiel backing Rumble, its easy to imagine that even if the site did shutter, a new conservative haven would pop up to replace it. Deplatforming can secure the partial victory of stopping people from earning money off hate and violence, but it rarely makes their appeal suddenly vanish from society at large. If people want to get a view out there, theres little that can be done to absolutely stop them so long as they arent doing something overtly criminal.

Nor am I arguing against the value of independent voices or critical perspectives. They are a vital part of a functioning media ecosystem and democracy itself. The more the merrier.

Rather, the support for the kind of conspiratorial thinking and hateful views that can be found on Rumble speaks to an off-platform, civic, and maybe even epistemological crisis in the US. If people believe everything they hear on the site, we have far bigger problems than the ramblings of the guy from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, or the venue he uses to broadcast them.

Update (13 October 2023): Following publication of this article, The Independent was contacted by Mike Schiele, a co-host of Revenge Of The Cis. Mr Schiele stated that he and his co-host were not mocking African American police officers; they were mocking female police officers. He added: "We are misogynists, not racists".
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The battle for Kevin McCarthy to save his speakership is over. The battle for the House Republican conference  and indeed, the entire House of Representatives  is about to begin.

On Wednesday, the House GOP conference will convene to pick a new speaker. As of right now, the House has two major candidates: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the favoured pick of the establishment and a prolific fundraiser with a strong whipping operation; and Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH), a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus who has spent his 16 years in Congress as a hellraiser who appeals largely to the conservative base of the GOP.

Meanwhile, on Monday, after the news of Hamass assault on Israel which left hundreds dead, and Israels military response in Gaza, Mr McCarthy seemed to crack the door open to once again returning to the speakership. Meanwhile, Democrats, despite internal divisions on a host of issues, are wholly united in supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

But as of right now, theres a brutal truth  nobody can get to the magic number of votes needed to become speaker.

Heres the math: Typically the House has 435 members but there are two vacant seats  one Democratic seat in Rhode Island and one Republican seat in Utah  meaning there are currently 433 members.

That means anyone who wants to become speaker needs to have a total of 217 votes, barring a member of Congress being absent or voting present. Rep Mary Peltola (D-AK) is currently out of Congress grieving the death of her husband, winnowing the number of votes down to 432. Republicans only have 221 members in their conference, meaning that only four Republicans can break away from their peers anointed speaker and spoil the plans.

And a split field makes it impossible for any Republican to get a majority. The friends of Inside Washington over at Punchbowl News reported that three Republicans said they would not vote for anyone except Mr McCarthy. It would make sense given that two of them  Reps John Duarte (R-CA) and John Rutherford (R-FL)  hail from swing districts and would not want to cast their votes for Mr Jordan, an archconservative who played a huge role in Donald Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

But Mr McCarthy took himself out of the running on Tuesday because he has the same problem he faced last week and in truth, the problem he faced in January: He doesnt have the votes. If anything, hes losing them.

Similarly, Rep Ken Buck (R-CO), a member of the Freedom Caucus who backed Mr McCarthy last time but who shivved the speaker last week, and on Sunday said on ABC News that the party should unite around a candidate before going to the floor, avoiding a public spectacle like in January.

Mr Scalise and Mr Jordan still lack the sufficient votes, too. Friends of the newsletter Lindsey McPherson, Warren Rojas and Stephen Neukam over at The Messenger counted 43 votes for Mr Jordan and 31 votes for Mr Scalise as of Monday evening. As long as the two continue to stay in the race and unless some supporters defect to another camp, its hard to see them getting to 217.

And for those wondering about Democrats, there is little to no chance that Mr Jeffries will become speaker. Despite the fact that Republicans voted for the rules package that made the single-member motion to vacate possible, they are still angry at Democrats for joining Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and the seven other Republicans who deposed Mr McCarthy.

On the flip side, no Democrat has any incentive to clean up the GOP mess and get behind a consensus Republican candidate. The House might be without a speaker for weeks.
Veteran investment banker James Garvey has been appointed as non-executive chair and a a director of Goodbody with immediate effect.

It follows the death earlier this year of previous chair Gary Kennedy. Non executive director Joan Kehoe has been acting as as interim chair of the stockbroking business, the countrys second largest, which is owned by AIB.

James Garvey has held senior roles at Lloyds Bank, where he was Head of the Markets Division and a member of the Commercial Banking Executive Committee, and at Citigroup, UBS, and Goldman Sachs.

He began is career in the oil industry, after graduating in 1984 with an engineering degree from Trinity College Dublin before moving into finance. He earned an MA in Military History in 2019.

Garvey is the chair of Martello Expert Services, which he co-founded in 2019, and serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the boards of S&P Global Ratings Europe and S&P Global Ratings UK.

He also serves on the Investment Committee of the Trinity College Dublin endowment fund, is a member of the National Theatres Corporate Development Committee in the UK and is governor and chair of the finance committee at Wellington College, one of Englands historic public schools.

Goodbody CEO Martin Tormey said the firm will benefit from Garveys investment banking experience.

Particularly in the months ahead as we refocus the business through investment in strategic growth opportunities. His appointment reflects our strategic ambitions as we seek to position ourselves for long-term success, he said.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joan Kehoe for her contribution as Interim Chair and assuming the role in incredibly sad circumstances following the passing of our esteemed former chair Gary Kennedy, he said.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Piab) must reassess damages to be awarded to a woman for soft tissue injuries allegedly sustained when an oven fell on her at work, the Court of Appeal (CoA) has ordered.

The ruling will have implications for how Piab explains its assessment of claims under personal injuries guidelines that have slashed minor injury awards by 50pc since they were introduced in April 2021.

The appeal court agreed with hospital catering assistant Tara Wolfe (41) that Piab failed to give sufficient reasons for valuing her shoulder, back and leg injuries at 11,000. In a judgment on behalf of the three-judge appeal court, Mr Justice Donald Binchy said the basis of the calculation of a Piab assessment is a matter of critical importance to a claimant.

Claimants are entitled to be given information sufficient to understand the basis of its calculation of general damages without having to resort to guesswork, he added.

The degree to which Piab must explain its assessment may vary depending on the complexity of a persons injuries, but it should be reasonably clear, in light of other relevant documentation, how the board arrived at an amount, the judge went on.

In assessing Ms Wolfes injuries, it is clear Piab considered medical reports and the Personal Injuries Guidelines, said Mr Justice Binchy. If Ms Wolfes only injury was her back there could be no doubt that the assessment, when read together with the medical reports and the 2021 guidelines, would constitute a sufficiently reasoned decision.

Piab assessors concluded Ms Wolfes back injury was her dominant injury and fell into the minor category, which covers awards up to 12,000. The assessors said the back injury should be assessed at the top end of the minor category having regard in particular to all the medical evidence and to allow for the lesser injuries.

However, the judge added, some of the assessors references to Ms Wolfes lesser injury/injuries were generic, providing no information at all as to how these were taken into account or how much, if any, of the 11,000 general damages relate to them.

It is beyond any doubt that this inhibits Ms Wolfes ability to decide whether to accept or reject the assessment, he said.

Piabs fears about a more detailed approach are entirely unfounded, the judge added, as the matter could have been resolved with one simple sentence setting out separately the value of the dominant injury and then the general damages including the lesser injuries.

The High Court had refused to quash Piabs assessment of Ms Wolfes injuries as it said the assessors would only have to provide a more detailed explanation if they had departed from the 2021 guidelines.

Ms Wolfe, of Donard Drive, Dublin, appealed this dismissal.

Her case arises from an incident at a kitchen in the Mater Hospital in Dublin during which, she alleges, a heavy oven she was cleaning fell on top of her due to not being properly secured to the wall. She claims she had to support its weight for about a minute before managing to push it from her torso.
It must have been difficult for this pastor who gave the opening prayer at Trump's rally in New Hampshire yesterday to admit to the audience that God is greater than Trump.

Trump and his worshippers will probably call for the pastor's head on a stick for uttering such vile blasphemy, but the pastor bravely took a stand.

Here's the video of the pastor comparing Trump to God and reluctantly conceding that Trump comes in a close second.

"Let's pray," began the pastor. "Our merciful Heavenly Father. We come here today to hear the words of a man who has done great things. A man we love and respect, a man dedicated to making America great again. A man we hope will be restored to the presidency. And yet, great as his accomplishments are right now, we all have the privilege of talking to you, our Father. And we know that even President Trump would agree that your greatness, not only in deeds but in your very essence, is higher than his and above any man's.

What's next Pastor? Will you say something outrageous like "Jesus is more popular than Trump?"
State may allow money for airports handling up to three million passengers

This year, Shannon Airport is set to receive 12.6m from the Exchequer

Shannon Airport could get a financial boost after the Government confirmed that its looking at including airports handling up to three million passengers in the Regional Airports Programme as part of a review of the scheme.

While Shannon currently benefits from the scheme to the tune of millions of euro a year, the programme is only open to airports handling fewer than one million passengers a year.

Cork Airport  which is expected to handle 2.7 million passengers this year  has also lobbied for changes to the programme, arguing that under EU rules the passenger threshold for eligibility to such state-aid schemes could be increased to five million passengers a year.

Shannon became eligible for the Regional Airports Programme (RAP) in 2022 due to a slump in travel from 2020 to 2021 during the pandemic. But it wont be eligible under the current scheme  which expires in 2025  from next year.

Shannon Airport handled just over 1.5 million passengers last year and eligibility for the RAP is based on average passenger traffic over a two-year period. Between January and June this year  even before the busy summer season had kicked in  it saw a record 903,000.

This year, Shannon Airport is set to receive 12.6m from the Exchequer and it got more than 34m between 2020 and 2022.

The Regional Airports Programme also supports Kerry Airport, Ireland West Airport in Knock, and Donegal Airport. It also supports the public service obligation air route between Donegal and Dublin, which is operated by Emerald Airlines as part of its Aer Lingus Regional franchise.

Ireland West recorded 367,000 passengers between January and June this year, making it the busiest six-month period in the airports 38-year history.

The Department of Transport was quizzed in a written question by Independent TD Violet-Anne Wynne if Shannon could remain permanently eligible for the Regional Airports Programme.

Jack Chambers, the junior transport minister, noted that a mid-term review of the programme is continuing.

The review will consider how the RAP is currently delivering on its objectives, primarily in the context of supporting connectivity and balanced regional developments, he noted.

Mr Chambers added: The potential inclusion of airports of up to three million annual passengers [which would facilitate the inclusion of Shannon Airport] is being considered.

That review is slated to be completed by the end of the year.

Cork Airport, which is controlled by DAA, was also eligible for funding for the scheme after its passenger numbers tumbled during the pandemic.

In its submission during the summer to the mid-term review of the programme, Cork Airport noted that before the pandemic, it was not eligible to any funding from the RAP and had repeatedly raised concerns about the inequality of the scheme.

It added that funding it did receive as a result of the pandemic was crucially important in terms of delivering critical safety and security projects and supporting the recovery of connectivity.

It said that no longer being able to access the funding poses a substantive risk to the competitive fairness between regional airports.
The Government is to squirrel away more than 10bn worth of windfall corporation tax receipts next year into two new investment funds.

The bulk of the money will go towards a 100bn Future Ireland Fund (FIF) to pay for pensions, healthcare and other costs post-2040, with a smaller, 14bn, envelope to spend key infrastructure projects this decade.

It includes the 6bn that has already been set aside in a rainy day fund, known as the National Reserve Fund, which is to be dissolved and split between the two new envelopes, with the bulk (4.1bn) going to the longer-term FIF.

The amount being set aside is just under half of the next years estimated corporation tax take of 24.5bn.

The Department of Finance believes that around half of Irelands corporation tax receipts are windfall in nature, meaning they are unexplained and may not be repeated.

The Future Ireland Fund is to be built up over the next 11 years and used to pay for future pensions, healthcare or climate-related costs, though that wont be set in stone, and it will be up to the Government of the day to choose.

It cant be spent until 2040.

After ploughing in an estimated 75bn into the fund - via set payments of 0.8pc of GDP per year, depending on the state of the economy - the Department of Finance hopes to raise around 100bn by investing in long-dated assets abroad.

The fund will not invest in domestic assets such as Irish sovereign bonds.

A second, smaller pot, known as the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will be created by setting aside 2bn per year and up to 14bn in total to spend in the near term.

The money can be drawn down after 2026 but only in part. It is to be used to upgrade climate, tech or other infrastructure, and can also be used in the event of a future downturn, as a kind of rainy day fund.

Because the Government intends to draw down money from the second fund sooner, the money will be invested in shorter-dated assets, earning less interest, but which could include Irish bonds.

The money in the funds comes on top of the 165bn that is to be invested in green energy, broadband, housing and other infrastructure under the National Development Plan out to 2030.

And it is in addition to the 15bn Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, which was created almost a decade ago from the remnants of the old pension reserve fund, will remain in place to invest in Irish businesses.

The funds will be managed by the National Treasury Management Agency.
Health insurance is paid for by almost half the population.

The number of people with health insurance continues to grow, with increasing numbers buying private health cover for the first time.

Some 2.44 million people paid for health insurance last year, up almost 80,000 on the previous year, according to the sectors regulator, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA).

Many of additional numbers with cover have bought it for the first time, the authority said.

The growing popularity of health insurance comes despite the three main providers  VHI, Laya and Irish Life Health  each announcing two premium price hikes this year.

The number with health insurance cover now corresponds to 47.6pc of the population, according to the HIAs annual report for last year.

This is below the 50.08pc figure reached in 2008. This was the height of the Celtic Tiger, before the great financial crash.

State-owned VHI Healthcare remains the market leader with a 48.4pc share of those paying for private cover.

Laya Healthcare had a 27pc market share, and Irish Life Health had 20.5pc last year.

However, market shares vary significantly by the ages of the insured.

At the end of 2022, VHI Healthcare insured 54pc of those aged 70 to 79 with cover, compared with 72pc at the end of 2014.

The HIA said feedback from consumer surveys commissioned by it last year show that many consumers still find it difficult to understand their health insurance plans and compare options.

This is particularly the case as there are more than 327 plans on the market.

Over 199,000 comparisons of health insurance products were made on the HIA website, and over 3,000 calls were received by HIA information helpline, it said.

Chairperson of the HIA Patricia Byron said: We encourage all consumers to assess their level of coverage each year and compare products available.

Insurers have blamed higher levels of claims for the move to increase premium rates twice this year.

According to the HIA annual report the total level of claims paid in 2022 increased by 16.5pc compared with the precious year.

Total claims paid by insurers in 2022 have exceeded claims paid in 2019, before the pandemic, at 2.25bn for the first time since Covid-19 impacted claims on health insurance.

Demand for health services continued to rebound last year from the Covid-19 pandemic, with out-patient hospital attendances outstripping in-house hospital stays.

However, this trend is reversing this year, where demand and supply constraints in the private hospital sector are evident, the HIA said.

The impact of the pandemic remained visible on health services in 2022, though at a lower level than the previous two years.

While hospital activity increased relative to the steep reduction observed in 2020 and 2021, it remained lower than pre-pandemic levels. Last year saw a return to pre-Covid levels of day treatments in hospitals, while over-night stays had not yet returned to pre-Covid levels.

In August VHI announced a second rise in premiums this year. Average increases of 7pc will be applied to VHI plans from the start of this month. It comes on the back of a 4.8pc rise last March.

The combination of the two rises will send the same plan up by close to 12pc. But some plans will rise in price by a cumulative 14pc.

Laya has announced two premium rate rises, with the latest due to kick in from this month.

The second largest health insurer in the country, with nearly 700,000 members, Laya announced plans to increase the cost of its policies by an average of 3pc. This is on top of a 4.4pc average rise in premium rates earlier in the year.

The combination of the those two hikes will mean many seeing costs go up by an average 7.8pc. But some will be faced with increases of up to 16pc as their plans rise by more than the average.

Two rises from Irish Life Health are likely to mean cumulative increases of up to 14pc.
The human rights body published an investigative report into the activity of Intellexa, which has offices in several European countries, including Ireland

Amnesty International has called on Irish and European authorities to clamp down on a Dublin-based firm accused of selling spyware on smartphones.

Intellexa, with an address in Dublins north inner city, is named in a major investigation by the human rights bodys Security Lab division, in co-ordination with the German newspaper Der Siegel and the French news website Mediapart.

The report, called The Predator Files, accuses Intellexa of selling military-grade spyware that can secretly activate a smartphones camera, microphone and other features to spy on the smartphones users. The features are activated within seconds of a smartphone user tapping on a link, either from a text message, email or social media post.

Amnestys Security Lab says that individuals targeted include the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-Wen, US congressman Michael McCaul, US senator John Hoeven, the German ambassador to the US, Emily Haber, and French MEP Pierre Karleskind. It also says that other officials, academics and institutions were targeted.

This company is selling these tools from the EU, supposedly even marking itself as being EU-based and EU-regulated, Donncha OCearbhaill, a hacker and researcher who is head of Amnestys Security Lab division, told the in an interview with the Irish Independent.

As we see in our report, its being used to target human rights defenders, journalists, EU institutions and senior EU politicians, including the president of the European Parliament, he added.

Mr OCearbhaill said that the spyware is designed to make the whole phone an open book.

It can turn on the microphone and record the room. It can access your camera and can even access your [encrypted] Signal messages. It can access everything that the user might have on their device and more.

Intellexa is already on US trade blacklists because of the technology it sells. The company has also been criticised by MEP Barry Andrews, who asked the Oireachtas Justice Committee in August to investigate the firms Irish office.

The Amnesty report called on Ireland, as well other countries in Europe and the Middle East, where Intellexa has a corporate presence, to immediately revoke all marketing and export licences issued to the Intellexa alliance.

Attempts to contact Intellexa by the Irish Independent were unsuccessful.

In 2021, an investigation by multiple media organisations revealed that Pegasus spyware had targeted hundreds of journalists, politicians, heads of state, business executives, activists, dissidents and wealthy private citizens.

However, Mr OCearbhaill said that the chances of ordinary citizens being targeted with such spyware were small.

Each infection costs around 10,000 or 15,000 to the attacker, he said. Its supposed to be sold to governments to target terrorist organisations. But it is a risk for civil society in countries that are already oppressive, as we report in the case of a Vietnamese journalist targeted in Berlin.

Ireland could still be threatened by these kinds of tools. If we allow a proliferation of these tools, its really hard to predict where and what kind of use will come next.
Absolutely immoral to cull 40,000 surplus in-calf cows due to Nitrates Derogation cut

Cut will have catastrophic impact on smaller-scale dairy farmers, warns Barryroe Co-op vice-chair

Dairy Industry Ireland director Conor Mulvihill says the Government must secure flexibility in order to avoid such a cull

Niall Hurson Tue 10 Oct 2023 at 03:00

It would be absolutely immoral for the Department of Agriculture to require farmers to cull up to 40,000 in-calf cows in line with a looming cut to the Nitrates Derogation, Barryroe Co-Op board vice chairman John OBrien has warned.
We cannot wait for the effects of future measures while continuing to pollute, European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius has told the Farming Independent.

His comments come in the wake of his decision not to allow Ireland reopen negotiations on its Nitrates Derogation in a bid to stave off a reduction in stocking-rate limits across large swathes of the country.
The minimum area for payment will be 5ha and payments will be capped at 100ha per grower. Photo: Denis Boyle

A 7.148m support package for the tillage sector has been described as way off the mark by tillage farmers.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue announced the scheme last week after the recent challenging weather conditions affected crop yields and reduced output prices, adding to the high costs of production.

The scheme includes a flat-rate payment of 28/ha on the area of oilseed rape, winter and spring oats, barley, wheat and rye declared under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) in 2023.

The minimum area for payment will be 5ha and payments will be capped at 100ha per grower. It is expected that the payments will be made in January 2024.

However, Bobby Miller, Chairman of the Irish Grain Growers, said farmers are livid at such a paltry aid payment per acre.

He said the ceiling of 2,800 would be used up in three days by those sowing winter tillage crops. Its unfathomable that this is the best our Government can offer with a ceiling payment of 2,800, he said.

Rocketing input costs to grow crops, such as fertiliser, sprays, diesel, parts for machinery, left tillage farmers in a very vulnerable financial state for this past growing season.

He also said the cost of production on owned land for the most common crop, spring barley, stands approximately at 550/ac this past season.

What are those who have lost whole fields due to the weather to think of an 11/ac aid payment? Where is the infrastructure to support them? he asked.

IFA National Grain Chairman Kieran McEvoy said the tillage support scheme is way off the mark.

Not putting national funding alongside the 7.1m EU Agricultural Reserve for the tillage sector was a missed opportunity that the Minister must fix in the upcoming Budget, he said.

The 11/ac payment is minuscule compared to the financial challenges on the ground, in a year when growers are hit with a significant drop in cereal prices, moderate to very poor grain yields in all crops, and very high input costs.

Some farmers are still battling to try and salvage what they can from the last of the harvest. Some crops will be left in the ground.

"Margins are being decimated. Negative or minimal financial returns will be the norm for growers in 2023, he said.
Criminal defence barristers and solicitors are to get a 10pc increase in fee rates next year.

The move, which is expected to be announced in the Budget today, comes in the wake of an unprecedented strike by members of the criminal bar last week.

The increase in fees will cost the State around 9m in additional criminal legal aid, which is administered by the Department of Justice, the Irish Independent understands.

A similar increase is also thought to be on the cards for prosecution work, paid by the Director of Public Prosecutions. By law, there must be pay parity for prosecutors and defence lawyers.

A commitment to a process for further reviewing fees is also expected to be made.

Even with the increases, prosecution and defence fees will still be well behind what they were before a series of austerity-era cuts in the late 2000s pushed fee rates back to levels previously seen in 2002.

Nevertheless, the development is still a significant victory for the Bar of Ireland, which recommended its members engage in a withdrawal of services.

Council of the Bar of Ireland chair Sara Phelan SC said during the day of action last Tuesday that it was looking for the Government to put in place a mechanism for the restoration of fees and indicated members would be consulted about further industrial action if this was not delivered in the Budget or soon after.

Budget 2024: What we know so far

The Bar has been campaigning for fee restoration for the past seven years, but Government purse strings were only loosened in the wake of the strike, which led to the adjournment of hundreds of criminal cases. Many criminal law solicitors also withdrew their services on an individual basis.

No strike was sanctioned by the Law Society due to concerns it would be a breach of competition law if solicitors were to engage in collective action.

While Justice Minister Helen McEntee had spoken in support of the reversal of the cuts in recent months, it is understood there was considerable resistance to this in the Department of Public Expenditure.

It remains to be seen whether the fee increases will help stem the flow of practitioners away from the criminal bar. Many have left the profession entirely or pivoted to work in the civil courts, where fees are much higher.

Ms Phelan said last week that the criminal bar was haemorrhaging junior barristers, with up to two-thirds leaving criminal practice within six years.

She said the effects of this were already being seen, with cases having to be delayed because counsel could not be secured to attend.

Criminal legal aid cost the taxpayer 72m last year and in-demand lawyers earned considerable sums.

Department of Justice figures showed 36 barristers earned in excess of 200,000, while six law firms and two barristers received fees in excess of 500,000.

However, three-quarters of the 602 barristers paid under the scheme earned less than 50,000, with the average earnings of junior barristers under the scheme standing at 36,400.
A Dublin man broke into a house and stole clothes from the residents after they had all earlier been at a party, it is alleged.

Ross Power (35) is accused of climbing in through a bedroom window and getting the clothes after trying to force his way in through the front door of the property.
The father of a disabled boy claims he was ejected from the grounds of Irelands largest mosque by a garda during a dispute over disabled parking there during a major religious festival earlier this year, the Workplace Relations Commission has heard.

In a claim under the Equal Status Act 2000, Kayam Noordally has accused the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland of discrimination over preventing him from taking his disabled son into the mosques grounds by car on the Muslim holy day of Eid-al-Fitr earlier this year.
A woman returning to the United States from a trip to Kenya had a curious declaration at the US Customs and Border Protection checkpoint: giraffe poop.

The woman explained that she intended to turn the giraffe poop into a necklace, a craft she had completed previously using moose feces. Turns out, she'll have to apply for permits to import the shit or acquire her poop domestically. From the Associated Press:
Flights at night-time accounted for 73pc of all noise complaints at Dublin Airport in the first six months of 2023

Ryanair and Aer Lingus will participate in a High Court challenge to a notice directing the operator of Dublin Airport to restrict night-time flights to a maximum of 65 per night.

Last August, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) secured a court order pausing the effect of Fingal County Councils enforcement notice, which was issued on the grounds that the number of flights scheduled by the airport exceeds the terms of a planning condition regarding runway operations between 11pm and 7am.
Fine Gael Minister of State for European Affairs Peter Burke has said EU funding to the Palestinian Authority will continue.

On Monday the EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said the funding would be put under review.

Thats very important from an Irish perspective. Obviously the Commissioner did issue a tweet yesterday but the mechanisms of the Commission are very clear that a Commissioner cannot act unilaterally and make a decision like that, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

Mr Burke said we wouldnt have any link to Hamas in relation to funding provided to the Palestinian Authority.

[The funding] holds up public services, keeps the schools going, safe water, hospitals, all those key services that people in a war-torn country need, he said.

On the missing Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, he said its a very, very distressing case.

The Irish Government, through our consular services and the Department of Foreign Affairs are working very closely on the ground with the Israeli authorities as well.

We are providing consular services as we speak to the family in question but I just cant go into the detail of the case. Weve had a number of citizens contact our consular services as well.

He encouraged Irish citizens in Israel to register with consular services to receive the most up-to-date advice and information and said there is no communication between the Government and Hamas.

Ireland is at the very forefront of de-escalating the violence that is there, he said.

Meanwhile, People-Before-Profit TD Paul Murphy has said any life is to be regretted but did not condemn the attack on Israel carried out by Hamas militants.

Paul Murphy TD

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Murphy instead pointed to the questions directed at the previous speaker on the show, spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry Lior Haiat.

You just had a spokesperson on from the Israeli government, who has openly declared that theyre committing war crimes right now in Gaza by targeting the population of Gaza, over two million people, for collective punishment by cutting off food, medicine, electricity, he said.

You didnt ask him, who is actually a representative of the government, to condemn those actions.

Of course the loss of any life is to be regretted, but the idea of turning the tables here and attempting to present the victims of oppression as the problem here for fighting back, I think is the problem with the whole framing.

When he was again asked whether he condemned the attacks carried out by Hamas over the weekend, Deputy Murphy said: War is absolutely horrible and we are seeing a tiny glimpse of what the Palestinians face, what the people of Gaza have faced for the past 15 years.

Dramatic footage in the aftermath of bombing in Gaza this morning

Mr Haiat said earlier on the show that we do want to live in peace with the people of Gaza. Deputy Murphy described that as a joke and recalled visiting Gaza 10 years ago.

I have seen the conditions of extreme poverty that people are living in, crammed together, with the scars of war all across these densely packed cities where theyre subjected regularly to bombardment.

You have a policy pursued by the Israeli state of conscious apartheid, of conscious discrimination thats recognised by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, of ethnic cleansing, of attempting to drive Palestinians out of the area, in order to not recognise the right of Palestinians.

Deputy Murphy was asked if any of Israels actions justified the Hamas attacks and said I dont think its a question of justification.

Its a point that if you cage people for 15 years, as theyve done to the people of Gaza, people are going to fight back.

He did not accept the idea that there was wrong being committed on both sides of the conflict.

Its not a conflict of equals. Its not we have two bads on two different sides here. Thats the problem with that sort of narrative.

I think the answer here, the only solution is for an end to the siege of Gaza, an end to the bombardment which is currently happening, he said.
One of the pilgrims is celebrating her 89th birthday while on the trip

Israeli soldiers inspect burnt-out cars near the Supernova music festival attacked by Hamas on Saturday, in which at least 260 people were killed. Photo: Reuters

A group of 50 Irish people on pilgrimage in Israel are currently trying to leave Israel as bombing continues unabated.

The group were originally due to fly home on Thursday, but an earlier flight they hoped to be on out of Tel Aviv today was booked out.

Their scheduled flight on Thursday is due to go ahead as planned, airline El Al has told their tour operator.

The group are on a trip organised by the Irish Catholic newspaper, which partnered with Marian Pilgrimages on the visit to Israel last week.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas fighters has now seen over a thousand of Israelis dead with hundreds of Palestinians killed in retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared we are at war since the attack on Saturday. Rockets also struck Tel Aviv and other Israeli communities, while the capitals airport has also been targeted. Israeli forces have been carrying out bombings on Gaza every four hours since the weekend attacks.

It had been expected that the Irish group would arrive back at 2.20pm on a direct flight from Tel Aviv. However, this was not possible at the last moment as all flights are now booked out due to the numbers of people trying to flee the country.

Several of the group are from Kilkenny city and are believed to be still safe and in the Nazareth area of the country.

One of the group celebrated her 89th birthday while on the trip.

Five people from Kilkenny are part of a group of 50 Irish people who are on pilgrimage there with the Irish Catholic newspaper. The trip was to last until Thursday but those on the tour had been hoping to cut it short due to the increasing unrest.

Mayor of Kilkenny, councillor Joe Malone, said that plans to leave today instead did not work out overnight as all the flights leaving the country are booked out.

The group of Irish people on pilgrimage, with a small number being from Kilkenny city and county are very nervous and getting more anxious by the day, he said.

I spoke to one of them who is in a hotel in Nazareth on Saturday night and the hope was that they would be leaving [today] but that all changed overnight. So now people are very anxious as are their families.

They are worried the situation and if it would escalate even further. They have made contact with their families and thats important."

Cllr Malone said that if the group cannot leave on their scheduled flight on Thursday it is hoped they will be able to fly or make their way some way to a safer bordering country.

The former soldier who served in Lebanon explained that the 3rd army battalion from Kilkenny are due to go to Lebanon next month, with Irish troops there currently ready to help.

Israel is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria and Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south.

The mayor noted that if anyone had any concerns about relatives in Israel to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Michael Kelly, editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper, who is on the trip, tried to allay fears for their safety in an X update. Mr Kelly said: We are booked on a flight to Dublin on Thursday.

Today our Irish pilgrims (are) in the Holy Land continue our spiritual experience around the Sea of Galilee in the north of Israel, all the while praying for this land and the people who call it home as well as the intentions we carry.

Last Saturday he posted a video to social media saying that everyone was very, very safe.

Meanwhile, Church of Ireland Dean of Ossory Stephen Farrell lit up St Canices Cathedral on Sunday night in solidarity with those who are being affected.

Dean Farrell explained why he made the decision which has divided many locals. Saturday saw some truly horrific images coming from Israel and simply my heart went out to those you were suffering in a very particular and in a very focused way at that particular moment.

My hope was to express sympathy with all those who were suffering and support all those who were affected. My prayer would be that peace would break out and peace would prevail. The Cathedral here will always be a house of prayer for all nations, he said speaking on KCLR96FM.

This is something that is very particular to the events we have seen. It is not a political act. Its not about taking sides or set [things] against each other. It is simply reaching out heart to heart for people who are suffering incredibly at this moment.

Its not something that should be read into further and what the intention was. Our prayer is simply for peace.

Dean Farrell said the gesture of lighting up the Cathedral in solidarity was just for one night and the light will not be changing again, he added.

Numerous buildings globally have been been lit in blue and white in solidarity with Israel following the Hamas terror attack that has left at least 300 dead and dozens taken hostage in Gaza. The landmarks in the US include the Empire State Building and One World Trade Centre after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the buildings to be illuminated, as have Niagra Falls and Miami City Hall.

Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter, who is Jewish, thanked the dean for the decision to illuminate the Cathedral in blue and white in solidarity with the Israeli people.

Mr Shatter noted on social media that there are many good people in Ireland, adding: Thank you Kilkenny.

This article was updated on October 10, 2023
Garret Ahern was one of four people to give personal testimonies to the Oireachtas committee on assisted dying His wife availed of this in a friend's house in Belgium. Photo: Oireachtas TV

The husband of a woman who died by assisted dying after travelling from Ireland to Belgium said she did not want to end her life but she was enduring terrible pain that could not be relieved.

Garret Ahern, from Limerick, said his wife Vicky Janssens, a UCC lecturer, died on April 21 by availing of assisted dying in a friends house in Belgium where she was born.

His wife suffered from breast cancer which had spread, he told the Oireachtas committee on assisted dying.

He was one of four people to give personal testimonies to the committee, including Tom Curran whose late partner, Marie Fleming, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, took a High Court case a decade ago to allow for assisted dying.

The committee was also addressed by John Wall from Co Clare who has terminal prostate cancer and Elma Walsh from Co Kerry whose teenage son Donal had appealed to people, before his tragic death from cancer at the age 16 in 2013, to cherish life.

Mr Ahern said the decision to travel was reached after enduring terrible, constant pain that could not be relieved.

Although we received the most excellent care in the oncology services available in Cork, no relief could be found to alleviate Vickys suffering from her illness, her husband said.

I do not have the words to attempt to describe the pain that she endured in the last months of her life. It was that pain that drove her to attempt to end her own life by suicide in February.

These were not the actions of an individual whose thoughts had become destabilised by pain and fear, rather the well-conceived, well thought-out and rational actions of a person who could not endure her suffering.

This plan, to my knowledge, was put in place in advance of Vickys attempt on her own life in February.

He recalled that we travelled to Belgium in mid-April of this year. Physically speaking, Vicky was in no fit state to travel. At this stage, she could not eat, could only drink a little and was subsequently weakened by her illness.

The procedure itself, the ending of Vickys life by medical means, it took place in her friends house and it was incredibly dignified, respectful, and most importantly pain-free. Not only was it pain-free, it marked an end to the incredible pain Vicky was suffering.

Mr Curran, in his testimony, said the decision to end ones own life to avoid a prolonged distressing and possibly painful death in itself implied that the death must be peaceful, painless and quick. This is not as simple as it may seem as the means to provide a peaceful death remain almost exclusively in the hands of the medical profession.

This, in itself, provides the necessary safeguard to limit the availability [of assisted dying] and protect the vulnerable but requires the assistance on a medical professional to provide the means.

John Wall, an air-traffic controller in Shannon and friend of the late Vicky Phelan, told the committee that contrary to many beliefs, we are merely seeking the right to apply for consideration of a dignified death. In so doing, it is others who will ultimately decide if the application will be successful.

With many believing this decision rests with the person, I believe it is vital that we dispel any idea that this would ever be an opportunity for any individual to simply cease living.

Elma Walsh, however, appealed to the committee not to recommend the introduction of assisted dying here.

She said: I can honestly say with the help of palliative care Donal died with dignity and got to complete most of the things he wanted to do.

I fear what this committee could set in motion, because if it removes the present legal requirement that doctors do what they can to save lives, the value of life will be significantly reduced.

Can anyone here guarantee that elderly people wont be subtly or overtly pressured into taking life-ending pills, in a situation where they are living in a family house and the child or grandchild is looking for a house? she added.
A worker whose colleagues complained after he got drunk at a company barbecue and cracked racist jokes about skin colour will get nothing despite a ruling that he was unfairly sacked.

The Workplace Relations Commission has upheld a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by general operative Lucian Mihai Muscalu against Gunn Lennon Fabrications Ltd  but found it was just and equitable to award him nothing because of the offensive comments.

It happened at a lunchtime work barbecue thrown by the engineering firm for its staff in on Friday 25 June 2021, when Covid-19 public health measures had just been reduced to allow outdoor social events, the employment tribunal was told.

Mr Muscalu recalled drinking four whiskeys and three beers at the event and told the WRC he had been intoxicated.

Some people are like snowflakes, they get offended by anything you do or say, Mr Muscalu told a hearing of the employment tribunal last November.

He said one of his jokes was: Why are black peoples hands white? Because they had them against the wall when they were being painted.

Mr Muscalu said he further quipped: The most racist animal in the world [is] the panda bear, who is white, black and Asian all at the same time.

Everyone laughed and there was no issue, he told the Workplace Relations Commission.

Staff at the event were restricted to bubbles  with Mr Muscalu making his comments to a group of multi-national colleagues including one from Jamaica, said the companys barrister Jason Murray BL, appearing instructed by Reddy Charlton Solicitors.

The complainant admits on his complaint form that he made openly racist comments, Mr Murray said.

Counsel submitted that one of the colleagues in the barbecue bubble later reported telling the company the complainant continued to make homophobic comments talking about rainbow people.

At that point the other worker told Muscalu: That type of talk [is] not acceptable, Mr Murray said.

A second colleague made a formal verbal complaint to the companys production manager, who took the matter up with the complainant.

At a further meeting with the production manager and the firms operations director the Thursday after the barbecue, July 1 2021, Mr Muscalu admitted making a joke about a panda being racist but said it was not directed at his colleague and he did not mean for this to offend anyone.

The complainant was informed of his dismissal by letter that same day and was escorted off the companys premises with his belongings.

Mr Muscalus representative, Marius Marosan, said the firm should have taken into account the fact that his client was intoxicated at the time, had a good work record, and had apologised immediately.

Mr Marosan said Gunn Lennon had failed to comply with fair procedures and natural justice as his client was not informed about a complaint against him and did not have an opportunity to reply.

The complainant had admitted making racist comments in the workplace, Mr Murray said, arguing the employer had acted reasonably in the affair and that the tribunal would have to consider the complainants contribution to the dismissal.

WRC adjudicator Davnet ODriscoll wrote in her decision that the dismissal had been unfair on procedural grounds but that Mr Muscalu had undoubtedly significantly contributed to his dismissal with his offensive comments.

The complainant had sought compensation for a financial loss of 375.40, but Ms OCarroll said it would be just and equitable to make no award at all.
My cheating ex-husband left our children nothing in his will  now his other woman plans to sell the farm
Vaccine uptake is slowing, the latest World Health Organisation data shows

Older people are still affected most severely by Covid-19, according to the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).

Protection from vaccines also wanes faster among older and medically vulnerable people compared to younger age groups.

The expert body, which advises the Department of Health on immunisation, said the rate of hospitalisation for those aged 50 years and older from September 2022 to June 2023 increased incrementally with advancing age.

Death rates began to rise from age 60 years, it said in its overview report advising on the autumn and winter Covid-19 booster jab.

Both hospitalisation and mortality rates are especially high for those aged over 80 years, it said.

It should be also noted that the rate of hospitalisation was substantially higher in those aged less than six months, compared to older children and young adults.

Niac said: While rates of Covid-19-related hospitalisations and deaths remain relatively low this year, Sars-CoV-2 is still prevalent in our community.

For certain vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, those with underlying health conditions and those who are pregnant, further protection from severe Covid-19 is necessary through administration of booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine to ensure optimal protection in the face of waning of vaccine effectiveness.

Optimising protection of healthcare workers recognises their increased exposure to Covid-19, Niacs letter to chief medical officer Dr Breda Smyth said.

The updated booster jab now covers the recent XBB.1.5 variant.

At the time of writing in mid-August Niac said Covid-19 was increasing, but nonetheless indicators of severity, such as intensive care and deaths, remain low and stable.

Niac also referred to the rise of the EG.5.1 or Eris variant in Ireland and in Europe in its report.

On the effectiveness of the new booster against Eris, it said it should be noted that there is very close alignment between XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1 except for two new mutations in EG.5.1.

It expected the updated boosters to be effective against severe Covid-19 disease caused by EG.5.1, Niac said.

Niac also warned that vaccine-induced or natural immunity against Covid-19 wanes over time. However, immunity can be restored by booster vaccination.

In those at high risk of severe disease, such as those of more advanced age, even a minor decrease in vaccine effectiveness with time can translate into a rise in severe disease and death, reinforcing their need for more frequent booster vaccination. In addition, evidence suggests that immunity, whether acquired through vaccination, natural infection or both tends to be more robust and longer lasting in younger age cohorts.

It comes as HSE chief Bernard Gloster yesterday appealed to healthcare workers to get the Covid and flu vaccines after a fall-off in take-up since the worst of the pandemic.

The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) said yesterday that over 90pc of reported deaths from Covid-19 are in those aged 65 years or above. Yet data received from the World Health Organisations (WHO) 53 member states show that less than two-thirds of this group have received a first booster and worryingly only 29pc have received their second.

Countries shouldnt delay in providing Covid-19 booster doses in anticipation of having access to new or updated vaccines which could take some time to become widely available, the ECDC said.

Surveillance including wastewater surveillance remains key; if we cant track the virus, were basically operating in the dark.

We also need to focus on indoor air quality and ventilation as we head into the colder months; effective measures in this regard can go a long way in preventing infection and saving lives.

Cases among individuals at higher risk of severe disease need to be detected early and provided with treatment if available, the watchdog added.
Parents will have to wait almost a full year for further cuts to their childcare costs, after the government announced a promised 50pc cut will not be in place until September 2024.

Childrens minister Roderic OGorman has secured a further 25pc average cut to childcare fees, which was one of the landmark announcements in Budget 2025.

It fulfils a vow by Mr OGorman to cut childcare fees for parents by an average of 50pc over two budgets. It is estimated that the parents of over 100,000 children will eventually benefit from the cut to funds, which could save families up to 1,700 a year. Mr OGorman said that the government is now spending over 1.1bn on early learning and childcare, after an 8pc funding increase of 83 million in 2024.

Almost a third of children under the age of 15 in Ireland are in some form of childcare, according to the most recent Census. Over 40pc of children in Ireland are cared for in a creche or similar facility, while 28pc are being cared for by an unpaid relative or family member.

Last years budget saw the government announce a plan to cut fees by an average of 170 per month. This was done by increasing the universal childcare subsidy from 90 cent an hour to 1.40 an hour up to a maximum of 45 hours a week to all eligible children who attend childcare providers who are registered with Tusla. That reduction came into effect from January this year.

Announcing Budget 2024 on Tuesday, public expenditure minister Paschal Donohoe announced that the National Childcare Scheme will see a further 25pc reduction in child care costs, which is evidence of our commitment to making childcare affordable. It is part of a funding increase of 338 million to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The government will further increase the National Childcare Scheme subsidy from 1.40 to 2.14 an hour. But there was criticism of the fact that the cuts would not come into effect from September 2024 - nine months longer than it took to implement the child care cuts announced in Budget 2023.

Mr OGorman said that he had to balance reducing child care fees against broadening access to childcare, and making it more accessible for children with additional needs.

More affordable childcare is really important  but support for the most vulnerable children attending childcare is also important, he said.

Budget 2024 also introduces a new initiative from September 2024 called the Equal Participation Model (EPM), which will assist services to enhance supports to all children who may be vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage. From next year, a new scheme called the Equal Participation Model (EPM) will help more children have access to early learning and childcare services, including children from disadvantaged areas. The new EPM scheme will be rolled out on a phased basis from 2024.

Mr OGorman added that he was moving to include childminders in the national scheme, and there is a cost to that.

From next September, the National Childcare Scheme - a government subsidy to help with the cost of childcare - will be extended to childminders for the first time. The government believes that around 500 childminders will sign up to the scheme from next year, which will mean that around 2,000 children will benefit from the extension of the childcare subsidy.

Pearse Doherty, the Sinn Fein spokesman on finance, criticised the fact that the cuts would not come into effect until September, arguing that parents needed to see their childcare costs coming down much sooner.

We need to see these bills coming down from January, Mr Doherty said.

Last month, thousands of childcare providers along with parents and children who use the services held a demonstration outside the Dail calling for increased funding for the sector. A number of creches had closed to mark the day of demonstration. The rally was organised by the Federation of Early Childhood Providers. Elaine Dunne, spokeswoman for the federation, said that while it welcomed a reduction in fees for parents it had yet to see if there would be enough support in the Budget to stop childcare providers from leaving the industry.

Childhood Services Ireland, the Ibec trade association for childcare providers, said that a an increase in subsidies is a good start but there is a long way to go for the childcare sector.

Childcare is still unaffordable for many families which is impacting their opportunities to enter employment, Darragh Whelan, the director of Childhood Services Ireland, said.

The National Womens Council of Ireland said that the latest 25pc cuts to childcare had been one of its key demands ahead of the budget, but that it would have liked to see it introduced from January as opposed to September 2024.

Orla OConnor, the director of the NWCI, said that the state should now start to move towards the delivery of a public childcare model, similar to our primary school system.

We know that this model has shown to be the most effective in reducing child poverty, fighting social exclusion, and being a game-changer for womens equality. It also ensures better pay and conditions for the predominantly female workforce in the sector. We call on the Government to commit to a public childcare model following Budget 2024, Ms OConnor said.
More gardai and more money for gardai and lawyers are two of the big ticket items promised in a record 3.5bn Department of Justice budget for 2024.

Significant chunks of Justice Minister Helen McEntees budget package are aimed squarely at the two parts of the criminal justice system where there has been the most unrest recently.

Gardai and criminal barristers both engaged in different forms of industrial action last week in rows over rostering and a failure to restore fees respectively.

While the measures promised dont resolve either issue, they may go some way to dampening dissent in the short term.

The departmental budget announced today will see spending on An Garda Siochana jump to 2.3bn next year, up from 2.14bn in 2023.

The additional funding will go towards recruiting between 800 and 1,000 additional gardai and paying for a 25pc increase  up from 105m to 131m  in garda overtime.

The minister, who has faced criticism over street crime following attacks on tourists in recent months, said the additional funding would help support high visibility policing to tackle anti-social behaviour.

She said a new garda recruitment campaign was due to get underway shortly, while a drive to recruit new Garda reserves, the first such campaign since 2017, is scheduled to take place next year.

If targets are hit, the strength of the force should be around 14,500 by the end of next year, taking into account normal retirement and resignation levels.

However, hitting those targets will require a big push as recruitment pledges in recent budgets were not delivered on.

A decision to increase the Garda trainee allowance to 305, a two-thirds hike on the current payment, may be a recognition of the scale of the challenge.

GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin welcomed the announcement, saying there was an urgent need for more members on the frontline due to an unprecedented crisis regarding retention and recruitment.

However, he said it was a guarded welcome as 800 new recruits were promised for 2022 and just under 300 came through Templemore. He also claimed that while 1,000 recruits were promised in 2023, just over 600 would be seen this year.

He also said that while the increase in the trainee allowance was an improvement, it did not even match minimum wage, never mind the current cost of living".

The budget also includes 6m for Garda wellbeing initiatives, medical costs and over 2,500 units of body armour.

My top priority is building stronger, safer communities and that is reflected in the budget announced today for An Garda Siochana, which has grown by more than half a billion euros since I took office in 2020, said Ms McEntee.

Money is also being thrown at reversing the exodus of barristers from the criminal bar due to the inability of many to make a living from legal aid defence work.

Ms McEntee said an additional 9m was being added to the criminal legal aid budget to bump up fees by 10pc from early next year.

The move comes just a week after criminal barristers staged an unprecedented withdrawal of services in protests at the Governments refusal up to that point to reverse austerity era cuts to fees.

The minister also pledged to engage with the legal professions on further fee reforms.

The chair of the Council of the Bar of Ireland, Sara Phelan SC, welcomed the promised 10pc fees hike, describing it as an important first step.

However, even after this 10pc is restored, the full range of FEMPI-era cuts that were applied across the public sector will continue to apply to our profession, said Ms Phelan.

For that reason, we welcome the announcement that this will be followed by a process to review the structure and level of fees paid to criminal barristers. That process must be independent, meaningful and time limited.

Payment structure and fee rates will require careful consideration to ensure that criminal barristers across all jurisdictions, including the District Court, are treated fairly, and that must include the continued unwinding of the cuts that remain which date from 2009 and 2010, as well as the restoration of the link to public pay agreements which was unilaterally severed by Government in 2008.

Elsewhere, the Department of Justice budget includes an additional 12m in funding for the Zero Tolerance domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy. The funds will go towards the funding of a dedicated agency and supports for the delivery or refuge accommodation.

The Irish Prison Service will see its budget increased by over 27m to 439m. This includes 9m in additional funding in a bid to achieve 65,000 additional man hours to deal with the current staffing pressures.

Ms McEntee also pledged to invest in additional prison units, saying it was the Governments intention to provide over 400 new prison spaces over the next five years. There were just over 4.600 prisoners in custody at the start of September.
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a mosque after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)

President Michael D Higgins has called for an immediate end to the killing that has occurred in Israel and Gaza since Hamas attack on Saturday.

In a statement issued today, the president said attacks on innocent civilians are deeply reprehensible and that diplomatic failure to address the conflict in the region is now bearing terrible fruit.

May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families, he said.

Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible, Mr Higgins said, adding that further attacks and reprisals will lead to further loss of innocent life.

Mr Higgins said the conflict has been raised every year at the United Nations and there has been little positive engagement.

Diplomatic failure to meaningfully address a conflict, one that has been raised every year at the United Nations, is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved, he said.

"The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled.

Mr Higgins said those who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life and for restraint understand how difficult it is to achieve.

Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure, he said.

Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency.

What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all.

"I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians.

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday. Reuters

Mr Higgins sent his condolences to all of the victims families, adding that our thoughts at this time are, in particular, with the family of Kim Damti our fellow citizen.

Irish dual citizen Ms Damti (22) has been reported missing in southern Israel after she attended the music festival during which Hamas attacks began on Saturday.

Her mother Jennifer, who is from Portlaoise, last spoke to Ms Damti when the first rockets were launched by Hamas at around 7am on Saturday.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he is horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days.

The Foreign Affairs Minister condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel unreservedly.

"The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately, he said.

Mr Martin said he wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen yesterday to express our deep condolences.

"I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence, he said.

Mr Martin said he is working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis and will discuss the situation in an emergency meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers tomorrow.

These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza, he added.

"Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events.

"We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated.

"This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace.
Bill Bachenberg is the chairman of the Pennsylvania fake electors who tried to overthrow the U.S. Presidential Election. He also hired a cybersecurity firm in the hope that they could unearth evidence of election fraud.

Apparently, Bachenberg didn't pay the cybersecurity firm because now it is suing him. To make matters worse, the process server claims Bachenberg beat and injured him when he tried to deliver the lawsuit documents.

The server filed a police report, saying:

In the process of effectuating service, Bill Bachehburg attempted to take my phone out of my right hand and punched me on the inside of my elbow. He then attempted to yank my phone out of my hand again and struck me in the right shoulder collarbone. He then pushed me and I twisted my left hip which is healing from a third replacement. Bill Bachenberg proceeded to scream to "Call the police," "don't let him out, "he's trespassing!" The Pennsylvania Police report number is: PA 2023-1294441; there was a citation issued to Bill Bachenberg. The EMS report is enclosed. I went to St. Luke's Hospital Anderson Campus for treatment.

I hope the process server who serves Bachenberg with a lawsuit for assaulting the first process server stays safe!

[Via Raw Story]
Smoke rises from Israeli strikes as rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Gaza, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said international support for Israel will wain if sanctions and violence imposed on Gaza are not proportionate.

It's been four days since the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza strip since 2006, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel which saw thousands of missiles fired into Israel as well as gunmen entering villages in southern Israel, shooting and capturing civilians.

It is now estimated that over 1,900 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza since the war broke out on Saturday, while approximately 1,500 Hamas militants are believed to have been killed within Israel during the insurgency.

"From Ireland's point of view, we are saying to Israel that, yes you have a right to defend yourself, you're surrounded by enemies who want to end your existence but any response must be proportionate," Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on RTEs Nine OClock news.

"There is a lot of solidarity internationally for Israel at the moment. I believe that will fall apart if Israel goes too far in terms of sanctions in Gaza and there's a risk then of violence flaring up in the West Bank, in Lebanon and in other places. So we are very much calling for restraint," the Taoiseach said.

Smoke rises from Israeli strikes as rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Gaza, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Many more people remain missing since the conflict broke out over the weekend, including Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti (22), who was attending a music festival in southern Israel when Hamas entered the country.

More than 260 people were murdered at the site of the festival in Reim but Mr Varadkar said it is still not known if Ms Damti is alive.

"I'm really horrified at what we are seeing in Israel and Palestine. Particularly the targeting of civilians, the killing of women and children and the taking of hostages.

"We are particularly concerned for the Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti", Mr Varadkar said.

"We don't know yet whether or not she is still alive, we certainly hope she is, and we will help in any way we can. I've heard her mother speak several times now, I don't think anyone's heart could not go out to the family, worried the way they are.

"One thing Hamas has done is not just attack the people of Israel but also citizens of many other countries as well," the Taoiseach added.

Its believed the militant group captured more than 100 hostages and brought them back to the Gaza strip after the initial wave of the attack took place.

Israel has declared itself at war with Hamas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his countrys response to the attack will change the region for generations to come.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin on Tuesday night also confirmed that EU humanitarian aid to Palestinians will continue uninterrupted, "for as long as needed.

Speaking following a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, the Tanaiste reiterated our [Irelands] firm condemnation of Hamas repugnant attacks, underlined the importance of principled and clear action by the EU, and emphasised the importance of moving towards de-escalation, and the need to protect civilians in line with international law.

"I was clear that continued development and humanitarian support to the Palestinian people is essential. I underlined that the review of by the European Commissions development cooperation funding needs to take place as rapidly as possible and in close coordination with Member States. I welcomed the confirmation that EU humanitarian aid to Palestinians will continue uninterrupted, for as long as needed.
Both individuals have since been charged with alleged public order offences

The red paint on the door

Two men were arrested by gardai last night after red paint was thrown over the door of the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.

Several hundred people attended the demonstration outside the embassy on Shelbourne Road in Dublin 4.

According to RTE, one man who climbed over the fence outside the embassy and threw red paint over a door was subsequently arrested and led away by gardai.

The protest in Dublin last night (from Anti Imperialist Action Ireland)

ProtestErs had earlier gathered outside Leinster House at around 5.30pm, before marching from Kildare Street to Shelbourne Road.

Gardai said that the crowd was fully dispersed before 11pm.

It has also been reported that a few protesters had stamped on and then burned a small Israeli flag which had been left with flowers and sympathy cards outside the embassy.

Bono dedicates song to Israeli festivalgoers killed by Hamas militants

Others replaced the flowers which had been knocked over.

A tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Anti Imperialist Action Ireland showed images of the protest and the red paint on the door of the embassy.

A member of Anti Imperialist Action Ireland has covered the front door of the Zionist Embassy in Dublin with red paint during an ongoing protest in defense of Palestine, the tweet reads.

The activist has been arrested and is currently being held in the grounds of the Zionist Embassy.

Gardai said they attended a public gathering at an embassy in Dublin 4 on Monday evening.

Two males were arrested by gardai, they said.

Both individuals have since been charged with alleged public order offences.

One is due before the courts this morning while the second individual has been released from Garda custody to appear before the courts at a later date.
A Northern Ireland undertaker just back from holiday in Israel has applied for clearance to return to help with humanitarian efforts, including organising funerals for the hundreds of dead.

Ian Milne, from Portadown, who was a negotiator during the Drumcree crisis, said he has been left heartbroken by the unprecedented attacks by Hamas terrorists, which have been met with fierce retaliation from Israel. The death toll has already passed 1,000.

He said: The videos on social media of Israeli soldiers and old women and children being dragged out of their vehicles and their homes have been stomach-churning and reminded me of the horrible murders of the two corporals, Derek Wood and David Howes, in west Belfast in 1988, said the former RUC and UDR member.

Watching the footage of young people pleading for their lives after being kidnapped from a rave in Israel was the first time Id been brought to the same emotional position since that Saturday afternoon when the corporals were abducted and shot dead.

Obviously, there are a lot of parallels between Northern Ireland and Israel, but the savagery that was unleashed at the weekend was staggering, and unfortunately its clear theres a lot more bloodshed ahead.

Mr Milne paid his first visit to Israel late last year and loved the country so much that he returned earlier this month.

He said: Its the most beautiful place imaginable. Tel Aviv is a wonderful cosmopolitan city where the joy of life was outstanding.

Tel Aviv has escaped the worst of the rocket attacks in recent days, but it has been targeted too.

When I was there we had a warning of a missile attack, but thankfully it didnt come to anything.

However, I simply couldnt believe what I saw at the weekend.

Its little wonder that Israel hit back and declared that they were now at war. Terrorism is terrorism, no matter where it is.

I rang the staff at the hotel where I stayed to pass on my support and my condolences and they were in tears to think that someone so far away was thinking about them and praying for them.

Mr Milne has now applied to the authorities in Israel to be a volunteer.

He said: Im ready to go at the drop of a hat if they want me, and if I can arrange flights. I was already planning a third visit, but after whats happened I am doubly determined to return to assist them.

Mr Milne, who worked behind the scenes for several years in an unsuccessful bid to broker a deal over the Drumcree stand-off, also criticised Celtic fans after they displayed Free Palestine and Victory to the Resistance banners and flags at Parkhead on Saturday during a match with Kilmarnock.

He shared a social media message from ex-Celtic player and Israel international Nir Britton, who criticised his former clubs supporters, adding: Shame on you.
A woman has been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a Ukrainian national in Cork.

Ksenia Vasylenko (43) appeared before Cork District Court charged in connection with an alleged incident off the Kinsale Road in Cork in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

A 49-year-old Ukrainian man, Andrii Nesterov, was found with critical injuries near a vehicle a short distance from a commercial premises on a road adjacent to Cork Airport shortly before 3am last Sunday.

He was rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) but, despite the efforts of doctors and nurses, was pronounced dead a short time later.

A post mortem examination was conducted by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster at CUH on Monday but gardai have declined, for operational reasons, to comment on its findings.

Judge Olann Kelleher was told that Vasylenko, who has an address at Cork Airport Hotel, is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Nesterov in the early hours of October 8.

Garda Gary Brennan gave evidence of arrest, caution and charge to the court.

He said the defendant made no reply when the charge was formally put to her.

Judge Kelleher was told that the State was objecting to bail given the serious nature of the charge and Garda concerns over whether the defendant would remain to face the charge given that she was not a permanent resident and had no ties to the jurisdiction.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer was confirmed as defence counsel and said his client wished to apply for bail.

He indicated to the court that she would comply with any bail conditions imposed and was willing to hand over not only her own passport but that of her son and mother as well.

She was also willing to sign on daily at a garda station.

The court heard that the defendant had fled Ukraine with her child after the Russian invasion.

Her 62-year-old mother was already living in Cork when she joined her.

Judge Kelleher was told that the defendant worked in civic administration in a central Ukrainian city and had fled to Ireland via Poland.

She had only ever lived in Ukraine before fleeing to Ireland for sanctuary.

In direct evidence in support of her bail application, the defendant said she would comply with any court imposed conditions and that she "loved Ireland and the Irish people.

The court heard the woman had paid a brief visit back to Ukraine over the summer.

Judge Kelleher said that he had to be cognizant of the seriousness of the charge before the court.

He granted the State application for a remand in custody.

Judge Kelleher remanded Vasylenko in custody to appear again before Cork District Court on October 16 next.
The winners of Georgina Campbells Irish Food & Hospitality Awards have been announced

A five-star in Co Laois, a reimagined pub in Naas, and the Brennan Brothers of RTEs At Your Service are among the winners in Georgina Campbells hospitality awards for this year.

The food and hospitality writers eagerly anticipated annual awards, announced today, highlighted Ballyfin in Co Laois as Ireland's best five-star hotel, Clandeboye Lodge in Co Down as best four-star, and Caseys of Baltimore as best three-star.

Ms Campbell described Ballyfin as a luxurious  yet surprisingly homely  small hotel where the down-to-earth feeling of real Irish hospitality may be unexpected.

B&B rates at the five-star start from 750 a night this month, but Ballyfin is cited as a shining example of high prices adding up to good value.

Value is a strong theme in the awards, which are known for Ms Campbells accompanying notes and analysis on the state of Irish hospitality, and she didnt shirk from calling out some unexpected disappointments elsewhere.

Ballyfin, Co Laois

Tasting menus priced at 150 and over, for example, can indicate that respect for customers who are coping with the cost-of-living crisis appears to be missing, she said. Menus at that level seem to say more about ego and personal ambition than hospitality.

Yet there are those, including several of our award-winners, who manage to combine top level fine dining with more community-friendly and family-friendly options, and that is a very welcome development, she added.

Select list of 2023 winners

5-star Hotel: Ballyfin, Co Laois

4-Star Hotel: Clandeboye Lodge, Co Down

3-Star Hotel: Caseys of Baltimore, Co Cork

Restaurant: Neighbourhood, Naas, Co Kildare

Chef: Angel Pirev, The Mustard Seed, Co Limerick

Pub: The Parsons Nose, Hillsborough Co Down

Hospitality Hero: Francis & John Brennan

Newcomer: Bramley Restaurant, Abbeyleix, Co Laois

Innovation Award: Mountain View, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny

Sustainability: The Salthouse, Ballycastle, Co Antrim

Wine Experience: Burren Fine Wine & Food, Co Clare

Business Hotel: Clanard Court Hotel, Co Kildare

Memorable Experience: Dunmore House, Co Cork

Pet-friendly destination: Cashel House Hotel, Co Galway

Family-friendly Hotel: Ocean Sands Hotel, Co Sligo

Now in their 25th year, Ms Campbells awards are compiled based on anonymous visits, and this year focused particularly on genuine hospitality, consistency, innovation and good value.

Francis and John Brennan, in the process of selling their beloved Park Hotel and The Lansdowne in Kenmare, are lauded as hospitality heroes.

The Brennans decision to sell sent shockwaves rippling through the hospitality world  and indeed the general public, Ms Campbell said.

The Park has become an industry benchmark for over four decades, she noted, reflecting on its role as a training ground for tiptop service.

Neighbourhood in Naas

Irelands best restaurant for 2023 is Neighbourhood in Naas, Co Kildare, whose owners have reimagined a former pub to create a beautifully warm and welcoming restaurant, Ms Campbell said.

She cited its confident design and a complexity and simplicity raising Chef Gareth Naughtons dishes to a new level without affectation.

A focus on consistency and unshowy, authentic experiences, emerged as a theme of this years awards, with smaller, owner-run restaurants, cafes and bakeries singled out as our greatest strength at the moment by Ms Campbell.

These businesses sometimes offer fine dining on one or two evenings a week  and this is where real quality and local character are to be found, she said.

However, she also noted accommodation shortfalls, reduced opening hours, early kitchen closures, two-night minimum stays and other restrictions related to staff shortages and high costs as challenging to work around this year.

Although new businesses continue to open at an astonishing rate, the losses are mounting and there is no doubt that raising the special Vat rate for hospitality [from 9pc to 13.5pc] will be the final nail in the coffin for many, especially for smaller businesses.

From five-stars to budget escapes, the best hotels in Ireland for 2023

Other awards saw The Sea Rooms at Kellys Resort Hotel in Co Wexford win Best Atmospheric Restaurant, and casual dining citations go to Derry and Sallyanne Clarkes Club at Goffs in Co Kildare, the couples first venture since closing LEcrivain, among others.

A Movers and Shakers award went to Darina Allen and Rory OConnell of Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, Co Cork.

The full list of winners and citations in Georgina Campbells Irish Food & Hospitality Awards 2023 is available on ireland-guide.com.
Whatever outcome those who planned the attacks on Israel hoped for, the only certainty is that they will multiply the suffering and turmoil in a region of the world that has already seen far too much of both.

Its impossible to adequately address the depths of sorrow and hopeless futility of the Hamas atrocities, and the terrible chain reaction they were bound to provoke.

In all such acts of calculated, cold terror, it is the innocent whose blood is spilled and lives taken.

The families of victims have the compassion of the world. The indiscriminate rockets that rained down on civilian heads can serve no cause in a civilised world.

Turning the Nova music festival into a massacre site, spraying concert-goers with machine gun fire at close range, was also an act of unique cruelty.

The seizure of hostages has added to the sense of global revulsion.

Some family members of those seized by Hamas spoke of their anguish. My two little girls, theyre only babies. Theyre not even five years old and three years old, said Yoni Asher, who recounted seeing video of gunmen seizing his wife and two small daughters.

The lives of the devout, the dispossessed or the disaffected can only be made more difficult by these indefensible acts. If the intention was to prove that Israel has some powerful enemies, they are far more likely to show it has even more determined friends.

As one survivor of the rocket attack put it: Israel suffered the biggest loss in its history, so you can imagine what it is going to do.

And it will be the defenceless, who likely had no hand in the planning or execution of these killings, who bear the brunt of the consequences.

Israel will use enormous force against the Hamas militant group, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, including 260 people at the music festival. And since Israel began striking Gaza in response, nearly 600 people have died.

Israels defence minister has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip.

Food, fuel, electricity and water supplies will all be cut off. The effects on families already living in fear, destitution and despair, can only be dire.

The implications of the carnage for the world should the fighting spread across the region could be grave.

Israel will need to maintain a balancing act between eliminating the threat in Gaza, without opening another front with Hezbollah in nearby Lebanon.

Both groups are supported by Iran, but Hezbollah could pose an even greater danger. Terrorism does not discriminate in whom it harms, and injustice begets even more injustice.

Middle East experience proves violence to be an ever-descending spiral. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it, as Martin Luther King said. Force alone can never achieve or maintain peace.
The Indo Daily: What Budget 2024 means for you and your pocket

It's a 14bn budget, with 2.7bn of it set aside to address the 'cost-of-living' crisis, but who among us are the winners and who has been left out in the cold?

In a time where housing and healthcare are the main challenges facing the country  what measures have the government taken to help renters, house hunters and those living with serious medical conditions?

In this special extra episode of the Indo Daily, presenter Kevin Doyle is joined by two Irish Independent experts, personal finance editor, Charlie Weston, and personal finance columnist Sinead Ryan, to look at the what the budget will mean to you and the money in your pocket.
A Cork priest is working in Aleppo, Syria in the wake of the catastrophic earthquakes that took the lives of almost 60,000 people in Turkey and Syria last February.

Fr. Tony ORiordan is working as director of Jesuit Refugee Service from the Syrian capital, leading efforts to assist the local population who have endured war and economic turmoil in recent years, with this years earthquakes adding further to their plight.

To date, 8,476 Syrians have been recorded dead due to the earthquakes earlier this year, and Fr. ORiordan is working alongside 400 volunteers in Aleppo and broader Syria to oversee the earthquake response for the Jesuit Refugee Service.

This month sees the Catholic church celebrate Mission Month, in which it highlights missions and the work of overseas missionaries. Pope Francis has chosen the Gospel of St. Luke inspired theme of Hearts on Fire: Feet on the Move, (24:13  35) for Mission Sunday 2023.

A statement from the diocese of Kerry in celebration of Mission Month, tells of how Fr. ORiordan is working hard to lead the churchs assistance efforts in the Middle-East.

Fr. Tony O Riordan has taken these words seriously: Hearts on Fire: Feet on the Move, as he works tirelessly in Aleppo, Syria in the wake of the catastrophic earthquakes last February, the statement reads.

Fr. ORiordan is no stranger to difficult situations, having previously spent three years in Maban in South Sudan, where he led a response to drought and floods in the region.

Earlier in his career the Kilmichael priest worked closer to home. Following undergraduate studies in NUIG and postgraduate studies in Oxford University, Fr. ORiordan worked closely with social justice campaigner Fr. Peter McVerry in Ballymun, Dublin and later served as parish priest of Moyross, County Limerick.

In celebration of Mission Month, the diocese of Kerry will host a webinar with Fr. ORiordan in which he will share the experience of his mission in Syria.

Everyone is invited to participate in the webinar which takes place on Thursday, October 19, at 7.30pm. Those interested in attending the virtual event can find the registration page at www.dioceseofkerry.ie.
A general view of Middle Abbey Street in Dublin city center during a cloudy weather. On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, in Dublin, Ireland.

Those commuting on public transport this morning have been left in limbo as timetables are currently not available online.

Those using the Transport For Ireland app which recently replaced the Dublin Bus app, are dealing with no live information available.

Luas passengers are also dealing with the same problem as information cannot be accessed from the Luas website or the app.

Although, the tram service, buses and the DART are still operating as normal.

Crowds of commuters stranded after Dublin city Luas suspensions

The Luas Twitter said: Passengers. Please be advised that the real time passenger information on the Luas website and App is currently unavailable.

All Red and Green Line services are operating normally. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

This comes after all Luas services were suspended across Dublin city centre yesterday evening which left crowds of commuters stranded.

On the Dart, the 7.25am Bray to Malahide is terminating in Connolly due to a mechanical issue. The 8.50am Malahide - Bray has been cancelled.

Today in the city centre, Merrion Street Upper, Merrion Square West, Kildare Street and Molesworth Street are all fully closed today.

This comes ahead of the budget announcement, all traffic is being diverted to Merrion Square South..

Meanwhile, traffic is moving slowly on the M50 between Junction 11 - Tallaght and Junction 12 - Firhouse, southbound direction, following a collision.

In the city, traffic is very heavy on Westland Row, Lombard St and City Quay.

More to follow
Welcome to the bleaches of Florida. Convicted earlier this year of selling chlorine as a cure for Covid, cancer, autism, alzheimers and all other maladies, a Florida family minicult is finally off to serve lengthy jail terms. Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, were sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison, and Mark Grenon, 66, and Joseph Grenon, 36, received 5-year sentences.

Prosecutors called the Grenons "con men" and "snake-oil salesmen" and said the Bradenton family's Genesis II Church of Health and Healing sold $1 million worth of their so-called Miracle Mineral Solution.

In videos, it was pitched as a cure for 95% of known diseases, including COVID-19, Alzheimer's, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis, prosecutors said.

What the Grenons were selling was actually chlorine dioxide, officials said. When ingested, the solution becomes a bleach that is typically used for such things as treating textiles, industrial water, pulp and paper, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Authorities said it is the same as drinking bleach and can be fatal.
Street view of plans for the new creative hub on 2-4 Dublin Street, Balbriggan. Pic: Fingal County Council

The 3.3m creative hub will be a new arts space for Balbriggan. Pic: Fingal County Council

A new 3.3m creative hub has been given the green light for Balbriggan in north county Dublin.

Fingal County Council has granted planning permission for the renovation of 2-4 Dublin Street, with work set to conclude by mid-2025.

Todays announcement was described as a significant milestone in the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation program, which involves an overall investment of 50m.

The 3.3m transformation of an historic building in the town will involve the creation of innovative art spaces, accompanied by digital learning resources, a courtyard, and an art gallery.

The project, which aims to establish Balbriggan as a prominent arts and cultural destination, will now progress to the design phase, with plans for a contractor appointment in the near future.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, highlighted the new developments importance for the local community.

The creative hub is another key piece of the rejuvenation programme which will shape the development of Balbriggan and ensure it is regarded as a great place to live, work and do business, he said.

The new arts and cultural space in Balbriggan. Pic: Fingal County Council

Professor Brian MacCraith, chair of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group, welcomed that the vision for Balbriggan is finally starting to take shape.

Four years on from the launch of the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme 2019-2025, the bricks and mortar transformation of Irelands youngest town is now beginning to take shape, he said.

The ambitious vision contained in the rejuvenation plan was the result of an historic community engagement which saw more than 25pc of Balbriggans residents outline their preferences for the future of the town.

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, believes the new creative hub will provide an ideal place for the people of the town.

Fingal County Council is strongly committed to delivering the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme for the benefit of the people of the town, she said.

The creative hub is a key piece of the planned infrastructural development.

Balbriggan, recently recognised as a Creative Place by the Arts Council, is also set to benefit from a 330,000 funding injection over 3 years through the Creative Places program.

This funding, secured by the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation initiative, aims to make arts more accessible to the local community.

Balbriggan is also becoming a hub for festivals and cultural events, collaborating with the Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS), which is soon to unveil a cutting-edge 400-seater concert venue.
Waterville man Tony Donnelly who is to run for Fine Gael in the Kenmare Municipal District.

Waterville man Tony Donnelly is a stalwart of the Fine Gael party in Kerry as a backroom man, but now he feels his time has come to run for election.

Mr Donnelly was selected to run by the party for the Kenmare Municipal District. His selection just comes days after the bombshell announcement by Cllr Patrick OConnor Scarteen that he will not run this time around.

While Mr Donnelly has been added to the Kenmare-area ticket, it is understood that the party may still add another candidate from Cllr OConnor-Scarteens area in a bid to get two candidates elected.

The addition of Tony Donnelly is also a blow to sitting Fianna Fail Councillor and Waterville woman Norma Moriarty as they will be seeking votes from the same area, albeit with different parties.

However, Mr Donnelly feels that two councillors should be elected in the area, as there was previously in the case of PJ Donovan (FG) and Paul ODonoghue (FF).

Mr Donnelly works part-time for Cable OLearys in Ballinskelligs, giving him the time he needs to dedicate to politics. He has been involved in politics for many years, often acting as an unofficial Councillor, contacting party members to solve problems.

He is a former Director of Elections for the party and has been involved with Fine Gael since he was 14, hanging posters for candidates, along with his father.

He is the current chairman of South Kerry Development Partnership and Waterville Community Care and is on the board of Local Link Kerry. He was a member of the Iveragh Coastguard for 35 years. He is married to Helena and has six children.

At the age of 71, he will be one of the oldest election candidates but feels his age is not an issue.

"I dont think I am too old. I have good health and I feel good, he said.

"Not a day goes by that people dont get onto me and I contact Brendan Griffin or someone, I have been doing it all my life, it comes naturally to me.

Some Fine Gael councillors, such as Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald and Jim Finucane, have cited social-media use as a factor in their decision not to run, but Tony has no fear of social media and says it is part of life now.

Among the key issues for him are health, housing and rural roads, including the dangers posed by deer on our roads. Phone coverage and the need for NCT van testing in the Iveragh peninsula are also among his concerns.
Rev Jim Stephens, Cllr Jim Finucane (Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council), Sean Griffin, Therese Griffin, John Griffin, Cllr Jonnie Wall (Mayor of Tralee), and Fr Tadgh Fitzgerald at John Griffins retirement function at The Wetlands Tralee on Friday evening. Photo by Mark OSullivan

Minister Norma Foley, TD, pays tribute to John Griffin on the occasion of his retirement as County Tourism Officer after 40 years service from Kerry County Council at a function in his honour in Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre. Photo shows (from left): Minister Foley, Cllr. Jim Finucane, Mayor of Kerry, Sheila Finucane, Cllr. Johnnie Wall, Mayor of Tralee, Theresa Griffin, Sean Griffin, Dr. Ciaran McGoldrick, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council, Phil Luddy, Cllr. Sam Locke, Cllr. Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald and John Griffin. Photo: John Cleary.

At the function to mark the retirement of County Tourism Officer, John Griffin, were (from left): Nora Teahon, Niall Horgan, Mary Morrissey, James Kelleher, John Griffin, Harry Freeman, Martina Kerins and Noreen O'Mahony. Photo: John Cleary.

At the function to mark the retirement of County Tourism Officer, John Griffin from Kerry County Council were (left to right) Deputy Pa Daly T.D. Dan Kelleher, former superintendent Killarney National Park, John Griffin, Dolores McConville, Dr. Henry Lyons, David Nolan and Brendan Dinneen. Photo: John Cleary.

Pictured at the retirement funcion for John Griffin, Tourism Officer from Kerry County Council, (from left) Donal Coppinger, Blennerville Windmill; Mike and Phil Curran, Blennerville; Joe Curran, Annascaul and Ger Crean, Annagh who worked with John Griffin on the Tralee Steam Railway Project. Photo: John Cleary.

For the past 40 years John Griffin has helped make Kerry one of the most iconic tourism destinations in Ireland and his retirement is a huge loss to the county.

Warm tributes have been paid to John Griffin, County Tourism Officer with Kerry County Council (KCC), who is retiring after 40 years of service to Tralee Town Council and KCC and a large crowd attended his retirement function in Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre at the weekend.

John has been associated with the development of some of the county's most iconic visitor attractions, including Blennerville Windmill and Steam Railway, the restoration of Ardfert Cathedral, Kerry County Museum and Geraldine Experience and the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship Project.

He also played a key role in the development of the Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, Tralee Rose Memorial and Rose Wall, Dominican and Kerry GAA Memorial, Kerry Dark Skies and, most recently, the Valentia Transatlantic Cable UNESCO Project.

He was director of The Gathering in Kerry and worked on the roll-out of the Wild Atlantic Way. He built up influential partnerships for Tralee and Kerry with Frankfurt in Germany and was secretary of the Towards of the Better Tralee Tidy Towns Group which helped bring Tralee from a bronze medal in 2003 in Tidy Towns to a succession of gold medals in the competition over a decade later  and a double gold medal in the European Entente Florale competition.

The role he played in bringing astronaut Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary to Tralee was also recalled by speakers which included Minister Norma Foley, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell, Mayor of Tralee, Cllr. Johnnie Wall, Mayor of Tralee, Declan Murphy, Manager, Failte Ireland, and John's close friend, the current Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Jim Finunace. Mike Scannell, former Tralee Town Clerk, acted as MC.

Minister Norma Foley and Council Chief Executive, Moira Murrell, described Johns strong work ethic and his ability to extract funding for Kerry projects from public and private sources. They mentioned his vision too, as well as his range of contacts in Government departments and among the diaspora in the USA.

Declan Murphy of Failte Ireland described his enthusiasm and commitment to all things Kerry and his partnership with Failte Ireland on a range of projects, including The Gathering and Wild Atlantic Way. Mayor Johnnie Wall and Mayor Jim Finucane recalled some funny experiences with John where he cut things tight on promotional trips abroad but could again access to mayors and governors offices.

John expressed his sincere thanks to his council colleagues and public representatives whom, he said, he held in the highest esteem for their dedication and hard work for their communities which was often unseen and unheralded.

He said that he was only one member of the teams who delivered the innovative projects and thanked his colleagues and managers for their support, particularly Moira Murrell and her predecessor, Tom Curran, for giving him the flexibility to do it.

He also remembered his mentors, the late Tralee Town Clerk Sean Crispie, Town Engineer, Paddy Scanlan, County Manager Tom Collins and the late Joe Dunne of FAS. He thanked members of the Tralee and wider Kerry Tourism industry and friends for their kind words and support and patience with him over the years. He had special words of praise for the communities of Ardfert, Blennerville and Valentia, who he had worked closely with.

He was joined at the event by his wife Therese, whom he described as his "rock", and his son Sean who is based in London. There were also warm words for his 101-year-old mother Nell who lives in Moyderwell and son Michael who resides in Melbourne.

John plans to continue to have an interest in community initiatives on a voluntary basis.
Tributes have been paid to the late Tommy Kinane, formerly of Tipperary and latterly of Punchestown, Kildare.

Widely renowned in the world of horse racing, Mr Kinane passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, October 7, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, at home.

Tommy was husband of the late Frances and father of Thomas, Michael, Jayo, Suzanne, Kathryn, Paul and Janette.

He is mourned by his sons, daughters, sister Nancy, sons-in-law Mark, Stephen and Mark, Suzannes partner Richard, daughters-in-law Bridget, Catherine, Antoinette and Amy, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren Sinead, Brid, Aisling, Niall, Thomas, Dean, Tom, Sarah, Heleena, Zoe, David and Sophie, great grandchildren MJ, Chloe, Jack, Alex, Molly and Mack, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

The Removal took place today, Tuesday, October 10, to the Church of Our Lady and St David, Naas, arriving for 10am Mass. Funeral was immediately afterwards to Ardmayle Cemetery, County Tipperary, arriving at 1pm.

Independent Deputy Michael Lowry offered his condolences to the Kinane family. It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Tommy Kinane, a man who became a legend in the world of Irish racing.

Tommy was born in County Tipperary on October 3, 1933. His most famous victory was when he rode the Des McDonogh-trained Monksfield to the first of his two Champion Hurdle victories at Cheltenham in 1978, beating Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse into second and third.

While Tommy had numerous victories throughout his incredible career, this was one of three Cheltenham Festival winners ridden by him, with the others coming on Kilcoleman in the 1977 County Hurdle and Stranfield in the 1979 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Tommy retired from the saddle in 1980. However, the legend continued as, by that time, his son Mick had been named as Champion Apprentice in 1978.

Following in his fatherss footsteps, Mick continued to earn the distinction of being known as one of the finest Flat jockeys in the history of the sport. Tommy and his family lived in Holycross for some years. We were proud to have him as part of our community.

He was small in stature with a big heart. He was so strong and incredibly determined. His work ethic and natural ability brought him his well-deserved success. He had a distinctive and wonderful wit. It was always a pleasure to meet him and enjoy his engaging personality.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Sligo native Eoin Casserly has been shortlisted for Engineers Irelands Chartered Engineer of the Year Award, supported by Arup.

The professional title of Chartered Engineer, considered to be the gold standard of the profession, was established in Ireland over 50 years ago. Within the Republic of Ireland, Engineers Ireland is the sole authority to award the title, which is granted to professional engineers who, through a rigorous review process, have shown their ability to apply their professional competencies in the workplace.

Eoin is one of five Chartered Engineers shortlisted for prestigious award, with the competition final being held in Engineers Irelands headquarters in Ballsbridge, Dublin on Wednesday, 18 October.

Eoin is the Principal and Founder of VOLUTA, a specialist structural engineering consultancy operating internationally, based in Sligo. Previously, he held structural engineering positions in Paris, New York, and Stuttgart.

He is a regular contributor to books, conferences, and journals, with a focus on glass structures, complex facades, long-span structures, and the architectural response to the climate crisis.

He also lectures at ATU in Structures, Computational Design, and Advanced Technologies. His current research combines pre-industrial materials with innovative construction and analysis techniques.

He has designed advanced structures such as gridshells, cable nets, facades, stadia, and artworks in over 20 countries, working through six languages. Project highlights include the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, the worlds first cable net with curved glass, the largest-spanning glazed roof in South America, and gridshells for the largest botanic garden in the world.

Commenting on his shortlisting, Mr Casserly said: Thanks to Engineers Ireland, its an honour to be shortlisted for this award, considering that it comprises all engineering disciplines, not just my own.

Before 2020, I never thought I would be able to live in my hometown of Sligo and still be able to design innovative structures around the world. Now my company Voluta, shows that you dont need to be based in a big city to lead prestigious international projects. Expertise matters more than location.

Its also great recognition for my work with lightweight and double-curved structures. Organic forms, like shells, are more material-efficient than the rectilinear shapes we are used to seeing in buildings.

The construction industry creates approximately 40% of global CO2 emissions, and ingenuity in making designs more lightweight can greatly reduce material usage and emissions.

Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland, added: I would like to extend my congratulations to Eoin and to each of the finalists on being shortlisted for this years Chartered Engineer of the Year Award and I would also thank Arup for their continued support of this award.

Congratulating those shortlisted, Joe Burns, Ireland Country Leader at Arup, commented: We are proud to partner with Engineers Ireland to support the Chartered Engineer of the Year Award.
MEP Chris MacManus, a member of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Palestine, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and Israel, and for immediate international intervention.

The Sinn Fein MEP said: There is no justification for the killing of civilians by anyone. All acts of violence must end immediately. International law must finally be respected and enforced."

The escalation we have witnessed in recent days is unacceptable. The loss of innocent civilian life is deplorable.

For years Palestinian communities across the West Bank and Gaza have been in a state of siege. That situation makes conditions almost impossible for a functioning healthy democracy in Palestine, and there is no willingness by Israel to change that. Things must change."

There must be an urgent end to hostilities in Gaza and Israel. Sinn Fein are calling for decisive international intervention to bring about a lasting and just solution.

It is clear that decisive international intervention is needed. For that to happen we need to see an immediate ceasefire, followed by meaningful dialogue to bring about solutions underpinned by UN resolutions.

It is appropriate that MEPs and governments convene at the earliest opportunity to discuss the role that Europe can play to demonstrate leadership and work with the international community towards securing a lasting peace.

I believe the EU where possible should be independent brokers of peace. Taking of sides is ill-advised and does not serve to de-escalate the current situation. Dialogue is key. We have a responsibility to pave the way for an immediate ceasefire and an urgent need to bring all sides to the table for emergency talks.

Given our own history in Ireland, I think were in a unique position to offer leadership and seek resolution. With our history of neutrality and peace brokerage, I believe Irish leaders can be the voice of reason and encourage the international community to pursue all avenues of peace and reconciliation

Rigorous, impartial international leadership is required, and has been lacking for years as the EU and the European Commission has turned a blind eye to the plight of the Palestinian people. Recent talks of withdrawing aid by Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, for Palestinians is entirely unhelpful. Ordinary Palestinians cannot be made to suffer even further hardship because of Hamas actions.

MEP MacManus concluded, The EUs role right now must be one of de-escalation. Only when we broker a ceasefire, can we begin mapping the way to a lasting peace. ENDS
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a mosque after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP

Members and supporters of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Sligo will hold a vigil outside Sligos General Post Office on Thursday, October 12 at 5 .p.m.

The event is one of many being organised nationwide to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and Gaza.

Calling for support for the vigil, spokesperson Ms Aine Daly said Over a thousand Palestinian and Israeli civilians have been killed since Saturday, and the Israeli government has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, where over 2 million civilians live, including a million children.

There is no justification for the killing of civilians on any side. Today Israel is bombing residential areas in Gaza, causing huge loss of life and injuries to thousands of people including many children.

There is almost no electrical power in Gaza. Hospitals are overrun with injured Palestinians as Israeli airstrikes continue. Unlike Israel, the Gaza Strip has no air raid sirens or bomb shelters.

For almost two decades Israel has imposed a cruel and barbaric siege on the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, where residents are held in an open-air prison with polluted water and limited electricity, denied their freedom, their healthcare, and their most basic rights, and regularly subjected to massive military assaults.

Since September 2000, Israel has killed more than 10,000 Palestinians. Almost one quarter of these victims have been children.

The continued rejection by Israel of a peaceful and ethical decolonisation process, and the failure by Western powers to force it to dismantle its regime of apartheid and to grant Palestinians their right to self-determination, has paved the road to the present juncture.

Palestinian civil society has been clear in its demands for a just resolution based on international law; an end to the occupation, full rights for Palestinian citizens in Israel, and the implementation of the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees.

We stand with the Palestinian people in their struggle for their legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of a free, independent and sovereign state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. she said.
Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea was the inspiration for the Academy Award nominated movie Philomena starring Judi Dench

The Sean Ross Abbey home was the inspiration for the Academy Award nominated 2013 drama film Philomena, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

Jonathan Markham (Precision Utility Mapping), Teresa Collins (We Are Still Here), Tony Donlan (Owner), Michael Donovan (We Are Still Here) attend the commencement of scans on Monday, October 9

A Tipperary based campaign group that has lobbied for scans to be carried out at Roscreas Sean Ross Abbey in search of human remains, has welcomed the news that the work got under way on Monday.

We Are Still Here Sean Ross Abbey Group Ireland has welcomed the commencement of ground scans on a parcel of land adjacent to the Angels Plot at Sean Ross Abbey, formerly a Mother and Baby Home.

The Sean Ross Abbey home was the inspiration for the Academy Award nominated 2013 drama film Philomena, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

The scans got under way on Monday, October 9, and marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of answers regarding undocumented burials at the former mother and baby home.

Speaking at the commencement of the scans, Teresa Collins said: Today is a day that those seeking answers to decade-long questions have been waiting for.

According to the Commission of Investigation, the total number of infant deaths having occurred at Sean Ross Abbey was 1,078. However, it is not feasible to conclude that all burials occurred in the relatively confined space of the Angels Plot.

Furthermore, there is a wealth of local knowledge to conclude that given how the relatively small area within the Angels Plot did not serve the burial needs over the decades, the land adjacent to the plot was used to facilitate further burials and could be considered as a natural extension to the original plot known as the Angels Plot.

It should also be noted that this area was initially considered for investigation by the Commission of Investigation. But, as the area was, at the time, under separate ownership, it was not covered by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation (MBHCOI) warrant and so was excluded in the course of investigation.

Buildings across Ireland lit up in honour of mother and baby home survivors

That is no longer an issue now that the examinations we have applied for are independent of the MBHCOI and have the approval and support of landowner Tony Donlan, who we thank for accommodating us throughout this whole process.

Following the publication of the Commission of Investigations report, Deputy Martin Browne continuously approached Minister for Children, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic OGorman, making the case for further ground scans.

In the time that followed, we engaged regularly with the Departments Memorialisation and Historic Burials Unit and with Tipperary County Council who assisted us in throughout the process.

After prolonged engagement we secured funding to carry out these works, and today sees those efforts coming to fruition.

Precision Utility Mapping have been chosen to carry out the works. Their attentiveness to our needs and the sensitivity with which they are treating the project must be acknowledged, and we thank them for this.

Of course, the results of the scans will be significant, and while we cannot predict whether remains will be discovered or not, it is important that we make this effort to shed more light on the history of Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home, for all those who went through it or were affected in any way by the practices that went on there.

We hope to have the results of the scans in the weeks to come. Once those results are through, we will consider them carefully and will engage with Minister OGormans office about the way forward, added Ms Collins.
Wicklow Sinn Fein TD John Brady met with volunteers from the Samaritans this week, including some of the 86 volunteers from the East Coast Branch in Arklow, where he praised the importance of the work they have carried out in communities across Ireland.

As a largely volunteer-based organisation, the reach of the Samaritans stretches across the island of Ireland, with its 2000 volunteers and 18 staff answering a phone call and providing help and assistance every 61 seconds.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with members of the Samaritans this week, Mr Brady said. The work that they carry out in our communities is both extraordinary and noble.

Across the 32 counties of Ireland, there are 21 branches of the Samaritans. Including one here in our county of Wicklow, the East Coast Branch, which is based in Arklow, with 86 volunteers.

Every single day of the year, all day and all night, there are members of the Samaritans at the end of a phone to lend an ear to those who are struggling to cope. Volunteers spent an average of 25 minutes per caller, totalling almost 95,000 hours on the phone last year in 2022. In the same period, volunteers responded to half a million emails.

The priority for the Samaritans is suicide prevention, he continued. And while the Samaritans carry out research on the issues of self-harm and suicide, they also have campaigns to raise awareness and to make suicide prevention a priority.

In our alternative budget for 2024, Sinn Fein committed to investing to improve mental health services. Which would include restoring lost CAMHS capacity, investing in primary care mental health services, increasing training for psychologists, and rolling out universal counselling in primary care.

We are also committed to the development of specialist services across early intervention in psychosis, ADHD, eating disorders, addiction, liaison psychiatry, and perinatal mental health. Investing 75, 245, 844 in improved mental health services.
Wicklow TD John Brady and Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Melanie Corrigan were among those who braved the elements for EcoTrail Wicklow 2023.

Runners from 47 different countries took part in EcoTrail Wicklow 2023, when it kicked off on a wet and dreary morning at Bray seafront, on Saturday, September 24 at 7.30am, for the diehards going the whole hog on the 80k event.

Among the elite internationals were Yoann Stuck (France) past winner of EcoTrail Paris; Natalie Hoerst, the Bavarian 80k trail running champion; Luka Covacic, a trail-running champion from Slovenia, Fatima Painda, from Afghanistan and Hillary Allen from the US.

Runners on the 30k route.

The Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn-Kennedy was there at the launch, and offered her best wishes to all 1,400 who were taking part.

The rain couldnt dampen the spirit of those taking part in this years Wicklow EcoTrail with many having travelled from across the country and the globe to be in Wicklow and Bray for the weekend, she said. I was amazed with the excitement and determination on their faces setting off at 7.30 in the morning. Witnessing the satisfaction and joy as they returned was incredible: It was a privilege to witness it all.

Among those taking part were Wicklow TD John Brady, who had signed up for the 30k event and came in at a very respectable 3:31

Beautiful conditions for the 30k EcoTrail Wicklow race in Bray this morning, he said. It was wet, windy and cold, what more could you ask for? Absolutely fantastic event, the annual race has brought a huge number of national and international runners again this year to Wicklow.

Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Melanie Corrigan took part in the 19k event and crossed the line at 3:32.

After crossing the finish line, she said: It was one of the most exhilarating runs Ive ever done, a fantastic atmosphere. Despite the weather, it was a very well organised event, with extremely friendly volunteers along the route.

Emer OGorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, said: Even in bad weather, Wicklow remains a great destination for Outdoor Activities. EcoTrail Wicklow is proving to be a fabulous brochure to showcase the fantastic playground that Wicklow is.

The 80k winner, Yoann Stuck said: I love this race! There is such a diversity of terrain including single tracks, forest trails and technical sections. I particularly loved the board walks up the Wicklow Mountains. I will have to come back next year and hope for better weather so I can enjoy the sceneries.

The American professional athlete Hillary Allen won the 47k race in 4h 57min and Irish athlete Enda Cloake won that same race in 3h 58mn.

Ireland, and Wicklow specially, is a fabulous destination for trail running, said Hillary adding: Regardless of the weather, the event today was incredible.

Over the past few days, I have been lucky to walk the various trails, cycle up the Wicklow Mountains and even squeezed a mountain bike afternoon at Ballynastoe. This is an amazing outdoor destination, she added.
A public school principal in Louisiana has finally apologized after shaming and punishing a senior last week for merely dancing at a private Walker High School homecoming party.

Jason St. Pierre  who accused the 4.2 GPA student of not "living in the Lord's way," shoved bible verses in her face, took away her position as student government president, and then cruelly took away her scholarship recommendation until it was too late  has also requested a leave of absence for the rest of the school year. Surprisingly, he was not fired on the spot.

"They basically told me that I should be ashamed of myself," the student said, according to The Guardian. "That I wasn't basically following God's ideals, which made me cry even more."

"They were just having fun," her mother said. "She should not be questioned or spoken about faith at all. It's a public school, not a private school."

Of course, the religious zealot, who has no place in a school setting, only apologized after facing significant outrage from the community.

From AP News:
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last night that Israel had only started its fierce offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack.
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#IsraelAtWar: LIVE updates of Israel-Palestine Conflict India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms #Israel, #Palestine, #Hamas

More than one thousand people have died in Israel and Palestine since the Hamas group members launched a massive attack against the Jewish nation on Saturday by firing 5000 rockets and eventually inviting heavy retaliation and declaration of war by Israel. IBNS brings all updates from ground zero

Over 1,300 dead in Israel, more than 2,300 dead in Gaza Over 1,300 people were killed in Israel last weekend when Hamas fighters crossed the border to attack civilians and soldiers and the death toll in Gaza has crossed 2,300 in Israel's bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip launched in the aftermath, BBC reports quoting sources.

Israel prepares to attack by land, sea, air; mass evacuation taking place from north to south of Gaza The IDF posted on X this morning to notify people in Gaza of a safe route they could use, running from Beit Hanoun in the north towards Khan Younis in the south (see map in the post below). It says it will not target the route between 10:00 and 13:00 local time (07:00 and 10:00GMT). Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity pic.twitter.com/JUkcGOg0yv  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) calls urgent meeting to address the 'military escalation' and 'threat to defenceless civilians in Gaza', reports AFP

US and China discuss Israel-Gaza in phone call US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Israel-Gaza situation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, seeking China's help in preventing the violence spreading to other Middle East countries.

Hamas commander Ali Qadi killed: IDF The IDF and ISA targeted a company commander of the Hamas "Nukhba" commando forces who led the Hamas terror attack against Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. Ali Qadi led the inhumane, barbaric October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel.



We just eliminated him.

All Hamas terrorists will meet the same fate.  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023 Based on precise IDF and ISA intelligence, IDF aircraft killed Ali Qadi, a company commander of the Hamas "Nukhba" commando force, who led the terror attack in Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip last weekend. In 2005, Ali was apprehended following the kidnapping and murder of Israeli civilians and was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.

IDF strikes Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon The Israel Defense Forces has said it has hit a Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon after an apparent drone was intercepted on Friday. Israeli drones, artillery, and tanks struck targets in Lebanon on Friday after an apparent drone was intercepted, shots were fired at a number of military posts on the northern frontier and an explosion damaged the border security barrier, the Israel Defense Forces told The Times of Israel. Following the initial report, another unidentified UAV crossed into northern Israel.



Additionally, an IDF UAV was fired upon. In response, the IDF struck a Hezbollah terrorist target in southern Lebanon.  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023 The incident remained the latest skirmish recorded along the Lebanese border amid fears that the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror group may open a second front amid the ongoing clash against Hamas. Photo Courtesy: Xinhua/UNI

Humanitarians call for urgent aid access to Gaza Gaza is on the brink of running out of food, water, electricity and critical supplies, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday. No aid can come in from the outside for the 2.3 million residents of the sealed-off enclave, and some 220,000 displaced people are sheltering in schools run by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. UN Photo

Israel Defense Forces asks Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City ahead of ground invasion The Israel Defense Forces on Friday warned civilians in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate the region as it seems it will intensify attacks on terrorist targets in the Gaza City region. According to reports, the IDF is planning to launch a ground invasion in response to Hamass deadly onslaught against southern communities.

Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks touched 1,569: Health Ministry The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip and West Bank has touched 1,569, while 7,212 others were wounded, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry said in a statement that the number of fatalities in Gaza has reached 1,537, including 500 children and 276 women. Israel on Thursday continued its airstrikes on various areas of Gaza in response to a large-scale surprise attack launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday. Israel's public broadcaster Kan said the death toll from the Hamas attack in Israel has so far risen to over 1,300. (Photo courtesy: UNI)

1,600 Australians register for repatriation from Israel, Palestine: PM Albanese The Australian government has been working to repatriate Australian citizens stranded in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday said that an extraordinary logistical exercise is underway to get 1,600 Australians in the region who have registered for government-assisted repatriation. The government has organized two free flights operated by the country's flag carrier Qantas from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, the first of which will depart on Friday with more than 200 passengers on board, and has chartered a third flight. (Photo courtesy: UNI)

Continuous Israeli strikes knock down two Syrian airports Syria's two main airports in the capital Damascus and northern city Aleppo, which were under control of the war-torn country became out of service on Thursday as the result of Israeli strikes, state media reports. Causing frequent grounding of the flights, the "simultaneous" strikes "damaged landing strips in the two airports, putting them out of service", state media reported citing an unidentified military source, as per AFP.

340,000 Palestinians displaced by Hamas-Israel conflict At least 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the beginning of the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict days ago, according to a UN agency. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said "218,600 internally displaced persons now reside in 92 schools affiliated with the UN agency in various areas of the Gaza Strip."

Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks hit 1,417 The death toll of the Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli strikes on Gaza hit 1,417, while another 6,268 were wounded, according to the Gaza-based health ministry. Israel on Thursday continued its airstrikes on various areas of the Gaza Strip.

Israel releases murdered babies' pics, says Benjamin Netanyahu showed them to US leader Antony Blinken The office of the Israeli prime minister Thursday shared horrifying photos of dead babies on social media saying that they were among the pictures shown by Benjamin Netanyahu to visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Netanyahu's office claimed the photos were of babies murdered and burnt by Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are currently holding an additional expanded meeting  with the participation of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Unity Chairman MK Benny Gantz and MK Gadi Eisenkot. pic.twitter.com/Fej0kPAicy  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 12, 2023

Operation Ajay's first flight to bring back 230 Indians from Israel, Jaishankar monitors evacuation mission External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is monitoring Operation Ajay, the evacuation mission launched by India to rescue its nationals from war-torn Israel. Special flights and other arrangements have been made to evacuate the nationals. The first Operation Ajay flight, which will carry 230 Indians, is ready to leave Israel on Thursday night. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters, "A charter flight will reach Tel Aviv today later in the evening. It is expected to get 230 passengers onboard. We have all options, but the role of IAF can't be ruled out."

Israel destroys 752 residential buildings in Gaza Israel destroyed about 752 residential buildings in its airstrikes on Gaza since Saturday, a Palestinian official said Thursday. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, Salama Maarouf, the head of the Hamas-run government media office, said 42 government headquarters and dozens of public facilities and establishments were also destroyed.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said every Hamas member was a 'dead man' after the first meeting of his country's emergency govt, reports BBC.

Israel was warned by Egypt of potential violence three days before the Hamas attack, says US.

Won't allow basic resources or humanitarian aid into Gaza till Hamas releases the abducted people: Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz

US Secretary of State Blinken embarks on trip to Israel in show of support amid war with Hamas US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and Jordan from October 11-13 in a show of support for the Jewish state amid its escalating war with Hamas. The secretary is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday. In both countries, the top US diplomat will meet with senior officials to discuss measures to bolster Israels security and underscore the US's unwavering support for Israels right to defend itself, according to the State Department. Blinken told reporters before boarding a plane Wednesday that he plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior officials, and is looking forward to seeing US embassy teams in the country. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube Screengrab)

Gaza Health Ministry says overnight Israeli airstrikes left 51 people dead Hamas-run health ministry has claimed Israel's overnight airstrikes have left 51 people dead and 281 hurt. Israel says it is targeting Hamas in response to the latters onslaught over the weekend that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and is aiming to completely eliminate the terror group, reports The Times of Israel. Over a tenth of the population in Gaza, more than 260,000 people, have been displaced since the start of the current conflict on 7 October and the numbers are rising fast. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region. The UN chief raised alarm over clashes along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, as well as reported attacks from southern Lebanon. I appeal to all parties  and those who have an influence over those parties  to avoid any further escalation and spillover, he told reporters at the UN Headquarters, in New York. Release Israeli hostages in Gaza Guterres reiterated the need to always protect civilians, as guaranteed by international law. I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza, he said. (Photo courtesy: UNRWA/Mohammed Hinnawi)

Israel-Palestine conflict: Death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rises to 1,100 The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli airstrikes has reached 1,100, the Health Ministry in Gaza said in a statement on Wednesday. The airstrikes were carried out in response to a large-scale surprise attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday. "About 5,339 Palestinians, including 1,217 children and 744 women, were wounded by the (Israeli) army," the statement added. (Photo courtesy: UNI)

Gaza loses all means of electricity after sole power station in Palestinian runs out of fuel Gaza has lost all means of electricity after the only power station in the Palestinian enclave ran out of fuel and had to shut down, media reports said Wednesday evening. People in the Gaza Strip will have to rely on generators now if they have enough diesel to run them. With no electricity, Gaza will be soon running out of water or operational elevators, and people won't be able to charge mobile phones.

Hamas-Israel Conflict: IDF says 300,000 reservists called up to fight Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said the country has called up 300,000 reservists to fight for its military. "It's not a battlefield. It's a massacre."

Here, MG Itai Veruv is preparing journalists to enter Kfar Aza where atrocities have taken place at the hands of Hamas terrorists. pic.twitter.com/1MXMxuWHpA  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 11, 2023

Hospitals are overwhelmed in Gaza, says aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and are experiencing drugs, medical supplies and electricity.

IDF says it struck an important Hamas operational, political and military center in Gazathe Islamic University. Hamas transformed an institute of knowledge into an institute of destruction.



A short while ago, the IDF struck an important Hamas operational, political and military center in Gazathe Islamic University.



Hamas transformed a university into a training camp for weapons pic.twitter.com/pWKxR8Dhmd  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 11, 2023

Woman seen semi-naked in Hamas truck can still be alive in a Gaza hospital The mother of Shani Louk, a German-Israeli girl whose body was seen in a Hamas truck following the Oct 7 attack, told CNN that she believes her daughter is still alive. Ricarda Louk told CNN she "heard information" that her daughter is alive in a hospital in Gaza, but is suffering from a severe head injury. An instagram photo of Shani Louk

Israel-Palestine conflict: Death toll in Israel touches 1200, 900 killed in Gaza The death toll in Israel over the conflict between Israel and Palestine touched 1,200 while more than 900 people were killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, media reports said. The Israeli military has said hundreds of thousands of troops are near the Gaza border. The military said troops are "ready to execute the mission we have been given," BBC News reported.

First US plane carrying ammunition arrives in Israel The first American aircraft carrying ammunition arrived in Israel on Tuesday night to help the country in its ongoing conflict with Gaza's ruling faction, Hamas, and militants in Lebanon, Israel's military said. The plane landed at the Nevatim Airbase in Israel's southern Negev Desert, carrying "advanced ammunition," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement. Also on Tuesday, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea "in order to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

Israeli airstrikes kill two Hamas political office members Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip killed two members from Hamas's political office, Jawad Abu Shammala and Zakaria Abu Maamar, Al Arabiya reported on Tuesday. In separate statements, the Israeli military confirmed killing Abu Shammala and Abu Maamar, saying they had been struck overnight, reports Reuters. (Photo courtesy: Screengrab from Youtube video)

Israel-Palestine: UN urges parties to spare civilian lives In Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, all parties must stop targeting civilians and Hamas and other armed groups must immediately release their hostages, UN rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday. The High Commissioner said that he was deeply shocked and appalled by allegations of summary executions of civilians, and, in some instances, horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups. "It is horrific and deeply distressing to see images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill-treated, as well as reports of killings and the desecration of their bodies. Civilians must never be used as bargaining chips," he insisted. (Photo Courtesy: UNRWA/Mohammed Hinnawi)

Toll from Hamas surprise attack hits 1,008 in Israel At least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas militants crossed into the country in a surprise attack on Saturday, state-owned Kan TV news reported Tuesday. A total of 2,741 injured people were treated in Israeli hospitals since Saturday, including 25 who were in critical condition. Most of them have been discharged, with 544 injured people still in hospitals, it said. A total of 4,949 rockets have been launched at Israel since Saturday, it added. (Photo courtesy: UN News/Ziad Taleb A building is engulfed in flames in central Gaza)

India stands by Israel, condemns terrorism, says Narendra Modi after Netanyahu calls the Indian PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is firmly standing with Israel in its hour of crisis following a phone call by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the raging conflict between Israel and Palestine after a surprise attack by Hamas triggered a war in the region. "I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," PM Modi posted on his X handle. I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023 (Image tweeted by @netanyahu)

Turkey ready to mediate in Israeli-Palestinian war Turkey has informed Israel and Palestine via diplomatic channels about its readiness to mediate in the conflict, including by organizing a meeting of the two countries' leaders, a diplomatic source in Ankara told Sputnik. "Just yesterday Mr President [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] held phone talks with both leaders [of Israel and Palestine]. I can say those were very constructive talks. "Mr President called on both sides to ceasefire and restore negotiations. Meanwhile, via diplomatic channels, Ankara informed both parties of its readiness to mediate in any possible way, including by organizing a meeting of the leaders," the source said. (Photo courtesy: UNI)

Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas is ISIS, vows to defeat the group Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu gave a strong message to the worls when he equated the Hamas group with ISIS and vowed that his country would defeat the 'terrorists'. We are in an operation for our home, a war to ensure our existence, a war that we will win," the PM said in a televised address to the nation on Monday. This war was imposed upon us by a despicable enemy  by savages who celebrate the murder of women, children, and the elderly, he said. The atrocities carried out by Hamas have not been seen since the atrocities of ISIS. Children bound and executed with the rest of their families, young girls and boys shot in the back, executed, and other atrocities that I will not describe here. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube video grab)
In a recent development, Canadian authorities have taken eight Sikh youths into custody, aged between 19 to 26 years, for the possession of loaded, prohibited, or restricted firearms in the city of Brampton, Ontario.

This incident has raised concerns not only about public safety but also amidst the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Canada over a related matter.

The Peel Regional Police responded to reports of shots being fired in the vicinity of Donald Stewart Road and Brisdale Drive on the night of October 2. With the assistance of their Tactical Unit, law enforcement swiftly moved to apprehend the eight individuals involved in the incident.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident, ensuring the safety of residents in the area.

A day after the shooting incident, officers from the Criminal Investigation Bureau executed a Criminal Code Search Warrant, which led to the seizure of a 9mm Beretta firearm.

Those facing charges related to the possession of a Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm are Jagdeep Singh (22), Ekamjot Randhawa (19), Manjinder Singh (26), Harpreet Singh (23), Ripanjot Singh (22), Japandeep Singh (22), and Lovepreet Singh (26), all of whom are residents of Brampton.

Additionally, 21-year-old Rajanpreet Singh has been charged with careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device, or ammunition, along with the possession of a loaded, prohibited, or restricted firearm.

All of the accused were brought in for a bail hearing and attended the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, where legal proceedings will determine the appropriate actions to be taken.

The incident has taken place against a backdrop of strained relations between India and Canada, stemming from the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia.

The incident has raised concerns in India about the safety of Indian diplomats and diplomatic premises in Canada. Posters with open threats have been displayed at Gurudwaras in Canada, a matter that has drawn the attention of Indian authorities and elicited concerns about the response from Canadian authorities.

The Sikh community emphasizes the importance of stringent local laws as a deterrent against undesirable activities.

They believe that if the laws in the Canadian region are not strict enough, such activities will persist.

In light of this concern, Canadian authorities must take these matters seriously. It is crucial for them to identify and restate individuals involved in such activities.

Failing to do so could potentially tarnish the hardworking Sikh communitys image in the long run, according to the Sikh communitys perspective.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent firearm regulations and the need for vigilant law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of communities.

It also underscores the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the maintenance of public safety in a multicultural society. The ongoing investigations will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding this incident and its broader implications.

(Images and Text credit: Khalsavox.com)
Image tweeted by @netanyahu

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is firmly standing with Israel in its hour of crisis following a phone call by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the raging conflict between Israel and Palestine after a surprise attack by Hamas triggered a war in the region.

"I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," PM Modi posted on his X handle.

I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023

India, which maintains cordial relations with both Israel and Palestine, has always balanced its West Asia policy even though Prime Minister Modi shares a special bond with Netanyahu.

According to a CNN report, at least 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Palestine have been killed so far as Israel pounds Gaza with unrelenting airstrikes.

More than 100,000 people have been displaced so far, said reports.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu earlier gave a strong message to the world when he equated the Hamas with ISIS and vowed that his country would defeat the 'terrorists'.

We are in an operation for our home, a war to ensure our existence, a war that we will win," the PM said in a televised address to the nation on Monday.

This war was imposed upon us by a despicable enemy  by savages who celebrate the murder of women, children, and the elderly, he said. The atrocities carried out by Hamas have not been seen since the atrocities of ISIS. Children bound and executed with the rest of their families, young girls and boys shot in the back, executed, and other atrocities that I will not describe here.

Attacking the group, Netanyahu said: "Hamas is ISIS. "We will defeat [Hamas] precisely as the enlightened world defeated ISIS," he said.

Meanwhile, in an interview with NDTV, Palestine Ambassador to India, Abu Alhaija, blamed Israel and the international community for the war.

"What has happened is a reaction to what Israel is doing in the West Bank. The international community is responsible for the war. The UN has passed 800 resolutions on Palestine. Israel has implemented none," he said.

"If Israel ends its control on the occupied territories in Palestine, the attacks will also end," Alhaija, who is an appointee of the Palestine Authority government led by President Mahmoud Abbas, said.
Photo Courtesy: UNI

In a shocking turn of events, the head of Khalsa Aid in India, Amarpreet Singh, has stepped down from his role amid explosive allegations of receiving foreign funding from the banned Khalistan terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).

The charity, known for its humanitarian efforts, is now under intense scrutiny, and the nation is left bewildered by these disturbing revelations.

In a dramatic twist, a letter dated October 8, purportedly issued by Khalsa Aid on social media, claimed that organisational changes were necessary for the smooth running of operations. While the charity maintains that these changes were made in the spirit of accountability to the people, many are left wondering if there is more to this story than meets the eye.

The controversy surrounding Khalsa Aid erupted in August when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a raid on the charitys India headquarters in Patiala. During the raid, documents were seized, and two mobile phones owned by Amarpreet Singh were confiscated, further deepening the mystery surrounding the charitys finances.

But the NIAs actions didnt stop there. They also conducted a search at Amarpreet Singhs residence, intensifying their investigation following the attack on an Indian mission in London on March 19. Amarpreet Singh was questioned extensively about the source of money and the details of volunteers associated with Khalsa Aid, leaving many wondering if there was a sinister connection between the charity and the shocking attack in London.

The dark cloud over Khalsa Aid thickens as it becomes apparent that the charity came under the NIAs radar after a case was registered against the US-based terrorist organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in 2021 during the farmer agitation. The probe agency has alleged that SFJ funneled foreign funds through NGOs like Khalsa Aid to support pro-Khalistan elements in their efforts to spread propaganda against India.

While Amarpreet Singh remains unavailable for comment, Patiala CID officials have confirmed his resignation as Khalsa Aids India chief.

The nation now waits with bated breath as investigations continue into the shocking allegations surrounding the charity. The charity world is in turmoil, and the fallout from these revelations is sure to be felt far and wide.

As the truth behind these allegations unfolds, one cant help but wonder how an organization dedicated to humanitarian causes could find itself embroiled in such a sensational scandal.

The nation watches closely as the story of Khalsa Aids alleged ties to terrorism continues to unravel.

(Image and Text credit: Khalsavox.com)
Amit Shah speaking at a rally in Telangana/ courtesy: BJP X page

Nalgonda (Telangana)/IBNS/UNI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday blamed the approach of the Telangana Government led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for the delay in establishing a tribal university.

Speaking at a public meeting titled "Jana Garjana" (Peoples' Roar) here, Shah stated that the KCR government had not shown interest in the tribal university, resulting in the delay of its establishment.

He highlighted several achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government, including the provision of 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures and changes to the Krishna Tribunal rules, which made water in Telangana freely available.

Shah also criticized KCR for not addressing the issues of Telangana's poor, farmers, Dalits, and tribals during his ten-year tenure as Chief Minister. He mentioned KCR's focus on making his son, KTR, the Chief Minister.

Shah expressed his respect for the freedom fighters who battled against the Rajakars and called for the BJP to establish its presence in Telangana.

He said the BJP government, led by Modi, would soon come to power in the state and urged party members to hoist the BJP flag in Hyderabad on Dec 3 (the day of assembly polls results).

He emphasized the need for a "double engine government" in Telangana and touched on various national issues, such as the construction of the Ram Mandir, the abrogation of Article 370, surgical strikes, and social welfare programs initiated by the Modi government.

Shah also questioned the Congress's commitment to the welfare of the poor and criticized the previous Congress governments for their alleged inaction in this regard.

He asserted that only the BJP could save Telangana from what he referred to as "modern Razakars" and highlighted the achievements of the Modi government in areas such as vaccination drives and global recognition for hosting G-20.
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation amid ongoing conflict with the Hamas. Photo Courtesy: Youtube video Grab

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu gave a strong message to the world when he equated the Hamas group with ISIS and vowed that his country would defeat the 'terrorists'.

We are in an operation for our home, a war to ensure our existence, a war that we will win," the PM said in a televised address to the nation on Monday.

This war was imposed upon us by a despicable enemy  by savages who celebrate the murder of women, children, and the elderly, he said. The atrocities carried out by Hamas have not been seen since the atrocities of ISIS. Children bound and executed with the rest of their families, young girls and boys shot in the back, executed, and other atrocities that I will not describe here.

Attacking the group, Netanyahu said: "Hamas is ISIS. "We will defeat [Hamas] precisely as the enlightened world defeated ISIS," he said.

He said Israel has only just begun to hit Hamas and that the pictures of destruction in Gaza are only the start. We have wiped out hundreds of terrorists and we wont stop there.

The escalating conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, the UN reported on Monday.

Over 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza due to concerns over their protection and the destruction of homes, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, speaking in New York.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is sheltering roughly 137,000 people in 83 of its schools across the Gaza Strip.

Six health care workers have been killed and four others injured, with seven health care facilities and nine ambulances damaged, said reports.

Mass displacement due to protection concerns and damage to civilian property has also been observed in Israel.

In Gaza, humanitarians report that damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has undermined services to more than 400,000 people. The Gaza Power Plant - now the only source of electricity - could run out of fuel within days.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Ankara/UNI: Turkey has informed Israel and Palestine via diplomatic channels about its readiness to mediate in the conflict, including by organizing a meeting of the two countries' leaders, a diplomatic source in Ankara told Sputnik.

"Just yesterday Mr President [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] held phone talks with both leaders [of Israel and Palestine]. I can say those were very constructive talks.

"Mr President called on both sides to ceasefire and restore negotiations. Meanwhile, via diplomatic channels, Ankara informed both parties of its readiness to mediate in any possible way, including by organizing a meeting of the leaders," the source said.

The Turkish diplomatic mission is maintaining contacts with its Western partners in an attempt to settle the crisis, the source added.

"We are warning our partners of the threat of expansion of conflict's geography which might lead to unpredictable consequences," the source said.

On Saturday morning, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day.

On Monday, Israel put the Gaza Strip under full blockade, with no food, gas or electricity supplies. Both Israel and Palestine have so far reported hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.
Photo courtesy: UN News/Ziad Taleb A building is engulfed in flames in central Gaza.

Hamas, the Palestine Islamist group which governs Gaza and attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023, is an offshoot of the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood in the late 1980s.

The militant group defeated its political rival Fatah (which officially renounced violence) in the 2006 elections and took over the Gaza Strip, a 41-km-long and 10-km-wide territory between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, inhabited by about 2.3 million people in one of the most densely populated regions of the world. Since 2006, Hamas has been ruling the Gaza Strip without elections.

The United States and European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization which believes in violence as a means to liberate Palestinian territories from Israel and propagates the eradication of the state of Israel.

According to American think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Iran provides it with material and financial support, and Turkey reportedly harbours some of its top leaders.

Organisations like Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group with strong presence in southern Lebanon, also share a common goal with Hamas and hence during the ongoing conflict has fired a barrage of rockets into Israel inviting retalitaion from the latter. Hezbollah is also designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States and U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states including Saudi Arabia.

On Oct 7, 2023 (Saturday) when the Israelis were nearing the end of their seven-day-long Jewish festival of Sukkot, Hamas mounted a surprise attack on southern Israel launching over 5000 rockets decimating buildings, killing hundreds of people by the strikes and infiltrating on a festival across the Gaza border, taking innocent hostages of young women, men, children and families besides killing many.

Calling it their 9/11, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a war on Hamas, launching a massive offensive that killed many Palestinians.

According to CFR, Hamass military leader, Mohammed Deif, said the group undertook its assault because of Israels long-running blockade of Gaza, its occupation of Palestinian lands, and its alleged crimes against Muslims, including the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

1965-born Mohammed Deif is now the supreme military commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. The United States Department of State added Deif to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists on Sept 8, 2015

A Hamas wall graffiti in Gaza. Photo: Wikipedia

How is Hamas funded

According to CFR, presently Iran is one of Hamass biggest benefactors, contributing funds, weapons, and training.

"Though Iran and Hamas briefly fell out after backing opposing sides in Syrias civil war, Iran currently provides some $100 million annually [PDF] to Hamas, PIJ, and other Palestinian groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States," it said.

Turkey is said to be another backer of Hamasand a critic of Israelfollowing President Recep Tayyip Erdogans rise to power in 2002. Though Ankara insists it only supports Hamas politically, it has been accused of funding Hamas's terrorism, including through aid diverted from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, said CFR.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to revisit libel standards Tuesday, leaving the law as it stands after 1964's New York Times v. Sullivan: public figures have to prove intentional lying or reckless disregard for the truth to prevail. The ruling is considered a pillar of First Amendment law, making it possible for media to investigate and criticize the rich and famous without censorship. At immediate stake were the hurt feelings of Don Blankenship, a coal baron and convicted criminal who wanted the government to punish media who called him a felon, when in fact his "extremely unusual" misdemeanor sentence was a single day short of a felony term and was served in a prison where every other prisoner was a felon. [h/t Steve_L]

Even Justice Clarence Thomas, the most noted proponent on the bench for making it easier to sue and silence critics, knew this arsehole wasn't his ride.

"In an appropriate case, however, we should reconsider New York Times and our other decisions displacing state defamation law," Thomas wrote in a brief concurrence to the court's decision not to take up the case. He said that the case, Don Blankenship v. NBC Universal, LLC, was a poor vehicle to reconsider Sullivan.

The most noted proponent off the bench is one Donald Trump, who said he was going to "open up our libel law" when running for president in 2016. He won, and he didn't.
Image: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

The UN Secretary-General on Monday said that he recognized the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people and the legitimate security concerns of Israel, but underlined his rejection of terrorist acts and upheld the need to protect civilians.

Antonio Guterres was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York following meeting with senior UN leaders on what he called the "unprecedented developments" in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Let me begin by repeating my utter condemnation of the abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the Gaza periphery, which have left over 800 Israelis dead and more than 2,500 injured, he said.

"Sadly, these numbers are expected to rise as the attacks are ongoing and many remain unaccounted for, he added.

He further noted that over 100 Israelis - civilians and military, including women, children and the elderly - have been reported captured by armed groups. Some are being held hostage inside Israel and many others have been taken inside the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched thousands of indiscriminate rockets that have reached central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

No justification for terror

I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians, he said. I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages.

In the face of these unprecedented attacks, Israeli airstrikes have pounded Gaza, he continued.



I am deeply alarmed by reports of over 500 Palestinians -- including women and children -- killed in Gaza and over 3,000 injured. Unfortunately, these numbers are rising by the minute as Israeli operations continue, he said.

Respect international humanitarian law

While I recognize Israels legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General stressed that civilians must be respected and protected at all times, and that civilian infrastructure must never be a target.

He pointed to reports that Israeli missiles had struck health facilities inside Gaza as well as multi-storied residential towers and a mosque. Two schools run by UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, that were sheltering displaced families in Gaza were also hit.



Overall, some 137,000 people are currently sheltering in UNRWA facilities, he continued, adding that numbers are increasing.

Humanitarian concerns

Mr. Guterres was deeply distressed by the announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially, he said.



I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip. I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort.

End the violence

The Secretary-General said this most recent violence does not come in a vacuum but grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year long occupation and no political end in sight.

He appealed for an end to "the vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization."

Israel must see its legitimate needs for security materialized  and Palestinians must see a clear perspective for the establishment of their own state realized, he said.

Only a negotiated peace that fulfills the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis, together with their security alike  the long-held vision of a two-State solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements  can bring long-term stability to the people of this land and the wider Middle East region.
Image: BINUH/Boulet-Groulx

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Haiti are appealing for $21 million to ensure better protection and shelter conditions for tens of thousands of newly displaced people in the countrys capital, Port-au-Prince.

Displacement severely risks the health, food and economic security of people, exposes them to gender-based violence, and puts pressure on local infrastructure and social cohesion within host communities, Philippe Branchat, IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti said on Tuesday.

Surging gang violence

Surging gang violence in Carrefour-Feuilles and Savanes Pistaches neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince, have led many to flee their homes.

Increasingly, they are settling in improvised sites rather than host communities and families, where they face additional vulnerabilities.

Many families cannot meet their basic needs. Inadequate shelter and crowded living conditions further exacerbate tensions, contributing to violence and increasing the risk of sexual assault, IOM said.

Precarious living conditions

Nearly 200,000 people are now internally displaced in Haiti, of which roughly 70,000 find themselves in inadequate and precarious spontaneous settlements and collective centres, 31,000 are sleeping in the open air and 34,000 are crammed into classrooms, according to IOMs Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

When the shooting started, I left my neighborhood with my son, a woman living in one displacement site told IOM. I had to find us a place to shelter quickly. I found the Lycee Jean-Marie Vincent; it lacks space in the classrooms, and when it rains, we sleep standing up in the rain.

Humanitarian efforts

Tweet URL

IOM and the Haitian government are co-leading the activation of the Shelter Cluster, which brings together governmental actors, UN agencies, and local and international NGOs.

Cluster partners are accelerating efforts to distribute blankets, mats, water storage containers, emergency shelter kits, and kitchen sets to 70,000 people. In total, 53 collective centres for displaced people will receive equipment and repairs, and cash assistance will be provided to 130,000 people living with host families.

IOM also assists the most vulnerable people to move from displacement sites to more adequate housing.

Emergency tracking

To aid efficiencies in the delivery of assistance, IOM operates a Common Pipeline mechanism in Haiti, making core relief items available to partners.

The prolonged crisis has exhausted host families' capacity to support displaced persons, leading to secondary displacement and increased vulnerabilities.

In six months, the percentage of displaced people staying with host families has fallen from 75 per cent to 55 per cent, while the number in collective centres has risen from 25 per cent to 45 per cent.

Further exacerbating the situation, over 115,000 Haitians have been forcibly returned from neighbouring countries, many lacking proper identification, thus complicating their reintegration.

IOM data shows that nearly 22 per cent of those repatriated were previously displaced within Haiti, highlighting the need for sustainable, long-term solutions to internal displacement.

While immediate life-saving assistance is critical, accelerating progress in addressing the root causes of displacement remains an urgent task, the UN agency said.
The Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC), responsible for the management and upkeep of Gurudwaras in Pakistan, has been under scrutiny by the Sikh community for its apparent indifference to the deteriorating conditions of these sacred places.

The concerns raised by the community are multifaceted and deeply rooted in their devotion and love for these holy sites.

One of the most pressing issues raised by Sikh devotees is the deteriorating structural condition of a Gurudwara associated with the first Sikh guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Gurudwaras hold immense historical and religious significance for the community, and their neglect is a matter of grave concern. The sacredness of these places demands meticulous maintenance to preserve their historical and cultural value.

Another alarming issue is the quality of food being served to pilgrims in Langar, the community kitchen. Langar is an integral part of Sikhism, where all visitors, regardless of their background, are offered a free meal. It embodies the Sikh principles of equality, selfless service, and community. The reports of stale food being served raise questions about the PSGPCs commitment to upholding these principles and catering to the spiritual and physical well-being of the pilgrims.

The most recent and perhaps the most symbolic concern is the removal of Shri Nishan Sahib from atop the Langar Hall. Shri Nishan Sahib is the Sikh religious flag and holds great significance for the community. Its presence atop the Gurudwara is not just a religious symbol but also a source of pride for the Sikh community.

Its removal has left many questioning the PSGPCs understanding of the cultural and religious importance attached to such symbols.

What compounds the disappointment of the Sikh community is the PSGPCs lack of responsiveness. Despite several attempts by community members to engage with the PSGPC president, Amir Singh, and other committee members through WhatsApp groups, their questions have gone unanswered.

This lack of communication only adds to the growing frustration among devotees who seek answers and action.

The Sikh community in Pakistan has already gone down significantly due to repeated persecution, but it is important to remember Sikhs were an important building block of Pakistans cultural fabric.

Their devotion to their faith and the preservation of their cultural heritage is commendable. It is imperative that their concerns are addressed with utmost sincerity and urgency by the PSGPC and relevant authorities.

The neglect of Gurudwaras, the quality of Langar, and the removal of religious symbols should not be taken lightly. These issues further highlight Pakistans neglect and abuse of minorities. It is imperative that Pakistan takes immediate and meaningful steps to address the concerns of its Sikh community. Upholding the sanctity of Gurudwaras and respecting the religious and cultural heritage of its minority communities is not just a matter of duty but a testament to a nations commitment to inclusivity and unity.

(Image and text credit: Khalsavox.com)
The recent surge in pro-Khalistan sentiments in countries like Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia has not only taken the Indian government by surprise but has also revealed the intricacies of global politics.

While these nations shelter behind the guise of democratic processes, the crux of the matter is that the Khalistan Referendum has turned into a chessboard where pawns are moved by forces external to the Sikh community.

Lets begin by unraveling the Referendum 2020 campaign. Touted as a grassroots movement for Sikh rights, its origins are murkier than they appear. While the initiative supposedly stands for the independence of the Indian Punjab, there is no call for the inclusion of West Punjab, which lies in Pakistan. The glaring omission only reinforces Indias long-held suspicions about Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligences (ISI) hand in fanning the flames of separatism.

Documents unveiled in 2018 link Pakistans ISI to this initiative, painting a picture of a well-orchestrated campaign aiming to destabilize Indias northern frontier. Pakistans strategy is clear: as the nation struggles with international scrutiny over its Islamist militant groups, the Khalistan agenda serves as a covert channel to achieve its objectives.

Events such as the Punjab Referendum Conference in 2018 and the London Declaration on Punjab Independence Referendum 2020 illustrate the global reach of this campaign.

However, the involvement of dubious personalities like Lord Nazir Ahmed, a convicted felon, not only challenges the legitimacy of these gatherings but also underscores Pakistans insidious designs.

Interestingly, the narrative is not just being driven through offline events. The surge in Twitter accounts promoting the Khalistan agenda, corroborated by Google Trends, paints a picture of a digital warfare strategy. In the age of information, its clear that the battle for Khalistan is as much online as it is on the ground.

The connections dont just stop at the ISI. Pakistans overt support can be witnessed through figures like Ghazala Habib, head of Friends of Kashmir, and Gurparwant Singh Pannus audacious letter to former PM Imran Khan.

Their intertwined relationships and public endorsements are hardly covert, revealing a direct line between Khalistan advocates and Pakistans establishment.

While the Khalistan referendum might parade as a voice of the Sikh diaspora, its underpinnings suggest a nefarious agenda driven by external influences. Its high time that nations housing these activities recognize the machinations at play and prioritize global peace over localized politics. After all, in this game of chess, its not just Indias peace at stake but the stability of the entire South Asian region.

(Image and text credit: Khalsavox.com)
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has not released money to the local bodies out of their Rs63 billion share in the development funds in around two years, leaving the system paralysed, media reports said.

The members of two-tier local government system of tehsil and village and neighbourhood councils came into powers after elections, which were conducted in two phases on December 19, 2021, and March 27, 2022, reports Dawn News.

However, since installation of the local government system, the provincial government has not released the funds allocated to local bodies through Provincial Finance Commission, sources told the Pakistani newspaper.

They said that under the PFC award, the two-tier local bodies had a share of Rs37 billion in the budget for fiscal year 2022-23. The share of local government is 20 per cent of the total provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).

Sources told Dawn News that the share of local bodies in the budget for current financial was Rs26 billion including Rs15.6 billion for tehsil councils and Rs10.4 billion for village and neighbourhood councils.

Mardan city Mayor Himayatullah Mayar told the newspaper: " The provincial government has denied our share in the provincial ADP."
Air Canada Image/ courtesy: Unsplash/John McArthur

Toronto/IBNS: Starting on Sunday, Air Canada has cancelled all flights temporarily to Tel Aviv following Hamas' deadly attacks on Israel.

We are monitoring this dynamic situation closely and we will adjust these plans as required. We remain in contact with the Canadian government, the airline said in a statement on Saturday.

Air Canada will resume operations to Tel Aviv as soon as the situation stabilizes.

Most international airlines including Hainan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Royal Air Maroc have already cancelled flights in and out of Israel and governments are revising travel guidance for those heading to the region.

In view of the fluid situation, all information is subject to sudden change.

Passengers flying to or from Tel Aviv who will be affected by the suspension have been asked by the airline to make travel changes, including refund options.

Air Canada which operates daily flights from Toronto to Tel Aviv, also flies to Tel Aviv from Montreal three times a week.

Israel hit Gaza with airstrikes in response to Hamas' surprise attack on Israel by air, land and sea leaving hundreds dead and thousands more injured.

There are reportedly 1,419 Canadians registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad in Israel and 492 Canadians registered in the Palestinian Territories.

"As registration with the service is voluntary, this is not a complete picture of Canadians outside the country, nor an indication of the number of Canadians abroad that wish to stay or leave," Global Affairs was reported saying and added that all personnel at the embassy in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are safe and accounted for.

"Canada continues to advise Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip due to the unpredictable security situation," Global Affairs said.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Amid the Israel-Palestine war that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people leaving millions displaced, Israeli actor and screenwriter Lior Raz known for his role in Fauda has joined the front lines against Hamas (the Palestinian militant group which wants to govern Gaza).

Fauda Actor Lior Raz joins Israel-Palestine war

AFP

The co-creator of Fauda also shared a video showing a rocket attack on Israel by Hamas.

He recently shared a video from southern Israeli town of Sderot in which he can be seen along with the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner, and journalist Avi Yissascharov.

He announced that he has joined a group of volunteers Brothers in Arms.

He posted on social media, "Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave brothers in arms volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families".

Do you know Lior Raz has worked for the Israel Defence Forces in real life?

AFP

In fact, Fauda was loosely based on his real life experiences. Lior Raz was a part of Israel Defense Forces. He worked as an undercover agent for an elite Israeli counter-terrorism unit known as Sayeret Duvdevan as well as Duvdevan Unit in the reserves for 20 years.

His girlfriend was stabbed when he was 19.

AFP

His girlfriend Iris Azulai was stabbed by a Palestinian Arab with a 15-inch knife in Jerusalem.

He has also worked as Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodyguard.

AFP

In 1993, after his military service, Raz moved to the United States and there, he was hired by a security contracting firm as Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodyguard.

When he came to India to promote season 4, Lior Raz said that he wanted to work with Rajkummar Rao.

AFP

The war began on Sep 30 after Israel witnessed a surprise attack by Hamas which killed 700 Israelis and left 2,300 others injured. Now, Israel has begun its retaliation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that though Israel did not start this war but will finish it, thus giving a stern warning to Hamas.



As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

We didn't start the war, but we will end it!

"Israel is at war. We didnt want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

The Israeli military is going on the offense against Hamas with a force 'like never before,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT



Video shows four Israel hostages killed by Hamas shortly after their capture.



This is the true face of Hamas. They are savages who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.pic.twitter.com/0m3jXJPF5H  WhoIsThisMan (@WIsthisman) October 9, 2023

Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN.

Also Read: Watch: Nushrratt Bharuccha Gets Emotional After Reaching India Safely From War-Struck Israel

(With inputs from ANI)

For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
A father and son from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala have tested positive for Brucellosis disease, a rare zoonotic infection that mostly affects animals including cattle, goats, sheep and dogs.

The father and son, both cattle farmers tested positive for Brucellosis on Monday after they sought treatment with fever-like symptoms.

BCCL

How brucellosis infection was identified

The duo had fever for a few days but it did not subside despite medical attention.

A detailed medical test revealed both were found to be positive for brucellosis disease.

According to the authorities, while the son has recovered, the father is still under treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital.

Following the incident, the animal husbandry and the health departments have been put on high alert in the area.

WOAH

What is brucellosis

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection, and human beings can get affected by infected animals or animal products contaminated with the bacteria.

According to the US CDC, the most common way to be infected is by eating or drinking unpasteurised or raw dairy products. When sheep, goats, cows, or camels are infected, their milk becomes contaminated with the bacteria.

Who can be affected by brucellosis

According to the WHO, Brucellosis is found globally and is a reportable disease in most countries and affects people of all ages and sexes.

Worldwide, Brucella melitensis is the most prevalent species causing human brucellosis, owing in part to difficulties in immunizing free-ranging goats and sheep.

BCCL

The bacteria can also enter wounds in the skin or mucous membranes through contact with infected animals.

What are symptoms of brucellosis

People with brucellosis do have a fever, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness and in some cases, it affects other organs.

Brucellosis is very unlikely to be spread from person to person, except for extremely rare cases of infants getting bacteria from their infected mothers through breast-feeding.

What is the treatment for brucellosis

Brucellosis infection can be treated with some strong antibiotics.

But, depending on the timing of treatment and severity of illness, recovery may take a few weeks to several months. Death from brucellosis is rare, occurring in no more than 2% of all cases.

For more on the news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In a remarkable medical procedure, doctors at Loma Linda University Health in California made the decision to deactivate half of a young girl's brain to save her life.

The 6-year-old Brianna Bodley patient was diagnosed with Rasmussen's encephalitis, a condition characterized by brain inflammation. Left untreated, this disease could have resulted in permanent brain damage and the deterioration of her motor skills.

However, thanks to the skilled medical team, Bodley now has the chance to lead a normal life despite one side of her brain being deactivated.

When a doctor asked 6-year-old Brianna Bodley about her headache, she responded without moving. Her mother gently held her hand and encouraged her to explain where her head hurt.

How did doctors save Brianna's life?

Dr. Aaron Robison, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Loma Linda University Health, recently performed a delicate 10-hour surgery to disconnect half of Brianna's brain, and the stitches from the procedure are still fresh.

"After surgery, the entire left side of her body is turned off," said the girl's mother, Crystal Bodley.

Last year, doctors diagnosed Brianna with Rasmussen's encephalitis, a rare disease that affects about 500 children in the U.S. annually.

She used to be a vibrant young girl who loved singing, dancing, and reading. However, she began experiencing daily debilitating seizures that would eventually cause learning difficulties and paralysis.

"Her leg would bend up all the time, and she would have trouble walking," said Bodley.

As the seizures and inflammation damaged one side of Brianna's brain, it caused that part of her brain to shrink. We initially encountered Brianna in January when she received treatment with anti-seizure medications and steroids, but her condition continued to worsen.

Facebook

"She would talk to me sometimes and said she was scared, but I told her, 'I know it's scary, but you will be okay,'" said her sister Torie Bodley.



Robison explained that Brianna's best action was disconnecting half of her brain.

"Just disconnecting it is enough to stop the disease completely and potentially cure it," he said.

In the past, doctors used to remove half of the brain, but that approach often resulted in more complications.

Nowadays, it's possible to disconnect the nonfunctioning part of the brain. Robison explained that an elegant method for doing this is through the brain's natural opening, known as the Sylvian fissure.

"That enables us to cut away the white matter from the thalamus here," he said.

Brianna's left brain hemisphere has taken over the functions previously handled by the right side. However, medical professionals emphasize that even with only half a brain, one can lead a fulfilling life.

"Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain," Robison said.

Brianna might experience some loss of peripheral vision and fine motor skills in her left hand.

Still, with the help of different physical therapies, doctors anticipate her returning to her normal self, free from seizures.

"I just want to see her little Brianna running around doing her artwork and having the fun she always had," said her grandmother, Chris Breheim.

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I am not sure this is the flex real estate fraud and out-on-bail insurrection planner Donald Trump thinks it is, but the former President wants you to know he's been indicted more times than America's most famous mob boss, Al Capone. Go team!

Trump, who apparently holds an MBA from the Capone School of Business and Ethics, reminds folks about who Capone was and compares his list of indictments. Trump also explains that he's committing this crime for "you." I am pretty sure the MAGA hat-wearing samaritans everywhere will repeat this story as "more crime than public enemy number one!" is a badge of honor. Trump is offering his adherents a way to talk around the fact he is a criminal and an insurrectionist.

Crooks and Liars:
Employees say Generation Z workers are responsible, and workplace cultures have become more relaxed in the last five years. 71% of workers believe the younger generation is changing the formality of language in the workplace. Here's what one study found.

How has Gen Z changed how we communicate at work?

Pexels

According to a new poll from Barclays LifeSkills, a Barclays Bank project, 71% of workers in the United Kingdom believe the younger generation is changing the formality of language in the workplace.



The survey, which was released on Tuesday, September 12, revealed that formal words and sign-offs such as "Yours truly," "Yours sincerely," and "To whom it may concern" may become obsolete in the workplace over the next ten years.

While "Ta!" has become a common sign-off, 29% of workers find it a little too familiar. The term "Hiya!" has a similarly divided opinion, with 42% believing it's nice, 36% thinking it's casual, and 26% thinking it's too familiar.





How did this shift from formal language to casual lingo happen?

Perhaps one reason for the shift in workplace communication is the widespread use of online messaging apps in offices, especially when organizations offer their employees the chance to work remotely. Apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat give users more ways to express themselves and communicate their uniqueness through emoticons and GIFs.

Gen Z is nearly twice as likely as older generations to use these instant messaging services at work, compared to 54% of professionals aged 55 and up, who prefer email since it is regarded as more professional.

However, 40% of Generation Z say that email inhibits their freedom to express themselves. "Our research shows that the next generation will clearly make their mark on the workforce in terms of how we communicate," said Kirstie Mackey, director of the Barclays LifeSkills initiative.



"While the shift to more personable language is a positive one, it is critical to demonstrate an understanding of social etiquette in the workplace, which differs from school or university. Striking the right balance whilst still displaying your personality through your communications is key," she said.

There's no doubt that Gen Z has already begun to have an impact on the workplace, from increased demands for salary transparency to more informal office attire.

A recent poll found that it can take up to two weeks for young adults to feel confident in a new job. The survey of 1,000 18 to 25-year-olds also discovered that Gen Z workers spend eight days before starting their new job worrying about not fitting in with the team or not knowing what to do in their position.

When starting a new job or apprenticeship, many young workers look to social media for advice, with TikTok being the most helpful.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.



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The Minister of Rural Development Lefteris Avgenakis will be in Thessaly again from Tuesday, in whose presence sectoral meetings will be held per product, so that together with the producers who have been affected, the next measures to support producers and restore agricultural production in the region can be specified.

For the municipal elections

Speaking to OPEN channel, the minister described the results

of Sundays local government elections as excellent for the New Democracy party , as seven regional governors it supported were elected from the first round.

The minister characterized as important the fact that many young people chose to get involved in politics, but he did not hide his reflection and concern about the high rate of abstention and urged citizens to participate in the process pointing out that participation means democracy.

In response to a question about the result of Thessaly, the Minister pointed out that until yesterday some people argued that Kostas Agorastos would not collect the percentage he collected. He noted that a percentage of citizens after what happened in Thessaly did not even go to vote and expressed optimism that next Sunday, Kostas Agorastos, will be the winner of the elections.

As concerns the mayor of Volos

As for the mayor of Volos statements, he characterized them as tragic, and noted that Mr. Beos ruffian character is known. He underscored that New Democracy had not given him support, as well as that he himself, as Deputy Minister of Sports, had not been able to cooperate with him, due to his character. He pointed out, however, that the citizens of Volos have a different opinion, as they see a man who works from morning to night and reward him. And he added that no one disputes the citizens verdict.
The impact on the economic and business level after the Hamas attack on Israel is still too early to assess. However, it is certain that the escalating tension in the

Israel-Gaza: The impact on Greek companies -  
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, on Monday posited that no fewer than 99,985 Nigerians left the country to study at universities in the United Kingdom (UK) between 2017 and 2022.

The Minister who disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2023 University of Lagos International Week, quoted the data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), an organisation that collects, analyses, and disseminates quantitative information about higher education in the UK.

Tunji-Ojo said over 100 Nigerian students win scholarships for postgraduate and PhD degrees every year.

And on our part, we must ensure that we play our part in the actualisation of their dreams. They carry our identity, one which not only aids their pursuit, but also defines them.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), reports have shown that about 99,985 Nigerian students left this country to enrol in universities in the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2022.

While many may contend that majority of these students have simply JAPA for other reasons, we cannot also deny the fact that a larger chunk of these students have left with the purest intent to seek further knowledge for self advancement.

Now, in going all through this, therefore, I may want to ask why our students should now suffer to acquire international passports, even when they have paid for it.

READ ALSO: IDP Stabs Man To Death For Allegedly Standing With His Wife In Public In Borno

Their pursuit of breaking new grounds across borders is one which gives us great joy, as through our children, we sustain the future, he said.

According to him, the Ministry has commenced the automation of the end-to-end passport application process to aid Nigerian students seeking foreign universities admission.

His words: By implication, Nigerians will not need to wait longer than two weeks before they get their passport.

By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online.

And by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passport delivered to their homes, offices and other locations of their choice.

Tunji-Ojo said the technology would also be deployed to the visa application process to make it as seamless as possible.

He said his office has set everything into motion to open 12 more visa application centres across the world.

In this regard, we are also working on strengthening our visa-on-arrival policy.

We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enforce the principle of reciprocity and a committee has been set up in the ministry to achieve this, he added.
Theleader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has urged his supporters in the pursuit of the Biafra Nation cause to remain dedicated to their ongoing tasks.

While giving the encouragement on Monday during a visit by one of his lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, in Abuja, he emphasized that their journey is still ongoing.

Recall that Kanu has been held in the custody of the Department of State Service since June 2021 after his arrest by the Nigerian government led by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recently, the Supreme Court set December 15 as the date for delivering its judgment on Kanus appeal, aiming to compel the Federal Government to release him from detention, as directed by the Appeal Court in its October 13, 2022 ruling.

READ ALSO: BBNaija All Stars: Why I Got Attracted To Mercy Eke  Pere

At the time, the appellate court in its judgment discharged and acquitted the IPOB leader of all the charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government, and ordered immediate and unconditional release of Kanu.

Giving an update on his visit to Kanu, Ejimakor said, I just exited from visitation with Nnamdi Kanu. I briefed him on our last outing at the Supreme Court, led by the new Lead Counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN.

He directed that the Legal Team and our people must stay focused on the many unfinished tasks at hand and that its not yet Uhuru.

Ejimakor furthered that much work still remained to be done as far as Kanus case is concerned.

It is also an expose of the slew of cases we still have pending on his matter. And that his continuous detention means that his case is not yet over. Its an unfinished business, he added.
No fewer than four students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have been abducted by some unknown gunmen.

It was gathered that the culprits invaded the students residence in Angwan Kare, a settlement within the Keffi Local Government Area, on Tuesday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the abduction to Channels Television during a telephone conversation today.

Nansel said that the State Police Command received a distress call in the early hours of Tuesday, reporting an attack by gunmen on a house in Angwan Kare.

READ MORE: Gunmen Demand N4m Ransom To Release Kidnapped NYSC Members In Zamfara

He said: The command is aware of kidnapping at about 12:55 am as a distress was received that a house located at Angwan Kaare, Keffi was invaded by unidentified armed men.

The police PRO added that efforts to trail the perpetrators after combing the area were unsuccessful.

He, however, assured that a manhunt had been launched to rescue the students.

The police in collaboration with the military, responded accordingly and combed the area, but to no avail.

The Commissioner of Police has ordered a manhunt for the culprits with a view to rescue the victims unhurt, Nansel said.

The victims are all first-year students of the school, identified as Rahila Hanya from Science Laboratory Technology; Josephine Gersho, Computer Science; Rosemary Samuel from Business Administration and Goodness Samuel from Geography departments, respectively.
The Borno State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, identified as Umar Goni Abubakar, for stabbing one Zarami Modu to death at Water Board Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camp in Monguno Local Government Area of the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Yusufu, disclosed this during a briefing with journalists in Maiduguri on Monday, October 9, 2023, saying the suspect stabbed Modu with a sharp knife over suspicion he was enticing his wife, Hajja Fantami.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests 25 Drug Suspects In Abuja IDP Camp, Others

The suspect was among 507 suspected criminals arrested for committing various crimes in the last three months such as rape, culpable homicide, inciting disturbances and causing grievous hurt, housebreaking and theft, public nuisance, and kidnapping.

On September 16, 2023, at about 10:45 hrs, one Umar Goni Abubakar M 25 years old of Water Board IDP Camp Monguno stabbed one Zarami Modu M 35 years old of the same address with a sharp knife, the CP stated.

As a result, the victim sustained fatal injuries. The genesis was that, on September 15, 2023, he sighted the deceased standing with his wife, Hajja Fantami F of the same address, at the water pump, and he suspected the deceased was enticing his wife. The suspect was arrested, and the case is under investigation.
Ahead Kogi States gubernatorial election, the Dino/Habiba Governorship Campaign Council accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of spreading seasonal lies spiced with cheap talks and empty promises.

Information Nigeria reports that for States election, Dino Melaye and his running mate, Habeebat Deen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the major opposition of APCs Usman Ododo and Salifu Joel

While reacting to APCs Campaign Flag-off in Lokoja, Kogi State, the PDP noted that recourse to falsehood cannot save the APC, come November 11 as people can see through their antics.

Spokesperson of the Sen. Dino/Habiba Campaign Council, Omoyemi Olumudi, in a Monday statement, noted how the promises by the APC to build the Ganaja  Ajaokuta; Lokoja  Okene; Kabbba  Ilorin roads as well as the completion of Ajaokuta Steel have become lies of out-going Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC.

At every election season, the APC and Governor Yahaya Bello will come up with seasonal lies to hoodwink the people of Kogi State.

It is ridiculous that at the end of every four years, the leaders of APC will brazenly itemize the same challenges that they APC foisted on the people, make empty promises that they do not intend to fulfill, all to hoodwink the people until another four years when election is due. Cheap talk.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Is Now A Politically Stable Country  North Korea Hails Tinubu

Kogites can remember in 2019 how the immediate past Governor of Kogi State Malam Nasir el-Rufai, came and knelt down in assurance that the out-going Bello will deliver on good governance; an assurance that was never fulfilled.

It is imperative for those on APC campaign train to Lokoja on Sunday to report if they saw anything new during their stay in the state capital. If anything, Yahaya Bello and Usman Ododo have impoverished the people the more.

Moreover, it is clear that the people of Kogi State have seen the end of the APC government in the State and are prepared to elect the candidate of the PDP, Senator Dino Melaye, to rescue the State from the throngs of corrupt and insensitive administration of the APC.

Our campaign counsels the APC Candidate, Usman Ododo, to note that he is no match for PDPs more popular Dino Melaye and should therefore be ready to accept the inevitable defeat that awaits him and the APC on November 11.

Kogites have made up their mind to vote in Senator Dino Melaye as the next Governor of the State and not even the litany of lies, false promises and resort to violence will save the APC in this election, the statement added.
The State High Court sitting at Eket, Akwa Ibom, on Monday, sentenced a 39 year-old medical doctor, identified as Nwaopara Adolphus Uche to two years in prison for stealing hospital beds from Immanuel General Hospital.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Nwaopara reportedly stole Eket and Immanuel Psychiatric Hospital, and converted them to his private clinic.

The medical doctor is said to have used his position as the Medical Superintendent of Immanuel Psychiatric Hospital to commit the crime.

However, the Court, presided over by Justice Nsemeke Daniel convicted Dr Uche he who hails from Mbiere in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.

READ MORE: I Was Trying To Revive Him  Native Doctor Nabbed With Fresh Human Corpse In Ogun

Also convicted to one year imprisonment for conspiracy was Kubiat Anthony Isidore, a 28 year-old welder from Ikot Idim in Odoro Ikot, Essien Udim LGA.

Similarly, one Felix Samuel Ekwere(35), a security man at Immanuel General Hospital, and a native of Ekpene Obo in Esit Eket who was caught moving out some of the stolen hospital beds from the hospital at night was sentenced to one year imprisonment.

Samuel Ekwere is said to have confessed to the Police that the convicted Medical Superintendent, Uche sent him to move out the stolen beds

They were prosecuted by the State through the Ministry of Justice in a charge number HEK/13C/2023.
The Ambassador of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Jon Tong Chol, on Monday praised President Bola Tinubus leadership skills.

Jon noted that Nigeria is now politically stable under Tinubus led administration.

The Korean Ambassador made this known when he visited the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje at the partys Secretariat in Abuja.

The ambassador disclosed that, though the Tinubu government took over at a difficult time, it is apparent that the new administration is making progress in the fields of national security and revival of the economy.

READ MORE: Tinubu Appoints Fela Durotoye, Four Others As Senior Special Assistants

He said: I see that Nigeria is now a politically stable country, and we see the achievements made in the fight against terrorists, such as Boko Haram and also the separatist groups.

We cannot achieve progress in nation building apart from securing peace of the country.

And we see that not only the administration but the leadership of the ruling party (APC) has been composed of very convenient, statesmen.

The ruling political party of Korea which is the Workers Party of Korea wishes to strengthen ties with your political party.

So far, we have sustained cooperation and collaboration between the parties. But we still lack some substance. The Workers Party of Korea prioritizes expanding relations with the ruling parties of Nigeria.
Most Buffalo host and award-winning television news writer Kate Welshofer quoted author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert Monday afternoon to explain to the programs audience why she has decided to leave WGRZ-TV (Channel 2) at the end of the year.

In about a five-minute address to the audience that showcased Welshofers writing and performing skills, she said she isnt leaving to work at another station here, in a bigger market or for more money but rather for wellness, well-being and fulfillment.

A native of Perry and 1996 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Welshofer instantly attracted attention when she arrived here in 2018 after working 20 years in cable news in Rochester and Albany.

Welshofer noted that in a couple of weeks she will have worked in the television industry for 27 years.

I always felt this little nudge of feeling there is something more for me outside of this industry in what really is a pretty traditional culture and overall mindset, she said. Yes, Ive very much enjoyed messing with that. Ive managed to operate inside it. But it is time to step out.

The best I can explain it is to borrow from somebody else  author Elizabeth Gilbert, said Welshofer. This really resonated with me. She said, everyone who has changed their lives or laid claim to their own destiny began by surrendering to two words. Not this. 

Its OK if you dont know yet what happens to you. You just have to be honest about what your deepest truth is telling you, which is: not this. If thats what your body and heart is trying to tell you, listen.

Ive been listening frankly for a while and now I am able to act, said Welshofer.

Gilbert perhaps is most famous for writing the best-selling 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love: One Womans Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. It was made into a 2010 film starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.

Welshofer isnt going as far as Gilbert after leaving WGRZ, where she has worked for almost six years. In fact, Welshofer told her audience she doesnt know where she is going professionally.

She has spent the last four years as host of Most Buffalo, a news and lifestyle program with a light attitude. Most of the time, weather anchor Maria Genero has been alongside her, as she was Monday when she tried to hold back tears as Welshofer spoke.

I cant tell what I am doing next, and it isnt because Im not allowed to tell you or because Im being mysterious or dramatic but because truly my friends, I have absolutely no idea, said Welshofer.

I did not secretly win the lottery. I am not independently wealthy by any means  Yes, leaving this steady income is scary. But I am far more afraid of the alternative and not believing in myself to follow my instinct and create a life I always want for myself.

Welshofer, who has been one of the brightest local TV personalities in recent years, has won multiple awards since arriving at Channel 2.

She was honored in 2020 with a prestigious national Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in writing for small TV markets. She previously was honored with a regional Murrow award.

The same year she was honored by the trade publication Broadcasting & Cable as the top anchor in a midsized to small market.

Welshofer, who married Charles (Chip) Matthews, director of student life at SUNY Geneseo, more than a year ago, said she plans to remain in the area.

Though there have been substitutes on Most Buffalo from Channel 2s staff when Welshofer is off, the program was created to showcase her talents and it is hard to see how it can continue in the same form after she exits.

Mark G. Manders, president and general manager of WGRZ, said in an email Monday that the station plans to fill the 4 p.m. hour with locally produced content. He said he did not want to say more because of how fluid the situation is.
The Niger State Police Command has apprehended Usman Yahaya Muhammad from Kinboku-Kudu Village, Mokwa Local Government, for allegedly killing a motorcycle rider in the area.

The states Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest during a parade of suspects in Minna, stating that the suspect was arrested for culpable homicide.

Abiodun explained that after killing his victim, the suspect abandoned the body and fled with the motorcycle from the scene.

In an interview, Mohammed confessed to the crime, revealing that he boarded the victims motorcycle heading to Eppa village. However, before reaching the destination, he killed the motorcyclist.

READ ALSO: Police Rescue Two Suspected Ritual Killers From Lynching In Anambra

When asked about the motive behind the murder, he simply stated, I cannot say why I killed him. Something made me do it. After I finished killing him, I went and reported myself to our vigilante leader in my area, who then reported the incident to the police, leading to my arrest.

I macheted the Okada rider to death on the neck twice, and he fell. I then took the motorcycle away.

When asked if he wished to face a similar fate to what he inflicted on his victim, he replied, No, I dont want to die the way I killed. I want to live.

The suspect, who also mentioned that his wedding ceremony was scheduled for Friday, has allegedly committed similar crimes eight times in the past.

The police command further disclosed that they recently arrested 38 suspects, seven of whom were charged to court for various offenses, including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, culpable homicide, among others, in the state.
The Minister of State for police affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim on Monday, led senior female police officers on a courtesy visit to the wife of President Bola Tinubu, Oluremi at the State House.

The first lady, while addressing her visitors said that efforts to reshape Nigeria and address societal ills plaguing the female gender require the active participation of women.

She said: It is the beginning of a new dawn for women in the country as the current administration will give women more room to contribute their quota.

I am also looking for ways to contribute. We cannot have a Nigeria without people doing new and great things.

READ MORE: Tinubu Wouldnt Have Become President If He Stayed Abroad  Remi Tinubu

Speaking on how the senior female police officers and other women can help forge a better Nigeria, the first lady charged them to lead the action in addressing some of the ills, such as rape, child abuse, human trafficking and the proliferation of baby factories.

Remi Tinubu said: Women must thrive and be empowered in a safe environment. We want to see our children not abused through crimes and maltreatment, rape of minors and children. There must be a reduction in cases of human trafficking, organ harvesting and baby factories.

She added that she is looking forward to a day when a woman will become the nations inspector general of police.

The minister in her remark noted that gender equality, safeguarding of human rights and empowerment of women are key anchors of a just and fair society.

The minister said: We are working on a bold initiative aimed at not only addressing existing challenges but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution.

We recognise the limitations of past reforms and are now taking a more proactive and holistic transformation that permeates every facet of police operations.

We are here today not just to discuss but to seek your collaboration, for we understand that the collective advancement of these crucial issues requires your esteemed support and partnership.
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), commonly referred to as Shiites, have demonstrated their support for Palestinians in the wake of Israels retaliatory assault on the Gaza Strip and Hamas fighters.

The Shiites protesters were observed displaying the Palestinian national flag at the well-known Banex Plaza and concluded their demonstration at the traffic light along Ahamadu Bello Way, Abuja.

They chanted anti-Israeli slogans and symbolically burned the Israeli national flag to convey their frustration. Israel had initiated the bombardment of the Gaza Strip shortly after Hamas initiated a surprise attack, resulting in the loss of lives among Israeli civilians.

The protesters urged Nigerians to speak out and stand in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians while celebrating the successes achieved by the Palestinian people.

In a statement issued by the movements representative, Sheikh Sidi Munir Sokoto, the group said, Palestine launched Al-Aqsa Flood to respond to the recent attacks by the Israel Occupation Forces on al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp

We are demonstrating in solidarity with Palestine for the success recorded in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against the state of Israel. Palestine launched Al-Aqsa Flood to respond to the recent attacks by the Israel Occupation Forces on al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp.

READ ALSO: Were Fighting Human Animals, Gazall Be Stripped Of Water, Electricity, Food  Israels Defense Minister

Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located at the heart of Jerusalems old city, is the third holiest site in Islam. Supporting the struggle for the freedom of Palestine is not only for Muslims alone, but for all people of conscience.

Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was also in response to the Israeli Occupation Forces 16-year blockade of Gaza, raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at al-Aqsa, increasing attacks by state of Israel on Palestinians, and the growth of settlements.

Israel is in breach of international law, and the Palestinians are fighting to liberate their homeland from 75 years of Israeli oppression and terrorism.

The Israel military and settlers are the terrorists, as they have been killing and abducting Palestinian women and children for many years, not the Palestinian freedom fighters who are demanding the right to return for those unjustly driven out of their homeland by the state of Israel.

Armed struggle is legitimate under international law. Gaza has been under the Israeli siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in living standards. Thus, we must condemn this injustice and oppression against the oppressed people of Palestine.

Supporting oppressed people is human. Islam taught us that human beings are either our brothers in religion or in humanity. As said by Martin Luther King Jr., Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said that President Bola Tinubu is appointing more media aides to help him push propaganda and restore his reputation among Nigerians.

Atiku added that Tinubus reputation cant be redeemed even if he hires one thousand media aides.

The PDP flagbearer said this in a statement on Monday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu in reaction to the appointment of new media aides by President Tinubu.

Shaibu alleged that the new appointments are a confirmation of his earlier disclosure of plans by Tinubu to unleash propaganda.

He added that the President is trying to cover up the lies about his academic records and other scandals in the United States.

READ MORE: Tinubu Appoints Fela Durotoye, Four Others As Senior Special Assistants

Recall that President Tinubu had earlier announced the appointment of Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President  National Values & Social Justice); Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President  Public Engagement); Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President  Strategic Communications); Mr. Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President  Public Affairs) and Mr. Francis Adah Abah (Personal Assistant to the President  Special Duties).

Reacting to the fresh appointments, Atikus aide said not even a thousand media aides can save the reputation of President Tinubu, which is currently drowning in scandals.

He said: I warned on September 18 that the Tinubu government was getting frustrated after being exposed for their many lies and that they would set up a propaganda unit.

Now they have established a media and publicity directorate. This brings to 20 the number of media advisers appointed by Tinubu. In fact, about three of these appointees hold the exact same portfolio.

We understand the desperation by Tinubus government which is currently facing a huge certificate forgery scandal and is about to be drowned by the files that the FBI will release regarding his heroin case in the United States.

For a government that claims to be focused on fiscal discipline, it has appointed the largest number of non-statutory appointments. Isnt it ironic that Tinubu has more media advisers than economic aides? It is obvious that he plans to use propaganda to rule.

No wonder he has held only one cabinet meeting in five months.

Tinubu and his lackeys must, however, understand that no matter the air freshener you use in spraying excreta, the stench can never go away. No amount of image laundering can save his sinking image.

His list of media aides include: Ajuri Ngelale (Special Adviser Media and Publicity); Tunde Rahman (SSAP Media); Tope Ajayi (SSAP Media and Publicity); Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (SSAP Print Media); Otega Ogara (SSAP Digital/New Media); Segun Dada (SAP Social Media); Nosa Asemota (SAP Visual Communications); Sunday Moses (PA Videography); Taiwo Okonlawon (PA State photography); Moremi Ojudu (SAP, community engagement southwest); Tanko Yakasai (SAP, community engagement northwest); Chioma Nweze (SAP, community engagement southeast)., Abiodun Essiet (SAP, community engagement north-central); Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba (SAP, community engagement northeast); Emmanuella Eduozor (SAP Multimedia content production). This is apart from the Minister of Information and others appointed in the ministry to drive the propaganda.

With the latest appointment, Tinubu now has over 20 media aides, the highest in the history of Nigeria. But propaganda can only go so far. Propaganda cannot put food on the table of the poor; it cannot make their infrastructure better; it cannot solve insecurity, and it definitely cannot bring in circumspect foreign investors.

They can only like the character, Squealer, in Animal Farm, succeed at increasing the quantities of food available to the community only on paper.
Layoffs  particularly in technology, retail, health care, and media  have been growing significantly this year, according to a new study from career services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Despite the hot job market, the study found that through the first nine months of 2023 there were more than 600,000 layoffs, a 198% increase from the same period in 2022. The number of corporate layoffs this year is second only to 2009s Great Recession.

Whether or not your business is struggling to find workers, its likely that youre also terminating employees for various reasons. But are you doing this the right way? Here are some things to keep in mind when you next have to let someone go.

Plan ahead

The first thing to consider when deciding to terminate an employee is reducing any potential disruption.

Employers should always think about operational gaps if someone separates from the company, meaning is there someone else who can step in temporarily to offset any problems from losing business continuity due to that disruption, said Monica Siciliano, a partner at De Novo HRConsulting & Business Advisory in Southampton. And if thats a risk, then employers will want to address appropriate redundancies that should be put in place as well as cross training.

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There are also compensation ramifications of a decision to terminate an employee. In most cases, an employer will need to make sure that all unused vacation and sick time has been paid out and that the employee has been paid completely through their end date so as not to be exposed to any wage-theft claims. In Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, workers without an employment contract are generally employed at-will which means that an employer (or the employee) is free to terminate their employment usually with little reason. However, employers have to be careful that theyre not acting in a discriminatory or retaliatory manner.

Document everything

Its never a good idea to terminate someone after they have made a complaint, Mike Torchia, an employment attorney based in Huntingdon Valley said. If the termination takes place too quickly then it could be considered to be retaliatory and not related to the employees performance. Documenting the decision in advance  even before communicating the decision to the employee  is a good way to ensure that theres a supported timeline.

Torchia said that you dont need a detailed report for your documentation. It could be an email to yourself or to human resources or to your partner that says we spoke today and we decided to terminate Rachel, but were going to do it when she comes back from vacation. 

When it comes to documentation, its always best to start that process as early as possible. When an employee is underperforming, is exhibiting poor behavior, or has received complaints from others, make sure to keep a time-stamped log of these incidents that can be discussed with the employee at a termination meeting and used as support for your decision. If your business has union employees, you have to also make sure that youre complying with all terms in the unions collective bargaining agreement.

Its the number-one piece of advice we give for termination, said Torchia. When a client calls us and says they want to terminate an employee, we always ask if they have any documentation. If theres nothing in writing and theres a challenge to the termination based on discrimination or something else, then its going to be harder to prove that its a performance issue.

Siciliano also agrees that documentation  and communication  are both critical.

A termination should never be a surprise to an employee, she said. And if the individuals going to be surprised, I would say that we need to be accountable for our role and not giving them a clear line of sight to their goals and letting them know where theyre falling short.

Meet and separate as amicably as possible

Termination meetings with an employee can be awkward, but if done right can not only make the exit more tenable to the employee but can also provide valuable feedback to the employer. Siciliano says employers should ensure that there is always more than one person from the company present at the meeting, preferably someone from your human resources team who can act as a witness. Meetings dont necessarily have to be in-person either (Zoom calls can actually be easier and less disruptive for both the employer and employee, Siciliano said) and the room you use should also be chosen intentionally.

It may seem minor, Siciliano said But the room is an important detail for me. An employer doesnt want to block an employees egress or they could be accused of physical intimidation or worse.

Finally, and when terminating an employee, its always a good practice to have a formal and signed separation agreement. While new rules from the NLRB prohibit employers from making severance pay contingent, its important for both parties to agree on the final terms of the termination, which can include things like final payout amounts, dates of release, and even reasons for the termination.

The termination should be done with respect, said Torchia. Our experience is that employees are much more likely to sue the employer if they are upset with the way that they were terminated.

Gene Marks is the founder and president of the Marks Group, a small-business consulting firm based in Bala Cynwyd.
Sprouts will open two new stores in Philadelphia next year and additional stories in the region after that. Read more

Sprouts Farmers Market is bringing at least six new stores to the Philadelphia region in the next two years.

The grocery store company, headquartered in Phoenix, already has one location in Philadelphia, on South Broad Street which opened in 2018. Other locations in the region include stores in Upper Dublin, Haddon Township and Marlton in New Jersey, and Wilmington, Del.

With our current Sprouts locations in the Philadelphia region, we have found that folks are thoroughly enjoying the healthy alternatives, fresh, seasonal produce and unique items that Sprouts offers, said Dan Croce, senior vice president of real estate and new store development for Sprouts via email.

Two new Philadelphia-area stores are set to open in 2024, including one in Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia where the announcement has attracted other retailers, and another at the Quartermaster Plaza shopping center in South Philadelphia.

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An additional store will open in Northern Liberties at the former Festival Pier site in 2025, and another location is forthcoming in Limerick, Montgomery County, with no set opening date yet.

Two other stores are expected in the region, but Sprouts has not yet shared locations or opening dates.

Each store is expected to employ 90 team members on average, according to the company.

Sprouts, which opened its first grocery store in 2002, has locations in 23 states, and is known for its selection of fresh produce and natural products. The company celebrated its 400th store opening last month in New Jersey.

News of the Philadelphia-area store opening comes as the company has been expanding its store count. Sprouts opened 23 stores this year as of early September, and plans to open at least six more stores before the end of the year in North Carolina, Texas, California, and Nevada. According to the company, Sprouts is on track with its five-year store growth plan to expand 10% year over year.
Dustin Maggard, a South Jersey utility worker, was trying to help his mom, Donna, qualify for federal medical aid. Her family bank, the giant Bank of America, spent months not helping.

Heres what went wrong, and how Maggard finally got someone to fix it:

To qualify for Medicaid for her long-term care, which Medicare doesnt cover, Donna first had to cash out any assets and use that money for her mounting bills. Her late husband had small IRA retirement accounts at Bank of America, totaling around $10,000. He left no will; she naturally had to prove who she was, that her husband had died, and that what had been his was now hers.

For six months, Maggard said, his mom was met with nothing but difficulty from the bank. By the time he wrote to The Inquirer in September, he was frustrated and alarmed: If we dont get her Medicaid application submitted by Oct. 1, the three-month Medicaid retroactive period may not cover medical expenses, and her estate will be liable for her recent medical bills, even though her income and assets would qualify her for aid.

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BofAs friendly staff at a branch in Mount Laurel tried to help. But under the companys centralized system, typical at big consumer companies, change requests and documents had to go through a remote department called Estate Services.

Even documents that the local branch has cheerfully scanned and sent to the Estate Services department have magically vanished, been inadequate, or filled out wrong. Even when they were completed by her estate lawyer, Maggard said.

If I send forms, they say they didnt get them. If I send email, they never received them. If I return requested forms, they tell me they are incorrect and request different forms.

Couldnt he document that the bank had received the information? They are using a proprietary messaging system that automatically deletes all correspondence, so it is impossible to create a paper trail. If you ask to speak with a supervisor or manager, they place you on an extended hold of one hour or more, and then connect you to another account manager, who just resends you the same forms via vanishing email.

Could the government help? Maggard said he researched bank regulators and reached out to the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates national banks like BofA, but found the process not just complex, but slower than his moms pressing need.

Maggard started to wonder whether the banks distant phone staff were doing this deliberately. Was it possible the bankers who could have solved the problem preferred the family gave up?

Searching the internet, he found a series of Los Angeles Times stories that showed people suffering what Maggard called the exact same experience. He added: I have to wonder how many widows and grandchildren have given up on these smaller accounts because they dont have the means to pursue them.

Maggard shared his struggle with BofA with The Inquirer just after a story had published on Frank Eliason, the Trenton-area customer service executive who pioneered social media as a problem-fixing tool at Comcast and Citigroup more than a decade ago.

With Maggards permission, The Inquirer forwarded Maggards request to Eliason, and he responded quickly: When regular customer service fails, my recommendation is an email to an executive.

Target the boss

Where to find them? Eliason says one of his favorite scouting grounds is CEOemail.com, a website that collects and posts executive contacts. On Maggards behalf, he went there and quickly located the president of BofAs retail banking unit, where Donnas husband kept his retirement accounts. He checked the name online to confirm the person was still in the job.

(At smaller companies, he might have gone straight to the CEO; at others, he might have sought a chief consumer officer. If hed found a name but no contact, hed seek emails for other employees at the company, and copy the execs name into that format, such as firstname.lastname@companyname.com.)

Next, he recommended Maggard send that contact an email with a good, short title such as Frustrated Helping My Mom with BofA. The email should start professionally: Over the past six months, I have been trying to help my mom transfer my stepdads funds after his passing, but BofA has made it extremely frustrating. How would you feel if your mother had this challenge? Let me explain. And add a brief explanation.

Eliason recommends avoiding initial threats to sue or file formal government complaints; these may cause officials to call in lawyers or compliance people, which slows response.

Keep it upbeat. [You are] offering valuable feedback, Eliason said. Its important to recognize these leaders are people, too. If you treat them with respect, they will respect you.

Eliason concluded, End with an ask: Can you put me in contact with someone that can help get this done properly? Sign with name and a good contact number. They will call with 24 hours or less.

Armed with Eliasons method and his initial results, Maggard double-checked the retail presidents name and address. He also found the top executive at Estate Services and emailed that person, too.

Howd it go?

The prophecy was fulfilled, Maggard said two days later.

Within 24 hours, I got a phone call from a very pleasant woman named Natalie from Estate Services. She asked for documents, which Maggard told her hed already sent  again and again. But he sent them one more time.

She called me back, again within 24 hours, told me she saw no problems with any of the documents I attached and released all funds immediately. The Mount Laurel branch cut a cashiers check and waived the fee.

She couldnt explain why there was so much trouble, but she did say that our particular situation wasnt unique, Maggard said.

We can now proceed with my mothers Medicaid application just in time, he concluded, with a week to spare.

Eliason wasnt surprised. The key is getting the executive to read it, he told me later. If you draw the leader in, they will forward it to someone who cant afford to disappoint the boss.

Again with Maggards permission, The Inquirer shared the story with Bank of Americas headquarters image-control staff, which reviewed the case. The staff declined to comment directly but acknowledged that banking procedures can be very complex. We regret the time it took to bring this matter to a conclusion. "

Staff writer Sarah Gantz contributed to this article.
Parents, students and supporters protested leveling at Henry Houston Elementary in West Mount Airy on Oct. 4. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said 50 teachers moved as a result of the process. Read more

Telling her students she was leaving Martin Luther King High School was one of the most difficult conversations shes ever had, said Karlynne Staten.

The move wasnt by choice. Staten, a special education case manager, had been informed by Kings principal that she was leveled out of King and had to move to another school a month after the year began.

Some of Statens students were crying, she said. Everyone was angry. Some students were so upset they eventually led a rally outside the building.

 READ MORE: Some Philly classrooms are getting new teachers a month into the school year. Heres why.

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The district does not understand the connections you make with these kids, said Staten.

King was supposed to lose six positions total to leveling, the district process of adjusting staffing based on actual student enrollment, several weeks into the school year. Ultimately, the schools principal was able to successfully argue for the jobs of Staten and three others; it ended up losing two positions.

Though leveling isnt a practice exclusive to Philadelphia, its unheard of in better-resourced districts, and even other similarly challenged urban districts have stopped doing it. It works this way: Schools are allocated positions based on their projected enrollment. But through leveling, those with unexpectedly large classes get new staff, and those where fewer-than-anticipated students show up lose staff to the oversubscribed schools. (Without the practice, schools with low enrollment would have smaller class sizes, and schools with higher enrollment would hire extra teachers.)

Its complicated, for sure. In past years, leveling was blamed on economics, but this year, its mostly about a teacher shortage. Though about 96% of its teacher positions are filled, hundreds are still open. (The district has declined to give an exact number.)

District-wide, 50 teachers were forced to change schools.

In total, 58 schools lost teachers  an 87-position reduction. Fifty schools gained a cumulative total of 66 teacher positions.

Why did the district reassign teachers?

In a letter sent to families and staff Monday, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said he understood leveling was tough for those who must lose teachers, shift classes, or move jobs themselves.

But leveling, the superintendent wrote, was necessary in order to serve our students equitably. Underfunding has significant consequences for our schools and students, particularly the ability to recruit, hire and onboard high quality teachers as quickly as we would like.

Watlington also pointed to the teacher shortage facing nearly every district in America. Its particularly pronounced in Pennsylvania.

These challenges help to explain why leveling is so important. In order to serve our students equitably, and support all students in receiving a high-quality education from an excellent teacher, we must reassign teachers from our under-enrolled schools to over-enrolled schools, Watlington said.

Can school communities prevent leveling?

Principals have the ability to make cases for why they need certain positions despite the enrollment numbers; officials have said they prevented leveling at 46 schools, retaining 94 teachers who would otherwise have been moved.

Like at King, some communities rallied to try to halt leveling. Parents at Henry Houston Elementary in West Mount Airy, for instance, protested the loss of a fifth-grade teacher.

And at Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy  formerly Chester Arthur Elementary  parents and neighbors sent a petition to the school board asking its members to step in and halt leveling. Anderson struggled with a high number of physical incidents, staff turnover, and negative climate last year, parents said, and needs time and staff to recover.

Its no secret the school is shrinking in fifth grade, the parents wrote; at many neighborhood schools, parents with the ability to do so move their children elsewhere.

Disrupting the current 5th grade social and academic dynamics at this challenging moment is not the right way to address this ongoing problematic enrollment pattern, the parents petition said. To the contrary, it gives a clear message to the K-4 families in the neighborhood, and this message does not encourage them to stay after 4th grade. If the district wants strong, desirable neighborhood schools through 8th grade, it needs to invest in it; providing continuity is one way to achieve that.

Kait Yulmans fifth-graders class at Marian Anderson just ballooned from 14 to 27. The teacher is great, but its a lot of kids in a too-small space, Yulman said.

Its a tough spot for Anderson, but the school staff and community will figure it out, Yulman said. But the practice is disruptive in ways large and small and pits under-resourced schools against each other.

The school district is working against its own interests, said Yulman. This isnt frivolous. This isnt Oh, we couldnt get the nicer pencils. These are essential roles.
The University of Pennsylvanias board of trustees have declined a request from graduate and undergraduate students to have voting representatives on the board.

Scott L. Bok, chair of the board of trustees, wrote in a letter to students that they already serve on trustee committees, as well as on university council and other bodies.

Your work as an advocate for students at Penn greatly contributes to their success and to that of the university, he wrote in the July 11 letter. We appreciate your efforts and those of the many students who lend their voices to governance-related discussions. However, given the existing avenues for student representation, your resolutions proposing to amend the Statutes of the University will not be moved forward at this time.

 READ MORE: Penn students want voting rights on its board of trustees, like some other colleges

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Penns Undergraduate Assembly and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly earlier this year requested that one student from each of their groups be appointed to the 54-member trustee board, with full voting rights. They said having a student voice and vote in the room where decisions are made is vital.

What does a university board of trustees do?

The board at any university has vast oversight. Among its tasks, it sets tuition and room and board, selects the president, and establishes investment policy.

Across the region, student membership on trustee boards varies, The Inquirer found earlier this year. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which oversees 10 state universities, including West Chester and Cheyney, has three student members with full voting privileges on its board of governors. Others that have students who are full-fledged voting members include Pennsylvania State University, which added a student in 2015, and Rowan University in New Jersey.

Rutgers and Temple have a student on the board, but they dont vote. Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges and La Salle and St. Josephs Universities, like Penn, dont have students on their boards.

Asked about Penns decision, Bok said: Penn appoints as trustees people who have had many years of involvement at the university in different volunteer and board capacities, so appointees have far more relevant experience than any student could have.

He emphasized the long-standing involvement that students have had on trustee committees.

We believe that continues to be the right approach, he said.

Whats next for Penns student leaders?

Robert Blake Watson, former head of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly who graduated from Penns law school and Graduate School of Education earlier this year, said there doesnt seem to be much more students can do at this point to gain voting representatives on the trustees board.

Undergraduate and graduate student leaders have sent countless statements, letters, and resolutions to administration communicating our desire to have representation, said Watson, who now works in a legal public service position in Scranton. If that wasnt enough, then students should focus on improving the representation students do have while continuing to call for more democratic and inclusive governance.

Michael Krone, current president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, said students who serve as liaisons to the trustee committees may actually have a more influential role because thats where a lot of discussion and deliberation takes place.

Our mission this year is to use the roles that we have .... to take a more active role in dialogue and deliberation in matters facing each of those committees, said Krone, 26, of Lafayette Hill, a graduate student in his third year at both the law school and Wharton.
A drone drops an inflatable rescue tube into the water to Brendan Santangelo, a lead guard with the Atlantic City Beach Patrol, as he acts as a rescue victim in the ocean during a demonstration in Atlantic City on Tuesday. Read more

ATLANTIC CITY  As Brendan Santangelo, a lead guard with the Atlantic City Beach Patrol, waited below in the waves Tuesday, a drone hovered above. It was directed by Jamie Allen, the fire departments lead drone pilot, standing on the beach.

With a push of a button, the drone released its cargo: a flotation device that automatically inflates when it hits the water. And there it was, glistening in the sun on the drone controller screen: the long yellow Restube, grabbed by Santangelo, whose role was to portray a distressed swimmer.

He was then scooped up by helmeted lifeguard Louis Parks and taken into shore by personal watercraft, followed by the drone, which also made it safely to shore.

It will be a summer of new technology in Atlantic City, as drones will join seagulls over the beach and ocean. Beach Patrol units will have a fleet of drones to aid in rescues and before- and after-hours patrolling and response, as well as shark and other hazard spotting.

On Tuesday, members of the storied 132-year-old ACBP aided by fire department officials and representatives of National Aerospace Research & Technology Park, based in Egg Harbor Townshipdemonstrated the latest technological advance they say will greatly expedite rescues.

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The drones squawked out siren warnings and voiced shark alerts and orders for swimmers to leave the water. The drones will be programmed to be able to issue these warnings in multiple languages, said Fire Chief Scott Evans.

A 24-hour town with lots of riptides

The drones will leverage the coverage currently provided by lifeguards, a fleet of personal watercraft, paddle boards and the iconic fiberglass Van Duyne surf boats, said Evans. He said Atlantic City is also using drones for code enforcement and firefighting.

The thing about Atlantic City, were a 24-hour town, said Evans. Our beach patrols are on 10 to 6. A lot of swimmers tend to come out earlier, and they tend to stay a lot later. We can notify swimmers to please stay out of the water. During early-morning recons, the drone can patrol for rip currents.

Having the ability to have a drone to scan the entire beach, the experienced lifeguards will be able to pick the rip currents out pretty easily and share that information.

Arcady Shteynberg, owner of the company that manufactures the Restubes, was also on hand Tuesday, demonstrating how the device uses a CO2 canister that causes it to inflate when it hits the water.

He said he is also working with New York Police and Fire Department, U.S. Secret Service, and harbor patrol, plus New Jersey beach patrols in Lower Township and Wildwood Crest. The water goes inside an arming cap, which pushes a pressure plate down to puncture the CO2 canister, which inflates the device.

It can be [a game changer] to bring something out immediately, Shteynberg said. But it will still be at the responsibility of the lifeguards and the rescue crews who are out there to ensure theyre doing their first primary role. This is just a tool to help them.

Beach Patrol Capt. Michelle Burwell said the drones will be a great help with monitoring A.C.s complex beach terrain for rip currents, which cause serious problems for swimmers all summer long, especially after hours with inexperienced swimmers.

We have outfall pipes, pier, jetties, rock piles, she said. That causes rip currents to pop up. We have rip currents that push through sand bars. That can cause people that are not strong swimmers to get into trouble.

Well be able to launch the drones in a matter of seconds. before we can deploy the after-hours response team.

Evans said that the drone footage will be monitored at Beach Patrol headquarters on South Carolina Avenue, and that the footage will stay with the beach patrol and the city of Atlantic City, in accordance with general records regulations.

Eventually, Scott said the city anticipates having an app that the public can use to get the same alerts.

The public can say, Im going to the Atlantic City beach today, let me open my app, and OK, weve got rip currents on Chelsea [Avenue], or Seaside or Victoria; theyd be aware of that.

He said the drones would not be used to patrol any misbehavior or rule breaking on the beach, but instead be used as a teaching tool.

You get this aerial view of a rip current, you can teach the young lifeguards. Were really going to educate our employes.

Though the surf boats are out-maneuvered by both personal watercraft and drones, theyre not going anywhere. Were still going to keep the boats, he said. Were Atlantic City. Were going to keep the boats.
The African American Cultural Center is hoping its new executive director will bring stability to an organization that in recent years has seen significant turnover in leadership and staffing.

During a news conference Tuesday announcing her appointment, Leah Angel Daniel said the cultural center played a vital role in her life growing up, and she wants to re-establish its role in the community, as well as help lead the effort to build a new center.

One of the key things that we want to do here is rebuild the trust and connection to the community in the Masten District, Daniel said. Its no secret that weve gone through tumultuous times in leadership after Agnes Bain passed away.

Daniel, a doctoral candidate in executive leadership at the University at Buffalo, said she drew inspiration from Bain, who was executive director for 41 years before her death in 2020.

Its a privilege to walk in her tutelage, she said.

Community leaders seek intervention at African American Cultural Center The executive director of the African American Cultural Center was fired last week, days after publicly accusing the board of directors of unprofessional and unethical conduct.

The center has seen considerable turbulence since Bains death. There have been several interim executive directors and unwanted attention after Tina Washington Abubeker accused current board members of unprofessional and unethical conduct when she resigned in September 2021. Most recently, James Pitts, who filled that role as a consultant, left abruptly earlier this year.

Bishop Michael Badger, board chairman, defended the board and expressed confidence in Daniels selection.

She brings a wealth of expertise and a profound commitment to this community, Badger said.

Daniel is also a graduate of the Empire State Development and East Side Avenue community-based real estate training program.

There has been a leadership vacuum since Ms. Bain passed away, and what we have now is someone who will take that mantle and move forward, County Legislator Howard Johnson said.

African American Cultural Center unveils plans for new building "Coming out of the May 14 tragedy, we need something to show that the future is bright," Executive Director James Pitts said.

Daniel, who said she had a special passion for working with at-risk and foster youth, said she wants to make the center a safe haven  a place where people feel like home.

I grew up in the foster care system, and what I felt here was safety, warmth and love, and being able to learn things about my culture that I could not learn on television or in books otherwise. I am hoping to rebuild that intergenerational community again.

She said she hopes to hear from community members about how they want the center to be used.

The African American Cultural Center offers a summer program, after-school program and the Paul Robeson Theatre, which is offering a full season this year under the leadership of veteran actor and director Verneice Turner, who is serving pro bono.

Renderings drawn by CJS Architects were unveiled by Pitts in March for a new cultural center that is seven times the current size, with a 250-seat theater with more than double current seating, to replace the 77-year-old home at 350 Masten Ave. The estimated cost was $18 million, Badger said.

Paul Robeson Theatre readies for full season with county's help Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin on Tuesday announced that the African American Cultural Center, which houses the Paul Robeson Theatre, will receive a $20,000 grant for the upcoming season.

Mayor Byron Brown, he added, has committed $1 million to the project, which would remain at its current location on Masten, along Glenwood Avenue.

Thats going to start us off, and I think there is a lot of good will in the community to see this project done, Badger said.

But on Tuesday, the focus was on Daniel.

I look forward to a long, long tenure, Badger said.
More than 1,000 people, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, gathered at sunset Monday evening outside a Jewish community center in Wynnewood to mourn the victims of the assault on Israel this weekend and call for solidarity ahead of the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in over five decades.

The rally, organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia at the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center, marked the largest local showing of support since Hamas launched an unprecedented invasion on Saturday. It came on the heels of a pro-Palestine rally in Philadelphia Sunday that drew over 200 people to Center City in what organizers called a emergency solidarity rally to show support and denounce what they called Israeli aggression.

A somber air hovered over the crowd Monday as Jewish Federation CEO Michael Balaban expressed the local Jewish communitys horror watching the conflict unfold from 6,000 miles away  from checking in on Israeli friends and family to monitoring the growing death toll and the ongoing hostage situation.

Right now we stand united, but we also stand in pain together, Balaban said, choking up with emotion. We are heartbroken, we are grieving, and we are angry.

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The rally was also attended by droves of local elected officials  including Shapiro, who reiterated his earlier condemnation of the weekend assault.

This is not a moment to retreat from who we are, but to be proud of who we are, Shapiro told the crowd, to applause.

Shapiro, the third Jewish governor in commonwealth history, said the attack required moral clarity between both sides of the long-simmering conflict, calling Israel the only pluralistic functioning democracy in the Middle East.

There is no moral equivalency between Hamas and Israel, he said. We are witnessing crimes against humanity;  we must call out what is right and what is so obviously wrong.

The rally came on the third day of what experts say could be yet another protracted conflict that will likely receive sustained public attention from both Jewish and Palestinian groups in the Philadelphia area.

The region is home to an expanding Jewish population throughout the five counties as well as smaller, concentrated pockets of Palestinians in places like North Philadelphia.

 READ MORE: How Philly-area residents and organizations are reacting to the Israeli-Gaza conflict

Across the Delaware River on Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered flags throughout the state to fly at half-staff in mourning of the lives lost in Israel and in the Mideast region.

In Wynnewood, rally attendees and speakers touched on the scope of the violence and the innocent civilian lives that have already been lost, as well as the estimated 150 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas as of Monday evening.

Saturdays surprise attacks marked the deadliest day for Israel in more than 50 years. Experts estimate the long-term death toll of the conflict will likely be disproportionate for Palestinians. (As of Monday night, at least 900 people in Israel have been killed, according to the military, and 687 people in Gaza and the West Bank are dead, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Thousands more have been injured on each side of the conflict, according to the representatives from both states.)

The Gaza Strip, an area roughly the same size as Philadelphia but with a denser population of 2 million, has lived under blockade since 2007. In his remarks, Shapiro did not mention specific grievances from the Palestinian front, but denounced what he called whataboutism that some have used to justify Hamas actions.

It demonstrates a willful blindness to the barbarism of the last 72 hours, he said.

Marcia Bronstein, regional director of the American Jewish Committee in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, called the outpouring of support for Israel from the local community enormous.
Montgomery County detectives are investigating after police shot and killed a 69-year-old woman who they say pointed her gun at officers and EMTs on Sunday in Upper Moreland. Read more

The Montgomery County District Attorneys Office is investigating after police fatally shot a 69-year-old woman in Upper Moreland Township.

Police and medics responded to calls of a woman  later identified as Mary Meister  waving a gun outside of a home on the 100 block of Evans Avenue in Willow Grove just after 5 p.m. Sunday. Upper Moreland Township police say Meister pointed the gun at medics dispatched to the scene and did not comply when asked to drop the weapon.

Meister then turned the gun on the officers, police said, and an officer shot her. Meister was taken to Abington Hospital, where she was pronounced dead Sunday night.

Montgomery County detectives are investigating the shooting. The name of the officer who shot Meister has not been released.

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On Monday, the 100 block of Evans Avenue was quiet, save for the occasional truck passing by on nearby Old York Road.

On the front porch of Meisters house were the remnants of Sundays shooting. A black examination glove lay on one step. Gravel covered what appeared to be a blood stain.

John Gavin, 77, who has lived in the area for about 50 years, said it was a quiet, safe neighborhood.

Another resident, who declined to give her name for safety reasons, recounted the shooting.

Late afternoon Sunday, she said, she and her daughter heard what sounded like a gunshot. About 20 minutes later, as she was about to go on an afternoon run, at least two police officers had gathered near her house, and she told officers her family had heard a gunshot earlier.

She went back inside and as many as 10 officers soon arrived, at least four with their guns drawn, and pointed them at the front of Meisters house, she said.

A tense standoff began, with officers pleading with Meister as she was apparently on the phone with her daughter, said the neighbor.

There was an officer saying, Please put your gun down. Were here to help you,  the neighbor said.

She said she could not see Meister clearly from the second-floor window from which she and her family observed the standoff from across the street.

Shortly after, the neighbor heard four gunshots coming from the porch, and the officers quickly fired the same number of shots, she said. Meister was later taken away in an ambulance.

Staff writer Robert Moran contributed to this article.
The Gritty Calendar, which went on sale Tuesday, benefits Flyers Charities. Read more

Puppies, kittens, and cheesy motivational sayings be warned: Theres a new calendar star in town and things are about to get Gritty.

The Philadelphia Flyers released the first calendar dedicated to their oscillating orange mascot on Tuesday, and its filled with pictures of Gritty in costumes like a Santa suit, and showing off some fur, posing as Cupid.

Greased up firefighters have been real quiet since they found out I was getting into the calendar game, Gritty said in a news release.

Along with the Flyers 2024 schedule, the calendar includes handwritten notes and reminders from Gritty. On Jan. 16, one reads: Consider going on a run but dont. Blame the weather.

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Shot this summer by Pel Productions, the calendar includes pictures of Gritty popping bottles in January for the new year and dressed up like a turkey for November.

For October, Gritty donned a NASA astronaut costume and posed with Flyers left winger Nicolas Deslauriers and his four kids, who also appear in Halloween costumes.

My kids are big Gritty fans and when the opportunity came around to get dressed up and have a photo shoot, we were excited to get involved, Deslauriers said in the release. We had a lot fun and are glad it was all ultimately for a great cause.

Proceeds from the calendar, which costs $25, will benefit Flyers Charities.

It doesnt matter where you hang it. What matters is that I did a good thing for charity and you have an opportunity to do a great thing for charity when you buy it. That being said, please hang it in a temperature controlled, dehumidified environment with proper ventilation and no direct sunlight. This babys gotta last you all year, Gritty said in the release.

Gritty teased the calendar in August on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to much fanfare.

I might be a Canadiens fan but I need that calendar, one person wrote.

Anyone who has ever cared about me will get me one, another said.

The calendar is available at FlyersCharities.com.
Barber Darnell Washington, 29, (left) and the barber known as Silver Da Barber, 45, (right) consult on this high school student's haircut inside of Philly Fades 2 barbershop located on South Street in Philadelphia. The barbers often cut the hair of many people from different age groups and backgrounds. Read more

Barbershops and salons are the backbone of many communities in Philadelphia. Its where people get a taste of entrepreneurship, where vital information is shared, and how some people make it through school.

We had a young lady who was a shampoo girl at our shop. She attended West Catholic High School in the early 2000s, and her mother fell on hard times, said Darryl Thomas, a Philly barber and owner of Philly Cuts Barbershop in West Philly. We took up collections for her and encouraged people to call her schools office and put some money on her tuition tab. Well, she graduated from West Catholic. Four years later, I come into work, and I see a Villanova University degree at my station.

Thats something that everyone played a part in, and thats the community, he added.

Barbershops and beauty salons like Philly Cuts play crucial roles in their neighborhood, from helping Dreamers attain citizenship and disseminating information about COVID-19 to simply being a safe place to talk with neighbors. COVID-19 precautions forced the industry to close up in the early years of the pandemic. It was a financial blow to some of the most crucial community spaces in the city.

Throughout COVID, we could not participate in business because were not restaurants. We werent able to operate through the pandemic by way of takeout, said Thomas, who saw revenue drop 70% to 80%. It was very scary; it was very shocking. Barbershops and beauty salons are still struggling  were not out of the woods yet.

In 2021, the city awarded one-time $5,000 grants to 159 businesses to help relieve the financial stress salons and barbershops were going through. Now, a second round of relief is here through the Salon and Barbershop Emergency Relief (SABER) program  this time providing $10,000 grants.

T The new grants are designed to help small businesses install new safety equipment, upgrade scheduling technology and payment systems, and invest in social media marketing. The Pennsylvania Professional Image Alliance (PPAI), a coalition of Philly barbershops and salons, founded in 2020, is helping the citys barbershops apply for the grant in partnership with Beech Capital Venture Corp. The SABER program is possible through an investment from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce as a part of its equitable business growth strategies.

One-time $10,000 grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Small-business owners can apply for the grant at beechcompanies.com/saber-grant-application.

If you need help applying or have questions, contact Ann Turner, president of PPAI and owner of Hair Du Jour salon in West Philly, at 445-225-9413 or pennproia2.0@gmail.com.

How do small businesses qualify for a grant?

These are the requirements:
Texas-based Dredgit is pumping the muck from north side of Schuylkill river and loading onto a barge below Spring Garden Bridge over the river on Tuesday morning August 9, 2022. Read more

For Schuylkill rowers, the second dredge will hopefully be the charm.

The Texas-based contractor Dredgit has begun dredging the portion of the river in front of Boathouse Row  the first phase of a $13 million project that will later include the storied national racecourse farther upstream.

The company will pump the spoils over Fairmount Dam to a waiting barge that will haul it to Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River.

A previous dredge was halted in November 2020 when that contractor, South Jersey-based Atlantic Subsea, refused to continue, saying the river was filled with too much large debris, and prompted a long dispute with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is managing the project.

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For now, the rowers are hopeful the muck can be cleared in front of docks and allow smooth sailing once again. In some locations, silt has completely blocked direct access to the river from the boathouse docks. The dredge is expected to take 60 days.

This restart to the dredging is obviously an important milestone in what has been a long journey, said Bonnie Mueller, commodore of the Schuylkill Navy, the governing body for the amateur clubs that own the houses along the river. She thanked both the city and Army Corps for sticking with the project.

A representative of Dredgit referred questions to the Army Corps.

The contractor began cycles of test dredging on Aug. 1, said Steve Rochette, a spokesperson for the Army Corps. They are continuing to test aspects of their setup and anticipate ramping up to full production mode sometime this week.

The project has been beset by troubles since rowers first started to raise funding in 2018.

The river above the dam has not been dredged since 1999, causing silt to build up, leaving mud or land in front of some of the boathouses where there used to be water. Farther upstream, two lanes along the racecourse are also shallower than others, creating a competitive disadvantage.

So rowers raised $4.5 million for the dredge over the course of years hoping to have it completed for regattas, which they fear losing to competitors. The City of Philadelphia, the state, universities with rowing clubs, the William Penn Foundation, the rowing and paddling communities, and members of the public all pitched in.

The Army Corps awarded the contract to Atlantic Subsea, but it complained it hit unanticipated snags such as tires, concrete, trash, trees, railroad ties, and pilings. It said that debris was not part of the deal and required more equipment and money, triggering the dispute with the Army Corps in November 2020 that continues.

In May, Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) announced millions in new federal money to kick-start the stalled project, bringing total funding available to $13 million  far and above the original price tag.

 READ MORE: Millions in new funding is coming to restart dredging on Schuylkill along Boathouse Row, regatta racecourse

The Army Corps awarded a new project to Dredgit. But part of the money wont be available until the new fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, for the second phase of the dredge that includes the national course farther upstream where the major regattas, including Stotesbury and Dad Vail are held.

Were still determining the path forward for dredging the racecourse, Rochette said.
FILE - The Airbnb app icon is displayed on an iPad screen in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2021. Airbnb Inc. reports quarterly financial results on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Were in for another partly sunny day with a high of 67.

We have a lot of news to get through today.

First up, were starting to see the impacts of city regulations that went into effect for Airbnb and other short-term rentals earlier this year. The result is a shrinking industry in Philly.

Our lead story breaks down the numbers.

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 Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Tap into the Airbnb app locally, and there will likely be less to choose from than a few months ago.

Phillys efforts to regulate the short-term rental industry have led to the number of available offerings on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to dwindle.

Deckard Technologies tracks the industry nationally and found that roughly 1,000 hosts in Philadelphia switched from short to long-term rentals at the beginning of the year when new city regulations went into effect. Hundreds more followed suit after the city began to seriously enforce the new rules in July.

According to Philadelphias Department of Licenses and Inspections, 1,850 hosts have been delisted from platforms like Airbnb and VRBO after the crackdown on unlicensed operators began in July.

What did the new laws do? They reinforced a long-standing but not well-enforced regulation requiring a hotel license for properties operating short-term rentals where the owners dont reside.

Continue reading for the broader context on cities across the country becoming stricter on the industry.

While on a stage at an event talking to supporters, Philly GOP mayoral candidate David Oh rattled off a list of the ethnic and racial groups represented in his coalition. He made sure to do this twice.

In his own words: Ukrainians, Georgians, Belarussians, Oh, 63, said. Iranians, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Dominican, Italian American, African American, Caribbean.

As a Republican in a heavily Democratic city, he won three City Council elections by patching together a diverse coalition of groups not usually involved with city politics, from Ukrainian Americans to the DHS moms, his name for mothers whose children are in the custody of Department of Human Services.

Reminder: His method worked for his reelection campaign in 2019 while his GOP colleagues fell short against the Working Families Partys historic attempt to take two Council seats set aside for non-Democrats. Oh scored votes from across the city while other Republicans got their votes almost exclusively from conservative areas in the far Northeast and South Philly.

Hes hoping to use his diverse base of supporters to make this the first competitive general election for mayor in 20 years.

What you should know today

Thanks to ABCs The Golden Bachelor, the topic of older Americans hooking up is popping up in everyday discussion.

You might not like the idea of grandma going out on the town, but she probably is.

Notable quote: Seeing older people on TV demonstrating interest in others, along with sexual desire, shows that we dont change much as we age, said Ilene Warner-Maron, a professor in the department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. If you want to ride a bike and you still can, who says youre too old? In life, theres no such thing as a dirty old man or woman.

A few ladies spoke to us about what the dating world is like for the over-65 crowd.

 Trivia time 

President Joe Bidens visit to Philly on Friday comes less than six weeks since the last time he was here.

After Friday, how many times will he have visited the city this year?

A) 10

B) 8

C) 5

D) 4

Think you know? Check your answer.

What were...

 Sharing: How to go straight to the CEO when customer service doesnt work.

Wondering: Why the Atlanta Braves mascot, Blooper, thought it could come for the Phanatic.

 Unscramble the anagram 

Hint: Major road 

ARBOR DETEST

Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Susan Becker, who correctly guessed Mondays answer: Styer Orchard. Email us if you know the answer.

Photo of the day

Ill catch you tomorrow!
Kennedy quit his bid for the Democratic nomination for the White House. His family name and history are synonymous with the Democratic Party, but he had been attacking the DNC for not holding primary debates (the norm when a partys incumbents are running for reelection).
Republican David Oh served almost three terms on City Council before resigning in February to run for mayor. Read more

Republican David Oh stood onstage at a cavernous South Philly dim sum restaurant last month and spoke to dozens of supporters about his long-shot campaign for mayor, promising them they could change the face of politics in the city.

During a 15-minute speech, he rattled off a list of the ethnic and racial groups represented in his coalition  twice.

Ukrainians, Georgians, Belarussians, Oh, 63, said. Iranians, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Dominican, Italian American, African American, Caribbean.

His point?

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We cannot really have a great city, we cannot turn this city around, we cannot provide, the former City Council member said, if everyone is not at the table.

 READ MORE: David Oh has a unique coalition of voters. Heres how he is different than other Philly Republicans.

Oh, who is Korean American, has a unique role in Philadelphia politics. As a Republican in a Democratic town who has clashed with both party establishments, he has won three Council elections by patching together a diverse coalition of groups not typically involved in city politics, from Ukrainian Americans to the DHS moms, his name for mothers whose children are in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

His atypical voter base was apparent in the last several Council elections, in which he won votes across the city while other Republicans drew almost exclusively from more conservative areas in the Far Northeast and South Philadelphia.

Its why Oh was able to win reelection in 2019 while his GOP colleagues came up short against the progressive Working Families Partys historic attempt to capture Councils two seats that are effectively set aside for non-Democrats.

The question now is whether Oh can use his unique base of supporters to make this the first competitive general election for mayor in 20 years.

In being a citywide elected official, I tried to represent people that have been just ignored by the city, he said, adding: Its almost impossible for a Republican to win, all things being equal. [But] all things are not equal.

By that, Oh means that he is not a regular Philadelphia Republican.

Albert Eisenberg, a local GOP political consultant, said he believes Oh will do better than Republicans have in recent elections because he has demonstrated crossover appeal, which is crucial.

The Asian restaurant owners  they all know David Oh. The Uzbeks in Northeast Philly  they all know David Oh. The veterans  they all know David Oh, Eisenberg said. He is someone who knows how to show up and knows how to represent constituent groups needs.

 READ MORE: David Oh is serious about running for mayor. The GOP is listening.

Still, Oh faces a monumental challenge in the Nov. 7 general election against Democratic nominee Cherelle Parker in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1 in voter registration.

No Republican has won a Philly mayors race since Bernard Samuel in 1947, and the last GOP nominee who came close was Sam Katz, who lost to Mayor John F. Street in 1999 and 2003.

Southwest Philadelphia, born and raised

The son of Korean immigrants, Oh grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and graduated from Central High School and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.

His father, the Rev. Ki Hang Oh, was the founder and pastor of the first Korean-American church in Philadelphia.

He still lives in Southwest Philadelphia with his wife and four children and says it shapes his policy positions, particularly on public safety. In 2017, he was stabbed near his home during a botched robbery.

He says he has a nuanced view on policing, believing that officers must be empowered to enforce laws, but you cant simply just deploy police all over the place, because people feel invaded.

Other Council people present like they grew up in the hood. They havent lived there in 40 years, Oh said. A lot of people in our city do not really know how other people live, and they dont know really what impacts them.

Oh earned a law degree from Rutgers University in Camden and worked as a prosecutor in Philadelphia before resigning in 1988 to join the Army.

He graduated from the Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard, stationed in Maryland.

Ohs characterization of his military service has generated controversy. In 2011, he apologized for claiming that he was a member of the Green Berets, the elite special forces of the Army. Ohs National Guard unit is part of the Special Forces, and he began the selection process to become a Green Beret after his unit was activated during the first Gulf War.

 READ MORE: Philly mayoral candidate David Oh once apologized for saying he was a Green Beret. But he now repeats the claims.

But Oh was not selected to complete the training, and his unit was never sent into combat. The issue seemed to be behind him until this year, when he repeated his claim to being a Green Beret and was criticized by a veterans group.

After receiving an honorable discharge, Oh opened a law practice in Philadelphia and became involved in civic and political activities. He served on former Mayor Ed Rendells transition committee and led a trade mission to South Korea for former Gov. Tom Ridge.

He ran for Council unsuccessfully twice before prevailing in 2011 and winning reelection in 2015 and 2019.

Ohs victories are notable because he was never backed  and was sometimes actively targeted  by the Philadelphia GOP establishment. On Council, Oh cemented his antagonistic relationship with his own party by pushing to audit the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which is controlled by the state and was widely seen as the last bastion of Republican patronage jobs in city government.

For the most part, Oh steered away from partisan political issues in Council, preferring to work on issues important to niche communities. On a range of issues from immigration to abortion, he is well to the left of the national Republican mainstream.

But he voted repeatedly to cut taxes, and he joined his GOP colleagues in 2016 by voting against Mayor Jim Kenneys tax on soda and other sweetened beverages.

Oh says he cast a write-in vote for Republican Jeb Bush in the 2016 general election for president, but voted for Donald Trump in 2020.

He said hes trying to separate himself from national politics because President Biden or Trump or whomever has no authority to fill a pothole in this city.

An unapologetic advocate

As one of only a handful of Republicans on Council, Oh was rarely involved in passing major legislation. But he became entangled in several notable disputes with his colleagues, sometimes sparked by him pushing legislation that had little chance of passing but was important to an overlooked constituency.

Oh, for instance, frustrated his fellow lawmakers last year when he insisted Council call for a no-fly zone over parts of Ukraine amid Russias invasion. The resolution failed, with then-Councilmember Helen Gym saying, I do not believe our City Council body should issue a declaration of war.

Three months later, another colleague, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, accused Oh of starting a misinformation campaign around her legislation to provide municipal hiring preferences to candidates who complete career and technical education.

Gilmore Richardson said Oh riled up veterans by saying it would effectively weaken hiring preferences for them  ignoring that the legislation stated those students could not get a job over a veteran with similar qualifications.

Im not the first colleague hes done this to, Gilmore Richardson said during a Council session. Councilmember Oh, can you please publicly state to this body how you came to my office and asked me not to introduce this bill and basically, you would sic the veterans on me if I did?

Oh denied the episode happened and said he was standing up for a community that sees him as an ally.

 READ MORE: This Philly mayors race isnt over yet. Heres what to expect this fall.

And in 2017, Oh was the chief opponent of legislation to regulate so-called stop-and-gos, convenience stores that serve alcohol. The bill, crafted by Councilmember Cindy Bass, banned large food establishments from installing bulletproof glass partitions, which she said dehumanized customers in Black neighborhoods.

Asian American beer deli owners, supported by Oh, rallied against it, saying the legislation could jeopardize their safety. The debate was heated, with the two sides split largely by race. The legislation ultimately passed.

The next year, Oh accidentally broke his sons collarbone while practicing martial arts, a hospital social worker reported the incident, and the city Department of Human Services investigated. They ultimately cleared Oh of wrongdoing, but he was nonetheless incensed that he had been investigated.

He questioned the agencys child removal policies and a year later held a hearing featuring dozens of mothers criticizing city officials in emotional testimony. The agency pushed back on Ohs accusations, and the hearing did not result in significant policy changes. But Oh had tapped into a new community of supporters.

In each of these cases, Oh says he saw it as his duty to represent a constituency he sees as ignored.

Its important to show them that theyre important to us in the city, Oh said. And beyond showing up to festivals, dinners, and flag-raisings. They have issues.

Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. said he admired Oh for being outspoken and unapologetically himself, but hasnt seen many tangible results.

Its good to take a relevant issue and try to amplify it on this platform, Jones said. But at the end of the day, does it become a verb? Does it become an action?

Matchup math

When Oh resigned from Council in February to enter the mayors race, he acknowledged that his best shot at winning the general election would be if Democrats nominated someone from the far left wing of their party.

But Parker, like Oh, is a centrist with a tough-on-crime platform and a diverse coalition of supporters. In other words, Oh ended up with perhaps the most challenging general election matchup he could have gotten.

Oh is nevertheless campaigning seriously. He has raised about $467,000 as of the last campaign finance reporting period, a respectable sum for a GOP candidate but well short of the millions what he would likely need to compete with Parker.

Oh thinks hell draw more Democratic support than GOP candidates have in the past. Hes pitching himself as a former prosecutor who believes state and local laws need to be enforced. He says the police should arrest people for public drug use, and he opposes efforts to keep police from enforcing some low-level offenses.

Hes also telling voters that hes the candidate most capable of making change because hes clashed with both party machines  unlike Parker, a political insider.

And he says hes doing the work to meet with residents from groups large and small, while Parker has kept a light campaign schedule since the primary.

The momentums with me, and its not because the moneys with me, he said. There will come a point in time where [Parkers] team is going to understand... that she might lose this race.

 READ MORE: Cherelle Parker is proud of her West Oak Lane roots. As mayor, could she save Phillys middle neighborhoods?

Oh is hoping he can pull off the upset with the support of voters like Allan Wong, of South Philadelphia, who attended Ohs event last month at the dim sum restaurant.

Wong switched his voter registration from Democrat to independent and said politics dont matter much to him, but he has followed Ohs career for years.

His support is a lot broader than most Republicans, Wong, 77, said. Hes a person who really wants to help the community, and not just Asians. He reaches out to the entire city, and he hears us.

Staff writer Aseem Shukla contributed to this article.
The Delaware County Courthouse in Media. The county Democratic Party voted to suggest that three GOP judges not be retained in November. Others call it an unprecedented partisan move. Read more

Local judicial races rarely attract attention, but partisan politics are playing a role in a Delaware County race this fall.

In a move insiders say represents a bold shift in local politics, Delaware County Democrats are recommending that voters remove three Republican judges from the county Court of Common Pleas in November.

Its rare for local party officials to get involved in judicial retention elections  in which voters decide every 10 years whether a sitting judge should remain on the bench.

The Delaware County Democratic Committee is bucking a long-standing norm.

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Theres a real tradition of not ever challenging the retention of a judge, unless they do something extremely egregious, said Colleen Guiney, chair of the Delaware County Democratic Committee. I always said no, but the calls got louder over the last five years.

Sweeping political change came to Delaware County  the states fifth largest  in 2019, when Democrats wrested control of local government in the long-standing GOP stronghold for the first time since the Civil War.

But buoyed by the blue wave, in which the Philadelphia suburbs have shifted toward support for Democrats up and down the ticket, some progressive voices have since called on leaders to treat bipartisan venues like the court system with a more competitive spirit.

Theres this sentiment here that we took back the county, were in power, weve got it all going for us. said David Brown, a Democratic activist and candidate for state representative in Haverford Township who argued that the party should recommend against retaining GOP judges. Well, I hate to break it to them, when our judiciary is overwhelmingly Republican, you cant really say the county is run by Democrats.

The county GOP has, in turn, warned that such a move sets a dangerous precedent.

Once judges are elected, they are nonpartisan, said Lindsey Conan, vice chair of the Delaware County GOP. All three [judges] are highly respected members of the bench. The fact that they would recommend a no-vote shows that theyre trying to treat the bench as anything but bipartisan.

A rare recommendation

Passed by a narrow 18-17 majority last Wednesday, the county Democrats decision not to support retention of three GOP judges from the Delaware County Court means the party will share that recommendation with voters ahead of the Nov. 7 general election.

Guiney said the partys decision is not to criticize any individual decisions made by the judges.

Those judges, Richard M. Cappelli, Barry C. Dozor, and William Chip Mackrides, have either run as or been endorsed by Republicans.

Both Cappelli and Mackrides face their first retention vote since winning election in 2013. Voters have retained Dozor once before. As Common Pleas Court judges, they preside over criminal and civil proceedings at the county level.

The office of Delaware County Court President Judge Linda A. Cartisano did not immediately return a request for comment.

Judges up for retention do not list their party affiliation on the ballot and do very little campaigning. To survive, they must receive over 50% of voters approval in a yes-no vote.

In Pennsylvanias 54-year history of retention elections, judges have rarely felt the wrath of voters.

In 2021, Delaware Countys last municipal election, about 65% of voters sought to retain each of the handful of judges up for consideration.

While those margins ensured judges a comfortable victory, insiders say splits have tightened in recent election cycles. As recently as a decade ago, according to Guiney, judges regularly won retention with over three-quarters of the vote.

Progressives like Brown did not shy from voicing their personal opinions on retention.

After the Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade last year, Brown became wary of GOP control of the courts  no matter which level.

We cant pretend right now that justice is nonpartisan, Brown said.

Brown, for example, mentioned concerns over Dozors impact on the expansion of privatized charter schools in the city of Chester. He also cited concerns about election cases, but Dozors record includes a ruling last November rejecting Republican-led efforts to stop certification of election results; he ruled that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by election workers.

Guiney said Brown, who is not a member of the county leadership and did not vote as part of their internal process, doesnt speak for the party.

Frank Agovino, chair of the Delaware County GOP, said a similar move from his party would be unprecedented.

Agovino pointed to President Judge Jack A. Panella, a Democrat up for retention on Pennsylvanias Superior Court this year, as an example.

Were not interested in weighing into that, Agovino said.

The Delaware County Bar Association  the countys bipartisan professional group for lawyers  held a vote of its members showing that the three judges have broad support for retention, each garnering over 90% support.

Ive never seen this before, said Joe Mattson, cochair of the bar associations judicial retention committee. Weve got several very well-qualified Democratic judges on our bench. I would just hate to see this become a partisan issue every time a judge comes up for retention.

Division among Democrats on judicial retention

Ahead of the county committees razor-thin vote, even local Democrats were divided on the issue.

Brown leads the grassroots organizing efforts for the Haverford Township Democratic Committee. But because he does not hold a voting position, he urged the members to support ousting the judges last month; just eight members backed him, he said, while over 30 opposed supporting a recommendation.

That was in stark contrast to Upper Darby, the countys largest municipality, where Democratic committee support for a no-retention recommendation was unanimous at a September vote.

We have seen the dangers of electing far-right judges across our nation, said Jennifer Toof, vice chair of the Upper Darby Democratic Committee, after the vote. Our party should work to create opportunities to elect judges who share our Democratic values of fairness, justice, and equality to better serve our diverse community.

Guiney, whos chaired the Delaware County Democratic Committee since 2018, said the countys goal was ultimately to educate voters.

Were not here to criticize any individual decision that any individual judge has made, Guiney said. But I think theres a sense from the voters that they would like to see some reforms in the judicial system  and they dont believe theyre necessarily getting a fair shake at justice with judges who dont reflect their views.
Some of the more than 3,000 tires that have been pulled out of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia as part of a dredge of the racecourse for rowers. This pile was started just downriver of the Columbia Bridge. Read more

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that more than 3,000 tires have been hauled out of the Schuylkill during the second phase of a dredge project aimed at clearing the river of muck for rowers. The illegally dumped debris may cause additional delays for the $13 million project that began in 2020.

Dredgit, the Army Corps contractor completed a first phase of the dredge in front of Boathouse Row in October 2022, and removed 28,000 cubic yards of sediment. Dredgit disposed of the sediment at Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River.

The Texas-based company began the second phrase of the project in mid-July, dredging along the Schuylkill National Course and Adaptive Rowing Lagoon, which are upriver from Boathouse Row. Almost immediately, it began pulling tires out of the river, some of which are large tractor and truck tires.

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During dredging operations, USACEs contractor began pulling numerous tires out of the river north of the Strawberry Mansion Bridge, said Army Corps spokesperson Steve Rochette in an email. Initially, the team wasnt certain if this was an isolated area, but it has continued throughout multiple areas along the Race Course and has prevented dredging operations to continue as originally planned.

The Army Corps has not finalized our path forward at this time, Rochette said.

Dredge plagued by problems

Most of the tires were found just above and below Strawberry Mansion Bridge, though some were found at other points throughout the dredging area. Army Corps officials have been in touch with the citys Streets Department over how to handle the tires, which are being contained in a staging area where they are drying before a contractor can haul them away.

Rochette said the Army Corps has worked with Dredgit to properly dispose of the tires and is coordinating with city officials and the Schuylkill Navy, an association of amateur rowing clubs that pushed for the river to be dredged because it was fearful the increasingly shallow river would impact races.

The Army Corps has also coordinated with the Philadelphia Police Departments environmental crimes unit, which investigates illegal dumping.

Atlantic Subsea, a contractor from Bridgeton, N.J. that handled the first phase of the dredge in front of Boathouse Row, halted work in November 2020, saying it had found too much debris. The company wanted more than the $4.5 million initially raised by the rowers, city, and universities with rowing teams. The Army Corps refused and the deal collapsed, leaving officials to seek another contractor  and come up with millions more to continue.

 READ MORE: Schuylkill dredge project halted as contractor says theres too much debris in river, infuriating rowers

The second phase called for money to dredge along the 2,000-meter National Race Course that parallels Kelly Drive. Army Corps officials came up with millions more from the federal government to restart the project.

Schuylkill Navy officials said Tuesday that removing the tires is a slow process because Dredgit has to use a machine with a claw to dip down and retrieve the tires. The Schuylkill Navy had hoped the dredge would be finished in time for this weekends Navy Day Regatta hosted by St. Josephs University, or by the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta scheduled for the last weekend of October.

Now, the hope is that the dredge can be finished by the end of November when the contractor is due at another location.

Extra cost

Bonnie Mueller, commodore of the Schuylkill Navy, said she expects all lanes in the race course will be uniform and usable for a slate of upcoming regattas.

Mueller said the fall regatta season is robust and could bring a record number of participants and spectators to the river. She credits the city, Army Corps, and Dredgit for working so well with the Schuylkill Navy throughout the process. The current issue with the dredging has no impact on racing, she said, because equipment gets moved out of the way.

She sees the discovery of the tires as a positive, since they will result in a major  if unintended  cleanup of the river. However, she worries their removal could mean the full restoration of the racecourse might not be completed and could require more money.

The extra cost associated with these tires is an expense that we as a rowing community did not create, and it will result in a likely reduction in scope for the intended purpose of these funds, which is a full restoration of the national racecourse, Mueller said. This seems to be a bigger municipal issue than just the restoration of the racecourse. This is bigger than us. So I think a bigger group of individuals and parties should be coming together to solve it.

Mueller said that if Dredgit cannot complete all the work by November, she expects that the rowing community will once again come together to attempt to complete the rivers full restoration.

Over the long term, the racecourse could be at risk if the full dredge isnt complete, she said.

We will look forward to races on the Schuylkill for the short term, immediate future, Mueller said. The Schuylkill Navy will not give up this intended quest to complete this project to its full execution.

Gardner Cadwalader, a former champion Penn rower who competed in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, has followed the fits and starts of the dredge project.

It has always been a wonder what we find in and floating down the Schuylkill, Cadwalader said. 3,000 car tires is the newest geological feature of our dear old river.
An Erie County judge on Tuesday dismissed a murder indictment against a woman accused of fatally shooting her 90-year-old grandmother in Buffalo almost two years ago.

The District Attorneys Office was prohibited from indicting Jamien L. Harris on a murder charge after she already pleaded guilty to gun possession charges. The reason was that prosecutors had enough evidence to charge Harris in the death of Catherine Jones when they indicted her on the weapons charges, Judge Kenneth Case ruled.

The district attorneys office plans to appeal Cases decision, a spokeswoman said. Prosecutors have 30 days to file notice of appeal.

State law doesnt generally allow prosecutors to split up charges that arise from the same incident, defense attorneys Nicholas Texido and Brian Towey said.

These laws are here for a reason, Texido said. Theyre here so that the government cant continue to bring up issues related to the same incident over and over and over again.

Harris, 42, hugged Towey outside the courtroom after Cases ruling.

Police responded to Harris and Jones home on Highgate Avenue on the morning of Nov. 21, 2021. Jones was found dead in the living room, having suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

When police arrived, Harris was in a distressed state, according to details included in Cases decision. She was naked, locked inside, sticking her hands out of broken windows and shouting at the police. Harris was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Officers found two unregistered handguns inside the home.

Harris was arraigned on an indictment in April 2022 on two counts of criminal possession of a firearm. She pleaded guilty to both counts in November 2022.

In January, she was sentenced to five years of probation.

Prosecutors arraigned Harris in May on an indictment charging her with second-degree murder. After that arraignment, District Attorney John Flynn said Harris wasnt charged in her grandmothers death until then for two reasons: the investigation took time and due to strategic purposes  about which he would not elaborate at the time  and he wanted to resolve the gun charges before taking the homicide case to a grand jury.

The only additional evidence prosecutors developed after Harris pleaded guilty to the gun charges was a laboratory analysis that DNA found on the gun that killed Jones matched Harris DNA, according to Tuesdays decision.

That DNA evidence served to support defendants possession of the firearm rather than her using it against Catherine Jones, the judge found.
My focus is on goal setting and habits, talking around writing them down and having an actual plan but keep keeping it simple as well, so not overcomplicating it, he said. Obviously, habits and goal setting merge into one because youve got to build good habits to then achieve those goals but its really for some of the younger guys or gals that dont make that part of their routine and trying to change their way of thinking a little.
Kennedys is a fantastic opportunity for myself and my team to further our careers with a firm that is established and well-respected and continues to thrive and grow particularly in its corporate and commercial arm. Our clients are typically split across different sectors, so I am looking forward to getting to know colleagues and adding real value for clients across the different practice groups, Brown said.
In Macgregors new role, she will be focusing on industry leadership in outcomes for customers and will be tasked to deliver value in the companys partnerships with financial advisers and strategic alliance partners as well as provide Australians with access to high-quality life insurance solutions through the channels they choose.
Away from purely insurance-based concerns, the rise of AI and its potential for enabling highly sophisticated scams in the digital sphere will certainly help to focus minds around the threat of cybercrime and help to highlight the value of cyber insurance all the more, Davis said.
Digital technology allows insurers to gather and process large sets of data using connected devices, data analytics, and machine learning. This will allow more holistic and accurate risk assessments and better pricing of risks. Digital solutions can also automate standardised tasks, such as data collection and analysis for underwriting, driving down costs and ultimately leading to lower premiums. Insurers' digital transformation projects are targeting 3% to 8% improvement in loss ratios and savings of 10% to 20% in other parts of the value chain.
The use of fraudulent, temporary vehicle identification tags continues to be a widespread problem in the District and across the country, said Eric De Campos, the organizations director of strategy, policy and government affairs. Criminals are using long-expired or outright counterfeited tags to create ghost cars, which are then used to facilitate other violent crimes such as shootings and carjackings.
Were very excited to have Jordan on board with market leading support from Allianz Commercial, Rokstone CEO James Potter said. He is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable aviation underwriters in the world and were excited to be working with him to develop and grow a global market leading aviation portfolio. We continue to broaden our specialty (re)insurance portfolio, expanding both our footprint and our appetite, working alongside our capacity partners to continue to outperform the market.
National politics continues to get wackier and wackier with what POLITICO Magazine termed the sudden defenestration of Kevin McCarthy. The California Republican became the first House speaker in U.S. history to be ousted by a motion to vacate, but the magazine pointed out that he is the latest in a long line of establishment Republican leaders to be felled by the right wing of his party.

Something seems broken in American politics  but what is it? Does the dysfunction stem from a sickness in the Republican Party, or is it decay in the institution of Congress? Or is it something else entirely  and is there a way to fix things, so we can return to some semblance of a healthy democracy?

POLITICO asked some of the smartest thinkers and observers of politics and Capitol Hill for their thoughts (they dont always agree), including Geoffrey Kabaservice, the director of political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, D.C.

Kabaservice looked back to Barry Goldwater and said the modern Republican Party has attained power without reaching political maturity.

A grown-up Republican Party  even a deeply conservative one  would accept the rule of law, the norms of liberal democracy, and the legitimacy of the opposing party, Kabaservice said. It would seek to represent all Americans and would prioritize winning converts over destroying heretics.

Instead, he noted, the GOP has become a party that prefers temper tantrums to governing, fantasies about stolen elections to the hard work of appealing to swing voters. It would rather destroy the federal bureaucracy than use it to implement conservative policies.

Other experts quoted in the article blamed the inherent flaws of the two-party system, noting that such ousters of leaders are more common in parliamentary systems like those in Britain, Canada and Australia.

That may be true, but this is not a both sides issue. Democrats, for whatever reason, are able to keep the extreme wing of their party (the Bernies, the AOCs) at bay, incorporating some of their policies into the party planks. But a small but vocal and extreme wing of the GOP has proven again and again that the tail wags the dog.

Until that changes, nothing in our nations capital is going to change.

City Hall complacency: Fallout continues from Investigative Posts Sept. 14 story about a clerk who was paid more than half a million dollars not to work. The nonprofit reported that Jill Repman was put on paid administrative leave in 2016 after allegations that she tempered with payroll records to pad her own paychecks. For six years, she held a second job managing payroll for a local health care company and was also paid by the city.

Fillmore Council Member Mitch Nowakowski pounced on the matter, saying in the article, This is gravely concerning that we have somebody on the city payroll whos been paid quite well  over $70,000 [annually]  for seven and a half years. Not working or doing duties on the behalf of the City of Buffalo. Its alarming.

But City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams didnt seem too concerned. She told News reporter Harold McNeil that she would conduct a review  but not an investigation  into the matter. Mayor Byron Brown soon announced a number of safeguards to make sure that such an egregious error doesnt happen again.

Then came the news this weekend, reported by News City Hall reporter Deidre Williams, that Miller-Williams had hired two politically connected people  including one with close ties to Brown  as high-paid aides.

Demone Smith, the former Masten Council member, will be paid $95,000 annually for his duties as special assistant. MacCaelin Sedita, the son of former Erie County DA and current Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita III, was also hired at the same salary as the comptrollers executive assistant.

Brown and Miller-Williams have been longtime political allies through the Grassroots organization. The positions were not posted publicly, but Miller-Williams laughably denied that political connections had anything to do with the hires, noting that exempt positions are traditionally and historically not posted.

Ah yes, tradition and history. If there is a political philosophy that has governed this region for decades and that unifies both political parties, it could best be described as, Ill scratch your back if you scratch mine. Patronage is the rule.

That appears to be whats happening at City Hall these days. Its a far cry from the tenure of Mark Schroeder, the former comptroller who was not afraid to question the administration and who took his oversight role seriously.

Once again, there has been a scandal or mini-scandal at Buffalo City Hall. And once again, Brown has emerged basically unscathed.
The families of two New Jersey firefighters who were killed battling a July blaze inside a cargo ship said Friday a malfunctioning vehicle being used to load cargo onto the ship caused the fire.

Relatives of Newark firefighters Captains Augusto Augie Acabou and Wayne Bear Brooks Jr. held a news conference outside the firehouse where the two had worked, saying litigation to be filed in the coming months will seek to hold accountable the Italian shipping company that owned the ship, as well as two stevedore companies involved in loading the vessel.

The families already have filed notice of intent to sue the city of Newark, alleging the city did not adequately train firefighters to battle onboard ship fires.

The two died battling a fire that broke out July 5 when the Grande Costa dAvorio caught fire in Port Newark, one of the nation`s busiest seaports. The vessel was carrying automobiles.

Wayne was taken from us in a manner that was entirely preventable, said Michele Brooks, the widow of Wayne Brooks.

The news conference was held outside the headquarters of Engine 16 on what would have been Acabous 46th birthday. His brother Miguel said the families want to prevent future occurrences like this from happening, so no other families have to suffer, just like we are, and will forever.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said he understands the families` need to understand what happened so that they can make some kind of sense out of their loss.

The city wants the same thing, Baraka said. We trust that the investigators are completing their process as quickly and expeditiously as possible while maintaining the integrity of their examination and analysis. Its my deep hope that this investigation will yield the information the families need for healing, and that the answers will benefit all firefighters in Newark, and everywhere.

Mark Apostolos, an attorney for the families, said his firm`s investigation determined that a Jeep Wrangler being used to push cargo on board the ship was observed to have been emitting smoke from its engine compartment several hours before the fire began.

Despite that, those men continued to use that Jeep Wrangler until it started a blaze, he said. That Jeep Wrangler ended up causing a massive inferno to take place aboard the ship`s top decks.

Acabou and Brooks were caused to enter into that fire and ultimately made the ultimate sacrifice, Apostolos said.

He said legal time restraints have thus far prevented the filing of a lawsuit in the case, which he said would happen in the coming months.

The Grimaldi Group, the Italian company that owns the ship, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Friday. The company has previously said the crew immediately activated onboard fire suppression procedures and local firefighters were called, triggering a prompt response that was crucial to containing and controlling the blaze. It also said no electric cars or hazardous cargo were on board, no fuel spills had been detected, and the stability of the ship was not compromised.

But Apostolos faulted the performance of two five-member firefighting teams consisting of crew members who were responsible for trying to put out the fire. He said they failed to put it out using extinguishers and hoses, and also incorrectly used a CO2-based fire suppression system designed to extinguish a fire by depriving it of oxygen, snuffing it out.

While the system was activated, a door to the main garage on deck 12 remained open, providing the fire with continuous oxygen to sustain the flames, and rendering the CO2 system useless, Apostolos said.

He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not yet determined an official cause of the fire. The Coast Guard did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Photo: In this image taken from video, smoke rises from a cargo ship early Thursday, July 6, 2023, in the port of Newark, New Jersey. Two firefighters were killed battling the blaze that began when cars caught fire deep inside the ship carrying 5,000 cars at the port, Newarks fire chief said. (WABC-TV via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto New Jersey
A Pennsylvania chocolate factory was fined more than $44,000 by the federal workplace safety agency on Thursday for failing to evacuate before a natural gas explosion that killed seven people.

R.M. Palmer Co. did not heed warnings from employees about a natural gas leak, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which issued multiple citations to the company.

Seven workers will never return home because the R.M. Palmer Co. did not evacuate the facility after being told of a suspected gas leak, OSHA Area Director Kevin T. Chambers, of the agencys Harrisburg office, said in a written statement. The company could have prevented this horrific tragedy by following required safety procedures.

Palmer denied it violated any workplace safety standards and said it would contest the OSHA citations, which the company said are legally and factually unsupported.

Information Security Issue Stalls Federal Probe of Fatal Pennsylvania Candy Factory Blast

The powerful natural gas explosion leveled one building and heavily damaged another at the Palmer factory complex in West Reading. Investigators have previously said they are looking at a pair of gas leaks as a possible cause of or contributor to the blast.

About 70 Palmer production workers and 35 office staff were working in two adjacent buildings at the time of the March 24 blast. Employees in both buildings told federal investigators they could smell gas before the explosion.

Workers at the plant have accused Palmer of ignoring warnings of a natural gas leak, saying the plant, in a small town 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia, should have been evacuated.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation Pennsylvania Manufacturing
The New Jersey attorney generals office has opened an inquiry into how local law enforcement handled an investigation into a fatal car crash that involved the then-future wife of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the review.

Nadine Menendez had been dating the New Jersey Democrat for just under a year when she hit a man with her car on Dec. 12, 2018, in the town of Bogota. Richard Koop, 49, died almost instantly when he was hit while crossing the street in the dark near his home.

Menendez, then known by her maiden name Nadine Arslanian, wasn`t tested for drugs or alcohol at the scene and Bogota police quickly concluded she wasn`t at fault and allowed her to leave the scene.

She told police the man had run across the street in front of her car and she didn`t see him until he hit her windshield. Police said Koop was wearing a dark- colored jacket, wasn`t in a crosswalk, and been drinking at a tavern before the crash.

The deadly collision, though, took on new prominence after Sen. Menendez and his wife were indicted Sept. 22 on charges that they accepted bribes of cash, gold and a luxury car in exchange for a variety of corrupt acts.

The indictment said Nadine Menendez needed that new car because she had wrecked hers in an accident. A New Jersey businessman is accused of buying her a $60, 000 Mercedes in exchange for the senator trying to influence a criminal case involving one of his employees.

The law enforcement official who confirmed the attorney general`s inquiry into the handling of the 2018 crash was not authorized to speak publicly about the inquiry and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The inquiry was first reported by NBC News.

The office of New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin declined to comment, saying in an email, The office does not confirm or deny investigations.

Koop`s family has raised questions about whether his death was fully investigated.

We understand that true accidents happen, his sister, Rosemarie Koop- Angelicola, told the AP on Thursday. Were willing to accept that, but only with a full and proper investigation. Theres gaping holes in this.

Security camera video recorded the fatal collision, but from an angle where critical details are obscured. Neither Koop nor Menendezs vehicle are visible until after the moment of impact.

It shows Menendez stopping for 25 seconds as Koops body lies in the street in front of her. Then she backs up, pauses and drives around the body, a short distance down the street and out of the cameras view. About three minutes after the crash, a man can be seen running to Koops side to help. Police arrive about a minute later.

Police dashcam video recorded officers interviewing Menendez about the crash. She declined to give police permission to take possession of her phone.

In an email, Nadine Menendez`s attorney David Schertler said it was a tragic accident, but Nadine Menendez was not at fault, did not violate any laws, and was therefore not charged with any crimes. The fact of the accident has nothing to do with the allegations in the current indictment against Ms. Menendez. We are confident that any re-opening of an investigation into the accident will confirm that conclusion.

Both the senator and his wife have pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges. A trial is tentatively scheduled to start May 6.

In another sign of ongoing fallout related to the indictment, a federal judge in New Jersey on Thursday tossed out a plea bargain in an unrelated criminal case involving one of the indicted New Jersey businessmen.

Real estate developer Fred Daibes had pleaded guilty in a separate banking fraud case last April. The new indictment accused Daibes of paying cash and gold to Menendez in exchange for the senators efforts to install a U.S. attorney who would provide favorable treatment in that case.

A message left with Daibes attorney was not returned.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey
An Amtrak passenger train crashed into an SUV in southeastern Vermont, killing the SUV`s driver and injuring his passenger, authorities said.

The state police said 53-year-old Craig Hudson, of Brattleboro, died in the crash Friday in Vernon, a town of about 2,000 people that borders New Hampshire and Massachusetts. His passenger, 47-year-old Shenandoah Gilbert, of Vernon, was being treated for injuries at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

No one was hurt on the train, which continued its route after a delay, authorities said.

Amtrak said there were 215 passengers on board train 56, which was traveling from Washington, D.C., to St. Albans, Vermont.

Further information has not been released.

A state police reconstruction team is investigating the crash, with remote assistance from Amtrak police.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto Personal Auto Vermont
The Philippines state health insurer didnt have cyber protection software when hackers attacked its computers, giving criminals access to the data of millions of its citizens and triggering calls for an extensive cybersecurity audit.

While the full extent of the breach has yet to be determined, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has warned its over 36 million members  around a third of the countrys population  that their data may have been compromised.

The lapse, partly caused by a change in procurement processes, adds to a series of attacks on Philippine government agencies that has highlighted the Southeast Asian nations vulnerability to cybersecurity threats.

PhilHealth discovered the attack on the morning of Sept. 22 as employees turned on their computers, including those used for processing records. Computer screens displayed a message that showed Medusa group claiming responsibility for the attack and demanding $300,000 in exchange for deletion of the agencys files, Israel Pargas, senior vice president for health finance policy sector, said in an interview on Thursday.

Some 96 computers were affected, or about a tenth of the agencys units in its headquarters in metropolitan Manila, he said.

Bloomberg could not independently verify if the Medusa group was responsible for the attack or whether another group used the Medusa ransomware. Its also not immediately clear how the hackers were able to bypass security of PhilHealths computer systems.

PhilHealth said it wont pay the ransom and is now bracing for the worst.

We dont know how extensive it was. We also dont know what records were taken. Well only know once Medusa releases them, Pargas said.

Its possible that a staff accidentally responded to a phishing email that exposed PhilHealths computer systems to hackers, said Monchito Ibrahim, a former undersecretary at the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

No Protection

The deadline for the ransom has lapsed  PhilHealth was given 10 days from Sept. 22 to pay up. Hackers have started releasing stolen PhilHealth data on platforms such as Telegram, the Philippine Star reported, citing a group that publishes activities in the dark web.

PhilHealths contract with its anti-virus software provider expired in May and it wasnt able to renew it due to the governments revised procurement rules, Pargas said. After the hacking, PhilHealth contacted the software provider for help and accepted a 30-day trial offer for a new anti-virus security program from the company, he said.

PhilHealth also secured other tools which would actually monitor if there are any accounts or if theres any other impending attacks, as it aims to pursue a broader IT upgrade, he added.

As PhilHealth grapples with the aftermath of the incident, the countrys privacy watchdog has initiated a probe while an industry group has questioned how the state health insurer responsible for protecting the information of millions of its members and their dependents doesnt have a secure data base.

The National Privacy Commission said in a statement on Saturday that it has launched an investigation to determine the full scope of the breach, identify the officials responsible and recommend prosecution.

The commission said an initial analysis of the data dump claimed by the Medusa group revealed a staggering 734 gigabytes worth of data, including personal and sensitive personal information.

Senator Mark Villar has called for a legislative inquiry into the cyber attacks on PhilHealth and other government agencies. That includes the hacking of the anti-graft offices computer system that allowed at least three people to access cases against government officials, as well as the alleged breach at key law enforcement agencies that exposed data such as fingerprint scans, birth certificates and passports. Villar said the hacking incidents require the Senates intervention as a matter of economic and national security concern.

Eye-Opener

A digital quality index released by Surfshark this year ranks the Philippines 45th in e-security among 121 countries around the world, dropping by a notch since last year, the Netherlands-based data-leak detection firm said.

The hacking incident is an eye-opener for the Philippines to invest in cybersecurity training, said Ibrahim, the former information and communications technology undersecretary.

We have the national cybersecurity plan, but a plan is different from execution. If its not executed properly, nothing will happen, Ibrahim said.

Advocacy group Infrawatch PH is calling for a thorough security review across all government agencies. A comprehensive digital security audit is not just advisable; its imperative, Infrawatch Convenor Terry Ridon said in a statement. If a database as extensive as PhilHealths can be compromised, it casts doubt on the security measures in place for other government systems, he said.

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers Cyber
Odey Asset Management is closing its wealth business, the UKs Financial Conduct Authority said, months after its founder Crispin Odey was accused of sexual misconduct.

We will work closely with the firm as it winds down, to ensure clients are treated fairly, the regulator said in an email after the Financial Times reported the move earlier.

The embattled asset manager, which didnt immediately respond to a request for comment, has been shutting many funds as part of a reorganization in the wake of the sexual assault allegations against Odey, as numerous banks cut ties and investors raced toward the exit.

The 64-year-old former executive, who was ousted from his eponymous former firm, has disputed the allegations.

Photograph: The Odey Asset management website. Photo credit: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Gallagher Re and Sompo International.

A summary of these new hires follow here.

Gallagher Re Taps RenRes Allard to Lead Global Credit & Political Risk

Global reinsurance broker Gallagher Re has welcomed Jonathan Allard as managing director and head of its newly created Global Credit & Political Risk team, based in London.

In this new global role, Allard will bring together the experienced, specialist London market and international teams and be responsible for leading and developing Gallagher Res global product offering across credit and political risk, enabling clients to access both treaty and facultative solutions. He will also partner with Jim Latorre who leads the distinct North American Surety team to develop the surety arena across the world.

Allard brings a wealth of knowledge and reinsurance market experience, having specialized in credit, surety and political risk from the very outset of his broking career. He joins from Renaissance Re where he was vice president of Underwriting responsible for the management and underwriting of credit, surety and political risk reinsurance as well as structured credit portfolio accounts on European and Lloyds balance sheets. Prior to this, Allard spent 10 years broking credit, surety and political risk at Willis Re.

Mark Jenkins simultaneously assumes the position of Chairman of the Global Credit & Political Risk team.

***

Sompo Intl Names Heads of Claims and Distribution & Client Relationship Mgmt, Insurance, Continental Europe

Sompo International, the commercial and consumer property/casualty re/insurer, announced the appointments of Anna Lisiak as head of Claims, Insurance, Continental Europe, and Herndon Stokes as head of Distribution & Client Relationship Management, Insurance, Continental Europe.

Both will be based in Zurich and report to Ralph Brand, president, Continental Europe Insurance. Stokes has a secondary reporting line into Brendan Plessis, head of Distribution, Business Development and Client Management, Insurance, Global Markets.

Lisiak joins from Generali GCC in Milan, Italy, where she most recently was head of Specialty Claims. Prior to that, she held claims roles with Allianz in Munich, Germany and Warta in Gdynia, Poland.

Stokes joins from AXIS Re in Zurich, Switzerland,where he most recently was broker executive, head of Distribution. Previously, he held client management and corporate development roles with Munich Re.

Topics Claims A.J. Gallagher
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A milling company has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges that employees at a Wisconsin corn plant falsified records in the years leading up to a fatal corn dust explosion.

The plea deal calls for Didion Milling Inc. to pay a $1 million fine and $10.25 million to the estates of the five workers who were killed in the blast at the company`s Cambria mill in May 2017, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

The company also has agreed to a five-year organizational probation and must allow federal inspectors to visit the mill without advance notice up to twice a year.

A federal grand jury indicted Didion last year on nine counts, including falsifying records, fraud and conspiracy. According to court documents, Didion shift employees and supervisors knowingly falsified logbooks inspectors use to determine whether the plant was handling corn dust safely and complying with dust-cleaning rules from 2015 until May 2017.

Corn dust is combustible; if concentrations in the air reach a high level, a spark or other ignition source can cause it to catch fire and explode. Federal regulations require grain mill operators to perform regular cleanings to reduce dust accumulations that could fuel a blast.

Didion last month agreed to pay the Wisconsin Department of Justice $940,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging multiple regulatory violations at the Cambria plant.

Didion CEO Riley Didion said in a statement Thursday that the company was thankful to have reached the plea deal and was pleased most of the financial settlement will go to the workers` estates, calling the explosion heartbreaking. 

What happened in Cambria in May of 2017 was tragic, and we continue to offer prayers for those who were affected, he said. With this agreement in place, we can devote our full attention to serving our team, community, farmers, and customers with the highest standards of safety and quality.

Three Didion officials  Derrick Clark, who was vice president of operations; Shawn Mesner, who was food safety superintendent; and James Lentz, who was environmental manager, are scheduled to stand trial Monday in federal court in Madison on charges that include conspiracy, fraud and falsifying records.

Three other Didion employees  a pair of day shift supervisors and an environmental coordinator  have pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction charges since June 15.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Wisconsin
A McDonalds restaurant in Checotah, Oklahoma, operated by franchisee Arch Fellow North LLC, violated federal law when a manager sexually harassed a 17 year-old worker, and she was forced to resign, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to the suit, an adult male supervisor sexually harassed a teen girl who worked under his supervision in or around November 2021. After subjecting the teenager to sexual comments and innuendo for about a month, the male supervisor grabbed her by the waist in a dark, isolated storage shed and said he could rape her. When Arch Fellow North LLC learned about the incident and other sexual harassing conduct by the supervisor, it failed to take prompt or effective remedial action to protect the girl and other workers. Instead, the company allowed the supervisor to continue supervising the victim and other teenage girls. As a result, the teenage worker had no choice but to resign and was constructively discharged.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. The EEOC filed suit (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Arch Fellow North LLC d/b/a McDonalds, Civil Action No. 6:23-cv-00331) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement via its conciliation process. The EEOC seeks monetary relief for the victim, an order prohibiting future sex discrimination and harassment, and other relief.

The EEOCs St. Louis District Office is responsible for receiving and investigating charges of employment discrimination and conducting agency litigation in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and a portion of southern Illinois, with area offices in Kansas City, Kansas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits Oklahoma Kansas
DECATUR, Ala. (AP)  An attorney representing the family of a Black man who was fatally shot at his home by police said Friday that officers did not give the man time to respond before they opened fire.

Steve Perkins, 39, was killed by police Sept. 29 in Decatur in a confrontation that began with a tow truck driver trying to repossess Perkins truck. The driver reported that Perkins flashed a gun, so officers accompanied the driver when he went back to the home, police said.

The Decatur Police Department said Perkins turned the gun toward one of the officers, and they shot him. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Perkins had a handgun with a light on it.

Lee Merritt, an attorney representing the Perkins family, said video from neighbors` home security systems indicates that officers accompanied the tow truck driver onto the property but did not announce themselves and opened fire within a second of telling Perkins to get on the ground. Perkins did not appear aware of their presence, Merritt said.

In the home surveillance camera video, published by WAFF, an officer is heard shouting police, get on the ground and shots are then immediately fired in rapid succession.

They jumped up. They shouted.  Pow, Merritt told The Associated Press.

The policy of not announcing yourself and creeping up into peoples onto peoples properties. They will tell you its for officer protection, so that theyre not ambushed, but what they did here was ambush Steve, Merritt said.

In a statement, Perkins` family said his truck was not in repossession, which is why he was disputing the tow.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which is investigating, said Friday that it did not have any additional information to release to the public. It opened a tip line for information.

City and state officials asked for patience during the investigation, which the ALEA vowed would be very thorough and methodical. The agency said the findings will be turned over to the Morgan County District Attorneys Office.

Protests have occurred daily in the north Alabama city since Perkins was killed.

The thing that has been consistent is looking for answers. We understand that. That is something everyone wants and they want answers now. Unfortunately, we dont have control of that, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling told news outlets.

Hundreds of people gathered outside of Decatur City Hall on Thursday night in a vigil for Perkins.

Not only was I his brother, but I was his friend. You have no idea how it feels to be born a protector, and the job is taken away from you, unjustly, and unwarranted, Nicholas Perkins said during the vigil, according to WAFF.

Photo: A memorial set up for Stephen Perkins in Decatur on Oct. 5. (Jeronimo Nisa/The Decatur Daily via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement Alabama Homeowners
The first time Tara Schafer and Loan Trang spoke, it was very much a one-sided conversation.

It was Hello, and Thank you. Yeah, that was all we could do, Schafer said, while putting her arms around Loan.

A lot has changed since that February day in 2021 in TriQ Nails in Alden. And the story of how Trang transformed from a person who was so insecure about her ability to converse in English that she barely spoke into one who became adept enough in her second language that she was able to become a U.S. citizen is all about her determination and the organization Schafer leads: Literacy Buffalo Niagara.

The 58-year-old nonprofit is dedicated to providing one-on-one English tutoring to adults in Erie and Niagara counties. Its mission includes developing literacy skills by providing free tutoring to diverse communities across the two counties. According to Schafer, more than 147,000 area adults read or speak below a fifth-grade level.

Literacy Buffalo Niagara has more than 200 students representing nearly 34 countries and speaking almost 42 different languages. Schafer said the organization has about 34 students on the waiting list, but not enough tutors. With just six staff members, 140 volunteer tutors and a budget less than a million dollars, Literacy Buffalo Niagara is in desperate need of volunteers who would undergo training before empowering non-English speakers with necessary oral skills.

Schafer and Trang shared this story in anticipation of the organizations annual fundraising event  scheduled for Oct. 19 at Resurgence Brewery  and as one example of how literacy tutors can make a difference, one person at a time.

Or as Trang puts it with a soft smile: Tara makes me happy.

TriQ is in the Tops Markets plaza in Alden, where Schafer lives. While she was waiting for her appointment, she met Robert and Loan Trang. The couple had just moved to Buffalo from Batavia and started their own business. Shafer said Robert was friendly and charming, but Loan seemed shy and did not say much.

Then she caught Loan studying for her United States citizenship test. As a trained literacy tutor, she volunteered to take Loan under her wing and help her prepare.

Loan Trang had moved from South Vietnam to the United States in June 2015. After she got pregnant with their son, she wanted to join Robert abroad for a better life. They both worked at several nail salons before starting their own. While Robert could fall into easy conversations, Loan, who had only ever spoken Vietnamese, was nervous about interacting with customers and barely spoke a word.

With the 'literacy gap' widening, educators turn to the science of reading The WNY Education Alliance has formed a collaborative with 11 other groups to increase awareness of the science of reading and help develop partnerships between local schools and educational organizations that support evidence-based reading instruction through teacher training and the implementation of high-quality, content-rich curriculum.

Loan had failed the speaking test under the citizenship exam in March 2021. To determine her proficiency, Schafer asked her to sit for the BEST Plus Test. Developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), this test helps determine the oral English language proficiency of adult English Language learners. The scale ranges from zero to seven. Loan had scored one.

Schafer began meeting Loan regularly at the salon at 8 a.m. before customers came in for their appointments.

Lessons during the pandemic were a challenge, Schafer said. Focusing on how the mouth moves while talking is crucial to understanding the nuances of pronunciation within the curriculum. With the masks on, it was often difficult, Schafer said, as Loan laughed and recollected the barriers in learning how to pronounce the ta or tsa sounds.

Thats a big component of it. We had to do that with our masks on, and that made it so much harder, Schafer added.

The lessons continued before Loan reapplied for and passed the speaking component in June 2021, becoming a U.S. citizen the same month. Schafer said Loan takes the BEST Plus Test annually. Two years since she started, Loan now stands at a score of four, and hopes to improve.

The pandemic brought other challenges. While most of the organizations funding comes from the state Department of Education, the nonprofit has been struggling to make ends meet, especially after losing sponsors.

Besides the one-on-one literacy classes, the group also provides one-on-one digital skills tutoring, as well as English Language conversation groups in Clearfield Library in Amherst and the Lackawanna Public Library.

In the fall of 2021, Loans sister, Thuy, joined the class. Thuy had just moved to Buffalo from Finland with her husband and daughter. Under Schafers guidance, the sister duo began helping each other, often referring to Vietnamese-English picture dictionaries.

Having the sisters in class together has been helpful, Schafer said. They often communicate with each other and convey meanings when the dictionary or Schafer fail.

They talk with each other when they need to, like work something out. And I cant communicate it, she said. Their individual strengths motivate each other.

Loan Trang is no longer the shy and nervous woman waiting in front of a citizenship officer to prove her language skills. She said she proudly interacts with customers and engages in conversation with them. And she is seeking Schafers help to prepare for the learners permit exam and learn how to drive. Having only ridden bicycles all her life, she is, admittedly, a bit nervous.

She hopes she is able to overcome her fears. Shes done it before.
ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia Power Co. will pay $413 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the utility of reneging on financial promises to one of its nuclear reactor partners.

The payments to Oglethorpe Power Corp., announced Friday, could hold down future bills for millions of electric cooperative customers in Georgia.

Oglethorpe sued Georgia Power in June 2022 in a contract dispute over who should pay for cost overruns for a third and fourth reactor at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta.

Atlanta based Southern Co., which owns Georgia Power, said it would write off a $152 million loss on the settlement.

Georgia Power also announced Friday that it must replace one of the four massive pumps that cools the Unit 4 reactor after operators found a problem with the pump`s motor during testing. Georgia Power said it believes the problem is an isolated event and has a spare pump on site, but said the replacement ends the company`s hope of placing Unit 4 in commercial operation this year. The utility said the reactor is still on schedule to begin operating by March. That was already the company`s fallback date.

Unit 3 entered commercial operation on July 31, becoming the first new nuclear unit built from scratch in the United States in decades.

Some Florida and Alabama utilities have also contracted to buy Vogtles power.

The overall project is seven years late and $17 billion over budget. Vogtle`s costs and delays could deter other utilities from building nuclear plants, even though they generate electricity without releasing climate-changing carbon emissions.

Oglethorpe, which generates and transmits electricity to 38 Georgia electric cooperatives that own it, will keep its current 30% ownership share of Vogtle under the settlement. Oglethorpe had originally sought to sell some of Vogtle`s generating capacity back to Georgia Power.

Heather Teilhet, Oglethorpe`s senior vice president of external affairs, said Oglethorpe wants to keep its 660-megawatt share of Vogtle`s generation to meet increasing demand.

We are seeing growth on our system, so theres great value in keeping our full Vogtle capacity, especially at a significantly reduced cost, Teilhet said in a statement.

Currently, all the owners are projected to pay more than $31 billion in capital and financing costs, Associated Press calculations show. Add in $3.7 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid to the Vogtle owners to quit building the reactors, and the total nears $35 billion.

Besides Oglethorpe and Georgia Power, Vogtle`s owners include the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. MEAG and Dalton also sued. Georgia Power agreed last year to pay up to $76 million to settle the lawsuit by MEAG, which provides power to 49 municipal utilities. The Dalton lawsuit is still pending, and Georgia Power said Friday that it could owe the city up to $17 million.

Georgia Power customers won`t pay for the settlements. Georgia Power has already reached a deal with regulatory staff about how much it will charge customers for Vogtle, although the elected Georgia Public Service Commission has yet to approve.

Georgia Power had agreed in 2018 that it would pay increasing shares of cost overruns for co-owners up to a certain ceiling. Beyond that, the co-owners were entitled to force Georgia Power to buy part of their ownership stake in exchange for Georgia Power covering all remaining construction costs.

Oglethorpe sought to activate the sale provision, saying it applied once construction costs reached a total of $19.2 billion. But Georgia Power argued the agreement didn`t kick in until construction costs reached $20.48 billion.

Under the agreement, Georgia Power agreed to pay Oglethorpe the $99 million Oglethorpe was owed under the cost-sharing ceiling, as well as $5 million in interest. Georgia Power has already paid part of that money and will pay the remaining $66.5 million within five days.

Georgia Power also agreed to pay 66% of Oglethorpe`s costs above the $19.2 billion level, a total of $346.3 million under projected spending levels. That includes a $241.2 million payment within five days. In exchange for keeping its 30% ownership stake, Oglethorpe is projected to pay another $179 million by the time Unit 4 is completed.

Oglethorpe`s total construction and financing cost for Vogtle is now projected to be $8.3 billion. That`s more than the $8.1 billion Oglethorpe projected it would owe, but less than the $8.64 billion that Georgia Power said Oglethorpe owed.

Photo: Part of the Vogtle Nuclear Plant. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Georgia
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  How much is Donald Trump`s Mar-a-Lago worth? That`s been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property`s value when he said it`s worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion.

Siding with New York`s attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago`s worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club`s value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser`s valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million.

But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold.

Ludicrous, agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the countys tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave.

The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure, said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens.

That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. There is zero chance that its going to sell for $40 million or $50 million.

In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn`t the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud.

WHAT IS MAR-A-LAGO?

The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,810-square-meter) mansion is Trumps primary home. It is also a club, private beach resort, historical artifact and banquet hall with a ballroom that features gold leaf. It is where Trump stored government documents federal prosecutors say he took illegally after leaving office in 2021.

While Trump has long admitted using truthful hyperbole in his business dealings, he is not exaggerating when he calls Mar-a-Lago unique.

Built in 1927 by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, financier E.F. Hutton, she gave the property its name  Spanish for sea-to-lake  because its 17 acres (7 hectares) stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Post kept the mansion after the couple`s divorce, using it to host opulent galas. In 1969, Mar-a-Lago was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Post, who died in 1973, bequeathed the property to the U.S. government as a winter get-away for presidents, but Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter never used it. The government, citing the high upkeep costs, returned it to Post`s foundation in 1981.

The property fell into disrepair. Trump bought it in 1985 for about $10 million, the equivalent of $30 million today. He invested heavily in its refurbishment.

By the early 1990s, however, Trump was in financial distress after several of his businesses flopped. He told Palm Beach town officials he couldn`t afford the $3 million annual upkeep, and proposed subdividing the property and building mansions. The town rejected the plan.

Negotiations continued and in 1993 the town agreed he could turn the estate into a private club, giving him cash flow he could use for maintenance. He built the ballroom, but signed away development rights.

The agreement limits the club to 500 members  the initiation fee is $500,000 with annual dues of $20,000.

Trump typically lives at Mar-a-Lago from October to May before summering in New Jersey.

SO WHAT IS MAR-A-LAGO WORTH?

That`s hard to say. The biggest problem is there are no comparable properties. No one builds mansions in Palm Beach like Mar-a-Lago anymore and those that did exist were demolished long ago, broken up or turned into a museum.

Trump, in an April deposition, justified his belief that Mar-a-Lago could be worth $1 billion by comparing it to the price the Mona Lisa or a painting by Renoir would command  the ultra-wealthy will pay a premium to buy something that`s one-of-a-kind.

Eli Beracha, chair of Florida International University`s Hollo School of Real Estate, agreed it`s difficult to assess the value of any unique property. The fact that Trump owned Mar-a-Lago would likely increase its sale price.

Some people are going to argue that not everyone likes Trump  some people would actually pay less because of that.  But the high bidder is probably going to be a person who buys it because it belonged to Trump, Beracha said.

Pulitzer said the rock-bottom price for Mar-a-Lago would be $300 million. Thomson said at least $600 million. If uber-billionaires got into a bidding war, they said, a sale of a billion dollars or more would be possible.

The much smaller Palm Beach compound once owned by the Kennedy political dynasty sold for $70 million three years ago.

SO HOW DID PALM BEACH COUNTY COME UP WITH SUCH A LOW TAX ASSESSMENT?

The county gives Mar-a-Lago its current value for taxation of $37 million based on its annual net operating income as a club and not on its resale value as a home or its reconstruction cost. It is one of nine private clubs in the county taxed that way.

Becky Robinson, the tax assessor`s spokesperson, said that method is used because private clubs are so rarely sold or built, making it impossible to set their tax rates by comparing them to similar properties. Mar-a-Lago`s property tax bill will be $602,000 this year, county records show.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a south Florida Democrat, wrote the county saying if Trump claims Mar-a-Lago is worth $1 billion, he should be taxed accordingly. If Mar-a-Lago had a $1 billion assessed value, its property tax bill would be approximately $18 million.

Robinson said the county bases its assessments on the law and its formulas, not the value owners claim.

WHY IT MATTERS

In her lawsuit against Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that Mar-a-Lago was one of multiple assets Trump overvalued in financial statements given to banks and others.

On those statements, Trump valued Mar-a-Lago as high as $739 million  a figure James said ignored deed restrictions requiring the property to be used as a social club  not a private home. Her lawyers have argued that in his financial statements, Trump should have valued Mar-a-Lago the same way the county does, based on its club status.

Trump`s financial statements, the New York lawyers wrote, valued the club based on the false and misleading premise that it was an unrestricted residential plot of land that could be sold and used as a private home, which was clearly not the case.

Trump`s lawyers have said no trickery was involved, and that banks probably didn`t rely on his financial statements anyway when determining whether to lend him money.

Photo: Mar-a-Lago (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Fraud New York
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Scottsdale, Arizona-based The Coverage Pro.

As part of the transaction Gallagher will also acquire The Coverage Pros affiliated company General Southwest Insurance Agency, based in Phoenix. Jeff LaScala, Caily LaScala and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Scott Firestone, head of Gallaghers Southwest region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.

The Coverage Pro is a retail insurance broker with expertise in construction for commercial and personal lines clients throughout Arizona.

Arthur J. Gallagher is a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher Arizona
SpaceX was accused in a lawsuit of discrimination for allegedly paying women and minority employees less than their male and White co-workers.

The proposed class action, which cites Californias Equal Pay Act, was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Ashley Foltz, who says she was hired as a base-level engineer at a salary of $92,000 while the company was offering to pay as much as $115,000 to men with the same or less experience.

Elon Musks company and its executives have no legitimate justification for their discriminatory pay practices, according to the complaint. Throughout her employment, Ms. Foltz has been paid less than other male engineers for performing the same or substantially similar work.

SpaceX didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The latest complaint against SpaceX comes as the company separately faces a handful of lawsuits by former employees in recent years alleging discrimination on the basis of age, race and disability. In August, a former SpaceX technician sued the company in California state court claiming he experienced physical disability harassment and retaliation in the workplace.

Women appear to be struggling as they try to rise up the ranks in corporate America. A report based on research from 276 companies in the US and Canada concluded that for every 100 men promoted to a manager role in 2022, only 87 women received the same boost. The Women in the Workplace report by Sheryl Sandbergs LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Co. found that the number of women promoted inched up from 86 in 2021, but theyre still getting overlooked despite asking for promotions at the same rate as men.

Foltz discovered the pay gap at SpaceX when a new California pay transparency law, which requires employers to post salary ranges in job listings, went into effect this year, she said in her complaint. Her salary band was $95,000 to $115,000 and SpaceX was forced to give her a raise, but only bumped her pay to $95,000, the lowest tier of the salary band, she said.

SpaceX sorts jobs into positions and levels such as technical writer, engineer 1 and engineer 2, according to the complaint.

Thats part of a scheme to create a facially neutral pay structure, Foltz said in the suit. Women and minorities are forced to work as engineers under a different title of technical writer to illegally justify a lower pay, she claimed. Moreover, they are promoted at lower rates than male and White employees and are paid at the lowest end of the salary band if promoted, she said.

In August, the US Justice Department accused SpaceX of discriminating for years against refugees and people granted political asylum who sought jobs at the rocket company, in a lawsuit filed in August. SpaceX has argued the complaint is unlawful and must be dismissed.

Musks electric-vehicle maker Tesla Inc. has also faced complaints from Black workers and California state agencies that managers at its Fremont factory turned a blind eye to the commonplace use of racial slurs on the assembly line and fostered a hostile workplace where graffiti with swastikas and other hate symbols were found scrawled in common areas.

The case is Foltz v. Space Exploration Technologies Corp, 23STCV24097, Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County.

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits California Aerospace
October 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A new study reveals that Alabama is the state most interested in using CBD in America.

The research, carried out by CBD and Hemp resource Nature and Bloom, examined Google Trends data over the past 12 months of search terms frequently used in relation to CBD. These terms were then combined to give each state a 'total search score', the lower the score the higher the state ranks, revealing which states are the most interested in using CBD.

The study revealed that Alabama ranks highest as the state most interested in using CBD. With the highest total search score of 62, Alabama topped the list for its combined search score. Additionally, the population of Alabama searches for "CBD shop near me' and 'CBD' the second most in America.

The second state most interested in using CBD is Mississippi, which had a search score of 69, the second-highest combined score for CBD-related searches. The state is searching for 'What is CBD' more than any other state in the US and fifth most for 'Buy CBD' in the country.

West Virginia is the third state in America most interested in using CBD; the state is searching the third most for 'CBD Oil' and 'What is CBD' in the country. It is also searching for 'Medical marijuana', the fourth most in the US, despite not searching for 'CBD shop near me'. The total search score in West Virginia is 70.

South Carolina and Vermont share fourth place with both states, totalling the same combined search score for CBD-related terms of 71. South Carolina is searching the most for 'CBD Shop near me', 'CBD' and 'What is CBD' in within its state. On the other hand, Vermont has the highest number of searches for 'Buy CBD' in America and the second highest number of searches for 'Cannabidiol' and 'CBD' in the country.

In fifth place are the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, both sharing a combined search score of 74. Kentucky has the highest number of searches for 'CBD Oil' in America, Tennessee has the highest number of searches for 'CBD Shop near me' and the fourth most searches for 'CBD' in the US, proving that both states share a significant interest in using CBD.

The state ranking sixth is Minnesota, with a total search score of 75. The state is searching the third most for 'Buy CBD' in the US and fourth most for 'CBD' just ahead of Louisiana state with a total search score of 78, searching the third most for 'CBD' in America, placing it in seventh position.

In eighth place is New Mexico, with a total search score of 80, with the state searching fourth most for 'Cannabidiol' in the US. The state is also searching for 'CBD' and 'Buy CBD', the sixth most in the country.

Montana ranks ninth, searching the fourth most for 'What is CBD' and 'Buy CBD' in the US. It is also searching for 'CBD Oil', the sixth most in America, with a total search score of 83.

Oregon is the tenth state most interested in using CBD, with a total search score of 88. The state has the highest number of searches for both 'Cannabidiol' and 'CBD' in the US above any other state.

The state least interested in using CBD is Massachusetts, which has the lowest total search score in America. Utah follows closely behind as the second-least interested state in CBD, with Illinois, Oklahoma and Nebraska following suit.

An expert from Nature and Bloom commented:

"Interest in CBD has increased drastically in the past decade by 197% just in the US alone. It has increased its popularity within industries such as pharmaceuticals and skincare with many finding numerous benefits to using CBD products.

This study provides a fascinating insight into which states in America are most interested in using CBD and want to expand their knowledge on it."

Methodology: Search volumes taken from Google Trends for each states population revealing which states have the highest and lowest number of searches for ' CBD shop near me', 'CBD Oil', 'Cannabidiol', 'CBD', 'Medical marijuana', 'What is CBD?' and 'Buy CBD' combined.

Credit to: Journo Research

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Source: Streetwise Reports

October 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) This company has started Phase 2 of its infrastructure and open-pit geotechnical drilling at its rare earth element (REE) project in British Columbia. Find out why one analyst thinks it's an excellent time for exposure to these elements important to defense, electronics, and electric vehicles (EVs).

Defense Metals Corp. (DEFN:TSX.V; DFMTF:OTCQB; 35D:FSE) announced it has started Phase 2 of its infrastructure and open-pit geotechnical drilling at its Wicheeda rare earth element (REE) project in British Columbia.

Just last month, the company announced what one analyst called a "significant upgrade" to its Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the project, increasing the total rare earth oxide (TREO) by 17%, or a 31% tonnage increase, compared to an MRE in 2021.

Two drilling rigs, sonic and core drills, are operating at Wicheeda, focusing on overburden and bedrock characterization and the east highwall of the proposed open pit.

"This work will provide critical inputs for the ongoing PFS study (preliminary feasibility study), and in the case of exploration targets, have the potential to expand resources," Chief Executive Officer Craig Taylor said. "The company's technical teams and principal engineering contractors continue to push forward, keeping us on track for a planned PFS completion by the end of Q2 2024."

The MRE comprised a 6.4 million tonne Measured Mineral Resource, averaging 2.86% TREO; a 27.8 million tonne Indicated Mineral Resource, averaging 1.84% TREO; and an 11.1 million tonne Inferred Mineral Resource, averaging 1.02% TREO.

The results are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.5% TREO within a conceptual open pit shell, the company said.

"In the months ahead, we expect more information regarding the project's process flowsheet to reinforce the project's commercial value," analyst Mark Reichman of Noble Capital Markets wrote in an updated research note after the MRE was released. "We think the current price is an excellent entry point for investors seeking exposure to one of North America's advanced REE projects."

Reichman kept his Outperform rating on the stock with a target price of CA$0.70 per share. It stood at CA$0.195 on Wednesday morning.

Work to Take Four to Six Weeks

The second phase of the exploration is expected to take four to six weeks, the company said, with results to follow. The work is being completed by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., one of the consultants for the PFS, and APEX Geoscience Ltd.

SRK's geotechnical engineering investigation will look at waste rock, tailings, the contact water pond, and site infrastructure.

Also being assessed are tailings alternatives and geochemical characterization of the site to support mine planning and waste management and to develop preliminary water chemistry predictions for the main mine.

"In pit geotechnical core drilling will progress from current drilling on the east highwall, followed by south, north, and west pit walls," Defense Metals said in a release. "Drilling into the south pit wall is expected to collar in REE mineralized dolomite carbonatite."

Geotechnical core drilling of the west pit wall was being co-purposed with the testing of a high-priority ground radiometric geophysical anomaly with the potential to represent an undiscovered carbonatite body, the company said.

The Catalyst: 'A Globally Significant Producer'

Wicheeda has "the potential to be a globally significant producer" of REEs, Reichman noted.

"The project has several competitive advantages, including a mining-friendly location, well-developed infrastructure, and a strong technical team," Reichman wrote on September 13. "Wicheeda is well positioned to take a leading role in the North American and Global REE supply chain."

Right now, China accounts for about 60% of REE current mine production and more than 85% of the refined output of REEs.

The elements are in high demand as the economy attempts to go green. They are used for purifying water, MRIs, fertilizers, weapons, scientific research, wind turbines, computers, and permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles (EVs).

A recent decision by China to restrict the export of two metals critical to superconductor production, gallium and germanium, has officials in the West worried. While these metals are not being sought by Defense at Wicheeda, company officials said it's possible China may eventually target the REEs the company wants to provide for wind turbines and EVs.

Demand to 'Expand Rapidly'

The global market for the elements is expected to grow from US$2.6 billion in 2020 to US$5.5 billion in 2028, according to a report by Fortune Business Insights.

"The rising demand for consumer durables such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones (are some) of the factors driving the consumption of rare earth elements," the report said. "The demand for these elements in developing economies is estimated to expand rapidly."

Once it reaches commercial production, Wicheeda is expected to produce more than 25,000 tonnes of rare earth oxide annually, Reichman wrote.

"It all begins with developing a world-class deposit that contains high-quality ore," Reichman wrote. "We think Defense Metals is well positioned to benefit from growing demand for rare earths for use in electric vehicle batteries, metal alloys, and advanced technology applications."

Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote last summer that although the stock's "price hasn't moved - yet," he expected that to change.

This morning, Maund sent out a Buy alert on the company, saying, "After a long and grueling decline for much of this year, it is viewed as way oversold and is down at a cyclical low at strong long-term support with downside momentum easing and the recent volume pattern bullish and Accumulation line positive relative to price."

Ownership and Share Structure

About 5% of the company's stock is owned by insiders, including Director Andrew S. Burgess with 1.63% or 4.18 million shares, and CEO Taylor with 0.98% or 2.5 million shares, according to Reuters.

About 11% of the company is owned by institutional entities, including RCF Opportunities Fund II LP, with 10%, the company said. The rest, 84%, is retail.

Defense Metals has a market cap of CA$49.88 million with 255.78 million shares outstanding and 212.98 million free floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.39 and CA$0.185.

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Source: Streetwise Reports

October 10, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The markets were buzzing after the deal between this lithium explorer and big-three automaker Stellantis closed. Find out which newsletter is now recommending this stock.

The US$90 million investment deal in lithium explorer Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (LIT:TSX.V; PNXLF:OTC; OAY3:FSE) by big-three automaker Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) has closed.

Upon the announcement of the closing Thursday, LIT was the top trader on the Toronto Venture Exchange Thursday and into Friday morning, when 1.8 million of its shares traded by 10 a.m. ET.

The company's stock rose 165% from CA$0.23 last week to CA$0.61 Friday morning.

The investment by the auto industry heavyweight in South America's Lithium Triangle looking for the battery metal vital to the new green economy prompted one watcher, Chris Temple, editor of The National Investor newsletter, to call his readers to action.

"This factor is what prompts me to go from watching to recommending with Argentina Lithium & Energy, given the news just out the last few days that car maker Stellantis (today's owner of the Chrysler and Jeep brands, along with several others) has decided to put US$90 million into LIT's wholly owned local subsidiary companies exploring these projects," Temple wrote.

The Stellantis umbrella includes iconic brands like Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Peugeot. Under the agreement, Peugeot Citroen Argentina SA, a Stellantis subsidiary, owns 19.9% of the company's issued and outstanding shares, and Argentina Lithium will own 80.1%.

Temple also noted that mines bought or consolidated by larger companies will play a part in making the Lithium Triangle economical for investors.

"But to be sure: There will be growing production in the years ahead from this region," Temple wrote. "And it will be fostered, in part, by O.E.M.'s (original equipment manufacturers) and others placing their much bigger bets today."

Fundamental Research Corp. analyst Sid Rajeev, while initiating coverage on the company in July, agreed.

"As LIT's projects are close to well-known projects held by majors, the company can be subject to M&A events if it is able to delineate a resource in one or more of its assets," noted Rajeev, who rated the stock a Buy with a fair value target price of CA$0.52.

Argentina Lithium has acquired resource properties across the Americas, with a considerable focus on Argentina and the Lithium Triangle. Its current projects include

Argentina Lithium's projects are all within the Lithium Triangle in the Argentinian provinces of Salta and Catamarca. They include Rincon West, Antofalla North, Pocitos, and Incahuasi. All are "salar" properties were the company hopes to produce lithium carbonate from brines enriched in lithium. They are currently at the exploration stage.

The Catalyst: A 'Fast and Furious' Transition

Stellantis' investment highlights the approaching shortage of lithium, a metal it will need for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The EV transition is "is coming fast and furious," Argentina Lithium President and Chief Executive Officer Nikolaos Cacos said.

Stellantis' investment "allows us to not think about funding anymore as an exploration company," Cacos said. "I think we can advance all our projects over the next three years, right up to the announcement, define resources and pre-feasibility studies just before . . . (and) announcing making a decision or going forward and commercial production."

After the issuance of exchange shares and at the close of the transaction, on or about October 4, Stellantis will own at most 19.9% of the common shares (on an undiluted basis) of Argentina Lithium, the company said.

The exchange agreement also provides Stellantis with observer rights to attend Argentina Lithium's board meetings for as long as Stellantis owns at least 10% of the company and allows it to nominate one director to the Board of Directors.

The companies will enter into a lithium offtake agreement in which Stellantis will buy up to 15,000 tonnes per year of lithium produced by LIT over a seven-year period. The agreement may be extended by the companies.

The supply obligation of the agreement is conditional on the start of commercial lithium production at one or more of Argentina Lithium's projects, as well as other terms, including Stellantis having a first right of first refusal on the sale of lithium products to third parties after production starts.

Analysts: Market Deficits Will Widen

Lithium is a major component of EV batteries, where it is used as a cathode and electrolyte. A soft, silvery metal with highly reactive and flammable properties, lithium is also used to strengthen alloys, as a high-temperature lubricant, and as a drug to treat bipolar disorder.

Analysts from Eight Capital predicted that lithium market deficits will widen this decade, and the shortfalls will be driven by demand in North America.

The United States' EV penetration of 6% lags China's 26% and Europe's 20%, analysts Anoop Prihar and Alex Riazanov of Eight Capital wrote in a recent research note. But President Joe Biden's administration has committed to a target of 50% of new vehicle sales being EVs by 2030.

"We estimate North American lithium nameplate production capacity will be 262,900 LCE (million tonnes lithium carbonate) in 2026 based on projects that currently have completed a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS)," Prihar and Riazanov wrote.

"Although this is a significant increase from the current North American production capacity of 6,000 tonnes LCE, it's still more than 128,000 tonnes short of what we anticipate will be required by the battery plants. As such, we anticipate the fundamentals underlying lithium demand to remain robust."

Ownership and Share Structure

The company doesn't officially share any information regarding management or institutional ownership, but Reuters reported that about 37% was owned by strategic institutions in the most recent reporting.

Its largest shareholders are Lithium Investment Partners LP with 17.68%, Jack Yetiv with 15.24%, Joseph J. Grosso with 3.05%, and the CEO Cacos with 1.04%, according to Reuters.

Its market cap is CA$77.39 million, with 130 million shares outstanding. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.60 and CA$0.19.

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Chinese electric-vehicle maker WM Motor said a Shanghai court has accepted a so-called pre-restructuring application by the company, which is mired in financial difficulty and collapsing sales.

In a statement, WM Motor said it will adjust corporate strategy and keep communicating with relevant parties to resolve its financial and debt problems. Earlier this week, WM Motor was mentioned in a notice on Chinas national enterprise bankruptcy information disclosure platform.

Just a month ago, Hong Kong-listed Apollo Future Mobility walked away from a deal to buy the company for $2bn (1.9bn), citing financial market uncertainty and Chinas uneven economic recovery.

WM Motor said on Tuesday that it was suffering short-term operating difficulties due to factors including the sluggish capital market, sharp fluctuations in raw material prices and setbacks in getting funding. The company said it aims to avoid bankruptcy through restructuring.

Its difficulties reflect the boom-and-bust cycle among smaller players vying it out in China, the worlds biggest electric car market, where BYD now accounts for about one-third of all new energy vehicle sales, pushing the likes of WM Motor to the sidelines.

SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists.

WM Motor sold about 35,000 electric sport utility vehicles in 2021 and a similar number last year, data from the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre show. In the first eight months of this year, it sold only 1,387 cars.

Sharp reversal

Its a sharp reversal for the company founded in 2015 by Freeman Shen, a former chief executive officer of Zhejiang Geely Group. At one point, WM Motor was regarded as one of the most promising Chinese electric vehicle startups, backed by Baidu and Tencent, setting delivery records and considering a listing on Chinas answer to the Nasdaq.

WM Motor had planned to launch its latest M7 electric vehicle in 2023, which would have put five of its models on the market, but that didnt happen. Instead it laid off employees, suspended factory production and cut back on aftersales services.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz sales of ultra-luxury vehicles such as the S-Class slumped in the third quarter, a blow to the carmakers strategy of focusing on cars with the highest profit margins.

Orders of high-end Mercedes vehicles dropped 11% to 69,900 units in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago, the carmaker said. Global sales of its flagship S-Class model declined 18%, while sales in China, the companys biggest market for the car, fell 12%.

Under chief executive Officer Ola Kallenius, Mercedes is directing resources to its most expensive vehicles, including Maybach limousines, AMG performance cars and the G-Wagon off-roader. The carmaker is shifting away from less profitable entry-level models like the compact A-Class.

Bloomberg
Sean Gargano, owner and resident sommelier of MacCurtain Wine Cellar is anchored in Cork and said that, despite this commitment, it feels like the Government often favours larger firms that could uproot at any moment.

Originally from the US, Mr Gargano described himself and his wife Trudy, manager of the MacCurtain Wine Cellar, as old waiters, who had been in the hospitality business for years before they decided to open up their wine retail and hospitality venture post-covid on the popular foodie street in Cork City.

Trudy and I have put all of our money, all of our childrens money, all of our life savings into this place. We cannot leave, said Mr Gargano.

However, he said that the increasing cost of doing business is becoming harder and harder to operate compared to larger firms in the sector, and the recent budget "did not do enough for small businesses".

When we look at who is closing down, they are not chains. Youre not going to lose a Costa Coffee.

I believe in paying high taxes so we can have healthcare and amazing education, but Ireland needs to manage its money better, he said.

The married pair benefitted from pent-up demand after the pandemic, but soon became plagued with inflation fuelled high prices and energy costs like many retail and hospitality businesses.

I can see people pulling back on what theyre spending for the takeaway, but still wanting to enjoy themselves on the night out because they know now how important that is, said Mr Gargano.

Mr Gargano added that the budget felt more focused towards consumers which will in turn help him, but that not enough targeted supports were implemented for small businesses.

Theyre not going to give up their night out, but they might give up their bottle of wine mid-week, he said.

Mr Gargano said he is feeling the brunt of surging costs both at home and in work, especially energy costs.

For a half tank of oil for his home, it cost 720. "I make around 650 a week, thats what I go home with, said Mr Gargano.

At the wine store and eatery, Mr Gargano uses an ice machine and four fridges to chill his wines, which need to run 24 hours a day.

Our first electricity bill was just under 700. It peaked at 2,800 and were back down to around 1,700, he said.

Say you buy a 20 bottle of wine, my gross profit on that before costs is about 1.40. Thats a lot of bottles of wine to pay the electricity bill.

Mr Gargano received support in the last budget in the form of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (Tbess) but it was nowhere near enough to cover the difference.

He also said the scheme was difficult to navigate, a common problem among businesspeople leading to a slow uptake.

So we lost out on some of it because we had to get an accountant to take a look at it, he said.

Meanwhile, he echoed the disappointment expressed from other retail and hospitality operators with the reinstatement of the shockingly high 13.5% Vat, which increased from 9% after the pandemic.

It should be 6%, 9% was way too high, he said, adding that hospitality and tourism is such a large part of our GDP.

He said that people naturally assume that because he operates a little wine business that he has loads of money. Its the exact opposite.

Were still managing and were living the life we want to live and were very blessed but it definitely is like were stopping and thinking about everything, he said.
The Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) has hit out at the "arbitrary" nature of the revised bank levy announced as part of Budget 2024, which will raise 200m next year.

Speaking in the Dail, Finance Minister, Michael McGrath said it was important that the banking sector continued to make a contribution to the Irish economy, following the support it received during the financial crisis.

Since 2014, the Irish government has imposed a bank levy on the level of Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid by banks.

Up until 2021, the levy raised 150m each year, however, following the departure of KBC and Ulster Bank, that figure shrunk to 87m in 2022, with the same amount expected for 2023, despite a surge in bank profits.

With the existing levy set to end this year, questions were raised about whether or not a new levy would be introduced were raised, and if it would reflect the bumper profits posted by Ireland's banks so far this year.

With the new levy set to raise 200m in 2024, up significantly from 87m, the BPFI has called out the measure, saying the banking landscape has changed significantly since the levy was introduced with the number of retail banks in Ireland decreasing from 12 to 5, 2 of which are also exiting the Irish market.

The federation also noted that while state ownership has been a feature of the retail banking sector for the past decade, the governments strategy to return banks to private ownership and the State's present day recovery value from AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB was over 94% of its original investment.

"The arbitrary nature of the increase in the levy introduced in todays budget risks Irelands reputation as a stable, consistent and transparent tax regime," the BPFI added.

In the first six months of this year, Ireland's three remaining pillar banks have seen profits soar on the back of continuous interest rate hikes and growing concentration arising from Ulster Bank's and KBC's departure.

In July, AIB posted an operating profit of more than 1.2bn for the first six months of 2023, exceeding its total of 1.08bn for all of last year. Similarly, Bank of Ireland posted an operating profit of 1bn at the end of June from 351m in the same period last year.

Furthermore, Permanent TSB reported a surge in net interest income to 298m, with the bank's mortgage market share rising from 16% to more than 23% in just one year.

Following the announcement, Minister McGrath said the levy would be reviewed again next year to ensure it remains "appropriately calibrated."
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden was interviewed over the weekend as part of an independent investigation into his handling of classified documents, the White House said late Monday. It's a possible sign that the investigation is nearing its end.

Special counsel Robert Hur is investigating the improper retention of classified documents from Bidens time as a U.S. senator and as vice president that were found at his Delaware home, as well as at a private office that he used in between his service in the Obama administration and becoming president.

Biden has said he was unaware he had the documents and that there's no there there.

Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel's office, said in a statement that the interview was voluntary and conducted at the White House on Sunday and Monday.

Hur's office likely asked to interview Biden sometime after Aug. 25.

Asked at that time if he planned to sit for an interview with the special counsel, Biden replied, There's no such request and no such interest.

The interview could signal that the special counsel investigation is nearing its conclusion.

In 2016, then-FBI Director James Comey announced his recommendation against criminal charges for Hillary Clinton over her handling of classified information just three days after agents interviewed her at FBI headquarters.

Investigators with Hur's office have already cast a broad net in the probe, interviewing a wide range of witnesses about their knowledge of how classified documents were handled.

In his statement, Sams reiterated that Biden and the White House were cooperating. He referred any questions to the Justice Department.

As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation, Sams said. "We would refer other questions to the Justice Department at this time.

Attorney General Merrick Garland named Hur in January 2023 to handle the politically sensitive investigation in an attempt to avoid conflicts of interest.

It is one of three recent Justice Department investigations into the handling of classified documents.

The investigation into Biden is separate from special counsel Jack Smiths probe into the handling of classified documents by former President Donald Trump after he left the White House. Smiths team has charged Trump with illegally retaining top secret records at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida and then obstructing government efforts to get them back. Trump has said he did nothing wrong.

No evidence has emerged to suggest that Biden engaged in comparable conduct or willfully held onto records he wasnt supposed to have.

Questioned in January about the discovery, Biden told reporters that the documents were immediately turned over to the National Archives and the Justice Department. He said he was cooperating fully with the investigation and was looking forward to getting this resolved quickly.

I think youre going to find theres nothing there, he said. Theres no there there.

In June, the Justice Department informed former Vice President Mike Pence's legal team that it would not pursue criminal charges against him related to the discovery of classified documents at his Indiana home. The news came as Pence finalized plans to launch his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

About a dozen documents with classified markings were discovered at Pences home in January after he asked his lawyers to search his vice presidential belongings out of an abundance of caution after the Biden discovery. The items had been inadvertently boxed and transported to Pences home at the end of the last administration, Pences lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives.

The FBI then discovered an additional document with classified markings at the Indiana house during its own search the following month.

Pence repeatedly had said he was unaware of the documents existence, but that mistakes were made" in his handling of classified material.

It is hardly unprecedented for sitting presidents to be interviewed in criminal investigations.

President George W. Bush sat for a 70-minute interview as part of an investigation into the leak of the identify of a CIA operative. President Bill Clinton in 1998 underwent more than four hours of questioning from independent counsel Kenneth Starr before a federal grand jury.

Special counsel Robert Muellers team negotiated with lawyers for then-President Donald Trump for an interview but Trump never sat for one. His lawyers instead submitted answers to written questions.
A 61-acre property 25km west of Tralee and 18km south of Abbeyfeale, close to the N21 Limerick-Tralee road is being sold in four separate lots by Tralee-based auctioneer Brendan Mannix, attracting plenty of interest and some offers.

Located in the townland of Meenleitrim South, Lot 1 consists of 5.6 acres of agricultural land which is described as good quality summer grazing grounds by Brendan who adds, Theyre well managed by the current tenant and he uses them for grazing, as well as for hay and silage.
Broadcaster Sile Seoige is urging parents of young babies not to be people-pleasers  and to be upfront about asking visitors not to kiss their infants.

The Connemara natives advice comes just as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) season kicks off.

A common virus that can cause lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), it is highly contagious, with approximately 90% of children infected by two years of age  RSV is the lead cause of LRTI in babies.

Obviously, people coming to your house will want to pick up, kiss and cuddle your baby, but you need to be able to say: There are so many things going around, we dont know what people are picking up, do you mind not kissing him?. People are hopefully used to that now from covid, says Seoige.

Until Seoige became mum to Cathal, six, and Cliodhna, two next month, RSV wasnt on her radar.

But she and partner Damien OFarrell got a scare when Cliodhna caught RSV as a four-month-old.

It began like any cold  runny nose, slightly raised temperature  you could cut and paste with lots of different infections.

Covid was still rife at the time, so we did a test but it wasnt that.

Then her breathing became a bit strained, she was completely bunged up, a lot of phlegm  babies dont know how to blow their nose or clear their airways.

She wasnt taking as much food, she wasnt herself.

Parental instinct is very powerful. We werent willing to sleep through the night in case this was anything risky. We decided our best bet was to bring her to Crumlin.

Admitting it was scary, Sile says: Youre sitting around. Staff are stretched, its not their fault, but youre looking at your watch and your babys so tiny  your hearts in your mouth  and at this stage, you havent been given that sense of comfort that shes going to be OK.

Describing staff as really brilliant, Sile says Cliodhnas breathing was monitored and medics were happy to let her go home after a few hours.

Ive a friend whose baby was a similar age to Cliodhna, who got a similar infection. They got an awful fright  she had to have phlegm suctioned off her lungs and was kept in hospital.

We didnt have that. We were advised to keep Cliodhnas airways clear. Using a nasal spray and a baby inhaler definitely helped. Within a few days shed turned a corner, says Seoige, adding that Cathal also got RSV but was far more able to manage it.

Sile Seoige. Pic: iStock

Hospital admissions

A major cause of severe respiratory illness among the under twos, RSV is also the most common cause of hospital admissions in young children.



LRTIs like pneumonia or pneumonitis are most likely to occur during a child's first infection with RSV and may develop in 30-70% of first infections. And babies are at risk of more severe RSV illnesses such as croup, bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Findings from a recent survey, commissioned by biopharmaceutical company Sanofi of more than 500 parents in Ireland, show almost two-thirds (63%) are concerned their child may contract RSV this winter  and 74% said they would ask family members/friends/acquaintances not to touch their childs face or hands as a preventative measure.

Almost four out of five (79%) parents had heard of RSV, but overall understanding of the disease was low, with just one in five reporting good knowledge.

This contrasts with their greater knowledge of other childhood illnesses, for example, common cold (74%), influenza (52%) and pneumonia (38%).

The HSE defines the Irish RSV season as starting at the beginning of October and ending in late February. But in 2022, RSV infections surged outside of the normal winter season  potentially as a consequence of covid social distancing measures and lockdown periods, meaning babies had experienced less exposure to typical childhood viruses.

Prof Roy Philip, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at University Hospital Limerick, says: For almost two years during covid we contained the spread of infection. Yet 90% of children get RSV by the age of two, so [post-Covid] there was a natural viral resurgence, which got those who hadnt been affected up to then.

This year RSV season began earlier and there has been a rise in hospital admissions.

Prof Philip says figures show one in five children under two years require some form of medical input (GP, PHN, A&E) for acute respiratory infections  of these, one in 50 need hospital admission which could include paediatric high-dependency care or intensive care.

Describing the trajectory of RSV, Prof Philip says it initially presents with symptoms similar to a common cold.

It's not uncommon for infants or young children to have runny nose, sniffles, fever, reduced feeding, irritability, or even ear infections.

But while RSV behaves like a head cold in the vast majority of children, the worry is that in a proportion of infants, RSV can lead to LRTIs such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. If parents notice rapid breathing, significantly reduced feeding, prolonged periods without wet nappies, or persistent high fever despite medication, they should consult their GP immediately.

Moreover, in instances of obvious breathing difficulties, significant pauses in breathing or unexplained lethargy/sleepiness, it's imperative to seek urgent medical attention from emergency services, says Prof Philip.

Very premature infants and those with certain underlying medical conditions  congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, chronic lung disease  are more vulnerable to severe RSV infections, at times warranting critical care. But Prof Philip says it is still true that the vast majority of babies with RSV seeking help from GP or A&E are typical healthy babies.

While there is no specific treatment for RSV, certain factors  cigarette smoke, overcrowding, lack of breastfeeding  have been suggested to increase the frequency and severity of RSV infections. If a baby is in a cigarette-smoking environment their chances of getting severe RSV is higher.

And in crowded situations like creches  and creches are wonderful and do their best  if one child develops RSV its very easy for it to spread. Sibling affection is important, but if an older sibling in creche/playschool comes home with a viral infection and kisses the face of the three-month-old, the chances of RSV spread is higher.

Professor Philip is one of the authors of a recent study published in BMJ Global Health (exa.mn/Breastfeeding-RSV) that found breastfeeding associated with lower frequency and severity of RSV-associated acute LRI.

Handwashing and 'cough etiquette'

To prevent RSV spread, Dr Maire Finn, GP at Ennis Family Medical Centre, advises frequent, careful handwashing with soap and water as an important preventative action. Always follow good cough etiquette  cough into your sleeve or a tissue. Encourage children to do the same. If a sibling or other family member is symptomatic you should keep them away where possible.

Prof Philip recommends good hydration if your child has RSV. As long as theyre alert, having no significant breathing difficulties and have wet nappies, it means your baby is coping well. They usually take a few days to a week to recover. Whats important is to keep them feeding, keep them warm  and keep a close eye for any warning signs.

For Sile Seoige, who moved back to her home village in Connemara a year or so ago, having the support of family and friends nearby is important during these child-rearing years. Im in my mid-40s. It took time for me to realise Im from a lovely place and community. My parents are out the road. My closest friends from my schooldays still live in the village.

She and Damien are building a home here: Our goal is to be in before Christmas.

The couple moved from Dublin ahead of Cathal starting primary school. We said 'lets just make the move, well rent, well make it work'.

Cathals in his second year of primary now. He has transitioned so well into life in the Gaeltacht  hes a real little Connemara man.

And when it comes to childhood illnesses, Sile is following in her mum, Phils footsteps.

She believes in nourishing a child to have a robust immune system, so theyre well able to fight whatever comes along. Shed always reach for natural remedies and did a lot of concoctions for us growing up. Like her, I really believe in supporting the body.

Also like her mum, Sile believes in listening to her instincts  as well as in the importance of keeping informed. Because knowledge is power.

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I pledge myself in the name of the living Republic to the lives of my comrades, that I will not take food, or drink anything except water, until I am unconditionally released...

That was the promise sworn by over 8,000 prisoners in Ireland, 100 years ago.

At midnight on 14 October 1923, some 462 prisoners in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, hopeless of gaining redress of grievances, and desperate to regain their freedom, took the drastic decision to go on hunger strike.

Thousands of Republican inmates in at least ten other prisons and internment camps across Ireland were invited by IRA headquarters to follow suit.

Cork women march nightly to voice their support (Cork Examiner, 20 Oct. 1923 p.7)

By October 24, the Cork Examiner estimated that almost 8,200 prisoners were refusing food.

They included 3,900 in the Curragh, 1,700 in Newbridge, 711 in Gormanston, 350 in Kilkenny, 263 on the prison ship Argenta in Belfast Lough, 200 in Dundalk, 100 in Hare Park, and 70 in Cork City Gaol.

Soon to join them were 51 of the 86 women prisoners in North Dublin Union barracks.

Earlier hunger strikes in Ireland had been on a significantly smaller scale: 143 men and 2 women in 1918, and 78 prisoners in Cork County Gaol in 1920.

Those refusing to eat in 1923 complained of being beaten and having hoses turned on them.

Interned without charge and a proper trial, they demanded immediate release, since the only crime they had committed was to oppose the Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1921.

Not every prisoner joined in: some at Mountjoy said they needed all their energy to finish digging an escape tunnel!

Others believed hunger strikes were futile and would never achieve the mass release of prisoners being sought.

Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, epicenter of the hunger strikes, the ultimate weapon of passive resistance, Oct. 1923 (Irish Examiner stock)

I knew that I was hungry all along.

Peadar ODonnell, leader of the Mountjoy group, recalled: the decision to go on hunger strike was made when none of us knew we had a stomach There is an idea abroad that after ten or twelve days the hunger is dulled and there is little further suffering. I do not think that is so. I knew that I was hungry all along.

ODonnells comrade at Mountjoy, Republican writer Ernie OMalley, commented that hunger striking was an unknown quantity I was frankly afraid, but I could not see boys of sixteen and eighteen take their chance whilst I could eat and be excused I could not let the side down.

On 19 October, a large contingent of mostly women, fronted by a band of pipers, marched from Grand Parade, Cork City, through the main streets, in support of the Mountjoy men. They marched each night for a week.

The hunger strikes persisted. At Mountjoy, prisoners scornfully rejected food offered by doctors and police officers, and threw it down into the hall, which was left in an indescribable condition, according to the Cork Examiner.

Managing to keep warm presents a serious problem for anyone not eating.

In the Curragh, men tore down partitions and doors in order to keep the stoves going. Many took to their beds.

For some, it was too much, and they abandoned the campaign.

In Newbridge, the cookhouse was raided by an uncontrollable mob of starving prisoners.

An eyewitness described the scene as awful and pitiable.

Sinn Fein activist Charlotte Despard demands prisoners be released, Oct. 1923 (Getty Images)

Let them all die

Many eminent figures condemned the hunger strikes.

The editor of the Irish Statesman, George Russell, declared those who took part were insane.

Priests claimed the prisoners actions were suicidal. Cardinal Michael Logue, Catholic archbishop of Armagh, labelled the strikes foolish, ineffective, and of very doubtful morality, and called on participants to abandon their dangerous and unlawful actions.

Doctors refused to treat protesters, and the government threatened never to release them: let them all die, was its attitude, claims James Healy (The Civil War Hunger Strike  October 1923).

One of the ugliest problems for the new government, commented a British newspaper (The Observer, 21 Oct. 1923, p.14)

Public reaction is harder to fathom. Sheila Humphreys from Limerick, who was on strike for thirty-one days in the North Dublin Union prison, maintained: the Irish public had forgotten us.

In reality, women on the outside, led by activists Charlotte Despard, Maud MacBride and Constance Markievicz, kept up a relentless campaign throughout the autumn to get them released.

Markievicz's own arrest allowed her to join the strike during its final three days.

By late October many prisoners had started eating again, some too weak to hold out, others influenced by forged orders purporting to come from the IRA, telling them the strike was over.

Two protesters died of hunger: Andy OSullivan from Denbawn, Co. Cavan, interned in Mountjoy Prison, and Denis Barry from Riverstick, Co Cork, an inmate in Newbridge, who died in the Curragh Military Hospital.

When Barrys corpse was brought to Cork City, it had to lie in Sinn Fein HQ on Grand Parade, for Bishop Daniel Cohalan had banned it entering any church.

No priest was allowed to attend his funeral in St Finbarrs Cemetery on 28 November, so David Kent TD sprinkled holy water over the grave, while Annie MacSwiney, sister of Corks late Lord Mayor, recited the rosary in Irish.

On 23 November, after 41 days, Republican leaders toured the camps and officially called off the strike.

The following day over 500 inmates were released from prisons across Ireland on condition they signed an oath of loyalty to the Irish Free State.

Another 500 were released in December 1923.

However, 420 hunger strikers refused to sign, and remained locked up, some until January 1926  without charge, or a proper trial.
The winners of the 2023 Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards have been announced, including Ireland's best restaurant, bar and hotel.

Now running for 25 years, the highly-coveted awards are selected by anonymous inspectors and aim to honour Ireland's standard-bearers in food and hospitality.

This year's batch of winners includes Darina Allen and brother Rory OConnell of Ballymaloe Cookery School, a vintage tea experience in Dublin, a Sligo family hotel and a special honour for The Brennan brothers of Park Hotel, Kenmare.

The awards this year put a special focus on genuine hospitality, consistency, innovation and good value. Special tribute was paid to some of the giants of Irish food and hospitality  as well as the brave newcomers, who continue to delight with inspiring new business.

It may seem like no time at all to many of its longtime fans, but the internationally renowned Ballymaloe Cookery school founded by Darina Allen and her brother Rory O'Connell has been in business since 1983.

Darina Allen and Rory O'Connell were awarded the 'movers and shakers' award at the 2023 awards

At this year's awards, the founders received the movers and shakers accolade with judges pointing out that it is an apt time to pay tribute to the immense contribution that Ballymaloe Cookery School has made, and continue to make, to the development of a sustainable food culture in Ireland".

Five-star Hotel of the Year is Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois, while Clandeboye Lodge Hotel in County Down got the award for Four-star Hotel of the Year.

Family run, Caseys of Baltimore in Cork scooped the prize for Three-star Hotel of the Year.

Neighbourhood Restaurant in Naas, Co Kildare won Restaurant of the Year at this years awards, receiving praise for its beautifully warm and welcoming restaurant with judges describing it as a class act.

Meanwhile, Dunmore House Hotel in Clonakilty, County Cork which has been welcoming guests since 1948, won best Memorable Experience for its delicious home produce thats cooked with finesse but allowed to be itself".

Pub of the year was named as The Parsons Nose in Hillsborough Co Down. while The Grapevine Lounge at Wineport Lodge in Co Westmeath won Bar of the Year.

Brothers Francis and John Brennan of Park Hotel in Kenmare were also honoured with the Hospitality Hero award for their contribution to the industry, and in particular having been an industry benchmark for over four decades" and "a training ground for tiptop service.

Full list of award winners here

Chef of the Year

Angel Pirev  The Mustard Seed Ballingarry, Co Limerick

Wine Experience

Burren Fine Wine and Food Ballyvaughan Co Clare

Happy Place Award

Vintage Tea Trips Dublin

Newcomer of the Year

Bramley Restaurant, Abbeyleix Co Laois

Atmospheric Restaurant of the Year

The Sea Rooms Kellys Resort Hotel and Spa, Rosslare Co Wexford

Seafood Restaurant of the year

Oscars Seafood Bistro, Galway

Seafood Chef of the Year

Tony Davidson, Fisk Seafood bar Downings, Co Donegal

Global Cuisines Award

Chakra by Jaipur, Greystones, Co Wicklow

Casual Dining Award

The Club at Geoffs, Kill Co Kildare

Innovation Award

Mountain View Ballyhale Co Kilkenny

Sustainability Award

The Salthouse Hotel Ballycastle Co Antrim

Small Stay Award

Ashley Park House, Nenagh Co Tipperary

Host of the Year

John and Elizabeth Barrett, Bervie Guest accommodation Achill Island, Co Mayo

Business Hotel of the Year

Clanard Court Hotel Athy Co Kildare

Family Friendly Hotel of the Year

Ocean Sands Enniscrone, Co Sligo

Pet Friendly Destination of the Year

Cashel House Hotel, Connemara Co Galway

Taste of Waterways Award

Sham Hanifa Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim

Visitor Attraction Award

The Stables Cafe, Mount Congreve House and Gardens Kilmeaden, Co Waterford

Natural Food Award

Rock Farm, Slane, Co Meath
Jack Downes was lucky to get a place to live on campus at UCC when he began his four-year undergraduate course in finance in September.

However, less than a month into his studies, he says he is living in fear of having no campus accommodation next year because the college rooms are given out in a lottery system.

If I dont get a place to live on campus next year, then Im back home to Enniskeane, he told the Irish Examiner. Thats 40km away, but its transportation that is the issue.

The nearest bus stop is 20 minutes away, and then its a two-hour journey in total via the bus, depending on traffic. That eats into my studies then. You would have to drive, and the traffic would be mad.

Its the fear of the unknown that is bothering me. Id have to rent in Cork near the college. Youll have the fear that the rent will be worse privately, and it will be.

There is also the possibility of not being able to afford the travel and all that worry about money is not good.

I worked over the summer and saved up to live on campus, which is 6,000 for the year. My parents helped me too.

I get a small SUSI grant. But what if I dont get the accommodation next year again? My whole world will be upended.

Living close to college is one of the biggest issues facing students all over the country, including the lack of student accommodation and the price of private rental units as well as the cost of living.

This is only my first year, and this is the scenario, said Jack.

Im already worrying about next year and its not my exams Im worried about, its whether I will be able to manage.

I really dont know what I would have done had I not secured a place to live while on campus.

Jack said he is hoping Budget 2024 will be able to provide some assurances to students like him.

He said: Right now, Im paying the 6,000 a year, and me and my family have made that work.

Im kind of working part time in a bar at the weekends. I manage my money, and Im trying to live as best I can.

I would say I need more assurances from the Government that accommodation is an option for students like me.

It is just to feel like I wont be stuck next year. It would be great if you were guaranteed accommodation with the course.

Ive four years ahead of me in this course, and I could be doing a Masters in UCC.

Accommodation is the biggest worry I have. It is a very nervy situation.

I need more options for living, and a basic right of a roof over my head while Im trying to better myself and my education.

You also want to have a bit of a social life if you can, but you cant be guaranteed anything like that.

"Accommodation is huge, it affects thousands of students.
A Kerry mother whose teenage son lost his battle with cancer has told the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying that the introduction of assisted suicide or euthanasia in Ireland would "undermine the trust placed in doctors when it comes to end-of-life care."

Tralee teenager Donal Walsh shot to prominence in 2013 for his campaigning against teenage suicide whilst battling Osteo Sarcoma, a terminal form of bone cancer.

As he underwent treatment, he began raising tens of thousands of euro for cancer treatment facilities. After writing a powerful piece about suicide among young people in Ireland, Donal appeared on RTE in 2013 and spoke of his appreciation for life.

During his interview, he contrasted his personal circumstances of wanting to get every second out of life with the lives of young people who had died by suicide, and the devastation caused to their families.

In the wake of his death in May 2013, Donal's family established the Donal Walsh #Livelife Foundation to promote his campaigning against suicide. To date, the foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of euro to hospices, mental health facilities, and other teenage-focused initiatives around the country.

Speaking before the committee on Tuesday, Elma Walsh said that losing her 16-year-old son to cancer was "the exception in life."

She said that from the moment he was diagnosed as being terminal, Donal had "lived with dying" and that his palliative care team "not only took Donal into their care, but they also looked after us as a family and individually."

Quality of life

Ms Walsh told the committee members that palliative care in Ireland "should not be underestimated."

"This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a terminal illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. This is what it did for Donal and ourselves, in Donals final and most important challenge," she said.

She said that, if palliative care was turned "into something that it isnt, by liking it with euthanasia", it would be "to the detriment of living."

Ms Walsh said that, for her, "any introduction of assisted suicide or euthanasia would undermine the trust placed in doctors when it comes to end-of-life care, they would be seen as death givers."

"I fear what this committee could set in motion because if it removes the present legal requirement that doctors do what they can to save lives, the value of life will be significantly reduced," she said.

"As we have seen in so many other countries the so-called choice to die becomes the duty to die."

She said the introduction of assisted suicide or euthanasia would lead to the "bizarre situation where on the one hand we are putting out messages of suicide prevention and on the other we would be offering it.

"For some, we will be saying your life is not living, suicide will be the expectation not an option."

Palliative care, she said, allowed Donal to "spread a message of hope" by "telling young people that their life itself is valuable, no matter how uphill it may seem at the time."

"We can all help fight against suicide by turning our back on assisted suicide. Our lives are for sharing to the end."
Families on incomes of less than 100,000 will see third-level fees halved to 1,500 under budget measures aimed at parents of toddlers, teenagers, and young adults.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has secured a multimillion-euro budget package for students and their families which will ease the financial burden of going to college this year and over the coming years.

It allows for a 50% reduction in undergraduate fees to 1,500 for students whose families have an income of 100,000 or less.

All other families will see college fees cut again by 1,000 per undergraduate student under measures secured by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris.

Childcare fees

In a significant victory, Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has secured a 25% reduction in childcare fees, bringing the total cut to 50% after a similar move last year. However, given the cost of introducing such a measure, it is expected that parents will not see the reduction applied until around September of next year.

Parents will also welcome a double payment of child benefit before Christmas, but the core monthly rate of 140 will not increase.

Education

Education Minister Norma Foley has successfully secured the expansion of free school books to the Junior Cycle at secondary schools across the country.

This will see first, second, and third year pupils avail of the free book scheme. The measure will also include free classroom resources such as copy books, work books, and novels, with a price tag of over 55m. It means that as of September, 770,000 children in primary and post-primary schools will avail of free books and resources. It is also understood Ms Foley has secured additional funding for school transport.

On top of this, the previous 50% cut in public transport fees for young people will be extended to 25-year-olds.

Other third-level measures include an increase in college grants, which will see around 50,000 people receive a financial boost of more than 300 next year.

Some students will be able to apply for SUSI grants of almost 4,000 a year. Students from low-income families will be able to apply for grants of more than 7,000. Postgraduate students will be eligible for grants of up to 2,300.

The minimum wage will increase by 1.40, bringing the hourly rate up to 12.70, in line with what had been recommended by the Low Pay Commission. An increase in employers' PRSI, planned to kick in from January, will be delayed by at least six months, and possibly up to nine months, to allow businesses adjust to higher minimum wage rates.

Crime

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has secured a 12m increase in funding to tackle domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and to establish a new agency next year.

Funding to provide for the first Garda Reserve recruitment campaign since 2017 will also be provided.

The trainee garda allowance will be increased to 305, up from the current 184 weekly payment, with a target of between 800 and 1,000 new garda trainees set for next year.

Increases to the training allowance will apply from budget day on. While the increased payments will begin on January 1, those in training between budget day and the new year will receive a backdated lump payment for this period in January.
After weeks of speculation, Budget 2024 is officially here.

And the good news is that every worker in Ireland can expect to pay less tax next year.

The tax cuts mean a worker earning 50,000 a year will have an extra 800 next year, while a person earning 75,000 will be up 900.

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe have announced a 1.1bn tax package which includes an increase in the standard tax rate band from 40,000 to 42,000.

That means that employees can earn an extra 2,000 before paying tax at the higher rate of 40%.

The government has also announced that USC will be cut in the new year.

The 4.5% rate of USC has been cut to 4%  the first change to this tax in 5 years.

Every penny counts, so make sure you're not missing out on uncliamed taxes.

The ceiling for the lower 2 per cent rate of Universal Social Charge will go up by 2,840, meaning it will apply on earnings up to 25,760.

Meanwhile, the Rent Tax Credit is set to rise by 250.

This means, if youre a single individual and you pay to rent your property, youre now entitled to a tax credit worth 750. Married couples can claim 1,500.

But what does the Budget 2024 announcement mean for your pocket?

Taxback have created a handy Budget 2024 calculator which will quickly provide you with a snapshot of how your take home pay is affected.

The calculator will also indicate whether you are entitled to reclaim any overpaid tax from recent yearsnot bad!

You can try the calculator below.

Are you leaving your tax entitlements on the table?

Thousands of Irish people are missing out on unclaimed taxes amounting to a staggering 1,880 every year because they dont understand their entitlements.

This is the stark message from Taxback - the Irish headquartered firm providing tax filing and refund services to Irish customers for more than 25 years.

So what can you claim?

There are a wide range of tax reliefs available to Irish workers. Exactly what you can claim will depend on your personal circumstances. The Taxback team has illustrated five of the most common types of tax relief below.

Learn more about your tax refund here.

1. Rent Tax Credit

This tax credit, which specifically targets renters, was originally introduced in Budget 2023.

Increased by 250 this year, this credit is now worth 750 per year for a single individual and 1,500 for a married couple.

It is understood that nearly 400,000 people will be eligible to apply for it, and the credit is backdated to include rent paid in 2022.

2. Medical & Dental expenses

Tax relief is available at 20% on the cost of many different types of common medical expenses (such as visits to the GP, Consultant or physio and prescription costs).

Other areas where refunds are due include prescriptions, ambulance calls, physiotherapy, diagnostic procedures and maternity care. Tax back can also be claimed on certain non-routine dental expenses such as orthodontic and root canal treatments.

Similarly, the substantial costs associated with long-term care in a nursing home can mean refunds of up to 40% for either an individual or a loved one.

3. Tax back for married couples

Married couples, of which there are over 1.7 million in Ireland, may also have potential refunds due, depending largely on how much a working couple earns. In the year you're married, both you and your spouse will continue to be treated as single people for tax purposes.

So if you got married in 2022, for example, you may now be due a refund if the tax you paid as two single people is greater than the tax payable if you were taxed as a married couple.

Savings can also be made if both are working, but only one pays tax at the higher rate, or if one spouse has unused credits due to low income or cares for children in the home.

4. Flat Rate Expenses

Flat Rate Expenses are available to thousands of Irish employees who work in a variety of different jobs, from bar staff to nurses and from teachers to firefighters. These expenses are designed to cover common work-related costs such as tools, uniforms and stationery.

How much you will be able to claim will depend on your personal circumstances. For example, electricians can claim 153, dentists are due 376, while nurses can claim 733.

5. Working from home

There is tax relief available for home workers too.

If you worked from home in 2023, you can apply for a tax refund on your home heating, electricity and broadband bills.

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YANGONTwenty-nine people were killed and dozens wounded in a military strike on a camp for displaced people in northern Myanmar, a spokesman for an ethnic rebel group that controls the area told AFP on Tuesday.

The attack happened around 11:30 p.m. Monday, Colonel Naw Bu of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) told AFP.

We found 29 dead bodies including children and older people 56 people were wounded, he said, adding they were investigating what kind of strike had hit the camp.

We did not hear any aircraft, he noted, saying they were looking at whether the military had used a drone to target the camp near Laiza town on the Chinese border.

The KIA has clashed regularly with the military for decades, with heavy fighting erupting in the wake of the militarys latest coup in 2021.

Myanmar military air strikes on a concert held by the KIA in October last year killed around 50 people and wounded 70.
Faced with deepening energy and fuel shortages since the coup, the Myanmar military regime has become heavily reliant on Russia to help solve the crisis.

On Friday, junta Energy Minister Ko Ko Lwin met in Russia with a Roscongress Investment-RCI delegationled by an official identified by junta media as Segey Vladimirovishto discuss matters related to the energy sector. The same day, the junta Deputy Science and Technology Minister Dr. Aung Zeya and the pro-rector of Russias National Research Nuclear University signed memoranda of understanding. The agreements were signed between Russias National Research Nuclear University and Yangon Technological University, Yangon University of Information Technology, and Kyaukse Technological University.

Segey Vladimirovish and Ko Ko Lwin, who was part of the 71st intake of the Defense Services Academy, discussed construction of an oil refinery in Myanmar, as well as an oil port that can handle large oil tankers, and acceleration of cooperation in the energy sector. The regime, according to Ko Ko Lwin, has assigned focal persons in every energy sub-sector to ensure more effective cooperation, and the junta minister urged the Russian side to do the same to facilitate cooperation.

The discussions come as Myanmar is facing severe shortages of fuel and serious blackouts. Fuel prices have declined since the regime arrested and interrogated fuel importers, but people find it even more difficult to buy fuel now as filling stations are not selling petrol, saying they are out of stock.

Ko Ko Lwins visit to Russia was his first since he became energy minister in August during a reshuffle of Min Aung Hlaings regime. He was attending the Russian Energy Week International Forum in Russia.

Before his visit to Russia, Ko Ko Lwin hosted Russia-Myanmar Association for Friendship and Cooperation chief Anatoly Bulochnikov in Naypyitaw in the last week of September for talks on potential cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

Ko Ko Lwin also wooed investors at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)s first energy forum in Kazakhstan from Oct. 3-6. The SCO is dominated by Russia and China.

The minister has stressed that Myanmar needs investment from partner countries to meet its power requirements. He also sought Kazakhstans help in production of electricity using charcoal.

The regime has been collaborating with Russias state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom after opening the countrys first nuclear information center in Yangon early this year.

Last month, junta Deputy Science and Technology Minister Dr. Aung Zeya invited Chinese collaboration with Myanmar on research and human resource development related to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

At the signing of agreements with the pro-rector of Russias National Research Nuclear University on Friday, Dr. Aung Zeya said he believed cooperating with the Russian university will help Myanmar turn out technicians with expertise in nuclear energy and technology. The deputy minister vowed to strengthen cooperation with Russian nuclear technology academies.

Myanmar graduates of Russian universities and undergraduates at Russian universities studying subjects related to nuclear technology, along with deputy rectors from Russian universities and ROSATOM officials, met at the nuclear information center in Yangon in August.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaings promise that nuclear technology will be used peacefully has been treated with skepticism because of the ruthless terror campaign he has overseen since the 2021 coup. Many believe he is pursuing the nuclear dream of his predecessors, the heads of Myanmars previous military dictatorships.

Since Min Aung Hlaing met Russian President Vladimir Putin last year, cooperation between the two pariah nations has increased by leaps and bounds.
Most people have no idea whats involved in immigrating to the United States.

Over a decade ago, I was an interpreter for the American military in Afghanistan. For years, I received death threats from the Taliban and its soldiers hunted and killed people like me. So in 2012, I applied for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) to come to America. Approval took nearly four years, but in January 2016, we flew to New York City. Ill never forget walking out of the airport into a snowstorm, my 3-year-old daughter bundled to my chest.

Buffalo became our home. Within six weeks, I received my green card and Social Security number. Within four months, I had my first job. By 2022, Id co-founded a transportation company that transports Medicaid patients to appointments. Today I have three thriving daughters, ages 11, 8 and 5.

But many of my Afghan countrymen are less fortunate. The 76,000 people America evacuated from Kabul in August 2021 were given temporary visas with no easy route to a green card. Thousands more who assisted the U.S. government were left behind, including my own family. These people risked their lives for America; many now feel abandoned. Its why Congress must pass the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act and give deserving Afghans  both here and abroad  a path to permanent residency.

The Afghan Adjustment Act is similar to a program created for Southeast Asians in the 1970s, which helped 140,000 refugees of the Vietnam War get their green cards. Like those Southeast Asians, our Afghan allies spent decades protecting U.S. soldiers and facilitating our military efforts. Many experienced unbelievable trauma and are desperate for stability. I often volunteer with resettled Afghan families and see their anxiety firsthand; temporary status means one day they may be forced to leave.

The Biden administration recently provided the option to extend these temporary visas, but its not a long term solution. We need Congress to step in. Our new neighbors have now lived here for more than two years, work hard, pay taxes and contribute to their communities.

The people who didnt make it onto evacuation flights also need our help. My parents and four siblings are currently hiding out in Afghanistan; two other siblings are in Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Ive applied for them to come here, but I know how difficult and bureaucratic the process is. It took my own family four terrifying years to secure our approval  and only after an American military friend contacted the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. That act of generosity saved us.

Our Afghan allies need a congressional act of generosity. When I see my daughters chatting with their U.S.-born friends as they walk off the bus, or hear how much they love their local Buffalo school, I wish more Afghan families could be in my position. America is our home, and weve built a beautiful life here. All of our Afghan allies deserve that chance.
Daw Nant Mai woke up to the deafening sound of explosions as her body bounced into the air. She realized immediately that her village was being bombed.

That thought was followed by physical terror.

I tried to get up from the bed, but I was trapped under rubble and couldnt move, she recalled in horror and shock.

She was not alone. The village hit by junta bombs was home to 168 families of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

They still dont know what hit them: bombs from the sky or shelling from the ground?

Mung Lai Hkyet Village is about two miles north of Laiza Town, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which resumed fighting the juntas military after the 2021 coup.

Several hundred internally displaced persons (IDPs) had called the village home before it was turned into rubble. Residents and volunteers say the village was obliterated in the blink of an eye shortly before midnight on Monday.

At least 29 people, including 13 childrenone was just one-and-half-years oldlost their lives, while another 57 people were also injured in the attack, according to the KIA.

Fourteen men and fifteen women were killed by junta shelling. Eleven children under the age of 16 were among the victims, KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday afternoon.

The death toll is expected to rise as volunteers clear more debris and rubble from the site.

Mondays near-midnight bombing of IDPs occurred 13 days before the first anniversary of ANang Pa Village massacre when when junta warplanes bombed a concert being held to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

That massacre was in Hpakant Township on October 23 last year.

Naw Bu said the KIAthe armed wing of the KIO is investigating how the IDP camp was bombed because no sound of aircraft was heard. They are looking into whether junta troops used drones to bomb the IDP camp near the Chinese border, he said.

Bombing civilian villages and displacement camps are war crimes, Naw Bu said.

We wont take an individual action [in retaliation to] this incident. As a revolutionary institution, we are committed to achieving our destiny through the ongoing revolution, he added.

Junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun denied the allegations on Tuesday, saying it had not carried out any attack near the Myanmar-China border.

More than 30 bodies were discovered under piles of debris. Children aged 1.5, two, three, four and seven years old were among the victims,  a Kachin human rights activist told the Irrawaddy on Tuesday.

I feel utterly saddened and disheartened by this tragedy. I have been living in Mon Lai Khat  since 2011, said Daw Nant Mai, a mother of two children who survived.

Kachin News Group posted a video on Facebook showing an infant found alive in the rubble. The infants parents, however, were both killed in the bombing.

Four children, including the infant, lost their parents. One of the children is currently undergoing surgery, a volunteer said.

Survivors of the massacre are sheltering at their relatives homes in nearby villages and community halls near Laiza.

We have nowhere to go now. We cannot return to Mung Lai Hkyet. It is not a safe place anymore, a former resident said.

On Tuesday, Myanmars parallel National Unity Government condemned the junta bombardment of the IDP camp as a crime against humanity and a war crime. It called, once again, for the international community to take more aggressive action against the junta for targeted attacks on civilians.
Clashes were reported between Myanmars junta and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Nawnghkio Township, northern Shan State, on Monday with at least three regime deaths.

Lieutenant Colonel Tar Aik Kyaw of the TNLA said Light Infantry battalions 252 and 257 troops attacked between Doe Pin and Kone San villages.

More than 100 troops from two battalions attacked territory held by our Brigade 2. The fighting lasted all day, he said.

The colonel reported at least three junta deaths, numerous injuries and no TNLA casualties.

It was the first clash between the junta and TNLA since battles in Kutkai on September 28.

The TNLA has reported over 60 clashes with the junta in Kutkai, Muse, Nawnghkio and Mogoke townships since July 23.

The armed groups leadership held weekend talks with the Shan State Progress Party to avoid accidental clashes following a misunderstanding in Kutkai Township on September 23.

Both armed groups are Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee members.

We had a good discussion to avoid another misunderstanding on the ground. We have long been military and political allies but we had a miscommunication on the ground which has now been resolved, Lt Col Tar Aik Kyaw said.
Myanmar junta troops have been killing civilians and torching a village to the southwest of Kale town in Sagaing Region without provocation since Saturday, according to residents.

A resident helping displaced people in Kale Township told The Irrawaddy on Monday: Junta troops continuously shelled Sakkan village before they raided. Residents fled with only clothes on their backs.

Sakkan is 3km from Kale Town and had around 700 households. Junta troops killed a 67-year-old woman and her 14-year-old grandson and burned their bodies, said residents.

A Kale resident told The Irrawaddy on Monday: Junta troops are still in the village and no one dares approach. Three older residents and a mentally ill person are still missing.

Sakkan was first raided in January with around 100 houses burned.

At least five neighboring villages have been emptied since the weekend.

Troops are raiding villages for food, said an official from Kale Township Peoples Administration.

Normally they do not leave their bases but pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militias and troops have run out of food due to our blockade. I heard in some Pyu Saw Htee villages salt costs around 35,000 kyats [around US$10] per viss [around 1.6kg] so they are looting villages.

Military tensions have been running high, said resistance groups.
The Myanmar regime launched airstrikes in Sagaing Regions Kantbalu Township after local resistance forces attacked its camp at a power station on Monday.

Combined local resistance groups launched an early-morning attack on the Nga Pyaw Tine village electricity substation, which was occupied by around 120 junta troops and allied militia last week. The troops then reportedly cut the power supply to Kantbalu and neighboring Taze Township.

The military deployed a helicopter gunship to the area after suffering casualties during two hours of fighting in the morning, according to the resistance force.

The Russian-made Mi-35 attack helicopter opened fire for 45 minutes but failed to drive back the resistance force, which maintained its assault into the afternoon.

After suffering heavy casualties in the afternoon, junta forces then sent around 100 troops to reinforce the outpost.

The resistance groups said they managed to occupy the power station after eight hours of fighting, before retreating after the gunship attacked twice more in the afternoon.

Two resistance fighters were killed in the fighting and others wounded, according to the charity Kyun Hla.

A lot of Myanmar soldiers were killed during the clash, a resistance fighter reported.

Junta troops from Light Infantry Battalion 361 and allied militia have been attacking southern Kantbalu since the last week of September, forcing more than 10,000 civilians from 10 villages to flee.

They cut electricity supplies to Kantbalu and neighboring Taze after occupying the power supply, the local charity reported.

Local resistance groups have warned Kantbalu residents to avoid the Myitkyina-Shwebo road, which runs through Nga Pyaw Tine.
The Kachin Womens Association Thailand is demanding that China halt its plan to accelerate its infrastructure investment in Myanmar through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying Beijing will find itself complicit in the mounting atrocities associated with the planned projects.

The associations recently released reportBloodstained Gateways: escalating SAC abuses in northern Burma pave the way for BRI expansion says that Chinas BRI projects are fueling conflict and abuses and that Beijing is taking huge risk to push ahead with [the] BRI in partnership with [the] Myanmar regime.

SAC is an acronym for the State Administration Council (SAC), the name the junta chose for itself after its 2021 coup.

The report details an escalation of conflict and human rights abuses in Kachin and northern Shan states since mid-2022 and says they are happening to pave the way for BRI expansion. Rights abuses detailed in the report include air and artillery attacks on civilians, mass torching of villages, using civilians as human shields and gang rape.

While Myanmar is engulfed by civil war, increased investment in an area with poor human rights records can further escalate the fighting. It facilitates human rights violations, and we are demanding that China stop its BRI investment while these [human rights violations] are happening, association spokeswoman Ja Ing said.

There are no guarantees of security, and China will find itself complicit in the mounting atrocities associated with the planned projects, she added.

The BRI is an ambitious plan to develop maritime and overland trade routes connecting China with about 150 countries in Asia, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa.

China has been implementing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) as part of its BRI. The CMEC comprises a seaport and special economic zone in Kyaukphyu Township in western Myanmars Rakhine State, a railway linking Kyaukphyu with Chinas Kunming in landlocked Yunnan Province, and cross-border economic cooperation zones in Shan and Kachin states.

Some of the projects are in combat zones where the juntas military is fighting local ethnic armed groups, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

The report details 30 incidents of shelling by junta troops in civilian areas since mid-2022 in Kachin and northern Shan states, which killed 61 civilians and wounded nearly 200 more.

With conventional warfare failing against resistance forces, the regime is increasingly resorting to attacks against civilians, Ja Ing said.

The attacks and abuses have displaced nearly 14,000 village residents during the past 15 months, even as the regime has been pushing ahead with plans to shut existing camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Myanmar that shelter over 107,000 people.

On Monday night, hours after the report was released, at least 29 people, including children, were killed and dozens more wounded in a junta attack on a camp for IDPs near the KIA headquarters of Laiza in Kachin State.

China shares the longest land border with Myanmar. If they want to improve ties between the two countries for increased border security, they should stop the [BRI] project, Ja Ing said.

These projects should be canceled, and no new investments considered until the military regime is removed and elections held under a new federal democratic constitution, guaranteeing free, prior and informed consent of local communities to any new projects, a press release accompanying the report said.
At a Tuesday press conference in Miami, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, joined by members of the Florida Legislature, including State Representative Vicki Lopez who represents Key Biscayne, and leaders in the Jewish community, called for increase sanctions against Iran.

As a state and a nation, we must stand with Israel following the heinous attacks over the weekend, the Governor as he announced proposed stricter sanctions, including broadening the industries on Floridas scrutinized companies list and strengthening Floridas position on states that sponsor terror.

The press conference was held at The Shul of Bal Harbour, in Surfside.

You have barbarians from Hamas funded by the Iranian regime murdering elderly, children, raping women, doing things that are really indescribable, DeSantis said during his remarks.

Yes, Iran was involved in orchestrating this attack against Israel, DeSantis said Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian security officials offered help to Hamas in planning Saturdays surprise attack, even giving the green light last week. The newspaper cited senior members of Hamas and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Proud to stand with Israel and with her people alongside Governor DeSantis, General Counsel of Israel Starinsky, and Rabbi Lipskar at The Shul of Bal Harbour, Representative Lopez posted on her Instagram account.

DeSantis proposed legislation moves to ensuring Florida does not do business with companies aligned with Iran or Hamas, and:

- Prohibits state and local governments from contracting with companies on the expanded sectors list.

- Expands prohibition on state investment in Iranian businesses to include the financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, technology, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding, and port sectors.

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez said, Our administration stands with Israel and its people, and we will never prop up countries that support vile and hate-filled terrorist groups like Hamas.

To watch the entire Tuesday morning press conference, click here.
Tuesday, Oct 10th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 1,848

Openreach (BT) has announced that their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP network now covers just over 1 million properties in Scotland, which is up from 949,000 in late August 2023 and 800,000 in mid-March 2023. The operator has also revealed the 20 locations with the best ultrafast broadband coverage on their network.

The vast majority of their full fibre build in Scotland  costing an average of 300 per premises passed (i.e. 300m for Scotland)  reflects commercial investment, although theyre also covering some areas with support from Gigabit Broadband Vouchers and the Scottish Governments 600m Reaching 100% (R100) project. The latter aims to upgrade another 115,000 of Scotlands hardest-to-reach premises by 2028 (theyve already delivered 24,194 premises).

NOTE: The operator is investing up to 15bn to deploy The operator is investing up to 15bn to deploy FTTP across the UK, which currently covers over 11.5m premises and aims to reach 25m by December 2026 (80%+)  including 6.2m in rural areas.

As part of this milestone, the operator is today also sharing their list of the top 20 Scottish hotspots with the most ultrafast broadband coverage on their network (in this case, ultrafast means FTTP-only). At the top of that table is Lundin Links, Fife, with more than 9 out of 10 properties able to upgrade to the new network. Tranent, on the other side of the Forth, is a fraction behind and the West Lothian village of Fauldhouse is third.

Ardrossan on the North Ayrshire coast, Aviemore in Highland and Findhorn in Moray all make the top 20 too. In Glasgow, the build has now passed 125,000 properties, while in Aberdeen engineers have reused the citys old cable TV network (ducts)  built back in the 1980s and disused for the last 20 years  to help speed up their FTTP rollout.

Katie Milligan, Chair of the Openreach Scotland Board, said: Scots use roughly 100 million Gigabytes of data on our network each week  equivalent to every single person in the country watching a full HD movie every day  and data consumption is rising every single year. Thats why our investment in the new fibre network is so important. Using tiny glass threads thinner than human hairs, it will meet data demands decades into the future. This digital upgrade is a massive deal for Scotland. Transformative connectivity helps make communities sustainable  people can stay local and take full advantage of online opportunities. Its brilliant to reach one million homes and businesses, and a huge thank you must go to our engineers and build partners whove helped make it happen. But were not stopping there

Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Innovation Minister, said: This is an important milestone in the drive to ensure more homes and businesses across Scotland benefit from full fibre broadband, improving vital connectivity. We are working with Openreach to roll-out future-proofed digital infrastructure to our rural towns and villages and this Reaching 100% build, alongside Openreachs commercial network, will underpin economic growth and enhance communities across Scotland for decades to come.

The operator notes that theyre currently still building on the ground in places like Annan, Fraserburgh, Kirkcaldy and Greenock, as well as in Edinburgh, Glasgow and dozens of other cities, towns and villages. In terms of take-up, Openreach said that just 360,000 households and businesses out of a possible million have upgraded to their new FTTP network, but thats still pretty good for such young infrastructure.

Sadly, the operators list of the top 20 locations in Scotland for ultrafast broadband coverage fails to include a useful statistic for how much coverage theyve actually delivered for each location, which would have made for a useful comparison with independent data sources. But overall, Scotland is home to around 2.7 million dwellings, which means that Openreach alone now covers over a third of those.

Meanwhile, were still waiting to hear how the UK governments Project Gigabit funding for Scotland (aka  LOT 39) will be handled, although the first procurements should launch sometime soon. Some 410,00 premises across Scotland are currently predicted to need support from public funding to help them gain access to gigabit-capable (1000Mbps) broadband (here).

However, the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) region has decided not to proceed with a local procurement for the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal area. Premises in this area will now be incorporated into the Scotland-wide plans instead. In the meantime, voucher-enabled build is still taking place on the North East coast from Inverness.

Naturally, in order to benefit from the new network, youll need to order the service from a supporting ISP like BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Zen Internet, iDNET, AAISP and many more.

Openreachs Top 20 ultrafast broadband hotspots in Scotland

Location Local Authority Area 1 Lundin Links Fife 2 Tranent East Lothian 3 Fauldhouse West Lothian 4 Kelty Fife 5 South Queensferry City of Edinburgh 6 Anstruther Fife 7 Corstorphine City of Edinburgh 8 Whitburn West Lothian 9 Halfway City of Glasgow 10 Dalry North Ayrshire 11 Penicuik Midlothian 12 Peebles Scottish Borders 13 Broxburn West Lothian 14 Ardrossan North Ayrshire 15 Dunbar East Lothian 16 Kilbirnie North Ayrshire 17 West Calder West Lothian 18 Aviemore Highland 19 Findhorn Moray 20 Buckie Moray

Please note, this list includes publicly announced exchanges by Openreach. It also excludes very small exchanges, which have been predominantly upgraded using public funding.
It was good news to see that Western New Yorks Republican members of Congress reacted with disgust to the mess a minority bloc of their own members inflicted on the House of Representative and, along with it, the nation.

Thats true even though one of them  Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-24th District  made a ludicrous effort to shift blame for Kevin McCarthys political decapitation to Democrats. Still, theres a ray of hope that neither she nor Rep. Nicholas Langworthy, R-23rd District, sided with the crackpots who led the revolt against their leader.

But, make no mistake: This Republican catastrophe was as predictable as it was avoidable. The national Republican Party has careened out of control and both Western New York representatives are playing a role in it by pretending its dysfunction is normal.

The partys problems began in earnest during the 1990s reign of Newt Gingrich, who tossed aside all norms of civility in the quest for power. That lit a match that engulfed his position as speaker, along with those of Republicans John Boehner, Paul Ryan and now McCarthy.

The party no longer believes in governance  neither of the nation nor of itself. Its playing out in the farcical impeachment inquiry of President Biden, an abuse of process in which Langworthy is playing an enthusiastic role. Its all disastrous, both to the party and to the country.

Tenneys point regarding Democrats  one shared by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others  is that their members could have saved McCarthy by siding with the majority of Republicans who opposed the maneuver led by the clownish Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. Mathematically, she is correct: With only eight Republicans voting to dump the speaker, Democrats could have played a decisive role in preventing the House from descending into chaos.

But Democrats were being asked to save Republicans from their radical dysfunction by rescuing a speaker who gave away his authority in a driven quest for power. What is more, by playing to the worst elements of his party, McCarthy had made clear that he couldnt be trusted. He wanted power for its own sake, not to govern a large and diverse nation. Saving McCarthy would simply have meant more of the same dysfunction leading to yet another Republican move against him. And another and another an another. This was a Republican production, from start to finish.

Still, when it came time to vote, Langworthy and Tenney made the right call. The question now is whether they will acknowledge the partys deterioration and work to bring it back to a healthier place  one where performing an honorably adversarial role doesnt also demand playing nutjob.
1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Expanding the market may be just what New Yorks sluggish cannabis program needs, and those doors are finally beginning to open.

It is welcome news that licenses are now being offered to general retail dispensaries, as well as cultivators, processors and distributors, with no prior requirements to have previous cannabis convictions.

It was important for New York to address the inequities of drug laws that disproportionately punished Black offenders. Accordingly, the states initial cannabis roll-out has offered those who suffered under that history a helping hand. But no one will be helped if New Yorks cannabis market does not emerge from the burden of lawsuits, confusing regulations and illegal retailers that have hampered it thus far.

Now, those who were unable to open under the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program, which has been targeted by lawsuits and injunctions, will be able to open under general licensing, which allows all to apply, not only the justice-involved. The new window will remain open until Dec. 4, with licenses being awarded at the beginning of 2024.

This is essential. More retailers need to open for a truly robust New York market. A safe, regulated product that is widely available can help overcome illegal activity and begin to provide the economic benefits that New Yorkers were promised when this rollout began. So far, those benefits have not been impressive. Even if New York reaches the $56 million in revenue  much of it coming from licensing fees  it projected for 2023, it has a long way to go before catching up to Illinois, which last year collected $443.3 million in cannabis sales tax.

The comparison is discouraging, but it also demonstrates the potential of this market.

And it should be noted that efforts toward equity in New York continue: Half of the cannabis licenses granted in the state must be to people from communities disproportionately impacted by pot arrests, as well as to minority- and women-owned businesses, distressed farmers and service-disabled veterans.

As more shops open, communities should get accustomed to recreational cannabis being part of the retail mix, and  as long as regulations are followed and the stores are good neighbors  New Yorks cannabis industry will begin to leave its growing pains behind.
Our political leaders have reached a level of disjunction that puts our great nation at great risk.

This debt ceiling issue should have been resolved years ago, but it seems as though it has been kept alive as a tool to threaten or coerce the other side to capitulate to their demands.

We are at a point where these demands could possibly undo the democratic principles that have kept our country number one in the role of democratic freedom. And not providing funds for Ukraine is putting everyones freedom in jeopardy.

The recent passing of Dianne Feinstein reinforces the fact that our political system must install age limits as well as term limits to mediate this gridlock so our government can return to some level of normalcy.

Please vote out the extreme members and install people that can work together.

Joseph Allen

Buffalo
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa has attributed Zimbabwe's population growth to significant achievements in HIV prevention and a reduced maternal mortality rate.Zimbabwe has made substantial progress toward achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim to reduce new HIV infections by 95%, provide 95% access to anti-retroviral treatment, and achieve 95% viral suppression by 2030.During the opening of the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Population and Development in Victoria Falls, President Mnangagwa praised the efforts of partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in maternal health services that have led to a decrease in maternal mortality rates.He stated, "Over the years, the government of Zimbabwe has made significant strides in implementing the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development. To-date, the total population of Zimbabwe has doubled from 7.6 million in 1982 to 15 million in 2022."President Mnangagwa attributed this population growth to an improved quality of life, as well as a decline in HIV and AIDS-related mortality rates due to increased availability of Anti-Retroviral Treatment and reduced mother-to-child HIV transmission.He also noted that the fertility rate has steadily decreased, and life expectancy at birth has increased thanks to comprehensive socio-economic and healthcare interventions.Zimbabwe's national maternal mortality ratio has decreased from 651 per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 362 per 100,000 live births in 2022.President Mnangagwa emphasized that Zimbabwe has made progress in social development, resulting in improved rankings in the Human Development Index.Through partnerships, Zimbabwe has filled gaps in health service provision, with specialists from countries like China and Cuba coming to assist in healthcare delivery. Fellowships and capacity-building programs have also helped Zimbabwean health workers attain specialized postgraduate qualifications.Lydia Zigomo, UNFPA regional director, stated during the conference that South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of development assistance activities, aligning with the UNFPA's Strategic Plan 2022-2025 to accelerate development progress. She emphasized that leveraging SSTC initiatives will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other development frameworks.
Michigan Advance is a hard-hitting, nonprofit news site covering politics and policy across the state. We feature in-depth stories, briefs and social media updates, as well as top-notch progressive commentary. The Advance is free of advertising and free to our readers. We wholeheartedly believe that journalists have the biggest impact by reporting close to home, explaining whats happening in our state and communities  and why. Michigan has hundreds fewer reporters than just a couple decades ago. The result is too many stories falling through the cracks.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Hamas leaders have said they were driven to their attack on Israel this weekend by two major considerations, the danger posed by right wing religious Zionism to the al-Aqsa mosque complex, the third holiest shrine for 1.8 billion Muslims, and a wave of Israeli squatter attacks on Palestinian hamlets in the Palestinian West Bank. Ibrahim Ibrash, writing for the London-based pan-Arab daily, al-Arab is puzzled by these announced goals because, being based in Gaza, Hamas does not have the capability of intervening in East Jerusalem or the Palestinian West Bank.

These announced goals, if we take them seriously, suggest to me that Hamass Operation al-Aqsa Storm may have been intended in part to allow it to displace the Palestine Authority from the West Bank. Palestinians are furious at Mahmoud Abbas and the PA for helping Israel crack down on Lions Den militant young men in Nablus, and at their helplessness before the repeated storming of the al-Aqsa complex by Jewish Power and Religious Zionism fanatics, who are vowing to partition the complex and to establish a Jewish place of worship there. (This plan is denounced by all the rabbis, who say that Jews should not go atop the Temple Mount lest they commit blasphemy. Archeologists say that the al-Aqsa complex is not on the site of the Second Temple, which the Romans destroyed in 70 AD.)

Ironically, Israeli intelligence backed Hamas beginning in the late 1980s in hopes of offsetting the power of the PLO, led by Yasser Arafat. They dont seem to have stopped to consider that secular forces like the PLO are typically more pragmatic than messianic religious movements.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas of being identical to ISIL, the so-called Islamic state group that terrorized Iraq and Syria with killings of civilians and mass violence.

It is not an exact parallel, but Hamas is deploying some of the techniques of ISIL, and for the same purpose. ISIL wanted to mobilize Muslim activists behind it, and to demonstrate that its direct action made it most suited to lead the Muslim world. The purpose of the violence deployed against the West was to make Muslims choose between ISIL and the North Atlantic states, to polarize them and remove any gray zone where allegiances were unclear.

Article continues after bonus IC video

MSNBC: Israel launches counterattack against Hamas

My guess is that Hamass terrorism against Israelis was meant to announce that its leaders could get the job done, of throwing off Israeli hegemony and halting the march toward Israeli appropriation of Palestinian holy sites, land and resources. In such a situation, staying loyal to the Palestine Authority becomes tantamount to siding with Israel against the active Resistance.

It seemed likely that if there were fair elections, Hamas would win a majority of votes in the West Bank, even before its recent attack on Israel. Now, it will be wildly popular in the West Bank, not because it slaughtered Israeli concert-goers but because it demonstrated that Palestinians could still go on the offensive. For people worried about Israeli squatters shooting up their communities and stealing their water and other resources, the prospect of having a group among them who would defend them and fight back, as Fateh and other West Bank-based groups have not, would be attractive.

Hamas does not, however, appear to have learned anything from ISILs catastrophic failures. ISILs use of beastly violence alienated everyone from it and left it with no allies at all. With the Shiites of Iraq, the Kurds, the Iraqi and Syrian governments, the US, NATO, Iran, and the Russian Federation all determined to destroy it, it was doomed to be rolled up. Of course, the beastly tactics of mass murder, enslavement, beheadings and so forth are objectionable on human rights grounds. But they also were pursued in a particularly moronic fashion. It was for that reason that I shocked some people in 2014 by calling ISIL a flash in the pan.

ISIL deployed the tactics of guerrilla war without having a covert base to which it could retreat. ISIL had a return address, at its headquarters in Raqqa, Syria. The point of guerrilla tactics, including terrorist attacks on noncombatants, is to offset the enemys conventional military might and to spread fear in their ranks. But that only works if you can retreat to hills or caves or swamps, to some place that the conventional military of the enemy cant easily get at you.

Mao Zedong said that a guerrilla army without a covert base to retreat to is like a man without an ass. He has to keep running around until he becomes exhausted, because he has nowhere to sit.

Hamas likewise has a return address, in Gaza City. Fighting a guerrilla war and deploying tactics of terrorism when the enemy knows exactly where to find you is just plain stupid. Ask the ISIL caliphate. Oh, thats right, you cant. Theyre dead.

Nor is the West Bank a promising site for the waging of a guerrilla struggle. The Israelis have heavily penetrated it and control it militarily.

The hopes of the extremist Israeli government that it can destroy Hamas may therefore not be completely unrealistic, though it will have to expect high Israeli casualties in the effort. And it will commit a form of genocide in Gaza during this attempt to extirpate Hamas that will simply give rise to future hatred and violence.

The problem is that as long as the harsh Israeli occupation of the Palestinians continues, they will just throw up other militant organizations to continue the struggle. In the late 1960s and the 1970s that was groups like the PFLP and Fateh. Hamas, despite what pundits are now saying, has vacillated between militancy and pragmatism. At one point they were talking about a hundred-year truce with Israel. The 16-year blockade of Gaza and the increasing violence toward the West Bank Palestinians and toward the al-Aqsa Mosque complex have re-radicalized Hamas in the past couple of years. Whoever succeeds them will be radicalized by the same things. You cant expect a people to suffer under Apartheid without putting up resistance.
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the company has poured first gold at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.

Construction of the Tuvatu Mine has been completed ahead of schedule. Mill construction began in August 2022 and commissioning began in September 2023. The mill is expected to ramp up to 300 TPD by the end of October 2023, expanding further to 500 TPD in mid-2024. The first gold pour coincided with Fiji Day on October 10th, 2023. A ceremonial first gold pour was conducted on site with over 900 members of local communities, businesses, employees, and government officials in attendance, including the Honourable Maciu Nalusima, Acting Minister for Mineral Resources for Fiji, who officiated the gold pour ceremony on behalf of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji.

Figure 1. Lion One Metal's First Gold Pour at the Tuvatu Mine in Fiji. On the right of the photo are Lion One Metals' Process Operations Manager David Towle, Lion One Metals Chairman and CEO Wally Berukoff, and the Honourable Maciu Nalusima, Acting Minister for Mineral Resources for Fiji.

Lion One Chairman and CEO, Walter Berukoff, commented: "The first gold pour at Tuvatu is a landmark event in the history of our company. We have successfully transitioned from explorer to producer and have delivered on our promise to build the South Pacific's newest gold mine in the heart of Fiji.

"Congratulations to the Lion One team for achieving this significant milestone. We thank our employees, contractors, local landowners and community members for their hard work and dedication. Completing construction ahead of schedule is a testament to the strength of their efforts and to the resilience of the Fijian spirit. We also thank our loyal shareholders for their continued support. This marks the beginning of our next phase of growth as we look forward to ramping up to commercial production at Tuvatu and to advancing our many other top-quality prospects throughout the Navilawa Caldera."

The Honourable Maciu Nalusima, Acting Minister for Mineral Resources for Fiji, stated that "the future looks good for Tuvatu; the best is yet to come."

Figure 2. Photos from the Gold Pour Ceremony. Top left: Lion One Metals CEO Wally Berukoff and the Honourable Maciu Nalusima receiving traditional flower garlands. Top middle: Lion One Metals COO Patrick Hickey giving a speech. Top right: Lion One Metals employees below the Fiji flag. Bottom left and middle: members of local communities and businesses in attendance at the gold pour ceremony. Bottom right: Lion One Metals CEO Wally Berukoff and the Honourable Maciu Nalusima on site at Tuvatu.

Additional photos and videos of the gold pour ceremony will be available on the Lion One Metals website at www.liononemetals.com.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One's flagship asset is 100% owned, fully permitted high grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project, located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Lion One envisions a low-cost high-grade underground gold mining operation at Tuvatu coupled with exciting exploration upside inside its tenements covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, an underexplored yet highly prospective 7km diameter alkaline gold system. Lion One's CEO Walter Berukoff leads an experienced team of explorers and mine builders and has owned or operated over 20 mines in 7 countries. As the founder and former CEO of Miramar Mines, Northern Orion, and La Mancha Resources, Walter is credited with building over $3 billion of value for shareholders.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Lion One Metals Limited

"Walter Berukoff", Chairman and CEO

Contact Investor Relations

Toll Free (North America) Tel: 1-855-805-1250

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.liononemetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Reports 6.12 Million Tonnes Grading 508.5 G/T AgEq For 100.04 Million Ounces AgEq

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (the "Company" or "Blackrock") is pleased to report the results for its updated mineral resource estimate (the "Updated MRE") for its 100% controlled Tonopah West project ("Tonopah West"), located in the Walker Lane trend of Western Nevada. Tonopah West is conveniently situated directly adjacent to the town of Tonopah in Western Nevada, with highway US 95 traversing the property, and the resource area lies exclusively within patented mining claims. All amounts herein are presented in United States Dollars unless otherwise stated.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Updated MRE contains a total of 0.57 million ounces (" Moz ") of gold and 47.74Mozs of silver or 100.04Mozs of silver equivalent (" AgEq "), which is a 135% increase over the maiden resource estimate for Tonopah West (the " Maiden MRE ") included in the technical report dated effective April 28, 2022;

At a 200 g/t AgEq cut-off, the average grade of the inferred mineral resource is 508.5 g/t AgEq, which is a 14% increase over the Maiden MRE;

The Updated MRE includes 6.12 million tonnes, which is a 106% increase over the Maiden MRE;

Blackrock's discovery costs are $0.29 per ounce of AgEq;

The Updated MRE is based on a structural re-interpretation of the Victor and DPB areas and incorporation of the new drill information from the Northwest Step Out target. The Updated MRE captures approximately 3-kilometres of strike along the Tonopah West vein system;

Silver and gold mineralization remains open to the northwest and internally between Victor and DPB, and DPB and the Northwest Step Out target, and at depth; and

Blackrock Silver to host investor webinar Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Table 1: Tonopah West Updated 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate

AgEq

cutoff g/t (1) Tonnes Silver

g/t Gold

g/t AgEq

g/t (2) Ounces of Silver Ounces of Gold Ounce of Silver Equivalent(3) Classification(4) 200 6,119,000 242.6 2.90 508.5 47,738,000 570,000 100,038,000 Inferred

1 AgEq cutoff grade is based a total mining, processing and G&A cost of $119/tonne.

2 Silver Equivalent grade ratio used in this news of 84:1 is based on silver and gold prices of $22/ounce and $1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively. AgEq Factor= (Ag Price / Au Price) x (Ag Rec / Au Rec); g AgEq/t = g Ag/t + (g Au/t / AgEq Factor).

3 Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.

4 Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources estimated will be converted into mineral reserves. 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 indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated mineral resources category.

The MRE was prepared in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted May 19, 2014, and in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The effective date of the new mineral resources estimated by RESPEC (formerly Mine Development Associates, "RESPEC") is October 6, 2023.

Andrew Pollard, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "With delivery of our second mineral resource estimate at Tonopah West in just three years of our initial discovery, we are making great strides towards de-risking and reawakening one of the great American silver camps. Compared to the Maiden MRE, our mineral inventory has grown by 135% AgEq and discovery costs have plummeted to $0.29 per silver equivalent ounce. The addition of 25,000 metres of new drilling into the database, a re-interpretation of the underlying geologic model, and the modelling of the newly discovered NW Step Out target highlights the expansion potential of the project. This Updated MRE has seen the footprint of mineralization more than double from the Maiden MRE, with the vein corridor now stretching over 3 kilometers with the inclusion of the new NW Step Out target. There are no signs of the system stopping both along strike and at depth.

"Tonopah West is unparalleled within the industry as I see it, given its exceptional, safe jurisdiction, incredible infrastructure, high-grade precious metal-only resource, excellent metallurgy and district scale exploration upside. Moreover, the entire resource is on private lands (patented claims) potentially providing for a streamlined permitting process.

"Over 160 years since Nevada earned its moniker as the Silver State, and nearly a century since commercial production shut down, most had assumed the history books had long since closed on this once-renowned district. This resource marks a pivotal step toward the resurgence of this illustrious mining camp, proving that the final chapters of the 'Queen of the Silver Camps' are yet to be written."

The Updated MRE is presented with block diluted grades. The AgEq block model grades are based on $22 per ounce of silver, $1,850 per ounce of gold, and 87% and 95% recoveries for silver and gold, respectively.

The resource is reported using a cut-off grade which was calculated from estimated mining costs and metallurgical recoveries. Table 2 shows assumed mining, processing, and G&A cost for each mining method.

Table 2: Tonopah West mining, processing and G&A costs at the listed gold and silver price

Parameters Used USD Units UG Mining 83 $/t Mined Processing 22 $/t Processed G&A 14 $/t Processed Refining 0.50 $/oz Ag Produced Silver Price 22 $/ounce Gold Price 1850 $/ounce Total 119 $/t Processed Effective AgEq Cut off 200 g/t Ag

Kappes and Cassidy (KCA) completed twelve bottle-roll tests on vein composites. Silver returned recoveries from 81% to 94% with an average recovery of 87%. Gold recoveries from the twelve composites were between 90% to 98% with and average recovery of 95%. Based on the KCA data, a recovery of 87% was used in the calculation of the resource cut off grade.

Table 3: Tonopah West 2023 Updated Resource Estimate by Area

Area AgEq cutoff g/t (1) Tonnes Silver

g/t Gold

g/t AgEq

g/t (2) Ounces of Silver Ounces of Gold Ounces of Silver Equivalent(3) Classification(4) Victor 200 2,193,000 262.2 3.11 547.4 18,484,000 219,000 38,589,000 Inferred DP 200 1,592,000 194.8 2.63 435.9 9,970,000 134,000 22,305,000 Inferred Bermuda 200 1,360,000 298.8 3.53 623.4 13,063,000 154,000 27,250,000 Inferred NW Step Out 200 976,000 198.3 1.97 379.2 6,220,000 62,000 11,894,000 Inferred TOTAL 6,119,000 242.6 2.90 508.5 47,738,000 570,000 100,038,000 Inferred

1 AgEq cutoff grade is based a total mining, processing and G&A cost of $119/tonne.

2 Silver Equivalent grade ratio used in this news of 84:1 is based on silver and gold prices of $22/ounce and $1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively. AgEq Factor= (Ag Price / Au Price) x (Ag Rec / Au Rec); g AgEq/t = g Ag/t + (g Au/t / AgEq Factor).

3Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.

4 Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources estimated will be converted into mineral reserves. 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 Indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated mineral resources category.

Blackrock completed a total of 198 drillholes (125,208 metres) between June 16, 2020 and December 15, 2022 from the surface drillhole. This drilling underpins the Updated MRE. A total of $28.75 million was expended since acquiring the option on Tonopah West on April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023, exclusive of option payments, holdings costs, and corporate G&A, which equates to a discovery cost of $0.29 per ounce of AgEq.

Table 4: Drill footage from June 2020 to December 2022

Type Feet metres Precollar 81,670.0 24,893.0 Core 128,266.2 39,095.5 RC 200,850.0 61,219.1 Total Completed 410,786.2 125,207.6

During 2023, the Company focussed its efforts on reviewing all drillhole and exploration data as well as incorporating the Northwest Step Out area in to the geologic and resource model. This review concluded that the Tonopah West mineralization is closely associated with the arcuate margin of the Tonopah Caldera. As a result of this finding, the geologic model was revised to better capture the new structural understanding of the distribution and orientation of the Tonopah West vein system. This new interpretation included re-logging and re-modelling the existing drill data and incorporating historic underground information. Silver and gold mineralization and continuity have now been established over a three-kilometre strike. The vein system is open to the west-northwest and internally with undrilled areas between Victor and DPB, and DPB and Northwest Step Out.

The new model is based on drillholes which are oriented between 90 to 50-degree inclinations from the surface with up to three drillholes at different inclinations completed from the same drill pad. Drillholes are spaced approximately every 50 to 100-metres along sections with 50-metre distance between sections in the DPB area. At Victor, drillholes are spaced between approximately 25 to 50 metres apart along sections with the sections 50 to 100-metres apart. The Northwest Step Out area is one kilometre northwest of the DPB resource. Drillholes are spaced between 100 to 150 metres apart. The Northwest Step Out represents a new area not previously included in the May 2022 maiden resource.

The Updated MRE encompasses the Victor, DPB, Bermuda and the Northwest Step Out areas. The Victor area is approximately 500-metres by 250-metres while the DPB area is 800-metres by 800-metres. The Bermuda area is a high-grade vein within the DPB area, and the Northwest Step Out represents a new extension of the vein zones to west-northwest. RESPEC was supplied with 3-dimensional vein shapes. Silver and gold mineral resources were modelled and estimated as follows:

Evaluate the drill data statistically;

Create tightly constrained low-, medium- and high-grade mineral-domain polygons for both silver and gold on sets of cross sections spaced at 50-metre intervals;

Use the mineral-domain polygons as a basis to create three-dimensional solids;

Code a block model to the silver and gold domains for each of the two deposit areas using the mineral-domain solids;

Analyze the modelled mineralization geostatistically to aid in the establishment of estimation and classification parameters; and

Interpolate grades into models comprised of 1.5(east-west) x 1.5(north-south) x 1.5(vertical)-metre blocks using the silver and gold mineral domains to explicitly constrain the grade estimations.

Drillhole assay samples were composited within the mineralized domains into 1.5-metre length composites. High-grade capping was completed on composite data and established using a statistical analysis for silver and gold. Silver was capped at 1,800 g/t, and gold was capped at 20 g/t.

Specific gravity test work was completed for 92 core samples. Results indicate an average density of 2.49 grams/cm for vein material and 2.36 grams/cm for wall rock.

RESPEC utilized Inverse Distance Cubed (ID3) interpolation for the estimation to obtain a localizing effect in the mid- and high-grade domains, and an Inverse Distance Squared (ID2) in the low-grade domains where mineralization is more diffuse. All estimates are based on a block dimension of 1.5-metre by 1.5-metre by 1.5-metre blocks.

The original deposit had been depleted by historical mining in the Victor area. Approximately 200,000 tonnes of material were removed from the Victor resource estimate. In the DPB area, no historical mining records were documented.

A cut off for the reported resource of 200 g/t AgEq was selected based an assumed mining costs for underground methods along with processing and G&A costs. At a 200 g/t AgEq cut off, the average grade of the inferred resource is 508.5 g/t AgEq.

A technical report is being prepared on the Updated MRE in accordance with NI 431-101 (the "Technical Report") and will be available on the Company's website and on SEDAR+ within 45 days of the date of this news release.

The Updated MRE was prepared under the supervision of Mr. Jeffrey Bickel, CPG, an employee of RESPEC, and he has reviewed and approved the technical contents relating to the Updated MRE in this news release.

Blackrock's exploration activities at Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

All sampling is conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists, and a strict chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility is implemented and monitored. The reverse circulation samples are hauled from the project site to a secure and fenced facility in Tonopah, Nevada, where they are loaded onto American Assay Laboratory's (AAL) flat-bed truck and delivered to AAL's facility in Sparks, Nevada. A sample submittal sheet is delivered to AAL personnel who organize and process the sample intervals pursuant to the Company's instructions.

The core, reverse circulation, and QA/QC samples are crushed and pulverized, then the pulverized material is digested and analyzed for Au using fire assay fusion and an Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) finish on a 30-gram assay split. Silver is determined using five-acid digestion and ICP analysis. Over limits for gold and silver are determined using a gravimetric finish. Data verification of the assay and analytical results are completed to ensure accurate and verifiable results.

Mr. Bickel has reviewed the sampling, assaying, and security procedures used at Tonopah West and it is his opinion that they follow industry standard procedures, and are adequate for the estimation of the Updated MRE and for use in preparing the Technical Report.

Mr. Bickel completed audits of the database, performed a site visit, and reviewed quality assurance and quality control data. After performing his review, he considers the assay data to be adequate for the estimation of the Updated MRE and for use in preparing the Technical Report.

Investor Webinar

Blackrock Silver will host an investor webinar on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Register Here

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Blackrock is a junior precious metals focused exploration company that is on a quest to make an economic discovery. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation epithermal gold & silver projects located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada. Its flagship Tonopah West project hosts an inferred mineral resource of 6.12 million tonnes grading at 508.5 g/t AgEq for 100.04 million oz AgEq.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Silver Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern, without limitation: the Company's strategic plans; estimates of mineral resource quantities and qualities; the timing of filing of the NI 43-101 technical report on the Updated MRE; timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs; estimates of mineralization from drilling; geological information projected from sampling results; and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, including the ability of the Company to make payments related to the lease option to purchase Tonopah West; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable 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.
ROUYN-NORANDA, QC, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Comet Lithium Corporation (TSXV: CLIC) (FRANKFURT: 8QY) ("Comet Lithium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the drilling permit that was submitted on Sept 20, 2023. The Company also announces that it has received the results of the LIDAR survey and now has approval to begin the inaugural heliborne drill program on its 100%-owned Liberty property located in James Bay, Quebec.

The Liberty property is located adjacent to Winsome Resources Adina Lithium project where Winsome has recently discovered a 1.6 kilometres lithium bearing pegmatite system trending eastward (see Winsome news dated January 24, 2023). Comet Lithium wants to highlight a possible structural connection between the Winsome Adina project and the Liberty property.

Comet Lithium is actively following the activities on the neighbouring Winsome Resource's Adina project. According to a drilling update on September 4, 2023, Winsome had reported a position for DDH AD-23-045 collared approximately 700 metres west of the Liberty property limit. The Lithium results that Winsome released included 1.26% LiO2 over 15 metres from 47.4 to 62.4 metres. (ASX: WR1 Winsome Resources announcement 3rd April 2023).

LiDAR SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

The LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey was produced by XEOS Aerial Imagery and Lidar Services September 12, 2023. The objective was to obtain a ground image that ignores the vegetation masking effect to facilitate the interpretation of structures possibly related to pegmatite emplacement.

The point cloud survey generated a point density of 0.45 metre at ground level, the final resolution produced after the treatment is 0.5 metre. This data is consistent but not referred at altitude due to lack of ground surveying. Resulting files used included different classification to differentiate water surface, ground, hard ground, low vegetation and canopy. The survey showed the smooth modeling of the glacial sediment blanket in most areas of the property. These details reinforce the preliminary structural interpretation built from satellite imagery and magnetic survey.

The southern half of the survey was done over the Trieste Formation, which is composed mainly of amphibolitized volcanic rocks. Clear east-west magnetic contrast following unit's orientation is cut by north-east breaks apparent on the Lidar model. Based on field observations, the proximity of this topographical feature is also the focus of different episodes of pegmatite veining and late tectonic granitic intrusion hosted in amphibolite*.

* Geological terms such are granite or pegmatite are not evidence of spodumene, the main lithium silicate in rocks.

Both the magnetic and LIDAR surveys identified a well-defined magnetic contrast with a surface expression in the northern half of the property, extending for approximately 6.5 km. It is noticeable that the trend's orientation connects to the west with the Adina pegmatite system. The area is entirely covered by glacial glaciofluvial sediments.

Mr. Mansoor Jan, Comet Lithium's Interim CEO and President, stated: "We are pleased to achieve two important milestones to assist in the planning and execution of Comet Lithium's inaugural drilling program at our Liberty property. We are confident that the interpretation work completed so far is allowing us to better understand the continuity of pegmatites and structural orientation inside the Liberty property."

Qualified Person

Martin Demers, P. Geo (ogq #770, APEGNB L5980, PGO #3785), registered in the Provinces of Quebec, New-Brunswick, and Ontario a consultant to Comet Lithium, is a qualified person under National Instrument 43101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.

About Comet Lithium Corporation

Comet Lithium is a dynamic lithium-focused exploration company active in the prolific James Bay District of Quebec. Comet Lithium's flagship asset is its 100%-owned Liberty Property contiguous to Winsome Resources' Adina deposit, a growing high-grade discovery. Comet Lithium is advancing Liberty to first-ever drilling.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include, among others, statements regarding the future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Comet Lithium, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, including the exploration programs, the results therefor and development (including results from the ground samples collected on the Liberty property, completion and results from any geophysics program, the drill program and any future exploration programs on he Liberty property, or if it does so, what benefits Comet Lithium will derive from the Liberty property and any such exploration programs. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Comet Lithium's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to the risks relating to the capital market conditions, risk that the Company might not be able to obtain the capital resources necessary to complete a drill program or any exploration program on the Liberty property, as well those risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under "Financial Instruments" and "Risk and Uncertainties in Comet Lithium's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Comet Lithium does not intend, nor does it undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.

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 the release.
SUDBURY, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel"), is pleased to announce the completion of the Phase 1 and 2 drill programs at the West Graham Nickel-Copper Project ("West Graham"), located in the world-class Nickel-Copper mining district of Sudbury, Ontario. The completion of this drill program marks a key milestone in SPC Nickel's development plans for West Graham and an important step towards the completion of a new resource estimate by the end of 2023.

Highlights:

Sixty-seven drill holes completed totaling 14,180 metres. Phase 1 included 5,338 metres in twenty-seven holes while Phase 2 comprised 8,842 metres in forty holes.

100% of the holes encountered mineralization of which over 75% of the drill holes reported mineralized intersections equal to or better than the historical West Graham indicated resource.

Excellent grade and thickness continuity between holes in the mineralized zone.

Semi-massive and massive sulphide intersected in holes WG-23-026 and WG-23-042 represent the highest-grade intersections so far reported at West Graham.

- WG-23-026: 7.90m @ 2.48% Ni and 0.64% Cu

- WG-23-042: 20.2m @ 1.71% Ni, 0.46% Cu

Assay results from the first forty-four holes from Phase 1 and 2 drilling have been received and reported.

Over 1,600 samples from the remaining twenty-three holes have been submitted to ALS labs with results pending.

Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "We are excited to have successfully completed Phase 2 of our maiden drill program at West Graham. The drill program has accomplished all of the initial goals we set out, namely to: a) confirm the extension of the historic West Graham mineral resource across the Crean Hill 3 Property currently under option from Vale Canada, b) to test the property for zones of higher-grade mineralization, that was accomplished with the intersections reported in WG-23-026 and WG-23-042 and c) to connect the known surface mineralization with the subsurface mineral resource. We're looking forward to announcing additional drilling results and remain on track to complete a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for the Project by the end of 2023."

For detailed sections across the West Graham Property, please click on West Graham Sections.

Highlighted Drill Assay Results

Table 1: Highlighted drill results from the Phase 1 and 2 programs.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)1 Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Estimated True

Width % WG-23-025 42.00 65.00 23.00 0.72 0.42 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.03 2.73 90 WG-23-026 170.00 177.90 7.90 2.48 0.64 0.08 0.15 0.04 0.02 1.82 35 WG-23-028 89.00 110.00 21.00 0.72 0.18 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.75 30 WG-23-037 174.00 188.65 14.65 0.81 0.51 0.02 0.14 0.04 0.05 2.61 50 WG-23-042 286.00 306.00 20.00 1.71 0.46 0.05 0.17 0.06 0.06 2.61 75 WG-23-044 362.35 375.40 13.05 0.74 0.81 0.02 0.22 0.05 0.10 4.84 45 WG-23-047 245.00 263.00 18.00 1.27 0.47 0.04 0.20 0.05 0.04 2.16 80 WG-23-048 216.00 230.00 14.00 0.76 0.60 0.02 0.14 0.06 0.05 3.03 85 WG-23-052 184.60 208.00 23.40 0.78 0.35 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.02 1.63 60 WG-23-062 6.50 19.00 12.50 1.07 0.44 0.04 0.08 0.03 0.04 2.20 90

Notes: 1. Length refers to downhole length. Estimated True Width is expressed as a percentage of downhole length.

West Graham Project  A Transformational Opportunity

On January 23, 2023, SPC Nickel announced the signing of an Agreement with Vale Canada ("Vale") granting SPC Nickel the right to earn an 100% interest in Vale's Crean Hill 3 Property that is located adjacent to SPC Nickel's West Graham Property.

As an advanced project, the combination of the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 assets represent a transformational opportunity for SPC Nickel. The historical mineral resources on these properties form one contiguous near-surface deposit and consists of the following: Crean Hill 3 hosts a historical mineral estimate of 16.78Mt @ 0.43% Ni and 0.30% Cu 1 . West Graham hosts a historical indicated mineral resource of 8.55Mt @ 0.45% Ni, 0.31% Cu along with an inferred mineral resource of 2.0Mt @ 0.38% Ni, 0.30% Cu 2 .



The West Graham Project is located in the heart of the Sudbury Mining District where nine mines are currently in operation and two more are in the development phase. The region benefits from its proximity to well-developed transportation infrastructure including roads, railways, and electrical grid. In addition, West Graham is situated close to processing, smelting and refining assets which include two mills, two smelters and one nickel refinery. Local operators include global mining corporations Vale, Glencore and KGHM.

SPC Nickel considers the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 resource estimates to be historical mineral estimates for purposes of NI 43-101. Neither the Company nor a qualified person on behalf of SPC Nickel have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and SPC Nickel is not treating such historical estimates as current mineral resources. SPC Nickel considers the historic mineral estimates to be relevant to an understanding of the Project but has not done any work to validate the estimates.

Reference

Van Wiechen , A.G (1990): December 31, 1989 Mineral Resource Inventory table in: The Exploration Potential for Sulphide Mineralization in the Crean Hill  Ellen  Crean Hill No.3 Environment, Internal Inco Report, December 13, 1990 . Routledge, Richard and Churchill , Bruce (2009): Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario, Canada prepared for First Nickel Inc., January 15, 2009 . Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates .

Investor Relations Engagement

SPC Nickel also announces that it has entered into a contract with William Stormont to act as an investor relations representative for the Company. Under the contract, SPC Nickel will pay Mr. Stormont $8,000 per month (based on six-month contract) as consideration for his services. SPC Nickel has had no prior relationship with Mr. Stormont and Mr. Stormont does currently not own or control, directly or indirectly, any securities of SPC Nickel. The arrangement with Mr. Stormont is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About SPC Nickel Corp.

SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the West Graham Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. SPC Nickel also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com.

Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons

The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

SPC Nickel follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium, and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-AES finish. Silver values were determined using an aqua regia digestion and an AAS finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Hercules Silver Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FSE: 8Q7) ("Hercules Silver" or the "Company") is very pleased to confirm a major new copper porphyry discovery at its Hercules Property located in western Idaho ("Hercules" or the "Property").

HER-23-05, the first hole to test a large-scale (>1.8km) blind chargeability anomaly, intersected 185.29m of 0.84% Cu and 111 ppm Mo from 246m to 431.2m, including 45.33m of 1.94% Cu. The hole ended prematurely due to drilling challenges encountered at a post-mineral dyke, however observations in subsequent holes indicate that the mineralization likely extends significantly below HER-23-05 at 435 meters.

The newly discovered porphyry system is situated below rhyolite-hosted silver mineralization defined by over 300 historical drill holes. The system is therefore completely blind and open in all directions from HER-23-05. A follow-up 3D IP survey is currently underway to expand the chargeability anomaly in all directions and help track the system with further drilling.

Additional step-out holes drilled at various orientations to the southeast of HER-23-05, where chargeability data is currently available, have intersected similar alteration, veining and copper mineralization over variable lengths. Many directions remain to be tested, and the potassic center, which often carries the highest grades within porphyry systems, remains to be found. Assay results will be released for step-out holes as they are received. Core photographs for the intercept reported in this release have been posted to the Company's website at the following link: https://herculessilver.com/her-23-05-core-photos/

Blind copper porphyry discovered in first deep drill hole grading 0.84% Cu, 111 ppm Mo, 2.6 g/t Ag over 185m, including 45m of 1.94% Cu.





Hole ended prematurely in mineralization due to drilling challenges. Step-out drilling indicates system extends considerably deeper.





Mineralization open in all directions from discovery hole.





Additional 3D IP geophysics underway to establish limits of the system and guide further drilling.





Assays pending for additional step-out drill holes.

Chris Paul, CEO and Director of the Company, noted: "We are incredibly pleased with the grades returned from our first blind drill hole into this new discovery. It has significantly exceeded our expectations, considering phyllic alteration typically occurs outside of the grade shell in porphyry copper systems. The strength of the alteration, veining and mineralization in HER-23-05 and subsequent step-out holes however is demonstrating the presence of a very large system which remains open in all directions.

HER-23-05 also represents the first significant porphyry copper system discovered in the state of Idaho, which breaks the discovery gap between BC and Nevada, presenting an entirely new district for porphyry exploration in a tier 1 jurisdiction.

The Triassic-Jurassic island arc geology of the Hercules Copper Belt is reminiscent of British Columbia's famous Golden Triangle, where some of the world's largest porphyry copper systems have been discovered. The Hercules Copper Belt, however, is accessible year-round, with excellent infrastructure and a supportive, pro mining state government."

Table 1: HER-23-05 Reported Intercept

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Mo (ppm) Ag (g/t) HER-23-05 246 431.29 185.29 0.84 111 2.6 including 246 291.33 45.33 1.94 104 8.2

Table 2: HER-23-05 Location

Hole ID Easting Northing Depth (m) Azimuth Dip Hole type HER-23-05 511231 4956639 435.32 69.78 -70.06 Core

Figure 1: Plan view of discovery hole HER-23-05, collared in the Frogpond Zone showing grade bars for copper (orange) and molybdenum (blue).

Figure 2: HER-23-05 cross-section with interpreted geology, grade bars for copper (orange), molybdenum (blue), and silver (grey).

Figure 3: Copper in soil and rock samples, IP chargeability, 2023 deep drill holes completed.

Blind Porphyry Copper System

Field work completed by the Company in 2022 previously demonstrated the potential for a porphyry copper feeder system on the east side of the Property, within the Seven Devils Group volcanics. However, due to logistical constraints, a shallow IP geophysical survey was only run over silver mineralization on the west side of the Property in 2022. Regardless, the deeper parts of the survey showed a strong chargeability anomaly below the silver mineralization on the west side of the Property.

HER-23-05 was the first drill hole to test this new chargeability target, and unexpectedly encountered the Seven Devils Group volcanics, but accompanied by stronger porphyry-style alteration, veining, and mineralization than was observed at surface on the east side of the Property. The mineralization in HER-23-05 extends well below the limit of the 2022 survey data. Subsequent holes, for which assays remain pending, have now intersected similar alteration, veining and mineralization below the silver mineralization in other places. The 2022 IP survey was designed with tight node spacing, to focus on shallow silver mineralization; however, a 2023 survey is now underway, employing a much larger node spacing to more effectively target this newly discovered porphyry system at depth.

On surface, a shallow west-dipping thrust fault (shown in red on Figure 3), separates copper-gold-molybdenum bearing Seven Devils volcanics (the "Lower Plate") to the east from the silver-lead-zinc-manganese bearing Hercules Rhyolite (the "Upper Plate"), to the west. East of this thrust, several known copper-gold targets, including the Big Cut Skarn, Lightning Breccia, and Metheny Zones are exposed at surface, and remain to be tested. West of the thrust, 2023 drilling has now demonstrated that the copper porphyry system dips shallowly below the silver mineralization at moderate depths of just 100m-300m.

HER-23-05 Geological Description

HER-23-05 intersected silver-lead-zinc-manganese mineralization at surface and was continued to depth to test the blind chargeability anomaly. At approximately 197 meters (645 feet) depth, a strongly hematized (oxidized) "red conglomerate" unit was intersected, which is interpreted to mark the base of the Jurassic volcanics. The conglomerate also marks the top of the porphyry system, below which strongly silicified andesite and quartz porphyry intrusions contain abundant quartz-hematite veining. Hematite is a common oxidation/weathering product, suggesting the conglomerate may represent an ancient (paleo) erosional surface, on which the silver system was subsequently thrust over. Molybdenum mineralization (soluble in high pH) begins immediately below the red conglomerate; however, copper appears to have been leached by acidic (low pH) solutions within the hematized/weathered zone (Figure 2).

Strong bornite-chalcopyrite mineralization then begins at 246 meters (807 feet), immediately below the leached/hematized zone, extending over a 45-meter drilled length of enrichment. Studies are currently underway to better understand the mechanism of enrichment/remobilization, however it appears to be significant, as the same pattern has now been observed in four deep drill holes.

Below the enriched zone, mineralization transitions to a typical pyrite-chalcopyrite (phyllic) assemblage, which extends to the bottom of the hole, where the post-mineral dyke was encountered, and at which point drilling challenges caused the hole to end prematurely. The same phase of post-mineral dyke has now been intersected in two other deep drill holes, where it only shows several meters of drilled length. It is likely the post-mineral dyke at the end of HER-23-05 has a similar thickness and was meters away from being back in strong mineralization.

Alteration observed in HER-23-05 and other deep holes consists of quartz-sericite-pyrite (phyllic alteration) with abundant porphyry-style A, B, and D-type veining. Phyllic alteration manifests as an outer shell of highly chargeable pyrite (+/- chalcopyrite) mineralization, that often surrounds an inner shell of chalcopyrite (+/- bornite) mineralization with lesser pyrite. The inner shell is often accompanied by high temperature potassic alteration, characterized by biotite and k-feldspar. Figure 3 illustrates the many directions and broad search area that remain to be tested for the potentially higher-grade potassic core as well as further extensions of the system. HER-23-05 and this news release represent just the first blind test of the porphyry system at depth.

2023 3D IP Survey

Surveying is currently underway, to expand the 2022 survey, which measures approximately 2,200m by 650m, to a significantly larger area of approximately 4.2 km by 3.6 km. It is anticipated that the 2023 survey will better define and likely extend the 2022 chargeability anomaly, indicate the trend of the system, and provide up to 3x deeper data.

Sample Analysis and QAQC

All drill core samples were prepped and analyzed at MSA Labs in Langley, British Columbia, an ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 certified laboratory. Samples were dried and crushed to 2mm, from which a 250g sub-sample split was then pulverized to 85% passing a 75 micron sieve. Following preparation, assays were determined by the IMS-230 method. A 0.25g aliquot of the prepared pulp was digested in a 4-acid solution consisting of hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids. 4-acid is a near total digest and only the most highly resistant minerals are not dissolved. The resulting solution was analyzed via ICP-MS and ICP-ES for 48 elements and was corrected for inter-element spectral interferences. Lower detection limits for this procedure are 0.01 ppm for silver, 0.5 ppm for lead, 2 ppm for zinc, and 0.2 ppm for copper. Mercury is not reported due to volatilization in reaction with hydrofluoric acid and gold is not reported due to the small, 0.25g aliquot size being insufficient to overcome the nugget effect.

Gold was analyzed by FAS-111, a 30-gram fire assay fusion with AAS finish. No significant results were reported.

Samples with initial results beyond the upper detection limit of the IMS-230 method were analyzed by procedures ICF-6Ag, ICF-6Cu, ICF-6Pb and ICF-6Zn. The thresholds are 100 ppm for silver, and >1% for copper, lead and zinc.

MSA Labs employs internal quality control standards, duplicates and blank samples at set frequencies.

Blind certified reference materials (CRMs) and blank samples were systematically inserted by the Company into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance/quality control protocol.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Christopher Longton BS, CPG, Hercules' Vice President, Exploration. Mr. Longton is a "Qualified Person" for Hercules Silver within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

About Hercules Silver Corp.

Hercules Silver Corp. is a junior mining company focused on the exploration and development of the 100% owned Hercules Silver Project, northwest of Cambridge, Idaho.

The Hercules project is a disseminated silver-lead-zinc system with 28,000 meters of historical drilling across 3.5 kilometers of strike. The additional discovery of a new porphyry copper system at depth in 2023 adds significant upside potential to the Property. The Company is well positioned for growth through the drill bit, having completed extensive surface exploration consisting of soil & rock sampling, geological mapping, IP geophysics.

The Company's management team brings significant exploration experience through the discovery and development of numerous precious metals projects worldwide.

For further information please contact:

Chris Paul

CEO & Director

Telephone +1 (604) 670-5527

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not 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 unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws of an exemption from such registration is available.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes 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 forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by its nature, forward-looking information involves assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals; that the Company maintains good relationships with the communities in which it operates or proposes to operate, future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; the risk that any of the assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as other assumptions risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company, including as set forth in the Company's public disclosure documents filed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF HERCULES SILVER AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE HERCULES SILVER MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

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.
Massive Spodumene Bearing Pegmatites Identified On 6km Trend

HIGHLIGHTS

The Victory and the Victory West properties (together the Victory Project) are located 40 km east of Kenora and 70 km west of Dryden in Ontario with excellent nearby infrastructure and are easily accessible through the Trans Canada Highway and logging roads.

The two large spodumene bearing pegmatites discovered at the Victory Project are measured over 40 to 50 meters in width and each have been traced over 200 to 300 meters along strike on surface.

Spodumene mineralization has been visually observed to cover up to 50% of the pegmatites in certain areas.

A 6 km long structural corridor on the Victory Project supports the potential of discovering more of similar sized spodumene pegmatites along the sedimentary contact that runs subparallel to the regional subprovince boundary.

Beyond Lithium will carry out a detailed mapping and sampling program at the two spodumene pegmatites on the Victory Project in the next two weeks and will apply for a stripping and trenching permit and a drilling permit with Ontarios Ministry of Mines.

The Victory Project is located within 100 km of Beyond Lithiums Ear Falls Project, where the Company recently discovered spodumene-bearing pegmatites with grab samples returning up to 4.54% Li2O (see press release dated September 17, 2023, https://beyondlithium.ca/retransmission-beyond-lithium-discovers-new-spodumene-bearing-pegmatite-zone-at-ear-falls-project-in-northwest-ontario ).

Beyond Lithium now has two projects with newly discovered spodumene discoveries, the Victory Project, and the Ear Falls Project, along with eight other highly prospective assets located within 100 km of three regionally significant lithium deposits.

Winnipeg, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Beyond Lithium Inc. (CSE: BY) (OTCQB: BYDMF) (the "Company" or "Beyond Lithium") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement with Bounty Gold Corp. ("Bounty Gold") and Last Resort Resources Ltd. ("Last Resort") to acquire 100% of the Victory Project (7,873 ha) and the Victory West Project (8,808 ha) (together the "Victory Project") situated in the Dryden-Ear Falls region of Ontario. The Victory Project is located just 40 km east of Kenora and 70 km west of Dryden with excellent nearby infrastructure including:

Pacific Railway (CP Rail) and network along the southern claim boundaries of the Victory Project

Access via Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 17 that connect to Kenora and Thunder Bay

20-minute commute time from the nearest town of Vermilion Bay

Power line along Highway 17

In March 2023, Beyond Lithium entered into an option agreement with Bounty Gold and Last Resort for 57 projects. As part of that agreement, Beyond Lithium was granted a right-of-first refusal on future projects staked by Bounty Gold and Last Resort which gave rise to today's new option agreement.

District Scale

The Victory Project with its two new spodumene discoveries is located within 100 km of the Ear Falls Project (20,623 ha), where the Company recently announced high-grade grab samples up to 4.54% Li2O in a newly discovered spodumene-bearing pegmatite zone (see press release dated September 17, 2023, https://beyondlithium.ca/retransmission-beyond-lithium-discovers-new-spodumene-bearing-pegmatite-zone-at-ear-falls-project-in-northwest-ontario ).

In addition to the Victory Project and the Ear Falls Project, Beyond Lithium continues to advance eight other projects (Satellite, Laval, Gullwing-tot, Webb East, Webb West, Temple Bay, Ogani Lake, and McKenzie Bay) located within 100 km of three regionally significant lithium deposits (Figure 1):

The Mavis Lake Lithium deposit owned by Critical Resources Ltd. with 8 Mt at 1.07% Li2O1

The Separation Rapids Lithium deposit owned by Avalon Advanced Materials with a PEA of the pre-tax NPV (8% discount rate) calculated at C$156 million and the IRR at 27.1%2

The Root and McComb Lithium deposit owned by Green Technologies Metals with 22.5 Mt at 1.14% Li2O3

Figure 1. Regional map showing location of Beyond Lithium projects relative to other significant nearby deposits.

Beyond Lithium, in partnership with its team of renowned prospectors, now has generated two significant spodumene discoveries that it controls 100%. With the newly optioned ground, Beyond Lithium has a district-scale foothold (68,307 ha) in the Dryden-Ear Falls region which is emerging as a major lithium hub with a favourable geological setting for lithium, cesium, tantalum ("LCT") pegmatites.

Allan Frame, President and CEO of Beyond Lithium, commented "In less than six months, Beyond Lithium has grown from a greenfield lithium exploration company to having a 100% interest in two significant spodumene discoveries plus the important discovery of the Allen Graeme LCT pegmatite intrusive stock in the Georgia Lake area. Exploration work is ongoing at multiple other properties, and we are anticipating continued success as more results get received and analyzed."

He added: "The spodumene discovery announced today was made by Jason Leblanc, Jace Angell and Kyle Brand, respectively with Bounty Gold, and Last Resort. Bounty Gold and Last Resort are large shareholders of our company as a result of the option deal we announced on March 31, 2023 when we optioned their lithium exploration portfolio in Ontario. We are pleased to see them increase their equity interest in our company.

Jason Leblanc, President of Bounty Gold, commented: "Back in March when we entered into our first option agreement with Beyond Lithium, I stated that Beyond Lithium's strategy of focusing on high quality assets for which extensive geological data is available aligned perfectly with our staking methodology and it was the right company to now advance these projects forward and deliver exploration success. This newest spodumene discovery, along with that made earlier in the year on the Ear Falls Project, demonstrate the team's ability to generate exploration success. We strongly believe the two new spodumene discoveries made this season are just the tip of the iceberg, and that more will follow in 2024 and beyond. Lastly, tip of the hat to prospector Kyle Brand of Last Resort Resources who made the initial spodumene discovery at the Victory Project."

Bounty Gold President and Beyond strategic partner discussion the most recent discovery at Victory Project: https://youtube.com/shorts/UP17yh0NVWw

"This important discovery is a testament to the synergy between meticulous research and determined exploration. It reinforces our belief that there are more discoveries out there to be made, following a proven model that continues to yield success," said Jace Angell, President of Last Resort.

Mr. Frame concluded: "Beyond Lithium now has fresh important discoveries across three lithium exploration projects in Ontario, the Ear Falls, the Victory, and the Cosgrave Lake Projects, along with several other highly prospective projects which we believe could bear fruit. We will continue with our 2023 exploration campaign till the weather permits and anticipate steady news flow over the next few months as we receive more results from Ear Falls, Cosgrave Lake, Victory, and other projects."

Lawrence Tsang, VP Exploration of Beyond Lithium, commented: "It is very exciting to have two large spodumene pegmatites discovered on the Victory Project. More importantly, they were both discovered along a 6 km long structural corridor, from the spodumene pegmatites discovered in the western extent to the other spodumene pegmatite discovered in the eastern extent, supporting the potential of finding more of similar sized spodumene bearing pegmatites along the same trend. Also, wider dykes generally have better strike and dip continuities which would make exploration and drilling more straightforward and potentially be quicker to build up the critical mass for more advanced programs."

Beyond Lithium Senior Geologist Graeme Evans discusses the spodumene bearing pegmatite discovery at Victory Project: https://youtube.com/shorts/f5nDyYFRBU4?feature=share

Figure 2. Claim Maps of the Victory and the Victory West Projects with the Location of the Spodumene Pegmatites.

Figure 3. Detailed Map of the Spodumene and Beryl Locations in Association of Mapped Pegmatites from the Bounty Gold and Last Resort Prospecting Program.

Figure 4. Spodumene Crystal at One of the Spodumene Bearing Pegmatites.

Figure 5. Alain Lambert, Cofounder and Capital Market Advisor of Beyond Lithium, Visited the Spodumene Pegmatite at the Victory Project.

Project Geology

The Victory Project is situated along the subprovince boundary of the Winnipeg River and Wabigoon subprovinces in the Medicine Lake area. This area was originally discovered in 1949 by E. Sobiski as a beryl-beryllium prospect followed by the delineation of the Medicine Lake Pluton by Pryslak in 1976 (Breaks 2003). The Medicine Lake Pluton is about 0.5 by 1.5 km in size as a fertile pluton based on the highly fractionated potassium feldspar samples analysed by Breaks and Tindle in 1997 (Breaks 2003). The main host rocks in the two projects defined by Ontario Geological Survey mapping are metasediments and metavolcanics with granitic intrusions in the surrounding.

The two newly discovered pegmatites are mainly composed of spodumene, quartz, feldspar, spotty tourmaline, and beryl with local spodumene mineralization up to 50% (Figures 4 and 5). The two pegmatites were discovered along a 6 km long contact structure between the contact of metasediments and the metavolcanics, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. This contact structure also runs subparallel to the regional trend of the subprovince boundary between the Winnipeg River and the Wabigoon subprovinces that extends for over 50 km in distance; this regional subprovince boundary acts as the ideal permeable structure for the formation of pegmatite dykes. These two pegmatites range from 40 to 50 meters in width and have been traced along strike for over 200 to 300 meters on surface. Figures 6 and 7 below are drone images of the two spodumene pegmatites discoveries located in the eastern and the western extents of the prospective contact structure at the Victory Project which are clearly outlined by the topographic high and linear features that extend for over 200 to 300 meters on surface.

Based on Ontario Geological Survey's geological maps (M2302 and M2303), 140 mapped pegmatites were previously identified at the Victory Project. So far, Beyond Lithium has only prospected a small portion of them and two spodumene bearing pegmatites have already been discovered. Beyond Lithium will carry out a detailed mapping and sampling program at the two spodumene pegmatites and a prospecting program in the western extension at the Victory Project in the next two weeks. Also, Beyond Lithium will apply for a stripping and trenching permit to further expose the two spodumene-bearing pegmatites and to determine the orientation and the density of the pegmatite dykes and a drilling permit to drill test the spodumene system at the Victory Project.

Figure 6. Drone Image of the Spodumene Pegmatite Discovered in the Eastern Extent Along the Prospective Zone of the Victory Project.

Figure 7. Drone Image of the Spodumene Pegmatite Discovered in the Western Extent Along the Prospective Zone of the Victory Project.

Terms of the Option Agreement



The transaction announced today was completed pursuant to the terms and conditions of an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") entered into by the Company, as optionee, with each of Bounty Gold Corp. and Last Resort Resources Ltd., as optionors, whereby Beyond Lithium will acquire a 100% interest in the Victory Project. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company will make cash payments to the optionors totaling up to $2,250,000 and issue to the optionors an aggregate of up to 6,875,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") as follows:

within 5 business days of the date of the Option Agreement, issuing 1,168,750 Shares; on or before December 31, 2023 by paying $382,500; on or before the first anniversary of the date of the Option Agreement, by paying $495,000 and issuing 1,512,500 Shares; on or before the second anniversary of the date of the Option Agreement, by paying $630,000 and issuing 1,925,000 Shares; and on or before the third anniversary of the date of the Option Agreement, by paying $742,500 and issuing 2,268,750 Shares.

Upon acquiring a 100% interest in the Victory Project, the Company shall grant the optionors a 2.0% net smelter return royalty on such project. In addition, the Company shall pay the Optionors a $1 million milestone payment for an initial mineral resource estimate filed by the Company in respect of a deposit comprising of the Victory Project that discloses a deposit or orebody exceeding 5 million metric tonnes with an average grade equal to 1.0% Li2O or greater and a $2 million milestone payment for a mineral resource estimate filed by the Company in respect of a deposit comprising of the Victory Project that discloses a deposit or orebody exceeding 20 million metric tonnes with an average grade equal to 1.0% Li2O.

Sources

Critical Resources Limited, Mavis Lake. https://www.criticalresources.com.au/our-projects/mavis-lake-lithium-project/ Avalon Advanced Materials, Separation Rapids. https://www.avalonadvancedmaterials.com/projects/separation_rapids/ Green Technology Metals, Root/McComb. https://www.greentm.com.au/root-project Breaks, F.W., Selway, J.B. and Tindle, A.G. 2003. Fertile peraluminous granites and related rare-element mineralization in pegmatites, Superior Province, northwest and northeast Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt; Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6099, 179p.

Qualified Person and Third-Party Data

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lawrence Tsang, P.Geo., VP Exploration of the Company. Lawrence Tsang is a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Beyond Lithium Inc.

Beyond Lithium Inc. is the largest greenfield lithium exploration player in Ontario with 63 high potential greenfield lithium properties totalling over 195,000 hectares. The Company has adopted the project generator business model to maximize funds available for exploration projects, while minimizing shareholder dilution. Beyond Lithium is advancing certain of its projects with its exploration team and will seek to option other properties to joint venture partners. Partnering on various projects will provide a source of non-dilutive working capital, partner-funded exploration, and long-term residual exposure to exploration success.

Beyond Lithium currently has 29,032,399 common shares outstanding.

Please follow @BeyondLithium on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information, please refer to the Company's website at www.beyondLithium.ca.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future capital expenditures, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, resources and/or reserves on the Company's projects and mineral properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In stating the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration of the Company's properties, the availability of financing on suitable terms, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements of forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, the proposed expenditures for exploration work on its properties, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 23, 2022 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release except as otherwise required by law.

For further information, please contact:

Allan Frame

President and CEO

Tel: 403-470-8450

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Jason Frame

Manager of Communications

Tel: 587-225-2599

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results, for holes KLI-23-055 to KLI-23-058, from this year's diamond drilling campaign at the Kliyul copper-gold porphyry project ("Kliyul" or "Project") with drill hole KLI-23-058 intersecting 103.5 m of 0.63% copper equivalent ("CuEq") (0.18% copper, 0.66 g/t gold, and 0.93 g/t silver) within 388.5 m of 0.42% CuEq (0.18% copper, 0.35 g/t gold and 1.05 g/t silver). Kliyul is located in the prolific Quesnel Terrane in northcentral British Columbia close to existing infrastructure (see Figure 1).

Pacific Ridge completed a total of 19 diamond drill holes (KLI-23-051 to KLI-23-069) totaling 10,284 metres at Kliyul this year, the largest ever exploration program at Kliyul. The Company announced drill results for holes KLI-23-051 to KLI-23-054 in August with drill hole KLI-23-054 intersecting 305.5 m of 0.59% CuEq (0.23% copper, 0.51 g/t gold, and 1.22 g/t silver) (see news release dated August 23, 2023). Results from the remaining 11 drill holes will be released once they are received and compiled.

Highlights

KLI-23-058 returned 103.5 m of 0.63% CuEq (0.18% copper, 0.66 g/t gold, and 0.93 g/t silver) within 388.5 m of 0.42% CuEq (0.18% copper, 0.35 g/t gold and 1.05 g/t silver) from the Kliyul North zone (see Table 1). This interval represents a 130 m northern step-out from copper-gold mineralization in KLI-21-036 which returned 291.7 m of 0.79% CuEq (0.28% copper, 0.74 g/t gold and 2.04 g/t silver within 437 m of 0.64% CuEq (0.22% copper, 0.60 g/t gold and 1.62 g/t Ag) (see news release dated December 1, 2021).

KLI-23-058 returned the best result from the Kliyul North zone to date and further proves that Kliyul Main Zone ("KMZ") mineralization extends into adjacent fault blocks (see Figure 2 and 3). KLI-23-058 is one of three steep drill holes (also KLI-23-060 and KLI-23-069) spaced 100 m apart that were drilled as an east-west fence across the Kliyul North zone. Results of the other two drill holes are pending.

Known extents of the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex now measure 600 m east-west, up to 600 m north-south (previously 450 m north-south), and up to 600 m vertical depth.

KLI-23-057, drilled on the eastern side of the KMZ, returned 89.3 m of 0.38% CuEq (0.21% copper, 0.25 g/t gold and 0.91 g/t silver) from 290 m and 80.0 m of 0.37% CuEq (0.10% copper, 0.39 g/t gold and 0.85 g/t silver) from 433 m, extending KMZ mineralization 200 m east of KLI-22-045 and 135 m west of KLI-22-049, increasing confidence in the continuity of mineralization over a 600 m east-west distance from the western extent of KMZ to KLI-22-049 in East Wedge.

KLI-23-056, drilled in Kliyul North as a 100 m step out to the west and north of KLI-22-046, returned 37.2 m of 0.27% CuEq (0.14% copper, 0.19 g/t gold and 1.07 g/t silver) from 513 m. While this is a narrow, low-grade interval, it is the second mineralized interval to intersect the western margin of a 400 x 200 m magnetic vector inversion anomaly ("MVI") and Tilt Derivative ("TDR") in an underexplored part of the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex, called Kliyul NE. From this same anomaly, KLI-22-046 returned 59.0 m of 0.84% CuEq (0.24% copper, 0.87 g/t gold, and 2.29 g/t silver) within 169 m of 0.52% CuEq (0.20% copper, 0.46 g/t gold, and 1.65 g/t silver) (see news release dated January 18, 2023) . The main body of the anomaly remains open and undrilled 400 m northeast of the center of KMZ.





KLI-23-055, was the first drill hole to test the Ginger target (see Figure 4), an interpreted standalone porphyry target area 1.3 km northwest of the center of KMZ and at an elevation 200 m above KMZ. Drilling intersected a broad zone of chlorite-sericite and sericitic alteration with late-stage veins. Massive white quartz veins, interpreted as D-veins or late Lode veins, have low-grade gold returning 19.1 m of 0.36 g/t gold equivalent ("AuEq") (0.01% copper, 0.34 g/t gold and 0.65 g/t silver). The veins are also anomalous in copper, molybdenum (up to 0.12% over 1.25 m), tungsten, tellurium, and bismuth.

A combination of IP chargeability high (>20 mV/V), DC resistivity high (>2000 ohm-m) and moderate-to-high MVI Induced 3D model values continues to be a reliable geophysical targeting signature for mineralization at Kliyul. In addition, a TDR standard filtering of the 2022 aeromagnetic data is now being used to enhance and refine the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex footprint.

"This second set of results from this year's drill program at Kliyul are significant for a number of reasons," said Blaine Monaghan, President & CEO of Pacific Ridge. "Hole 58 was the best ever drill result from Kliyul North and proves that KMZ mineralization extends into adjacent fault blocks. In addition, the results increased the known extents of the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex another 150 m north-south. It now measures 600 m east-west, up to 600 m north-south, and up to 600 m vertical depth. I'm confident that the known extents will be even larger after we have announced all of this year's drill results."

Figure 1 - Location of Kliyul



Figure 2 - Plan View of the Kliyul Porphyry Copper-Gold Complex (Kliyul West, KMZ, East Wedge, and Kliyul North) with MVI

Figure 3 - Cross Section - Looking West-Northwest

Figure 4 - Kliyul Targets and Relative Magnetic Intensity (RMI) from 2022 Airborne Magnetics Survey



Table 1 2023 Kliyul Assay Results Summary for Drill Holes KLI-23-055 to KLI-23-058

Hole No. From(m) To(m) Width(m) Cu(%) Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) CuEQ (%)* AuEQ (%)** KLI-23-055 196.9 216.0 19.1 0.01 0.34 0.65 0.24 0.36 KLI-23-056 485.8 523.0 37.2 0.14 0.19 1.07 0.27 0.41 KLI-23-057 204.0 216.0 12.0 0.14 0.52 4.06 0.52 0.77 KLI-23-057 290.0 379.2 89.3 0.21 0.25 0.91 0.38 0.57 including 304.0 338.0 34.0 0.24 0.29 0.97 0.44 0.66 KLI-23-057 433.0 513.0 80.0 0.10 0.39 0.85 0.37 0.54 including 433.0 467.0 34.0 0.03 0.60 1.32 0.44 0.66 KLI-23-057 478.7 513.0 34.3 0.20 0.28 0.63 0.40 0.59 KLI-23-058 5.0 560.0 555.0 0.15 0.27 0.97 0.34 0.50 including 17.1 528.6 511.4 0.16 0.29 1.01 0.36 0.53 and 122.2 324.5 202.3 0.21 0.30 1.34 0.42 0.62 and including 122.2 142.0 19.8 0.28 0.26 1.42 0.46 0.69 including 105.0 493.5 388.5 0.18 0.35 1.05 0.42 0.62 and 169.0 197.0 28.0 0.36 0.27 1.71 0.56 0.83 and 207.0 303.5 96.5 0.20 0.40 1.43 0.48 0.71 including 390.0 493.5 103.5 0.18 0.66 0.93 0.63 0.94 and 394.0 420.8 26.8 0.17 0.45 0.94 0.47 0.70 and 439.9 471.5 31.6 0.33 1.24 1.51 1.17 1.74 and 485.5 493.5 8.0 0.31 1.63 1.76 1.42 2.11

*CuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x AuR/CuR x $Au x 0.032151) + (Ag(g/t) x AgR/CuR x $Ag x 0.032151)) / ($Cu x 22.0462).

**AuEq = ((Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151) + ((Cu%) x CuR/AuR x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Ag(g/t) x AgR/CuR x $Ag x 0.032151)) / ($Au x 0.032151).

Commodity prices: $Cu = US$3.25/lb, $Au = US$1,800/oz., and Ag = US$20.00/oz.

There has been no metallurgical testing on Kliyul mineralization. The Company estimates copper recoveries (CuR) of 84%, gold recoveries (AuR) of 70%, and silver recoveries (AgR) of 65% based on the average recoveries from Kemess Underground, Mount Milligan, and Red Chris.

Factors: 22.0462 = Cu% to lbs per tonne, 0.032151 = Au g/t to troy oz per tonne, and 0.032151 = Ag g/t to troy oz per tonne.

 End of hole

Click on the link below for previous Pacific Ridge drill results at Kliyul. Click Here

Discussion of Drill Holes KLI-23-055 to KLI-23-058

The second four drill holes of the 2023 Kliyul diamond drilling program tested for northern and eastern extensions of KMZ style mineralization within the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex, and for an additional porphyry deposit center 1.3 km northwest of KMZ within the 6-km-long Divide Lake Fault Trend. Results indicate that KMZ mineralization continues for at least 60 m into Kliyul North beyond the Valley Fault. As well, drilling increased confidence that continuity of KMZ mineralization spans over a 600 m east-west distance from the western extent of KMZ to KLI-22-049 in East Wedge. Drilling at the Ginger target area, 1.3 km northwest of KMZ did not intersect early-stage porphyry mineralization, veins, or alteration, but did intersect late-stage gold-bearing massive quartz veins attesting to the fertility and size of the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex area and surroundings.

KLI-23-058 returned the best result from the Kliyul North zone to date, and further proves that KMZ mineralization extends into adjacent fault blocks. KLI-23-058 is one of three steep drill holes (also KLI-23-060 and KLI-23-069) spaced 100 m apart that were drilled as an east-west fence across Kliyul North. Given the bell-shaped geometry of the 3D MVI magnetic anomaly (see Figure 3) and inferred porphyry Cu-Au mineralization shell with associated quartz diorite dyke complex, it was found that steeply inclined drilling along fences provides the best control for understanding the distribution of KMZ mineralization, and vectoring towards better grade.





returned the best result from the Kliyul North zone to date, and further proves that KMZ mineralization extends into adjacent fault blocks. KLI-23-058 is one of three steep drill holes (also KLI-23-060 and KLI-23-069) spaced 100 m apart that were drilled as an east-west fence across Kliyul North. Given the bell-shaped geometry of the 3D MVI magnetic anomaly (see Figure 3) and inferred porphyry Cu-Au mineralization shell with associated quartz diorite dyke complex, it was found that steeply inclined drilling along fences provides the best control for understanding the distribution of KMZ mineralization, and vectoring towards better grade. KLI-23-057 was drilled in eastern KMZ from south to north at a moderate inclination and encountered continuous mineralization after 290 m drilling depth (240 m vertical depth). Similar to East Wedge, mineralization is associated with low (<20 mV/V) as well as high chargeability, perhaps due to proximity with Divide Lake Fault zone. This means that mineralization remains open to the south where there is a deepening low-to-high chargeability gradient, high resistivity, and magnetic high signature within the TDR and 3D MVI anomaly (see Figure 2). Also, of interest is a zone of high Au:Cu ratio (average 58.7 with maximum of 398.8 over 1.47 m) from 433.0-485.0 m, that is centered on the Divide Lake Fault zone at 440.5-464.0 m. This 52.4 m interval includes the above listed interval of 34.0 m at 0.66% AuEq (0.03% copper, 0.604 g/t gold and 1.32 g/t silver).





was drilled in eastern KMZ from south to north at a moderate inclination and encountered continuous mineralization after 290 m drilling depth (240 m vertical depth). Similar to East Wedge, mineralization is associated with low (<20 mV/V) as well as high chargeability, perhaps due to proximity with Divide Lake Fault zone. This means that mineralization remains open to the south where there is a deepening low-to-high chargeability gradient, high resistivity, and magnetic high signature within the TDR and 3D MVI anomaly (see Figure 2). Also, of interest is a zone of high Au:Cu ratio (average 58.7 with maximum of 398.8 over 1.47 m) from 433.0-485.0 m, that is centered on the Divide Lake Fault zone at 440.5-464.0 m. This 52.4 m interval includes the above listed interval of 34.0 m at 0.66% AuEq (0.03% copper, 0.604 g/t gold and 1.32 g/t silver). KLI-23-056 was drilled from south to north at moderate inclination, and near the northwestern margin of a TDR magnetic high footprint in Kliyul North, returning a narrow, low-grade mineralized interval at depth. However, it strongly suggests, along with the result from KLI-22-046, that a large (400 x 200 m) combined TDR and 3D MVI magnetic high anomaly located 400 m northeast of the center of KMZ (see Figure 2) could be mineralized, and that drilling to date has only skimmed its western margin. This target area, called Kliyul NE, will be a 2024 focus. Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical indicators also compellingly show a KMZ mineralization signature in the area.





was drilled from south to north at moderate inclination, and near the northwestern margin of a TDR magnetic high footprint in Kliyul North, returning a narrow, low-grade mineralized interval at depth. However, it strongly suggests, along with the result from KLI-22-046, that a large (400 x 200 m) combined TDR and 3D MVI magnetic high anomaly located 400 m northeast of the center of KMZ (see Figure 2) could be mineralized, and that drilling to date has only skimmed its western margin. This target area, called Kliyul NE, will be a 2024 focus. Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical indicators also compellingly show a KMZ mineralization signature in the area. KLI-23-055 in Ginger further support the interpretation that there is good preservation potential for at least one or more near-surface porphyry Cu-Au deposits in the valley bottoms at Kliyul and that the surrounding gossanous slopes at higher elevation, such as at Ginger cirque or BAP Ridge represent the broad overlying sericitic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration shell and related veins.

Summary of Drill Holes KLI-23-055 to KLI-23-058

KLI-23-055 (azimuth 222, inclination -75, planned length 600 m, drilled length 413 m) was the first drill hole to test the Ginger target area for a standalone porphyry Cu-Au deposit, 1.3 km northwest of KMZ within the Divide Lake Fault Trend. Results from 2022 exploration suggested there may be a northeast-tilted porphyry system with a core zone starting at about 300 m depth. There is only one historical drill hole in the area, 450 m to the southwest, that was shallow drilled (to 100 m vertical depth) and intersected post-mineral granodiorite. The drill hole was collared on the west side of Ginger cirque at 1,955 m a.s.l., almost 200 m higher elevation than KMZ.

Lithology consists of basaltic-andesitic volcaniclastic rocks intruded by narrow diorite and feldspar hornblende porphyry dykes up to 15 m in width.





Alteration is predominantly chlorite-sericite and sericitic overprinting patchy magnetite  chlorite-biotite-actinolite. Propylitic alteration increases after 323.5 m. Veins are mainly late-stage pyritic D-veins with chlorite-sericite alteration halos and late-stage calcite and anhydrite veins. Local irregular magnetite veins are noted associated with diorite.





Mineralization consists of pyrite as disseminations and fracture fill. Two massive milky white quartz  chlorite-sericite-pyrite veins, 0.9 m and 6.1 m width are logged at 197.9 m and 300.8 m returning 19.1 m of 0.34 g/t gold ("Au") and 0.65 g/t silver ("Ag"), and 3.7 m of 0.22 g/t Au and 0.93 g/t Ag respectively. These interpreted D-veins or late Lode veins are also anomalous in copper ("Cu"), molybdenum (up to 0.12% over 1.25 m), tungsten, tellurium, and bismuth. A molybdenite sample was collected for rhenium-osmium dating.

KLI-23-056 (azimuth 357, inclination -55, planned length 450 m, drilled length 600 m) was drilled in the Kliyul North zone as a 170 m step-out to the northwest of KLI-22-046, which extended mineralization 250 m north of KMZ and returned 59.0 m 0.84% CuEq (0.24% Cu, 0.87 g/t Au, and 2.29 g/t Ag) within 169 m of 0.52% CuEq (0.20% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, and 1.65 g/t Ag) (see news release dated January 18, 2023). KLI-23-056 tested for an extension of the KLI-22-046 result, as well as for a moderately south-dipping attitude of mineralization and associated intrusions.

Lithology is mainly volcaniclastic andesite with diorite dykes which increase in abundance after 340 m becoming more than 50% of the lithology.





Alteration is strongly sericitic with subordinate chlorite-sericite to 126 m and then becomes alternating inner-propylitic (epidote-albite-chlorite-sericite-quartz) and intermediate argillic (sericite-illite-chlorite) spatially related to a fault zone (Divide Lake Fault extension?) at 225-233 m. Local patchy magnetite  chlorite/biotite (potassic) alteration is noted. Veins are predominantly late-stage calcite and secondarily intermediate-stage epidote-albite and quartz-sericite-albite.





Mineralization is vein-hosted, fracture fill and disseminated pyrite. After 364 m, trace to weak fine-disseminated chalcopyrite is noted locally.





The 37.2 m interval of 0.27% CuEq (0.14% Cu, 0.19 g/t Au and 1.07 g/t Ag) from 513 m is associated with an increase in magnetite-chlorite/biotite alteration, fine disseminated chalcopyrite and possible lithology change to diorite.

KLI-23-057 (azimuth 357, inclination -55, planned length 600 m, drilled length 611 m) was designed to test the under-drilled eastern side of KMZ and drill northward towards Divide Lake Fault and then into the East Wedge zone at depth. The nearest drill holes include KLI-15-033, collared 130 m to the north, which returned 69.5 m of 0.28% Cu, 0.39 g/t Au, and 1.57 g/t Ag starting at 32.5 m (see news release dated January 17, 2020); and KLI-22-049, collared 155 m to the northeast, which returned 66.0 m of 0.23% Cu, 0.24 g/t Au, and 0.90 g/t Ag starting at 250.0 m in the East Wedge zone(see news release dated January 18, 2023).

Lithology is mainly volcaniclastic andesite host rock (about 64%) intruded by various early to late-stage dykes including, 1) quartz diorite, 2) feldspar porphyry, 3) andesite dykes and 4) feldspar hornblende porphyry. The high density of dykes appears to be spatially related to the Divide Lake Fault corridor. A zone of anhydrite-quartz-calcite cemented breccia intercalated with diorite occurs between 662-700 m. An intrusive breccia at 707.5 m has megacrystic porphyry fragments (early) in feldspar porphyry cement (later).





Alteration is a mix of chlorite-sericite and inner-propylitic (epidote-calcite  albite). Potassic (magnetite-chlorite/biotite) alteration begins at 192 m and alternates with inner-propylitic alteration becoming more bleached by silicification (quartz-anhydrite  sericite) after 655 and continuing to end-of-hole (EOH). This alteration zoning suggests vectoring up-temperature with depth. Veins include early, intermediate, and late-stage types, but early-stage veins are more predominant between 202.5-528.8 m and continue to EOH.





Mineralization is disseminated and vein-hosted pyrite. Trace chalcopyrite starts at 58.4 m in intermediate-stage veins, and after 202.5 m with early-stage veins and stringers, including fine-grained clustered disseminations, and after 484.7 m with anhydrite-quartz stockwork/breccia. Metre-scale massive white quartz veins with accessory chlorite and pyrite-chalcopyrite-molybdenite mineralization occur at 88.4 m, 257.9 m and 460.1 m; these appear to be late-stage veins related to brittle faulting.





The 89.3 m interval of 0.38% CuEq (0.21% Cu, 0.25 g/t Au and 0.91 g/t Ag) from 290 m is related to magnetite-chlorite/biotite alteration and early-stage veins. The 86.0 m interval of 0.36% CuEq (0.10% Cu, 0.39 g/t Au and 0.85 g/t Ag) from 433 m is proximal to the Divide Lake Fault/Valley Splay Fault intersection and related to quartz-sericite-ankerite-chlorite  epidote alteration overprinting relict magnetite with a mix of early-and late-stage veins.

KLI-23-058 (azimuth 090, inclination -80, planned length 550 m, drilled length 560 m) was collared from the same drill pad as KLI-23-056. This steeply inclined drill hole tested the Kliyul North zone at depth in a gap area where there is the same geophysical signature as KMZ. The nearest deep drill hole, KLI-22-044, is 100 m to the southeast and returned 23.2 m of 0.89% CuEq (0.24% Cu, 0.94 g/t Au, and 1.40 g/t Au) starting at 409.0 m within the Kliyul North zone (see news release dated November 16, 2022).

Lithology is mainly volcaniclastic andesite host rock (about 74%) intruded by various early to late-stage dykes, ranging from 1.5 m to 34.9 m wide including, 1) quartz diorite, 2) quartz feldspar porphyry, 3) andesite dykes and 4) hornblende porphyry. A megacrystic feldspar porphyry (QFP) unit was intersected from 478.6-530 m (51.4 m wide). A fault and rubble zone were encountered from 154-192.7 m suggesting a flat-lying or shallowly dipping fault.





Alteration is sericitic and inner-propylitic to 126 m, after which magnetite-chlorite/biotite (potassic) alteration starts. Following this, the potassic assemblage is locally overprinted by inner-propylitic and chlorite-sericite, the latter becoming a more prevalent overprint after 436 m. Ignoring late-stage veins, intermediate-stage veins predominate from 74-385 m and then early-stage veins from 385 m to EOH.





Mineralization includes disseminated, fracture fill and vein-hosted pyrite. Chalcopyrite in trace amounts starts near surface and becomes more abundant by 74 m, occurring as fine-grained disseminations, fracture fill and in intermediate- and early-stage veins.





The 103.5 m interval of 0.63% CuEq (0.18% Cu, 0.66 g/t Au and 0.93 g/t Ag) within 388.5 m of 0.42% CuEq (0.18% Cu, 0.35 g/t Au and 1.05 g/t Ag) is related to magnetite-chlorite/biotite alteration with chlorite-sericite overprint and early-stage veins in the hanging wall zone of the megacrystic feldspar porphyry dyke. Also of note, the Au:Cu ratio of weighted average mineralized intervals increases with depth from 87 m to 493.5 m where the megacrystic porphyry dyke is logged, suggesting an up-temperature vector of increasing Au:Cu (from 0.71 to 5.27), and an inverse relationship for Ag:Au (from 9.64 to 1.08; see Table 2).

Table 2 2023 Kliyul Assay Results Summary for Drill Hole KLI-23-058 With Au:Cu and Ag:Au Ratios at Increasing Depth.

Hole No. From(m) To(m) Width(m) Cu(%) Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) Au:Cu Ag:Au KLI-23-058 87.0 122.2 35.2 0.16 0.112 1.08 0.71 9.64 KLI-23-058 122.2 142 19.8 0.28 0.256 1.42 0.91 5.55 KLI-23-058 169 197 28 0.36 0.273 1.71 0.76 6.26 KLI-23-058 207 303.5 96.5 0.20 0.397 1.43 1.99 3.60 KLI-23-058 394 420.8 26.8 0.17 0.447 0.94 2.63 2.10 KLI-23-058 439.9 471.5 31.6 0.33 1.236 1.51 3.75 1.22 KLI-23-058 485.5 493.5 8.0 0.31 1.633 1.76 5.27 1.08

About Kliyul

Owned 100% by Pacific Ridge, Kliyul is over 60 km2 in size and is located in the prolific Quesnel Terrane close to existing infrastructure. Kliyul comprises nine porphyry copper-gold targets along two main trends: the 1.5 km-long east-northeast Valley Fault Trend, which includes its five fault-defined target areas (Kliyul West, KMZ, Kliyul North, East Wedge, and Kliyul East); and the 6-km-long northwest-trending Divide Lake Fault Trend which includes Ginger, Parish Hill, Bap Ridge, and M-39 target areas.

QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control)

Pacific Ridge's 2023 exploration program is being managed by Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C. The drill contractor is Paycore Drilling of Valemount, B.C. Half-core HQ (63.5 mm) or NQ (47.6 mm) sawed samples from continuous intervals throughout the reported drill holes were sealed on site and shipped to ALS Global Laboratories ("ALS") preparation lab in Kamloops or North Vancouver, BC. Fire assay and multielement analyses were completed at ALS Minerals analytical laboratory in North Vancouver. Drill core was crushed, pulverized and analyzed for 48 elements using a four-acid dissolution followed by ICP-MS (ME-MS61) with over limits by ore grade four-acid dissolution followed by ICP-AES (OG62), with a 30 g sample analyzed for gold by fire assay and atomic absorption finish (Au-AA23). Blanks and commercially certified reference materials were inserted blind into the sample stream with an overall insertion rate of 5%. Field duplicates representing a quarter core split of the original sample are inserted at 2.5%. Pulp and crush duplicates are inserted at 5% insertion rate by the laboratory. The QAQC results are reviewed as batches are returned from the laboratory and appropriate actions are implemented where required. The QA/QC results for the reported drill holes are acceptable.

About Pacific Ridge

Our goal is to become British Columbia's leading copper-gold exploration company. Pacific Ridge's flagship asset is its 100% owned Kliyul copper-gold project, located in the Quesnel Terrane close to existing infrastructure. In addition to Kliyul, the Company's project portfolio includes the RDP copper-gold project (optioned to Antofagasta Minerals S.A.), the Chuchi copper-gold project, the Onjo copper-gold project, and the Redton copper-gold project, all located in British Columbia. Pacific Ridge would like to acknowledge that its B.C. projects are located in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Gitxsan Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Nak'azdli Whut'en, Takla Nation, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blaine Monaghan"

Blaine Monaghan

President & CEO

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

Corporate Contact:

Blaine Monaghan

President & CEO

Tel: (604) 687-4951

www.pacificridgeexploration.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-ridge-exploration-ltd-pex-

https://twitter.com/PacRidge_PEX

Investor Contact:

G2 Consultants Corp.

Telephone: +1 778-678-9050

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

The technical information contained within this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Gerald G. Carlson, Ph.D., P.Eng., Executive Chairman of Pacific Ridge and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy.

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, which address exploration drilling and other activities and events or developments that Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. ("Pacific Ridge") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements in this news release include statements that the Kliyul porphyry copper-gold complex will continue to grow in size. Although Pacific Ridge 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 or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, that one of the options will be exercised, the ability of Pacific Ridge and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Pacific Ridge's proposed programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. 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. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSXV: MUN) (OTCQB: MUNMF) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce commencement of a drill program at the Dos Cabezas Project ("Project"), Cochise County, Arizona. The Dos Cabezas Project is optioned to Vale Base Metals ("Vale") to earn-in to the Project. The Q4-2023 drill program is planned to test three target areas with 3 diamond drill holes for a total of 2,200 meters. These drill holes represent a rare opportunity in Arizona of untested porphyry copper systems.

Project Location

The Dos Cabezas Project is located in SE Arizona, approximately 150 km east of the city of Tucson, within the highly prospective "Laramide" magmatic arc portion of the Southwestern USA cordilleran porphyry belt. The Dos Cabezas Project is surrounded by known porphyry districts, such as Safford and Morenci to the north, and Tyrone to the east.

Figure 1: Location Map of the Three Target Areas to be Drill Tested in Q4-2023

Summary of the Target Areas

Exploration to date has identified three target areas with outcropping alteration and mineralisation potentially associated with laramide age porphyry copper systems: Mescal Canyon, Mineral Park, and Casey Copper Canyon targets (see Figure 1). These three target areas will be drill tested with one drill hole for each target. A drill rig has been mobilized with drilling anticipated to commence in the second week of October. The drill program is expected to be completed in November with assay results in Q1-2024.

Mescal Canyon - mapping and sampling in the Mescal Canyon area has outlined a zone of pyritic veining with sericitic halos and sericitic fractures consistent with the distal portions of porphyries which commonly occurs outboard but also potentially above the central porphyry mineralization. One drill hole has been targeted to test the magnetic anomaly directly below the alteration and geochemistry mapped on the surface.

Mineral Park - detailed mapping of the area has identified high temperature magnetite skarns and magnetite replacement lenses that were also recognised and modeled in the closely spaced helicopter borne magnetic survey flown in 2022. One drillhole is planned to test the outcropping skarns and intersect the potential monzonite intrusion modeled at depth and potentially driving the system.

Casey Copper Canyon - The magnetic survey highlighted two large magnetic highs, indicating the skarns mapped at surface are more extensive at depth. A drill hole is oriented perpendicular to the WNW structure at a steep angle to cross-cut mineralization and to test the magnetic anomaly below the outcropping skarns.

Exploration in the Dos Cabezas Project also identified two undercover target areas: Northwest Pediments target and SouthEast Pediments target, along the apparent WNW trend defined by the Apache Pass Fault Zone which was interpreted to be covered by shallow pediments. In Q2-2023, the Company drill tested the Northwest Pediments and the SouthEast Pediments targets with a total of 800 meters over two drill holes 400 m each. The SE Pediments target appeared more interesting as it is a discrete magnetic feature at the intersection with the Apache Pass Fault system, however at both pediment locations, the post mineral cover was greater than 400 m and the drill holes were terminated.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information described in this Press Release has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. The scientific and technical information for the USA exploration programs has been reviewed and approved by T. Dechev, P.Eng (PEO, APEGBC), a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

About Mundoro Capital Inc.

Mundoro is a publicly listed company on the TSX-V in Canada and OTCQB in the USA with a portfolio of mineral properties focused primarily on base and precious metals. To drive value for shareholders, Mundoro's asset portfolio generates near-term cash payments to Mundoro and creates royalties attached to each mineral property optioned to partners. The portfolio of mineral properties is currently focused on predominantly copper in two mineral districts: Western Tethyan Belt in Eastern Europe and the Laramide Belt in the southwest USA.

For further information about Mundoro, please contact Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director, +1-604-669-8055, and Shamil Devji, Investor Relations Manager at +1-604-669-8055. You can also visit Mundoro's website www.mundoro.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of earn-in expenditures, options and completion of a definitive agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward-looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Company's projects, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and 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 the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
At least eight French nationals were missing, dead or taken hostage after Hamas's weekend attack on Israel, a lawmaker said Monday.

But the foreign ministry confirmed the deaths of only two citizens in a statement.

"France regrets the tragic death of a second French national, who fell victim to Hamas's terrorist attacks against Israel," the ministry said.

"We are continuing our efforts to clarify the situations of those of our nationals who remain unaccounted for," it added.

Earlier, conservative MP Meyer Habib, who represents French people living abroad in a swathe of Mediterranean countries including Israel, wrote that "at least eight French people are believed to be missing, dead or taken hostage by Hamas" in a post to X (formerly Twitter).

Paris "should hold Hamas directly responsible for (hostages') safety and use every means to secure their release," Habib added.

Habib said he had spoken to the father of 26-year-old Avidan T. from Bordeaux, who lives in Israel.

The father "confirmed to me that, as we feared, this young Frenchman... has indeed been taken hostage," he wrote.

Habib had posted Sunday that Avidan was one of the revellers at a desert rave in southern Israel hit in a Hamas attack that killed hundreds of people.

The foreign ministry said Monday that almost 62,000 French nationals were registered with the consulate-general in Tel Aviv, with a further 25,000 in Jerusalem.

Many French travellers were also present in Israel at the time of the attacks, it added.

The French anti-terrorist prosecutor's office, which has jurisdiction over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against French citizens abroad, said on Monday that it was "in contact with the (French) foreign ministry".

"(This) is to obtain information on the victims and the circumstances of their deaths in order to decide whether or not to open one or more investigations," it added.

French nationals should "follow the recommendations to remain extremely vigilant issued by our teams at the French embassy in Tel Aviv, the consulate-general in Jerusalem and the Israeli authorities," the ministry urged.

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A 12-year-old is among 14 French nationals missing after Hamas launched deadly raids into Israel, France's foreign ministry said Monday, calling the situation "worrying".

Two French people were killed in "Hamas's terrorist attacks against Israel", the French government said previously.

Dozens of foreigners were killed, injured or taken hostage during a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas Saturday that has left 800 people dead, mostly Israelis.

"Based on the information we have, we consider it highly likely that some of them have been abducted", the French foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that "this number is still subject to change".

The ministry said Monday that almost 62,000 French nationals are registered with the consulate-general in Tel Aviv, with a further 25,000 in Jerusalem.

Many French travellers were also present in Israel at the time of the attacks, it added.

The French anti-terrorist prosecutor's office, which has jurisdiction over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against French citizens abroad, said on Monday that it was "in contact with the (French) foreign ministry".

"(This) is to obtain information on the victims and the circumstances of their deaths in order to decide whether or not to open one or more investigations," it added.

French nationals should "follow the recommendations to remain extremely vigilant issued by our teams at the French embassy in Tel Aviv, the consulate-general in Jerusalem and the Israeli authorities," the ministry urged.

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Wavve's "Weak Hero Class 1" bagged a trophy at the 2023 Asia Content Awards, and the producer hinted at the drama's second installment.

Curious about what the producer said? Then read on!

'Weak Hero Class 1' Bags Major Award at 2023 Asia Content Awards

The 2022 school-thriller series "Weak Hero Class 1" won the Best OTT Original at the 2023 Asia Content Awards & Global OTT Awards in Busan.

The event was held on October 8 where multiple multi-talented actors, actresses, and creatives were present. The Asia Content Awards is a big event of the Busan International Film Festival that honors outstanding television, OTT, and online content in Asia.

Director Yoo Soo Min, creator Han Joon Hee, producer Kim Myung Jin, and other representatives went on stage to receive the award.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Weak Hero Class 1' Goes International, Confirmed To Air in Europe, Middle East, More

Is It True? 'Weak Hero Class' Season 2 is Coming

While delivering his speech, Producer Kim mentioned that "Weak Hero Class" Season 2 is finally coming soon.

"It's an honor to receive such a major award. I received a proposal to create a growth drama that can be seen not only by men, but also by women, students, and adults too. And I thank everyone who made the project possible."

Kim Myung Jin continued and mentioned the people behind the success of the series. According to him, the drama received a lot of love and support since "Weak Hero Class 1" was screened at the BIFF in 2022.

While delivering his speech, he spontaneously hinted at the preview of the much-awaited book 2 of the drama.

"The team has come this far thanks to your energy and love, we plan to gather more strength to create the next chapter. We hope for a lot of anticipation and interest in this story as we will continue to tell it. Please remember that the forthcoming stories will truly be about weak heroes."

ALSO READ: Did You Know? Most of Choi Hyun Wook's Scenes in 'Weak Hero Class 1' Were Ad-Libs

Before concluding, Mr. Kim thanked the actors who made impeccable performances in the series namely, Park Ji Hoon, Choi Hyun Wook, and Hong Kyung, who are now receiving more projects after starring in the drama.

Furthermore, "Weak Hero Class 1" tells the story of a high school student Yeon Si Eun, a top student attending a school known for its rampant violence and bullying. The drama focuses on his determination to stand up against the bullies and bring justice to the school.

Thanks to this project, Park Ji Hoon earned his Best New Actor at the 2023 Blue Dragon Series Awards, while Choi Hyun Wook won the Whynot Award at the same event.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Non-Romance K-Dramas That Gain Popularity Abroad: 'Taxi Driver,' 'Weak Hero,' More

What can you say about "Weak Hero Class 1" Season 2? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
After his back-to-back success in 2022 with "Why Her?" and "Cheer Up," Bae In Hyuk gears up to return to the limelight this fall.

He couples up with Lee Se Young in the forthcoming fantasy romance drama "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract." Keep on reading to know more.

Bae In Hyuk Returns To Spotlight With New Romance Drama

Bae In Hyuk transforms into a reliable conglomerate heir with striking visuals in the forthcoming fantasy romance "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract."

Opposite Lee Se Young, the drama follows the story of a woman who travels into South Korea in 2023 from the Joseon era to find her missing lover.

She then meets a handsome young woman who resembles her husband in the present time in the form of a haughty, charismatic successor of a multi-billion company.

In the series, Bae In Hyuk plays Kang Tae Ha, an undefeatable man who possesses intelligence and is a potential leader of his family's conglomerate business.

READ MORE: Park Bo Young Update 2023: Hallyu Star To Dominate Prime Time With New K-drama This Fall

Through "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract," Bae In Hyuk guarantees to showcase his more mature side as a charismatic leading man to Lee Se Young.

Excitement is doubled for the two who work together for the first time in ages. Catch Bae In Hyuk and Lee Se Young in "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" this November on MBC TV.

Bae In Hyuk's 'At A Distance, Spring Is Green' & Other Works

Bae In Hyuk rose to stardom after stealing thousands of hearts as a second male lead in the 2021 fantasy romance drama "My Roommate Is A Gumiho."

He took advantage of the momentum and opened doors of opportunities to dominate prime time with his hit dramas "At A Distance, Spring Is Green," "Cheer Up" and "Why Her?."

In fact, he bagged countless trophies for his performances in the past year at the prestigious SBS Drama Awards, Blue Dragon Series Awards and more.

The acting heartthrob also made an impression on the viewers with his unforgettable appearance in the melodrama film "Ditto" in 2022 with Cho Yi Hyun and Yeo Jin Goo.

In "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract," Bae In Hyuk is expected to flaunt his never-before-seen acting and versatility.

Moreover, "Under the Queen's Umbrella," "The Spies Who Loved Me" and "Was It Love?" are among his most note-worthy works that are available for checking out on Netflix.

ALSO READ: Im Soo Jung Update 2023: Actress Makes Silver Theater Return & More

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE National Assembly has penalised all Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators who boycotted President Emmerson Mnangagwa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the official opening of the 10th Parliament yesterday.This came after Mnangagwa's address where he challenged lawmakers to work hard and participate whole-heartedly in the enactment of laws that would help in lift he lives of long-suffering Zimbabweans.Addressing the National Assembly after Mnangagwa's Sona speech. a miffed Speaker Jacob Mudenda, said opposition MPs would he punished for staying away from the opening of Parliament by the re-elected Slate president."We recognised that this session, in which his Excellency the president addressed the nation and officially opened the film session of the 10th Parliament, members of the CCC were not in attendance.CCC MPs won't be given fuel coupons to go back to their homes from Harare and their stay in booked hotels will be deducted from their salaries. No work. No benefits.
British Columbia is the first province to sign a tailored funding agreement with the federal government as part of the $196 billion health accord the prime minister offered provinces earlier this year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby arrive for a healthcare funding announcement at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, in Langley, B.C., on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The RCMP has launched an investigation into the Greenbelt land swap. Cows cool off in a pond on a farm in the Ontario Greenbelt near Guelph, Ont., on Monday, July 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
There is no shortage of the problems that plague health care. Even so, health law gurus make problems worse by creating the medical liability litigation industry. Gurus deny creating this industry. They create health reforms and tort reforms to solve problems. That explains the Affordable Care Act, 100 tort reforms, the medical liability litigation industry, and difficulties.

Have you been sued for medical malpractice? If not, you will be. There are 50,000 medical malpractice lawsuits per year, and you are one of a million doctors. Therefore, your risk is 5% per year. Seventy percent of lawsuits are frivolous. Since every malicious lawsuit is frivolous, the odds are good that, so too, is the one against you.

Every malpractice lawsuit is predicated on a complication. Indeed, some are medical errors. But there are also errors of nature and even fabrications. You are not immune from complications. Nevertheless, according to gurus, all are medical errors until proven otherwise.

At trial, the burden of proof is a preponderance of evidence. It has been around since the Magna Carta in 1215. It corresponds to 50% confidence plus a scintilla. Scintilla is subjective and can be any value. When the bar is low, depending on the value of scintilla, the risk of a wrong decision could be as high as 49%. Essentially, this is a coin toss.

You pay thousands of dollars to a medical malpractice insurance carrier to defend yourself from this risk. If you are sued, it pays for everything. Codified in the cooperation clause of your policy is the mantra: Dont worry  your defense will cost you nothing. Be happy  just cooperate with whatever your carrier and your attorney advise. Hence, the carrier has more influence over the attorney and defense strategy than you do.

No one could know better about the status quo than a physician who has been sued.

The paradigm shift

For this reason, I developed a risk management tool. It adapts a lawsuit to the scientific method. The scientific method has been around since Sir Francis Bacon in 1620. It establishes 5 steps to test a null hypothesis. In any malpractice lawsuit, the null hypothesis is the treatment in question is the standard of care. The burden of proof is still a preponderance of evidence. However, in the tool, scintilla is objective, always 45%. Hence, the null hypothesis is either accepted or rejected with 95% confidence, and the risk of erroneously rejecting a true null hypothesis is only 5%.

This is no longer a coin toss. Not only does the tool raise the bar, it is completely consistent with the best defense possible, to which, by law, doctors are entitled and with which, because of law, malpractice carriers dare not interfere.

This tool worked for me when I was sued. I used it as soon as I had all the facts, and I was dismissed with prejudice within 130 days of being served. I was exonerated, and it exposed an abuse of process by the plaintiff attorney. He had no expert witness.

Once I prevailed, I opened a grievance with the Attorneys Grievance Committee in the State of Maryland for abuse of process. The attorney claimed the dismissal was convenient because of an impending settlement with my co-defendants employer. Furthermore, he had a medical expert; in fact, he provided the name. The committee summarily closed the case.

My efforts failed. Even so, it cost me nothing, and the attorney identified the expert. I contacted the medical expert. This cost me nothing. The medical expert affirmed, in writing, that he was never a certified witness. He never opined that I departed from standards of care.

The patient knew or should have known the above circumstance and still agreed with the attorney to proceed with the lawsuit. I decided to sue the patient for malicious prosecution. When one attorney echoed the mantra of dont worry, be happy. I moved on. When another wanted a retainer of $10,000, I moved on. Undeterred, I filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County, Marylands small claims court, demanding $ 5,000, including compensatory and punitive damages, and will represent myself. This was unprecedented.

It proceeded to trial. The patient was represented by the same attorney. The attorney based the defense on the same fabrication. However, now there was the medical experts written statement. The judge acknowledged that the malpractice suit was frivolous and, indeed, there may be abuse of process. But there was no proof of malice by the patient.

The judges decision was disappointing. In the final analysis, my demand was only $5,000. The result could have been the same even if I paid a lawyer $10,000. The attorneys dishonesty was now public record. A rift opened between the patient and the attorney. Most importantly, the lawsuit cost the patient about $2000 for representation and cost me under $100 for the filing fee.

Conclusion

Success is not this 20:1 ratio. My goal is a paradigm shift.

The paradigm adds value to the law and to attorneys. Ninety-five percent confidence, rather than 50%, plus an ill-defined scintilla, makes the truth stand out in stark contrast.

The paradigm adds value to malpractice carriers. Because all frivolous and meritorious claims are judiciously expedited, avoidable costs to carriers are reduced, and malpractice premiums are decreased.

It adds value to society. Health care is more available, affordable, accessible, accountable, and able.

It returns power to physicians. Exposing a malicious claim sends a clear message to those who attack us.

It takes power from the medical liability litigation industry. Health reforms, tort reforms, and health law gurus have accomplished none of the above.

A paradigm shift is not for the faint of heart. I would never impose on you. However, if you are not among the faint of heart, heed this as a call to action.

Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician.
The Democratic Party (DP) has urged the government to amend the Womens Council Act in a bid to allow womens elections to be held on the same day as the general elections.

Speaking to the media at the partys head offices in Kampala, the partys Secretary General, Mr. Gerald Siranda, said this will relieve the Electoral Commission and voters of election fatigue while government will be saving huge sums of money.

He also asked the commission to extend the tenure of womens councils to five years from the current four years.

Siranda urged the commission to engage political parties in womens elections from the village to district level.

We believe that the Electoral Commission should involve our party structures from all across the country. We believe that our leaders as political parties should be involved in mobilizing these people, Siranda said on Tuesday.

The commission recently postponed the election of women council representatives whose term of office ended on July 10, 2023, due to lack of funds.

Meanwhile, the party has officially issued its election roadmap ahead of the 2026 general elections.

According to Siranda, DP will hold internal elections at village level on January 10, 2023. Additionally, the party will hold its delegates conference in April 2024 through which they will elect the new top leadership.
State Minister for Microfinance and Small Entreprises, Hon Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo was among the 41 individuals awarded with medals on Monday during Ugandas 61st Independence celebrations held in Kitgum district.

The ceremony was attended by President Museveni, Vice President Jessica Alupo, among other dignitaries. The medals awarded to each individual were for their efforts in uplifting the country and the most notable one was Hon Kasolo for the Emyooga programme that has transformed the lives of many Ugandans since its initiation in 2019.

Hon Kasolo who heads the steering committee of the Emyooga programme which is a Presidential Initiative on Wealth Creation and Jobs has been working tirelessly since then. The Minister during his field works according to the Emyooga report has reached over 20,000 locations in Uganda.

Hon Kasolo has taught Ugandans how to save during his fieldwork visits and many of them have embraced the culture. According to the report, 205,710 SACCOs were mobilized and 6,478 were formed with each group getting seed capital of Shs30 million.

As of July 2022, the report indicates that 248.7 billion was released and has benefitted 6,644 Emyooga SACCOs that were given loans worth Shs213.39 billion.

With their saving cultures, the report indicates that the savings amounted to Shs72 billion across the different SACCO groups. Vice President Jessica Alupo in another event last week also applauded Hon Kasolo for his good works that have helped to transform the country through the Emyooga programmes. This was in Katakwi district where he had gone to supervise the progress of Emyooga groups in the Eastern part of the country.
By Yoweri Kaguta & Maureen Biira

The Rwenzururu king, Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma, has asked subjects, especially politicians, to promote peace, security, unity, and coexistence. He made the statement during a thanksgiving service at St Paul Cathedral in South Rwenzori Diocese in Kasese District at the weekend.

Politicians divide the kingdom and her people because of their selfish interests and motives, all these practices should immediately stop. Anyone who is planning to come and see me with the intention of winning favours from me so that the people should think he or she is clean should not come to the palace, Omusinga said.

He said some people had misrepresented the kingdom to the government, making it seem as if the king harboured animosity towards other ethnic groups in the Rwenzori Sub-region.

Omusinga also addressed the issue concerning Yira state and explained that the kingdom had faced confusion with the central government, which he attributed to what he referred to as Kabudunga or traitors within the kingdom who had caused disruption and instability.

He clarified that the events of 2016 had been triggered by false allegations that the kingdom was involved in a secession plot from Uganda.He went on to emphasise that even if the Kingdom had indeed contemplated establishing a separate state,they would not have chosen the nameYira for it.

Furthermore, he stated that if he had genuinely intended to pursue secession, he would have left the kingdom and mobilised supporters outside the institution, rather than remaining within it.



Traitors should come and we work together before they feed the central government with false information, am also asking the central government to first come and get clear information from us before they plan to wage military operations on innocent people and intuitions like they did when they attacked us, Omusinga said.

He revealed that prior to his return on October 4, he had engagements with President Museveni on strategies to foster peace and the development in the sub-region. During her address, Queen Agnes Ithungu Asimawe, said she would revive the Rwenzururu Nyabaghole Development Foundation to mentor young girls in various aspects, including reproductive health.
A section of opposition legislators in Parliament has walked out of todays plenary sitting in protest against the recent arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders and supporters.

This came after the shadow minister for finance, Mr Muwanga Kivumbi who acted as Leader of Opposition raised a matter of national concern condemning the acts of security agencies that raided NUP party offices on Monday, October 9, arresting people who had gathered to pray for the souls of those who were allegedly killed in various parts of the country.

Kivumbi challenged the government to explain the law under which security is allowed to stop people from holding prayers or assemblies despite the constitutional courts move to nullify the Public Order Management Act.

The other day, the leader of the National Unity Platform Hon Robert Kyagulanyi was kidnapped from a plane and driven to his home. Yesterday, the offices of the National Unity Platform were not only sealed off but leaders were arrested [NUP Secretary General David Rubongoya and party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi] and so many of our youth are being held in custody. It becomes very hard for me to sit here and lead the other side [opposition] without a very clear explanation, Kivumbi said.

He further demanded the unconditional release of all political prisoners backed by a statement from the Minister of Internal Affairs.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Thomas Tayebwa has asked government not to approve the policy of allowing girls from the age of 15 years access contraceptive services.

Tayebwas call followed a matter raised by Amuru District Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Lucy Akello, who demanded an explanation on the same.

Dr Charles Olaro, the director for curative services at the Health ministry recently revealed that government is allowing girls as young as 15 years to access contraceptive services, a policy he argues will reduce early pregnancies.

Dr. Olaro told Daily Monitor that their priority will be out-of-school teenagers and young adults.

Tayebwa has equated the move to legitimizing sexual violence in Uganda, further asking government to reject the idea.

We pray that the devil doesnt find his way and such thoughts should never come into the minds of our people because it would imply that we have given up on our girl children by formalizing defilement. That is clearly saying we have failed. We would rather strengthen the monitoring to ensure that we fight this vice but not legitimize it by giving such services, and I am glad it isnt yet a policy, Tayebwa posted on his X account on Tuesday.

Commenting on the matter, the State Minister for Primary Health Care, Ms Margaret Muhanga said that Dr. Olaro was misquoted, explaining that he just made a suggestion.

We have so many teenage pregnancies, everyone who is sleeping with these girls knows that they are young and is defiling them, they are being married off to 65-year-old men. So, he suggested that should we lower the age of family planning to 15 years and he was asking the audience, Muhanga said on Tuesday.

In May this year, Uganda signed a compact with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), renamed United Nations Population Fund, to promote birth control among young people.
By AFP

Israel intensifies its Swords of Iron campaign, imposing a total siege and cutting off water supplies to the Gaza Strip amidst an unprecedented multi-front assault by Hamas, escalating the death toll and sparking international alarm.

Palestinian militant group Hamas, which dragged off about 150 people in its surprise weekend assault on Israel, threatened to execute the hostages if Israeli air strikes continue targeting Gaza residents without warning.

The threat came after Israel on Monday imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, and sparking fears of an increasingly dire humanitarian situation.

Israel has been left reeling from Hamass unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, likening them to 9/11.

The death toll rose to 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll there to 687.

Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City Monday night as explosions sounded and sirens wailed.

Hamas  which the Israeli army estimates sent about 1,000 fighters across the border, spraying gunfire at civilians  said Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of the hostages.

It later said it could start killing them itself.

Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement.

In a televised speech Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and said Israel planned to carry out a massive assault against Hamas with unprecedented force.

Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS, Netanyahu said.

He also vowed to strengthen other fronts in the north against Hezbollah, where militants and Israeli forces exchanged fire for a second day.

Hamas launched more rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its Swords of Iron campaign. Truck convoys moved tanks to the south, where its forces were working to dislodge holdout Hamas fighters.

Israeli military spokeswoman Libby Weiss said some Hamas militants are still there right now.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a complete siege on the long-blockaded enclave of 2.3 million people: No electricity, no food, no water, no gas  its all closed.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply distressed by the siege announcement, and warned Gazas already dire humanitarian situation will now only deteriorate exponentially.

Palestinians in the coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages.

 Lebanon border clash 

Middle East tensions have spiked as Israels arch enemy Iran praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran rejected any direct role in the military operation.

Hamas has called on resistance fighters in the West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join what it has dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

The military operation is still continuing, Hossam Badran, a Hamas official, told AFP from Doha, adding that there is currently no chance for negotiation on the issue of prisoners or anything else.

Israel has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts. But it has been shaken to the core by the Hamas strike, and now faces the threat of a multi-front war.

On Monday, the Israeli army said its soldiers had killed a number of armed suspects who had crossed the border from Lebanon and that Israeli helicopters were striking targets in the area.

The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad later claimed responsibility for the thwarted infiltration from Lebanon to Israel.

Iran-backed Hezbollah said Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed three of its members, prompting the movement to retaliate against two Israeli barracks using guided missiles and mortar shells that hit them directly.

It was the second day of an exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which on Sunday said its strikes were in solidarity with the Hamas attacks.

We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict, a senior US defence official said.

Washington, which moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support, has said it has no plans to put US boots on the ground but is working with its ally on hostage recovery efforts.

 They butchered people 

Israel has expressed alarm and revulsion at Hamass attack across the Gaza border fence  long deemed impregnable and guarded by surveillance cameras, drones, patrols and watchtowers.

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, while other revellers were feared to be among the captives taken into Gaza.

They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way, said Moti Bukjin of the Zaka religious volunteer group which helped collect the human remains.

Among the hostages were children and a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israeli officials have said, while foreign or dual nationals have been reported abducted or missing by countries including Thailand, Germany, Argentina, France and the United States.
A woman and man, accused of having cocaine in their possession for sale and supply to others and for personal use had their cases adjourned for the service of a book of evidence at Kilkenny District Court.

Tara Conry, 4 Seville Grove, Callan Road, Kilkenny is accused of having drugs in her possession for personal use and of possession of drugs for sale and supply to others and of having cocaine with a value exceeding 13,000 at Seville Grove on July 5.

Garda Kevin Dooley told the court that he had arrested and charged the defendant and that she made no reply to any of the charges after caution. The court heard that on September 27 the DPP has directed trial on indictment on two counts of section 3 and section 15 of The Misuse of Drugs Act and of one count under section 15(a) of the same Act.

The estimated value of the cocaine seized on July 5 was 42,000.

The case was adjourned to October 26 for the service of a book of evidence.

Co-accused

A co-accused Sean Sutton, 36 OLoughlin Court, Kilkenny also appeared before Kilkenny District Court charged with having drugs in his possession for personal use contrary to section 3 of The Misuse of Drugs Act and of having drugs in his possession for sale or supply to others contrary to section 15 of the same Act at Circular Road, Kilkenny on July 5.

The defendant is also accused of having drugs in his possession for personal use and for sale and supply to others at Seville Grove on July 5, 2023 and of having drugs in his possession in excess of 13,000 for sale or supply to others contrary to section 15(a) of The Misuse of Drugs Act.

The DPP has indicated that the prosecution is on indictment.

The court heard that the defendant made no reply after caution when the charges were put to him.

The defendant was remanded in custody to appear before Kilkenny District Court on October 26 for the service of a book of evidence.
In 2022, 3,800 people, and 1,000 businesses participated in upskilling with a Skillnet Ireland Business Network in counties Carlow and Kilkenny.

Figures from Skillnet Ireland reveal the national agency for workforce development delivered 19,600 training days across both counties last year. 54% of those who undertook training were men and 46% were women, while those aged 30 to 39 years were the largest group of people availing of upskilling supports.

The vast majority (97.5%) of the 1,000 Carlow and Kilkenny companies that upskilled their workforce with Skillnet Ireland in 2022 were small and medium enterprises. The greatest uptake came from the Agriculture sector followed by Services, Food & Drink, Health, Retail, Media & Audiovisual and Tourism & Travel. Companies based in Carlow and Kilkenny undertook upskilling programmes with 56 Skillnet Business Networks, including Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet.

The Skillnet Ireland Annual Report, for 2022 found that nationwide, upskilling and training programmes to the value of 70.2 million, were provided to almost 25,000 businesses and over 92,000 workers across the Irish economy and the regions. Companies contributed 26.5 million or 37% of the total investment towards upskilling their staff, a 4 million increase on 2021, signalling a high level of buy-in from industry sectors to develop their teams in partnership with Skillnet Ireland.

Skillnet Ireland provides programmes to business of all sizes across all regions in key areas such as digital skills and skills for a green transition. Every business, large or small, is facing challenges, from the need for digital advancement, to talent shortages and skills gaps. In this, the EU Year of Skills, which runs until May 2024, Skillnet Ireland, the national talent development agency, is making substantial progress in futureproofing businesses in Carlow and Kilkenny, as well as enhancing the specialist skills of the Irish workforce through talent development.

Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive, Paul Healy said, As a knowledge-based economy nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness. Skillnet Irelands approach is based on flexibility, working with companies to respond to new industry trends in a fast and targeted way. We look forward to growing our partnerships with industry, higher education and State agencies in 2023.

Skillnet Irelands Director of Business Networks, Dave Flynn said, In this European Year of Skills we are making substantial progress in futureproofing Irish business through skills development so employers fully capitalise on the opportunities presented by technological innovation, digitalisation and the green transition. As the talent development agency, Skillnet Ireland will expand our engagement with companies to ensure they have the talent to meet these challenges and more.
Family Carers Ireland is making a final appeal to the Kilkenny community to submit nominations for the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards 2023.

This is the last chance for Kilkenny residents to honour the remarkable individuals who selflessly care for their loved ones.

The Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards celebrate the invaluable contributions made by Irelands family carers who are the backbone of our society and go above and beyond each day in providing remarkable levels of care at home for family and friends with additional needs.

Family Carers Ireland is encouraging friends, family members, neighbours and community leaders in Kilkenny to nominate deserving family carers from the region. Nominations can be submitted online until the closing date on Monday 16th October 2023.

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland, commented on the significance of the awards, saying: "Family carers in Kilkenny and across Ireland play a crucial role in our society and their dedication too often goes unnoticed. The Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards offer a vital opportunity to shine a light on their work and to express our gratitude for the love and care they provide.

Family Carers Ireland believes that every family carer's story is worth sharing and each nominee will receive well-deserved recognition for their incredible efforts. We urge everyone in Kilkenny to take this last opportunity to nominate a deserving family carer and help us celebrate their unwavering commitment."

To submit a nomination or to find more information about the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards, please visit www.familycarers.ie.

The annual awards ceremony, which will take place at The Westin Dublin on Thursday, November 30, will celebrate the inspiring stories of family carers and provide a vital platform for sharing their experiences, raising awareness of the challenges they face and building a stronger support network for family carers in Kilkenny and across Ireland.
Relay for Life has been a regular fixture in the calendars of Kilkenny people for just over a decade and the support of the community shows no signs of abating.

Its local origins date back to July 2013, with the inaugural event taking place at the Watershed complex.

24 hours full of joy, sadness and hope brought attendees on a rollercoaster of emotions for cancer survivors, their family members and friends.

In 2017, Relay for Life relocated to Kilkenny Rugby Club in Foulkstown, but the change in location hasn't dampened the community's support for the cause, with July marking its 11th year.

Last month, the organisation held their cheque presentation ceremony evening at the Orchard House in Kilkenny City. The event, hosted by long-time member George Chandler, brought together teams, supporters and committee members to celebrate a cheque of 40,283.78 being presented to the Irish Cancer Society.

Chairperson of Kilkenny Relay for Life, Patsy Cummins, praised the teams, committees and doners for their generous support stating, 'the community never fails to come together for the worthy cause.'

Relay for Life holds a strong place in Patsy's heart.

"In year two of Relay, a friend asked me to get involved, we (family) went along thinking we'd be there for two hours, but we ended up staying the 24 hours," she recalls.

Little did Patsy realise the significance of that visit, just a few years later, cancer came knocking at her family's door following the passing of her mother in-law through the disease. That would prove to be a turning point as Relay for Life's purpose shun through brighter than ever before.

The support and friendships Relay created came to the fore for Patsy and her family.

"Cancer affects everyone and everybody has some experience of it, we're there for awareness and support to bring people together."

Patsy now hopes Relay for Life's influence can spread to every corner of the country, with 'big plans' in place.

Mini-relays for schools and team relay events for businesses are all hoped to come to fruition. Kilkenny's influence has been by no means minimal, with three Kilkenny people on the 'Heroes of Hope' committee.

Local members also travelled in their numbers to Dublin in the past few weeks for a Relay For Life-Irish Cancer Society event, hosted by ambassador Shane Finan.

These initiatives create a great bond according to Patsy, a sense of comradery that fill her with hope for the future.
A controlled explosion has taken place on an Irish beach after a historical device was discovered.

It came during an operation by the Defences Forces in the Ringsend area of Dublin following a security alert.

It is understood that a device historical in nature was found.

A spokesperson for the Garda (Irish police) said they were alerted to the discovery of a device at a premises on the Pigeon House Road on Tuesday afternoon.

The services of the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were requested and a controlled explosion was carried out, they said.

An Irish Defence Forces spokesperson said its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts were tasked to both Ringsend and Dundrum, for two incidents during which historical devices had been found.

This was in response to two separate requests for assistance from An Garda Siochana, they said.

In both cases historical ammunition had been found. All munitions have been disposed of, with the historical munition found at Ringsend being countermined at the scene.

All EOD personnel have now returned to base.
On Saturday Hamas, a militant group also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement initiated a surprise and coordinated attack on Israel by launching rockets at multiple cities. Hamas said it struck the Israeli cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sderot, Ashkelon, and Ashdod with over 2,000 rockets.

Hamas, Unlike the Palestinian Authority, does not recognize the existence of Israel and is committed to replacing it through armed struggle desiring a Palestinian state stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.

According to Al Jazeera, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades a spokesperson for Hamass military arm warned on Monday that attacks  would result in executions of captured Israeli civilians.

According to the Washington Post, At least 900 people have been killed in Israel and about 2,600 wounded, according to reports in local media. President Biden said in a statement that at least 11 American citizens were among the dead, and more remain unaccounted for.At least 260 bodies were recovered at the site of a music festival near the border with Gaza. Israeli authorities have also said that 73 soldiers have been killed and more than 100 people taken captive. Palestinian authorities said that in Gaza, at least 680 people have been killed and about 3,700 injured.

In an address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, The military would intensify its operations against Hamas  Its bombardment of Gaza is just the beginning  Every place where Hamas is active and working will be completely destroyed.

According to many analysts, this conflict is far from over. The struggle for the Gaza strip is just unfolding and will have major ripples and implications throughout the financial markets, and a profound impact potentially moving both crude oil and gold prices higher.

Gold acts as a haven asset as the Israeli-Hamas war continues

Haven assets such as gold and silver showed strength and today.

Market participants including investors and traders flocked to haven investments. Causing gold to have a strong rally on Monday as Israel declared war following Hamas's surprise and bloody invasion of southern Israel over the weekend. Gold futures basis the most active December contract closed on Friday at $1845.20 after factoring in gains of $13.40.

Gold prices gapped higher when trading resumed in Australia on Monday as seen in the four-hour candlestick chart below. Gold resumed trading this week opening at approximately $1861. Gold futures closed at $1864.30 in New York today after factoring a gain of $19.10. As of 5:40 PM EDT gold futures are currently fixed at $1875 up approximately $29.80 as the differential between the close in New York and its current price as it trades on Globex.

For those who would like more information simply use this link.

Wishing you as always good trading,
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(Kitco News) - Matt Fernley, editor of Battery Materials Review, is unfazed by the negative economic news out of China, and the precipitous decline of Chinese lithium carbonate prices from their June peak.

Fernley spoke to Kitco mid-September at the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials Conference 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

He said stocks have been building in the downstream side of the sector  electric vehicles and cathode materials  which is negatively affecting upstream buying, not only for lithium but for cobalt and nickel. He noted inventories are relatively low, less than 30 days for lithium carbonate, and under 10 days for lithium hydroxide.

Europe's upstream EV sector is weak compared to the US and China; it needs development to attract investment, says Fernley, adding that the European Union isn't doing the region any favours by its stick approach to the electric car industry.

Interview edited for clarity.?

Kitco Mining: Are we in a consolidation phase for lithium?

Fernley: I think it's a very interesting market at the moment. We've certainly seen prices going down. They've headed south over the last five or six months. I think the market's going to be range-bound over the next 12 to 18 months. It'll bounce off the marginal cost of production at around $20 to $22 a kilogram. We could have some spikes. It's going to be a really nice trading market for those equities and commodities.

Kitco Mining: Youve had some interesting insights into low prices and what that does to production and volatility.

Fernley: At the moment, I think that what we see is quite a lot of high-cost production coming into the market typically based on the Chinese lepidolite production. That's going to be the swing producer over the next couple of cycles. So I think it's going to be similar to the Chinese iron ore production. When we see low prices, that's going to drop out of the market and then possibly we'll see prices recover, and then when prices recover it's going to see it come back into the market, so that's going to cause volatility. We're going to be bouncing off the marginal cost of production and perhaps seeing a few price spikes in there when we see restocking cycles as well. It's going to be fun and games. It's going to keep us on our feet.

Kitco Mining: What's been the most remarkable trend you've noticed out of China these last couple of months?

Fernley: I mean it's very interesting. There's lot of doom and gloom when it comes to China, and I would say that on the property side, on the fixed asset investment side, it definitely has been doom and gloom. But similarly, if you look at things like metal inventories, they're at pretty low levels. That indicates that the supply-demand balance is steady if not robust, but certainly because we've seen quite tight supply. That's kept metal inventories at pretty low levels. And actually on the EV side it's not that bad, we haven't seen the sort of 100% year on year growth rates that we've seen over the last couple of years, but 40% year on year is not bad.

But what we've seen in my space is quite a lot of stock building downstream, so we've seen inventories of EVs. We've seen inventories of cathode materials, and that's impacted the buying activity further upstream in the lithium space, cobalt space, nickel etc. So I think that we need to work out some of those inventories downstream, but I don't actually think the market looks that bad, and if you look at lithium inventories less than 30 days of supply for carbonate, probably less than 10 days supply for hydroxide, so the inventory situation looks pretty robust I think.

Kitco Mining: We're at the Fastmarkets Battery Raw Materials show focused on Europe. It's a big question Matt but can you give us strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons of Europe being able to have an EV sector?

Fernley: I mean that is a big question, I think Europe is very differentiated from the US and China, in terms of the fact that it's got more of a downstream sector but not really an upstream sector. So in the US we've obviously got the potential of Canada and the Canadian mining industry and we're seeing a lot of focus on that. In China the Chinese have been spewing out capital everywhere in the world so Latin America, particularly in Africa, we see China being able to access raw materials. In Europe we don't really have that and we haven't had anything like the IRA, the European Union has tried but its efforts have been a little bit more of a damp squib and as a result of that I would say that the European industry is perhaps the most endangered because it hasn't had a chance to lock in upstream supply in the way that for instance the US has capitalized with the IRA, and in a way that the Chinese have clearly thought about, and they've gone and invested in Latin America and Africa. So I think that's point number one.

Point number two, I think that the OEMs here and the European governments haven't really thought through the industry in the same way that perhaps the Chinese have, and I think that the US OEMs are starting to. So I think there is still more investment in critical materials needed in this area and there isn't very much of an understanding about the ins and outs of the mining industry and how long it takes to develop these projects so I think that's a core area.

And then the third point is that Europe's about the stick approach rather than carrot approach and I do worry that the Europeans are over-regulating here and making it a very difficult place to operate. Just to give you an example of that, I was in Berlin recently at the Tesla Gigafactory there and it was an amazing experience, but we asked Tesla where they're sourcing their batteries from, and even though they have a completed battery factory at the site in Berlin, they're bringing in their batteries from China and the US because they're cheaper. I think that encapsulates the difficulties of working in Europe, that it's very expensive to operate in Europe, it's very high-cost, very high-regulation and on top of that there are concerns about power availability and power prices as well so I think that Europe needs to work on making itself more attractive, but the EU's strategy is to use the stick approach rather than the carrot approach so it ends up making itself less attractive to overseas companies to develop capacity in Europe and I think nowhere is that more encapsulated in the move by the EU last week to target Chinese EV exports into Europe. I worry that that may splash back on the European Union as an approach.

Kitco Mining: It's funny because Europe was pretty much in the forefront of this or kind of kind of looking for a spark. I think about 2020 when everybody was shutting down the governments, then France gave those great subsidies to help the automakers and then also kind of kick start was what happening in terms of EVs. I always remember reporting on the first tipping point was the Scandinavian countries in terms of EV adoption.

Fernley: I mean Europe was a long way ahead, in 2018 when I first started Battery Materials Review, Europe was literally just behind China but unfortunately it's lost its position to the U.S. now and we do see sort of convoluted thinking in Europe. Whereas the U.S. has gone all-in, and it's understood the importance of the upstream part of the industry. We still see a lot of difficulties in Europe with regards to developing the upstream part of the industry, so difficult regulations, difficult planning. We see projects taking 10 years to develop rather than five years in Australia or Canada. There is a real lack of joined-up thinking in Europe. We saw the Critical Raw Materials Act come out last year but it's very much a damp squib. Again, it's not really proposing incentives to develop projects in Europe and it's quite bureaucratic, you've got to tick lots of boxes. If you're a junior mining company trying to develop a project, you don't have a legal department with 20 people to tick the correct boxes in, so it's difficult for companies to do business in Europe. I think that's one of the issues that Europe has to try and deal with if it's going to track the sort of investment that it needs.
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(Kitco News) - Police in Israel moved quickly to freeze multiple cryptocurrency accounts associated with Hamas in response to the militant organization's surprise attack over the weekend.

According to a report from Reuters, the Israeli police forces Blade 433 cyber unit worked in collaboration with the National Counterterrorism Headquarters (NCH) of the Ministry of Defense, the Israel Securities Authority (ISA), and other intelligence bodies to freeze several accounts used by Hamas to raise donations via social media networks.

According to suspicions, with the outbreak of the war, Hamas' terrorist organization initiated a fundraising campaign on social networks, urging the public to deposit cryptocurrencies into their accounts, a police statement said. The Police Cyber Unit and Ministry of Defense immediately took action to locate and freeze these accounts, with the assistance of the Binance crypto exchange, in order to divert the funds to the state treasury.

The collaboration with Binance was confirmed by Yi He, one of the exchanges co-founders.

Hamas is a designated terrorist organization by the United Nations, He said in a statement posted on WeChat. Therefore, any organization, including banks and trading platforms, will need to cooperate on the receipt of freeze requests. This is not something Binance can decide on its own.

He went on to explain that the focus of the frozen accounts is Hamas and not Palestine. Palestine has an organized government. Hamas is a local militant group. They kill civilians; thats the problem. Hamas is not Palestine; the freeze is targeted towards Hamas, not Palestine, He said.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, a review of Israeli government seizure orders and blockchain analytics reports shows that in the year leading up to the attack, wallets connected to Hamas received $41 million in crypto donations, while the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah received $93 million.

Following a June operation to seize crypto belonging to Hezbollah, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the use of digital currencies was making the job of stopping terrorist financing ever more complex. This is not an easy task, he said.

In July, Israel's National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) requested the seizure of any crypto held in 67 client accounts at Binance. This followed a report in January where the NBCTF said that they had confiscated two Binance accounts and their contents in an effort to thwart the activity of the Islamic State and impair its ability to further its goals.

Hamas first started publicly raising funds via crypto in 2019. The reality of jihad is the expenditure of effort and energy, and money is the backbone of war, the group al-Qassam Brigades wrote in a Telegram post. The post included a Bitcoin wallet address that received about $30,000 in donations that year.

In April, al-Qassam Brigades said they would stop receiving donations via Bitcoin out of concern for the safety of donors, and asked supporters to contribute in alternative ways. They cited a doubling of hostile efforts against everyone who tries to support the resistance through this currency as the reason for the change.

Hamas has also stopped publishing its donation addresses in an effort to protect donors anonymity due to the ability of Israeli and U.S. investigators to track the transactions via blockchain explorers. They have since turned to payment processors that generate crypto addresses, and they embed links to those processors on their fundraising pages.

The stablecoin Tether (USDT) was found to be a preferred transactional currency as it is pegged to the U.S. dollar and is less volatile than other cryptocurrencies.

The rapid response by Binance was a welcome sight for law enforcement officials who have, at times, struggled to get cooperation on matters related to digital assets.

Last November, reports emerged that Binance has been processing transactions from Iran since 2018, enabling the country to skirt U.S. sanctions to the tune of more than $8 billion. Binance pushed back against these claims, saying they had blocked all access to our platform to anyone in Iran. We have a responsibility as market leaders to be an example for other exchanges when it comes to following international law, and thus we do, Binance said.

In January, Israel's National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) said that they had confiscated two Binance accounts and their contents in an effort to thwart the activity of the Islamic State and impair its ability to further its goals.

In March, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit against Binance, alleging the exchange neglected its obligations by not properly registering with the regulator and has been allowing U.S. residents to trade on the platform despite statements saying they would block or restrict customers located in the United States from accessing their services.

And in May, the U.S. Treasury identified several crypto wallets on the Binance platform that were determined to be controlled by the government of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and ordered them to be sanctioned.
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(Kitco News) - Calibre Mining (TSX: CXB) today announced a record consolidated quarterly gold production of 73,485 ounces in Q3 2023, the fourth consecutive record quarter and up 50% compared to Q3 2022 (49,081 ounces).

The company said that year-to-date production was also a record, with consolidated 9M 2023 gold production of 208,011 ounces, which is a 30% increase in gold production compared to 9M 2022 (160,704 ounces).

Importantly, Calibre noted it remains well on track to deliver full year guidance of 250,000  275,000 ounces.

The company also reported that its Q3 cash increased to $97 million, a 26% increase over Q2 2023 and 72% since the start of 2023.

President and CEO Darren Hall commented, During the quarter Calibre increased cash, after exploration and growth investments, to $97 million from gold production of 73,485 ounces, the companys fourth consecutive record quarter. The company is in an excellent position to deliver the high end of full year production guidance of 250,000 - 275,000 ounces while continuing to generate strong free cash flow.

October 15 marks the fourth anniversary of our Nicaragua operating complex acquisition which transformed the company to a growth focused gold producer. Four years on we have built a strong foundation, consistently delivering on our commitments while self funding investments and growth.

I am excited about the future. Calibre presents a compelling investment opportunity with its consistent delivery of strong free cash flow, ongoing reinvestment in exploration and growth, and commitment to conducting operations in a responsible, sustainable, and transparent manner.

Calibre Mining 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.
ROME, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister said on Tuesday strict control of public spending was essential as the European Union prepares to restore tough fiscal rules next year that have been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU governments are negotiating amendments to the rules, with Italy proposing ways to make them as lenient as possible, but minister Giancarlo Giorgetti made clear tough decisions lay ahead.

"Tight control of public spending trends will become an imperative that can no longer be avoided," he told parliament while presenting the Treasury's new budget framework.

Giorgetti said the sustainability of Italy's public debt was the "main challenge" facing the country.

Proportionally the highest in the euro zone after Greece's, Rome's debt is targeted to hit 139.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, just marginally down from 140.2% expected this year.

The new goals factor in proceeds from asset disposals worth around 21 billion euros ($22.22 billion) planned over the next three years, meaning that without divestments the debt would rise.

"It is an ambitious project, but I think it can be realised," Giorgetti said.

He added that state sell-offs would include bailed-out bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) (BMPS.MI) and might also involve public infrastructure, though he provided no details.

DARKENING OUTLOOK

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government will detail next week its 2024 budget amid a darkening economic outlook.

The Bank of Italy said on Monday that weakness in economic activity continued in the third quarter of this year, after GDP shrank by 0.4% in the previous three-month period.

Middle East turmoil following Hamas' weekend attack on Israel has added "further instability to a picture already complicated by conflicts and geopolitical tensions", Giorgetti said.

As part of Meloni's top priorities for the budget, Italy will extend to 2024 the tax cuts that have helped middle and low-income workers cope with high consumer prices this year.

"Extending it to 2024 will absorb the resources made available by next year's fiscal leeway," the minister added.

The government set the deficit-to-GDP ratio at 4.3% in 2024, but Italy's fiscal gap is on course for a lower 3.6% of national output under current trends. That allows leeway of around 15.7 billion euros in 2024.

($1 = 0.9453 euros)
MUMBAI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday directed state-run Bank of Baroda (BOB.NS) to stop onboarding customers onto its mobile application, citing "certain material supervisory concerns".

"Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the 'bob World' application will be subject to rectification of the deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI," the central bank said in a statement.

The move comes after news agency Al Jazeera, in July, reported, citing whistleblowers, that Bank of Baroda linked mobile numbers of strangers to boost registrations on the application, compromising security.

Reuters has not independently verified these claims, which the bank had denied at the time.

The central bank has been increasingly pushing lenders to adopt efficient customer service standards.

Bank of Baroda has also been directed to ensure that existing customers on the mobile application do not face any disruption due to the suspension, the RBI said.
MILAN, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Loans by Italian banks to businesses in August posted the biggest drop on record, data showed on Tuesday, as the European Central Bank's policy of tightening bites.

A string of hikes by the ECB, whose key rate stands at a record high of 4% since last month, make it much more expensive for firms to borrow.

"The transmission of monetary policy is in full swing," Luca Mezzomo, head of macroeconomic analysis at Intesa Sanpaolo, said.

"The depth of the contraction has been larger than forecast, and the adjustment of credit conditions swift," he added.

Bank credit to businesses fell 6.2% year-on-year in August, the biggest fall on record according to Reuters calculations based on Bank of Italy data, following a 4.0% drop in July.

Mezzomo forecast the credit tightening would reach its peak between late 2023 and early 2024, with the impact of higher rates deepening in coming months even assuming the ECB does not raise them further.

Italy has backtracked on a tax it announced in August on the income banks reap from lending, which targeted an expected windfall from the higher rates.

The government has given banks an opt-out from the tax if they boost reserves. Prior to the amendment, the levy risked hitting lending at a time when its cost is already rising, a senior Italian banker told Reuters.

Sources told Reuters last week proceeds from the tax could now be zero.

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti on Tuesday confirmed the tax could yield next to nothing and said its goal was to ensure banks had enough capital to lend.

"Banks will have no excuse not to lend to companies," he said.

Also in August, data showed residents' deposits kept falling, decreasing 5.4% annually after a 6.5% fall in July, to 2.42 trillion euros ($2.57 trillion), down from 2.43 trillion in July.

Banks further increased bond issuance to make up for lower customer funding, with bond sales up 18.3% yearly in August.

Targeting small savers and diverting cash away from current accounts, Italy's Treasury sold last week more than 17 billion euros of a new BTP bond reserved for retail investors.

($1 = 0.9432 euros)

($1 = 0.9430 euros)
MARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct 10 (Reuters) - World Bank President Ajay Banga said on Tuesday that the Israel-Gaza conflict is an unnecessary global economic shock that will make it harder for central banks to achieve soft landings in many economies if it spreads.

"It's a humanitarian tragedy and it's an economic shock we don't need," Banga told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Morocco.

Central banks were "beginning to feel a little more confident that there was an opportunity for a soft landing, and this kind of just makes it harder", Banga said.
News / National

by Peter Matuka

VILLAGERS in Chinego area in Chief Pashu area, Binga have appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate a road that links to Kariangwe which was damaged by rains last rainy season.Government declared the state of the road network in the country a state of disaster following heavy rains that left a lot of damage.Rehabilitation work has been taking place mostly in trunk roads and highways where roadworks are underway.The Tinde-Chinego-Kariangwe road has not been attended to and villagers are concerned that the state of the road is making traveling difficult.Transporters are cashing in as they are charging an arm and a leg while businesses fear losing business as a result of lack of transport due to poor roads.The road links Tinde, Chinego, Pashu and Kariyangwe Business Centre in neighbouring Chief Siansali area.Villagers told Bulawayo24.com that the area risks being isolated from the rest of the country because of the damaged road after most sections of it including some small bridges were destroyed by the rains."Binga Rural District Council should take this issue as a matter of urgency. The community has made numerous calls to the council especially about the grid which was damaged but it seems nothing is happening," said Mr Thabani Nyoni, a businessman at Chinego.A bus company that used to operate in the district from Bulawayo using the road stopped services some months ago because the road is bad.Villagers in Chinego fear lives could be lost if the rains start before the grid is fixed."The road is bad and worse at the grid which is now a death trap. It is not only dangerous to cars but to people as well and we might lose lives as it is the only way to Chinego primary and secondary schools hence children might be affected if the rains start before it is fixed. Something needs to be done as a matter of urgency," he added.Efforts to get a comment from the local councilor for Pashu Ward 19, Councilor Tapera Chamukwanda was unfruitful due to network challenges in his area of residence.
Pictured is the GM Oshawa plant one day after the announcement of the closure of the auto plant.
Hughes Van Ellis, one of the last known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, dies at 102
Caledonia Mining Co. Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, October 3rd, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.14 per share on Friday, October 27th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th.

Caledonia Mining has increased its dividend by an average of 26.8% annually over the last three years. Caledonia Mining has a payout ratio of 50.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings.

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Caledonia Mining Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN CMCL opened at $10.58 on Tuesday. Caledonia Mining has a fifty-two week low of $9.44 and a fifty-two week high of $17.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.74 million, a PE ratio of 12.35 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Caledonia Mining ( NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Caledonia Mining had a negative net margin of 3.63% and a positive return on equity of 7.60%. The business had revenue of $37.03 million during the quarter.

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. California State Teachers Retirement System bought a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining during the second quarter worth $63,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining in the second quarter worth $266,000. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of Caledonia Mining by 148.4% in the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,603 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,555 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp bought a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining in the second quarter worth $2,264,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Caledonia Mining by 1,661.7% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 693,263 shares of the companys stock worth $8,056,000 after purchasing an additional 653,911 shares during the last quarter. 20.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Liberum Capital upgraded shares of Caledonia Mining from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 6th.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Caledonia Mining

Caledonia Mining Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc primarily operates a gold mine. It also engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties for precious metals. The company holds 64% interest in the Blanket Mine, a gold mine located in Zimbabwe. It also owns 100% interest in the Maligreen project, a brownfield gold exploration project located in the Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands; Bilboes, gold deposit located to the north of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; and Motapa, a gold exploration property located in Southern Zimbabwe.

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DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DV  Get Free Report) CFO Nicola T. Allais sold 6,154 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.69, for a total value of $170,404.26. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 62,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,733,449.38. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

DoubleVerify Price Performance

Shares of DoubleVerify stock traded up $0.47 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $28.60. 1,086,002 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,590,322. The stock has a market cap of $4.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 96.03 and a beta of 1.03. The firms 50-day moving average price is $30.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.88. DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $20.38 and a 12-month high of $42.51.

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DoubleVerify (NYSE:DV  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $133.74 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $133.39 million. DoubleVerify had a net margin of 10.64% and a return on equity of 6.01%. DoubleVerifys revenue for the quarter was up 21.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.06 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. will post 0.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of DoubleVerify

Analyst Ratings Changes

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in DoubleVerify by 17.6% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,712,377 shares of the companys stock worth $81,778,000 after purchasing an additional 405,282 shares during the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC bought a new position in DoubleVerify during the 1st quarter valued at $543,000. SkyOak Wealth LLC bought a new position in DoubleVerify during the 2nd quarter valued at $307,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System bought a new position in shares of DoubleVerify in the 1st quarter worth about $1,043,000. Finally, Checchi Capital Advisers LLC lifted its position in shares of DoubleVerify by 33.2% in the 1st quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 85,480 shares of the companys stock worth $2,577,000 after buying an additional 21,328 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.29% of the companys stock.

Several analysts have commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $48.00 target price on shares of DoubleVerify in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $47.00 target price on shares of DoubleVerify in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on DoubleVerify from $35.00 to $40.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. Loop Capital lifted their target price on DoubleVerify from $35.00 to $50.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their price target on DoubleVerify from $45.00 to $41.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $41.69.

View Our Latest Stock Report on DV

DoubleVerify Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc provides a software platform for digital media measurement, and analytics in the United States and internationally. The company provides solutions to advertisers unbiased data analytics that enable advertisers to increase the effectiveness, quality and return on their digital advertising investments.

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Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAZ  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, October 4th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Friday, October 13th will be given a dividend of 0.031 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.37 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.91%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th.

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE NAZ opened at $9.52 on Tuesday. Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund has a one year low of $9.42 and a one year high of $13.63. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $10.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.59.

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Institutional Trading of Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 75.0% in the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 10,500 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $113,000 after purchasing an additional 4,500 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp bought a new stake in Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 2nd quarter valued at $115,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $152,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $154,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 21,821 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 1,986 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 10.57% of the companys stock.

About Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is managed by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Arizona. The fund invests in municipal securities and other related investments the income, exempt from regular federal and Arizona income taxes that are rated Baa or BBB or better and having an average maturity of 18.66 years.

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By Tetsushi Kajimoto

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will chair a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced nations on Oct. 12 to discuss the war in Ukraine and the world economy, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday.

The G7 meeting will be part of a broader Group of 20 gathering, Suzuki told reporters that will be held on the sidelines of the annual International Monetary Fund conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda would also attend, he added.

"At the G7 financial leaders' meeting that Japan chairs, we want to focus on issues such as support for Ukraine as well as global financial institutions, so that these debates will bear fruit," Suzuki said.

The G7 meeting will also include roundtable talks with African nations to facilitate flows of private-sector funds to the continent, Suzuki said.

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Miral Fahmy)
PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE:RCS  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, October 4th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.051 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.61 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th.

PIMCO Strategic Income Fund has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 7.2% per year over the last three years.

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PIMCO Strategic Income Fund Price Performance

Shares of RCS stock opened at $5.25 on Tuesday. PIMCO Strategic Income Fund has a 12-month low of $4.61 and a 12-month high of $6.04. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $5.42 and a 200-day moving average of $5.37.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PIMCO Strategic Income Fund

PIMCO Strategic Income Fund Company Profile

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new position in shares of PIMCO Strategic Income Fund during the first quarter worth about $62,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of PIMCO Strategic Income Fund by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 185,800 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,093,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PIMCO Strategic Income Fund in the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of PIMCO Strategic Income Fund in the first quarter worth $3,156,000. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC boosted its holdings in PIMCO Strategic Income Fund by 15.2% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 518,117 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $3,047,000 after purchasing an additional 68,369 shares during the last quarter. 14.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. The fund is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. It invests in fixed income markets across the globe. The fund primarily invests in government securities, including bonds issued or guaranteed by the United States or foreign governments, by their agencies, authorities or instrumentalities, or by supranational entities.

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Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO  Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Wednesday, October 4th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a dividend of GBX 3.85 ($0.05) per share by the retailer on Friday, November 24th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. The official announcement can be accessed at this link.

Tesco Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of TSCO opened at GBX 277.60 ($3.40) on Tuesday. Tesco has a one year low of GBX 194.35 ($2.38) and a one year high of GBX 285.30 ($3.49). The company has a market cap of 19.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,494.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 129.69, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 260.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 262.58.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Tesco from GBX 325 ($3.98) to GBX 335 ($4.10) and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a research report on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Tesco from GBX 250 ($3.06) to GBX 240 ($2.94) and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th.

Tesco Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities.

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South Korea, the United States and Japan staged a trilateral maritime interdiction exercise in waters south of the Korean Peninsula this week for the first time in seven years, the South Korean Navy said Tuesday, amid efforts to strengthen security coordination against North Korean threats.

The two-day exercise, which began Monday in international waters southeast of the southern resort island of Jeju along with anti-piracy drills, came after the three countries' defense chiefs agreed to resume the trilateral exercises during their meeting in Singapore in June.

The three sides last staged a maritime interdiction exercise, which focuses on intercepting suspected smuggling vessels, in 2016 and an anti-piracy exercise in 2017.

The latest drills mobilized the South's ROKS Yulgok Yi I Aegis-equipped destroyer, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, the Aegis-equipped USS Shoup destroyer, and Japan's JS Hyuga helicopter destroyer among other warships, according to the South's Navy.

"The exercise enhanced the South Korea-U.S.-Japan capabilities in deterrence and response against North Korea's recently advancing nuclear and missile threats, and focused on improving trilateral maritime operational capabilities to respond to maritime security threats and establish a rules-based international order," the Navy said in a release.

Prior to the drills, the three countries held talks between their senior naval commanders on the U.S. aircraft carrier on Sunday to strengthen ways for trilateral response against North Korean threats and for maritime security cooperation.

The meeting was attended by South Korea's Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo, U.S. Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas and Japan's Self-Defense Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Akira Saito.

It also discussed follow-up measures for plans to operationalize a system to share North Korean missile warning data in real-time by the end of this year as reaffirmed by their leaders during their summit in Camp David in August.

"By strengthening maritime-based trilateral training, we will strongly deter and respond against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," Kim was quoted as saying.

Last month, North Korea unveiled a new "tactical nuclear attack" submarine, with initial state media photos suggesting that it can likely fire submarine-launched ballistic missiles. (Yonhap)
Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas on Tuesday, the fourth day of fierce fighting that has left thousands dead on both sides since the militants launched a surprise attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel's military campaign following Saturday's onslaught is only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and "change the Middle East."

Fears of a regional conflagration have surged ahead of an expected Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded, impoverished enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the country's 75-year history, while Gaza officials reported 900 people killed so far, and Israel's army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.

International NGOs issued a stark warning over the health and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas gunmen killed more than 100 people in the kibbutz of Beeri alone, said Moti Bukjin, a volunteer with the charity Zaka that recovers bodies in accordance with Jewish law.

United States President Joe Biden condemned the Hamas attacks as "sheer evil", and Netanyahu said the militants committed "savagery never seen since the Holocaust", including the beheading of soldiers.

Condemnation from Western leaders contrasted markedly with pro-Palestinian sentiment in the Arab world where people distributed sweets, danced and chanted prayers in support of "resistance" to Israel's long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories.

"My entire life, I have seen Israel kill us, confiscate our lands and arrest our children," said Farah al-Saadi, 52, a coffee vendor from Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank who praised the Hamas assault.

The Israeli army has called up 300,000 reservists and massed tanks and other heavy armour both near Gaza and on the northern border with Lebanon, where exchanges of fire continued.

The military said its forces had largely reclaimed the embattled south and the border around Gaza, and dislodged holdout Hamas fighters from more than a dozen towns and kibbutzim.

But late Tuesday in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, troops backed by helicopters and drones exchanged fire with several militants, leaving three fighters dead, the army said.

A new barrage of rockets was also fired from Gaza towards Ashkelon.

"Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas (fighters) have been found in Israel around the Gaza Strip," army spokesman Richard Hecht said earlier.

In Kfar Aza kibbutz, where Israeli forces say Hamas massacred more than 100 civilians, Israeli soldiers prepared to remove several of their compatriots in black body bags.

'Blackmail'

In a speech on Tuesday Biden confirmed at least 14 Americans were killed, and others were missing.

The U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier and other warships to the eastern Mediterranean as part of efforts to deter an expansion of the conflict, and is also providing other assistance, including sharing intelligence with Israel.

Relatives of Americans believed held in Gaza called on the Biden administration to bring them home safely.

Western powers and many other nations have reported citizens killed, abducted or missing. These include: Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Ukraine.

Hamas has held around 150 captives since its ground incursion, among them children, elderly and young people captured at a music festival where around 270 died.

On Monday, Hamas warned it would start killing hostages every time Israel launches a strike on a civilian target in Gaza without warning. French President Emmanuel Macron called the threat "unacceptable blackmail."

Fear and chaos reigned among the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the coastal territory that has been hammered by thousands of Israeli munitions.

Hamas said the strikes killed two of its senior figures: Zakaria Muammar led its economics section, and Jawad Abu Shamala coordinated ties with other Palestinian factions.

Israel's army also announced their deaths.

Four Palestinian journalists were also killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza City, media unions and officials said.

Explosions again shook Gaza City on Tuesday night.

Earlier, for the third time in 24 hours, an Israeli air strike hit Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, an AFP photographer and an NGO said.

White smoke billowed from among fishing boats after an air strike on Gaza's port, and in Jerusalem the deserted streets were targeted by Hamas rocket fire.

"Israeli people they are scared of the Arabs and the Arabs are scared of the Jews... everybody is scared of each other," said Ahmed Karkash, a shop owner in the Old City.

In Gaza City, streets are clogged with rubble and littered with shards of glass.

Mazen Mohammad and his family slept on the ground floor of their apartment block, huddling together as explosions rang out around them.

What they woke up to the next day was unrecognisable.

"We felt like we were in a ghost town, as if we were the only survivors," Mohammad, 38, told AFP.

Israel on Monday imposed a total siege on Gaza, which it has already blockaded for years, cutting off the water supply, food, electricity and other essential supplies.

European Union foreign ministers urged Israel not to cut such essentials, and called for humanitarian corridors for those trying to flee.

U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said such sieges are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Medical supplies, including oxygen, were running low at Gaza's overwhelmed Al-Shifa hospital, said Mohammed Ghonim, a doctor in the emergency room.

Taken 'by surprise'

The United Nations said more than 187,500 people had been displaced inside Gaza, most taking shelter in U.N. schools.

Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault that began with thousands of rockets, likening it to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S..

In the aftermath, soldiers who were on guard duty along the hi-tech security barrier around Gaza recounted how the attack began with an effort to cripple observation cameras and communications.

"They took us by surprise and we weren't ready for it," a lookout soldier said in testimony posted on Instagram.

Israel faced the threat of a multi-front war after three days of clashes with militants on the northern border with Lebanon.

For the first time since the Hamas attack, there was an exchange of fire between Israel and forces in Syria, after Israel's military said munitions were fired towards the Golan Heights it has occupied since 1967.

Mourners in the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm carried two caskets, draped in yellow Hezbollah flags, with the bodies of two fighters it said were killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier. A third fighter was also killed, the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said.

On Tuesday, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades claimed a fresh salvo of rocket fire from south Lebanon towards Israel, the Israeli army said, adding it retaliated with artillery fire.

"It's like a state of war," said Yaakov Regev, sipping coffee at a petrol station in northern Israel, a few kilometres from the Lebanon border.

Unrest has also surged in the West Bank, where 15 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday.

Netanyahu, the veteran leader at the helm of Israel's hard-right coalition, has called for an "emergency government of national unity" after his administration's proposal for judicial reforms split the nation and even its military this year, before the war brought the nation closer together. (AFP)
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OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is recognizing the importance and impact of mental health supports on post-secondary students in Canada, and the role that the federal government has in ensuring there is adequate funding for mental health initiatives on Canadian campuses.

(CNW Group/Canadian Alliance of Student Associations)

As evidenced by CASA's 2022 report The New Abnormal , mental health has been a growing concern among students across Canada. Conducted by Abacus Data, the study concludes that 1 in 3 students reported that mental health services at post-secondary institutions do not meet their diverse needs and that the top barriers to access included wait times and quality of services available. In a 2021 mandate letter from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the federal government committed to introducing a new fund for student mental health. This fund would fulfill a platform commitment to support the hiring of new mental health care counselors, improve wait times for services, and increase access overall and enable targeted supports to Black and racialized students at post-secondary institutions across Canada.

Students across the country were pleased to hear of this announcement, and looked forward to receiving the mental health supports that they desperately needed. However, this promise has unfortunately gone unfulfilled by the government. CASA had hoped to see an announcement of funding allocated in the 2023 federal budget, but was ultimately disappointed by a lack of mental health action.

"In speaking with students across Canada, mental health is among the top concerns we hear," said Sadie McAlear, Chair of CASA. "Without access to affordable and convenient mental healthcare, students suffering from poor mental health are left to weather their storm alone. Myself and students across Canada are hoping to see the promises made by this government come to fruition in this year's budgetary cycle."

Story continues

CASA urges the federal government to take the fiscal steps needed to fulfill their promises made to students. Post-secondary campuses drastically need the support to enact positive changes in their mental health supports, and commitments are not enough. Students are hoping to see action in the coming year.

About CASA

Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 25 student associations across the country. Through our partnership with the Quebec Student Union/Union etudiante du Quebec, CASA represents 365,000 post-secondary students across Canada.

SOURCE Canadian Alliance of Student Associations

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2023/10/c9269.html
Korean media outlets are buzzing with reports suggesting that rapper Swings may have rekindled his romance with his former flame, model-actress Im Bo Ra.

The two were recently spotted on an intimate date near Gongdeok, Seoul, on October 10, 2023. According to eyewitness accounts, they occupied a table in a local restaurant, engaged in lively conversation.

A Love Story Revisited

What raised eyebrows among fans was Swings' display of affection throughout the evening. Multiple witnesses observed him with his arm around Im Bo Ra, who later shifted her seating arrangement to sit beside him.

Further fueling speculation, onlookers noted that Swings gazed lovingly at her during their approximately two to three-hour dining experience.

In response to the emerging reports, Swings' management company issued a brief statement to the press, emphasizing the privacy of the matter: Swings and Im Bo Ra shared a romantic relationship that spanned three years from 2017 to 2020.

The couple initially crossed paths during the filming of Swings' music video, with Swings famously falling for Im Bo Ra at first sight. In 2019, they ventured into a joint business venture by opening a cafe together. However, by 2020, they had both unfollowed each other on social media, sparking speculations of a breakup.

Subsequently, Swings confirmed their separation but emphasized their continued friendship and mutual support. Their appearances at a friend's December 2022 birthday party led to renewed rumors of reconciliation, which Swings' company promptly dismissed.

Im Bo Ra, on the other hand, has carved a successful career for herself as an actress and model. She has been a prominent O-LENS model for an extended period, alongside her roles in various web dramas and television series.

Most notably, she played a supporting role in "Escape of The 7." Furthermore, Im Bo Ra has ventured into entrepreneurship with her own makeup brand, aptly named after herself, leveraging the Korean meaning of "Bo Ra," signifying the color purple.

READ ALSO: Rapper Swings Under Fire For Professional Activities During Medical Leave From Military

The recent reunion of rapper Swings and model Im Bo Ra on a romantic date has stirred up excitement and curiosity among netizens. With their undeniable chemistry and shared history, many are speculating whether this could mark the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship.

Netizens' comments:

"OMG, Swings and Im Bo Ra back together?! This is the news I've been waiting for! They were so cute when they were dating before, I hope they give it another shot!"

"I can't believe they're hanging out again. Maybe they're just friends catching up, but there's definitely some lingering feelings there. The way they look at each other says it all!"

"It's so refreshing to see them together again. Swings and Im Bo Ra were such a power couple, and if they decide to give their relationship another try, I'm all for it!"

"I'm not sure if this means they're getting back together, but their chemistry is undeniable. I'm excited to see where this leads!"

"I've always shipped Swings and Im Bo Ra. They have this magnetic connection that's hard to ignore. I hope they find happiness together!"

As fans eagerly speculate about the status of Swings and Im Bo Ra's relationship, only time will reveal whether this rendezvous marks the beginning of a new chapter in their love story.

READ ALSO: Rapper Swings Apologizes For Working During Military Leave

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Cassidy Jones wrote this.
Chad Daybell appeared in court for the first time since his wife Lori Vallow received a life sentence for murdering her children as a judge agreed to hear arguments for cameras at his upcoming death penalty trial.

Mr Daybell remained emotionless as he appeared via video from the Fremont County Jail for a status hearing on Tuesday where Judge Steven Boyce set a date to determine whether to amend his previous camera ban that was put in place last year.

His wife Lori Vallow was sentenced two months ago to life in prison for the murders of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and Daybells former wife, Tammy Daybell.

Mr Daybell is facing the same charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, and could potentially face the death penalty if convicted when he stands trial in April.

Both Mr Daybell and his defence attorney John Prior want cameras in the courtroom, according to a motion filed last year by Mr Prior.

At the time, Mr Daybell and Vallows cases were joined and Judge Boyce denied the request. The cases were severed, and the judge is now revisiting the issue.

Earlier this year, Vallows gruelling six-week trial was held at the Ada County Courthouse without cameras. Only the verdict was allowed to be live-streamed through the judges YouTube page.

(Judge Steven W. Boyce livestream)

While the defence is requesting cameras in the courtroom, prosecutors Lindsey Blake and Rob Wood maintained their position on Tuesday to not have cameras in the courtroom.

Judge Boyce scheduled an in-person hearing on the matter for 930am on 29 November at the Fremont County Courthouse.

Mr Daybells highly-anticipated trial is set to start on 1 April 2024 and is expected to last at least eight weeks.

It will be held at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho after the judge granted a change of venue motion filed by Mr Daybells attorney.

Vallow married Mr Daybell in November 2019 less than two weeks after his wife Tammy died of what was initially labeled as natural causes. Her body was later exhumed and it was determined she died of asphyxiation.

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Lori Vallow smirks in her new mug shot after being handed life without parole (Idaho Department of Corrections)

The case drew nationwide attention when Vallows children went missing in September 2019.

While they were still unaccounted for, Vallow was on a beach in Hawaii marrying the self-proclaimed religious leader.

Nine months later, the childrens bodies were found buried in Mr Daybells backyard in June 2020.

JJ, who had autism, had been smothered with a plastic bag taped over his face, his little body still dressed in a pair of red pyjamas.

Tylees cause of death was impossible to establish as the teenagers dismembered, charred bones and body parts were found scattered in the ground on Mr Daybells pet cemetery.

Prosecutors in Idaho accused Vallow, Mr Daybell and her brother Alex Cox of conspiring to kill people who were obstacles to Mr Daybell and Vallows relationship.

Both Vallow and Mr Daybell were both charged with murder and conspiracy in the death of her children and conspiracy to kill Tammy and after three years of delays and weeks of harrowing testimony, Vallow stood trial in April and May of 2023.

Chad and Tammy Daybell before her death in October 2019 (Facebook)

Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow (Family handout)

Vallow was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

She still faces a conspiracy to murder charge in Arizona for the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by Vallows brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019.

She could also face charges in the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, who was the husband of her niece.
U.S. Attorney declines to name those involved in decision not to prosecute Hunter Biden
(Reuters) - The war between Israel and Hamas militants who stormed Israeli towns and kibbutzes from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, is the latest in seven decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has destabilised the wider Middle East.

In Hamas' rampage, some 1,400 Israelis, mainly civilians, were killed and 229 were taken hostage.

In response, Israel carried out airstrikes before troops and tanks poured into Gaza in a ground assault, all with the declared aim of wiping out the Islamist militant group.

Medical authorities in Hamas-run Gaza said on Nov 1 that 8,796 people - including 3,648 children - had been killed in the enclave.

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT?

The conflict pits Israeli demands for security in what it has long regarded as a hostile Middle East against Palestinians' aspirations for a state of their own. Hamas rejects the two-state solution and is sworn to Israel's destruction.

In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly agreed a plan to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish states and for international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan giving them 56 percent of Palestine land. The Arab League rejected the proposal.

Israel's founding father David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, establishing a safe haven for Jews fleeing persecution and seeking a national home on land to which they cite deep ties dating to antiquity.

Violence had been intensifying between Jews and Arabs however, and a day after Israel was created, troops from five Arab states attacked.

In the war that followed, some 700,000 Palestinians, half the Arab population of what was British-ruled Palestine, fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Palestinians lament this as the 'Nakba', or catastrophe. Israel contests the assertion that it forced the Palestinians out.

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Armistice agreements halted the fighting in 1949 but there was no formal peace. Palestinians who stayed put in the war and their descendants today make up about 20% of Israel's population.

WHAT MAJOR WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT SINCE THEN?

In 1967, Israel made a pre-emptive strike against Egypt and Syria, launching the Six-Day War. Israel captured the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria and the Gaza Strip from Egypt and occupied them.

An Israeli census that year put Gaza's population at 394,000, at least 60% of them Palestinian refugees and their descendants.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli positions along the Suez Canal and Golan Heights, touching off the Yom Kippur War. Israel pushed both armies back within three weeks.

Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and thousands of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters under Yasser Arafat were evacuated by sea after a 10-week siege. Israeli troops pulled out of Lebanon in 2000.

In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew settlers and soldiers from Gaza. Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, and seized full control of Gaza in 2007. Gaza saw major flare-ups of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israel in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021.

In 2006, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers in the volatile border region and Israel launched military action, triggering a six-week war.

Besides wars, there have been two Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, from 1987 to 1993 and 2000 to 2005. During the second, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups carried out suicide bombings against Israelis, and Israel carried out tank and air strikes on Palestinian cities.

WHAT ATTEMPTS HAVE THERE BEEN TO MAKE PEACE?

In 1979, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty.

In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Arafat shook hands on the Oslo Accords establishing limited Palestinian autonomy. In 1994, Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan.

U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat took part in the Camp David summit in 2000, but failed to reach a final peace deal.

In 2002, an Arab League plan offered Israel normal relations with all Arab countries in return for a full withdrawal from the lands it took in the 1967 Middle East war, the creation of a Palestinian state and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees. The presentation of the plan was overshadowed by Hamas, which blew up an Israeli hotel full of Holocaust survivors during a Passover seder meal.

Further peace efforts have been stalled since 2014.

Palestinians stopped dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump's 2017-2019 administration after he broke with decades of U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

WHERE DO PEACE EFFORTS STAND NOW?

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has focused on trying to secure a "grand bargain" in the Middle East that includes normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines.

The latest war is diplomatically awkward for Riyadh as well as for other Arab states, including some Gulf Arab states next to Saudi Arabia, that have signed peace deals with Israel.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES?

A two-state solution, Israeli settlements on occupied land, the status of Jerusalem, agreed borders, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

Two-state solution: An agreement that would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized so as not to threaten its security.

Settlements: Most countries deem Jewish settlements built on land Israel occupied in 1967 as illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land. Continued settlement expansion is among the most contentious issues between Israel, the Palestinians and international community.

Jerusalem: Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City's sites sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, to be the capital of their state. Israel says Jerusalem should remain its "indivisible and eternal" capital.

Israel's claim to Jerusalem's eastern part is not recognised internationally. Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, without specifying the extent of its jurisdiction in the disputed city, and moved the U.S. embassy there in 2018.

Refugees: Today about 5.6 million Palestinian refugees - mainly descendants of those who fled in 1948 - live in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. About half of registered refugees remain stateless, according to the Palestinian foreign ministry, many living in crowded camps.

Palestinians have long demanded that refugees should be allowed to return, along with millions of their descendants. Israel says any resettlement of Palestinian refugees must occur outside its borders.

(Compiled by Reuters journalists; editing by Edmund Blair, Stephen Farrell, Mark Heinrich)
Ashley Sonnenberg shared a carousel of candid photos from her Costa Rican holiday with NHLer boyfriend Jack Campbell (Photo via Instagram/ @ashleysonney) (Photo via Instagram/ @ashleysonney)

Ashley Sonnenberg and Jack Campbell are sharing photos from their "dreamy" getaway.

On Sunday, the Vancouver B.C.-born fiancee of the Edmonton Oilers' goaltender took to Instagram with a carousel of photos, giving fans a candid glimpse of their latest adventure in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

The snaps featured the couple riding ATVs in the lush jungle and locking lips in front of a stunning waterfall.

Sonnenberg saved the best for last, however  a close-up of their hands, displaying matching tattoos of their respective first name initials.

"So behind on posting! Here is more Costa Rica," she captioned the post.

In the comments, fans swooned over their picturesque vacation and praised their commitment to each other.

"So surreal," an Instagram user wrote.

"The tattoos! So cute. That's real commitment," one person penned.

"Wow wow wow. All of this," someone chimed in.

"Dreamy," a fan commented.

"Stunning," another weighed in.

In June, Sonnenberg announced her engagement to Campbell with a carousel of candid Instagram photos from the moment Campbell popped the question on a beach in Curacao.

She also included a snap of the pair hugging after she said yes and showing off her engagement ring.

"I get to marry my best friend," she wrote alongside the romantic photos.

Campbell also took to his own Instagram account to share the news, writing: thanks for saying YES!

One fan commented on the announcement: "So beautiful. Congratulations to you both. These photos are absolutely stunning. You look perfect!"

"Just a beautiful couple. So excited and ecstatic for you both," another person added.

"Oh my gosh, look at that set up!," a commenter pointed out.

"You're glowing!" another shared.

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"Youre gonna make the most beautiful bride!" wrote another fan.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Israeli star Lior Raz, known for starring in and co-creating web series Fauda, says he has joined the 'Brothers in Arms' volunteers to extract two families from the bombarded town of Sderot in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Accompanied by the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner and Fauda co-creator-journalist Avi Yissascharov, Raz on social media shared a video of them rushing to take cover from a rocket attack on Monday night. "Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner and Avi Yissascharov, I headed down south to join hundreds of brave 'brothers in arms' volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract two families. No fear!" Raz captioned the post on his X account. The southern Israeli town of Sderot is located nearby Gaza, ruled by the Hamas militant group. OTT Releases Of The Week: Lior Raz's Fauda Season 4 on Netflix, Sidharth Malhotra's Mission Majnu on Netflix, Rakul Preet Singh's Chhatriwali on ZEE5 & More.

'Brothers in Arms' is an Israeli protest group representing retired soldiers. After graduating from high school at the age of 18, Raz enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and became a commando in the elite undercover counter-terrorism unit. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, according to reports. Fauda: Popular Israeli Drama Show Renewed for Season 5.

View Lior Raz's Post:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lior Raz (@liorraz)

Lior Raz IG Story (Photo Credit: Instagram)

While Israel sealed it off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for a bloody incursion by the militants, Hamas also escalated on Monday, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.
Mumbai, October 10: In a bid to reach out to the masses ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections, top leaders of Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction will launch Maha Samwad Yatras across Maharashtra in the coming days. A BJP leader said on Tuesday the outreach program was discussed in a meeting held at state Cabinet minister and BJP leader Chandrakant Patil's residence here. The meeting was attended by state president of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) Sunil Tatkare, his party colleagues and ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, Shiv Sena leader and minister Uday Samant, party MP Rahul Shewale, MLC Prasad Lad, and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar. Satara Clashes: Stone Pelting, Arson Reported in Maharashtra Town Over Offensive Social Media Posts, Internet Services Suspended

"We have prepared a report of leaders of the three allies in power and discussed their schedule for visiting various areas in Maharashtra. This report will be shared with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar," Shelar said. He also said a primary-level discussion has been held within the three parties on how to go ahead with local body elections and a proposal is submitted before three leaders. Maratha Quota Protest in Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde-Led NDA Government Is Shameless, Says Uddhav Thackeray After Police Lathi-Charge Protesters in Jalna

Shelar said the coordination committee of the three allies has recommended some names to be appointed to the legislative panels ahead of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature starting in December this year. A final decision on these names will be taken by Speaker Rahul Narwekar, he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], October 10 (ANI): The workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest on Tuesday against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, demanding his resignation.

The BJP workers are seen holding placards and raising slogans against Delhi CM Kejriwal.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Mutilated Body of 13-Year-Old Missing Girl Found in Sugarcane Field in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party leaders, BJP Delhi president Virendraa Sachdeva said that the party is filled with criminals and corrupt people adding that the people of Delhi are fed up with their corruption.

"Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is filled with criminals and corrupt people. The people of Delhi are fed with their corruption. So BJP's leaders and Delhi workers are doing 'Jan Jagran Abhiyaan' in Delhi at several locations against Arvind Kejriwal," Sachdeva told ANI.

Also Read | Ahmedabad: Teacher Who Molested Class 7 Student in Ambawadi One Year Ago Suspended After School Fails To Take Action.

When asked about the raids being conducted at the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, the Delhi BJP president said that he is involved in corruption, investigation agencies will do their work.

"Jaise jaise kadiya mil rahi hai, waise waise zanjeer ban rahi hai'. If you did the corruption, then the investigation agencies will do their work. If you were honest then it won't happen," he said.

This comes after the searches conducted at the premises of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering case.

The searches are being undertaken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The cases are related to alleged corruption involving illegal appointments to the Delhi Waqf Board, where Khan serves as the chairman.

Khan was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in September last year in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board corruption case on the basis of the recovery of alleged incriminating material and evidence. But he was later granted bail.

The raids at the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan come close on the heels of the arrest of fellow AAP leader Sanjay Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy 'scam'.

The AAP Rajya Sabha MP was arrested from his residence in the national capital by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

He was the second prominent AAP leader to be arrested in the liquor policy case after former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Earlier, another AAP leader and former Delhi Health minister Satyendar Jain had been arrested in a separate case of alleged corruption. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ariyalur, October 10: The death toll in the explosion at a cracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district has increased to 11, officials said on Tuesday. Twelve people injured in the accident are still undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the district. Attibele Firecracker Blast: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Announces Rs 3 Lakh Compensation for Kin of Deceased.

The owner and manager of the cracker manufacturing unit have been arrested, police said. A case has been registered, against them and an investigation has begun. A massive fire broke out at around 10.20 pm on Monday after an explosion at the godown of the cracker unit situated in Vetriyur Viragalur village of the Ariyalur district. Tamil Nadu Factory Blast: Two Killed, Eight Injured in Firecracker Explosion in Ariyalur (Watch Video).

According to police, the explosion took place when workers were involved in manufacturing country crackers for local temple festivals. Fire tenders from Ariyalur and Perambalur districts rushed to the spot immediately and doused the fire after several hours.

Ariyalur District Collector J Anne Mary Swarna and District Superintendent of Police (SP) K Feroze Khan Abdullah reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], October 10 (ANI): The sixth batch of BSc (H) Nursing, College of Nursing, Army Hospital (R&R) will be commissioned into the Military Nursing Service on October 12, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The ceremony will be held at Ayurvigyan Auditorium, AH(R&R), Delhi Cantt. Maj Gen Sheena PD Principal Matron, Army Hospital(R&R), Delhi Cantt is scheduled to host the ceremony.

Also Read | Kerala: Man, Two Sons Electrocuted After Coming in Contact With Live Electric Wire While Cutting Grass in Idukki.

The newly appointed Commandant, AH(R&R), Lt Gen Ajith Nilakantan, will be the chief guest for the ceremony.

During the ceremony 30 nursing cadets will be commissioned as Lieutenants into the Military Nursing Service and would be posted to various Armed Forces hospitals across the country. (ANI)

Also Read | Gang-War in Delhi: Not Saying 'Bhai' Sparks Off Deadly Clash Between Two Groups in North Delhi's Ashok Vihar, Two Dead.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Publix is opening several new supermarkets this fall, including one in Florida thats bigger than usual.

A new store in Lakeland, where the company is based, will have more than 54,000 square feet. Thats larger than the usual new store sizes of 46,000-48,000 square feet. Publix opened a similarly larger store earlier this year in Coral Springs, in northern Broward County.

READ MORE: Miami supermarket chain Presidente is expanding in Florida

Heres an update on new Publix locations in Florida and beyond:

New Publix store openings in October and November

Lakeland, Florida: New store with 54,964 square feet is scheduled to open on Nov. 9 at Oakbridge Centre, 3636 Harden Blvd. in Polk County.

Spring Hill, Florida: New store with 46,791 square feet is scheduled to open Nov. 2 at Hernando West Plaza, 1400 Pinehurst Dr. in Hernando County.

Maryville, Tennessee: New store with 48,387 square feet is scheduled to open Oct. 25 at 198 Foothills Mall.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina: New store with 48,387 square feet is scheduled to open Nov. 15 at West Edge.

Heres an update on other new Publix locations in Florida:

A new Publix at the Shoppes of Highland opened on Thursday in Hialeah.

Miami-Dade County

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Hialeah: The new store  which has has all the usual stuff: produce, seafood and meat in in 48,387 square feet  also has a second-floor dining room. The location opened Aug. 31 at The Shoppes of Highland, 3685 W. 85th Path.

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West Kendall: New store opened June 15 at The Crossings Shopping Village, 13001 SW 112th St. The 46,800-square-foot store is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and features a pharmacy, floral department and adjacent liquor store. It was rebuilt on the site of an older store.

A newly rebuilt Publix opened in West Kendall on Thursday, June 15.

Broward County

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Hollywood: Publix is building a waterfront supermarket in Hollywood. The company hasnt released an opening date for the store, which is on the Intracoastal. When plans were announced for the store in 2018, to be built on a vacant lot at 3100 S. Ocean Dr. north of the Diplomat hotel, Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy had this to say: The Publix is proposed to have cafe tables on Ocean Drive and will also have a boat dock for boaters to pull up and buy groceries for their day on the water. Great amenity for the beach and for Hollywood boaters!

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Coral Springs: The nearly 55,000-square-foot North Broward location, about 10,000 square feet larger than other recent openings in Florida, opened Aug. 17 at 1285 N. University Dr.

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Pembroke Pines: On Jan. 23, Publix opened a new store at 16024 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines. The stores neighbor is an older Publix across the street at Paraiso Parc at 15729 Pines Blvd. The older store isnt going anywhere. As a whole, we look for opportunities to best serve our customers and, in some cases, alleviate congestion in stores, in addition to allowing for the best traffic patterns in a particular area, said Lindsey Willis, media relations manager for Publix.

Palm Beach County

Westlake: The 48,300-square-foot store opened June 8 in Westlake Plaza, 16841 Persimmon Blvd.

Royal Palm Beach: The store opened July 6, Crossroads of Royal Palm Beach, 1180 Royal Beach Beach Blvd.

Publix just issued a reminder about dogs in the grocery store. What to know about rules

Publix partners with Florida company to cut costs on drugs. Heres how to get the card
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) A special court here on Tuesday extended till October 13 the ED custody of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) now has three more days to interrogate Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, in custody.

Also Read | Caste Census an X-Ray of Country; We Will Force Centre To Conduct This Exercise 'Come What May', Says Rahul Gandhi in Madhya Pradesh.

Special Judge for ED cases M K Nagpal passed the order on an application moved by the anti-money laundering agency.

The ED's application prayed for extension of Singh's custody, which was to end on Tuesday, by 5 days, accusing him of non-cooperation.

Also Read | Maharashtra Gas Leak: 16 Hospitalised After Inhaling Chlorine Gas at Civic-Run Swimming Pool in Pune's Pimpri-Chinchwad Area.

A larger amount could be involved for which we need to interrogate him further, the ED counsel said.

Senior Advocate Rebecca John, who represented Singh, claimed the ED had no ground for seeking extension of the AAP leader's custody in the case which was based on shifting statements of co-accused Amit Arora.

I (Singh) will not plead guilty to your fanciful allegations, she told the court.

At the end of the arguments on extension of custody, Singh claimed before the judge that the ED tried to whisk him away from its office with ulterior motive.

After you granted remand (to ED) on the last date of hearing, at 10 at night, I was told that I was being taken somewhere else. I asked why didn't they inform the court. They (ED officials) said there was some issue of chemical pesticide. They said they have got phone calls from people above. I told them I won't go outside without the court's order. They asked me to give that in writing.

"The next day they said the same thing. They had some ulterior motive. I asked what happens if I am killed in an encounter, who will be responsible? They said they will be responsible. What's the point of responsibility when I am dead. Again and again, I asked for court's order, Singh told the judge.

The judge asked the ED why it wanted a written statement from Singh about his reluctance to leave its office. The central agency rejected Singh's allegations of any wrongdoing.

You should not take him away without the court's order, the judge said.

The court, meanwhile, directed Singh to not speak to media while being produced, saying it creates security problems. The judge also directed journalists not to ask him questions.

It creates security problem, the judge said.

Addressing journalists on the court premises before production, Singh said, Honest people are with us, dishonest with PM Modi.

Actions are being taken against those who are innocent and who are against them (BJP), said Singh.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Oct 10 (PTI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 520 kg of ganja (cannabis) worth Rs 1.04 crore from a truck close to the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border in Nagpur district, an official said on Tuesday.

Based on a tip-off, officials of the DRI in Nagpur intercepted a truck as it passed the Borkhedi toll booth on Monday morning, the official said.

Also Read | 'Our Athletes Will Perform Even Better in Next Tournament': PM Narendra Modi Hails Indian Athletes Who Participated in Asian Games 2023 (Watch Video).

On examining the vehicle, officials found a built-in cavity between the driver's cabin and the cargo portion of the truck. At least 242 packets containing 520 kg of ganja, valued at Rs 1.04 crore, were concealed in the cavity, he said.

Two persons travelling in the truck have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the official said, adding that investigations are underway.

Also Read | Lalu Prasad Yadav Is a Cancer in the Politics of Bihar, Says BJP Leader Samrat Chaudhary.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thiruvananthapuram, October 10: Amidst the war between Palestine terror outfit Hamas and Israel, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking intervention to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in Israel.

"A good number of people around 7000 are from the state of Kerala. The continuing hostilities are putting these civilians to extreme hardship and their family members are in a state of extreme anxiety," Vijayan said in the October 9 dated letter to the Union Minister Jaishankar.

"I request your good self to intervene in every possible manner to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel," the Kerala chief minister wrote. A woman from Kerala working as a caregiver in Israel was injured in the conflict on Saturday. Israel-Palestine War: US, UK, Germany, Italy, France Extend Support to Israel After Hamas Attack.

On Monday, the CPI-M Kerala Secretariat in a statement had urged the central government to take steps to ensure the safety of the Keralites stuck in Israel.

"Such a situation is based on the widespread occupation of Israeli and Palestinian territories and the killing of Palestinian citizens. It is necessary to understand and solve such problems in a democratic manner. There should be an intervention to create the conditions for that," further stated the statement.

The CPI-M statement also stated that the UN Security Council resolution on a bilateral solution must be urgently implemented and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be protected. There should be efforts to ensure peace by ending the clashes that claim innocent lives, demanded the statement.

The Israel-Hamas war has meanwhile entered Day 4 with at least 900 Israelis reportedly been killed, and 700 deaths being recorded on the Palestine side. Israel has been at "war" with Hamas terrorists since October 7. On Sunday, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi had said the Prime Minister's Office was monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel adding "we are on the job" to bring back stranded Indian students.

"Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," Lekhi told reporters.

"Even in the past, many students including people from Andhra Pradesh were stuck across. So whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I am sure the government of India and the Prime Minister's Office is directly in touch with those people and is working and monitoring the situation," added the union minister Lekhi.

Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols.

"In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory. Israel-Hamas War: Israel Military Regains Full Control of Gaza Border, Says Israel Defence Force.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Aizawl (Mizoram) [India], October 10 (ANI): Ahead of the assembly polls in Mizoram, a joint operation by Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police led to the recovery and seizure of a large number of explosives and ammunition. The joint operation by the paramilitary force and the state police took place in Mizoram's Siaha district.

Acting on a specific input about the movement of warlike stores towards Myanmar through the Lungbun crossing, Assam Rifles along with the district police administration launched a joint operation in and around the area Sunday evening and the team spotted two unknown individuals.

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According to officials, those individuals were carrying some articles and when they were asked to halt, the two fellows dropped their bags and fled towards Myanmar, crossing the Kolodyne River.

"When the joint team approached and checked the bags they left behind, they found some items but the two fellows could not be apprehended," Lalbiakthanga Khiangte, IGP (HQ) of Mizoram said.

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The team recovered 100 numbers of Geletine, 100 numbers of Detonator, 150 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 10 metres of Wire (codex), and 10 numbers of Battery cells.

The recovered items were produced at the Siaha police by the joint team. A case has been registered at the Siaha police station Acts against the unknown accused for further investigation.

The Election Commission on Monday announced the schedule for assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.

Polls will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30.

In a 40-seat Assembly of Mizoram, in 2018, Mizo National Front managed to win 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent. Congress secured 5 seats and BJP won a single seat. Zoramthanga is the current chief minister of the state.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all these 5 states. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) A 26-year-old labourer died allegedly after being pushed off from the third floor of an under-construction building by a fellow worker following an altercation in east Delhi's Geeta Colony area, police said on Tuesday.

The fellow worker was arrested on Monday. The 50-year-old accused, Netra Pal, had fled the spot after the incident, they said..

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The deceased was identified as Mohammad Salman, who had allegedly borrowed a mobile charger from Pal and was not returning it back. The issue led to a verbal spat and soon turned into a scuffle between the two. Pal pushed him off the third floor of an under construction building on the NSUT campus, a senior police officer said.

The Geeta Colony police station received a call from a hospital around 1 am on Monday informing it about the incident. A police team reached the hospital and learnt that the victim, Salman, was brought there by some fellow workers and he died during treatment.

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The police team got input about the entire matter from other fellow workers and arrested the accused on the charge of murder. A welder, Salman originally hailed from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, police added.

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Pithoragarh, Oct 10 (PTI) Union minister Ajay Bhatt on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Jolingkong and Gunji along the India-China border in the district will boost the morale of border villagers and the security forces.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit the area on October 12. Jolingkong is the endpoint for the Adi Kailash peak.

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"Wherever the prime minister has gone, it has led to manifold development of that region," Bhatt, the Union Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, told PTI.

"We in Uttarakhand have till date received development projects worth over Rs 1 lakh crore by the grace of Modiji. He readily gave whatever we asked for as he feels a special attachment to the Himalayan state," he said.

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The BJP MP from Nainital said the village of Gunji will be developed as Shiv Nagri under the Centre's vibrant village programme with 24-hour drinking water supply, residential facilities, wellness centres and round-the-year road connectivity.

"I visited Jolingkong yesterday. The BRO has done excellent work in connecting Adi Kailash and Parwati Tal with smooth roads," the minister said.

Accusing the previous Congress governments of pursuing a policy of not connecting the borders with roads due to the fear of the enemy, Bhatt said the BJP government under Modi has the policy of linking the border villages with roads so that the benefits of development could reach them.

"A strong India is emerging with strong borders under the strong leadership of Modi," Bhatt said.

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday, a spokesperson of the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

She will grace the 20th convocation of the University of Kashmir at Srinagar immediately after her arrival in the city on October 11, the spokesperson said Tuesday.

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On the same day, she will interact with members of local tribal groups and women of self-help groups at Raj Bhavan besides attending a civic reception to be hosted in her honour there.

On October 12, the President will visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine where she will inaugurate a remodelled Parvati Bhavan and skywalk, the spokesperson added.

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Bharatpur (Rajasthan) [India], October 10 (ANI): Reacting to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) adopting a resolution on holding a nationwide caste census in the country if it comes to power at the Centre, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday that the Congress remebers everything when it is playing the role of the opposition, adding that no action was taken by them during their ten-year tenure.

"Their (Congress) government was at the Centre for ten years. Rahul Gandhi remembers everything when his party is in the opposition. His father and his grandmother all were in power. Now they are remembering all this (the issue of caste census)," Joshi said while speaking to ANI.

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Earlier Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) unanimously supported the idea of a caste census in the country and called it a "progressive and powerful step." He further said that Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan believe that it is a very important step.

Taking on PM Modi for not conducting a caste survey across the country and alleging the Prime Minister has been employing diversionary tactics to avoid the survey, Rahul Gandhi said, "The PM is incapable of doing the caste census. Our 3 out of 4 CMs are from the OBC category. Out of 10 BJP CMs, only one CM is from the OBC category. How many BJP CMs are from the OBC category? The PM doesn't work for the OBCs but to distract them from main issues."

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Earlier, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that the state will conduct a caste-based census like in Bihar. Gehlot spoke to the media after a state party meeting in Jaipur on Friday.

On similar lines in Chhattisgarh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also asserted if Congress is re-elected to power in the state, a caste census will be conducted in the state, similar to the one carried out in Bihar.

The report of the caste-based survey conducted in Bihar was released on October 2 by the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government. The Congress is an ally of the government in Bihar. (ANI)

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Chandigarh, Oct 10 (PTI) Police on Tuesday used a water cannon to disperse Shiromani Akali Dal workers marching towards Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's official residence here over the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders led by party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal slammed the Mann government for having "failed" to safeguard the rights of Punjab in river waters.

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Several other leaders including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema and senior SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar also joined the protest held outside the party headquarters here.

Police had raised barricades to prevent Akali workers from heading towards the chief minister's residence. When protesters tried to break through barricades, police used the water cannon to disperse them.

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Later, police detained party leaders including Badal, Majithia and Cheema and SAD workers.

Addressing the party workers here, SAD president Badal said they wanted to go to the residence of Mann for a debate on Punjab issues with the chief minister which he challenged all opposition leaders a few days back.

He said police did not allow them to head toward the CM's residence.

"The chief minister challenged me to a debate on the SYL which I accepted and even announced that I would come to his residence today to debate all facets of the case.

"I thought the chief minister will receive us in the same manner in which former CM Parkash Singh Badal used to meet protesters coming to his residence including Bhagwant Mann and the AAP leadership. But he chose to flee to Madhya Pradesh with Arvind Kejriwal rather than facing me and the SAD, said Badal.

At the protest site, the SAD leaders even brought a chair with a sticker, mentioning 'mukh mantri', (chief minister) Punjab, pasted on it and said the CM "ran away" from the debate.

On October 8, CM Mann had challenged the BJP, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal for an open debate on issues relating to the state on November 1.

Badal slammed the successive Congress governments in 1955 and 1976 for sharing the state's river waters with Rajasthan and Haryana.

He said former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal tried to correct this "injustice" by filing a case in the apex court challenging Article 78 of the Reorganization Act which bestowed power to the central government to allocate water resources to the new states.

"However, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, in 1981, prevailed upon (the then chief minister) Darbara Singh to withdraw this case from the Supreme Court and agree to construction of the SYL canal," he said.

Badal slammed the Mann government over the SYL issue, claiming that the state government told the Supreme Court that it was ready to build the canal but the opposition parties were not allowing it.

Lashing out at the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, Badal claimed, "the AAP is readying to give more of the state's river waters to Haryana and Rajasthan to derive political advantage in the forthcoming assembly elections".

Badal also lashed out at the Mann government over several issues including for the alleged deteriorating law and order and "rising" state's debt.

The SAD president alleged that every section of society had been "betrayed" by the AAP government which had not fulfilled any of the promises made to Punjabis.

He said the government had failed to fulfil its promise to give Rs 1,000 per month to all women in the state, besides unemployment allowance and old age pension allowance of Rs 2,500 per month each, regularization of all contractual employees, revival of the old pension scheme, wiping out of the drug menace and an end to VVIP culture.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit vice president Anurag Dhanda on Tuesday took on both BJP and Congress on the SYL canal issue, asking what stopped their party-led regimes from resolving the issue for decades.

"When BJP-led government ruled at the Centre, in Punjab (in alliance with erstwhile ally SAD) and in Haryana at the same time, why they did not resolve the issue then. Why they kept doing politics over the issue for decades," Dhanda said responding to a question on SYL issue at a press conference here.

They should answer and clear their stand, he asserted.

"We also want to know what is BJP's stand in Punjab and in Haryana (over the issue)...we (AAP) are not moving with any baggage, we never did politics on such issue," he said.

"BJP, Congress both got chance for decades. Why did they not resolve it. Why they let the issue keep lingering and only to do politics over it," he said.

Taking on the Aam Aadmi Party, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had at a press conference here on Friday accused them of not having any clear stand on SYL issue.

When asked that Khattar had offered Haryana unit of AAP to hold media interaction at Haryana Niwas here, a state government property, if they have to talk of Haryana's interest, Dhanda said, "I invite him for a joint press conference at Haryana Bhawan. We will clear stand of our party (on SYL) and let him do the same on behalf of his party and people will know who has done what and what is their stand".

The SYL canal issue has been a bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana for the past several years.

The canal was conceptualized for effective allocation of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers. The project envisaged a 214-km canal, of which a 122-km stretch was to be constructed in Punjab and the remaining 92 km in Haryana.

Haryana has completed the project in its territory but Punjab, which launched the construction work in 1982, shelved it subsequently.

On October 4, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to survey the portion of land in Punjab which was allocated for the construction of part of the SYL canal in the state and make an estimate of the extent of construction carried out there.

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New Delhi [India], October 10 (ANI): Two people were killed and another person sustained critical injuries in a clash between two groups in northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area Delhi Police said on Tuesday.

According to the Police, the clash took place on Monday night and the deceased have been identified as Raghu and Bhura.

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According to the police, the duo and their associates came to visit Ravikant alias Dablu in Ashok Vihar and when Raghu refused to address Dablu as 'Dablu bhai' a fight erupted with Raghu firing a bullet at Dablu. After this Dablu's associates fired at Raghu and killed him at the spot.

An associate of Raghu, Bhura was also killed by Dablu's associates on the spot.

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Dablu is currently undergoing treatment in hospital and his condition is said to be critical.

Raghu, Bhura and Dablu had been earlier booked for various criminal cases.

A case has been registered and one of the accused has been held, said the police.

The investigation is ongoing and a search to nab other accused has begun, police said. (ANI)

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News at 4Cs

Cape Cod Community College Receives Suicide Prevention Grant to Create Internal, External Mental Health Structures

Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) has received the prestigious Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant to continue their work in providing internal and external support systems for students. The grant will provide the College with $306,000 over three years to expand an infrastructure so its Student Wellness team can better identify and intervene with students at risk for mental health and substance use issues before they reach crisis. 4Cs is one of 25 awardees of the funding nationwide and is the only recipient in Massachusetts.

One of the goals of the grant is to create a network of support through coordinated and collaborative efforts both on campus and in the community, said Dr. Maura Weir, Chief Wellness Officer at 4Cs and Co-Chair of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition. We will also be training faculty, staff, and students to respond effectively to peers with mental and substance use disorders as well as upgrading our screening process for early intervention. This is a great moment for our College as we continue to work hard in addressing the wellness needs of our students.

The award is the latest in a series of recognitions the College has received for its work in prioritizing mental health and suicide prevention. Last Spring, 4Cs President Dr. John Cox received the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention Leadership award and this past June, the College hosted a training where more than forty community members learned about providing a post-vention response to a sudden or traumatic death which includes suicide or overdose.

We are very grateful to receive this grant, enabling our team to prioritize and put resources behind this extremely powerful cause, said President Cox. We are especially thankful for Dr. Weir and our Wellness team for their tireless work to make mental health a centerpiece of the student experience. We know that our students are balancing many life responsibilities while attending college, and that can make for some very stressful moments. With grant support like this, and the work happening here every day, we can help students navigate those challenges and build a stronger community.

The College will also be recognizing National Suicide Prevention Month with their on-campus ribbon ceremony on Thursday, September 14 from 1:00  2:00 p.m. in West Barnstable. The event is free to attend, and all are welcome.

If you need help or support, please call 988, the new number for the National Lifeline and Crisis Line.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 10 (ANI): To equip the Uttar Pradesh Police with the latest technological devices, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the upgradation of CUG (Closed User Group) numbers' SIM cards used by the state police from 3G to 4G in a meeting of the home department.

As per the instructions given during the meeting held Tuesday, preparations are underway to give 4G Closed User Group SIMs to police officers and employees, instead of 3G SIMs. DGP Headquarters has reached out to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

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"The 4G SIM cards will enable police personnel to connect at high speed and also provide them more data as compared to the past and improve their connectivity, which will help them in controlling crimes," a state government press release said.

Uttar Pradesh police officers and employees have been using 3G SIM cards for the past several years. However, technical issues have started to arise with 3G SIMS.

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"With the provision of 4G CUG SIMs to the police force, the government aims at resolving network issues at many places. It is noteworthy that due to changes in mobile technology, 5G will too be in use soon," the press release added.

As per TRAI guidelines, mobile service provider companies must prioritize calls made through police CUG numbers. For example, if there is a major incident and there is heavy traffic of calls, including that of police, administrative officials and the public, the 4G network will prioritise the calls made by the police, the release said.

"The TRAI has directed mobile service providers to give priority to calls made through police CUG SIM cards so that there is no delay in emergency services," the UP government release said. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) PepsiCo on Tuesday said its Indian business delivered a "double-digit growth" in beverage unit volumes in the third quarter of 2023.

However, its "convenient foods business" had a "mid-single-digit" decline in unit volume in the September quarter, according to a global earnings statement from the food and beverages major.

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PepsiCo's net revenue in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia (AMESA) division, including India, declined 6.43 per cent to USD 1.61 billion as against USD 1.73 billion, "driven primarily by the weakening of the Egyptian pound, and a net organic volume decline, partially offset by effective net pricing".

In AMESA, Pepsico's "beverage unit volume grew 3 per cent, primarily reflecting double-digit growth in India and mid-single-digit growth in the Middle East..." it said.

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Its "convenient foods unit volume declined 3 per cent, primarily reflecting mid-single-digit declines in South Africa and India, partially offset by low-single-digit growth in the Middle East and Pakistan."

Moreover, the operating profit of PepsiCo's AMESA division declined 11 per cent.

PepsiCo follows a January to December fiscal.

This primarily reflects the "impact of higher commodity costs, primarily packaging materials, sweeteners and grains, largely driven by transaction-related foreign exchange," it added.

PepsiCo, which owns popular brands such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew and Quaker, posted a 6.7 per cent increase in net revenue to USD 23.45 billion for the third quarter.

On a year-to-date basis, PepsiCo has gained savoury snack share in many international markets, including China, India, and Turkey and for beverages, it gained market share in Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, China, Thailand, Egypt, and Nigeria, it added.

The New York-headquartered company said its third-quarter featured "strong, broad-based organic revenue growth".

"The benefits from our net revenue management actions moderated as planned, while organic volume for our global beverage and convenient food businesses each posted a moderate decline," it said.

"We believe our businesses can continue to perform well in the coming years with category growth normalising, as we have made numerous investments in our brands, manufacturing capacity, go-to-market systems, supply chain, technology, and people, to execute against our strategic framework and modernize our company," PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said.

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) Budget carrier SpiceJet and aircraft lessor Celestial Aviation are working towards settlement, which is in the advanced stage, insolvency tribunal NCLT was informed on Tuesday.

During the proceedings, counsel appearing in the matter informed about the development and requested the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to adjourn the matter, which was accepted.

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The development came during the hearing of a plea filed by Celestial Aviation Services Ltd, an operational creditor, to initiate insolvency proceedings against the airline.

A two-member NCLT bench directed to list the matter on November 7 for the next hearing.

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According to some reports, Celestial Aviation Services Ltd is claiming a default of USD 29.9 million for nine aircraft. It is the fifth lessor, which had moved against SpiceJet.

Some other lessors such as Willis Lease Finance, Aircastle and Wilmington have also moved pleas to initiate insolvency proceedings against SpiceJet before the NCLT.

Earlier on September 5, NCLT suggested that SpiceJet settle the issues with lessors that have sought initiation of insolvency proceedings against it.

The tribunal's suggestion came against the backdrop of the crisis-hit carrier issuing shares in lieu of dues to nine aircraft lessors.

Last week, the government notified removing aviation lease agreements, which include - aircraft, engines and related parts - from moratorium under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) Two people were killed and another was injured in an alleged clash between two groups in northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area, police said on Tuesday.

The alleged incident occurred on Monday.

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The dead have been identified as Raghu and Bhura. The pair and one of their associates allegedly attacked Ravikant alias Dablu over a personal enmity at Jailer Wala Bagh in Ashok Vihar around 8 pm, a police officer said.

Raghu and Bhura opened fire at Dablu, injuring him, he said.

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"Shortly afterwards, Dablu's associates attacked Raghu and Bhura with knives and stones. Someone also opened fire at them, killing them on the spot," the officer said.

Raghu and Bhura's associate managed to escape.

The trio was facing criminal cases in northwest Delhi and had a monetary dispute with the other group, the officer said.

Dablu has been admitted to Fortis Hospital where his condition is stated to be critical, the police said.

The police have registered an FIR and an investigation is underway.

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Tel Aviv, October 10: As the ongoing conflict between Israel and terrorist group Hamas grows tense, the spokesperson for Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, has threatened the Israel's coastal city of Ashkelon with a major rocket barrage in the coming hours, The Times of Israel reported. The Hamas leader has also asked the residents to leave their homes in order to not fall victim to the attacks.

"In response to the enemy's crime of displacing our people and forcing them to flee their homes in several areas of the Gaza Strip, we give the residents of the occupied city of Ashkelon a deadline to leave before 5 p.m.," Abu Obeida said on his Telegram channel, according to The Times of Israel. Over 770 Palestinians have been killed in air raids after Israel launched a strong retaliation after the 'surprise attack' by Hamas, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday. Israel-Palestine War: Over 770 Palestinians Including 140 Children Killed in Air Raids, As Israeli Retaliation Surges After 'Surprise Attack' by Hamas (Watch Video).

The Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women, a ministry spokesperson said. In addition to this, at least 18 people have also been killed and around 100 were injured in the West Bank region since Saturday, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, at least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7.

In a war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas.Earlier in the day, in a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it". Israel-Palestine Conflict: 260 People Killed by Hamas Gunmen at Outdoor Music Festival in Southern Israel

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

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Tel Aviv [Israel], October 9 (ANI): In a record mobilisation of troops, Israel mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours, as Israeli retaliation against the deadly Hamas attack entered its third day on Monday.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours."

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This is the largest mobilization since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

Hagari said that the army has evacuated 15 out of 24 towns on the border, and will continue to evacuate the others over the course of Monday, but that the town of Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage.

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He also added that around 4,400 rockets have been launched toward Israel since the fighting started on Saturday morning.

Hagari said that in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council three terrorists were killed by troops; in Be'eri one was killed; in Holit and Sufa five were killed; and in Alumim four were killed, Times of Israel reported.

"It is possible there are still terrorists in the area," Hagari said, but said that there was no ongoing fighting in any of the towns.

Some of the terrorists have been in Israel since the preliminary attack on Saturday, while others crossed the border over the past two days. Hagari said that breaches of the Gaza border barrier will be physically secured by tanks supported by combat helicopters and drones.

In another development, the Israeli military has also deployed troops against a suspected infiltration from Lebanon.

"A report was received regarding the infiltration of a number of suspects into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory. IDF soldiers are deployed in the area," Reuters quoted the Israeli military as saying.

The IDF Homefront Command has also instructed Israeli civilians in towns near the Lebanese border to remain in their homes, IDF posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, the IDF continued to carry out airstrikes, with the military saying it was hitting targets belonging to the Hamas terror group.

A large wave of strikes was carried out overnight as part of its effort to "devastate the capabilities of the Hamas terror group," two days after the terror group unleashed carnage on an unprecedented scale in Israel, killing at least 700 civilians and security personnel in the deadliest single day in the nation's history, Times of Israel reported.

In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country

According to the latest updates, over 800 people have been killed and over 2400 are injured, with many in severe condition.

In a major development on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip. He made the statement after an assessment at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba.

"I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed," Gallant said.

"We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," he added.

According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack.

The Government Press Office, a body that operates under the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, said that the number of hostages in Gaza was more than 100.

The Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Israeli troops have regained control of all towns on the Gaza border. He said that the incidents of clashes between troops and terrorists in the past few hours have been "isolated," The Times of Israel reported.

Hagari said that three terrorists were killed by troops in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. According to him, one was killed in Be'eri, five were killed in Holit and Sufa and four were killed in Alumim. Hagari said that currently, there is no fighting in any of the towns.

Hagari said, "It is possible there are still terrorists in the area." He said breaches of the Gaza border barrier will be physically secured by tanks, which will be supported by combat helicopters and drones, The Times of Israel reported.

According to him, the Israeli army has evacuated 15 out of 24 towns on the border and will continue to evacuate the others in the coming day. He said Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage. He said some 4,400 rockets have been launched toward Israel since the fighting started on Saturday morning.

The IDF said that it is carrying out a fresh wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it is hitting targets that belong to Hamas terror group. According to the military, further details will be provided soon, according to The Times of Israel report. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Oct 10 (PTI) Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would leave London for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to perform Umrah pilgrimage before returning to Pakistan next week, ending a four-year "self-imposed exile", a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said on Tuesday.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui told journalists that the PML-N supremo would perform Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca) and spend time with his son Hussain Sharif during his stay in the Gulf Kingdom.

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"I don't have any reports of his meeting with the Royal familyBut he will perform Umrah, spend time with his son  most of his stay would be in Medina," Siddiqui said.

He added that Sharif, 73, would leave for the UAE two days before his expected arrival in Pakistan on October 21. He will rest there and is also expected to meet some party leaders.

Also Read | Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Dials PM Narendra Modi to Update Him on Situation After Hamas Attacks.

When asked about the media reports that Sharif would visit China and Qatar, Siddiqui said no such trips were scheduled before October 21.

The PML-N senator rejected the impression that the party was changing its narrative vote ko izzat do' (honour the vote) by saying that Sharif never can never reject the narrative as it enjoys the support of the people.

But let me tell you one thing, his speech would not be that of a conventional political leader. He will show the nation the path forward like a political visionary  and his speech will determine a new way for us, Siddiqui said while talking about Sharif's planned speech after landing in Lahore.

Sharif recently said that he is excited to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the election likely to be held in January 2024.

Earlier this month, Samaa TV reported that Sharif had booked a business class ticket on flight EY243 of Etihad Airways in advance. The Etihad Airways flight will land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 6:25 p.m. on October 21.

Sharif stepped down as the country's prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary. He has been living in London since 2019 after the LHC granted him four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment.

He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on "medical grounds".

In 2020, an accountability court declared him a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles case. He is also accused of obtaining luxury cars from the treasury house by paying just 15 per cent of the price of these vehicles.

He was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018.

There are question marks on his fate as he had already been declared as an absconder and could be arrested after coming to Pakistan.

However, the PML-N has planned to secure a protective bail so that he can address the rally before going to jail.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tokyo, Oct 9 (AP) A British army veteran who fought and survived one of his country's harshest battles known as the Burma Campaign against the Japanese during World War II travelled to Japan to lay flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at a memorial ceremony on Monday to stress the importance of reconciliation.

Richard Day, 97, who survived the decisive 1944 Battle of Kohima in northeast India  where Japan fought to capture the then British-controlled territory  stood up from a wheelchair, placed a wreath of red flowers on a table and saluted the souls of the unknown Japanese soldiers at Tokyo's Cihdorigafuchi National Cemetery.

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It was very moving, but it brought back some terrible memories, Day said after the ceremony. When he was laying flowers, he said, I was remembering the screams of people...they were crying out after their mothers.

He shook hands at the memorial and later conversed with relatives of the Japanese veterans who also attended the event.

Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: CNN Journalist Clarissa Ward, Her Team Takes Cover From 'Barrage of Rockets' During Live Reporting at Israel-Gaza Border (Watch Video).

You can't carry hate," Day said. (Otherwise) You are not hating each other, you are hurting yourself.

Day was in his late teens when he was sent to the notoriously severe battle, where he also faced harsh conditions, including contracting malaria and dysentery simultaneously while fighting the Japanese.

About 160,000 Japanese were killed during the battle, many from starvation and illnesses due to insufficient supplies and planning.

Some 50,000 British and Commonwealth troops were also killed, nearly half of whom perished in brutal prison camps. Hard feelings toward Japan's brutal treatment of prisoners of war remained in Britain years after the fighting ended.

Yukihiko Torikai, a Tokai University professor of humanities and culture came on behalf of his grandfather Tsuneo Torikai who returned from the campaign alive after his supervisor ordered a withdrawal.

The university professor shook hands with Day, expressing his appreciation of the British veteran's trip to Japan. He later said he is aware not everyone is ready for reconciliation and that it would have been even better if a Japanese veteran who survived the battle could come.

As we foster friendship, it is important to remember the past, not just putting it behind, Torikai said.

Military officials from the embassies in Tokyo of former allied countries, including the United States, New Zealand and Australia attended the ceremony.

Event organiser Akiko Macdonald, the daughter of a Japanese veteran who also survived the Battle of Kohima and now heads the London-based Burma Campaign Society, said the joint memorial in Japan for those lost in the battles of Kohima and Imphal was especially meaningful.

Day was also set to visit and pray at Yokohama War Cemetary, where many of the buried were POWs, as well as Yamagata, Hiroshima. He also wanted to visit Kyoto to find the hotel where he stayed while on postwar duties to thank them for their hospitality. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
San Francisco [California], October 10 (ANI): The San Francisco police on Monday fatally shot a driver who crashed into the visa office at the Chinese consulate in the city, The New York Times reported citing police department.

The officers responded to the crash near Geary Boulevard and Laguna Street at around 3 pm, where they "found that the vehicle had come to rest in the lobby of the Chinese Consulate," according to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department.

Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Israel Death Toll Mounts to Over 1,000 in Hamas Attacks, Says Israeli Embassy in US.

The police said the shooting took place after the officers made contact with the suspect. Officers and paramedics who arrived at the scene rendered aid before transporting the suspect to a nearby hospital, where the person died, according to the police.

At the time of the incident, about 20 people were in the waiting area of the visa office, said Sergii Molchanov, a graduate student at Stanford Medicine who was there to apply for a visa. He said the driver was a man who appeared to be in his 30s.

Also Read | Israel-Palestine Conflict: US President Joe Biden Believes Americans Held 'Hostage' by Hamas; To Make Statement From White House.

Molchanov, 32, said: "This guy comes out of the car shouting and saying, 'Where is the CCP.'" He said the driver used an expletive before "CCP," which is a commonly used abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party.

Molchanov said the driver tried to go back to his car, at which point security personnel restrained him and people started running out of the building.

"Why on earth would someone drive a car into the consulate? He seemed very angry," Molchanov said.

Images circulating on social media showed part of the consulate building covered with a white tarp and cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. Another video posted to social media appeared to show people running from the building, where the car, a blue Honda, remained, as per The New York Times.

The investigation into the episode is continuing, and the authorities have not released the name of the suspect. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said in a statement that the driver had crashed into an area where consular documents are handled, "posing a serious threat to the life and safety of staff and people on site."

"Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibilities related to the incident," the consulate said.

This comes as San Francisco looks forward to hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where diplomats are hoping that China's top leader, Xi Jinping, will meet with President Biden. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, is in China this week leading a bipartisan congressional delegation that is meeting with top leaders.

Xi met with Schumer on Monday and said he hoped for a "peaceful coexistence" with the United States. The Biden administration has been trying in recent months to stabilize its relationship with Beijing amid rising geopolitical tensions over the status of Taiwan, which China considers a part of its territory, and trade between the two countries. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, October 10: Just addressing a man as "Dabloo", instead of "Dabloo bhai" led to a clash in north Delhi involving stone pelting and firing between two groups that left two people dead, police said on Tuesday, The incident occurred at Jailorwala Bagh near Ashok Vihar late on Monday evening and Ravi Kant aka "Dabloo" also sustained injuries in the clash and is now admitted in a hospital. The deceased were identified as Sahil a.k.a Raghu and Ajay Bhura. Haryana Shocker: 4-Year-Old Child Falls From Second Floor of House in Faridabad, Dies in Hospital; Scary Video of Incident Surfaces

A senior police official said that two FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident at Ashok Vihar police station and a probe has been initiated. According to the police, around 7 p.m. on Monday, Bhura and Raghu, along with Zakir, arrived in an SUV at Jailorwala Bagh and were allegedly carrying firearms and sharp weapons. They encountered their rival gang member, Dabloo, in a lane, and an altercation began due to not calling him "Dabloo bhai". Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Nine-Year-Old Boy Rapes Eight-Year-Old Girl in Lucknow, Case Registered

During the confrontation, two shots were fired, and one struck Dabloo, prompting him to raise an alarm. Raghu was fatally shot on the spot, while Bhura was chased and stabbed to death. Zakir managed to escape. A senior police official said that Zakir has been arrested while a manhunt for others has been initiated.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2023 07:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
In her police complaint, the 16-year-old survivor stated that after reaching Asauda Panth on Kithore Road in Hapur, the accused took her away on a motorcycle to the hotel, where three raped her at gunpoint.
Over 180,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are packed into United Nations shelters as Israeli warplanes pound the tiny territory of 2.3 million people after their Hamas militant rulers launched an unprecedented weekend attack on Israel.
On 9 October a deployment of around 1,000 personnel from the civil and military police forces of Rio de Janeiro state, in the southeast of Brazil, raided three favela communities where powerful drug-trafficking organisations (DTOs) are known to operate  Mare, Cidade de Deus, and Vila Cruzeiro.

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On 9 October Guatemalas Presidentsaid that the current blockades which have paralysed Guatemala for a week, demanding the resignation of US-sanctioned attorney general (AG)and her colleagues, were illegal and would not be tolerated.

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On 9 October the left-wing Ecuadorean party Revolucion Ciudadana (RC) denied any involvement in the 9 August assassination of the presidential candidate

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US-Mexico relations have become a bit more shaky after several Republican candidates suggested more aggressive moves against Mexico's drug cartels to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US.

As the Associated Press pointed out, these Republican candidates include Ron DeSantis who wants suspected drug smugglers shot dead at the US-Mexico border, Nikki Haley who wants to send US special forces to Mexico, Vivek Ramaswamy who criticized Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for being lenient to drug cartels, and Donald Trump, who, as president, since suggested bombing Mexico to target drug cartels.

These candidates have also said that they would use military force against Mexico in response to the trafficking of illegal drugs, fentanyl included. However, these candidates have divided many with their suggestions. On one hand, families of those who died from fentanyl overdose support the idea, but actual policy experts and international relations experts are warning that this would be a violation of Mexico's sovereignty and would constitute war.

Critics add that using military force is not an answer as it only "fuels the racism and xenophobia that undermine efforts to stop drug trafficking."

Majority of Fentanyl Being Smuggled By US Citizens, Not Immigrants

Many anti-immigration advocates state that immigrants are bringing in fentanyl and thus fueling the opioid crisis. However, as the Tampa Bay Times noted, US government data debunks these claims as 90% of fentanyl seizures were made at official land crossings and not illegal border crossings.

CBP deputy assistant commissioner James Mandryck stated during a July hearing that 73% of fentanyl seizures at the border since the previous October were not done by immigrants illegally smuggling drugs across the border for drug cartels but by US citizens. The rest of these were done by Mexican citizens.

READ MORE: US Congressman Fights Back on Calls To Invade Mexico Over Fentanyl Problem

The suggestions by US Republican candidates have certainly soured US-Mexico relations a bit. Lopez Obrador slammed them recently, saying "There is a kind of competition to see who is the most ridiculous, who is most brazen to threaten Mexico, to blame Mexico," before calling their ideas of more aggressive moves as "nonsense."

Even though sending troops across the border just to fight the Mexican drug cartels may seem straightforward to many, in international relations, it will be seen as an act of war. Mexico is a US ally and its top trading partner, and sending troops would also hurt the economy of both countries.

Sending US Troops to Mexico Would Not Solve the Fentanyl Crisis, Experts Say

Sending troops to Mexico would simply be a bad foreign policy move in general, with Foreignpolicy.com noting that this would be bad not just for the economy, but also bad overall. It pointed to Rep. Dan Crenshaw's suggestions of following Colombia's model, which would not work for the US as Colombia itself is beset by rebels and drug cartels.

On the other hand, Mexico has been militarizing even further to combat the drug cartels despite its president being accused of being soft against these criminal organizations. He has created the National Guard and several of Mexico's top brass have began wading into politics. This means that by US troops into the mix, things might get more complicated in the end, foreign policy experts warn.

READ MORE: Trump Organization Convicted of 17 Felonies, Gets Maximum Punishment

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: 'Bomb Mexico!' Inside Trump and the GOP's latest insane and dangerous proposal - MSNBC
Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure to the heart of Africa? Kenya, with its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, is an enchanting destination that promises an unforgettable safari experience. As a Latina traveler, preparing for a Kenya safari requires a balance of practicality and style.

In this guide, we explore what to pack for your Kenyan safari, provide you with a comprehensive Kenya packing list, offer insights on what to wear, and shed light on Kenya's tourism seasons to help you plan the perfect safari getaway.

What to Pack for Kenya Safari

Packing for a safari in Kenya is all about versatility and preparedness. The African wilderness can be unpredictable, so it's essential to pack items that cater to a wide range of situations and conditions. Here's a breakdown of what to pack for your Kenyan safari:

1. Clothing:

Neutral Colors: When it comes to clothing, opt for neutral colors like khaki, brown, and olive green. These colors not only help you blend into the natural surroundings but also repel insects effectively.

Lightweight Layers: Pack lightweight, breathable clothing suitable for layering. This allows you to adapt to varying temperatures throughout the day.

Long-Sleeved Shirts and Pants: Long-sleeved shirts and pants provide protection against the sun and insects. Look for moisture-wicking fabrics to stay comfortable.

A Wide-Brimmed Hat: A wide-brimmed hat not only shields you from the sun but also adds a touch of safari chic to your outfit.

Comfortable Walking Shoes: Invest in comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes or hiking boots. Ensure they are broken in before your trip to avoid blisters.

Swimsuit: Some lodges and camps have swimming pools, so don't forget your swimsuit if you plan to take a refreshing dip.

2. Accessories:

Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the African sun with a good pair of sunglasses.

Binoculars: Enhance your wildlife viewing experience with binoculars. They're especially handy for spotting distant animals and birds.

Camera and Extra Batteries: Capture the beauty of Kenya's wildlife with a quality camera and extra batteries. You won't want to miss any photo opportunities.

Power Bank: Electricity can be limited in some safari camps, so a power bank will ensure your devices stay charged.

3. Toiletries and Health Essentials:

Sunscreen: Kenya's sun can be harsh, so pack a high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin.

Insect Repellent: Insect repellent is a must to guard against malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Basic First Aid Kit: Include essentials like adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any personal medications.

Prescription Medications: Bring an ample supply of any prescription medications you may need throughout your trip.

4. Documents:

Passport and Visa: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Consult your travel agent for advice on how to obtain the necessary visa for Kenya.

Travel Insurance: Purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and evacuations.

Photocopies: Make photocopies of important documents, such as your passport, visa, and travel insurance information. Store them separately from the originals.

5. Money:

Cash: While credit cards are widely accepted in major cities, it's advisable to carry some cash in Kenyan Shillings for smaller establishments and tips.

Money Belt or Neck Pouch: Safeguard your money and important documents with a concealed money belt or neck pouch.

6. Electronics:

Adapter: Kenya uses Type G electrical outlets, so bring a suitable adapter if necessary.

Headlamp or Flashlight: Some safari camps may not have 24-hour electricity, so a headlamp or flashlight can be very useful.

What to Wear on Kenya Safari

Now that you know what to pack, let's focus on what to wear during your Kenya safari. Dressing appropriately is not only practical but also a part of the safari experience. Here are some tips for achieving that safari chic look:

1. Earth Tones: Stick to earthy, neutral tones like beige, khaki, olive, and brown. These colors blend in with the natural environment and are less likely to attract insects.

2. Lightweight Fabrics: Choose lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. They keep you cool in the heat and are comfortable for all-day wear.

3. Layering: Layering is essential for adapting to temperature changes throughout the day. Start with a base layer, add a long-sleeved shirt, and top it off with a lightweight jacket or fleece in cooler evenings.

4. Comfortable Footwear: Opt for closed-toe walking shoes or hiking boots with good arch support. Make sure they are comfortable and broken in before your safari to avoid blisters.

5. Accessories: A wide-brimmed hat not only protects you from the sun but also adds a touch of safari style. Sunglasses with UV protection are essential for eye safety.

6. Minimal Jewelry: Keep jewelry to a minimum to avoid attracting unnecessary attention and to ensure comfort during long drives and walks.

Kenya Tourism Seasons

Understanding Kenya's tourism seasons is crucial for planning your safari. It will also inform the type of safari transportation you should opt for especially if on a self-driven safari. The country experiences two main seasons:

1. Dry Season (June to October):

This is the best time for wildlife viewing as animals congregate around water sources, making them easier to spot.

The weather is generally dry and cool, with daytime temperatures ranging from 70F to 80F (21C to 27C).

It's the peak tourist season, so accommodations and safaris tend to be more expensive.

Be sure to book your accommodations and tours well in advance.

2. Wet Season (November to May):

The wet season is characterized by occasional rains, which rejuvenate the landscape and bring lush greenery.

While wildlife viewing is still excellent, the dense vegetation can make animals harder to spot.

The weather is warm, with daytime temperatures ranging from 75F to 85F (24C to 29C).

This season offers lower prices and fewer tourists, making it a budget-friendly option.

Be prepared for some muddy conditions, especially during heavy rains.

Note: The Great Migration of wildebeests and zebras occurs in Kenya's Maasai Mara between July and October, during the dry season. This is a spectacular event to witness if your safari dates align with it.

Conclusion:

Preparing for a Kenya safari as a Latina traveler involves packing a combination of practical and stylish items. Neutral-colored, lightweight clothing, comfortable footwear, and essential accessories will ensure you're well-prepared for your adventure. Don't forget to consider Kenya's tourism seasons when planning your trip, as this will impact your overall experience. Whether you're capturing stunning wildlife photos in the Maasai Mara or simply immersing yourself in the beauty of Africa, embracing safari chic will make your journey to Kenya truly unforgettable. So, pack your bags, embark on your adventure, and savor every moment of your Kenyan safari!
Environmental lawyer and former Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced his candidacy as an independent for the 2024 US Presidential Elections, marking his departure from the national Democratic Party, according to CNN.

Kennedy made this announcement in Philadelphia, officially ending his effort to challenge President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary and opting for a long-shot independent bid in the general election.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to run as an independent comes after weeks of speculation about his political future, including meetings with the chair of the Libertarian Party and a super PAC poll testing his strength in a hypothetical three-way race with Biden and former President Donald Trump.

The Kennedy campaign plans to hold a series of events in Texas, Florida, and Georgia in the coming months, with a commitment to campaign extensively nationwide in the lead-up to the November 2024 general election. They express confidence in gaining ballot access in all states.

While independent and third-party candidates have faced challenges in past presidential elections, there have been exceptions, such as Ross Perot, who received 8% of the vote in the 1992 general election.

The emergence of Kennedy as an independent candidate is seen as a potential threat to President Biden's reelection, particularly as Trump is increasingly likely to secure the Republican nomination.

READ NEXT: 2024 US Presidential Election: Trump vs. Biden Sparks Exhaustion, Fear to Voters

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Left National Democratic Party

Kennedy's decision to break with the Democratic Party was marked by a video release in which he criticized what he claimed was "corruption" in the leadership of both political parties, per CNBC.

In a video released before his major announcement, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. articulated his perspective on challenging established interests in Washington.

He believed that winning against these entrenched interests would require departing from what he sees as corrupt rules manipulated by powerful entities to maintain their control.

This sentiment underscores Kennedy's motivation to run as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 election, marking his departure from the Democratic Party.

Despite being the son of Senator Robert Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, both Democratic Party icons, Kennedy cited his opposition to certain policies and what he perceived as corruption as reasons for his departure.

Kennedy's candidacy has drawn attention due to his unconventional views, including promoting baseless anti-vaccine conspiracies during the COVID-19 pandemic and opposing US aid to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

These positions have garnered him support from high-profile figures on the far right.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Supporters

Democrats are concerned that Kennedy's candidacy could divert votes from President Joe Biden, even though Kennedy has garnered praise from some Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Financian Times noted.

He has appealed to those skeptical of US aid to Ukraine and the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kennedy's supporters include prominent figures like Tim Mellon, a GOP donor, former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, and funding from a group backed by Silicon Valley investor David Sacks.

The path to the Democratic nomination for Kennedy appeared improbable, as Joe Biden maintained a significant lead in national polls of Democratic voters.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s espousal of conspiracy theories and positions at odds with most Democratic voters further complicated his candidacy within the party.

READ MORE: Joe Biden's Strong Statement Supporting Israel Amid War

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Robert F Kennedy Jr. formally announces independent candidacy for Presidency in 2024 | Watch in Full - From GBNews
Protests in Guatemala are intensifying as government-led efforts to stop President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office are becoming more common. Arevalo warns that the government might even use violence to stop these intensifying protests.

The tension between protesters and the government could be used as an excuse for declaring a state of siege, Arevalo warned, as protests entered its eighth straight day, with Arevalo's Seed Movement party remaining suspended and the Guatemala Attorney General continuing its raids against the country's Electoral Tribunal in an effort to find so-called "voter fraud."

According to Reuters, the Attorney General's Office has already faced multiple accusations from the international community, including the US, the EU, and the OAS, of trying to undermine the will of the Guatemalan people by interfering with the elections.

Last August, Arevalo defeated establishment candidate Sandra Torres by a landslide to become president-elect, but the justice system is being used to hamper the transition with raids into his party's offices and the Electoral Tribunal.

Guatemala Attorney General Calls for Authorities To Act Against Protesters Calling For Her Resignation

The protesters are asking Attorney General Consuelo Porras to resign from her position after she continues using her position to go after President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and actively trying to prevent him from taking office in January next year.

However, according to the Associated Press, she now wants authorities to go after these very protesters asking for her resignation. So far, the protests have largely been peaceful and her call for the government to act against them gets credence to Arevalo's warnings.

READ MORE: Guatemala: President-Elect Bernardo Arevalo's Seed Movement Political Party Suspension Lifted

Many of the disenfranchised in Guatemala, including Indigenous groups and rural dwellers, have taken to the streets to protest on what the government is doing against the man they voted for. While many have blocked roads, blocking over 80 around Guatemala, not much violence has been reported.

Porras described the demonstrations as "illegal" and stated, "I want to express my complete disagreement and distaste" of the protests.

She added that they are clearly violating the rights of all Guatemalans. However, her critics are saying that these protesters are merely showing their right to free speech.

Officials Going After President-Elect Bernardo Arevalo Sanctioned by US Government Over Corruption

The raids against Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal, as well as Bernardo Arevalo's Seed Movement party, have been perpetrated by prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche under the orders of AG Consuelo Porras. However, in Guatemala, these two officials have been accused of corruption multiple times.

Porras, who became Guatemala AG in 2018 and then in 2021, was accused of "being an undemocratic actor and undermining investigations into corruption," leading to her being sanctioned. She has since denied any wrongdoing, according to The Guardian.

Meanwhile. Rafael Curruchiche, the current chief of the Public Ministry's Office of the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity (FECI), was sanctioned because he obstructed investigations into acts of corruption by disrupting high-profile corruption cases against government officials. He also raised spurious claims against FECI prosecutors, private attorneys, and others who tried going after allegedly corrupt politicians.

Arevalo has campaigned against corruption and has been a shock to the system in Guatemala, which has suffered decades of corruption and political malpractice. His election has unnerved many among the country's political elite.

READ MORE: Guatemala Elections: Observers Say Political Parties and Justice System Interfered

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Guatemala's president-elect calls on protesters to defend democracy after election office raided - Global News
Donald Trump is once again being investigated, this time over allegedly sharing sensitive information about a US submarine with an Australian businessman at Mar-a-Lago. The incident reportedly happened after he left office.

The Australian businessman in question is billionaire Anthony Pratt, who was staying at Mar-a-Lago in April 2021 and spent some time there with the former president. Several sources, including ABC News, NBC News, and the New York Times, confirmed that the ex-POTUS shared sensitive information about the submarine with the foreigner. Two sources familiar with the situation were cited.

The incident was already reported to Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is also investigating Trump's handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results through fraudulent and violent means.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung called the report "illegal leaks."

He claims these are "coming from sources which totally lack proper context and relevant information. The Department of Justice should investigate the criminal leaking, instead of perpetrating their baseless witch-hunts while knowing that President Trump did nothing wrong, has always insisted on truth and transparency, and acted in a proper manner, according to the law."

Pratt has already been interviewed by the FBI, and he has recounted that he told the ex-president that Australia should buy submarines from the US. This excited Trump and told him what was supposed to be classified information regarding US subs.

Pratt, executive global chairman of cardboard company Pratt Industries, reportedly told these secrets to at least 45 other people, including Australian officials, former prime ministers, journalists, and his own employees.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Barred From Issuing Threats and Intimidation for Election Disqualification Case

Republicans Silent About Donald Trump Leaking Classified Information to a Foreigner

Republicans were sounding the alarm on Hillary Clinton possibly violating classified information rules by using her own personal emails. However, they were largely silent about their presidential frontrunner leaking sensitive information to foreigners.=

According to the Washington Post, a poll showed that around two-thirds of Republicans do not believe Trump had classified documents. This is after the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago home and actually found classified documents.

That same poll also found that only 18% of Republicans thought the ex-POTUS's classified documents indictment was "very serious," while only 14% said they would be "very concerned" if any of the classified documents Trump kept fell into the wrong hands.

Donald Trump Repeatedly Changed His Defense Regarding Classified Documents

Donald Trump's sharing classified information with an Australian businessman has certainly sparked concerns. However, his defense of his mishandling of classified information has been quite inconsistent.

Forbes pointed out that at first, Trump stated that he was cooperating with authorities on the investigation. When the FBI found classified documents in Mar-a-Lago that debunked that claim, he argued that the FBI acted inappropriately despite the warrant. This soon evolved to him arguing that he had a standing order to declassify any documents he brought with him out of the White House, an argument legal experts say would not stand in court as proper channels needed to be accessed to declassify them.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Co-Defendant Jenna Ellis Turns On Ex-POTUS, Calls Him a 'Malignant Narcissist'

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Reports: Donald Trump discussed US nuclear subs with foreign nationals - Sky News Australia
As we approach the Oct. 15 conclusion of National Hispanic Heritage Month, and since Mexican imports are showing no sign of slowing down as beer consumers in America choose the refreshing, premium suds over others, I thought it timely to provide readers with a little Mexican beer education.

To be as fully imbedded in adult beverage trends as I am, it is necessary to have an eye on the goings-on of nationally available beer venturing our way from south of the border. More specifically and pertinent to this summers hottest topics revolving around marketing and lifestyle brands, I am mostly interested in the impact Modelo Especial has on beer in general now that the Constellation-imported brand has usurped all domestic macro brands like Miller Lite and Bud Light and maintained status as the highest-grossing beer for months.

During a recent conversation with Stephanie Roatis, product team consultant for 3 Tier Beverages in Chicago and who has assisted this column numerous times by providing expert product data and insight, I was thrilled to find out that Mexican imports  a category comprised mostly of Modelo, Corona, Dos Equis, Pacifico, Tecate and Victoria  are up 10-13% in dollar sales while velocity (or pull through) is up 8-12% versus late summer last year.

According to Dan Schwalbach, the beer manager for Steves Wine-Beer-Spirits, there has been a noticeable uptick in Modelo Especial sales at the trendy bottle shop on Junction Road on Madisons West Side. This positive shift corresponds to a decrease in sales of American macro brands, although not as dramatic as the increased Modelo sales.

For the most part, our sales have followed the national narrative of macro beers versus Modelo and Mexican imports in their respective categories, he continued.

Other Mexican imports are growing right alongside Modelo. Schwalbach said, we have always carried a decent selection of Mexican imports so it has been more of an adjustment to whats popular in that world. Modelo packages are far and away the leader, but Pacifico has also picked up for us recently.

But beyond the fact that Mexican beer comes from Mexico, what exactly is a Mexican import? Are there any stylistic attributes that define the beer we colloquially refer to as cerveza?

The easy answer is not specifically. According to judging standards set forth by the Beer Judge Certification Program, most Mexican imports fall under the international lager categories that are further broken down into pale like Corona, amber like Dos Equis Amber and dark like Negra Modelo.

In a conversation with Jacob Sembrano, head brewer for Chicago-based Cruz Blanca Brewing, one of the Midwests leading Mexico-influenced breweries, I got to the bottom of what he thinks defines an international lager.

Without looking at any sort of judging guidelines, there are some things that I think they should all have in common, said Sembrano. Light-bodied, sub 5% ABV, perceived dryness, low IBU, low-to-no hop aroma, medium malt character and sweetness, brilliantly clear and as pale as pale can be.

The key to this broad category of import beer? Refreshment ... how a brewer gets there is up to them. Adjuncts or not is fine either way. I do not deem them necessary, while the judging categories for these types of beers seem to think they are, said Sembrano.

But how does international lager translate to the liquid coming out of Mexico? For Sembrano, he argued it is important for imbibers to understand that all Mexican beer as we know it is German and Austrian in design. There isnt a true Mexican style of beer because it was not indigenous to Mexico to begin with.

Corny? Not

So, what does this mean from a recipe standpoint in the grand scheme of things? A few characteristics stand out.

The beer is probably built upon malt bases of bready Vienna and biscuity Maris Otter. Perhaps a little sharpness from the addition of a zippy Munich or chocolate malt complement. Old world, Noble hop additions add ribbons of citrus, floral and earthy herbal notes that balance the malt backbone. Yeast expression should be clean while adding very little to the overall sensory experience.

Do you notice the one ingredient missing from this list?

There are a lot of assumptions people make about Mexican beer that come from poor education and maybe even the stereotypes regarding Mexicos love affair with the all-mighty maize, Sembrano said.

When we opened Cruz Blanca, we connected with many Mexican historians. We traveled to Mexico. I did a fair amount of my own research. There is very little evidence to support the assumption that Mexican lager was brewed with corn, or needs to be brewed with corn.

Throughout the mid-1800s and pre-commercialization of beer in America, corn was used as an adjunct to supplement barley in beers immense growth. At this point, Mexico was still several decades behind America with regards to drinkers and brewing technology and the few beers that were being brewed in Mexico (at this time) were brewed by Europeans and were made with barley being shipped from Europe, Sembrano said.

Corn is sacred to Mexico. It has sustained civilizations for thousands of years in Central and South America. It is one of the three pillars of preColumbian Mexican cuisine and heritage. To think that corn would have also been used in a beverage brought to Mexico via violent European colonization is a bit abhorrent. Mexico had their own indigenous beverages made of corn, agave and fruit. Beer was not one of them.

Sembrano concluded, The truth is that the use of corn in Mexican beer today is a result of American influence and the commercialization of beer across the North American continent.

Liking lager

American craft beer has been playing with this concept of Mexican lager for a few years now and has coincided with the consumer desire for lager beer and the growing understanding of the diversity that exists within the category. This bodes well for the craft Mexican lager moving forward.

Weve seen a renewal of styles that wouldve been foolish to brew a few years ago. The diversity of styles within lager is something a lot of people are latching onto with curiosity, stated Schwalbach of his craft beer buyers at Steves  Junction Road.

When asked about an influx of craft beers Mexico-inspired offerings, Schwalbach said, It seems there was an influx a few years ago that didnt come with a definition or distinction for what a Mexican-style lager is. Is it a Vienna like Victoria? Is it light and bright like a Pacifico? Does it have lime added? Like a lot of next big thing styles in craft, you had a lot of breweries pulling in different directions on flavor profile.

For Jacob Sembrano and Cruz Blanca, Mexico Calling is their interpretation of a Mexican-style lager.

It is not to be confused with a light lager and not all Mexican lagers are light lagers. It is rich for a sub-5% ABV beer; it has a perceived dryness to it; it is highly carbonated; it has a mid-palate sweetness that gives the drinker a sensation of fullness and fulfillment without being fatiguing. To me, it touches on all the expectations one would have when drinking a Mexican lager and brewed with zero corn or rice.

One thing is for sure. America cannot get enough of Mexico, Sembrano said. We love Mexican food. We love mezcal. We love tequila. We love Mexican beer! We love refreshment.
The government of the Dominican Republic announced on Monday that it will temporarily allow the trade of essential products, including food and medications, on its border with Haiti, AP reports.

However, the ban on the entry of Haitian citizens will be maintained amid an ongoing dispute over the construction of a canal that targets a river running through both countries.

This measure will take effect on Wednesday at 8:00 AM in four border provinces to facilitate the trade of essential goods, particularly those intended for children, as stated in a government press release.

This announcement follows weeks of tension between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, triggered by a dispute over the construction of a canal on Haitian soil aimed at diverting waters from the Massacre River to address a drought affecting the Haitian Maribaroux plain.

The situation has caused a diplomatic crisis between the two neighboring nations that share the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

The Dominican government also revealed its plans to increase the military presence along the border to deter gang members who might attempt to enter the Dominican Republic as a multinational force arrives in Haiti with the approval of the UN Security Council.

READ NEXT: Hundreds of Haitians Return Home Ahead of Dominican Republic Border Shutdown

Closure of Dominican Republic-Haiti Border Affects Dominican Business Owners

The decision to reopen trade at the border comes after growing international pressure, led by the United States and the United Nations, for both countries to resolve their dispute and allow humanitarian aid to pass through the border into Haiti, according to the Miami Herald.

The Dominican Republic's President, Luis Abinader, had previously defended the border closure, but recent protests by Dominican business owners and the economic impact on the region have increased the pressure for a resolution.

Haiti heavily relies on imports from the Dominican Republic, and the Dominican Republic exports about 8.4% of its total exports, valued at approximately $1 billion in 2022, to its neighbor on the shared island of Hispaniola, Barron's noted.

Additionally, the Dominican government stated that a ban on the export of electronic products and construction materials will remain in place to protect the environmental heritage of the region.

Suspension of Visa Issuances to Haiti Citizens Extended

In the statement, the government declared the indefinite closure of the border to immigration to prevent the transit of people from Haitian territory and extended the suspension of visas for Haitian citizens.

Authorities will also establish a fund to finance an agricultural program aimed at reducing the employment of undocumented immigrant workers. These new measures will be implemented on Wednesday, per Reuters.

The Dominican Republic has previously faced criticism for deporting tens of thousands of Haitian migrants fleeing violence in their own country, drawing the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Kenya, which had offered to lead a UN-backed international force in Haiti at the request of the Haitian government, temporarily postponed the deployment of 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean nation.

READ MORE: 7th Suspect in Fernando Villavicencio Assassination Killed in Prison

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Haiti canal construction: Dominican Republic closes borders in response - From Al Jazeera English
A disturbing incident unfolded at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, California, on Monday when an individual crashed a vehicle into the consulate's lobby, according to CNN.

The situation escalated as police responded to the scene, resulting in the suspect being shot and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The incident occurred around 3:09 PM PT when the driver crashed into the lobby area of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China, an office primarily responsible for handling visas, according to Sgt. Kathryn Winters, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department.

Law enforcement reacted swiftly, arriving at the scene within minutes. Officers confronted the driver in the consulate's lobby, ultimately resorting to the use of lethal force.

Immediate medical assistance was provided to the suspect by both the police and paramedics from the San Francisco Fire Department. Despite their efforts, the suspect succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Sgt. Winters reported, "In spite of the lifesaving efforts of the police officers, firefighter/paramedics, and personnel at the hospital, the suspect was later pronounced deceased at the hospital."

The exact number of individuals present inside the consulate during the incident remains unclear. Sgt. Winters confirmed that no other injuries were reported.

At a subsequent news conference, Sgt. Winters refrained from disclosing the specific reasons for the use of force, whether the suspect was armed, or further details about the individual involved.

The nature of the crash, whether it was intentional, and additional information about the suspect and the incident remain undisclosed at this time.

READ NEXT: California Bans 4 Chemicals Linked to Health Problems

Cause of the Crash Under Investigation

The aftermath of the crash at the Chinese consulate and the ensuing police activity led to the closure of the intersection of Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard.

The San Francisco Police Department issued an initial alert to the public regarding "ongoing police activity" in the vicinity just prior to 4 PM, Per SFGATE.

The SFPD is actively investigating the incident in collaboration with personnel from the Chinese Consulate and the U.S. State Department.

A witness, identified as Stanford student Sergii Molchanov, shared that he heard the driver shout, "Where's the CCP?" upon exiting the vehicle following the crash.

Molchanov described the incident as "quite terrifying and shocking."

Car Crash on California Chinese Consulate Caught on Camera

Video footage circulating on social media showed a vehicle inside the consulate building, with officers aiming their weapons at the driver's door while onlookers hurriedly evacuated the premises, NDTV noted.

A spokesperson for the consulate expressed that the suspect's actions constituted a "violent attack" that posed a significant threat to the lives of consulate staff and individuals on-site, resulting in substantial damage.

Crews of local news said they saw a man covered in blood, who appeared unresponsive, being taken away from the scene.

The consulate issued a strong condemnation of the violent attack and called for a thorough investigation into the incident in accordance with the law.

San Francisco, California, home to a substantial Chinese population, including residents from Taiwan, has a complex cultural landscape due to differing views on Taiwan's status between Beijing and Taipei.

READ MORE: Florida: 69-Year-Old Skydiver Plunges to Death

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: San Francisco police say they shot and killed a person who crashed into Chinese consulate - From WGN News
Allentown Planning Commission recommended a 12-story, 189-unit apartment complex proposed near The Nines at City Place on West Hamilton Street for further review on Tuesday.

The project called Edison Lofts-West is now scheduled to undergo a conditional review by the citys zoning board on Oct. 16.

The board will determine whether the developer Blackstone Structures LLC can demolish three existing townhomes at 960 966 W. Hamilton St., inside the citys Historic Business District Overlay, in order to construct the new apartment building.

G&E Smoke Shop and Cigar Lounge, Lords and Ladies hair salon and Beijing Wok restaurant are all active retail tenants of the existing properties. The city said on Tuesday, the tenants would be displaced if the project is approved.

Chairman of the Planning Commission Christian Brown said he believes the additional foot traffic that the finished building will generate downtown would make up for the cost of displacing the businesses. More housing supply would generate more affordable housing in the longterm, he also said.

Any additional housing creates affordable housing by increasing supply, Brown said.

The new apartments would be priced at market-rate and include offices, a fitness center, classrooms and several restaurants.

The building would be a collaboration between the developer and Lehigh Carbon Community College, according to a report by The Morning Call.

No new parking is being built to accommodate the new building. Instead, tenants will be directed to park in the citys Maple Street parking garage.

The garage on Maple Street would also be used by customers at the nearby hotel and attendees at the concert hall being built by City Center Development Corp. on the same block of Hamilton.

Edison Lofts-West received a recommendation from by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission in September. Read the Lehigh Valley planners full comment letter here, beginning on page 17.

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Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter.
If youre a fan of Nordstrom Rack, youll have lots to celebrate on Black Friday 2023 as this retailer offers some mega deals that you arent going to want to pass up.

Nordstrom Rack has discounted merchandise that is often the same brands that appear on the shelves at parent company Nordstrom. This merchandise ranges from designer handbags and shoes to big discounts on apparel and home goods from all the top brands.

Nordstrom Rack offers these items at a reduced price with big sales that run all throughout the year. However, one of its biggest sales is during Black Friday, where it offers even bigger savings but only while supplies last.

If youre planning on shopping the Nordstrom Rack Black Friday sale, heres what you need to know to get ready to score a big deal.

When does the Nordstrom Black Friday sale start?

While the Nordstrom Rack Black Friday sale typically starts in mid-November and runs through Cyber Monday, this year we expect that this mega sale to start even earlier. More and more retailers are kicking off their Black Friday events sooner this year and we wouldnt be surprised to see Nordstrom Rack do the same.

We believe that Nordstrom Rack will start offering its best deals before November 16 and it will continue this years Black Friday sale several days past Cyber Monday (November 27).

We expect to see big discounts this year that could extend up to 65% off already reduced merchandise as it did in previous years. Plus, Nordstrom Rack also offered 35% off clearance items during Black Friday last year, which could happen again in 2023.

What are the deals for the Nordstrom Rack Black Friday sale this year?

Nordstrom Rack has already given some hints about what discounts will be available during the Nordstrom Rack Black Friday sale.

It said to expect markdowns on popular merchandise from UGG, Cole Haan, Barefoot Dreams, Vince, Free People, Madewell, Eileen Fisher, Ted Baker London. Plus, youll find price drops on handbags, sunglasses, activewear, travel essentials, beauty products and more.

But you dont have to wait until Black Friday 2023 to find a deal at Nordstrom Rack as the retailer has already started rolling out early Black Friday deals that you can shop online now.

Heres a look at some of the top Nordstrom Rack deals you can find ahead of Black Friday 2023.

RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL AND SHOPPING:

When is Black Friday 2023? What to expect and early deals

Nordstrom Black Friday 2023: When does the huge holiday sale start?

UGG Black Friday: When does the UGG Closet open?

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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
MORE: Victim in fatal Allentown shooting had aspirations to model, study medicine, mother says

Charges have been upgraded to include felony criminal homicide against a 21-year-old in a shooting that killed an 18-year-old woman in Allentown, authorities said.

Ethan Nicholas Bastien already is facing charges in the Oct. 2 shooting that led to the death of 18-year-old Sian Amaya Cartagena, a former Allentown resident who recently moved to New York. The suspect was previously was facing a felony count of attempted homicide, and two felony aggravated assault charges, including one involving a deadly weapon.

The attempted homicide charge is now upgraded, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced Tuesday morning.

Bastien on Oct. 2 was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Amy Zanelli. He continues to be held without bail at the Lehigh County jail. The Lehigh County Public Defenders Office said no attorney has been assigned to Bastiens case.

The incident unfolded at 5:38 a.m. at a home in the 2000 block of West Green Street. A 911 called placed by Bastien initially indicated Cartagena shot herself, authorities said.

Investigators later found the woman unconscious on a bedroom mattress, according to authorities. An investigation determined Cartagena suffered a gunshot wound to the head and investigators seized a shell casing at the scene, authorities said.

Cartagena was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest Hospital in Salisbury Township, where she later was pronounced dead at 2:48 p.m. Oct. 4. Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio said an autopsy was conducted this past Monday. Buglio said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the body and the manner was ruled a homicide.

Lehigh County First Assistant District Attorney Gavin Holihan told lehighvalleylive.com Bastien lived at the home where the shooting took place. Bastien was the only other person present in the home at the time of the shooting, authorities said.

The relationship between the pair remains unclear as the case continues to be investigated by the Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County District Attorneys Office and Lehigh County Coroners Office.

Services are pending for Sian Cartagena. An online fundraiser has since been launched to help offset funeral expenses for the teen. As of Tuesday morning, $4,825 was raised toward the $15,000 goal by 76 donors.

Dolores Cartagena, Sians mother, told lehighvalleylive.com Tuesday morning her daughter attended Louis E. Dieruff High School in Allentown from her freshman to junior year. The family in May just moved to Manhattan. Sian Cartagena had aspirations to become a model and study medicine, her mother said.

The shooting of Sian Cartagena marks the 16th homicide in the city since the start of the year. Of those 16 incidents, a dozen have been considered criminal by authorities.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
An investigation has been launched into the shooting death of a man who reportedly attacked law enforcement with a blade Sunday in Rice Lake. Officers from the Rice Lake Police Department and Barron County Sheriffs Department involved with the shooting are on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

According to a press release, officers from the Rice Lake Police Department and the Barron County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call Sunday at about 5:30 p.m. for a woman who had been stabbed by a man on the 400 block of Hatten Avenue in Rice Lake.

Upon arrival, officers found the woman being treated by emergency services for injuries and a man was barricaded in an apartment, refusing to come out. Initially the police deployed a K9 unit and used non-lethal options in an attempt to gain compliance from the man.

The man charged at officers with a bladed weapon and officers shot him, the release stated. First aid was given to the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers from the Rice Lake Police Department and the Barron County Sheriffs Office were equipped with body cameras.

No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.

No information has been given as to the extent of injuries of the woman who was stabbed. She has not been identified.

The Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations is leading the investigation with help from a crime response specialist and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The release states that all involved law enforcement are cooperating with the investigation.

The Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations will review the evidence and determine the facts of the incident before turning over investigative reports to the Barron County district attorney.
Nazareth police will be on hand for a demonstration planned Saturday outside the Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity.

The group Nazareth Together will picket a childrens story time about American history sponsored by the group Moms for Liberty. The protest coincides with the event at 11 a.m. Oct. 14 at the library at 295 E. Center St. in Nazareth.

Nazareth Together is a pro-LGBTQ+ organization that will protest Moms for Libertys agenda to ban books that tackle issues of race and human sexuality. The Southern Poverty Law Center calls Moms for Liberty a right-wing extremist group. Moms for Liberty members have said the books they want out of libraries and schools are not age appropriate.

Nazareth Police Chief Randall Miller is in regular contact with April Gabriel-Ferretti, who is planning the demonstration. Hell have a couple officers at the library Saturday.

Were preparing for everything and anything, the chief said.

The chief said a counter-demonstration was in the works, but organizers elected not to follow through.

We are not aware of any planned counterprotests happening and we urged anyone thinking of planning anything not to come, said Aly Warner, the vice president of the local chapter of Moms for Liberty.

Miller has designated a spot on the sidewalk in front of the library for Nazareth Together protesters. If counter-protesters show up, police will ask them to protest in a spot on the sidewalk a few feet east of Nazareth Together.

Gabriel-Ferretti said she plans to follow the police departments plan. She will discourage her group from interfering with anyones right to enter or leave the library.

What we want to do is remind Moms for Liberty and their supporters or anyone who aligns with their ideology that they dont speak for the masses, Gabriel-Ferretti said. Nazareth is no place for hate.

Miller said hes optimistic the protest will remain peaceful.

We are doing everything we can to plan so that everyones rights are maintained, and its done in an orderly manner, he said.

Inside the library, author Rebecca Price Janney will dress up as Martha Washington. Shes published several books through a Christian publishing house. Her event for kids is part of her history mystery tour. Gabriel-Ferretti is concerned that the story time will whitewash American history, minimize slavery and marginalize LGBTQ+ Americans.

When giving history lessons, they should teach all of history and not just the parts theyre comfortable with, she said.

Library board treasurer Len Fodera previously said Moms for Liberty has a right to use the meeting space the same as any other community organization. The library takes no position on the politics of the organization, he said.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep. Susan Wild on Tuesday afternoon joined thousands of striking workers at the Mack Trucks plant in Lower Macungie.

Mack Trucks employs about 4,000 union workers at the regional plant, as well as in Maryland and Florida. The United Auto Workers announced Monday morning on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, all workers planned to walk off the job at 7 a.m.

The move came after the union rejected a five-year, tentative deal with 73% of its members dissenting. Sticking points have been better wages, benefits and better job security. Both sides on Oct. 2 announced they reached the tentative agreement the previous evening.

Pennsylvania Democrats Fetterman and Wild visited the Local 677 union hall, spent some time chatting with workers along the picket line and offered brief remarks. Wilds 7th Congressional District covers the Lehigh Valley. Local 677 represents the Lower Macungie plant.

I proudly stand in solidarity with the striking UAW workers with Mack Trucks across Pennsylvania and this country, Fetterman told the crowd. The union way of life is sacred, it built Pennsylvania and this country. As long as these workers walk the picket line, I will have their backs.

UAW President Shawn Fain previously said its inspiring to see union members at Mack holding out for a better deal, while Mack President Stephen Roy had called the move unnecessary.

The tentative deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification; no increases on health insurance premiums; and a $3,500 bonus if ratified on the first vote, according to the company. The contract was set to expire on Oct. 2, according to the companys website about the 2023 labor negotiations.

The strike marks the second time in four years workers have gone out on strike at the Lower Macungie plant.

They join another 25,000 United Auto Workers union workers already striking at selected factories run by automakers General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis. Those strikes began on Sept. 15, starting with one assembly plant for each company, then spread to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later, according to the Associated Press.

The union has since reported progress with all three automakers.

This is the third time Fetterman has met up with striking auto union workers on the picket line within the past few weeks. He previously drove from Braddock, Pennsylvania to Wayne, Michigan to join striking UAW workers at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant. This past Friday, the senator visited more striking workers at a GM facility in Langhorne, Bucks County.

Fetterman additionally published an op-ed piece for MSNBC about the ongoing UAW strike against the Big 3 auto makers and his support for the striking workers.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Update: Suspect charged with homicide in fatal Allentown shooting of 18-year-old woman, authorities say

They were always the Five Live Team to mother, Dolores Cartagena, who raised her five children close in age, spanning 11 to 18.

Now, Dolores Cartagena said losing her first born child to violence has left a void too difficult for the family to bear. The New York woman, who raised her family for several years in Allentown, is still trying to process what led to the death of daughter, 18-year-old Sian Amaya Cartagena.

It was always Me and my five, Dolores Cartagena told lehighvalleylive.com Tuesday morning. We were always so close together. We were really tight-knit.

Sian Amaya Cartagena died following a shooting Oct. 2 at a home in the 2000 block of West Green Street in the city. Sian Cartagena was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest Hospital in Salisbury Township, where she was pronounced dead at 2:48 p.m. Oct. 4.

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Ethan Bastien, 21, of Allentown has been charged in the case. Bastien prior to the death was facing a felony count of attempted homicide, and two felony aggravated assault charges, including one involving a deadly weapon. Bastien on Oct. 2 was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Amy Zanelli.

Court records show bail was denied in the case. Bastien remains at the Lehigh County jail. The relationship between the pair is unclear as the case continues to be investigated by authorities.

Prior to his arrest, Bastien lived at the same West Green Street address where the shooting took place, Lehigh County First Assistant District Attorney Gavin Holihan told lehighvalleylive.com. The prosecutor believes the home is owned by Bastiens mother, he said.

An online fundraiser has since been launched to help offset funeral expenses for Sian Cartagena. As of Tuesday morning, $4,825 was raised toward the $15,000 goal by 76 donors.

Sian just turned 18 ... and had so many goals, dreams and plans for herself and her future, just stepping into becoming a young adult, the fundraiser states.

Services are pending and will be in Allentown, Dolores Cartagena said.

Gracious girl

It didnt take long for Dolores Cartagena to come up for a name for her first child after giving birth at a Bronx, New York hospital on Aug. 19, 2005. She chose Sian (pronounced Sigh-Anne) because it means Gods gracious gift.

The name would be fitting for Sian, who went on to become her mothers helper with her 14-year-old brother, Sean, and three sisters -- 15-year-old Kaylah; 12-year-old Melodie; and 11-year-old Chloe.

The family was big on celebrating holidays and birthdays. Sian could be found front and center, pitching in with whatever the family needed. She often made her loved ones laugh, especially with her signature catch phrase: You people are weird.

Thanksgiving, though, was Sians favorite holiday. She was a foodie, enjoying the sampling of the smorgasbord spread out before her on the table.

She enjoyed the whole menu that I made, Dolores Cartagena said.

Franchesca Anaya of Tobyhanna, Monroe County took on an Aunt role to Sian Cartagena. She grew up with Dolores Cartagena ever since they attended third-grade together. Their families were heavily intertwined.

She was a free-spirited girl since birth, Anaya recalled of Sian. She was loved by many.

Sian Cartagena enjoyed makeup and doing hair with aspirations to become a model. She wrote poetry and music lyrics and sang songs she recorded in her iPhone. Her favorite musical genres were hip hop and R&B. She was equally passionate about drawing and sketching, as well as running.

Sian Cartagenas sidekick was her cat, Cottontail, also known as Looney, whom Sian Cartagena simply adored, Dolores Cartagena said.

Sian Cartagena attended Louis E. Dieruff High School in Allentown from her freshman to junior year. The family in May just moved to Manhattan and Sian Cartagena was getting ready to enjoy all the things upperclassman do  prom, class trips, graduation, her mother said.

Sian Cartagena had high hopes to someday become a physician and wanted to study medicine in college, Dolores Cartagena said.

She had a lot of different goals, Dolores Cartagena said. People keep telling me who she was to them, that she had a kind soul. She really and truly did.

Shooting under investigation

The Oct. 2 shooting and death of Sian Cartagena remains under investigation.

The incident is being handled by the Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County District Attorneys Office and Lehigh County Coroners Office.

As of Tuesday morning, Bastien has not been charged with homicide in the incident. The Lehigh County Public Defenders Office said no attorney has been assigned to his case.

Holihan, however, said more details would be forthcoming.

The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released shortly, he said.

The shooting of Sian Cartagena marks the 16th homicide in the city since the start of the year. Of those 16 incidents, a dozen have been considered criminal by authorities.

More recently, a 58-year-old man on Sept. 23 was fatally shot in the 500 block of West Allen Street. That incident was followed by 35-year-old Giselle Karen Trabal on Sept. 29 being shot and killed at an apartment in the 600 block of North Law Street. Obadiah Whack, 29, of Allentown has since been charged with homicide in the Sept. 29 shooting, authorities said.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
By David Thornburgh

Momentum is building in Harrisburg for a proposal to move Pennsylvanias presidential primary elections forward by several weeks, starting next year. The proposal has bipartisan support in both chambers and from the governor. Next years presidential primary election will coincide with the start of Passover, which would make it impossible for some Jewish voters to participate on Election Day. Moving the primary forward could also offer Pennsylvania voters a larger say in next years presidential nominating contest.

Moving the primary to ensure that our Jewish friends and neighbors can exercise their franchise while remaining observant to their religious beliefs is the right thing to do, and if Pennsylvania voters gain extra clout in the presidential primaries, so much the better.

But theres another group of 1.2 million voters who have been shut out of primary elections for far too long. Who are they? Voters who choose to register as independent or unaffiliated with a political party. Its past time to make things right with them as well.

I believe that every Pennsylvanian deserves the right to participate fully in our democratic process. If we all shoulder the $50 million cost of holding elections, we all ought to be able to participate. Otherwise, independent voters are paying for a party theyre not invited to, which sounds an awful lot like taxation without representation.

This arcane policy puts our Commonwealth out of step with the vast majority of other states. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania is now one of only 7 states in the entire country that operates with a closed primary system; this is down from 9 in 2021. Most recently, Maines legislature welcomed independent voters into their primaries, and now Florida is moving towards a similar system. Even with super majorities in the North Carolina General Assembly, Republicans there are seeking to permanently open their primaries to independent voters. Almost every other state seems to have grasped that primary elections are better  and their parties are stronger and more vibrant  when all voters can participate.

Is Pennsylvania really going to wind up as the last state still clinging to this fundamentally anti-democratic practice?

Two years ago, when I was CEO of the Committee of Seventy, I founded our Ballot PA campaign with one simple goal in mind: to end the practice of denying any registered voter the chance to vote in primary elections. Thats simply unconscionable in the state that is the birthplace of American democracy. Its not a new idea  bills have been introduced in each of the last four legislative sessions, and a bill actually passed the Republican Senate in 2019. But the idea has picked up a real head of steam.

Thousands of Pennsylvanians have signed our petition calling for change, and the idea has attracted support from hundreds of community leaders across the commonwealth. Twenty-six local newspapers have now endorsed the proposal. Bipartisan bills have been introduced and been heard in both the House and Senate.

Allowing all voters to vote in every election is not a partisan issue; its just plain old Pennsylvania common sense. Democracy works better when more voices are heard and more people participate. And its very popular with Pennsylvanians across the political spectrum.

Research shows that 74% of all Pennsylvania voters support allowing independents to vote in primaries, including 69% of self-identified Trump Republicans, 67% of traditional GOP voters, 85% of progressive Democrats, 80% of Black voters, and 75% of centrist Democrats.

Pennsylvania veterans are hit particularly hard by this out of date policy. According to the Pew Research Center, half of all veterans identify as political independents, and given that Pennsylvania is home to 800,000 veterans, that means as many as 400,000 Pennsylvanians, people who have put their lives on the line to serve their country, are being denied their fundamental right to express themselves at the ballot box  even to choose their own Commander-in-Chief.

How could anyone in good conscience challenge the right of our veterans to vote in every election? As my good friend and partner in this fight, Steelers legend (and decorated US Army veteran) Rocky Bleier likes to say, our service members dont fight for the Red team or the Blue team. Our military members fight for the Red, White, and Blue team.

I applaud the members of both parties who have put aside their political differences and come together to ensure that Jewish voters wont be excluded from the primary process next year. I urge them to build on that momentum and that logic by sending a bill to Governor Shapiro that will allow every Pennsylvanian to participate fully in our democracy. Its both the right thing and the smart thing to do.

David Thornburgh is senior advisor, and former president and CEO, of the Committee of Seventy, a government reform group in Philadelphia, Pa.
A second Judge is due to be assigned to Portlaoise District Court in the new year.

The announcement comes a year after Judge Andrew Cody first expressed concerns about the volume of business at the court.

Judge Cody raised the issue in October 2022 when he argued that an additional Judge would be needed to help deal with the volume of business.

In June this year he repeated his concerns about the number of cases being heard in the court every Thursday.

On the date in question, he noted there were 358 cases listed and said the number was likely to rise to 370 before the end of the day. In order to deal with the volume of business, Judge Cody said it would be necessary to give each case just 45 seconds.

He said allowing only 45 seconds per case would be unfair to everyone involved.

The sooner there is a new courthouse and an additional Judge the better, Judge Cody said at the time.

It seems Judge Cody has prevailed as a new Judge is expected to sit in Portlaoise every Monday from the start of the new year.

A spokesperson for the Court Services confirmed the move in a statement to the Leinster Express/Laois Live.

The President of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly is currently in a position to be able to assign additional judicial resources to Portlaoise and it is planned to have extra sittings on Mondays from the new year.

Like all such assignments it is likely it will initially run for a number of months to allow time for it take effect, and to review the impact of the additional sittings on waiting times for cases, the spokesperson said.

Portlaoise District Court is one of the busiest District Courts in Ireland.
The budget offered some good news for students, but there remains a lot left to be done, a representative has said.

Dean Kenny, who is president of the students union at the University of Galway, welcomed an extension of tuition fee reductions for a further year.

But he said Budget 2024 did not adequately address the biggest issue facing students  a lack of suitable accommodation.

He claimed students were too often viewed as an afterthought, with little focus on resolving issues affecting them.

The budget will see the temporary 1,000 euro reduction to the 3,000 euro student contribution to fees extended for a further year.

Students whose households have a joint income below 100,000 euro can apply for a grant through SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to secure a further 500 euro fee reduction.

The fee reduction is welcome but its a once-off and theres no guarantee its going to stay, said Mr Kenny.

He said many young people are relinquishing their dream of a degree and dropping out of their courses because they cannot find somewhere suitable to live.

Mr Kenny said he was aware of one student who commutes seven hours a day to attend classes after being unable to secure a bed.

Ahead of the budget, University Students Ireland (USI) called on the Government to create 30,000 new student beds.

There was little to no mention of accommodation, Mr Kenny said of Tuesdays spending plan announcement.

We called for 30,000 additional student beds and for government to step in with third level institutions to ensure those are built. No mention, no funding ringfenced, nothing.

We welcome any cut in fees but our real issue with accommodation hasnt been met, hasnt been taken seriously.

He added: The number one issue for students is accommodation or lack thereof.

And the supply thats there to a large extent is unsuitable, too expensive. Students are in digs, theyre not close to the campus. People are commuting long hours, long distances. People driving up to seven hours a day. Its ridiculous. I didnt realise how bad it was until I got this job. I was kind of thinking its bad, but its very bad.

There needs to be a strategy put in place where government works with our third level institutions to create more affordable student accommodation because we havent seen that.

Were seeing more and more students, more and more people who go to third level education in this century, in this decade than ever before.

Its a lot more accepted, its a lot more commonplace, but were not seeing that being reflected in the numbers of purpose-built student accommodation beds.

Mr Kenny, who is 23 and from the village of Belcarra in Co Mayo, said students were being encouraged by the Government to avail of accommodation being offered by people who have signed up to the scheme that allows them to earn 14,000 euro tax free for letting a room in their home.

But he claimed students who did that were being left exposed because they did not have full tenancy rights.

Its a temporary fix to a larger problem, he said.

Students are being advised to go to digs, but we have no guarantee that theyll be looked after in digs and that their rights are protected and for a large amount of people theyre not.

They have no access to kitchen facilities, they are kicked out on a Friday for the AirBnB guests at the weekend and then allowed back in on a Sunday, theres no guarantee of a tenancy contract, no guarantee of the deposit being returned. Rents are constantly being increased.

Theres no protections for them, theyre not even recognised as a tenant. Theres nothing there for them.

The budget included a measure to allow parents who pay for their student children to have tenancies in rent a room accommodation to claim the rent tax credit  a credit that has increased to 750 euro.

Mr Kenny said the detail of that scheme need to be clarified and said there were questions on how it would be rolled out.

The students union leader, who recently graduated as a secondary school maths teacher, said there needed to be a permanent reduction to the 3,000 euro contribution to tuition fees.

He said there was also a need to widen access grants through SUSI.

We advertise ourselves as having free education and then we charge 3,000 euro to attend university, he said.

Referencing the numbers of students deciding to drop out of courses, Mr Kenny warned: Some of them give up their hope of attending university because they cant get a place to live. So everyone knows how bad it is. But I think no one really, at the top level, seems to seriously want to look at changing it.

It seems like were an afterthought most of the time. And were the people that are going to university to get education, primarily to better ourselves to be able to contribute to society, to be able to pay our taxes, to be able to build a home, to be able to build a life, to be able to have a career and then were not supported in that education.

So it does feel like were an afterthought.
A Laois entrepreneur is using his own experiences of mental health challenges as a force for good as he launches a fundraising drive to raise funds for a national suicide awareness and positive mental health charity.

Michael Fitzpatrick, Property Manager of the destination property, Fitz of Inch in Stradbally will donate 100 to the charity from each property booking from now until December to SOSAD, which has offices throughout the country, including in Portlaoise.

Michael says he went through a period of serious and sustained bullying through part of secondary school, causing him to face anxiety and depression as he got older.

I have first-hand knowledge of the insidiousness of bullying and indeed how it can lead to serious mental health challenges with the person who has been bullied needing support, and this support can come in many forms he says.

Bullies can feed on difference, and I was a young gay man, to be honest I didnt even know my sexuality then, and as such was a target for them.

I was very fortunate, however, in that I had unwavering support from my family, I could go and confide in them, and they were just a rock of strength and comfort, as were my close friends.

I was just a kid then, and I would have been completely lost without my circle.

I was able to go and seek professional support which helped me enormously and helped me understand my mental health, he said.

Years later Michael was approached by somebody who had subjected him to bullying, but this time the bully had just one thing on his mind and that was to apologise.

Really when any bully sees the effect his or her actions have on people, it makes them sit up and reflect. It takes a lot of courage to apologise, it was clearly on the bullys mind, and I genuinely really appreciated the acknowledgement and the apology.

I now know the warning signs if my mental health is taking a dip; I can get overwhelmed and I tend to suffer with SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder) in the winter months but Im extremely lucky in that I know myself extremely well and I address it and tackle it head on. Its all about knowledge, where to go and who to go to and when. That is why I am so happy to be able to give back and to help SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters) who do such incredible work in the area of positive mental health and suicide prevention.

Michael says he is a stronger more resilient person following his experience of bulling and his mental health challenges and credits it with giving him strength of character which has carried him through to today.

I am definitely a more robust person as a result of what I had to go through.

"I know the bullies were probably struggling to fit in as well and probably just trying to put up a front for their own insecurities and mental health challenges. Im one of the lucky ones and I cherish the peace I have, and I am able to deal with dark days when and if they come. The whole experience brought me closer if anything to my family and friends and that is truly priceless, he said.

Michaels message for anybody who is going through any issues with mental health is.

"Pick up the phone!

I truly cannot stress this enough. To whomever that may be, your mum, your best mate, the girls, your granny or a work colleague, ring them and talk to them, in fact do a mental health check in with them, you never know who needs to hear your voice.

We look forward to working closely with SOSAD Mental Health Charity during this fundraiser and hope that our contribution can make a positive impact on the lives of those in need within our community, he said.

In a bid to raise as much money as possible for SOSAD, Fitz of Inch has also launched a social media campaign, allowing people who may not be able to stay at the property, a chance to donate online.

We want to spread the net as wide as possible, give everybody a chance to help this fundraising campaign and this in itself mirrors what SOSAD is trying so hard to do; provide a wide safety net to people experiencing mental health issues, he said.

The funds raised by Fitz of Inch will go towards SOSADS brand new Ambassadorial campaign where it hopes to create a network of people from all walks of life who have been trained to understand what mental illness is, what to look out for and help them to develop the necessary skills including active listening, having difficult conversations, and signposting people to appropriate help to get the help they need.

Carol Murphy is the General Manager of SOSAD Ireland.

We are delighted that you have chosen us to be the beneficiary of this special fundraiser. This is a great opportunity for us to not only raise funds for our Wellbeing Ambassador Programme but to also raise awareness of Mental Health and the services that are available.

It's a fairly simple concept but has the power to impact communities and business in a big way.

We constantly ask people who are struggling with their mental health to talk to someone, to reach out, to just ask for help. But what happens if they don't know who to reach out to or where to look?

Over the last number of years, we have come to realise a number of things, chiefly, that if people can get help early enough with their problem, in many cases it stops the problem from becoming bigger and perhaps prevents that person from ending up in crisis or worse, planning to take their own lives.

The Wellbeing Ambassador Programme will train and support individuals who would like to take action to help support the mental health and wellbeing of others. They can be a member of the public, perhaps a person who is already a volunteer in their community, or indeed anyone who would like to be involved.

To support the fundraiser go to www.fitzofinch.ie

SOSAD is a non-profit organisation that provides free counselling services and support to people who are struggling with various mental health issues. It has offices in Laois, Cavan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan, Monaghan Call 1800 901 909

About Fitz of Inch

Fitz of Inch is an 18th-century property in Stradbally, Co Laois.

The luxury period estate, which is known for its gracious elegance, is solely an adult only destination, catering for a growing sector of discerning guests who value tranquil, revitalising country escapes.

The entire property, providing accommodation for large groups of people can be rented out.

Fitz of Inch prides itself on sustainability.

It won the GRINN Sustainability Awards 2022- Best Sustainable Accommodation in Ireland. The European Sustainable Travel Awards rewards businesses in the hospitality sector that go the extra mile towards developing an eco-friendlier tourism industry.
A question over the potential over-reliance on Local Property Tax (LPT) for funding was put to Kildare County Council (KCC).

The topic came up during a motion heard at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, which took place on Friday, October 6 last.

Labour Party councillor Angela Feeney put forward the following motion to KCC: "That the council provides a footpath on the Boreen Road (L5068) from Straffan Cemetery to the north entrance of the K Club."

A similar motion was put forward by Fianna Fail Cllr Naoise O Cearuil.

In response to both councillors motions, KCC said in its report at the meeting: "There is not sufficient width available along this public road to install a footpath.

"Land would need to be purchased in order to provide a footpath."

"There is no funding available in the current budget for this request," KCC added.

Cllr Angela Feeney (LEFT) put forward the motion at the meeting, while Cllr Naoise O Cearuil (RIGHT) made the comment about Local Property Tax funds.

After being informed about the report, Cllr O Cearuil asked KCC: "If there is a need to acquire land, has the owner been approached?"

He added: "Everything seems to be reliant on Local Property Tax (LPT)... are there other funds that we can draw from?

"Because this dependency on LPT leaves us very hamstrung, and its becoming frustrating, to be honest."

However, Independent Cllr Padraig McEvoy had a different views, and replied to Cllr O Cearuil: "Dublin City Council reduced its LPT funds, and now they have no money to spend."

He also asked KCC if the area was on the Sli na Slainte initiatives route, and if not, could it be placed on the route.

Cyril Buggie, and engineer with KCC who was present at the meeting, told Cllr O Cearuil that the land owner has been contacted by the council.

"Believe me, I get frustrated when it comes to the lack of funding too," he added.

Another representative of KCC chimed in to answer Cllr McEvoys question, telling him: "Sli na Slainte comes with very tight parameters."

Marian Higgins, KCCs Director of Services for Climate, Community, Environment and Water matters, also assured the councillors at the meeting: "The team will look at all options on the table for the area."

Cllr Feeney said that she welcomed the news that the land owner was approached by KCC.

She also said that she agreed with Cllr McEvoy and Cllr O Cearuils points.

However, Cllr Feeney stressed that the footpath 'should be a priority... for peoples safety.'
A woman is being prosecuted for allegedly making a false report to Kildare gardai.

The allegation relates to one Margaret O'Brien, with an address listed as 867 Piercetown in Newbridge.

Gardai told Judge Desmond Zaidan about the accusation against the 25-year-old at Naas District Court on Thursday, October 5 last.

It was alleged by gardai that Ms O'Brien reported two Rolex watches as stolen to gardai from her home during the course of a burglary.

Garda Sergeant Mary Meade said that one watch is worth an estimated 10,000, while the other watch is worth between 3,000 and 5,000.

ALLEGED CAB SEARCH

However, she added that following an alleged search by the Criminal Assets Bureau on her home in 2021, two watches were seized, which matched the description of the ones she allegedly reported as being stolen.

Sgt Meade further said that gardai believe that the accused allegedly committed the offence in order to gain insurance money.

After being read a description of the offence, which was listed as a summary disposal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Judge Zaidan accepted jurisdiction over the case, but accepted that he was of the belief that the accusation was serious.

The judge adjourned the case to February 1, 2024, for hearing.

He also remanded Ms O'Brien on continuing bail until the case resumes.
The Chippewa County Board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue its investigation into county sheriff Travis Hakes for alleged misconduct.

Going forward, the board will consider the existing investigation report, any new information that comes to light and a binder of information Hakes presented to each board member Tuesday, which he referred to as a counter-investigation.

The vote was held following a 1-hour, 45-minute closed session in which the board discussed Hakes. After reconvening in open session, county commissioners amended their resolution to continue the investigation slightly to allow for new information to be considered. No additional public discussion took place among the board members prior to the vote.

Tuesdays meeting began with public comments, in which 12 people took to the podium to speak for or against Hakes and to comment on the boards investigation. An unusually large crowd was gathered for the meeting. The county board room was filled with spectators, and two overflow rooms were set up to handle the number of people who showed up.

Hakes was then granted 10 minutes to speak, and he provided a typed copy of his statement to board members before taking to the podium to read it. He ran out of time before completing his statement. Hakes had just one page left to read, he said, but the board did not let him finish and told him he was out of time.

I will tell you this, I think it's disheartening. But there's something fitting there with this whole process, Hakes told the Herald after speaking at the podium. They had four hours to attack me behind closed doors, and I had 12 minutes in front of the public to defend myself.

Hakes defends himself

The statement Hakes gave during the meeting implied that he was relieved to be able to speak publicly in his own defense.

I stand here before you tonight, finally able to speak to you in person, 144 days after I was first made aware of an issue brought forward to (human resources) by one of my employees, he said. Tonight is a meeting I wish would have occurred 143 days ago, as it would have prevented a lot of misunderstandings on all sides.

Hakes said the investigations report was full of overreaching accusations.

The Chippewa County Board initiated its investigation into Hakes during a June meeting after a county employee alleged in May that Hakes had sexually harassed her.

Hakes said Tuesday, in regard to my text messages with the employee, my intention was to make her feel welcome and included in our office.

That investigation resulted in a report prepared by von Briesen & Roper that was made publicly available Oct. 3. The report showed the investigation into Hakes had expanded beyond allegations of sexual harassment to include a host of other concerns about alleged misconduct and policy violations.

The 87-page investigation report demonstrated the Chippewa County Board is concerned about Hakes' honesty, leadership, competence, training compliance, absenteeism, handling of confidential information, conflicts of interest and impropriety on the job.

Hakes claimed the investigator excluded at least one interview from her report and that she and her firm was known for taking on cases that were anti-law enforcement. He also wanted to know why the board hired a firm from Madison instead of using lawyers from the local community.

Hakes asked the board why they would believe the words of an obviously biased attorney from Madison, who financially profited from this investigation and who I will prove withheld critical information from her report to drive home false narratives, over the words of your duly elected sheriff, who the majority of your constituents voted for based on his reputation of being honest and trustworthy.

Hakes also defended his training record and said he is fully in compliance with the mandatory peace officer requirements of the state of Wisconsin.

He said he has sought out training opportunities throughout his career, including becoming a certified crisis negotiator and certified evidence technician.

It has always been my intention to take the leadership courses recommended by the county, but given the fact that our office had already exceeded its training budget, I opted to take these courses at a later time, he said.

Hakes also said he rejects the idea that there has been a conflict of interest between his businesses and his role as sheriff.

To the limited extent these businesses have continued since I've been sworn into office, I have not had a single transaction with a sheriff's office employee in either my real estate or firearms business, he said. At the suggestion of several employees, I ordered coffee mugs with the sheriff's office logo on them to improve morale and instill pride in our office. I purchased these mugs with my own money.

Closed session

The county board later moved to a closed session to discuss Hakes.

Todd Krysiak  the executive editor for River Valley Media Group, which includes The Chippewa Herald  reached out to the Chippewa County clerk before Tuesdays meeting to question why the board would meet in a closed session to discuss Hakes, asking that the conversation happen in a public session.

In the email Krysiak wrote to county clerk Jaclyn Sadler, he said he did not believe Wisconsin State Statutes on closed meetings apply to this matter. Wisconsin State Statutes Sec. 19.85(1)(f) was cited in the county board meeting agenda as the reason for the board to go into closed session during the meeting.

It states that meetings of governing bodies may occur in closed session if the subject of their discussion involves financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons  which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations.

Sadler responded to Krysiak by saying she believed he was incorrect and that she hoped he understood that the board and administration has been open as to the prompt release of the report and the sheriffs augmentation. The board is careful with the matters it is addressing in closed session with the understanding that transparency is very important.

Krysiak also pointed out that Hakes is not a county employee but an elected official, saying, it does not seem that 19.85(1)(f) would apply.

Sadler said that though the sheriff is not an employee, the investigative report includes the initial complainant and many other county employees who cooperated in this investigation and have reputational interests in this matter, who the county has sought to protect from retaliation, and who the county continues to protect.

As part of our remedial efforts to protect these employees, closed session discussion for part of this evening is appropriate, Sadler said.

Krysiak questioned how a public discussion of the allegations against Hakes could cause a substantial adverse effect upon his reputation, as the allegations have already been made public.

Krysiak said that he believed that any potential adverse effects upon Hakes reputation have already been done.

An open discussion regarding the findings of that investigation would seem appropriate, he wrote.

Sadler responded that there was an agenda item for the board members to have an open discussion regarding the findings of the investigation and to make a decision on how to move forward.

At the end of Hakes time at the podium Tuesday, before the board entered into a closed session, Hakes told the board, If you are meeting in closed session to discuss anything that involves me, I waive all my rights to privacy, and in the interest of transparency with the media and everybody here, I would encourage you to stay in open session.

The meeting proceeded as scheduled, and the board entered a closed session. It returned to an open session, in which the board said it would continue its investigation.
The Department of Defence has issued a situation update on Irish Defence Forces serving in Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

The announcement follows an escalation in violence between Israeli forces and members of the Hamas militia group, which came in the form of a surprise attack launched by Hamas at daybreak on Saturday, October 7 last.

Hamas has taken numerous people of all ages hostage, while one 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman, Kim Damti, is speculated to be among the hostages.

Commenting on the situation, the Department said that the Irish Defence Forces have personnel serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon, UNDOF in Syria and UNSTO in Lebanon, Syria and Israel.

Regarding personnel serving with UNTSO in Lebanon, Syria and Israel, the Department said: "The Irish personnel serving as UN Observers with UNTSO in Israel, Lebanon and Syria are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue to monitor the situation.

"They are all safe and well and are complying with UN security precautions.

"This is predominantly focused around considerations to unnecessary travel.

"There are 13 Defence Forces personnel serving with UNTSO."

As for UNDOF personnel in Syria, the Department had this to say: "The Irish troops of the 68th Infantry Group maintain a high degree of vigilance and continue to monitor the situation.

"All non-essential activities are suspended.

"They continue to conduct framework operations congruent with mandate implementation.

"There are 116 personnel currently serving with UNDOF."

Lastly, regarding UNIFIL personnel in Lebanon, the Department said: "The Irish troops of the 122nd Infantry Battalion in UNIFIL went into Groundhog (took shelter in protected positions) today at 1325hrs (GMT) and continue to monitor the situation from protected positions."

According to the Department, this was as a result of exchanges of fire across the Blue Line.

The Department continued: "All Irish and Maltese soldiers are accounted for and are safe.

"They remain in Groundhog, but recent reports indicate that the firing is dissipating.

"Once safe to do so they will continue to conduct planned framework operations.

"There are 342 Defence Forces personnel serving with UNIFIL," the Department concluded.
A legal challenge to the Governments new laws to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles will be heard over five days in November, a High Court judge has directed.

Delivering his case management directions, Mr Justice Colton said the court has now received 20 applications for judicial review from Troubles victims challenging various aspects of the legislation.

The judge said he has identified a lead case to be examined by the court.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received royal assent last month despite widespread opposition from political parties, victims organisations in Northern Ireland and the Irish government.

Aspects of the laws include a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences to those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

The ICRIR will be headed by former lord chief justice Sir Declan Morgan.

The new Act will also halt future civil cases and inquests.

In his directions, the judge said the court recognises the real and genuine concern of all the applicants who have issued proceedings.

He added: The courts objective is to ensure that the legal issues that arise in relation to the Act are heard and determined as expeditiously as is reasonably possible.

It is recognised that multiple issues are raised by the individual applications.

Equally, it is clear that there is a huge degree of overlap in respect of the applications.

It is simply not practical, nor fair, to agree to hear all 20 applications, something which is accepted by all the parties.

The judge said challenges to the Act are focussed on a number of areas, including the establishment of the ICRIR, the cessation of police investigations, the cessation of inquests and civil proceedings and the potential immunity from prosecution.

However, he said the courts primary focus will be the argument that sections of the Act are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Justice Colton directed that the lead case will be a joint submission brought by Martina Dillon, John McEvoy and Linda McManus.

He also granted leave for the cases brought by Patrick Fitzsimons, Teresa Jordan and Gemma Gilvary, as their applications raised issues not covered by the lead case.

The judge also granted an application from the Wave Trauma Centre, a cross-community victims group, to provide written submissions in the case.

The judge directed that the hearing will begin on November 20 and is set to last for five days.
A farmer has said he is disappointed as there is absolutely nothing for us in Budget 2024, criticising Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue for letting the sector down.

He said more is needed to help farmers after a very bad year which saw high costs for feed and milk prices plummet.

Pat OBrien, who has a farm of 70 cows near Tullamore in Co Offaly, said theres nothing, nothing, in it for farmers.

He added: Look it, theres a finite resource there, and theres a lot of ministers around the table shouting for their sector but unfortunately we have one of the weakest ministers going.

Hes possibly one of the worst we ever had. Thats my honest opinion  he was a third choice, there was a reason for that.

He said energy credits will help him overall, but said that if farmers had been the only ones affected by energy price hikes we mightnt have got that either.

Mr OBrien said dairy farmers were on top of the world last year, but this year price hikes were starting to bite now with feed and fertiliser reducing only marginally as milk prices drop.

He said that this year, massive increases in costs were counteracted by the increases in prices for their product.

With high electricity and oil prices expected to impact families again this winter, he expressed concern about how it would affect his single-income family.

He said: The government has been filling us with platitudes for years  when it comes to action its very thin on the ground.

He said the nitrates derogation, which reduces the amount of organic nitrates that can be used per hectare from 250kg to 220 from January, was quotas by another name and is particularly harsh on the smaller farmer.

The measure is being introduced in response to poor water quality recorded in Ireland.

Both the nitrates limitation from the EU and land-use review was a double whammy for farmers, he said.

The guys with 50-150 cows, those are the guys that are really going to be hit.

The guys with the 500 or 600 cows, which fall into the bottom category, and they could even expand, he said.

He said there was nothing in the budget to compensate farmers for the nitrates derogation, despite ministers indicating that they wanted to support farmers worst affected by the reduction.

He added: Actions speak louder than words and actions havent been taken yet. Platitudes are very cheap, very cheap. They can make promises but its the delivery that counts.

Asked what more Budget 2024 could have done to help farmers, he said that a fund to help small farmers hit by the nitrate limitation, more resources so that grants for slurry storage can be activated faster and to more farmers, and a farm management deposit scheme.

There are guys only being cleared now for (slurry storage) grants announced last year. Guys cant start these projects now, its the spring summer that you need these things.

We need a fund to mitigate the nitrate reduction from 250 to 220 (kgs N/ha).

The guy who is being penalised for water quality is the guy who has been milking cows all his life. The problem is that the guy who has been there all his life is penalised the most.

Weve been campaigning for years for a deposit scheme where farmers could draw down money in bad years, he added.

The scheme, which the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has called for in its pre-Budget submission, would allow farmers to put income into an account in the year the profits were made, but it would not be taxed until the farmer decides to use it.

It suggested that the Family Farm Fairness Mechanism (FFFM) would have a limit of 30,000 euro per annum, and could be overseen by the Revenue Commissioners.

Its like a lifebuoy, its there when its needed, Mr OBrien said, who is the ICMSAs Offaly representative. These bad years dont come often but when they do, theyre very bad.

Among the agriculture measures emphasised in the budgetary speeches to the Dail on Tuesday was more than 700 million euro in agri-environmental schemes such as the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme.

On food production in general, he addsed The milk or the beef we produce, we get a paltry sum for it but everyone else along the line is getting a better sum from it.

If the powers that be knew more about food production they wouldnt be half as anxious to push through this Mercosur deal.
A Dublin-based teacher has said that there is no incentive in Budget 2024 to encourage teachers to return to the profession.

Maria Markey Greene, who works at Rosmini Community School in Drumcondra, Dublin, has been a teacher for 17 years.

She said she is not surprised that there is a crisis in the retention and recruitment of teachers.

She added: You expect if you get into a career where you spend sometimes eight or nine years of formal education, you just expect to not be looking at your pay cheque every month asking can we have a holiday?'

She said that the cost of electricity, food and fuel has gone up while teachers pay has remained the same, and a reduction in teacher recruitment numbers makes it feel like youre doing more work.

She said: More burnout is happening, people are seeking career breaks, theyre looking at how do I get out of teaching?

Its not as good a profession as it used to be. Teachers are going abroad or taking career breaks and not coming back.

She said that Budget 2024 does not have any incentive for somebody to want to come back to Ireland.

She added: If a teacher comes back from another country, there can be issues with getting recognised, for example.

If its waiting for people to be trained, that will take a couple of years. And I also noticed that there was quite a significant increase in the training allowance for guards and nurses get a training allowance, there still isnt an allowance given to the PME (Professional Master of Education) for secondary school teachers.

They changed it from a one-year course to a two-year course. On the second year, you do a placement in the classroom, and youre not paid for that. In other countries, there is an allowance  in Scotland, they give you 80% of your salary.

Its an expensive year, and youre doing full-time work without getting any pay, so its very difficult for you to take on another job at the same time.

She said the government should reopen the public service pay deal and examine pay and hours, stating that there was extra long pay scales for teachers over their career paths.

She also called on the reinstatement of pay bumps to teachers who had completed a masters degree.

She said: There is no incentive given in this budget for doing any additional training. So if you want additional special education teachers, the allowances havent been brought back.

We used to have an allowance for teaching visually impaired and hearing impaired students. We used to have an allowance for having masters.

She added that although the budget provides for 744 additional primary and secondary teachers, she would like to know where they are going to be recruited from.

She welcomed the extension of the free school book scheme to the junior cycle, but said it should only be the start, adding that a lot more investment was needed in secondary schools.

Ms Markey Greene said that the energy credit would help her and her family, but is not enough in the long term.

She added: Theyre a one-time measure and there are sustained increases. The wholesale price for oil went down last week, but we dont see it as a petrol bump.

I put 80 euro into my car for the first time ever in my entire life, it was shocking. I have a 1.6 litre hybrid car, so Im doing the green model and its not a huge petrol tank.

Were in our 40s and at our age I feel we shouldnt be having discussions about whether to put the heating on, she said.

Im a child of the 80s, my dad was unemployed. I remember St Vincent de Paul coming to the door.

Have we gone back to that? You go to college to make a better life for you and your family but here we are, in our 40s, and having that conversation again, and having that same feeling of guilt when heating is mentioned.

And its not just us, I hear others talking about it as well.
Irish-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Chuck Feeney, who has died at the age of 92, will be remembered across Ireland for his generosity which changed lives.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill and Tanaiste Micheal Martin were among those who paid tribute after Mr Feeneys death was announced.

Mr Feeney, who founded Atlantic Philanthropies, gave almost nine billion US dollars to various causes around the world, including several across the island of Ireland.

The businessman made his money selling luxury duty-free goods to travellers across the world.

It is believed that he donated up to 1.3 billion dollars on projects in the Republic while 570 million dollars went to causes in Northern Ireland.

He supported education, giving money to the University of Limerick and Queens University in Belfast.

He also financially supported integrated education in Northern Ireland.

Tributes have been paid to him on both sides of the Irish border.

Ms ONeill said: Chuck Feeney will be remembered fondly across Ireland as a man who made a generous and very important contribution to the development of the peace process.

He will also be remembered for his financial philanthropy in the areas of health, education, research and community grassroots peace-building and rights activism.

So very sorry to hear of the passing of Chuck Feeney, whose philanthropy changed the lives of so many people here. His investment underpinned research which led to leading edge clusters, delivering many high value jobs. A genuine inspiration whose legacy is immense. pic.twitter.com/lUcZPcIA3Q  Jayne Brady (@jaynecbrady) October 9, 2023

Without the selfless intervention of Chuck Feeney many areas of vital work on the island of Ireland at community and institutional levels simply would not be in the advanced state they are today, and for which we are all eternally grateful.

Jayne Brady, head of the Northern Ireland civil service, paid tribute to Mr Feeney on social media.

She said: So very sorry to hear of the passing of Chuck Feeney, whose philanthropy changed the lives of so many people here.

His investment underpinned research which led to leading-edge clusters, delivering many high-value jobs.

A genuine inspiration whose legacy is immense.

Mr Martin said Mr Feeneys generosity was inspirational.

He said: Chuck Feeneys extraordinary generosity, selflessness and his philanthropic legacy have transformed the lives of people on the island of Ireland, north and south, young and old.

He was a pioneer in the world of philanthropy.

Chucks support for education and reconciliation projects on this island delivered real and measurable change, and their impact endures and will continue to do so.

University of Limerick President Professor Kerstin Mey said: He was the catalyst behind the establishment of the University of Limerick Foundation in 1989 and was a long-time foundation board member.

Chuck Feeneys giving while living philosophy is at its heart an exceptional story of giving.
Sofidel Earns Climate Pledge-Friendly Badge by Amazon





HORSHAM, Pa., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper products, has earned a Climate Pledge Friendly badge from Amazon. This label highlights Sofidel's unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

"We're thrilled to have received the Climate Pledge Friendly label," said Fabio Vitali, Vice President of Marketing, Sofidel America. "This recognition reinforces our dedication to sustainability and our mission to provide our customers with products that are the highest quality while helping to preserve the planet."

The Climate Pledge Friendly initiative is part of Amazon's commitment to conserving the natural environment. This badge is given to products and companies that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions. Under this badge, Sofidel is committed to routine reporting on greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of decarbonization tactics. The goal is to achieve net-zero annual carbon emissions by 2040.

Sofidel's commitment to sustainability is ingrained in its corporate values and reflected throughout its practices to help reduce its ecological footprint. This commitment is demonstrated further through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of its product line.

The badge has been received by all of Sofidel's Papernet and NICKY products available on Amazon here.

To learn more about Sofidel's commitment to sustainability and its range of Climate Pledge Friendly products, visit www.sofidel.com/en/the-group/sofidel-in-the-world/sofidel-america/.

About?The?Sofidel?Group???

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries ? Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA - with more than 6,800 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development. For more information, visit www.sofidel.com .

SOURCE Sofidel

9 october 2023 at 18:12

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Christian Horizons Adds SVP of Operations and SVP of Sales & Marketing to Leadership Team





ST. LOUIS, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Horizons, a leader in senior living and senior health care services across the Midwest, is pleased to promote Brenda Brandl as the Senior Vice President of Operations to lead the operations team of the organization. In this role, Brandl will manage and direct the operations, clinical and quality functions of Christian Horizons' senior living communities and support services. Dora Silvia has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing. In this role, Silvia will lead all sales and marketing efforts within the organization, communicating the value and promise of this long-standing organization.

Christian Horizons Adds SVP of Operations and SVP of Sales & Marketing to Leadership Team

In both roles, Brandl and Silvia will lead the teams in fulfilling the organizations' commitment to empowering older adults throughout the regions they serve.

"I am thrilled to promote both Brenda and Dora to lead the teams," said Kate Bertram, Christian Horizons' president and chief executive officer. "They are extremely talented in their respective roles and have incredible working knowledge in leadership and management. Through their multi-decade career experience with and prior to Christian Horizons, Brenda and Dora have a wealth of experience in advocating for residents and our associates. Their contributions to the team have already offered significant value in our mission of faith-led service to older adults. I am pleased to expand their talent throughout the organization."

Brandl has over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience. She's provided clinical oversight to dozens of senior living communities in her career, from assisted living to skilled nursing and long-term care. Her passion for health, wellness and clinical outcomes has led her to many career accomplishments, including reduced readmission rates, increased quality outcomes, and successful associate education and training initiatives.

Silvia has over 20 years of hospitality and healthcare sales and marketing experience. She has led sales and marketing professionals to follow a streamlined sales approach, find what's important to those we serve, and ensure the service we deliver is true to the promise we make. Silvia is an adept leadership developer and works diligently to raise the bar of the sales and marketing professionals in our industry. Her proven results are industry-known.

Under Brandl's and Silvia's leadership, Christian Horizons affirms its commitment to the health and wellbeing of older adults, finding purposeful living and meaningful experiences. They ensure the organizations' guiding principles of our resident and associate experience program, CHLife, is achieved.

"We've listened to the needs of the next generation of those we serve now and into the future. That's why we've designed our services and communities to help older adults find new horizons through independence, signature experiences and enrichment?what we call CHLife," said Bertram.

Whole-person wellness is a key aspect of CHLife. Through thoughtful and intentional programming, associates support residents, participants and guests through thoughtful programming which may include organized fitness classes, one-on-one wellness training, nutritional support, community partnerships and older adult-led initiatives.

Christian Horizons was founded to address needs in the community and is proud to be a mission-driven organization committed to older adults. Founded in 1962 with the opening of their first community in Lincoln, Ill., the group has extended their reach across the Midwest and proudly serves older adults of all faiths and backgrounds through innovative and intuitive senior living and senior health care offerings.

As a faith-led, person-first organization, Christian Horizons is in service to a mission of empowering older adults in mind, body and spirit through faith-led service. Based in St. Louis, Mo., the organization owns and operates a portfolio of seven life plan campuses and five stand-alone older adult communities offering a mix of independent, assisted and supportive living; memory support; long-term healthcare centers and short-term rehabilitation. The organization also serves older adults through Safe Haven Hospice in central Illinois; Senior Care Pharmacy Services; and New Horizons PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in St. Louis, Mo. Learn more at https://christianhorizonsliving.org/ .

SOURCE Christian Horizons

9 october 2023 at 18:41

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Fraser Institute News Release: Canada ranks 22nd out of 28 countries with universally accessible health care on psychiatric care beds





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadians endure relatively poor access to mental health services when compared to what is available in other developed nations with universal access health care systems, particularly for psychiatric care beds, psychiatrists and psychologists, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.



"Making better use of limited resources, with a focus on improving the availability of services over time, will be essential to properly address Canada's mental health care gap," said Nadeem Esmail, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of Mental Health Care: How is Canada Doing?

The study compares Canada's mental health services to other countries that, like Canada, have universally accessible health care.

It finds that Canada has relatively fewer psychiatric care beds (ranking 22nd out of 28 nations), psychiatrists (ranking 16th out of 28 nations), and psychologists (ranking 15th out of 26 nations).

And wait times to access mental health services have grown in Canada from 18.3 weeks in 2003-05 to 24.7 weeks in 2020-22.

The study notes a lack of access to appropriate treatments, low rates of post-hospitalization follow up, relatively poor access to care in rural areas, and general practitioner physician preparedness for dealing with mental health conditions and mental illness as shortcomings of the Canadian approach.

"Canada's relatively poor record on mental health services?and growing wait times?have occurred in spite of Canadian governments spending a larger share of health dollars on mental health services than governments in comparable countries," Esmail said.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Nadeem Esmail, Senior Fellow

Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:

Drue MacPherson, 604-688-0221 ext. 721, [email protected]

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter and Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

10 october 2023 at 05:00

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Sustainable Skylines Partners with Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. to Manage Drone Advertising Operations





Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., a pioneering leader in aerial vehicle-powered logistics and resource management, announced a partnership with Sustainable Skylines, a Miami-based drone advertising and data analytics company that uses drones to tow industry?standard sized banners over high-density populated locations. Sustainable Skylines will use the Mitsubishi Electric AnyMiletm drone logistics management platform to cost effectively and safely manage all drone-based advertising campaigns and aerial advertising operations, including logistics and resource management.

The AnyMiletm drone management and logistics platform seamlessly integrate advertising management software to streamline the process of creating aerial ad campaigns and managing drone resources, resulting in improved drone-mission supervision and optimization. Operators can effortlessly manage complex Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) route planning and scheduling, making airspace management and mission planning and coordination effortless. In addition, real-time monitoring of advertising missions and routes enhances operational efficiency and safety.

"Drones present an opportunity to usher a more sustainable, secure and scalable alternative to banner?towing airplanes, providing aerial advertising firms the capability to reduce their carbon footprint with sustainable transport and efficiently expand their aerial-vehicle powered operations," said Zafer Sahinoglu, vice president and general manager of Mitsubishi Electric Innovation Center (MELIC), the developer of the AnyMile platform.

"Sustainable Skylines is transforming the aerial advertising industry with drones, and we're thrilled to help them dramatically reduce their operational costs, making aerial logistics and advertising more accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes," added Sahinoglu.

For more information about Sustainable Skylines and its best-in-class advertising technology, visit www.sustainableskylines.com.

For more information about how the AnyMile drone logistics management platform by Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. helps its customers embrace the future of logistics and aerial advertising, please visit https://anymile.io/.

About Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.

Headquartered in Cypress, CA, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., is a US affiliate company of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and manufactures cooling and heating products, elevators and escalators, space and sensing systems, and semiconductor devices. Mitsubishi Electric contributes to a vibrant and sustainable society through continuous innovation and "Making Changes for the Better." For additional information visit us.mitsubishielectric.com/en.

About Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

With over 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric enriches society with technology in the spirit of its "Changes for the Better." For more information, please visit www.MitsubishiElectric.com

10 october 2023 at 07:05

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SymphonyAI Appoints Financial Technology Visionary Blythe Masters to Its Board





Motive Partners founding partner and former J.P. Morgan senior executive joins board of fast-growing SymphonyAI as it accelerates predictive and generative AI leadership and growth

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SymphonyAI, a leader in predictive and generative AI enterprise SaaS, announced today that, as part of a strategic expansion of the board, it has appointed Blythe Masters as an independent member of the SymphonyAI board.

"SymphonyAI's track record and vision for transformational predictive and generative AI SaaS for industries is exciting"

A financial services and financial technology visionary with more than 35 years of professional experience, Masters is a founding partner at Motive Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in financial technology and is renowned for bringing together leading investors, operators, and innovators. She was also a senior executive at J.P. Morgan for 27 years, where she built the structured credit and physical commodities businesses, was CFO and Head of Regulatory Affairs of the Corporate & Investment Bank and served on the firmwide Executive Committee. She also serves as a non-executive board member for Motive Partners portfolio companies Forge Global and CAIS, as well as GCM Grosvenor, and is a former board member of Credit Suisse Group, A.P. Mller Maersk, and Santander Group's International Advisory Board. Masters chairs Wilshire's Digital Asset Advisory Group, another Motive Partners portfolio company, and is an advisor to SandboxAQ, the enterprise quantum services business.

Masters joins SymphonyAI at a time of significant momentum for the company. In addition to rapidly approaching a $500M revenue run rate and more than 40% annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth in 2023, the company is introducing a series of predictive and generative AI-based enterprise solutions as part of its aggressive growth strategy.

"Blythe is a globally respected financial industry leader and strategist who brings rich, diverse, and deep experience to the role as we strategically expand the SymphonyAI board," said Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, founder and chairman of SymphonyAI. "She has led organizations ranging from fast-moving startups to global giants in building new businesses, innovating in the financial sector, and navigating the intersection of rapid technology change and responsible governance. We welcome Blythe's expertise and energy as we continue our rapid growth. She will provide invaluable insights as we continue to establish SymphonyAI as the leader in generative AI-enabled financial crime prevention."

"SymphonyAI's track record and vision for transformational predictive and generative AI SaaS for industries is exciting. I look forward to supporting the acceleration of the company's strategic execution and value creation," said Masters. "The opportunity to change the course of fraud detection and impact regulatory compliance with AI is both exciting and important, and I am energized to work with a team that is setting the pace of innovation globally with enterprise-class AI applications."

Masters was formerly CEO of Digital Asset Holdings, which created the leading enterprise smart contract language DAML used in blockchain transactions. She is a past chair of the Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA), the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), and the Governing Board of the Linux Foundation's open-source Hyperledger Project. Masters is a Senior Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, where she received a BA in economics.

About SymphonyAI

SymphonyAI is building the leading enterprise AI SaaS company for digital transformation across the most critical and resilient growth verticals, including retail, consumer packaged goods, finance, manufacturing, media, and IT/enterprise service management. SymphonyAI verticals have many leading enterprises as clients. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly to 3,000 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals. SymphonyAI is a SAIGroup company, backed by a $1 billion commitment from successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Romesh Wadhwani. Learn more at www.symphonyai.com

Media Contact:

Chris Gale at [email protected]

SOURCE SymphonyAI

10 october 2023 at 07:00

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U.S. Navy veteran James Powell had fallen on hard times.

Powell had used drugs and alcohol on and off after leaving the service and ended up in a downward spiral. In November 2021 he lost his brother. The following spring he lost his leg and went through a divorce.

It was a difficult time, he said. After I lost my leg, I ended up staying at Tomah Veterans Hospital for about six months. And I needed a place to go because the guy I had been staying with didnt have a place that was handicap accessible."

Now clean, Powell said he declined powerful pain medications offered by doctors.

In June 2022, staff at the hospital recommended Klein Hall in Chippewa Falls to Powell.

"I needed access to the bathroom, help getting around and with my wound care, he said. And they found this place.

Klein Hall aims to help veterans with issues like Powell's by helping them find jobs, housing and coping with mental health struggles.

The facility offers two distinct programs  the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program and the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program.

The goal of the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program is to assist military veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by offering temporary housing. The program also provides services that enable veterans to reintegrate into the community by helping them with employment, education and job training, health care and mental health services, and substance abuse recovery.

Veterans may stay at Wisconsin Veterans Housing and Recovery centers for up to 24 months.

Powell speaks highly of the staff at Klein Hall and said the best part about the program has been having a roof over his head.

My case worker, my therapist, the site director, they helped me through a lot, he said. It's just this place in general, its set up for veterans to succeed as long as we follow the program.

Powell entered the Navy in 1998. Of the 15 people who joined the armed forces with him straight out of high school, only three are still alive, he said. One of Powells Navy buddies lives in the region. Thats what originally brought Powell to Wisconsin. The man had offered to help Powell out.

We did our military service together, and he offered me a job at Green Cab, Powell said.

Powell said hes grateful to have regular work, and he enjoys the job. He said he looks forward to getting his own place next year.

According to information provided by the Wisconsin Department Veterans Affairs, one-third of Americas homeless are veterans of the armed services. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are 540,000 veterans residing in Wisconsin and as many as 10,000 are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Bureau Director of Veterans Health Services Jennifer Fahey said when a veteran comes to the Klein Hall facility, staff begin immediately go to work.

We need to get them stable from substance abuse disorders, or just the trauma of being homeless before they came here, she said. The stability grows immediately just knowing that you have a roof, you can come here, you can relax and you can just get settled in.

Then the team begins to work on helping access veterans benefits, teaching employment skills and addressing substance use and mental health concerns, Fahey said.

We're going to give you those skills and those tools, we're going to create a budget, and youre going to learn how to stay within a budget. And then the goal is to connect you to some permanent housing in the city, she said. "Really, everyone has their own timeline of how quickly they can achieve that. So we are taking cues from the veteran."

Robert Becker is a former resident of Klein Hall. He moved into the facility in December 2021. At the time, the Vietnam veteran said he was struggling with cocaine addiction.

I needed to get away. So I went to the VA, and they sent me to Tomah and they recommended this place," he said.

Becker said Klein Hall helped him get his life back together.

A lot of good things happened to me. First, when I first got here, I got donated a vehicle from somebody at a local VFW Post. And then I got my service connection, he said.

Becker said he learned a lot from classes he took at Klein Hall.

I took a PTSD class, a rent smarter class and have been working on not being so much of an introvert, he said.

Becker met one of his best buds at Klein Hall  Shadow the dog. Shadow was a certified therapy animal at the facility when Becker moved in.

We became friends. He just came right up to me, he said.

Now, Shadow has retired as a therapy dog and lives with Becker, who acted as Shadows handler for a while.

Since leaving Klein Hall, Becker has moved into his own place and gotten his own vehicle. He now volunteers at the facility and does his part to embrace veterans, he said.

Veterans Outreach regional coordinator Karla Peterson oversees the Veterans Outreach and Recovery program for 4th Region, which includes Chippewa Falls. The Veterans Outreach and Recovery program staff work with veterans to help them transition out of the housing program.

When the guys are here at Klein Hall, we kind of work in tandem with the housing and recovery program. But I don't really start working with them until two or three months before they're ready to go, she said. Then we'll start meeting and I just make sure that they have all the wraparound services that they need when they're out in the community.

Fahey and Peterson said their hope is that once the veterans leave Klein Hall, they are able to succeed.

We offer these wraparound services because we want these guys to have a successful transition into the community and maintain housing and stability, Fahey said.
Intellijoint Selects AcuityMD Platform to Accelerate Commercialization of Surgical Navigation Solution





AcuityMD, provider of a novel commercial platform for medical technology (MedTech) companies, announced that Intellijoint Surgical, developer of surgical planning and navigation solutions for total hip and knee joint replacements, will leverage its platform to identify new business prospects, manage pipeline, and scale operations. Intellijoint's easy-to-use devices are used by leading orthopedic surgeons globally.

Founded in 2010, Intellijoint launched its flagship product Intellijoint HIP in 2016 and has since supported over 50,000 total joint replacements in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The company has moved from start-up to growth phase with a wider focus on scalability. "Over the next 18-24 months, our focus will be on productivity and expansion, and AcuityMD will play a critical role in supporting these efforts," said Armen Bakirtzian, co-founder and CEO of Intellijoint. "AcuityMD's unified targeting and pipeline management platform streamlines the sales cycle process and enables our team to more efficiently uncover physicians whose patients can benefit from our breakthrough technologies."

AcuityMD's commercial platform accelerates the MedTech industry's complex commercialization process. Medical device companies have traditionally relied on one-size-fits-all CRM software, coupled with static data exports to uncover and reach potential customers. AcuityMD transforms large volumes of healthcare data, such as procedural volumes, shifts where physicians practice, and relationships between physicians, into unified, intuitive workflows that prioritize sales efforts. The platform replaces tedious research, manual input, and unreliable guesswork with accurate insights for high-value customer opportunities.

"We selected AcuityMD because we needed a solid process for identifying, prioritizing, and executing on new business opportunities," said Alex McLachlan, director of sales at Intellijoint. "We were using clunky CRMs, outdated spreadsheets, and flat, purchased data before adopting AcuityMD. The platform has enabled our team to collaborate more effectively and target more consistently across organizations, geographies, and market segments."

"The MedTech industry is facing more commercial challenges than ever before," said Michael Monovoukas, co-founder and CEO of AcuityMD. "Competition is increasing, hospitals and their purchasing decisions are consolidating, and the role of the sales rep is undergoing a fundamental transformation. With AcuityMD, Intellijoint is poised to overcome these challenges and empower their team to quickly identify the best opportunities for their business. It's an honor to partner with them as they expand their reach and accelerate patient access to cutting-edge medical technology."

About AcuityMD

AcuityMD is a leading technology partner to the commercial MedTech industry. Thousands of sales and marketing professionals use AcuityMD's commercial platform to identify target markets, surface top opportunities, and grow their business. With customers ranging from pre-commercial to enterprise, AcuityMD is committed to providing MedTech companies with unparalleled visibility to accelerate adoption of medical technology.

10 october 2023 at 07:10

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FluidAI Medical Announces $15M in Series A Funding for AI-Driven Postoperative Monitor at HLTH 2023





MedTech FluidAI Medical secures funding to empower healthcare providers with data-driven insights to transform postoperative care.

KITCHENER, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - FluidAI Medical (FluidAI), a pioneer in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for postoperative patient monitoring, today announced that it has raised $15 million in Series A funding, led by SOSV and Graphene Ventures with participation from Boutique Venture Partners, Threshold Impact, Cur8 Capital, Leva Capital, Kyto Technology & Life Science Inc., Juno Pharmaceuticals, and a number of esteemed angels, funds and government funding organizations.

Following any surgical intervention, there are inherent risks of adverse outcomes, irrespective of how minor or major the procedure may be. These complications can range from infections, bleeding, and wound healing issues to significant disability or death. They not only jeopardize the health and recovery of the patient but also place additional burdens on the healthcare system, including prolonged hospital stays and increased medical expenses. Recognizing these complications early on is paramount for the comprehensive care of surgical patients.

Some of the most devastating complications that can arise after surgery are anastomotic leaks, which occur after surgery when there's a connection (anastomosis) between two parts of the digestive tract. A leak from this connection can lead to serious complications, including sepsis (blood infection) and death. On average, the leak rate stands at 8% across various types of surgeries, but this can spike to as high as 30% in more complex procedures. The condition also comes with a concerning average mortality rate of 12%. Per 1,000 patients undergoing colorectal surgery in the United States, anastomotic leaks add an extra 9,500 days of hospital care and impose an average additional cost of about $50,000 per affected patient.

FluidAI's first solution, Streamtm Platform, uses advanced sensors and an AI-driven algorithm that may prompt surgeons to identify these leaks earlier, helping surgeons achieve better clinical outcomes and efficiencies within the greater healthcare system. FluidAI's timely funding underscores the industry's pressing need for innovative solutions that can ensure patient safety, reduce hospital stays, and ultimately cut down healthcare costs.

"This funding not only validates our vision but also fuels our mission. At FluidAI, our goal is to continuously push the boundaries of what's possible in postoperative care, ensuring patients recover safely and quickly. With the trust and support of our investors, we're poised to make a monumental impact on how data informs care decisions," said Youssef Helwa, CEO at FluidAI.

"FluidAI is a perfect example of AI-powered proprietary sensing being developed to save lives," said Duncan Turner, SOSV GP. "With FluidAI, surgeons can ensure better clinical outcomes, shorter hospital stays for patients, and cost efficiencies across the healthcare ecosystem. We're thrilled to back the FluidAI team, a passionate group of scientists, engineers and healthcare professionals who are leading this compelling development in post-operative care."

"FluidAI is pushing the frontiers of AI for early postoperative leak monitoring in a way that could save many lives by detecting leaks earlier than what surgeons are accustomed to seeing today. Our investment marks a pivotal step in revolutionizing medical technology. Together, we are committed to a healthier, brighter future for all," said Nabil Borhanu, Founder & Managing Partner, Graphene Ventures

The investment will allow FluidAI to expand into existing and new global markets, grow its dynamic team, amplify R&D efforts, and introduce novel AI-driven solutions catering to a broader range of postoperative complications.

About FluidAI Medical

FluidAI (formerly known as NERv Technology Inc.) is a Canadian medical technology company that uses AI to aid with the early detection of postoperative leaks. From general to gastrointestinal surgeries, FluidAI's mission is to empower healthcare providers with data-driven solutions that improve patient outcomes and advance postoperative care. To learn more about FluidAI and how the company is transforming postoperative care, please visit https://fluidai.md/ .

About SOSV

SOSV is a global, multi-stage venture capital firm dedicated to funding deep tech startups focused on human and planetary health. Operating programs like HAX, IndieBio, and Orbit Startups in cities from New York to Tokyo, the firm has backed nearly 1000 startups in 60 countries. As of April 2023, SOSV's top health startups boast a combined valuation of $6.47 billion. The firm manages a $277 million core Fund IV and a $100 million Select Fund for follow-on investments, along with the Genesis Consortium that provides extra funding for select life sciences startups. With a diverse team and a portfolio representing 84 nationalities, SOSV is committed to accelerating global innovation. Learn more at https://sosv.com/ .

About Graphene Ventures

Graphene Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2015, specializing in direct investments in private technology companies. With offices in Palo Alto, Toronto, Sao Paulo, and Riyadh, the firm has a global reach and is dedicated to helping its portfolio companies scale into multiple markets. The lean but experienced team at Graphene brings decades of expertise in growing high-impact startups, uniquely positioning them to identify promising teams and innovative companies. Learn more at https://graphenevc.com/ .

SOURCE Fluid AI Medical

10 october 2023 at 10:21

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FPX Nickel Announces Appointment of Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary - Felicia de la Paz, Former Corporate Controller, Equinox Gold





VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB: FPOCF) ("FPX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Felicia de la Paz as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Ms. de la Paz has over 10 years of experience in mining, having previously served as a Senior Manager in KPMG LLP's mining practice and as the Corporate Controller for Equinox Gold Corp. The appointment of Ms. de la Paz is part of a planned succession plan, as previously announced by the Company on July 21, coinciding with the retirement of FPX's long-serving CFO and Corporate Secretary, Chris Mitchell, who will be retained in advisory capacity to support an orderly changeover of duties.

"I am very pleased to welcome Felicia to FPX, where she will assume leadership for the company's financial, compliance and administrative functions," commented Martin Turenne, FPX Nickel's President & CEO. "Felicia has risen quickly through the ranks of highly-regarded teams in Vancouver's mining ecosystem, first with KPMG's natural resources group, and then with Equinox Gold, where she played a key role in that company's rapid growth via mergers and acquisitions and major project development over the 2017-22 period.

"On behalf of FPX's board, management, and shareholders, I would like to thank Chris for his many years of professional service, greatly valued counsel and keen sense of humour," added Martin Turenne. "We wish his family and him the very best in his well-deserved retirement."

Ms. de la Paz started her professional career with KPMG LLP's audit practice in Vancouver, culminating with her role as a Senior Manager leading large teams in the execution of audit engagements for a variety of large and complex organizations across multiple industries. After joining Equinox Gold as the Corporate Controller in 2017, she was part of a core financial leadership team overseeing corporate accounting, financial reporting and system development, managing the successful integration of several new acquisitions across multiple jurisdictions, including both operating mines and large-scale development projects. After departing Equinox, Felicia acted as the Vice President, Finance for Vida Carbon, a carbon royalty and streaming company, and has more recently been providing financial and systems advisory services to public companies in the mining sector. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of British Columbia.

FPX has granted 300,000 stock options to Ms. de la Paz. The stock options have an exercise price of $0.40 per share and will expire on October 10, 2028.

About the Decar Nickel District

The Company's Decar Nickel District represents a large-scale greenfield discovery of nickel mineralization in the form of a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy called awaruite (Ni3Fe) hosted in an ultramafic/ophiolite complex. FPX's mineral claims cover an area of 245 km2 west of the Middle River and north of Trembleur Lake, in central British Columbia. Awaruite mineralization has been identified in several target areas within the ophiolite complex including the Baptiste Deposit and the Van Target, as confirmed by drilling, petrographic examination, electron probe analyses and outcrop sampling. Since 2010, approximately US $30 million has been spent on the exploration and development of Decar.

Of the four targets in the Decar Nickel District, the Baptiste Deposit has been the focus of increasing resource definition (a total of 99 holes and 33,700 m of drilling completed), as well as environmental and engineering studies to evaluate its potential as a bulk-tonnage open pit mining project. The Baptiste Deposit is located within the Baptiste Creek watershed, on the traditional and unceded territories of Tl'azt'en Nation and Binche Whut'en, and within several Tl'azt'enne and Binche Whut'enne keyohs. FPX has conducted mineral exploration activities to date subject to the conditions of agreements with First Nations and keyoh holders.

About FPX Nickel Corp.

FPX Nickel Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of the Decar Nickel District, located in central British Columbia, and other occurrences of the same unique style of naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy mineralization known as awaruite.

On behalf of FPX Nickel Corp.

"Martin Turenne"

Martin Turenne, President, CEO and Director

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE FPX Nickel Corp.

10 october 2023 at 07:30

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Leeward Renewable Energy Achieves Significant Project Milestones for Big Plain Solar, White Wing Ranch Solar and GSG Wind Facilities





Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC (LRE) today announced a number of significant project milestones for its Big Plain Solar, GSG Wind, and White Wing Ranch Solar projects. Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) and LRE have signed Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements (REPAs) for these projects.

Project milestones include:

Big Plain Solar: Located in Madison County, Ohio, Big Plain Solar reached commercial operation and has a generating capacity of 196 megawatts (MW).

Located in Madison County, Ohio, Big Plain Solar reached commercial operation and has a generating capacity of 196 megawatts (MW). GSG Wind : Located in Lee and Lasalle Counties, Illinois, GSG Wind commenced onsite construction to repower LRE's legacy 80-MW wind facility, decommissioning 40 turbines and constructing 26 new turbines, enhancing turbine capacity, reliability, and performance. The project will create approximately 180 construction jobs and is expected to be operational in December 2023.

: Located in Lee and Lasalle Counties, Illinois, GSG Wind commenced onsite construction to repower LRE's legacy 80-MW wind facility, decommissioning 40 turbines and constructing 26 new turbines, enhancing turbine capacity, reliability, and performance. The project will create approximately 180 construction jobs and is expected to be operational in December 2023. White Wing Ranch Solar: Located in Yuma County, Arizona, White Wing Ranch Solar commenced onsite construction on the 160-MW facility. The project is expected to be operational in the second half of 2024.

In aggregate, these three wind and solar projects will have the capacity to generate nearly 450 MW of reliable, clean energy, which will help support Verizon's sustainability goals. The projects further support LRE's transformative growth strategy aimed at positioning the company as one of the top renewable energy providers in the U.S., with roughly 10 gigawatts (GW) of operating and contracted capacity by 2026.

"LRE is thrilled to reach these significant project milestones with Verizon as we continue to develop innovative renewable energy solutions to meet their needs and sustainability goals," said Jason Allen, LRE's Chief Executive Officer. "Today's announcement underscores our unwavering commitment to advancing the energy transition in the U.S. and making a substantial, positive impact in the communities where we operate."

"This impressive collective of project announcements highlights our dedication to protecting our planet and enabling a sustainable energy transition in the United States," said Verizon SVP, Global Supply Chain & Sourcing, and Chief Sustainability Officer, Jim Gowen. "Innovative companies like LRE help us deliver on these goals."

While every LRE project is uniquely designed to reflect the specific needs of each community, all projects will support job creation and deliver critical economic and environmental benefits to the surrounding areas. At Big Plain Solar, LRE has a partnership with Clark State College to educate and train the next generation of leaders interested in pursuing a career in the renewable energy industry. At GSG Wind, consistent with LRE's commitment to environmental stewardship, LRE will recycle or reuse 100 percent of the wind turbine blades from the decommissioned turbines. At White Wing Ranch Solar, LRE is pursuing innovative land management practices to promote the regeneration of native desert ecosystems.

About Leeward Renewable Energy

Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) is a high-growth renewable energy company building a sustainable future for all. The company owns and operates a portfolio of 26 wind, solar, and energy storage facilities across the United States, totaling approximately 2,700 megawatts of generating capacity and is actively developing and contracting a robust pipeline of new renewable energy projects. LRE takes a tailored, full-lifecycle approach to its projects, which is underpinned by its long-term ownership model and purpose-driven culture that is dedicated to benefiting its community partners while protecting and enhancing the environment. LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of the largest defined pension plans in Canada, with C$127.4 billion in net assets (as at June 30,2023). For more information, visit www.leewardenergy.com.

10 october 2023 at 09:10

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Tri-Cities Intermodal Moves Forward to Develop Intermodal Center





WALLULA, Wash., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tri-Cities Intermodal (TCI) has signed a lease/purchase agreement to acquire the former Cold Connect warehouse and property, with plans to develop an adjacent intermodal ramp in Wallula, WA. The plan represents a revival of the plans previously announced by Tiger Cool Express before they shut down operations in June. Tri-Cities Intermodal is an entirely new company ? and the transaction had no connection to Tiger Cool.

Tri-Cities Intermodal to develop Intermodal Center to support Washington agriculture

Tri-Cities signed the lease/purchase agreement on Sept. 27, 2023, with Union Pacific Railroad.

The envisioned Tri-Cities Intermodal Center will benefit the entire agricultural community in the three-state region by providing cost-effective and sustainable transportation capacity. Initially, service is intended to be offered between: Wallula and the Northwest Seaport Alliance on-dock facilities for dry imports and exports (in ISO equipment.) It will also support Union Pacific's intermodal customers moving between Wallula and Chicago (and beyond.)

"It is fantastic to have line of sight to actual operation within three to four months," said Theodore Prince, Tri-Cities Intermodal Chief Executive Officer and Founder "We were very fortunate to find an investor with the foresight, along with Union Pacific's support to bring this project to fruition."

"We are excited about Tri-Cities Intermodal advancing an initiative that will remove thousands of trucks from the highway. This is a region that continues to grow in logistical importance, and we look forward to supporting its growth with safe, reliable service," said Kari Kirchhoefer, Senior Vice President ? Premium, Marketing and Sales for Union Pacific.

The recently arrived investor, PNW Capital, is under the esteemed leadership of James Delaney, an accomplished entrepreneur renowned for his successes in the B2C sectors, particularly within regulated goods such as wine. Mr. Delaney, who assumes the role of Non-Executive Chairman, conveyd his profound enthusiasm for this endeavor. In his formal statement, he remarked, "This proposition stands as a superb concept, bolstered by a highly capable team and situated within an exceptionally favorable business environment. We are very excited to include Tri Cities within our distinguished portfolio."

The management team is composed of experienced intermodal transportation individuals. Justin Roberts will be Vice President - Operations; Tom Smith will be Vice President ? Sales and Marketing; Zachary Ybarra will be Vice President ? Planning, Control and Information Systems. The rest of the team will include Cameron Kelley, Liam Marsh, Felicia Moore and Keith Woetzel.

SOURCE Tri-Cities Intermodal LLC

10 october 2023 at 09:11

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Consolidated Uranium Completes Initial Phase of Drilling at Tony M Mine





TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated Uranium Inc. ("CUR", the "Company", "Consolidated Uranium") (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) is pleased announce the completion of the initial phase of drilling at its 100%-owned Tony M Uranium Mine ("Tony M") in southeastern Utah, as previously announced in a news release dated June 28, 2023. Tony M is one of three past producing uranium mines in Utah owned by CUR, and is a large-scale, fully developed and permitted underground mine that previously produced nearly one million pounds of U3O8 during two different periods of operation from 1979-1984 and from 2007-2008.



The Company has completed 21 of the up to 59 proposed combined conventional rotary and core holes, for approximately 16,240 feet of drilling (Figure 1). The 2023 program is designed to increase the density of drill holes, in order to upgrade "Inferred" mineral resources (as determined by the SLR International Corporation in their 2022 Technical Report on the Tony M project) to the "Indicated" mineral resource category and develop a detailed understanding of the distribution of vanadium mineralization in the deposit. Historically, there has been very little investigation of the vanadium potential at Tony M. CUR's confirmation drill program in 2022 showed V2O5/U3O8 ratio ranges from an average of 1:1 to greater than 17:1 at various localities that within the mine area (see press release dated December 13, 2022).

The drill core recovered from this phase of drilling has been split, logged, and sampled, and the samples have been submitted to American Assay Labs in Reno for analytical determination of uranium and vanadium concentrations. Results are pending and will be detailed in a future news release. Results obtained from the first phase of 2023 drilling will be utilized to prioritize additional drilling at the project and are expected to guide technical studies including a Preliminary Economic Assessment.

The Company is continuing to advance plans to reopen the underground mine workings in preparation for a potential restart of Tony M. This work program includes updating mine ventilation and escape plans, maintenance of the existing ventilation fans, surveying of the underground mine workings, rehabilitation of mine workings and ground support, and upgrading of utilities.

Figure 1: Plan view map of the Tony M Mine with 2023 drill holes





About Tony M Mine

Tony M is located in eastern Garfield County, southeastern Utah, approximately 66 air miles (107 kilometers) west northwest of the town of Blanding and 215 miles (347 kilometers) south-southeast of Salt Lake City. The project is the site of the Tony M underground uranium mine that was developed by Plateau Resources, a subsidiary of Consumer's Power Company, in the mid- 1970s. Uranium and vanadium mineralization at Tony M is hosted in sandstone units of the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic age Morrison Formation, one of the principal hosts for uranium deposits in the Colorado Plateau region of Utah and Colorado.

Tony M has been estimated to contain the following mineral resources:

Table 1: Summary of Mineral Resources ? Effective Date September 9, 2022



Classification Tons

(short tons) Grade

(% eU 3 O 8 ) Contained Metal

(lbs. eU 3 O 8 ) Indicated 1,185,000 0.28 6,606,000 Inferred 404,000 0.27 2,218,000



Notes:



Source: Technical Report on the Tony M Project, Utah, USA Report for NI 43-101, prepared for Consolidated Uranium, Inc. by SLR International Corporation; Mark B. Mathisen, Qualified Person, Effective Date September 9, 2022. CIM (2014) definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories. Uranium Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.14% U3O8. The cut-off grade is calculated using a metal price of $65/lb U3O8. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources are based on a tonnage factory of 15 ft3/ton (Bulk density 0.0667 ton/ft3 or 2.14 t/m3). Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Past production (1979-2008) has been removed from the Mineral Resource. Totals may not add due to rounding. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to CUR and are in situ.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dean T. Wilton: PG, CPG, MAIG, a consultant of CUR who is a "Qualified Person" (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).

About Consolidated Uranium

Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified project consolidation. To date, the Company has acquired or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada, Argentina, and the United States each with significant past expenditures and attractive characteristics for development.

The Company is currently advancing its portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah and Colorado, with a toll milling arrangement in place with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning CUR as a near-term uranium producer.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Philip Williams

Chairman and CEO

[email protected]

Toll-Free: 1-833-572-2333

Twitter: @ConsolidatedUr

www.consolidateduranium.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, but not limited to, the anticipated results of the 2023 drill program; the goal of upgrading the classification of inferred mineral resources; plans to define the vanadium potential of the deposi;t the Company's plans to restart Tony M; and the Company's ongoing business plan, sampling, exploration and work programs. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof 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" or the negative connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including 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, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to Consolidated Uranium set out in CUR's annual information form in respect of the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under CUR's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aadd5c26-aaf6-46fe-9b70-07e27c7cd5d9

10 october 2023 at 09:35

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Health Care Originals Acquires Dawn Health's Virtual Care Platform, Paving the Way for Insurance-Covered Access to Respiratory Care Nationwide





Health Care Originals (HCO), a leading pulmonary care innovator, has announced the strategic acquisition of Dawn Health's virtual care platform. Founded with the mission to democratize high-quality sleep care, Dawn Health has spent years growing its footprint with leading health plans and serving thousands of patients. The acquisition enables HCO to broaden its healthcare service offerings across the United States with insurance-based reimbursement for critical chronic conditions.

"Dawn Health's clinical infrastructure and national presence create a symbiotic environment for HCO to expand its healthcare solutions on a national scale," said Rahul Shivkumar, former CEO of Dawn Health. "While Dawn Health will no longer offer sleep care services, the acquisition allows HCO to advance its mission of delivering personalized, game-changing respiratory care, that include clinically-proven improvements in sleep, to a larger demographic."

Aligned Missions Create a Strong Strategic Fit

Both companies have prioritized accessible, affordable healthcare services. Dawn Health, known for its sleep care innovations, will be seamlessly integrated into HCO's existing platforms to optimize respiratory therapy patient outcomes. This cohesive integration will offer added value to healthcare providers, insurance companies, and most importantly, patients.

Sharon Samjitsingh, CEO of Health Care Originals, expressed her enthusiasm for the acquisition. "This acquisition aligns perfectly with our goal to revolutionize the status quo in the respiratory sector, a field often overlooked despite its critical importance. The goal here is to accelerate the deployment of our clinically efficacious Nightingale virtual care to benefit the 40 million Americans suffering from asthma or COPD."

Acknowledgments

"We extend our deepest gratitude to our investors and the community for their unwavering support over the years," said Shivkumar. "Our shared progress wouldn't have been possible without their belief in our mission and capabilities."

Samjitsingh added, "The faith and dedication of the Dawn Health team make this acquisition not just an operational move but a testament to our aligned vision. We look forward to accelerating access to our evidence-based Nightingale service, making the lives of millions more of our members immeasurably better."

10 october 2023 at 09:35

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Syzygy Plasmonics Signs Strategic Investment Agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries





Goals include further innovation to better enable the hydrogen and CO 2 ecosystems

HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Syzygy Plasmonics announced today that it has reached a strategic investment agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), executed through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA). The agreement formalizes ties between Syzygy and MHIA, giving the global multinational engineering and manufacturing technology company greater insight into Syzygy's strategic priorities and an opportunity to support Syzygy's business execution plans.

This investment will help Syzygy accelerate commercialization and development of innovative alternative technologies.

"MHIA has been making moves to establish themselves as one of the leaders in the energy transition," said Syzygy Chief Executive Officer Trevor Best. "Formalizing our relationship with them shows their commitment to helping scale cutting edge technology and opens up new avenues for Syzygy and MHIA to work together as we commercialize our industrial decarbonization platform."

Syzygy Plasmonics is a deep-decarbonization company. It builds reactors that use light instead of heat to electrify chemical manufacturing and power a cleaner, safer world. Utilizing technology licensed from Rice University and advanced engineering, Syzygy is commercializing a universal photocatalytic reactor platform. When powered with renewable electricity, this tunable technology is designed to reduce both cost and emissions from many different chemical reactions. Starting with solutions designed to consume greenhouse gases and produce low- and zero-emissions hydrogen, the company's mission is to create a world where chemicals, fuels, and fertilizer are low cost, carbon neutral, and accessible to everyone. For more information visit plasmonics.tech.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group is committed to building a business that contributes to realizing a decarbonized society while investing in and collaborating with various partners with innovative technologies. This investment will help Syzygy Plasmonics to accelerate commercialization and continue its development of innovative alternative technologies, particularly those that contribute to the hydrogen ecosystem and CO 2 ecosystem. Going forward, MHI will continue to enhance and diversify its solutions portfolio, providing its customers with alternative decarbonization technologies to reach their net zero goals.

SOURCE Syzygy Plasmonics

10 october 2023 at 10:03

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Growing a New Heart founder honored for innovation in preventing sexual violence





WARE, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Growing a New Heart founder and principal JAC Patrissi was honored by The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA). Partrissi received the 2023 Gail-Burns Smith Award at a ceremony held during the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse Conference in Aurora, Colorado, on September 27, 2023. In August, Patrissi was presented the same award at the Equity in Action 2023 National Sexual Assault Conference in San Francisco, California.

Patrissi has spent more than 30 years educating and advocating on behalf of victims of abuse and violence.

Patrissi, who also co-founded A Call For Change ?the nation's first confidential helpline dedicated to fostering change for people using the tools of dominance and abuse in their intimate partnerships?has spent more than 30 years educating and advocating for systemic change on behalf of victims of abuse and violence. Patrissi acknowledged the honor, saying her "heart is filled with the vision of our field co-creating ways of living in community that move us beyond containment and punishment and center us in compassionate accountability."

Presented jointly by ATSA and NSVRC, the award is named in honor of Gail Burns-Smith, one of the first advocates to recognize and speak publicly about the importance of collaboration between victim advocates and those working in the area of sex offender management to effectively prevent child sexual abuse.

A joint statement from the NSVRC and ATSA noted Patrissi's longstanding commitment to healing the world through "survivor-centric services and educational resources that make her more than worthy of the recognition that this award brings."

You can read more about the Gail-Burns Smith Award, including a list of past winners, on the NSVRC website.

About Growing a New Heart

Growing a New Heart is a collective of like-minded professionals in the fields of social justice advocacy, sexual and domestic violence, addictions, art, communications, dispute resolution, community building and self healing. The organization facilitates relationships and communications in families, workplaces and communities through training, retreats, writing, storytelling, traditional indigenous healing practices, and the arts. You can learn more about Growing a New Heart by visiting growinganewheart.org .

Media Contact: Michael Rice ([email protected])

SOURCE Growing a New Heart

10 october 2023 at 10:15

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Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Quebec





OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - The Honourable Arif Virani, 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 Eric Hardy, a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Quebec, is appointed a puisne Judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec. Justice Hardy fills the position authorized further to the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No.1.

Maxime Roy, Partner at Roy & Charbonneau Avocats in Quebec, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Quebec. Justice Roy replaces Justice E. Hardy who was elevated to the Court of Appeal of Quebec effective October 6, 2023.

Quote

"I wish Justices Hardy and Roy every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve Quebecers well as members of the Court of Appeal and the Superior Court of Quebec."

?The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biographies

Justice Eric Hardy was appointed the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Quebec in 2018. He received his LL.B. from Universite Laval in 1987. As a Commonwealth Scholar, he undertook master's studies at the University of London (Queen Mary College), in England, where he obtained an LL.M. in 1989.

At the time of his appointment to the Superior Court of Quebec, Justice Hardy was practising with Ogilvy Renault (now Norton Rose Fulbright) in Quebec City as a litigator. He began his career as a lawyer with the Montreal law firm of Phillips & Vineberg (now Davies) in commercial litigation in 1990. Over the years, he has practised in many areas of law, including insurance law, civil and professional liability law, commercial and business law, and environmental law. He has argued cases before all levels of court in Quebec and before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Throughout his practice, Justice Hardy has contributed to the education and mentorship of young lawyers. He has also worked on simplifying proceedings to ensure access to justice and fairness.

Justice Maxime Roy grew up in Arvida in the Saguenay area. In 2004, he graduated from Laval University with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 2006.

During his time in private practice, Justice Roy worked as defence counsel at the law firm now known as Roy & Charbonneau Avocats, where he focused mainly on criminal law. Since 2016, he has been the firm's Managing Partner. He has appeared before all levels of the courts and has argued many landmark cases. He has also advised and accompanied numerous victims of crime.

Justice Roy received the best litigant award in the Dean's Cup Finals in 2004 and the Louis-Philippe Pigeon prize in 2014. He was very active in the profession: he taught at the Ecole du Barreau and at the Trial Advocacy Seminar in Sherbrooke and sat on the Quebec Bar's board of directors, the liaison committee of the Quebec Court of Appeal, and Justice Canada's steering committee on judicial efficiency. He has also written several articles and given several training sessions on criminal and penal law.

Justice Roy is an avid trail runner, cyclist and skier. He cherishes quality time with his partner, Cindy Boulanger-Gobeil, and their young boy, Laurent Roy.

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada has appointed more than 655 judges since November 2015 . The Honourable Arif Virani has made 30 appointments since becoming Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on July 26, 2023 . These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada . Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of racialized persons, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.

has appointed more than 655 judges since . The Honourable Arif Virani has made 30 appointments since becoming Minister of Justice and Attorney General of on . These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens . Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of racialized persons, 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 associate judges 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 associate judges 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

10 october 2023 at 12:04

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A 27-year-old inmate at the Tecumseh State Prison is dead after he and four others intentionally set fires in their cells Thursday night, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Dayne Urbanovsky, director of strategic communications for the department, identified the inmate who died as Jesse Spencer.

She said that around 6 p.m. Thursday, five inmates, including Spencer, intentionally set fires inside their cells in a housing unit.

Urbanovsky said staff members responded immediately, including members of the facilitys Corrections Emergency Response Team. All five initially refused staff orders. Three ultimately complied and were escorted out.

When staff members went in to retrieve the two others, Spencer was found lying in his cell. They attempted lifesaving efforts, but he could not be revived, she said.

Staff members put out the fires before local fire crews arrived at the prison. No other housing units were affected, and no other inmates required medical attention.

Two staff members were examined at the hospital for medical situations related to the incident that were not serious.

Spencer began serving a sentence of 20 months to three years in 2014 for stealing a car in Beatrice but later got additional time for incidents in prison, including charges for assaulting two guards in Lincoln in 2016 and threatening a prison corporal in 2017.

His full term ended up being 12 years and four months to 20 years.

Urbanovsky said, as of Friday afternoon, the prison remained on modified operations while the incident was being investigated.

As is the case whenever an inmate dies in the custody, a grand jury will be called to conduct an investigation.
"First, the big ones will eat the little ones, then they'll eat each other, then they'll attack the humans. We'll have to kill them all," commented the driver as he sped through the deserted outskirts of Stepanakert (Khankendi, in Azerbaijani), the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh. Elnour recalled the packs of dogs roaming the streets of the towns and villages abandoned by the 100,000 or so Armenians who fled the former separatist enclave on September 26 and in the following days.

"We mustn't use that Bolshevik expression any more. From now on, we'll say 'territory formerly inhabited by Armenians'," commented Elnour, who was driving a handful of foreign journalists at breakneck speed on a visit organized by the Azerbaijani government from October 6 to 8. Dogs, three distraught little pigs and a horse covered in dust were the only living creatures to be seen in the vicinity of Khankendi, where 55,000 Armenians still lived before Baku's lightning attack on Nagorno-Karakabkh on September 19. No stops. The car sped off into the night towards Shusha (Shushi in Armenian), a town overlooking the entire Khankendi valley, already retaken in 2020 by Baku's forces at the end of the second Armenian-Azerbaijani war for control of the enclave.

The entrance to Khankendi (Stepanakert, in Armenian), in Nagorno-Karabakh, during a visit organized by the Azerbaijani government, October 6, 2023. LUCAS BARIOULET FOR LE MONDE.

A stray dog in Khankendi (Stepanakert, in Armenian), Nagorno-Karabakh, October 6, 2023. LUCAS BARIOULET FOR LE MONDE.

It was impossible to find out more about what was happening in Khankendi, or in the rest of the "territory formerly inhabited by Armenians." Azerbaijan's presidential administration, which organized the press trip, favors areas that have already been recaptured over the past three years, and refuses to visit settlements recently deserted by the Armenian population. "It's for your own safety," said Baku's representative Elzar, claiming that snipers could be hiding in the buildings, and houses may have been booby-trapped or mined by Armenians in their hurried flight.

'Fifty Armenians' still there

Among the Azerbaijani soldiers we met, everyone had alternative and contradictory explanations, and agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity. "There are no snipers, but it's mined," one asserted. Another soldier said the opposite. A third assured us that two former Armenian separatist leaders on the run are being actively sought by the police, including Vitali Balassanian. He was one of the main commanders during the first Karabakh war (1991-1994) and then head of the National Security Council between 2016 and 2023, and is now the subject of torture charges. He is one of the most hated figures in Azerbaijan.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Azerbaijan reissues Nagorno-Karabakh map with street named after Turkish leader of 1915 Armenian genocide

Two officers returning from Khankendi  without body armor or helmets  described a ghost town with streets littered with belongings abandoned by Armenians. "It's very quiet. The last Armenian officials and rescuers have left. There's an infirmary open, and an office for Armenians wishing to register with the authorities," one of them explained. "A few Armenian families have remained in Khankendi. There's a certain Gourguen, who I've become friends with. I'd take you to meet them, but you're not authorized." A UN mission, which has had access to Nagorno-Karabakh, concluded on October 2 that there may be "only 50 Armenians" left.

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TRIBUTES have been paid to a young Limerick woman who has been described as a treasured member of her community following her untimely passing.

Niamh Berkery of Shanaclune, Cappamore passed away peacefully on Saturday surrounded by her family and friends at St. James Hospital, Dublin.

Ms Berkery was involved in a number of community groups and teams and was the PRO for Cappamore GAA and Camogie Club.

The eldest daughter of Breda and John, Niamh will be greatly missed by her siblings Siobhan, Con and Michelle, and boyfriend Pete McNamara.

Limerick Community Games paid tribute to their colleague and special needs assistant at Scoil Chaitriona.

Niamh was a member of our county committee for several years and was a dedicated, treasured and committed volunteer at area, county, provincial and national levels.

Niamh competed with Cappamore community games as a child and had many wonderful memories as a participant.

Niamh made many wonderful friends from all corners of the country through her volunteering, such friends for whom we know this loss will be exceptionally difficult.

We send our sincere sympathies to Niamh's family, extended family, community and friends.

We think especially of her family John, Breda, Con, Siobhan and Michelle and her partner Peter.

May her beautiful soul rest in peace and may God comfort all who knew and loved her so much at this difficult time.

Cappamore GAA and Camogie Club said they had no words to describe the loss of their PRO.

Niamh took on her role of PRO with the pride and passion she had for her club . She was a committed supporter of our club both on and off the field.

As a mark of respect to Niamh, our club field is closed and off the field activities will cease until further notice.

We send our sincere sympathies to Niamh's family, extended family and friends. We think especially of John, Breda, Con, Siobhan and Michelle and Peter.

Ms Berkery was also a member of Bilbao AC who confirmed their clubhouse and field would remain closed until further notice as a mark of respect.

Niamh was a beloved member of our club for many years both as an athlete and a valued volunteer at sporting events.

Niamh will be sorely missed by everyone here at Bilboa A.C., by her family and her many friends. May she rest in peace.

The young womans family was involved in the local Cappamore Show who said they were joined with her family in mourning her loss and celebrating her life.

It is always heartbreaking when someone so young passes. Niamh was involved in a number of her local community organisations.

Her work in supporting Cappamore Show from a very early age was a continuation of the years of service given by her family members, her aunts, uncles & cousins.

Niamh had a friendly & kind greeting for everyone she met no matter what her role or duty.

Ms Berkery is sadly missed by her parents, sisters and brother, their boyfriends Conor and Liam and girlfriend Jean, her boyfriend, godson Mason (Australia), aunts, uncles, cousins, grandaunts Nora & Mary, relatives, kind neighbours, a wide circle of wonderful friends and her work colleagues in Scoil Chaitriona.

Predeceased by her grandparents: Biddy and Mikie (her godfather) and Con and Brigid (her godmother), cousin Gearoid, uncle Jimmy, grandaunt Josie and other relatives.

Ms Berkery will be reposing at Lynch-Kelly Funeral Home, Cappamore on Wednesday, October 11 from 5 pm until 8 pm.

Arriving in St. Michaels Church, Cappamore for Requiem Mass Thursday morning at 11.30 am Ms Berkery will then be laid to rest in Towerhill Cemetery.

The Requiem Mass will be streamed live at https://www.churchcamlive.ie/cappamore-parish/

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Bone Marrow Leukaemia Trust.

May she rest in peace.
AT PRESENT, Limerick troops serving with UNIFIL, or the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, are "all accounted for and are safe," according to a spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces.

UNIFIL has seen tensions in the region, resulting in all 342 Irish and Maltese personnel from the 122nd Infantry Battalion going "into Groundhog," or taking shelter in protected positions, this Monday at 1:25pm.

A spokesperson for the Defence Forces said: "The troops continue to monitor the situation from protected positions. This was as a result of exchanges of fire across the Blue Line."

The Blue Line is on Lebanon's southern frontier, between Israel.

"They remain in Groundhog but recent reports indicate that the firing is dissipating. Once safe to do so they will continue to conduct planned framework operations," added the statement.

In May of this year, the 122nd Infantry Battalion, stationed at Sarsfield Barracks, embarked on a six-month deployment as part of an international peacekeeping mission.

Addressing the contingent at Sarsfield Barracks at the time, the Tanaiste said: "Peacekeeping is the most important international action for good that any nation can participate in and you personify our nations commitment to that noble cause."
General Motors on October 9 announced the layoff of almost 200 more employees, attributing it to the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike, as per a Reuters report. These layoffs have now affected the auto major's sixth plant.

Last week, the Detroit-based company stated that around 2,100 workers were impacted by the strike at two assembly plants in Missouri and Michigan, along with 18 parts distribution centers. The recent update from GM reveals that the number of affected workers has risen to about 2,300. This includes 70 layoffs at the Lansing, Michigan, stamping plant and approximately 70 more at a Toledo, Ohio, plant, it added.

GM clarified that employees are not expected to return until the strike is resolved.

Also Read: UAW strikes expand as 7,000 more workers join picket line at two plants

GM's updated offer did not align with the 23 percent pay raise suggested by Ford. On Friday, the UAW communicated that GM had agreed to include workers at joint venture battery plants under union contracts, but as of Monday, GM provided no specific details, the report noted.

The layoffs are across the board. Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, announced on Monday that an additional 570 workers in Michigan and Indiana would be furloughed, bringing the total to 640. They also attributed this decision to the impact of the UAW strike, particularly due to storage constraints.

And Ford disclosed that it was furloughing another 70 employees in Michigan because of the strike, bringing the overall count to 1,865.

The long war

Unions engaged in contract negotiations within the automotive, shipping, and healthcare sectors have utilized labour actions this year to unsettle employers. Surveys indicate widespread American support for the unions' demands, Reuters reported.

Also Read: US auto strike puts Indian ancillary hubs on the edge

Over the past year, workers in freight rail and employees at FedEx have initially rejected agreements negotiated between unions and companies, later reaching resolutions.

The UAW has been conducting a targeted strike against Detroit Three automakers' facilities since September 15. Approximately 25,000 out of 146,000 UAW employees at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis are participating in the strike. UAW President Shawn Fain stated on Friday that the union would not extend the strikes, citing progress in negotiations.

Canadian workers at GM also face a contract talk deadline at midnight on Monday (0400 GMT on Tuesday), potentially leading to another strike.

Money talks

On Monday, Deutsche Bank projected that GM has encountered a production loss of 34,176 vehicles due to the strike, Ford 21,296 vehicles, and Stellantis 18,893 vehicles. This has resulted in an overall reduction of $946 million in earnings for the Detroit Three up to this point.

Also Read: UAW strike hits demand for steel

According to a trade group on Monday, Mexico's auto parts industry is anticipated to face a production setback of $412 million by Friday.

The Anderson Economic Group estimates a comprehensive economic loss of $5.5 billion by the end of the third full week of the strike. This includes lost wages amounting to $2.68 billion, automaker losses of $1.6 billion, supplier losses of $1.26 billion, and dealer and customer losses.

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Mumbai, 21/09/23  iDigitalise , a leading technology and digital marketing solution agency, is thrilled to announce the opening of its first overseas office in the vibrant city of Tirana, Albania. This significant milestone represents a strategic move to enhance our global presence and better serve our clients in the region.

The new office in Albania is a testament to iDigitalise's commitment to providing innovative and cutting-edge digital solutions to businesses worldwide. By establishing a physical presence in this burgeoning market, we aim to develop closer relationships with the clients, deliver top-notch services, and contribute to the local technology ecosystem.



Directors and CEO Message



Mrs. Prajakta Shinde Kolekar, CEO of iDigitalise, shared her enthusiasm about the expansion:



"We are excited to announce the opening of our new office in Albania, which marks a significant milestone in our journey. This expansion aligns with our vision to be a global leader in technology solutions and reinforces our commitment to supporting businesses in Albania and neighboring regions. We believe this venture will help us harness local talent and cultivate meaningful partnerships, ultimately benefiting our clients."

The director of iDigitalise, Mr. Vikas Kolekar, also expressed his thoughts:

"Albania's rapidly growing tech industry and skilled workforce make it an ideal location for our first overseas office. We look forward to working closely with local talent and EU businesses to provide tailored solutions that drive digital transformation and innovation. Our presence here underscores our dedication to being a trusted technology partner for organizations worldwide."



The new iDigitalise office in Albania will serve as a hub for delivering a wide range of technology services, including software development, digital marketing, web design, and IT consulting. This expansion not only enhances our global reach but also strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional value to our clients across industries. We have chosen Albania is our second operating country because of its low infrastructure costs and multilingual workforce, which will enable us to assist EU-based businesses.

About iDigitalise



iDigitalise is a technology and digital marketing solutions agency known for its expertise in providing cutting-edge services to businesses seeking to thrive in the digital age. With a commitment to innovation and client-centric approaches, iDigitalise empowers organizations to achieve their digital transformation goals. Our services span software development, digital marketing, web design, IT consulting, and more. Headquartered in Mumbai, India, iDigitalise has a strong presence globally and is now proud to call Albania its second home.



Follow us on social media:



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iDigitaliseofficial

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idigitalise/



For more information about iDigitalise and our services, please visit our website: www.idigitalise.net

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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Mumbai, 09.10.2023  Rubix Data Sciences, a technology and analytics-based B2B risk management and monitoring platform provider, today announced its Rubix Credit Decisioning Solution in now available on SAP Store. The solution work with SAP S/4HANA Cloud giving access to Rubix Risk Scores and credit and financial risk information. This enables users to make better credit decisions and automate the risk monitoring of their counterparties.

Counterparties can include customers, distributors, dealers, franchisees, suppliers, and vendors, and can cross industries such as manufacturing, finance, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, retail, technology, energy, supply chain, logistics, and transportation.

With Rubixs Risk Score and related risk information now available with SAP S/4HANA, users can easily access insights about counterparties risk profile, enabling them to make quick and effective credit, supplier and compliance risk decisions," said Mohan Ramaswamy, Co-Founder and CEO of Rubix Data Sciences. Users will also be able to monitor counterparties evolving financial risk with the integration of Rubix Early Warning Signal data. Rubix Risk Scores can help users reduce risks throughout their distribution and supply chains and efficiently manage counterparty relationships."

About Rubix Data Sciences Pvt. Ltd.

Rubix Data Sciences Pvt. Ltd. helps businesses take prudent credit risks, build a robust supply chain, and monitor compliance for business partners in India and around the world. Rubix helps businesses collect payments in time from debtors, helping generate predictable cash flows.

Set up by highly experienced risk professionals, Rubix has been awarded the Certificate of Recognition at the IMC Digital Technology Awards 2020 for its Rubix ARMSTM platform. In 2021, the Rubix Early Warning System (EWS) received the Certificate of Recognition at the IMC Digital Technology Awards in the category Smart Tech for Product-Oriented Digital Companies.

Rubix has been appointed as Indias first validation agent for the Legal Entity Identifier by Legal Entity Identifier India Ltd, the local operating unit accredited by Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), Switzerland.

The Rubix ARMSTM and Early Warning System (EWS) platforms and their suite of reports, products and services are based on Rubixs extensive database of structured and unstructured data aggregated from over 120+ sources, customized predictive analytics, and proprietary technology. Through its solutions, Rubix provides deep insights to professionals in credit, risk, supply chain and compliance for corporates, banks, NBFCs, credit insurance companies and fintechs, facilitating quicker and more effective decision-making.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contact

Shilpa Pal | 7011446683 | shilpa.pal@pitchforkpartners.com

Saish Haldankar | 76660 40699 | saish.haldankar@pitchforkpartners.com

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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Bangalore, Karnataka, India  Business Wire India

VTEX (NYSE: VTEX), the global enterprise digital commerce platform, announced its strategic partnership with Terrific Minds, a leading technology studio specializing in customer-centric digital commerce solutions. This collaboration aims to provide businesses with innovative tools and strategies to enhance their online presence and customer engagement. This partnership will drive innovative plugins and apps that amplify VTEX's capabilities. By harnessing VTEX's composable and complete platform and Terrific Minds' expertise in seamlessly connecting individuals to the digital landscape while crafting meaningful interactions, enterprise brands and retailers can greatly thrive in the contemporary digital commerce landscape. When combining the strengths of VTEX and Terrific Minds, companies can look forward to a dynamic and customer-focused approach to digital commerce that sets them apart in the market.



With a strong emphasis on prioritizing the ultimate consumer experience, Terrific Minds designs customized solutions utilizing leading-edge platforms such as VTEX. Since 2015, the company has been working with global businesses to reimagine their ecommerce and deliver 10 times value across all domains - be it web design, app development or workflow management. The teams in the US, Australia, Switzerland, and India are united by the vision of creating design and user experiences that transform with the pace of the industry.



Hari G. Nair, CTO at Terrific Minds, says, This partnership with VTEX reflects our commitment to elevate clients' businesses digitally. This collaboration signifies a milestone in our journey. We champion 10 times Value Obsession for our customers. This partnership allows us to leverage VTEX, a seamlessly modern platform to build robust, scalable, and flexible digital commerce solutions. VTEX is part of the MACH Alliance, a global consortium of technology companies that are focused on advancing the use of Microservices-based, API-first, and Cloud-based Headless solutions Our joint focus is on VTEX ecosystem app development as this empowers seamless integration of product details, inventory, and pricing into the VTEX driven marketplace."



Yashdeep Vaishnav, country head, VTEX India, said, We are delighted to join forces with Terrific Minds, which will have significant improvement in expanding our digital commerce capabilities. With this alliance, we are committed to delivering innovative and future-proof commerce solutions that empower businesses to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Through our collaboration, we aim to pioneer new standards in customer engagement, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth, setting a benchmark for excellence in the retail sector."



About VTEX



VTEX (NYSE: VTEX) is the enterprise digital commerce platform where forward-thinking CEOs and CIOs smarten up their investments. Our composable and complete platform helps brands and retailers modernize their stack and reduce maintenance costs by rapidly migrating from legacy systems, connecting their entire value chain, and making inventory and fulfillment their strength.



As a leader in digital commerce, VTEX is trusted by more than 2,600 B2C and B2B customers, including Carrefour, Colgate, Motorola, Sony, Stanley Black & Decker, and Whirlpool, having over 3,400 active online stores across 38 countries (as of FY ended on December 31, 2022).



For more information, visit www.vtex.com.



About Terrific Minds



Terrific Minds, a leading ecommerce agency, excels in user-centric design and specializes in crafting captivating experiences on various platforms. Its certified teams in UI/UX Design, Java, Python, React, Node, DevOps and more, backed by robust Machine Learning and AI, form a full lifecycle development team. For clients in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and APAC, the company delivers projects from our development hubs in Bangalore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.



Contact: vtex@candour.co.in
MUMBAI : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday asked Bank of Baroda (BoB) to immediately suspend further onboarding of customers onto their mobile app bob World.

This ban comes after RBI found material supervisory concerns while onboarding customers onto the app.

Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the app will be subject to rectification of deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI, said an RBI release. The bank has been further directed to ensure that already onboarded bob World customers do not face any disruption on account of this suspension.

In July, a digital news outlet The Reporters Collective had reported that the banks staff had linked bogus mobile numbers with customers accounts to fraudulently sign them up on the banks app, bob World.

In a notification to the exchanges on Tuesday, Bank of Baroda said corrective measures were being taken to address the deficiencies. We have initiated further steps to plug any remaining gaps identified, and we will work closely with the RBI to address their concerns at the earliest to their satisfaction," the bank said.

BoB assured that existing customers will not face any disruption and would continue to have uninterrupted services on the mobile app.

We would like to reassure all our customers that our Banks Mobile Banking application is fully secure with robust security controls and features," the bank said. We do not expect this action to have a material impact on the Banks overall business and growth plans," it added.

BoB also assured that this order does not impact any of the banks other digital banking channels like net banking, and WhatsApp banking, for servicing its existing customers as well as for onboarding of new customers.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gopika Gopakumar Gopika Gopakumar has worked for over 15 years as a banking journalist across print and television media. Her expertise lies in breaking big corporate stories and producing news based TV shows. She was part of the 2013 IMF Journalism Fellowship Program where she covered the Annual & Spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. She started her career with CNBC-TV18, where she also produced a news feature show called Indianomics and an award winning show on business stories from South India called Up South. She joined Mint in 2016. Read more from this author
The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for Assembly Elections 2023 in all five states  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram  which is slated to take place between November 7 and 30. The counting of votes will be done on December 3 for all five poll-bound states in India.

These assembly elections will be a semi-political clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties who have formed an alliance called the INDIA bloc for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Two main rivals, BJP and Congress, are all set for direct face-offs in MP, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan because the saffron party is still struggling for its supremacy in Telangana and Mizoram.

ABP News and CVoter spoke to voters in all five poll-bound states about their choices for the upcoming assembly elections. Take a look at the detailed opinion poll data for each state below,

1) Madhya Pradesh

According to the ABP-CVoter Opinion Poll data, the ruling BJP and Congress are expected to undergo a neck-and-neck political battle as the saffron party is only 0.1% ahead of the grand old party in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. Congress has a 44.6% vote share, while the BJP has a 44.7% vote share in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led state. On the other hand, BSP has got only 2.1% votes, and other parties along with independent candidates secured an 8.6% share in the opinion poll. The survey data showed that Congress can get 113 to 125 seats out of 230 constituencies, while BJP is likely to win 104 to 116 seats.

2) Rajasthan

In Rajasthan Elections 2023, the survey revealed that the BJP is slated to win around 127 to 137 constituencies in the 200-member Assembly, while the Congress is likely to bag between 59 to 69 seats with a vote share of 42%. It is pertinent to note that the majority mark for a political party to form the government in Rajasthan is 101. The opinion poll indicates a clear victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

3) Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections will take place in two phases, that is, November 7 and 17. The counting of votes will be held on December 3. The ABP-CVoter opinion poll showed that the Congress and BJP will witness a tough political battle in poll-bound Chhattisgarh. It is expected that the BJP can win around 39 to 45 seats out of 90 constituencies, while the Congress can secure 45 to 51 seats. Other parties are likely to bag only 0 to 2 seats. As per the survey, the ruling Congress can get over 45% of votes in Chhattisgarh, followed by the BJP with a 43% vote share.

4) Telangana

The opinion poll data indicates that the BJP will fail to create its notable existence in Telangana where elections are due later this year. BJP is projected to win only 5 to 11 seats out of 119 constituencies, despite PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah leading its campaign for the saffron party. It is expected to be a tough political contest between BRS and Congress, who can secure 43 to 55 seats and 48 to 60 seats respectively. The ABP-CVoter survey revealed that the Congress can gain nearly 39% vote share, followed by BRS at 37% and BJP at 16%.

5) Mizoram

The ABP-CVoter opinion poll data showed that Mizoram is expected to witness a hung assembly as no political party secured the complete majority to win the state assembly elections in the northeast region. Out of a total 40 seats, Congress is likely to bag 10 to 14 seats, while MNF can secure 13 to 17 constituencies, followed by ZPM with 9 to 13 assemblies, and others 1 to 3 in Mizoram.

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Any profit arising on the sale of shares allotted to an individual under the employee stock option plan (ESOP)is taxed under the head Capital Gains in India. ESOP is an employee benefit plan. Under the ESOP scheme, an employee gets the companys stock at a low cost. These are perks provided in order to retain employees.

Taxation on ESOPs

When an employee is allotted shares below its fair market value, the difference between fair market value and the price paid is taxed as perquisite in the hands of the employee," said Mumbai-based tax and investment expert Balwant Jain.

The taxation on ESOP normally happens twice. The first time is when they are issued/ exercised by the employees and the second time is when they are sold in the open market.

ESOPs taxation: Tax at the time of issue

Normally ESOPs are issued to the employees at a lesser price than the market price of the shares of the concerned company. The difference between the market price and the exercise price is considered to be a prerequisite, which is taxed as salary in the hands of the recipient," said Archit Gupta, Founder and CEO, of Clear.

The tax saving opportunities on them are similar to tax saving opportunities available for salaried class of people, like 80C deduction, 80D deduction, etc., Gupta added.

ESOPs taxation: Tax at the time of sale

In case they are held for a period of more than 24 months (for shares of an Unlisted Company/ Foreign Company), they are treated as long-term assets, and any gains coming from their sale are considered to be long-term capital gains, said Founder and CEO, of Clear.

How are long-term capital gains (LTCG) taxed in India?

Long-term capital gains are taxed at a flat 20% after indexation. If the shares are sold within 24 months, the profits shall be taxed as short-term capital gains. The short-term capital gains are treated like your regular income and get taxed at a slab rate applicable to you.

The holding period shall start from the date of allotment of the shares and not from the date of allotment of the ESOPs," said Balwant Jain.

How to save taxes on ESOPs?

According to Clear CEO, employees can purchase flats/ construct a house to get an exemption on the capital gains under Section 54F. In case the gains are short term, i.e. held for a period not more than 24 months the gains are taxed at slab rate and tax saving opportunities are similar to salaried class of people, like 80C deduction, 80D deduction, etc.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Former Union minister and senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Dayanidhi Maran on October 10 said he has been duped of 99,999 through a net banking fraud.

Sharing the details on social media, Maran said 99,999 was stolen" from his Axis Bank personal savings account through a net banking transfer via IDFC First Bank-Billdesk". The transaction, which was not initiated by him, bypassed all normal safety protocols", he added.

An OTP, the standard protocol for such transactions, was neither generated nor received on the mobile number linked to the bank account, Maran stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Instead, a call was made to the account's joint holder - my wife's number and the fraudsters had the gall to ask if the transaction had taken place. They pretended to be from the bank but had @cbic_india on their display picture. This confirmed my suspicions and I immediately proceeded to block all activities on my account (sic)," he added.

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The DMK leader said he was puzzled by how the fraudsters accessed his personal information and breached security protocols with such ease". This was not a phishing attack nor were any sensitive details divulged, he posted.

Axis Bank was clueless as to how the attack had happened nor could they give any solid explanation for why the OTP was not required from my number for the transaction to take place," Maran added.

Maran, who held the Communications & IT in the erstwhile UPA government, said that when a fraud of this manner could be committed against someone who is aware of tech and cautious with private data, then what about first-time digital users and senior citizens?"

The former minister demanded accountability and justice" from the Centre, as he cited The Hindustan Times to point out that financial fraud accounted for 75 percent of cybercrimes in India from January 2020 to June 2023.

Reports of sensitive Aadhaar data being sold emerged as early as 2018. Banks data breaches and ransomware attacks have become regular news," Maran tweeted.

we need robust security and government action. What action is the government taking to protect our private data? Will @FinMinIndia & FM release a white paper on this? We need answers and we need them now. (sic)," he further stated.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a confident address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22. The skeptics were wrong, he said; Israel reached the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco without a peace agreement with the Palestinians. These accords herald the dawn of a new age of peace" in the Middle East, which will be capped by an accord between Israel and Saudi Arabia. When this happensMr. Netanyahu said when," not if"the Palestinians will be more likely to abandon the fantasy of destroying Israel and finally embrace a path of genuine peace with it."

Fifteen days later, Hamas mounted a surprise terror attack that killed at least 1,000 Israelis, mostly civilians, and wounded at least 3,400 more. The Saudis could have responded with a forthright denunciation of these murders, committed by an organization whose ideology places it squarely in the camp of Saudi Arabias enemies. Instead, the kingdoms Foreign Ministry issued a statement noting its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities." The Saudi message to Mr. Netanyahu: Do not imagine that we are free to set aside the Palestinian issue on the path to normal relations.

Yet whatever this may mean for Palestinians on the West Bank, Hamas is a different matter. There can be no peace between Israel and Hamas, because Hamas from its beginning to now has been sworn to Israels destruction.

Dont take my word for itread the organizations statement of General Principles and Policies," issued in 2017. Palestine, the document says, extends from the River Jordan in the east to the Mediterranean in the west." It is an integral"that is, indivisibleterritorial unit. More, it is a sacred land" at the heart of the Arab and Islamic community and enjoys a special status."

Hamas says that the Zionist project," which is racist, aggressive, colonial, and expansionist," is wholly illegitimate, as are the Balfour Declaration, the British Mandate, and the U.N. Palestine Partition resolution. The establishment of Israel is entirely illegal." The document continues: Hamas believes that no part of the land of Palestine shall be compromised or conceded" and that there must be no recognition of the legitimacy of the Zionist entity."

Hamas insists that its quarrel is with Zionists, not with the Jews and their religion. Its founding charter, issued in 1988, undermines this claim. Article 7 of this document quotes a saying of the prophet Muhammad: The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say, Oh Muslims, Oh Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. "

How do you deal with an implacable enemy sworn to your political and physical destruction? Israel has long relied on deterrence and defense; both have failed. It now faces a new situation. The initial response has been massive airstrikes plus a total blockade of Gaza. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that there will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. Everything is closed."

This is just the beginning. I believe Mr. Netanyahu has decided on an all-out land invasion of Gaza and that, faced with these circumstances, any Israeli leader would do the same. In a briefing Monday, retired Israeli Maj. Gen. Noam Tibon, a widely respected counterterrorism expert and vigorous supporter of a two-state solution, said, We must push the war as much as possible into Gaza." He insisted that Hamas has to pay" and that Israel has no choice other than to win a decisive victory." He acknowledged that this invasion will be brutal and ugly and could lead to the execution of the hostages Hamas has seized but suggested that these dreadful consequences shouldnt prevent the operation.

Now is not the time for recriminations, but they will come. After the operation in Gaza ends, there likely will be a commission of inquiry, as there was after the Yom Kippur War half a century ago. It is too soon to know what the inquiry will reveal, but reports, which the government has denied, suggest that it ignored repeated warnings from Egypt. Aharon Zeevi Farkash, an Israel Defense Forces former head of intelligence, has charged that the government diverted troops from the defense of Israeli towns near Gaza to operations in the West Bank. There clearly was a massive intelligence failure, and the IDFs response to the invasion was painfully slow.

Wars change nations. Throughout his career, Mr. Netanyahu has portrayed himself as the leader best able to ensure Israels security. The events of the past few days have undermined this claim. I suspect that his political career will end soon after the war does, setting the stage for profound changes in Israeli politics.

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Famed Indian economist Amartya Sen is totally fine and remains busy as ever. The clarification came from his daughter Nandana Deb Sen amid reports that the Nobel Laureate had passed away on Tuesday afternoon. The assertion had prompted an outpouring of condolence messages on social media even as others rushed to fact-check the development.

Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever!" Nandana Deb Sen tweeted alongside a picture of the Bharat Ratna awardee.

News of his death was shared by several leading publications based on a social media post  purportedly from economic historian Claudia Goldin. However the post appears to have been shared by a fake account made in May 2023 and seemingly unrelated to Goldin.

Deleting tweet on Amartya Sen based on a post from an unverified account in the name of Claudia Goldin. Actor Nandana Dev Sen denies news of death of her father, Nobel prize winner Amartya Sen," news agency PTI posted on X.

ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee warns Visva Bharati varsity on its eviction order to Amartya Sen

During an extensive career spanning nearly seven decades, Sen has made contributions to numerous fields  from welfare economics and social choice theory to economic and social justice and public health. The Bharat Ratna awardee is currently a professor of economics and philosophy at Harvard University.

People have given up hope that I might retire. But I like working, I must say. Ive been very lucky. Ive never done, when I think about it, work that I was not interested in. That is a very good reason to go on," he told The Harvard Gazette in 2021.

He received the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998 for his work In the ensuing years he was awarded top civilian honours from around the world, including the Bharat Ratna and France's Legion dHonneur. He holds more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions on five continents and even received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 2000.

Meanwhile on the personal front the economist remains locked in a legal battle with The Visva-Bharati university over an eviction notice for illegal occupation of land. The institution has earlier asked him to vacate 0.13 acre (5,500 square feet) of land from his ancestral residence Pratichi in Santiniketan by May 6.

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The visit of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in October has put Indias increased outreach to Africa under the spotlight. From improved trade volumes to co-operation on defence and technology, New Delhi is putting a greater emphasis on the region. Mint breaks down how.

What were the takeaways of the visit?

Hassans visit drove Indias relationship with Tanzania forward in key ways. First, bilateral ties were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. Both sides also agreed to deepen their relationship in defence and political affairs. Defence is particularly important since Tanzania, located in east Africa, is an important part of Indias search for partners to maintain stability in the Western Indian Ocean.

Both sides also signed a White Shipping information-sharing agreement. In technology, India offered its expertise in space and digital payments. Both sides also expressed a desire to expand trade in their national currencies.

Why does Tanzania matter?

At one level, India is looking to expand its economic footprint in Africa. Indias economic ties with the continent have deepened and trade is expected to cross $100 billion soon. New Delhi has extended lines of credit of over $1 billion to the east African nation and most of this has gone into water-supply projects.

Given that maritime and defence cooperation is important for Indias regional defence strategy, New Delhi is also helping Tanzania modernise its armed forces. In June the two countries agreed on a five-year roadmap for defence cooperation, focusing on training, building capacity, maritime cooperation, building infrastructure, and collaborating on defence equipment and technology.

How does this fit into Indias larger strategy?

Indias offer of space and digital payments technology is part of Delhis push to brand itself as a power that has the capacity to deliver on the needs of the global south. India has also started to export its major education brands. It announced that the two counties would set up the first-ever overseas IIT campus. This too has been seen as part of a long-standing part of Indias effort to incorporate technology and education in its diplomatic outreach in the region.

Are there competitors?

Of course. China has also been an active player in the region. It has committed billions to big ticket infrastructure projects and China-Africa trade has crossed $250 billion, according to several estimates. China has much the same motives as India in projecting itself as a leader of the global south. Experts have argued that India saw an opportunity to step in after some high-profile Chinese projects failed.
Hamass lightning strike on Israel last weekend has left observers questioning how the group financed the surprise operation. One possible answer: cryptocurrency.

During the year leading up to the attacks, three militant groupsHamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and their Lebanese ally Hezbollahreceived large amounts of funds through crypto, according to a review of Israeli government seizure orders and blockchain analytics reports.

Digital-currency wallets that Israeli authorities linked to the PIJ received as much as $93 million in crypto between August 2021 and June this year, analysis by leading crypto researcher Elliptic showed.

Wallets connected to Hamas received about $41 million more over a similar time period, according to research by another crypto analytics and software firm, Tel Aviv-based BitOK.

Militants from the PIJ joined Hamas on Saturday in storming into Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing some 900 civilians and abducting at least a hundred more. At least 700 Palestinians have died since Israel retaliated with a wave of attacks on Gaza.

Hamass armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, didnt respond to a request for comment on the groups use of crypto. The PIJ and Hezbollah couldnt be reached for comment.

All three militant groups have been designated foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government and are subject to sanctions by the Treasury Department, limiting their access to the international banking system. Anyone found transacting with those entities risk criminal prosecution and being targeted with sanctions themselves.

The crypto transactions highlight how the U.S. and Israel have struggled to sever the groups access to foreign funding, Western terrorism analysts and former officials say. PIJ and Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, were able to amass weaponry and other equipment under the nose of Israels government to launch the most significant breach of its borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

It couldnt be determined whether the crypto they received was directly used to finance the assault. It also couldnt be determined how much crypto Israeli authorities seized from the wallets. Researchers said that would likely have been a small percentage of the overall amount of funds that flowed through them.

Israeli police said Tuesday that they froze further crypto accounts used by Hamas to solicit donations on social networks, part of a continuing effort to locate the financial infrastructure in cryptocurrencies used by terror entities to fund their activities."

Crypto allows users to bypass banks by instantly transferring tokens between digital wallets, which are normally held at a cryptocurrency exchange. The U.S. Treasury Department, in a report last year, said gaps in financial crime controls at such crypto exchanges can allow terrorist groups to misuse them, noting Islamic State and al Qaeda had both received donations in crypto, too.

After an operation in June to seize crypto belonging to Hezbollah, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the use of digital currencies was making the job of stopping terrorist financing ever more complex.

This is not an easy task," Gallant said.

In an order the following month against the PIJ wallets, Israels National Bureau for Counter-Terror Financing also requested the seizure of any crypto held on 67 client accounts at Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange. Earlier orders this year by the bureau against Hamas and Hezbollah also sought to confiscate funds at Binance. The U.S. Justice Department has been conducting a broad investigation into the companys anti-money-laundering controls, the Journal has reported.

A Binance spokesperson said the exchange actively partners with law enforcement agencies, including those in Israel, to combat terror financing.

Over the past few days, our team has been working in real time, around the clock, to support ongoing efforts," the spokesperson said. Israeli police said Tuesday the new account freezes were carried out with Binances assistance.

Researchers who study Hamass financing said crypto remains one of a number of tools the group uses to raise funds, including bringing cash into Gaza from Egypt. The U.S. says Iran has long been the groups primary benefactor, putting regular funding from Tehran at roughly $100 million a year.

Crypto is another string in their bow," said Joby Carpenter, a specialist on crypto and illicit finance at ACAMS, an industry group for financial crime-fighting professionals.

Hamas has publicly sought to raise funds in crypto since at least 2019, when the al-Qassam Brigades began asking supporters on its Telegram channel to donate bitcoin. The reality of jihad is the expenditure of effort and energy, and money is the backbone of war," the group wrote in a post, attaching a wallet address that received about $30,000 in bitcoin that year.

The group is one of the most sophisticated crypto users in the terror-finance domain, according to Ari Redbord, a former senior Treasury official who is now head of global policy at TRM Labs, a blockchain-intelligence company which tracks the group.

Hamas stopped publishing its donation addresses to protect donors anonymity after Israeli and U.S. investigators tracked the transactions on the blockchainthe public ledgers that collate data on all digital currency transactions.

Hamas has since turned to payment processors that generate crypto addresses and help obscure its true cryptocurrency wallet, embedding links to those processors in their websites fundraising pages, Redbord said.

The al-Qassam Brigades said this April that they would stop receiving donations via bitcoin and told supporters to contribute in other ways. This was out of concern for the safety of donors," the group said on Telegram, citing a doubling of hostile efforts against everyone who tries to support the resistance through this currency."

Hamas and PIJ had already accumulated millions of dollars in crypto, the seizure orders showed.

Elliptics analysis indicated the groups werent only raising funds via crypto but also using crypto to move funds within their organizations. The London-based research firm found that the separate groups were transferring funds among each others wallets too, with the PIJ sending over $12 million in crypto to Hezbollah since 2021.

For transactions, they primarily used the stablecoin tether, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar, avoiding the volatility that affects other tokens. The Tether foundation didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Using crypto is much easier than smuggling cash over Egypts border," said Matthew Price, a former IRS investigator who now leads Elliptics business working with law enforcement.

 Dov Lieber contributed to this article.

Write to Angus Berwick at angus.berwick@wsj.com and Ian Talley at Ian.Talley@wsj.com

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a meeting with a group of American senators on Monday, conveyed the message that he believes the "Thucydides Trap" is not an unavoidable scenario.

As reported by PTI, he sought to downplay the concerns emanating from Washington about China's intentions to challenge the United States' superpower status. The "Thucydides Trap" refers to a concept where an emerging power poses a potential threat to replace the existing dominant power. Also Read: Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates: Rafah crossing is still open, Israeli Military's advice to Palestinians Competition and confrontation are not consistent with the trend of the times. Still less can it fix ones own problems and address the challenges facing the world," Xi told a US Senate delegation headed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during a meeting.

China maintains that the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the US is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to each other," Xi added.

Xi further stressed that the Thucydides Trap is not inevitable, adding, "Planet Earth is vast enough to accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of China and the US," he said, this alludes to the prevailing perspective within the American establishment that China is actively seeking to challenge the United States' position as the sole superpower.

Also Read: Israel-Hamas War: US defense stocks rocket while Israel-based stocks tank globally

The primary topic of discussion during the meeting, however, was centered on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East following the brutal assault by Hamas militants on Israel that occurred on Saturday.

While Xi focussed his remarks on allaying the US' fears of China challenging its superpower status saying, How China and the US get along will determine the future of humanity," Schumer told the Chinese leader that he was very disappointed" that China has not condemned the Hamas militants attack on Israeli civilians.

Schumer added, I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks."

On Sunday, China issued a call for both Israel and Palestine to demonstrate restraint and promptly halt the ongoing hostilities, refraining from explicitly naming Hamas or specifying the attack that resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 individuals on both sides.

Also Read: Israel-Palestine war Highlights: Gaza witnesses congestion in morgue; Hamas threatens to execute Israeli captives

Subsequently, on Monday, Beijing announced that it is investigating reports indicating that one of its nationals, who was attending a music event, may have been taken hostage by Hamas militants.

In response to Senator Schumer's remarks urging China to condemn the Hamas militants' attack, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated during a press briefing that China is firmly against acts of violence targeting civilians.

We are saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn violence and attacks against civilians. The priority now is to get fighting to stop and restore peace as soon as possible. We hope relevant parties in the international community will play an active role and work together to de-escalate the situation," she said on Monday.

Beijing, which supports the Palestinian state and maintains strong relations with Israel, is worried that the recent conflict could overshadow its previous successful diplomatic effort of mediating a peace agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March this year.

Also Read: Israel-Hamas War: FBI probes possible threats to US citizens, says wont hesitate to'

The group of US senators, consisting of three Democrats and three Republicans, marks the initial visit by American lawmakers since 2019.

The meeting is taking place as US legislators call on China to resolve trade and economic disagreements between the two largest global economies. Additionally, there is a potential meeting expected between Xi and US President Joe Biden in the coming month during a regional summit in San Francisco.

This anticipated meeting aims to address the growing complexity of their relationship and work towards its management.

President Biden on Friday mentioned the possibility of holding a meeting with Chinese President Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which is scheduled to take place in San Francisco.

(With inputs from PTI)

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DUBAIIranian security officials helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group.

Officers of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursionsthe most significant breach of Israels borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur Warthose people said.

Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended by IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon, they said.

U.S. officials say they havent seen evidence of Tehrans involvement. In an interview with CNN that aired Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship."

We dont have any information at this time to corroborate this account," said a U.S. official of the meetings.

A European official and an adviser to the Syrian government, however, gave the same account of Irans involvement in the lead-up to the attack as the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members.

Asked about the meetings, Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, said the group planned the attacks on its own. This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision," he said.

The Iranian delegation at the United Nations in New York didnt respond to a request for comment. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has praised the attacks, saying in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region."

A direct Iranian role would take Tehrans long-running conflict with Israel out of the shadows, raising the risk of broader conflict in the Middle East. Senior Israeli security officials have pledged to strike at Irans leadership if Tehran is found responsible for killing Israelis.

The IRGCs broader plan is to create a multi-front threat that can strangle Israel from all sidesHezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the north and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members and an Iranian official.

At least 700 Israelis are confirmed dead, and Saturdays assault has punctured the countrys aura of invincibility and left Israelis questioning how their vaunted security forces could let this happen.

Israel has blamed Iran, saying it is behind the attacks, if indirectly.  We know that there were meetings in Syria and in Lebanon with other leaders of the terror armies that surround Israel so obviously its easy to understand that they tried to coordinate. The proxies of Iran in our region, they tried to be coordinated as much as possible with Iran," Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said Sunday.

Hamas has publicly acknowledged receiving support from Iran. And on Sunday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi talked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Iran has been setting aside other regional conflicts, such as its open feud with Saudi Arabia in Yemen, to devote the IRGCs foreign resources toward coordinating, financing and arming militias antagonistic to Israel, including Hamas and Hezbollah, the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members said.

The U.S. and Israel have designated Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.

We are now free to focus on the Zionist entity," the Iranian official said. They are now very isolated."

The strike was intended to hit Israel while it appeared distracted by internal political divisions over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. It was also aimed at disrupting accelerating U.S.-brokered talks to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel that Iran saw as threatening, the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members said.

Building on peace deals with Egypt and Jordan, expanding Israeli ties with Gulf Arab states could create a chain of American allies linking three key choke points of global tradethe Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab Al Mandeb connecting the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea, said Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

Thats very bad news for Iran," Ibish said. If they could do this, the strategic map changes dramatically to Irans detriment."

Leading the effort to wrangle Irans foreign proxies under a unified command has been Ismail Qaani, the leader of the IRGCs international military arm, the Quds Force.

Qaani launched coordination among several militias surrounding Israel in April during a meeting in Lebanon, The Wall Street Journal has reported, where Hamas began working more closely with other groups such as Hezbollah for the first time.

Around that time, Palestinian groups staged a rare set of limited strikes on Israel from Lebanon and Gaza, under the direction of Iran, said the Iranian official. It was a roaring success," the official said.

Iran has long backed Hamas but, as a Sunni Muslim group, it had been an outsider among Tehrans Shia proxies until recent months, when cooperation among the groups accelerated.

Representatives of these groups have met with Quds Force leaders at least biweekly in Lebanon since August to discuss this weekends attack on Israel and what happens next, they said. Qaani has attended some of those meetings along with Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah, Islamic Jihad leader al-Nakhalah, and Saleh al-Arouri, Hamass military chief, the militant-group members said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attended at least two of the meetings, they said.

An attack of such scope could only have happened after months of planning and would not have happened without coordination with Iran," said Lina Khatib, director of the SOAS Middle East Institute at the University of London. Hamas, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, does not single-handedly make decisions to engage in war without prior explicit agreement from Iran."

The Palestinian and Lebanese militias ability to coordinate with Iran will be tested in the coming days as Israels response comes into focus.

Egypt, which is trying to mediate in the conflict, has warned Israeli officials that a ground invasion into Gaza would trigger a military response from Hezbollah, opening up a second battlefront, people familiar with the matter said. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire briefly on Sunday.

Hamas has called on Palestinians in the West Bank and Palestinian citizens of Israel to take up arms and join the fight. There have been limited clashes in the West Bank, but no reports of clashes between Arabs and Jews inside Israel, as happened in May 2021 when Israel and Gaza last engaged in extended combat.

The Iranian official said that if Iran were attacked, it would respond with missile strikes on Israel from Lebanon, Yemen and Iran, and send Iranian fighters into Israel from Syria to attack cities in the north and east of Israel.

Irans backing of a coordinated group of Arab militias is ominous for Israel. In previous conflicts, the Soviet Union was the ultimate patron of Israels Arab enemies and was always able to pressure them to reach some type of accommodation or recognize a red line, said Bernard Hudson, a former counterterrorism chief for the Central Intelligence Agency.

The Soviets never considered Israel a permanent foe," he said. Irans leadership clearly does."

Anas Baba and Michael R. Gordon contributed to this article.

Write to Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com, Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com and Stephen Kalin at stephen.kalin@wsj.com

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Israel intensified airstrikes on Gaza on Tuesday while the Israeli military prepared for a ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave that Israeli officials warned could be more destructive than any offensive there in recent history.

Israeli airstrikes reduced parts of an exclusive Gaza City neighborhood to rubble as the Israeli government stepped up its reaction to this weekends cross-border incursion by Hamas gunmen who killed more than 900 Israelis and took more than 100 hostage. Israeli strikes have killed more than 780 people in Gaza since, according to the enclaves health ministry.

Israels warnings of the coming offensive in Gaza have heightened fears of devastation among more than two million Palestinians trapped there. Israeli officials have urged Palestinians fleeing the bombing to leave the Gaza Strip entirelyan option they dont have since the strips borders are sealed by both Israel and Egypt.

The scope of this is going to be bigger than before and more severe. Its not going to be cleanWe are going to go very, very aggressively against Hamas," Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters on Tuesday morning. We should all change the paradigm."

Israel has mobilized more than 300,000 reservists ahead of its planned assault on Gaza.

The continuing airstrikes underscore a dilemma facing Israels government, which is trying to free the more than 100 Israelis who were taken captive during the Hamas raid over the weekend. Hamass military wing on Monday threatened to execute civilian hostages if Israel continued to bomb civilian homes without warning. Israels heavy strikes on the strip also risk accidentally killing hostages, who are being held in unknown locations.

Its a sensitive one," said Hecht of the hostages. Were handling it and were going to try and act in a disruptive and severe way."

Between 100 and 150 Israelis are currently being held by Hamas in Gaza, according to Israels ambassador to the United Nations

Israel has carried out four separate military offensives in Gaza since 2008, each one ending inconclusively, with Hamas remaining in control of the enclave. Israeli officials say their goal this time will be to strike a decisive blow against Hamas.

Asked where Gaza residents fleeing the bombing should go, Hecht urged Palestinians to use the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out," he said.

However, the Rafah crossing shut down on Monday after an Israeli airstrike on the border terminal. It remained closed after another strike on Monday, Egyptian officials said. Even in calmer times, most Gazans cant cross the border without special permission from Egypt, which residents say is nearly impossible to obtain.

Hecht later tweeted in clarification: I said they should check if Rafah is possibly open. And that Im not aware if its [sic] still open. The IDF is not in charge of that crossing."

The leaders of the U.S., France, Germany, Italy and the U.K voiced strong backing for Israel as it responded to this weekends attack, signaling the support of leading Western countries for the coming offensive against Hamas.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned," the leaders said in a joint statement. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities."

Middle Eastern nations including Egypt have tried, so far fruitlessly, to calm the situation, working to prevent a military escalation that could provoke a surge of displaced people toward the Egyptian border. Turkey has also said it is working to defuse the situation and offered to mediate in a potential prisoner exchange.

Egyptian and Hamas officials said overnight that the group has told negotiators that it isnt willing to engage in talks over the hostages until Israels bombing in Gaza stops.

The Gaza Strip, a ribbon of land along the Mediterranean coast about twice the size of Washington, D.C., has been all but sealed off from the world since 2007 when Israel closed its borders to Palestinians in the enclave. The closure ended decades in which many Gazans worked inside Israel and moved freely throughout the country after Israels 1967 occupation of the enclave, a part of historic Palestine that had been controlled by Egypt.

Israel withdrew its remaining settlers and soldiers from Gaza in 2005. Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, and seized greater control of Gaza in a 2007 military takeover that caused a schism with the rival Fatah movement, which controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Since the 2007 closure Gaza has been in the grips of a deepening humanitarian crisis, with the blockade degrading the strips economy and restrictions on the transfer of basic goods eroding its water, electrical and other civilian infrastructure. In its series of wars with Hamas, Israeli bombs have hit the strips airport, power plant, and U.N. warehouses and schools.

In Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood, an upmarket area of shopping malls, broad boulevards, restaurants and apartment blocks, residents stepped over piles of broken concrete on Tuesday while the sound of explosions thudded in the distance. The Israeli military warned everyone in Rimal on Monday to leave the area and head toward the southern Gaza Strip.

Israels response to Hamass attack has forced at least 187,518 Palestinians to flee their homes in Gaza, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Of those, more than 137,000 are sheltering in schools run by the U.N.

Four U.N. schools and six hospitals have been damaged since the start of the Israeli military operation, the U.N. said.

The Israeli air force said on Tuesday morning that it had dropped hundreds of bombs and thousands of tons of munitions throughout Gaza including on Rimal, saying it was targeting Hamas intelligence infrastructure and the homes of Palestinian militants.

The air force said in a tweet that the Israeli military operation continues to cause maximum damage."

Hecht said Israels capacity for precision strikes is currently reduced because Israeli personnel are stretched, and that therefore strikes in Gaza wouldnt be carried out with the same level of fidelity" as before.

The risk of war on a second front is rising after an exchange of fire on Monday between Israeli forces and Lebanons Hezbollah movement, which killed at least three members of the Islamist group and one Israeli military officer. Israel said it launched airstrikes and artillery fire into Lebanon after unknown suspects crossed the border into Israeli territory.

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militant group, hasnt said it will join the conflict but hasnt ruled it out.

With its large arsenal of missiles capable of firing deep into Israeli territory, Hezbollahs entry into the war would likely provoke a massive Israeli military response. All-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, which is considerably stronger militarily than Hamas, could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon.

Dov Lieber, Anas Baba, Summer Said and Dion Nissenbaum contributed to this article.

Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com

View Full Image Israel Readies for All-Out War in Gaza

View Full Image Israel Readies for All-Out War in Gaza

View Full Image Israel Readies for All-Out War in Gaza
Switzerland is not exactly the first place where Indians turn to hide their unaccounted wealth. The lure of Swiss banks has diminished ever since the countrys banking secrecy stopped being as murky as they used to be over a decade ago. Following a new pact for what is called the automatic exchange of information", India has been receiving financial information of accounts held by Indian residents in Switzerland since 2018.

Mint has reported about the fifth round of this exchange of information, with Switzerland sharing the details of nearly 36 lakh financial accounts with 104 countries.

Funds parked by Indian citizens and companies in Swiss banks, including through India-based branches and other financial institutions, are reported to have declined by 11% in 2022 to 3.42 billion Swiss francs (nearly 30,000 crore) from 3.83 billion Swiss francs in 2021, according to data from Switzerlands central bank in June. This was largely due to a steep drop in customer deposits.

While consistent sharing of information in compliance with the pact is welcome, it's important to remember that past transgressors though cannot be brought to book under the revised tax treaty signed by the two countries.

How will Indian tax authorities use this mine of information to hunt down income that evades tax? That is the real challenge. The maturity of the Indian tax authorities is going to be tested at a time when India's reputation has taken a beating for rising tax terrorism.

Indian officials are reported to have said that the new details shared with them pertain to "hundreds of financial accounts", including many cases in which multiple accounts are associated with individuals, corporations and trusts. They added that the data will be used extensively in probes of suspected tax evasion and other wrongdoing, including money-laundering and terror funding. The amount involved in the exchanged information and other specifics are not in the public domain.

Any presumption that all Swiss accounts are illegitimate is not correct. Individuals and corporations could well hold deposits for investments or pending payments. Deposits could also be held by those who do not have to pay tax on their foreign income earned in the years that they have been non-resident Indians. Coercing holders of legitimate accounts with tax-compliant deposits is not fair, and many cases smack of tax terrorism. This must stop.

Instead, the government should establish audit trails for financial transactions, using technology to track down tax evaders. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which scripted standards for exchange of information, also underscored the need to equip tax administrations with technology tools to verify compliance. This had the backing of the G20, which vowed to end tax evasion.

India has the IT prowess to do this, and it must be deployed properly, now that the country has a mine of information. The maturity of the tax administration will be defined by how it uses the data and invokes the law.

Last year, for instance, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland echoed the exchange of information pact, providing some comfort to Indian tax authorities. It said Switzerland would share information with Indian tax authorities about the beneficiaries of trusts set up there without judging the datas end use. The orders applied to foreign trusts with many beneficiaries, some of whom are connected to big Indian corporate houses located in tax havens. Here, again, any presumption that all off-shore trusts have illicit money is not right. Tax authorities have to establish the source of income to prove tax evasion.

For its part, Switzerland has been actively sharing details about accounts of Indians suspected to have indulged in financial wrongdoings after the submission of prima facie evidence. So, it is imperative for tax authorities here to complete investigations and close cases swiftly.

For tax administrations, the absence of information on beneficial owners poses a real challenge. Globally, a listing of the actual beneficial owner of any trust or company is a long-pending reform. When this happens, there will be transparency even when an extensive network of companies in different jurisdictions is used to hide the actual owner.

A reiteration that  like in the UK  every country must adopt a unique identifier for people and other legal entities, including companies, charities and trusts, is in order. Fishing expeditions without any prima facie evidence of tax evasion are wholly avoidable.
The National Medical Commissions decision to allocate medical colleges to states based on their population is quixotic to say the least. It also has the potential to further strain the already fraught relations between the union government and southern states  none of which are governed by the BJP at present.

The new guidelines, published via an extraordinary gazette notification (and apparently without any sort of public consultation), do two things, both of which are unlikely to sit well with many states. First, they introduce a ratio of 100 MBBS seats for every 10 lakh people. Second, they cap the current number of medical colleges  both government-run and private  in states that have exceeded this ratio.

The southern states  comprising Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry  all are above this new cut-off. Manipur, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh also exceed the NMCs ratio.

There also appears to be a clear attempt to ensure that the ability to open new medical colleges rests firmly with the union government. The NMC has said that after the current academic year, 2023-24, letter of permission for starting new medical colleges shall be issued only for annual intake capacity of 50/100/150 seats, provided that medical college shall follow the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in the states/Union Territory (sic)." The guidelines also clearly state that no medical or dental college can be established or their capacity increased without the prior approval of the union government.

The regulations are baffling, considering India already has a severe paucity of doctors. The aim instead should be to add as many qualified healthcare professionals as possible, not restrict the supply further.

Just how poor is the availability of doctors in India? According to Index Mundi, which uses WHO and country data for its rankings, India is currently ranked 116th out of 194 countries on the ratio of doctors per 1,000 people. Indias official position is that its doctor-population ratio, at 1 for 854 persons, comfortably exceeds the WHOs recommended minimum of 1:1,000.

However, that is not how the world may see it, because India also counts practitioners of traditional medicine  ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homoeopathy  as doctors. According to a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha by the minister of state for health and family welfare, there were a total of 10 lakh 78,732 qualified doctors registered with the 27 State Medical Councils and the Medical Council of India. By the ministers own admission, it is estimated that only 80% of these are actually practicing. The rest have either stopped working as medical practitioners, retired, emigrated or passed away.

Even this 80% figure might be an overestimate. A 2021 study called Size, composition and distribution of health workforce in India: why, and where to invest? by Anup Karan, Himanshu Negandhi, Suhaib Hussain, Tomas Zapata, Dilip Mairembam, Hilde De Graeve, James Buchan and Sanjay Zodpey found that while the National Health Workforce Account counted 11.6 lakh allopathic doctors (2018 data), the NSSO 2017-18 estimate of active workforce put the number of active allopathic doctors at just eight lakh.

The study found that a large number of these active doctors were not adequately qualified. Adjusting for the mandated qualification (at minimum an MBBS from a recognised institute for an allopathic doctor, for instance) the number fell further to around five lakh.

Clearly India needs more doctors, not less. The availability of doctors is also highly skewed. The pandemic cruelly exposed the acute shortage of doctors in the country, especially in rural areas and remote states. While there is an oversupply of doctors in the metros, the situation in rural areas is alarming. According to the governments own rural health statistics, over 21% of primary health centres and sub-centres in rural areas  the last mile delivery point for health services for the poor  dont have any doctors! A whopping 68% of community health centres also did not have a qualified specialist in 2021.

But the answer to the shortage of doctors in rural areas  particularly in the northern states  is not to stop those states that are performing better in medical education from growing, and waiting for the laggards to catch up. The NMCs justification for introducing the population-linked rationing of seats  that there should be a uniform distribution of doctors across the states  defies logic, as where doctors end up practicing their trade has little to do with where they got their degree.

That the current demand for medical seats far exceeds their supply is shown up by the staggering costs of a private medical seat, and by the fact that tens of thousands of Indian students travel abroad to study medicine. Thousands of these students had to be evacuated from Ukraine when the war broke out. And despite tensions between India and China, as many as 25,000 Indians are pursuing medical studies in that country.

Medical education in India has a number of issues, but where colleges come up isnt one of them. The NMC would serve the cause of medical education better by focussing on improving the quality of education, particularly by ensuring the availability of adequate infrastructure and qualified faculty in medical colleges, and reducing the exorbitant cost of private education and increasing competition for students by making more seats available.
             ,          .      ,        .                   .              ,              .EPA/ARSHAD ARBAB
Gaza is burning as Israeli forces methodically proceed to dismantle its structures of terror. The coming retribution will be terrible, but it is necessary and just. Hamas has lost the right to rule Gaza. It must be dismantled and disarmed, and neither Israel nor its neighbors can permit the group to return to power. Despite the best efforts of the Israel Defense Forces, innocent civilians will suffer, and too many will die. Urban warfare against a brutal enemy that doesnt scruple to use civilians as shields can have no other result, but what is coming to Gaza is not the fault of the IDF.

What will follow the fighting cant be foreseen. The establishment of a new Palestinian governing authority for the territory, linked to Fatah, closely guarded by Israel and Egypt, and funded by the Gulf states would be perhaps the best outcome for all concerned, but the war must be won before peace can be built.

At best, Gazas future seems bleak. More than two million people are crowded into a barren wasteland with few natural resources and little hope. A rational Palestinian leadership would understand that, so situated, the only hope for the people of Gaza lies in close collaboration with Egypt and Israel. It would then settle down to the hard but necessary task of creating an economy that can support its people with dignity and security.

Hamas has had other ideas. The misery and poverty of the Palestinian people is the soil, the only soil, in which a movement this perverted can flourish. Hamas has done all it could to keep Gaza wretched while inculcating an ideology of genocidal rage.

Israelis are temporarily setting their differences aside in the face of this hideous shock, as well they should. But there will be a reckoning in Israel too. Those who missed or misread the signs of danger will be driven ingloriously from office if they lack the grace to resign. A national-security establishment that wasted the past year in frenzied political infighting shouldnt be allowed to escape harsh public scrutiny. From the prime minister to the intelligence chiefs, those at the helm of Israels affairs will have to account for their actions.

We arent yet past the height of this crisis. While the exact details of Iranian involvement in the attacks are unknown, there is no doubt that Iran trained, supported, advised and equipped the killers. The hands of the mullahs are dripping with Jewish blood, and no one in Israel doubts that the fanatics in Tehran are hungry for more. In self-defense, Israel cant allow Irans engagement with Hamas to go unpunished, but taking on a near-nuclear regional superpower means potentially a much wider war.

The consequences of the Hamas attack for President Bidens Middle East policy are, as Iran may well have calculated, devastating. Desperate to avoid a Middle East crisis while war rages in Europe, oil prices rise and tensions over Taiwan mount, the Biden administration has consistently sought to pacify Iran.

Believing detente with the mullahs to be Americas best hope of avoiding yet another conflict in the Middle East, Mr. Biden has extended olive branch after olive branch to Tehran, which has slapped them away. Iran turned down the Biden administrations offer to re-enter the nuclear deal. It wasnt moved by the administrations quiet but dramatic loosening of sanctions. It released five hostages in exchange for $6 billion but is obviously more interested in collecting ransoms than in building bridges to Washington.

Theres a pattern here. When he arrived in the White House, Mr. Biden hoped, in a phrase administration officials often used at the time, to park Russia." In the spring of 2021 he exempted a company engaged in the construction of the massive Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from U.S. sanctions and publicly contradicted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys claim that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was ready to accept Ukrainian membership. Instead of applauding Mr. Bidens statesmanship, Vladimir Putin thought he smelled Western weakness and cast his covetous eyes toward Kyiv.

Mr. Biden has tried even harder to park Iran, but as Tehrans support for Hamass attack on Israel demonstrates, he hasnt had much success. Its a failure Franklin D. Roosevelt would have foreseen. No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it," FDR said. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary bomb." The Biden administration hasnt merely been stroking the Iranian tiger, it has fed it salmon and cream, yet the tiger isnt satisfied.

The Hamas attack was not only an assault on Israel. In recent months, Mr. Bidens efforts to promote normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations began to bear fruit. American backing for a security and diplomatic partnership between Israel and Saudi Arabia has the potential to stabilize the Middle East while limiting Americas direct military role. A major war between Israel and Hamas, the Iranians hope, will throw a monkey wrench into Team Bidens plans.

The world will now see what Mr. Biden is made of. Will he stand up against terrorists seeking to derail what could otherwise be his greatest diplomatic accomplishment? Will he offer Jerusalem his full military and diplomatic support when and if it is ready to show Iran the price of supporting mass murder in Israel? Or will he abandon Americas closest Middle East partners in their hour of greatest need?

Fecklessness in Washington breeds recklessness abroad. Standing by Israel in a confrontation with Iran carries risk, but yielding to Iranian threats is more dangerous still. As Winston Churchill said to Neville Chamberlain after Munich, You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war."

Unless Israel and the U.S. acting together can deter Iran from more aggression, Mr. Biden could soon face a similar choice.
Followers of Rishi Sunak on social media are treated to high politics and low culture. In one post, the prime minister accused Labour of being on the same side as criminal gangs" who profit from smuggling people across the Channel into Britain. In another, a beaming Mr Sunak posed with his young family mulling whether to see Barbie", the pinktastic film about the doll, or Oppenheimer", a biopic about the godfather of the atom bomb. Barbie first it is," posted the unapologetically lowbrow politician.

Mr Sunaks perky and nerdy demeanour covers an overlooked fact: he is comfortably the most right-wing Conservative prime minister since Margaret Thatcher. Taking a hard position on asylum-seekers is just the beginning. On everything from social issues, devolution and the environment to Brexit and the economy, Mr Sunak is to the right of the recent Tory occupants of 10 Downing Street. Yet neither voters nor his colleagues seem to have noticed.

Critics dismiss Mr Sunaks hardline position on small boats crossing the Channel as focus group-led posturing. Mr Sunak has made stemming the flow of people across those waters one of the main goals of his government. The prime minister has curtailed the right of asylum for people who arrive in small boats. A barge for 500 asylum-seekers is docked in Dorset waiting for its human cargo. Mr Sunak wants to solve the crisis in the most aggressive and prominent way. If it is all for show, it is a needlessly expensive blockbuster. There is a simpler explanation for Mr Sunaks approach: he believes in it.

Where recent Conservative prime ministers dragged the party towards liberalism, Mr Sunak is resolutely traditionalist. David Cameron, prime minister from 2010 until 2016, backed gay marriage against the wishes of a majority of his MPs. Theresa Mays government tried to let trans people self-ID", so people could change gender without a medical or lengthy bureaucratic process. Those days are gone. When the Scottish National Party introduced similar rules, Mr Sunaks government blocked them, upsetting 25 years of constitutional norms. On trans rights, Mr Sunak has picked a fight. I know what a woman is," says Mr Sunak. It would be an easy topic to skirt, yet the prime minister runs at it.

Each recent Conservative prime minister has boasted of their environmentalism. David Cameron extolled his green credentials to the point of mockery, even riding a sledge within the Arctic Circle. Mrs May made net zero" law in one of the most consequential, but least commented upon, achievements of her government. Mr Sunaks government is a reluctant follower, keeping the same goal but grudgingly. The prime minister is simply uninterested" in the environment, wrote Zac Goldsmith, a former minister, in a resignation letter. He is right. Any environmental obligation that stands between Mr Sunak and re-election will be ditched.

Critics within the party moan that Mr Sunak is a closet leftie: a man who was too quick to spend money when he was chancellor during the pandemic and is too slow to cut taxes now that he is prime minister. Such largesse was out of necessity, rather than choice. By instinct, Mr Sunak is the most fiscally conservative leader since Mr Cameron. Mrs May was comfortable with a larger state as was Boris Johnson, Mr Sunaks predecessor from 2019 to 2022. By contrast, Mr Sunak winces at the idea. Mr Sunaks idol is Nigel Lawson, Thatchers chancellor, who cut taxes only once it could be afforded. Mr Sunak is attempting the same path. Yet economic thinking in the Tory party has become so confused that fiscal hawkishness is painted as proto-socialist.

When it comes to Brexit, now a religious question for the Conservatives rather than a policy one, Mr Sunak was always a believer. The prime minister churned out articles for his school newspaper about the perils of a European superstate. This marks him out among former prime ministers. Mr Cameron opposed Brexit. Mrs May grinned and bore it. Mr Johnson supported it out of cynicism rather than conviction. Ms Truss learned to love it for similar reasons. Mr Sunak is alone among his peers in thinking that it was always and remains a fundamentally good idea.

Mr Sunaks credentials as a right-winger are close to immaculate. Yet few see him this way. Partly this is a matter of age. Other prime ministers who came to power in their early 40s, such as Sir Tony Blair and Mr Cameron, tried to drag the country in a liberal direction. Mr Sunak has no such plans. Race plays a role, too. Bizarrely, given that the Conservative cabinet is filled with ethnic minorities, there is still an assumption that non-white Britons are left-leaning liberals. It is an increasingly wrong one.

Right on

Ultimately, Mr Sunaks strange reputation is due to the scrambling of British politics after 2016, which mangled the old left-right axis. Mr Sunaks most decisive act was to bring down Mr Johnson. If Mr Johnson was Brexit incarnate, then his assassin must be a Remainer stooge. Right-wing Brexiters flocked to the Remain-supporting Ms Truss, who was loyal to Mr Johnson, in the leadership contest last summer; Mr Sunak relied on a rump of more liberal Tory MPs. Nor was this delusion isolated to Conservatives. After the unprofessionalism of Mr Johnson and the chaos of Ms Truss, centrists welcomed the rise of the diligent Mr Sunak, mistaking competence for liberalism. They assumed he was one of their own based on his age, manner and background rather than his views. Many of them still do.

It is this ideological dissonance that creates the danger for Mr Sunak. He is left channelling another former prime minister who had to persuade his party his views were genuine. In 2001, after New Labour had secured re-election, one party wallah asked Sir Tony if he would ditch his rightward drift. Sir Tony replied: Its worse than you think. I really do believe in it." Mr Sunak is right-wing out of conviction, rather than convenienceeven if few others believe it.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Indias political climate is heating up ahead of nine state elections and the Lok Sabha elections due within the next seven months. A year after political parties argued over the use of freebies to woo voters, there is no dearth of such poll promises and policy moves.

Take the recent Cabinet decision to increase the cooking gas subsidy for beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme by 100 per cylinder. It comes at a time crude oil prices are on a boil, and tops up the 200 universal cut in cylinder prices in August. Does it make for a freebie? Or is the tag better suited to free electricity up to 100 units for families in Rajasthan or e-scooters given away to meritorious female students? To be sure, there is no legal definition: parties position their plans as welfare for the needy, and dismiss others as wasteful giveaways.

Last year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report on state finances in the wake of Sri Lankas economic crisis, raising red flags over the fiscal health of some states and the risks emanating from freebies. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, both poll-bound next month, have budgeted their fiscal deficits at 4% of their economic outputs this year. Thats the highest allowed, conditional on 0.5% of it being used on power sector reforms. Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, the other three poll-bound states this year, have kept their targets at 3.5% or less.

Both central and state government finances have improved since the covid-19 disruption. The Centre's deficit came down to 6.4% of GDP in 2022-23 after spiking to 9.2% in 2020-21, while that of the states fell to 3.2% from 4.1%.

Welfare or freebie?

The RBI noted that the financial risks from freebies seemed moderate for four of the five most indebted states Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan and West Bengal. (The fifth was Punjab, a large spender on utilities subsidies.) The thumb rule is to identify whether there is enough room for a scheme or policy without serious fiscal risks.

A welfare scheme is interpreted as a freebie purely based on the timing of announcement, such as prior to elections," said Lekha Chakraborty, a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. Education, health, public transport, and energy infrastructure including clean fuel may not be strictly "public goods", she said, but as long as the fiscal space is identified, subsidizing them or giving them for free can have positive effects in terms of tackling widening inequalities in the post-pandemic or post-war period.

While states are returning to fiscal consolidation after the pandemic, debt levels of several of them, such as Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, remain over 30% of their gross state domestic product (GSDP). Worse, the Centre and several states have in the past resorted to off-Budget borrowings that hide fiscal stress, raising the question whether schemes are being planned despite the lack of fiscal room.

The spike in the Centres fiscal deficit in 2020-21 was not only due to pandemic relief, but also due to the clean-up exercise by bringing past food subsidy spends on to the books. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has also flagged off-Budget borrowings by Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Rajasthan, among others, each of which has high debt, an analysis by PRS Legislative Research pointed out.

Winning formula?

Not only have promises of free electricity in Delhi and Punjab by Aam Aadmi Party aided their victory, they have also forced other parties to announce similar promises to woo voters. While the Narendra Modi government takes pride in providing food and gas subsidies and job guarantees as well-targeted upliftment measures, it used the 2019 interim Budget to retrospectively launch PM-KISAN, an income support scheme of 6,000 per year to all landholding farmer families, right before the elections.

While pre-election schemes are common, experts say as long as governments are keeping their financial position in check, legal intervention into the matter could undermine democratically elected political parties rights to use public funds to improve voters lives in ways they deem fit. The states financial situation, like the Centres, has improved, with their own tax revenue growing 17.5% in 2022-23, in line with the nominal GDP growth. However, the pension burden, a committed expenditure, is huge and the promises by some of restoring the old pension scheme under which the entire amount is paid by the governmentas against a contributory structure under the new schemecould drain states coffers.

With the political heat intensifying, several announcements that can be considered both welfare and freebies are already being made, and more are expected. The fiscal costs of these schemes may need a closer scrutinybut a ban or a legal intervention will be a stretch.

This is the first part of a series that will run until May 2024, to cover the top election issues as well as the current governments report card after nearly 10 years in power.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, Norway and Chile have long used sovereign-wealth funds to sock away windfall profits from periods of high prices for commodity exports like oil and metals for future years when their own production winds down or international prices plunge.

Ireland on Tuesday created its own rainy-day fund thanks to outsize profits from an unusual and controversial source of income: U.S. technology and pharmaceutical giants seeking to lower their tax bills.

In the past eight years, the country of five million has watched its corporate tax income triple to the tune of 22.6 billion euros last year, equivalent to almost $24 billiongiving it a budget surplus last year of a comfortable 8 billion euros when many governments are suffering from a postpandemic debt hangover.

Irelands government, unable to predict how much income it will make from corporate taxes year to year or how long the surge will continue for, said a new Future Ireland Fund could amass 100 billion by the middle of the next decade. The new fund will help cover increased healthcare bills as its population ages, with the nation facing one of the fastest rates of demographic change in Europe in the coming decades.

These funds are vital to future-proof our economy," Irish Finance Minister Michael McGrath told lawmakers. We must use windfall receipts wisely."

The government said it would transfer 0.8% of annual economic output to the new fund in each year from 2024 through 2035. In 2024, that would amount to 4.3 billion, with an additional 4 billion drawn from an existing savings fund that is being closed.

Ireland became a hot spot for U.S. companies by slashing its corporate tax rate from 40% to 12.5% starting in the late 90s, and offering a well-educated workforce and a tariff-free way into the European Union. By last year, there were 950 U.S. businesses operating in the country, employing just under 10% of all Irish workers, according to the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. The biggest are Apple, Meta Platforms, Alphabets Google, Amazon.com and Pfizer.

But that role has been supercharged since 2015, when changes in international tax rules prompted some U.S. businesses to move hundreds of billions of dollars in intellectual property to the country, such as patents and research. That allowed some companies, especially tech giants, to register their profits in Ireland even if much of their output or content was made and consumed elsewhere.

When the change was introduced, the stampede of U.S. companies to Ireland was large enough that it inflated Irelands annual economic output by a quarter that yeareven if much of the increase wasnt visible in terms of the real economy. It received a further boost during the pandemic, which led to a surge in sales for the big U.S. digital and pharma companies operating in the country.

The windfall that is coming to Ireland is a very concrete demonstration of the revenue that the U.S. is losing," said Brad Setser, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Setser estimates that between $10 billion and $15 billion of the revenue collected by the Irish government last year would have been collected instead by its U.S. counterpart in a sane system." That is a lot of money for tiny Ireland, but a relatively small amount for the worlds largest economy. Still, it could help partly defray Washingtons expenses such as U.S. support for Ukraine.

The Irish government, meanwhile, has become more reliant on profits from U.S. businesses to fund spending on health, education and other essential services. In 2021, it derived 17% of its tax revenue from levies on corporate profits, up from just over 11% in 2015. By comparison, the U.S. government derived just 5.3% of its revenue from taxes on profits.

According to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, just three companies paid a third of all corporate tax revenue between 2017 and 2021. IFAC didnt name those companies, but Setser said tax records indicate they were Apple, Microsoft and Pfizer. The companies werent immediately available for comment.

Cumulatively, the profits moved out of reach of U.S. tax authorities have been large. In a recent paper, Navodhya Samarakoon, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan who previously worked on international tax affairs for the Treasury Department, estimates that U.S. businesses funneled $1.2 to $1.4 trillion in profits to low-tax jurisdictions via a complicated international loophole from 1998 to 2018. That loopholeknown as the Double Irishwas closed in 2020, but many of its users continue to avoid paying U.S. taxes, according to tax experts.

A chunk of profits has not come back to the U.S.," said Samarakoon. Combined with evidence of windfalls, that suggests a lot of profits remain in Ireland."

The Biden administration has led a global effort to limit tax avoidance by large, international businesses. In 2021, some 136 countries struck a deal to have a global minimum tax rate of 15% on corporate profits and redirect tax revenue to countries where the products are actually sold or used.

Irelands government will introduce legislation to implement the new tax rates starting next year, McGrath said. But turning that agreement into laws across different nations has been slow, including in the U.S., where a divided Congress hasnt yet ratified the deal.

Ireland has seen its share of booms and busts. Tax revenue from property transactions surged in the years running up to 2007, only to evaporate with the bursting of its property bubble and the collapse of its banking system in 2008. Debt that had been small quickly became among the worlds largest after the government decided to honor all the debts of its failed banks, in part because of worries that defaults might scare away U.S. and other foreign businesses.

Now it frets that at least one of the U.S. digital giants that it hosts could go the way of Finlands Nokia or Canadas BlackBerry, and swing suddenly from apparent dominance to bit player, with a big impact on the taxes it pays.

Another fear is that the U.S. government could change its tax code to make locating intellectual property overseas more costly. There are also growing signs that the era of unrestricted trade, which opened Irelands path to prosperity, has ended. Economists warned that the countrys economy is set to contract this year, in part because of U.S. rules restricting the sale of semiconductors to China, which applies to U.S. businesses based in Ireland.

The country also faces elections next year, in which the ruling coalition of center-right parties faces a challenge from Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, which has long lobbied for greater government spending.

Write to Paul Hannon at paul.hannon@wsj.com

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Dalton State College in Georgia gets top marks for the quality of the campus experience it offers, according to the WSJ/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings.

Dalton State, located in northwest Georgia, just south of the Tennessee border, is one of several Southern public universities that placed in the top 10 in this category, receiving high scores from students for the quality of its campus and community life. Dalton State is followed by California Baptist University, the University of Houston-Downtown, Savannah State University and Alcorn State University.

The Florida Institute of Technology, Texas Womans University, Oral Roberts University, Pomona College and Florida International University round out the top 10 schools on the list.

The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse surveyed over 60,000 students and recent graduates across the country between January and May. To evaluate the quality of students college experiences, they were surveyed on their satisfaction with their schools facilities, social life and sense of community and diversity on campus. The Journal also used federal data to evaluate the diversity of schools faculty and student bodies with regard to race, socioeconomic background and other measures.

(For more details on how this years rankings were determined, read the full methodology with the ranking tables at wsj.com/collegerankings.)

Mackenzie Manley, a senior at Dalton State, says the strong bonds he formed with his classmates and surrounding community have stood out to him throughout his college career. He says the colleges volunteer and professional opportunities, such as his nursing externship at a nearby healthcare facility, bolstered his sense of belonging on and off campus, while allowing him to apply his academic knowledge to real-life situations.

The concept of this community and being attached to it has given me countless opportunities, not only as a student but a future professional in my career in nursing," Manley says.

Kimberly Buckner, also a senior at Dalton State, says the schools smaller size and multicultural events involving clubs across campus allow her to continually meet students with different backgrounds and majors.

John Fuchko III, the colleges president, emphasized Dalton States status as Georgias first Hispanic-Serving Institution, a federal designation awarded to schools where at least 25% of the student population identifies as Hispanic. In fall 2022, about 36% of the schools students were Hispanic.

Fuchko says the university strives to foster a diversity of ideas and perspectives among its student body.

Maintaining a community that ensures our students feel welcome, are engaged and have access to campus facilities that bolster a transformational student experience is and will continue to be a priority," Fuchko said in an emailed statement.

(You can see our full overall ranking and explore other rankings focused on student experiences, social mobility and salary impacts at wsj.com/collegerankings.)

Bethany Zimmerman, a senior at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., says that as a member of the schools student association, she helps host events such as the annual beginning-of-the-year festival that have given her the opportunity to meet students from different countries pursuing all sorts of degrees.

Its a really cool environment to be in, because you can learn so much from all these other people," Zimmerman says.

The president of Oral Roberts, William Wilson, said in an emailed statement that the school has students from more than 150 countries. Of the three components used to calculate the student-experience score, Oral Roberts received its highest rating in the diversity category.

Elsewhere, Ariana Makar, a senior at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., says that while the pandemic muted the social life at her school for a time, she appreciates the opportunity to share classes and dining halls with students attending the four other undergraduate schools in the Claremont College consortium: Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College and Claremont McKenna College.

Makar says that while she appreciates the newly opened gym and classroom facilities on campus, she would like to see more improvements to the colleges housing facilities and additional resources available for individuals mental and emotional well-being.

It has its basis to improve. But I can never say that they dont try," Makar says. Its not surprising to me that Pomona is up there."

Pomona College said in a statement that students usually live on campus for all four years, which adds to their sense of belonging and community.

We want everyone to have the chance to flourishacademically, physically, emotionally and spiritually," the statement from the college said.

Megan Tagami is a former intern in The Wall Street Journals education bureau. For questions or comments, contact Harry Carr, the Journals Rankings Editor, at harry.carr@wsj.com.
TEL AVIVIsrael spent three years building a 40-mile-long, state-of-the-art, high-tech security barrier along the Gaza Strip, with radar and sensors designed to detect furtive incursions by Palestinians bent on carrying out covert attacks in Israel.

On Saturday, Hamas used bulldozers and other rudimentary means to punch through the 20-foot-high fence and flooded men through the gaps in pickups and on foot, a frontal assault on southern Israel that was the largest breach of the countrys borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur war.

It was a stark illustration of the limits to the Israeli militarys shift in focus to cyber capabilities, intelligence-gathering and advanced weaponry and its concentration on countering terrorist attacks. The armed forces were caught off guard by a relatively low-tech ground assault.

Now, the Israeli military is preparing for the possibility of a large-scale operation in Gaza, where it will have to rely more heavily on infantry and conventional artillery, areas deprioritized in recent years, and where it could be drawn into street-by-street fighting and urban warfare.

Israels military has been preparing for the wrong war," said Avi Jager, a researcher at the Israel-based International Institute for Counter-Terrorism.

Recent military attention was directed at the West Bank, where Israel deployed forces to quell a Palestinian militant insurgency. Israeli intelligence warnings of potential war had focused on the north and the threat from Hezbollah, Hamass Lebanese ally, military analysts said.

Until Saturday, Israeli officials widely believed a policy of boosting Gazas economy meant the leaders of Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Europe and Israel, had no interest in launching the kind of cross-border attack it staged.

At the same time, as the weekends events showed, Hamas has become more sophisticated. Saturdays assault used a combination of missiles, naval vessels, drones and armed fighters who reached as far as the city of Ofakim, more than 20 miles inside Israel.

Israel has suffered a strategic surprise, despite all its sophisticated high-tech, weaponry, spyware and world-renowned intelligence agency," said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator with the Palestinians and president of U.S./Middle East Project, which works to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israel cannot keep its people safe anymoreand that will be hard to recover from."

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said the armed forces are focused on prevailing in the current conflict and that they would talk about the run-up to the Hamas cross-border attack once the fighting is over.

While Israel has long focused on gaining a technological advantage over its enemiesit is widely thought to have first developed nuclear weapons in the 1960sthe military has accelerated a shift toward advanced air, defense and intelligence systems over the past two decades.

For the Israeli army, the 2006 war with Hezbollah, where it fought guerrilla fighters on the rocky hills of southern Lebanon, illustrated the limits of superior bombs and artillery in counterinsurgency battles, similar to the U.S. experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Israels leadership began to believe the main threats to security were no longer ground invasions like the country saw in previous wars with Arab nations such as Egypt and Jordanwith which it signed peace treatiesbut unconventional threats from rockets and insurgent attacks by nonstate groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, according to Jager.

To that end, the military invested in intelligence, cyber and defensive capabilities to deal with the threat from Hezbollah and Hamas and blunt the risks of a growing missile arsenal in Iran. It deployed Iron Dome in 2011, which targets short-range rockets, and invested in developing other systems to tackle longer-range missiles.

View Full Image Members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group hosted last year a media tour of an underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. PHOTO: MAHMUD HAMS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

As Iran entered the Syrian civil war, Israeli pilots carried out thousands of airstrikes in Syria that disrupted Tehrans efforts to supply its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon with advanced missiles. The Israeli signals intelligence unit, known as 8200, became one of the militarys biggest and best-known, also helping to drive the countrys economy by seeding computer whiz kids into the technology sector.

Still, in 2014, Hamas surprised the Israeli military by launching attacks on its territory from Gaza via a network of tunnels burrowed under the wall. The two sides fought a 50-day conflict as Israel launched ground operations in Gaza to destroy the tunnels.

In response, the Israeli military again turned to technology. It began working on a system called the Obstacle" that could help detect tunnels, and later unveiled the border fence system. Israels defense minister at the time, Benny Gantz, said the barrier placed an iron wall" around Gaza, protecting Israelis from Hamas militants, just as the famed antimissile system, Iron Dome, shielded them from rockets.

In 2015, the military began working on a revamp plan that would cut combat troops and reservists, according to Jager, who has published a study on the transformation. The number of noncommissioned officers was cut by 10% to 40,000 and the length of conscripted service for men was shortened by four months to 32 months.

A spokesman for Gantz, who is now a member of Israels parliament and the leader of the National Unity party, declined to comment.

At the end of the day, you have to decide: do you invest in technology or not," said Yaakov Amidror, who served as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus national security adviser. Investing in technology means less money for other issues."

Subsequent heads of the military took up the baton of shifting it to become nimbler and more technologically focused.

We are talking about a longstanding process where the ground forces of the IDF were weakened," said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

As the Israeli military went higher-tech, Hamas and Hezbollah, which has fought for a decade in the Syrian civil war, began to operate more like conventional military foes, rather than scrappy insurgents. Hamas, in control of the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, built a warren of underground bases as a command-and-control center for a future conflict, and became more accurate in firing rockets on Israel.

Iron Dome once again emerged as a success story in 2021 when it intercepted thousands of projectiles fired at Israel. The Israeli militarys heavy response via airstrikes, knocking out parts of Hamas military infrastructure, left Israeli officials convinced the Islamist group was tired of repeated rounds of violence with Israel.

Complicating the situation ahead of Saturdays attacks was an upsurge in violence in the West Bank, fanned by Hamas. The Netanyahu government, backed by settler leaders living in the West Bank, had turned their attention toward Palestinian attacks there.

In June, the Israeli military expanded the number of battalions on the ground in the West Bank, which had increased from roughly 13 to 25 over 18 months, according to Israeli mediaequivalent to thousands more ground troops. Israeli commentators blamed the sluggish response to the Hamas attack on the border of Gaza on the fact that so many troops were in the West Bank.

Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that the deployment of forces between Gaza and the West Bank wasnt connected. We had also forces deployed near Gaza," he said.

View Full Image Israels Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, on Monday. PHOTO: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS

The surge in West Bank violence now appears to be a calculated move to distract attention from the planning in Gaza, said Mark Dubowitz of Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.

It is true that the scenario of a strategic surprise of hitting Israel on its southern border and through the infiltration of over 1,000 Hamas fighters was a lower priority on the IDFs top planning scenarios," he said.

Dov Lieber and Stephen Kalin contributed to this article.

Write to Rory Jones at Rory.Jones@wsj.com and Dion Nissenbaum at dion.nissenbaum@wsj.com
Caroline Giese decamped to Durham, N.C., from Seattle during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020 to live and work remotely. Roughly two years later, her office followed her there.

Rather than requiring Giese to return to the West Coast office, employer Boston Consulting Group in October 2022 rented dedicated WeWork office space for Raleigh-Durham area workers, most of whom relocated there during the pandemic.

BCG, a global company with 29 offices in the U.S., has also opened new offices in Nashville, Tenn., San Diego and Brooklyn, N.Y., in the past two years. The four locationstwo of which are at co-working facilitiesprovide office space for more than 300 workers close to where they want to live, the firm said.

My commute is about 10 minutes. It cuts down travel time. Theres more time for pre- and post-work activities," such as playing pickleball, visiting breweries and going for runs on the American Tobacco Trail, Giese said. It just feels like a more tightknit, sustainable place to live."

Giese, a 34-year-old management consultant with clients in the Southeast, isnt required to be at the office a minimum number of days each week but likes having the option when she isnt traveling. Being 100% remote was really hard because a lot of our job requires collaboration and brainstorming and working together," said Giese. Learning and development is so much more accelerated when we can be in person."

Office attendance tension persists

Companies and workers are still trying to find the right mix of in-person, hybrid and remote work more than three years after the pandemic hit. With the unemployment rate hovering near a half-century low, the tight labor market means employers are in a delicate dance with workers over the optimal amount of work-from-home flexibility.

The number of available job openings exceeded unemployed job seekers by 3.3 million in August, according to the Labor Department.

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Studies show that workers value the freedom and flexibility of remote work, in some cases more than a pay raise. And they have held on to that flexibility: Offices in 10 major U.S. cities were occupied on average at around 50% in late September, according to weekly data from security-provider Kastle Systems.

Employers, meanwhile, are pushing to get workers into the office more often, with many stepping up surveillance of office attendance. Businesses fear that productivity and company culture suffer when workers are dispersed.

Companies such as Zoom, Alphabet-owned Google and Facebook-parent Meta Platformsall early pioneers of remote workare ordering more employees back to the office. Amazon this summer told workers that they might have to relocate to main offices concentrated in bigger cities.

None of us have figured out exactly the right combination of hybrid work," said Brian Gross, BCGs chief operating officer for North America. Where we landed is that some amount of time together is really important. People found flexibility [during the pandemic] and want to keep that."

Gross said BCGs main reason for opening new satellite offices is to attract and retain talented workers. Cities such as Durham and San Diego have universities, including Duke and the University of California, from which to recruit new staff, in addition to being attractive places for employees to live.

An August survey conducted by BCG Henderson Institute, the consulting firms think tank, found that office workers from different companies who were dissatisfied with their work flexibility were more than twice as likely to consider leaving their organization in the next year compared with those who were satisfied.

Although employees in those satellite offices often dont work on the same teams, staff members are exposed to company culture and have opportunities to collaborate, Gross said. BCGs new offices havent meant downsizing other locations, he said.

Companies can save costs by renting co-working space or adding offices in cities with lower rent, said Travis Howell, an Arizona State University assistant professor who studies co-working trends. I think were going to start seeing more companies rent desks at co-working spaces for their employees or give their employees a co-working stipend where they can choose their own space," he said.

Companies reach different conclusions

Citigroup, which requires most workers globally to be in the office three days a week, considered opening smaller locations in New Yorks Nassau and Westchester counties, a short distance from the Manhattan headquarters, but the bank ultimately abandoned the idea.

We explored it, but our hope and desire was always to bring people back when it was safe," said Edward Skyler, Citigroups head of enterprise services and public affairs. Banking is an apprenticeship business. People really learn from being around each other."

Umbra, a California-based satellite maker and data seller, has a co-working space outside Washington, D.C., for traffic so people dont have to deal with it," said Gabe Dominocielo, the companys founder and president. The company also has a government-affairs office in Washington, which it is expanding.

He said the cost of setting up new workspaces to accommodate workers living preferences and shorten commutes was so marginal relative to having happy peopleits just nothing."

The return on investment to have employees who are not miserable, you cant quantify that," Dominocielo said.

Though Umbra is based in Santa Barbara, he works from an Industrious co-working space in Austin, Texas, where he said he moved for lifestyle reasons in 2020 after the pandemic hit.

Write to Harriet Torry at harriet.torry@wsj.com
The cryptocurrency industry has been battered by the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and the fraud allegations surrounding it, as well as implosions at other big crypto players. For the firms that remain standing, growing regulatory pressure means there is a stronger need than ever for compliance talent.

Given the reputational and financial hits to the industry in the past year, attracting legal and compliance workers to work for crypto firms is challenging, say those hiring for positions in the industry. But the expertise compliance professionals can bring to the job is likely to make a big impact in helping to rebuild the sectors damaged reputation.

To attract talent, some crypto firms are trying hard to distinguish themselves from the bad actors in the sector by promoting their approach to compliance. But it isnt easy.

Theres such a stigma to the industry right now," said Jorge Pesok, who is hiring people for the legal team at the nonprofit HBAR Foundation, which awards grants to crypto projects.

[The candidates] are just more hesitant to join now, because they are thinking about their long-term career moves, if its a smart idea, because some people have gotten burned," said Pesok, who serves as chief legal officer at the foundation. He made the jump to crypto full-time in 2021, serving as the general counsel and chief compliance officer at crypto exchange platform Tacen.

Before the most recent crypto market crash, firms in the sector were able to lure away legal and compliance talent with higher pay, better perkssuch as firm equityand opportunities to develop and implement compliance procedures and programs in an emerging field, industry participants said.

Some of those hiring for compliance jobs have had to change tack in the current environment. To persuade a recent candidate to take a job offer, for example, Pesok spent hours answering questions and addressing concerns and using the story of his own career path and experience working at HBAR as an example.

Last year, crypto exchanges and companies were frequently poaching attorneys from both law firms and other crypto companies, bringing them in-house to aid in navigating an evolving regulatory landscape and helping to curb outside legal expenses as the industry came under increasing government scrutiny.

But with the arrival of the crypto winter last year, the ability of crypto firms to draw talent has significantly diminished. Many lawyers and compliance executives that were enticed by the opportunities are now hesitant to make the move or are leaving the industry, joining or returning to more stable companies such as consulting or mainstream finance, industry insiders said.

The events of the past year and a half have caused a lot of people to rethink their enthusiasm for this space," said John Wolf Konstant, senior consultant at technology-focused legal recruiting firm Whistler Partners. He cited the layoffs at crypto exchange Coinbase Global and various bankruptcies, including crypto lenders BlockFi and Celsius Network, which altogether took a lot of the wind out of the sails."

Carolina Ceballos, chief compliance officer for blockchain infrastructure company Paxos Trust, said that hiring for compliance positions remains difficult, despite layoffs at other companies providing her firm with a larger talent pool. Some candidates are choosing to join traditional financial institutions when deciding between competing offers from Paxos because of the industrys challenging reputation, she said.

To attract new staff, Ceballos emphasizes that Paxos has a regulatory-first approach to compliance and a high bar for excellence.

Its a real opportunity for the Paxos model to shine through this moment and to be known as an alternative, and crypto can be done to protect all our users, and this faster and safer way to do finance, while having all the controls in place," Ceballos said. This is how were solving these problems and how we are talking to the regulators, and thats a great opportunity for Paxos."

Paxos said it has significantly increased the head count of its compliance team over the past year, but the company declined to provide specific numbers. The firm, which issued and listed Binances dollar-pegged cryptocurrency, drew regulators ire earlier this year. New York regulators told Paxos to stop creating more BUSD tokens, also known as Binance USD. A Paxos spokeswoman said, Since that date, we have successfully wound down the token and redeemed more than $12 billion in value to customers without any market dislocation."

Cathy Yoon, who has been working in various legal roles in the crypto sector since 2017, said she plans to stay in the industry. She said people are still interested in joining or remaining in the space despite being laid off, but candidates are looking for more long-term stability and are hesitant to jump on board after the bankruptcies and scandals of the past year.

Yoon, who recently started as the general counsel at Wormhole Foundation, a steward of crypto platform Wormhole protocolher third job since April 2022said she has increased the amount of due diligence she does before taking on prospective projects.

I ask more questions and ask about things that as a normal job seeker I wouldnt ask before," said Yoon. These questions include determining what the internal approval process is like and who is in charge of the firms finances.

Will Brown, executive search lead for financial services at recruiting firm Hamlyn Williams, said hiring for banking and traditional financial technology firms has picked up over the past six months as these companies try to fill vacancies and lure talent back from crypto. But he expects the pace for crypto compliance hiring to gain steam in the coming months.

In the last nine months or so, a lot of the regulatory pressure hasnt gone away, a lot of projects are seeing compliance become more business-critical, and were seeing more hires because of that," Brown said, adding that recent regulatory actions against crypto firms, such as those against Ripple Labs and Coinbase, solidify the view that they need to keep hiring for these roles."

Write to Mengqi Sun at mengqi.sun@wsj.com
A house fire on Sunday afternoon in Crozet has displaced two residents.

Discarded smoking materials have been blamed for the incident.

Albemarle County Fire Rescue said it responded to reports of a fire on Thurston Drive shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Fire Rescue responded to a small fire in the bedroom of a house on Thurston, county spokeswoman Serena Gruia told The Daily Progress Monday. They were able to put it out, but the two residents were displaced.

Those residents are being assisted by family, Gruia said.

The Albemarle County fire marshal had closed its investigation into the matter by Monday afternoon.
The walkouts come just two weeks after dozens of pharmacy employees at CVS walked off the job in Kansas City.
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Mayor Kelly said every resident deserves to feel safe in the city and they're taking steps to ensure that, starting with the Chattanooga Police Department.
The 2002 National Night Out event brought people together in their own neighborhoods and meet the people protecting the city.
Nearly half of all students in the U.S. are performing behind their grade level in at least one subject. A new institute at the University of Virginia is planning on tackling those daunting figures and finding ways to improve K-12 education and help educators address the obstacles that face disadvantaged students.

Education is the heartbeat of our nation, and we need to make sure that the heart is strong so that all these other parts are strong: our economy, our democracy, our society, Kimberly J. Robinson, a UVa law professor and the inaugural director of the Education Rights Institute, told The Daily Progress. The very social fabric of our country really depends on a strong education system, and so were really harming ourselves when we dont provide all students a high-quality education.

Achievement gaps dividing race and economic class have been reported in school districts across the country. In Virginia, only 56% of Black, Latino and Hispanic students were found to be proficient in their English studies, according to 2023 numbers; those numbers stand in stark contrast to the 86% of Asian students and 80% of White students who were found to be proficient. The data are similar in mathematics, where 47% of Black students and 50% of Hispanic or Latino students were found proficient, while 84% of their Asian counterparts and 75% of their White counterparts were found proficient.

Students from low-income households, students in rural and some inner-city school districts, and many students from racial minority groups often receive lower-quality educational opportunities, Robinson said. That might mean less access to advanced coursework, lower funding, less experienced and qualified teachers. So, because of that, what were doing at the institute is identifying the different elements of a high-quality education  whether its facilities, teacher quality, curriculum access  and then were highlighting the resources that are available at the federal level to help address these challenges.

The new institute, part of UVas School of Law, was born out of a conversation with an anonymous philanthropist, said Robinson, who previously served as an attorney with the General Counsels Office of the U.S. Department of Education and represented school districts at the Hogan Lovells law firm.

As the conversation continued, the philanthropist asked me what did I think was possible in education, and I said, Well, for you many things are possible, given your economic position investing in education, and so I basically pitched the idea to them that I was interested in launching an institute that would focus on three areas, she recounted.

The first goal is to elevate scholarship about a federal right to education and the absence of any guarantee in the United States for high-quality education that enables students to be college- and career-ready and engaged citizens, Robinson said.

The second goal is to recognize the elements of a high-quality education, research opportunity gaps based on race, class and ZIP code and identify federal resources available to help achieve a high-quality education.

The third goal is to help school districts understand their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color or national origin of recipients of federal financial assistance.

Thanks to a $4.9 million gift from said anonymous philanthropist, Robinsons plans are coming to fruition. Staff have been hired and the institutes first projects are already in development.

We are going to be producing a video newsletter where we will take research findings and make them into short videos so that theyre easily digestible by the public, and then well pair that with reports that synthesize research about issues related to a high-quality education, Title VI and issues related to a federal right to education, Robinson said.

Part of the funding was used to hire three new staff members, including Sarah Beach and Helen Min, recent graduates from UVas School of Education.

They are going to conduct research, publish reports and support the work of the institute to identify elements of a high-quality education, as well as opportunity gaps in those elements and what federal support resources are available to help, Robinson said.

GeDa Jones Herbert has been brought on to serve as the institutes director of programming. Herbert, an experienced civil rights attorney, will be leading the work that helps school districts understand their obligations under Title VI, Robinson said.

Other funding will go towards the institutes research assistants and the institutes upcoming Oct. 16 formal launch event, according to Robinson.

University leaders, including President Jim Ryan and Law School Dean Risa Goluboff, will be speaking at the official launch.

Spencer Foundation President Nailah Suad Nasir, whose group offers grant programs to transform educational systems for equity, will be delivering the keynote address.

There will be two panels  one featuring Democratic U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan of Virginias 4th District  discussing nationwide educational opportunity gaps, their impact, research and data, and the laws and policy reforms to address them.

Its a grand vision, an ambitious vision, but the ultimate hope is to bring together research and scholarship about these topics in ways that school districts can actually utilize to improve the educational opportunities for students, Robinson said.
Residents can now return home, after a chemical spill last night from semi crash in downtown area, around 6:10pm at Riverfront Pkwy and W. MLK Blvd.
President Joe Biden speaks about the conflict in Israel at the White House on October 7.
Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty has welcomed an additional 900m in infrastructural funding and believes it will ensure that the planned N4 (Mullingar to Rooskey) upgrade proceeds to route selection in 2024.

Deputy Flaherty now expects an announcement on the key local project and a further 15 road projects before the end of the year.

The additional funding is to aid the delivering of the National Development Plan, which includes the N4 upgrade.



Deputy Flaherty remarked, "I am very pleased to see an additional 900m in Budget 2024 for essential investment in providing more schools, hospital infrastructure and for better public and road transport.



"The additional funding provides the comfort and headroom to enable the planned N4 (Mullingar to Rooskey) upgrade proceed to route selection in 2024."

The long awaited road project is one of 16 road projects stalled nationwide and according to Deputy Flaherty, "Today's budget confirms that funding won't be an issue for the N4 in 2024 and it is critical that it proceeds in the face of increasing road safety concerns."

The Longford TD also welcomed the progressive measures announced as part of Budget 2024 which focuses on supporting people, families and businesses, especially those that are finding it tough at the moment and delivering improvements for households at all income levels.

Deputy Flaherty stated, "This is a significant Budget of progressive and protective measures which further supports individuals, families and businesses at a time when the cost of living is high, while strengthening public services on which we all depend. Budget 2024 also focuses on investing in the infrastructure we need for the future, including the largest home building programme for many decades. It will include a 2.7 billion cost of living package among a 14 billion budget that will deliver real help for people while preparing us for the future.

Fianna Fail is acutely aware of the effect the energy crisis is having on families and businesses across the country. We have listened to people who are really worried about their energy bills and this Budget is about putting more money in peoples pockets and help people face those challenges by reducing the bills that people have to pay. Budget 2024 aims to ease the pressure with 3 x 150 electricity credits for all households, to be paid between the end of this year and April of next year.

"Fianna Fail in Government is committed to addressing the high cost of childcare for families and making it accessible to all children. Following a 25% reduction in last year's Budget, today as part of Budget 2024 childcare fees are being reduced by a further 25%.

"Building on the revolutionary introduction of free school books at primary level by Minister Norma Foley, 67m has been made available under Budget 2024 to support the expansion of the scheme for students in the first three years of secondary school. As a Party, we believe in the power of education, and we believe in making education truly accessible for all. Back-to-school time can be a challenging time for parents and families and this signals a landmark moment for Irish education, and one which will provide significant benefit for families around the country.

"Budget 2024 will deliver better outcomes for those who need it most. The threshold for paying the higher rate of tax will be raised by 2,000 to 42,000. A full time worker on the minimum wage will see an increase in their net take home pay of approximately 2,300 per year. Minister McGrath also announced cuts to the USC. The 4.5% rate is being cut to 4%, the first reduction in USC rates in 5 years.

Fianna Fail has always been committed to helping those that need it most and we keenly understand the financial pressures felt by many right now. Budget 2024 marks a step change in how we plan for the future and will ensure there is opportunity for all, while providing a safety net for those that need it.''
The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMDA) is encouraging Longford communities to support their 'Walk While You Can Campaign' on Saturday October 21.

With more than 450 people in Ireland currently living with Motor Neurone Disease, the charity is encouraging as many people as possible to take part in a 5k walk in their local communities on or around 21st October and help raise funds to build on the vital services provided by the organisation. Walk While You Can first originated in 2018 when Fr. Tony Coote, well known priest, campaigner and latterly author, undertook an extraordinary walk from Donegal to Cork  some 550 kilometres, and raised 700,000 for Motor Neurone Disease in the process. Out of these funds raised, the IMNDA was able to hire a much needed fourth outreach nurse at the time to care for and support people living with Motor Neurone Disease in Ireland. This allowed IMNDAs nursing team to reach more people in the community more often.

The outreach nursing service, which now has six nurses provided by the IMNDA, helps over 450 people and families spread across 26 counties. This is the only service of its kind in the country, and it is funded entirely from public donations. The IMNDA is calling on all communities across Ireland to get walking this October, whether going solo or joining family, friends or neighbours to continue what Fr Tony started six years ago.

If people want to participate they can register their event on the website https://www.imnda.ie/
The Irish Second-Level Students Union (ISSU) is set to hold its annual Regional Council for Longford and Westmeath in TUS Athlone on Thursday the 12th of October.

This event is an opportunity for every school in the two counties to get together for a day of panel discussions and events. The Irish Second-Level Students Union is the national representative body for second-level student councils in the Republic of Ireland and it currently has 20 member schools in the area.Last years event was a great success with several local TDs and Councillors attending on the day. In addition organisations such as Conradh na Gaeilge provided workshops and support. Nearly 60% of Longford-Westmeath schools attended the event last year, which was the most successful event ever. This year the organisers say they aim to get as close to 100% attending as possible.

Workshops and events are not the only activities that take place on the day, with elections for the position of Regional Officer also being held. The 2 Regional Officers for Longford-Westmeath work to coordinate the activities of the union in the region and the role offers many opportunities to meaningfully engage with local schools, politicians, and organisations.The current Regional Officers are Sam Brooks (A former student of Athlone Community College) and Gearoid McCarthy (A 5th Year in the Marist College). They are urging students to engage with their schools student council in order to get as many schools and as many students engaged with the union as possible.

Any school, student, organisation, or politician who wishes to get involved is invited to contact the group by email at longfordwestmeath@issu.ie
Actress and breast cancer survivor Karen Egan is urging members of the Irish public to host a Big Pink Breakfast this October to support the Irish Cancer Societys vital breast cancer support services and life-changing research.

The former member of singing and comedy trio The Nualas, is due to take to the stage as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival with a play inspired by her own experience with cancer, is ambassador for the Irish Cancer Societys Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Launching the campaign alongside Karen was 36-year-old Tara Doonan from County Cavan. Tara was diagnosed with a type of breast cancer known as Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in the summer of 2022.

Karen Egan said: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. The supports around me really helped get me through some dark moments and difficult situations. Im delighted to take part in this important campaign to rally people behind those affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. All donations made will help ensure no one has to go through a breast cancer diagnosis alone. Tara Doonan added that she found great solace in the Irish Cancer Society supports following my cancer diagnosis. When I was first told it might be cancer, I didnt really know where to turn to, and I knew nothing about the world of cancer, I am so grateful that these supports were available for me when I needed them, so I encourage everyone to get behind the Big Pink Breakfast campaign this October''.

f you are concerned about breast cancer, call the Irish Cancer Societys Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700. You can also find out more at www.cancer.ie. To get involved in the fundraiser and learn how people can host Big Pink Breakfast's in their homes or businesses visit https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/big-pink-breakfast/register?
LONGFORD LIVE'S 2024 COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY NORTH MIDLANDS CREDIT UNION

REACTIONS have been pouring out, both online and in the Dail, following the Budget 2024 announcement this Tuesday.

The measures announced regarding housing and renting in particular have provoked strong reactions, with Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik as describing the housing package as nothing short of pathetic, when relationships between tenants and landlords are volatile.

National housing agency Threshold welcomed the increase and expansion of the rent tax credit, adding that it hopes the measure can form part of a wider cohesive approach to end the housing supply crisis, while the move was marked as a positive step in the right direction by the Irish Property Owners Association, who represent landlords in Ireland.

Another measure drawing strong reactions is the 12 increase in disability and carers allowance, labelled by Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with intellectual disabilities, as a disturbing blow to human rights for those with a disability and a "tokenistic once-off payment".

In other words We have NO intention of reaching our Climate Targets #Budget2024 pic.twitter.com/32D1d2UZ5F  Brid Smith TD (@bridsmithTD) October 10, 2023

Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty, the first to address the Dail following the presentation of the Budget by the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, sharply criticised the Budget for addressing next to nothing for healthcare, saying there was "very little in this Budget that will give any comfort to patients or parents who are struggling to get access to basic health and basic care services."

Here is the full list of measures in Budget 2024:

One-off cost of living supports



A once-off double week of all weekly social welfare payments (including pensions) will be paid in January 2024.

A number of once-of payments will be given out in Winter 2023; including 200 to people getting the Living Alone Allowance, 300 to people getting Fuel Allowance, double payment of Child Benefit for each child and for Foster Care Allowance, 100 to people who get an increase for a qualified child, and 400 to people getting the Working Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Carers Support Grant and Domiciliary Care Allowance.

People who qualify for more than one of these payments or are caring for more than one person will only receive one payment.

A Christmas bonus of 100% will be paid in early December 2023 to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment.

A once-off double payment of child benefit will be paid in December 2023, and child benefit will be extended to children aged 18 who are in full-time education, along with an increase in Working Family Payment thresholds by 54 across all family sizes. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will increase by 100 in 2024.

Fees for university students are to be cut by 1000 in a once off reduction of the student contribution fee.

Energy costs

To help with energy costs, all domestic electricity customers will get a 450 credit off their electricity bills, to be paid in 3 instalments of 150 between the end of 2023 and April 2024.

The reduced 9% VAT rate for gas and electricity has been extended for another 12 months to October 31 2024, and the temporary excise rate reductions on auto diesel, petrol and marked gas oil which were due to expire on October 31 this year are extended until March 31 2024.

Tax

Income tax rates will stay the same (at 20% and 40%), but there will be increases to tax credits and changes to the income tax bands in 2024.

The standard rate tax band will be increased by 2,000 to 42,000 for a single person, with proportionate increases for married couples and civil partners.

The Personal Tax Credit, Employee Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit will each increase by 100 to 1,875, while the Home Carer Tax Credit will increase by 100 to 1,800 and the Single Person Child Carer Credit will increase by 100 to 1,750.The Incapacitated Child Tax Credit will increase by 200 to 3,500.

The ceiling for the 2% Universal Social Charge (USC) band will increase by 2,840 from 22,920 to 25,760 from January 1 2024. The 4.5% USC rate that currently applies to income between 22,900 and 70,044 will be reduced to 4% from January 1 2024. The 4% rate will apply to income between 25,761 and 70,044.

The USC concession for medical card holders is being extended unti December 31, 2025. Reduced rates of USC apply to individuals who have a full medical card and whose income is 60,000 or less per annum.

Mortgage Interest Tax Relief will be introduced in 2024 for home owners with an outstanding mortgage balance of between 80,000 and 500,000 at the end of 2022. Relief will be available on the increased interest in 2023 as compared with the amount paid in 2022, at the standard rate of 20% income tax. The relief will be capped at 1,250.

The Rent Tax Credit introduced in 2023 will increase from 500 to 750 a year for 2024. This tax credit applies to each tenant rather than each tenancy. Parents who pay for tenancies for their student children in Rent-a-Room or digs-type accommodation will be able to claim the Rent Tax Credit. This relief will be backdated for the 2022 and 2023 tax years.

Tobacco Products Tax on a packet of cigarettes will increase by 0.75 from 11 October 2023, with pro-rata increases on other tobacco products. A tax on e-cigarettes and vaping products will be introduced in Budget 2025. The 9% VAT rate on ebooks and audio books will be reduced to zero on January 1, 2024.

Income

The national minimum wage will increase by 1.40 to 12.70 per hour from January 2024.

Parents leave and Parents Benefit will be extended by 2 weeks to 9 weeks from August 2024.

All PRSI rates will increase by 0.1% on 1 October 2024.

The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit will increase from 25% to 30% on qualifying expenditure on R&D from 1 January 2024. The first-year payment threshold will increase from 25,000 to 50,000, and a new reduced rate of CGT entrepreneur relief for angel investors in innovative start-up SMEs when they dispose of a qualifying investment, for gains up to twice the value of their investment.

Housing

The Rent Tax Credit for people renting will be increased from 500 to 750 per year from 2024.

The Rent Tax Credit will also be extended to parents who pay for rented accommodation for their student children under the Rent-a-room Scheme and for digs. This will be backdated for both the 2022 and 2023 tax years.

Tax supports for landlords

A temporary tax relief is being introduced to support landlords. A certain amount of rental income will be disregarded each year, as long as the landlord keeps their rental property in the rental market for the next four years. The disregards will be 3,000 for 2024, 4,000 for 2025, 5,000 for 2026 and thestandard rate of tax for 2027. The relief will be clawed back if the landlord leaves the rental market during this time.

Housing

Mortgage Interest Tax Relief will be introduced for 12 months. Homeowners with an outstanding mortgage balance on their primary dwelling house of between 80,000 and 500,000 on 31 December 2022 will qualify.

Relief will be available on increased interest paid on mortgages this year compared with the amount paid in 2022, at the standard income tax rate of 20%. The relief will be capped at 1,250 per property.

The Help to Buy (HTB) Scheme is extended to 2025. People buying homes under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme will now be able to access HTB, and the Vacant Homes Tax rate will be increased to 5 times the basic Local Property Tax (LPT) rate.



Environment and transport

The tax disregard for personal income received by households who sell residual electricity from micro-generation back to the national grid is being doubled from 200 to 400. From January 1, 2024, an income disregard of up to 400 per year will apply to profits to a qualifying person from the micro-generation of electricity.

Also from January 1 2024, the VAT rate for the supply and installation of solar panels in schools is being reduced to zero.

VRT relief for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is extended to the end of 2025 and the rate per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted for petrol and diesel will go up by 7.50 from 48.50 to 56 from October 11, 2023. The VRT relief for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with a value of up to 50,000 is extended to 2025.

Carbon tax will increase by the same amount in every budget until 2029. The increase will be applied to petrol and auto diesel from midnight on Budget night (from 11 October 2023). This increase will be applied to all other fuels from 1 May 2024.

Reduced fares of 20% on public transport will continue in 2024 and the Young Adult Leap Card will be extended to people aged 19 - 25.

A 1% reduction to the Motor Insurers Insolvency Compensation Fund levy will apply from January 1, 2024.

Justice

Funding will be made available to recruit 1,000 new gardai, 250 garda staff in civilian roles, and 400 additional military personnel in 2024.

The garda overtime budget will be increased by 25 million.

Other announcements

The Future Ireland Fund will have 0.8% of GDP paid annually to the fund from 2024 to 2035. This fund could be 100 billion by 2035.

The Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will grow by 2 billion a year annually for the next 7 years (until 2030). The 14 billion fund will allow for investment in infrastructure in the event of economic downturns and to support climate and nature-related projects (3 billion).

Supports for refugees from Ukraine

2.5 billion will be provided for humanitarian support to refugees from Ukraine including accommodation, social welfare payments and education.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: October 10 2023

Steven Reid Allegedly Opened Fire on Attendees of Candlelight Vigil Shooting One Man in the Leg and Another Man Four Times Throughout his Body.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Steven Reid, 27, of Calverton after he opened fire at a candlelight vigil held in Bellport on July 6, 2023. Reid allegedly fled New York after the shooting and was arrested in North Carolina following a weeks-long investigation into his whereabouts.

This defendant allegedly opened fire on an unsuspecting community gathered to mourn the loss of a loved one, said District Attorney Tierney. His alleged actions severely injured two individuals and put countless others in harms way. He then fled Suffolk County to try to avoid responsibility for these alleged actions. Through the great investigative work of our Suffolk County detectives, prosecutors and investigators, we were able to track him down, apprehend him and bring him back to Suffolk County where he will face these charges.

According to the investigation, on July 6, 2023, more than 100 people gathered in Bellport to celebrate the life of a community member who had tragically died in a motorcycle accident days before. At the end of the candlelight vigil, Reid became involved in a physical altercation with another man who attended the vigil.

During the altercation, Reid pulled out a gun and shot the man at point-blank range in the upper right thigh. The bullet shattered the mans femur, passed through his leg, and lodged into his right shin. Vigil attendees placed a tourniquet on the mans leg and rushed him to the hospital where he underwent emergency orthopedic surgery to replace his shattered femur with metal rods and pins.

Minutes later, the defendant followed the dispersing crowd and opened fire on another group of vigil attendees. Reid allegedly shot at one man from close range. The victim suffered four gunshot wounds, including gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder, and both of his legs. Immediately thereafter, Reid twice opened fire at a female adult two times and then shot at another group of people including one woman and a nine-year old boy as they were running away to a nearby residence.

The Suffolk County Police Departments Fifth Precinct Detectives Squad launched an investigation after Reid fled the scene. Reid remained at large until he was located on September 19, 2023, in North Carolina by members of the United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force with the assistance of the Suffolk County Police Department. On September 26, 2023, the Fugitive Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department returned Reid to New York to face charges from the shootings.

Reid is charged with:

Two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Class B violent felonies;

One count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;

One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony;

One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;

Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies; and

One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

On October 6, 2023, Reid was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Philip Goglas. Judge Goglas ordered Reid remanded without bail or bond during the pendency of the case. Reid is being represented by Eric Pack, Esq. His next court date is November 18, 2023 before the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Acting Supreme Court Justice.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Anne E. Oh of the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau with investigative assistance from Detective Wilson Nieves of the Suffolk County Police Departments Fifth Squad, United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force and the Computer Crimes Unit and Fugitive Squad of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Three specialties at the University of Virginia Medical Center are among the top in the world, according to new rankings for 2024.

Out of the tens of thousands of hospitals worldwide, Newsweek magazine placed these three specialities among its worlds best:

Neurosurgery at No. 61.

Oncology at No. 185.

And cardiology at No. 248.

Those three also earned top marks in Virginia, according to Newsweek, with neurosurgery and oncology ranking No. 1 in the commonwealth.

Newsweeks rankings are based on an international survey that invited the participation of tens of thousands of medical professionals, along with hospital data that includes accreditations and certifications, UVa Health said in a statement announcing the rankings.

UVa credited developments it has made in all three specialties for the new rankings.

In neurosurgery, UVa Health has pioneered focused ultrasound  a incision-free form of brain surgery  to treat Parkinsons disease symptoms and essential tremor, the health system said.

The UVa Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center is the first such center in the world, where multiple clinical trials are currently underway examining the addition of the therapy to existing immunotherapy treatments.

Focused ultrasound could greatly expand the types of tumor that respond to immunotherapy, according to Natasha Sheybani, research director at the UVa Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center.

I would liken [focused ultrasound] to the concept of taking a magnifying glass out on a hot day and basically shining a bunch of rays of light through the glass such that you can burn a hole in a leaf, Sheybani said at a UVa Lifetime Learning webinar in June. Youve projected all of that energy into a single focus. Were doing the same thing with sound waves here.

In oncology, UVA Cancer Center is just one of 54 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers for its internationally recognized research along with highly specialized patient care, UVa Health said in its statement.

At the start of the year, the center established new partnerships to expand cancer screening access across the commonwealth.

The partnerships are with three regional community health centers  Central Virginia Health Services, Tri-Area Community Health and Blue Ridge Medical Center  and are supported through $500,000 grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve equity in cancer screenings, UVa Health said in a statement at the time.

The three health centers serve all patients, regardless of insurance or ability to pay, the health system said.

It was a major success helping hundreds of patients in our communities, Dr. Randall Bashore, clinical director for Central Virginia Health Services, said in the statement. Im excited that we now have the opportunity to expand on that experience working with UVa and Tri-Area Community Health to address both colon and breast cancer screening.

In cardiology, UVa Health lauded the recent research breakthroughs that have been made at the medical center including the discovery that a common chemotherapy drug could prevent heart failure.

Last month, UVa Health announced that a powerful new drug-screening tool developed at UVa by researchers Jeffrey J. Saucerman and Taylor G. Eggertsen found the drug midostaurin  typically used to fight bone marrow cancer  could help prevent the enlargement of heart muscle cells that often precedes heart failure, and subsequent lab results bore that out.

This new computer tool helps us find new uses for old drugs, and it also explains how they may work in the heart, Saucerman said in a statement. New drugs take decades to develop. We hope this tool will help us find drugs for heart failure that are already known to be safe and effective for other diseases.

UVa Health CEO K. Craig Kent congratulated his team on the Newsweek rankings.

An important part of our 10-year strategic plan is creating destination patient care programs that draw patients from across Virginia and beyond, Kent said in a statement. These awards from Newsweek highlight that we are approaching that work with a strong foundation of high-quality, specialized care.

His words were echoed by Wendy Horton, CEO of the university medical center.

These honors from Newsweek exemplify the groundbreaking, excellent care provided by our team every day, Horton said in her own statement. I am thrilled to see the hard work of our team recognized with these international awards.
Abdel Malek al Houthi, the leader of Yemens Houthi insurgent group.

In a recent interview with the Lebanese publication Al Akhbar, Abdel Malek al Houthi, the leader of Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi insurgent group, again promised his forces would fight alongside Hezbollah in a future conflict with Israel in Lebanon.

If there is a new war with Israel, we will not hesitate to send the fighters, al Houthi says. He follows this statement up by saying that there are thousands of fighters from the sons of the tribes excited to fight against Israel. These comments were directed to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanese Hezbollah.

Additionally, referring to the Houthis relationship to both Hezbollah and Iran, the Houthi leader said that we consider this the responsible, correct, and natural position according to our Islamic affiliation and because of high interest to our nation. He then states we see in our brothers in the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah brothers [who] won the honor of liberation and [who] carried the flag of the Ummah in the face of American hegemony and have taken a sincere stand with the Palestinian people.

This is not the first time al Houthi has made this promise. Last summer, he said The Yemeni nation is ready to take part in any future confrontation against the Israeli enemy. He continued by saying that Israel should take us into consideration in all future conflicts with Hezbollah and the Palestinian people. Houthi also addressed Hassan Nasrallah in this statement, which was later republished on Hezbollahs Al Manar website.

Your bet on the Yemenis is proper. Israel must beware the Yemeni participation in any of its military confrontations with Hezbollah or the Palestinian resistance, Houthi said to Nasrallah. Houthis speech came one month after Nasrallah mentioned that in any future war with Israel, the Jewish state would be met with resistance by fighters from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
<a href=#><img alt=Dashboard 1  src=https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;US&#47;USStrikesinYemen&#47;Dashboard1&#47;1_rss.png style=border: none /></a>

The United States air campaign in Yemen has shown no signs of slowing down. US forces conducted 12 airstrikes against terrorist groups in Yemen over the last month that were not publicly announced, FDDs Long War Journal has learned.

Maj. Josh T. Jacques at US Central Command Communication Integration said yesterday in an email that U.S. forces have conducted twenty-two (22) strikes against AQAP and ISIS-Y terrorists in Yemen 2018. The US had conducted 10 counterterrorism strikes in Yemen when CENTCOM last issued a press release updating figures in early in February.

The latest data put this years number of strikes on-pace to fall just short of last years record surge. In 2017, the United States conducted a record 131 strikes in Yemen.

Major Jacques did not comment on the distribution of strikes between the two groups. The US began targeting the Islamic State in Yemen in Oct. 2017, which accounted for six of the 131 strikes that year. Since the beginning of 2017, the US military has released very few details about US strikes against AQAP in Yemen. Of the 125 strikes against AQAP in Yemen in 2017, CENTCOM only provided details on seven, all of which involved high value targets.

Despite an intensified air campaign by the US military, terrorist groups in Yemen continue to demonstrate their ability to conduct complex attacks, notably against the temporary capital of Aden. Yesterday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing of a military headquarters in Aden. It conducted similar complex attacks in Feb. 2018 and Nov. 2017.

Additionally, AQAP continues to control territory in remote areas in southern Yemen and uses these bases to launch attacks against the Yemeni government as well as plot attacks against the West. In mid-December 2017, the US killed Miqdad al Sanaani, who was described as an external operations facilitator, in an airstrike in Bayda governate.

Congressional leaders have increasingly scrutinized US military assistance to the Saudi-led coalition operating against the Iran-supported Houthi insurgency, a separate line of effort from the long-standing counterterrorism mission. AQAP and the Islamic State has thrived as the Yemeni government has battled the Houthis for control of the country.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Alexandra Gutowski is a military affairs analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Houthi fighters stand outside the base with a captured al Qaeda flag, as seen in the video.

Note: Title and excerpt have been changed to reflect the lack of independent confirmation of the Houthis version of events.

In a recent video, the Iranian-backed Houthi insurgents claim to have captured a base belonging to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the Khasaf region of Yemens northern al Jawf governorate.

Houthi fighters are shown touring the captured base, which includes underground housing components and an alleged prison. Explosive belts, ammunition, AQAP flags, and other material are paraded by the insurgents for the camera.

The insurgents also go through the library of AQAPs base, though most of its contents appear quite dated.

This includes religious material, weapons and ballistics manuals, a book written by former al Qaeda general manager Atiyah Abd al Rahman (or Atiyah Allah), several editions of AQAPs former Al Masrah newsletter (which ceased in late 2018), and internal statements produced by the group.

The latter statements include a undated document entitled Advice for the users of chat forums and another document dated for Feb. 26, 2013, which refers to a statement gathered by the Yemeni ulema [religious scholars] on the endeavor to mediate between the mujahideen and the Sanaa regime.

The latter statement offers little substance but chastises the shameful position of the Sanaa government, which it blames on projects of the Americans and Gulf scholars.

The exact details of the capture of the AQAP base remain murky. The Houthis do not provide a date nor any confirmation about a clash with AQAP or if the headquarters was already abandoned. Additionally, no bodies are shown throughout the almost 15-minute film.

Given the capture of documents, material, and other equipment, it is possible that AQAP fighters hastily abandoned the base prior to the Houthis arrival. The insurgent group claimed control over much of al Jawf last month and have steadily conducted operations in the province since.

AQAP in al Jawf

Al Jawf is a traditional stronghold of AQAP. Since 2010, the United States has launched at least 8 drone strikes in the province against AQAP personnel. Despite the airstrikes, the group remains active in the province today.

US airstrikes against AQAP in al Jawf include the September 2011 bombing run that killed Anwar al Awlaki, the American propagandist, ideologue, recruiter, and operational commander, and Samir Khan, an American who ran Inspire Magazine for the group.

The United States also attempted to assassinate Qasim al Raymi, the former head of AQAP, in the province in January 2010. Of course, Raymi survived only to be killed earlier this year in another US drone strike in Yemens Bayda governorate.

Several AQAP fighters have been killed in drone strikes in the same Khasaf region of al Jawf. Additionally, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Yemeni tribal commander Al-Hasan Ali Ali Abkar, who is active in al Jawf, for his role in AQAP financing schemes in Dec. 2016.

Abkar, a commander within the tribal pro-Hadi militias in al Jawf, denied being part of AQAP. However, Treasurys designation gives several contradictory statements.

For instance, Treasury noted that he became AQAPs overall military commander for al Jawf in 2015. They also note that Abkar was involved in commanding AQAPs forces against the Houthis in al Jawf and nearby Marib since May 2015.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Abkar is also close to Al Islah, Yemens branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. AQAP has long benefited from its ties to Islah and to the networks established by its leader, Abdul Majeed al Zindani. These networks extend to al Jawf.

AQAP has been weakened in recent years. Since 2015, many of AQAPs top leaders have been killed in US airstrikes and operations conducted by the Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen. That said the group has remained a viable and lethal branch of al Qaedas global network.

Screenshots from the Houthi video, showing an alleged underground prison and weapons cache and a captured suicide explosive belt:

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), one of Irans main proxies inside Iraqs Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs), issued a short warning to the United States about getting involved in the current conflict between the Hamas-led Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel.

Palestine is not Ukraine, KSS statement begins, so any direct American entrance into the conflict for the crumbling entity [Israel] will make all American positions in the region legitimate targets for the Axis of Resistance.

KSS goes on to further state that if America does intervene, blows will be met with blows and on that day, then there will be no more red lines.

The so-called Axis of Resistance is the name that Irans various militias and proxies use to refer to their collective alliance around the Middle East. This includes a myriad of militia groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Bahrain, and Yemen.

Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, which also operates inside Syria, is one of the larger Iranian proxies in Iraq and is closely linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

One of KSS top leaders is Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, who was listed by the US government as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in January 2008 for attacking US and British forces, as well as Iraqi political and military leaders. Sheibani is himself directly tied to the IRGC and especially its Qods Force.

In addition to now threatening the United States, in the past KSS has also threatened to attack Saudi Arabia and send troops to aid the Houthis in Yemen.

Other proxies of Iran inside Iraq, primarily the Hezbollah Brigades (which is also currently holding an Israeli citizen captive) and Harakat al-Nujaba, have also praised Hamas invasion of Israel and the killing of Jews. Both groups stopped short of directly threatening the United States, however. Iraqs PMU organization itself has also praised Hamas invasion.

Unlike the recent statement from an Iranian-backed group in Bahrain  in that violence is unlikely to materialize on the island  threats against US personnel in Iraq (and Syria) should be taken somewhat seriously.

Iran has made a concerted effort over the last few years to create new so-called resistance groups in Iraq that have either claimed or legitimately attacked US troops or contractors (though many of these alleged new groups are likely just fronts for older, more established groups). Iranian-backed Iraqi groups have also struck at US troops based in Syria.

So though KSS statement is undoubtedly part of Irans propaganda game it is playing to project a wide, united front across the Middle East, the threats from KSS  and potential future threats from other militias in Iraq  should not be entirely dismissed by US policymakers as they continue to assist Israel in its fight against Palestinian terrorists.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
In a newly released speech, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemens Houthi movement, which calls itself Ansar Allah, stated his willingness to participate in fighting Israel to support the Palestinian people.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, who has already stated on multiple occasions that he would interject his men into a future major conflict between Israel, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian people, reiterated such themes in his speech today.

The Al-Aqsa Flood operation, al-Houthi states, referring to the name Hamas and its allies have referred to its invasion of Israel, is a Palestinian decision that has full legitimacy, and the enemy and its allies were surprised by it.

Al-Houthi goes on to state that the Yemeni people are thus ready to do everything they can to perform the sacred duty of standing with the Palestinian people. In this regard, al-Houthi notes that our people are ready to move in the hundreds of thousands to join the Palestinian people and confront the enemy.

Referring to similar statements put out by other groups in the so-called Islamic Resistance, or groups controlled, supported, or allied to Iran, al-Houthi notes that he is maintaining a red-line for this conflict. For instance, this line will be crossed if the Americans intervene directly and militarily, then we are ready to participate even with missiles and drones.

The Houthi leader also called on various international organizations, such as the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to support the so-called Islamic Resistance against Israel, otherwise such organizations are pursuing a weak position. According to al-Houthi, a weak position is akin to loyalty to the Zionist entity.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi is now the latest in a string of Iranian-backed entities and individuals to support Hamas invasion of Israel and either call for outside mobilization in support of Hamas or threaten the United States. For example, he joins various Iranian-backed Shia militias in Iraq and Bahrain in issuing such messages.

It is unclear how much weight, if any, al-Houthis threat carries. However, al-Houthi has firmly placed his movement under the wider Islamic Resistance umbrella in recent years. He has also even raised money for Lebanese Hezbollah.

In addition to previously saying he would deploy his forces against Israel in the event of a major conflict, other Islamic Resistance groups, including Hamas itself, have also spoken of closing ranks with the Houthis against Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Lebanese Hezbollah have also been reported present alongside Houthi fighters.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.

The large deployment reflects a U.S. desire to deter any regional expansion of the conflict. But the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a U.S. official. The numbers were in flux and could change as a fuller accounting is compiled, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official said.

Along with the Ford the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required, Austin said in a statement.

In addition, the Biden administration will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days, Austin said.

The carrier strike group last week was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment.

Senior officials from the Pentagon and State Department briefed senators Sunday night, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they were assured that the United States was giving Israel everything they need.

I asked the representatives of our Defense Department if they are giving Israel everything they need, and I was heartened that they said yes and that they are surging support, the New York Democrat said in a statement after the unclassified briefing.

I asked them if they have denied any requests that Israel has made, and they said no. I urged them to ensure Israel has everything it needs to protect itself, and reiterated that the Senate stands ready to deliver on additional needs, he said.

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a telephone call Sunday, discussed the taking of hostages by Hamas terrorists, including entire families, the elderly, and young children, according to a White House statement describing their conversation. Biden stressed that all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities.

The president updated Netanyahu on U.S. diplomatic efforts and said additional assistance for Israeli forces was on the way, with more to come in the days ahead, the White House said.

They also discussed ways to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation.

As part of the U.S. effort to deter further escalation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. In each call, he encouraged each country's continued engagement and highlighted the United States unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages, department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in separate statements on the three calls.

In the U.S. House, leaders of the Foreign Affairs Committee were preparing a bipartisan resolution that says it stands with Israel and condemns Hamas brutal war. The resolution is expected to be among the first items considered for voting once the House elects a new speaker.

Now is the time to show the world the United States firmly stands with our friend and ally Israel in our condemnation of this heinous attack by Iran-backed terrorists, said the committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

House business is currently at a standstill after the historic ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Majority Republicans plan to kick off the selection process, in private, at a Tuesday evening forum where candidates can address their colleagues. The real contest could come as soon as Wednesday when the House next convenes.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Sunday ordered that U.S and Virginia flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds "to honor the lives lost in the horrific terror attack committed against Israel and to hold those injured and held hostage in our thoughts."
(Alliance News) - Coro Energy PLC on Tuesday said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Mobile World Investment Corp in Vietnam.

The South East Asian energy company said the memorandum with the Vietnam-based trader in consumer electronic products was focused on installing rooftop solar systems across Mobile World's Vietnamese portfolio.

Michael Carrington, managing director of Coro Energy's Renewables arm, said: "I am delighted to announce our strategic tie-up with Mobile World Investment Corp, as we move at pace towards scale, focused on long-term, solid cash flows and funded largely by industry players we intend to farm into the portfolio."

Coro Energy shares were flat at 0.26 pence each on Tuesday afternoon in London.

By Tom Budszus, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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Since the release of the book, The Martian (2011) by Andy Weir, and its movie counterpart, science fiction fans everywhere have been asking whether the scenario that played out in the story could really happen. A class at Lycoming College is digging in to find the answer.

Lycoming Colleges First Year Seminar, Life on Mars: Past, Present, and Future attempts to answer questions such as Was there ever life on Mars? Is there life on Mars now, perhaps deep beneath its red surface? Could there be life on Mars in the future? What would humans have to endure to call Mars home? Led by Emily Wilson, Ph.D., assistant professor of astrophysics, students in the course will spend the fall semester exploring each of these questions with real astronomical data taken by Martian rovers and orbiters over the past several decades. Discussions will focus on advancements in exploring other planets and the possibility of sustaining human life on Mars in the future.

Our astronaut, like many of our first-year students, is learning new ways to solve problems, communicate effectively, and yes, even grow potatoes. The class is going to help set them up for collegiate success.

In The Martian, the protagonist is able to survive on Mars in part by growing potatoes. Mirroring the story at times, one of the first tasks the class tackled was to visit the Lycoming College greenhouse to plant their own potatoes, which they will tend throughout the semester. The class will celebrate their harvest later in the fall with a potato party.

Other class activities include the creation and use of sundials, visits to the Colleges Detwiler Planetarium, and debates about various topics related to life on Mars.

The First Year Seminar program at Lycoming College aids students as they transition to college-level writing, reading, critical thinking, and independence, all while having a bit of fun! What better way to do that than by reading a science-fiction story about a stranded astronaut? said Emily Wilson, assistant professor of astrophysics at Lycoming College. Our astronaut, like many of our first-year students, is learning new ways to solve problems, communicate effectively, and yes, even grow potatoes. The class is going to help set them up for collegiate success.

 Life on Mars gives us room for imagination. Its always interesting and fun, and a great way for me to connect me with my peers. Furthermore, it helps me exercise my writing through the reflections we do every week and challenges me to grow as a writer, something that I have discovered can be fun, said Yahir Jimenez, a computer science major from Houston who is also considering studies in Spanish and accounting.

Angelina Madonna, an astrophysics and Spanish double major from Port Carbon, Pa., who is thinking about adding a minor in the arts, said, The part of class that I look forward to the most is the discussions we have within the class. It is great to communicate with classmates and to see their perspective on the subject. I am always learning something new, and Dr. Wilson has a fun way of teaching this new material. Its the little facts that I never knew before that are the most exciting. Madonna plans to pursue a doctoral degree in astrophysics and a career in a space company, and she feels Life on Mars is helping her to prepare by teaching her to think like other astronomers, physicists, and astronauts.

Lindsay Newcomer, a pre-law history major from Muncy, Pa., noted that shes really enjoyed reading The Martian, growing potatoes in different conditions, and creating sundials. Dr. Wilson goes above and beyond with her slideshows, and her energy is unmatched. She takes an interest in each of her students and encourages fun and spontaneous conversations, said Newcomer. This class influenced my studies by making me even more interested in space. The more we discuss, the more I truly want to know.

Life on Mars is just one of Lycoming Colleges First-Year Seminars, designed to help students establish the skills necessary to be successful in college by encouraging critical thinking in the classroom and promoting written, oral, and information literacy. Students can broaden their minds and discover a new interest by selecting a First-Year Seminar outside of their primary areas of interest. Each First-Year Seminar meets a general education requirement, so all advance students toward graduation. Other first-year seminars include Zen and Art, Medieval Food and Culture, The Pursuit of Happiness, and many more.
AFTERPAY AND PAYMENT PLANS: Afterpay is available! You can also secure your tickets now and pay them off with 10 easy installments.
In a 1970 issue of the student newspaper at Niles West High School in suburban Chicago, senior Merrick Garland, the class valedictorian, offered the following advice to younger students:

Be sure to be a monitor and get in control of the (mimeograph) room, he wrote, because the person who controls the mimeo room controls the school.

Well, not quite. But considering how Garland has ended up as the nations attorney general during some of the biggest legal firestorms since Watergate, it is just as well he learned a few things at an early age about the power of the press.

And the White House.

Garlands Justice Department is prosecuting both former President Donald Trump and the son of President Joe Biden. Four criminal indictments with a total of 91 felony charges have been filed against Trump this year  two on state charges in New York and Georgia and two on federal charges. Separately, Biden is the subject of a special counsel investigation into whether he improperly held classified documents following his time as vice president, though the charges pale in comparison to Trumps.

His son, Hunter Biden, is the target of a four-year investigation into the younger Bidens business deals and taxes. Hes been indicted on the accusation he lied about his drug abuse when he sought to buy a gun.

Now Republicans accuse special counsel David Weiss of slow-walking the Hunter Biden investigation.

In a rare  for him  sit-down interview on CBS 60 Minutes," Garland denied that allegation, among other suspicions of partisanship or favoritism.

Garland said he would resign if asked by Biden to take action against Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner.

I am sure that that will not happen, but I would not do anything in that regard, he said. And if necessary, I would resign.

Thats serving notice on any overenthusiastic White House partisans. The Trump and Biden investigations are being handled independently by special prosecutors, Garland also pointed out.

In accordance with long-standing DOJ policy, Garland declined to discuss the particulars of the cases, except to declare, We have only one rule: Follow the facts and the law, and we reach the decisions required by the Constitution, and we protect civil liberties.

In other words, he pledged he would do his job without fear of, or favor to, either side of the aisle. Good for him.

Still, Garlands reassuring pronouncements are especially impressive because if anyone has reason to be cynical about Washington politics, it is him. Garlands nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court was stalled by Republicans for a breathtaking 10 months until Trump was sworn in. ...

Garland has shown he's a sober, decent, evenhanded, nonideological law enforcer that the American people so badly need as we face down elections and depressing trials aplenty.
How Fast will AI Gut Hollywood?

Its only a matter of time before someone builds HollywoodGPT.



The S&P 500 is slightly up as I write this morning.



Fresh highs in Treasury yields have put pressure on stocks. But Im not worried about rising rates. As I recently explained, stocks typically go up during rate-hiking cycles !



Heres what Im thinking

Investing in companies that solve little things can make you the most money.

This weekend, I got invisible braces to straighten my teeth.



I had metal braces as a kid. Painful. The orthodontist would grip his pliers, clamp down on the metal wire cemented to my teeth, and crank.



Then I failed to wear my retainer, and my teeth moved back. Oops.



My new invisible braces are a technological marvel. The orthodontist scanned my mouth with a high-tech camera, then gave me 10 sets of plastic retainers like this:

I put a new pair on every two weeks upload a few pictures through an app on my iPhone so he can check my progress and thats it.



No appointments. No metal in my mouth. No slurping soup because I cant chew with the pain.



It may seem like a little thing but this is why Im an optimist and invest like one.



We can piggyback on the entrepreneurs making the world better with technology.



Align (ALGN) created invisible braces about 20 years ago, and its stock took off like a rocketsurging 5,000%+.



But the opportunity in Align has come and gone. My dentist confirmed Align no longer makes the best retainers.



This comes back to the lifecycle of disruptive businesses . Eventually, all ground-breaking technologies become easy to replicate. Thats why we buy companies in the early and profitable stages of their megatrends, which often last 10 years or so.



From the time of its IPO in 2001 until 2021, ALGN surged 5,573%. Wow!

The biggest winner of the UAW strike is

The United Auto Workers (UAW) unionwhich bargains on behalf of autoworkersbegan striking at Ford (F), General Motors (GM), and Stellantis (STLA) plants 11 days ago.



Tesla (TSLA) is the clear-cut winner here.



Detroits Big 3 will be forced to raise prices, due to the 40%(!) wage increase unions are demanding.



Meanwhile, Tesla has slashed prices several times in the past year. It doesnt have to deal with unions. And it isnt shackled to a dying gas-guzzler business.



Tesla makes better electric vehicles AND theyre cheaper? Elon wins again.



I doubt all the Big 3 will even exist in a decade. While Tesla eats their lunch, unions are making demands like Detroit is still on top of the world.



Teslas stock surged over 2,400% in the past decade. Meanwhile, Ford and GM have limped along:







Dont overthink it. This will continue.

How fast will AI gut Hollywood?

Another strike just ended in sunny California. The Writers Guild of America has been refusing to work since May, forcing popular shows like The Tonight Show to go dark.



A major sticking point between the two sides was artificial intelligence (AI). Writers wanted studios to ban the use of AI tools that could put them out of jobs.



They got what they wanted for now.



Its only a matter of time until someone builds HollywoodGPT, an AI bot trained on the transcripts of every film from the past 100 years that can dream up brand-new movie ideas in seconds.



Trying to ignore or ban new innovations never works .



In the early 16th century, the governor of Mecca feared cafes would create spaces for people to come together and criticize him so he banned coffee.



That didnt work out too well, as I sip my coffee (with grass-fed butter)







In 1865, Britain attempted to kill cars before they even got going by passing a law requiring a person to walk in front of every car, waving a red flag. For safety reasons, of course.



A few years from now, Hollywoods AI embargo will look just as silly.



The best thing you can do is lean into AI and understand how it works. Your future self your kids and your portfolio will thank you. Im here to help you on that journey.

While Hollywood boycotts AI, Amazon is moving all-in.

Amazon just signed a deal to invest up to $4 billion in the AI startup Anthropic, creator of ChatGPT competitor Claude.

Stephen McBride

Chief Analyst, RiskHedge

To get more ideas like this sent straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, make sure to sign up for The RiskHedge Report , a free investment letter focused on profiting from disruption.



Expect smart insights and analysis on the latest breakthrough technologies, the big stories the mainstream media isn't reporting on, and much more... including actionable recommendations.

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 2023 Copyright Stephen McBride - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Despite Boston Mayor Michelle Wus efforts to pass rent control in the city, she said Tuesday that she isnt sure she supports an initiative that would put rent control on the statewide ballot.

During an appearance on WGBHs Boston Public Radio Tuesday morning, Wu said that while she hadnt yet sat down with state Rep. Mike Connolly, D-26th Middlesex, who filed the petition, she has familiarized herself with the proposed language and her worries rest not with the proposal itself but the process.

There are really significant consequences to which moment you choose to launch a ballot initiative and if it doesnt go well thats it for some time, Wu said. I am concerned about whether or not theres momentum for really the sustained campaign that will be needed at the ground level to carry this out.

The proposed ballot question would give cities and towns the option to enact local regulations protecting tenants, including rent control. Connolly, of Cambridge, has also sponsored a similar bill in the state Legislature.

The ballot question was certified last month and, like with other potential ballot questions, supporters are now tasked with gathering and filing signatures from 74,574 voters by Dec. 6, after which it would be sent to the Legislature in January for consideration.

If the legislation is not enacted on its own, proponents must then gather another 12,429 signatures by July 3, 2024 for the question to be placed on the 2024 ballot.

In March, the Boston City Council passed a home rule petition to reinstate rent control in the city, but the measure still has not been taken up by the state Legislature, which would need to approve it before it is officially put in place.

Wu has long expressed support for rent control, and made it a central issue during her 2021 mayoral campaign.

She said Tuesday that despite her concerns, she has not yet made an official decision on what her involvement with the ballot question will be.

Massachusetts has not had rent control since 1994, when it was banned via another ballot question.
A woman is speaking out after she filed a lawsuit claiming that a former specialist at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston sexually assaulted her while she was seeking treatment.

Dr. Derrick Todd was a rheumatologist at Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital until he was fired on July 31 after an internal investigation forced the hospital to act.

Mimi DiTrani, a former patient, filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in Suffolk County claiming the Todd performed unnecessary vaginal and breast examinations on her when she was only seeing the specialist for rare joint and skin conditions.

When you trust someone to help you, you see them and youre very vulnerable, and when they violate that trust and they hurt you instead of heal you, it can be very frightening and not easy to process, DiTrani said, her voice choked up, as she addressed the media outside Brighams main campus in Boston on Tuesday.

My being here is not for vengeance. It is about taking a side so that those in power aannot continue to abuse under a guise of deception, she continued.

DiTrani started seeing Todd at Charles River Associates in Framingham in November 2022. During her first visit, Todd asked DiTrani multiple inappropriate, invasive and exploitative questions about her appearance and sexual history, according to a press release from her attorneys. Todd also forced her to disrobe in front of him when they were the only two in the room, the release stated.

The doctor then performed medically unnecessary breast and gynecological examinations, which should not be done without someone else present, according to attorneys.

This should never happen at a hospital. This should be impossible to happen. It should be impossible that a doctor is conducting gynecological examinations without a chaperone in the room, Brian Perkins, an attorney with Peiffer Wolf and Justice Law Collaborative said. Somehow the hospital has failed on multiple levels.

Todd then insisted that DiTrani keep seeing him in person, to which she obliged because he was one of only a few specialists she could see about her condition. DiTtrani also moved closer to Todds office so she could received treatment.

However over the course of the visits, DiTrani realized that she was being manipulated by her doctor.

He wasnt performing MRIs on my bones and I was suffering in pain, but he was insisting upon continual gynecological exams, she explained. I questioned it because I thought maybe I imagined it.

DiTrani went back for several more visits, usually before office hours or as the last patient of the day, in December 2022 and January 2023, her attorneys said.

Todd would also often call and text DiTrani, usually about topics unrelated to her treatment.

She eventually confronted him and contacted the hospital. At that point, Todd told DiTrani that he was quitting the profession to spend time with his family.

On Sept. 5, Todd signed a voluntary agreement to not practice medicine, her attorneys said.

He has also stopped communicating with DiTrani, who hopes that sharing her story will reassure other possible victims that they are not alone.

There is safety in numbers, and you can speak out, she said. You dont need to be afraid to speak your truth. You deserve, not just my voice, but your own voice, and you have earned the right to be healed.

DiTranis attorneys currently know about at least 32 women who have also filed claims against Todd, but have reason to believe that Todd assaulted well over 100 other victims.

Hes been practicing here for years, Paula Bliss, another attorney with Peiffer Wolf said. Theres no reason to believe that Brigham and Women didnt have some sorts of red flags with respect to this physician.

The lawsuit also names Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital, Mass General Brigham Community Physicians, Inc., and Charles River Medical Associates, P.C. as defendants.
An award-winning Rhode Island shop known for its fresh-baked bagels, signature breakfast sandwiches and scrumptious sweets will soon call Massachusetts its home.

Rebelle, in Providence, is relocating to 249 3rd Street in Cambridge this winter, just a stones throw away from the Massachusetts Institute for Technology.

The college is chef and owners Milena Pagans alma mater, from which she obtained a degree in Chemical Engineering. Pagan left the corporate world to become a professional baker in 2017.

Im excited to go back to Cambridge and be a part of the food scene in Kendall Square, where I spent a lot of my undergrad years at MIT, Pagan said. Im forever grateful to the Providence community for supporting my dream of becoming a food entrepreneur for the last six years.

Rebelle will be bringing their signature bagels, breakfast sandwiches and pastries to Cambridge this winter (Photo courtesy of Rebelle).

Rebelle was named a Best of Rhode Island winner by Rhode Island Monthly three years in a row. Pagan has also received a James Beard Award nomination for her other business, Little Sister, was a PBN 2023 Business Women Awards Achievement Honoree and the 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient. The chef has also appeared in Bon Appetit, The New York Times and countless local Rhode Island publications.

Cambridge was my playground in my college years and I have a lot of love for the city, Pagan continued. I am drawn to the energy and vibrancy of Kendall Square, so it feels like the logical next step to continue experimenting and innovating with our bagels in that market.

Rebelle will be bringing their signature bagels, breakfast sandwiches and pastries to Cambridge this winter (Photo courtesy of Rebelle).

The Cambridge location will continue to feature Rebelles hand-rolled bagels, made from scratch, as well as its spread of cream cheeses like smoke harissa, roasted poblano pepper and Mexican street corn.

Guests will also be able to order Rebelles signature breakfast sandwiches like the Lox Sandwich, made with house-cured salmon and a pastrami spice crust. Rebelle will also offer full espresso bar complete with their scratch-made pastries like their halvah and chocolate cookie and flaky pop-tarts.

Rebelle will be bringing their signature bagels, breakfast sandwiches and pastries to Cambridge this winter (Photo courtesy of Rebelle).

Rebelle will also have vegan, dairy-free and nut-free options. The bagels, spreads and lox will be certified by Lighthouse Kosher as well. An official opening date has yet to be announced.

More information can be found online or by following Rebelle on Instagram.
Two children were charged in connection with damages made to East Bridgewaters St. John the Evangelist Church on Friday, police chief Michael Jenkins said in a statement on Tuesday.

The children, a boy and a girl, both 12 years old, were identified by police after they received security camera footage and one witness statement before they were taken into custody. Neither of their names have been released.

East Bridgewater police and firefighters arrived at the church on Friday afternoon after police received a report of vandalism at the church, police said. A fire had been set near the church altar, damaging an altar cloth and a Bible.

The children were each charged with breaking and entering a building in the daytime, destruction of property over $1,200, larceny and burning of a building, police said.

The East Bridgewater police and fire departments investigated the matter, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.

The children are expected to be arraigned in Brockton District Juvenile Court at a later date, police said.
Two police cruisers were hit while they were helping another crash on Route 213 in Methuen on Sunday.

Methuen Police said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that a vehicle hit a state cruiser then one of its cruisers while they were stopped for the crash. Police shared a photo of the Methuen cruiser showing significant damage to the back of the cruiser.

Neither the Methuen police officer or the state trooper were injured.

Please #moveover when you see emergency lights ahead, the Methuen Police Department wrote.

Please #moveover when you see emergency lights ahead.



Yesterday morning, one of our officers was assisting state police with a crash on Rt. 213 when a vehicle crashed into a state cruiser, then our cruiser.



Luckily, our officer & the trooper were not injured. pic.twitter.com/DRcjREF4IU  Methuen Police  (@MethuenPolice) October 9, 2023

In 2022, Tamar Bucci, a 34-year-old Massachusetts State Police trooper, was killed after she was struck by the truck while assisting a disabled car by the side of the highway in Stoneham.

Bucci had the blue lights on her cruiser activated when the vehicle was hit. The force of the impact pushed the cruiser off the roadway, said Patrick McNamara, vice president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts.

Photos of the crash captured by Boston 25 showed the cab of the tanker truck pushing the cruiser up against a rock wall on the side of the highway, and a line of state police cruisers parked along the highway responding to the crash.
The death of couple with Massachusetts ties is just one story of many, according to a professor who lost his daughter and son-in-law in the conflict between the Israeli government and militant Palestinian group Hamas.

Deborah and Shlomi Martias were not murdered in a mere attack. It was a pogrom, Ilan Troen, professor of Israel Studies at Brandeis University, wrote in a statement sent to MassLive Monday. This is a well-rehearsed act of unbridled violence, not the consequence of an individuals momentary madness. It is the product of a government that has some recognition.

Deborah and Shlomi were killed by Hamas fighters who invaded their home on the morning of Oct. 7. The couple, along with their son Rotem, were trying to lock their home after they heard shooting and voices speaking in Arabic in Beer-Sheva, which is the largest city in southern Israel.

Deborah contacted Troen shortly before being killed to tell him about what they were doing, Troen wrote.

Troen said he and his family got an alert about a missile attack somewhere in Israel, and that Beer-Sheva residents only had about 45 seconds to find safety. He then got a call from Deborah. That was the last time Troen heard directly from his daughter, who celebrated her 50th birthday only two weeks ago.

There was repeated texting with Rotem, who survived first under his parents bodies and notified us of their death, and then spent the next twelve or so hours hiding under a bed and later under a blanket in the laundry room, Troen wrote. His rescuers found him covered in a grey to black film from smoke in his house, that like others, was set on fire in the expectation that survivors could then be shot.

Rotem is recovering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, but is expected to survive. When the family visited the 16-year-old at Soroka Hospital in Beersheva Saturday night, Troen wrote they found a scene of anguish and anxiety shared by family members of the 680 victims that had already been brought there.

Each one had their own story.

Most of us had been deeply involved in the horrific events in an intimate, ongoing, and an entirely modern way, Troen explained. We and our loved ones have cell phones. This is not the classic war of soldiers at the front unconnected from civilians at the rear. Victims were in touch with family from shortly after Hamas invaded.

The conflict started Saturday when Palestinian militants from the territory of Gaza invaded multiple Israeli communities and military bases by firing thousands of rockets at the country.

The surprise attack killed more than 700 people, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the countrys worst civilian massacres, according to officials.

The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities during a Jewish holiday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices.

After officially declaring war on Sunday, the Israeli government promised Monday to punish the Gaza Strip and crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza. The death toll on both sides has surpassed 1,200, with at least 11 Americans among the dead, WBZ-TV reported.

What stands out about this conflict is that Hamas were trained to kill innocent civilians from infants to elderly, according to Troen, because of their victims faith and identity. The group specifically targets Jews, including his daughter and son-in-law, because the religion is viewed as a deviant faith by Hamas.

Both communities have flourished on occasions with that kind of mutual embrace. But not with Hamas and or with versions of current fundamentalist Islam that demeans and has already destroyed historic communities of Jews, Christians and others throughout the Middle East and North Africa, the professor wrote.

Israel is next on their list, Troen continued, but there they confront Jews who are prepared to protect themselves and still hope for mutual accommodation and peace.

Read More: What to know as Israel declares war after unprecedented Hamas attack

We at Brandeis are deeply saddened to learn that Professor Troen has lost his daughter and son-in-law in the tragic events that are currently taking place in Israel, Brandies University President Ron Liebowitz said in a statement sent to MassLive Sunday.

Ilan, a Brandeis alumnus, and his family have long been treasured members of the Brandeis community, and we hold Ilan, his wife Carol, and his entire family in our thoughts, Liebowitz continued. We condemn in the strongest way terrorism such as we have seen today perpetrated against innocent civilians and what has amounted to a multi-pronged war launched by Hamas.

In an online statement, Liebowitz said Brandeis has been in touch with students who are studying in Israel this semester and will continue to support them, as well as the rest of the community, during this turbulent time.

We are also communicating with faculty in the region, and monitoring the situation to help community members who may need assistance, Liebowitz said. My thoughts are with all of those who are suffering in the wake of this outburst of violence.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize campus resources for additional support.
After Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, overran Israels border defenses and launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory last weekend, the reactions of Democratic leaders across the state are divided.

While many leaders joined a pro-Israel rally in Boston on Monday, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., was one politician who was singled out as the crowd loudly booed him when he called for deescalation of violence in a bloody cross-border conflict.

" ... the United States and the international community must keep pushing for diplomacy and the ending of civilian casualties on all sides, Markey said at the rally. There must be a deescalation of the current violence.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, who wasnt at the rally, also called for de-escalation and immediate ceasefire in a social media post.

Massachusetts Peace Action released a statement calling for similar actions, and for an end to the unconditional supply of US arms to the Israeli military.

Massachusetts Peace Action is saddened by the loss of life on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. We condemn the use of violence against Israeli and Palestinian civilians. The escalating violence we are seeing today is unfortunate, but unsurprising. What is needed now is an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation, the Massachusetts Peace Action statement began.

Fifteen minutes after Markeys speech, one of Markeys Capitol Hill colleagues, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, seemed to hit back at the Democratic senators remarks.

Now is not the time for equivocation, Auchincloss said. Hamas is an internationally recognized terrorist organization that is executing and raping civilians. Israel is a liberal democracy with the right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens.

Deescalation is not possible when they are taking hostages. And Israel did not ask America to deescalate on September 12, 2001, he said.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg also attended the pro-Israel rally on Monday in Boston, expressing their solidarity with Israel.

Im here today to stand in solidarity with the people of Israel. Im here today to say unequivocally there is no justification for terrorism ever, Warren said. She later added: Our job is to remind our friends in Israel and to remind people all around the world that we stand with Israel against this terrorist attack.

An estimated 1,600 people on both sides have been presumed dead in Israel since the surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning, the Associated Press reported. Hamas is widely designated as a terrorist organization.

Among those slain in Israel were at least 11 Americans, the U.S. State Department said Monday. Israeli authorities also said an estimated 150 people had been taken as hostages into Gaza, including children, according to the New York Times.

Massachusetts is home to a Jewish population of roughly 300,000, a large portion of which is concentrated in the Boston area.

Following the Boston pro-Israel rally, several hundred people in Cambridge rallied in support of Palestine despite facing backlash from dozens of Israel supporters Monday evening, WCVB reported.

Those at the rally havent been the only ones in the state to express their pro-Palestine views.

Boston Democratic Socialists of America said in a social media post that Israel has long subjected Palestinians to apartheid, military occupation, open-air prison conditions & other atrocities.

The international committee of the Democratic Socialists of America also asked supporters in a social media post to attend a demonstration in their area.

Making national headlines, dozens of Harvard student groups released a joint statement blaming Israel for Hamas attacks.

We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, the student groups wrote. Todays events did not occur in a vacuum.

The letter faced backlash from leaders across the state. Former Harvard president Larry Summers said he has never been as disillusioned and alienated from his nearly 50-year Harvard affiliation, pointing to the silence of Harvard leadership in a social media post on Monday.

Harvard is being defined by the morally unconscionable statement, Summers wrote. I am sickened. I cannot fathom the Administrations failure to disassociate the University and condemn this statement.

Congressman Seth Moulton also released a statement condemning the Harvard student group letter, stating that terrorism is never justified nor someone elses fault and that individuals can stand up for Palestinian rights while also condemning Hamas terrorists.

I cannot recall a moment when Ive been more embarrassed by my alma mater, Moulton said. Whats happening at Harvard right now is intellectually weak and morally repugnant.

Rabbi Jonah Steinberg, director of the Anti-Defamation Leagues New England region, addressed the joint statement at the pro-Israel rally in Boston on Monday.

Having served as a chaplain on Harvards campus for 12 years, caring for that community, we do not want to see crimson in this city become blood on the hands of those student groups who have signed on to such a despicable letter, Steinberg said.

The Harvard administration released a statement Monday evening to express its support for students and colleagues and commitment to fostering an environment of dialogue and empathy.

We have no illusion that Harvard alone can readily bridge the widely different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but we are hopeful that, as a community devoted to learning, we can take steps that will draw on our common humanity and shared values in order to modulate rather than amplify the deep-seated divisions and animosities so distressingly evident in the wider world, the statement said.

Auchincloss said in a social media post that Harvards leadership has failed.

The president and deans refuse to denounce the antisemitism of Harvard student groups. Instead of moral clarity and courage, they offer word salad approved by committee. I am ashamed of my alma mater, Auchincloss said in a social media post.
Voters in Agawam, Gardner, and Marlborough all head to the polls this Tuesday to pick candidates for mayor, City Council, and local school committees. The winners will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.

And in a special election, voters in Hampshire and Worcester counties also will choose a replacement for former state Democratic state Sen. Anne Gobi, who now serves as the states rural affairs director

Heres what to know about those races. More information is available from the communities local election offices. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Massachusetts Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi speaks to the MassLive newsroom Friday, Aug. 11, 2023.Dave Thompson | Masslive

Special Election

State Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, of Gardner, is the Democratic candidate for the seat, which covers 22 communities across the two-county district. Two Republicans, state Rep. Peter Durant, of Spencer, and hopeful Bruce Chester, of Gardner, along with Libertarian Janel Holmes of Spencer are also running for the seat, according to the local Gardner News.

Agawam

Voters in this Hampden County community will narrow a four-candidate field for mayor down to two candidates by the time the polls close on Tuesday night.

The candidates are Cecilia Calabrese, William Clark, Christopher Johnson, and Andy Montefusco. Incumbent Mayor William Sapelli is not running for reelection, after serving three two-year terms, The Reminder newspaper reported.

Calbrese is serving her ninth term on Agawam City Council, and has previously served as the legislative panels vice president, according to The Reminder. She currently manages a company that deals with commercial and residential real estate.

Clark, the former owner of a yoga studio, now works in book manufacturing, according to The Reminder.

Johnson, who formerly served as Agawams mayor, is looking for a return to the top spot. An attorney, hes the current City Council president, and also did a tour as the communitys solicitor, the newspaper reported.

Montefusco is an Utz potato chips deliveryman, a job hes held for 22 years on both sides of the Massachusetts and Connecticut borders, the newspaper reported.

Gardner

Voters in this Worcester County community, are being asked to narrow a field of mayoral and school committee candidates this preliminary Election Day.

Incumbent Mayor Michael J. Nicholson faces challenges from hopefuls Kimberly A. Blake and Martin Gray. The top two-vote getters will advance to the general election.

In the race for school committee, voters are being asked to choose among a seven-candidate field for three open seats, according to the local Gardner News.

The hopefuls are  in ballot order  Stephen P. Sandoval, Rachel A. Cormier, who is running for re-election; Robert J. Swartz, also an incumbent; Ayesha Z. Coaxum, Margaret Bissonnette, Brandon R. Hughey, and John M. LaFreniere.

Theyll also cast their ballots in the special election for state Senate.

Marlborough

Four candidates are vying for the top spot in this Middlesex County community. Tuesdays canvass marks the first time that voters will have a preliminary election without an incumbent since 2011  the year that current Mayor Arthur Vigeant, who is not running for re-election, first won the seat, according to the Marlborough Patch site.

The candidates are Michael Baker, local police officer Patrick Hogan, Ward 3 Councilor Christian Dumais and At-Large City Councilor Samantha Perlman, according to Patch. The top two finishers will advance to the November general election.
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A Pawtucket man died after Massachusetts State Police troopers tried to save him after his vehicle fell down an embankment in the median of Interstate 495 just south of Plainville on Tuesday morning, police said.

Several calls to the Foxboro Barracks reported both a vehicle fire and a brush fire at around mile marker 35.2 in Plainville at around 3:45 a.m., a statement from state police read. Troopers pulled up to find a 2008 BMW 328 with a Rhode Island registration down in the embankment in the center median.

The car was in several feet of water, but the drivers side was engulfed in flames, state police said. Two troopers jumped into the embankment and spotted Sage Woodward, 23, face down in water.

One trooper pulled out Woodward, who was on the passenger side of the car, while the other trooper attempted to knock out the flames using a fire extinguisher, state police said. The troopers took Woodward to a higher part of the embankment with the help of two Good Samaritans. Both troopers took turns delivering CPR for several minutes.

Read more: David Sullivan pleads not guilty to charges in fatal July boat crash on Cape Cod

Plainville EMS arrived and took Woodward to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. After he arrived at the hospital, Woodward died, state police said. One of the troopers was also treated at Sturdy with a laceration to his hand.

The left and center lanes of the highway were closed off to traffic for over three hours to allow access for first responders and investigators, state police said. The area was cleared and reopened at 7 a.m.

Early findings in the investigation suggest the BMW hit the guardrail on the right side of the road before veering off to the left, across all three travel lanes, and into the median, state police said. The investigation remains ongoing.
SPRINGFIELD  When a patient at Baystate Medical Center has a gunshot wound, its likely that Dr. Kristina Kramers team treats them. And after they leave the operating table, a program she started can help them move forward.

She has seen  and felt  the increase in gun violence in her work in the hospitals division of trauma, acute care surgery and surgical critical care.

Taking care of victims of gun violence tends to be more stressful on the whole team, said Kramer, associate trauma medical director. People can be really, really sick. So you have to act quickly to intervene and to do what you can do to save their lives. They can get worse, much quicker.

Its a high when Kramer and her fellow health care workers can save someone: Thats the reason that people go into this, is to be able to do that, she said.

And then there are also times when Kramer has to tell people that their loved one has died, the most difficult part of her job. You get better at it, she said. But it never gets easier. All you can really do is sit with people when they come apart.

A death from gun violence is unexpected, she said. People are normal, healthy, they were on their way to school or work, they had breakfast with their families. They were in too much of a rush to say goodbye that morning. Its hard because families feel angry because their loved one has been taken from them.

This year, there have been 27 homicides in Springfield, the highest annual number in the Springfield Police Departments records going back 24 years. On Wednesday, a shooting at a Holyoke intersection left a pregnant woman riding on a bus in critical condition and her baby, which she delivered at the hospital, dead. The shooting came just 90 minutes after city officials held a press conference about gun violence and urged residents to call the police if they hear gunfire.

Kramer is the medical director for Better Tomorrow, a new violence intervention program at Baystate Health. Its a partnership with Roca, a nonprofit focused on at-risk young adults, to try to reduce gun violence.

Theres a lot of amazing things happening in the community, so part of my goal is to not reinvent the wheel, Kramer said, but to figure out what we can do from inside the hospital to contribute to prevention efforts.

The program started operating in the fall of 2022 and is funded by a grant of nearly a million dollars from the U.S. Department of Justice. While its a first for Baystate, hospital-based violence intervention programs exist nationwide, like at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois where Kramer previously worked.

Hospital-based violence intervention programs are an essential component of a comprehensive response to gun violence, Ruth Zakarin, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, wrote in an email to The Republican. Springfield has seen an alarming number of shootings this year, and a hospital response is absolutely necessary to change this narrative.

At Baystate, when a patient injured by violence comes through the trauma bay, a Better Tomorrow staff person is paged. We hit the ground running, said Devonne Cumba, a social worker at Roca and hospital-based violence intervention program specialist.

Cumba goes to the hospital and, depending on the patients condition, talks to the patient. Her goal is to help support the victim and their family and connect them to services to help when they are discharged.

Not all patients are interested in talking, but most  she estimated 80%  want to engage with her.

If the person is outside the range of ages that Roca works with (17 to 24) the program refers them to other services like All-Inclusive Support Services, a program through the sheriffs office, to help them after they are discharged. Those in the young adult age range can get enrolled in Roca, which has locations in Springfield and Holyoke and works with victims and perpetrators of violence.

Since starting work in the Better Tomorrow position last summer, Cumba has done therapy at the bedside of a patient who was shot, sat for hours with families whose loved ones are in surgery, and helped de-escalate family conflict in the hospital.

The hospital already has inpatient medical social workers, but they have busy jobs, Kramer said. And theres certainly not enough of them, either, she added. Having an additional person like Cumba in these cases involving violence can be helpful.

Were talking about people who are scared, who are in pain, Kramer said. They need a little extra help to kind of get through that at the very least.

In one case, Cumba worked with a young man who was shot in the spine and paralyzed from the waist down. Hospital staff reported that the patient was aggressive and difficult. Cumba was able to do therapy at his bedside and worked to understand why he was responding the way he was.

A week earlier, his familys apartment had burned down. They had lost everything, Cumba said. She was able to support them with their housing issue and get them gas cards for travel when the patient was moved further away for care.

That was the best experience  to be able to show up for the family, Cumba said.

She helped the man get into a top-notch rehabilitation facility after his previous hospital behavior had threatened where he might be able to be authorized for care, she said. He is now actively involved in Roca, Cumba said.

The program tries to address trauma. We can only impact violence if we address the trauma that young people have faced, the Better Tomorrow brochure says in all caps. That can look like cognitive behavioral therapy, said Solomon Baymon, director of Roca in Western Massachusetts.

Solomon Baymon is the director of Roca's Western Massachusetts operations. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

The goal is to have intentional conversations, Baymon said. This is a victim. We get that person to take that pause and think things through, he said. We dont want to get anyone in the mindset of retaliation.

They also want to help them think logically and not reactively. A lot of our young people in violence are thinking in that bottom brain, Baymon said.

Is the new program working?

Ultimately, if were going to say the goal is to decrease reinjury and retaliation, with that I need like 20 years of data to be able to show that weve made any difference, Kramer said. This is actually something weve struggled with: How do you say this is good? How you say weve done well?

The team is working on data collection. So far, 183 patients have been referred to services through the program, according to Kramer.

Currently, the program is only working with the trauma unit at Baystate, which on average sees about 150 patients a year injured by violence, Kramer said.

Eventually, Kramer wants to expand the program to the emergency department, which sees hundreds of people each year with violence-related injuries. There, the program could reach people who have been in a fight or have less serious injuries from violence than the trauma patients she sees, but who could still benefit. Maybe theres a chance to do something for those people before they get shot six times in the chest, Kramer said.

If youre waiting for people to be shot, its sort of late in the process, she said.

At the same time, its a chance to intervene and prevent reinjury and retaliation. Its an opportunity, she said, so dont miss it.
SPRINGFIELD  Every citizen in Israel has been affected by Saturdays incursion by Hamas militants: They know someone who has died, been injured, is being held hostage or fighting to protect the country.

Dar Nadler, an Israeli emissary who is working at the Jewish National Foundation in Massachusetts, spoke to hundreds of people who gathered on Monday at Temple Beth El to pray for Israel and show support for those who have friends and family who are living in the country.

I didnt have the terminology to explain the horror, she said, explaining she had to consult the dictionary. The word I have is slaughter.

Nadler, who is living in Eastern Massachusetts, said her family, with the exception of her brother-in-law, are safe, but she talked about what others are facing. Her best friend, who lives in Gaza, spent 25 hours hiding with her husband and their young children before they could finally be rescued. An estimated 250 youths at a party were killed in the attacks.

The sentiment currently in Israel is, maybe, anger. It is not anger at our enemies; it is anger at our own government, Nadler said. Hundreds of people were just left to deal with themselves. Everything, we thought, had collapsed.

She thanked people for coming out together to show support and pray.

It is what Israel needs now, she said. Even if you do not think you are doing enough, thank you for that.

The vigil took place on the third day of the war, which started with a brutal incursion by Hamas militants. On Monday, in retaliation, Israel has increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food fuel and other supplies, according to The Associated Press.

The wars death toll has risen to nearly 1,600 on both sides on Monday. Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, the AP said.

To show support in Western Massachusetts, at least 15 different groups, including synagogues, schools, foundations and organizations from the Jewish community, gathered together in Northampton and Amherst, as well as Springfield, condemn the violence and pray for peace.

Multiple rabbis read prayers together and spoke to the group during the vigil.

At Temple Beth El, a trip with 39 people scheduled to leave for Israel has been canceled. Meanwhile, the Jewish organizations here have been stepping up security and recently jointly hired a firm to prevent attacks here, said Rabbi Amy Wallk, of Beth El.

All of us in the Jewish community need to know that our non-Jewish neighbors care, she said. Israelis are victims in this attack, and your being here is a source of tremendous comfort.

Included in the audience were Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, state Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Hampden/Hampshire/Worcester, and state Rep. Brian Ashe, D-2nd Hampden. Former state Sen. Eric Lesser, who is Jewish, also attended with his oldest daughter.

Im here to show my sympathy. Many people who are here have family and friends in Israel, and are checking in on them and are worried about them, Lesser said.

Neal reminded the hundreds who were gathered together that 11 Americans who were in Israel at the time of the attacks were also among those who have been killed, and others are believed to have been taken hostage by militants. He called it an unprovoked attack on innocent people.

Israel is an ally and friend of the United States, and we need to be reminded of that, Neal, D-1st District, said.

In his long political career, Neal said he has never waffled in his support of the state of Israel, and that will continue, as he has heard about the attacks and seen the violence on news footage.

I stand here in solidarity with the Jewish community. What has occurred was barbaric and unprovoked, Sarno added.

In addition, Sarno promised members of the Jewish community that they will be safe and said police officers were attending the gathering to add another layer of security to the temple.

You will always feel safe and sound and free to worship, Sarno said.
With the Bay State wracked by unprecedented gun violence, a revamped gun violence reduction bill now before the state House would give county prosecutors and local law enforcement new and effective tools to fight it, a Western Massachusetts district attorney said Tuesday.

The bill is a thoughtful and measured response to that public policy challenge, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni told MassLive after an appearance before a joint hearing of the House Ways & Means Committee and House members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

Lawmakers on the combined panel were set to hear from more than 160 witnesses on Tuesday as the bill begins wending its way through the legislative process.

The legislation, which backers say will stem the flow of illegal firearms into the commonwealth, expand the states assault weapons ban, and limit the ability to carry guns in certain spaces, effectively modernizes our gun laws to keep up with current issues, Gulluni said.

The House is expected to vote later this month on the revamped bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairperson Michael S. Day, D-31st Middlesex. House Democratic leaders rolled out the bill, which faced significant headwinds in an earlier form, last week.

In a brief appearance before lawmakers, Gulluni highlighted language in the bill requiring that all firearms frames or receivers, more widely known as ghost guns be serialized, making it easier for them to be tracked. The currently untraceable weapons have proven to be a bane for law enforcement because the parts are easily accessible for people who otherwise cannot legally own a firearm.

Gulluni told MassLive Tuesday that his office has recovered dozens of the weapons, which have become very commonplace in the Springfield area.

In November 2020, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security added privately made firearm and ghost gun as options in its reporting tool that monitors guns used in crimes each year. The office reported 181 privately made firearms seized in 2021 and 316 privately made firearms in 2022, MassLive previously reported.

Gulluni also said he supported language in the bill that would create a new criminal charge for someone who fires a gun into a dwelling.

Under existing law, violators can be charged with assault with a dangerous weapon  which is more difficult to prove because it requires prosecutors to show that someone deliberately intended to do so, Gulluni said.

And thats very difficult to do because often, and what makes it so dangerous is folks are shooting into buildings to dwellings with the interest of intimidating a particular person, someone who might be inside but they dont know, theyre shooting indiscriminately into a house, he told MassLive. So this specific charge ...makes it easier to prove and it provides a statutory penalty structure that is more appropriate for the nature of this offense. This terrorizes people. And again, as I spoke about, you know, it really undermines one feeling safe in his or her own home.
Massachusetts senior citizens who either rent or own a home will get more money in their wallets this year thanks to the $1 billion tax relief package Gov. Maura Healey signed into law last week.

We know that it is incredibly stressful to be confronted by high costs whether its groceries or gas bills or electric bills or how youre going to buy presents for your grandkids  I mean all of this mounts up, Healey said in front of a room full of senior citizens at the Northborough Senior Center on Tuesday.

The newly signed bill is aimed at making the Bay State more competitive amid rising costs and a shrinking housing market.

People across the state are really feeling the pinch and we saw this as a really great opportunity in our state to provide relief to people who need it most, she continued.

Under the new tax relief law, senior citizens who earn less than $80,000 a year, or couples who file a joint return of $96,000, could revive a $2,400 tax credit  which is double the current amount.

Healey said that she expects it will help 100,000 seniors across the commonwealth.

Meanwhile, renters would see an increase in the cap in their rental deductions from $3,000 to $4,000.

Estate taxes will also be increased.

Historically, the estate tax in the commonwealth has been the lowest in the nation  at $1 million. But the new law raises the cap at which a property is taxed to $2 million.

Before if you owned a home or a business it was a lot harder to pass that on to your loved ones, including your hard-earned savings and now weve changed that because we think its really important for people to have to ability to pass on money to their families, Healey said.

The new law will also increase the tax credit for caretakers from $180 to $310 per dependent this year, and then up to $440 next year.

Additionally, Bay Staters can receive a credit for every dependent in their homes, a sweeping change from previous years, where residents were capped at two dependents per house.

Thats going to mean hundreds of dollars going back to families with children and to people who take care of seniors or disabled family members, Healey said.

The new law has been dubbed the most generous child tax relief credit in the country.

So many of you have worked hard, for so long and we just want to make sure you are taken care of and Im proud of the package that our administration and the legislature were able to deliver, Healey said.
Massachusetts may have among the strictest gun laws in the country, but that doesnt mean there isnt room for significant improvement. And a revamped gun violence reform bill now before the state House is the path to getting there, two Western Massachusetts lawmakers said Tuesday

Were here to protect the lives of innocent bystanders like in the city of Holyoke, and the high incidence of crime, particularly in communities, urban areas, particularly communities of color, state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-10th Hampden, told MassLive. And I think its demanded that as legislators, we try to do everything possible to make sure that we can to curtail gun violence and [the] illegal use of guns.

Gonzalez, the chairperson of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Rep. Bud Williams, D-11th Hampden, made their comments after a brief appearance before a joint meeting of the House Ways & Means Committee and the Houses members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

The House is expected to vote later this month on the revamped bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairperson Michael S. Day, D-31st Middlesex. House Democratic leaders rolled out the bill, which faced significant headwinds in an earlier form, last week.

The legislation seeks to, among other things, to stem the flow of illegal firearms into the commonwealth, expand the states assault weapons ban, and limit the ability to carry guns in certain spaces.

Lawmakers on the combined panel were set to hear from more than 160 witnesses on Tuesday as the bill begins wending its way through the legislative process.

The two lawmakers Springfield-based districts each have been wracked by gun violence.

Last week, a pregnant woman was seriously injured, and her unborn baby was killed, during an explosion of gunfire on the streets of Holyoke. And in Springfield, a city man was shot in an apparent domestic dispute, MassLive previously reported.

The City of Firsts passed a morbid milestone in mid August, with back-to-back weekend killings bringing the citys yearly homicide total to 22  the highest annual number in at least 24 years  and with more than four months to go in the year, MassLive reported.

And as of the first week in October, Springfields homicide count stands at 27, including a grandmother and 10-year-old girls deaths resulting from a shooting in their own home that took place the same day Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno held a press conference to address the uptick in violence.

Speaking to MassLive, Williams alluded to that grisly tally, noting that there are too many guns on the streets; too much violence in urban areas.

Massachusetts has the most stringent gun laws in the country. But it doesnt go far enough. We know there are too many illegal guns on the streets of our gateway cities, he continued.

On Tuesday, Williams and Gonzalez pointed to the disproportionate toll that gun violence has taken on Black and brown communities in Massachusetts gateway cities. In Boston, for instance, researchers have found that more than half of all gun violence occurs within 3% of the citys streets, according to the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.

Gateway cities, urban areas are suffering disproportionately, Williams said. With this gun violence, there are too many guns on the street. The status quo wont get it done. Something needs to be done. It needs to be done. quick  fast.

And when hes out talking to his constituents, Williams told MassLive that theyre seeking a stop to the infiltration of handguns into their neighborhoods.

In urban areas, you can get a handgun just as fast as you get a Big Mac, the Springfield lawmaker said. And theyre saying If we cant stop it, can we at least slow it down? ... It seems that every day is getting worse and worse ... Because we go to the funerals. We go to the wakes. We visit the families. We have to take the guns off the street.

Gonzalez offered a similar sentiment.

One [incident of] gun violence in Connecticut, Massachusetts or New Hampshire impacts us all, he said. Now, I will say this, that although we have the toughest gun laws in Massachusetts, we are ranked eighth among the toughest gun laws in this country.

With Tuesdays hearing, House lawmakers took the unusual step of proceeding without their colleagues in the majority-Democrat state Senate. Lawmakers on the other side of the State House are believed to be crafting their own bill. But it it remains unclear when such a bill might be unveiled, State House News Service previously reported.

On Tuesday, Gonzalez and Williams were optimistic that lawmakers will reach an accord and send a bill to Democratic Gov. Maura Healeys desk.

I think in the end, both branches, realize that something needs to be done, Williams said. There needs to be an answer, there needs to be a call, at least [to] get some legislation out, [to] deal with the psychological conditions of communities, and let them know that help is on the way.
A revised gun violence reduction bill thats now before the state House wont make Bay State residents any safer and disarms almost an entire population.

Thats the message the a trio of advocates from a Worcester County-based gun rights group brought to a state House panel on Tuesday as it heard from dozens of witnesses on legislation that its backers say will stem the flow of illegal firearms into the commonwealth, expand the states assault weapons ban, and limit the ability to carry guns in certain spaces.

This is the most aggressive attack on civil rights I have seen, James L. Wallace, the executive director of the Gun Owners Action League, headquartered in Northborough, told a joint hearing of the Houses Ways & Means Committee and the House members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Six-hundred-thousand law-abiding citizens will tap out. Were done.

The bill, Wallace added, is so strict that if [President] Joe Biden came to Massachusetts, his Secret Service detail would have to leave their weapons in D.C.

Lawmakers on the combined panel were set to hear from more than 160 witnesses on Tuesday as the bill begins wending its way through the legislative process.

The House is expected to vote later this month on the revamped bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairperson Michael S. Day, D-31st Middlesex. House Democratic leaders rolled out the bill, which faced significant headwinds in an earlier form, last week.

While advocates have said that Days bill simplifies the Bay States existing gun laws and expands its protections, Wallace and two of his colleagues argued Tuesday that it does the exact opposite, and will make it harder for law-abiding gun owners to comply with statute.

If its eventually signed into law, the bill does nothing to make Massachusetts safer .... its simply an attack on our civil rights, Jonathan Green, the groups director of education and training, told lawmakers.

Mike Harris, the groups public policy director, said he initially was heartened that gun rights advocates were brought into the discussion on the revised bill. The product now before the House, he said, does not reflect those priorities.

What initially seemed like a collaboration now feels like a betrayal, Harris told lawmakers.
Cue some Johnny Cash, but look up, up, up to see the ring of fire.

At the end of this week, skywatchers and stargazers can anticipate an eclipse on Saturday as the moon partially blocks out the sun. When it does, it will create an annular solar eclipse.

This eclipse is expected to be seen across North, Central and South America, according to NASA. The annular eclipse is anticipated to be a warm-up to the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, according to Space.com.

The reason for this is that it offers atmospheric and heliospheric scientists a unique opportunity to study the suns outer atmosphere  the corona  during the minutes that the sun is almost completely blocked by the moon, the website said.

The path of the eclipse is expected to be directly visible over Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas, as well as some parts of California, Idaho, Colorado and Arizona, NASA said. Past the United States, the eclipse is expected to be visible across Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Panama, Columbia and the coast of Natal, Brazil.

For everyone living along the eclipses path, the ring of fire will be apparent, depending on how clear the skies are. Outside of that path, people across the United States should see the sun appearing as though it has a bite taken out of it, Space.com reported.

For Massachusetts residents, the eclipse  if visible, though the National Weather Service has so far said Saturday should see dry weather for the first half of the day before it possibly rains overnight  is expected to be visible, but not as a ring of fire.

The Bay State should see less than 20% of obscuration, or the portion of the sun obstructed by the moon, according to NASA. This means the sun should appear as though it has a chunk bitten out of it. The eclipse is also expected to be seen from Massachusetts at 11:03 a.m., according to timeanddate.com.

The greatest issue with observing an annular eclipse is the act of looking at the eclipse. For those in the path of the eclipse and despite the suns obstruction, it is still not safe to look directly at the sun. NASA recommends wearing solar viewing or eclipse glasses, or using a pinhole projector. For more information on that, follow NASAs tips at the link here.

People use protective glasses to watch a hybrid solar eclipse in Lautem, East Timor, Thursday, April 20, 2023. The lucky few people in its path either saw the darkness of a total eclipse or a ring of fire as the sun peeked from behind the new moon. (AP Photo/Lorenio L.Pereira)AP

NASA also provides a streaming link to watch the ring of fire live from the safety of your computer, television, phone or tablet. To view the eclipse, watch NASAs stream on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. on YouTube.

The next annular solar eclipse is scheduled to happen on Oct. 2, 2024, and should be visible from the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile, southern Argentina and Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, Space.com said.
The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business announced that the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, will deliver a keynote address at Africa Accelerating 2023.

Taking place from 10-12 October, under the theme of Accelerating Canada-Africa Trade and Investment: People, Partnerships and Policies, the conference kicks off with a video welcome from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

It is a pleasure to welcome business decision-makers, elected officials and thought leaders to our annual 3-day program aimed at accelerating Canada-Africa trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing, says Wayne Floreani, director at The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and President of MineAfrica Inc.

Chamber President Garreth Bloor says: We are once again proud to recognize and thank APO Group, the official strategic public relations partner of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

All of our sponsors are integral to what we do as an organization. As such we are pleased to commend and thank Hatch, 6ix, ARSP, Ausenco, B2Gold, Bramex Ltd, Cypher Environmental, EKMM, Elephant Trade, Ethiopian Airlines, Goodmans LLP, Ivanhoe Mines, Lambano Full Services, Lucara Diamond, MineAfrica and SDF Consulting.
The Mauritius Institute of Directors (MIoD) announce d the results of its Annual Members Meeting held on 28th September 2023 which concluded with the election of a new Chairperson and an accomplished new Board of Directors. This leadership change marks a new chapter for the organization, bringing fresh perspectives and a renewed commitment to excellence.

Mark Watkinson has been elected as the new Chairperson of the MIoD. With an impressive background in banking with the HSBC over the past 33 years where he held senior leadership roles in 10 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East the new chairperso n brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and a passion for corporate governance that will undoubtedly drive the MIoD forward Mark Watkinson was also the CEO and principal board director for HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited and CEO and main board director for H SBC Bank Malta Ltd and is today the CEO of Bank One.

Mark Watkinson holds a law degree and is a barrister at law in the UK. He is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, holds an MBA from the University of Warwick and is a qualified chartered director from the Institute of Directors, UK. He was appointed as a d irector of the Mauritius Bankers Association and an Independent Non Executive Director of the MIoD . I n June 2023 Mark was also appointed as the chairperson of the Mauritius Bankers Association .

The new chairperson of the MIoD has expressed his enthusiasm for this new role, stating,

 Im honoured and committed to enhancing our services to meet diverse corporate needs. It is a role I approach with utmost respect and a resolve to elevate the impact and reach of our pivotal services, aligning them with the diverse needs of our multifaceted corporate sector. My aspirations stretch beyond service refinement; I am dedicated to bolstering the MIoDs standing as the vanguard of corporate governance excellence. I aim to build on the strong foundation laid by Danny Balluck the former chairperson and the CEO Sheila Ujoodha. Key priorities include refining services for Members and Founders, maintaining a strong focus on education which is a cornerstone of the institution , and look to work across Africa with likeminded institutions to promote corporate governance best practice s and Mauritius as a great place to do business. I appreciate the dedication of our board members, both existing and new, who share our ambition to advance the MIoDs agenda. Together, well continue to drive positive change and growth. 

In addition to the appointment of the Chairperson, the MIoD Annual Members Meeting also saw the election of a diverse and accomplished Board of Directors. This new Board comprises individuals from various sectors and backgrounds, each bringing their unique expertise to the table. They will be working collaboratively to steer the MIoD toward new heights.

Board Composition

Board Composition of the MIoD:

Mark Redmayne Watkinson Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Independent Non Executive Director

 Sheila Ujoodha Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer

 Anuradha (Vimi) APPADOO Independent Non Executive Director

 Mahomed Aniff (Mamed) BABOO Independent Non Executive Director

 Virginie CORNEILLET Independent Non Executive Director

 Dev Harish HURKOO Independent Non Executive Director

 Mohamad Fardeen JE ETOO Independent Non Executive Director

 Shashi Kumar (Roshan) KOONJA Independent Non Executive Director

 Thiwantee (Pooja) RAMGUTTY Independent Non Executive Director

 Shalini JUGESSUR Independent Non Executive Director

 Jacqueline SAUZIER Independe nt Non Executive Director

 Caleyvarny (Kevina) TAKOORDYAL Independent Non Executive Director

 The election of our new Chairperson and Board represents a turning point for the MIoD . This change in leadership injects fresh impetus into the Institute , and we are excited about the innovative ideas and initiatives that lie ahead. With this dynamic

and forward thinking team, we embark on a new chapter in the MIoDs journey, one that is shaped by collaboration, and a shared vision of promoting corporate governance  , shared Sheila Ujoodha, CEO of the MIoD.

The incoming leadership teams focus will be on enhancing corporate governance practices, nurturing a culture of accountability and transparency, and providing valuable resources and support to the MIoD team and its Members.
DEPUTY Alan Dillon has demanded that immediate and resolute action is taken to prevent Section 39 workers going on strike this month.

Various Section 39 healthcare organisations  who are only partly publicly funded  are planning industrial action seeking parity with HSE colleagues in similar jobs.

These include organisations such as Western Care and the Irish Wheelchair Service.

Speaking in Dail Eireann, Deputy Dillon said that Section 39 workers give an invaluable lifeline to those in need and had not seen a pay increase since 2008.

He said that a proposed 5 percent pay funding increase for these workers did not go far enough to addressing an unacceptable disparity between their pay and Section 38 workers employed by state agencies.

It is an injustice that cries out for rectification, the Fine Gael TD said.

These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our social care system, serving tirelessly in disability services, homeless services, rape crisis services, and a multitude of other community-based programs. They are the silent heroes who bestow dignity and support upon thousands of our fellow citizens.

Basic allowances and essential leave provisions, which should be standard, are missing from their employment conditions. As a result, their morale is at an all-time low, and the sector is suffering from a severe recruitment and retention crisis.

As they leave, we witness the erosion of vital services, services that we, as a society cannot do without.

With up to 5,000 health and community workers due to go on strike over the issue on October 18, Deputy Dillon said that the situation facing this sector was dire.

They are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for fair and equal treatment, he concluded.
The global Radiation Protection Apron Market value was US$ 134.5 billion. The global market is forecast to generate a valuation of US$ 253.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.29% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2031.

Radiation-based diagnostic and treatment methods are in unprecedented demand in the healthcare industry due to the rise in chronic diseases globally and the aging population. This growth in medical imaging procedures is associated with more radiation exposure, emphasizing the critical need for safety precautions like radiation protection aprons.

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According to the National Health Services England Diagnostic Imaging Data Set Annual Statistics 2022, 43.3 million imaging tests were reported in England in the 12 months from April 2021 to March 2022. 3.67 million imaging tests were said to have been performed among them in March 2022. 1.82 million X-rays (Plain Radiography) were carried out in March 2022, making them the most frequent test. Diagnostic Ultrasonography (Ultrasound, 0.85 million), Computerized Axial Tomography (CT scan, 0.56 million), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI, 0.32 million) were the next most popular treatments. As a result, the market will rise due to the high volume of imaging tests being performed and the growing number of healthcare professionals.

A trend influencing the future of the radiation protection apron market is the technological advancement in the radiation protection equipment landscape. The goal of manufacturers constant innovation is to create cutting-edge, user-focused designs and materials. They are producing aprons that are flexible and lightweight, improving comfort without sacrificing protection. For instance, XENOLITE 800 NL will be available in 2022, according to Burlington Medical, one of the leading manufacturers of medical protection. It is a lightweight, flexible, lead-free apron that is used to shield workers from X-ray radiation. The release of SpaceD radiation protective aprons for use by the medical community was also announced for 2021 by Trivitron, one of the largest producers of medical products and equipment.

Healthcare Professionals Majorly Utilize Radiation Protection Apron in Medical Industry

The medical industry generated over 74% of market revenue in 2022. Due to the growing emphasis on patient and healthcare worker safety, the medical segment is likely to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.51% during the projected period. In 2022, healthcare professionals accounted for more than 72% of market revenue. Radiation protection aprons are necessary in hospitals due to the increasing patient volume and the necessity to diagnose patients for various illnesses and treatments.

The rise in chronic illness prevalence, advancements in medical imaging technologies, and an aging population are driving demand for radiation protection aprons in the medical sector. For example, the National Institute of Health reports that the analysis predicts that by 2035, 35.66% of adults 50 and older will have at least one chronic illness, and that percentage is likely to rise to 47.81% by 2050. A wide range of radiation-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques are required due to this expanding number. As a result, the requirement for radiation safety precautions, including protective clothing like radiation protection aprons, has significantly increased.

North America Generated the Highest Revenue Share of the Global Market

North America dominated the global radiation protective aprons market. This is due to its sophisticated healthcare system, an extensive network of nuclear power plants, and complex healthcare system, Other significant factors driving this demand include strict governmental regulations and a huge network of hospitals and diagnostic labs dispersed across the US and Canada.

The United States, which has a large impact on the healthcare industry, accounts for a sizeable percentage of investments in medical diagnosis and treatment. According to the FDAs 2021 evaluation of X-rays, approximately 7 out of 10 Americans had a medical or dental imaging image taken in 2021.

One of the top 10 leading causes of death in the US is cancer. According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 projection, in the United States in 2020, there will be roughly 2,281,658 new cases of cancer. According to projections, there will be 3,123,452 instances by 2040.

Radiation therapy is one method of treatment that is regularly used to injure and destroy cancer cells within the body. The major element of the therapy is ionizing radiation, which is intended to kill or shrink tumor cells. In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an investment of US$ 4 million in the IEAEs Rays of Hope program. It is believed that this financing will assist Africa in developing its cancer treatment options, including expanding radiation therapy facilities and radiotherapy treatment programs.

For the full report, please follow this link- https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/radiation-protection-apron-market

Top Players in the Global Radiation Protection Apron Market

Segmentation Outline

The global radiation protection apron market segmentation focuses on Type, Material, Application, End-User, and Region.

By Type

Single Sided Coat Aprons

Wrap Around Aprons

Skirt and Vest Type Aprons

By Material

Lead Aprons

Light Lead Composite Aprons

Lead-free Aprons

By Application

Medical

Chemical

Others

By End User

Healthcare personnel

Scientists

Others

By Region

North America The U.S. Canada Mexico

Europe Western Europe The UK Germany France Italy Spain Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Poland Russia Rest of Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia & New Zealand ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA) UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of MEA

South America Argentina Brazil Rest of South America



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Premier Novotel a Kinshasa, la capitale animee de la Republique democratique du Congo, le Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe ouvre ses portes aux clients.

Cette propriete ultramoderne presente un tout nouveau design METRO, inspire de la devise emblematique de Novotel, "Time is on your side". Il sagit dun concept de design moderne mettant en avant des tons naturels et des materiaux bruts invitant les clients a profiter d'un espace multifonctionnel et flexible qui evolue tout au long de la journee.

Idealement situe a proximite des sites et attractions touristiques de Kinshasa, le nouvel hotel permettra aux clients de profiter d'une vue imprenable sur les toits de la ville. Sa proximite avec les rues animees en fait un endroit facile pour explorer les magasins locaux et la vie nocturne vibrante de Kinshasa.

 Un lieu ou l'on peut vivre des moments d'inspiration 

Le Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe dispose de 115 chambres Standard, Executive et Suites ou les clients decouvriront modernite et elegance avec un design visant a creer une atmosphere chaleureuse et conviviale. Pour les voyageurs d'affaires, des salles de reunion fonctionnelles connectees a la solution ALL CONNECT invitent les clients a une experience hybride inegalee tandis que, pour-ceux qui cherchent a se detendre et a se reposer, l'hotel offre aux clients une salle de gym N'fitness ultramoderne et une piscine surplombant les hauteurs de Kinshasa avec des vues spectaculaires sur le fleuve Congo. Un cadre ideal pour echapper au stress de la vie quotidienne.

Pour les familles a la recherche d'une experience de vacances memorable ou d'un brunch en fin de semaine, les cours collectifs offrent la possibilite de creer des souvenirs significatifs qu'il s'agisse de cuisiner un plat local ou d'apprendre a melanger les couleurs lors d'un atelier de peinture.

Les clients peuvent egalement decouvrir une selection de thes importes et de marques locales au bar SUCRE, tout en passant du bon temps entre amis ou en famille. Le restaurant Nomads, ouvert pour le dejeuner et le diner, propose une experience immersive et authentique inspiree de la culture et de la cuisine africaine axee sur la diversite, le partage et l'interactivite.

Saviez-vous que les feves de cacao contiennent plus de flavonoides que le vin rouge ? Kakau, le bar-restaurant sur le toit, est un lieu ideal pour se reunir autour d'une bonne musique et celebrer la merveilleuse feve de cacao produite localement en l'incorporant dans les plats et les cocktails qui font la reputation de l'etablissement.

Afin d'optimiser et d'harmoniser l'experience client, le Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe sera l'un des premiers hotels du continent a proposer des solutions innovantes avec la mise en place de la " Cle Accor " et du programme " Welcome In " adapte aux besoins des voyageurs d'affaires. La solution " Accor Key ", cle numerique disponible sur Android et Apple, permettra aux clients d'ouvrir les portes des chambres et d'activer les ascenseurs avec leur telephone portable integre a l'application du programme de fidelite ALL - Accor Live Limitless, et " Welcome In " permettra aux voyageurs de s'enregistrer en toute transparence a l'hotel des leur arrivee a l'aeroport international de Ndjili permettant ainsi aux equipes de l'hotel de se concentrer sur la personnalisation de l'experience du client.

La directrice generale du Novotel, Binta BOCOUM, est ravie de participer a cette aventure passionnante et se rejouit d'offrir aux visiteurs une experience inoubliable. "Notre hotel sera l'endroit ideal pour se detendre et decouvrir la culture et l'histoire de cette belle ville de Kinshasa", declare-t-elle.

"Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer les debuts de la marque Novotel au Congo avec l'ouverture du Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe ou le design intuitif et elegant converge avec la technologie de pointe pour redefinir les experiences des clients. Notre engagement a optimiser le confort de nos clients tout en profitant des moments qui comptent vraiment se traduit par des concepts de restauration varies, la commodite de l'emplacement et les avantages exclusifs offerts par le programme de fidelite ALL - Accor Live Limitless. Il s'agit d'une etape importante qui souligne l'engagement de Novotel a offrir des experiences centrees sur le client dans cette destination dynamique" Paul Stevens, directeur general de la division Premium, Milieu de gamme et Economique, Moyen-Orient, Afrique et Turquie chez Accor.

Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe offre une experience d'hebergement inegalee attirant les voyageurs a la recherche de confort, de commodite et de temps pour se detendre. L'hotel promet de devenir l'un des meilleurs choix d'hebergement pour les visiteurs de la ville.

Le Novotel Kinshasa participe a ALL - Accor Live Limitless, le programme de fidelite qui donne acces a un large eventail de benefices, de services et dexperiences. Pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici.

A propos de Novotel

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts, propose des hotels penses comme des lieux de vie a la fois stimulants et reconfortants ou les clients peuvent reprendre le controle du temps pour profiter des moments qui comptent vraiment. La large gamme d'hotels, de suites et de resorts de la marque offrent une multitude de services pour les clients d'affaires et de loisirs - des chambres spacieuses et modulables au design simple et elegant, une restauration saine et equilibree disponible 24h/24, des salles de reunion specialisees, un personnel attentif et pro-actif, des zones famille, des lobby multifonctions et des salles de remise en forme accessibles. Novotel, qui compte plus de 530 etablissements dans plus de 60 pays, fait partie de Accor, un leader mondial de lhospitalite, fort de 5 500 hotels dans plus de 110 pays, et de lecosysteme ALL  Accor Live Limitless  le programme de fidelite qui donne acces a un large eventail de benefices, de services et dexperiences.

novotel.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

Press Contact

Bienvenu POMBO

Bienvenu.pombo@accor.com

+243 858552345

------------------- VERSION ANGLAISE

First Novotel Hotel opens its doors in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The first Novotel in Kinshasa, the bustling capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe opens its doors to guests.

The state-of-the-art property features an all-new METRO design, inspired by Novotel's iconic motto, "Time is on your side, a modern design concept featuring natural tones and raw materials inviting guests to enjoy a multifunctional and flexible space that evolves throughout the day.

Ideally located close to Kinshasa's landmarks and tourist attractions, the new hotel enables guests to enjoy breathtaking views over the city's rooftops. Its proximity to the bustling streets makes it an easy location to explore Kinshasa's local stores and vibrant nightlife.

"A place to enjoy inspiring moments".

Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe features 115 Standard, Executive and Suite rooms where guests can discover modernity and elegance with a design aimed at creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. For business travelers, functional meeting rooms connected with the ALL CONNECT solution invite guests to an unparalleled hybrid experience while for those looking to clock out and rest up, the hotel offers guests a state-of-the-art N'fitness gym and a swimming pool overlooking the heights of Kinshasa with spectacular views of the Congo River: an ideal setting for escaping the stress of daily life.

For families looking for a memorable vacation experience or a weekend brunch, group courses offer the chance to create meaningful memories whether cooking a local dish or learning to mix colors in a painting workshop.

Guests can also discover a selection of imported tea and local brands at SUCRE bar as they soak up quality time together. The all-day dining restaurant, Nomads, open for lunch and dinner extends an immersive and authentic experience inspired by African culture and cuisine all about diversity, sharing and interactivity.

Did you know that cocoa beans contain more flavonoids than red wine? KauKau, the roof-top bar and restaurant offers a great place to gather around good music and celebrates the wonderful "Cacao bean produced locally by incorporating it within the dishes and signature cocktails leaving guests longing for more.

To optimize and harmonize the guest experience, Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe is one of the first hotels on the continent to offer innovative solutions with the implementation of "Accor Key" and the "Welcome In" program tailored to the needs of business travelers. The "Accor Key" solution, a digital key available on Android and Apple, enables guests to open room doors and activate elevators with their cell phone integrated through the ALL  Accor Live Limitless loyalty program application and Welcome In enables travelers to seamlessly check-in the hotel as soon as they arrive at Ndjili international airport enabling hotel teams to focus on personalizing the guest experience.

Novotels General Manager, Binta BOCOUM, is delighted to be part of this exciting adventure, and looks forward to offering visitors an unforgettable experience. "Our hotel is the ideal place to relax and discover the culture and history of this beautiful city of Kinshasa" she declares.

We are excited to announce the debut of the Novotel brand in Congo with the opening of Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe where sleek intuitive design converges with cutting-edge technology to redefine guest experiences. Our commitment to optimizing guest comfort while enjoying the moments that really matter is matched by the diverse dining concepts, the convenience of the location and the exclusive benefits that ALL  Accor Live Limitless loyalty program extends. This marks a significant milestone, underlining Novotel's dedication to offer guest-centric experiences in this vibrant destination Paul Stevens, Chief Operating Officer Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Middle East, Africa & Turkiye at Accor.

Novotel Kinshasa La Gombe offers an unrivaled accommodation experience appealing to travelers seeking comfort, convenience and time to unwind. The hotel promises to become one of the best accommodation choices for visitors of the city.

Novotel Kinshasa participates in ALL - Accor Live Limitless  a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. To find out more, click here

About Novotel

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can press pause and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brands wide array of hotels, suites and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 530 locations in more than 60 countries is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,500 properties throughout more than 110 countries. Novotel is also a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless  a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.

novotel.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

Press Contact

Bienvenu POMBO

Bienvenu.pombo@accor.com

+243858552345
by Teresa Buyikian , October 9, 2023

Red Robin has made some significant changes in its offerings, with a few limited time seasonal offerings, new menu adds, a new cooking style and better-quality ingredients.

One big change is that the chain has replaced all its existing conveyor-belt cooking systems with grilling its burgers on a flattop, and also now hand-preps burgers with higher quality ingredients, according to a release.

The new menu includes BBQ Burnt Ends 'N Bacon Burger (LTO), Smashed Avocado 'N Bacon Burger and the Burnin' Love Burger, which returns to the menu with fried jalapeno coins, salsa, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, vine-ripened tomato and chipotle aioli, topped with a charred jalapeno.

Changes to current menu items include adding fresh grilled pineapple rings to the Banzai Burger, fresh smashed guacamole on the Smashed Avocado N Bacon Burger (which replaces the Guacamole Bacon Burger) and hand breading the Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

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New appetizers and entrees include Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts, Tsunami Shrimp, BBQ Burnt Ends Loaded Fries (LTO) and Whiskey River BBQ Ribs.

Holiday limited-time offers are a Caramel Apple Pie Milkshake and a Caramel Apple Lemonade.

New alcoholic choices feature Casamigos Cadillac Margarita, Golden Maker's Highball, and an Old Fashioned.

Zacks Equity Research cited in its recent report that (Red Robin) benefits from increased comparable restaurant revenue, average guest check and menu prices. Also, its focus on menu innovation and (the) strategic plans bode well. Red Robin too has been investing more in technology and data infrastructure. The company is set to grow its off-premises online ordering business via carry-out, delivery and catering.

Red Robin, founded in 1969, operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., and under the trade name, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews. There are more than 500 Red Robin restaurants across the United States and Canada, including franchises.
by Les Luchter , October 10, 2023

Last week, Marketing Dailycovered how Therabody is redefining workouts to encompass everyday activities. This week, health tech brand Oura, whose smart ring tracks sleep and physical activity. is out to rebrand stress.

Stress has been positioned as all negative, Ouras chief marketing officer Doug Sweeny tells Marketing Daily, but those times in your life when you are under stress can be the most creative and most productive times.

While stress can impact your overall health to a degree, Sweeny says, resilience and how you recover from that stress is whats really important.

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Oura on Tuesday debuts a new feature called Daytime Stress that, every 15 minutes, identifies stress triggers by continuously measuring small changes in biometrics like heart rate and body temperature.

The brand also plans to add a feature called Stress Resilience this winter. It will assess users ability to withstand physiological stress by tracking stress load and recovery, both in the daytime and during sleep.

Supporting the new stress features, Oura has launched an ad campaign on over-the-top TV, linear, digital, social, Spotify and podcasts. Theres also digital out-of-home in New York City. Miami and Boston. Oura handles both creative and media planning in-house.

In one :30 spot, a man is shown waking up with a smile while a voiceover asks, Whens the last time you felt good, like really good? Then, as the man walks down the street while his steps are counted, and then rests in a park, the narrator says, Oura Ring helps you get enough sleep, and enough steps. It also helps you manage your stress, so you can see what your body really needs."

Oura cites American Psychological Association statistics that 77% of people experience chronic stress affecting their overall health -- in such areas as anxiety and depression, high blood pressure and cardiovascular health.

So Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills player who suffered cardiac arrest on the field last season, has come on board recently as an Oura brand ambassador. Hes out talking about how Oura has impacted his life and his wellness, says Sweeney.

Besides Daytime Stress and Stress Resilience, Oura has announced the Beta launch of Reflections, a journaling feature that enables users to record their mood and mental state though voice and gestures.

Besides making a fashion statement, the Oura ring is also a 24/7 accessory, Sweeny notes.

People dont tend to wear their smartwatches in bed, he says. They charge them on their end table. Thats not the way people wear Oura. Its the most intimate product. You can wear it in the shower.

Oura has also announced partnerships with mental health platform Headspace and behavior change technology company Thrive Global.

Coinciding with the launch of Stress Resilience, Oura users will be able to access such Headspace content as meditations and guided breathwork.

Thrive, meanwhile, will launch a series of sleep and stress management challenges on its platform, with the option for their users to integrate sleep and stress data from Oura.

Oura rings sell for $299 and up. The company says it has sold some 1 million of them over the past 10 years, mainly to help people sleep better. All rings give the user three scores -- sleep, readiness for activity and activity levels -- while $5.99/month memberships provide additional info like in-depth sleep analysis and heart rate monitoring.

Oura rings are sold both D2C and at Best Buy stores. Only Oura sells the memberships.
Philippine startup telco NOW Telecom says that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has renewed its license to operate mobile services using the 800-MHz band, keeping its hopes alive to crack the markets mobile sector.

Mel Velarde, chair of NOW Telecoms parent company NOW Group, said in a statement Monday that the operator received the licence on October 2, 2023.

Velarde said the license renewal was a much needed boost for its plans to enter the Philippines mobile market to take on incumbents PLDT/Smart and Globe Telecom, as well as relative newcomer DITO Telecommunity, which launched services in 2021.

Velarde also said the renewed 800-MHz licence would strengthen the communications security and connectivity to vital critical infrastructures in the country.

The latter is a reference to NOW Telecoms plan to focus on establishing critical communications infrastructure for sectors such as dams, defense, industrial bases, government facilities and power plants that require secure, reliable and robust communications systems using only trusted equipment.

According to local media, NOW Telecom has been talking with the Philippine military, the Cybersecurity Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC), and the US Department of Homeland Security to identify which sectors would benefit from critical comms infrastructure.

Earlier this year, NOW Telecom signed a letter of intent with the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop a 5G network in the Philippines. Both parties agreed to conduct a 5G trial in metro Manila, with the USTDA providing funding and technical assistance for the project. Nokia Bell Labs Consulting is designing and implementing the pilot 5G network.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) says its collaborating with Setara Networks (a.k.a. Tara) to launch zero-fee instant transaction features to further accelerate the adoption of digital payments in Indonesia.

The two companies have created and integrated a seamless and secure payments network within IOHs Bima+ lifestyle app with a count capped zero-fee model.

Users need to create a one-time unique Pay-ID linked with their mobile number that can be used for all their transactions. Once they do that, IOH says, they can make secure and faster digital transactions from anywhere with just one click without having to download additional applications or paying additional fees.

IOH says Taras OneClick Checkout technology will bring down the average time of transaction to 20 seconds compared to virtual account payments where the user has to login to a bank app to complete the payment.

The same payment tech will soon be available via IOHs myIM3 consumer app as well.

Sabrina Lee, SVP and head of IOHs digital business unit, says the one-click zero-fee payment feature will give the operator a leg up in Indonesias fast-growing digital payments market.

The ease and speed of digital transactions with just one click will be Indosats key differentiation from other service providers, Lee said in a statement.

According to Statista, user penetration in Indonesias digital payments segment is forecast reach close to 85% by 2027.
The fatal stabbing case of a Navy sailor whose nude body was found slumped against a fence in his backyard in Point Loma in 1990 went cold for three decades.

But a break in the investigation led police to Brian Koehl, and a DNA sample  collected surreptitiously from an Arby's cup and straw he threw away one day in 2021  confirmed their suspicions, prosecutors say.

On Monday, Koehl, 52, went on trial for murder in the killing of 32-year-old Navy Petty Officer Larry Joe Breen.

During opening statements in San Diego Superior Court, prosecutors said Koehl confessed to a friend to fatally stabbing a man who "came onto him." The defense said it was an act of self-defense, claiming Breen  who was gay  sexually assaulted Koehl.

Koehl has pleaded not guilty to murder. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in state prison.

Breen was a cook stationed aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Fox and poised to become a chef for then-President George H.W. Bush at Camp David in Maryland. Koehl was 19 and also a sailor.

Breen's body was found slouched against his backyard fence on the corner of Nimitz Boulevard and Locust Street around 11:40 a.m. on May 25, 1990. He was naked, with two stab wounds to his neck.

Witness Darryl Albritton testified that he was looking for a home to rent with his girlfriend when he discovered Breen's body.

Blinds were hanging out of a broken window. It looked like the scene of a scuffle, Albritton said. He called 911 from a payphone at a nearby Vons grocery store.

Inside the unfurnished studio officers found "blood everywhere," retired San Diego police Officer Denise Dailey testified.

Other evidence included clothing, beer bottles and latent footprints.

The case soon went cold.

In 2001, with advances in DNA technology, a criminalist extracted DNA from evidence and checked local, state and federal databases that contain DNA profiles of convicted offenders, but no matches turned up.

Then, in 2019, investigators turned to genetic genealogy, a technique in which they upload DNA to commercial genealogy websites in search of family members of suspects. The work led investigators to Koehl. They learned that he was stationed in Coronado in May 1990, Deputy District Attorney Lisa Fox said.

In 2021, a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent monitored Koehl in Knoxville, Tenn., where he was living. When he threw away the Arby's cup and straw, the agent moved in and collected the items. Later, his DNA was compared to evidence.

"You're going to hear that the defendant's DNA is found all over that small apartment," Fox said. So was his footprint, she said.

Koehl was arrested in Knoxville in July 2022.

In an interview with investigators after his arrest, Koehl admitted he was at Breen's home the night before his body was found, that they were drinking with four others, Fox said. He told investigators he left and borrowed Breen's car, and when he returned the next day, he found the crime scene. He said he got blood on his feet and washed off the blood in the shower. He left in Breen's vehicle, only to abandon it when he thought twice about driving a "dead man's" vehicle, Fox said.

After Koehl's arrest, a friend of his came forward with information about the confession. It turned out the friend had reported the information to authorities in Ohio on two separate occasions, but he and the agencies were unaware the crime occurred in San Diego, Fox said.

Defense attorney Alicia Freeze said Koehl was a "small town boy from Ohio" in May 1990. She said Breen lived a "double life"  he was gay at a time when gay men and women were banned from serving in the military.

Freeze characterized the victim as a sexual predator and claimed Breen sexually assaulted Koehl  "a violation that's haunted my client for 33 years."

"Brian Koehl was sexually violated, and in defending himself, a life was lost," Freeze said.

Koehl is out of custody on $500,000 bail. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.

2023 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
When Hamas opened its surprise attack on Israel just before dawn last Saturday, it unleashed sustained salvos of some 200 rockets and missiles each at Israeli cities and towns. By mid-morning, the militants had fired a total of some 2,500 projectiles that quickly overwhelmed Israels Iron Dome air defense system.

At the same time, Hamas also launched scores of armed drones that dropped powerful explosives on Israeli tanks and troops guarding the Gaza border while hundreds of its fighters smashed through the fortified border on foot and others landed on Israeli beaches in small boats and dropped from the air in paragliders.

As Israelis ponder how the Mossad, Shin Bet and Aman military intelligence missed Hamas preparations for its wide-ranging assault, another question is: How did Israel fail to prevent Hamas from amassing an unprecedented stockpile of weaponsand some advanced ones at that?

Long Time Coming

Its no secret how Hamas, under an Israeli military blockade since 2007, has generally managed to stock its arsenals with such lethal military hardware. According to numerous independent analysts and regional experts, Iran, wearing the mantle of anti-Israel leadership in the Muslim world, has been providing Hamas with millions of dollars in funding, weapons and missile training since they first established ties in the 1980s.

In 2014, Gen. Ahmad Hosseini, then the commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps missile force, acknowledged the key role Tehran played in developing Hamas missile program. Years earlier, he recounted, Hamas engineers had been armed and trained by Hezbollah (Irans proxy force in Lebanon). . . Some of them even came to Iran for training. Hosseini added that the father of Irans own missile force, the late Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, armed them and guided them.

Initially, Irans Quds Force, together with Hezbollah, instructed Hamas engineers in making rockets from common materials like pipes, fertilizer and sugar, said Ido Levy, an associate fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a pro-Israel think tank, in a 2021 paper. This, he wrote, enabled Hamas to begin domestic production of its short-range Qassam rocket, which the militants fired at Israeli towns just north of the Gaza Strip.

Later, Iran began smuggling the components of its own home-manufactured Fajr 3 and Fajr 5 ballistic missiles, with ranges of 27 miles and 47 miles respectively, into Gaza by hiding them aboard ships with cargoes bound for European ports on the Mediterranean.

According to Fabian Hinz, an expert on Middle East missile proliferation with the London-based International Institute for Strategic studies, the ships disembarked from Iranian ports, sailed around the Arabian peninsula and made their way up the Red Sea to Port Sudan, where the missile components were offloaded to warehouses operated by Irans Quds Forces with the approval of Sudans Islamist President Omar al-Bashir,

While the Iranian cargo vessels continued through the Suez Canal to their destinations, Iranian agents in Sudan moved the missile components overland through Egypt to the Sinai Peninsula, where nomadic Bedouin tribesmen working with Hamas smuggled them into Gaza through tunnels dug under the Gaza-Egyptian border. Iranian-trained Hamas engineers then reassembled the parts into operable missiles, which were fired at the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Tel Aviv farther up the Mediterranean coast when hostilities with Israel erupted in 2012.

Rocky Relations

Irans relations with Hamas soured in the wake of the 2011 civil war in Syria, when Tehran supported Syrian leader Bashar al Assad while Hamas backed the Sunni Muslim rebels. Hamas also sided with Saudi Arabia in its war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels Yemen.

But as the door for Iranian missile assistance closed, another opened with the outbreak of Libyas civil war in 2011 and the rebels looting of the governments armories. In the ensuing years, Israeli intelligence sources say, Hamas worked with Libyan arms dealers to smuggle missiles into Gaza. In June 2012, Egyptian security forces seized 138 Soviet-made Grad rockets brought in from Libya and headed for Gaza.

In 2014, Sudans Bashir, facing his countrys economic collapse, shut down the Sudanese smuggling channel and severed relations with Iran in hopes of winning financial aid from Saudi Arabia, Tehrans regional archrival. In response, Iran, together with Hezbollah, opened up another maritime smuggling channel. Evading Israels naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Washington Institutes Levy notes that Hezbollah boats pushed floating palettes filled with missile components and missile manufacturing machinery into the sea off the Gaza coast, where they were retrieved by Palestinian fishermen.

In 2017, relations between Hamas and Iran improved significantly after Tehran, seizing upon the militant groups appointment of pro-Iranian leader Yahya al Sinwar, brokered a reconciliation between the Assad regime and Hamas. With Irans support back on track, Sinwar said Iran once again was Hamas largest backer financially and militarily.

Since then, Iranian officials also have highlighted their role in the modernization of both Hamas and Hezbollahs rocket and missile forces.

All the missiles you might see in Gaza and Lebanon were created with Irans support, boasted Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace force, in 2021. Today, the Palestinians fire rockets instead of throwing stones.

The magnitude of (Hamas) bombing is much bigger and the precision is much better in this conflict, Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, told the Times of Israel. Its shocking what theyve been able to do under siege.

Iran has denied any involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel, but Israeli officials brushed off Tehrans disclaimer.

Israeli intelligence officials maintain this renewed Iranian support has been reflected in the advances Hamas has made in its rocket and missile production in recent years. By manufacturing rockets and missiles based on Iranian designs, the Israelis say the Hamas arsenal now includes weapons that have longer ranger, deadlier warheads and improved accuracy. Thanks to Iranian support, these officials add, Hamas also has improved launchers that can fire sustained barrages of more than two dozen missiles per minute, overwhelming Israel's Iron Dome air defenses and causing greater damage and casualties.

Swollen Armory

In 2021, Israel estimated that Hamas had amassed as many as 15,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, Levy said. In the two years before the latest eruption of violence, its almost certain the size of the Hamas missile arsenal has grown.

Israel says Hamas fired some 3,000 rockets and missiles into Israel so far, while Israeli air strikes against Gaza have targeted what officials say are some of the groups missile manufacturing facilities.

But while some analysts say Hamas is running out of such munitions, its leaders sound unbowed.

On Monday, Hamas threatened to execute Israeli civilian hostages for every Israeli strike that hits civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

"We declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding," Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said more than 100 people had been taken hostage by Hamas during the deadly cross-border incursion over the weekend.

Cohen warned Hamas against harming the hostages, saying, "This war crime will not be forgiven.

This article by Jonathan Broder first appeared on Spytalk.co
An Oregon judge has sided with a U.S. Army veteran who petitioned for better treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder while incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution.

Michael LaSeur, an inmate at the prison, filed his habeas corpus petition at the end of December, flagging concerns about how Snake River was handling his medical conditions, health screenings and PTSD treatment. The judges opinion, issued last Monday, is one of the first of its kind in Oregon, according to LaSeurs attorney Tara Herivel.

The judge ordered them to provide PTSD treatment and care for him individually, but also for the Department of Corrections to consult with the Veterans Administration, Herivel said. Thats never happened.

LaSeur sustained multiple injuries while deployed in Iraq, including a crushed cervical disc and traumatic brain injury, according to court records. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2014 for three armed robberies of pharmacies in Clackamas County, court records show.

In addition to PTSD, LaSeur has hypertension, pain related to his cervical injury, headaches and chronic pain, among other conditions, court records show. And he said he was not getting proper treatment for them.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LaSeur told the court he was in a prison support group with other combat veterans that helped manage his PTSD symptoms. He has not been since, Herivel said, and while he has been prescribed proper medication, the court found there was a lack of mental health support, records show.

Jenefer Grant, a senior Oregon Circuit Court judge who heard the case in Malheur County, ordered Snake River to provide monthly counseling and dialectical behavior therapy  used to manage conditions like PTSD through conversation  in a support group or individually. Grant told the prison to consult experts with Veterans Affairs on best practices for alleviating PTSD, according to court records.

Grant also ordered the prison to provide MRIs for follow-up care, new pain relief medication and a stationary bike to help manage LaSeurs blood pressure.

It is noteworthy that our society claims to value highly the lives and welfare of our nations military veterans, Grant wrote in her court opinion. It follows, then, that the suffering in prison of a 90% combat-disabled American military veteran, from injuries incurred in the course of his service, and but for the consequences of which he might never have been incarcerated after his service, must be particularly offensive to the general public.

The Oregon Department of Corrections declined to comment on the case. Herivel said the department will likely appeal the ruling.

2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
JERUSALEM  Israels military said Tuesday that it had regained effective control over its south and the border with the Gaza Strip four days after Hamas fighters stormed into the country and brought gun battles to its streets for the first time in decades.

The declaration came as the Israeli Defense Forces sought to make good on the government's vow to hunt down the militants and to intensify an assault on densely populated Gaza, the Palestinian territory ruled by Hamas and home to 2 million people.

The conflict already has killed hundreds on both sides, The Israeli military said more than 900 people have died in Israel since Saturday's incursion. In Gaza and the West Bank, 765 people have been killed, according to authorities there.

In Israel and beyond, the families of more than 150 people kidnapped by Hamas and other militant groups feared for the lives of their loved ones. The armed wing of Hamas has warned it will kill one of the hostages every time Israels military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

Here are some key takeaways from the war:

What is happening on the ground?

Israel expanded its mobilization of military reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the countrys media. The chief military spokesman emphasized the unprecedented nature of the current campaign against Hamas, saying all options are on the table.

The military said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets overnight in Gaza. Tens of thousands of residents fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings, including in Gaza Citys residential and commercial district of Rimal.

Along with bombarding downtown Gaza City, Israeli airstrikes also targeted the the crossing between Egypt and the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, the only passage out of the territory.

Over 137,000 Palestinians were packed into United Nations shelters, and the World Health Organization reported that the medical supplies it had pre-positioned in seven Gaza hospitals were already used up.

The head of Doctors Without Borders for the Palestinian Territories said he was concerned the humanitarian medical group's team in Gaza would soon run out of medical supplies now that the enclaves borders have closed.

Leo Cans told The Associated Press he was particularly concerned about the supply of surgical equipment, bandages, antibiotics and fuel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a televised announcement Monday that the offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started.

What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, he said

Hamas leaders have not spoken publicly about whether they anticipated Israels ferocious retaliation  and the potential risk of losing much of the groups government infrastructure  when they launched the weekend attack.

What has been the responses from the U.S. and other nations?

The U.S. is delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war with Hamas, a senior Defense Department official said Monday.

The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments. The weapons movement came as President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. death toll in the war had gone up to 11.

The war threatened to delay or derail a country-by-country diplomatic push by the United States to improve relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Hamas' attacks in Israel and much of the Arab worlds response to it raised questions about whether Palestinian ambitions for sovereignty could be put aside during the so-called normalization push.

Foreign governments tried to determine how many of their citizens were dead, missing or in need of medical help or flights home from Israel. Japans top government spokesperson pledged to do the utmost to protect the safety of a small number of Japanese citizens in the conflict area.

Eighteen Thais were feared dead based on reports from employers, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke said Tuesday. A first batch of 15 evacuees was scheduled to board a flight to arrive in Thailand on Thursday.

Ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya said the Thai Embassy was in touch with Israeli authorities about Thai nationals who were abducted by militant groups but has not been informed of their conditions or whereabouts.

The Austrian government said three Austrian-Israeli dual citizens may be among the people kidnapped by Hamas during its attack on Israel. Italy's foreign minister said an Italian-Israeli couple living on the Be'eri Kibbutz had been missing since the incursion and were probably taken hostage.

Arab foreign ministers planned to convene Wednesday in Cairo at the behest of the Palestinians. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

What have been some of the ripple effects of the war?

Major airlines have suspended flights in and out of Israel. Scores of arriving and departing flights at Tel Avivs Ben Gurion International Airport were canceled or delayed, according to the airports online flight board, which also showed a steady trickle of flights. Most were operated by Israels national airline El Al along with others by regional carriers such as Turkeys Pegasus Airlines and Greeces Blue Bird Airways.

Finnish carrier Finnair on Tuesday followed American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and German airline Lufthansa in suspending service to and from Israel.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said the government had issued a red outbound travel alert for Israel, becoming the latest government telling its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the country.

Spanish multinational clothing company Inditex, owner of Zara, Massimo Dutti and other fashion brands, said it was temporarily closing its 84 franchised stores in Israel for security reasons.

Why did the attack take Israel by surprise?

Israels eyes appeared to have been closed in the lead-up to the attack by Hamas, which broke down Israeli border barriers and sent hundreds of militants into Israel.

This is a major failure, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This operation actually proves that the (intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good.

Amidror declined to offer an explanation for the failure, saying lessons must be learned when the dust settles.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, acknowledged the army owes the public an explanation. But he said now is not the time. First, we fight. Then we investigate, he said.

Some say it is too early to pin the blame solely on an intelligence fault. They point to a wave of low-level violence in the West Bank that shifted some military resources there and the political chaos roiling Israel over steps by Netanyahus far-right government to overhaul the judiciary. The controversial plan has threatened the cohesion of the countrys powerful military.

What prompted the attack?

Hamas officials cited long-simmering tensions, including a dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Competing claims over the site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, have spilled into violence before, including a bloody 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021.

In recent years, Israeli religious nationalists  such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister  have increased their visits to the compound. Last week, during the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli activists visited the site, prompting condemnation from Hamas and accusations that Jews were praying there in violation of the status quo agreement.

Hamas also has cited the expansion of Jewish settlements on lands Palestinians claim for a future state and Ben-Gvirs efforts to toughen restrictions on Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Tensions escalated with recent violent Palestinian protests. In negotiations with Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations, Hamas has pushed for Israeli concessions that could loosen the 17-year blockade on the enclave and help halt a worsening financial crisis.
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

One of the many things that make a PCS move stressful for military families is worrying about the weight of household goods in your shipment. Should I have a garage sale? Should I sell my snowblower before my transfer to Hawaii? Should I wait to buy (insert desired item) until after the move?

But there is something else going on that is making this issue much worse and much more expensive. A quick look at any of the social media pages dedicated to military PCS moves yields countless complaints about shipments being over the service members' maximum allowable weight and, often, much higher costs than anticipated.

What's going on? Some moving companies that have been entrusted to move household goods for military members and their families have learned to exploit vulnerabilities in the process. One way is for the moving company to claim the shipment weighs more than it actually does, also known as weight fraud. There's a long history of this kind of fraud, sometimes known as "weight bumping."

Fraudulently increasing the weight of the shipment costs the government money, and if it brings your shipment over your maximum allowable weight, it will cost you money too. When spread across the costs of packing, storage, transport and unpacking, even minor increases in weight can translate into thousands of dollars.

Is it happening to you? Members who have moved before have a resource to help answer that question. By logging into the Defense Property System (DPS), you can view the weight of your previous PCS. Then ask yourself, does the increase in weight seem reasonable? If your shipment weighs an additional 2,500 pounds and your only major addition was a new recliner, that's a big red flag.

There are other ways to get a sense of whether the shipment weight is reasonable. Often, the moving company will send a representative to conduct a pre-move survey and provide a weight estimate. If the shipment weight is substantially higher than that estimate, there may be an issue. You can also use the weight estimator tool on MilitaryOneSource.mil to get a rough idea of what your shipment will weigh.

What can we do about it? The good news is this type of fraud can be defeated with an in-person re-weigh in which you or your representative are present when the shipment is weighed. Interstate shipments are protected by 49 CFR  375.517, which allows you to demand a re-weigh, and 49 CFR  375.513, which allows you to insist upon being present for that re-weigh.

How can you assert those rights? First, send an email. Let the following folks listed below know what the issue is. It could be as simple as "my shipment weight seems way too high."

The Military Claims Office (MCO) for your branch of service (they are the experts regarding all the contracting rules)

The Regional Quality Assurance Office (QA) that services your area (they are the boots on the ground who can help you locally)

The Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) handling your shipment (they coordinate the shipment with the transportation service provider on your behalf)

Your Supervisor (It is a good idea to keep them informed. They may be able to provide resources, and you may need time off work to view the re-weigh.)

Next, email your moving company. Tell them you are demanding an in-person re-weigh in accordance with 49 CFR  375.513 and 49 CFR  375.517. Make sure it is absolutely clear that you want to be there for the re-weigh.

CC the Military Claims Office, Quality Assurance Office, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office and your supervisor on the email.

If the moving company refuses to do an in-person re-weigh, you have the right to refuse delivery of the shipment until they do. Ideally, having all the appropriate people in the loop will prevent this.

There are several other things to keep in mind.

Moving companies have been known to contact customers at the last minute regarding the re-weigh and make it as inconvenient as possible. Maintain frequent contact with your moving company to ensure this doesn't happen. Do this via email to ensure it is documented.

The empty weight is just as important as the loaded weight. You must view the loaded weight (pre-delivery), then accompany the truck back to the scales to obtain the empty weight immediately after your delivery is completed. Moving companies have been known to add extra weight to increase the loaded weight ticket, then remove it prior to obtaining the empty weight ticket.

No one is allowed to be in the vehicle/on the scale when the shipment is weighed. Moving companies have been known to have the whole moving crew on the scale for the loaded weight, then absent for the empty weight. This could easily add 1,000 pounds to your shipment.

Take photos of the loaded and empty weight tickets as soon as the driver receives them. You will need them to prove the actual weight. You should also take photos of the truck and trailer, including their markings and license plates.

Do not ask for or agree to a re-weigh that you will not be present for. Moving companies will offer to "double-check" the weight. Don't be fooled: They may use that as a basis to refuse to do an in-person re-weigh, claiming that you already declined the opportunity to be present.

Don't risk a bill for thousands of dollars. Go the extra mile to make sure the weight is correct. If enough of us do this, they won't be able to defraud any of us.

Quality assurance representatives, consider having your office audit a certain percentage of all shipments by attending weigh-ins. If 10% to 20% of shipments were audited, it would have a significant deterrent effect on this type of fraud.

U.S. Transportation Command representatives, consider implementing a reporting process so that military members or quality assurance representatives can let you know when this is occurring. Then stop giving those companies contracts.

-- Tom Marin is a retired Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent and survivor of eight military PCSs.
In the late 1950s, a young, blind boy named Joe Engressia had little to do during his waking hours, but one of the things he could reliably play with in his house was the telephone.

Having excellent hearing and perfect pitch -- the ability to recreate any musical note without hearing it first -- Engressia began experimenting with his home's landline phone at age 7. After years of tinkering, he eventually discovered that he could make free long-distance calls after whistling a specific note into the phone's handset.

Engressia's discovery eventually led to a technological component (because not everyone has perfect pitch) and a massive underground explosion in what became known as phone "phreaking," or the use of artificial tones to manipulate phone systems. It also led one of the phreakers, Airman 1st Class John Draper, to become a counterculture entrepreneur who inspired one of America's most valuable companies: Apple.

Apple wasn't Jobs and Wozniak's first business together, but at least Apple was nice and legal. (Apple)

Engressia would spend his college years at the University of South Florida in the late 1960s, where he put his discovery to good use to earn extra cash. His fellow students would pay him a dollar, and he'd whistle the tone into the phone so they could make a free long-distance call. Back then, a five-minute call could cost upward of $25 (more than $220 in today's dollars), so it was a pretty good deal for everyone involved.

The trick was remarkably simple. After World War II, human switchboard operators were gradually replaced with multi-frequency signaling, which used audible tones to control telephone switches. If you could play the correct frequency tones, you could control the phone system. While Engressia could do it by whistling on command, other "phreakers" needed technological help, but no matter how they made the sound, emitting a tone or combination of tones let them use the phones for free.

John Draper was a tinkerer from a young age; the son of an Air Force engineer, he was able to build radios and the like from old spare parts. He followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Air Force himself, where he worked with electronics. There, he also learned how to access local switchboards to make calls for free and even started a pirate radio station. He was discharged in 1968 and moved to Cupertino, California.

By this time, phone phreakers were in regular communication with each other, sharing information over the same phone lines they were hacking. One day, Draper was testing another pirate radio signal by broadcasting a number for people to call. The phreakers got through to him and asked for his assistance.

They'd discovered that the bosun's whistle toy that came in boxes of Cap'n Crunch cereal at the time could play the exact note needed to commandeer a phone line. The popularity of the toys skyrocketed, but they needed more. Draper's engineering ability allowed him to create a device that could create all the tones necessary to not only use phone lines, but route through entire phone systems. He called it the "Blue Box" and renamed himself "Captain Crunch." Using his devices, phreakers were allegedly able to reach President Richard Nixon at the White House, the pope in the Vatican and even pose as the National Guard to falsely tell callers a nuclear accident had wiped out Santa Barbara.

Draper, then 73 years old, holding a Cap'n Crunch bosun's whistle at the Maker Faire technology exposition in Berlin in 2015. (Sebaso)

In 1971, Esquire Magazine published an article about phreaking that caught the attention of two college students who formed their first business together making blue boxes: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The two later stated that their first venture with the blue boxes was part of their decision to start Apple Computer in 1976.

Draper, who would serve jail time for his phreaking activities in the 1970s, would eventually go to work for Apple, creating phone technology that would lead to voice-activated telephone menus and an early word-processing program for the Apple II.

Draper has since started a number of business ventures with pioneering technology, but failed to reach any kind of commercial success. He's still a legend in the world of computer programming and among hackers -- and without his work, the American business juggernaut known as Apple might not exist in the same form today.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Facebook, X or LinkedIn.

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Vodafone and Orange say they have completed the first 4G calls over a shared Open RAN network in rural areas of Romania.

The shared Open RAN pilot network, deployed in a rural area near Bucharest, is part of Vodafone and Oranges agreement announced in February to trial Open RAN with RAN sharing in rural parts of Europe where they both have mobile networks.

The rural Romanian pilot leverages Oranges integration tests in the Open RAN laboratory in France, as well as the experience gained from Vodafone UKs Open RAN deployment. The Open RAN stack on the shared sites includes a Samsung commercial virtualized RAN solution, Wind River abstraction layer on top of hardware to deploy and scale the RAN software, and Dell PowerEdge servers.

With 4G calls having been successfully placed on the their respective Open RAN sharing sites in Romania, Vodafone and Orange say they will soon introduce 2G and 5G to the sites.

They claim this will mark the first time 2G is fully integrated within a commercial shared Open RAN network in Europe.

Vodafone chief network officer Alberto Ripepi said the operators have developed a model that will serve as a blueprint to extend mobile networks to rural communities across Europe.

Open RAN sharing will allow us to reduce costs by sharing hardware components while independently managing our own RAN software in the cloud to be able to offer differentiated services to our respective customers.

Oranges chief technology and innovation officer Bruno Zerbib added the pilot shows that Open RAN is now mature for roll-out in brownfield networks and opens the door for wider scale deployments across the group, and paves the way towards fully automated and intelligent networks.
LANSING, MI -- A 15-year-old suspect is in custody in connection with the death of a 63-year-old Lansing man who was shot and killed while canvassing Sunday afternoon. According to WILX, the victim has been identified as Theodore Ted Lawson, who was found around 3 p.m. lying on the sidewalk on Jenison Avenue with a gunshot wound.

Lawson was transported to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

Lawson served as the secretary for the Ingham County Democratic Party and was canvassing when he was killed, according to Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing.

So terrible to hear that Ted Lawson was killed over the weekend in Lansing, while doing what he has done for so many candidates, including myself: knocking doors and getting out the vote.



Ted was one of the most involved community members Ive ever met and regularly volunteered  Elissa Slotkin (@ElissaSlotkin) October 9, 2023

Police have not identified the suspect publicly and no possible charges have been announced by the department. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Lansing Police Department at 517-483-4600.
BEAR LAKE, MI  These scarecrows look a little different. Thats because theyre bear crows.

The Bear Lake Fall Festival is coming up this weekend, but the bear crows are already on display throughout the village. During the event, theyll likely be set against a backdrop of peak fall color.

This small town in northern Manistee County will host its festival from Friday, Oct. 13, to Sunday, Oct. 15, featuring music, pumpkin painting and carving, a car show, kids games and more. There are also deals and specials at local businesses. There is no central location; there are events happening at businesses all over Bear Lake.

Bear crows, which are essentially scarecrows with a bear head, can be seen outside most businesses and many homes as residents and visitors drive through town on US-31. Fall color is expected to peak in this area around Oct. 15-21.

The bear heads resemble the town logo with Michigans peninsulas serving as the bears eyes. The heads can be painted and attached to a fall-inspired scarecrow body.

Sold for $11 each, the bears are a fundraiser for the Bear Lake Promoters Holiday Helpers Project, which purchases Christmas gifts for local low-income children. The Bear Lake Promoters also organize the festival.
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI  One person has died after a head-on crash in Northern Michigan.

Michigan State Police in Traverse City say the crash occurred on M-37 between Hamlin Road near M-113 in Grand Traverse Countys Blair Township at approximately 12:35 p.m. on Tuesday.

Troopers say a vehicle driven southbound by a 65-year-old male from Kingsley attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him when he collided with a vehicle traveling northbound.

The 65-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The two occupants of the other vehicle were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

It is unknown if alcohol was a factor in the crash, police said.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office, Blair Township Fire Department, Kingsley Township Fire Department, Blair Township EMS and Paradise Township EMS.

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GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI  A father is accused of selling heroin and meth out of a Northern Michigan homeless shelter in front of his children, police said.

The man and his children were staying in a family suite at Goodwill Inn, an emergency homeless shelter, near Traverse City, Michigan State Police said in a news release. The children have been turned over to a family member and the father is in jail.

Around 3 p.m. Sunday, the Grand Traverse Central Dispatch Center received an anonymous tip that a 35-year-old man from Mancelona was using and selling drugs in the presence of his children at the shelter, police said.

Troopers from the MSP Traverse City Post launched an investigation and obtained a search warrant, police said. The children were present when the search warrant was executed.

During the search, troopers found the children were living in substandard conditions. Dried and fresh blood was found in several locations, police said. An uncapped needle and broken knife blade were found in the kitchen. An open cigarette carton containing trace quantities of heroin was found in the bathroom. In the master bedroom, there was an assortment of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including a small digital scale, three syringes, needle caps, a folding knife, Narcan and packaging materials, police said.

While searching in the bathroom, troopers noticed several recent notifications on the suspects phone from individuals seeking to purchase drugs, police said.

Following the search, a witness was interviewed and admitted they purchased drugs from the man two weeks earlier, police said.

There was an outstanding warrant for the mans arrest in Grand Traverse County related to a prior possession of methamphetamine charge, police said. There was another arrest warrant out of Big Rapids.

He was also on felony probation from a previous drug case, police said. A verbal detainer was placed on him after his probation officer was notified of the investigation.

The man is lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail pending arraignment on charges, which include possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver Suboxone, maintaining a drug house, and four counts child neglect/endangerment, police said.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI -- A 34-year-old man is being held without bond in the Oakland County Jail after he was charged with assault with the intent to murder in connection with a stabbing last month. Curtis Washington Jr. was arraigned in 47th District Court on the charge along with a charge of domestic violence second offense on Oct. 2, according to court records.

Washington was arrested by police at the Timberidge Apartments around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, according to WDIV-Detroit. Body cam footage from police allegedly shows Washington pushing on the victims chest after the man had already been stabbed. Police were able to get Washington off the man without using deadly force and then began working to save the victims life.

It is unclear what injuries the victim sustained in the stabbing.

The assault began when Washington allegedly broke into his ex-wifes apartment and found her new partner there. Washington is accused of stabbing the man four times in the chest and once in the back in the attack. Washingtons children -- whom he shares with his ex -- were in the room when the assault took place, according to police.

Sixteen days prior to the stabbing, Washington was charged with domestic violence and released on a $5,000 bond, according to court records. However, it is unclear if that case involves anyone who was also involved in the alleged stabbing.

Washington is due back in court on Oct. 27 for a pre-exam conference.
Police on Floridas east coast are investigating the death of a 69-year-old skydiver, whose body was found in the front yard of a home in Titusville, Fla., Saturday.

The man, identified Monday as Frederick C. Morello of Ormond Beach, was found dead, wearing skydiving attire and gear, about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Titusville Police Department.

CBS News reported a surveillance camera from a neighboring home caught the reflection from a parked SUV in which the skydiver was seen falling from the sky before landing on the lawn.

James Sconiers told local TV station WKMG it was his yard in which the man landed.

I was asking the person that was laying on the ground, Hey man can you hear me, can you hear me? But he did not answer, Sconiers told the television station.

Nicole Lacount also spoke with the TV station and said she went outside after hearing fire trucks and saw Morellos body on the ground.

I work in the medical field. Thats the worst Ive ever seen, she said.

WKMG contacted the nearby Skydive Space Center and asked if Morello came from their company. They declined comment.

Sconiers, who told WKMG he was a Vietnam veteran with airborne experience, said the incident raised what are thus far unanswered questions.

Look at the video and look at what happened. Why did he fall so hard if all the safety mechanism in place? Something tells me theres a problem there, he said.
FLINT, MI - Longway Planetarium will hold a free solar eclipse viewing event this weekend in Flint.

From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, telescopes will be made available in the lawn space between Longway Planetarium and the Flint Institute of Arts for guests to view the partial solar eclipse.

Guests will also be able to view the eclipse inside the lobby of Longway Planetarium by video.

Approximately 34% of the sun will be eclipsed by the moon at the peak of the event at 1:03 p.m., a news release said.

On October 14, the moon will begin its transit of the sun starting at 11:45 a.m. and ending at 2:23 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring at 1:03 p.m. If there are no clouds, local residents will be able to see a crescent-shaped shadow from the partially-eclipsed sun at the peak, Planetarium Manager Patrick Ross said in the news release. People in the Flint region should be able to see this partial eclipse from any location with a clear view of the Southern sky.

Ross also said special glasses should be worn to safely view the partial eclipse.

Eclipse viewing glasses are currently available, while supplies last, for $2 a pair at gift shops located inside Longway Planetarium and Sloan Museum of Discovery right across the street. Both venues located are on East Kearsley Street inside Flints Cultural Center campus.

For eclipse fans who want to create their own eclipse viewers, Sloan Museum of Discovery will also be offering free make-and-take workshops in the Discovery Lab makers space from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Admission to Sloan Museum of Discovery is free for Genesee County residents due to the Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage passed by voters in 2018.

After the eclipse, Longways Skies Over Michigan live astronomy show at 3 p.m. will intertwine eclipse facts for stargazers with other astronomy events visible in Michigans night sky.

If it is overcast or raining, the outside telescope viewing event will be canceled. Interested attendees should check Longway Planetariums website before coming. The 3 p.m. Skies Over Michigan planetarium show and eclipse viewer workshop in the Sloan Museum of Discoverys maker space will take place regardless of weather conditions.

Both the solar eclipse eye glasses and the make-and-take eclipse viewer can be used again on April 8, 2024, when a near-total eclipse will take place in Flint with 97% of the sun getting obscured by the moon.

At the peak of the April 2024 eclipse, residents will witness darkness at 3:03 p.m. Longway Planetarium and Sloan Museum of Discovery will be announcing plans to celebrate this rare event at a later date.

For more information on the events, go to Longway.org, email to Longway@SloanLongway.org, or call the Longway Planetarium at 810-237-3400.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The new managing director of the county Road Commission is set to earn more than $161,000 annually under the terms of a five-year contract approved by the county Board of Road Commissioners last month.

The contract, obtained by MLive-The Flint Journal through the Freedom of Information Act, shows Managing Director Randy Dellaposta will earn more than $77 an hour in his new position and receive other benefits provided to non-union salaried employees.

Dellaposta will also receive the use of a vehicle owned and insured by the Road Commission, which the contract says will be used for agency-related business only.

The pact also provides for 25 days of annual vacation and five personal days off in addition to paid holiday leaves on the same schedule as other agency directors.

Although the Road Commission agreed not to reduce Dellapostas salary -- unless the agency makes an across-the-board cut in pay for all executives -- it can decide to increase the salary at any time covered by the five-year deal.

Dellapostas ascension to the top position at the Road Commission came last month after a series of jarring stops and starts by the five-member Board of Road Commissioners.

The board voted to award the contract on Sept. 26 without considering other applicants for the job.

That vote came after the board had first agreed to hire Dellaposta to replace former Managing Director Fred Peivandi on Sept. 6, only to rescind the action two weeks later.

A Road Commission attorney advised commissioners that the vote to rescind the initial appointment violated their own bylaws, making the action null and void.

Although the Road Commission was divided on whether to appoint the managing director without a search, they praised Dellapostas past work with the agency in meetings last month.

I have nothing against the deputy managing director. I believe hes a good fit for the organization, but lets do what the protocol calls for ... Lets do it fair, Commissioner Joe Massey said during the debate over the procedure for replacing former Managing Director Fred Peivandi.

A Road Commission spokeswoman said on Monday, Oct. 9., that Dellaposta was not immediately available to speak on his appointment but in a statement to The Journal, he said he was humbled by the trust and confidence of the road commissioners showed for him.

I am eager to work alongside all GCRC employees to continue our mission of maintaining and improving our countys roads, bridges, and other infrastructure assets, Dellaposta said. The year ahead will bring with it some exciting changes and initiatives to improve our operations and serve our community even better.

This includes implementing sustainable and cost-effective maintenance practices, embracing technology and innovation, implementing sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in our projects and operations, investing in comprehensive training programs and safety measures, building strong relationships within our community, and fostering a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Dellaposta served in the Army before joining the Road Commission in November 2004 as a stock clerk, according to the county.

He rose through the ranks of the agency, working as a stock room supervisor, director of fleet maintenance and facilities, director of operations, and deputy managing director.

Peivandi retired from the Road Commission on Sept. 30, the end of the agencys fiscal year. He had been hired as managing director in 2018 and had recommended that Dellaposta replace him.

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Read more at The Flint Journal:

Genesee County Road Commission rescinds appointment, to conduct search for permanent director

Genesee Road Commission gives 5-year contract to new director, wont consider other candidates

I left on my own, departing Genesee County Road Commission chief says
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  The attorney for the embattled Ottawa County health department director is pushing back on claims of incompetence and misconduct levied against her client by the county boards ultraconservative leadership.

The defense of the health directors job comes less than two weeks before a scheduled termination hearing when county commissioners could decide to fire her.

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambleys attorney, Sarah Riley Howard, released 557 pages of emails between Hambley, county leadership and others in an effort to provide a fuller picture of the accusations against Hambley.

Howard argued that the communications Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss included in his public notice of a termination hearing for Hambley and accompanying reasons for why she should be fired were highly cherry-picked and incomplete.

As of publication, MLive/The Grand Rapids Press has not reviewed all of the emails released by Howard.

The removal hearing for Hambley is set for 8 a.m. Oct. 23 during a special meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners at the boards normal meeting room at 12220 Fillmore St. in West Olive. The hearing will be open to the public, and Moss said public comment will be allowed.

Related: Will Ottawa County fire its health department director? New date set for termination hearing

In Michigan, health officers arent at-will employees and require specific cause to be fired. They must be shown to be incompetent or engaging in misconduct or neglect of duty and be given a removal hearing.

Moss allegations of incompetence, misconduct and neglect of duty against Hambley stem primarily from the budget process in August and September in which the county administration, at Moss direction, demanded Hambley create a new budget with significant cuts.

Hambley publicly warned the cuts being asked of her department were so severe it would gut numerous programs and prompt the state to intervene. The county administration later walked back the severity of cuts.

Related: Ottawa County leaders backtrack on massive cuts to health department budget

Moss said Hambley meets the grounds for removal because, he alleges, she caused panic in the community, failed to cooperate in the budget process, lied about not being included in the budget process and made false representations about the budget.

One point by Moss is that when Hambley voiced concern internally about cuts reducing her departments general fund expenditures from her requested $6.68 million to the demanded $2.5 million, Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs relented and said she could produce a budget with more than that amount.

However, Moss said, Hambley ignored Gibbs request to produce a budget with a higher general fund expenditure than $2.5 million and instead continued to reiterate that it wasnt feasible to produce a budget at that funding level.

Howard called that claim disingenuous. According to the emails, Gibbs didnt give Hambley free reign but told her to proceed with producing a budget with a general fund contribution as close to the belowdirected level as possible.

No reasonable person would read Gibbs demand to mean Hambley was free to send something back that exceeded $2.5 million, and certainly the countys Fiscal Services personnel did not read it that way either, Howard stated.

Moss had claimed that the health department cuts to $2.5 million in general fund contributions was only an internal discussion and that Hambley used it to stoke fear and panic in the community.

 ... Ms. Hambley presented to the public the $2.5 million proposal as if it was the only amount being considered, Moss wrote in the termination hearing notice. She also failed to inform the public that she was requested to provide her own budgetary scenario that addressed all of her concerns while being as close to $2.5 million as possible.

Ms. Hambley then used this internal discussion to stoke fear and panic in the community. Again, at no point was $2.5 million ever formally proposed to the Finance Committee or the BOC  "

Related: Fear-mongering tactics: John Gibbs, Joe Moss blast criticism of health department budget cuts

Howard pushed back on Moss characterization that the reductions were only an internal discussion, citing an Aug. 22 press release from Moss that touted returning the department back to pre-COVID levels. In that release, Moss labelled the general fund reduction to $2.5 million as the solution discussed.

On Aug. 22, Hambley used the departments Facebook page to broadcast to the public that the proposed cuts would significantly impair, and likely eliminate, various public health services and the Health Departments ability to maintain public health and safety.

Howard said the states Public Health Code affords Hambley, like all other local health officers in the state, the ability to communicate directly to the public.

... There was nothing wrongful about Health Officer Hambley advising the public that deep cuts of this nature to public health programs were being considered, when those would directly affect the public health in the community, Howard said.

In fact, it would have been wrong if she went along with this plan and stayed silent about the consequences solely to appease Moss and Gibbs.

Howard also rebutted Moss claim that Hambley lied about being barred from active involvement in shaping her departments budget. At a certain point, Hambleys role was limited to responding to questions and getting updates about the budget from Fiscal Services, which was implementing Gibbs vision of the budget.

While its true that Hambley participated fully in the normal budget cycle process, she was, in fact, cut out of the rushed, haphazard, multiple-new-draft, version of the budget process directed by Moss and Gibbs starting around the beginning of August 2023, Howard said.

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EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The East Grand Rapids Board of Education has appointed a new member to fill the vacant seat of former trustee Janice Yates, who resigned last month.

Layla Kuhl was appointed to the open seat in a 5-1 vote by the school board during a special meeting Friday, Oct. 6. Kuhl is a licensed attorney, entrepreneur, and the mother of four kids in East Grand Rapids Public Schools. She has been involved in several parent-teacher organizations (PTOs) across the district.

Layla comes to the Board with extensive experience in the District including leadership roles in multiple parent organizations, EGR school board president Mike Reid said in a prepared statement from the district. Her knowledge of District operations, work in property development, and professional background as an attorney and a small business owner will allow Layla to hit the ground running as the Board addresses significant agenda items in the near future.

Kuhls term will run through Dec. 31, 2024. She will be able to run for election to the school board in the November 2024 election.

Yates submitted her resignation to the East Grand Rapids school board on Sept. 11. She said she was stepping down because she was moving out of the district, and her resignation became effective Sept. 22.

The district received nine applications from candidates interested in filling the vacant board seat, according to a news release from EGRPS.

The board held a special meeting on Oct. 4 and narrowed the field down to three finalists: Kuhl, Hilary Meulenberg and Ben Smith.

At the Oct. 6 meeting, the board held public interviews with the three finalists and selected Kuhl for the seat on a 5-1 vote. Trustee Kerry Hegele, appointed to the board in January, was the only no vote for Kuhls appointment. Hegele said she voted no because she preferred Smith as her first choice for the appointment.

We had an extremely well-qualified pool of candidates for the vacant trustee position, EGR Superintendent Heidi Kattula said in a statement. We appreciate the support of our community candidates and their willingness to serve on the Board of Education.

Kuhl received her undergraduate degree in biology and biopsychology from the University of Michigan, and she went to Michigan State University for law school. She currently owns a business called Clean Work that aims to clean peoples houses while providing a meaningful income to women, she told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.

Kuhl previously served on the Breton Downs Elementary School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and served as president of the EGR Middle School PTO. She was also the vice president and president of the PTO Council, which oversees all five PTOs across the district, and in that role she planned and hosted the EGR school board forum last fall.

Ive been involved in the district for 11 years, and it started off at a grassroots level of volunteering in the classroom and helping out with classroom parties and field trips, and I got more involved from there, Kuhl said.

She said she decided to apply for the open seat on the school board because she wanted to continue to serve students and parents across the district.

After hosting the forum last year, I became more interested in the school board and what it does, and it felt like a good next step to continue to support our community of learners and then also just be that connection between parents and the school district, Kuhl said.

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KENT COUNTY, MI  A mail carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS) was cited for an accident on Monday in Caledonia Township that seriously injured her and another driver.

The crash happened around 8 a.m. Oct. 9, at 84th Street SE and Copper Heights Drive SE. The USPS vehicle and a cement truck were both traveling eastbound when the postal worker made a U-turn in front of the cement truck, Kent County Sheriffs Sgt. Eric Brunner told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Related: 2 seriously injured after USPS vehicle, cement truck collide in Kent County

The USPS driver, a 37-year-old Gaines Township woman, is in stable condition at an area hospital following the crash. A 29-year-old Wyoming, who was driving a cement truck, was treated at a local hospital and released.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has set a new date for county health department directors termination hearing.

The removal hearing for Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley will now be held at 8 a.m. Oct. 23 during a special meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners at the boards normal meeting room at 12220 Fillmore St. in West Olive.
JACKSON, MI  Two candidates are running for the Ward 2 Jackson City Council seat in the Nov. 7 general election.

Incumbent Jackson City Councilman Feddie Dancy is up against challenger Peter Bormuth for the seat.

The winner of the election will receive an extra year in office due to a recent change in city elections that moves the election cycle to even years.

Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire for MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot, answering questions the voters may have coming into the election. Their complete responses to the questions are listed below. The responses were not edited.

Freddie DancyPhoto provided by Freddie Dancy

Freddie Dancy

What office are you seeking:

2nd Ward City Council Member

Age:

61

Family:

Anna, Freddie III, Brittany & Taylor (Ethan, Amillion & Larenzo) Grand Kids

Education:

BBL (Bachelors Business Leadership degree) Baker College

Military Service:

Retired US Army, (23 Years Service)

Occupation:

Self Employed, Co Owner, Dancys Fancy Butter

Previous Office:

2nd Ward Council Member, Elected 2015 & 2019

Relevant Community Experience:

Lily Mission Center Board of Directors, Disability Connections Board of Directors, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (past), City of Jackson Racial Equity Commission and The Salvation Army Advisory Board, Downtown Development Authority Board.

Why should voters elect you?

Character, integrity, and a commitment to community well-being are reasons voters should reelect me. In my time in office, I have reached across all aisles and interests, promoting unity and cooperation.

Im always open to new ideas but not afraid to stand my ground on issues that align with my core values, which include a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging.

I appreciate receiving calls and hosting meetings for the public. My willingness to engage with constituents and listen to their concerns makes them a responsive and responsible representative.

I dont just confine myself to city hall but actively engage with residents of Ward 2 and the broader community, building strong relationships and earning the trust of those in and outside City Hall.

I have a track record of putting important initiatives in motion and seeing them through to completion. Im proud of projects like the new playground in Loomis Park and the successful passage of the Non-Discrimination Ordinance (NDO). My dedication to equity comes with involvement with the Citys Racial Equity Commission and advocacy for the Citys Chief Equity Officer position.

I am committed to ongoing progress from the renovation of the Boos Center to improving infrastructure and facilities in Ward 2.

East Side investment and development is my current focus: I want to see real long-term wellbeing and growth in Ward 2. I am committed to building a more inclusive and vibrant community for all residents.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities?

My first priority will be in continued development of Ward 2. There remains a lot of potential for growth and opportunity in the area. Neighborhood revitalization and economic development is essential for the growth of the East Side Ward 2.

Ward 2 is an important opportunity zone for Jackson. The East Sides housing options for professionals can be a significant asset. I will continue to encourage the establishment of small businesses, such as eateries and sandwich shops, to support local entrepreneurship.

Secondly, infrastructure is a fundamental aspect of a thriving community. My charge is in making the most of the existing resources to improve infrastructure, including working closely with the Department of Public Works, in essential areas like roads, sidewalks, tree canopy and lighting. These efforts are crucial for the safety and well-being of our residents.

Priority #3 is all about my strong emphasis on community engagement and inclusivity. I am determined to reach out to all residents, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their concerns are addressed.

Outreach is essential for initiatives to get off the ground. My outreach efforts help not only those in Ward 2 but the whole City to visualize the potential of the East Side.

I am dedicated to exploring new opportunities and building upon existing relationships with those in the city.

Peter BormuthPhoto provided by Peter Bormuth

Peter Bormuth

What office are you seeking:

2nd Ward City Council Member

Age:

68

Family:

Both my parents have passed away. I raised 3 boys, now adult males living in California

Education:

Bachelor of General Studies (degree) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1980)

Military Service:

None

Occupation:

Retired

Previous Office:

None

Relevant Community Experience:

I have consistently fought for a clean environment for our people and fought to protect the traditional separation of church and state in the U.S.

Why should voters elect you?

I am running because Freddie Dancy, our current Councilperson, has done absolutely nothing for the 8 years he has been in office. Not a single property on the Eastside has been developed during Freddies tenure. Freddie opposed all marijuana development, so all those businesses went to Leoni. Freddie would like marijuana made illegal again because of his personal religious beliefs. Freddie voted to give taxpayer money to churches. Freddie voted to let Consumers leave the City water system. Freddie voted for every City water rate increase. Freddie voted for every street assessment. Freddie voted for every demolition, and it was the destruction of 1500 homes which caused the current affordable housing and homeless issues. And after voting to cause the problem, Freddie is now chairman of the City homeless commission. People should vote for me because the person who caused our problems is not the right person to solve them. We need new energy and new ideas on City Council. We need an advocate for the people of the Eastside and the City as a whole, and if elected, i will provide that voice.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities?

My top priority will be to fix our streets while reducing assessments on our homeowners.

My second priority will be reducing water rates. I am currently suing EGLE and Consumers Energy over the permit Consumers was given to take 5 million gallons of water a day from our underground aquafer. Consumers doesnt pay for that water. They get it for free. If i win, Consumers would be forced to return to the City water system and that would allow the City to lower current rates and to forgo planned future increases in water rates. Solarizing the City Water and Wastewater plants would also help to reduce costs, since those infrastructures use massive amounts of energy. And as every homeowner or tenant whose utilities are not included knows, Consumers Energy keeps raising rates.

My third priority is Eastside development. I would like to see all the vacant buildings on East Michigan Ave, Page Ave, and Cooper St. filled with new businesses and new jobs for the people.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- Bob Sayles is looking to start the next chapter in his life after more than a decade overseeing the finances of Northwest Community Schools.

Sayles, 53, has stepped down as the Northwest School Board treasurer as of Monday, Oct. 9.
MUSKEGON, MI - A new exciting networking event featuring fall culinary delights is coming to downtown Muskegon this month.

Harvest Fest, an inaugural event organized by the Rotary Club of Muskegon, kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 26, at Baker Colleges Culinary Institute of Michigan, 336 W. Clay Ave.

Organizers say the Harvest Fest is an opportunity for the Muskegon community to celebrate the fall season, support local programs funded by the Muskegon Rotary Foundation and enjoy an evening of culinary delights.

The new fundraising event will run from 5-9 p.m. and will feature live music from Johnny Breeze, a cash bar, a 50/50 raffle, unlimited trips to food stations offered by culinary students, silent auction items, and a Harvest Fest glass.

Carla Flanders, CEO of CMF Marketing and Events, said the Rotary Club launched a similar event in Muskegon County before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rotary Club wanted to continue that tradition but just freshen it up and do something different, so they came up with the Harvest Fest, Flanders told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. Fall in Michigan is beautiful and what better way to celebrate it than through great food, music and doing good for the community.

She said they anticipate about $10,000 will be raised for Read Muskegon, with additional funding for Muskegon Rotary Foundation programs and the Culinary Institute of Michigan Scholarship Fund.

Read Muskegon works to break the generational cycle of illiteracy by providing customized programs and building community partnerships to maximize our impact.

Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased here.

The event also gives students enrolled at Baker Colleges Culinary Institute of Michigan a chance at a real-world experience by preparing the food, which organizers say is an important aspect of the event.

There will be various fall-themed dishes offered by the students, including a fig gorgonzola crostini with an apple honey glaze, a cream of butternut squash soup with wildflower honey and peppered walnuts, a cheese display, and much more.

About 400 people are anticipated to attend, Flanders said. If its a success, the event could expand to both an indoor and outdoor fest in the future.

Its something different  you dont just go to a restaurant and try all these different types of things in one setting but you will be able to at the Harvest Fest, she said.

She said that she hopes attendees take away from the event that the Muskegon Rotary is a service club that gives back to the community and helps support nonprofits in a meaningful way.

Past programs supported by the Rotary Club include the annual Seaway Run and Day of Caring.

The Rotary Club of Muskegon, founded in 1916, has nearly 250 members. The Club, through its Muskegon Rotary Foundation, raises funds for both community improvement projects and Rotary International programs around the world.

Want more Muskegon area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter.

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BAY CITY, MI  A Detroit man who tried stealing a diamond ring from a popular downtown Bay City jeweler, only to be tackled by employees, has received a probationary sentence.

Antoine R. Rackard-Hester Jr., 21, on Monday, Oct. 9, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Jessie Scott Wood for sentencing. In August, he pleaded no contest to one count of larceny from a person.

Though the charge is a 10-year felony, Wood sentenced Rackard-Hester to two years of probation. She gave him credit for 155 days served in the Bay County Jail.

While on probation, Rackard-Hester is to submit to drug and alcohol testing.

According to police reports, police about 12:30 p.m. on March 27 responded to a robbery in progress at Herman Hiss & Company, 905 Washington Ave. The caller said the would-be robber was being held down on the ground by a male employee.

Officers arrived and arrested Rackard-Hester. Meanwhile, officers pursued a tan 2013 Ford Taurus with a temporary paper license plate witnesses said contained two female accomplices. Police eventually lost track of the Taurus and ended their pursuit.

Herman Hiss manager told officers she was suspicious when Rackard-Hester and a woman entered the store, as they were both wearing masks. She directed her employees to go to the front of the business to deter potential theft, she said.

After Rackard-Hester and the woman were in the store for about 15 minutes, Rackard-Hester tried stealing a diamond ring, she said. A 35-year-old male employee reacted by tackling Rackard-Hester and holding him until officers arrived, she said.

The employee in question, a sales associate, told police Rackard-Hester and the woman were looking for LEO diamonds, which he said are an expensive brand Herman Hiss does not carry. Rackard-Hester told the man he was shopping for an engagement ring, describing the woman accompanying him as his sister, the employee told police.

It was very suspicious, but we walked over to the diamond rings, he said. I only pointed to the rings in the case at first because that is our protocol. Antoine began asking for 3- or 4-carat diamond rings, but we do not pull those out of the case.

Rackard-Hester then said money was no object and that he was looking to spend $15,000 to $20,000, the employee told police.

They made the comment that money aint no thing and basically took offense to me for not pulling rings out of the case, he said.

The sales associate eventually pulled out a solitaire diamond ring, which Rackard-Hester showed to the woman. The employee sized the ring on her finger, he said.

Rackard-Hester and the woman then conversed for several minutes, with Rackard-Hester asking her, Do you think she would like this one?

At that point, the woman ran from the store. Rackard-Hester was still holding the ring and also started to leave.

I naturally just reached over and grabbed Antoine by the shoulder with my right hand, the employee told police. Antoine continued to pull away from me and run out of the store with the diamond ring in his right hand.

The employee was able to get around the glass counter and put Rackard-Hester in a bear hug, he said. The employee said he twisted his right ankle in the scuffle but did not need medical attention.

Another employee said Rackard-Hester had his arm in the doorway as he fled. She repeatedly shut the door on his arm, causing him to drop the ring.

Rackard-Hester had $145 in cash on him but no weapons. Read Miranda rights, he declined to speak with police.

About 7:48 p.m. the same day, a woman called Bay County Central Dispatch claiming she had seen media reports of the incident and wanted to turn herself in. On speaking with an officer, the woman gave two different names for herself, police reports state.

The woman told the officer media reports were inaccurate and she wanted to clear her name.

I already know Im gonna get arrested, she said. Yall are gonna have to come get me cause Im not coming back up to Bay City. I just wanted to let yall know. I dont have anything to say to the detectives. Id rather yall come get me, charge me, and well go from there.
SAGINAW, MI  Over the summer, a 15-year-old boy was found shot to death in the basement of an abandoned Saginaw house. In his mothers eyes, the teen was killed by people he thought were his friends, all for street clout.

I know exactly who killed my son, said Amanda Walker, mother of Cortez Hampton Jr.

Though no arrests have been made and Walker remains mired in grief, she is optimistic that will soon change. Police, though, say they are still in need of witnesses to come forward.

Cortez Hampton was born in Iowa in 2007, shortly after which his mother returned to her hometown of Bay City. In 2020, with the cost of rent being too high in Bay City, Walker and her children moved to Saginaw.

On moving to Saginaw, Hampton began running with the wrong crowd and his schoolwork suffered. She attributed this to her sons deep desire to feel like he was included, a part of something.

He was a straight A honor student two years ago, Walker said. We moved to Saginaw, and that was the worst thing I could have done.

Hampton was the youngest in his group of friends and was treated by them as a flunky, Walker said. He ended up facing juvenile charges for stealing vehicles and spent time in a juvenile detention facility, she said.

An abandoned house at 2004 S. Jefferson Ave. in Saginaw, where the body of 15-year-old Cortez Hampton was found the morning of July 7, 2023.

My son wasnt an angel, Walker said. He was trying to do everything and anything he could to please those boys so he could fit in somewhere. He just wanted to fit in and be a part of something. When he realized what it really was, it was too late.

Hampton began turning things around on getting released from custody. He was to enter 11th grade at Bay City Academy this fall.

One thing he did not correct, though, was his choice of who he hung around with.

I told him, I see everything youre changing and the one thing youre not changing is them, Walker said. He told me I didnt understand.

The night of July 5, Hampton and a male friend spent the night at his mothers Harrison Street house. The following afternoon, Hampton asked his mother if he could attend a house party.

I told him I didnt care because he was doing good, Walker said through her tears. I wanted him to know that I had seen that. I gave my son a hug and told him goodbye.

Walker and her other children left to run errands. Between 5 and 5:30 p.m., Walkers Ring camera captured Hampton and his friend leaving the house and getting picked up in a vehicle containing two other males, she said.

The morning of July 7, some neighborhood preteens looked through an exposed rear doorway of an abandoned house at 2004 S. Jefferson Ave. and saw Hampton lying on the basement floor. They told an adult, who called 911.

Police arrived at the house about 9:40 a.m. and found Hampton deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. No firearms were recovered at the scene.

Walker believes the teens who picked up her son took him to the abandoned house and killed him, having planned to do so beforehand.

He thought they were his friends, and they shot my baby in his face, she said. I guess I was just naive to that kind of world.

Saginaw Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Gerow said investigators dont have the evidence to conclude those who picked up Hampton killed him.

We havent had any viable witnesses come forward, Gerow said. Its still an open investigation and if anyone has any firsthand knowledge of the incident that could help us, please come forward.

He added its believed Hampton was shot and killed in the basement on Jefferson Avenue, rather than being killed elsewhere and moved there.

Walker described her son as an exceptionally funny and intelligent teen, who had a passion for writing songs, poems, and stories.

He had a heart of gold, she said. He would help anybody and he was so forgiving. He knew people made mistakes and always gave them second chances. He always tried to see the brighter side of things and to make everyone see the good in everything.

In addition to his mother and father, Hampton was survived by seven siblings and three half-siblings.

Walker is hopeful her sons killers will soon be arrested and charged. She is urging anyone with information on his death to call Saginaw Police Detective Katie Mercer at 989-759-1628.

Hamptons death was the citys ninth homicide of the year. As of Oct. 10, the city has recorded 13 homicides.

Of the 13 victims, seven were 21 or younger.

Saginaw recorded 19 homicides in both 2022 and 2021, only four of the total 38 not involving gunfire.
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

None of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of an Atlanta environmental protester will be charged in connection with their death, a Georgia District Attorneys Office determined last week.

The officers  Georgia State Police Troopers Mark Lamb, Jonathan Salcedo, Bryland Myers, Renaldo Regal, Royce Zah and Jerry Parrish  were publicly identified for the first time in a 31-page report authored by Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George R. Christian.

In the report, Christian determined that the officers all acted reasonably and without criminal intent. Therefore, no charges would be brought against them in connection with the January death of 26-year-old Manuel Esteban Paez Teran or Tortuguita.

The incident happened during a sweep of the grounds surrounding the new The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, or Cop City, as it was being constructed.

At the time of the sweep, some activists had been camped out in the South River Forest demonstrating against the site, citing environmental concerns involved with razing 85 acres of wooded area for the facility, estimated to cost $90 million.

At that point, Trooper Myers fired pepper balls into the tent after warning Paez Teran that force would be used against them, according to the report. Paez Teran then allegedly returned fire from a 9 mm pistol legally purchased in 2020, prompting officers to fire their guns into the tent. Parrish sustained a gunshot wound near his spine from the incident, the report notes.

Later, the troopers noticed white smoke coming from the tent, which they believed to have been from an improvised explosive device (IED) deployed by Paez Teran. After a ceasefire was ordered, Parrish was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. The gun allegedly used by Paez Teran was taken by law enforcement officials.

Kamau Franklin, an activist demonstrating against the new public safety training center called the report lies.

They created a Rambo figure to justify this killing, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. They got Teran shooting and throwing IEDs at police in a cloth tent, which is impossible to reconcile with the autopsy, he said, pointing out how a state autopsy report found Paez Teran had been shot 57 times.

Another independent report produced by the activists family concluded that they were sitting with their legs crossed and hands up when they were shot.

In a press release responding to Christians decision, Brian Spears, an attorney representing Paez Terans family said, This report is a rubber stamp of the GBIs version of events without any critical analysis.

Spears criticized the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) decision to decline open records requests pertaining to the case as a criminal investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, potentially denying Paez Terans family access to critical information surrounding their death for years.

If there is nothing to hide, then show us the evidence, Jeff Filipovits, another attorney representing the family said, adding that they were under the impression that once the District Attorneys report was complete the GBI would release underlying evidence connected to the case.

Now, the District Attorney has stated that his office will not produce the underlying evidence. The District Attorneys report is based on photographs, audio witness interviews, crime scene drawings and reports, forensic lab reports, and body camera audio and videonone of which have been provided to the family, the statement continued.

Paez Terans mother, Belkis Teran, publicly pleaded for the GBI to release the information to them.

We have waited eight months for the truth, she said. We are in pain. We want to hear the interviews. We want our experts to review the lab tests. We want our questions answered. This report does not answer our questions.

How long must we wait?
10.10.2023 LISTEN

Mr. Joseph Aloba, Mohbad's father, has apologized for not believing his son when he complained about musician Naira Marley's alleged wickedness towards him.

The father of Mohbad his son and Mohbad were torn apart.

He wept that he ought to have acted when he saw the warning signs.

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Mr. Aloba expressed regret for quickly burying his son.

He said that he did so even though he was not a Muslim since the mortuary did not have space to keep his son's body.

My son died at about 3pm, nobody called me. By the time I got to his house, it was 10pm and I saw a lot of crowds. We were denied a police report at the station, we tried to take him to the mortuary but there was no space, I couldnt be watching him in the house.

I had to bury him. Nigerians should forgive me if I offended them. Nobody loves him like me. I have never seen Samlarry before in my life. The first day I went to Naira Marleys house, Mohbad was eating and Naira picked a spoon and was eating with him, Joseph Aloba stated.

In the interview conducted in Yoruba, he continued This really touched me that he loved him so much but my son told me Naira was evil. When I went to Nairas room to beg him to forgive my son whatever he might have done, I didnt know he was recording me".

He added that the first time Samlarry ever beat him, he told me not to say anything, he reported at the police station but nothing was done. Since then he had always been living with fear. He was beaten again during his video shoot with Zlatan. I need justice for him.

"As a Pastor, I cant fight this traditionally because of my religion. If they want to do the DNA test, let them do it.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has strongly supported a call by the African Development Bank Group urging countries in Africa to stop borrowing loans backed by their natural resources.

The IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met Thursday with the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, in Abidjan, Cote DIvoire. It is the first time an IMF head has visited the Bank headquarters since its establishment in 1964.

Welcoming Georgieva, Adesina said, the natural resource-backed loans are non-transparent, expensive and make debt resolution difficult. He warned that if the trend continues, it will be a disaster for Africa.

Georgieva said the Funds senior management team will carry out a thorough assessment. We will come with a strong voice to tell countries not to create avenues for predatory and enslaving loans.

She said the issue would also be discussed at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable comprised of bilateral creditors, private creditors and borrowing countries. The roundtable is co-chaired by the IMF, World Bank and the presidency of the G20. The African Union joined the G20 in September as a permanent member.

Georgieva is on her way to Marrakech, Morocco, for the World Bank Group and IMF Annual meetings which were last held in Africa 50 years ago.

The IMF chief said she is visiting Africa at a time when the continent holds much promise for more dynamic growth in the world.

We often focus on the challenges that the continent is facing because it is here the impact of climate change is much more severe, where macro-economic and financial instability and debt are amplified.

But we want to focus on opportunities in Africa for the simple fact that the capital is in the North and a young population is in the South, primarily here in Africa. Unless we build a bridge for capital to flow to where it is needed most, it could lead to a bigger problem," she stressed.

Adesina praised bold efforts by the IMF chief and the US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, to shore up the global economy by allocating $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).

Africa, with a population of more than 1.2 billion, received about $33 billion of SDRs, representing only 5 percent of the total allocation, the smallest portion among the different regions of the world.

The African Development Bank continues to lead conversations and develop models that will allow SDRs to be rechanneled through multilateral development banks. MDBs can leverage such resources three to four times their original values. Adesina thanked the IMF for working with the African Development Banks team on an initiative that could allow SDRs to be channeled through MDBs.

Together with the Inter-American Development Bank we developed a model that meets the IMFs reserve asset status. If you channel $5 billion through the Bank, we will use our leveraging power and that could easily become $20 billion of new financing for Africa, said Adesina.

The Bank chief said the initiative would provide much-needed support to countries in Africa where post-pandemic debt remains a big challenge. Its more serious for low-income countries who constitute the Banks concessional lending window, the African Development Fund. They are also the most vulnerable in the world to climate change.

Georgieva, who has publicly supported the Banks initiative on SDRs, said the two institutions will continue to work together to find ways for SDRs to be deployed as hybrid capital.

Im on record supporting the Banks effort and if this succeeds, there will be a significant expansion of financial capacity for countries even beyond our years in office, she said.

The African Development Bank Groups SDR proposal is supported by African leaders as well as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The IMF chief also commended the Banks initiative, in conjunction with the African Union, to establish an African Financial Safety Mechanism to cushion the continent against exogenous shocks such as the impact of Covid-19.

According to Adesina, Africa is the only region in the world that does not have a safety net against shocks. Europe has it. Asia has it. America has it. The Middle East has it.

The African Union endorsed the African Development Bank Groups proposal for the mechanism during its summit in February 2022.
09.10.2023 LISTEN

The Ningo-Prampram Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Sam George, has criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, calling him a leader who lacks practical solutions to the country's woes.

According to Sam George, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is to be blamed for the mismanagement of the country.

Speaking in an interview with TV3, he suggested that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) bring all relevant parties on board to share ideas and experiences.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is the only alternative, according to the Ningo-Prampram MP, to get Ghana out of its economic problems.

Individuals like Bawumia don't grasp that our economy isn't solely textbook-based; all they do is chew and pour. Bawumia is a chew-and-pour economist.

When you're going in circles, you might think you're making progress, but ultimately, you come back to the same point, Sam George stated.

Sam George asserted that the current administration has derailed efforts and gains made by President John Dramani Mahama.
The Peoples National Convention (PNC) has released a statement to condemn the attack on United Television (UTV) by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) thugs.

In its statement, PNC described the attack that occurred over the weekend as barbaric, insisting that it must not be entertained as it will obstruct the publics right to be informed.

Attacks on the media not only undermine democracy but also hinder the publics right to be informed about matters of national interest, the PNC statement signed by First Vice Chairperson Hajia Hajara Ali Musah said.

In an appeal to the government, the PNC has called on security agencies to take necessary steps to protect journalists and media houses in the country to ensure they are able to work without fear of being attacked.

We call upon the relevant authorities to fast track its investigation into this incident, identify those behind the perpetrators, and bring them to justice.

It is imperative that steps are taken to ensure the safety of journalists and media personnel, as well as the protection of media outlets, enabling them to carry out their duties without fear of intimidation or violence, the PNC statement issued on Monday read in parts.

It continued, As a political party, we reiterate our commitment to promoting and safeguarding press freedom in our nation.

We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the rights of journalists, advocate for a free and independent media, and raise public awareness about the importance of a vibrant and uninhibited press.

Together, we can ensure that journalists can exercise their rights without interference, ensuring a well-informed and empowered citizenry.

Since the incident, the ruling New Patriotic Party has distanced itself from the actions of the hooligans, stressing that the party did not sanction the attack.

For the NDC, the hooligans must be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other groups.
In a surprising turn of events, hundreds of delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Assin Central Constituency in the Central Region have declared their unwavering support for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the partys flagbearer in the upcoming National Delegates Conference.

This massive endorsement comes amidst threatening remarks from prominent NPP member and MP for the area, Ken Agyapong, who vowed to cause chaos and disrupt the region if Bawumia emerges victorious.

The delegates, comprised of polling station chairmen and other party executives, cited Dr Bawumias impeccable track record and influential role in the successes of the Akufo-Addo-led administration as their reason behind their endorsement.

They firmly believe that his leadership qualities will lead the party to victory in the 2024 General Elections.

Moreover, the delegates expressed optimism in Dr Bawumias promise to make substantial appointments from each constituency, a pledge that would directly benefit party members and executives like themselves.

Raphael Acquah, Chairman of Wurakese DA Polling station, stated, Among the four aspirants for the flagbearer position, the one I think is best fit to win power for the NPP in 2024 is Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. This is because if we look at the major achievements of the Akufo-Addo administration, they have become possible because of the support he has enjoyed from Dr Bawumia as his viceThat is why my people and I have met here and have thrown our support fully behind Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. We are confident that when he wins the primaries, he will definitely win the presidential election in 2024 for the NPP.

However, the partys unity has been threatened following Ken Agyapongs controversial statements, where he issued direct warnings to NPP Regional Chairman, Robert Kutin and Central Regional executives. Agyapong pledged to cause unrest and mayhem if Bawumia emerged as the winner in the upcoming elections.

The vice president beat Mr Agyepong to second position during the super delegates conference compelling him to issue the threat to avoid embarrassment for the second time.

Political observers and community leaders in the Central Region have strongly condemned Agyapongs remarks, labeling them as highly inappropriate and a violation of democratic principles.

There are concerns that such rhetoric could potentially incite violence or unrest within the region, undermining the integrity of the electoral process.

Calls for action against Agyapong have been voiced, urging local authorities and political parties to address his provocative statements to ensure peace and stability in the Central Region.

As the election season approaches, it is crucial for political leaders to engage in responsible campaigning and reject the use of inflammatory language that could hinder Ghanas democratic progress.

The upcoming National Delegates Conference on November 4, 2023, will undoubtedly be a decisive moment for the NPP as it determines the future direction of the party.

The eyes of the nation are now on the leaders and authorities as they navigate this challenging situation with the utmost care and ensure a fair and peaceful electoral process.

-DGN online
10.10.2023 LISTEN

In December, 2016, after the declaration of the presidential result in favour of the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, H.E. John Dramani Mahama made an emotional and prophetic speech, part of which read, I will leave it to history to be the judge of my time and contributions while in that highest office."

When he made that solemn statement, many thought that perhaps posterity was going to judge him many years after he is dead and gone, but interestingly, the judgement has come unexpectedly quick.

Few years down memory lane, there has been a deluge of apologies and confessions from hash critics of President Mahama about how wonderful a person he is. Below is a few of them:

"I was censorious of President John Mahama, but for the first time, I joined the crowd to welcome him during one of his tours. I apologized to him because events in the last few years shows that he is a better leader."-- Abukari Yakubu

The way he has handled me and how I have spoken harshly to John Mahama, I think, I have not been fair to him. He is such a wonderful man. I apologize; I am a human being. I think if I recount my relationship with him, all that I want to say is that I am sorry-- Kennedy Agyapong, Assin Central MP.

"Happy birthday JM, I feel ashamed that we campaigned to remove you from power . . ."-- Kwame A Plus

"President Mahama, I was among the people who constantly insulted you and your government on Radio, social media and other public platforms. I shared stories of fake corruption allegations against you and your government on my timeline, sent text messages to television and radio stations and crucified you everywhere I get the opportunity. Little did I know that compared to what we see today under my government, your appointees were pickpockets. Under the watch of the man I once described as incorruptible."-- Ernest Danso.

"I apologise to former president Mahama based on what Im seeing. When you compare what happened during the time of Mahama and the hardships we are seeing today coupled with the fact that I have not held a one-man demonstration, as I was doing when he was president, I have to apologise to him."-- Divine Nkrumah, the National Youth Coordinator of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP).

"I rendered an unqualified apology to the former President, John Dramani Mahama for making a fake story about him that he owns hotels and mansions in Dubai."-- Captain Smart.

Undeniably, there are many inspiring and good leaders who history remember for their good deeds and their determination towards achieving their goals many years after they have left this world, but the remembrance of H.E. John Dramani Mahama has come too fast. Too soon.
Governor Addison describes me, a university professor, the kayayee who he continues to inflict pain and poverty on, and the people's representatives, the MPs as hooligans, and our actions as unnecessary. Dr. Addison even says we are uncivilized and do not know the appropriate channels to deliver our grievances. I can't believe he uttered these reprehensible comments against the taxpayers who feed him and his family. I couldn't believe my eyes as I struggled through the article on Ghanaweb news. I would have understood it if these provocative and uninformed remarks were made by some leaders of the NPP such as Chairman Wontumi or Hon Ken Agyapong who have made a name for themselves for such careless talk. Even if it were Hon Joe Wise, the 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, it would still have been understandable and tolerable. He called the 8 persons in Techiman South who were shot dead by NPP tugs during the 2020 election armed robbers. Dr.Addison typifies the public servant in Ghana. In which non-banana democracy will the governor of a central bank behave in the manner he did and still remain governor?

Even though Governor Addison was well aware that the people's representatives were coming to present a petition to him, he did not only refuse to receive the petition, he actually left the office long before we got there or did not come at all. As if that was not enough, he calls us hooligans, uncivilized, and persons who do not know the channel to table our

grievances. That is the public servant for you. In 2015, the current Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori Atta took petitions to the seat of government and he was well received. Now, we can't even go close to the BOG because it is supposedly a security zone. Where in our statutory books is it listed as such?

Dr. Addison says it with impunity that he won't resign because the appointing authority to whom we entrusted the mandate wouldn't sack him. He could not even sack Hon Adwoa Sarfo who abdicated her position not only as an MP but also as the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection for about a year. The biggest culprit, Hon. Ken Ofori Atta has remained in office after messing up the economy and taking us to IMF without consultation. Former President, JDM and his finance Minister, Hon. Seth Terkpeh consulted extensively with Ghanaians before accepting the IMF loan. Hon. Ofori Atta on the other hand, had sworn heaven and earth NEVER to go to the IMF. The only appointees who get sacked or reshuffled are the tough-talking and frank appointees from certain ethnic backgrounds such as Hon Abubakar Boniface Saddique and Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid both of the infamous Zongo Ministries and Hon. Otiko Djaba. Alleged criminals such Hon. Cecilia Dapaah and the former Minister of State, Hon. Charles Adu Boahen, were compelled to resign. So, why will a poor performing Governor not insult MPs and the people of Ghana in the manner he did? After all, the President's cousin, Hon. Ken Ofori Atta will protect him. Indeed, Hon. Ofori Atta actually issued a statement supporting Dr. Addison for collapsing our banks and dissipating our resources at the BOG.

I am very shocked that Dr. Addison will describe us as hooligans and the demonstration as unnecessary. He ignorantly explains that we could have used alternative channels. First, is he oblivious of the Constitutional provision which grants citizens the right to demonstrate? Second, why should Dr. Addison be the person to decide which channel was appropriate for us to express our disgust at his handling of the BOG? So, the MPs who make the laws and leaders of the several groups that organised the demo did not know the best means to register our displeasure as we did? Dr. Addison does not appreciate the position that he is in, neither does he appreciate the magnitude of the problem he has inflicted on Ghanaians. These are the characters that continue to help discredit the Nana Addo government and distance even NPP members from the party.

What's most provocative is Governor Addison's justification for the huge debt he created. He claims that the government going to the IMF was the cause of the debt as if we messed the economy up with them and agreed with them to go to the IMF. The decision to go to the IMF was a decision of the NPP government; its economic management team, the Finance Ministry, and the BOG. The debt structuring which he blames for the gargantuan debt was part of the IMF deal. You can't use your mess to justify another mess.

Then, with regards to the new BOG offices, he explained that the decision was made in 2019 when the bank made profit. How can the manager of the country's central bank make such an unsustainable justification? You took that decision in 2019 because you had money, then 5 years later your bank is broke, your country can't pay its debts, its old persons are dying because the country can't pay them their pension and investments, most youths are out of job, then you still have the guts to spend $250m on a building. Already the BOG has two separate offices in Accra alone. How can you be that insensitive and insulting as to justify such an expenditure in such unimaginable financial crises never witnessed in our country?

The NPP as a party in government must rethink the actions of its appointees and

other public servants in its government. The government is becoming increasingly discredited and unpopular because of the actions of public servants like Dr Addison. What would Governor Addison have lost if he or even one of his deputies had received the petition, addressed the demonstrators diplomatically but still did not resign? After all, getting him to resign is only a part of the reasons for the demonstration. It was not the only reason. The level of arrogance of President Akufo Addo and his appointees is unparalleled in our public service history.

But, you see, for describing law abiding demonstrators as uncivilised and hooligans, he has actually multiplied our gains more than we had expected. Public opinion about the demonstration and its organisers has quadrupled while the rating for his government plummeted because of his unnecessary and provocative comments.

Thank you Dr. Addison, for supporting the demonstration. You just did us good.

BY Prof. Avea E. Nsoh

University of Education, Winneba (UEW).
COP Alex George Mensah (rtd), one of the key witnesses in the alleged plot to oust the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has expressed optimism about being vindicated when the parliamentary committee concludes its work.

COP retired Alex George Mensah during his recent appearance before the committee indicated that the IGP lacks the capacity to lead the Ghana Police Service.

The leaked tape, which has been widely shared on social media and other platforms, reportedly contains conversations among the three senior police officers discussing plans and strategies related to the potential removal of the current IGP with the former Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bugri Naabu.

Speaking to TV3 News ahead of the resumption of the committee sitting today, October 10, 2023, COP retired Alex George Mensah, expressed hope that the truth will come out soon.

I will be vindicated, I know what happened. Some things on the tape are lies, what I said, I said the truth and I will say it again anywhere, but Im not ready to discuss it here as I said, because its before a committee. And I hope, we will wait until the committee comes out with their report, then everybody will know the truth, COP retired Alex George Mensah said.

The Police Service on September 7, took decisive action by interdicting COP retired Alex Mensah, and other two high-ranking officers, Superintendent George Asare, and Superintendent Emmanuel Eric Gyebi.

In a twist of events, the Ghana Police Service suspended the interdiction of the three senior officers.

The police, in a statement dated September 7, indicated that the decision to suspend the interdiction of the three police officers was to ensure it does not affect the ongoing probe by Parliament.

 Citi Newsroom
Ministry of Health (MOH) has debunked some media reports that suggest that antiretroviral drugs donated to the Ministry have been abandoned at the ports since July due to the government's failure to waive taxes.

In a press release issued on Monday in Accra, MOH stated that the headlines are misleading and do not accurately reflect the truth.

The statement said, Over the years, the Ghana Supply Commission has effectively managed the clearance of antiretroviral drugs and other medical items at the ports on behalf of the ministry. In the past, the necessary waivers for the clearance of this batch were done on time but the volumes in this batch have been high requiring extra resources.

It said measures are being taken to secure the needed extra funds to ensure clearance by Friday, October 13, 2023.

According to the Ministry, 4% of HIV/AIDS patients in Ghana currently rely on these specific medications and drugs for the remaining 96% are well-supplied.

Even for this 4% there are viable alternative medications available in public health facilities, it stated.

The Ministry requested the public to disregard these erroneous and misleading headlines since it remains committed to safeguarding the health of all citizens and ensuring the availability of essential healthcare resources.
Government and International Fertilizer Development Centre have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continuously work together to boost productivity of farmers and increase income.

The agreement covers areas including strengthening the fertilizer value chain, soil health and fertility management, capacity building, and climate change risk mitigation.

Under the agreement, the government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has committed to facilitating the implementation of IFDCs activities by creating a framework conducive to collaboration that will align national fertilizer quality control regulations and the fertilizer subsidy mechanism with harmonized sub-regional guidelines.

Dr. Oumou Camara, IFDC Vice President, Programmes signed on behalf of IFDC while Mr Robert Patrick Ankobiah, Chief Director of MoFA penned the agreement for his organization at a brief ceremony in Accra.

Mr Ankobiah said MoFA would make agricultural information and data available to IFDC and would participate in analysis and production of technical reports and scientific articles.

The Ministry, he said, would share with IFDC its priorities and needs at the national level for consideration in the development of new projects and the search for funding.

MoFA would also provide IFDC with human resources and expertise to contribute to studies and consultations.

Mr Ankobiah said, The Ministry will also identify themes in the soil-water-plant nexus for in-depth master's and doctoral studies and will support the validation and scaling up of innovations developed by IFDC and other partners.

Dr Camara said IFDC was dedicated to promoting relevant technologies, soil fertility management, crop productivity, commodity value chains, market information systems, and supportive policy on both public and private sector development in the agriculture sector.

We use strong partnerships to provide solutions and make our expertise available to advance the agriculture value chain, she said.

Like many other countries in West Africa and elsewhere, Ghana's agriculture sector has great potential, and unlocking this will deliver immense support to the economy and well-being of millions of vulnerable people.

It will take a variety of interventions to accomplish this and to reap the benefits.

The IFDC implements several key projects and programmes in Ghana, including, the Toward Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship (2SCALE), a programme that incubated and accelerated inclusive business through partnerships with companies and the AfricaFertilizer initiative, the premier source for fertilizer statistics and information in Africa.

GNA
Niger's military rulers have said a first convoy of French troops will begin preparations to leave the Sahel country Tuesday, after the leaders of a coup ordered them out.

"Operations for the departure of the first convoy escorted by our defence and security forces will begin tomorrow," said a statement read on state television, Tele Sahel, on Monday.

The statement did not specify the destination of the convoy.

After some meetings and "exchanges between...authorities and the French side, a timetable for the withdrawal of troops has been determined with mutual agreement", Monday's statement added.

Niger's ruling generals demanded the withdrawal of 1,400 French troops shortly after they seized power at the end of July.

French authorities haven't reacted yet.

French President Emmanuel Macron, said in September that the troops would exit "by the end of the year", complying with the demand by the new regime in Niamey.

The French soldiers are in Niger as part of a wider fight against jihadists across the Sahel region.

Movements in the whole Sahel

Over the weekend, there were several convoys moving between bases in the northwest near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, where 400 troops are deployed, as well as in the capital Niamey.

The French troops have been living in uncertainty since the new regime began demanding their departure, with irregular supplies of food and repeated anti-French demonstrations outside the Niamey base.

The way out for troops in Niger remains unclear as land borders with Benin and Nigeria remain closed.

The Niger regime has also banned French civilian and military aircraft from flying over its territory without special authorisation.

Borders have reopened with Algeria, Libya, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, where a French command is based in the capital N'Djamena.

Postponed Algerian mediation

The announcement also comes as Algeria decided to "postpone" mediation efforts to find a way out of the crisis.

The country offered in August to mediate talks with the military regime, proposing a six-month transition period, but Algerians authorities announced on Monday that it would "postpone" the talks "until it obtained clarifications" concerning the implementation of Algerian mediation in Niger.

Earlier this month, the Niger's new leaders said that the timeframe of a transition back to civilian rule would be determined by an "inclusive national" dialogue.

Algeria deplored that "official and public statements from the Nigerien authorities raised questions about their real willingness to follow through on their acceptance of Algerian mediation."

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on 6 August said he "categorically" rejected any foreign military intervention in Niger, which borders Algeria to the south: A military solution would be "a direct threat" to Algeria, he said, stressing "there will be no solution without us. We are the first people affected".

The new strongman in Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, had said shortly after coming into power that a transition period would last a maximum of three years.

The 26 July coup against Niger's democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum was the third such putsch in the region in as many years.

It followed similar actions in fellow former French colonies Mali and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

(with AFP)
An Accra High Court has directed the prosecutions in the trial of 14 persons accused of the gruesome murder of the late Major Maxwell Mahama to address the seven-member jury on October 16.

The court had scheduled the case for yesterday at which the defence lawyers were expected to address the jury and convince them to return a not guilty verdict for their respective clients.

The prosecution would then take a turn to convince the jury that the accused were responsible for the wrongful death of the late soldier who was mistaken for an armed robber and lynched in May 2018 in Denkyira Obuasi, in the Central Region.

This could however, not happen as one of the defence lawyers, Patrick Anim-Addo told the court that per the practice and what he knew, the prosecution ought to address the jury before the defence lawyers take their turn.

Evelyn Keelson, a Chief State Attorney, disagreed with the defence counsel but indicated to the court that the prosecution had no issue addressing the jury first.

The court, presided over by Justice Mariama Owusu, a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting as an additional High Court judge, adjourned the case to October 16, 2023, for the prosecution to address the jury.

Major Mahama was the captain of the 31-member military team sent to the town to guard the properties of C&G Mining Company as a result of illegal mining activities in the area.

William Baah, the then Assemblyman for the area, is standing trial for abetment of murder while the other 13 are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and substantive charge of murder.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been in prison custody since the commencement of the trial in 2018.

The other accused persons are Bernard Asamoah, alias Daddy, Kofi Nyame a.k.a Abortion, Charles Kwaning a.k.a Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim and Bismarck Donkor, John Bosie, Akwasi Asante, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima.

The Office of the Attorney General on May 16, 2022, closed its case in the trial of the 14 persons who allegedly lynched the late Major Maxwell Mahama at New Obuasi in the Central Region in 2017.

The prosecution during the presentation of its case called 14 witnesses who gave various accounts of what happened on the day and what they witnessed.

Frances Mullen Ansah, a Chief State Attorney during one of the proceedings led the case investigator in evidence when the court played the horrifying videos which captured the accused persons lynching the deceased.

Eleven of the accused persons opened their defence and denied the charges against them while three; Kofi Nyame, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima, waived their rights to mount a defence.

Charles Kwaning during his defence denied attacking the deceased and said he was rather trying to rescue him from the angry mob.

Although the accused was captured in a video pointing a gun at the deceased, he told the court that he had taken the gun from one Yaw Amankwa, who wanted to shoot the late soldier.

One of them, Akwasi Baah, in his defence admitted hitting the deceased with a cement block at the scene, but told the court that the late soldier was already dead when he smashed his head with the cement block.

Another accused person, Bernard Asamoah, also admitted hitting the deceased with a stone, but said he only hit the body which was motionless in his attempt to identify him.

DGN online
James Awuni

10.10.2023 LISTEN

James Awuni, a 35-year-old man, who bullied a couple into parting with GH1,200.00 for masquerading as a contract killer, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail with hard labour for robbery and threat of death.

The convict, a barber and resident of Bebu near Ahenema Kokoben, an outskirt of Kumasi, carried out the robbery on August 5, 2023.

The Asokwa Circuit Court, presided over by Vida Yeboah, sentenced him to two months in prison for robbery and ten years in prison for threat of death, both to run concurrently.

Prosecutor, ASP Stephen Ofori said the complainant, Collins Amoh, is the CEO of Obuasi Bitters.

On August 5, 2023, the complainants wife received a distress call from James Awuni, who claimed to have been hired to kill her husband.

According to ASP Ofori, the complainant called back James for confirmation after his wife passed on the information to him out of fear of death.

The prosecutor indicated that the convict also told the complainant that he was hesitant to carry out the attack on him for personal reasons known only to him.

As a result, James Awuni sought GH1,200 from the complainant, which the complainant provided to him through the convicts MTN number 0248436496.

The prosecutor narrated that the complainant reported the matter to the Police Intelligence Directorate in Kumasi after sending the money to James Awuni.

ASP Ofori said on September 27, 2023, the police acting on intelligence, arrested James from his hideout at Atwima Bebu.

During the course of the investigation, the convict confirmed the crime in his caution statement and named Kwabena Copper as his accomplice, who is still at large.

James was subsequently charged and arraigned thereof.

DGN online
The 2023 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign has been launched by the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) in partnership with the Ghana News Agency, Tema Regional Office, in an effort to rekindle public interest in the issues, broaden public understanding of them, and dispel myths about them.

As part of the campaign, each week, medical experts from IMaH will speak about breast cancer on the "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" public health advocacy platform of the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office.

The effort aimed to promote health-related communication and create the environment for the spread of health information to impact individual health decisions by raising health literacy.

The global subject "Keeping Her in the Picture," which is an appeal to everyone to keep an eye on the well-being of the essential women in their lives, is the focus of the 2023 breast cancer awareness campaign.

When speaking on the health advocacy platform, Dr. Justice Baidoo, a Medical Officer at IMaH, pointed out that breast cancer, which is an abnormal growth of the breast cell, affects many women and is particularly prevalent in black women.

Although some men may be more susceptible to developing breast cancer, he added that while there are a number of potential causes of breast cancer, including genetics, birthing complications, advanced age, and pregnancy, there isn't one particular element that triggers the disease.

"There are numerous factors that increase one's risk of developing cancer; there is no one single factor that causes breast cancer," he stated.

According to Dr. Baidoo, oestrogen is a hormone that exists in the body and increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer when it is present in high or persistent amounts.

He explained that while some women may experience discharge from their nipples or breast lumps, not all of these symptoms are indicative of the development of cancer; rather, some of them may be the result of fibroids or fat buildup.

Nevertheless, it is crucial for these women to visit the hospital for early screening and checkups.

"Not all lumps or discharge in the breast are cancerous," he noted, "because some breast conditions can manifest as lumps inside the breast." Therefore, not all lumps indicate breast cancer.

In order to lower the likelihood that their children may acquire breast cancer, he emphasized the need for breastfeeding women to either exclusively nurse their children or wait until they are two years old before weaning them off breast milk.

It is therefore better to be safe than sorry, so he urged everyone, especially ladies, to take advantage of the celebration and get their breasts checked in order to avoid any additional consequences.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency in Tema, asked journalists to increase public education on the issues: "Let's use the power of the media to educate in order to save lives."

GNA and IMaH joined the rest of the world in commemorating October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a yearly campaign to promote awareness of the disease and encourage people to seek medical attention.

-CDA Consult || Contributor
10.10.2023 LISTEN

The TDC Development Company Limited, a state institution in charge of the planning, layout, and development of the Tema Acquisition Area, has been recognized and awarded as the best in the housing and provision category by the University of Professional Studies Accra (Faculty of Accounting and Finance).

The theme of the programme, "A Night with CEOs and Business Leaders," was "Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry."

It is an annual event hosted on the UPSA campus to honour the efforts of CEOs and business executives.

Mr. Ian Tabalor Okwei, TDC's Protocol and Administrative Officer, who won the Plague of Accomplishment award, stated that TDC received the award based on their capacity to deliver on their mandate, offer employment to the general population, and meet their annual target.

In an interview, Mr. Okwei stated that TDC Company Limited has finished phase I of the National Housing Ownership Estate, which was a joint venture between the National Housing Ownership Fund and the TDC, and that phase one consists of 204 units. Phase two is also moving forward.

He stated that TDC is on the approach of constructing Kpone Affordable Housing, which will supply at least 3,000 homes spread across 150 blocks when completed.

He stated that the TDC is the industry leader in Ghana for delivering and offering cheap housing at a very competitive price.

"I'm saying this because most people ask, How affordable are your houses?" he explained.

However, if you go to some affordable houses and consider the light infrastructure, water infrastructure, gated community, underground drainage facilities, sewage system availability, car parking facilities, and reserve water facilities, the final pricing is indeed affordable.

He informed the audience that TDC offers a digital payment mechanism that allows them to make payments without having to visit the office.

Mr. Okwei stated that TDC will do all possible to maintain its status and honours in the next years.

-CDA Consult || Contributor
The reality of not having the best representatives of the human race, to hold political office is something that the world has grown accustomed to. People ignore the right people due to tribalism and continue to choose the wrong leaders who would lead their people to poverty, create strife, start wars, and cause needless suffering that will have long-term effects on the once-rich country. That is exactly what has taking place in Ghana right now; Akufo Addo's presidency has been the biggest curse for the country.

Recently, I came upon an article published by someone, and my intense curiosity led me to the following paragraph: "Let us be wise as the snake until Nana Akufo Addo wins the election and can liberate the suffering Ghanaians from their socio-economic bondage under the government of President Mahama, I shall not rest." This led me to assume that many Ghanaian writers lack vision and instead write from ignorance or tribalism because it's so simple to see how ineffective Akufo Addo is.

The biggest error the New Patriotic Party and Ghanaians made was believing in and putting their trust in someone like Akufo Addo. His primary goals in becoming president are to elevate his inconspicuous family to fame, alter history, rename institutions that already exist, and collect fortune; it is because of these goals that such tragedy has befallen Ghana. Unfortunately, due to their ignorance and lack of development ideas, Ghanaians will not see growth under this leadership.

The more someone wants power, the more reliant they become on others, which is why Akufo Addo feels he needs to provide appointments to everyone who supported him in his third attempt to become president. Many Ghanaians have received jobs as ministers, ambassadors, managing directors, and other positions because they supported the president's opposition to John Mahama, but these individuals lack the necessary qualifications and academic credentials.

If the wrong people are granted positions they do not deserve, they will never generate something that will be advantageous to the state. The failure of Akufo Addo must be understood by Ghanaians, and to stop blaming COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. After all, COVID made Ghana wealthy, but the NPP administration stole and distributed a sizable chunk of the money. Being a Ghanaian, I have never seen a democratic government that is more in violation of the law and the constitution than the NPP.

Nothing is improving in Ghana because the Supreme Court judges appointed by the president do not deal with crime in the country, as the president himself is involved in several criminal activities, including illegal mining and gold trade which has cost the country billions of dollars. The saddest part of all these tragedies is that no one knows what the money was used for and now the country is facing a huge debt that has affected the countrys already collapsed infrastructures.

I don't know if the president was speaking to himself because he has no respect for either democracy or the constitution, but Akufo Addo recently blasted African politicians on a global stage for preaching democracy while acting contrary to it. Mahama is the kind of politician who has experienced abuse and tribalism, despite all of his achievements, even in the Ashanti Region's stronghold. However, there is no record of him imprisoning any journalists or sending thugs to attack radio stations.

The president is not thinking clearly because he knows he has lost the 2024 election, but his actions did not help. Throughout 2016 and 2020, he paid tribal radio stations to broadcast false propaganda against Mahama, amid fraud to secure him the presidential seat, but everything changed rapidly after his failure, and the collapse of businesses, banking institutions, and the economy. Currently, there aren't enough tribal stations supporting him, leading to the attack on the UTV station.

Why would NPP hooligans need to raid a media studio? Since the UTV is one of the media outlets that Akufo Addo wastes public funds on, he expects the management team to support his criminal activities and widespread corruption. Since he is not receiving this support, but rather people using the media outlet as a platform to criticize the government, he believes the thugs must teach the media house a lesson. Akufo Addo is the worst Ghanaian president.

I have been warning Ghanaians about this government's incapacity, corruption, and ruthlessness for the past four years, but it appears that many people are still not getting the message. Akufo Addo rules with an iron fist and since I want the best for my country; I'll keep warning Ghanaians until this ineffective government is voted out to bring in a wise leader concerned with the country's advancement and development.
Ghanaian mental health advocate Abena Korkor has urged the government to invest more in training professionals to care for persons suffering from mental illnesses.

The activist bemoaned the inadequate number of qualified mental healthcare workers to assist those struggling with conditions like depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

In an interview on Accra-based Asaase Radio station on World Mental Health Day, October 10, Abena Korkor said "the government should train more mental health professionals in the system to help mental health patients."

According to her, "there are just a few celebrities in Ghana that talk about mental health, like Kafui Dey and Funny Face."

She added that more needs to be done to raise awareness and address stigma.

She also called on media houses to prioritize mental health discussions all year round, and not just on designated awareness days.

"If it is not a mental health day, they do not talk about mental health," Abena Korkor noted.
10.10.2023 LISTEN

COP (Rtd) Alex George Mensah, a key figure in the alleged plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has expressed confidence in the outcome of the probe.

George Mensah recently testified before the committee and criticised the leadership style of the current IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

His testimony was part of the ongoing inquiry into an alleged leaked tape that purportedly contains conversations among three senior police officers discussing plans and strategies to remove the IGP.

The leaked tape also reportedly involves Bugri Naabu, the former Northern Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Ahead of the committee's resumption of its proceedings on October 10, 2023, COP retired Alex George Mensah spoke to TV3 News.

He expressed his belief that the truth would ultimately be revealed.

"I will be vindicated - I know what happened. Some things on the tape are lies, but what I said, I said the truth, and I will say it again anywhere.

But I'm not ready to discuss it here, as I said, because it's before a committee. I hope we will wait until the committee comes out with their report, then everybody will know the truth," George Mensah stated.
The Minority Chief Whip in Parliament and MP for Adaklu, Governs Kwame Abodza has dared Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu about their plans to summon the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor Dr. Ernest Addison to the House for questioning.

Mr. Kwame Abodza responded to Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu's assertion that the Majority side would not support any invitation of Dr. Ernest Addison.

In a tweet on Tuesday, October 10, the lawmaker stated that with or without the support of the majority, the Governor will be summoned as planned.

"The Majority side in Parliament has no such powers to stop the invitation of the Governor of the mismanaged Bank of Ghana and his deputies from appearing before the house, he wrote.

The Minority Chief Whip's comments come after Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the caucus would not back plans by the NDC MPs to summon the Governor over allegations of mismanagement.

In an interview with Accra-based TV3, the Suame MP said, "Now, you have made up your mind that whatever has been done by [the Governor] is inappropriate, you are not going to countenance it, so if he comes to explain the issues, are you going to take it or jettison it?
The President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, the Dormahene, has urged traditional leaders to speak not for mere rhetoric but for the advancement of national development.

He reaffirmed the House of Chiefs commitment to continue advocating the betterment of the entire nation.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II made the remarks during the grand durbar of the 2023 Asogli State Yam Festival and the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the enthronement of Togbe Afede XIV.

The event was held on the theme: '20 Years of Selfless and Inspiring Leadership', in the Volta Regional capital of Ho.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who served as the special guest of honour at the festival, stressed that irrespective of which political party or candidates Ghanaians choose to support in the 2024 general elections, traditional leaders will continue to be vocal.

Let us address the current situation. Whether its Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who has about 15 months remaining in office, or any other candidate in 2024, we will not hesitate to express our opinions, he stated.

He further noted: We are not speaking for the sake of speaking; we are not doing this for our personal gain. We are doing this for the sake of Mother Ghana. Whether Ghanaians choose to entrust the mandate to the APC led by Dr Hassan Ayariga, we will continue to offer guidance and constructive criticisms, working together to position Ghana for progress.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II's assertion underscores the enduring commitment of traditional leaders to contribute positively to the nation's development, regardless of the political landscape. Their dedication to providing guidance and support to the country's leaders reflects a broader aspiration for unity and progress in Ghana.

-classfmonline
10.10.2023 LISTEN

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has expressed his party's refusal to support the Minority's motion to summon the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison before Parliament.

Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that the Minority had already crucified the Governor through their street protests.

According to him, the opposition could have chosen a more constructive approach by inviting the Governor to address their concerns during a parliamentary session.

"We are Members of Parliament; we could have invited the Governor to come and talk about the issues that are not clear to us.

You go on a demonstration and organize a press conference against the man, then you come back to Parliament to move the motion [to invite him]. Do you want me to support that?" the Suame Lawmaker questioned in an interview with TV3.

The Minority in Parliament has been calling for the resignation of Dr. Ernest Addison and his two deputies over allegations of mismanagement of the Central Bank.

Initially, they had given the three officials a 21-day ultimatum to step down which did not work. The NDC MPs later resorted to street protests, marching to the central bank's headquarters to physically demand their resignations.

Dr. Addison has stated that they will not step down from their positions.

The Governor emphasized that there are more appropriate channels for addressing concerns in civilized societies, rather than resorting to unnecessary street demonstrations.
10.10.2023 LISTEN

A rise in racial violence targeting migrants from sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in African migrants being stranded in Tunisia. This occurred after Tunisian President Kais Saied delivered a provocative speech that intensified xenophobia. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE's report reveals that these individuals often face mistreatment and are at risk of being coerced into modern slavery. Furthermore, many have sadly lost their lives while trying to flee assaults at the border between Tunisia and Libya

He is a migrant worker from Sierra Leone who arrived in Tunisia as a political refugee. He was one of the numerous individuals stranded in makeshift tents, their bags hastily packed, lining the pavement in the capital city, Tunis. He expresses fear that their lives are in danger and adds that the situation worsens daily.

This represents the ordeal faced by migrant workers following President Kais Saied's assertion that immigration aimed to alter the demographic composition of his country and hinder its status as an Arab and Muslim nation. Consequently, he ordered the expulsion of African migrants from Tunisia.

It is clear that Tunisia's laws prioritize job opportunities for its citizens, which poses challenges for African migrant workers seeking legal employment or immigration status. Recently, the situation in Sfax has worsened, with local Tunisian residents calling for the removal of African immigrants, leading to violent attacks and conflicts.

The decision have been causing worry among many people and created a lot of fear among sub-Saharan Africans and Black Tunisians. The irony and fear lie in the fact that the EU with their once sense of civility are giving aid in the additional tone of 100 million euros to improve Tunisia's border managementin order to achieve the goal of expulsion. However, there are concerns that this agreement will only worsen the mistreatment of migrants in Tunisia, despite the offer of economic aid from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Amnesty International states that the EU's involvement in mistreating asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants is evident in the EU/Tunisia agreement on migration. According to the international human rights organization, this agreement is being made at a time when there is increasing violence and abuse against sub-Saharan African migrants by Tunisian authorities. The human rights group also argues that the EU-Tunisia migration proposal ignores human rights concerns. Therefore, the European Union shares responsibility for the resulting suffering.

According to our research, it has been discovered that childrenin Tunisia are subjected to the most extreme forms of child labor, such as being compelled to work as domestic servants and beggars. Furthermore, these children often engage in perilous activities while working on the streets. This further confirms the existence of multiple videos showing authorities capturing asylum seekers and migrants at their homes and taking them away in police vehicles.

The speech, widely denounced as "hate speech" globally, led to the expulsion of a considerable number of people to the borders of Tunisia with Libya and Algeria. Consequently, they were left stranded in uninhabited regions without access to essential necessities such as food, water, and shelter. Despite the fact that Tunisia has experienced a notable increase in the population of sub-Saharan African migrant workers since 2011, these individuals frequently encounter mistreatment and are vulnerable to being coerced into modern slavery.

These individuals, regardless of their legal status, are expelled without being given proper legal procedures, and many have reported experiencing violence from authorities during their arrest or deportation. Two specific instances of violence include the death of a man from Benin in May and the death of a man from Tunisia on July 3.

However, Tunisia's Interior Minister Kamel Feki stated that between January 1 and July 20 of this year, the bodies of at least 901 refugees and migrants who drowned were discovered off the coast of Tunisia. Feki's disclosureof these numbers emphasizes an unprecedented level of fatalities along the country's shores.

The Tunisian coastguard announced that it had recovered the bodies of 13 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and rescued 25 people after their boat sank while they were en route to Italy. This tragic event occurred near the city of Sfax, though the coastguard did not disclose the distance from the shore where the boat sank. As per a statementfrom the Interior Ministry, Libyan border guards found five unidentified bodies of illegal African migrants during a patrol in the Dahr al-Khass area in Tawilat al-Ratba, situated along the Tunisia border.

According to experts, the mistreatment and abandonment of migrant workers in Tunisia not only goes against ethical standardsbut also violates international regulations. In February, the African Union (AU) criticized Tunisia for deporting undocumented immigrants and advised against promoting racially motivated hate speech. Forlornly, videos circulating on social media in early July depicted Tunisian men brandishing weapons and forcibly loading black Africans into vans, while bystanders cheered.

Starting from July 2, 2023, Human Rights Watch has documented the expulsion of numerous black African migrants and asylum seekers, including minors and pregnant women, to a secluded and militarized area located at the Tunisia-Libya border. Mohamed Wajdi Aydi, a former deputy mayor, expressed his concerns on July 3rd regarding the increasingly unmanageable situation in the city.

Aydi informed The New Humanitarian that he fears there will inevitably be severe confrontations. The experts appointed by the United Nations urged the autocraticregime in Tunisia to cease collective deportations of sub-Saharan Africans. This regime is believed to have impeded Tunisia's democratic progress, resulting in political turmoil and sluggish economic development.

The UN's plea comes shortly after Tunisia reached an agreement to decrease migration to Europe. The UNCommittee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed worry about the discriminatory treatment of Black migrants and called on Tunisian authorities to ensure the protection of their human rights.
Naa Yakubu Andani Dasana, regent and caretaker of the Nanumba kingdom in Northern Ghana, has made a call for peace and unity among all the northern tribes.

He said this when he approved the Tamale Cultural Oneness Festival hosted by The Taste Of Afrika.

Several distinct cultural groups call the northern region of Ghana home. However, there are shared traditions throughout the many Northern cultures. This includes events like the Damba festival and the fire festival.

Tamale will play home to the Cultural Oneness Festival, organized by the non-profit group Taste of Afrika to foster unity and publicize the unique traditions of Northern Ghana.

The CEO of The Taste of Afrika, Tengol K. Kplemani, recently made a visit to the palace of the overlord of the Nanumba Traditional Area, who used the opportunity to make a plea to all the tribes in the north to put aside their tribal differences and work together for the benefit of the people and the country.

He continued by saying that since the northern area of Ghana is home to Ghanas oldest royal family, it is the northerners duty to promote and benefit from their cultural legacy overseas.

Because of this, he hopes that other chiefs and traditional rulers will go to Tamale, Ghana, for the Cultural Oneness Festival on December 6-9, 2023.
I, Delanyo Agbe, a devoted activist within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), express my vehement condemnation of the recent statement made by Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the Chairman of the NDC, wherein he disturbingly mentioned that "Ghana is ripe for a coup d'etat."

Ghana, as a nation, has firmly embraced the principles of democracy, and this statement is not only alarming but also in complete contradiction to the democratic foundation that our nation stands upon. The call for any undemocratic change, especially one as drastic as a coup, poses a significant threat to the peace, stability, and progress we have tirelessly worked to achieve.

We must be resolute in our commitment to the democratic process. Democracy is not just a choice; it is a reflection of our collective will to ensure justice, equality, and the sanctity of our constitution. We cannot afford to take any action that would jeopardize the democratic fabric that binds our nation together.

Advocating for a coup is not only irresponsible but could have disastrous consequences for our nation and its citizens. It undermines the years of democratic progress we have made and threatens our standing in the international community as a beacon of democracy on the African continent.

In light of the gravity of this statement, I join many concerned citizens in urging for Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia to be held accountable for his words. I appeal to the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter and take appropriate legal action if necessary.

Our party, the NDC, has always upheld democratic values and principles. It is crucial for our leaders to exemplify these values and foster an environment of responsible dialogue and respect for democratic processes. It is only through unity and adherence to these principles that we can continue to build a better and stronger Ghana for all.

Let us stand united in the defense of our democracy and work towards a prosperous and united nation.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Delanyo Agbe

NDC Activist

0248481758 / 0531858289

[email protected]
The Asante Youth Association has issued a one-month ultimatum to government to urgently resume work on various abandoned projects in the Ashanti Region.

The group has threatened to embark on a massive protest against the government if it fails to comply.

The association is also calling on the government to prioritize development in the region, lamenting that the Akufo-Addo-led government has neglected the area despite it being the New Patriotic Partys stronghold.

The Asante Youth Association cited the abandoned phases two and three of the Kumasi International Airport project, phase two of Kejetia-Central Market redevelopment project and the Mother and Baby Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Other projects include; roads within the Manso enclave, Kwabre East, Bosomtwe among others.

Speaking to Citi News, the Vice President of the Asante Youth Association, Nana Oppong Boadi, expressed disappointment in the Akufo-Addo government, insisting that the President has not been fair to the inhabitants of the Ashanti Region.

He added that if the government does not take urgent steps to address the various concerns they are raising, protesting against the government would be the last resort.

All Kumasi projects are at a standstill, Boadi said.

The Central Market project is abandoned, Komfo Anokye Maternity Block, Airport Project, we dont know what is going on again. Bosomtwe road we dont know what is going on again. Manso Nkwanta, Anhiawa Nkwanta, Kwabre roads, no work is going on. They have not started any major work in Suame.

From today till November, if these projects are still abandoned, and the contractors of those who are supposed to work are not on the site, we will go there ourselves and see if they are not there, we are going to protest. We will organize all the youth in Asante kingdom to fight. It is uncalled for. The way Asantes rallied behind President Akufo-Addo, we never expected him to do this, he has not been fair to Asantes and NPP people in the region.

The group has also expressed its disappointment with the Ashanti Region residents who have been appointed to ministerial positions and the over 40 Members of Parliament in the region for not doing enough to lobby for development.

They have thus threatened to campaign against the MPs in the general elections if they dont put in place measures to ensure the region receives its fair share of development.

A political historian at KNUST, Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, however, wants the electorates in the region to take serious measures to demand development from the NPP-led government and resort to protests if need be.

He believes this will make the government take the region seriously.

The group has been in existence for the past 70 years and has been advocating for development in the region.

-citinewsroom
Some traders in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti region have gone hard on President Nana Akufo-Addo, his Vice Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) saying: "You will not break any eight if you do not develop the region."

The aggrieved traders threatened to vote out the NPP government if the party continued to neglect its stronghold in terms of developmental projects and did not stop its "lackadaisical approach" to projects in the region.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday October 10, 2023, the Executive Member of the group, Nana Asare Michael Bediako, said the NPP has abandoned all projects in the region while some projects are still ongoing in the other regions, especially in the Eastern region.

He mentioned some of the projects that have been abandoned as the Kumasi Kejetia Redevelopment project, the Kumasi Airport project, the Komfo Anokye Maternity Block project, the Boankra Inland Port project, and the Krofrom Market project.

According to Mr Bediako, the rest are the Afari Military Hospital, Sewua Regional Hospital, and Kumawu Hospital projects.

Road projects that have also been abandoned, he said, include the Suame Interchange project, Kwabre District roads, Manso District roads, Bosome Freho District roads, and Atwima Kwanwoma District roads, among others.

Despite abandoning these projects, Mr Bediako said, some projects are still ongoing in the Eastern region which he described as unfortunate and shameful.

Mr Bediako questioned if the governing NPP felt the people in the region's pain, suffering, and frustration after voting massively for them to clinch power without benefiting from its labour.

He called on the NPP government, President Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to prioritise the development of the region.

He further urged the Members of Parliament in the region to fight for the progress of the region.

The traders have, therefore, threatened to vote out the governing NPP and make their "break the eight" mantra unachievable, if they do not make paramount, the development of the region.

-Classfmonline
FT specialists recommend the most insightful read on an issue with roots deep in the early 20th century

The history of the Arab-Israeli conflict has itself become a battleground for scholars offering wildly differing accounts. But here is a selection of the best books recommended by FT specialists on the history and global consequences of the struggle.

Enemies and Neighbours: Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Israel 1917-2017 by Ian Black (2017)

A history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, timed for the 100th anniversary of the Balfour declaration, that has achieved the rare distinction of being acclaimed by both Israeli and Palestinian historians for its rigour and impartiality.

Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How it Created the Modern Middle East by Uri Kaufman (2023)

Deeply researched account of the Yom Kippur war published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces that presented a mortal threat to the state of Israel. The book details the failures in Israeli intelligence to heed the warning signs of Arab preparations for war  a shortcoming that has now found a grim echo five decades later.

Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu by Anshel Pfeffer (2018)

Brisk, engaging biography of Benjamin Netanyahu by one of Israels leading journalists and commentators. Pfeffer paints a portrait of the politician  at turns petulant, defiant, rejected and resurgent  who has come to cast a massive shadow over modern Israel, embodying its journey from wary, fraught beginnings to becoming a powerful state that has denied Palestinians a country to call their own.

A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: A Palestine Story by Nathan Thrall (2023)

A deeply immersive portrait of daily life in Israel and the West Bank arranged around the story of a Palestinian child and a school trip that ends in tragedy following a traffic accident. Weaving together the ordinary and interwoven lives of Jewish and Palestinian inhabitants, Thrall, a Jerusalem-based author and journalist, illuminates the complex realities of one of the worlds most contested regions.

Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco (2009)

A non-fiction graphic novel that tells the story of an Israeli massacre of 111 Palestinians in Rafah in 1956  partially in response to the armed Palestinian raids  evokes and explains a forgotten moment in history that helped lay the seeds for Saturdays assault into southern Israel. Joe Sacco is a gentle and compassionate storyteller, and in his hands, the suffocation of life in the blockaded strip feels suddenly real.

Hamas: The Islamic Resistance Movement by Beverley Milton-Edwards and Stephen Farrell (2010)

A deeply researched blend of academic thought and on-the-ground reporting, Milton-Edwards and Farrells exploration of the origins, structure and evolution of Hamas offers crucial insights into understanding the enduring rivalry between the Islamist group and the leftist, and often, secular nationalism of Fatah, Yassir Arafats political creation, that continues to shape Gaza today.

The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood by Rashid Khalidi (2007)

An unflinching examination of why the Palestinians failed to win a state of their own in the 20th century during and after colonial rule. External actors come in for much of the criticism, but Khalidi, a respected Palestinian-American historian, also finds fault with Palestinian community leaders.

A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East by David Fromkin (1989)

Landmark account of the events leading up to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the resulting dramatic changes that swept across the Middle East. Richard Holbrooke, the late senior US diplomat, said: Without knowledge of its back-story, no policymaker will get the region right . . . Of the vast array of books on the region, none is more relevant than Fromkins sweeping epic.

A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle That Shaped the Middle East by James Barr (2011)

A lively, even entertaining account of the decisive moment in the history of the modern day Middle East when Britain and France carved up the Arab world after the first world war. Barr has delved deep into the diplomatic archives of both powers to tell the story of a hugely cynical  and highly consequential  act of imperial greed.

Israel: A History by Anita Shapira (2012)

Although it does not focus primarily on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Anita Shapiras book is a good introduction for general readers to the history of Israel from the origins of the Zionist movement in the late 19th century to recent times.

A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz (2002)

Memoir of a childhood in the closing years of Mandatory Palestine and the early years of the state of Israel from one of the countrys most celebrated novelists. A loving but highly critical personal history of the promise of Israel, its mistreatment of the Palestinians and how the dream soured.
The Savannah Regional wing of the National Democratic Congress has called out the ruling New Patriotic Party for what they describe as the penchant for always claiming undue credit for projects initiated and completed by former president John Dramani Mahama in the region.

In a news release, the Regional Communications Officer of the party, R.A Jalil said the recent attempt by the failed NPP led administration to accuse former President John Dramani Mahama of turning the Damba Festivals organized across the Savannah Region in recent times to political platforms falls flat in the face of logic.

According to him, projects such as the Mpaha Community Day S.H.S, Buipe Accident and Emergency Centre, Ntereso Water Plant, Buipe Savacem among others have been made possible through the effort of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.

He said John Dramani Mahama is a royal son of the Savannah Region with a very solid track record in the areas of health, education, infrastructural development, livelihood empowerment among others and reserves the right to any social event in Gonjaland.

Read full statement below:

For Immediate Release.

10th October 2023.

RE-JOHN MAHAMAs CONTINUES POLARIZATION OF GONJA CULTURE: A RECIPE FOR BAD PRECEDENCE AND A SIGN OF DESPERATION.

My attention has been drawn to a statement authored by the regional secretary of the NPP S/R, lamenting on why H.E John Dramani Mahama the incoming President of the Republic of Ghana honoured the invitations to the 2023 Damba festival organised across the entire Gonja kingdom.

The regional secretary of the NPP S/R accused the NDC of turning the events into political platforms. The secretary did not specify how the NDC politicized the festival, raising questions about the criticism.

Excitedly, the reignited show of support and love for Mahama in his home region has caused unease within the NPP, but the question remains: why does honoring festival invitations lead to discomfort for others?

Mr. Issah Mohammed should focus on reconciling with his chairman instead of making unnecessary and unfounded statements.

Regarding their "tramadol" induced statement:

Firstly, the NDC and John Mahama attended all major Damba invitations without violating any agreed terms with political parties. Vice President Bawumia was also invited to the Yagbon Damba but declined due to 10 questions posed by the NDC that required his response.

Furthermore, H.E. Mahama was invited as a respected Prince in Gonjaland, and during his speech, He addressed national issues as a statesman. Similarly, if Bawumia had attended, he wouldn't have sung his childhood methodist hymns but discussed national concerns. Why then criticize Mahama for speaking responsibly?

Without reservation, if any political party owes Gonjalanders an apology for disrespecting our chiefs, it is the NPP. They shamelessly branded calabashes used in the 2019 Damba at the Jakpa palace with NPP-branded apparel, a clear sign of disrespect and desperation. Have they issued an apology for this? It seems the NPP conveniently forgets their actions.

Let me dive into the raised issues! It's astonishing that despite increasing our public debt from 120 million to nearly 600 million in just seven years, the NPP has little to show for it. Instead, they seize every chance to claim credit for projects initiated by H.E John Mahama.

MPAHA MAHAMA E-BLOCK

The Mpaha community day SHS affectionately called Mahama E-block will continue to be one of Mahamas legacies across the breadth and length of this country and the NPP cannot take that away from him. This facility after its completion was left at the mercy of the weather and a breeding habitat for grass cutters and squirrels. It took same Mahama to move to the premises of the school and called on government to operationalized the abandoned facility.

E-blocks were promised by John Mahama and delivered by him. Facts are sacred and sacrosanct!

BUIPE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTER

On 1st January 2017, President John Mahama cut sod for the construction of five new ultra-modern district hospitals and a Polyclinic in Ghana. The loan facility was secured on March, 2016. The sod-cutting ceremony took place at Weta in the Ketu North District of the Volta Region.

Report of the finance committee on the export credit facility agreement between the government of the Republic of Ghana and Raiffeiseeen Bank international AG of Austria for an amount of up to Seventy Seven Million, Nine hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Euros (77,935,000.00 Euros) for the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of five new district/ general hospital in Somanya, Buipe, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Weta, Toulon and one Polyclinic at Bamboi.

The apostles of reading cant just goggle for this simple information. Mr Issah should tell us when the NPP government secured a loan for those facilities.

NTERESO WATER PLANT CLAIMS:

Mr. Issah admitted in his statement that the facility was actually constructed by John Mahama but it took the irresponsible attitude of the NPP when they allowed floods to destroy the facility. On 17th August 2015, H.E John Mahama commissioned 4 water plant communities which includes Ntereso, Nyawuripe, Fufulso Junction and Yapei-Yapala.

This plant pumps 100,000 gallons of water daily to the communities.

This was part of the Peri-urban rural and small town water and sanitation project being implemented across the country at a cost of 21 million euros. The propaganda to claim the Ntereso water project has fallen flat!

THE SO CALL MPAHA-SALAGA ROAD:

John Mahama in his statement chastised government for neglecting the Mpaha junction to Mpaha road and that of the Salaga-Makango road. These are roads that were under construction under his regime till Nana Addo took over power and abandoned them completely. The claim that NPP is tarring roads in the district capitals is a figment of his imagination, absolutely nothing is happening in the district capitals of Savannah. Its a fallacious statement from the secretary.

I dare him to mention a single district that is seeing such tarring.

THE BUIPE SAVACEM

The Savannah cement enjoyed a number of tax waivers during the importation of some equipments of the factory under the leadership of the NDC and has every right to be part of the establishment of the factory. Has the NPP not included in their list of none existing factories companies that were built in the 70s?

Issah Mohammed and his party should apologize unreservedly to Jirah Buipewura Jinapor II for the embarrassment caused his person when the NPP connived with the Dj of the occasion to turn off one of the microphones during the presentation of H.E John Mahama's speech.

The NPP is by this reminded that HE John Mahama will continue to be the greatest asset and human resource the Gonja Kingdom and all people of Northern extract has ever had in recent times, and as such, no amount of name calling and character assassination will take that away from him.

I want to conclude with a warning to the NPP in Savannah: we are prepared to confront them whenever they resort to their usual verbal attacks against our incoming President.

Signed;

R.A. Jalil

Communication Officer

NDC- Savannah Region
Anyone who has been following the flow of events in Haiti would have to agree that Haiti is in a state of profound crisis. The assassination of President Jovenel Moise has plunged Haiti into a state of renewed unrest that is threatening to reduced Haiti to an ungovernable failed state. To date, the authorities in Haiti have not been able to assert sufficient power to guarantee peace and security in Haiti.

Gang activity in Haiti is reported to have reached such crisis proportions that the Haitian National Police are being overwhelmed and out matched. Mob justice also seems to be an evolving coping mechanism in some Haitian communities frustrated by the violent and antisocial activities of Haitians gangs.

Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres, has repeatedly called for an initiative into Haiti that would help Haitians find a solution to the deepening political crisis. Guterres favored an initiative that would train and advise the Haitian police in its efforts to deter, capture, and disarm gangs operating in Haiti. The UN Secretary General also hoped that the initiative would help to secure strategic installations and major roadways thus facilitating freedom of movement and laying the foundation for credible and transparent elections in Haiti.

The crimes committed against the Haitian people by the US and European powers has made Haitians and the global Black collective warry of any Caucasian led intervention into Haiti. Regrettably neither the African Union nor the governments of CARICOM are willing or able to bankroll an intervention into Haiti. Any intervention into Haiti will have to be extensive in its time duration and will carry a heavy price tag.

The reluctance or inability of the African Union and the governments of CARICOM to devise and implement a rescue plan for the Haitian nation has opened the door for both the UN and the US to once again lead out in an initiative albeit involving the African nation of Kenya as the tip of the spear in the new venture.

Neither the UN nor the US can be faulted for stepping forward to redress the untenable situation in Haiti which had led to a state of kidnappings, violence, and massive population dislocations. The people who are criticizing the involvement of the UN and the US in the Kenyan led initiative are also likely to be the same people who criticized the European powers for not getting involved in the Rwandan genocide. The UN and the US are therefore damned if they do and damned if they dont.

Perhaps a more helpful approach to the Haitian crisis by the global Black collective would be an approach that seeks to explore how the Kenyan led initiative can be far more sensitive to the needs of the masses in Haiti thus promoting greater peace and stability in Haiti. Both the African Union and the governments of CARICOM should make a financial contribution to help defray the cost of the Kenyan led initiative in Haiti. In addition to Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas, many more African and Caribbean states should consider sending personnel to assist in the mission in Haiti.

A few years back I remember being schooled by a former student of mine who reminded me that a little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing. Critics of the Kenyan led initiative would do well to ponder this sage bit of advice offered by my former student. The Kenyan led initiative, if it is successful in its mandate and manages to disarm the gangs and restore civility and tranquility in Haiti, would have proven to be of far greater value to the people of Haiti than the whole lot of nothing that can be sourced to the global Black collective currently.

Lenrod Nzulu Baraka is the founder of Afro-Caribbean Spiritual Teaching Center and the author of The Rebirth of Black Civilization: Making Africa and the Caribbean Great Again.
Farmers and Scientists are appealing to the Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) to expedite its regulatory processes to approve the PBR Cowpea seed.

The stakeholders want the processes hastened to ensure that once scientists come out with quality material, it should quickly be in the hands of farmers because other neighboring countries are benefiting from the same technology.

The PBR Cowpea seed is still undergoing release trials on fields for approval from the National Variety Release and Registration Committee (NVRRC) to pave the way for commercial cultivation.

Misconceptions

Speaking to cowpea farmers at Tinkurugu in the Nanton district of the Northern Region on the current developments regarding genetically modified organisms in the country, former Director General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Professor Walter Alhassan advised cowpea farmers in the country to ignore misinformation and disinformation about PBR cowpea.

The new PBR cowpea will cure the deadly cowpea pest known as Maruca and reduce drastically the number of times you farmers spray chemicals on your crops, he said.

Research Scientist with the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), Dr. Daniel Osei Ofosu attributed misconceptions and misinformation about GMOs to scientists not being proactive in communicating their work to the general public.

Let me assure you journalists across the country that we are very available to explain the issues on your platforms if invited, he said.

Abridge

Speaking after a visit to a PBR Cowpea varietal trial field at Nyankpala in the Tolon District of the Northern, Deputy Director General and Chief Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Professor Marian Quain wants the regulatory authorities to expedite its regulatory processes to approve the PBR Cowpea for commercial cultivation across Ghana.

I wished it had happened faster because getting a transgenic crop is not an overnight process. But once you have had it, I will really appreciate if things are hastened so, seeds will quickly be in the hands of the end users for them to benefit fully from the technology that we are churning out as researchers, she said.

Yield

Adam Fuseini, who has been cultivating cowpea at Nyankpala for the past five years, said that he got only up to three bags of cowpea from an acre farm even though he had to spray the farm for up to eight times using chemicals before harvesting.

We are suffering a lot. I spend a lot of money to cultivate the existing cowpea seed but upon harvest, I do not break even, he said.

Musah Rashidatu said, We are eagerly expecting the approval of the BT Cowpea seed. It will help me a lot. I have seen that the BT Cowpea is different from the one I plant.

Remedy

The Deputy Director of the Savannah Agriculture Research Institute (SARI), Dr. Issah Sugri, said agricultural biotechnology had been identified as one potent weapon to tackle the challenges facing farmers in the country, and added that biotechnology crops could make farming more profitable by increasing crop quality.

Breakthrough

A plant breeder and entomologist at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-SARI) and Principal Investigator for the PBR Cowpea, Dr. Jerry Nboyine, said the cowpea sector would receive a major boost when the crop was finally commercialised as it exhibited very high levels of resistance to the legume pod borer which was responsible for up to 80 per cent of yield losses on farmers cowpea fields.

It has a lot of socio-economic benefits because with the PBR Cowpea seed, pesticide spraying will be reduced, which is good for both human health and the soil structure, he noted.

Appreciation

Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)  Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) and OFAB Ghana Coordinator, Dr. Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw used the opportunity to thank his colleagues for the great support and the technical knowledge shared with farmers and journalist during the community and field visit as part of efforts to clear misconceptions around the technology.

Ghanaian plant breeders are also Ghanaians and have families and will therefore not endanger the lives of others.

We are here to shed light on the significant progress made in the development of a GM product, specifically the Pod Borer Resistance (PBR) Cowpea.

GMO is not a chemical, it is nothing scary but a technology that is used to develop food crops based on the best practices, he added.
10.10.2023 LISTEN

President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced a state funeral for the late former First Lady, Theresa Kufuor.

Speaking at a meeting with the family of the late former first lady, President Akufo-Addo said the state funeral would be held on November 16, 2023.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Theresa Kufour deserves to be given all the respect of the state hence the decision.

Mrs Kufuor passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the age of 87, following an extended period of illness.

Theresa Kufuor (born 25 October 1935) was the wife of John Agyekum Kufuor, the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, and former First Lady of Ghana. She was a retired nurse and midwife.

Mrs Kufuor started her education at the Catholic Convent, OLA, at Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana. She later went to London, where she was educated as a Registered General Nurse, in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland.

After further study at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and Paddington General Hospital, London, she qualified as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.

Theresa married John Kufuor when he was at age 23 after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961. They got married in 1962. She is a mother of five and a grandmother of eight. She is a devout Roman Catholic.

Despite being the first lady of Ghana for eight years between 2001 and 2009, she managed to maintain a low profile in the political arena.

In 2007 she pushed for policy changes in the Government's white paper on Educational Reforms towards the implementation of UNESCO's Free compulsory universal basic education (FCUBE) program for kindergarten children.

She founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organisation operating in Ghana and Canada that supports work in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

-citinewsroom
- Source:

10.10.2023 LISTEN

South Africa is drawing nearer to a landmark national general election in 2024 . Based on recent electoral trends and opinion polls, the governing African National Congress (ANC) is expected to drop below 50% of the national vote for the first time since democracy in 1994.

The end of single party dominance is expected to result in the country having its first national coalition government since the ANC came to power. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the country's third largest party, is a must watch in that transformation. The party's electoral support has been growing since 2014, amid declines for both the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition.

In that time period, the ANC's electoral support has fallen from over 62% in 2014 to 57.50% in 2019, and the DA's from over 22% to 20.7%. The EFF's share of the vote rose from just over 6% in its first election in 2014 to about 11% in 2019 .

The EFF also gained more seats in provincial legislatures and municipal councils in 2014 and 2016. Research shows that it's been appealing to mainly young voters .

Read more: South Africa votes in 2024: could a coalition between major parties ANC and EFF run the country?

We are political scientists with experience in leftist parties in Latin America and South Africa . We did a critical analysis of the EFF through the lens of the party's communication strategies. We analysed survey and exit polling data as well as the ideology, strategy and tactics of the EFF from a political communication theory perspective . Political communication focuses on how political actors craft and distribute their messages.

Based on the findings, we argue that the EFF has gained its modest but significant standing in South African politics by stealing the ANC's mantle. It portrays itself as the true custodian of the values the ANC espoused during the anti-apartheid struggle, as stated in the Freedom Charter , its blueprint for a free South Africa. The EFF accuses the ANC of having abandoned this agenda. This has enabled black South African voters to shift their support from the ANC to the EFF without changing their political orientation.

This lies behind the EFF's decision to focus its messaging around land and jobs. These resonate given the country's history of black land dispossession and stubbornly high unemployment , especially among young people .

Electoral performance

The EFF was founded as a political party in July 2013 following the expulsion of its leader Julius Malema from the ANC in 2012. Malema had been president of the ANC Youth League before being expelled for misconduct .

The EFF went on to garner 1.2 million votes in 2014, and 25 seats in parliament. Come the 2019 national election, it won 44 seats in parliament with just under 1.9 million votes .

The strength of the EFF is greatest in the North West province, where it garnered 17.9% of the vote in the 2019 national general elections. This is followed by Gauteng (13.53%) and Limpopo provinces (13.14%).

It is the official opposition in North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where it got 11.51%. It continues to battle in the Western Cape (4.1%) and Eastern Cape (7.72%). Its share of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal increased from 1.97% in 2014 to 9.96% in 2019.

In the 2021 local elections, the party received 10.31% , mainly replicating its 2019 national results.

Ideology, strategy and tactics

Our analysis sought to understand the drivers of the EFF's growth and its role in the party system. We analysed the ideology of the party and its strategy and tactics as stated in its electoral documents .

Ideologically, the party's 2013 founding manifesto states that it

draws inspiration from the broad Marxist-Leninist tradition and Fanonian schools of thought in their analyses of the state, imperialism, culture and class contradictions in every society.

It positions itself as anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist and opposes what it calls the neoliberal agenda of the ANC.

The EFF declares that it is a radical and militant economic emancipation movement, rooted in popular grassroots formations and struggles. These include workers' movements, NGOs, community-based organisations and lobby groups.

In a bid to position itself as a viable radical alternative to the ANC, the EFF has used grievance exploitation, radical posturing, agenda setting and framing in its strategic arsenal. Inequality , racialised land ownership patterns, persistent racism , unemployment and other issues are the main grievances the party has exploited.

It has done this through political communication and theatrics in parliament  including wearing the uniforms of workers, disrupting proceedings and chanting slogans  as well as the issues it has chosen to fight for in the streets, social media, the courts and party events.

It has had skirmishes with allegedly racist companies , white farmers and schools , and many other opponents that help drive its narrative.

Read more: What the EFF's self-styled militarism says about South Africa's third largest party

The EFF's success in the North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo appears to have a lot to do with the party's rhetoric on the mining sector, which is prominent in these provinces. The party's strategic political communication portrays it as fighting for oppressed mine workers or host communities in these areas.

Its overtures in Marikana , the site of the 2012 massacre of striking mineworkers by police, attest to this.

Additionally, Limpopo is the home base of the founders of the party, Julius Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu . Founder constituencies tend to contribute significantly to a party's success in South Africa. For instance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the National Freedom Party are strong in KwaZulu Natal, where they were formed and their leaders originate.

Our findings show that EFF supporters among students who had come from the ANC cited corruption and failure to deliver on promises as their reasons for changing. Those who had shifted from the Democratic Alliance were drawn by the appeal of the EFF as a more radical alternative.

Looking forward

In our view the party appears to have lost some momentum in terms of its political communication strategy after the fall of former President Jacob Zuma in February 2018 . It has also made some tactical mistakes. For example, it started calling President Cyril Ramaphosa corrupt and similar to Zuma, without proof.

Read more: South African voters are disillusioned. But they haven't found an alternative to the ANC

Moreover, South Africa has a number of new parties that will be standing in the 2024 elections . They include ActionSA , Build One South Africa and Rise Mzansi . They may present an alternative to the ANC on the good governance front without the radical politics of the EFF or the race politics of the DA .

The elections will show whether the alternatives have a significantly negative impact on the EFF and its ability to present itself as a long term alternative to the ANC.

Ongama Mtimka has received publicly-sponsored PhD research funding through Nelson Mandela University. He is a Lecturer at Nelson Mandela University, the Treasurer of the South African Association of Political Studies, and the executive chair of the South African Political Risk Institute. He writes in his personal capacity.

Gary Francis Prevost 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.

By Ongama Mtimka, Lecturer, Nelson Mandela University And

Gary Francis Prevost, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
The United States on Tuesday formally declared that Niger's military staged a coup, cutting off more than $500 million in assistance as it acknowledged the overthrow of a democratic government seen as a key bulwark against Russia.

Niger's military on July 26 toppled and detained the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, a Western partner in the fight against jihadist insurgents in the Sahel who had been hailed by President Joe Biden for his democratic credentials.

"Any resumption of US assistance will require action by the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, referring to the coup leaders also known by their French acronym CNSP.

The United States, along with West African nations and former colonial power France, had been pressing the military to restore Bazoum but to no avail.

"We're taking this action because over the last two months, we've exhausted all available avenues to preserve the constitutional order in Niger," a senior US official told reporters.

He said that the coup leaders, under their own rules when declaring an emergency, have to restore civilian and democratic rule within 90 to 120 days.

"As time has passed, it's become clear that the CNSP officials we've been dealing with did not want to abide by these constitutional guidelines," the US official said.

Under US law, a formal designation of a coup requires a cutoff in assistance.

Miller said that the United States was ending nearly $200 million that was already suspended.

The United States said it was taking down a $442 million package through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which supports developing countries that abide by democratic norms, that was meant to improve roads and trade routes for agriculture in one of the world's poorest countries.

The United States, however, for now will keep roughly 1,000 troops in Niger. Another US official said that the troops are no longer actively training or assisting Nigerien forces but continue to work to monitor threats from jihadists.

The United States is also maintaining a major drone base near the central city of Agadez from which the US military has centered anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel.

France withdraws troops

The decision comes the same day that the French army began withdrawing troops from Niger after being ordered out by the coup leaders, who also forced out the ambassador.

The US relationship with Niger has been less toxic and the US ambassador, Kathleen FitzGibbon, remains in Niamey.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March with hopes of championing Bazoum and the democratic example in a region where neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso had earlier experienced military takeovers.

Mali has since become a key partner of Russia and has brought in Wagner, the mercenary force that has been condemned for rights abuses and which briefly staged an uprising inside Russia in June.

The first US official said that Niger has not yet turned to Russia but expected Wagner to seek inroads.

"I'm sure that they would like to try and look for openings in Niger to see if they could take advantage. So far we have not seen any evidence that they have succeeded," he said.

Blinken spoke again by telephone with the detained Bazoum on Monday to voice support for returning him to power.

"The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover," Miller said in a statement on Blinken's call.
Former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has filed an interlocutory injunction application against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in an attempt to stop the Office from investigating and prosecuting her and her husband, Daniel Osei Kufuor on charges of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences.

Courts documents available to citinewsroom.com indicate the former Minister is also praying the court to compel the OSP to unfreeze her bank accounts.

She is praying the court to also declare the reseizure of monies found in her Abelemkpe residence and the refreezing of her bank accounts as unfair and capricious.

A Declaration that the Respondents re-seizure of the money (initially seized from the Applicants home on 24/07/23) and re-freezing of Applicants bank accounts respectively on 5th September 2023 is unfair, unreasonable, capricious, arbitrary, and ultra vires the Respondents statutory powers under Act 959 relative to the constitutional provisions of Articles 23 and 296 of the Constitution, 1992.

Madam Dapaahs lawyers are also seeking the court to issue an Order prohibiting the Respondent from continuing the investigation of the Applicant and her husband for corruption or corruption-related offences.

Court documents filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in September disclosed that Madam Dapaah used aliases to conceal transactions from undeclared real estate business and other transactions to justify the reseizure and refreezing of her bank account.

But the former Minister described the claims as misleading.

Cecilia Dapaah came into the limelight in July when it emerged that two of her house helps were before an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items running into millions of Ghana Cedis .

Calls were made for her to resign and be investigated and she yielded to the public pressure and resigned from her position on July 22, 2023 .

citinewsroom
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah for refusing to comply with a directive from the office to declare her assets and money.

Cecilia Dapaah is being investigated by the OSP following huge sums of foreign and local currencies found at her home during a search and others found in her bank accounts.

According to the OSP, Cecilia Dapaah who is being investigated for corruption-related offences, among others, has refused to furnish the OSP with documents given her to declare her property and income since July 24, 2023.

The OSP has thus charged the former minister with one count of failing to comply with a lawful demand of an authorised officer of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in the performance of his functions, contrary to section 69(1)(a) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

Below are portions of the charge sheet filed by the OSP and sighted by Citi News:

The accused was, until 22 July 2023, the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources. She is a suspect under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for corruption and corruption-related offences including using public office for profit in respect of suspected tainted large cash sums reportedly stolen from her residential premises and also retrieved from same by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

The evidence will establish that on 24 July 2023, the Special Prosecutor, in the performance of his functions, served on the accused a notice to declare her property and income under regulation 20(1) per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374).

The Accused was duly notified as per the statutory forms and by a cover letter under the seal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the seal and mark of the Special Prosecutor, that she was required by law to make the specified declarations and return same to the Office of the Special Prosecutor as per Form 12 of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374, within thirty (30) days of service on her of the notice.

As at the close of business on 5 October 2023, the accused had wilfully failed, without lawful excuse, to return the duly completed statutory forms to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, more than thirty (30) days after the service of the notice and forms on her.

 Citi Newsroom
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on Tuesday, October 10, hosted its much-anticipated International Driver and Vehicle Innovations Conference (2023 IDVIC) in Accra.

The Conference which is the first of its kind was held on the theme, The Future of Road Transport to create a platform for vehicle and driver experts to share ideas, discuss challenges, and explore solutions that can help to improve the road transport sector in the country.

Road transport serves as the predominant mode of transportation in Ghana, accounting for more than 95% of the passenger market share and 90% of cargo traffic. However, the road transport sector in Ghana faces a multitude of challenges that hinder its productivity, compromise safety, and limit its contribution to the countrys economic growth and development.

These challenges necessitate transformative changes and regulatory reforms to modernize infrastructure, enhance driver skills, and streamline registration and licensing processes.

Acknowledging these and more, the hardworking leadership of DVLA put together the International Driver and Vehicle Innovations Conference.

The Conference on Tuesday brought together the most forward-thinking minds in the transport sector to explore solutions that can help to improve the road transport sector in Ghana and beyond.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Conference, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DVLA, Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia stressed that the essence of the conference is to start paying attention to the future and build systems and the expertise at the Authority so that it can anticipate and transform regulation under its mandate.

He said with technology taking over the world, it is important for DVLA to get on top of issues and have the know-how to adapt to emerging trends.

We need to as regulators understand and anticipate the changing trends so that the laws can guide us otherwise we will be left behind. Even these aboboyaa that we have in the street we didnt prepare for that because it was not there at the time the laws were a little behind.

Everything we do in driver licensing should be standardized because if you have a good license here you should be able to drive in another country assigned by convention. So this is the idea of making sure we prepare our drivers and our vehicles, Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia.

DVLA CEO Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia

According to the DVLA CEO, the Authority is already in the process of building standards for electric cars and is in constant touch with the parliamentary committee in charge of its mandate to ensure it has the necessary laws to back all the standards it comes up with.

On his part, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, African Union High Representative (Silencing the Guns), applauded the leadership of Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority.

He said it is his hope that other countries in the ECOWAS region will emulate the successes of DVLA in Ghana.

We are very impressed with the innovation that we are seeing in Ghana at the DVLA under the leadership of Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia. He is really showing the way forward.

What we like to see is a regional approach to support and to help free movement of goods and persons which as you know is still primarily by road in our sub-region, Mohamed Ibn Chambas said.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas

The celebrated Ghanaian diplomat in his interaction with the media argued that if other countries learn from DVLA, it will enhance trade and boost the economies of not only countries in the ECOWAS region but the entire continent.

Moving forward, DVLA plans to explore innovative and cutting-edge technologies for enhancing safety and sustainability with regard to Driver and Vehicle Licensing.

The Authority is also keen on promoting sustainable practices in the road transport sector with a focus on reducing greenhouse emissions, improving air quality, and minimizing waste and how DVLA can be repositioned to administer its mandate amid green transport interventions.
Franklin Cudjoe

10.10.2023 LISTEN

The Founding President and chief executive officer of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe has argued that the probe into the leaked tapes on the plot to remove Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has taken a directionless path.

In a post on Facebook, Mr. Cudjoe said he is surprised that the Parliamentary Committee investigating the leaked tapes to oust the IGP is still sitting.

This is after he learned that Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has been invited again to face the Parliamentary Committee.

In his view, once the committee's main mandate of establishing the authenticity of the leaked audio has been achieved, the work of the committee should have ended.

Franklin Cudjoe who believes the investigation is negatively impacting the morale of police officers is calling on Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin to shut down the work of the committee.

This directionless path portends negatively for the morale of police officers and integrity of the Police Service. The longer the committee is allowed to go on a fishing expedition, the greater the growth of confidence of openly declared and closeted partisan police officers to undermine the authority of the Police Service ahead of the crucial elections in 2024.

The Speaker should shut it down, Franklin Cudjoe said in a post on Facebook.
Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has lauded the governments Free Senior High School policy, saying it has provided a window of opportunity for over 1.4 million students to attain a secondary school education.

Speaking at the formal launch of the National Service Scheme at 50 (NSS@50) at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Mr. Adutwum said he is proud to have been a part of the journey of the Free SHS thus far.

Mr. Adutwum celebrated the successes of the initiative, saying it has balanced out the ratio of boys to girls with secondary education in the last six years.

He also indicated that the government is currently on a drive to transform Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He added that the various construction of educational facilities across the country is an indication of the governments seriousness and commitment to transforming Ghanas basic education system.

Today, I am happy to note that from 830,000 students that were enrolled in our secondary schools, now we have 1.4 million of our youth enrolled in secondary schools, Mr. Adutwum said. I am happy to note that we are at a point where we have equal numbers of girls as boys in our senior high schools, something that nobody ever dreamt that an African country could achieve.

TVET is undergoing transformation but I am so excited that he [President Akufo-Addo] has now turned his attention to the transformation of our basic school system.

Schools that are under construction in many parts of the country are making a profound statement that public schools can do better and public schools are being transformed and TVET is going through transformation.

-citinewsroom
The African Union High Representative, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas has applauded the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Ghana for the various innovations making the Authority function effectively.

Since taking over as DVLA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kwasi Agyeman has transformed the Authority and made it one of the best public institutions in the country.

The nuisance of middlemen (goro boys) which used to be a major challenge in giving the Authority a bad name has been addressed and reduced to the barest minimum.

Thanks to many policies and innovations, services provided by DVLA are now done swiftly and without stress to the delight of the Ghanaian public.

Delivering an address at the maiden edition of the International Driver and Vehicle Innovations Conference (2023 IDVIC) in Accra on Tuesday, October 10, Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia stressed that DVLA in the next phase is going to ride on the back of technology to execute its mandate.

As part of its plans, DVLA is looking at a future where Driver's Licenses will be Digital, the use of biometric authentication methods such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, will enhance the security of driver's licenses, having Automated Testing and Evaluation, as well as Predictive Analytics for Road Safety and National Security, among others.

Impressed with what is happening at DVLA, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas in an address at the Conference said he is pleased with the leadership of Mr. Kwasi Agyeman Busia.

We are very impressed with the innovation that we are seeing in Ghana at the DVLA under the leadership of Kwasi Agyeman Busia. He is really showing the way forward.

What we like to see is a regional approach to support and to help free movement of goods and persons which as you know is still primarily by road in our sub-region, he said.

According to the African Union High Representative, it is important that other African countries learn from the successes of DVLA to improve the transport sector not only in their countries but on the continent.

He said he believes this will enhance trade on the continent to bolster economies.

There is the need for enhanced trade and security. And when it comes to that I think the way to go is technology which is why we are very excited about the technological innovations we are seeing with DVLA in Ghana which if emulated by other member states could help us to facilitate the free movement that we want to see of persons and of goods which all goes to contribute to enhance trade, Dr. Ibn Chambers said.

Dr. Ibn Chambers further indicated that as we examine the challenges of transport and rising climate change across Africa, efficient public transportation and the development of mass transport systems are essential components to be taken into account by leveraging technology.
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY  Get Free Report) and PageGroup (OTC:MPGPY  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, earnings, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

92.2% of Korn Ferry shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of Korn Ferry shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Profitability

This table compares Korn Ferry and PageGroups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Korn Ferry 6.24% 14.29% 6.90% PageGroup N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Korn Ferry 0 2 3 0 2.60 PageGroup 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Korn Ferry and PageGroup, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Korn Ferry presently has a consensus price target of $58.50, indicating a potential upside of 20.01%. Given Korn Ferrys higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Korn Ferry is more favorable than PageGroup.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Korn Ferry and PageGroups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Korn Ferry $2.86 billion 0.90 $209.53 million $3.39 14.38 PageGroup N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Korn Ferry has higher revenue and earnings than PageGroup.

Summary

Korn Ferry beats PageGroup on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Korn Ferry

(Get Free Report)

Korn Ferry, together with its subsidiaries, provides organizational consulting services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) & Professional Search. The company provides executive search services to recruit board level, chief executive, other senior executive, and general management talent of organizations. It also offers organizational strategy, assessment and succession, leadership and professional development, and total reward services. In addition, the company provides RPO, business project, professional search, and outsource recruiting solutions. Further, the company offers tech-enabled solutions that identify structures, roles, capabilities, and behaviors to drive businesses. It serves public and private companies, and middle market and emerging growth companies, as well as government and non-profit organizations. The company was formerly known as Korn/Ferry International and changed its name to Korn Ferry in January 2019. Korn Ferry was founded in 1969 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

About PageGroup

(Get Free Report)

PageGroup plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment consultancy and other ancillary services in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the Americas. It offers executive search services, such as search, selection, and talent management solutions for organizations on a permanent and interim basis under the Page Executive brand; recruitment services for qualified professional on permanent, temporary, and contract or interim basis under the Michael Page brand; recruitment services to organizations requiring permanent employees and temporary or contract staff at technical and administrative support, professional clerical, and junior management levels under the Page Personnel brand; and flexible recruitment outsourcing services under the Page Outsourcing brand. The company also provides skills and talent assessment, and succession planning development services under the Page Assessment brand; temporary, contract, and interim IT resource services under the Page Consulting brand; and helps students to search for internships and apprenticeships under the Page Talent brand. In addition, it is involved in the provision of IT consultancy services. The company was formerly known as Michael Page International plc and changed its name to PageGroup plc in June 2016. PageGroup plc was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Addlestone, the United Kingdom.

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Diamond Wellness (OTCMKTS:POTN  Get Free Report) and MariMed (OTCMKTS:MRMD  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.2% of MariMed shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Diamond Wellness shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 20.6% of MariMed shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Diamond Wellness and MariMed, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Diamond Wellness 0 0 0 0 N/A MariMed 0 0 1 0 3.00

Profitability

MariMed has a consensus price target of $0.85, suggesting a potential upside of 120.49%.

This table compares Diamond Wellness and MariMeds net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Diamond Wellness N/A N/A N/A MariMed 4.16% 13.00% 4.95%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Diamond Wellness and MariMeds revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Diamond Wellness $9.68 million N/A -$5.59 million N/A N/A MariMed $134.01 million 1.00 $13.47 million $0.02 19.28

MariMed has higher revenue and earnings than Diamond Wellness.

Summary

MariMed beats Diamond Wellness on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Diamond Wellness

(Get Free Report)

Diamond Wellness Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the development and sale of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) oil products. It offers flavored and unflavored oils; vaping pens and additives; edibles, such as chewable gummies and lollipops; capsules; beverage energy/relaxation shots; topical application creams in various concentrations; dog and cat wellness products in various dosages and delivery formats; skin care, bath, and body products; and hemp flowers. The company provides its products under various brands, including Diamond CBD, Chill, Relax, MediPets, and Meds BioTech, as well as various other brands. It sells its products through distributors and resellers, as well as through its Website. The company was formerly known as PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. Diamond Wellness Holdings Inc. is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

About MariMed

(Get Free Report)

MariMed Inc. engages in cultivation, production, and dispensing of medicinal and recreational cannabis in the United States and internationally. The company sells flowers and concentrates under the Nature's Heritage brand; chewable cannabis-infused mint tablet under the brand Kalm Fusion. It also provides soft and chewy baked goods and a hot chocolate mix under Bubby's Baked brand. In addition, the company offers vapes, and edible products under InHouse brand. Further, it provides company licenses its brands and product formulations, as well as leases cannabis facilities. MariMed Inc. was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Norwood, Massachusetts.

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iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF (NYSEARCA:FILL  Get Free Report) shot up 3.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $25.42 and last traded at $25.35. 23,820 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 38% from the average session volume of 17,241 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.59.

iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $119.12 million, a PE ratio of 6.34 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $25.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.99.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF

An institutional investor recently raised its position in iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF stock. Planned Solutions Inc. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF (NYSEARCA:FILL  Free Report) by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 112,487 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,924 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF comprises 1.5% of Planned Solutions Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Planned Solutions Inc. owned 2.39% of iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF worth $2,605,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

About iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF

The iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF (FILL) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in energy equity. The fund tracks an index of companies in developed and emerging markets that are primarily engaged in the business of energy exploration and production. FILL was launched on Jan 31, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE:HTD  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, October 2nd, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.138 per share on Tuesday, October 31st. This represents a $1.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.64%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th.

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE HTD opened at $17.17 on Tuesday. John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund has a 12-month low of $16.40 and a 12-month high of $24.91. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $18.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.99.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HTD. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund in the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund in the second quarter worth about $86,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC purchased a new position in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund in the third quarter valued at about $208,000. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund by 16.3% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 11,328 shares of the companys stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 1,587 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund by 11.5% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,851 shares of the companys stock worth $249,000 after purchasing an additional 1,120 shares during the last quarter.

About John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management and Analytic Investors, LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors, with an emphasis on the utilities sector.

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Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NOM  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, October 4th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Friday, October 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.0255 per share on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.31 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th.

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NOM opened at $8.91 on Tuesday. Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 52-week low of $8.90 and a 52-week high of $12.53. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $9.67 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.91.

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Institutional Trading of Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund stock. Susquehanna International Group LLP boosted its position in Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NOM  Free Report) by 44.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,638 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,454 shares during the period. Susquehanna International Group LLP owned about 0.75% of Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund worth $184,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. 8.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Missouri. The fund invests in undervalued municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and Missouri income taxes.

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PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE:PCK  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, October 2nd, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a dividend of 0.022 per share by the closed-end fund on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This is a boost from PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIs previous monthly dividend of $0.02.

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Price Performance

NYSE:PCK opened at $4.98 on Tuesday. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II has a twelve month low of $4.90 and a twelve month high of $7.30. The companys 50-day moving average price is $5.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $5.85.

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Institutional Trading of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sowell Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the 1st quarter worth approximately $201,000. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,362,000. Robinson Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the first quarter worth approximately $353,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II by 23.5% during the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 249,494 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $1,889,000 after buying an additional 47,448 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II by 253.0% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 31,450 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $201,000 after buying an additional 22,540 shares in the last quarter.

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Company Profile

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. It is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets of United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Public Joint Stock Company Magnit (LON:MGNT  Get Free Report)s stock price fell 33.1% on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 6.56 ($0.08) and last traded at GBX 6.56 ($0.08). 100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 100% from the average session volume of 1,012,682 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 9.80 ($0.12).

Public Joint Stock Company Magnit Trading Down 33.1 %

The businesss 50 day moving average price is GBX 6.56 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 6.55.

Public Joint Stock Company Magnit Company Profile

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Magnit PAO, formerly Magnit OAO (Magnit OJSC) is a Russia-based holding company, which is engaged in the food retail industry. The Company operates the chain of numerous convenience stores and hypermarkets, as well as Magnit Family stores in more than 1,763 locations across the Russian Federation. The Companys stores are located within the Southern, Central and Volga Regions, North-Western and Urals Regions.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EAD  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, October 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be given a dividend of 0.0474 per share by the closed-end fund on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.57 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 0.5% per year over the last three years.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

NYSEAMERICAN:EAD opened at $5.99 on Tuesday. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has a one year low of $5.92 and a one year high of $7.21.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Company Profile

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Nomura Holdings Inc. bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter worth approximately $63,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $80,000. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 17.5% during the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 14,201 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 2,118 shares in the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC increased its stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 20.0% during the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 12,000 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $95,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boothbay Fund Management LLC acquired a new position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $102,000.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. It is co-managed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in below investment grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, loans and preferred stocks rated Ba or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc or BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

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Sohil Sehran is a journalist with 10 years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media. He covers politics and national affairs at Moneycontrol. He tweets @SohilSehran
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Siddharth Upasani is a Special Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He has been covering the Indian economy, economic data, and monetary and fiscal policies for nine years. He tweets at @SiddharthUbiWan. Contact: siddharth.upasani@nw18.com
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Across a range of scenarios that involve interactions with brands and service providers, customer willingness to share information about themselves is being tested.

Consumers of free online services generally understand these days that they are the product: that they trade some of their privacy in exchange for access. But there is a fine line between what is and isnt an acceptable use of customer data in this space, and we know this because there is growing evidence in many countries of that line being not infrequently crossed.

Loyalty schemes are also facing similar existential questions on their data handling practices. While consumer sensitivity to sharing data with such schemes is heightened, 55% are still willing to share information where they perceive the value exchange they receive in return to be equitable, according to one recent Australian survey. Still, this shows theres room to improve data-handling practices and to build  or, in some cases, try to rebuild  trusted relationships with customers in this space.

Retailers, telcos, insurers, utilities and other service providers  and a long tail of associated third-parties involved in data collection and analysis  all find themselves in the same boat. These are the types of organisations that have suffered data breaches that exposed customers personally identifiable information (PII). These incidents have not only increased the prospect of identity theft, but also raised questions about data collection practices generally  including how much, or how little, control a customer has over their data, including the storage or use of that data long after the purpose for which it was collected has expired.

All of this has translated into changed customer behaviour. As McKinsey notes, While 59% of consumers think that, in general, companies care more about profiting from their data than protecting it, most respondents have confidence in the companies they choose to do business with.

The same survey shows 85% of consumers now check a companys data handling policies before transacting and that 53% will only transact with companies that have a reputation for protecting customer data.

What organisations need in place today

For organisations and brands, the takeouts from this are twofold.

First, any organisation collecting data should be clear about how they intend to use it, and to spell that out in their data and/or privacy policies, since its clear prospective customers are going to check.

If the data is to be shared, internally or externally, the organisation should be upfront about obtaining the data in the first place. Customers expect that their data will be used to drive personalised marketing or similar outreach, but may be less comfortable with more uncontrolled uses involving third-parties.

The second takeout is that organisations need to have an appropriate identity and access management (IAM) system and controls in the backend to manage customer consents around data use (either on the customers behalf, or more preferably, giving customer some self-service control over this), and to ensure that use of the customers data is traceable and auditable, such that it cant be accessed inappropriately or used in ways that would violate customer consent and trust.

Preference management and consent cannot be set-and-forget. What a customer is comfortable consenting to today may change across the course of their relationship with an organisation. A customer may authorise data use only for a particular period of time. Alternatively, they may decide to revoke a prior consent.

Its incumbent on the organisation to be able to honour that, while ensuring that previously authorised data usage ceases. In the future, in Australia, customers may have a formal right to be forgotten, similar to a right that exists in Europe. That would again thrust responsibility upon organisations to have strong IAM in place to manage this.

Just as importantly, IAM controls who accesses customer data internally. Knowing the data being shared is going to the right internal user requesting the data, who has the requisite access permissions, at the right time and right place, is critical to auditability and to ensuring customers wishes around data use are respected. This helps build trust in the relationship and denotes the organisation as a place that is trustworthy to transact with.

Decentralised identity will change the nature of relationships

In the longer-term, consent and preference management is likely to look very different, with the customer  not the organisation  at the centre.

The emergence of decentralised or self-sovereign identity promises to flip the current brand relationship and data access paradigm on its head.

Rather than the situation today, where a customer has to provide data over and over and authorise themselves with every organisation they transact with, in the future customers will have one identity that they centrally control and can use to authenticate to every organisation.

This identity, stored in a digital wallet on their smartphone, will also be significantly privacy-preserving, sharing only the bare minimum of information required to do business or transact. For example, if age verification to use a service is required, decentralised identity proves the identity holder meets the threshold, but does not share their actual age, date-of-birth or other identifying details.

That shift in the balance of power in the relationship will have a number of impacts for organisations around data collection or use, and how transparent they will need to be in order to receive customer data into the future for personalisation or other analytics-based purposes.

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The market bounced back sharply on October 10 after a day of correction due to geopolitical tensions between Israel and Palestine. The Nifty50 decisively climbed above last week's high on a closing basis and formed a long bullish candlestick pattern on the daily charts. Hence the strong closing above the 19,700-19,800 area in coming sessions can take the index towards the 20,000 mark, with immediate support at 19,600-19,500 levels and Monday's low of 19,333 can be bottom in near term, experts said.

The BSE Sensex climbed 567 points to 66,079, while the Nifty50 jumped 178 points to 19,690, recouping the entire previous day's losses.

"On the hourly chart, the Nifty has broken out of an Inverted Head and Shoulder's pattern. In the short term, the index is expected to maintain its strength," Rupak De, senior technical analyst at LKP Securities said.

He feels a decisive move above 19,700 levels could potentially propel the index towards the range of 19,850 to 19,900. The support level is situated at 19,600, he said.

The Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices also remained strong on positive breadth, rising 1.4 percent and 1.2 percent respectively. About three shares advanced for every falling share on the NSE.

We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:

Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month.

Key support and resistance levels on Nifty

The pivot point calculator indicates that the Nifty may be taking support at 19,600, followed by 19,563 and 19,505. On the higher side, 19,716 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 19,752 and 19,810.

Nifty Bank

On October 10, the Bank Nifty, too, recovered all its previous day's losses and closed 474 points higher at 44,360, forming long bullish candlestick pattern on the daily charts. The index is expected to face resistance at 44,500-45,000 levels in coming sessions.

"The bulls made a strong comeback, defending the support zone of 44,000-43,800, where fresh Put writing is evident. The next immediate hurdle is positioned at 44,500, and a break above this level is expected to trigger further short covering, potentially pushing the index towards the 45,000 mark," Kunal Shah, senior technical & derivative analyst at LKP Securities said.

Additionally, the momentum indicator RSI (relative strength index) has provided a positive crossover, confirming a buy signal, he feels.

As per the pivot point calculator, the banking index is expected to take support at 44,100, followed by 43,986 and 43,801. On the upside, the initial resistance is at 44,468, then at 44,582 and at 44,767.

Call options data

As per weekly options data, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was seen at 20,000 strike with 85.44 lakh contracts, which can act as a key resistance for the Nifty. It was followed by the 19,800 strike, which had 63.75 lakh contracts, while 19,900 strike had 61.05 lakh contracts.

Meaningful Call writing was seen at 20,100 strike, which added 21.8 lakh contracts followed by 20,000 and 20,200 strikes, which added 12.65 lakh and 11.43 lakh contracts.

Maximum Call unwinding was at 19,600 strike, which shed 35.12 lakh contracts followed by 19,500 strike and 19,800 strike, which shed 29.4 lakh contracts and 13.72 lakh contracts.

Put option data

On the Put side, the maximum open interest remained at 19,600 strike with 1.17 crore contracts. This can be an important support for the Nifty in the coming sessions.

It was followed by 19,000 strike, comprising 85.26 lakh contracts and 19,500 strike with 84.16 lakh contracts.

The meaningful Put writing was at 19,600 strike, which added 87.14 lakh contracts, followed by 19,700 strike and 19,000 strike, which added 45.75 lakh and 31 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was at 18,800 strike, which shed 6.3 lakh contracts, followed by 20,000 strike and 20,500 strike, which shed 7,000 and 650 contracts.

Stocks with high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries, Max Financial Services, Larsen & Toubro, and Asian Paints saw the highest delivery among the F&O stocks.

83 stocks see a long build-up

A long build-up was seen in 83 stocks namely, Birlasoft, Chambal Fertilizers, Hindalco Industries, Dalmia Bharat, and Escorts Kubota. An increase in open interest (OI) and price indicates a build-up of long positions.

6 stocks see long unwinding

Based on the OI percentage, a total of 6 stocks, including IndusInd Bank, Metropolis Healthcare, Max Financial Services, Mahanagar Gas, and Zydus Lifesciences saw a long unwinding. A decline in OI and price indicates long unwinding.

16 stocks see a short build-up

A short build-up was seen in 16 stocks, including ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Biocon, Container Corporation of India, Abbott India, and Jubilant Foodworks. An increase in OI along with a fall in price points to a build-up of short positions.

82 stocks see short-covering

Based on the OI percentage, 82 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included City Union Bank, MCX India, L&T Finance Holdings, ABB India, and Kotak Mahindra Bank. A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering.

Bulk deals

For more bulk deals, click here

Results on October 11

Also read: TCS Earnings Preview Q2FY24: Moderate growth to continue despite major deal wins

Stocks in the news

Bank of Baroda: The Reserve Bank of India has directed Bank of Baroda to suspend, with immediate effect, any further onboarding of their customers onto the bob World mobile application. This action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the manner of onboarding their customers onto this mobile application.

Titan Company: The jewellery-watch-to-eyewear maker said the Board of Directors will be meeting on October 17, to consider issuance of non-convertible debentures on a private placement basis, within the permissible borrowing limits.

Union Bank of India: Sudarshana Bhat has been elevated to the post of Chief General Manager of Union Bank with effect from October 10. Sudarshana Bhat was the general manager of the bank. Earlier, Lal Singh was the Chief General Manager of Union Bank, who now has been appointed as Executive Director of Bank Of Baroda by the Central Government.

NCL Industries: The company has announced cement production for the quarter ended September FY24 at 6,59,300 metric tonnes (MT), up 9 percent over a year-ago period, and cement dispatches at 6,69,587 MT, up 11 percent YoY, while cement boards production grew by 12 percent YoY to 21,509 MT, and cement board dispatches increased 9 percent to 20,239 MT.

Birla Corporation: The flagship company of the MP Birla Group has received an order from the Office of Collector (Mining), Satna, Madhya Pradesh, imposing a penalty of Rs 8.43 crore for excess production of limestone from the captive mining for the period from 2000-01 to 2006-07, without obtaining environment clearance.

EIH Associated Hotels: Shib Sanker Mukherji has resigned from the office of Chairman and Director of the company due to personal reasons, with effect from October 10.

Fund Flow (Rs Crore)

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FII) offloaded shares worth Rs 1,005.49 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DII) purchased Rs 1,963.34 crore worth of stocks on October 10, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) showed.

Stocks under F&O ban on NSE

The NSE has retained Delta Corp, Indiabulls Housing Finance, L&T Finance Holdings, Manappuram Finance, MCX India, and Punjab National Bank to its F&O ban list for October 11. Securities banned under the F&O segment include companies where derivative contracts cross 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Disclaimer: MoneyControl is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
Preeti Kulkarni is a financial journalist with over 13 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, she covers the personal finance beat for Moneycontrol. She focusses primarily on insurance, banking, taxation and financial planning
Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com
Santosh Nair is Executive Editor, Special Projects, Moneycontrol. He has been writing on the financial markets for over two decades, having previously worked with Business Standard, myiris.com, Crisil Market Wire and The Economic Times. He is also the author of the popular book on Indian markets, Bulls, Bears and Other Beasts.
World Mental Health Day, commemorated annually on October 10th, serves as a prominent global occasion dedicated to raising awareness regarding mental health matters, advocating for their significance, and striving towards improved mental well-being for all.

In a world where the pace of life can be relentless, and the pressures often overwhelming, the profound importance of this day cannot be emphasized enough. This essay delves into the inception, objectives, and the crucial role played by World Mental Health Day in advancing mental health awareness while combatting the prevailing stigmas that surround it.

The inception of World Mental Health Day dates back to 1992 when it was instigated by the collaborative efforts of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This days establishment aimed to underscore the global significance of mental health, elevate awareness levels, and cultivate an environment where individuals and communities could openly engage in discussions addressing mental health concerns. Over the years, it has evolved into a pivotal platform for advocacy, education, and proactive initiatives.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, we asked business leaders their views on how we can improve mental health and challenge the stigmas which exist within workplaces and society as a whole.

Martin Herbst, CEO at JobAdder

Many young people say theyre no longer willing to hustle, pretend to love their jobs and go above and beyond for employers that they feel are unappreciative of their efforts. This World Mental Health Day, Id urge employers who may have experienced an increase in disengaged employees to use this day as a circuit breaker. Instead of being frustrated that some employees have taken a step back, why not use this as a chance to sit down and talk about whats going on in their lives and ask whether there is anything you can do to make their time at work more meaningful?

Are teams relying too much on employees working after hours to meet their targets? Since worker shortages are hitting companies hard, perhaps its time to check in with senior staff about how theyre feeling, if theyre managing OK, and whether they need further support in doing more with less. Days like World Mental Health Day should ideally be the starting point of such conversations rather than one-off events.

A compassionate work culture where everyone feels supported will help companies retain workers and motivate them to feel passionate about their careers again. Sometimes, a sledgehammer approach wont cut it, and World Mental Health Day is just one small reminder.

Chris Dahl, Co-CEO, Pin Payments

Men in the financial services sector have faced a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues for some time now, with 82% of men in the financial services reporting feeling stressed at work in the past month alone, according to the Financial Services Council. Largely this is due to high-pressure environments, longer hours and a lack of work-life balance. However, creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture which values balance and flexible working arrangements can help to ease the pressures associated with work. Within our own business, weve always prioritised the mental wellbeing of our staff and this was particularly evident throughout COVID-19 in Melbourne, where our staff worked under stringent conditions from home. We were very aware of the mental health implications of lockdown and created wellness initiatives, like care packages and virtual catchups, to keep morale high.

Weve now moved into a hybrid way of working, as we once again recognised that working entirely remotely wasnt healthy or productive for our team, who needed more face-to-face interactions to increase creativity and overall workplace satisfaction. These minor changes make a big difference to the overall mental health of your employees and as a business leader, we have a responsibility to ensure were doing our part to keep people happy and healthy. As a CEO and business leader, I hope to encourage open and honest conversations surrounding mental health in and outside of work, so we can start to break the stigmas attached to mental health and gender.

Dr Richard Wise, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director at Wise Psychology



Many men grapple with acknowledging the validity of their emotional world, often internalising their psychological distress and the reluctance to reach out only deepens this solitude. However, this isnt just about gender, its about societal norms which have been ingrained from youth, perpetuated by prevailing ideas of masculinity. Too often, young boys are taught to adopt a detached and dismissive attitude, making these harmful stances the societal status quo. This stoicism, while seen as strength, often invalidates and isolates their suffering, paving the way for profound mental health challenges, borne from isolation and the suppression of natural vulnerabilities.

Workplace cultures with toxic dynamics and power imbalances can leave people feeling marginalised and isolated, so its natural in these circumstances for stress to escalate creating mental health issues. Its also no surprise that burnout often emerges in settings where individuals feel ill-equipped for their roles and uncertain of their responsibilities. True psychological safety exists in a culture where individuals are empowered to voice their feelings with honesty and vulnerability. Unfortunately, historically those who identify as male have been discouraged from doing so, due to an ingrained belief that it isnt safe. To change these ingrained ideas we need to talk with openness and vulnerability, and the more men that can do that, the less stigma there will be.

Thomas Fu, Founder and Executive Director, Motor Culture Australia

As someone who started a business in my early twenties, Im no stranger to the mental health challenges that surround the startup industry and business. With failure and success often existing side-by-side in the early days, stress levels as a founder are often high. Startup founders are twice as prone to depression, with 72 percent stating in the Startup Snapshots April 2023 report that their professional journey negatively impacted their mental well-being, causing stress, burnout, and more. Unfortunately, there is a lot of romanticism portrayed around running a startup, fuelled by Hollywood and popular culture. Likewise, due to the grind and hustle mentality that exists in startups, stoicism and silent suffering is often seen as a badge of honour. Its these stigmas that we need to change, particularly for those that identify as male. Its vital that we foster a workplace environment where men can openly discuss their feelings, thereby reshaping perceptions of masculinity and mental health. TradeMutt, a socially-conscious workwear brand, is leading the charge on this by combining interesting workwear with mental health advocacy, empowering men to engage in life-changing conversations. On World Mental Health Day, were reminded of the transformative power of discussions. By emphasising both mental and physical well-being and advocating through open dialogue, we can improve mens holistic health worldwide.

Julian Vivoli, Founder and Director, Vivoli Consulting Engineers

In male-dominated industries like construction and engineering where Ive spent my career, mental health discussions are often sidelined or dismissed altogether. Pervasive stigmas, coupled with a fear of appearing incapable or weak, prevents an open dialogue from ever occurring. Part of the problem is the perception that vulnerability is a weakness, when in fact it represents an inner strength.

When I started my career I was exposed to some very unhealthy, toxic workplace cultures, which negatively impacted my mental health as a young professional. Over a decade on, within my own business those experiences taught me what not to do. Ive actively worked to create a positive culture where the needs of my employees are heard before they escalate. Encouraging an openness surrounding seeking help, mental health days off work and creating genuine team connections have helped to do that. While events like World Mental Health Day put a spotlight on these issues, its on us to translate awareness into action, so we can champion better mental health. Ultimately, a conversation or any support you can provide could be the lifeline someone needs.

Resources for mental health support
Manish Anand is Delhi-based journalist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Bloomberg Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Sarah Green Carmichael is a Bloomberg Opinion editor. Previously, she was managing editor of ideas and commentary at Barrons and an executive editor at Harvard Business Review.
Uma Purushothaman teaches International Relations at the Central University of Kerala. Twitter: @uma_IRteacher. Views are personal.
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In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: IT sectors refusal to take risks affects jobs, whats firing up the IPO mark...

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Fed skips again, but are rate hikes behind it?

Highlights Chinas economic malaise bears some semblance to Japan in the 1990s Coined by economist Richard Koo, a Balance Sheet recession refers to what follows after a debt-financed bubble bursts In China, the debt binge is over - and it looks like its taking everything down with it As reluctant as the Chinese officials are to inject direct fiscal stimulus, its probably Chinas only shot at recovering from this slump A lot of things are wrong with the Chinese economy right now. The slowdown...

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Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
The persistent challenges of rising living costs and evolving employee priorities are exerting continuous pressure on business leaders and HR teams, as per the latest findings from Reward Gateways industry research.

According to the Australian Talent & Engagement Report, the workforce is increasingly open to new opportunities if their current needs are not met, with a staggering one in three Australians actively searching for or intending to seek new employment within the next year.

Key drivers for this restlessness include poor compensation (cited by 61% of respondents), excessive workloads (mentioned by 51%), and unsatisfactory company culture (noted by 48%). Furthermore, one in four employees currently seeking new job prospects or planning to do so this year express feelings of being unrecognized by their current employers.

A noteworthy 25% of Australians are biding their time, waiting for economic conditions to improve before embarking on job searches, while 53% admit that the mounting stress stemming from the escalating cost of living is negatively impacting their job performance. Dissatisfaction leading to employees staying in roles primarily due to economic concerns is contributing to increased attrition, financial strain, reduced productivity, overworked teams, and heightened disengagement.

In the midst of a fiercely competitive job market, longer lead times and amplified hiring costs, as well as constrained HR budgets, Australian employers are grappling with substantial challenges related to talent attraction, engagement, and retention. It is increasingly clear that talent retention and engagement are not just HR responsibilities; they are issues that must be addressed by all business leaders.

Kylie Terrell, Director of Consultancy, ANZ, at Reward Gateway, emphasizes the evolving landscape, stating, Organizations are having to work a lot harder to retain talent and consider more creative methods to connect and support their people, methods that they might have overlooked in the past but are working now. She highlights the transformative impact of leveraging digital engagement tools, particularly in sectors like childcare, where dispersed workforces have been able to foster a sense of belonging and support that was previously elusive.

Employees expectations and priorities are in flux, with a heightened emphasis on well-being support, workplace culture, interpersonal connections, and recognition. While compensation remains vital, factors that are equally, if not more, crucial include having a caring manager (62%), flexible work location options (59%), opportunities for professional growth (55%), and a sense of belonging within the workplace (56%).

Forward-thinking Australian employers are taking steps to create the necessary foundations for attracting and retaining top talent while enhancing overall productivity. A significant 68% of HR leaders plan to increase investments in areas such as hiring, onboarding, communication, recognition and reward programs, employee benefits, and learning and development initiatives.

In the current economic climate, meaningful benefits like employee discount programs that aid in reducing everyday expenses can offer immediate financial well-being supportan aspect employees greatly appreciate. However, ensuring employees are aware of these offerings is paramount. Research highlights a substantial disconnect between HR and employees regarding financial well-being offerings, with 92% of HR managers finding their employers offerings helpful, while 47% of employees perceive them as dissatisfactory or below average.

Kylie Green, Managing Director, APAC at Reward Gateway says: The cost of remuneration in Australia has increased over the past five years, but our productivity hasnt improved at an equivalent rate. Leaders are increasingly looking at how to improve employee engagement so they can maximise the performance and productivity of their current teams and build a strong workforce over the long term.

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Customers at an SCB branch in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of SCB

The State Bank of Vietnam is looking for a bank willing to acquire Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB).

When one is found, the central bank will submit a plan for the restructuring, the government has told the National Assembly (NA).

After SCB faced a run in October 2022, the central bank put the private lender under special control to limit negative impacts on it and credit institutions in general.

Many banks have been placed under special control in the past, but all have recovered and even thrived.

In April Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had sought a plan from the central bank for restructuring ailing banks, including SCB. He said the restructure should be transparent and "prevent asset losses."

Also according to the governments report to the NA, four other lenders placed under special control, CBBank, OceanBank, GP Bank, and DongABank, will be compulsorily sold.

They are required to hire consultants to determine their valuation before being sold to stronger banks.

According to the government, it takes time to find banks willing to acquire ailing ones and the mechanisms and financial resources needed to carry out the transaction.

Mechanisms for handling ailing credit institutions are expected to get a fillip when the Law on Credit Institutions is amended possibly at the NA session at the end of October.

The amendments include provisions for improving risk management at banks and their operating capacity.
Korea is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty throughout all four seasons, and autumn holds a unique allure for travelers.

Now, the poetic scenery of Korea's autumn leaves on Nami Island, a famous location in classic Korean series dramas, will be recreated at the 2023 Korea Festival, hosted at Estella Place Shopping Mall (88 Song Hanh, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City), Keppel's flagship commercial development in Vietnam.

The festival will showcase not only the splendid cultural aspects but also the enchanting autumn landscapes of Nami Island in Korea.

Moreover, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide array of distinctive local products, appealing to both domestic and international consumers.

The launch ceremony of the festival, taking place on October 6, was graced by Kwon Sun Chil, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, and Joseph Low, President (Vietnam), Real Estate, Keppel Corporation.

This year's festival boasts participation from numerous renowned brands, offering an impressive selection of over 200 items from esteemed Korean enterprises supported by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

Beyond the booths showcasing local products, the festival will also feature key players from various Korean industries, including Cuckoo, Baemin, Korean Air, and Tway Air. These industry giants will present enticing promotions, ensuring a diverse and attractive shopping experience for our valued visitors.

The guests took photo at the Korea Festival 2023s open ceremony on October 6. Photo courtesy of Estella Place

Expressing his enthusiasm for the event, Joseph Low, President (Vietnam), Real Estate, Keppel Corporation, said that they were thrilled to host the annual Korea Festival, bringing the rich cultural tapestry of this country to enhance their customers shopping experience.

"Through the festival's diverse activities, we aim to celebrate the exceptional cultural values of Korea while introducing high-quality, reputable Korean brands to the Vietnamese market."

Joseph Low, President (Vietnam), Real Estate, Keppel Corporation. Photo courtesy of Estella Place

From October 615, at Estella Place, visitors can immerse themselves in the enchanting world of Nami Island, renowned for its picturesque landscapes featured in numerous beloved K-dramas.

Additionally, the event offers an excellent opportunity to explore Korean products at attractive prices. Visitors can look forward to a wide array of engaging activities, including food tasting, love locks activities, the Korea in My Eyes painting zone, traditional toy craftsmanship workshops, and a variety of special performances and cultural experiences.

The Korean traditional dolls, exclusive gifts of Korea Festival 2023. Photo courtesy of Estella Place

In particular, the 2023 Korea Festival will feature the appearance of a pair of adorable plushies featuring the boy and girl snowman, the mascot of Nami Island.

Rewards+ members with a minimum spend of VND1.5 million, or 100,000 points, can receive a delightful exclusive souvenir from this event. Click here for more information.
The ACCC has backed the 18.7 billion takeover bid for Origin today, saying that the risks to competition were outweighed by the public benefits of more renewable energy.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given the green light for the acquisition of ASX energy powerhouse Origin Energy [ASX:ORG] by Canadian private equity giant Brookfield and partner EIG.

The ACCC announcement is a significant hurdle cleared for the deal, which would see the Toronto-based asset manager take a huge step into the Australian energy market and invest $20 billion into renewable energy and storage.

Shares in Origin are up by 4.58%, trading at $9.13 per share as investors piled into ORG with expectations of gains from the buyout and the potential for further discussions on the final price.

Origin has seen its shares climb steadily since the initial 35% single-day jump when news of the buyout hit the press on 9 November 2022. Shares are up 62.4% in the past 12 months alone, pegging it as the second-best performer in the Utilities sector this year.

Source: TradingView

Battle of the shareholders

Chairwoman of the ACCC, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said today that the benefits of a faster transition to renewables for the Australian public outweighed the potential impacts on competition.

The decision had been delayed twice before the final tick-off.

As of August, Origins total assets on its balance sheet are just shy of $19 billion and are spread throughout Australia.

Source: Origin Energy

The takeover now faces an uphill battle between major shareholders in the upcoming vote to approve the deal. Since the initial offer lobbed by the two North American suitors, Origin has managed to turn around its fortunes.

Origin posted a $1.43 billion loss last year from significant write-downs of its Perth-basin assets. It had appeared aimless to many shareholders who publicly fought over its strategy moving forward.

In August, Origin surprised analysts with an 83.5% increase in net profit, hitting $1.05 billion in the 12 months to June.

This was partly due to the previous $2.2 billion write-downs clearing, but stronger liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices and gains in the wholesale energy market also buoyed the company.

With the renewed profitability and bolstered share price, major shareholders now think the deal undervalues the company.

AustralianSuper and fund manager Perpetual have been the loudest in this camp, with AusSuper going so far as to spend a further $150 million to buy another 1% of Origin to lift its stake to 14%.

AusSuper CIO Mark Delaney did not mince words after the purchase, saying that the offers share price was substantially below our estimate of its long-term value.

This sentiment has been echoed by similar major shareholders, such as Kingfisher Capital Partners, who have suggested a price nearer to $11 per share.

The offer price of $8.91 a share at the time represented a 59% premium to the one-month average stock price. Thats now around a 2.5% discount.

So whats the likelihood of the deal moving forward?

Deal or no deal

The offer price has now been lifted to $9.20 per share but with todays gains thats only 7 cents off the current price.

Brookfields previous attempt to sweeten the deal was the pledge to invest between $2030 billion over the next decade to add 14 gigawatts of clean energy assets in Origins name.

This had previously swayed many shareholders onside, but now it appears the majority has lined up behind AustralianSuper.

The deal would require approval from at least 75% of shareholders in a vote scheduled to take place in the coming months.

The takeover seems to hinge on price alone and North Americans willingness to pull out the chequebook.

AustralianSuper and Perpetual have shown that they are less concerned with the greenness of any proposed buyout. Clearly, they are financial investors, and any deal needs to bring them a healthy profit.

Talk from their offices has clarified that their position isnt budging. In fact, they have gone on the aggressive and said they would be happy to maintain Origins current leadership.

Perpetuals investment team, led by Vince Pezzullo, met with Origins management and made this case in September. He stated that Origin had the capital to make a green transition without the buyout.

With such tough talk, the next offer from Brookfield and EIG may need to exceed the usual 510% premium, making it trickier than previous hurdles to clear.

If the deal manages to pass, the next great challenge for Origin will be its transition to renewables.

Energy transitions are hard

Shifting from Origins current power mix to a renewable one will be a long and challenging process. It can also play havoc on our power systems.

Renewable energy sources tend to fluctuate in generation as they rely on natural forces we cant control.

The sun doesnt always shine, and the wind doesnt always blow.

Similarly, the demand for power changes throughout seasons and times of day. Often, these requirements can be at direct odds with renewable power sources.

With the flawed intermittent nature of renewable energy, many expensive solutions are required to fill the gaps so that heavy industry, manufacturing, or homes can get reliable power when needed.

This gap is known in the solar industry as the duck bill curve .

Source: Synergy (WA Estimates)

During the day, when demand is lowest and the sun is shining the brightest, solar can overload transmission lines that are designed for one-way electrical flows, leading to instability in grids.

At the head of the duck, these grids are again put under stress as demand rises and solar output falls to nil.

To make up for these shortcomings, expensive solutions are touted for new battery storage solutions and over 10,000 kilometres of new transmission lines to carry these renewables.

Thats a nine-fold increase in transmission lines that will also require batteries and new infrastructure to manage the needs of renewables.

And all of this is supposed to come in the next seven years.

Our Editorial Director Greg Canavan has been doing a deep dive into the costs and realities of the Net Zero movement.

If you want a different perspective from the mainstream and stocks that could benefit from a u-turn similar to the one we are seeing in Europe then,

Click here to find out.

Regards,

Charlie Ormond

For Money Morning
Vietnam's tourism industry could achieve its goal of welcoming 12-13 million visitors by the end of this year, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Pham Van Thuy told a press conference on Monday.

Thuy said in the first nine month, foreign arrivals in Vietnam exceeded the set target of 8 million by 11%.

Recently, Vietnam's more open visa policy has created favorable conditions to welcome foreign visitors. In addition, Vietnam is undergoing a cultural revival, with all of its historical sites and heritages becoming assets that could be used to create unique tourism products, making them attractive to international tourists. Traditional and nearby markets have also shown relatively good signs of recovery, he said.

According to the VNAT, Vietnam's tourism sector has recovered rapidly since the beginning of this year. Especially during July, August and September, the country welcomed over 1 million foreigners each.

In the past nine months, foreign and domestic arrivals reached 8.9 million and 93.5 million, bringing in a revenue of VND536.5 trillion ($22 billion).

South Korea remained the biggest source of arrivals with roughly 2.6 million, or 29% of the total. In Europe, the top three markets were the U.K. with 187,000, France 155,000, and Germany 142,000.

The traditional Chinese market achieved a recovery rate of 28%.
A security officer keeps passengers in line at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, January 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Round-trip tickets to domestic destinations over the Tet holiday are nearly equal to outbound tour packages, posing challenges for Vietnam's domestic tourism recovery as many opt for overseas travel.

According to surveys by VnExpress, a four-night tour package from Hanoi to Thailand on February 14, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, costs around VND10-11 million (US$410-451) while return air tickets for Hanoi-Phu Quoc at the same time were VND10.6 million.

One travel company offers a four-day tour package departing from Ho Chi Minh City to Taiwan on the first days of the same holiday, Vietnam's largest, for VND12 million per person.

Air tickets on the HCMC-Hanoi route during the same period cost up to VND8 million for economy class and VND16 million for the business class.

Ticket prices for flights from Ho Chi Minh City during Tet have increased by about 170-300% compared to normal days, and they've soared by 150-265% from Hanoi, according to statistics from tour operator Best Price.

Currently, air tickets for the HCMC-Thanh Hoa route in November cost about VND1.4 million per person, but the price for February 8, one day before Lunar New Year's Eve, has increased to VND3.4 million.

Tickets for the route from HCMC to Vinh on weekdays costs about 1.2 million on average, but they increase to VND3.5 million in the days leading up to Tet.

From Hanoi, air tickets to Da Nang on weekdays cost about VND727,000 but increase to VND1.6 million during Tet. Similarly, tickets from Hanoi to Phu Quoc Island on weekdays are only VND914,000, but passengers have to pay VND2.8 million during Tet.

Nguyen Huu Cuong, general director of Trang An Travel company, said "cheap tickets are very rare" especially for flights departing from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City during Tet.

He said domestic round-trip ticket prices on some routes during the holiday are equal to or even higher than the package tour prices to Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia.

"High airfare prices are one of the reasons why tourists have switched to traveling abroad during the Tet holiday instead of going on domestic trips," Cuong said.

"This would leave negative impact on domestic tourism recovery and competent authorities should sit together to solve the problem."

In March 2022 as Vietnam reopened tourism, domestic airfare prices increased rapidly. However, tourists did not have many options when international destinations had not yet reopened their borders at that time, and travel demand after two years of staying at home increased.

This year, many international routes have been resumed and China, the world's largest outbound market, also restarted air services with Vietnam.

Therefore, the soaring domestic ticket prices that resulted in tour package price hikes would make it difficult for the recovery of domestic tourism market, Cuong said.

Tet, with the upcoming season peaking on February 10, 2024, often sees millions of migrant workers from major cities and industrial hubs return to their homes for family reunions, as well as holiday-goers flocking to tourist hotspots.

Vietnam served 93 million domestic tourists as of late September and the country is striving to achieve the figure of 102 million by the end of this year.
The new GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Picture taken March 16, 2021.
Vietnam and China are set to resume their self-driving tours at border areas beginning late this month after more than three years of suspension due to Covid.

Starting October 30, Vietnamese tourists will be allowed drive their cars through the Mong Cai border gate in the northern province of Quang Ninh to reach Nanning City in China, while Chinese visitors will be able to drive to Ha Long in Vietnam.

Nanning, around 600 kilometers from Mong Cai, is the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south-west China while Ha Long, about 150 kilometers from Mong Cai, is home to a world heritage bay.

This is part of an agreement between Vietnamese and Chinese authorities to boost tourism recovery as China used to be Vietnam's biggest feeder tourism market before the pandemic.

There is currently no specific information about the number of vehicles that may benefit from the program, nor have any details been released on how it will be implemented

In 2016, Vietnam and China started piloting self-driving car tours in their border areas but the tours were only allowed to run between Quang Ninh's Mong Cai City and China's Dongxing City at that time.

After one year of implementation, 93 cars with 256 tourists from China arrived in Mong Cai City. In the opposite direction, 38 cars with 110 visitors from Vietnam drove to Dongxing City.

Until 2018, the Vietnamese government allowed Quang Ninh to expand its self-driving tour to Ha Long while the Chinese authorities also let Vietnamese tourists to drive their cars to Guilin City.

Following the outbreak of Covid-19, self-driving car tours were halted.

In the first nine months of this year, Vietnam received over 1.1 million Chinese tourists. Although that made China the second largest market of Vietnam tourism after South Korea, the number was only 28% of pre-pandemic levels.
Miss Poland Aleksandra Klepaczka said Miss Universe Vietnam Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chaus kind words about her home country inspired the Polish pageant winner to visit Vietnam on a charity trip.

During her first visit to Vietnam, Klepaczka said she befriended Ngoc Chau when they represented their country at the Miss Universe and Miss Supranational pageants last year. She said they had many great experiences and created fond memories together. Chau often told Klepaczka about Vietnam and the culture here, which sparked her interest and inspired the Polish contest winner to visit the country.

Aleksandra Klepaczka during a charity event in Vietnam on October 8, 2023. Photo by Phong Kieu

When Klepaczka arrived in Vietnam, she felt comfortable because of everyone's sincere and hospitable welcome. Street food is also something that fascinates her. The only unfortunate thing is that due to a busy schedule, Klepaczka didnt have time to meet Chau.

Klepaczka accompanied a local noodle brand as a brand ambassador at the People's Committee of Hoa Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, HCMC to present 175 gifts to disadvantaged teachers and workers. Klepaczka said that her two-week trip in In Vietnam will include many more charity activities in many localities.

"I believe that a beauty queen must also be a contributor to the community. Im very honored to be able to give these small but meaningful gifts to people with difficult circumstances," she said.

Aleksandra Klepaczka in daily life. Photo courtesy of Aleksandra Klepaczka

Klepaczka. 23, graduated from State Music School and placed third at the Miss Land of odz pageant. She was crowned Miss Polski (Miss Poland) while studying engineering management at odz University of Technology, while also working at a tech company. She represented Poland at the 2022 Miss Universe and 2023 Miss Supranational.
Dominican Republic to reopen its border to essential trade but not Haitians

Dominican Republic to reopen its border to essential trade but not Haitians View Photo

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)  The Dominican Republic government said Monday it will temporarily allow trade of essential products, including food and medications, on its border with Haiti. But it said it will maintain a ban on the entry of Haitian citizens amid a dispute over the construction of a canal targeting a river that runs through both countries.

The measure will come into force on Wednesday starting at 8:00 a.m. in four border provinces in an effort to facilitate the trade of products aimed especially at children, the government said in a statement.

The announcement comes weeks after the Dominican Republic announced the closure of all land, air and sea borders with Haiti in a dispute about construction of a canal on Haitian soil that would divert waters from the Massacre River in order to alleviate a drought that affects the Haitian Maribaroux plain.

This generated a diplomatic crisis between both countries that share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

The Dominican government also said it will reinforce the countrys military presence on the border to make access to its territory more difficult for gang members who could flee Haiti as a multinational force arrives in the troubled Caribbean nation after approval by the UN Security Council.

We will indefinitely maintain the closure of the border to immigration to prevent the transit of people from Haitian territory, the government said, adding it will also indefinitely extend the suspension of visas to Haitian citizens.
Blinken calls deposed Niger leader ahead of expected US declaration that his overthrow was a coup

Blinken calls deposed Niger leader ahead of expected US declaration that his overthrow was a coup View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Nigers deposed President Mohamed Bazoum ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup detat.

The State Department said Blinken called Bazoum on Monday to stress that a restoration of a freely elected government remains the best way for Niger to not only succeed for its people but also to remain a key partner of the U.S. and others in countering extremism.

In the call, Blinken reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region, the State Department said in a brief statement.

The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover, the department said.

Blinkens call came as the Democratic administration is preparing to make a formal determination that Julys military takeover in the central African nation meets the legal standard for a coup, according to officials familiar with the matter. That determination could come as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because an announcement had not yet been made.

Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup  the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government  typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned. Some U.S. aid to Niger has been suspended since Bazoums ouster, but it was unclear if the determination would halt American military activity in the country.

The Biden administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africas Sahel region. Niger has been hosting some 1,100 American troops in regional outposts for wide-ranging patrols by armed drones and other counterterrorism operations against Islamic extremist movements.

The officials could not say if the expected coup determination would result in the withdrawal of any U.S. personnel from Niger. The officials said the Pentagon had resisted such a move and hinted that the administration may have found a legal rationale to continue counterterrorism cooperation with the military junta.

Pentagon officials have been reviewing options for the U.S. troop presence in Niger. Defense and military leaders are reluctant to abandon Agadez, one of Nigers biggest cities, which is deemed a critical base for counterterrorism missions and oversight.

Niger has battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group for years. And the juntas capacity to improve Nigers security has increasingly been questioned recently as attacks have increased since mutinous soldiers toppled the government.

Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel that Western nations could partner with to beat back the jihadi insurgency in the vast expanse below the Sahara Desert.

The U.S., France and other European countries had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up the Nigerien military.

But late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to withdraw Frances ambassador and troops from Niger after demands from the junta and amid widespread anti-French sentiment in the former colony.

___

Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

By MATTHEW LEE

AP Diplomatic Writer
Funeral pays tribute to North Dakota lawmaker and family lost in Utah plane crash View Photo

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  Mourners gathered at a red-brick church in North Dakota on Tuesday for the funeral of a state lawmaker and his family who were killed in a plane crash last week, describing a selfless couple whose young boys inspired people around them.

State Sen. Doug Larsen, his wife Amy and their two sons, 11-year-old Christian and 8-year-old Everett, died on Oct. 1. Their single-engine aircraft went down near Moab, Utah, shortly after stopping to refuel on the way home from a family gathering in Arizona.

The plane was piloted by Larsen, 47, who flew Black Hawk helicopters and mobilized twice during his 29 years with the North Dakota Army National Guard. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on the crash is expected sometime next week.

Four Black Hawk helicopters in missing-man formation flew through a cloudless autumn sky as the family was laid to rest at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

During the earlier church service, mourners sang How Great Thou Art as the four caskets were wheeled to the front of the sanctuary. A military honor guard escorted Doug Larsens flag-draped coffin.

His sister, Rebecca Hoglund, said Doug wanted to help out where he could  whether it was a fellow American stranded in France who he met backpacking in the 1990s, or a tiny kitten on the side of the road.

He was by my side for some of my hardest times in life, she said, for major surgeries, to the death of a child, to my career changes and my house flooding, and the list goes on and on.

Chantel Southam said her sister Amy was an empathetic and patient addiction counselor who made a difference for children, including Chantels niece.

She just could walk in peoples shoes, Southam said. Amy is survived by her adult son Dylan Stevens, who was listed as a casket bearer.

Teacher Marleigh Buechler called Christian an extraordinary student and person who gave 110% to his relationships, academics and friendly competitions.

I admired the way that at such a young age, he was able to appreciate the differences in people. He would often discuss with me and our class that if we were all the same, the world would be a boring place, Buechler said.

Everetts speech pathologist, Anne Bry, said the 8-year-old had worked hard to overcome childhood apraxia of speech, going from not speaking at age 3 to speaking in good sentences as he entered kindergarten  confidence to speak because of his parents support.

He was the most amazing, sweetest little boy who fought so hard in his life to speak, and by golly we did it, Bry said.

Larsen, a Republican, was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020. He chaired a Senate panel that handled industry- and business-related legislation.

Doug and Amy Larsen owned businesses that included a hotel and a company that builds homes. Larsen had recently earned his commercial pilots license, with hopes of one day flying for a major airline, state Sen. Jim Roers told The Associated Press.

A lieutenant colonel, Larsen was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Service Star and Army Aviator Badge, among other honors. He logged about 1,776 total military flight hours, according to a Guard spokesperson.

Federal Aviation Administration records show that Larsens Piper PA-28-140, popularly known as a Cherokee, was built in 1966. Its airworthiness certificate was renewed in June through 2030, indicating it had passed a safety inspection. The weather at the time of the crash was mild, with scattered light showers, wide visibility and gentle winds in the area around the airport, according to the National Weather Service.

Mourners have left flowers on Larsens Senate desk at the state Capitol since the crash. Fellow lawmakers gathering for routine meetings at the Capitol have also observed moments of silence for the Larsens and offered remembrances. Dozens of state lawmakers attended the funeral.

District Republicans will appoint a successor to fill the remainder of Larsens term, through November 2024. His Senate seat is on the ballot next year. Larsen represented a district that encompassed Mandan, the city across the Missouri River from Bismarck.

A large photo of the Larsen family will be placed in the Senate chambers through the 2025 legislative session, said Senate Republican Caucus Leader Kristin Roers. Larsens Senate desk will be kept empty during an expected, upcoming session of the Legislature, and his appointed successor will sit elsewhere, she said.

By JACK DURA

Associated Press
Atlanta police chief fires officer after traffic stop led to Black deacons death View Photo

ATLANTA (AP)  Atlantas police chief on Tuesday fired an officer who shocked a 62-year-old Black church deacon with a stun gun during a dispute over a traffic ticket, leading to the mans death.

Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Officer Kiran Kimbrough didnt follow department procedures Aug. 10 when he didnt wait until a supervisor arrived to arrest Johnny Hollman Sr. The chief said he decided to fire Kimbrough after an internal investigation concluded Monday.

Part of my job is to assess, evaluate, and adjust how this police department is carrying out its sworn mission to serve and protect the citizens of this city, Schierbaum said in a statement. I understand the difficult and dangerous job that our officers do each and every day throughout the city. I do not arrive at these decisions lightly.

Schierbaums decision comes days before video that Kimbroughs body camera recorded of his interactions with Hollman could be released. Mawuli Davis, a lawyer for the Hollman family, said Monday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told him and relatives during a meeting that the video would be publicly released as soon as Willis concludes that all witnesses have been interviewed. That could be as soon as Thursday.

Kimbrough had been on administrative leave. His attorney, Lance LoRusso, said in a statement Tuesday that Kimbrough vehemently denies any wrongdoing or policy violations and plans to appeal his firing.

Our client is a decorated law enforcement officer and looks forward to the release of the entire investigation, LoRusso said. The loss of any life is tragic. However, Officer Kimbroughs actions in detaining Mr. Hollman and making a lawful arrest did not cause Mr. Hollmans death.

Relatives of Hollman have seen the video and contend Kimbrough should be charged with murder. Daughter Arnitra Hollman said at a Tuesday news conference that the family is far from satisfied with Kimbroughs firing.

This is not the end. Weve got to keep fighting. Weve got to keep pushing. Weve got to keep going, Hollman said. Because this is just one of the things that we wanted, which was the termination. But this is not all that were looking for. We want justice, and we want justice now for our father.

Davis has said any decision on whether to prosecute could take months.

Kimbrough, who is Black, was hired as an Atlanta police cadet in March 2021 and became a police officer that October, according to Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council records. Department records show he was suspended for a day in 2022 after a vehicle accident, received a written reprimand in March after an unspecified citizen complaint and was verbally reprimanded in April after a second citizen complaint.

Hollman became unresponsive while being arrested after a minor car crash. Relatives say Hollman, a church deacon, was driving home from Bible study at his daughters house and bringing dinner to his wife when he collided with another vehicle while turning across a busy street just west of downtown Atlanta.

Police didnt arrive until Hollman and the second driver had waited more than an hour.

The police department has said Kimbrough shocked Hollman with a stun gun and handcuffed him after Hollman became agitated and uncooperative when Kimbrough issued a ticket finding him at fault for the wreck. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Kimbrough and Hollman struggled physically before Kimbrough shocked Hollman.

Schierbaum said Tuesday that Hollman failed to sign the citation, but Davis has said the video will show Hollman repeatedly agreed to sign at some point, calling that a false narrative. Atlanta police officials have since ruled that officers should write refusal to sign on a traffic ticket instead of arresting someone who wont sign.

Arnitra Hollman said the video will dispel the idea that her father did something wrong.

We want the narrative thats been placed out there, thats been put out there on his name, we want that narrative changed, she said. We want his name restored. We want our father to be able to rest in peace.

Hollmans death has contributed to discontent with police among some Atlantans that centers on a proposal to build a large public safety training facility.

An autopsy determined that Hollmans death was a homicide, although the medical examiner found that heart disease also contributed to it.

Medical examiner Dr. Melissa Sims-Stanley said that based on a review of the video and a conversation with a GBI investigator, she concluded that Hollman was unresponsive after he was stunned, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Davis said Hollman tried to tell the officer that he had asthma and couldnt breathe.

Hollmans daughter, Arnitra Hollman, has said her father called her on the phone and she listened for more than 17 minutes, eventually going to the location of the wreck.

The Atlanta City Council last week called on the city to release the video from the incident. Nelly Miles, a GBI spokesperson, described that agencys inquiry as active and ongoing on Tuesday. She said the GBI and prosecutors work together to determine if video can be released before a case goes to court.

By JEFF AMY

Associated Press
Biden confirms Americans among hostages captured in Israel, condemns sheer evil of Hamas militants View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas as he condemned the militant group for the sheer evil of its shocking weekend assault on Israel.

Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, said Biden, who compared the brutality of the Hamas militants to that of the Islamic State terrorist group. He added: Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israels back. Well make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.

The president coupled his unflinching defense for Israel with only a glancing reference to the suffering that innocent Palestinians are enduring from Israels barrage of retaliatory fire on the Gaza Strip, where the Hamas attack was launched. That hardline approach could prove more difficult to sustain going forward if, as expected, the humanitarian crisis for the Palestinians worsens as Israel expands its military operation to root out Hamas.

Biden took note of the impact on Americans as well. He said the number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the fighting has reached 14, up from 11 reported previously. U.S. officials said that death toll could increase further as some 20 Americans remain unaccounted for.

Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse, Biden said. Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. Their stated purpose is the annihilation of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. They use Palestinian civilians as human shields.

Hamas responded to Bidens remarks with a statement defending its actions, saying they were fighting against an occupation and defending Palestinians right to self-determination. Hamas called on Biden to move away from the policy of double standards when it comes to Israel.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the unfolding situation. Biden outlined the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about sickening reports of torture inflicted by militants on civilians.

Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault  a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square-mile area, one the poorest places in the world. The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummeled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into U.N. shelters.

Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis.

He renewed his warnings to adversaries who might want to exploit the turmoil. Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, Biden said. I have one word: Dont.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. does not know the precise number of Americans taken hostage. He said that the U.S., at the moment, has no plans of putting U.S. troops on the ground.

As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, Biden said.

Biden is also dispatching his top diplomat to Israel to show U.S. support after the attacks, the State Department said Tuesday.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to deliver a message of solidarity and support. He said Blinken will also talk about what additional resources we can give them.

Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday.

The White House on Monday confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.

The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, officials said.

The Pentagon has said that the U.S. warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes.

Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

Sullivan said the U.S. has already replenishing munitions for Israels Iron Dome missile defense system from U.S. stock that was already staged in country. The U.S. was in the process of sending additional interceptors and the administration was looking at additional ways it can help augment Israel air defense capabilities, Sullivan said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him Tuesday to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence.

Americans have had a gloomy outlook on Bidens performance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Six in 10 Americans (61%) disapproved of how Biden was handling the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About one-third (35%) of U.S. adults approved, which was slightly lower than Bidens overall approval rating of 42% in the same poll.

Four in 10 Americans (44%) said the U.S. gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the U.S. should offer more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of support is given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more support.

The current crisis seems certain to further test public sentiment about Bidens Mideast foreign policy approach.

The Biden White House has pointed to its handling of the last conflict between Israel and Gaza in 2021 as playing a crucial part in limiting the length and loss of life in a war that stretched over 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

During the 2021 conflict, Biden limited his public commentary while pressing Netanyahu in private to end it. His behind-the-scenes effort played out even as some of the presidents fellow Democrats pressured him to speak out against the Israelis as the death toll climbed in Gaza and as tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced by the aerial bombardment, White House officials said at the time.

But this conflict is unlikely to end so quickly. Domestic and international pressure could quickly mount on Biden to pressure Netanyahu to wind down operations to prevent the suffering of innocent Gazans.

Netanyahu said Saturday that civilians in Gaza should leave areas near where Hamas is operating as the Israeli military planned to take defining action against the the militant group.

Sullivan said U.S. government officials have discussed details with Israel and Egyptian officials about where people in Gaza should go.

But Biden seemed to make clear that hes not asking Netanyahu to show restraint.

Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond, indeed has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks. Biden said.

___

Associated Press writers Issam Adwan, Josh Boak, Seung Min Kim, Lolita C. Baldor, Matthew Lee and Linley Sanders contributed reporting.

By AAMER MADHANI, TARA COPP and DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Associated Press
Car rams into Chinese consulate in San Francisco and police fatally shoot driver, officers say

Car rams into Chinese consulate in San Francisco and police fatally shoot driver, officers say View Photo

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A car rammed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday, coming to a stop in the lobby and creating a chaotic scene that ended with police shooting the driver, who later died at the hospital, officials said.

San Francisco police said they didnt know why the unidentified driver smashed through the front of the consulate, located on a major street across from the citys Japantown neighborhood. In a statement, the Chinese Consulate general described it as a violent attack.

Police descended on the consulate shortly after 3 p.m. on a report of a vehicle crashing into the building and urged people to avoid the area. Video from the scene showed a blue Honda sedan inside the lobby of the consulates visa office.

Officers entered the building, made contact with the suspect and opened fire, San Francisco police Sgt. Kathryn Winters said during a brief news conference. Despite life-saving efforts the suspect died at a hospital.

Police did not describe how the shooting unfolded, how many officers fired or if the driver had a weapon. There were no reports of any injured people inside the building.

Police are working and coordinating with investigators from the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Consulate.

I wish I could give you more but this is a very complex investigation, Winters said.

The statement from the Chinese Consulate general demanded more details about what happened and asked that it be dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.

Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack, the statement said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin repeated that statement at a daily briefing Tuesday without giving any details about damage to the consulate or injuries to staff and visitors.

We strongly urge the U.S. to launch a swift investigation and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement governing relations between countries.

The San Francisco consulate has been targeted a number of times before. Among the most serious was a fire set by a Chinese man on New Years Day 2014 at the main entrance. It charred a section of the outside of the building.

The man, who was living in the San Francisco Bay Area, told authorities he was driven by voices he was hearing. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

San Francisco is preparing to host next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim nations. President Joe Biden plans to attend but its not clear if Chinese President Xi Jinping will come.
US Border Patrol has released thousands of migrants on San Diegos streets, taxing charities View Photo

SAN DIEGO (AP)  Over five years, the largest U.S. city on the Mexican border developed a well-oiled system to shelter asylum-seekers.

That system is being tested like never before as U.S. Customs and Border Protection releases migrants to the streets of Californias second-largest city because shelters are full. Since Sept. 13, about 13,000 have been dropped at transit stations with notices to appear in immigration court at their final destinations in the U.S., with about 500 more arriving daily.

Migrant aid groups blame a mix of circumstances for the shelter crunch: reduced government funding; CBPs practice of sending migrants from Texas and Arizona to be processed in San Diego; and a surge in illegal crossings. Last week, President Joe Bidens administration advanced plans for a border wall in Texas Rio Grande Valley and said it would resume deportation flights to Venezuela.

Before they are released in San Diego, some migrants being dropped off have been waiting between a double-layer border wall or camping under Border Patrol watch in remote mountains east of the city. CBP closed a major pedestrian border crossing from Tijuana, Mexico, on Sept. 14 and assigned more officials to processing migrants.

Many do not know where they are, that this is San Diego, this is (the) San Diego region, the nearest airport is San Diego and how to get to their final destination. That is what were trying to provide support with, said Paulina Reyes-Perrariz, managing attorney for Immigrant Defenders Law Centers cross-border initiative.

Illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month after a lull following the start of new asylum restrictions in May had diminishing impact and people from dozens of countries, notably Venezuela, were drawn by prospects of jobs and safety.

Similar to other U.S. border cities, about 95% of migrants in San Diego quickly move to other parts of the country. Thats a sharp contrast to cities far from the border, such as New York and Chicago. But the constant churn of exhausted, disoriented migrants from more than 100 countries has created other strains that the San Diego County government calls an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Last week, after a community recreation center could no longer handle the flow of migrants, the Border Patrol resumed drop-offs at a transit center. Arrivals from China, India, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and many west African countries filled a parking lot to charge phones, eat, use the bathroom and wait for free shuttle buses to the airport. Is California far from here? an Eritrean man asked volunteers.

Shuttles were announced in Spanish and Arabic. Al Otro Lado, a group aiding migrants, is seeking volunteers who speak Russian, Pashto, Creole, French, Portuguese, Amharic, Hindi, Mandarin, Somali, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Its a brief moment of intervention before they can move on to be connected with their loved ones, said Kate Clark, senior director for immigrant services at Jewish Family Service of San Diego.

Shelters still accommodate families with young children, members of the LGBTQ+ community, the elderly and medically frail. The drop-offs are largely for single adults.

Since 2018, Jewish Family Service of San Diego and Catholic Charities together have helped more than 430,000 migrants in the region.

But Catholic Charities of San Diego recently halved capacity at the two hotels where it houses migrants to about 800 people, who stay an average of less than two days, said CEO Vino Pajanor. The major issue is less federal funding as San Diego competes with New York and other cities for support to aid migrants, he said.

Jewish Family Service has maintained shelter capacity at about 950 at a hotel and another large facility.

CBP did not respond to questions about the drop-offs. The Department of Homeland Security said last month that it has given $790 million for migrant shelters this year and asked Congress for an additional $600 million.

Aid groups say government support is needed even for the services at the San Diego transit center parking lot, where migrants get travel advice from volunteers over the steady noise of railroad crossing bells and bus horns. County supervisors voted Tuesday to spend $3 million to to provide airport shuttles, internet connectivity, snacks and other basic services to migrants for three months.

The Border Patrol dropped off about 400 migrants by early afternoon one recent day as airport shuttles left about every hour. Overnight camping is prohibited. Migrants with flights within 24 hours are encouraged to wait at the airport.

The parking lot was a brief stop for Pedro Cardenas, 30, who was booked on a red-eye flight to Newark, New Jersey, after a grueling trip from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Smugglers squeezed about 14 migrants in a vehicle meant for five, forcing them to go hours without water or a bathroom break.

Cardenas, a mechanic on mining equipment, said violence and lack of work prompted him to leave his wife and child behind. He hopes to return with savings to buy land in Ecuador.

I feel safer, he said. I feel happy but sad at the same time because I am not with my family.

As night fell, volunteers at a church with room for 40 people sought to make sure no one would sleep on the streets. Rincon Marin, 26, arrived too late in the day for a flight to his final destination in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and accepted the churchs offer with a fellow Colombian who was headed to Columbus, Ohio.

Happy, content, Marin said to describe his feelings before rushing off to brush his teeth at a portable sink and squeeze into a car on his way to overnight lodging.

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

Associated Press
2 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies in critical condition after fire in mobile gun range trailer View Photo

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Two veteran Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies were seriously hurt Tuesday when a fire broke out inside a trailer serving as a mobile shooting range north of Los Angeles, authorities said.

The deputies were listed in critical but stable condition after being burned in the approximately 50-foot (15-meter) trailer, prompting Sheriff Robert Luna to close other mobile ranges countywide as investigators look into what caused the blaze.

We need to know why it happened and get to the bottom of it so we prevent it from happening again, Luna said during a news conference at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where the deputies were initially treated. They were later transferred to LA General Medical center for further treatment.

Luna did not immediately release the names of the deputies. He said one has been with the department for 21 years and the other has 17 years of service.

Crews fought the fire for more than four hours, beginning around 9:30 a.m., and were still working to extinguish it as of late afternoon, according to a sheriffs department statement.

They were challenged by live ammunition still inside the trailer that posed extreme danger, Luna said.

The shooting range is located on a sprawling campus in Castaic, a community roughly 35 miles (55 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The campus also houses the Pitchess Detention Center, a county jail that was placed on lockdown as a precaution. No incarcerated people were threatened by the flames, the sheriff said.

The trailer had two firing lanes inside and one of the deputies was participating in firearms qualification, which the department requires deputies to do once a quarter, Luna said.

The fire department initially said it had received reports that four deputies were injured, though Luna later confirmed only two deputies were hurt.

By STEFANIE DAZIO

Associated Press
Hamas attack on Israel prompts South Korea to consider pausing military agreement with North Korea View Photo

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas defense minister said Tuesday he would push to suspend a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement in order to resume frontline surveillance on rival North Korea, as the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants raised concerns in South Korea about similar assaults by the North.

The agreement, reached during a brief period of diplomacy between South Koreas former liberal President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, created buffer zones along land and sea boundaries and no-fly zones above the border to prevent clashes.

Talking with reporters in Seoul, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-shik cited the violence in Israel and Gaza to stress the need to strengthen monitoring on the North. Shin was appointed by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday.

Shin was particularly critical of the inter-Korean agreements no-fly zones, which he said prevents South Korea from fully utilizing its air surveillance assets at a time when North Korean nuclear threats are growing.

Relations between the Koreas have decayed following the collapse of larger talks between Washington and Pyongyang in 2019 over the Norths nuclear weapons program. North Korea has threatened to abandon the 2018 agreement while dialing up missile tests to a record pace, prompting the conservative Yoon to take a harder line on Pyongyang than his dovish predecessor.

While it would take a complicated legal process for South Korea to fully abandon the agreement, pausing the agreement would only require a decision from a Cabinet meeting, Shin said.

Hamas has attacked Israel, and the Republic of Korea is under a much stronger threat, Shin said, invoking South Koreas formal name.

To counter (that threat), we need to be observing (North Korean military movements) with our surveillance assets, to gain prior knowledge of whether they are preparing provocations or not. If Israel had flown aircraft and drones to maintain continuous monitoring, I think they might have not been hit like that, he said.

Shins comments are likely to draw fierce criticism from South Koreas liberal opposition, which has described the agreement as a safety valve between the Koreas as relations continue to worsen.

There havent been major skirmishes between the Koreas since the agreement was reached in September 2018. But South Korea last November accused the North of violating the agreements tensions-reducing requirements when it fired a missile near a populated South Korean island near their sea border, triggering air raid sirens and forcing residents to evacuate.

In June 2020, North Korea blew up an empty inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong to demonstrate anger over South Koreas unwillingness to prevent its civilian activists from flying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border. North Korean troops also shot and killed a South Korean government official who was found drifting near their sea boundary in September that year.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years as the pace of both North Koreas weapons demonstrations and the United States combined military exercises with South Korea and Japan have both intensified in tit-for-tat.

South Koreas Defense Ministry said the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group will arrive in the South Korean mainland port of Busan on Thursday in the allies latest show of force against North Korea. The ministry said the Reagans Carrier Strike Group 5 conducted joint training with South Korean and Japanese naval assets on Monday and Tuesday in waters near the southern South Korean island of Jeju.

Kim, in turn, has been boosting the visibility of his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing as he attempts to break out of diplomatic isolation and insert Pyongyang into a united front against Washington.

Recent commercial satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia to fuel President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine, Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a report last week.

Speculation about a possible North Korean plan to refill Russias munition stores drained in its protracted war with Ukraine flared last month, when Kim traveled to Russia to meet Putin and visit key military sites. Foreign officials suspect Kim is seeking advanced Russian weapons technologies in return for to boost his nuclear program.

North Korea is expected to make its third attempt to launch a military spy satellite this month following consecutive failures in recent months, as Kim stresses the importance of acquiring space-based reconnaissance capacities to monitor U.S. and South Korean military movements and enhance the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles.

In an editorial published Monday, South Koreas JoongAng Ilbo newspaper called for South Korea to take lessons from Israels failures to prevent the attack by the Hamas militants while strengthening its readiness against potential North Korean aggression.

Israel, surrounded by enemies and terrorist forces, is reminiscent of (South) Koreas current security situation. Even the Mossad failed to detect signs of the attack and Israels all-weather air defense system Iron Dome exposed a hole, the newspaper said. The government must be thoroughly prepared for North Koreas possible military provocations when the United States and other allies focus their attention on the Middle East.

The inter-Korean military agreement is one of the few tangible remnants from Moons ambitious diplomacy with Kim. Moons efforts helped set up Kims first summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in June 2018.

By KIM TONG-HYUNG

Associated Press
Top Vietnamese model Ngoc Trinh was fined for performing dangerous stunts and tricks on her large motorcycle without the special license needed to drive motorcycles larger than 175 cc.

A video of a woman riding her large high-cc displacement motorcycle while performing a series of dangerous activities - including kneeling and standing on the seat, removing her hands from the handlebar, and placing both legs on one side of the vehicle - recently surfaced online, angering the public for the risks of causing accidents.

Footage of a female motorcycle driver performing dangerous acts while driving. Photo obtained by VnExpress

Netizens then figured out that the footage was initially published on Trinhs Facebook account last month, and was then shared across online communities.

Thu Duc City Police announced Monday that its traffic police force had invited Trinh, 34, to cooperate after confirming that the female rider featured in the video was in fact Trinh herself. However, as Trinh was actually suffering from injuries from an accident shed recently and not-so-ironically had on a large motorcycle, she was unable to travel to the police station, so investigators arrived at her home instead.

The model then admitted that she was indeed the woman in the video. She said she had driven the vehicle on the empty roads of Thu Thiem New Urban Area, which is currently under construction, to familiarize herself with riding it.

She was then fined VND8.5 million ($349) for two violations.

It is reported that her vehicle had also been summoned by Ben Thanh traffic police force for other violations in HCMCs District 1.

Model Tran Thi Ngoc Trinh. Photo from Trinhs Instagram

Prior to this, Trinh announced Sunday that she had recently suffered from an accident in her motorcycle-driving class and was hospitalized with the help from her close friends, personal assistant, and manager.

"I knew before I started attending the class that I would fall one day, sooner or later," she said, explaining that she believed accidents are unavoidable in learning a new sport.

"But the price I had to pay was a bit too high."

Trinh started the class last month with the help of a private instructor. She said she became confident with basic driving skills after 10 days, and subsequently wanted to learn more advanced performance skills.

She was ordered to wear protective gear by her instructor, which she turned down as she was not satisfied with the way she looked in it. She thus decided to wear normal jeans while driving.

"My instructor warned me about the risks I could face, but I ignored them," Trinh said. "I wanted to both manage to perform the skills and look pretty, so I cant blame anyone for what happened to me."

According to the model, things went smooth at first, until she attempted to switch from sitting to lying on her motorcycle not realizing that she was approaching a turn.

"I instantly wanted to sit back up, so I looked down to find a place to put my feet," she recalled. "I couldnt look at the road while doing that, so I lost control and immediately tripped."

Having three stitches and suffering wounds on her back and shoulders after the accident, Trinh is now worried that she will have permanent scars on her body. She said she has now learned that protective gear is necessary while learning how to drive large displacement motorcycles.

Coming from a poor family background, Trinh started her modeling career in 2005 before gaining public recognition with her lingerie and swimsuit photo shoots.

She then became the title winner of the Miss Vietnam International pageant in 2011.

She made her debut as an actress in 2016 with her role in "Vong Eo 56" (Queen of the Bikini), which was based on her life, and has participated in various movie projects since then.
Palestinians scramble for safety as Israel pounds sealed-off Gaza Strip to punish Hamas View Photo

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory now suffering severe retaliation for the deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants.

Humanitarian groups pleaded for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza and warned that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has inflamed Israels determination to crush the groups hold in Gaza. New exchanges of fire over Israels northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday morning, slaying hundreds of residents in homes and streets near the Gaza border and bringing gunbattles to Israeli towns for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold about 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

Israel stepped up its offensive on Tuesday, expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000. Israels military said it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza  a 40-kilometer-long (25-mile) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

Rescue officials in Gaza said large numbers of people were still trapped under the remnants of leveled buildings, with rescue equipment and ambulances unable to reach the area.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after hours of airstrikes the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened.

I sell toys, not missiles, the 46-year-old said, weeping. I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job.

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets in Rimal, an upscale district home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, universities, media organizations and the aid agency offices.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate neighborhood after neighborhood, and then inflicting devastation, in what could be a prelude to a ground offensive. On Tuesday, the military told residents of the nearby al-Daraj neighborhood to evacuate. New explosions soon rocked it and other areas, continuing into the night.

Fighter jets returned multiple times to another neighborhood, al-Furqan, striking 450 targets in 24 hours, the Israeli military said.

One blast hit Gaza Citys seaport, setting fishing boats aflame.

There is no safe place in Gaza right now. You see decent people being killed every day, Gaza journalist Hasan Jabar said after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the Rimal bombardment. I am genuinely afraid for my life.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hamas fired barrages of rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Tuesday night, a group of militants entered an industrial zone in Ashkelon, sparking a gunbattle with Israeli troops, the military said. Three militants were killed, and troops were searching the area for others.

Israels new tactics could point to its new objective.

Four previous rounds of Israel-Hamas fighting between 2008 and 2021 all ended inconclusively, with Hamas battered but still in control. This time, Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, a goal considered unachievable in the past because it would require a reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, at least temporarily.

The objective is for this war to end very differently from all of the previous rounds. There has to be a clear victory, said Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel. Whatever has to be done to fundamentally change the situation will have to be done, he said.

The devastation also sharpened questions about Hamas strategy and objectives. Hamas officials have said they planned for all possibilities, including a punishing Israeli escalation. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Hamas may have been counting on the fight to spread to the West Bank and possibly for Lebanons Hezbollah to open a front in the north. Days of clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the West Bank have left 15 Palestinians dead, but Israel has clamped down heavily on the territory, preventing movement between communities. The violence also spread into east Jerusalem, where Israeli police said they killed two Palestinians who hurled stones at police late Tuesday.

Brief exchanges of fire across Israels northern border have taken place nearly daily. Palestinian militants fired rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon and from Syria on Tuesday, each bringing Israeli artillery and mortar fire in return. But so far they have not escalated.

In hopes of blunting the bombardment in Gaza, Hamas has threatened to kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

The militants attack stunned Israel with a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria  and those deaths happened over a longer period of time. It brought horrific scenes of Hamas militants gunning down civilians in their homes, on streets and at a mass outdoor music festival, while dragging men, women and children into captivity.

The Israeli military said more than 1,000 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, 900 people have been killed, including 260 children and 230 women, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday at least 14 U.S. citizens were killed in Hamas attack and that Americans are among those being held hostage in Gaza. Biden, who spoke earlier in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said there is no justification for terrorism.

Biden added an apparent warning to Hezbollah, saying, To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Dont.

The State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to Israel to deliver a message of solidarity and support.

Hamas responded to Biden, saying his administration should review its biased position and move away from the policy of double standards over Palestinian rights to defend themselves against Israeli occupation.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were found on Israeli territory, the military said. It wasnt clear whether those numbers overlapped with deaths reported by Palestinian authorities. Tens of thousands of people in southern Israel have been evacuated since Sunday.

In Gaza, more than 200,000 people have fled their homes, the U.N. said, the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. The vast majority are sheltering in schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000 people, the U.N. said.

The U.N.s World Health Organization said that supplies it had pre-positioned for seven hospitals in Gaza have already run out amid the flood of wounded. The head of the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.

___

Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre, Amy Teibel and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

By JOSEF FEDERMAN and ISSAM ADWAN

Associated Press
Political Tensions Rise in Zimbabwe as Opposition MPs Face Recall

Tensions are escalating in Zimbabwe as Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is considering withdrawing all of its representatives from parliament. This comes after 15 of the partys lawmakers were controversially recalled earlier this week.

The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announcing the vacancies. He said this was based on a letter from Sengezo Tshabangu, who has taken it upon himself to act as the interim secretary general of CCC.

However, CCC disputes that Tshabangu holds any leadership position in the party. They describe him as an impostor who is meddling in their affairs. In his letter, Tshabangu claimed the 15 MPs had ceased being CCC members, so he was recalling them.

The affected MPs strongly reject these claims. Prince Dubeko Sibanda, one of those recalled, noted he has won elections under the CCC banner twice this year. He said Its time for a revolution. All 15 representatives have gone to court challenging the recall, saying Tshabangu has no authority over them.

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa is said to be considering withdrawing all of the partys MPs and councillors from their posts in protest. While some are calling for street demonstrations, Chamisa has been reluctant to directly lead protests due to concerns over violent crackdowns by the governing ZANU-PF party.

There are fears that if the courts endorse Tshabangus actions, it could open the door for further disruption. He may try to remove Chamisa from the CCC leadership and seize party funds. ZANU-PF will be hoping for by-elections where they could gain seats and strengthen their majority.

Political analysts see this as a ploy to undermine the main opposition and consolidate power. The situation in Zimbabwe is becoming increasingly unstable.

Breaking News via Email
A 31-year-old man from Ntabazinduna in Matabeleland North province found himself in a harrowing situation when his attempt to break up a fight among his friends at a party took a dangerous turn. In the process, he was struck three times on the head and once on the arm with an axe, causing severe injuries.

The incident came to light during the trial of Bruce Khanye (29) at Bulawayo regional magistrate court, where he faced a charge of attempted murder. Despite pleading not guilty, Khanye was ultimately convicted after a full trial and sentenced by Magistrate Elijah Singano.

The magistrate delivered a five-year prison sentence with two years suspended for five years, on the condition of good behaviour. Consequently, Khanye will serve an effective three years behind bars.

During the sentencing, Magistrate Singano emphasized the severity of the victims injuries as noted in the medical report. The victim sustained a scar on the back of his head and displayed weaknesses in his body. The doctor who examined him referred him to a neurosurgeon due to the tampering with his head. The victim currently experiences physical weakness and displays signs of trauma, with long-term effects anticipated from the head injury.

Singano dismissed Khanyes defense, pointing out that he was the aggressor in the incident. Although Khanye disputed using an axe, claiming instead to have used a zinc sheet, it was evident that his violent conduct led to the complainants injury. Testimony from the victim indicated that he intervened to stop Khanye from fighting with a friend at the party, which angered Khanye and led him to attack the peacemaker with the axe he carried.

The magistrate further noted Khanyes lack of remorse, as he neither apologized to the victim nor assisted with his hospital bills. Singano emphasized that Khanye was convicted of attempted murder, considering the victims testimony describing three strikes to the head with the axe.

According to the court records, on the evening of March 8th, at Basina Village, Khanye and the victim, Tinashe Mangaraware, were attending a party when a dispute arose between Khanye and one of his friends. The disagreement escalated into a physical fight, prompting Mangaraware to intervene. Unfortunately, Khanye responded with a violent attack, striking Mangaraware three times on the head and once on the arm with the axe before fleeing the scene. Mangaraware sustained deep cuts and required medical attention at a hospital.

Breaking News via Email
While there is an explosion of coverage on the Hamas attack and Israels ferocious response, theres a lot of redundancy in the information conveyed, even allowing for differences in sources and factoids. A new, freed from paywalls post by Elijah Magnier, Gazas New Challenges: The Drone Onslaught that Awaits Israel, stands apart in conveying some key developments that dont seem (yet/at all) widely reported, and using that as a platform for further commentary.

I urge you to read this new post in full. Its carefully reasoned. Nevertheless, I will take the liberty of hoisting what seem to be particularly important points:

The war is already doing damage to Israels society and economy. We had highlighted early commentary that stressed that Israel was vulnerable to a meaningful exodus of its population, such as fairly recent immigrants and tech workers. That is en route to happening and then some. From Magnier:

On the ground, theres a palpable sense of desperation. A growing number of Israelis and foreigners are going to the civilian airport, eager to escape the rising tensions. Their urgency is heightened because many foreign airlines have suspended flights to and from Israel. This mass departure highlights not only the immediate dangers of the conflict, but also the more profound, lasting effects it may have on Israels social morale and economic resilience.

Magnier also pointed out that the stock market suffered a dramatic selloff and the currency fell sharply too.

Hezbollah is believed to be set to act in a serious way, and not merely lob a few rockets. Again from the post:

Hezbollahs recent rocket attacks, which targeted Radar Hill and the occupied Shebaa Farms and sent a resounding message domestically and internationally, have raised the stakes. Their message is clear: involvement in the Gaza conflict is not a matter of if but of when. Both Hezbollah and Israel appear to be on the same page, preparing for what seems to be an inevitable showdown.

This means Israel is facing a two-front war. Hezbollah, early on through Egypt warned that it would attack if Israel did not regulate its response. The ferocity of the air strikes and the intent to send ground troops in would seem to be anything but that. It is not hard to image that whatever Hezbollah would do at scale would either be immediately before or immediately after troops went in so as to maximize the physical and informational challenge.

Hezbollah is unlikely to be alone in attacking Israel. Magnier warns of massive drone attacks from multiple borders:

Israel has evacuated all northern settlements to pre-empt any surprises similar to those witnessed in the southern regions near Gaza. The skies are set to become a new battleground, with swarms of drones poised to join the fray from multiple directions, from Syria, Iraq and Yemen. As the situation intensifies, the rallying cry for a Unity of the theatres among the Axis of the Resistance supporting Gaza grows louder, signalling a united front on the horizon.

Israels military suffered more than is acknowledged in the Hamas attack, particularly the loss of intelligence, and is showing some signs of disarray:

In a significant development on the first day of the assault, Palestinian forces made substantial inroads, advancing into Israeli camps and targeting the 8200th Intelligence Unit among other 11 military barracks. This unit, a linchpin of the Israeli intelligence apparatus, is directly linked to the Gaza Division Command and oversees drones that gather intelligence for Israeli targeting. The successful attack on this unit, resulting in its destruction and the reported capture or elimination or escape of its personnel, has severely affected the Israeli militarys intelligence capabilities. This setback is evident in the Israeli armys lack of actionable intelligence. It appears to have failed to anticipate or counter the resistance fighters who managed to capture Israeli soldiers and move freely in and out of Gaza even on the third day of the conflict. This breach underlines the resilience and strategic capability of the Palestinian resistance and the weakness of the Israeli army when faced with determined militants.

As other commentators have pointed out, Israel may be drawn into a conflict that it is not well adapted to fight. This is in addition to the fact that if it goes into Gaza in a meaningful way, it could be caught in a clearing-operation type campaign. The result would be a high level of casualties on both sides. Consider the points made by reader Louis Fyne:

Gaza has 2 million people in roughly a hellscape the size of Mannhattan. In no scenario can 100, 200,000 troops pacify that zone to match Bibis rhetoric! And a big chunk of the IDF are reservists, many secular Jews. If the IDF will enter (to match the rhetoric), it will be horrific fighting and erstwhile middle-class comfortable israeli families will see suffering (KIA) at levels not seen since 1948. Per capita worse than US in the Vietnam War. And remember just months ago, Bibi was on the doorsteps of receiving a colour revolution. So you have urban, suburban reservists fighting/dying for ultra-right-wing Orthdox political aims. (and there are various IDF draft loopholes that benefit the ultra-orthodox) Ironically the opposite of the US, where the meme is that conservatibes will not volunteer to fight for a woke Pentagon Whether by design or accident, Hamas will pressure Israeli society in any long-term war at pre-existing fault lines. folks understandably have blood fever and want revenge..but a rash invasion of Gaza will make things worse for everyone, including Israeli Jews

Now back to Magnier:

Inside sources have highlighted the growing unity and strength of the Axis allies in the face of the Israeli military. They argue that the Israeli army, which traditionally relies on air strikes to pave the way for ground operations, avoids direct confrontation unless areas are pre-emptively cleared with extensive bombing. The sources point to instances where Israeli forces withdrew, leaving behind their war equipment when Palestinian militants attacked their military barracks in the Gaza Strip encirclement. Drawing parallels with the 2006 conflict, the sources suggest that the Israeli army may face determined and fierce resistance, similar to the combined forces it encountered in southern Lebanon after the initial heavy bombardment.

Magnier does point out that an Israel ground assault against Gaza could be limited and avoid triggering a large-scale Hezbollah attack. Or it could go for splitting Gaza in two, which MAgnier deems as extreme but potentially effective. But he also repeatedly suggests that Israels opponents are coordinating possible cross-border attacks, particularly with drones. Now there may be a big gap between intentions and effects, since joint operation is a fraught affair.

A major wild card is what Netanyahu will do. Hes been caught flat-footed and both temperamentally and out of a presumed need to prove Israels prowess, seems inclined towards maximalist responses. That tendency is not at all helped by press amplification of the more bloodthirsty views among Israels backers, particularly in the US.

This may fall into the category of drawing a yarn diagram too tight, but one has to wonder about the Hamas massacre at the music festival. Maybe Hamas was horribly undisiplined once it broke through the containment fence, but a BBC reconstruction depicts the attack on the festival as methodical.

And now Hamas has elicited even more fury in Israel with its threat to broadcast the execution of hostages if Israel does not dial down its bombing of Gaza. But consider:

Hamas' best-case scenario right now is the IDF charging into Gaza without adequate planning or preparation. They want to turn the strip into Grozny '95 writ large. Given the Israeli government and media are pounding the table for action they very well might get their wish. pic.twitter.com/zkrdtX5WkP  Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) October 10, 2023

One has to wonder if there was design in the threat to execute hostages, as opposed to this being a desperate move after Israel started massively pounding Gaza (as in Hamas mistakenly thought the presence of so many hostages would lead Israel to be more selective in its strikes). Would these acts be shocking by design, as an attempt to build pn the Napoleon rule, summarized as dont get in your enemys way when he making a mistake, here trying to goad Israel into making the mistake of a hasty ground assault on Gaza?
Thailand works to get hostages freed, set to fly migrant workers home from Israel

Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Thailand said on Monday it is working with Jordan, Egypt and Malaysia to secure the release of its citizens taken hostage during a shock Hamas attack on Israel, with over 1,000 Thai migrant workers caught in the conflict looking to return home.

A dozen Thai nationals were killed, nine wounded and 11 more kidnapped, Thailand's government said, when Hamas militants burst across the border fence from Gaza on a rampage that killed at least 700 Israelis.

Dozens of people were captured and taken back as hostages to Gaza, a small coastal territory ruled by the Islamist Hamas.

Some Thai workers were huddling in bunkers in southern Israel, awaiting rescue.

"We are coordinating with countries that have links to the country that have taken our nationals hostage to negotiate for their release," Jakkapong Sangmanee, told a press briefing.

Negotiations towards securing the release of the Thai hostages have been "very positive," Jakkapong said, without elaborating.

Some 1,400 Thais have signed up to be evacuated, he said, adding the first group to return home would be those injured.

Around 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, making up one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country, where fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas gunmen was still ongoing in several locations on Monday.

Over 400 people have been killed in Gaza after retaliatory Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in the densely populated enclave.

Thailand's air force has two aircraft on standby for evacuation flights, along with medics, and its national carrier may also be pressed into service, government officials said.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in a post on social media platform X on Monday, said the government accorded great importance to providing assistance and safety to Thais in Israel.

"Evacuations will begin immediately," he said, adding that the first group of 15 Thais, some of them injured, would arrive home on Oct. 12 on a commercial airliner.

Some others will be repatriated in batches, he said, adding Thailand wished to see an end to the fighting and the situation to return to normal quickly.

'I want to go back to Thailand'

Holed up inside a bunker in southern Israel with over 30 other Thai migrant workers, Udomporn Jampahom said he was desperate to return home. "I don't feel safe at all," the 37-year-old agricultural worker told Reuters. "We keep hearing blasts and bullets. We can't go outside."

Udomporn, who has two children back in Thailand, said he was working at a farm when he first heard rockets and then gunfire, before fleeing to a workers' camp.

Two days after the attack began, Udomporn said he could hear bursts of gunfire from the bunker, where he and other Thai workers were awaiting evacuation.

Many were resting on cardboard strips laid on the bare floor, next to their belongings packed into suitcases, videos shared by Udomporn showed.

Udomporn said he wasn't sure about when and how exactly the group would be able to leave Israel. "I can't stay here," he added, "I want to go back to Thailand."
Dear patient readers,

The conflict in Gaza ate the news but I did the best I could to compensate with some extra links.

* * *

Octopuses Could Soon Get Same Legal Protections As Monkeys In US Research IFLScience (furzy)

Giant Solar Storm 14,000 Years Ago Leaves The Carrington Event in The Dust ScienceAlert (Chuck L)

Becoming James Bond Literary Review (Chuck L)

Navigating the Labyrinth with Psychedelics Graham Hancock. Chuck L: So its a book pitch. Fascinating none the less.

Low Cholesterol Levels in Younger Heart Failure Patients May Predict Unfavorable Outcomes MDPI (IM Doc).Cholesterol lowering drugs in younger patients with heart failure may increase mortality.

Climate/Environment

China?

Canada-India Row

European Disunion

BRICS Financial and Monetary Initiatives  the New Development Bank, the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, and a Possible New Currency Valdai Club

Gaza

New Not-So-Cold War

White House hopes to include Ukraine in Israeli aid package  media RT Not mentioned is that this is one of the sites from which Ukraine has been shelling (entirely) civilian targets in Donetsk City, with much consternation as to why Russia hasnt captured it already: Avdiivka, destroyed an mostly left by residents. Since early this morning, Russia has increased the shelling and bombing on the city and its surroundings. It is expected that Russia will increase its offensive operations in the area. pic.twitter.com/SZXgue8qMY  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) October 10, 2023

Syraqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

23andMe Confirms Stolen Genetic Data Is For Sale Online ExtremeTech (David L)

Imperial Collapse Watch

Biden

Immigration

Our No Longer Free Press

International Monetary Fund raises U.S. growth forecast for 2023, leaves global outlook unchanged CNBC

The Bottomless Swamp of Regulatory Capture Charles Hughes Smith (Brian C)

Worst Bond Collapse in 150 Years Caused by Unintended Consequences Bloomberg (David L)

The Bezzle

Crypto Venture Funding Drops 63% Bloomberg Of the many reasons to oppose the sackler bankruptcy settlement, that it will funnel billions more dollars to fake pastors who bribe junkies with drugs into doing crimes and then bill CMS for "detox services" is a big one https://t.co/DZLXCGTI1h  moe tkacik (@moetkacik) October 9, 2023

Antidote du jour (furnace via Havana Times):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana addressed the 69th annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday (9 October 2023).

In his address, Mr Geoana highlighted the important role parliamentarians play in NATOs continued support Ukraine, its strengthened deterrence and defence, and in defending NATOs shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. The Deputy Secretary General thanked Denmark as the host for its contributions to NATO. Mr Geoana also condemned the unjustifiable acts perpetrated by Hamas against Israel over the weekend.

More than 270 members of parliament representing 31 NATO Allies, along with approximately 100 members from around 25 partner countries and parliamentary bodies, took part in this annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
On Tuesday, 10 October 2023, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Mircea Geoana, will participate in the 3rd European Defence and Security Conference, where he will address NATO-EU cooperation following the Russian invasion to Ukraine.
Alarm sounded over rapidly increasing use of SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS inside schools

A report has found that more and more surveillance infrastructure is being installed in schools all over the United States.

This report comes from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which found that over the last two decades, a segment of the educational technology sector that markets student surveillance products for schools has grown into a $3.1 billion-a-year industry with a projected eight percent annual growth rate. (Related: Dallas school district installs AI spying, surveillance systems to keep an eye on students.)

"The [educational technology] surveillance industry accomplished that feat by playing on school districts' fears of school shootings, student self-harm and suicides and bullying  marketing them as common, ever-present threats," wrote the ACLU in its report.

The ACLU also did a survey on students between the ages of 14 to 18. A full 87 percent of them said they were aware that their schools were using surveillance technologies. Of these, 62 percent said their schools were using video cameras, 49 percent said their schools had installed monitoring software on school-issued devices and 27 percent said their schools were monitoring their social media activity.

Constant surveillance causing a number of harm to students

Perhaps more worrying is the fact that this constant surveillance is causing a number of harm to students in terms of their learning as well as making them less likely to report potentially dangerous behavior.

Some 32 percent of students surveyed by the ACLU said their schools' security measures lead them to "always feel like I'm being watched," while another 24 percent said school surveillance made them feel like their access to online learning resources was being limited.

"Research demonstrates the damaging effect of surveillance on children's ability to develop in healthy ways," said law professor Barbara Fedders. "Pervasive surveillance can create a climate in which adults are seen as overestimating and overreacting to risk. Children, in turn, cannot develop the ability to evaluate and manage risk themselves in order to function effectively."

The ACLU survey noted that students in schools with active surveillance systems reported heightened levels of anxiety, unease and even fear of their schools. Students also reported a degraded level of trust towards their school administrators and their teachers.

Amelia Vance, president of the pro-privacy rights NGO the Public Interest Privacy Center, warned that this lower level of trust in school authorities will "make it less likely that students are going to reach out for help."

Vance described this constant monitoring as having a "chilling effect" on students and making it less likely that they will speak to people in authority during situations when doing so could help save lives.

An analysis of at least 67 plots against schools conducted by the U.S. Secret Service itself showed that a majority of these plots were flagged when the plotters' peers in school reported their potentially dangerous or self-harm behavior and plots against staff to school employees.

Outside of the ACLU's report, other research has shown that camera surveillance might not be preventing instances of violence within schools. In the last two decades, eight out of the 10 most deadly school shootings took place in schools with active surveillance systems.

"I think the problem is much of what we're doing when it comes to student surveillance technology only makes us feel safer," noted ACLU Senior Policy Counsel Chad Marlow, the lead author of the report. "But it doesn't actually make the kids any safer  and it's hurting our kids in the process."

Learn more instances of harmful surveillance in the United States at Surveillance.news.

Watch this episode of "News Behind The News" on AMP News discussing how parents need to be watching schools, not schools watching students.

This video is from the AMP News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Parents and school officials of small Irish town unite to BAN SMARTPHONES for children as old as 13.

Poll: Parents most concerned about excessive use of SOCIAL MEDIA and mobile devices as kids return to school.

Senators call for FTC investigation into Google over YouTube ads that violate children's privacy.

Millions of UK students are using BIOMETRICS for school-related activities without parental consent.

Hundreds of public school districts are SUING Big Tech for warping their students' minds into a MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER.

Sources include:

Reason.com

K12Dive.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
CULTURE of THEFT: D.C. neighborhood CVS retailer gets routinely ransacked by a mob of kids

Before and after going to school and even during late nights, a big group of kids  roughly 45 of them  regularly come to Consumer Value Stores (CVS) in Columbia Heights in Washington D.C. to ransack food and beverages , even throw the food and beverages on the ground and stomp on them, leaving behind a big mess.

"When you walk into this CVS, you'd think the store is closing because there's barely anything on the shelves," Fox 5's local correspondent Sierra Fox reported. "In fact, the only items in stock are the ones that are locked up. I did ask an employee what gets stolen the most, and they just laughed and said 'Everything.'" The news outlet further stated that CVS staff have been alerted that the teen thieves are aware of when new shipments come in and that's when they target the store and a sole security guard is no match for up to 45 teens who routinely strip the store.

Meanwhile, sources informed Fox that "street vendors are allegedly paying people to go in and steal stuff so they can resell it." It was also reported that sources noticed "street vendors selling toothbrushes, men and women body wash, car fresheners, as well as laundry and cleaning supplies, which are some of the same items no longer available at CVS. Meanwhile, the media outlet said there is no direct evidence at this time that the items came from the store.

CVS Lead Director of External Communications Amy Thibault says, "The safety of our colleagues, customers, and patients is our top priority and were committed to ensuring we have the products they need in our stores. In recent weeks, we've worked closely with the D.C. Metro Police to identify and dismantle several major shoplifting rings and will continue to do so. In addition, we're supporting new initiatives to combat retail theft in partnership with the D.C. Attorney General's Office."

The recent robberies bring concern about safety and security to some shoppers. "It makes me not want to shop there, to be honest," customer Ilana Miller said. "I just go in there and get my prescription and then when I need other things, I go elsewhere because there's nothing there to get."

However, during an interview, some residents did not entirely blame the young thieves for clearing the drugstore shelves. "I'm stuck, I mean, it's bad to do. At the same time, they're probably doing it for a reason," a resident said. "They need those things, but they shouldn't just be going in and clearing the shelves because this isn't sustainable for the store."

"A lot of folks actually can't afford any of the things in there. I'm not saying that stealing has to be the solution to that, right?" another one said. "However, maybe if the city could provide more accessible resources to unhoused or under-income folks that can provide them hair care, bodily care, hygiene care, etc., that could be an option." (Related: Walmart to reopen with a POLICE SUBSTATION to combat SURGING THEFT cases.)

CVS to shut down 900 stores by end of 2024 amid rampant shoplifting

The drug retail chain recently announced the closure of just under a thousand of its branches amid rampant increases in crime and as it is undergoing a new 'retail footprint strategy.' The policy was launched in 2021 which will see 300 stores closed each year, with a total of 900 shuttered by 2024.

As of April 2023, stores had lost an estimated $86.6 billion to retail theft in 2022, with projections indicating that by 2025, retail theft may cost stores over $115 billion, according to Capital One Research. Stores catch shoplifters roughly two percent of the time, with the average shoplifter being arrested once out of every 100 incidents.

According to CVS, apart from the robberies, 'local market dynamics, population shifts, and a community's store density' are some of the aspects it has looked into when deciding which stores to shutter. The pharmaceutical products distributor is also starting to adjust to the needs of modern online shoppers. More customers are getting prescriptions filled online, retrieving personal care items through curbside pickup, and visiting with doctors through telehealth.

Meanwhile, rival pharmacies such as Rite Aid and Walgreens are making similar moves. Rite Aid announced it would close two more stores earlier this month, following the closure of 25 stores earlier this year, amid reports the company is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It forecasted it would generate 'approximately $650 million and $680 million' in losses next year.

Walgreens closed a store in Berkeley in California on August 23 this year. It is also planning to shut down at least 150 stores as part of a cost-saving strategy while making upgrades to the remaining locations.

Head over to Anarchy.news for more stories related to crime and lawlessness across the United States.

Sources for this article include:

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com

Fox5DC.com

DailyMail.co.uk
Denver officials beg Texas border towns to divert illegal aliens away from their self-proclaimed sanctuary city

Denver officials have asked border towns in Texas to divert illegal aliens away from the Mile High City by means of bilingual flyers.

According to Breitbart, authorities from the self-proclaimed sanctuary city have begged border towns in the Lone Star State to distribute the flyers. The flyers, written in both English and Spanish, seek to discourage illegal aliens from traveling to Denver.

Matthew Mueller, the executive director for the City and County of Denver's Office of Emergency Management, sent an email to officials in four Texas cities  Brownsville, El Paso, Houston and Dallas  regarding this concern. He advised that Denver "can no longer provide the same level of sheltering resources to newly arriving persons." Documents provided by Texas officials to Breitbart also said Mueller's office is reducing the maximum length of stay for new arrivals as of Oct. 4.

The Denver official then asked his counterparts in Texas to distribute the flyers or post them in shelters, non-governmental organizations or any other areas where illegal immigrants wishing to travel to Denver could stay.

"Asylum seekers traveling to Denver" are warned that the city's resources "have been exhausted," and that single adult illegals who arrive in the Mile High City can only stay in shelters there for a maximum of 14 days.

"If you are coming to Denver seeking shelter, it is important for you to have a plan. The city cannot provide shelter long-term," the flyer states, adding that housing in the Mile High City is "very expensive and there aren't many affordable housing options available."

Denver never extended help to Texas border towns

According to the office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the Lone Star State has bused approximately 2,400 illegal aliens to Denver since May 18. But Breitbart noted that when the border towns needed help dealing with illegal immigrants, the sanctuary city did not extend a helping hand.

Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Sector, which includes Brownsville, apprehended 2,353 illegal aliens on Oct. 3 alone. Meanwhile, agents in the El Paso Sector apprehended 951 illegals on the same day. In both cases, Denver officials did not offer any assistance to the authorities of both cities.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declared a state of disaster in the city and pointed his finger at Abbott for sending "involuntary arrivals" to the city. "We still continue to see particularly what I would call these involuntary arrivals, which are folks that have been put on a bus by Abbott and sent to us," he said on Sept. 7.

"Many of those folks had no plan to come to Denver. They arrived here and are trying to get to family in Chicago, they have friends or family in Boston or in Salt Lake City, you name it. For those folks that do want to stay, we're going to try to get them connected to work options."

Denver isn't the only sanctuary city to utilize flyers to dissuade illegals. Even New York City (NYC), which is embroiled in a migrant crisis set to collapse the city, has done the same. A separate Breitbart report said NYC officials have begun distributing the flyers written in both English and Spanish.

The flyer began with a warning against "wrong information" coming from both social media and human traffickers. It then emphasized that the city's resources "have been exhausted" as a result of responding to the migrant crisis. (Related: NYC distributing flyers to discourage illegals from heading to already-strained Big Apple.)

"NYC is one of the most expensive cities in the world. You are better off going to a more affordable city," the flyer continued. "NYC cannot help you obtain a work permit, and you will not be able to easily find work."

It also touched on the issue of illegals being housed in luxury hotels in the city. The flyer states that illegal immigrants who end up in the city "will not be placed in a hotel," further emphasizing that earlier batches of illegals "are now getting letters to move out of the shelter."

Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories about illegal immigrants that flood sanctuary cities such as Denver and NYC.

Watch Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) calling for illegals to be sent back to Mexico instead of Texas and other areas within the U.S. in the video below.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Migrants leaving NYC for Canada by bus  on taxpayer dime.

Chicago mayor mulls sending ILLEGALS to suburbs in other counties.

NYC Mayor Adams blasts Biden admin for burdening Big Apple with ILLEGALS.

Outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pleads with Texas Gov. Abbott to stop sending illegal migrants to her sanctuary city.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com 1

Breitbart.com 2

Brighteon.com
FBI closely monitoring Trump supporters in run-up to 2024 election

Using the excuse of fighting "ideological agendas" that contradict the establishment's version of "truth," the corrupt Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is targeting supporters of Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2024 election because Trump supporters are now considered to be "domestic terrorists" that threaten the established order.

Prior to the January 6 "insurrection," the FBI's AGAAVE program, which stands for "anti-government, anti-authority violent extremist," only considered a certain segment of society to be a threat. Now, AGAAVE has been expanded to include those who aim for the "furtherance of political and / or social agenda," which includes Americans who support Trump.

The FBI expanded AGAAVE into AGAAVE-other to widen the catch-net of people whom it considers to be a threat to society. It is no longer just anarchists, militia members, and so-called "sovereign citizens." Now, if you support the "wrong" political candidate, the FBI considers you, too, to be a threat.

In October 2022, the official definition given to AGAAVE-other was intentionally vague. It now includes "domestic violent extremists who cite anti-government or anti-authority motivations for violence or criminal activity not otherwise defined."

As explained by The National Pulse's Jake Welch, the FBI does not overtly mention MAGA (Make America Great Again) in this definition, but government insiders say that MAGA is the primary target of the FBI.

"In practical terms, it refers to MAGA, though carefully constructed language is wholly nonpartisan," an anonymous FBI officer is quoted as saying about the matter.

(Related: All during the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic," government websites were retooled to spy on Americans in the name of public health.)

Senior intelligence officer at DNI says FBI's AGAAVE-other definition is so broad that it could mean anything from a few thousand Proud Boys to 30% of country's electorate

Even those on the inside are unclear as to the full extent of the FBI's AGAAVE-other program. One senior intelligence officer who works at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) stated that he is still unclear as to whether or not the FBI is interested in a handful of Proud Boys "extremists" or if the agency really does want to take down the 30 percent of America's electorate that voted for Trump in past elections.

"I don't know the answer, and I can assure you the answer isn't in any secret intelligence that the government possesses," the officer explained.

It would seem as though the FBI is going after 30 percent of the country's electorate, seeing as how the number of domestic violence extremism investigations is skyrocketing. At the end of 2022, the FBI had about 2,700 ongoing cases in motion, which is double the number of cases in spring 2020.

"The total number of domestic terrorism investigations is now more than 9,000, with the main target being Trump supporters," Welch writes.

The FBI is not the only federal agency or entity in Washington, D.C. targeting Trump supporters. There is also the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House, both of which want MAGA to end.

Christopher Costa, a former White House head of counterterrorism, says D.C.'s overall aim is to throw the full weight of the law at what it considers to be "anti-government terrorists." In Costa's view, this represents "a small percentage of misguided fellow Americans."

Another senior intelligence official says there is a general air of contempt around D.C. for Trump and his supporters, especially as we approach the 2024 election cycle.

"Trump's army constitutes the greatest threat of violence domestically ... politically ... that's the reality and the problem set," this person is quoted as saying.

The latest news about Trump's run for the presidency in 2024 can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com
The big distraction: Global war is good for Joe Biden  wall-to-wall war news provides the media a huge diversion from the Biden regimes destruction of America

While all eyes have been drawn to what is happening now with the terrorist group Hamas attacking Israel, and Israel officially declaring war for the first time in 50 years , the "benefit" for the Biden regime is that all of those same eyes are not quite as focused on what is happening right here in America.

(Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

Granted, some are rightly pointing out the $6 billion in Iranian funds that was frozen by President Trump in 2018, being unfrozen by Biden as part of a trade deal for American prisoners, was used to fund the Hamas attack on Israel. This is something proven true when a Hamas "spokesperson told the BBC that the militant group had backing from its ally, Iran, for its surprise attacks on Israel."

A couple of points come to mind in watching the news media and their back-to-back coverage of Israel/Hamas:

 The fact the U.S. has just basically funded two wars. The tens of billions sent to Ukraine to be our proxy in a war with Russia, and allowing the release of $6 billion to Iran to fund the attacks against Israel.

 The distraction of covering two wars, with a sudden lull in reporting the border issues, Biden bypassing congress and the courts themselves by eliminating school loan debt, the recent blockbuster reports showing the FBI has now created a category of "extremists," which targets Donald Trump supporters, and the many other ways the Biden regime and Joe's handlers are actively working to destroy this country.

DISTRACTING FROM BIDEN'S DESTRUCTION OF THE U.S.

Since it is hard to know where to start, let us start with war.

Along with some warmongering Republicans that we haven't weeded out of office yet, Joe Biden and all Democrats are supportive for tens of billions of dollars sent to Ukraine, and pledging full support for more.

In fact, one of the main factors for many Americans, the majority of which do not want anymore America tax dollars to go toward funding Ukraine in their war with Russia, in choosing another Speaker of the House, is a promise that no more blank checks go to Ukraine while Americans are going hungry.

Look at the streets in big cities in America, open air drug dens, needles in the street, "zombie-like" human beings so drugged out they are wasting away on the streets in full sight of the country.

The retail thefts which are increasing exponentially as liberal Soros-back prosecutors refuse to charge or prosecute some of the worst crimes, are just one more thing slowly destroying America.

The porous borders, where in October 2022 it was reported that 5.5 million aliens have crossed the borders since Biden took office. The 2023 numbers show that more than 2.8 million migrants have had encounters with authorities so far this fiscal year. (Source)

The media is so busy with Russia/Ukraine and now Hamas/Israel, that they are barely reporting on the crime, the open borders, and Biden's failure to do anything about it. In fact, the recent news that Biden is finally allowing the continuance of the border wall President Trump began, (He must have seen his polling on the issue) after promising" not another foot of wall" would be built while he was occupying the White House, can barely be found after being buried under wall-to-wall coverage of war.

Then of course we see that after scant initial reporting regarding the FBI creating a new category to target Trump supporters, or "MAGA" supporters, ahead of the 2024 presidential election, even the small amount of reporting on it, mentioned in a recent ANP report by Alan Barton, silence from the MSM, as they are too busy with Hama/Israel, while lobbying for more support for Ukraine.

Via Newsweek, on October 4, 2023:

The FBI and DHS report concludes: "Sociopolitical developmentssuch as narratives of fraud in the recent general election, the emboldening impact of the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and conspiracy theories promoting violencewill almost certainly spur some domestic terrorists to try to engage in violence." The threats listed in that paragraph are all clearly associated with America's right and in particular with Trump's MAGA supporters. Right after January 6, the FBI co-authored a restricted report ("Domestic Violent Extremists Emboldened in Aftermath of Capitol Breach, Elevated Domestic Terrorism Threat of Violence Likely Amid Political Transitions and Beyond") in which it shifted the definition of AGAAVE ("anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism") from "furtherance of ideological agendas" to "furtherance of political and/or social agendas." For the first time, such groups could be so labeled because of their politics.

Now Newsweek's front page, like many of the other MSM outlets, is full of Israel and Hamas.

For the record, I am not saying that Hamas attacking Israel and a death count topping 600 so far, isn't newsworthy. Of course it is, but it is also being covered at the exclusion of most everything else.

Is that a coincidence? I don't believe in that large of a coincidence.

Biden unfreezes Iran's funds - Iran then provides Hamas with the means to initiate a large scale attack - Biden sends tens of billions to Ukraine - MSM suddenly forgets about America and focuses on everything but Biden's destruction of America.

Right in the middle of campaign season!!!

BIDEN'S CENSORSHIP OF AMERICANS

There has been a case going through the courts against the Biden regime coercing and colluding with social media in order to censor Americans online, which has been shoved to the backburner because of the war reporting. The case is Missouri vs Biden.

Falling through the cracks because of the MSM's tunnel vision focus on Hamas attacking Israel and Israel's response, a recent ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, expanded on a previous ruling, adding to their injunction of those blocked in the Biden regime from coercing or significantly encouraging social media companies to censor speech to include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Via Daily Caller:

Like the CDC for COVID-related claims, CISA told the platforms whether certain election related claims were true or false, the judges wrote. CISAs actions apparently led to moderation policies being altered and content being removed or demoted by the recipient platforms.

Another aspect in the censorship fight is how Elon Musk, who took over Twitter, restored accounts that had been banned for political wrong-think under previous ownership, and restore free speech, is being attacked non-stop by those that want information put in front of Americans to be censored, with the goal of only allowing Americans that use social media to see preferred narratives.

Elon Musk spoke about how media coverage of him had been "rough" and "hurtful" during a 90-minute interview with the BBC that was live-streamed on Tuesday night from Twitter's San Francisco office. "I've been under constant attack," the billionaire said. "It's not like I have a stone-cold heart or something. It's rough." "If the media's firing non-stop stories about why you're a horrible person, it's hurtful," he added.

Musk did point out that suffering the attacks is better than no free speech.

Since the Biden regime can no longer threaten, coerce, or otherwise force censorship, the media is trying to do it for them, like obedient little puppets.

With the media doing everything in their power to prevent Americans from seeing the destruction being caused by Biden regime policies, including using the wars in between Ukraine/Russia and Hamas/Israel, to distract Americans, it is more important than ever that Independent Media is able to focus on America and what is happening right here.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
In what United States officials have called a regrettable incident, a U.S. F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish military drone conducting airstrikes near a base in Syria where American forces, deployed to fight ISIS, are located. The incident occurred on October 5. No U.S. service person was injured, and according to the Pentagon, there is no indication that Turkiye was intentionally targeting U.S. forces.

After the event, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone to his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler. According to the Pentagons readout of the call, Secretary Austin acknowledged Turkiyes legitimate security concerns and affirmed his commitment to close coordination between the United States and Turkiye to prevent any risk to U.S. forces or the Global Coalitions Defeat-ISIS Mission in northeast Syria.

At a press briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. General Pat Ryder noted that on the day of the incident, U.S. forces had observed Turkish UAVs conducting airstrikes inside a declared U.S. restricted zone in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, and a UAV was heading to where U.S. forces were located:

Its a regrettable incident, but U.S. commanders on the ground did assess that there was a potential threat, and so they took prudent action in this scenario. But again, the Secretary has talked to his counterpart. They had the opportunity to have a fruitful conversation and again commit to one another that the U.S. add Turkey will continue to closely communicate and coordinate.  Turkiye does remain a very important and valuable NATO all and partner to the United States.

Press Secretary Ryder noted that the United States recognizes that the PKK poses a legitimate security threat to Turkiye.

The PKK has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. So we condemn any act of terrorism against Turkiye and the people of Turkiye, he said. When it comes to northern Syria, we do remain concerned about the potential impact of military escalation in that region, in so much as it affects the civilian population and importantly, as it affects our ability to maintain focus on rooting out ISIS.

The coalition and the United States, said Brig. Gen. Ryder, remain very, very focused on rooting out the last elements of ISIS in the region.
Iran leader Khamenei uses X to hail Hamas terror attack that killed 1,000+  But Alex Jones still BANNED

(Article by Jamie White republished from InfoWars.com)

So the Ayatollah can be on X but not a guy who talks about gay frogs  Jack Poso ?? (@JackPosobiec) October 9, 2023

The Zionist regime is dying. #Palestine, Imam Khameneis official X account wrote last Wednesday, two days before Hamas surprise invasion of Israel.

The Zionist regime is dying Imam Khamenei Oct. 3, 2023#Palestine ?? pic.twitter.com/PWQ8MkzBHi  Khamenei Media (@Khamenei_m) October 4, 2023

Amid Hamas attack on Saturday, Khamenei posted video of festival attendees fleeing Hamas terrorists in the Israeli desert, calling them resistance forces.

God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region, he wrote.

God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region. #AlAqsaStormpic.twitter.com/XDyxoTT4gw  Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 7, 2023

Khamenei was fact-checked by Community Notes, which said, The people seen fleeing in this video are not members of the regime but rather concert-goes whose festivities Hamas disrupted, using force and taking hostages.

Reports surfaced on Sunday that Iran helped Hamas plan its massive assault on Israel and ultimately green lighted the operation from Beirut last week.

Instead of banning Khamenei for advocating for violence against Jews to his nearly 1 million followers on X, its CEO Elon Musk issued a stern statement to Irans leader in response to the disturbing video.

Khameneis official position is clear that the eradication of Israel is the actual goal, not just supporting Palestinians. That will not happen. All that actually happens, decade after decade, is a never-ending cycle of violence and vengeance. Stoking the fires of hatred isnt working. Perhaps it is time to consider something else, Musk wrote Sunday

Khameneis official position is clear that the eradication of Israel is the actual goal, not just supporting Palestinians. That will not happen. All that actually happens, decade after decade, is a never-ending cycle of violence and vengeance. Stoking the fires of hatred isnt https://t.co/ffNuY9AgAC  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2023

But Alex Jones, who has never killed anybody or even advocated for violence, remains banned on X and other social media platforms for FAR less.

American populists and conservatives are treated worse than radical jihadist terrorists by the system, Alex Jones said.

People need to understand that, because were telling the truth and were good and were popular. But the system uses these attacks to take control of our lives, so they promote it to scare people.

Im censored off all the major platforms so I cant go on there and explain that Biden gave $6 billion to Iran last month or gave tens of billions in military equipment to Afghanistan or weapons out of Ukraine, he added.

Read more at: InfoWars.com
FAKED: Thousands of jet engine parts with falsified safety certificates installed in commercial aircraft

Top airlines in the United States are reportedly searching for thousands more engine parts that were backed by falsified safety certificates . These parts have already been installed in their aircraft.

The spare parts, from simple nuts and bolts to more critical turbine blades, went into dozens of jet engines made by a General Electric (GE) joint venture during maintenance works. The engines were then installed back onto the popular Boeing and Airbus airplanes, according to GE and safety officials. They have already been able to retrieve questionable parts from 126 engines so far at a growing number of airlines.

A United spokesman said it had discovered parts in engines on two aircraft, replaced the engines and returned the planes to service. He also said the company continues to investigate and expects no effect on customers. Meanwhile, Delta said affected engines involved less than one percent of its total. On the other hand, Southwest said it had one engine containing two low-pressure turbine blades and replaced those blades. American also stated it identified uncertified components on a small number of aircraft and took them out of service for replacement.

The culprit is said to be AOG Technics, a little-known broker of airplane parts, which served as a component middleman, acquiring basic parts and selling them to maintenance and repair organizations. The U.K.-based firm was established in 2015 and currently lists an address that is a co-working space near Buckingham Palace.

GE already filed a lawsuit and its engine partner Safran claimed that the small company used large-scale faking of documentation to sell engine parts to airlines. AOG Atty. Alexander Weinberg did not comment on the said legal matter. However, it was found that the firm had already submitted documents on Wednesday, Oct. 4, after a London judge ordered it to detail its parts sales. Both GE and Safran are said to be looking into the records to determine the full extent of the company's activities. Before that review, the companies said they had found 16 engines in their shops and 110 in other facilities that include parts sourced from AOG Technics.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its European counterpart have accused AOG of using forged documents. Airline parts come with certificates that are used to track each part's safety record, origin, and airworthiness.

The most affected engine model was the CFM56, which holds the record for most aircraft engines ever sold. According to the engine makers, the sales include over 33,900 of the turbines delivered to customers since its entry into service in 1982. It also currently powers Boeing's predecessors -- the 737 MAX and the original Airbus A320, both used as workhorses for the aviation industry. The dubious documentation "puts aircraft safety in jeopardy and renders it impossible for operators who have purchased these parts to verify the airworthiness of their engines," according to the lawsuit filed by GE, Safran, and their joint venture, CFM International. "All falsified parts need urgently to be identified and the relevant operators notified."

As per a U.S. database of approvals for parts such as those sold by AOG, there are no records of the company having received approvals. "It's a bit strange that a phantom company can be allowed to supply spare parts with false certification documents," Safran Chief Executive Olivier Andries told reporters last month. (Related: America is witnessing DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION of its aviation industry.)

Questions of AOG's legitimacy and existence raised

It is not just the safety documents that should be looked at as Bloomberg News reported earlier on the problems with AOG Technics' safety documents and with the LinkedIn profiles of apparent AOG Technics employees. According to court documents, AOG Founder Jose Zamora Yrala is its lone director and shareholder. The lawsuit also alleged that LinkedIn profiles purporting to be AOG staff featured stock photographs. "There are, therefore, legitimate questions as to whether the profiles have been manufactured and whether the profiled employees actually exist," according to the suit.

As per the news outlet, the reception and security staff denied that they were familiar with the company at its listed headquarters at the new office block in central London. Worse, a representative for co-working specialist Argyll, which leases space in the building, confirmed that AOG Technics was a virtual client that does not hold a permanent presence at the publicly listed location.

The recent controversy has raised questions about the efficacy of the predominantly paper-based system that is used to track parts and the ease of fabrication. "If you put a part in an airplane engine, you should feel confident that it is legitimate," said Ron Epstein, an aerospace analyst at Bank of America. "Somebody found a loophole. The system is supposed to guard against that." The scandal also added pressure to an already stretched maintenance and repair supply chain in the American airline industry. Overhaul firms, battling with staffing and spare-part shortages, are struggling to supply sufficient capacity to keep pace with the recovery in air travel as an aftermath of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Follow SupplyChainWarning.com for more stories related to the shortage of transportation parts, including aircraft products.

Sources for this article include:

WSJ.com

BNNBloomberg.ca
Pro-democracy students studying in America TERRORIZED by Chinese police

The families of pro-freedom Chinese students who are studying in the United States says Chinese police are harassing and terrorizing their families back home

One such student, Zhang Jinrui, a law student at Georgetown University, told "Radio Free Asia" (RFA) the other day that his family back in China was told by Chinese police officers to "get him in line," or else.

"The state security police knocked on our door and took my father away for lengthy questioning: 'Does this child of yours take part in pro-democracy activities? Do they usually love their country and the Party?'" Zhang told RFA.

Zhang says his father was then told to "teach him to love his country and the Party better," "the Party," of course, referring to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

"It's not okay that he's doing this, and it won't do any good," the police warned Zhang's family.

(Related: Earlier this year, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York were both seen in video footage mingling with the alleged chief of a Chinese police station.)

Chinese "police stations" in the U.S. surveil and harass Chinese nationals living here

Zhang believes that he first popped up on Beijing's radar after he joined a protest movement called "White Paper" that regularly demonstrates against authoritarian abuses such as those occurring in Hong Kong against that nation's pro-democracy movement.

White Paper has also protested against China's hellish Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns by waving white pieces of paper up in the air.

Zhang has also been directly critical of the fact that China was allowed to host the Winter Olympics last year, seeing as how the nation is known for its humanitarian atrocities.

Interestingly, Chinese police have never gone after or even contacted Zhang directly. Instead, they appear to have learned about his presence and proceeded to harass and antagonize his family instead in the hopes that this alone would shut him up.

Zhang is also living in the United States while attending school, which means that there are no Chinese police officers here that can actually do anything other than spy on him about things he says and does while outside of China.

Zhang first learned about his parents' fate after receiving a panicked WeChat message from his sister. She told him Chinese police questioned her about his alleged participation in "Torch on the Potomac," which aims to be a "safe space" created for dissident Chinese students at Georgetown.

According to Zhang, Torch on the Potomac has not yet scheduled any activities.

Zhang is just one of many Chinese nationals who, while living abroad, have been targeted by communist China's "long-arm policing" strategy, which is similar to that of Singapore with its grotesque drug laws.

China has reportedly set up "police stations" in countries all around the world, including in Canada and the United States, to surveil and harass Chinese nationals like Zhang. These snitches monitor and report back to the mother ship, which then goes after the families of Chinese nationals who still live in China.

As Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Chong testified to the U.S. Congress back in December, terrorizing family members is a pastime for the CCP and its Chinese police officers scattered throughout the world.

"Chong said Chinese officials planned to use his family in Hong Kong to 'make an example' of him after he sponsored a resolution against the Uyghur genocide," one media outlet reported.

Other Chinese nationals living abroad say their families back home have, in some cases, even been dragged in for harsh interrogations as a threat to their overseas relatives to quiet down, or else.

The latest news about communist China can be found at Communism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

Newstarget.com
Russia pulls Black Sea vessels out of Crimea following Ukrainian missile, drone strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently withdrew his Black Sea Fleet vessels from the Crimea base.

Now, the mainstream media is making it appear that Ukrainian missile and drone attacks are challenging Moscow's hold of the peninsula, which the Russians seized in 2014. According to the Wall Street Journal, (WSJ) Western officials and satellite images verified by naval experts revealed that Russia has moved powerful vessels, including three attack submarines and two frigates, from Sevastopol to other ports in Russia and Crimea that offer better protection. (Related: Russian killer drones being used in Ukraine found to contain Western electrical components.)

According to the outlet, this move represented a remarkable setback for Putin, whose military seizure of Crimea in 2014 marked the opening shots in his attempt to take control of Ukraine. WSJ's Thomas Grove and Jared Malsin commented that the Russian president's full-scale invasion last year is starting to "boomerang." They noted that the pull-out of vessels happened after a series of strikes by Ukraine that severely damaged Russian vessels and the fleet's headquarters.

It was also reported that the strikes have already broken the fleet's blockade of Ukrainian ports, denying Russian access to parts of the Black Sea and opening a new corridor for Ukraine to dispatch economically vital grain shipments.

According to Mikhail Barabanov, a senior analyst at the Moscow-based defense think tank Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, satellite images dated Oct. 1 and provided by Planet Labs showed that the bulk of the naval vessels were moved to Novorossiysk, a Russian port on the Black Sea. The craft included all three of its operational Kilo-class attack submarines, two guided-missile frigates and one patrol ship. Other vessels, including a large landing ship, a number of small missile ships and new minesweepers, were moved to the port of Feodosiya, farther east along the Crimean Peninsula, Barabanov added.

Ukraine has targeted Crimea in recent weeks with cruise missiles that seriously damaged a Russian submarine and a large landing vessel, as well as the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet. Analysts say those strikes likely used cruise missiles provided by the U.K. and France, which have placed restrictions on their use, meaning they can't hit Novorossiysk.

"The main factor in the decision is that the West until now has forbidden Ukraine from using Western weaponry for strikes within the 2014 borders of the Russian Federation," said Barabanov. Ukraine successfully struck Novorossiysk using its own locally-produced naval drones earlier this year.

U.K. intel claims Moscow is planning to attack civilian ships with sea mines

The crucial yet quiet pull-out of Russia's major portion of its Black Sea Fleet from its main base in Crimea raised suspicions of a counterattack. True enough, the United Kingdom recently found that Moscow could be planning to attack civilian ships in the regions with sea mines, citing a declassified intelligence document. The attacks may have disrupted the Russian fleet's blockade of Ukrainian ports but the U.K. government suggested that Ukraine could be blamed for the attacks on neutral vessels.

Last month, U.K. officials revealed that Russian forces had targeted a civilian cargo ship in the region with "multiple missiles" but air defenses successfully intercepted them. According to declassified intelligence, there was a risk of attack on cargo ships traveling through Ukraine's "humanitarian corridor" to deter Ukrainian grain exports.

"Russia's pernicious targeting of civilian shipping in the Black Sea demonstrates Putin's total disregard for civilian lives and the needs of the world's most vulnerable," said Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. "The world is watching and we see right through Russia's cynical attempts to lay blame on Ukraine for their attacks."

Cleverlys department said "the U.K. seeks to expose Russia's tactics to deter any such incident from occurring."

Visit RussiaReport.news to read more about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Watch the video below that talks about how Kyiv is paying tenfold for its strikes in Crimea.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

POKING THE BEAR: Britain's defense chief provokes Russia to unleash WWIII by sending its troops to train Ukrainian soldiers.

U.S. tax dollars sent to Ukraine are being used for wasteful excesses like subsidizing Ukrainian corporations, paying politicians' salaries, and even buying fertilizer for farmers

Ukraine-bound tanks sent by Germany are OUTDATED and NON-FUNCTIONING, official admits.

The Economist implies Ukrainian drone strikes are ramped up to psychologically terrorize "ordinary Russians."

Sources include:

WSJ.com

News.com.au

Brighteon.com
Warmongers start push for U.S. involvement in Iran following Hamas attack

(Article by Steve Watson republished from Summit.news)

GOP Senator Lindsey Graham was head of the line, bandying around threats to Iran that we are all going to come after you if there is an escalation involving Hezbollah:

To my Israeli friends, do whatever you have to do, for as long as you have to do it. To Iran, if this war escalates with Hezbollah, we are all going to come after you. pic.twitter.com/xv3RZVcvwl  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 8, 2023

Iran should pay dearly for any escalation directed at Israel involving Hezbollah.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 8, 2023

Graham added that if Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies attempt to attack Israeli defense systems, the United States should immediately target Iranian oil refineries and oil infrastructure, which is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy.

The Senator continued, It is long past time for the Iranian terrorist state to pay a price for all the upheaval and destruction being sown throughout the region and world.

It is long past time for the Iranian terrorist state to pay a price for all the upheaval and destruction being sown throughout the region and world.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 8, 2023

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Sunday that Iran has consistently funded terrorism and groups like Hamas. Ironic, given that the Biden Administration just provided the regime there with an unfrozen $6 billion in aid:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who signed off on the Biden Administrations decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds: Iran has unfortunately always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like like Hamas pic.twitter.com/TvDkfSq7BT  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 8, 2023

Blinken claimed that those funds had nothing to do with the attacks:

WATCH: @SecBlinken responds to Republicans saying that deal with Iran that led to the release of five U.S. detainees funded attacks on Israel: "These were not U.S. taxpayer dollars. These were Iranian resources ... that were stuck in a bank in South Korea." pic.twitter.com/1LRWXr38mP  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 8, 2023

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley stated that Hamas has attacked America:

This is not just an attack on Israelthis was an attack on America. Finish them, @Netanyahu. They should have hell to pay for what they have just done. pic.twitter.com/0KKDwvOITS  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 8, 2023

Its only a matter of time before Israel takes it to Iran.

"We suspect that Iran is involved" in the Hamas attack, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. @AmbHerzog tells @margbrennan. When asked if Israel will take the fight to Iran, Herzog says: "I will just say that whoever strikes Israel, we'll strike back." pic.twitter.com/CDU4uYHvn8  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 8, 2023

This could all lead to a full on world war:

If the U.S. and Israel stumble into a conflict with Iran, it will be unlike anything either has faced since the 1970s Iran not only has the capability to strategically bombard Israel proper in response to aggression thanks to deep stocks of munitions, its missile force is also pic.twitter.com/Wxg81n5N8b  Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) October 9, 2023

BREAKING: 'If the U.S decides to Directly Intervene in the Gaza Conflict, U.S. Bases and Troops in the Region will all become Legitimate Targets for the Axis of Resistance.' - Iraqi Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades (linked to Hezbollah and Iran) These guys and Hezbollah pic.twitter.com/gEFKVaZY4R  Megatron (@Megatron_ron) October 8, 2023

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) is moving closer to Israel as a show of support. The carrier strike group involves Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul pic.twitter.com/dl4iBTfDx4  Global: Military-Info (@Global_Mil_Info) October 8, 2023

It looks like Western media is setting the stage for NATO to attack Iran I remember the same rhetoric as the U.S. was planning to invade Iraq. They had "evidence that Saddam had a part in 9/11 and he had weapons of mass destruction." pic.twitter.com/MlsuE53zyN  Echelon Report: Business News ?????? (@EchelonReport) October 9, 2023

U.S. borders are already an after thought, what would happen if the country becomes embroiled another military misadventure?

It is indefensible and evil what happened to Israel. It is also weird how many American leaders are more passionate about a foreign country than our own border invasion. Pay attention.  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 9, 2023

Read more at: Summit.news
Southern California doctor accused of STEALING $150M from federal COVID-19 program for uninsured patients

Dr. Anthony Hao Dinh, 64, of Newport Coast, Orange County in Southern California is facing charges for allegedly embezzling approximately $150 million from the federal Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) Uninsured Program.

Dinh, a licensed osteopathy doctor specializing in ear, nose, and throat surgery and facial plastic surgery, owns multiple clinics all over Orange County. He is facing 12 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering and one count of obstruction of justice. If convicted on all counts, Dinh could potentially face up to 50 years in prison if sentences run consecutively.

If convicted, Dinh could face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud and three of the money laundering charges; up to 10 years for the two other money laundering charges; and up to 20 more years for obstruction of justice. He is currently out of custody on a $7 million bond. He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing at the end of October in the United States District Court in Santa Ana, California.

Dinh was initially charged in a criminal complaint filed in April. A grand jury indictment filed last week expanded on the case by increasing the number of fraudulent claims Dinh allegedly submitted and adding in the charges of money laundering and obstruction of justice.

Southern California prosecutors said this is the largest fraud scheme in the nation targeting the Health Resources and Service Administration's program for uninsured patients to have been uncovered so far.

Dinh's sister, Hanna Trinh Dinh, 65, was also charged in April for her role as an accomplice to the scheme. She has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a plea deal, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Dinh submitted over $250 million in claims to the government

The alleged fraudulent activities happened over nine months from July 2020 to March 2021. Dinh allegedly submitted more than $250 million in fraudulent claims to HRSA's COVID-19 Uninsured Program, which seeks to reimburse healthcare practitioners for services provided to uninsured patients who received COVID-19 testing, treatment or vaccination. (Related: Americans continue to suffer as hospitals refuse to be transparent about their prices.)

Dinh allegedly manipulated the system by filing claims for services that were not rendered, were not medically necessary and on behalf of patients who were already insured. These documents, in turn, reveal that HRSA disbursed approximately $150 million to Dinh through his medical practices.

After the investigations against Dinh began in April, prosecutors alleged that he even submitted false patient records in response to a subpoena from a grand jury.

In addition, Southern California prosecutors are also alleging that Dinh submitted at least 65 fraudulent loan applications seeking nearly $8 million under two other COVID-19-era programs  the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. Court records note that Dinh was paid roughly $2.8 million from those two programs. His sister Hanna admitted to helping Dinh submit fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications.

Watch Fox Business host and former National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow discuss the fraudulent spending of federal unemployment benefits.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

DEPOPULATION PAYOFF: ACOG received $11.8 million from the HHS to encourage pregnant women to get vaccinated.

Thousands of U.S. doctors pedaled COVID JABS for CASH BONUSES making thousands of dollars daily while infecting millions of people with clotting spike proteins.

Jaw-dropping report from Ed Dowd: Hematological health claims skyrocketed 522% above trend in 2022.

Cigna Healthcare used AI to deny hundreds of thousands of valid health insurance claims, lawsuit alleges.

America's top 20 nonprofit hospitals received over $23 billion in COVID-19 payments (while killing or injuring millions of people).

Sources include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

LATimes.com

KTLA.com

Brighteon.com
Fearmongering global health experts think the next pandemic could be up to 20 times deadlier than the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

"Let me put it this way: The 1918-19 flu pandemic killed at least 50 million people worldwide, twice as many as those killed in World War I. Today, we could expect a similar death toll from one of the many viruses that already exist," warned Kate Bingham, the former chair of the U.K. Vaccine Taskforce.

Dubbed "Disease X" by the World Health Organization (WHO), this potential catastrophe is more a probability than a possibility and could strike at any moment. The virus responsible could emerge from the vast pool of undiscovered viruses lurking in Mother Nature. (Related: Next PLANDEMIC? CDC warns Marburg virus is coming.)

Comparing the potential scale of Disease X to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, WHO specialists argue that it could reach similar proportions. Consequently, the world must be prepared to develop and distribute vaccines swiftly to combat the disease, as its destructive impact is likely to surpass that of COVID-19, for which the world was ill-prepared when it first emerged in early 2020.

Bingham highlighted that scientists are currently aware of 25 virus families, each comprising thousands of individual viruses with pandemic potential. Furthermore, an estimated one million undiscovered viruses could be lurking in the natural world, capable of leaping from species to species and causing widespread human devastation.

"In a sense, we got lucky with COVID-19. The point is that the vast majority of people infected with the virus managed to recover. Imagine Disease X is as infectious as measles with the fatality rate of Ebola [67 percent]. Somewhere in the world, it's replicating, and sooner or later, somebody will start feeling sick," warned Dame Kate Bingham.

Bill Gates warns the next pandemic could be man-made and worse than COVID-19

Meanwhile, globalist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned the public that the next pandemic could be "man-made" and "much more brutal" than the previous one.

During his speech at the Lowy Institute earlier this year in Sydney, Australia, Gates emphasized the urgency of global cooperation and preparedness to prevent an unprecedented economic catastrophe.

Gates stressed the importance of avoiding economic devastation and called for greater global collaboration in response to potential future pandemics. "Compare the economic cost of being prepared for the next one to the cost of this one  over $10 trillion economic loss," Gates said, highlighting the staggering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy. "With the pandemic, we were foolish not to have the tools, the practice, and the global capacity to be on standby like we do with fire or earthquakes."

He proposed regular comprehensive pandemic preparedness exercises at both country and regional levels and emphasized the necessity of a global body to assess and score the pandemic readiness of nations worldwide.

"The one thing that still hangs in the balance is whether we will have the global capacity, at the regional and country levels, to act swiftly when an infectious disease threat emerges to prevent it from going global. We need to conduct comprehensive exercises every five years at both country and regional levels of pandemic preparedness, and we need a global group that's scoring everybody," Gates explained.

Gates also commended Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its early adoption of population-scale diagnostics and strict quarantine policies. He praised the country's "almost draconian" measures, which helped keep infection rates low in the initial year when vaccines were not yet available.

"Some of the things that stand out are that Australia and about seven other countries did population-scale diagnostics early on and had quarantine policies. That meant you kept the level of infection low in that first year when there were no vaccines," Gates told the audience.
Henry Gruver: When Israel sends troops into Gaza, it will be a sign the Middle East war has started.

We just witnessed the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years, and as a result the Israeli government has declared war on Hamas. The IDF is already striking strategic targets all over Gaza, but it also appears that a ground invasion could be imminent. As I was reflecting on these events today, the words of Henry Gruver came to mind. All the way back in 2018, Gruver issued a very ominous warning. According to James Bailey , Gruver stated that when Israel sends troops into Gaza, it will be a sign the Middle East War has started

(Article by Michael republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

Israel has had ongoing conflicts with Gaza since President George Bushs administration forced them to evacuate the city and hand it over to the Palestinians in 2005, but there are two reasons why the coming conflict might be a prelude to a larger war. First, a prophetic warning received by Henry Gruver in 2018 remains unfulfilled. The Lord told Henry, When Israel sends troops into Gaza, it will be a sign the Middle East War has started.

The phrase the Middle East War seems to imply that it will be the really big one that so many of us have been anticipating.

Lets watch and see what happens over the next few days.

First of all, Benjamin Netanyahu would have to pull the trigger on a full-blown ground invasion of Gaza.

That is no small decision, because a full-blown invasion would be very bloody for both sides.

IDF forces are moving into position for such an invasion right now, but it is Netanyahu that will make the final call.

If an invasion does actually happen, then we will want to watch what Hezbollah does in the north.

On Sunday, they did fire a bunch of missiles into Israel

Guided missiles and artillery shells from Lebanon pounded targets in Israel Sunday morning as war in the Middle East threatened to spin out of control. The militant group Hezbollahwhich is also a powerful political party in Lebanonclaimed responsibility for the attacks on a disputed territory in the north of Israel hours after President Biden had warned them not to get involved.

For the moment, Hezbollah has ceased fire, but a Hezbollah official has also issued a very alarming warning

The Hezbollah official referred to his groups shelling of Israel, saying: The resistance sent a message this morning. He said it is our right to target the enemy that is still occupying our land and the Israelis must read this message well. He continued: There is a message to the Americans and Israelis that what happened in Gaza means that your protracted foolishness and underestimation have led you to the Al-Aqsa Flood [operation], and if you go further today you will witness the flood of the entire nation, not only Al-Aqsa, Al-Aqsa Flood is the name given to the Hamas assault on Israel. Safi al-Din warned that the scene of the storming of settlements around Gaza coupled with rocket shelling will one day be repeated dozens-fold stronger, from Lebanon and from all the areas that are adjacent to occupied Palestine.

If Israel invades Gaza, I think that it is very likely that Hezbollah will try to come storming in from the north.

If that takes place, we will also want to watch Iran.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Iran played a major role in helping Hamas to plan the surprise attack against Israel

Iranian security officials helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group. Officers of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursionsthe most significant breach of Israels borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur Warthose people said. Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended by IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon, they said.

And it is also being reported that this attack was part of a broader plan to strangle Israel from all sides

A direct Iranian role would take Tehrans long-running conflict with Israel out of the shadows, raising the risk of broader conflict in the Middle East. Senior Israeli security officials have pledged to strike at Irans leadership if Tehran is found responsible for killing Israelis. The IRGCs broader plan is to create a multi-front threat that can strangle Israel from all sidesHezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the north and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members and an Iranian official.

But would Iran be willing to get directly involved in the conflict?

I think that they would if they were directly attacked.

On Twitter, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that the U.S. and Israel should go after the Iranian oil refineries and oil infrastructure if Hezbollah decides to go to war with Israel

An attack by Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies, would be devastating to Israeli defense systems. If such an attack occurs, Israel and the United States should go after the Iranian oil refineries and oil infrastructure  which is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy.

I dont know if the Biden administration would be willing to hit Iran like that.

But if this war gets big enough, it is probably inevitable that the U.S. military will get involved in some way.

On Sunday, we were told that our most advanced aircraft carrier and six other naval vessels have been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean

The United States sent warships and fighter jets to support Israel on Sunday night in a show of strength against Hamas. Joe Biden deployed the US Navys most advanced aircraft carrier, six other ships and a number of advanced jets to the Eastern Mediterranean, as Israels allies, including the UK, rallied to its defence.

So all of the pieces on the chess board are moving into position for the sort of Middle East War that Henry Gruver warned about.

And this war could be for all the marbles. The following comes directly from an opinion piece in a British news source

Now its either Israel or Hamas. Its either Israel or the Allahu Akbar jihadists. The Gaza Strip will never be the same again. A regime-change invasion is surely hours away and, with it, a surely futile attempt to separate Hamas from its citizens. The cancer is too deeply entwined within the body. As Israels blood boils and fears intensify over the estimated 100 hostages being held in Gaza, the coming days will surely see an even greater loss of life than already witnessed. Hamas awful end cant come soon enough.

If this conflict really does go that far, it will truly be a cataclysmic war.

The death and destruction will be off the charts, and the region will never be the same again.

Did the Hamas terrorists realize the dominoes that they were setting in motion when they decided to attack?

Probably not, but now there is no going back

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
Former Pentagon official warns via NATO website: West should prepare for NUCLEAR WAR

A retired United States Department of Defense official alerted the Western bloc and urged it to start preparing the use of nuclear weapons not just in Europe should Ukraine's war with Russia continue to blow up, but also if the United States' clashes with China escalate in Taiwan.

Former Pentagon official Gregory Weaver, who served as the principal nuclear and missile defense advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote an article published on NATO's website arguing that counter to Moscow's long-standing nuclear doctrine, Russia may use tactical nuclear weapons either to stave off a battlefield defeat or bring about a swift victory to a conventional conflict, such as that in Ukraine. "In such a scenario, the Russian military leadership would assume that the West would not respond in kind, for fear that the situation would escalate uncontrollably to a large-scale U.S.-Russia homeland exchange," he predicted.

Amid all of this, he pointed out that America should not fear nuclear war, rather, it must embrace it and start prepping. He said NATO should equip its fighter jets and submarines with tactical nuclear weapons to deter a tactical Russian strike, and "convince Russian leadership that NATO is fully prepared to counter limited nuclear first use with militarily effective nuclear responses of our own."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's clear nuclear doctrine, which allows for the use of atomic weapons in the event of a first nuclear strike on its territory or infrastructure, or if the existence of the Russian state is threatened by either nuclear or conventional weapons, has not changed since 2010.

Local news website RT reported that the doctrine does not make any exception for the use of tactical nuclear weapons, which are far less powerful than the strategic nuclear weapons that NATO and Russia would fire at each other in the event of an all-out exchange. However, Weaver claimed that the Eurasian country would not hesitate to launch an attack on NATO states in Europe, despite clear guidelines. If the U.S. gets busy fighting China over Taiwan, a scenario that he treats as possible without further explanation, the nuclear attack could take place.

In case this happens, he recommended that the intergovernmental military alliance be more precisely deep in its strike capabilities in Europe, form "several modern armored divisions" in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe, and press European members to "provide more conventional capability," while America delivers the weapons.

He concluded: "The bottom line is that European Allies will have to provide more conventional capability more efficiently, without perceiving the U.S. request to do so as signaling a reduced U.S. commitment to the defense of NATO. And the U.S. needs to provide additional theater nuclear capability. Failing to do both will risk opportunistic aggression in Europe and a war in which NATO will be more reliant on nuclear weapons against an adversary that has a growing theater nuclear advantage.

In the wake of the war in Ukraine, deterring Russian nuclear use is not the place for NATO to take risks. An inability to deter or counter Russian limited theater nuclear use will make both Russian conventional aggression and nuclear escalation against NATO more likely, especially opportunistic aggression by Russia."

Did the Ukraine-Russia war expose Americas limited military power?

After three decades of dominance, observers start to question if the United States is really strong enough to take on Russia and even China in terms of military prowess.

Amid the slow-burning Ukraine's much-hyped counteroffensive, Putin as well as the mainstream media have acknowledged Kyivs weak armed forces capabilities and this also reflects the power of the country's main sponsor  the United States, when it comes to waging a large-scale war with a well-equipped enemy such as Russia. The same goes for the burgeoning conflict in Taiwan, where China has been showing off its military power via its war drills surrounding the island.

"Various analytical reports have repeatedly stated that the U.S., despite a mind-boggling annual financial outlay, may have trouble confronting a major power. A number of American experts have warned that Washingtons superiority in terms of precision weapons, intelligence and targeting may not be enough when facing a really large enemy as opposed to a third-world country or an insurgent formation," a separate RT report included.

And despite all the warnings, Washington overestimated its own capabilities and underestimated those of the enemy. As a result, its assistance to Ukraine turned out to be insufficient and weak. Meanwhile, the U.S. and its NATO allies are not ready to provide more aid, since this would greatly weaken their own military power and the nations' economies. (Related: NATOs ammo shortage worsens due to skyrocketing prices and Ukrainian troops overconsumption of artillery shells.)

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Western leaders have become obsessed with inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia, and because of this, they have already lost their "sense of self-preservation."

Check out WWIII.news for more updates related to the Russia-Ukraine war and the United States' involvement in it.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com 1

NATO.int

RT.com 2

APNews.com
Nikki Haley moves up, now behind only Donald Trump in New Hampshire poll; DeSantis lands at third place

A new poll has found that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is now running second to former President Donald Trump, putting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in third place.

The poll conducted by Suffolk University alongside the Boston Globe and USA Today interviewed 500 likely Republican primary voters. Its results released Oct. 4 indicated Haley garnering 19 percent of support, compared to only 10 percent for DeSantis. Both still lag far behind Trump, who garnered 49 percent of support.

In the one-digit territory, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie secured six percent of support. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) each received approximately four percent. Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum trailed even further with just one percent of support.

According to POLITICO, the results of the New Hampshire poll came just before the GOP candidates' visit to the Granite State. It also marked the latest in a series of upward trends for Haley and a downward slide for DeSantis in the GOP primary race.

The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations has performed strongly in the first two GOP debates, strengthening her poll numbers and hyping donors interested in her campaign. In contrast, DeSantis' decline in surveys has created a close competition for second place in the first-in-the-nation primary state. (Related: GOP presidential primary debate: No one came out to challenge Trump's dominance.)

Trump remains UNBEATABLE in most election polls

Still, Trump remains the unbeatable front-runner for the GOP nomination as evidenced by different polls. This lead isn't just visible in the GOP primary race, but also in a hypothetical general election matchup with the incumbent President Joe Biden. Even the mainstream media (MSM) has acknowledged this lead, according to a NewsBusters report.

A poll by ABC and the Washington Post that surveyed more than 1,000 adult respondents revealed this lead. According to the results of the survey by the two MSM outlets, 51 percent of respondents support the former president. Meanwhile, only 42 percent of respondents back the incumbent  translating to Trump having a "remarkable" nine-point lead over Biden.

One episode of "This Week" on ABC discussed the poll results, with some of the anchors having short of a panic attack. "These numbers are simply staggering for the sitting president," ABC Political Director Rick Klein told Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz.

"Forty-four percent of people in this poll say they are not as well off as they were at the start of the Biden administration two and a half years ago. Those are the worst numbers that we've seen in our ABC News-Washington Post polling."

While the pro-Biden MSM is panicking over the survey results, those supporting the real estate mogul-turned-chief executive welcome Trump's lead.

"Even with recent indictments, Trump has managed to be a unifying figure for [the GOP] and voters are rallying around the 45th president in record numbers," wrote Bryan Richardson of the DC Enquirer. "As such, [he] is in as strong of a position with [GOP] voters as ever. Trump is still the decisive leader in the [GOP] field, and he and his campaign show no signs of slipping up."

Follow VoteRepublican.news to learn more about the candidates in the GOP presidential primary.

Watch this episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as the Health Ranger Mike Adams discusses Trump's indictment and his defiance against tyranny.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Presidential candidates clash over Ukraine aid during first 2024 GOP primary debate.

Trumps menacing mug shot could elevate his 2024 presidential campaign which is already far ahead of other GOP candidates.

Even GOP donors are supporting RFK Jr.  proof that his appeal goes beyond party lines.

Georgia indictment joins totalitarian tradition of mass trials of political opposition.

Georgia Trump indictments are desperate effort to destroy Biden's "most dangerous opponent"  Gingrich.

Sources include:

POLITICO.com

NewsBusters.org

DCEnqirer.com

Brighteon.com
The United States continues to target individuals and organizations who profit from the production, trafficking and sale of illegal narcotics.

On December 1, the U.S. Department of State announced a reward offer of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez, a high-level member of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG.

In 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice identified CJNG as one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico and one of the five most dangerous transnational criminal organizations in the world.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that CJNG traffics a significant proportion of the fentanyl and other deadly drugs that enter the United States. CJNG also uses extreme violence against rivals and Mexican authorities to expand and maintain territory in strategic drug trafficking corridors.

In the decade since its founding in 2011, CJNG has grown rapidly in size, strength and influence. The extremely violent cartel is a global entity with a significant presence not only throughout the United States and Mexico, but also in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

37-year-old, U.S.-born Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez is the stepson of the cartels leader, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera-Cervantes, also known as El Mencho. El Mencho himself is the subject of a U.S. government reward offer of up to $10 million= for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.

Valencia Gonzales is responsible for manufacturing, transporting, and distributing enormous quantities of narcotics, as well as organizing numerous violent crimes. During a press conference in July 2020, Mexican Secretary of Defense Luis Cresencio Sandoval Gonzalez also identified Valencia Gonzalez as one of the leaders of the cartel's armed wing known as Grupo Elite.

The$5 million reward offer coincides with an indictment of Valencia Gonzalez announced by the Department of Justice on December 1. These actions are part of a U.S. whole-of-government approach to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime both globally and specifically against cartels in Mexico.

On October 8, the United States and Mexico convened a High-Level Security Dialogue and signed a Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities to ensure collaboration on law enforcement efforts and protect vulnerable communities. The reward is offered under the State Department Narcotics Rewards Program in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Information on Valencia Gonzalez can be sent to +1-213-237-9990 or by email at MenchoTips@dea.gov.

All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.
New York City hospitals, medical centers being OVERWHELMED by illegals

The healthcare system of New York City is crumbling under the weight of thousands upon thousands of illegal migrants who continue to pour in from across America's southern border.

According to reports, hospitals and medical centers all across the city are being completely overwhelmed by hordes of human "locusts" in the sense that these migrants are swarming healthcare facilities by the thousands in search of treatment.

In the past year alone, medical centers spanning five different boroughs have reported receiving nearly 30,000 visits from "undocumented" people  meaning people who are living in the United States illegally  according to data from New York City Health + Hospitals, which operates the Big Apple's public hospitals and clinics.

During that same time period, some 300 new babies were born to migrant mothers, most of them at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, which has seen about 25 percent of all migrant visits since the invasion began.

"This has been the hardest work I've ever done," commented Dr. Ted Long, a senior vice president for New York City Health + Hospitals, who is helping to oversee the city's response to all these invading migrants.

(Related: Suburbs of New York City are rebelling against plans by Mayor Adams to ship illegal migrants to their neighborhoods.)

Meanwhile, actual American citizens are having to wait MONTHS to receive care

It would appear as though illegal migrants are taking top priority at New York City's health clinics as many actual residents, i.e., American citizens, are complaining that they are having to wait months just to see a doctor for their health needs.

"I'm sure if you talk to anybody else in the city who's doing this work, there are waiting lists and people are turning people away or referring them to other places," one person directly involved with this migrant influx is quoted as saying.

"Do we need more resources for legal services? I would say absolutely yes."

In a piece for Hot Air, writer Jazz Shaw explained that the entire system  not just healthcare  in New York City is completely overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of illegal migrants who continue to pour into the city.

"Whether you're talking about housing, food, clothing, medical care, or anything else, the migrants are sucking all of the resources out of the city," Shaw laments.

"And the taxpayers are footing the bill for all of it, either directly or indirectly. Few have the heart to say no to the migrants because Americans tend to be charitable people who want to help if they're able. But this has long since passed the point of ridiculousness."

"Somebody needs to grow a spine and do the job that Joe Biden refuses to do. The vast majority of these migrants are not eligible for asylum and the government knows it."

Shaw is right: this is all Biden's fault at this point as he is the one in charge  or at least his handlers are the ones in charge. And nothing is being done to stop this invasion, which in time will collapse not just New York City but the entire country, if left to run its course. But maybe that's the point.

"This is based on replacement ideology, which is aimed at destroying the prevailing Western (Christian influenced) ideology of America," suggested one commenter about why this is all happening with no repercussions.

"Mayorkas had a giant grin on his face when Joe bragged about the prospect of us becoming strangers in our own country," commenter another, referring to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

More related news coverage about America being overtaken by illegal aliens can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

Newstarget.com
Mayor Eric Adams announced on October 2 that New York City public hospitals can now facilitate the killing of the unborn via telehealth.

The first-of-its-kind program known as the "Virtual Express Care," makes abortion services more accessible to women even after the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in 2022. The program offers video and telephone appointments with doctors and counselors seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for women up to 10 weeks pregnant.

"Here in New York City, we will not allow the far right to continue its crusade to strip women of their reproductive rights," Mayor Adams declared in a press release. "Access to abortion care will now be available through telehealth visits at NYC Health + Hospitals sites from the comfort of one's home."

This abortion care will be covered based on their insurance policies, which may require a co-pay. For financially incapable patients, the program connects patients with financial counselors to get health insurance or financial aid.

Adams believes that telehealth abortion care will empower women to make private and informed decisions about their reproductive health. "This is about protecting the ability for women to control their own bodies, their choices, and their freedoms," he said.
Ivan Raiklin and Ann Vandersteel discuss the possibility of Trump becoming the next House speaker  Brighteon.TV

Political analyst Ivan Raiklin and host Ann Vandersteel talked about the possibility of former President Donald Trump becoming the next House speaker during the Oct. 4 episode of "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" on Brighteon.TV

Vandersteel recounted that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) led the charge to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as House speaker. Several conservatives, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), have called on Trump to serve as House speaker as a way of bringing him back to the White House. Raiklin noted that aside from Greene, Reps. Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Greg Steube (R-FL) have expressed support for Trump's speakership.

According to the former Green Beret turned constitutional attorney, McCarthy was given an opportunity to perform according to the rules that the Freedom Caucus laid on him in order to maintain the speakership. But sadly, the congressman from California did not comply  leading to his ouster.

"So now we're in a much stronger position of leverage to now have more folks within the Freedom Caucus come out in support of Speaker Trump," said Raiklin. "We need to build that momentum and showcase that there's increased support for Speaker Trump than there ever was during those first 15 votes." (Related: The Zelenko Report: Congress needs a strong and fearless House speaker, says Ivan Raiklin  Brighteon.TV.)

Vandersteel said the idea of Trump becoming the next House speaker has been a point of conversation since last year. Raiklin brought the idea to a bigger audience, when he posted the need for a "Speaker Trump" on social media. However, things went sideways when McCarthy was voted as House speaker last January following 15 rounds of voting.

The "Right Now" host cited Trump's willingness when asked about that possibility, adding that the former president would serve at the best capacity for the country and the Republican Party. To this, Raiklin remarked: "I think we're in a position where there's really only two options  either a Speaker Trump, or there is no functioning House of Representatives until Jan. 3, 2025."

Speakership would pave the way for Trump's FULL IMMUNITY from lawsuits

According to Raiklin, the second option  no one becomes House speaker  effectively means that the lower chamber won't convene for the next 14 months until the new 119th Congress. This is a more effective measure than having a House speaker following the "Uniparty" establishment.

Vandersteel warned, however, that leaving the speakership vacant would allow the Democrats and their allies  the Republicans in name only (RINOs)  to elect a Democratic speaker. In response, Raiklin said Americans would rather have a non-functioning House of Representatives than a Democratic speaker in power.

The former Green Beret also mentioned that Trump can gain full immunity if he considers becoming the House speaker. Doing so would enable the former president to subpoena government attorneys chasing after him like Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg, Fulton County DA Fani Willis and Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Trump becoming the House speaker would also give him full control over the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) by appointing his own House sergeant-at-arms. The House sergeant-at-arms, which oversees the USCP as part of the three-member Capitol Police Board, can be appointed starting January 2024. Once done, the tapes and documents on the Jan. 6 false-flag riot can be released and the more than 1,100 J6 defendants can be exonerated.

Trump as speaker could also lead to an impeachment against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Vandersteel said. Raiklin replied that while the impeachment won't remove Biden and Harris from their positions due to the Democrat-controlled Senate, it will showcase all of the Biden family's misdeeds.

Follow Trump.news for more news about Donald Trump.

Watch the Oct. 4 episode of "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" below. "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" airs weekdays at 8-9 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Ann Vandersteel discusses bold plan to give Trump IMMUNITY from INDICTMENTS  Brighteon.TV.

Trump demands immediate release of all Jan. 6 prisoners after Tucker Carlson reveals shocking security video footage.

Trump has garnered sympathy and support from African American community after the release of his mug shot.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

IvanRaiklin.Substack.com
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ditches Democrat Party, now running for president in 2024 as an INDEPENDENT

Facing relentless rejection and persecution from his now-former political party and their media lapdogs, 2024 presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decided to run as an Independent rather than a Democrat

In a recent statement before a crowd of supporters, RFK Jr. not only declared that he will run as an Independent, but also explained what this change means to him and to the Americans who choose to vote for him next fall.

"I'm here to join you in making a new declaration of independence for our entire nation," RFK Jr. said.

"We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government. And we declare independence from Wall Street, from Big Tech, from Big Pharma, from Big Ag, from the military contractors and their lobbyists. And we declare independence from the cynical elites who betray our hope and who amplify our divisions. And finally, we declare independence from the two political parties."

Watch below:

.@RobertKennedyJr: "Im here to declare himself an independent candidate for president of the United States. Thats not all. "Im here to join you in making a new declaration of independence for our entire nation. We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked pic.twitter.com/Ofpe7A3xkV  Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) October 9, 2023

(Related: RFK Jr. is a climate realist, not a climate fanatic, who simply wants to protect and conserve the environment and our precious natural resources.)

RFK Jr. currently polling around 14% in latest Reuters/Ipsos survey  Trump is at 40%

RFK Jr.'s announcement came as no surprise to many who anticipated the switch, which came Monday at an event in Philadelphia. His campaign also teased a possible announcement earlier this month, which came as expected.

"I'm ready for tomorrow, are you?" RFK Jr. wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, one day before his official announcement, along with a video  see below  of himself running up the Rocky Steps and Statue in Philadelphia where the "Rocky" movie was filmed. "Catch my livestream from 12-2pm."

Im ready for tomorrow, are you? Catch my livestream from 12-2pm tomorrow:https://t.co/r40WRqz8zw pic.twitter.com/bSxVuNPL2U  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) October 9, 2023

Though he is arguably the better candidate, RFK Jr. is trailing Donald Trump in the latest polls. According to Reuters and Ipsos, RFK Jr. is currently polling around 14 percent while Trump holds 40 percent. Joe Biden, meanwhile, is said to have around 38 percent support.

On his campaign website, RFK Jr. explains that his plan for America involves "a major shift in American politics," which is why he chose Philadelphia, the "birthplace of America"  Philadelphia is also the only church mentioned in Revelation 3 as having an open door to escape the Time of Jacob's Trouble, which is upon us.

"We invite you to witness history in the making at the very spot where our founding fathers launched this nation in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence," RFK Jr.'s campaign announced. "On Monday, we come together again to reset the course of our nation."

The Democrat Party is so confident that RFK Jr. stands no chance of winning the election, even when he was still running as a Democrat, that a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded to questioning about his campaign from CNN with an arrogant eyeroll.

Perhaps the Democrats should not be so haughty, though. As explained by Tim Donner, a senior policy analyst at Liberty Nation, "the walls are closing in on Joe Biden."

"As he persists in his campaign for a second term in the White House, the 46th president is facing challenges from every direction  right, left, and center."

The latest news about RFK Jr.'s run for the presidency in 2024 can be found at VoteDemocrat.news.

Sources for this article include:

Kennedy24.com

Newstarget.com

BlueLetterBible.org
Russia and China dominate nuclear electricity generation industry ahead of the U.S.

Russia and China, along with France and Finland, have taken the lead in nuclear electricity generation as the United States grapples with the challenges of intermittent renewable energy sources.

According to several reports, Russia and China are providing continuous, uninterrupted and zero-emission power. Approximately 60 nuclear power reactors are under construction in 15 countries worldwide. Russia and China jointly account for a substantial 70 percent of the new nuclear plants under development.

The U.S., once a pioneering force in nuclear energy, now finds itself trailing in the race, with only a handful of new reactors under construction. The dominance of Russia and China in nuclear power generation is expected to persist as they invest heavily in advanced technology and expand their nuclear programs.

One key factor in the success of these next-generation nuclear plants is the use of High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), a form of enriched uranium required for their operation. Notably, Russia is currently the sole producer of HALEU, raising concerns about American national security. (Related: Rise of EVs is driving more demand for electricity as grid power generation declines.)

As global demand for affordable, reliable, secure and clean electricity continues to rise, both Russia and China have surpassed the U.S. in terms of the number of agreements for the sale of nuclear energy hardware and services. These agreements not only provide economic benefits but also serve as tools for exerting geopolitical influence and setting standards on safety and nonproliferation.

The U.S. has seen its market position erode with the emergence of new international vendors led by Russia and China. The implications of this erosion extend beyond economics, impacting national security, democracy and other vital interests.

Russia and China actively engage in diplomatic efforts to support their state-owned nuclear companies in securing overseas deals. Collaborative research and development initiatives, as well as educational opportunities for students from partner countries, serve to familiarize client states with Russian and Chinese nuclear technologies.

Both countries have significantly expanded their presence in international markets. Russia, in particular, leads the world in exporting nuclear power plants, with agreements in place with 45 different countries. China, although a relatively recent entrant, has also established a significant industrial base for nuclear exports.

America lacks strategic vision for nuclear electricity generation

A lack of strategic vision and growing focus on renewable energy sources is causing the U.S. to cede ground to global rivals like Russia and China.

Experts argue that the absence of a clear and cohesive vision for nuclear energy policy has left the U.S. behind. American leaders must formulate a strategic plan that encompasses nuclear energy and civil nuclear exports to effectively compete with Russia and China.

President Joe Biden and his European counterparts have emphasized the need to transition away from fossil fuels in their efforts to combat climate change. However, detractors argue that this focus overlooks the broader implications of such a shift.

The criticism extends to the practical implications of moving away from fossil fuels. Wind and solar power are indeed valuable sources of electricity, but they do not possess the versatility and capability of fossil fuels in manufacturing a wide range of essential products that support modern society.

As the U.S. and other countries intensify their efforts to rely on intermittent electricity generation from renewables, concerns about the sustainability of these approaches and their potential impact on essential industries and infrastructure are mounting.

Products manufactured from crude oil include those in the medical industry, communications, electronics, military technology and space exploration.

Learn more about the ongoing energy crisis at NewEnergyReport.com.

Watch this clip from InfoWars with Harrison Smith discussing how European leaders are calling for lockdowns to bring down energy usage and electricity prices.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

After shutting down its last three nuclear power plants, Germany now has to buy nuclear-generated electricity from France.

Head of Frances main electricity grid operator warns energy shortages will force nation to ration electricity this winter.

UK government now paying Britons NOT to use electricity.

Learn how to live without electricity from the Amish community.

Sources include:

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Weather experts said that Tropical Storm Lidia is threatening Mexico with rough surfs and high seas.

Based on the forecast, Lidia is coming nearer to the Mexican coastline and due to this, the high seas have already created rough surfs as well as strong rip currents. T

Meteorologists also warned that in the south, another tropical feature is targeting the southwest portion of the Mexican coastline early this week.

Lidia Projected to Become a Hurricane

According to the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Lidia is forecasted to become a hurricane, increasing the risk of strong winds, rainfall impacts, storm surge, and high surfs along the portions of the west-central Mexico Coast of Mexico.

Meteorologists said that at 1200 AM MDT (0600 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Lidia was spotted near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 112.6 West. A microwave pass that was received just after the previous advisory has shown that the center was further south than estimated at 0300 UTC.

Lidia is tracking the direction toward the north near 6 mph (10 km/h). A faster northeastward or east-northeastward motion is expected until Tuesday.

Meanwhile, it was also seen in the forecast track that the center of Lidia would approach the Islas Marias and the coast of west-central Mexico on Tuesday, and it will move inland over west-central Mexico on Tuesday night.

Further, maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. On the other hand, strengthening is forecast on Tuesday, and Lidia is expected to be a hurricane when it approaches the Islas Marias and the coast of west-central Mexico.

Meteorologists said that tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center. Meanwhile, the estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.24 inches).

They said that Lidia is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches with local maxima of 12 inches through Wednesday across the state of Nayarit, southern portions of the state of Sinaloa, and coastal portions of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico.

They warned that these rains would likely produce flash and urban floods, along with possible mudslides in areas of higher terrain near the coast.

Further, a dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal floods near and to the south of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, it is forecasted that the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.

When it comes to winds, hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by late Tuesday, with tropical storm conditions possible on Tuesday.

Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Tropical Storm Watch areas beginning Tuesday.

The swells, meanwhile, generated by Lidia will affect the west coast of Mexico and the Baja California peninsula for the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Read Also: Possible Storm Likely to Develop in Gulf of Mexico; Coastal Hazards to Impact Eastern Seaboard

Another Tropical Rainstorm Warning

Meteorologists also warned that another weather event would be worth monitoring over the upcoming days.

A tropical rainstorm has formed along the southern coast of Mexico and is on track to make landfall.

They warned that a cluster of thunderstorms located off the southwestern coast of Mexico is likely to become a tropical depression or storm at some point later this weekend.

Related Article: Eastern Pacific Weather: Tropical Storms Likely to Form Bringing Heavy Rain to Mexico

Related Video:
Meteorologists said that the warm waters observed in the Gulf of Mexico could result in a new tropical system. They said that they would be watching the warm body of water for tropical activity before the middle of October. Moreover, the moisture is likely to gather in the region and this could later lead to drenching rain and stormy conditions over some areas.

Tropical Systems in the Gulf of Mexico

Weather experts said that whatever will happen over the Gulf of Mexico next week is likely due to the behavior of tropical systems in the eastern Pacific.

They said that Tropical Storm Lidia is expected to make landfall over the west-central Mexico by Tuesday as a Category 2 hurricane (maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph, or 153-176 km/h).

Lidia is forecasted to become a hurricane, increasing the risk of strong winds, rainfall impacts, storm surge, and high surfs along the portions of the west-central Mexico Coast of Mexico.

Meteorologists noted that Lidia is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches with local maxima of 12 inches through Wednesday across the state of Nayarit, southern portions of the state of Sinaloa, and coastal portions of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico.

They warned that these rains would likely produce flash and urban floods, along with possible mudslides in areas of higher terrain near the coast.

Read Also: Eastern Pacific Weather: Tropical Storms Likely to Form Bringing Heavy Rain to Mexico

Tropical Storm Max

Meanwhile, authorities are also monitoring another tropical feature beside Lidia, which is Tropical Storm Max.

This weather disturbance is expected to bring massive rains and powerful winds to southwestern Mexico in the upcoming days.

According to the forecast, some of the moisture and energy coming from Lidia and Tropical Storm Max may transfer to the Gulf of Mexico during the middle to the latter part of this week.

The storm development in the Gulf of Mexico next week may be either tropical, subtropical or non-tropical. A subtropical or hybrid storm has both tropical and non-tropical characteristics.

The Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Caribbean and southwestern Atlantic, is defined as a zone where there is a higher potential for tropical storms to form in a general sense during the month of October.

Meteorologists said that waters typically remain sufficiently warm for tropical development in this area, and they noted that this tends to be a front in the vicinity that may help a tropical system to form in the first place.

Experts said that water temperatures are generally in the low to mid-80s in the Gulf of Mexico and are likely to hover around these levels during this week.

They noted that the critical minimum temperature for full tropical storm formation is near or just under 80 degrees.

Meteorologists said that there would be one significant deterrent against a fully tropical system from forming this week in the Gulf, which is a wind shear.

Wind shear is associated with stiff breezes in the middle layer of the atmosphere which may later prevent a tropical system from forming or cause the upper portion of a developed storm to be blown away.

Related Article: Tropical Depression Forms Over Gulf of Mexico, Set to Impact Florida Panhandle as Atlantic Hurricane Season Starts

Related Video:
The corals in Florida have struggled due to climate change and extreme weather. Warming and rising temperatures can affect their overall health.

Florida region is no stranger to extreme weather events, from rising temperatures and dry conditions. In the recent report, researchers discovered the declining status of corals near the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas and Miami waters.

Florida Corals: How does it affect the marine ecosystem?

The pale-looking corals in Florida suffered from extreme temperatures and coral bleaching. Recently, the ocean temperatures in Manatee Bay in the South of Miami reached an alarming level of 101.19.

In the Florida waters, some of the corals showed a significant decline due to warm temperatures. For instance, the Elkhorn and staghorn coral populations also experienced a challenging situation to thrive.

The arrival of El Nino and climate change can worsen the heat problem in Florida that affects most of the corals in the area. As a result, the immediate protection and restoration of corals are crucial for the marine environment.

In the recent report, researchers unveiled that the Elkhorn corals experienced a difficult situation and faced a potential extinction concern. The elkhorn coral is one of the most iconic coral reef systems in the Caribbean reef.

However, the researchers noted a glimpse of hope in restoring corals in the Florida waters. In addition, the continuous monitoring of corals is vital for their conservation and protection efforts amidst rising temperatures.

Also Read: Alarming Florida Keys Coral Bleaching: Warm Waters, Rise of Temperatures Impact Corals

The rich biodiversity in Florida

Florida waters are rich in marine biodiversity and are home to different corals and species. However, the threat of pollution, climate change and habitat loss have impacted the waters for the last 40 years.

Here are some species that people can find in the Florida waters:

The staghorn coral is a known reef-building coral species found in Southern Florida. The said coral is located from three to 82 feet underwater. However, the coral is considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to threats of human stressors and diseases.

Meanwhile, the Elkhorn corals are also known as Acropora Palmata, found in Southern Florida and Western Atlantic. People can see the rare corals between 3 and 30 feet. Their population has also declined.

On the other hand, the Clubbed Finger Coral, Porites Porites, can be seen in shallow waters of less than 3 feet. Unlike other coral reef species, the clubbed finger population is considered stable.

The Symmetrical Brain corals, pseudodiploria strigosa, also grow in shallow water or rocky substrate. The said coral population is also stable, with no reported decline in numbers.

Lastly, the Grooved Brain Coral, Diploria Labyrinthiformis, has a hemispherical shape. They are mostly widespread in parts of Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Related Article: US Harmful Algal Bloom: Over $20 Million Budget To Mitigate Impacts on Human Health, Fish Ecosystem

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Colorado has taken a major step towards fulfilling the will of the voters who approved the reintroduction of gray wolves to the state in 2020.

The state has reached an agreement with Oregon to receive up to 10 wolves from the neighboring state, which has a healthy and resilient wolf population.

The agreement and the capture process

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced on Friday, October 6, that it had signed a one-year agreement with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to obtain up to 10 wolves from northeastern Oregon.

The agreement is the result of a months-long search for a state willing to provide wolves for Colorado's voter-mandated reintroduction of the species.

CPW staff will capture the wolves in Oregon using helicopters and spotter planes between December 2023 and March 2024.

The captured wolves will be flown or trucked down to western Colorado for release as soon as possible. CPW will be responsible for all costs of capturing and transporting the wolves.

All captured wolves will be tested and treated for disease on-site in Oregon.

Those with significant injuries, such as missing eyes or mange, will not be transported to the state.

CPW will also make efforts to transplant wolves that have not been involved in repeated depredations, meaning attacks on livestock or domestic animals.

ODFW Director Curt Melcher said in a press release that Oregon has a long history of helping other states meet their conservation goals by providing animals for translocation efforts.

He added that some of Oregon's wildlife populations were also restored thanks to other states doing the same for them, such as Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat.

Also Read: "Conflict Between Wolves and Humans" Becomes the Reason Behind Swedish Government's Decision to Cull Wolf Population by Half

The release site and the challenges

CPW plans to release the wolves on its own land between Glenwood Springs, Vail and the Roaring Fork Valley.

This area is part of the Western Slope, where most of the opposition to wolf reintroduction comes from.

Many ranchers, hunters and local officials in this region have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of wolves on their livelihoods, wildlife populations and public safety.

CPW has said that it will work with stakeholders to address their issues and implement measures to minimize conflicts and compensate for losses.

The agency has also created a Wolf Management Advisory Council, composed of representatives from various interest groups, to provide input and guidance on wolf management in Colorado.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis praised the agreement with Oregon and said that Colorado was now one step closer to fulfilling the will of the voters in time.

He also said that he was confident that CPW would successfully reintroduce wolves in a way that works for Colorado's communities, economy and ecology.

The deadline for releasing the first batch of wolves in Colorado is December 31, according to Proposition 114, the ballot measure that passed by a narrow margin in 2020.

The measure also requires CPW to restore and manage a self-sustaining population of gray wolves by December 31, 2029.

Colorado was once home to thousands of gray wolves, but they were eradicated by the 1940s due to hunting, trapping and poisoning.

The last confirmed sighting of a wild wolf in Colorado was in 1945. Since then, only a few lone wolves have been spotted or killed in the state, most likely dispersing from other states.

Gray wolves are native predators that play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They can help control prey populations, such as deer and elk, and benefit other species, such as beavers and birds. They can also generate tourism revenue and enhance public appreciation for nature.

However, gray wolves are also controversial animals that can pose challenges for human coexistence.

They can prey on livestock and pets, compete with hunters for game animals and elicit fear and resentment from some people.

They can also trigger legal battles over their protection status and management authority.

Colorado is not the first state to reintroduce gray wolves. In the mid-1990s, federal agencies reintroduced wolves from Canada to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

Since then, wolves have expanded their range and established populations in Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.

The success of wolf recovery in these states has also led to conflicts and controversies over their management.

Some states have enacted laws or policies that allow or encourage hunting or trapping of wolves, while others have maintained or increased their protection.

The federal government has also changed the status of wolves under the Endangered Species Act several times, resulting in lawsuits and uncertainty.

Colorado's wolf reintroduction program will likely face similar challenges and opportunities as it unfolds in the coming years.

The state will have to balance the needs and interests of various stakeholders, as well as the ecological and ethical implications of restoring a native predator.

The agreement with Oregon is a significant milestone, but it is only the beginning of a long and complex process.

Related article: Wolves, Like Dogs, Feel Calm With Presence of Human Caregivers
On October 8, Hamas launched a surprise land, air, and sea attack from the Gaza Strip on Israeli civilians. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, including at least 14 Americans. The United States, said President Joe Biden, unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Hamas onslaught the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, almost exactly 50 years ago. But theres also a big difference, he stated on NBC televisions Meet the Press program.

That was a state-on-state conflict, army against army with clear front lines. This is a massive terrorist attack targeting Israeli civilians, gunning people down in the streets of their towns, gunning them down in their homes, dragging Israelis - men, women, and children - across the border with Gaza. A Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children - all being taken hostage, he said.

A senior U.S. Defense Department official said Hamas has committed ISIS-level savagery against Israeli citizens, with houses burned to the ground, [and] young people massacred at music festivals. He said the Defense Department is working as fast as possible to provide critically needed munitions of various types and other equipment to Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is sailing toward Israel.

With regard to Irans potential role in the Hamas attack, Secretary Blinken said, [W]e dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack ... but thats something were looking at very carefully, and weve got to see where the facts lead.

But we do know that Irans had a long relationship with Hamas, long support. Its one of the reasons that we have been aggressively working to counter Iran, including sanctioning more than 400 Iranians - more than 400 - and companies, precisely for the things like the support its provided to Hamas, he said.

The United States stands ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel, said President Biden. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. The United States support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering.
In early June a group of experts from around the world gathered at Idaho National Laboratory to complete an Integrated Research Reactor Utilization Review on the Neutron Radiography Reactor (NRAD). This review of one of INL's lesser-known reactors helps researchers and management support strategic planning for NRAD.

Neutron radiography is a technique used to study the internal structure and behavior of nuclear fuel materials. It involves using neutrons passing through a material to produce images of the fuel samples.

In traditional X-ray radiography, X-rays are beamed toward an object, and the amount that pass through is measured to create an image. However, X-rays that interact with electrons are not very effective in penetrating dense materials like metals and nuclear fuels. Neutrons, on the other hand, can penetrate deep into the material and interact with the atomic nuclei, providing valuable information about the fuel's composition and behavior.

"NRAD's primary mission has been to perform 2D neutron radiography with film," said Aaron Craft, NRAD program lead. "While we intend to continue using this valuable capability at NRAD, there is so much more that NRAD can do. Because of NRAD's unique location beneath the world's largest inert atmosphere hot cell, these same samples can undergo neutron-based examinations using NRAD that are not possible at other facilities. For example, a neutron diffraction instrument at NRAD could routinely examine highly radioactive samples that other neutron science centers are unable to handle."

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

NRAD came online in 1977 and has produced cutting-edge images and research ever since. But this group of visiting experts didn't visit the lab to discuss INL's past. They came to look at the future. In the past decade, many components and systems have been modernized, and there are plans to continue that trend and introduce more digital imaging and other neutron-based technologies to the process.

The Integrated Research Reactor Utilization Review is a new service provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency to provide feedback for research reactors. It allows reactor teams to improve processes and plan for future capabilities with an outside perspective.

Expert members of the review team pointed out NRAD's strengths. Ayman Hawari, distinguished professor of nuclear engineering and director of the Nuclear Reactor Program at North Carolina State University, said that most reactors they visit are not as well supported and flourishing as NRAD. "While bottlenecks exist, and we need to fix those the people are the most important thing in a successful research reactor," Hawari said. "[INL's] inclusion of young scientists is one of the ingredients to success here."

The team also suggested several improvements to ensure that NRAD continues to be a world-class source of neutron imaging and is fully immersed in the digital technology associated with the field. Many of those suggestions are already included in plans for NRAD.

Pavel Trtik, an instrument scientist from the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, observed that "imaging of highly irradiated materials regularly is not something most facilities can handle." This places NRAD in a unique position, and with upgraded capabilities it can become even more useful to a variety of projects being undertaken at INL and elsewhere.

"In-core irradiation at NRAD and subsequent transfer into the Hot Fuel Examination Facility above allows for examination of short-lived fission products that would have decayed away by the time the sample arrives from INL's Advanced Test Reactor," Craft said. "Leveraging the unique co-location of HFEF and NRAD could help pioneer new frontiers of nuclear materials science that we have yet to access."

As they left the Idaho desert, the combined expertise from the visiting team confirmed many INL researcher ideas and brought out some new ones. The visitors were able to see part of the history of nuclear research and peer into the future at the same time. The future of the NRAD reactor and the neutron imaging program at INL appears to have a future as bright as its history.
Today's network engineers have to be flexible and adaptable, understand the new infrastructure-as-code paradigm, and stay on top of the latest developments in cloud, security, and AI.

Organizations arent necessarily looking for someone who is limited to a single vendors technology; theyre looking for employees who have skills across a wide variety of technologies and are constantly looking to broaden their areas of expertise.

Jeff Sangillo is vice-president of technology engineering and operations for QTS Data Centers. He manages both internal network connectivity between the company's 30-plus data center locations, as well as customer-facing networking services and products.

"We've got thousands of route-switched devices and firewalls deployed, hundreds of thousands of ports under management, thousands of circuits that we manage for our own internal connectivity and on behalf of customers," he says.

His team of 100 network engineers and cloud engineers have to understand cloud networking and network layer concepts. He expects networking employees to be strong in the fundamentals, such as the common routing protocols, IPV4 and IPV6, as well as high-level skills, such as software-defined networking.

"We try to stay vendor-agnostic, and we've been training our workforce around the ability to understand and leverage software to manage the scale and complexity of the network." With the fast pace of change in the networking field, Sangillo says he's looking for people who are able to keep evolving.

"Our strategy is to find folks who are curious and who invest in their own continuous learning," he says. "They're the ones with their own home labs, who have been dabbling and experimenting. The industry changes very quickly and that gives us agility."

Here are some of the networking skills that are hot today, some that are not, and some that are expected to get hot in the near future.

HOT: Infrastructure as code

"We're moving to infrastructure as code for efficiency," says Sangillo. "We're embedding in the job description of every network engineer that we want you to be comfortable with software and orchestration solutions, speak the language of APIs, use Python, and use low-code solutions."

Hes looking for people comfortable with third-party management solutions like Jenkins or Ansible. Jenkins is an open-source automation server, and Ansible is an open-source network automation project sponsored by Red Hat.

NOT: Vendor-specific skills

"We'd rather have folks that have a broad set of skills than siloed experts in any one network operating system," he says. He no longer wants to see engineers who know how to run command-line-interfaces for single devices, he says,

In the past, QTS would hire Cisco or Juniper experts. "Now, we're trying to abstract beyond that," he says.

NOT YET: Generative AI

Every major vendor is trying to figure out how to apply generative AI to their business. Generative AI promises to revolutionize how users interact with software and systems and to make possible new capabilities not feasible with traditional AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics.

"I can see it coming in the future, but were still figuring out the practical uses of it," says Sangillo. Gen AI is today where software-defined networking was five to ten years ago.

"There might be a future where gen AI can assist network engineers," he says. It will start with assistive features first, and will have to prove itself before QTS will turn over any change management keys to the AI.

"I do think theres a benefit to it," he says. "It's just the beginning of the cycle, but it wont be long before it's in operation."

HOT: Traditional AI and ML

Sangillo adds that traditional AI and machine learning are already proving their worth.

"We definitely see operational use cases," he says. "By digitizing visibility, you can use statistical or ML methods to help manage the work. We've done things like optimize failures from upstream carriers and providers and route around those failures to keep the network healed and operational."

HOT: Data analytics

QTS delivers metrics to its customers for a lot of its network solutions, in real-time or near-real-time so that they can use the data to predict capacity and power usage.

This is also important for customers' sustainability initiatives, he says. Real-time metrics can help customers optimize the use of computing power to maximize efficiency and reduce their carbon footprints.

That means that QTS needs network engineers who understand the concepts of data science and engineering, he says. "They don't need to be data scientists in their own right, but they have to understand the network data that can make it happen."

Network engineers now also need to work more closely with the data science teams, he says, to deliver data telemetry to customers. "In the past, they may have worked apart."

HOT: Zero trust network access (ZTNA)

Zero trust is a high value skill for Jane Moran, CTO at Benevity, an enterprise software provider. "It is difficult to acquire both the skill and capacity to manage zero-trust implementations," Moran says. "IT professionals who can understand how a business works and apply the elements of zero trust that empower how people work are extremely valuable."

In particular, she's looking for people who can design networking with security in mind. "Network activity remains one of the strongest sources of intelligence for malicious or anomalous activity," Moran says. "Ensuring that data and metrics from networks make it into the cyber security practice is key."

HOT: SASE, SD-WAN and VPNs

In addition to zero trust, secure access service edge (SASE), SD-WAN, and VPNs are also key skills. "Benevity, like many organizations, is now operating in a hybrid context," says Moran. "It's no longer about securing office networks, and we've shifted to a 'work where you are, safe and secure, context.'

Applying SASE, VPN, and choosing applications that segregate data processing from the endpoint device are extremely valuable skills," she adds.

HOT: Cloud security

Security, particularly cloud security, is a top priority for BairesDev, a software outsourcing firm with developers in 40 different countries.

"For network administration tasks, skills in managing and maintaining network infrastructure and ensuring its security and performance are critical," says Nate Dow, the company's director of technology. "Being able to manage firewall administration is also critical; new hires should be able to configure and manage firewalls to protect the network from unauthorized access and potential threats."

In particular, one of the top growth areas is cloud security, he says. "Employees need to be able to ensure the security of data and applications in cloud environments."

HOT: AIOps

According to David Foote, chief analyst at business management consulting firm Foote Partners, enterprises often pay a premium for specific skills, on top of base salaries.

AIOps has an average pay premium of 20% of base salary, according to the companys latest survey. Skills that pay a 19% premium over base pay include DataOps, MLOps, and neural networks.

NOT: Systems and networking

Employees who limit themselves to basic systems and network management skills are probably not going to see the types of pay premiums that hotter skills are commanding. For example, core networking skills are commanding a premium of only 6.6% of base pay, which much lower than the highest-demand skills, and lower than the average for all tech skills.

In fact, thats down almost 4 percentage points since this time last year. "That was one of our steepest declines," he says. "But there are also some hot areas."

For example, enterprises are paying a 7% cash premium for Cisco Prime skills. This skill has gained 40% in value over the past 12 months. "It speaks to the fact that there's a lot of network automation and infrastructure automation going on right now," says Foote.

HOT: Cisco Unified Communication Manager

Another hot skill is Cisco Unified Communication Manager, which pays 8% cash premium, and has gained 33% in value over the past six months.

"It's really aimed at remote workers, VOIP and video conferencing," he says. The growth is related to the fact that companies are moving to a distributed workforce and to the number of applications running across different networks, clouds, and edge locations.

Cisco Identity Services Engine pays 8% cash premium over base salary, and has gained 14% in value over the past three months. "We're talking about a network-based approach for adaptable trusted access everywhere, centrally managed," he says. "It all speaks about zero trust."

Other areas showing solid growth are mobile device management, which pays 5% cash premium over the base salary, is up 25% in the last 6 to 12 months.

NOT YET: SASE

SASE, which combines networking and security, has generated lots of buzz, but hasn't yet hit the charts when it comes to bonus money, Foote says. "It's not showing up yet because it's not far enough along. There are drivers but we're not seeing it translate into extra cash in 2023."

It will show up going forward, he adds. "If we talk a year from now, SASE is going to be further along," he says. "Networking-security convergence is going to be further along and multi-cloud networking is going to be further along. 5G -- maybe 6G -- is going to be further along. But nobody's reporting 6G skills for us today."

HOT: Cloud architect

The cloud architecture skill pays 10% premium over base pay, Foote says, and is up 11% over the last six months. For example, at Benevity, Moran says she's looking for resumes with AWS cloud certifications, as well as formal certifications in SysOps, DevOps, and security.

"But in interviews, we're selecting for adaptability, problem-solving, a growth mindset, and great teamwork," she says. "IT professionals need to be more adaptable than ever before."
From the outside, the Flatirons Campus looks a bit empty, even moonlike a flat desert plateau with a few roads leading to boxy, modular, warehouse-like buildings. But inside, there is a whir of activity. This is where the future of clean energy is assembled. And it is the domain of the water power testing team.

Marine energy (also called ocean energy) technologies are a bit like moon landers or Mars rovers. Each must survive an inhospitable environment (the ocean) to serve its purpose generating clean, reliable energy and no two designs are exactly the same.

Just like the technologies they work to perfect, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) water power team is far from monolithic: Modelers forecast the future of technology designs and ocean energy. Economic analysts study a technology's financial potential. And engineers help turn promising ideas into functioning prototypes.

And the testing team? They make sure all that varied research happens as smoothly as possible. For example, the team puts new technologies through rigorous tests, tinkers with designs, and purchases new instruments, like the laboratory's wave tank and motion platform, to perform even better tests. In short, they help guide these devices from the lab to the ocean and, eventually, the market.

To spotlight these testing treasures, we spoke to two NREL researchers who shared stories about their career origins (which involved PVC pipes and weather forecasting) and their day-to-day work. (Many of the cutting-edge testing technologies available at NREL's Flatirons Campus and mentioned here were purchased with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office).

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

So, first things first. What do y'all do?

Rebecca Fao, research engineer in NREL's water power technology group: I manage a portfolio of work that is done in the facilities. That includes determining new investments in testing machinery and making it easier for researchers to do their jobs. I have the bird's eye view as opposed to Charles, who gets to focus on the details of specific projects.

Charles Candon, mechanical engineer in NREL's water power technology group: I was just in the lab, building something.

Really? What?

Charles: Something called a black box. It's a data acquisition system. The idea is this would be the last thing to survive on a marine energy device if it gets lost or breaks down. It'll send out a heartbeat to give away the device's position.

Like an airplane's black box?

Charles: Yep, that's where we got the name.

So, if you focus more on the details, as Rebecca said, what do you do day to day?

Charles: A lot of different things. It's pretty fun. Sometimes I'll be in the lab assembling stuff. Sometimes I'll spend all day on my computer designing technologies or writing software for devices, so operators can, for example, control how much energy they produce. And sometimes I'll be in the wave tank facility running tests. It varies a lot.

Inside the seemingly nondescript buildings at NREL's Flatirons Campus, the water power testing team is working on some powerful projects projects that could eventually help the country achieve a 100% clean-energy power grid. Photo by Josh Bauer, Bryan Bechtold, NREL

OK, now that we know what you do, I'm curious to know why you chose this path. Did you always know you'd end up in this kind of career?

Rebecca: No, no. I always thought I was a history person. I love history. Still do. But I'm an incredibly practical person. What do you do with a history degree? I didn't want to be a teacher. I thought maybe I'd go into psychology, but I took a class in high school and hated it.

It turned out I was really good at physics. My physics teacher pulled me aside and said, "If you don't go to college for some kind of science, that's going to be a shame." I took a meteorology class that was kind of cool, and meteorology is basically physics just more focused on the atmosphere. So, I got a degree in meteorology.

"When I moved to Colorado, NREL's location and mission statement made it a natural choice," said Rebecca Fao, who helped the laboratory acquire its first wave tank, a sliver of which can be seen behind her here. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL

Meteorology! Very cool. But you're not a meteorologist. What happened?

Rebecca: I thought I was going to be a forecaster for the National Weather Service, but I quickly figured out forecasting is not my thing. I really don't like it. I find it boring.

So, how did you go from forecasting to facilities?

Rebecca: When I was an undergraduate student, I fell in love with field deployments and instrumentation, like airborne and spaceborne remote sensors. But as an atmospheric scientist, I was studying climate change but not really contributing to any kind of solution, which I found very frustrating. When I moved to Colorado, NREL's location and mission statement made it a natural choice.

Wow. How about you, Charles, did you always know you'd become an engineer?

Charles: Definitely. My aunt got me PVC pipes for my 5th or 6th birthday, and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I would play with the pipes and assemble them into water treatment plants. I feel super lucky that I knew what I wanted to do and actually enjoy it. Not everyone has that.

OK, so engineering was a sure thing. But why choose renewable energy?

Charles: I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and my family has been super vocal about climate change and the importance of respecting the environment. In school, too, teachers would say, "Your generation has to figure out how to fix this."

No pressure or anything. Did you expect to end up in water power?

Charles: When I got a job in NREL's water power group, I had no idea people were doing research in water power. I always pictured myself working in wind, honestly, because as a mechanical engineer, I figured, wind turbines, that's a mechanical system. But there's so much more to work on all throughout renewable energy.

Rebecca: I also thought I would work in offshore wind energy, honestly. That was a more natural place for me with my atmospheric science background.

So, neither of you pictured yourselves in marine energy. Are you excited to be here?

Rebecca: Yeah. I like that it hasn't been solved yet. Wind energy is fairly mature. And wave obviously isn't. There's still a lot of work to be done to identify the most cost-effective and resilient designs as opposed to just trying to improve something that's already pretty efficient.

Charles: It's definitely a challenge to figure out what works and what doesn't. But I think that's one of the best things about working in water power: not having a rulebook and being able to experiment with new things.

What gets you most excited about your work? Is there a specific instrument or project that you've enjoyed most?

Rebecca: Getting the wave tank set up and operational.

Charles: Definitely the wave tank. I operate the wave tank for most of the projects that come in. That's kind of my domain. But we also have a really cool robot arm that can automate manufacturing. Me and another engineer are going to get a 3D printing head for it, so it can print something the size of me or a tidal turbine blade.

"I feel super lucky that I knew what I wanted to do and actually enjoy it. Not everyone has that," said Charles Candon, shown here working on a wave energy device in his domain: the wave tank. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL

Woah. So, it sounds like your team harnesses all the diverse instruments at the Flatirons Campus to help move promising devices from concept to prototypes that could, eventually, go in the ocean. Is that right?

Rebecca: That's basically what our team does, yeah. We fill that gap between modeling to commercialization to help determine, OK, is this a viable solution? Otherwise, you're going to build something based on a model, throw it in the ocean and say, "OK, fingers crossed it works."

Charles: That's where we can come in and do research with a little bit less risk. We can do that experimentation so the industry can take that research, apply it, and become self-sustaining.

So, Charles, now that you're basically the Poseidon of the wave tank, do you think you'll stay in water power?

Charles: Hopefully. Research and development is where I want to be, engineering and tinkering and building things. The fact that I get to do that for a job, come in and design things on the computer, order parts online, manufacture things, and have all these experts help me build high-quality things, whether that's a wave energy converter or a data acquisition device I just really like building cool stuff.

It's almost like you're doing what you did as a kid but with a much bigger budget.

Charles: Yeah, I know. It's awesome.

Learn more about the diverse instruments available at NREL's Flatirons Campus, and come work with us to help launch your water power technology or career. Check out more Beneath the Surface profiles. And subscribe to the NREL water power newsletter, The Current, for the latest news on NREL's water power research.

By Caitlin McDermott-Murphy | Contact media relations
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Space-tech startup Skyroot Aerospace has signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with French satellite companies for procurement of its launch services in the upcoming Vikram 1 mission and future missions.

The MoUs signed at the Skyroot facility in Hyderabad are expected to turn into procurement of the startup's launch services over single or multi-launch agreements.

Hyderabad-based Skyroot became the country's first private player to launch a rocket (Vikram S) into space in 2022. Skyroot is set to launch the Vikram 1 orbital rocket as part of its second mission in the forthcoming months.

The MoU with the leading French earth observation constellation operator Promethee Earth Intelligence is to provide satellite launch services on Vikram rockets for their earth observation constellation (JAPETUS). Olivier Piepsz, the Chief Executive of Promethee, was quoted as saying that 50% of their satellites require specific orbital requirements, making Skyroot's Vikram launch vehicles an ideal choice for deploying a portion of their satellite constellation.

The other MoU is a trilateral agreement with Expleo and ConnectSAT for building its OSIRIS satellite constellation. Expleo will provide reconfigurable software for ConnectSAT's IoT Satellite, set to launch on the Vikram-I rocket.



These MoUs were signed during the visit of a French business delegation. Pawan Chandana, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot, said Skyroot's space launches are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for global operators aiming to build futuristic satellite constellations.

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CHENNAI: Space-tech startup Skyroot Aerospace has signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with French satellite companies for procurement of its launch services in the upcoming Vikram 1 mission and future missions. The MoUs signed at the Skyroot facility in Hyderabad are expected to turn into procurement of the startup's launch services over single or multi-launch agreements. Hyderabad-based Skyroot became the country's first private player to launch a rocket (Vikram S) into space in 2022. Skyroot is set to launch the Vikram 1 orbital rocket as part of its second mission in the forthcoming months.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The MoU with the leading French earth observation constellation operator Promethee Earth Intelligence is to provide satellite launch services on Vikram rockets for their earth observation constellation (JAPETUS). Olivier Piepsz, the Chief Executive of Promethee, was quoted as saying that 50% of their satellites require specific orbital requirements, making Skyroot's Vikram launch vehicles an ideal choice for deploying a portion of their satellite constellation. The other MoU is a trilateral agreement with Expleo and ConnectSAT for building its OSIRIS satellite constellation. Expleo will provide reconfigurable software for ConnectSAT's IoT Satellite, set to launch on the Vikram-I rocket. These MoUs were signed during the visit of a French business delegation. Pawan Chandana, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot, said Skyroot's space launches are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for global operators aiming to build futuristic satellite constellations. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad have asked the Indian government to ignore the statement issued by the Afghan Embassy in Delhi about its closure. They said the embassy is a symbol of hope and aspirations for the people of Afghanistan and shall never be closed.

Denying claims made by Ambassador Farid Mamundzai concerning the closure of the embassy in Delhi, Afghan Consul General in Mumbai Zakia Wardak said such statements fall outside the purview of the Ambassador in accordance with Afghan laws and the provisions of the Vienna Convention.

"It is crucial to know that Ambassador Mamundzai has been absent from the Embassy for an extended period and these decisions have been undertaken without prior consultation or consensus with the leadership of the consulate generals of Mumbai and Hyderabad. These decisions appear to be motivated by personal and internal matters within the embassy, which contravene the established diplomatic protocols and practices," said a joint statement by the two consulate generals.

The two consul generals also met officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and stated that the Afghan Embassy in Delhi and both consulates are functional and continue their operations for the benefit of Afghan nationals.

They also said that they have been assured by the Indian government of support through humanitarian assistance and providing education for which they are grateful.

The Afghan Embassy in Delhi had issued a statement saying that it would close from September 30th. Infighting amongst diplomats and lack of funds was cited as the reason.

Ambassador Mamumdzai has been in the United Kingdom for the past few months while other diplomats have sought refuge in other countries of Europe, including Germany.

The MEA has said it's offering all possible assistance to Afghan diplomats in India.

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NEW DELHI: The Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad have asked the Indian government to ignore the statement issued by the Afghan Embassy in Delhi about its closure. They said the embassy is a symbol of hope and aspirations for the people of Afghanistan and shall never be closed. Denying claims made by Ambassador Farid Mamundzai concerning the closure of the embassy in Delhi, Afghan Consul General in Mumbai Zakia Wardak said such statements fall outside the purview of the Ambassador in accordance with Afghan laws and the provisions of the Vienna Convention. "It is crucial to know that Ambassador Mamundzai has been absent from the Embassy for an extended period and these decisions have been undertaken without prior consultation or consensus with the leadership of the consulate generals of Mumbai and Hyderabad. These decisions appear to be motivated by personal and internal matters within the embassy, which contravene the established diplomatic protocols and practices," said a joint statement by the two consulate generals.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The two consul generals also met officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and stated that the Afghan Embassy in Delhi and both consulates are functional and continue their operations for the benefit of Afghan nationals. They also said that they have been assured by the Indian government of support through humanitarian assistance and providing education for which they are grateful. The Afghan Embassy in Delhi had issued a statement saying that it would close from September 30th. Infighting amongst diplomats and lack of funds was cited as the reason. Ambassador Mamumdzai has been in the United Kingdom for the past few months while other diplomats have sought refuge in other countries of Europe, including Germany. The MEA has said it's offering all possible assistance to Afghan diplomats in India. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Online Desk

Economist Amartya Sen is alive and well, his family asserted after fake news started circulating on social media that the Nobel Prize winner had passed away on Tuesday.

"It is fake news," said Nandana Dev Sen, "I have just spent a week with him in our family home in Cambridge."

"He is absolutely fine, teaching two courses a week, as healthy as always," she added.

She also posted the denial on X.com.

Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever! pic.twitter.com/Fd84KVj1AT  Nandana Sen (@nandanadevsen) October 10, 2023

The fake news about the death of the philosopher-economist, who will turn 90 this November, began spreading after it was posted on an account purporting to belong to Claudia Goldin, another Nobel Prize winner in economics.

Several prominent people offered their condolences and re-tweeted the fake news, giving it currency.

ALSO READ | Homes of Amartya Sen and November thoughts

Sen won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his groundbreaking research on welfare economics and social choice theory.

Some of his most notable contributions included developing new methods to measure poverty, inequality, and human development.

His Capability Approach linked economics to moral philosophy by proposing that social policies should aim to expand people's capabilities and freedom.

Beyond his academic work, Sen is an outspoken advocate for human rights and democracy, never shying away from using his knowledge of economics to highlight issues such as racial and gender inequality, famine, poverty, and political liberty.

ALSO READ | Uniform Civil Code a difficult issue: Amartya Sen

Sen has authored over 30 books, including "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" (1970), "Poverty and Famines" (1981), "Inequality Reexamined" (1992), "Development as Freedom" (1999), and "The Idea of Justice" (2009). He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 1999.

Sen has also been an outspoken critic of the current ruling dispensation at the Centre, and has called it "one of the most appalling in the world".

(With inputs from PTI)

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Economist Amartya Sen is alive and well, his family asserted after fake news started circulating on social media that the Nobel Prize winner had passed away on Tuesday. "It is fake news," said Nandana Dev Sen, "I have just spent a week with him in our family home in Cambridge." "He is absolutely fine, teaching two courses a week, as healthy as always," she added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); She also posted the denial on X.com. Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever! pic.twitter.com/Fd84KVj1AT  Nandana Sen (@nandanadevsen) October 10, 2023 The fake news about the death of the philosopher-economist, who will turn 90 this November, began spreading after it was posted on an account purporting to belong to Claudia Goldin, another Nobel Prize winner in economics. Several prominent people offered their condolences and re-tweeted the fake news, giving it currency. ALSO READ | Homes of Amartya Sen and November thoughts Sen won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his groundbreaking research on welfare economics and social choice theory. Some of his most notable contributions included developing new methods to measure poverty, inequality, and human development. His Capability Approach linked economics to moral philosophy by proposing that social policies should aim to expand people's capabilities and freedom. Beyond his academic work, Sen is an outspoken advocate for human rights and democracy, never shying away from using his knowledge of economics to highlight issues such as racial and gender inequality, famine, poverty, and political liberty. ALSO READ | Uniform Civil Code a difficult issue: Amartya Sen Sen has authored over 30 books, including "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" (1970), "Poverty and Famines" (1981), "Inequality Reexamined" (1992), "Development as Freedom" (1999), and "The Idea of Justice" (2009). He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 1999. Sen has also been an outspoken critic of the current ruling dispensation at the Centre, and has called it "one of the most appalling in the world". (With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh ended the uncertainty about whether its longest serving CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan will contest the polls. Having already named candidates for 79 out of the total 230 seats in the last two months, the ruling party released its fourth list of 57 candidates, which included Shivraj Singh Chouhan from his home seat Budhni in Sehore district for the sixth time.

With this, the BJP put to rest speculation, including the possibility of Chouhan, either not contesting the next months elections or being shifted from his pocket borough to a challenging seat. Chouhan won his home seat five times, including four times in a row (1990, 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2018). Political circles were abuzz with possibilities of the five-time former Vidisha MP either being fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls or else being shifted to a challenging seat in the assembly polls.

Even the CM during his recent speech in Dindori district had asked people whether he should contest the assembly polls. The speculation appeared to gain strength after the party named seven of its sitting MPs (including three Union ministers) as candidates in its second list for assembly polls, released on September 25. Five of those sitting MPs, including two Union ministers and the partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, have been fielded from assembly seats that the BJP had lost by considerable margins in 2018.

Mondays 57-candidate list not only featured the CM but also included his 24 cabinet colleagues. The party continued to show trust in many ministers who, as per partys internal surveys, are said to be facing high anti-incumbency or have crossed 70 years of age. The fourth list also included the names of Jyotiraditya Scindia-loyalist ministers and MLAs, including Govind Singh Rajput, Dr Prabhuram Chowdhary and Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, among others.

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BHOPAL: The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh ended the uncertainty about whether its longest serving CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan will contest the polls. Having already named candidates for 79 out of the total 230 seats in the last two months, the ruling party released its fourth list of 57 candidates, which included Shivraj Singh Chouhan from his home seat Budhni in Sehore district for the sixth time. With this, the BJP put to rest speculation, including the possibility of Chouhan, either not contesting the next months elections or being shifted from his pocket borough to a challenging seat. Chouhan won his home seat five times, including four times in a row (1990, 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2018). Political circles were abuzz with possibilities of the five-time former Vidisha MP either being fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls or else being shifted to a challenging seat in the assembly polls. Even the CM during his recent speech in Dindori district had asked people whether he should contest the assembly polls. The speculation appeared to gain strength after the party named seven of its sitting MPs (including three Union ministers) as candidates in its second list for assembly polls, released on September 25. Five of those sitting MPs, including two Union ministers and the partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, have been fielded from assembly seats that the BJP had lost by considerable margins in 2018.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mondays 57-candidate list not only featured the CM but also included his 24 cabinet colleagues. The party continued to show trust in many ministers who, as per partys internal surveys, are said to be facing high anti-incumbency or have crossed 70 years of age. The fourth list also included the names of Jyotiraditya Scindia-loyalist ministers and MLAs, including Govind Singh Rajput, Dr Prabhuram Chowdhary and Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, among others. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

BEOHARI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed caste census an "X-ray" of the country that will throw light on the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals, and said his party would force the Centre to conduct this exercise "come what may."

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not speaking on the issue of caste census.

"We will force the central government to conduct a caste census, come what may, to know the truth about the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the country. Our governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have initiated a process for it," Gandhi said.

He was addressing a public meeting at Beohari in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, a day after the dates for the state assembly polls were announced.

"Caste census is an X-ray of the country. Tribals, Dalits and OBCs of the country are injured. Let us check...It will clear the picture," he said.

"We challenged PM Narendra Modi to release the data of the caste census done by Congress. But instead of talking about it, he talks about Pakistan, Afghanistan and South. Speak on caste census," the former Congress president added.

Referring to a book written by Bharatiya Janata Party's veteran leader L K Advani, Gandhi said the book mentioned that Madhya Pradesh, not Gujarat, was the laboratory of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevan Sangh (RSS).

"But Madhya Pradesh is a laboratory of several scams like medical treatment to deceased persons, Vyapam, mid-day meal, atrocities against tribals and women, among others," he targeted the BJP government in the state.

The single-phase assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17.

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BEOHARI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed caste census an "X-ray" of the country that will throw light on the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals, and said his party would force the Centre to conduct this exercise "come what may." He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not speaking on the issue of caste census. "We will force the central government to conduct a caste census, come what may, to know the truth about the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the country. Our governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have initiated a process for it," Gandhi said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He was addressing a public meeting at Beohari in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, a day after the dates for the state assembly polls were announced. "Caste census is an X-ray of the country. Tribals, Dalits and OBCs of the country are injured. Let us check...It will clear the picture," he said. "We challenged PM Narendra Modi to release the data of the caste census done by Congress. But instead of talking about it, he talks about Pakistan, Afghanistan and South. Speak on caste census," the former Congress president added. Referring to a book written by Bharatiya Janata Party's veteran leader L K Advani, Gandhi said the book mentioned that Madhya Pradesh, not Gujarat, was the laboratory of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevan Sangh (RSS). "But Madhya Pradesh is a laboratory of several scams like medical treatment to deceased persons, Vyapam, mid-day meal, atrocities against tribals and women, among others," he targeted the BJP government in the state. The single-phase assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Preetha Nair By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee on Monday passed a unanimous resolution for conducting the caste census across the country, which it said, would set a new paradigm of development.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said at a presser that the Congress-ruled states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh will hold caste census in their respective states.

Presided over by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the four-hour CWC meeting was attended by all party chief ministers. Most constituents of the INDIA bloc support the idea of caste census, said Rahul. Most parties in the INDIA alliance are unanimous that the caste census should be implemented. There might be a few, who have a slightly different position and thats fine, we are quite flexible, not fascist, he added. The Wayanad MP asserted that his party would force the Prime Minister to conduct the caste census or make him get out of the way.

Describing caste census as a progressive and powerful step for the emancipation of the poor, the senior Congress leader said it would set a new paradigm of development in the country as it will establish the actual status of the OBCs, Dalits, the Adivasis and the poor.

Today, two Indias are being created  one for the Adanis and the other for everyone. The caste census will clearly show the kind of people and the number of people in India. This is not a matter of caste or religion, it is a matter of poverty.

He said that a new political and economic model would be built in the country based on the caste census. He said that out of four Congress CMs, three were OBCs, while out of 10 BJP CMs, only one was an OBC and even he will cease to be the CM very soon, referring to Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

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NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee on Monday passed a unanimous resolution for conducting the caste census across the country, which it said, would set a new paradigm of development. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said at a presser that the Congress-ruled states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh will hold caste census in their respective states. Presided over by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the four-hour CWC meeting was attended by all party chief ministers. Most constituents of the INDIA bloc support the idea of caste census, said Rahul. Most parties in the INDIA alliance are unanimous that the caste census should be implemented. There might be a few, who have a slightly different position and thats fine, we are quite flexible, not fascist, he added. The Wayanad MP asserted that his party would force the Prime Minister to conduct the caste census or make him get out of the way. Describing caste census as a progressive and powerful step for the emancipation of the poor, the senior Congress leader said it would set a new paradigm of development in the country as it will establish the actual status of the OBCs, Dalits, the Adivasis and the poor.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Today, two Indias are being created  one for the Adanis and the other for everyone. The caste census will clearly show the kind of people and the number of people in India. This is not a matter of caste or religion, it is a matter of poverty. He said that a new political and economic model would be built in the country based on the caste census. He said that out of four Congress CMs, three were OBCs, while out of 10 BJP CMs, only one was an OBC and even he will cease to be the CM very soon, referring to Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centre's National Tele-Mental Health Program (Tele-MANAS), which was launched last year to provide round-the-clock free tele-mental health services, especially in remote areas, has counseled more than 3.5 lakh people, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday.

Addressing the Mental Health Conclave on World Mental Health Day 2023, the minister said that Tele-MANAS is currently providing counseling to 2,000 people through 44 Tele Manas Cells.

More than 1,000 calls are being received on this helpline every day, said Mandaviya, as he virtually inaugurated new facilities at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, and launched the new logo of Tele-MANAS.

The minister said that the use of digital technology in mental health is a force multiplier.

The centre announced the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) in the 2022-23 union budget as it acknowledged the mental health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to establish a digital mental health network to connect the underserved areas. The Tele-MANAS health services were launched last year on World Mental Health Day.

Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres have facilitated the integration of mental health services with primary health services as priority services for mental health, neurological disorders, and substance use disorders, he added.

He said that district-level activities are organized by a dedicated district mental health intervention team stationed in the district hospital.

Additionally, OPD, counseling, care, and medical support for mental health issues are provided at Community Health Center and Primary Health Center level. They are being provided through 1.6 lakh AB-HWCs situated across the country. Mental health also features under the Prime Minister-Jan Arogya Yojana, he said.

On the occasion, he also commended states on their performances.

Tamil Nadu ranked first in the largest states category, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Telangana, Jharkhand, and Kerala were awarded for their performance in the smaller states category.

In the Northeast category, Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur received awards, and Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu were awarded in the Union Territories category.

He said that apart from Tele-MANAS services, the government has taken several steps to address mental health issues of children and women under the National Child Health Programme, National Adolescent Health Program, and Reproductive Child Health (RCH) programmes.

As life expectancy improves, attention is also being paid to the mental health of the elderly, he said.

Mandaviya said to improve coverage and access to mental health care, district-level activities have been supported under the National Mental Health Program in 743 districts across all 36 states and UTs.

He highlighted that at the tertiary level, there are a total of 47 government mental health hospitals in the country, including three central mental health institutions at Bengaluru, Ranchi, and Tejaspur.

Many other central and state government hospitals have psychiatry departments, he said, adding that psychiatry departments have been established in the newly established All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

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NEW DELHI: The Centre's National Tele-Mental Health Program (Tele-MANAS), which was launched last year to provide round-the-clock free tele-mental health services, especially in remote areas, has counseled more than 3.5 lakh people, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday. Addressing the Mental Health Conclave on World Mental Health Day 2023, the minister said that Tele-MANAS is currently providing counseling to 2,000 people through 44 Tele Manas Cells. More than 1,000 calls are being received on this helpline every day, said Mandaviya, as he virtually inaugurated new facilities at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, and launched the new logo of Tele-MANAS.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The minister said that the use of digital technology in mental health is a force multiplier. The centre announced the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) in the 2022-23 union budget as it acknowledged the mental health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to establish a digital mental health network to connect the underserved areas. The Tele-MANAS health services were launched last year on World Mental Health Day. Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres have facilitated the integration of mental health services with primary health services as priority services for mental health, neurological disorders, and substance use disorders, he added. He said that district-level activities are organized by a dedicated district mental health intervention team stationed in the district hospital. Additionally, OPD, counseling, care, and medical support for mental health issues are provided at Community Health Center and Primary Health Center level. They are being provided through 1.6 lakh AB-HWCs situated across the country. Mental health also features under the Prime Minister-Jan Arogya Yojana, he said. On the occasion, he also commended states on their performances. Tamil Nadu ranked first in the largest states category, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Telangana, Jharkhand, and Kerala were awarded for their performance in the smaller states category. In the Northeast category, Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur received awards, and Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu were awarded in the Union Territories category. He said that apart from Tele-MANAS services, the government has taken several steps to address mental health issues of children and women under the National Child Health Programme, National Adolescent Health Program, and Reproductive Child Health (RCH) programmes. As life expectancy improves, attention is also being paid to the mental health of the elderly, he said. Mandaviya said to improve coverage and access to mental health care, district-level activities have been supported under the National Mental Health Program in 743 districts across all 36 states and UTs. He highlighted that at the tertiary level, there are a total of 47 government mental health hospitals in the country, including three central mental health institutions at Bengaluru, Ranchi, and Tejaspur. Many other central and state government hospitals have psychiatry departments, he said, adding that psychiatry departments have been established in the newly established All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday said it has taken possession of 15 immovable "benami" properties, worth about Rs 55 crore, alleged to be belonging to DMK MP A Raja as part of a money laundering probe against the former Union telecom minister.

In a statement, the ED said it has "taken possession of 15 immovable properties owned by A Raja in the name of his benami company Kovai Shelters Promoters India Pvt Ltd, under the PMLA, in the matter of a disproportionate assets case of A Raja, former Union cabinet minister of environment and forest, subsequent to confirmation of the provisional attachment order by the Hon'ble Adjudicating Authority".

The assets, measuring about 45 acres of land in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), were attached by the central agency in December last year and the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) approved this order on June 1.

Benami means 'no name' or 'without name' and such properties are those in which the real beneficiary is not the one in whose name the property has been purchased.

The 59-year-old Raja is currently a DMK MP from the Nilgiris Lok Sabha seat.

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NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday said it has taken possession of 15 immovable "benami" properties, worth about Rs 55 crore, alleged to be belonging to DMK MP A Raja as part of a money laundering probe against the former Union telecom minister. In a statement, the ED said it has "taken possession of 15 immovable properties owned by A Raja in the name of his benami company Kovai Shelters Promoters India Pvt Ltd, under the PMLA, in the matter of a disproportionate assets case of A Raja, former Union cabinet minister of environment and forest, subsequent to confirmation of the provisional attachment order by the Hon'ble Adjudicating Authority". The assets, measuring about 45 acres of land in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), were attached by the central agency in December last year and the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) approved this order on June 1.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Benami means 'no name' or 'without name' and such properties are those in which the real beneficiary is not the one in whose name the property has been purchased. The 59-year-old Raja is currently a DMK MP from the Nilgiris Lok Sabha seat. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The elusive dancing frogs of the Western Ghats are one of the most threatened amphibian species-genus, a global study found.

Sixty-four species of amphibians, found in the Western Ghats, are on the list of endangered species. Overall, the world is facing a critical amphibian crisis with 41% of the species on the brink of extinction, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) said in a statement based on the findings.

The second Global Amphibian Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of 8,011 species worldwide conducted by over 1,000 experts, revealed the alarming statistics.

Led by Re:wild, Synchronicity Earth, and the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, the study indicated that climate change, alongside habitat loss, disease, fire, invasive species and over-exploitation, is one of the biggest and most direct threats to amphibians.

Dr Gururaja K V, a Batrachologist who contributed to the study, said the Micrixalus genus, commonly known as dancing frogs and endemic to the Western Ghats, has a curious habit of waving their hind legs to defend their territory from intruding males during the breeding season.

Among 24 species of dancing frogs assessed as part of the Second Global Amphibian assessment, two are critically endangered and 15 are endangered making them the most threatened of all Indo-Malayan genera, Gururaja said.

Vivek Menon, Chair of the Global Council of Amphibian Survival Alliance & Founder and ED, WTI expressed concern that amphibians are the second most declining taxa in the world after corals.

Munnar in the Western Ghats is identified as a Key Biodiversity Area and an Alliance for Zero Extinction site due to its critical role in preserving threatened amphibians. WTI in partnership with Synchronicity Earth has been working to assess amphibian populations, building stakeholder consensus and focussing on habitat restoration, Menon, who also leads WTIs Amphibian Recovery Project, added.

Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot spread across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is rich in amphibian diversity. Kerala has 178 species of which 84 are threatened, Tamil Nadu is next with 128 species of which 54 are threatened and Karnataka is in third place with 100 species of which 30 are threatened.

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GUWAHATI: The elusive dancing frogs of the Western Ghats are one of the most threatened amphibian species-genus, a global study found. Sixty-four species of amphibians, found in the Western Ghats, are on the list of endangered species. Overall, the world is facing a critical amphibian crisis with 41% of the species on the brink of extinction, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) said in a statement based on the findings. The second Global Amphibian Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of 8,011 species worldwide conducted by over 1,000 experts, revealed the alarming statistics.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Led by Re:wild, Synchronicity Earth, and the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, the study indicated that climate change, alongside habitat loss, disease, fire, invasive species and over-exploitation, is one of the biggest and most direct threats to amphibians. Dr Gururaja K V, a Batrachologist who contributed to the study, said the Micrixalus genus, commonly known as dancing frogs and endemic to the Western Ghats, has a curious habit of waving their hind legs to defend their territory from intruding males during the breeding season. Among 24 species of dancing frogs assessed as part of the Second Global Amphibian assessment, two are critically endangered and 15 are endangered making them the most threatened of all Indo-Malayan genera, Gururaja said. Vivek Menon, Chair of the Global Council of Amphibian Survival Alliance & Founder and ED, WTI expressed concern that amphibians are the second most declining taxa in the world after corals. Munnar in the Western Ghats is identified as a Key Biodiversity Area and an Alliance for Zero Extinction site due to its critical role in preserving threatened amphibians. WTI in partnership with Synchronicity Earth has been working to assess amphibian populations, building stakeholder consensus and focussing on habitat restoration, Menon, who also leads WTIs Amphibian Recovery Project, added. Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot spread across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is rich in amphibian diversity. Kerala has 178 species of which 84 are threatened, Tamil Nadu is next with 128 species of which 54 are threatened and Karnataka is in third place with 100 species of which 30 are threatened. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Monika Yadav By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India has obtained the fifth set of Swiss bank account details as part of the annual automatic information exchange framework between India and Switzerland. Swiss authorities have shared information on approximately 3.6 million financial accounts with 104 countries, including India.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) of Switzerland said that it has sent information on around 3.6 million financial accounts to the partner states and received information on around 2.9 financial accounts from them.

India and Switzerland entered into an automatic tax-related information sharing agreement from 1 January 2018. The first set of information was received by India in September 2019. However, Swiss authorities refrained from disclosing the specific amount involved in the shared information. Though they confirmed that the new details provided to Indian authorities involve hundreds of financial accounts. These accounts comprise multiple instances associated with individuals, corporations, and trusts.

The FTA cannot provide any information on the amount of financial assets. Switzerland has committed itself to adopting the global standard for the international automatic exchange of information in tax matters. The legal basis for the implementation of the AEOI in Switzerland came into force on 1 January 2017, FTA said in a statement.

The shared details include crucial information such as identification particulars, account details, and financial information. This encompasses the account holders name, address, country of residence, tax identification number, as well as information pertaining to the reporting financial institution, account balance, and capital income.

The exchange took place last month, and Switzerland will share the next set of information in September 2024. Switzerland has always been known to be a safe destination for stashing black money. It has been speculated in the past that huge sums of undisclosed money has been parked in Swiss banks by Indians.

Though the information exchange agreement allows the two countries to share details of financial transactions carried out by citizens of either countries on their shores, one cannot force another to share details in violation of the law of the land. India has entered into such agreements with 21 such countries.

Automatic tax-related info sharing agreement

India and Switzerland entered into an automatic tax-related information sharing agreement from January 1, 2018. The first set of information was received by India in September 2019. However, Swiss authorities refrained from disclosing the specific amount involved in the shared information.

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NEW DELHI: India has obtained the fifth set of Swiss bank account details as part of the annual automatic information exchange framework between India and Switzerland. Swiss authorities have shared information on approximately 3.6 million financial accounts with 104 countries, including India. In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) of Switzerland said that it has sent information on around 3.6 million financial accounts to the partner states and received information on around 2.9 financial accounts from them. India and Switzerland entered into an automatic tax-related information sharing agreement from 1 January 2018. The first set of information was received by India in September 2019. However, Swiss authorities refrained from disclosing the specific amount involved in the shared information. Though they confirmed that the new details provided to Indian authorities involve hundreds of financial accounts. These accounts comprise multiple instances associated with individuals, corporations, and trusts.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The FTA cannot provide any information on the amount of financial assets. Switzerland has committed itself to adopting the global standard for the international automatic exchange of information in tax matters. The legal basis for the implementation of the AEOI in Switzerland came into force on 1 January 2017, FTA said in a statement. The shared details include crucial information such as identification particulars, account details, and financial information. This encompasses the account holders name, address, country of residence, tax identification number, as well as information pertaining to the reporting financial institution, account balance, and capital income. The exchange took place last month, and Switzerland will share the next set of information in September 2024. Switzerland has always been known to be a safe destination for stashing black money. It has been speculated in the past that huge sums of undisclosed money has been parked in Swiss banks by Indians. Though the information exchange agreement allows the two countries to share details of financial transactions carried out by citizens of either countries on their shores, one cannot force another to share details in violation of the law of the land. India has entered into such agreements with 21 such countries. Automatic tax-related info sharing agreement India and Switzerland entered into an automatic tax-related information sharing agreement from January 1, 2018. The first set of information was received by India in September 2019. However, Swiss authorities refrained from disclosing the specific amount involved in the shared information. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
As the temperatures cool down and customers begin to prepare for the winter months, Ameren Illinois and Google are joining forces with the Environmental Law and Policy Center to give Ameren Illinois heating customers another helpful way to save energy. Customers can get a Google Nest Thermostat, at no cost with tax and shipping included, thanks to a special promotion that runs through November 30.

Approximately half of a typical residential customer's utility costs go toward heating and cooling. With a smart thermostat, customers can create a heating and cooling schedule from their smart device that can help them to remain comfortable and save money.

"We're very excited to partner with Google and the Illinois Environmental Law and Policy Center to promote this very special offer," said Pat Justis Director, Energy Efficiency, Ameren Illinois. "Smart thermostats can help customers save money on their heating and cooling costs. With the increase in energy supply costs, this is an offer every Ameren Illinois heating customer can benefit from for years to come."

"Ameren Illinois' smart thermostat giveaway is truly a great opportunity for customers. They can save money on bills and do something good for the environment," said Robert Kelter, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law and Policy Center. "Customers without smart thermostats should take advantage of this offer."

OFFER DETAILS: Now through November 30, customers can visit AmerenIllinoisSavings.com/SaveNow to get their $0 Google Nest Thermostat ($129 retail value). Current Ameren Illinois electric or gas residential delivery service customers who heat their homes with natural gas or electricity delivered by Ameren Illinois are eligible for the offer. Homes heated by propane do not qualify. Orders must be placed by the customer whose name is associated with the Ameren Illinois account. Please check your most recent Ameren Illinois bill to confirm who is listed as the account holder. Each qualifying residential customer account is limited to one smart thermostat.

The Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program is committed to helping customers find ways to improve comfort, manage usage and reduce costs. Adding a smart thermostat in your home can help improve the way you use energy, ultimately saving you money each month.

About Ameren Illinois

Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois. Ameren Illinois' service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. The company's mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India and Italy inked a defence cooperation agreement on Monday after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome on the first leg of his visit to Italy and France.

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said, "During the meeting, both sides discussed a host of defence cooperation issues, including training, sharing of information, maritime exercises and maritime security. The focus was on the opportunities in defence industrial cooperation."

The meeting was followed by the signing of the agreement on cooperation in the field of defence. "The agreement will promote bilateral cooperation in varied defence domains, such as security and defence policy, R&D, education in the military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information and industrial cooperation, including co-development, co-production & setting up of joint ventures," said the MoD.

The two ministers discussed the complementary capacities of India and Italy in defence and the possibilities of joint development. The Defence Minister suggested fostering the interaction of Indian start-ups with Italian defence companies.

Earlier, Rajnath Singh was presented with a Guard of Honour at Villa Madama. Upon his arrival at Ciampino Airport, Rajnath Singh was received by the Indian Ambassador to Italy Dr Neena Malhotra and senior Italian officials.

The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to a strategic partnership in March 2023 during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India.

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NEW DELHI: India and Italy inked a defence cooperation agreement on Monday after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome on the first leg of his visit to Italy and France. The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said, "During the meeting, both sides discussed a host of defence cooperation issues, including training, sharing of information, maritime exercises and maritime security. The focus was on the opportunities in defence industrial cooperation." The meeting was followed by the signing of the agreement on cooperation in the field of defence. "The agreement will promote bilateral cooperation in varied defence domains, such as security and defence policy, R&D, education in the military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information and industrial cooperation, including co-development, co-production & setting up of joint ventures," said the MoD.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The two ministers discussed the complementary capacities of India and Italy in defence and the possibilities of joint development. The Defence Minister suggested fostering the interaction of Indian start-ups with Italian defence companies. Earlier, Rajnath Singh was presented with a Guard of Honour at Villa Madama. Upon his arrival at Ciampino Airport, Rajnath Singh was received by the Indian Ambassador to Italy Dr Neena Malhotra and senior Italian officials. The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to a strategic partnership in March 2023 during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Amid the fierce onslaught by Israeli forces on Gaza following the Hamas terror attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had a telephonic conversation with his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed his support to the people of the country.

Taking to his official handle on X, PM Modi shared details of his conversation with Netanyahu, posting, "I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. October 10, 2023

On Saturday, expressing solidarity with Israel in the wake of the deadly rocket strikes by Hamas, Prime Minister Modi said his thoughts and prayers, and those of his fellow countrymen, were with the innocent victims and their families.

"Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," PM Modi posted on X.

Thanking PM Modi for his support, Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon posted on X, "Thank you again PM @narendramodi-ji. Since we get SO MUCH support from our Indian brothers and sisters, I'm unfortunately unable to thank each and every one of you personally. Please accept this as my gratitude to all our friends."

ALSO READ | Why did Hamas attack Israel, and why now? What does it hope to gain?

At least 900 Israelis have, so far, perished, in the Hamas attacks while over 2,616 were injured, according to latest reports.

In a war update shared by Israel Defence Force (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza.

The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas.

ALSO READ | As Israel pummels Gaza, families of hostages agonize over loved ones' safety

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours.

"This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip, 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped.

On Monday Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked several targets of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The aircraft attacked a building used by Hamas in investigations and an operational infrastructure located inside a mosque. In addition, an underground tunnel shaft of the terrorist organization and military infrastructures used by the Hamas were also attacked.

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NEW DELHI: Amid the fierce onslaught by Israeli forces on Gaza following the Hamas terror attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had a telephonic conversation with his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed his support to the people of the country. Taking to his official handle on X, PM Modi shared details of his conversation with Netanyahu, posting, "I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023 On Saturday, expressing solidarity with Israel in the wake of the deadly rocket strikes by Hamas, Prime Minister Modi said his thoughts and prayers, and those of his fellow countrymen, were with the innocent victims and their families. "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," PM Modi posted on X. Thanking PM Modi for his support, Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon posted on X, "Thank you again PM @narendramodi-ji. Since we get SO MUCH support from our Indian brothers and sisters, I'm unfortunately unable to thank each and every one of you personally. Please accept this as my gratitude to all our friends." ALSO READ | Why did Hamas attack Israel, and why now? What does it hope to gain? At least 900 Israelis have, so far, perished, in the Hamas attacks while over 2,616 were injured, according to latest reports. In a war update shared by Israel Defence Force (IDF) on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas. ALSO READ | As Israel pummels Gaza, families of hostages agonize over loved ones' safety As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours. "This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. The Israel Defense Forces said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip, 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped. On Monday Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked several targets of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The aircraft attacked a building used by Hamas in investigations and an operational infrastructure located inside a mosque. In addition, an underground tunnel shaft of the terrorist organization and military infrastructures used by the Hamas were also attacked. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be visiting Sri Lanka from October 10-12 to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting and hold bilateral meetings with the leadership in Colombo.

This will be Jaishankar's second visit to the island nation this year. In July, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe had travelled to Delhi.

Sri Lanka is the current chair of IORA and India will assume the role of vice-chair of the regional grouping.

The council of ministers meeting will review IORAs recent activities and outline future cooperation.

India is set to take over the chairship of IORA during 2025-27, the external affairs ministry said.

Besides the IORA engagements, Jaishankar will have bilateral meetings in Colombo, the ministry added.

IORA promotes sustained growth and balanced development within the Indian Ocean region and its 23 members include Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision also includes a power grid inter-connection for electricity trade, construction of a petroleum pipeline, a feasibility study for land connectivity, and resumption of talks on an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement to replace an existing trade deal.

Following an agreement between Indias NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lanka Pay, UPI is set to be accepted in Sri Lanka by the end of the year after the completion of certain processes.

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NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be visiting Sri Lanka from October 10-12 to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting and hold bilateral meetings with the leadership in Colombo. This will be Jaishankar's second visit to the island nation this year. In July, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe had travelled to Delhi. Sri Lanka is the current chair of IORA and India will assume the role of vice-chair of the regional grouping.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The council of ministers meeting will review IORAs recent activities and outline future cooperation. India is set to take over the chairship of IORA during 2025-27, the external affairs ministry said. Besides the IORA engagements, Jaishankar will have bilateral meetings in Colombo, the ministry added. IORA promotes sustained growth and balanced development within the Indian Ocean region and its 23 members include Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision also includes a power grid inter-connection for electricity trade, construction of a petroleum pipeline, a feasibility study for land connectivity, and resumption of talks on an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement to replace an existing trade deal. Following an agreement between Indias NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lanka Pay, UPI is set to be accepted in Sri Lanka by the end of the year after the completion of certain processes. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Jaison Wilson By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Weeks after the Supreme Courts whiplash against the governments failure to clear 70 collegium recommendations for promotion/transfer in the higher judiciary, the Centre on Monday told the bench that almost all of them will be notified shortly, including the appointment of the Manipur High Court Chief Justice.

We are processing them and will try to finish it before the October vacation. Will have to speak with the consultee judges, the Centre informed the bench. A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing two pleas, including one moved by the Advocates Association of Bengaluru seeking contempt action against the law ministry for not following the timeline set by the court.

Appointment of chief justice to the high court of a sensitive state has finally received their attention and they are doing it now, the bench said. Calling it a positive development, the bench said almost 70 names for appointment and transfers recommended by various high court collegiums, which were pending with the ministry since November 2022 have finally landed before the SCs collegium. It will start processing them immediately.

On July 5, the SC collegium had recommended the appointment of Delhi High Court judge Siddharth Mridul as the chief justice of the Manipur High Court, amid the ethnic turmoil in the state. On the issue of transfer of 26 high court judges, the bench noted that the files in 14 cases have been cleared and notifications will be issued shortly. As for the remaining 12, they are stated to be under process, the bench said.

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NEW DELHI: Weeks after the Supreme Courts whiplash against the governments failure to clear 70 collegium recommendations for promotion/transfer in the higher judiciary, the Centre on Monday told the bench that almost all of them will be notified shortly, including the appointment of the Manipur High Court Chief Justice. We are processing them and will try to finish it before the October vacation. Will have to speak with the consultee judges, the Centre informed the bench. A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing two pleas, including one moved by the Advocates Association of Bengaluru seeking contempt action against the law ministry for not following the timeline set by the court. Appointment of chief justice to the high court of a sensitive state has finally received their attention and they are doing it now, the bench said. Calling it a positive development, the bench said almost 70 names for appointment and transfers recommended by various high court collegiums, which were pending with the ministry since November 2022 have finally landed before the SCs collegium. It will start processing them immediately.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On July 5, the SC collegium had recommended the appointment of Delhi High Court judge Siddharth Mridul as the chief justice of the Manipur High Court, amid the ethnic turmoil in the state. On the issue of transfer of 26 high court judges, the bench noted that the files in 14 cases have been cleared and notifications will be issued shortly. As for the remaining 12, they are stated to be under process, the bench said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Narendra Sethi By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Taking cognizance of the inhuman treatment meted out to children at a Madrassa (an institution for education of Muslim students) in Veerbhatti near Nainital, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an inquiry into all the 419 madrasas in the state.

Following the CM's instructions received by Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, the Home Department has issued orders in this regard to all the District Magistrates of the state. There are 419 madrasas in the state, out of which 192 madrasas are getting government help.

According to the information received by this newspaper, "In the raid conducted by the team led by the City Magistrate in the illegally running madrasa at Veerbhatti in Nainital district, the team found 24 children in a sick condition".

The madrasa children had also accused the operator and his son of assault and sexual abuse.

Police have registered a case against madrasa operator Mohammad Haroon and his son Ibrahim under various sections including POCSO. After this episode came to light, CM Dhami has ordered an inquiry into all the madrasas in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams told The New Indian Express, "No madrasa will be allowed to operate privately by collecting donations in the name of religion". A madrasa that collects donations in public and operates it cannot be termed as a 'private madrasa'. This is against the ethics of Shariat.

On February 12, 2023, the then Social Welfare Minister late Chandan Ram Das had also directed to investigate all madrasas operating in the state. A three-member committee was formed to investigate. The officials were directed to check whether the madrasas had the recognition of the education department.

The minister had sought a report on the matter within a month, but no action was taken against any madrasa.

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DEHRADUN: Taking cognizance of the inhuman treatment meted out to children at a Madrassa (an institution for education of Muslim students) in Veerbhatti near Nainital, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an inquiry into all the 419 madrasas in the state. Following the CM's instructions received by Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, the Home Department has issued orders in this regard to all the District Magistrates of the state. There are 419 madrasas in the state, out of which 192 madrasas are getting government help. According to the information received by this newspaper, "In the raid conducted by the team led by the City Magistrate in the illegally running madrasa at Veerbhatti in Nainital district, the team found 24 children in a sick condition".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The madrasa children had also accused the operator and his son of assault and sexual abuse. Police have registered a case against madrasa operator Mohammad Haroon and his son Ibrahim under various sections including POCSO. After this episode came to light, CM Dhami has ordered an inquiry into all the madrasas in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams told The New Indian Express, "No madrasa will be allowed to operate privately by collecting donations in the name of religion". A madrasa that collects donations in public and operates it cannot be termed as a 'private madrasa'. This is against the ethics of Shariat. On February 12, 2023, the then Social Welfare Minister late Chandan Ram Das had also directed to investigate all madrasas operating in the state. A three-member committee was formed to investigate. The officials were directed to check whether the madrasas had the recognition of the education department. The minister had sought a report on the matter within a month, but no action was taken against any madrasa. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

JAMMU: The main opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the National Conference, Congress and PDP, on Tuesday staged a nearly three-hour-long dharna for restoration of democratic and constitutional rights in the Union Territory.

This was the first major protest here since the revocation of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

The protest at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in the heart of Jammu was supposed to be led by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, but he could not make it to the heavily guarded venue due to "ill health."

However, senior party leaders led by provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta participated in the protest.

Likewise, PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also did not participate in the protest but almost all senior leaders of the party in Jammu, including vice president Abdul Hameed Choudhary and former MLC Firdous Tak, were part of the protest.

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday said the election commission not announcing the poll schedule for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly can push people to take to the streets for their right to have an elected government.

"It seems like we are being pushed to a situation where we have to protest even for our democratic rights," Abdullah had told reporters in Srinagar on Monday, shortly after the election commission announced the poll schedule for five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

Hundreds of leaders and workers of various parties including CPI(M), National Panthers Party (NPP), Awami National Conference, Shiv Sena (UBT), Awami National Conference and social organisations turned up for the protest.

"The opposition parties have come together to demand immediate restoration of statehood, democratic and constitutional rights," Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani said.

"We will continue our protest for the rights of the people and safeguarding their interests," he further said.

Wani alleged the BJP is delaying elections deliberately, knowing fully that it, along with its allies like the Democratic Progressive Azad Party and the Apni Party, will face the rout in the electoral battles.

ALSO READ | Dialogue must for ending bloodshed in J&K, says NC chief Farooq Abdullah

CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said they have no hope from the BJP-led central government as all its promises have proved "false."

PDP's Tak termed the joint protest as a "positive sign" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said the message from this platform to the country is that all opposition parties need to stand up against the divisive politics" of the present dispensation to safeguard the secularism and the "idea of India."

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JAMMU: The main opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the National Conference, Congress and PDP, on Tuesday staged a nearly three-hour-long dharna for restoration of democratic and constitutional rights in the Union Territory. This was the first major protest here since the revocation of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. The protest at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in the heart of Jammu was supposed to be led by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, but he could not make it to the heavily guarded venue due to "ill health."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, senior party leaders led by provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta participated in the protest. Likewise, PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also did not participate in the protest but almost all senior leaders of the party in Jammu, including vice president Abdul Hameed Choudhary and former MLC Firdous Tak, were part of the protest. National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday said the election commission not announcing the poll schedule for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly can push people to take to the streets for their right to have an elected government. "It seems like we are being pushed to a situation where we have to protest even for our democratic rights," Abdullah had told reporters in Srinagar on Monday, shortly after the election commission announced the poll schedule for five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. Hundreds of leaders and workers of various parties including CPI(M), National Panthers Party (NPP), Awami National Conference, Shiv Sena (UBT), Awami National Conference and social organisations turned up for the protest. "The opposition parties have come together to demand immediate restoration of statehood, democratic and constitutional rights," Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani said. "We will continue our protest for the rights of the people and safeguarding their interests," he further said. Wani alleged the BJP is delaying elections deliberately, knowing fully that it, along with its allies like the Democratic Progressive Azad Party and the Apni Party, will face the rout in the electoral battles. ALSO READ | Dialogue must for ending bloodshed in J&K, says NC chief Farooq Abdullah CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said they have no hope from the BJP-led central government as all its promises have proved "false." PDP's Tak termed the joint protest as a "positive sign" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said the message from this platform to the country is that all opposition parties need to stand up against the divisive politics" of the present dispensation to safeguard the secularism and the "idea of India." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Centre on a plea seeking direction to the government to release Rohingya refugees who have been "illegally and arbitrarily" detained in jails and detention centres across the country.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra issued notice to the Centre and sought its response within four weeks.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Priyali Sur, submitted many Rohingya refugees have been detained in facilities across the country, and sought their release in order to protect their right to life and equality before law under Article 21 and Article 14 of the Constitution.

Sur's plea said the Rohingya are an ethnic minority from Rakhine state in Myanmar and they have been described by the United Nations as the world's most persecuted ethnic minority.

"They have a history of statelessness since 1980, primarily as a consequence of the 1982 Citizenship Law enacted in Mynamar, which effectively stripped them of their citizenship," it said, adding Rohingya refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, including India, to escape persecution dubbed by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice as genocide and crime against humanity.

The petition said despite this background of persecution and discrimination, the Rohingya refugees in India are officially labelled as "illegal immigrants" and face inhumane treatment and restrictions.

"These include arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, limits on freedom of movement outside of camps, limited access to education, limited or no access to basic health care and legal services or any formal employment opportunities," it said.

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees, including pregnant women and minors, have been detained unlawfully and indefinitely in jails and detention centres across India, despite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognising their status as refugees, it added.

The plea sought direction to the Centre to release the Rohingya refugees who have been detained illegally and arbitrarily in jails/detention centres or juvenile homes, either without assigning a reason or for violation of the provisions of the Foreigners Act.

It also sought direction to the government to refrain from arbitrarily detaining any Rohingya accusing them of being illegal immigrants or under the Foreigners Act.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Centre on a plea seeking direction to the government to release Rohingya refugees who have been "illegally and arbitrarily" detained in jails and detention centres across the country. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra issued notice to the Centre and sought its response within four weeks. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Priyali Sur, submitted many Rohingya refugees have been detained in facilities across the country, and sought their release in order to protect their right to life and equality before law under Article 21 and Article 14 of the Constitution.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sur's plea said the Rohingya are an ethnic minority from Rakhine state in Myanmar and they have been described by the United Nations as the world's most persecuted ethnic minority. "They have a history of statelessness since 1980, primarily as a consequence of the 1982 Citizenship Law enacted in Mynamar, which effectively stripped them of their citizenship," it said, adding Rohingya refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, including India, to escape persecution dubbed by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice as genocide and crime against humanity. The petition said despite this background of persecution and discrimination, the Rohingya refugees in India are officially labelled as "illegal immigrants" and face inhumane treatment and restrictions. "These include arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, limits on freedom of movement outside of camps, limited access to education, limited or no access to basic health care and legal services or any formal employment opportunities," it said. Hundreds of Rohingya refugees, including pregnant women and minors, have been detained unlawfully and indefinitely in jails and detention centres across India, despite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognising their status as refugees, it added. The plea sought direction to the Centre to release the Rohingya refugees who have been detained illegally and arbitrarily in jails/detention centres or juvenile homes, either without assigning a reason or for violation of the provisions of the Foreigners Act. It also sought direction to the government to refrain from arbitrarily detaining any Rohingya accusing them of being illegal immigrants or under the Foreigners Act. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Jaison Wilson By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while dealing with the petitions pending even after six years of filing, posted a batch of pleas challenging the controversial electoral bond scheme for a final hearing on October 31.

Listing the matter for the last day of this month, a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Paridwala said the pleas will continue hearing on November 1 if the hearing is not completed on October 31.

The pleas against the scheme were filed in 2017 in the apex court.

Through the electoral bonds, which were introduced in the Finance Act of 2017, registered political parties that have secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last Lok Sabha or legislative assembly elections are eligible to receive funding.

As per Petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), anonymous funding through electoral bonds promotes corruption and violates the citizens right to have a corruption-free nation.

It was contended that the identity of the donors could never be known to the public and referred to reservations raised by the Reserve Bank of India and Election Commission to the Scheme.

During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners said, This promotes corruption as the source of funding is anonymous, it is violative of Article 21 and the 'non-decision' in the case compounding the problem.

In one of the previous hearings in March, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave said that the same is an issue that goes to the core of our democratic existence and is serious.

According to one of the petitioners, so far Rs 12,000 crore has been paid to political parties through electoral bonds and two-thirds of the amount has gone to one major political party.

Two lawyers were appointed earlier including Neha Rathi, as nodal counsel for ensuring a smooth hearing of the PILs, saying they would coordinate to ensure that a common compilation of judgements and other records are filed.

On January 31, this year, the top court had said the three sets of petitions on the electoral bonds scheme, bringing political parties within the ambit of the Right to Information Act and those challenging amendments in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act will be heard separately.

The court also said that since the bonds were allowed to be released in 2018, 2019, and 2020 without interruption and there were sufficient safeguards, there was justification to not stay them at the moment.

The court had said it would hear in the third week of March the pleas challenging the laws permitting the funding of political parties through the electoral bond scheme.

Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency to political funding.

Lawyer Bhushan has been seeking urgent listing of the PIL by the apex court and a direction to the Centre not to open any further window for the sale of electoral bonds during the pendency of a case pertaining to funding of political parties and alleged lack of transparency in their bank accounts.

The NGO, which had filed the PIL on the issue of alleged corruption and subversion of democracy through illicit and foreign funding of political parties and lack of transparency in the bank accounts of all political parties, had moved an interim application in March 2021 before the assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam seeking the sale of electoral bonds should not be reopened.

On January 20, 2020, the apex court refused to grant an interim stay on the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme and sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission to an interim application by the NGO seeking a stay on the scheme.

The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme on January 2, 2018.

According to the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.

Only political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than one per cent of votes polled in the last general election to Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly of the state are eligible to receive electoral bonds.

READ MORE | Electoral bonds have been a mixed bag

(With inputs from PTI)

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while dealing with the petitions pending even after six years of filing, posted a batch of pleas challenging the controversial electoral bond scheme for a final hearing on October 31. Listing the matter for the last day of this month, a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Paridwala said the pleas will continue hearing on November 1 if the hearing is not completed on October 31. The pleas against the scheme were filed in 2017 in the apex court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Through the electoral bonds, which were introduced in the Finance Act of 2017, registered political parties that have secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last Lok Sabha or legislative assembly elections are eligible to receive funding. As per Petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), anonymous funding through electoral bonds promotes corruption and violates the citizens right to have a corruption-free nation. It was contended that the identity of the donors could never be known to the public and referred to reservations raised by the Reserve Bank of India and Election Commission to the Scheme. During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners said, This promotes corruption as the source of funding is anonymous, it is violative of Article 21 and the 'non-decision' in the case compounding the problem. In one of the previous hearings in March, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave said that the same is an issue that goes to the core of our democratic existence and is serious. According to one of the petitioners, so far Rs 12,000 crore has been paid to political parties through electoral bonds and two-thirds of the amount has gone to one major political party. Two lawyers were appointed earlier including Neha Rathi, as nodal counsel for ensuring a smooth hearing of the PILs, saying they would coordinate to ensure that a common compilation of judgements and other records are filed. On January 31, this year, the top court had said the three sets of petitions on the electoral bonds scheme, bringing political parties within the ambit of the Right to Information Act and those challenging amendments in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act will be heard separately. The court also said that since the bonds were allowed to be released in 2018, 2019, and 2020 without interruption and there were sufficient safeguards, there was justification to not stay them at the moment. The court had said it would hear in the third week of March the pleas challenging the laws permitting the funding of political parties through the electoral bond scheme. Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency to political funding. Lawyer Bhushan has been seeking urgent listing of the PIL by the apex court and a direction to the Centre not to open any further window for the sale of electoral bonds during the pendency of a case pertaining to funding of political parties and alleged lack of transparency in their bank accounts. The NGO, which had filed the PIL on the issue of alleged corruption and subversion of democracy through illicit and foreign funding of political parties and lack of transparency in the bank accounts of all political parties, had moved an interim application in March 2021 before the assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam seeking the sale of electoral bonds should not be reopened. On January 20, 2020, the apex court refused to grant an interim stay on the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme and sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission to an interim application by the NGO seeking a stay on the scheme. The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme on January 2, 2018. According to the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. Only political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than one per cent of votes polled in the last general election to Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly of the state are eligible to receive electoral bonds. READ MORE | Electoral bonds have been a mixed bag (With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal's Sundarbans region has recorded the world's highest drowning mortality rate of 243 per lakh population among children in the age group of one to four in three years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study.

The study, which was conducted from 2016 to 2019, also found that the region has a mortality rate of 38.8 per lakh population among children aged between five and nine.

The study was conducted in 19 blocks - 13 in South 24 Parganas district and six in North 24 Parganas - of the region on incidents reported from October 2016 to September 2019. It was recently published.

"There was no difference in the mortality rates among boys and girls. Most children drowned in ponds within 50 metres of their homes when they were unaccompanied by their primary caretakers who were engaged in household work," it said.

The survey was carried out by non-governmental organisation Child in Need Institute (CINI), in partnership with global agencies Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and The George Institute (TGI) to gauge the enormity of the problem of drowning among children in the coastal Sundarbans region.

Sundarbans is a mangrove region in southeastern part of West Bengal and southwestern region of Bangladesh.

In the Indian part, Sundarbans is spread over 100 islands and has around 40 lakh inhabitants.

Of the total population, around 15.9 per cent are children aged between one and nine.

Many settlements are remote and far away from medical establishments.

Water level in the waterbodies of Sundarbans increase during monsoon, while the coastal region is also increasingly experiencing incidents of flooding over the last four to five years.

West Bengal's Sundarbans Affairs Minister Bankim Chandra Hazra acknowledged the problem of drowning of children and said that the state government is trying to address the issue.

"We have no hesitation in admitting that there have been incidents of deaths of children by drowning. However, we do not have a detailed report," Hazra told PTI.

According to the minister, the call of the hour is to raise the level of awareness among the residents of Sundarbans on drowning like they were informed about dengue, malaria or child marriage.

"Every year, we are losing several young lives due to drowning. People need to be informed in this regard to address this problem," Hazra added.

CINI's national advocacy officer Sujoy Roy said that the survey will help not only locals but also highlight the situation before policymakers.

"Drowning deaths, particularly among children, are heart-wrenching and entirely preventable. It is imperative that governments take heightened responsibility to protect our children from this silent peril. This study will help the local people as well as the government to understand how critical the situation is and realise the need to frame a policy in this regard," Roy said.

He said that the first-ever national seminar on drowning prevention was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram in September.

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KOLKATA: West Bengal's Sundarbans region has recorded the world's highest drowning mortality rate of 243 per lakh population among children in the age group of one to four in three years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study. The study, which was conducted from 2016 to 2019, also found that the region has a mortality rate of 38.8 per lakh population among children aged between five and nine. The study was conducted in 19 blocks - 13 in South 24 Parganas district and six in North 24 Parganas - of the region on incidents reported from October 2016 to September 2019. It was recently published.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "There was no difference in the mortality rates among boys and girls. Most children drowned in ponds within 50 metres of their homes when they were unaccompanied by their primary caretakers who were engaged in household work," it said. The survey was carried out by non-governmental organisation Child in Need Institute (CINI), in partnership with global agencies Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and The George Institute (TGI) to gauge the enormity of the problem of drowning among children in the coastal Sundarbans region. Sundarbans is a mangrove region in southeastern part of West Bengal and southwestern region of Bangladesh. In the Indian part, Sundarbans is spread over 100 islands and has around 40 lakh inhabitants. Of the total population, around 15.9 per cent are children aged between one and nine. Many settlements are remote and far away from medical establishments. Water level in the waterbodies of Sundarbans increase during monsoon, while the coastal region is also increasingly experiencing incidents of flooding over the last four to five years. West Bengal's Sundarbans Affairs Minister Bankim Chandra Hazra acknowledged the problem of drowning of children and said that the state government is trying to address the issue. "We have no hesitation in admitting that there have been incidents of deaths of children by drowning. However, we do not have a detailed report," Hazra told PTI. According to the minister, the call of the hour is to raise the level of awareness among the residents of Sundarbans on drowning like they were informed about dengue, malaria or child marriage. "Every year, we are losing several young lives due to drowning. People need to be informed in this regard to address this problem," Hazra added. CINI's national advocacy officer Sujoy Roy said that the survey will help not only locals but also highlight the situation before policymakers. "Drowning deaths, particularly among children, are heart-wrenching and entirely preventable. It is imperative that governments take heightened responsibility to protect our children from this silent peril. This study will help the local people as well as the government to understand how critical the situation is and realise the need to frame a policy in this regard," Roy said. He said that the first-ever national seminar on drowning prevention was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram in September. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthangas decision to provide shelter to over 50,000 fleeing Zo tribals from Manipur, Myanmar and Bangladesh may yield a rich political dividend for his Mizo National Front (MNF) in the November 7 state election.

The Election Commission of India announced the poll date on Monday, but the MNF started the groundwork two years ago when Chin refugees from Myanmar began fleeing to Mizoram in the face of a crackdown by the military in that country against pro-democracy forces.

Over 35,000 of them were given shelter. Next, some 2,000 Kuki-Chin tribals from Bangladesh crossed over while fleeing an armed conflict between Bangladesh Rapid Action Force and an ethnic insurgent group.

Despite the burden of such a large number of refugees, Mizoram embraced over 12,000 displaced Kukis from ethnic violence-hit Manipur. Zoramthanga, a former rebel leader-turned-politician, could realise that MNF could win the hearts of Mizos by providing warmth to these displaced tribals, who are divided by interstate and international borders. Mizo, Kuki, Zomi, Hmar, Chin and Kuki-Chin tribals are ethnic cousins, belonging to Zo community.

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GUWAHATI: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthangas decision to provide shelter to over 50,000 fleeing Zo tribals from Manipur, Myanmar and Bangladesh may yield a rich political dividend for his Mizo National Front (MNF) in the November 7 state election. The Election Commission of India announced the poll date on Monday, but the MNF started the groundwork two years ago when Chin refugees from Myanmar began fleeing to Mizoram in the face of a crackdown by the military in that country against pro-democracy forces. Over 35,000 of them were given shelter. Next, some 2,000 Kuki-Chin tribals from Bangladesh crossed over while fleeing an armed conflict between Bangladesh Rapid Action Force and an ethnic insurgent group.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Despite the burden of such a large number of refugees, Mizoram embraced over 12,000 displaced Kukis from ethnic violence-hit Manipur. Zoramthanga, a former rebel leader-turned-politician, could realise that MNF could win the hearts of Mizos by providing warmth to these displaced tribals, who are divided by interstate and international borders. Mizo, Kuki, Zomi, Hmar, Chin and Kuki-Chin tribals are ethnic cousins, belonging to Zo community. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
"We have seen a significant increase in the amount of solar in our service territory due to the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, and it will continue to grow with the implementation of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) over the next several years," said Scott Vogt, vice president of Strategy and Energy Policy at ComEd. "The clean energy transition is well underway, and ComEd is making the necessary investments to ensure continued reliability as additional clean energy resources like solar panels come onto our system."

More than 1,300 commercial and industrial customers have connected solar systems to the ComEd grid, representing an annual growth rate of 20%. Additionally, more than 900 megawatts (MW) of DER have been connected to the system, and ComEd expects that will increase to over 1,900 MW by 2025 and to more than 3,600 MW by 2030, or enough energy to power approximately 120,000 US homes for one year.

For customers with overly shady roofs or who rent or live in a multi-family dwelling, community solar may be a better option than private residential solar panels. Community solar participants subscribe to a large solar energy project owned by an independent developer and earn credits on their monthly ComEd bills for their portion of the electricity produced by the project. The first community solar project in Illinois was completed in 2019 and there are now 87 projects in service in the ComEd region, resulting in an 18% annual growth rate. By the end of this year, ComEd expects to have about 100 community solar projects on its system serving a total of 25,000 customers.

ComEd recently introduced new enhancements to its rooftop solar calculator to make it easier for customers to learn more about costs, benefits, and savings. The calculator also provides information on a rebate program that is newly available to residential customers through CEJA. It offers a rebate of $300 per kilowatt for an eligible distributed generation facility, such as rooftop solar, and a rebate of $300 per kilowatt hour for an associated energy storage device. Customers can compare their potential payback with and without incorporating the rebate, enabling them to see how it would impact their estimated payback period. Customers can print out their personalized solar energy system estimate for use when negotiating with solar contractors about the purchase and installation of solar panels. ComEd also has launched a new community solar calculator, which provides estimated savings based on a customer's current energy usage.

The rooftop and community solar calculators also provide information on customer assistance programs, including Illinois Solar for All, which helps customers who may qualify for more affordable solar installation or community solar subscriptions through state incentives. CEJA, which was enacted in 2021, increases funding for Illinois Solar for All from $30 million to $70 million annually.

In addition to solar resources, DER technologies also include assets that can help balance and control demand on the grid, such as battery storage and batteries in electric vehicles used to export power back to the grid.

The multi-year grid and rate plans ComEd filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission earlier this year outline the proposed investments required to support this rapid expansion of renewable energy and help ensure equitable access to the benefits of clean energy under CEJA. The plans align with ComEd 2030, the company's recently announced vision for a carbon-free energy future that will benefit all communities and meet customers' changing needs for the rest of this decade and beyond.

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 250 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers - the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Neena Gopal By

Where was Israels much-vaunted Iron Dome when Hamas went rogue on October 7? Who silenced the air raid sirens that had earlier unfailingly warned residents of the kibbutzim abutting the Gaza Strip and the highrises of Tel Aviv that they must head for underground shelters? Where were the mines that the Israeli forces had planted on the border to keep Palestinian militants from using the land route into Israel? Did Hamas unblock the underground tunnels that Israel claimed to have mapped down to the last bolt-hole?

The battering that Hamas handed to the hitherto-impregnable state of Israel on Saturdayeven attacking the militarys southern command headquartersbeggars belief.

Hamas militants tore through the so-called indefensible barrier between the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlements at eight points. They went in under the cover of 2,000 rockets, penetrated deeper on foot and, some say, on drones too. They fired from close range at young Israelis at a rave party in the desert over the holiday weekend, killing over 500 and taking another 100 hostage. The world is understandably awash with a wave of sympathy for the Jewish state.

The sheer brutality of the Hamas cadresdragging away hundreds of hapless residents, young and old, at gunpoint from their homes in Sderot and other kibbutzimis nothing short of reprehensible.

Israel has unleashed its wrath with a siege of Gaza and is preparing a full-on ground assault. Hamas, who had been given an inexplicable free run in Gaza at the expense of the moderate Fatah faction headed by Mahmoud Abbas, are now threatening to kill off one prisoner of war after another.

World leaders are standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel. Turkey and Qatar are offering to mediate. China is neutral for now and India is looking at the end of the India-Middle East-Europe trade corridor.

ALSO READ: 'India stands firmly with Israel': PM Modi tells Netanyahu in telephonic conversation

While the world sympathises with the Jewish people, the disastrous consequences of the Netanyahu governments duplicitous policy must be re-examinedhis ruinous disregard for the safety of Israeli citizens while foisting his own strategy of thwarting the founding of a Palestinian state.

Curious, too, is the question why Hamas chose this point in time to launch such a daring ground offensive. The groupfounded in 1987 by paraplegic Sheikh Yassin, whom Palestine Liberation Organisation founder Yasser Arafat openly called a creature of the Israelisnamed its offensive Operation Al Aqsa Flood. In doing so, it was clearly tapping into the anger of Palestinians in Gaza, from where Israel pulled out 9,000 settlers in 2005 to create a buffer zone that would keep a lid on 2.25 million Palestinians, and in the West Bank, where Israel has steadily expanded settlements.

Israeli forces have stomped on challenges to its writ, particularly in East Jerusalem, the capital of a future Palestinian state. This has pushed many in the West Bank to join a new militant group that calls itself the Lions Den. This group has violently opposed Netanyahus security minister Itamar Ben Gvirs repeated visits to the Temple Mount and the desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque by Israeli tourists. Hamas does not want to give the Lions Den an opportunity to lead the charge, say insiders.

The far more interesting debate centres on whether the Netanyahu government did indeed have a catastrophic intelligence failure, as some have claimed. Why did it ignore repeated warnings from the Egyptian government in the weeks before the attack? A Middle East analyst said that dismissing Cairos alerts was part of a plan that would allow Hamas to attack and give Netanyahu a credible excuse to drive the Palestinians out of Gaza and into Egypt.

There are others who say that Netanyahu was distracted, focused on limiting the judiciarys powers to ensure he could continue in office. He failed to take cognisance that the militant group had been openly training for armed combat this past year under the aegis of Iran. On the other side, the almost continuous street protests by thousands of young Israelis had led Hamas and Tehran to mistakenly conclude that Israel was vulnerable; more so as hundreds of reservists were refusing to join the army.

ALSO READ | The Canadistan conundrum: Whose hand is it anyway?

Irans involvement has also been put down to Tehrans inability to allow the rapprochement between its two arch-rivalsSaudi Arabia, the leader of Sunni Muslims, and its nemesis Israel. It would lead to a re-ordering of the Middle East that would greatly diminish Tehrans clout and edge it out of the power equation. Israels peace agreements with other Gulf states had already set off alarm bells in Tehran. Some reports suggest that Iran hosted a meeting in Beirut some weeks ago to co-opt Hamas alongside Hezbollah into launching the offensive.

Either way, the attack has spelt finis to the deal between Tel Aviv and Riyadh. The powerful, ambitious Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman can no longer be seen as brushing away the need for a just settlement for the Palestinian peoplebe it a one-state solution where Palestinians are given equal rights, or a two-state solution which gives Palestinians a homeland. A Palestine not enslaved and finally free.

As Israel scrambles into attack mode and rains punishment on the Palestinian residents of Gaza, the prospect of another Camp David-style peace accord seems distant. Israels vulnerable northern border with Syria and Lebanon is also seeing some military activity. These proxy wars must end. Netanyahu must be persuaded that he cannot carve out a Jewish homeland that stretches from the Euphrates to the Nile, as depicted in some maps displayed in the Knesset. The region cannot afford to be sucked into another long war.

Click here for all the earlier columns

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Where was Israels much-vaunted Iron Dome when Hamas went rogue on October 7? Who silenced the air raid sirens that had earlier unfailingly warned residents of the kibbutzim abutting the Gaza Strip and the highrises of Tel Aviv that they must head for underground shelters? Where were the mines that the Israeli forces had planted on the border to keep Palestinian militants from using the land route into Israel? Did Hamas unblock the underground tunnels that Israel claimed to have mapped down to the last bolt-hole? The battering that Hamas handed to the hitherto-impregnable state of Israel on Saturdayeven attacking the militarys southern command headquartersbeggars belief. Hamas militants tore through the so-called indefensible barrier between the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlements at eight points. They went in under the cover of 2,000 rockets, penetrated deeper on foot and, some say, on drones too. They fired from close range at young Israelis at a rave party in the desert over the holiday weekend, killing over 500 and taking another 100 hostage. The world is understandably awash with a wave of sympathy for the Jewish state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The sheer brutality of the Hamas cadresdragging away hundreds of hapless residents, young and old, at gunpoint from their homes in Sderot and other kibbutzimis nothing short of reprehensible. Israel has unleashed its wrath with a siege of Gaza and is preparing a full-on ground assault. Hamas, who had been given an inexplicable free run in Gaza at the expense of the moderate Fatah faction headed by Mahmoud Abbas, are now threatening to kill off one prisoner of war after another. World leaders are standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel. Turkey and Qatar are offering to mediate. China is neutral for now and India is looking at the end of the India-Middle East-Europe trade corridor. ALSO READ: 'India stands firmly with Israel': PM Modi tells Netanyahu in telephonic conversation While the world sympathises with the Jewish people, the disastrous consequences of the Netanyahu governments duplicitous policy must be re-examinedhis ruinous disregard for the safety of Israeli citizens while foisting his own strategy of thwarting the founding of a Palestinian state. Curious, too, is the question why Hamas chose this point in time to launch such a daring ground offensive. The groupfounded in 1987 by paraplegic Sheikh Yassin, whom Palestine Liberation Organisation founder Yasser Arafat openly called a creature of the Israelisnamed its offensive Operation Al Aqsa Flood. In doing so, it was clearly tapping into the anger of Palestinians in Gaza, from where Israel pulled out 9,000 settlers in 2005 to create a buffer zone that would keep a lid on 2.25 million Palestinians, and in the West Bank, where Israel has steadily expanded settlements. Israeli forces have stomped on challenges to its writ, particularly in East Jerusalem, the capital of a future Palestinian state. This has pushed many in the West Bank to join a new militant group that calls itself the Lions Den. This group has violently opposed Netanyahus security minister Itamar Ben Gvirs repeated visits to the Temple Mount and the desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque by Israeli tourists. Hamas does not want to give the Lions Den an opportunity to lead the charge, say insiders. The far more interesting debate centres on whether the Netanyahu government did indeed have a catastrophic intelligence failure, as some have claimed. Why did it ignore repeated warnings from the Egyptian government in the weeks before the attack? A Middle East analyst said that dismissing Cairos alerts was part of a plan that would allow Hamas to attack and give Netanyahu a credible excuse to drive the Palestinians out of Gaza and into Egypt. There are others who say that Netanyahu was distracted, focused on limiting the judiciarys powers to ensure he could continue in office. He failed to take cognisance that the militant group had been openly training for armed combat this past year under the aegis of Iran. On the other side, the almost continuous street protests by thousands of young Israelis had led Hamas and Tehran to mistakenly conclude that Israel was vulnerable; more so as hundreds of reservists were refusing to join the army. ALSO READ | The Canadistan conundrum: Whose hand is it anyway? Irans involvement has also been put down to Tehrans inability to allow the rapprochement between its two arch-rivalsSaudi Arabia, the leader of Sunni Muslims, and its nemesis Israel. It would lead to a re-ordering of the Middle East that would greatly diminish Tehrans clout and edge it out of the power equation. Israels peace agreements with other Gulf states had already set off alarm bells in Tehran. Some reports suggest that Iran hosted a meeting in Beirut some weeks ago to co-opt Hamas alongside Hezbollah into launching the offensive. Either way, the attack has spelt finis to the deal between Tel Aviv and Riyadh. The powerful, ambitious Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman can no longer be seen as brushing away the need for a just settlement for the Palestinian peoplebe it a one-state solution where Palestinians are given equal rights, or a two-state solution which gives Palestinians a homeland. A Palestine not enslaved and finally free. As Israel scrambles into attack mode and rains punishment on the Palestinian residents of Gaza, the prospect of another Camp David-style peace accord seems distant. Israels vulnerable northern border with Syria and Lebanon is also seeing some military activity. These proxy wars must end. Netanyahu must be persuaded that he cannot carve out a Jewish homeland that stretches from the Euphrates to the Nile, as depicted in some maps displayed in the Knesset. The region cannot afford to be sucked into another long war. Click here for all the earlier columns Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) General Secretary Nara Lokesh arrived at the CID office in Kunchanapalli of Guntur district on Tuesday to appear before the CID in relation to the alleged irregularities in the change of alignment of the Amaravati inner ring road.

It is alleged that there have been significant irregularities in the change of alignment of the inner ring road by the previous TDP government. Both Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh have been named as accused by the CID in this case. Lokesh has been identified as A14 in the case.

The agency claimed that the changes in the ring road alignment were made with the intention of benefiting the heritage company in which Lokesh is a partner.

Nara Lokesh was issued notice by the Andhra Pradesh CID on September 30, asking him to appear before the CID on October 4 in Andhra Pradeshs Guntur district for questioning his alleged involvement in the case. However, Lokesh challenged the same in the high court.

The High Court has allowed the CID to interrogate Lokesh in this case, but it has also suggested that certain rules should be followed during the investigation.

Lokesh would be questioned in the presence of his counsels till 5 p.m.

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VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) General Secretary Nara Lokesh arrived at the CID office in Kunchanapalli of Guntur district on Tuesday to appear before the CID in relation to the alleged irregularities in the change of alignment of the Amaravati inner ring road. It is alleged that there have been significant irregularities in the change of alignment of the inner ring road by the previous TDP government. Both Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh have been named as accused by the CID in this case. Lokesh has been identified as A14 in the case. The agency claimed that the changes in the ring road alignment were made with the intention of benefiting the heritage company in which Lokesh is a partner.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Nara Lokesh was issued notice by the Andhra Pradesh CID on September 30, asking him to appear before the CID on October 4 in Andhra Pradeshs Guntur district for questioning his alleged involvement in the case. However, Lokesh challenged the same in the high court. The High Court has allowed the CID to interrogate Lokesh in this case, but it has also suggested that certain rules should be followed during the investigation. Lokesh would be questioned in the presence of his counsels till 5 p.m. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Anu Kuruvilla By

Express News Service

KOCHI: As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, the nearly 7,000-strong Malayali diaspora in this region of West Asia is living in fear. Though they are all safe, the heavy shelling, especially in the towns bordering the Armistice Agreement Line, has the community worried.

The only casualty has been a young woman who sustained injuries after a shell fell near the house where she lives as a caregiver, said Soloman, a member of the Israeli Malayali Association. Unlike in the past, the current situation is serious, he said. Many of the new arrivals, who joined as caregivers, are finding it difficult to adjust to the war-like situation. The condition in the border towns such as Ashkelon and Beersheba is grim, he said.

According to Soloman, the shelling has been heavy along the border. The problem is that the buildings resonate not only because of the shells being fired from Gaza but also due to those sent from the Israeli side. If Hamas fires 40 shells, Israel replies with double that number, he added.

This conflict will drag on and may even escalate, says Betty Joseph, who has been working as a caregiver in Israel for the past five years.

In the past, shelling was restricted to the border. It used to be like fireworks during Christmas. However, this time Hamas fighters have infiltrated Israeli land. Though the Israeli army has managed to free many towns, there are some areas like Ashkelon where some fighters are holed up. The militants have been barging into houses and killing people irrespective of nationality, she added.

The Israeli government has directed everyone to stay indoors and not venture out. That is because of the presence of Hamas. Shoot-on-sight orders are in place, says Sonia Benny, who arrived in Israel nine months ago. Sonia lives in Ashkelon as a caregiver to a 67-year-old woman who suffers from dementia. Though the situation is grim, we are being taken care of by Israelis, she says.

Our safety has been given utmost importance. The reason why we come here to work is the good pay and the safe work environment that this country provides. We have never been discriminated against unlike in other places, Sonia adds.

On whether he would like to be repatriated, Soloman said, As of now, all flights have been grounded and the possibility of the airport being reopened in the near future seems distant.

According to Norka department, the state is in contact with the Malayali diaspora. We are in touch with the consulate and also the community associations. The diaspora is safe for now, said Norka. Only 500 members of the Malayali community are registered with Norka, while another 500 are members of associations. Others have been either recruited via agencies or landed jobs while working in Gulf countries, said the Norka official.

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KOCHI: As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, the nearly 7,000-strong Malayali diaspora in this region of West Asia is living in fear. Though they are all safe, the heavy shelling, especially in the towns bordering the Armistice Agreement Line, has the community worried. The only casualty has been a young woman who sustained injuries after a shell fell near the house where she lives as a caregiver, said Soloman, a member of the Israeli Malayali Association. Unlike in the past, the current situation is serious, he said. Many of the new arrivals, who joined as caregivers, are finding it difficult to adjust to the war-like situation. The condition in the border towns such as Ashkelon and Beersheba is grim, he said. According to Soloman, the shelling has been heavy along the border. The problem is that the buildings resonate not only because of the shells being fired from Gaza but also due to those sent from the Israeli side. If Hamas fires 40 shells, Israel replies with double that number, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This conflict will drag on and may even escalate, says Betty Joseph, who has been working as a caregiver in Israel for the past five years. In the past, shelling was restricted to the border. It used to be like fireworks during Christmas. However, this time Hamas fighters have infiltrated Israeli land. Though the Israeli army has managed to free many towns, there are some areas like Ashkelon where some fighters are holed up. The militants have been barging into houses and killing people irrespective of nationality, she added. The Israeli government has directed everyone to stay indoors and not venture out. That is because of the presence of Hamas. Shoot-on-sight orders are in place, says Sonia Benny, who arrived in Israel nine months ago. Sonia lives in Ashkelon as a caregiver to a 67-year-old woman who suffers from dementia. Though the situation is grim, we are being taken care of by Israelis, she says. Our safety has been given utmost importance. The reason why we come here to work is the good pay and the safe work environment that this country provides. We have never been discriminated against unlike in other places, Sonia adds. On whether he would like to be repatriated, Soloman said, As of now, all flights have been grounded and the possibility of the airport being reopened in the near future seems distant. According to Norka department, the state is in contact with the Malayali diaspora. We are in touch with the consulate and also the community associations. The diaspora is safe for now, said Norka. Only 500 members of the Malayali community are registered with Norka, while another 500 are members of associations. Others have been either recruited via agencies or landed jobs while working in Gulf countries, said the Norka official. Watch video Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Global Investors Meet 2024 to be hosted by the Tamil Nadu government on January 7 and 8 next has caught the attention of several nations, as, after Singapore and Australia which have already agreed to be partners, more countries from Europe and Southeast Asia have expressed their interest to be part of the event.

Several other countries have also expressed interest and we expect their announcements in the coming days. We are overwhelmed by the excitement and eagerness shown by representatives of various countries to partner with TN GIM 2024, Industries Minister TRB Rajaa told TNIE on Monday, without naming any country.

This year, we plan to focus not only on investment memorandum of understanding but also high-quality jobs and knowledge transfer. We want the event to be a meeting of the best minds of industry from across the world, to exchange ideas and explore opportunities. The government wants to showcase Tamil Nadu as Indias knowledge capital with a talent pool that is available nowhere else in the country. This will be the most important aspect of showcasing our investment potential, Rajaa said.

Several committees have been formed by the government for direct oversight from the chief ministers office. We are confident that all aspects of the event, like the venue and logistics, will be executed seamlessly and it will be unlike any event India has seen before, he said.

Interestingly, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green said his country will be a partner for GIM 2024. Entry into force of our free trade agreement, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement and growing Indian diaspora in Australia, means there has never been more economic potential between us. We see lots of scope to do more with Tamil Nadu in the fields of education and research, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and health, Green said.

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CHENNAI: Global Investors Meet 2024 to be hosted by the Tamil Nadu government on January 7 and 8 next has caught the attention of several nations, as, after Singapore and Australia which have already agreed to be partners, more countries from Europe and Southeast Asia have expressed their interest to be part of the event. Several other countries have also expressed interest and we expect their announcements in the coming days. We are overwhelmed by the excitement and eagerness shown by representatives of various countries to partner with TN GIM 2024, Industries Minister TRB Rajaa told TNIE on Monday, without naming any country. This year, we plan to focus not only on investment memorandum of understanding but also high-quality jobs and knowledge transfer. We want the event to be a meeting of the best minds of industry from across the world, to exchange ideas and explore opportunities. The government wants to showcase Tamil Nadu as Indias knowledge capital with a talent pool that is available nowhere else in the country. This will be the most important aspect of showcasing our investment potential, Rajaa said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Several committees have been formed by the government for direct oversight from the chief ministers office. We are confident that all aspects of the event, like the venue and logistics, will be executed seamlessly and it will be unlike any event India has seen before, he said. Interestingly, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green said his country will be a partner for GIM 2024. Entry into force of our free trade agreement, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement and growing Indian diaspora in Australia, means there has never been more economic potential between us. We see lots of scope to do more with Tamil Nadu in the fields of education and research, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and health, Green said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: As the conflict situation between Israel and Palestine escalates further, Indian students stranded in Israel have sought refuge in shelter homes. The central government and the Tamil Nadu government are separately collecting details of those stranded in Israel.

Minister for Minorities Welfare Gingee K S Masthan told TNIE, The state government is documenting details of every Tamil in Israel. We will do everything at our disposal to ensure their safety. Following the escalation of conflict in Israel, the state government has announced helpline numbers. According to sources, 32 people have approached the government so far through the helpline. A separate online form is provided by both the centre and the state government to collect details of those stranded in Israel.

READ HERE: Israeli military says about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found in Israel as border is secured

We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel. Tamils are safe as of now, but if the situation escalates we will coalesce with the central government to bring back our people safely, the minister said. When TNIE spoke with students stranded in Israel, they said they have managed to find safety in shelter homes nearby for the time being.

S Manoj from Sivaganga, who is currently pursuing PhD in Chemistry from Bar-Ilan University at Raman ghat, located 9 km from Tel Aviv, said, Whenever we hear a siren or a missile sound, we move to the shelter home. We are surviving on the ration bought a week ago.

A few parents who were on vacation are also stranded here. Even though our place is relatively safe, we are scared to move out and we might also run out of our rations and medicines in a few days. The minister further said, If the Tamils in Israel cannot reach the embassy officials, they can contact our 24*7 helpline. We will follow up and ensure that their needs are addressed.

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CHENNAI: As the conflict situation between Israel and Palestine escalates further, Indian students stranded in Israel have sought refuge in shelter homes. The central government and the Tamil Nadu government are separately collecting details of those stranded in Israel. Minister for Minorities Welfare Gingee K S Masthan told TNIE, The state government is documenting details of every Tamil in Israel. We will do everything at our disposal to ensure their safety. Following the escalation of conflict in Israel, the state government has announced helpline numbers. According to sources, 32 people have approached the government so far through the helpline. A separate online form is provided by both the centre and the state government to collect details of those stranded in Israel. READ HERE: Israeli military says about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found in Israel as border is securedgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel. Tamils are safe as of now, but if the situation escalates we will coalesce with the central government to bring back our people safely, the minister said. When TNIE spoke with students stranded in Israel, they said they have managed to find safety in shelter homes nearby for the time being. S Manoj from Sivaganga, who is currently pursuing PhD in Chemistry from Bar-Ilan University at Raman ghat, located 9 km from Tel Aviv, said, Whenever we hear a siren or a missile sound, we move to the shelter home. We are surviving on the ration bought a week ago. A few parents who were on vacation are also stranded here. Even though our place is relatively safe, we are scared to move out and we might also run out of our rations and medicines in a few days. The minister further said, If the Tamils in Israel cannot reach the embassy officials, they can contact our 24*7 helpline. We will follow up and ensure that their needs are addressed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Harsha Tallapragada By

Express News Service

A second-year postgraduate resident doctor of Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Science in Kulasekharam who died by suicide last Friday had blamed the harassment meted out by the Head of the Department (HoD) of Anesthesiology in her alleged suicide note.

Dr Sugirtha Sivakumar hailed from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Speaking to EdexLive, a friend of the deceased and a PG Resident at Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Dr Vimala, said, "It was on October 7, around 2 o'clock the police had broken her hostel door to find that she had passed away."

Suicide note

The police found a suicide note in the deceased's room. As per the suicide note, which EdexLive has access to, the PG resident took this step allegedly due to sexual harassment and physical and mental abuse she was subjected to.

Mentioning their names, the deceased expressed sorry to her "Appa" and left with her last "I LOVE YOU THE MOST" message.

Remembering her as a talented, hardworking and diligent woman, Dr Vimala told EdexLive, "It is heartbreaking that she didn't have a proper channel to voice her concerns."

The deceased MBBS student's first-year professor Dr Prathibha, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology, at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai recalled, "The last conversation I had with Sugirtha was on September 5 when she messaged me greeting Happy Teachers' Day."

"Sugirtha was a very lovely, gentle and soft-spoken student. She writes, doddles and has given me a handwritten note. In fact, I have framed her art which she gifted me earlier," the professor recalls. She left a mark and now nothing can be done as we have lost a lovely soul, she adds,

The professor shared that Dr Sugirtha's classmates had informed her that Sugirtha was handling an excessive workload of over 20 hours a day. "They said that her work was very tedious and tiring which was one of the reasons that did not allow her to be in touch with her friends."

"Speaking to me, her friends said she was a brave girl and has always advised everyone not to run away from problems. 'We should stay and fight for it'," shared the professor emotionally.

Similarly, Sugirtha's MBBS friends told EdexLive that she never shared anything that she was going through with anyone.

Support pours in

The Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) issued a statement saying, "We should feel Very sorry to lose Dr. SUGIRTHA. RIP DR.SUGIRTHA. Proper ENQUIRE should be made regarding this issue (sic)."

Further, the association also shared that earlier, they had already, "requested the Health Secretary to form a Medical Students Welfare Board to monitor mental health, sexual harassment, and regarding welfare of students. He assured that he would do it."

Stressing that they cannot lose another medical student or a postgraduate, they requested the government to take appropriate actions

Speaking to EdexLive, Dr M Keerthy Varman, President, TNMSA said, "Postgraduates are going through work stress already. Upon that, it's dangerous that female PGs have to also face toxicity. It's very important to safeguard the welfare of students, particularly female students."

"Education of females is like a great protest against the Indian society. So everyone should keep this in mind and it's every citizen's role to not harm others," he added stressing about the implementation of the medical students welfare board.

No helpline

Dr Vimala stresses that workplace harassment needs to be addressed in a separate forum. "Although tragic incidents like these make headlines, no action has been taken. And later it is the families and friends who still live with grief," she said.

"There are no clear guidelines or a person to reach out to during such incidents. Who do we have at the workplace, where can we go to voice out our concerns? Is there any help desk for us?" Dr Vimala vehemently questions.

A note with a message

As her friends and mentors said, Dr Sugirtha left the earth with a message on her note: "DEPRESSED PEOPLE CAN ALSO BE SEEN HAPPY. BE KIND. DON'T JUDGE. BE THERE FOR THEM."

(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu Health Departments helpline 104 and Sneha suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

(This story originally appeared on edexlive.com)

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A second-year postgraduate resident doctor of Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Science in Kulasekharam who died by suicide last Friday had blamed the harassment meted out by the Head of the Department (HoD) of Anesthesiology in her alleged suicide note. Dr Sugirtha Sivakumar hailed from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Speaking to EdexLive, a friend of the deceased and a PG Resident at Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Dr Vimala, said, "It was on October 7, around 2 o'clock the police had broken her hostel door to find that she had passed away." Suicide note The police found a suicide note in the deceased's room. As per the suicide note, which EdexLive has access to, the PG resident took this step allegedly due to sexual harassment and physical and mental abuse she was subjected to. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mentioning their names, the deceased expressed sorry to her "Appa" and left with her last "I LOVE YOU THE MOST" message. Remembering her as a talented, hardworking and diligent woman, Dr Vimala told EdexLive, "It is heartbreaking that she didn't have a proper channel to voice her concerns." The deceased MBBS student's first-year professor Dr Prathibha, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology, at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai recalled, "The last conversation I had with Sugirtha was on September 5 when she messaged me greeting Happy Teachers' Day." "Sugirtha was a very lovely, gentle and soft-spoken student. She writes, doddles and has given me a handwritten note. In fact, I have framed her art which she gifted me earlier," the professor recalls. She left a mark and now nothing can be done as we have lost a lovely soul, she adds, The professor shared that Dr Sugirtha's classmates had informed her that Sugirtha was handling an excessive workload of over 20 hours a day. "They said that her work was very tedious and tiring which was one of the reasons that did not allow her to be in touch with her friends." "Speaking to me, her friends said she was a brave girl and has always advised everyone not to run away from problems. 'We should stay and fight for it'," shared the professor emotionally. Similarly, Sugirtha's MBBS friends told EdexLive that she never shared anything that she was going through with anyone. Support pours in The Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) issued a statement saying, "We should feel Very sorry to lose Dr. SUGIRTHA. RIP DR.SUGIRTHA. Proper ENQUIRE should be made regarding this issue (sic)." Further, the association also shared that earlier, they had already, "requested the Health Secretary to form a Medical Students Welfare Board to monitor mental health, sexual harassment, and regarding welfare of students. He assured that he would do it." Stressing that they cannot lose another medical student or a postgraduate, they requested the government to take appropriate actions Speaking to EdexLive, Dr M Keerthy Varman, President, TNMSA said, "Postgraduates are going through work stress already. Upon that, it's dangerous that female PGs have to also face toxicity. It's very important to safeguard the welfare of students, particularly female students." "Education of females is like a great protest against the Indian society. So everyone should keep this in mind and it's every citizen's role to not harm others," he added stressing about the implementation of the medical students welfare board. No helpline Dr Vimala stresses that workplace harassment needs to be addressed in a separate forum. "Although tragic incidents like these make headlines, no action has been taken. And later it is the families and friends who still live with grief," she said. "There are no clear guidelines or a person to reach out to during such incidents. Who do we have at the workplace, where can we go to voice out our concerns? Is there any help desk for us?" Dr Vimala vehemently questions. A note with a message As her friends and mentors said, Dr Sugirtha left the earth with a message on her note: "DEPRESSED PEOPLE CAN ALSO BE SEEN HAPPY. BE KIND. DON'T JUDGE. BE THERE FOR THEM." (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu Health Departments helpline 104 and Sneha suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050) (This story originally appeared on edexlive.com) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Online Desk

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih. The airstrike occurred close to an area housing several media offices.

Meanwhile, three Palestinian journalists were reportedly shot and killed while reporting in Gaza on Saturday. Committee to Protect Journalists, citing Palestinian press freedom groups, identified two of them as photographer Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and reporter Mohammad Jarghoun.

CPJ also said that reports confirmed that freelance reporter Mohammad El-Salhi was shot dead in the central Gaza Strip.

Lafi worked for Ain Media, and Jarghoun reported for Smart Media, CPJ said.

In addition, Ibrahim Qanan, a correspondent for Al-Ghad channel, sustained injuries due to shrapnel in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, CPJ said, quoting Palestinian press freedom groups.

Two Palestinian photographers, Nidal Al-Wahidi from the Al-Najah channel and Haitham Abdelwahid from the Ain Media agency have also been reported missing since Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday declared that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started.

Israel formally declared war on Sunday. The hostilities so far have killed around 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, according to authorities on each side.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around Al-Aqsa Mosque, a holy site in Jerusalem. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive.

Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes  the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000

New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions.

The elusive leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, announced the beginning of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

The Al-Aqsa mosque situated on a hill is considered as the third holiest by Muslims, after Mecca and Medina.

Enough is enough, he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians to join the fight. He said Hamas had fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

The launches came after weeks of heightened tensions along Israel's volatile border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas, an Islamic militant group that opposes Israel, seized control of the territory in 2007.

(With inputs from AP)

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An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih. The airstrike occurred close to an area housing several media offices. Meanwhile, three Palestinian journalists were reportedly shot and killed while reporting in Gaza on Saturday. Committee to Protect Journalists, citing Palestinian press freedom groups, identified two of them as photographer Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and reporter Mohammad Jarghoun.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); CPJ also said that reports confirmed that freelance reporter Mohammad El-Salhi was shot dead in the central Gaza Strip. Lafi worked for Ain Media, and Jarghoun reported for Smart Media, CPJ said. In addition, Ibrahim Qanan, a correspondent for Al-Ghad channel, sustained injuries due to shrapnel in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, CPJ said, quoting Palestinian press freedom groups. Two Palestinian photographers, Nidal Al-Wahidi from the Al-Najah channel and Haitham Abdelwahid from the Ain Media agency have also been reported missing since Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday declared that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started. Israel formally declared war on Sunday. The hostilities so far have killed around 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, according to authorities on each side. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around Al-Aqsa Mosque, a holy site in Jerusalem. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes  the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000 New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. The elusive leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, announced the beginning of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. The Al-Aqsa mosque situated on a hill is considered as the third holiest by Muslims, after Mecca and Medina. Enough is enough, he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians to join the fight. He said Hamas had fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel. The launches came after weeks of heightened tensions along Israel's volatile border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas, an Islamic militant group that opposes Israel, seized control of the territory in 2007. (With inputs from AP) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

JERUSALEM: Israel kept up its deadly bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza Tuesday after the Palestinian militant group threatened to execute some of the around 150 hostages it abducted in a weekend assault if air strikes continue without warning.

Israel already imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, and sparking fears of that an already dire humanitarian situation will swiftly deteriorate.

Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault, likening it to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

As the Israeli military activated 300,000 reservists in a massive mobilization, a major question was whether it would launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014.

The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.

We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gazas City Rimal densely populated neighborhood, an upscale district of Gaza City that's home to Hamas ministries, as well as universities, media organizations and the offices of aid organizations.

After hours of nonstop strikes overnight, some Rimal residents left their homes at daybreak to find some buildings torn in half by strikes, while others were reduced to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out in moonscapes that had been residential streets.

The death toll rose to more than 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll there to 687.

The Israeli army said Tuesday it had "more or less restored control" over the Gaza border after Saturday's mass breach by Palestinian gunmen.

It said it had recovered the bodies of around 1,500 Hamas militants inside Israel, confirming the scale of Saturday's assault.

It said it had "nearly completed" the evacuation of Israeli communities around the border.

Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday as explosions sounded and sirens wailed.

Hamas said Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of its hostages.

It later said it could start killing them itself.

"Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages," Hamas armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.

In a televised speech late Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and said Israel planned to deploy "unprecedented force".

"Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS," Netanyahu said.

He also vowed to "strengthen other fronts in the north against Hezbollah", where militants and Israeli forces exchanged fire for a second day.

Hamas launched more rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its "Swords of Iron" campaign..

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a "complete siege" on the long-blockaded enclave of 2.3 million people: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed."

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply distressed" by the siege announcement, and warned Gaza's already dire humanitarian situation will now "only deteriorate exponentially".

Palestinians in the coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages.

Lebanon border clash

Middle East tensions have spiked as Israel's arch-enemy Iran praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran denied any direct role in the military operation.

Hamas has called on "resistance fighters" in the West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join what it has dubbed "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood".

"The military operation is still continuing," Hossam Badran, a Hamas official, told AFP from Doha, adding that "there is currently no chance for negotiation on the issue of prisoners or anything else".

Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge, has been shaken to the core by the surprise Hamas strike, and now faces the threat of a multi-front war.

On Monday, the Israeli army said its soldiers had "killed a number of armed suspects" who had crossed the border from Lebanon and that Israeli helicopters were striking targets in the area.

The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad later claimed responsibility for the thwarted infiltration from Lebanon to Israel.

Iran-backed Hezbollah said Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed three of its members, prompting the movement to retaliate against two Israeli barracks "using guided missiles and mortar shells that hit them directly".

It was the second day of an exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which on Sunday said its strikes were "in solidarity" with the Hamas attacks.

"We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict," a senior US defence official said.

Washington, which moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support, has said it has no plans to put US boots on the ground but is working with its ally on hostage recovery efforts.

'Unbearable'

Hamas's attack penetrated the Gaza border fence -- long deemed impregnable and guarded by surveillance cameras, drones, patrols and watchtowers.

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, while other revellers were feared to be among the captives taken into Gaza.

Israeli soldier Ephraim Mordechayev told AFP he witnessed Hamas attackers firing RPG missiles into the crowd.

"Imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses or tanks, fired on a group of 20 civilians," he said.

Inside Gaza, air strikes wrought widespread destruction in the Jabalia refugee camp, where charred bodies were pulled from the rubble and relatives wailed in grief.

Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in the fighting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday, with two photographers also reported missing since Saturday.

Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007, leading to four previous wars with Israel.

Israeli strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, a large mosque and the territory's main bank building.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said it was sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across Gaza.

"The situation is unbearable," Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, said from a classroom with her terrified pupils.

In the West Bank, protesting Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces, leaving 15 Palestinians dead since Saturday.

ALSO READ: Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, over 1,100 dead in fighting

Global shock waves

The spiralling conflict has been felt globally, with oil prices surging on fears of tightening supplies.

US energy firm Chevron said it suspended operations at a natural gas platform off Israel's coast at the request of authorities.

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in a phone call that the Gulf kingdom was working to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region, state media said early Tuesday.

The European Commission said it was reviewing its development aid to the Palestinians, but clarified that no support had yet been suspended. Britain said it was undertaking a similar review.

The United States and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist group.

ALSO READ: Hamas threatens to kill Israel hostages over Gaza strikes

Analysts said the unprecedented nature of the Hamas assault could make any diplomatic efforts fruitless for now.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among those trying, nonetheless. He held an urgent round of telephone diplomacy on Monday.

Erdogan warned Israel against "indiscriminately" attacking civilians and also delivered measured criticism of Hamas, urging both sides to respect the "ethics" of war.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

JERUSALEM: Israel kept up its deadly bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza Tuesday after the Palestinian militant group threatened to execute some of the around 150 hostages it abducted in a weekend assault if air strikes continue without warning. Israel already imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, and sparking fears of that an already dire humanitarian situation will swiftly deteriorate. Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault, likening it to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As the Israeli military activated 300,000 reservists in a massive mobilization, a major question was whether it would launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of Hamas targets in Gazas City Rimal densely populated neighborhood, an upscale district of Gaza City that's home to Hamas ministries, as well as universities, media organizations and the offices of aid organizations. After hours of nonstop strikes overnight, some Rimal residents left their homes at daybreak to find some buildings torn in half by strikes, while others were reduced to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out in moonscapes that had been residential streets. The death toll rose to more than 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll there to 687. The Israeli army said Tuesday it had "more or less restored control" over the Gaza border after Saturday's mass breach by Palestinian gunmen. It said it had recovered the bodies of around 1,500 Hamas militants inside Israel, confirming the scale of Saturday's assault. It said it had "nearly completed" the evacuation of Israeli communities around the border. Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday as explosions sounded and sirens wailed. Hamas said Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of its hostages. It later said it could start killing them itself. "Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages," Hamas armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement. In a televised speech late Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and said Israel planned to deploy "unprecedented force". "Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS," Netanyahu said. He also vowed to "strengthen other fronts in the north against Hezbollah", where militants and Israeli forces exchanged fire for a second day. Hamas launched more rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared. Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its "Swords of Iron" campaign.. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a "complete siege" on the long-blockaded enclave of 2.3 million people: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed." United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply distressed" by the siege announcement, and warned Gaza's already dire humanitarian situation will now "only deteriorate exponentially". Palestinians in the coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages. Lebanon border clash Middle East tensions have spiked as Israel's arch-enemy Iran praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran denied any direct role in the military operation. Hamas has called on "resistance fighters" in the West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join what it has dubbed "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". "The military operation is still continuing," Hossam Badran, a Hamas official, told AFP from Doha, adding that "there is currently no chance for negotiation on the issue of prisoners or anything else". Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge, has been shaken to the core by the surprise Hamas strike, and now faces the threat of a multi-front war. On Monday, the Israeli army said its soldiers had "killed a number of armed suspects" who had crossed the border from Lebanon and that Israeli helicopters were striking targets in the area. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad later claimed responsibility for the thwarted infiltration from Lebanon to Israel. Iran-backed Hezbollah said Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed three of its members, prompting the movement to retaliate against two Israeli barracks "using guided missiles and mortar shells that hit them directly". It was the second day of an exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which on Sunday said its strikes were "in solidarity" with the Hamas attacks. "We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict," a senior US defence official said. Washington, which moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support, has said it has no plans to put US boots on the ground but is working with its ally on hostage recovery efforts. 'Unbearable' Hamas's attack penetrated the Gaza border fence -- long deemed impregnable and guarded by surveillance cameras, drones, patrols and watchtowers. More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, while other revellers were feared to be among the captives taken into Gaza. Israeli soldier Ephraim Mordechayev told AFP he witnessed Hamas attackers firing RPG missiles into the crowd. "Imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses or tanks, fired on a group of 20 civilians," he said. Inside Gaza, air strikes wrought widespread destruction in the Jabalia refugee camp, where charred bodies were pulled from the rubble and relatives wailed in grief. Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in the fighting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday, with two photographers also reported missing since Saturday. Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007, leading to four previous wars with Israel. Israeli strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, a large mosque and the territory's main bank building. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said it was sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across Gaza. "The situation is unbearable," Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, said from a classroom with her terrified pupils. In the West Bank, protesting Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces, leaving 15 Palestinians dead since Saturday. ALSO READ: Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, over 1,100 dead in fighting Global shock waves The spiralling conflict has been felt globally, with oil prices surging on fears of tightening supplies. US energy firm Chevron said it suspended operations at a natural gas platform off Israel's coast at the request of authorities. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in a phone call that the Gulf kingdom was working to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region, state media said early Tuesday. The European Commission said it was reviewing its development aid to the Palestinians, but clarified that no support had yet been suspended. Britain said it was undertaking a similar review. The United States and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist group. ALSO READ: Hamas threatens to kill Israel hostages over Gaza strikes Analysts said the unprecedented nature of the Hamas assault could make any diplomatic efforts fruitless for now. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among those trying, nonetheless. He held an urgent round of telephone diplomacy on Monday. Erdogan warned Israel against "indiscriminately" attacking civilians and also delivered measured criticism of Hamas, urging both sides to respect the "ethics" of war. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

JERUSALEM: Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas militants as the war's death toll passed 3,000 on Tuesday, the fourth day of fierce fighting since the Islamists launched a surprise attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel's military campaign following Saturday's onslaught was only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and "change the Middle East".

Fears of a regional conflagration have surged amid expectations of a looming Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the country's 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far, and Israel's army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.

Hamas gunmen killed more than 100 people in the kibbutz of Beeri alone, said Moti Bukjin, a volunteer with the charity Zaka that recovers bodies in accordance with Jewish law.

ALSO READ: Hamas threatens Ashkelon with major rocket attack as Israel-Gaza conflict grows intense

Netanyahu compared the large-scale slaughter of Israeli civilians to the atrocities committed by the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, when they controlled vast swathes of Syria and Iraq.

"Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children," a seething Netanyahu said in a televised address to the grieving nation late Monday. "They are savages. Hamas is ISIS."

The veteran leader at the helm of Israel's hard-right coalition also called for an "emergency government of national unity" after his administration's proposal for judicial reforms split the nation and even its military this year.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, began its operation saying it aimed to "end all the crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over."

The Israeli army has called up 300,000 reservists for its "Swords of Iron" campaign and massed tanks and other heavy armour both near Gaza and on the northern border with Lebanon where exchanges of fire continued.

The military said its forces had largely reclaimed the embattled south and the border around Gaza and dislodged holdout Hamas fighters from more than a dozen towns and kibbutzim.

"Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas (fighters) have been found in Israel around the Gaza Strip," said army spokesman Richard Hecht, adding security forces had "more or less restored control over the border" with the enclave.

Threat to kill hostages

Key ally the United States -- which reported 11 of its own citizens killed, and more missing -- said it was taking seriously Hamas threats to execute hostages.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were to speak with Netanyahu Tuesday morning.

European Union foreign ministers were to hold an emergency meeting. Ahead of their talks, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control in the West Bank, to "distance yourself from this terror," after the Hamas assault.

Western powers and many other nations have reported citizens killed, abducted or missing. These include: Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Ukraine.

Hamas has held around 150 hostages since its ground incursion, among them children, elderly and young people who were captured at a music festival where some 270 died.

On Monday, Hamas warned it would start killing hostages every time Israel launches a strike on a civilian target in Gaza without warning.

Fear and chaos reigned among the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the crowded and impoverished coastal territory that has been hammered by thousands of Israeli bombs.

Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City before dawn Tuesday as explosions shook the ground and sirens wailed.

A distraught man was seen carrying the shrouded body of a child in Khan Yunis, in the south of the enclave, where other remains were piled onto the back of pickup trucks.

There were similar scenes in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza, where Israeli soldiers carried away the dead in black body bags.

The tension was felt on the deserted streets of Jerusalem, after it was targeted by Hamas rocket fire.

"Israeli people they are scared of the Arabs and the Arabs are scared of the Jews... everybody is scared of each other," said Ahmed Karkash, a shop-owner in the Old City.

In Gaza City, aerial footage shot by AFP showed the scale of the destruction, with entire building blocks reduced to rubble.

One resident, Muhammad Najib, 70, said he fled his home Monday after receiving an Israeli warning to evacuate and returned on Tuesday to a "terrifying scene" in his Al-Rimal neighbourhood.

"The entire area was devastated, a large number of houses were completely destroyed," he said. "What is the fault of the children and the women?"

Four Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli air strikes on Gaza City, media unions and officials said.

Israel imposed a total siege on long-blockaded Gaza on Monday, cutting off the water supply, food, electricity and other essential supplies.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Tuesday that imposing "sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law".

'ISIS-level savagery'

The United Nations said more than 187,500 people had been displaced inside the Gaza Strip, with most taking shelter in UN schools.

Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault that began with thousands of rockets, likening it to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

In the aftermath, soldiers who were on guard duty along the hi-tech security barrier around the Gaza Strip have recounted how the massive attack began with an effort to cripple observation cameras and communications.

"They took us by surprise and we weren't ready for it... and (there was) no intelligence at all," a lookout soldier said in testimony posted on Instagram.

Washington has pledged to send more munitions and military equipment to back Israel. It deployed an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean, amid fears of a wider war.

The White House said there was no intention to put US boots on the ground, while also condemning the "ISIS-level savagery" of the Hamas attack.

READ MORE: Who are Hamas, the militant group that invaded Israel over the weekend?

Israel faced the threat of a multi-front war after two days of clashes on the northern border with Lebanon with militants from the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

Mourners in the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm carried two caskets, draped in yellow Hezbollah flags, with the bodies of two fighters it said were killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier. A third fighter was also killed, the Iran-backed group said.

On Tuesday, a fresh salvo of rockets was fired from south Lebanon towards Israel, Lebanese state media said. Israel retaliated with artillery fire, its army said.

"It's like a state of war," said Yaakov Regev, sipping coffee at a petrol station in northern Israel, a few kilometres from the Lebanon border.

Unrest has also surged in the occupied West Bank, where 15 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday.

Iran -- which is openly committed to Israel's destruction -- has praised the surprise attack by Hamas but repeatedly denied playing any role in it.

Global powers and regional governments including Egypt, Turkey and Gulf states have engaged in frantic diplomacy seeking to prevent any further escalation.

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that the kingdom was working to ensure the conflict does not spread across the region, state media said.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

JERUSALEM: Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas militants as the war's death toll passed 3,000 on Tuesday, the fourth day of fierce fighting since the Islamists launched a surprise attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel's military campaign following Saturday's onslaught was only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and "change the Middle East". Fears of a regional conflagration have surged amid expectations of a looming Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on the Jewish Sabbath.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the country's 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far, and Israel's army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found. Hamas gunmen killed more than 100 people in the kibbutz of Beeri alone, said Moti Bukjin, a volunteer with the charity Zaka that recovers bodies in accordance with Jewish law. ALSO READ: Hamas threatens Ashkelon with major rocket attack as Israel-Gaza conflict grows intense Netanyahu compared the large-scale slaughter of Israeli civilians to the atrocities committed by the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, when they controlled vast swathes of Syria and Iraq. "Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children," a seething Netanyahu said in a televised address to the grieving nation late Monday. "They are savages. Hamas is ISIS." The veteran leader at the helm of Israel's hard-right coalition also called for an "emergency government of national unity" after his administration's proposal for judicial reforms split the nation and even its military this year. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, began its operation saying it aimed to "end all the crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over." The Israeli army has called up 300,000 reservists for its "Swords of Iron" campaign and massed tanks and other heavy armour both near Gaza and on the northern border with Lebanon where exchanges of fire continued. The military said its forces had largely reclaimed the embattled south and the border around Gaza and dislodged holdout Hamas fighters from more than a dozen towns and kibbutzim. "Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas (fighters) have been found in Israel around the Gaza Strip," said army spokesman Richard Hecht, adding security forces had "more or less restored control over the border" with the enclave. Threat to kill hostages Key ally the United States -- which reported 11 of its own citizens killed, and more missing -- said it was taking seriously Hamas threats to execute hostages. The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were to speak with Netanyahu Tuesday morning. European Union foreign ministers were to hold an emergency meeting. Ahead of their talks, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control in the West Bank, to "distance yourself from this terror," after the Hamas assault. Western powers and many other nations have reported citizens killed, abducted or missing. These include: Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Ukraine. Hamas has held around 150 hostages since its ground incursion, among them children, elderly and young people who were captured at a music festival where some 270 died. On Monday, Hamas warned it would start killing hostages every time Israel launches a strike on a civilian target in Gaza without warning. Fear and chaos reigned among the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the crowded and impoverished coastal territory that has been hammered by thousands of Israeli bombs. Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City before dawn Tuesday as explosions shook the ground and sirens wailed. A distraught man was seen carrying the shrouded body of a child in Khan Yunis, in the south of the enclave, where other remains were piled onto the back of pickup trucks. There were similar scenes in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza, where Israeli soldiers carried away the dead in black body bags. The tension was felt on the deserted streets of Jerusalem, after it was targeted by Hamas rocket fire. "Israeli people they are scared of the Arabs and the Arabs are scared of the Jews... everybody is scared of each other," said Ahmed Karkash, a shop-owner in the Old City. In Gaza City, aerial footage shot by AFP showed the scale of the destruction, with entire building blocks reduced to rubble. One resident, Muhammad Najib, 70, said he fled his home Monday after receiving an Israeli warning to evacuate and returned on Tuesday to a "terrifying scene" in his Al-Rimal neighbourhood. "The entire area was devastated, a large number of houses were completely destroyed," he said. "What is the fault of the children and the women?" Four Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli air strikes on Gaza City, media unions and officials said. Israel imposed a total siege on long-blockaded Gaza on Monday, cutting off the water supply, food, electricity and other essential supplies. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Tuesday that imposing "sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law". 'ISIS-level savagery' The United Nations said more than 187,500 people had been displaced inside the Gaza Strip, with most taking shelter in UN schools. Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented ground, air and sea assault that began with thousands of rockets, likening it to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. In the aftermath, soldiers who were on guard duty along the hi-tech security barrier around the Gaza Strip have recounted how the massive attack began with an effort to cripple observation cameras and communications. "They took us by surprise and we weren't ready for it... and (there was) no intelligence at all," a lookout soldier said in testimony posted on Instagram. Washington has pledged to send more munitions and military equipment to back Israel. It deployed an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean, amid fears of a wider war. The White House said there was no intention to put US boots on the ground, while also condemning the "ISIS-level savagery" of the Hamas attack. READ MORE: Who are Hamas, the militant group that invaded Israel over the weekend? Israel faced the threat of a multi-front war after two days of clashes on the northern border with Lebanon with militants from the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Mourners in the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm carried two caskets, draped in yellow Hezbollah flags, with the bodies of two fighters it said were killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier. A third fighter was also killed, the Iran-backed group said. On Tuesday, a fresh salvo of rockets was fired from south Lebanon towards Israel, Lebanese state media said. Israel retaliated with artillery fire, its army said. "It's like a state of war," said Yaakov Regev, sipping coffee at a petrol station in northern Israel, a few kilometres from the Lebanon border. Unrest has also surged in the occupied West Bank, where 15 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday. Iran -- which is openly committed to Israel's destruction -- has praised the surprise attack by Hamas but repeatedly denied playing any role in it. Global powers and regional governments including Egypt, Turkey and Gulf states have engaged in frantic diplomacy seeking to prevent any further escalation. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that the kingdom was working to ensure the conflict does not spread across the region, state media said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started.

Netanyahu delivered the pronouncement in a nationally televised address as Israel pressed ahead with a third day of heavy airstrikes in Gaza following Hamas' unprecedented and deadly incursion into Israel.

We have only started striking Hamas, he said. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

Israel formally declared war on Sunday. The hostilities so far have killed around 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, according to authorities on each side.

Airstrike in Gaza City kills two Palestinian journalists

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih. The airstrike occurred close to an area housing several media offices.

Three Palestinian journalists reportedly were shot and killed while reporting in Gaza on Saturday. The Committee to Protect Journalists, citing Palestinian press freedom groups, identified two of them as photographer Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and reporter Mohammad Jarghoun. CPJ said it confirmed that freelance reporter Mohammad El-Salhi also was killed. Lafi worked for Ain Media, and Jarghoun reported for Smart Media, CPJ said.

Israel says Deputy Commander killed in clashes on border with Lebanon

Israels military said early Tuesday that a deputy Israeli commander was killed in clashes on the northern border with Lebanon. The military identified the deputy commander as Alim Abdallah but did not specify the exact circumstances of his death.

Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border.

The number of those displaced in Gaza surpasses 187,000, U.N. office says

As retaliatory Israeli airstrikes continue, more than 187,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to a report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is hosting more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. The report says airstrikes have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330 in the territory of 2.3 million people.

OCHA said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has disrupted service for more than 400,000 people.

Israel strikes two tunnels used by Hamas militants

The Israeli military said early Tuesday that it struck two tunnels used by Hamas militants to enter Israeli territory.

READ MORE | Grim prospects if Israel launches ground assault on Gaza

The news came a day after 70 militants infiltrated the Be'eri kibbutz Monday night. The small farming community has been a flashpoint of the conflict  the scene of a hostage standoff during the attack. Authorities did not immediately provide more information on the location of the tunnels.

The militant group has used tunnels in the past. It has an established network running from Gaza to Egypt to smuggle in weapons, as well as attack tunnels burrowing into Israel.

At least 11 US citizens killed, Biden confirms

At least 11 U.S. citizens have been confirmed dead in the surprise Hamas attacks, U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday.

Biden also said the U.S. government believes it is likely that Americans are among those currently being held hostage by Hamas militants, while other U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for after the deadly assault.

My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days, Biden said in a statement. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.

He stressed that the State Department is offering assistance for U.S. citizens who are currently in Israel, and air and ground options to leave the country are still available for those who choose to do so. He also said federal law enforcement officials are closely monitoring potential domestic threats stemming from the weekend attacks.

READ MORE | Israeli and Palestinian supporters rally across US as Israel declares war after Hamas attack

British PM at Synagogue to support Israel

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined a large crowd gathered for prayer at a London synagogue on Monday to underline his solidarity with Israel.

Addressing the congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London, Sunak condemned Hamas' bloody incursion into Israel on Saturday as evil.

There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel, he said. The United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always.

He also sought to assure Britains Jewish community that he would do everything to protect them amid concerns about the rise of antisemitism.

European Union reserves suspension of aid to Palestinian authorities

The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas.

There will be no suspension of payments at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be immediately suspended.

More than 680 people killed in Gaza, Health minister says

The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said Monday that more than 680 people have been killed in Israels retaliatory strikes following an unprecedented Hamas attack. The ministry said more than 3,700 people have been wounded.

READ MORE | 'No electricity, no food, no water': Israel imposes total siege on 2.3 million people in Gaza

UN says efforts are underway to prevent conflict from spreading

The United Nations says intense diplomatic activity is taking place aimed at ensuring that regional and international leaders are on the same page in trying to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Monday that he and U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland are engaging with key parties in the region.

Guterres has spoken to Israels president and Jordans king and expects to talk to the Palestinian president, Israels prime minister, Egypts president and Lebanons prime minister, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Wonderland has been in touch with his counterparts from the United States, European Union, Qatar, Lebanon and others.

Hamas wing warns that Israeli strikes will bring hostage deaths

The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has warned that it will kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel's military bombs civilian targets in the Gaza Strip without warning.

Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said in an audio released Monday night that the threat was a response to intense air strikes by Israel on civilian areas.

We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding, he said.

In a video statement Monday, Israels foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza. Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home in the spirit of mutual responsibility.

We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. This war crime will not be forgiven, he added.

READ MORE | Senseless Hamas massacre harms its cause in Israel

Turkey's leader holds calls with Palestinian and Israeli presidents

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held back-to-back telephone calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to Erdogans press office.

Erdogan and Abbas discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. President Erdogan stated that Turkey is making every effort to end the conflicts in the region and ensure calm as soon as possible, a statement from his press office said.

Arab League scheduled meeting at the request of Palestinians

Arab foreign ministers plan to convene Wednesday in Cairo for a meeting on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.

Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The meeting was called by the Palestinians.

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JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started. Netanyahu delivered the pronouncement in a nationally televised address as Israel pressed ahead with a third day of heavy airstrikes in Gaza following Hamas' unprecedented and deadly incursion into Israel. We have only started striking Hamas, he said. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Israel formally declared war on Sunday. The hostilities so far have killed around 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, according to authorities on each side. Airstrike in Gaza City kills two Palestinian journalists An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih. The airstrike occurred close to an area housing several media offices. Three Palestinian journalists reportedly were shot and killed while reporting in Gaza on Saturday. The Committee to Protect Journalists, citing Palestinian press freedom groups, identified two of them as photographer Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and reporter Mohammad Jarghoun. CPJ said it confirmed that freelance reporter Mohammad El-Salhi also was killed. Lafi worked for Ain Media, and Jarghoun reported for Smart Media, CPJ said. Israel says Deputy Commander killed in clashes on border with Lebanon Israels military said early Tuesday that a deputy Israeli commander was killed in clashes on the northern border with Lebanon. The military identified the deputy commander as Alim Abdallah but did not specify the exact circumstances of his death. Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border. The number of those displaced in Gaza surpasses 187,000, U.N. office says As retaliatory Israeli airstrikes continue, more than 187,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to a report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is hosting more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. The report says airstrikes have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330 in the territory of 2.3 million people. OCHA said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has disrupted service for more than 400,000 people. Israel strikes two tunnels used by Hamas militants The Israeli military said early Tuesday that it struck two tunnels used by Hamas militants to enter Israeli territory. READ MORE | Grim prospects if Israel launches ground assault on Gaza The news came a day after 70 militants infiltrated the Be'eri kibbutz Monday night. The small farming community has been a flashpoint of the conflict  the scene of a hostage standoff during the attack. Authorities did not immediately provide more information on the location of the tunnels. The militant group has used tunnels in the past. It has an established network running from Gaza to Egypt to smuggle in weapons, as well as attack tunnels burrowing into Israel. At least 11 US citizens killed, Biden confirms At least 11 U.S. citizens have been confirmed dead in the surprise Hamas attacks, U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday. Biden also said the U.S. government believes it is likely that Americans are among those currently being held hostage by Hamas militants, while other U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for after the deadly assault. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days, Biden said in a statement. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable. He stressed that the State Department is offering assistance for U.S. citizens who are currently in Israel, and air and ground options to leave the country are still available for those who choose to do so. He also said federal law enforcement officials are closely monitoring potential domestic threats stemming from the weekend attacks. READ MORE | Israeli and Palestinian supporters rally across US as Israel declares war after Hamas attack British PM at Synagogue to support Israel British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined a large crowd gathered for prayer at a London synagogue on Monday to underline his solidarity with Israel. Addressing the congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London, Sunak condemned Hamas' bloody incursion into Israel on Saturday as evil. There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel, he said. The United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always. He also sought to assure Britains Jewish community that he would do everything to protect them amid concerns about the rise of antisemitism. European Union reserves suspension of aid to Palestinian authorities The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas. There will be no suspension of payments at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be immediately suspended. More than 680 people killed in Gaza, Health minister says The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said Monday that more than 680 people have been killed in Israels retaliatory strikes following an unprecedented Hamas attack. The ministry said more than 3,700 people have been wounded. READ MORE | 'No electricity, no food, no water': Israel imposes total siege on 2.3 million people in Gaza UN says efforts are underway to prevent conflict from spreading The United Nations says intense diplomatic activity is taking place aimed at ensuring that regional and international leaders are on the same page in trying to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Monday that he and U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland are engaging with key parties in the region. Guterres has spoken to Israels president and Jordans king and expects to talk to the Palestinian president, Israels prime minister, Egypts president and Lebanons prime minister, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Wonderland has been in touch with his counterparts from the United States, European Union, Qatar, Lebanon and others. Hamas wing warns that Israeli strikes will bring hostage deaths The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has warned that it will kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel's military bombs civilian targets in the Gaza Strip without warning. Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said in an audio released Monday night that the threat was a response to intense air strikes by Israel on civilian areas. We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding, he said. In a video statement Monday, Israels foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza. Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home in the spirit of mutual responsibility. We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. This war crime will not be forgiven, he added. READ MORE | Senseless Hamas massacre harms its cause in Israel Turkey's leader holds calls with Palestinian and Israeli presidents Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held back-to-back telephone calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to Erdogans press office. Erdogan and Abbas discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. President Erdogan stated that Turkey is making every effort to end the conflicts in the region and ensure calm as soon as possible, a statement from his press office said. Arab League scheduled meeting at the request of Palestinians Arab foreign ministers plan to convene Wednesday in Cairo for a meeting on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The meeting was called by the Palestinians. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Iberdrola has completed the construction in of the first hybrid wind and solar photovoltaic plant in Spain and is now immersed in the commissioning process.

The company thus reinforces its innovative and renewable leadership in the region with the development in Burgos of this technology that optimises the use of the grid and minimises the environmental impact of the projects in the places where they are located.

This 74 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic installation has more than 120,000 photovoltaic modules and is located in the Burgos municipalities of Revilla Vallejera, Villamedianilla and Vallejera to hybridise the existing 69 MW BaCa - Ballestas and Casetona - wind power complex.

Its construction has had an important local component, which has contributed to the revitalisation of the economy and employment in the region. Its development has involved 360 professionals.

The company has allocated more than 40 million to the execution of this project, which combines wind and solar energy at a single site.

Iberdrola will therefore invest in this technology in the coming years in Spain, with which it aims to improve its renewable resources and make the most of existing locations.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

The incorporation of solar modules increases the contribution of clean, cheap and competitive energy to the electricity system of these installations and ensures that they supply the maximum amount of green energy originally authorised for each project, for as long as possible.

Having two technologies capable of alternating significantly reduces dependence on changing environmental conditions and limitations due to possible lack of resources such as wind or sunshine, facilitating more stable and efficient renewable production.

Hybrid generation plants use the same grid connection point and share infrastructures, such as the substation and the evacuation line for the electricity produced. In addition, they are located on land that was already used for renewable generation and allows for common roads and facilities for the operation of both technologies. All of this results in a much lower environmental impact than would have been the case with two independent plants.

A NEW ENERGY LANDSCAPE THAT FIXES POPULATION IN RURAL AREAS

Iberdrola promotes renewable energies as an engine for rural development and in this way the villages emerge as a guarantee for the future. This is the case of the villages in Castile and Leon that Iberdrola is promoting and which will contribute to a sustainable recovery, allowing the creation of local employment.

The best initiatives for the coexistence of renewable energies, nature and people were recently recognised at the first edition of the Iberdrola CONVIVE Awards. The Burgos town council of Revilla Vallejera was one of those honoured by the company.

It has also begun construction of the Valdemoro and Buniel wind farms. In the province of Burgos alone, it has recently built or is developing more than 550 megawatts between seven wind farms.

The company is also currently developing two other photovoltaic facilities in the region totalling 400 MW - Velilla and Virgen de Arenos III. Last year, it also started up its first photovoltaic plant in the region in the province of Burgos -Revilla-Vallejera (50 MW) and has recently completed construction and started work on the commissioning process of the Villarino photovoltaic plant (50 MW) in Salamanca.
By Online Desk

On October 7, more than 4000 rockets rained down on Israel, overpowering the countrys famous Iron Dome air defense system. In the chaos that ensued, multiple terrorists crossed the border fencing from the Gaza Strip and moved into Israel, attacking civilians and soldiers and taking them hostage.

After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 well-organized gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert.

The organization behind the attack was Hamas, a militant Palestinian group whose sole purpose is to destroy Israel and return the land to Palestinians.

The surprise weekend attack left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria and fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost.

The war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, led to gun battles in the streets of Israel for the first time in decades and resulted in the demolition of entire neighborhoods in Gaza in retaliation. Hamas has pledged to kill an estimated 150 hostages if Israel struck civilians without warning.

Hamas is the outfit that rules one of the two main Palestinian enclaves - Gaza. The territory, spread over 365 sq km and surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, is home to more than two million Palestinians. Hamas is led by Ismail Haniyeh and is one of the two major political factions in the Palestinian territories.

Historical Origins

Hamas origin can be traced to a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political and social movement originating in Egypt, and was active in Palestine in the 1940s and 1970s.

In 1987, imam Sheikh Ahmed Yasin and his aide Abdul Aziz al-Rantisii spun off a part of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine to form Hamas.

It exists on the hope and with the aim of leading an armed struggle against Israel ultimately liberating Palestine. Unlike the PLO, Hamas does not recognize the right of Israel to exist, and has outright rejected any compromises or negotiations with Israel and advocates the use of violent jihad to liberate Palestine.

In the 1990s, the PLO and Israel were engaged in a stuttering peace process, which alienated some Palestinians and bolstered Hamass popularity as a rejectionist alternative. Hamas participated in the 1996 Palestinian legislative elections and performed well, highlighting its growth.

In 2006, Hamas again won a shock victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, taking 74 of the 132 seats, after running a reformist campaign criticizing Fatah for corruption.

However, Israel, the United States and the European Union refused to recognize the Hamas government.

In the next year, tensions between Hamas and Fatah erupted into a brief but bloody Palestinian civil war in Gaza, which ended with Hamas seizing control of the coastal enclave.

Since then, Hamas has ruled Gaza as a de facto government. Israel responded by imposing a blockade on Gaza in 2007, restricting the flow of goods and people in an effort to contain Hamas.

Hamas subsequently fought three major wars with Israel over Gaza in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014.

Hamas continued building up its rocket arsenal and tunnel infrastructure in Gaza while expanding its reach in the West Bank.

Inside Gaza, Hamas governance has been criticized as authoritarian by human rights groups. It has restricted protests and cracked down on dissent.

Hamas remains committed to its foundational goal of establishing an Islamic state in historic Palestine in place of Israel. Its amended 2017 charter accepts the idea of a transitional Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, but without giving up its long-term claims.

Major Supporters

Hamas was supported early on by Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. Now, Hamass primary allies are Iran, Qatar and Turkey, which have provided financial and military support over the years.

Meanwhile, Egypt under President al-Sisi has cracked down on Hamass cross-border activities since 2013.

Hamass ties to Syria and Iran have fluctuated due to disagreements over the Syrian civil war.

In recent years, Hamas has faced growing economic discontent within Gaza due to worsening humanitarian conditions under the blockade. However, it continues to enjoy support from many Gazans due to its confrontation with Israel and the provision of services. Reconciling with Fatah also remains elusive.

For Israel, Hamas continues to pose a major security threat as the rulers of Gaza and retains strength in the West Bank. Dealing with the militant group remains a hugely divisive issue in Israeli politics.

Funding

Hamas has been reportedly receiving monetary funding and weapons from various countries and organizations that share the same ideology as the militant group - to liberate Palestine from Israel.

In its early years, Hamas also received funding from wealthy donors in Gulf Arab states. Its network of social services and charity for Palestinians gave it a broad grassroots appeal compared to the secular Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Iran has been one of the militant group's greatest well wishers, and reportedly provides crucial financial aid as well as weapons.

It also raises funds from organizations and individuals in Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Hamas invests in private businesses, hotels, real estate and more both within Gaza and internationally. Profits contribute to their funding.

Hamas generates revenues through smuggling activities, such as smuggling weapons, luxury goods, and fuel through underground tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border. The tunnels have been targeted by Israel and Egypt in efforts to crack down.

Hamas also gets its funding by collecting taxes from the people of Gaza. Its revenues are estimated between USD 200 to 600 million (Rs 16,000 cr to 48,000 cr) per year.

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On October 7, more than 4000 rockets rained down on Israel, overpowering the countrys famous Iron Dome air defense system. In the chaos that ensued, multiple terrorists crossed the border fencing from the Gaza Strip and moved into Israel, attacking civilians and soldiers and taking them hostage. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 well-organized gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. The organization behind the attack was Hamas, a militant Palestinian group whose sole purpose is to destroy Israel and return the land to Palestinians. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The surprise weekend attack left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria and fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost. The war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, led to gun battles in the streets of Israel for the first time in decades and resulted in the demolition of entire neighborhoods in Gaza in retaliation. Hamas has pledged to kill an estimated 150 hostages if Israel struck civilians without warning. Hamas is the outfit that rules one of the two main Palestinian enclaves - Gaza. The territory, spread over 365 sq km and surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, is home to more than two million Palestinians. Hamas is led by Ismail Haniyeh and is one of the two major political factions in the Palestinian territories. Historical Origins Hamas origin can be traced to a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political and social movement originating in Egypt, and was active in Palestine in the 1940s and 1970s. In 1987, imam Sheikh Ahmed Yasin and his aide Abdul Aziz al-Rantisii spun off a part of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine to form Hamas. It exists on the hope and with the aim of leading an armed struggle against Israel ultimately liberating Palestine. Unlike the PLO, Hamas does not recognize the right of Israel to exist, and has outright rejected any compromises or negotiations with Israel and advocates the use of violent jihad to liberate Palestine. In the 1990s, the PLO and Israel were engaged in a stuttering peace process, which alienated some Palestinians and bolstered Hamass popularity as a rejectionist alternative. Hamas participated in the 1996 Palestinian legislative elections and performed well, highlighting its growth. In 2006, Hamas again won a shock victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, taking 74 of the 132 seats, after running a reformist campaign criticizing Fatah for corruption. However, Israel, the United States and the European Union refused to recognize the Hamas government. In the next year, tensions between Hamas and Fatah erupted into a brief but bloody Palestinian civil war in Gaza, which ended with Hamas seizing control of the coastal enclave. Since then, Hamas has ruled Gaza as a de facto government. Israel responded by imposing a blockade on Gaza in 2007, restricting the flow of goods and people in an effort to contain Hamas. Hamas subsequently fought three major wars with Israel over Gaza in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014. Hamas continued building up its rocket arsenal and tunnel infrastructure in Gaza while expanding its reach in the West Bank. Inside Gaza, Hamas governance has been criticized as authoritarian by human rights groups. It has restricted protests and cracked down on dissent. Hamas remains committed to its foundational goal of establishing an Islamic state in historic Palestine in place of Israel. Its amended 2017 charter accepts the idea of a transitional Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, but without giving up its long-term claims. Major Supporters Hamas was supported early on by Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. Now, Hamass primary allies are Iran, Qatar and Turkey, which have provided financial and military support over the years. Meanwhile, Egypt under President al-Sisi has cracked down on Hamass cross-border activities since 2013. Hamass ties to Syria and Iran have fluctuated due to disagreements over the Syrian civil war. In recent years, Hamas has faced growing economic discontent within Gaza due to worsening humanitarian conditions under the blockade. However, it continues to enjoy support from many Gazans due to its confrontation with Israel and the provision of services. Reconciling with Fatah also remains elusive. For Israel, Hamas continues to pose a major security threat as the rulers of Gaza and retains strength in the West Bank. Dealing with the militant group remains a hugely divisive issue in Israeli politics. Funding Hamas has been reportedly receiving monetary funding and weapons from various countries and organizations that share the same ideology as the militant group - to liberate Palestine from Israel. In its early years, Hamas also received funding from wealthy donors in Gulf Arab states. Its network of social services and charity for Palestinians gave it a broad grassroots appeal compared to the secular Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Iran has been one of the militant group's greatest well wishers, and reportedly provides crucial financial aid as well as weapons. It also raises funds from organizations and individuals in Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Hamas invests in private businesses, hotels, real estate and more both within Gaza and internationally. Profits contribute to their funding. Hamas generates revenues through smuggling activities, such as smuggling weapons, luxury goods, and fuel through underground tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border. The tunnels have been targeted by Israel and Egypt in efforts to crack down. Hamas also gets its funding by collecting taxes from the people of Gaza. Its revenues are estimated between USD 200 to 600 million (Rs 16,000 cr to 48,000 cr) per year. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas in this weekends attack on Israel and he condemned the militant group for sheer evil for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden outlined the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about sickening reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians.

Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, said Biden, who compared Hamas action to the terrorist group ISIS. He added, Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israels back. Well make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.

Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault  a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.

ALSO READ: Hamas threatens to kill Israel hostages over Gaza strikes

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area, one the poorest places in the world. The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummeled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into U.N. shelters.

Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the U.S. believes that Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. does not know the precise number of American hostages that were taken. Sullivan said that the U.S., at the moment, has no plans of putting U.S. troops on the ground.

As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, Biden said.

The White House on Monday confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.

The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, officials said.

The Pentagon has said that the U.S. warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes.

Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, Biden said. I have one word: Dont."

Biden is dispatching his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the attacks, the State Department said Tuesday.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to deliver a message of solidarity and support. He said Blinken will also talk about what additional resources we can give them.

Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him Tuesday to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence.

ALSO READ: Why did Hamas attack Israel, and why now? What does it hope to gain?

Biden on Monday in a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underscored the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and their decades-long push for sovereignty. But the leaders also sought to separate the Palestinians aspirations from the appalling acts of terrorism by Hamas.

Americans have had a gloomy outlook on Bidens performance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Six in 10 Americans (61%) disapproved of how Biden was handling the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About one-third (35%) of U.S. adults approved, which was slightly lower than Bidens overall approval rating of 42% in the same poll.

Four in 10 Americans (44%) said the U.S. gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the U.S. should offer more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of support is given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more support.

The current crisis seems certain to further test public sentiment about Bidens Mideast foreign policy approach.

The Biden White House has pointed to its handling of the last conflict between Israel and Gaza in 2021 as playing a crucial part in limiting the length and loss of life in a war that stretched over 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

READ MORE: As Israel pummels Gaza, families of those held hostage by militants agonize over loved ones' safety

During the 2021 conflict, Biden limited his public commentary while pressing Netanyahu in private to end the conflict. His behind-the-scenes effort played out even as some of the presidents fellow Democrats pressured him to speak out against the Israelis as the death toll climbed in Gaza and as tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced by the aerial bombardment, White House officials said at the time.

But this conflict is unlikely to end so quickly. Domestic and international pressure could quickly mount on Biden to pressure Netanyahu to wind down operations to prevent the suffering of innocent Gazans.

Netanyahu said on Saturday that civilians in Gaza should leave areas near where Hamas is operating as the Israeli military planned to take defining action against the the militant group.

Sullivan said U.S. government officials have discussed details with Israel and Egyptian officials about where people in Gaza should go.

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WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas in this weekends attack on Israel and he condemned the militant group for sheer evil for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden outlined the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about sickening reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians. Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, said Biden, who compared Hamas action to the terrorist group ISIS. He added, Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israels back. Well make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault  a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded. ALSO READ: Hamas threatens to kill Israel hostages over Gaza strikes Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area, one the poorest places in the world. The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummeled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into U.N. shelters. Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the U.S. believes that Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. does not know the precise number of American hostages that were taken. Sullivan said that the U.S., at the moment, has no plans of putting U.S. troops on the ground. As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, Biden said. The White House on Monday confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas. The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, officials said. The Pentagon has said that the U.S. warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes. Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, Biden said. I have one word: Dont." Biden is dispatching his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the attacks, the State Department said Tuesday. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to deliver a message of solidarity and support. He said Blinken will also talk about what additional resources we can give them. Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him Tuesday to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence. ALSO READ: Why did Hamas attack Israel, and why now? What does it hope to gain? Biden on Monday in a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underscored the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and their decades-long push for sovereignty. But the leaders also sought to separate the Palestinians aspirations from the appalling acts of terrorism by Hamas. Americans have had a gloomy outlook on Bidens performance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Six in 10 Americans (61%) disapproved of how Biden was handling the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About one-third (35%) of U.S. adults approved, which was slightly lower than Bidens overall approval rating of 42% in the same poll. Four in 10 Americans (44%) said the U.S. gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the U.S. should offer more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of support is given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more support. The current crisis seems certain to further test public sentiment about Bidens Mideast foreign policy approach. The Biden White House has pointed to its handling of the last conflict between Israel and Gaza in 2021 as playing a crucial part in limiting the length and loss of life in a war that stretched over 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel. READ MORE: As Israel pummels Gaza, families of those held hostage by militants agonize over loved ones' safety During the 2021 conflict, Biden limited his public commentary while pressing Netanyahu in private to end the conflict. His behind-the-scenes effort played out even as some of the presidents fellow Democrats pressured him to speak out against the Israelis as the death toll climbed in Gaza and as tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced by the aerial bombardment, White House officials said at the time. But this conflict is unlikely to end so quickly. Domestic and international pressure could quickly mount on Biden to pressure Netanyahu to wind down operations to prevent the suffering of innocent Gazans. Netanyahu said on Saturday that civilians in Gaza should leave areas near where Hamas is operating as the Israeli military planned to take defining action against the the militant group. Sullivan said U.S. government officials have discussed details with Israel and Egyptian officials about where people in Gaza should go. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Mumbai, Oct 9

T he success of Jawan and Pathaan has proven to be a double edged sword for the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The actor has been receiving death threats following the blockbuster success of his recent films, and has sought an enhanced security cover from the state of Maharashtra.

SRKs security has been beefed up to Y+ level. The actor has asked for security after he received death threats following the success of his two films which have breathed new life in Hindi cinema in terms of its economy.

As per a media report, the actor had written to the state government seeking the security cover. Under the Y+ category, SRK will get 11 security personnel, including six commandos, four police personnel and a traffic clearance vehicle.

The Y+ security is provided by the state to those citizens who face a threat to their lives. In response to the state government's directive, the IG VIP Security scaled up the actors security for which he will have to pay and deposit a certain sum of money.

The actor receiving threats is nothing new as earlier this year, Pathaan stirred the pot over with its song Besharam Rang as various fringe outfits took offence to the use of saffron colour in one of Deepika Padukones dresses in the song. These groups equated the use of saffron colour in the song with the title and took offence saying the song mocks the saffron colour which is associated with Hindu religious sentiment.

Shah Rukh Khan has had run-ins with the Mumbai underworld in the past and has been known to stand up to threats.

Last year, another Khan superstar - Salman Khan was also provided Y+ security cover after he received threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. Lawrence Bishnoi Gang is the one that was involved in the murder of Punjabi music star Sidhu Moosewala.

SRK's receives Y+ level following death threats after success of 'Pathaan', 'Jawan'

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EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR), a leading wind and solar producer in the world, increased its renewable portfolio in Italy by adding three new wind farms, bringing its total capacity in the country to over 550 MW.

The San Giorgio, Casalbore and Greci wind farms are located in the region of Campania and jointly have nearly 80 MW of installed capacity that will generate almost 190 GWh per year, offsetting the emission of more than 110 thousand tons of CO2 annually. This production will provide energy that could supply around 70 thousand households in the region.

Italy is one of the European markets where we seek to enhance our presence, due to the country's huge potential for new renewable capacity. In less than five years, we have doubled our capacity to produce clean energy for the Italian grid, reaching 550MW. EDPR will continue on track to contribute to the energy transition and speed up its pace by deploying new renewable projects as well as new ways of growth, commented Roberto Pasqua, South&East Europe Executive Director at EDP Renewables.

EDPR entered the Italian market in 2010 and its first wind farm started operating in 2012. EDPR has over 200 MW under construction and more than 60 employees.

The company is also committed to developing training programs for young people to take advantage of the job opportunities that arise from the development of wind farms in the territory, such as the Keep It Local program.

The growth in Italy is part of EDPR's global plan - active four global hubs - to invest 20 billion euros in renewables, 40% of which will be for onshore technologies in European countries. In the first six months of 2023, EDP Renewables achieved an installed capacity of 15.2 GW in renewable assets worldwide, with 1.4 GW added in the last 12 months. The company also generated more than 18 TWh of renewable electricity worldwide, an increase of 11% year-on-year.
Shimla, October 9

E mphasizing that technology has made every task easy, Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur on Monday said that we should also learn to use new technologies so that we can easily convey our message to the people.

"Today, technology is being used extensively in making various policies. So that the leakage of any scheme can be minimized and the schemes can be implemented in the most transparent manner. All these things are visible to us today and people across the country are getting their benefits," Jairam Thakur said while talking with BJP workers in Shimla.

He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also encouraged the people to use new technology.

"PM Modi is always eager to learn new technologies and he keeps learning about new technologies and gadgets and trying to understand how they could be used for the benefit of society," he said.

The Leader of the Opposition told the BJP workers that hundreds of public welfare schemes have been launched by the Modi government and crores of people are getting the benefits of this.

"People should be informed about all the schemes in an effective manner through social media. So that no eligible person is deprived of those schemes. Apart from this, efforts are being made by the opposition to spread many lies against us. The lies of the opposition should also be exposed by providing correct information to the people through social media," he added.

PM Modi is always eager to learn new technologies: Jairam Thakur

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New Delhi, Oct 9

I n Sikkim, troops of Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army are undertaking operations at a massive scale to reconnect villages cut off post the flash floods on the night of October 3-4.

An Army official said that the focus of the operations are on restoring connectivity to North Sikkim through Chungthang, which was the worst affected during the devastating floods.

Troops of the Army have rescued of 150-200 civilians so far. In the immediate, account has been taken of all tourists and locals in the areas of Chaten, Lachen, Lachung and Thangu in North Sikkim.

A list of 2,000 tourists, including 63 foreign nationals, has beencompiled and assistance is being provided in terms of food, medical aid, accommodation and telephone connectivity, the official said.

According to the Army, a helpline has also been established through which relatives of all the tourists are being informed about the wellbeing of their near and dear ones. This effort will continue till they are evacuated. With the improvement in weather, air evacuation of tourists started on Monday.

Another action being undertaken by the Army is to reconnect the villages that have been cut off. Towards this end, a log bridge over Lachen Chu connecting Chungthang to Pegong has been completed by the Army troops along with the ITBP personnel and locals.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army and the BRO, with assistance from ITBP troops, are launching a foot bridge from the Chungthang side.

Special teams were deployed for opening the route to Chaten via Rabom. The teams have moved over difficult terrains under inclement weather and reached Rabom village on the night of October 8. A foot link-up has thus been established and assistance is being provided to the 150-200 civilians stranded in the area, the Army official added.

The Chief Minister of Sikkim, P.S. Tamang, has assured of all assistance in terms of availability of land, forest clearance etc. for the reconstruction works.

To ensure sustenance of the people at Chungthang, ration has been provided to the local gurdwara. Medical aid is being provided at all locations and so far more than 1,500 patients have been treated by the Trishakti Healers, the official said.

Sikkim Floods: Army undertakes massive operation to reconnect isolated villages

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New Delhi, Oct 9

F inance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will leave on October 10 for an official visit to attend the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with G20 meetings at Marrakech in Morocco.

During the visit, the Finance Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany and France, besides other associated meetings, scheduled to take place from October 11-15 in Marrakech.

The annual meetings will be attended by Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world. The Indian delegation will be led by the Finance Minister and will comprise officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India.

Finance Minister Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will co-chair the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting which will witness the participation of 65 delegations from G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations in multilateral discussions centered around a broad spectrum of important global issues.

The fourth G20 FMCBG meeting will discuss ways to strengthen Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address shared challenges of the 21st Century and also take up the issue of crypto assets.

During the meeting, the Volume 2 of the Report on strengthening MDBs by the Independent Expert Group will also be released. Volume 1 was release during the 3rd FMCBG held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

On the sidelines of the fourth G20 FMCBG meeting, principals from Indian G20 Presidency, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank will co-chair Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable on 12th October 2023. The roundtable will discuss the progress made on debt restructuring and explore ways and means to support work of G20 countries.

In a high-level event organised by USA Treasury, Union Finance Minister will engage in a Roundtable Discussion on IMF policy priorities and how the institution should support its membership.

The Union Finance Minister will also participate in a discussion on Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement (RISE)  with the World Bank Group, organised by the G7 Japan Presidency.

On the margins of the IMF-WB Annual Meetings in Marrakech, finance minister Sitharaman will participate in a discussion on macroeconomic outlook during a G7 Africa Ministerial Roundtable.

Sitharaman will also deliver the keynote address at a session on MDBs evolution, co-hosted by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Center for Global Development.

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Niramala Sitharaman to attend World Bank-IMF, G20 meetings in Morocco

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Largest Hindu temple outside Asia to open for public in New Jersey on Oct 18

Robbinsville, Oct 9

T he largest Hindu temple outside Asia -- Swaminarayan Akshardham -- will be thrown open for public in New Jersey on October 18.

It is claimed that the temple is larger than the Bridgewater Lord Venkateshwara temple in New Jersey and the Pittsburgh temple of the same name.

The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple was inaugurated on October 8. Sitting on a massive 185-acre plot in Robbinsville county of New Jersey, the temple was built by 12,500 volunteer workers from all over the world. The temple was in the works since 2011, but hit the headlines only a decade later for the wrong reasons, media reports said.

Swaminarayan Akshardham was built with 2 million cubic feet of stone, a spokesperson of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known as BAPS, which has temples around the world, told NBC Asianews.

Placing 2 million cubic feet of stone in Robbinsville township was no small feat. And the temple itself is a cultural mix with materials sourced from all over the world. It also gives historical nods to American history on its walls, a spokesperson said.

For Indian Americans, it's a massive milestone of an achievement, the spokesperson said.

Along the temple walls are carvings of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln.

When you come to the mandir, you will see people of all genders, all castes and social backgrounds eating, praying, loving and serving together, he said.

But the temple is not without controversies created by the labour force that built it. The impressive construction prompted a labor lawsuit, now on hold, with some saying it raises questions about the thin line between religious service and labour exploitation.

I wake up every morning and scratch my eyes thinking, Am I still in central New Jersey? said Yogi Trivedi, a temple volunteer and a scholar of religion at Columbia University.

Its like being transported to another world, specifically to India.

This is the American Dream, he said, adding: The sacred geography of India and beyond is here in this one place and you can experience, witness and admire it all here in New Jersey. I anticipate, as a scholar of religion, that this will become a popular place of pilgrimage for Hindus from across the world.

To withstand cold New Jersey winters (anything between -5-degree C to -20-degree C), the outside of the temple has been built with non-traditional Bulgarian limestone. The inside features of the temple bear testimony to the stones imported from all over the world, ranging from Greece, Italy to India.

Atraditional Indian stepwell contains waters from 300 sacred river bodies in India and all river waters from all 50 US states of the union.

Women were also actively engaged in key roles in running the project. Something rarely seen in temple construction.

Now people who visit here from the American community will realise that the brown family two houses away from them is not all that different, Trivedi said.

Trivedi said he sees the design as reminiscent of the community that will form in the temple -- a mix of cultures with something for all people.

That kind of inclusivity is not just talked about, its actually seen on the walls, he said.

Built by 12,500 volunteers from all over the world, the Akshardham has been in the works since 2011. But it made headlines in the US media a decade later, sometime around 2021, when a group of immigrant labourers suedthe global temple faith organisation.The lawsuit alleged shocking conditions, including forced labour, gruelling work hours, inhospitable living conditions and caste discrimination.

For these long and difficult hours of work, the workers were paid an astonishing $450 per month, and even less when the defendants took illegal deductions, the initial complaint said.

Their hourly pay rate came to approximately $1.20 per hour.

Many of the manual labourers involved in the temples construction came to New Jersey from India on religious visas and were Dalits, meaning they fell into historically marginalised groups in South Asias caste system. The lawsuit alleges that the temple leadership enforced that caste hierarchy at work, NBC reported .

The lawsuit has, however, been put on hold with 12 of the original 21 plaintiffs moving to dismiss their claims, and BAPS Akshardham spokespeople assure that the temple will be a place for people of all creeds and castes, claims Sakshi Venkatraman who filed the report for the NBC that has been circulated widely in the US media.

A spokesperson for BAPS was quoted by the NBC report as saying, Theres a distinction between employment and religious volunteer service, known as seva.

Some activists say the allegations still raise questions about the thin line between religious service and work exploitation, which Dalit communities are especially vulnerable to.

The artisans who helped build our mandir came to the US as volunteers, not as employees, spokesperson Ronak Patel said in a statement.

We took care of the artisans needs in the US, including travel, lodging, food, medical care, and internet and prepaid phone cards so they could stay in touch with their families in India. BAPS India also supported the artisans families in India so they did not suffer financial hardship as a result of the artisans seva in the US.

A place of worship, a temple, is such an important space, especially for an immigrant community whos making home in a new country, said Viswanath, a co-founder of the civil rights group Hindus for Human Rights.

"I would want anybody who goes to the temple to really ask themselves, really do some soul searching, about going to a temple where there are such serious allegations of labour and human rights violations," he added.

Largest Hindu temple outside Asia to open for public in New Jersey on Oct 18

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New Delhi, Oct 9

C ommerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday launched a new initiative to issue IT system based automatic Status Holder certificates to exporters under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.

Now the exporter will not be required to apply to the office of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for a Status Certificate and the export recognition will be provided by the IT system based on available Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) merchandise export electronic data and other risk parameters.

At present, the exporter is required to file an online application along with an export certificate from a Chartered Accountant for grant of Status. The DGFT Regional Offices, as per the laid down timelines are supposed to issue the certificate in three days.

The new arrangement will lead to a simplified regime where no applications are invited from exporters and the certification is granted every year in August based on annual export figures available with the DGCIS.

With the launch of this new system, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be recognising about 20,000 exporters under FTP 2023 as Status Holders which will be a quantum jump from the earlier number of 12,518 exporters, according to an official statement.

The biggest increase in Status certification is seen in the 1 Star category, which is the lowest category and requires a export performance of at least US$ 3 Million in the last 3 preceding financial years plus the 3 months of the current financial year.

This will enable the Government to hand hold a larger number of small exporting entities and create a vibrant export ecosystem and help reach our export target of US$ 2 Trillion by 2030.

Exporters who are eligible for a higher status based on additional export data relating to services export, deemed exports or double weightage to some entities like MSME etc., which is not getting captured in disaggregated form presently, can apply online for a Status modification also at a later date, the official statement explained.

The Status Holder certification program provides credibility to the Indian exporters in the international markets. In addition, it provides certain other privileges including simplified procedures under FTP 2023 and priority custom clearances on self-declaration basis, exemption from compulsory negotiation of documents through banks, exemption from filing Bank Guarantee for FTP schemes etc.

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Govt launches new IT based Status Holder certificates for exporters

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Bengaluru, October 10

S tating that the central drought assessment team, which visited the drought-affected areas and inspected them, has responded positively to the request of the state government, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has expressed confidence that the drought relief funds will be released soon.

After holding a meeting with officials of the Centre's Drought Study Team, the Minister shared the information at the press conference on Monday.

Officials of the Central Drought Study Team visited the drought-affected areas in three teams over three days and conducted an actual inspection of the crop damage. They have also discussed this with local farmers and people's representatives. The panel has positively responded that the request (memorandum) submitted by the state government regarding the drought declaration reflects ground reality. Therefore, the minister said that he is confident that the drought relief funds will be released soon.

"After the drought review, the central team also discussed it with us. There is huge crop damage in the state, and the farmers are suffering," the minister said.

The officials also informed us that the state might face a shortage of drinking water in the coming days. Already, 195 taluks have been declared drought-hit. The government has time to declare drought-hit taluks in another phase until the end of October. Out of the remaining 41 taluks, DCs have been instructed to conduct crop surveys in two days in 21 taluks of 11 districts. Preparations have been made for the drought declaration in these 21 taluks. A drought declaration will be made as soon as information is available, he said.

Another request (memorandum) will be submitted to the Centre in this regard. The minister explained that he had discussed this with the Central Drought Study Team, and the team had agreed.

There is a flaw in the central government's guidelines for drought declaration. Another letter will be written requesting the Union Home Minister and the Union Agriculture Minister to personally meet and discuss this matter and to submit a memorandum regarding the drought declaration, the minister said.

Earlier, CM Siddaramaiah himself had written a letter seeking a meeting with the Union Minister. But the meeting could not happen. It was suggested to submit the memorandum online.

"Another letter will be written seeking a personal meeting so that we can explain the drought situation in person and submit the second memorandum directly to the Union Ministers," said the minister.

The information available to the central government about the number of small and micro farmers in the state is inaccurate. According to the information from the centre, the proportion of small and very small farmers in the state is only 46 per cent. In reality, this amount is more than 60 per cent. We are collecting some additional information to confirm this information to the centre. This information will be sent to the centre within a week, he said.

Although green fields are appearing in some drought-affected taluks, the crops are not benefiting farmers. In the memorandum, the state government referred to it as "green drought''. The central study team, which conducted drought assessments in many places, has been convinced of the ground reality through scientists. The minister informed that the central team has also agreed on the green drought.

The issues in the PM Fasal Bhima Scheme have been discussed in the Assembly as well. Several ministers also expressed their displeasure in the discussion held by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with the district collectors and the ZP CEOs. He said that the drought study team has been requested to convince the officials of the centre that this scheme is not helping the farmers.

Central drought assessment team completes review, relief expected soon: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda

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Tel Aviv, October 10

I sraeli actor Lior Raz, known worldwide for the television series 'Fauda' which he drew on experiences in Israel Defence Forces (IDF), took to the front lines of Israel's war against Hamas by joining a group of volunteers 'Brothers in Arms'.

From the southern Israeli town of Sderot, the actor shared a video on social media that showed him accompanied by the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner, and journalist Avi Yissascharov.

"Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families," posted Raz on social media platform, X.

In the video, they can be seen witnessing a rocket attack on Israel by Hamas.

Notably, Israel has begun its retaliation after a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning which led to the death of as many as 700 Israelis and 2,300 others were injured. In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that though Israel did not start this war but will finish it.

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

The Israeli military is going on the offence against Hamas with a force "like never before," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed.

Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN.

'Fauda' star Lior Raz volunteers 'Brothers in Arms' movement in Israel, witnesses Hamas' rocket attacks

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Rajnath Singh holds meeting with his Italian counterpart, signs agreement on Defence Corporation

Rome, October 10

D efence Minister Rajnath Singh who is on an official visit to Italy, held a meeting with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Rome and signed an agreement on Defence cooperation between India and Italy.

Rajnath Singh who is on a two-nation visit to Italy and France, also held discussions on issues pertaining to defence corporation, including training, information sharing and maritime security.

In a social media post on 'X', Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated, "Had a warm and productive meeting with the Italian Defence Minister Mr Guido Crosetto in Rome. We discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation which included training, information sharing and maritime security."

He further added that both nations look forward to further consolidating the defence partnership.

"An Agreement on Defence Cooperation was also signed between India and Italy. We look forward to further consolidating our defence partnership," he added.

https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1711562088202874912?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023 during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India. The two countries enjoy a cordial relationship. There has been a regular exchange of visits at political and official levels between both countries.

During Rajnath Singh's first leg of his two-nation visit, he was scheduled to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crisetto in Rome.

Whereas, during the second and final leg, he will conduct the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his counterpart, French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastian Lecornu in Paris.

India and France recently celebrated 25 years of Strategic Partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation.

The defence minister's visit to France comes at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters from that country for the indian Navy.

In both Rome and Paris, the minister will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation.

Rajnath Singh holds meeting with his Italian counterpart, signs agreement on Defence Corporation

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White House official John Kirby chokes up while speaking about Israeli victims

Washington, DC, October 10

W hite House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday choked up while discussing the gloomy images from Israel, reported Al Jazeera.

He tried to hold back his tears during a CNN interview as he spoke about the images of Israeli victims who either died or are still suffering in the deadly attack by Hamas.

"It's very difficult to look at these images," John Kirby choked up.

Earlier Kirby told reporters that the US has no intention to join Israel's war against Hamas. "There is no intention to put US boots on the ground," Kirby said.

He added, "The human cost. And these are human beings. They are family members, they are friends, they are loved ones," according to Al Jazeera.

Moreover, the White House on Monday night was illuminated with blue and white light to show support for Israel following the attacks by Hamas on Israel that left as many as 800 people dead, The Hill reported.

The action came after a call by Sen Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) as a symbolic support as Hamas continued to attack Israel.

"White House in White and Blue tonight. We stand with Israel," White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, posted with a photograph of the lights.

Additionally, the notable landmarks in the US and other cities of the world have been lit up in the colours of the Israeli in a show of solidarity. These include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York City and a giant screen that was put up in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Meanwhile, the US, Germany, France and Italy have issued a joint statement condemning the "appalling acts of terrorism" by Hamas and extended their "steadfast and united support" to Israel.

US President Joe Biden said 11 Americans have been killed and the US has moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a show of support and was working with its key ally on "hostage recovery efforts".

Moreover, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Monday said that its emergency shelters in Gaza are at 90 per cent capacity with more than 137,000 people taking cover from Israeli strikes.

More than 680 Palestinians have died and more than 3,700 were injured, according to Gaza's health ministry cited by CNN.

At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after the Hamas attack on Israel.

A war update shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X, said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza. It also shared that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces retaliated and hit 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza.

White House official John Kirby chokes up while speaking about Israeli victims

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Mumbai, Oct 10

I sraeli actor-screenwriter Lior Raz, who is known for his work in the hit series Fauda, took to his X (formerly Twitter), to share a chilling footage showing him at Sderot town while it is bombarded by Hamas.

The actor shared a video from Sderot, a town in Israel, as he witnessed rocket attacks from Hamas amid the ongoing war.

Taking to his X, he shared the video and wrote: Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave brothers in arms volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract two families."

In the video, he can be seen with Yohanan Plesner, who is the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner, along with journalist Avi Yissascharov in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. They can be seen taking a refuge behind walls as the Hamas rockets fly over their heads.

Lior has volunteered to join the Brothers in Arms, which is a group fighting alongside Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas.

On October 7, Palestinian militant groups, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

Since the ongoing conflict, more than 1,600 people have been killed from both sides.

'Fauda' actor Lior Raz shares video of Hamas rockets flying over his head

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In a raucous, late night special meeting Friday, the Douglas County School Board voted 4-3 to keep Keith Lewis as the districts superintendent despite months of mounting tensions between him and the school board.

Those who voted against the motion to terminate Lewis contract were Vice President Doug Englekirk and Trustees Linda Gilkerson, Tony Magnotta and Carey Kangas. Board President Susan Jansen, Clerk David Burns and Katherine Dickerson voted in support of the proposed termination.

Lewis wasnt present at the meeting. His lawyer, Tom Beko, said Lewis had a previous commitment with his daughter at Boise State University. Lewis and Beko did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Friday nights meeting.

Days before the meeting, Lewis said that the proposed termination was an agreement between him and the board, something Beko repeated at the meeting.

Beko said the discussion to terminate Lewis contract came after the districts new legal counsel, Joey Gilbert, asked Lewis during a rather contentious district meeting if he could effectively manage the district in light of the fractured board.

Mr. Lewis candid response was that he honestly felt that he couldnt, that it was going to be so difficult at that point in time, Beko said. Mr. Gilbert invited him to begin the process to explore the best means by which to try to get the district back on course.

The proposal to terminate Lewis created a split in the district that serves about 5,300 students in a deep-red county 50 miles south of Reno. Lewis, hired as district superintendent in 2020, has for months feuded with several recently elected trustees over proposed policy changes excluding transgender students from certain bathrooms and sport teams, and the hiring of Gilbert as the districts legal counsel, despite his lack of experience in education law.

Records obtained by The Nevada Independent show Gilberts law firm submitted a set of invoices to the district Sept. 21 totaling more than $74,000 for fees incurred primarily over the previous month  much higher than the average monthly cost of the boards previous counsel.

Lewis supporters  including parents, Douglas County graduates and other long-time community members, many dressed in red  packed the library of Douglas High School where the meeting was held. The schools cafeteria served as overflow space for those who couldnt get seats inside the library. They carried signs with messages thanking Lewis and criticizing the board for trying to push out Lewis and for hiring Gilbert.

Trustees Kangas, Magnotta and Gilkerson cast doubt on the idea that termination was truly what Lewis wanted and instead suggested it was the result of trustees who wanted him out.

This could be, in my opinion, the single worst thing that has ever happened to Douglas County School District (DCSD), Kangas said of the motion to terminate Lewis. Superintendent Lewis is the heart and soul of this school district. The action today is not what I want. Its not what our community wants. Its not what DCSD wants or needs.

The three trustees who support Lewis said they believed the boards majority was attempting to push out Lewis for political control.

Could it be that he refused to follow directives outside what has been approved by the board as a whole? Gilkerson asked. Could it be that he refused to follow their agenda and break the law?

Gilkerson said she was concerned about what could come next for district books, curriculum, teachers and students who do not align with the majoritys conservative and Christian beliefs if Lewis was fired.

After about three hours of public comment, largely in favor of Lewis, Englekirk, who wasnt present in the room but participated via Zoom, said he was deeply torn.

I dont really see a viable way forward, but since this has been forced on me, I think what needs to happen is for us a board to work together with our new legal counsel and our current superintendent to move forward together, he said.

Dickerson said she voted in favor of terminating Lewis because didnt see how the district could move forward with the superintendent after he said he couldnt work with the board.

The reason that I [voted] yay is I feel in my heart of hearts that Keith really feels that its a burden for him to try to work with a board that does not share some of his views, and it was really only because I thought its what Keith wants, Dickerson said.

Kangas urged his fellow board members to put their politics aside.

This is no place for it, he said. I told you I was a Republican, I am conservative, but you dont bring those types of things into public education.

During public comment, many also called for the resignation of Gilbert, Dickerson, Englekirk, Jansen and Burns, with some calling them right-wing extremists. Others said they have voted for conservative politicians such as Gov. Joe Lombardo and Gilbert, but didnt agree with the proposal to fire Lewis.

Parent Stephanie Christensen said Lewis helped her when she had a concern about an assignment her son received that included topics about transgender people and self-harm.

He protected my kids and my familys conservative values, she said. He is in no way woke or liberal.

Jen Spore, a parent of two students and former teacher, said though she supported the boards decision to keep Lewis as superintendent, she wondered whether she needed to pull her kids out of the district.

Virginia Nisse, one of the nine speakers who was in favor of terminating Lewis, said he has not been a good superintendent to the conservative board members since their election, and derided Lewis supporters as paid propaganda activists.

These trustees are the only stop gap between what is occurring in schools now and school boards across the nation, Nisse said.

Another parent, May Hyatt, urged the public to stay engaged with whats happening with the school board.

This board is still broken, she said. We still deserve a better board. Theres still work to be done.
Mumbai, Oct 10

O n 'Mental Health Day', Bhagya Lakshmi' fame actor Akash Choudhary shared his personal battle with clinical depression and his inspiring journey to recovery, revealing how his pet dog helped him forget everything.

Despite his fame from reality shows like MTV Splitsvilla, 'Dating in the Dark,' and 'Bhagya Lakshmi', Akash faced a challenging period marked by clinical depression.

Talking about the same, Akash recounted, "In 2019, I hit a low point in life where everything seemed fine, things were okay, but there was a certain hollowness within me. I was feeling a bit sad, staying at home, not interacting with people, but I was doing well in life.

However, I didn't have any awareness of clinical depression, and there were no clear symptoms. It was just there."

He continued, "Even small things would trigger me. If there was a delay in food or any minor issue, I'd panic and start crying. I became highly sensitive. My friends began to distance themselves from me, calling me negative. I was on medication and even experienced hallucinations at times.

I took a break and went home for ten days, where I was emotionally fragile, experienced unexplained crying spells, extreme lows, and persistent negativity. I would cry over trivial matters, however, my parents provided tremendous support, said Akash.

In early 2020, after almost a year of battling depression, Akash embarked on a journey of self-improvement.

He consciously made small changes in his life, focusing on mental clarity and strengthening his relationships with loved ones.

Akash explained how a turning point came in the form of his pet dog, Hazel, who entered his life during the lockdown.

Spending time with him and raising him made me forget everything. My medication stopped, and since then, I haven't experienced a single sad day in my life. Healing from depression made me wiser, spiritually connected to myself, and more aware of life's worth. It changed my perspective, and I became analytical about people, he said.

Mental health is a topic people avoid discussing, and they label you negatively. But the journey of healing makes you realise the value of life. You become more aware and practical. Depression doesn't need a reason. It can strike at any time, even when everything seems fine. The key is to be there for someone, listen to them, and spend time with loved ones," he concluded.

On the professional front, Akash is now working closely with fashion companies for brand partnerships. He's also focused on his dream of starting his own production company, which he plans to introduce to the world later this year.

On the television front, he is currently playing the role of Viraj Singhania, Malishka's former best friend and ex-fiance in Zee TV's Bhagya Lakshmi.

On 'Mental Health Day', Akash Choudhary opens up on battling clinical depression

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New Delhi, Oct 10

W ith an objective to train senior management and technical personnel on contemporary cyber threats and handling cyber incidents and response, the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is conducting its second Edition of the National Cyber Security Exercise 2023 'Bharat NCX 2023'.

The National Security Council Secretariat said that the participants will be trained on various key cyber security areas such as Intrusion Detection Techniques, Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), Vulnerability Handling & Penetration Testing, Network Protocols and Data Flows, Digital Forensics, etc.

Bharat NCX India will help strategic leaders to better understand cyber threats, assess readiness, and develop skills for cyber crisis management and cooperation.

This will also help develop and test cyber security skills, teamwork, planning, communication, critical thinking, and decision-making, the official added.

The 12-day programme starting Tuesday, is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Govt. of India in strategic partnership with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU).

Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, on Tuesday inaugurated the Bharat NCX 2023'.

The National Security Council Secretariat said that this flagship event serves as an unifying platform for over 300 participants, representing a diverse spectrum of government agencies, public organizations, and the private sector, all resolutely committed to the safeguarding of critical information infrastructure through training sessions, Live Fire and Strategic exercises.

The Principal Scientific Advisor, placed a strong emphasis on continuous learning and expertise cultivation as the foundational pillars for reinforcing India's cybersecurity defenses.

He also laid out the importance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) protection, hardware security needs and Post Quantum Cryptography in his speech, while talking about the need to become "Quantum Safe".

Further enhancing the event's significance, Lt. Gen. M U Nair, National Cyber Security Coordinator, provided a strategic overview of India's cyber domain. His insights illuminated the evolving landscape of cyber threats, emphasizing the pivotal role of collective vigilance in safeguarding the nation's digital assets.

On the sidelines of the event, Colonel Nidhish Bhatnagar, Director of Rashtriya Raksha University, lauded the unwavering commitment of the Government of India to cybersecurity. He highlighted the pivotal role of such initiatives in ensuring India's cyber-safety, particularly in an era characterised by extensive digitalisation and an expanded threat surface and also a step towards workforce development in cyber security.

The National Security Council Secretariat said that Bharat NCX 2023 will showcase an exclusive exhibition spotlighting the innovation and resilience of Indian Cyber Security startups and Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

This exhibition will shine a spotlight on the cutting-edge solutions and technologies developed by these dynamic entities, underscoring their pivotal role in fortifying India's cybersecurity ecosystem.

Bharat NCX 2023 will host a prestigious conclave, gathering over 200 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from government, public organisations, and the private sector. This exclusive gathering of industry leaders will provide a unique platform for in-depth discussions and deliberations on the evolving cyber threat landscape, the official added.

Cyber security exercise to strengthen India's cyber posture of critical sector

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This degree will forever be etched in my history: Tanzanian President Hassan on JNU honour

New Delhi, October 10

V isiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan who was on Tuesday conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Jawaharlal Nehru University said that the honour will be forever etched in her memory as it is the first award to her in a foreign country.

Speaking at JNU's Special Convocation ceremony conferring the Honorary Doctorate to her, President Hassan expressed her gratitude for the honour, which she termed added "colour" to her life history.

"Namaste everybody," the Tanzanian President said at the beginning of her speech.

"The world says, there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad. I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India, the Incredible India...," President Hassan said.

The Tanzanian President was conferred with the honorary doctorate in the presence of Union Ministers S Jaishankar and Dharmendra Pradhan, JNU Chancellor Ambassador Kanwal Sibaland the Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Santishree D Pandit.

"This degree will forever be etched in my history as the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country. Definitely, I've got one. I've got one from the University of Darisalla, but this is the first one to be conferred by a foreign University," the Tanzanian President said in her address.

Incidentally, Hassan became the first woman to receive the honorary award from the university.

Talking about the "Indian charm," Tanzanian President said India was described as "Incredible India" not just for "its beauty of landscape but also the generosity and kindness of its people."

Hailing the Indian presidency in the G20 summit and the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 grouping, she said that India has become a significant partner of Tanzania.

"We congratulate and command India for the successful completion of the G-20 summit and being able to advocate for Africa to be a firm member. Thank you. India played an important role in the decolonization of Africa. India provided material support for the armed deliberation struggle of Southern Africa. India is now our important partner."

Hoping to further strengthen ties with India, the Tanzanian President said, "We expect of India that India whenever it goes, whatever point of achievement reaches it will still have Africa and the Global South in our heart. We are living in a different era of confronting new realities and new challenges that India cannot overcome them alone."

Tanzanian President who is in India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday.

On Monday, President Hassan was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat.

This degree will forever be etched in my history: Tanzanian President Hassan on JNU honour

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ELKO  GET My Ride transports people with disabilities to and from work at Ruby Mountain Resource Center, takes children to school, and gives rides to people using wheelchairs and walkers, veterans and senior citizens who can no longer drive.

GET My Ride also has a contract with Amtrak to transfer riders from one side of the tracks to the other, and even provides rides from Jackpot to Twin Falls three times a week, but the transit program additionally gives rides to anyone who askswhen possible.

I really do believe it is a vital service to Elko and the surrounding communities. Its needed. I have the most amazing passengers. We help those in need or cant take a taxi, said Kayla Hopkins, the countys transit manager for GET (Greater Elko Transit) My Ride.

If you want a ride, you go through dispatch to book a ride. We are a demand and response service, she said.

Riders must pay a fare that ranges from $2 to $6 depending on the trip, although the fares may be paid to GET My Ride by state or federal money for passengers who qualify. Grant money allows seniors to ride for free, but GET My Ride can ask for a donation of half the fare.

Most of the kids who ride the bus fall within the two-mile radius, so they dont qualify for the bus through the school district, Hopkins said. Parents who are miners need help getting children to and from school because of their mine schedules.

She said there are 22 students on a waiting list, and the transit service had to deny 964 trips in a nine-month period because there wasnt enough time or drivers.

The county-operated bus services ridership is up, with a 28,402-passenger count from Oct. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31 of this year, compared with 27,401 the prior year, and Hopkins said in a phone interview that ridership is going up after a big drop during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We were only running one bus during the height of Covid, but this was at the same time that the county took over GET My Ride in-house, she said.

The county had been using a contractor to provide the bus service and dispatch, and Hopkins worked for the contractor, MV Transportation, as a lead dispatcher before the changeover.

GET My Ride, which is self-supporting with grant money from several sources, donations and fares collected from riders, must give rides to anyone who requests one because of the federal grant money for rural transportation, Hopkins said.

Commissioner concerns

Elko County Commissioners, however, voiced concerns on Oct. 4 that with GET My Ride providing rides to all with door-to-door pickup, the service is competing with private enterprise, most notably Elko Taxi, and they want to look at what can be done to be sure the bus service doesnt impact private businesses.

Weve competing against private businesses like Elko Taxi, said Chairman Rex Steninger, who went on to say that GET My Ride is stepping on the toes of the taxi company and commissioners need to find a way to accommodate them. He said the transit service is using its budget of a little more than $1 million in public funds to compete with private enterprise.

Steninger asked her whether if he called GET My Ride a bus would take him from the county building to Raleys to buy a six-pack of beer, and she answered yes, but only if a bus and driver were available.

Thats wrong. Thats why we have a taxi, Steninger said.

Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi said the government should always be sensitive about competing with the private sector, but he pointed out that most of GET My Rides ridership have physical difficulties, and he asked Elko Taxi President TJ Bingman if the taxi company can accommodate the handicapped.

Bingman, who told commissioners Elko Taxi is losing roughly $60,000 a year since losing a contract to transport a couple of people for medical treatments, conceded Elko Taxi doesnt have lifts for wheelchair-bound riders.

He said, however, that the passengers he lost who brought in the $60,000 through Medical Transportation Management are perfectly mobile. Elko Taxi stopped transporting them while trying to negotiate with MTM for more money, and that is when the county took over those passengers, he said.

GET My Ride currently picks up passengers at the door after ending its blue route during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Steninger said one solution to the competition question would be to go back to providing regular bus routes instead of pickups.

Hopkins said, however, that a number of the pickups involve people who need assistance.

Steninger said the competition question cant be solved now, but he asked Elko County Manager Amanda Osborne to work on a solution.

The countys first step will be to review all of the funding sources that support the public transit program, said Osborne in an Oct. 5 email. The BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) essentially asked staff to meet with Elko Taxi to see if there was an opportunity to partner, share or transition transportation services to the private industry.

Hopkins said by phone that I was caught off guard because I did not know this was an issue. We are not trying to step on Elko Taxis toes.

She said GET My Ride lets people who call for rides but cant be accommodated know that they can call Elko Taxi or the Salt Lake Express for out-of-town rides. Another option is Access to Health Care, which is a pretty new service that provides transportation to senior citizens or disabled residents.

GET MY Ride has six buses operating each day and would like to add at least one to the schedule, Hopkins said in her presentation to commissioners, also reporting that the community has asked for weekend services for shopping and church trips. Commissioners gave a thumbs down to weekend bus service, however.

Commissioner Travis Gerber said people dont need a weekend service, and not expanding into weekends could be part of the competition solution. He said people can shop on weekdays and get their churches to help with rides to services.

Commissioner Wilde Brough supported GET My Rides services to those who live out of town, especially the elderly who need to go to Elko for medical appointments, medications and shopping.

I dont know if they could afford a taxi, he said, but I understand we need to do something about the taxi.

Ridership details

The transit service operates Monday through Friday. Hopkins said service begins at 6:30 a.m. and the last run is before 5:30 p.m.

Passengers for GET My Ride must pay cash when boarding unless they have an account or punch card. Frequent riders can set up accounts, and their rides are debited, for example.

Zone 1 at $2 is for bus rides within the city of Elko, including Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital and Highland Village. Zone 2s fare is $3, which covers rides between the hospital and Spring Creek High School, between Highland Village and Osino, and between Mountain City Highway and Exit 298.

Zone 3 is a $4 fare between Spring Creek High School and Pleasant Valley Road, between Osino and Ryndon, and between Interstate 80 Exit 298 and the California Trail Center. Zone 4 is $5 for trips between Pleasant Valley Road and Lamoille, Ryndon and River Ranch exit, and the California Trail Center and Carlin.

Fares for Zone 5 are $6, for rides between River Ranch exit off I-80 and Wells.

GET My Ride also provides $6 trips from Jackpot to Twin Falls three days a week, Hopkins said.

Hopkins reported to commissioners that the service collected more than $1,600 in fares from Oct. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2023.

Most of the bus trips are within Elko city limits, but roughly 402 passengers per month, or 17%, are in Spring Creek, while Carlin has an average of 66 passengers per month, or 3%. Osino averages seven passengers per month, and Ryndon averages 20 passengers. Wells has an average of 26 passengers per month, or 1%, and Jackpot has had 332 passengers since January 2023, according to Hopkins presentation.

Hopkins presented figures that show the monthly average of 2,367 passengers breaks down to: 627 senior citizen passengers, or 27%; 516 student passengers, or 22%; 19 veterans per month, or 1%; 144 disabled passengers, or 6%; 273 wheelchair-bound passengers, or 12%; 220 passengers with walkers, or 9%; and 143 passengers with no disabilities, or 6%.

The service owns 10 buses. The two biggest ones can hold 22 passengers, and three of them hold 18 passengers. One holds 14 passengers, and the other vehicles carry nine passengers, Hopkins said by phone.

Elko County School Districts shop provides maintenance and repairs for the buses and bills the work to GET My Ride.

Theyve been amazing, Hopkins said.

Funding sources for the transit service include a federal grant for public transportation in rural areas, with various matches required; a grant from the Nevada Division of Aging and Disability Services, with a 15% county match required; and a grant from the Nevada Department of Veterans Services.

In addition, the City of Elko provides a $20,000 donation, passengers provided a little more than $1,000 in donations, and the school district provides an in-kind parking donation of $1,000 a month for GET My Ride vehicles. There are also agency-sponsored fares, and the Amtrak contract.

My drivers cant accept tips, but passengers can donate to GET My Ride, she said.

The Amtrak contract currently is for $200,000 a year but will be increasing, Hopkins said.

Under the contract, GET My Ride goes to Amtraks arrivals and departures platforms and transfers train passengers from one platform to the other, she said. The service also transports Medicaid patients from a platform but doesnt take other passengers into town.

A lot of times people want a ride to somewhere in Elko, and we say no. We even call for a taxi, Hopkins said in the phone interview.

Amtrak trains stop in Elko at 9:30 p.m. and 3:01 a.m.

For rides through the county transit service call dispatch at 775-777-1428 or text dispatch at 775-557-7785 or email elkotransit4@gmail.com.
More than a month after the U.S. Postal Inspection Service acknowledged it was investigating mail theft and check washing incidents in the Champaign-Urbana area, the investigation is continuing, according to Shari Rowe, a team leader at the inspection services Chicago Division.
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LAS VEGAS, NV  On Monday, Oct. 9, Gov. Joe Lombardo announced that he would lower the flags to half-staff and light the Nevada State Capitol Building blue in honor of the victims of the terror attacks in Israel.

The flags of the United States and the State of Nevada will be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol and all state public buildings and grounds beginning at sunrise on Tuesday, Oct. 10. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Following the attacks, Governor Lombardo released the following statement: My prayers are with Israel and the Israeli families suffering from Hamas unprovoked terrorist attacks today. These attacks are abhorrent, and Israel has a right to defend itself. Today  and every day  the United States and the American people stand with Israel.

In honor of the victims, Governor Lombardo delivered remarks at Temple Beth Sholom Monday evening alongside U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, Jewish Nevada, the Anti-Defamation League - Nevada, the Israeli American Council, and the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada.
Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood on Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory now suffering severe retaliation for the deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants
Israel has stepped up its offensive on the Gaza Strip in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas
Milwaukee suburb begins pulling millions of gallons per day from Lake Michigan

A Milwaukee suburb has finally started to pull millions of gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan after spending years seeking approval from multiple states and Canadian provinces
More than 60 years after being introduced, doctors have uncovered the first reliable evidence to confirm the belief that taking benzodiazepines such as Valium and Ativan intermittently rather than continuously is associated with fewer side effects and reduced falls, hospitalizations and deaths.

Benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Librium and Valium were first used to treat anxiety and insomnia in the early 1960's. By 1977, these were the most prescribed medicines globally; they are still regarded as reasonably safe and effective (although some patients developed tolerance, and became dependent on the drugs, while the risk of falls and fractures remains a concern in older people). They are still very widely used, but modern antidepressants (such as SSRIs) are more commonly prescribed.

Most studies on benzodiazepines ("benzos") only followed health outcomes for up to 6 to 8 weeks, meaning that there has been little information on the results of long-term use over months and years. This has led to conflicting views amongst doctors with some clinicians saying that benzo use should be limited to a few weeks to avoid the risks of tolerance and dependence, or even that they should not be given to people over 65 at all, whereas other doctors advocate long-term use as being acceptable.

The work is presented at the ECNP Congress in Barcelona, after recent peer-reviewed publication. Lead researcher Dr Simon Davies (of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada) said:

"Using a large, dataset from Ontario, Canada, we were able to examine how people over the age of 65 with anxiety or insomnia actually took benzodiazepines after starting them. We were also able to link this with other health outcomes. So this meant considering 57,000 people who took benzos regularly on most days over a period of six months (chronic users) and 113,000 matched people who took the medicines over a similar period, but with breaks where they didn't take benzodiazepines (intermittent users). We then followed both groups for a further year. The results were striking.

Our results show that changing the way people take benzos from chronic to intermittent could lead, over one year, to 20% fewer hip fractures 33% fewer in men), 7.5% fewer falls requiring hospitalization or emergency visits and a 24% fall in the chance of needing to go into long term care".

These are not just short-term consequences. Falls are the leading cause of death for people over 65 in the US and Canada. More than one elderly person in 5 who sustains a hip fracture dies within a year.

Dr Davies continued "This work shows that where possible, patients over the age of 65 with anxiety or insomnia who are taking Ativan, Valium or another benzo long-term would better not to stay on the drugs continuously. In practical terms there will be some who can't change or do not want to change. These results allow you to understand the excess risks of falls, fractures, emergency visits, long term care home admission and death that you are accepting using benzodiazepines chronically rather than intermittently. Of course, these are still prescription drugs, so they need to be taken under the guidance of your clinician".

Commenting, Professor Christian Vinkers (of Amsterdam University Medical Centres) said:

"This is a very important study, confirming once again the long-term benzodiazepine use should not be encouraged. The risk of falls, as well as cognitive side effects and impaired driving skills - with the risk of road accidents - make chronic overuse of benzodiazepines a public health issue. Of course, there is a small group of patients who should have access to long-term use, but it is reasonable to assume that this group is currently too large."

This is an independent comment, Professor Vinkers was not involved in this work.
In cases where standard therapies fail, a medication called XEN1101 reduces seizure frequency by more than 50% in some patients and sometimes eliminates them altogether, a new study shows. Unlike several treatments that must be started at low doses and slowly ramped up, the new drug can safety be taken at its most effective dose from the start, the authors say.

Focal seizures, the most common type seen in epilepsy, occur when nerve cells in a particular brain region send out a sudden, excessive burst of electrical signals. Along with seizures, this uncontrolled activity can lead to abnormal behavior, periods of lost awareness, and mood changes. While many available therapies control or reduce seizures, they fail to stop seizures in about one-third of patients and may cause harsh side effects, experts say.

Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a new clinical trial found that patients who added XEN1101 to their current antiseizure treatments saw a 33% to 53% drop in monthly seizures, depending on their dose. By contrast, those given a placebo had on average 18% fewer seizures during the treatment phase of the trial, which lasted eight weeks. Most patients then volunteered to extend the trial, with about 18% of those treated with the new drug remaining entirely seizure free after six months, and about 11% having no seizures after a year or longer.

Our findings show that XEN1101 may offer a swift, safe, and effective way to treat focal epilepsy. These promising results offer hope for those who have struggled for decades to get their symptoms under control." Jacqueline French, MD, study lead author, neurologist

French, a professor in the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Health, notes that XEN1101 was well tolerated by the study participants, who reported side effects similar to other antiseizure treatments, including dizziness, nausea, and fatigue, and the majority felt well enough to continue the regimen. Another benefit of the drug, she adds, is that it takes more than a week to break down, so levels in the brain remain consistent over time. This steadiness allows the treatment to be started at full strength and helps to avoid dramatic spikes that worsen side effects, and dips that allow seizures to return. This lengthy breakdown time also allows for a "grace period" if a dose is accidently skipped or taken late.

XEN1101 is part of a class of chemicals called potassium-channel openers, which avert seizures by boosting the flow of potassium out of nerves, stopping them from firing. French notes that while other drugs of this kind have been explored for epilepsy patients in the past, such treatments were taken out of use because the compounds were later found to gradually build up in the skin and eyes, prompting safety concerns, the researchers say.

Meanwhile, XEN1101 combines the effectiveness of potassium-channel openers with the safety of more traditional drugs, says French, who is also a member of NYU Langone's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. A report on the trial is publishing Oct. 9 in the journal JAMA Neurology.

For the study, which included 285 men and women with epilepsy and ran from January 2019 to September 2021, the research team recruited adults with epilepsy who had already tried and stopped taking an average of six drugs that failed to treat their focal seizures. Patients in the trial had to have experienced at least four episodes a month despite ongoing treatment to qualify. The patients were randomly provided either a daily oral capsule of XEN1101 (in doses of 10 milligrams, 20 milligrams, or 25 milligrams) or an inert placebo tablet that appeared identical to the real drug.

Among the results, the trial revealed no signs of dangerous side effects such as heart problems, allergic reactions, or concerning skin discolorations. However, French says that the research team plans to expand the number of patients exposed to the drug and monitor for potential issues that could arise in the long term, or include specific groups of people, such as pregnant women. In addition, the team also intends to explore XEN1101 for other types of seizures, including those that broadly affect the brain at the same time (generalized seizures).

"Our study highlights the importance of finding as many therapeutic options as possible for those who suffer from seizures," says French. "Since everyone responds differently, treating epilepsy cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach."

Funding for the study was provided by Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company based in Vancouver, Canada, that develops therapies for neurological disorders, including epilepsy and major depressive disorder. Xenon Pharmaceuticals is the maker of XEN1101.

French has served as a consultant for Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and has received past research and travel support from the company. She has also similarly received support from groups not involved in the study, including the Epilepsy Foundation, Aeonian/Aeovian; Alterity Therapeutics; Anavex; Angelini Pharma; Arkin Holdings; Arvelle Therapeutics; Athenen Therapeutics/Carnot Pharma; Autifony Therapeutics; Baergic Bio; Beacon Biosignals; Biogen; Biohaven Pharmaceuticals; BioMarin Pharmaceutical; BioXcel Therapeutics; Bloom Science; BridgeBio Pharma; CAMP Therapeutics; Cerebral Therapeutics; Cerevel Therapeutics; Clinical Education Alliance; Coda Biotherapeutics; Corlieve Therapeutics; Crossject; Eisai; Eliem Therapeutics; Encoded Therapeutics; Engage Therapeutics; Engrail; Epalex; Epihunter; Epiminder; Epitel; the Epilepsy Study Consortium, the Epilepsy Foundation, Equilibre BioPharmaceuticals; Greenwich Biosciences; GRIN Therapeutics; GW Pharmaceuticals; Janssen Pharmaceutica; Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Knopp Biosciences; Korro Bio; Lipocine; LivaNova; Longboard Pharmaceuticals; Lundbeck; Marinus Pharmaceuticals; Mend Neuroscience; Merck; NeuCyte; Neumirna Therapeutics; Neurocrine Biosciences; Neuroelectrics USA Corp.; Neuronetics; NeuroPace; NxGen MDx; Ono Pharmaceutical; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development; Ovid Therapeutics; Paladin Labs; Passage Bio; Pfizer; Praxis Precision Medicines; PureTech Health; Rafa Laboratories; Receptor Holdings; SK Life Science; Sofinnova; Stoke Therapeutics; Supernus; Synergia Medical; Takeda Pharmaceuticals; Third Rock Ventures; UCB; Ventus Therapeutics; Xeris Biopharma Holdings; Zogenix; and Zynerba. The terms and conditions of all of these relationships are being managed by NYU Langone Health.

In addition to French, other investigators involved in the study are Roger Porter MD, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; Emilio Perucca, MD, PhD, at the University of Melbourne in Australia; Martin Brodie, MD, at the University of Glasgow in Scotland; Michael Rogawski, MD, PhD, at the University of California, Davis, in Sacramento; and Simon Pimstone, MD, PhD; Ernesto Aycardi, MD; Cynthia Harden, MD; Jenny Qian, MS; Constanza Luzon Rosenblut, MD; Christopher Kenney, MD; and Gregory Beatch, PhD, at Xenon Pharmaceuticals.
An ongoing and open exchange between oral-health providers and family physicians can effectively improve the quality of their patients' treatment and wellbeing, and in certain cases even save lives. The closer the collaboration between dental and general practitioners, the bigger the improvement in their patients' treatment standards, particularly in relation to serious chronic conditions such as diabetes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Family doctors should be informed about gum diseases and their consequences, while oral health professionals should be made aware of the significance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors.

This lies at the core of the new outreach campaign Perio & Family Doctors, an initiative jointly developed by the EFP (European Federation of Periodontology) and WONCA Europe (European branch of the World Organisation of Family Doctors), and sponsored by Curasept, an EFP partner.

In 2022, 18 experts from the EFP and WONCA Europe examined the role of family physicians and the oral-health team and formulated a series of recommendations for both groups of clinicians. Their conclusions were published in a scientific consensus report published earlier this year in the EFP-edited Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

"This groundbreaking campaign marks a giant leap forward in enlightening family doctors, periodontists, and other oral health providers about the potential for closer collaboration. Together, we can proactively tackle and manage prevalent systemic health conditions that impact patients worldwide, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and hyperlipidemia," explains Darko Bozic, EFP president. "Our campaign is also addressed to the general public, as patients should be aware of the advantages and benefits of good oral health," Prof Bozic indicates.

"In light of our recent findings, it is imperative to recognize that periodontitis transcends its localized origins in the oropharynx," highlights Shlomo Vinker, president of WONCA Europe. "Instead, it emerges as a condition intimately intertwined with broader systemic disease states. To address this paradigm shift, the collaboration between dentists and family doctors becomes paramount. Together, we must institute proactive strategies for the early identification of periodontitis within primary care centers and, conversely, of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes within dental settings.

Prof Vinker adds: "Strengthening the bond between oral health professionals and family doctors is instrumental not only in the early detection and management of NCDs but also in fostering healthier lifestyles. The development and evaluation of pathways for early case detection of periodontitis in family medicine practices and NCDs in dental practices marks the next frontier in our collective pursuit of comprehensive healthcare."

The Perio & Family Doctors campaign materials include infographics and other digital content available at the EFP website at efp.org/periofamilydoctors/. "Our aim with these materials is to make visual and intuitive the core messages of the consensus report, which thoroughly examined the latest scientific evidence available supporting that periodontal disease, in particular periodontitis or chronic inflammation of the gums, is independently associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnoea, and Covid-19 complications," explains Prof Anton Sculean, chair of the EFP's Projects committee.

"Research shows that severe periodontitis is the sixth most common disease globally and yet its impact on general health is still so little known," says Giulia Giovannardi, International Business Development Manager at Curasept. "We at Curasept have always been committed to finding new innovative solutions to improve oral care. Oral care plays an important part in the general wellbeing of a person. For this reason, we are proud to support the research of our scientific partners to advance the level of awareness and treatment of patients."
Federal Bank has announced that the it has launched UPI (Unified Payments Interface) integration for NRI clients through its mobile banking platform, FedMobile. With this move, the financial institution aims to enhance banking convenience for its Non-Resident Indians clients.

Traditionally, NRI clients have faced challenges when it comes to making payments to merchants, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities where POS (Point of Sale) machines may not be readily available, the bank said in a statement.

Also Read: India Gains Popularity As Retirement Haven For NRIs From Australia, Canada, USA: Report

Shalini Warrier, executive director, Federal Bank, said, UPI has become synonymous with payments in India and in many countries worldwide. The Indian diaspora should not, in our view, be deprived of the benefits of this unique payment capability. The introduction of UPI for NRIs on FedMobile will enable our valued NR customers to transact seamlessly.

Key Highlights Of The Feature;

Expanded Accessibility: With the integration of UPI, NRI customers residing in countries approved by the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) permitting UPI for NRIs can seamlessly utilise UPI features through FedMobile.

The NPCI approved countries include Singapore (+65), Australia (+61), Malaysia (+60), Canada (+1), Hong Kong (+852), Oman (+968), Qatar (+974), United States of America (+1), Saudi Arabia (+966), United Arab Emirates (+971), and United Kingdom (+44). Additional countries will be included as and when approved by NPCI, the bank said.

Indian Mobile Number Compatibility: Any NRI customer with an Indian mobile number (+91) registered in the Banks records can also avail of this facility, further enhancing accessibility.

Versatile UPI Payments: With UPI on FedMobile, NRE clients can enjoy a wide range of payment options, including Send Money (via Mobile Number/UPI ID/Account Number), Scan N Pay (for any UPI-supported QR code), UPI Collect (using Mobile Number/UPI ID), and UPI Mandate approvals, including those for IPO Subscription.

The bank added that this feature is not limited to just FedMobile; it is also available through any UPI applications that support UPI for NRIs, providing NRI clients with flexibility and choice.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  The Nevada secretary of state's office will hold a presidential primary for Republican voters, despite the Nevada GOP saying they'll only honor the results of their party-run caucus to choose the Republican presidential nominee.

A second longshot Republican presidential candidate cast their name on the presidential primary ballot Friday, triggering a 2021 state law that requires the Nevada secretary of state's office to hold a presidential primary for the party.

Two presidential nominating contests are now scheduled over the span of three days in February, which could result in widespread confusion for Republican voters.

"I don't have the ability or the opportunity to determine which law or regulation I'm going to follow," Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said. "That's not my job as a regulator."

The Nevada Republican Party's decision to hold a caucus in spite of the state law has elicited criticism  even from within its own ranks  stemming from potential voter confusion and concerns the state party is attempting to tilt the scale for former President Donald Trump over other candidates.

Still, the caucus rules were approved in a vote by the state party's central committee members late last month.

One of the rules approved by the Nevada GOP bars any candidate from the Feb. 8 caucus if they participate in the Feb. 6 state-run primary, setting up an ultimatum of sorts for Republican candidates trying to decide between a primary that is purely symbolic or a caucus that many say is tilted toward Trump

Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, a fake elector in 2020 who tried to keep Trump in power after his election loss, has repeatedly defended the decision to run a caucus and maintained the rules were not set to benefit the former president. He also criticized lawmakers in Nevada's Democratic-controlled Legislature for rejecting Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo's proposed election laws, particularly one that requires proof of identification at the ballot box, instead of just when registering to vote.

"It gives each candidate the opportunity to perform. It's about getting their people out," McDonald said of the caucus in an interview after the state party approved the rules last month. "... And my job, as well as my goal, is to have the candidates get to know all our counties."

So far, Trump and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy are the only two debate-eligible candidates to commit to the caucus. The two Republicans so far on the primary ballot  Reno resident Heath Fulkerson and Texas resident John Castro  are unknowns. Castro has made some headlines for attempting to sue Trump to get his name off the primary ballots in several states, including Nevada, citing his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The Supreme Court said it will not take up the lawsuit at the federal level.

The rest of the campaigns have not announced which nominating contest they will participate in. But Never Back Down, a Super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, pulled its door-knockers from Nevada and other states  a move that super PAC founder Ken Cuccinelli said was prompted by the Nevada GOP's caucus plans.

The caucus also calls for voter ID, paper ballots and only same-day voting. Nevada's election laws, used in the state-run primary, require universal mail-in ballots, early voting, same-day registration, and require an ID to register to vote, but not at the polls.

Aguilar's office is launching a voter education project to inform voters interested in the presidential election. Still, he maintained that their outreach will strictly be about the presidential primary process his office is running, not the party-run caucus. He said caucus outreach is the job of the state party and the candidates opt for the caucus.

"If they determined this is the best interest of their party, that's up to them," Aguilar said. "It's not up to me to have an opinion about it."
IDFC First Bank has sold its office premises in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai to NSDL for Rs 198 crore.

In a regulatory filing late Monday, IDFC First Bank said it has entered into agreement(s) with National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) for the sale of its office premises located at Naman Chambers, BKC, Mumbai.

This sale deal is a part of consolidation of the banks operations near its corporate office at IDFC FIRST Bank Tower (The Square) at BKC.

Also Read: Mumbai Property Buzz: Registrations Hit A Decade High In September, Check Details Here

The consideration for the mentioned office premises amounts to around Rs 198 crore, it said.

The title and ownership of the office premises would be transferred to NSDL.

While the filing did not mention about the size of the office space sold by IDFC First Bank, property brokers said the size is nearly 70,000 square feet.

Real estate consultant Colliers India acted as the transaction advisor for the deal.

The bank had posted a profit after tax of Rs 765 crore in the first quarter of 2023-24.
Stocks To Watch On October 10: The GIFT Nifty October futures contract indicates a positive start to domestic equities in trade on Tuesday. The futures contract was trading at 19,618.50 , up 18 points or 0.09%. Here are the companies that will be on investors radar on Tuesday:

Maruti Suzuki: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Monday said it is looking to invest as much as Rs 1.25 trillion by 2030-31 to develop 10-11 new models, including six electric vehicles (EVs), and double its annual production to 4 million units. In a presentation, the countrys largest carmaker said it plans to dial up its presence in new vehicle segments, including hybrid, flex fuel and electric, particularly in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) format.

Adani Group: Adani Group has released a media statement condemning the Malicious Campaign by UK-based newspaper Financial Times, claiming that the media outlet has been rehashing old and baseless allegations to hamper the global reputation of the conglomerate. The Adani Group alleged that the articles in Financial Times were part of an extended campaign to advance vested interests under the guise of public interest.

Tata Steel: In the wake of alleviating risk from UK Operations, the Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of Tata Steel was upgraded to BBB- from BB+ by Fitch Ratings on Monday. The upgrade came after Tata Steel Limiteds standalone credit profile (SCP) was revised to bb+ from bb. The revision was made on account of the reduction in uncertainty and financial risk from its UK operations.

Hindustan Zinc: Vedanta Ltd on Monday said the tax authorities have imposed a penalty of Rs 1.81 crore on its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc. The order was received on Sunday, October 8, and Vedanta Ltd informed the exchanges. The order has been passed on the contention that the company had wrongly availed input tax credit, it said. The company further said it does not expect the order to have any financial impact on the company.

Star Health and Allied Insurance: The company received a notice from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence for payment of tax worth Rs 38.99 crore, the insurance firm said in its BSE filing on Monday. The company will file an appropriate response to the GST show cause notice within the prescribed timeline, stated the filing. The companys share value has declined by 0.63 per cent YTD and by 19.12 per cent in the last year.

Mahindra & Mahindra: Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Ltd on Monday said it has received the first tranche of Rs 300 crore out of the proposed Rs 600 crore investment by International Finance Corporation at a valuation of Rs 6,020 crore. Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Ltd (MLMML) was incorporated as a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and commenced commercial operations in September 2023 pursuant to the closing of asset and business transfer agreements with M&M.

Glenmark Lifescience: Glenmark Life Science, on Monday, announced an interim dividend of Rs 22.50 per equity share of Rs 2 each for its investors for FY24. The interim will be paid to eligible shareholders on October 23, 2023. The record date for reckoning the list of investors eligible for the interim dividend will be Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

Inox Green Energy Services: Inox Green Energy Services said on Monday it will divest a 100% stake in Gujarat-based Nani Virani Wind Energy Private Ltd, a 50-megawatt operational wind farm. Inox Green Energy Services (IGESL) has signed a term sheet for divestment of 100 per cent stake in Nani Virani Wind Energy Private Limited SPV, IGESLs parent firm Inox Wind Limited (IWL) said in a regulatory filing.

IDFC First Bank: IDFC First Bank on October 9 informed the stock exchanges that it has entered into an agreement with the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) to sell one of its premises in Mumbai for 198 crore. The office space that would be sold to the securities depository is located in Naman Chambers, based in the business hub of Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

GR Infraprojects/Patel Engineering: GR Infraprojects, in collaboration with Patel Engineering, has formalized the contract agreement with NHPC for the Dibang Power (Lot 4) project, valued at Rs 3,637.12 crore. Within the Dibang multipurpose project in Arunachal Pradesh, GR Infraprojects holds a 50% stake. The construction of civil works for Lot 4 is slated for completion within an estimated 86 months.
The proposal to modify the timings of schools in Bengaluru city has been overwhelmingly rejected by private management authorities, the citys transportation department, and a number of other stakeholders. The conclusion was made during a meeting on October 9 to explore changing school hours to reduce traffic. The meeting to address the school timing modification was originally scheduled for October 5, but it was eventually rescheduled.

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) convened the meeting in order to address Karnataka High Court directives on changing the hours of school in the Bengaluru Urban region. School administrations, parent groups, Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), transport department officials, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), and teachers associations were among the stakeholders who participated in the meeting.

According to the Indian Express, the traffic department advised against altering the Bengaluru school timing and instead urged using public transportation options, identifying traffic hotspots and stabilising the traffic surrounding schools. Currently, most private schools begin classes at 8:30 am, while government schools typically begin classes around 9:30 am.

The notion of altering school hours was rejected by private school administration. The citys traffic, they claimed, cannot be solved by adjusting school hours, thus there must be another approach.

During the discussion, it was proposed that civic sense be made a part of the school curriculum in order to enhance student awareness.

A hearing at the Karnataka High Court has been scheduled for today, and the education department is expected to convey the opinions expressed by various departments and stakeholders during the meeting that took place on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Karnataka High Court advised the state government to reconsider Bengaluru school timing and corporate hours of work. Traffic congestion has become a top issue concerning Bengaluru, one of the cities in the nation with the highest population growth, and it is a major source of inconvenience and a waste of peoples precious time. The citys traffic is regarded as possibly the worst or slowest in the country.
Various women students of Delhi Universitys Bharati College were allegedly secretly filmed in the washroom while they were changing costumes during a college fest organised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The incident happened on October 6. CCTV footage showed the individual responsible for secretly filming the women students was identified to be part of IIT Delhis housekeeping staff, reported Indian Express. Following this, an FIR was filed.

In regard to the incident of alleged sexual harassment of girls at IIT Delhi, the high court has taken Suo Motu Cognizance of the issue. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula of Delhi HC has said that the incident shows lapses in security during college fests across universities. Such recurrent instances show lacksidical approach of college authorities.

These recurrent instances shed light on the lackadaisical approach of authorities organizing such festivals in envisaging and enforcing protective mechanisms, aimed at ensuring the safety of students participating in or attending the event. In our opinion, it is imperative that adequate security measures are put in place, allowing the students to attend such events without any impending fear of experiencing such acts of violation, the bench said.

The Delhi HC also issued notice to the Delhi University, IIT-Delhi, and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, reported LiveLaw. The bench has asked the police to file a status report in two weeks. It was informed by the Delhi Polices counsel that a case has been registered under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The accused is now in judicial custody.

The Delhi Police shall, within two weeks from today, file a status report detailing the action taken against the accused associated with the incident at IIT Delhi on October 6, 2023, the bench added. The court also added that prompt steps need to be taken to prevent further such incidents from happening.
After being success in Karnataka, home voting facility will also be provided in the upcoming assembly elections in five states  Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Mizoram, which will ease the process for more than 42 lakh voters (above the age of 80 years or persons with disability).

The Absentee Voter as per the clause (aa) of Rule-27A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 are employed in essential services, senior citizens over 80 years, and persons with disability and Covid-19 suspects or affected persons who have the optional facility of postal ballot.

According to the data from the Election Commission (EC), more than 42 lakh voters in the five states are either above the age of 80 years or are persons with disability (PwD). At least 32,410 voters are above the age of 100 years in the five states. Further, 17.34 lakh voters are in the PwD category while 24.7 lakh are those above the age of 80 years.

The EC on Monday announced the schedule for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana.

The polling in five states will start from November 7 with Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. While Mizoram will have single-phase polling, Chhattisgarh will see voting in two times on November 17 as well. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 17, while single-phase elections will take place in Rajasthan and Telangana on November 23 and 30, respectively.

Among these states, Rajasthan has the highest share of PwD (5.60 lakh), voters above 80 years (11.78 lakh) and centenarian citizens (17,241).

Telangana has 5.06 lakh PwD, 4.44 lakh above 80 years and more than 7,000 centenarian voters. In MP, there are 5.05 lakh PwD, 6.53 lakh over 80 years and 5,124 centenarian voters.

Chhattisgarh has more than 1.6 lakh PwD, 1.86 lakh who are over 80 years of age and 2,462 centenarian voters. In Mizoram, the number of PwD voters stood at 3,243. While those above 80 years of age are 8,500 and above 100 years are 578 in numbers.

Why Home Voting?

During the Bihar assembly elections in 2020 amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of ballot voting for a section of voters was introduced. This continued for other states as well that went for polls in early 2021 when the virus was spreading. It was also carried out in Gujarat elections in December 2022.

This not only eases the voting process for these groups but also ensures their participation in the elections.

During the Karnataka assembly elections in May, the turnout in the 80+ group stood at around 95% with 75,690 voted from their home. In case of PwD voters, the turnout was around 97%.

How Does Home Voting Work?

Firstly, these voters, who wish to cast the vote through ballot, have to make an application to the Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency concerned, in Form-12D. This application should be submitted within five days following the date of notification of the elections.

BLOs have the duty to visit the houses of the absentee voters and deliver Form 12D. If these voters wish to opt for ballot, then the BLO will collect the filled-in-Form 12D and deposit it with the RO.

It is also important to note that this facility is optional and does not involve any postal department for mailing arrangement. Rather, a polling team including two polling officials along with a videographer and security will go to the electors house with a voting compartment and get the elector to vote on the postal ballot maintaining complete secrecy of vote.

To ensure transparency, the list of all these voters opting for home voting is shared with the contesting candidates of recognised political parties in printed hardcopy.

Not just a list but the candidates are also given the schedule of voting and the route chart of the polling parties so that they can send their representatives to witness the polling procedure.

After the voting, the ballots are stored securely with the RO. Counting of these votes are done with other votes.

On Monday, while announcing the poll dates, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the poll body has directed the Chief Electoral Officers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana to take necessary steps for the dissemination of information and extending facilitation to the above categories of voters.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed caste census an X-ray of the country that will throw light on the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals, and said his party would force the Centre to conduct this exercise come what may. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not speaking on the issue of caste census.

We will force the central government to conduct a caste census, come what may, to know the truth about the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the country. Our governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have initiated a process for it, Gandhi said. He was addressing a public meeting at Beohari in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, a day after the dates for the state assembly polls were announced.

Caste census is an X-ray of the country. Tribals, Dalits, OBCs of the country are injured. Let us checkIt will clear the picture, he said. We challenged PM Narendra Modi to release the data of the caste census done by CongressBut instead of talking about it, he talks about Pakistan, Afghanistan and SouthSpeak on caste census, the former Congress president added.

Referring to a book written by Bharatiya Janata Partys veteran leader L K Advani, Gandhi said the book mentioned that Madhya Pradesh, not Gujarat, was the laboratory of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevan Sangh (RSS). But Madhya Pradesh is a laboratory of several scams like medical treatment to deceased persons, Vyapam, mid-day meal, atrocities against tribals and women, among others, he targeted the BJP government in the state.

The single-phase assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17.
A BJP leader accused in a rioting case and a villager whose son was killed in a communal clash have been given tickets by the saffron party for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls scheduled next month. While the opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh has justified its decision to field these two candidates, a political observer said communalism may feature in the state poll campaign this time.

Asked whether the BJP was trying to raise the issue of communal violence by giving these tickets, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, No matter how hard they try, it will not be an issue. Ishwar Sahu, whose son was killed in a communal clash in Biranpur village of Bemetara district in April this year, has been fielded from Saja assembly constituency, while Vijay Sharma, the BJP leader who was named as accused in an incident of rioting in adjoining Kabirdham district in 2021, will contest from Kawardha seat. The two names featured in the BJPs second list of 64 candidates released on Monday.

The BJP has so far declared candidates for 85 out of the total 90 assembly seats in the state, which will see voting in two phases on November 7 and 17. Talking to reporters, Ishwar Sahu said, I would like to thank the BJP which has given a chance to a poor man to become its member. They have given me such a big responsibility and I will fulfil it with complete dedication. When my son was murdered, all the Hindu brothers supported me and came to my house and stood by me in my sorrow and pain. I will visit every Hindu brothers house and beg for justice for my son, he added.

Ishwar Sahus son Bhuneshwar Sahu (22) was killed in the violence which erupted in Biranpur, located 100 km from state capital Raipur, in Saja assembly constituency (Bemetara district) on April 8 after an altercation between some school children from two communities. On April 11, a man, Rahim Mohammad (55), and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of Biranpur, were found murdered a few kilometers away from the village with multiple injuries on their bodies. The district administration then imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of four or more people, for nearly 20 days in the village. The Chhattisgarh government later announced to give a government job and financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of Sahu, but the family did not accept the money. According to district officials, Ishwar Sahu had said he will think over the government job after his younger son attains the age of 18 years.

However, Sahu accepted a cheque of Rs 11 lakh handed over to him by the BJP. Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao, former chief minister Raman Singh and other senior party leaders had visited Sahus house. On Monday, the state BJP in a post on X said, Congratulations to Shri Ishwar Sahu, who is father of Sanatani youth late Bhuneshwar Sahu killed in Biranpur, for being nominated as the BJP candidate.

Saja seat is currently held by senior Congress leader and state Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, an influential Brahmin leader and a seven-term MLA. The BJP has also fielded Vijay Sharma, a rioting case accused who is a member of Kabirdham Zila panchayat and general secretary of the state party unit, from Kawardha seat (Kabirdham district).

On October 3, 2021, a clash broke out between people belonging to two communities over removal of religious flags from a thoroughfare in Kawardha town. Two days later, right wing outfits took out a rally in the town in protest against the incident during which violence took place. BJP MP Santosh Pandey, former parliamentarian Abhishek Singh and Vijay Sharma were among those named in the FIR registered on charges of rioting, abetting the riot and others provisions in connection with the violence. Sharma was arrested and later released on bail.

The Kawardha seat is currently represented by Mohammad Akbar, a prominent Muslim leader from the Congress and state forest minister. A four-time MLA, Akbar contested from this seat for the first time in 2018 and won by a big margin of 59,284 votes against BJPs Ashok Sahu, a former MLA, despite the seat having a sizeable population of Sahus. Asked about the BJPs strategy to field Ishwar Sahu and Vijay Sharma, senior BJP MLA Dharamlal Kaushik told PTI, We want justice for the victims family in the Biranpur incident and for the victims side in the Kawardha incident. We have tried to ensure justice to them by nominating the two candidates for the polls.

Kaushik further hit out at the Congress and said the grand old party and its INDIA bloc allies have been abusing Sanatan Dharma and talking about destroying it. People will give them (Congress and its allies) a befitting reply in every election, he added.

Queried whether the BJP was trying to raise the issue of communal violence by giving tickets to Sahu and Sharma, CM Baghel on Monday said, No matter how hard they try, it will not be an issue. There were other BJP workers in Saja (from where Sahu has been fielded). He (Sahu) is a purely non-political person. The Congress had earlier accused the BJP of doing communal politics for want of real issues. Political expert R Krishna Das said communalism had never been an issue in the state politics, but this time it is likely to feature during the campaign.

He said the BJP has been aggressively targeting the Congress government, accusing it of practising appeasement politics and claiming it to be the government of Bhupesh-Akbar-Dhebar (referring to state minister Mohammad Akbar and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar). The selection of candidates in Saja and Kawardha indicates the party may raise the the issue of communal violence during the upcoming elections to woo voters in the states central region, largely inhabited by the OBC population, he added.

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The north-eastern state of Mizoram will vote in Assembly elections in a single-phase on November 7, with the counting of votes to be held on December 3. With a 40-seat Assembly, Mizoram has mostly witnessed bipolar fights between the Congress and Mizo National Front (MNF), with the electorate voting for change every third election.

This time, however, the MNF is facing a tough challenge from the Zoram Peoples Movement, which relegated the Congress to the third position in the last elections. The BJP completes the top four in the electoral competition.

According to political experts, both the ZPM and the Congress are hoping that political polarisation on ethnic lines following violence in Manipur may boost their chances. The Mizo Nationalist Front has been trying to capitalise on Mizo nationalism over the influx of Chin-Kuki-Zomi refugees from Myanmar and Manipur to the state. Despite a direction to the effect from the central government, Chief Minister Zoramthangas government has not implemented biometric identification at the borders.

Amid the ethnic violence in Manipur, Kukis have received full support from the MNF. The Kuki and Zo people from the hills of Manipur leave for other parts of India, mainly to seek employment, via Aizawl. Since Kukis and Mizos identify as the same race, the violence in Manipur is bound to have an impact on Mizoram elections, say observers.

In July, Zoramthangas rally in solidarity of the Kuki people in Manipur had even invited stinging criticism from Manipur CM Biren Singh.

Speaking to News18, MNF leader Tochhawng said: We are very, very confident of winning the elections. We are well-prepared. The MNF party is the biggest party. The main opposition Congress has also now been replaced by the Zoram Peoples Movement. The BJP also does not have much impact here. They only won one seat in the last election.

In the 2018 elections, the MNF had bagged 28 seats and the Congress won five seats in the 40-member Assembly. The BJP had won one seat, while the ZPM won six seats though these were Independents then.

The BJP does not have much of a foothold in Mizoram, but last week minister K Bachua jumped ship to the saffron party. The BJP had supported the MNF the last time, but is going it alone in the upcoming election.

Speaking to News18, MoS for Minority Affairs looking after Mizoram, John Barla, said: They have not implemented national schemes. There are problems thats why we are going with Modijis development plank now and we will get good number of seats.

With a minister defecting to its ranks, the BJP is hopeful of a good showing. The Congress, which once was one of the main parties here, is geared up to give a good fight despite losing some political relevance in the state. The ZPM is a young party, but has stronger base in urban areas than in rural ones.

Meanwhile, with Mizoram having a sizeable Christian population, several parties and organisations have written to the Election Commission to reconsider the counting day for the north-eastern state since December 3 falls on a Sunday.
BJPs candidate list for upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh has held up the partys trend of offering an electoral launch-pad for bureaucrats, sometimes to the disenchantment of party cadre.

Since his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been known to place immense faith and trust in bureaucrats. On Civil Services Day in April this year, he lauded bureaucrats as the agents of change and emphasised how his government had freed bureaucracy from the shackles of protocol and hierarchy.

In focus for the upcoming elections, is the so-called IAS trinity of candidates.

Chandramohan Meena

Meena is a retired 1980-batch IAS officer fielded by the BJP from Rajasthan this year. He will be fighting from Bassi constituency, a reserved seat. Former additional chief secretary of Rajasthan, Meena was appointed Information Commissioner of the desert state in 2015, a year after the BJP swept to power at the Centre.

When buzz of a ticket to Meena started doing the rounds, some party workers landed at 6A, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg in Delhi last week to expresse opposition. BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh met them but the party went ahead with Meenas candidature nonetheless. Sources privy to the developments said the party workers told Santosh to choose any cadre, but not an outsider. Meena had joined the BJP in June.

OP Chaudhary

OP Chaudhary is a 2005 batch former IAS officer, a young gun in terms of experience. But he quit bureaucracy to join the BJP. His Twitter bio mentions he is a PM excellence awardee. Chaudhary is currently BJP General Secretary in Chhattisgarh. Both on social media as well as on ground, his popularity has raised eyebrows in the last few years after a leadership vacuum was created following BJPs defeat in 2018 and with former chief minister Raman Singh focussing more on his central role.

On Monday, the BJP fielded him from Raigarh. Soon after his name was announced in Delhi, he chose to visit his mother to seek her blessings and posted a video of the same on his social media pages. Chaudhary hasnt tasted electoral success so far. He lost the last election from Kharsia.

Neelkanth Tekam

Neelkanth Tekam joined the BJP this August after quitting the elite service. Now his name finds mention in BJPs Chhattisgarh list and he will contest from the Keshkal constituency, which is a reserved seat.

His entry into the BJP was a spectacle too. With 3,000 supporters joining his bike rally, Tekam joined the BJP in the presence of Om Mathur. I have quit my job. However, my agenda remains the same, he had said.

Tekam had then alleged that he was forced into a desk job by the Congress government.

The 1994 batch former bureaucrat hails from Maoist-dominated Bastar district. He has also served in Dantewada, often called the den of left wing extremism.

BUREACRACY TO POLITICS

Poll-bound states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have witnessed a series of former bureaucrats joining the BJP in recent months.

Nannu Mal Pahadiya, a 2007 batch IAS officer, quit his job and joined the saffron party in July.

In fact, not just IAS, but IPS officers too have been joining the BJP. Pahadiyas batchmate Mahesh Bhardwaj joined the party a few months ago. Another former bureaucrat from Chandramohan Meenas community, Gopal Meena, joined the BJP too recently. All of them are lobbying hard with the BJP to be fielded, say sources.

Party insiders say the growing phenomenon has much to do with PM Modis strong belief in delivering governance in a corporate fashion where everyone can be held accountable.

Some of the most powerful ministers in the Union cabinet are former bureaucrats  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was Indias foreign secretary during Sushma Swarajs tenure, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri served as the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is a 1994-batch IAS officer who served in Atal Bihari Vajpayees PMO where he helped create the public-private-partnership framework in infrastructure projects, and Indias G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant is one of Indias most powerful bureaucrats today.
Winter season is always a great time for fans of Indian reality television. With popular franchises like Bigg Boss and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa premiering towards the end of each year, fans of the genre remain glued to their screens with excitement. With both Bigg Boss and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa premiering soon, the internet is rife with speculations about which celebrities will be appearing on either show.

Recently, Times Of India confirmed that actor Aamir Ali will be partaking in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11. This stint will mark the actors return to the small screen after nearly four years. The report quoted a source as saying, Yes, Aamir has been confirmed. He was in discussions with the makers and his contract was recently formalised.

Interestingly, Aamir was also reportedly in talks with the makers of Bigg Boss 17, scheduled to premiere on October 15. However, the actor has chosen the dance reality show over Salman Khans Bigg Boss.

The source also added, Stand-up comedian Rajiv Thakur and wrestler Sangeeta Phogat have also been finalised. We are now in the process of locking the hosts. The news went viral on social media and many fans of the franchise expressed their views online.

BREAKING! Actor Aamir Ali, Wrestler Sangeeta Phogat and a comedian Rajiv Thakur is CONFIRMED for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11. pic.twitter.com/GK8e2sV7Pn #BiggBoss_Tak (@BiggBoss_Tak) October 9, 2023

One person wrote, Aamir Ali . Another added, Aamir Ali rejected the offer of BB11 too at the last moment. He should come in jhalak. He is a damn good dancer. He n Sanjida had fantastic Jodi. However, another person wrote, Its a wrong decision to choose Jhalak over Bigg Bosshowever controversial Bigg Boss is, but it makes you a star and your popularity manifolds. Jhalak does not give that push in popularity.

Meanwhile, one fan of the dance reality show added, Sangeeta Phogat se jo uljhega use to patak patak ke maregi Another fan commented, Rajiv Thakur is an Underrated Comedian.

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa will reportedly premiere in November this year. Earlier, News18 exclusively reported that Nora Fatehi will not be returning as a judge to the show this year.
Electrical grid failures have been pinpointed as sources of some of the countrys most damaging and deadly wildfires  the 2018 Camp and Woolsey fires in California, the 2020 Santiam Fire in Oregon and the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado. When the smoke dissipates, the cost of paying for these disasters hits utilities, and their customers, hard.

In the wake of the devastating fires, Nevada lawmakers passed legislation in 2019 requiring that the states primary electric utility  NV Energy  draft periodic plans outlining steps to prevent such a disaster from happening here.

In the years since, NV Energy has developed an extensive plan and invested millions of ratepayer dollars into mitigation efforts.

The latest NV Energy Natural Disaster Protection Plan (NDPP), which spans from 2024 to 2026, addresses preparation work for an array of disasters, including earthquakes, wind events, floods and mudslides, with the bulk of its focus on wildfires. The plan specifically targets nine areas of extreme or elevated fire risk ranging from Lake Tahoe to Elko. All but one of the targeted areas  in the Spring Mountain Range outside of Las Vegas  are in Northern Nevada, mostly in the Reno-Tahoe-Carson City area.

In the plan, NV Energy is forecasting $43.5 million for Southern Nevada projects, including wildfire cameras and moving lines underground, and $127.6 million for Northern Nevada.

Funding for the NDPP is collected from all NV Energy customers, without considering their geographic location. That geographic imbalance has led large corporate customers and the states consumer advocate to cry foul to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUCN). They argue that slapping higher rates on all NV Energy customers  the majority of whom live in Southern Nevada, outside the highest risk zones  is not a fair solution.

Despite those protests, the PUCN this summer approved the newest plan and, with a 2-1 vote, the funding mechanisms for work done under the past plan. Rate changes go into effect this month.

Southern and Northern Nevada NV Energy customers pay different rates and base charges, including those for basic service and per kilowatt hour of consumption, but all customers, NV Energy argues, should be responsible for fire prevention because all customers benefit from natural disaster prevention.

The charges are nominal  a fraction of kilowatt hours used  for most residential customers. But for corporate power users such as gaming companies MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts  who have objected to how the plans are funded  the costs could be much higher because the NDPP and other volumetric surcharges scale up for large power users. Attorneys with the states Consumer of Bureau Protection (BCP) are also worried that ratepayers are funding direct costs outside of their service areas.

The multiyear battle raises an increasingly pressing public policy question as climate change fuels more erratic weather patterns: Are natural disasters statewide or local issues?

SB329 and the need for a natural disaster protection plan

In 2018, massive wildfires burned across the West. In California, the Mendocino Complex and the Carr fires burned hundreds of thousands of acres that summer; in November, the town of Paradise burned in the Camp Fire, killing 85 people and destroying more than 18,000 structures.

It was on the heels of those wildfires that former state Sen. Chris Brooks (D-Las Vegas) introduced SB329 during Nevadas 2019 session.

The bill requires utility companies to submit a natural disaster plan to the PUCN every three years. Expenses related to paying for the NDPP would be recovered through a separate line item on customers power bills.

The Camp Fire in California and similar events throughout the country have shown us that an improperly built electric grid can wreak havoc on residents, Brooks said when presenting the bill. We must prevent this from happening in our state.

The response to natural disasters and the repair afterward is largely paid for by state tax dollars, and those are paid for proportionately across the state, Brooks said in a recent phone call with The Nevada Independent, adding that if the response and repair are paid for by all Nevadans, prevention should also be paid for by all Nevadans.

Its shortsighted to think wildfire doesnt impact the whole state, he said.

The bill passed in the Assembly 38-2, and unanimously in the Senate before being signed into law by former Gov. Steve Sisolak.

NV Energy submitted its first natural disaster plan to the PUCN in 2020 and its plan for 2024 to 2026 earlier this year.

The future and current disaster plans were approved without complaint  but the debate over who pays for the work done under the plans continues to rage.

Funding plans spark opposition

NV Energy collects funds from customers retroactively  with the approval of the PUCN  for work completed under the NDPP. Southern Nevadans will pay nearly $20 million for work completed last year in Northern Nevada, according to the BCP, and more than $67 million over the past four years.

Disaster prevention is a statewide benefit, the utility argues, citing language in SB329 for support. In 2020, lawmakers including Brooks wrote to the PUCN, clarifying that a single, statewide rate was the intent of the legislation.

A single rate is exactly the cost-effective strategy and method the Nevada Legislature intended, they wrote, adding that Natural disasters, whether they be wildfires in Lake Tahoe or Mount Charleston, or a monsoon affecting the Las Vegas strip will affect the economy of the entire state.

In a 2022 filing with the PUCN, NV Energy piggybacked off the sentiment of the letter, stating most Nevadans will benefit from the NDPP. Its also pointed out that the charged NDPP rate comprises a very small percentage of the average bill and will likely remain a small percentage of the average bill and will likely remain a small percentage in the future, according to testimony provided by Cary Shelton-Patchell, NV Energys director of revenue requirement and regulatory accounting.

But the question of how rates are allocated across the state has been a recurring theme in regulatory filings, according to Jesse Murray, vice president of electric delivery and natural disaster protection for NV Energy, with the BCP and Southern Nevada gaming companies the primary objectors.

Large or small percentage, the BCP disagrees with the distribution of the NDPP charges across the state, stating that the payment by Southern Nevadans for work done in Northern Nevada was ordered in the absence of substantial evidence to justify it.

To be clear, the BCP takes no issue with the NDPP in general, attorneys for the agency said in a request for reconsideration. The BCP takes issue with the decision to alter the reasonable and just premise that the cost causer pays.

Whitney Digesti, senior deputy attorney general for the BCP, did not return a call to The Nevada Independent, and Ernest Figueroa, Nevada State Consumer Advocate and head of the BCP, did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Is disaster preparedness a local or statewide problem?

NV Energy has identified nine zones in Nevada as having extreme and elevated risks of wildfires.

About 80,000 customers live in the wildfire risk areas  about 500 in the Mount Charleston area, with the rest in Northern Nevada, Murray said. Since 2020, NV Energy has been halting power in some of those areas to protect power lines from sparking wildfires, primarily around Mount Charleston. There were several outages during 2021 and 2022, while there was just one shutoff in Northern Nevada in 2022, in Jacks Valley outside Carson City.

This year, Mount Charleston was hit with heavy flooding in the wake of Hurricane Hilary, which dropped record-breaking rain on the region and hundreds of customers lost power.

The NDPP largely focuses on work in and around these zones.

Natural disasters dont know boundaries  All of us are in this together, and that was the founding premise of 329, said Rich Harvey, chief of the Central Lyon County Protection District.

His agency is one of multiple throughout the state that formed partnerships with NV Energy to complete work  funded by the utility  under the NDPP.

The most common disaster in Nevada is fire  and its one of the easiest to mitigate, he said. It makes sense to focus our efforts where frequency and competency meet.

In Genoa, just south of Carson City, a fire mesh product is being added to power poles so that if a fire breaks out, the mesh will expand to form a protective barrier around the poles. Trees near Mt. Rose Ski Resort and around Incline Village in Lake Tahoe are being removed to protect infrastructure from the risk of wildfires. In the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, vegetation is being removed around the base of power lines.

The win for me is there is some fuel reduction work and there is a little more muscle power in Northern Nevada  Southern Nevada too  where, if there is a fire, we can use those resources to reduce everyones damages and threat, Harvey said. If we do one good thing and prevent one Camp Fire or Dixie Fire or Lahaina Fire, we have paid 100 times over for everybody.

But the NDPP is not designed to prevent natural disasters, David Chairez, regulatory manager for the BCP, said in June testimony to the PUCN. Its purpose is to ensure public utilities have a plan to provide safe and reliable service by identifying areas of high risk, minimizing the risks of its utilities causing a fire, and efficient restoration of the utilitys distribution system in the event of a disaster  but no plan can outright stop natural disasters.

No amount of NDPP spending is going to prevent a natural disaster that results from a lightning strike igniting a wildfire in a drought-stricken forested area, he said. No amount of NDPP spending is going to prevent a human-caused disaster that results from a person igniting a wildfire by tossing a cigarette in a drought-stricken forested area. No amount of NDPP spending is going to change the geological science of the causes of earthquakes.

While the bulk NDPP projects are focused on wildfire mitigation in Northern Nevada, natural disasters of any type could still impact the state, according to the states Joint Information System Center, which forecasts potential natural disasters and their impacts. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake along the Frenchman Mountain Fault in Southern Nevada could result in more than $7 billion in economic loss, according to the center.

The center also forecasts potential wildfires but does not include economic impacts; however, studies show recent wildfires around Nevada have cost millions.

The 2021 Caldor Fire, which threatened South Lake Tahoe, caused $50.3 million in direct and indirect losses in Tahoes hotel, restaurant and tax receipts  some of that along Tahoes east shore in Nevada  over just a four-week period, according to a study by Tom Harris, director of UNRs Center for Economic Development.

Harris likens paying for the NDPP to paying for health or car insurance.

This year, the south had the fires. When things are random, you cant forecast, he said. When you have randomness, you come up with something like this where everybody pays in.

Everyone pays their premium. Sometimes Southern Nevada gets their premium back, sometimes Northern Nevada does.

Bradley Mullins, an energy and utilities consultant representing Wynn Resorts, counters that those premiums have been paid, and now the burden of funding needs to shift.

Initial work under the NDPP provides a statewide benefit, he told the PUCN in June. After the initial few years of hardening infrastructure for wildfires, the work becomes routine maintenance, the statewide benefits are reduced, and it is appropriate for customers in their respective service territories to shoulder the cost of maintaining their own systems at safe and reliable levels.

Keeping Nevadans properties  and NV Energys pocketbook  a bit safer

In July and August, NV Energy staff watched as the York Fire, which burned through the Mojave National Preserve, crept into Southern Nevada, threatening some of its infrastructure. It was contained before NV Energys transmission lines were affected, but had the fire burned further north, it would have affected lines that power Searchlight and Laughlin.

Those types of threats were not considered a decade ago, Murray said. But over the past few years, residents and insurance companies affected by wildfires have sought payback from power companies whose equipment have sparked Western wildfires.

In May, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a $150 million settlement between its safety and enforcement division and Pacific Gas and Electric for the utilitys involvement in the 2020 Zogg Fire. The blaze killed four people, injured one and destroyed more than 200 structures. Of the $150 million, $10 million was a penalty, with the other $140 million in shareholder funds reinvested for new wildfire mitigation initiatives.

In June, an Oregon jury ordered PacifiCorp, owned by Berkshire Hathway (the same company that owns NV Energy) to pay punitive damages as well as property damage and emotional distress for causing a series of wildfires over Labor Day weekend in 2020 that killed nine people and burned more than 5,000 structures. The property damage and emotional distress fees totaled more than $70 million to 17 plaintiffs, with possible additional damages to a broader class of plaintiffs.

The following month, dozens of insurance companies sued Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy after one of its sparking power lines was found to be a major contributor to the 2021 Marshall Fire, which burned more than 1,000 homes and killed two people.

NV Energy did not want to become PG&E East, Harvey said. You have these power distribution company-caused fires that are being called negligent. How do you prevent negligence? You do what SB329 said  and harden our infrastructure and put defensible space around our infrastructure.
The unprecedented multi-pronged attack attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israels southern flank has served a major blow to the countrys security and intelligence apparatus and resulted in huge casualties on the Israeli side.

The weekend attack by Hamas has killed more than 900 people inside Israel and also foiled peace efforts in the Middle East. Israel has meanwhile started the counteroffensive in which they have claimed to have found 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants around the Gaza Strip.

Hamas wasnt expecting establishing their state or a military win against Israel, which has built one of the best defence system and intelligence in the world. However, the coordinated attack on Saturday seems to have crushed the Israels aura of invincibility and the failure of the intelligence and military is likely to haunt Israels policymakers for years.

Quest for Palestinian Leadership

One of the possible reasons behind the surprise attacks is that Hamas has been competing with the Palestinian Authority for the leadership of the Palestinian cause, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Hamas has differed with the Palestinian Authority on several issues including the Oslo Peace Accords. During the peace treaty in 1993, when Yasir Arafat agreed to the Accords with Israel to end the conflict, Hamas opposed the deal and launched a series of suicide bombings in Israel.

In the recent years, the Palestinian Authority has been believed to be indulged in corruption and misgovernance and accused of being complicit with Israel in the Palestinian cause.

Therefore, the trust deficit towards the Palestinian Authority leaves no doubt that the Hamas leads the Palestinian effort at liberation and self-determination.

End Saudi-Israel Normalisation Talks

The other reason is that the attack by Hamas was possible with the backing of Iran to end the normalisation talks between Israel and the Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia.

Recently, US President Joe Biden was mediating the peace talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which could lead to lasting peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian cause was the point of contest in the normalisation talks between the two countries.

However, with the recent attack, the normalisation talk is threatened to delay or derail the years-long, country-by-country diplomatic push by the US to improve relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

The normalization efforts began under former President Donald Trumps administration and was branded as the Abraham Accords.

Once the talks would have been accomplished, it would have created a new alliance between the Gulf states and Israel and benefit Tel Avivs diplomacy against Irans axis of resistance. The pact would also have been a legacy-defining achievement for Biden, Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Iran was clearly against the bilateral relations between Israel and Arab nations. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, We are against any bilateral relations between our regional countries and the Zionist regime.

We believe that the Zionist regime is intending to normalize this bilateral relations with the regional countries to create security for itself in the region, he added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Hamas attacks may have been driven in part by a desire to scuttle the United States most ambitious part of the initiative: the sealing of diplomatic relations between rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Benefit to Hezbollah

While, Hamas launched the multi-pronged attack from the southern flank, Hezbollah fighters started launching missiles and mortar shells against Israel. Hezbollah said it had fired artillery shells and guided missiles at Israel, in solidarity with attacks launched from Gaza by its ally Hamas.

The move by Hezbollah suggested that it also wants escalation. Hezbollah has been losing grip over various segments of Lebanese society due to allegations of corruption, intervention in the Syrian conflict and the ongoing investigation into the 2020 Beirut port blast, according to The Conversation.

The move by the Lebanon-based armed group might be to rally support and escalate the situation, especially in the face of waning domestic and international support.
A carefully coordinated land and air attack by Hamas on Israeli territory caught the country off guard and resulted in the deaths of 900 people in Israel. The devastating attack by the Palestinian armed group has put a spotlight on Mohammed Deif, a shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, who was born and raised in a refugee camp in Gaza.

The fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces enters its fourth day on Tuesday as the Palestinian group which captured about 150 people in the surprise assault, threatened to execute the hostages if Israeli air strikes continue targeting Gaza residents.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel planned to carry out a massive assault against Hamas with unprecedented force.

Who is Mohammed Deif?

Mohammed Deif, a handicapped Palestinian fighter, has been the head of Hamass military wing since 2002. According to a report in TRT, Deif has led the Qassam Brigades, the military offshoot of Hamas since 2002.

He was born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in the Khan Younis refugee camp in Palestines Gaza during the 1960s. He got his education from the Islamic University of Gaza.

Gaza, during that point, was under Egyptian control (from 1948 to 1967). It came under the Israeli rule after the Six-Day War in June 1967, when Israel managed to capture Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, and Golan Heights.

Deifs uncle or father had reportedly participated in the 1950s raids by armed Palestinians into the same area that Hamas fighters infiltrated during the weekend attack on Saturday.

Just like Hamass handicapped spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in 2004, Deif runs the Qassam brigades from a wheelchair in the last two decades. He is listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US Department of State.

Deifs mentor is said to be Yehya Ayyash, the engineer renowned for building Hamas bombs and other weaponry.

Deifs Role in Hamas

Hamas, an Islamic Resistance Movement, was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada or Palestinian uprising following Israels occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

According to a report in FT, Deif was in his 20s during the first intifada. He was also jailed by the Israelis, who held Deif responsible for the deaths of people during suicide bombings.

Deifs relationship with Hamas is considered to have begun at the Islamic University of Gaza, where many Palestinian leaders joined the nations liberation movements during their university period. He is supposed to have joined the Qassam Brigades, shortly after the Oslo Accords, signed by Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1993 to negotiate an end to the conflict based on a two-state solution.

Mohammed Deif has long advocated attacking Israel and is reportedly uninterested in the internal Palestinian leadership struggles.

After the latest attack on Israel last week, Mohammed Deif said Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch.

Survived Israeli Assassination Attempts

The Hamas commander has been hunted by Israel for decades and has been on the countrys most wanted list for more than 20 years. He was almost killed in an air strike 20 years ago that left him in a wheelchair after losing an eye, an arm and a leg.

Mohammed Deif had been at the top of Israels most wanted list for years and survived at least seven Israeli assassination attempts ever since he started leading the Qassam Brigades in 2002, in which his wife and two kids were killed.

In the year he took over, an Israeli helicopter fired missiles at a car near Gaza City in which two Hamas members were killed and 40 others were injured.

Israel admitted to attempt assassinating Deif in a targeted strike on a house in 2014, during which his wife and children were killed.
Chintan Upadhyay, husband of deceased Mumbai artist Hema Upadhyay and three others have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the artist and her lawyers murder in 2015.

A sessions court in Mumbai last week on Thursday held Chintan Upadhyay guilty of conspiring to kill his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Haresh Bhambhani, and abetting their murder.

Additional sessions judge SY Bhosale of the Dindoshi court heard the arguments on the quantum of sentence on Saturday.

Three other accused, namely, Vijay Rajbhar, Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar, were convicted of murder under Indian Penal Code section 302 and other relevant offences.

The prosecution had said it will seek the maximum punishment of death for all the convicts.

Upadhyay was held guilty under IPC sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) and 109 (abetment). Following the conviction, Chintan Upadhyay, who was out on bail, was sent in judicial custody till Saturday.

Special public prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade had told the media that he will be seeking capital punishment as one of the victims, Haresh Bhambhani, was a lawyer.

Hema Upadhyay and advocate Bhambhani were killed on December 11, 2015, and the bodies were stuffed into cardboard boxes and thrown into a ditch in suburban Kandivali.

Vidyadhar Rajbhar, who is accused of executing the murders, has been absconding.

Chintan Upadhyay was arrested soon after the murders for allegedly conspiring to eliminate his wife. He spent nearly six years in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2021.
Amid fierce battles between Hamas gunmen and Israeli troops, the members of the Palestinian militant group killed a woman at her home and live-streamed the act through her Facebook account. The deceaseds granddaughter said she came to know about her grandmothers passing through the video on the dead womans social media account.

Talking to Visegrad24, the young woman said her mother received a call from her aunt asking her to open Facebook.

Israeli girls says she found out Hamas had murdered her grandmother because the terrorists had taken her grandmothers phone, live-streamed the murder and posted it on the grandmothers Facebook wall pic.twitter.com/0c28xcGea1 Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 9, 2023

My mother could not open it as she was trembling. I opened it from my phone and I saw the worst you could possibly imagine. My grandmother was on the floor of her house being murdered. The entire floor was covered in blood with my grandma lying there. The terrorist took her private phone, filmed the act, and put it on her private Facebook wall, the inconsolable girl said.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes pounded downtown Gaza City, home to Hamas centers of government, with relentless bombardments into early Tuesday, after Israels prime minister vowed retaliation against the Islamic militant group that would reverberate for generations.

The 4-day-old war has already claimed 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighborhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if strikes targeted civilians without warning.

Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes leveled buildings.
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday.

The confrontation erupted in the early hours of Tuesday when security forces initiated an operation against militants based on intelligence indicating their presence in the Alshipora area of the district.

In the ongoing search operation, two terrorists have been neutralized. Additional information will be provided shortly, stated the Kashmir Zone Police in a post on X.

The police asserted that one of the deceased operatives from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was implicated in the earlier killing of bank guard Sanjay Sharma this year.

Killed terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar of terror outfit LeT. Terrorist Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay Sharma, Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vijay Kumar said in a post on X.
He served five years as Prime Minister Narendra Modis private secretary right after he assumed office in 2014. His peers say he has made a big contribution in shaping Indias diplomatic policies towards Israel, and maintained careful and sensitive approach on the Israel-Palestine crisis. Meet Sanjeev Kumar Singla, a 1997-batch IFS officer, who is currently holding Indias fort in Israel as ambassador, managing 18,000 Indian professionals, students and 85,000 Jews of Indian-origin.

Among his peers, Singla is known as an expert on Israel and other West Asian countries as he served in the country before 2014 too. Prior to his appointment as PMs private secretary, Singla served in the Indian embassy in Israel between November 2013 and July 2014. He was appointed Indian ambassador to Israel in October, 2019.

Apart from being in Israel for the longest time, Singla has served in several capacities in Indian Missions in Paris (France), Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Geneva (Switzerland). He also served in crucial positions at the US desk, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and was appointed as the director at foreign secretarys office.

A senior IFS officer, who worked with Singla in the MEA, said he has contributed significantly in shaping Indias diplomatic and strategic ties with Israel.

From 1950 onwards, Indias foreign policy with Israel has evolved in three phases, where the first stage involved no political ties. Post 1992, Indias foreign policy towards Israel was formally upgraded and both countries entered into diplomatic ties. After PM Modis visit to Israel in 2017, both countries started having strategic partnership on several issues, primarily on innovation and knowledge, the senior IFS officer further said.

Singla leads a seven-member team of officers in the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv.

Singlas Significant Contribution to India-Israel Ties

In the Israeli context, PM Modis statement post the Gaza attack on October 7 by Palestinian military group Hamas was carefully drafted. The PM mentioned the attack as a terrorist attack but did not name Hamas or Palestine or Gaza, instead he sided with Israel clearly.

Post his visit in 2017, PM sensed that Israel is going to be a crucial partner for India. Israel has a history of helping India with weaponries and other related technologies during such high-profile wars. Additionally, the Israeli governments defence strategy towards the terrorists groups was unambiguous, said a retired IFS officer explaining Singlas role.

PM Modi sensed that the partnership (with Israel) will evolve into an important one. He wanted an officer with whom he can communicate and who can implement his ideas, contributing to the (India-Israel) diplomacy to a great extent. That is why he picked Singla, who was then serving as his private secretary and had a brief experience in the embassy in Israel too, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu called him on Tuesday and provided an update on the ongoing situation in Israel which is under attack from the Hamas terrorist group.

I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023

During their conversation, PM Netanyahu reassured PM Modi about the safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel.

I thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, PM Modi posted on social media site X (formerly Twitter).

This is the second time Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the terrorist attack on Israel. PM Modi on Saturday said: Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour, PM Modi said on October 7, on the same day Hamas launched a multi-pronged offensive against Israel, targeting civilians.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Tuesday said that they have regained control of the border with Gaza. The IDF spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said there were no fresh reports of incursion. Engineers have been deployed in parts where the fence has been destroyed.

The Israeli ambassador to India Naor Gilon thanked PM Modi and Indians for their continued support to Israel. Thank you again PM Narendra Modi. Since we get SO MUCH support from our Indian brothers and sisters, Im unfortunately unable to thank each and every one of you personally. Please accept this as my gratitude to all our friends, Gilon said.

Israel is targeting locations inside the Gaza Strip and said bodies of 1,500 Islamist terrorists were found in the southern towns recaptured by the army near Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israels military campaign following Saturdays surprise mass onslaught was only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and change the Middle East.
The Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday withdrew its application submitted to the Mumbai civic body seeking permission for a rally on Dussehra at the iconic Shivaji Park ground here.

The decision, which avoided fresh wrangling between the Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde over the venue, was taken so as not to cause a dispute during Hindu festivals, Shinde faction MLA Sada Sarvankar said in his letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The Shiv Sena (UBT) led by former chief minister Thackeray has already submitted an application to the BMC seeking permission to hold its Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, a civic official said.

Dussehra will be celebrated on October 24.

The BMC had received applications on August 1 from Sarvankar and another from the Shiv Sena (UBT) on August 7 for permission for rally, the official told PTI.

But on Tuesday, Sarvankar announced the decision to withdraw the application, and said the Shinde-led Sena will hold its rally somewhere else in the city.

This year too Shiv Senas Dussehra festival should be celebrated with enthusiasm. To avoid differences among each other during Hindu festivals, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Honourable Eknath Shinde Saheb took a conciliatory stance by announcing that the Dussehra rally will be held elsewhere, the MLA from Mahim (assembly constituency in which the ground is located) wrote on X.

A civic official said the BMC on Tuesday afternoon received a letter from Sarvankar, withdrawing the application made by him.

It was being withdrawn as per the directive and suggestion of chief minister Shinde for avoiding any differences among each other during a Hindu festival, and the Hindu community and Maharashtra lovers can enjoy the festival with joy, Sarvankars letter to the BMCs G-North ward office said.

Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray started the tradition of holding his partys Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park in the late 1960s, and it continued year after year.

But last year, after the Shiv Sena split, both the rival camps sought to hold their respective rallies at Shivaji Park, and the BMC denied permission to both citing law and order concerns.

The matter then landed in the Bombay High Court which granted permission to the Thackeray-led Sena faction to hold its rally at Shivaji Park. The Shinde camp held its rally at the MMRDA ground on the same day.

When Bal Thackeray died in 2012, he was cremated at Shivaji Park. Sena workers call the ground Shiva-tirtha, or a holy place, which now also houses the late leaders memorial.
As winter approaches, the spectre of stubble burning in Punjab once again clouds the region. Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have implemented Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Level One measures due to air quality concerns. Burning of crop waste has commenced in Punjab, affecting air quality, with the AQI in some areas crossing 200. However, the states agriculture minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, claimed that the parali (stubble) pollution of Punjab doesnt impact the air quality of Delhi, and his state was being unjustly blamed every year. He also said that efforts were being made to contain the incidents.

In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News 18, Khuddian mentioned that the state is witnessing reduced figures of stubble fires this season. The government has taken several steps to raise awareness, which has received support from farmers, he added.

It is a well-known fact that stubble burning contributes to air pollution. However, the percentage of contribution and its impact on the national capital have been subjects of longstanding debates.

In Punjab, despite claims by the state government, farmers continue to engage in stubble burning, and this is expected to increase with time. As of October 8, the state has recorded over 1,000 fire incidents this season, with areas like Amritsar and Tarn Taran being the worst affected.

Minister Khuddian, while discussing the efforts, said, Every year, there is a reduction in stubble burning cases. We have introduced at least 117,000 machines to utilise this stubble. We have explored other options, which farmers have also embraced. The situation is improving. We have had incidents this year, but these numbers are under control. There are very few incidents, and they have occurred in a comparatively smaller area. This year, the agricultural department is providing a subsidy of Rs 350 crore for 23,000 machines."

The minister also disputed claims made by some farmers that on-site mixing of stubble affects crop quality. He emphasised that these concerns are being addressed and that Punjab is committed to supporting its agricultural community.

When asked about pollution due to the practice, the minister stated, Delhi is 350 kilometres away, with Haryana in between. We are being unjustly blamed without any valid reason. Pollution in Delhi has its sources, including factories and units within the city itself. Pollution from Punjab cannot reach Delhi."

Regarding crop patterns and government support, Khuddian assured that Punjab would provide the necessary support for diversifying crops. He acknowledged that farmers are increasingly exploring alternative crops, aligning with the governments efforts to ensure sustainable agriculture.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to be bestowed with the honour.

President Hassan arrived in India on a four-day visit on Sunday.

She has been awarded the honorary degree for her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism.

Hassan, the first woman president of Tanzania, went down memory lane to share her journey  from being born in a humble family in an African village to becoming the president of her country.

The world says there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad, she said in her acceptance speech.

I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India the incredible India, she added.

Hassan noted that India has always been a shoulder to lean on in the struggle against colonialism.

In our struggle against colonialism, India has always been a shoulder to lean on. Together, we can be a formidable voice championing effective positive changes. This honour comes with responsibilities and expectations. My heart is beaming with gratitude by this profound recognition bestowed upon me by the great university. I extend my appreciation for deeming me worthy of this degree  my first by a foreign university, she added.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.

Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillar. Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to east Africa along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the (COVID-19) pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides, Jaishankar said.

Education Minister Pradhan said India is implementing the new National Education Policy, the foundation of which is built on the pillars of access, equality, quality, affordability and accountability.

Tanzania is a key African partner of India and we count on your support to amplify the aspirations of the Global South, especially on education and human resource development. Skill-focused and market-aligned higher education are to be delivered to the youths of both the countries in a collaborative manner, Pradhan said.

The minister highlighted that India has a vibrant higher education ecosystem with 55,000 institutions, 42 million students and 1.6 million teachers, which needs to be further strengthened with an aspirational National Education Policy that is bringing transformative reforms.

The Tanzanian president received training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Hyderabad.

ITEC is a capacity-building programme offered by the Ministry of External Affairs under which officials and civilians receive training in the defence sector.

Addressing the occasion, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit called the convocation a display of nari shakti and women-led development in Amritkaal and congratulated Jaishankar and Pradhan for Indias stride towards a successful G20 and National Education Policy, 2020.

We celebrate nari shakti today. Women-led development in Amritkaal. Tanzania is a great friend of India and JNU is happy to be a part of this ceremony, Pandit, the institutions first woman vice-chancellor, said.

She also invited President Hassan to a lecture series at JNUs Centre for African Studies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Hassan, with a focus on boosting overall bilateral ties.

Before the talks, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Hasans visit is an opportunity to take the long-standing ties between the two countries to new levels.

President Hassan will also participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi later on Tuesday.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) in Soc Trang province. (Photo: VNA)

Sene Dolta is the largest traditional festival of the Khmer people in the southern region and Soc Trang in particular. It has been preserved and celebrated through many generations, serving as an occasion for clans and families to come together, strengthen their bonds of love and unity, and foster connections among friends, relatives, and the community as a whole.

Chairman Hue hailed Soc Trang as a province with a moderate level of development in the Mekong Delta. Its populations are mostly Kinh, Khmer, and Hoa (Chinese) ethnic groups. Among them, the Khmer community is the largest, accounting for over 30% of the local population, making Soc Trang home to the biggest Khmer population in the country.

He asked the board and the committee to accompany local authorities at all levels and urge residents to follow the Party's policies and guidelines and State laws.

The provincial Party Committee, authorities, Fatherland Front, political-social organisations, and relevant agencies were required to effectively follow the Party and State's policies and guidelines regarding ethnic and religious affairs.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (centre) speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

He presented gifts to the board and the committee, the southern Pali education complementary school, and Huynh Cuong ethnic boarding high school, and witnessed the symbolic donation of 5 billion VND (208,000 USD) from the Vietnam National Petroleum Group to support the "For the Poor" Fund in building 100 houses for poor, near-poor and extremely disadvantaged households in the province.

Later, the top legislator is scheduled to pay working trips to Hau Giang province and Can Tho city./.
The Websters Dictionary defines terror without any ambivalence as violence or the threat of violence used as a weapon of intimidation or coercion. It now turns out that Hamas followed this dictionary definition with maniacal attention to detail when it attacked Israel.

Horrific videos posted by Hamas gunmen testify to what is being called ISIS-like brutality waged on unsuspecting innocent Israeli citizens.

Because the dictionary definition was so precisely followed, only the exceptionally hard-hearted would deny that Hamas executed an act of terror.

The world is shocked by the testimonials of torture. It is also horrified by the satanic exultations of the Hamas gunmen at the wanton desecration of Israeli lives. It hasnt therefore taken very long for top world leaders to condemn Hamas unequivocally and define its actions as terror.

Even Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that his government unequivocally condemns terror in all its shades.

I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023

Ordinarily, images of gratuitous violence should not be aired out of respect to the deceased. But when there is an attempt at painting Hamas in shades of grey, to rationalise its hateful zealotry, the videos serve as vital proof to counter the propaganda.

Indeed, there has been an attempt at whitewashing Hamass crimes against humanity. Some have chosen to draw a false moral equivalence between Hamas and the Israeli state to justify the terror attack. This tendency has also been displayed by many Indians, especially opposition politicians. Despite, India being a victim of Islamist terror, a number of political parties that are part of the INDIA bloc have refused to name Hamas or even call out its barbarity in their official statements.

A resolution passed at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, its highest deliberative body, makes no mention of Hamas. In fact, with blithe disregard for the facts, it places the blame for the violence at Israels door. The CWC resolution is not much different in this regard from the Marxist branch of the Communist Party of Indias statement on the strikes in Israel.

CWC resolution

Support rights of Palestinians to land, self-government

Support rights of Palestinians to live with dignity & respect

Call for immediate ceasefire and negotiations

Left statement

Israeli aggression by the right-wing Netanyahu govt

Israel has killed over 200 Palestinians this year

Israel is the aggressor state in the conflict

When questioned on the selectivity of their moral indignation, leaders from the INDI Alliance deftly cited past precedence. They have justified their stand by stating that even late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who led the NDA 1 coalition, supported the Palestinian cause.

While it is true that all Indian governments have backed the Palestinian cause, it is disingenuous to suggest that the support extended to underwriting any and every means that Palestinian leaders may deploy to achieve the ends of liberating Gaza and the West Bank from Israeli control.

The Gaza Strip is today controlled by Hamas after it won an election in 2008.

True face of Hamas: Undeniable hard facts

Hamas is a spin-off of the Palestinian branch of Muslim Brotherhood

Hamas is inspired by Muslim Brotherhood which has links to terror groups in J&K

Hamas charter calls for the destruction of Israel

Hamas seeks establishment of an Islamic state in Gaza & West Bank

Hamas backs liberation of Muslim lands including Kashmir through force

Hamas seeks solution to Palestine issue in line with the objectives of jihad

Hamas is militantly opposed to PLO led by Yasser Arrafat or any other PLO-linked organisation

Hamas sabotaged Oslo Peace Accords by carrying out a string of suicide attacks in Israel in 1993

Hamas is reportedly funded by Iran & Turkey

Hamas was expelled from Jordan in 1999 for pursuing armed resistance

Egypt restricts the movement of Hamas leaders out of Gaza

June 2023 poll by Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR): 50%+ Palestinians support Hamas

Hamas is designated a terror organisation by US and EU

The hard facts suggest that it would be a profound error of judgement to romanticise Hamas gunmen as freedom fighters. Aside from the crazed objectives of the Hamas charter of governance, it must not be forgotten that the organisation rejected the mission of Yasser Arafat, a reformed terrorist who denounced violence.

The late PLO chairman negotiated the Oslo Accords with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The accords would have gone a long way in establishing a just peace. The Indian states support for Palestine is an endorsement of that quest for peace that has been long jettisoned by Hamas. Hamas has rejected any talks with Israel as such a dialogue would not result in a solution that conforms with the objectives of jihad.

It isnt hard to see why it prefers jihad over dialogue. Hamas is the Palestinian offshoot of the Islamic Brotherhood. The latter has links to terrorists who have attacked India in Kashmir. Hamas not only vows to annihilate Jews and pledges itself to the destruction of Israel but it is also committed to liberating what it calls other Muslim lands, including Kashmir. In all these lands, it wants to establish an Islamic state.

Hamas deeply divides the Muslim world. Nations like Egypt and Jordan have ousted Hamas leaders from their soil as they dont condone their brand of religious violence. Unfortunately, Hamas is here to stay. Not only does it thrive on the oxygen it is supplied by woke leftists, but it has been able to indoctrinate millions of Gaza residents who are willing to vote for it in overwhelming numbers.
An 18-year-old woman has been arrested for the murder of her two sisters, aged six and four, in a village in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. The minors were found beheaded at their home.

The incident took place around 8pm on Sunday in Bahadurpur village under the Balrai police station area. The deceased have been identified as six-year-old Surbhi and four-year-old Roshni. Their mutilated bodies were found in separate rooms at their home, a police officer said.

Kanpur range inspector general of police (IG) Prashant Kumar said that the minors, daughters of one Jaiveer Singh, were allegedly killed by their elder sister Anjali Pal. He added that the 18-year-old has confessed to the crime.

We are trying to ascertain the motive in this case, Kumar, who is heading the investigation, was quoted by Hindustan Times.

The report stated that the police have also questioned three men along with the accused woman in connection with the case registered under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (concealing evidence or giving false information) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

We are questioning her, and the reason behind the murder will be ascertained soon, Etawah senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sanjay Varma was quoted, adding we are also looking at the involvement of the three men.

The murder weapon  a spade  was recovered from the house, along with the clothes worn by the accused on Sunday. The police was quoted as saying that the forensic team found blood stains on the spade and the garments, washed ostensibly to get rid of evidence, officers said.

Jaiveer, his wife Sushila, their sons Nand Kishore (12), and Kanhaiya (8) were not present at home when the incident occurred, the publication mentioned.

Initially, Anjali told the police that when she allegedly returned home, she saw her sisters bodies in one room and their heads in another, the report stated.

Jaiveer Pal, whose spade was recovered from the house, told the police that while he had used it in the morning, it appeared to have been cleaned, officers were quoted. The officers also found some clothes left outside to dry.

The accused reportedly gave contradictory explanations of her days events when questioned by the police. This led to 18-year-old being taken into custody for further interrogation.

She admitted to the crime and was taken into custody on Monday afternoon. She told the police that she went to the fields after the murder and returned just as her father and brothers were pulling up, a senior officer was quoted, requesting anonymity. She has also been given medical checkup. Further investigation is underway.

A report by news agency PTI quoted police as saying that the minor girls found Anjali getting intimate with her partner in the absence of their parents, following which she killed them.
Two statements issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last three days have underlined a key pointthat India is firmly against the terrorism perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli soil. India has univocally termed the Hamas onslaught on Israel on October 7 a terror attack, and neither of PM Modis statements so far has mentioned Palestine.

It seems that India is drawing a distinction between the two-state solution that the Modi government has backed in the past, and a dastardly terror attack by Hamas that specifically targeted innocent civilians, including women and children. We are against terror, and with Israel. That is what we are simply saying. No one can, and should, justify the events of October 7 which saw killings and abductions of civilians. We do not need to say more, a government source told News18.

Prime Minister Modis October 10 statement after a telephonic talk with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu added the point that India denounced terrorism in all forms and manifestations to clearly accept no justification for the October 7 attack. A second Indian source explained to News18 that India itself has been the victim of similar terror incidents like the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, and hence will stand with Israel against Hamas, and also as a wider message to other sponsors of terrorism like Pakistan.

The October 7 strike was reminiscent of the 26/11 attacksHamas used gliders in the air and ground forces to infiltrate and attack Israel, with citizens being shot inside their homes and on the streets, while in Mumbai, the terrorists came by sea from Pakistanthe source said.

Indias stand is in line with major Western powers on this issue. However, the Foreign Ministry has issued no official statement of its own so far on the issue and there is a nudge now from West Asian nations to India to come out with a more nuanced statement on the matter. The Foreign Ministry has so far cited the PMs statement.

Underlining terror

PM Modis first statement on October 7 said India was deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israelour thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

On October 10, Modi spoke to Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. PM expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel and conveyed that people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour. He reiterated that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the government statement said.

Both these statements have hence focused on denouncing the terror act of October 7. By adding the term terrorism in all forms and manifestations on October 10, India has made its stand clearer. Experts have described these attacks in Israel as equivalent to the 9/11 attacks on the USA by al-Qaeda. Congress leaders, while citing the CWC resolution that has batted for Palestine, are pointing out how PM Modi visited Palestine in 2018 and advocated for the two-state solution. However, the BJP government is clear that it is focusing on the October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel at present.

Safeguarding Indian citizens

Significantly, PM Modi also highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel during his talk with Netanyahu who has assured full cooperation and support, the Indian statement said. The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch, the government said.

The Israel foreign ministry has also thanked PM Modi for his statement on Tuesday after his conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Hundreds of Indian students and citizens are in Israel and the government is planning a rescue effort for them.
The Amazon Xperience Arena took place at Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, University of Delhi and gave media, influencers and customers a chance to experience their favourite brands and products while participating in fun engagements. Across the seven interactive zones at the event, customers competed to win exciting rewards and a chance to interact with their favourite product line-ups across categories.

Amazon India today announced the commencement of their on-ground engagement with the Amazon Xperience Arena in Delhi NCR, as part of its festive celebration.

The Amazon Xperience Arena moves to Jaipur on 12th October 2023 with the subsequent editions in Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. The Amazon Xperience Arena curated in the form of life-size boxes is set to become the citys attraction for a day!

During the event, customers will enjoy deals on the widest selection of products at great value and the convenience of fast and reliable delivery. Customers will get access to more than 5,000 new launches along with exciting offers across categories including Grocery, Fashion & Beauty, Smartphones, Large appliances & TVs, Consumer Electronics and more. Customers can also get upto 10% instant discount on SBI credit & debit Cards & EMI transactions, no-cost EMI on debit & credit cards, exciting offers* from other leading credit/debit cards, and much more.

Saurabh Srivastava, Vice President, Amazon Fashion India says, Amazon Great Indian Festival 2023 will deliver unparalleled shopping experiences, and this year promises to be bigger and better. As we opened doors to the Amazon Xperience Arena in Delhi, were thrilled to provide our customers with a unique glimpse into the exciting deals and offers awaiting them during the Amazon Great India Festival 2023. For Fashion and Beauty enthusiasts, we have over thousands of new launches from over 50+ brands on Amazon.in. Delhi is one of the top

performing cities for Amazon Fashion. We have observed an increase in demand for premium products from Delhis fashion enthusiasts and Gen Zs are opting for K-pop-inspired (Korean) and nostalgia-driven trends, such as 90s and early 2000s styles.

The brand also announced Delhi as one of the top-performing cities for Amazon Fashion and Beauty. Ahead of the festive season, there is an increased demand for premium fashion and beauty brands, ready-to-wear attires/sarees, and K-pop-inspired and nostalgia-driven trends. Customers on Amazon Fashion will get access to more than 6000 new launches, 1 lakh + latest trending trends, and 4.7lakh+ products are on deals this festive season along with same-day delivery on 1500+ top brands.

Here are some of the Fashion and Beauty trends observed on the website across the state:

1 in 2 customers shopping on Amazon.in are Gen Z and from North of India

Customers in Delhi show a strong inclination towards premium products such as premium sarees on the newly launched Saree Store

The Gen Z customer has a strong preference for K-pop-inspired attires such as oversized clothing, including baggy pants and oversized blazers and nostalgia-driven fashion trends from 90s and early 2000s styles. Gen Z is also opting for indo-western styles like print-on-print sets, ethnic co-ords, and pre-draped sarees.

Increased demand from customers in Delhi for global beauty brands on our Global beauty Store, like blush, lipsticks, lip tints, BB Creams and multi-purpose products

Amazon Fashion is the largest fashion destination for customers seeking trending fashion brands with access to 40 lakh+ styles from over 1200+ fashion brands like Puma, FabAlley, Biba, Aurelia, Jockey, LOreal, Minimalist, Fastrack, Crocs, Adidas, Maybelline, Allen Solly, Peter England, among others. The customer will also experience an elevated shopping experience with the integration of cutting-edge technologies like virtual try-ons across multiple beauty categories, outfit builders, and Style Snapan image-based search tool that empowers customers to upload an image and receive product suggestions closely aligned with the items depicted in the image.

According to a recent study conducted by Nielsen Media** commissioned by Amazon India, consumers across India are bullish, excited and more eager-than-ever to shop online during this festive season. Amazon.in emerged as the most trusted and loved online shopping destination. 81% of consumers intend to shop online during this festive season; 1 in 2 consumers are willing to increase their spending this festive period compared to last year; over 75% of consumers trust e-commerce platforms to offer genuine products and find it most convenient for festive shopping. 68% of consumers find that Amazon.in offers them the convenience to shop online and it is the top-most trusted and loved online destination for festive shopping; 75% of consumers find the widest range and selection of products and brands on Amazon.in. Amazon.in is the most preferred online brand for consumers across India to shop for Large Appliances (51%), Mobiles/Smartphones (44%), Consumer Electronics (43%), Grocery items (41%), Home and Kitchen (40%), Apparels, Footwear & Fashion Accessories (38%), and Beauty (35%). Consumers plan to spend across a wide range of categories during this festive period, from high-value items to daily essentials; 75% are interested in buying electronic gadgets and products (smartphones, TVs, refrigerators, ACs), luxury and authentic beauty brands, home furnishing/improvement items and consumables, online.
In India, attitudes towards mental health and mental wellbeing have been gradually evolving with increased awareness and conversations towards reducing the stigma. In its 3rd year on Mental Health Day, ITCs Feel Good with Fiama Mental Wellbeing Survey unveils interesting facts to further understand young Indias changing attitudes towards mental wellbeing and mental health. Commissioned with NielsenIQ, the survey covers a gamut of beliefs, behaviours, major stressors and de-stressors for GenZ and Millennials towards mental health.

Cinema, like in many other parts of the world, plays a significant role in raising awareness about cultural influences and behaviours. The Feel Good with Fiama Mental wellbeing Survey, 2023 reveals that Gen Z and Millennials believe that better portrayal of mental health in cinema will influence perceptions and drive conversations. Mental wellbeing in recent years has gained some prominence in broadcast content and the survey highlights the need to explore more positive portrayal. 82% of the survey respondents feel that TV/OTT can be instrumental in influencing perceptions about mental health. 77% believe that TV/Movies and OTT content can drive mental health conversations. While proactive dialogue on mental wellbeing and handling everyday stress is witnessing a positive shift, there is a need to illustrate it better in pop culture references. 78% Indians feel dramatic representation of mental health can deter people from seeking treatment and 79% believe positive mental health portrayals in movies can aid in addressing stigma. 81% also feel that celebrities create strong impact as mental health advocates.

Be it GenZ or Millennials, everybody is battling stress, albeit due to varying causes. The survey findings highlight the various stressors and de-stressors at Work, in Relationships and the overall attitudes towards mental health and wellbeing.

Key highlights of the survey

Work & Career Decisions

Work pressure and career related decisions top the chart in factors that cause stress and impact mental wellbeing for young India. Gen Z surpasses millennials by 18% in career anxiety.

9 out of 10 Indians stressed at workplace, would appreciate better work life balance policies. 62% respondents feel stressed about resuming physical work. More than 57% Gen Z attribute career decisions related worries to mental health issues

42% Indian men seek immediate professional help and 35% opt for online counselling.

53% of the respondents from Bangalore believe that issues with mental wellbeing impact relationships at work as well.

Relationships

The Feel Good with Fiama Mental Health Survey 2023 reveals that 38% Indian women attribute toxic relationships amongst the top reasons that impact mental health and 64% Indians believe societal standards cause burnouts.

82% Indians believe that their parents would be supportive in case they were to seek therapy. This also reflects parents are regarded as confidantes if one had to undergo therapy. However, only 29% Indians consider siblings as confidantes in their mental health journey; partners fare only marginally better at 31%.

61% Indians feel helpless at their inability to assist loved ones with mental health issues.

Health & Wellness in India

Majority of Indians miss mental health signs with Delhi topping the chart at 85%.

72% Indians know someone affected by mental health issues and also associate poor mental health with depression.

The survey further reveals that 86% of Mumbaikars opt for therapy as last resort.

In a positive step forward, the survey also reveals that 84% believe mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of.

54% Indians state Mental Health is as important for overall well-being. 58% combat stress through yoga, meditation and exercise.

In an interesting take, 67% Indian GenZ and 63% Millennials believe that their generation is redefining FOMO to Fun of Missing Out!

Despite the varied causes of stress and increasing anxiety, 51% Indians who believe social media has a positive impact turn to online counselling as a treatment option. Young adults are exploring alternatives to de-stress  Music is the preferred choice for 86% Indians to cope with stress and negativity.

Speaking about the survey, Sameer Satpathy, Divisional Chief Executive, Personal Care Products Business, ITC Limited, says, It is heartening to note some of the positive shifts that have taken place in understanding mental health with the gradual increase in awareness campaigns and discussions. The Fiama Mental Wellbeing Survey continues to provide the spotlight on Indias youth and their attitude towards mental health and well-being. In its 3rd edition, the survey unveils some critical facts that can definitely be a catalyst for more widespread conversations, a more nuanced understanding of the issue as well as enhance mental health support. Fiamas endeavour to make mental wellbeing a more proactive conversation goes beyond just provoking a thought. In collaboration with MINDS Foundation, it also enables access to subsidized virtual therapy.

The brand in collaboration with The Minds Foundation, has also launched its first Virtual Clinic. The Virtual Clinic is designed to enable affordable access to mental health therapy delivered by licensed professionals. It is an appropriate platform that encourages individuals to seek help in an intimate virtual space without the fear of embarrassment or the prevailing stigma. The MINDS Foundation has specially put together a team of highly qualified therapists for the Virtual Clinic, thereby, offering expert advice, therapy and counselling at the convenience of ones own privacy.
Navratri is a Hindu festival held throughout India to honour the goddess Shakti, or Durga, in her nine manifestations. This nine-night event is thought to be particularly fortunate for all devotees. This year, the auspicious occasion begins on October 15 and ends on October 24. The tenth day of Navratri is known as Vijaydashmi or Dussehra.

Some individuals fast on Navratri and perform all of the rituals to honour the deity. It is also celebrated with traditional dances such as Dandiya and Garba. The entire country turns into festive mode and rejoices during this time, and the rituals and traditions vary in each part.

ALSO READ: Happy Navratri 2023: Shardiya Navratri Wishes, Messages, Images and Quotes to Share

GUJARAT

Navratri is one of the most anticipated events in the vibrant state of Gujarat. Worshippers fast for nine days and worship Maa Shakti. In the evening, an earthen pot with holes and diyas inside is lit to perform arti. Garba dance and Dandiya Raas are famous kinds of dance done by both men and women dressed in traditional attire during the festival.

WATCH: Navratri Special: 9 Avatars Of Goddess Durga

NORTH INDIA

In North India, Navratri marks Lord Ramas victory over the evil king Ravana. It culminates in the Ramlila or the enactments of the epic Ramayana, on Dussehra. On the tenth day, effigies of Ravana are burned to commemorate the victory of good (Rama) over evil forces. The whole ceremony is followed by an extraordinary display of fireworks.

WEST BENGAL, ODISHA, ASSAM, AND BIHAR

Durga Puja is observed over the last five days of Navratri in the eastern half of India, particularly in the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Bihar. Durga Puja is celebrated in various regions of the states with much enthusiasm. Huge pandals, where large-sized statues of Goddess Durga on her lion, Mahishasur, Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati are constructed and worshipped.

TAMIL NADU

In Tamil Nadu, Navratri is also celebrated as a religious festival to seek the blessings of the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Friends, relatives, and neighbours are welcomed, and they exchange clothing, jewellery, sweets, and other gifts.

A special tradition includes the decoration of the Kolu, which is a stairway with 9 stairs, representing the nine nights. Each stair is decked exquisitely with dolls and idols of gods and goddesses. It is stated that the dolls are passed down through generations.

WATCH: 9 Colours Of Navratri And Their Significance

KARNATAKA

In Karnataka, Navratri is known as Dasara. During the nine nights of Navratri, a night-long dance in the form of epic dramas from puranas is performed and is called the Yakshagana.

KERALA

Interestingly, in Kerala, Vijaya Dashami is observed as Vidyaarambam, an auspicious day when young children are introduced to learning.
Actor Aamir Khans daughter, Ira Khan, has been openly discussing her mental health struggles for years. She actively advocates for mental well-being, stressing on the significance of seeking help from professionals. On Mental Health Day, Aamir Khan joined Ira in a video emphasizing that theres no shame in asking for help. In the video, they highlighted how people seek assistance for various things like learning subjects, getting haircuts or fixing things at home, and mental health should be treated with the same openness and acceptance.

In the video, Aamir can be heard saying, Zindagi mein aise bohot saare kaam hai jo hum khud nahi kar paate. Jisme humme kisi aur vyakti ki madad lagti hai, jo yeh kaam jaanta hai. Aur yeh faisle hum badi asaani se le lete hai, begair kisi sharam ke, begair kisi jhijak ki (There are a lot of things in life that we cannot do ourselves. For that we need the help of others, someone who knows how to do that job. And we take these decisions so easily, without any shame or hesitation).

Ira also suggests that if someone is facing mental or physical challenges, they should not hesitate to seek help from trained professionals. Check out the video here:

Aur doston meri beti Ira aur main pichle kayi saalon se therapy ka laabh utah rahe hai (Friends, I and my daughter have been benefitting from therapy for years now). So if you are going through stress or any kind of tension, reach out for help from trained professionals. There is no shame in that. All the best, said the actor.

Having been diagnosed with clinical depression almost six years ago, Ira Khan shared a series of honest posts on social media. In these posts, she opened up about the impact of her parents divorce on her, her struggles with mental health, and the strategies that have helped her manage it.
Akshay Kumar clarified the reasons behind the prolonged process of giving up his Canadian citizenship and reclaiming his Indian citizenship. In recent interviews, he brushed off the idea that his wife Twinkle Khanna was affected by social media attacks against him, specifically regarding his citizenship. He also discussed the coincidence of receiving his new Indian passport on August 15, Independence Day.

In an interview with India Today, Akshay stated that Twinkle is unfazed by the online attacks directed at him, and they do not discuss it. He questioned the need for such conversations, saying, Nothing, what is there to have a conversation about? he asked. Akshay thinks people criticise him just to make an impact, but they lose interest eventually.

In an interview with Times Now, Akshay refuted claims of being forced to give up his Canadian citizenship. He clarified that he hadnt visited Canada in almost ten years. Even when I was holding a Canadian passport, I was paying all my taxes here. I was the highest tax payer. I didnt know people would be so bothered. I applied for citizenship, but it took over a year and a half because of the pandemic. Amazingly, I received it on Independence Day, he said.

Akshay, who was last seen in the film Mission Raniganj, admitted it didnt do as well as he wanted. But he said it wasnt meant to be a big hit. The movie made around Rs 14 crore in its first four days. As per early estimates shared by Sacnilk.com, the total collection of the film stands at 13.85 crore after four days of its release. On Monday, Akshay dropped the song Jeetenge from the film. The motivational victory track has been sung by B Praak, who also appears in the music video.
Indian artists Girish Vishwa, known for her appearances in the singing reality show Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, has returned to India from Israel. Vishwa was stranded in the war-prone area along with his son but returned to Mumbai on October 9. Following his return, the musician shared what all he faced in Israel.

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Girish recalled how he woke up to the noise of a massive blast at 6:30 am and revealed that he then rushed to the bunkers. The musician mentioned that even though he was in a bunker, he could hear the noises of missiles and explosions. From burning vehicles to rockets in the air, Girish revealed what alll he saw in Israel.

Later we came out into the lobby and could see rockets in the air. It was a heart-rending sceneI thank the organisers, it is due to their courage we could come out of thereWhen we were en route (to the airport), we saw burnt vehicles, pits on roads and Police presence. All 10 of us returned home safely, he said.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Musician Girish Vishwa, who returned from Israel amid the Israel-Palestine conflict, narrates his ordeal. "We were a team of 10 peopleWe woke up to the noise of a massive blast at 6:30 a.m. The hotel siren was blaring. The hotel staff told us to head to pic.twitter.com/JWhNlsSBs1  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

Girish was not the only Indian celebrity who was stuck in Israel. Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha was also stranded in Israel after Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group, attacked the country. She was unable to contact her team initially but reconnected with them on Sunday morning and informed them about her return.

Earlier today, Nushrratt took to her soial media platforms and shared a video recalling 38 daunting hours she spent in Israel. The last week will forever remain etched in my memorya rollercoaster ride of emotions, the final 36 hours of which will remain the most unforgettable and daunting of my life, she said in a video she shared on her Instagram handle.
TV actress Madhura Naik known for television shows like Hum Ne Li Hai- Shapath and Tumhari Pakhi has suffered a huge loss in the light of Israel-Palestine conflict. In her recent Instagram post, Madhura has disclosed that her brother-in-law and her cousin sister were brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

Sharing the picture of her cousin sister on her social media feed, Madhura wrote, Odaya, my sister and her husband were brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorist in front of their children, was found dead today(Sunday). Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our beloved cousin in the terror attack. Her warmth, kindness, and love will always be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and all the victims. May they rest in peace. Please stand with us and the people of Israel in this time of difficulty Its time people see the reality of these terrorists and how inhumane they can be.

Urging everyone to stand with Israel, she continued, Please stand with us and the people of Israel in this time of difficulty Its time people see the reality of these terrorists and how inhumane they can be.

In a separate video, the Naagin actress narrates the ordeal and trauma that she and her family are going through. Calling her sister as kind and loving person, and her her brother-in-law as hardworking and dedicated man,

Madhura can be heard saying, The grief and the emotions that I and my family face today cannot be spoken in words. As of today, Israel is in pain. Her children, her women, and her streets are burning in the flames, in the wrath of Hamas. Women, children, the old, and the weak are being targeted.

On Sunday, Israeli authorities announced that they would cut off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza in the wake of the deadliest day of violence in nearly 50 years. This decision was taken by the countrys Security Cabinet, which informed the Israeli forces have begin the offensive phase to restore the security of their citizens.

More than 1,100 people have been killed in the conflict in Israel and Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a long and difficult fight ahead

The Israeli military has reportedly regained control of border communities taken by Hamas fighters during the attack. But Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung, deputy head of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operation, speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

The ceremony was co-organised by the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO), the US Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), and US Office of Defence Cooperation.

Lasting from October 6 to 27 in the capital, the training course aims to equip military officers of the People's Army of Vietnam with specialised knowledge and skills in carrying out the duties of military observers deployed to UN peacekeeping missions. Additionally, the programme provides an opportunity to enhance cooperation between Vietnam, the US, and international partners in the field of peacekeeping.

The training includes theoretical and practical components covering the legal framework for UN peacekeeping activities, the roles and responsibilities of military observers in a peacekeeping mission, civilian-military coordination, human rights, and communications management, among many other issues.

In his opening remarks, Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung, deputy head of the VDPO, expressed his gratitude to the US Office of Defence Cooperation, GPOI instructors and coordinators, international and Vietnamese participants for their valuable contributions to this course.

Harley Alves, head of the GPOI team of international instructors, highlighted the significance of the course and stated that it is one of the most necessary and important courses for countries contributing to peacekeeping activities. It provides essential knowledge for real-world mission assignments at UN missions.

Alves also praised Vietnam for successfully implementing the Competency Evaluation Programme for Prospective United Nations Peacekeepers (CEPPP) in September, demonstrating its capabilities and commitment to participating in the mission./.
Former adult star Mia Khalifa lost her job after she shared posts on X (previously known as Twitter) showing her support for Palestine in the Israel and Hamas war. A war broke out between Israel and Hamas on Saturday after Hamas made a surprise terror attack against the country, killing hundreds. Since the attacks, Mia has unabashedly shown her support for Palestine. The posts drew massive flak from many on social media, including Canadian broadcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro. He publicly cancelled his business deal with her.

Over the past few days, Mia shared many posts, including one that read, If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid and history will show that in time. She also added, Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal. This post cost her the deal with Todd.

The radio host reacted to the post by firing her from her job. This is such a horrendous tweet @miakhalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage taking is truly gross. No words can explain your ignorance. We need humans to come together, especially in the face of tragedy. I pray for you to become a better person. However, it clearly seems like its too late for you, he wrote.

Mia replied to the post by saying, Id say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but Im more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad. Addressing the post that made her lose her job, Mia wrote, I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is enticing spread of violence, I specifically said freedom fighters because thats what the Palestinian citizens are fighting for freedom every day.

This is such a horrendous tweet @miakhalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage taking is truly gross. No words can https://t.co/ez4BEtNzj4 Todd Shapiro (@iamToddyTickles) October 8, 2023

On Saturday, the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out the unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and caught the country off-guard on a major holiday. Following the attacks, Israel declared war, and ever since, over 900 people have been reported in Israel.
Former adult star Mia Khalifa lost her job after she shared posts on X (previously known as Twitter) showing her support for Palestine in the Israel and Hamas war. A war broke out between Israel and Hamas on Saturday after Hamas made a surprise terror attack against the country, killing hundreds. Since the attacks, Mia has unabashedly shown her support for Palestine. The posts drew massive flak from many on social media, including Canadian broadcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro. He publicly cancelled his business deal with her.

For more info: Mia Khalifa Fired from Job for Horrendous Tweet Supporting Palestine in Israel-Hamas War, She Reacts

Heres some good news for movie buffs. On October 13, you will be able to watch films in theatres for just Rs 99. The mega offer has been announced by The Multiplex Association of India to celebrate National Cinema Day 2023. The decision will be applicable to over 4,000 screens across India including PVR INOX, Cinepolis, Citypride, Miraj, Wave, Mukta A2, Movie Time, Delite, M2K and Asian among others.

For more info: Jawan, Fukrey 3 Tickets To Sell at Rs 99 on Oct 13 and No, Its Not Due to India vs Pak World Cup Match

Bollywood Nushrratt Bharuccha was recently stranded in Israel after Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group, attacked the country. She was unable to contact her team initially but reconnected with them on Sunday morning and informed them about her return. A day after coming back to India, Nishrratt took to her soial media platforms on Tuesday evening and dropped a video recalling 38 daunting hours she spent in Israel.

For more info: Nushrratt Bharuccha Recalls Daunting 36 Hours In Israel: Woke Up To Sounds of Bombs

Since the teaser for Ranbir Kapoors Animals teaser was released, fans have been waiting with bated breath for any updates on the action thriller. Rashmika Mandanna on Monday gave fans a surprise by posting a cryptic Instagram story about the film. This led to speculation that a song from the film was about to be released. On Tuesday morning, the rumours proved to be true.

For more info: Ranbir Kapoor Kisses Rashmika Mandanna Mid Air in First Poster of Animal Song Hua Main

The buzz about Tiger 3 is getting stronger with each passing day. The lead stars of the film Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are making sure to keep fans on their toes with videos, snippets and assets from the film. While the trailer is all set to arrive on October 16, ahead of the same, the makers finally revealed the first look of Katrinas character Zoya from the film. Sharing the poster, Katrina wrote, Fighting fire with fire, thats Zoya..#Tiger3Trailer arriving on 16th October.

For more info: Tiger 3: Katrina Kaif Fights With Fire As Zoya In First Look From Salman Khan Led Film, Check It Out
Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday are set to appear on Koffee With Karan 8 together, News18 Showsha has learned exclusively. Karan Johar recently announced his return for the 8th season of Koffee With Karan. Be it controversial confessions to manifesting relationships, the show has always been in the buzz. Now, with the new season premiering on Disney+ Hotstar on October 26, the filmmaker dropped a promo brainstorming over the guest list. In the promo, Karans Konscience calls him and asks about his plans, Johar shares that he is preparing for the new guest list. We have found out a few names that are on the guest list.

Last week News18 Showsha exclusively revealed that Shah Rukh Khans daughter Suhana Khan, Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda, and Boney Kapoors daughter Khushi Kapoor will be seen in Koffee With Karan 8 to promote their debut vehicle, The Archies. It was also reported that the other cast members of The Archies  Dot, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, and Yuvraj Menda  might also join the trio in the episode.

We now hear that Ananya Panday and Sara Ali Khan will be seen gracing the couch together for the first time. A source reveals, Sara and Ananya have recently shot for the episode at YRF studio, in Mumbai. Interestingly, this is the first time the two came together for any event and they had fun shooting for their episode. There was discussion about their careers, the experience of being born in families with a film lineage, and also their love life even dropping a few truth bombs.

In the last season of Koffee With Karan, Sara appeared on the show with Janhvi Kapoor and both the actors expressed their love for Arjun Reddy actor Vijay Deverakonda. The Telugu star was tagged as cheese in banter.

Later in the same season, Ananya graced the show with his Liger co-star. Johar had asked Vijay if he likes cheese, referring to Janhvi and Saras episode. A skeptical Vijay confessed, I am scared about where this is leading. Ananya was seen interjecting as she mentioned, Can I say that Id like to be on the same platter, indirectly stating that she too would like to date Vijay Deverakonda.

It is also speculated that Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt could appear together on Koffee With Karan 8. It is also rumoured that actor-director duo Rohit Shetty-Ajay Devgn and Bollywoods popular couple, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have shot their episodes.
Aranyak starring Raveena Tandon released in 2021 and opened to wide critical acclaim. However, reports started doing the rounds last year that Netflix has decided to not revive the show for a second season because they were allegedly not satisfied with the script and the return on investment. Speaking to News18 Showsha a while back, Tandon refuted the rumours and attributed the delay to the fact that Aranyak 2 was taken back to the drawing board and started all over again because the expectation from season two is very high.

However, rumour mills continue to remain abuzz with the speculation that its season two has been put on the back burner. In an exclusive chat with News18, producer Siddharth Roy Kapur slams all the conjectures and states the audience will get an update on the next season very soon. Well be making an announcement pretty quickly. Im happy to say that its on track, he told us. For the unversed, the series saw Tandon a police officer investigating the alleged rape and murder of a teenage girl in Himachal Pradesh.

On the other hand, the shoot of Kapurs other project, Pippa, a war drama starring Ishaan Khatter, Mrunal Thakur and Priyanshu Painyuli, is long over with no update on its release. In March this year, Kapur along with RSVPs Ronnie Screwvala and Kamal Gianchandani of PVR Inox took to social media and announced that the film wont be released on OTT. The delay in its release gave rise to a lot of chatter on social media on whether it has been pushed indefinitely.

But Kapur clears the air and tells us, [It will release] quite soon we believe over the next few months. Were figuring out the best way to release the film. Were very happy with it and it should come to audiences shortly.

At present, Kapur is basking in the success of his recent Disney+ Hotstar release, Tumse Na Ho Payega. Happy with the response it has garnered, the producer says, It has been unanimously good. The whole team is really thrilled. Its trending at number one on the platform, which is great news. But more than that, the theme of the film is connected so deeply with the youth of the country. It speaks to the challenges they face today where they want to chart their own path and break out from the shackles of a full-time job but the whole log kya kahenge and conditioning stops them from giving up a job they probably dont enjoy because it helps them pay the bills.

He further adds, The film is also about the pressure that social media puts on the lives of todays youth where youre confronted with other peoples success that seems to dictate what success should be in general. All of this told in a very fun and entertaining way and thats what has touched a chord.
Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has turned 50 today. From his debut film, Student No. 1 to his most recent blockbuster RRR, SS Rajamouli has consistently pushed the boundaries of Indian cinema. His contributions have undeniably left an indelible mark, forever transforming the landscape of Indian filmmaking. Today, on his birthday, several prominent actors took to social media to convey their heartfelt wishes. Ram Charan, Jr. NTR, and Ajay Devgn expressed their deep respect for Rajamouli and shared some rare and unseen photographs with him.

Ram Charan posted a behind-the-scene picture with SS Rajamouli from the sets of RRR. The actor is seen dressed as his character, Alluri Seetharama Raju, while the director explains the intricacies of the shot. Truly adore my moments with you. Happiest Birthday SS Rajamouli Garu, he wrote.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ram Charan (@alwaysramcharan)

Jr NTR, who also worked together with the director in RRR, took to his X account (formerly known as Twitter) to express his wishes. The actor was seen candidly laughing with the director in the picture. Happy Birthday, Jakkana SS Rajamouli !! Sending lots of love, he wrote.

Happy Birthday Jakkana @ssrajamouli !! Sending lots of love pic.twitter.com/hdKXJ87WY0 Jr NTR (@tarak9999) October 10, 2023

Ajay Devgn, who played a major role in RRR, extended his best wishes. He also posted a photo from the sets of the Oscar-winning film with the director and wrote, Happy Birthday, Rajamouli Sir! Keep creating masterpieces that touch hearts worldwide.

Happy Birthday, Rajamouli Sir! Keep creating masterpieces that touch hearts worldwide pic.twitter.com/Kldyh7pWIt Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) October 10, 2023

SS Rajamoulis RRR created a lot of buzz around the globe. It was an action drama based on the lives of two freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem. The film received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, and it grossed over Rs 1,200 crore worldwide. In addition, Ray Stevenson, Alia Bhatt, and Shriya Saran played major roles in the film.

Meanwhile, SS Rajamouli also received a heartwarming birthday wish from Mahesh Babu. Wishing you a happy birthday SS Rajamouli sir! Heres to many more years of your cinematic brilliance! he mentioned.

Wishing you a happy birthday @ssrajamouli sir! Heres to many more years of your cinematic brilliance! Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) October 10, 2023

In a recent announcement made last month, SS Rajamouli unveiled the new project titled Made in India, which is set to be a biographical film celebrating the life and legacy of Dadasaheb Phalke. The talented and National Award-winning director, Nitin Kakkar, has been chosen to direct this prestigious project. The film is being produced by SS Karthikeya and Varun Gupta.
Vijay Antonys wife Fatima shared her first social media post following the sudden death of their daughter, Meera. The 16-year-old died September 19 at her residence in Chennai. She died by suicide as per reports. The music composers wife, on Monday night, took to X (previously known as Twitter) to share a rare picture of Meera along with a heartbreaking note. Fatima addressed the note to Meera and said that she is drowning and dying following her death. The post has since gone viral and fans have reached out to the couple to extend their support.

If Id known u will live only for 16 yrs, I would have just kept u very very close to me,not even shown you to the sun and moon,am drowning and dying with ur thoughts,cant live without you ,come back to babba and amma.laara keeps waiting for u,love u Thangam, Fatima wrote, tagging Vijay Antony.

If Id known u will live only for 16 yrs,I would have just kept u very very close to me,not even shown you to the sun and moon,am drowning and dying with ur thoughts,cant live without you ,come back to babba and amma.laara keeps waiting for u,love u Thangam@vijayantony pic.twitter.com/7PAQ5Ji9qp Fatima Meera Vijay Antony (@mrsvijayantony) October 9, 2023

Several social media users reached out to Fatima and offered their prayers for the family. Mothers love is deeper than the deepest ocean.. no words to describe your grief Fathima mam.. sending you and your family all the strength to bear this loss. Meera is always with you, a post read. Stay strong sister May god be with your family, added another. Stay Strong Mam. All our thoughts are with you & Sir. Pls Be strong, a third user wrote.

Last month, shortly after Meeras death, Vijay also shared a post on X and poured his heart out. My daughter Meera is the most kind-hearted and brave. She has left this world and gone where there is no creed, caste, religion, money, jealousy, pain, poverty, or evil. She has gone to a place that is peaceful. (I feel) she is still talking to me. I also died from within when she died. Now, I have started to spend time with her, he said in the letter.

Any good deed that I will start will be under her name. I believe all these will be started by her, Vijay concluded the letter.

Trigger Warning: Vijay Antonys daughter Meera died by suicide in the wee hours of September 19, in Chennai. She was 16. As per India Today, she was found dead in the familys Chennai home at 3 a.m. and was rushed to the hospital. She was declared dead.

DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).
The large-scale surprise attack by Hamas terrorists from Gaza on Israel on October 7, 2023, left hundreds of Israelis dead, and many more injured. Very significant numbers, including a few Israeli soldiers were taken hostage. Israel responded promptly with retaliatory Israeli airstrikes followed by a formal declaration of war. The Hamas terrorists have held-off longer than expected. There have been a large number of casualties on both sides and numbers continue to increase.

The Attack

Around 6:30 am on Saturday, Israel was woken up with air raid sirens as rockets flew over Israel. Hamas terrorists from Gaza entered Israel by land, sea and air. The assault coincided with the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur war that began on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 6, 1973. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said around 2,200 rockets were fired at Israel. The IDF published the names of 44 soldiers who were killed in the attack. Over 200 Israeli civilians were massacred at the Supernova music festival. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets, and its leadership said that the attack was a response to the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza.

The al-Aqsa is one of the most revered places in Islam and Judaism. Muslims call it Al Haram Al Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and Jews as Temple Mount. The complex lies in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state. It has been a flashpoint of tensions for decades. Hamas terrorists were continuing to operate within Israel as of Monday morning.

Israeli Response

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will exact a huge price from the group. The IDF said it struck 426 targets in Gaza, including 10 towers that it said were used by Hamas. The Israeli Air Force was in action and the videos showed loud explosions and rising plumes of black smoke. Over 300 Palestinians were killed in the first 24 hours, and around 1,900 were injured. As Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group also targeted a few Israeli sites using artillery, it invoked Israel military response.

Clashes also broke out in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, after Israel blocked West Bank cities. The IDF is first focusing on clearing the intruders and killing all the terrorists in Israeli territory. Next they plan to take control of the Gaza Strip. The strip has been blockaded from all directions. Water and electricity and other utilities have been cut. Decision for land offensive has still to be taken. Israel too has a large number of Hamas hostages. Some form of exchange may be worked out.

Heightened Recent Tension

Historic differences between the two sides are well known. Hamas is an Islamist outfit with a terrorist wing that came into being in 1987, emerging out of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group. Hamas believes that Israel is an occupying power and that it is trying to liberate the Palestinian territories. Hamas has over the years made many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel.

After Hamas seized control of Gaza, Israel and Egypt imposed a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing. Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza. The last war between Hamas and Israel was in 2021, for 11 days. Nearly 250 were killed in Gaza and 13 in Israel. Israeli police raided the al-Aqsa mosque compound several times over the last year. The number of Palestinians killed in the last year in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces has been highest in nearly two decades. Same has been the case with Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks.

Global Reactions

West has condemned the Hamas attack and pledged support for Israel. US sends aircraft carrier group to eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas attack on Israel. The Arab states, including those that have recognized Israel, called for calm. Saudi Arabia, which has been trying to normalise relations with Israel, called on both sides to stop escalation. Iran has congratulated the Palestinian fighters and said they will stand by their side until the liberation of Palestine and holy Jerusalem. Hezbollah (the Party of God), a Lebanon-based Shia terrorist group, praised the assault.

Likely Emerging Situation

A special security situation area, within an 80-kilometer radius of the Gaza Strip, has already been established. Taking control of Gaza will enable the IDF to provide security instructions to civilians and to close public sites as needed for security. Hamas claims to be ready for all options, including a full war.

The world is trying to prevent a full war that could risk engulfing the region. Brent crude oil prices surged over 5 percent early on Monday amid worsening political instability in the Middle East due to the Israel Hamas war. The ground offensive into Gaza could mean an extended war, and loss of more lives. As long as the neighbouring nations do not come in, the conflict could remain localised. Israel will want to punish Hamas and decapitate them. What level will be enough, time will tell.

Initial Lessons for India

For such a large-scale attack to take place there would have been a lot of planning. Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel, is considered to be among the best. The fact that both Mossad and IDF failed to anticipate or prevent such an attack amounts to an intelligence failure. Hamas could not have accumulated 5,000 rockets overnight. The capability to fire 5,000 rockets in 24 hours, something that Hamas in the past could not do even in many weeks of conflict, would have meant training and planning. Importance of human and electronic intelligence has again been underscored.

India must learn never to let its guard down. There should be no let-up when it comes to cross-border terrorism in Kashmir or intelligence on possible bomb-blast anywhere in the country. Large political gatherings in the run up to elections and on special religious events are high-risk areas. Intelligence had failed us in Kargil. India must remain ahead of the adversary.

Multiple asymmetric threats from multiple directions have to be catered for. Kamikaze drones and drone-swarms, though not used in this attack, can cause significant damage. Terrorists using para-gliders have to be factored. India must prepare for a combination of asymmetric threats. It must also cater for the enemy sleeper-cells within and also monitor their supporters abroad. These must be watched closely.

The Israeli governments strong resolve and political will has been visible through decades. Did the enemy take advantage of the ongoing anti-government protests? Were the security agencies and bureaucracy also politically divided? What about the border police? Should India de-politicise the police? Indian politicians have to be well informed and educated on security matters. Israeli opposition parties have rallied together after the attack. There has to be complete unanimity on foreign policy and security issues. Politicians must be careful and conscious about military morale on what they say. No Israeli has talked about intelligence failure. This can be sorted out later. National security should not be politicised.

Social media has become a big factor. Citizen journalists are growing. Information warfare impacts both tactical appreciation and morale. Cyber snooping is important. This needs close coordination between the security establishment, civilian professionals, and the influencers.

Threat evaluation is a dynamic process. Intelligence gathering must be all pervasive. It has to be continuous, without break. Political leadership has to be in full picture. India has to cater for both state and non-state threats and combinations there on. India must have response options ready for such eventualities. Also capability building is a continuous effort. This is a deliberate activity that also requires funding. Punitive capability has to be visible, and even advertised, so that it can act as deterrence.

Technology must be used extensively for border management. Day and night cameras, thermal imaging, electronic fences, motion sensors are required. Drones for surveillance are important. India must be prepared for simultaneous cyber-attacks. There is a need to build electronic redundancy. Vantage points of space and air must be exploited for intelligence and surveillance.

Terrorism is a scourge that has to be weeded out for ever. There has to be no compromise. There has to be no soft pedaling. Political conditions must be created to general balanced wellbeing of all sections, but militancy must be unacceptable and dealt with full force. There has to be zero tolerance for terror.

India has seen for long that each battle is Indias own. India has to defend itself on its own, and not expect much external help. Trigger events can happen at short notice. Military capability, training, and weapon stocking has to be in place at all times. Air defence capability against a barrage of missile and rocket attacks, and also drones are important. Security is an all of nation, system-of-systems approach. It has to be handled unitedly. It is time for India to revisit higher defence management. The masses have also to be made conscious and aware. Last but not the least, aatmanirbharta in defence is very important.

The writer is Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
On August 23, 2023, an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet crashed near Kuzhenkino in Tver Oblast, approximately 100 kilometres north of its departure point in Moscow. The private aircraft was flying between Moscow and St Petersburg when it crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow. The jet was carrying seven passengers and three crew. A celebrity in the aircraft who got killed was Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. The crash coincided with the same day that senior Russian general Sergei Surovikin was reportedly sacked as air force chief. But Wagner-linked Telegram channel Grey Zone reported the jet had been shot down by the Russian military, though it provided no evidence to support its claim.

As leader of the Wagner Group, Prigozhin emerged as a key player in Russias full-scale war with Ukraine in 2022. Wagner fighters led the Russian onslaught in key areas of the war, including the city of Bakhmut. But, as the fighting raged on, he became increasingly critical of Russias senior military officials for what he saw as a failing attempt to achieve the aims of the special military operation in Ukraine. The Wagner mercenary group had an estimated 25,000 fighters, active in Ukraine, Syria and West Africa, where they gained a reputation for horrendous brutality.

But, in a sudden turn of events, Prigozhin headed a quick mutiny on 23-24 June, moving his troops from Ukraine, seizing the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, and threatening to march to Moscow. The move came after months of tension with Russian military commanders over the conflict with Ukraine that started in 2014.

However, the sudden mutiny was settled by a deal which allowed Wagner troops to move to Belarus or join the Russian army. Sudden turn of events culminating in the plane crash, sparked rampant speculation of foul play from the Kremlin, as retaliatory punishment for showing the audacity to launch a mutiny.

On October 5, 2023, another controversy broke out when Russian President Vladimir Putin, surrounded by oligarchs and apparatchiks at a meeting of the Valdai Club in the Black Sea city of Sochi, suggested, The head of the Investigative Committee reported to me just the other day that hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of those killed in the plane crash. In an apparent explanation for the crash, Putin said that 5 kilograms of cocaine had been found among Prigozhins stacks of cash, weapons and fake documents when police raided the Wagner Groups St. Petersburg headquarters. Unfortunately, no tests were carried out for the presence of alcohol and drugs in the victims blood, he said. In my opinion, it wouldve been important to do that analysis.

About Prigozhin, his former ally, Putin said He was a man with a complex fate. [Sometimes] he made mistakes; and [sometimes] he got the results he wanted  for himself and in response to my requests, for a common cause.

But critics were quick to find fault. Revenge, commented CIA director William Burns, is a dish Putin prefers served cold  or words to that effect. According to journalist Ilya Zhegulev, on Putins association with Prigozhin, Putin does not like people with an impeccably clean reputation, because they are difficult to control. From this point of view, Prigozhin was an ideal candidate. Vladimir Pastukhov, a political analyst, said he believed Putin did not expect people to believe the version of events he had hinted at, but was signalling that Prigozhin and his associates had been executed by the book for their mutiny.

Throughout history, soldiers have used drugs, sometimes to enhance fighting abilities, or to stay alert for long periods or to withstand the extreme psychological pressure and trauma they are confronted with, during every minute of the battle. The current conflict in Ukraine is no different. Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russia revealed shocking usage of amphetamines during sabotage operations. A drug ring known as Khimprom, which is a UkrainianRussian outfit, reportedly plays a major role in trafficking synthetic drugs and precursors to the front line. Among these is Alpha-PVP  street name flakka  a highly dependency-forming drug of the synthetic cathinone class, a category of stimulants referred to as new psychoactive substances. Alpha-PVP is not new to the region. Until around five years ago, it was smuggled into Ukraine from Western Europe by post in small parcels of up to 5 grams. It was also marketed on the Russian dark web.

More recently, Khimprom installed manufacturing laboratories to boost the availability of flakka in Ukraine. In July 2019, Ukraines security service, SBU, dismantled a drug laboratory near Kyiv capable of producing 200 kg of the substance per month. Since the 2019 lab bust, Ukrainian authorities have reported an increasing number of improvised kitchen-type micro-labs and flakka storage facilities across the country. SBU estimates indicate that they seized over 50 kilograms of flakka, almost 10 kilograms of amphetamine, 500 litres of precursors and drug manufacturing equipment.

Russian investigators found Opioid drugs and Ephedrine substances T-Fedrine, Triphedrine, Methadone, Codepsine, and Codeterp at positions abandoned by Ukrainian military personnel, according to the chief of the Russian Armys Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Force. The residents of Kharkiv testify that they have witnessed fighters of the nationalist battalions in the city behave inappropriately and have wild eyes. The combat drug particularly Captagon, which contains Amphetamine, was regularly used by the Daesh terrorists (Islamic State terrorists) to induce feelings of bravado ruthless aggressiveness, and tremendous energy.

The truth behind the Embraer Legacy 600 business jet crash will never be known. Whether cocaine-intoxicated passengers played with live grenades, or an unidentified missile did a neat job, no one can tell. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger airliner crashed and burned in Eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 people on board, most of whom were citizens of the Netherlands died in the crash. Dead men tell no tales.

The 1966 Air India crash that killed Indian nuclear pioneer Homi Bhabha as also the 1950 Air India flight 245, a Lockheed L-749A Constellation, named Malabar Princess, that had crashed at exactly the same spot on Mont Blanc, killing all 48 people on board, or the 23 June 1985, Air India flight from Toronto-Montreal-London-New Delhi-Bombay, that exploded off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board. Explosions in the skies on aircraft never have witnesses, and dead men never tell the truth, it will forever remain in the skies.

The writer is a retired officer of the IRS and the former director-general of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting resolution on Monday rolled out the partys bouncer in the form of the caste census promise to corner the BJP in the state elections but also handed the saffron party a political full toss by openly batting for Palestine.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to milk this issue in the state elections now, citing how the Congress stands with Hamas terrorists for the sake of vote-bank politics at home, a senior BJP leader told News18. He said this has given the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi a potent issue to stop a split in the partys Hindu vote bank, a prospect posed by the caste census pitch by Congress to wean away the OBC electorate.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi posted on social media site X: Congress at it again! Supporting terror organisations and terrorism while innocent civilians lose their lives to bullets. With this stand, the leading party of I.N.D.I alliance has exposed itself to the nation. How will the party protect its nation and citizens when it is openly standing with violence?

The CWC resolution on Monday was in stark contrast to a rather careful statement issued by the Congress just 24 hours earlier on the Israel-Palestine war. The Congress now stands diametrically opposite to Prime Minister Narendra Modis stand of support and solidarity with Israel, which moved away from Indias earlier stand of a two-state solution.

Sources said the PM is not expected to let the Congress get away with this from the political stage. Modi has already targeted the Congress on the caste census issue, terming it an attempt to divide the Hindus.

In 24 Hours, Congress changed stand

On Sunday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X: The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop. This was seen as a balanced comment from the party which has always stood for the rights of Palestine.

But it all changed after the CWC meeting on Monday. The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days. The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect. The CWC calls for an immediate cease-fire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues including imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict, the resolution said.

Left effect?

Sources say this change came from within the CWC, which otherwise did not see any elaborate discussion on the Israel issue. But the Israel statement was tweaked to focus on the Congresss longstanding position, where it has always supported Palestine. Sources confirm this change in nuance came with many leaders like Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal expressing that the CWC resolution must clearly reflect this fact. The picture of Yasser Arafat warmly greeting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Delhi in 1980 shows the partys stand on the issue.

The CWC resolution on Monday was almost similar to CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechurys words a day earlier, which is no coincidence. A top Congress source at the CWC told News18: Hamas is a terror outfit and there is no way the Congress will support it. But at the same time, like the Centre, the Congress has always supported Palestinian aspirations.

But now this resolution could have an impact on next months state polls. It could be used to polarise, with the BJP accusing the Congress of pandering to Islamic elements.
The topic of Congress leader Rahul Gandhis marriage always manages to find its way into headlines. The 53-year-old politician was, once again, subjected to questions about his plans for matrimonial union by women students in Jaipur. Gandhi said he remained unmarried because he was completely entangled in his work and the Congress party.

Rahul Gandhis interaction with students from Jaipurs Maharani College surfaced on social media.

You are so smart and good-looking why have you not thought about marriage? one woman asked the Congress leader, to which, he replied, Because I am completely entangled in my work and in the Congress party.

Next PM Rahul Gandhi met with students at Maharani College in Jaipur and had a discussion with them. pic.twitter.com/cxzoTWUnM1 Venisha G Kiba (@KibaVenisha) October 10, 2023

Earlier this year, during the first joint meeting of the INDIA bloc in June, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav talked about Rahul Gandhis refusal to get married, asking him to tie the knot soon as it was still not too late.

Lalu stressed his mother, Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi also eagerly wants her son to settle down.

The RJD president said, baat maaniye, shaadi kariye, adding that your mummy keeps fretting over your refusal to get married.

Gandhi replied to his comments, saying ab aapne boldia hai toh hojayega. We would like to be a part of your wedding procession (baraat) Prasad added.

In July 2023, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs no pm should be without wife remark, again brought forth the topic of Rahul Gandhis marriage.

Yadav, while talking to reporters about the prime ministerial face from the Opposition front and his earlier advice to Rahul Gandhi to get married soon, said that it was wrong to stay at the official residence of the prime minister without a wife.

Whoever becomes the PM should not be without a wife. Staying at PMs residence without a wife is wrong. This should be done away with, the former chief minister of Bihar said.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang (fifth from left) and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Sok Chenda Sophea (seventh from right). (Photo: VNA)

Tang conveyed congratulations from Vietnamese leaders to Sok Chenda Sophea on his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia.

Both officials spoke highly of the long-standing bilateral relationship, which has kept growing at all levels in the spirit of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.

Highlighting the importance of strengthening extensive cooperation in areas of mutual interest, they promised to continue maintaining the exchange of delegations via all channels to share information and experience, and continue upholding existing cooperation mechanisms while jointly exploring new, effective and practical cooperation mechanisms for the benefit of both sides.

The host and guest also pledged to continue upholding the tradition of mutual consultations on global and regional issues of shared interests and benefits to both countries.

Sok Chenda Sophea, for his part, highly evaluated the meeting with Tang, saying it was his first meeting with the neighbouring country's ambassador since his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation./.
The Allahabad High Court (HC) has ordered the Congress to clear the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporations (UPSRTC) long-pending dues of Rs 2.68 crore for use of its buses and taxis for political purposes from 1981-1989, when the party was in power in UP. Congresss UP spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said that they would seek legal opinion on the court order from the partys legal panel and will act accordingly.

The HC was hearing a 25-year-old litigation about the monetary dispute between the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) and UPSRTC.

Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manish Kumar, while passing the judgment, observed that UPCC exercised its dominant position and utilised public property to fulfill its political purposes, however, did not clear the dues when the bills were raised by the UPSRTC. Also, the bench rejected the UPCCs argument that the amount was wrongly being recovered by the successive government just to settle political vendetta.

There is no doubt that the question of recovery of public money is involved in the present case which is used for political purposes by the petitioner, therefore, the petitioner is bound to pay the said amount, reads the 17-page court order, directing the UPCC to clear the pending dues of Rs 2,68,29,879.78 along with 5% interest to UPSRTC from the date it is due, within a period of three months.

THE CONGRESS REGIME

Senior officials with the UPSRTC said that the bill was incurred during the period of 1981 to 1989 during the Congress regime in UP.

After the Presidents rule in 1980, the Congress government came to power in UP on June 9, 1980, and Vishwanath Pratap Singh became UPs Chief Minister (2 years and 40 days). He was followed by Sripati Mishra (2 years and 15 days), Narayan Dutt Tiwari (August 3, 1984) and Vir Bahadur Singh (2 years and 275 days). Singh was followed by Narayan Dutt Tiwari, who became the UP CM for the second time on June 25, 1988 and remained in power for 1 year and 163 days. The Congresss regime was ended by Janata Dal.

After pursuing for long, the UPSRTC issued a notice to the national political party on November 10, 1998. In response, the Congress filed the petition before the Allahabad High Court, challenging the recovery notice issued by the Tehsildar, Sadar, Lucknow.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday moved Delhi high court against an order of a court in the national capital that evicted him from his Type VII bungalow.

The plea was mentioned before the bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula.

MP has been served for eviction of house. We have an apprehension that has the proceedings might start. We had a stay in trial court, Chadhas counsel said.

Raghav Chadha was given a Type 6 bungalow in July last year and had requested the Rajya Sabha Chairman for a bigger, Type 7 accommodation, which was allotted to him in September that year.

He was then allotted another bungalow on Pandara Road from the Rajya Sabha pool. However, in March this year, the allotment was cancelled.

Chadha sought an injunction to the effect that the secretariat be restrained from taking any further action in consequence of the March 3 letter and be restrained from allotting the bungalow to some other person.

Chadhas counsel had urged a Delhi court earlier to grant an ex-parte ad-interim injunction against the secretariat, claiming it was hell bent to evict Chadha from the allotted accommodation.

The AAP MP also sought Rs 5.5 lakh in damages from the secretariat for causing him mental agony and harassment.

As a first-time MP, Chadha is entitled to a Type-5 accommodation in the normal course, according to the Rajya Sabha Members Handbook released in April 2022.

The handbook says MPs who are former Union Cabinet Ministers, former Governors or former Chief Ministers and former Lok Sabha Speakers, are entitled to Type-7 bungalows, the second largest category available to Rajya Sabha MPs.

Chadha, meanwhile, also moved Supreme Court challenging his suspension from Rajya Sabha. The MP was suspended from the Rajya Sabha on August 11 for breach of privilege after complaints from lawmakers.

Chadha was suspended till the Privilege Committee submits its findings on the allegation against him for forging the signatures of some MPs.
Amazon Great Indian Festive Sale 2023: Amazon offered the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds at a massive discount price of Rs 2,899 during the Great Indian Festive Sale 2023. For the price of Rs 2,899, theres no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is a steal deal. However, the joy was short-lived for excited buyers.

Amazon reportedly made a strange decision to cancel orders of its customers who bought the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds at Rs 2,899. Why? Amazon claims it is a technical issue related to pricing. Amazon had listed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for Rs 10,999 during its online sale recently, where people had the chance to use SBI credit cards and get a further discount of Rs 8,099 which brought the final price of the product to less than Rs 3,000.

It was hardly surprising to see many of them jump on the chance to buy the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at such a price but their happiness was seemingly short-lived.

WATCH VIDEO: Amazon Cancels Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Orders

If you browse through social media regarding this subject, you will see that many people were able to order the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for Rs 2,899 that comes via the SBI credit card discount. They have shared posts with visual proof to show that Amazon was really giving a fantastic deal on the premium product.

But Amazon decided to cancel the orders for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro who managed to snag them at this price, and they were even communicated about this decision via an email as you can see here.

Many people who got the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at the special price even shared their angst at seeing the orders cancelled. Amazon even responded to one of those customers, explaining to them the reason for the orders not going through. The company assures that all the cancelled orders will be fully refunded within 3 to 5 business days, as the post here explains to the customer on X.

Fast-forward to a few days after the product was listed again, Amazon revised its price to Rs 16,990 and still giving a discount of Rs 8,099 with SBI credit card but now the final price is much higher at around Rs 8,000 which is nowhere close to the bargain that people would have got for under Rs 3,000 on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds.
National space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is reportedly dealing with more than 100 hacking attempts every day. This was disclosed by ISROs chairman, S. Somanath during a cyber security event in Kochi recently.

According to a report from from TOI, Somanath also revealed that the India space agency has strong protection measures, including both hardware and software, to prevent these attempts from being successful.

As per the ISRO head, even though there are many hacking attempts, they havent managed to breach ISROs security systems.

The India space agency uses multiple firewalls and safety measures to stop these attempts from going beyond the outer layer of their security. They make sure these hacking attempts dont affect their satellite and rocket software integrity, which is crucial for missions like moon landings, the report said.

As per TOI, he also said that India need a very strong cybersecurity understanding and a knowledge base to ensure its security. Somanath also explained how complex it was to run even a small programme linked to the landing on the moon and how huge the risk associated with any such space activity.

Meanwhile, ISRO recently shared the first images of the Gaganyaan spacecraft which will take humans to space in December 2024. The space agency also said it will commence unmanned flight tests for the Gaganyaan mission.

ISRO to commence unmanned flight tests for the Gaganyaan mission. Preparations for the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), which demonstrates the performance of the Crew Escape System, are underway, " the space agency said in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

The Gaganyaan Mission encompasses taking a crew of two to three members to a circular orbit of about 400 km around the Earth for a 1-3-day-long mission and bringing them back by landing in a designated location in the Indian sea waters.
Google has entered the flagship battle this month by launching the new Pixel 8 series and all the focus is now on how the new Pixel 8 Pro model fares against the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the comparatively old but competent Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Recently, we saw the drop test challenge between Apple and Samsung flagship phones and now it is Googles time to show if it has made a solid device. Spoiler alert, Google manages to beat Apple in the drop and scratch test done by a few testers.

iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 8 Pro Drop Test: Who Wins?

Pixel 8 Pro was dropped facing the screen on a concrete surface and most of us feared the worst for the new Pixel phone. Surprisingly, the device managed to withstand the drop without any scratches but there were a few scratch marks on the aluminium frame on the side.

The second level of the test was conducted by dropping the phone from head height on a concrete player, the results are once again quite impressive on the Pixel 8 Pro which comes through without major dents or scratches. Samsungs Galaxy S23 Ultra didnt fare too well in these tests.

At no point did the camera module of the Pixel 8 Pro break, which wasnt the case when the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra were thrown down at a pace. The end result of the tests clearly show that the Pixel 8 Pro is a solid device and it did much better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max in drop and scratch tests, which does auger well for Google. Having said that, performance in general of the new Pixels is still a concern, with many benchmark scores of the new Tensor G3 chip hinting that the new hardware isnt exactly flagship-grade to match Qualcomm, MediaTek and even Apple.

The Pixel 8 Pro is priced at Rs 1,06,999 in India and comes in a single 128GB storage variant that has 12GB RAM. The new Pixel model has a thermometer and three new cameras at the back.
Xiaomi could bring the MIUI version to an end in the coming years and move to a new platform called MiOS as per reports. The name is eerily similar to Apples iOS and macOS moniker and it seems Xiaomi is ready to take its Apple inspiration to a whole new level.

The details of MiOS are sketchy for the time being but the fact that Xiaomi is looking to change the name of the popular mobile platform suggests the company is planning for years ahead. The interesting part about the rumours of MiOS is that Xiaomi is unlikely to offer Android with its own skin again, instead, it is likely to work on an all-new platform for mobile devices similar to Huaweis approach.

Xiaomi could develop this OS using the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) which should get people excited about the companys plans in the software arena, something we have been hearing for a while. Xiaomi has already got the trademark for MiOS and a mios.cn domain for its home market in China.

The company has a dual strategy with its mobile platform as it caters to the consumers in China differently compared to those in India and parts of Europe. For all we know, Xiaomi could limit the access to MiOS for users in China, similar to Vivos use of Origin OS in the Chinese market for a few years, while offering Funtouch OS in countries like India.

Xiaomi also knows that it doesnt need Googles apps in China to function, something that could work with a completely new mobile OS as well and Huawei has shown that it can be done. Xiaomi has not officially talked about MiOS and it is unlikely well hear anything about the new platform right now. However, the company is tipped to launch the Xiaomi 14 series by the end of this year, and it is possible that MiOS could be announced at the event.
A 24-year-old Australian man was successfully rescued after clinging naked to his capsized boat in an attempt to smash the record for the youngest person to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. As per a report in People Magazine, the man was identified as Tom Robinson who was reaching Vanuatu when a wave capsized his boat, ending his 15-month, 9,782-mile trek across the worlds largest ocean. Tom Robinson was rescued by a cruise ship on October 6 after he sent a distress signal through his satellite phone.

The Australian rower sent out a distress call to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority when a French navy aircraft found him late on October 05. It made touch with the P&Os Pacific Explorer, a cruise that was out on a nine-day roundtrip voyage from Auckland carrying 2,000 guests. In a bid to save Tom Robinson, the ship took a 124-mile detour and extended help by sliding a rope ladder down the side of the cruise liner. The rower, who was sunburned and dehydrated, then ascended naked on the cruise and took a sigh of relief.

While speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Tom shared that the cabin hatch on his boat was open when a rogue wave came out of nowhere and turned the boat upside down. He further said, I had to swim out from the flooded cabin and climb on top of the hull. I didnt have any clothes on when the wave hit the boat as I usually row naked because it stops chafing. So, I was sitting in the cabin with no clothes on and then all of a sudden, Im upside down.

Expressing his agony, the Australian man shared that he was holding on to dear life. He said, It was really cold and I tied myself onto the boat and that really helped me because waves were breaking over the boat constantly and I was just sort of holding on for dear life.

Thanking the cruise ship, Tom told the outlet that he felt really bad that he had to interrupt a cruise, he really does. He continued that it was a real shame that his life was in danger and he had to put other peoples lives out of their way to come and save him. He further expressed that he is not proud of that at all and he would rather it not be like that.

The 24-year-old after being rescued flew back to his home in Brisbane after 18 months where he was reunited with his parents. Elaborating further, the man expressed his wish to write a book about his experience and complete his voyage.
Once again, today, many mobile users in India received an emergency alert from the government. The alert was sent at around 11:35 with a flash message. It had an emergency tone for all the Android and iPhone devices. Many took to social media platforms and bombarded posts asking as to if there is any need to be worried. These emergency alert messages are creepy, loud and hella irritating!!!! wrote an X user while posting a screenshot. Another person wrote, What are these messages about! I just received #EmergencyAlertSystem message, why? Quote text: Emergency alert: Extreme.

These emergency alert messages are creepy, loud and hella irritating!!!!#EmergencyAlertSystem pic.twitter.com/3pB8ttIJb8 Pratham Midha (@midha_pratham) October 10, 2023

What are these messages about!I just received #EmergencyAlertSystem message, why?Quote text:Emergency alert: ExtremeThis is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through Cell Broadcasting System by Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Please ignore this message as pic.twitter.com/G1bh3mACmX  Nadeem Naqvi     (@NadeemNaqviNNg) October 10, 2023

Also Read: Seattle Parents Confront, Beat up Naked Man At JCPenney Store For Touching Their Kids Inappropriately

Everyone seems to be extremely puzzled and confused as to what these texts are about. But is there a need to be worried? Lets find out.

The tests are a result of the Indian government aggressively testing its yet-to-release emergency alerts feature. It is not just today that people received these texts. Many users in the Delhi-NCR region also received similar texts on September 15.

The message reads, This is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through Cell Broadcasting System by Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Please ignore this message as no action is required from your end. This message has been sent to TEST Pan-India Emergency Alert System being implemented by National Disaster Management Authority. It aims to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during emergencies.

As per the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), these alerts will be sent and tested on a regular basis. This is being done to ensure that the mobile operators and the cellular infrastructure are well versed with handling emergency broadcasts.

Also Read: Why Does A Tractor Have Different-sized Wheels? Internet Has Some Answers

Once properly set, these emergency alerts will be used by the government during calamities like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and much more.
West Africas volatile Sahel region which has been rocked by a string of coups since 2020 faces growing bloody jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

A snapshot country by country:

Niger

The jihadist insurgency spread to Niger and Burkina Faso from neighbouring Mali in 2015, notably at the three borders area.

In Niger, soldiers in July 2023 overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, pointing to the degradation of the security situation under his watch  a belief shared by many Nigeriens.

Twenty-nine soldiers were killed in western Niger in an attack by suspected jihadists on October 3, the deadliest of a dozen attacks which have killed 130 people since the military took power.

On October 10 the French army said it had begun withdrawing its 1,400 troops from Niger after being ordered out of the country by the coup leaders.

Mali

In Mali jihadist and separatist insurgencies broke out in the north in 2012 and anger at the governments failure to stem the violence helped spark two coups in 2020 and 2021.

It currently faces heightened activity by jihadist groups and a resumption of hostilities in the north by predominantly Tuareg armed groups.

Since August, there has been a series of attacks against army positions and civilians in the Timbuktu and Gao regions.

The junta, which has since turned towards Russia, pushed out traditional ally Frances anti-jihadist force in 2022 and the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA in 2023.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso saw two military coups last year, also triggered by anger at failures to stem a jihadist insurgency.

When he seized power, Captain Ibrahim Traore set himself two to three months to improve security, but one year on, jihadist attacks still plague the nation.

More than 6,000 people have died in attacks since the start of this year, of 17,000 dead since 2015, according to a count by the NGO monitor Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).

France withdrew its troops in February 2023.

Chad

In Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno is the transitional president pending a return to civilian rule following the death of his father Idriss Deby Itno in 2021.

The CCMSR  the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic  is one of a constellation of rebel groups that have a decades-long history of seeking to overturn Chads regime.

The remote and dangerous rebel region Tibesti is the theatre for sporadic but intense episodes of fighting.

Week-long clashes broke out in the area in June, with different versions of events  the army said it killed 23 rebels and insurgents said they had killed 15 soldiers.

Spillover

Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo are increasingly facing threats of a jihadist spillover from Burkina Faso and Mali.

Around 40 soldiers and 100 civilians have been killed in a jihadist war in northern Togo, President Faure Gnassingbe said in April.
In the face of escalating terrorist violence initiated by Hamas, Israel has unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at decisively neutralising the Palestinian group and securing long-term peace and stability in the Gaza Strip. This strategy is grounded in the belief that Hamas, with its long history of terrorism and anti-Israel rhetoric, poses an imminent threat to Israeli civilians and regional security, as was evidenced in Saturdays attacks across more than two dozen locations in Israel.

Hamas, in stark contrast to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) or the Fatah which rules the West Bank, has long pursued a radical agenda that seeks the complete elimination of Israel as a sovereign nation. Hamass charter, dating back to 1988, openly expresses anti-Semitic sentiments and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. This uncompromising stance has been a significant point of contention in any peace negotiations involving Hamas and Israel.

Here its essential to recognise that the goals of Hamas and the aspirations of the Gazan population are not necessarily aligned. The people of Gaza have endured the hardships of an Israeli blockade, supported by Egypt, that severely restricts the flow of goods and people in and out of the region. Under Hamas rule, Gazans have reported repression, arbitrary arrests, and systemic human rights abuses. Recent polls have indicated growing discontent among Gazans with Hamass policies, with many expressing a desire for the group to abandon its call for Israels destruction and addressing corruption within Hamas institutions.

While Hamas secured an electoral victory in Gaza in 2006, its essential to note that it only received a plurality of votes, not an outright majority. This distinction highlights the complex political landscape within the Gaza Strip and suggests that Hamas does not enjoy unanimous support among the population. And there have been no elections after the first and only one in 2006.

Despite the challenges, some Palestinians in Gaza have consistently protested against Hamas, particularly in recent months. A 2022 poll revealed that a majority of Gazans believe they cannot criticise Hamass authority without fearing repercussions. These protests underscore the growing dissent within the Gaza Strip against Hamass leadership. Basically, Hamas has not been able to make the political transition that the Muslim Brotherhood managed to make in neighbouring Egypt.

Since its inception, Hamas has maintained a hostile stance, asserting that Israel has no right to exist and viewing all Israeli citizens as legitimate targets due to their perceived association with the Israeli state. This uncompromising ideology has hindered diplomatic efforts and perpetuated violence in the region.

In light of the horrific events this past weekend, Israel has adopted a comprehensive strategy aimed at thoroughly dismantling the terrorist infrastructure within Gaza. The deployment of approximately 300,000 troops demonstrates Israels commitment to ensuring the eradication of Hamas and the prevention of future large-scale terror attacks on its citizens. And if that means occupying the Gaza Strip to flush out the terrorists, then Israel is prepared to do that.

Israel recognises that a robust military response is necessary to weaken Hamass capabilities significantly. This involves targeting key Hamas facilities, including rocket launch sites, weapon storage depots, and command centres. The goal is to disrupt Hamass ability to launch attacks against Israel.

Israeli forces are also conducting targeted counterterrorism operations to apprehend or eliminate Hamas leaders and operatives responsible for planning and executing attacks against Israeli civilians.

Israel is leveraging its intelligence capabilities to identify and target Hamass extensive tunnel network, which the group uses for smuggling weapons and launching surprise attacks. Israel is also intensifying its efforts to prevent the smuggling of weapons and materials into Gaza through its naval blockade, further hampering Hamass military capabilities.

While Israels primary objective is to neutralise Hamas, the possibility of a temporary occupation of Gaza is being considered as a last resort to achieve long-term security and stability. Such an occupation would entail a comprehensive effort to rebuild Gazas infrastructure, provide humanitarian aid, and create conditions conducive to peace.

But Israel also realises that Gaza cannot thrive in a political vacuum. If and when Hamas is neutralised, Israel will have to open a political and diplomatic engagement with the Palestinian Authority which rules the West Bank. The Palestinian people in Gaza will need a political authority they can look up to and who can voice their concerns and aspirations. Once the military operation concludes, there could be an opening of a dialogue with the Palestinian Authority. A vacuum will only enable another Hamas-like organisation to crop up.

In conclusion, Israels current strategy is driven by the imperative to safeguard its citizens from Hamass unrelenting attacks and ensure lasting peace in the region. The deployment of a substantial military force reflects Israels determination to dismantle Hamass capabilities and create conditions for a secure future. While Israel is prepared to take necessary measures to achieve these goals, its ultimate objective remains a long and durable peace, which can only come about with a realistic path to a two-state solution. That path will be realised only with Fatah as a partner and not Hamas.
Prominent pipa virtuoso Wu Man (R, Front) performs with members of the Bard East/West Ensemble during the opening concert of the sixth annual China Now Music Festival at Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, on Oct. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Since its inception in 2018, it has been dedicated to building a cultural bridge between the United States and China through music. Each year, it hosts a series of thematic concerts and lectures, presenting exhilarating contemporary Chinese musical works.

by Yueer Lin, Yang Shilong

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China.

Titled "The Orchestra Now Celebrates the Music of Chen Yi and Zhou Long," the concert featured major symphonic works by this legendary couple, two of the most influential Chinese-American composers and their renowned teacher at Columbia University, Chou Wen-chung, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2019.

With the addition of two pieces by their young students -- Zhou Juan, a student of musical arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City and Li Shaosheng, a composer in residence at the China National Symphony Orchestra and Guangxi Symphony Orchestra, the program linked three generations of composers to highlight the generational musical bridge that Chen and Zhou have built between the United States and China.

Chen Yi and Zhou Long, both born in 1953, embarked on their musical odysseus during the 1980s at Columbia University under the tutelage of composer Chou Wen-chung, whose compositions, characterized by their deep connections to both Eastern and Western traditions, left an indelible mark on Chen and Zhou.

Inspired by their mentor's fascination with exploring the intersection of diverse musical cultures, Chen and Zhou have, over the decades, seamlessly blended their cultural heritage with contemporary compositional techniques, spawning a unique and captivating musical language that resonates across borders.

The concert was presented by The Orchestra Now, a graduate-level training orchestra based at Bard College, conducted by Jindong Cai, artistic director of the festival, and Chen Bing, a professor in the Conducting Department at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM).

Jindong Cai (C), director of the U.S.-China Music Institute, conducts at the concert "Tales from Beijing" of China Now Music Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, on Oct. 9, 2022. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

Before the performance, Cai, also director of the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, observed: "Music is a reflection of society. We want our own stories and music to be heard. We want our own culture and history to be shared with the rest of the world through music."

This sentiment eloquently encapsulated the spirit of the event, as the audience thronging the theater embarked on a transcendent musical journey.

The celebration also extended beyond the realm of music, marking a pivotal moment in the history of cultural exchange between the United States and China.

"Today, we also celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China in 1973 as the first American orchestra to perform in China under the conduct of Eugene Ormandy," said Cai.

Since that historic visit, The Philadelphia Orchestra has made 11 visits to China, with its latest in 2019. The orchestra's unwavering commitment to connecting people through the universal language of music has fostered profound and lasting connections with the Chinese people, transcending concert halls, educational institutions, and municipal settings.

In between the performances, the audience was treated to the announcement by Yu HongMei, CCOM's professor and director of the Chinese Music Department, of Chen Yi's prestigious recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the world of music.

The concert concluded on a heartwarming note, as The Orchestra Now band serenaded the audience with a rendition of "Happy Birthday," celebrating Chen and Zhou's 70th birthday, a fitting tribute to the artists whose music has struck a chord with people around the world.

The China Now Music Festival is a joint endeavor by Bard College's U.S.-China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music in China.

Since its inception in 2018, it has been dedicated to building a cultural bridge between the United States and China through music. Each year, it hosts a series of thematic concerts and lectures, presenting exhilarating contemporary Chinese musical works.

Previous editions of the festival have attracted over 10,000 live attendees, with nearly 80,000 participating in online events.

Editor: WXL
A day after Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau spoke to UAE President about India and the importance of upholding law, the PM on Monday spoke on the same lines and discussed India with King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein.

According to the Canadian government, during the talks Trudeau provided an update on the situation between Canada and India, underscoring the importance of respecting the rule of law and the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

In what can be termed as a fresh provocation, Trudeau had earlier sparked tension with his social post about the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law.

In a post on X, Trudeau said he held a phone call with UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed and discussed the ongoing crisis with India and the importance of upholding the rule of law.

During Mondays talks with Jordan king, Prime Minister Trudeau unequivocally condemned Hamas large-scale attacks against Israel, and he reaffirmed that Canada fully supports Israels right to defend itself.

Trudeau also mentioned that his government has noted the atrocities that have been committed in the war between Israel and Hamas and that Canada is in touch with its international partners to monitor the situation and restore peace and security in the region.

What is The India-Canada Row

The relations between both the countries are seeing an all-time low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged, in his Parliament, the involvement of a foreign agent in the killing of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

He even claimed that he had intelligence inputs and evidence that the Indian government could be behind Nijjars death.

Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. He was the chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force, and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2020. Interpol had also issued red corner notice against him quite a few times, the first one being in 2016.
Israel-Palestine War: Several major international airlines have suspended or scaled back flights to or from Tel Aviv after a surprise rocket attack by Hamas terrorists over the weekend amid a threat of escalating conflict which has raised safety concerns for the passengers and the crew.

American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates and Ryanair are among those pulling flights to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion airport.

Israel-Palestine Conflict LIVE: Rocket Sirens Blare Across Israel; Hamas Warns Ashkelon Residents to Leave City

According to Flightradar24, a website that tracks flights across the world reported that about 50% of scheduled Tel Aviv flights did not operate on Sunday and a third were cancelled on Monday amid the Israel-Palestine war.

Air India Flight to Israel Cancelled

Air India has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The airline on Tuesday announced a one-time waiver of charges for rescheduling or cancellation of confirmed tickets.

In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, the carrier said it is offering a one-time waiver on charges for rescheduling or cancellation of confirmed tickets on flights to and from Tel Aviv.

The offer is valid on tickets issued before 9th October for travel until 31st October 2023, it said.

Delta and United Airline

Major US airline Delta on Monday said it was cancelling all flights to Israel until the end of the month after the shock attack by Hamas militants.

As Delta continues monitoring events in the region, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our Tel Aviv flights through Oct. 31, 2023, the company said.

Apart from that, United Airlines and American Airlines have also suspended direct flights to Tel Aviv after United ran two flights to the US from Israel late on Saturday and early on Sunday but then suspended services until conditions allow them to resume.

Air Canada

Air Canada also announced that it was cancelling flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. The carrier said on Monday it would resume the route as soon as the situation stabilizes.

Hainan and Cathay Pacific Airlines

Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday while Cathay Pacific cancelled its Tuesday and Thursday flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv and said it would provide further updates regarding its next scheduled service later.

Lufthansa Airlines

German airline Lufthansa on Saturday said it was cutting flights to Israel following after Israel-Palestine War, a spokesman told AFP.

Given the current security situation in Tel Aviv, Lufthansa will maintain a single flight to Frankfurt but all other Lufthansa flights to and from Tel Aviv have been cancelled for this Saturday.

Emirates and Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday while Gulf Air cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until October 14.

El Al Airways Remains Operational

Israeli flag carrier El Al on Sunday said that it was maintaining its Tel Aviv flights for now, though some flights operated by foreign partners had been cancelled.

El Al said it was operating in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces, with all flights now departing only from Terminal Three at Ben Gurion.
EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday announced that the Government of India is launching Operation Ajay to facilitate the return from Israel of Indian citizens who wish to return.

Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad, the EAM wrote on X.
After a sudden ghastly assault by the Hamas terrorist group, Israel on Tuesday said that it had regained effective control over its southern region and the border with the Gaza Strip as the Israel-Palestine war entered day 4.

The Isreal-Palestine war began after Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday and launched an all-out brutal attack on Israeli civilians and soldiers. At least 3,000 lives have already been claimed on both sides and perhaps hundreds more.

Heres all you need to about the ongoing Isreal-Palestine war so far:
Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif would leave London for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, sources told CNN-News18. Sharif is likely to spend a week in Saudi Arabia and meet the top leadership, they said, after which he will go to Dubai for two days and finally leave for Pakistan on October 21.

Nawaz Sharif has been in self-imposed exile since 2019. He left for London in the middle of his seven-year jail term on medical grounds. The former PM was later declared a proclaimed offender in the Al Azizia and Avenfield graft cases for his continuous absence from proceedings.

Former PM Shehbaz Sharif last month said that his elder brother would return to Pakistan on October 21. The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) had also said that Nawaz Sharif was prepared to face all kinds of circumstances.

Sources say the cases against him are over following the acquittal of his daughter Maryams acquittal in a corruption case over a year ago.

With Pakistan likely to have elections in January 2024, Nawaz is being seen as the most credible face for the prime ministers post and is very close to the Saudi leadership as well.

Senior PML-N leader and former defence minister Khawaja Asif said last week that party supremo Nawaz Sharif would become the prime minister of the country for the fourth time and resolve all problems.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihads al-Quds Brigades on Tuesday issued a similar warning like the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and said if Israel must stop targeting safe houses and killing civilians in Gaza if they are concerned about the safety of the hostages.

If the Zionist enemy is concerned about the lives of its soldiers, settlers, and captives in our custody, then it must immediately stop targeting safe houses and killing civilians. Otherwise, the fate of your soldiers and captives will be unknown, just like the fate of Ron Arad over forty years ago, Abu Hamza of the Islamic Jihad said in a statement on the al-Quds Brigades Telegram channel on Monday, the CNN reported.

The terrorist group claims to be holding at least 30 hostages in Gaza.

Ron Arad, the person the terrorist group referred to, was an Israeli Air Force Navigator. He crashed his fighter plane in Lebanon in 1986 and was captured by the local Shiite Amal terrorist group and handed over to Hezbollah.

Arad was announced dead in June 2008 by the Iran-backed terrorist group, 22 years after his disappearance.

Hamas on Monday evening issued a similar warning and said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel attacks people living in Gaza Strip.

Hamas allegedly is holding more than 100 hostages which also include Israeli army officers.

The Hamas-Israel conflict which began with a surprise attack on southern Israeli cities on Saturday morning has so far led to deaths of over 900 people in Israel and 680 Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in a live television address vowed that the Israeli military would attack Hamas with a force like never before.

As the Prime Minister of Israel, I tell you frankly, difficult days are still ahead of us, he said

Soon after, his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, announced that the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel to the Palestinian coastal enclave has been stopped.

The conflict has also taken the lives of at least 11 American citizens, twelve Thai citizens, 10 Nepalis, two Ukrainians, two French nationals and one British citizen, according to reports by news agencies.
The leaders of the UK, US, France, Germany and Italy in a joint statement expressed steadfast and united support for the state of Israel and unequivocal condemnation of Hamas on Monday (local time).

The statement came after the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israels territories on Saturday, killing over 900 people. Israel has also launched a siege of Gaza and at least 700 Palestinians have died in the counterattack launched by Israeli forces.

The statement was released after a call between the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak; the US president, Joe Biden; the French president, Emmanuel Macron; the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz; and the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. These five nations together comprise the Quint international organisation, the Guardian said.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages, the statement reads.

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage, the statement further added.

The statement made some concessions to the Palestinian cause. All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed, the statement said.

The death toll from the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict has crossed the 1,600 mark with over 900 dead in Israel and more than 650 dead in Gaza. Terrorist group Palestinian Jihad and Hamas are now holding over 130 Israelis and citizens of other nations hostage.

American naval ships, including an aircraft carrier, is moving closer to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamass attack. The US, however, said it will not put its military on the ground after attacks on Israel. UK PM Sunak pledged to provide diplomatic, intelligence or security support to Israel if requested, following an emergency Cobra meeting.
German citizen Shani Louk, whose naked body was paraded by Hamas militants in a pick-up truck, was reportedly attending an open-air dance music festival in southern Israel near the border with Gaza when the terrorist organisation launched an attack.

Videos circulating on social media showed Louk, aged 30, dancing at the festival with a group of girls.

ISRAEL MUSIC FESTIVALSHANI LOUK SMILING & DANCING BEFORE FATAL KIDNAPPINGLouk was tragically MURDERED BY HAMAS  her naked body was then paraded through the streets in the back of a pickup truck.#IsraelPalestineWar #IsraelAtWar#IsraelUnderAttack #Gaza pic.twitter.com/Ti1QiBDMI0  NVN (@NowVideoNetwork) October 10, 2023

Earlier, videos of jeering gunmen went viral on social media. The clips showed the men sitting on Louk apparently lifeless, naked body on the back of the vehicle, their supporters running alongside and chanting Allahu akbar.

The victims mother, Ricarda Louk, released a video in which she said she recognized her daughter. I ask you to send us any help or any news, she said.

Palestinian terror group Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring thousand others.

The 4-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if strikes targeted civilians without warning.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a years long Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. The death toll from Hamas' weekend surprise attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday. The number of injured people received by hospitals climbed to 2,616, including 25 in critical condition, the Israeli Health Ministry updated. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israel intensified its air strikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) Saturday surprise attack on Israel.

"I've ordered to move (from defense) to a massive offensive on a scale never seen before," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live address to the nation on Monday.

This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli military vehicles in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon.(Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

In the morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters in a briefing that the military has regained control over all the communities in southern Israel, which were stormed by Hamas militants on Saturday after they broke out through the security fence between Israel and Gaza.

Later, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, said that Israel's raids on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of 4 Israeli prisoners and their captive members.

A man looks at destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

At night, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz announced that "all the water supply pipes from Israel to the Gaza Strip have been disconnected." Israel also halted the passage of goods, electricity and food to the Strip.

"Israeli air strikes hit 86 towers in the Gaza Strip and this led to various damages," told an official in Palestine Telecommunications (Paltel) Company.

In response to the Israeli threats, Hamas' military wing's spokesman Abu Obeida warned in an audio statement that "any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding."

Gaza's militant groups said about 130 hostages were in Gaza, including dozens with dual citizenship. Thailand confirmed that 11 Thai nationals are held captive by Hamas.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a briefing that the hostages include toddlers, women and elderly, adding that his country was committed to bringing the hostages back home.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

Children injured in an Israeli airstrike are treated at a hospital in Gaza City, on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Monday that "more than 17,500 families, including more than 123,538 people, were displaced."

In this regard, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed during a phone call with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the importance of delivering relief and medical aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Guterres said that the United Nations is making efforts to provide urgent humanitarian relief aid to the residents there, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).

On Monday, Netanyahu also said the Israeli military was enhancing security along the northern border, where militants in southern Lebanon had fired mortar shells toward northern Israel on Monday afternoon.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Palestine's Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed "its responsibility" for the operation carried out on the border with occupied Palestine, injuring seven Israeli soldiers.

Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, said it attacked on Monday evening the Israeli Pranit and Avivim barracks in northern Israel with guided missiles and mortar shells, in response to the killing of three of its members by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier in the day.

Editor: WXL
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently made important instructions on the work of public communication and culture. He pointed out that the work is extremely crucial to the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term stability of the country, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee has made systematic plans and arrangements from an overall and strategic perspective for the work in this sector, securing historic achievements in this regard in the new era. As a result, overarching and fundamental changes have taken place in the country's ideological landscape, which has greatly boosted the cultural confidence and morale of the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups.

Xi stressed that, in a new era and on a new journey, the evolution of changes with a magnitude unseen in a century is accelerating across the world. The Chinese nation has entered a critical period for its great rejuvenation with the juxtaposition of strategic opportunities as well as risks and challenges. The work of public communication and culture is facing new situations and tasks, and thus those in this sector must take on a new look and make greater progress in this regard. Under the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, it is essential to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and focus on the primary political task of arming the entire Party and educating the people with the Party's innovative theories. To fulfill the new cultural mission of further advancing cultural prosperity, building a leading country in culture and developing a modern Chinese civilization at a new historical starting point, it is a must to have stronger cultural confidence, follow the approach of openness and inclusiveness, and uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. He called for great efforts to strengthen Party leadership in the work of public communication and culture, develop a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people, cultivate and practice the core socialist values, improve the capacity of dissemination and guidance, as well as influence and credibility of the media, carry forward the legacy of Chinese culture with a view to promoting innovative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, beef up the prosperity and development of cultural undertakings and industries, boost the capability of international communication, and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. He also called for endeavors to fully stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity of the whole nation, constantly consolidate the common ideological foundation for the concerted efforts of all Party members and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, continuously strengthen the nation's cultural soft power and the international influence of Chinese culture, so as to provide solid ideological guarantees, powerful inspiration and favorable cultural environment for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

Xi stressed that the Party committees (leading Party members groups) at various levels should consider the work of public communication and culture as a major political responsibility they must shoulder, so as to ensure that the CPC Central Committee's policies and plans for cultural progress are implemented to the letter. The departments at various levels concerned with the work of public communication and culture should enhance their political awareness, have the courage to reform and innovate, have the courage and ability to carry forward their struggle, and constantly break new ground for this work in the new era.

The National Conference on the Work of Public Communication and Culture was held in Beijing from October 7 to 8. Important instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping were conveyed at the conference. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended and addressed the conference.

It was stressed at the conference that General Secretary Xi's important instructions are profound, insightful, and carry immense political, ideological, and guiding significance. They have pointed out where to go for further improving our work of public communication and culture, and therefore must be thoroughly understood, and resolutely implemented.

Those present at the conference agreed that the historical achievements made in the work of public communication and culture since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 were, in the final analysis, attributed to Xi's leadership and guidance from Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The general secretary's new thoughts, viewpoints, and assessments on cultural advancement in the new era are rich in content and profound in exposition. They are summaries of the practical experience of the cultural advancement under the Party's leadership in the new era, and enriched and developed the Marxist cultural theories. They have constituted the cultural dimension of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.

It was noted at the conference that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture involves not only innovation and breakthroughs in the theoretical proposition of the cultural sector, but also arrangements and requirements concerning the work of culture. It has well coordinated both the theories and applications. It has charted the course for and tasks of cultural development in the new era. It demonstrates that our Party has reached a higher level in its understanding of the right way for the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and in having greater historical and cultural confidence. It also showcases powerful strengths in the development of socialist culture in our country, providing us with strong intellectual tools and guidelines for rational actions so that we will be able to do a better job on the work of public communication and culture on the new journey of the new era, and better shoulder the new cultural mission. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is an ideological system that remains open and keeps expanding, and it is bound to be enriched and further developed amid practices. It is imperative to thoroughly understand the decisive significance of the Two Affirmations, strengthen our commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, the Four-sphere Confidence and the Two Upholds, intensify our efforts to study, research and interpret Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and implement it to the letter in all aspects and the whole process of the work of public communication and culture.

It was stressed at the conference that to implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and the strategic arrangements for cultural development of the 20th CPC National Congress, we must boost our sense of responsibility and mission to do well the work of public communication and culture on the new journey of the new era, and push forward relevant work to achieve concrete outcomes. We must make unremitting efforts to strengthen cohesion and forge the Party's soul with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must work hard to study, understand, believe in and apply the thought, and thus internalize and transform it into what we can draw on for our work. We must consolidate and strengthen the mainstream thoughts and public opinion in the new era, strengthen positive public communication with a view to boosting confidence, and upgrade the capabilities of guiding opinions. We must extensively practice the core socialist values, and improve and innovate the work in making cultural-ethical progress. We must promote the prosperity of cultural undertakings and industries, and strengthen the protection and inheritance of fine traditional Chinese culture. We must strengthen and improve the work of international communication, and promote the dissemination and influence of Chinese culture. We must firmly prevent and defuse ideological risks and have the courage to carry on our fight. We must strengthen the Party's overall leadership over the work of public communication and culture, make sure those in charge shoulder their political responsibilities, have the courage to reform and innovate, strengthen the rule of law, and build a strong contingent of officials and talents, so as to provide a strong political guarantee for shouldering the new cultural mission. We must hammer away at implementing all tasks and requirements to the letter, constantly improve our work capabilities, and the quality and efficiency of our work, and take on a new look and make new achievements in our striving for and practice of building a strong socialist culture as well as a modern Chinese civilization.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, announced work plans.

Leaders of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, People's Daily, China Media Group, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Publicity Department of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee made speeches.

Tie Ning and Shen Yiqin attended the conference.

Also present at the conference were members of the Central Public Communication and Culture Work Leading Group, and leading officials of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities specifically designated in the state plan, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, departments of publicity and culture of the CPC Central Committee, relevant central Party and government departments, relevant people's organizations, financial institutions under the central government, some enterprises and universities as well as leaders of relevant departments of the Central Military Commission.

Editor: ZAD
HARARE lawyer Fredrick Nyamande has taken President Emmerson Mnangagwa to court for creating a sovereign wealth fund without Parliaments approval and gazetting legislation to shield the fund from public scrutiny.

Mnangagwa recently renamed the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe to Mutapa Investment Fund through Statutory Instrument 156 of 2023

Nyamande cited Mnangagwa, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza and the Parliament of Zimbabwe as respondents.

In his application, Nyamande is challenging Mnangagwas promulgation without Parliament approval and his decision to exempt 20 State-owned companies recently transferred to the Mutapa Investment Fund from going through public procurement procedures.

The regulations which are made in terms of this legislation always affect the public in Zimbabwe because they allow the first respondent to rule by decree and which create Mutapa Investment Fund, an entity lacking in accountability, but holding most of the valuable national commercial assets and assets, Nyamande said.

He has challenged the constitutional provision which allows the President to enact laws without the approval of Parliament.

Section 2(2) of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act [Chapter 10:20] is inconsistent with section 134 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and it is accordingly invalid. Section 5 of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act [Chapter 10:20] is inconsistent with Section 2 and Section 134 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and it is accordingly invalid, Nyamandes draft order partly read.

The Mutapa Fund saga continues to deepen, with revelations that Mnangagwa has absolute powers to appoint the chief executive officer and board members without consulting anyone.

Speaking to NewsDay last week, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said Mnangagwa was taking Zimbabweans for granted.

The length and breadth of taking Zimbabweans for granted has reached alarming levels, Mkwananzi said.

Mnangagwa has created a massive fund, put it under the control of his son (Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa) who was controversially appointed Deputy Minister of Finance and has blocked any measure of accountability by exempting the said entity from going to tender when procuring goods and services. These are unacceptable nepotistic tendencies.

Lawyer and CCC legislator Fadzayi Mahere also said the move by Mnangagwa was illegal.

The uncomfortable truth is that the creation of the Mutapa Fund is illegal. Mnangagwa doesnt have the power to amend an Act of Parliament. The new looting vehicle is ultra vires the law and the Constitution, she said. Newsday






Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced he's running for president as an independent . Cornel West made the same choice last week. While the politics are murky, the fresh frenzy of outsider candidates threatens to weaken both major parties as Democratic President Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump tighten their grip on their party's presidential nomination. The parties' concern isn't so much that independent or third-party candidates would actually win the presidency, but that they could siphon support from the ultimate Democratic and Republican nominees, the AP reports. Democratic officials, especially, see the outsiders as a dangerous wildcard that harkens to 2016, when Green Party nominee Jill Stein may have enabled Trump's razor-thin victory by winning a small portion of the vote.

Those associated with third-party efforts make no apologies. "The American people have been hungry for options. So, get ready," Stein said in an interview. "What we're seeing is a voter rebellion." The rise of outsider candidates is a reminder of the volatility that hangs over the 2024 presidential election. Both of the major parties' likely nominees are extraordinarily unpopular. Biden and Trump are running as the nation grapples with dangerous political divisions, economic anxiety, and a deep desire for a new generation of leadership in Washington. Much more activity is expected soon. Stein said the Green Party will likely make an announcement about its plans this month. No Labels expects to make a decision about its presidential nominee in the spring.

The efforts face obstacles. Simply qualifying for the ballot in every state will be a gargantuan task for outsider candidates without the benefit of existing political networks. Jim Messina, who managed President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign and is now a Biden ally, didn't play down the possibility that the new candidates could weaken Biden's coalition. "The threat of a third party needs to be planned for seriously," Messina said. Noting that no independent or third-party candidate has ever won even a single electoral votenever mind the 270 needed to claim the presidencyhe said Biden's team still need to be aggressive in warning voters about the threat that long-shot outsider candidates present. "You need to tell people that a vote for a candidate without a path to 270 means they're lighting their ballot on fire," Messina said.

story continues below

Gallup released new polling last week showing that 63% of US adults agree with the statement that the Republican and Democratic parties do "such a poor job" of representing the American people that "a third major party is needed." It was among the highest figures since Gallup first asked the question in 2003. Still, it's far from certain that dissatisfied voters would ultimately cast a ballot next fall for Kennedy, West, or a centrist No Labels candidate. Historically, polls showing that people want a third party to exist have rarely translated into substantial support for actual third-party candidates, per the AP. Aware of the risk to their campaign, Trump allies have begun circulating opposition research against Kennedy designed to damage his standing among conservatives.

(Read more Election 2024 stories.)
The death toll from the attack on southern Israel launched from Gaza early Saturday has risen to more than 900, according to Israeli media, including more than 100 people killed in the tiny farming community of Be'eri. The volunteer search and rescue organization ZAKA said it found the bodies Monday after a hostage standoff with gunmen ended, the Wall Street Journal reports. "Large teams cleared bodies all day from kibbutz Be'eri," the organization said. "There were weapons everywhere, grenades, and RPGs. We cleared 108 bodies and we are not done yet."

Josh Wander, the search and rescue group's international spokesperson, said they found the bodies of dozens of men, women, and children. The militants "just basically mowed down and murdered anyone that they found however they found themin their cars and their houses," he said. Video reviewed by the Washington Post show that at least four Israelis taken prisoner in Be'eri early Saturday morning were shot dead soon after they were seen walking down a residential street with their hands tied behind their backs. The death toll in Be'eri is around 10% of its population, the AP reports.

Palestinian authorities say more than 680 people, including dozens of children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. President Biden said Tuesday that at least 11 American citizens were killed in the Hamas attack and others are unaccounted for. "In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis," he said, per the Times of Israel. "We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives." (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A national walkout of pharmacy staff members who say their chain's working conditions imperil the safety of customers and employees began Monday. CNN reported that some Walgreens stores in Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, and Oregon had shut their pharmacies, while social media posts reported closures elsewhere. Other stores in the nation's second-biggest retail pharmacy chain were operating with reduced staffs, per USA Today . The walkouts are planned to run through Wednesday and could affect hundreds of stores.

A company spokesman called the impact so far minimal but declined to say how many stores had closed or employees had walked off the job. Some stores said they were operating with just their pharmacy's drive-thru windows, while others planned to close early, per CNN. The movement began a few weeks ago when pharmacy employees at some CVS stores in Kansas City held a walkout, expressing similar concerns. Employees at neither chain are unionized; the plans were hatched on a subreddit for pharmacy workers, per the Washington Post.

Michael Hogue of American Pharmacists Association said both companies are having trouble hiring enough pharmacists and technicians because of their high-stress environment and a lack of support. An organizer of the Walgreens walkout told the Post that the demands on understaffed teams of pharmacists, technicians, and support workers are making it difficult to do their jobs responsibly and safely; they're administering vaccines while trying to catch up on hundreds of backlogged prescriptions. "When you're a pharmacist, a missed letter or a number that's wrong in a prescription could kill somebody," the organizer said. Walgreens said the company recognizes the unprecedent pressures of the past few years and is working to improve the situation. (Read more Walgreens stories.)
For the first time, water from the Great Lakes is flowing to a community outside the Great Lakes basin. Waukesha, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb of about 70,000 on the shores of the Fox River, has been working for decades to transition its water supply as the river, its previous source of drinking water, has become contaminated with radium, per WISN . It first requested that water from Lake Michigan be pumped to the city in 2010, per Wisconsin Public Radio . Waukesha, in a county that straddles the basin line, could request a water diversion under the Great Lakes Compact, but it was not guaranteed. "Any governor in the eight states that are signatories to the Compact could have vetoed the diversion," WPR reports, noting "Waukesha barely made the cut" in 2016.

The $300 million transferwhich required cutting through a lot of red tape, investigating alternatives, ordering an environmental impact statement, and the construction of 36 miles of pipelineis finally complete. As WISN reports, "with a push of a button Monday morning, 50 million gallons of fresh water from Lake Michigan began to flow into faucets throughout the city of Waukesha." It's now "the first community outside the Great Lakes basin to draw water from one of the Great Lakes," per WPR. "It's a sense of relief," Dan Duchniak, general manager of the Waukesha Water Utility, said Monday, per WISN. "We're finally going to resolve that water supply issue that we've had in the city for a number of years, and it'll be solved for generations to come."

The pipeline carries water from Lake Michigan to a pumping station in the city. About 90% of residents should receive lake water treated with chloramines by the end of this week. The remaining 10% should receive lake water within three weeks, Duchniak said. Residents can expect some temporary changes in the smell and taste of the water but are assured it is safe, per GM Today. The city can divert up to 8.2 million gallons of lake water per day. It must clean and return the water to the lake via the Root River. Actually, it will return more water than it diverts, about 9.3 million gallons daily, per WPR. It will also be required to monitor changes to the Root River for at least 10 years. (Read more Wisconsin stories.)
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from jail on espionage charges, meaning he'll remain behind bars at least through Nov. 30. Gershkovich, 31, who's already spent six months in custody, had a mostly blank expression as he appeared in the defendant's glass cage in Moscow City Court in a blue shirt, T-shirt, and jeans, per the AP . It was the second time in less than a month he'd appeared before a judge to appeal an August decision to extend his pretrial detention through November. On Sept. 19, the court declined to hear the appeal, citing unspecified procedural violations.

The US Embassy in Moscow said in a statement that it was "deeply disappointed" that Gershkovich's appeal was rejected, adding: "Evan should be released." The journalist was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,200 miles east of Moscow. The court proceedings are closed because prosecutors say details of the criminal case are classified. Russia's Federal Security Service alleged that Gershkovich, "acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex."

Gershkovich and the Journal deny the allegations, and the US government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities haven't detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges. Gershkovich, held at Moscow's Lefortovo prison, is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since Nicholas Daniloff in 1986. Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after US-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial. In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year. (Read more Evan Gershkovich stories.)
Iran's supreme leader says his nation had no role in the surprise Hamas attack on Israel, despite allegations to the contrary . But Ayatollah Ali Khamenei nonetheless praised the assault, reports Reuters . "We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime," said Khamenei in a televised speech on Tuesday. "This destructive earthquake (Hamas' attack) has destroyed some critical structures which will not be repaired easily," he said, adding that "the Zionist regime's own actions are to blame for this disaster." Speaking at a graduation ceremony for military cadets, Khamenei also issued a warning.

Israel faces an even "heavier slap on its ugly face" should it aggressively retaliate against Gaza, he said, per USA Today. It appears Israel will test that warning. On Tuesday, its military said it had retaken towns bordering Gaza that had been temporarily overrun by Hamas militants and was preparing for a larger offensive, reports the New York Times. As of Tuesday, Israel had called up an unprecedented 360,000 reserves, though it remained unclear whether retaliation would take the form of a ground invasion or be confined mostly to airstrikes. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
YINCHUAN, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The desert scenery of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region proved a hit with visitors over the eight-day long Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday break, reflecting the success of the region's investment into tourism and environmental protection.

"This is my first time seeing a desert, and it is more splendid and interesting than I imagined," said a tourist surnamed Zhang, who made her maiden trip from east China's Zhejiang Province to Ningxia.

Zhang and her son quenched their thirst for adventure with camel rides and sledding across the sand dunes in Yinchuan City, while the unique sight of water and sand blending at Shahu (Sand Lake) scenic area in Shizuishan City gave them food for thought.

"I had heard the saying 'You haven't truly visited Ningxia until you've seen its deserts.' Although there were lots of tourists and long queues during the holiday, we enjoyed our tours a lot," said Zhang.

The picturesque scenery and popular tourist attractions, however, were once unimaginable.

Ningxia covers an area of just 66,400 square km yet its surrounding deserts, the Tengger, Mu Us, and Ulan Buh, meant it suffered from the most severe desertification in China.

Over the years, with the help of the "straw checkerboard barrier" approach, successive generations have worked to stabilize the shifting sands, creating favorable conditions for the tourism development.

Today, the region boasts a plethora of scenic spots, including the Shapotou National Reserve and the Shahu scenic area, both of which are designated as a 5A scenic sites, the top level.

To welcome enthusiastic tourists during the long holiday, various desert tourist attractions in Ningxia launched diverse activities, allowing tourists from all over the country to truly experience the joy of desert tourism.

The Shahu scenic area integrated cultural and recreational activities with the natural scenery, with offerings including an exotic circus, night market, and star-gazing camp.

"We have also added many sunshades and other service facilities to provide tourists with a safe, convenient, and comfortable environment during the holiday," said Wang Xiaoting, deputy general manager of Ningxia Sand Lakes Tourism Co., Ltd.

The Shapotou National Reserve offered free admission to special groups like those aged 60 and above, medical workers and military personnel or ex-servicemen, and waived parking fees.

As night falls, the Tengger Desert sheds its daytime heat, and the starry sky transforms the desert scenery. In Zhongwei City, where Shapotou National Reserve is located, high-end vacation products, such as star-gazing hotels and lodges along the Yellow River, capitalize on this unique natural blessing.

The booming desert travel rush has helped revive tourism in Ningxia. During the period, Ningxia received nearly 4.9 million domestic tourists, generating tourism revenue of 4.09 billion yuan (about 560 million U.S. dollars), an increase of 18.82 percent and 35.1 percent respectively, compared to the same period in 2019, according to the regional culture and tourism department.

Editor: WJH
The Coast Guard says it has recovered the remaining debris of the Titan submersible from the Atlantic Ocean floor, along with presumed human remains. All five people on board the submersible, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, were killed when it imploded during a dive to the wreckage of the Titanic in June. The debris was recovered last week by safety engineers with the Coast Guard's Marine Board of Investigation, the Coast Guard said in a press release Tuesday. The Coast Guard said the debris was taken to an American port and the presumed remains were "carefully recovered from within Titan's debris and transported for analysis by US medical professionals."
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Death toll in Gaza climbed to 560 yesterday as Israel pounded the Palestinian exclave for the third consecutive day, even as leaders of Western and Arab nations announced separate meetings to discuss the crisis.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain yesterday called for the protection of civilians and the immediate cessation of fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces.

Highlighting that the attacks by Hamas constitute a dangerous escalation that threatens the lives of civilians, the Ministry expressed regret for the loss of life and destruction of property and offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery for the injured.

Through the statement, the Ministry affirmed the Kingdoms denunciation of the reported kidnappings of civilians from their homes to be taken as hostages and called calling for the de-escalation of the violence that threatens regional security and stability, noting the dire consequences this conflict will have on the region.

Further, the Ministry called upon the international community to fulfil its responsibilities by intervening to stop the armed conflict, to protect civilians under international humanitarian laws, and to make further efforts to achieve peace, stability and, security for all the peoples of the region.

The Ministry affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain supports the peace process and advocates for reaching a diplomatic solution through negotiations to bring forth a two-state solution in alignment with other international legitimacy resolutions.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Ashen Tharaka

The Turkish Embassy in Manama has announced a series of programmes to strengthen business partnerships with Bahrain, including the Turkish Trade Mission to Manama programme, which was officially announced at a press conference held at the Turkish Embassy in Manama in the presence of the Turkish Ambassador and the Bahraini business community.

As part of this trade mission, the embassy has organised a B2B meeting tomorrow 11 at the InterContinental Hotel in Bahrain, which will be headed by a special delegation from Turkey. The main agenda of this one-to-one meeting is to explore business opportunities, collaboration, and joint venture possibilities to fulfill these demands and further develop trade relations between Turkey and Bahrain.

A delegation of over 15 Turkish companies will be in Manama to meet and establish ties with interested companies in Bahrain. H.E. Esen Cakl, Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain, said that the meeting will provide an excellent opportunity for Bahraini companies interested in trading with Turkey and this will strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.

Construction, iron and steel products, furniture and carpets, household goods, ceramics and porcelain products, food, dry food, fresh food and vegetables, personal care, insurance and cleaning products, packaging, machinery and spare parts, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, textile, equipment, garments and raw materials, information, communication and cloud computing services will be discussed at the meetings.

In addition, education consultancy, investment consultancy, foreign trade, tax and finance consultancy, and generous payments will also be highlighted in these meetings.
Researcher Chen Xiaodong, at Dalian University of Technology, is busy studying ice core samples obtained from China's latest Arctic North Pole expedition, which returned on Sept 27.

Chen is studying the properties of Arctic sea ice in order to create modeling that will be able to predict changes caused by global warming.

The expedition team returned from its mission aboard icebreaker Xuelong 2, having covered more than 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 kilometers) since July 12.

Chen and his colleagues reached 90 degrees North latitude, marking the first time that a Chinese research vessel had performed scientific tasks in the North Pole region. Chen became the first Chinese ice mechanics researcher to reach the North Pole and conduct on-site sampling.

He collected a 0.52-cubic-meter ice block sample and 181 ice core samples. Among the ice core samples, 15 were collected from the ice floe at the North Pole.

These samples are expected to fill the data gap in China's research on the physical and mechanical properties of sea ice in this region.

"In the field of ice mechanics research, Dalian University of Technology has the strongest and most experienced research group in China," said Chen.

"We've been working on this for generations. I'm just lucky to have been sent on this expedition," he said.

During the expedition, Chen was involved in the onboard observation of sea ice and the measurement of sea ice mechanical properties, including carrying out field tests and collecting data on the ice, as well as conducting automated observations of sea ice parameters and using drones for observation.

It was the first time that the mechanical properties of Arctic sea ice had been studied under impact load based on in-situ experiments by a Chinese researcher.

Chen, 36, began researching sea ice mechanics during his master's degree at DUT in 2010. Prior to this expedition, he had participated in five Arctic research projects organized by different institutions.

Reflecting on the expedition, he noted a significant change in the sea ice conditions, with especially severe melting this year.

During the 78-day journey, Chen and other researchers carried out comprehensive surveys on the atmosphere, hydrology, biology and sea ice along the route.

The researchers conducted a series of observations, surveying and sampling operations in the central section of the Pacific Arctic region and the Gakkel Ridge, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Editor: JYZ
AFP | Paris

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Vietnamese agents may be behind a global spyware campaign targeting officials, civil society and journalists around the world using EU-made malware, Amnesty International said Monday.

The NGO detailed in a report how a Vietnam-linked account on Twitter, now X, tried to infect the phones of dozens of people and institutions -- including overseas Vietnamese journalists, EU and US officials and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen -- with malware called Predator.

Amnesty has worked with media outlets and cybersecurity experts to investigate the Predator software, which is marketed by an alliance of companies with French and Israeli connections and bases across Europe.

The malware, like the Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO that caused a global scandal in 2021, takes control of the camera and microphone of an infected phone, turning it into a pocket spy.

French news outlet Mediapart, which broke the initial story last week in a joint investigation with Germany's Spiegel magazine, said Predator had been sold to governments from Egypt to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.

The malware was also found on the phones of an Egyptian activist and a Greek journalist as far back as 2021, according to the news reports.

- 'Mysterious and dangerous' -

Amnesty said such surveillance technology was fundamentally inconsistent with human rights.

Amnesty advocacy officer Katia Roux told AFP the EU was "completely failing" to regulate this sector.

"We call for a ban on this software and a moratorium on all other surveillance software," she said.

The malware was sold to someone at the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in 2020 for 5.6 million euros ($5.9 million), according to Mediapart and Amnesty.

The investigations "suggest that agents of the Vietnamese authorities, or persons acting on their behalf, may be behind the spyware campaign".

It was unclear whether the campaign, which Amnesty said had targeted more than 50 individuals and institutions between February and June this year, had succeeded in infecting any targets.

Predator was initially created by a North Macedonian firm called Cytrox, Amnesty said in its report released on Monday titled "The Predator Files: Caught in the Net".

The tech was eventually marketed by the Intellexa group, described by Amnesty as a "complex, morphing group of interconnected companies" which was set up by a former Israeli soldier and incorporated in Ireland.

Intellexa later formed an alliance with French umbrella group Nexa to market spyware in what Spiegel said was probably "one of the most mysterious and dangerous ventures in Europe".

In July, the US blacklisted both Cytrox and Intellexa warning that their software was "threatening the privacy and security of individuals and organisations worldwide".
Canadians will be able to treat themselves to the iconic flavour of BAILEYS in select non-alcoholic beverages and baked goods across Canada later this year.

TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Later this year, and for a limited time, Tim Hortons guests will be able to enjoy the flavour of BAILEYS in select non-alcoholic beverages and baked goods across Canada.

"Can you think of a better pairing? We're excited to team up to give Canadians the unmistakable flavour of Tim Hortons classics and BAILEYS that Canadians know and love. Since the line-up is non-alcoholic, Tims guests will be able to enjoy these delicious flavour combinations any time!" said Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons.

Tim Hortons and BAILEYS announce non-alcoholic menu collaboration that will launch later this year (CNW Group/Tim Hortons)

"BAILEYS and Tim Hortons are known for food and beverage innovations that push boundaries and this collaboration is sure to be a match made in decadence," said Nadia Niccoli, Head of Marketing for Diageo Canada.

Stay tuned for more information about this delicious non-alcoholic partnership that Canadians will want to savour as the weather turns colder.

About Tim Hortons

In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. Over the last 55 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages  including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps  alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 5,400 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca.

About BAILEYS Original Irish Cream Liquor

BAILEYS launched in Ireland in 1974. It is now available in 180 markets worldwide and is the number one selling liqueur in the world. Owned by Diageo plc, BAILEYS is the most loved spirit's brand in the world (Kantar). It's the signature delicious balance of Irish Cream, whisky and fine spirits that makes BAILEYS Original Irish Cream the perfect dash of indulgence when looking for an adult treat. The BAILEYS portfolio includes Original Irish Cream, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Cinnamon, Espresso Creme, Colada, Deliciously Light, Almande, Tiramisu Flavour etc. For more information on BAILEYS Original Irish Cream, please visit us at www.BAILEYS.com

About Diageo North America

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.

For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

SOURCE Tim Hortons

For further information: [email protected]
In 2021, the California Air Resources Board voted to require that new, small off-road engines  like the ones found in leaf blowers and lawn mowers  meet zero-emission standards starting in 2024. In addition, portable generators, including those found in recreational vehicles, must be zero-emission by 2028.

The rules do not ban the possession or operation of these generators. It will still be legal for California residents to travel to Arizona, Oregon, or Nevada, buy a generator, and bring it back.

New homes and buildings that are constructed in California in 2023 must have electric supply panels and circuitry to support all-electric appliances and heating under a building code update approved two years ago by the California Energy Commission.

The new building code doesnt ban the sale of natural gas appliances outright but the outright ban on natural gas appliances will come in 2030.

In June, a federal appeals court ruled Berkeley couldnt ban gas hookups in new buildings. The Berkeley city attorney is pushing back. In June, the Biden administration submitted an amicus brief in support of the city of Berkeleys petition for a rehearing as it seeks to preserve its ban on gas hookups in new buildings. Berkeley passed the ban in July 2019. The ordinance, which went into effect in 2020, still stands as the legal process continues.

Over 70 communities in California, Seattle and New York City have various regulations limiting or banning various aspects of natural gas.

These are stupid bans. We should be offsetting the CO2 and greenhouse gases. We have a sector of our economy about 1% of the people who provide all of our food. They are farmers. We could have a sector that also grew plants like trees that would absorb all of the extra CO2. This could also be farmers. This could be done for less than $1 per ton. We do not force everyone to grow all of their own food. People may choose to grow their own food but we do not force it. We can solve the excess CO2 issue as well without forcing everyone to do things.
If you've watched the Channel 4 documentary The First Brit: Secrets of the 10,000 Year Old Man, or read about the Museum's research into Cheddar Man, you may have some further questions you'd like answered.

Here are our researchers' responses to some of the most popular queries they've received.

How can DNA survive 10,000 years?

DNA can survive in bones and teeth for extraordinary lengths of time given the right environmental conditions. The oldest ancient DNA extracted to date is probably that from a horse bone which was preserved in the Canadian permafrost for over 550,000 years1. DNA survives less well in bones from temperate environments, but cave environments seem to provide some protection. Ancient DNA has been successfully extracted and analysed from 35,000 year-old human remains from Europe2. The good preservation of the DNA we retrieved from Cheddar Man is unusual, but not unexpected.

How do you know his skin colour?

We were able to extract enough information from Cheddar Mans DNA to run it through a forensic tool that predicts differences in the level of skin pigmentation in modern world populations3. The results indicated that Cheddar Mans skin pigmentation was most likely in one of the two most highly-pigmented of five categories ('dark' or 'dark to black'), and definitely not in the lightest categories.

Is this a surprising finding?

No, not really. Previous studies of DNA from Mesolithic individuals recovered from Spain, Luxembourg and Hungary identified that they also lacked the versions of genes associated with reduced skin pigmentation in modern, light-skinned Europeans4-6. We found that Cheddar man belonged to the same population as these individuals  usually referred to as western European Mesolithic hunter-gatherers  so in that context his pigmentation is not unusual. However, we did predict how dark Cheddar Mans skin was by examining variation in a wider range of genes related to skin pigmentation.

Will these findings be published in a peer-reviewed paper?

We are preparing a related paper for submission, but this paper is not exclusively about Cheddar Man. As previous studies had already suggested that darker skin pigmentation was common in western European Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, the results from Cheddar Man are not novel enough by themselves to form the basis of a scientific paper. But finding that he was typical of that population was novel, and when put in the context of subsequent migrations into Britain, his genome becomes a valuable piece of the British population history jigsaw.

Is Cheddar Man actually an escaped slave or a tourist from Africa?

No! The bones of Cheddar Man have been radiocarbon dated twice, and on both occasions the results indicate that he died around 10,000 years ago7.

Are there any people with lighter skin pigmentation at this time?

Yes. Populations with the versions of genes primarily responsible for lighter skin pigmentation were living in parts of Scandinavia and western Asia at around the time Cheddar man was alive5,8-9.

How did Europeans develop paler skin?

The versions of the genes primarily responsible for lighter skin pigmentation in modern North-West Europeans arrive in Europe on the back of two waves of migration thousands of years after Cheddar Man died; one associated with Near Eastern farmers and another with pastoralists from the Pontic steppe10-12. In addition, there seems to have been ongoing natural selection favouring lighter skin pigmentation in Europe over the last 9,000 years, probably in relation to an increased need for UV induced vitamin D synthesis in the skin.

What is his mitochondrial DNA type?

Cheddar Mans mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited exclusively down the maternal line, belongs to haplogroup U5b1. As this is only a tiny portion of an individuals genome, and there have been several large-scale population movements in Europe and across the world since Cheddar Man was alive, this result has no relevance to his skin pigmentation, and says little about the distribution of this mitochondrial haplogroup amongst modern populations.

How do we calculate that 10% of British ancestry can be linked to Cheddar Man?

When we look at genetic variation in modern British people today, we find that  for those who do not have a recent history of migration  around 10% of their ancestry can be attributed to the ancient European population to which Cheddar Man belonged. This group is referred to as the western European Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. However, this ancestry does not relate specifically to Cheddar Man or the Mesolithic population of Britain. Well after Cheddar Mans death, two large-scale prehistoric migrations into Britain produced significant population turnovers13. Both of these migrations into Britain represented westward extensions of population movements across Europe10-12. In both cases, these migrating populations intermixed with local people who carried western European Mesolithic hunter-gatherer ancestry, as they moved across Europe. When these populations arrived in Britain they already had some hunter-gatherer ancestry derived from this mixing with local populations. Therefore the majority of western European Mesolithic hunter-gatherers ancestry that we see in modern British people probably originates from populations who lived all over Europe during the Mesolithic, which was carried into Britain by these later migrations.
An autonomous underwater vehicle developed by a Chinese university team has obtained abundant data during the country's latest Arctic expedition, revealing various features found beneath the North Pole.

The red, fish-shaped robot called XH1000 was made by researchers from Harbin Engineering University. During the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition, which concluded in late September, it completed under-ice environment detection operations near the Chukchi Sea and relayed a torrent of data, including ocean water temperature, salinity and pH levels.

Equipped with domestically developed detection sonar, the polar-observing AUV explored an area of 7,000 square meters beneath the Arctic ice.

Operation team leader Zhu Zhongben, who is an associate professor at the university, said the information gathered will help scientists improve their understanding of the changing process of sea ice and ocean currents in the region, providing data support for effectively coping with the impact of global climate change on China.

According to Zhu, the expedition has verified several technologies, including underwater navigation at high latitudes in the polar region, and generated valuable experience for robotic submersibles in high-risk polar areas and extremely harsh environments.

Chinese scientists set off for the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition on July 12 aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2. They traveled more than 15,500 nautical miles before returning to Shanghai on Sept 27. Xuelong 2 reached the North Pole on Sept 5.

Editor: JYZ
This file image from video animation is provided by the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC), showing that China's Chang'e-5 probe performed braking for the second time. [Photo/Xinhua/BACC]

The Chang'e 8 robotic probe  the third to be placed on the moon during China's next lunar exploration endeavor  is open to foreign science payloads, according to the China National Space Administration.

Speaking on Monday at the ongoing 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wang Qiong, deputy head designer of the Chang'e 8 mission, said that there will be 200 kilograms of payload capacity for piggyback missions on the spacecraft.

Each piggyback payload should not weigh more than 100 kg. Preference will be given to independently controllable devices, lunar surface robots and equipment new to Chinese lunar missions, according to Wang. He said that lunar regions around Leibnitz Beta, Amundsen crater, Cabeus crater and the Shackleton-de Gerlache Connecting Ridge have been chosen as candidate landing sites.

The Chinese space administration has set a deadline of Dec 31 for letters of intent, with preliminary and final selections to be completed by April and September 2024, respectively.

According to the mission planners, the Chang'e 8 probe will consist of a lander, a rover and a robot. The spacecraft is set to land on the moon's south pole around 2028 to make on-site investigations of the environment and mineral composition of the landing site, carry out observations of the Earth and test technologies for in-situ resource utilization. In space exploration, in-situ resource utilization is the practice of collecting, processing, storing and using materials found or manufactured on other astronomical bodies, such as the moon and Mars, that could be used to replace materials that would otherwise be brought from the Earth.

The utilization of local resources will be crucial to human activities on the moon in the future, according to Wu Weiren, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a leading scientist at the space administration.

"If we wish to stay for a long time on the moon, we need to set up stations by utilizing the moon's own materials. Lunar soil will be our raw material and will be made into construction materials using 3D printing technology," he told China Daily in April.

Wu and other space officials have said that the Chang'e 8 will follow the Chang'e 7 mission in 2026, which will also target the lunar south pole.

Editor: JYZ
Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, has offered permanent appointment to a casual staff of the state pilgrims welfare board who returned missing $16,000 during the last hajj exercise.

Yusuf made the announcement while receiving the report of the Kano state pilgrims welfare board for the 2023 hajj operation.

He said the casual staff identified as Dayyabu Haladu aka Dan Gezawa, was also rewarded with a gift of N1 million and an automatic slot to embark on the forthcoming hajj exercise.

The governor said the action of the casual staff shows contentment, adding that he is an excellent character worthy of emulation by all and sundry.

As a casual staff whose allowance is nothing to take home about, this gentleman managed to return the lost money worth over N15 million, he said.

It shows how this person has a fear of Allah and he deserves to be celebrated.

He urged residents to uphold the reputation of the state by exhibiting discipline and contentment in order to live a happy life.

On his part, the casual staff said he returned the money to the state pilgrims board because of the fear of Allah.

He said it was improper to take what did not belong to him regardless of the economic hardship.

He thanked the governor for the gifts and gestures extended to him, adding that it was the best moment of his life.

The governor also promised to honour a tricyclist who returned a missing N16 million sum.

In July, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said a Nigerian pilgrim identified as Aishatu Nahuce returned a missing $8,000 to the owner in Saudi Arabia.
The Federal Government says it will soon issue an order compelling airline operators to start paying compensation to passengers for delayed and cancelled flights not attributed to natural occurrences.





The Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated this during a meeting with airline operators in Abuja on Monday.





He said, On delayed flights, I want to speak for the ordinary Nigerians who complain every day about delayed, cancelled flights. I know you have said all your reasons. You have blamed the government and a few things we do. But I also want to say that it is not all the time that it is government.





At times, you say you were waiting for passengers to finish passing through the screening machine. At times, they have finished passing through screening machines. They are waiting in the lounge for five hours and you cancel your flight.





So, you see, after some time, we will start implementing the provisions of the NCAA Act. You know, Nigerians dont know there is compensation for delay. If it is an act of God, you cannot pay. But if it is human fault, the NCAA Act says you will pay. So, for all airline operators, while I have praised and supported you, I will also support Nigerians. You will pay them. After some time, I will put my feet on the ground. Pay them when you delay, cancel their flight.





Similarly, the minister urged the airline operators to maintain stable communication channels that enable passengers to get cancellation notices.




A federal high court in Abuja has disqualified Timipre Sylva, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from contesting the November 11 election in Bayelsa state.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Donatus Okorowo, presiding judge, held that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution if allowed to contest again.

The judge held that Sylva was not qualified to run in the forthcoming poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

Citing Marwa Vs Nyako, the judge stated that the supreme court had ruled that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope.





He added that if Sylva was allowed to contest the next election, it meant a person could contest as many times as he wanted.

Demesuoyefa Kolomo, a member of the APC, had asked the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete Sylvas name from the list of candidates contesting the governorship poll in Bayelsa on November 11.

The plaintiff averred that by the provisions of section 182(1)\(b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), Sylva is not qualified to contest the election on APCs platform or any other political partys platform because he was elected in April 2007 and May 2008.

But in his affidavit, Sylva had said he was elected once as the states governor, insisting that there was no election in 2007.

While referencing a court of appeal judgment in April 2008 that nullified the 2007 election, the former minister maintained that he is within his constitutional and legal rights to contest the forthcoming election in Bayelsa.

Sylva was minister of state for petroleum resources from 2019 to 2023.




The European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday, urged Israel not to cut water, food, or electricity to Gaza.





The EU also called for humanitarian corridors for those trying to flee the territory, the blocs foreign policy chief said.





The representatives of the 27 EU countries held emergency talks after the surprise attack by Hamas and as Israel unleashed a reprisal bombing campaign of Gaza.





Fears of a regional conflagration have surged amid expectations of a looming Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on Saturday.





The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from the worst attack in the countrys 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far, and Israels army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.





The European ministers insisted on the need for respect of international humanitarian law and it means no blockage of water, food or electricity to the civil population in Gaza, top diplomat Josep Borrell said, as quoted by AFP.





Israel has the right to defend but it has to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law, and some decisions are contrary to this international law, Borrell told journalists in Omans capital Muscat.





He said the EU meeting called for humanitarian corridors to facilitate people who have to escape the bombing of Gaza across the border to Egypt.





After mixed signals from Brussels over the future of its financial support, Borrell said an overwhelming majority of EU states oppose suspending aid to the Palestinian Authority.





Not all the Palestinian people are terrorists, he said.





A collective punishment against all Palestinians will be unfair, and unproductive. It will be against our interest and against the interest of peace.





Borrell said that there will no be an increased need for humanitarian assistance for the Gaza.





The fact is that at the moment the casualties in Gaza are also increasing, 150,000 people are internally displaced and the humanitarian situation is dire, Borrell said.





So we will have to support more, not less, more.





Brussels had earlier rowed back comments from EU neighbourhood commissioner Oliver Varhelyi that the bloc was immediately suspending all payments to the Palestinians.





But the EUs executive arm has launched an urgent review to see if any of the funds have indirectly gone towards funding Hamas.





Borrell said that neither the Israeli foreign minister nor his Palestinian counterpart took up an invitation to address the EU meeting.
Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has assured that Nigerians and other nationals of other countries living in Israel are safe as Israeli Defence Forces attack Hamas terrorists.

Freeman disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing the media in Abuja, the nations capital.

The envoy said there was no justification for Hamas to launch the horrific attack on civilians on Saturday.

He said the Israeli forces will eliminate Hamas so that there will not be a repeat of this to Israel or any country.

Speaking about the safety of Nigerians, Freeman said, Everyone is safe in Israel. Nigerians are safe. We will do everything we can to avoid civilian casualties. But the civilians will get killed, we should be prepared for that.

Condemning Hamas, the envoy said, There is no justification for Hamas to attack. They have no right to hold children and women.

Their major headquarters is under a hospital in Gaza. We are focusing on ensuring that everybody is safe, and how we are going to do that is to eliminate Hamas, Freeman said.
Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has refuted speculations that he is dead.





The retired Army general told Vanguard newspapers over the telephone that he is alive and wondered where the unfounded rumours started from.

There were speculations in a section of the social media that the General passed on aged 89.

However, when contacted over the telephone, the General refuted the claims stating that he is alive and in good health.





Also reacting to the rumours, the Delta State Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), during the 2023 election, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi who is said to have close ties with the war hero, described the speculations as the handiwork of mischief makers.





Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education, spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Orusi Kenneth, late on Monday.





Gbagi, disclosed that General Gowon, is alive, hale and hearty and currently in London.





Gbagi was quoted as saying, General Gowon, is still much around with us, hale and hearty. He is not in a hurry to go anywhere.





He further said; I, Gbagi, just spoke with him. I hereby refute the rumour of the death of my friend, General Gowon.





He has communicated to Nigerians that he is still much around, hale and hearty. Gowon is alive.





Findings, however, revealed that the speculations on social media had emerged after a man who bore the name Gowon, Professor Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Niger Delta University in Bayelsa State, died on Saturday.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has explained why his Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, certificate comes with the name Sadiq Abubakar.

Atiku offered the clarification through Dele Momodu.

According to Momodu, the clarification became necessary following allegations of forgery against his principal by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Some members of the APC had questioned the name Sadiq Abubakar in Atikus WAEC certificate as against his other credentials.

However, Momodu said he forwarded the accusations to the former Vice President, who also provided an answer for the discrepancy.

Momodu wrote, The APC busybodies have been bombarding me with allegations of forgery against my Principal, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR (GCON), which I immediately forwarded to him and here is his copious response: Yes I used Sadiq Abubakar to sit for my WAEC and after passing my exams I went to swear an affidavit to say I am the same person as ATIKU Abubakar. I went to ABU as Atiku Abuakar and passed my Exams as Atiku Abubakar. Interviewed as Atiku Abubakar by the Federal Civil Service Commission and hired into the Customs Service as Atiku Abubakar. So where is forgery there?  ATIKU ABUBAKAR

CAN THE APC social media bullies forward the deluge of questions in circulation to their boss and get instant and direct response

I SALUTE ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR
An Atlantic City man who traveled to Washington, D.C. with his father to see the former president speak on Jan. 6, 2021 pleaded guilty Tuesday to being disorderly or disruptive during the ensuing rioting at the U.S. Capitol, court records say.

James Rahm III, known in his family as JD Rahm, is scheduled to be sentenced in January, in federal court in Washington, D.C.

His lawyer, H. Heather Shaner, said her client is a wonderful young man, a doll, who was blamed for his fathers actions and suffered for it.

Rahm III and his father, James Rahm Jr., of Philadelphia, were separately charged in early 2021 with five criminal counts for their presence at the rioting.

The elder Rahm, who is known as Doug Rahm, opted for a bench trial before a federal judge in Washington, who found him guilty of all charges, one a felony, in October 2022. The judge sentenced him in January to a year in prison, but hes been allowed to remain free while lawyers appeal his case. The appeal is ongoing.

The younger Rahm took a plea bargain in August, and made it official Tuesday, records show. Hed also been indicted on five crimes.

Court filings say Rahm III, who brought a GoPro camera with him, was recorded saying, Holy s---, holy s---. Oh, my f---ing God. We just stormed the Capitol. Holy F---, just before entering the building.

He briefly entered the office suite belonging to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Later, he was part of a group that pushed police officers into a set of doors and allowed additional rioters into the Capitol, court papers say.

He was inside the building for about 40 minutes.

Shaner said the younger Rahm, is a 100 percent fine young man. Hes a Catholic school-educated, choir boy at his church in Atlantic City, serves in food kitchens and volunteers with the Boy Scouts.

Youd invite him into your home, Shaner said. (She plans to when hes in Washington for his sentencing.)

She said her client was screwed over in his criminal charges due to his fathers actions. They were both charged with the same five counts, four misdemeanors and a felony. Shaner said she worked for a year, banging my head against a wall, to get Rahm III a plea bargain for a misdemeanor.

Federal prosecutors eventually agreed, but for the stiffer misdemeanor, rather than a lesser count.

Earlier court filings in Rahm IIIs case show he was candid with authorities after his 2021 arrest, telling the FBI about his trip to the nations capital with his father, which started on Jan. 5, 2021. Once at the Capitol after the former presidents rally, they split up so he could see some friends and record footage on his GoPro.

Rahm III confirmed for the FBI a photo they found in his fathers cell phone was him at the Capitol, described the clothing he wore, and described for agents his movements inside the building, including being inside Pelosis office, and capturing footage of violence against officers, the FBI has said.

Father and son then reunited outside and talked of being inside, the FBI has said, and the younger Rahm handed over the footage he recorded, as well as his cell phone.

Rahm III went with his father to Washington on Jan. 6 , Shaner said, to look after his dad and keep him out of trouble.

And not only did he help federal prosecutors after his arrest, but footage he shot has been used to prosecute other Jan. 6 defendants.

He also testified in March 2022 in front of the U.S. House of Representatives select committee on the Jan. 6 attack.

James Rahm III, left, with his father James Rahm Jr. in Washington, D.C. in January 2021, in a photo seized from the FBI.

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Bruce Springsteen was back on the airwaves Monday, once again guest DJing for his From My Home to Yours series broadcast on E Street Radio, the SiriusXM station devoted to The Bosss music.

During his segment, Springsteen, 74, provided an update on his health, referencing the peptic ulcer disease that last month caused the rock icon to postpone the remainder of his and the E Street Bands 2023 international tour.
Ukrainian entrepreneurs working in Poland last year paid social contributions to the Polish Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) in the amount of 4 billion zlotys ($927 million at the current exchange rate), and this year these payments are expected to increase by 50%  up to 6 billion zlotys, said the commissioner of the Polish government for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in the field of development, Jadwiga Emilewicz.

Ukraine and Poland often talk at a heightened diplomatic temperature. But at the same time, exports from Poland to Ukraine grew by 55% last year, exports from Ukraine to Poland grew by 40%, she said at the Second Ukraine Recovery Forum, organized recently in Warsaw by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).

She clarified that 30,000 Ukrainian entrepreneurs are registered in Poland.

According to her, such dynamics in the receipt of social contributions from them must be taken into account in the discussion about preferences and assistance for citizens of Ukraine.

The commissioner noted that the development of Ukrainian business in Poland was facilitated by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, whose Kyiv representative office was temporarily moved to Warsaw at the beginning of the war, where a support center for Ukrainian business was created and a representative office of Diia.Business was opened.

The official noted that Ukrainian businesses registered in Poland - both private entrepreneurs and medium and large companies - are trying to work for the two countries.

Many Ukrainian companies consider the Polish market as the first before entering the European market. We should do something similar and consider Ukrainian entrepreneurs in Poland as possible partners of Polish companies in Ukraine, the commissioner said.

According to her, another opportunity for Polish business is the fact that many goods that were previously produced by foreign companies directly in Ukraine are now produced at facilities in Poland.
A Gloucester County man pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony civil disorder for his riotous actions at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Peter M. Krill Jr., 55, of Sewell in Mantua Township, is scheduled to be sentenced in early January. He faces 10 to 16 months in prison, partly due to a past robbery conviction, court papers in his case say.

Krill, a contractor, admitted to conduct in front of the Capitol, then inside, court papers say.

Out front, Krill was in a group of people pushing into police officers as they tried to hold back the surge. Krill pulled a metal bike rack-style barricade from the officers, allowing the others to move ahead.

Krill and others then breached through the officers perimeter.

Later inside the Capitol Rotunda, Krill tried to hold his position as officers cleared the historic area underneath the dome, ignoring police commands. He eventually left, after spending about 45 minutes inside, court papers say.

The FBI arrested Krill in Sewell in December 2022. In court papers filed then, investigators said they identified Krill as a Jan. 6 participant from a Tik Tok video posted by an account that is registered to a cell phone from Krills business, PMK Construction.

A tipster also pointed out that Krill is missing his right pinky finger, and a photo from Jan. 6 shows a man they believed was Krill holding an American flag without a finger, documents say.

In the photo, Krill wore a Trump sweatshirt, camouflage pants, goggles and a helmet - and at times, used a mouthpiece, federal authorities said.

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Leer en Espanol

Mike eyes me suspiciously, a smoldering cigarette in hand.

Im pretty sure hes high. His eyelids are heavy. His speech is often slurred. And he admits, sitting at a picnic table outside a Jersey Shore pizzeria, that hes been addicted to heroin since he was 15.

Hes not sure he wants to talk with me.

Nobody wants me to do this, he says with a little laugh.

Mike, a pseudonym NJ Advance Media is using to protect his identity, has just returned from a lucrative commercial fishing job dozens of miles off the coast.

But now the twentysomething is back on land. And trouble always seems to find him here.

Like his crippling anxiety. His ongoing legal problems. A close family member also addicted to heroin. The police, who seem to pounce on the smallest of his driving infractions knowing hes probably got something on him. And of course, his own burning ache to use.

Most of the time Mike numbs himself with heroin and isolates at home in South Jersey, he says, waiting for the phone to ring, for the next job out on the ocean. To a world of endless horizons where he can breathe.

A world without heroin.

I was in love with it all the way until I turned probably 19, he says. And then I realized that I hated it, and it was ruining my life.

And it ruined my life pretty much.

As the opioid epidemic nears its 30th year, Mike personifies the complex reality of addiction in New Jersey. The spectrum of the addicted is vast and defies easy categorization. Mike is young, handsome and functional with a well-paying job, yet he is among the 3 million Americans suffering from opioid use disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health. About 180,000 of them live in New Jersey.

But in other ways, Mike is a prototypical example of addiction. His path was almost predetermined, carved out from an early age: a working-class product of a broken relationship, a nervous and sensitive kid who started with weed and pills and graduated to heroin, following in the footsteps of an addicted family member.

I was in love with heroin until I turned 19. And then I realized it was ruining my life. Mike

Mike is also a commercial fisherman, working in a distinctly Jersey industry that has disproportionately high rates of opioid addiction, as do workers in health care, construction and hospitality.

Commercial fishing industry workers are at high risk of opioid use disorders as a result of the physical and psychosocial hazards that typify the fishing occupation, according to a 2018 study supported by the NIH.

Commercial fishermen were four times more likely to die from opioids than non-fishermen living in the same area, according to another study in the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy.

Mike, a broad-shouldered young man with boyish good looks and a warm smile, started using heroin to quell his angst and the curse of feeling uncomfortable in his own skin.

On a normal day, he spends $40 to $50 on heroin, he says.

He knows the next fix might be his last. Could it be a hot shot filled with fentanyl? Or could it carry xylazine, an alarming and potent horse tranquilizer  also known as tranq  increasingly found in heroin supplies throughout the state?

Even as the opioid epidemic again fades from the front pages, replaced by war in Israel and Ukraine and the latest mass shooting, its toll continues to exact a chilling price in New Jersey.

Mike has lost five friends to addiction. They are among the 27,424 in the state who have died since 2012.

Ive lost a lot of friends, he says, but (last year) I lost my childhood best friend.

The late afternoon sun blazed as we talked. Mike oscillated from paranoid to guarded to baring his soul.

He has been trying to get clean for years, he confesses. But every attempt has failed. The money from fishing has been enough to support his habit, he admits.

But for how long?

I spend it faster than I get it, thats for damn sure.

A tortured life

Mike has been searching for something his whole life.

Hes desperate to quiet an anxious mind and a restless soul. To feel comfortable around others. To find peace.

Even as a boy, he was wary of the world.

I like being away, he says. I dont like being around people.

A little laugh escaped him. I dont like people.

Just talking leaves Mike in knots. But details emerge in tortured spurts, revealing a boiling cauldron of inner turmoil.

I think part of me was self-medicating ever since I was a kid, he says.

He prefers to be fishing on the Atlantic, he tells me. Lately, hes spent three-quarters of his time on the ocean.

When back on land, he is usually alone, or with his new girlfriend, who is trying to help him get clean.

It started out as fun, but I was also numbing the feelings and the uncomfortableness I had. I feel comfortable when I get high. Mike

Mikes love of the sea began with his grandfather, a man who tried to shield him from trouble. He taught him how to fish.

If it wasnt for him, I probably wouldnt be alive, he says.

But the anxiety was always there. Mike began experimenting with marijuana when he was 10 or 11, he says. Then came Xanax. Then he found heroin at 15.

When he was still a teenager, Mike stuck a needle in his arm for the first time and found the serenity he had been searching for. It silenced the angst and those chaotic emotions haunting him since childhood.

It started out as fun, he says, but I was also numbing the feelings and the uncomfortableness I had. I feel comfortable when I get high. When Im sober, Im not comfortable. I felt like I was myself when I was using.

He thought he found that elusive peace.

The reality hit only after he was hooked.

Ive been trying (to get clean) ever since, he says.

Mikes sanctuary

Mike didnt want to share his story at first. He needed time to think after I was introduced to him by Elizabeth Burke Beaty, founder and CEO of Sea Change, a nonprofit recovery community organization based in southern Ocean County.

When he finally agreed, he seemed to be fighting himself. Do I share? Do I flee?

It wasnt all about his anxiety. Fishing and the ocean have always been his sanctuary. He didnt want to risk his only refuge.

NJ Advance Media agreed to use a pseudonym and leave out other identifying information because Mike fears losing work if his employers learn of his addiction, even if drug abuse is often an open secret in the industry, according to experts.

The fishing industry is one of the most dangerous industries in this country, said Mitchel Rosen, an associate professor in Rutgers Universitys Department of Urban and Global Public Health. Hes also director of the universitys Center for Public Health Workforce Development. It has high rates of fatalities and high rates of injuries, and these include things like musculoskeletal injuries and repetitive motion injuries, amputations and crushed extremities.

In fact, fishing is probably the most dangerous job in America. Fishing and hunting rank as the livelihoods with the most fatalities, with 117.4 work-related deaths per 100,000 full-time workers from 2019-2021  easily outpacing logging, roofing and construction  according to a recent analysis by The Washington Post using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So theres that link between the work that they do, the injuries that they have, and then the getting prescriptions to treat those injuries ... and treating the pain that theyre in, Rosen says.

Not surprisingly, fishing also tops the list of deaths from drug overdoses, The Post found.

Theres a lot of stress in that industry  both from the work (and) the long days, Rosen says. Fishermen are out on the boats for extended periods of time. Theres the mental stress of that.

But the Atlantic offers the only serenity Mike knows.

The waters like home, he says. I could say no to drugs when Im out there.

He claims it would be impossible to handle the arduous physical labor necessary to fish while high. But how can someone addicted to heroin avoid withdrawal when spending days on the water?

Its a question he never fully addresses.

I wonder if admitting he uses while working would be the ultimate display of disrespect. Mike reveres everything about fishing. The ocean, the boat  theyre sacred to him. Maybe the only sacred things left in a life that feels so tarnished and tenuous.

Fishing is his profession. His safe place. His link to his grandfather.

Everything on the boat can kill you. Mike

He speaks of fishing like an artist or athlete talks about their vocation, describing the freedom he experiences only on those days at sea. It is spiritual for him.

I always want to go back out, he says. But I want to be here too.

Mike cannot imagine giving up his work on the water. He wouldnt know who he was anymore. It would be a kind of death.

And where else could a working class kid make $100,000 a year without a college degree?

Mike was recently part of a crew that caught thousands of pounds of tuna in five days, he tells me, pocketing thousands in pay. Another trip in the early spring netted him $12,000 for only a few days of work, he says.

But its a taxing life.

Mike was on an 85-foot dragger fishing for fluke about 120 miles out to sea during the spring trip. Winds howled. Waves crashed over the rail. The men ran around the deck, slipping, chasing the fish baskets.

It was hailing at some points, he says. We were working pretty much around the clock.

The captain knew bad weather was coming, working the crew hard before they ran into the teeth of the storm. But it pounded them for 18 straight hours on the worst trip Ive ever been on, he says.

Its dangerous work in the best of times. A cable could break. A man could fall overboard. A boat could sink.

Everything on the boat can kill you, he says.

He still prefers it to land.

Coming home from that brutal adventure, he says his first thought was crawling into bed. Instead he got into a fight with his girlfriend because she sensed he wanted to get high.

She was right, he admits.

I was trying to and she knew it and was trying to stop me, he says.

Keep you alive

A woman pulls up in her car and parks in front of the pizzeria as Mike and I speak.

Hey buddy, she says, smiling.

Beaty, the harm reduction advocate, had met Mike about two years ago. She checks in on him frequently, making sure hes OK and providing him with Narcan and test strips as needed.

The two hugged and caught up for a few minutes, talking fishing and Mikes new girlfriend.

We gotta just keep you alive, Beaty said.

Before she left, she gave him a blue nylon bag filled with Narcan, the nasal spray that counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose, along with fentanyl and xylazine test strips.

Her group had just received the sought-after xylazine strips as the horse tranquilizer continues to pour into New Jersey communities. The sedative is being mixed into batches of heroin, meth and other street drugs to extend the high, but with devastating effect. Tranq not only causes festering sores and ulcers, but it resists standard opioid overdose reversal treatments like Narcan.

Mike worries about fentanyl. He worries about tranq bleeding into heroin supplies.

Hes never overdosed, he says.

Its scary, he says. I just do a small amount first. Its probably the reason Im still alive. You always test it first. If you dont have a test strip, then you do a little tiny amount.

Id been with Beaty that afternoon, following her and other volunteers as they canvased a nearby Jersey Shore neighborhood known as a hotspot for overdoses. Most of the outreach workers were recovering addicts or had family members with a problem. They wanted to give back.

They work to keep users alive until theyre ready for treatment and to combat the stigma of addiction, pushing for more harm reduction strategies.

To that end, the number of approved harm reduction centers in the state has doubled since July to 14, according to the Department of Health. In 2021, the last year data is available, New Jersey saw 87,745 treatment admissions  45% due to heroin and other opioids.

While fatal overdoses are on pace to decline for the second straight year, they remain well above historic norms in the state as the opioid epidemic continues to rage.

Mike, meanwhile, has many regrets. Among them, he wishes he had seen a doctor years ago. Maybe if he had faced his anxiety he wouldnt need to mask it, to self-medicate. Maybe he would have a normal life.

I probably could have solved this problem with a simple doctor visit and (an) antidepressant (or) anti-anxiety medication or something, he says. But I basically used hard drugs  that left me with this serious problem of addiction.

Because I wasnt looking for addiction, he adds.

Mike just wanted to feel better.

We gotta just keep you alive. Elizabeth Burke Beaty, founder and CEO of Sea Change

We seem to hit a breakthrough in our conversation when Mike mentions a close family member also dependent on heroin. His troubles seem inexorably tied to the relative. Mike didnt spend much time with him as a kid, which seemed to only fuel his curiosity.

There were times I saw him, but he was a drug addict so you never knew what he was doing, he says.

But there was an allure, a mystery to him. And from afar, the man seemed, well, cool.

I always wanted to be with him, he says.

Mike got to know the relative as he got older.

It wasnt all what it turned out to be, he says. It was not as cool as I thought.

Mike turns angry. Resentful, even. The relative is way worse than I am, he says. The man cares about nothing but his next score.

If I listen to him, hell bring me down he says. I wouldnt have anything if I listen to him.

But Mike sees him often, just the same, he admits.

Meanwhile, he keeps trying to kick his habit. Hes never been to rehab, but hes endured withdrawal sickness numerous times  on his own and in jail, he says.

He stays clean for a month. Three months even.

But he always returns to heroin.

It just sucks because when you make it through the sickness, then I go back to it anyway, he says.

Its just a constant battle, he adds.

Emptiness consumed Mike through the spring and summer, and he began suffering panic attacks.

Hes young enough to break free of this life. Young enough to start over. But that possibility still feels ethereal, even during his hard-won stretches of sobriety.

As our conversation continues, we retreat inside the pizzeria and sit at a back table. By now, Mikes speech has grown even more slurred. He returns to his favorite topic, the escape hatch for his soul:

Fishing.

I just know I need to go fishing, he says.

It keeps me out of trouble.

Need help? Call ReachNJ, New Jerseys 24/7 addiction helpline, at 1-844-732-2465. Each call to ReachNJ is answered by a live person in the first 30 seconds.

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Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com.
Bayonnes Michael T. Embrich has been awarded the Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal (AFCSM) in recognition of his service to the Department of Defense during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AFCSM stands as a testament to the dedication, commitment and unwavering support of civilian personnel who directly assist the military during challenging operations and crises.

To qualify for the AFCSM, civilians must be involved in direct support of the Armed Forces in specifically designated military operations. Embrichs contributions during the pandemic, where he provided direct support and assistance for an extended period, met the stringent criteria of the award.

The designated operations for this medals qualification include Former Republic of Yugoslavia Operations, Haiti Operations, and Provide Comfort. When the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) is issued for military participation in humanitarian or peacekeeping endeavors, the AFCSM may be awarded for the same operation to deserving civilians.

Embrichs award citation reads: For exceptional direct support and assistance to the Department of Defense during the COVID-19 pandemic. His actions and contributions provided invaluable service to the Corps and reflect with great credit upon himself and the Department of the Army. The citation was signed off by Thomas J. Tickner, Brigadier General, USA, Commanding.

No more than one AFCSM medal may be awarded to any one civilian employee, underscoring the honor that has been bestowed.
Four residents in a duplex on West 32nd Street on Bayonne were displaced from their home in a two-alarm blaze Monday morning, authorities said.

The fire at 17 West 32nd St., near Broadway, was reported at 10:13 a.m., Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver said. Responding firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the second floor and attic of the 2.5-story home. Firefighters quick work kept the fire from spreading to the attached residence, Weaver said.
A New Jersey woman has sued a McDonalds fast-food restaurant in Hudson County, claiming she was severely burned at the drive-through window when hot coffee spilled into her lap.

The 34 year old claims in court papers she suffered second-degree burns to her thigh while picking up coffee and food on Sept. 25, 2021, at the store in the 3000 block of John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Union City.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 25 in Superior Court of Hudson County, blames McDonalds for failing to properly secure the lid to the coffee cup, and negligence in packaging and delivering the item to the customer.

Neither a spokesperson for McDonalds nor franchise owner Mitchell Enterprises returned calls and emails on Tuesday seeking comment on the suit.

As a result of McDonalds alleged negligence, the woman suffered scarring and injuries, both of body and mind, the lawsuit states.

The woman was also forced to spend vast sums of money on medical bills, lost time from work, and was unable to pursue her daily activities, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed 11 days after an 85-year-old woman sued a McDonalds in San Francisco, claiming the lid on her cup wasnt fastened properly and she was burned when the coffee spilled in her car.

In 1992, a woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, successfully sued a McDonalds franchise when she was burned in a coffee spill. In that lawsuit, the womans attorneys successfully argued that McDonalds served its coffee up to 30 degrees hotter than other restaurants.

The Union City lawsuit is similar to a string of suits filed against Dunkin franchises in several New Jersey counties in the past year, court records show.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Have you checked you supply of COVID-19 masks lately?

If youre going to three of the six hospitals in Hudson County youll need one because the recent spike in coronavirus cases.
On the first day of New Jerseys bear hunting season, 105 bears were killed, nearly equaling the entire total for last years shortened season, officials said.

During eight full days of hunting in December 2022, 113 bears were killed, with an additional bear killed during a shortened day, for a total of 114. This was the shortest hunt in a decade and there was no October session.

On Monday, 45 bears were killed in Sussex County and another 37 were killed in Warren County; making up about three-quarters of the bears killed in the entire state on the first day of the hunt.

This years hunt will be broken up into two segments.

Segment A of the bear hunting season will run from Monday through Saturday and hunting hours each day run from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Archery is only permitted from Monday through Wednesday and archery and muzzleloaders are permitted Thursday through Saturday.

Segment B of the bear hunting season will be Dec. 4 through Dec. 9 for shotguns and muzzleloaders only.

The bear hunt was reinstated last year after a multi-fold increase in bear incidents over the past year, in an attempt to control the population and reduce incidents.

With the hunt reinstated, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife biologists said they will again be able to produce current population estimates for the northwestern part of the state to better understand changes in bear populations, official said.

A lack of concrete estimate for population size was the subject of a failed lawsuit to stop the hunt filed by anti-hunt activists.

Reporter Steven Rodas contributed to this report.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
For some, Christopher Columbus Day is a day of celebration and Italian pride, while to many Indigenous people, it represents a day of continued misinformation and denial of Native American history.

Columbus Day is insignificant in our history because it does not represent the complete record of the misery, destruction and death that was unleashed on Native populations during the 15th century, Claire Garland told Mosaic. Garland, who lives in Middletown, is director of the Sand Hill Indian Historical Association.

Other Indigenous Americans tend to agree.

The day is just one of Americas attempts at Indigenous erasure, said Clifton Matias, a New Yorker, member of the Kichwa and Taino and the cultural director for the Redhawk Native American Arts Council.

Yet, Columbus Day, celebrated the second Monday in October, is still a significant holiday to many, especially those of Italian heritage.

Christopher Columbus Day holds significance for UNICO as it celebrates the Italian heritage and contributions of Italian Americans to American society. The day serves as a recognition of Italian culture and heritage, UNICO President Ralph Contini said.

Established in 1922, UNICO National is based in Fairfield and is the largest Italian-American service organization in the United States. Contini said the non-profit is founded on the principle of Service Above Self, and supports communities and charities through its chapters.

How did we get the holiday?

Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492 but his roots trace back to Genoa, Italy. The holiday was created by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892 in response to the anti-Italian motivated lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans in 1891.

Christopher Columbus is an iconic symbol for Italian Americans whose ancestors fled horrible treatment and abject poverty in their homeland. Columbus monuments and parades brought dignity during a period when they suffered rampant racism, discrimination and marginalization, said Andre DiMino, president of the Italian American One Voice Coalition (IAOVC).

The holiday is a critical day for Italian Americans as a sign of respect and acceptance in America. Columbus Day Parades, and other feasts dedicated to him, enabled our community to celebrate our great heritage, DiMino said.

Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed at the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. In 2021, Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day.

Today, Indigenous Peoples Day is recognized to honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, to show gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to the world, and renewed commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination, according to a White House proclamation last Friday.

Why Indigenous Peoples Day?

Long before European explorers sailed to this continent, Native American and Alaska Native Nations made this land their home, some for thousands of years before the United States was founded, the proclamation reads.

I think that it is important that the nation sets aside a time to have a particular focus on the history and culture and contributions and struggles of the Indigenous people of our land, said Rev. John R. Norwood, the pastor at Ujima Village Christian Church in Ewing, and member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation.

Not doing so has been an act of erasure that has led to misunderstandings and harmful stereotypes, he said.

SAND HILL INDIAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

The challenge of having a day of celebration, Norwood said, is that it may cause others to think that because there is a day of celebration, the damage caused by Columbus is now fixed.

People have a moment to feel good about themselves and celebrate the Indigenous history and culture and yet, at no other time during the year, do they think about the concerns and struggles, the contributions and cultural wonders of the Indigenous People that live right near them, Norwood said.

Columbus has been celebrated as a notable Italian explorer who discovered new lands, however, the Italian explorer committed many atrocities against numerous Indigenous people who lived on the islands he visited. He also helped to spur the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Celebrating Indigenous people and Columbus on the same day, doesnt make any sense, Matias said.

The whole reason of the day is to celebrate our survival. So, if youre going to continue to honor someone who attempted to destroy us all, then its kind of reductive, Matias said.

Native people celebrate Columbus Day to honor the survival of their culture, traditions and languages, Matias explains. Despite (Columbus) attempt of complete genocide of Indigenous people, we have survived. Our culture and some of our languages, our traditions have survived despite the 531 years of attempted genocide, we are still here.

To truly learn about America, Matias encourages everyone to start with Native American history.

It starts with understanding and learning about First Nations people. A lot of what defines America, from its democracy to the foods we eat all of these things were given to the world by Native people, Matias said. So, if you want to learn a little bit about America, start with what Native people give to the world.

Mosaic staff writer Vashti Harris can be reached at vharris@njadvancemedia.com.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom.
An arrest has been made in a sexual assault that was reported during the summer of 2022, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.

Austin Walker, 22, of Pennsville, Salem County, was taken into custody after investigators identified him as the suspect in the alleged sexual assault of a woman in South Hackensack, officials said.

The victim contacted the Bergen County Prosecutors Office to report the incident on Aug. 1, 2022, authorities said.

Walker was apprehended on Thursday and charged with three counts of sexual assault, a second-degree crime. Attorney information for him was not immediately available.

Prosecutors did not release details of the 14-month long investigation that led to his arrest.

He is being held in Bergen County Jail pending his first court appearance.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.

In the wars third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri  around 10% of its population  after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings.

The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel.

Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists  a massive mobilization in a short time.

The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.

We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014.

The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis.

Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process.

The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.

Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israels southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house.

In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp.

Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods  a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded.

Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans.

There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.

The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel.

An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries.

Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gazas 2.3 million people have left their homes  the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000.

UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others.

In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital.

Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed.

New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front.

Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border.

After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning.

He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers.

Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N.

___

By JOSEF FEDERMAN and ISSAM ADWAN Associated Press

Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
The Polish Center for European Projects is developing project documentation for organizing high-speed rail links with Ukraine within the framework of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), said the Polish government commissioner for Polish-Ukrainian development cooperation, Jadwiga Emilewicz.

The Center for European Projects is today working on project documentation from Poland in this matter, she said at the Second Ukraine Recovery Forum organized recently in Warsaw by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).

According to her, the inclusion of railway communication from the borders of Poland to Lviv, Kyiv, Mariupol and Odesa in TEN-T makes it possible to finance the development of project documentation from European funds.

Speaking about current difficulties, she pointed out that the ongoing repair of railway tracks between Ukraine and Poland is hampered by the need to restrict traffic for several hours a day.

PKP (the Polish State Railway), at the request of the Ukrainian side, agreed to postpone the repairs so as not to stop traffic," she explained.

As reported, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) resumed its representative office in Kyiv in July 2023. PAIH has compiled a register of Polish companies interested in participating in the reconstruction of Ukraine. It included more than 2,500 Polish enterprises.
The murderous rampage by Hamas fighters in Israel is being compared to the September 11 attacks, a jarring psychological blow that is bound to echo for years to come.

But lets be careful about the comparison. Because it is not a perfect fit.
Sidelined top brass at the Paterson police are suing New Jerseys attorney general, saying he overstepped his authority when he took over the scandal-plagued city police department.

The lawsuit, if successful, could upend state control of a 300-plus officer department in New Jerseys third largest city.

Paterson police have been under state supervision since March, when New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin  citing a crisis of confidence  superseded local officials and installed a hand-picked officer in charge to lead the department.

The move followed several years of slow-boiling controversy, including an FBI corruption probe and protests over police shootings and deaths in custody.

New Jerseys constitution bestows unique powers to the state attorney general, giving them direct supervision of every county prosecutor and police chief in the state.

But in a complaint filed in Passaic County Superior Court, Chief Englebert Ribeiro and acting Police Director Mirza Mark Bulur contend the state takeover exceeds the bounds of their statutory and constitutional authority.

An attorney for Ribeiro and Bulur did not immediately return a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Platkin said the suit was as unfortunate as it is meritless.

The Attorney Generals authority to supersede local law enforcement agencies is well established, said the spokeswoman, Sharon Lauchaire, in an email. And given the history in Paterson, the need to do so was clear.

State officials also contend the takeover is working, with violent crime down significantly this summer compared to the same time last year. They point to changes implemented by Isa Abbassi, a former NYPD chief Platkin appointed as Patersons interim top cop, as reason for the declining crime rates.

Platkins office sharply criticized the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, saying they have been notably absent from community events meant to improve relations between the department and the public they serve, as well as the members of the Citys administration behind this litigation.

While not a plaintiff in the suit, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, said in a statement Monday he was an interested party.

Not a single state in our country allows for an attorney general to take over a local police department, Sayegh said. As the duly elected mayor of Paterson, we need to know if this action is even legal and thats why I am an interested party in this lawsuit.

Prior to the Attorney Generals takeover, we were making dramatic changes in the police department, Sayegh said.

The mayor contended he took bold action by firing a police chief, noting that his replacement, Ribeiro, only had a few weeks to transform the department before he was sidelined by the state.

Moreover, we were implementing serious and meaningful change, which was interrupted by the takeover, he said.

Ribeiro, a longtime veteran of the department, was sworn in just three weeks prior to the state takeover. He was transferred to the state Police Training Commission and kept his salary, state officials said.

The lawsuit identifies Bulur as the acting public safety director but does not name the current police director, Jerry Speziale, as a plaintiff.

Speziale has not spoken publicly about the state takeover and both city and state officials have said little about his role since. He did not return a message seeking comment.

Sayegh said Bulur, a deputy to Speziale, serves in an acting capacity when Speziale is away from the city. He is currently out attending to a family matter and the mayor could not say why the lawsuit only lists Bulur as a plaintiff.

City and state officials had previously been cordial as they navigated the early months of the state takeover. The mayor even often referred to Abbassi as my partner in crime.

But the coming legal battle complicates that already fraught relationship.

Platkins spokeswoman said the suit put the interests of two individuals over the good of the city and its people.

It is just the latest example in a long list of reasons that these specific individuals, and the administration that supports them, were  and remain  unfit to run the Paterson Police Department.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com.
Is it time to tune up our snowblowers and stock up on rock salt here in the New Jersey region? Long-range forecasters from AccuWeather say we may need to do that as early as November, with the possibility of a noreaster bringing some early snow before winter arrives.

Thats just one of the predictions in AccuWeathers early winter forecast for the 2023-2024 season. Overall, the private weather forecasting company is calling for a snowier winter than last year for the New Jersey region  including the New York and Philadelphia metro areas  but slightly less snow than average because of the El Nino weather pattern.

It wont take much to top last year, which turned out to be one of the least snowy winters on record in New Jersey, New York and Philly.

But AccuWeather says this winters heavier snow activity may come in waves, starting with one batch in November, followed by a quiet December, then an active period after the new year rolls around.

The window for snow-producing noreasters will open in late January through February, which could dish out hefty snowfall amounts to Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and beyond, AccuWeather said in its early winter outlook, released this month.

That will be our best opportunity to see some of these big Northeast systems, said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeathers lead long-range forecaster. However, he believes an early-season noreaster cant be ruled out either as the ingredients for a snowstorm may come together sometime in November.

Long-range forecasters from AccuWeather are calling for a snowier winter than last year for the New Jersey region  including the New York City and Philadelphia metro areas  but slightly less snow than average.AccuWeather

AccuWeather isnt alone in making early snow predictions for the upcoming winter season.

Forecasters from the private WeatherWorks company, based in Warren County, issued an early winter outlook in late August, saying there are several signs that the New Jersey region could end up with slightly more snow than average this upcoming winter.

The Old Farmers Almanac  one of the two almanacs known for making extremely long-range weather predictions  says the Atlantic corridor, which includes New Jersey, can expect more snow than usual this winter.

The rival Farmers Almanac says winter is making a comeback in our region, after last years lackluster snowfall. But not all of the storms this winter will generate snow, the publication says. Some will bring a mix of rain and sleet.

El Nino could shape the winter

Long-range forecasters from AccuWeather are calling for a snowier winter than last year for the New Jersey region  including the New York City and Philadelphia metro areas  but slightly less snow than average because of the El Nino weather pattern.AccuWeather

AccuWeather says the ongoing El Nino weather pattern  triggered by warm sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean  is expected to continue and strengthen into the winter season. Historically, winters with a prominent El Nino pattern tend to be more mild and less snowy than average across much of the eastern United States.

However, forecasters say that doesnt mean every El Nino winter will have similar trends, and they believe this winter will likely produce sizable amounts of snow in New Jersey, New York City and other parts of the eastern region.

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or @LensReality.
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Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Andriy Pyshnyy is working as part of the Ukrainian delegation at the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank in the Moroccan capital of Marrakech and denies reports in a number of media outlets that he allegedly wrote a letter of resignation.

"During a break between meetings, I was surprised to learn that I allegedly wrote a letter of resignation from the post of NBU governor and chose Marrakesh for this. This information is not true," Pyshnyy wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

"Nothing more than another fake. We will continue to work, we will definitely return to Ukraine with the results," the NBU governor said.

He said that on Tuesday, together with the Ukrainian delegation, he held meetings with IMF Executive Director Paul Hilbers and his deputy Luc Dresse, as well as with Director of the IMF European Department Alfred Kammer and his deputy Uma Ramakrishnan.

"There are positive reviews of the work of the NBU team during the year. Partners see our efforts to create positive macroeconomic trends, and most importantly, the results in the direction of macroeconomic stabilization and ensuring financial stability. Colleagues noted our professional actions in the transition to managed exchange rate flexibility," Pyshnyy said on Facebook.

He stressed that this adds to optimism ahead of the approaching second review of the EFF Extended Funding Programme.

"It is important that we managed to build a circle of trust among international partners. This was and remains one of my key priorities," the NBU governor said.

Pyshnyy emphasized the common understanding with partners of the challenge of maintaining sustainable and rhythmic financing for Ukraine. He expressed hope for the IMF's leadership in minimizing risks regarding the stability of revenues.

"For my part, I assure you that we are moving forward in the implementation of the IMF program, maximizing efforts to obtain a 100% positive result. Successfully passing the second revision is our priority," the NBU governor concluded.
The War Criminal interdepartmental base contains data on more than 236,000 Russian servicemen, some 2,100 of them have been identified and notified of suspicion, Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhovsky said.

"Our interdepartmental base War Criminal, which is in fact used by all structures of the defense and security forces, already contains data on more than 236,000 Russian servicemen," he said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency.

"With the help of this base, some 2,100 war criminals, including commanders, henchmen, and traitors, have been identified and notified of suspicion," Vyhovsky said.
Little Hearts with Bright Futures is the mantra, and the latest addition to Banana Moon Day Nursery in Barnstaple will help protect all hearts, as they unveiled their new automated external defibrillator (AED) at their setting in Trafalgar Lawn, Newport.

Supplied by CardiAid, the new device is part of the wider Banana Moon franchises Little hearts, bright futures initiative, which endeavours to see more than 50 Banana Moon nurseries across the UK have an AED installed by the end of 2023.

Lucie Rigler, Nursery Manager at Banana Moon Day Nursery in Barnstaple, commented: Here at Banana Moon, the future of the next generation is at the heart of everything we do. Making this lifesaving equipment accessible will help us to ensure our little ones have the best chance of a bright future, no matter what life throws at us.

Of course, it not only supports our children and staff, but the local area, too  were proud to have been part of the Barnstaple community for three years. Although we hope our defibrillator will never have to be used, we hope it gives reassurance to parents and the people who live, shop and work nearby.

This initiative means members of the Newport, Barnstaple community are within minutes of the AED, boosting the survival chances of people who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK  20% of which happen in public places.1 Whats more, 270 cardiac arrests occur in UK schools each year.2

A defibrillator plays an essential part in the chance of bringing someone back from a cardiac arrest delivering a high-energy electric shock to the heart. Using a defibrillator in addition to quality CPR can increase the odds of someones survival from around 6% to 74%, according to the BHF.3

Located in Trafalgar Lawn, Newport, Banana Moon has installed this lifesaving equipment in their reception area, meaning that its accessible to rescuers during nursery opening hours. The device will be registered with The Circuit national database4, as well as South Western Ambulance Service, who can direct 999 callers to the defibrillator and the code to access it, meaning vital treatment can commence prior to the ambulance arriving.

Kate and Douglas Neagle, owners of Banana Moon Day Nursery in Barnstaple, commented: Choosing a nursery is one of the most important decisions parents face, which is why the reassurance they feel when leaving their children in our hands is of utmost importance to us.

We hope that this investment in this lifesaving equipment will further demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding the little ones in our care, as well as serving the wider community.

Banana Moon Day Nursery opened its doors in Barnstaple in 2020 and caters to children from three months old to school age. The nursery is part of the UK-wide Banana Moon franchise, which part self-funded and part fundraised the thousands of pounds needed to install the AED for the Little hearts, bright futures initiative.

Kate Neagle concluded: Our Little hearts, bright futures defibrillator is a testament to the support we get from being a part of the Banana Moon franchise and their commitment to the health and well-being of everyone in our care. Heres to little hearts and bright futures!
The National Police of Ukraine is investigating almost 100,000 war crimes committed by the Russian occupiers in Ukraine, and in the future, these documents will form the basis for the prosecution of Russian war criminals in international courts, Chief of the National Police Ivan Vyhovsky said.

In an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency, he said that currently more than 96,500 war crimes are being investigated by the National Police.

"This is about 90% of all war crimes that Ukrainian law enforcement officers are investigating," he said.

The National Police Chief said that, first of all, this is due to the fact that the police are the largest law enforcement agency, with the largest number of investigators.

"Materials on missile attacks, crimes committed by the Russian military in de-occupied territories  violence, torture, rape - in the overwhelming majority we document, investigate and transfer [the cases] to the SBU, because this is their jurisdiction," he said.

According to Vyhovsky, the police constantly interact with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation of war crimes, and there are also joint interdepartmental groups.

"Documenting of war crimes is our common task. In the future, these documents will form the basis for the prosecution of Russian war criminals in international courts," he said.

According to the head of the National Police, the most high-profile case that is being investigated is the case of the deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories, the involvement of Russian war criminals and collaborators in this.

"This children case became the basis for an ICC [International Criminal Court] warrant for the Russian president," Vyhovsky said.

"The crimes committed by Russia, in particular the shelling of our critical infrastructure, are genocide of the Ukrainian nation. We are moving towards documenting all these facts in order to recognize the crimes of the Russian Federation as genocide in the international court," he said.
Corruption and the presence of unregistered weapons in the hands of Ukrainians pose risks of destabilization in Ukraine, Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhovsky said.

In an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency, speaking about destabilizing factors that pose the greatest threat to undermine the country from inside, he emphasized that the police are outside of politics.

"I can say only that when we are united and move together for a common goal, there will be no loosening [of the situation in the country]," Vyhovsky said.

"I consider corruption to be one of the destabilizing factors. And the National Police are fighting against signs of corruption both in the country, in line with our functionality, and within the structure. Some people fight on the front line, others live a peaceful life, believing that the war does not concern them, and some convert war into money," he said.

The head of the National Police drew attention to the fact that law enforcement officers are currently actively working on the issue of territorial centers for recruitment and medical commissions.

"There is already a result  it has become much more difficult to evade military duty," Vyhovsky said.

"The other risks of destabilization include the presence of unregistered weapons in the hands of the population, and for the future  a possible deterioration in the crime situation due to probable post-war difficulties," he said.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that the export value of marine products to China for August has decreased significantly.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian diplomats found seven Ukrainians who were previously considered missing in the south of Israel, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko has said.

"In just three days, the operational headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, which was created to help Ukrainians in Israel, processed more than 700 requests from our citizens. Over the past day, Ukrainian diplomats found seven Ukrainians who were previously considered missing in the south of the country. Now they are safe," he said on the national telethon on Tuesday.

In addition, the Foreign Ministry said the Ukrainian Embassy helped six families find temporary housing in Israel.

Nikolenko recalled that diplomats continue to deal with the fate of the Ukrainian boy who was rescued on Monday in the combat zone. He is provided with medical treatment, psychological support and preparations are being made for his return to Ukraine to his relatives.

"As for the Ukrainians killed or injured: we have confirmed information about two Ukrainian women. We reported this earlier. The situation has not changed. There is information about the possible death of three more Ukrainians: two in Israel, one in the Gaza Strip. But this information has not yet been confirmed. No other information has been received about the injured Ukrainians," he said.

Nikolenko also spoke about the Ukrainians who contacted the operational headquarters because they were unable to leave Israel due to the cancellation of flights.

"Here we have a figure of almost 300 citizens on Israeli territory, as well as 150 Ukrainians in the Gaza Strip who have declared their desire to leave the enclave," he said.
GARY  Police are seeking tips in the weekend shooting of an 18-year-old man, who collapsed while walking into the emergency room for help at the local Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus.

Region police seeking tips in bar beating "The man suffered bruises and swelling and was not able to provide officers with any information," police said.

Gary police said they were called to the hospital shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday where they learned the Indianapolis man arrived by car and passed out while walking into the emergency room.

2 teens shot in Miller; police seeking tips Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call 219-881-1210.

"The victim was identified after his family members arrived at the hospital," police said. "The victim was transferred to a hospital in Chicago."

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call 219-881-1210.
VALPARAISO  A 26-year-old Lakes of the Four Seasons man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a child molesting that was made even worse by the actions of the young girl's friends.

"Defendant not only committed the offense of child molesting with a 13-year-old girl, but he did so in the presence of two other 13-year-old girls, who video recorded it and then had a video which was ultimately circulated on the internet," Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer wrote.

Jacob Georgiefski-Rios pleaded guilty in August to molesting one of three teenage girls he met after they sneaked out of a house during a sleepover in June 2022.

In return for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropping additional counts of contributing the delinquency of a minor, child solicitation and domestic battery, records show.

DeBoer ordered Monday that Georgiefski-Rios spend five years on probation upon his release from prison and register as a sex offender, the court said.

The judge found that Georgiefski-Rios has a criminal history involving four arrests resulting in felony and misdemeanor convictions.

Police said they learned the three girls sneaked out of a house around midnight June 10, 2022 going into June 11 during a sleepover and went to a nearby bridge to take pictures when they met Georgiefski-Rios.

The victim, who was 13, said Georgiefski-Rios was fishing and initially told them he was 16, but later said he was 18 and then said he was 20, according to a charging document.

The girls agreed to go to his house, but Georgiefski-Rios kicked them out when they became too loud, police said. One of the girls stayed in contact with Georgiefski-Rios and she and the alleged victim returned to his house a short time later after chatting about having a sexual encounter.

After smoking marijuana, the alleged victim said she wanted to leave, but her friend wanted to stay and have a sexual encounter with Georgiefski-Rios, according to police. The alleged victim said her friend talked her into going first with the encounter and learned later her friend had recorded it.

When the friend opted not to take part in the encounter, the girls left.

"She confirmed that they had informed Jake they were 13 years of age," a court document reads.

Man nabbed on doorbell cam with clothes in hand sentenced for child molesting Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer said the only reason she transferred a year and a half of potential prison time to probation is to keep a closer eye on Scott Neiswinger when he is released.

While the friend reportedly deleted the original video, police said they found two other videos on her phone relevant to the investigation.

Georgiefski-Rios initially denied meeting the three girls on the night in question but later admitted they came to his house and were kicked out by him for being too loud, police said. He said two of the girls later returned and he had sexual contact with one of them.

"Jacob advised that after approximately three seconds he realized that what he was doing was wrong," police said.

He reportedly admitted knowing the young age of the girls and confirmed he had provided them with marijuana, according to police.
PORTAGE  Police said yet another motorist has been nabbed while intoxicated and passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle on a roadway.

This time, Justin Low, 47, of Portage was found in the northbound lane of County Line Road just south of U.S. 6 shortly before 7 a.m. Sunday, Portage police said.

Another motorist, who was unable to awaken Low by pounding on his window, called police, who arrived to find his head slumped over, hands in his lap and foot on the brake with the running vehicle in drive, according to the arrest report.

After preparing to stop his vehicle if needed, police and emergency officials woke Low and successfully had him lower a window and put the vehicle in park without incident.

Drugs overtaking alcohol as culprit in impaired-driving arrests, officials say as crackdown mounts Drug-impaired driving is increasing enough across Indiana and the nation that it is beginning to outpace drunken driving, according to Devon M

Low reportedly told police he had consumed a couple beers at a friend's house after work and was headed home when he fell asleep. Police said his blood-alcohol content was found to be 0.114%, which exceeds the legal limit of 0.08%.

Police said they found a marijuana cigarette in the vehicle and two suspected marijuana-related THC vape pens.

Low was taken to the Porter County Jail and faces a felony charge of operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction and misdemeanor OWI endangering others and possession of marijuana, records show.
MUNSTER  An Illinois man died on Monday after he rear-ended a semi-truck near the Lake Station exit ramp while traveling westbound on I-80/94, according to a news release from Indiana State Police.

Bryan I. Flores, 20, of Round Lake, purportedly died while he was being treated for his injuries at an Illinois hospital. Police said the driver of the semi-truck was not injured in the crash.

The release states an Indiana State Police trooper pulled Flores over just minutes ahead of the accident. Police said Flores sped away in his grey 2012 Kia Optima when the trooper exited his squad car to conduct the traffic stop.

The trooper returned to his police car and was going to initiate a pursuit, according to the news release. However, the trooper immediately turned off his lights and pulled back over to the side of the interstate and chose not to chase the vehicle due to the high traffic volume.

Four minutes after the traffic stop, police say, the Indiana State Police Regional Dispatch Center Lowell Post received a 911 call about a serious accident on I80/94 involving a grey Kia.

Police said the Kia was traveling at a high speed when it slammed into the back of the semi-truck around 1:45 p.m. on Monday.

Flores was partially ejected from the vehicle and transported to an Illinois hospital for live-threatening injuries, which he later succumbed to, police said.

During a subsequent investigation of the accident, police said they found two large duffle bags of marijuana in Flores Kia.
A community cleanup and party benefiting Save the Dunes is panned in downtown Highland this weekend.

The Save the Dunes Party for a Good Cause will take place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at American Legion Post 180 at 2703 Jewett Ave in Highland.

The event will include a cleanup contest, live music and DJs with a full stage production. There will be a full bar and a drawing for cash prizes at the family-friendly, all-ages event.

Purdue University Northwest student Emily Balassone, who plays the saxophone, produces music, deejays and plans events under the stage name LiZ!, organized the festivities.

"After a very successful summer, I decided to put together one more event before I return for the spring semester. Not only did I want to challenge myself, but I wanted to use my (albeit small) platform to do something good," she said. "Ive always been very passionate about protecting the environment. Now more than ever, the people need to rally behind this important cause."

Balassone plans to donate the proceeds from donations to Save the Dunes, the nonprofit that help preserve the Indiana Dunes and establish the Hoosier State's only National Park. A speaker from Save the Dunes will be on hand to talk about the group's environmental preservation work.

The event was originally supposed to take place at the beach but ended up scheduled for the American Legion post in downtown Highland.

"I have planned a lot of fun and engaging activities for community members of all ages to participate in. We will have a clean-up contest, with volunteers walking around the historic downtown Highland area picking up litter as much as they can to win a prize for the most collected," she said. "We will have some local artists and performers come and display their work. There will be a donation drawing with a prize. All the while me and another musician DJ RayStoll will be running some super fun music for everyone to dance and enjoy through the duration of the event. Lights and stage production is another hobby of mine, and I will be bringing a hefty laser light show to light up the night under the American Legion's outdoor pavilion."

Jimmy Johns in Highland is sponsoring the event and providing food to volunteers.

"Their support with this event is not only a major help, but a testament to the community engagement and hometown pride that Highland residents have," she said.
Ivy Tech Community College hosted their fall scholarship event on Thursday night at the Avalon Manor Banquet Center in Merrillville. Two dozen students from the Lake County and Valparaiso campuses were honored at the event.

The theme for this Chancellors' Scholarship event was "Denim & Diamonds" with attendees encouraged to wear jeans and denim with sparkly tops and accessories.

The night included dinner, dancing, a raffle drawing and the presentation of the scholarship winners. Raffle proceeds went to benefiting both Ivy Tech campuses.

Each scholarship recipient was awarded with $1,500. In order to qualify each student had to have a minimum GPA of 3.75, taken at least 30 credit hours and write an essay, according to Ivy Tech.

The scholarship winners from the Lake County campus were Jose Alvarado, Benzi Corrales, Aria Davis, Toni Matlock, Jacqueline Mena, YaAsantewa Mustapha, Lauren Parker, Vanessa Sadural, Tyrell Smith, TyShawn Smith, Ashleigh Stopper and Julianna Vargas.

Scholarship winners from the Valparaiso campus were Summer Atteberry, Jessica Bates, Hailey Boal, Frances Kopach, Paullina Kozaczka, Therese Kozak, Sophia Lotkowski, Kaylee Marvel, David McKissack, Ethan Plank, Tyler Rittel and Jerry Smith.

Ivy Tech Lake County Chancellor Marcos Rodriquez said the the community college was proud of their students and proud to recognize their efforts.

"Our Chancellors' Scholarship winners earned this honor through outstanding academic achievement, determination and hard work," Rodriquez said.

In addition to the monetary award, Valparaiso University Jose Padilla announced at the event each recipient had admitted into Valpo with two years of tuition free of charge at the university.

Ivy Tech Valparaiso Chancellor Aco Sikoski said it was wonderful to see the event filled with supporters and thanked them for their efforts.

"Community support means everything and more to us," Sikoski said. "The goal is to help students not just reach graduation, but more importantly reach a better day everyday thereafter. This event helps us to deliver on that promise."

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
Peoples Bank was honored with a community award for its investment in a new branch in Cedar Lake.

Munster-based Peoples Bank, which operates branches in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and the Chicago suburbs, won the Cedar Lake Redevelopment Commission's Explore Everyday community award. The honor recognizes local businesses who help revitalize the town or make it a better place to live and work.

The town honored People Bank's new Cedar Lake branch because of its modern look and roadside allure as well as the resources Peoples Bank brought to stimulate the local economy in the growing lakefront town in south Lake County.

Peoples Bank opened the branch at 10201 W. 133rd Avenue across from Hanover High School last March to serve its growing customer base south of U.S. 30.

Peoples Bank dates back to 1910 in East Chicago where a Polish immigrant started taking deposits from local steelworkers in a safe in his saloon.

It now has more than 26 branches across Lake and Porter Counties and greater Chicagoland.
Gov. Eric Holcomb has ordered flags at state and local government buildings across Indiana to fly at half-staff through Sunday to honor those killed by terrorists over the weekend in Israel.

More than 700 Israelis reportedly died as a result of Saturday's surprise attack on the Jewish State by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the adjacent Gaza Strip.

Altogether, an estimated 1,100 people are dead and thousands more wounded on both sides as a result of the attacks on Israel and retaliatory strikes in Gaza.

The governor also is requesting all Indiana businesses and residents to likewise fly their flags at half-staff through Sunday to honor the lives lost in Israel.

Northwest Indiana 2023 early voting sites, hours Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center, 3711 Main St., East Chicago Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond Hobart Police and Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd., Munster Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville St. John Township Assessor's Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John Wicker Park Social Center, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave., Valparaiso Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway, Chesterton State Street Community Church, 209 State St., LaPorte LaPorte County Office Complex, 302 W. 8th St., Michigan City
But many Jewish leaders said the targeted killing of hundreds of civilians by Hamas and the threats to kill kidnapped hostages had brought a sense, at least for now, of unity.

At Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, a Reform synagogue, Rabbi Rachel Timoner has long criticized the Israeli government and its occupation of Palestinian territories. Just weeks ago, she recalled in an interview on Monday, she delivered a Rosh Hashana sermon that described loyalty to Israel as standing with Israelis against this government. It drew a standing ovation, she said.

But an hour before she was set to deliver another sermon on Saturday morning, reports emerged of the attack by Hamas, the Palestinian faction that controls Gaza. She quickly understood, in the midst of her horror, what her message must be.

Now is a time to stand unequivocally with Israel and Israelis, she recalled telling her congregants, and to say to our Israeli family that we are grieving with them, and we are praying now that Israel will defeat Hamas.

Rabbi Motti Seligson, a spokesman for Chabad, a global network of strictly observant Jewish congregations, said he was celebrating the Jewish holiday of Simhat Torah in Brooklyn on Saturday with visitors from Israel  some of whom had to travel home and report for military duty after the attacks.
The police have checked more than 50 people for possible involvement in targeting an enemy missile at a cafe-shop in the village of Hroza, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv region, however, there are no suspects yet, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kharkiv region Serhiy Bolvinov has said.

"There is no suspect as of now. I cannot officially confirm the information that someone targeted the missile strike at this place. The work continues... More than 50 people from this village have been checked by police units. In addition, the Security Service of Ukraine worked on the spot, carrying out relevant activities within its competence. I cannot report on the work of another unit and report on how many people they have checked," Bolvinov said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Answering a clarifying question whether law enforcement officers checked information about the possible involvement of the cafe owner, who was previously prosecuted for collaboration, Bolvinov said that searches were carried out at his place, but at the moment law enforcement officers have no evidence of his possible involvement. At the same time, Bolvinov noted that the sister of the cafe owner was killed as a result of the missile attack. He also said that among the dead was the village head, Oleksandr Nechvolod.

As reported, at about 13:25 on October 5, the occupiers launched a missile attack, presumably with Iskander-M, on a cafe-shop in the village of Hroza, where a funeral was being held on the occasion of the reburial of a Ukrainian military man, a native of this village.
The police fatally shot a driver who crashed into the visa office at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday afternoon, the San Francisco Police Department said.

Officers responded to the crash near Geary Boulevard and Laguna Street around 3 p.m., where they found that the vehicle had come to rest in the lobby of the Chinese Consulate, according to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department.
President Biden met over the past two days with Robert K. Hur, the special counsel investigating how classified documents improperly ended up at Mr. Bidens home and an office he used after leaving the vice presidency, the White House disclosed on Monday.

The voluntary interview was conducted at the White House over two days, Sunday and Monday, and concluded Monday, Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, said in a statement.

The interview played out amid the dramatic events in the Middle East, as Hamas militants carried out a major attack on Israel and Mr. Biden met with his national security team and consulted with foreign leaders. The interviews timing had been arranged several weeks ago, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Wyn Hornbuckle, a spokesman for Mr. Hur, declined to comment.

The interview raises the possibility that Mr. Hur is nearing the end of his investigation, which the Justice Department began after Mr. Bidens lawyers reported that they had found several classified documents mixed in with other papers in a storage closet while packing up an office at a Washington think tank, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.
At least 11 U.S. citizens have been killed in Israel and an unknown number are still unaccounted for, President Biden said in a statement on Monday evening, saying that we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.

I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, Mr. Biden said, while expressing anguish over the suffering of Israelis from inexcusable hatred and violence.

This is not some distant tragedy, Mr. Biden said in the statement. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people.

He noted that police departments across the United States had stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the attacks in Israel.

A number of Americans who had been visiting Israel during the attack, including two lawmakers  Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Representative Dan Goldman of New York  were able to leave the country over the weekend. Mr. Biden directed Americans trying to leave Israel to seek out remaining commercial flights and ground options and urged all American citizens in Israel to please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities.

Mr. Biden spoke with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a call on Sunday, in which they discussed the hostages taken by Hamas, as well as what military assistance the United States could provide. The Pentagon announced the same day that it was sending additional munitions to Israel and moving more Navy warships, including an aircraft carrier, and combat aircraft closer to Israel in a show of support. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the United States was working to fulfill several specific requests from Israel for military assistance, without providing details.

On Monday, Defense Department officials said the Pentagon had offered the assistance of U.S. Special Operations forces for planning and surveillance in any hostage recovery efforts. A White House spokesman also clarified that the U.S. government was not sure that American were being held. We cant confirm that they are, in fact, holding hostages, John F. Kirby, the spokesman, told reporters. There are, he said, Americans who are unaccounted for and may be captive.

In the statement on Monday, Mr. Biden evoked the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, lamenting the deaths of more Americans in an extremist attack.

We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives, Mr. Biden said. It is an outrage.

The White House will be lit up in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night to express solidarity with Israel. It will be the latest landmark around the world to be so illuminated, joining the Empire State Building in New York, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, among others.

Eric Schmitt and Peter Baker contributed reporting.
Its a numinous blue that suggests the sky, the sea, the infinite. Its a field  poetic and abstract  that sets off the eloquence of dancing bodies. The cerulean backdrop associated with the ballets of George Balanchine and New York City Ballet has come to seem so natural a setting for plotless ballet that we barely notice it.

But at sunset on Wednesday its importance will be broadcast across New York City, Balanchines adopted home: The Empire State Building will light up with Balanchine Blue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of City Ballets first performance, on Oct. 11, 1948, at the City Center of Music and Drama. And at Lincoln Center, the companys home since 1964, the company, founded by Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, will perform the program that it danced on that first night: Concerto Barocco, Orpheus and Symphony in C, the first and last set against a blue background.

The color is a blue with little or no green in it, slightly shading toward purple, said Perry Silvey, who worked in City Ballets production department from 1977 to 2019.

But its not just one color. The blue in Agon is a different blue than Symphony in C or Divertimento No. 15, Mark Stanley, City Ballets resident lighting designer, said referring to three Balanchine classics. (Forty-two Balanchine works in the current rep have lighting in the blue family, he said, as do about 30 not by Balanchine.)
How do you know if a show is going to work?

Well, it comes in pieces. The first thing I do is read the script. Then Ill meet the writers. There has to be this compromise between writer and director, thats the second thing. The third thing is the casting. You have to get lucky. You have to have the right actor available.

I do my work in rehearsal. I dont have any preconceptions. I take the best bolts of electricity and stick with that. And if there is no electricity, my job is to try to make electricity, change the batteries. Then I put in pieces of business that make the scene funnier. When the audience comes in on the fifth day, we do the first scene. And if a couple of jokes dont work, we change the jokes, because the audience is the ultimate barometer.

Frasier Crane was first introduced on Cheers. Who was he?

Glen and Les created the character. He was a device to get Diane Chambers [the waitress played by Shelley Long] back into the bar. She was in a loony bin. Her doctor there was Dr. Frasier Crane, and he recommended that she go back and confront her demons. We hired Kelsey Grammer for four shows. In the first show, he was sitting at the bar, and he opened his mouth and the audience laughed. The three of us looked at one another and went, Oh my God, this guys great. We hired him for the rest of the series. If you watch Frasier on Cheers, you can see hes a buffoon, but you love him. Hes pretentious, but you love him. Kelsey played him with such vulnerability.

What made this character worthy of a spinoff?

David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee [the creators and executive producers, who were then writers on Cheers] came to us and said they wanted to spin off the character of Frasier. They were smart enough to know that Kelsey was a skilled enough actor to go from playing a buffoon on Cheers to playing a leading man on Frasier. So that was their genius and also Kelseys genius.
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.

Sensitive Material

Late night hosts addressed the Hamas attacks on Israel during Monday nights monologues. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert said his writers didnt even attempt to write jokes about this.

The human mind simply refuses to do it. Even A.I. refused to do it, Colbert said, adding that ChatGPT responded to a request by stating that making jokes about such matters can easily be seen as insensitive, disrespectful, or offensive to those who are suffering as a result.
Since its premiere in 2000, the hit CBS reality game show Survivor has taken place across the globe, with each season set in an exotic island locale: Pulau Tiga in Malaysia, Ko Tarutao in Thailand, Efate in Vanuatu and many, many more.

But around a decade ago, the longtime host and executive producer Jeff Probst had an alarming realization. A growing population was making it harder to find remote islands without anybody on them. Extreme weather, including rising heat and more intense storms, was making it more dangerous to film. And burgeoning political unrest was making it more difficult to work with certain governments or in countries that no longer felt safe.

When we started in 2000, there were lots of places in the world we could go, Probst said last week in a phone interview. But over the years, starting in about 2012, 2013, it became clear that we were running out of places to shoot.

Both Survivor and its sister series, the globe-trotting adventure competition The Amazing Race, have been stalwart hits on CBS for nearly two decades. Both continue to draw sizable audiences: Last weeks Season 45 premiere of Survivor and Season 35 premiere of The Amazing Race, which screened back-to-back on Wednesday evening, were the most-streamed shows on Paramount+ that night, according to the network, with Survivor also topping NBCs Americas Got Talent to win the night in broadcast ratings. But while the popularity of these shows has endured, producing them has continued to be a unique challenge  particularly as the world around them keeps changing.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that the schools are excelling not by discovering some new secret about education. They are doing what decades of research has suggested is successful. It is not surprising that they have good outcomes, Douglas Harris, a Tulane professor who has studied the recent progress by a different school system  in New Orleans  told me. Its consistent with many decades of research about effective schools.

High standards

Among the reasons the Defense Department schools do so well:

Consistent with military culture, they set high standards and create a disciplined classroom culture. In 2015, the schools overhauled their curriculum using principles from the Common Core, a national program that many other districts have abandoned after criticism from both the political right and left. But the approach seems to benefit students. Unlike the Common Core, which was carried out haphazardly across the country, the Defense Departments plan was orchestrated with, well, military precision, Sarah writes.

Defense Department schools are racially and economically integrated. Asian, Black, Hispanic and white students attend the same schools. So do the children of Army privates earning $25,000 a year and the children of high-ranking officers earning six-figure salaries.

The schools receive more funding than public schools in many states do. One teacher at an elementary school on Fort Moore in Georgia told The Times that she doubled her salary by switching from a traditional public school in Florida. The supply closets at Defense Department schools tend to be well-stocked, and teachers dont have to pay for paper, pencils and books out of their own salaries, as is common elsewhere.

During the pandemic, the militarys schools reopened relatively quickly  and its clear that extended closures were terrible for children. By December 2020, 85 percent of students at Defense Department schools were learning in person, officials told Sarah. Only a handful of states exceeded that share, according to the Covid-19 School Data Hub. The share was below 10 percent in California, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and several other states.

Two striking statistics

The Defense Department schools are hardly perfect. They also have some inherent advantages that other schools do not. More of their families have two married parents than is the case nationwide. By definition, at least one parent in each military family is employed. And the military provides health care and housing.

Having as many of those basic needs met does help set the scene for learning to occur, Jessica Thorne, an elementary school principal at Fort Moore, said.

Given this contrast, many other schools are unlikely ever to fare as well. Still, it would be a mistake to think that the military schools are thriving only because of the underlying differences in their students. After all, those differences have long existed  but the gaps between the Defense Department schools and all others have recently grown, especially among vulnerable students.
General Motors and a Canadian union, Unifor, reached a tentative deal on a new contract on Tuesday, ending a short-lived strike by more than 4,000 workers that began earlier in the day.

The deal includes the same raises and other terms that Unifor had agreed to last month with Ford Motor, including a 20 percent wage increase for production workers over three years and a 25 percent raise for skilled trades workers.

The contract must be ratified by Unifor members before it can take effect. Workers at Fords Canadian operation have ratified their contract.

Work was expected to restart at the three G.M. plants and distribution centers that were struck on Tuesday afternoon.
For the past two years, the United States and the European Union have been working toward a deal that would encourage trade in steel and aluminum made in more environmentally friendly ways to combat climate change.

But longstanding differences on the way governments should treat trade and regulation have cropped up, preventing the allies from coming to a compromise. With an Oct. 31 deadline to reach a deal approaching, the United States has significantly narrowed its ambition for the pact, at least in its initial iteration.

The outcome has been deeply disappointing for American negotiators, including Katherine Tai, the United States trade representative in charge of the talks, according to people familiar with the negotiations. In speeches last year, Ms. Tai described the potential deal as historic and a paradigm-shifting model that would reduce carbon produced by heavy industries, while also limiting unfair trade competition from countries like China, which has been pumping out cheap steel that is not manufactured in an environmentally friendly way.

U.S. negotiators had envisioned setting up a club of nations committed to cleaner production, initially with Europe and later with other countries, that together would act to block dirtier steel, aluminum and other products from their markets. Steel and aluminum production is incredibly carbon intensive, with the industries together accounting for about a 10th of global carbon emissions. But Europeans raised a variety of objections to the approach, including that it violated global trade rules for treating countries fairly.
Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Andriy Pyshnyy is working as part of the Ukrainian delegation at the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank in the Moroccan capital of Marrakech and denies reports in a number of media outlets that he allegedly wrote a letter of resignation.

"During a break between meetings, I was surprised to learn that I allegedly wrote a letter of resignation from the post of NBU governor and chose Marrakesh for this. This information is not true," Pyshnyy wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

"Nothing more than another fake. We will continue to work, we will definitely return to Ukraine with the results," the NBU governor said.
Ms. Simontons case is a flashpoint in the conflict over whether health insurance should have to cover obesity drugs. The challenge for payers is that the medications would be hugely costly if they were broadly covered in the United States, where more than 100 million people are obese.

The lawsuit is likely to be closely watched as a test of whether health plans can refuse to pay for obesity drugs. Ms. Simonton is being represented by a Seattle law firm, Sirianni Youtz Spoonemore Hamburger, that has a long track record of challenging health insurance restrictions, including those for costly hepatitis C cures.

Wegovy and other appetite-suppressing drugs are in huge demand because they are stunningly effective in helping patients lose weight. But the scale of that demand would pose an unprecedented financial burden for the employers and government programs that shoulder most of the costs of prescription drugs. Wegovy, Novo Nordisks high-dose version of its popular drug Ozempic, has a sticker price of over $16,000 a year.

More payers have recently begun covering the obesity medications, encouraged by research suggesting that the drugs may pay for themselves in the long run by improving patients health. But others say they simply cannot afford to cover the medications.

Ms. Simonton, 57, a nurse who is well versed on the health benefits of the drugs, said she saw the refusal to cover her Wegovy as shortsighted.
In the comments on a recent TikTok post by RyanAir, an exuberant traveler posted about flying the airline for the first time. In the past, the typical corporate response to this might have been something like, Were glad to have you! or Thanks for joining us!

Ryan Air went with: Do you want a medal?

It was quirky, except not. Being weird on social media has become standard practice for corporate brands.

This has long caused some older people to recoil. And there are signs it is no longer working with millennials or Gen Z customers  people like Priya Saxena, 25, who works in digital marketing in Atlanta.
The move is the latest indication of The Posts business struggles. The company, which is owned by the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is on track to lose roughly $100 million this year.

The number of subscriptions at The Post has declined in recent years  it now has roughly 2.5 million subscribers, down from a high of three million subscribers at the end of 2020. The Post has also struggled in the face of an industrywide decline in digital advertising.

Mr. Bezos, who paid $250 million for the newspaper in 2013, has previously said he wants the publication to be profitable.

Some of The Posts troubles have been placed at the feet of Fred Ryan, the longtime chief executive and publisher, who announced his resignation in June. Mr. Ryan, a former Reagan aide and Politico executive who joined The Post in 2014, oversaw abundant growth in the company during the first five years of his tenure. The newsroom roughly doubled in size and subscriptions soared.



But The Post, like other news organizations, saw a drop-off in subscribers after former President Donald J. Trump left office. Mr. Ryan was criticized for what some in the company saw as a stultified business culture and frequently clashed with newsroom leaders. He also presided over an exodus of talent in the past two years, including top-tier executives and high-profile journalists.

Ms. Stonesifer, a longtime friend of Mr. Bezos, agreed to step in as an interim leader after Mr. Ryan departed this year. She said in her email that she had worked with the senior leadership team over the past two months to review the companys business and financial results, leading to the decision to offer buyouts in the hopes of averting more difficult decisions such as layoffs.
When some 50 million Americans started working from home in the early days of the pandemic, brick-and-mortar retailers clustered in urban downtowns were hurting. The number of downtown clothing stores fell 8 percent from late 2019 to late 2021, according to a study using transaction data from 70 million Chase Bank customers. General goods stores in downtowns  including anything from department stores to florists to booksellers  fell 7 percent, and grocery stores declined 2 percent.

Some of those businesses followed remote workers to the suburbs. During that period, the number of suburban grocery stores increased roughly 3 percent, slightly outpacing the urban decline, particularly in suburbs where remote work levels were high.

In the coming years, the movement of retailers from downtowns to suburbs is likely to prove difficult for low-income workers who cannot afford to live in these areas, some of them affluent, where retailers may be hiring.

This problem is already visible in the Bay Area. Take the case of Maria Cerros-Mercado, who used to work at a salad shop in San Francisco, a 20-minute walk from her home. Now she commutes by Uber to the shops new location in Mill Valley, a wealthy suburb in Marin County.

But some economists argue that many Americans stand to gain from the effects of remote work because rents in rural and suburban areas are likely to begin dropping. One recent study used data from postal address changes, rent changes on Zillow and the construction industry to project the potential rent effects of remote and hybrid work. The pandemic saw a temporary rent spike in previously affordable areas  think Dallas; Manchester, N.H.; and upstate New York  because many remote workers left the priciest housing markets once they gave up daily commutes. As construction catches up with that new demand, economists say, rents will fall back down.
OpenAIs ChatGPT exploded onto the scene nearly a year ago, reaching an estimated 100 million users in two months and setting off an A.I. boom. Behind the scenes, the technology relies on thousands of specialized computer chips. And in the coming years, they could consume immense amounts of electricity.

A peer-reviewed analysis published Tuesday lays out some early estimates. In a middle-ground scenario, by 2027 A.I. servers could use between 85 to 134 terawatt hours (Twh) annually. Thats similar to what Argentina, the Netherlands and Sweden each use in a year, and is about 0.5 percent of the world's current electricity use.

We dont have to completely blow this out of proportion, said Alex de Vries, the data scientist who did the analysis. But at the same time, the numbers that I write down  they are not small.

The electricity needed to run A.I. could boost the worlds carbon emissions, depending on whether the data centers get their power from fossil fuels or renewable resources.
Still, the word is used in many countries because South Asians brought their version of roti to different parts of the world through both forced and free migration. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, more than a million people were taken from the subcontinent to places like the Caribbean, Malaysia and Thailand as indentured servants working on plantations, Dr. Ray said. During the same period, other South Asians traveled to these countries freely as merchants and in other roles.

The basic recipe for roti evolved to suit the needs of each region, he said. Fat, like oil or butter, was often added to make the bread tastier and more durable. Refined flours took the place of whole-wheat flour because they were cheaper and more shelf-stable.

The word roti can now describe dozens of different preparations, and what is called a roti in Malaysia may be labeled a paratha in parts of India, or an oil roti in Guyana.

As things and words travel, Dr. Ray said, they become more capacious.

That capaciousness is one reason the chef Syd Suntha centers his Seattle food cart, Kottu, on roti. He specializes in the Sri Lankan dish called kottu roti, in which roti pieces are stir-fried with ingredients like onion and egg.

Mr. Suntha grew up on Sri Lankan fare and American snack foods in St. Louis, and his menu reflects this, incorporating seasonings like gochujang, Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets and Flamin Hot Cheetos in his kottu roti. When hes preparing a large catering order and doesnt have time to make roti in bulk, hell use store-bought tortillas instead.
Instead of taking the trip, she moved hundreds of preplanned interviews to Zoom and scheduled at least 40 online cooking classes with experts. To perfect sancocho de Domingo, Ms. Gutierrez turned to Francisco Castro, a chef in Panama, who taught her how to make the chicken and root vegetable soup, and followed up with dozens of other Panamanian cooks who shared their tips for the dish.

She wanted her book to highlight the home cooking from every country in Latin America, but especially the recipes from nations whose cuisines remain unknown to many Americans. To do so, Ms. Gutierrez combed through family recipes rife with measurements like a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and other idiosyncratic instructions.

She found other dishes from out-of-print cookbooks in libraries, like the one in Cartagena, Colombia where she dug through old books and talked to other patrons while her husband, Luis Gutierrez, enjoyed a day at the beach. She used her research to uncover commonalities in the recipes she used as references for her own dishes in her book.

Theres so much more that couldve been included, she said, adding that theres a dearth of modern cookbooks representing Latin American cuisine. Im one writer, one author, and none of us can cover the entirety of Latin American food in one book.
Juul was once the cool vape, blamed for hooking teenagers on e-cigarettes, and it is set to pay billions of dollars in legal settlements.

Then came Puff Bar, which was hot in high schools until federal officials began impounding those vapes. Elf Bar stepped in, and its products have been seized at the border. A parade of facsimiles is moving in right behind them: Virtue Bar, Juicy Bar, Lost Mary, Lost Vape and many more.

The latest flood of illicit e-cigarettes is arriving from China in Barbiecore colors and fruit, ice cream and slushy flavors, and accounts for a major share of the estimated $5.5 billion e-cigarette market in the United States.

The never-ending influx of vapes, some offering 5,000 or more puffs per device or escalating nicotine levels, has exposed a gaping lapse in enforcement by the Food and Drug Administration, which has authorized only a handful of the hundreds of options that line convenience store walls nationwide. Members of Congress, two dozen state attorneys general and even the Big Tobacco companies have stepped up their calls for the agency to get the situation under control.
On Monday, Israel ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip as it retaliated for the attack, the largest and deadliest incursion into its territory in decades. Israeli jets launched airstrikes on Gaza, which Israels military said had destroyed centers that house Hamas militants. Palestinian officials said that a hospital had been hit, along with multistory buildings, homes, mosques and a busy marketplace, and that more than 700 Palestinians had been killed. Hamas threatened to respond to the Israeli bombing campaign by executing hostages.

The relentless, deadly conflict between Israel and Palestinians has spanned two centuries. The fighting has left thousands dead. Sometimes, the bloodshed has been incited by Israel targeting militant leaders or responding to protests. Other times, violence has been set off by attacks from Hamas or other militants. In this case, there was no obvious flashpoint, and Israels intelligence community and government seem to have been caught by surprise.

Gaza has been under a suffocating Israeli blockade, backed by Egypt, since Hamas seized control of the coastal strip in 2007. The blockade restricts the import of goods, including electronic and computer equipment, that could be used to make weapons and prevents most people from leaving the territory.

The timing of the assault was notable, hitting Israel at one of the most difficult moments in its history. It came after months of profound anxiety about the cohesion of Israeli society and the readiness of its military, a crisis prompted by the far-right governments efforts to reduce the power of the judiciary.

The attacks also came on the holiday of Simchat Torah, and nearly 50 years to the day since the Israeli authorities were caught off-guard when invading forces from Egypt and Syria set off the start of the Yom Kippur War.
To that end, the facts of her life  born to immigrant parents who met as activists in Berkeley, raised in the Bay Area amid the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, studied at Howard University, one of the countrys premier historically Black institutions  help explain why this vice president not only looks different, but is different too.

She wears her self-belief with pride. And she always has, according to family members who attend her Sunday dinners, childhood friends who grew up with her in Oakland and Harris herself. I grew up when Aretha Franklin was telling me I was young, gifted and Black, Harris told me. I will tell you this, and maybe its a radical notion. I have never believed that I dont belong somewhere, and I was raised to believe that I belong anywhere that I choose to go.

Harris, in this way, is the antithesis of Obama. While he was defined by a sense of alienation growing up among his mothers white family and found refuge in Black communities as an adult in Chicago, Harriss journey bears no such resemblance. Her Bay Area childhood was rooted in Black affirmation and community, even as her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, remained close to her family in India and kept Hindu traditions in the home. If anything, Harriss childhood stands out for its insulation from whiteness, more multiracial and multiethnic than strictly Black and white. I remember we were in middle school just sitting on the bed, and she walked me through her name, K-a-m-a-l-a D-e-v-i H-a-r-r-i-s, says Cynthia Bagby, a childhood friend from Oakland. She was very clear about her heritage, where her mother was from and what it meant. Shes always been one of those people thats like, This is who I am. Deal with it.

But Harris is also conscious of being ghettoized  which is how one close Biden adviser described her fear of being put into a box that was solely ascribed to her race or gender. Throughout the majority of her career, the substance was never in question: She was a prosecutor, a similar early career track as other Democratic women in the Senate, including Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. But Harris always came with an air of star power  Ifills label, a network of Bay Area donors and her 2009 book, Smart on Crime, which introduced her to a national audience by highlighting her criminal-justice philosophy.

I came up with the phrase, Harris proudly reminded me during our interview in Chicago. I proposed we should ask, Are we smart on crime? And in asking that question, measure our effectiveness similar to how the private sector does, she said. I told Harris that I read the book and came away struck by how differently she  and Democrats  talk about criminal justice now, 14 years later. And like Gabbard, I decided to ask her how I should think about the changes in her philosophy. Were they an evolution based on new evidence? Or is that a kind of tacit admission that the view from 20 years ago might have been incorrect? I asked.
National Police chief: Liut joint assault brigade advances, provided with everything necessary, but there are also losses

The Liut (Fury) joint assault brigade of the National Police is provided with everything necessary, works on the frontline and advances together with the servicemen, but there are also losses, Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhovsky has said.

In an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Vyhovsky said he tries to visit the fighters from the Liut joint assault brigade at least once a month.

"A few weeks ago, after the liberation of Klischiyivka, we came with Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko gave awards, discussed needs and problems," Vyhovsky said.

He said he communicates daily with the leadership of the brigade, and deputy Oleksandr Fatsevych is there on a permanent basis, who interacts with the operational headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, receives combat missions and orders.

"We try to provide our guys with everything they need as much as possible. We work both in cooperation with the military and under their fire cover. Together we storm, together we liberate our land," the National Police chief said.

At the same time, he said: "It's not as easy as we would like, but we are making progress. Unfortunately, there are also losses."

Speaking about the number of police officers directly at the front, Vyhovsky said this is about several thousand.
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday filed a significant array of additional charges against Representative George Santos of New York, accusing him of new criminal schemes, including stealing the identities and credit card details of donors to his campaign.

The new accusations were made in a 23-count superseding indictment that laid out how Mr. Santos had charged his donors credit cards repeatedly, without their authorization, distributing the money to his and other candidates campaigns and to his own bank account.

The new indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York added 10 charges against Mr. Santos: conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud, false statements to the Federal Election Commission and falsifying records to obstruct the commission.

The accusations against Mr. Santos, a first-term Republican of New York, seem vastly different from the typical corruption cases that ensnare politicians. Many of those have hinged on intricate quid pro quos and complex legal questions about the nature of a political bribe.
Two construction workers killed in a trench collapse at Kennedy International Airport in April died while removing soil from beneath a concrete slab that the Bronx firm employing them failed to prop up, officials said on Tuesday.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the firm, Triumph Construction, with four serious safety violations in the April 3 collapse, including failing to properly support the slab and failing to instruct the workers on how to safely dig beneath it.

The workers, Francisco Reyes, 41, and Fernando Lagunas Pereira, 28, were moving utility lines as part of a broader, $19 billion J.F.K. improvement project when they were buried under construction rubble, officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, said at the time. Both men were declared dead at the scene.

OSHAs findings on Tuesday were the fifth time since 2008 that Triumph had been cited for failing to adequately protect workers doing excavation-related work, according to agency records. In 2014, records show, a worker was seriously hurt when he was trapped beneath chunks of concrete after a trench caved in at a Triumph site in Manhattan.
By Monday, even the D.S.A. seemed uncomfortable.

In an interview, Jeremy Cohan, a co-chair of the New York City chapter of the D.S.A., said that the organization had promoted the rally at the request of a Palestinian solidarity group  he was not sure which  and that the D.S.A. had not organized or sponsored the event.

I dont think I regret for a minute standing against war and standing up for supporting an approach that points to the deeper roots of this conflict, he said. But, he added, we did not communicate that in a way that was adequately sensitive to the suffering of the people on all the sides of the conflict.

Mr. Cohan also said he thought the barrage of criticism was an opportunistic move by New Yorks political establishment to try to drive a wedge in the growing progressive left ecosystem.

The D.S.A. and other far-left groups have never been numerically dominant in New York City, where their membership hovers in the tens of thousands, and a little more than a dozen hold elected offices. But they have exerted an outsize influence on political debate in the city and nationally, helping push the center of the Democratic Party leftward.

Most are regarded as safe in their seats. But rising attacks against Israel may give more moderate Democrats an opening to marginalize D.S.A.-aligned officials and accelerate the partys move back toward the political middle ahead of next years elections.
The Republican Party appears poised to stand by and say nothing while its most die-hard supporters risk disenfranchising themselves and others.

Theres a right-wing movement afoot pressuring local governments to manually tally votes on ballots without any of the machines that make this work quick and precise. One particularly determined man is even traveling from red county to red county in a branded R.V., preaching the good word to county councils and election boards.

Counting ballots by hand is still very rare in the United States. And studies and myriad real-world examples have repeatedly shown that counting by hand is a uniquely bad idea in the context of American democracy. In the United States, ballots often have several dozen choices on them for federal, state and local elections  not just a couple of options. And humans are notoriously poor at tedious, repetitive tasks.

Imagine, if you will, a truck full of paper currency. You and a few lucky friends have to count the money, which has come in a variety of denominations, by hand. You have to finish in a matter of days, and you also have to keep the bills in order under penalty of law. You cant use a counting machine, and you cant even use a program like Excel to do the summations. How many friends do you think you would need? Do you think you would all arrive at the same totals?
For years, whenever Id hear a joke by the comedian Hasan Minhaj, I felt a pang of familiarity. The stories he told were ones I knew: about being called a terrorist or being stopped by security at the airport or navigating white America as a Muslim and South Asian person. And while these were interactions I knew well, it was also hard for me not to cringe when I saw his standup. All I could think was: Really? This again?

Last month, The New Yorker broke the news that many of the onstage tales in Mr. Minhajs Netflix specials were either fabricated or greatly exaggerated. This news sparked a predictable mini-scandal, especially given that Mr. Minhaj had reportedly been in the running to be the next host of The Daily Show. A debate followed about the boundary between truth and fiction for comedians. For his part, Mr. Minhaj told The New Yorker, Every story in my style is built around a seed of truth.

As a Muslim American entertainer, Mr. Minhaj has built his career on, yes, being funny but also on telling exactly the type of tales that are often told about people of color in America. You start with a racist encounter  one that confirms that this country is, in fact, an awful place for immigrants  then build to a humorous conclusion in which the people of color not only persist but thrive. Whether its in TV, films or books, these stories often find an eager audience. I know because Ive heard a lot of these stories. Ive benefited from telling them, too.

I was born in Pakistan, and after my parents immigrated to the United States, I grew up in a predominantly white community in suburban Indiana. In a lot of ways, my childhood was similar to Mr. Minhajs. My parents are both educated professionals, as were many of the other South Asians in our town. I started my career as a writer and journalist in the early 2010s, and my first major essay was about being stopped at the airport because I have a name similar to a terrorists.
When youre designing or decorating a home, you have to consider the needs of the occupants  and that means not just people, but any resident animals.

Our clients are very serious about their animals, said Jimmy Crisp, the principal of Crisp Architects, in Millbrook, N.Y.

At Mr. Crisps home, in nearby Poughquag, N.Y., there are multiple dogs in residence, along with a cat. So its not surprising that many of the homes he designs have built-in amenities for pets.

Amy Storm, the principal of the interior design firm Amy Storm & Company, in Glen Ellyn, Ill., thinks along the same lines. Most of our clients do have pets, and certainly want to pamper them and create special places for them, she said. It would actually be unusual that we wouldnt be working on some sort of location for the pets to eat and bathe.
Follow live updates on the 2023 ring of fire solar eclipse.

On Oct. 14, an annular eclipse will make its way across the Western Hemisphere. The moon, farther from Earth than during a total eclipse, will block much of our view of the sun, leaving only a fiery halo of light in a darkened sky.

In the United States, the show begins in Oregon, then cuts through the Southwest before exiting through the Texas coastline. It will then cut across the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and through Central America, before dipping down into Colombia, passing through the Amazon basin and concluding along Brazils eastern coast.

Thousands of tourists are flocking to the path of annularity to catch this astronomical marvel, which will last about four minutes at any given point along the path. Many describe eclipses as spiritual experiences.

But theres at least one place where people cant venture to watch: the sprawling desert lands of Navajo Nation, whose tribal parks in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah might have made a beautiful backdrop for the public to view a celestial ring of fire. On Sept. 15, Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation announced that all parks would be closed during the eclipse to accommodate traditional beliefs.
Scientists have used the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR to create chickens that have some resistance to avian influenza, according to a new study that was published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday.

The study suggests that genetic engineering could potentially be one tool for reducing the toll of bird flu, a group of viruses that pose grave dangers to both animals and humans. But the study also highlights the limitations and potential risks of the approach, scientists said.

Some breakthrough infections still occurred, especially when gene-edited chickens were exposed to very high doses of the virus, the researchers found. And when the scientists edited just one chicken gene, the virus quickly adapted. The findings suggest that creating flu-resistant chickens will require editing multiple genes and that scientists will need to proceed carefully to avoid driving further evolution of the virus, the studys authors said.

The research is proof of concept that we can move toward making chickens resistant to the virus, Wendy Barclay, a virologist at Imperial College London and an author of the study, said at a news briefing. But were not there yet.
First they were colleagues on a trading floor in New York. Then they were friends running a start-up together in Hong Kong. Eventually they became partners in a turbulent office romance chronicled in tabloid headlines around the world.

On Tuesday, in a packed Manhattan courtroom, the relationship between Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison took another turn. The two faced each other for the first time since the cryptocurrency trading companies they built together, FTX and Alameda Research, collapsed in November.

Ms. Ellison, 28, took the stand for about four hours on the fifth day of Mr. Bankman-Frieds fraud trial in federal court. She began by taking more than 10 seconds to identify Mr. Bankman-Fried when a prosecutor asked her to point him out.

Then within the first 15 minutes of her testimony, Ms. Ellison repeatedly blamed Mr. Bankman-Fried, 31, for crimes that led to FTXs implosion. She testified that he instructed her to use FTX customer deposits to finance venture investments and loan repayments by Alameda Research, a crypto hedge fund that she oversaw for him. She said Alameda took around $14 billion, only some of which it was able to repay.
To be a fan of the work of Stephen Sondheim, as Frank Rich wrote in The New York Times, is to have ones heart broken at regular intervals. He meant not only that Sondheims songs are so often crushingly poignant but that the experience of loving them can feel unrequited. The shows they are in  he was reviewing the original production of Merrily We Roll Along  dont always love you back.

That was in 1981, when Merrily, with a problematic book by George Furth, suffered an ignominious Broadway debut of just 16 performances after 44 previews. No matter that Sondheim, responding to the story of a songwriter, had written his most conspicuously tuneful score to date, prompting pop recordings by Frank Sinatra (Good Thing Going) and Barbra Streisand (Not a Day Goes By). It was universally deemed a debacle.

The debacle ended the working relationship between Sondheim and the director Harold Prince, whose five shows together in the 1970s  Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd  had redefined the American musical. With Merrily, they thought they were taking the form even further, with a complicated backward chronology and a cast of mostly inexperienced actors who played 40-ish adults at the start and grew into themselves at the end.

After the shows death by a thousand pans, Sondheim, saying hed rather make video games, threatened to leave the theater entirely. Luckily, that didnt happen  and Merrily, too, refused to give up, instead undergoing a seemingly endless series of unsatisfactory improvements that only seemed to confirm the hopelessness of making it matter.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Pylyp Pronin as Head of Poltava Regional State Administration.

The corresponding decree was signed on October 10 and published on the website of the head of state.

By another decree, the president dismissed Dmytro Lunin from the post of temporary acting head of Poltava Regional State Administration.

Since 2020, Pronin has been deputy head of the National Agency of Ukraine for the identification, search and management of assets obtained from corruption and other crimes.
Justice Clarence Thomas renewed his call on Tuesday for the Supreme Court to reconsider New York Times v. Sullivan, the landmark 1964 ruling interpreting the First Amendment to make it more difficult for public officials to prevail in libel suits.

Justice Thomas wrote that the decision had no basis in the Constitution as it was understood by the people who drafted and ratified it. He added, quoting an earlier opinion, that it comes at a heavy cost, allowing media organizations and interest groups to cast false aspersions on public figures with near impunity.

Justice Thomas has been the subject of a series of news reports raising questions about whether he had violated ethics rules. The reports said he had failed to disclose gifts and trips from Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire who has donated to conservative causes.

The Sullivan decision and ones that followed it require public figures suing for defamation to prove that the defendant had acted with actual malice. The phrase is a legal term of art and does not connote the ordinary meaning of malice in the sense of spite or ill will.
It is not clear whether the broad support on Capitol Hill for aiding Israels war effort might help break the logjam over sending more military supplies to Ukraine, or simply complicate the heavily politicized negotiations over doing so. A growing number of Republicans are resisting continued aid for Ukraine and suggesting that any additional assistance would have to come with major Democratic concessions, including more restrictive immigration laws.

There are also questions about whether the House is even able to act. It has been rudderless with no permanent speaker after Republicans ousted Representative Kevin McCarthy from the post last week. G.O.P. lawmakers are set to meet on Wednesday to select a new nominee for speaker, but they are deeply fractured, which could prolong the process.

In the interim, the House is under the control of Representative Patrick T. McHenry, the North Carolina Republican who was named temporary speaker after Mr. McCarthys removal. Many House aides believe Mr. McHenry has only limited governing powers that do not include the right to take major legislative action. But there is no precedent for the current situation, and according to some congressional experts, an acting speaker could do whatever a majority of the House agreed to allow him to do.

The House as a legislative body is not powerless. It can come into session and consider legislation, said Sarah Binder, a congressional expert and professor of political science at George Washington University. At the end of the day, its a matter of interpretation.

Leading members of both parties have used the war between Israel and Hamas to slam the far-right Republicans who voted along with all Democrats to remove Mr. McCarthy from the speakership. They argue that the G.O.P. rebels tactics have neutered the Houses ability to respond to the worst fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in over half a century.
As he took the podium and stared into the camera on Tuesday, President Biden held nothing back. He bristled with righteous indignation as he denounced the bloody Hamas attack in unforgiving terms and vowed to stand by Israel without equivocation.

Over the course of 10 minutes, Mr. Biden called the strike on Israel pure, unadulterated evil, sheer evil and indiscriminate evil. Again and again, the outrage spilled out: Atrocities. Sickening. Abhorrent. Brutality. Violation of every code of human morality.

He recounted one instance of rampaging violence after another, a roster of horrors that has shocked much of the world not to mention his White House. Even for a president who often wears his emotions on his sleeve, it was a striking moment, possibly the most personal anger that he has displayed in public since taking office nearly three years ago. It was raw and it was memorable.

It was also an effort to leave no daylight between him and Israel during its greatest crisis in half a century, no room for his political opponents at home or America and Israels enemies abroad to exploit. Unlike other presidents during past eruptions of violence in the Middle East, he made no effort to express understanding of different sides, no move to urge restraint or seek diplomatic offramps. Instead, he promised that more military hardware was on its way.
The Biden administration formally acknowledged on Tuesday what most countries declared months ago: that the military takeover in Niger in July was a coup.

Officials in the administration had sidestepped that declaration for weeks because the word coup has major policy implications. Congress has mandated that the United States must halt all economic and military aid to any government deemed to have been installed by a military coup until democracy is restored.

But on Tuesday, the administration said that efforts to restore Nigers democratically elected government to power had failed and that what aid was not already restricted would be cut off.

The United States has concluded that a military coup detat has taken place in Niger, Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, said in a statement. He added that nearly $200 million in aid that was temporarily paused in August would be suspended. About $442 million in trade and agricultural assistance will also be suspended.
Republicans toiled on Tuesday to unite around a candidate for speaker but appeared no closer to consensus on the eve of an internal party contest that has highlighted their divisions and deep uncertainty in the House of Representatives.

Emerging from an hourslong closed-door candidates forum on Tuesday evening, several Republicans said they remained deadlocked as several competing factions had become dug in for their candidates. That paved the way for a potentially raucous and drawn-out G.O.P. election on Wednesday morning and suggested that the House might go without a new speaker for days as the party worked through its rifts.

Asked what the chances were that the House would select a new speaker by Wednesday as scheduled, Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, said: Id put it at 2 percent.

A week after a far-right faction forced former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post, fewer than half of House Republicans had publicly announced their support for either of the leading candidates to replace him: Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the partys second-ranking leader, and Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the Judiciary Committee chairman.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas is facing some of the sharpest scrutiny of her early tenure after a public records request revealed that her office bought a lectern for $19,000  and a whistle-blower accused the office of altering records to cover up the spending.

Late last month, it came to light that the state had purchased the lectern and an accompanying traveling case in June, paying $19,029.25 to Beckett Events LLC, an events management company with ties to Ms. Sanders, a Republican who took office in January.

The information was obtained by Matthew Campbell, a lawyer and blogger who had filed a broad public records request. Mr. Campbell posted the invoice for the lectern on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The purchase has been a matter of contention in Arkansas over the last few weeks, including among some of Ms. Sanderss fellow Republicans. One of them, State Senator Jimmy Hickey Jr., has asked the states Legislative Joint Auditing Committee to investigate.
The victims were internally displaced people from a camp that housed about 500 near the town of Laiza on the Myanmar-China border, according to Naw Bu. Among the dead, 11 were under the age of 16, including six who were younger than 12. The youngest victim was a year and a half old, he said.

Naw Bu said the Kachin Independence Army was weighing the possibility that the attack was carried out with drones, because those on the ground had not heard the sound of planes overhead.

Photographs and videos from the camp showed bodies strewn in a jungle. A man was seen carrying the mud-soaked body of a young child out of the destruction. Roofs of houses were blown off. On Tuesday morning, people gathered for a mass funeral, in which rows of body bags lined the wall of a hospital.

Since the February 2021 coup, fighting between the army and a large swath of the population who have taken up arms has remained intense. Many of the armed rebels have taken refuge with ethnic armies such as the Kachin Independence Army, one of Myanmars most powerful insurgent forces, which has been battling the countrys military for years.

In April, the military killed at least 170 people in a bombing in the central region of Sagaing, in the regimes deadliest aerial attack since the coup. Last year, the military launched an airstrike that killed at least 80 people at a concert venue in Kachin, in the countrys north.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has long cast himself as a friend of Israel and the Jewish people.

He helped establish visa-free travel between Russia and Israel in 2008, presided over the construction of a sprawling Moscow Jewish Museum in 2012 and, side by side with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in 2020, unveiled a memorial to the victims of Nazi Germanys siege of Leningrad.

But amid the worst attack on Israel in 50 years, the high regard that Mr. Putin has shown for Israel in the past appears remarkably absent. More than three days after the start of the incursion by Hamas, there has been no message of condolence from the Kremlin, even though Mr. Putin previously published such notes of sympathy in the wake of terrorist attacks in Israel.

And he has not yet called Mr. Netanyahu, even though he spoke with Israeli leaders at least 11 times in 2022 and developed a close relationship with Mr. Netanyahu over more than a decade of meetings and phone calls.
If Israel considers itself in a battle for its life, its longtime prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is battling for his reputation and his legacy.

After leading Israel for nearly 16 years in total and priding himself on bringing the country prosperity and security, Mr. Netanyahu, 73, now confronts the vivid failure of his own policies toward the Palestinians  presiding over what many Israelis are calling the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

The Hamas breakout from Gaza and incursion into Israel proper, killing hundreds of civilians as well as soldiers, is all but certain to mark Mr. Netanyahus legacy no matter the outcome of the fierce war he now promises against Hamas.

On Tuesday, under pressure to do so, Mr. Netanyahu struggled to try to negotiate a unity government that included some of his main rivals, most of them experienced military officers. But disagreements continued over their demands for a smaller security cabinet to administer the war, which would sideline some of Mr. Netanyahus most controversial ministers.
But many countries have remained neutral, seeing the conflict as primarily a European and American problem, and the Russian economy has proved to be more resilient than expected, mitigating the impact of the sanctions. As the war drags on, concerns are mounting that support for Ukraine will wane, allowing Russia to potentially improve its military performance and gradually improve its place on the international stage.

Created in 2006, the Geneva-based council is regarded as the worlds most important human rights body. While it has no criminal enforcement or sanctioning powers, the council can undertake investigations that help shape the global image of countries. It can also try to influence a countrys behavior if it is deemed to have poor rights records.

Russia had been active in council proceedings, challenging resolutions critical of allies such as Syria and Belarus, and proposing amendments aimed at undercutting a wide range of rights initiatives.

But last year, less than two months after it invaded Ukraine, Russia was suspended from the council in a U.N. General Assembly vote. It was only the second country to lose its membership on the council, after Libya  a diplomatic blow to Moscow and a success for American-led efforts to isolate it.

The suspension came in response to Russias indiscriminate bombings in Ukraine and killing and torture of civilians by Russian forces in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraines capital. Since then, rights groups, including the council itself, have documented what they say are Russian war crimes in Ukraine, such as unlawful attacks on civilians and the systematic torture of prisoners.
National Police chief: Policeman should not be afraid to use weapons under law; it's necessary to return to issue of stun guns

In a legal society, the demands of a police officer must be fulfilled without provocation, and maximum attention should be paid to the professional training of police officers, Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhovsky said.

In an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Vyhovsky spoke about the conclusions of the National Police after an incident in Dnipro, which led to the death of a drunk driver during detention by a patrolman.

"We drew conclusions, sorted out this situation, brought it to the attention of all personnel. But the situation is very difficult, and the State Bureau of Investigations will give a legal assessment. However, on the one hand, a police officer should not be afraid to use weapons legally. On the other hand, we understand high level of requirements and expectations of society for a representative of the law. Therefore, we pay maximum attention to the professional training of police officers," Vyhovsky said.

At the same time, as the National Police chief noted, every citizen must understand that the police officer assesses the risks as much as possible. "Today, when there is war in the country, an attacker may be in a dangerous mental state, he may be armed, he may be capable of anything," the National Police chief said.

"Therefore, if we want to live in a rule-of-law state, society must know that the demands of a police officer must be fulfilled, that one must not provoke a police officer, and if one does not agree with the actions of a law enforcement officer, go to court, the Department of Internal Affairs or the State Bureau of Investigations," he said.

The National Police chief also noted the need to return to the issue of legislative regulation of the use of stun guns by police. "We also realized that it is necessary to return to the issue of stun guns. Our partners are even ready to purchase them so that we do not waste budget funds," he said.

Vyhovsky said this is about the bill on stun guns, which was rejected by parliament in 2021.

"Yes, it was returned for revision. MPs had certain reservations and disagreements regarding the definitions. But we will lobby for the need to provide police with stun guns, as another type of special equipment, which is often more expedient to use," the National Police chief said.
Donald J. Trump has claimed in a lawsuit in a London court that Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, inflicted personal and reputational damage and distress on him by leaking a dossier detailing unsavory, unproven accounts of links between him and Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Lawyers for Mr. Trump argue that Mr. Steeles firm, Orbis Business Intelligence, breached British data protection laws with the dossier, which triggered a political earthquake when it was published just before Mr. Trumps inauguration in 2017.

The lawsuit, the first filed by Mr. Trump in Britain related to the dossier, could offer the former president more favorable legal terrain than the United States. Last year, a federal judge in Florida threw out his lawsuit claiming that Mr. Steele, as well as Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, was involved in a concerted plot to spread false information about Mr. Trumps ties to Russia.

In a court filing last month, Mr. Trumps lawyers said he was compelled to explain to his family, friends, and colleagues that the embarrassing allegations about his private life were untrue. This was extremely distressing for him, the filing said, asserting that Mr. Steele had presented the claims in a sensationalist manner that was calculated to cause tremendous embarrassment to Mr. Trump. He is asking for unspecified compensation.
Buoyed by the polls and brimming with confidence, the leader of Britains opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, declared on Tuesday that he was ready to assume the mantle of power. But first he had to shake the glitter off his suit jacket.

As Mr. Starmer took the stage at his partys annual conference in Liverpool, he was interrupted by a protester who rushed up behind him and showered him with green and blue glitter. It took a full seven seconds for security guards to run onstage and tackle the man, who shouted, Politics needs an update!

Taken aback but not thrown off his stride, Mr. Starmer shed his jacket, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and tried to turn the spectacle into an object lesson about the transformed party he now led.

Protest or power, he said, referring to Labours lengthy stint in opposition. Thats why we changed our party.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has accused Russia of wanting to precipitate conflict in the Middle East to undermine international support for Ukraine, in comments that reflect concern that the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas could distract attention from Kyivs fight.

In remarks released on social media on Monday night, Mr. Zelensky, who has repeatedly expressed support for Israel, also appeared to seek to rally support for his country at a time when Ukraine is facing stiff Russian resistance on the battlefield amid signs of wavering support among a few of its allies.

Some Republican members of the U.S. Congress have argued against continued support for the government in Kyiv, while Slovakia recently elected a political party that expressed support for Russia during its campaign. At the same time, Polands objections to the movement of Ukraines agricultural exports through its territory have cooled the relationship between the two allies.

Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe, Mr. Zelensky said in the speech released overnight. Russia on Monday expressed concern about events in Israel but its response has been muted.
With the exception of Israeli airlines, major carriers around the world have suspended air service to Israel after a devastating surprise attack launched from Gaza on Saturday. Tour operators and cruise lines are also changing itineraries to avoid Israel or canceling trips all together.

Though Ben Gurion Airport, Israels main international airport, located just outside Tel Aviv, has remained open since the fighting first erupted, hundreds of flights have been delayed and canceled. On Tuesday evening local time, there were 131 flight cancellations and 90 delays, according to FlightAware, a tracking service.

In the United States, American Airlines announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Tel Aviv through Dec. 4 and Delta Air Lines said it would suspend all flights to and from Israel through the remainder of this month. United Airlines has discontinued service indefinitely.

Several European carriers, including Air France, Finnair and TAP Air Portugal, have also temporarily halted direct flights to and from Israel.

Government agencies across the globe, including the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States, have urged operators to exercise caution when flying in Israeli airspace given the explosive conflict. Israels Civil Aviation Authority advised airlines to prepare for delays when calculating fuel needs.

With a number of American citizens in Israel, the U.S. State Department has asked airlines to consider re-establishing air routes.

We have also been in conversation with various carriers to encourage them to consider resuming travel in and out of Israel, and well continue to do that, said Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman, at a news briefing on Tuesday.

There were about 6,700 international flights into Israel scheduled for this month, the bulk of which are operated by El Al, Israels national airline, according to data from aviation-analytics company Cirium. In July, about 37,000 passengers flew into Israel daily, with travelers from the United States representing the largest share at more than 3,800 passengers, according to Cirium data.

El Al said on its website that flights were being operated as scheduled and that the airline was offering flexible cancellations to customers. The airline is also adding flight service from additional destinations to get people home to Israel.

The U.S. Department of State has not prohibited travel to the Israel or to the West Bank, but said that travelers should exercise increased caution upon visiting either of these places. Americans should not enter Gaza, the federal agency said.

Tour operators with excursions to Israel have also altered itineraries. Collette, a tour company with headquarters in Rhode Island, said it was canceling all remaining trips to Israel this year.

Most major cruise lines with scheduled port calls in Israel over the next month are forgoing stops in the Israeli cities of Ashdod and Haifa for ports in Turkey and Greece. Some trips embarking from Israel, like Royal Caribbeans Rhapsody of the Seas, have been canceled entirely through the end of October.

Ceylan Yeginsu contributed reporting.
Israeli airstrikes flattened mosques over the heads of worshipers. At least two hospitals, and two centers run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, have been hit. So have two schools run by the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees.

Israels fighter jets and artillery have struck targets in Gaza frequently over the years as part of the longstanding conflict between the Palestinians and Israel. But from the first day of this new war, residents of Gaza and health authorities have said that this time the strikes have been indiscriminately hitting structures that havent regularly been targeted in the past, such as schools, hospitals and mosques.

Few warnings have been given before strikes, Gazans say, and entire families have been killed in their homes, according to the Gazan Health Ministry.

The strikes are coming as part of Israels response to the attack on Saturday, when hundreds of Palestinian gunmen swept across Israels border with Gaza, killing more than 1,000 people and taking around 150 hostages, including children and older people. On Monday, Israels defense minister announced a complete siege of Gaza, saying no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel would be allowed in.
Israels defense ministers order to place a complete siege on the Gaza Strip came on top of a 16-year blockade that Israel, often along with Egypt, has imposed on the coastal territory.

The announcement by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday that Gaza would receive no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel after a major incursion by Palestinian gunmen left hundreds dead has led aid agencies to warn of an exacerbated humanitarian crisis.

Under the longstanding blockade, the densely populated strip, with more than two million residents, nearly half of whom are under 18 years old, faces severe restrictions on the movements of goods and people.

Most commodities in Gaza, from foodstuffs to construction supplies, are imported from Israel through official border crossings, according to the United Nations. Gaza gets most of its electricity via Israeli power lines, and produces some at a power plant in Gaza with fuel imported from Israel. It receives a smaller number of goods through its much shorter border with Egypt.

Electricity shortages are chronic, with power often available for only 12 to 15 hours per day. That undermines health services, water pumping and purification and the areas fragile economy, aid workers say.

Movement of people in and out of Gaza was heavily restricted before the attacks, with Israel and Egypt granting small numbers of people permission to travel, mostly for work or medical care.

On Saturday, after Palestinian gunmen began their assault inside Israel, the Israeli authorities stopped supplying electricity, leaving Gazas residents with only about three or four hours of power per day, according to the United Nations humanitarian office, which said Gazas power plant might soon run out of fuel.

Now, Israel has closed both of its crossings with Gaza, the Kerem Shalom Crossing for cargo and the Erez Crossing for people.

Before things were restricted, now they are blocked entirely, said Tania Hary, the executive director of Gisha, an Israeli nonprofit that focuses on free movement of Palestinians in Gaza.

Humanitarian officials said that a complete blockade would create more severe suffering for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Overwhelmed hospitals treating thousands of wounded will now have to do so without reliable access to electricity, Mahmoud Shalabi, a senior program manager for Medical Aid for Palestinians, a charity based in the U.K., said in an email.

Egyptian officials have not said whether Israels announced siege of Gaza would affect their policy toward the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory.

Gazas border with Egypt remained open with limited traffic on Tuesday, and truckloads of food, construction material, fuel and emergency medical supplies entered over the weekend. But Egypt also heavily controls the movement of people and goods across its border crossing, opening and closing it in response to security conditions.

Even if Egypt left its crossing open, experts said, it could not fill the gaps left by the complete closure of Israels crossings. In 2022, some 32 percent of goods entering Gaza came from Egypt, Gisha said in a report.
A breach in the border fence is visible in the video, about a thousand feet from the communications tower. The tower is two-and-a-half miles west of the Beeri kibbutz, near the northern end of Gaza, where Hamas fighters massacred more than 100 Israelis and took others as hostages on Saturday.

The other three towers  which are spaced between one and three miles apart along Israels border with Gaza  are seen smoking in satellite imagery captured at 11:31 a.m. on Saturday, several hours after Hamass attack on Israel began. It is unclear whether drones or some other weapon caused the damage.

From satellite imagery, all four of the communications towers look similar. But they could be used for different purposes, said Michael Armstrong, an associate professor of operations research at Brock University in Canada and an expert in military strategy.

Some may be for border surveillance, while others could be involved in the transmitting and receiving of data, such as military communications, he said.

The tower in the Qassam footage may be used for collecting intelligence as well as for facilitating cellular service, according to a former U.S. defense official who reviewed the video and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Israels surveillance capabilities. The former official added that the height of the towers, and their proximity to the border, indicates that they are used to monitor Gazans.

Mr. Armstrong said Hamas most likely targeted these towers to blind Israeli commanders and prevent communication among their units. He added that the munitions used would not need to be complex  they would just need to create shrapnel that could damage infrastructure like antennas, cameras and cables.

The attacks also included multiple strikes on Israeli observation towers used for visual surveillance along the border. The impact of the attacks on the towers functionality is not yet known.
Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggested on Tuesday that Iran was not behind the incursion in Israel, while praising what he called Israels irreparable military and intelligence defeat.

We kiss the foreheads and arms of the resourceful and intelligent designers of the attack, he said in his first televised speech since Palestinian gunmen launched a devastating cross-border assault from Gaza on Saturday.

But he added: Those who say that the recent saga is the work of non-Palestinians have miscalculated.

The comments were the Iranian governments latest denial of involvement in the incursion. On Monday, Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for Irans Foreign Ministry, said that efforts to blame Tehran for the attack were a political attempt to justify support for Israel.
Relatives of four American citizens who are missing or believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas during Saturdays attacks on Israel pleaded with authorities in the United States and Israel to help find and bring back their loved ones in a news conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

I think after more than three days now it is more than a reasonable request to have somebody from the Israeli government or the U.S. administration approach us with any type of information, said Nahar Neta, whose mother, Adrienne, has been missing since Saturday morning.

Mr. Neta fought back tears as he described being on the phone trying to calm his 66-year-old mother, who was born and raised in California, as Saturdays attack unfolded. His siblings were on the phone with her as attackers broke into her home in Beeri, a kibbutz near the border with Gaza. He said they heard screaming and have not heard from her since.

It is our hope, which is a little bit ridiculous at this stage to say, that the optimistic scenario here is that shes held hostage in Gaza and not dead on the street of the kibbutz where we grew up, he said.
The American ambassador to NATO said on Tuesday that U.S. military assistance to Israel after the weekend attacks by Hamas assailants would not come at Ukraines expense.

The United States has committed around $45 billion in weapons and military aid to Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, making it the single largest donor to the Ukrainian war effort.

But now, as officials and industry executives acknowledge that they are struggling to meet some of Ukraines war demands, the Biden administration is rushing to send air defenses and munitions to Israel.

That has raised questions as to whether the United States could keep pace with both conflicts without also impeding its own military readiness.
A child died as a result of shelling by Russian occupiers on Tuesday of the village of Uhroidy, Krasnopilska merged community, Sumy district.

"A girl born in 2009 was wounded. Unfortunately, the girl could not be saved. She died in the ambulance," according to the Telegram channel of Sumy Regional Military Administration.
The village of Kfar Azza looked normal from a distance  tidy terraces of one-story beige houses. I walked past the village dining hall, kindergarten and culture center, and turned left.

Then the horror unfolded.

From the homes lining a terrace, Israeli soldiers on Tuesday morning carried stretchers bearing the bodies of three residents slain by Palestinian fighters, and placed them on the back of a truck. An untold number remained inside, the soldiers said.

Several homes were burned out. Inside, bullet holes riddled some of the ceilings. An unexploded grenade lay under a kitchen table.

This was the scene of some of the worst bloodshed on Saturday, after gunmen surged across the border from Gaza, a mile and a half to the west, gunning down an unknown number of the villages 750 residents. A New York Times photographer and I were among the first journalists allowed into the village since the deadly assault.


CA Wants to Hike Awareness of OCal Cannabis Seal Wed., Nov. 1, 2023 The California Department of Food and Agriculture plans to hire a firm for an education and outreach campaign to create awareness of the OCal seal on commercial cannabis products.
Mark Thompson

Words of wisdom. Mark Thompson, the former director-general of the BBC and New York Times CEO, told his new charges at CNN not to become distracted by the drama swirling around the future of the network in the aftermath of the tumult under ex-CNN Chris Licht and the ouster of Jeff Zucker.

He told them to follow their news instincts and avoid being sucked into the never-ending media navel-gazing, and chatter about who is up and down.

Lets not second guess ourselves or get distracted by complicated arguments about balance or whataboutism or false equivalency. Lets cover political news proportionately and fairly, but not be frightened of our own shadows.

With its global reach, CNN is more vital than ever with breaking news from the Middle East and the ongoing struggle in Ukraine.

Thompson is the right person to revive the fortunes of CNN.

Fox News and New York Post go hunting... Fox News has given Hunter Biden just about the same coverage as Donald Trump, according to a report by the Stanford Cable TV News Analyzer.

The presidents son received an average 27 minutes of coverage per month over the past year, compared to 33 minutes for the ex-president.

Joe Biden earned 56 minutes of coverage.

Fox stepped up its coverage of Hunter in May on news of his plea deal. It stepped up again in July after the deal fell apart and soared in September as the GOP kicked off its impeachment inquiry.

The New York Post, which is also owned by Rupert Murdoch, also went all-in for Hunter.

The paper ran a whopping 784 stories which either featured or mentioned Biden, compared to 821 for his dad, according to LexisNexis.

Floridas governor Ron DeSantis is a big loser in the Murdoch properties' fixation on Hunter, which is also a great way to divert attention from the four-time indicted ex-president.

DeSantis received 12 minutes of coverage from Fox and earned 562 mentions from the Post.

That is part of the reason why his presidential run fizzled.

The Boomtown Rats dont like Mondays but Publicis CEO Arthur Sadoun sure does.

Thats why he wants the Publicis gang to be at their desks bright and early on Mondays, beginning in January.

The Frenchman believes the extended work from home weekends stifle creativity and collaboration.

We have to admit that a disproportionate part of remote working is actually leading to siloed work, less collaboration, sometimes stunted creativity, fewer innovations and decreasing productivity, he said in a video announcing a new policy that requires all hands in on Monday.

Sadoun believes the beauty of working in the office on Monday is that everyone kick starts the week together.

Publicis staffers are also banned from taking consecutive work from home days.

Will Arthur be doing Monday morning head counts?
Irish president Michael D Higgins has called for a cessation of violence in Israel and Gaza for the protection of the lives of innocent civilians.

His comments came as the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs criticised a unilateral announcement from an EU commissioner which said payments under a development portfolio for Palestinians would be suspended.

In a statement, Mr Higgins said: May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families.

Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible. Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life.

Such actions will not lead to such a constructive approach as might achieve the necessary conditions for the co-existence of all in conditions of peace, for which we must all aspire.

Mr Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to all the families of the victims of the recent violence.

He said his thoughts are particularly with the family of 22-year-old Irish-Israel citizen Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for since the attack against Israel.

The president also said an ongoing diplomatic failure to address the conflict is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved.

Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled.

Those international voices who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life, for restraint, realise how difficult this is to achieve.

Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure.

Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency.

What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all.

I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians.

Meanwhile, Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has said the protection of civilians has to be the centre of work towards a just and sustainable peace.

In a statement, Mr Martin said: I am horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days. I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel.

The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately.

Yesterday, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago.

It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence.

Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: I am working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis, including by speaking today with Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki and with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi.

I will discuss the situation with my EU counterparts in an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers tomorrow.

These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events.

We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated.

This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was also critical of a tweet from EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi which said all payments for a Palestinian development programme immediately suspended.

A spokeswoman said: It is our understanding there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid.

The Commission later clarified that it is launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel.

It said no payments have been suspended as there were no payments foreseen.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

Irish funding provides emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic public services.

Ireland has also consistently funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which addresses the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestinian refugees.

Irelands funding plays a crucial role in the livelihoods and welfare of Palestinian civilians  currently up to 80% of the Palestinian population is dependent on international assistance for basic human needs.

Ireland remains committed to delivering this vital support to Palestinian civilians and their needs should continue to be a central part of the overall response to this crisis by the international community.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled attacks by Russian invaders in Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Maryinka and Zaporizhia directions over the past 24 hours, according to operational information on the Russian invasion as of 18.00 Tuesday, published on the Facebook page of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"In Avdiyivks direction, the enemy with up to three battalions, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, intensified offensive operations in the areas of Avdiyivka, Tonenke, Keramik and Pervomaiske, Donetsk region. Our defenders repelled all enemy attacks and prevented the loss of lines and positions," the AFU said.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue the offensive operation in Melitopol direction, offensive (assault) actions in Bakhmut direction, inflicting losses on the occupation forces in manpower and equipment, and exhausting the enemy along the entire frontline.

During the day, some 75 military clashes occurred.
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ED Seizes 15 Immovable Properties Of DMK Leader A Raja

Chennai

oi-Prakash KL

The Enforcement Directorate has taken possession of 15 immovable properties owned by DMK leader A Raja.

"ED has taken possession of 15 immovable properties owned by A. Raja, former Union Cabinet Minister of Environment and Forest in the name of his Benami Company M/s Kovai Shelters Promoters India Pvt Ltd, under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 in the matter of disproportionate assets case of A. Raja, subsequent to confirmation of the Provisional Attachment order," the ED said on X.

The assets, measuring about 45 acres of land in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), were attached by the central agency in December last year and the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) approved this order on June 1.

Benami means 'no name' or 'without name' and such properties are those in which the real beneficiary is not the one in whose name the property has been purchased.

The politician was earlier under scrutiny by the ED when the agency investigated his involvement and subsequently filed a charge sheet against him in relation to its money laundering investigation in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

The 59-year-old Raja is a MP from the Nilgiris Lok Sabha seat.
One nation One education A backward move by the union government in the age of AI

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

One nation, One election has become the old policy of the Union government, the new policy is One nation, One education. The CBSE Board has expressed its strong opposition to the new policy of the union government in the Supreme Court. Tamil Nadu, starting from the earlier times opined that education should be a matter of concern of the state and should be transferred to the State List.

Two educationists share their opinion about the effects of One nation, One education policy; its upside and downside etc.

Educationist Nedunchezhian's opinion:

The One nation, One education policy of the union government is an impractical policy. Politics should not be conflated with education which are 2 different domains. Inhabitants of India speak a number of languages, making India a multilingual country. Different states have different language subjects apart from English. For example, in Tamil Nadu one of the language subjects is Tamil which is not a common language subject in Kerala.

Every language has its own specialty, uniqueness and literary resource of its own. If one language is made as a common subject in a multilingual country, the richness of other languages will be lost over time. For example, Tamil and Bengali languages have more literature compared to Hindi language.

If a language is made universal in all states, then a child in a particular state will be forced to learn that language which is an alien language to that child. The ramification of this, results in affecting the cognitive development of children who are the future of India. The scientific approach to development is paving ways for children to learn from the surrounding environment and known language.

A child residing in Mylapore should learn about Mylapore in detail and about the state and environment where the child is growing up. It does no good for the child to learn in detail about an area in Bihar. Globally, education has taken many steps forward and foreign curriculum has been updated to include AI (Artificial Intelligence). In such a time period, India should not move backwards by sticking to policies such as one nation, one language and one nation, one education etc.

In 1974, Malcom Adiseshiah said that a single policy should not be introduced in India owing to its cultural and linguistic diversity. In India there is unity in diversity which should not be disrupted for political gain.

Global countries are contemplating on efficient utilisation of human resources for progress and development, in such a time period India should not contemplate on wasting human resources. The need of the hour is a vision for population growth. As evident from various sources, India's population growth is still continuing which should be a concern for India but the global countries are concerned about it.

The global countries believe in economic growth by providing good education for individuals. The theory behind it is, an individual's education will result in personal income generation which in turn will contribute to the economy's growth. In India, education of an individual is tampered with for political gain. It will make more sense if education is separated from vote politics. Like the Supreme Court, the education and health sector should function independent from politics.

Educationist Jayaprakash Gandhi's opinions:

The Union government's one nation, one education policy is opposed even by the CBSE board. The reason being, prevalence of diversity in the states of India. Diversity lies in environment, politics, land area, culture, capacity of students, poverty level, higher education enrolment ratio etc. All these diverse factors should be taken into account before fixing the curriculum which is not possible in the union government's one nation one education policy.

Equity is more important than equality in education. Moreover, the implementation of a uniform curriculum is extremely difficult in a diverse country like India. Realising this fact only, political forefathers opted for separate education departments in each state. Now also, more support should be given to state-wise education. Apart from this, education should be transferred to the state list which will tremendously raise the standard of education which in turn will brighten the future of students.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 14:11 [IST]
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BJP Slams Cong After CWC Reiterates Support For Rights Of Palestinians To Self-Govt

India

oi-Prakash KL

The BJP has slammed the Congress after it reiterated its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land amid the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The grand old party on Monday passed a resolution and expressed its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East.

"The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect," the resolution said.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) emphasized the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and urged the commencement of negotiations addressing all unresolved issues, notably the critical matters contributing to the ongoing conflict.

People Of India With Israel: PM Modi Tells Netanyahu Over Phone

These statements were made in the resolution one day after the Congress denounced the attack, underlining that violence in any form never yields solutions and should be stopped.

Responding to the Congress' stand, Union minister Pralhad Joshi, on X, asked how will Congress protect the nation and its citizens when it is "openly standing with violence".

"Congress at it again! Supporting terror organisations and terrorism while innocent civilians lose their lives to bullets," he said.

"With this stand, the leading party of I.N.D.I Alliance has exposed itself to the nation. How will the party protect its nation and citizens when it is openly standing with violence," Mr Joshi added.

Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 1,600 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, so far.

Video: 'Fauda' Star Caught In Cross Fire As Israel-Palestine War Rages On Post Hamas Attack; Over 900 Dead

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and informed him that the people of India are with Israel during this period.

"I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," PM Modi said on social media platform X.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 16:39 [IST]
Naresh Goyal And Family In Deep Trouble As ED Attaches Assets Of Rs. 538 Crores In Jet Airways Probe

ED Raids AAP Leader Amanatullah Khan's Premises In Money Laundering Case

India

oi-Stuti Tripathi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed a search operation at the Delhi residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Amanatullah Khan on Tuesday, 10th October, as part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case.

This action by the ED is a direct response to two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) that were originally filed by the Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). These FIRs revolve around alleged irregularities in the recruitment processes of the Delhi Waqf Board, an institution where Amanatullah Khan currently holds the position of chairman.

These searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Amanatullah Khan, who represents the Okhla constituency in the Delhi Assembly and is 49 years old, had previously faced legal trouble in connection with the same case. He was apprehended by the Delhi ACB last year and subsequently granted bail in September 2022.

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The initial complaint that triggered this investigation alleged that during Khan's tenure as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, he illicitly recruited 32 individuals, bypassing established norms and government guidelines. Moreover, the complaint also raised allegations of corruption and favoritism against him.

#WATCH | Delhi: ED raids underway at the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering case. pic.twitter.com/KD0EaQOdjn  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

This recent raid on Khan's residence follows closely on the heels of the arrest of another AAP leader, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, by the Enforcement Directorate on October 4th. Singh's arrest was related to a money laundering case linked to Delhi's liquor policy.

Sanjay Singh joined the ranks of high-profile leaders, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who have been implicated in this ongoing case. These developments have sent shockwaves through Delhi's ruling AAP, which has labeled Singh's arrest as a "dictatorial step" by the Narendra Modi government.
Naagin Actor Madhura Naik Claims Sister, Husband Killed By Hamas In Israel-Palestine War

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Popular Indian television actor Madhura Naik has shared her ordeal on social media, revealing that her cousin sister Ordaya and her husband were brutally murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in front of their children in Israel.

Naik posted a video on Instagram, expressing her grief and anger at the senseless violence. She also said that she had received a lot of negative feedback and faced discrimination and shame because she is Jewish.

"The grief and the emotions that I and my family face today cannot be spoken in words. As of today, Israel is in pain. Her children, her women, and her streets are burning in the flames, in the wrath of Hamas. Women, children, the old, and the weak are being targeted," she said in the video.

Naik's post has sparked a debate on social media, with many people expressing their support for her and her family. Others have condemned the violence and called for peace in the region.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the longest and most complex conflicts in the world. It has been going on for over 70 years, and there is no end in sight.

The conflict is rooted in a number of factors, including the competing claims of Israelis and Palestinians to the land of Palestine, the status of Jerusalem, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

The conflict has had a devastating impact on both Israelis and Palestinians. Thousands of people have been killed and injured, and millions have been displaced from their homes.

The international community has made numerous attempts to resolve the conflict, but none have been successful. The two sides remain deeply divided on the core issues.

The ongoing conflict is a tragedy for both Israelis and Palestinians. It is important to remember that the victims of this conflict are ordinary people who are simply trying to live their lives in peace.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 1:10 [IST]
Newsclick Founder Prabir Purkayastha, HR Head Sent To Judicial Custody For 10 Days

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Patiala House Court in Delhi on Tuesday sent NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakraborty to 10 days of judicial custody. Both were produced by the Delhi Police before the court at the end of their police remand period.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police arrested NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty on October 3, after a total of 46 journalists and contributors to the online news portal were questioned and their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets seized.

The two were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur around 2:50 PM. The prosecution sought 10 days judicial custody for the duo, which was firmly opposed by Purkayastha's counsel, who asserted "prima facie" no case was made out against his client.

"What terrorist act have I committed? How can I as a journalist commit such an act? What is the allegation in the FIR? That we have done critical reporting of(government's) Covid policy and farmers protest. Is that terrorism?" the lawyer said.

The counsel said if there was even an iota of doubt about their guilt, sending them to judicial custody will be a "travesty of justice".

The counsel for Chakravarty argued he was not a journalist nor had he received any payment. "There is no such allegation that there is a map of India, published by newsclick, that shows India without Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

Countering the arguments, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Atul Shrivastava said the case was at a stage when evidence was still being collected, and the prosecution has sought judicial custody for the accused in all "fairness".

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3. Police also sealed NewsClick's office in Delhi.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country. It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group -- People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) -- to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on October 3 on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data, police said.

Around 300 electronic gadgets were also seized from the offices of NewsClick and residences of the journalists who were examined. Following the raids, 46 individuals, including nine female journalists, were questioned by the Special Cell in Delhi and NCR.

The Delhi High Court Monday reserved its order on pleas by Purkayastha and Chakravarty challenging their arrest and the subsequent 7-day police remand.
Ukrainian Red Cross provides psychosocial support for almost 0.5 mln citizens since beginning of war  URCS Rehabilitation Department

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) have provided psychosocial and social support to almost half a million Ukrainian citizens, Head of the URCS's Rehabilitation and Support Department Hanna Didenko has said.

"Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion alone, volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross have provided assistance to more than 450,000 people," she said at a press conference hosted by the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency on Tuesday.

Didenko also noted that currently the URCS has got 60 rooms and seven centers for psychosocial support in Ukraine.

"These centers are located in Poltava, Ternopil, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhgorod, Khmelnytsky, and Kamyanets-Podilsky," the head of the department said.

According to her, over time the number of such centers will increase as the need for them grows.

Didenko emphasized that the target audience for psychosocial support is children, since they are more vulnerable and cannot cope with stress on their own.

"In addition, we work with families, and we also work with families of veterans and elderly people," she said.

The URCS representative also recalled that the organization began providing psychosocial support in 2014, however, the challenges and scale faced by volunteers and specialists have changed.

Didenko emphasized that currently volunteers are helping to overcome, in particular, such pressing problems as difficulties with communication in schools after distance learning and with the adaptation of children who come to Ukraine after being abroad, and adaptation in the new groups of temporarily displaced persons.
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People Of India With Israel: PM Modi Tells Netanyahu Over Phone

India

oi-Prakash KL

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and informed him that the people of India are with Israel during this period.

"I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," PM Modi said on social media platform X.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip has entered the fourth day as the death toll has crossed the 1600 mark.

Hamas launched the operation Al-Aqsa Storm' by firing thousands of rockets into Israel on Saturday. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air.

Israel-Hamas War: Which Country Is Supporting Whom In This Conflict?

Responding to the terrorist attack, the Prime Minister had said, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour".

On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes pounded downtown Gaza City, home to Hamas' centres of government, with relentless bombardments, after Israel's PM vowed retaliation against the Islamic militant group that would "reverberate for generations", PTI reported.

On ther other hand, Hamas intensified the conflict, vowing to execute captured Israelis if attacks on civilians occurred without prior notice. The Israeli military announced the discovery of approximately 1,500 Hamas fighters' bodies within Israeli territory as they solidified control in the southern region and "reestablished complete authority" over the border. It remained uncertain whether these figures aligned with the casualties previously disclosed by Palestinian authorities.
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Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Check Out The Surprising Opinion Poll Results For The State

Rajasthan Opinion Poll: Will BJP Defeat Congress In This State? Check Cvoter Survey Report

India

oi-Prakash KL

Amid the Congress expressing confidence over returning to power in Rajasthan, the grand old party might lose the state in the forthcoming assembly polls.

Going by the latest opinion poll, the BJP will defeat the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress in Rajasthan. The ABP Cvoter Opinion Poll has predicted the saffron party to win 127-137 seats in the 200-member assembly.

The BJP is expected to get 46 per cent vote share. Whereas the Congress is likely to get 59-69 seats with a vote share of 42 per cent. In the 2018 elections, the grand old party had bagged 100 seats, just one short of the majority mark with a vote share of 39.30.

On the other hand, the BJP secured 38.77 per cent vote share and won 73 seats.

Meanwhile, the election is scheduled to be held on 23 November to elect all 200 members of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. The tenure of the current assembly is scheduled to end on 14 January.

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As per political pundits, anti-incumbency is a major factor which is expected to work in the BJP's favour. It has to be noted that Rajasthan voters have alternated between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party every assembly election.

Factionalism, law and order issues and paper leaks of government recruitment exams are the key issues which the BJP is predicted to target Gehlot's government.

Nonetheless, the Congress leaders including Ashok Gehlot and Rahul Gandhi are confident of the party's good show in the forthcoming polls.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 13:57 [IST]
EU Reverses Decision On Palestinian Aid Suspension, Urgently Reviews Assistance

International

-Sathish Raman

The European Union (EU) on Monday made a surprising reversal of an earlier statement by EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi that the bloc was immediately suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities. The EU has instead decided to urgently review such assistance, particularly in light of recent attacks on Israel by Hamas. This decision aims to ensure that no funds are misused.

Reversal of Suspension Decision

"There will be no suspension of payments" at present, stated a brief European Commission announcement released late Monday. This came five hours post Commissioner Varhelyi's declaration that all payments from the development programme for Palestinians would be "immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals ... postponed until further notice." No immediate explanation for this sudden change was provided.

Commission Trumps Commissioner

A full European Commission statement always overrules a statement from an EU commissioner, but this reversal regarding a 691 million-euro (USD 730 million) program marked an embarrassing day for the EU's executive amid heightened geopolitical sensitivities.

Steadfast Support For Israel

Since Saturday, backing from the 27-nation bloc for Israel had been unwavering, including asserting that the country now possesses every right within international law to defend itself in its conflict with Hamas. The unexpected announcement by Varhelyi about development aid transpired mere hours after other EU officials emphasized their support for Israel.

Implications and Future Actions

This sudden turn of events signifies not only internal communication issues within the European Union but also raises questions about its stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While it is clear that they have shown steadfast support towards Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas' attacks, their actions concerning Palestinian aid suggest uncertainty or disagreement within the bloc. The urgent review of aid to Palestinian authorities indicates a desire for accountability and transparency in how these funds are utilized, particularly in a time of conflict.

As the situation continues to evolve, it will be crucial to monitor any further developments or changes in stance from the EU regarding this matter. The outcome of their review could significantly impact both the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and relations between the European Union and these entities. It also highlights the geopolitical sensitivities at play and underscores the need for careful diplomacy and communication.

In conclusion, while support for Israel remains steadfast among EU nations, there is an apparent shift towards ensuring that development aid meant for Palestinians is not misused. This step might indicate a more nuanced approach by the European Union towards managing its role in this complex conflict. However, only time will tell whether this change will lead to more effective policy measures or add another layer of complexity to an already intricate geopolitical issue.
Former Adult Star Mia Khalifa Supports Palestine Group, Pays A Big Price

International

oi-Prakash KL

Former adult star Mia Khalifa has paid a big price for her support to the Palestine group after the Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack on Israel.

She has reportedly lost a business deal with a Canadian broadcaster following her support to the Hamas' attack against Israel and called the attacks "freedom fighters".

One of her messages on X read: "If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid and history will show that in time." In other post, she said, "Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal." This post cost her the deal with Todd.

Israel-Hamas War: Which Country Is Supporting Whom In This Conflict?

Responding to her posts, the radio host said, "This is such a horrendous tweet @miakhalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage taking is truly gross. No words can explain your ignorance. We need humans to come together, especially in the face of tragedy. I pray for you to become a better person. However, it clearly seems like it's too late for you,"

Decolonize that Oscar and give it back to its rightful owner: Angela Basset pic.twitter.com/tW0ifAwW2O  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 9, 2023

The ex-adult star reacted: "I'd say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I'm more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad." She further said, "I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is enticing spread of violence, I specifically said freedom fighters because that's what the Palestinian citizens are... fighting for freedom every day."

Spreading misinformation of PALESTINIAN children put in cages by the IDF is .insane https://t.co/Nf6693oM1x  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 9, 2023

"I just wanna make sure there's 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison they've been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid. Please worry about your sad little company lacking direction and purpose before you utter my name again I stand with all people fighting oppression, now and always, do your research before begging for my investment in your little project, I'm from LEBANON, are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism you fucking weirdo," she further added.

I just wanna make sure theres 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison theyve been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid. Please worry about https://t.co/sgx8kzAHnL  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 8, 2023

US Warns Iran 'Not To Get Involved' As Israel-Hamas War Escalates

Khalifa has been sharing a lot of posts accusing the Israel side of spreading misinformation about the attacks on children and women in the Gaza Strip.

Netizens have come down heavily for her insensitive tweets.

Hamas launched the operation Al-Aqsa Storm' by firing thousands of rockets into Israel on Saturday. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air.
Israel-Hamas War: Which Country Is Supporting Whom In This Conflict?

International

oi-Prakash KL

The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip has entered the fourth day as the death toll has crossed the 1600 mark.

In his latest statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel had not started the conflict, but he has vowed to end it. "Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come," said Netanyahu.

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," he added.

In an operation coined 'the Al-Aqsa Storm,' Hamas, whose formal name is the Islamic Resistance Movement, fired thousands of rockets into Israel on Saturday.

Hamas Threatens To Kill Hostage If Israel Doesn't Stop Airstrikes On Gaza

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air.

The World Divided Over The Conflict

The world has become a divided house over the conflict with many Western countries and India extending support to Israel while several Arab nations putting their weight behind Palestine.

As per the Israeli government, 84 countries and nations have extended support to it in the ongoing conflict. Notably, the US, Australia, the UK, France Norway, and Austria are with Israel.

"Let me say this as clearly as I can. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. My Administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering," US President Joe Biden said in a statement.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed the UK's unwavering support for Israel and also provided reassurance to his Israeli counterpart regarding the safety of the Jewish community in the UK, particularly as the London police reported a rise in offenses linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

"The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists. My message tonight from Finchley United Synagogue where I joined @chiefrabbi in vigil with local communities," Sunak said on X.

Night Of Horror: The Worst Civilian Massacre In Israeli History

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed solidarity with Israel. He condemned it as "terrorist attacks" in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war.

"Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," PM Modi said.

Countries supporting Palestine

Iran

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi has extended his country's support to the Palestinians' right to self-defense and warned Israel must be held accountable for endangering the region. "Iran supports the legitimate defense of the Palestinian nation," Raisi said, quoted by state television.

South Africa

In a statement, the ruling African National Congress said, "It can no longer be disputed that Apartheid South Africa's history is occupied Palestine's reality. As a result, the decision by Palestinians to respond to the brutality of the settler Israeli apartheid regime is unsurprising,"

The statement claimed that "the degenerating security situation is directly linked to the unlawful Israeli occupation".

Qatar

Qatar said, "Israel alone bears the responsibility for the current escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which being the repeated raids on al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police."

Lebanon

Lebanese Hezbollah congratulated Hamas on the "large-scale, heroic operation" into Israel. It further said the country is "closely following the important developments on the Palestinian scene with great interest," according to a Hezbollah statement posted on a media site.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler told to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas that he was putting efforts to prevent the escalation of the conflict following the unexpected Hamas attack on Israel.

IsraeliHamas Conflict: 10 Developments You Need To Know In The War

The Gulf kingdom continued "to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace," the de-factor ruler told the Palestinian President.

Yemen

In Yemen, the Huthi rebels, who hold authority over the capital Sanaa, voiced their endorsement of the "heroic jihadist operation." Through a statement on the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency's website, the Iran-aligned militant group conveyed that the attack highlighted Israel's "weakness, fragility, and impotence."

What do Russia and China say?

Russia has said that the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Gaza-based resistance group Hamas poses "a great danger for the region."

"We believe that it is necessary to bring this situation into a peaceful direction as soon as possible, because the continuation of such a round of violence, of course, is fraught with further escalation and growth of this conflict. This is a great danger for the region, so we are extremely concerned," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a press briefing in Moscow.

Although it has expressed concern, it has not condemned the Hamas for the attack.

However, China has called on Palestine and Israel to immediately end the hostilities, exercise restraint, and remain calm to protect civilians to avoid further deterioration of the situation.
Israel-Palestine War: Death Toll Crosses 3,000, Gaza Border Finally Sealed

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday morning that they had successfully regained control over their previously breached border with the Gaza Strip. This came approximately 72 hours after Hamas militants breached sections of the barrier and launched an incursion, resulting in the abduction or killing of more than 1,000 Israeli citizens.

As Israel continued to grapple with the emerging enormity of Saturday's massacres and the military was formally notifying hostages' families that their loved ones were being held in Gaza, air force planes bombarded wide swaths of the Strip. The toll of casualties in the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas has exceeded 3,000. This includes over 1,000 fatalities and 2,700 injuries in Israel, and at least 900 fatalities and 4,250 injuries in Gaza, as reported by both Palestinian and Israeli health services.

Israel also claims that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding over 150 hostages, including both soldiers and civilians.

Humanitarian organisations issued urgent pleas for the establishment of safe corridors to deliver essential aid into Gaza. They emphasized that overwhelmed hospitals were running critically low on supplies. Israel had previously halted the flow of food, fuel, and medicines into Gaza, and the last access point from Egypt ceased operation after airstrikes struck near the border crossing on Tuesday.

Khalistani Leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Threatens India With 'Hamas-Like Attack'

Israeli authorities have not publicly disclosed specific details regarding the number or identities of the kidnapped individuals. However, military officials have stated that the victims include elderly people and children, most of whom were seized from small Israeli border towns on Saturday morning.

Preliminary assessments, as shared by a senior Israeli military official, suggest that at least 150 Israelis were taken hostage by Palestinian assailants. President Biden on Tuesday that there are Americans among hostages taken by Hamas as part of the militant group's attack on Israel. "We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas," he said. Officials from France and several other countries are also investigating reports that their citizens may have been captured.

According to reports, the large-scale hostage-taking implies that Hamas may intend to use them as leverage for a potential prisoner exchange and possibly as human shields when Israel retaliates in Gaza. This situation is unfolding rapidly, and developments are expected.

2,901 Evacuated to Hospitals

In the latest update from the Health Ministry, it has been revealed that a total of 2,901 injured individuals have been successfully evacuated to hospitals across the nation since Saturday morning.

Of these evacuees, 535 remain hospitalised, with their conditions varying as follows: one individual is in critical condition, 105 in serious condition, 282 in moderate condition, and 167 in light condition.

Inditex, Owner of Zara, Temporarily Closes All 84 Stores in Israel

In a significant development, the renowned Spanish clothing giant Inditex, the parent company of the popular brand Zara, has officially declared the "temporary" closure of all its 84 stores situated in Israel. This decision comes amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the stores will remain closed until further notice.

IDF's Top Spokesperson Says Priority on Eliminating Senior Hamas Members

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), has underlined the strategic imperative of targeting senior Hamas members. The IDF considers the elimination of these key figures to be a top priority in its ongoing efforts.
Civilians Injured as Israeli Forces Use White Phosphorus Shells in Southern Lebanon: Amnesty International Report

IsraeliHamas Conflict: 10 Developments You Need To Know In The War

International

oi-Prakash KL

The Israeli government has promised to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack from the Hamas militants.

A day after formally declaring war, Israel's military worked to crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza.

Key Updates On The Ongoing Conflict

Israel's military said about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in Israeli territory, as it said it had largely gained control in the country's south and "restored full control" over the border on the fourth day of fighting following an unprecedented surprise attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel has not started the war, "but it will finish it". "We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. Though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," the Prime Minister said. The casualties in this ongoing conflict have surpassed 1,600 collectively on both sides. In Israel, the death toll stands at a minimum of 900, with approximately 260 fatalities occurring during a densely packed music festival. The Israeli government has responded to a bloody incursion by Hamas militants by intensifying airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and implementing a blockade that prevents the delivery of food, fuel, and other essential supplies. It means the Gaza Strip could be on the brink of a humanitarian crisis with key supplies. The US has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, The leaders of numerous Western nations, including Britain and Germany, have condemned the attacks by Hamas, while Arab nations have urged that the fighting on both sides stop. Arab foreign ministers plan to convene on Wednesday in Cairo at the behest of the Palestinians. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to "stop the Israeli aggression" on Gaza. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on both Hamas militants and Israeli forces to stop violence and offered to mediate between the two parties. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler has expressed his support to Palestine and told Abbas the Gulf kingdom continued "to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace," the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause held competing rallies in several American cities Sunday and in London; Athens, Greece, and France on Monday. Prominent airline companies have halted air travel to and from Israel. Numerous flights arriving at and departing from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport were canceled or postponed, as indicated by the airport's online flight schedule. The board also displayed a consistent number of flights that were still taking off or landing. Most were operated by Israel's national airline El Al along with others by regional carriers like Turkey's Pegasus Airlines and Greece's Blue Bird Airways. American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the US. The Israel Defence Forces on Tuesday released a collage of 65 soldiers who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. On X, it said, "These are just some of the faces of the fallen soldiers in the war against Hamas. We stand by their families in this devastating time and together, we will carry on their memory."
Renowned Chef Michael Chiarello Passes Away At Age 61

International

-Sathish Raman

The culinary world is in mourning following the death of renowned chef Michael Chiarello, widely celebrated for his Italian-inspired Californian restaurants. The Emmy Award-winning host of "Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello", who also featured on Bravo's "Top Chef" and "Top Chef Masters," passed away at 61. According to Gruppo Chiarello, Chiarello's restaurant group, the cause of death was an allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock.

Chiarellos Illustrious Career

Michael Chiarello was a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in New York and launched his first restaurant, Tobys, in Miami when he was just 22 years old. This marked the beginning of a successful career that would see him open various establishments around Napa Valley and San Francisco. Some notable names include Tra Vigne Restaurant, Coqueta, Ottimo and Bottega.

In addition to his thriving restaurant business, he also owned the Chiarello Family Vineyards located in Yountville, California. His restaurant Bottega won acclaim as it was named Best Newcomer by Zagat in 2008.

A Shocking Loss

The news about his unexpected demise has sent ripples through not only those close to him but also across the culinary world where he was highly regarded for his creativity and talent. He died last Friday at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa after experiencing an allergic reaction which resulted into anaphylactic shock over a period of one week during treatment at the hospital.

Gruppo Chiarello released a statement expressing their deep sorrow over this tragic loss: "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael. His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being." However, details about how he developed the allergic reaction were not immediately available.

Chiarellos Legacy

Michael Chiarello will be remembered for his exceptional contribution to the culinary world. His Italian-inspired Californian restaurants have left an indelible mark on American cuisine, and his unique style of cooking has inspired many aspiring chefs. His death is a significant loss, but his legacy will continue to live through his restaurants and vineyards.

In conclusion, Michael Chiarello's untimely death is a great loss to the culinary industry. He was more than just a chef; he was an innovator who brought new flavors and techniques into kitchens around the world. His passion for food transcended beyond cooking as he also sought to share this love with others through his television appearances. Above all else, however, Chiarello was devoted to family - both in terms of those related by blood and those connected by shared passions within the restaurant group that bears his name. He leaves behind a rich legacy that will undoubtedly continue inspiring future generations of chefs and food enthusiasts alike.
Israel-Hamas War: Which Country Is Supporting Whom In This Conflict?

US President Joe Biden's Top Official Almost Broke Down On Live TV Over Hamas Attack On Israel

International

oi-Stuti Tripathi

White House spokesperson John Kirby was visibly moved during a live television appearance as he addressed the heart-wrenching toll of the Israel-Gaza war, which has tragically claimed nearly 1,600 lives.

In a somber tone, Kirby expressed the profound human cost of the conflict, acknowledging that the victims were not just statistics but real people, loved ones, friends, and family members.

"It's difficult to look at these images. The human cost. They are human beings, family members, friends. They are loved ones," Kirby was quoted saying.

In the midst of his emotional address, Kirby struggled to hold back tears while discussing the recent Hamas attack during a live broadcast on CNN. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on him, as he grappled with the impact of the violence on innocent lives.

People Of India With Israel: PM Modi Tells Netanyahu Over Phone

These are human beings. White House spokesperson John Kirby breaks down on live TV while discussing the depravity of Hamas attacks. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/aMfVDSEDIi  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 10, 2023

US President Joe Biden revealed that at least 11 American citizens had lost their lives in the assault, with several others potentially being held hostage by the Palestinian group.

If retaliatory Israeli air strikes continue, the militant group Hamas has threatened to kill about 150 hostages.

In response, the United States demonstrated its unwavering support for Israel by deploying an aircraft carrier closer to the region as per reports.

President Biden described the attacks as "heart-wrenching" and assured that the US government was actively collaborating with its key ally to secure the release of the hostages. This perilous situation had escalated significantly, placing both nations on edge.

The crisis deepened as Israel implemented a total siege on the Gaza Strip, severing its water supply and intensifying concerns about the already dire humanitarian conditions in the region. With over 900 casualties reported in Israel, the country responded with a relentless barrage of strikes on the Gaza Strip, resulting in a rising death toll of 687.

Hamas, on the other hand, launched a series of attacks over the weekend, firing thousands of rockets and breaching Gaza's security barrier on Saturday, 7th October 2023. Their actions extended beyond military targets, targeting nearby Israeli towns and military posts while indiscriminately opening fire on residents and passersby.

US Warns Iran 'Not To Get Involved' As Israel-Hamas War Escalates

The group labeled their offensive "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called upon resistance fighters in the West Bank and across Arab and Islamic nations to join their cause.

The Israeli military subsequently announced that they had regained "more or less control" over the Gaza border following the mass breach by the Palestinian group.

The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides grappling with the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 16:13 [IST]
US: At Least 22 Dead In Maine Shooting, Dozens Injured As Gunman Goes On Rampage

Massive Manhunt Unfolds In Maine, U.S.; Who Is Robert Card And What Else Is Going On

US Warns Iran 'Not To Get Involved' As Israel-Hamas War Escalates

International

oi-Stuti Tripathi

The top military official in the United States issued a stern warning to Iran on Monday, 9th October, cautioning them against becoming entangled in the ongoing crisis in Israel, as reported by Reuters.

General Charles Q Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed his desire to prevent the conflict from escalating further, especially as the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel.

The White House had earlier on Monday, suggested Iran's complicity, although the United States lacked concrete intelligence or evidence linking Iran directly to the attacks carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas against Israel.

When asked about his message to Iran, General Brown emphasized, "Not to get involved."

Israel-Hamas War: Which Country Is Supporting Whom In This Conflict?

On the same day, Israeli shelling in Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least three Hezbollah militants, and Israel reported the loss of one of its officers during an earlier cross-border raid claimed by Palestinian forces in Lebanon.

This cross-border violence marked a significant expansion of the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, reaching the Israeli-Lebanese border in the north.

Notably, Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel engaged in a brutal month-long war back in 2006.

General Brown conveyed the United States' intention to send a clear and forceful message to Iran, emphasizing the desire to prevent any further escalation. He made these remarks while speaking to a small group of reporters accompanying him on his way to Brussels, marking his first public comments since being confirmed in his role last month.

Brown said, "We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear," as quoted by the Reuters report.

In response to the weekend attack by Hamas, the U.S. military is taking action by increasing the supply of air defenses, munitions, and other security assistance to Israel. Additionally, the Pentagon announced its decision to deploy an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel on Sunday, 8th October.

General Brown highlighted that this move not only demonstrates strong support for Israel but also aims to send a powerful message of deterrence to prevent the conflict from spreading further. Brown said, "It sends a very strong message of support for Israel. But it's also to send a strong message of deterrence to contain broadening this particular conflict".

IsraeliHamas Conflict: 10 Developments You Need To Know In The War

He even drew a comparison between the actions of Hamas and those of Islamic State militants.

Brown has also been US Central Command's deputy commander and oversaw military operations in the Middle East and partnered air operations against Ismalic State (ISIL).

It's evident that the United States is closely monitoring the situation in the region and is taking proactive measures to support its ally, Israel.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 11:37 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Azerbaijan plans to provide Ukraine with equipment for the restoration of energy distribution networks, Trend reports.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev held a meeting on this issue.

The Ambassador reminded that President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to allocate $7.6 million to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for humanitarian aid to Ukraine in mid-July. In this regard, in the near future, it is planned to transfer equipment to Ukraine for the restoration of power distribution networks.

German Galushchenko thanked Azerbaijan for the support provided to the Ukrainian energy sector, which, in particular, helped maintain Ukraine's energy system last winter.

"We very much appreciate our cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector and hope that this cooperation will be strengthened," the ministry said.

The ministry also emphasized that Ukraine received from Azerbaijan 10 cargoes of humanitarian aid for the energy sector, including 50 reserve power plants and 45 power transformers.
Night Of Horror: The Worst Civilian Massacre In Israeli History

Thousands gathered for a carefree night of dancing at the Tribe of Nova music festival near Gaza border. But their joy turned to terror as rockets and gunshots shattered the peace. At least 260 people lost their lives while many others were held captive by Hamas militants.

International

-Sathish Raman

The Tribe of Nova music festival, a night designed for carefree celebrations and environmental consciousness, transformed into a scene of horror and bloodshed in the early hours of October 10. This open-air gathering near the Gaza border in southern Israel will be remembered as the deadliest civilian massacre in Israeli history.

A Night Turned Nightmare

Thousands of young men and women had congregated on this vast field to dance their worries away. The air was filled with laughter and camaraderie as old friends reunited and new friendships formed. They jumped up and down to the rhythm of bass-heavy beats that echoed across the landscape. Maya Alper, a 25-year-old volunteer at the event, was busy encouraging eco-friendly practices among attendees by collecting trash and offering free vodka shots to those who reused their cups.

Hamas Threatens To Kill Hostage If Israel Doesn't Stop Airstrikes On Gaza

New footage of the massacre of partygoers in southern Israel by Hamas has emerged that shows the attack from the very start, with police shutting down the music and urging people to leave. Civilians can be seen taking cover and tending to numerous injuries as gunfire rings out. pic.twitter.com/8s62hOdZEQ  Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 9, 2023

Sudden Chaos

As dawn broke around 6 a.m., just when the headliner D.J took over the stage, an unexpected sound pierced through the ethereal trap music: air raid sirens. Rockets began streaking overhead, turning euphoria into panic within seconds. Alper made her way towards her car intending to leave but soon found herself amidst terrified festival-goers at an intersection shouting warnings at incoming drivers.

Palestinian terrorists invaded a festival where hundreds of Israelis were camping out for the Shemini Atzeret holiday.



The panic caused by this is evident on the fades of the civilians being targeted by heavily armed militants.



Pray for Israel. pic.twitter.com/l6zviWr2hy  Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) October 7, 2023

Bloodshed Amidst Revelry

Then came another noise  one that initially sounded like firecrackers but quickly revealed its deadly nature as people started falling onto roads soaked with blood: gunshots had been fired into crowds. In what seemed like minutes, joy turned into terror; celebration morphed into catastrophe.

Israelis running from cities to deserts by foot, car and any other means.#Israel pic.twitter.com/zu2fyGrd17  The_anonymous_wave (@anonymouswave1) October 7, 2023

The Aftermath

The Tribe of Nova music festival has now been etched in Israeli history books for all wrong reasons - it is marked as worst civilian massacre ever witnessed by this country with death toll reaching at least 260. The number of hostages taken by the perpetrators, identified as Hamas militants, remains undetermined. This tragic incident has left a deep scar on Israel's social fabric and raised serious questions about security measures at mass gatherings.

In conclusion, what was supposed to be a night of celebration turned into an unprecedented tragedy for Israel, marking one of the darkest days in its history. As investigations proceed and families mourn their lost ones, the country grapples with shock and grief while seeking justice for victims of this horrific event. This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder that even amidst moments of joy and unity, vigilance must never waver  especially in regions where tensions run high.
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Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor Tunnel Work Completed

Mumbai

oi-Madhuri Adnal

In a significant development, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on the social media platform X that the construction of a mountain tunnel along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor has been successfully concluded.

This groundbreaking project, led by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), is set to revolutionise rail travel in India. The tunnel, a 350-meter-long horseshoe-shaped marvel, has been painstakingly crafted within the rugged terrain near Zaroli village.

Rail officials anticipate that trains operating on this corridor will attain astonishing speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, drastically reducing travel times between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The NHSRCL's visionary plan envisions the construction of an additional six tunnels along the 508-kilometer route, effectively connecting these mountainous marvels with state-of-the-art Shinkansen trainsets imported from Japan.

 Fantastic!

Breakthrough of first mountain tunnel for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor achieved.



Umbergaon Taluka, Valsad, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/6NZQjM5wkq  Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 6, 2023

S P Mittal, Chief Project Manager of the Valsad section, expressed immense pride in this remarkable achievement. He remarked, "What makes us celebrate it is that it is the first tunnel in India through which a train with a speed of 350 kmph will pass." He further highlighted the intricacies of the project, emphasizing the need for precise alignment. "The biggest challenge for us was how to keep the alignment of the tunnel absolutely straight... minor alignment flaw can play spoilsport," he cautioned.

The tunnel construction, entrusted to Larsen and Toubro, harnessed the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a proven technique employed in various Indian rail and road projects within mountainous terrains. The endeavor spanned over a year and engaged a considerable workforce. Stringent safety measures were upheld during the blasting operations, ensuring the welfare of laborers and nearby residents. Remarkably, not a single untoward incident marred the construction process.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project, initiated in 2016 with the foundation stone laid in 2017, initially aimed for completion by December 2023. However, land acquisition complications caused delays, and the revised operationalization deadline remains pending.

According to an NHSRCL spokesperson, passengers using the bullet train service are poised to experience an extraordinary reduction in travel time. A journey covering the 508-kilometer expanse, which currently consumes approximately five hours, will be truncated to a mere two hours and seven minutes, revolutionizing intercity travel.

NHSRCL issued a statement detailing the precise location of the tunnel, situated approximately one kilometer from Zaroli village in Umbergaon taluka, Valsad. The tunnel stands as an engineering marvel, measuring 350 meters in length, 10.25 meters in height, and boasting a diameter of 12.6 meters.

Contracts have also been awarded for the construction of six other mountain tunnels in Maharashtra's Palghar district, with the NATM technique ensuring their precision and safety, marking yet another stride in India's ambitious high-speed rail journey.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 23:04 [IST]
Two Minds, One Vision: Ankit & Anmol Sachdeva Redefine Bespoke Living with TAS World!

Partner Content

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Some might say mixing family with business is a bad idea. But two individuals are prepared to prove the world wrong. With their strong familial bond, their passion for their respective fields, and their vision for the future they see, the two brothers, Ankit and Anmol Sachdeva, are ready to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity! On their route towards becoming the best architect in Delhi and the best interior designer in Delhi, the duo introduced TAS World, a company that focuses on architecture, interior design, and construction, and the brothers are set to change the rules in the industry. Rather than listening to the voices of the naysayers, this organization has become a one-stop destination for its clients, providing each service required under its umbrella.

Based in New Delhi, the company focuses on extraordinary skill sets that ensure each individual's services are catered to. Architecture, interior design, and construction are their forte, and they are prepared to provide services ranging from ordinary individuals to large-scale organizations looking to build skyscrapers. If you're searching for an organization that develops, builds, and designs the outside and inside of your home, then TAS World is the right place for you! Their experience creating comfortable, luxurious homes and light on your pockets makes them the best choice. A powerful blend of comfort and luxury is imbibed in each project, adding whichever extra flavor you might desire.

Set up by the Sachdeva brothers, the dynamic duo, their passions for their fields merged to form a powerful combo that has allowed them to embark upon a journey towards becoming the best interior designer in Delhi and the best architect in Delhi. Now, what makes this company so great? What is the significance of a company that provides multiple solutions? Well, it allows you to avoid the clashes caused by going to various places, including the added perks of acquiring luxury. Filled to the brim with creative experts, the TAS World has talented designers, passionate architects, and experienced contractors who collaborate on projects from inception till completion.

Rather than attaining advice from various individuals in the industry, you can trust a business run by brothers. Individuals who value the bonds of the family would only ever have your best interests at heart. With their knowledge and creative teams, despite any confusion or hesitation you might have, the innovative team of TAS will diligently dedicate themselves to providing the best solutions to any doubt or query that may occur. In attaining the right property or developing the best home, the team of TAS World will always support you. With a dynamic duo in charge, passion, and creativity consistently flow through with each idea presented and contribute towards creating a home.

With years of experience in this diverse industry, the brothers envision becoming India's top Design-led Real Estate firm. Their aspirations go far beyond being at the top; their passion to succeed and provide the best services to their clients is what propels them to success. This client-centric approach has allowed it to serve more than 180+ clients in the past 10 years and continue its journey of success and growth. With plans on expanding across borders and boundaries, it is evident that the power-packed duo is on its journey of incredible growth and development.

TAS World is en route to creating incredible houses and building beautiful homes for any client that approaches them. In their pursuit of acclaim and accolades, they have ensured to be kind and generous and ensure the constant flow of positive energy. The construction field is filled with many questions and complications; however, they can all be made incredibly easy by employing the services of TAS World.

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Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 16:01 [IST]
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Moscow, which has enjoyed good ties with Israelis and Palestinians, has condemned the escalation of violence after the Hamas terror attacks. Kremlin advocates are blaming the conflict on the West, particularly the US.
Russia was heavily defeated in its attempt to win reelection to the UN Human Rights Council. Meanwhile, Ukraine says Russia is continuing drone wave attacks in the south of the country. DW has more.
A helicopter gunship fired into the near distance in Gaza and a cloud of black smoke began to rise as I walked along the road that leads to the scene of the worst terror attack in Israeli history.
Traditionally, Moscow enjoys good relations with Israelis and Palestinians. The foreign ministry has condemned the escalation of violence in the Middle East, which pro-Kremlin observers are blaming on the West.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has expressed his full support for Israel, further speculating that Iran was involved in the coordinated attack.
Eurasia Review 23 Oct 2023

The prognosis of war fatigue on the part of the United States and its allies in the proxy war in Ukraine was greatly..
The national air carrier of Azerbaijan launches flights en route Baku-Beijing-Baku.

The first flight in this direction is scheduled for December 19.

Flights from Baku to Beijing and back will be operated twice a week - on Tuesdays and Sundays.

It is important to point out that before travelling to China by air, one needs to fill out a health declaration and save the received QR code. The presence of this QR code is a prerequisite for boarding a flight, both in Baku and in Beijing.

The decision to launch flights between the two capitals is aimed at meeting the growing demand for travel and strengthening dynamically developing ties between Azerbaijan and China.

Tickets for these and other AZAL flights can be purchased on the official website - www.azal.az, as well as from accredited agencies of the airline.
Qatar is leading efforts to mediate a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas following the Palestinian group's surprise attack over the Gaza border.
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday rejected a bid by Russia to regain a seat on the Human Rights Council, from which it was ousted after invading Ukraine.
Sri Lanka Army Promoted over 1,800 army personnel to mark its 74th Anniversary

Posted by Editor on October 10, 2023 - 9:55 am

Sri Lanka Army celebrates its 74th anniversary today (October 10) and promoted over 1,800 army personnel to their next rank.

Accordingly, A total of 314 Officers of the Sri Lanka Army (Regular and Volunteer Force) and a record 1,565 Other Ranks of the Army (Regular Force and Volunteer Force) have been promoted to their respective next ranks.

The promotions were made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence and Army Commander, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage.

Accordingly, 07 Brigadiers have been elevated to the rank of Major General, 12 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier, 37 Lieutenant Colonels to the rank of Colonel, 41 Majors to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, 50 Captains to the rank of Major (Including Quartermasters), 84 Lieutenants to the rank of Captain (Including Quartermasters) and 83 Second Lieutenants to the rank of Lieutenant (Regular Force & Volunteer Force) in the Officers category.

In the category of Other Ranks, a total of 83 Warrant Officers-II to the rank of Warrant Officer-I, 183 Staff Sergeants to the rank of Warrant Officer-II, 263 Sergeants to the rank of Staff Sergeant, 414 Corporals to the rank of Sergeant, 374 Lance Corporals to the rank of Corporal and 248 Privates to the rank of Lance Corporal (Regular Force and Volunteer Force) were promoted.

According to Sri Lanka Army, 07 Senior Brigadiers who have been elevated to the two-star Major General rank in the Army included Major General D.A Amarasekara, Major General R Elvitigala, Major General I.H.M.R.K Herath, Major General W.M.P.M Wijesooriya, Major General W.P Kariyawasam, Major General K.M.P.S.B Kulatunga and Major General H.H.K.S.S Hewage.
Betway's operator, Super Group, announces its exit from the Indian market in response to the new online gambling tax. The move follows recent changes that have reshaped the Indian betting landscape.

A recent announcement by India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in July, effective from 1 October, revealed a flat 28% turnover tax for online gambling, casino, and horse race betting. This tax model applied to the full-face value of bets instead of gross gaming revenue (GGR) has caused industry stirrings, with Super Group being one of the entities voicing concerns.

Super Group CEO Neal Menashe emphasized the importance of regulatory adaptability,

We remain committed to exploring long-term growth opportunities globally, basing our decisions on the evolving regulatory scenarios across various markets.

Despite their departure from the Indian market, Super Group ensures their annual financial projections remain unaffected.

Industry Body Blasts Higher Rate

The new tax structure, applied to the complete value of all online gambling bets, has not been well received. For land-based casinos, the tax will be calculated based on the face value of chips purchased, and in horse racing, it will be levied on the full bet value placed with bookmakers and totalisators.

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the nation's premier industry body for online gambling, has expressed its reservations. Suggesting that the heightened tax could render business operations challenging, the AIGF cautioned against a potential increase in users gravitating toward unlicensed operators. The body highlighted the exorbitant financial implications: "With GST on deposits potentially escalating liabilities by 400%-500%, we anticipate substantial job losses."

Wider Changes in India Market

This tax imposition is not the sole alteration the Indian online gambling sphere has witnessed this year. Earlier in January, the Indian government unveiled a fresh compilation of rules for the online gambling sector.

The newly minted regulations stipulate that any offered online game must adhere to pre-existing laws, including those state-level gambling prohibitions.

Furthermore, the government introduced proposals for establishing self-regulatory bodies to be formed by online gaming enterprises. These bodies would shoulder the responsibility of drafting guidelines for the industry.

Self-regulatory organizations should prevent player harm, address gambling addiction, prevent financial transgressions, and protect minors from online gambling.

Conclusion

The introduction of the 28% turnover tax has undeniably ruffled the Indian online gambling market. Super Group's exit is a significant development that underscores the challenges faced by operators in adjusting to these new financial and regulatory conditions. How other significant players will navigate the evolving landscape remains to be seen.
Overview

In the Republic of Panama, there is a number of land-based casinos and all of these types of gambling facilities are monitored by the Panama Gambling Regulator. Land-based casinos have been legal in the country since 1998 while the country introduced a new regulatory framework in 2002 to legalize online gambling activities. According to the Online Gaming Act enforced in 2002, online gambling operators licensed by the Panama Gambling Regulator can offer their services and products to local residents.

The Panama Gambling Regulator is in fact the countrys Ministry of Finance that deals with many other financial aspects in the country. In other words, the gambling regulatory body is also in charge of enforcing new financial regulations, fiscal policies, and everything else related to finances. The Republic of Panama is an advanced country when it comes to gambling activities as the Panama Gambling Regulator has been issuing remote gambling licenses to local and foreign operators for many years.

In order to be granted a license by the Panama Gambling Regulatory, a gambling operator needs to be registered as a company or enterprise. In addition, all gambling operators that apply for licensing need to provide the Panama Gambling Regulatory with documents concerning their source of funds, and information on their bank accounts.

The identities of all individuals directly or indirectly involved in work (staff, owners, and legal agents) as well as information about the company's location, types of gambling businesses, and employees must be included in each licensing application. It is also necessary to offer information on financial reporting, financial reporting, and tax reporting. If any of these documents are missing, the regulatory body will dismiss the licensing application.

The gambling rules and regulations in Panama provide the issuance of master gambling licenses with a maximum seven-year validity upon payment of a license fee of US$40,000. The licensing process is usually completed within six weeks, provided that all of the licensing costs and fees have been taken care of. Only gambling operators that comply with local gambling laws and regulations can be issued master gambling licenses.
Quick steps to follow in order to deposit using MasterCard

1 Choose & Signup to an online casino

To begin with, you need to obtain a MasterCard card from your nearby bank, which is the initial step. Once you possess a debit or credit card, you can proceed to find a trustworthy online casino and signup.

2 Go to the casino cashier

You should be able to visit the casinos cashier, usually under the casino lobby, and choose Mastercard or Credit card option to deposit funds.

3 Submit the amount to deposit

Make sure to deposit the minimum deposit amount required by the casino.

4 Verify your transaction

Follow the verification process required by the casino and also in some cases by your MasterCard card issuer.

5 Play safe!

Now you can start playing for real money. Make sure to manage your budget & play safe!
Overview

BGaming is a dynamic iGaming online casino game and content provider that is revolutionizing the gambling world by altering it into a gaming experience. Since becoming an independent studio in 2018, BGaming has emerged as a trailblazer in the iGaming industry, prioritizing social interaction and player-driven content.

With a portfolio of over 100 cutting-edge games, including video slots, roulette, table games, crash games, and casual games, BGaming offers players a diverse and exciting selection. These games have exceptional visuals, mathematically balanced mechanics, immersive gameplay, and engaging features. Trusted by more than 900 reputable platforms and online casinos worldwide, BGaming sets the standard for innovative products in the industry.

At the heart of BGaming's philosophy is a commitment to putting players and their choices first. The company actively collects feedback, analyzes player needs and preferences, and uses these insights to create unique and appealing products for all players. With a strong focus on ensuring a 100% secure gambling environment, BGaming was the first studio to integrate the Provably Fair feature in its online games. It has been a pioneer in supporting cryptocurrencies.

In addition to regular game releases, BGaming also offers customized games for casino operators, leveraging data analysis to tailor games to fit each casino's brand and player preferences. This exclusive content enhances player retention, increases GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue), and sets BGaming's partners apart. With a track record of delivering over 100 customized games annually, BGaming has formed successful partnerships with leading industry brands such as Stake.com, Blaze, Bitstarz, N1 Partners, and BC. Game.

BGaming's commitment to high-quality game development and innovative business practices has earned it recognition from players, partners, and the industry. As a result, the company has been honored with prestigious awards such as the SiGMA Awards, EGR B2B Awards, iGaming Idol, and many others.

Choose BGaming for a thrilling gaming experience and a chance to win big. Join the revolution of iGaming with BGaming!

BGaming History

BGAMING is the new brand of old and well established casino games and software developer SoftSwiss Group. The company was established in 2012 and the re-branding was conducted in 2017, giving birth to BGAMING after completing another round of financing and joining forces with several key strategic partners.

BGaming AWARDS

Bronze Award for Best New Slot at the AskGamblers Awards 2022.

Winner of Leadership (Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO) at the 5Star iGaming Media Top 20 Awards 2022.

Finalist for Innovation in Slot Provision at the EGR B2B Awards 2022.

Finalist for Slot of the Year (Elvis Frog Trueways) at the Global Gaming Awards 2023.

Finalist for Industry Innovation of the Year at the SBC Awards 2022.

Finalist for Best Software Provider at the AskGamblers Awards 2022.

Cryptocurrency Pioneers & Provably Fair Games

BGAMING was one of the cryptocurrency pioneers in the world of online gambling. It was as early as 2013 that they made their entire portfolio of games available for play in Bitcoin. It was one of the key milestones for the company as these were the early days of cryptocurrency, and they were the first to move well ahead of other companies in the business.

Another important step for BGAMING (SoftSwiss) was equipping all of their slots and table games with a "Provable Fairness" feature. Using cryptography, this feature allowed players to see what was going on behind the scenes and independently verify that all games' outcomes were truly fair and random.

BGaming Receives Spanish Certification in August 2023: Elevating Gaming Experiences

Summary: BGaming achieves a significant milestone with official Spanish certification from BMM TestLabs and DGOJ. This accreditation allows BGaming to enter the Spanish market and offer high-quality gaming experiences to local operators and players. With a portfolio of 100+ products, including cryptocurrency support and Provably Fair games, BGaming continues revolutionizing iGaming, meeting the highest standards of fairness and security. Their dedication to player satisfaction and innovative content has earned them partnerships with leading operators worldwide.
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

October 6, 2023, Latakia, Syria: The Syrian Arab Army has shot down drones targeting the Syrian Military Hospital at Homs today, where terrorists had planned to kill the hospitalized survivors of the massive drone attack the Uyghurs had carried out yesterday, as well as target the flag-draped coffins being dispersed to funerals this morning.

The 91 dead include 31 women and 5 children as they watched their family members in a graduation ceremony at the Homs Military Academy in Homs, while 277 were injured. This was one of the deadliest attacks on the Syrian military, and was timed to occur at the end of the ceremony when the families went down into the courtyard to personally greet their loved ones who had transitioned from cadet to officer. Syria has declared three days of mourning.

The Syrian Arab Army began attacks on the known Uyghur positions in the province of Idlib, east of Latakia, and Ariha, west of Aleppo.

The attacks were carried out by the Uyghurs of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) and the Brigade of Emigrants. These two armed groups are known for their technological capabilities in conducting drone attacks.

Experts believe the attack on the Syrian military academy, and its civilian audience of family members, was prompted by the visit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to China where the 19th Asian Games opened and saw Syrian athletes participating.

The massive attack was shocking since the Syrian conflict has become a stalemate, and the battlefields are silent since 2017, when US President Trump cut-off the billion dollar CIA program, Timber Sycamore, which funded Radical Islamic terrorists in Syria battling to overthrow the Syrian government in Damascus. All of Syria is under government control, with the exception of the Kurdish-US occupation of the northeast, and the terrorist controlled Idlib province in the northwest.

Al Mayadeen TV reported, the advanced drones used in the attack were delivered three months ago from France to the TIP. This terrorist organization is allied with the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly named Jibhat al-Nusra, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. TIP is composed of Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group native to northwestern China. Its fighters are based in the mountainous areas of Latakia and Idlib in Syria, which border on Turkey.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense had previously reported shooting down two drones north of Aleppo which had been targeting civilians in small villages.

Who are the Uyghurs?

TIP is an armed Uyghur terrorist group which has been in Syria fighting alongside the US-sponsored terrorists, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), since 2015. Long War Journal reported in 2015 that TIP had ties to Al Qaeda.

Syrian Churches have been destroyed by TIP, and in Jisr al-Shughur a Church's cross had a TIP flag placed on top of it. The province of Idlib has been ethnically cleansed of Christians by TIP, and they killed a Christian man and his wife. In previous battles in Idlib and Homs, TIP fought alongside Al Qaeda and ISIS.

Camps training children as terrorists are being run by TIP. Uyghur child soldiers being trained with guns were depicted in a video released by TIP.

Turkey's support of the Uyghurs

The Uyghurs are a Muslim, Turkic-speaking ethnic group having a common linguistic, religious, and cultural kinship with the people of Turkey.

Erdogan, and his ruling AKP party, are followers of the Muslim Brotherhood, a global terror organization which stand on the same platform of core beliefs as TIP, Al Qaeda and ISIS.

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Overlooking crucial Siliguri Corridor of India, Doklam (Donglang, or Donglang Caochang, meaning Donglang grazing field in Chinese) is both a high plateau and a valley in West Bhutan.

China claims Doklam as an extension of its very own Chumbi Valley, which, as the map shows, is "the wedge of land that lies between Bhutan, and Indian province of Sikkim".

Upping the ante three years ago, in 2020, Beijing asserted ownership of the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in eastern Bhutan and borders India's Arunachal Pradesh, which, Beijing claims as a part of its Southern Tibet.

It is possible that asserting rights over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is part of China's strategy to pressure Bhutan and take over Doklam. With the Bamboo Capitalist, nothing can be ruled out.

STAND OFF IN 2017

Doklam witnessed a 73-day-long standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017 with New Delhi concerned over protecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Also, because Bhutan ceding land to China will impact its security interests especially in the Siliguri Corridor.

The ground situation is slightly different this time though. But India is not taking any chances, going by reports from the Siliguri Corridor. Known as 'Chicken's neck', the 68-km long corridor is India's lifeline to reach its eight northeastern states that share border with either China or Myanmar or both.

This strategically significant area also connects India with Bangladesh and Nepal. And is guarded by its border sentinels, Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB). Now the Narendra Modi government is likely to deploy armed police forces as well to be in readiness 'to tackle any conflict situation between crucial stakeholders, India, China, and Bhutan.'

Like with all its other neighbours, with Bhutan also, China has a long pestering border dispute. According to information in the public domain, which is not disputed by Beijing, Sino-Bhutan dispute started after PLA troops occupied Tibet in 1950, and subsequently seized control over eight Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet.

China claims about 764 sq. km of Bhutan, but in the vexed boundary talks that began in 1984 primary focus has been on the Jakarlung and Pasamlung areas (both in North Bhutan) besides the Doklam area.

So far, the two countries have held over 24 rounds of border talks and 12 rounds of expert-level meetings. A joint press release issued after the latest round in August-end (between 21 and 24 August, to be precise) has described the talks as candid, constructive and friendly. It went on to say that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reached "aimed at the three-step roadmap".

"One of the important outcomes of the 13th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) is the establishment of the Joint Technical Team on the Delimitation of China-Bhutan Boundary which held its first meeting on the sidelines of the 13th EGM," said the statement adding that both sides have simultaneously agreed to accelerate the process to implement the road map "for expediting boundary negotiations in a warm and cordial atmosphere".

The road map has not been elaborated as such as yet.

Since the seventh round of talks held in 1990, China has been pushing a "package proposal". It is in essence a trade-off of sorts - China would give up its 495 sq. km of claim in Northern Bhutan. In return Bhutan should recognise China's claims in western Bhutan that includes Doklam.

Expectedly, the Bhutan Parliament (National Assembly) has shot down the proposal.

Lately, however, he has hinted at a sudden tilt towards China. "There are three of us (Bhuta, China and India). There is no big or small country; all are three equal countries (in the Doklam problem), each counting for one-third," said Tshering.

The Global Times, a part of Chinese State media, has gone one step further by branding India as the "main obstacle" standing in the way of settling the dispute.

As of now China and Bhutan do not have diplomatic relations. Contact and communication is maintained through the Thimpu Mission in New Delhi.

Hitherto, Bhutan has maintained a "neutral" political status with China. It did not travel the Nepal way. And has "a very cordial" relations with India under its 1949 Treaty of Friendship and Coordination.

Moreover, Thimpu has not subscribed to any loans and grants given by China under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

ROLL BACK?

The turn of events pops up the question: Is Bhutan set to roll back its policy of being a buffer state to India to counter China's aggression at the border?

Frankly there are no readymade answers what with President Xi Jinping searching for breathing space on the domestic scene. He is still the new helmsman of China no doubt, but the going has become tough with post-covid economy refusing to look up.

The fact of the matter is that Beijing is resorting to carrot-and-stick policy to deal with Bhutan. Earlier it tried to lure Thimphu but now it has intensified its bully tactics by building roads, bridges and villages on the Bhutanese territory.

China is not happy with the talk of inclusion of India in a possible trilateral talk over Doklam. It wants to resolve all territorial disputes with Bhutan only with Bhutan on board.

How the issue plays out in the days ahead is a Sudoku but clearly China's Bhutan card has a message for India. It can be seen as a message of intimidation or harassment, as a columnist for The Quint wrote, or an impending security threat as some other commentator termed it.

One thing is clear though. It is that "China's border talks with Bhutan are aimed at India."

This Beijing speak is a development New Delhi has to factor in its stride since both countries are locked in a military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that is into its fourth year.

Also, because, as a Foreign Policy magazine commentary said, "China-Bhutan talks are a part of Chinese strategy to gain crucial advantage over India".

Put simply, not only New Delhi but also the members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) should activate their eyes in the sky and ears on the ground in their larger interest of preparedness.
Picture of Hamas attack on Israeli settlement, October 7, 2023

This writer is not about to justify Hamas brutal assault against Israeli citizens during its attack on southern Israeli settlements last Saturday. Apparently hundreds of Israeli's have been killed in the attacks. Hamas controls the government in Gaza.

Supposedly Hamas has taken hundreds of Israeli's hostage which they claim will be used in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian's being held in Israeli custody.

Israel has launched a massive attack by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) bombing Gaza in retaliation as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on Hamas.

But let's be clear about a few things:

Israel is an apartheid state. Here's why.

Even Palestinian's living in Israel as citizens are not accorded equal rights as Jewish citizens.

Since the 1967 war between Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan, with Israel as the victor, Israel took control of the formally Jordanian held West Bank, have since annexed the Golan Heights Syrian territory seized in that war, took control of the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula (since returned to Egypt as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt reached in 1979), took control of Gaza yet dismantled the 25 Israeli settlements evicting Israeli settlers there in 2005 believing it would improve Israeli security.

They've built multiple Jewish settlements in the West Bank-all considered illegal under international law. In doing so the IDF demolishes Palestinian homes bulldozing them right in front of the Palestinian inhabitants. They destroy the Palestinian's olive groves which was their primary source of income. Then the mostly Orthodox Jewish settlers arrive, build new settlements on these former Palestinian lands which are then protected by the IDF. To the Jewish settlers the Palestinian's-living on these lands for generations were just squatters on lands granted to the Jews by God three thousand years ago.

Israel has built a 22 foot high wall around the West Bank as well as a similar wall around Gaza which has become an open air prison. Gaza Palestinian's are restricted from leaving the enclave, must pass security checkpoints into Israel and Egypt while an Israeli embargo limits Palestinian fishing rights in the Mediterranean Sea. The Israeli's control whatever food, medicines and building supplies that enter Gaza.

So there is no getting around it; the Palestinian's are essentially an occupied people living under Israeli rule.

So as occupied people they resist their captors which at times becomes armed rebellion against the oppressor which is what's been happening since Saturday.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10.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 liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation.

Trend presents the chronicle of the fourteenth day of the Second Karabakh war:

- President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Russian RBK TV channel.

- The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia was held in Moscow. Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed on a humanitarian ceasefire in Karabakh. The ceasefire was then roughly violated by Armenia. Armored vehicles of Armenia which violated the ceasefire were destroyed.

- Intense battles continued during the night, heavy combat equipment of Armenia was destroyed. The Armenian armed forces intensively fired at Goranboy, Tartar, Aghdam, Aghjabadi and Fuzuli districts. Remains of a ballistic target fired by Armenia at Mingachevir and destroyed in the air have been found. The radar station in Khojaly was destroyed.

- The Armenian S-300 and other military equipment and artillery batteries were destroyed in Gubadly.

- The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on fires in Azerbaijani civilian facilities as a result of firing from Armenian armed forces.
"I don't know of a single school that was not told that they by law could not hold onto some of their classrooms"because there was no registered carrying teacher"Wow, unbelievable."



- LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg



(Image by LAUSD) Details DMCA



For the first time in decades, the LAUSD is operating with a School Board that is not controlled by members financed by the charter school industry. This finally allows supporters of public schools an opportunity to review policies designed by the charter school industry to give its schools a competitive advantage, including the ability to demand space on public school campuses using PROP-39, even if that will leave less room for public school students to receive services in the school their parents have chosen.

Prior to the Board's consideration of the "Creating a Charter Schools Co-Location Policy to Mitigate Impacts Caused by Proposition 39" resolution at its September 26, 2023, afternoon meeting, I presented the following as part of my comments at the morning session:

As the Board began deliberating the proposal, the Director of the Charter School Division, Jose' Cole-Gutie'rrez, was called on to answer questions about the policy of giving away rooms that did not have a certificated teacher assigned to them full-time. This was essential to the discussion as a long-term complaint of co-located public schools has been that rooms used to provide art and music classes, special education services and the space for parent centers have been taken away from them during the co-location process as they were considered to be "empty" under the standards used by the Charter School Division.

Shockingly, Cole-Gutie'rrez contradicted what the bureaucrats under his leadership have been telling school communities for years and said that this classification was not a result of state law but was simply an LAUSD policy. This was a surprise to the Board members who were not elected with the financial support of the Charter School Industry, including Scott Schmerelson, who said that, as a principal, he was told by district personnel that "if there is no roster carrying teacher in that room, that room is up for grabs."

On the other end of the aisle, Board Members Nick Melvoin, Tanya Franklin, and Kelly Gonez did not seem surprised by the revelation. Melvoin even went as far as to say that he has known that this was district policy for years. If this is the case, the bureaucrats need to explain why they were giving differing information to the members of the school board.

To those of us who have been carefully watching the LAUSD, Cole-Gutie'rrez's duplicity is not a surprise as he has provided examples in the past about his loyalty to the charter school industry:

By not being truthful with the Board members who are not aligned with the Charter School industry, Cole-Gutie'rrez committed an act of insubordination. He has proven that he cannot be trusted to provide the necessary oversight of the charter schools. If the Board does not take the steps needed to remove him from his position, they are ignoring their responsibility to the students and parents of the LAUSD.
The recent arrest of 18 staff members of the International Assistance Mission (IAM), including an American woman, by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan has raised significant concerns regarding the state of humanitarian work and religious freedom in the country. Accusations of engaging in Christian missionary activities have led to the detention of these individuals, shedding light on the challenges faced by NGOs operating in Afghanistan under the Taliban's rule. .

IAM, a Swiss-registered NGO, has been providing vital assistance in Afghanistan since 1966, spanning various regimes, including royal, communist, and Taliban rule. The organization's long-standing commitment to the Afghan people demonstrates the importance of humanitarian work in the region. Historically, IAM focused on eye care and later expanded its services to encompass health and education. Notably, IAM's website emphasizes its foundation on Christian values while also highlighting its dedication to providing aid irrespective of political or religious affiliations.

The arrest of IAM staff members, including an American woman, has sent shockwaves through the international community. The accusations of engaging in Christian missionary work have raised questions about the extent to which religious freedom is respected in Afghanistan under the Taliban's rule.

It is crucial to note that the details surrounding the allegations are sparse, with no substantial evidence provided to support the claims. While Abdul Wahid Hamas Ghori, a government spokesman, mentioned the existence of documents and audios suggesting efforts to convert individuals to Christianity, no further information has been made available to the public. In this context, it is essential to emphasize the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." Therefore, it is imperative that any charges against IAM staff members be subjected to a fair and transparent judicial process, adhering to international standards.

The accusations against IAM staff members highlight the challenges faced by religious minorities and those engaging in religious activities that do not align with the Taliban's interpretation of Islam. The right to practice one's religion or beliefs is a fundamental human right, as recognized by international agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The arrests risk further curbing religious freedom in Afghanistan, potentially creating a climate of fear and persecution for religious minorities.

The arrests also have significant implications for humanitarian work in Afghanistan. NGOs like IAM play a crucial role in providing essential services, including healthcare, education, and humanitarian assistance, to vulnerable populations. The detention of humanitarian workers may discourage other organizations from operating in Afghanistan, ultimately affecting the Afghan people who rely on these services for survival.

The international community must respond to these arrests with a unified voice, emphasizing the importance of respecting human rights and religious freedom. Diplomatic efforts should be directed at urging the Taliban authorities to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for the detained individuals. Furthermore, discussions should address the broader implications of these arrests on international relations with the Taliban-led government.

The situation also raises concerns about the safety of NGO workers in Afghanistan. The 2010 attack on IAM medics, during which eight foreigners were killed, underscores the risks faced by humanitarian workers in the region. The detention of NGO staff members adds another layer of insecurity, potentially deterring individuals and organizations from providing assistance to those in need.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's participation in public life and their exclusion from schools and universities are deeply concerning. These measures not only violate the principles of gender equality but also hinder the development and progress of Afghan society. Women have played vital roles in various sectors, including healthcare and education, and their exclusion will have lasting repercussions on the country's future.

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By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

The Foundation to Battle Injustice has collected evidence of the involvement of the Ukrainian government and a shadowy US arms dealer in organizing and directing criminal schemes to resell Western weapons on the black market. According to former Ukrainian Defense Ministry informants, the Foundation to Battle Injustice identified which NATO weapons are being resold by the Ukrainian government and revealed the scale and routes of the bloody business.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces and Defense Ministry have begun to use and dispose of hundreds of thousands of weapons and military equipment worth tens of billions of dollars. Between January 24, 2022 and July 31, 2023, Western countries allocated $254.36 billion to Ukraine, of which $98.74 was for military needs.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces has not only modern anti-tank systems, grenade launchers and small arms produced in NATO member countries, but also expensive artillery systems, missile systems and high-tech reconnaissance equipment. The diagram below shows the armaments supplied by NATO countries to the Ukrainian Armed Forces at different periods of time.

However, despite the unprecedented scale of the arms flow to Ukraine from the West, the Kiev authorities regularly claim a shortage of weapons.

"Unfortunately, the assistance is still not enough for us to have parity," wrote Oleksiy Danylov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, on social media.

The Black Market for weapons in Ukraine

Ukraine's reputation as a hub for illegal arms trafficking dates back to the 1990s, but Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials and generals have never had such an extensive military arsenal as under the government of Wolodymyr Zelensky.

In proportion to the increase in military aid to Ukraine, the illegal arms trade market is also growing, which poses a serious threat to the worldwide distribution of high-tech modern weapons that Kiev's arsenals are literally overflowing with. With alarming frequency, these weapons end up in those regions of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America where the political situation is extremely unstable.

In particular, Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari expressed concern over the total lack of control over the flow of arms supplied to the African continent from Ukraine, with subsequent distribution to militants of the terrorist groups IS and Al-Qaeda (outlawed in Russia) in order to inflame the political situation in the Middle East and Africa.

"Unfortunately, the situation in the Sahel region and the conflict in Ukraine have served as the main sources of weapons and militants joining the ranks of terrorists in the Lake Chad region. Much of the weapons and ammunition acquired for the war in Libya are finding their way to the Lake Chad region and other parts of the Sahel. Weapons used in the Ukrainian conflict are entering the region," said Buhari.

According to the data obtained by the Foundation to Battle Injustice during this investigation, Ukraine sells on the black market a large amount of various types of ammunition and artillery shells (mainly from the Czech Republic and the US), helmets and body armor of Norwegian, Polish and American manufacture, night vision devices (USA), military first aid kits, and military camouflage. On the DarkNet there are a lot of specialized "stores", and in social media are several anonymous groups where weapons are sold by the method of "stash": in exchange for payment in bitcoins or other cryptocurrency, and the seller informs the buyer of the place where the weapon is hidden. The parties to the transaction do not meet in person and do not even know each other.

Russell Bentley, a war correspondent from Texas who joined the Donbass militia in December 2014, confirmed the existence of such ads in an exclusive interview with the head of the Foundation to Battle Injustice, Mira Terada.

"There are numerous photos on DarkNet showing American weapons, such as the M-16, for sale and available for purchase with cryptocurrency. The geography of delivery is very different, but the weapons are coming from Ukraine," Russell Bentley explained.

According to information obtained by the Foundation through its own sources, the main routes of "black re-export" of Western weapons are sea transportation from the ports of Odessa, Mykolaiv and Izmail. Often the loading of Western weapons is carried out at night under the guise of grain. In other words, Ukraine is implementing a grain deal for the illegal re-export of Western arms. Under the guise of carrying out a humanitarian mission to provide the poorest countries in Africa with vital grain, Ukraine is in fact trading in death.

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An exceptional property has just hit the market, offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of Miami's rich history was just listed by Gladys Benitez Co-Founder/Vice Pres, & Managing Broker (Florida) & EVP (California) of William Pierce Luxury Real-estate. This remarkable two-story home, located at 634 NE 56 Street, Miami, FL 33137, is situated in the prestigious gated community of Morningside. Listed at $6,200,000, this meticulously maintained property showcases 
A Salem teenager who allegedly threatened to shoot up a Keizer middle school was arrested Monday, police said.

Police learned of the 13-year-olds alleged threat from a woman whose daughter read it in an Instagram post Saturday evening, according to Keizer police. In the anonymous post, the boy allegedly threatened to shoot up Claggett Creek Middle School, and gave a specific date and time for when he planned to do it.

The Keizer Police Department, the FBI and the Salem-Keizer School District figured out who was behind the Instagram post, and around 8:50 p.m., Keizer police arrested the juvenile at his Salem home. He is likely to face disorderly conduct charges.

The Keizer Police Department takes threats to our schools seriously and will exhaust all means necessary to ensure the safety of students, school staff and parents, the department said in a statement.

 Fedor Zarkhin

Office: 503-294-7674; Cell: 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.com
The family of Immanueal Jaquez Clark-Johnson, the unarmed man shot in the back by Portland police as he was running away from officers who had approached the wrong car in a robbery investigation, intends to sue the city of Portland.

Mr. Clark-Johnson posed no threat to police, yet lost his life at 30 because of Portland Officer Chris Sathoffs unfounded assumptions about Mr. Clark-Johnsons guilt and dangerousness, attorney Juan Chavez wrote in the familys notice to sue. Chavez is director of Oregon Justice Resource Centers civil rights project.
No. 8 Oregon travels to No. 7 Washington on Saturday (12:30 p.m., ABC).

Dan Lanning held his weekly press conference tonight to preview the marquee matchup.

Below is a transcript of Lannings press conference.

DAN LANNING

Fun week coming off a bye. I think our guys got some great work in this past week and have really sprung into action this next week as well. They had great energy today and excited about getting to play a great opponent. Its gonna be a fun game, certainly a fun environment. Ready to go attack it.

On the importance of a good start:

I think its about the start, the middle, and the finish in this one. You want to start well; theyve had some games where they were able to start off really fast so far this season. I think it was 14-0 against California before their offense even touched the field. They played several teams this year, theyve won by more than 27 points. I think last week was the one game where it came back and got to be a little bit close at the end, but really, they had control of that game as well for the most part. Theyve proven to be a team that can start fast. We have to make sure we can do the same.

On using last years game as motivation:

I dont think its necessary. I mean, I think every one of our players know exactly what this game means to them personally in that room, and then also just to everybody thats a Duck fan. And they want to win. When they step on the field it really doesnt matter who were playing, they want to go out there, and they want to go compete at a high level.

On how Michael Penix Jr. has become more accurate on first and second downs:

I think that happens with experience and time. Hes obviously got a great wide receiver corps. Theyve done a really good job schematically at finding ways for him to be able to throw people open. And he has great vision down the field. I think hes also been well-protected; theyre not getting a lot of hits on the quarterback and thats gonna lead to more completions.

On what he noticed from Washingtons game at Arizona:

I dont know that they really struggled. Watching that game, they took away a lot of the deep passing game but they were able to do a good job with the checkdowns and they were able to run the ball in the red area. I know they had a fumble down in the red area that certainly hurt him. But I thought they had a lot of success in that game. Like I said, it became a little bit closer at the end but really in the game, they seemed to be in control most of it.

On Washingtons receiving corps:

Yeah, its extremely unique. A lot of times youll go into a week and say, OK, we cant let this one guy beat us. And the reality is for them, they have several guys that they can get the ball to, distribute the ball to, several guys that have gone over 100 yards inmultiple games this year. So you have to have a focus on all of them.

On how much playing against Washington last year has helped Jackson Powers-Johnson this season:

I think the experience that Jackson was able to get for our team last year, not just in the Washington game, but in a lot of games last year has really set him up for success this year. And hes proven to be a good player for us.

On Ajani Cornelius:

Im really pleased with Ajanis progress. I wish everyone could see where he started when he first got here this spring and what hes been able to do throughout the spring in his development all the way into the fall. Hes proven to be one of the best tackles in the league right now. I think hes playing at a really high level. But I know he has a high bar for himself and he wants to get even better and I think he will. Hes done a phenomenal job. I think its credit to the people around him and the coaching staff. I think Alique (Terry)s done a phenomenal job of developing him, but I know hes hungry to get better.

On how Washington is able to protect Penix while still throwing as much as it does:

They probably give the biggest variety of pre-snap motions and shifts of any team that weve played so far this year. They have a great deep passing attack, but I think also Mike has the ability to get rid of the ball when he does have pressure on him. So I think what he knows - if somebodys free, he knows where its coming from and he does a good job eluding that pressure. There was a couple times last year where we had him hemmed up and we didnt finish. He did a good job of avoiding it and he probably doesnt get enough credit for that.

On what makes Washingtons receiving corps unique compared to the ones he faced in the SEC:

Similar to all those guys. Our coaches mentioned earlier today we were watching film that they never really go down after contact. These guys play wideout with a little more of a running back mentality when they do get the ball. Its going to take everybody on them to get them down. They catch the ball really well in tight windows. I know theyre throwing them open a lot of times too, but theres a lot of catches that they make that are contested catches. Thats where theyve separated themselves.

On how much playing on the road at Texas Tech helps with this weeks environment:

Hostile can be fun. I think this one will be one of those environments where theres gonna be a lot of distractions a lot of pieces going on outside the puzzle, but we really focused on being the eye of the storm, the calm within the storm. And I think our guys will handle that well.

On what this game means to Taki Taimani:

Weve had a couple players now that have got to go against their last team that they were a part of and I certainly think that means a lot to Taki. To say it doesnt would be a lie. So hes been having a great year for us. I expect him to go out there and perform really well.

On the challenge to the secondary:

Theyre ready to go compete. You do this so you can go play in games and games like this, rivalry games that mean a lot. I think thats important. Our guys have been playing to a high standard so far this year, but this is certainly our best test that weve had to this point. So itll be fun to see them go operate.

On if the team has made the 20-mile march he refers to every week:

Ive been really pleased with our progress every day since fall camp. I feel like our players have certainly came and attacked every single day and looked for a way to get better, embrace the strain and the grind of football season and looking for them to continue to do that.

On Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui and how theyve been somewhat neutralized so far:

What you just said, the stats dont necessarily indicate the impact that theyre having on the games. They use their hands really well and theyre really explosive players. I think they play with a variety of techniques too that show up. You dont always know if theyre going to be tight to the line of scrimmage or if theyre gonna be up to field and they create a lot of disruptions. So as people you have to know where theyre at at all times.

On the message he gives to Bo Nix about the magnitude of this game:

I dont have to do any of that with Bo. Hes a pro. It wouldnt matter who hes competing against; when he steps on the field, he knows what he wants to do. He knows what hes capable of and how he can perform. I think this is why guys like Bo come to Oregon, to get to play in games like this. So this moment certainly isnt too big. I dont have to give him any encrypted message. Bo, go out there and do your thing. Thats all I gotta tell him.

On how theyve generated more pass rush and the challenge of doing so this week:

Well, they throw the ball a lot, so theres going to be potentially opportunities, but theyve done a great job protecting. I think its about taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, not trying to force something. It starts with personnel; when you have great personnel and multiple guys that can play, I think that that helps. And weve had a lot of guys that can play that in some ways their snap counts might have been diminished, but their performance has actually stepped up and I think thats something that our guys have really embraced.

On how hes grown to appreciate this rivalry and coaching in it as this time in history for the programs:

Obviously, a big game. And no game is bigger than the next one. Right? Its the next game. Thats why its a big game for us, but I think its great that their teams put themselves in a position to create this environment and our teams done this to create the same environment. So itll be exciting. Certainly appreciate this rivalry, and itll be fun for us out there.

On if hes seen a conference with the QB talent the Pac-12 has this season:

No, I have not. I think its really impressive. Theres great quarterback play in this league right now. And were going to, like I said before, were going to see all of them. So this is certainly I think one of the best if not the best that weve seen so far. Really talented player, and hes playing at a really high level.

On Steve Stephens IV:

Steves steady Eddy, man. This guy prepares every single day unbelievably. Hes really a coach on the field. Hes a great communicator. I think he starts on three special teams for us right now. And thats really where his role started a lot at the beginning of this season. And now, every time that his name gets called, he answers the call. So this will be a big game for him. We have to perform well on the back end, have to perform well on specials and hes done a good job of that so far this year.

On if hes expecting Khyree Jackson and Bryan Addison to go this week:

I am.

MORE DUCKS COVERAGE
The legend of treasure hidden along the Oregon coast, a centuries-old shipwreck, and speculation about whether parts of the story inspired The Goonies movie is a wild and woolly saga that has fascinated Oregonians for years.

Now, the tale is getting new attention in a documentary called The True Quest for Fabled Treasure on the Oregon Coast, which premieres at the Columbian Theater in Astoria on Oct. 13, and plays in Portland at the Hollywood Theatre on Oct. 15.

Filmmakers Tony Altamirano, JB Fisher, and Doug Kenck-Crispin teamed up for the documentary, which is billed as the first in a video and podcast series called Secrets of the Mysteries.

The True Quest for Fabled Treasure on the Oregon Coast explores the legends that have grown up around the so-called treasure of Neahkahnie Mountain, and the treasure hunters who have kept interest in the region alive for decades.

The origin of these fables generally dates back to reports of a large ship that was wrecked on Nehalem Spit, as the Oregon Encyclopedia says. Analysis has suggested that the ship was called the Santo Cristo de Burgos, described as a Manila galleon that left the Philippines in the summer of 1693 carrying exquisite Asian trade goods.

The galleon, or sailing ship, was reportedly headed to Acapulco, but failed to reach its destination and was suspected to have been shipwrecked.

Among other things, the Oregon Encyclopedia entry says, the wreck left a massive cargo of beeswax blocks, often stamped with shippers marks, scattered and buried on Nehalem Spit and in the vicinity of Nehalem Bay.

Accounts of what happened, and what the ship carried, grew over the decades. The result was that the Neahkahnie Mountain area and the beaches of Nehalem Spit became the states premiere focus for treasure-hunting, as The Oregon Encyclopedia says.

The Beeswax Wreck story heated up in 2022, when a team of investigators were able to retrieve timbers from sea caves near Manzanita. The hazardous endeavor made headlines when it was determined that the timbers were, as the National Geographic reported, believed to be pieces of the Santo Cristo de Burgos, the Spanish galleon that vanished in 1693, most likely wrecking on whats now Oregons coast. Its cargo included costly Chinese silk, porcelain, and blocks of beeswax for making candles.

That 2022 discovery generated a spate of articles claiming the Spanish shipwreck helped inspire The Goonies, the enduringly popular 1985 movie set in Astoria, and filmed in locations along the Oregon coast. In the movie, a group of young people set out to find what they believe to be treasure, left hidden in a 17th-century pirate ship.

To try and find some answers to questions about the Santo Cristo de Burgos, treasure, and how much  if any  influence any of that may have had on The Goonies were all part of the motivations for history enthusiasts Kenck-Crispin and Fisher, who recently answered some questions about The True Quest for Fabled Treasure on the Oregon Coast, via email.

Our film does focus on the Manila Galleon wreck, Fisher writes. We talk about the 2022 timber discovery, about the history and logistics of the Manila-Acapulco trade route, and what might have happened to the Burgos and its crew.

Its not their intention to solve the mystery of the shipwreck, Fisher writes. We are primarily interested in exploring how archeological evidence from the Manila Galleon wreck relates to oral accounts and other evidence concerning treasure hidden at Neahkahnie Mountain. We are not trying to prove or disprove the existence of treasure there. Rather, we are exploring how the legacy of this legend has been shaped by indigenous eyewitness accounts, archeological evidence, and 200-plus years of treasure hunters attempting to find the loot.

As for the shipwrecks legend inspiring The Goonies, Fisher writes that he and his collaborators wanted to tell the world that there is more to that story than just an incidental connection to the popular movie.

Kenck-Crispin sounds convinced that theres a connection between the shipwreck, those who have sought its treasures, and The Goonies.

I think this is absolutely the case! Kenck-Crispin writes.

One of the central treasure hunters in The True Quest for Fabled Treasures on the Oregon Coast is a man named Ed Fire, who was also known as Tony Mareno.

The filmmakers had access to archival news footage of Fire/aka Mareno, as Fisher writes, and TV news coverage of him digging for treasure at Manzanita Beach in the late 1960s.

Kenck-Crispin writes that there are enough similarities between certain of Fire/Marenos behavior and moments from The Goonies that, its just too difficult to separate the two.

His descendants claim that The Goonies was directly inspired by his efforts and claims, Fisher writes. There were even parallels with the main character, Mikey. Both Ed Fire and Mikey had asthma and frequently sucked on their inhalers; Mikey often used the phrase our time while Ed frequently talked about my time in interviews. And of course what Ed Fire claims to have discovered seems right out of the movie. Part of what our film looks at is this question: Did Ed Fire inspire The Goonies or did The Goonies inspire Ed Fire?

Kenck-Crispin writes that he and Fisher have been researching the Neahkahnie Treasure legend for more than a decade.

Before the film project started, we had taken several field trips to the suspected sites, hiked the mountain, visited coastal museums, and spoken with long-term local residents. Kenck-Crispin writes.

With the decision to make a movie about the topic, we really turned up our archival research and reviewed the collections of institutions in Portland, Tillamook, Astoria, and Philomath, often viewing artifacts that had not been on display for decades, if ever. We took deep dives into these collections and tried to ask the right questions to archivists to make sure we covered all of our bases. We were able to bring new documents and physical artifacts to the discussion that even the leading archeologists and curators of the suspected Burgos finds had not even seen yet.

Asked if he thinks there are treasures hidden at Neahkahnie Mountain, Kenck-Crispin writes, I do. I really do. Now is it a chamber of immeasurable strings of pearls and other jewels surrounded by chests of doubloons? Piles of gold in bars, coins, platters and pitchers and the like? I find this option highly unlikely.

But, Kenck-Crispin goes on, if there was a centuries-old shipwreck on the Oregon coast, and the survivors gathered all of the religious artifacts and icons on the ship, all of their valuable personal possessions, some silver pesos from Spanish colonies, jewelry and souvenirs they had picked up or stolen in the Philippines or Peru, and maybe the ships supercargos bank, placed it in a few chests, and you buried that in the sand for 300 and twenty some odd years...

All of that constitutes treasure, Kenck-Crispin writes.

As for what they hope viewers may take away from their film, Fisher writes, We want viewers to come away with a better appreciation for what the phrase the wreck that inspired The Goonies can mean. We want viewers to appreciate the value of the historical and archeological discoveries in this story while also embracing the mysteries and ambiguities that the treasure hunter legacy invites.

The True Quest for Fabled Treasure on the Oregon Coast premieres at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the Columbian Theater, in Astoria; and screens at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Hollywood Theatre, in Portland. Want to rent or buy The Goonies? Its available on platforms that include Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and iTunes.

More of our coverage:

The Historic Oregon Film Trail celebrates scenery, history, movies like The Goonies, Stand By Me, and more

What should be the official movie of Oregon?

 Kristi Turnquist

503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist

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The Oregonian summer visuals intern Maddie Stellingwerf has become somewhat known in the newsroom for attempting food challenges. She tried to eat three meals in a day for under $20 in Eugene and attempted the same challenge with $25 near the St. Johns neighborhood in Portland.

This time? Shes put her spice limit to the test with Salvador Mollys Great Balls of Fire challenge. It involved eating five hot pepper-cheese fritters under five minutes. If you eat all five, along with all the sauce, you get bragging rights and your photo on the restaurants hall of flame.

Salvador Molly's habanero cheese fritters, also known as the Great Balls of Fire.Maddie Stellingwerf/The Oregonian

What makes the fritters so spicy? According Nathan Campbell, owner of Salvador Mollys, its a secret. Its a proprietary mixture. We sell the blend that you can buy and make yourself burn at home, Campbell said. He said the challenge has been around for at least 20 years and countless people have tried it.

For those that think five spicy fritters is not enough, Salvador Mollys hosts their annual King of Heat competition (typically in February), where you eat as many fritters as you can with no time limit. A portion of restaurant sales for the day go to a charity.

Details:

Five fritters for $13.50

1523 S.W. Sunset Blvd.; open Tuesday - Sunday; 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.; 503-293-1790; salvadormollyspdx.com

Related reading:

 The Oregonian/OregonLive & Maddie Stellingwerf
The Oregon Health Authority has for the first time made public its count of state-funded community mental health beds  as well as a tally of those it plans to make available in the next two years.

The 2,101 units available are situated across the state, intended to provide alternatives to large institutions like the Oregon State Hospital. Another 1,120 are on the way  but wont be available for weeks or months.

Included in the tally are beds in residential facilities and short-term crisis centers.

The number doesnt include beds in the Oregon State Hospital or in the medical hospitals that often end up taking patients who arrive in emergency rooms with mental health crises. Nor does it count general outpatient mental health care, such as counselors or psychiatrists. Instead, the number refers specifically to treatment for people who need inpatient or crisis care.

With grant funding from two bills passed in 2021, Oregon expects to add another 1,120 beds across the state by June 2025.

The state is also providing rent assistance for 1,660 behavioral health patients in housing with support services.

The state expects to publish a dashboard with the data this fall, breaking down bed availability by county and provider, as well as how long those beds are expected to be occupied. (The numbers released to date provide little clarity on how many of the available beds are occupied.)

Oregon has long pursued a policy of deinstitutionalizing mental health care, moving patients out of large psychiatric hospitals and into treatment in their own communities.

Recent reporting from The Oregonian/OregonLive outlined how its largely failed to provide those local treatment facilities. As a result, the Oregon State Hospital, the states largest psychiatric facility, is at capacity. And Oregon ranks among worst states at addressing its residents mental health needs.

The new numbers represent the first time Oregon has made a tally of treatment beds available to the public, though staff said the state agency has been collecting data annually about its mental health beds for years.

Ladonna Lofland, the manager of the health authoritys Social Determinants of Health program  previously its housing unit  said the state has modernized its data collection. Until recently, she said, behavioral health providers made their reports on paper. They now can submit that information electronically.

She said the agency began developing a dashboard in 2021, after the Legislature allocated $1.3 billion for behavioral health.

More than $230 million was earmarked for residential care homes that provide mental health treatment. As the state began distributing grants to counties and individual providers, it also began to track the number of units that exist, as well as the new ones providers plan to build.

Were counting the beds were agreeing to help fund, she said.

Providers will be required to make annual reports to the state to show that theyre providing the beds theyve agreed to.

The state was unable to provide a full accounting of existing mental health beds when reporters inquired in 2019 and 2022. State officials provided data about the number of licensed providers, but they included facilities that were closed and did not include the current functional capacity.

Tim Heider, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said he didnt know why the agency hasnt previously made its behavioral health housing capacity public.

Most of the new mental health beds and treatment slots funded by Legislature in 2021 are expected to be supportive housingaffordable housing for people who have been chronically homeless. They come with on-site services to help residents stay housed, often including mental health care.

The state also expects to add new licensed residential facilities  group homes where patients have varying levels of independence.

Three facilities have already added new beds using these funds: A group home in Central Point added eight new beds, and homes in Hillsboro and Eugene each added five.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The flag of Azerbaijan is flying all over Karabakh, Secretary of the Security Council under the President of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Ramil Usubov, wrote in his article published in the official media, Trend reports.

"The remnants of the destroyed separatist regime have been disarmed, their leaders brought to criminal responsibility are testifying at the investigation in Baku prisons, the process of demining and disarmament of the "gray zone" is being successfully carried out," he said.

He noted that President Ilham Aliyev has solved with one attack the main task of many decades - ensuring territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutional order of Azerbaijan on the land of 86,600 square kilometers.

"The head of state was able to disarm the policy of occupation that threatened Azerbaijan for two centuries, involved in bloody genocides of our people, territorial losses of our state, dispelled illusions of "from sea to sea", at the same time he finally achieved complete formation of Azerbaijan's security system and neutralization of constant threats," Usubov said.

He added that in the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" under the leadership of victorious commander-in-chief, sacred wishes and precepts of national leader Heydar Aliyev became reality. The fact that this jubilee year was inscribed a heroic page of Azerbaijan's history, is a vivid manifestation of unwavering unity of the leader, the people, the Army, their boundless love and devotion to the bright ideals, aspirations of the national leader.

He also noted that within the framework of these processes, the main principle of the National Security Concept of Azerbaijan is that "The territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is united, inviolable and indivisible. Restoration of its territorial integrity using all means established by international law is the most important task of the national security policy of Azerbaijan". The historic victory and the anti-terrorist activities that followed realized the ultimate goal of the security system and its completeness.

"I would like to emphasize that the esteemed President Ilham Aliyev, even from the first period of his activity, having characterized the occupation of Karabakh as the main threat to national security, defined the liberation of our historical territories from the occupation of Armenia as the primary goal. He accomplished this momentous task with the skills of a true leader," Usubov emphasized.
UPDATE: A grand jury Oct. 10 indicted Zion Cochran on criminal mischief charges but not a hate crime charge. Liz Merah, a spokesperson for the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, said her office still plans to pursue a hate crime charge if it can locate a witness who reportedly heard the defendant make a hate-based statement before the attack.

A man who reportedly yelled I hate Asians before throwing dishes at a group of Asian people and later shoving a woman of Asian descent now faces a hate crime charge but is wanted because he didnt show up to his first court date last week.

Portland police originally arrested Zion Mosaih Cochran, 29, on allegations of criminal mischief for causing a few thousand dollars worth of property damage, including to parked and moving cars on the evening of Sept. 4 near the New Seasons market in Northwest Portland.

But after a witness told The Oregonian/OregonLive that from what he saw, Cochran was not only targeting cars but also people of Asian descent, police put out a public plea for any additional people who were victimized by Cochran to contact them. Its unclear if police interviewed any additional victims.

Spokespeople for the police and the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office didnt immediately respond to a request for more information.

But last week, prosecutors charged Cochran with second-degree bias crime and harassment, plus first- and second-degree criminal mischief, apparently for jumping on cars and smashing or denting them.

Police said at the time they encountered Cochran, it was clear he was in mental crisis, so they took him to a local hospital to determine if he was a danger to himself or others. Its unclear what happened after that because Cochrans medical records arent a matter of public record. He was not booked into jail.

Cochran was supposed to show up to court to hear the charges against him last week, but he didnt. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
DENVER  Oregon will provide the first gray wolves for Colorados voter-mandated reintroduction of the species, wildlife officials announced after a monthslong search for a state willing to provide the canine before a Dec. 31 deadline.

Up to 10 wolves will be supplied by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife over the winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff between December and March will capture the wolves in northeastern Oregon using helicopters and spotter planes.

Captured animals would be flown or trucked down to western Colorado for release as soon as possible.

We are deeply grateful for Oregons partnership in this endeavor, and we are now one step closer to fulfilling the will of the voters in time, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a news release.

Colorado voters in 2020 narrowly approved the reintroduction of the species to Colorado. As state wildlife officials have made detailed plans to comply, just where to obtain the wolves has been a big challenge, with several states turning down requests.

Oregon has a long history of helping other states meet their conservation goals by providing animals for translocation efforts, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Melcher said in the release. Some of our wildlife populations were also restored thanks to other states doing the same for us, including Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat.

The wolf population in northeastern Oregon is resilient and will not suffer long-term impacts from the captures, according to the news release. State officials plan to release the wolves on Colorado Parks and Wildlife land between Glenwood Springs, Vail and the Roaring Fork Valley.

Although Oregon wildlife officials will help by sharing information about wolf locations, the release says Colorado will be responsible for all costs of capturing and transporting the wolves. All captured wolves will be tested and treated for disease on-site in Oregon. Those with significant injuries  such as missing eyes or mange  wont be transported to Colorado.

The wolf reintroduction ballot measure drew heavy support from voters along the Front Range, but the wolves will be released west of the Continental Divide.

Many ranchers across the state have opposed the reintroduction, saying wolves pose a threat to their livestock, domestic animals and families. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offered one bit of assurance, saying Friday that officials will make efforts to transplant wolves that have not been involved in repeated depredations.

Erin Karney, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemens Association, underlined that as a chief concern ranchers will be watching. The agency also needs to reach out to ranchers in the areas they have selected as possible release sites, she said.

CPW should be doing that proactively now so those producers can prepare, Karney said.

Wolves were killed off in Colorado by 1940, though a few wolves have been recorded in the state since 2020. Colorado is the first state government to reintroduce gray wolves.

This is really a historic effort, said Michael Saul, Rockies and Plains field director for Defenders of Wildlife. Its the first time a state has chosen to bring back this amazing and ecologically important carnivore, and all the biological and legal pieces seem to be coming together to get it done on time. Were keeping our fingers crossed to see paws on the ground by New Years.

But the work isnt over yet, Saul said. Colorado officials will need multiple sources of wolves to fulfill its plan of releasing between 30 and 50 wolves in the state over the next five years.

In a plan finalized in May, wildlife officials had identified Idaho, Montana or Wyoming as ideal sources of wolves. But none of those states agreed to share their wolves, citing the complications of managing wolf packs in their states.

The plan also identified Oregon and Washington as backup options for source populations. Washington State officials are open to providing wolves in the future but said they would not be able to do so this calendar year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials previously said.

This is a multi-year process and hopefully the start of what has the potential to be one of the great wildlife and ecological recovery successes of our time, Saul said.

-- Elise Schmelzer

The Denver Post (TNS)

2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 10. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye Hakan Fidan has arrived in Azerbaijan's Shusha, Trend reports from the scene.

Turkish minister is currently participating in the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The Council of Ministers (COM) is the highest policy and decision-making body of the ECO. It comprises the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States who meet in regular, informal, and extraordinary sessions. The Council of Ministers may, if deemed necessary, propose the convening of meetings of other ministers in the formulation of plans and projects in their respective fields through sectoral or joint ministerial meetings.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Al Dbaiba, has affirmed that his government is capable of carrying out the task of rebuilding affected areas in eastern Libya following the passage of the storm
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA)  Mauritius Health and Wellness Minister Kailesh Kumar Jagutpal said Tuesday the objective of celebrating World Mental Health Day is to further destigmatize and raise awareness that mental health affects each and everyone
New York, US (PANA)  Rwandan authorities and their proxies are using violence, judicial mechanisms, and intimidation to try to silence criticism from Rwandans living around the world, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published on Tuesday
New York, US (PANA) - The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected 15 new countries to serve on the Human Rights Council, with Peru and Russia failing to secure a seat
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 10. The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization has kicked off in the city of Shusha, Trend reports from the scene.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and foreign ministers of the countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization are taking part in the event.

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye. In addition, seven countries joined the ECO on November 28, 1992. At the moment, the organization includes 10 member countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan.

The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the ECO in the city of Shusha is being held within the framework of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the ECO in 2023. At the initiative of Azerbaijan, the theme of the organization this year is "Green Transition and Mutual Ties.".

Participation in the meeting of six countries takes place at the level of foreign ministers (Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).

In general, the meeting will include an introductory speech and statement by Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, statements by representatives of member countries and observers, international partners and specialized ECO structures, and discussion of other issues on the agenda of the meeting.

Moreover, it is planned to hold a press conference with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and ECO Secretary General Khusrav Noziri.
Norske Skog Completes Sale of Its Shuttered Tasman Newsprint Mill in New Zealand

Norske Skog shutdown the Tasman mill in New Zealand in June of 2021. The mill had the capacity to produce 150,000 tonnes per year of newsprint. Norske Skog shutdown the Tasman mill in New Zealand in June of 2021. The mill had the capacity to produce 150,000 tonnes per year of newsprint.

Oct. 10, 2023 - Norske Skog today completed a transaction for the sale of the Tasman mill industrial site and remaining mill assets to the Australasian pulp, paper, and packaging group Oji Fibre Solutions for approximately NOK 70 million (NZD 10.9 million).

Norske Skog said the sale of the mill site and realization of certain other related assets, including buildings, electricity equipment, piping, water, and other infrastructure, will generate a total financial gain on sale of approximately NOK 57 million (NZD 8.8 million).

"We are pleased to finally have concluded this sales agreement with Oji after lengthy process of negotiations and obtaining all required regulatory approvals for the sale," said Geir Drangsland, President and CEO of Norske Skog. "The sale of the Tasman industrial site to Oji is a material steps towards concluding Norske Skog's long-term business commitment in New Zealand."

Following this transaction with Oji, Norske Skog only retains some rural land areas and some other land areas previously used for industrial landfilling and water treatment facilities where there are ongoing processes to complete the required closure steps before a sale process will be executed also for these areas.

Background

Since the initiation of the strategic review in New Zealand in October 2020, a process made necessary by the secular decline of the publication paper industry and the impact of COVID-19, Norske Skog has explored a range of alternatives for the Tasman mill. Following a careful review, Norske Skog decided to close the Tasman mill and sell the mill's assets.

Production at the Tasman mill ceased in June 2021, reducing Norske Skog's newsprint capacity by approximately 150,000 tonnes per year.

Norske Skog noted that the Tasman mill produced very limited volumes of newsprint during 2021.

Norske Skog is a leading producer of publication paper with strong market positions and customer relations in Europe and Australasia. The Norske Skog Group operates four mills in Europe, which produce publication paper, recycled packaging paper, energy and bioproducts.

SOURCE: Norske Skog
Photo: (Photo : Duncan Kidd on Unsplash)

The serenity of Nirim, a picturesque village located near the Gaza Strip, offered its residents a life that was seemingly removed from the unrest that occasionally bubbled up in the larger region. For the Labban family, recent UK-Israeli transplants, their joy knew no bounds with the birth of their baby Kai. However, life took a treacherous turn when Hamas militants launched a brutal assault on their village.

A Village Engulfed: Homes Destroyed and Lives Shattered

Amidst the ominous sounds of destruction, Aimee and Uriel Labban faced a mother and father's worst nightmare: the safety of their newborn.

Their family home, once filled with the echoes of their newborn's cries, was engulfed in flames, set ablaze by Hamas militants. To make matters worse, their car was destroyed, and their beloved pet, Mickey, tragically lost to the violence. This distressing turn of events drew international attention with The Telegraph, among other news outlets, shedding light on the plight of innocent families caught in the crossfire.

Russell Langer, a relative close to the Labban family, was a beacon of support during this challenging time. Through him, the world learned of the terrifying conditions inside the family's safe room.

He described, "The smoke grew denser by the minute. To ensure Kai could breathe, they had to hoist him to a window to inhale whatever fresh air was left." For those grueling hours, that tiny window became their only connection to the outside world and hope.

As the Labbans battled fear in their safe room, similar heart-wrenching tales were unfolding in the region. Emma Segev, originally from Eastbourne, England, relayed her sister-in-law's dire circumstances in Be'eri.

Surrounded by fire and desperate to protect her children, she decided to abandon their burning home, seeking temporary refuge amidst the foliage. Segev's recounting was palpable: "The heat was unbearable. Every second counted. They had to act swiftly, or the inferno would claim them."

Read Also: Pregnant Ukrainian Mom Leaves War-torn Country To Deliver Baby in Las Vegas

Global Concerns Rise: Blinken Voices Alarm

In what can only be termed a stroke of fortune amidst the dire circumstances, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) swiftly intervened. The Labbans, along with other families in distress, were rescued from the jaws of a horrifying fate. Emerging from the smoky remnants of their homes, the resilience of individuals like baby Kai stood out, mirroring the collective spirit of a community determined to rebuild and endure.

The widespread impact of the Hamas attacks has sent shockwaves internationally. There's growing concern for the safety of not just Israelis but also the international diaspora residing there. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, has expressed growing apprehensions regarding American nationals' safety as multiple reports of American casualties and missing individuals continue to surface.

Such poignant and deeply unsettling stories from the heart of conflict zones remind the global community of the urgency of peace. The Labban family's narrative, and countless others like it, highlight the invaluable price of human life and the desperate need to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation over division. As these tales continue to unfold, there's a fervent hope that they will become catalysts for change and harbingers of a peaceful future.

Related Article: Human Trafficking Problem Surfaces in War-torn Ukraine After Chinese Pair Caught Smuggling Babies


Photo: (Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS /Getty Images)

Amidst the rising debate on LGBTQ sex education in the United States, a significant number of LGBTQ students report feeling a conspicuous absence of content pertinent to their identities.

Stella Gage, a sophomore at Wichita State University, becomes a poignant representation of this demographic, underscoring the deficiencies of current educational programs.

Sparse Landscape of LGBTQ Sex Education in Schools

Stella Gage's introduction to sex education started unremarkably in fifth grade with a basic video on puberty. Come ninth grade, the scope barely broadened, highlighting potential risks associated with sexual behaviors. Yet, through it all, the curriculum glossed over LGBTQ-specific nuances. Gage's lament mirrors the frustrations of many LGBTQ students.

"My parents were mostly absent, my peers immature, and with no one else to turn to, I ventured online," Gage admitted.

With traditional educational channels failing them, a growing number of LGBTQ students are relying on platforms like social media and online resources.

A recent survey released in August indicated that a mere 13.8 % of 12,615 LGBTQ+ students acknowledged having been exposed to LGBTQ+ history during their schooling.

The study, conducted jointly by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the University of Connecticut, predominantly gathered data from high school attendees, with a minority from middle school and college. The majority of the respondents attended public schools, and the data was collected in 2022.

The limited exposure of LGBTQ+ students to queer history in educational settings was highlighted by Ryan Watson, an associate professor at the University of Connecticut and the primary investigator of the study.

Watson expressed his astonishment, noting that the demand for such inclusive education has been persistent. He recalled that similar calls for inclusivity were made a decade ago.

Furthermore, Watson emphasized that integrating diversity and LGBTQ+ perspectives in school curricula is not a political move, although state legislatures seem to be taking an increasing interest in the matter.

GOP-Led States, Their Impact on Inclusive Sex Education

The debate over LGBTQ sex education isn't just about curriculum; it's deeply political. Recent legislation targeting the LGBTQ community has found footing, particularly in GOP-led states.

Some high-ranking officials, even those eyeing the presidential seat under the Republican banner, vehemently advocate for the stripping away of LGBTQ content from academic environments. This political divide brings to light the vast inconsistencies in the nation's sex education approaches.

For instance, organizations such as Planned Parenthood ardently champion an inclusive sex education paradigm. In stark contrast, states like Texas harbor archaic beliefs.

Their penal code, astonishingly, still contains provisions suggesting that homosexuality is both unacceptable and a criminal offense-a stance deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court nearly two decades ago.

Read Also: 13-Year-Old Boy Fatally Stabbed on MTA Bus: Heroic Retired NYPD Sergeant Detains Suspect

Online Ventures: Navigating the Murky Waters of the Internet

For LGBTQ students, the search for understanding and validation often leads them to the vast expanse of the internet. While it can be a treasure trove of information, the internet also houses a labyrinth of misleading and sometimes harmful content.

Peter Adams of the News Literacy Project offers a word of caution, emphasizing that political controversies, especially those surrounding LGBTQ sex education, intensify the generation of disinformation online. Yet, it's not all bleak. There are voices within the LGBTQ community and its allies advocating for a constructive use of the web.

Ashton Gerber, a student at Tufts University, suggests educators can help by directing students towards credible online resources, ensuring they have access to accurate, relevant information.

In the modern age, the quest for comprehensive and inclusive sex education has never been more urgent. "Decisions about our sexuality and reproductive health are pivotal. It's crucial that they're rooted in informed understanding," Gage opined.

The underlying message is resonant and clear: The current paradigm, particularly in GOP-led states, must evolve.

As the narrative on LGBTQ representation in schools gathers momentum, it's evident that the voices of LGBTQ students, like Gage and Gerber, will be pivotal in shaping the future of inclusive sex education.

Related Article: Oklahoma Judge Upholds Controversial Ban on Youth Gender Transition Care
[see book and purchase information]

The late Steve Hays (1959-2020) was a Calvinist (and anti-Catholic) apologist, who was very active on his blog, called Triablogue (now continued by Jason Engwer). His words will be in blue.

*****

Steve Hays wrote an article on 11 July 2009 entitled, Scripture-twisting for Catholicism. It was a response to my article, Paul Prayed for Dead Onesiphorus (Protestant Commentaries). Per his usual pathetic modus operandi, Steve didnt see fit to link to my article, so people could see 1) exactly what he was responding to, and 2) another (Catholic) perspective, backed up in this instance to various degrees by Protestant commentators. I suppose that was asking too much of him. We know that no such fairness was extended, since 1) Steve was anti-Catholic, and 2) personally detested me. Just five days after he wrote this article, after all, he described me as hypersensitive, paranoid, an ego-maniac, with a martyr and persecution complex (7-16-09), and three months earlier (4-13-09), I was, according to him, supposedly a narcissistic little jerk and actually evil.

With such a view, we would fully expect to see bans and blocks. I tried to make some kind of response in the combox. If you take a look at it, youll see that the words, Comment has been blocked appear four times. That was me, of course. Readers can see many asinine anti-Catholics in the combox insulting me in their usual inane, vapid fashion. None of this behavior and action suggests a confidence in their own viewpoints, does it? The confident person who understands and can defend his or her view and critique others, has an open-minded, bring it on approach, and isnt scared to link to opposing views, to attempt to rebut them point-by-point, or to allow the opponent to have their say in comboxes underneath critiques.

I want people to be aware of how self-defeating, absurd views like anti-Catholicism cause otherwise rational folks to become irrational, and also (usually) how they tend to cause them to express personal derision and detestation  if not sometimes outright hatred  towards Catholics. Thats why I bring these things up. It reveals a great deal and casts doubt on the credibility of those who publicly express such slanderous thoughts. They cant even rise to rudimentary Christian ethical standards. Wouldnt it have been nice if Steve Hays had actually fully addressed and interacted with my article? But here is what he stated, with my replies:

2 Timothy 1:16-18 (RSV) May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, [17] but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me  [18] may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day  and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

1) If Paul shared the Catholic view of Purgatory, then why would he merely offer a prayer in passing for the departed soul of Onesiphorous? Wouldnt we expect Paul to celebrate a requiem mass on behalf of Onesiphorus?

2) Likewise, why doesnt Paul pray to Mary, Queen of Heaven, to intercede on behalf of Onesiphorus?

He may have done either thing or both. We simply dont know. The text doesnt say one way or another. Thus, Steves argument is a weak and insubstantial one from silence. The biblical text states that Paul prayed that God would have mercy on Onesiphorus on judgment day. This is what Hays had to grapple with, if he wanted to argue like a serious Calvinist apologist, seeing that Calvinism rejects the view that Christians ought to pray for the souls of departed human beings. Why did Paul pray for a dead person?! How can this be?! But he doesnt ever really do that. He skirts around the edges of the discussion, obfuscates, engages in cynically hostile and intellectually unserious obscurantism, and sophistry. This is what he almost always did when engaging Catholic arguments.

3) Its striking to see the way in which Armstrong misquotes Guthrie, to plant the false impression that Guthrie supports his interpretation. To the contrary, Guthrie is summarizing an interpretation he disagrees with as a preliminary step to then present his contrary interpretation.

It didnt take long before the utterly unfounded attacks against my intellectual honesty began. Of course I did no such thing, and I think Steve was more than intelligent enough to know that. Thus, this amounts to a deliberate lie. I never stated that Donald Guthrie supported my interpretation. Nor did I even imply it. I simply cited ten Protestant commentators with regard to this issue, who exhibited the usual partial agreement and partial disagreement. Guthrie was cited precisely because of his witness concerning what other Protestant commentators believed, in agreement with Catholicism:

Since it is assumed by many scholars that Onesiphorus was by now dead, the question has been raised whether this sanctions prayer for the dead. Roman Catholic theologians claim that it does. Spicq, for instance, sees here an example of prayer for the dead unique in the New Testament. Some Protestants agree with this judgment and cite the Jewish precedent of 2 Macc 12:43-45 . . .

The point here is Guthrie noting that many [Protestant] scholars hold that Onesiphorus was by now dead. It follows (if they are correct) that Paul prayed for a dead man, and Guthrie, though he disagrees with the conclusion, notes that some Protestants think this exhibits prayer for the dead. I did exactly the same thing in citing evangelical (?) / open theist John E. Sanders, writing, Some scholars contend that 2 Timothy 1:16-18 contains a reference to praying for the dead . . . [my italics].

Did I claim that Sanders himself believed this? No. He  like Guthrie  was cited as a hostile witness, which is always a good argument, because we know such a person has no bias in favor of the Catholic position, and is simply citing facts about what some other fellow Protestant scholars believe. But Hays (due to his seething contempt, I say) apparently had a hard time grasping the nature of my argument, and so could only accuse me of misquoting Guthrie, and by logical extension, also Sanders. Its a bum rap!

4) Armstrong also passes over in silence the various commentators who take issue with his interpretation (e.g. Knight, Liefeld, Marshall, Mounce, Towner).

This is just stupid. I was not obliged to cite every Bible scholar alive and dead with regard to the passage in question. The point of my paper was to show that some Protestant commentators agree that it is consistent with an interpretation that Paul was praying for the dead; therefore, not only Catholics believe that Paul prayed for dead Onesiphorus. Obviously other Protestants disagree. Its doubly foolish for Steve to make this charge, in light of the fact that I had already done some of what he called for, five years earlier, in one of my books, which I alluded to in the first part of the article:

I have written about this issue in the past; notably in my book, The Catholic Verses [2004], pp. 169-174, and in A Biblical Defense of Catholicism [2003; completed in 1996], pp. 141-143.

In the former work, I addressed and critiqued nine very prominent Protestant commentators: all of whom disagreed with the Catholic interpretation to some extent, or a great extent. This was the very purpose of that book: to analyze how Protestants attempt to deal with ostensibly Catholic verses in the Bible. I summarized the data in a chart and then gave my $00.02 cents worth:

To summarize this somewhat amusing confusion and catalogue of evasive and rationalizing techniques, and what to do when faced with a Bible text utterly at odds with ones own theology, I offer the following chart: Commentator .Was Onesiphorus Dead?..Did Paul Pray? New Bible Commentary .Possibly .Yes

Jamieson, Fausset, Brown .No .Yes

A.T. Robertson .Apparently ..Wishing

Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia..Possibly Pious wish

New Bible Dictionary No position .Yes

Adam Clarke No position .Maybe

Matthew Henry .Probably not Yes

Albert Barnes .No ..Yes

John Calvin .No ..Yes The tally of nine prominent examples is as follows: apparently dead (one), possibly dead (two), agnostic position (two), probably not dead (one), and not dead (three). Thats about even, depending on how one grades the undecided votes. As for whether Paul prayed, that is less uncertain: yes votes (six), maybe (one), and description of his sentiments as wishing (two). On the question of how possible or likely it is that Paul prayed for the dead, three rule it out altogether, holding that Onesiphorus was alive; two do not state whether they believe he was alive, so we cannot determine their position; one allows a distinct possibility, another, a slight one, and two admit some possibility, depending on whether one construes wishing as synonymous or similar to prayer. All this confusion and disagreement suggests that Protestants really have no coherent explanation of this passage and that (quite possibly, given oft-evidenced hostility to Catholicism in these same writers) the desperation and strained nature of much of this interpretation is indicative of their attempts to avoid arriving at conclusions harmonious with Catholic theology. (pp. 173-174)

Ironically, Guthrie was actually mentioned, since he wrote the relevant portion of The New Bible Commentary. He partially agrees with us, as I explained:

The well-known Evangelical Protestant work, The New Bible Commentary (Guthrie, 1178; commentary by Guthrie himself) takes the astounding position that Onesiphorus is probably dead (citing 2 Tim. 4:19), yet holds that Paul was praying for his conduct during life; thus avoiding any implication of prayer for the dead. One might say that this is a distinction without a difference. (pp. 170-171)

I had also cited Guthrie, Robertson, and Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown in A Biblical Defense of Catholicism. Steve made the potshot that I passed over in silence those commentators who disagree with me (implying that I was scared to deal with them). In this particular article I didnt deal with them, since I had no intellectual obligation to do so. But in both of my books above I did straightforwardly address and critique those commentators who disagree with us (in toto or in part).

Later on, I wrote the article, Was Onesiphorus Dead When Paul Prayed for Him?: Data from 16 Protestant Commentaries (1992-2016) [3-20-17]. Here I distinguished between five of the commentaries that regarded Onesiphorus as dead or likely dead and eleven that took a possibly dead or neutral stance. But Steve Hays gave no argument whatsoever, either way. His only goal was to attack my intellectual integrity and competence as a researcher (and to allow the usual childish mocking by his sycophants in the combox). I address the issue head on. But he merely skirts it and unseriously plays with it.

5) Assuming, for the sake of argument, that this is a prayer for the dead, how are the specifics of this prayer consistent with Catholic dogma?

At least he is now being semi-serious, but I would argue that it is a rather poor and poorly thought-through objection. Paul appears here to be praying for Onesiphorus in a sense that even Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists agree with. Martin Luther wrote:

[S]ince God has not permitted us to know, how it is with the souls of the departed and we must continue uninformed, as to how he deals with them, we will not and cannot restrain them, nor count it as sin, if they pray for the dead. For we are ever certain from the Gospel, that many have been raised from the dead, who, we must confess, did not receive nor did they have their final sentence; and likewise we are not assured of any other, that he has his final sentence. Now since it is uncertain and no one knows, whether final judgment has been passed upon these souls, it is not sin if you pray for them; but in this way, that you let it rest in uncertainty and speak thus: Dear God, if the departed souls be in a state that they may yet be helped, then I pray that thou wouldst be gracious. And when you have thus prayed once or twice, then let it be sufficient and commend them unto God. For God has promised that when we pray to him for anything he would hear us. . . . the prayer of the heart, of devotion and of faith; . . . will help the departed souls if anything will. (Sermon for the First Sunday after Trinity; Luke 16:19-31, 1522-1523; in Sermons of Martin Luther, The Church Postils; edited and partially translated by John Nicholas Lenker, 8 volumes. Volumes 1-5 were originally published in Minneapolis by Lutherans of All Lands, 1904-1906. This sermon is found in vol. 4) It is enough to pray God once or twice for her [his dead wife], as He has said to us: Whatsoever ye ask, believing, ye shall receive. If we keep always praying for the same thing it is a sign that we do not believe that our first prayers are answered, and unbelieving prayers only anger Him. (To Bartholomew von Starenberg, 1 Sep. 1524; in Luthers Correspondence and Other Contemporary Letters, Vol. II: 1521-1530; translated and edited by Preserved Smith and Charles M. Jacobs [Philadelphia: The Lutheran Publication Society: 1918]) As for the dead, since Scripture gives us no information on the subject, I regard it as no sin to pray with free devotion in this or some similar fashion: Dear God, if this soul is in a condition accessible to mercy, be thou gracious to it. And when this has been done once or twice, let it suffice. (Confession Concerning Christs Supper, Feb. 1528, tr. Robert H. Fischer; in Luthers Works, vol. 37)

Luthers successor Philip Melanchthon wrote in 1530 in his Apology to the Augsburg Confession (article XXIV, 94), which is binding on Lutherans:

Now, as regards the adversaries citing the Fathers concerning the offering for the dead, we know that the ancients speak of prayer for the dead, which we do not prohibit; . . .

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed in prayer for the dead (see several examples).

C. S. Lewis, the famous Anglican apologist, believed in praying for the dead and in purgatory (see several examples).

Is Pauls prayer consistent with Catholic dogma? Absolutely, for the simple reason that Paul didnt know with certainty whether Onesiphorus was eschatologically (finally) saved or not. Hes praying for his soul, to be saved, just as he often prayed for those he knew on earth to be saved in the end.

Paul is praying that Onesiphorus will find mercy on the Day of Judgment. But if Onesiphorus went to Purgatory when he died, then its a sure thing that he will find mercy on the Day of Judgment. By definition, Purgatory is reserved for heaven-bound decedents (in Catholic dogma).

Correct, but again, Paul didnt know for sure whether he was saved (in which case he likely would have gone to purgatory, but maybe not). Because of this lack of knowledge about his status, he prays for his soul to be saved. Steve erroneously assumes that Paul, and by extension all Catholics, somehow have or claim infallible knowledge about the fate of departed souls. So, nice try, but no cigar.

Praying for the dead in Purgatory is a prayer to hasten their progress in Purgatory. To expedite their entrance into heaven. Its not a prayer for postmortem salvationas if their eternal fate still hangs in the balance.

Indeed that is true (complete with one of Steves patented incomplete sentences). But Steve assumes (with no evidence, and none even proffered) that Paul is praying for him to be released from purgatory, rather than praying for his salvation. The actual text strongly suggests the latter and is silent on the former. If that is so, then all of this is a moot point, which was usually the only kind of point that Steve made, when addressing the topic of any and all Catholic beliefs. Catholics are free to pray for the salvation of a soul (whose final destiny we are not certain of), or for a quicker release from purgatory, if indeed the soul is in purgatory (which we cant know for certain). The two are not mutually exclusive. There is no problem here. Steve only mistakenly thought there was a supposed difficulty, because, as usual, he didnt properly understand Catholic theology.

He surely does now, though. No more games. Please pray for his soul.

*****

*

Summary: The late Calvinist Steve Hays tried to vainly argue that I was dishonest and out to sea in arguing that St. Paul prayed for the dead man Onesiphorus (2 Tim 1:16-18).
Wine is not an emulator like Qemu or a virtualization environment like Virtualbox, but a runtime environment that aims to emulate the Windows API on Linux. This API mapping is not complete, but it is comprehensive enough for many Windows programs to run on the Linux desktop.

Wine began as a hobby project 30 years ago at the time of Windows 3.1 with its 16-bit API. After a simple Hello World program, it quickly succeeded in getting Solitaire to run. With Windows 95, Wine had to support the new 32-bit API and soon showed impressive partial success, so Corel invested in further development of Wine from 1999 to 2000 to use it for the then popular Wordperfect.

In the meantime, further development disintegrated into commercial branches, which scared off many open-source developers and hindered progress. Wine was revived by Google in 2006, because at that time Wine served as a compatibility layer for the Linux version of Picasa. Google thus saved itself a complete porting of Picasa to Linux.

Not as fresh as new, but happy with Wine 8: Older Windows programs usually run better under Wine than completely new versions. Installation instructions help with Wine configuration. IDG

Today, the gaming scene and especially Valve with its Wine-based compatibility layer Proton is the driving force behind Wine. After all, Microsofts office package MS Office is no longer in focus now that a cloud variant, Office 365, runs in the browser  even under Linux. This does not apply to games  and that is why the development of Wine continues undaunted.

Progress of Wine 8

The now available version 8 of Wine marks a milestone in the development and supports more current programs and games again. This is made possible by the conversion of the Wine modules to the format of portable executables, which some games require. In addition, Wine can now run 32-bit programs in its 64-bit environment without having to install all the required libraries in 32-bit on the host system.

This article therefore shows how to set up a current Wine edition in Ubuntu 22.04/23.04 and the first steps to configure this environment for Windows programs. Today, Wine simulates all Windows versions from XP to 11, although the emulation of Windows 10/11 has not yet matured in all details.

Appdb: Does a Windows program work?

Simple applications run immediately and without problems after installation with little preparation, complex programs often need some manual configuration. For difficult candidates such as Adobe Photoshop, which in version CS6 also runs well under Linux with Wine 8, there are alternatives and installation aids. Even though the progress made by Wine developers is astonishing, in practice there are still a number of programs that require special rules for the libraries used.

Whether a Windows program runs in Wine does not have to be determined empirically by trial and error. It is always worth taking a look at the searchable application database http://appdb.winehq.org before installing and working with Wine.

It shows how good or bad the support is for certain programs. Applications are given a status according to the categories platinum, gold, silver, bronze, or rubbish, depending on the reports of Wine users who are keen to experiment and share their results. All applications categorized below Gold status usually run only after a few pull-ups or under Wine alternatives such as Crossover. After clicking on Show, many entries show a mini-guide with installation instructions, which can sometimes be demanding. It is always important to know the version number of Wine, because many programs will only run with newer versions such as 7 or 8.

Crossover: For difficult cases A utility based on Wine, which major Wine developers are also working on, is the commercial Crossover from Codeweavers. This is not simply a fork of the original Wine source code, but an extension. It is always close to the current Wine, but has a few more libraries on board for improved compatibility with Windows programs. A look at the program database of Crossover: What does not work satisfactorily in Wine may run in this extended, but commercial Wine offshoot. IDG Crossover specializes in typical office applications such as Microsoft Office. It offers a graphical interface for installing and managing Windows programs. Crossover is not open source, but a commercially distributed program that starts at $74 euros. A 14-day evaluation version allows a free test (after registration with a mail address). Codeweavers provides a suitable binary package as RPM and DEB for the various Linux distributions. After the simple installation via the package manager, a graphical user interface takes over the further setup, for example for the required Truetype fonts. The search at www.codeweavers.com/compatibility shows which programs in particular really work with Crossover. The developers point out that Crossover 22.x is still based on Wine 7.7 (Wine 8 is the impetus for Crossover 23, which is to appear at the end of 2023).

Ubuntu: Install the latest Wine

In Ubuntu (and Linux Mint) of all places, Wine is only available in an outdated version in the standard package sources. We want to settle for nothing less than the latest Wine here, direct from the developers. The first step towards this is to include 32-bit package sources, because Wine 8 still requires a whole lot of libraries for best compatibility:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

A directory for the signatures of the Wine packages is created by the command:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings

and

sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

downloads the keychain for verifying the packages. The inclusion of the package sources in Ubuntu is done by specifying the codename of the Ubuntu version, jammy for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and also for Linux Mint:

sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/dists/jammy/winehq-jammy.source

Ubuntu 23.04 (from April 2023) asks for lunar instead of jammy. The two commands then install:

sudo apt update sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable

will install the latest stable Wine version.

Configure Wine environment

Replaces individual Windows libraries: Some programs require winecfg to replace the supplied Wine libraries with original Windows DLLs. IDG

After installing Wine, the first step is to start the winecfg configuration program. The program creates an environment for Wine in the hidden folder .wine in the home directory. There it creates an image of the Windows registry in the form of text files as well as the application files of future installed programs in the subdirectory ~/.wine/drive_c. In addition, winecfg checks the runtime environment for completeness and offers, for example, to install the .NET runtime Wine-Mono, which must be confirmed in a dialogue.

In this way, winecfg creates the first standard configuration on its own and then displays the further Windows-style settings dialogue. Here, the most important options for fine-tuning are available  for example, to adjust the display, to select an audio device for the sound output, or to add original Windows libraries. An important point is the assignment of virtual drive letters to directories, which is done under Drive. This point may be necessary if a Windows program asks for an inserted setup CD for installation or start-up.

Winetricks: Important settings

However, the winecfg tool only represents a small part of the settings and many options can only be edited directly in Wines configuration files. A handy script called winetricks relieves users of frequently needed tasks and adjustments via simple, graphic menus. The script is distribution-independent, but requires the packages zenity and cabextract, which are retrofitted in Ubuntu/Mint with:

sudo apt install zenity cabextract

in Ubuntu/Mint.

It is best to install the script in its current version directly from the developers server. In the shell, enter

wget http://winetricks.org/winetricks

in the shell to download the script file winetricks into the current directory, where you can then start it by means of

sh winetricks

to start it.

After asking whether actions for statistical evaluation should be sent to the Wine developers, the important options are available via the item Select default Wine prefix. The following menu allows the installation of frequently needed DLLs and fonts, as the installation instructions of the Appdb database state in each case. For a shortcut, however, winetricks can also be started with command line parameters.

Tips: Most Windows programs require the standard fonts, which are available for installation under Install font > corefonts. In addition, further Wine parameters can be edited via Change Wine settings. It is recommended to activate fontsmooth=gray here, because this significantly improves the display of fonts in Windows programs.

Without the corefonts little is possible: Some adjustments in the graphic configuration tool winecfg are essential for Windows programs in Wine. Original DLLs can also be installed here. IDG

Own environments for programs

Windows programs that need many libraries and settings of their own can in turn be dangerous for other functioning applications in Wine. Wine therefore offers the possibility of several independent environments with their own directories (prefix). To create a new Wine environment, for example as .wine-test, use this call in the terminal window:

env WINEPREFIX=~/.wine-test winecfg

The directory ~/.wine-test is automatically created and equipped with a standard configuration. To ensure that this alternative environment is also used for further configuration with winecfg or winetricks, it must be specified when calling up the tools:

env WINEPREFIX=~/.wine-test sh winetricks

The prefix is also important for executing setup programs or Windows applications:

env WINEPREFIX=~/.wine-test wine /media/cdrom/setup.exe

In the case of automatically created program starters for an installed application, Wine automatically adds the appropriate prefix as a start parameter.

A prefix is also used to create separate environments for 32-bit under 64-bit systems. Winecfg creates a 64-bit environment for Wine by default, under which some 32-bit programs do not run  not even in the latest Wine 8. To specifically create a 32-bit environment in the folder ~/.wine32 for older Windows software, use the following command:

WINEPREFIX=~/.wine32 WINEARCH='win32' winecfg

Winetricks must also be started with the prefix in order to install fonts or DLLs here or to set options:

WINEPREFIX=~/.wine32 WINEARCH='win32' winecfg

Tips: For experimentation, it is always advisable to install programs in their own Wine prefixes so as not to interfere with other Windows applications. If a program refuses to work, simply delete the directory with the respective prefix from the data carrier. A directory can also be backed up as a whole or transferred to another Linux computer running Wine, because the Wine prefix always contains all settings and files.

Borrowings: Retrofitting original DLLs

For licensing reasons, Wine is not allowed to deliver Windows components. However, some Windows programs have special requirements that the API does not meet, even with Wine 8. They require original Windows libraries.

Winetricks offers a series of libraries via the submenu Install Windows DLL and in most cases downloads an update package from the Microsoft servers. If a program requires a very special DLL, the library can also be copied from an existing Windows system into the Wine directory ~/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32. Then go to the configuration of winecfg and select the desired library under Libraries > New override for. The item Set creates a new rule, which you can then change with Edit. The setting Native uses the existing, original Windows DLL in the subfolder system32 instead of the built-in library of Wine 8. The script winetricks creates these rules on its own when installing DLLs.

Playonlinux: Installation help

Another option for setting up a selection of particularly popular Windows programs in Wine is the front-end Playonlinux. It provides installation aids to persuade even difficult candidates with many adjustments to run. Playonlinux takes care of the necessary Wine settings on its own and installs individual applications in their own Wine environments (prefix). Unfortunately, the development of Playonlinux has been lying idle for a while. Only in Ubuntu and Linux Mint is it still included in the standard sources and can be installed via the software center or the command line with:

sudo apt install playonlinux

Virtual machines: Windows complete If Wine or Crossover fail with Windows programs that are extremely important for your work, you can always use a virtual machine. A Windows installed there only has access to emulated hardware, but the loss of performance is hardly noticeable on modern computers. The simplest solution for virtualization under Linux is Oracle Virtualbox. In order not to have to constantly handle an additional window in which a virtualized Windows is running, the seamless mode can be used under Linux. This shows individual program windows from the VM on the Linux desktop.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has urged the Ministry of Finance to consider tax exemption for anti-retroviral drugs, consumables and other medical equipment currently stuck at the ports.



In addition, Akandoh has called for implementation of an automated tax exempted waiver system for medical consumables and equipment to help curtail what it described as needless delays in clearing such items at the port.



His call follows the alleged neglect of donated containers of HIV anti-retroviral drugs since July 2023 at the ports, which has created shortages for Persons Living with HIV.



In a statement Akandoh signed and issued on Friday [Oct 6, 2023] as the ranking member on the Health Committee of Parliament, he called for the institution of reforms at Ministry of Finance to help ensure that systemic failures that lead to needless delays in the performance of its functions are eradicated.





Attached below is a copy of the statement



MINORITY DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ISSUANCE OF TAX EXEMPTION WAIVERS AND CLEARANCE OF DONATED ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS AT THE PORTS.



The Minority in Parliament finds it unconscionable gross dereliction of duty that government officials in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance will leave, since July 2023, donated containers of HIV anti-retroviral drugs at the ports creating needless shortages for Persons Living with HIV.



Ghanas National HIV and AIDS Programme is challenged on several fronts but key amongst them is funding and lack of commitment by the Akufo-Addo government, in particular, to prioritize the eradication of HIV/AIDS although the First Lady serves as an Ambassador of the Ghana AIDS Commission.



Funding for HIV/AIDS programmes in Ghana has largely been shouldered by donor partners with government making contributions in the form of maintenance of the Ghana AIDS Commission and paying counterpart funds in co-financing agreements with donor partners.



There have however been gaps in funding programmes such as educational campaigns and treatment. These funding gaps have increased due in part to governments lack of commitment to the HIV/AIDS fight as a whole.



In 2019, even before COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, Ghana lost more than $19m from PEPFAR and $2m from the Global Fund due to failure to meet its co-funding obligations. From 2021 to 2023 government had co-financing obligations of $17,138,222 to the Global Fund but paid only US$4,202,698 leaving a balance of approximately $13m.



Ghana currently risks losing another $13m by early next year due to its continuous failure to pay its share of counterpart funds to Global Fund.



In summary, for the period 2021 to 2025 even with donor support, Ghana is facing a funding gap of US$445m which represents about 67% of the total cost of the National HIV & AIDS Programme. Government cannot continue to be derelict in its duty to pay counterpart funds since this will widen the funding gap and exacerbate the HIV/AIDS challenge in

Ghana.



Already, PLHIV are suffering the brunt of governments lack of commitment to HIV/AIDS programme with some experiencing increasing health challenges because they are required to pay out of pocket for HIV services which are supposed to be free.



There are many regimens in advanced countries to help manage HIV conditions but Persons Living with HIV in Ghana have fewer options with a large majority relying on Abacavir Lamivudine regimen to suppress their viral loads, keep them healthy and productive, and reduce new HIV infections.



It therefore smacks of gross insensitivity and wickedness that having failed to pay its share of counterpart funding for Ghanas HIV/AIDS programme, the Akufo Addo government will now add on to its long list of reckless and irresponsible acts, excessive delays in the issuance of tax waivers required to clear donated antiretroviral drugs at the port.



This act of gross insensitivity is threatening to upset Ghanas HIV virus eradication agenda and unfortunately creating a fertile ground for the spread of the virus under these difficult economic conditions.



Persons Living with HIV who depend on the Abacavir Lamivudine regime are now at an elevated risk of developing resistance to this antiretroviral drug rendering it ineffective against the virus. Should this risk crystalise, government will require even more funding to deal with the HIV challenge in Ghana.



The Minority will not sit aloof and let Government plunge us all into needless danger. It is for this reason that we demand that:



1. The Ministry of Finance as a matter of urgency issue the necessary tax exemption waivers to ensure that immediate clearance of the antiretroviral drugs and other medical equipment and consumables.



2. Implement an automated tax exemption waiver system for medical consumables and equipment to curtail needless delays in clearing such items at the port.



3. Institute reforms at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that systemic failures that lead to needless delays in the performance of its functions are eradicated.



This is a national emergency that if unchecked could lead to an increase in the prevalence rate of HIV in Ghana, increase in morbidity and mortality for Persons Living with HIV and increase the overall cost of HIV management in Ghana.



The Health and well-being of Ghanaians are non-negotiable, and we urge government to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this crisis.



---Signed---

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

(Ranking Member  Parliamentary Committee on Health)

06.10.202

Source: graphic.com.gh









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In a recent report released by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, Ghana could not make it to the top 10 African countries with the lowest crime rates.



The report aims to shed light on the state of crime across the continent and highlight the countries that are successfully maintaining low crime rates despite the global rise in criminal activities.



According to the report, Sao Tome and Principe, a small island nation, has secured the second spot with the lowest crime index in the world.



This accolade highlights the countrys efforts in ensuring security and safety for its citizens and visitors alike. It is a remarkable achievement for Sao Tome and Principe, which is known for its unmatched natural beauty and cultural diversity.



The report emphasizes that crime poses a significant threat to Africas realization of its full potential. The continent offers diverse experiences, ranging from the vast savannas of the Serengeti to bustling metropolises like Lagos and Johannesburg. However, the existence of crime hampers Africas progress and development.



The Global Organized Crime Index 2023, on which the rankings are based, reveals a concerning trend of increasing organized crime worldwide.



A staggering 83% of the global population lives in high-crime areas. In contrast, the proportion of individuals living in low resistance to organized crime has significantly decreased, with only 62% of the worlds population enjoying favorable conditions compared to 79.4% in 2021.



Despite this alarming global trend, some African countries have managed to maintain low crime rates. Sao Tome and Principes impressive achievement is evidence of this.



However, several other nations also made it onto the list of the top 10 African countries with the lowest crime rates.



Rwanda, which ranked 29th globally, secured the second spot among African countries, followed by Seychelles (35th), Lesotho (39th), Comoros (40th), Eritrea (41st), Cabo Verde (52nd), Namibia (53rd), Botswana (54th), and Mauritius (56th).



The methodology used in the Global Organized Crime Index involves assessing a countrys vulnerability to organized crime as well as its potential to withstand it. Factors such as the size, reach, and influence of illicit marketplaces, the makeup and influence of criminal actors, and resilience-building components are taken into consideration. The lower the index, the lower the crime rate.



Ghanas exclusion from the top 10 African countries with the lowest crime rates serves as a reminder that there is still work to be done to combat crime and ensure the safety and security of its citizens. It is hoped that Ghana and other countries facing similar challenges will intensify their efforts to address the root causes of crime and implement effective strategies to reduce crime rates in the future.



The report has been described as an important resource for understanding the state of crime in Africa.

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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Governments quest to construct a new airport in Cape Coast is on course following the presentation of a feasibility study for the project.



The proposed Cape Coast Airport, government has explained, is to enhance air travel in the central and western parts of the country in order to boost tourism, trade and domestic air connectivity.



Aviation consultants, Ayeh & Ayeh, after being tasked by government to conduct a feasibility study, have presented their report to the government.



The report, received by the Ministry of Transport, is set to be presented to Cabinet for ratification before the airport project commences.



With both the Central and Western Regions attracting high number of tourist and business visits, many have suggested the proposed airport should be cited inbetween Cape Coast and Takoradi to make it easier for air travellers to access both strategic cities from the new airport.



The feasibility studies, therefore, has proposed 4 centres for the airport including Cape Coast and Elmina - a city inbetween Cape Coast and Takoradi - but much closer to Cape Coast.



The proposed airport with a 3400 metres runway is expected to be constructed in three phases.



The Chief Executive Officer of Ayeh and Ayeh, Engineer Leslie Alex Ayeh, stressed the significance of the feasibility study, explaining that it offered advice on important areas such as geophysical, topographical, meteorological, environmental, social as well as engineering requirements for the airport.



Apart from the airport, a dual-carriage access road would be constructed to link the main Cape Coast-Takoradi highway.



The Akufo-Addo government has made tremendous strides in the aviation industry, having built the new and expanded Tamale International Airport as well as the Kumasi International Airport which is yet to be commissioned.



The Sunyani and Wa airports have also received significant facelift.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Strategic Communication Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa), led by its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, has completed a learning programme for one hundred and one (101) members of staff of the Public Relations Division of the Information Services Department (ISD) working in Ghanas Ministries, Departments and Agencies across the country. The sessions took place in the conference room of the Ministry of Health in Accra. Mrs. Sharon Anim, Stratcomm Africa Marketing Communication Manager, co-facilitated the session with Ms. Cobbah.



The programme, delivered in three cohorts, involved comprehensive and interactive professional learning designed to equip PR professionals of the public service with principles and tools for playing their roles effectively in public policy formulation and delivery. Sessions on policy communication focused on strategy development, communication research methods and digital communication among others.



At the closing ceremony, Ms. Cobbah encouraged government public relations officers to work harmoniously and cohesively when carrying out their communication duties. She emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency in messaging, especially when disseminating government policies. She urged participants to dispel the misconception that PR officers lack technical expertise, emphasizing their unique ability to break down technical work of other professionals for public understanding. Networking opportunities offered during the training sessions were highlighted as crucial for forging strong bonds and ensuring a shared understanding of government policies among officers.



A participant of the programme, Ms. Solace Amankwa described the programme design and delivery as unique and extremely impactful. She said My colleagues and I consider this programme as one of a kind. We learnt without a classroom feel. We networked, shared knowledge and reinforced our sense of common purpose. Above all, we were exposed to such rich knowledge which we quickly internalised and owned. We are sincerely grateful to Stratcomm Africa.



Expressing Stratcomm Africa's commitment to national development, Ms. Cobbah highlighted the goal of this partnership with ISD as contributing to sustaining and enriching Ghanas democracy. Ms. Cobbah said, The need for information flow between Governments and the citizenry so as to achieve development and improved livelihoods is so vital in a country like ours with the challenges we face in simple things like sanitation, water supply, meeting health and education needs as well as in job creation for young people especially. Policy making for addressing all these and other issues requires constant and honest communication between Government and the citizens, as we have established. More so in the light of the national commitment to democracy which we have entrenched in our Constitution.



Mrs. Ethel Cudjoe Amissah, Head of the Public Relations Coordinating Division (PRCD) of the ISD indicated the determination of the Division to continue to undertake programmes that ensure that the countrys public sector communicators remain well equipped for their work. She said that the programme with Stratcomm Africa is part of a series planned for the staff of the division. She thanked Stratcomm Africa for the support provided.



She said: The Division considered it an honour to have an organisation such as Stratcomm Africa, which is well acknowledged for its expertise and excellence in the communication industry, to work with the Division on this important programme

Mrs. Charlotte Morgan Asiedu, Chief Director at the Ministry of Information, commended participants for their dedication to the learning programme. She also commended Stratcomm Africa for facilitating the learning programme at no cost.



She emphasized that the commitment of the participants reflects their determination as government public relations officers to ensure that national development goals are achieved through the public's clear understanding of government policies.



Mrs. Morgan Asiedu also echoed Ms. Cobbah's call for unity and teamwork among government public relations officers.

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 Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has concluded its review of a docket submitted by the Police on the allegations contained in a 36-page document written and signed by Professor Frimpong Boateng entitled Report on the work of IMCIM so far and the way forward.



The A-Gs Advice, dated 12th September, 2023, and delivered to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service on 14th September, 2023, was signed by a Chief State Attorney, Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, of the Prosecutions Division of the Office of the Attorney-General.



Background stated by the A-G



In the Advice to the CID, the Chief State Attorney notes that on 2nd March 2023, Professor Frimpong Boateng, a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and a former chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) was a guest on Ghana Broadcasting Corporations television program, Legends of our Time. On that programme, he alleged that some government officials and private citizens were involved in illegal mining activities - galamsey. When the attention of the Police was drawn to the said allegations, they wrote to Professor Frimpong Boateng on 20th March 2023 and requested his assistance in connection with investigations into the alleged involvement of government officials in galamsey.



On 21st March 2023, the Police visited the Professor at his residence to elicit further information with respect to the allegations. At this meeting, the Professor did not name any government official involved in illegal mining activities. However, he submitted a number of documents to the Police. Notable among the documents was the 36-page report presented by him to the Chief of Staff.



Persons cited in the report as being involved in illegal mining activities were Laud Commey, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, Frank Asiedu Bekoe a.k.a. Protozoa, Hon. Joseph Albert Quarm, Charles Owusu, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Captain (Rtd.) Edmund Kojo Koda, Donald Entsuah and an unnamed former Member of Parliament for Wassa East Constituency.



Three individuals - Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi were alleged to be involved in the sale of excavators, whilst Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Kwaku Baako Jnr. are said to have done acts which directly or indirectly inhibited the Professor in his fight against illegal mining.





Process of investigations and findings



The A-Gs Advice to the CID, sets out the various allegations made by Prof Frimpong Boateng against each of the named persons and records that the Police interviewed and took statements from the persons cited in the allegations contained in the report. The Advice notes that all of the individuals named in Prof Boatengs report denied the various allegations made against them in the report. However, several attempts by the Police to obtain further information from Professor Frimpong Boateng to substantiate the allegations in the Report and to assist them to conduct further investigations proved futile. The Professor refused to provide any further information to the police. He also declined to give a written statement, claiming his Report is an embodiment of his statement and all the information he has on the allegations  the Chief State Attorney, Mrs. Keelson stated.



The Attorney-General stated further that, investigations by the Police have not revealed any evidence in support of the allegations. The allegations are therefore bare and do not provide a basis for any criminal charge against the persons cited in the Report  the Advice stated.



Examination of other documents



The Office of the Attorney-General states in the Advice to the CID, they examined other documents submitted by Prof Frimpong Boateng. The Advice notes that apart from the report which contained the main allegations, Professor Frimpong Boateng also submitted the following documents to the Police:



 a compilation of online publications by awakenewsroom.com. These publications are not related to the allegations made by the Professor in his report.



 a compilation of letters from the Forestry Commission signed by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, granting approval for the issuance of entry permit to various companies to conduct exploratory activities in specific forest reserves.



 a compilation of an updated list of small scale miners permitted to work as at 7th July, 2020.



 a statement given to the Police by Seth Mantey with NIB statements of account and deposit slips.



 a decision by CHRAJ in a case filed against Professor Frimpong Boateng by Arnold Agbodo on concessions granted to the Professors son.



 a compilation of excavators kept at Aviation, Adenta.



The A-G observed that with the exception of the statement of Seth Mantey and some statements of account from NIB which provide some relevant information in respect of allegations against Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi, none of the documents presented by Prof Frimpong Boateng provided any relevant information in support of the allegations contained in his report.



The A-G further states that the Police also procured two pen drives: one from the Professor and another one from GBC. The first pen drive only contains videos of some mining areas captured by the IMCIM. The other pen drive is a recording of an interview granted to GTV by Professor Frimpong Boateng on a program Legends of Our Time. The interview was mainly on the Professor's life. At the tail end of that interview, he alleged that some government officials were involved in galamsay activities without mentioning any names.



The Attorney-General indicates that a careful study of the Report, the various documents and pen drives submitted to the Police did not disclose any evidence in support of the allegations made against the persons cited in the Report, with the exception of Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi, in respect of whom the A-G instructs the Police to conclude their investigations and present a report to him. The A-Gs advice however notes that even though the Police diary of action shows that John Ofori Atta was invited by the police, there is no indication that he was interviewed or that a statement was taken from him.



There is also no statement from Mr. Ekow Ewusi on the docket. The A-G instructed the Police to wind up investigations on that issue and furnish him with a report on same.



The Attorney-Generals Advice concludes that in the absence of any evidence on the docket in support of any of the allegations of illegal mining activities, we are unable to recommend the prosecution of any of the persons cited in the Report. They should therefore be discharged. We however await the outcome of the investigations conducted in the case involving Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent an appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"Dear meeting participants,

I sincerely welcome you to the 27th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Shusha, the sacred city for the people of Azerbaijan and our cultural capital.

Azerbaijan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organization and attaches particular significance to developing relations with its member states. ECO enjoys favorable opportunities to utilize our regions vast economic potential better and advance the ties in economy and trade between the regional countries. Azerbaijan is in favor of expanding cooperation within the organization across every domain. I extend my gratitude for declaring the city of Shusha  the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026 several days ago.

You have arrived in Azerbaijan at a very notable and historic time. Our people are experiencing the joy and pride of restoring Azerbaijans sovereignty and constitutional order. Eliminating a grey zone in our territory after 30 years and ending separatism is a culmination of international law and justice.

Azerbaijan has always been a proponent of peace and the author of peace initiatives in the region. Stemming from the principle that regional matters must be resolved with the involvement of the countries of our immediate region, Azerbaijan has proposed the 3+3 cooperation format. A historic environment has emerged today for normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, signing the peace treaty and transforming the South Caucasus into a region of peace and cooperation.

Immediately upon the liberation of our ancestral lands from Armenias occupation in 2020, we have launched large-scale reconstruction and development efforts here. Critical infrastructure projects have been implemented across these territories in a short time, including constructing and putting into service two airports. The construction of the third airport in Lachin is underway. I want to thank the brotherly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for the already commissioned school and the ongoing construction of a creativity center in the city of Fuzuli. We regard this as a vivid testimony to our countries' brotherhood, solidarity and friendship.

The program of the Great Return to the de-occupied territories is among our national priorities. As part of successfully implementing the program, the displaced persons' return has been ensured to the cities of Lachin and Fuzuli and the villages of Aghali, Zabukh and Talish. Nearly 100 hundred thousand displaced persons are envisaged to be returned to their homes in the coming three years. Along with the revival of Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions and ensuring sustainable resettling of the population, implementing the projects also enables conditions for turning these areas into a developed region.

One of the gravest consequences of a 30-year occupation for the Azerbaijani people was the deliberate damage to our cultural heritage of universal significance, including all the sites associated with the Islamic faith. Regrettably, throughout that time, 65 out of 67 mosques were razed to the ground, and the remaining ones were desecrated by being used for housing animals. The fact of destroying another mosque was revealed most recently where the Malibeyli mosque was used as a barn. All of this is an insult to the feelings of Azerbaijanis and the worlds Muslims.

The choice of the theme of Azerbaijans ECO chairmanship as Green Transition and Interconnectivity is particularly relevant today. Such matters as decarbonization and adding green energy types are at the core of our countrys sustainable development agenda. In the meantime, the large-scale reconstruction and renovation work across Karabakh and East Zangezur  declared energy zones  are implemented according to smart city and smart village concepts.

Azerbaijan is also a reliable transit country, and our transportation and logistics infrastructure is available to all the ECO nations. Given the increased demand for cargo shipping along the East-West route, we aim to increase the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway from the current 1 million to 5 million tons. Furthermore, an agreement has been reached with the Islamic Republic of Iran to use this countrys territory for the construction of a highway and a railway to ensure access to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. Simultaneously, Azerbaijan is working on expanding the throughput capacity of the North-South transportation corridor.

I am confident that this meeting will be a substantial platform for a productive discussion around the cooperation opportunities targeting the lasting development and prosperity of our nations and region as a whole and coordinating efforts while enriching our mutually beneficial cooperation with new substance.

I extend to you my best wishes and wish the meeting success," says the appeal.
The Head Pastor of New Life Kingdom Chapel International, Bishop Stephen Akwasi Appiah popularly known as Jesus Ahuofe has accused most pastors of being the major cause of Ghanas challenges and crisis.



According to him, most pastors are corrupt and cannot speak good to the face of politicians when they err in because they fear to lose money when they act as such.



Speaking to Accra FM mid-morning show sit in host, Akua Sonto, he reiterated that the economic challenges Ghana is facing is as a result of the sin some politicians have incurred on the country as a whole and added that it could have only been men of God who could have stood in prayers to avert Ghana from falling into a pit.



"It is sad we are in a country where most Pastors are corrupt and are in sinful acts at their various churches where they sell all kinds of items to extort money from their members knowing very well its against the word of God, saying, who then would stand up in prayers for Ghana? If our pastors are acting this way, he said.



He advised Ghanaians to be cautious in their dealings most especially as the country Ghana is no longer safe.

Source: kasapafmonline.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 Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has stated that the Ghana Police Service will soon provide an update on the recent cases of attacks on media outfits across the country.



Speaking in an interview on Peace FM on Monday, October 9, 2023, the minister said a trend has developed where some persons tend to invade media outfits to register their misgivings against programs and specific content often leading to physical assault and violence.



While recalling such incidents and the actions taken by the ministry in connection with the police, the minister said the police will soon give an update on their investigations and subsequent actions on those cases.



You can call the CID boss and find out from them an update on all these issues. What he made me understand is that they are gathering information from the various places where prosecution is underway and then give an update it.



"But I have said I dont want to receive the update alone, I want the Media Commission, GJA (Ghana Journalists Association) and everyone to be in the meeting so we can ask the police how far with the incidents we have brought to their attention for prosecution, he stated.



Earlier the minister had issued a statement in which he urged media houses to prioritize the promotion of national cohesion while exercising their fundamental freedoms.



However the GJA in response described the ministers statement as wobbly for failing to outrightly condemn the attack on UTV.



The statement according to GJA when compared to previous statements by the minister in relation to incidents of such calibre was conveniently skewed to avoid condemning the incident.



The minister has since denied the assertion by the GJA.



Background



A group of NPP members stormed the studios of UTV during the broadcast of United Showbiz on Saturday, October 7, 2023, demanding for regular pundit of the show, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus.



The group, said to be unhappy with A Plus shredding a letter by the leadership of the NPP to the management of UTV calling for a reform of United Showbiz, are said to have assaulted some staff of the media company before making their way into the studios.



The police later announced the arrest of 16 individuals in connection with the attack.



The incident has since received widespread condemnation from political activists and various critics who have described it as a direct attack on media freedom and the freedom of speech.





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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The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says his party did not sanction thugs alleged to be NPP sympathizers to attack Ghanas most-watched private station, Untied Television.



Mr. Richard Ahiagbah in a statement described the incident which has gone viral as shameful and not the style of the NPP.



He however rendered an apology to the station and its management after ensuring a thorough investigation to ascertain the source of the order that led to this regrettable incident.



The NPP had not endorsed or sanctioned the disruptive actions, expressing strong disapproval of such behaviour. He said.





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The Sunlodge Hotel was abuzz with enthusiasm and anticipation as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) inaugurated its National Youth Working Committee and Directorates. The ceremony brought together prominent party leaders, passionate youth activists, and student leaders, creating an atmosphere charged with determination and hope for the future.



During his address, National Youth Organizer Lawyer George Opare Addo extended heartfelt congratulations to each appointee, acknowledging their industry and strengths that earned them their positions. He called upon them to approach their roles with unwavering commitment and expertise, recognizing that their ultimate mission is to secure victory for the NDC and the candidacy of HE John Dramani Mahama in the forthcoming 2024 elections.



With passion and conviction in his voice, Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, emphasized the significance of upholding and safeguarding the party's interests and constitution. He underlined the pivotal role that the Youth will play in the upcoming general elections, urging the appointees to be fully prepared to lead the charge. Determination, focus, and dedicated service were identified as the keys to achieving the party's singular goal of victory in 2024.



Representing the members of the National Youth Working Committee and Directors of the various directorates, Okai Mintah, Chairman of the Youth Working Committee, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Lawyer George Opare Addo and his esteemed deputies for their unwavering trust in their abilities to deliver on this critical mandate. He extended acknowledgment to the party's leadership for endorsing their nominations and granting them the authority to execute their mission.



The ceremony also witnessed the solemn swearing-in of the appointed leaders of the different directorates and ad hoc committees within the Youth Wing. These directorates encompassed diverse sectors, including Operations, Communications and Press Relations, Student Affairs, Traders & Artisans Network, among others. Each appointed leader took an oath and expressed their commitment to carrying out their responsibilities diligently and effectively.



The inauguration of the National Youth Working Committee and Directorates showcased the NDC's recognition of the vital role that the youth play in shaping the party's future and success. With their enthusiasm, energy, and fresh perspectives, the appointed youth leaders are now poised to contribute to the party's goals, strengthen its grassroots mobilization, engage with various demographics, and resonate with the aspirations of the Ghanaian youth.



As the ceremony concluded, a sense of purpose and determination filled the air. The newly inaugurated National Youth Working Committee and Directorates, backed by the party's leadership, are now ready to embark on their respective journeys, collaborating towards a unified and resolute effort to secure victory for the NDC in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Source: Peacefmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Senior Psychologist at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo has condemned the violent invasion of United Television on Saturday, October 7, by some members and supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).



Professor Joseph Osafo finds the act by the invaders unacceptable, hence complimenting the New Patriotic Party for distancing itself from the incident.



According to the Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, the party didn't sanction the perpetrators.



The NPP had not endorsed or sanctioned the disruptive actions. We strongly disapprove of such behaviour, Richard Ahiagbah said on UTV's "United Showbiz".



Prof. Osafo, touching on the matter during Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", admonished the youth, particularly those moved by their political allegiances to perpetrate violence, to channel their energies into effective ventures that enhance the progress of the nation.



He asked the youth not to allow their energies to be weaponized by political parties but rather they should utilize the energies by engaging in agriculture and other fruitful businesses.



"Such energies are powerful but they must be channeled properly...So, our youth who exuded such energies didn't act well. We need those energies in agriculture. We need maize, cassava, plantain; we are hurgry. Those energies should be properly channeled," he said.



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Ministries, Bishop E.O. Ansah, has opined that if the internal primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, Kennedy Agyapong will emerge as the presidential candidate.



If the process is free, fair, and transparent, Kennedy Agyapong will be Ghanas next president. This is all I have to say and nothing more.



Describing him as a responsible father figure, dedicated, credible, and reliable, he said the man came from humble beginnings and distinguished himself.



On the Weekend Morning Show on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he personally endorsed Kennedy Agyapong as a man with foresight and the necessary skills to become Ghanas next president.



Bishop E.O. Ansah told host Nhyiraba Kwabena Asirifi that Ghana is currently at a crossroads and plagued with economic challenges, and we need someone who can be bold enough to speak the truth and redeem the country from the social and economic crises.



Kennedy Agyapong has come from humble beginnings and become a responsible father figure. He is a man with foresight. He is a man who stands for justice. He speaks the truth, and that has been his character since childhood.



He posited that we need someone who represents hope, transformation, dedication, and the needed skills and competencies to manage the country.



Kennedy Agyapong is todays David. He is a symbol of those who have overcome adversity. He went through difficulties and was able to overcome them. He was a classmate, so I was aware of his modest beginnings. He was a hustler before becoming a responsible father figure.



Ghana needs someone to lead us out of these difficulties, he continued. We all have a role to play. However, we need a leader who is bold enough to lead us to stability and blessings because Ghana is a blessed nation, not a poor one. Our economic crisis is being caused by a Goliath, and we need a David of our time to help us recover. We need someone to solve the unemployment problem so that we can close the wealth gap.



We need a leader who speaks the truth and has been like that since childhood, always standing for justice, the man added. Kennedy Agyapong possessed the ability to stand up for what was right, and the first prediction about him becoming president came in 2014. Kennedy Agyapong is the right person to help Ghana transform. All of the other candidates have been tested, including Mahama and Bawumia. Kennedy is the only one who has not undergone any testing. He is not a can-do guy, but he is have done person.



Bishop E.O. Ansah assured Ghanaians that Kennedy Agyapong, as President, would enforce discipline at all levels, emphasising the importance of Ghanaians placing their trust in his leadership.



Ghanaians are aware that the country is facing challenges, so we require a capable leader. Kennedy Agyapong has demonstrated that he is qualified for the position. Some have claimed that based on previous statements, he is not presidential material; however, this does not imply that he is incompetent. As humans, we all have flaws, but Kennedy Agyapong is a solid man who is competent enough to be Ghanas next president.



Kennedy Agyapongs proven track record in job creation should convince Ghanaians of his competence, discipline, and potential as the next president, he concluded.













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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In a recent political event, controversial Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, made alarming statement, threatening to cause chaos and pay people to engage in mischief if the region delegates elect Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to lead the part for the 2024 elections.



During an intense speech filled with bravado, Agyapong directly challenged Chairman Robert Kutin and the Central Regional executives, warning them of dire consequences if Bawumia comes out on top in the upcoming elections.



He claimed that if the vice president is elected, they would witness chaos in the region.



Im daring Chairman Kutin. If Bawumia wins in the Central Region, you will see what will happen to you people in 2024I dare them. I am daring Chairman Kutin and the Central Regional executives, stated Agyapong.



Furthermore, Agyapong hinted at having something up his sleeve that could potentially disrupt the regions political stability.

He issued a veiled threat, suggesting that if he doesnt receive 100% support, then he would create a showdown for his opponents.



What I have in my head, if they know, they would have made steady progress. It will be better for them to make sure I get 100% support. Otherwise, I will give them showdowns, Agyapong declared.



Highlighting his financial resources, Agyapong brazenly claimed to have the means to play mischief and asserted that he would compensate individuals to engage in disruptive behavior.



I am a man and have the money to play mischief. I will pay people to do mischief, Agyapong boasted.



These incendiary remarks have caused a stir among political observers and community leaders in the Central Region.

They view Agyapongs threats as highly inappropriate and a gross violation of democratic principles.



Concerns have been raised over the potential impact of such rhetoric on the political landscape in Central Region. Critics argue that Agyapongs statements undermine the electoral process and could incite violence or unrest within the region.



It remains to be seen how the local authorities and political parties will respond to Agyapongs provocative statement. Many individuals are calling for appropriate action to be taken against him to preserve the integrity of the electoral process and ensure peace and stability in the Central Region.



As the election season draws nearer, it is essential for political leaders to approach campaigning responsibly and refrain from using inflammatory language that could potentially harm Ghanas democratic progress.











Source: Vincent Kubi/Daily Guide









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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Karen Fluharty exhaustively searched 40 places across the country where her son Ryan could go when he fell off the services cliff, as a young adult with autism.

None of them were a fit. They were either group home-like settings where individuals needed higher 1:1 support. Or located in neighborhoods that werent walkable, said Fluharty, of Montville, New Jersey.

So she decided to create neurodiverse housing project in Red Bank through a nonprofit she founded called Parents with a Plan. The groups mission is to unite families, legal and housing professionals with a goal of creating homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The housing project, dubbed Thrive, was recently given site plan approval and variances from Red Bank for a property at 273 Shrewsbury Ave. Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2025.

The current retail and apartment building on the site will be demolished, and a three-story, 35,891-square foot building with 32 one-bedroom units and one ground floor studio apartment will be built.

Access to this type of housing will reduce costs, said Christopher Manente, founding executive director of Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. The idea here is to do things up front. It will also result in less of a need to be so reactive and waiting for people to fail, which is the current system. Only people who lapse into crisis get attention.

There are at least 200,000 people in New Jersey who have intellectual or developmental disabilities, according to a market analysis study commissioned by Parents with a Plan last year. About 73% live with family and 38,000 of them live with a caregiver who is over the age of 60.

Fluharty, who did eventually find a place for her son to go in Arizona, reached out to her former boss John Klein, with whom she worked in retail real estate for Simon Premium Outlets, and his wife, Robin. Using Fluhartys background in marketing and communications and Kleins as a former chief executive officer for Simons shopping center division, the two have partnered as developers.

A few years ago Karen met with us and said she was looking at starting Parents with a Plan, Klein said. She described how with so many parents who have autistic children, as theyre aging and turning towards 21, the parents start to get to worried. What would happen if something happens to them?

They joined forces with Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and Manente.

This will be a first in New Jersey, he said of Thrive. Thats not to say there arent other excellent examples of supportive housing. But none that have gone to this length. And theres never been a private-public partnership like this.

Fluhartys son Ryan has been living at First Place in Arizona for more than two years. The developers of Thrive have used it as inspiration.

Were really taking the best in class in the sector and putting them all together, Fluharty said. It creates more independent adults that need less support from the government.

A navigator will live in a studio apartment on the ground level of the building be available to help guide residents.

Similar support staff in Arizona have helped her son become more independent.

Two years ago, I never would have imagined Ryan doing the things hes doing, Fluharty said. He flies into Newark airport by himself now. Gets an Uber to the airport, checks his bag.

Im doing this because as a single parent, I shouldnt have to make the decision of having my son in the best program and remaining at home, she said. The choice between geography and the best program was a major catalyst for me creating Thrive.

Manentes center is providing training on how to support people with autism and will provide assistance to Thrive.

A chief quality officer will oversee residents general support and individual services that they get from the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. There will be a community concierge that helps with job opportunities, recreational activities, transportation and other issues. Theres also a community room where things like yoga classes and movie nights can be held.

This is not for people with significant and complex needs, Manente said. Its limited to people who are independent and dont need someone to stay overnight. People who can do personal hygiene, dress themselves, and maintain a neat and tidy apartment.

Fluharty and Klein researched several cities including New Brunswick and Ridgewood before deciding on Red Bank as the best place for their first project.

It was chosen because of its walkability, transportation options, arts and culture, abundance of nonprofits, job opportunities and access to education.

Also important is that the city is welcoming to this population.

I am thrilled that this project will be happening in Red Bank, said Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman. We already offer so many services to underserved and in-need populations, so it makes perfect sense to have Thrive, the first of its kind facility for neurodiverse residents in the state of N.J., opening in our borough. Makes me proud to be a resident of Red Bank.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.
By Ryan Deto, The Tribune-Review, Greensburg (TNS)

After the last-minute cancellation of the sheriffs sale of the Pittsburgh Mills mall, the future of the property remains uncertain.

Last month, owner Namdar Realty Group paid more than $11 million in special assessment bills, averting a sheriff sale. The sale was canceled once the bills were paid, according to the Allegheny County Sheriffs Office.

But Namdar has been mum about its plans for the 200-acre site, which has lost a vast majority of its tenants over the years. The mall in Frazer was built in 2005 and was acquired by Namdar in 2018.

Frazer Supervisor Bill Creevey said the township has not heard from Namdar on its plans for Pittsburgh Mills, and the New York-based firm has not been communicative at all with the local government.

We have not heard or seen them from Day One, Creevey said in late September. We have never seen them or ever met them. I have no idea what their plans are.

This week, Namdar released a statement: Following this agreement, Namdar Realty Group is exploring all future options for this property including retail enhancements, as well as potential repositioning and redevelopment. During the evolution of this project, the malls day-to-day operations and its tenants will not be affected. We look forward to providing updates as this process unfolds.

Asked how Namdar is exploring its options, a representative of the company said: We are currently in the initial phases of evaluating the future prospects of Pittsburgh Mills. The property is a top priority for our firm, and we plan to keep the community updated as we progress through this assessment.

Creevey said the township government wants to see a prosperous mall, and noted conditions at Pittsburgh Mills have deteriorated over the years. He said 75% of the mall is vacant, and he has received many complaints about conditions of the roads around the mall, which are the owners responsibility.

Take a look at it. Its not taken care of, he said. We want roads you can actually drive on. They have patched a pothole here and there, but they are still in horrible condition.

The Frazer government initiated a sheriffs sale process this year because Namdar had not paid $11.5 million in special assessment fees on four properties: the mall building, the former Sears Grand and two vacant commercial properties.

Supervisor Lori Ziencik said this week the township was optimistic to find a new owner who would revitalize the property. She has called Namdar an absentee landlord.

Similar disrepair elsewhere

The company owns several malls across the country and has garnered a reputation for letting large retail properties fall into disrepair.

Namdar owns the West Park Shopping Center in Mansfield, Ohio, and a recent inspection showed that some of the vacated units at that mall were becoming derelict, according to the Ohio-based Richland Source news site.

Mansfield Community Development & Housing Director Adrian Ackerman told Richland Source on Sept. 19 that some vacated units inside West Park needed significant repair work and were suffering from water damage from a leaking roof.

North Hanover Mall, a Namdar-owned property in York County, Pa., is largely vacant and had a fire in 2022 that caused more than $1 million in damage, according to the Hanover Evening Sun. However, social media videos show the property is undergoing construction.

Creevey said the previous owners of Pittsburgh Mills have had good relationships with Frazer. He said township attempts to contact Namdar have not been successful.

He said he is still hopeful for a positive future for Pittsburgh Mills.

I would like to see a prosperous mall, like it used to be when it first started, Creevey said. We dont want to see it fall apart. That doesnt help the community at all.
INDIANA, Pa. (AP)  Authorities have released the name of a Pittsburgh-area man killed in a shooting that also wounded eight other people at a private party in a Pennsylvania community center over the weekend.

The man, identified by the Indiana County coroners office as 22-year-old Jamar M. Porterfield Herriot Jr. of Homestead, was among nine people between the ages of 18 and 23 who were shot at about 12:35 a.m. Sunday at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Police say they believe there was more than one shooter. They are seeking surveillance video, asking local homes and businesses to check doorbell cameras and requesting that anyone missing items  such as the cellphones and clothing found at the center  to contact them, authorities said.

Herriot died at the scene and an 18-year-old man from Chicago was critically injured. Also wounded were another 18-year-old from Florida and six men and women from Pennsylvania  three men ages 19, 20 and 22; two 19-year-old women; and a 23-year-old woman, police said.

Debris, mixed with personal items including shoes, are scattered after a fatal shooting near the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, Indiana County, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (Sean Stipp/TribLIVE.com via AP)AP

Lt. Col. George Bivens said dozens of shots were fired and there may have been a gun battle inside the building, where people dove from windows and bolted through doors trying to escape. Many fired shell casings and multiple firearms had been recovered, along with other evidence such as clothing and cellphones, he said.

Bivens said more than 150 people were believed to be present at the event, which required payment before entry. Officials are tracking down who rented the venue and who was hosting the event, Bivens said.

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests and prosecution, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has offered up to $5,000 more, Bivens said.

The shooting was about 2 miles from the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which was having its homecoming weekend. The schools vice president for student affairs, Thomas Segar, said two of the injured were students. Campus activities are continuing with enhanced police presence.

A trooper from the Pennsylvania State Police Reconstruction Unit works at the crime scene of a fatal shooting at the Chevy Chase Community Center, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in White Township, Indiana County, Pa. (Sean Stipp/TribLIVE.com via AP)AP

Dozens of people, including some university students, attended a vigil Sunday night on the steps of the county courthouse, about a mile away from the community center, The (Johnstown) Tribune-Democrat reported. Some people embraced while listening to speakers as others shed tears, the newspaper reported.

The Chevy Chase Community Center was built in 1971 by a group established in 1969 to fight poverty and help those in need, according to its website. The center says its mission is to cultivate, nurture, and sustain a peaceful and inclusive culture that brings community together with positivity, diversity, inclusion, education, nutrition, and love.

More: Pennsylvania mass shooting U.S.s 540th of the year | Today in Pa.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Azerbaijan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organization and attaches particular significance to developing relations with its member states, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO member states held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"ECO enjoys favorable opportunities to utilize our regions vast economic potential better and advance the ties in economy and trade between the regional countries. Azerbaijan is in favor of expanding cooperation within the organization across every domain. I extend my gratitude for declaring the city of Shusha  the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026 several days ago.

You have arrived in Azerbaijan at a very notable and historic time. Our people are experiencing the joy and pride of restoring Azerbaijans sovereignty and constitutional order. Eliminating a grey zone in our territory after 30 years and ending separatism is a culmination of international law and justice," President Ilham Aliyev said.
Bon Jovi was right in asking who says you cant go home? Just ask the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

After 44 years of occupying several floors of an office building at 333 Market St. in Harrisburg, the department is returning to the space it occupied from 1931 to 1979, in what was once called the Education Building, now known as the Forum Building.

Gov. Josh Shapiro led a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the departments new old home on Tuesday with a gathering of an estimated 400 education and general services department employees, many of whom wore sky-blue T-shirts the department handed out. On the front was a picture of the Forum Building on the front under which were the words Est. 1931 Re-established as the home of PDE 2023.

Also on hand to add to the festivities were the steppers from the Temple Guard in York and Hempfield High School marching band.

Shapiro, with first lady Lori Shapiro, Education Secretary Khalid Mumin and General Services Secretary Reggie McNeil held the pairs of oversized pairs of scissors used to cut the ceremonial ribbon on the building that had been under renovation for the past three years.

Its awesome that we are returning once again to do this important work in such a beautiful and historic building, Mumin said.

He highlighted how the space the department occupies features plenty of small and large meeting rooms on each floor to help foster collaboration and engagement. Whats more, Mumin said moving inside the Capitol Complex will help us break down silos not only in our own agency but also with others. Others like Governor Shapiro and our election officials are just right across the street.

Shapiro, after touting his administrations success in achieving the states biggest investment in public education, a universal breakfast program, and $100 million for student mental health supports, spoke to the department employees and stressed the importance of the role they play in giving Pennsylvanias young people a foundation to succeed.

Im excited that youre going to have this great space to be creative to do some of the most important work we do, Shapiro said. I couldnt be more excited to be here today to help usher you into your new home.

Shapiro departed immediately after the ceremony without taking questions.

The Forum Building will house the entire education department on its third through fifth floors with the State Library of Pennsylvania occupying other space. The building also is home to the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra which performs in the auditorium known for its elaborate ceiling decorated with lighted constellations.

The department is moving into its new quarters in phases but expected to be completed by mid-November, said its spokesman Taj Magruder. The State Library, which relocated to the nearby Keystone Building in 2019 while work on the Forum was underway, is expected to reopen around that time as well.

Construction on the Art Deco Forum Building began in 1929  23 years after the dedication of the current state Capitol Building. The price tag was $5.5 million. ($111 million in todays dollars.)

Renovation work on the 92-year-old limestone structure replaced the once narrow darkened hallways by making its interior more modern and energy efficient while preserving its many historical features at a cost close to $105 million, according to General Services spokeswoman Madeline Williams.

The Forum Building in its great history has been the home to several state agencies for many years and unfortunately, it was not receiving the attention it deserves, McNeil said. Now we brought it back to its full glory.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JanMurphy.
The votes are in, and the results are clear: Pennsylvania haunted houses have dominated the list of 10 best scary destinations in the nation.

A new list from USA Today has ranked the 10 best haunted houses in the US, as selected by voters in a USA Today poll. And three of those 10 are located in the Keystone State. Florida, with two entries, was the only other state to earn more than one spot on the top 10.

And when it comes to where those entries ranked, Pennsylvania has even more reason to be proud of our brand of spooky destinations.

The Halloween Nights attraction at Philadelphias famously unnerving Eastern State Penitentiary took the 10th spot, with the USA Today story noting that the crumbling ruins stand empty, but they return to life during Halloween Nights. Come each spooky season, visitors who dare can test their bravery in five haunted houses, learn about the prisons past on historic tours, and drink their fears away in themed bars and lounges.

Then, in ninth place, came the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride of Glen Mills.

Located just outside Philadelphia on Arasapha Farm, the Bates Motel offers an incredible experience of terror and mayhem, the USA Today story reads, adding that the new level of horror offered by the motel is paired with detailed Hollywood-style sets and props on the haunted hayride.

But a nearby haunted attraction was way up near the top, grabbing the second place spot. And that is none other than Mountvilles own Field of Screams.

At Field of Screams in Mountville, Pennsylvania, visitors can choose from four terrifying experiences: the Haunted Hayride, two haunted houses (Den of Darkness and Frightmare Asylum), and the Nocturnal Wasteland, a fear-filled forest, reads the story. If you think your heart can take it, you can try to conquer all four during your visit.

We at the PennLive office know all too well how creepy Field of Screams can be, as some of their characters usually make their way here once fall rolls around. For more info on Field of Screams, including info on hours and prices, you can check out this story for details:

And to read the full list of USAs top 10 best haunted houses, click here.
In Pennsylvania we have heard a lot about the invasive spotted lanternfly and stink bugs.

No doubt you have seen them on your property - or in your house.

Have you heard anything about Asian tiger mosquitos? Asian longhorned ticks?

Invasive species are causing serious concern as continued erratic weather conditions are allowing certain pests to increase their territory across the U.S., said the National Pest Management Association.

Without natural predators in their environment, invasive pest populations can easily get out of hand, said Dr. Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs at NPMA. If you suspect an invasive pest infestation in or around your home immediately contact a pest control professional. A trained professional can identify the species, make control recommendations and contact that appropriate authority if necessary.

While invasive pests can be annoying, they also can cause property damage and in some cases, transmit disease.

The association listed five bugs as invasive species including the brown marmorated stink bugs and spotted lanternfly as well as:

Asian tiger mosquito: The association said the Asian tiger mosquito entered the U.S. in the mid-1980s in shipments of used tires and has since spread to more than 25 states. This aggressive bug prefers to breed in containers, which are often found around human dwellings, and can transmit Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), West Nile virus, Chikungunya, dengue fever and Zika virus.

Asian longhorned ticks: These bugs, the association said, were first spotted in the U.S. in 2017 and have since been found in 16 states, including Pennsylvania. With warmer than normal temperatures allowing tick populations to remain active into the fall, its important to perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors.

Formosan termites: Also known as super termites, the association said these termites are the most destructive and aggressive of the over 2,000 species known to science. These invasive and hungry pests are found throughout the southern U.S. so residents living in this area are encouraged to schedule an annual termite inspection to protect their homes.
CASTAIC, Calif. (AP)  Four Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies were taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after a fire during a training incident north of Los Angeles, authorities said.

Few details were immediately available, including the extent of the deputies injuries, according to Deputy David Yoo, a spokesperson for the sheriffs department.

CBS Los Angeles reports that two of the four are in critical condition.

The department is investigating what occurred at a training center, according to spokesperson Nicole Nishida. Were still trying to determine that. We know for sure there was a fire, Nishida said.

A KTLA helicopter over the scene showed firefighters spraying water into the smoking rear of a parked semi trailer.

KABC in California says a fire and explosion erupted amid live ordnance at the training facility

Firefighters were dispatched to the law enforcement training facility, near a county jail, at 9:41 a.m., said Fred Fielding, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They arrived 11 minutes later to find a blaze but the deputies had already been taken to the hospital.

Castaic is roughly 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

More:

Residents, firefighter hurt and dog missing after Pa. house fire

Woman shot, killed by Pa. police after she pointed gun at EMTs: reports
By HALELUYA HADERO, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP)  Humanitarian groups are scrambling to assist civilians caught in the war between Israel and Hamas and determine what aid operations are still safe to continue  efforts that are being complicated by an intensified blockade of Gaza and ongoing fighting.

Two days after Hamas militants went on a rampage that took the world by surprise, Israel increased airstrikes on Gaza and blocked off food, fuel and other supplies from going into the territory, a move that raised concerns at the United Nations and among aid groups operating in the area home to 2.3 million people. Hamas, in turn, pledged to kill Israelis it abducted if the countrys military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, and aid groups operating in the region say there are needs both in Gaza and Israel.

More than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are underway to organize food and other deliveries, according to an Egyptian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. But the United Nations and other aid groups are pleading for more access to help Palestinians who find themselves in the middle of intense fighting.

Doctors Without Borders, which is still operating in Gaza, has to rely on supplies it already has inside the territory because it cant bring any more in, said Emmanuel Massart, a deputy desk coordinator with the organization in Brussels.

The group  which says it only runs programs in Palestinian areas since Israel has strong emergency and health services  reported Monday that it provided treatments to more than 50 people following airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp located north of Gaza City. In addition to helping patients in Gaza, it said it was donating medical supplies to other clinics and hospitals, which have become overcrowded with patients and are experiencing shortages of drugs and fuel that can be used for generators.

If Doctors Without Borders is not able to resupply fairly quickly, Massart said, it will run out of supplies it can use to operate on patients who might be wounded. He also said since the facilities the organization uses are running on generators due to the low supply of electricity, cutting off fuel will present a huge problem.

If there is no fuel anymore, there is no medical facilities anymore because we cannot run our medical facility without the energy, Massart said.

The war has also been deeply disruptive to work Mercy Corps has been doing to provide people in Gaza with necessities like food and water, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East regional director for the organization. Right now, he said the team on the ground is trying to find a scenario that would enable them to get back to work. The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major worry.

We are very concerned with the way things are going at this point because it looks like its going to get worse  very soon, Quemin said. The sealing of Gaza, he said, will create humanitarian needs very quickly.

Governments have also been weighing how to respond.

As the fighting intensified, the European Union on late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities. Instead, the 27-nation group said it would urgently review the assistance it provides in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel. Two European countries  Germany and Austria  said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian areas.

Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Erik Marmor)AP

Meanwhile, some organizations are stepping up aid efforts in Israel, which has seen displacement because of the violence.

Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, The Womens Zionist Organization of America, said a trauma center in Jerusalem thats owned by the organization is treating wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians. About 90% of the patients in the center right now are soldiers, who are typically the first to be brought in for traumatic injuries, Adler said. But the center also accepts anyone whos wounded or injured in the country.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Jewish humanitarian organization, said on Sunday that it was activating its emergency response team in Israel, where it runs programs to support people with disabilities, the elderly and children and families whove been impacted by the war and prior conflicts. The organization said it was working with its partners, including in the Israeli government, to address what it called an unprecedented emergency.

One organization that helps Palestinian children is shifting its focus, too. Steve Sosebee, the president of Palestine Childrens Relief Fund, a U.S.-based charity that helps children in need travel to the U.S. for medical treatment, said given the war, the fund is now looking away from long-term programs and toward more urgent needs for food, medication, clothing and other types of basic humanitarian aid. But like others, he noted the blockade and security risks to its Gaza staff makes it more challenging to do that.

There are no areas of security, there are no safe havens, Sosebee said. And therefore, its very difficult for us to be out in the field providing humanitarian aid when there are no safe places from the constant bombing and attacks that are taking place over the last 72 hours.
By Amy Teibel, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM  It was, they thought, an ironclad social contract. Israeli citizens would serve in the military and live along enemy borders. In exchange, the army would defend them.

That contract was shattered Saturday when hundreds of Hamas militants breached Israels defenses from the Gaza Strip, pouring in by air, land and sea on a rampage that would leave hundreds dead. The infiltration caught Israels storied high-tech army completely unaware and stunned a country that prides itself on military prowess.

Further shocking Israelis was how long it took the military to respond. As thousands in southern Israel suddenly found themselves besieged, their cries for help went unanswered for hours. Holed up inside homes and safe rooms as militants sprayed bullets, torched homes and hurled grenades, they turned in desperation to social media, to journalists and to friends, beseeching the army to save them.

The weekend attacks and the militarys response brought an unsettling new sense of vulnerability and abandonment. Thousands of families had no idea whether loved ones were alive or had been taken as captives to Gaza. At the height of the violence, there was no one to turn to for guidance or information. Contact centers were eventually set up, but the focus was on soliciting information from families rather than offering it.

Six members of Jonathan Silvers family are missing, and he approached authorities for help. At least three relatives are captive in Gaza, he said, and the others are assumed to be there, too. He saw video of a cousin and two children taken hostage from their kibbutz, Nir Oz.

But the family has received no information, Silver said.

We tried to reach everybody  the homeland command, police, friends, acquaintances, people on the kibbutz, he said. And for hours, there was no one to talk to.

Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Erik Marmor)AP

Hes particularly concerned for his aunt, who has Parkinsons disease and needs her medication. Hes frustrated, but he also said now is not the time to criticize too deeply.

I have a lot of questions and a lot to say. The day of reckoning will come, he said, but now I prefer to stand beside the army.

In Israel, military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women. In the eyes of many citizens, it is the glue that keeps the country together in a region widely hostile to its presence, and its recognized worldwide for its technological advances and intelligence-gathering capabilities.

That it could be taken so completely by surprise by a militant group is something Israelis are hard-pressed to fathom.

For Merav Leshem Gonen, a feeling of helplessness gripped her when her daughter called in a panic from a music festival that was attacked.

Mommy, we were bombed. They shot at us. The car was shot, we cannot drive, everybody here is hurt, Gonen recounted her daughter saying.

She was talking to me and said, Mommy, help us, we dont know what to do. And Im saying, We love you, and its OK. We are trying to find a way to take you out of there. We are sending people, Gonen told a news conference outside Tel Aviv. And I know Im lying because we dont have answers, and we didnt have any answers. Nobody had.

Journalist Amir Tibon had good fortune that many others didnt: While the army struggled to regroup, his 62-year-old father, a retired general, entered the breach. Noam Tibon headed from his home in Tel Aviv to Nahal Oz, a kibbutz where his son, his wife and their two young daughters were hunkering in a safe room. On the way, he connected with another retired general and a group of commandoes.

After firefights with militants along the way, the elder Tibon extricated his son and family. More than a dozen others at Nahal Oz did not survive.

The terms of the contract between us and the state had always been clear: We protect the border, and the state protects us, Amir Tibon wrote in an article retelling the rescue for his newspaper, Haaretz.

We fulfilled our share of the deal heroically. For all too many of our beloved friends and neighbors, on this black day of Saturday, October 7, the state of Israel did not fulfill its share.

Maayan Zin said she learned that her two daughters had been abducted when a relative sent her photos from a Telegram group appearing to show them sitting on mattresses in captivity. Shes among dozens of distraught families who say theres been a lack of support from Israeli authorities about their loved ones held in Gaza.

Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)AP

There is no information. No one has contacted me since yesterday. Not the army, not the government, not the police, she said.

At first, she couldnt believe what she saw in the images. I thought it was Photoshopped, she said.

But videos she found online confirmed her worst fears. Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8, were shown weeping and terrified. Their father, her ex-husband, was seen being taken across the border into Gaza, his leg bleeding heavily.

Just bring my daughters home, Zin pleaded. Bring everybody home.

Associated Press writer Josef Federman contributed from Jerusalem.

More:

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By JOSEF FEDERMAN and ISSAM ADWAN, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood on Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory as Israel vowed a retaliation for Hamas surprise weekend attack that would reverberate ... for generations.

Aid organizations pleaded for the creation of humanitarian corridors to get aid into Gaza, warning that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war began after Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday, bringing gunbattles to its streets for the first time in decades. More than 1,800 lives have already been claimed on both sides, and perhaps hundreds more. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

The conflict is only expected to escalate. Israel expanded the mobilization of reservists to 360,000 on Tuesday, according to the countrys media. After days of fighting, Israels military said Tuesday morning that it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south, and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground offensive into Gaza  a 40 kilometer-long (25 mile-long) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after warplanes bombarded it for hours the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened. I sell toys, not missiles, the 46-year-old said, weeping. I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job.

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets in Rimal, an upscale district home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, universities, media organizations and the aid agency offices.

The devastation signaled what appeared to be a new Israeli tactic: warning civilians to leave certain areas and then hitting those areas with unprecedented intensity. On Tuesday afternoon, the military told residents of another nearby neighborhood to evacuate and move into the center of Gaza City.

There is no safe place in Gaza right now, you see decent people being killed every day, Hasan Jabar, a Gaza journalist, said after three other Palestinian journalists were killed in the Rimal bombardment. I am genuinely afraid for my life.
A child found trapped and buried inside a corn-filled grain bin was rescued Monday afternoon in Adams County.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the 100 block of Hoffman Road in Latimore Township after a report was made at 5:45 p.m. for a grain bin rescue, according to a report from Dover Township Fire Department.

Emergency crews from York Springs Fire Company No. 1 and the Dover Township Fire Department found the child conscious and breathing in a grain bin with corn buried in up to his head.

Firefighters said they were able to free the child within 30 minutes. The fire department did not say how long the child was trapped inside the grain bin.

The child was transported by EMS for evaluation.

READ MORE:

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The scenes of violence and war are playing out half a world away, but for many Jews in central Pennsylvania the emotional anguish over the situation in Israel is real and personal.

Jewish people are a family, said Rabbi Ron Muroff of Chisuk Emuna synagogue in Harrisburg. We have bonds and our families have people living in the U.S. and in Israel. We are watching the news. We are keeping in touch with our loved ones as often as possible. For us, this is not some distant news story describing some intractable conflict. These are fellow Jews fighting for their right to live securely and peacefully in their ancient-modern homeland.
Two adults and a firefighter were injured and a family dog is missing following a swift-moving blaze early Monday that engulfed a Bethlehem Township home.

The fire began shortly before 4 a.m. Monday in the 3700 block of Tiffany Drive. Flames coming from the two-story Colonial were discovered by Palmer Township police on patrol near the border of Palmer and Bethlehem townships, said Michael Stamets, public information officer for the Nancy Run Fire Co.

Crews forced entry into the home and made an aggressive attack on the interior of the building. They worked the heavy flames from the back of the house and those coming through the roof, Stamets said.

It took an estimated 50 firefighters from multiple Northampton County departments about 44 minutes to get the flames under control. The fire wasnt out until about 5:15 a.m., Stamets said.

Two adults and a firefighter were injured in a blaze Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 that quickly engulfed a Bethlehem Township home. The fire, which went to a partial third alarm, began shortly before 4 a.m. Monday in the 3700 block of Tiffany Drive.

Two adults in the home escaped on their own, but were later taken to a hospital for medical evaluations, Stamets said. One adult suffered burns while the other suffered respiratory distress, he said. The family dog, a yellow Labrador mix, couldnt be located by firefighters.

An 11-year Nancy Run Fire Department veteran also was injured on the job. The 28-year-old was treated at an hospital for second-degree burns and released, Stamets said.

Its unclear what caused Mondays blaze, which remains under investigation by Bethlehem Township Fire Marshal Angela Kelly.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms of the Republic of Indonesia Abdullah Azwar Anas on October 10, Trend reports.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan and Indonesia have relations based on mutual respect and friendship and that last year was marked by the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Noting successful cooperation in the political sphere, Asadov assessed mutual support within international organizations, including the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as one of the important factors in this cooperation.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of continuing efforts in this direction, noting that the trade turnover between the countries increased five times in 2022.

The sides confirmed the existence of successful cooperation between the countries in the field of providing public services to citizens and exchanged views on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation signed in 2017 between the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms of Indonesia.

It was noted that within the framework of the implementation of the memorandum, public service centers based on the "ASAN Service" model are functioning in Indonesia. Besides, "ASAN Service" experts regularly organize trainings for Indonesian civil servants working in relevant spheres in Azerbaijan.

The meeting also discussed the prospects for expanding cooperation between the two countries in investment, energy, humanitarian, and many other areas.
Residents of Port Royal in Juniata County will have to contend with the Route 75 bridge closure for a little bit longer.

The bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad has been closed since March for rehabilitation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation had anticipated opening the bridge by Sept. 1 in time for the Juniata County Fair but that did not happen.

PennDOT now says the bridge is expected to reopen by early November.

PennDOT acknowledges the inconvenience this causes the community and thanks everyone for their continued patience as it works with all the stakeholders to mitigate the impact of this delay, the agency said.

In August, PennDOT said they would try to accelerate this project when site conditions warrant to complete it as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality standards or the safety of stakeholders. However, acceleration has not been possible due to project constraints.

The detour remains in place. The detour uses Route 3002 (Old 22 Road/Main Street), Route 35, and Route 333 before returning to Route 75. PennDOT said the detour has functioned efficiently during this project, causing minimal delays or traffic queueing.

The $4 million project started in September 2022 with preliminary work that included demolishing a two-story building on Second Street. The project includes partial removal of the existing structure, building its replacement, paving, drainage improvements, water and sewer line replacements and sidewalk and guide rail replacement.

READ MORE: PennDOT closes bridge spanning Route 283 due to accident
By Mireille Rebeiz

On Oct. 23, 1983, Pennsylvania lost 18 of its best and brightest men in a terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon.

They were sent as part of a multinational peacekeeping force created to help restore order in this tiny country in the Middle East.

In fact, in 1975, war exploded in Lebanon. Palestinians, who were expelled from Israel, got organized and created the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In the late sixties, an estimated number of 20,000 fighters had entered Lebanon and were continuously launching attacks on northern Israel from Lebanese soil.

Their military presence divided the Lebanese public opinion between those who wanted them to leave Lebanon and sign peace with Israel, and those who wanted to join the fight against Israel. War erupted and quickly became sectarian opposing Lebanese Christians to Lebanese and Palestinians Muslims.

Upon Lebanons request, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy joined forces and sent service members to evacuate Palestinian fighters outside Lebanon to Tunisia.

The mission was successful. After the relocation of the PLO fighters, American service members left Lebanon in August. However, they were called back. On Sept. 14, 1982, President-elect Bashir El-Gemayel was assassinated. In retaliation, the right-wing Christian party, the Phalangists, entered the two refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, and killed over 2,000 Palestinian civilians.

Israel, who had been occupying Beirut since June 1982, was accused of providing cover to the Phalangists to execute their crimes. Facing the international outcry, an investigation was open, and the Kahan Commission announced Israels indirect responsibility for the bloodshed in Lebanon. As a result, Israeli Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon, resigned.

In their second deployment to Lebanon, American troops were tasked to establish presence and maintain peace between numerous militias and fighting groups including Lebanese, Palestinians, Israelis, Syrians, and Iranians.

Many Lebanese welcomed them. However, following Sabra and Shatila massacres, anti-West and anti-American sentiments grew, for the United States was perceived as Israels ally, and therefore considered partner in the crimes committed against Palestinian refugees who were predominantly Muslims.

Truth is poor leadership contributed largely to the problem. The mission was a near-impossible task. Young American service members were deployed to maintain peace in a highly volatile and hostile environment. They did not fully understand what was happening and who was shooting whom.

There were serious issues of miscommunication within President Reagans Administration. Secretary of State George Schultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger hated each other and did not share intel as they should have. As a result, many Lebanese, Palestinians, and Americans died in the process.

Finally, the American positions in Lebanon were vulnerable. Located by the Beirut airport, the barracks sat low on the ground and in an open field surrounded by the mountains. Some service members stayed at the Lebanese University, which was equally problematic for it had similar geographical traits as the barracks. As a result, American troops were sitting ducks.

241 American service members paid the price that day: 220 Marines, 18 Sailors, and 3 Soldiers. Moments later, a second explosion was heard in the French barracks, and 58 French paratroopers were killed. Strong evidence suggests that Iran and the group that later on become known as Hezbollah were behind these deadly attacks.

To this day, the Beirut barracks bombing remains the deadliest single-day attack on the U.S. Marine Corps since World War II, and Pennsylvania gave 18 of its best men: 17 Marines and one Navy Sailor.

According to information provided by the Beirut Veterans of America, these men were:

LCpl. Curtis J Cooper USMC from North Wales

HM3 William D. Elliot Jr. USN from Lancaster

Pfc. Richard A. Fluegel USMC from Erie

Sgt. Robert B. Greaser USMC from Lansdale

LCpl. Keith J. Laise USMC from East Stroudsburg

Sgt. James E. McDonough USMC from Newcastle

LCpl. Richard A. Morrow USMC from Clairton

LCpl. John W. Spearing USMC from Lancaster

LCpl. Steven B. Wentworth USMC from Reading

Capt. Walter E. Wint USMC from Wilkes-Barre

Eight Marines came from Philadelphia. They were:

Cpl. Moses J. Arnold Jr. USMC

Sgt. John J. Bonk Jr. USMC

LCpl. Thomas A. Hairston. USMC

Cpl. John F. Muffler USMC

Sgt. Rafael I. Pomalestorres USMC

Pfc. Rui A. Relvas USMC

Cpl. Louis J. Rotondo USMC

Sgt. Allen D. Wesley USMC

These men gave their all. As we are approaching the 40th anniversary of the Beirut barracks bombing, we should remember them and say their names. They deserve our deepest gratitude and attention. If legislators choose to forget or are busy with other matters, we, in Pennsylvania, must not, for our first duty is to remember.

Mireille Rebeiz, Ph.D., is chair of MIddle East Studies & Associate Professor Dickinson College. The opinion expressed within the content do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of the college.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Eliminating a grey zone in our territory after 30 years and ending separatism is a culmination of international law and justice, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan has always been a proponent of peace and the author of peace initiatives in the region. Stemming from the principle that regional matters must be resolved with the involvement of the countries of our immediate region, Azerbaijan has proposed the 3+3 cooperation format. A historic environment has emerged today for normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, signing the peace treaty and transforming the South Caucasus into a region of peace and cooperation.

Immediately upon the liberation of our ancestral lands from Armenias occupation in 2020, we have launched large-scale reconstruction and development efforts here. Critical infrastructure projects have been implemented across these territories in a short time, including constructing and putting into service two airports. The construction of the third airport in Lachin is underway. I want to thank the brotherly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for the already commissioned school and the ongoing construction of a creativity center in the city of Fuzuli. We regard this as a vivid testimony to our countries' brotherhood, solidarity and friendship," President Ilham Aliyev said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Nearly 100 thousand displaced persons are envisaged to be returned to their homes in the coming three years, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"The program of the Great Return to the de-occupied territories is among our national priorities. As part of successfully implementing the program, the displaced persons' return has been ensured to the cities of Lachin and Fuzuli and the villages of Aghali, Zabukh and Talish. Nearly 100 thousand displaced persons are envisaged to be returned to their homes in the coming three years. Along with the revival of Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions and ensuring sustainable resettling of the population, implementing the projects also enables conditions for turning these areas into a developed region.

One of the gravest consequences of a 30-year occupation for the Azerbaijani people was the deliberate damage to our cultural heritage of universal significance, including all the sites associated with the Islamic faith. Regrettably, throughout that time, 65 out of 67 mosques were razed to the ground, and the remaining ones were desecrated by being used for housing animals. The fact of destroying another mosque was revealed most recently where the Malibeyli mosque was used as a barn. All of this is an insult to the feelings of Azerbaijanis and the worlds Muslims," President Ilham Aliyev said.
Fraudster Allegedly Extorted Money from Two Hustler Casino Live Poker Players

October 10, 2023 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

An alleged fraudster is accused of pitting two prominent Hustler Casino Live regulars against each other to run an elaborate scam.

Benjamin "Blank Check Ben" Lee and "Wes Side" Wesley Fei, both polarizing figures on the show, have an admitted tense relationship. But the poker players are putting their differences aside to expose someone they believe has extorted them both, which Lee explained via his own blog post.

Poker Players Scammed

Wesley Fei

In August, an anonymous person made some accusations against Wesley in a WordPress blog post, claiming the poker player got him for $250,000 in a cryptocurrency scheme in early 2022.

The anonymous individual then contacted Lee on Instagram to inform him about the supposed crypto scam. Being a proponent of justice and having a disdain for the alleged scammer, as he explained in the blog post, Lee decided to listen to the apparent victim to find out the details.

As the two began to speak, the anonymous person told Lee that he was embarking on a project to expose Wesley's crimes publicly and that he needed financial assistance in doing so. Initially, he refused the request, but then months later things took a turn when the anon victim informed Lee that after Wesley had somehow gotten word of the project, Wesley flipped the script and offered the person who accused him of a scam $35,000 to expose Lee as the "originator of this campaign of character assassination."

Concerned that the accuser could harm his reputation, he offered to help fund the project to expose Wesley even though he knew he was being pitted against his Hustler Casino Live rival in a bidding war.

He first sent a $1,000 wire transfer, and that is where he discovered the anonymous person he'd been communicating with is Russell Thamer, a London-based recruiter for a financial firm.

In the anonymous blog, the author accused Wesley of sending "thugs" to burglarize his home and allegedly admitted to it after the supposed incident took place. Wesley sent out a tweet denying the allegations and hinted that Lee was behind the accusations. At around the same time, Lee wired another $1,500 to fund the project.

Around the same time, Thamer informed Lee that he'd been contacted by someone who claimed to have evidence that Wesley, who is from China, committed immigration fraud in the United States. But he required an 80,000 payment to turn over the evidence. Thamer asked Lee for the money, but the offer was declined. He then came back and claimed he'd negotiated a smaller amount for the evidence, to which Lee also refused to pay.

Jack-Four One Year Anniversary: Live-Stream Poker's Most Infamous and Insane Hand Ever

Tables are Turned

Following the release of the anonymous blog post, Thamer claimed he'd received threatening voicemails and that he was being stalked, perhaps by Wesley's hired goons. Upon hearing about the threats, Lee felt concern for his own safety, so he hired security to patrol his Los Angeles home, and then he sent another 22,500 in cryptocurrency to get his hands on the supposed immigration fraud evidence so that he could bring Wesley to justice the crimes he'd allegedly committed.

But then a request for additional funds came hours later, and the following day he discovered the documents didn't even exist. Lee would then contact Hustler Casino Live co-owner Ryan Feldman to discuss the matter and set up a meeting with Wesley.

The following day, Lee and the poker player he'd been beefing with for months met to compare evidence (text messages and voice recordings). It was then that they both discovered they'd been scammed and pitted against each other by someone who likely took advantage of their disdain for each other.

In September, Wesley shared with PokerNews a WhatsApp conversation with the then anonymous person, which are visible below and clearly show the attempted scheme to pit the poker players against each other for financial gain.

Both Lee and Wesley have shared proof that Thamer attempted to extort and blackmail them even after his scam was exposed.

"He tugged at my heartstrings and led me to believe that he had lost his entire life savings  Wesley's crypto scam," Lee told PokerNews. "Additionally, he also convinced me that his personal safety was at risk. This was when I sent him the GBP 30,000."

Wesley explained that the two have since become friends as they learned that they were being extorted and pitted against each other. For further details about Thamer and his alleged scam, visit ScamClarification.com.

Check out the Hustler Casino Poker Room review here on PokerNews!

Sharelines Two @HCLPokerShow players were allegedly extorted out of money by the same alleged fraudster.
Global Pokers Maverick O II Series Underway; A Week of All Things Omaha

October 10, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

On Monday, the Global Poker Four Beats Two Maverick O Series II kicked off and is slated to run through October 15. The All Things Omaha series features 56 trophy events, all honoring the great four-card game.

Players can dive into a diverse array of Omaha formats, including PLO, PLO8, and Fixed-Limit, for a chance to win a share of GC 189,500,000 and SC 260,000 in guaranteed prizes.

Promising seven days of dedicated Omaha gameplay and an impressive 56 trophies up for grabs, players can compete in 28 Gold Coin events and 28 Sweeps Coin events, including the O-mighty GC 25,000,000 GTD Main Event 2R1A and SC 50,000 GTD Main Event 2R1A tournaments.

Additionally, players can enjoy Omaha ring games, featuring Fixed-Limit Omaha and 8-Max PLO throughout the series. But the excitement doesnt stop there! Maverick O Series II introduces exclusive prizes for the most skilled Omaha players, including the razor-sharp '4 BEATS 2' Maverick O trophy for winners of all Gold Coin and Sweeps Coins events. Gold Coin winners can also look forward to flaunting their victory in style with our specially designed Global Poker Maverick O apparel. A selection of classic Global Poker merch will be awarded to Sweeps Coin winners.

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2023 Maverick Schedule

Date Time Name Buyin Guarantee Sunday 8 Oct 2023 16:30 Maverick PLO Opening GC 800,000 Freeroll [6-Max, Turbo, Livestream] 0 800,000 Monday 9 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 1-L PLO GC 2,500,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 11,000 2,500,000 Monday 9 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 1-M PLO GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 22,000 4,000,000 Monday 9 Oct 2023 21:30 Maverick O 1-H PLO GC 8,000,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 55,000 8,000,000 Monday 9 Oct 2023 22:30 Maverick O 1-L PLO GC 1,500,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 11,000 1,500,000 Tuesday 10 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 2-L PLO GC 4,500,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy, 6-Max] 5,500 4,500,000 Tuesday 10 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 2-M PLO GC 8,000,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy, 6-Max] 11,000 8,000,000 Tuesday 10 Oct 2023 21:30 Maverick O 2-H PLO GC 20,000,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy, 6-Max] 33,000 20,000,000 Tuesday 10 Oct 2023 22:30 Maverick O 2-L PLO GC 3,000,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy, 6-Max] 5,500 3,000,000 Wednesday 11 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 3-L PLO GC 1,500,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep Turbo] 11,000 1,500,000 Wednesday 11 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 3-M PLO GC 3,500,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep Turbo] 22,000 3,500,000 Wednesday 11 Oct 2023 21:30 Maverick O 3-H PLO GC 8,000,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep Turbo] 55,000 8,000,000 Wednesday 11 Oct 2023 22:30 Maverick O 3-L PLO GC 1,500,000 Guaranteed [8-Max, Deep Turbo] 11,000 1,500,000 Thursday 12 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 4-L PLO8 GC 2,000,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 8-Max] 11,000 2,000,000 Thursday 12 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 4-M PLO8 GC 4,500,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 8-Max] 22,000 4,500,000 Thursday 12 Oct 2023 21:30 Maverick O 4-H PLO8 GC 9,000,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 8-Max] 55,000 9,000,000 Thursday 12 Oct 2023 22:30 Maverick O 4-L PLO8 GC 1,500,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 8-Max] 11,000 1,500,000 Friday 13 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 5-L PLO GC 2,000,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max, Deep] 11,000 2,000,000 Friday 13 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 5-M PLO GC 3,000,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max, Deep] 22,000 3,000,000 Friday 13 Oct 2023 21:30 Maverick O 5-H PLO GC 7,500,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max, Deep] 55,000 7,500,000 Friday 13 Oct 2023 22:30 Maverick O 5-L PLO GC 1,500,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max, Deep] 11,000 1,500,000 Saturday 14 Oct 2023 17:30 Maverick O 6-A FLO GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [1R1A, 6-Max, Turbo] 22,000 4,000,000 Saturday 14 Oct 2023 18:30 Maverick O 6-B PLO GC 3,500,000 Guaranteed [Bounty, 4-Max, Deep Turbo] 33,000 3,500,000 Saturday 14 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 6-C High Roller PLO8 GC 22,000,000 Guaranteed [1R1A, 8-Max] 99,000 22,000,000 Saturday 14 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 6-D PLO GC 3,000,000 [Shootout, Heads-Up, Turbo] 33,000 3,000,000 Sunday 15 Oct 2023 17:30 Maverick O 7-A Warm Up PLO8 GC 10,000,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chance, 8-Max, Deep] 33,000 10,000,000 Sunday 15 Oct 2023 18:30 Maverick O 7-B Main Event PLO GC 25,000,000 Guaranteed [2R1A, 6-Max] 55,000 25,000,000 Sunday 15 Oct 2023 19:30 Maverick O 7-C High Roller PLO GC 15,000,000 Guaranteed [2x-Chances, 8-Max, Deep] 99,000 15,000,000 Sunday 15 Oct 2023 20:30 Maverick O 7-D Wrap Up PLO GC 10,000,000 Guaranteed [Rebuy, 6-Max, Turbo] 11,000 10,000,000

*Images courtesy of Global Poker.

Sharelines There are 56 trophies up for grabs in the @official_glp Maverick O II Series, which runs through Oct. 15.
WSOP POY Ian Matakis Wins Canterbury Park Fall Poker Classic Main Event ($117,668)

October 09, 2023 Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S.

Ian Matakis took the poker world by storm earlier this summer at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) when he racked up 22 cashes and a bracelet victory to win the WSOP Player of the Year race. The young grinder is back on the felt and, on Sunday evening, took down the 2023 Canterbury Park Fall Poker Classic $1,100 buy-in Main Event in Minnesota for $117,668.

Matakis, a Minnesota native, defeated heads-up opponent Wesley Cannon after the two agreed to flatten the payouts and play for the trophy and an additional $10,000 in prize money.

Read About Ian Matakis Winning POY!

2023 Canterbury Park Fall Poker Classic Final Table Results

PLACE PLAYER PRIZE (IN USD) 1 Ian Matakis $117,668* 2 Wesley Cannon $97,444* 3 Ben Frisch $60,621 4 Blake Bohn $44,977 5 Nghia Le $33,896 6 James Karamanis $25,422 7 Steven Knish $19,555 8 Yer Vang $15,644 9 Daniel Hendrickson $11,733

*Denotes heads-up deal

Matakis Takes Over

Taking down the FPC Main Event was no easy feat and Matakis had to navigate through a field of 679 runners in an event that created a $651,840 prize pool. The final table included Mid-States Poker Tour Hall of Famer and Minnesota all-time money leader Blake Bohn (4th - $44,977) and fellow Minnesota crusher Nghia Le (5th - $33,896).

After the elimination of Ben Frisch in third for $60,621, Matakis and Cannon agreed to a modified ICM chop before playing it out for the trophy. Early into heads-up play, Cannon double through Matakis with ace-jack against ten-eight to even things out.

Things got crazy when Cannon three-bet jammed with pocket fours to put himself at risk and Matakis called with ace-eight and a slightly bigger stack, according to Canterbury Park updates on X.

Matakis paired his ace on the turn to become a big favorite to win the event, but a four on the river gave Cannon a miracle double as the WSOP POY was left with crumbs.

In remarkable fashion, Matakis went on to double up four consecutive times to even things out before a similar preflop matchup where Matakis' ace-seven beat out the pocket threes of Cannon, who busted the next hand after being left with a single small blind.

It was a heartfelt victory for Matakis as it took place on the three-year anniversary of his mother's passing, as he noted on social media.

"This ones for you Momma," he wrote.

Continuing Breakout Year

The victory at his hometown Canterbury Park is the latest in what has been a breakout year for the young Minnesotan. Five of his six biggest career cashes were from this year, including a career-best score of $205,696 from a third-place finish in Event #82: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (6-Handed) at the 2023 WSOP.

Ian Matakis at the 2023 WSOP

Earlier in the summer, Matakis took down the WSOP Online $500 Bankroll Builder for $120,686 and his first bracelet en route to a surprise victory in the WSOP POY race ahead of usual favorites like Shaun Deeb and Josh Arieh.

Matakis, who now has $1.7 million in tournament earnings and sits 13th on Minnesota's all-time money list, appeared on the PokerNews Podcast earlier this year to talk about his POY victory and more. Check out Matakis on the PokerNews Podcast below.

*Lead photo courtesy of Canterbury Park via X.
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Georgia Senate Republicans are using a new law to try to launch an investigation that will punish Fulton County DA Fani Willis and protect Trump.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported:

Georgia Senate Republicans filed a formal complaint to punish Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis after she sought charges against former President Donald Trump under a new law aimed at sanctioning rogue prosecutors.

The complaint contends Willis improperly cherry-picked cases to further her personal political agenda and asks the newly formed Prosecuting Attorneys Qualification Commission to initiate an investigation and take appropriate measures to sanction her.

The integrity of our justice system is at stake, and the trust of the community in the District Attorneys Office has been severely eroded, states the complaint, which a group of eight state senators submitted hours after the law took effect Oct. 1.

The reason why the Georgia state senate is so motivated to silence Willis is that she has already indicted one Georgia state senator in the Trump investigation, and she could indict the president of the senate, who is also the Lt. Governor.

Senate Republicans have a personal motivation to get rid of Willis.

It was well known that Georgia Senate Republicans were going to try a stunt like this because they are under pressure to protect Trump.

Innocent people dont need to have prosecutors removed or fired, which is something the self-named law and order party should think about as they try to save Donald Trump.
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Sen. Josh Hawley tried to criticize Bidens response after Israel was attacked but was told that no one wants to hear from an insurrectionist.

The post by Hawley and the reply by DNC Chair Jamie Harrison:

Yeah not a soul is looking for advice on anything from a fist pumping insurrectionist who ran like a banshee when the mob got to close. But you can do your job and stop blocking military promotions and ambassadors. https://t.co/k9UznU3Cz2  Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) October 10, 2023

Harrison was correct. No one wants to hear what an insurrection supporter thinks about anything. Republicans are trying to turn the attack on Israel into a Biden scandal, but elected Republicans have their own massive skeleton in their closet, which is their support for the attempt to overthrow the government on January 6th.

Josh Hawley still harbors delusions of the presidency, and he thinks 2028 will be his year.

As long as congressional Republicans support insurrections and block military promotions, they need to sit in the corner and be quiet when it comes to national security matters.

The minute congressional Republicans supported Trumps insurrection and later followed it up by trying to block aid to Ukraine, they lost the right to be heard on any national security issue.

Those who oppose democracy and support insurrection do not have the best interests of the United States in mind.
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Without a speaker, the House cant pass emergency aid to Israel and its not clear yet whether unelected speaker pro temprore Patrick McHenry (last seen kicking Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi out of her hideaway before sending everyone home to relax since they couldnt get any work done) can receive classified briefings on the matter, given that he doesnt have the security clearance to receive Gang of Eight level intelligence.

But as an unelected speaker pro tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., is effectively powerless on the matter. Under House rules, the interim speaker can act only on matters that relate to the election of a new speaker: gavel in, gavel out, and preside. That post-9/11 rule was designed for continuity of government, not for an unprecedented political situation like the current one. Two scholars with knowledge said the House would need to elect McHenry as speaker pro tem for that to change, NBC explained in a piece detailing that experts say interim Speaker McHenry effectively powerless on Israel matters.

Given the fact that the attack on a close ally of the U.S. is highlighting Republican chaos and dysfunction, you might think theyd be embarrassed about their infighting putting the U.S. at risk and our ability to be a proper partner to our ally at risk  and want to get to work. But if you think that, youre just projecting your own work ethic on to these folks and missing the bad faith with which theyre acting.

Remember, we currently have no ambassador to Israel because Senate Republicans blocked President Bidens nominee as well as Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville blocking over three hundred military positions including top officers whose job would be to command forces in the Middle East.

Tuberville says he will NOT lift his military blockade even in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

So you might ask yourselves, why would this party  already led by a man who elevated white supremacy into his administration during his scandal-ridden presidency whose supporters who stormed the Capitol on 1/6 included Holocaust deniers and neo-Nazis  see the deadly attack on Israel as a good thing for them?

Sure, it might have seemed like a gaffe when Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniels said on Fox News that the horrific attack on Israel is a great opportunity for Republicans, but other Republican strategists have joined in to say that it is a huge political benefit for them, even as the Republican-controlled House remains unable to pass aid for Israel due to the unprecedented situation of not having a speaker.

Not to worry, one Republican strategist told The Hill that its too early to tell if the historic dysfunction of not being able to pick a speaker even after an attack on Israel will impact House Republicans next year, saying the negative political impacts for us are still very limited.

So, not having a speaker is a limited negative. That is to say, not being a functioning body that is capable of doing the bare minimum is not a problem for Republicans when it comes to elections. Why? Because this war on Israel is good for them.



I think its really a huge political benefit to our Republicans in New York, the Republican strategist said. Every member of their party is going to have to answer for what the far left is saying about the issue and its an incredible opportunity for us to label every member of the party, unless they speak up, as agreeing with them. The GOP strategist also noted that the party would likely target swing districts in Michigan in the wake of Tlaibs remarks.

So, a few voices on the left who arent near leadership are something the entire Democratic Party is supposed to be accountable for, but the Republican Party having a literal white supremacist as one of the three replacement options for Speaker is apparently fine.

House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) is one of the two declared options, and he infamously said he was former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke without the baggage while speaking at a white nationalist event in 2002.

The other option is House Select Committee dubbed significant player in the insurrection against his own country, Jim Jordan (R-OH). Jordan has little respect for the Houses power and responsibility, demonstrated by his evasion of a House subpoena over his involvement in the 1/6 terrorist attack which included speaking with Trump that morning. Jordan also covered up a wide spread sexual assault scandal at Ohio University.

Those are the top two choices for third in line to the presidency by the Republican Party. These are their best and brightest.

At least one New York based Republican strategist was able to see clearly. Tom Doherty admitted to The Hill, Having a Speakership sitting vacant at the moment is obviously not good. It doesnt serve us or our foreign partners any good not to have a Speaker of the House.

Keep all of this in mind after a dizzying last 24 hours full of Republican attacks on Biden for things they had to make up due to the President doing his job well by being a competent, experienced foreign policy expert with deep connections and ties to foreign leaders.

One of these parties is a white supremacist chaos circus run by a wanna be dictator and the other is a functioning governing party with imperfect politicians. Only one of these parties is looking at the Israel-Hamas war that has killed over 1500 people so far as an opportunity and huge political benefit.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The fact of destroying another mosque was revealed most recently where the Malibeyli mosque was used as a barn, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"One of the gravest consequences of a 30-year occupation for the Azerbaijani people was the deliberate damage to our cultural heritage of universal significance, including all the sites associated with the Islamic faith. Regrettably, throughout that time, 65 out of 67 mosques were razed to the ground, and the remaining ones were desecrated by being used for housing animals. The fact of destroying another mosque was revealed most recently where the Malibeyli mosque was used as a barn. All of this is an insult to the feelings of Azerbaijanis and the worlds Muslims," President Ilham Aliyev said.
CLEMSON  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham was in the Upstate for a planned visit when his agenda for the weekend shifted due to the attacks in Israel.

The Republican senator, who calls Seneca home, likened the event to 9/11 on steroids for Israeli and Jewish people around the world.

Im a thousand percent convinced that this attack, orchestrated by Iran  was designed to stop the peace process moving forward between Saudi Arabia and Israel, Graham told reporters before he spoke at the Clemson Rotary Clubs lunch meeting.

Israel declared war against militant group Hamas on Oct. 8 following a surprise attack during the major Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret on Oct. 7. Nearly 1,600 people were killed  including at least 11 Americans  and Hamas claimed at least 100 Israeli citizen as hostages after breaking through the countrys borders, the Associated Press reported.

Graham said he prays for the hostages and is hopeful they can be helped, but negotiating with terrorists isnt an option. The solution to this attack, he said, is to give Israel the time, space and aid to dismantle the Palestinian group Hamas.

Israel clearly had a major intelligence failure. We need to find out how that happened and how did we miss it? That needs to happen, Graham said.

Graham also took the opportunity to draw a parallel between the Israeli-Palestinian border and the U.S. border with Mexico.

Our border is beyond broken. If this does not spur Congress to provide stronger border security, what would?" Graham said.
COLUMBIA  For the second time in less than a month, South Carolina homeowners woke up to find antisemitic flyers had mysteriously appeared in their driveways.

Residents in the Lake Carolina residential community north of Columbia found small plastic bags containing flyers with hateful and offensive content directed at Jewish people in their driveways or front yards on Oct. 10, according to an online post in a popular Columbia-area Reddit forum, where commenters confirmed finding flyers.

The material also contained neo-Nazi elements, including a headline proclaiming "He died for you" alongside a picture of Adolf Hitler.

The flyers popped up just two weeks after a group that the Anti-Defamation League identifies as White supremacist distributed literature in Mount Pleasant on Sept. 26, the day after the major Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.

The propaganda pieces also came roughly a year after similar antisemitic rhetoric was reported to have shown up around Columbia enclave, Forest Acres, in June 2022, and after more reports of antisemitic flyers came out of a neighborhood near Myrtle Beach in December.

Another antisemitic hate group reportedly distributed antisemitic flyers outside of a Donald Trump presidential campaign event in Pickens County this summer, according to an audit from the ADL. That same audit reported nearly 500 propaganda incidents nationwide in 2022, an exponential jump from the 74 incidents reported in 2021. South Carolina was among the states with the highest number of reported incidents along with California, Florida, Texas and Georgia.

Incidents like the one from Oct. 10 are categorized as vandalism, and eight such incidents were reported in South Carolina last year. The state also had 36 reported incidents classified as harassment, another stark increase from previous years.
As former President Donald Trump walked into Palmetto State Armory in Summerville, he marveled at what he saw.

"They do a fantastic job. Fantastic job. Incredible people," Trump said.

The store had been shut down just for him. To his right was Julian Wilson, one of the owners of the Columbia-based gun manufacturing company. To his left was the company's founder, Jamin McCallum.

Both owners smiled as all of them strode toward the back of the store, where rifles hung on the wall and firearms were on display behind glass cases.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, patted his son, Julian, on the back as a store employee showed the former president different firearms. His other son, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, watched.

Trump stopped and pointed at a gun he liked, a Glock 19 featuring a laser-engraved portrait of Trump on one side and the presidential seal on the other.

"Wow," Trump said, looking down at the gun. "And they sell well?" he asked.

"Yes sir," an employee said.

The gun Trump admired and briefly expressed interest in buying is one of many firearms engraved or painted with pro-Trump or anti-Biden messages sold by PSA.

Another example: a Lets go Brandon AR-15 lower receiver, conservative slang for (expletive) Joe Biden, which is also notched into the gun above the firing selector, made by PSA.

Other notable gun designs once for sale on the companys website include:

 A Stop the Steal 1911 pistol, a motto supporting Trumps repeated false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Made by European American Armory.

 An America First 1911 pistol, a slogan Trump used in his 2016 presidential campaign to emphasize his call for the country to move away from multinational alliances, among other foreign policy ideas. Made by Auto Ordnance.

The Columbia-based manufacturer has a history of making headlines over its gun designs. It started in 2011 when the company sold an AR-15 lower receiver engraved with the words, You Lie, a tribute to Joe Wilson, who made national headlines two years earlier for shouting those words at President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress.
LEXINGTON  Following pushback on a proposal to outlaw fireworks, Lexington County Council loosened its suggested pyrotechnic ban.

Under a revision to Lexington County's noise ordinance that gained council support Oct. 10, fireworks would be banned in unincorporated areas of Lexington from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. every day except for the Fourth of July and New Year's.

The council's push to restrict fireworks comes as an effort to ease stress on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and pets sensitive to loud noises, council members said during a discussion of the ban.

The restrictions are looser than ones initially proposed by council which would have outlawed pyrotechnics completely except for New Year's, Christmas, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

In an August public hearing, Lexington County residents shot back against the stricter regulations.

"The public hearing was really eye-opening," said council member Todd Cullum in a meeting following the hearing. "After it's been tossed around and beat around enough I think it's ended up where it should have been all along."

Under the new proposed ban, fireworks may be shot off any day of the year between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. On July 4, they may continue until 11 p.m., while on Jan. 1 they may continue until 12:30 a.m.

Lexington County considered restricting fireworks for decades, but as growth in the county boomed and subdivisions replaced farmland, the issue became more pressing.

By restricting fireworks, the council hopes to limit adverse effects while still allowing for celebration.

During an Aug. 8 public hearing, critics questioned how the ban as originally proposed would have affected businesses that rely on being able to sell fireworks year-round for events like gender reveals, weddings and birthdays.

Additionally, opponents of the ban called it exclusionary, because it included American and Christian holidays while leaving out festivities like Chinese New Year and the Hindu holiday Diwali.
South Carolina schools improved in almost every major academic subject last school year, according to the state report cards released Oct. 10.

But more students are fighting in school and missing class than in previous years.

Experts say the report cards show that students are on the path to academic recovery after suffering from pandemic-related learning loss. Yet the safety issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic are still a serious concern.

Academic progress

South Carolina students showed strong improvement in English Language Arts with 53.9 percent meeting or exceeding expectations, up from 46.6 percent in 2022 and 41.7 in 2018.

High schoolers also showed gains in the subject, with 64.4 percent making a "C" or higher in English I, up from 58 percent in 2022 and 53.9 percent in 2018.

S.C. Superintendent Ellen Weaver said in an Oct. 10 statement that going forward, the state plans to invest more in early literacy. Experts have found that getting children reading on grade level by third grade is critical to their academic futures. Students who aren't reading on grade level by then are frequently unable to meet reading milestones later in life and enroll in college at lower rates.

S.C. students' math performance was more mixed. Elementary and middle school students' scores increased, though on a more modest level than in reading.

Around 41 percent of students met or exceeded expectations in math. This is up from 38.9 percent in 2022, but it still doesn't reach the 44.6 percent passing in 2018.

High school students performed worse last year with only 41.8 percent getting a "C" or higher in Algebra I compared to 44.3 percent in 2022. This is down from 60.5 percent in 2018.
JOHNS ISLAND  A Mexican-inspired restaurant is now open in a brand-new building, just like many of the structures that line this busy stretch of Maybank Highway. Like its modern home, the cocktail menu at Colectivo, which debuted Sept. 6, is firmly planted in this era of dining.

Classic cocktails are turned up a notch with house-made ingredients (see: Butterfly Southside) and served in the correlating glass  the Cap n Cup with Cappelletti Aperitivo and mezcal arrives in a Nick & Nora, while lighter options like the Spice Tea with amaro, lemon and coconut milk are served in tall Collins glasses. The list of 10 drinks is joined by local craft beers, a non-alcoholic margarita and a multi-page list of mezcals, a smoky spirit that has become trendy of late.

The dinner menu has its contemporary flair, too.

Birria bone marrow sopes capitalize on diners' fondness for the unctuous, fatty tissue meat, which can be scooped straight from two bones and placed on a masa tart with sweet potato. Seasonal fruit  watermelon and jicama when we went  is tossed in a sticky chamoy sauce and sprinkled with Sour Patch Watermelons. (Yes, the sour chewy candy.) An Arizona-style quesadilla glistens with bubbling cheese while resting on a pizza stand.

At Colectivo, traditional Mexican dishes are paired with creative cheffy spins, showcasing the spirit of a chef who doesnt take himself too seriously.
GREENVILLE  It started, as many neighborhood events do, in a mom group chat.

Michelle OMalley wanted a way to support small businesses in Sans Souci. Another woman wanted a community yard sale to sell used children's things. Hannah Thompson, who serves on the Sans Souci Neighborhood Alliance, suggested killing two birds with one stone, and Shop Sans Souci was born.

The first Shop Sans Souci market took place in Sans Souci Churchs parking lot in fall 2021. At first, it was held on the same day as the community yard sale, though not in the same space. It has since evolved into one open-air market to find things old and new, borrowed and blue.

Thompson and OMalley are responsible for making the market happen twice a year  once in the spring and once in the fall. Much like the neighborhood itself, each year the market grows a bit bigger. Sans Souci, whose name means "without worry" in French, is located just northwest of downtown Greenville.

Every year weve added a few more things to create a really fun gathering place for the neighborhood or for others who are stopping in, OMalley said.

This year, Thompson said they have made a concerted effort to include more members of the neighborhoods Latino community in the event by advertising at the local elementary school and inviting musician Dionisio Camacho and Colombian food truck Half Rooted. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than half of the students enrolled at Cherrydale Elementary School in Sans Souci identify as Hispanic.

Thompson wants the makeup of community events to reflect the diversity of people who live there. Were trying to be more representative of all the people in our neighborhood and make it be a safe place, Thompson said.

The Shop Sans Souci market and yard sale on Oct. 7 also included a musical performance from Bryan Gilbert, face painting for the kids and coffee from daydrinkers  a coffee shop that opened in Sans Souci this August.
GREENVILLE  A zoning change that city officials claim removes red tape for tattoo parlors would also limit the shops to two of Greenvilles 28 categories, pushing them solely into art districts and industrial areas.

While no council members objected to the proposed rezoning, Greenville City Council deferred the proposal on Oct. 9 that would have created a new specific category for tattoo and body piercing shops, citing a lack of input from residents. The Council is expected to revisit the amendment in a broader zoning review early next year.

The current code, which went into effect in July, places the shops into a personal services category that includes barbershops and laundromats. Before that, tattoo parlors were required to request special exemptions from the citys Board of Zoning Appeals in several zoning districts.

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Under the proposed amendment, the shops wouldnt be allowed near a group living shelter or detention center, said Mary Douglas Hirsch, city planning administrator. They would be prohibited within 300 feet of a park, including the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

City Manager Shannon Lavrin told The Post and Courier that city staff could revive the proposal in January during the six-month review of the zoning code. Staff selected the two zoning districts because they were considered art districts or already had approved tattoo shops, Lavrin said.

The deferral came from concerns first raised by City Councilwoman Lillian Brock Flemming during the council meeting, with Flemming saying she wanted to make sure the West Greenville community was engaged.

West Greenville is one of the citys special emphasis neighborhoods, a label given to historically Black, lower-income areas to help them receive community development funding. Some of those neighborhoods have voiced concerns over developers coming in for lower property costs and creating major changes without working with longtime residents.
GREENVILLE  Greenville County Sheriff's deputies have responded to the Upstate's only abortion clinic close to 300 times since the beginning of 2021 as opposing protestors clash regularly.

During that same period, there have been 20 arrests at the Greenville Women's Clinic, with minor charges such as simple assault that Sheriff Hobart Lewis said rarely stick. But the heated exchanges and frequent dust ups between pro-life and pro-choice demonstrators playing out along a well-trafficked state road have created safety concerns, he said.

"I've caught more grief over that clinic than I have anything else in three and a half years, on both sides," Lewis said.

In light of those ongoing clashes, Greenville County is exploring new rules for picketing that Lewis said are aimed at setting clear expectations for conduct during demonstrations to make them safer.

The new rules would prohibit protestors from open carrying firearms or carrying any other weapons while picketing, as well as from wearing any head cover to conceal their identity.

The Greenville County Council's Public Safety Committee, which voted Oct. 9 to send the proposed ordinance to the full council for approval, amended the proposed ordinance to allow for medical masks, such as N-95s.

Body armor, open flames and bikes would likewise be illegal at protests under the new law. The ordinance would also require any picketer's bag larger than 6 inches, by 8 inches, by 3 inches to be see-through so that it's contents are visible from the outside.

Under the proposed law, it would be illegal for demonstrators to block pedestrian walkways and entrances to businesses.

Lewis said the ordinance is not intended to stifle First Amendment rights but to lessen risk during conflicts between protestors and counter protestors. Violating the picketing rules would be ticketable offense, with fines up to $500.

While the law would apply to protests throughout the county, Lewis said it was prompted in large part by the consistently heated clashes at the the Greenville abortion clinic.
Ashley Ridge came closer than it ever has to playing for a state volleyball championship, but its season ended in the Lower State finals. Read moreSwamp Foxes fall in Lower State finals
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 10. The Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Khusrav Noziri thanked Azerbaijan during a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov for the successful implementation and holding of this event, Trend reports.

"A number of important issues were discussed during the meeting. ECO will continue to work on contributing to economic development," said Noziri.

The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization within the framework of Azerbaijan's chairmanship kicked off in the city of Shusha on October 10.

The meeting continues with the discussion of statements by representatives of member countries and observers, international partners and specialized structures of the ECO, initiatives and proposals for the further development of regional cooperation within the ECO, as well as other issues on the agenda of the meeting.
As you wander through the South Carolina Aquarium, you experience the states ecosystems from the mountains to the sea, all of which are woven together by an intricate network of waterways. This is reflected in every region of our state; there's no doubt that there's an intrinsic relationshi Read moreSC Aquarium Fights Plastic Pollution
Traffic delays are expected in the Charleston area Oct. 11 as Vice President Kamala Harris is set to speak at the College of Charleston as part of a nationwide speaking tour aimed at youth.

Anthony Gibson, public information officer with the Charleston Police Department, said some minor traffic delays are anticipated extending from late morning into the afternoon.

Harris' appearance downtown is for a moderated conversation that is part of her "Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour," in which she speaks at various colleges to appeal to young voters.

The student-only event is scheduled to begin 1 p.m. at the college's Sottile Theater. Registration is now closed after reaching capacity.

Registered students must bring their student I.D. to the event.

Gibson said there will be traffic delays near the College of Charleston during the vice president's arrival and visit. The police department encourages commuters to consider alternate routes away from campus to avoid any inconvenience. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic management.

The vice president is arriving via the Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport.

This is Harris' seventh stop on the monthlong college tour. According to a statement from the White House, the tour focuses on issues impacting young voters, such as reproductive freedom, gun safety, climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality and book bans.

Students will have the opportunity to ask the vice president questions, according to the college.

It is young leaders throughout America who know what the solutions look like and are organizing in their communities to make them a reality," Harris said in a statement. "My message to students is clear: We are counting on you, we need you, you are everything."
It was a day Frank Larkin will never forget. In April 2017, his son Ryan F. Larkin, a Navy SEAL who was struggling following his return to civilian life, committed suicide in the basement of the familys home. Read moreCommentary: Let's take care of those who served and protected us
DARLINGTON  Police are searching for occupants of a vehicle thought to be connected to the Oct. 10 death of a 16-year-old at the Darlington-Lee Adult Education campus.

A silver 2013 or 2017 Honda Accord with paper tags may be connected to the shooting, Capt. Kimberly Nelson said in an email. The vehicle could have a bullet hole in the roof.

The student died following a parking lot shooting in Darlington, Darlington County Coroner J. Todd Hardee said.

The name of the student, a male, has not been released.

Darlington Police and Darlington Sheriff's Office personnel responded to reports of gunshots at the campus building of the adult education complex  100 Magnolia Street in Darlington  early in the afternoon, according to a press release from the Darlington County School District.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division also had law enforcement personnel on scene.

Law enforcement officials placed schools in the Darlington area on a secure status  meaning no one could enter or exit buildings.

Schools in the area were dismissed at normal times, and all secure statuses were lifted by 2:30 p.m., according to the Darlington County School District's Facebook page.

This is an incredibly tragic situation. The loss of a young person is heart-wrenching, Darlington County School District Superintendent Tim Newman said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of our student."

Newman praised law enforcement for its response to the shooting incident.

"We are also thankful to our school staff who responded quickly to secure our buildings," Newman said.

Schools in Darlington had additional officers on site during dismissal times as an extra precaution, according to the post.

The Darlington-Lee Adult Education campus will be closed Oct. 11, the district said. The Darlington County Intervention School  which shares the campus  will operate with classes online.

The Darlington campus is one of four Darlington-Lee Adult Education campuses in Darlington and Lee counties.
House Republicans have no idea who their next speaker will be, but a majority of South Carolina's GOP congressional members are backing the same man for the top job.

Four of the state's six House Republicans say they plan to support Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio in the two-man race after Kevin McCarthy's historic ouster last week where South Carolina's own U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace played a pivotal role in his removal.

Also jockeying for the leadership post is Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a veteran of Republican leadership who most recently served as McCarthy's No. 2.

He picked up support from one member of the delegation: U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, who pegged his support to Scalise's "effectiveness to create jobs with expanded freedom, limited government, and a strong national defense," he said on Facebook.

The only non committal is U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-Greenville.

An aide in Timmons' Washington office told The Post and Courier on Oct. 10 the congressman had not made a decision or issued a statement on how he will vote.

The South Carolina congressional members who have pledged their early support for Jordan include U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill; U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens; U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach; and Mace, R-Isle of Palms.

In separate statements posted on social media, the four members from the Palmetto State described Jordan in similar terms.

Three touted Jordan's reputation as a conservative. Two described him as someone who could unite Republicans moving forward. One compared Jordan's bid for the speakership to the start of the American Revolutionary War.

"Jim Jordan's candidacy for Speaker carries the same weight as the shot that rang out that day in 1775," Duncan said, referring to the battles of Lexington and Concord where American colonists defied British authority. "The legislative battle for America is upon us, and conservatives must rally around someone with a proven record of fighting for America."
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has failed to get on the ballot for South Carolina's Republican presidential primary next year, raising further doubts about his long-shot 2024 campaign for the GOP nomination. Read more10 Republicans will be on SC's presidential primary  but not Asa Hutchinson
Last December, South Carolina leaders feted the announcement that Rivian, a California electric vehicle manufacturer, was installing free chargers at 30 of 47 state parks.

Twenty-one are up and running.

The irony for those who wanted to buy a Rivian is that its impossible for the company to sell its pickups and SUVs in South Carolina.

Rivian and other EV makers like Tesla, Lucid and Polestar sell directly to consumers online or at showrooms, but a decades-old South Carolina law requires manufacturers to sell through dealerships.

Though many states have bans on direct-to-consumer auto sales, South Carolina goes further, banning manufacturers from building service centers in the state if they dont have a brick-and-mortar dealership.

Its an awkward juxtaposition for a state selling itself as an EV manufacturing hub and illustrates a clash between South Carolina politicians libertarian impulses and desire to protect a deep-rooted industry.

Some in the state Legislature counter there are already plenty of legal avenues to buy electric vehicles from dealers, while repealing the laws could have unintended consequences for consumers.

Last spring, Dunn Hollingsworth, a 57-year-old Mount Pleasant attorney, was eagerly awaiting an email from Rivian announcing a delivery date for the R1T electric pickup hed ordered about two years ago.

Instead, he received an email from the company that said it would not deliver his truck because of South Carolinas law against manufacturers building service centers without brick-and-mortar dealerships. The company did not want to sell in areas where it could not reasonably guarantee service, the email said.

Hollingsworth was disappointed, and annoyed.

It seems to me we get a lot of lip service from the folks in Columbia about how were so EV friendly and, in fact, those are just great soundbites, he said.
Former Texas congressman Will Hurd has abandoned his long-shot 2024 Republican presidential bid and is encouraging other candidates to rally behind the person he thinks can defeat former President Donald Trump: South Carolina's Nikki Haley.

In a statement posted to social media Oct. 9, Hurd said it was time for him to suspend his campaign. But Hurd also said it was time for Republicans to pick a Trump-alternative in the race  Haley.

The former South Carolina governor is the best alternative to Trump, he said, adding that the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations "has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy."

"Our nation deserves a leader who can unite us and navigate the complex challenges we face, particularly when it comes to our national security. I believe Ambassador Nikki Haley is the best person in this race to do that," Hurd said.

America is at a crossroads and it's time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president.Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save! https://t.co/lLDg0NegMd  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 9, 2023

In a social media post of her own, Haley thanked Hurd for his "support and confidence."

She concluded her thanks with a sentence that has become a rallying cry that she frequently uses to close out her campaign events: "We have a country to save!"

Hurd was once seen as a rising star in the Republican Party but struggled to build support quickly in a crowded 2024 field where Trump consistently dominates.
SPARTANBURG  Whether it's joining TikTok despite his own dismay with the app or speaking at South Carolina colleges, Vivek Ramaswamy is making an appeal to young voters.

Speaking to Upstate students at Winthrop University in Rock Hill and Wofford College in Spartanburg, Ramaswamy delivered a lecture on the tenets that have built his campaign: meritocracy, the rule of law and a shared set of American values.

"We're in the middle of a national identity crisis today," Ramaswamy told the audience of mainly college-aged students at Wofford. "And I see it from my vantage point, as the first Millennial ever to run for U.S. president in our party."

The self-assigned generational distinction didn't last long though, as Ramaswamy lumped himself alongside the students who he said are all tackling the question, "What does it mean to be an American today?"

The question-answer began with Ramaswamy's support of Israel during the country's ongoing conflict with Hamas, emphasizing the responsibility the U.S. has to ensure that Israel is "armed and equipped to defend itself."

"Israel has absolutely the fullest right to defend itself and its national existence," Ramaswamy said. "And the job of an ally like the United States is to stand morally with Israel and to stand diplomatically with Israel."

He denounced the "abysmal failures" of American and Israeli intelligence for not anticipating the attacks by Hamas and said that there needs to be answers.

Ramaswamy has been the subject of criticism by other candidates, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, for his lack of foreign policy experience.

Even though Ramaswamy's global view differs from members of his own party and across the aisle, that is no concern to him.

"Foreign policy experience has gotten us 25 years of pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with $3 trillion spent and thousands of American lives lost that shouldn't have been lost," Ramaswamy told reporters after the Wofford town hall. "So I think that when it comes to foreign policy, we need an outsider to actually put the interests of this country first."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. An agreement has been reached with the Islamic Republic of Iran to use this countrys territory for the construction of a highway and a railway to ensure access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his appeal to the participants of the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan is also a reliable transit country, and our transportation and logistics infrastructure is available to all the ECO nations. Given the increased demand for cargo shipping along the East-West route, we aim to increase the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway from the current 1 million to 5 million tons. Furthermore, an agreement has been reached with the Islamic Republic of Iran to use this countrys territory for the construction of a highway and a railway to ensure access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Simultaneously, Azerbaijan is working on expanding the throughput capacity of the North-South transportation corridor," President Ilham Aliyev said.
My opinion of the Left is so low that I would have said I am impossible to disappoint. And yetvia InstaPundit, we see this, which can only be construed as an endorsement of Gazas sneak attack on Israel:

A sitting member of Congress @RashidaTlaib flying the Palestine flag outside her office Is she supporting the #HamasMassacre? pic.twitter.com/n8wACqJLzN  Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) October 10, 2023



So at least one Democratic member of Congress is openly in favor of mass murder, including the murder of hundreds of women, children and infants. That is clarifying.
Israels 9/11 and Israels Pearl Harbor are common description of the Hamas invasion, but another take may be every bit as valid. This is the Islamic jihadists latest attempt at a final solution, the elimination of Israel as a nation.

Our strategy is to erase Israel from the global political map, said Hossein Salami, deputy leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard, in 2019. We announce that if Israel does anything to start a new war, it will obviously be the war that will end with its elimination, and the occupied territories will be returned. The Israelis will not have even a cemetery in Palestine to bury their own corpses. Statements like that should prompt deployment of the John Lennon principle.

Imagine if a coalition of, say, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina aimed for the elimination of Uruguay, a small nation with a population of some 3.5 million. Imagine rhetoric about wiping Uruguay off the map, with repeated incursions, terrorist attacks, hostage takings and such. Imagine if some American politicians questioned Uruguays right to exist, and the American president ramped up funding for the aggressor states.

Imagine India and China teaming up to erase Sri Lanka from the global map, with repeated blockades and invasions against the smaller nation. On the European side, imagine an alliance of Spain, Italy and Belgium aimed at driving Portugal into the sea, with rocket attacks, kidnappings all aimed at the elimination of Portugal from the world map. Where the United States and allies would line up should be an easy call.

From the inception of Israel in 1948, the aim of the Arab states was to eliminate the newfound nation, whose history goes back millennia. As Victor Davis Hanson notes, its an existential war. Recall the multiple invasions and now the Hamas attack, not driven by Jewish settlements or the supposed desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Its happening because of the Islamic imperative to fight Jews, explains Robert Spencer, citing the original Islamic documents. As millions have observed, Hamas parades around the naked corpse of a women, accompanied by shouts of Allahu Akbar!

Describing the Hamas invaders as a militia disturbs Mark Levin of Fox News. He prefers to call them Nazis, and he has a point. The German National Socialists final solution for the Jews involved a vast network of extermination camps but there was more to it. The Nazis deployed the Einsatzgruppen, roving death squads tasked with killing Jews.

Thats exactly what Hamas is doing, gunning down men, women and children in their homes. So if anybody called Hamas Nazis it would be hard to blame them.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-10 07:21:27

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The African Energy Chamber proudly announces the launch of the 2024 edition of the continent's premier event for the energy sector: African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy, taking place November 4-8 in Cape TownJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / At a time when the African energy industry is faced with a variety of challenges, the African Energy Week (AEW) conference serves as a platform for engagement, collaboration and investment. Since the event's inception, AEW has facilitated deals, fostered dialogue while laid the foundation for long-term and sustainable developments to kick off. As such, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( http://www.EnergyChamber.org ) - organizers of the AEW conference - proudly announces the launch of AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy. Maintaining a commitment to a secure and sustainable energy future in Africa, AEW returns to Cape Town from November 4-8 under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030.AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Center and will once again connect a strong slate of African Presidents, Ministers and policymakers with both regional and foreign investors. Covering the entire energy value chain, AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy represents the platform of choice for Africa's energy industry.AEW is all about investing in African energy and there is a reason why the event has become the premier event to sign deals in Africa. The event features the participation of the highest number of African energy and petroleum ministers and is opened by African Presidents. National oil companies from across the continent lead discussions while international energy and technology firms come to sign deals and partner. The event unites African stakeholders with global authorities, with energy heavyweights from the Middle East, Europe and Asia using AEW as a platform to engage with and invest in African opportunities.AEW also showcases the most innovative and forward-looking businesses, projects and solutions through the event's exhibition while various panel discussions, presentations, investor-focused sessions and meetings provide stakeholders with the insight they need to make informed investment decisions across the continent. AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy continues this drive, connecting players from across the African and global industry in Cape Town to unlock a future of security and sustainability in Africa.In a relatively short period of time, AEW has not only emerged as the largest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent but a fresh, innovative platform where the future of Africa's energy sector can be forged. Integrating the entire energy sector and its value chain while uniting African and foreign energy leaders, AEW has and will continue to move with the times, prioritizing Africa's energy security needs alongside sustainable transition. Under efforts to increase investment in every segment of the African energy value chain and associated industries, AEW will continue to offer a comprehensive and diverse program catered to investors from the oil and gas, renewable energy, power and infrastructure, technology and local content arenas."AEW was established with a mission to make energy poverty history by 2030. Centered on an integrated approach to development, this important gathering of African and global stakeholders highlights the challenges to progress while putting in place tangible and actionable solutions for a sustainable energy future. We are proud to announce the dates for AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy, a platform which has not only emerged as the largest energy event on the continent but the official place to sign deals, forge partnerships and advance sustainable energy," states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.Ahead of the AEW 2023 edition, delegates, sponsors and partners interested in reaffirming their commitment to Africa's sustainable future are encouraged to secure their place at the 2024 edition of the conference. AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy builds on the success of the previous editions and proudly marks its return as the premier event for the African energy sector. We look forward to welcoming you back to Cape Town for AEW 2023: Invest in African Energy.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.AEW is the AEC's annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2024 will once again unite African energy policymakers and stakeholders with global investors to discuss and maximize opportunities within the continent's entire energy industry. Keep following www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event! Details to follow soon.Download Image: https://apo-opa.info/3LSd2NQ SOURCE: African Energy Chamber
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. ("Hawaiian Electric" or the "Company") (NYSE:HE) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Hawaiian Electric securities between February 28, 2019 and August 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/he Case Details:The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Hawaiian Electric's wildfire prevention and safety protocols and procedures were inadequate to meet the challenges for which they were ostensibly designed; (2) accordingly, despite knowing the degree of risk that wildfires posed to Maui, the Company's inadequate safety protocols and procedures placed Maui at a heightened risk of devastating wildfires; and (3) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/he or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Hawaiian Electric you have until October 23, 2023 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 10. The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is being held in Azerbaijan's city of Shusha, Trend reports.

First, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov read out the Azerbaijani president's appeal to the meeting participants. The president's appeal highlighted the prospects for cooperation and developments in the region during the post-Karabakh conflict period.

The appeal noted that at Azerbaijan's initiative, the theme for this year has been defined as "Green Transition and Interconnectivity" and emphasized that Azerbaijan is taking consistent steps in this direction at the national and international levels.

In this context, the appeal underlined that the establishment of a green energy zone in the liberated territories is the embodiment of work carried out in the mentioned directions.

In his opening remarks as the ECO Chair, Bayramov thanked for the support and active participation in Azerbaijan's "Green Transition and Interconnectivity" initiatives put forward during its chairmanship.

He expressed confidence that priorities such as the development of regional ties, economic transformation, and "green" energy, which are also reflected in the document "Vision of the ECO-2025," will continue to evolve.

The minister also welcomed the initiatives implemented during Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the ECO aimed at strengthening the organization's cooperation with other regional and international platforms.

Having briefed the participants on the current situation in the region and the realities of the post-conflict period, Bayramov said that Azerbaijan always sought to draw the attention of the international community to the existence of Armenian separatist troops in the region, which threatened regional peace and security.

The minister, speaking about the local anti-terrorist measures that put an end to the provocations of the Armenian separatist troops, which posed a threat to the peaceful and reintegration processes in the region, and mine threat, noted that now the process of reintegration of the Armenian population living in Azerbaijans Karabakh region is underway.

He stressed that the creation of a working group to address the economic, social, and humanitarian needs of local Armenian residents, the adoption of appropriate measures, and the continuation of dialogue between representatives of the government of Azerbaijan and Armenian residents once again prove the unfounded allegations of alleged "ethnic cleansing" in the region.

Bayramov pointed out that Azerbaijan will not miss the historic opportunity for peace and reintegration in the region and is determined to promote the agenda of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the process of reintegration of the Armenian residents of Karabakh.

Currently, the meeting continues with speeches by representatives of member countries and observers, international partners and specialized structures of the ECO, and a discussion of issues on the agenda of the meeting.

In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement [signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], suppression of large-scale provocations in Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region, disarmament, and withdrawal of Armenian armed forces formations from the territories of Azerbaijan, localized anti-terrorist activities were carried out in the region.

Taking into account the appeal of the representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent [temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan under the trilateral statement], an agreement was reached on September 20, 2023, at 13:00 (GMT+4) to cease anti-terrorist activities of a local nature under the following conditions: the formations of the armed forces of Armenia, Armenian illegal armed formations located in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, lay down their weapons, leave their combat positions and military posts, and completely disarm; the formations of the armed forces of Armenia leave the territory of Azerbaijan; Armenian illegal armed groups are dissolved.

Once finished with the separatists, Azerbaijan has launched tangible work with regard to the reintegration of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region. In this regard, Ramin Mammadov, the designated official responsible for contacts with Armenian residents of Karabakh, met with representatives of Armenian residents in the cities of Yevlakh and Khojaly on September 21, 25 and 29, 2023.

Reintegration plans of the Republic of Azerbaijan were presented, and discussions were held during the said meetings.

Reintegration is carried out on the basis of the Constitution, laws and international obligations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The equality of rights and freedoms, including security, is guaranteed to everyone regardless of their ethnic, religious or linguistic affiliation.
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VIVO to Be Highlighted at Several Electrophysiology ConferencesFORT MILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Catheter Precision, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American:VTAK) announced that its innovative 3D Mapping system will be highlighted at several electrophysiology conferences this fall.Most recently, VIVO was highlighted at the 19th Congresso Nazionale Associazione Italiana di Aritmologia e Cardiostimolazione in Bologna, Italy from September 21-22. Interim CEO David Jenkins remarked, "Our attendance not only highlighted our state-of-the-art technology but also cemented collaborations for evaluations at prominent VIVO sites, including Ospedale Della Misericordia Grosseto and Pisa CNR. VIVO received commendable feedback, recognizing its potential to revolutionize patient experience and EP lab efficiency." Strengthening their foothold in Italy, Catheter Precision has strategically partnered with Precise S.r.l. "Our alliance with Precise S.r.l. is instrumental in solidifying our presence in the Italian medical landscape," Jenkins concluded.In addition to VIVO, Catheter Precision will be present at other conferences also highlighting their newly introduced product, LockeT, a venous stasis closure device.Future conferences that will highlight VIVO in the coming weeks are listed below.Irish Cardiac Society's 74th Annual Scietific Meeting, October 12-14, 2023:Presentation: "Testing the Validity of VIVO Technology: A Deep Dive into Ventricular Onset Mapping" by Professor Szeplaki's team from Mater Private Hospital, Dublin.18th Annual International Symposium on Ventricular Arrythmias, October 13-14, 2023Location: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSpotlight: VIVO and LockeT products7th Annual Society of Cardiac RN Meeting, October 19-20, 2023:Location: Washington, DCPresentation: "3D Mapping for Robotic Ventricular Ablations Using VIVO" by Dr. Benjamin D'Souza from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA.About VIVOCatheter Precision's VIVO (View Into Ventricular Onset), is a non-invasive 3D imaging system that enables physicians to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias pre-procedure, thereby streamlining workflow and reducing procedure time. VIVO has received marketing clearance from the U.S. FDA and has the CE mark.About LockeTCatheter Precision's LockeT is a suture retention device intended to assist in hemostasis after percutaneous venous punctures. LockeT is a Class 1 device registered with the FDA.About Catheter PrecisionCatheter Precision is an innovative U.S.-based medical device company bringing new solutions to market to improve the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is focused on developing groundbreaking technology for electrophysiology procedures by collaborating with physicians and continuously advancing its products. Reincorporated as Ra Medical Systems, Inc. in Delaware in 2018, the Company changed its name to Catheter Precision, Inc. on August 17, 2023.Forward Looking StatementsThis communication contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "may," "might," "can," "could," "continue," "depends," "expect," "expand," "forecast," "intend," "predict," "plan," "rely," "should," "will," "may," "seek," or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our anticipated revenues during the second half of 2023, and the anticipated accounting for the merger with Catheter Precision. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties included under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov . These risks and uncertainties include, but aren't limited to, that we will not be able to reach profitability unless we are able to achieve our product expansion and growth goals, our research and development and commercialization efforts may depend on entering into agreements with corporate collaborators, we have entered into joint marketing agreements with respect to our products, and may enter into additional joint marketing agreements, that will reduce our revenues from product sales, royalty agreements with respect to our LockeT device will reduce any future profits from this product, if we experience significant disruptions in our information technology systems, our business may be adversely affected, litigation and other legal proceedings may adversely affect our business, if we make acquisitions or divestitures, we could encounter difficulties that harm our business, failure to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel could also impede our growth, failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause our investors to lose confidence in us and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, if our internal controls are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, our revenues may depend on our customers' receipt of adequate reimbursement from private insurers and government sponsored healthcare programs, we may be unable to compete successfully with companies in our highly competitive industry, many of whom have substantially greater resources than we do, our future operating results depend upon our ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms or according to schedules, prices, quality and volumes that are acceptable to us, and suppliers may fail to deliver components, or we may be unable to manage these components effectively or obtain these components on such terms, if hospitals, physicians and patients do not accept our current and future products or if the market for indications for which any product candidate is approved is smaller than expected, we may be unable to generate significant revenue, if any, our medical device operations are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulatory requirements, our products may be subject to additional recalls, revocations or suspensions after receiving FDA or foreign approval or clearance, which could divert managerial and financial resources, harm our reputation, and adversely affec
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Global power technology leader Cummins Inc. has opened a new state-of-the-art solar array, the third largest company-owned solar installation within Cummins, to help power its engine plant in Daventry, United Kingdom.The installation has the capacity to generate 1.8 megawatts of renewable energy, equivalent to powering 746 domestic properties for a year. The Daventry site has already made significant progress in cutting emissions, achieving a 30% reduction even before the solar array became operational."We are very excited about the opening of our new solar farm at the Cummins Daventry plant," said Roy Free, Cummins Daventry Plant Manager. "With the new solar farm in operation, we are confident that we will make a further significant impact on reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come." The plant aims to reduce emissions by an additional 5.5%, aligning with the Cummins Power Systems business segment's 2030 target for greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions reduction. The initiative also aligns with the 2030 goal of reducing total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities and operations by 50%, included in PLANET 2050, Cummins' environmental sustainability strategy.Since 2021, Cummins' Daventry Engine Plant has been operating a generator set recovery system to export test voltages and frequencies back to the grid. As of August 2023, the Cummins Daventry plant had already recovered 1 million KW/h of energy through this system. The newly opened solar installation will increase the amount returned over the coming months. The two projects combined are going to reduce the electricity imported into the Daventry site by around 25%.The Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson, and the Mayor of Daventry, Councillor Ted Nicholl, participated in a ceremony celebrating the opening of the new solar installation, joining various leaders from the plant.The Daventry plant plays a significant role in Cummins' global operations, specializing in the production of advanced power generation sets and high-horsepower engines to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for a wide range of industries, including rail, mining and more.In 2021, Cummins opened a new state of the art logistics hub in Daventry, supporting operations across the UK. The facility has been awarded a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Outstanding rating for building sustainability, ranking it in the top 1% of non-domestic buildings in the UK.ENDView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc. on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Cummins Inc.Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-incEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Cummins Inc.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Comerica Incorporated ("Comerica " or the "Company") (NYSE:CMA) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Comerica securities between February 9, 2021 and May 29, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/cma Case Details:The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) Comerica failed to provide meaningful oversight over the vendors to whom it contracted out day-to-day operations of the Direct Express program, a system through which it is contracted to provide federal benefits to millions of Americans without bank accounts; (2) as a result of violations in the day-to-day operations of Direct Express, including handling fraud disputes and allowing sensitive data to be handled out of a vendor's office in Pakistan, Comerica was not in compliance with the Federal Contract, and knew it was not in compliance; (3) Comerica knew and failed to disclose that it was in potential violation of Regulation E due to inadequate fraud prevention in the Direct Express program and responses to instance of fraud; and (4) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/cma or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Comerica you have until October 20, 2023, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC
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DATE: October 14, 2023TIME: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.LOCATION: South Norwalk Neighborhood School, 46 Concord Street, Norwalk, CT 06854NORWALK, CT / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Filling in the Blanks, an innovative hunger relief nonprofit serving portions of Connecticut and New York is thrilled to announce that their hunger relief services are hitting the road. Programs and services will now include a mobile pantry.The organization currently serves thousands of families via school-based pantries and weekend meal bags, along with other assistance programs. Amid increasing insecurity exacerbated by reduced government aid, the new mobile pantry will deliver fresh produce, meat, dairy, and other food staples-plus access to vital health and wellness services-directly to low-income neighborhoods.Anticipated services include health screenings, vaccination, and eye exams in partnership with other nonprofits and community organizations. The pantry is planned to operate once a month in Norwalk and Stamford and is anticipated to serve up to 300 individuals at each site.Filling in the Blanks is able to bring this new program to the community thanks to the generosity of prolific television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes, founder of the Rhimes Foundation. "I wanted to find a place where my family and I could volunteer. What I found were two forces of nature, Shawnee and Tina, who were determined to change the lives of the children and families they served. They weren't afraid to take risks and do whatever is needed to bring much-needed services to our community. I am honored to support their efforts to reach even more people with the mobile pantry." Filling in the Blanks' co-founders Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer are grateful to count Ms. Rhimes among their dedicated and enthusiastic supporters. "We've been blown away by Shonda's embrace of our efforts to address food insecurity locally. We started this organization out of our homes with a simple idea to help families fill the weekend meal gap. We've grown exponentially since then and could not be prouder to begin helping families fill in even more blanks thanks to Shonda's support." The generosity of the Rhimes Foundation enabled Filling in the Blanks to launch this effort, however, sustaining and growing its impact will require continued support from its larger community of donors and volunteers. "We're looking ahead to the upcoming giving season and hoping our community will share our enthusiasm to do even more for Connecticut's most vulnerable. This is only the beginning. We look forward to continuing to challenge ourselves to find new ways to improve the lives of others." Community members can learn more about Filling in the Blanks' mobile pantry, other programs, and all the ways to get involved at fillingintheblanks.org Filling in the Blanks is deeply committed to its mission to fight local childhood hunger by filling critical gaps in support through its innovative food service programs.Senator Bob Duff is joining Filling in the Blanks at the mobile pantry launch.About Filling in the BlanksFilling in the Blanks is a 501c3 nonprofit that fights childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekends. Founded in 2013, and based in Norwalk, CT, FITB provides food weekly to 5,500 children across 200 sites throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties. As a volunteer-based organization, FITB also provides the community, adults & children alike, with a hands-on approach to philanthropy.For more information, please contactJake Mazza Special Events Coordinatorjmazza@ fillingintheblanks.org / (203)-610-1471SOURCE: Filling in the Blanks
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 23, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 28, 2019 and August 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Hawaiian Electric and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-he/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 23, 2023.About the LawsuitHawaiian Electric and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's wildfire prevention and safety protocols and procedures were inadequate to meet the challenges for which they were ostensibly designed; (ii) accordingly, despite knowing the degree of risk that wildfires posed to Maui, the Company's inadequate safety protocols and procedures placed Maui at a heightened risk of devastating wildfires; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.The case is Bhangal v. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-04332.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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Nearly 120 emerging designers featured, including D'Amelio Footwear, day + moon, Ora Ana, and Sofie the Label.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / MAGIC New York, the bi-annual three-day fashion event showcasing young contemporary and modern sportswear styles, concluded on September 21. Over 400 brands showcased Spring/Summer 24 collections, attracting domestic and international retailers providing attendees with a curated lineup of must-see brands together under one roof to focus on discovery and education.The fashion community continues to gather at MAGIC New York to discover brands and connect with the industry on an intimate level. The event offered a wide assortment of styles in apparel, footwear, accessories as well as home, gift and beauty. Over 30 percent of brands showcased for the first time in MAGIC New York as retailers look to incorporate inventory that is up to date with the latest trends. This season lounge sets, florals, bright layers, varsity jackets and denim were top trends for upcoming spring/summer and many brands incorporated unique perspectives into their designs. Cotton Candy LA, D'Amelio Footwear, Miou Muse, La Dame the Label, Latte Love, Lexbreezy Hawaii, Sanita Clogs and day + moon were among the recent additions to the NY brand lineup.This season MAGIC New York introduced educational programming which brought in industry experts to share perspectives on relevant topics covering size inclusivity, trend forecasting and sustainability. MAGIC keeps the fashion community in touch with the latest insights and innovations through these types of offerings to support retailers and brands in finding additional avenues to gain knowledge and engage with customers."MAGIC New York provides unparalleled value to our attendees including a robust lineup of brands that retailers can find only while walking the show floor. In addition to brand discovery, the newly launched education and sustainability initiatives allowed attendees to gain comprehensive insights into the entire industry, with topics covering size inclusivity, sustainability and trend forecasting," says Jordan Rudow, Vice President, MAGIC.The first-ever MAGIC Verified Sustainable program offered brands the opportunity to participate in an evaluation and verification program that provided a ranking based on sustainability and social good practices. Brands enter the program to become ranked based on set environmental and ethical business standards provided by the UN, creating visibility into truly sustainable businesses and increasing transparency between brands, retailers and eventually consumers. Verified sustainable brands that hit all 17 of the UN's sustainable goals in MAGIC included Mita Eyewear, Bee Bella Buzz, Sal Rosa and Soruka US."We recognize that we can make a significant impact when it comes to sustainability practices in the fashion industry. This verification program was created to educate, support and guide brands and retailers on the process of becoming more sustainable and aware of environmental and ethical business practices. We anticipate the MAGIC Verified Sustainable program to grow season over season, as the fashion industry turns to trusted resources to deliver transparency to consumers." Jordan Rudow, Vice President, MAGIC.Thousands of retailers ranging from single specialty boutiques to big box department and chain stores were in attendance including Free People, Urban Outfitters, Tilly's, South Moon Under, Apricot Lane, Macy's, Dunes Resort, Gallery Jules, Bryand, Essex NYC and Beginning Boutique, shopping for next seasons collections and seeking out new lines and styles for Spring/Summer 2024.SOURCING at MAGIC, co-located with MAGIC New York, hosted exhibiting manufacturers in apparel, footwear, accessories, fabric, trim and packaging such as Franky and Rick, Dolphin Apparel and Dynamic Sportswear. Tory Burch, Rag & Bone, Macy's, Kenneth Cole and Away Travel were among buyers on the SOURCING show floor. The sustainability gallery in SOURCING at MAGIC featured fully verified brands that have shifted their business practices to meet all 17 sustainability standards, providing insight into brands eco-friendly practices, materials and processes used in the creation of garments.Nest stop MAGIC Miami January 8-9, 2024, at the Miami Convention Center. To register, visit magicfashionevents.com MAGIC Las Vegas opens February 13-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration is open, to learn more visit www.magicfashionevents.com SOURCING at MAGIC will return to New York in 2024. To learn more, visit www.sourcingatmagic.com About MAGIC New York:MAGIC is a high-energy fashion experience and home to the industry's largest selection of trend-driven and young contemporary apparel, footwear, and accessories. Fusing scale with curation to drive commerce, creativity, and connections, MAGIC joins a global audience of retail buyers - from big-box to boutique - with influencers, media, and industry thought leaders. More than just events, MAGIC is a deeply rooted community, and a place brands and retailers call home. For more information, please visit: www.magicfashionevents.com ABOUT INFORMA MARKETS FASHION:Informa Markets Fashion, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), connects and inspires the global fashion community through online experiences, industry insights, and worldwide fashion trade events, including MAGIC, COTERIE, PROJECT, and SOURCING at MAGIC. From more effective manufacturing and supply chain opportunities to creative design inspiration and retail on the wholesale floor, Informa Markets Fashion's diverse portfolio supports the entire fashion ecosystem - fostering innovation and driving creativity year-round. For more information on upcoming events, please visit www.findfashionevents.com Media Contact:Abby PortwoodInforma Markets Fashion PRFashionpr@ informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - FASHION
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-10 15:17:44

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Travel App Ranks Top World Wonders Based on Over 1.9 Million Users.TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / The travel app Visited, which was developed by Arriving In High Heels Corporation, has published a list of the top 10 most visited World Wonders in the U.S. The world wonders, range from natural such as Grand Canyon and man-made such as Empire State Building. Overall, United States is the 6th most popular country to visit, with the top 5 found in Europe. New York is among the most popular states to visit for those that come from abroad and locals alike.World Wonders of USA The list is based on over 1,900,000 users who are avid travelers, that use the app Visited. Visited is a popular travel app that allows users to check off places they've been to or wish to visit, see custom maps of their travels, discover new destinations, and optimize their future travel plans.The top 10 most visited World Wonders in the U.S. include:The Empire State Building (New York)The Golden Gate Bridge (California)The Grand Canyon (Arizona)Hoover Dam (Nevada/Arizona)Yosemite National Park (California)The Everglades National Park (Florida)Death Valley (California)Redwood National Park (California)Old Faithful (Wyoming)Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)To see more top travel lists with the most popular destinations worldwide, users can download Visited on iOS or Android. To learn more about the Visited Map App, visit https://visitedapp.com About Visited Travel AppPopular travel app, Visited, is a place to keep track of all the countries, US States and cities a traveler has been to or wants to visit. The users can see their travels on a personalized map, have it printed in a poster form or view their personal travel stats. To help inspire travel, users can select sites from multiple lists by categories such as world wonders, art museums, national parks, ski locations and more. To help decide where to next? Visited showcases countries based on the number of places they added to their bucket-list.About Arriving In High Heels CorporationArriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk and Visited, their most popular app.Contact InformationAnna Kayfitz CEO anna@ arrivinginhighheels.com SOURCE: Arriving In High Heels Corporation
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-10 17:45:53

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What's it like to step into the corporate world? One student describes her summer experienceOriginally published on Illumina News CenterNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / When Adee Newman started her summer as a research associate Intern at Illumina in June 2023, she had no prior industry experience. Originally from Palo Alto, California, she spent two years at De Anza College before transferring to University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Currently, she is a master's student in biology with a research emphasis of epigenetics and genomics at UCSD.Newman's internship was based in San Diego, but she was able to work remotely. We caught up with her at the end of her internship last month to hear about her experience.How did you first become aware of Illumina? Why did you apply for an internship? Adee Newman: We use Illumina sequencers in the lab that I do research in, which is how I first learned about Illumina. I saw a few ads for the internship on LinkedIn and Handshake and applied when I got a message from a recruiter. I was curious about experiencing industry so I can make an informed decision about my next career decision-so this felt like the perfect opportunity!Has anything surprised you about working in industry? AN: I wasn't sure what to expect the day-to-day to be like, but it has been wonderful. I appreciate the independent work, but it doesn't get lonely either, as we collaborate a lot. I've learned about organizational structures and various other career paths. There is no "right way" to go about your career path and you should keep an open mind when you are starting out! In speaking with people within the company I've received a lot of advice and fresh perspectives, which is unbelievably valuable to me at this point in my career.What kind of work are you doing? AN: I'm interning with the Clinical Affairs team and I've learned so much about clinical trials. My internship project was creating a process map of all the actions and activities that are required during a clinical trial, as well as reviewing the standard operating procedures and work instructions for the various activities. I also met with subject matter experts from various Clinical Affairs teams-protocol and clinical study report writing from Medical Writing, data handling from Clinical Data Management, and others-to better understand the process and better create a process map.What did you learn about clinical trials? AN: My favorite thing I learned is that we're able to have a direct impact on people and health outcomes much sooner just with how clinical trials work-it's so complex and has so much cross-functional collaboration, it basically looks like a Chutes and Ladders game. You can take some steps that can move you through the board faster, but if someone wants to change something or if there's an issue with a specific aspect, you might hit a chute and it could take you back almost to the start! Because of that, teamwork and collaboration are extremely important, and I love that about Clinical Affairs.Are you interested in pursuing any specific area in biotech? AN: I'd love to work on and support various clinical trials that focus on improving aspects of human health on a large scale. I think it would be amazing to work on a project that would help or provide a solution for a problem that affects a large population. It would also be great to work on oncology and companion diagnostics.Has your internship experience helped you determine the next steps in your career? AN: Yes! Hearing everyone's experiences has helped me decide that I will likely work for a few years before deciding if I want to continue or go back to academia. If you want to pursue academia, you should be passionate about it-otherwise it may not be the right career choice for you.What advice would you give students contemplating moving from academia to industry? AN: Give it a try! If you are curious about it, you should experience it for yourself so you know what you will be doing. It's one thing to hear from people, but another thing to see it for yourself. Don't be scared of stepping out of your comfort zone.Illumina's internship program introduces students to the corporate world while remaining centered around learning: learning about yourself, learning about the biotech and genomics industries, and learning from experienced professionals and leaders in your field. Each summer, our interns apply their knowledge to impactful projects and discover the various career paths available to them. The hands-on work, professional development workshops, and simple conversations with mentors and peers can influence one's path forward. Interested in experiencing life at Illumina? For more information about our summer internship program, please visit our intern careers page.A group of interns during a two-day meeting at Illumina's San Diego headquarters.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Illumina on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: IlluminaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/illuminaEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Illumina
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 19, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE:FOUR), if they purchased the Company's securities between November 10, 2021 and April 18, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Shift4 and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-four/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 19, 2023.About the LawsuitShift4 and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On April 19, 2023, Blue Orca Capital reported that "Shift4 [is], in reality, a roll-up of low-tech POS systems and payment processors which is substantially less profitable, generates far less cash, and is materially more levered than investors are led to believe," and that in 2022, the Company "engaged in a string of highly questionable and hyper-aggressive accounting maneuvers seemingly designed to keep the stock afloat, from cash flow manipulation to inexplicable distributor acquisitions that enabled it to capitalize a major component of COGS [cost of goods sold]."On this news, shares of Shift4 fell $5.95 per share, or 8.68%, to close at $62.59 per share on April 19, 2023.The case is O'Meara v. Shift4 Payments, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-03206.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / SRQ Resources Inc. ("SRQ" or the "Company") (TSXV:SRQ) is pleased to announce that the Phase 2 drilling program on its exciting new discovery, the Lac Brule Ultramafic Magmatic Intrusive Complex ("UM Intrusive"), is scheduled to start on or about October 23, 2023. The UM Intrusive hosts significant nickel and copper mineralisation.Following the success of the July 2023 Phase 1 drilling program, SRQ is eager to further assess the potential of the UM Intrusive complex and advance the Company's understanding of its mineralisation. Drilling under the fully funded Phase 2 program will focus on the Gossan Zone.Key highlights of the Phase 2 program include:Follow-up Drilling: Phase 2 will involve drilling 5 holes for approximately 1,200 meters ("m") on the Gossan Zone. These holes are designed to follow up on the strong conductors outlined by August 2023 Downhole Electromagnetic Surveys ("DHEM") (Figure 1).Geological and Geochemical Studies: Detailed geological and geochemical studies will be carried out on the 51 samples collected from the Phase 1 drilling program to enhance our understanding of the host and the mineralisation's characteristics and distribution.Environmental Considerations: SRQ is committed to continuing its drilling activities in an environmentally responsible manner, including adhering to all relevant environmental regulations and best practices.Dr . Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D., P.Geo., CEO and President of SRQ, said, "Our concurrent use of drilling and downhole electromagnetic surveys has delivered promising results with the identification of strong electromagnetic conductors that are coincident with a regional large gravity high. These new targets will be drill tested during our Phase 2 drill program on the Gossan Zone, marking an important step in our journey to unlock the potential of this newly discovered Ultramafic Magmatic Intrusive Complex." Figure 1: Phase 2 Drill Program is Targeting Conductors Defined by August 2023 DHEM Surveys of the Gossan ZoneLac Brule Newly Discovered Ni-Cu MineralisationThe Ni-Cu mineralisation encountered is characterized by cumulate and aggregates of iron, copper and nickel sulfides: pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite, respectively. Pyrrhotite is the dominant sulfide with visible chalcopyrite. Pentlandite can be seen mixed with pyrrhotite. The textures of the sulfide mineralisation vary from disseminated to semi-massive to massive (> 80% of sulfide material) showing net-texture or brecciated sulfides between pyroxene and amphiboles. Thin massive sulfides horizons are intercalated and sometimes associated with garnet-rich xenoliths.Figure 2 presents a microscope photo of mineralisation from a surface sample collected at the mineralised surface outcrop (gossan) in 2022, confirming presence of the three main sulfide species (LB-40375 C. Picard - June 2022, pyrrhotite (Po), chalcopyrite (Cp), pentlandite (Pn), ilmenite (Il), magnetite (Mt). Silicates are clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, hornblende and olivine).Figure 2: Microscope Photo of Mineralisation from Surface Sample Collected at the Mineralised Outcrop (Gossan) in 2022Untapped Geological Potential of SRQ's Lac Brule PropertySRQ's new discovery was made on its 100%-owned Lac Brule property located 50km north-west of the former Renzy Ni-Cu mine on the unceded lands of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community. The former Renzy mine operated from 1969 to 1972 (Figure 3). UM intrusive bodies host mineralisation at both the Renzy mine and at Lac Brule. Both sites present several striking similarities, including mineralogy, petrology and timing of emplacement.Figure 3: SRQ's Properties in Canadian Province of QuebecThe technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ Resources, and a Qualified Person', as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.About SRQ Resources Inc.SRQ is a Canadian base metals company exploring for nickel, copper and platinum in the province of Quebec.A near-surface Ni-Cu project, Lac Brule is located on a 288km virgin exploration property at a five-hour drive from Montreal. The project's prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping, the presence of a surface gossan, and geophysical surveys. The presence of the historic Renzy Ni-Cu mine located 50 kilometers to the south-east and at the heart of the large regional pattern further adds to the area's mineral exploration appeal.For more information about SRQ, please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com Contact Information:Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO Tel: (514) 726-4158Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking Information:Certain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information characterized by terms such as "will", could", "expect", "estimate", "evidence", "potential", "appears", "seems", "suggest", are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; assumptions relating to the trading price of the Company's common shares; the ability of the Company to convert resources in reserves, its ability to see through the next phase of development on any project, its ability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study regarding any project, its ability to execute on its development plans in terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated diff
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 10. Time has come to focus all efforts on lasting peace in the South Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization's (ECO) participating countries under Azerbaijan's chairmanship in Shusha city.

"We hail our Azerbaijani brothers for putting an end to a thirty-year occupation and eliminating historical injustice. Now is the time to focus all efforts on lasting peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus, which constitutes the strategic core of the ECO geography," the minister noted.

Fidan emphasized the need to generate a certain momentum in light of the new dynamics in the South Caucasus and to transform the Zangazur Corridor for the benefit of all ECO members.

Proposed by the Azerbaijani side, the Zangazur corridor aims to establish a transportation link between Azerbaijan's mainland and its exclave, Nakhchivan, passing through Armenian territory. This corridor emerged as part of the above-mentioned trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war.

One point of the agreement outlined Armenia's commitment to ensuring the security of transport connections to Nakhchivan, facilitating the unrestricted movement of people, vehicles, and goods in both directions.

In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement, suppression of large-scale provocations in Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region, disarmament, and withdrawal of Armenian armed forces formations from the territories of Azerbaijan, localized anti-terrorist activities were carried out in the region.

Taking into account the appeal of the representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent [temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan under the trilateral statement], an agreement was reached on September 20, 2023, at 13:00 (GMT+4) to cease anti-terrorist activities of a local nature under the following conditions: the formations of the armed forces of Armenia, Armenian illegal armed formations located in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, lay down their weapons, leave their combat positions and military posts, and completely disarm; the formations of the armed forces of Armenia leave the territory of Azerbaijan; Armenian illegal armed groups are dissolved.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-10 22:20:52

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Seneca students now have direct pathway to M.D. programTRUE BLUE, GRENADA and TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / St. George's University has launched a new partnership with Seneca Polytechnic that will offer qualified Seneca students fast-track status and expedited entry into the five- or six-year M.D. programs at the St. George's University School of Medicine."Seneca Polytechnic offers students a first-rate education," said Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of St. George's University School of Medicine. "We're delighted to form this partnership with Seneca and welcome its graduates to SGU to launch their careers in medicine." The partnership creates two admissions pathways to the School of Medicine: a five-year and a six-year M.D. track. The former track allows students who complete Seneca's Arts and Science - University Transfer diploma program and fulfill all required prerequisites to proceed into the five-year M.D. program at St. George's University. The latter pathway allows students who complete Seneca's Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas & Degrees certificate program and meet SGU admissions standards to enter the six-year M.D. program."We are excited to offer this direct pathway to M.D. programs," said Marianne Marando, Vice-President, Academic & Students, Seneca Polytechnic. "This new partnership will provide our students with an outstanding opportunity to pursue further studies in medicine, and the long history of excellent medical education at St. George's University makes them an ideal partner." Students may apply for the special admissions pathways to SGU when applying to or while enrolled at Seneca. In addition to completing all required prerequisite coursework, interested students must maintain a strong undergraduate GPA and score competitively on relevant entrance exams.Upon enrolling at St. George's University, students in the five-year track must complete one year of preclinical coursework in Grenada. Students in the six-year track must complete two years of preclinical coursework in Grenada.Students in both programs then have the option to undertake their first year of medical study in Grenada or at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. Students spend their second year of medical study in Grenada and their final two years in clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom.###About St. George's UniversitySt. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The University's over 28,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. St. George's University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). For more information, visit www.sgu.edu About Seneca PolytechnicSeneca Polytechnic provides a great education to prepare our students for great careers. Combining academic rigour with practical, professional and career-focused learning, we offer our students a seamless transition from education to employment. Expert faculty, excellent staff, outstanding campuses, awesome technology, deep connections with industry: that's Seneca Polytechnic. Learn more: senecapolytechnic.ca Contacts:Maggie Servaismaggie@ keybridge.biz(202) 516-6584Ryan FlanaganMedia & External Relations Specialist, Seneca Polytechnicryan.flanagan@senecacollege.ca(416) 764-0996SOURCE: St. George's University
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Suncor's Calgary headquarters, known as Mohkinstsis in Blackfoot, held a groundbreaking ceremony unveiling the first-of-its-kind smudge and ceremonial room within the Suncor Energy Centre (SEC) in September. The initiative was led by Suncor's Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (IYAC) and supported by internal and external teams including Suncor's Indigenous Relations and facilities; Brookfield Properties, the owners of the SEC building; and the Calgary Fire Department. The Sacred Space marks a significant step toward cultural inclusivity and respect within the corporate setting. Learn more about our work with Indigenous communities here.Smudging is a traditional Indigenous ritual that involves burning sacred medicines, such as sweetgrass, sage, and tobacco and cedar to cleanse and purify a space or person's energy and for prayer. There are smudge-friendly spaces and reflection rooms across other Suncor sites, including at the Sarnia refinery and Fort Hills.Kainai Elder, "Sorrel Horse", Casey EagleSpeaker from the Kainai (Gaa-nah) First Nation in southern Alberta led the ceremony, which included a prayer, songs and a smudge. "This space is not only for Indigenous people, but for all people to use for prayer and smudge in their way to start their day off with peace and stability." It was during the ceremony that Elder Casey gifted the room with the name Kahnaatahpii Moyis, which means All Peoples' Lodge in Blackfoot.The idea of a sacred space in SEC came from an IYAC member Kahenientha Cross, while attending a meeting that started with a smudge at a smudge-friendly room at the Calgary Public Library. After the smudge, the member asked why Suncor didn't have a smudge-friendly space in its Calgary office. Sylvie Tran, VP EH&S - Operational Risk Management, who meets with IYAC regularly as a Suncor Energy Foundation board member, wondered the same and she knew she had the right team to make it happen."One of the first things we needed to do to convert the space was a risk assessment for fire, odor or smoke," says Sylvie. "My team came together and shared their areas of expertise to support the project." Working with IYAC and Indigenous Relations, the facilities team transformed a meeting room into an area for Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people to smudge, pray and reflect.Dr. Michael Lickers, Specialist Relations Advisor, supported the operations of setting up this space."Within the Indigenous community smudging is a common practice," explains Michael "When working in a corporate setting, if a person is going through a difficult and stressful time, smudging can help them heal and relieve that stress." The transformation of the meeting room to a sacred space was more than dimming lights, adding Indigenous artwork, traditional medicines, and other sacred artifacts. It also required an overhaul of the room's HVAC system to adhere to building codes.As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) and Orange Shirt Day, both on Sept. 30, approach, the opening of this space is a reminder of how important it is to learn about Indigenous culture and history as a step towards our Reconciliation journey. It's important to reflect on the painful chapter of our history in Canada, which includes prohibiting Indigenous Peoples from practicing ceremony such as smudging, and to build bridges in support of understanding and healing.Elder Casey EagleSpeaker commemorating the Smudge Ceremony at Suncor's Calgary headquarters.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Suncor Energy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Suncor EnergyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/suncor-energyEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Suncor Energy
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Automaker's Signature Philanthropic Event Returns with Longtime National Charity Partners: the ASPCA, Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America, and the National Park FoundationCAMDEN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the annual Subaru Share the Love Event will return in 2023 for its 16th consecutive year. By the end of this year's event, Subaru and its participating retailers aim to reach a cumulative total of more than $285 million in donations to returning national charity partners including The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America, and the National Park Foundation, as well as over 800 local hometown charities."Each year, our Subaru community comes together for the Subaru Share the Love Event, collectively supporting causes that make an incredible impact on both a national and local scale. This event is at the heart of what makes us More Than a Car Company," said Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "Our customers inspire us, and we are excited to offer them another chance to give back to the causes that are closest to their hearts heading into this holiday season." For every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at any of the more than 630 Subaru retailers from November 16, 2023, through January 2, 2024, Subaru will donate $250 to the purchaser's choice of charities.* Retailers can also add up to two hometown charities in their local communities to receive an additional $50 or more for each vehicle sold or leased. Additionally, many participating Subaru retailers will donate $5 to their registered hometown charities for every Subaru vehicle routine service visit during the campaign period.Since the launch of the Subaru Share the Love Event in 2008, Subaru of America, Inc. and its participating retailers have donated more than $256 million and supported over 2,100 hometown charities to help those in need.To learn more, visit: subaru.com/shareJoin the conversation: #ShareTheLoveThe American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Subaru is the largest corporate donor to the ASPCA. A leading voice for animals for over 150 years, the ASPCA provides lifesaving protection and care to animals in need. Whether it's rescuing animals from abuse and neglect, advocating for humane laws and policies, or supporting animal shelters across the country, the ASPCA helps animals live better lives. Through our partnership with the ASPCA during the Share the Love Event, Subaru has had a significant impact on the rescue, transport, well-being, and adoption of more than 116,000 animals across the country. Make-A-Wish Subaru is the largest automotive donor to Make-A-Wish. Research shows that children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. A wish replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. The impact of just one wish has the power to transform the lives of everyone involved and helps wish kids and their families believe in better days ahead. Through our partnership with Make-A-Wish during the Share the Love Event, Subaru and our retailers have helped to grant the life-changing wishes of more than 3,300 kids with critical illnesses. Meals on Wheels America Subaru is the largest automotive donor to Meals on Wheels America. Meals on Wheels America provides leadership to local, community-based programs dedicated to fighting hunger and isolation among our nation's homebound seniors. Through our partnership with Meals on Wheels during the Share the Love Event, Subaru and our retailers have helped deliver more than 4.3 million meals and friendly visits to America's seniors.National Park Foundation Subaru is the largest corporate donor to the National Park Foundation. In partnership with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation works to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks. Through our partnership with the National Park Foundation during the Share the Love Event, Subaru is helping provide critical funding to programs and projects that help protect America's more than 400 national parks.*Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased from November 16, 2023, through January 2, 2024, to four national charities designated by the purchaser or lessee. Pre-approved Hometown Charities may be selected for donation depending on retailer participation. For every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased during the campaign period, participating retailers will donate a minimum of $50 in total to their registered Hometown Charities. Subaru will donate a total of $5 to their registered Hometown Charities for every Subaru vehicle routine service visit during the campaign period. A routine visit includes customer payment of $5 or greater, or any service that includes a genuine Subaru oil filter. Purchasers/lessees must make their charity designations by January 12, 2024. The four national charities will receive a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 each. See your local Subaru retailer for details or visit subaru.com/share . All donations made by Subaru of America, Inc.About Subaru of America, Inc.Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com . Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.###Diane AntonCorporate Communications Manager(856) 488-5093danton@ subaru.com Adam LeiterCorporate Communications Specialist(856) 488-8668aleiter@ subaru.com For the past 15 years, through the Subaru Share the Love
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Inogen Alliance An uptick in media coverage and public conversations surrounding mental health have spurred greater awareness of mental health challenges. At the same time, a confluence of difficult world events has created an urgent need for mental health resources - both at home and in the workplace.A global survey by McKinsey found that even though roughly three-quarters of organizations surveyed are prioritizing workplace mental health programs, employee burnout remains high. Their research also found that "positive outcomes-such as job satisfaction and work engagement-are correlated with feeling included and supported, and with freedom from stigma or overwhelming workloads." As an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) leader, understanding the benefits and key elements of creating a holistic mental health program in your workplace enables you to effectively address workplace culture and offers beneficial resources to your employees.Benefits of EHS Mental Health ProgramsA healthy mind is vital for maintaining both employee wellness and workplace productivity.How workplace mental health programs benefit your employeesWorkers gain several benefits from quality mental health programs in the workplace.Reduced stress: Comprehensive mental health programs provide employees with tools to manage stress effectively. This leads to lower stress levels and better coping mechanisms.Better work-life balance: These programs often include resources for achieving a healthier work-life balance. This helps workers avoid burnout and maintain personal relationships.Enhanced workplace relationships: Improved mental health translates to better interactions with colleagues. Workers are more likely to communicate effectively, collaborate, and contribute positively to team dynamics.Increased job satisfaction: Feeling supported in terms of mental health enhances overall job satisfaction. Employees who are content and fulfilled are more likely to remain committed to their roles and the organization.Greater focus on wellness: Mental health initiatives are often part of broader wellness programs. These programs encourage healthier lifestyles, encompassing both physical and mental well-being.How workplace mental health programs benefit your organizationHere are a few ways your organization can benefit from implementing a holistic mental health program.Increased productivity: A mentally healthy workforce is a more productive one. Employees who have the resources to manage their mental well-being are better equipped to stay focused, make informed decisions, and perform at their best.Improved talent retention: Organizations that prioritize mental health create a positive and supportive workplace culture. This fosters employee loyalty and reduces turnover rates, leading to cost savings associated with recruitment and training.Reduced absenteeism: Mental health programs help employees manage stress and mental health challenges, reducing absenteeism due to mental health-related issues.Risk mitigation: Addressing mental health issues early can prevent larger problems from arising. Mental health programs help identify potential challenges and provide interventions before they escalate.A Holistic Approach to Workplace Mental Health ProgramsA holistic employee mental health program examines broader workplace culture to promote well-being at multiple levels. Such a program addresses the fundamental aspects of the work environment, fostering an authentic culture of support, inclusivity, and overall mental well-being.Here are a few key elements for this approach.Cultural assessmentThe program would start with a comprehensive assessment of the existing workplace culture. This involves evaluating factors such as communication patterns, leadership styles, and attitudes toward mental health. A workplace culture assessment provides insights into areas that require improvement and informs the development of targeted strategies.C-suite buy-inAs the bridge between the C-suite and the workforce, EHS leaders play a vital role in prioritizing worker mental health programs. Securing commitment from leadership through integrating mental health considerations into the company's core values and mission sets a clear tone of support for your current and future workforce.Leadership trainingHolistic mental health programs prioritize leadership development. Training managers and leaders in empathetic communication, active listening, and stress management equips them to create a supportive environment and respond effectively to employees' mental health concerns.Policy review and developmentThe program would involve a thorough review of existing policies to ensure they support mental well-being. New policies could be developed to address work-life balance, remote work flexibility, and accommodation for mental health needs.Wellness initiativesA holistic program extends to physical health as well. Initiatives like fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, and healthy eating options contribute to overall well-being and mental health.Workload managementEnsuring workloads are manageable and realistic reduces stress and burnout. Encouraging breaks, setting reasonable expectations, and providing opportunities for skill development contribute to a healthier work-life balance.Global Mental Health Regulations and GuidelinesGlobal employers need to be aware of regulations that impact their workforce across jurisdictions. Here are some examples of workplace mental health regulations and guidelines from around the world.AustraliaModel Code of Practice for Bullying at WorkAustralia has a Model Code of Practice on Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying. This code provides guidelines for employers to prevent and address workplace bullying, which can have significant mental health implications. It includes recommendations for risk assessment, creating policies, and providing training.Model Code of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at WorkSome States and Territories have now included the requirement to manage psychosocial risks in the workplace in the regulations (e.g. New South Wales).United KingdomHealth and Safety Executive (HSE)The HSE in the UK provides guidelines for managing work-related stress. Employers are required to assess and manage the risk of stress-related ill health arising from work activities. This includes identifying stressors, implementing control measures, and providing appropriate support.CanadaNational StandardCanada developed a voluntary standard that provides guidelines for promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. It addresses factors such as workload management, work-life balance, and supportive leadership to prevent mental he
Liberians are set to elect a new president today in the countrys fourth election since the civil war ended.

Located on the Atlantic Ocean, the West African country of over five million people will choose a new president from a list of 20 candidates. Among the 20 candidates are current president George Weah, former vice president Joseph Boakai, and famous businessman Alexander Cummings.

Although there are 20 candidates, the contest is believed to be between the three names listed above given the popularity of their parties and the support they have gathered.

Messrs Weah, Boakai and Cummings were the three leading contestants in the last election held in 2017. Mr Weah emerged president leaving Messrs Boakai and Cummings in second and third place respectively.

Polls open today at 8 a.m. and close at six in the evening. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), voters in the queue at 6 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

The commission is mandated to announce final results within 15 days after the election. However, preliminary results will be announced every by the commission as they trickle in.

In the case where no candidate is able to attain the requisite percentage of votes, at least 50 per cent plus one of the total votes cast, a run-off will be organised by the commission in 15 days.

Liberians will also elect half of the Senate (of 30) and House of Representatives in todays election.

How ready are Liberians?

Observations by PREMIUM TIMES in Monrovia on Monday showed excitement among Liberians about choosing a new leader or reelecting the incumbent.

Josiah Wilson, a trader, expressed excitement about voting today. When this reporter asked who he would vote for, he said, I cannot tell you who I will be voting for because my vote is my secret.

The Liberian voting process is the secret open ballot process and some Liberians are ensuring that their choices remain a secret.

Barry Abdullahi, 52, told PREMIUM TIMES that he cannot disclose his choice of candidate because my vote is my secret. However, he would like the winner of the presidential election to develop the country, provide jobs for the youth, and address the rampant drug abuse in the country.

Veronica David, a trader, said she was not sure who to vote for yet but I pray that God gives me direction so that I vote the right candidate that will carry our country forward so that our children can get good education, healthcare and many other good things.

Blessing Solomon is one of the Liberians who are not afraid to speak about their choices in todays election.

I will be voting for the Liberian Peoples Party candidate, Tiawan Gongloe, because I believe he has what it takes to transform Liberia based on what he told me when he was campaigning, she said, adding that she believes him.

Like Blessing, 18-year-old Promise Pavey, a first-time voter, is excited about voting for Mr Weah.

I am going to my county just to vote for my president, the most talked about President George Manneh Weah, the talk-and-do president, she said excitedly.

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While there is high enthusiasm among Liberians in the election, there are those like 24-year-old Daoda Konneh who are disenchanted with the country and will not vote despite registering to vote.

I am not voting tomorrow because I have not seen any candidate that can change this country. I voted before for the current government but see what we are going through right now and that is why I am not going to vote for any of them, he said.

Where candidates have their eyes

There are 2.4 million voters spread across 15 counties where voting will take place.

Although all counties are important, some are more important than others as a result of the number of registered voters.

Monsterrado, Nimba, Bong, Margibi, Lofa, and GrandBassa have the highest voters. Statistically, any candidate who enjoys support from these six counties is assured six years in the Executive Mansion of Liberia.

With over 900,000 voters, Monsterrado is the county with the highest number of voters, followed immediately by Nimba with over 307,000; Bong with over 234,000; Margibi with over 185,000; Lofa with over 177,000; and Grand Bassa with over 158,000.

How candidates will fare in each of the counties may be too close to call. However, going by the last elections and how much popularity the candidates have, the real contest appears to be a two-horse race between Mr Weah of the CDC and Mr Boakai of the Unity Party (UP).

The last election in 2017 saw Messrs Weah and Boakai go at each other in a run-off as neither of the two was able to secure the requisite 50 +1 per cent votes in the first ballot.

In the run-off, Mr Weah according to official data from NEC won in all six counties as well as the remaining nine.

Although, the CDC had always won Monsterrado County which would have made it easy to call it a win again this time, the events of 2020 where the ruling CDC lost a special senatorial election leave much to be worried about.

Also, the crowd that graced the streets of Monsterrado in support of both UP and CDC was massive which would most likely make it hard for a wide margin to exist between both parties in the end.

Mr Boakai is supported by Yekeh Kolubah who represents District 10 in Monsterrado. The former warlord who is also a staunch critic of Mr Weah has thrown his weight behind the Unity Party. This will definitely affect the fortunes of the party either positively or negatively.

Mr Weah enjoys the power of incumbency which allows him to remind voters of what is possible if he is allowed a second term. He has continuously campaigned with the WASSCE fee payment his government introduced, ongoing construction, and expansion of the bumpy airport road.

However, the high cost of living and drug abuse in the country also poses a challenge for the president.

In Nimba County, Mr Boakai appears to have the upper hand owing to the backing of the incumbent senator, Prince Johnson, who is believed to be the beautiful bride of the county.

The ruling CDC had never won Nimba County in any presidential elections until the run-off election in 2017 when the support of Mr Johnson delivered Nimba to the CDC. The two have since parted ways.

With the incumbent vice president being from Bong, the CDC may have some chances there.

However, many still argue that surprises may spring up from this county.

Although the CDC won Margibi in the last elections and has an incumbent senator in the county, the just concluded campaigns which saw people show up in their numbers for the Unity Party leave the chances of the CDC in doubt.

The Unity Party used to wield a lot of influence in Lofa in the past years including during the last election but intensified efforts by the CDC weakened their hold in 2022 when the CDC won the senatorial election in Lofa.

Grand Bassa used to be the stronghold of the late Charles Brumskine whose daughter is the running mate of Alexander Cummings in todays election. It is left to be discovered if the late Brumskines influence would win his daughter the county or if his demise has opened another contest ground for either the CDC or the UP.

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A combined team of security operatives has killed 67 gunmen suspected to be kidnappers terrorising the Lere communities in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The team also rescued 20 kidnapped victims in the area.

This is just as the state governor, Bala Mohammed, donated 30 brand new motorcycles and the sum of N10 million to assist the local security in their operations.

The District Head of Lere, Jamilu Bawa, said on Monday that the operation was carried out jointly by the police, soldiers, and members of local hunters and vigilantes over the weekend.

Mr Bawa, who received the governor in his palace in Lere town, said during the operation, 20 kidnapped victims were also rescued unhurt.

He told the governor that eight AK-47 rifles and rounds of ammunition were recovered from the bandits while many of them escaped with gunshots.

The monarch said members of the vigilantes in the area were battle-ready to ensure that the bandits were completely flushed out while the remaining victims still in captivity were rescued safely.

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Responding, Governor Mohammed said the issue of insecurity is becoming worrisome in the state but assured that his administration would continue to be on its toes to protect the lives and properties of innocent citizens.

He said his administration would continue to support and equip security agencies to aid them in the fight against insecurity all over the state.

Without security and relative peace, no development can take place anywhere in the state.

I urged the security agencies to be vigilant about those trooping into the state from the northwestern states by ensuring proper profiling to separate the good from the bad.

I hereby donate 30 brand new motorcycles and the sum of N10 million to assist the local security in their operations, the governor said.

Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Awwal Muhammad, said his men would continue to collaborate with sister security agencies to ensure a crime-free Bauchi State.

He explained that the recent operation in the area was a successful one, which led to the neutralisation of some of the bandits as well as the safe rescue of some of the kidnapped victims.

Mr Muhammad further assured that the remaining kidnapped victims will be rescued unhurt while the bandits will be cleared to make the area free for the people to live peacefully.

He also called for support and cooperation from the people of the state by volunteering useful information that would lead to arresting the criminals operating within the communities.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area is among four local government areas in the state that are always attacked by bandits.

The others are Ningi, Toro and Alkaleri LGAs.

Both the governor and the commissioner of Police visited the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area to encourage the citizens and the security operatives to flush out the criminals.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos says the state government has airlifted 310 Nigerians who participated in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israels capital, back home.

Mr Sanwo-Olu made the announcement via his X handle on Tuesday.

Im happy to announce that we have successfully airlifted and returned all three hundred and ten (310) citizens who went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel, he wrote.

I want to thank you all for your concern and I must also express my joy to our Ministry of Home Affairs for a job well done. We pray for peace in Israel, and indeed the world at large.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how a surprise attack by Hamas on Israeli communities Saturday morning led to an all-out war between both parties.

Analysts described it as the biggest attack Hamas launched on Israel in years with many killed and hostages taken. The attack included gunmen entering Israeli towns after a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.

Israel said Hamas has declared war and in response, its army and air force launched strikes on Gaza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising harsh retaliation.

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Some civil society organisations have advocated a fair tax expenditure for the Nigerian government.

The groups in partnership with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) made the call on Monday in Abuja at a two-day workshop titled Identifying and Strengthening Pathways for Reforming Tax Expenditure Governance in Nigeria.

The workshop was specifically organised to imbue relevant lawmakers with the requisite understanding and technical know-how concerning fiscal and tax regime policies and reforms in the country, especially as they relate to tax expenditure.

The groups, led by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLACl, in their various presentations on the opening day of the workshop, said Nigeria wont have an equitable and reflective tax expenditure regime without the input of the National Assembly to come up with proper legislation hence the capacity-building workshop for the lawmakers.

For the legislation to work effectively, civil society operators believe lawmakers must also ensure strict compliance with its enforcement by other arms of government in their oversight responsibilities.

CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, noted that the Nigerian tax expenditure governance system is plagued with abuses, which are observable to the public, saying reports of indiscriminate waivers and concessionary approvals have all contributed to questioning the bearing and economic sustainability of this initiative of the government.

The law regulating the granting of incentives, Mr Rafsanjani said, places enormous discretionary powers on the executive arm of government.

While sundry incentives have been given by the Nigerian government over the years, they have not produced the corresponding volume of investments needed to drive the economy.

The governance of the incentive regime is also at best opaque and lacks the scrutiny necessary to guarantee transparency and accountability in the process leading to a situation where the supposed benefits are not optimised, the CISLAC executive director said.

In his opening remarks, the Director General of NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman, noted that Nigeria is confronted with a revenue challenge amidst a rising debt profile despite abundant opportunities., saying, Yet all sectors of the economy require increased government funding to address lingering challenges. Amidst this need for increased public spending, tax expenditures offer an opportunity to fund national development.

Mr Sulaiman, a professor, represented at the occasion by Nuhu Yakub, former vice chancellor of UniAbuja, said that as the Nigerian government continues to seek new ways of reforming the fiscal policy space, the workshop presents an opportunity for stakeholders to engage in ways to harness the opportunities that tax expenditure presents for the nations development.

Experience from OECD countries, the DG noted, shows that there are legitimate reasons for tax expenditures which include promoting business growth, encouraging job creation, and reducing the burden that tax producers place on consumers by transferring the tax burden.

OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, is a forum comprising 37 countries with market-based economies which collaborate to develop policy standards to promote sustainable economic growth.

For the challenges, Mr Sulaiman said that tax expenditures are politically tempting as they may not be subject to regular scrutiny, noting that In most cases, tax exemptions, for instance, are issued by policy statements. Overseeing such a space may, therefore, be cumbersome, as the benchmark for such oversights is not clearly provided for in a legislative framework. The debate over whether or not a legislature can oversee policy is another reason why tax expenditures can slide under the legislative lens.

But again, issues around tax expenditures are not binary. It requires clear understanding and proper contextualisation and understanding, he said.

READ ALSO: Tinubu swells media team as Nigerian economy bites harder

Fairness, justice, and equity are issues related to tax expenditures. While big firms receive tax waivers to continue operations, poor people continue to pay higher prices for goods and services.

Furthermore, it appears that over the years, tax policy has been aimed at taxing the poor rather than the rich. Hence, finding a fair balance is crucial.

Mr Sulaiman charged the lawmakers present at the workshop to take maximum advantage of the capacity building in their quest to fine-tune Nigerias tax policy regime to reflect current realities to help drive the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Dignitaries who attended the event included relevant lawmakers from the House of Representatives and Senate, the Country Director of International Budget Partnership who was represented and representatives of civil society groups, among others.

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A lawyer, Pius Danba, has threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for delaying the by-election for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State, describing it as long overdue.

The seat has been vacant in the House of Representatives since the inception of the 10th National Assembly because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, who won the 25 February election to represent the constituency, died before the inauguration of elected members which took place 13 June.

Yushua Mohammed (also referred to as Ismaila Maihanchi in media reports), 36, reportedly died on 22 April after briefly falling sick, two months after the election in which he defeated then-incumbent member, Kasimu Maigari, of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a letter sent to INEC on 9 October, Mr Danba stated that INEC was under obligation to conduct a by-election as stated in section 76(2) of the Nigerian constitution to fill the vacant seat.

He said INEC had violated the constitutional provision mandating it to conduct a by-election not more than 30 days after the seat becomes vacant.

He also referred to the provision of the Electoral Act which he said provides only a 21-day grace period for the conduct of such by-election.

Legal violation

The lawyer faulted INEC over its failure to discharge its constitutional duty within the prescribed time frame.

It will interest you to know that from the 22nd day of April 2023 to 13th June 2023 is 52 days, his letter stated, adding that it had been well over 170 days now since the death of Mr Mohammed and the seat of the member representing Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency has been vacant since the inauguration of the House of Representatives on the 13 June, 2023, the lawyers letter read in part.

According to him, while other Nigerians are represented in the House of Representatives, the people of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing are not represented at all for over 118 days and counting which is contrary to Section 76 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Subsection 2 of the provision reads: The date mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall not be earlier than sixty days before and not later than the date on which the House stands dissolved, or where the election to fill a vacancy occurring more than three months before such date; not later than one month after the vacancy occurred,

Mr Danba added that Section 34 (3) (b) of the Electoral Act 2022, provides for just 21 days grace period after the death of a candidate.

According to him, election for the constituency was long overdue and accused INEC of giving priority to the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections which were off-cycle elections and which ought to have come after the conduct of the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency by-election.

It is therefore surprising that your commission is busy scheduling, preparing and going ahead with Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections which are by law supposed to come later in time after the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency election.

It appears that your commission does not consider the election of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency to be an equally important constitutional activity at all, he stated.

Mr Danba therefore demanded an immediate release of the timetable for election in the constituency which must be conducted before the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections.

Mr Danba said that in the event INEC fails to conduct the election, he would not hesitate to file a legal action to seek the intervention of a court of justice by obtaining a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the commission to conduct the by-election into the seat.

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The Governorship Election Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has said it is appealing Mondays decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualifying its candidate, Timipre Sylva, from participating in the forthcoming November poll.

The party has briefed its lawyers to appeal the judgement and it is confident that the Court of Appeal will overturn the judgement of the Federal High Court, the spokesperson for the campaign council, Perry Tukuwei, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Tukuwei, who blamed the outcome of the suit against Mr Sylva on the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urged his party members to remain steadfast in backing its candidate.

This reassurance is coming on the heels of a judgement which has the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate written all over it by a Federal High Court in Abuja in an already failed bid to dash the hopes of Bayelsans to have their preferred candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva as the next helmsman, Mr Tukuwei added.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday disqualified Mr Sylva from the election.

The court held that Mr Sylva, a former governor of the state, having taken the oath of office twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa, would be violating the 1999 constitution if allowed to run in the forthcoming poll.

But the Bayelsa APC campaign council re-assured Bayelsans of a landslide victory at the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in a statement downplaying the legal basis of the judgement on Tuesday.

Why judgement wont stand

He said the plaintiff who instituted the suit lacked the legal right to do so.

Mr Tukuwei cited sections 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to back his stance, arguing that it is only a person who contested the primary election of a political party that has the locus standi to file a pre-election matter to challenge the qualification of the partys candidate in any election.

He said Demesuoyefa Kolomo who filed the suit that led to Mr Sylvas disqualification by the court was not a member of the APC and could not have participated in the primary election that produced Mr Sylva as the partys candidate.

Mr Tukuwei further contended that Mr Kolomos case was filed outside of the 14 days statutorily required for a suit to be lodged after the conduct of a primary election.

Section 285 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution enjoins any aggrieved party to file an election matter within 14 days of the occurrence of the event but this case was filed on the 13th of June 2023 whereas INEC published the names of the governorship candidates for Bayelsa, IMO and Kogi on the 12th of May 2023.

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SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 10. The chairmanship of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has passed from Azerbaijan to Iran, Trend reports.

This decision was made at the 27th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers held in Shusha on October 10.

The 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization within the framework of Azerbaijan's chairmanship kicked off in the city of Shusha on October 10.

The meeting continues with the discussion of statements by representatives of member countries and observers, international partners and specialized structures of the ECO, initiatives and proposals for the further development of regional cooperation within the ECO, as well as other issues on the agenda of the meeting.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, a general, accompanied by the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, a vice admiral, and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye, a major general, on Tuesday paid an operational visit to the Theatre Command in Maiduguri, Borno State.

They were received by Gold Chibuisi, a major general and theartre commander North-east Operation Hadin Kai, Ibrahim Ali, a major general and force commander Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division /Commander Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI, Peter Malla, a major general, heads of paramilitary and other principal staff officers of the Military Command and Control Centre at Airforce Base Maiduguri.

Speaking during the visit, Samson Zhakom, acting DDAPR Headquarters Theatre Command OPHK, said the CDS would be holding meeting with the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Chiefs of Training and Operations from the Defence Headquarters, Army, Navy, Air Force and other field commanders, where they would be briefed on recent operations in the theatre.

Mr Zhakom, a major, said the CDS would also pay courtesy visits to the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, and visit Military Reference Hospital in Maimalari to check wounded personnel.

(NAN)

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The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it has reduced its emergency response time from five to three minutes to reduce casualties and save lives and properties.

Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, made this known during a sensitisation campaign to commemorate the 2023 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation was carried out at Bwari Area Council Secretariat, Abuja and the Palace of Esu Sa-Bwaya of Bwari (the Chief of Bwari), Ibrahim Yaro.

The sensitisation with the theme, Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future for All began on 4 October across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Mrs Wenegieme explained that the three minutes response time became possible after training community structures to serve as first respondents to emergencies in their various communities.

She identified the community structures as local divers, emergency vanguards, disaster marshals, town criers, volunteers and other structures like youth and women groups.

She said that the community structures have been adequately trained on emergency response through drills and simulations to equip them with the needed knowledge and skills.

The director added that FEMA had equally procured power bikes for the agency officials to navigate the Abuja traffic and reach the emergency scene within three minutes.

According to her, emergency management is multisectoral and everyones business, including school children.

Community members are usually the first respondents to an emergency because it happens within their community.

They have been adequately trained to know exactly what to do during emergencies and rescue operations before FEMA officials arrive.

This quick response will ensure that more lives and properties are saved, she added.

Mrs Wenegieme explained that the awareness campaign was to ensure that residents identify disaster risk in their respective communities and know how to prevent and mitigate disasters to reduce the impact.

She added that sensitising community members was critical to ensure that no one was left behind during emergencies.

She particularly stressed the need for community members to pay attention to vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, the blind, the aged, and people living in disaster prone areas.

Responding, the Esu of Bwari Yaro promised to cooperate with FEMA in driving the disaster risk reduction messages to every household in Bwari area council.

Local emergency agency

Earlier, the Council Chairman, Bwari Area Council, John Bagaya, said that the council has inaugurated its Local Emergency Management Committee to respond to emergencies at local level.

Mr Bagaya, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Eli Kadanya, said that the council had taken proactive measures against hazards to avert disasters.

READ ALSO: Bauchi govt to pay female pupils to attend school

He explained that part of the measures included clearing of refuse, desilting of drainages and sensitisation of residents against building on water wars and follow prone areas.

He assured FEMA of the councils support in ensuring that community members were enlightened and mobilised to take action against disaster.

(NAN)

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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has described a Justice of the Supreme Court, Centus Nweze, who passed on recently, as a jurist of impeccable character who has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the Nigerian judiciary sector.

Mr Ariwoola said this during a valedictory court session in honour of the late Nweze on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nweze that I knew very well and had remarkable acquaintance with, was a dogged fighter for whatever cause he believed in; yet an astute advocate of the arts of mediation and reconciliation.

He became a formidable refuge to a vast clan of followers who continually drew inspiration, succour and strength to guide their journey through life, the CJN said.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, commended the Supreme Court for honouring Mr Nweze for his outstanding contribution to laws and nation.

Mr Fagbemi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of the Federation, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, said, Nwezes judicial activism, intellectualism and exploit will continue to illuminate the legal jurisprudence.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau also praised Mr Nweze for his contribution, erudition and promotion of the countrys laws.

NAN reports that Mr Nweze, who was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court on 29 October 2014 died on 29 July, in Abuja after a brief illness at the age of 64 years.

He was born in Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State on 25 September 1958.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Nweze, known for his prodigious academic writings, was also a doctorate degree holder.

He was also reputed for his oratorical prowess and flowery usage of words to simplify legal matters in his judgements.

In March 2020, he poignantly remarked in a dissenting opinion that the judgement of the Supreme Court sacking Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State would distort electoral jurisprudence (body of judicial precedents) for long.

Mr Nweze was the only one on the seven-judge bench who dissented to rule that the judgement earlier sacking Mr Ihedioha, and replacing him with Hope Uzodinma, who came distant fourth in the election, should be reviewed by the Supreme Court.

He said the Supreme Courts judgement on the Imo State governorship election was wrong and will continue to haunt our (Nigerias) electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come.

But he was the judge who gave the lead judgement in the widely criticised verdict of the Supreme Court, controversially declaring then Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District in the February general election.

The judgement, considered among the most controversial decisions of Nigerias Supreme Court, handed the senatorial ticket to Mr Lawan despite his not participating in the primary election.

(NAN)

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This is ISIS-level savagery, a US Department of Defense official said, asserting unequivocally US support for Israel.

On Monday, October 9, the Pentagon explained what actions they have decided to take related to the Hamas-Israeli war. Speaking from the Pentagon, a senior US defence official said, In addition to the active diplomacy youve seen, the Department of Defense is focused on two broad areas of support to Israel. The first is ensuring that we are responding expeditiously to Israels requests for security assistance. And the second one is posture adjustment.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has directed an increase in the deployment of American Air Force fighter aircraft, including F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10, to squadrons in the area, the US Department of Defense (DoD) said in a Pentagon statement issued on Monday. Were also making very clear to adversaries or those that might be entertaining entering this conflict to escalate it that they should think twice and not take advantage of the instability, said a senior US Department of Defence official.

The fighter aircraft are in addition to the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG60), and the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) into the Eastern Mediterranean in proximity to Israel, as confirmed by Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder on Sunday.

These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deeds, and not only in words, of US support for Israels defence and serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict, the senior defence official said on Monday in a statement issued from Washington DC, adding, Those adversaries should think twice.

Deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is aimed at reinforcing the US position in the Eastern Mediterranean. The US assets include an aircraft carrier with its airwing, cruisers, and destroyers and are tasked with maritime and air operations to bolster the confidence of regional allies and maintain stability. While Iran is under scrutiny, there is no concrete evidence of its direct involvement in the recent events. However, the US has long expressed concerns about Irans support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, emphasizing what it believes is their role in fostering instability and inciting violence in the region.

US President Joseph Biden has said, We now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed. In the wake of the weekend incursion by Hamas into Israel, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III swiftly moved to emphasize unwavering support for what the US has said is Israels right to self-defence. Engaging with allies across the Middle East and Europe, Secretary Austin reached out to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend. The focus has been on understanding Israels operational needs and equipment requirements.

The United States is actively ramping up assistance to Israel, encompassing air defence capabilities and munitions. We are surging support to Israel. That includes air defence and munitions, said the defence official. Continuous communication with Israeli counterparts remains a top priority, as the US is ensuring that urgent requirements are promptly met. Efforts are underway to expedite the delivery of military equipment already in the pipeline, working closely with U.S. industry partners.

I am not going to get into specifics [] but the bottom line is we are working as fast as possible to provide critically needed munitions of various types and other equipment. Were also contacting U.S. industry to gain expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders for military equipment that otherwise may have been considered routine for movement, the senior defence official said.

The official was asked how the White House decides its level of involvement when Americans are killed or kidnapped by terrorists overseas. I would tell you, broadly speaking, that we will do what we need to do to protect our national security interests there in the region. We will certainly do what we need to do to look after the safety and security of the person people. One of the reasons  you saw yesterday we moved a carrier strike group into the Eastern Mediterranean as a measure of reassurance but also deterrence. So, without speaking to specifics or hypotheticals, this president will do what he has to do to look after our national security interests and that is just the way it is going to be, replied John Kirby, White House National Security Coordinator for Strategic Communications.

Meanwhile, also on Monday President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States  express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism, a Joint Statement on Israel published by the White House said.

President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu met in New York, on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, 10 October, the White House confirmed that the public should expect President Biden to deliver remarks on the terrorist attacks in Israel, from the White House State Dining Room.

Pearl Matibe is a Washington, DC-based White House Correspondent, and media commentator with expertise in U.S. foreign policy and international security. You may follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will appeal the court judgement against its Bayelsa State governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva.

Abdullahi Ganduje, APC national chairman, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja.

He described the judgement as unfortunate, noting, however, that it was actually democracy in action.

Well, its unfortunate that judgement, but we can say that it is democracy in action.

But, we learned that the person who took the issue to the court is not even qualified because he did not contest with Sylva.

Therefore, hes not even qualified for him to take the issue to the court. However, we are appealing. Were waiting for the judgement and then we appeal for calm on that issue, Mr Ganduje said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva, from contesting the election coming up on 11 November.

The judge, Donaltus Okorowo, ruled on Monday that Mr Sylva would violate the 1999 constitution by running after having taken the Oath of Office twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa.

Mr Sylva was governor of Bayelsa between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later served as minister of state for petroleum resources under President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2023.

Mr Ganduje, however, said the judgement would not deter the party from its arrangement for the election coming up next month.

He said, Last two weeks, I was in Bayelsa for two good days and I think they were ready and theyre still ready to win the election.

Therefore, this is a little distraction anyway, but we will overcome it.

We believe the appeal court will give us positive judgment but that will not stop us from making arrangements for the forthcoming election.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu is considering recalling a 71-year-old former Justice of the Supreme Court from retirement to serve as the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), PREMIUM TIMES has reliably gathered.

Abdu Aboki, who hails from Kano State, north-west Nigeria, exited the Supreme Court bench after clocking the mandatory retirement age of 70 on 5 August 2022.

Presidency sources, who asked not to be named to discuss a yet-to-be-public state matter with PREMIUM TIMES, said Mr Tinubu has penned down Mr Abokis name to replace the incumbent ICPC chair, Bolaji Owasanoye, whose five-year tenure remains about six months.

If Mr Aboki is eventually named as the next ICPC chair, his appointment will be a return to the tradition of picking the head of the commission from among relatively aged, retired jurists of the appellate courts.

Mustapha Akanbi, who voluntarily retired as the President of the Court of Appeal in 1999, was 68 when he was appointed the pioneer chairperson of the commission in 2000. He served out his five-year tenure in 2005.

He was succeeded by Emmanuel Ayoola, who retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court when he clocked 70 in October 2003. Mr Ayoola was appointed the chair of the commission in September 2005, about a month before his 72nd birthday.

In what appeared to be a break from the convention of appointing aged, retired jurists, Ekpo Nta, a lawyer who had held various political appointments, succeeded Mr Ayoola on 17 October 2012 at age 60.

The incumbent chair, Mr Owasanoye, a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was 55 years old when he was appointed as the chair of ICPC on 4 February 2019. Born on 15 May 1963, the professor of Law will still be under 60 by the time his tenure as ICPC chair ought to end on 4 February 2024.

Mr Abokis appointment will deviate from the new trend of showing a preference for the relatively younger generation to head the anti-corruption agency.

Is Aboki qualified to be ICPC chair?

Founded in 2000 by President Olusegun Obasanjos administration to tackle official corruption that had blighted the image of Nigeria which was just out of military rule, the ICPC has had four substantive chairpersons.

To be qualified to be an ICPC chairperson, the candidate must be qualified to be a judge of Nigerias superior courts of record.

Section 4 of the law establishing the anti-graft agency, the ICPC Act 2000, says, The (ICPC) chairman shall be a person who has held or is qualified to hold office as a judge of a superior court of record in Nigeria.

The law in section 6 further says, the chairman shall and other members of the commission shall be persons of proven integrity, and shall be appointed by the president subject to Senate confirmation.

This means that any person with proven integrity and who has been called to the Nigerian Bar for at least 10 years, the minimum qualification to be appointed a judge of a superior court of record in Nigeria, is qualified to be the ICPC chairperson.

Mr Aboki is, no doubt, qualified for the position, unlike the candidate Mr Tinubu is considering for the sister anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede, who does not have the number of years of cognate experience required by the EFCC Act to chair the agency.

But some observers have shared their concerns with PREMIUM TIMES about Mr Abokis age. They say appointing a relatively older person from retirement to head a key anti-corruption agency like the ICPC is out of sync in an era of fast-changing dynamics of corruption trends that require innovative strategies to tackle.

The tenure of Mr Owasanoye, the youngest to have ever led ICPC, offers the difference a relatively younger and tech-savvy person with a deep understanding of modern corruption trends in the global space can make as the head of an anti-corruption institution.

Mr Owasanoye, since becoming the ICPC chair, has introduced innovative accountability measures such as the tracking of constituency projects nominated by federal lawmakers, as a veritable anti-corruption tool. The project has been successful considering the quantum of fraud it has exposed and the recoveries it has recorded. However, the ICPC under Mr Owasanoye has been criticised for being mild on corrupt officials, in ways such as focusing on recoveries instead of prosecution of indicted lawmakers.

Some also argue that Mr Abokis age and experience across the hierarchy of the Nigerian judiciary would be an asset for an ICPC chairperson, who has to contend with legal issues and difficulties of prosecution of corruption suspects, especially the high-profile ones, in court.

But whatever the case, Mr Abokis appointment as ICPC chair or that of Mr Olukoyede as EFCC chair, will not likely add any value to the perception that Mr Tinubu is uninterested in fighting corruption, or improve public perception about his anti-corruption profile.

Profile of Mr Aboki

Mr Aboki, whose wife, Dije, is the chief judge of Kano State, began his journey on the bench 38 years ago when he was appointed a High Court judge in the state judiciary in 1987.

Before his judicial roles, Mr Aboki, a graduate of Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, partook in the compulsory NYSC programme in old Gongola State between 1977 and 1978.

He attended the Nigerian Law School in Victoria Island, Lagos, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1977.

He was appointed a state counsel, Ministry of Justice, Kano State, in 1978.

To hone his legislative drafting skills, the jurist enrolled at the University of Washington Law School, Seattle USA, where he obtained a certificate in 1982.

He rose through the ranks at the Ministry of Justice, Kano State, to become Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, from 1983 to 1984.

Mr Aboki, who had a stint as the Director of Public Prosecution in the ministry, later served as the Chief Registrar, of the High Court of Justice, Kano State, from 1985 to 1987.

He began his journey on the bench when he was appointed as a judge of the same court in 1987.

He served on some election petition tribunals across Nigeria during his time as a High Court judge, but one stands out, which was when he was the chairman of the legislative and governorship election petition tribunal in Lagos State in 2003 when Mr Tinubu was governor of the state.

He was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench in 2006.

In November 2020, Mr Aboki, after serving on the Court of Appeal bench for 14 years, was appointed to the Supreme Court bench alongside five others.

At the valedictory ceremony to mark his retirement from the Supreme Court in September 2022, Mr Aboki touched a raw nerve when he called for transparency in the expenditure of funds belonging to the judiciary.

In his speech titled, My valedictory messages to the nation and judiciary in particular, the jurist admonished those in charge of administering the funds allocated to the judiciary in Nigeria to be prudent, transparent and accountable.

There have been futile calls for the judiciary to disclose details of its budgetary allocations and expenditures.

On the judges appointment, he advised the National Judicial Council (NJC) to place a greater premium on merit than national character and other primordial considerations.

In his parting shot, Mr Aboki advocated for a constitutional amendment to reduce the number of appeals that go to the Supreme Court. This, he said, would lessen the workload of the apex court.

READ ALSO:

Lauding him for his accomplishments, the current Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, once described Mr Aboki as a man of dignity and distinction whose mastery of the law stands him out.

Mr Aboki became a Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, from the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2006.

He served on several boards and judicial panels including presiding judge, Bribery, Corruption, Fraud and other related offences Court for Kano State 2001.

After he retired from the Supreme Court, Mr Aboki was appointed to chair an investigative panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), probing an allegation of an elaborate secret abortion programme operated by the Nigerian military in the North-east.

If appointed to lead the ICPC, Mr Aboki will be the third justice of Nigerias appellate courts to become the chairman of the commission.

The pioneer chair of the commission, Mustapha Akanbi, who died in 2018, was a retired President of the Court of Appeal, and his successor, Emmanuel Ayoola, was a retired Justice of the Supreme Court before their appointments.

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Liberians Tuesday came out in large numbers to vote for a new leader.

Polls opened at 8 a.m. across the country with voters queued up in front of their various voting centres waiting to vote.

Tuesdays election is the fourth the country will hold since its civil war and the first it will hold without the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

There are 20 candidates including the incumbent president George Weah contesting for president. Liberians will also elect half of the countrys Senate and House of Representatives.

There are 2.4 million people registered to vote in todays election.

To emerge as president, a candidate must win over 50 per cent of the total votes cast. In the event that no one secures the required percentage, the two candidates with the highest votes will go to a run-off.

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Nigerias Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that a total of 99,985 Nigerian students enrolled in universities in the United Kingdom for various programmes between 2017 and 2022.

The minister, who quoted data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), however, noted that the exodus cannot be dismissed as completely antithetical to Nigerias development.

He said what must be done to make the drift reciprocal would be to fix the nations education system and address the security situation to also attract foreign students and staff for cross-border relationships and collaborations.

Mr Tunji-Ojo said this Monday at the opening ceremony of the international week conference of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

He said; While many may contend that majority of these students have simply JAPA for other reasons, we cannot also deny the fact that a larger chunk of these students has left with the purest of intent, to cross our border, seek further knowledge for self-advancement, which in the long run will result to national pride.

Every year, over 100 Nigerian students benefit from the scholarship for postgraduate and PhD degrees, I speak from students personally, we have hundreds of professionals and entrepreneurs, leaving our shores to break new grounds across our lands, and on our part, we must ensure that we play our part in the actualisation of their dreams. They carry our identity, one which not only aids their pursuit but also defines them.

Mr Tunji-Ojo said his ministry is determined to support genuine partnership drives among Nigerias academic institutions and their foreign counterparts to ensure that the context of universality in the university system is sustained.

Nigeria now has 270 universities

Meanwhile, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has said Nigeria now has 270 universities across including those owned by the federal and state governments, and private bodies such as religious institutions and individuals.

The acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Mayaki, who gave this figure at the International Week programme, noted that the theme of the conference: Breaking the Borders of Partnership is consistent with one of NUCs cardinal goals which is to foster partnerships between the Nigerian university system, international development partners, and the private sector.

Indeed, this is one of the issues that is of prime importance in the global higher education arena, in which the NUC is currently giving its utmost attention, he said.

TETFUND building partnerships

Speaking at the conference, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Sonny Echono, said Nigeria as a country needs to embrace internationalisation to deepen the current efforts, partnerships and collaborations.

Mr Echono said TETFUND is building partnerships at home and abroad and has about 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that have been executed.

Recently in Brazil, he said, Nigeria signed an MoU with a consortium of 4,044 Brazilian universities, and we also had partnerships with 29 French universities, which has now been extended to other countries including the UK, the United States of America, India, Malaysia, China, and so on.

He said: While we pursue the novel ideals of improving our ranking, we should also ensure that you can attract faculty of international blend to our universities in Nigeria. We should also increasingly admit foreign students into our faculties.

But to accomplish this, we need to guarantee minimum disruptions to the academic calendar, We need to provide state-of-the-art facilities that will be comparable to what they have abroad ranging from our facilities, hostels, facilities for teaching and learning in our research.

Mr Echono added that with its capacity to attract partnerships, UNILAG will be one of TETFUNDs beneficiaries of major programmes that will be introduced in 2024.

UNILAGs active international collaborations

In her remarks, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, said the university has about 200 direct and active international collaborations and that it is part of several international and regional networks enabling linkages with African and other universities.

The universities include the African Multiple Cluster of Excellence (University of Bayreuth-led), African Engineering and Technology Focused Universities (AFRITEC), and African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA/GUILD) with a network of 16 universities.

Mrs Ogunsola noted that the university in the last couple of years, has seen an increase in the number of bilateral and multilateral arrangements with other international educational institutions especially in the United Kingdom and Africa.

Through strategic partnerships, we have explored collaboration which encapsulates experience sharing around higher education management structure, co-creation of academic programmes and curriculum development, she noted.

University of Dundee VC hails UNILG

According to the keynote speaker, Iain Gillespie, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, UK, the core purpose of universities is enhanced through partnership.

Mr Gillespie noted that to unlock the potential of higher education with partnerships, institutions, industry and policymakers across the globe must work together to address common challenges.

He said partnerships can bring together expertise and capacity and that they require genuine alignment of goals and equitable relationships to deliver meaningful impact.

During the VCs dialogue session, Mrs Ogunsola and Mr Gillespie discussed university leadership and international partnerships, with the duo emphasising the need for impactful research collaborations.

Mr Gillespie shared that when the University of Dundee shifted focus from financial sustainability to academic excellence, it led to a surplus and investment in the institution.

He added that under his leadership, the university has prioritised research, teaching, and community engagement, to achieve a triple intensity of excellence in all areas.

About the Conference

The UNILAG International Week is an annual academic and policy-driven international convening which provides a forum for cross-fertilisation of ideas between industry and academia.

In its third edition, the weeklong programme provides a forum where issues of cross-border relationships, research collaborations, and foreign relations are discussed to enhance the quality of university education in the country.

According to the Director, International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Ismail Ibraheem, the forum is for institutions from the global North and South as well as within the global South to share thoughts on areas of strengths and weaknesses for possible important collaborations.

It also provides a platform to discuss strategies that could assist Nigeria in benefiting from the opportunities of transnational education, he noted.

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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has said building a resilient, equitable, affordable, and quality health system is one of his major priorities for the countrys health sector.

Mr Pate listed his priority areas in a series of messages posted on the X platform late Monday evening.

He said he assumed office a few weeks ago as the head of the health sector with the mandate to transform Nigerias healthcare system for improved health outcomes in line with President Bola Tinubus renewed hope agenda.

Key priorities

Mr Pate said one of his major priorities for the sector is to strengthen governance and institutions under the sector.

He said under his leadership, there will be smart and effective regulations and digitalisation of the health system.

Mr Pate said his focus will include strengthening health sector governance and institutions, smart and effective regulations, digitisation, enhancing citizen voices and our responsiveness, and making sure no one is left behind.

He said his leadership would ensure an affordable and quality health system to improve health outcomes by delivering preventive, promotive, and curative services, at primary healthcare and hospitals.

Also, he said quality health services will be provided by a properly trained and motivated health workforce.

The minister noted that medical industrialisation and unlocking the healthcare value chains, to create jobs and promote economic development will be one of the key priorities of his leadership.

Mr Pate said he would ensure the embedding of health security as part of the economic agenda and as national security.

We know that the task is huge and the journey is long. But with commitment by all levels of our government, sectors, and partners, we will achieve our vision of a healthy, prosperous, and thriving Nigeria, he said.

This we will do with utmost transparency and impeccable accountability.

New leadership

Amidst cheers and optimism among key players in the health sector, Mr Pate officially assumed office as Nigerias Minister of Health and Social Welfare on 25 August.

Mr Pate, a Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, steps into his position with a second opportunity to significantly impact the nations healthcare system.

During his stint earlier as Nigerias minister of state for health, Mr Pate made a notable impression on the health sector.

There is therefore growing optimism that Mr Pate with the support of Tunji Alausa, a renowned healthcare investor who is the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, would make a great impact in the countrys health sector.

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A month to the Bayelsa State governorship election, the Federal High Court in Abuja has disqualified former governor Timipre Sylva from the race.

Mr Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, had clinched the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in April.

He polled 52,061 votes to defeat five other aspirants  Joshua Machiver, Festus Danumiebi, Maureen Etebu, David Lyon, and Isikima Johnson.

Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, fixed the state governorship election for 11 November.

However, Donaltus Okorowo, a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, on Monday, said Mr Sylva was not qualified to vie for the Bayelsa State governorship seat.

Delivering judgement on a suit filed by an APC member, Demesuoyefa Kolomo, the judge held that Mr Sylva, having taken the oath of office twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa, he would violate the 1999 constitution if allowed to run in the forthcoming poll.

Mr Sylva was governor of Bayelsa State between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But he later defected to the APC and became a minister in former President Muhammadu Buharis administration. He resigned his ministerial position in March to contest APCs primary election.

Referencing a Supreme Court decision on a suit between Marwa and Nyako, Mr Okorowo explained that the drafters of Nigerias constitution said nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times.

The judge noted that parties in the suit agreed that Mr Sylva was voted into office twice as governor.

Mr Sylva and his party have the chance to challenge the decision up to the Supreme Court.

However, the party stands a grave risk of not having a candidate for the election if the Supreme Court rules against Mr Sylva in the end, when the window for swapping candidates would have closed.

This could end up being a repeat of the bad luck the party suffered in the last cycle of the governorship election in the state when the Supreme Court sacked its candidate, David Lyon, who had won the poll, on the eve of his inauguration.

Background

Mr Kolomo, a member of the APC, had urged the court to order the electoral commission to delete Mr Sylvas name from the list of candidates vying in the 11 November governorship election in Bayelsa.

The suit which was filed in June by Mr Kolomos lawyer, Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had INEC, the APC and Mr Sylva as defendants.

The plaintiff sought the courts interpretation of two questions.

These include whether having regard to the indisputable facts that Mr Sylva was elected to the office of governor of Bayelsa on two previous occasions; April 14, 2007, and May 24, 2008, he was qualified to contest the 11 November election in view of Section 82 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Whether having regard to the indisputable fact that Sylva occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa May 29, 2007, to April 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008, to Jan. 27, 2012, he is qualified to contest and be elected to the office of governor of Bayelsa for another four years term in view of Section 180(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Therefore, Mr Kolomo, prayed for a declaration that by virtue of Section 182(1)\(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Mr Sylva was not qualified to contest the election to the Office of the Governor of Bayelsa on the APC platform or on any other political partys platform in the election.

Also, he sought an order directing INEC to remove Mr Sylvas name from the list of contestants into the Office of the Governor of Bayelsa on the APC platform or any other political partys platform in the 11 November election or any other time for that matter as he was not qualified to contest the said poll.

In court filings, Mr Kolomo averred that the former oil minister was first elected to the office of governor, Bayelsa on 14 April, 2007 and assumed the said office on 29 May, 2007, and was in the said office until 15 April, 2008 when his election on 14 April, 2007, was nullified by the Court of Appeal. He was consequently removed from office.

He said Sylva was reelected on May 24, 2008, and assumed office as governor on May 27, 2008 until January 27, 2012.

He said INEC recently published the names of governorship candidates for the state, including Mr Sylvas name.

The plaintiff said he was motivated by the need to vindicate Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182(1)b) of the1999 Constitution, the rule of law and to know the applicability of the same as it relates to Sylva based on the above facts.

Mr Kolomo also noted that the question raised in the case was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the state so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day.

Mr Sylva had, in 2006, joined the PDP governorship primaries challenging ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who, at that time, was vying for the same position.

However, after Mr Sylva emerged as the PDP candidate, he went on to win the election in 2007. He succeeded Mr Jonathan, who had also become the Vice President to late President Umaru YarAdua.

But Mr Sylvas opponent in the 2007 election, Ebitimi Amgbare of the defunct Action Congress (AC), challenged his victory.

While the Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal upheld Mr Sylvas election, Mr Amgbare took the matter to the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, which overturned the tribunals decision and nullified Mr Sylvas election on April 15, 2008.

The appellate court ordered that Speaker Werinipre Seibarugo be inaugurated to replace Mr Sylva as acting governor, with a new election to be held within 90 days, as stated in the Electoral Act.

When a new election was held on 24 May 2008, Mr Sylva was again elected and was sworn in.

But on January 27, 2012, his tenure was terminated by the Supreme Court, with an acting governor appointed to oversee the state until the election of February 2012, won by Seriake Dickson, who is now a senator.

If Mr Sylvas disqualification stands, Governor Douye Diri of the PDP might be coasting to victory at the election next month.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The conditions of stay of Russian peacemakers in Azerbaijan's Karabakh have been seriously adjusted, Spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during the weekly briefing, Trend reports.

"Over the past year, there has been a significant change in the situation in Karabakh. The Karabakh region was recognized as Azerbaijani territory by the prime minister of Armenia at the summit held under the auspices of the EU in Prague in October 2022, and he reaffirmed his position at summits held in Brussels in May and June of this year. The circumstances under which the Russian peacekeeping force was sent in the area were significantly changed," she said.

Zakharova said that a number of stationary, temporary observation posts of the Russian peacekeeping contingent have already been removed.

"Fundamental issues concerning our peacemakers, as we have already said, are being discussed with Baku," she said.
The police in Abuja on Tuesday arraigned a 20-year-old man, Kingley Onoja, for allegedly raising false claim that his genitals have disappeared.

He was arraigned at Wuse Zone II Magistrates Court, Abuja.

Mr Onoja, who was to be without a fixed address, is charged with causing grievous hurt, attempted culpable homicide, theft and giving fake information to members of the public.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations brought against him by the police.

The prosecuting counsel, E.A Inegbenoise, told the court that the case was reported by one Ndifreke Ebong of Gaduwa Estate, Abuja, on 7 October.

Mr Inegbenoise said that the complainant, in company with some of his church members, was sharing flyers in preparation for its Sunday service within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He said that the complainant innocently handed a copy of the flyer to the defendant with others members of his gang now at large around AP Filing Station at about 6:30 p.m.

The defendant then unlawfully and falsefully accused the complainant of stealing his manhood.

The complainant was beaten and stabbed with all kinds of dangerous weapons by members of the defendants gang which they later ran away and he was apprehended.

As a result of the beating, the complainant sustained some degree of injuries, the prosecutor said.

He added that the complainants mobile phone valued at N500,000 and wallet containing important documents were stolen from him during the incident.

He further stated that the defendant revealed at the police station during interrogation that he said disappeared manhood is back and performing normal.

According to him, the offences charged with contravened the provision of sections 80, 248, 229, 287 and 178 of the Penal Code.

The prosecutor also objected to the bail of the defendant, stating that the defendant had no traceable address.

He added that granting him bail would affect further police investigation and the arrest of his other members who were still at large.

But the magistrate, Abba Bello, said that bail is at the discretion of the court and shall be exercised judiciously.

READ ALSO: Police release woman arrested over social media comment on tomato paste

The magistrate granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million with a surety in like sum that must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He ordered that the guarantors addresses should be verified by both the prosecutor and courts registrar before he should be released.

The case was adjourned until 20 Novemver for hearing.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has listed Zamfara, Cross River, Adamawa and Ogun as the states with the highest cholera cases in the country.

NCDCs Incident Manager, Cholera Technical Working Group, Sebastian Yennan, said this at the monthly meeting of the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the cases are updates from the centres Epidemiology week 39, saying efforts were ongoing in providing response commodities to affected states and others in the country.

Mr Yennan said NCDCs intervention through cholera case management was carried out in partnership with the WHO by distributing infection prevention and control kits, WASH kits, chlorine powder among others.

This intervention, he noted was being prioritised in the four states, saying the kits distributed could also be used in emergency situations like the lassa fever and diphtheria outbreaks.

The NCDC has partnered with a third party logistics company in the distribution of commodities and also to bring samples, our cholera response is at the 36 states and the FCT.

In Zamfara for instance, the governor visited the cholera treatment centre in Anka local government that was built by Doctors Without Borders/MSF, they have received response commodities.

What states need to do to tackle cholera

He said states must do more to prioritise cholera prevention by ensuring that funds were budgeted early and were accessible, adding that the centre was in charge of administration of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

The fund, Mr Yenna said, was designed to strengthen the national health system. He called on states to preposition their needs to access it before, during and after disease outbreak.

He also urged all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships to promote advocacy towards prevention of health emergency in the country.

Impact of flooding

Also, Dapo Akingbade, a representative from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said following release of excess water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon, 13 states have experienced flooding.

According to him, 171,545 persons were displaced in affected states, property and farmlands destroyed, with no fewer than 45 deaths.

Mr Akingbade while giving an update as at October 7, said the agency had commenced assessment of flood situation in Adamawa, with the activation of the emergency operation centre for coordination of interventions.

He said, The flooding in Adamawa has impacted on a lot of people and communities. At the EOC meeting, we recommended that all states should activate their flood response plan.

Also, we are also awaiting a detailed Needs Assessment report from Adamawa so as to know the appropriate areas APC response.

The NEMA official said there was need for the WASH sector to be well-prepared, saying collective responsibility was needed to mitigate the impact of emergency situations in the country.

Invest in WASH

Meanwhile, Edwin Isotu-Edeh, National Consultant, Public Health and Environment, WHO Nigeria, said there was a need for all partners to level up their investments in the WASH sector.

He said by investing in the WASH sector, cholera cases would reduce, citing an example of Cross River State which had a case fatality rate of 21 per cent, but reduced through investment and the One Health approach.

WASH in Emergency is beyond the distribution of commodities, but in doing more in the dedication of funding support, if we invest in WASH, cholera cases will come down.

Earlier, Ibiyemi Olu-Daniels, a Director, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, noted the need for states to coordinate, take ownership of their challenges and not rely solely on development partners in emergency situations.

He said the ministry would continue to support states through advocacy and coordination, urging the states to take responsibility on cholera preparedness and response plan.

(NAN)

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Despite lamenting the slow voting process, many Liberians remain resolute and are hopeful that their votes will count.

Liberia is holding its fourth consecutive election since the end of the civil war. The coastal country will today elect a president and half the Senate and House of Representatives.

Voters stormed polling units in their numbers early Tuesday morning to vote but many complained of the slow process under the scorching sun.

PREMIUM TIMES reported a large voter turnout across the country.

A voter who gave his name as Thomas said he had been in the queue for three hours at the time PREMIUM TIMES visited his voting centre in Paynesville City in Monrovia.

They are delaying and no explanation was offered, he said. However, he remains excited and will wait till it gets to his turn.

Another voter who gave her name as Sis Kameh said she had been there since 8 a.m. and had not been able to vote. Sitting under the sun, she told this reporter that she would wait until she votes because she wants peace in her country.

Alice Doe was one of the many women who sat in the sun with their toddlers waiting their turn to vote.

I came by 8 a.m. I have not been able to vote but I am going to be here, It is my country and I am forced to vote, she said.

Elis, a first-time voter, excitedly arrived at the voting centre at 8 a.m. but remained in the queue at about 4 p.m.

I will wait until I vote because it is my first time, he said.

Several observer groups in the country are reporting that the voting process across the country is slow.

Sam Cole, the Chair Strategic Communications Committee of the Electoral Commission, NEC, said the slow pace of the process will not lead to disenfranchisement because polling closes at 6 p.m. and anyone in the queue will be allowed to vote.

As of 4 p.m., Sinoe County in the southeastern part of the country was yet to receive voting materials due to continued rainfall that caused the river bank to overflow and flood the environment thereby making it difficult for election materials to reach the county.

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The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Tuesday released the results of the 2023 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Speaking at a press conference in Minna, the Niger State capital, NECO Registrar Dantani Wushishi, a professor, described this years result as the best in recent times.

Mr Wushishi said 737,308 candidates representing 61.60 per cent got at least a credit in five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

The previous year, he said, 60 per cent of the candidates recorded a similar feat.

It gladdens my heart to notify you that reports we have received so far indicate that the 2023 SSCE Internal has been certified the best in recent times, he said.

We are very thankful to God for this and to all those who made it possible.

Mr Wushishi said this years results were released exactly 58 days after the last paper was written.

The 2023 examination was conducted from Monday 10th July to Friday 11th August 2023. The marking exercise started on Wednesday 30th August and ended on Friday 15th September. This means that this year, we are releasing our results 58 days after the last written paper. This is as a result of our desire to ensure that we release the complete results, rather than in batches.

Pass rate

The NECO Registrar noted that a total of 1.2 million (1,205,888) students registered for the 2023 examinations. He said 621,084 of the total figure are male while the remaining 585,804 are female.

He said 1,196,985 candidates eventually sat the examinations with 616,398 males and 580,587 females.

He added that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, is 1 million (1,013,611), representing 84.68 per cent.

Special needs

The registrar gave the breakdown of the number of candidates with special needs as 1,542.

He said 913 candidates had hearing impairment, 162 candidates with visual impairment, 103 candidates with Albinism, 61 candidates with Autism, 149 candidates with low vision, 154 candidates with Adermatoglyphia,

On malpractice

This year, the registrar said, a total of 12,030 candidates representing 0.07 per cent of the total number of candidates were involved in various forms of malpractice during the school-based examination. He said this is down from 13,595 (0.13 per cent) last year.

Hope rises for admission seekers

Meanwhile, the release of the result by NECO may have opened a new door of opportunity for admission seekers into tertiary institutions across the country.

SSCE result is one of the requirements for gaining admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions apart from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

READ ALSO: NECO releases 2023 common entrance examination result

Apart from NECO, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) also conducts examinations for senior secondary school students and since the release of WAEC results some months ago, many candidates who did not pass have awaited NECO results as alternatives.

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A bill seeking to transfer the control and supervision of programmes under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Presidency has passed second reading at the Senate.

The bill titled A bill for an act to amend the Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2023 and for other matters connected therewith, 2023 (SB.163), was sponsored by Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele.

The programmes under the NSIP are the N-Power , the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).

The NSIP was created in 2016 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari while the National Social Programme Agency Act was enacted this year to address socio-economic inequalities and alleviate poverty among Nigerians.

The programme started under the control of the office of the then Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, but was transferred to the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development during Mr Buharis second term.

The former president had hinted during his 2019 Independence Day broadcast that the NSIP would be moved from the vice presidents office.

First reading

The bill, seeking direct supervision of the NSIP programmes to the office of the President of the Federation, was read the first time in the Senate on Tuesday and was transferred to the Committee of the Whole.

Leading debate on the bill, Mr Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) said the amendment was to support the renewed hope mantra of President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that Social Investment Programmes are standard, transparent, effective and accountable in the discharge of constitutional duties.

He also said the reason for amendment was to fulfill Section 17 (3) of the Nigerian Constitution which provided that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all citizens, without discrimination, have the opportunity of securing adequate means of livelihood and ensuring provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases or conditions of need among others.

This Bill seeks to amend Sections 9 (3); 14(1); 21(1); 22(1), 26(1) and 33 of the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act by transferring the Agency from the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to the Presidency under the direct supervision of the President C-in-C.

This amendment is as a result of the commitment of the renewed hope mantra President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that Social Investment Programme are standard, transparent, effective and accountable structure of delivery, adequate coordination and synergy amongst key government agencies as well as fulfilment of Section 17 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provided that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all citizens, without discrimination, have the opportunity of securing adequate means of livelihood and ensuring provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases or conditions of need among others.

With this amendment, a wide range of sustainable development goals (SDGS) including poverty reduction, education, health, social inclusion and empowerment can be achieved through the NSIPA and countries the world over have recognised and deployed similar social support programmes as an effective strategy for poverty reduction, social development and economic growth.

The Senate Leader therefore urged his colleagues to support and pass the bill, stressing that it would reduce poverty in Nigeria.

Mr President, my respected colleagues, the passage of this bill will ensure continuity and sustainability of NSIP as a reliable tool to solve poverty problems in Nigeria and also serves as an enduring legacy of this administration. I therefore recommend the bill for second reading.

Debate

When the bill was set for debate, majority of the senators spoke in support of it.

They also said the bill should pass second reading.

The immediate past Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who supported passage of the bill advised that after passing the amendment, relevant committees of the National Assembly must actively participate in the NSIP programmes in order to ensure that all the identified vulnerable receive support from the government.

We are talking about social inclusion. Money was distributed in cash and that is not what we are expected to continue to do. After passing the amendment, we must participate fully, from all relevant committees to ensure that those that needed the support, the vulnerable are satisfied, he said.

ALSO READ: SERAP sues Buhari for not probing Social Intervention Programmes

Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) who also supported passage of the bill urged the senate to amend and pass it.

We made the law and if we are struggling with the law, we can amend it. When we are doing the law, we should do it right so that we will not be begging any minister but to go for oversight. We should take time and make sure that the law is efficient, Mr Ndume noted.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also supported the passage of the amendment bill explained that amending it is for the betterment of the country.

Amending the law is for the betterment of the country. Lets join the president to better this country. Let us just pass it, he said.

Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) who also contributed to the debate advised the Senate to holistically look into the bill before amendment and passage.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, assured that the Senate will not rush to amend the bill.

He therefore referred the bill to the Senate Committee of the Whole for further action on it on the next legislative day.

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The Senate on Tuesday expressed worry over the loss of N10 billion by ginger farmers in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, due to an outbreak of a disease called fungi pathogens infection.

The upper chamber, therefore, called for immediate intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to control the spread of the disease.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Sunday Katung (PDP Kaduna South) seeking an urgent need to address the outbreak of a deadly disease.

Mr Katung said the outbreak of fungi pathogens infection destroyed over 2,500 hectares of farmlands estimated at N10 billion across seven Local Government Areas of southern part of Kaduna State.

He noted that the situation is threatening Nigerias position on the world chart of ginger production.

Moving the motion, Mr Katung said, Kaduna State ranks the highest in ginger production in Nigeria, contributing to Nigerias place as one of the largest producers of ginger in the world, with a production average of more than 300,000 tonnes during the five-year period 2014-2018, and a global market share of about 11 per cent, trailing only India.

Worried that the 2023 ginger season in Southern Kaduna State has suffered a significant setback due to an outbreak of fungi pathogens infection destroying over 2,500 hectares of farmlands estimated at N10 Billion across seven Local Government Areas of southern Kaduna State, thereby significantly threatening Nigerias position on the world chart of ginger production.

Also worried that this devastating and unprecedented ginger pandemic affects Nigerias non-oil export performance and is already affecting the lives of many individuals within the affected communities of southern Kaduna because ginger is their source of livelihood.

Disturbed about the public health risks of this deadly disease because research has revealed that organisms that affect plants may develop some sort of host jumping, with the mutation or development of the mechanism switching over to the host, and the pathogen that was earlier infecting plants changing and infecting human beings.

Babangida Husaeini (APC, Jigawa), who seconded the motion, explained that southern Kaduna South produces quality ginger highly rated in the Middle East and other continents.

Titus Zam (APC, Benue North West) also called for the protection of ginger producers in southern Kaduna.

People are talking about oil and gas, others are talking about agriculture. It makes sense to support our ginger farmers in Southern Kaduna. It will add more weight for a shift to agriculture, Mr Zam said.

Also, Kelvin Chukwu (Enugu East) said Southern Kaduna is the highest producer of ginger and the third in the world adding that the outbreak of the disease affected the farmers while others collapsed on hearing of the disease.

Darlington Nwokocha (Abia), called for funding for research and development.

If you go through the budget, you will find out that what we provide for research is too little. As the budget is coming, we have to strengthen the research institution and start on time and tackle this situation before it happens, he said.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio expressed appreciation to Mr Katung for presenting the motion at the plenary.

Mr Akpabio urged all concerned government agencies to look at the issues relating to the ginger disease in Southern Kaduna and tackle them.

NEMA should move in there and provide relief materials, Mr Akpabio said.

The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to vote by the senate president.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it expects 5.4 million voters to vote in the three off-cycle governorship elections holding on 11 November in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.

Of the figure, 1.05 million voters are in Bayelsa; 2.4 million are in Imo and two million are in Kogi.

Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman, of INECs Information and Voter Education Committee, stated in Abuja that the commission reviewed its preparations for the elections in the three states on Tuesday.

He assured that electronic copies of the complete register of voters for each state would be given to political parties participating in the elections.

Sixteen political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa; 17 political parties are doing the same in Imo, while 18 parties are fielding candidates in Kogi.

State chairmen of political parties or their representatives are invited to attend the presentation of the registers on October 12 at INECs offices in Lokoja, Owerri and Yenagoa at 10 a.m., he stated.

He added that INEC had finalised arrangements for mock accreditation of voters in the three states in furtherance of its commitment to deepen the deployment of technology for voter accreditation and result management.

The mock exercise, he explained, would test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

The exercise will take place simultaneously in the three states on Saturday, October 14 from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

The list of designated polling units for each state has already been uploaded to INECs website and social media platforms.

Lessons learnt from the mock exercise will be taken into consideration to ensure the seamless deployment of both the BVAS and IReV on Election Day.

This is strictly a test run and not the actual election, Mr Olumekun stated.

He appealed to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voter Cards for the mock exercise.

(NAN)

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As the number of diphtheria infection cases continues to increase in Nigeria, the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, has said his state is strengthening the capability of primary healthcare centres across the state in responding to the outbreak.

The governor said the outbreak had been a serious health concern, adding that the situation had compelled the medical team assembled by the state government to work round the clock in response to it.

Mr Namadi spoke while hosting the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), Faisal Shuaib, in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Tuesday.

The governor said the timely response by the state Ministry of Health and support provided by the NPHDA had aided in the management of the cases and in addressing the outbreak in the state.

It was a very serious health issue when it started, we assembled our medical team under the leadership of the commissioner of health, (Abdullahi Kainuwa) and they are working tirelessly day and night and are always reporting back on what they were doing.

I want to thank you (Mr Shuaib) for your quick response on the Diphtheria outbreak in Jigawa. We commend you for the quick response and all the technical support you have rendered after I called you to provide the vaccine because our people need the vaccine, Mr Namadi said.

He also acknowledged the human resources for health gaps and politicisation in the posting of healthcare providers by local government officials as challenges that the state is addressing at the primary healthcare level.

We consider the primary healthcare centres and human resources for health very critical which is why we reversed what the local government autonomy brought to us in terms of human resources, earlier before the local government autonomy, all staff of the primary healthcare were under the control of the state primary healthcare development agency.

The state Primary Healthcare Development Agency has the responsibility of supervision, discipline, and posting, but when the local government autonomy came, all the staff of the primary healthcare development agency returned to the local government making it difficult for control, discipline, and you find out there are a lot of politicking in the system. Because of that, we decided to reverse that back for efficiency, Mr Namadi said.

He said the state government had agreed to pay 40 per cent of the salary of the primary healthcare personnel while the local government would pay 60 per cent, adding that all the staff are now under the control of the state primary healthcare development agency.

This will assist in the fair distribution of staff among the primary healthcare centres and provide avenues for the discipline of the defaulting staff. This has improved performance and equal distribution of human resources in our primary healthcare centres in responding to the healthcare issues, the governor said.

On the manpower gap in the primary healthcare centres, Mr Namadi said his administration was employing casual healthcare workers that would later be confirmed after a year on probation.

We have also introduced a J-Health System (casual healthcare workers) where students who studied health-related courses and who are yet to gain employment get temporary appointments and are posted to their nearest communities.

After a year, their performance will be reviewed and absorbed as permanent staff. With this, we are approaching the minimum standard for human resources at the primary healthcare centres, Mr Namadi said.

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In his remarks, Mr Shuaib said Jigawa was taking the lead in the country in terms of support to the primary healthcare centres which has translated into a reduction in maternal and child mortality rates in the state.

Mr Shuaib, who inspected one of the primary healthcare facilities at Andaza community in the Kiyawa Local Government Area of the state, said the percentage of skilled birth deliveries per month, as well as the supply of drugs and other essential consumables, showed that the state government was fulfilling the federal governments policy on the primary healthcare centres.

Diphtheria outbreak

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports that as of 3 October, the country has recorded 13,204 suspected cases.

Out of the suspected cases, 8,406 were confirmed from 114 local government areas (LGAs) across 19 states including the Federal Capital Territory.

ALSO READ: Nigeria records surge in diphtheria infections

Giving a further breakdown of the diphtheria cases, the NCDC noted that of the 8,406 confirmed cases, 6,202 (73.7 per cent) were aged one to 14 years. With the 7,188 cases, Kano State in the northwest accounted for 86 per cent of the total 8,406 confirmed cases. Yobe state followed on the log of infections with 775 cases, while Katsina and Borno recorded 232 and 118 cases respectively.

The NCDC data showed Jigawa State recorded 23 infections, followed by Bauchi, 20; Kaduna, 17; Lagos, eight; FCT, six; Gombe, five; while Osun and Sokoto states recorded three cases each.

Niger State recorded two cases, while six states: Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa, Zamfara, and Kebbi recorded a single case each.

About diphtheria

NCDC explained that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes, the skin of an individual.

It noted that people most at risk of contracting diphtheria are children and adults who have not received any or a single dose of the pentavalent vaccine (a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine), people who live in a crowded environment, in areas with poor sanitation and healthcare workers who are exposed to suspected or confirmed cases of diphtheria.

On transmission, NCDC said that the disease spreads easily among people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing from sneezing, and, contact with contaminated clothing and objects.

The symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes (conjunctivitis), and neck swelling. In severe cases, NCDC said that a thick grey or white patch appears on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat associated with difficulty breathing.

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beyond rhetoric will also be the need to match words with action. For instance, we have had the South East Economic Summit for some years now, with the seventh edition held via Zoom on 15 December 2022. Some people may wonder what has been the deliverables from the Summit beyond declarations of noble intentions. Similarly, it may not be out of place to pose the question of what has become of the Ebubeagu joint security out.

The South-East Economic and Security Summit has come and gone. Organised under the auspices of the South East Governors Forum, and held in Owerri, Imo State from 28- 29 September, its theme was, South East Beyond 2023, Time for a Reset. The Summit attracted several political leaders and elites from the geopolitical zone, including Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; all the Governors from the region  Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Alex Otti of Abia, Peter Mba of Enugu and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, who was represented by his Deputy, Patricia Obila. Several past and serving senators, including Uche Ekwunife (Director-General of the South-East Governors Forum), traditional rulers and leading members of the clergy, also attended the occasion.

While there were nuanced differences in the focus of the various presentations at the Summit, most dwelt on the need for unity and concerted action among the leaders of the zone. For instance, Dr Okonjo Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, in her keynote speech delivered via an online video, blamed the underdevelopment of the region primarily to the fact that Igbo elites undermine one another rather than work in concert. She was quoted as saying: Our biggest challenge in the South-East is itself. We have often been our own worst enemies. We have allowed ourselves to be divided She argued that an individual can be good but not better than when we come together as a body.



Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February election, in his message aired on the second day of the Summit, re-echoed the need for unity, saying: Its very necessary that as a people we come together, and put our heads together to find a lasting solution to this problem of insecurity in our homeland. Patricia Obila, the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, who represented Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, tasked mothers in the region to take a special responsibility in curbing the insecurity in the region, pointing out that most of the vices that transmute into criminality were first acquired in the homes.

The host governor, Hope Uzodinma, suggested that all the existing Igbo groups should dissolve into the Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide. The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, called for the use of a non-kinetic approach in dealing with the wave of insecurity in the geopolitical zone and the setting up of a common market that will be a centre that will grow the economy of the region.

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, suggested engaging the youth with a view to locating the source of their anger. He also emphasised the need to fight the spate of drug abuse in the region. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State charged South-East indigenes not to wait for all the problems to be solved by the governors before they can come to invest in the zone, adding that if they dont stop seeing only gloom and doom this place will be a desolate homeland.

Former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, called for a rethink of the Biafra agitation and strategies for dealing with the insecurity in the region. He believed that a robust engagement with the agitators could generate lasting solutions to the insecurity plaguing the zone, noting that the circumstances that led to the civil war in 1967 appeared not to be the same thing as what the current agitators are doing.

nearly all the speakers alluded to the non-unity among the leaders of the geopolitical zone. But the notion of non-unity among the Igbo elite is only one part of the duality of the Igbo personality. The truth is that the Igbo is simultaneously communitarian and individualistic. For instance, an Igbo person is more likely to be more strongly attached to his/her town unions and the community-driven project there than members of the other ethnic groups in the country.

There are several observations from the Summit:

One, the idea of the leaders of the South-East geopolitical zone coming together in a summit is commendable on its own. However, beyond rhetoric will also be the need to match words with action. For instance, we have had the South-East Economic Summit for some years now, with the seventh edition held via Zoom on 15 December 2022. Some people may wonder what has been the deliverables from the Summit beyond declarations of noble intentions. Similarly, it may not be out of place to pose the question of what has become of the Ebubeagu joint security outfit set up after a similar summit in 2021 to combat insecurity in the region.

Two, some of the observations and recommendations at the Summit deserve deeper interrogation. For instance, nearly all the speakers alluded to the non-unity among the leaders of the South-East geopolitical zone. But the notion of non-unity among the Igbo elite is only one part of the duality of the Igbo personality. The truth is that the Igbo is simultaneously communitarian and individualistic. For instance, an Igbo person is more likely to be more strongly attached to his/her town unions and the community-driven project there than members of the other ethnic groups in the country. Igbos normally unite around values, not around personalities  which sometimes gives the wrong impression of the lack of unity. Igbos rarely rally around individuals (unless they espouse values that resonate with them), unlike the Hausa/Fulani (and the Yoruba to a less extent), primarily because they did not pass through the feudal stage of development and therefore were never habituated to uncritical obedience to a centralised authority.

For this reason, unless they espouse values that resonate with them, attitude towards heroes or centralised authority structures tends to be transactional and highly individualised  if you are not their benefactor, do not expect any sustained hero worship. Understanding this duality in Igbo personality is necessary when thinking of appropriate strategies for mobilising them. It is precisely the individualistic component of the duality of the Igbo personality that will make Governor Uzodinmas suggestions for all Pan-Igbo socio-cultural groups to collapse into the Ohanaeze Ndigbo difficult to implement because the average Igbo person does not see his governor or even traditional ruler as a sort of deity or oracle who can tell them what is best for them. It is also the reason why Governor Mbas recommendation for a common market will be impracticable. The various towns already have their own local markets so how will such a centralised market benefit them, they will ask?

what is the way forward? Pius Anyim was right about the anger of the Igbo youth. Part of this anger however is caused by the effects of the Civil War propaganda on both sides of the conflict. Therefore, part of the ways of assuaging the anger of the Igbo youth about the war is for a new historiography that will be deliberately skewed toward promoting reconciliation, forgiveness and forward-looking.

Three, a very important theme in the Summit was the urge for the Igbo outside Igboland to come and invest in the region (Aku luo uno philosophy). This has been a recurring theme in the various South East Economic Summits. The truth is that there are cultural factors that predispose the Igbo to be more Diaspora-oriented than most other ethnic groups in the country. While for most other ethnic groups charity begins at home, for the Igbo, the preference seems to be to go outside your village, achieve success there and then come home to be validated. There are several Igbo proverbs and wise sayings that validate this such as Ojemba enwe ilo (the traveller rarely has enemies), njepu amaka (it is always nice to travel beyond your known world); ukpana uno adighi aha mmanu (the home grasshopper rarely grows juicy or fat or it can also mean familiarity breeds disrespect). This means that the push factor for Igbo emigration is not just economic  as many people wrongly think.

Four, what is the way forward? Pius Anyim was right about the anger of the Igbo youth. Part of this anger however is caused by the effects of the Civil War propaganda on both sides of the conflict. Propagandas are necessarily embellished truths or outright distortion of facts. For instance much of the Civil War propaganda on the Biafra side, including some of the negative portraitures of Obafemi Awolowo, were either outright distortions or taken out of their historical contexts. Therefore, part of the ways of assuaging the anger of the Igbo youth about the war is for a new historiography that will be deliberately skewed toward promoting reconciliation, forgiveness and forward-looking. I also believe that much of the current Igbophobia is the result of the Civil War propaganda on the federal side, which has become internalised by some as the naked truth.

I will also recommend that the governors of the region create a new, jointly owned town along the lines of Abuja, with modern facilities and good security structures. This will satisfy the Igbo cultural reflex for the Diaspora and concomitantly attract the elite to turn it into a socio-economic hub that will eventually transform many of the current, unplanned towns in the region into the new towns satellites. It is commendable that the South-East Governors have appointed a Director General for its Governors Forum. The Secretariat needs to be properly equipped and manned by competent professionals. Similarly, there is a need to develop Peer Review Mechanisms that will help improve the quality of governance in the region.

Jideofor Adibe is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841 (Text or WhatsApp only).

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Osmund Agbo, from real world experiences and of course, staggering facts of history, thinks that the moral arch of the universe does not bend towards justice. Much of history, I am compelled to also agree, has been about might making right. One must not however lose sight of why Reverend King needed such highfalutin idealism. And in the same vein, why the psalmist had to make a promise of constant supply of bread.

I didnt need to be a seer to know, long before this time, that Osmund Agbo would write Black Grit, White Knuckles. The thing I could not have foreseen was that the title would be this arrestingly riveting. It would be no prophetic feat too to project that he would return to the theme in the future. Long before Agbo began to write this book, I feel safe to presume, I had engaged him on the subject of black destiny and could almost touch his zeal on the issue. His preoccupation with the story of black people is close to a gnawing obsession.

There is another catalyst. Osmund Agbo, no one disagrees, is now among the most relentless commentators on Nigerian affairs. Relentless is a little bit of an extraordinary word in this context. I have forgotten the thinker who called the seemingly inevitable loss of interest in Nigeria, commentary fatigue. I cannot venture a better description. I had my flush of enthusiasm too, before yielding to commentary fatigue, as one would, to an ineluctable family ghost. But even after a father issues a public disclaimer, disavowing a problematic child, he does not stop to feel unsettled when suspicious noise comes floating in from the streets. This is how I feel when I read Agbo and other unwearied warriors of the pen still capably yelling at Nigeria.

Nigeria  I know you dont like it  is nonetheless a most significant component of the black world. The consequence is that taking moral responsibility for it spills into doing so for all of Africa, like a drop of oil on a finger. Agbos fabulously written book is such an extension of his assumed responsibility. A Field Marshal, as I earlier hinted, in the struggle for the soul of Nigeria, he has now lived in the United States for nearly two decades, a commodious enclave in the Western hemisphere, which offers often dismaying opportunity for racial comparisons. Superadded to this should be the history of the US as the centre for the storied struggle for the final emancipation of the black man from the atrocious yokes of slavery and discrimination. Osmund Agbo is therefore conspicuously qualified to write this book.

On the imperative question of where black people should now turn, Agbo makes my arguments. Slavery was bad. Colonialism was bad. Segregation was bad. Racism is bad. Neocolonialism is bad. You name them. But what should be the best response of the black man? I hereby beg to cull, without modification, my earlier opinion on this from an article written early in 2022:

While I deplore the evils of colonialism, Africa was not the worst example. And if we look at remoter history, every people had had to be conquered and exploited by stronger foreigners. Again, colonial crimes are inexcusable. However, any attempt to explain the failure of human conscience in Africa in the past 65 years with her colonial experience is, to be civil, the starkest nonsense. This is what Agbo preached in his book, in a broader and more informed way.

Agbo, in Black Grit, White Knuckles, offers practical, astute recommendations on how black people can again inhabit their space in the sun with full dignity. I am ashamed to own it that I did not know Ottaway Gurly before reading Agbos thought-provoking book. It is the same way it took a Carl Sagan for me to know Frederick Douglass. Whenever a man wakes up is his morning, you should allow me this consolation.

What should we expect? The moral arch of the universe bends towards justice, Martin Luther King had famously said. This presupposes, on the face of it, that black people would get reparation for the monstrous injustices meted out to them, which defaces much of human memory. Osmund Agbo vehemently but respectfully disagrees with Reverend King. It is not the first time I would chance upon such a brave-hearted disputation. In his wonderous book, The History of Western Philosophy, Bertrand Rusell had similarly disagreed with both Aristotle and the psalmist. Aristotle thought and wrote that virtue guarantees the acquisition of wealth. Upon the other hand, the psalmist had said he never saw a righteous man begging for bread. Russel held both views to be consummately absurd.

Osmund Agbo, from real world experiences and of course, staggering facts of history, thinks that the moral arch of the universe does not bend towards justice. Much of history, I am compelled to also agree, has been about might making right. One must not however lose sight of why Reverend King needed such highfalutin idealism. And in the same vein, why the psalmist had to make a promise of constant supply of bread.

Agbo, in Black Grit, White Knuckles, offers practical, astute recommendations on how black people can again inhabit their space in the sun with full dignity. I am ashamed to own it that I did not know Ottaway Gurly before reading Agbos thought-provoking book. It is the same way it took a Carl Sagan for me to know Frederick Douglass. Whenever a man wakes up is his morning, you should allow me this consolation. Gurleys Black Wall Street is more than metaphorical, it is a historical experiment of the kind of unions black people should build across the world; communities inspired by deliberate but positive rivalry. We need Gurleys communities in black countries, more than we need emotion-laden Pan-Africanism. I didnt set out with this review to douse all curiosity. I will stop here. Every African deserves to read Agbos perfectly unquantifiable contribution to the unfinished work of fully asserting the humanity of the black race.

Okike Ezugwu wrote from Lagos.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has agreed to hold a meeting in the '3+3' format (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Turkiye, Russia) proposed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"At the time, an agreement was reached that the next meeting in the '3+3' format will be held in Tehran, we are ready to continue talks in this format," he said.

President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stressed that the problems of the region should be solved by the countries of the region themselves.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has appointed Benedict Daudu, as his senior special assistant on legal and multilateral cooperation.

Mr Daudu is the son of a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu.

The appointment was announced by the Director of Press in the office of the minister, Anthony Ogunleye, on Tuesday.

He said Mr Daudu is a distinguished lawyer bringing a wealth of experience to the services of the administration.

He said the appointee is a graduate of law from the Buckingham University in 2010 in the United Kingdom and in 2013, he completed his Masters degree in law from the prestigious George Washington University Law School in the United States of America.

Mr Daudu, he added, was called to the bar in 2012 and has since been practicing.

This appointment is in recognition of Barrister Daudus outstanding legal expertise, extensive academic background, and profound understanding of key policy issues, Mr Ogunleye stated.

He said Mr Daudus academic achievements are complemented by his extensive professional experience, which spans various areas of law.

He said his legal practice has provided him with an in-depth understanding and practical experience in critical policy issues, including but not limited to cybercrime, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Civil Litigation Cases.

His working experience has seen him working in various prestigious law firms within and outside the country inclusive of JB Dauda and Co, Adams Law Office LLC and Ade Okeaya and Co, he added.

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Four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, were abducted by terrorists between Monday and Tuesday, PREMIUM TIMES confirmed late on Tuesday.

A member of the universitys Students Union, Solomon Timmy, said the terrorists invaded the students community between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Monday and appeared to have continued their rampage in the areas till the early hours of Tuesday.

Yesterday, between 10.30 to 11 at night, bandits came into students villages or communities to attack students and hostels. They abducted four students  three females and one male, he told PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone late Tuesday.

He gave the names of those abducted as Rahila Hanya (Science and Laboratory Technology), Josephine Gershon (Computer Science), Rosemary Samuel (Business administration) and Goodness Samuel Geography. All of them are in the 100 level.

Mr Timmy, who is the universitys Students Union security committee chairman, said security agents and university management were working to rescue the students.

He said the terrorists had begun negotiating with the families of the students.

The police spokesperson in Nasarawa State, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the abduction to BBC Hausa monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.

He said the police command received the news of the abduction Tuesday.

The command is aware of the abduction in Angwan Kare around 12:55 a.m. We received information that an unknown number of gunmen have invaded a house at Angwan Karea, he said.

Northern Nigeria is witnessing incessant cases of terrorist activities, especially the abduction of students. In September, 24 students of the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State were abducted by terrorists. Though some of the students were rescued, many remained with the terrorists.

A few days ago, four female students of the Federal University Dutsin Ma in Katsina State were also abducted by terrorists. Later, the Vice-Chancellor, Armayau Bichi, said the terrorists were on a revenge mission when they attacked the school.

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$1 of every Hooters Calendar sold supports Breast Cancer Research

CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Hooters Calendar is now available at all Hooters locations. In honor of Hooters 40th Anniversary, the calendar includes a commemorative cover wrap "Showtime" a celebration of the world famous Hooters Girl the iconic image of Hooters for 40 years. The commemorative showcase painting by famed international artist Fabian Perez is a tribute to all of the Hooters Girls who continue to enhance the image of this brand with beauty and class and also recognizes over 400,000 Hooters Girl Alumni that have made Hooters America's Neighborhood Oasis since 1983.

Hooters Calendar Girls at an exclusive 40th Anniversary celebration with an unveiling of a painting by famed international artist Fabian Perez at Hooters of Clearwater Beach.

It all started October 4, 1983 and after 40 years is still going strong. All of the 200 ladies in the calendar work at Hooters restaurants across the country and were selected from thousands of candidates.

The model on the commemorative wrap is Hooters Girl Eden Davis from Abilene, Texas. Featured on the cover of the calendar is Miss Hooters International and 2024 Hooters Calendar cover girl Emily Johnson from Jacksonville, Florida.

The calendar includes 12 feature girls from around the country and one centerfold. Features are Miss January Sarah Magda (Sarasota, Florida); Miss February Kiana Mahabir (Odessa, Florida); Miss March Sophia Zullo (Mason, Ohio); Miss April Paris Tootle (Savannah, Georgia); Miss May Iliana Rodriquez (North Tampa, Florida); Centerfold Averey Tressler (Mesa, Arizona); Miss June Miya Vidales (Sarasota, Florida); Miss July Cassidy Marginean (Grand Prairie, Texas); Miss August Alexis Parker (Rock Hill, South Carolina); Miss September Sara Vratanina (Daytona, Florida); Miss October Bella Waters (Jacksonville, Florida); Miss November Grace Burchett (Naples, Florida) and Miss December Olivia Lorenzo (Loveland, Colorado).

$1 of every Hooters Calendar sold supports the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund as part of the "Give a Hoot" fundraising efforts in October. Kelly Jo Dowd, an original Hooters girl, the 1995 Hooters Calendar Cover Girl and Hooters General Manager in Palm Harbor succumbed to breast cancer in 2007. The calendar has raised over one million dollars.

The first Hooters Calendar was released fall 1985, two years after the first Hooters opened. "The Hooters Calendar continues to be one of America's top selling calendars and is a cornerstone of the Hooters brand. For the 40th Anniversary we wanted to add this special commemorative piece Showtime as a tribute to the iconic Hooters Girls who have become recognized world wide for decades," said Chuck Melcher, owner and publisher of the Hooters Calendar.

"It was truly an honor for me to be a part of this interesting project that involves not only 40 years of Hooters history, a company that achieved the most success and recognition around America and throughout the whole world, but also the icon that represents this brand, the beautiful and sensual woman, always with a mysterious smile on her face, that woman who represents self-confidence, good manners and who with just a sexy look or movement manages to conquer the viewer's heart.

"I capture the figure of the person, but my goal is to portray their soul, and this statement was exactly what I was looking for with this painting that celebrates the 40th anniversary of a national emblem as it is Hooters and its past, present, and future," said artist Fabian Perez.

"The 2024 Hooters Calendar is very iconic and special. This brand means everything to me. I was speechless when I saw it for the first time. It was an amazing and fun opportunity to work with Fabian Perez for this commemorative piece and definitely one of the top experiences I have had," said Hooters Calendar Girl Eden Davis.

For more information about the Hooter Calendar, please visit hooterscalendar.com Twitter.com/HootersCalendar, Facebook.com/HootersCalendar, Instagram.com/HootersCalendar.

Ilona Wolpin, Anoli Management/Hooters Calendar

(954) 298-8784

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Hooters Calendar
DENTON, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Academic Influence is pleased to announce their article, "How to Earn Your Master's Degree Without Your Bachelor's Degree". This article features schools that offer master's degrees for those who do not have a bachelor's degree. The aim of this article is to showcase alternatives for students seeking higher education and working towards their career goals.

How Academic Influence Ranks Programs

Academic Influence Academic Influence

Using its proprietary InfluenceRanking Engineinnovative machine-learning technology that objectively measures a school's influence through its students, faculty, staff, and alumniAcademic Influence ranks academic persons, institutions, and disciplinary programs. The programs listed in this article are ranked according to unbiased criteria, creating a more trustworthy ranking. By measuring objectively, Academic Influence is able to guide students towards programs that will offer the best options available according to how much they can afford, desired timeline, and academic rigor.

How to Pursue a Master's Without a Bachelor's Degree

Academic Influence writes that while a bachelor's degree is usually required for acceptance into most master's programs, there are other options available if certain criteria is met. For those wishing to go straight into a master's program, prospective students will need a strong professional resume and professional credentials to show that they have the ability to succeed in a rigorous course of study. Additionally, some graduate programs will conclude that a combination of relevant experience, degree credits, and certifications equal what students would have learned in a bachelor's program, thus opening the door to pursuing a master's degree.

Another possibility is for students to pursue a course of study that merges an undergraduate degree with a graduate degree. There are various formats for these kinds of programs, including integrated master's programs, combined programs, and master's five-year programs. Applicable to all of these options, when a student is accepted into the bachelor's program, they are automatically accepted into the master's program as well. These types of courses of study might have classes and internship requirements that count towards both the bachelor's and master's program, creating an integrated degree. To be accepted into these types of programs, students must showcase their prior ability to succeed in intellectually intense environments.

Academic Influence discusses that there might be certain fields more likely to offer master's programs that do not require a bachelor's degree. Typically, these are advanced professional degrees, such as nursing or computer science. In these fields, relevant experience and certifications can aid in students having the necessary qualifications to pursue a master's.

Advantages of Pursuing a Master's Without a Bachelor's

There are many advantages for students being able to go straight into a master's program without a bachelor's degree. Students who pursue a master's degree without a bachelor's incur less debt as they are only having to pay for one degree. Additionally, since the time for finishing a master's alone could be significantly less than finishing both a bachelor's and master's degree, students can more quickly enter into their career field. This enables them to start earning faster and quickens their chances of earning promotions in the field of their choice.

Schools Ranked in Academic Influence's Article

Whether students choose to jump into a master's program right away or take the more traditional route of earning a bachelor's followed by a master's degree, it is important for students to choose programs that are in line with their goals and will set them up for a successful career. All the schools in Academic Influence's ranking have the highest accreditation possible and are known to provide excellent training for students, regardless of the field they choose. The schools and their ranking are listed as follows:

American University Boston University Regis University Creighton University Liberty University Walden University Brandeis University Stony Brook University Brenau University

To view the full article, click here .

Media Contact:

Chloe Dembski

502-517-7040

[email protected]

SOURCE Academic Influence
TimeStrike: Shadow of Fear will launch on Kickstarter October 24, 2023 with pre-colored, 3D printed miniatures delivered right to your door and ready for adventure by Only-Games, a MyMiniFactory company

ESSEN, Germany, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventure Together , the company behind the highly anticipated, open-source tabletop gaming system SOURCE, is proud to announce its partnership with MyMiniFactory and Only-Games to deliver full-color 3D printed miniatures designed for TimeStrike: Shadow of Fear. TimeStrike is a first-of-its-kind boss battle royale, and the first of many games designed to be played on the SOURCE system. The miniatures are available for pre-order today at: https://only-games.co/en-de/collections/adventure-together-games

Alex Ziff (left), Chris Torres (middle), Jannick Gamelgaard (right) demonstrate pre-colored TimeStrike miniatures at SPIEL ESSEN

Continually striving to push the boundaries of tabletop gaming immersion, Adventure Together is thrilled to offer its community of players the full-color miniature option they have been asking for.

"This partnership is about more than just cutting-edge technology and accessible, table-ready miniatures," commented Chris Torres, Adventure Together Co-Founder. "It's about breathing life into the experiences we share as a community and empowering gamers to immerse themselves in worlds of rich, vibrant color. I believe together, with Only-Games and MyMiniFactory, we have the potential to set a new industry standard and I couldn't be more thrilled to work alongside a team whose values align so closely with our own."

Only-Game's pre-colored 3D printed miniatures will usher in the next generation of accessible miniature wargames with:

Table-ready miniatures at a fraction of the time and cost

On-demand printing and shipping of miniatures in full color

10M+ color combinations with unrivaled quality

Alex Ziff, Co-CEO at MyMiniFactory added, "Adventure Together's vision for an open-source gaming renaissance resonates with our mission to empower creators at Only-Games and MyMiniFactory. We're thrilled to contribute to this revolutionary gaming experience. It's not just about the print; it's about the story each color tells."

Gamers and enthusiasts are invited to join the adventure on Adventure Together's official community Discord and to follow the crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter where you can pledge your support on October 24.

For more information, or media inquiries, please contact Adventure Together at: [email protected]

View the full release at: https://www.adventuretogether.games/news/adventure-together-and-only-games-partner-to-deliver-the-worlds-first-pre-colored-3d-printed-miniature-wargame/

About Adventure Together

Founded in 2019, Adventure Together is an independent tabletop publishing and technology company dedicated to creating the world's most immersive tabletop gaming experiences and empowering independent creators to realize their dream games.

Media Contact:

Ben Scaglione

[email protected]

SOURCE Adventure Together
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. If the Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh leave the region, they should return to Russia, and not relocate to Armenia, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, Trend reports.

Earlier, Spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said at a briefing that the working conditions of peacekeepers in Karabakh have been changed.

According to Zakharova, now the activities of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh will be adapted taking into account recent events.

"The peacekeepers have already closed a number of stationary and temporary observation posts. Moscow will discuss fundamental issues related to the peacekeeping contingent with Baku," she added.
CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashling Partners today announced it has been named a Global and AMER UiPath 2023 Partner of the Year at the annual UiPath FORWARD VI global user conference. This is the second consecutive year that Ashling Partners has been recognized as a Global Partner of the Year and the fourth consecutive year it has been recognized as an AMER UiPath Partner of the Year. The awards recognize partners who demonstrate commitment to bringing the transformative force of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to life in the enterprise through automation. Ashling Partners was awarded the Foundational Award, which recognizes partners who help clients build stronger companies that serve customers in more innovative ways by delivering transformational UiPath automation solutions across the enterprise. The awards were distributed at the UiPath FORWARD VI conference in Las Vegas, the largest global gathering of automation professionals.

Ashling Partners Wins Global & AMER UiPath 2023 Partner of the Year Award for AI-Driven Enterprise Automation Excellence Post this Ashling Partners recognized as a 2023 Global UiPath Partner of the Year

"We are very honored and grateful to receive the Global Foundational Partner of the Year award from UiPath. Putting our clients on a path to success that makes them leaders in their respective industries and domains is core to Ashling's DNA. Our partnership with UiPath has gotten deeper over time, but it has also gotten wider because of the expansive innovation across the UiPath platform and our clients' need for true global enterprise transformation with improved speed-to-outcomes. This is much bigger than building a departmental Robotic Process Automation (RPA) use case. We are humbled by this recognition from UiPath and are excited for the future solutions we will create together for our clients."

The UiPath Partner Program enables partners to gain a competitive advantage, to grow their business, and to increase profitability. UiPath is the industry's only end-to-end business automation platform and is designed to reshape the way humans work. For any business, organization, or enterprise keen to harness the power of AI to gain competitive advantage, only UiPath can operationalize AI through automationseamlessly integrating intelligence into everyday operations, automating all knowledge work, upleveling employees, and revolutionizing entire industries with AI at Work.

"I'm excited to congratulate Ashling Partners on its recognition as a 2023 UiPath Partner of the Year," said Kelly Ducourty, Chief Customer Officer at UiPath. "AI at Work is about turning AI potential into AI results. UiPath delivers rapid business transformation for the AI-era by combining the agility and speed of enterprise automation with machine learning, natural language processing, and new generalized AI and Specialized AI capabilities. Our partners are critical to enabling customers to achieve these results and gain a competitive advantage in their markets."

For more information on both Ashling Partners and their partnership with UiPath, please connect with an Intelligent Automation expert.

ABOUT ASHLING PARTNERS

Ashling Partners is a global leader in Intelligent Automation offering end-to-end business process optimization services to drive continuous improvements and business outcomes. Ashling Partners is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and services also include the advisory, implementation, and ongoing support of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Intelligent Automation (IA), Generative AI, and Machine Learning (ML) solutions to help enterprise clients digitize their operations and drive results. For more information about Ashling Partners, please visit www.ashlingpartners.com.

Media Contact:

Alexandra Runjo

[email protected]

SOURCE Ashling Partners
RED BANK, N.J., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Assisted Living at Hammonton, South Jersey's third affordable, assisted living community developed by New Standard Senior Living (NSSL), is now licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. The state license was the final step in the process and now, with its completion, seniors are able to call this community, home.

New Standard Senior Living has delivered three affordable, assisted living properties to serve South Jersey's seniors. The first project, the Millville campus, was completed in 2020, then followed by the second project in Egg Harbor Township and this month, the opening of the third and final NSSL's community  Assisted Living at Hammonton.

All three properties are Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Communities with direct Medicaid admissions and offer state-of-the-art accommodations where seniors do not have to share their rooms. Assisted Living at Hammonton features 174 studio apartment-style rooms with a private bath and kitchenette in a brand-new, ADA accessible, ASHRE Level 2 and Energy Star rated complex designed to accommodate solar energy.

"We are so excited to receive this news. Upon completion of construction earlier this year, seniors were able to tour the property and sign onto the wait list while remaining unsure of their move-in date. Now, that the state licensing has been completed, we are finally able to deliver good new to those awaiting Hammonton residence," says Michele McLaughlin, Director of External Case Management, New Standard Senior Living.

Assisted Living at Hammonton is located at 308 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton, N.J. 08037. Tours of the community can be scheduled online or by calling 609-541-7718. More information about this community and the application for admissions are available on the company's website at newstandardsl.com.

About New Standard Senior Living

With corporate offices in Red Bank, N.J., New Standard Senior Living (NSSL) is the first provider in the state purposely created to deliver dedicated, affordable, assisted living solutions, including direct Medicaid admissions, for New Jersey seniors. For more information, visit newstandardsl.com.

Contact:

Michele McLaughlin, Director of External Case Management

Phone: 609-330-6878

Efax: 856-558-9357

SOURCE New Standard Senior Living
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Banana Republic, a Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) brand, launches an exclusive capsule collection in partnership with fashion designer Peter Do. As two American brands who believe there is significance in the approach to dressing, Banana Republic and Peter Do created a collection grounded in versatile, high-quality pieces celebrating impeccable tailoring and craftsmanship, which are at the core of both brands' design codes.

BR x Peter Do

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9211251-banana-republic-exclusive-peter-do-capsule-collection/

"BR x Peter Do allows our brands to reach a new consumer who is passionate about fashion and culture," says Meena Anvary, Banana Republic's Head of Marketing. "The intersection of our heritage and Peter's unique design sensibility creates a fresh, effortless look to support our customers' multi-dimensional lives. We are excited to offer a collection that will be a mainstay in wardrobes for years to come."

Designed by Peter Do with inspiration pulled from the Banana Republic archives, the capsule defines what the new vision for American clothing looks like with its versatile and genderful ready-to-wear styles and accessories. Crafted in Peter Do's signature neutral color palette, the product is brought to life in Banana Republic's timeless silhouettes.

"For BR x Peter Do, we focused on universal pieces designed with an eye towards versatility, wearability, and a timeless point of view," says designer Peter Do. "We both believe in quality and the end goal is to dress people in clothes that they will want to rewear with a feeling of newness each time."

The 28-piece collection features transformational outerwear including the Detachable Pleated Trench, City Coat and Detachable Utility Trench; key tailoring wardrobe pieces such as the Leather Utility Shirt, Tuxedo Utility Blazer, and Tuxedo Drill Trousers; and layering items such as the Utility Dress, Detachable Turtleneck Sweater, Artisan Tunic, Sweater Tanks, and Convertible Sweater Vest. Accessories include silk scarves and a leather belt bag.

To bring Peter Do's New York-sensibility to the classic BR styles, a monochromatic, vintage map of Brooklyn was incorporated into the collection on the Utility Shirt, the Utility Dress, the Reworked Authentic Tee and the Printed Silk Scarf, as well as an under layer of the Detachable Utility Trench. Adding some playfulness to the collection, a sketch of a banana was designed on the Intarsia Sweater, the Reworked Authentic Tee and the Printed Silk Scarf. Mixed-media is embraced throughout with leather patches on knits and jackets, a leather and suede button down shirt, and a removable shearling collar for the Detachable Utility Trench that adds texture and dimension to the collection.

The BR x Peter Do capsule collection is available now online and in select BR stores across the US, Canada and Japan with prices ranging from $100 for knit tanks and silk scarves to $1,200 for outerwear. Follow @bananarepublic with hashtag #BRxPD to discover the collection.

About Banana Republic:

Banana Republic is a premium lifestyle retailer celebrating exploration and self-expression through timeless, versatile and exceptionally made womenswear, menswear and more for those curious to live a life well lived. Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, Banana Republic connects with customers across online and company-operated and franchise retail locations globally. For more information, please visit www.bananarepublic.com and follow @BananaRepublic on social channels.

About Peter Do:

PETER DO was established in 2018 in New York City. The house is dedicated to creating a new future in fashion through thoughtful design.

SOURCE Banana Republic
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously announced, Bank of America will report its third-quarter 2023 financial results on Tuesday, October 17. The results will be released at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET, followed by an investor presentation at 8:30 a.m. ET.

The news release, supplemental filing and investor presentation can be accessed at Bank of America's Investor Relations website at https://investor.bankofamerica.com/quarterly-earnings.

Investor Conference Call Information

For a listen-only connection to the investor presentation, dial 1.877.200.4456 (U.S.) or 1.785.424.1732 (international). The conference ID is 79795. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Investors can also listen to live audio of the conference call and view the presentation slides by visiting the "Events & Presentations" section of the company's Investor Relations website.

Replay information for Investor Conference Call

Investors can access replays of the conference call by visiting the Investor Relations website or by calling 1.800.934.4850 (U.S.) or 1.402.220.1178 (international) from noon on October 17 through 11:59 p.m. ET on October 27.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.388.6780

[email protected]

Jonathan Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income)

Phone: 1.212.449.3112

[email protected]

Reporters May Contact:

Bill Halldin, Bank of America

Phone: 1.916.724.0093

[email protected]

Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.386.6794

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Battery Park Montessori is thrilled to announce its 10th-Anniversary and Expansion celebration on Friday, October 27, 2023, commemorating a decade of providing exceptional trilingual immersion (Mandarin, Spanish, and English) with an authentic Montessori education to young learners in the heart of New York City.

Event Details

Battery Park Montessori students practice independence and free movement within a structured learning environment

Date: Friday, October 27, 2023

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: 5:00 PM

Reception: 6:00 PM

Location: Battery Park Montessori, 21 South End Avenue, New York City , NY

The celebration will kick off with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony, marking Battery Park Montessori's commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning. The event will feature esteemed speakers, including Green Ivy International School's CEO, Mr. Chip Miller; Head of School, Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth; Battery Park Montessori alumni; and distinguished guests.

Battery Park Montessori's 10th-anniversary celebration will also include a reception and tour of the newly expanded Nursery Ones classrooms, offering a sneak peek into the school's thoughtfully designed, child-centered spaces that create a platform for this enriched, immersive trilingual Montessori experience.

Join us on Friday, October 27, 2023, at 5:00 PM as we celebrate Battery Park Montessori's 10th Anniversary and Expansion Celebration and reflect on a decade of educational excellence. We invite the media, alumni, families, and the community to share in this momentous occasion. Guests are asked to RSVP. Please call 718-925-1873.

As Battery Park Montessori marks this significant milestone, it looks forward to the next decade of empowering children to reach their full potential, embrace their natural curiosity, and become responsible, culturally confident, global citizens.

Media Contact: For media inquiries, please contact Kathleen Hawkins at [email protected] or call 510-685-5375.

About Green Ivy's Family of Schools

Green Ivy International Schools is a modern, progressive, child-centered organization that develops and grows schools based on a foundation of engaged and collaborative learning. Green Ivy's network of independent private schools spans coast to coast from lower Manhattan to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Battery Park Montessori, located at 21 South End Avenue, is an authentic trilingual Montessori serving Battery Park City since 2013. Its enhanced trilingual Montessori program, from Nursery Ones through Kindergarten, encourages confidence, responsibility, global awareness, and appreciation of the Earth, and provides children with a strong foundation for their education and future.

Pine Street School, located at 25 Pine Street in the Financial District, is a fully accredited International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Program from Nursery through Grade 8 with Spanish or Mandarin immersion tracks. Pine Street School delivers a rigorous, inquiry-based approach to learning, prioritizing student agency, innovative technology integration, and a globally minded culture. Pine Street School is an Apple Distinguished School.

Green Ivy Silicon Valley, located at 540 Sands Drive, San Jose, CA, will be among the first Kindergarten through Grade 8 independent schools in Silicon Valley to offer Spanish and Mandarin immersion tracks with its foundation in international IB curriculum and innovative, child-centered development. Opening Fall 2024, Green Ivy Silicon Valley is currently accepting applications.

More information on Green Ivy, Pine Street School, Battery Park Montessori, and Green Ivy Silicon Valley can be found at www.greenivy.com.

SOURCE Battery Park Montessori
Resolvit's suite of technology solutions expands Aditi's offerings in cyber security, DevOps, cloud/IoT and application modernization

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Resolvit Resources, LLC (Resolvit), a technology and management solutions provider, to Aditi Consulting (Aditi). BGL's Professional Services investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Resolvit in the transaction. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition of Resolvit will expand Aditi's portfolio of services and reach for exceptional talent. Post this Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Resolvit Resources, LLC (Resolvit), a technology and management solutions provider, to Aditi Consulting (Aditi).

Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Resolvit is a technology and management solutions partner to world-class companies and government agencies in the United States, Latin America, and Asia. Resolvit's suite of technology solutions includes cyber security, DevOps, cloud/IoT and application modernization, among other capabilities, with an international presence spanning the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and India. The company's comprehensive suite of services, established brand in niche markets and client-focused service delivery model have enabled the company to entrench itself within a blue-chip customer base across a diversified mix of end-markets, including telecommunications, technology services, retail, education, manufacturing & distribution, financial services, and healthcare & life sciences.

Based in Bellevue, Washington, Aditi is a leading consulting company providing technology solutions across a wide spectrum of industries. The company delivers talent on demand, managed teams, project-based engagement, and full outsourcing strategies to a variety of brand-name clients including more than 75 of the top Fortune 500 companies.

The acquisition of Resolvit will expand Aditi's portfolio of services and reach for exceptional talent. Aditi will now be able to service its clients from Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay in addition to, the United States, Mexico, and India. Resolvit's suite of technology solutions expands Aditi's offerings in areas such cyber security, DevOps, cloud/IoT and application modernization.

BGL's Services investment banking professionals have extensive M&A and capital markets experience, with deep knowledge in Professional Services, Commercial & Residential Services, Industrial & Infrastructure Services, Environmental Services, and Supply Chain & Logistics Services. Our Services team is deeply connected across the industries we serve, maintaining strong relationships with strategic and financial buyers around the globe.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 35 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitt, the Salt Lake City based financial technology firm, and leader in CBDC solutions has launched advisory services for central banks, regulators, and financial institutions. Our COO, Imran Khan, having recently presented at the CBDC Conference in Istanbul noted:

"Bitt's experience has shown that central bank motivations and approach to CBDCs are evolving, influenced by the changing economic environment, competing central bank priorities, and learnings from other CBDC deployments. We advocate the CBDC ecosystem, and especially the innovators in this space, to broaden services and products to meet central banks where they are in their journey today. We need to get creative and find ways to answer these open questions, to help our clients forward in their CBDC journey."

Having executed digital currency rollouts in 12 countries (including the largest deployment in a democratic country to date) with multiple central banks, regulators, financial institutions, and retail users; Bitt is proud to announce its new offering, Bitt Advisory Services, so more customers can access Bitt's unparalleled experience in comprehensive digital currency solutions and strategy.

At Bitt, we understand that Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins are more than just a technological innovation; they are a transformative force with the potential to reshape economies and redefine financial ecosystems. Their success requires extensive collaboration between monetary authorities, regulatory stakeholders, financial institutions, merchants, citizens, and private sector technologists. As monetary authorities progress within their CBDC journey, they require specialized expert input to ensure that lessons learned from similar deployments are incorporated in their own CBDC strategy. Bitt's team of experts recognized this need and were motivated to launch Bitt Advisory Services to assist monetary authorities in any provision they require.

The Bitt team now offers a suite of professional advisory services to help expand central bank knowledge, experience, and capacity for their digital currency strategy throughout all stages from ideation to deployment. Some of these services include:

- Feasibility Study and Financial System Assessment

- Use Case Exploration and Definition

- Organizational Change Management

- Go-To-Market Strategy

- Communications & Public Relations

- Legal & Regulatory Assessment

- And more.

We look forward to working with central banks, financial institutions, and regulators around the globe, sharing the knowledge and experience that we've built over the past decade.

To learn more, contact us at [email protected].

www.bitt.com/advisory-services

SOURCE Bitt
Leading providers of specialty and emergency veterinary care will partner with Colorado State University for inaugural program.

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BluePearl announced the BluePearl University Partnership Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative which will see BluePearl specialists placed as hybrid faculty members in select colleges across the country, sharing their expertise with the next generation of veterinary professionals. The program has been launched to help address the shortage of veterinary specialists in the United States.

The program will initially launch in partnership with Colorado State University (CSU), where BluePearl Ophthalmologist, Trevor Arnold, DVM, MS, DACVO, will join CSU's Veterinary Health System, while also maintaining his role as a clinician with BluePearl. Dr. Arnold will spend three quarters of his time with BluePearl's Lafayette, Colorado hospital and one quarter with CSU. BluePearl will expand the program to additional academic institutions, offering a solution to the veterinary specialist shortage, while benefiting academia and pet owners.

"It's no secret that our industry is looking at a future where we do not have enough veterinary specialists and professionals, which is a serious concern for pet owners across the country," said Lenore Bacek, DVM, MS, DACVECC, Vice President of Clinical Affairs at BluePearl. "At BluePearl, we are constantly finding new ways to elevate the role of our highly skilled BluePearl specialists, and through the BluePearl University Partnership Program, we are providing a creative solution to the upcoming shortage, which will help pet owners, the next generation of veterinary specialists and the wider industry."

"CSU is excited to partner with BluePearl in this unique and innovative approach to help train the next generation of veterinarians. The BluePearl specialists bring a diversity of clinical experience and knowledge which will be invaluable to our entire team - students, staff, house officers and faculty members. The veterinary industry is changing rapidly, and we must adjust to those changes to make the veterinary teaching hospital model sustainable. This program is a prime example of such innovation." Sheila McMullan, Senior Associate Dean, Colorado State University Veterinary Health System.

BluePearl provides exceptional specialty and emergency care through shared passion, knowledge and talents, with the aim of creating A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. To learn more about BluePearl and the BluePearl University Partnership Program, visit BluePearlVet.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

About BluePearl Pet Hospital

Founded in 1996, BluePearl is one of the largest specialty and emergency veterinary practices in the U.S. today. BluePearl has more than 110 hospitals in 30 states that together employ 8,000+ Associates, including 1,100+ veterinarians, 4,000+ veterinary technicians, and 1,600+ other professionals. Each year, our compassionate teams provide high-quality care for more than 1.1 million pets and their families. BluePearl clinicians also participate in clinical studies to discover new treatments and procedures that improve pet health. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, BluePearl is committed to its purpose  A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS  because pets make a better world for us. Learn more at BluePearlVet.com.

About Colorado State University Veterinary Health System

Colorado State University's Veterinary Health System is a community of expert veterinary professionals dedicated to providing exceptional service with passion and purpose. They are animal and public health leaders working together to apply their diverse skills in veterinary care, diagnostics, and education to make a dierence in the world. As a top-ranked academic veterinary medicine institution, the clinical team works with researchers and educators to advance the future of veterinary medicine. To learn more, visit vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/about/veterinary-health-system.

SOURCE BluePearl Management, LLC
PLYMOUTH, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Embracing the global transition towards a circular economy, CDF Corporation is thrilled to announce the launch of a new Form-Fit intermediate bulk container (IBC) liner manufacturing line, which will be strategically housed within J. Natzan Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH & Co KG's new state-of-the-art facility in Lienen, Germany. Natzan, a family-operated company since 1989 known for its precision in plastic packaging and custom heat-sealing solutions, will collaborate with CDF in this venture. CDF and Natzan have been working together for the last six years, and this partnership perfectly underscores the shared vision and dedication of both companies in delivering unparalleled, tailor-made, flexible packaging innovations. Slated for full operations by the end of 2023, this investment emphasizes CDF's commitment to expanding its flexible packaging products and services, marking its second noteworthy European expansion since the integration of Quadpak AB into the CDF alliance in 2013.

The Lienen facility will specialize in producing multi-ply Form-Fit and pillow-style liners tailored for the Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) industry. Catering primarily to manufacturers of liquid to highly viscous products, this initiative offers environmentally responsible and cost-effective bulk packaging solutions ranging from 220 to 1500 liters. With this new production line, CDF will:

CDF Corporation announces by the end of 2023, its new Lengerich, Germany facility will be fully operational. Post this

Deliver proven sustainable products : CDF remains resolute in providing environmentally responsible packaging solutions that promote sustainability throughout the supply chain.

: CDF remains resolute in providing environmentally responsible packaging solutions that promote sustainability throughout the supply chain. Reduce lead times : Expanding production facilities will streamline operations and enhance overall efficiency.

: Expanding production facilities will streamline operations and enhance overall efficiency. Enhance global customer service: CDF's commitment to superior service extends globally, ensuring customers receive first-class support and access to sustainable packaging solutions.

"For over half a century, CDF has provided innovative products that not only save businesses money but also minimize the environmental footprint compared to other packaging alternatives," said Joseph Sullivan. "Our unwavering commitment to the 'reduce, reuse and recycle' principles serves as the bedrock of our dedication to mindful packaging. The forthcoming Lienen, Germany facility aims to effortlessly assist companies in meeting the packaging movement's sustainable revolution by embracing the 3Rs."

CDF's European expansion aligns seamlessly with market trends, reflecting the market's support for environmentally conscious global businesses. Recent data from a 2023 study revealed that 71% of young consumers actively choose products due to their packaging sustainability.

"With the introduction of the new Form-Fit line," began Sullivan, "we eagerly anticipate expanding our range of products, encompassing the Quadpak AB Cheertainer bag-in-box, as well as our IBC Form-Fit and pillow liners, to uphold our commitment to environmental stewardship."

About CDF Corporation: Regarded as the Mindful Packaging Company, CDF Corporation stands tall as a global powerhouse, boasting unparalleled skill in the design and manufacturing of liners resonating with the universal "reduce, reuse, and recycle" mantra. Their expertise spans across Deep Draw Vacuum-Forming, Blow Molding, and Heat Sealing. Catering to a vast range, from 1 liter to 1,000 liters, CDF ensures unmatched quality with its ISO and SQF-certified facilities, proudly epitomizing packaging excellence.

SOURCE CDF Corporation
"IGNITE" aims to encourage student thought leadership and collaboration across the country

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chartwells Higher Education , a recognized leader in contract foodservice management, has launched "IGNITE," a first-of-its-kind National Student Dining Advisory Board. IGNITE enables students across the country to come together virtually and provide thought leadership on campus dining programs.

Through IGNITE, Chartwells representatives will share new ideas during each virtual meeting to gather feedback and direction from students. Some topics may include new concepts or technology, new products, events, mental health initiatives, and more.

IGNITE offers students the opportunity to be a voice for their campuses, collaborate, and meet peers regardless of their locations, be the first to learn about new dining innovations, have a voice in shaping dining experiences, and learn about intern and career opportunities on the Chartwells team.

"We believe that students are at the heart of the campus dining experience, and IGNITE is a testament to our commitment to listen, learn, and collaborate with them," said Henry Howard, VP Marketing for Chartwells Higher Education. "Through IGNITE, we are excited to discuss innovation in campus dining and provide a place where students' voices will help shape their culinary experiences. We invite students to join us on this exciting culinary adventure together."

Each student will be asked to join a one-hour virtual Zoom discussion once every six weeks and actively participate in the meetings to provide honest feedback. Through this unique, innovative group, students not only have a voice but get to participate in an exciting movement.

To learn more about Chartwells Higher Education, click here .

About Chartwells Higher Education

Chartwells is the recognized leader in contract food service management, hospitality, and guest service at over 300 college and universities in the United States. Chartwells is re-inventing the on-campus dining experience by investing in high-tech, food-infused social spaces that bring students and people together to promote meaningful relationships and interactions. The company's excellence in culinary, nutrition, technology, and sustainability brings truly unique dining experiences to every campus.

Media Contact

Meredith Rosenberg

914-935-5326

[email protected]

SOURCE Chartwells Higher Education
Press Release

October 10, 2023 Bong Go appeals for immediate action to protect OFWs caught in Israel-Gaza Conflict Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has issued an urgent appeal to various government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), to conduct immediate action to account Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, Go emphasized the need for a swift and comprehensive inventory of affected OFWs, particularly those who may have been victims of violence. There is also a need to plan for their immediate repatriation when necessary. "The safety of our kababayans is paramount. I urge the DMW, DFA, and POEA to act swiftly and ensure that every Filipino worker is accounted for," said Go. The senator also appealed to OFWs to ensure their safety by coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv. "I understand that many of you have built lives abroad, but your safety should always come first. Please coordinate with our embassy and avail yourselves of the government's assistance," Go advised. According to a recent report by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), around 200 OFWs based in the Gaza Strip are currently being monitored due to the conflict. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has also released a statement on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.'s directive to DMW and OWWA to locate and account for all OFWs and their families in Israel. The government is also closely coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Israel to ensure their safety and welfare. Meanwhile, DMW has opened a hotline, as well as several mobile numbers, to accept calls and queries from OFWs and the Filipino community who are in need of government assistance. Go urged OFWs to make use of these channels to protect fellow Filipinos. The senator is a long-time advocate of OFW welfare. He was one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act No. 11641, which created the DMW. "The DMW Act was designed to protect our OFWs. Now, more than ever, it's time to put this law into action to protect our kababayans," Go emphasized. As the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to escalate, Go said that the Philippine government should take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of OFWs caught in the crossfire. "I call upon all relevant agencies to work hand in hand in this endeavor. Let us set aside bureaucracy and focus on immediate action. Lives are at stake here," he urged. "Proteksyunan natin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino nasaan man sila sa mundo lalo na ang mga itinuturing nating modern-day heroes na OFWs na nagtatrabaho para mayroong maitustos sa pamilya nilang naiwan," he added," Go concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The only goal of the US in the South Caucasus, in the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan is to ensure a lasting peace and stability, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing on October 10, Trend reports.

He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the humanitarian needs and rights of the people in Karabakh are protected.

The UN mission visited Azerbaijan's Karabakh on October 1 to familiarize with the situation on the ground and determine the humanitarian needs of the residents. The mission included representatives of various UN agencies.

In its statement, the UN mission debunked Armenias allegations about so-called ethnic cleansing in Karabakh.

Traveling from Aghdam, the mission visited the city of Khankendi, where the team met with the local population and interlocutors and saw first-hand the situation regarding health and education facilities. In parts of the city that the team visited, they saw no damage to civilian public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and housing, or to cultural and religious structures. The mission saw that the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan was preparing for the resumption of health services and some utilities in the city, the statement said.

The second visit of the UN mission to Karabakh took place on October 9.

---

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Not all quartiles seeing same increase, contributing to three of four CISOs considering job changes within twelve months

BOSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IANS Research and Artico Search released their 2023 CISO Compensation Benchmark Report, an annual research study that analyzes detailed compensation data across industries and ownership structures. This year, over 600 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and other security executives provided data.

IANS Research

Amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment, organizations are dialing back security budgets, with a moderate impact on CISO salaries. The most recent average CISO total compensation increase was 11%, down from 14% the previous year. This year, 20% of CISOs did not receive a raise, double that of a year ago, while the share of CISOs with bigger retention bonuses and equity packages also declined to 12% (from 21%) and to 8% (from 24%), respectively.

"At a macro level, CISOs had a good year as significant compensation increases continued despite a challenging economic environment," stated Nick Kakolowski, Senior Research Director at IANS. "On closer inspection, we're seeing CISOs getting elevated in the business, taking on a larger scope and being exposed to increased liability. Commensurate compensation increases aren't extending into the middle and lower quartiles of the market. We expect CISOs to seek change as a result  something evidenced in 75% of respondents saying they are considering a job change in the next 12 months."

For the last three years, financial services and technology firms have remained in the top-3 highest paying for total compensation. In 2023, financial services CISOs reported a total annual average compensation of $728,000, with technology CISOs reporting $678,000. Legal and manufacturing CISOs have the lowest total compensation, averaging $550,00. CISOs working on the US West Coast lead the country with $628,000 in total compensation due to their significantly higher equity packages.

Other key findings:

A majority of CISOs earn below $400K or above $700K , with a minority in the middle. Only 6% of respondents earn between $500,000 - $600,00 , with 8% between $600,000 - $700,000 . While 52% earn below $400,000 and 20% earn over $700,000 .

Only 6% of respondents earn between - , with 8% between - . While 52% earn below and 20% earn over . A strong technical background pays more than a business risk management background. CISOs with a tech-leaning background earn approximately 15% higher total compensation than those with a more GRC-leaning background. The highest-paying combination of proven skills is a technical background that includes product security or application security. These CISOs average total compensation of $700,000 .

CISOs with a tech-leaning background earn approximately 15% higher total compensation than those with a more GRC-leaning background. The highest-paying combination of proven skills is a technical background that includes product security or application security. These CISOs average total compensation of . With fewer job openings, there was less employment change. As companies tightened spending on recruiting and froze hiring, there was a steep decline in movement. Only 12% reported changing jobs in the last 12 months, compared to 21% in 2022.

"More than one-third of security budgets are typically dedicated to staff compensation, so when budgets are tightened, it has an effect on CISO compensation. Though we're still seeing an overall increase in CISO pay, the trends we saw in recent years of high retention packages and large-scale market-adjusted bumps in pay are becoming less common," stated Steve Martano, a partner and executive recruiter in Artico Search's cyber practice. "Additionally, with less movement in the market, we're seeing fewer CISOs landing large-scale pay increases by changing companies. Until the market opens up with more options, we recommend that CISOs work on their marketability by strengthening their personal brand, elevating their competence in business acumen and their executive presence to position themselves strongly with prospective employers."

For more insights, please download the summary report.

Survey Methodology

IANS Research and Artico Search fielded its fourth annual CISO Compensation and Budget survey in April 2023. From April until August, the organizations received survey respondents from more than 600 security executives from companies that varied by size, location, and industry in the US and Canada.

Artico Search

Founded in 2021, Artico Search's team of executive recruiters focuses on a "grow and protect" model, recruiting senior go-to-market and security executives in growth venture, private equity, and public companies. Artico's dedicated security practice delivers CISOs and other senior-level information security professionals for a diverse set of clients.

IANS Research

For the security practitioner caught between rapidly evolving threats and demanding executives, IANS Research is a clear-headed resource for making decisions and articulating risk. We provide experience-based security insights for CISOs and their teams. The core of our value comes from the IANS Faculty, a network of seasoned practitioners. We support client decisions and executive communications with Ask-an-Expert inquiries, our peer community, deployment-focused reports, tools and templates, and consulting.

Media Contact:

Angelique Faul

Silver Jacket Communications

513.633.0897

[email protected]

SOURCE IANS Research
New Clarius PAL HD 3 is designed for hospital physicians and nurses who need to quickly see inside the body to accurately diagnose and treat patients at the bedside.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergency physicians attending the ACEP23 conference in Philadelphia this week will be the first to see the new Clarius PAL HD 3 , a wireless handheld whole-body ultrasound scanner combining phased and linear arrays on a single head. This device offers superior image quality and exceptional versatility for real-time imaging of both superficial and deep anatomy at the bedside 1, making it suitable for a wide range of clinical applications while improving workflow continuity. It's as compact as an iPhone and works seamlessly with iOS or Android devices, ensuring easy mobility from patient to patient. Clarius PAL HD 3 has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is available in the United States for 5395 USD plus 595 for the first year of membership.

With the broadest frequency range in a handheld ultrasound scanner, Clarius PAL HD3 is the only whole-body handheld scanner to deliver high-resolution images from the skin down to 40 cm of depth. Healthcare professionals can perform whole-body ultrasound exams without the need to swap devices or to transport bulky systems between rooms, especially in critical care settings like the emergency room. The new Clarius PAL HD3 is a wireless handheld whole-body ultrasound scanner combining phased and linear arrays on a single head. This device offers exceptional image quality and versatility for real-time imaging of both superficial and deep anatomy at the bedside , making it suitable for a wide range of clinical applications while improving workflow continuity. (PRNewsfoto/Clarius Mobile Health)

"The Clarius PAL is a big breakthrough for Clarius and for clinical ultrasound in general. Integrating the phased and linear array means you only need one transducer for 95 to 99% of the studies at the bedside," says Dr. Tom Cook, an emergency physician and ultrasound educator who practices in South Carolina. "I work at a hospital with a big trauma center and being able to carry just one scanner to the bedside to get the best high-quality image to scan every part of the body in a few minutes is incredibly powerful. Everybody's very, very excited about it in my department."

With the broadest frequency range in a handheld ultrasound scanner, Clarius PAL HD 3 is the only whole-body handheld scanner to deliver high-resolution images from the skin down to 40 cm of depth. Healthcare professionals can perform whole-body ultrasound exams without the need to swap devices or to transport bulky systems between rooms, especially in critical care settings like the emergency room. Clarius PAL HD 3 is the 11th wireless handheld ultrasound scanner in the Clarius specialty ultrasound lineup.

"The best thing about the Clarius PAL is it really does everything I need on a shift," says Dr. Oron Frenkel, an emergency physician who practices in the United States and Canada. "I don't ever have to reach for the cart to augment my practice. There is no situation that I can imagine where the scanner wouldn't be able to deliver what I need, either on the same patient, if I need to scan different parts of them during a single presentation or going from bed to bed during a shift."

"It's super portable, small, wireless, and it fits in my pocket," adds Dr. Brian Johnson, an emergency physician practicing in Washington State. "I can pull it out and switch between a linear and a phased probe with the press of a button. It's nice to get a good snapshot of a critically ill patient right away, so that helps me with the workflow. I can walk out of the room and say, this patient is in pulmonary edema or has a ruptured AAA, which guides my next steps in patient management."

Clarius ultrasound scanners are designed with 192 piezoelectric crystals and widely known to deliver superior image quality.1 While most handheld scanners feature only 1 to 2 beamformers, Clarius uses the same advanced 8 beamformer processing technology used by higher-end traditional systems. This delivers up to 8 times the speed and performance of other handhelds for clear and detailed imaging to support precise and rapid assessments, ensuring accurate and timely care for patients.

"Although Clarius is the specialty handheld company, we recognize there's still a broad market for a single, versatile device that supports multiple exams and broad clinical applications especially for hospitals, where more clinicians are using handheld ultrasound as they move from patient to patient," says Kris Dickie, VP of R&D at Clarius who led the project from ideation to commercialization. "When we looked at the broader landscape of who was using our HD 3 devices, we were inspired to design a whole-body ultrasound device with better image quality, performance, and usability than what was currently available."

1. Park KE, Mehta P, Tran C, Parikh AO, Zhou Q, Zhang-Nunes S. A comparison of five point-of-care ultrasound devices for use in ophthalmology and facial aesthetics. Ultrasound. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/1742271X231166895

About Clarius Mobile Health

Clarius is on a mission to make accurate, easy-to-use, and affordable ultrasound tools available to all medical professionals in every specialty. With decades of experience in medical imaging, the team knows that great ultrasound imaging improves confidence and patient care. Today, Clarius handheld wireless ultrasound scanners connect to iOS and Android devices, delivering high-resolution ultrasound images traditionally only available with bulkier, high-end systems at a fraction of the cost.

Over four million high-definition scans have been performed using Clarius wireless handheld scanners. Clarius scanners are available in over 90 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.clarius.com .

Clarius Media Contact:

Genese Castonguay

Marketing Vice President

Phone: +1 (866) 657-9243 ext. 221 | Direct: +1 (604) 260-7077

SOURCE Clarius Mobile Health
HONG KONG, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As a pioneering force in the blockchain industry, CoinEx is honored to sign on as the Silver Sponsor of the esteemed Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) this year. The company's active involvement underscores its commitment to enabling financial access and technological advancement across emerging markets like Nigeria.

As Africa's largest economy, Nigeria is a critical market for driving cryptocurrency adoption. With a reach of 8,000+ delegates, 180 distinguished speakers, and 100 leading organizations and research centers from 30+ countries, the 2023 NIS conference offers a valuable opportunity for CoinEx to boost its brand presence across Nigeria and the African continent. CoinEx's sponsorship will further empower Nigerian startups and connect global blockchain experts to local leaders.

The sponsorship enables CoinEx to participate in NIS's Press Parley, an exclusive roundtable event that gathers prominent journalists, speakers and sponsors. As the sole cryptocurrency platform involved, CoinEx can forge valuable relationships with media, government representatives and corporate champions to accelerate blockchain innovation in Nigeria.

As a top crypto exchange, CoinEx will hence contribute insights into blockchain implementation, Web3 trends, and practical solutions to boost crypto adoption. By lending the team's expertise, CoinEx aspires to support Nigeria's aspirations to become a global blockchain innovation hub.

With the summit broadcasted globally by prominent media partners such as The Guardian, Vanguard, TechEconomy and Tech Trends Africa, CoinEx's sponsorship will expand its reach worldwide while highlighting the capabilities of African developers. Overall, this strategic alignment strongly positions CoinEx to engage with pioneering Nigerian creators and thinkers at the forefront of emerging blockchain technologies.

About CoinEx

Established in 2017, CoinEx is a global cryptocurrency exchange committed to making trading easier. The platform provides a range of services, including spot and margin trading, futures, swaps, automated market maker (AMM), and financial management services for over 5 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Founded with the initial intention of creating an equal and respectful cryptocurrency environment, CoinEx is dedicated to dismantling traditional finance barriers by offering easy-to-use products and services to make crypto trading accessible for everyone.

SOURCE CoinEx Global Limited
The Concordia Pell Commitment expands to support Pell-eligible students in most bachelor's degree programs at CSP and CSP Global starting this academic year

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concordia University, St. Paul, is announcing an expansion of the Concordia Pell Commitment, an innovative program that offers a tuition-free experience for most Pell Grant-eligible students attending the St. Paul-based university.

Concordia St. Paul first offered this program to students in the university's CSP academic division, which serves traditional four-year undergraduate students attending on campus. This academic year, Concordia St. Paul is expanding the program to eligible undergraduate students attending CSP Global, the university's online academic division. Qualifying students experience zero out-of-pocket costs for tuition for up to four years, as long as they remain Pell-eligible during their time at Concordia St. Paul. CSP Global students applying now for start dates midway through the current academic year will now be eligible for this expanded tuition-free benefit.

Eligibility

The Pell Commitment focuses on incoming first-year or transfer students residing in Minnesota who are eligible for a federal Pell Grant and the corresponding Minnesota State Grant. The objective is to help Pell-eligible students maximize financial aid opportunities with a supplemental grant covering the balance of their core tuition. Requirements include:

First-time bachelor's degree-seeking individuals applying to CSP (traditional on-campus) or CSP Global (online/hybrid adult undergraduate students) Program does not extend to those in nursing and Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree tracks due to more complex tuition and cost factors.

Pell Grant eligible

Minnesota state grant eligible

state grant eligible Current academic year starts

Concordia St. Paul notes that approximately 25% of incoming first year students who started during the Fall 2023 term are now benefiting from the Pell Commitment program. They essentially pay zero tuition, while room and board, books, meals, and other incidental costs are still incurred by the student. Extending to CSP Global's eligible online and hybrid undergraduate programs, it's estimated that up to 40% of incoming enrollees may qualify for the Concordia Pell Commitment.

"Every student should have the option of exploring a private university experience regardless of financial circumstances," noted Dr. Kimberly Craig, vice provost for CSP Global. "The Pell Commitment opens the door for more equitable access to a high quality college education by providing essentially free tuition at one of Minnesota's longest-standing private universities. CSP and CSP Global are access-oriented institutions serving increasingly diverse populations, including working adults. We're proud to further reduce the financial gaps blocking too many from gaining their degree."

Concordia St. Paul announced record enrollment for the Fall 2023 term, with 5,819 students enrolled across CSP and CSP Global. The university set other records this term, including 2,173 students in master's programs and 393 doctoral students enrolled via CSP Global. In addition, 540 new freshmen and transfer students enrolled in CSP traditional undergraduate programming also marks a 130-year high.

"Affordability and a quality, career-relevant degree are essential building blocks for people seeking to participate in, and thrive, in the broadening national and global economies," noted Eric LaMott, provost and COO for CSP. "The Concordia Pell Commitment offers greater opportunities for students entering higher education. Many can benefit from essentially no-cost tuition and receive a competitive, high quality private university degree."

With its focus on affordability, Concordia St. Paul was recently ranked in the top 100 universities nationally for promoting social mobility of its students, and listed highest among all Minnesota private universities. The CollegeNet Social Mobility Index placed the university 82nd of 1,400 universities nationally for advancing students from a low-income strata to middle class within five years of graduation.

More information about the CSP and CSP Global Pell Commitment programs can be found at https://www.csp.edu/tuition-and-financial-aid/csp-pell-commitment/.

SOURCE Concordia University, St. Paul
MONTREAL, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Congruence Therapeutics, a biotechnology company working at the interface of computational and experimental drug discovery to design novel small molecule correctors for disease, announced today that it will participate in the 3rd Annual Needham Private Biotech Company Virtual 1x1 Forum, taking place October 17-18, 2023.

Company management will participate in one-on-one meetings with investors at this forum.

About Congruence Therapeutics

Congruence is a computationally-driven biotechnology company building a unique pipeline of transformative small molecule correctors rationally designed to rescue aberrant protein function. Our proprietary scalable platform, Revenir, captures the biophysical features of proteins across their conformational ensembles, in order to identify novel allosteric and cryptic pockets which are virtually screened to generate novel chemical matter.

For more information, please visit www.congruencetx.com.

Company Contact

Charles Grubsztajn

Chief Operating Officer

[email protected]

Media Contact

Amy Conrad

Juniper Point

[email protected]

858-366-3243

SOURCE Congruence Therapeutics
Keynote speakers for the event include Ronan Ryan, President of IEX Group, and Henry Schuck, CEO of ZoomInfo

BOSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Connectbase , The Industry Cloud for Connectivity, will host its annual Connectbase Customer Summit Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2023, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. The three-day event, with the theme of "Empowering Connections," will feature educational sessions from industry professionals, networking opportunities and presentations from keynote speakers Ronan Ryan, President of IEX Group, and Henry Schuck, CEO of ZoomInfo.

Connectbase will also present the inaugural Connectbase Customer Awards during the event, recognizing users of The Connected World platform and partners for excellence in various areas of customer experience, changemaking, innovation and digital transformation. A Women in Tech Award presentation, along with a Women in Technology panel, will round out the event.

"Our Customer Summit, made possible by our fantastic sponsors, is a great opportunity for customers and partners to network and learn more about how they can better plug into the connectivity ecosystem to drive growth in their organizations," said Ben Edmond , Founder and CEO of Connectbase. "Summit attendees will leave feeling more connected and empowered to improve their business efficiency and move the industry forward. We can't wait to welcome everyone to our hometown of Boston."

Ryan is the President and Founder of IEX Group (the investor's exchange), which is a national securities exchange facilitating the trading of U.S. equities. Ryan will speak on building modern market infrastructure. Schuck is the CEO of ZoomInfo, the go-to-market platform for businesses to find, acquire and grow their customers. He will present on transforming the B2B sales world with data and how companies such as Connectbase and ZoomInfo fit into service provider tech stacks.

"We're proud to be Platinum sponsors of the Connectbase Customer Summit, which will be the premier event for buyers and sellers in the connectivity industry," said Dan Wagner, CEO and co-founder at CloudSmartz. "With the fast pace of change in our industry right now, digital infrastructure leaders need to collaborate, network and celebrate wins more than ever, in order to stay ahead." Wagner also stated, "Customer management and experience are critical for growth and customer retention in the constantly evolving and fragmented telecom market. CloudSmartz is excited to partner with Connectbase to offer its customers the Acumen360 Unified Portal, a Digital Experience SaaS Platform that helps Communications Service Providers (CSPs) reduce customer churn rates and attain a competitive advantage."

The Connectbase Customer Summit is sponsored by CloudSmartz, Cloud Age, Pilot, LB Networks, Segra and other key industry supporters.

To view the full speaker and sponsor line-up as well as to register, visit connectbase.com/customersummit .

About Connectbase

Connectbase is The Industry Cloud for Connectivity. Connectbase is a partner to the industry, enabling next generation buying and selling of connectivity, including automated quoting, and providing deep, trusted insights. Connectbase's industry-leading platform, The Connected World, serves almost 300 providers globally, managing 2.6 billion locations across more than 150 countries. The Connectbase team has built a connected ecosystem transforming network buying and selling processes. Visit Connectbase at connectbase.com and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/connectbase-us/ .

SOURCE Connectbase
Consumer study finds iron supplement unique in sensory appeal and negligible metallic taste.

BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lubrizol Life Science, announces results of its new study which reveals its proprietary melt-in-your-mouth iron supplement LIPOFER has taste appeal. The data will be presented at the SupplySide West 2023 expo Oct 23-27 in Las Vegas, Booth #3076.

Iron supplementation, while crucial for many, carries a reputation for being unpalatable largely due to its tendency to leave a powerful and unpleasant metallic aftertaste. This can be off-putting enough to lead some consumers to forego this necessary supplement.

Consumers Vote LIPOFER Iron an Easier Pill to Swallow, Says Lubrizol Life Science

"Many consumers turn to iron supplements to improve blood deficiencies, increase iron count and energy, while others are required to take iron supplements under medical advice," explains David Padro Escayola, Global Business Manager for LLS Nutraceutical business. "These consumers are eager for a supplement that is easy to swallow, does not cause stomach upset or constipation, and does not have an unpleasant aroma or flavor. Above all, they want it to effectively improve wellness. LIPOFER was specifically designed to tick all those boxes, overcoming many of the challenges manufacturers face in the effort to create consumer-friendly sources of iron. Ours delivers the daily recommended dose of iron in a single, 1.5g stick that satisfies the demands for science-backed, clinically substantiated ingredients with sensory appeal."

Lubrizol's orosoluble iron is a highly concentrated, micronized, and microencapsulated iron source designed specifically to reduce iron's reactivity in the mouth and digestive tract while delivering a fully absorbable mineral that is significantly easier and pleasant to digest.

The recent trials involved 100 volunteers who were instructed to blind-test a series of five orosoluble powder sticks in a single session. Two of the powdered iron candidates were LIPOFER iron sachets at differing doses. LIPOFER-14 delivers the fully recommended daily dose, whereas LIPOFER-5 offers a more moderate dose of the ingredient. The other three powdered sticks were composed of conventional iron salts in an orosoluble format.

The consumers were asked to rate various sensory characteristics of each product, including appearance, homogeneity, and metallic aftertastes. They then ranked the products in the order of their preferences.

Consumers found that the LIPOFER formulations exerted the mildest metallic aftertaste, and that lingered for a much shorter duration compared to the standard iron formulations. They also noted that LIPOFER demonstrated exceptional homogeneity, with a silky-smooth texture that melts instantly upon consumption.

In follow-up interviews, the panellists related high levels of satisfaction, with many expressing extreme satisfaction with the LIPOFER orosoluble sticks as a supplement format. Additionally, they indicated that they would be likely to incorporate LIPOFER into their daily regimen.

This consumer study is part of Lubrizol nutraceutical division mission, "Connecting the Dots: Guiding supplement makers through the consumer mind." This focus reflects Lubrizol's consumer-led, insights-driven approach to serving the end-user.

"We also conducted an analysis on the iron category using a consumer insights AI-powered platform to gain an understanding of what drives good or negative sentiments regarding iron supplementation," says Isabel Gomez, Global Marketing Manager for LLS Nutraceutical business.

LIPOFER powdered stick is water dispersible and can easily be integrated into a wide variety of supplement formats and to fortify convenient foods including dairy products and fruit juices. It has already successfully featured in a flavorful, pectin-based gummy, elevating the iron-supplementation experience.

Visit us at SupplySide West 2023, on Oct 23-27 in Las Vegas, booth #3076.

For more information, contact:

Company contact: Press Contact: Lubrizol Life Science- Nutraceuticals Ingredients NutriPR Isabel Gomez Liat Simha Global Marketing Manager Tel: +972-9-9742893 Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.lubrizol.com/Health/Nutraceuticals Twitter: @NutriPR_

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243055/Lubrizol_Life_Science_Health.jpg

SOURCE Lubrizol Life Science Health
MONTEAGLE, Tenn., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cove Creek Farm, a farm in Monteagle that raises grass-fed cattle, pigs, goats, chickens and turkeys has launched its newest offering: a fall harvest pumpkin patch.

Matt and Laureen Sparacio and their family who run Cove Creek Farm have been steadily building towards this day for over three years.

Pumpkins at Entrance Kids Jumping on Jump Pillow

According to Matt, "Building all the fun features of the pumpkin patch was a lot of work. And there were times over the last three years when we wondered if it was really worth it. But now that it's here and we see how much everyone loves it, we feel very proud and are excited to share it with the community."

The Cove Creek Pumpkin patch is brand new this year and is the newest pumpkin patch in middle Tennessee.

Features of the pumpkin patch include:

petting zoo with donkey, pony, goats, sheep and chickens

massive indoor play area with slides & ball pits

hay wagon rides

human sized hamster wheel

giant 80ft outdoor pirate ship and castle*

seesaws

jump pillow

hobbit house

tire playground

giant yard games

hay bale slides

local food trucks

pumpkins

and more!

*the pirate ship was built by Derek Hinckley of Pirate Play Ships out of Nashville, TN and may be the biggest play pirate ship in Tennessee

The Cove Creek Pumpkin Patch is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am - 6pm Through October 29th of 2023. Admission is $12 per person.

Cove Creek Farm

933 West Main St.

Monteagle, TN 37356

Website:

https://www.covecreekfarm.com/pumpkin-patch/

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/covecreekfarmtn/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/covecreektn/

Contact:

Matt Sparacio

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

856-296-0217

SOURCE Cove Creek Farm
SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Calvetti Ferguson, one of San Antonio's largest accounting firms, welcomes a new addition to support the firm's continued growth in the Austin and San Antonio markets.

Skilled relationship builder and incoming Association for Corporate Growth Austin/San Antonio (ASA) president-elect Collette Kernaghan joined the firm on September 25 as a business development officer.

Collette Kernaghan

Collette joins the Calvetti Ferguson team with over 15 years of experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her expertise in relationship building, strategic sales, and a strong commitment to community development gives the firm a competitive edge for driving growth and fostering meaningful connections.

She plays a pivotal role in developing relationships with clients, prospects, and referral sources in Austin and San Antonio since Calvetti Ferguson is the only full-service, regional CPA and advisory firm in San Antonio focused on middle-market businesses, family offices, and private equity firms.

"I love creating value for organizations and the people I work with," says Collette Kernaghan, business development officer at Calvetti Ferguson. "I joined Calvetti Ferguson because, to them, it's not just about transactions; it's about building lasting partnerships that drive mutual success."

As an incoming president-elect and established member of ACG ASA, Collette's involvement with the organization reinforces Calvetti Ferguson's dedication to serving the middle market and, more specifically, those in the private equity space.

Calvetti Ferguson serves San Antonio and Austin in the distribution, construction, technology, and commercial real estate industries and family offices. The firm capitalizes on the city's entrepreneurial and innovative culture by staying at the forefront of emerging trends and technologies to better serve its clients and contribute to the dynamic business landscape.

"We are excited to leverage Collette's industry expertise along with her Austin and San Antonio connections," says Eric Teachout, San Antonio office managing partner at Calvetti Ferguson. "Collette fits seamlessly with our client-centric philosophy, reinforcing our commitment to delivering value-driven solutions tailored to each client's unique needs."

About Calvetti Ferguson

Calvetti Ferguson is a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm based in Texas. The firm provides assurance, tax, advisory, accounting, and technology advisory services to middle-market businesses, family offices, and private equity firms. Calvetti Ferguson advises beyond accounting to eliminate hurdles, identify opportunities, and ensure the best for clients and their businesses.

Media contact:

Emily Martin

VP of Marketing

[email protected]

(713) 726-5723

SOURCE Calvetti Ferguson
DALLAS, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Credera, a global, boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, data, artificial intelligence, and technology, today announced the achievement of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Migration Competency. As an AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, this designation recognizes Credera's technical capability and expertise in aiding customers to achieve successful transitions to AWS, encompassing all stages of migration projects, including discovery, planning, migration, and ongoing operations.

Credera is part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group (OPMG), which aligns digital, data, and customer relationship management capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale leveraging the global reach of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). Credera houses Omnicom's Amazon Center of Excellence, enriched by the recent achievement of the DevOps, Data and Analytics, Machine Learning, and Security competencies.

"This milestone underscores our ability to support our clients throughout their entire cloud migration journey." Post this

Credera has extensive expertise in the delivery of migration programs. This encompasses tasks such as infrastructure transition, data transfer, application adaptation, and optimization for the target environment. Credera's combination of six key AWS competencies underscores our team's ability to deliver a comprehensive range of migration services, supporting our clients throughout every phase of their cloud transformation.

"Migrating to the AWS cloud is nothing short of transformative. The AWS Migration Competency partner designation validates Credera's outstanding ability to execute migrations of significant scale and across a wide variety of workloads," said Dan Lindsay, Principal Architect in Credera's UK Technology Practice. "I'm thrilled Credera has earned this recognition in partnership with AWS."

"Credera is very excited to share that we've achieved the AWS Migration Competency. This milestone underscores our ability as a trusted delivery partner to support our clients throughout their entire cloud migration journey," said Donal Smith, Chief Client Officer in the UK. "Common to all of our successful migration programs is our ability to support our clients from inception of the program to shape the business case, bring end users along on the transformation, build best-in-class landing zones, and then deliver a successful technical migration that is fully cost optimized. This competency empowers us to drive client success by harnessing the full potential of the cloud, fostering agility and scalability."

Having attained the AWS Migration Competency, Credera further strengthens its standing as a Premier Tier Services Partner in executing seamless AWS migrations. Through this competency program, Credera has unlocked access to specialized tools and resources, including financial assistance for client migration projects through the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP).

"Credera has a long history of helping our global clients to scale, optimize, and transform their businesses through the adoption of AWS as a part of a comprehensive technology strategy," said Jason Goth, Credera's Chief Technology Officer. "We look forward to partnering with clients and AWS to accelerate cloud adoption and migration through this program."

Headquartered in Dallas, Credera has a team of more than 4,000 talented consultants around the globe. It has been honored by Fortune as a "Best Place to Work" in consulting and professional services, by Forbes as one of the "World's Best Management Consulting Firms," and by The Financial Times as a "Top UK Management Consulting Firm."

About Credera

Credera (credera.com) is a global, boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, data, artificial intelligence, and technology. As a part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, our over 4,000 consultants across the globe partner together with clients ranging from long-time market leaders to emerging companies delivering strategy and execution leadership to create tangible business results. Credera's deep business acumen and technical expertise, combined with a deep dedication to building trusted relationships, unlocks extraordinary business performance for our clients. Our mission is to make an extraordinary impact for our clients, people, and communities.

About Omnicom Precision Marketing Group

Omnicom Precision Marketing Group aligns Omnicom's global digital, data, and CRM capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale. Using its universal framework of connected data, connected intelligence and connected experiences, OPMG provides services that include data-driven product/service design, technology strategy and implementation, CRM/loyalty strategy and activation, econometric and attribution modeling, technical and business consulting and digital experience design and development. At the core of delivering these services is Omni, an advanced technology platform that combines a powerful cultural insights engine with massively scaled data insights from first-, second- and third-party sources, including several proprietary Omnicom data partnerships. Omnicom Precision Marketing is a part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

SOURCE Credera
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continue, Trend reports.

Another group of citizens was sent from the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district of Baku on September 7. At this stage, another 21 families (88 people) moved to the city of Fuzuli.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Fuzuli, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 165 families - 602 people.
CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) Market by Type (HDPE, LDPE), Technology (PEXa, PEXb, PEXc), End-use Industry (Wires & Cables, Plumbing, Automotive), Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, MEA) - Global Forecast to 2028", is projected to grow from USD 7.6 billion in 2023 to USD 11.0 billion by 2028, recording a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period. The cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) market is projected to grow from USD 7.6 billion in 2023 to USD 11.0 billion by 2028, recording a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period.

The expansion of the cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) market can be primarily attributed to the burgeoning automotive sector and the increasing demand for plastic pipes within the solar industry. Notably, the automotive industry stands out as the most rapidly expanding end-user segment for PEX, with an anticipated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.0% in terms of market value throughout the forecast period. Asia Pacific is the largest market for PEX owing to the rapid urbanization and continuous investments for industrialization. This dominance is primarily attributed to the region's ongoing urbanization trends and significant investments in industrialization. As urban areas expand, there is a growing requirement for reliable plumbing and infrastructure, which drives the demand for PEX pipes. Moreover, the continuous industrial investments in this region further stimulate the adoption of PEX for various applications, reinforcing its status as the largest PEX market.

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HDPE segment is estimated to dominate the overall cross-link polyethylene (PEX) market.

HDPE is expected to be the largest type of cross-link polyethylene (PEX)used globally in terms of both value and volume. Cross-linked HDPE is commonly employed in plumbing for pipes and tubing due to its exceptional blend of qualities, rendering it a preferred material for a wide array of applications across multiple industries. HDPE pipes find extensive use in various applications, including the establishment of water and gas transportation pipelines, owing to their advantages of rapid installation, flexibility, lightweight design, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, in the agricultural sector, HDPE pipes are frequently utilized for liquid transfer purposes. Their inherent characteristics render them well-suited for deployment in construction and industrial settings as well.

Wires & Cables is the largest market for cross-link polyethylene (PEX) by end-use industry.

Cross-link polyethylene (PEX) is known for its exceptional resistance to flames and heat deformation, making it an ideal choice for applications involving wires and cables. The process of cross-linking enhances the dielectric properties of polyethylene, providing durability against flow and permanent deformation even at temperatures beyond its softening point. The increasing expansion of electrical and communication transmission and distribution networks in developing nations is a significant driver of the PEX market. Additionally, the automotive sector is experiencing rapid growth in the utilization of cross-link polyethylene (PEX), particularly in the production of automotive cables and wires made from cross-linked low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

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Asia Pacific is projected to be the largest cross-link polyethylene (PEX) market.

The cross-link polyethylene (PEX) market in Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR between 2023 and 2028. Asia Pacific leads the global PEX market in terms of value and volume The rising demand for PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) in plumbing, wires and cables, and automotive applications in China, Japan, and Australia is fueled by factors such as urbanization, infrastructure development, and economic growth in the region. cross-link polyethylene (PEX) is preferred for plumbing due to its flexibility and durability, while its use as an insulation material in wires and cables meets the growing demand in various industries. Additionally, cross-link polyethylene (PEX) tubing finds applications in the automotive sector for its lightweight and robust qualities. Government investments in green energy, including solar power plants and windmill-powered plants, are boosting demand for cross-link polyethylene (PEX)in wiring and cabling infrastructure. These combined factors are driving the growth of the cross-link polyethylene (PEX) market in the Asia Pacific region.

Dow, Inc. (US), Borealis AG (Austria), LyondellBasell Industries Holding B.V. (Netherlands), Avient Corporation (US), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), Finproject S.p.A. (Italy), SACO AEI Polymers (US), HDC Hyundai EP Company (South Korea) and 3H Vinacom Co., Ltd (China) are the major players in the cross-link polyethylene (PEX) market.

Browse Adjacent Market: Resins and Polymers Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Polyolefins Market - Global Forecast to 2021

Chlorinated Polyethylene Market - Global Forecast to 2021

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An initial 50 campus ambassadors from more than 40 universities and colleges have been appointed to the company's first campus advocacy program

EF Ultimate Break Campus Ambassadors can earn travel credits toward future tours by participating in a range of initiatives that educate college-aged students on the benefits and opportunities associated with group travel around the world

Campus Ambassadors will also have access to workshops and training designed to expand their professional skills and help them build their resumes

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- October 10, 2023, EF Ultimate Break (www.efultimatebreak.com), the best way to experience the world for young adults (ages 18-35), today announced the launch of the company's Campus Ambassador program, an initiative set to help redefine the college break and international travel experience for students in universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning across North America.

"Spring break isn't what it used to be," said Heather Leisman, President, EF Ultimate Break. "As an innovator in experiential travel, we've designed this program specifically for Gen Zers who are looking to recharge during their school break and summer vacations. Our global travel business is helping change the way college-aged travelers experience the world, inclusive of supporting travelers' needs around safety, community building, and cultural experience sharing  all at budget-friendly prices with flexible payment plans."

EF Ultimate Break's Campus Ambassadors will help students interested in exploring the world. Post this

EF Ultimate Break's Campus Ambassadors will help serve as brand advocates on campuses around the country for students interested in exploring the world, helping future travelers find a tour that is right for their travel style. Under the program, new Campus Ambassadors will expand their knowledge though orientation sessions, training, and traveling on EF Ultimate Break tours. In exchange for the chance to earn credits toward future travel bookings, Campus Ambassadors will be asked to:

Host or speak at on-campus events, promoting traveling and exploring the world through EF Ultimate Break

Develop social media content promoting EF Ultimate Break

Work with affinity groups, sororities, and fraternities to organize guided, group travel through EF Ultimate Break

The First Fifty

EF Ultimate Break is launching this new program with 50 students from more than 40 universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning, including Arizona State, University of California Berkeley, University of Iowa, Florida State, and Syracuse University. These students will act as inaugural brand advocates within this newly established community of Campus Ambassadors.

Professional Development + Global Adventures

A key differentiator between EF Ultimate Break's Campus Ambassador program and other "Campus Ambassador" programs is that the company is making professional development a priority.

"We know that students in higher education love EF Ultimate Break for the diverse range of exciting travel opportunities we offer across the globe," added Leisman. "However, beyond the fun, we know many of our ambassadors are looking for skills and real-world experiences that will help them in their professional lives. Our program will help them build these skills through hands-on career development and learning opportunities that will support them well beyond their student years."

Campus Ambassadors participating in the program will have the opportunity to engage in learning and development opportunities that will differentiate the program, which will include the following modules at launch:

Social Media

Content Marketing

Public Relations

Students interested in the Campus Ambassador program can learn more by visiting: https://www.efultimatebreak.com/traveling-with-us/campus-ambassador

About EF Ultimate Break

EF Ultimate Break is the best way to experience the world for anyone 18-35. With 120+ trips, everything from airfare and accommodations to interest-free payment plans is covered. As a proud part of EF Education First, EF Ultimate Break draws on 55 years of EF expertise to add amazing travel experiences to its growing tour portfolio. EF, the world leader in international education, has helped millions of people throughout its history learn a language, discover the world, or earn an academic degree.

SOURCE EF Ultimate Break
Higher education technology leader recognized as one of the world's best employers for achievement in diversity and inclusion

RESTON, Va., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced it has won a Silver Stevie Award for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion in the eighth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers. The awards program recognizes the world's best employers and the human resources professionals, teams, achievements and HR-related products and suppliers who help to create and drive great places to work.

More than 1,000 nominations from organizations of all sizes across 28 nations were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of HR-related categories. Ellucian was recognized for its significant strides in advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within the organization. The company's commitment to nurturing an inclusive environment that celebrates individual differences, the establishment of Employee Resource Groups, and the active participation of its employees in DEI events were instrumental in securing this recognition.

"Our diverse and inclusive culture is a source of pride and a cornerstone of our success," said Greg Giangrande, Chief People and Communications Officer, Ellucian. "At Ellucian, our dedicated team has established a workplace where every member feels not just welcomed but valued, and we are honored to be recognized with this achievement. We remain committed to fostering an environment where every voice is heard and every individual can thrive."

"Winning the Silver Stevie Award is a testament to our relentless pursuit of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at Ellucian," said Camilla Collins, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Ellucian. "This award underscores our commitment to creating an environment where everyone's uniqueness is celebrated, and it motivates us to continue our work in shaping a truly inclusive culture."

For more information about the 2023 Stevie Awards for Great Employers and to view the full list of winners, visit: https://stevies-sage.secure-platform.com/a/page/the-awards/2023-stevie-winners

ABOUT THE STEVIE AWARDS

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

ABOUT ELLUCIAN

Ellucian powers innovation for higher education, partnering with more than 2,900 customers across 50 countries, serving 22 million students. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, including data-rich tools for student recruitment, enrollment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian's innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners and user community of more than 45,000 provides best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.

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Jess Weston

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SOURCE Ellucian
eMerge Americas 2024 premier tech event promises to deliver an even bigger and better experience than ever before

MIAMI, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMerge Americas , the premier global tech event held annually in Miami, proudly celebrates a decade of transformational work shaping the future of tech and innovation. eMerge Americas 2024 is gearing up to be the biggest and best conference + expo in the company's history. The event will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 18 - 19, 2024.

"I am thrilled to celebrate such a momentous milestone with the South Florida tech ecosystem," said Melissa Medina, co-founder, chief executive officer and president of eMerge Americas. "eMerge is a true reflection of the amazing growth our region's tech ecosystem has experienced over the last decade. I'm excited to celebrate past achievements, hold steadfast in the present, and see what the next ten years brings us!"

eMerge Americas 2024 will highlight a range of new and expanded features on the expo floor, including:

eMerge Healthtech Innovation Hub : Powered by Jackson Health System and the University of Miami Health System, this expansive hub will serve as a connection point for healthcare providers seeking the latest tech solutions, ultimately advancing the future of health technology - a rapidly growing industry. The hub will include the most innovative health tech startups from across the globe and a dedicated stage providing expert insights and revolutionary ideas in the health tech space.

: Powered by Jackson Health System and the Health System, this expansive hub will serve as a connection point for healthcare providers seeking the latest tech solutions, ultimately advancing the future of health technology - a rapidly growing industry. The hub will include the most innovative health tech startups from across the globe and a dedicated stage providing expert insights and revolutionary ideas in the health tech space. AI Village: A new addition to the event, the AI Village will showcase dozens of AI solutions providers, ranging from startups to cutting-edge global organizations. Additionally, there will be a dedicated AI Theater featuring round-the-clock programming.

A new addition to the event, the AI Village will showcase dozens of AI solutions providers, ranging from startups to cutting-edge global organizations. Additionally, there will be a dedicated AI Theater featuring round-the-clock programming. Startup Alley : Positioned at the heart of the expo floor, Startup Alley will feature 110 startups across various sectors, such as fintech, healthtech, edtech, climate tech, cybersecurity and more.

: Positioned at the heart of the expo floor, Startup Alley will feature 110 startups across various sectors, such as fintech, healthtech, edtech, climate tech, cybersecurity and more. eMerge International Pavilion : The expansion of the eMerge International Pavilion will represent a diverse range of countries spanning North America , Latin America , Europe , and Asia . It will provide a platform for over 100 startups and tech companies to showcase their innovations.

: The expansion of the eMerge International Pavilion will represent a diverse range of countries spanning , , , and . It will provide a platform for over 100 startups and tech companies to showcase their innovations. Co-located Events: Returning to the conference is VC Latam Summit, attracting more than 500 venture capitalists from Latin America , and REACT Miami, gathering more than 500 developers and engineers. Both promise to enrich eMerge 2024 with diverse and dynamic audiences.

"Celebrating ten years of eMerge Americas is a testament to the hardwork and dedication of the team and the entire South Florida ecosystem," said Manuel D. Medina, founder and chairman of eMerge Americas. "The path to becoming a leading global tech hub takes a lot of passion, time, support, as well as a drive in a community that is unmatched. Experiencing the growth of the South Florida tech community alongside eMerge over the past ten years has been like watching a dream actualized."

Over the course of two days, thought leaders from around the world will take the stage. Among them, keynote speaker and futurist Peter Diamandis, founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, executive founder of Singularity University, and four-time New York Times bestselling author. Diamandis holds a special place in eMerge Americas' history, as he served as the inaugural keynote speaker for the conference in 2014. Diamandis will share his insights on how powerful technologies such as synthetic biology, cloud computing, AI and robotics, and biotechnology are transforming the innovation landscape. Further distinguished speakers for the 2024 conference will be unveiled at a later date.

Several prominent companies are set to make their return for eMerge 2024, reaffirming their commitment to this premier tech event. Among those returning are industry giants such as Delta, Silicon Valley Bank, BIP Ventures, Dell, and Google. Additionally, eMerge is on pace to reach new heights beyond the 2023 event which hosted over 250 sponsors and exhibitors, a testament to the conference's growing influence in the tech and innovation ecosystem. eMerge Americas' founding partners, including Florida Funders, Miami-Dade County, Greenberg Traurig, and Miami Herald, continue to play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the success of the conference.

eMerge Americas launched its inaugural tech event in 2014 and was founded by Melissa Medina and Manuel D. Medina. Over the past ten years, it has grown to 20,000 attendees traveling from more than 50 countries and over 4,000 unique participating organizations.

To learn more about eMerge Americas, please visit emergeamericas.com .

About eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas is a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. The eMerge signature event, launched in 2014, is a global tech conference held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center, attracting more than 20,000 attendees from 50 countries and over 4,000 unique participating organizations. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes and hosts year-round executive summits, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, masterclasses, webinars, as well as publishes venture activity and investment insights reports. For the last decade, eMerge has served as a catalyst for innovation and investment across the Americas, working at the forefront of building the South Florida entrepreneurial and tech ecosystem. Visit www.emergeamericas.com for more information.

SOURCE eMerge Americas
DUBLIN, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Building Energy Management System Market (by Components, End-User, & Region): Insights and Forecast with Potential Impact of COVID-19 (2022-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global building energy management system (BEMS) market is on the brink of significant expansion, with an estimated value set to soar to US$6.60 billion by 2023. This remarkable growth is forecasted to occur at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.68% during the forecast period.

BEMS is a versatile system encompassing hardware, software, and services designed to optimize energy management through innovative strategies, including information and communication technology. Moreover, BEMS technology plays a pivotal role in monitoring, automating, and controlling various building systems such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting to enhance energy efficiency and comfort.

Several key factors are driving the market's growth, including the surging urban population, increased consumer awareness of cutting-edge technology, and a surge in new construction projects for buildings, institutions, and complexes.

Segmentation Highlights

By Component: The global BEMS market is segmented into three components: Services, Software, and Hardware. Services currently hold the largest market share, while the software segment is poised for the highest CAGR growth in the upcoming years. This growth can be attributed to technological innovations, growing acceptance of data analytics and cloud technology, and the development of customer-centric models.

By End-User: In terms of end-users, the market is divided into three segments: Residential, Commercial & Institutional, and Industrial. The residential sector dominates the market, driven by the increased use of electricity-intensive products like pool heaters, water heaters, batteries, chargers, and attic fans.

Geographic Overview

The global BEMS market spans multiple regions, including Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Notable countries in these regions include the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, South Korea, India, and more.

Europe leads the market due to stringent government regulations regarding greenhouse emissions and favorable policies for green BEMS adoption. In North America, Mexico is expected to witness the fastest growth, while China dominates the Asia Pacific region due to its energy policies emphasizing efficiency and digital technologies.

Driving Force: Escalating Energy Consumption

Rapid global population growth has led to increased energy consumption across various sources, including renewables, coal, and natural gas. Urban dwellers, in particular, rely heavily on energy-consuming products and equipment. This heightened energy consumption drives up electricity production and costs. To alleviate this burden, people are increasingly turning to energy-conservation technologies like BEMS to efficiently manage natural resources and reduce electricity expenses.

Challenge: Skilled Labor Shortage

The BEMS market's growth is hampered by a lack of skilled labor in the industry. Implementing and operating BEMS technology requires specialized teams to ensure equipment functions properly. Improper setup can lead to faulty outputs or safety hazards, making skilled labor essential for BEMS technology implementation.

Trend: Embracing Cloud Technology

Cloud technology has ushered in a new era for BEMS, extending its capabilities beyond energy visualization and analytics to demand response systems. Cloud integration allows for smart sensor management across multiple locations, access to a wealth of energy data through convenient terminals, and enhanced energy management across multiple buildings. The continued growth of cloud technology is expected to further propel the BEMS market.

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the BEMS market in 2020. Industrial and commercial building energy demand decreased, while residential energy demand surged due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. However, in 2021, as the global economy stabilized and industrial manufacturing resumed, the BEMS market witnessed substantial growth.

Key Players

The global BEMS market is moderately fragmented, with numerous small- and medium-sized manufacturers contributing significantly to the revenue. Key players in the market include Siemens AG, Johnson Controls International PLC, ABB Group, Honeywell International Inc., Enel S.p.A (Enel X), General Electric Company (GE), Schneider Electric SE, Emerson Electric Co., Robert Bosch GmbH, IBM Corporation, Azbil Corporation, and Landis+Gyr.

Top Impacting Factors



Growth Drivers

Rapid Urbanization

Surging Energy Consumption

Growth in Adoption of Smart Home Products

Rise in Carbon Dioxide Emission

Challenges

High Installation Cost

Lack of Trained Experts

Trends

Cloud Technology

Surge in Adoption of Internet of Things (IoT)

Decline in Fossil Fuel

Government Initiatives and Regulations

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/65ky20

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OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Enigmatic Group of Companies, based in Ottawa, has officially acquired Surgo Studios, a leading Video Marketing agency in North America.

Growth and Strategy

From left to right, Sashien Godakandae (CEO, Enigmatic Group), Daniyal Zafar (president, Enigmatic Group), Bryan Giron (CEO, Surgo Studios), Alexei Dela-Cuesta (COO, Surgo Studios) (CNW Group/Enigmatic Group of Companies)

Enigmatic Groups' success is largely attributed to its subsidiary, Zap Media, a North American Digital Marketing Agency and Forbes Agency Council member. The acquisition of Surgo Studios is a strategic move that aligns with the digital transformation trends, specifically the growing importance of video content.

Leadership Perspectives

Sashien Godakandae, CEO of Enigmatic Group of Companies, states, "The acquisition of Surgo Studios is a transformative step for us. It's not just about expanding our organization's portfolio; it's about setting a new standard in the industry. This move opens up avenues for unprecedented innovation and growth, allowing us to redefine what video marketing can achieve."

Daniyal Zafar, President of Enigmatic Group of Companies, states, "Our unique business model marries profitability with innovation. Acquiring Surgo Studios validates our approach, showing that profitability and innovation can coexist in digital marketing."

Bryan Giron, CEO of Surgo Studios, states, "Joining Enigmatic Group of Companies is perfectly aligned with our future vision. It broadens our platform for growth and innovation, enabling us to scale new heights and deliver unparalleled results to our clients."

Alexei Dela Cuesta, COO of Surgo Studios, says, "This acquisition is a game-changer for us. It equips us with the resources and platform to elevate our video marketing to new levels, pushing the boundaries like never before."

About the Companies

Enigmatic Group of Companies, based in Ottawa , focuses on investments that drive revenue growth while encouraging innovation. The company is led by industry veterans Sashien Godakandae and Daniyal Zafar .

, focuses on investments that drive revenue growth while encouraging innovation. The company is led by industry veterans Sashien Godakandae and . Surgo Studios, also Ottawa -based, specializes in high-quality short-form video content, helping brands across Canada and the USA in gaining social media presence.

Surgo Studios Website: https://surgostudios.com

Enigmatic Group Website: https://enigmaticgroup.ca

SOURCE Enigmatic Group of Companies
GURUGRAM, India, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nigeria data center market is expected to generate more than USD ~280 Mn by 2027 owing to the investments happening in hyperscale and co-location services and increasing internet penetration: Ken Research

Ecosystem of Nigeria Data Center Market

The Nigeria Data Center industry is consolidated with top players holding more than 70% market share. The players compete with each other on the basis of number of data centers, IT load, gross floor area, total white space, number of racks, geographical presence, etc.

Key Market Findings:

Nigeria is promoting a fully digital economy by 2030 through the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020-2030).

is promoting a fully digital economy by 2030 through the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020-2030). The growing fintech and startup ecosystem needs dynamic data centers to survive. So far, many of these companies host their data offshore, as reliability and scalability concerns have forced companies to look elsewhere.

However, as the attention of international data center operators shifts to the country, the sector will become more robust and reliant on local hosting.

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Launch of 5G: The growth of the data center market in Nigeria is owing to the launch of 5G. E-commerce platforms and fintech (financial technology) will greatly benefit from 5G networks. Launch of 5G will strengthen the digital economy in the nation and hereby accelerate growth in data center market. The launch of 5G technology in Nigeria is poised to catalyze substantial growth in the data center market. With its remarkable network speed, low latency, and support for IoT and edge computing, 5G will enable faster and more efficient data processing and transmission.

This boost in connectivity and data processing capabilities is expected to greatly benefit industries like e-commerce and fintech, enhancing the online shopping experience, expediting financial transactions, and supporting the growth of the digital economy. As businesses in these sectors expand their operations and adopt IoT solutions, the demand for scalable and reliable data center services will surge, making data centers a critical infrastructure component in Nigeria's evolving digital landscape.

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Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR): NDPR is a growth driver of data localization initiatives and the increasing development of data centers in the country leading to increased local data storage and computing requirements. Future data center demand, especially from a colocation perspective, will come from sectors such as cloud and large technology companies expanding their operations in West Africa.

Increase Internet Penetration: Improvement in network connectivity, government support, and rapid growth in the adoption of big data, and IoT services have been strong enablers for the growth of the industry in Nigeria. Internet penetration in Nigeria is increasing year over year, which will thereby accelerate data center market in Nigeria.

Analysts at Ken Research in their latest publication "Nigeria Data Center Market Outlook to 2027" observed that the Nigeria data center market is expected to showcase considerable growth in the coming five years. In the upcoming years, it is predicted to expand more rapidly due to increased internet penetration and the launch of 5G. The Nigeria Data Center Market is expected to grow at robust CAGR over the forecasted period 2022 -2027.

Market Taxonomy

By Vertical

Hyper Scale DC

Co-location DC

Managed DC

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By Type of Co-location

Wholesale Co-location

Retail Co-location

By End User

Telecom and IT

BFSI

Government

E-Commerce

Others

For More Insights On Market Intelligence, Refer To The Link Below: 

Nigeria Data Center Market

Related Reports by Ken Research: 

US Data Center Market Outlook to 2027 by service (System integration, monitoring services, professional services), by solution (power, server, management software, networking technology, cooling), by type (enterprise data centre, managed services data centre, colocation data centres, cloud data centres) & by end user (healthcare, BFSI, IT, Telecom)

According to Ken Research estimates, the US Data Center Market grew at a robust rate from 2017-2022 & is forecasted to grow steadily from 2022-2027 driven by rising technological implementation, government schemes such as green energy integration & entry of new players.

Africa Data Center & Cloud Services Market Outlook to 2027 By service (System integration, monitoring services, professional services), by solution (power, server, management software, networking technology, cooling), by type (enterprise data centre, managed services data centre, colocation data centres, cloud data centres) & by end user (healthcare, BFSI, IT, Telecom)

According to Ken Research estimates, the Africa Data Center and Cloud Service Market which grew at a robust rate from 2017-2022 & is forecasted to grow steadily from 2022-2027 driven by rising technological implementation, government schemes such as green energy integration & entry of new players.

Thailand Data Center and Cloud Services Market Outlook to 2027 Driven by rapid adoption to Digitalization, Strong Governments Initiatives and Huge Investments in the region

According to Ken Research estimates, the Thailand Data Center and Cloud Services Market grew from approximately USD 440 Mn and USD 445 Mn respectively in 2017 to about USD 550 Mn and USD 1,390 Mn respectively in 2022. The data centre and cloud services market is forecasted to grow further into USD 840 and USD 3600 Mn respectively by 2027, owing to the new government policies, Major investments, digitization, high-density demand and tech-savvy population.

Philippines Data Center Market Outlook to 2027F Driven by investment from the global players and the transition from colocation to hyperscale with high internet penetration

According to Ken Research estimates, the Philippines Data Center Market  which grew from approximately USD ~0.2 Bn in 2018 to approximately USD ~0.3 Bn in 2022  is forecasted to grow further into USD ~0.6 Bn opportunity by 2027F, owing to the new government policies, rapid digitalization and cloud adoption.

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SOURCE Ken Research
SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, Ga., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intelivation Technologies, an innovative medical device company with a cutting-edge orthopedic portfolio announced today that it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its Hammerdesis Interphalangeal Fusion System.

Hammerdesis allows surgeons to correct hammertoe deformities and degenerative issues in patients by simply affixing a distinctively designed implant on the patient's toe joint. This one-of-a-kind operation benefits both surgeons and patients by saving surgeons significant intraoperative time and yielding cost savings for patients in the ambulatory surgery setting.

Dr. David Murphy, DPM FACFAS remarked, "Hammerdesis provides patients with a more reliable, and a more consistent option to fix hammertoe issues. My surgeon colleagues and I are excited to use this novel system, and I am looking forward to seeing our patients benefit from Hammerdesis."

President of Intelivation, Amit Sinha, added, "There is nothing on the market today like the Hammerdesis procedure. This is a truly disruptive technology in a crowded area. Our product development and sales teams are looking forward to being a part of this market transformation that will make a major impact for surgeons and their patients for many years to come. We are currently preparing for our launch and post-market clinical data points to share with the orthopedic and podiatric communities."

Intelivation will be exhibiting this exciting product and others at the annual ACFAS Meeting, being held February 1-4, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

About Intelivation Technologies

Intelivation Technologies, dedicated to research and development, is focused on bringing paradigm-changing products to market that make patients' lives better. For further inquiries, interested parties may email [email protected] .

SOURCE Intelivation Technologies
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fine wine importer Demeine Estates is pleased to announce their exclusive import partnership with Poderi Boscarelli, the premier producer of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Located in the Tuscan historic appellation, the winery was founded by Egidio Corradi in 1962 and today is led by Egidio's daughter Paola De Ferrari Corradi, together with her sons Luca and Nicolo De Ferrari Corradi.

Demeine Vineyard

"Boscarelli is globally recognized as a benchmark producer from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and we are honored to represent them in the United States," said Demeine Estates President, Philana Bouvier. "As a family winery with a focus on history and caring for their land and community, Boscarelli exemplifies our core values and is a compelling addition to our portfolio."

Boscarelli focuses on expressive, terroir-driven Vino Nobile, producing traditional and riserva bottlings from their prized estate vineyards. Located in the Northeast area of the Montepulciano appellation, which is situated in the south of Tuscany, the alluvial soils and favorable microclimate of the winery's vineyards are ideal for growing elegant Sangiovese. Each plot is vinified and aged separately, with a focus on highlighting each individual soil type and clone in the resulting wines.

"We are excited to start this new phase for our winery in the United States through our partnership with Demeine Estates," said Boscarelli Winemaker Luca De Ferrari. "We see an understanding of our wines as well as our principles in their philosophy and team and look forward to working together to grow our success."

Boscarelli wines are highly acclaimed and are sourced from the Vino Nobile DOCG, which lies 1,000 feet above sea level. The winery was included in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2022. Boscarelli is also a founding member of the Alliance Vinum, a group of six producers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano promoting the quality of the wines and the preservation of the region.

Demeine Estates is representing the full range of Boscarelli wines in all 50 states.

About Demeine Estates

Demeine Estates is a family-owned producer, importer and marketer of the world's finest wines based in the heart of Napa Valley, California. A leader in luxury wines in the U.S., Demeine Estates sets the standard in exceptional marketing, fine wine sales, and distribution services. Founded by The Lawrence family and Carlton McCoy Jr., MS, and led by President Philana Bouvier, Demeine Estates' curated portfolio also consists of both premium family-owned domestic and international producers who represent exceptional wines anchored by quality viticulture. demeineestates.com

About Boscarelli

The Poderi Boscarelli estate is the true "cru" of Vino Nobile, nestled among olive groves, broom bushes and oak trees. From this terroir, generations of the De Ferrari Corradi family have committed themselves to bringing forth the aromas and pure character of the Sangiovese grape, locally called Prugnolo Gentile, to reach its most elevated expression. The goal of Boscarelli is to globally elevate this historic appellation of Tuscany through exceptional winegrowing and winemaking. www.poderiboscarelli.com/en/

SOURCE Demeine Estates
65% of SMBs go outside their primary financial institution to a fintech company to fulfill unmet payroll, electronic invoicing, and expense management needs. Fingercheck's expansion into Financial Services and digital banking makes it easier for small businesses to onboard payroll & HR solutions (including taxes and compliance automation), all from their trusted banking experience.

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fingercheck, a leader in automated payroll and HR solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with IncredibleBank to revolutionize the small business landscape. Through this partnership, Fingercheck is set to provide seamless access to its cutting-edge platform, guiding small businesses alongside their growth journey. This collaboration introduces modern payroll and HR solutions for business owners, including Pay On-Demand, a product that offers earned wage access for enhanced financial flexibility.

As a strategic partner of IncredibleBank, Fingercheck is uniquely positioned to strengthen IncredibleBanks's small business customers' payroll, HR, and employee management processes. With an established track record of serving over 5,000 businesses, Fingercheck brings a wealth of experience as a mature fintech, offering a user-friendly interface and robust functionality.

This collaboration introduces modern payroll and HR solutions for business owners, including Pay On-Demand. Post this

"As an innovative bank focused on empowering our SMB customers, we are excited to join forces with Fingercheck," said Philip Suckow, VP Innovation at IncredibleBank. "This partnership highlights our commitment on behalf of small businesses helping them grow and scale their business operations."

"This strategic partnership exemplifies our unwavering commitment to revolutionize payroll and HR services, particularly for the underserved SMB market," said Tiffany Haynes, COO of Fingercheck. "We are passionate about supporting small businesses with tools and resources that deliver exceptional customer value. Partnering with an industry leader like IncredibleBank, we are reinforcing our dedication to addressing the unique needs of SMBs and delivering automated solutions that drive their success."

Fingercheck's partnership with IncredibleBank marks an important milestone in transforming the financial services landscape for small businesses. As the two industry leaders join hands, they set the stage for a new era of seamless and efficient payroll, HR, and banking solutions that cater to the unique demands of SMBs.

About Fingercheck

At Fingercheck, we're about making life easier for small business owners. We know payroll and HR can be a headache, so we created a platform that simplifies everything. You can say goodbye to the stress and time-consuming tasks of payroll and HR management, including taxes and compliance  we've got you covered!

Our advanced AI and automation technology saves you time and money, so you can put energy into growing your business. And the best part? Our team is dedicated to providing top-notch support. We take the time to understand your needs and offer personalized solutions to make your internal processes quick, easy, and accurate. For more information, please visit fingercheck.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter & Instagram .

About IncredibleBank

IncredibleBank first started in 1967 as River Valley Bank with a single location in Rothschild, WI and has grown to 15 locations throughout Wisconsin and Michigan  with a new branch in Florida coming in 2023! They may have strong roots in community banking, but IncredibleBank wasn't awarded as one of America's Most Innovative Banks by the Independent Community Bankers of America for their popcorn Fridays (though their customers do love free popcorn).

IncredibleBank strives to stay on the leading edge of banking technology with the goal of providing the best, simplest way for their customers across the country to do their banking. But if their customers need them, they can pick up the phone and talk to a real person. And that's what makes them America's first national online community bank. And who doesn't love the idea of a national community? Learn more about IncredibleBank at www.incrediblebank.com .

Media Contacts:

Fingercheck Media contact

Christian Kunkel

Head of Marketing

[email protected]

IncredibleBank Media contact

Leslie Osman

VP Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Fingercheck
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Means of ensuring energy security are being determined in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

This issue was reflected in the new draft law "On Energy", which was discussed today at the meeting of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament).

According to the draft law, Azerbaijan 's energy security is ensured by:

- adjusting of obligations on the development and extraction of natural resource deposits that are a source of energy, energy production and storage, imports and exports with the country's future development plans and projected energy demand;

- expansion of energy production from renewable energy sources;

- creation and maintenance of energy resources at the level necessary to ensure energy security;

- ensuring rational use of energy resources and increasing energy efficiency;

- a body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority takes measures to ensure energy independence on the basis of these forecasts in accordance with the demand for various types of energy and fuel in the country, as well as in accordance with the energy balance on the basis of short-term and long-term forecasts of energy production.

This law, in accordance with paragraph 11 of Part I of Article 94 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, defines the general legal, economic and management basis of activities in the field of energy, as well as mechanisms for ensuring energy security, forming a healthy competitive environment, supporting sustainable economic development, providing consumers with reliable, quality, affordable and safe energy.
MedTech FluidAI Medical secures funding to empower healthcare providers with data-driven insights to transform postoperative care.

KITCHENER, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - FluidAI Medical (FluidAI), a pioneer in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for postoperative patient monitoring, today announced that it has raised $15 million in Series A funding, led by SOSV and Graphene Ventures with participation from Boutique Venture Partners, Threshold Impact, Cur8 Capital, Leva Capital, Kyto Technology & Life Science Inc., Juno Pharmaceuticals, and a number of esteemed angels, funds and government funding organizations.

FluidAI Medical Announces $15M in Series A Funding for AI-Driven Postoperative Monitor at HLTH 2023 (CNW Group/Fluid AI Medical)

Following any surgical intervention, there are inherent risks of adverse outcomes, irrespective of how minor or major the procedure may be. These complications can range from infections, bleeding, and wound healing issues to significant disability or death. They not only jeopardize the health and recovery of the patient but also place additional burdens on the healthcare system, including prolonged hospital stays and increased medical expenses. Recognizing these complications early on is paramount for the comprehensive care of surgical patients.

Some of the most devastating complications that can arise after surgery are anastomotic leaks, which occur after surgery when there's a connection (anastomosis) between two parts of the digestive tract. A leak from this connection can lead to serious complications, including sepsis (blood infection) and death. On average, the leak rate stands at 8% across various types of surgeries, but this can spike to as high as 30% in more complex procedures. The condition also comes with a concerning average mortality rate of 12%. Per 1,000 patients undergoing colorectal surgery in the United States, anastomotic leaks add an extra 9,500 days of hospital care and impose an average additional cost of about $50,000 per affected patient.

FluidAI's first solution, Stream Platform, uses advanced sensors and an AI-driven algorithm that may prompt surgeons to identify these leaks earlier, helping surgeons achieve better clinical outcomes and efficiencies within the greater healthcare system. FluidAI's timely funding underscores the industry's pressing need for innovative solutions that can ensure patient safety, reduce hospital stays, and ultimately cut down healthcare costs.

"This funding not only validates our vision but also fuels our mission. At FluidAI, our goal is to continuously push the boundaries of what's possible in postoperative care, ensuring patients recover safely and quickly. With the trust and support of our investors, we're poised to make a monumental impact on how data informs care decisions," said Youssef Helwa, CEO at FluidAI.

"FluidAI is a perfect example of AI-powered proprietary sensing being developed to save lives," said Duncan Turner, SOSV GP. "With FluidAI, surgeons can ensure better clinical outcomes, shorter hospital stays for patients, and cost efficiencies across the healthcare ecosystem. We're thrilled to back the FluidAI team, a passionate group of scientists, engineers and healthcare professionals who are leading this compelling development in post-operative care."

"FluidAI is pushing the frontiers of AI for early postoperative leak monitoring in a way that could save many lives by detecting leaks earlier than what surgeons are accustomed to seeing today. Our investment marks a pivotal step in revolutionizing medical technology. Together, we are committed to a healthier, brighter future for all," said Nabil Borhanu, Founder & Managing Partner, Graphene Ventures

The investment will allow FluidAI to expand into existing and new global markets, grow its dynamic team, amplify R&D efforts, and introduce novel AI-driven solutions catering to a broader range of postoperative complications.

About FluidAI Medical

FluidAI (formerly known as NERv Technology Inc.) is a Canadian medical technology company that uses AI to aid with the early detection of postoperative leaks. From general to gastrointestinal surgeries, FluidAI's mission is to empower healthcare providers with data-driven solutions that improve patient outcomes and advance postoperative care. To learn more about FluidAI and how the company is transforming postoperative care, please visit https://fluidai.md/ .

About SOSV

SOSV is a global, multi-stage venture capital firm dedicated to funding deep tech startups focused on human and planetary health. Operating programs like HAX, IndieBio, and Orbit Startups in cities from New York to Tokyo, the firm has backed nearly 1000 startups in 60 countries. As of April 2023, SOSV's top health startups boast a combined valuation of $6.47 billion. The firm manages a $277 million core Fund IV and a $100 million Select Fund for follow-on investments, along with the Genesis Consortium that provides extra funding for select life sciences startups. With a diverse team and a portfolio representing 84 nationalities, SOSV is committed to accelerating global innovation. Learn more at https://sosv.com/ .

About Graphene Ventures

Graphene Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2015, specializing in direct investments in private technology companies. With offices in Palo Alto, Toronto, Sao Paulo, and Riyadh, the firm has a global reach and is dedicated to helping its portfolio companies scale into multiple markets. The lean but experienced team at Graphene brings decades of expertise in growing high-impact startups, uniquely positioning them to identify promising teams and innovative companies. Learn more at https://graphenevc.com/ .

SOURCE Fluid AI Medical
SAO PAULO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with Vento Leste, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and Alcoa are delighted to unveil the 50 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION to honor the illustrious Brazilian photographer Araquem Alcantara's five decades of remarkable work. This interactive exhibition invites Brazil and the world to embark on a journey along the Amazon River, commencing at Belem's Estacao das Docas and meandering through riverside communities and cities such as Juruti (official opening from October 16th to 19th) and Alter do Chao (October 22nd to 25th). On November 1st, the expedition will arrive at Sao Luiz do Maranhao, where visitors can immerse themselves until November 10th.

This expedition serves as a tribute to a vast and diverse nation, showcasing hundreds of images captured through the lens of an artist deeply passionate about his homeland and its people. The venture is being carried out by Vento Leste Editora, with support from the Ministry of Culture and the Federal Brazilian Culture Incentive Law, generously sponsored by Alcoa, one of the world's leading producers of alumina and aluminum.

Monica Schalka, the director of Vento Leste, elaborates, "The project is of epic proportions and aims to showcase the Amazon to the world." She notes that the award-winning photographs by Araquem Alcantara take on a new dimension when displayed on an unprecedented floating platform, equipped with cutting-edge technology to deliver a unique experience to the audience.

Araquem Alcantara himself declares, "I am a traveling photographer, journalist, poet, teacher, and interpreter from Brazil. I advocate for a new ethical perspective and a heightened planetary consciousness through my photographs and words. Photography serves as a synthesis of expression." For five decades, he has expertly captured Brazil's natural beauty with the goal of fostering a new ethical and global awareness.

The movement of the exhibition along the rivers is made possible through the innovative design of the "FLOTE" by Atelier Marko Brajovic. This vessel integrates advanced technology, LED panels, and a specialized structure to create a captivating exhibition experience for visitors.

This expedition stands out for its comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable nature, enabling thousands of people to view Araquem Alcantara's photos and daily broadcasts captured by cameras in real-time. To access the project and share your message of support for nature and the Amazon rainforest, please visit www.araquem50expo.com.

Contact Information:

PR Agency - Planin

Angelica Consiglio, Beatriz Imenes, Duda Lopes and team

Website: www.planin.com

Phone: (+5511) 98940-4034

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Vento Leste
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan Institute proudly presents the Enlightened Growth Leadership Awards, 2023 a prestigious celebration of visionary companies that have harmonized growth with global stewardship. These companies have embraced the challenge of reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and implementing sustainable practices throughout their operations. The recipients of the prestigious award have demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership in their respective industries, showcasing a commitment to creating a positive impact on society and striving towards a sustainable future.

Frost & Sullivan Institute takes immense pleasure in congratulating all the winners of the 2023 Enlightened Growth Leadership Awards for their outstanding contributions to their respective industries and society at large.

"Celebrating the Enlightened Growth Leadership Awards is a testament to these exceptional companies' unwavering dedication to building a future where prosperity is intricately woven with sustainability. They've boldly redefined industry norms, showcasing that success extends beyond financial achievements, and excel in the transformative impact an organization can have on both its stakeholders and the world. These companies illuminate the path toward a future where every success story is also a story of social and environmental progress." remarked Asha Sridar, Senior Business Analyst, Frost & Sullivan Institute.

The Frost & Sullivan Institute maintains its commitment to excellence through a proprietary, research-driven eight-step methodology. The selection process emphasizes growth excellence, 'innovating to zero' aligned with global priorities, customer value chain, and technology leverage, showcasing the Institute's dedication to balanced growth and ESG values.

The Frost & Sullivan Institute takes immense pleasure in congratulating all the winners of the 2023 Enlightened Growth Leadership Awards for their outstanding contributions to their respective industries and society at large. In recognition of their remarkable achievements, these exceptional companies will be celebrated and honored at our prestigious awards banquet in the vibrant city of Prague on 15th November 2023.

Recipients:

Institut Straumann AG

Iren S.p.A.

KOMSA Group

Kelag Systems AG

Kingspan

Logitech

Medicover AB.

Medios AG

Metso

Midwich Group plc

Molnlycke Health Care AB

MT Hjgaard Holding A/S

MYTILINEOS S.A.

Umicore SA

Neptune Energy

Ottobock

Picanol

Plukon Food Group

Quest Holdings SA

Ramsay Health

Reply

Sagemcom

Sartorius AG

SBM Offshore

SeSa SpA

Spotify Technology SA

STMicroelectronics

Tecan Trading AG

Teleperformance

THG PLC

Tietoevry

UNIMOT S.A.

VERBUND AG

About Frost & Sullivan Institute

The Frost & Sullivan Institute (FSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to utilizing business practices to address global priorities. The genesis of the institute goes back to the vision of either creating or becoming part of a solution that addresses threats to humanity. The Institute has identified strategic imperatives for transformation and believes that we can truly accelerate innovation to zero. To learn more about FSI, visit www.frostandsullivaninstitute.org

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Media Contact:

Bivechana Gautam

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

www.frost.com

www.frostandsullivaninstitute.org

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electronic Security Systems (ESS) - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Electronic Security Systems (ESS) Market to Reach $85.9 Billion by 2030



The global market for Electronic Security Systems (ESS) estimated at US$43 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$85.9 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9% over the analysis period 2022-2030.

This comprehensive analysis offers insights into the global Electronic Security Systems (ESS) market, presenting historical, present, and future sales trends within the ESS market, all in US$ Million. The data includes projections from 2022 through 2030, along with historical data from 2014 through 2021.

CCTV & Video Surveillance Systems, a segment under examination in the report, is expected to achieve a robust 9.6% CAGR and reach a market value of US$37.7 Billion by the end of the analysis period. The Alarms segment is also estimated to experience growth at an 8.3% CAGR over the next eight years.

Moreover, a 16-year perspective is provided, covering the years 2014, 2023, and 2030, offering a longer-term view of market trends. The market is segmented into categories such as CCTV & Video Surveillance Systems, Alarms, Electronic Access Control Systems, and Other Segments.

The U.S. market is estimated to be worth $11.1 Billion, while China is forecasted to experience substantial growth with a projected market size of US$13.9 Billion by 2030, driven by a CAGR of 10.6% over the analysis period from 2022 to 2030.

These segments are analyzed across various geographic regions, including the USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

Percentage breakdowns of value sales are also included for each region, providing a comprehensive understanding of the evolving global Electronic Security Systems (ESS) market. This data is valuable for industry professionals and decision-makers seeking insights into the performance, trends, and opportunities within the Electronic Security Systems market.

In 2022, the Electronic Security Systems (ESS) market in the United States is estimated to be valued at $11.1 Billion. Meanwhile, China, as the world's second-largest economy, is anticipated to achieve a projected market size of US$13.9 Billion by 2030, with a robust CAGR of 10.6% over the analysis period from 2022 to 2030.

Notable geographic markets also include Japan and Canada, both forecasted to grow at 7.5% and 7.8%, respectively, over the 2022-2030 period. Additionally, within Europe, Germany is expected to experience growth at an approximate CAGR of 8.5%.

What`s New?

Special discussions on the global economic climate and market sentiment

Coverage on global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence analysis across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to digital archives and trademarked research platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Access to curated YouTube video transcripts of market sentiments shared by CEOs, domain experts and market influencers via interviews, podcasts, press statements and event keynotes

MARKET OVERVIEW

Electronic Security Systems (ESS) - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2022 (E)

Fighting Back Against Security Threats is an Ever-Present Need

Terrorism Can be Bad for the Economy: Global Economic Impact of Terrorism (In US$ Billion) for Years 2009, 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2021

Despite the Declining Impact of Terrorism on the Global Economy, Several Countries are Witnessing the Dawn of a New Era of Conflict and Violence: Number of Terrorism Deaths by Country for the Year 2020

Transportation Emerges as One of the Most Vulnerable Sectors for Incursions

Security Threats & Safety Concerns Spiral at Residential Places

Ever-Present Threat of Burglary & Home Break-Ins Drives Demand for Home Security Systems: Number of Burglaries Per 100,000 People by Country for the Year 2021

The Race Between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies. Amidst this Chaotic Battle, Where is the World Economy Headed in 2021?

These are Times When Questions Abound & Answers Are Few

So How Fast Or Slow Are We Moving?

How Fast the World is Vaccinated Will Determine How Soon the Pandemic Will End: Global Percentage (%) of Population Administered With Vaccines in Advanced Economies, Emerging Markets, and Low-Income Countries As of July 2021

How & When Will the World Be Vaccinated? Global Number of Annual COVID-19 Vaccine Doses (In Million) for Years 2020 through 2025 by Geographic Region/Country

Split Scenarios Unfold: The Great Vaccine Divide Emerges

Time is of Essence! What We Know So Far - "Vaccine Efficiency Against New Strains is Decreasing"

Progress on Vaccinations, Why Should Businesses Care?

With IMF's Upward Revision of Global GDP Forecasts for 2021, Most Companies Are Bullish About an Economic Comeback Despite a Continuing Pandemic

A Strong Yet Exceedingly Patchy & Uncertain Recovery Shaped by New Variants, Comes as a Relief for Suffering Industries & Markets: World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2020 through 2022

Easing Unemployment Levels in 2021 Although Moderate Will Infuse Hope for Industries Reliant on Consumer Discretionary Incomes: Global Number of Unemployed People (In Million) for Years 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2022

How the Construction Industry, a Key Influencer of Opportunities in the Electronic Security Systems Market, Was Impacted by the Pandemic & What's the New Normal?

Global Construction Spending (In US$ Trillion) for the Years 2019, 2020, & 2021

Electronic Security Systems (ESS): Definition, Importance & Benefits

Here's What to Expect in the ESS Market in the Short-to-Medium Term

Recent Market Activity

Innovations

World Brands

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Smart City & Smart Home Security and Surveillance Emerge to Provide New Opportunities for Growth

Global Smart Cities Opportunity (In US$ Billion) for Years 2021, 2024, 2027

Rise of Smart Homes & Home Automation to Offer Growth Opportunities on a Platter

Smart Homes Emerge as a Disruptive Trend Enhancing Lives of Homeowners & Also Creating New Market Opportunities for Smart Security Technologies & Solutions: Global Smart Homes Market by Category in US$ Billion for the Years 2020 and 2022

Security and Surveillance in Smart Homes: A Review

Automation & Home Security: A Special Focus

Increased Focus on Border Control & Security Opens New Growth Opportunities for Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems

Criminalization of Migration Drives Growth of PID in the Perimeter Security Market

Crackdown on Illegal Immigration Pushes Up the Demand Momentum for PID Systems in Border Security: Illegal Immigrants in the United States (In Million)

(In Million) Smart Locks & Video Doorbells Grow in Popularity

Smart Locks Emerge as the Leading Growth Category in the Access Control Systems Segment

Technology Innovations in the Smart Locks Space: A Review

Video Doorbells Grow in Demand Among Smart Home Owners

Critical Infrastructure Protection, a Major Application Area for ESS

Strong Demand for Networked IP Surveillance Cameras Emerge as a Key Trend in the Market

Growing Popularity Wireless Electronic Security Systems to Boost Market Prospects

Biometrics Based ESS Goes Mainstream

Fingerprint Access Control: A Review

Frictionless Face and Iris Recognition Technologies to Take Over Fingerprint Biometrics

AI to Revolutionize Electronic Security. Here's How

Drones Security & Surveillance Rises in Prominence

Integration of Security Systems with Mobile Technology

Blockchain Based Management of Video Surveillance Rises in Prominence

IoT Reshapes the Future of Video Surveillance

Cyber Security Issues in IP Video Surveillance Storms Into the Spotlight

Big Data & Edge Analytics for Video Surveillance to Revolutionize Performance

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS (Total 634 Featured)

Admit One Home Systems

ADS Security LP

ABUS August Bremicker Sohne KG

ACTAtek Technology, Inc.

Aditya Infotech Ltd.

Accuride International, Inc.

AD Aerospace Ltd.

Abel Alarm Co., Ltd.

Access IS

Access Security Controls International, Inc.

ACI Srl (Farfisa Intercoms)

Aditech Ltd.

AARtech Canada Inc

AAC Industrial & Building Technology Systems Industry Tic. Ltd. Sti.

abode systems, inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q3go0h

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "High-throughput Screening Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global high-throughput screening market size reached US$ 23.2 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is set to reach US$ 38.3 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% during 2023-2028.

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a vital drug discovery process that enables the automated testing of diverse chemical and biological compounds against specific biological targets. This process relies on advanced technology, including liquid handling devices, robotics, plate readers, and specialized software for instrument control and data analysis.

HTS offers numerous advantages, such as sample reduction, rapid automation, and the ability to detect single molecules and low-background signals. It empowers scientists to generate and utilize vast datasets for addressing complex biological questions. Consequently, HTS finds extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, academic institutes, target validation, and the identification of genes influencing specific biological pathways.

Currently, there is a growing adoption of HTS to expedite drug manufacturing and develop new medications for treating life-threatening diseases. This is a key driver of market growth.

Furthermore, governments in several countries are investing in cutting-edge technologies, including microplate-free approaches, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and RNA interference (RNAi), as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These investments, coupled with the increasing use of automation in HTS and rapid global data processing, are propelling market expansion.

Leading market players are also introducing label-free technology to offer simplified methods for studying complex biological pathways and reducing the risk of drug failure due to toxicity.

Additionally, the report provides a comprehensive examination of the competitive landscape, featuring profiles of market leaders such as Agilent Technologies, Aurora Biomed, and others. This report equips business executives with valuable insights to make informed decisions and develop future-proof strategies.

These key players are actively investing in research and development (R&D) to pioneer new technologies in HTS. They are also launching time-resolved Forster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) versions of the transcreener assay for various enzymes. These innovations are expected to further bolster market growth.

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global high-throughput screening market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global high-throughput screening market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the products and services?

What is the breakup of the market based on the applications?

What is the breakup of the market based on the end user?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global high-throughput screening market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Competitive Landscape:



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being

Agilent Technologies Inc.

Aurora Biomed Inc.

Axxam S.p.A

Beckman Coulter Inc. (Danaher Corporation)

Bio-RAD Laboratories Inc.

Charles River Laboratories International Inc.

Corning Incorporated

Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin)

Perkinelmer Inc.

Sygnature Discovery

Tecan Group Ltd.

Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Key Market Segmentation:



Breakup by Technology:

Ultra-High-Throughput Screening

Cell-Based Assays

Lab-on-a-Chip

Label-Free Technology

Breakup by Products and Services:

Instruments

Reagents and Kits

Services

Breakup by Applications:

Target Identification and Validation

Primary and Secondary Screening

Toxicology Assessment

Others

Breakup by End User:

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Firms

Academic and Government Institutes

Contract Research Organizations

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mfscwu

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Industrial Chocolate Market by Product Type, Application, and Region 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global industrial chocolate market size reached US$ 7.68 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is set to reach US$ 10.1 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.59% during 2023-2028.

The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape within the global industrial chocolate market. This includes an examination of market structure, market share held by key players, player positioning, top-performing strategies, a competitive dashboard, and an evaluation quadrant for companies.

Several factors are driving the market, including the increasing demand for sugar-free and organic chocolates, the rising popularity of premium dark chocolates, and the growing utilization of industrial chocolates in the bakery and confectionery industry.

Industrial chocolates are mass-produced chocolate products created for commercial purposes, such as baking, confectionery, and beverages. They are produced by processing cocoa beans into cocoa liquor and combining them with various other ingredients like sugar, milk powder, and vegetable oil.

The production involves large-scale mechanized processes, conducted in specialized facilities to ensure efficient and cost-effective production. Industrial chocolate is used in various food products such as candy bars, chocolate-coated snacks, baking mixes, and hot chocolate mixes. Additionally, it finds numerous applications in the food service industry, including desserts, pastries, and beverages.

Industrial Chocolate Market Trends:

Europe has been the largest market for industrial chocolate. The factors driving the industrial chocolate market in Europe include the growing demand for chocolate-based products like candies, snack bars, shakes, and baked goods, the increasing popularity of premium chocolates, and ongoing product innovations.

The shift in consumer preference towards sugar-free, low-calorie, and organic chocolates over traditional chocolates due to health-consciousness is a significant driver of market growth.

Furthermore, the rising demand for high-quality, premium chocolates, increased need for cocoa butter substitutes, and growing consumer awareness about the health benefits of dark chocolate are contributing to a favorable market outlook.

The substantial demand for industrial chocolates from the thriving confectionery industry for candy bars and chocolate-coated snacks, along with extensive use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, is aiding market expansion.

The expanding demand for chocolate-based desserts, snack bars, and beverages, especially among on-the-go millennials and youngsters, presents lucrative growth opportunities. This trend, along with ongoing product innovations, the tradition of gifting chocolates, and the increasing popularity of baked products like chocolate cakes, pastries, donuts, and cupcakes, is fueling market growth.

Additionally, the growth of the food service industry, rising disposable incomes, and the availability of innovative product variants through various online and offline retail channels are positively impacting market growth.

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global industrial chocolate market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years?

What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global industrial chocolate market?

What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the global industrial chocolate market?

What are the key regional markets?

Which countries represent the most attractive industrial chocolate market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?

Which is the most attractive product type in the industrial chocolate market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

Which is the most attractive application in the industrial chocolate market?

What is the competitive structure of the global industrial chocolate market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global industrial chocolate market?

Competitive Landscape:

Berry Callebaut AG

Campco Chocolates

Cargill Incorporated

Cemoi Chocolatier

Clasen Quality Chocolate

Foleys Candies LP

Fuji Oil Co. Ltd.

Guittard Chocolate Company

Kerry Group PLC

Natra SA

The Hershey Company

Key Market Segmentation:



Product Type Insights:

Cocoa Powder

Cocoa Liquor

Cocoa Butter

Compound Chocolate

Application Insights:

Bakery Products

Confectionery

Bakery Premixes

Beverages

Frozen Desserts and Ice Creams

Others

Regional Insights:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ueiadt

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Oil and Gas EPC Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global oil and gas EPC market size reached US$ 47.6 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 65.6 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during 2023-2028.

EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors play a crucial role in various industries, including oil and gas. They handle tasks such as design and detailed layout, on-site assembly, functional testing, equipment and material procurement, and system manufacturing. In the oil and gas sectors, EPC contractors are relied upon for long-term and large-scale projects that demand skilled professional labor and precise project management.

EPC contractors specialize in designing plans for diverse applications, including aboveground storage tanks, power generation environmental controls, natural gas processing facilities, industrial power distribution, and material handling. They offer advantages such as enhanced performance, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and a single point of responsibility. EPC contracts establish effective communication channels that enable project owners to manage all relationships and infrastructure projects efficiently.

The significant growth in the global oil and gas industry is a key driver of market expansion. EPC is widely adopted for designing and executing projects such as storage systems, drilling platforms, and advanced exploration systems.

Furthermore, factors like rising power consumption, population growth, and government initiatives to generate electricity from renewable resources are favoring market growth. Technological advancements, including the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) for EPC contractors, are also contributing to market expansion.

Moreover, the increasing demand for oil and gas EPC in the upstream sector is positively impacting the market. This sector offers fewer complexities, greater accessibility to sites, lower investment requirements, and reduced risk.

In addition to these factors, the rapidly expanding automotive industry, the growing consumption of petroleum products (such as petrol, diesel, and CNG), and government initiatives to promote oil and gas projects are creating a favorable outlook for the market.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global oil and gas EPC market in 2022?

What is the expected growth rate of the global oil and gas EPC market during 2023-2028?

What are the key factors driving the global oil and gas EPC market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global oil and gas EPC market?

What is the breakup of the global oil and gas EPC market based on the sector?

What is the breakup of the global oil and gas EPC market based on the service type?

What is the breakup of the global oil and gas EPC market based on location?

What are the key regions in the global oil and gas EPC market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global oil and gas EPC market?

Competitive Landscape:



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being

Bechtel Corporation

Fluor Corporation

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.

John Wood Group PLC

KBR Inc.

Larsen & Toubro Limited

McDermott International Ltd.

National Petroleum Construction Company

Petrofac Limited

Saipem S.p.A. (Eni S.p.A.)

Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd.

TechnipFMC plc

Tecnicas Reunidas S. A.

WorleyParsons Limited

Key Market Segmentation:



Breakup by Sector:

Upstream

Midstream

Downstream

Breakup by Service Type:

Engineering

Procurement

Construction

Fabrication

Breakup by Location:

Onshore

Offshore

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4x042p

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Starch Blended Biodegradable Polymer Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global starch blended biodegradable polymer market has attained a substantial milestone, reaching a market size of US$1,029 million in 2022. This robust growth is expected to continue as the market is projected to expand to US$1,527 million by 2028, showcasing a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% during the forecast period of 2023-2028.

The remarkable ascent of this market is fueled by several key factors. Firstly, the utilization of starch as a filler in polymers to enhance biodegradability in polymer-based products has witnessed significant adoption. Secondly, there is a growing consumer interest in renewable feedstock and biopolymers, driven by a global shift towards sustainability. Lastly, the widespread utilization of starch blended biodegradable polymers in the food packaging industry further propels market growth.

A starch blended biodegradable polymer combines the natural and renewable properties of starch with the versatility of synthetic polymers. These blends provide a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic materials, boasting improved biodegradability and reduced environmental impact. Starch reinforces the polymer structure, enhancing mechanical properties and rendering the material biocompatible, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly. Moreover, starch blended polymers can be processed using conventional techniques such as extrusion and injection molding, making them adaptable for various applications. Their biodegradability allows for safe disposal in natural environments, contributing to reducing plastic waste and promoting a sustainable future.

The global market is primarily driven by stringent regulations on plastic waste management and growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products. Consumers, increasingly aware of plastic pollution's environmental impact, actively seek greener alternatives. Starch blended polymers, meeting this demand with biodegradable and compostable options, are gaining traction in packaging, disposable products, and other applications.

Advancements in research and technology have expanded the potential applications of starch blended biodegradable polymers across various industries, including packaging, agriculture, textiles, and automotive. These innovations allow manufacturers to tailor material characteristics to meet specific requirements, further boosting market growth.

Starch Blended Biodegradable Polymer Market Trends and Drivers

Increasing Government Initiatives and Support: Governments worldwide have implemented policies and regulations to encourage sustainable alternatives to plastic. Initiatives include incentives, subsidies, and tax benefits, fostering the adoption of starch blended biodegradable polymers. Growing Consumer Awareness and Preference for Sustainability: Consumers seek eco-friendly products that minimize pollution and promote a greener lifestyle. Awareness campaigns on platforms like social media have amplified the demand for starch blended biodegradable polymers. Rapid Advancements in Manufacturing Technology: Ongoing research and development efforts have led to efficient and cost-effective production techniques, enhancing the material's properties and applicability across industries.

Starch Blended Biodegradable Polymer Industry Segmentation

Polymer Type:

Biodegradable Starch

Durable Starch

Biodegradable starch dominates the market, driven by its exceptional biodegradability and versatile applications in packaging, disposable cutlery, agricultural films, and more.

End Use:

Flexible Packaging

Agriculture and Horticulture

Rigid Packaging

Consumer Goods

Others

Flexible packaging leads the market, favored for its versatility, lightweight nature, and eco-friendly attributes.

Region:

Western Europe

North America

Asia Pacific

Others

Western Europe dominates the market due to strong environmental awareness and sustainability initiatives.

Competitive Landscape

Top companies in the starch blended biodegradable polymer industry invest heavily in research and development, product improvement, strategic partnerships, and global distribution to meet market demands. Key players include Novamont S.p.A., Rodenberg, Wuhan Huali, Nihon Cornstarch Corporation, Plantic Technologies, DuPont, BASF, Lactel Absorbable Polymers, Balson Industries, and Tryeco.

Recent Developments

Novamont partnered with Saes Group to develop innovative solutions with lower environmental impact and high functional performance.

Plantic Technologies launched Renewably Sourced and Recyclable Plantic eco Plastic R.

DuPont acquired Desalitech Ltd., enhancing its commitment to sustainability.

Key Questions Addressed in the Report

Market size for the global starch blended biodegradable polymer market. Global market drivers for starch blended biodegradable polymers. Key industry trends in the global starch blended biodegradable polymer market. Impact of COVID-19 on the global starch blended biodegradable polymer market. Global starch blended biodegradable polymer market segmentation by end-use. Major regions in the global starch blended biodegradable polymer market. Key companies/players in the global starch blended biodegradable polymer market.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 145 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $1029 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1527 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.8 % Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w79jnl

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

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SOURCE Research and Markets
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheyenne Hunt, a first-time Gen Z candidate running to represent California's 45th district, announced today that her campaign for Congress has raised over $100,000 in quarter three. Hunt's campaign continues to gain momentum after outraising all her opponents in all previous fundraising quarters.

Grassroots Momentum Continues to Grow for Cheyenne Hunts Campaign for Congress

"I am truly amazed by the tremendous support we are seeing both here in California and nationwide, leading the charge to take on Michelle Steele," said Hunt. "The enthusiasm from our grassroots supporters demonstrates the support behind our movement to safeguard our democracy, protect reproductive freedom, and to build a strong and more equitable economy. I am incredibly grateful for this outpouring of support."

Cheyenne Hunt's campaign has been distinguished by its emphasis on addressing the pressing issues facing her community. With her community-centered approach, Cheyenne Hunt continues to gain momentum in her race for California's 45th Congressional District.

In addition to a strong fundraising quarter, Hunt's campaign is proud to announce endorsements from several prominent organizations and groups that are dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders:

Voters of Tomorrow Voices of Gen-Z Path to Progress Dream for America Real Action Inc.

For more information about Cheyenne Hunt's campaign and her vision for the future, please visit https://www.cheyennehunt.com/ .

About Cheyenne Hunt

Attorney, Activist, and TikTok influencer Cheyenne Hunt is a first-time Gen Z candidate running to represent California's 45th district.

Press Contact:

Lynn Munroe

845-548-1211

SOURCE Cheyenne Hunt
GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Guilford County Schools (GCS) will host the Carnegie Foundation Learning Leadership Network (Carnegie LLN) on October 10-12. The aim of this network of district leadership teams is to support, showcase, and study school districts that are creating engaging, equitable, and effective learning experiences for their secondary students. Network members convene over the course of the school year to imagine and learn together how school districts can be set up to enable student learning both within and outside of the school walls. For the past year, GCS Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley and key district leaders have joined Carnegie LLN educators from across the country to innovate and transform secondary schooling.

Guilford County Schools was selected as the host for this fall's site visit because of the innovative models housed in their Signature Career Academies and elementary school telehealth clinics. Carnegie LLN district teams will have the opportunity to conduct school site visits, learn from GCS district cabinet members about stakeholder engagement efforts in the development of the district's Better Together strategic direction focus areas and priorities, and engage with a panel of local industry and community leaders, including Cone Health, Action Greensboro, Toyota and others. Network members will also share reflections, offer feedback, and apply what they've learned to their own system transformation work.

"Guilford County Schools is honored to host the Carnegie Foundation Learning Leadership Network and to share our district's progress as we work toward our Better Together Strategic Direction," said Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley. "The pandemic provided us with an opportunity to reimagine what public education can and should be. My team and I are excited to learn more about what's working in partner districts and to provide insight into what's working in ours."

"We are thrilled to be visiting Guilford County Schools with the Learning Leadership Network," said Dr. Tinkhani Ushe White, lead of the Carnegie Learning Leadership Network. "We are excited to participate in this dynamic learning experience to explore Guilford's Career Academies model and learn from their thoughtful efforts to ensure their strategic plan is grounded in community voice and ambitious about preparing students for the future."

Carnegie Foundation President Dr. Tim Knowles added, "We are enormously grateful to our colleagues at Guilford County Schools for hosting the Carnegie Learning Leadership Network. Guilford is fiercely committed to ensuring all students are well-prepared for a broad range of postsecondary opportunities. We look forward to learning with Guilford and bringing lessons to bear across the nation to ensure all young people lead purposeful, fulfilling lives."

About the Carnegie Foundation

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. The Foundation was also instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Department of Education and Pell Grants, and mostly recently in the use of networked improvement science to redress systemic inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes.

About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina and among the largest of more than 14,000 in the United States, serves nearly 70,000 PK-12 students at 124 schools. With approximately 9,800 employees, GCS works in partnership with parents, businesses, colleges and the community to deliver an education that connects student interests and skills with the careers and economy of our future here and around the world. We provide educational choices to meet individual student needs in a culturally diverse citizenship and new opportunities to help our students grow. For more information, visit the district's website at www.gcsnc.com .

CONTACT:

Carnegie Foundation

Kito Cetrulo

[email protected]

SOURCE Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Every wasted day before the signing of the peace treaty brings Armenia closer to even greater losses, Secretary of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Ramil Usubov said in his article published in the official media, Trend reports.

"Adventurous leaders have condemned Armenia to significant hardships and a deep crisis. Political chaos, economic and social decline, a corrupt state apparatus, a defeated army, along with internal conflicts, mass migration abroad, and other similar factors reflecting the tragedies of the Armenian people, indicate that Armenia stands on the brink of irreversible bankruptcy," Usubov pointed out.

"The increasing calls within the Armenian community to turn a new page in their lives inspire hope that this country will genuinely work towards the swift signing of a peace agreement," he said.

"The completion of the process of border delimitation and demarcation and the signing of a peace agreement are now more necessary for Armenia. Azerbaijan has fully ensured its territorial integrity, our borders are under complete control, and strategic positions that pose a threat to our country from the opposite side are under our careful observation," Usubov said.
Patented COLD-GROWN process and innovative packaging deliver unparalleled flavor, freshness, and food safety in the sprout category

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ra Foods, a pioneer in food tech and functional foods, today announced that its Wild About Sprouts brand is continuing its robust national expansion through a distribution agreement with Harps Food Stores, a chain of 147 supermarkets located throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kansas.

Wild About Sprouts is continuing its robust national expansion through a distribution agreement with Harps Food Stores Post this Alfalfa, Broccoli & Kale

Wild About Sprouts come in six varieties: alfalfa, broccoli, clover, clover & alfalfa, clover & broccoli, and a new mix of alfalfa, broccoli & kale. The company's patented COLD-GROWN process and ingenious "out-of-the-box" packaging ensure flavor, freshness, and safety. Each Wild About Sprouts package contains around 7,000 seeds, living and growing into sprouts, fully tested for pathogens and untouched until the consumer removes them for consumption. All Wild About Sprouts products are sustainably grown, free of herbicides and pesticides, and non-GMO.

Sprouting is a natural process that enhances the nutritional value and digestibility of grains, seeds, and legumes. Wild About Sprouts' diverse range of sprouted products is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. These sprouted superfoods not only boost nutritional benefits but also help support gut health and aid in easier nutrient absorption. They create healthy gut microbiomes that influence everything from our immune system to our mental health.

"Distribution by Harps Food Stores is a significant step towards reaching a wider audience and creating a positive impact on more people's health," said Barry Didato, President of Ra Foods. "Hometown Fresh' is Harp's mantra and mission, which makes it a perfect fit for Wild About Sprouts. Our two companies share a mutual passion for providing customers with the freshest, healthiest food options."

"Wild About Sprouts' reputation for safety and excellence makes them an ideal partner for Harps," said Josh Rector, Produce Category Manager of Harps Food Stores. "We especially like the idea that Wild About Sprouts are still growing in the package, untouched until 'harvested' by the consumer."

About Wild About Sprouts

Wild About Sprouts are the next generation of highly functional, great-tasting sprouts, created as a safe and trustworthy solution to previous pathogen issues associated with the category. Using patented COLD GROWN technology and available in six varieties, these amazing "super veggies" contain specific concentrated phytonutrients, scientifically proven to be of great benefit in preventing and fighting disease. Learn more at wildaboutsprouts.com

About Ra Foods "Nourishing Innovation And People"

Focusing on human health, wellness, and longevity, Ra Foods brings great-tasting, highly functional foods to market through research, innovation, and unrelenting vigilance. Our growing portfolio of brands includes Wild About Sprouts, Mixmi Frozen Yogurt, and Wild About Bread, all share a simple purpose: bringing to life more wholesome, healthy, restorative food options for all. Learn more at rafoods.com

About Harps Food Stores

Harps is a 100% employee-owned company, which operates 147 stores in six states including: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kansas. Harps is the largest employee owned company in the state of Arkansas and was founded by Harvard and Floy Harp in Springdale, Arkansas in 1930. Since then, the company has grown to employ over 7,200 associates. In 2022, Newsweek Magazine ranked Harps Food Stores the 3rd best supermarket retailer in the nation. For more information about Harps Food Stores and company history, please visit www.harpsfood.com

SOURCE RA Foods
STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hedgeye Risk Management, a leading independent provider of investment research and online financial media firm is hosting its 11th semiannual online Hedgeye Investing Summit this week on October 10-12. This 3-day event features actionable, deep dive conversations hosted by Hedgeye Founder and CEO Keith McCullough with nine of the world's sharpest investors and strategists.

The 11th "Hedgeye Investing Summit"

"Establishment financial media has been failing investors for many years," explains McCullough. "We started this event to open up people's eyes to a better way to protect and grow their money. I am humbled and blown away by the tens of thousands of investors who have tuned into this event over the years."

The Hedgeye Investing Summit is hosted twice a year and is available live and on-demand. Each deep dive conversation is approximately 45 minutes long and explores key market and economic trends and developments which will drive portfolio returns in the weeks and months ahead.

As always, the event remains free to the public (email registration required). You can register here.

Charles Schwab's Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders kicks things off on Tuesday, October 10 at 11:00am ET, followed by conversations with Jim Bianco, President of Bianco Research and bestselling author William Cohan.

"There are many good reasons for the growing sense of fear and uncertainty in the markets and economy," McCullough adds. "Investors who aren't proactively prepared for what comes next should be concerned. The Hedgeye Investing Summit helps people prepare for what lies ahead."

The full event schedule follows below.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 10

11am ET | Liz Ann Sonders

Chief Investment Strategist, Charles Schwab & Co.

12pm ET | Jim Bianco

President, Bianco Research

1pm ET | William Cohan

Bestselling Author, Financial Journalist, Founding Partner of Puck

WEDENESDAY OCTOBER 11

11am ET | Danielle DiMartino Booth

CEO & Chief Strategist, QI Research

12pm ET | Ben Hunt

Co-Founder & CIO, Epsilon Theory

1pm ET | Matt Cole

CEO & Chief Investment Officer, Strive Asset Management

THURSDAY OCTOBER 12

10am ET | Art Hyde

Portfolio Manager, Segra Capital Management

11am ET | Tracy Shuchart

Founder & CEO, Hilltower Resource Advisors

12pm ET | Daniel Lacalle

Chief Economist, Tressis Gestion

ABOUT HEDGEYE RISK MANAGEMENT

Hedgeye Risk Management is an independent investment research and online financial media firm. Focused exclusively on generating and delivering investment ideas in a proven buy-side process, the firm combines quantitative, bottom-up and macro analysis with an emphasis on timing.

The Hedgeye team features some of the world's most regarded research analysts covering Macro, Financials, Healthcare, Retail, REITs, Technology, Gaming, Lodging & Leisure (GLL), Restaurants, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Cannabis, Communications, China, Housing, Materials, and Washington policy analysis.

SOURCE HEDGEYE RISK MANAGEMENT
By exceeding rigorous standards for premium sales, training, and certification requirements, Hero Digital has become an Optimizely Platinum Partner

CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hero Digital, a leading customer experience transformation company, has achieved certification as a Platinum Partner of Optimizely, the leading digital experience platform (DXP) provider. As a Platinum Partner, Hero Digital is recognized for its comprehensive competency, implementation experience, and extensive product expertise.

Hero Digital

Hero Digital is a long-standing partner of Optimizely with its relationship spanning nearly a decade due to its proven track record of enterprise sales. As Optimizely's 2022 Digital Experience Partner of the Year, Hero Digital brings deep industry expertise in both business-to-consumer and business-to-business industries in the financial services, healthcare, and commerce spaces, securing partnerships with well-known brands such as Zoom and Gelesis.

Hero Digital is a diamond sponsor of Opticon 2023, Optimizely's annual conference in San Diego. Hero Digital CEO Jay Dettling will join its client, Zoom, for the opening keynote. Additionally, Hero Digital's Chief Development Officer, David Kilimnik, will be taking the stage to discuss their digital transformation story with Zoom and how Hero Digital, Optimizely, and Zoom created a global customer experience and technology solution that leverages customer data in meaningful ways. This presentation will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 2:30  3:15 p.m. PT.

"We're thrilled to become an Optimizely Platinum Partner and can't wait to join them and our shared client, Zoom, at the Opticon conference," said Jay Dettling, CEO of Hero Digital. "Our teams will take the main stage to showcase how Hero Digital, Optimizely, and Zoom matched explosive growth with a customer experience backed by data. Business leaders looking to prepare their organizations for future digital experiences shouldn't miss this session."

Optimizely's Digital Experience Platform provides content management (CMS), content marketing (CMP), orchestration, commerce, experimentation, analytics, and personalization on one screen. A recently commissioned Total Economic Impact study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Optimizely found that over three years, a composite organization realized 370% return on investment (ROI), $9.84 million net present value (NPV).

Along with low total cost of ownership, Optimizely gives teams greater agility to respond to trends and market conditions as well as provides smarter customer intelligence to reach the "right" potential customers and provide more relevant content that engages and converts.

"Optimizely is proud to have this relationship with a world-class partner like Hero Digital. Together we are delivering exceptional projects to customers on a first-class platform that optimizes the end-to-end digital experience," said Jessica Dannemann, Chief Worldwide Partner Ecosystem for Optimizely. "Hero Digital has risen to the occasion to earn Platinum status and identify as a partner that is experienced in leveraging the Optimizely product portfolio to help growing companies unleash their digital potential."

Visit the Hero Digital booth at Opticon to speak with their experts about the innovative work they're doing as platinum partners with Optimizely.

About Hero Digital

Hero Digital is a leading independent customer experience company leveraging strategy, design, technology, marketing, and data, to solve the critical digital transformation needs of the Fortune 1000. Hero Digital creates new business growth by transforming the complete digital customer experience, enabling people and brands to prosper. Hero Digital's blended teams help companies like Comcast, U.S. Bank, Zoom, Nagase, UnitedHealthcare, and TD Ameritrade Institutional drive business growth across the customer journey.

Hero Digital Contact:

Mattie Van Gundy, Account Supervisor

713-409-1835

[email protected]

About Optimizely

At Optimizely, we're on a mission to help people unlock their digital potential. We do that by reinventing how marketing and product teams work to create and optimize digital experiences across all channels. With our leading digital experience platform (DXP), we help companies around the world orchestrate their entire content lifecycle, monetize every digital experience and experiment across all customer touchpoints. Optimizely has 700+ partners and nearly 1500 employees across our 21 global offices. We are proud to help more than 10,000 businesses, including H&M, PayPal, Zoom, Toyota and Vodafone, enrich their customer lifetime value, increase revenue and grow their brands. At Optimizely, we live each day with a simple philosophy: large enough to serve, small enough to care. Learn more at optimizely.com.

Optimizely Contacts:

Rachel Teitt Gill

Sr. Director, Global Communications

+1 740-815-1588

[email protected]

Victoria Johnson

Sr. Manager, Global Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Hero Digital
JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hisense, a global leader in innovation and quality, has forged an exclusive partnership with Makro, a prominent South African retail giant, in a move that is set to redefine the world of home appliances in South Africa. This exciting collaboration heralds the launch of Hisense's eagerly anticipated Premium Smart Range products, marking a significant step towards Hisense's strategic shift towards a premium brand.

Embarking on a Journey of Innovation: Hisense and Makro Collaborate in an Exclusive Partnership, Bringing Tomorrow's Technology to You Today, with the Exciting Launch of the Premium Fridge Range

The Hisense and Makro partnership represents a powerful union between two industry leaders dedicated to delivering unparalleled value and innovation to consumers. Makro, known for its commitment to exceptional customer experiences, and Hisense, renowned for its cutting-edge technology and superior craftsmanship, have come together to offer South Africans an exceptional array of exquisitely designed smart fridges that transcend traditional expectations.

At the heart of this partnership lies the introduction of Hisense's Premium Smart Range, a collection of home appliances designed to enhance and simplify the lives of South African consumers. The highlight of this range is the all-new Premium Smart Fridges, representing a significant step forward in modern home appliances.

Hisense's Premium Smart Fridges are not just refrigerators; they are a glimpse into the future of home appliances. These fridges combine efficient cooling with groundbreaking features, including Smart Touchscreen technology and seamless integration with other smart devices. They represent a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality, setting new standards for what consumers can expect from their home appliances.

This partnership and the launch of the Premium Smart Range reinforce Hisense's commitment to moving in a premium direction. Hisense is dedicated to providing South African consumers with access to top-tier technology and products that redefine the way they interact with their homes. The Premium Smart Range is a testament to Hisense's pursuit of excellence and innovation.

Hisense and Makro share a vision where consumers not only acquire products but also experience transformative moments in their daily lives. As this partnership unfolds, South Africans can look forward to a revolution in the way they perceive and interact with home appliances. This collaboration promises not only unmatched value but also a glimpse of tomorrow's technology today.

Media Enquiries:

Van Der Merwe Henru

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2242975/Embarking_a_Journey_Innovation_Hisense_Makro_Collaborate_Exclusive_Partnership_Bringing.jpg

SOURCE Hisense South Africa
Single data platform will provide a simplified experience to consume and manage block, file, object, and mainframe data, with flexible consumption as an appliance or software-defined across public cloud and on-premises

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Addressing the critical challenges facing IT leaders, many of whom are striving to scale data and modernize applications across complex, distributed hybrid and multicloud infrastructure, Hitachi Vantara, the modern infrastructure, data management, and digital solutions subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced the transformation of its existing data storage portfolio with the introduction of Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One a single hybrid cloud data platform. Having a common data plane across structured and unstructured data in block, file, and object storage allows businesses to run different types of applications anywhere  on-premises and in the public cloud, without the complexities many are faced with today.

For more information about Hitachi Vantara's Virtual Storage Platform One, visit.

https://www.hitachivantara.com/VirtualStoragePlatformOne

The strategic announcement of Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One comes at a critical time for organizations as generative AI, cloud, and the explosive growth of enterprise data drive seismic shifts in operations and innovation. A recent report highlighted how data-intensive technologies and applications are exacerbating the already-strained infrastructure and hybrid cloud environments on which they run, with six in 10 business leaders already overwhelmed by the amount of data they store, and 75% concerned their current infrastructure will be unable to scale for the future. According to an Uptime Institute data resiliency survey, 80% of data center managers and operators have experienced some type of outage in the past three years.

Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One represents a simplified approach to managing mission critical workloads at scale, delivering a unified architecture to efficiently manage these challenges by providing one control plane, data fabric, and data plane across block, file, object, cloud, mainframe, and software-defined storage workloads  a data platform that will address all environments  and managed by a single AI-enabled software stack. By eliminating infrastructure, data, and application silos, Virtual Storage Platform One empowers businesses with a trusted data foundation that enables them to consume the data they need, when and where they need it.

"Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One marks a significant milestone with our infrastructure strategy. With a consistent data platform, we will provide businesses with the reliability and flexibility to manage their data across various storage environments without compromise," said Dan McConnell, senior vice president, product management for storage and data infrastructure, Hitachi Vantara. "The design, development, and construction of Virtual Storage Platform One, with a focus on reliability, security, and sustainability, further enhances the impact for our customers."

"Our partnership with Hitachi Vantara has been instrumental in allowing us to help organizations optimize their cloud journeys and avoid costly pitfalls that hinder digital transformation success," said Mauro Guzelotto, vice president of cloud services, T-Systems North America. "Hitachi Vantara's Virtual Storage Platform One represents the next evolution of sustainable infrastructure, delivering reliability and simplicity at scale across diverse applications and data types."

With Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One, organizations can efficiently manage their workloads and data resources, including:

Cloud self-service that enables users to rapidly consume advanced data services like replication at cloud-scale, without waiting for back-end manual work.

that enables users to rapidly consume advanced data services like replication at cloud-scale, without waiting for back-end manual work. Intelligent workload management to optimize storage pools by assigning and rebalancing workloads as conditions change, without hands-on management.

to optimize storage pools by assigning and rebalancing workloads as conditions change, without hands-on management. Integrated copy data management to ensure global availability and superior fault tolerance without impacting performance using industry-leading replication and synchronous active storage clusters.

"By consolidating their entire storage portfolio into a singular, cohesive platform, Hitachi Vantara has achieved a transformative milestone, streamlining operations and fostering significant data accessibility for organizations grappling with the complexities of data management," said Ashish Nadkarni, Group Vice President and General Manager, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technologies at IDC. "The significance of this rollout lies in the platform's ability to offer a unified data plane, seamlessly spanning across block, file, object, mainframe, cloud, and SDS workloads."

Hitachi Vantara Architecting Future Innovations with Data Online Event

With the rapid rise of generative AI, multicloud, and the explosive growth of data, there are seismic shifts happening in innovation. Is your data infrastructure built for this fast-evolving future? Join us for an interactive conversation with Hitachi Vantara thought leaders and strategic partners.

Event: Architecting Future Innovations with Data (click to register)

When: October 10, 2023  8:00 AM (PDT)

Details: Chandana Gopal, research director for IDC's Future of Intelligence, and leading voice in integration and analytics, will keynote the event. Gopal's research emphasizes how organizations can build enterprise intelligence and use it as a competitive differentiator and growth accelerator. Monica Kumar, CMO of Hitachi Vantara, will lead a thoughtful conversation with industry experts. In the event, Hitachi Vantara will be unveiling its visionary strategy that will bring clarity to the complex world of data.

Roundtable Participants:

Sheila Rohra , president of storage and data infrastructure, Hitachi Vantara Mauro Guzelotto, vice president of cloud services, T-Systems North America Dan McConnell , senior vice president of product management for storage and data infrastructure, Hitachi Vantara



The introduction of Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One capabilities will begin in early 2024 with new file and public cloud offerings. Through 2024, additional capabilities will be introduced to expand support of customers' workloads. For more information about Virtual Storage Platform One, please click here.

Additional Resources

Connect With Hitachi Vantara

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., delivers the intelligent data platforms, infrastructure systems, and digital expertise that supports more than 80% of the Fortune 100. To learn how Hitachi Vantara turns businesses from data-rich to data-driven through agile digital processes, products, and experiences, visit www.hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services"  supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility"  contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems; and "Connective Industries"  connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hitachi Vantara
HEFEI, China, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iFLYTEK joined the Water Network Intelligent Technology Company of China South-to-North Water Diversion Group and eleven enterprises, universities, and research institutes at the XVIII World Water Congress in Beijing to launch the "Water Network Digital Industry Chain Innovation Alliance." Feng Xiang, Vice President of iFLYTEK, and Qin Ping, General Manager of the Department of Water Conservancy, attended the event.

iFLYTEK has long been a leader in water conservation and management. This year, iFLYTEK has partnered with the city of Yulin to lead the development of A.I.-enabled digital infrastructure to support the Longyun Irrigation District development and ensure effective water resource management. Additionally, the company created a water emergency resource service platform that uses real-time monitoring for flood and drought warnings.

The Water Network Digital Industry Chain Innovation Alliance will focus on the research and development of modern water network models, data governance, intelligent applications, and standard systems to create a technology innovation and communication platform that seamlessly integrates industry, academia, research, and application.

During the organization's launch, Feng Xiang expressed iFLYTEK's commitment to actively exploring the application of the iFLYTEK Spark Desk in the construction of smart water networks. iFLYTEK aims to create comprehensive, efficient smart water networks with safety and reliability built into them.

The iFLYTEK Spark Desk has already been applied to Xiaozhu, the intelligent voice robot developed by the Pearl River Water Conservancy Research Institute of the Pearl River Water Conservancy Commission. With Spark Desk, Xiaozhu quickly and accurately addresses questions about water conservancy and provides information support to working staff.

iFLYTEK has been actively exploring the application of Spark Desk and its cutting-edge technologies in water conservancy projects. iFLYTEK looks forward to further collaborating with its ecological partners through the alliance and making meaningful contributions to the intelligent construction and high-quality development of water networks.

About iFLYTEK  iFLYTEK is a listed company in the Asia-Pacific Region focusing on intelligent speech and technology. For more information, please visit https://www.iflytek.com/en/.

SOURCE iFLYTEK
Case of four forcibly disappeared human rights defenders litigated by RFK Human Rights, CERJ

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. CST on October 11 on the case of Perez Lucas et al. v. Guatemala , the four human rights defenders forcibly disappeared by the Guatemalan Army in 1989 whose whereabouts continue to be unknown.

During the hearing, the Court will receive the testimony of Pedro Mateo, the son of Nicolas Mateo, one of the four defenders who were forcibly disappeared. The court will also hear from expert witness Dr. Jo-Marie Burt, who will talk about the case and the broader context of impunity that persists in Guatemala for cases of serious violations of human rights during the country's internal armed conflict.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and the Consejo de Comunidades Etnicas "Runujel Junam" (CERJ) represent the victims and their families in litigating the case before the Inter-American human rights system.

Human rights defenders Agapito Perez Lucas, Nicolas Mateo, Macario Pu Chivalan and Luis Ruiz Luis were active members of CERJ who contributed to the liberation of peasants forcibly recruited by the Civil Defense Committees and Patrols during the armed conflict in Guatemala. Due to their work promoting human rights, the four defenders were subjected to threats and persecution, which culminated in their arbitrary detention and forced disappearance by members of the Guatemalan Army. Despite the public denunciations of the CERJ and international organizations, as well as the filing of numerous habeas corpus actions, the Guatemalan authorities never disclosed the defenders' whereabouts nor held any officer accountable for their actions. To date, the case remains in impunity.

The case of the four disappeared defenders is emblematic of the serious abuses committed by the Guatemalan Army during the internal armed conflict in the country, which culminated in the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996. The case also underscores the prevailing culture of impunity in Guatemala and the persistent debt of the Guatemalan State with the victims of serious human rights violations.

"34 years after the Army abducted and disappeared these brave human rights defenders, their families will finally be heard," said Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. "Guatemala's debt to the victims of serious human rights abuses committed by the State has not been paid, and the current attacks on democracy and the rule of law in the country make it more relevant than ever to hold the Government accountable. Justice delayed is justice denied. It's long past time."

"The pain of these four families is a reflection of the pain shared by countless families victimized by Guatemala's brutal state repression. We remain hopeful that the families will finally obtain justice before the Court," said Amilcar Mendez, founder of CERJ. "It has been impressive to see how these families have endured so many years of suffering, and honestly, I cannot understand how they have survived. We, who have remained patient and steadfast in our fight for justice, continue to support this just cause."

The hearing will be live-streamed (in Spanish only) here .

About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights:

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issues championing change-makers and pursuing strategic litigation in the United States and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter: @RFKHumanRights.

SOURCE Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
CALGARY, AB, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A passionate and dedicated immigrant advocate, Irma Goosen is on a mission to help those who have made the laborious legal journey and dared to dream a different reality. Scheduled to speak the week of National Immigration Day (U.S.) on October 28, Goosen provides insight, support, and resources  including her framework C.O.N.N.E.C.T. which stands for Communication, Open-minded, Network, Nurture, Explore, Cultivate  to families through third party agencies. Overall, her key mandate is to help families better integrate into their chosen communities by working with them and their businesses and/or employers.

Irma Goosen, Immigrant Advocate, at a recent speaking engagement. Irma Goosen, Immigrant advocate, TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, author, 7-Step Program: C.O.N.N.E.C.T - Communication, Open-minded, Network, Nurture, Explore, Collaborate, Thrive.

"Drawing on my technical experience, I strategically tackle challenges these families encounter by introducing soft skills so they could integrate within their communities," said Goosen, an immigrant herself originally from South Africa. She also brings awareness of how legal immigration can benefit a country, be it stepping into leadership roles, volunteering, or working. "In my roles as both a speaker and author, I spotlight their experiences and help bring humanity to their struggles and victories."

Goosen is set to further empower immigrant families to integrate into their communities with her upcoming October 23rd speaking engagement at Oxford University in the UK. There, she'll focus on three key takeaways: the nuances of the difference between legal and illegal immigration; why we should advocate for immigrant inclusiveness; and why we should celebrate the shared dreams and the rich diversity immigrants bring.

"Thanks to Irma's program, my family grasped the significance of assimilating into our community promptly," said a recent immigrant to the U.S. who Goosen worked with. "We realized we needed to be self-reliant as adults, rather than depending on our children. It was our privilege to be included in her inaugural program."

About Irma Goosen -- A TEDx speaker, a keynote speaker, and an author, Goosen has lived in Alberta, Canada for the past 23 years. Born and raised in South Africa, she and her family initially immigrated to the United States in 1996, then moved north four years later. As a professional speaker, her goal is to help legal immigrants adapt as soon as they possibly can. She believes, "When we help families, we help the youth." She's always been deeply passionate about helping young people and has collaborated with them in numerous capacities. Along with her Oxford University speaking engagement, Goosen wrote and developed a TEDx Talk called, "Surviving Immigration," that will be aired later this month.

For Media Inquiries Contact:

Selly Principio-George, PRINCIPIO PR

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 403.703.4440

SOURCE Irma Goosen
"No Address" movie to be released in Summer 2024 by Robert Craig Films, aspires to foster both understanding and compassion concerning the ongoing homeless crisis

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jay DeMarcus , of Rascal Flatts, has touched millions with beautifully written, heartful songs for decades. His new song, "Skin Deep," for the soundtrack of "No Address ," emotionally compounds the film's storytelling about homelessness in America, bringing a more profound connection for the viewers to the plight of millions who face the epidemic daily. The movie from Robert Craig Films will be released in the summer of 2024.

Jay DeMarcus, of Rascal Flatts, has touched millions with beautifully written, heartful songs for decades. His new song, "Skin Deep," for the soundtrack of "No Address", emotionally compounds the film's storytelling about homelessness in America, bringing a more profound connection for the viewers to the plight of millions who face the epidemic daily.

"When my friend Greg Lucid first came to me with this project, and I started to understand the real heart behind 'No Address' for me, it was an easy decision to be involved. The homeless epidemic in America is growing at an alarming rate, and the sad reality is, it could literally happen to anyone," says DeMarcus. "Through my own work with various charitable organizations over the years, I know first-hand that our unhoused neighbors come from all walks of life. I wrote 'Skin Deep' with Red Street Records artist Ryan Griffin and songwriter Ava Suppelsa. It was our sincere desire to paint a vivid picture of the reality and the desperation of these all-too-often forgotten and misunderstood people. I'm very proud of our song, and I'm also proud to be a part of such a meaningful and informative film."

The movie "No Address" stars renowned actors William Baldwin, Ashanti, Xander Berkeley plus several other celebrities. The compelling drama captures the heart-wrenching journey of a group of individuals experiencing homelessness. As they unite as an unconventional family, their tale sheds light on the raw and harsh realities that many face, emphasizing that homelessness can happen to anyone.

In conjunction with the "No Address" movie , Robert Craig Films has launched The Big 5 Campaign, a comprehensive media approach to foster more understanding and action for the unhoused, centered around the film and including a documentary, music, an interactive guide, and a book. The movement also integrates The Big 5 Giveback, a pledge of $1,000,000 from the Robert Craig Films Foundation, plus 50% of the net proceeds from all The Big 5 Campaign productions to assist nonprofits addressing homelessness.

"The lyrics of Skin Deep are incredibly moving," states Jennifer Stolo, CEO of Robert Craig Films. "I had chills when I first heard it and knew it conveyed the impact we are trying to make through these productions. Today is World Homeless Day and is a dedicated day to raising awareness about the needs of people who are currently experiencing homelessness. We're thrilled to be announcing this news on such an important day."

To learn more about the movie and The Big 5 Campaign to support the fight against homelessness, please visit www.NoAddressMovie.com.

About Robert Craig Films:

Robert Craig Films is a film company located in Placer County, California, with a mission to develop, create, and produce films that inspire the audience to engage with greater empathy, compassion, and generosity in the communities they live in. For more information about The Big 5 Campaign , visit www.NoAddressMovie.com .

SOURCE Robert Craig Films
KARV Team Also Adds Former TIME Magazine Journalist and CNN News Producer, Alana Abramson

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KARV Communications today announced a new name: KARV, reflecting the evolution of our industry and the services the firm provides to its growing base of global clients, including multinational corporations, governments and government-funded entities, and non-profit organizations.

KARV captures the fact that the firm's clients around the world have increasingly looked to it for strategic advisory services, public affairs/issues management, and CEO counseling capabilities  remits beyond the crisis management, litigation support and strategic PR activities that KARV has provided since its founding in 2012.

"Our new name reflects how the range of services our firm provides to clients has evolved and expanded beyond the definition of communications," said Andrew Frank, Founder and President of KARV. "While our strategic communications services remain a cornerstone offering for clients, in recent years several of our business and government clients have asked the KARV team to counsel them on complex business and organizational strategies and issues management challenges. While these assignments go hand-in-hand with our reputation management and strategic communications work, they also demand advice on a broader strategic level that can help clients navigate challenges, overcome obstacles to success, and devise pathways to growth and expansion."

The newest member of the KARV team is former journalist and news producer Alana Abramson. Alana previously served as a White House and congressional reporter for TIME Magazine and also worked for both ABC News and CNN. She holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

"KARV's foundational commitment to providing stellar service remains intact as we help clients with the strategic advice and insightful guidance they need to move forward in today's exceptionally unpredictable world," Frank concluded.

KARV has updated it website to reflects the firm's new name and enhanced capabilities. Please visit www.KARV.global for more information.

About KARV:

KARV is a boutique advisory firm based in New York City that offers strategic support to enterprises and organizations around the world. The KARV team provides insightful analysis and actionable solutions to help companies, governments, and organizations achieve their goals, seize opportunities, and solve complex problems.

KARV is recognized by Chambers & Partners as a leading provider of both Litigation Communications and Crisis PR & Communications services. KARV is a member of the Crisis & Litigation Communicator's Alliance (CLCA), a global network of PR consulting firms at the forefront of Crisis Management and Strategic Legal Communication.

Media Contact:

Eric Andrus

[email protected]

+1 212.333.0267

SOURCE KARV
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The number of people infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) in Azerbaijan over the week (from October 2 through October 8) has been announced, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

Over the week, 361 new cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in Azerbaijan, and 359 people have recovered, 5 people have died.

In general, 833,550 cases of coronavirus infection have been identified in Azerbaijan so far, of which 822,843 people have been treated and recovered. The number of active COVID-19 patients is 370. To date, 10,337 people have died from the coronavirus.

In total, 7.6 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Azerbaijan to date, of which 4,280 have been conducted over the last week. No one in the country has been vaccinated against COVID-19 over the last week. The total number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Azerbaijan is 13.9 million.
Global biopharma company encourages education and awareness around a rare bleeding disorder.

FORT LEE, N.J., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kedrion Biopharma, an international biopharmaceutical company specializing in the production and distribution of plasma-derived therapeutic products used in treating rare and serious diseases, is proud to recognize the fourth Hereditary Factor X (10) Deficiency Awareness Day on October 10, 2023. This day helps bring awareness to a rare bleeding disorder, the patients it impacts, their challenges, and the treatments that can help.

Factor X Day was launched on 10/1020 by U.K.-based Bio Products Laboratory (BPL). In 2022, Kedrion joined forces with BPL. The new Kedrion is a global player in plasma derivatives and rare disease medicines, employing more than 5,000 people worldwide.

Kedrion Biopharma is proud to recognize the fourth Hereditary Factor X (10) Deficiency Awareness Day on October 10, 2023 Post this

About one in a million people have hereditary factor X deficiency, which causes unusual or excessive bleeding or bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding in women, painful or swollen joints, nose bleeds, and bleeding gums. Although the disorder is ultra-rare, some patients with severe factor X deficiency could experience life-threatening complications like bleeding in the brain or stomach. Because symptoms vary, patients may suffer for years before being diagnosed. A simple blood test can determine whether someone has the disorder and can be treated with plasma-based treatments.

John, one of the oldest known patients with severe hereditary factor X deficiency at age 51, says it best. "Since being diagnosed when I was a year old, I have had to go to the hospital about 150 times for transfusions of fresh frozen plasma to treat bleeds that were not controlled by themselves. As someone living with hereditary factor X deficiency, I want everyone to be more aware of this rare disease and why it is so important to get care and treatment."

"We are excited for the first Hereditary Factor X Deficiency Awareness Day since Kedrion joined forces with Bio Products Laboratory in 2022," said Bob Rossilli, Chief Commercial Officer for Kedrion Biopharma. "With over 60 years of combined expertise across the United Kingdom, United States, and Italy, we are delighted to continue raising awareness for hereditary factor X deficiency and providing therapies to support patients, their caregivers, and families on the journey from diagnosis to treatment."

Kedrion is committed to providing therapies for rare diseases to improve patients' health as they manage bleeding disorders like hereditary factor X deficiency.

To learn more about hereditary factor X deficiency, visit https://www.hemophilia.org/bleeding-disorders-a-z/types/other-factor-deficiencies/factor-x.

About Kedrion

Kedrion Biopharma is a global biopharmaceutical company that collects and fractionates blood plasma to produce and distribute plasma-derived therapies for use in treating and preventing serious diseases, disorders, and conditions like plasminogen deficiency, hereditary factor X deficiency, and hemophilia. Its portfolio of 37 life-saving products is distributed in over 100 countries.

kedrion.com

Contact Information:

Sandy Sklareski

Communications Manager

[email protected]

551-255-6557

SOURCE Kedrion Biopharma
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingswood U.S., part of a network of independent wealth management firms that oversees more than $13 billion in client assets globally, today announced the opening of a new banking office in Midtown Manhattan. Headquartered in New York, Kingswood U.S., which supports more than 200 financial advisors under the Kingswood Wealth Advisors (KWA) brand, has recently experienced significant growth within its investment banking group, through Kingswood Investments, a division of Kingswood Capital Partners LLC. This expansion marks a significant milestone for Kingswood, as it continues to strengthen its presence in one of the world's most important financial hubs.

Michael Nessim, CEO, President and Managing Partner of Kingswood U.S., said, "Our continued growth has positioned our firm to provide a wider range of services to our clients and attract best-in-class advisors and investment bankers. Even in an age of remote working opportunities, we knew we needed an office space in the city center that matched our recent expansion and plans. These new offices provide us with the best physical platform for the future, as we build out an ideal base serving clients in New York and beyond"

The new office is located in the luxury office building, Tower56, at Park Avenue and 56th Street. The space is perfectly situated for the investment banking team with open workspaces, private offices and conference rooms. Designed to foster collaboration and innovation among Kingswood's highly experienced team, the office will facilitate seamless client interactions.

With easy access to key financial institutions, prestigious corporate clients and a pool of top-tier talent, this strategic expansion aligns with Kingswood's commitment to delivering enhanced, full-service in-house investment banking and capital market capabilities.

Kingswood Investments provides capital access and industry-relevant resources to mid-market businesses, aiming to strengthen them and enhance their value.

Kingswood recently opened another corporate office in Boca Raton, Florida in February to support the firm's wealth management expansion in South Florida.

About Kingswood U.S. / Kingswood Group

Kingswood U.S., part of the Kingswood Group, is a network of wealth management firms that includes an SEC-registered RIA and two FINRA-licensed broker-dealers, offering comprehensive wealth management and business-building services, designed specifically for the independent financial advisor. Together with our parent company, the Kingswood Group, has more than $13 billion in AUM, and 400 registered individuals, we combine the resources and capital of a very large financial services firm with the personalized touch and feel of a boutique company. Kingswood has earned a reputation as a firm built for advisors by advisors.

Media Contacts:

Joseph Kuo / Donald C. Cutler

Haven Tower Group

424.317.4851 or 424.317.4864

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Kingswood U.S.
E-moto maker sells 100th bike produced at its headquarters on West 65th Street in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of selling its 100th Cleveland-made electric motorcycle, LAND, an electric mobility manufacturer, announces the launch of its 'Made in Cleveland' campaign, showcasing the company's road to success and deep connection to the Rust Belt region.

LAND designs, builds its innovative e-Moto, The District, at its facility on Clevelands west side.

Founded in Cleveland in 2020, LAND quickly became a prominent player in the electric bike industry after being the first to release an e-Moto, The District, which combines the ease of use of an e-bike and the power of an e-motorcycle into one two-wheel EV. Most recently, LAND closed a successful Series A fundraise, which was oversubscribed, expanded its production team, and renovated its 30,000-square-foot facilitydriving the design and development of eco-friendly urban transportation solutions.

"We're committed to designing, building and making our e-motorcycles at our facility in the heart of Cleveland," LAND Founder and CEO Scott Colosimo says. "The campaign is a tribute to the quality manufacturing and craftsmanship that comes from this region."

One of the key milestones LAND is celebrating with this campaign is the production of its 100th electric motorcycle that signifies the company's rapid growth and support of Cleveland's economy. Another is the partnerships and relationships established since opening its headquarters. In collaboration with Greater Cleveland Partnership, LAND offers an internship program with the goal to encourage young creatives to build their careers in Cleveland. The program currently employs two engineering studentsone from Cleveland State University and the other from Case Western University. Additionally, LAND has held a series of events, test rides and facility tours this year, including a visit with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and an evening with Young ACG Cleveland.

The 'Made in Cleveland' campaign will include additional community engagement initiatives, including a partnership with Cleveland Vibes and hosting the attendees of the 2023 Forbes Under 30 Summit, which takes place on October 8-11 in Cleveland, for an electric experience at LAND.

"Our headquarters is a hub where we can connect, educate and inspire locals and people visiting Cleveland from out of town," LAND's Head of Design Evan Painter says. "After they see the design and innovation that's happening here, they start to see that the Midwest is on the rise."

To learn more, visit landmoto.io .

About LAND

Founded in 2020 by Scott Colosimo in Cleveland, Ohio, LAND is based on the principle that energy continuity and mobility are essential to modern life. LAND provides a transitional e-Moto ecosystem with a portable battery platform (CORE), a game-changing approach in the light electric vehicle industry. With products proudly manufactured in Cleveland, LAND is unwavering in its belief in American ingenuity and world-class craftsmanship. As a design-forward company, LAND is dedicated to constantly evolving to meet the needs of their customers, everyday consumers and businesses looking for energy efficiency. For more information on LAND, visit landmoto.io; like us on Facebook ( Facebook.com/LandMo.to ); follow us on Instagram ( @Land_Moto ); or watch us on YouTube ( youtube.com/c/LANDEnergy ) and TikTok ( @Land_Moto ).

SOURCE LAND
 Clinical findings from historical manuscript published in Clinical Drug Investigation reinforce the efficacy, safety profile, and use of Acthar Gel in appropriate patients across 12 autoimmune and inflammatory indications1 

 Economic findings from manuscript published in ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research support Acthar Gel's clinical and economic benefits for patients across nine autoimmune and inflammatory indications2 

DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (OTCMKTS: MNKTQ), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the publication of two journal manuscripts reinforcing the clinical and economic evidence supporting the efficacy, safety profile, continued use, and cost-effectiveness of Acthar Gel for appropriate patients across a range of FDA-approved autoimmune and inflammatory disease indications.1,2

Mallinckrodt's clinical manuscript titled "Acthar Gel Treatment for Patients with Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases: A Historical Perspective and Characterization of Clinical Evidence" was published on October 4, 2023 in the journal, Clinical Drug Investigation. Mallinckrodt's health economics manuscript titled "Acthar Gel (RCI): A Narrative Literature Review of Clinical and Economic Evidence" was published on June 24, 2023 in ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research.

Acthar is a naturally sourced complex mixture of adrenocorticotropic hormone analogs and other pituitary peptides. Acthar Gel is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of several autoimmune disorders and medical conditions known to cause inflammation.3

Please see indications and Important Safety Information below.

Authored by Jeffrey Kaplan, M.D., Kansas City Multiple Sclerosis & Headache Center, and colleagues, "Acthar Gel Treatment for Patients with Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases: A Historical Perspective and Characterization of Clinical Evidence," sought to review the history of Acthar and the findings of existing literature on preclinical and clinical studies that have investigated the mechanism of action, safety profile, efficacy, and real-world effectiveness of Acthar. The indications addressed in the study include the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis and polymyositis (DM/PM), multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse, inflammatory ocular diseases, sarcoidosis, and nephrotic syndrome (NS).1

As a result of this analysis spanning more than 20 preclinical mechanistic studies and 15 clinical studies with a combined enrollment of approximately 900 patients, and the publication of over 500 manuscripts and abstracts to date, the findings reinforce the safety profile, efficacy, and usage of Acthar in appropriate patients with inflammatory diseases for whom standard treatments may have become ineffective or associated with intolerable side effects.1

"Acthar Gel has an established efficacy and safety profile supported by robust clinical research and experience," said Dr. Kaplan. "For patients and providers managing the challenges associated with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, the findings of this study further elucidate Acthar's proposed mechanism of action and reinforce the extensive history of clinical evidence that has shown its potential to improve health and treatment outcomes across a range of FDA-approved indications."1

This publication is accompanied by an Audiocast.

All six authors across specialties representing key Acthar Gel indications researched in this study discuss a brief overview of the manuscript, including the history of Acthar, its mechanism of action (MOA), and clinical characteristics, in addition to introductions on each author and reflections on their own personal experiences with Acthar in clinical practice.

Authored by George J. Wan, Ph.D., M.P.H., Vice President, Evidence Generation and Data Sciences at Mallinckrodt, and colleagues, "Acthar Gel (RCI): A Narrative Literature Review of Clinical and Economic Evidence" reviewed key studies of clinical efficacy and healthcare resource utilization and cost from 1956 to 2022 to summarize the key clinical and economic findings among nine FDA-approved Acthar Gel indications: infantile spasms (IS), MS relapse, RA, SLE, DM/PM, ocular inflammatory diseases (primary uveitis and severe keratitis), symptomatic sarcoidosis, and proteinuria in NS.2

This analysis found that among all nine medical conditions studied, Acthar has shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms, improving functioning and well-being, reducing disease relapse, and/or increasing disease remission. 2

Economic data from this analysis suggests that Acthar is a cost-effective, value-based treatment option for MS relapse, RA, and SLE. Other economic benefits have been demonstrated for IS, MS relapses, RA, SLE, and DM/PM, including reduced hospitalizations, length of stay, inpatient and outpatient services, and emergency department visits.2

"The findings of this health-economics analysis deepen our understanding of Acthar's ability to serve as a cost-effective, value-based treatment option across multiple FDA-approved indications studied  including how appropriate use of Acthar may be associated with reduction of healthcare utilization costs such as total hospitalizations, patient length of stay, and concurrent treatment burden, such as the use of corticosteroids,"2 said Wan.

Data collected in a retrospective analysis may have errors or omissions. Outcomes may be influenced by therapies not evaluated in the study and the clinical outcomes may not be solely attributable to Acthar.

These studies were funded by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

ABOUT DERMATOMYOSITIS/POLYMYOSITIS (DM/PM)

DM/PM are rare inflammatory diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness,4 usually in the muscles closest to the trunk of the body.5 For instance, muscle weakness associated with PM involves those in the hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms, and neck.6 DM also causes skin rashes.7 People of all ages can be affected, though it usually occurs between the ages of 40-60 and is more common in women.7,8

ABOUT INFANTILE SPASMS (IS)

IS is a rare seizure disorder that affects approximately 2,500 children in the U.S. every year.9 It most commonly occurs between three and seven months of age.9 Sometimes called West syndrome, IS demands early identification, diagnosis, and treatment to help limit lasting effects.9 Children with IS generally have one or more of the following symptoms: a certain type of seizure (called "spasms"), a disorganized and chaotic brain-wave pattern called hypsarrhythmia as recorded on an EEG (electroencephalogram).10

ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)

MS is a chronic neurologic disorder that affects the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord).11 Symptoms can include fatigue, mobility issues, numbness or tingling, vision problems, muscle spasticity, tremors, and cognitive changes.12,13 More than eight in 10 people with MS will experience a relapse, or flare-up, that brings new or worsening symptoms.12

ABOUT PROTEINURIA IN NEPHROTIC SYNDROME (NS)

NS is a collection of symptoms that occur when the blood vessels in the kidney begin to leak excess protein in the urine, a condition called proteinuria.14 A variety of diseases and underlying disorders damage the kidneys and cause proteinuria in people with NS.14 These etiologies can include glomerular diseases such as: idiopathic membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, minimal change disease, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, and IgA nephropathy.15,16,17,18 In these and other related disorders, the glomeruli, or small blood vessels that work as the kidney's filtering system, are damaged.14

Proteinuria is one of the most important adverse prognostic factors for progression to end stage renal failure in patients with glomerular disease. One of the goals of treating NS includes reducing or eliminating proteinuria.19

ABOUT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)

RA is an autoimmune disease.20 It is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints  all symptoms caused by inflammation.20 An estimated 1.5 million U.S. adults are living with RA.20

ABOUT SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)

SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies to cells within the body leading to possible inflammation and tissue damage.21 It is the most common form of lupus,21 a condition that impacts an estimated 1.5 million Americans.22 Far more of those diagnosed with lupus are women, often between the ages of 15-44.21 Lupus is characterized by periods of illness "flares" and remissions and the disease can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.21 Symptoms may include fatigue, pain or swelling in joints, skin rashes, and fevers.21

ABOUT SYMPTOMATIC SARCOIDOSIS

Sarcoidosis is a challenging and rare multisystem disease.23 In some cases, the symptoms may come and go throughout a lifetime.23 This is referred to as symptomatic sarcoidosis.23 In people with sarcoidosis the immune system overreacts, forming clumps of cells called granulomas that result in inflammation to the body's tissues.24 The disease can impact any organ, but it most often impacts the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and skin.25 Nearly 90 percent of people with sarcoidosis will suffer lung problems.25 Concomitant involvement of organs outside of the lungs is common, occurring in more than half of all sarcoidosis cases, according to one study.26

ABOUT UVEITIS

Uveitis is a mix of acute or chronic inflammatory eye disorders that affects the uveal tract (a layer of tissue just behind the outer layer of the eye) and adjacent structures, including the sclera, cornea, vitreous humor, retina, and optic nerve head.27,28,29,30 Symptoms vary based on the site of inflammation, but can include decreased vision, eye pain, tearing, redness, light sensitivity, and floaters.27,28 Uveitis has numerous etiologies, associated conditions, and underlying immune responses that complicate its diagnosis and treatment.28,31 Uveitis accounts for up to 10% of cases of legal blindness in the United States. In the United States, the annual incidence (occurrence of new cases) of uveitis ranges between 17.4 and 52.4 per 100,000 person-years.32,33,34 It most affects individuals of working age.28

ABOUT SEVERE KERATITIS

Keratitis is a painful inflammation of the cornea which can result in partial or total loss of vision if left untreated and is a significant cause of ocular morbidity around the world.35 It can result from infectious agents (e.g., microbes including bacteria, fungi, amebae, and viruses) or from non-infectious causes (e.g., eye trauma, chemical exposure, and ultraviolet exposure).36 Conditions that affect the integrity of the ocular surface epithelium (exposure keratitis, neurotrophic keratitis, keratomalacia, recurrent corneal erosions) may also lead to development of sterile corneal ulcers.37 Non-infectious corneal ulcers may be associated with various collagen vascular or other autoimmune diseases, sometimes as the presenting sign of the disease.37

INDICATIONS

Acthar Gel is indicated for:

Inducing a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus

Monotherapy for the treatment of infantile spasms in infants and children under 2 years of age

Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. Controlled clinical trials have shown Acthar to be effective in speeding the resolution of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis. However, there is no evidence that it affects the ultimate outcome or natural history of the disease

Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as: keratitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis, optic neuritis, chorioretinitis, anterior segment inflammation

Symptomatic sarcoidosis

Treatment during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic lupus erythematosus

Treatment during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of dermatomyositis (polymyositis)

Adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy); ankylosing spondylitis

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

Acthar is contraindicated:

For intravenous administration

In infants under 2 years of age who have suspected congenital infections

With concomitant administration of live or live attenuated vaccines in patients receiving immunosuppressive doses of Acthar

In patients with scleroderma, osteoporosis, systemic fungal infections, ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of the presence of a peptic ulcer, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, primary adrenocortical insufficiency, adrenocortical hyperfunction, or sensitivity to proteins of porcine origin

Warnings and Precautions

The adverse effects of Acthar are related primarily to its steroidogenic effects

Acthar may increase susceptibility to new infection or reactivation of latent infections

Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may occur following prolonged therapy with the potential for adrenal insufficiency after withdrawal of the medication. Adrenal insufficiency may be minimized by tapering of the dose when discontinuing treatment. During recovery of the adrenal gland patients should be protected from the stress (e.g., trauma or surgery) by the use of corticosteroids. Monitor patients for effects of HPA axis suppression after stopping treatment

Cushing's syndrome may occur during therapy but generally resolves after therapy is stopped. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms

Acthar can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and hypokalemia. Monitor blood pressure and sodium and potassium levels

Acthar often acts by masking symptoms of other diseases/disorders. Monitor patients carefully during and for a period following discontinuation of therapy

Acthar can cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and gastric ulcer. There is also an increased risk for perforation in patients with certain GI disorders. Monitor for signs of perforation and bleeding

Acthar may be associated with central nervous system effects ranging from euphoria, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression to psychosis. Existing conditions may be aggravated

Patients with comorbid disease may have that disease worsened. Caution should be used when prescribing Acthar in patients with diabetes and myasthenia gravis

Prolonged use of Acthar may produce cataracts, glaucoma, and secondary ocular infections. Monitor for signs and symptoms

Acthar is immunogenic and prolonged administration of Acthar may increase the risk of hypersensitivity reactions. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported in the postmarketing setting. Neutralizing antibodies with chronic administration may lead to loss of endogenous ACTH and Acthar activity

There may be an enhanced effect in patients with hypothyroidism and in those with cirrhosis of the liver

Long-term use may have negative effects on growth and physical development in children. Monitor pediatric patients

Decrease in bone density may occur. Bone density should be monitored in patients on long-term therapy

Adverse Reactions

Commonly reported postmarketing adverse reactions for Acthar include injection site reaction, asthenic conditions (including fatigue, malaise, asthenia, and lethargy), fluid retention (including peripheral swelling), insomnia, headache, and blood glucose increased

The most common adverse reactions for the treatment of infantile spasms (IS) are increased risk of infections, convulsions, hypertension, irritability, and pyrexia. Some patients with IS progress to other forms of seizures; IS sometimes masks theses seizures, which may become visible once the clinical spasms from IS resolve

Pregnancy

Acthar may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman

Please see full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.

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 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 contains forward-looking statements, including with regard to Acthar Gel, its potential to improve health and treatment outcomes, its ability to reduce healthcare utilization costs, and 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 or adverse side effects or adverse reactions associated with Acthar; pricing pressure on Mallinckrodt's products due to legal changes or changes in insurers' reimbursement practices from recent increased public scrutiny of healthcare and pharmaceutical costs; the reimbursement practices of governmental health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers and other third-party payers; 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

Green Room Communications

954-816-6003

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Daniel J. Speciale

Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Specialty Generics

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.

2023 Mallinckrodt. US-2300691 9/23

References

1 Data on File. Ref-06841. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

2 Wan GJ., Niewoehner J., Hayes K. Acthar Gel (RCI): A Narrative Literature Review of Clinical and Economic Evidence. ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research. 2023; 15:499-512. https://doi.org/10.2147/CEOR.S410082

3 Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) [prescribing information]. Mallinckrodt ARD LLC.

4 Types of Myositis. The Myositis Association. Available at: http://www.myositis.org./learn-about-myositis/types-of-myositis. Accessed August 2023.

5 Medline Plus. Myositis. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/myositis.html. Accessed August 2023.

6 Mayo Clinic. Polymyositis. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polymyositis/basics/symptoms/con-20020710. Accessed August 2023.

7 Rheumatology Center. About Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis. Available at: https://www.actharrheumatology.com/dermatomyositis-and-polymyositis/about-dermatomyositis-and-polymyositis. Accessed August 2023.

8 Bernatsky S, et al. Estimating the prevalence of polymyositis and dermatomyositis from administrative data: age, sex and regional differences. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;68:1192-1196.

9 Wheless J, Gibson P, Rosbeck K, et al. Infantile spasms (West syndrome): update and resources for pediatricians and providers to share with parents. BMC Pediatrics. 2012;12(1):108. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-12-108.

10 Go CY, Mackay MT, Weiss SK, et al. Evidence-based guideline update: medical treatment of infantile spasms. Neurology. 2012; 78:1974-1980.

11 Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Get Educated-Common Questions-Multiple Sclerosis. Available at: https://www.acthar.com/Static/pdf/IS_Caregiver_Brochure_English.pdf. Accessed August 2023.

12 National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS/Relapsing-remitting-MS. Accessed August 2023.

13 National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS Symptoms & Signs of MS. Available at: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms. Accessed September 2023.

14 National Institute of Health. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases. Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults. 2020. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/nephrotic-syndrome-adults. Accessed September 2023.

15 NephCure Kidney International. Nephrotic Syndrome. Available at https://nephcure.org/livingwithkidneydisease/understanding-golmerular-disease/understanding-nephrotic-syndrome/. Accessed September 2023

16 NephCure Kidney International. Focal Segmentation Glomerulosclerosis. Available at https://nephcure.app.box.com/s/rc98yosh958s00ea0g44d1pul8iesz9a/. Accessed September 2023.

17 NIDDK. IgA Nephropathy. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/iga-nephropathy/. Accessed September 2023.

18 Satpathy HK. IgA Nephropathy. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013. 1st ed. St Louis: Mosby; 2012; 570-571.

19 Troyanov et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2005;16(4):10611068.

20 What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php. Accessed August 2023.

21 Lupus Detailed Fact Sheet. 2018. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/facts/detailed.html#previnc. Accessed September 2023.

22 Lupus Foundation of America. National Resource Center on Lupus. Lupus Fact and Statistics. 2018. Available at: https://resources.lupus.org/entry/facts-and-statistics. Accessed September 2023.

23 Sarcoidosis. American College of Chest Physicians. Available at: http://chestnet.org/sarcoid. Accessed September 2023.

24 Sarcoidosis Overview. 2019. Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseaes/11863-sarcoidosis-overview. Accessed September 2023.

25 Judson MA, Boan AD, Lackland DT. The Clinical Course of Sarcoidosis: Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment in a Large White and Black Cohort in the United States. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2012. 29(2);119-127.

26 Chopra I, et al. Repository Corticotropin Injection in Patients with Advanced Symptomatic Sarcoidosis: Retrospective Analysis of Medical Records. Ther Adv Res Dis. 2019(13);1-11. DOI: 10.1177/1753466619888127.

27 Barisani-Asenbauer T, Maca SM, Mejdoubi L, Emminger W, Machold K, Auer H. Uveitisa rare disease often associated with systemic diseases and infectionsa systematic review of 2619 patients. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2012;7:57.

28 Mustafa M, Muthusamy P, Hussain SS, Shimmi SC, Sein MM. Uveitis: pathogenesis, clinical presentations and treatment. IOSR J Pharm. 2014;4:42-47.

29 Guly CM, Forrester JV. Investigation and management of uveitis. BMJ. 2010;341:c4976.

30 Chan CC, Li Q. Immunopathology of uveitis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1998;82:91-99.

31 Lee RWJ, Dick AD. Current concepts and future directions in the pathogenesis and treatment of non-infectious intraocular inflammation. Eye. 2012;26(1):17-28. doi:10.1038/eye.2011.255.

32 Acharya, NR, Tham VM, Esterberg E, et al. Incidence and prevalence of uveitis: results from the Pacific Ocular Inflammation Study. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2013;131:1405-1412.

33 Gritz DC, Wong IG. Incidence and prevalence of uveitis in Northern California; the Northern California Epidemiology of Uveitis Study. Ophthalmology. 2004;111:491-500; discussion 500.

34 Suhler EB, Lloyd MJ, Choi D, Rosenbaum JT, Austin DF Incidence and prevalence of uveitis in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers of the Pacific Northwest. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 2008;146:890.e8896.e8

35 Sharma S. Keratitis. Bioscience Reports. 2001;21:419-444.

36 Collier SA, Gronostaj MP, MacGurn, AK, Cope JR, Awsumb KL, Yoder JS, et al. Estimated burden of keratitis--United States, 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(45):10271030.

37 Donzis PB, Mondino BJ. Management of noninfectious corneal ulcers. Surv Ophthalmol. 1987;32:94110.

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc (TSX: MFI) and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security is contributing $250,000 to the Healthy Students Brighter Ontario campaign to support the expansion of the Student Nutrition Program and the First Nations Student Nutrition Program in Ontario.

In addition to private sector donations raised through the campaign, the province is contributing $5 million in additional funding, bringing total provincial funding in 2023 to $38 million. This will enable the program to deliver almost 90 million nutritious meals and snacks to over 600,000 students.

Food insecurity in Canada has reached crisis levels, with one in four children now living in a home that struggles to access food," said Sarah Stern, Executive Director of the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security. "While school food programs will not solve this growing issue, they do provide immediate support without stigma for students who go to school without adequate nutrition. We commend the province of Ontario for this further investment to help all children learn and thrive."

The Student Nutrition Program is delivered in partnership with local agencies, school boards, and community partner organizations, and the First Nations Student Nutrition Program is delivered through a First Nations-led process. Both programs provide breakfast, snacks or lunch programs to school-aged children and play a vital role in supporting students' nutritional needs and promoting positive academic outcomes. Organizations and businesses that want to get involved can contact Student Nutrition Ontario.

"Proper nutrition is an important foundation for academic success, and students should have access to healthy and nutritious food to support their growing minds and bodies," said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. "We are grateful for the generosity of our partners, local community members and volunteers who contribute their time and money to help the next generation succeed. I commend their work and encourage Ontarians to get involved to support the success of Ontario students."

"What is urgently required is a joint federal-provincial approach to structurally reduce food insecurity. We urge governments to align behind a goal to reduce food insecurity by 50% by 2030. The tools to reach this goal are within our reach. They include implementation of an adequate Canada Disability Benefit, more supports for populations who are disproportionately impacted, scaling up programs such as food prescriptions and tax benefit and social service navigation," concluded Ms. Stern.

About the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security

The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security ("the Centre") is a registered charity committed to working collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The Centre advocates for critical public policies and invests in knowledge building and programs that advance the capacity of people and communities to achieve sustainable food security. The Centre was created in 2016 and is governed by a board of directors, including four independent experts.

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. ("Maple Leaf Foods") is a carbon neutral company with a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth, responsibly producing food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Schneiders, Schneiders Country Naturals, Mina, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., Lightlife and Field Roast. Maple Leaf Foods employs approximately 14,000 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).

Follow us on X:

@FeedOpportunity

@MapleLeafFoods

SOURCE Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security
For clients that love luxurious knitwear and elevated basics that combine sophistication with comfort, they must meet Margaret!

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Margaret O'Leary, California based luxury knitwear brand, announces the West Coast portion of its 2023 Shop with Margaret series. The West Coast series will kick off in the Portland, Oregon boutique. Join Margaret O'Leary for an afternoon of sips, sweets and shopping. Margaret will be on hand to offer style tips and share a special preview of her favorite pieces from the new collection.

Feel the difference and be cozy. Wrap yourself in luxury.

Meet the humble designer who started her career based on the idea to create garments that make her clients happy when they are wearing them. Designed with a relaxed California aesthetic, her collection of signature sweaters and elevated casuals combine the finest natural fabrics with artisanal details to create effortless essentials made to be lived in for a lifetime.

"My customers are my muses," said Margaret O'Leary, Designer and founder of her namesake brand. "I treasure the Meet Margaret events as it is an amazing opportunity for me to meet and learn more about the women we create for."

Margaret creates luxurious knitwear and elevated basics that combine sophistication with comfort, each piece is meticulously crafted using the finest natural yarns and fabrics. With a seamless fusion of traditional techniques and modern sensibilities, the collection has garnered a loyal following not only for its exceptional workmanship but also for its ability to capture the essence of California's laid-back luxury.

West Coast Events:

Portland, OR  10/26

Seattle, WA  10/27

Palo Alto, CA  11/11

Burlingame, CA  11/18

Mill Valley, CA  11/25

San Francisco, CA -12/2

Santa Monica, CA  12/8

Manhattan Beach, CA  12/9

For more information and to RSVP click HERE.

If clients cannot meet Margaret in person, they can meet her in spirit! Visit any one of her eponymous boutiques and you will sense Margaret's passion, feel the luxury, and appreciate the style. They can also meet Margaret at MargaretOleary.com.

To stay informed of all events at Margaret O'Leary become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Pinterest and Instagram.

About Margaret O'Leary

From our humble beginnings over twenty-five years ago, we have ceaselessly searched the world for the most sumptuous cashmere, finest Merino wool, as well as the softest linen and organic cotton available. We proudly collaborate with textile artisans throughout the world. Every Stitch Counts.

Media Contact

Lorene Frank

[email protected]

831-234-2024

SOURCE Margaret O'Leary
Jones Soda Tour Bus to Bring its #1 Selling Crossover Cannabis Brand, THC-Infused Craft Sodas Across California in 2023

SEATTLE, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Soda Co . (CSE: JSDA, OTCQB: JSDA), the original craft soda known for its great taste, unconventional flavors and user-submitted photo labels, today announced its "Stoner October '' California 2023 tour dates. Riding along on the mainline Jones Soda tour bus in October, Mary Jones will visit over 25 of the top cannabis dispensaries throughout California, as well as events including Hazy Friday the 13th, Flowers & Flowers Festival and Area 420 SoCal Cannabar in Los Angeles, Skate Safari in San Luis Obispo, and the Mercy Wellness Dispensary Opening in Santa Rosa. The tour will include Mary Jones and mainline Jones soda sampling, merchandise giveaways and more.

Mary Jones was launched in 2022 with its first debut in California, where it has rapidly skyrocketed in popularity. It is the #1 ranked seller in the cannabis-infused carbonated beverage category and fastest growing cannabis brand in the state, as well as named Best Cannabis Soda and twice Gold Medal winner of the 2023 High Spirits Awards. Mary Jones leverages the same pure cane sugar recipe and iconic flavors as mainline Jones, adapted for cannabis. It includes MF Grape, Root Beer, Cola, Berry Lemonade, Orange & Cream and Green Apple available in 10MG and 100MG THC. The brand can be found in more than 350 Californian dispensaries with additional locations to come.

"California was the very first cannabis community to experience Mary Jones. We've been blown away by the rapid success we've had in the market and are honored to have such a big fan base in the state," said David Knight, CEO of Jones Soda. "We hope to see everyone during the Stoner October tour."

Mary Jones is the first non-alcoholic CPG brand to crossover into cannabis. The brand has expanded to multiple cannabis legal states following its California debut, including Washington and Michigan, with other markets to follow. Stoner October tour dates will be shared on Mary Jones Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maryjonesbrand/

About Jones Soda Co.

Jones Soda Co. (CSE: JSDA, OTCQB: JSDA ) is a leading craft soda manufacturer with a subsidiary dedicated to cannabis products. The company markets and distributes premium craft sodas under the Jones Soda brand, and a variety of cannabis products under the Mary Jones brand. Jones' mainstream soda line is sold across North America in glass bottles, cans and on fountain through traditional beverage outlets, restaurants and alternative accounts. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit www.jonessoda.com , www.myjones.com , www.drinklemoncocco.com or https://gomaryjones.com

SOURCE Mary Jones
Consumer intelligence company offers new insights into consumer digital behavior, providing a window into holistic app usage and engagement

LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Measure Protocol has released its second " App Life Report " of 2023, detailing consumer digital behaviors, including an analysis of evolving media consumption and generational shopping habits. The report draws from fully permissioned behavioral, demographic, and psychographic data from various sources, including Measure's proprietary ecosystem and award-winning technology. The App Life Report 2023 Volume 2 sheds light on mobile device usage and engagement, including disruptive insights that challenge traditional assumptions and pose new challenges for marketers and brands.

Measure Protocol's Newest App Life Report Challenges Assumptions Surrounding Conventional Media Consumption Habits

"The consumer data landscape is evolving rapidly with the impending cookie-less future, emphasizing the need for first-party, zero-party, and permissioned data to understand consumer behavior," said Owen Hanks, CEO of Measure Protocol. "Our App Life Report provides vital insights into mobile device usage, including app engagement metrics, in-app purchases, top apps, and app-specific activities. This data is critical for brands that want to stay a step ahead of their target audiences - and their competitors."

The 2023 App Life Report Volume 2 reflects consumer behaviors in the United States during July 2023. The data was collected using Measure's Retro technology and represents data from more than 5,000 individuals, obtained in a permissioned and holistic manner based on privacy, transparency, and a fair value proposition. This report also includes a sampling of data from the Measure Platform, which offers a 360-degree view of consumers and enables businesses to make well-informed decisions about their products and marketing strategies through actionable consumer intelligence.

The second volume of the 2023 App Life Report focuses on actual user engagement, usage and app prioritization on their mobile devices. Key findings include:

TikTok continues to grow in influence and popularity. In addition to being a new "search engine," TikTok continues to dominate Gen Z's time (16 hours per week to the tune of 5,400 videos). While they tend to participate in more interactive activities, such as commenting and sharing, Millennials clock more live watches on the platform.





In addition to being a new "search engine," TikTok continues to dominate Gen Z's time (16 hours per week to the tune of 5,400 videos). While they tend to participate in more interactive activities, such as commenting and sharing, Millennials clock more live watches on the platform. Generational shopping behavior diverges. Amazon remains a leader in retail app usage (with top usage by 80% of respondents), but shifts in generational shopping behaviors suggest the need for new engagement and retention strategies for different audience segments.





Amazon remains a leader in retail app usage (with top usage by 80% of respondents), but shifts in generational shopping behaviors suggest the need for new engagement and retention strategies for different audience segments. Gaming audiences redefined: Defying traditional expectations, the report reiterates women's significant presence in the gaming sector, who are spending more time than men playing games like Call of Duty (360 vs. 166 minutes per week). Gaming companies must rethink the way they are communicating to this powerful audience.





Defying traditional expectations, the report reiterates women's significant presence in the gaming sector, who are spending more time than men playing games like Call of Duty (360 vs. 166 minutes per week). Gaming companies must rethink the way they are communicating to this powerful audience. Multi-screen behavior is on the rise. The behaviors of specific demographics indicate they are using multiple screens concurrently. For example, heavy TikTok users (18 hours per week) even allocate slightly more time to other leading iOS apps than light TikTok users (2 hours per week), raising new questions for marketers about digital behaviors.

Consumer intelligence like that included in Measure's App Life Report can inform holistic competitive strategies for brands, app developers and agencies. With previously inaccessible and hidden behavioral data such as in-app spend, purchase motivations, media consumption patterns and trends, social media search and content results, marketers and brands can take a much deeper dive into competitor apps and 360-degree digital behaviors. This type of data can also be integrated into existing surveys and data pipelines, bringing more meaningful behavioral data to boost audience understanding and find new ways to drive growth.

Download the complete report here: https://measureprotocol.com/insights/app-life-report-2023-vol-2

Full datasets and metrics used for this report are available by contacting [email protected] .

About Measure Protocol

Measure is a consumer intelligence company that takes the pulse of the digital consumer, providing on-demand access to authentic behavioral data for making informed product and marketing decisions. Using proprietary digital behavior detection technology and machine learning, Measure captures true digital consumer behavior and converts their permissioned digital data into easily digestible data sets. The world's leading consumer-led companies use Measure's data to stay competitive and drive customer engagement and growth. Measure won the 2022 MRS Award for Best Technology Innovation, and the 2020 Quirk's Technology Impact Award, and is an alumnus of the Creative Destruction Lab's Innovation program. Measureprotocol.com @measureprotocol

Media Contact: Marie Melsheimer, +1-541-815-3951, [email protected]

SOURCE Measure Protocol
Reinvented Elite device sets new standard for efficacy, safety and ease of use with Lumitech technology

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iRESTORE , a pioneer in technology-driven, noninvasive hair restoration and preservation, is excited to unveil its most advanced hair restoration device to date: the next-generation Elite. In line with their ongoing dedication to restoring confidence through revolutionary hair care solutions, the reimagined Elite device establishes a remarkable benchmark for effectiveness and safety, all in the comfort of your home.

Kevin Chen, President of the company, expressed his excitement, stating, "We are thrilled to introduce a breakthrough in hair regrowth technology with the Elite, the most powerful hair growth device for home use. There's nothing like it out there." Having garnered trust from over 400,000+ customers in the past decade, this rebrand defines our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge and highly effective hair regrowth system on the market today.

The Elite Device has been meticulously engineered to redefine home hair care and is often celebrated as the "Ferrari of Hair Growth Devices." It's the first device to boast triple wavelength technology (680nm, 655nm, and 625 nm) for deeper scalp stimulation, complemented by advanced VCSEL lasers. This powerful combination offers superior scalp coverage and the incredibly high energy density. The Elite is the future of advanced at-home hair restoration.

The introduction of The Elite device reinforces iRESTORE's position as the leading at-home laser hair growth system, owning the top two best-selling devices on Amazon  the iRESTORE Essential and Professional. "It's an unparalleled user experience," said Chen. "This is truly one of the best solutions out there, and it can be used to enhance other treatments. The results have been unbelievable. We can't wait for people to experience the confidence and relief that comes with growing their hair back."

To complement The Elite device's launch, iRESTORE proudly presents a complete revitalization, including an enhanced website and clean, vegan and cruelty-free hair care line. This innovative range includes the Growth Activator Serum, featuring the potent Redensyl complex, designed to invigorate cell activity and stimulate healthier hair growth. The Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are enriched with breakthrough ingredients that ensure harmonious interaction with your scalp and hair, promoting optimal growth and pH balance. Furthermore, our scientifically formulated DHT Blocker Formula targets the root cause of hair loss. Completing this holistic approach, the Biotin Vitamin Gummies provide a delightful fusion of science and nature.

"Through our rebrand, we've not only given ourselves a fresh new look but have also redefined our commitment to restoring confidence through innovative hair care solutions. It's more than just a visual transformation; it's a renewed dedication to enriching lives through healthy, vibrant hair." - Jenesis LaForcarde, Director of Brand Marketing

For more information about iRESTORE and to shop now, visit www.irestorelaser.com .

About iRESTORE Laser

iRESTORE is a technology-led, noninvasive approach to hair restoration and preservation that uses clinically proven red light therapy devices powered by Lumitech technology. Lumitech an optimized combination of laser and LED technology, meets science-backed supplement and topical formulas to restore your confidence.

Contact:

Charisse Curtis

Milano Consulting

[email protected]

323-251-3582

SOURCE iRESTORE
CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitgo, a global tech company, launches Mitgame, a specialised one-stop partner network and user acquisition platform for games and online gaming services.

Released as a stand-alone business in 2023, Mitgame grew out of the online gaming segment of performance network Admitad, a Mitgo company.

In the last 12 months, online gaming revenues across Admitad's partner network grew by more than 50%, with the US and Germany as the most significant markets. Seeing rapid growth, it was decided to launch Mitgame as a separate business entity with a separate business model focussing exclusively on the online gaming market.

The network already has more than 200.000 publishers, 100+ game brands as clients and has attracted more than 500,000 active players for its partners in the first half of 2023 alone. Current Mitgame partnerships include Xbox, PlayStation, Epic Games, Riot Games, Perfect World, Plarium, MY.GAMES, Wargaming, Gaijin, Nexters, Innogames and Upjers.

"We have been working with Mitgame for a long time now and are achieving great results. High-quality traffic sources and reliable, quick campaign management from their side have allowed us to run highly-profitable campaigns with them since 2016. We're looking forward to many more years of successful collaboration." - Anne Fomferra, Marketing Manager, Innogames

"Mitgame has been a reliable partner over the years. They provide fast and professional support when issues arise and deliver the quality traffic we want for our games'' - Jan Fleischmann, Affiliate Marketing Manager, Upjers

Performance marketing particularly suits gaming, since it speaks to target audiences directly, attracts new players and offers a transparent way to allocate marketing budgets, track traffic and attribute clicks.

"Mitgame has evolved into a very gaming-focussed business. Being part of Mitgo will allow Mitgame to benefit from all the services and partner networking opportunities the company offers. This is part of our core strategy - to broaden and diversify the business into successful, global market segments." - Alexander Bachmann, CEO and Founder, Mitgo.

Mitgo plans to invest more than $9 million USD into the development of Mitgame until 2025, with plans for Mitgame to become a market leader.

For existing Admitad users, Mitgame will continue to work on the Admitad platform. Step by step, Mitgame publishers and advertisers will be migrated over to their new Mitgame accounts. For new users, the stand-alone platform is available for use now.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1991998/4332462/Mitgo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Mitgo
The national air carrier of Azerbaijan (AZAL) offers a special offer on the popular Baku-Istanbul-Baku route. Now passengers have a great opportunity to travel from Baku to Istanbul and back at affordable prices.

Tickets at favourable prices can be purchased from October 10 to October 19. One can travel with these tickets in the period from November 1, 2023 to March 30, 2024 (excluding holidays).

Tickets en route Baku-Istanbul-Baku are available from 198 EUR, and en route Istanbul-Baku-Istanbul from 226 USD.

Note that this offer is limited in the number of tickets, so do not miss the opportunity to book your flights.

Tickets can be purchased on the official website of the airline www.azal.az or at accredited agencies of Azerbaijan Airlines.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the paramount importance of respecting the safety of journalists working now in Israel and the Gaza Strip

"Our hearts are broken for Israel and for the many in Gaza who wish for peace. All are now suffering from the violence and turmoil in the region. While we hope for peace for all, we know there is more conflict ahead.

"For the reporters covering the war to come, the risks will be constant with rockets overheard, bombs falling, and ongoing small arms fire. Reporters must be vigilant and careful in their work. We call on all sides to view journalists for what they are  the voice of the people -- and understand they are not combatants and must be protected. So far we have noticed most journalists in the field are wearing helmets and have protective vests marked "PRESS."

"Despite these precautions, there have already been reports of four journalists killed, at least one injured, and two missing. On Saturday, Mohammad El-Salhi, a freelance journalist was shot and killed in central Gaza. Also on Saturday, in separate incidents, two more journalists: Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and Mohammad Jarghoun were killed. Laif was a photographer for Ain Media and Jarghoun was a reporter for Smart Media. Citing medical sources Jordan News reported journalist Omar Abu Shawish was killed by shelling on Saturday. All four are Palestinian.

"In addition, there are reports of two Palestinian photojournalists missing since Saturday. They are Nidal Al-Wahidi and Haitham Abdelwahid.

"Finally, Ibrahim Qanan, a correspondent for Ghad, was injured by shrapnel while in the southern Gaza strip, his condition is unknown.

"While we have not yet had reports of Israeli journalists injured, killed or missing we are also very concerned for their safety, as well as that of the many journalists from all over the world who are traveling to the scene. All sides must take precautions to avoid injuring or killing journalists in the field. This must be a priority for all."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every major journalism organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom worldwide.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes a more effective democracy via a free and independent press and is the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Saronic, a maritime autonomy company focused on surface vessels, announced today a $55 million Series A funding round led by Caffeinated Capital, with participation from 8VC, U.S. Innovative Technology Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Point72 Ventures, Silent Ventures, Overmatch Ventures, Ensemble VC, and Cubit Capital. This significant investment underscores Saronic's commitment to addressing critical capability gaps at sea through attritable, autonomous platforms. With this raise, Saronic will accelerate research and development while expanding in-house manufacturing capacity for rapid production.

A prototype Saronic Spyglass ASV completes a full mission profile in its first open water exercise with the US Navy. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Rear Adm. Keith B. Davids, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command discuss Saronic's 6ft Spyglass ASV at the 2023 International Seapower Symposium.

The need for these autonomous surface vessels is clear. To outpace China, America must start building a large fleet of autonomous vessels today. Saronic provides a state-of-the-art, purpose-built solution for the United States and its allies, seamlessly integrating software and hardware to optimize autonomous missions, enhancing the range, capability, and survivability of the naval fleet and the warfighter.

Saronic is the only company that can deliver this critical technology, filling a gap where shipbuilders, traditionally focused on manufacturing large naval ships, lack the capacity and expertise, while other vendors provide legacy platforms and struggle with production at scale.

"America's conventional shipbuilding ecosystem lacks the agility to match the threats posed by our adversaries, and many proposed solutions for the fleet aren't cohesively designed for the mission. Saronic stands apart," said Dino Mavrookas, the company's co-founder and CEO. "Saronic has worked closely with the Navy to build a solution that meets their requirements. We're putting software, autonomy, and mission profiles first, reshaping design for rapid production and deployment, and creating a novel breed of autonomous vessels that can meet current and future threats."

"Saronic is one of the most timely and ambitious companies we have ever partnered with - its technology will fundamentally transform how the Navy operates over the next century," said Raymond Tonsing, founder and managing partner of Caffeinated Capital, which led the funding round. "We have been astounded by the speed at which this exceptional team has already begun to bridge the technology gap in naval autonomy."

The company is currently developing Spyglass, a 6-foot vessel, and Cutlass, a 13-foot vessel, each outfitted with remotely updatable software and capable of carrying diverse payloads in communication-denied and GPS-denied environments. These systems enable real-time, collaborative, and autonomous mission-level decision-making, and are designed to navigate the challenges of maritime environments. Engineered as attritable systems, these vessels offer minimal life-cycle costs and considerable potential for scalability.

"Saronic has brought together the top talent from the innovation world, the military, and the defense industry to address the most critical strategic needs for our Navy," said Joe Lonsdale, the managing partner of 8VC and co-founder of Saronic via the 8VC Build program.

"We are honored to have the backing of seasoned investors who are fully aligned with our mission to deliver top-tier technology to our warfighters as fast as possible," said Rob Lehman, Saronic's co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer. "This funding round will enable us to sustain our rapid growth, development, and delivery efforts."

Saronic is a defense company with a dynamic blend of innovators, seasoned warfighters, and top-tier engineers and technologists from various fields, all dedicated to bringing autonomy to American and allied navies. This investment reflects a strong belief in the team's capability to rapidly provide autonomous solutions tailored to the modern naval landscape.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Saronic
LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple Sclerosis Disease, a chronic autoimmune disease affects a large proportion of the world population. According to an epidemiology study conducted by the WHO, more than 1.8 million individuals are affected with MS globally. This growing disease burden has increased the need for efficient MS management solutions.

Multiple Sclerosis predominantly affects the central nervous system and is caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective covering of nerve fibers. This leads to severe inflammation and damage to the brain and spinal cord. MS neurologists have revealed that the damage caused by the ailment hampers the regular flow of electrical impulses along the nerve. Some MS specialists further suggest that this disease mostly impact young adults aged between 20 and 50.

The playing operating in this landscape are emphasizing on strengthening their industry position by bring about the much-needed transformation in the MS management vertical. DLI has been a support system to these players when it comes to treatment gaps identification, MS clinical trials, clinical trial feasibility analysis, product portfolio extension, along with price and market access decisions. By procuring its healthcare consulting services, the industry participants can also get their hands on new product launch services, overall disease insights, post launch services, along with regulatory consulting assistance.

Price and Market Access

MS Disease Insights- Causes and Symptoms:

The exact cause behind the occurrence of this disease is yet to be discovered by the researchers. But certain observations have suggested that immune system dysfunction, viral infections (such as Epstein-Barr virus), smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and exposure to certain toxins, along with environmental factors, such as latitude and climate may contribute to the risk of developing this ailment.

Fatigue, muscle weakness, vision issues, balance and coordination problems, sensory changes, spasticity, pain, cognitive changes, along with mood changes are some of the primary symptoms of MS. It is worth noting that Relapsing-remitting MS is one of the most common forms of MS. It is characterized by a pattern of symptoms that come and go, with periods of relapse (exacerbations) followed by periods of remission (partial or complete recovery).

Learn More About the FDA NDA & BLA Approval (NME) Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis @

https://www.diseaselandscape.com/downloadsample/postid/57

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Early MS diagnosis is pivotal since it paves the way for fast prognosis. Post detection, doctors suggest the best MS treatment to the patients that can improve their quality of life by alleviating the symptoms.

Comprehensive clinical evaluation, MRI, evoked potential tests, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, are some of the most reliable diagnostic techniques.

There is no permanent cure for this ailment therefore doctors suggest MS medications and therapies to alleviate the symptoms to a better extent. Drugs like copaxone, tecfidera, ocrelizumab, and gilenya, are primarily prescribed to the patients. Apart from that, disease-modifying therapies, symptomatic treatments, corticosteroids, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy also works wonders in treating various symptoms of this disease. Notably, regular follow-up appointments and communication with healthcare providers are essential to monitor disease progression, adjust treatments, and address any new symptoms or challenges that may arise.

Unlock the Benefits Today! Get Started Now and Elevate Your Experience @

https://www.diseaselandscape.com/checkout?report_id=57

Final Words:

MS primarily impacts the central nervous system constituting of the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system begins attacking our nerve shield known as myelin. This disease leads to the onset of numerous systems including movement difficulties, vision issues, odd aches, and fatigue, among others. Players are trying to find effective MS management solutions and DLI has been a support system for them. Through its pharma consulting services, players are getting complete assistance on their drug development endeavours. DLI is also helping them with commercial strategy analysis and product pipeline analysis, among others.

Browse Through More Autoimmune Diseases Research Reports.

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About Disease Landscape:

Disease Landscape, a pioneering company specializing in Disease Intelligence, Pricing, and Market Access. Utilizing the power of data analytics, Disease Landscape Insights is dedicated to healthcare sector with invaluable, finely crafted insights and recommendations regarding global pricing and market access strategies. As a specialized firm, we are committed to delivering unparalleled insights into pricing and market access, custom-tailored to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Our data-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology position us as your trustworthy partner, offering swift, adaptable, and evidence-based alternatives to traditional market access and pricing research methods.

Our core competencies encompass Market Research Services, Consulting Services, Global Pricing and Market Access, Epidemiology Studies, as well as Product Portfolio and Pipeline Services. Our expertise lies in furnishing comprehensive data intelligence throughout every phase of drug and device research.

Contact Us:

Disease Landscape Insights LLP

6th Floor, Sr No.207, Office A H 6070 Phase 1

Solitaire Business Hub, Viman Nagar

Pune, Maharashtra, 411014

Contact: +44-2038074155

Asia Office Contact: +917447409162

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Blog: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/blogs

Case Study: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/casestudies

Pharma consulting Services

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2217060/Disease_Landscape_Insights_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Disease Landscape Insights
Dwellr is an online marketplace that directly connects families with the best senior communities tailored to the needs of their loved ones.

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dwellr, a Nebraska-based startup, has secured $500,000 in funding, led by Move Venture Capital and Invest Nebraska. This initial round of funding allows founders Davey Owens and Drew Tuzson to publicly launch the online marketplace that is designed to transform the way families find senior care by offering a direct connection between seniors and their desired communities.

Dwellr was founded because the founders discovered that searching for senior living is an extremely antiquated experience in 2023. Most senior living communities are forced into using traditional referral services, meaning families are required to fill out convoluted online forms and receive cold calls and emails from communities across the state.

"Getting dozens of calls a day from senior communities within a 50-mile radius to schedule a tour is extremely stressful during an already sensitive time," stated Owens, CEO of Dwellr. "So we created an experience similar to how Zillow works, but for senior living."

Dwellr's mission goes beyond simplifying searches. It challenges the status quo of referral services that often prioritize commissions over genuine senior needs. With its user-friendly interface and direct communication channels, Dwellr ensures families can make informed decisions with higher confidence.

"Dwellr provides a user-friendly and streamlined experience for consumers searching for senior living options in their local area," stated Thomas Cloutier, CMO of Arete Living, a Dwellr customer. "Just as leading household rental companies have succeeded, I believe Dwellr has the potential to establish itself as a household name in the senior living industry."

With its initial launch targeting cities in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado, Dwellr is gearing up to expand its services, aiming to set a new industry standard in senior care searches.

About Dwellr

Dwellr is an online marketplace revolutionizing the search for senior care facilities by offering a direct, transparent, and efficient platform that connects families with the best senior communities tailored to the needs of their loved ones.

Media Contact:

Davey Owens

Phone: (206) 293-7637

Email: davey@heydwellr.com

SOURCE Dwellr
HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- North Hudson Resource Partners LP ("North Hudson" or the "Firm"), a Houston-based energy investment firm, announced its final closing of its fourth non-operated fund, North Hudson Production Partners II LP ("Production Partners II" or the "Fund"). The Fund closed at its hard cap with $232 million of equity commitments, inclusive of the general partner's commitment.

Production Partners II will target individual acquisitions ranging from $3.0 to $75.0 million in active onshore U.S. Basins, including purchasing AFEs, "drill-ready" acreage, producing assets with upside, and minerals. The Fund, with other North Hudson affiliates, will also target larger strategic acquisitions with top-tier operators. The Fund will continue North Hudson's partnership with Fortuna Operating, who has managed the acquisition and development of assets across multiple North Hudson non-operated funds.

Over the past five years, North Hudson's non-operated funds have acquired over $650 million of assets and partnered with over 30 different operators on the development of their assets. North Hudson believes Production Partners II presents the opportunity for North Hudson to build upon the successes of its three prior non-operated funds and the Fund will seek to deploy a similar strategy.

"We are grateful for the continued support of our investors as we seek to deploy capital in a creative, low-risk approach to oil and gas investing" said Mark Bisso, Managing Partner. "We believe our significant asset base, which includes over 1,600 horizontal non-operated wells, in addition to our transaction history and network, have made us an effective partner for operators and working interest owners seeking to enhance their assets. We look forward to continuing and expanding those relationships."

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel for Production Partners II.

About North Hudson

North Hudson Resource Partners LP is a Houston-based energy investment firm focused on opportunistic upstream and midstream energy investments in North America. With over $945 million of assets under management as of September 29, 2023, North Hudson's private equity platforms own both non-operated and operated oil and gas assets. Its current portfolio includes interests in over 4,500 wells primarily located in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, San Juan Basin, and Haynesville Shale.

SOURCE North Hudson Resource Partners
MUMBAI, India, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Al Etihad Payments (AEP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), have announced a strategic partnership to advance the development of the UAE's first national Domestic Card Scheme (DCS).

NPCI International

The agreement was exchanged between Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor  Strategy, Financial Infrastructure and Digital Transformation at CBUAE and Chairman of AEP, and Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPCI, representing NPCI International Payments Limited.

As part of its Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) programme introduced in 2023, CBUAE's launch of Al Etihad Payments aims to implement an innovative, interoperable, and enabling payments infrastructure allowing licensed financial institutions and payment service providers to further enhance customer experience through advanced payment solutions.

Scheduled to launch in early 2024, the DCS will aim to facilitate the growth of e-commerce and digital transactions in the UAE, bolster financial inclusion, support the nation's digitisation agenda, increase alternative payment options, reduce the cost of payments, and enhance the UAE's competitiveness and position as a global digital payments leader.

NIPL was commissioned for this initiative following a comprehensive selection process that gauged the capacity of its solution in meeting the needs of consumers and merchants, in addition to its ability to build an integrated financial infrastructure. NIPL will operate the DCS and provide fraud monitoring and data analysis support.

Commenting on the agreement, His Excellency Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of CBUAE, said: "The FIT programme, as well as the signing of this agreement, underscores CBUAE's commitment to accelerating the digital transformation of the financial sector and bolstering digital payments, in line with the ambitions of the UAE's leadership. The development of the DCS is an integral FIT initiative and an achievement in the payments space which seeks to support the growth of digital transactions and e-commerce whilst ensuring business continuity."

Saif Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor  Strategy, Financial Infrastructure and Digital Transformation at CBUAE and Chairman of AEP, said: "The establishment of a Domestic Card Scheme for the UAE is a momentous step towards achieving the nation's ambitious digital payments strategy, facilitating the transformation of the UAE's financial sector, fostering greater financial inclusion and strengthening the country's economic resilience. We are pleased to collaborate further with our counterparts in India and are confident that we have chosen the ideal partners to accomplish this venture with. We also look forward to establishing an innovation fund that will look to support the payment systems of India and the UAE, drive R&D, and foster the capabilities of UAE citizens to ensure their effective management of the DCS."

Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), said, "We are pleased to announce our collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE and Al Etihad Payments. Together, we will work on building, implementing, and operationalising the UAE's National Domestic Card Scheme. This partnership aligns perfectly with NIPL's global mission to offer our knowledge and expertise to assist other countries in establishing their own cost effective and secure payment services. Our DCS solution is based on the principles of sovereignty, speed to market, innovation, digitisation, and strategic independence. We firmly believe that our track record of success, particularly in a dynamic market like India, positions us as the ideal partners for this promising endeavour."

Jan Pilbauer, CEO of AEP, said: "It is with great pride that we at AEP support the launch of the UAE DCS initiative under the guidance of the CBUAE and its strategic objectives, and in collaboration with the NIPL. Through the implementation of best-in-class technologies, we are enabling the UAE's licensed financial institutions to offer consumers, merchants and all other stakeholders of the financial system a more robust payment infrastructure, underpinned by a commitment to facilitate the UAE's digital ambitions."

For more details about NPCI International, click here

For Media Queries

Email-id: [email protected]

Ph no: +91 22-40508500

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243004/NPCI_International.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243005/NPCI_Logo.jpg

SOURCE NPCI
SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is proud to announce the launch of the "Fentanyl is Forever" Media Campaign, a comprehensive initiative aimed at raising awareness about the critical issue of fentanyl misuse in Orange County. This campaign underscores the County's commitment to addressing this crisis and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities.

"The 'Fentanyl is Forever' campaign brings the dangers and devastation of fentanyl misuse to life by showing how fentanyl can wreck lives, families, and friendships," said Chairman Donald P. Wagner, OC Board of Supervisors, Third District. "Our goal is to make people aware of these dangers and encourage them to seek out local resources for help."

Utilizing Opioid Settlement Funds, this campaign will feature compelling family testimonies, educational materials, prevention, and rescue information. The "Fentanyl is Forever" Campaign is an impactful message designed to draw attention to the lethal consequences of fentanyl use. The objective is to raise awareness of these dangers and empower the public to access local resources for assistance.

"The devastation of Fentanyl is forever," said Vice Chairman Andrew Do, First District. "Even a minute amount of Fentanyl contamination can be fatal. Prevention through education is the goal of this campaign. Often, the victim did not know the illicit drugs they ingested were contaminated with Fentanyl. With the widespread availability of Fentanyl on the drug market, people should not experiment with illegal drugs, and if you are using, please get help to address your dependency."

To facilitate access to crucial information and resources, the campaign will feature a comprehensive website where the public can learn about the dangers of fentanyl. This website will be a valuable resource for educational content, graphics, videos, personal testimonies, and resources designed to inform the public about the risks associated with fentanyl. The public is encouraged to visit the campaign at www.fentanylisforeveroc.org.

"As a Supervisor representing a diverse and underserved district, I understand the unique challenges and needs of our community members," said Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Second District. "We know that among Latinos, there was an 85% increase in Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2021 from the year before, and the numbers were just as high in 2022. I want to ensure that no individual is left behind, and this campaign is a testament to that commitment."

The campaign will utilize a variety of media channels to reach a broad audience, including videos for digital, broadcast, and social media, as well as materials available in both English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Additionally, posters, flyers and banner ads will be distributed throughout Orange County, along with active engagement on social media platforms.

"Our campaign slogan, 'Fentanyl is Forever,' carries a profound message," said Supervisor Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. "It acknowledges the harsh reality of fentanyl, but it also carries a message of hopethrough our collective efforts to take a stand."

The official campaign launch was announced at a press conference held on October 10, 2023, highlighting Orange County as the first municipality in California to obtain Kloxxado, a potent naloxone formulation. Instructions were provided on its use, points of access, as well as distributed free of charge.

"Fentanyl is outpacing causes of death amongst our Orange County youth, with so many Orange County families in our community with stories of losing loved ones to fentanyl," said Supervisor Katrina Foley, Fifth District. "I've stood up and will continue to fight with other elected and law enforcement for this cause. As a mom and as an elected official, I'm committed to fighting for an end to illicit fentanyl, which is killing our children."

The Orange County Health Care Agency is conducting regular town hall sessions to educate the community on the dangers of fentanyl, methods to prevent overdoses, and how to respond effectively. Collaborating with Board offices, Cities, Fire, Police, elected officials, and community partners is key. Each town hall includes free distribution of naloxone to attendees, accompanied by training sessions on its proper use.

"The 'Fentanyl is Forever' campaign is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis," said Dr. Veronica Kelley, Chief of the HCA's Mental Health and Recovery. "It's crucial that we equip our community with the knowledge and resources they need to protect themselves and their loved ones."

The Campaign message represents a significant step towards addressing the fentanyl crisis in Orange County. By engaging the community, providing educational resources, and emphasizing the importance of naloxone, the aim to save lives and create a safer, more informed environment for residents.

For more information, please visit www.fentanylisforeveroc.org.

SOURCE OC Health Care Agency
Travel Lemming signals plans to expand its library of free travel guides, announcing contracts with 3 editors and 12 new local creators in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France.

DENVER, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The online travel guide Travel Lemming today announced a major expansion of its team of content creators, continuing with its aims of building the world's best library of human-crafted travel guides.

The new appointments will allow Travel Lemming, which is read annually by more than 10 million, to expand its library of free travel guides in the United States, Canada, and England. They also mark the expansion of Travel Lemming's library into content about travel to France, Wales, and Scotland.

Chelsea Booker, one of Travel Lemming's new editors, is based in Seattle. Travel Lemming editor Elizabeth Demolat, who is based in Nashville.

With the expansion, Travel Lemming announced the promotion of three of its creators to freelance editor roles:

Lea Rose Allbaugh - an editor and creator from North Carolina currently based in Chicago, Illinois . Allbaugh earned her B.A. in Communications Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2020.

- an editor and creator from currently based in . Allbaugh earned her B.A. in Communications Studies from the in 2020. Chelsea Booker - an editor and creator from Seattle, Washington . Booker earned her B.A. in English from Seattle University in 2014.

Elizabeth Demolat - an editor and creator from Nashville, Tennessee . Demolat earned her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Mississippi in 2012, and her Masters in Education from William Carey University in 2018.

Travel Lemming further announced contracts with 12 new local travel creators:

Alex Brotherton ( Manchester, England, United Kingdom )

( ) Alexandria Taylor ( Washington , D. C .)

C Catherine Driver ( Vancouver, Canada )

Claudicet Pena ( Boston, Massachusetts )

Ethan James Thoren ( Jacksonville, Florida )

Laura McFarland ( San Francisco, California )

Lindsay Wenndt ( Atlanta, Georgia )

Louise Wylie ( Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom )

Niamh Hayes ( New York City , New York )

Rachel Kapelke-Dale ( Paris, France )

Ruthie Elizabeth Walters ( Wales, United Kingdom )

Sarah Heath ( Dallas, Texas )

In total, the new hires bring Travel Lemming's masthead to over 35 local and expert travel creators.

Reflecting on her promotion to editor, Lea Rose Allbaugh commented: "I recently became an editor after freelance writing for Travel Lemming for about a year. My entire experience with Travel Lemming has been wonderful  the culture is so friendly and supportive, which is amazing considering the fact that our team works totally asynchronously and online. I've grown a lot as a travel writer and I love being part of a publication that shares travel knowledge written by people who have a real passion for travel and the places they call home."

Nate Hake, CEO & Founder of Travel Lemming, commented: "It is my goal to build Travel Lemming into a one-stop-shop for all your travel information needs. I want Travel Lemming to be the first place travelers go when they want honest and helpful perspectives from other knowledgeable humans. This expansion will allow us to offer guides to some of the places most requested by our readers, like Paris, Boston, New York City, and the United Kingdom."

Mr. Hake added: "The next step in our expansion will be selling products and services under the Travel Lemming brand name. We are currently working on our first digital products, as well as a premium membership subscription, which we hope to launch before the end of 2023."

About Travel Lemming

Travel Lemming is an online travel guide founded by Nate Hake in 2017. Travel Lemming publishes helpful travel guides written by local and expert travelers who have first-hand experience in destinations across the United States and the world.

Media assets can be found here .

Press Contact: Taylor Herperger, [email protected], (306) 745-7501

SOURCE Travel Lemming
VAN ALSTYNE, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PayNetWorx, a leading fintech in Payments Processing, is proud to announce its recognition as one of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The company has been named as an honoree in the highly esteemed Dallas 100 list for 2023.

PayNetWorx

The Dallas 100, presented annually by the SMU Cox Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, celebrates the achievements and growth of emerging businesses that have made a significant impact on the local economy. PayNetWorx's inclusion in this exclusive list is a testament to its dedication to innovation in payment processing, customer-centric approach, and commitment to driving financial empowerment through cutting-edge technology solutions.

"We are honored and thrilled to be recognized as one of the top-performing companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area," said Trent Voigt, CEO of PayNetWorx. "This acknowledgment underscores our team's hard work, unwavering dedication, and the trust our clients place in us. It is a clear validation of our mission to revolutionize the fintech landscape of payment processing on a global scale. PayNetWorx is offering merchants access to multiple currencies, payment vehicles, and payment regions with a single simple interface."

PayNetWorx the first 100% cloud-based processor offers a comprehensive suite of fintech solutions designed to streamline payment processing, enhance security, and optimize financial operations for businesses across various industries and regions. With a focus on delivering innovative and customizable payment solutions, PayNetWorx has rapidly gained recognition for its forward-thinking approach to fintech.

The Dallas 100 list is compiled based on a rigorous evaluation of revenue growth and other key performance indicators, showcasing companies that have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and resilience. PayNetWorx's remarkable growth trajectory and its impact on the global business community have earned it a well-deserved place among this year's distinguished honorees.

For more information about PayNetWorx and its range of fintech solutions, visit www.paynetworx.com or www.paynetworx.co.uk.

About PayNetWorx: PayNetWorx is a leading fintech solutions provider dedicated to revolutionizing the payment industry through innovative technology and customer-centric approaches. With a comprehensive suite of customizable payment solutions, PayNetWorx empowers businesses to optimize financial operations, enhance security, and improve overall efficiency.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Max Rutherford  [email protected], 903-708-5000 ext. 2051

SOURCE PayNetWorx
The Brooklyn home services company says following some practical advice can prevent fires this coming winter

BROOKLYN, N.Y. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, a family-owned home service company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, is celebrating National Fire Prevention Week by providing homeowners with some safety tips to keep their homes safely heated this coming winter. National Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 814.

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning celebrates National Fire Prevention Week by offering homeowners some practical advice to prevent fires this coming winter.

"This year, the National Fire Prevention Association is focusing on cooking safety, but this week is always a good time to remind homeowners of the precautions they can take to ensure they won't become the victims of a house fire this season," said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. "With the increase in heating costs and below-average temperatures predicted for this upcoming winter, people may find creative ways to stay warm. We would recommend homeowners always take precautions."

Petri said homeowners should employ the following safety tips:

Install smoke detectors. Smoke alarms are an easy and convenient way to alert residents when a fire has started. While they don't prevent fires, smoke detectors save lives, and many states and municipalities offer free fire alarm installation programs. Cook carefully. Never leave simmering pots and pans unattended. Home chefs should also regularly check on food baking in the oven and make sure they do not leave dish towels or potholders near open flames. Homeowners with young children should also remember to turn pot handles inward to keep little hands from grabbing hot items. Avoid space heaters. Space heaters are the most dangerous way to heat a home. The professionals at Petri recommend avoiding them but know that they sometimes have to be used. When using portable heaters, make sure they are not located near any flammable objects like curtains and carpeting, and always make sure they are plugged directly into a safe wall outlet. Do not use extension cords with space heaters, and do not run their cords under rugs or through walls. Do not let children near matches or lighters. Place these items in locations where small children do not have access to them. Teach young ones the dangers associated with using matches and lighters. Have heating systems regularly checked. Getting a furnace or boiler serviced by a professional at least once a year is one of the best ways to prevent a fire. Aging heating systems can be vulnerable to overheating motors, old and faulty wiring and leaky fuel lines. Regular maintenance can identify these dangers.

"We want people to be able to stay warm this season but they shouldn't take risks with their electrical outlets or heating units," Petri said. "And, while fire prevention is something homeowners should practice all year long, it is especially critical during the winter months. Preparing your family and your home for the dangers that a fire can present is an investment you can't afford not to make."

For more information about Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, visit https://www.petriplumbing.com/.

About Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable Service Experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call (718) 717-1089.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
JABRAYIL, Azerbaijan, October 10. In accordance with the order of President Ilham Aliyev to create green energy potential in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, AzerEnergy JSC started construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), head of the Public Relations Center of AzerEnergy JSC Teymur Abdullayev said, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.

"The construction of HPPs with a capacity of 10.5 MW each and a total capacity of 42 MW started in 2022 in four places along the section of the Okhchuchay River running through the territory of Zangilan district. The work at the Sarigishlag, Sharifli and Zangilan HPPs is coming to an end, while at the Jahangirbayli HPP it has already been completed," he said.

He noted that the engine room built for Jahangirbayli HPP, two 5.25 megawatts European-manufactured green certified French eco-turbines, generators, and remotely controlled digital equipment were installed. The station will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

"The 42-megawatt Zangilan Hydroelectric Power Plant Cascade, consisting of 4 stations, the construction of which was familiarized by President Ilham Aliyev in May this year, is the first brand new major energy production project in the territories liberated from occupation. This project was realized in a record time of just one year. Until now, neither in Azerbaijan nor anywhere else has such a number of HPPs of such capacity been built in such a short period of time," Teymur Abdullayev emphasized.

To supply these four stations with water, AzerEnergy built the main water intake plant at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. The water capacity of this plant is 400,000-450,000 cubic meters. The construction, in addition to energy production, is extremely important in terms of agriculture and ecology. The construction of the main intake will also contribute to the cleaning of the riverbed, which has been polluted for 30 years, and to the revival of flora and fauna.

From the main intake, a pair of derivation pipes is laid at a distance of 23 kilometers with 35 percent of the river water retained in the riverbed. The water from the pipe flows back into the river. More than 8,000 trees have been planted around Jahangirbayli HPP.

The cascade of Zangilan HPP, consisting of 4 brand new plants built in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, will annually produce more than 130 million kWh of "green" energy. It will also play a huge role in the transition to alternative energy sources.
DANBURY, Conn., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pontimax Technologies LLC announced its Solution For Equipping UAVs With Mission Focused, Dynamic Inferencing Capabilities For Real-Time Rules Of Engagement Thresholds Execution!

"Our outlook is that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) will be the "Edge" communications and data access hubs of current and future "Battlespaces." From overhead positions, UAVs have direct access to deployed air and ground sensors, which, if subjected to predicate-based inferencing and reasoning, can deliver superior "Battlespace Awareness" and achieve real "Decision Advantage," Ray Keating, Managing Member of Pontimax Technologies, notes. "Pontimax's Dynamic Inferencing Agent, with its innovative inferencing and reasoning capabilities, when positioned in Battlespace UAVs, is capable of delivering multi-command echelon situation awareness that can be combined with Rules of Engagement (ROE) based autonomous weapons deployment. Moreover, predicate-based Inferencing & Reasoning provides the only currently available capability to directly embody ROE with real-time enforcement." "If the essential inferencing functions and capabilities, coverage information and network "reach" are all accessible and considered in developing a mission "Inferencing Plan," Pontimax's Inferencing Agent has the ability to perform real-time "Recognize-Classify-Identify-Communicate (RCIC)" sequences for enabling "intelligent" weapons deployment decision making. with full ROE compliance."

Equipping UAV's with Predicate Inferencing Capabilities is Challenging!

"It's a significant challenge to develop mission "Inferencing Plans" that determine a mission's situation awareness inferencing requirements plus, potentially, the ROE predicates, on a mission-specific basis. It's very similar to mission planning attack weapons "load-outs" or programming cruise missiles but more complex. To realize a similar capability for generating mission "Inferencing Plans," consisting of one or more "Inferencing Profiles," it was realized that there was an absolute need for a Capability & Coverage (C&C) Knowledge Base. The C&C Knowledge Base will be used by mission planners to develop mission "Inferencing+Reasoning" Plan profiles for equipping UAV's and Tactical Assault Kits (TAK's) with Mission Inferencing Plans."

Pontimax Announces its Inferencing "Capabilities & Coverage (C&C)" Knowledge Base Technology

Pontimax's innovative Inferencing "Capability & Coverage Knowledge Base" acts as the essential information hub for providing mission planners and tactical operators with the information required for which tactical locations, sensing capabilities and Inferencing Platforms, such as Inferencing Agents installed on UAV's, are or must be available for fulfilling the mission Inferencing Plan Profiles.

Making It All Work-Pontimax Announces Its Inferencing Planning & Deployment Harness Framework

The Capability & Coverage Knowledge Base is the key to the Inferencing Agent's ability to apply its inferencing & reasoning capabilities to mission-relevant sensor data. However, for equipping multiple platforms with the mission Inferencing Profiles, as well as ensuring that the technical computing capabilities, such as Inferencing Profile required Machine Learning inferencing modules, are in place, a Configuration Data & Software Deployment Framework is needed. To address this essential mission planning & mission generation need, Pontimax has developed a "GitOps" software repository-based Inferencing platform provisioning "harness." The Inferencing Deployment Harness uses the mission inferencing requirements contained in the Capabilities & Coverage Knowledge Base to marshal the necessary mission Inferencing Profiles Inferencing Predicates and download their constituent components to the C&C determined mission Inferencing Platforms.

About Pontimax Technologies LLC

Founded in 1999, Pontimax Technologies has focused on AI technology development, building on a history of its predecessor firm's successes in Rule-Based Expert systems and Meta-Data specification driven software. Starting in 2006, it originated its innovative Dynamic Meta Inferencing (DMI) technology and successfully applied DMI in multiple applications, including ADLGuardian, a caregiver oversight system to support independent living for autistic spectrum disorder individuals and yrConnected, Pontimax's Personal Wellness & Safety Monitoring service.

About Ray Keating

Ray Keating, Managing Member of Pontimax Technologies is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and a combat veteran with forty-four combat missions in Southeast Asia. He is co-inventor on six U.S. patents and several foreign patents. His record of solid accomplishment in Artificial Intelligence technology started in 1982, when he designed and implemented the very first Rules-Based, Expert System used in daily brokerage operations, the Merrill Lynch Bond Funds Automated Swap System.

For further information, please visit us at www.pontimax.com

For more info/interviews etc: [email protected] / 203-526-0170

MEDIA CONTACT :

Ray Keating, Managing Member

Phone: 203-526-0170

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Pontimax Technologies LLC
Health plan expands provider network, adds innovative service that reduces barriers to care

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska today announced improvements to members' access to behavioral healthcare, which includes care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, through new solutions that break down barriers to accessing care. This three-year initiative included developing a service to help members find an available provider and expanding the health plan's provider network.

Millions of people are affected by behavioral health conditions every year, but despite how common these issues are, people still struggle to get care. According to Mental Health America, nearly 30 percent of adults in Alaska with a mental health condition reported they could not get the treatment they needed, while 55 percent of Alaskan youths with clinical depression did not receive any treatment in the last year.

"When someone is struggling with a behavioral health condition, it's critical we meet them wherever they are in their healthcare journey," said Rami Rafeh, Vice President of Provider Strategy and Collaboration at Premera. "We focus on creating solutions that provide better access to services that fit someone's unique needs."

Premera is helping members get connected to care through its Matchmaker for Behavioral Health program. This new program, available on January 1, 2024, is designed to make the process of finding a healthcare provider less stressful and time-consuming. Premera members who use this program receive a curated list from the Matchmaker team tailored to the member's specific needs, which includes in-network behavioral health clinicians who are accepting new patients. The Matchmaker team can source providers for adults and youth anywhere in the country. Members receive their list for free if their plan includes access to the Matchmaker service.

Premera also expanded its behavioral health provider network in Alaska by 45 percent in the last three years to meet the increased demand for care. This growth added hundreds of clinicians across various specialties and locations that provide both in-person and virtual care. To support access to behavioral healthcare in the community, Premera also invested in the expansion of University of Alaska Anchorage's Master in Social Work program and supported the integration of UW Medicine's Collaborative Care model into primary care clinics in the Kenai

Peninsula, Mat-Su, Petersburg, and Northwest Arctic boroughs, and Southeast Fairbanks area.

Members should check their benefits booklet or call the phone number on the back of their ID card to determine services and care available under their plan. For more information about how to find care and use a plan's benefits, visit the behavioral health care essentials page.

About Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska

Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, a not-for-profit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association based in Anchorage, Alaska, is a leading health plan in the Pacific Northwest, providing comprehensive health benefits and tailored services to its members.

SOURCE Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
Join industry leaders at The KINN in Venice, California, for Insights into transformative wellness and emotionally intelligent tech

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move set to transform the wellness and emotional health sectors, PRUVN, a leading research organization validating wellness products and services, and Love Out Loud, a transformative movement and pioneer in emotional empowerment, are joining forces to present an exclusive event poised to transform lives.

In a city known for its trendsetters and seekers of the extraordinary, PRUVN and Love Out Loud are unveiling their strategic partnership and game-changing products on Thursday, October 12, 2023, 6-9 p.m., at The KINN in Venice, California.

This partnership empowers consumers to make better decisions and take control of their physical and emotional health. Post this If you are passionate about shifting the future of health and data, join us!

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the CEOs, additional partners, representatives of Beverly Hills Publishing and many thought leaders in the wellness industry. Plus, they can get their hands on a signed copy of Love Out Loud CEO Nicole Gibson's new book, "Legacy Disorder".

This partnership is not merely a business alliance. It is a collective movement to shift the paradigm of health and personal data. By joining forces, they aim to create better, more effective alternatives rooted in human principles. Their journey toward empowering consumers, protecting data and elevating human consciousness is a beacon of hope in an age dominated by surveillance capitalism.

Elias Arjan, Co-Founder and CEO of PRUVN, underscored that our civilization stands at a crossroads, demanding an alternative that champions consumer empowerment and protects personal data.

"We are at a critical juncture where the current attention-economy model is eroding our collective well-being. It's time for an ecosystem of like-minded collaborators to come together and create legitimate alternatives that prioritize human values over surveillance capitalism," Arjan said.

The commitment of Love Out Loud and PRUVN to building solutions that elevate the consciousness of humanity is at the heart of their partnership.

Nicole Gibson, CEO of Love Out Loud, affirms this, saying, "We firmly believe that the products and technologies that elevate the consciousness of humanity will ultimately dominate the market. However, it takes a unified force of forward-thinking companies coming together to make this vision a reality."

Countless wellness and emotional health products flood the market each year, often making grand claims without scientific backing. Thus, consumers are left to navigate through a sea of promises, often leading to confusion and disappointment.

PRUVN is on a mission to change this landscape by officially launching its services designed to transform the wellness industry. Arjan explained that many companies opt out of scientific validation due to cost and complexity. Hence, PRUVN has set out to offer an accessible and affordable research opportunity that even early-stage companies can count on.

Through comprehensive clinical trials, rigorous testing and thorough evaluation, PRUVN ensures that only scientifically validated products and services receive the coveted PRUVN seal of approval. This seal becomes the hallmark of trust and credibility, guiding consumers to make informed decisions while guarding against misinformation rampant online. Moreover, this shift would likely favor products rooted in genuine research, promoting innovation and reducing potential legal pitfalls for companies.

PRUVN has established partnerships with research institutions and universities across Europe the Americas, and Asia and has an extensive team of scientists, doctors and researchers who work to ensure accurate, transparent and reliable clinical outcomes.

"Scientific rigor is fundamental in the wellness industry for several reasons," Francisco Cidral, PhD., Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at PRUVN explained. "Firstly, it ensures products genuinely improve health and well-being, safeguarding against potential harm or inefficacy. Secondly, from an ethical standpoint, companies bear the responsibility to uphold the truth in their claims, especially when an individual's health is at stake. Furthermore, the industry's long-term credibility hinges on its commitment to science; without it, widespread distrust could undermine its reputation for the foreseeable future."

On a mission to help people overcome the challenge of emotional regulation, Love Out Loud is launching its inTurth app with the goal of quantifying and helping people better manage their emotional health.

"Our partnership with PRUVN as a clinical research partner will allow us to make sure that our solution is up to a clinical standard," Gibson said.

Utilizing wearable technology and a proprietary algorithm, the inTruth app has the unique capability to gauge a user's emotional state in real time and provide effective tools to help swiftly shift into a desired state. Additionally, it offers insightful daily reviews, providing a deeper understanding of how the user's day has genuinely impacted their emotional health, unlocking possibilities never before seen.

By combining PRUVN's commitment to scientific validation with Love Out Loud's innovative emotional well-being solutions, this partnership empowers consumers to make better decisions and take control of their physical and emotional health.

Launch Party Details:

When: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 6-9 p.m.

Where: The KINN, 150 Horizon Avenue, Venice, CA 90291

Who: Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the CEO of both PRUVN and Love Out Loud along with many thought leaders in the wellness and emotional health industries.

Why: This launch event promises to be a celebration of innovation, science and empowerment. If you are passionate about shifting the future of health and data, join us!

All attendees will receive a gift bag with wellness products to take home. Complimentary beverages and appetizers will be served.

Register: For more information and tickets, go to https://pruvnlaunch.eventbrite.com

For media inquiries and interview requests with the CEOs of PRUVN and Love Out Loud, please contact [email protected]

About PRUVN

PRUVN is a pioneering company dedicated to transforming the wellness industry by providing a service for brands to validate their products through rigorous scientific evaluation. PRUVN's mission is to empower consumers to make evidence-based decisions about their health and well-being. For more information, please visit www.pruvn.io

About Love Out Loud

Love Out Loud is a visionary company focused on emotional well-being solutions. Their latest product, inTruth, utilizes cutting-edge technology to help individuals understand and improve their emotional states, ultimately leading to a happier and more fulfilling life. For more information, please visit www.loveoutloud.io and www.intruth.io

Note to Editors:

For high-resolution images, additional information, or interview requests, please contact [email protected]

SOURCE PRUVN
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) acknowledges the esteemed honor of being awarded the prestigious Transformation Award in the 2023 Gaming & Hospitality Annual Industry Awards. This distinguished accolade is presented to a visionary organization that has made groundbreaking advancements in interoperability within the gaming and hospitality sector.

Jeannie Caruso, CEO of Gaming & Leisure, expressed her high regards for QCI, stating, "Congratulations to QCI! It is no surprise that Andrew Cardno and team at Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) once again took home one of the annual industry awards for QCI's outstanding performance in the category of transformation, praising QCI's efforts to dramatically change the gaming and hospitality industry's technology landscape. This award is one of the most coveted awards in our industry as honored by the G&L Board and Roundtable Colleagues. This collective group represents a vast majority of gaming and hospitality technology and services domestic spend, giving great depth and weight in the well-deserved honoring of QCI this year."

In response to this honor, Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, expressed his heartfelt appreciation: "This award is a testament to the relentless dedication, innovation, and hard work of the entire QCI team. It's an honor to be recognized for our commitment to pioneering advancements within the gaming and hospitality industries. Our ongoing mission is to continue elevating technology landscapes and delivering exceptional value to our partners and clients. Thank you to the G&L Board and Roundtable Colleagues for this esteemed acknowledgment."

The award reinforces QCI's position at the forefront of technological innovation and emphasizes their continuous contribution to enhancing the gaming and hospitality industry's technological infrastructure. The dedicated team at Quick Custom Intelligence is excited to continue their work, fostering advancements and ensuring exceptional service delivery in the industry.

QCI extends sincere thanks to the G&L Board and Roundtable Colleagues for this incredible honor and to all who have supported their journey thus far.

ABOUT QCI

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 150 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Renibus Therapeutics, Inc., ("Renibus"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the prevention and treatment of cardio-renal and metabolic diseases, today announced participation in the following upcoming investor conferences:

3 rd Annual Needham Private Biotech Company Virtual 1x1 Forum, October 17-18, 2023

Stifel 2023 Healthcare Conference, November 14-15, 2023 , NY

Renibus management will be available to meet with investors one-on-one during these events.

About Renibus

Renibus is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to treating, improving and extending patients' lives by developing products to prevent disease progression, improve outcomes and protect against organ damage associated with cardiorenal and metabolic diseases. Renibus' first-in-class lead program is RBT-1, a drug that will enter a Phase 3 pivotal trial in cardiothoracic surgery in Q4 2023. RBT-3 is a novel, low molecular weight iron nanoparticle that has the potential to rapidly resolve iron deficiency and may reduce the risk of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. RBT-9 (stannic protoporfin) is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drug with broad spectrum anti-viral properties. It has been investigated in a 42-patient Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in high-risk patients with COVID-19. The data from this trial indicated the RBT-9 has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes in life threatening viral infections. Additional pre-clinical work is underway to help inform the clinical development strategy.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.Renibus.com and engage with us on LinkedIn.

Investor and Media Contact:

Amy Conrad

Juniper Point

[email protected]

858-914-1962

Business Development Contact

Frank Stonebanks

Co-CEO, Renibus

[email protected]

SOURCE Renibus Therapeutics
Study data will be featured in an oral presentation delivered by Dr. Samin K. Sharma, Director of Interventional Cardiology, Mount Sinai Hospital

KADIMA, Israel , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --Results from Magenta Medical's Early Feasibility Study of the Elevate System, for the high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) indication, will be announced in an oral presentation at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference, the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in San Francisco. Elevate is the world's smallest and most powerful percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device (pLVAD).

Image of the Magenta Elevate Pump, the smallest and most powerful pLVAD.

The presentation will be delivered by Dr. Samin K. Sharma, the Director of Interventional Cardiology at the Mount Sinai Hospital and the first to perform a HR-PCI procedure with Elevate in the US.

Presentation title: Magenta Elevate: First US Experience with High-Output, Low-French Size Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support

Date and time: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 9:19 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

Session: TCT Innovation V: Innovation in Coronary Disease Diagnosis and Therapies/Featured Technological Trends: Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Location: Innovation & Clinical Science Theater, Hall B, Exhibition Level, Moscone South, Moscone Center.

Dr. Sharma said, "I was excited to see this abstract accepted for presentation, since this is the first US study to evaluate a novel pLVAD for some years. I look forward to sharing the detailed clinical and hemodynamic data with my colleagues in support of the three cardinal features of the Elevate pLVAD  small insertion profile, high pump flow, and ease-of-use."

Magenta's US Early Feasibility Study was initiated to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Elevate System in providing temporary mechanical circulatory support during HR-PCI procedures. Fifteen patients were treated in the study at the Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center, and North Shore University Hospital.

About Elevate

The Elevate percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device (pLVAD) is a miniaturized heart pump that fits an 8 Fr delivery system. The ElevateTM Pump can be inserted over a guidewire, using a 10 Fr commercially available femoral introducer sheath, providing the smallest crimping profile in the industry. The flow of the pump is adjusted based on the clinical circumstances of the patient and can exceed 5 L/min of mean flow. This makes it the most powerful device of its kind.

Elevate is an investigational device, limited by federal law to investigational use only. The technology was awarded Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two indications: high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) and cardiogenic shock.

About Magenta Medical

Magenta Medical Ltd. is a privately-held company dedicated to the development of miniaturized blood pumps intended to provide minimally-invasive support to the native heart during acute episodes of dysfunction that could lead to dangerously low blood pressure and compromised perfusion of vital organs. Magenta's Elevate percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device (pLVAD) is currently in clinical trials to be evaluated for at least two indications: patients undergoing high-risk coronary interventions (HR-PCI) and patients with cardiogenic shock.

For more information, please visit https://magentamed.com/

To schedule a time to meet with Magenta's CEO, Dr. David Israeli, at TCT 2023, please email: [email protected].

Media Contact



Marjie Hadad

General Manager

Must Have Communications

[email protected]

+972 (54) 536-5220

www.mhc-pr.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243060/Magenta_Medical_Elevate_Pump.jpg

SOURCE Magenta Medical
DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Abdominal Pads Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Type (Sterile, Non-Sterile), By Application (Surgical Wounds, Chronic Wounds, Burns, Others), By End User, By Region, and Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global Abdominal Pads Market is set to experience remarkable expansion from 2024 to 2028, driven by the escalating demand for effective wound care solutions on a global scale.

Abdominal pads, a critical component of medical dressing, serve as a protective shield for abdominal wounds. They boast high absorbency levels and are engineered to establish an impenetrable barrier against harmful pathogens and bacteria.

These pads cater to a broad spectrum of wound types, including surgical incisions, lacerations, abrasions, and wounds prone to heavy bleeding, as seen in trauma or accident cases. Notably, they absorb fluids, inhibit infection, and provide a cushioning effect that shields wounds from further harm.

A key advantage of employing abdominal pads is their ease of replacement, facilitating continuous wound monitoring, cleanliness, and protection. Moreover, these pads maintain a moist environment, expediting the healing process by averting scab formation, which can impede recovery. Cost-effectiveness and easy availability further underscore their significance for at-home wound management.

The surging prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular ailments, underscores the heightened demand for efficient wound care solutions, including abdominal pads. These conditions often necessitate surgical interventions, making abdominal pads indispensable in averting infections and stimulating healing.

Additionally, the global population's aging demographic is increasing the vulnerability to chronic diseases and surgical procedures, further emphasizing the need for effective wound care products like abdominal pads. The geriatric population, particularly susceptible to infections and slow healing, relies on these products for their well-being.

A surge in surgical procedures worldwide is another catalyst for the escalating demand for abdominal pads. Surgical wounds require meticulous care and protection to avert infections and expedite healing, with abdominal pads emerging as the go-to choice for post-surgical wound management.

Technological innovations in wound care products are propelling the global abdominal pads market forward. Breakthroughs have led to the development of advanced wound care solutions, including abdominal pads. Notably, nanotechnology has enhanced the antimicrobial capabilities of abdominal pads, underlining their pivotal role in healthcare settings.

Rising Demand for Effective Wound Care Products

The escalating demand for efficient wound care products is the primary driver of the global abdominal pads market. Abdominal pads, designed to absorb fluids and expedite healing in the abdominal region, have become indispensable. Contributing factors include an aging population, a surge in chronic diseases like diabetes, and an upswing in global surgeries. These factors have created a growing patient base seeking effective and user-friendly wound care solutions.

In tandem with the demand surge, advances in technology and research have led to innovative products that are more efficient than ever before. Some abdominal pads now incorporate antimicrobial agents or other technologies that reduce infection risks and promote faster healing.

Increasing Number of Surgical Procedures

The burgeoning number of surgical procedures globally is a pivotal factor propelling the growth of the global abdominal pads market. Surgical procedures drive the demand for abdominal pads, as they are essential for managing incisions and expediting healing, especially in the abdominal region, which is prone to complications such as infections and delayed healing.

The growing volume of surgical procedures will continue to fuel the demand for abdominal pads, propelling the global market further.

Growing Geriatric Population

The continual rise in the geriatric population significantly contributes to the global abdominal pads market's growth. As the elderly population increases, so does the demand for medical care, including surgical procedures and wound care. Older individuals are more prone to chronic illnesses and conditions, which often require surgical interventions, driving the demand for wound care products, including abdominal pads.

Furthermore, aging skin becomes thinner and more susceptible to damage, increasing the risk of wounds, particularly pressure ulcers common among the elderly. Abdominal pads play a crucial role in managing pressure ulcers, promoting faster healing, and reducing infection risks.

Market Segmentation

The global abdominal pads market can be segmented by type (sterile and non-sterile), application (surgical wounds, chronic wounds, burns, and others), and end-user (hospitals & clinics, homecare, ambulatory care centers, and others). Geographically, the market encompasses North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Market Players

Smith & Nephew, Plc

Medline Industries, Inc.

Medtronic, Plc

Dukal Corporation

Integra Life Sciences, Inc.

Dynarex Corporation

3M Company

Company DeRoyal Industries, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v9ah13

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

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SOURCE Research and Markets
MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half (NYSE: RHI), including its subsidiary, Protiviti, has again been named by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers. This is Forbes' most prestigious global employer accolade and Robert Half remains the top-ranked staffing firm on the list.

The annual list is based on a global independent survey of nearly 170,000 employees in 55 countries. Respondents were asked whether they would recommend their company to others, and to rate their employer based on criteria such as talent development, remote working options, parental leave benefits, diversity, work-life balance and pride in the product or services the company offers.

"This recognition is particularly rewarding because it validates our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our employees across the globe," said M. Keith Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Robert Half. "We continue to act on our employees' ideas to better our workplace, expanding programs and practices including recognition and belonging, well-being and mental health, and competitive pay and benefits."

Robert Half delivers a world-class experience to its employees through flexible work options, wellness offerings and employee network groups, as well as resources to help individuals connect, thrive and grow. The company's 2022 Leading With Integrity: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report outlines some of the most impactful initiatives for employees, the community and the environment.

Robert Half has also been named to TIME's World's Best Companies, Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies, the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and Forbes' Best Employers for Women.

About Robert Half

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects opportunities at great companies with highly skilled job seekers. Offering contract and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, administrative and customer support, legal, and marketing and creative, Robert Half has more than 400 locations worldwide, including nearly 100 locations in 18 countries outside the United States. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For. Explore our comprehensive solutions, research and insights at RobertHalf.com.

SOURCE Robert Half
ATLANTA, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ROIMinistry.org extends an invitation for you to contribute to the World Changers Challenge, as we head into the last quarter of 2023. ROIMinistry.org has identified the Top 10 ministries that are doing the most for the kingdom of God, based on their impact per dollar, so that you know where your charitable giving is going this season. By participating in this year's World Changers Challenge, you will know that you're making a difference.

ROIministry.org // ROI Ministry, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization of marketplace Christian leaders who desire to make the greatest Kingdom impact possible with their God-given resources.

The 2023 end-of-year fundraising campaign has an ambitious target of reaching over 1 million lives. Your involvement is not merely a donation; it's a partnership in a mission to create a substantial and enduring difference. You can contribute at www.ROIministry.org

The trust and confidence bestowed by donors over the last year led to remarkable achievements:

115,980 individuals were guided to find faith in Jesus Christ , with more than half joining local churches and 50,604 entering discipleship programs.

, with more than half joining local churches and 50,604 entering discipleship programs. 477,673 meals were distributed to the underprivileged.

Clean water was provided to 14,599 individuals, totaling 5,328,635 cups of clean water daily, all dedicated in Jesus's name.

40,274 individuals received vital hygiene and spiritual development training.

The fundraising efforts from the past year generated over $350,000, resulting in an average cost of fifty cents per outcome that enhanced and transformed lives. Ministry operations charities that receive funds are vetted by an independent third-party consultant through annual audits to verify the results per dollar of these Top 10 organizations.

In addition, the board members of ROI Ministry, a 501(c)3 not for profit, cover all of the organization's operating expenses.

You can review the list of Top 10 Christian ministries and donate at ROIministry.org

ABOUT ROI MINISTRY INC.

ROI Ministry, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization of marketplace Christian leaders who desire to make the greatest Kingdom impact possible with their God-given resources. The organization does not charge fees and receives no compensation from the ministries supported by the organization. 100% of all giving goes to ministry programs that achieve the greatest impact per dollar. More information can be found at www.roiministry.org .

Contact: Tim Barker, 678-264-7587

SOURCE www.ROIministry.org
$2.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Salient's efforts to provide actionable S2S weather predictions to improve agricultural productivity

BOSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Salient Predictions , a leading pioneer in weather forecasting analytics, has been awarded a $2.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . Supporting smallholder farmers in East Africa through a collaboration with in-region technology and weather partners, Salient's efforts with this investment will help to cost-effectively develop actionable sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) weather prediction to increase agricultural productivity and food security in East Africa amidst the challenges of a changing and volatile climate.

"Supporting smallholder farmers in East Africa is well aligned with Salient's mission of enabling climate resiliency and responding to the challenges of our changing climate," said Matt Stein , co-founder and CEO of Salient. "We look forward to providing better S2S forecasts for organizations striving to bolster food stability in the region by integrating data from ground-based weather stations."

$2.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Salient's efforts to provide actionable S2S weather predictions to improve agricultural productivity Post this

This investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is expected to contribute to the delivery of climate-informed decision support tools to help farmers adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Decisions such as what crop or variety to plant in advance of the growing season will enable a new level of planning for governments, agribusiness, and smallholder farmers based on forecasts of seasonal weather patterns rather than extrapolating from historical trends.

"We are thrilled to leverage Salient's expertise and unlock the transformative potential of their next-generation sub-seasonal to seasonal weather forecasting in East Africa," said Georgina Campbell Flatter , Executive Director at TomorrowNow , a 501(c)3 non-profit spinout of Tomorrow.io that connects next-generation weather and climate innovations with communities in need and an in-region partner of Salient. "Together with our partners, we endeavor to make a profound impact on the lives of millions of small-scale farmers."

"Farmers play a pivotal role in ensuring food security and prosperity," said Alex Sananka , Data Science Manager at One Acre Fund . "Currently, our weather forecasts in East Africa only extend up to 14 days ahead. We are excited about the availability of Salient's S2S forecasting solution, which will enable us to provide more extended lead-time forecasts, better supporting millions of farmers in the region in deciding what crops and seed varieties to plant."

For more information on Salient's revolutionary S2S forecasting solution, go to: https://www.salientpredictions.com/forecasts

About Salient

Salient combines novel ocean and land-surface data with machine learning and climate expertise to deliver the world's most accurate subseasonal-to-seasonal weather forecasts and industry insightstwo to 52 weeks in advance. Bringing together world-leading experts in physical oceanography, climatology and the global water cycle, machine learning, and AI, Salient helps enterprise clients improve resiliency, increase preparedness, and make better decisions in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Learn more at www.salientpredictions.com and follow on LinkedIn and Twitter .

SOURCE Salient Predictions, Inc.
FUZULI, Azerbaijan, October 10. Another group of former IDPs sent from the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district of Baku has arrived in Fuzuli city, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.

A ceremony was held to present the keys for the apartments to the newly resettled families.

The ceremony was attended by personnel of the special representative office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh economic region (except Shusha district) and the State Committee on Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

The resettled families will settle in newly built houses in Fuzuli.

At this stage, another 21 families (88 people) moved to the city.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 165 families - 602 people.

The city was liberated from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war.
Telecoms cybersecurity leader boosts presence in the Middle East, aligning with the region's accelerated 5G and digital growth.

DUBAI, UAE, and LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SecurityGen, the award-winning provider of cybersecurity solutions and services for the telecom industry, announced its commitment to supporting the expansion of 5G across the Middle East region as part of its ongoing growth strategy.

5G continues to grow faster than any previous mobile generation in history. But with that comes a greater risk of cyber-attack on operators and their customers. According to GSMA Intelligence, by 2025 there will be around 50 million 5G connections in the MENA region, with around 20 million in the GCC Arab States. The GCC Arab States will be slightly ahead of the global average by 2025, with 16 percent adoption (5G as a percentage of total mobile connections), compared to 15 percent globally.

The Middle East represents a pivotal region for SecurityGen. Over the past 18 months, SecurityGen has recorded significant deployments and partnerships, and grown its customer base with mobile operators across the Middle East, partnering with them to secure their networks. As of 2023, SecurityGen has project deployments and customers across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey.

With accelerated growth of 5G plus the adoption of IoT-based initiatives, SecurityGen sees huge potential for the Middle East region. SecurityGen is intensifying its regional presence by bolstering its senior leadership and enhancing its delivery capabilities in anticipation of this growth.

Amit Nath, co-founder and CEO of SecurityGen, commented, "The Middle East represents significant growth potential for 5G over the next few years. As the region expands economically and culturally via digital transformation projects plus ambitious initiatives like Saudi Arabia's Saudi Vision 2030, the spotlight is on telecom operators and how they can deliver secure high-speed broadband to communities in areas beyond the reach of wireline networks."



Nath continued, "Many cities across the region use 5G for pioneering IoT-based "Smart City" applications. The applications are vast, from connected public transport to efficient traffic management and environmental monitoring. With innovative schemes on the horizon such as Saudi Arabia's planned new city Neom, secure mobile networks - both public and private - are essential. But to capitalise on these and other opportunities created by 5G, operators must ensure their networks are safe, secure and protected from cyber-threats."

Nath continued, "Our appointment of Imad Ayad as SecurityGen's new Managing Director for Middle East & Africa enables us to pursue further growth across the region, and secure key partnerships and strengthen relationships with leading operators and enterprises alike. Ayad brings over 20 years of experience across leading telecom and tech firms, most notably key leadership roles with Nokia, Alfa Telecommunications, Enghouse Networks and Tranglo.

"Ayad's focused experience with VAS and SMS security, together with SecurityGen's in-depth expertise and proven security solutions, makes us the ideal partner for operators who are scaling up their 5G operations in the region with a priority on cybersecurity."

Dmitry Kurbatov, co-founder and CTO of SecurityGen, added, "Telecom network security is both an operational and a commercial priority for mobile operators. SecurityGen's approach combines the latest research into new and emerging cyber-threats with tried and tested, future-ready telecom security solutions.

"High-speed mobile networks will play an essential role in bringing to life innovative projects and initiatives focused on enhancing living standards and stimulating sustainable economic growth. Ensuring stringent security for these 5G-driven ecosystems is paramount. The combination of SecurityGen's cyber-security solutions plus our expert consultancy means we're ideally placed to support leading operators on their 5G journey.

"With Imad leading our growth strategy in the ME region, SecurityGen is optimally positioned for deeper telecom collaborations and rapid expansion."

Founded in early 2022, SecurityGen is transforming 5G cyber-security for mobile operators around the world. SecurityGen launched its ACE (Artificial Cybersecurity Expert) breach and attack simulation platform last year  the first completely automated platform purpose-built for securing mobile networks.

SecurityGen followed up the ACE platform with the launch at the end of last year of the 5G Cyber-Security Lab, a virtual environment where operators can test new solutions and methods for protecting their 5G networks against threats and vulnerabilities. In January of this year, SecurityGen published its top cyber-security challenges for mobile operators for 2023, which includes 5G's vulnerability to attack. Other leading threats include cyber-attacks from hostile states and organized crime groups: and advanced ransomware attacks.

About SecurityGen

Founded in 2022, SecurityGen is a global company focused on telecom security. We deliver a solid security foundation to drive secure telecom digital transformations and ensure safe and robust network operations. Our extensive product and service portfolio provides complete protection against existing and advanced telecom security threats.

SOURCE SecurityGen
NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The Boeing Company ("Boeing" or the "Company") (NYSE: BA). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Boeing and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 23, 2023, Spirit Aerosystems Holdings, Inc. ("Spirit Aerosystems"), a key supplier of components for Boeing aircraft, issued a press release acknowledging "a quality issue involving elongated fastener holes on the aft pressure bulkhead on certain models of the 737 fuselage produced by Spirit AeroSystems." Spirit Aerosystems stated that it "has implemented changes to its manufacturing process to address this issue" and is "working closely with [Boeing] to address any impacted units within the production system and address any needed rework."

On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $11.27 per share, or 4.93% percent, to close at $217.31 on August 24, 2023.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
FULLERTON, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty Investments ("Shopoff") has sold its recently approved housing development, The Pines at Fullerton, to Lennar Homes. The property includes 9.8 acres located at Euclid and Rosecrans in the city of Fullerton, California. Shopoff secured unanimous approval for the 113-home project in January 2023.

"It's no secret that there is a great need for housing throughout Orange County, and especially in well-established communities like Fullerton," explained Shopoff President and CEO William Shopoff. "We are pleased to have been able to work so closely with the City of Fullerton and Fullerton residents on the plan for this fantastic development. We look forward to seeing Lennar develop this into a quality new residential community, with residents benefiting from the property's location as well as its direct access to the neighborhood retail on the site."

In January 2023, Shopoff received unanimous approval from the City of Fullerton for the redevelopment of the aging shopping center encompassing a total of 14 acres, with approval for The Pines at Fullerton. The mixed-use development includes 113 homes, comprised of 49 small lot detached homes and 64 townhouses, and 23,000 square feet of neighborhood retail uses. Shopoff recently sold the corner retail space, including a drive-thru Del Taco and three adjacent retail pads. An additional 2.69 acres of retail pads remain for sale.

Well-located within an established neighborhood of Fullerton, the property location provides convenient access to Imperial Highway (90) to the north, the 57 freeway to the east, the 91 freeway to the south, and Beach Blvd. (39) to the west. In addition, this family-friendly city benefits from several major employers including California State University, Fullerton, which employs over 3,800, the St. Jude Medical Center which employs over 2,900, and Raytheon, with over 1,400 employees.

About Shopoff Realty Investments

Shopoff Realty Investments is an Irvine, California-based real estate firm with a 31-year history of value-add and opportunistic investing across the United States. The company primarily focuses on proactively generating appreciation through the repositioning of commercial income-producing properties, the entitlement of land assets, and development projects. The 31-year history includes operating as Asset Recovery Fund, Eastbridge Partners, and Shopoff Realty Investments (formerly known as The Shopoff Group). Performance has varied in this time frame, with certain offerings generating losses. For additional information, please visit www.shopoff.com or call (844) 4-SHOPOFF.

Disclosures

This is not an offering to buy or sell any securities. Such an offer may only be made through the offering memorandum to qualified purchasers. Any investment in Shopoff Realty Investments programs involves substantial risks and is suitable only for investors who have no need for liquidity and who can bear the loss of their entire investment. There is no assurance that any strategy will succeed to meet its investment objectives. The performance of this asset is not indicative of future results of other assets. Securities are offered through Shopoff Securities, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC, 18565 Jamboree Road, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92612, (844) 4-SHOPOFF.

Contact:

Jill Swartz

Spotlight Marketing Communications

949.427.1389

[email protected]

SOURCE Shopoff Realty Investments
CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The single-use assemblies industry is poised for significant growth in the near future, driven by the increasing demand for flexible and cost-effective solutions in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. With advancements in materials and technology, single-use assemblies are becoming more robust and customizable, offering biotech companies greater scalability and reduced cross-contamination risks. This trend aligns with the industry's shift towards smaller batch production and personalized medicine. Furthermore, the ongoing emphasis on sustainability and reduced environmental impact is pushing manufacturers to develop recyclable or biodegradable single-use components. As a result, the single-use assemblies industry is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of biopharmaceutical production, ensuring efficiency, adaptability, and eco-consciousness in the manufacturing processes of life-saving drugs.

Single Use Assemblies Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $2.5 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $5.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 15.6% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The global single-use assemblies market is growing owing to factors such as rising adoption of single-use assemblies among startups and SMEs, development and launch of technologically advanced single-use products that offer streamlined workflows, portability, and rapid implementation, and increasing demand for single-use assemblies for R&D and biologics manufacturing. The market growth could be hampered by regulatory concerns and significant concerns regarding extractables and leachables arising from the components of single-use assemblies in bioproduction.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Single Use Assemblies Market"

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Single Use Assemblies Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $2.5 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $5.2 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 15.6% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, Solution, Application & End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Emerging Market Key Market Drivers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa

The bag assemblies segment accounted for the largest share by product in the single-use assemblies market in 2022.

By product, the single-use assemblies market has been further categorized as bag assemblies, filtration assemblies, bottle assemblies, mixing system assemblies, and other products. The bag assemblies segment held the largest share of the global single-use assemblies market in 2022. The increasing use of bioprocessing applications is driving the growth of the single-use bag assemblies segment. These bags enable critical liquid handling in biomanufacturing processes and eliminate the time & cost of additional cleaning-in-place and sterilization-in-place (CIP/SIP) system setup, maintenance, and validation.

The standard solutions segment accounted for the largest share of the solution segment in the single-use assemblies market in 2022.

Based on solutions, the global single-use assemblies market has been segmented into standard solutions and customized solutions. The standard solutions segment held the largest market share in 2022. The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries have adopted standard solutions extensively, driven by the benefits they offer. These advantages encompass enhanced manufacturing process efficiency, lowered capital costs, increased flexibility through the utilization of pre-qualified assembly components, reduced implementation time, and greater adaptability in production planning.

The filtration & purification segment accounted for the largest share of the application segment in the single-use assemblies s market in 2022.

The single-use assemblies market is segmented into filtration & purification, aseptic transfer, cell culture & mixing, formulation & fill-finish, storage, and sampling based on application. Filtration & purification is the largest application segment of the single-use assemblies market. Factors such as cost efficiency, flexibility and scalability, reduced risk of cross-contamination, and technological advancements in single use assemblies used for filtration & purification are expected to drive the filtration & purification segment during the forecast period.

The North American region catered for the largest share of the single-use assemblies market in 2022.

The single-use assemblies market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America regional market held a substantial share of the single-use assemblies market owing to the strong presence of the pharmaceutical industry, increased research and development (R&D) spending, the expansion of biosimilars markets, the rising number of drug development projects, and stringent regulations for the pharmaceutical industry.

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Single Use Assemblies Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing adoption of single-use assemblies among startups and SMEs Rapid implementation and low risk of cross-contamination Growing biologics and biosimilars market Cost savings with single-use assemblies Technological advancements

Restraints:

Regulatory concerns Issues related to leachables and extractables Leakage and integrity issues

Opportunities:

Emerging markets Rising focus on increasing bioprocessing capacities among biopharmaceutical companies

Challenge:

Standardization of single-use assemblies Disposal of waste Demand and supply gap

Key Market Players of Antibody Drug Conjugates Industry:

Key players in the single-use assemblies market include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), Danaher (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), PARKER HANNIFIN CORP (US), Saint-Gobain (France), Repligen Corporation (US), Corning Incorporated (US), Entegris (US), Meissner Filtration Products, Inc. (US), NewAge Industries (US), Antylia Scientific (US), Lonza (Switzerland), Romynox (Netherlands), SaniSure (US), Keofitt A/S (Denmark), Intellitech, Inc. (US), Dover Corporation (US), Foxx Life Sciences (US), TSE Industries, Inc. (US), Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Japan), Michelin (France), Cellexus (Scotland), and Fluid Flow Products, Inc. (US).

Recent Developments:

In February 2022 , Sartorius Stedim Biotech (France) acquired the chromatography division of Novasep (France). The portfolio acquired comprises chromatography systems primarily suited for smaller biomolecules.

, Sartorius Stedim Biotech (France) acquired the chromatography division of Novasep (France). The portfolio acquired comprises chromatography systems primarily suited for smaller biomolecules. In August 2022 , Thermo Fisher Scientific opened a new single-use technology site in Tennessee , which has 400,000 square feet of floor space. It became the company's largest SUT site in its growing network.

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Single Use Assemblies Market Advantages:

Flexibility and Scalability: Single-use assemblies are highly adaptable, allowing for rapid changes in production processes and easy scalability from small-scale research and development to large-scale manufacturing. This flexibility reduces downtime and enables efficient production adjustments.

Cost-Efficiency: Traditional stainless steel equipment requires significant capital investment, maintenance, and cleaning validation. Single-use assemblies eliminate these costs by avoiding the need for cleaning, sterilization, and long-term maintenance, making them a cost-effective choice, especially for smaller batch production.

Reduced Cross-Contamination Risk: Disposable components minimize the risk of cross-contamination between batches, ensuring product purity and quality. This is crucial in industries like biopharmaceuticals, where maintaining product integrity is paramount.

Time Savings: Single-use assemblies streamline production processes by eliminating time-consuming cleaning and sterilization steps. This results in faster batch turnover and shorter production lead times.

Improved Product Safety: Single-use assemblies reduce the risk of contamination by eliminating the need for manual cleaning and sterilization processes, ensuring a higher level of product safety and consistency.

Environmental Benefits: Some single-use assemblies are designed with sustainability in mind, featuring recyclable or biodegradable materials. This aligns with growing environmental concerns and corporate sustainability goals.

Compliance and Validation: Single-use assemblies simplify regulatory compliance and validation processes because they offer consistent and traceable components. This simplifies documentation and ensures compliance with industry standards.

Lower Capital Investment: Industries can avoid large capital investments in stainless steel equipment and facilities by adopting single-use technology, making it more accessible for startups and smaller companies.

Space Savings: Single-use assemblies require less physical space compared to traditional stainless steel equipment, allowing for more efficient use of manufacturing facilities.

Innovation and Customization: Manufacturers continually innovate and customize single-use assemblies to meet specific process requirements, offering a wide range of options tailored to different applications.

Overall, the single-use assemblies market's advantages make it an attractive option for industries seeking efficient, cost-effective, and flexible solutions while meeting rigorous quality and safety standards.

Related Reports:

Single Use Bioreactors Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Sterile Filtration Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Biologics Safety Testing Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Single Use Bioprocessing Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

Bioprocess Container Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

About MarketsandMarkets:

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MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
- BIO Investor Forum taking place on October 17-18, 2023 -

- The 17th Annual Pain Therapeutics Summit taking place on October 19-20, 2023 -

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- South Rampart Pharma, Inc. ("South Rampart" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life science company developing SRP-001, a first-in-class non-opioid candidate for the treatment of chronic and acute pain, today announced the Company's executive team will be participating in the upcoming investor events throughout October 2023:

BIO Investor Forum (San Francisco, CA):

Date: October 17-18, 2023

Corporate Presentation Time: 2:15 PM ET, Oct. 17, 2023

Title: ''SRP-001, A First-in-Class, Non-Opioid Analgesic Targeting Novel Pain Signaling Pathways in the Periaqueductal Grey Region: Phase 1 Interim Results & Comparative Efficacy."

Panel Discussion: 5:00 PM ET, Oct. 17, 2023

Title: "Succeeding at Technology Transfer: Best Practices for Industry-Academia Collaboration."

Program: https://bif.bio.org/program

South Rampart's Co-founder and CEO, Dr. Hernan Bazan, will present a Corporate Overview followed by a questions and answers session. Dr. Bazan's presentation will discuss SRP-001's unique mechanisms of action as well as Phase 1 clinical trial data. In addition to the Corporate Overview, Dr. Bazan will be featured as a speaker on a panel exploring best practices for translation and commercialization of innovation spun out from academia. Joining him on the panel will be the Director of Entrepreneurship from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), as well as venture capital executives from Mission BioCapital, J2 Ventures, and Osage University Partners.

17th Annual Pain Therapeutics Summit (San Diego, CA):

Date: October 19-20, 2023

Panel Discussion: 4:00 PM ET, Oct. 19, 2023

Title: "What has Happened to Novel Analgesic Development Programs Following 5 Years of HEAL Funding (2018-2023)."

Presentation Time: 1:55 PM ET, Oct. 20, 2023

Title: "Transcriptomic Signature, Bioactivity and Safety of a Non-hepatoxic Novel Non-opioid Analgesic: From Discovery to the Clinic."

Program: https://www.paintherapeuticsummit.com/agenda

Josh Blacher, South Rampart's Chief Financial Officer, will be participating in panel discussion on the impact of NIH Helping to End Addiction Long Term (HEAL) funding on therapeutic development alongside the Conference Chairman, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH); and the Director of the NIH HEAL Initiative. Separately, Dr. Hernan Bazan will present details on the gene pathways affected in the central nervous system by SRP-001 leading to pain relief, the mechanisms for the absence of liver toxicity, in vivo pain models and clinical safety data.

About South Rampart Pharma

South Rampart Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on addressing the critical need for a safer and more effective approach to relieving pain. Its lead clinical candidate, SRP-001, is a novel, first-in-class analgesic that activates pain signaling pathways in the midbrain's periaqueductal grey (PAG) region. SRP-001 influences pain-related genes through endocannabinoid, mechanical nociception, and fatty acid amide hydrolase pathways in the PAG region. Unlike opioids, SRP-001 doesn't carry a risk of abuse and addiction. Moreover, it lacks the hepatotoxicity associated with acetaminophen as it does not produce the harmful metabolite NAPQI nor disrupt liver cell tight junctions. Compared with acetaminophen, SRP-001 exhibits similar analgesic properties without the risk of liver damage, and it lacks NSAIDs' kidney toxicity risk. SRP-001 has demonstrated repeated efficacy in several non-clinical pain models, including the inflammatory von Frey, visceral, and somatic pain models. Interim results from the Phase 1 trial (NCT05484414) demonstrate SRP-001's safety, tolerability, and robust pharmacokinetics. SRP-001 represents a promising alternative to existing pain medicines like opioids, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs potentially providing a safer, more effective pain treatment option.

Please visit the Company's website at southrampartpharma.com and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter for more information.

Investors:

Josh Blacher, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE South Rampart Pharma
NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The specialty chemicals market size is expected to grow by USD 357.76 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 6.97% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the specialty chemicals market, including Albemarle Corp., Ashland Inc., BASF SE, Beardow and Adams Adhesives Ltd., Clariant International Ltd., Danimer Scientific Inc., Dow Chemical Co., Dymax Corp., Evonik Industries AG, Exxon Mobil Corp., H.B. Fuller Co., Henkel AG and Co. KGaA, Huntsman International LLC, Lanxess AG, Nouryon Chemicals Holding BV, PPG Industries Inc., Prince International Corp., Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Shree Ganesh Remedies Ltd., and Solvay SA. The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request Free Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Specialty Chemicals Market 2023-2027

Specialty Chemicals Market 2023-2027: Company Analysis

Albemarle Corp. - The company offers a wide range of specialty chemicals such as Bromine Specialties, Catalysts and Lithium.

This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information.

Specialty Chemicals Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

End-user

The Agrochemicals segment will contribute the highest market share growth during the forecast period. Agrochemicals are used to improve the quality and yield of crops. They are mainly classified into fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilizers are further segmented into nitrogenous, potassic, phosphatic, and others, whereas the different segments of pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, bio-pesticides, and others.

Geography

By Geography, APAC is estimated to contribute 60% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Countries like China, Japan , India , Vietnam , South Korea , Malaysia , and Australia . China , Japan , South Korea , and India majorly contribute to the regional market growth. The growth can be attributed to rapid industrialization and the increasing demand for agrochemicals, plastic additives, food additives, and adhesives and sealants in the region.

is estimated to contribute to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Countries like China, , , , , , and . , , , and majorly contribute to the regional market growth. The growth can be attributed to rapid industrialization and the increasing demand for agrochemicals, plastic additives, food additives, and adhesives and sealants in the region. Other regions include North America, Europe , South America , and Middle East and Africa .

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View Free PDF Sample Report

Specialty Chemicals Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

Historic Market Size 2017-2021

CAGR of the market during 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist specialty chemicals market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the specialty chemicals market size and its contribution to the parent market

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the specialty chemicals market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on companies

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of specialty chemicals market companies

Related Reports:

The mining chemicals market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.42% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 3,949.93 million. This mining chemicals market report extensively covers market segmentation by application (explosives and drilling, mineral processing, water treatment, and others), product (iron, phosphate, copper, gold ore, and zinc and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing mineral demand is driving growth in the mining chemicals market.

The Textile Chemicals Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.35% between 2023 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 5,153.79 million. This textile chemicals market report extensively covers market segmentation by Application (apparel, home textile, and technical textile), Product (coating and sizing chemicals, colorants and auxiliaries, finishing agents, surfactants, and desizing agents), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). Increasing use of technical textiles in the industrial manufacturing sector is a key factor boosting market growth.

Specialty Chemicals Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.97% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 357.76 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.11 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 60% Key countries US, China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Albemarle Corp., Ashland Inc., BASF SE, Beardow and Adams Adhesives Ltd., Clariant International Ltd., Danimer Scientific Inc., Dow Chemical Co., Dymax Corp., Evonik Industries AG, Exxon Mobil Corp., H.B. Fuller Co., Henkel AG and Co. KGaA, Huntsman International LLC, Lanxess AG, Nouryon Chemicals Holding BV, PPG Industries Inc., Prince International Corp., Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Shree Ganesh Remedies Ltd., and Solvay SA 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, Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by End-user

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and PHOENIX, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Stairwell and 360 SOC, industry leaders in cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership that combines Stairwell's revolutionary AI-powered threat detection and automation capabilities with 360 SOC's groundbreaking month-to-month, contract-free Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) offering.

This alliance between two award winning cybersecurity solutions enables customers to benefit from Stairwell's AI-powered automated malware analysis and 360 SOC's state-of-the-art technologies and skilled cybersecurity experts. In August, 360 SOC was named #25 on the prestigious 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501 list. Stairwell was most recently recognized as one of the most innovative companies for 2023 by Fast Company. The partnership offers scalable, cost-effective, and highly automated security solutions for businesses of all sizes.

"Incorporating Stairwell into our SOCaaS offering is a game changer for our customers, enhancing our mission to provide innovative security solutions at competitive rates" said Chris Ichelson, CEO at 360 SOC. "We're excited to join forces with 360 SOC to help protect more organizations," added Eric Foster, VP of Business Development at Stairwell. "Our advanced threat detection and automation, integrated into 360 SOC's flexible and accessible service, creates an incredibly robust framework that adapts to the evolving needs of modern businesses."

About Stairwell

Stairwell empowers organizations to take back the cybersecurity high ground with a platform that automates crucial parts of security operations, incident response, and threat hunting. For more information, visit www.stairwell.com.

About 360 SOC

360 SOC offers both Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS), tailored to meet your unique security requirements. For more information, visit www.360soc.com.

Press Contact:

For Stairwell: [email protected]

For 360 SOC: [email protected]

SOURCE Stairwell, Inc.
Following Partnership With January Consulting, Steve Madden Expands Work with January Digital to Develop a Full-Funnel Digital Media Strategy

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Madden Ltd, a leading designer and marketer of fashion-forward footwear, announced today it has named media agency January Digital as its digital agency of record (AOR) in North America. January Digital will be responsible for developing and executing Steve Madden's digital media strategy and investment.

In October 2022, Steve Madden brought on January Consulting , the consulting arm of January Digital, to transform the brand's media strategy and marketing measurement systems. As a result, Steve Madden saw improved cross-functional alignment and communications, increased collaboration, and boosted productivity across the organization.

"Over the past year, January Consulting has helped us drive organizational improvement within the Steve Madden business and has helped us gain a new perspective on how we plan and evaluate our marketing mix and its effectiveness," said Josh Krepon, President of U.S. Direct to Consumer and Global Digital at Steve Madden. "We are excited to add January Digital's media team into the mix so we can execute a truly integrated, end-to-end, digital media plan to serve our customers' needs and grow the Steve Madden brand."

"We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Steve Madden," said Vic Drabicky, Founder & CEO of January Digital and January Consulting. "We believe the combination of their great product, brand heritage, and experienced leadership team with our team's strategy, media, data, and leadership capabilities will drive exceptional results and build a great partnership."

January Digital is tasked with building, planning, executing, and analyzing all of Steve Madden's digital media advertising.

About Steve Madden

Steve Madden designs, sources and markets fashion-forward footwear, accessories and apparel for women, men and children. In addition to marketing products under its own brands including Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, Blondo and GREATS, Steve Madden licenses footwear and handbag categories for the Anne Klein brand. Steve Madden also designs and sources products under private label brand names for various retailers. Steve Madden's wholesale distribution includes department stores, mass merchants, off-price retailers, shoe chains, online retailers, national chains, specialty retailers and independent stores. Steve Madden also directly operates brick-and-mortar retail stores and e-commerce websites. Steve Madden also licenses certain of its brands to third parties for the marketing and sale of certain products in the apparel, accessory and home categories. For local store information and the latest sandals, dress shoes, fashion sneakers, boots, booties and more, please visit www.stevemadden.com, www.dolcevita.com and our other branded websites.

About January Digital

January Digital, the Digital Leadership Company, solves business challenges through strategic consulting, media excellence, and actionable analytics. The company comprises January Consulting which offers true strategic leadership that builds successful client businesses, and January Digital, the media agency that handles full funnel media planning, execution, and optimization. All of January Digital's work is supported with a foundation of data and actionable insights which ensure clients are as successful as possible. For more information, visit januarydigital.com.

Media Contact

Marielena Santana, DiGennaro Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE January Digital
Thousands Impacted by Breast Cancer to Come Together to Raise Critical Funds for Breast Cancer Research and Financial Assistance

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organization, will be hosting the 2023 San Diego MORE THAN PINK Walk on Sunday, November 5 at Balboa Park.

Thousands of individuals including family and friends will come together to celebrate breast cancer survivors, honor those who have passed away from the disease, and raise critical funds that support research and vital support services for breast cancer patients, including research, financial assistance, screening and diagnostics and patient navigation services.

"We are excited to have the community join us this year at the MORE THAN PINK Walk to make a difference in our fight against breast cancer in our community," said Leia Brune, executive director for Susan G. Komen. "Continuing to support individuals going through breast cancer in our community is critical to our mission and it is clear that our services are needed as the demand increases."

Breast cancer survivors and those living with metastatic disease, caregivers, family members and loved ones will come together in Balboa Park starting at 6:30 a.m. Opening ceremony kicks off at 7:30 a.m. and the Walk begins at 8 a.m.

Sponsors for the event include: Hologic, CBS 8, CW San Diego, Sycuan Casino Resort, Puma Biotechnology, Soapy Joe's, Petco, Radio Latina, Global Payments and Collins Aerospace.

Walk participants will include breast cancer survivors, metastatic breast cancer thrivers, co-survivors, volunteers, community partners and supporters of Susan G. Komen.

What: 2023 Susan G. Komen San Diego MORE THAN PINK Walk When: Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 6:30 a.m. Where: Balboa Park (6th Ave and Laurel St) Details: Register at: www.komen.org/sandiegowalk

Please contact Amanda DeBard at [email protected] for interviews, photo and interview opportunities or live shots. Interviews with event attendees, Komen staff, and honorees can be granted upon request.

About Susan G. Komen

Susan G. Komen is the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow's cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at www.komen.org/contact-us/follow-us/.

CONTACT:

Amanda DeBard

Susan G. Komen

[email protected]

SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SutiSoft, Inc. announces their eSignature platform, an integrated solution built specifically for businesses facing challenges in managing and signing documents. The platform is configurable with greater flexibility, enabling everyone to create, sign, and store documents securely from a single interface.

SutiSoft eSignature Platform

"Signing documents is cited as the most tedious task for enterprises stuck with legacy systems. It is evident that the traditional signing process offers limited visibility  so you can't track where documents sit in the workflow. Understanding all the intricacies associated with paper-based signing, we have come up with a unified solution that gives businesses complete visibility and helps close deals faster within a digital environment. " - N.D. Reddy, CEO

The following are the three core components of the eSignature platform:

Contract Lifecycle Management

SutiCLM enables organizations to create, negotiate, and manage contracts effortlessly. Its integration with Outlook and Google Calendars provides timely notifications for key events such as meetings, contract negotiations, execution, events, renewals, and expiration.

The solution streamlines contract authoring, allowing all stakeholders to collaborate via Zoom meetings for document reviews, and records every change in a detailed audit log.

eSignature Solution

SutiSign stands as the core tenet of the platform, enabling users to electronically sign documents using any smart device. The solution comes with flexible signing options, signature verification mechanisms and authentication methods including ID verification to validate the legitimacy of online signatures.

Audit logs are automatically added at the end of signed documents so user can track everything including sender IDs, signer's actions with the date and timestamp.

Adhering to standard eSignature laws, the solution assures every signature is complaint and legally binding, leaving no space for forgery and unauthorized access to critical documents.

Document Management Solution

SutiDMS facilitates the centralized document storage, enabling businesses to access, track, and retrieve all critical documents in an organized and secure manner. The solution ensures transparency with its comprehensive set of features including role-based access controls, version controls, audit logs, and more.

SutiSoft's eSignature platform helps businesses act fast on opportunities while promising data privacy through advanced security protocols.

About SutiSoft

SutiSoft develops a comprehensive suite of cloud-based SaaS platforms that streamline the critical business processes for enterprises of all sizes. For more information, please visit our website https://www.sutisoft.com/ or call us at 650-969-SUTI.

Contact

CAROL SLONE,

Media Communication,

[email protected],

(650)969-7884x415

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2235191/SutiSoft_eSignature.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2235192/SutiSign_Platform_Logo.jpg

SOURCE SutiSoft Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The establishment of new and further strengthening of existing relationships for expanding cultural ties is one of the priority issues, Special Envoy of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, Secretary-General of the National Commission of Azerbaijan for UNESCO Seymur Fataliyev said, Trend reports.

Fataliyev made the remark at an international conference themed "Viable and sustainable heritage cities" organized by the "Icherisheher" State Historical and Architectural Reserve in collaboration with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

According to him, the initiative to create a network of Turkic heritage managers, as outlined in the Samarkand Declaration adopted at the 9th summit of the Turkic Council in Uzbekistan in 2022, has now become a reality.

"Congratulations to all the states that have joined this initiative. International cooperation in the preservation, research, and restoration of cultural heritage is conducted through UNESCO conventions," the envoy noted. "The establishment of a network of Turkic heritage managers will create ample opportunities for closer cooperation and the exchange of expertise among specialists from Turkic-speaking countries regarding the relevant heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List."

"This network will enable us to introduce innovations in this field in the future. I'm pleased that during the conference, guests will become acquainted with the cultural heritage of both Icherisheher in Baku and the city of Shaki. Guests are also expected to visit the city of Shusha," said Fataliyev.

He also added that, according to the decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Shusha has been declared a cultural city.

"This city has a rich cultural heritage. Azerbaijan has five cultural monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first entries were Icherisheher, the Maiden Tower, and the Shirvanshahs' Palace. It's gratifying that a few weeks ago, the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was held in Riyadh, where Hyrcanian Forests (the first natural monument in Azerbaijan) and Khinalig [State History-Architecture and Ethnography Reserve] were added to the UNESCO list in two nominations. The creation of a network of Turkic heritage managers will help implement new measures in this area in the future," he emphasized.

Azerbaijan has a number of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Among them are Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, Historic Center of Shaki with the Khans Palace, Ichersheher in Baku with the Shirvanshahs' Palace and Maiden Tower, etc.

In April 2023, Azerbaijan said it submitted its proposal (on the country's Hyrcanian Forests) for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's transnational nomination at the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, as a result of the Karabakh war and Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani lands, a lot of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage suffered enormous damage.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES.

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss Re Finance (Luxembourg) S.A. ("SRFL") announced today the results of its previously announced tender offer for cash (the "Any and All Tender Offer") of any and all of its outstanding USD denominated 4.250% Guaranteed Perpetual Subordinated Fixed Spread Callable Notes (the "USD 4.250% Notes") guaranteed by Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd ("SRZ").

The Any and All Tender Offer was made upon and was subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated October 2, 2023 (the "Offer to Purchase"). Capitalized terms used in this announcement but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase.

The Any and All Tender Offer expired as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 6, 2023 (the "Any and All Expiration Date"). As of the Any and All Expiration Date, $368,800,000 in aggregate principal amount of the USD 4.250% Notes, representing 36.88% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the USD 4.250% Notes, were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn. SRFL has accepted for purchase all USD 4.250% Notes that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of the Any and All Expiration Date. None of the USD 4.250% Notes were tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Offer to Purchase.

In accordance with the terms of the Any and All Tender Offer, the withdrawal deadline was 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 6, 2023. As a result, tendered USD 4.250% Notes may no longer be withdrawn, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law (as determined by SRFL).

As previously announced, registered holders of the USD 4.250% Notes ("Holders") who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their USD 4.250% Notes at or prior to the Any and All Expiration Date and whose USD 4.250% Notes are accepted for purchase and payment pursuant to the Any and All Tender Offer, will receive the Total Consideration (as set out in the table below) with respect to the USD 4.250% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such USD 4.250% Notes from, and including, the last interest payment date applicable to such USD 4.250% Notes to, but not including, the Any and All Settlement Date ("Accrued Interest"), on the Any and All Settlement Date. The "Any and All Settlement Date" is expected to be October 12, 2023, unless extended by SRFL.

The table below sets forth the Total Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of USD 4.250% Notes:

Title of Security ISIN/Common Code Principal Amount Outstanding(1) Principal Amount Tendered and Accepted(2) Principal Amount Tendered using guaranteed delivery procedures Principal Amount Outstanding after acceptance of the USD 4.250% Notes validly tendered Total Consideration(3) Swiss Re Finance (Luxembourg) S.A. 4.250% Guaranteed Perpetual Subordinated Fixed Spread Callable Notes (the "USD 4.250% Notes") XS2049422343/204942234 U.S.$1,000,000,000 $368,800,000 $0 $631,200,000 U.S.$965 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of USD 4.250% Notes

__________________________



Notes:

(1) As of the commencement date of the Any and All Tender Offer.

(2) Excluding principal amount of Notes tendered using guaranteed delivery procedures.

(3) For each $1,000 principal amount of USD 4.250% Notes validly tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Any and All Tender Offer. In addition to the Total Consideration, Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on the USD 4.250% Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase from the applicable last interest payment date up to, but not including, the Any and All Settlement Date.

As a result of the foregoing, the Capped Maximum Amount for the Capped Tender Offers by SRFL will be a nominal amount of $1,131,200,000 and will be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including the Applicable Priority Levels and proration. As previously announced on October 2, 2023, the Capped Tender Offers are in respect of the USD denominated 6.050% Non-Step-Up Callable Notes with a scheduled maturity in 2056 issued by Argentum Netherlands B.V. (formerly known as Demeter Investments B.V.) (the "USD 6.050% Notes"), the Euro denominated 2.534% Guaranteed Subordinated Fixed Rate Reset Step-up Callable Notes with scheduled maturity in 2050 issued by SRFL and guaranteed by SRZ (the "EUR 2.534% Notes"), the USD denominated 5.524% Perpetual Fixed Spread Callable Notes issued by Argentum Netherlands B.V (the "USD 5.524% Notes"), the USD denominated 5.000% Guaranteed Subordinated Fixed Rate Reset Step-up Callable Notes with a scheduled maturity in 2049 issued by SRFL and guaranteed by SRZ (the "USD 5.000% Notes") and the USD denominated 5.750% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non Step-up Callable Notes with a scheduled maturity in 2050 issued by Argentum Netherlands B.V. (the "USD 5.750% Notes").

DEALER MANAGERS

BofA Securities Europe SA

51 rue La Boetie

75008 Paris

France



Attn: Liability Management Group

In Europe:

Tel No. +33 (0) 1 877 01057

In the United States:

Toll Free No.: +1 (888) 292-0070

Collect No.: +1 (980) 387-3907

Email: [email protected] HSBC Bank plc 8 Canada Square

London E14 5HQ

United Kingdom





Attn: Liability Management, DCM Europe: +44 (0)20 7992 6237 U.S. Toll-Free: +1 (888) HSBC-4LM U.S.: +1 (212) 525-5552 Email: [email protected]

THE INFORMATION AND TENDER AGENT

D.F. King

In London: 65 Gresham Street London, EC2V 7NQ In London: +44 20 7920 9700



In New York: 48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10005 Banks and brokers call: (212) 269-5550 All others call toll free: (800) 848-2998



Email: [email protected] Website: https://sites.dfkingltd.com/swissre



The Offer to Purchase and any other relevant notice and documents with respect to the Offers is available at https://sites.dfkingltd.com/swissre, operated by the Information and Tender Agent for the purpose of the Offers.

OFFER RESTRICTIONS

General

This announcement is not an Offer to Purchase any Notes or a solicitation of an offer to sell any Notes. The Offer is being made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase. None of SRFL, SRZ, Swiss Re Ltd, Argentum Netherlands B.V., the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent makes any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender any or all of their Notes for payment pursuant to the Offers.

The distribution of this announcement and the Offer to Purchase is restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this announcement or the Offer to Purchase comes are required by SRFL, SRZ, Swiss Re Ltd, Argentum Netherlands B.V., the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent to inform themselves of and to observe any such restrictions.

Neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase constitutes, nor may they be used in connection with, an offer to buy Notes or a solicitation to sell Notes by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such an offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or a solicitation. None of SRFL, SRZ, Swiss Re Ltd, Argentum Netherlands B.V., the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent accepts any responsibility for any violation by any person of the restrictions applicable in any jurisdiction.

United Kingdom

The communication of this announcement and the Offer to Purchase by Swiss Re and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"), as amended. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order")), persons who are within Article 43(2) of the Order, persons who are qualified investors of the kind described in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.), persons who otherwise fall within an exemption set forth in the Order such that section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply or any other persons to whom the Offers may otherwise lawfully be made under the Order and all other applicable securities laws.

Italy

None of the Offers, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other document or materials relating to the Offers have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Offers are being carried out in Italy as exempted offers pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended. Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are located in Italy can tender Notes for purchase in the Offers through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.

Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Notes and/or the Offers.

France

The Offers are not being made, directly or indirectly, to the public in the Republic of France ("France"). Neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase nor any other document or material relating to the Offers has been or shall be distributed to the public in France and only (i) providers of investment services relating to portfolio management for the account of third parties (personnes fournissant le service d'investissement de gestion de portefeuille pour compte de tiers) and/or (ii) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies), acting for their own account, with the exception of individuals, within the meaning ascribed to them in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 of the French Code monetaire et financier, and applicable regulations thereunder, are eligible to participate in the Offers. This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or offering materials relating to the Offers have not been and will not be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers.

Belgium

Neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autoriteit voor financiele diensten en markten / Autorite des services et marches financiers) and, accordingly, the Offers may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Offers may not be advertised and the Offers will not be extended, and neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) have been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than "qualified investors" in the sense of Article 10 of the Belgian Law of 16 June 2006 on the public offer of placement instruments and the admission to trading of placement instruments on regulated markets, acting on their own account. Insofar as Belgium is concerned, this announcement and the Offer to Purchase have been issued only for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Offers. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement and the Offer to Purchase may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium.

Switzerland

Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Notes constitutes an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the Notes described herein. The Notes may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Offer to Purchase or this announcement or the Notes constitutes a prospectus or a key information document within the meaning of articles 35 and 58 of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA"), and neither this announcement, nor the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Offer to Purchase or the Notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland. In particular, none of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other document produced in connection with this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or the Notes have been or will be approved by a Swiss review body (Prospektprufstelle) according to article 52 FinSA, or by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA under the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act.

Hong Kong

The contents of this announcement and the Offer to Purchase have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. The Offers have not been made and will not be made in Hong Kong, by means of any document other than: (i) to "professional investors" as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the "SFO") and any rules made under that ordinance; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that ordinance. Further, no person has issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, or will issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Offers, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Offers which are or are intended to be made only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made under that ordinance. This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and the information contained therein may not be used other than by the person to whom it is addressed and may not be reproduced in any form or transferred to any person in Hong Kong.

The Offers are not intended to be made to the public in Hong Kong and it is not the intention of the Company that the Offers be made to the public in Hong Kong.

Singapore

This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The Offers do not constitute an offering of securities in Singapore pursuant to the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time.

SOURCE Swiss Re Finance (Luxembourg) S.A.
World's most innovative country targets Texas business and university leaders in new X marks the spot campaign

business and university leaders in new X marks the spot campaign Global Innovation Leaders visit the Lone Star State to build partnerships

Advertising and experiential campaign to run in Austin , Dallas and Houston

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Swiss Government is bringing Xtra to businesses and universities in Texas and has targeted the state to promote the country's core business values and strengths. The Swiss have always seen the benefit of being Xtra and consistently pushing boundaries, innovating, and exceeding expectations. Recently listed as the world's most innovative country for the thirteenth consecutive year by the UN WIPO's Global Innovation Index, Switzerland sees Texas as a natural business partner.

Switzerland brings Xtra to Texas business and university leaders with new X marks the spot campaign Post this Switzerlands new X marks the spot campaign will travel through Austin, Dallas, and Houston during October and November, promoting the countrys innovation and business partner benefits to help Texas businesses and universities be Xtra and thrive.

The new X marks the spot campaign will promote Switzerland as an invaluable partner offering Xtra solutions to take Texas businesses and universities that Xtra mile. Whether companies are looking for European Xpansion, innovation Xperts, global Xposure, an Xtraordrinary talent pool, or Xceeding their business goals, Switzerland is the spot to help Texans be Xtra and thrive.

"I am excited by this new campaign to work more closely with Texas businesses and universities," said Jacques Pitteloud, Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. "Switzerland has a large and highly skilled talent pool and has recently been named the 'World's Best Country' by U.S. News and World Report. Combined with our shared values and Swiss innovation, we can provide Texans an Xtra edge for success. We also believe that being Xtra will lead to more profitable, resilient, and sustainable businesses."

"Our integrated marketing campaign takes a fresh look at the iconic cross on the Swiss flag, pivoting it to reveal an eye-catching X, marking it the spot for innovation, talent, research, and high quality of life for Texas businesses and universities," said Alexandre Edelmann, head of Presence Switzerland. "There's an X in our campaign and the name of Texas. However, much more is in common between the Lone Star state and the centrally-located European country. Both have a shared "can-do attitude" and the desire to innovate and truly thrive in business and life."

"Switzerland has long been recognized as having a very high quality of life and being a European hub for business and innovation, offering numerous advantages that offer Xtra for Texas companies aiming to establish a foothold in Europe and beyond," said Christoph Besmer, head of Investment Promotion USA for Switzerland. "Our X marks the spot campaign allows for multiple communication touchpoints to bring Switzerland's unique business partner advantages to life while creating a stronger connection in the Texas community to help Texans grow and drive more impact in business."

About the X marks the spot campaign:

The marketing and PR campaign will run across Texas throughout October and November. It will feature branded electric vehicles, advertising kiosks, local radio advertising, a mobile digital unit touring around Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and sponsored events. A coffee and conversation roadshow will take place in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and partnerships have been made with local Texas coffee retailers to gift free gourmet coffee to local professionals in high-traffic areas.

Key members of the Swiss government will be at each coffee roadshow stop to provide something Xtra to business audiences by sharing more about the country's innovation and partner benefits and tips for Xponential growth. Guests can also get the chance to collect exclusive Swiss Xtra branded merchandise. They can sign up for further information and see where the closest coffee and conversation roadshow stops are at http://www.xmarksthespot.ch

Switzerland and the United States are closely connected through intensive cross-border investments. The U.S. is Switzerland's most important destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)  more than Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom combined. Switzerland ranks as the country's seventh largest foreign investor, and Swiss companies directly create half a million U.S. jobs. Economic impact between Switzerland and Texas*:

Total export value of goods from Texas to Switzerland = $1.3B (as of 2021)

to = (as of 2021) Total jobs supported by Swiss Affiliates, services exports to Switzerland , and goods exports to Switzerland = more than 54k (as of 2019)

, and goods exports to = more than (as of 2019) Total import value of goods from Switzerland to Texas = $1.7B (as of 2021)

to = (as of 2021) More than 80 Swiss companies are located in Texas (as of 2021)

Presence Switzerland, Switzerland Global Enterprise, and Swiss Business Hub USA support this campaign.

*Source: http://www.swissimpactusa.com

Contact:

Ryan Bowling

[email protected]

+1 650 245 7945

SOURCE Swiss Business Hub USA
Proprietary analytics solution strengthens collection strategies and increases client collection rate as much as 10%

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently Frost & Sullivan assessed the debt collections services industry, and based on its findings, recognizes Teleperformance with 2023 Global Competitive Strategy Leadership Award. The company is a provider of digital business services and solutions. With a robust global footprint, the company's TP Collect solution stands out in the debt collections services market, delivering best-in-class technology that combines automation and predictive models with human touch while meeting privacy and cybersecurity standards.

Teleperformance

Teleperformance addresses clients' needs and continually improves existing services with a focus on innovation to deliver a high-tech high-touch approach. The company leverages omnichannel digital collection solutions embedded with data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation, machine learning (ML), and chatbot capabilities to deliver a better, more empathetic way to communicate with consumers. The company's proprietary technology solutions simplify the debt collection process, making it faster and safer. It has an extensive global reach, offering various options for onshore, nearshore, and offshore services. The company boasts a solid and established infrastructure, with operational sites specialized in specific market segments and portfolio areas. It provides first-party and third-party services, leveraging domestic and international labor markets to deliver cost-effective and flexible solutions.

Sebastian Menutti, industry principal, Frost & Sullivan, observed, "Teleperformance uses predictive analytic models to identify consumer affordability and vulnerability, estimate the propensity for consumers to pay off outstanding debt, and customize payment plans according to specific requirements, leading to more effective engagement and outreach."

Teleperformance understands customers' characteristics and payment patterns to deploy a debt collection strategy successfully. It has invested in stress testing and ethical hackers to prevent fraud while working closely with regulators to implement a governing framework that incorporates technological breakthroughs. The company uses client feedback and industry trend monitoring to guide its product roadmap and continuously evolve its solutions to maintain its innovative edge. Its dynamic service portfolio demonstrates the company's ability to catalyze competitive strategies based on market trends and consumer needs, leading to its success in the debt collections services market.

"Teleperformance creates tailor-made payment plans, which helps maintain and grow consumer satisfaction and thus building long-lasting relationships with its partners. It combines state-of-the-art technology with a dedicated human experience while complying with data security certificates," added Valentina Barcia, Best Practices research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has leveraged competitive intelligence to successfully execute a strategy that results in stronger market share, competitive brand positioning, and customer satisfaction.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Christine Savoie

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Report provides commonsense recommendations to eliminate the threat to Florida's waters by antiquated septic tank technologies.

ST PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Water Security Project, the Angler Action Foundation, and the Solar Energy Loan Fund applaud the release of Florida TaxWatch's Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida's Ground and Surface Water Report. The report outlines four commonsense recommendations to combat the threat to Florida's waters by antiquated septic tank technologies:

The Florida Legislature should task the Department of Environmental Protection to create, and comply with, a comprehensive plan to develop water and wastewater infrastructure statewide, including the development of central sewer lines and wastewater treatment facilities and the removal or enhancement of septic tanks. The approval of projects should be based upon established statewide priorities and demonstrated needs, following the model exhibited by the DOT Work Program.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection should work with the Florida Legislature to pass legislation that incorporates the provisions of Executive Order 23-06 into Florida Statutes.

Where central sewer is not possible, the Florida Legislature should require enhanced, nutrient-reducing technology for septic tanks within a BMAP or in an area with a high-water table.

The Florida Legislature should authorize the development and implementation of a septic tank inspection and monitoring program, as well as extend an existing financial assistance program or create a new financial assistance program to help economically challenged property owners remediate septic tank issues. The state should consider imposing a user fee on utilities that can be bonded against to sustain funding for septic conversions.

30 percent of Florida's population utilizes septic systems to treat their residential waste. That 30 percent represents 12 percent of the United States's septic tank usage. With 76 percent of Floridians living in coastal zones, septic tank effluent is too rarely mitigated, and is a completely preventable recipe for disaster. Septic tank effluent fuels harmful algal blooms; feeds really dangerous bacteria including Vibrio vulnificus, the "flesh-eating bacteria;" and contaminates ground and surface waters.

"Florida's water woes are fueled by many factorsaging, antiquated, and failing centralized wastewater systems; residential fertilizer usage; and traditional septic tanks in zones where ground water tables are rising and surface waters have direct contact with our state waters," says Dr. Brandon D. Shuler, American Water Security Project's executive director. "Septic tanks are Florida's tragedy of the commons. Most folks on septic think that theirs is not the problem, but with 30 percent of our population on septic, collectively, we have a massive problem on our hands that affects tourism, water-based economies, and real estate valuesthis leads us to an entirely preventable economic issue."

With Governor DeSantis's and the Florida Legislature's massive appropriations aimed at fixing Florida's wastewater infrastructure, it is only appropriate that Florida TaxWatch makes sure that all aspects of Florida's water infrastructure improvements are addressed efficiently, with strong fiscal discipline.

"For a state that champions itself as the Fishing Capital of the World and one whose economy is driven by water-based industries, relying upon antiquated septic tank technologies threatens the state's economic health," states Brett Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Angler Action Foundation. "We must take heed of Florida TaxWatch's Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida's Ground and Surface Water report that outlines and encourages technologies that prevent or minimize the threats to our coastal and spring watersheds and the recreational and commercial fishing industries they support."

The American Society of Civil Engineers rates Florida's water infrastructure a lowly C-minus. We are overdue for upgrades. At the same time, we must find ways to lessen or eliminate the financial burden on residential septic tank conversions.

"Septic tank conversions are not cheap, but they also do not have to be a detrimental financial burden," says Doug Coward, Founder of the nonprofit Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF). "There are a number of financial resources available for consumers seeking to convert to centralized sewage. SELF offers unsecured micro loans for consumers seeking to convert to centralized sewage or replace outdated lateral lines. SELF has already partnered with Martin County to complete the first $1 million of septic to sewer conversion projects, and we have the capacity to do much more."

Again, we congratulate Florida TaxWatch for a job well done and the Florida executive and legislative branches for taking Florida's water quality issues seriously.

The American Water Security Project is a coalition of business leaders, scientists, engineers, policy experts, outdoor enthusiasts, conservation advocates, and thought leaders working to promote the urgent need for wastewater infrastructure upgrades to protect waters and water bodies around the country. The coalition educates on the negative effects of wastewater spills and dumps to residents, businesses, and tourism; communicates the social and ecological values of proper wastewater treatment; and advocates for remedies to correct the deficiencies. The American Water Security Project is a registered 501(c)3.

SOURCE American Water Security Project
Newest eMeals Bonus Collection Honors Italian-American Heritage Month

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- October is Italian-American Heritage Month, and that calls for a celebration (whether or not you're Italian!). Enter the Celebrate Italy Occasions Plan  a free potluck-style dinner party plan from eMeals and Stella Rosa Wines that pairs nine updated classic Italian recipes with award-winning Stella Rosa Rosso to create a memorable multi-course get-together for eight with a little help from your friends.

Available immediately on eMeals' Celebrate Italy landing page or in the Occasions Plan section of the eMeals app for subscribers, the plan lets you share the cooking while ensuring you'll be able to serve a true Italian-inspired feast (no worries about the hodgepodge dishes of most potlucks!).

As host, you can assign yourself responsibility for preparing the entree (Tuscan Sirloin with Basil-Lemon Butter Sauce ), the salad course (Italian Antipasto Salad), and the sweet-tooth-satisfying dessert (No-Bake Tiramisu Cheesecake).

), the salad course (Italian Antipasto Salad), and the sweet-tooth-satisfying dessert (No-Bake Tiramisu Cheesecake). Invite a few guests to bring their choice of the plan's appetizers (Tomato Bruschetta or Italian Meatballs and Ricotta) or accompaniments (Caramelized Onion and Garlic Focaccia, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Broccolini with Lemon and Parmesan, or Caramelized Mushrooms, Shallots, and Thyme) to shorten your own time in the kitchen.

Add the unclaimed dishes to your own cooking list, share the recipes with all participants, and get ready for a great evening of conversation and camaraderie.

As the perfect liquid complement to the perfect meal, the plan includes Stella Rosa Rosso  the semi-sweet, semi-sparkling red wine that helped put Italy's Stella Rosa winery on the map in the U.S. as the #1 imported Italian wine brand. Served chilled, this wine from the Asti province in Piedmont, Italy, is made from a blend of several red grape varieties with notes of fresh strawberry and red berry that harmonize perfettamente with the recipes  and your guests.

The Celebrate Italy Occasions Plan is the latest installment of eMeals' weekly meal planning service, which includes a choice of meal plans for 15 different eating styles ranging from Quick and Healthy, Clean Eating and Low Calorie to Low Carb, 30 Minute Meals, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian and more.

Subscribers receive seven dinner menus for their chosen plan every week, along with the option to mix and match menus from any style, the ability to substitute favorites from previous weeks, and periodic Occasions Plan and Bonus Collection menus for recipes that may not fit into the nightly dinner category. All recipes are one-click shoppable from major retailers.

eMeals subscriptions cost as little as $5/month. Free 14-day trials are available here.

About eMeals

eMeals is a meal inspiration, planning and shopping platform that operates the subscription-based eMeals digital meal planning service, the free RecipeBox app enabling home cooks to create personalized digital cookbooks, and the Grocery Connect SDK providing online grocery shopping functionality for third-party apps and websites. eMeals has helped millions of families relieve the daily stress of putting healthy home-cooked meals on the table quickly, easily and affordably since the launch of its digital meal planning service. For more information, visit https://emeals.com and https://recipebox.com.

About Stella Rosa

Stella Rosa is America's #1 Italian imported wine. A selection of semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wines, its impressive achievements include a 9x IMPACT Magazine Hot Brand award among others. As part of the Riboli Family Wines portfolio, a family-owned company founded in 1917, the company showcases over a century of crafting award-winning wines resulting in Wine Enthusiasts' 2018 American Winery of the Year. With a natural affinity for creativity and innovation, Stella Rosa continues to lead the industry and push the boundaries of winemaking and the wine-drinking experience. For more information, visit www.stellarosawines.com.

SOURCE eMeals
Working Capital Copilot program now open for banks looking to grow SMB lending portfolio

LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the launch of its new generative AI-enabled Working Capital Copilot solution at Sibos 2023, Trade Ledger is now accepting applications from banks to join its beta program which is being deployed by Accenture. Copilot, which is built on top of Trade Ledger's data platform, "is the last component of the tech stack required to effectively crack open the $120tn embedded lending opportunity for working capital finance", said Trade Ledger CEO Martin McCann.

Just a small number of banks will be accepted for the beta program, giving them exclusive early access to the world's first generative AI interface for embedded complex business finance. Copilot will not be generally available to other Trade Ledger customers until sometime in 2025.

The Trade Ledger data platform is already being used by banks such as HSBC and Barclays in 15 countries to cut the application to decision time for working capital finance to 48 hours. Copilot is built on top of the platform and will be available to banks participating in the beta program to distribute to their customers as a simpler way to understand and apply for working capital credit.

Through Working Capital Copilot, participating banks will be able to give their business customers the ability to query their financial data to identify where they need capital and when. Through an API connection with the bank, Copilot then finds bank lending products that fit that need.

Copilot goes to the heart of the roadblocks SMBs (businesses with $10-50mm in revenues) have historically experienced accessing working capital finance. These businesses often don't have the resources or in-house expertise to analyse their cash-to-cash cycle and determine their working capital needs. Copilot, which is built on the Azure OpenAI Service and accessed through Microsoft Teams, uses advanced Large Language Models (LLM) to interpret conversational language queries about cash management and create algorithmic queries of the Trade Ledger database.

It analyses profit and loss statements, sales ledgers, supplier data, balance sheets, trading co-party behaviours, credit bureau records, and more and provides actionable insights into invoices, payments, and other transactions impacting cash flow. Bank integration via API provides the SMB with real-time information on available working capital products, with matched options based on cash flow status, creditworthiness and specific business requirements.

The business may then apply from within Microsoft Teams, with the application to decision process being handled speedily through the Trade Ledger platform.

"Applicants for the beta should see working capital lending as a core differentiator, and have an aggressive growth strategy for the assets on their balance sheet in the small to mid-market sector", continued Martin McCann. "They should also have strong brand recognition, an appetite for change, and already be dedicating significant resources to digital transformation. If growing the lending book two percent per year is OK, this program will not be right, nor will it be right for banks that believe transformation is just going from documents to OCR (Optical Character Recognition).

"At Sibos 2023 we heard from a number of financial institutions that there's a clear and obvious need to recognise and leverage the power of AI. For those that do, they can capture the very evident market opportunity of SMB lending. We are looking forward to productionising this solution imminently with banks in the beta programme."

Banks interested in applying for the beta program can contact Trade Ledger at [email protected]

For further information contact:

Trade Ledger Press Office: Wendy Harrison

[email protected]

SOURCE Trade Ledger
WALLULA, Wash., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tri-Cities Intermodal (TCI) has signed a lease/purchase agreement to acquire the former Cold Connect warehouse and property, with plans to develop an adjacent intermodal ramp in Wallula, WA. The plan represents a revival of the plans previously announced by Tiger Cool Express before they shut down operations in June. Tri-Cities Intermodal is an entirely new company  and the transaction had no connection to Tiger Cool.

Tri-Cities signed the lease/purchase agreement on Sept. 27, 2023, with Union Pacific Railroad.

Tri-Cities Intermodal to develop Intermodal Center to support Washington agriculture Post this Intermodal Lift

The envisioned Tri-Cities Intermodal Center will benefit the entire agricultural community in the three-state region by providing cost-effective and sustainable transportation capacity. Initially, service is intended to be offered between: Wallula and the Northwest Seaport Alliance on-dock facilities for dry imports and exports (in ISO equipment.) It will also support Union Pacific's intermodal customers moving between Wallula and Chicago (and beyond.)

"It is fantastic to have line of sight to actual operation within three to four months," said Theodore Prince, Tri-Cities Intermodal Chief Executive Officer and Founder "We were very fortunate to find an investor with the foresight, along with Union Pacific's support to bring this project to fruition."

"We are excited about Tri-Cities Intermodal advancing an initiative that will remove thousands of trucks from the highway. This is a region that continues to grow in logistical importance, and we look forward to supporting its growth with safe, reliable service," said Kari Kirchhoefer, Senior Vice President  Premium, Marketing and Sales for Union Pacific.

The recently arrived investor, PNW Capital, is under the esteemed leadership of James Delaney, an accomplished entrepreneur renowned for his successes in the B2C sectors, particularly within regulated goods such as wine. Mr. Delaney, who assumes the role of Non-Executive Chairman, conveyd his profound enthusiasm for this endeavor. In his formal statement, he remarked, "This proposition stands as a superb concept, bolstered by a highly capable team and situated within an exceptionally favorable business environment. We are very excited to include Tri Cities within our distinguished portfolio."

The management team is composed of experienced intermodal transportation individuals. Justin Roberts will be Vice President - Operations; Tom Smith will be Vice President  Sales and Marketing; Zachary Ybarra will be Vice President  Planning, Control and Information Systems. The rest of the team will include Cameron Kelley, Liam Marsh, Felicia Moore and Keith Woetzel.

SOURCE Tri-Cities Intermodal LLC
Author will be reading acclaimed children's book to kids and furry friends at Wags & Walks dog rescue center in Los Angeles on October 28

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "From the Pocket of an Overcoat" (Friendly Falls Press; Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster), by author and illustrator Robert Vincent, will be celebrating its two-year anniversary on October 27, which is also National Black Cat Day.

From the Pocket of an Overcoat by Robert Vincent

Available online at Amazon, bn.com , target.com , and at the book's website, maxbuckles.com , as well as select bookstores, "From the Pocket of an Overcoat" is based on the real-life story of a cat named Max adopted by Vincent's son Matthew from a homeless woman in Dallas who found Max as a tiny kitten and had him in the pocket of her overcoat as she was trying to find him a home. The tale is about an affable cat, Max Buckles, and how he finds himself and his way to a new home  moving from the cozy overcoat pocket of Sally in the city, to the country with Farmer Buckles and his other animals, including four dogs  Sam, Tots, Scotty (who is not Scottish, but is plaid), and Junior Buckles. Along the way, he discovers a true sense of belonging within his new family. As told through the journey of Max the cat, this is a story about self-identity, acceptance, and animal rescue and adoption.

National Black Cat Day is a day to celebrate the beauty of black cats and dispelling negative superstitions as many countries around the world honor black cats. Undoing the common myth of this loveable, ebony feline as an omen of bad luck provides the chance for cat owners and fans to celebrate their love for the oft-maligned, but always iconic animal.

"We are thrilled that 'From the Pocket of an Overcoat' has been a staple of love, adventure, and connection for kids and adults alike over the past two years," said Vincent. "It is perfect that our anniversary coincides with National Black Cat Day, and with Halloween around the corner. For cats, and all animals, it is a time of celebration."

In observance of the book's anniversary and to kick-off the Halloween season, Vincent will make a special appearance at Wags & Walks Los Angeles pet adoption center on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. for "Wags Kids Paws and Pajamas," a monthly literacy and humane education program that aims to help children improve their reading skills by reading to adoptable dogs. He will be reading his children's book and donating autographed copies to young readers (some dressed in festive Halloween costumes). Wags & Walks will also incorporate "From the Pocket of an Overcoat" into its library so kids can read the book to sheltered dogs anytime.

A portion of each book sale of "From the Pocket of an Overcoat" will be donated to organizations that promote animal rescue and adoption  The Humane Society and Best Friends . Readers and fans of Max Buckles can like and follow the book on Instagram and Facebook , and can also send an email to [email protected] with proof of purchase to get a special Thank You note from Max himself. To learn more, visit www.maxbuckles.com or explore the following hashtags: #maxbuckles, #maxbucklesbooks, #maxthecat, #readenjoysharemax and #fromthepocketofanovercoat.

About Robert Vincent

Robert Vincent is a children's book author and illustrator, as well as the author of a number of other literary works. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kathy. Robert and Kathy's son Matthew is a violinist with the Oakland Symphony and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. In December 2009, Matthew adopted a lovable black cat named Max. The rest, as they say, is history.

SOURCE Friendly Falls Press
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To assist customers with their preparations for the upcoming busy holiday shopping and shipping season, the U.S. Postal Service is providing 2023 holiday shipping and mailing deadlines. The information below covers domestic, international and military shipping destinations to allow for the timely delivery of cards, letters and packages by Dec. 25th.

No Holiday Surcharges

The Postal Service has announced it will not have a peak, or demand, surcharge this holiday season, offering increased predictability in pricing for customers. As always, the Postal Service offers simple, upfront pricing year-round with no additional fees for residential area delivery, for Saturday delivery, no fuel surcharges and no volume minimums. The Postal Service continues to be the most affordable way to mail and ship this holiday season.

2023 USPS Holiday Shipping and Mailing Deadlines

Within the Lower 48 (excludes Alaska and Hawaii)

USPS Ground Advantage  Dec. 16

First-Class Mail (including greeting cards)  Dec. 16

Priority Mail  Dec. 18

Priority Mail Express  Dec. 20

Alaska

USPS Ground Advantage  Dec. 16

First-Class Mail  Dec. 16

Priority Mail  Dec. 18

Priority Mail Express  Dec. 20

Hawaii

USPS Ground Advantage  Dec. 16

First-Class Mail  Dec. 16

Priority Mail  Dec. 16

Priority Mail Express  Dec. 20

Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO), Diplomatic Post Office (DPO)

USPS Ground Advantage  Nov. 6

First-Class Mail  Dec. 9

Priority Mail  Dec. 9

Priority Mail Express Military Service  Dec. 15 *

* PMEMS not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093

International Mail

Shipping deadlines for international mail vary depending on the destination. Check out International Mail and Shipping Services for details. The Postal Service is a secure shipping option that meets international mail shipping needs to over 180 countries.

USPS Is Ready for the Peak Shipping Season

A new shipping option this year is USPS Ground Advantage, a service that provides a simple, reliable and affordable way to ship packages with day certain delivery of 2-5 business days based on distance.

In addition to our convenient retail locations, customers can purchase their shipping labels, order Priority Mail packaging and schedule free carrier pick up via the Postal Service's shipping platform Click-N-Ship . Customers using the platform will have access to Commercial Shipping Rates that will apply to all domestic package labels  making it easier for customers to ship their packages.

The Postal Service is built for the holidays, serving 165 million addresses across the country and covering every state, city and town. Everyone living in the United States and its territories has access to postal products and services.

Review the details on how to ship packages to military and diplomatic addresses at domestic prices, even if you are sending mail overseas. Notably, the Postal Service is the only delivery service that ships to APO, FPO and DPO addresses.

More tools and tips to help customers prepare for the busy holiday season can be found in the USPS Holiday Newsroom.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase, stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

Contact: David P. Coleman

(C) 202-425-2476

[email protected]

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
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MONTREAL, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Vention, the Quebec-based company behind the only fully integrated manufacturing automation platform (MAP), is proud to announce an investment of US$15 million from the Fonds de solidarite FTQ. With the support of its partners, Vention continues its strong growth and pursues its mission to democratize industrial automation, thereby boosting the productivity and competitiveness of manufacturing companies.

IMAGES AND VIDEO: CLICK HERE

Vention Manufacturing Automation Platform (CNW Group/Vention)

Vention has been a pioneer in making industrial automation accessible to manufacturers through a unique digital environment. By combining 3D design, code-free industrial programming, e-commerce logistics and a library of over 1,000 modular automation components, Vention customers can complete their industrial automation projects three times faster, and at 40% less cost than traditional methods. The company's easy-to-use solution enables manufacturers, from small- and medium-sized enterprises to multinational corporations, to improve plant efficiency and profitability.

In this regard, Vention has recently invested in its Montreal offices to create its Experience Centre, aimed at facilitating access to advanced industrial automation technologies for local businesses. The Vention Experience Centre offers free training and demonstrations for Quebec manufacturers of all sizes. These one- or two-day workshops cover the entire automation process, from design to operation, while enabling participants to acquire skills directly applicable to their manufacturing sector. What's more, from this fall onwards, Vention will be making its facilities and training more available to collaborate with companies supported by the Fonds.

For more than 30 years, the Fonds de solidarite FTQ has been actively contributing to the growth and competitiveness of Quebec companies on a global scale. Its renewed investment in Vention illustrates the Fonds' commitment to advancing Quebec's industrial capabilities, creating high-value-added jobs, and stimulating economic growth. Through its partners' investments, including the Fonds de solidarite FTQ, Vention continues to develop its MAP, the world's only fully integrated cloud-based platform offering complete automated solutions, from design to deployment.

Quotations

"Democratizing industrial automation is an ambitious goal, given the $180 billion market. The Fonds de solidarite FTQ is an institution that has made an invaluable contribution to advancing the business sector in Quebec for over 30 years. We are delighted that, through this act of renewed confidence, the Fonds de solidarite FTQ is demonstrating its commitment to Quebec companies looking to automate their factories. We're also excited to welcome other Quebec manufacturers, including those supported by the Fonds, to help them better understand the little-known field of industrial automation and robotics."  Etienne Lacroix, CEO, Vention.

"Supporting the right technological transition means investing in SMEs, so that they can adopt the new technologies that will make them more productive and competitive while stimulating the creation of value-added jobs. Investing in companies like Vention helps manufacturing SMEs take the right steps. We are therefore proud to support Etienne Lacroix, Max Windisch and the entire Vention team, who offer Quebec manufacturers the solutions they need to meet future challenges.

Christian G. Brosseau, VP, Private Equity and Impact Investing, Structuring Capital, Energy and Environment, Fonds de solidarite FTQ.

Vention in figures:

Founded in July 2016 in Montreal, Canada , by two Quebec entrepreneurs, Etienne Lacroix and Max Windisch .

in , by two entrepreneurs, and . 302 employees in 2023, 269 of whom work from Montreal, Quebec .

. Serves more than 4,000 discrete manufacturing customers on five continents.

More than 15,000 pieces of manufacturing equipment were designed and deployed using Vention's MAP.

Vention's Experience Centre in Montreal opened in April 2023 to offer Quebec manufacturers free, state-of-the-art training and demos.

About Vention

Vention helps some of the most innovative manufacturers automate their production floors in just a few days through a democratized user experience. Vention's digital manufacturing automation platform allows clients to design, automate, order, and deploy automated equipment directly from their web browsers. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with offices in Berlin and Boston, Vention's 302 employees serve 4,000+ customers on five continents and 25 manufacturing industries.

Over the years, the company has been awarded many business and industry recognitions. In 2022 only, the company was awarded the prestigious Deloitte 2022 Technology Fast 50m, Report on Business Canada's top growing company, and Best Work Place (for professional development).

For more information, visit vention.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

*MachineMotion, MachineLogic, MachineCloud, and Vention are trademarks of Vention Inc.

About the Fonds de solidarite FTQ

A source of pride for Quebecers, the Fonds de solidarite FTQ fulfills its mission thanks to a unique business model created 40 years ago. Since its inception, the Fonds has rallied Quebecers, collecting and channelling the retirement savings of its 765,721 shareholders-savers into investments that help drive the Quebec economy.

With net assets of $18.4 billion as at May 31, 2023, the Fonds supports more than 3,700 companies through venture and development capital investments underpinned by the conviction that impact is created as much by financial as social returns. For more information, visit fondsftq.com or our company page on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Vention
A new report from LexisNexis ranks the Top 50 patent owners, starting with Huawei, Qualcomm, and Samsung

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis Legal & Professional, the leading provider of intelligent patent analytics, brings unprecedented transparency to one of the world's most important technologies and complex licensing markets in their 2023 report, "Who Is Leading the 5G Patent Race?" With the next wave of the industrial revolution powered by advances in mobile networks, nearly every industry will rely on connectivity standards like 5G. Innovators contributing to the standard and covering their innovations with standard essential patents (SEPs) are best positioned to dominate and commercialize in this growing market. Every week, 7-to-9-digit figure licensing deals in 5G are negotiated, while lack of transparency makes defining the market volume and market share difficult, in some cases even resulting in court disputes.

Adding a new layer of transparency to the 5G innovation space

The latest edition of this annual report builds again on one of the world's most comprehensive and up-to-date data sets of patent declarations from LexisNexis IPlytics. As experts only classify 10-20% of the declared SEPs in the 5G landscape as truly essential, for the first time, the top 50 5G list is built on a consolidated rank that factors in the Patent Asset Index, an industry-acknowledged, proprietary patent valuation metric, in addition to 3GPP standards contributions and pure patent declaration counts.

"The 5G revolution is reshaping our world," said Tim Pohlmann, CEO and Founder of IPlytics, acquired by LexisNexis in November 2022. "Those that own the most valuable and competitive 5G-related standard essential patents will lead innovation, win market share, and secure licensing revenues, with vast economic and geopolitical implications. We are proud to support innovators by bringing transparency to the 5G space based on comprehensive data and objective measures."

New insights into 5G SEP licensing strategies and regional shifts

The 5G technology revolution will disrupt business models around connected devices and prompt industries to reconsider how to deal with intellectual property. In addition to rankings and data analysis, the report explores strategies and recent moves of 5G innovators and SEP licensing leaders. It also contains deep dives into the widespread impact of cellular protocols, including how 5G could affect industries like automotive, energy, and healthcare.

Key findings:

Leading 5G patent owners:

Huawei (CN) , Qualcomm (US) , Samsung (KR) make the top 3 spots on the list in both quantity and quality of patents





(CN) (US) (KR) make the top 3 spots on the list in both quantity and quality of patents InterDigital (US) ranks 14th when only patent families are considered but jumps to 5th place in the ultimate owner 5G patent ranking when utilizing the Patent Asset Index.





(US) ranks 14th when only patent families are considered but jumps to 5th place in the ultimate owner 5G patent ranking when utilizing the Patent Asset Index. Huawei (CN), Ericsson (SE) and Nokia (FI) are among the strongest 5G standard contributors





(CN), (SE) and (FI) are among the strongest 5G standard contributors Apple (US) has secured a strong position in the top 11-20 ranking, coming in the top 10 when considering the Patent Asset Index. Foxconn (TW), which owns the former Sharp portfolio, and MediaTek (TW) also have strong Patent Asset Index rankings. Intel (US) and Vivo (CN) would also have reached a top 10 rank, if only relevant 3GPP contributions had been considered





has secured a strong position in the top 11-20 ranking, coming in the top 10 when considering the Patent Asset Index. (TW), which owns the former portfolio, and (TW) also have strong Patent Asset Index rankings. (US) and (CN) would also have reached a top 10 rank, if only relevant 3GPP contributions had been considered Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs) like InterDigital (US) or Key Patent Innovations Limited (IRL) play an essential role among the top 5G patent owners

Market development and market concentration:

The number of companies owning 5G patents continues to increase, and so has the number of declared 5G families, which is 2.5 times more (60,000) than what was declared for 4G (24,000).





The top 10 players own 76% of 5G-declared patent families





The Avanci 5G Vehicle program accounts for approximately 80-85% of all 2G-5G active patents.

5G patent trends by geography:

The US is the leading jurisdiction with over 28,000 granted 5G patent families, followed by China with about 26,000 and Europe with almost 15,000 patent families.





with about 26,000 and with almost 15,000 patent families. The US, Korea and China have maintained above-average portfolio strength compared to other regions.

Technical specifications and cellular protocols:

Among technical specifications, NB-IoT has the largest number of patent families followed by LTE-M and LTE-Cat 1.





Among the strongest owners of NB-IoT declared patent portfolios are Huawei (CN), Samsung (KR), ZTE (CN), Qualcomm (US) and Nokia (FI).





(CN), (KR), (CN), (US) and (FI). The most substantial owners of V2X declared patent portfolios are Huawei (CN), ZTE (CN), LG (KR), Samsung (KR) and Qualcomm (US).

How 5G patent analytics drives market leadership across sectors

Licensing 5G SEPs is set to become a business-critical task, requiring stakeholders like patent directors, licensing executives, and legal counsel to gain a nuanced understanding of patent ownership and patent portfolio strength. "Who is Leading the 5G Patent Race" provides a window into the insights that patent portfolio analytics can unlock as countries and companies look to establish dominance in one of the most critical technology and intellectual property arenas of our time.

For more information, please download the full report at www.lexisnexisip.com/5G

About the ranking methodology

LexisNexis identifies the true 5G patent leaders worldwide through a consolidated rank that factors in patent declaration counts, the quantity of standards contributions, from LexisNexis IPlytics, and the Patent Asset Index, a widely accepted evaluation metric featured in the LexisNexis PatentSight platform. The Patent Asset Index measures patent families based on their technology relevance adjusted by age, technology field and patent office practices, and the market coverage of patent protection.

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional

LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that helps customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes, and advance the rule of law worldwide. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional serves customers in more than 150 countries with 10,500 employees worldwide and is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

About LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions

LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions bring clarity to innovation for businesses worldwide. We enable innovators to accomplish more by helping them make informed decisions, be more productive, comply with regulations, and ultimately achieve competitive advantage for their business. Our broad suite of workflow and analytics solutions (LexisNexis PatentSight, LexisNexis Cipher, LexisNexis IPlytics, LexisNexis PatentOptimizer, LexisNexis PatentAdvisor, and LexisNexis TotalPatent One, LexisNexis IP DataDirect), enables companies to be more efficient and effective at bringing meaningful innovations to our world. We are proud to directly support and serve these innovators in their endeavors to better humankind.

Media Contact

Holger Zimmer

Global Director Brand and Product Marketing

LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions

[email protected]

+49 151 176 636 75

SOURCE LexisNexis IP
ISLAND SOUND STUDIOS - NEW LIFE FOR THE WATERFRONT RECORDING STUDIO BEHIND ANDERSON PAAK, DR. DRE, JAY Z, KANYE, & MORE.

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Island Sound Studios , the renowned music recording studio sitting on the stunning oceanscape of Hawaii Kai, is preparing to celebrate its highly-anticipated grand reopening. This marks a fresh beginning for a studio once left deteriorating that has a storied history of hosting some of the music industry's most illustrious names.

Island Sound Studios

Founded amidst the rich musical tapestry of Hawaii, Island Sound Studios has played a pivotal role in shaping the world's musical landscape. Over the years, it has welcomed acclaimed artists like Beyonce, Eminem, Justin Bieber, and Eddie Vedder, solidifying its reputation as a hub for artistic innovation and creativity in the music industry .

The studio's extraordinary journey takes an exhilarating turn as it is resurrected under the visionary leadership of Bryan Spicer, the distinguished Executive Producer and Director behind Hawaii Five O and Magnum PI, alongside his brother, Kyle Spicer, a seasoned Music Producer and Engineer. Their unwavering dedication and forward-thinking vision have not only rescued the studio from potential demolition but have also injected fresh vitality into its iconic spaces through extensive renovations and equipment upgrades.

Bryan Spicer expressed his passion for this exciting venture, stating, "Not only will you find everything a musician can expect from a world-class recording facility in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, or London; but the island provides a special kind of magic you just can't find anywhere else in the world."

Island Sound Studios' grand reopening promises to usher in a new chapter of music history. The studio is poised to welcome local musicians and international bands, renewing its commitment to artistic excellence while staying deeply connected to the unparalleled spirit of Hawaii. In addition, the studio welcomes Voice-Over and ADR opportunities to film, television, podcast, and video game creators.

With anticipation building and the countdown to the grand re-opening underway, Island Sound Studios invites musicians and industry professionals to secure their sessions now, as the calendar is filling up rapidly.

For further information about Island Sound Studios or media inquiries, please contact:

Christian Bowman

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.islandsoundstudios.com

SOURCE Island Sound Studios
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its successful acquisition and relaunch of .Lat, XYZ Registry, the innovative company behind .xyz  the world's #1 new domain ending  proudly announces its 35th new domain ending: .CEO. XYZ Registry is meeting its mission to provide competition and choice to users worldwide, now by stewarding the .CEO domain, an emblematic signifier for business leaders and innovators around the world.

XYZ secures 35th domain extension, .CEO Updated .CEO logo

Since inception, .CEO has become an invaluable domain for C-suite professionals, organizations, and brands to exhibit leadership, innovation, and authority. XYZ is geared up to inject its signature creativity and expertise into .CEO, amplifying its presence and making it an essential digital badge of honor for chief executives and business leaders worldwide.

At XYZ, our dedication extends beyond merely providing domain names; we're passionate about furnishing identity solutions to everyone desiring a robust online presence. For an insight into the unique potential of these digital identities, one can refer to our very own CEO, Daniel Negari, and his personalized domain, DN.CEO , exemplifying the .CEO brand and its capacity to empower and distinguish its users.

XYZ is grateful to ICANN for their seamless and efficient process, having granted us approvals with what can only be described as pure efficiency. This collaboration serves as a beacon, highlighting our mutual pursuit of a more connected and digitally empowered world with robust competition and choice.

"C-suite professionals require a domain that matches their caliber and vision. The .CEO domain does precisely that  offering an unparalleled digital identity," mentions Daniel Negari, CEO of XYZ. "We're excited to integrate .CEO into our extensive family of TLDs and offer it through our global network of registrar partners, like GoDaddy and Namecheap."

"The acquisition and relevant migration has been completed in record time, thanks to our longstanding partnership with CentralNic Registry. They have expertly managed nearly three dozen launches and migrations for us in the past decade and will remain our partners for the coming decade. XYZ is beginning to unlock one and two character .CEO domains. A great example is MR.CEO - website of Michael Riedl, CEO of Team Internet Group, formerly known as CentralNic."

Michael Riedl, CEO of Team Internet Group, adds, "We at Team Internet Group have always believed in fostering partnerships that push the boundaries of innovation and redefine industries. Witnessing XYZ's meteoric rise in the domain space and being a part of this journey has been both rewarding and inspiring. Their dedication to excellence, innovation, and the future of digital identity resonates deeply with our ethos. We are immensely proud to have partnered with XYZ, and we're excited about the endless possibilities our combined strengths will unveil in the future. I am proud to sport MR.CEO as my digital identity."

XYZ's acquisition of .CEO is consistent with its overarching goal of providing innovative domain solutions and propelling online branding to new heights. As XYZ continues to redefine the domain industry, the addition of .CEO further cements its position as a leader in domain innovation and services.

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In the wake of recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, President Salome Zourabichvili stated that airline companies should not artificially increase flight prices and should assist Georgian citizens in safely returning to the country in difficult situations.President Zourabichvili responded to reports about the 'Georgian Airways' company, which had reportedly increased the price of flights from Tel Aviv to Tbilisi. On the Georgian Airways website, it was reported that the price of the October 9 ticket exceeded 2,000 GEL."At least once, the Georgian airline company should demonstrate its social responsibility. Instead of artificially increasing flight prices and imposing additional barriers on people in desperate situations, it should help and facilitate the safe return of Georgian citizens to the country during these challenging times," said Zourabichvili.Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Hadas Meitzad, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Georgia. This information has been released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.According to the agency, the parties discussed developments in Israel. The head of the Foreign Ministry confirmed Georgia's strong support for the State of Israel and once again condemned the terrorist attack against Israel, expressing his condolences to the ambassador for the victims.During the meeting, the parties emphasized their ongoing close cooperation on all current issues.The Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili met with the chief ombudsman of Turkey, Seref Malkoc. According to the press service of the government, the discussion at the meeting touched on the existing strategic partnership between Georgia and Turkey and cooperation between the countries in human rights protection issues."It was noted that Georgia is making significant efforts to strengthen human rights protection mechanisms in the country.It was said that the second human rights protection strategy for 2022-2030 was developed this year, the purpose of which is to further strengthen the systematic guarantees of human rights and freedom protection in Georgia.It was emphasized that for the effective implementation of the goals and objectives of the strategy, work is underway on the action plan for the protection of human rights for 2024-2026, in which various issues related to children's rights will be written in detail.It was noted that strengthening the protection of human rights, including children's rights, is a priority for the government, and all government activities in this field serve to implement this priority in practice.In the end, the parties agreed to cooperate even more actively on all the legal issues that are important for people living in Georgia and Turkey," the statement reads.
In celebration of the 154th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Embassy of India in Azerbaijan organized an event on October 2, 2023. Under the resonant theme "Commemorating Gandhi: An Evening of Inspiration  My Life is My Message," the gathering was both a tribute to Gandhi's enduring legacy and an assertion of his principles' relevance in contemporary society.

The event was graced by a crowd of around 200 guests, including the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Mr. S. Somnath, and Chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (InSpace) Mr. Pawan Kumar Goenka, high-ranking members of the Indian delegation attending the 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, members of the Indian diaspora and Azerbaijani well-wishers.

Both Ambassador Madhusudhanan and ISRO Chairman Mr. S. Somnath addressed the gathering, succinctly capturing Gandhi's universal tenets of peace, non-violence, and social harmony. They illuminated the profound influence Gandhi's principles continue to wield in the intricate landscape of today's world.

The event's highlight was the unveiling of an Azerbaijani-translated picture book dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. This unveiling event was participatory, involving both Indian and Azerbaijani children in an experience that symbolized the abiding friendship between their nations. The book itselfa captivating visual journey through Gandhi's life and ideologywas met with unanimous praise, testifying to the global resonance of his teachings.

Educational institutions and libraries interested in obtaining complimentary copies of the book are encouraged to reach out to the Embassy of India. Copies will be dispatched to the recipients at no charge. For inquiries, please contact Mr. Emin Aliyev at +99450 291 79 87 or [email protected].

Emceed by Ms. Trishna Kimtani, the ceremony showcased an array of enchanting performances and oratory contributions. Inspirational performances by Ms. Vaidehi Sridharan, Ms. Fatima Hajizade, and Mr. Elmar Rajsur captivated the audience. The youthful exuberance of Thalir, Jatin, Minishree and Rohan, who also took to the stage, injected the proceedings with a substantial layer of enthusiasm and cheer.

Through its rich tapestry of dialogue, performances, and communal engagement, the event underscored the enduring impact and contemporary relevance of Gandhi's ideals, laying the groundwork for future engagements of similar scope and sentiment.
PwC Eurasia is excited to announce the official launch of Strategy&, a part of the PwC network, in the Eurasia region, including Azerbaijan. This momentous event occurred in Almaty on September 26th, where distinguished industry leaders, top executives, and visionary minds gathered to usher in a new era of strategic excellence in Eurasia.

Dr. Peter Gassmann, our Global Strategy& Leader, warmly welcomed the guests, sharing his vision for Strategy&s growth in Eurasia. The launch event featured prominent speakers, including Umut Shaykhmetova (CEO of Halyk Group), Dinara Iskakova (CEO of OrbisAuto), Serik Tolukpayev (owner of Aitas Group), Dana Inkarbekova (Territory Leader), and Azamat Konratbaev (Managing Partner of Kazakhstan). Natalya Lim, Strategy& and Advisory Eurasia Leader, expertly moderated the event.

Strategy& is a globally recognized strategy consulting powerhouse, with a legacy spanning over a century. Boasting a team of 3,000 strategy consultants operating in 152

countries, Strategy& has now firmly established its presence in EURASIA. Its mission is to guide organizations toward success from the outset.

In todays rapidly evolving business landscape, Strategy&s presence in EURASIA holds immense significance. Our expertise in strategy consulting equips organizations not only to navigate but also to excel in this dynamic environment. Strategy& specializes in delivering strategic insights and innovative solutions that drive measurable impact.

The launch of Strategy& in EURASIA reaffirms our commitment to fostering prosperity and growth in the region.

Stay connected with us for further updates and opportunities as we embark on this transformative journey with Strategy& in EURASIA. Together, we can shape your best future!
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Etawah, Oct 10 : The Uttar Pradesh's Etawah police have arrested an 18-year-old girl for allegedly beheading her two minor sisters -- aged six and four.

The minor girls, Surbhi and Roshni, were found with their throat slit on Sunday night in separate rooms in their house.

The incident took place in Bahadurpur village under the Balrai police station area.

The accused, identified as Anjali Pal, 18, has confessed to the crime.

Kanpur range Inspector General of Police (IG) Prashant Kumar, who is heading the probe, said: "We are trying to ascertain the motive in this case."

The police have also questioned three men along with the accused woman in connection with the case registered under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (concealing evidence or giving false information) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"We are questioning her, and the reason behind the murder will be ascertained soon," Etawah senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sanjay Varma said. "We are also looking at the involvement of the three men."

Police said they have recovered the murder weapon -- a spade -- from the house, along with the clothes worn by the accused on Sunday. Forensic team found blood stains on the spade and the garments, washed ostensibly to get rid of the evidence.

The father Jaiveer, his wife Sushila, and their sons Nand Kishore, 12, and Kanhaiya,8, were not present at home when the incident occurred, police said.

Initially, Anjali told the police that when she allegedly returned home, she saw her sistersa bodies in one room and their heads in another.

Jaiveer Pal, whose spade was recovered from the house, told the police that while he had used it in the morning, it appeared to have been cleaned, officers said. Police also found some clothes left outside to dry.

When questioned by the police, the accused gave contradictory explanations of her dayas events, following which she was taken into custody for further interrogation.

"She finally admitted to the crime and was taken into custody on Monday. She told the police that she went to the fields after the murder and returned just as her father and brothers were pulling up," the police officer said. "She has also been taken for medical checkup. Further investigation is underway."
Gaza, Oct 10 : A new air defence system stationed in Gaza has been activated against ongoing Israeli offensives, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has said.

Al-Qassam Brigades said in a brief statement that it had introduced "a homegrown air defence system of the Metbar 1 model" into "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" to confront Israeli aircraft, Xinhua news agency reported.

A short video released on the Brigades' website showed a number of masked members launching missiles using the air defence system.

Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets said that the Israeli army is pursuing over 40 "terrorists" in Israeli towns.

Citing Israeli military estimates, Israeli media outlets reported that the surprise attack starting on Saturday morning had been planned for a year, and some 800 to 1,000 Al-Qassam fighters had entered 20 villages and 11 bases in Israel.

The Hamas-led "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" included the firing of thousands of rocket shells and drones from Gaza, and in parallel, an unprecedented land and sea attack toward Israeli territory.
Beirut, Oct 10 : Hezbollah has attacked the Israeli Pranit and Avivim barracks in the north with guided missiles and mortar shells, in response to the killing of three of its members by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier on Monday, said the Lebanon-based armed group and political party in a statement.

Hezbollah's attack on Monday evening prompted the Israeli army to hit Lebanese positions with artillery in response, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Lebanese Army Command said that Israel bombed several border areas in southern Lebanon, and several mortar shells fell in the courtyard of a Lebanese army centre outside the town of Rmeish, injuring a Lebanese officer.

The incident comes after Israeli troops clashed with gunmen who infiltrated Israel from Lebanon and, in response, hit several Hezbollah positions on the border, killing three members.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Palestine's Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed "its responsibility" for the operation carried out on the border with occupied Palestine, injuring seven Israeli soldiers.

The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated over the past two days after the firing by Hezbollah on Sunday morning of tens of missiles toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation launched by Hamas on Saturday morning. The Israeli forces responded the same day by firing heavy artillery, targeting several areas in southeast Lebanon.
Cairo, Oct 10 : Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to stop the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, the Arab League (AL) has announced.

The meeting will be held at the request of Palestine and headed by Morocco, the current president of the AL Council at the ministerial level, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the pan-Arab body.

Participants of the meeting are scheduled to discuss political action at the Arab and international levels to tackle the conflict, according to the AL.

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that the death toll from Hamas' attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900.

The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday.
Washington, Oct 10 : US President Joe Biden has said that 11 Americans were killed in the latest conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The President's announcement raised the death toll of Americans in the ongoing conflict by two people compared with what was confirmed by the National Security Council in a statement issued earlier in the day, Xinhua news agency reported.

Biden in his statement also said that the US government believes that Americans are likely among those taken hostage by Hamas.

He said the administration is "sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the US government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts".

Biden reiterated the US commitment to ensure "Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people".
Kanpur, Oct 10 : In what seems to be a perfect replay of the Sonam Kapoor starrer 'Dolly ki Doli', police in Kanpur have arrested a 'bride' who used to loot 'grooms' after marrying them and then impersonating as an Income Tax inspector.

Going by the different names -- Shivangi Sisodia, Pinki Gautam and Savita Shastri -- the woman would marry unsuspecting men and then disappear within a short span, along with their cash, jewellery and other valuables.

The fraudster 'bride' was caught on the complaint of her latest victim Jitendra Gautam, a constable by profession.

He approached the police after she duped him of Rs 10 lakhs and he grew suspicious about her.

The constable, a native of Jhansi, is posted at Fazalganj police station.

In 2016, he became friends with Shivangi Sisodia a.k.a. Savita Devi a.k.a Pinki Gautam of Khushipura in Jhansi through a social media platform and they decided to get married.

Even before marriage, she took Rs 6.21 lakhs from the constable to buy an SUV. However, till date the constable has not received that car, nor has she returned the money.

"Whenever he asked her about the Scorpio SUV, she used to say that the number is on the waiting list and will come soon," said inspector Nazirabad Kaushlendra Pratap Singh.

The constable told investigators that even her relatives turned out to be fake whom she had hired on rent.

Her true face came to fore when the constable once returned home from duty and found her with another man, said the official.

"The constable asked her about the stranger. On not getting any satisfactory answer, he started keeping an eye on her. Later, he found that the stranger was her lover Sonu, a resident of Mauranipur, Jhansi. He also found that Shivangi was already married to Brijendra, a resident of Jhansi, and also had two children who lived with her in Jhansi."

The police said that the woman told the constable that she had been transferred to Chandigarh and would now live there.

The police are questioning Shivangi and investigating the roles of others in this scam.

The inspector said that on the complaint of the constable, a report has been registered under the IPC sections of extortion, breach of trust, fraud and second marriage while being married, against Shivangi.

"During investigation it has also come to light that Shivangi underwent sterilisation. She will undergo a medical examination to confirm the finding. It is also being checked that whether those who attended her wedding as her guest were involved in her racket."
Lucknow, Oct 10 : The Ram Katha Sangrahalay, spread in 2.8 acres near the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya, has been handed over to the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust by the Uttar Pradesh government after signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Trust and Culture Department.

Constructed in 1988, the Ram Katha Sangrahalay, also known as the Ayodhya Museum, houses more than 1,000 rare sculptures and artefacts.

Statues of the Gupta and Sunga periods dating back to around 300-350 years are also a part of the rare collection of artefacts in the museum.

The museum also has an art gallery where relics related to Lord Ram are displayed.

Now, the Trust will also display artefacts recovered during excavation of the Ram Janmabhoomi campus after construction of the Ram temple began on August 5, 2020 in the Ayodhya Museum.

State Culture and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, said: "The Culture department has entered into a historic agreement with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. Antiquities related to Lord Shri Ram and statues, inscriptions, manuscripts written on copper plates found in 1992 and at the time of construction of Ram temple are preserved in the International Ram Katha Museum."

A collection of jewellery and clothes from Indian and foreign Ram Lilas are also present in the museum, Singh added.

The Trust had requested the state government to handover the museum to it.

Initially, the Trust had planned a museum in the Ram Janmabhoomi campus.

But the plan was dropped due to security reasons.
Meerut : , Oct 10 (IANS) A class 11 student, on her way to school in an auto-rickshaw, was abducted at gunpoint by two men and taken to a hotel in Hapur where a third person joined them and gang-raped her, police said on Tuesday.

The main accused and the hotel owner have been arrested.

In her police complaint, the 16-year-old survivor stated that after reaching Asauda Panth on Kithore Road in Hapur, the accused took her away on a motorcycle to the hotel, where three raped her at gunpoint.

They threatened her with dire consequences if she informed anyone, she added. The complaint added that one Ayush Kumar, a resident of a village in Meerut, boarded the auto and two of his friends, Gaurav and Hrithik, residents of a nearby village, started chasing the three-wheeler on a motorcycle.

Despite the threats, the survivor managed to return home and share her ordeal.

The family then took her to Hapur police station and lodged a complaint. All the three accused are school dropouts, police said.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP) (Hapur), Raj Kumar Aggarwal, said, "The crime took place on Saturday morning. Based on the survivor's complaint, a case under IPC sections 376-D (gang-rape), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 5/6 of the POCSO Act was registered."

He further said, "The main suspect, Ayush, and the hotel owner, Navneet Kardam, have been arrested. The girl was sent for medical tests and reports are awaited. Her condition is stated to be stable and we have formed teams to arrest the remaining accused."
San Francisco, Oct 10 : Real-time 3D content platform Unity has announced that its President, CEO and Chairman John Riccitiello "will retire" effective immediately.

James Whitehurst has been appointed interim CEO, President and a member of the Board. Roelof Botha, lead independent director of the Unity Board, has been appointed Chairman.

Riccitiello will continue to advise Unity to ensure a smooth transition, the company said in a statement late on Monday.

"Riccitiello has led Unity through incredible growth over the last nearly 10 years, helping us transition from a perpetual license to a subscription model, enabling developers to monetize, building other game services to serve our creator community, leading us through an IPO and positioning us as a pioneer in the developer community," said Botha.

The company said it will initiate a search process, with the assistance of a leading executive search firm, to identify a permanent CEO.

"It's been a privilege to lead Unity for nearly a decade and serve our employees, customers, developers and partners, all of whom have been instrumental to the company's growth," said Riccitiello.

Whitehurst previously served as senior advisor and president at IBM, after joining through IBM's acquisition of Red Hat, a leading provider of open source enterprise IT products and services.

Whitehurst said that with the company's experienced leadership and passionate employees, "I am confident that Unity is well-positioned to continue enhancing its platform, strengthening its community of customers, developers and partners, and focusing on its growth and profitability goals".

Unity is the world's leading platform for creating and growing interactive, real-time 3D content and experiences.
Chennai, Oct 10 : The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies department has intensified checking at state's border with Kerala to prevent the smuggling of ration rice.

The Civil Supplies Department's special CID wing is searching all the border areas as well as rural routes to prevent the smuggling of ration rice to Kerala.

Sources told IANS that the CID have set up check posts at 13 border points between Kerala and Tamil Nadu to prevent the smuggling. This includes Walayar, Velanthavalam, Anaimalai, Anaikatti, Nadupuni, Valparai, Meenakshipuram, Gopalapuram and Muthukavundanur.

The Civil Supplies CID is also conducting surprise checks at the residences of people who were earlier arrested for smuggling ration rice to Kerala.

The department, according to officials, have already arrested more than 200 people and booked around 270 cases on smuggling of ration rice to Kerala. Three of those arrested are habitual offenders and are now charged under the Goonda Act and have been jailed.

The Kerala areas bordering Coimbatore, including Walayar, Velanthavalam and Meenakshipuram are vulnerable for rice smuggling due to lack of surveillance and the department has now put a cap into this and intensified patrolling to prevent smuggling.

Sources in Civil Supplies CIDtold IANS that around 150 vehicles involved in the smuggling of PDS rice were confiscated and around 150 tonnes of rice recovered.

Rice is supplied at cheap rates in Tamil Nadu ration shops for BPL card holders and this rice is bought at higher ratesby the smugglers and transported to Kerala through unmanned routes in two-wheelers and then sold in Kerala at higher rates.

A senior officer of the Civil Supplies department of Tamil Nadu while speaking to IANS on anonymity said, "There is political support at the grassroots level for this smuggling which is a lucrative business. Putting an end to this is a herculean task and we have to recruit people at the grassroots level in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu borders to get proper information and then prevent this. The modus operandi changes according to the party in power in Tamil Nadu but this is happening unhindered since the past several years and a strong will is required to break this."
London, Oct 10 : Three men of Indian descent, who coerced a woman into getting in their car in UK's Leicester city last year, have each been jailed for 10 years, police said.

Ajay Doppalapudi (27), Vahar Manchala (24) and Rana Yellambai (30), who were sentenced at the Leicester Crown Court on October 6, were found guilty of kidnapping the woman, following a trial in September.

The three had approached the victim, who had been on a night out at Leicester city centre, in the early hours of January 16 last year.

The victim got into their car, an Audi, believing it was a taxi, but when it drove along Narborough Road -- away from her house -- she realised something was not right, the Leicester Police said.

They then drove her 15 miles and eventually stopped in a secluded area of Misterton, just off the M1, near Lutterworth, where the victim was pulled from the car.

The prosecution told the court that the woman was "drunk and vulnerable" and became "increasingly alarmed and frightened" as she was taken to an isolated area, the BBC reported.

The police said that after a while, the victim was able to escape and ran off to reach a motorway where she began trying to attract attention.

"After a short time, officers arrived and she was taken to a place of safety, where she disclosed what happened," the police said.

Subsequent CCTV enquiries identified the car in Leicester city centre, and found that the registered keeper was living at Gaul Street in the Westcotes area of Leicester.

Officers visited the address and all three men -- who lived at the property -- were arrested.

"Without doubt, the three men involved in this case were predators. They were in the city centre in the early hours that Sunday morning looking for a woman to take advantage of to fulfil their own sexual gratifications," Detective Constable Gemma Fox, the investigating officer, said after the sentencing.

"I cannot commend the victim enough for her immense bravery in recounting her ordeal both to police and again in front of a jury. The account she was able to provide was vital in ensuring that we were able to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice," Fox said.

Doppalapudi and Yellambai were also charged with two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by penetration.

They were both found not guilty of both counts of sexual assault on a female, as well as one count of sexual assault by penetration.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other count for either man Manchala was also charged with two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by penetration.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on any of these indictments Doppalapudi and Yellambai were also each charged with two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by penetration.

They were both found not guilty of both counts of sexual assault on a female, as well as one count of sexual assault by penetration.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other count for either man.

Manchala was also charged with two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by penetration.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on any of these indictments.

--IANS

mi/ksk
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during a press conference after the Congress Working Committee meeting. Image Source: IANS News

Bhopal, Oct 10 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district on Tuesday and is likely to take on the ruling BJP on several issues, including atrocities on tribal community and the caste based census.

It happens to be the first rally of a big leader after the election date for Madhya Pradesh was announced on Monday.

The elections would be held on November 17, while the results would be announced on December 3.

Rahul Gandhi, along with senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, would arrive in Satna where state unit chief Kamal Nath would join them and proceed to Beohari in Shahdol district.

With this mega rally, the Congress aims to regain its lost political ground in Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh where the party had won only six of the 30 Assembly seats in 2018.

It will be Gandhi's second public rally in the poll-bound state, the first being in Shajapur district on September 30.

Besides, he would hold a meeting with the senior party leaders.

According to a Congress leader, more than one lakh people are expected to attend the Beohari rally.

Congress leaders across 30 seats of Vindhya region have been tasked to mobilise the maximum number of people.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Shahdol in July, during which he had announced a slew of schemes for the tribals.

The Congress is yet to announce its candidates for 230-membered Assembly seats of Madhya Pradesh, while the ruling BJP has named 136 candidates in four separate lists.
Gaza, Oct 10 : Hamas will not negotiate with Israel on the hostage issue while under continued airstrikes by the Jewish nation, a spokesman for the Palestinian militant group said.

"It has become clear that the enemyas hostages are at risk to the same extent as our people in light of the aggression against the Gaza Strip," CNN quoted Abu Obaida, spokesperson for al-Qassam Brigades -- the armed wing of Hamas, as saying on Monday night.

"We affirm that we will not deliberate or negotiate on the issue of hostages under fire, in light of aggression, or in light of battle."

Abu Obaida added that al-Qassam Brigades were holding a very large number of hostages in detention sites, adding athat some of them had been killed.

The spokesman also said that the Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 "after years of planning and preparations".

a(Al-Aqsa flood) came after the Zionist tyranny reached its peak in the desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa and the aggression against it and against our people everywhere," Abu Obaida said, referring to the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, one of the most revered places in Islam and Judaism.

"Israel killed hundreds and injured thousands of Palestinians over the past two years, yet still has a seat at the UN and receives weapons from the US to kill children and destroy houses."

The Hamas has said that more than 100 hostages were being held in Gaza, including high-ranking Israeli army officers. On Monday, it warned civilian hostages would be executed if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning.

Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the UN said late Monday that authorities believe there were upto 150 hostages.

Several countries have also reported on missing or dead nationals.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden confirmed that 11 Americans have been killed in the violence, while others remain unaccounted for.

The French Foreign Ministry has claimed that at least eight nationals were either dead, missing or being held captives.

In a report on Monday, the BBC said that 10 British nationals were feared dead or missing.

While Thailand has confirmed that 11 of its nationals were taken captive, authorities in Mexico said that two Mexican nationals were believed to be among Hamas's hostages.

German-Israeli citizen Shani Louk was abducted by the militants from the open air festival on October 7, where the Hamas massacred 260 people.
Burglars try to steal ATM in Telangana. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Oct 10 : Burglars tried to steal an ATM machine in Telangana's Nizamabad district, sources said on Tuesday.

In the incident that occurred at Union Bank ATM in Anksapur village of Velpur mandal on Monday night, the miscreants first tried extracting cash by breaking the machine.

After failing in their attempt, they uprooted the entire machine to take it away.

While they were shifting the machine to a tractor belonging to the gram panchayat, some locals saw them and raised an alarm, forcing the thieves to leave the machine and tractor and flee.

Police rushed to the scene on receiving information about the attempted robbery.

A dog squad was pressed into service to gather clues.

This is the latest in a series of ATM thefts in the district. Burglars had tried to loot an ATM about 15 days ago at Pochampad. A similar attempt was made in Bheemgal mandal on Sunday.
Gaza, Oct 10 : Hamas will not negotiate with Israel on the hostage issue while under continued airstrikes by the Jewish nation, a spokesman for the Palestinian militant group said.

"It has become clear that the enemyas hostages are at risk to the same extent as our people in light of the aggression against the Gaza Strip," CNN quoted Abu Obaida, spokesperson for al-Qassam Brigades -- the armed wing of Hamas, as saying on Monday night.

"We affirm that we will not deliberate or negotiate on the issue of hostages under fire, in light of aggression, or in light of battle."

Abu Obaida added that al-Qassam Brigades were holding a very large number of hostages in detention sites, adding athat some of them had been killed.

The spokesman also said that the Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 "after years of planning and preparations".

a(Al-Aqsa flood) came after the Zionist tyranny reached its peak in the desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa and the aggression against it and against our people everywhere," Abu Obaida said, referring to the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, one of the most revered places in Islam and Judaism.

"Israel killed hundreds and injured thousands of Palestinians over the past two years, yet still has a seat at the UN and receives weapons from the US to kill children and destroy houses."

The Hamas has said that more than 100 hostages were being held in Gaza, including high-ranking Israeli army officers. On Monday, it warned civilian hostages would be executed if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning.

Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the UN said late Monday that authorities believe there were upto 150 hostages.

Several countries have also reported on missing or dead nationals.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden confirmed that 11 Americans have been killed in the violence, while others remain unaccounted for.

The French Foreign Ministry has claimed that at least eight nationals were either dead, missing or being held captives.

In a report on Monday, the BBC said that 10 British nationals were feared dead or missing.

While Thailand has confirmed that 11 of its nationals were taken captive, authorities in Mexico said that two Mexican nationals were believed to be among Hamas's hostages.

Russia has also said that nine of its nationals remained unaccounted for.

German-Israeli citizen Shani Louk was abducted by the militants from the open air festival on October 7, where the Hamas massacred 260 people.
Indian-origin hacker gets 51 months jail for computer fraud in US. Image Source: IANS News

Jerusalem, Oct 10 : As Hamas-Israel violence escalates, groups of hacktivists have targeted Israeli websites with floods of malicious traffic.

Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post posted on X that its website was down "due to a series of cyberattacks initiated against us" since Saturday morning when Hamas launched a surprise land, sea and air attack against Israel.

"The Jerusalem Post is currently experiencing downtime due to a series of cyberattacks initiated against us," the newspaper posted.

"We are actively addressing the situation and will be back soon, continuing to serve as your top source of information on Operation Swords of Iron and the violent attacks by Hamas," it added.

Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the Israel's National Security Agency, admitted there has been denial of service (DDoS) attacks and defacements of websites.

"But we're not yet seeing real (nation) state malicious actors," Joyce was quoted as saying in reports.

Cyber-security researcher Will Thomas told TechCrunch that he has seen more than 60 websites taken down with DDoS attacks.

Thomas also wrote on X that pro-Palestinian hacktivists have targeted government websites, civil services, news sites, financial institutions and telecommunications and energy companies.

"I have seen several posts of cybercriminal service operators such as DDoS-for-Hire or Initial Access Brokers offering their services to those wanting to target Israel or Palestine," he said.

The death toll on both sides has increased to nearly 1,600, with tens of thousands of people injured and displaced from their homes as a result of the raging violence.

In its latest update, the Israeli Health Ministry said the number of injured people has climbed to 2,616, including 25 in critical condition.

Militant groups in Gaza have also claimed that about 130 Israeli hostages were held in the Palestinian enclave.
Patna, Oct 10 : Bihar is expecting a big number of migratory winter birds this winter after the data compiled from last season showed that 70,000 migrant pelicans reached the state.

The forest and wildlife department said the survey was conducted in 76 wetlands across 26 districts of the state.

The officials are enthusiastic about more migratory birds to arrive from Siberia and eastern European countries in the wetlands of Bihar in the fresh winter session starting from now till March.

Releasing the data on Monday, Tej Pratap Yadav, the environment, forest and climate change minister said, "We have conducted the survey from January 30 to February 12 in the 76 wetlands of Bihar and 69,935 migrant pelicans were registered in the state. 200 officials were involved in the counting. It has been observed that 24,000 migrant birds arrived this year," Yadav said.

"We are developing more wetlands in Bihar and expecting more migrant pelicans to come here this session," Yadav said.

According to officials, the migratory birds such as brown breasted flycatcher, scaly thrush, Asian brown flycatcher, large tailed nightjar, Besra, grey headed lapwing, mountagness harrier, Shishing bushloktikel leaf warbler, domicile crane, spotted crane, and great bitners, are seen here in the wetlands. Besides that rare birds like Ucab having white tail and button kwal and yellow legs are also seen here.

The flying ability of these wild pelicans is more than the regular migratory birds. They come here in the beginning of winter and stay till March every year due to the unbearable climate in Siberia, Eastern Europe and Mongolia.

"Besides, we are also bringing more wildlife animals to Sanjay Gandhi Zoological Park which is commonly known as Patna zoo. We want to make Patna Zoo the best in the country," he said.
Bengaluru, Oct 10 : Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday demanded that the Congress government in Karnataka release White Paper on the ongoing power crisis in the state.

JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress government is all set to extend the guarantee of darkness to the state before the Navratri festival.

This would be the sixth guarantee scheme by the Congress, he stated.

Lack of vision and failure in management are pushing the state to an unheard power crisis in history in the coming days, he stated.

The government had given five half-fulfilled guarantee schemes and washed its hands away.

By December, the state will be pushed into a great power crisis for sure. By January 2024, the free power scheme Griha Jyothi will be done away with and the state will be in pitch darkness, Kumaraswamy said.

Throughout the state, the government has forced load shedding and the people are deprived of even two hours of electricity.

Besides this, the government had blatantly lied on the Cauvery water issue. The Tamil Nadu government had taken a decision against the state in the Assembly.

"Our farmers are gifted with load shedding and no power. But, Tamil Nadu is gifted with enormous water," Kumaraswamy stated.

The crops are dying due to the shortage of electricity. There is no water in channels and there is no electricity to pump the water. Before the crisis, the Karnataka state was falling short in production of electricity. It is already begging other states for electricity. The production of hydro, wind and solar powered electricity has seen a shortfall. This is inefficiency and lack of vision, Kumaraswamy stated.

As the water levels were low in reservoirs, the government had ordered to bring down the production of electricity. On the other hand, due to the shortage of coal, the power plants are also not able to produce to the optimum levels. The government is borrowing 20 per cent of the needed electricity from outside already.

The Congress is all set to push the state into a deep power crisis, he explained.

He wondered why the minister concerned was tight-lipped about the situation. The guarantee of darkness will be given to people for sure, but only it has to be seen whether it will be implemented in November or December.

Earlier, the state had enough financial reserves for purchase of electricity during droughts. But, now it seems the treasury is empty.

The Congress government wants to hijack people on the pretext of guarantee schemes till Lok Sabha elections and later it will show its back to people, Kumaraswamy attacked.

The government is in such a dire situation that it won't have the capacity to take credits for purchase of electricity. There is information that the service providers have not given dues for 11 months. If this is the state, what would be the future of agriculture and industry in Karnataka? The government should bring out the White Paper on the current situation, he asserted.
Washington, Oct 10 : Amid the raging violence between the Hamas militant group and Israel, several US states have deployed heightened security measures at Jewish synagogues, institutions and facilities.

In a statement on Monday, President Joe Biden said: "In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel."

Earlier in the day, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the allocation $4 million to secure 31 Jewish schools, synagogues and other institutions in the second largest US state.

"Working with local partners across Texas, we are actively increasing security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools," Abbott said in a statement on Monday.

The Governor's office said Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to "work with local partners and federal intelligence agencies on heightened public safety measures, with an intensified focus by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Texas Fusion Center to elevate awareness about potential threats by Hamas or Hezbollah organisations against the Jewish community in Texas".

Meanwhile, the Governor also issued an executive order directing all state agencies to refrain from purchasing goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced enhanced security at synagogues and "other potential venues" in the fourth largest US city.

Also this week, police in New Orleans deployed officers and added patrols to synagogues, Jewish communities and other institutions.

"The New Orleans Police Department is aware of the situation in the Middle East," said New Orleans police Superintendent Anne E. Kirkpatrick in a statement on Sunday.

The city's Jewish community has about 12,000 members, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.

A spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department told local media that the decision was precautionary.

Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City which hosts the largest Jewish population in the world outside Israel, said on Monday that he had directed the police "to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe."

As a precaution, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also "directed the New York State Police to work with local law enforcement to ensure Jewish community spaces are safe".

In California's Los Angeles area, which has the second-largest Jewish population outside Israel, police have also deployed extra patrols in Jewish and Muslim communities from this week.

A rabbi in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was forced to stop services on Sunday and evacuate the synagogue after the congregation received a bomb threat.

Salt Lake City police officers searched three local Jewish institutions but did not find anything suspicious, CNN reported.

Jewish Insider reported on Monday that holiday festivities will continue as usual but that they are increasing security measures as hate crimes targeting diaspora Jews tend to spike when there is conflict in Israel.

According to the Jewish Insider report, the Community Security Service (CSS), an organisation that has trained more than 3,000 volunteers around the US to protect synagogues and other Jewish institutions, has sent detailed guidance for the coming days and weeks as they are anticipating a heightened threat level on American Jews.

In retaliation to the unprecedented attack launched on southern Israel by the Hamas on October 7, the Jewish nation formally declared war and greenlighted "significant military steps".

As a result, the Gaza Strip is still being bombarded by Israeli airstrikes.

Since the conflict erupted, more than 1,600 people have been killed on both the sides, while tens of thousands have been displaced and injured.

According to Israeli authorities, the Hamas is currently holding upto 150 people, inluding senior army officers and foreign nationals, as hostages in Gaza.
Sonam Kapoor reveals what she does when shes not shooting or working. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Oct 10 : Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor has talked about what she does in her free time when she is not working or shooting.

Sonam is a voracious reader and she reveals how her love for books has kept her creatively satiated since her childhood.

Sonam said: "Books transport us to a world of imagination. When I am not shooting or working, I am constantly reading and getting sucked into a world where everything is possible!"

Sonam loves when a good book turns into a great cinematic adaptation.

She said: "Some of my most favourite movies are adaptations of brilliant books. The love I have for books and cinema is in equal measure and it's amazing when good books turn into good movies."

The actress feels books provide great material for writers to harness brilliant plots for cinema.

"Books provide the perfect source material for developing engrossing and entertaining screen content. I've always believed that a good story will be loved by all and also transcend all boundaries," said the actress.

On the work front, Sonam was recently seen in 'Blind', a crime thriller filmdirected by Shome Makhija.

The film features Sonam in a leading role with Purab Kohli, Vinay Pathak and Lillete Dubey in supporting roles.

'Blind', a remake of the 2011 Korean film of the same name, centres around a blind police officer in search of a serial killer.
Israeli forces 'more or less' restore full control over border fence with Gaza. Image Source: IANS News

Jerusalem, Oct 10 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have "more or less" restored full control over the border fence with Gaza, after it was breached by Hamas militants following its October 7 surprise attack, a military official said.

Addressing a briefing, IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said: "Looking towards the south, we have more or less restored full control over the border fence. Hopefully in the next few hours it will be final."

Hecht said Israeli forces have secured communities around the border and have nearly completed evacuations in the area, adding that there were two small firefights overnight in the Sa'ad and Kissufim communities.

"We are focusing our offensive in the Gaza Strip and our airstrikes," CNN quoted the spokesperson as saying.

In his address, Hecht also advised any Palestinians leaving Gaza to go to Egypt.

"I am aware that the Rafah crossing is still open," the BBC quoted the IDF official as saying.

"Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out".

On Monday, the IDF said that the military had regained control over all the communities in southern Israel.

In a separate statement on Tuesday morning, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) claimed that it has hit 200 Hamas and other militant group targets in Gaza in overnight airstrikes.

In a social media post, the IAF said dozens of fighter jets launched strikes on the Rimal and Khan Yunis areas, destroying targets, including command and control, a weapons storage site they say was inside a mosque, and the home of an alleged Hamas commander.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : In a follow-up of the recent spate of deaths in several government-run hospitals, Maharashtra will create new super-speciality hospitals and upgrade other health-care infrastructure under the 'Vision-2035' initiative, with help from HUDCO, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Centre.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde made the announcement after a high-level meeting with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, the concerned ministers and departments, collectors and health authorities across the state, late on Monday.

Under the new plan aVision-2035a which will be ready in a fortnight, the government plans to change the face of public health-care in the next 10-12 years, to make it more people-centric and efficient, on par with global standards, said an official.

For financing the ambitious venture, the state government will seek Rs 8,331 crore through additional budgetary allocation, HUDCO has sanctioned Rs 3,948-crore, the Asian Development Bank will give a loan of Rs 5,177 crore, and the Central government will provide whatever more funding is necessary, said Shinde.

Presently, after the series of deaths in government-run hospitals in Nanded, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur and Thane, the state has come in severe flak owing to shortages of medicines, staff, infrastructure, etc, and even the Bombay High Court took suo motu cognisance of the serious issue.

Shinde reiterated that the district collectors have been empowered to buy medicines, a dashboard in Mantralaya will monitor demand and supply of medicines and other requirements regularly by the hospitals, all collectors have been instructed to visit state-run facilities within their jurisdiction frequently to check on basic and other requirements including drinking water, sanitation, etc.

Under the proposed plan, the government aims to upgrade the existing healthcare infrastructure as well as create 34 super-speciality hospitals at the district levels, and all government hospitals will get state-of-the-art modern operation theatres.

The Chief Minister said that whenever a new medical college would be announced the work on an attached hospital will also begin, and since some of the district civil hospitals presently attached with medical colleges are inadequate, they would be upgraded or redeveloped with more beds and specialised treatment.

Shinde assured that the budget for these would be doubled and a recruitment drive on a war-footing will be taken up to fill medical, paramedical and other vacancies, with the Collectors authorised to initiate the recruitment.

A few years ago, the government had announced a medical college for almost all districts, but they faced challenges like finding teachers and other academic staffers, with even existing colleges grappling with shortages, with many unwilling to work in non-urban or rural areas.

To a suggestion by Fadnavis to provide a atelemedicine facilitya for rural or remote areas, Shinde has directed the government to create and implement a system for this on priority.
India has true potential to emerge as global leader in digital AI economy: VMware CEO. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 10 : As artificial intelligence (AI)-propelled use cases emerge across industries, India which is playing a leading role in helping other countries improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase financial inclusion and create new opportunities, has the true potential to emerge as global leader in digital AI economy, says Raghu Raghuram, Indian-origin CEO of enterprise cloud services major VMware.

Raghuram told IANS that VMware is committed to supporting India in achieving its digital transformation goals.

"In fact, VMware works closely with the government, BFSI, IT/ITES and other segments. The scale and versatility of the customers we interact with help us to learn and then to build those key learnings into our product strategy," he noted.

Since joining VMware in 2003, Raghuram has helped steer the company's strategic direction and its technology evolution throughout VMware's rich history.

He is fascinated by India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that has the potential to revolutionise the way that governments and businesses deliver services to citizens.

"India's DPI is open, interoperable, and inclusive, which makes it attractive to countries around the world and creates the potential to play a significant role at a global level. In addition to the above, India is also working to promote its DPI solutions at a global level," Raghuram emphasised.

For example, the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), provides a virtual repository of DPI solutions that can be used by other countries and international organisations such as the World Bank.

The global recognition of India's DPI -- like the unified payments interface (UPI) and Aadhaar -- has demolished the old normals.

The G20 leaders recently committed to adopt, build and maintain Global Digital Public Infrastructure and also agreed to foster a wholesome and safe digital ecosystem, and a resilient global digital economy.

According to Raghuram, many of India's largest banks, both public sector and private, run their UPI workloads on VMware infrastructure.

UPI is a challenging use case as the number of transactions per month crossed 10 billion in August as well as in September, growing over 50 per cent over last year.

"At the individual bank level, the workload can be tough to predict with spikes driven by market events, like festivals or e-commerce sales. Banks rely on VMware's robust and scalable infrastructure to ensure that their customers have a consistent, high-quality experience," the top VMware executive told IANS.

On the growing buzz around AI, he said that Private AI is VMware's architectural approach to generative AI.

VMware Private AI unlocks the business gains from generative AI with the practical privacy and compliance needs of an organisation by prioritising data gravity, data privacy and control, and access control and auditability.

"Private AI is about the platform and infrastructure architecture built in support of generative AI, which can be deployed in public clouds, virtual private clouds, data centres, and at the edge," he informed.

Private clouds can be architected to satisfy the requirements of Private AI but are not a requirement. The importance lies in ensuring that the privacy and control requirements are satisfied, regardless of where AI models and data are deployed.

Raghuram said that with a focus on enterprise use cases, VMware Private AI can help boost an enterprise's productivity through improved performance, faster time-to-value, and increased efficiency.

"The performance of our Private AI offerings is equal to, and even exceeds, bare metal in some machine learning inference use cases as proven in recent industry benchmarks," he noted.

Additionally, he said, because AI environments need to be elastic and highly responsive to users, the offering enables available resources to be provisioned within seconds, thus speeding up time-to-value.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)

--IANS

na/ksk
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The Delhi High Court has asked the AAP government to provide its stance on placing posters or hoardings in buses and other public transport in the national capital to raise awareness against eve-teasing and enhance women's safety.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by the it in 2012, following the tragic gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in December 2012.

The bench has now granted the government six weeks to seek instructions on this matter.

Advocate Meera Bhatia, serving as Amicus Curiae, suggested that the Delhi Government should consider placing posters indicating that eve-teasing is a serious and punishable offense, as it would act as a deterrent.

The Delhi government's counsel informed the court that the installation of "push-to-talk or panic buttons" on CCTV poles is under active consideration by Delhi Police's Technology Division.

The court has posted the matter for December 19. In August, the Delhi Police informed the court that a total of 6,630 CCTV cameras have been strategically placed in vulnerable areas across the national capital as part of efforts to enhance the safety of women.

The court was told that these cameras are being monitored through 50 master control rooms.

--IANS

spr/ksk
Seoul, Oct 10 : A South Korean passenger jet carrying over 190 citizens is set to return home from Israel in the wake of the ongoing violence, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday The Korean Air Co. flight, carrying 191 South Korean nationals, is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 6.10 a.m. on Wednesday after taking off from Tel Aviv at 1.45 p.m. Tuesday, reports Yonhap News Agency.

It will be the first flight to transport South Koreans back home since the Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7.

The Ministry also said 27 South Korean tourists will cross into Jordan by land while another 30 are expected to return home Thursday on a Turkish Airlines flight.

No casualties have been reported among South Korean nationals so far, Foreign Minister Park Jin said during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly.

"No damage was reported to our diplomatic mission," Park said. "We are taking measures so that tourists on short-term visits can return home on direct flights (from Tel Aviv to Incheon)."

A total of 570 South Koreans are estimated to be living or staying in Israel, in addition to some 480 travelling in the country, according to the Ministry.

It had initially reported 360 Korean tourists in the country but confirmed that around 120 more had entered Israel via foreign carriers.

South Korea on Sunday issued a special travel advisory on Israel and urged its nationals to leave the country.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : Actress Shubhangi Atre, who is known for her role as Angoori Bhabhi in the sitcom 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain', disclosed that she handpicks and purchases all her desi yet glamorous outfits for her character in the show.

The actress also shared insights into the extensive effort invested in picking her costumes in the show, including her recent visit to Indore City, where she effortlessly made a striking style statement.

Speaking about the same, Shubhangi shared: "Every saree or lehenga that Angoori wears in the show is meticulously thought out and crafted with a genuine passion. I dedicate significant effort to choosing, picking, or designing each outfit that graces my character in the show."

"I take great pride in sharing that all the attire I sport on the show is personally styled by me, resulting in a sizeable and diverse collection. Styling Angoori not only brings me immense joy but also a profound sense of satisfaction. Whenever I shop for Angoori's outfits, I wholeheartedly immerse myself in the process," she said.

Shubhangi said that from Angoori's traditional accessories to the sparkling lehengas and even her floral hairbands, she carefully select every element, always mindful of her character's evolving appearance.

"The transformation in my overall look and makeup is noted, as Angoori resonates with numerous viewers, particularly women and homemakers. The jewellery I choose seamlessly blends elegant designs, merging traditional and modern aesthetics to achieve a complete look," said the actress.

The 'Kasturi' fame actress further said: "Recently, during a visit to my hometown Indore to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, I made sure to wear an attire that was both lightweight and vibrant, accompanied by minimal accessories."

"On the first day, I chose a lemon-yellow saree, perfectly complementing Indore's sunny and bright climate. In the evening, I opted for a white lehenga adorned with dazzling mirror work, creating a dreamy and enchanting look," she said.

The 'Havan' actress said: "The fabric featured an intricate foil mirror and dori work, while the blouse remained elegantly simple and gleaming. The following day, I decided to embrace the festive spirit by adorning myself in a vibrant pink ensemble with a full-sleeved blouse. I am glad people like and appreciate my styling efforts."

The show airs on &TV.
Chennai, Oct 10 : The Madras High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the bail petition of Tamil Nadu Minister without portfolio, Senthil Balaji on Wednesday.

Justice G. Jayachandran of the Madras High Court agreed to a plea by the counsel of the minister, N.R. Elango, for an early hearing of the bail petition to be filed in the course of the day. The court ordered the listing of the plea for Wednesday.

The Principal Sessions Court in Chennai had on September 20 dismissed his plea for bail considering the gravity of the offence and the materials that were available against the minister. Senthil Balaji is continuing in the M.K. Stalin cabinet as a minister without portfolio for the past four months.

The Principal Sessions Court judge S. Alli had while dismissing the minister's bail petition on health grounds and said, "This court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner on merits and also on medical grounds."

She also said that the minister had not satisfied the twin conditions enumerated under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002.

The judge said, "This court does not find reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence or that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail."

The minister, who had undergone a coronary bypass surgery at Kaveri hospital after his arrest, had on Monday complained of chest pain and numbness in his legs and was admitted to the Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : Israeli actor-screenwriter Lior Raz, who is known for his work in the hit series 'Fauda', took to his X (formerly Twitter), to share a chilling footage showing him at Sderot town while it is bombarded by Hamas.

The actor shared a video from Sderot, a town in Israel, as he witnessed rocket attacks from Hamas amid the ongoing war.

Taking to his X, he shared the video and wrote: aAccompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave abrothers in armsa volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract two families."

In the video, he can be seen with Yohanan Plesner, who is the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner, along with journalist Avi Yissascharov in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. They can be seen taking a refuge behind walls as the Hamas rockets fly over their heads.

Lior has volunteered to join the Brothers in Arms, which is a group fighting alongside Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas.

On October 7, Palestinian militant groups, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

Since the ongoing conflict, more than 1,600 people have been killed from both sides.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijans Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) Orkhan Mammadov, as part of his working visit to Germany, has met with the German Eastern Business Association CEO Michael Harms, Trend reports.

The meeting focused on the expansion of trade relations, the promotion of innovations, and opportunities for cooperation.

The head of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Yusif Abdullayev, also attended the meeting.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Germany reached nearly $1.1 billion in the first eight months of 2023, which is a 59 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Germany ranks among the top 10 countries in terms of Azerbaijan's trade volume.

The SMBDA was established under the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, dated December 28, 2017. It supports the development of small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the country by providing SMBs with a number of services as well as ensuring coordination and regulation of services rendered by government entities to SMBs.
Washington, Oct 10 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to discuss Washington's support for the Jewish nation "as it defends itself against Hamas' terrorist attacks".

In a statement, the State Department said that Blinken "reiterated US condolences to the people of Israel and all those impacted by Hamasa violence and reaffirmed our efforts to secure the immediate release of all hostages".

The call came a day after President Joe Biden announced that 11 Americans were killed since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7.

"Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed -- many of whom made a second home in Israel," the President was quoted as saying in a statement released by the White House on Monday.

Biden also acknowledged that there were American citizens who still remained unaccounted for.

"While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the US government on hostage recovery efforts."

According to Israeli authorities, the Hamas is believed to be holding up to 150 hostages, including senior army officers and foreign nationals.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 10 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressing concerns over the safety of Indians in Israel and sought the Centre's intervention to secure 7,000 Keralites currently in that country.

"A good number of them, around 7,000, are from Kerala. The continuing hostilities are putting these civilians to extreme hardships and their family members are in a state ofextreme anxiety. I request your good self to intervene in every possible way to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel," wrote Vijayan.

Incidentally, Israel is also home to numerous nurses from various parts of Kerala.

An anxious husband of a Kerala nurse in Israel told IANS about the growing tensions.

"She told me where they are, life is almost normal, but all have been advised extreme caution and as far as possible to stay indoors. They have been told that if there is any emergency an alert will come on the mobile and also sirens will be sounded. But the tensions are unbearable here and there," said the anxious husband from Kottayam.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Visiting Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan was on Tuesday conferred with an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) degree at Jawaharlal Nehru University in the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"This degree will forever be etched in my memory as the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country," Hassan said at the event.

"To us Tanzanians, India is not simply a country but an extended family member separated by a crossline, a strategic ally, a dependable partner and a friend," the Tanzanian president added.

Expressing her love for India, Hassan said, "The world says, there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad. I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India, the Incredible India."

Speaking on the occasion, Jaishankar said, "It is a matter of great pride for us to confer the honorary doctorate on Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan. I take particular satisfaction in this as an alumnus of this university. By honouring her with an educational conferment, we not only recognise a long association with India but highlight this particular aspect of our relationship. Over 5,000 Tanzanian nationals have been trained in educational institutions in India. India also plays host to several Tanzanian students who study in India and in our universities, young minds brim with confidence as they shape India's future through the startups, inventions and innovations."

Jaishankar further added that "Tanzania, is the preferred destination to set up the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology in Zanzibar. Classes for the first batch are scheduled to begin this month. The institution has the potential to become the premier centre for technical education for the entire African continent. It is symbolic of our cooperation with the Global South. It is a personal privilege to have been present in Zanzibar at its inauguration. I believe 70 students have been finalised".

Highlighting the inclusion of the African Union into the G20 as a full member, Jaishankar said that the rise of Africa is central to global rebalancing.

"Most of our embassies that we have opened in the last decade, are in that continent. India and Tanzania enjoy traditionally close and friendly relations marked by some political understanding regular high-level visits, diversified economic engagement, and strong people-to-people contacts," he informed.

Referring to the economic ties between India and Tanzania, the External Affairs Minister said, "Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillar...Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to East Africa, along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides."

"Education and capacity building are important facets of our (India-Tanzania) bilateral ties. Over 5,000 Tanzanian nationals have been trained in educational institutions in India under our I-TECH programme," Jaishankar highlighted.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Congress on Tuesday targeted the BJP-led central government over its liberal import policy, saying it has become a huge crisis for farmers.

The Congress said that due to the liberal import policy soybean is being sold below the minimum support price in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

In a post on X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The liberal import policy of Modi government is causing huge crisis for farmers in various states. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, soybean is being sold below the MSP because cheap imports have been allowed. In these states and in other states too, milk prices are falling due to import of cheap palm oil, which is encouraging adulteration of vegetable fats in cheap pure ghee. Farmers are suffering huge losses due to low availability of milk."

His remarks came a day after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

For the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, polling will be held on November 17, and for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly voting will take place on November 23. Counting of votes will be on December 3.
Hubballi, Oct 10 : BJP leader Basavraj Bommai on Tuesday said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should clarify whether census is caste-based or socio-economic survey.

Talking to reporters in Hubballi, Bommai, former chief minister, said, "the Congress executive committee meeting in New Delhi had discussed the caste census. Let the government here release it. The survey might not be accepted by all communities. But, there will be scope for discussion on pros and cons and amendments."

"The previous Congress government had conducted a survey for economic and academic purposes. The government order in this regard also states that it is economic and academic survey of people. Then Congress government had published it. Then, it was not released against the backdrop of elections and political reasons," Bommai maintained.

"Now, they are talking about it again. It should be clarified first whether the survey conducted is a caste census. Because, it is nowhere mentioned in the government order that the survey conducted with an expenditure of Rs 168 crore was a caste census," Bommai underlined.

First, let the Congress government Chief Minister give clarification on what is done in the census, how it is done. The Congress leaders themselves had stated that the discussion could be made after analysing the contents of the report, Bommai said.

"Few communities might be upset with the report, few might be benefitted which is a subject for debate. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) in this regard had taken a stand, let it go ahead," he said.

Siddaramaiah had stated after participating in CWC meeting in New Delhi that "his government would look into the caste census report which is pending".
Gaza, Oct 10 : The number of people displaced in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict increased to 187,518 as of Tuesday, according to UN agencies.

"Mass displacement has escalated in the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, reaching over 187,518, and is expected to increase further," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest situation update.

The OCHA added that 137,427 of the total displaced persons are currently taking shelter in schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, four schools and eight healthcare facilities in Gaza have sustained damage, the Office added.

Also in update, the UNRWA said that its Gaza Field Office, where domestic and international staff are present, suffered collateral damage due to airstrikes in the Rimal area.

In total, 18 UNRWA installations have been affected so far, the Agency added.

As the violence raged for a fourth day on Tuesday, the death toll on both sides has increased to nearly 1,600.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the death toll and injuries from retaliatory Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have increased to 687 and 3,726, respectively.

According to Israeli government officials, more than 900 people have died, of which 260 people were massacred by Hamas gunmen at a music festival shortly after the group launched its attack.

The officials added that the number of fataltities was expected to rise because rescuers are yet to reach areas where the Hamas militants and Israeli troops are still engaged in fierce battles.

The Israeli Health Ministry said the number of injured people has climbed to 2,616, including 25 in critical condition.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : On 'Mental Health Day', 'Bhagya Lakshmi' fame actor Akash Choudhary shared his personal battle with clinical depression and his inspiring journey to recovery, revealing how his pet dog helped him forget everything.

Despite his fame from reality shows like 'MTV Splitsvilla', 'Dating in the Dark,' and 'Bhagya Lakshmi', Akash faced a challenging period marked by clinical depression.

Talking about the same, Akash recounted, "In 2019, I hit a low point in life where everything seemed fine, things were okay, but there was a certain hollowness within me. I was feeling a bit sad, staying at home, not interacting with people, but I was doing well in life."

"However, I didn't have any awareness of clinical depression, and there were no clear symptoms. It was just there."

He continued, "Even small things would trigger me. If there was a delay in food or any minor issue, I'd panic and start crying. I became highly sensitive. My friends began to distance themselves from me, calling me negative. I was on medication and even experienced hallucinations at times."

"I took a break and went home for ten days, where I was emotionally fragile, experienced unexplained crying spells, extreme lows, and persistent negativity. I would cry over trivial matters, however, my parents provided tremendous support," said Akash.

In early 2020, after almost a year of battling depression, Akash embarked on a journey of self-improvement.

He consciously made small changes in his life, focusing on mental clarity and strengthening his relationships with loved ones.

Akash explained how a turning point came in the form of his pet dog, Hazel, who entered his life during the lockdown.

"Spending time with him and raising him made me forget everything. My medication stopped, and since then, I haven't experienced a single sad day in my life. Healing from depression made me wiser, spiritually connected to myself, and more aware of life's worth. It changed my perspective, and I became analytical about people," he said.

"Mental health is a topic people avoid discussing, and they label you negatively. But the journey of healing makes you realise the value of life. You become more aware and practical. Depression doesn't need a reason. It can strike at any time, even when everything seems fine. The key is to be there for someone, listen to them, and spend time with loved ones," he concluded.

On the professional front, Akash is now working closely with fashion companies for brand partnerships. He's also focused on his dream of starting his own production company, which he plans to introduce to the world later this year.

On the television front, he is currently playing the role of Viraj Singhania, Malishka's former best friend and ex-fiance in Zee TV's 'Bhagya Lakshmi'.
Hubballi : , Oct 10 (IANS) Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has accused the Congress of supporting terrorists in Palestine.

Answering a question in Hubballi on Tuesday, Bommai said, "It is an international matter. Israel and Palestine have been inconfrontation for years. The present attacks on Israel were carried out by Hamas outfit terrorists. Hamas members are not the official citizens of Palestine.

"The Congress party is concealing this fact from the people and it is supporting terrorists who are holed up in Palestine. All terrorists should be seen as terrorists at the international level. Innocents, women, children and theaged are attacked with bombs and guns. This canat be supported by any community or society.

"But, the Congress resorting to appeasement politics over the crisis is a big tragedy," he charged.

Questioned on CM Siddaramaiah initiating a probe on the development works carried out during the previous BJP government, Bommai said that the probe be conducted on works carried out in all departments. No one is sayingno. The works are complete, including in Bengaluru. The government has not cleared bills of projects which are completed. Let them first clear bills and then later conduct inquiries."

He further said, "The Congress is suffering from a central government stroke. For everything, they are pointing fingers at the Centre. Whether it is the Cauvery issue,the Union government is dragged. Now, for the power crisis as well, the Congress government is pointing fingers at the Centre. The crisis should not have come if the coal had been supplied to the electricity manufacturing units in the state."

He stated the weak financial position and inefficient management of the production of electricity are resulting in a big crisis. Ensuring electricity to the state is the responsibility of the state government. The central government distributes power depending on availability, he said.
Hyderabad, Oct 10 : Tollywood actor Pallapolu Navdeep on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in an alleged drug trafficking case.

The actor reached EDas regional office in Hyderabad in the morning and was being questioned by the central agency officials about financial transactions.

The ED had issued a notice to Navdeep, summoning him for questioning.

He was also questioned by the ED in the past in a drug case allegedly involving some Tollywood personalities.

Telangana State Narcotics Bureau (TSNAB) had interrogated the actor on September 23 in connection with his alleged links with the drug peddlers arrested recently.

He was questioned about his links to Ram Chand, and a few others arrested recently for selling drugs.

Officials had reportedly confronted the actor with Call Details Record details and some conversations that took place on WhatsApp between Ram Chand and Navdeep.

He had told the media after the questioning that the CDR details of the last 7 to 8 years were collected, analysed and based on it he was asked to appear.

He said he answered all the questions posed by the investigators and they allowed him to go.

TSNAB, along with Gudimalkapur police, had last month arrested 11 persons including three Nigerians and seized drugs from them.

The police, which had stumbled upon some information pertaining to alleged conversations between Navdeep and one Ram Chand, had announced that Navdeep was evading arrest.

However, Navdeep had denied his involvement and approached the Telangana High Court for anticipatory bail.

The court had directed the police not to take coercive action against him. It, however, said police can question him by issuing him a notice.

The TSNAB subsequently issued him a notice under 41A of Criminal Procedure Code.

Navdeep was among the Tollywood personalities questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Telanganaas Prohibition of Excise department in 2017 in connection with a high-end drugs racket.

In 2021, he along with other film personalities, was also questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the same case.

The SIT had given clean chit to celebrities in the drugs case.
October 10 : Actor, producer and entrepreneur Jackky Bhagnani, who has been dating actress Rakul Preet Singh for the longest, hosted a pre-birthday party for his partner.

On Monday night, the couple were spotted leaving a cafe after a dinner date at midnight to celebrate Rakuls birthday. The actress turned 33 years old on Tuesday, October 10.

While making their way out of cafe, Jackky was seen carrying a huge bunch of celebratory balloons in silver and rose gold colours. The duo posed for pictures.

Actress Rakul looked beautiful in a silver shirt tucked in a floor-length denim slit skirt. Jackky looked dapper in a casual all-black ensemble which he paired with a hat.

Jackky and Rakul started dating in 2020, and made a public announcement about their relationship in 2021, by posting on their social media profiles.

On the work front, Rakul Preet Singh has an interesting line-up of releases, such as I Love You, Meri Patni Ka Remake, Ayalaan, Indian 2, and more.

Meanwhile, Jackkys lastest venture Mission Raniganj is making solid box-office collection. He is also bank-rolling movies such as Ganapath, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and more.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Azerbaijans Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) has taken part in the 19th annual meeting of the International Network of Small and Medium Enterprises (INSME) in Berlin, Trend reports.

The agency's data shows that the meeting presented information regarding the support and digitalization of services provided by SMBDA to small and medium-sized businesses in Azerbaijan, as well as support for innovative initiatives.

The Chairman of the SMBDA Board, Orkhan Mammadov, noted ongoing efforts to transition the service centers for small and medium-sized businesses to a digital platform.

Furthermore, he informed us about the growing number of SMEs that obtained the "Startup" certificate, which provides tax incentives for entrepreneurial innovation initiatives, and enterprises that benefited from the grant support.

INSME, uniting approximately 70 members from different countries around the world, promotes the exchange of expertise among institutions operating in the field of SMEs.

It also facilitates the application of advanced mechanisms in the fields of public-private dialogue and international partnership. SMBDA has been a member of INSME since 2020. In 2022, the agency organized the 18th annual INSME meeting in Baku, dedicated to the theme "Strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises: economic diversification and green development".
Mumbai, Oct 10 : The breakaway Nationalist Congress Party President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar marked his faction's 100 days in power with an open letter, invoking icons and resolving to work for solving the problems of the masses, here on Tuesday.

A group led by Ajit Pawar joined the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance on July 2, and has completed 100 days today in the MahaYuti government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

He said that employment, economic empowerment of all social strata, education, health, effective implementation of public welfare schemes are the state government's objectives and the NCP will "work more vigorously on these through power".

Ajit Pawar also invoked icons like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's ideology and Y.B. Chavan's dedication to public welfare, as his guiding principle in public life.

Ostensibly justifying his moves to break off from the NCP founded by his uncle Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar said that at various times in the state's political history, many big leaders have taken critical decisions depending on the prevalent political and social situation.

Getting inspired by the legendary leaders of the past and adhering to the late Y.B. Chavan's motto of supporting the masses through power and accountability to the people, Ajit Pawar said that fast-paced, people-centric development has been undertaken for public welfare in the state.

Referring to criticism, Ajit Pawar said it's a part of any political leader's life and he always appreciated 'constructive criticism', but made it clear that he abhorred criticism just for the sake of politics.

"I am a political worker who believes in positive, developmental politics My aim is to take up public oriented work and bring positive changes in peoples' lives through service," said Ajit Pawar.

He expressed his commitment to work for the interests of the farmers, youth, women and other social groups, and to forge ahead on the same path as he had been doing for the past 100 days in office
Bangkok, Oct 10 : Thailand's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the number of Thai nationals killed in the Hamas-Israel conflict has increased to 18, while the number of injured stood at nine.

The Ministry has also confirmed that 11 Thai nationals were also believed to have been captured, with their whereabouts unknown, CNN reported.

Thai embassies in various locations are working to reach out to the Palestinian Authority to request their release, it said.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Foreign Minister has also spoken to his Israeli counterpart, the Ministry said, adding that compensation will be provided to the families of victims.

At least 15 Thai nationals, including some of the injured, are scheduled to return home from Israel on Wednesday on board commercial flights, as Thai military aircraft have not received permission to enter Israeli airspace, the Thai foreign minister said.

There are approximately 30,000 Thai workers in Israel, CNN reported citing the Ministry.

As of Monday, more than 1,000 Thai workers have requested help with evacuation.
Chennai, Oct 10 : Employment in tier 2 and 3 cities in India saw an uptick during the first half of the current year and is expected to maintain that trend in the second half as compared to the metropolitan areas, said senior officials of CIEL HR Services Private Ltd.

They also said the company in its runup to the initial public offering (IPO) is in the process of getting converted into a public limited company and raising Rs 200 crore out of which Rs 150 crore will be for four acquisitions.

"The first half of the current year saw headwinds for some sectors like the information technology (IT) outsourcing, startups and others while sectors like electric vehicle (EV), retail, automobile did well," said Aditya Narayan Mishra - Managing Director and CEO of CIEL HR Services.

According to him, hiring is expected to pick up in January-March 2024 in IT outsourcing and sectors like hospitality, travel offer higher employment opportunities during the sporting season.

The banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), EV, healthcare, telecom industries did well during the first half of the current year and is expected to maintain the trend during the second half of the year, Mishra said.

Mishra said the employment in Tier 2 and 3 cities is expected to grow faster than that in the metros backed by the growth of Internet and UPI penetration in those places, shifting consumer spend towards online shopping.

The company closed the first half with a revenue of about Rs 486 crore and hopes to close the full year with a revenue of about Rs 1,250 crore.

"CIEL's digital forays in the past year has majorly contributed to the growth of CIEL Group in the H1. I am confident that we are not far from our IPO plans, being the only player to provide a full spectrum of HR services and having a strong geographic presence with 77 offices in 47 locations in India," K.Pandiarajan, Executive Chairperson & Director, CIEL Group said.

He said the company's deputee headcount is about 30,000 and the target of 50,000 deputees by the end of this year is achievable.

Pandiarajan said as part of its runup to the IPO, the company will be getting converted to a public limited company, come out with 4:3 rights issue and also issue bonus shares.

The company will be raising about Rs 200 crore as pre-IPO funding out of which Rs 150 crore will be used for four acquisitions and the balance will be for marketing, strengthening the digital assets, working capital, scaling up the company and others.

Pandiarajan said one of the four target companies is an IT staffing company and the term sheet will be signed soon.
Kolkata, Oct 10 : A Bangladeshi national was arrested on Tuesday on the charges of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl on the outskirts of Kolkata.

The accused Sohel Rana, a resident of Gazipur area in Comilla district of Bangladesh, will be presented before a district court at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal where the public prosecutor will seek his police custody.

Rana, who came to Kolkata for some work, used to stay at a rented accommodation at New Town - Baliguri area on the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

Rana used to sexually abuse the minor girl of the owner of the house where he was a tenant, and threaten her of dire consequences in case she reveals the incident to her parents.

Initially, the victim did not disclose the matter. However, on Monday, she revealed the entire matter to her parents who immediately contacted the local Technology City Police station.

On October 7, the cops of the same police station arrested three persons on charges of raping an IT professional at a late-night party at a posh residential complex there on the night before.

In that case, the victim filed a complaint to the police claiming that she was invited to a party, where her drink was laced with some intoxicants and later she was gang-raped.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : Actor Govind Pandey, who has joined the cast of 'Kavya-Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon', has opened up about his character, and called it an exhilarating journey for himself.

'Kavya - Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon' has already generated a niche for itself in the heart of viewers. The story brings alive the journey of Kavya (Sumbul Touqeer Khan) -- an IAS Officer -- whose purpose is to serve the nation and do right by the common man.

Joining the cast of this compelling narrative is the enigmatic figure -- Giriraj Pradhan, who is Adiraj Pradhan's (Mishkat Varma) father.

Portrayed by Govind, 'Giriraj' is a remarkable sarpanch who ascended the political ladder, carving his path with an acutely shrewd and calculated approach.

An embodiment of authority and self-made success, he possesses an indomitable spirit. He finds himself at a crossroads with Kavya when she challenges him at the railway station, and he threateningly promises never to forget her.

Sharing his excitement about the same, Govind said: "Stepping into the world of 'Kavya - Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon' is an exhilarating journey for me. Giriraj is a strong headed alpha male who cannot allow himself to be outsmart by a woman and his confrontation with Kavya is one of the many that she will face soon."

"Playing this arrogant, yet successful character really excites me, and I can't wait for the next chapter to unfold on the show," he added.

Known for his works in 'PK', 'Hindi Medium' etc, Govind is known for his exceptional talent and ability to portray a wide range of characters on screen.

His dedication to his craft and his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his roles have made him a respected figure in the television industry.

'Kavya - Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon' airs on Sony.
Kolkata, Oct 10 : Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, on Tuesday, publicly thanked West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose for taking up with the Union government the issue of non-release of central dues to the state government under different centrally-sponsored projects like MGNREGA.

On Monday, the Governor, who is currently in New Delhi, had sent an email communiquA to Banerjee informing the latter about the matter being taken up with the Union government.

Uploading that communiquA from the Governor on his X (formerly Twitter) wall, Banerjee expressed gratitude for the gesture on part of the constitutional head of the state. "My heartfelt gratitude to the @BengalGovernor C V Ananda Bose, for promptly addressing the pressing issue concerning the welfare of the people of Bengal. Specifically, his swift intervention for the rightful entitlements of over 21 lakh+ individuals of WB deprived under #MGNREGA," his X message read.

A delegation of Trinamool Congress, led by Banerjee, on Monday met the Governor at Raj Bhavan in central Kolkata, where the delegation members requested the Governor to take up the matter of unpaid central dues to the West Bengal government with the Union ministry concerned.

The Governor, who left for New Delhi immediately after that meeting, assured the delegation of doing whatever was needed in the matter.

Following this, Abhishek Banerjee announced the withdrawal of the sit-in demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan that started last Thursday.

However, he cautioned that the fresh agitation would begin after October 31, if the central dues under these heads are not actually paid by then.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday told low-cost airline SpiceJet and its aircraft lessors, Aircastle and Wilmington, to study the impact of the government's notification, issued last week, removing aviation lease agreements from the moratorium under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

The next hearing in the cases is expected to come up on November 7.

Aircastle and Wilmington have filed insolvency pleas against SpiceJet over unpaid dues.

However, the airline has also challenged the maintainability of these petitions on certain technical grounds.

The Centre had issued a notification on October 3 providing that the moratorium under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 will not apply to aircraft, aircraft engines, airframes and helicopters governed by the Cape Town Convention.

A moratorium gives bankrupt companies some immunity in legal cases and makes it difficult for lessors and creditors to recover their assets. However, with the lifting of this moratorium this protection has been reduced.

While the lessors have filed cases against Spicejet for the settlement of their dues, SpiceJet has also filed a plea questioning the maintainability of Aircastle's petition.

SpiceJet has challenged the validity of Aircastleas power of attorney, which grants authority to its representative, and also asserted that Aircastle had not filed a proper affidavit in support of its insolvency petition.

The next hearing is expected to provide more clarity on various issues taking into account the impact of the governmentas notification.

The government's notification to exempt transactions involving aircraft, aircraft engines, and helicopters from the IBC was issued in consonance with Indiaas international treaty obligations as the country was a signatory to the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol (CTC).

Aviation Working Group, a global watchdog representing aircraft manufacturers and leasing firms, had put India on a watchlist with a negative outlook in May and has now given the country a positive rating after the notification was issued.
Chennai, Oct 10 : At Rs.54,000 crore, Tamil Nadu leads the country in its borrowing with Rs.5,000 crore being taken in excess till October 3 this fiscal, said Bank of Baroda in a report.

According to the report, the most significant increase in actual borrowing compared to planned borrowing was by Andhra Pradesh (+Rs 8,500 crore), Telangana (+Rs 6,300 crore) and Tamil Nadu (+Rs 5,000 crore).

"In FYTD24 state governments have together raised Rs 3.8 lakh crore from the markets so far (till October 3). Of this amount, Rs 2.1 lakh crore (about 56 per cent) was raised in Q2FY24 (July-September 2023) by 23 states. Notably, this is slightly lower than Rs 2.4 lakh crore planned in the indicative calendar," Sonal Badhan, Economist, Bank of Baroda said in the report.

State governments recently concluded their borrowing program for Q2FY24 and announced planned borrowing for Q3FY24.

According to Badhan, in Q3, states have projected to raise another Rs 2.4 lakh crore from the markets. "With this, total planned borrowing for states in FYTD24 (April-December) stands at Rs 6.7 lakh crore, of which Rs 3.8 lakh crore has been raised till 3 October 2023.

"The cost of borrowing for states in FYTD24 remained 17-35bps higher than G-Sec rates, and ranged from 7.31 per cent (Gujarat) to 7.48 per cent (Uttarakhand)," the report notes.

Gujarat being one of the better fiscally-managed states was able to raise money through short-term papers also at a lower rate. On the other hand, states with higher fiscal imbalances, like Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, borrowed through longer-tenured papers to manage cost, the report said.

While Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh also exceeded their targeted level of borrowing in FYTD24, states like Gujarat and Maharashtra borrowed much less than planned.

States like Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Puducherry and Tripura have not borrowed anything from the markets in FYTD24 so far. Indicative calendar for state borrowings in Q3FY24 (Oct-Dec) shows that 26 states will collectively raise Rs 2.37 lakh crore, with about 54 per cent of the borrowing expected to be raised by five states alone  Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Other major borrowers may include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Haryana and Punjab, the report notes.

In comparison, the central government raised money in H1FY24 through long-term borrowing at an average yield of 7.2 per cent. Other instruments for borrowing such as weighted average lending rate (WALR) show that cost of borrowing from scheduled commercial banks (SCB) was at 9.47 per cent (as of August 2023) and corporates with AAA rated 10 year bonds could raise money at 7.64 per cent in Q2.

In FYTD24, WALR has increased by 15bps for SCBs and by 13bps for public sector banks, the report said.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Following a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the "people of India stand firmly" with the Jewish nation amid the ongoing conflict with the Hamas militant group.

Thanking Netanyahu for making the call and "providing an update on the ongoing situation", Modi said in a post on X: "People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

This the Prime Minister's second post after the conflict broke out on October 7 when the Palestinian militant group launched the unprecedented attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Also taking to X hours after the attack, Modi had said: "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour."

As the violence raged for a fourth day on Tuesday, more than 1,600 people have been killed on both the sides, while tens of thousands of people have been displaced and injured.

Israeli authorities believe that up to 150 people, including senior army officers, are being held as hostages by the Hamas in the besieged coastal enclave.

--IANS

ans/ksk
New Delhi, Oct 10 : A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the national capital on Tuesday pronounced Adnan Hassan as guilty and sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment in a case related to the ISIS Abu Dhabi module involved in recruiting and funding terror elements.

The court convicted Hassanunder the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to the NIA, the case pertains to the criminal conspiracy involving three Indian nationals - Sheikh Azhar Al Islam Sattar Sheikh, Mohammed Farhan Mohammed Rafiq Shaikh, and Adnan Hassan.

"These individuals are members of the proscribed terrorist organisation, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), along with other yet unidentified associates. Their conspiracy aimed at identifying, motivating, radicalising, recruiting, and training susceptible youth for planning and executing terrorist attacks," said a senior NIA official.

"On Tuesday, Hassan was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for his active involvement in the nexus, under the relevant sections of the IPC and the UAPA. In addition to prison term, he has also been fined Rs 4,000," said the official.

Initially, the NIA had registered a case on January 28, 2016 under relevant sections of the IPC and UAPA, as per the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The investigation has revealed that accused Hassan used a variety of online platforms and methods, including posts, news articles, comments, videos, images, and the commentary of Islamic scholars, to motivate individuals to join ISIS.

"He also provided financial support to accused Abdullah Basith and other associates. Hassan was arrested on January 29, 2016 for his affiliation to ISIS and furthering its activities in India," the official said.

Subsequently, on the basis of evidence, a charge sheet was filed on July 25, 2016 against Hassan under the relevant sections of the UAPA and IPC before the special NIA court in Delhi.
Kolkata, Oct 10 : The smile that lit up the face of the 93-year-old woman was compensation enough for the long distance the Zilla Sainik Board (ZSB) officer had to travel to reach her home, about a two-hour drive from Darjeeling in north Bengal.

The woman -- Lila Maya Karmi, is the widow of Lance Naik Bhakta Bahadur Karmi, a World War-II veteran.

From October onwards, she will receive a pension of Rs 3,000 per month. This is the sum stipulated by the Government of West Bengal. In states like Delhi, Gujarat and Goa, the pension is Rs 10,000 per month and in other states, it is Rs 6,000.

According to an official of the Rajya Sainik Board (RSB), West Bengal, 31 World War-II veterans and 326 widows of the bravehearts are alive.

It is not a part of the mandate of the ZSBs to look into such matters but officials - who have themselves retired from military - go out of their way to provide whatever support is possible.

Recently, the ZSB of Darjeeling provided assistance to a retired Subedar of the Army, whose recently constructed house near Mirik was gutted. This sum of Rs 50,000 came from the ZSB's Charitable Relief Fund.

Unfortunately, not all districts of West Bengal have ZSBs. A few weeks ago, the Bankura District Ex-Servicemen's Association wrote to the district magistrate, seeking a ZSB in Bankura. Of the 23 districts in West Bengal, only 14 have ZSBs. This has affected the welfare of ex-servicemen in the state.

"It is mandated that state governments will create ZSBs. The role of the ZSBs is to ensure welfare schemes of the central and state governments, such as pension, reach the ex-servicemen or their widows. The ZSBs process the Central and state government grants and also take care of re-employment of ex-servicemen.

"The Boards also empower veterans to go in for higher education and develop their skills while taking care of grants due to paraplegic ex-servicemen. ZSBs are full-fledged government organisations and not welfare bodies. Their role is to look after the documentation of discharged soldiers and widows," the RSB official said.

According to him, there are a large number of veterans and widows in districts like Bankura and Purulia. Many of them are from the various tribal communities. The state government needs to look into the demands for setting up ZSBs in all districts.
DCP, SPs will be held responsible for crimes in their jurisdiction: Siddaramaiah. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Oct 10 : Amid accusations of appeasement politics, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday ordered increase in the loan amount being given to religious minority students studying medicine under the Arivu Education Loan Scheme.

Speaking in a meeting after overseeing the progress of the departments of Housing, Minority Welfare, Haj and Waqf, the Chief Minister emphasised that thrust should be given to the education of children belonging to minority communities.

Under the Arivu scheme, students belonging to minority communities are granted loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh each year, until the duration of the course.

Siddaramaiah also asked the officers to prepare an action plan of Rs 1,000 crore to develop colonies of minorities under the CMas Special Development Schemes.

The officers informed him in the meeting that among the 19 schemes declared for minorities, government orders have been released for 16.

Siddaramaiah also asked the officers to prepare a list of seniority of beneficiaries as an overwhelming number of applications had been received for various schemes.

Minister for Housing and Minority Welfare Zameer Khan, Minister for Municipal Administration and Haj Raheem Khan were present in the meeting.
Shimla, Oct 10 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Tuesday said the government would withdraw, on humanitarian grounds, cases registered against the people who violated Covid-19 norms during the pandemic.

Instructions had been issued to the officials concerned in this regard, he said.

Sukhu said the pandemic was difficult for everyone and to prevent and contain it various measures had been taken and restrictions were imposed on the common man.

During this period, hundreds of cases were registered for violation of norms. The government, adopting a humanitarian approach, will now withdraw such cases.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 10 : In an effort to make the fifth edition of Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF 2023), a success, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan has invited ambassadors of 75 countries for their participation in the prestigious event.

The focal theme of the GAF 2023, is "Emerging Challenges in Healthcare & A Resurgent Ayurveda."

The event scheduled to take place in the city from December 1 to 5 with 23 international partners, will witness convergence of many top scientists and 7,500 delegates from 75 countries.

Around 1,000 papers will be presented by experts. Muraleedharan, who is the Chairman of the Organising Committee of GAF, said the participation of the ambassadors, or their representatives, will immensely contribute to the efforts to firmly position Ayurveda on the global arena, as an affordable, sustainable and inclusive solution for the grim health challenges of modern era.

"This edition of GAF is going to be the largest ever meet on Ayurveda. It will set a strong platform for global networking of Ayurveda practitioners and stakeholders from around the world. This conclave is happening when there is a growing awareness of the huge role of Ayurveda in building a healthy world through its holistic philosophy of health and wellbeing for all," said Muraleedharan.
San Francisco, Oct 10 : A 44-year-old Sikh man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a sword attack, which left a man with 23 stitches to his face, during an annual Sikh Parade in California's Yuba City in 2018.

Parmvir Singh Gosal, a resident of Tracy city, admitted last week to attempted murder and mayhem for inflicting injuries at the November 4, 2018 parade known as Nagar Kirtan, according to the Sutter County District Attorneyas Office.

The victim got 23 stitches to his face and had an orbital fracture below his left eye after Gosal and three other suspects attacked him with swords and brass knuckles, The Sacramento Bee newspaper reported.

In addition, Gosal also pled guilty to second-degree robbery, assault producing bodily injury and dissuading a key witness to the sword incident.

Gosal and a group of others had beaten the witness in California's Lathrop city on June 8, 2019, leaving him unconscious. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, and faces up to 17 years and eight months in prison, the Attorney's Office said.

Manpreet Singh, a second man arrested in connection with the Yuba City incident, pleaded no contest to attempted murder in August and was sentenced to eight years in prison, The Bee reported.

The annual Sikh Parade festival was introduced in the Yuba City in the 1980s by well-known Punjabi-American peach farmer Didar Singh Bains, also known as "Peach King". The event is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts nearly 100,000 South Asians each year from across the US, Canada, England, and India.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday in Bengaluru court filed a charge-sheet against two accused, for raising funds for the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a proscribed terrorist organisation.

The NIA had alleged that the accused identified as Mohd Arif (42) years, a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh and Hamraz Worshid Shaikh (27), a resident of Thane, Maharashtra, attempted to radicalise and recruit gullible Muslim youth in India to join the banned terror outfit.

The officials said that Arif was working as a French translator in Bengaluru. Both the accused have been charged under various sections of the UA(P) Act and the IPC.

The NIA investigations had revealed that the accused communicated over encrypted social media applications and in furtherance of conspiracy with the Syria based online handler of TTP.

"Both the accused persons identified gullible Muslim youth in India and attempted to radicalise and recruit them by propagating TTP ideology. These youth were also motivated to do hijrah and to join the TTP for carrying out violent Jihad," said a senior NIA official.

"Arif also made preparations to illegally cross over to Afghanistan through the Iran-Afghanistan border to join the TTP, along with his family. Arif had applied for Iranian VISA for his entire family and had also booked four flight tickets to Iran and four dummy return flight tickets to India for his family, including his wife and two minor children," said the official.

"Arif had also booked rooms in the Boshra hotel of Mashhad city of Iran, as per instructions of the online handler," said the official.

NIA investigations also revealed that the accused Hamraz had sent money to Pakistan for furthering the activities of TTP.

"The accused persons intended to establish Islamic rule in India by overcoming the democratically elected government through violent Jihad. Further investigations against the accused persons and suspects are in progress," the official added.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : In terms of the search engine market, Google has once again maintained its dominance, as the tech giant held 91.7 per cent of the market by August of this year, far ahead of competitors like Microsoft's Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo, a report said on Tuesday.

Microsoft, which first introduced artificial intelligence (AI) to its Bing search engine in an effort to compete with Google in the search engine market, held only three per cent of the market share, according to Techopedia.com.

Earlier this month, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella admitted that the Bing search engine is not as good as Google, and becoming Appleas default search engine could actually help Bing grow in the global search market.

Other search engines, like Yandex (1.5 per cent), Yahoo (1.2 per cent), Baidu (1.1 per cent), and DuckDuckGo (0.5 per cent), had smaller market shares.

By August, Google commanded a staggering 95.2 per cent of the global mobile search engine market, highlighting the tech giant's commitment to optimising the mobile search experience, according to the report.

Following Google, both Yandex and Baidu held 1.3 per cent of the market. Yahoo accounted for 0.6 per cent, while Bing and DuckDuckGo each captured 0.5 per cent.

Moreover, the report said that the US was the top source of the traffic to Google.com, with 26.7 per cent, while India (4.6 per cent), Brazil (4.4 per cent), the UK (3.9 per cent), and Japan (3.9 per cent) were other major contributors.

In July, Google.com had 85.3 billion visits, with visitors spending about 10 minutes on average. They viewed around 8.6 pages each time, with the bounce rate standing at 28.7 per cent.

The satisfaction score climbed 7 per cent, from 75 in 2022 to 80 in 2023. This rise highlights Googleas dedication to improving its search algorithms and user experience, the report mentioned.
Delhi HC grants Rs 5L to man who lost pregnant wife to a road accident. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 10 : The Delhi High Court has expressed concern over the expansion of offshore study centres operating without necessary approvals, as it could lead to substandard education and devaluation of academic credentials.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav noted that unchecked proliferation of such centres would negatively impact students who invest time and resources in legitimate education.

The court dismissed a plea by a student who sought admission in a course at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) after obtaining a degree from an offshore campus of Sikkim Manipal University.

IGNOU rejected the student's application, stating that degrees from the offshore centre were not acceptable for academic purposes.

Pursuing education through unapproved means would not yield an indefeasible right to admission in another course, the court said.

It urged caution to prevent the growth of substandard education and protect students' academic aspirations.
Adilabad : , Oct 10 (IANS) A day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for assembly elections, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched the party's election campaign saying Telangana needs a double-engine government of the BJP.

Alleging that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was working only to promote his family, he called on the people to bring the BJP to power as it alone can work for the welfare of people of Telangana.

Addressing a public meeting in Adilabad, he alleged that in the last 10 years KCR was only bothered about how to make his son KTR the chief minister.

"His only aim is to make KTR the chief minister. The BJP's aim is to provide jobs, education and irrigation facility in every field," he said.

He alleged that KCR runs a hollow campaign that Telangana is number one in the country.

"Telangana is number one in unemployment, in not providing drinking water, farmer suicides, crimes against women and children and also in major scams and corruption," he said. Exuding confidence that the BJP will form the government in Telangana on December 3, he said only the BJP can ensure prosperous Telangana and free it from corruption.

The BJP leader slammed KCR for not fulfilling his promises made to tribals, Dalits and farmers.

He alleged that even Dalit Bandhu, under which Rs 10 lakh was promised for every Dalit family, benefited only a few selected people and ruling party cadres.

Amit Shah also reiterated that the steering of KCR's government is in the hands of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

"Car is the symbol of KCR's party but the steering of this car is in the hands of Owaisi," he said.

Claiming that the Modi government protected the country and put an end to cross-border attacks by launching air strikes and surgical strikes on Pakistan, he said "Congress and KCR can't protect the country".

"They can't save Telangana from today's razakars. Only the BJP can protect Telangana," he said.

Amit Shah promised that if BJP comes to power, 'Telangana Liberation Day' will be celebrated in every district.

He said while KCR works only for his own family, the Modi government works for the poor.

Speaking in a tribal dominated district, he said Modi also made history in Independent India by making Droupadi Murmu, daughter of a tribal family from Odisha, the President of the country.

The Union Home Minister said in 2013-14 when UPA was in power at the Centre, the tribal welfare budget was Rs 24,000 crore but under the Narendra Modi government, this budget increased to Rs 1.24 lakh crore in 2023-24.

Amit Shah also mentioned the repeal of Article 370 to end the special status of Kashmir and construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya.

He alleged that Congress, other constituents of INDIA bloc and KCR were protecting Article 370.

Asserting that the Congress was stalling construction of Ram temple, he said the temple will be ready in January 2024.

Alleging that the Congress only paid lip service to eliminate poverty, he said scams worth Rs 12 lakh crore occurred during its rule.

He claimed that there are no allegations of corruption against the Modi government. Union minister and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy, BJP general secretary Bandi Sanjay, party's central leader and in-charge for Telangana Tarun Chugh, BJP MP from Adilabad Soyam Bapu Rao and others were present.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : In a big action against Chinese mobile phone maker vivo India Pvt Ltd, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested four people, with three executives of the phone maker including a Chinese national and the MD of Lava International in connection with its probe into an alleged money laundering case.

A top ED source told IANS that the agency has arrested four accused who have been identified as Guangwen Kyang aka Andrew Kuang, the Chinese National; Hari Om Rai, the MD of Lava International; Rajan Malik, and Nitin Garg, the Chartered Accountant (CA). They were arrested under the sections of the Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The source said that the arrest were made after the financial probe agency carried out searches at the premises of the four accused on Monday and recovered cash to the tune of Rs 10 lakh.

The source further said that all the four accused will be produced before a court in Delhi and the agency will demand for their remand.

The fresh arrest comes in the wake of the tensions between India and China amid the border row in Ladakh.

The ED action comes almost more than a year after it carried out searches at 48 locations across the country belonging to vivo Mobiles India Private Limited and its 23 associated companies such as Grand Prospect International Communication Pvt Ltd (GPICPL) and claimed that it has busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

According to the ED, Vivo Mobiles India Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August 1, 2014 as a subsidiary of Multi Accord Ltd, a Hong Kong based company and was registered at ROC Delhi.

GPICPL was registered on December 3, 2014 at ROC Shimla, with registered addresses of Solan, Himachal Pradesh and Gandhinagar, Jammu.

"The said company was incorporated by Zhengshen Ou, Bin Lou and Zhang Jie with the help of Nitin Garg, CA. Bin Lou left India on April 26, 2018. Zhengshen Ou and Zhang Jie left India in 2021," the financial probe agency had said.

The PMLA investigation by ED was initiated by registering a money laundering case on February 3, 2022 on the basis of an FIR registered at the Kalkaji police station in the national capital by the Delhi Police under sections 417, 120B and 420 of IPC, 1860 against GPICPL and its Director, shareholders and certifying professionals, etc., on the basis of complaint filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

As per the FIR, GPICPL and its shareholders had used forged identification documents and falsified addresses at the time of incorporation. The allegations were found to be true as the investigation revealed that the addresses mentioned by the directors of GPICPL did not belong to them, but in fact it was a government building and house of a senior bureaucrat.

The ED's probe had revealed that the same director of GPICPL, namely Bin Lou, was also an ex-director of Vivo. He had incorporated multiple companies across the country spread across various states, a total of 18 companies around the same time, just after the incorporation of Vivo in the year 2014-15 and further another Chinese National Zhixin Wei had incorporated further 4 companies.

The ED had alleged that these companies are found to have transferred huge amount of funds to Vivo India. "Further, out of the total sale proceeds of Rs 1,25,185 crores, Vivo India remitted Rs 62,476 crores. i.e, almost 50 per cent of the turnover out of India, mainly to China," the ED had claimed.

"These remittances were made in order to disclose huge losses in Indian incorporated companies to avoid payment of taxes in India," it had said.

"Following the searches at multiple locations across the country, the agency had seized 119 bank accounts of various entities with gross balance to the tune of Rs 465 crores including FDs to the tune of 66 crores of Vivo India, 2kg gold bars, and cash amount to the tune of approximately Rs. 73 lakhs," the ED had said.
Chennai, Oct 10 : DMK leader and Member of Parliament, Dayanidhi Maran has lodged a complaint with the police that Rs 99,999 was stolen from his bank account by cyber criminals.

The former Union Minister for Information Technology lodged a complaint with the Greater Chennai City Police.

Dayanidhi Maran, in a post on X said, "On Sunday Rs 99,999 was stolen from my @Axis Bank personal savings account through a net banking transfer via@IDFCFIRSTBANK-@BillDesk, by-passing all normal safety protocols. An OTP, the standard protocol for such transactions, was neither generated nor received by my linked mobile number. Instead a call was made to the account's joint holder, my wife's number, and the fraudsters had the gall to ask if the transaction had taken place. They pretended to be from the bank but had @cbic_india on their display picture. This confirmed my suspicion and I immediately proceeded to block all activities on my account."

Maran posted, "What puzzles me is how they accessed personal information and breached security protocols with such ease. This isn't a phishing attack nor were any sensitive details divulged. @AxisBank was clueless as to how the attack happened nor could they give any solid explanation for why the OTP was not required from my number for the transaction to take place."

Maran added, "If this can happen to someone who is aware of technology and is cautious with private data, what about first- time digital users and senior citizens? Is anyone's data safe? In the past I have written to Hon'ble FM Tmt@nsitharaman and @FinMinIndia seeking help for cybercrime victims in my capacity as an MP. Today as victim, I demand accountability & Justice."

The DMK leader further said that for India as a country to emerge as a Financial Tech hub, robust security and government action was important.

He also asked as to what action was the government taking to protect the private data of citizens.

The former Union Minister also demanded that the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, release a white paper on the matter and demanded immediate action on the issue.
Pune, Oct 10 : Friends Union For Energising Lives (FUEL), a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering marginalised youth, celebrated its 17th Foundation Day in Pune, reaffirming its commitment to uplift underprivileged communities.

The event featured engaging activities and included the awarding of scholarships to 90 unprivileged female students, showcasing FUEL's dedication to improving lives through skill development and vocational training.

Eminent personalities, policymakers, industry leaders, and government delegates were present at the momentous occasion.

The main highlight of the celebration was the Future Skills Summit. The summit was graced by renowned industry leaders and policy makers. The summit delved into future skills, talent acquisition, and innovation in CSR in education and skill development. Notable guests included Rahul Narwekar - Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Harshita Narwekar - Social Worker and Corporator BMC, Col. Rajesh Ohol - Vice-President Hitachi Air Conditioning India, Parag Deshmukh - Director International Business Serum Institute of India, Paneesh Rao -Chief Sustainability Officer LTI Mindtree, Tina Rastogi - Global Head Human Resources, Cybage Software, Deepika Thakur - Product Manager HR Applications, UBS, Rohit Sharma - Head HR Services, Bayer, Ashwini Saxena - CEO, JSW Foundation, Shailesh Jain - Head CSR & Global Responsible Business Program, India GDC, Fujitsu, Ketan Deshpande - Founder and Chairman of FUEL and FUEL Business School (FBS), Santhosh Huralikoppi Chief Mentor FUEL, Mayuri Deshpande  Chief Operating Officer FUEL and Dr. Pratima Sheorey Dean FUEL Business School.

The foundation day featured various programs, including a touching ceremony where 90 deserving female students from underprivileged backgrounds were awarded scholarships. These scholarships were part of MoU between FUEL, LTI Mindtree, and the Oracle Scholarship Program, specifically for female PGDM students at FUEL Business School (FBS).

The goal is to empower these students for higher education and promising careers. The event also included the unveiling of 'FUEL Hope Stories', a book showcasing the perseverance of FUEL students, and the launch of the Saksham Digital Skill Program. This program equips student leaders with essential skills like computer literacy, coding, data analysis, online communication, cybersecurity, and proficiency with digital tools and software applications.

The guest of honor Rahul Narvekar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly said, "On FUEL's 17th Foundation Day, I congratulate Ketan Deshpande and the entire team for their outstanding work in empowering underprivileged youth through skill development, training, and scholarships. Their commitment to social progress, evidenced by collaborations with major MNCs and NITI Ayog, is commendable.

Providing over 1 million career counseling sessions has been pivotal in guiding countless individuals toward meaningful careers. I extend my best wishes for continued success as FUEL enters a new phase with its university campus.

The host Ketan Deshpande, Founder and Chairman of FUEL and FUEL Business School Said: "On our 17th Foundation Day, I am proud to acknowledge progress in supporting underprivileged students. While witnessing positive outcomes is gratifying, I recognise more must be done. The ongoing success of our mission to empower every student relies on unwavering support from stakeholders. Together, we must continue striving for our goal, ensuring no student is left behind in their pursuit of knowledge and empowerment. We have envisioned a future with equal access to career opportunities for every student, achieved through proactive initiatives like endowment scholarships, volunteer-guided internships, blended learning, and collaboration with social organizations for on-the-ground implementation."

FUEL has a big influence on over 45,976 girl students since 2007 by emphasising education, employability, and empowerment. The organisation has played a crucial role in enhancing skills and employability among underprivileged populations across states.

With a track record of providing education, granting 10,000+ scholarships, and equipping over 98,667 individuals with skills, FUEL has facilitated placements for 62,753+ youths in diverse careers, supported 350 entrepreneurs, and conducted 1 million career counseling sessions.

FUEL's Career EduConnect initiative targets students from Class 7 to Class 12, offering insights into education and career paths to address unemployment. The organisation provides courses in Digital Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and 3D Printing, empowering marginalized communities for improved employability.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : In an initiative mentored by Nilesh Shah, Group President and Managing Director of Kotak Mutual Fund; Navneet Munot, MD & CEO of HDFC Mutual Fund; and Shailesh Lodha, Indian poet, actor, and writer; Deepak Mundra conceived this visionary social project.

Thirty-three distinguished professionals have united as thought partners to support DMi's "SaveTreesbyDMi" Initiative, which introduces the "Save Tree VC" mobile app, promoting Digital Contact Sharing and Personal Social Responsibility (PSR) for the environment.

Demonstrating a remarkable commitment to Personal Social Responsibility (PSR), a collective of distinguished professionals known as Team #SaveTrees Initiative is poised to revolutionise contact sharing with the introduction of their "Save Tree VC" mobile application.

Inspired by the principles of PSR, mirroring the corporate world's CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), this initiative seeks to save trees and reduce paper waste by replacing conventional paper business cards with digital card sharing and storage.

The "Save Tree VC" mobile app, proudly labeled 'Made in Bharat' is offered to users for free on both iOS and Android platforms for a lifetime. The official launch, presided over by Nilesh Shah, Navneet Munot, and Shailesh Lodha, took place on October 8 at the prestigious Nehru Centre in Mumbai.

The core objective of the application centers around its environmental impact. According to the team hypothesis, using the 'Save Tree VC'app for one year by 50 people can save one tree, as 20,000 paper business cards are equivalent to one tree.

Beyond its ecological benefits, the "Save Tree VC" app streamlines contact management, saving users time and costs associated with paper business cards. A startling statistic underscores the gravity of the issue: roughly 10 billion business cards are printed annually, with an astonishing 88 per cent discarded within a week. This contributes to excessive paper waste, compounded by methane emissions from decomposing cards in landfills -- a potent greenhouse gas linked to global warming.

Commenting on the development, Nilesh Shah said: "Darkness can be dispelled by sunlight. But, instead of waiting for sunrise during the night, one can light a candle to dispel darkness, however small.

"We are taking a small step to save trees by launching the app, which can replace paper business cards. I hope more and more people will join in to make this a success. The 'Save Tree VC' app will modernize contact sharing by generating QR codes for contact details and digitally saving scanned paper cards from others."

While Navneet Munot said: "As custodians of our future, we must each play our part in making a difference towards a better world. The SaveTrees app is a promising step towards this future. The app is not only a technological advancement but also a societal imperative to conserve our planet for generations to come."

Deepak Mundra, the mastermind behind this initiative, expressed his vision, stating: "Our primary objective is to save trees, and concurrently, our secondary objective is to enhance people's efficiency in terms of contact management.

"We are striving to collect insignificant efforts collectively from the masses, and this will have a significant impact on the environment we live in. That is the sole reason our endeavour is to transform this initiative into a Mini Jan Aandolan."

The app offers several features, including the ability to make calls directly and a search function in the saved card holder feature, while also integrating with WhatsApp. This Made in Bharat "Save Trees VC" mobile app is made available to the masses for free, and it will remain free for a lifetime.

The Team SaveTrees Initiative extends heartfelt gratitude to all the individual Lead Volunteers who have joined hands for this noble cause, emphasizing that every small effort contributes to a more sustainable future.
Kochi, Oct 10 : The Kerala Police while investigating a gold smuggling case at the Kozhikode international airport is understood to have stumbled upon evidences pointing to the support that the gang involved reportedly got from the authorities.

According to sources, the police have got vital cues linking the role of officials from the Customs and the CISF working at the Kozhikode airport in aiding gold smuggling.

The smuggling racket led by a Kozhikode resident named Rafeekeven had access to the duty roster of the security and Customs officials, according to the evidences gathered by a team led by Malappuram SP S. Sujith Das.

The crucial information was gathered by the police while probing the rampant gold smuggling prevalent at the Kozhikode airport and after taking a few people into custody.

The probe team has also found that the gang was using a closed user group SIM.

The Kerala Police in the past had rounded up officials engaged in aiding smugglers.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : Actress Taraji P. Henson, who is best known for her work in the film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and the drama-series 'Empire', was most recently seen in the Canadian animated-superhero film 'Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie'.

In the movie, she essayed the role of the villainous scientist Vicky. Talking about her character, she said that Vicky is a deluded personality who doesn't see herself as the villain despite being one.

Detailing her role, Henson said: "I love how she plays against the 'mad scientist' thing. That term really rubs Vicky the wrong way. If you want to tick her off, call Vicky a mad scientist because she honestly doesn't see herself that way. Vicky really thinks she's doing good in the world. But of course, she's not."

The original film 'Paw Patrol: The Movie', which is based on the series of the same name, follows a bunch of dogs called the 'Paw Patrol' in the city of Adventure Bay.

These dogs have multiple expertise such as firefighting, hacking, pilots, engineers, soldiers and more. The Paw Patrol protects the residents of their city from various threats ranging from social collapse, evil politicians and more.

Following the events of the first film, 'Mighty Movie' where the Paw Patrol gained superpowers from a meteor crashing, becoming the Mighty Pups sees a mad new scientist Vicky team up with the Paw Patrol's archenemy, Mayor Humdinger.

With these two villains combining their powers, the entire situation takes a dark turn as the mad scientist Vicky, given her obsession with the meteor plans to steal the Paw Patrol's powers.

Vicky Vance, who is voiced by Taraji P. Henson, while not evil, is basically an obsessed scientist conducting dangerous and unethical experiments from an abandoned observatory on the outskirts of Adventure City. Her latest invention, the Meteor Magnet, aims to bring meteors down to Earth from their orbit.

During a meteor shower, Vance attempts to use her invention though inadvertently causes a meteor to crash into Adventure City, resulting in widespread destruction.

Upon finding that this very meteor's crystals granted the Pups their powers, Vicky is furious as she believes that those powers rightfully belong to her.

Henson embraced playing the role of Vance, showcasing both her villainous side and some of her more complex qualities. She went on to put emphasis on Vicky's intelligence as well as her madness.

Talking about Henson, director Cal Brunker said that the actress brought about unexpected dimensions and energy to the character.

Elaborating on his point, he said: "Taraji was game for any and every idea we threw at her, and often came up with her own ideas. Taraji's Vicky walks the line between being a great villain and a character who's fun to watch."

Beyond Taraji P. Henson's involvement, the comedy-adventure film also features the voice of actress Marsai Martin, who reprises her role as Liberty, a long-haired miniature Dachshund and devoted PAW Patrol fan from the previous film.

Actor Lil Rel Howery takes on the character of Sam Stringer, a charming and modern news anchor who becomes Adventure City's new voice.

In addition, comedian-actor Chris Rock briefly lent his voice to one of Humdinger's beloved felines, who due to the magical meteor crystals became capable of speech.

Produced by Paramount Pictures and released by Viacom 18 studios, 'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie' hit American theatres on September 29 and will release across India on October 13, 2023 in English and Hindi.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Some apps linked to pornographic sites have been spotted on Apple's App Store in China by the local media.

Among these apps, 'Xuexi Xinde Zimu' (Learning Sindhi Alphabets in English) was the most downloaded free iOS app in China during the recent National Day holiday, South China Morning Post reported.

Three such apps, including Xuexi Xinde Zimu, were discovered by a local media outlet on Apple's App Store in China.

The report noted that these apps -- which lead users to either online gambling or pornographic websites -- have now been taken down.

The malicious apps were discovered despite Apple's strict policies against such content.

However, this wasn't the first time a malicious programme has been discovered in Apple's China App Store. There was a Small Fat Answer app found there in July that directed users to pornographic websites, according to the report.

Apple's China App Store has been under scrutiny since local regulations required app distribution platforms to register apps and developers with the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

The tech giant recently updated its app developer website to reflect the latest registration policies. In its guidelines, Apple specified that developers must submit an "internet content provider filing" when they publish new apps on its China App Store.

Additionally, before the general public could download specific apps, the company required them to receive the right licensing from Chinese authorities.
Aizawl, Oct 10 : Mizoram Chief Minister and ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga claimed that opposition parties do not have reasonable issues to blame the MNF led government, which is in power since 2018.

Zoramthanga, while addressing the party workers at the MNF party office 'Mizo Hnam Run' in Aizawl, said the opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) do not have issues to blame the ruling party (MNF) and that is why, it was asking people to experiment with a new political system it has preached.

"... not only from 2018, the MNF governed the state for many years earlier and people already experienced the party's good governance. There is no scope for any kind of experiment," the MNF supremo said.

The ZPM, which won eight seats in the 2018 assembly polls emerged as the main opposition party replacing Congress, would play a vital role in the November 7 elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly.

Zoramthanga further said that the party (MNF) since 1966 has truly fought for the Independence and all round welfare of Mizos despite allegations from some quarters that the MNF did not really fight for Independence.

"Many martyrs' cemeteries all across the state are a manifestation of the MNF fighting for Independence of Mizos and no other party has such sacrifice for the cause of the Mizos," he observed.

The MNF, led by Zoramthanga since last month has started an election campaign and the party already announced candidates for all 40 seats with the 79-years-old political leader (Zoramthanga) seeking re-election from his existing constituency Aizawl East-I for the record seventh time.

The MNF also fielded all the incumbent legislators except Home Minister Lalchamliana, who opted not to contest and give room to youngsters this time.

The party also brought in 15 new faces. The electoral dark horse in Mizoram ZPM has announced names of 39 candidates and is yet to field candidates in the Chakma-dominated Tuichawng seat.

BJP and Congress also announced to contest in all the seats on their own and they would soon announce the names of the candidates.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Congress on Tuesday termed the situation in Sikkim as unprecedented and also slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving only Rs 44 crore as aid to the state.

Congress said that if Modi can find time to campaign in a Delhi Municipal Corporation election, it would have been ideal if he would have visited the state.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said: "What we are facing in Sikkim, is unprecedented, the damage is unprecedented, the loss in connectivity is unprecedented. Thousands of people have been displaced, many have died, and many are living in relief camps."

He said that in Chungthang, the people are in severe distress, connectivity towards the border areas of India has been lost.

"This opens up an issue of strategic security. It puts our border security at risk. At such a time, when there are foreign elements across our border, we cannot afford any of our border areas to be vulnerable, to be inaccessible, to the Indian Armed Forces," Gogoi, who is Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha said.

He asked the government to step up the aid to Sikkim.

"Rs 44 crore is too small for the scale of devastation in Sikkim. We urge the central government to send a senior Cabinet minister to review the situation. In such a situation, it would have been apt for the Home Minister to visit the state."

"It would have been ideal for a Prime Minister, who find time to campaign in a Delhi Municipal Corporation election, it would have been ideal, and it would have been normal to expect from such a Prime Minister, who campaigns in a Municipal Election to visit and survey the state of affairs in Sikkim," he said taking a swipe at the Prime Minister.

"Unfortunately, the Prime Minister is nowhere to be found. The Home Minister (Amit Shah) is nowhere to be found. Another state in the North-East is facing severe devastation and people are in severe distress, and another state in the North-State is seeing that the Prime Minister is absent," he said.

He said that our only hope is that like in 2011-2012 when the earthquake hit Sikkim, the entire nation rallied together, the Central government, state government, and ordinary people, we all rallied together to help the people of Sikkim in need.

"Today is the time when we should do it again because it is unprecedented," the Congress leader said.

Highlighting the plight of the people in the state, Gogoi said that due to the devastation at least 25,000 people have been affected and over 7,600 people have gone homeless.

"About 80 people have died and over 3,000 tourists are still stranded in Sikkim. In the 28 relief camps in the state, about 6,800 people are residing. The National Highway no 10 has been damaged, out of 23 soldiers who went missing, only eight bodies have been retrieved."

But despite that the Modi government is yet to be found active on the ground," he said.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : A Mumbai sessions court on Tuesday sentenced famed artist Chintan Upadhyay to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of criminal conspiracy and abetment to the sensational double-murder of his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay, an equally renowned artist, and her lawyer in December 2015.

Along with Upadhyay (50), three of his associates -- a tempo driver named Vijay Rajbhar and helpers Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar -- were also awarded life terms in jail.

The Rajbhar trio, working for an art fabricator named Vidyadhar Rajbhar, were found guilty and convicted for committing the actual crime of the murder and destruction of evidence in the double-murder of artist Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Haresh Bhambhani.

The prosecution, led by special public prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade, had sought death penalty for Upadhyay and the Rajbhar trio for the double-murder as it was abarbarica and falling in the 'rarest of rare' category.

Upadhyayas lawyer, Raja Thakare, strongly argued against death penalty and pointed out that not a single circumstance pertaining to the offender was placed before the court, adding that Bhambhanias death could not be attributed to his client (Upadhyay) who was found guilty of abetment to the crime and not for having participated in the double-murder.

On December 11, 2015, Hema and Bhambhani were smothered to death at her studio in Kandivali West by the convicted Rajbhars. Their bodies were packed in brownish boxes and then dumped into a ditch in the vicinity.

The bodies hidden in the floating boxes in the gutter waters were discovered after four days on December 15, sending shockwaves in the cityas artworld.

After a bout of prompt police investigations given the celeb status of the victim and the furore it created, Upadhyay was arrested 10 days after the double-murder.

He remained in jail till he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2021.

The four were found guilty last Friday by the sessions court and Upadhyay has now been taken into custody again following the life sentence.

A painter and sculptor hailing from Rajasthan, Upadhyay had a love-marriage with Gujarat-based artist and sculptor Hema Hirani (43) in 1998, but after some 16 years of marriage, they divorced in 2014.

After their divorce, Upadhyay settled in Delhi while Hema continued staying in Mumbai till her murder a year later.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan during their joint press statement. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel.

Modi also conveyed that the people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour.

The Prime Minister also reiterated that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Modi said this during a telephone call which he received on Tuesday from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel during the call. Netanyahu assured him of full cooperation and support and the two leaders agreed to remain in close touch.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Israel and Palestine after violence broke out following rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel over the weekend.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : A Delhi court on Tuesday sent NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty -- arrested in a case lodged under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act -- to a 10-day judicial custody.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested both Purkayashtha and Chakravarty on October 3.

The next day, on October 4, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House Courts had sent them to seven days in police custody.

Both Purkayastha and Chakravarty then moved the High Court challenging not just their arrest but seeking quashing of the FIR in the matter.

They were produced before ASJ on Tuesday on expiry of their police custody. A copy of the detailed order is awaited.

The high court on Monday reserved its order on their pleas challenging their arrest.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Prabir Purkayastha, had argued that "all facts are false and not a penny came from China".

On October 3, in a statement regarding the search, seizure and detentions carried out in connection with the UAPA case registered by the Special Cell, the Delhi Police had said that a total of 37 male suspects were questioned at office premises, while nine female suspects were questioned at their respective places of stay.

The police said that digital devices, documents, etc., were seized or collected for examination.

The Special Cell had registered an FIR in connection with the case on August 17 under different sections of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code against NewsClick.

In August, a New York Times investigation had accused NewsClick of being an organisation funded by a network linked with US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, to allegedly promote Chinese propaganda.
Kolkata, Oct 10 : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the Union government to file an affidavit on non-payment of central dues to West Bengal government for the 100-day job scheme under MGNREGA.

The next hearing in the matter is scheduled on October 16, when the Centre has to submit the affidavit in the matter.

Two parallel PILs, one filed by the leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and the other by an association of agriculture labourers in the state, came up for hearing before the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnananm and Justice Hirnamya Bhattacharya.

During the hearing, advocate general S.N. Mukhopadhyay, appeared for the state government, admitted that there had been lapses on the part of the state administration in the matter.

"The state government does not want to enter into a competition. We want the genuine beneficiaries under the 100-day job scheme to get their legitimate dues. I will not say that there was no mistake on the part of the state government.

"Mistakes do happen, not only in West Bengal but in other states too. The state government had sent an action taken report to the Centre.But the Union government has not conveyed its decision on that report," the advocate general said.

In his argument, additional solicitor general A.K. Chakraborty, representing the Centre, claimed that there had been massive irregularities in the implementation of the 100-day job scheme in West Bengal.

A total of Rs 44,000 crore had been allotted to the state under this scheme, but no audit report was furnished," Chakraborty argued.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked a panel of doctors in AIIMS to put on hold the medical procedure of termination of 26-week pregnancy of a married woman.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud took note of the submissions by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that the foetus, in the 26th week of gestation, is likely to be viable.

Bhati, who represented Centre, said that preventing a child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth is a punishable offence under Section 315 of IPC and doctors undertaking medical procedure to terminate pregnancy at such an advanced stage are facing an ethical dilemma.

"Doctors are right now holding their hands. The directions must be given today. If your lordships may consider having the matter tomorrow," she pleaded.

At this, CJI Chandrachud asked the Centre to place a formal application seeking recall of the earlier order passed by the apex court, adding that he will assign the matter to the same special bench for hearing on Wednesday.

On Monday, a special bench of Justices Hima Kohli and B.V. Nagarathna ordered the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in AIIMS New Delhi to undertake medical termination of the petitioner's pregnancy at the earliest after taking into consideration the opinion rendered by a medical board relating to her medical condition.

The petitioner women, having post pregnancy depression and lactational amenorrhea a" realised about her pregnancy belatedly, petitioned the Supreme Court on October 4 seeking medical termination of her over 24 weeks pregnancy.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Apart from South Indian cinema, Bengali cinema too seems to be going pan-Indian as Bengali cinema superstar Dev's much anticipated film, the biopic 'Bagha Jatin' based on the revolutionary freedom fighter has released its Hindi trailer.

Featuring some state-of-the-art quality production, the trailer is visually stunning and has some very emotional and well written dialogues. In more ways than one, 'Bagha Jatin' seems to have a very identical similarity with the Telugu blockbuster film 'RRR' which is also combined with some flavour of the Sunny Deol-starrer-blockbuster film 'Gadar 2'.

The trailer kicks off with Bagha Jatin' son telling him that he too wants to kill a tiger just like his father did. However, smiling at him, the fighter says that it was a mistake to do so and he had little choice as it is wrong to kill an animal.

The trailer then shows several scenes ranging from personal family drama to gathering partners, division of Bengal, and training with weapons, other shots include bloody scenes of British brutality, and the undying patriotism as well as the dark end that the legendary freedom fighter knew awaited him.

With some very high production quality, the film has some brilliant practical effects as well as VFX which features polished gun fights, violence, and much like 'RRR', a brilliantly designed CGI tiger.

The sets are also done extremely well showcasing a dedication to making the whole environment look exactly like the early 1900's British India.

Dev and his co-stars have all done some great acting and delivered some very hard-hitting dialogues, such as upon addressing his wife's question as to why only Bagha Jatin must sacrifice himself, he says, "The path that I have chosen can only lead to death. But you all have your whole lives to live."

Other some very poignant dialogues include, "There is no point to a life which can't be used for the nation" which is said by the freedom fighter Kshudiram Bose, and the ending line where while fighting the British, Bagha Jatin states, "When we die, then our motherland will awaken."

Directed by Arun Roy, 'Bagha Jatin' focuses on the life of the titular protagonist who was born Jatindranath Mukherjee. As he had killed a tiger upon being chased by one, the man earned his legendary nickname 'Bagha' which in Bangla means tiger.

Other aspects that the movie aims to cover are his spiritualism which was influenced by the ideologies of Swami Vivekananda, as well as his own ideologies of armed revolution.

The real life Bagha Jatin was born in 1876 in the Nadia district of what was back then United Bengal and in present day is part of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Jatindranath Mukherjee had received support from the German Crown Prince during World War I, who gave him a whole consignment of weapons and ammunition.

Motivated by a revolutionary mindset and striving to create an Independent India, and during the War, Bagha Jatin was targeting British lines to cut off their access points and ambushing them.

Though preparing to create a full armed revolution through his dacoit activities, Bagha Jatin and his team's conspiracy was leaked out to British intelligence who blocked the exit points from Noakhali and Chittagong to block their escape to Odisha or Assam.

In the forests of Mayurbhanj in Odisha, a 75-minute gun battle ensued on October 9, 1915 which killed several British Indian police officers as well as one of Bagha's associates. Himself mortally wounded, Bhaga Jatin died of his wounds on October 10, 1915.

'Bagha Jatin' brings to the big screen yet another one of the several hundred untold stories of various freedom fighters from different regions of India, who today find little mention in history books.

The movie stars Dev, Sreeja Dutta, Sudipta Chakraborty, Samiul Alam, Sajal Mondal, Kallol D, Rohaan Bhattacharjee, Carl A. Harte, and Alexandra Taylor. The movie will release in both Bangla and Hindi, with the former hitting theatres on October 19, and the latter coming out on October 20, 2023.
Adilabad : , Oct 10 (IANS) Protesting the closure of Cement Corporation of India (CCI) unit in Adilabad, some people tried to stage black flag demonstration during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the town.

A group of protesters, said to be supporters of Telangana's ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), tried to block Shah's convoy.

They were carrying black flags, black balloons and placards.

Shah was in the town to address a public meeting to kick-start the BJP's campaign for next month's assembly elections.

Demanding re-opening of the CCI units, the protesters were seen running to stop the convoy but were prevented by the police.

The state government has been requesting the Centre to revive the sick unit while the CCI has initiated the process to auction its assets.

The state government made several requests to the Centre in the past for revival of the unit, which was shut in 2008.

Telangana Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao recently appealed to Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and the Central government to review and take a positive decision to revive the unit.

He had assured the Centre that the state government will extend all support and provide needed fiscal incentives to ensure thousands of youth from Adilabad are gainfully employed.

His appeal had come amid reports that the Centre was auctioning CII machinery as scrap. The Centre also called for tenders for valuation of CCI land and buildings.
Jerusalem, Oct 10 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday that it killed Hamas' minister of economy and another senior member of its politburo in drone strikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday night, Israeli media reported.

The military said the first, Jawad Abu Shamala, managed the terror group's funds, "and earmarked funds for financing and directing terror in and outside the Gaza Strip", Times of Israel reported.

The second, Zakariya Abu Moammar, was the head of the terror group's internal relations, the IDF said, adding: "He was a senior Hamas decision-maker and coordinator between terror groups in the Gaza Strip."

The IDF said he was a confidant to Hamas' Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar, and part of the terror group's "senior forum, involved in the organisation's decision-making and the planning of numerous terror activities against the State of Israel", Times of Israel reported.

Meanwhile, Hamas has specifically threatened to attack the Israeli city of Ashkelon in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza, BBC reported.

In a post on Telegram, Hamas said the residents of the city, just to the north of the Gaza Strip, have within hours to leave.

More than 4,500 rockets have already been fired from Gaza into Israel since Saturday, the Israeli military said.

Two foreign workers have been killed and another seriously injured in a rocket attack in the Eskhol region that borders Gaza, Israel's emergency services have said, BBC reported.

An Israeli military spokesperson said its forces were installing "an iron wall" of tanks and helicopters along the Gaza border, ahead of an expected large-scale ground invasion of the besieged enclave, The Guardian reported.
Hyderabad, Oct 10 : Police in Hyderabad seized Rs 3.35 crore Hawala money during vehicle checking on Tuesday in view of the next month's Assembly elections.

The police apprehended four persons for illegal possession of the cash, which they were carrying in a Kia car.

The seizure was made when the sleuths of Commissioneras Task Force North Zone along with Banjara Hills police were conducting vehicle checking at TV-9 Signal Junction, Road No.3, Banjara Hills in the limits of Banjara Hills Police Station.

Those arrested were identified as Chimpireddy Hanumantha Reddy, Bachala Prabhakar, Mandala Sriramulu Reddy, and Mandala Uday Kumar Reddy, all residents of Hyderabad or neighboring Rangareddy district.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Joel Davis, Hanumantha Reddy disclosed that he, along with three others persons, used to collect Hawala money and deliver it at various places in twin cities.

For Hawala transactions they had opened an office in Aurora Colony, Banjara Hills a year ago.

Usually, Prabhakar received the orders from customers for Hawala amounts and on his directions, Hanumantha Reddy, Sriramulu Reddy, and Uday Kumar Reddy collect and distribute Hawala amount as per customer requirements.

For delivering 1 crore Hawala amount, he used to charge Rs.25,000. On the directions of Prabhakar, Hanumantha Reddy along with other persons collected Hawala amounts from Begumbazar, Nampally, Goshamahal, and Jubilee Hills areas in the city.

They were shifting the collected Hawala amount to their office in a Kia car. The Hawala money was seized during intensified vehicle checking launched by police in Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana following announcement of assembly election schedule by the Election Commission.

On the first of the checking on Monday, police had also seized 7 kg gold and 295 kg silver, totally worth Rs 7.50 crore in Abids area of Hyderabad. The precious metals were being transported in a car. Driver Sai Kumar and two other occupants K. Venkatesh and M. Shiva Prasad told police that they are employees of Caps Gold Pvt Ltd and were transporting the valuables from the head office in Secunderabad to sub-branch in Gunfoundry. As they failed to provide relevant documents but gave only a delivery paper, the police said they will verify it through the IT and GST department and also State Surveillance Team of Elections Cell for further enquiry.

Meanwhile, police also seized Rs 25 lakh from a vehicle during checking on the outskirts of Hyderabad under the limits of Chaitanyapuri Police Station limits. Police said two persons carrying the cash could not provide valid papers and they were detained. Hyderabad police also seized Rs 15 lakh during checking at Puranapool Gandhi Statue, Rs 30 lakh at Shaikpet, and Rs.9.3 lakh from Panchasheela X road.

Police also seized Rs.6.55 lakh during checking at Ibrahimpatnam in Rangareddy district near Hyderabad.

Police said Rs.8 lakh cash was also seized in the limits of Warangal police Commissionerate. In Suryapet district, Rs.1.90 lakh was seized at Mattapalli checkpost. Police also seized over Rs.11 lakh in two separate cases in Sangareddy district.
Ktaka cash-for-ticket scam: Notice issued for another seer to appear for questioning. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Oct 10 : The Special Wing of the Central City Crime Branch (CCB) probing the sensational cash-for-ticket scam has issued a notice to a known Hindutva seer to appear before the authorities for questioning, police said on Tuesday.

The police have arrested Chaitra Kundapura, a Hindutva activist and prominent seer Abhinava Halasri and six others in connection with the case.

Industrialist and BJP leader Govind Babu Poojari had lodged a complaint that the accused had taken Rs 5 crore on the promise of a BJP ticket and cheated him.

Now, a notice has been issued to Rajashekarananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Mutt in Gurupura of Mangaluru city in Dakshina Kannada.

The seer is a prominent Hindutva face and regularly appears on television programmes in Karnataka. He is known as Vajradehi Swamiji.

The seer had been asked to appear before the CCB officers and he is likely to go for the questioning shortly. The prime accused Chaitra Kundapura, who is in judicial custody had brought Vajradehi Swamijias name into the scandal.

However, the seer had earlier refused that he had any connection with the scandal when it surfaced.

The seer had penned a short introduction to a book written by Chaitra Kundapura. She had written a letter to the ED before her arrest making allegations against Poojari.

Sources stated that she had written the letter after he pressurised her to return his money. In the letter, she had mentioned the name of Vajradehi Swamiji.

Kundapura had stated while in custody that big fish were involved in the BJP cash-for-ticket scandal.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and his daughter Ira Khan have urged people to seek therapy whenever they are in need. They shared the message on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day on Tuesday through a video.

On Tuesday, Aamir's production house, Aamir Khan Productions, shared a video of the superstar and his daughter highlighting the importance of therapy in the modern world.

The two also revealed that they've been benefiting from therapy for many years.

In the video, the 'Ghajini' actor explained that seeking therapy is very normal, it's akin to seeking help from a doctor, teacher, and carpenter as they're an expert in their field.

His daughter then says in the video: "Similarly, if we ever need help with our mental or emotional health, we should seek help, with the same ease and lack of hesitation, from someone who's trained and is a professional."

The actor added: "My daughter Ira and me have been reaping the benefits of therapy for years. If you also feel like you're going through mental or emotional issues, you can seek a trained professional's help. There's no shame in that. All the best (sic)."
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Oct 10 : Taking serious cognisance of the deficit rainfall during monsoon 2023 which is taking a toll on the agro-economy in Marathwada, the Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to immediately declare a 'drought' in the parched region.

"The condition of many parts of Maharashtra which did not get adequate rains is a matter of concern, but Marathwada is particularly badly hit owing to low rainfall this year. There has been four-fold increase in farmlands suicides from this region. The government must immediately review the situation and declare a 'drought' here," Congress state President Nana Patole demanded.

He also called upon the state government to follow the high court orders and release the water from the upper part of the Jayakwadi Dam for relief to the farmers in the region.

Patole, along with Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan, former CM Ashok Chavan, ex-ministers and other senior leaders took a status review of the party's Marathwada Division here, comprising districts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed and Dharashiv.

The overall review included the prospects for the Congress in the Marathwada region in the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, whether the decisions of the Udaipur Congress Session were implemented or not, and to spread the party ideology among the masses, while taking up causes for the local people.
CCTV: Sri Lankas debt restructuring is at a crucial stage. What help has China provided to the process? Has there been progress in bilateral debt treatment?

Wang Wenbin: As Sri Lankas friend and neighbor, China follows closely the difficulties and challenges facing the country. We have been doing what we can to assist in its economic and social development. Since last year, Chinas relevant financial institutions have been in close touch with Sri Lanka on the debt issue involving China, engaged in active bilateral consultations and provided a financing support document to Sri Lanka in a timely manner to help it obtain loans from the IMF. Chinese financial institution has taken part in all the creditors meetings as an observer and maintained friendly communication with other creditors to share with them the progress of the debt treatment.

In late September, as official creditor, the Export-Import Bank of China tentatively agreed with Sri Lanka on the debt treatment. We are also glad to see that other creditors are having discussion with Sri Lanka as well over solutions to its debt issue.

We will continue to support Chinese financial institutions in actively consulting with Sri Lanka. We are ready to work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development. We call on multilateral institutions and commercial creditors to take part in Sri Lankas debt restructuring based on fair burden-sharing.

RIA Novosti: Does the Foreign Ministry have further information on Chinese nationals wounded or kidnapped during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Has China contacted relevant parties on that matter?

Wang Wenbin: The Foreign Ministry and our diplomatic and consular missions concerned have issued safety alerts and advised Chinese citizens not to travel to Israel or Palestine in light of what is going on. Chinese nationals and institutions already there are reminded to stay on high alert, take extra safety precautions, prepare for contingencies, be ready to find safe shelters on the spot and get into contact with our Embassy in Israel and Office to the State of Palestine to seek help in case of emergencies. If any Chinese national hopes to leave the region, we will do everything possible to assist them if its safe to do so.

Given the fast evolving security situation on the ground, we are continuing to verify the information. The Foreign Ministry has given guidance to our embassies and consulates concerned to make every effort to search for the missing and help the wounded. We urge the foreign authorities to take effective steps to protect the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions. According to what we have learned, the Chinese nationals who have been wounded are being treated in hospital and their conditions are generally stable.

China Daily: We have noticed that the latest data shows that over the past decade, the China-Europe Railway Express has run 78,000 trips and shipped 7.4 million TEUs of freight worth more than USD 340 billion. With the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation approaching, how will you evaluate the performance of the China-Europe Railway Express over the past decade and whats your expectation for its future?

Wang Wenbin: With more than a decade of experimentation and development efforts, the China-Europe Railway Express has grown into a sound network. The capacity of the ports along the network has been significantly raised. It increasingly functions as a transportation hub. With its focus on high-quality development, the China-Europe Railway Express has become a flagship project and landmark brand of Belt and Road cooperation.

The China-Europe Railway Express now connects 112 Chinese cities and runs through more than 100 other Asian cities in 11 countries and regions. It reaches more than 200 cities in 25 European countries and regions. Cities in Poland including Lodz have transformed into emerging logistics hubs with the support of the Express. More than 100 Chinese logistics and e-commerce businesses have set up shop in Duisburg, Germany. Thanks to the steel caravan, Made in China is more popular in Europe, and more European products have found their way into Chinese households. The Express brings agricultural products such as flour from Kazakhstan to the Chinese market, which has truly made lives better for the local people. The China-Europe Railway Express has reshaped trans-border transportation on the Eurasian continent, and provided a new platform for economic and trade cooperation. It is a beacon of friendly cooperation and bridge for mutual benefit.

More than 2,000 years ago, accompanied by the camel bells, exchanges between China and Eurasian countries began on the ancient Silk Road. With the resonant train horns on the China-Europe Railway Express, a new legend of the Silk Road is being written. The upcoming third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is an opportunity for China to deepen practical cooperation with all parties to better use the China-Europe Railway Express to accelerate prosperity for all, propel global economic growth and benefit people along its routes.

Reuters: Could we confirm if any Chinese nationals were killed in the Hamas attack?

Wang Wenbin: We noticed media reports about the safety of Chinese nationals there. As I just said, given the fast evolving security situation on the ground, we are continuing to verify the information.

Bloomberg: Can you tell me when the BRI forum is going to take place? What dates

Wang Wenbin: We will release information in due course.

AFP: Tsai Ing-wen said today that the island will be democratic for generations despite Chinese pressure and the Taiwanese people would remain free. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: Theres only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territorythis is the true status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The DPP authorities still cling to the separatist pursuit of Taiwan independence and seek foreign support in achieving that agenda and making provocative movesthis is the biggest threat facing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. To ensure cross-Strait peace and stability, it is essential to unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and oppose Taiwan independence and foreign interference. Whatever the DPP authorities say or do, it does not change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, still less the trend towards Chinas reunification.

Kyodo News: Has the agenda of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation been confirmed?

Wang Wenbin: I have answered this question.

Reuters: An artillery strike that hit a refugee camp near Myanmars border with China has killed at least 29 people. Can the ministry confirm that the strike happened last night? Does the ministry have any information about this attack that happened near the border?

Wang Wenbin: China is paying close attention to the reports. We call on relevant parties to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation, avoid escalation of the situation, and take concrete and effective measures to ensure security at the China-Myanmar border.

Reuters: Will Chinese leader call leaders of Israel or Palestine? When Palestinian President Abbas visited in June, China offered support in mediating a peace resolution there.

Wang Wenbin: We have expressed that China is paying close attention to the escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel and urges all relevant parties to immediately cease fire. China will maintain communication with all parties and continue to work for peace and stability in the Middle East.

Bloomberg: Today there was an attack on the Chinese consulate in San Francisco. Somebody crashed a car into the lobby of the Chinese consulate. Can you tell me if there is any reaction from the government

Wang Wenbin: On the morning of October 10 Beijing time, an unidentified individual rammed a vehicle into the visa office of our Consulate-General in San Francisco in an attempt to hurt people and consulate staff on the spot. The consulate swiftly responded to and dealt with the situation. The perpetrator was brought under control by the local police.

China has demanded a speedy investigation and effective steps from the US to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. An auction for placement of state bonds of the Ministry of Finance with ISIN code AZ0201040257 and maturity of 1092 days was held at Baku Stock Exchange on October 10, 2023, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan, the total nominal amount of applications submitted by investors for government bonds with ISIN code AZ0201040257 amounted to 170.7 million manat ($100.4 million).

The weighted average price of government bonds worth 90 million manat ($52.9 million) on tender orders was set by the Ministry of Finance at the level 96.8021 (yield 8.2245 percent).

The maturity date of the bonds is October 6, 2026.

The Baku Stock Exchange is the main stock exchange of Azerbaijan, which is engaged in the formation and development of the trading system, providing the organization of trade in securities and effective execution of concluded transactions. In 2022, 45 placements of corporate securities (excluding mortgage loans) were carried out at the Exchange.

The Baku Stock Exchange has bilateral relations with London, Warsaw, Moscow and other stock exchanges, and cooperates closely with the International Finance Corporation, together with which it held a conference dedicated to the corporate securities market.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Vistara airline's decision to deny a pilot's request for leave has ignited a storm of outrage on the Internet.

Screenshots of an email, in which the airline refused leave to the pilot who wished to support his mother during a medical check-up, surfaced on social media on Tuesday.

These screenshots triggered a wave of anger and discontent among social media users, with many condemning the airline for disregarding its employees' needs.

In the email rejecting the pilot's leave request, the airline advised rescheduling the medical appointment and recommended seeking assistance from a family member instead.

"We are sorry to hear about your motheras illness, and understand the importance of being there for her during this time. However, after careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we are unable to grant your request for emergency leave. We would encourage you to explore alternative solutions such as rescheduling the medical check-up appointment or seeking support from family and friends to provide assistance during this time," the email read.

After the screenshot of the mail was doing rounds on social media, the Vistara airline also issued a statement.

"We have come across a screenshot of one particular email, a response to one of our pilots' request for leaves, being shared online with little context of the entire discussion. We would like to clarify that the requested leaves were for a duration of three days in the future (submitted 8 days prior to the appointment) for medical check-ups of the pilot's mother, which do not qualify as 'Emergency Leaves'," said the airline spokesperson.

"Hence, the leaves were denied and alternates were offered like rescheduling the medical check-up or exploring flexibility in the pilot's roster. As a people friendly organisation, we never deny leaves for emergencies and in fact, extend all possible support to employees in such situations," the spokesperson added.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Following the arrest of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, the party workers and leaders on Tuesday held a protest in the national Capital.

The AAP also claimed that while they were on the way to gherao BJP headquarters, the Delhi Police thrashed party workers and detained hundreds of them.

Scores of AAP party workers and leaders also raised slogans "Sanjay Singh sher hai" and "Modi jab-jab darta hai, ED ko aage karta hai."

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said during the protest that the BJP had got Sanjay Singh arrested in a bogus case because they know that now it is difficult for the saffron party to stop the AAP.

"The BJP is misusing institutions like the ED and the CBI for its electoral gains. The BJP is conspiring to destroy the Constitution and democracy. I want to tell the BJP government that no matter how many fake cases they file against AAP leaders, no matter how many AAP leaders they put in jail, it will not scare us. Now, it is impossible for them to stop the AAP.

"For us, national interest comes first and our fight is to save the Constitution of the country. We will fight against the BJP dictatorship and end it once and for all," said Pathak.

During the protest, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar said that for the last 15 months, the ED and CBI had been investigating a bogus case at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but they could not find anything.

"The Supreme Court also said that if this case goes to the court on basis of the allegations levelled by the ED, it will not last a minute. Even after this, they continue to arrest our leaders.

"MP Sanjay Singh is the loudest voice of the poor. He does not hesitate to speak against the Modi government. That's why the Modi government has got him arrested through ED," said Kumar.

"The police have beaten our workers brutally even though they were protesting peacefully. Many people received head injuries. They even thrashed the women. This brutality of the police shows that Modi has destroyed the Constitution and democracy," he said.
Washington, Oct 10 : More than 1,000 people have been killed in Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend, according to the Israeli Embassy in the US, a media report said.

The death toll now stands at 1,008, with at least 3,418 injured, the Embassy said on X, CNN reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said it "cannot confirm or deny" these reports from the Embassy.

An IDF spokesperson told CNN that it is aware of over 900 deaths.

Meanwhile, Hamas has threatened specifically to attack the Israeli city of Ashkelon in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza, BBC reported.

In a post on Telegram, Hamas said the residents of the city, just to the north of the Gaza Strip, have within hours to leave.

More than 4,500 rockets have already been fired from Gaza into Israel since Saturday, the Israeli military said. Two foreign workers have been killed and another seriously injured in a rocket attack in the Eskhol region that borders Gaza, Israel's emergency services have said on Tuesday, BBC reported.

The IDF said it killed Hamasa minister of economy and another senior member of its politburo in drone strikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday night, Israeli media reported.
Washington, Oct 10 : US President Joe Biden has said "it is likely" the Hamas are holding Americans hostages even as he confirmed that 11 of their citizens had been killed by them during the conflict. The President is also scheduled to make a statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict from White House on Tuesday, an official said.

The announcement on Biden's forthcoming statement has come exactly three days after the Hamas fighters infiltrated into Israeli territory and launched a surprise offensive, triggering an all-out war between the two sides that has left 1,600 dead to the last count.

The President said on Monday that 11 Americans had been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, and that "it is likely" Americans are among those being held hostage.

The State Department said it feared 1,600 people had died in the war.

Israel's military on Tuesday claimed regaining control inside the country after it ordered a "full siege" of Gaza, under "Operation Sword", to cut off supplies of food, gas or power into the densely populated area, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, according to media reports.

The US President's scheduled statement comes on the back of fears, particularly among the Americans, as the Hamas fighters have threatened to execute the hostages if Israel did not stop bombing civilian targets in Gaza.

Some Americans who had made Israel their second home are suspected to be among the hostages, according to the US State Department.

The exact number of hostages taken by Hamas fighters is unknown.

No Americans have been confirmed to be among the hostages, but US National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said that a number of Americans are unaccounted for and that it's possible that they are among those being held hostage.

In a statement onMonday, Biden said at least 11 Americans had been killed in the Israel-Hamas war and that "it is likely" that some Americans are being held hostage.

"We are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy," Biden said.

"In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage."

The Biden administration has supported Israel and the President has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would "continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people."

To support Israel and raise its morale, the Biden administration is dispatching ships from the Navy's USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and officials plan to keep in place some F-16 and A-10 fighter jets that were previously scheduled to rotate out of the region, a US official told NBC News.

The move is intended to send a strong message to Hamas to "stand down", an official said.

The death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has soared to more than 1,600 people as of Tuesday morning, three days since Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel territory ambushing their forces, according to officials.

More than 900 people died in Israel and at least 770 in Gaza, with over 6,000 people injured in Israel and Gaza, officials said.

Biden is expected to face competing pressures within and outside of the Democratic Party that will make it more difficult to keep his pledge to provide support for Israel's plans to defend the country, media reports said.
Bengaluru, Oct 10 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that he has suspended three officials regarding the tragic firecracker incident which took place in Attibele on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The suspended officials include Tehsildar, Circle Police Inspector and Regional Fire Officer.

The Chief Minister said that the notice also will be issued to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police in this connection.

"A decision has also made to ban the bursting of crackers in political rallies, festivals, processions and marriages in the state. The licenses will have to be renewed henceforth every year," he said.

He said that the state government has taken note of the tragedy and it has been decided to allow the sale of only green crackers throughout the state during the Deepavali festival.

"Four persons were injured in the incident while one of them is critical. The expenditure for the treatment of the injured will be taken up by the government," the Chief Minister said.

The incident which claimed 14 lives took place on October 7.

He said that while issuing the license, the Tehsildar and the concerned police inspector should inspect the spot and the Regional Fire Officer should give the NOC.

"Only then can the DC will issue a license under the Explosive Act and rules. The license holder Ramaswamy Reddy had taken the license for the sale of 1,000 kilograms of fire crackers. But, he stored around 7 to 8,000 kilograms of firecrackers in the godown," the Chief Minister said.

He said that the labourers who were working were all students from Tamil Nadu.

"They had come to work on daily wages for Rs 600. All of them were poor and had come to work as they were on vacation," the Chief Minister said.

He said that officials have been directed to take all precautionary measures to prevent such incidents in future.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to take utmost precautions while issuing licenses under the Explosives Act.

"Who is responsible for these 14 lives? Officers must ensure that all safety measures are taken and all the conditions must be fulfilled. The senior officers must examine whether the report is appropriate and then take the decision to issue a license," the Chief Minister said.

He asked officials to be vigilant about the transport of firecrackers in the border area of Attibele-Hosur. He also directed strict compliance with Supreme Court orders regarding the usage of firecrackers and also directed to ensure the sale of only green firecrackers.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar had suggested banning firecrackers in political congregations and marriage processions for safety reasons as well.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Delhi Police have busted an illegal arms manufacturing unit with ties to notorious gangs in Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh as well as Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar in Haryana, an official said on Tuesday.

The official said the police have also seized one carbine machine gun, 15 semi-automatic pistols, 18 single-shot pistols and 229 bullets and raw materials for manufacturing around 200 to 250 firearms.

According to the police, on October 4, after receiving specific inputs, one person named Bintu a.k.a. Mintu a.k.a. Bittu was arrested.

"One semi-automatic pistol along with six live cartridges were recovered from his possession. On searching of his bag, nine more semi-automatic pistols, 18 single-shot pistols and 148 live cartridges of different types of bores were recovered," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Sagar Singh Kalsi.

During interrogation, Bintu disclosed that he had received the firearms and ammunition from a person named Lalit, who is a resident of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

However, Bintu also disclosed that he had never seen the house of Lalit, but provided his mobile number.

"On the basis of technical surveillance, the number was found active in Baghpat after which the police conducted a raid at Gauna village near Baghpat," said the DCP.

Lalit was apprehended on October 8 and one carbine, five pistols and 75 live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

The same day, a raid was conducted at the illegal firearms factory of Lalit in the Loni area.

"Some manufacturing machines, tools, iron rods, wooden pieces, and iron sheets used to manufacture illegal firearms along with raw materials for manufacturing approx 200 to 250 illegal firearms were recovered from the site," Kalsi said.

On interrogation, Lalit disclosed that he manufactured firearms with the help of MS iron rods of 15 mm and 4 mm iron plates which are easily available in the market.

Lalit also revealed that in 2013, he was unemployed and his family's financial situation was bad. He then ventured into welding work, but his earnings left him dissatisfied.

"During this time, he crossed paths with Johny Pradhan, a resident of a nearby village, who introduced him to Deepak Yadav, a politician and illegal firearms supplier," the officer said.

Lured by the prospect of working in Deepak Yadav's illegal firearms factory, which promised better earnings and the chance to learn weapon manufacturing, Lalit joined in.

"In 2015, Uttar Pradesh Police raided Deepak Yadav's factory, seizing a cache of illegal firearms, though Lalit managed to escape," the DCP said.

Later, Lalit met Johny Pradhan again, who suggested they start their own illegal firearms manufacturing business.

"They set up their factory, offering semi-automatic pistols for Rs 20,000-25,000 each and single-shot pistols for Rs 5,000-7,000 apiece," the DCP said.

They supplied the firearms to notorious gangs in Western UP, Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar, including to the Anil Dujana gang, Udham Singh gang, Rahul Khatta gang, and Sachin a.k.a. Baba gang, known for their involvement in murder, robbery, dacoity, and extortion.

In 2019, the Uttar Pradesh STF uncovered their factory, leading to Lalit and Johny Pradhan's arrest and the recovery of more weapons.

"After securing bail, Lalit reunited with friends Surender, Sumit and Bittu to secretly restart illegal firearms manufacturing," the DCP said.

They launched a new illegal firearms manufacturing operation, supplying various gang members in UP, including Anil Dujana's gang in Western UP and Pradeep alias Chhota's gang in Haryana.

"They sold semi-automatic pistols for Rs 30,000-40,000 and single-shot pistols for Rs 8,000-10,000 each," Kalsi said.

During interrogation, Lalit admitted to receiving approximately 500 live cartridges from Deepak Yadav in 2020, which he supplied to various gangsters after retaining 229 of them.

"Efforts are on to determine the involvement of other individuals in the illegal firearms supply and manufacturing racket," the DCP added.
Jerusalem, Oct 10 : Hamas is attacking the Israeli city of Ashkelon with rocket fire, the media reported. Earlier, the militant group warned civilians to leave within hours.

Ashkelon is around 15 km away from Gaza. Hamas' armed wing spokesperson, Abu Ubaida, told residents of Israel's port of Ashkelon to leave the area by 5 p.m. (local time) without giving any further details, The Guardian reported.

Hamas had threatened specifically to attack the Israeli city of Ashkelon in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza, the BBC reported.

In a post on Telegram, Hamas said the residents of the city, just to the north of the Gaza Strip, have within hours to leave.

More than 1,000 people were killed in an attack by Hamas on Israel over the weekend, according to the Israeli Embassy in the US, CNN reported.

The death toll now stands at 1,008, with at least 3,418 injured, the embassy said on 'X'.

The Israel Defense Forces has said it "cannot confirm or deny" these reports from the embassy.

An IDF spokesperson told CNN that it is aware of over 900 deaths.

More than 4,500 rockets have already been fired from Gaza into Israel since Saturday, the Israeli military says.

Two foreign workers have been killed and another seriously injured in a rocket attack in the Eskhol region that borders Gaza, Israel's emergency services have just said, the BBC reported.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Bank of Baroda to suspend, with immediate effect, any further onboarding of their customers onto the 'bob World' mobile application.

"This action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the manner of onboarding of their customers onto this mobile application. Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the 'bob World' application will be subject to rectification of the deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI," the central bank said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The bank has been further directed to ensure that already onboarded 'bob World' customers do not face any disruption on account of this suspension.

The bob World mobile app was introduced by the Bank of Baroda for mobile banking applications such as transferring funds within the same savings account, transferring funds to any other bank accounts or through the NEFT and IMPS facility.

It also enables customers to pay mobile and DTH bills.

Besides customers can get a mini statement of their or check their balance through the app.

Bank of Baroda on its part, has issued a statement saying: "Further onboarding of customers on the "bob World" application will be subject to further strengthening of related processes by the Bank to the satisfaction of RBI."

While the bank has already carried out corrective measures to address the concerns of the RBI, we have initiated further steps to plug any remaining gaps identified and we will work closely with the RBI to address their concerns at the earliest to their satisfaction, the statement further said.

"We would also like to assure all our existing customers that they will not face any disruption whatsoever and will continue to enjoy uninterrupted services on the Bank's bob World mobile app," the statement added.

Bank of Baroda also said that it did not expect the RBI action to have a material impact on the its overall business and growth plans.
Jaipur, Oct 10 : As the BJP released its first list for the November 23 Rajasthan Assembly elections, disappointed aspirants staged protests in various places, bringing factionalism in the state unit into the open.

In view of the increasing opposition, the party has formed a committee under the chairmanship of the Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary to look into the issue.

Dr. Vikas Chaudhary, a former MLA and 2018 candidate, started crying in presence of his supporters as he failed to get the nomination from Kishangarh.

"I have been politically murdered," he said.

The BJP has given ticket from the seat to Ajmer MP Bhagirath Chaudhary.

After the announcement, Chaudhary's supporters started gathering at his house from Tuesday morning.

The leader started crying while addressing the workers. Wiping his tears, Chaudhary said: "I was working hard in the field for the last 5 years, I have been politically murdered. He (Bhagirath Chaudhary) never supported me, despite me supporting him in every election."

Chaudhary alleged that this ticket was purchased on the basis of money power. At this time, he left the decision of contesting the elections to his supporters.

"Shraddh is going on now, hence no auspicious work should be done. As soon as Navratri starts, we will decide to contest the elections with the support of our supporters."

Earlier, Chaudhary had posted on social media that: "I had worked hard honestly".

In the Jat-dominated Kishangarh Assembly seat, the BJP has fielded Bhagirath Choudhary, who has won elections from here in 2003 and 2013.

Akin to Chaudhary, former MLA Anita Gurjar has alleged that she has not given ticket in Bharatpur as she is from former CM Vasundhara Raje's faction.

Angered by the denial of ticket from the city assembly, Gurjar expressed her displeasure on her Facebook page. BJP has declared Jawahar Singh Bedam as its candidate from the city.

Meanwhile, Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, who was a minister in the Vasundhara Raje government, has also been not fielded. Angered by this, his supporters had gathered at the bungalow of Vasundhara Raje on Monday night. It is said that Shekhawat also met Raje.

Many councillors are threatening to resign in his support.

Rohitashv Sharma, a staunch supporter of Vasundhara Raje and the Transport Minister in her government, is currently expelled from the BJP, but was seeking a ticket from Bansur. After not getting the ticket, he has announced to contest the elections as an independent candidate.

In a video released on social media, he asked the public that will they send to the Assembly those people who get tickets on the basis of money? He told the public that if the public blesses him, he will contest elections for the development of Bansur.

Mukesh Goyal, who was the BJP candidate in the last Assembly elections, openly protested against the denial of ticket from Kotputli.

"The person who burnt the party flags was given the ticket. We are hurt by this decision. I have always been against contesting elections as an independent. This decision will give strength to the Congress candidate. Together we will prepare further strategy," he said.

After the BJP has given ticket to MP Devji Patel from Sanchore, protests started there also. Supporters of Danaram Choudhary, who was the BJP candidate in 2018, held a protest, saying Patel's security money will also be forfeited and they will not even allow his meetings to take place in the villages.

Choudhury's supporters allege that the party's decision to give ticket to the MP is completely wrong.

From Deoli-Uniara in Tonk district, the BJP has given ticket to Vijay Bainsla, son of Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla, Convenor of Gurjar Reservation Sangharsh Committee. This sparked protests in Uniara area, terming him an outsider candidate. Many BJP workers raised slogans and demanded to make a local worker the candidate.

Everyone reached BJP state office Jaipur in support of Rajendra Gurjar, who was the BJP candidate from this seat in the last elections. Here his supporters opposed giving ticket to Bainsla, calling him an outsider. Supporters also raised slogans of 'drive out outsiders, save Deoli-Uniara'.

Former MLA Master Maman Singh Yadav organised a mahapanchayat in Tijara on Tuesday, saying that his name was finalised on the basis of the survey and the Central Committee also assured him of getting the ticket. However, on Monday, the party announced Baba Balaknath as the candidate.

Yadav said that Baba Balaknath should get only one vote from each booth and that too for his status. He should not get any votes in the entire Tijara area, he added.

In view of all-round opposition, the BJP has formed a committee under Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary, comprising many senior leaders who will talk and try to pacify the angry leaders.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The legal cell of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Justice India (CJI), D.Y. Chandrachud against the proposed changes in CrPC, IPC, and Evidence Act .

In August, the Centre had introduced three Bills in the Lok Sabha to repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.

Attacking the BJP-led Centre, AAP's legal cell head and advocate Sanjeev Nasiar said, "The Central government has weakened the Constitution of the country. Whoever raises voice against the Modi government, their voices are silenced and they are put in jail. Even the right to raise voice has been taken away from journalists. The lawyer community of the country has united against the dictatorship and murder of democracy by the Modi government."

Before submitting the memorandum, several lawyers led by Nasiar took out a procession from the Patiala House Court to the Supreme Court, protesting against the proposed changes.

Talking about the AAP's campaign, Nasiar said this is a part of the party's 'Save Constitution-Save Country' campaign.

"Today, we have gathered here to demand am Advocate Protection Act for our rights. A conspiracy is being hatched to change CrPC, IPC, Evidence Act etc. We will raise our voice against any such move," Nasiar added.

-- IANS

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The collaboration between the UK and Kazakhstan in boosting cleaner renewable energy capacity is gaining pace, Kenan Poleo, His Majestys Trade Commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region and British Consul General, Istanbul, told Trend in an exclusive interview.

Trade between the UK and Kazakhstan

Our (the UK and Kazakhstan) bilateral trading relationship is going from strength to strength and has huge potential for businesses in both our countries.

Total trade in goods and services between our countries was 2.1 billion British pounds in the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2023 (from the second quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2023), an increase of 5.8 percent on the year before (from the second quarter of 2021 through the first quarter of 2022). However, the important thing for me is not the current trade volume but the direction.

Both Kazakhstan and the UK have committed to boosting collaboration and improving economic links. I am confident that we will see more and more businesses signing deals and working together over the coming years for the benefit of both our countries.

Prospects for UK-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan energy cooperation

As His Majestys Trade Commissioner for the region, I cover both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and I am always pleased to see countries across the region collaborating on new projects.

The UK has been the largest investor in Azerbaijan for a number of years, largely driven by the presence of BP in the energy sector. Recently, the UK government signed a MoU on Energy Transition Cooperation with Azerbaijan to share best practices on clean energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon technologies, and energy market transition.

The UK has world-leading expertise in clean energy and is always open to cooperating on the utilization of new, innovative, and green technologies in the energy sector.

As just one recent example of this, a UK consultancy firm, BVG Associates, recently developed an offshore wind roadmap for Azerbaijan via a study by the World Bank, which has estimated the countrys offshore wind potential at 157 GW.

The collaboration between the UK and Kazakhstan to boost cleaner renewable energy capacity is gaining pace and showing great potential.

Kazakhstan has committed to reaching net zero by 2060 in its carbon neutrality strategy, which will involve ambitious work across a variety of sectors.

The UK government has signed a MoU on a Strategic Partnership on Low Carbon Hydrogen with Kazakhstan, which will help share best practices on low carbon hydrogen technologies as well as energy market transition. Additionally, we are also taking clear and practical steps to help boost business connections in green energy. This was demonstrated recently, when my team in Kazakhstan led a senior delegation of Kazakh businesses to Aberdeen, one of the most impressive clean energy hubs in the UK.

The delegation met their counterparts in the UK, exchanged knowledge and best practice tips, and he looks forward to further fruitful bilateral discussions ahead.

UK's benefit from the Middle Corridor

The UK is committed to increasing trade and energy cooperation with Central Asian countries, including sustainable transport links. The Middle Corridor project can assist in boosting trade sustainability by improving connectivity from the Kazakh/Chinese border to the entire region via Turkiye and beyond.

We see this as a brilliant opportunity for HMG and other partners to both facilitate investment in infrastructure and support political agreements to create a predictable economic logistics pathway for Central Asia.

Potentially new prospects of cooperation between the UK and Kazakhstan

I had the privilege to travel to Kazakhstan on my first official visit in May. It was brilliant to see and experience firsthand just how many exciting opportunities there are for innovative British businesses.

Our countries enjoy a growing partnership, and we are committed to expanding cooperation across a range of priority sectors, including technology.

OneWeb is a brilliant example of what can be accomplished when two countries work together. We expect construction of the UKs OneWeb ground station (a station for transmitting and receiving signals from a low-orbit satellite constellation) in the Almaty region to be fully commissioned by the end of this year, providing satellite connectivity to countries across Eurasia.

During my visit to Kazakhstan, I had the chance to explore one of the most exciting areas of cooperation: mining. It was great to explore how the UKs expertise in the full mining lifecycle, including low-carbon solutions, can support the transition to a cleaner, greener future for Kazakh businesses.

Education is another key sector of cooperation. 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Education, Science, and Culture between the UK and Kazakhstan.

Education is a great sector, which demonstrates what can be accomplished when we work together. When De Montfort University opened in Almaty in 2021, it was the first international university to open a campus in Kazakhstan, and just last month, Heriot-Watt launched three dual degree programs in partnership with Zhubanov University in Aktobe. This is great news for the UK and Kazakhstan, and I want to see more success stories like these.
Guwahati, Oct 10 : The first defence technology show kickstarted in Guwahati on Tuesday, officials said.

Nearly 200 manufacturers have set up their booths at the two-day 'East Tech' event, which was launched by Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command, and Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Borah.

The Indian Army and the Assam government organised the tech event, which also featured MSMEs, defence PSUs, and start-ups showcasing their goods.

Lt. Gen. Kalita said, "We are exposing the manufacturers to our needs and also enabling the end-users in field formations to directly place their wants."

He said that the troops need to be suitably equipped and the nation has to fight its own battles with its own technology.

Highlighting the dynamic difficulties the armed services face, spanning from conventional combat to counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. Kalita said: "In this tech expo, we are concentrating on indigenous technology. Although, the defence expo is always held in the city centre, the Army has started to organise comparable expos expressly for its various command formations."

He said that they have organised it in Kolkata last year to launch it for the Eastern Command. "We're doing it here this time," he said.

He said that there is need to feel gaps in making orders, timely delivery, and proper procurement through right procedures.

"Financial experts are also here to help the buyers as well as the sellers to understand the procurement process," he said.

Meanwhile, Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Borah emphasised Assam's strategic significance for the producers in the defense industry.

The minister said: "We are confident that defence industry producers would step forward and investigate the state's location advantage. On the ongoing infrastructure and logistical advancements in Assam, the state government will also give all feasible help."
Mumbai, Oct 10 : As part of the aim to empower girls, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has unveiled 'Lek Laadki' incentive scheme for poor girls from ration-card holding families entitling them to total assistance worth Rs One-Lakh till they attain the age of 18, here on Tuesday.

This is in tune with the 2023-2024 state budget announcement by Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in March, to implement the scheme with retrospective effect from April 1, 2023.

Under the scheme, the state will give an incentive of Rs 5,000 after the birth of a female child to yellow and orange ration card holding families.

When the girl joins the first standard in school, she would get Rs 6,000, Rs 7000 in the Class VI, Rs 8000 in Class XI, and Rs 75,000 when she turns 18.

In total, under the aLek Laadkia initiative, the girl will get Rs 100,000 till she turns 18 years old, said the government and will be available to a girl child born after April 1, 2023.

People working in the social fields and women's issues have welcomed the scheme which would benefit girls born in poor families in urban and rural areas, and serve as an incentive to educate them properly.
ED conducting searches in premises of people linked to Senthil Balaji in Karur. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 10 : A Delhi court on Tuesday sent four accused individuals, including the Managing Director of Lava International, to three-day custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case related to Chinese smartphone-maker Vivo.

Hari Om Rai, the MD of Lava International, Guangwen Kyang aka Andrew Kuang, a Chinese national, Rajan Malik, and Nitin Garg, a Chartered Accountant (CA), were produced before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala of Patiala House Courts.

The court noted that the custody of the accused persons has been sought due to their non-cooperation and evasive attitude and deliberate attempts to evade/mislead the probe.

"It is also contended that custodial interrogation is required in the interest of investigation to find out the deep-rooted conspiracy for commission of offence under PMLA," the court noted.

However, the counsel for the accused, told the court that they have been called various times to join the investigation and they have always cooperated

However, after hearing the arguments, the court remanded all the accused to ED custody till October 13.

The probe agency had arrested the four persons earlier on Tuesday.

A source told IANS that the arrests were made after the financial probe agency carried out searches at the premises of the four accused on Monday and recovered cash to the tune of Rs 10 lakh.

The fresh arrests came in the wake of the tensions between India and China amid the border row in Ladakh.

The ED action came more than a year after it carried out searches at 48 locations across the country belonging to vivo Mobiles India Private Limited and its 23 associated companies such as Grand Prospect International Communication Pvt Ltd (GPICPL), and claimed that it has busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

According to the ED, Vivo Mobiles India Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August 1, 2014 as a subsidiary of Multi Accord Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company, and was registered at ROC Delhi.

GPICPL was registered on December 3, 2014 at ROC Shimla, with registered addresses of Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and Gandhinagar, Jammu.

The PMLA investigation by ED was initiated by registering a money laundering case on February 3, 2022 on the basis of an FIR registered at the Kalkaji police station in the national capital by Delhi Police against GPICPL, its director, shareholders and certifying professionals etc., on the basis of a complaint filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Washington, Oct 10 : Militant outfit Hamas has claimed that Iran sponsored their intrusion into Israel and the deadly attacks even as Tehran has stoutly denied it while the US and Israeli governments claim they don't have any direct evidence as yet to establish that the Iranian government was in any way involved as attacks against Israel has continued.

But US military strategists claim Iran has a long history of supporting Hamas with arms, ammunition and training its forces.

A senior US official said on Monday night that Iran certainly is complicit in funding Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement, providing weapons to it and training its paramilitary forces, media reports said.

Military strategists say it could have a significant impact on the middle-east as "a rapidly intensifying crisis" that was restricted to battles between Israel and Hamas forces until now.

The Biden administration said Monday that at least 11 Americans have been killed in the terrorist attacks. And the White House confirmed it believes at least some Americans are among the hostages that Hamas operatives abducted and brought back with them to Gaza, USA Today said.

The militant Islamic group is one of two major political parties that rules over at least 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. The US, European Union and dozens of nations have designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation for its armed resistance to Israel.

"Iran would be number one in a lineup" of suspects who could give Hamas the ability to launch the stunning terrorist attacks against Israel by air, land and sea and take it by complete surprise, said Andrew Borene, a senior US Intelligence and counterterrorism official until four months ago. "That doesn't mean that they're guilty," Borene told USA TODAY in an interview. "It means there's a reason that they're being investigated" for a possible role in the surprise attacks.

Iran per US military strategists is the largest state sponsor of terrorism," said Borene, whose last job was as a senior executive in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

"Iran is the most active state sponsor of terrorism. So it's not without cause that people are investigating that thread."

The US military has likened the Hamas ambush on Israel and the attacks is the country's 9/11.

The Biden administration has exercised caution in not implicating Iran in the Hamas attack even though military strategists believe Tehran is involved.

On Monday, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said the Biden administration is investigating, but it lacks "direct information" that Tehran was behind it.

Asked if he believed the White House does not lend credence to the Wall Street Journal report for lack of direct evidence and that it was inaccurate, Finer said: "What I can tell you is we have no direct information to confirm that report. We've obviously seen it. We're looking into it, but we do not have the ability to corroborate it at this time."

The Israeli military also has said there is no concrete evidence of Iranian involvement in the Hamas attack from Gaza.

"Iran is a major player but we can't yet say if it was involved in the planning or training," said R Adm Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces.

Iran denies it played a role in the attacks. Tehran's mission to the United Nations said on Sunday that Iran was not involved in one of the bloodiest attacks in Israel's history, when Islamist group Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted perhaps 100 more, USA Today reported .

"The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defense against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime," Iran's UN mission said in statement, agencies reported.

Why is Iran suspected of playing a role?

For all their denials about finding a direct connection, US officials have been quick to say that Iran has a history of supporting these kinds of attacks, and Hamas in particular.

Kirby, the White House spokesman, said Monday night that there's "no question there's a degree of complicity here".

"Iran has been supporting Hamas for many, many years with tools, training, capabilities, certainly rhetorically but in much more tangible ways than that," he said.

"So absolutely, there's a degree of complicity here, writ large."
Panaji, Oct 10 : Trinamool Congress (TMC) unit of Goa on Tuesday slammed the BJP government as local leaders consulted Home Minister Amit Shah over the zone wise planning of one taluka in the coastal state.

Addressing a press conference, TMC Joint Convener Samil Volvoikar said that it is a sad state of affairs that the Home Minister has to address the local issues.

TMC National Spokesperson Trajano D'Mello was also present during the press conference.

Samil Volvoikar said that the plan proposes to convert around 1.4 crore sqm land of one Taluka namely Pernem in North Goa.

State government has been criticised over the proposed zoning plan in Pernem as people have protested demanding to scrap it, following which the TCP Minister announced that it has been kept in abeyance.

"TCP Minister has said that Pernem Zoning Plan has been kept in abeyance after consultation with Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leadership. It clearly means that this plan was done in consultation with BJP leadership. Home Minister has big responsibilities in the country, how can a Union Minister, that too Amit Shah stoop so low to be interested in a small state like Goa's zoning plan, and that too in a smaller taluka like Pernem?" Samil Volvoikar said.

"This is a sad affair that the Home Minister has to discuss over such an issue. This proves that top BJP leaders are involved in this zoning plan and as per their wish the government has proposed this plan," he said.

He said that the zoning plan should be scrapped.

"BJP government has kept this plan in abeyance only because the Lok Sabha elections are yet to take place, so it doesn't impact them," he said.

Trajano D'Mello also slammed BJP for involving their central leaders in a local issue. "This plan should be scrapped. Why does the BJP need central leaders to discuss such an issue," he said.

He said that the announcement of abeyance is only to break the locals' movement against the government.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The Bangladesh Parliament's Speaker and presiding officers of both Houses of Parliament of Australia have arrived in Delhi to participate in the forthcoming 9th Parliament 20 (P20) summit.

The summit is scheduled to be held between October 13 and 14 at the newly-constructed Indian International Convention and Expo Centre, Yashobhoomi in the national capital and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13.

Representatives from Canada and China too will be attending the summit, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had told reporters last week.

Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury arrived to participate in the P20 summit as . Bangladesh Parliament is one of the special invitees for the P20 summit.

Chaudhary was received at the Delhi airport by Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal Locket Chatterjee on behalf of the government. Presiding officers of both Houses of Parliament of Australia, Senator Sue Lines and Milton Dick, who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia, had arrived in New Delhi on October 7 to participate in the summit.

Delegations from South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom are also expected to arrive. Apart from G20 countries, 10 other countries and international organisations will participate in the P20 summit. Presiding officers of the Pan African Parliaments will also be participating in the P20 summit in India for the first time. Four high-level sessions will be organised during the summit, namely "Accelerating SDGs", "Sustainable Energy Transition", "Women-led Development" and "Transformation in Peopleas Lives through Public Digital Platforms".

--IANS

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Jerusalem, Oct 10 : The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday that their preliminary reviews showed Hamas had some 20 vehicles disguised to appear as Israeli, which were used to transport terrorists into Israel at the start of their murderous attack, Israeli media reported.

Among the vehicles used by the terrorists were some that were marked as belonging to senior Hamas commanders, large Savannah vehicles for transporting numbers of terrorists, at least eight off-road motorcycles that were among the first to breach the border and take control of IDF bases, and between five and six pick-up trucks for further incursions, Ynet News reported.

The terrorists used vehicles disguised as Israeli police cars, with which they planned for incursions further or attempted to reach deeper into the country. These vehicles were fitted with blue police lights, the report said.

In one case, a vehicle belonging to Hamas terrorists was captured by the IDF with a French tourist who had been abducted from a rave in southern Israel, hidden in its cargo compartment. Itas still unclear how many more vehicles Hamas managed to take back into the Gaza Strip, but its success was so great that it managed to capture at least three armored IDF jeeps equipped with advanced communication equipment.

Most of the weapons and military equipment with which Hamas forces infiltrated werenat utilised, as the terrorists were killed beforehand.

For example, at the music festival, security forces found dozens of claymore mines, hundreds of filled ammunition clips, and dozens of Soviet-made hand grenades. This led forces to believe that Hamas had planned to kill many more Israelis, Ynet News reported.

This, however, wasnat the final goal of Hamasa operation. During the incursionas early hours, Hamas forces set up roadblocks with their pick-up trucks at key junctions in areas surrounding southern Israeli communities, which hindered the forces moving into settlements where the major massacres occurred.

IDF and police forces had to engage in prolonged battles with the terrorists who blocked intersections. At each such roadblock, the terrorists were at an advantage and had several anti-tank units to target armored vehicles trying to reinforce Israeli security forces, the report said.

Hamas' elite force consisted of 60 terrorists, and after they reported their success in seizing IDF positions and Israeli settlements, a significant number of around 600 additional terrorists spread out to other locations in the south.

The exact figures are still unknown to the IDF since hundreds of terrorists may still have to be dealt with, but the military estimates that the numbers may rise, considering the number of vehicles they used, Ynet News reported.
New Delhi, October 10 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a bail plea filed by lawyer Surendra Gadling, who is behind bars in connection with the 2016 Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi agreed to examine the matter and sought response of Maharashtra on the plea filed by Gadling, who is lodged Navi Mumabias Tajola Central Prison under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Bombay High Court in January had dismissed his appeal filed under Section 21(4) of the NIA Act seeking bail.

The anti-terror agency charged Gadling for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy with Maoist rebels to set ablaze 76 trucks which were carrying iron ore from Surajgarh mines in Maharashtra. He is further alleged to be involved in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgaar Parishad violence - where clashes erupted between various caste groups after "provocative" speeches were given by the activists of Kabir Kala Manch on December 31, 2017 in Maharashtra's Pune.

Gadling had claimed that he is a criminal law practitioner with over 25 years of practice and was falsely implicated in the case, adding that there is no prima facie case against him and the evidence brought on record by the prosecution is neither reliable nor admissible.
Vancouver, Oct 10 : Amid the row over India's hand in the assassination of Khalistan-backer Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, banned secessionist group "Sikhs For Justice" (SFJ) gave a call to hold rallies on October 21 at the Indian embassies in G7 countries asking the host governments to shut down Indian diplomatic missions.

Parallel to the call for October 21 rallies, the SFJ also launched an email campaign through which members can send a pre-drafted email to the G7 governments.

Citing the history and evidence of agents operating from Indian missions in the guise of diplomats and executing operations challenging the sovereignty of host nations and threatening the life and liberty of pro Khalistan Sikhs, the email urges the G7 governments to support Khalistan Referendum; and dismantle Indian Spy Network Operating from Diplomatic Missions In G7 Countries.

Referring to the escalation of Israel-Palestine conflict which has caused hundreds of lives from each side, SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in his video message stated that "Ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict is a lesson for India that violence only begets violence".

"Like Palestine, the only peaceful solution to conflict between Sikhs and India is let the peoplea decide their future through a referendum on the question of Khalistan," Pannun added.
Patna, Oct 10 : The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar police, in association with other agencies, are carrying out a special drive against illegal opium cultivation in the state.

"We have observed cultivation of opium in the state, especially in Gaya district. The Barachatti and Dhangai blocks, which are located in the remote areas near the Jharkhand border and are Maoist-affected regions, are known as opium farming areas.

"We have launched a massive campaign to destroy the cultivation of opium in the region. In 2022-23, we have already destroyed opium farming in 1,290 acres of land. We have also registered 33 FIRs against 121 offenders in Bihar," said Nayyer Hasnain Khan, ADGP, EOU.

"Maoist groups have some influence in Gaya district, especially in the remote forest areas located near the Jharkhand border. We are using drones to keep an eye on opium cultivation in the region.

"We were also taking satellite images to destroy opium cultivation. The seeding of opium farming kicks off in September and the final production takes place in March. So we are concentrating this time to destroy as many areas as possible in the beginning of farming," Khan said.

"Bihar is a border state having territories touching Nepal, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. It is a big problem in Bihar. It is a transit point and a consumption state as well. But we have made a comprehensive plans to stop it," Khan said.

"We are making efforts to provide alternative crops for farming in the region. We are encouraging the farmers for the cultivation of lemon grass, honey bees etc.," Khan said.

The officer said the use of contrabands have increased after the imposition of liquor ban in the state.

"The state police, in association with different security agencies, have launched a campaign to save our younger generation from narcotics consumption," Khan said.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 10. Kazakhstan and Iran plan to increase trade turnover between the countries to $3 billion, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov during a meeting with the Ambassador of Iran to Kazakhstan, Jowkar Ali Akbar, Trend reports.

The parties emphasized the need to take measures aimed at enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

"Iran is one of Kazakhstan's strategic partners. Our countries face a task set by the leaders of the two states to bring trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran to $3 billion," Kuantyrov said.

In turn, the ambassador invited the minister to take part in the Caspian Economic Forum, which is planned to be held in the near future in Tehran.

During the forum, it is planned to discuss key issues of multilateral cooperation between the Caspian states, including economics, finance, energy, transport, etc.

"Strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan is one of the main priorities of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our countries have enormous potential to take trade and economic cooperation to a new level," he added.

In 2022, bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran amounted to $521.4 million, which is 18.3 percent higher than in 2021.

Kazakhstan's exports to Iran during this period amounted to $310 million, and imports from Iran to Kazakhstan amounted to $212 million.

From January through June of this year, trade turnover between the countries amounted to $215.1 million.
Patna, Oct 10 : The Superintendent of Police in Bihar's Munger has taken a strong note of a woman sub-inspector for making reels while on duty, an official said on Tuesday.

The woman SI was identified as Pooja Kumari, posted at Maoist-hit Bariyarpur police station, but busymaking reels even on duty or during patrolling periods and constantly uploading these on social media.

This might turn dangerous especially in Maoist-affected areas where the operatives of banned groups may follow the movements of police teams and lay ambushes. She recently uploaded videos on social media while patrolling in the Rishikund forest area in the region.

Keeping in view of this, Munger SP Jaggunath Reddy has initiated inquiry into the matter. "We have learnt that a female sub-inspector was making reels on duty. We have initiated an inquiry and if she is found guilty, action shall be taken against her," Reddy said.
Kolkata, Oct 10 : Trinamool Congress' national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee finally submitted the documents relating to his assets and properties to Enforcement Directorate (ED) late on Tuesday evening, just few hours before the midnight deadline set by the Calcutta High Court.

Earlier on Tuesday, the ED counsel had informed the Calcutta High Courtas single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha that Banerjee has not submitted hard copies of his assets and properties to the ED till late afternoon.

However, the ED counsel, while referring the matter to Justice Sinhaas bench, added a rider to this statement, saying that while the hard copies of such assets and property-related documents have not been submitted to the central agency till 4.43 p.m., he is not aware if any soft copy has been submitted.

Justice Sinha then directed the ED to take necessary action as per legal provisions if the documents are not submitted to the agency within the specified time period.

However, at around 10.15 p.m., information came from agency insiders that at the last moment, the documents concerned have been submitted at the EDas office in the form of hard copies.

As per last week's order of the Calcutta High Court, Banerjee had to submit all documents related to his assets and properties to the ED by the midnight of October 10, and the central agency, after examining the documents, will have to decide by October 12 whether it will issue a summon to Banerjee in connection with the multi-crore cash for school jobs case in West Bengal.

The court had also directed the ED to get the documents examined by experts specialising in handling matters related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Patna, Oct 10 : A 15-year-old teenager girl was critically injured after she fell off the Hiranya mountain in Bihar's Nalanda district, an official said on Tuesday.

The victim, along with her friend, went to the Hiranya mountain on Monday evening and were sitting beyond the barricade of Lord Shiva temple.

Falling off the 300 feet mountain, she got struck in the bushes 60 feet down. Some people present there raised the alarm and local youths managed to go there and rescue the girl. The victim was taken to Sadar hospital in Bihar Sharif where the doctors gave primary treatment and referred to Pawapuri medical college and hospital.

The district police are waiting for her recovery to take a statement. They are also searching for her friend to fight out the actual reason - if she fell down accidentally while taking a selfie, was thrown, or attempted to commit suicide.

"We have not received any complaint in this matter. We are waiting for the recovery of the victim to know the actual reason for the incident. The matter is under investigation," Sohsarai police station SHO Raj Mani said.
Imphal, Oct 10 : Citing the Supreme Court's order, the Manipur government on Tuesday asked people not to encroach the properties of those who had fled because of the ethnic violence since May 3 in the state, as this could aggravate the law and order situation.

Amid the five-month long ethnic strife in Manipur, approximately 70,000 men, women and children belonging to Meitei, Kuki-Zo, and other communities have been displaced and are now sheltered in 350 camps set up in schools, government buildings, and auditoriums in Manipur while several thousand sought refuge in the neighbouring states including Mizoram.

Commissioner, Home, T. Ranjit Singh in an order said that the Supreme Court after a Special Leave Petition (Civil) on September 25 asked the state to protect the religious buildings from encroachment and the buildings be protected from damage or destruction.

"The Government of Manipur should ensure the protection of the properties of the displaced persons as well as the properties which have been destroyed or burnt in the violence and prevent their encroachment. In case any property has been encroached, the encroachers are directed to forthwith remove their encroachment, failing which the person concerned would be liable for contempt of court for non-compliance of the orders of the Supreme Court of India," the government order said quoting the apex court direction.

Singh, in his order, said that respective Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all districts have been advised suitably to take action to implement the directions of the Supreme Court.

"No individual or organisations without any exception shall violate the orders passed by the Supreme Court under any circumstances. Anybody found violating the same shall be booked under relevant provision of law of the land for the time being in force and shall be liable for contempt of the Supreme Court," the order said.

It said that the state government also appeals to all concerned including public functionaries to comply with the court's orders to avoid any contempt proceedings.

Recently, there were some incidents reported in different districts that some people have tried to encroach properties and market places of displaced people to other communities. However, with the intervention of the security forces, the attempts were foiled.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 : With the Bihar government releasing its caste-based census report on October 2, it has given a fresh ammo to the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The party's highest decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), has passed a resolution saying that it will carry out nation-wide caste-based census if voted to power in next year's Lok Sabha polls.

The party feels that this is not a political move, but it's about over 50 per cent of the population not getting representation in the country.

While addressing a press conference at the party headquarters on Monday after the CWC meeting, Rahul Gandhi said, "We held a discussion on caste census at the CWC meeting, and a historic decision has been taken unanimously to support the process whole-heartedly.

"There was no one at the meeting who did not support this idea. Our CMs have also decided to conduct the caste census in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. This is a progressive and powerful step for the emancipation of poor people."

He also said that the Congress will put pressure on the BJP to conduct caste census because the country needs it.

"If BJP doesn't do this, it should get out of the way so that we can carry out the caste census," he said.

Speaking to IANS, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, who is also the chairperson of the social media and digital platforms, said, "We are not raising this issue so that it helps us politically. I think it's an issue that should be raised. A vast majority of our people - almost over 50 per cent - are not represented fairly."

Pointing out what Rahul Gandhi had said during the Parliament's Special Session, Shrinate said, "When Rahul Gandhi speaks about 90 secretaries in the government with only three belonging to OBC, it should concern us all. We should question as to why only 4 per cent professors across central universities are from the OBC community. We must ask why only 9 per cent of faculty in the IITs and 6 per cent in IIMs are from the SC, ST, OBC community."

The Congress leader also asked that how can we ensure equitable growth when in the last 10 years, literacy rate and purchasing power parity of OBCs have gone down.

"These are serious questions of representation, and not some political points to be scored," she added.

"Who are we to deny them representation? Absolutely, it should happen and I don't just think it will help us, but it will help the country as there will be more equable distribution of work, wealth resources and in the 21st century, you cannot live peacefully if the majority of the people don't have proper representation.

"So, I think it's more important that it happens, and the Congress is certain that it should happen and if the BJP fails to do it, we will force them to do it.If they can't, we will do it after we form our government in the next elections," she said.

Pointing out the caste-based census findings in Bihar, the Congress leader said that "we also need to look at the findings, as 84 per cent people belong to SC, ST and OBC communities."

Shrinate also pointed out that in the last five years, only 15 per cent IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers have come from the OBC community.

Meanwhile, a party leader wishing not to be named said that this issue will also help the Congress in combating BJP's politics of polarisation.

He pointed out that the way Congress suffered in the early '90s due to the Mandal Commission, the BJP may also suffer on the issue of caste-based census.

He said that Rahul Gandhi voicing his concern for caste-based census is giving a clear message of equal participation for everyone.
New Delhi/Jaipur, Oct 10 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said his OSD Lokesh Sharma was being unnecessarily harassed after the latter was called for questioning by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for the fifth time in connection with a phone tapping case.

Gehlot, who was in Delhi, told the mediapersons that Sharma was being harassed without any reason in the phone tapping case. "What is his fault?" the Rajasthan CM questioned.

"Lokesh Sharma said that the Union Minister is involved in the conspiracy to topple the government, the voice in the recording is his. You (referring the ruling BJP in the Centre) are unnecessarily harassing Lokesh Sharma. You could not topple the government. This is a pain for you... you are using your influence to file false cases. In the end, truth will prevail," he said.

Meanwhile, after his questioning on Tuesday, Sharma also claimed that the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has been harassing him unnecessarily.

He said that the Crime Branch has given notice for the 9th time and, called him again for questioning on Wednesday.

"Today, during the 4-hour questioning, the same questions were repeated as usual which I had answered previously. I am being called without any reason," he said.

The matter is related to the political crisis that rocked the political arena of Rajasthan in the year 2020.

Lokesh Sharma then released an audio clip to the media.

In the audio clip, there was a conversation between a person named 'Gajendra Singh', an MLA and a broker to topple the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government.

Soon after that, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, saying the phone calls of public representatives are being tapped to tarnish their image.

On March 25, 2021, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police had registered a case against OSD Lokesh Sharma.

After that, Lokesh Sharma filed a petition in the Delhi High Court.

During a hearing in the matter, the Delhi High Court stayed the arrest of Lokesh Sharma -- which remains intact even today.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday reached Sri Lanka on a two-day visit to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers meeting.

"Glad to be back in Colombo. Thank Dr. Suren Raghavan, State Minister for Higher Education for welcoming me. Will be attending the 23rd Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers meeting. India and Sri Lanka relationship continues to progress," he posted on X after arriving in Colombo.

Jaishankar will be in Sri Lanka till October 12. This is his second visit to Sri Lanka in 2023.

In Colombo, Jaishankar will attend the 23rd Council of Ministersa (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on October 11, hosted by Sri Lanka, the current IORA Chair.

At this meeting, India will assume the vice-chair role of IORA for 2023-25, leading to Chairship in 2025-27. The COM will review IORAas recent activities and outline future cooperation. Besides IORA engagements, he will have bilateral meetings in Colombo.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Oct 10 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday directed officials to resolve the issue of mining leases of the Forest Department by creating a single window system.

In his remarks at a review meeting of Forests and Mines and Geology Departments here, he said that separate meetings of Mines and Geology, Revenue, and Forest Departments should be held by the Ministers and the officials to resolve the forest clearance and other permissions from the Forest Department to the companies that have leased mines in the state.

It was discussed in the meeting that many cases are pending before the Forest Department for disposal, and the officers said that the mining lease companies have not given land for compensatory afforestation.

As officials said that there are farmers in Hassan and some other parts of the state who are willing to sell agricultural land due to attacks by elephants and other wildlife, the Chief Minister said that the mining companies can purchase land from such farmers by paying a suitable price.

It was suggested to discuss and settle the issue of handing over the land of KIOCL Kudremukh, owned by the Centre, to the state Forest Department.

The Chief Minister also instructed that the Forest Department should not give undue trouble to the Department of Mines and Geology and there should be no unnecessary delay. He asked officials to proceed in the matter of auctioning of 25 million tonnes of ore of Forest Department only after taking the opinion of the Advocate General in this regard.

The officers said that, with respect to major minerals and minor minerals, till the end of September, Rs 3,276 crore of revenue has been collected for year 2023-24. The Chief Minister also suggested that action should be taken to prevent unnecessary leakage of royalties which is collected by the government and the vigilance team should take action from time to time in this regard.

Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre, Mines and Geology Minister S.S. Mallikarjun and senior officials were present in the meeting.
United Nations, Oct 11 : Russia lost its bid to regain a seat on the Human Rights Council, failing to get enough votes in elections on Tuesday after having been ousted from it last year.

China and Cuba, however, were elected to the Council by the General Assembly in secret ballots despite their questionable human rights records. Both countries are on the Council with terms ending this year and will serve another three-year term starting next year till 2026 end.

The 15 seats that came up by rotation for election this year to the 47-member Geneva-based Council were distributed according to its regional quotas, although all the 193 UN members vote on them.

There were contests only in the East European and the Latin American and Caribbean groups while the number of contestants matched the vacancies in the Asian and Western groups making their contests only a matter of formality, although reflecting on the popularity of the countries in the race.

Russia polled only 83 votes, the lowest of any country, and lost to Bulgaria which received 160 votes and Albania which got 123 for the two vacancies in the East European Group.

In the Latin American and Caribbean group, Cuba was elected with 146 votes, Brazil with 144, and Dominican Republic with 137. Peru, which polled only 108 votes lost.

China was elected to one of the four vacancies in the Asian group with 154 votes, along with Indonesia that received 186 votes a" the highest of any country, Kuwait that polled 183 votes, and Japan that got 175.

In other uncontested elections, the Netherlands and France were elected for the Western Group, and Burundi, Ghana. Malawi and Cote daIvoire for the African Group.

After it invaded Ukraine, the General Assembly voted to remove Russia from the Council in April last year.

At that time 93 countries voted to remove it, while 58 countries abstained, and only 24 voted against its removal.

Russia has increased its support to 83, which is only one vote more than those who abstained and those who voted against ouster.

Ahead of Tuesdayas election, Moscow prepared a defence of its defeat when its Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia asserted the USas "main phobia" is his countryas election to Council and was campaigning against it. He was speaking at Monday's Security Council meeting on Ukraine, which turned into a campaign spot for the election. US Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood said that it would be an "ugly stain" on the UN if Russia was elected while Albaniaas Permanent Representative Ferit Hoxa urged against voting for Moscow as a matter of credibility.

Chinaas election was not controversial as it had the unanimous support of the Asia Group and no one opposed it. India was re-elected to the Council in 2021 after completing a three-year term, but when its tenure ends next year. it is barred by Council rules against serving more than two consecutive terms.

Pakistan completes its term at the end of this year and could not run for re-election because it is serving its second consecutive term, having been elected in 2017 and 2020. Nepal will be ending its term on the Council at the end of this year and Bangladesh in 2025.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 : Lava International MD Hari Om Rai, who was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case on Tuesday, was approached by China's Vivo for helping them in establishing their business in India and, through his statutory auditor Rajan Malik, provided the corporate entity for establishment of the Vivo brand in India, the agency said.

The Enforcement Directorate, in its remand note, alleged that Rai was well acquainted with Malik.

"Vivo, China approached Rai for helping them in establishing their business. Thereafter, Rai arranged funds and Malik provided the corporate entity, namely Labquest Engineering Pvt Ltd, for establishment of Vivo brand in India," it said.

The ED also alleged that initial funding of Rs 3.17 crore for the purpose of setting up of offices or residential accommodation of Chinese nationals of Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd and its state distributor companies was provided by Rai and his company Lava International to Labquest Engineering.

It said that "no agreement" was executed between Labquest Engineering and Lava International for such transfer of funds.

"Furthermore, no collateral or security was given by Labquest towards Lava International for these fund transfers. This clearly shows that these fund transfers were not genuine business transactions. From May 2014 to December 2014 Lava International had transferred funds totaling to Rs 2.62 crore to the account of Labquest Engineering Pvt Ltd," the ED said.

Rai and Labquest Engineering had also helped Chinese Individuals associated with Vivo in their setup across India by arranging funds for the purpose of security deposit and in acquiring or arranging office spaces for the company and its other state distributor companies through their network across India.

"The help was not limited to monetary only; rather Labquest Engineering Pvt Ltd had authorised the employees of Lava International to execute the lease deeds for acquiring office spaces," the financial probe agency said.

The agency said that for instance in Mumbai, Lava International employees Amit Rai and Abhishek Jain had witnessed the execution deed between owners of the property and on behalf of Labquest Engineering and the said office space was used by Joinmay Electronics Pvt Ltd to carry out their business in Maharashtra.

Rai, during his statement, also admitted that there may be other people for whom the invitation letter may have been issued by Lava International, at the request of the office of Shen Wei, CEO of Vivo China.

The ED also alleged that it also found grave violation of employment visa rules for entry into India of office bearers by Vivo, China and its related companies in India

"Rai during his statement admitted that he was known to Shen Wei, CEO of BBK Technology Communication Co, Ltd. Therefore, the company Lava International Ltd has issued invitation letter for business visa for following Chinese nationals associated with Vivo Mobile Communication Co, Ltd, China and other Chinese entities," it alleged.

The ED also said that many employees of Vivo group companies worked in India without appropriate visa and in violation of business visa terms.

"Documents collected so far during investigation have revealed that at least 30 Chinese individuals entered India using business Visa with the intent to work as employees in Vivo companies. Though they worked for Vivo companies in India, they never disclosed Vivo companies as their employer in their visa applications. Thus, they have concealed information regarding their employer in their visas application and cheated Indian Embassy or Missions in China," it said.

The agency also said that during investigation, it came to light that various Chinese nationals have been traveling across India including sensitive places of J&K and Ladakh in gross violation of Indian visa conditions.

The ED earlier in the day arrested three executive of the Chinese mobile phone maker identified as Chinese national Guangwen Kyang aka Andrew Kuang, Malik, and chartered accountant Nitin Garg, as well as Rai.

The court sent them to three days of the ED custody.

The ED action comes almost more than a year after it carried out searches at 48 locations across the country belonging to Vivo Mobiles India Pvt Ltd and its 23 associated companies such as GPICPL and claimed that it has busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

According to the ED, Vivo Mobiles India Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August 1, 2014 as a subsidiary of Hong-Kong based Multi Accord Ltd and was registered at ROC Delhi. GPICPL was registered on December 3, 2014 at ROC Shimla, with registered addresses of Solan, Himachal Pradesh and Gandhinagar, Jammu.

"The said company was incorporated by Zhengshen Ou, Bin Lou and Zhang Jie with the help of Nitin Garg, CA. Bin Lou left India on April 26, 2018. Zhengshen Ou and Zhang Jie left India in 2021," it had said.

The PMLA investigation by the ED was initiated by registering a money laundering case on February 3, 2022 on the basis of an FIR registered at the Kalkaji police station in the national capital by the Delhi Police against GPICPL and its Director, shareholders and certifying professionals, etc., on the basis of complaint filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The ED's probe had revealed that the same director of GPICPL, namely Bin Lou, was also an ex-director of Vivo. He had incorporated multiple companies across the country spread across various states, a total of 18 companies around the same time, just after the incorporation of Vivo in the year 2014-15 and further another Chinese national Zhixin Wei had incorporated further 4 companies.

The ED had alleged that these companies are found to have transferred huge amount of funds to Vivo India.

"Further, out of the total sale proceeds of Rs 1,25,185 crores, Vivo India remitted Rs 62,476 crores. i.e, almost 50 per cent of the turnover out of India, mainly to China," the ED had claimed.

"These remittances were made in order to disclose huge losses in Indian incorporated companies to avoid payment of taxes in India," it had said.

Following the searches at multiple locations across the country, the agency had seized 119 bank accounts of various entities with gross balance to the tune of Rs 465 crores including FDs to the tune of 66 crores of Vivo India, 2kg gold bars, and cash amount to the tune of approximately Rs 73 lakh, the ED had said.
WASHINGTON D.C., Feb. 5, 2016 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing on U.S. foreign policy at the Foreign Press Center in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Jiao Min/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Washington, Oct 11 : US Coordinator for the National Security Council (NSC), John Kirby has said that the government has no intentions to intervene militarily in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The US government will "protect and defend its national security interests wherever they are, including in that part of the world" (Gaza) but has no intention to "put US (military) boots on the ground", Kirby said on Tuesday in response to a question if the US would intervene militarily if Iran or terror outfit Hezbollah were also to be drawn into the conflict.

Kirby, addressing a media briefing at the White House, said that the movement of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group into the Eastern Med was a step in that direction, protecting American interests overseas. President Joe Biden will "always make sure that we are protecting and defending our national security interests wherever those interests are, including particularly in that part of the world".

He further said that the President has spoken with "many of our allies and partners -- including the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the UK -- just this afternoon to help coordinate our efforts in the war torn region".

President Biden has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu twice assuring him that the US will stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel in the current situation.

In response to Hamas' attacks, President Biden directed his team to "do everything we can to ensure that the government of Israel has what it needs. At his direction, our military began shipping military aid to Israel and the Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has adjusted our force posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts".

"Our teams at the White House and across the US government have been in close contact with our Israeli partners and are working with our regional partners to warn anyone who might seek to take advantage in this situation against taking hostile action," Kirby said while answering to questions on Iran and Hezbollah "exploiting the situation".

"Terrorism is never justified, and what we have seen Hamas do is appalling and horrific. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people in this moment of crisis for them. And in keeping with that commitment, you will also see that they will light the White House up tonight in blue and white in honour of Israeli colours and the Israeli flag.That will -- that will take place right after sundown.

"We will have more assistance to announce over the coming days to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe that they can or should try to seek advantage from the current situation,"he said.

"The US government is doing everything we can to determine the whereabouts of these U.S. citizens.The President has directed his team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," Kirby asserted.

The first tranche of additional security assistance is being delivered to Israel.
New Delhi, Oct 11 : The Delhi Police have registered an FIR against a realtor for allegedly cheating a person of more than Rs one crore after selling him a flat in north Delhi which was later demolished by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), an official said on Tuesday.

According to the FIR accessed by IANS,complainant Masud Alam alleged that builder Mohd. Gulfam Qureshi in collusion with property owner Anshul Goel duped him of Rs 1,36,00,000 in the garb of selling a property situated in Model Basti, Bara Hindu Rao.

The real owner of the property represented that he has all the sanctions and permissions to develop the property as per rules and bylaws from the local authorities.

Qureshi further represented that he has extensive goodwill and experience in building construction lines and is a man of reputation in the field and will develop the property including the third floor with all fitting, fixtures, flooring etc. within a time-bound manner, the FIR stated.

After making the payment, on September 9, 2021, the complainant visited the property and was completely shocked to learn that it had been sealed by the MCD.

"Thereafter, the team from Municipal Corporation came and demolished the superstructure as well as floors of the entire property including floor and ceiling of complainant's third floor," the FIR registered on October 7, 2023, added.

The matter came to light after an application was filed in a Delhi court. On September 27, the court directed the Sadar Bazar police station in north Delhi to file a conclusive status report.

Recently, the Delhi Police informed the court that they had registered an FIR in connection with the matter.

The matter is in Metropolitan Magistrate Arjinder Kaur court where Sumit Gehlot, the counsel for the complainant, had submitted that the builder and the owner sold a flat in Delhi to his client, Masud Alam, without the requisite permission and it was later demolished by the MCD.

Alam paid a total amount of Rs 1,08,50,000 for the flat from August 2019 to July 2021.

The FIR was lodged against the duo under sections 420 (cheating), 406 (punishment for committing criminal breach of trust) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 10. Kyrgyzstan has seen a slight year-on-year increase in crude oil production from January through August 2023, Trend reports.

Data from the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan reveals that during this period, the country extracted 199,200 tons of crude oil, an upswing of 6.4 percent compared to the same period in 2022, when 187,300 tons were produced.

In August, crude oil production saw a slightly larger increase, rising by 15.3 percent year-on-year, reaching 28,600 tons compared to 24,800 tons in August 2022.

In comparison to the 275,700 tons produced in 2021, Kyrgyzstan's crude oil production in 2022 showed a 7 percent increase, totaling 295,100 tons.

The majority of this oil, specifically 283,300 tons, was produced in the Jalal-Abad region, located in the southwest of the country. The Batken region, the second-largest oil-producing region, contributed 11,800 tons to the total production.

The total value of industrial production in Kyrgyzstan for the period from January through August 2023 amounted to approximately 289 billion soms ($3.2 billion), with a 0.3-percent year-on-year increase.
New blood and inventive programming were two of the reasons this years Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Associations fall conference in Denver was so exciting, said Meg Sherman, field sales manager for W.W. Norton and a former bookseller. Mountains and Plains this year is equal parts people whove been doing this for a while and new people. The elders are stepping back and sent new booksellers to Denver. One of the most exciting things about this show is that were meeting the next generation of booksellers. My hope is that theyre booksellers for life," Sherman said.

Not only were there 19 new bookstore members among the representatives of 72 bookstores from 12 states attending the show, but there were also about 30 first-timers from established bookstores in attendanceincluding Brad Dempsey, interim CEO, since July, of Denvers Tattered Cover Book Store, an attorney whose expertise is in business restructurings. His mandate was twofold, Dempsey told PW: place Tattered Cover on a more solid financial footing and repair relationships with the community after a tumultuous period under the store's previous leadership. Dempsey's predecessor, Kwame Spearman, stepped down as CEO in April to pursue a career in politics, although he remains a co-owner.

Even the American Booksellers Associations top executives, who usually attend the regionals, stepped back this year, Sherman noted: education director Kim Hooyboer, advocacy associate manager Philomena Polefrone, and member relations and registrations coordinator Cedar Fields represented the organization in the exhibit hall, and Hooyboer led Saturdays education session on handling crises. All three were first-time Mountains & Plains attendees.

Sherman also praised MPIBA for trying new things. She cited as examples this years Exhibit Hall Walkthrough, led by MPIBA executive director Heather Duncan and geared towards first-time attendees, which took place on Thursday evening, and Fridays "The Expert Is In: Ask An Expert" table, staffed in hour-long slots throughout the day by pairs of veteran booksellers who fill different roles: store buyers, events coordinators, and receiving/returns managers, concluding with owners.

There was a mob of booksellers doing the tour, and people were waiting at the Ask An Expert table this morning long before the two buyers got there, Sherman said. Pointing to the table, situated outside the exhibit hall, Sherman explained, [Boulder Book Store, Boulder, Colo. lead buyer] Arsen Kashkashian is sitting there right now. Arsen is one of the best buyers in the industry. You cant just get that kind of knowledge on your own.

Publisher Kirsten Johanna Allen at Torrey House Press also expressed excitement at the number of first-time attendees at the show, declaring that MPIBA has been nurturing new booksellers in a way that I havent seen before as a publisher. Their outreach has become so robust.

Allen said that MPIBA has really helped us make the most of this show, beginning with the first conference the Utah-based press attended in 2011 a year after the company's launch. Torrey House connected with a Consortium rep at that gathering and subsequently signed on as a client. This year, Betsy Gaines Quammen, the author of True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America (Torrey House, Oct.), was one of the speakers at Fridays Bestsellers for Breakfast: Keynote Authors.

It means a lot to us as a small press to have as much care and attention as we receive here every year, Allen said.

Books Create Buzz

Several booksellers told PW after the breakfast that they were not familiar with Quammen, but were eager to readand then to handsellTrue West after hearing Quammen relate her experiences interviewing ranchers and other men living in rural parts of the western and southwestern U.S. Navied Mahdavian also created buzz with his presentation promoting This Country (Chronicle/ Princeton Architectural Press, Sept.), his just-published debut graphic memoir, relating how he moved from San Francisco to a cabin off the grid in Idaho after the 2016 election and how he, an Iranian-American Muslim, confronted the political shifts in rural America.

Other new releases that excited MPIBA booksellers included Jesmyn Wards Let Us Descend (Scribner, Oct.), which Boulder Books Kashkashian described as brilliant; Ross Gays The Book of (More) Delights (Algonquin, Sept.); and Dan Gemeinharts Coyote Lost and Found (Henry Holt BYR, Mar. 2024). Julie Shimada, the childrens buyer for Marias Bookshop in Durango, Colo. squealed with joy as she grabbed an advance bound manuscript from the Holt rep, describing it as the long-awaited and eagerly-awaited sequel to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, a 2020 release.

Its been a strong fall in a lot of categories, noted Boulder Book Store marketing & promotions manager Stephanie Schindhelm, It makes it easy to put together a holiday gift guide.

Even though Mountains & Plains took place during Banned Books Week and had just kicked off when the U.S. Appeals Court for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Texass controversial book law, HB 900, will go into effect while the appeals process plays out, booksellers did not let the controversies roiling the world outside the Renaissance Denver Central Park Hotel dampen their spirits. A few keynote authors, however, did bring up current events during their presentations. Carl Hiaasen (Wrecker, Knopf, Sept.), who lives in Florida, speculated during his Children's Authors & Illustrators Keynote Breakfast presentation that everyone on the mornings slate of speakers is going to be on Governor DeSantiss list of books banned in the Sunshine States school districts and urged booksellers to keep up the great work of putting books in childrens hands.

During her Friday morning presentation promoting the latest romance novel in her Dark Olympus series, Katee Robert, author of Midnight Ruin (Sourcebooks Casablanca, Jan.), emphasized the essential role booksellers play in the publishing industry, but even more so, in the outside world, especially now as the cultural wars continue to escalate.

Everyone deserves to see themselves in the pages of the books they read, Robert declared. And because we live in a capitalist hellscape, money talks. By putting queer books, trans books, Black books, Indigenous books, books by authors of color, disabled books into your readers hands, you are telling the gatekeepers of publishing that those stories are valued and that there is an audience for them. Booksellers, she insisted, have the power to create demand for more books for readers who arent cis-het-white, adding, In a time when so many marginalized communities are under active attack, that is revolutionary. Joy is revolutionary.




Kids love getting scared, said Anna Bloom, senior editor at Scholastic, in a recent interview with PW about the rise of horror fiction for young readers. [Its] one of those evergreen categories because it feels exciting and even a little bit dangerous to directly confront the things that scare us, she added. As Halloween approaches, weve gathered a selection of eerie titles for kids and teens of all ages, including cute yet creepy picture books, haunting middle-grade mysteries, YA tales of terror, and much more.

Picture Books and Board Books

Alphabeasts: A Monstrously Fun Book

Hazel Quintanilla. Flowerpot, $17.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4867-2781-0. Ages 47. The Monsterloversa crew of smiling kids who carry folders, cameras, and walkie-talkiesintroduce brief profiles of 26 mythical creatures, as compiled by the international organization in charge of researching and protecting monsters from around the world. Each critters lighthearted dossier includes a physical description and location, an interesting fact, and a danger level, as well as distinguishing traits.

An Ofrenda for Perro

Judith Valdes B., illus. by Carlos Velez Aguilera. Little Bee, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-499-81387-6. Ages 48. When beloved dog Perro dies suddenly, the event hits young Benito hard. But Mama and Papa encourage him to take part in the rituals of the upcoming Dia de Muertos, including collecting marigolds for the family ofrenda. In celebrating the holiday, Benito begins to find peace.

Apple vs. Pumpkin

Jeffrey Burton, illus. by Lydia Jean. Little Simon, $7.99 (22p) ISBN 978-1-66593-632-3. All ages. Thick-lined cartoon apples and pumpkins debate which best represents autumn in Burton and Jeans seasonal tour. Further campaigning takes similar forms, with the opponents comparing their roles as comestibles, sweet sayings, and resemblance to changing leaf colors.

Benita and the Night Creatures

Mariana Llanos, illus. by Cocoretto. Barefoot, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 979-8-88859-002-7; $9.99 paper ISBN 979-8-88859-003-4. Ages 49. Figures of Peruvian folklore cannot tear Benita, a pigtailed, bespectacled child, away from a book in this humorous tale. Illustrating duo Cocoretto put their bold stamp on creatures of lore, while play-by-play text from Llanos establishes the childs single-minded pursuit of reading and the beasts comic surprise.

The Boo Crew Needs YOU!

Vicky Fang, illus. by Saoirse Lou. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $12.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-72826-456-1. Ages 38. Theres something strange in the neighborhood on Halloween, and readers know who theyre gonna call in Fangs rhyming interactive romp. Touching an illustrated button that reads Quick, PRESS HERE, the audience helps to summon the Boo Crewghost Luna, skeleton Bones, and vampire Fangwhich solicits assistance to put things right.

Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow

Ryan T. Higgins. Disney-Hyperion, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-368-05958-9. Ages 35. In this holiday-themed addition to the Mother Bruce series, the grumpy bears family of mice and geese decides the only way to get Bruce excited about Halloween is to tell a scary story.

Dia de Muertos

Dori Elys, illus. by Alicia Mas. Little Simon, $8.99 (14p) ISBN 978-1-665-93942-3. All ages. Latinx-cued characters invite readers to celebrate Dia de Muertos in Elyss lift-the-flap board book, educating readers on what the holiday means and how to celebrate it.

Dia de Muertos: Numeros: A Day of the Dead Counting Book

Duncan Tonatiuh. Abrams Appleseed, $15.99 (24p) ISBN 978-1-419-76446-2. Ages 35. An array of figures, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, make additions that culminate in a bountiful altar full of food and drink, marigolds, and sugar skulls, among other items for a Dia de Muertos ofrenda.

The Goblin Twins

Frances Cha, illus. by Jaime Kim. Crown, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5934-8021-2. Ages 37. At 601 years old, goblin twins Doki and Kebi couldnt be more different. Learning that the abandoned house they live in will soon be demolished, the twins head for a place where people visit haunted houses desiring to be frightenedand land in New York City.

The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade!

Robert Burleigh, illus. by Wendell Minor. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-316-33197-5. Ages 48. Collaborators Burleigh and Minor present a parade of comically ugly, jack-o-lantern-headed zombies. As the characters march across the autumn countryside, the text asks readers to weigh in: Whos the scariest?/ Creep and crawl!/ Whos the strangest/ of them all?

Halloween Cuties (Piggyback Pals #1)

Joyce Wan. Cartwheel, $8.99 (10p) ISBN 978-1-338-89189-8. Ages up to 3. Several creatures, from a pumpkin to a bat to a spider, search for their friends to enjoy Halloween festivities.

Happy Halloweenie

Katie Vernon. Little Simon, $7.99 (30p) ISBN 978-1-66593-060-4. Ages 15. A Halloween-loving hot dog dons a number of costumes ranging from hairless earthworm to hairy Sasquatch in search of the perfect outfit.

If Animals Trick-Or-Treated

Ann Whitford Paul, illus. by David Walker. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $8.99 (24p) ISBN 978-0-374-39009-9. Ages up to 3. The popular Animals Kissed Good Night series, with more than two million copies in print, continues with this Halloween board book.

In the Dark

Kate Hoefler, illus. by Corinna Luyken. Knopf, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-37283-8. Ages 37. In this perspective-oriented picture book thats printed to flip vertically, the creators explore a community divided between a group dwelling in the woods and those who suspect they are witches.

Its Fall! (Celebrate the Seasons #1)

Renee Kurilla. Little, Brown, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-316-36399-0. Ages 48. A teachers prompt provides the narrative frame (In class, our teacher asks to hear/ what things we love this time of year), in response to which children of varying abilities and skin tones cite a range of emblematic pleasures. These include fuzzy socks and/ cozy clothes.// A scarf around/ my chilly nose, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze, candy buckets for trick-or-treating, honking geese, and watching the Thanksgiving parade on TV.

The Light Inside

Dan Misdea. Penguin Workshop, $8.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5935-2162-5. Ages 37. In paneled vignettes, a little humanoid figure with a round jack-o-lantern head depends on a beloved purple stuffed mouse to ward off the frightening dreamlike figures that seem suspended over the bed after lights-out. The book received a starred review from PW.

Lila and the Jack-o-Lantern: Halloween Comes to America

Nancy Churnin, illus. by Anneli Bray. Albert Whitman, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8075-6663-3. Ages 48. Lila and her siblings emigrate to the U.S. to escape the Potato Famine. Upon arrival, homesickness sets in, but Ma reassures: Soon it will be Halloween. Lila encounters a new friend at the market, as well as pumpkins, and a gourd proves to be an ideal replacement for the turnips carved back home to scare off spirit Jack on Halloween.

The Little Scottish Ghost

Franz Hohler, illus. by Werner Maurer. NorthSouth, $19.95 (48p) ISBN 978-0-7358-4509-1. Ages 48. Father Ghost and Mother Ghost, though tired of haunting a castle in Scotland, do their best to school Little Ghost in frightening the castles human hosts. But when Little Ghosts attempts elicit affection rather than fear, her parents send her to take lessons from the weirdest, scariest ghost in all Scotland.

Melvina Whitmoore (More or Less a Horror Story)

Faith Capalia. HarperCollins, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-324782-6. Ages 48. Melvina hopes to find refuge from all things scary in a spiffy new house. But the first night of settling in doesnt go as planned: Melvina discovers that the monstrous figures who chase her through the hallwayssome wearing party hatsmerely want to welcome her.

Meowl-O-Ween

Diane Muldrow, illus. by Tiffany Chen. Astra, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-66260-200-9. Ages 37. The kitties form a quiet-footed fleet thats out to scare trick-or-treaters with /a / yowl! Meanwhile a kitten that is frightened by the commotion awaits its mother before a fuzzy reunion.

The Monster Mac and Cheese Party

Todd Parr. Little, Brown, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-316-37642-6. Ages 48. The menu (cheesy mac) and guest list (NO HUMANS! OR ELSE!) are set for a monsters-only bash, and Parr introduces a cheery, Halloween-flavored cast of revelers for the occasion.

Monsters Never Get Haircuts

Marie-Helene Versini, illus. by Vincent Boudgourd. Boxer, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-914912-73-3. Ages 36. Adding to the titular pronouncement, Versini supplies a quirky catalog of human behaviors, listing a number of things that monsters dont do.

Monster-Scared

Betina Birkjr, trans. from the Danish by Katrine gaard Jensen and Orien Longo, illus. by Zarah Juul. Transit, $18.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-945492-74-7. Ages 38. A child in a horned cap narrates, describing how the hats long ears help them detect a monsters quiet sounds. Despite their mother not believing them, the child remains alert, and begins scheming to vanquish the creature.

Obscura the Cat Sees Beyond

Ben Franchi, illus. by Cheyenne Bigham. Brown, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-61254-565-3. Ages 510. When shy green-eyed cat Obscuras owners head to their office on the top floor, the ancient new house that Obscura now calls home reveals the presence of ghouls, freaks, and creeps of all kinds.

Pumpkin Day at the Zoo

Susan Meissner, illus. by Pablo Pino. Tommy Nelson, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4002-4338-9. Ages 48. Voracious animals chow down throughout this account of an autumnal highlight: a zoos post-Halloween pumpkin day.

Remembering

Xelena Gonzalez, illus. by Adriana M. Garcia. Simon & Schuster, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-534-49963-8. Ages 48. Following the death of family dog Simon, a Latinx-cued child readies for Dia de Muertos to celebrate the beloved pets life. The book received a starred review from PW.

Si. No! (Skeletown #1)

Rhode Montijo. Little, Brown, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-316-46493-2. Ages 48. Set in a Dia de Muertosinspired world and using only two wordsSi and Nothis playful book from Montijo uses the concept of opposites to explore social dynamics.

Street Monsters

Barbara Joosse, illus. by Kevin M. Barry. Sleeping Bear, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5341-1272-8. Ages 67. Tucked into bed on a wintry night, a child hears frightening noises outside. Once the child grabs Papa,/ goggles,/ shield,/ and sword, the duo look out the window. The eerie noises emanating from what first appear to be fantastically fearsome creatures actually come from helping monsters that keep the city safely humming.

A Super Scary Narwhalloween

Ben Clanton. Tundra, $12.99 (76p) ISBN 978-0-7352-6674-2. Ages 69. In the eighth installment in the Narwhal and Jelly series, anxious Jelly just wants to hide on Halloween. But when a monster swallows up his best friend Narwhal, he learns to be brave.

Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire

Flavia Z. Drago. Candlewick, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-3332-2. Ages 37. The latest in The World of Gustavo series follows Vlad, a posy-cheeked vampire, who learns to love his cheeks that make him stand out among his vampire peers.

We Planted a Pumpkin

Rob Ramsden. Scallywag, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-912650-38-5. Ages 25. Starting with a packet of seeds, a child usually sporting overalls and a child generally clad in stripes attend a resultant plant across spring, summer, and fall. The children cheer while pollinators, raindrops, and rays of sun work their unhurried magic on the would-be squash.

The Wheels on the Costume

Cindy Jin, illus. by Lauren Lowen. Little Simon, $8.99 (12p). Ages 15. A child is excited for all the ways she can transform her wheelchair into a costume for Halloween.

Why Did the Monster Cross the Road?

R.L. Stine, illus. by Marc Brown. Orchard, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-3388-1525-2. Ages 48. Monster Hunny is feeling sad and grumpy, so a bigger monster, Funny, launches into a barrage of jokes, each one enacted in a vignette. See our In Conversation with collaborators Stine and Brown.

Witch & Wombat

Ashley Belote. Random House, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5935-6963-4. Ages 37. When the pet shop runs out of black cats, Wilma, a pigtailed young witch, is stuck with a wombat, which causes her to stick out like a sore thumb among her witchy peers.

Youre My Little Baby Boo

Nicola Edwards, illus. by Natalie Marshall. Silver Dolphin, $9.99 (18p) ISBN 978-1-66720-326-3. The latest in the Youre My Little series follows Halloween-themed characters sharing their love for a parent.

Novels and Graphic Novels

Alex Wise vs. the End of the World

Terry J. Benton-Walker. Labyrinth Road, $18.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-593-56429-5. Ages 812. Twelve-year-old Alex Wises summer is off to a rough start when he takes a cruise with his family, including his estranged father. To make matters worse, his sister is kidnapped and possessed by one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and its up to Alex to save her. See our Flying Starts interview with Benton-Walker.

Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters

Emi Pinto. HarperCollins, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-327572-0. Ages 812. In this Hansel and Gretelinspired ghost story, while vacationing with her family, 12-year-old Binita Bakshi discovers a magical house across the lake where she can be the version of yourself you want to be. But as her vacation becomes plagued by unsettling happenings, Bee endeavors to unravel the mystery behind the rumored Gingerbread Witch who lives near the lake.

The Bellwoods Game

Celia Krampien. Atheneum, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-66591-250-1. Ages 812. On Halloween in 1982, sixth grader Abigail Snook vanished from the Bellwoods while playing a game with a bully. As October 31 approaches in present-day Fall Hollow, the sixth graders of Beckett Elementary, including horror fan Bailee Heron, are preoccupied with that legend, which annually lures a group of classmates into the forest to play the Bellwoods Game.

Confessions of a Candy Snatcher

Phoebe Sinclair, illus. by Theodore Taylor III. Candlewick, $18.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-5362-1368-3. Ages 1014. Jonas and his friends have a holiday tradition of hustling younger kids out of their candy. But after something goes wrong on Halloween, Jonas begins receiving cryptic anonymous notes and searches for the perpetrator, while his everyday life unravels around him.

The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby

G.Z. Schmidt. Holiday House, $17.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5073-2. Ages 812. In the remote European town of Nevermore, a child disappears each year around All Hallows Evemost notably the mayors daughter, who vanished 13 years ago. In the present day, six unexpected invitations to the alleged perpetrators mansion bid guests to return for an October 31 gathering, and when the manor doors lock until midnight, the caper becomes a mystery meant to root out those responsible for the event. The book received a starred review from PW.

The Curse of the Eelgrass Bog

Mary Averling. Razorbill, $17.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-593-62490-6. Ages 812. Kess Pedrocks new friend Lilou needs her help unraveling a mystery that takes them to the creepiest part of their town, the Eelgrass Bog, known for being filled with creepy creatures with sinister intentions.

The Cursed Moon

Angela Cervantes. Scholastic Press, $18.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-338-81401-9. Ages 812. Mexican American 11-year-old Rafael Fuentes is warned by his neighbor about telling scary stories during the blood moon lest he awaken a restless spirit, but ignores her advice. After regaling his friends with his most terrifying yarn yet, about a specter that lures kids to their deaths in the local pond, strange things start happening.

Deephaven

Ethan M. Aldridge. Quill Tree, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-0632-8316-9. Ages 812. Nonbinary amateur inventor Guinevere Nev Tallow takes their curious invitation to Deephaven Academy as a chance to start over. Upon arrival at the secluded New England school, they quickly realize that the institution is hiding somethingand so are some of its students.

Extra Normal

Kate Alice Marshall. Viking, $18.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-593-52645-3. Ages 812. Though her adoptive siblings are a ghost, a boy with telekinesis, and a Deaf werewolf, 12-year-old Charlie Greerthe biological daughter of renowned paranormal investigatorsexhibits no unique abilities of her own. Charlie is uneasy around the Weaver family, a smiley couple and their son who move to the neighborhood, but when no one shares her distrust of the newcomers, Charlie begins to suspect that mind-control may be at play and engages in increasingly risky espionage.

Finch House

Ciera Burch. McElderry, $17.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-665930-54-3. Ages 812. When Micah discovers her grandfathers connection to a mysterious house in their neighborhood, and he disappears, Micah pays a visit and becomes trapped in an ever-shifting realm with ties to the past.

The Ghost Job

Greg Van Eekhout. HarperCollins, $19.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-06-325333-9. Ages 812. The ghosts of four middle schoolers killed in a science lab explosion are haunting their schools theater and engaging in heists of supernatural goods. When a ghost hunter comes looking for them, they learn that a wealthy necromancer is seeking ghosts, and possesses a device that can takeand restorelives.

Goosebumps House of Shivers: Scariest. Book. Ever.

R.L. Stine. Scholastic, $7.99 (160p). Ages 812. The legendary horror writer introduces a new gaggle of villains and monsters in his new series.

Grumbones

Jenn Bennett. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-66593-031-4. Ages 812. Helena Novaks search for her grandmothers ghost brings her to a crypt in the cemetery that leads directly to the underworld. Helena is determined to find her grandmother without getting caught by the Nightmare, who will keep her trapped there forever.

Hellaween

Moss Lawton. Razorbill, $22.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-5935-2429-9; $13.99 paper ISBN 978-0-593-52428-2. Ages 1014. Teenage human witch-in-training Gwenwho lives in the mortal world and must hide her powersreceives a grimoire that she and her friends hope will allow for easier year-round travel between realms.

If I Have to Be Haunted

Miranda Sun. HarperTeen, $19.99 (386p) ISBN 978-0-06-325276-9. Ages 13 and up. Chinese American Cara Tang is a ghost speaker who discovers the ghost and body of her classmate Zach. When Zach becomes trapped between life and death, with only seven days to find an antidote to resurrect him, Cara agrees to help, sending the two on a mission to a liminal world.

International House of Dereliction

Jacqueline Davies. Clarion, $18.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-06-325807-5. Ages 812. Alice Cannoli-Potchnik and her parents move into a run-down house, and while visiting the abandoned house next door, Alice finds herself in the company of several ghosts, all with unfinished business preventing them from passing on. The book received a starred review from PW.

It Found Us

Lindsay Currie. Sourcebooks, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-72825-949-9. Ages 813. Twelve-year-old Hazel Woods follows her older brother Den out to the cemetery to watch a game of hide-and-seek with Dens friends. But when one of Dens friends disappears, Hazel enlists the help of her friends to find him.

Last Exit to Feral

Mark Fearing. Holiday House, $21.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-8234-4866-1. Ages 812. In the second installment of the Frights from Feral series, investigators Freya and Monica notice the increasingly strange happening in their town. When it seems someone (or something) has taken up residence in the abandoned Messner Mansion, the duo gather their bravery for an inspection.

More Tales to Keep You Up at Night

Dan Poblocki, illus. by Marie Bergeron. Penguin Workshop, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-593-38750-4. Ages 10 and up. In the sequel to Tales to Keep You Up at Night 13 interconnected short stories follow bespectacled Amelia Turner-Ingersoll in the aftermath of her grandmothers disappearance.

Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror and Delight

Edited by Shelly Page and Alex Brown. Wednesday, $24 (304p) ISBN 978-1-2508-9298-0; $12 paper ISBN 978-1-250-89296-6. Ages 13 and up. Thirteen authors, including Kalynn Bayron, Vanessa Montalban, and editors Brown and Page, center queer teens navigating harrowing experiences in this Halloween-set horror anthology.

The Nighthouse Keeper

Lora Senf. S&S/Atheneum, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-66593-463-3. Ages 1012. Evie once again leaves her world behind to rescue Blight Harbors ghosts, in the second book in the Blight Harbor trilogy. See our q&a with Senf.

The Otherwoods

Justine Pucella Winans. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-5476-1254-3. Ages 812. River Rydell has so far managed to resist the call of the Otherwoods, a monster-ruled realm where the darkness of magic runs free. When the ever-pursuing Otherwoods snatches Rivers new friend, they ignore their self-preservation instincts and launch a rescue mission. The book received a starred review from PW.

Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters

Ciannon Smart. HarperCollins, $19.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-308125-3. Ages 812. On his birthday, the same day as All Hallows Eve, Black British 12-year-old Rayleigh Mann learns that hes a monsterling, and son of the infamous Bogey Manna legendary Supreme Scarerwhos gone missing.

Scarewaves

Trevor Henderson. Scholastic Press, $12.99 (208) ISBN 978-1-338-82950-1. Ages 912. In horror illustrator Hendersons middle grade debut, the children of a small town are the only ones aware of the eerie incidents happening in their community. With only a radiofor a guide, the group confronts the creatures quietly haunting their home.

Secrets Never Die

Vincent Ralph. Wednesday, $24 (368p) ISBN 978-1-2508-8213-4; $12 paper ISBN 978-1-2508-8215-8. Ages 13 and up. An annual tradition where a group of friends whisper their secrets in an abandoned shack in the woods takes a turn when an anonymous text messager threatens to reveal all of their secrets.

Secret of the Reaping

Kalynn Bayron. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-5476-1157-7. Ages 811. Boog and her best friends, Cedrick, Jules, and Aaron, must buckle down in their Vanquisher lessons when members of their community begin disappearing and the return of the vampires is being kept under wraps in the second book in The Vanquishers series. See our q&a with Bayron.

Spell of a Time

Sophie Escabasse. Random House Graphic, $13.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-593-56593-3. Ages 812. A trip to Coney Island turns into a magical adventure for best friends Effie and Garance when they learn of a missing mermaid in the fourth installment of the Witches of Brooklyn graphic novel series.

Stinetinglers 2: 10 More New Stories by the Master of Scary Tales

R.L. Stine. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-250-83631-1. Ages 811. In a sequel to Stinetinglers, Stine offers 10 new creepy short stories ranging in subject from children taking over the world to unexpected finds at a local zoo. Read more about the series and Stines forthcoming books.

The Witchs Wings and Other Terrifying Tales (Are You Afraid of the Dark? Graphic Novel #1)

Tehlor Kay Mejia. Amulet, $14.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-4197-6357-1. Ages 10 and up. Based on Nickelodeons hit horror franchise Are You Afraid of the Dark?, this book features three mysterious stories pulling from Hispanic urban legends and cultural lore.
In Queer History A to Z: 100 Years of LGBTQ+ Activism (Kids Can Press, May 2024), Robin Stevenson, who was recently honored with the Lieutenant Governors Award for Literary Excellence in British Columbia, explores the people, events, and circumstances that helped shape the rich history of LGBTQ+ activism in North America. Stevenson, a Stonewall Book Award recipient, spoke to PW about making queer history accessible to young readers, researching the topics featured in the book, facing down challenges to LGBTQ+ literature, and more.

How did you go about choosing the subjects to include in Queer History A to Z?

Queer history is complicated and endlessly fascinating  if I'd included everything I wanted to include, the book would have been a hundred times longer! In the end, I managed to narrow it down to a pretty diverse mix of people, places, concepts, and events, some that young readers may have already heard about and others that will likely be new to many of them. Of course, the A-to-Z format added an additional challenge (I had long lists of contenders for S and T, but X and Z were tricky!).

As you were researching for the book, did you come across any queer figures you hadnt known about previously? Or did you gain any new insights into queer history?

One piece of history that was new to me was the story of the Brunswick Four, four Canadian lesbians who were arrested 50 years ago after singing their own made-up queer lyrics at an open mic night at a Toronto bar! I also really enjoyed reading about Ernestine Eckstein, who joined the New York chapter of the lesbian rights organization Daughters of Bilitis in the 1960s. A Black lesbian, she brought a wealth of experience from her work with the civil rights movement, and she pushed the group to focus on building community and educating others through direct action.

From your perspective, why is it important for queer history to be shared with new generations of readers? And what can be done to push back against attempts at censorship of LGBTQ+ literature?

Queer people have always existed, but until fairly recently queer people were largely invisible in children's books about history. This wasn't merely inaccurate, but also harmful  especially for queer youth. All kids should be able to see people like themselves in history books, and all kids should be able to learn the history of the communities they are part of. And of course, learning about the long fight for LGBTQ+ rights isn't just important to queer youth  it's a part of the history of our countries, and all young people should be able to learn about it. History isn't just about the past: it is also about how we got to where we are now. The more young people know about history, the better they can understand the complexities of the world around them.

I think it's important to recognize how much is already being done: in communities all across the U.S. and Canada there are many people organizing and pushing back against book banning  because they believe kids have a right to read, to find answers to their questions, to know that they are not alone, to learn about others, to explore their own thoughts and beliefs and choices, and to develop a broader and deeper understanding of the world around them.

One easy thing people can do is to call or email their local school boards and libraries and let them know that they expect, support, and appreciate LGBTQ+-inclusive classrooms and bookshelves. The people challenging queer books  often without having read them  can be aggressive and intimidating, but they do not speak for the majority; we need to make sure that their voices are not the only ones heard and that misinformation and bigotry never go unchallenged.

We also need to continue writing and publishing and sharing these books and to resist any temptation to self-censor out of fear of challenges. And finally, we need to pay attention to our local elections, including school board and trustee elections, and vote for people who will stand up for diverse books and for young people's freedom to read and learn.

I hope readers enjoy the book, that it answers some of their questions, that it inspires them to learn more about LGBTQ+ history and rights, and that it encourages them to also speak up for what they believe is important.
Days after declining to lift an administrative stay, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has set an expedited schedule to hear the state's appeal of federal judge Alan D. Albright's decision to enjoin HB 900, Texas's controversial book rating law.

According to a scheduling order issued this week, the court will hear oral arguments on November 8. The state's appeal brief is due on October 20; the plaintiffs reply brief is due on October 30; amicus briefs are due on November 1; and the state's reply would be due November 3. That schedule could be delayed even longer, however, as the plaintiffs' lead attorney, Laura Prather, has a schedule conflict. In a motion filed late yesterday (which the state opposes) the plaintiffs have asked the court to move oral argument ideally to the week of December 4, but at least until the week of November 20.

The schedule comes after the court, in a two-line decision issued on October 5, said it would not hear the state's emergency motion for a stay separately and would jump to the state's challenge of Albright's preliminary injunction on the merits. However, the appeals court also declined to lift an administrative stay (issued without consideration of the merits of the case) it placed on Albright's injunctiona move that has effectively given the state its stay and has allowed the law to take effect despite being found unconstitutional.

Signed by Texas governor Greg Abbott on June 12, HB 900 requires book vendors, at their own expense, to review and rate books for sexual content under a vaguely articulated standard as a condition of doing business with Texas public schools. The law includes both the thousands of books previously sold to schools and any new books. Furthermore, the law gives the state the unchecked power to change the rating on any book, which vendors would then have to accept as their own or be barred from doing business with Texas public schools.

Administrative stays are commonly used to maintain the status quo until an appellate court can more fully consider arguments for emergency relief. And while it makes some sense that the Fifth Circuit would want to jump right to the state's appeal of Albright's injunctionafter all, the state's arguments for a stay are basically the same as its arguments for a reversalallowing the administrative stay to remain in effect is a puzzling decision, as it effectively moots the emergency relief the plaintiffs had sought and won from the district court, leaving booksellers in the state in a precarious position.

Staying the preliminary injunction would radically upend the status quo, the plaintiffs explained in an October 2 brief. Plaintiffs would be immediately prohibited from selling books to public schools because they would be unable to review and rate every book ever sold to a public school, as required. To lift the prohibition, Plaintiffs would need to undertake the painstaking process of reviewing and rating hundreds of thousands of books, which would significantly disturb Plaintiffs businesses and cause economic injury, the reallocation of significant resources, and the potential closure of independent booksellers throughout Texas. A stay would also require public schools to change the way they store and purchase books and impact public school students access to books. Under the status quo as it exists now (and has existed for 170 years)without Rating Provisionsnone of these impingements are present.

Although the Fifth Circuit could act quickly after hearing the case, it's worth noting that the court has yet to rule on an appeal of an injunction in another prominent Texas book banning case, Little v. Llano County, despite hearing oral arguments four months ago.

The appeal in this case comes after Albright orally enjoined the law at an August 31 hearing, following two previous hearings on the matter.

In a substantive 59-page written opinion and order, delivered on September 18, Albright called HB 900 a web of unconstitutionally vague requirements and said its burdens are so numerous and onerous as to call into question whether the legislature believed any third party could possibly comply.
Above, a snapshot of fraying Portland: A surveillance image of the at-large suspect in the attack on Dr. Mary Costantino, shown below just afterward. She notes her assailant's hand splayed in "hypertonic tension," suggesting a psychotic episode. "I recognize this as a physician a mile away," she says.

By Nancy Rommelmann, RealClearInvestigations

October 10, 2023

It was a great first date, two-plus hours of conversation and martinis at Portland's Driftwood Room, with its Rat Pack vibe and lighting that makes everyone look 25. Mary Costantino was twice that, as was her date, a fellow physician from out of town. By 10:40 he was walking Costantino to her car, on a block she'd been on thousands of times. She'd lived in the neighborhood 20 years; the city's best public high school, which her sons attended, was in eyesight. The couple held hands and chatted as they moved down the street.

Mary Costantino: "Just us walking and talking and then I was hit on the side of the head."

And then Costantino wasn't moving. She was on the ground, her vision blurring, her mouth full of blood.

"There was no yelling, there was no sound of feet hitting the pavement," she recalls, of the July 28 incident. "It was just us walking and talking and then I was hit on the side of the head."

More like her face. What Costantino says "felt like a brick" turned out to be a metal water bottle, hurled by a man who, surveillance video would show, looked like any number of men on the streets of Portland: white, 30s, beard, dark hoodie, backpack. A man who, when confronted by Costantino's date, shouted "She knows what she did!" before stumble-running into the night.

Costantino registered none of this. She was concerned with getting the bleeding under control, bleeding and shaking that made it difficult for several minutes to unlock her phone and call 911. She did not hear her assailant yell that she had somehow harmed him. It was only later while watching the video that she noticed his hands.

Mary Costantino: "It is inhumane, how we are allowing people who are psychotic or on drugs to live," she says.

"They were in hypertonic extension," she says, of her assailant's fingers, which he held splayed and tensed and away from his body. Having tended to people in drug and mental health crises, it looked to Costantino as though her assailant was in the midst of a psychotic episode.

"I recognize this as a physician a mile away," she says. "And the fact that he backed off when my friend confronted him, this poor person has seen some hard, hard times. This person needs to be in a safe place for himself, be fed, be nourished, be medicated, be cared for."

Instead, he and thousands of others living on the streets of Oregons largest city are on their own, despite the safety nets Portland has in place to help the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill. Which is among the reasons Costantino does not so much hold her assailant accountable as the city itself.

"It is inhumane, how we are allowing people who are psychotic or on drugs to live," she says. "It's inhumane."

The City of Roses, Wilting

A city buckling under its ostensible benevolence: Portland during the 2020 BLM riots.

The question of what constitutes humanity is at the heart of Constantinos attack and the tensions in Portland, a city buckling under the weight of its ostensible benevolence. Few U.S. cities have offered as fertile an environment for drug addiction and homelessness to take root, via hands-off policies and the idea that a moral society is a tolerant society -- all of which might have stood a fighting chance, had the riots and violence of 2020 not kneecapped a city already struggling under COVID.

That was then: In 2017, permissiveness toward sleeping rough, a problem that only got worse.

With whole blocks boarded up, people exploited Portland's liberal public camping policies and overtook much of downtown, as well as other parts of this city of 635,000. There are 6,297 homeless recorded in surrounding Multnomah County today, compared with 3,120 in 2020. Many, like the man some believe to be Constantinos assailant, are in the grip of addiction. (The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ranked Oregon as having the second-highest drug and alcohol addiction in the nation by percentage of population, after Montana, and last in access to drug treatment.) The criminality that often attends addiction has risen accordingly. Robberies were up 50% in 2022 alone, and according to the Portland Police Bureau, there were more than 10,000 assaults between July 2022 and July 2023.

The decline of civic safety was driven by another 2020 event, the passage of Oregon Ballot Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act. Measure 110's stated aim  that "a health-based approach to addiction and overdose is more effective, humane and cost-effective than criminal punishments"  was in line with Oregon's promotion of harm reduction policies over incarceration, and the measure passed with more than 58% of the vote.

This is now: For a semblance of safety, Portland this summer enacted a conditional ban on public drug use.

The problem proved to be in implementation. Although the 2014 legalization of cannabis for adult use authorized the allocation of tax revenue to treat substance abuse, the $302 million earmarked for 110's "treatment and recovery" went mostly undistributed; an April 2022 audit showed that, due to bureaucratic hold-ups, $276 million failed to reach providers. With the spigot for treatment and recovery services essentially turned off, the city was flooded with people under no threat of punishment for public drug use, and little to no state help to stop using. And the opiate of choice was now synthetic fentanyl, stronger and as addictive but cheaper than heroin  as little as $1 a pill, which, crushed and smoked, can keep a user high for about an hour. Eleven people overdosed downtown during a 12-hour period in April, many around an abandoned retail plaza turned open-air drug market; three died. Bike cops in downtown Portland can find themselves using Narcan  a medication that reverses opioid overdose  multiple times a day, sometimes on the same people.

"It's like an episode of meth-fentanyl TV down here," a downtown restaurateur said in June. "We need triage."

With a public increasingly demanding a semblance of safety downtown, the Portland City Council voted 5-0 in August to ban public drug use. Hurdles include getting Oregon to change state law, as well as policies imposed by the Multnomah County Health Department. The county was set to distribute free tin foil and straws to fentanyl smokers -- given that heroin use was down and with it demand for free needle exchanges -- but a public outcry in July scotched the plan.

"Oregon's become a guinea pig for the rest of the free world to see if this would even work. And it hasn't," says Ben West, commissioner for Clackamas County, which borders Portland but shares few of its social ills. West, a first-term Republican and registered nurse, has pushed his county to fund recovery-oriented systems and make addiction and mental health treatment available. Like Costantino, he is familiar with the physical and emotional hardships those living on the streets face, and sees the policies pushed by Portland, which he characterizes as "perpetually caught in adolescence," as cruel and enabling.

"They created the environment that fostered the behavior," he says. "They want to make the argument that autonomy is so sacred that you should watch people slowly kill themselves. It's a nihilistic, postmodern worldview."

Recovery, but Not Closure

he shredding of the social fabric is seen as normal, or not seen at all. Above, the doctor at work . T

As she sat propped against the wall, Costantino gave herself a little self-examination. She did not think she had an intracranial hemorrhage. She was pretty sure she had a concussion and knew she had swallowed some blood. Despite her date's repeated entreaties, she refused to go to the emergency room.

"I don't want to answer questions; I want to go home and be left alone," she remembers thinking. And so, about 20 minutes after she was assaulted, and with police yet to arrive, her date drove her home. She drank some water. She put ice on her face. She slept, and feeling woozy the next morning, took her first-ever day off from work. Lying in her bedroom with a big headache, she texted a photo of her injuries to a few friends.

Kaboom.

"They were super upset, very angry," she recalls of her friends, some of whom stay attuned to the vicissitudes of Multnomah County politics. "These yappity-yaps will be, 'Can you believe they're giving people [fentanyl] smoking materials?'" says Costantino. "I'm like, 'Portland's great. The trees are awesome. What's the problem?'"

Her friends impressed her that there was a problem and she needed to get in front of it. Costantino agreed to meet with a reporter from Fox News, which did a segment on the incident. Local outlets picked up the story. Mayor Ted Wheeler's office called the attack "horrific," and a detective from the Portland Police Bureau made contact with Costantino, saying, in her recollection, "We already have the video and we think we have identified the guy."

Others who saw the news reports also identified the guy. They instantly recognized the bearded man with the tensed hands as a regular at the missions downtown. They knew his name, his age, and that he'd been in trouble with the law. They recalled him standing in the free food lines in the morning; the rigidity of his body, his fingers stained dark from smoking meth or fentanyl, his occasional flashes of elation but mostly what seemed a deep depression, perhaps from substance abuse, perhaps schizophrenia. Concerned that he was not okay, one local scoured the Facebook pages said to be of the bearded man's family, looking for clues as to his whereabouts. No luck. Someone else searched the homeless encampments downtown but found no sign of him. The bearded man was gone.

JB in The Pit

He calls himself JB: At six-foot-three, he's better able to handle the ever-present danger of being assaulted in The Pit.

The man who identifies himself to a reporter only as JB stands in front of his tent holding one of his machetes. "I don't pull them out if I need to fight somebody or anything," he says by way of reassurance of the two blades he recently accepted in lieu of some money owed him. Bicycle tires, broken generators, cases of Pringles, and a closet-size tent in which one can take a water-bottle shower or a poop in private, everything in the spit of land beside an on-ramp to Portland's Steel Bridge, known as The Pit, is bartered, shared, abandoned, stolen. Last month JB came back to find everything he owned gone.

Home to some: The Pit, spit of land beside an on-ramp to Portland's Steel Bridge.

"I should be able to go to the store and not have my house ransacked, you know?" he says.

JB and the bearded man who may have attacked Mary Costantino have things in common. JB is 38; as is the bearded man; both grew up in Oregon, and each is the father of three children. Each is a heavy drug user and wound up on the streets. JB is a fentanyl addict; police records show the bearded man has seven arrests for possession of meth. As for services provided by Portland or Multnomah County, JB says they are scant. "You sometimes have people drop off water or food," he says, but no authorities come down offering access to detox or health care or job training or housing.

"I had this one guy say that he could get me into a tiny home, and another tell me, 'We could get you housing,' but they never come back," he says, as the light rail rumbles over the bridge, a sound JB says you get used to. At six-foot-three, he's better able to handle the hardships of being homeless, including the ever-present danger of being assaulted; he says women are sexually assaulted "every day." The tenuousness of every aspect of life is especially hard for those experiencing mental illness.

"A lot of meth users, they go into psychosis," he says. "They're unpredictable."

Homicides More Than Double

Police stretched thin: Double overtime and upper-five-figure salaries are offered to shore up the force.

Costantino heard no more from the police. The Portland Police Bureau today classifies the case as an open and active assault investigation. Contrary to what Costantino was told about the alleged assailant being identified, Sergeant Kevin Allen says the name of the bearded man is not in the case file and even if it were, we virtually never name persons of interest publicly [as] doing so would put the criminal investigation in serious jeopardy. (Lacking official confirmation of the bearded man's identity and because he has not been charged in the assault, RealClearInvestigations is not identifying him.)

Julia Brim-Edwards, county commissioner: "Somebody appears in arraignment court and there's no public defender? You can't hold them."

Allen said police arrived at the scene about 12 minutes after the attack was reported at 10:51 p.m., but could locate neither the suspect nor the victim. The response time is better than the average 21 minutes it takes Portland police to reach the scene of high priority 911 calls (83 minutes for lower priority calls), and Allen mentions that the department is "piloting a temporary double-overtime rate to help cover patrol shifts, to encourage more officers and sergeants to come in on their time off to help meet minimum staffing."

The force has been stretched thin since Portlands 2020 defund the police effort and a concurrent rise in violent crime, including a soaring murder rate. Portland recorded 36 homicides in the pre-pandemic, pre-George Floyd year of 2019 and 101 in 2022. There are currently fewer sworn members of the Portland police of any rank  803  than the 1,035 on the force in 2005, when 100,000 fewer people lived in the City of Roses.

"Once you have a reduction in the police force, you can't just overnight turn it back on," says Julia Brim-Edwards, a Multnomah County Commissioner elected in 2023, speaking to what the public wants today, not what the electorate was shouting it wanted in 2020.

Compounding the problem, according to Brim-Edwards, is Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. During the pandemic, she said, Portland residents saw its prosecutions essentially "grind to a halt" and it never caught up. (Brim-Edwards notes that nearby Washington County managed to keep pace.) A shortage of taxpayer-provided defense lawyers further ensures that many crimes never reach the prosecutorial stage. "Somebody appears in arraignment court and there's no public defender? You can't hold them," she says.

Mike Schmidt, District Attorney: from May to November 2020, his office dropped charges more than 90 percent of the time.

In a March 2022 op-ed, Schmidt agreed the backlog was due to a critical shortage of public defenders. He further wrote that police are failing to bring most crimes to his office for prosecution, while omitting that of the more than 1,000 protest-related arrests from May-November 2020, his office dropped charges more than 90 percent of the time.

Whether lawmakers anticipated a rise in crime when Measure 110 decriminalized drugs is unclear. What is known is that they were ill-equipped to handle it. The cascade of problems that follow people engaged in sustained hard drug use has been disastrous to both users and the city, including a doubling of drug overdoses between 2019 and 2022, and a downtown office vacancy rate that hovers around 30%, contributing to streets that can feel ghostly and unsafe. And while the public use of drugs is still legal, it is nevertheless jarring to see, for instance, two college-age guys shooting up on the steps of a Victorian home as casually as if they were sipping a beer.

Or jarring to some. Until recently, Portlanders sang in two equally strong voices, those who supported people's rights to do drugs and camp on the streets without fear of arrest, and those who wanted stricter social norms. The ideological battle has seen the two camps move closer. There are few people happy with the current decline in public safety, with those in the throes of addiction languishing and dying in record numbers; or with the sense that the city, so recently a jewel of the West Coast, is being sacrificed to good intentions.

"It's not compassion fatigue, because this isn't compassion, to have people living like this," says Brim-Edwards. "It's not good for the people who aren't getting services, and it's also not good for our community."

Both 'Horrific Case' and 'Everyday Event'

In the weeks that followed the assault, Costantino experienced headaches, a high-pitched ringing in her ears, and fatigue that kept her from doing anything much after 2 p.m. Still, she considered herself lucky, both because her assailant had not escalated the attack  as she lay on the ground she'd braced, she said, "for a kick to my head"  and also because she had every opportunity to heal.

Nathan Vasquez, DA candidate: "Just saying, 'Hey, we're going to be progressive and have essentially zero accountability,' just isn't going to work,"

"I had a house to come back to, I took a shower the next day, I had Uber Eats deliver food to my door," she says. "If I'm in a tent, I'm a target for further assault and I can't defend myself. And I lay there until I manage to heal? And somehow try to get something to drink and to eat? If I'm living on the street, I don't think I can get out of this without long-term damage. And then what? Nobody's on my side. Not one person knows or cares what happens to you."

The weeks would pass with no new information or with leads that seemed to evaporate. Her date spoke with police but was never shown a photo of the bearded man, who records show has previously been arrested in Multnomah County for assault, robbery, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. A detective told Costantino's attorney that they thought they could identify the suspect via a piece of clothing, but that didn't go anywhere.

"It's a truly horrific case but it's also kind of an everyday event. That's the saddest part," says Nathan Vasquez, senior deputy district attorney for Multnomah County. "I could name you 10 cases over the past two years, man walking down street minding his own business, is attacked. We see this over and over. You have someone having a mental health crisis, or a substance abuse crisis, or both, they're not getting the help they need and it spirals out of control."

Vasquez will be running for his boss Mike Schmidt's job in 2024, in part because he believes Portland must do better. "In terms of [Measure] 110, the idea of just saying, 'Hey, we're going to be progressive and have essentially zero accountability,' just isn't going to work," he says. "We should lean into people's life issues. Is it substance abuse? Is it mental health? We should look for long-term tools and resources. But it can't just be, 'Here are the resources, go forth.' There has to be supervision and accountability. 'Hey, okay, drug addict, you relapsed? It's okay; you should go back to treatment. It's your third relapse? You should get some jail time.'"

Costantino mentions jail in a different context. "What really actually pisses me off about a lot of this is that anyone thinks that the best place for this person is to be left alone on the streets," she says of her alleged assailant. "If my son has psychotic breaks, I want you to throw him in a cell or take him anywhere off the streets. Ideally, we have a beautiful rehabilitation center, with excellent mental health care. But if we don't have that, I want you to put him in a car and take him right to some isolated cell. Please feed him and protect him from the streets because that guy is not safe either."

A Son Who Does Not Return

Not the only sign of Portland's troubled times.

The bearded man's mother does not know where he is. He hasn't called in a year, has not contacted her on Facebook for months. While she declined to publicly identified, she is eager to talk about her son, to learn what she can. The last she heard, he'd left Portland, maybe for Seattle, and was scared to go back. She does not know why. She does not know that earlier in the year he'd been found by police sleeping on the sidewalk, cradling a fake gun. She fears he is suffering. She knows that in the latest photos he texted, he looks as bad as ever  gaunt, eyes hooded, face showing an inch of beard  and that she is more worried about him than she ever has been.

She can look on Facebook at photos of him before, clean-cut with chubby cheeks, his eyes shining as he cradles his newborn. Before he had warrants out in both Washington State and Oregon. How long ago was that? Five years? Fifteen? It doesn't matter how long. Though she has to borrow money to pay her cellphone bill this month, she will find a way to make a home for her son, a current post on her Facebook page reading, "How do u as a parent sit back and watch your child struggle??... I will not leave my child out here 2 be homeless, hooked on drugs or killed because the struggle was 2 hard 4 them!"

The bearded man's struggles are decades in the making, growing up in poverty south of Portland, losing his father at 12, a teenage brother in 2012. After a stint in rehab in 2014 did not take, the mother of his children left him. It was then, his own mother believes, that her son let go of the rope that tethered him to them, and still she tugs, every one of her communications transmitting the message, come home come home come home.

He doesn't, he disappears again, another man in an army of bearded men marching toward self-annihilation, men acting out of desperation or madness, men who cannot remember or no longer care that there are people waiting for them to come home.

Abetting Criminality and Waste

Costantino: "People walk up and they punch women in the face ... knowing nothing will happen."

It's been more than two months since the assault. Costantino has seen his photo and was told an arrest depended on whether police could find him and get enough evidence, which as far as she knows, has not happened.

She finds this unsurprising, a feature of the systems Portland has fought for and funded or not funded, practices that abet criminality and waste, until the shredding of the social fabric is seen as normal, or not seen at all.

"People walk up and they punch women in the face, and then they turn around and walk away, knowing nothing will happen. And the thing is, we don't expect anything to happen anymore," Costantino says. "When this happened to me, people did not stop. Think about that. It's dystopic. We're so used to seeing bodies on the ground."

One of those bodies is almost certainly the bearded man, who may or may have not set out for Seattle, who may or may not be assaulting others or finding himself under assault. There can be no resolution for Costantino or the bearded man, there is only the continuation of the bind Portlanders find themselves in, until they realize an essential catalyst of the destruction is them.

X (formerly Twitter): @nancyromm
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Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has received an all-new restoration.

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Disney+ announced a 4K restoration of the 1937 animated film Monday in honor of The Walt Disney Company's 100th anniversary.

The Walt Disney Studios Restoration and Preservation team worked with key artists from Walt Disney Animation Studios, including Michael Giaimo and Eric Goldberg, on the restored version.

The teams previously collaborated on a 4K restoration of Cinderella that premiered in August during World Princess Week.

"The opportunity to help restore Snow White was both an honor and a challenge," Goldberg said in a press release. "As the very first Walt Disney feature, Mike Giaimo and I felt we owed a debt to history to get it looking as beautiful, and as accurate to the original colors, as we could. The muted palette and the delicate watercolor backgrounds evoke the illustrated fairy tales that Walt so loved, and the story and characters continue to resonate to this day. I hope our work inspires future generations of animation artists to fully appreciate the masterful talent and care that has gone into this landmark film.

"We are incredibly excited to go back to Walt's original negative and use current state of the art technology to restore this stunning classic to its original beauty," Walt Disney Studios director of restoration Kevin Schaeffer added.

The Snow White 4K restoration will start streaming Oct. 16 on Disney+.
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As we move into the heart of fall, the Athens restaurant scene welcomes even more pumpkin spice  hopefully youre not tired of it yet grand 
The American Red Cross declared a national blood shortage on Sept. 11, citing a critically low blood supply that had dropped 25% since August. The demand still for blood remains constant, with someone needing blood every two seconds. The Red Cross provides approximately 40% of all of the nations blood supply needs  making it the largest blood supplier in the nation.
The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday barred state-owned Bank of Baroda from onboarding fresh customers on its mobile application 'bob World' with immediate effect, citing material supervisory concerns.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

"The Reserve Bank of India has, in exercise of its power, under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, directed Bank of Baroda to suspend, with immediate effect, any further onboarding of their customers onto the 'bob World' mobile application," it said in a statement.

The action, the RBI added, is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the manner of onboarding customers onto the application.

"Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the 'bob World' application will be subject to rectification of the deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI," it added.

The RBI further said the bank has been directed to ensure that existing 'bob World' customers do not face any disruption on account of this suspension.
A court in New Delhi sent four persons, including the managing director of Lava International mobile company and a Chinese national, to three-day Enforcement Directorate custody in a money-laundering case against Chinese smartphone-maker Vivo.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala passed the order on an application moved by the ED, which arrested the four earlier in the day.

They four arrested were identified as Hari Om Rai, the MD of Lava International, Chinese national Guangwen alias Andrew Kuang, and chartered accountants Nitin Garg and Rajan Malik.

"I am of the considered opinion that the custody remand of the accused persons Hari Om Rai, Nitin Garg, Rajan Malik and Guangwen Kuang is necessary.

Accused persons are accordingly remanded to ED custody till October 13," the judge said.

The application was opposed by Advocate Nitesh Rana, appearing for the accused, who claimed the allegations were false and that the ED lacked evidence.

The four accused were taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency had raided the company and persons linked with it in July last year, claiming to have busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

The ED had then alleged that a whopping Rs 62,476 crore was "illegally" transferred by Vivo to China in order to avoid payment of taxes in India.

The agency told the court that Rai, "in collusion" with the three others "enabled Vivo, China to fraudulently establish a complex centrally controlled structure all over the country under the corporate veil of Vivo, India in circumvention of the extant FDI norms and by concealing the true nature of their ownership and control, by using forged identity cards.

Thus, they cheated the government authorities and in the process enabled Vivo, India (controlled by Vivo, China) acquire huge wrongful gains for themselves to the "detriment of economic sovereignty of the country", the ED said.

A Vivo spokesperson said the company "firmly adheres to its ethical principles and remains dedicated to legal compliance.

The recent arrest deeply concerns us. We will exercise all available legal options."

In July last year, the agency had raided Vivo and people linked with the firm, claiming to have busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

The crackdown on the leading Chinese company came after the central probe agency found that three Chinese nationals -- all of whom "left" India during 2018-21 --and another person from that country incorporated 23 companies in India in which they were also allegedly helped by CA Nitin Garg.

These 23 companies are found to have transferred huge amount of funds to Vivo India. Further, out of the total sale proceeds of Rs 125,185 crore, Vivo India remitted Rs 62,476 crore or almost 50 per cent of the turnover out of India, mainly to China, the ED had alleged.

These remittances, it added, were made in order to "disclose huge losses in Indian incorporated companies to avoid payment of taxes in India."

The action is seen as part of the Union government's effort to tighten checks on Chinese entities that are allegedly indulging in serious financial crimes like money laundering and tax evasion while operating here.

It is also being seen as continued crackdown on such firms and their linked Indian operatives.

These developments also come even as the military stand-off between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh has been ongoing for more than three years now.

Vivo, post the ED searches of July 5, 2022, had said it was "a responsible corporate and was committed to be fully compliant with laws."

The agency said it followed "all due procedures as per law" during the raids conducted under the criminal sections of the PMLA, but the "employees of Vivo India, including some Chinese nationals, did not cooperate with the search proceedings and tried to abscond, remove and hide digital devices which were retrieved by the search teams."

The ED also said that after the raids, it seized funds worth Rs 465 crore kept in 119 bank accounts by various entities involved in the case, Rs 73 lakh in cash and 2 kg gold bars.

The agency filed an enforcement case information report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, on February 3 after studying a Delhi Police FIR (Kalkaji police station) of December last year against a associated company of Vivo, Grand Prospect International Communication Pvt Ltd (GPICPL), its directors, shareholders and some others professionals.

The police complaint was filed by the corporate affairs ministry alleging that GPICPL and its shareholders used "forged" identification documents and "falsified" addresses at the time of incorporation of the company in December, 2014.

This company had its registered address in Solan (Himachal Pradesh), Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Jammu (J&K).

The three Chinese nationals, mentioned above, incorporated this company while a fourth one, Zhixin Wei, also opened four companies to carry out similar transactions.

"The allegations (made by the Corporate Affairs ministry) were found to be true as the investigation revealed that the addresses mentioned by the directors of GPICPL did not belong to them, but in fact it was a government building and house of a senior bureaucrat," the ED said.

It said Vivo Mobiles Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August 1, 2014 as a subsidiary of Multi Accord Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company.
'In today's world, it is difficult for public pressure to work against a country like India.'

IMAGE: In happier times: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with Justin Trudeau on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan during the Canadian prime minister's visit to India in 2018.

"No Canadian has said to this day that they have hard evidence. 'Allegation' is the word that Trudeau has used, so there is a caveat there and that could become a basis for Canada to backtrack on the allegations," says Ambassador Jitendra Nath Misra, India's former envoy to Portugal.

The diplomat is currently Professor of Diplomatic Practice at the O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, and Distinguished Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Dhaka.

"This can be achieved through diplomacy by acknowledging in some face-saving way that Canada were wrong. This requires delicate diplomacy on both sides," Ambassador Misra tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

The Canadian foreign minister has said that Ottawa want private talks with New Delhi to ease the tension.

Can back channel diplomacy yield results during such crisis situations?

Yes, back channel diplomacy has a good chance of working.

But how can this be accomplished given the sequence of events?

Canada went public making allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing without presenting evidence or making arrests.

Once Prime Minister Trudeau made the allegations, that too in parliament, albeit with qualifications, and India denied involvement, the ball lies in Canada's court.

Canada must produce evidence publicly, the same way as Trudeau made the allegations publicly. If Canada is unwilling to present the evidence in public, I am unable to understand why Trudeau made a public allegation. Canada's behaviour was escalatory.

This crisis was not started by India. The allegations were a bombshell. The merits or demerits of the allegations can only be decided after evidence is presented. India has more than once said that it is willing to look at specific evidence.

As far as I know, Canada has not claimed that it has presented unimpeachable evidence to India. Once India denied a hand in Nijjar's killing, Canada's case lost credibility.

Canada says they have the evidence. There have been leakages from anonymous sources to the media which is not conducive to back channel talks.

Governments create disinformation in the media and the media puts out such stories without verifying them. Therefore, I would like to ask my Canadian friends, did they do the right thing?

Looking at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's subsequent statements and statements emanating from the Canadian government, does it appear that Canada has realised that it may have made a mistake?

It appears that Canada has realised that it might have made a mistake and it was an ill-conceived move. But we cannot be sure without access to people in government.

Perhaps Canada had expected concerted diplomatic pressure from the Anglosphere would nudge India to co-operate in the investigation.

I am not suggesting India has not co-operated, but this may have been the thinking in the Canadian government.

I do not know how much pressure from the Anglosphere was employed and how it worked. Evidence suggests India was not pressurised, or did not feel the heat, because, as I said, India has repeatedly expressed willingness to look at specific evidence.

At any rate even while public statements were made in the US there seems to have been no public pressure on India because countries in the Anglosphere regard India as a valuable partner.

India is a very important partner of these countries, including Canada. India has more hard power, therefore, greater international influence today than it had 30 years ago.

Therefore, India has acted forcefully, asking Canada the other day, for the second time, to withdraw diplomatic personnel to achieve parity. India might have responded less forcefully if such an allegation had been made 30 years ago.

Did the Canadian government conduct a careful study of India's potential response before Trudeau made these allegations? I wonder.

Public pressure may have worked in the past, but in today's world, it is difficult for public pressure to work against a country like India. We should view this in terms of the distribution of power in the international system, structurally, not with emotion.

Perhaps Canada miscalculated, but we should remain calm. Canada has been messy dealing with India, but Canada does not pose the existential threats to India that China and Pakistan do. We do not have territorial problems with them. Canada is still a friendly country.

IMAGE: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his family outside the Golden Temple during their visit in 2018. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

Can relations that have hit rock bottom be mended or are they beyond repair?

Diplomats cannot accept that inter-State ties are beyond repair. Otherwise, they would have no work to do!

Except for the Khalistan issue Canada and India are in the same corner. Canada also has an Indo-Pacific strategy congruent with India's. Remember also that Canada has been an important development partner for India historically.

If the situation can be handled carefully, on both sides, relations can be put back on the rails.

India has skills in conducting private diplomacy successfully.

I would urge and request our Canadian friends to do that. And if they are reaching out India should be wise and magnanimous enough to agree to private diplomacy and backchannel talks. But how will Canada back down without publicly withdrawing the allegations? That is a tough question.

I think India should never close the doors on discussions, but the question is what would you discuss without the evidence?

The talks should be held directly between the two sides without third party interference.

IMAGE: Trudeau arrives ahead of a cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Blair Gable/Reuters

How would you evaluate Justin Trudeau's statement in the Canadian parliament? Can this genie be put back in the bottle?

Trudeau's statement was only one act in the escalatory ladder which began long ago, the Kanishka bombing being a notable example. The Canadian law enforcement agencies handled the catastrophic and tragic event very poorly.

Canada did not take Indian claims seriously. They brushed aside the evidence presented by India. They have not acted upon the dossiers on terrorists given to them, and perhaps were even dismissive of the evidence presented by India.

Yet, the Canadians have said we are asking India to cooperate in the investigation of Nijjar's killing, exactly what India has been asking of Canada. Besides, asking for co-operation in the investigation might also imply that Canada may not have the evidence.

No Canadian has said to this day that they have hard evidence. 'Allegation' is the word that Trudeau has used, so there is a caveat there and that could become a basis for Canada to backtrack on the allegations.

This can be achieved through diplomacy by acknowledging in some face-saving way that Canada were wrong. This requires delicate diplomacy on both sides.

India should take the opportunity of private talks because if we damage our relationship, it will impact ethnic Indians in Canada, including Canadian Sikhs.

The Sikhs are a very proud part of the Indian nation with great contributions. Therefore, we must always be very careful about not polarising the diaspora.

Secondly, what message is Canada giving to its own citizens by allowing a national like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to ask Canadian Hindus to go back to India?

Pannun is a US national also and the US should have condemned that. But they have not. The entire Anglosphere actually gets away with a lot under the cover of some dubious claim to freedom of speech and assembly.

But the law also says that they have a duty to prevent violent attacks on India's diplomatic representations. Consider the attack on the Indian high commission in London in March, and in the past. Windows were smashed, the Indian flag was taken down.

It is curious that India has acted strongly where Canada is concerned while being more tolerant of British interventions in India's domestic affairs. Is it because Britain's power is more consequential than Canada's? I wonder.

So India has got long-standing, genuine concerns about terrorism and the impact of that on its integrity and cohesion. These are non- negotiable red lines.

No State is going to give up territory on a platter. That is the reality of the world. India, with a growing share of the world's GDP and increasing scientific accomplishments, has acted assertively in the instance of Canada; that is how power works in the international system.

Part 2 of the Interview: 'India has not blinked'

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'There is a list with the Ministry of Home Affairs that has the details and names of the terrorist organisations that attack the Indian Army.'

As violence continues in Manipur between the Meiteis and Kukis, a Kuki MLA, speaking on condition of anonymity, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com, "Meiteis kill Kukis, Kukis kill Meiteis. The hatred and fear that the two communities have for each other has reached the maximum height."

Who is responsible for this new round of violence in Manipur?

You see it's a continuation of the riot. It's a continuation (of the violence that started on May 3, 2023).

Did the violence not subside for some time? Did the violence resume after the photographs of the two Meitei youth who were allegedly killed by the Kukis surfaced?

No, this is a narration (that the Kukis killed the two youth) set by the Meiteis.

(If they were killed), then where are their bodies? Where are their bodies?

I am told that they (the Meitei youth) eloped somewhere near the periphery (of areas that demarcate Kuki territories from those dominated by the Meiteis) and that they are hiding.

They say their phones were snapped by someone else. That is why they (the CBI officers investigating the murders) have tracked their mobiles and caught them (those who snatched their phones).

But the CBI couldn't find their bodies.

Are you saying that till their bodies are not found they cannot be considered as dead?

Yes.

But the Meiteis are already blaming Kukis. They are also blaming outsiders, the insurgents from Myanmar.

No, let me give you one tip. Who are these terrorists? Who are these militants? Check the list from the Ministry of Home Affairs. There is a list.

There is a list with the Ministry of Home Affairs that has the details and names of the terrorist organisations that attack the Indian Army. Everything will be clear. Just check that list and see.

This is their (Meiteis') made up story (that Kuki militants from across the border in Myanmar enter India and launch attacks on the Indian Army).

The CM (Chief Minister N Biren Singh) saying that these (Kuki) militants are coming from elsewhere is not true.

Do you have that list? The list that you are talking about...

No. The best is you (the media) get that list yourself from the MHA and then you will believe me.

If I give you that list you may say that I have made up that list. Let someone from the MHA give you that list.

But you believe that the Ministry of Home Affairs has a list of those who attack the Indian Army?

Yes.

Would these terrorists have something to do with the Kukis as the Meiteis allege?

I don't know. Now everybody is fighting. Don't know who is right, who is wrong.

But UNLF (United National Liberation Front), PLA (People's Liberation Army of Manipur), KYKL (Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup) (all militant organisations founded and led by the Meiteis)... everybody were inside Burma and waging war against India for the past 30 years. MHA has a list.

IMAGE: View of charred remains of a house days after violent clashes in Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Why are the Meiteis blaming Kukis as the terrorists?

It's a war type situation. Everybody has that narration. But the truth will reveal itself someday. You can't blame one community against other. They are fighting a war with each other. That is why they have their own narration to make Indians think that Kukis are militants and coming from somewhere else (Myanmar). It's not true; if you guys (the media) can go there, you can check for yourself.

During Burma unrest, hundreds of refugees (from Myanmar) would cross over to our side, but when they stopped fighting, these migrants would go back. It's not fair to say Kukis are Burmese.

What's the situation in Manipur right now?

The situation is not too good; they have buffer zones between the hills and the valley (territories dominated by the Kukis and Meiteis respectively) but at some places there is no proper separation.

Today, in Manipur supporters of both the groups defend their territories from attacks by the other group. Sometimes, this works, sometimes it doesn't.

Do you stick to your demand that the hills should have a separate administration, which is unacceptable to the Meiteis, or do you think there is a way out? Can a new formula be worked out for peace to prevail in the state?

I don't know. The hatred between the two communities has reached its maximum height. Both the communities are reluctant to go areas dominated by each other's communities.

Meiteis don't want to go to hills and tribals don't want to go to the valley.

The ball is in the court of the Government of India.

Do you see any chance of peace returning to the valley as well as hills?

They fight each other. Meiteis kill Kukis, Kukis kill Meiteis.

The hatred and fear that the two communities have for each other has reached the maximum height. So it will take time.

I don't know what the central government is doing, but they will think of the way ahead.
'The entire operation was meant to have a chilling effect on independent journalists, those not completely subservient to the regime, the small section still doing what the Fourth Estate should do -- raising questions to those in power.'

IMAGE: Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and other journalists protest against the arrests of NewsClick Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources Head Amit Chakraborty at the Press Club in New Delhi, October 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Paranjoy Guha Thakurta was the only Indian journalist referred to in the sensational Hindenburg Report published in January this year on the Adani group. Co-author of The Gas Wars: Crony Capitalism and the Ambanis, Thakurta is the only journalist who has doggedly pursued the theme of crony capitalism in India.

The most high-profile journalist to be picked up for questioning in the raids on 46 mediapersons in Delhi on October 3, talks to Jyoti Punwani about his experience with the Delhi police and the implications of the raid.

Can you describe what happened on October 3?

We had woken up earlier than usual to see off our son who was going back to university in Haryana. Suddenly around 6.30 am, the police arrived, 7 from the Delhi police and two from the Haryana police. (I live in Gurugram.) They said they'd come to ask me about NewsClick.

Were you expecting this kind of police questioning?

Not at all, I hadn't the foggiest idea about this.

What did they ask?

They asked me how I was associated with NewsClick, I told them I had been a consultant for them for since May 2018. I was neither an employee, nor a shareholder, nor a director, nor on the editorial board.

As an independent consultant, I raised invoices and the money they paid was credited to my bank account, which was in a public sector bank. It was part of my Income Tax returns. Everything was in the public domain.

I told them they were paying me Rs 1.5 lakh with tax deducted at source, till Covid struck. They then reduced my remuneration to Rs 1 lakh. It seems like a lot of money when taken cumulatively, but I wasn't raising invoices every month. When I didn't do any work for them, I didn't raise any invoice.

Then they asked me whether I'd covered the 2020 Delhi riots. I said No. Had I covered the farmers' agitation? I said Yes.

Did I know Neville Roy Singham (the American millionaire accused of funding NewsClick)? I said No.

I ended up answering these same questions for the next 12 hours.

They wanted my phone, but I told them to give that to me in writing. They said, you come with us to our office, and we'll give you a search memo. Pease cooperate with the investigation, they said.

At that point I called up a lawyer. He told me I should go with them.

All this while, your family was present?

No. My son had to leave else he would miss class. My wife had to go to her school.

What happened at their office?

I did cooperate, I gave my phone and my password, though doing so clearly meant they were violating my privacy, getting access to my sources, to my personal stuff, pictures of my family.

Later on I realised I was treated very well. My phone was returned, with my SIM card. Some of the others who were picked up, still haven't got their SIM cards or hard discs back.

IMAGE: Journalists protest against the arrest of NewsClick Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources Head Amit Chakraborty outside the Press Club in New Delhi, October 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

So you had to answer the same questions at the Delhi Police Special Cell office?

Yes. But there were some additional questions too.

I was asked if I used (the app) Signal. I said I did. Why did you call so-and-so in Hong Kong, why did you call so-and-so in Australia, they asked.

I told them I write for a Web site named Adani Watch, so I need to talk to these people. Again, I raise invoices and they pay me for my writings.

Then I was asked a laughable question: Who's S Bhatnagar in the US whom you had called? I told them he's my wife's brother.

Were they intimidating?

No no, they were very polite. They kept offering me tea and coffee, even asked whether I wanted chholey with my puris or alu ki sabzi.

I just hope they are equally polite with Prabir (Purkayastha, editor-in-chief, NewsClick) who's been in jail since the night of October 3. He's 75. And with Amit Chakravarty (HR head, NewsClick) who's physically challenged.

I finally came out at 6 pm after they gave me a seizure memo for my phone, and checked my blood pressure for their medico-legal report. I was immediately surrounded by camerapersons, asking me what had happened.

As I got into my vehicle, two reporters from ANI and PTI put their mikes inside my car. I don't know what got into me. I told them Let me answer, you don't ask me anything. I then said: Modiji mahaan hai, woh bhagwan ke avatar hain. (external link) PTI put that clip out and it went viral.

IMAGE: The protest at the Delhi Press Club, October 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Did this remind you of the Emergency?

This was different. In the Emergency, journalists were put behind bars and remained in for 19 months. That was the end of it.

Here, a few hundred policemen and women were asked to gather the previous night and sent early in the morning to pick up 46 journalists from the capital.

This was an unprecedented operation. Freelance contributors, young graphic designers and even probationers on the copy desk -- they were all taken for questioning.

All this was done on October 3 on the basis of an FIR lodged on August 17. There was a Delhi high court order preventing any coercive action against Prabir (after NewsClick was investigated in 2021 by the Enforcement Directorate). But all that changed when UAPA was invoked, a draconian law which gives amazing powers to the police.

I don't think this kind of operation has ever been conducted before.

IMAGE: Paranjoy Guha Thakurta addresses the protest at the Press Club, October 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Why do you think it was done?

In my opinion, it was not just an operation against NewsClick. The entire operation was meant to have a chilling effect on independent journalists, those not completely subservient to the regime, the small section still doing what the Fourth Estate should do -- raising questions to those in power.

The larger purpose was to send the message out that this is what we can do -- we can seize your phones and laptops. As journalists, we are dependent on these devices, they are the source of our livelihood.

The Emergency was for a limited period. But this kind of intimidation has been going on for the last 9 years. FIRs against journalists, sedition cases, defamation cases; media offices searched and documents seized...

I am the only journalist, actually the only citizen against whom the lawyers engaged by entities headed by the Adanis have filed six defamation cases. But it's not just me. Journalists working in small towns and in the rural areas have been targeted simply for asking questions to ministers and exposing the leak of exam papers.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Sans Frontieres, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, have documented all this. India's position is slipping right to the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index.

Were you surprised at the support you received from journalists?

I was overwhelmed. The next day at the Press Club there were more than 300 people. Not just every journalist in town, but activists, friends, writers, people like Ram Guha, Harsh Mander, Manoj Jha.

Yet, going by social media, a lot of people seem to believe that NewsClick and all of you are traitors.

I can't tell you the number of times I've been called 'Cheenee dalal' on social media. How many accounts can you block!

In the FIR, they've named Vivo. But Vivo was a sponsor of the IPL. Who heads the BCCI? The son of our honourable home minister. Some of the companies named by them have contributed to the PM Cares Fund.

The charges in the FIR are far-fetched, to put it mildly.

What is your stand on China? Do you have one?

Honestly I don't. I don't write on international affairs, I write on the political economy, on crony capitalism. Where China is concerned, I'm a consumer of news. I don't know enough to write about China.

IMAGE: Journalists in Hyderabad protest against the raids on NewsClick journalists, October 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

With all the cases against you, and now this raid, you don't want to stop? Doesn't your family tell you to stop?

My family tells me so all the time.

When a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against me by a first class judicial magistrate in Gujarat during the Covid period -- the warrant by the way, reached PTI before it reached my lawyer -- my family was traumatised. That can have a very major impact on you.

But I have one life to live. I've walked a particular road.

I chose to become a journalist in 1977 when I could have tried to become so many other things. And I've remained a journalist. I don't think I'm a crusader, what I do is the job of a journalist.

Now at 68 I don't want to change course.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
In a major development in the ongoing Israeli counter-offensive against the deadly attack by Hamas, two big leaders of the terror group were eliminated by the Israeli Air Force on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip above Ashkelon, as seen from near Sderot in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

The Israeli Air Force said in a statement that the minister of economy of Hamas, Jawad Abu Shamala, has been killed.

"As part of his role, he (Shamala) managed the funds in the organisation and earmarked the funds for financing and directing terrorism inside and outside the Gaza Strip. He previously held security positions in the terrorist organization and as part of his role led several operations aimed at harming civilians in the State of Israel," the Air Force said in a statement on X.

In another major elimination, Zakaria Abu Ma'amer, one of the senior members of the Political Bureau of Hamas was also eliminated by the Israeli Air Force. He was also the head of the Ministry of National Relations in the policy bureau of Hamas in Gaza,

"In his position, he was responsible for making decisions in Gaza, operating internal relations and coordinating between the organizations in Gaza...Abu Ma'amr was known to be a close associate of Yahya Sinwar and as part of his position, he did a lot of work to incite and act against the sovereignty of the State of Israel and endanger its residents. In addition, as part of his role, he belonged to the organisation's senior forum and thus was involved in the organization's decision-making and planning many outlines and actions against the security of the State of Israel," the Israeli Air Force said.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli Air Force launched an extensive attack against terror targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

As per the Israeli Air Force, the fighter jets attacked a number of terrorist targets of the terrorist organization Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip.

At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7.

The IDF also took international journalists to Kfar Azza, a kibbutz close to the border where around 70 residents were slaughtered during the devastating attack by Hamas terrorists, Times of Israel reported.

"It's not a war, it's not a battlefield, it's a massacre," IDF Major General Itai Veruv said.

"You see the babies, their mothers and their fathers, in their bedrooms, and in their protected rooms, and how the terrorists killed them -- it's not a war," Times of Israel quoted Veruv as saying.

He added, "It's something that I never saw in my life...We used to imagine our grandmothers and grandfathers during the pogroms in Europe. It's not something that we have seen in recent history".

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobiliSed so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours.

IDF also said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip, 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped.
Leader of Opposition in Odisha assembly and BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra on Tuesday claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had warned that President's rule will be imposed in the state if the assembly is dissolved early.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurate developmental projects in Bhubaneswar, August 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Mishra told reporters at the BJP office in Bhubaneswar that the warning was given by Shah during the one-on-one meeting with V K Pandiyan, who is the secretary (5T) to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on August 5 during his two-day visit to Odisha.

We don't have information about the topics they (Shah and Pandiyan) discussed. But I have information that during the meeting, Shah pulled up the 5T secretary as the Odisha government was planning to go for early assembly poll. Shah warned him that Centre will be compelled to impose President's rule if the ruling BJD dissolves the state assembly, the BJP leader claimed.

Odisha holds simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

Pandiyan, an IAS officer, has often been derided as a gumasta (agent) of Patnaik by the saffron party and its MP Aparajita Sarangi, who was herself a civil servant prior to joining politics, recently wrote to the personnel department saying he was violating the laid down code.

Mishra claimed that Shah knew very well about the "role" played by Pandiyan in the state.

The BJP has alleged often that Pandiyan by dint of his close proximity to the chief minister controls BJD as well as the government.

Reacting to Mishra's claim, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said that the BJP leader is ignorant about what transpired on that day.

"When the Union home minister was visiting Odisha Mishra was under treatment in a hospital in Kolkata. So he is ignorant about what happened on that day," he added.

This was the first time that the alleged "closed door" meeting between Shah and Pandiyan was spoken about.
A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday sentenced artist Chintan Upadhyay to "rigorous imprisonment for life" for conspiring to kill his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay.

Rejecting the prosecution's demand for death sentence, the court, in the judgement, noted that Chintan was an acclaimed international artist who did not have any criminal antecedents.

While seeking to "finish off all the problems relating to Hema once for all, a thought might have taken the shape of determination to eliminate" her, said additional sessions judge, Dindoshi court, S Y Bhosale in his judgement.

On October 5, the court had held Upadhyay guilty of abetting and conspiring to kill his wife, who too was an artist.

On Tuesday, the sentence was passed.

Three co-accused, namely, tempo driver Vijay Rajbhar and helpers Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar, found guilty of murdering Hema and her lawyer Haresh Bhambhani, too were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life.

The court order noted that the flat where Hema and Chintan were residing was jointly owned by them. In case of Hema's death, the property would have gone to Chintan.

While Chintan had filed a petition for divorce on the ground of cruelty which the family court granted, Hema challenged it before the High Court, and thus, Chintan was required to wait till the HC decided the matter, the sessions court said.

These two circumstances were sufficient to infer the motive to kill Hema, it said.

But the case was not "rarest of rare" (which warrants capital punishment), and hence it was awarding the punishable of life sentence, the court said.

The other three accused had no criminal antecedents and were young, the judge said, adding that Shivkumar had just completed 18 years of age when the crime was committed.

"Their financial condition appears to be very poor, and that appears to be the sole ground that they agreed to commit the present offence," the judge said.

Chintan Upadhyay had crossed 50 years of age and was well-off; he was also an internationally acclaimed artist, the court noted.

"He has no criminal antecedents. It appears that at particular point of time to finish off all the problems relating to Hema once and for all, a thought might have taken shape of determination to eliminate Hema," the court said.

This thought was the result of the particular period he was passing through, it added.

"Thus, there appears less possibility that they (the four convicted accused) would commit any offence in future. In other words, the possibility of reformation of these accused is high," it said.

The court held though "the act of the accused was brutal, the case cannot be termed as a rarest of rare case which warrants death penalty."

Hema Upadhyay and advocate Bhambhani were killed on December 11, 2015, and the bodies were stuffed into cardboard boxes and thrown into a ditch in suburban Kandivali.

Vidyadhar Rajbhar, who is accused to executing the murders, has been absconding.

Chintan Upadhyay was arrested soon after the murders for allegedly conspiring to eliminate his wife.

He spent nearly six years in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme court in September 2021.
A prominent Indo-Canadian community member has voiced deep concern over the "ecosystem" in Canada that has enabled Khalistan extremists to use violence, threaten and bully those opposing their "nefarious agendas'.

IMAGE: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Baisakhi celebrations at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photograph: Justin Trudeau on Fcebook

Amidst the diplomatic standoff between Canada and India over the killing of a pro-Khalistan separatist in Surrey in British Columbia province in June, he cautioned that political appeasement for short-term gains is not in the interest of Canada's future.

"It is very concerning for us as a country, as Canadians the direction which we as a country are taking in the sense of giving freedom of expression, which is our charter right, to people who don't believe in that same freedom of expression for others. Peace-loving Canadians do not believe in (a) certain ideology which is very extreme, which does not belong to Canada," National Convener, Canada India Foundation, Ritesh Malik, told PTI in an interview.

Referring to Khalistan extremists in Canada, Malik said these people "create differences in society and disturb communal harmony. They work with a nefarious agenda and are derailing relationships between the two countries," he said.

"Freedom of expression should be for everyone. We have unfortunately created that kind of ecosystem in Canada where these people are very vocal, very violent, very aggressive, and they don't let anybody.... come out against them. They will bully, they will threaten, they will use every possible illegal means... to counter any sanity," he said, adding that Sikhs across the US, Canada and the UK have come out and said that they don't believe or endorse the Khalistan ideology.

"These (are big issues) that worry us as Canadians, in the long-term interest of Canada. We feel worried about the future of our children, about the rifts between communities," he said, adding that leaders in government and officials in policy and advocacy should take up those issues for the larger interest of Canada.

India and Canada are embroiled in a diplomatic standoff following allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament last month that "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing" of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia, a charge angrily rejected by New Delhi as "absurd" and "motivated".

Malik referred to the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985 and said people and families of victims to date feel they have not got justice.

The Montreal-Delhi Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was to have landed at London's Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.

The bombing was blamed on Sikh militants in retaliation to the 'Operation Blue Star' to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1984.

"As a Canadian, I have no hesitation in admitting that we haven't been able to call out the ideology and people who were responsible for that. We've seen them flourish. We've seen them grow, that ideology has grown, got beyond control. People have suffered. Within (the) Sikh community also, there are people who've suffered because of this ideology. They have not got justice for over 40 years now," he said.

"This ideology has been flourishing and growing, with whatever patronage or whatever support. That is not Sikh ideology. That is not what Sikh people believe in," he said.

He questioned what prompted Prime Minister Trudeau to conclude within four months in Nijjar's case and noted that there are diplomatic ways for countries to deal with issues behind closed doors.

"It looks to us, as Canadians, it's more like appeasement politics or a political move than anything else," he said, adding that the issue should have been dealt with in a different way to ensure the already strained relationship between the two countries due to the matters left unresolved for decades now, is not further spoilt.

Malik added that Canada has been facing challenges, including economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living. "We need countries like India, partners like India," whose economies are growing, he said. "It is in our interest as Canada, and as Canadians, to work closely with countries like India, and if there are issues, they need to be resolved in a way that it does not hamper Canadians' chances to get economic benefit from opportunities which India presents today," he added.

Malik underscored the importance of resolving issues between the two countries sincerely, "leaving aside short-term gains for votes, appeasement."

"Both these countries have a great future. People on both sides are very progressive. They want the relationship to flourish, they want exchanges to take place, students to come here, people come here to set up businesses, people to go (to India) to explore opportunities," he said.

He added that it is important to resolve the issues, not let them escalate and to "nip them in the bud".
Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Congress Working Committee Monday reiterated its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity while also calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations on all outstanding issues.

IMAGE: Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge along with party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during the Congress Working Committee members meeting, at AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

In a resolution passed at its four-hour meeting, the Congress' top decision-making body said the CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days.

"The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect," the resolution said.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) also called for an immediate ceasefire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding matters, including the imperative issues that have led to the present conflict.

The assertions in the resolution came a day after the Congress condemned the attacks on the people of Israel, saying violence of any type never provides any solution and it must stop.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had on Sunday said his party has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine must be fulfilled through dialogue while ensuring the national security interests of the Israelis.

"The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel," he said on X.

Ramesh also said his party "has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people".

"Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop," the Congress leader said.

Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel -- the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years.

In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said.
The Manipur government on Tuesday asked people not to encroach upon the properties of those who had fled because of the five-month-long ethnic strife in the northeastern state, as this could aggravate the law and order situation.

IMAGE: Khurai people take part in a silent protest appealing for restoration of peace in strife-ridden Manipur, in Imphal, October 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Citing a September 25 Supreme Court order directing the Manipur government to ensure protection of the properties of the displaced persons as well as those which have been destroyed or burnt in the violence and prevent their encroachment, the home department said that anyone usurping or damaging properties of others will face legal action.

The state government order came amid reports that properties belonging to members of one of the warring communities are being burnt or razed to the ground by the other in various places.

"The state government views with utmost sensitivity as any such incident may further ignite or aggravate law and order situation in the state," the order read.

It said, Deputy commissioners and superintendents of police are advised to take action and implement the Supreme Court's order.

More than 180 people were killed since the violence erupted on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.
Israeli star Lior Raz, known for starring in and co-creating web series Fauda, says he has joined the 'Brothers in Arms' volunteers to extract two families from the bombarded town of Sderot in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

IMAGE: Actor Lior Raz in the web series Fauda. Photograph: X

Accompanied by the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner and Fauda co-creator-journalist Avi Yissascharov, Raz on social media shared a video of them rushing to take cover from a rocket attack on Monday night.

"Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner and Avi Yissascharov, I headed down south to join hundreds of brave 'brothers in arms' volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract two families. No fear!" Raz captioned the post on his X account.

The southern Israeli town of Sderot is located nearby Gaza, ruled by the Hamas militant group.

'Brothers in Arms' is an Israeli protest group representing retired soldiers. After graduating from high school at the age of 18, Raz enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and became a commando in the elite undercover counter-terrorism unit.

Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, according to reports.

While Israel sealed it off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for a bloody incursion by the militants, Hamas also escalated on Monday, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.
In one of the blood-curdling details from the Hamas attack on Israel, at least 40 babies were killed by the terror group, Israel-based i24 News reported on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers gather on and around tanks in a field at the Israeli side of the Gaza border on the outskirts of Ashkelon, southern Israel October 9, 2023. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

This came after several soldiers were called up for reserve service, and had arrived already expecting the worst, but the scenes were beyond imagination.

Some soldiers say they found babies with their heads cut off, entire families gunned down in their beds.

About 40 babies and young children have been taken out on gurneys so far, i24 News reported.

At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7.

Earlier in the day, the IDF also took international journalists to Kfar Azza, a kibbutz close to the border where around 70 residents were slaughtered during the devastating attack by Hamas terrorists, Times of Israel reported.

"It's not a war, it's not a battlefield, it's a massacre," IDF Major General Itai Veruv said.

"You see the babies, their mothers and their fathers, in their bedrooms, and in their protected rooms, and how the terrorists killed them -- it's not a war," Times of Israel quoted Veruv as saying.

He added, "It's something that I never saw in my life...We used to imagine our grandmothers and grandfathers during the pogroms in Europe. It's not something that we have seen in recent history".

Meanwhile, at least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,616 people were injured after Hamas launched a barbaric 'surprise attack' on Israel on October 7.

The Israeli Air Force launched an extensive attack against terror targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

As per the Israeli Air Force, the fighter jets attacked a number of terrorist targets of the terrorist organisation Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip.

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours.

IDF also said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip, 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 10. Turkmenistan and Russia are engaged in a dialogue on the further development of trade and economic cooperation, which is a priority, Trend reports.

These issues were discussed between the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation from the Russian side Alexei Overchuk.

During the meeting, the sides discussed priority issues of bilateral cooperation based on the principles of in-depth strategic partnership and progressively developing across its entire spectrum.

They noted that the interstate political dialogue is being consistently strengthened and also added that the active nature is inherent in the interaction between parliaments and fruitful ties have been established between Turkmenistan and the regions and subjects of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, the parties stressed that for many years Russia has been one of the leading trade partners of our country, while noting the positive dynamics of bilateral trade as well as the successful development of cooperation in various areas, including oil and gas, industrial sectors, and other industries.

Meanwhile, the development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan is of strategic importance for both countries. Both countries are focusing on expanding economic ties, in particular in the fields of energy, transport, and agriculture.
India's solidarity with the Palestinian cause dates back to Mahatma Gandhi's time and its rising global stature and influence over all key players in West Asia make it well-placed to play a crucial role in defusing the crisis arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Palestine Ambassador Adnan Abu Alhaija said on Tuesday.

In an interview to PTI, Alhaija particularly noted that India is a "friend" for both Israel and Palestine and it is "qualified" to work towards bringing down the tensions and contribute towards a solution to the Palestine issue.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 1,600 people dead in the last four days, triggering mounting global concerns and confabulations among key players.

Alhaija said India can get in touch with the European countries, the US, countries in West Asia and build "pressure" on the Israelis to work towards peace, which, he said, is refusing so far.

"India knows what is the Palestinian cause from the beginning; since the time of Mahatma Gandhi. So, they are qualified to play that role, especially as India is a friend of both (Palestine and Israel)," he said.

The ambassador noted that India has been supportive of the Palestinian cause.

"India is a very important country. I think, (India) can lead in this matter....India can play a good role," he said.

To a question on whether he was pitching for India playing the role of a mediator, he responded :"(I) hope so."

Asked if he had conveyed this to the people concerned in the Indian government or to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Alhaija said he asked for it around two years ago.

Describing the attacks by Hamas militants as totally unprovoked and unacceptable, Israel has already announced that it will deal with the challenge and punish the perpetrators.

Over the years, India has been maintaining that its position on the Palestine question has been clear and consistent and that it is committed to supporting all efforts to resume direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a two-state solution.

On the attacks against Israel by Hamas, the ambassador said what it has done is a "reaction" to what Israel has been doing to the Palestinian people for a "long, long time".

Asked if he was not condemning the attacks by Hamas that killed innocent civilians, the envoy said: "I condemn the killing of the civilian people -- whether they are Palestinians or Israelis."

"Gaza is an open prison for 2.2 million people. They can't move, they can't go outside for medical treatment unless someone from Israel allows them to come to the West Bank," he said.

The ambassador described the situation in the conflict zone as "very bad".

"The situation is very bad. For years we were warning the world of what's going on (the actions of Israelis) every day without any accountability. We were always calling for accountability. The failure of accountability leads to what is going on now," he said.

"Now, the situation is very bad on both sides," he said.

Calling for a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, Alhaija said the current cycle of hostilities may end after some time, but it may recur in absence of the resolution of the long-pending issue.

"This war may end. But if there is no solution, if there is no peace process to the Palestinian cause, it (the hostilities) will come again," he said.

"The Palestinian people, like any people in the world, should get their rights. They have the right to live like any other people. We can't live under the pressure of the occupation," he said.

The ambassador said Palestine is looking for peace.

"We are looking for peace. We want to live like any other people in the world. We want our children to play freely in their homes and homeland," he noted.

The Palestinian ambassador also held that the US-led initiative of Abraham Accords could not bring peace to West Asia.

The Abraham Accords were aimed at normalising Israel's relations with a number of Arab countries.

The envoy said initiatives like Abraham Accords will not pay any dividend if the main issue is not resolved.

Alhaija also trashed Israel's allegations that Iran has been providing support to Hamas.

Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon on Sunday alleged that Iran has a hand in the attacks and suggested that the country supplied weapons to Hamas.
Israel has intensified the counter-offensive against Hamas, with several air strikes raging into the Gaza territory and a combat helicopter attacking another observation post of the Hezbollah terror group, the Israeli Air Force said.

IMAGE: An aerial view shows damage caused by a rocket after if was fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Ashdod, southern Israel October 9, 2023. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

As the conflict entered the fourth day since Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, the Israeli Air Force launched an extensive attack against terror targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

"A combat helicopter attacked another observation post of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. A short time ago a combat helicopter attacked a Hezbollah observation post after anti-tank fire was fired from Lebanese territory at a military vehicle in the Avivim area," the IAF posted on X (formerly Twitter).

As per the Israeli Air Force, the fighter jets attacked a number of terrorist targets of the terrorist organization Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip. Among other things, the planes attacked a military compound and a weapons warehouse.

Also, a combat management room in Western Jabaliya was attacked which was used by the terrorist organisation Hamas to direct terrorism against the State of Israel, it added.

The conflict continued to intensify, as Hamas also launched a barrage of rockets on Israel, hours after issuing a warning. The terrorist organisation had earlier issued a warning that it would attack Ashkelon at 5 o'clock in retaliation for Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel reported.

As the barrage of rockets pounded the coastal city, sirens sounded in the city and other nearby towns.

The Hamas terror group launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7.

According to the latest updates, at least 900 people have been killed and over 2600 people are wounded.

On the other hand, over 770 Palestinians have also been killed in air raids after Israel launched a strong counter-offensive.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 770 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 wounded in Israeli air raids. Among the dead are 140 children and 120 women, a ministry spokesperson said.

In addition to this, at least 18 people have also been killed and around 100 were injured in the West Bank region since Saturday, Al Jazeera reported.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said Tuesday, with another 4,250 people injured Internet disruptions are affecting the death toll updates, the ministry stated, Times of Israel reported.

In another major development in the ongoing Israeli counter-offensive, two big leaders of Hamas terror group were eliminated by the Israeli Air Force on Tuesday.

The Israeli Air Force said in a statement that the Minister of Economy of Hamas, Jawad Abu Shamala, has been killed.

Zakaria Abu Ma'amer, one of the senior members of the Political Bureau of Hamas was also eliminated by the Israeli Air Force. He was also the head of the Ministry of National Relations in the policy bureau of Hamas in Gaza,

In a major revelation, an emergency group revealed on Tuesday that as many as 260 people were killed by Hamas gunmen who invaded an outdoor music festival in southern Israel during their assault on the country over the weekend, the Times of Israel reported.

The incident has been described by participants as a nightmarish massacre, with terrorists -- who had apparently known in advance of the event and directed significant forces there -- surrounding the participants and cutting down dozens of them with rifle fire, then moving through the area and hunting people in hiding to execute or capture, as per the Times of Israel.

Amid the ongoing war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israel defense forces have announced that schools across the entire country will remain closed in the coming days, according to The Times of Israel.

In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it".

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

He added, "Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come".

However, despite the Israeli counter-offensive, there has been no change in the attitude of Hamas.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Tuesday that the issue of prisoner swaps won't be addressed until the end of the war, The Times of Israel reported.

The head of the Hamas political bureau said that the "prisoner exchanges will only be tackled after the end of the war."

Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, condemned the joint statement issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy against the Hamas attack, terming it "double standards" and their "blatant bias" towards "Zionist occupation".

"These positions once again confirm the double standards of these countries, and their blatant bias towards the Zionist occupation...and provide it with a cover and encouragement to continue and escalate its crimes against our defenceless people," Times of Israel quoted al-Rishq as saying.

The Hamas group has also called for mass rallies in the West Bank, Jerusalem and throughout the Arab and Muslim world on Friday in support of its fight against Israel.

Hamas also extends an appeal to Palestinians in the diaspora, as well as "the free people of our Arab and Islamic nation all around the world," to gather in "the closest point to Jerusalem" in order to show their solidarity with them and stop the "Israeli plans to Judaize Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa", Times of Israel reported.

Iran is another nation, that has continuously voiced support for Hamas. Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday claimed that Israel has "suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence," Iranian News Agency Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

"But those who say that the recent great event is the work of non-Palestinians are making miscalculations" Khameni was cited in the IRNA report.

Since the beginning of 'Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,' "the occupying Zionist regime has suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence," Khamenei said as quoted by IRNA.

The Israel defence force stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza.

An IDF spokesperson has confirmed that 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas.

As part of its counter-offensive against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours."

This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

The horrific attack by Hamas has received global condemnation. Five nations, the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement condemning the attack.

US President posted on X stating that the 'tragedy' incurred by Israel is personal for many American families as the ties between the two nations run deep.

"This is not some distant tragedy - the ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people. In cities across the country, local and federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," Biden posted on X.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi talked with his Israeli counterpart and took an update about the ongoing situation.

"I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," PM Modi said.

German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann called the attack as "heartbreaking and appalling" and stated that Germany believes in the right of self-defence of Israel.

"What we've seen over the weekend in Israel is just heartbreaking and appalling. The attacks by Hamas on Israeli soil, the random killing of people...more than hundreds were killed. I was completely shocked and I couldn't believe what I saw. The pictures we had to see on social media were just terrible. So we believe in the right of self-defence of Israel. We believe that Israel has every right to defend itself," the envoy said.

He added, "What is the aim of this attack? What does Hamas want to achieve with this attack? I don't see any improvement in the situation and therefore, I must say I condemn what happened in Israel."

The Israel Defense Forces said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip, 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped.

On Monday, the Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked several targets of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The aircraft attacked a building used by Hamas in investigations and an operational infrastructure located inside a mosque. In addition, an underground tunnel shaft of the terrorist organization and military infrastructures used by the Hamas were also attacked.
At the Addis Ababa airport a long queue of Israeli citizens await connecting flights back home. Many of them have been called up as Army reservists.

IMAGE: The remains of a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel lies on a road where it fell in Ashkelon, southern Israel, October 10, 2023. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

The terror unleashed by Hamas has shocked them.

One of those returning home is Erez Semaria, who called the Hamas terrorists "monsters" for targeting women and children.

"They were pulling women and children out of their beds and dragging them away to Gaza like monsters out of a fairy tale storybook. Usually, they are much more PR-conscious, and I'm surprised that they would unmask themselves like this," Erez Semaria said.

He added, "Just the complete monsters, indefensible. I don't understand anybody who could stand up for this sort of thing...They're probably going after soft targets, they haven't targeted the military during this. They've mostly focused on civilians."

In an exclusive interview with ANI at the Addis Ababa Airport, during layover time for an Israel connecting flight via Ethiopia, Erez Semaria said that the Hamas is directly attacking common people.

"I was very surprised that the attack was very out of line with what they've done in the past with missile attacks. This was a direct attack on civilians. I don't know what explanation they could hide behind" he said.

Erez Semaria is an American citizen settled in Israel for the last several years.

Erez and his entire family had gone to Japan for a holiday on the day Hamas launched a barbaric attack on Israel.

He was traveling with his family members two daughters, a son and his wife to Israel.

Despite the ongoing war, many families are moving back to Israel to stand with the people in a time of crisis.

Another Israeli national, Elon Doga at the Addis Ababa Airport, who was also returning home, affirmed that he is ready to fight the terrorists.

"I'm going to my home. We are ready to fight these terrorists" said Elon while speaking to ANI at the Adis Ababa airport.

At least 900 Israelis were killed and over 2,616 people injured after Hamas launched a barbaric attack on Israel.

In a war update shared by Israel defence forces on X, the IDF said that about 30 hostages have been held by Hamas in Gaza in the ongoing conflict.

It also stated that about 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel after which the Israeli defence forces struck 1290 Hamas targets in Gaza.

The Israeli Air Force continues to extensively attack many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

An IDF Spokesperson has confirmed 123 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, and 50 families have been informed that a relative was kidnapped by Hamas.

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed about the mobilisation and said the IDF "has never mobilised so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours."

This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had finally regained control over the border with the Gaza Strip , 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped.

On Monday Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked several targets of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The aircraft attacked a building used by the Hamas in investigations and an operational infrastructure located inside a mosque. In addition, an underground tunnel shaft of the terrorist organization and military infrastructures used by the Hamas were also attacked.
A Delhi court on Tuesday sent to 10-day judicial custody NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty, arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

IMAGE: Prabir Puryakastha (right) heads to Patiala House Court, New Delhi, October 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The two were produced before additional sessions judge Hardeep Kaur around 2.50 pm, following which the prosecution sought 10 days judicial custody for the duo.

"It is admitted position that there is no stay by the Delhi high court against the proceedings in the present case," ASJ Kaur said.

"In view of the submissions made, grounds cited in the application and record, accused Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty are remanded in judicial custody for 10 days and be produced on October 20," she added.

The judge noted the submissions of the counsel for both the accused persons, according to which they had challenged the duo's arrest, and the first remand order passed by the court before the Delhi high court.

"They have also moved a petition for quashing of FIR, though there is no stay by the Delhi high court against the proceedings in the present case," she said.

The court said the application for the duo's judicial custody included various grounds, such as the investigation being at a crucial state, to conduct a proper investigation as the case is regarding a "larger and deep-rooted conspiracy", and to prevent the duo from committing any further offence.

"It is further submitted that at this stage, more investigation is needed to be conducted, questioning of several persons linked with the case is still pending, the reply of notices sent to various financial institutions is awaited and analysis of the huge volume of digital data, documents and other evidence seized during investigation needs to be completed," the court said noting the application.

It said according to the plea, based on developments during the investigation, further police custody of accused persons may be required at a later stage, for which a separate application would be filed.

The court noted that counsels for both accused had opposed the plea for judicial custody.

It noted advocate Arshdeep Singh Khurana, counsel for Purkayastha, had submitted that it is a case of multiple investigations by various agencies, including the economic offences wing (EOW), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and income tax department.

In the case regarding the previous investigation by the ED, the Delhi high court had in June 2021 granted protection to Purkayastha and also directed the agency to not take any coercive action against him, the court said noting his submissions.

It noted that the advocate had argued that the Special Cell had registered a new FIR to "circumvent this protection" and that no criminal act had been done by Purkayastha.

The court said Chakravarty's counsel had submitted that his client's name was mentioned at only two places in the FIR and there was no specific allegation against him.

It said that countering the arguments, the special public prosecutor (SPP) Atul Shrivastava had said that Purkayastha's counsel was "misleading" this court as facts of a 2013 judgment of the apex court cited by him were different from the present case.

"He (the SPP) further submitted that Part B of Delhi high court rules for remand does not bar this court to grant judicial custody remand... Section 309 (explanation 1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) provides that if sufficient evidence has been obtained to raise a suspicion that the accused may have committed an offence, and it appears likely that further evidence may be obtained by a remand, this is a reasonable cause for a remand," the court noted.

Countering the arguments of Chakravarty's counsel, the SPP said it is settled law that FIR is not an encyclopaedia which must disclose all the facts, the court noted.

The special cell of Delhi police had arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3. The police also sealed NewsClick's office in Delhi.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group -- People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) -- to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on October 3 on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data, the police said.

Around 300 electronic gadgets were also seized from the offices of NewsClick and residences of the journalists who were examined.

Following the raids, 46 individuals, including nine female journalists, were questioned by the special cell in Delhi and NCR.

The Delhi high court on Monday reserved its order on pleas by Purkayastha and Chakravarty challenging their arrest and the subsequent 7-day police remand.
More than 400 patients were evacuated to safety after a major fire broke out in PGIMER-Chandigarh's Nehru Hospital block late last night, officials said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: A policeman inspects the charred remains after a fire broke out in the computer room of the PGIMER's Nehru Hospital block, in Chandigarh, October 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

No injuries were reported in the incident.

An official of the fire and emergency services department said that 11 fire tenders including one each from Panchkula and Mohali were pressed into service to quickly control the blaze.

"There is no casualty or injury to anyone in the incident," the official said.

Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: Patients being shifted to a safe ward after fire at the hospital.

The fire broke out in the UPS system of the computer room on the first floor around 11.45 pm on Monday, with the smoke making its way up to the higher floors, the officials said.

The windowpanes on some of the upper floors were broken to let the smoke out and prevent any suffocation incidents, they said.

The patients evacuated included 34 from the intensive care unit and 80 pregnant women. Fifty-six babies and 17 undergoing treatment in the paediatric ward were also moved to safety.

Fire tenders were immediately pressed into service and brought the blaze under control after some time, the officials added.

The fire and emergency services and the disaster management departments, police and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research's (PGIMER) own emergency response system immediately swung into action after the fire was reported.

PGIMER and disaster management department officials said all the patients were immediately evacuated and shifted to safe zones and relocated to other wards.

"We evacuated 424 patients. We have an extension building in Nehru Hospital where some of them were shifted. Everyone worked as a team in PGI with the Chandigarh Union Territory administration's support," PGIMER Medical Superintendent Vipin Koushal told PTI.

"There was no loss of life. But damage to property has taken place due to the fire and restoration work is being started," he said.

According to a statement issued by PGIMER during the day, the fire occurred in the computer room of Nehru Hospital's C-Block. The reason of the fire is believed to be a short circuit, it said.

The C-Block houses a dialysis unit, adult kidney unit, renal transplant unit, male and female medical wards, gynaecology, maternity, nursery and neonatal ICU, bone marrow transplant and operation theatres that function round-the-clock throughout the year, it added.

"As soon as the incident occurred, security officers, fire officers and staff members including faculty, residents, staff nurses and subordinate staff of PGI got into action and all the patients from these areas were rescued and shifted to the safer areas," said the statement.

Sources said though initially the fire triggered panic among the patients and their attendants, authorities quickly swung into action and brought the situation was brought under control.

PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal, senior faculty members, the medical superintendent and administrative officers reached the spot immediately. The PGIMER's fire and engineering wings also swung into action to provide the support required for patient care, it said.

A disaster management department official said, "All patients were safely evacuated. We cleared the ICU, respiratory ICU ... Our rescue team worked in coordination with the police, the fire department and PGI departments."

The smoke and heat spread to the corridors due to which the patients from the adjoining areas' advanced urology centre and male surgical ward were also shifted to safety to avoid any sort of suffocation incident, according to the statement.

The patients were shifted to two different areas of Nehru Hospital and its extension block.

The authorities also moved the patients admitted in the adjoining wards and corridors to other wards or ICUs to avoid any untoward incident as the smoke spread.

The evacuation was done within 60 minutes and there was no loss of life. Around 2 am, all the services related to patient care were mostly restored, the statement said.

Director Lal has instructed the engineering wing for immediate restoration of the affected areas.

The statement said the areas affected will require major repairs and operation theatres and other facilities are expected to be made functional as soon as possible. At present, alternative arrangements have been made in other areas of the institute, advanced trauma centre and the extension block.

A 14-member committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of dean (academic) Prof Naresh Panda to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and work out an action plan to avoid such incidents in the future, the statement said.
The Congress registered a landslide victory in 2018 Chhattisgarh assembly elections because of the strong anti-incumbency against the BJP that had ruled the state for 15 years between 2003 and 2018.

IMAGE: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel addresses a press conference with Congress secretary Vineet Punia at the party headquarters, New Delhi, August 24, 2023. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

The Congress currently holds 71 seats in the 90-member state assembly and is aiming to win 75 seats in the upcoming elections riding on the Bhupesh Baghel-led government's pro-farmers, pro-tribals and pro-poor schemes.

The ruling party is also eyeing to cash in on Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's popularity as he has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters.

Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh.

STRENGTHS

Implementation of several welfare schemes, including Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay and Godhan Nyay Yojana, catering to farmers and rural population, unemployment allowance and procurement of millets and various forest produce at support price.

CM Baghel has developed his image as a son of the soil, enhancing his popularity in the native population. He has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters.

In the last five years, the party has strengthened its organisational set-up till the booth level. Around 3 lakh youths associated with the Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club scheme could help the party in mobilising voters in its favour. This scheme is aimed at connecting young people of the state with creative works, developing leadership skills and making them aware of their social responsibilities.

The Congress won bypolls held to five assembly seats in Chhattisgarh after 2018, consolidating its position in the state.

WEAKNESSES

There is factionalism and infighting in the grand old party's state unit. In the last five years, CM Baghel's bete noire in the party T S Singh Deo raised a banner of revolt multiple times. Finally, the party had to placate him by appointing him as the deputy chief minister earlier this year. Another leader Mohan Markam, a former state Congress president, was also not on good terms with Baghel. But he was inducted into the state cabinet a few months back. Despite all this, the internal bickering is far from over.

The government is facing allegations of corruption in coal transportation, liquor sale, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund utilisation and Public Service Commission recruitment in the state.

Some incidents of communal violence and clashes over religious conversion occurred in the state during the present regime, giving an opportunity to the opposition BJP to build a narrative against the Congress of being anti-Hindu.

OPPORTUNITIES

The BJP has failed to mount an effective attack on the Congress in the last nearly five years.

Leadership issue in the BJP: After the 2018 assembly polls, the BJP has changed its state chief thrice and also changed its leader of opposition in the state assembly last year. The saffron party has also virtually sidelined Raman Singh, whose last tenure as CM between 2013 and 2018 was rocked by alleged civil supplies scam and chit fund scam.

The Congress has been continuously targeting the BJP, claiming its central leadership does not have faith in the party's frontline leaders in the state.

Weak BJP district units that failed to counter Congress's narrative against the BJP-led Centre at the local level.

THREATS
In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it".

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. Though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

More than 700 Israelis have died so far while as many as 2,300 have sustained injuries in the surprise Hamas attack.

Netanyahu lashed out Hamas saying that they will pay the price and will remember the same for a long time.

"Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come," said Netanyahu.

He also highlighted the plight of those taken hostage, saying, "The savage attacks that Hamas perpetrated against innocent Israelis are mindboggling: slaughtering families in their homes, massacring hundreds of young people at an outdoor festival, and kidnapping scores of women, children and elderly, even Holocaust survivors. Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages."

WATCH: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's stern warning to Hamas

Branding Hamas as ISIS, he called on the "forces of civilisation" to unite against the Hamas and defeat it.

"Hamas is ISIS. And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas," Netanyahu said.

He also went on to thank United States President Joe Biden and other world leaders for their support.

"I am in continuous contact with President Biden, and I would like to thank him again, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, for the commitment of the US in words and deeds for the security of Israel," the Israeli Prime Minister said.

"Also, I want to thank many world leaders for your unprecedented support for Israel," he added.

"In fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its own people. It is fighting for every country that stands against barbarism. Israel will win this war, and when Israel wins, the entire civilized world will win," Netanyahu said towards the conclusion of his speech.

Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN.
Will the welfare schemes launched by the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan be enough to win the state for the Congress?

IMAGE: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Congress leader Sachin Pilot during a meeting with Rajasthan party leaders in Jaipur, August 19, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Or will the Gehlot-Pilot feud take it down in the assembly polls on November 23?

Here is a SWOT analysis of the Congress  a look at the party's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Strengths

Three-time Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's mass connect, strengthened further by a systematic outreach programme, gives the party another shot at power.

Despite being sidelined in the state, former deputy minister Sachin Pilot's charisma still counts. He remains a crowd-puller, particularly among the youth.

A long list of welfare schemes launched by the government. These include Rs 25-lakh medical insurance, MGNREGA-like employment scheme for urban areas, cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 for the Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries, smartphones for women and a social security allowance.

Weaknesses

Infighting between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot has been out in the open throughout the Congress term. The current truce may not be enough to offset the damage.

The party's organisational structure could have been stronger.

Many state unit office bearers and district presidents were appointed only in July, giving them little time for them to settle in before the elections.

The Congrss has found it hard to counter allegations of corruption, including those related to paper leaks.

A sacked minister's claim that he has a red diary that carries evidence of financial irregularities is also now in the mix.

Opportunities

Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme should give an edge to the ruling Congress in Rajasthan.

About seven lakh employees  and their families  are expected to benefit from this decision.

Divisions within the BJP's state unit could help the Congress, particularly if Vasundhara Raje's supporters do not throw their weight into the BJP campaign.

The party gains in some districts if it manages to convince voters that the BJP at the Centre is not prioritising the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.

Threats

Anti-incumbency makes regaining power tough for the ruling Congress in Rajasthan.

The state has alternated between the BJP and the Congress every year in recent decades.

The BJP appears set to bring up cases of communal violence in the state, accusing the state government of appeasement' towards Muslims.

The presence of Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM on the Rajasthan poll scene could split the Muslim vote in some constituencies.

Similarly, newly formed Bhartiya Adivasi too can make it tougher for the party in the tribal belt.
America's premier investigating agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said on Tuesday that they were probing any possible threats to the security of citizens in the United States in the wake of the terror attacks on Israel by Hamas.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers gather on and around tanks in a field at the Israeli side of the Gaza border on the outskirts of Ashkelon, southern Israel October 9, 2023. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

In a message posted on its official handle on X, the FBI stated that they wouldn't hestitate to change their "security posture", if so needed, to protect the lives of American citizens.

"While the FBI does not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel, we are closely monitoring unfolding events and will share relevant information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners to ensure they are prepared for any impacts to public safety. We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people," read the FBI post on X.

"We are closely coordinating with our counterparts in the region as well as other international partners," the agency added in its post.

It added that its Legal Attache' office in Israel was actively working with partners on the ground to locate and identify US citizens afftected by the terror attacks.

"Through our Legal Attache' office in Israel, FBI personnel are working with our partners on the ground to locate and identify any impacted Americans. Reports of deceased, injured, or missing Americans are being treated with the utmost urgency and aggressively investigated. The FBI's Victim Services Division is coordinating with the Department of State to assist, as necessary, with family engagement," the FBI stated.

FBI's stern message came after United States President Joe Biden announced that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Hamas attacks in Israel.

Even as Israel continued its aerial assault on Gaza, while also launching a ground offensive, the toll from the multi-pronged terror attacks by Hamas went past 900 on Tuesday, with the injury count reported to be at 2400, The Times of Israel reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli fighters struck 1707 Hamas targets in Gaza since Saturday, including 475 rocket systems, 73 command centres, 23 strategic infrastructure sites and 22 underground targets.

In retaliation to the terror attacks, Israeli forces have, so far. killed over 400 people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

As part of the counter-offensive, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed of the mobilisation of forces, saying the IDF "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly -- 300,000 reservists in 48 hours."

This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.
Soma Ravi, an Indian caregiver in Ramat Gan, recounts the last 4 days in Israel and says the Indian embassy has been in constant touch.

IMAGE: Israeli border police in Ashkelon, October 10, 2023 walk past a burnt out car as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

It is not the rockets, but the infiltrators from Gaza who have entered Israel that are a source of grave worry for Soma Ravi.

"We don't know what they will do and where they will go," he tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih over the telephone from Ramat Gan in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

The Israeli authorities have asked people to be vigilant, not open the door to strangers and report suspicious people.

"We remain indoors and are not going out unless extremely necessary. It is all quiet outside. On Saturday-Sunday, it was like the Corona lockdown."

Hailing from Telangana, Mr Ravi is employed as a caregiver and has lived in Israel for 18 years. He is president of the Israel Telangana Association. There are approximately 5,000 people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in Israel.

Around 18,000 Indian citizens live in Israel. Most are employed as caregivers for the elderly, the rest are in the diamond trade, IT professionals and students.

Since the Hamas attack on Saturday morning, the Indian embassy in Israel has been in touch with Mr Ravi to check about him and his Indian friends and acquaintances.

IMAGE: People gather at the site where a rocket landed. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

Two years ago, a rocket landed on a road 500 metres from the house he lives in Israel. One person died and the houses nearby suffered damage.

"We are used to rockets being fired. 95% of the rockets are destroyed by the Iron Dome missile defence system, but this kind of massive attack I saw for the first time," says Mr Ravi, who attended the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas for overseas Indians last year in Indore.

The area where he lives is around 80 kilometres from the Gaza Strip and is not affected as badly as the places near Gaza.

All schools, malls and shops are closed. Public transport has been trimmed. Police check posts have been set up for enhanced security.

Meanwhile, 24 hour shops catering to daily needs remain open.

"The barrage of rockets has quietened down compared to what it was in the first two days. We could see and hear them from our windows, but things are much better now," he says.

Giving a sense of the capacity of the rockets, he says, "If they land on a building, they usually damage one or two flats."

WATCH: A community bomb shelter with rooms, washrooms in Tel Aviv.

Video: Kind courtesy Suresh N

All houses are equipped with a bomb shelter. There are also community bomb shelters with bathrooms, beds and ventilation.

"They are like the strong room in a bank," explains Mr Ravi. 'The moment you hear the siren, you have to rush and take refuge in the safe room."

The room he says is made of thick walls with an iron door. It has a bed and a washroom.

WATCH: A bomb shelter inside the house with a washroom and bed.

Video: Kind courtesy Soma Ravi

After having lived in Israel for nearly 20 years, he says the people are very friendly. His employers treat him as an equal. He eats his meals with them at the table, can eat anything out of the fridge and is treated like family.

"It is not like the Gulf," he says.

He has not picked up Hebrew because most Israelis speak English.

Next month, he is planning to come home for leave after a year.

"By then," he pauses, "I hope the situation will improve."
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 10. Uzbekistans Silk Avia Airlines will launch flights from Uzbekistans Samarkand to Kazakhstans Turkestan, Trend reports.

The first charter flight on the Samarkand  Turkestan  Samarkand route will be performed on October 14, 2023.

In the future, the airline plans to transfer the flights between Samarkand and Turkestan to the status of regular flights.

Moreover, the airline is considering the introduction of flights to Turkestan from Uzbekistans Fergana.

Silk Avia is an Uzbek airline that started operating flights in April 25, 2023. The airline's fleet currently consists of three turboprop medium-haul ATR 72-600 aircraft. In August 2023, the carrier launched its first international flight to the Kyrgyz resort of Issyk-Kul.
(File) The town of Londonderry. The Londonderry Selectboard is crafting an ordinance related to short term rentals in the town.
Abbas Ganbay

"The Great Return Program related to the liberated territories is among the main priorities of our state. Within the framework of this Program, former internally displaced persons have already been resettled in Lachin, Fuzuli, and the villages of Aghali, Zabukh, and Talish," the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, said at the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the city of Shusha, Azernews reports.

According to Azerbaijan FM, about 100,000 former IDPs are planning to return to their homes in the next 3 years:

"In addition to the revival of the economic regions of Garabagh and East Zangazur, the continuous relocation of the population and the implementation of projects create conditions for the transformation of these areas into a developed region," Minister Bayramov said.

The Azerbaijani FM also emphasized that important infrastructure projects have been implemented in the liberated territories in a very short time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said at the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the city of Shusha.

According to FM, immediately after the liberation of the ancient lands from the Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan began to implement large-scale restoration and reconstruction work.

Minister noted that infrastructure projects of great importance have been implemented in those areas in a very short time, including the construction and commissioning of two international airports: The third airport is being constructed in Lachin, the Minister added.

Bayramov expressed his gratitude to brotherly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for the already commissioned school and the creative center under construction in the city of Fuzuli and considered it a clear example of brotherhood and solidarity between the countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has refused to take part in the CIS summit to be held in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek, Trend reports.

In a phone conversation with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, Pashinyan said that he would not be able to take part in the event.

Before that, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan refused to take part in the meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers, which will be held on October 12 in Bishkek.

Armenia will be represented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at the event.
Greenville's Haywood Mall Welcomes Premier Brazilian Steakhouse

Texas de Brazil Churrascaria, made its debut in South Carolina when it opened for dinner at the upscale Haywood Mall in Greenville. This new restaurant, located at 700 Haywood Rd., will be the family-owned brand's 65th location.

Texas de Brazil embraces a time-honored tradition of churrasco-style cooking, which was adopted from the gauchos, or Brazilian cowboys of Southern Brazil. All the meats are cooked over an open flame using natural wood charcoal to give the meats a deeper and more intense flavor with just the right amount of smokiness.

"We are eager to bring the art of churrasco and rodizio-style service to our first South Carolina location," stated Salim Asrawi, President of Texas de Brazil. "We are confident our concept and Brazilian cuisine will be a great addition to the Greenville community and look forward to offering the residents and visitors a unique option for those seeking a dining experience like no other," he adds.

The new restaurant features an extravagant salad area made of white marble adorned with a lavish flower arrangement, radiant golden onyx pillars that complement soaring ceilings and unique hanging light fixtures that enhance the ambiance of the expansive dining area. Guests can enjoy a drink in the intimate lounge area or browse for their favorite bottles in the impressive wine cellar.

The restaurant offers a large private dining room, where up to 75 guests can dine together. For smaller parties, there is a stunning wood table in front of the grill where guests can dine and watch the gauchos skewer and grill the meat.

The highlights of this rodizio-style dining experience are the continuous servings of fire-roasted meats and unlimited plates from the chef-crafted salad area.

The experience begins with a visit to the expansive salad area where hot and cold side specialty dishes offer delicious variety.

Salad Area Selections include artisan breads, imported cheeses, grilled vegetables, Brazilian hearts of palm, spicy shrimp salad, couscous pasta, sauteed mushrooms, feijoada (black beans), jasmine rice, lobster bisque and much more.

The main course or star of the show - a savory variety of flame-grilled meats that are expertly prepared and carved at the table by the restaurant gauchos.

Churrasco Selections include cuts of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage, such as filet mignon, barbecued pork ribs, leg of lamb, Parmesan drumettes and the guest's favorite, picanha.

A good wine nicely complements the flavors of churrasco and Texas de Brazil's curated wine list includes acclaimed varietals from California and South America vineyards as well as Texas de Brazil's exclusive private label collection of six varietals bottled in Chile.

A full bar offers craft cocktails including the traditional Caipirinha in a variety of flavors plus a full selection of distilled spirits and beer (domestic and Brazilian).

For those with a sweet tooth, no meal is complete without dessert and guests can indulge in selections including house-made flan, triple layer chocolate mousse cake, cheesecake and more, all served a la carte.

Service hours include - Dinner: Mon. - Thurs. 5:00 p.m.  9:00 p.m., Fri. 5:00 p.m.  10:00 p.m., Sat. 2:00 p.m.  10:00 p.m. and Sun. 2:00 p.m.  8:30 p.m.

Regular dinner, which includes the meat and salad service is $50.99 per person. The salad area only option is $31.99 per person. When purchased with a full-price meal children 2 years and under dine complimentary, 3-5 years are $5.00 and 6-12 years are 50% off regular dinner price.
Chinese-language posts claimed the Biden administration called for substantial budget cuts and layoffs of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, citing a statement from a White House spokesperson.

But the claim is false. The individual cited by social media users is not a White House spokesperson, and the statement was a critique of the prospective impact of Republican legislators proposed spending cuts, not an administration announcement.

The claim was shared here on Chinese media platform NetEast on Sept. 30.

Extremely dangerous signals! President Joe Biden has called for budget cuts to eliminate 12,000 FBI agents and nearly 1,000 ATF agents, according to a White House spokesman. The United States is really running out of money! the claim reads in part.

The claim emerged as Democratic and Republican congressional legislators temporarily averted a partial government shutdown by passing a 45-day temporary funding bill just hours before a midnight deadline on Oct. 1.

The bill was a stopgap that forgoes large-scale aid to Ukraine and fails to resolve fundamental budgetary differences between the two parties.

The claim was widely shared by Chinese-speaking social media users, including an influential Weibo user with more than a million followers who also shared a 21-second clip of the alleged White House official as evidence.

As the U.S. government faces a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over next years fiscal budget, Chinese netizens claim that President Biden called for large budget cuts and layoffs of FBI and ATF personnel. (Screenshots/Weibo and Netease)

However, the claim is false. Below is what AFCL found.

Not a White House spokesperson

A reverse image search on Google found the corresponding video published here on USA Todays official YouTube account on Sept. 30, 2023.

The video shows Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget  not a White House spokesperson  describing the potential effects of a federal government shutdown.

The clips 40-second part matches the video shared in the misleading social media posts.

Their [Republican legislators'] bill includes devastating 30 percent cuts. You heard me: 30 percent cuts, she says. It would eliminate 12,000 FBI agents, almost 1,000 ATF agents, and more than 500 local law enforcement.

Youngs comments regarding layoffs of federal employees were a critique of recent budget cuts proposed by Republican legislators in light of the looming government shutdown.

Further searches found the full video published on the White Houses official YouTube channel and transcript on its website.

Young went on to note that the proposed budget cuts would potentially impact over ten million citizens in various ways, before calling for extreme House Republicans to stop playing politics and keep the government running.

On Sept. 29, the White House released information outlining the possible impacts of the recent budget cuts proposed by Republicans. (Screenshot/White House official website)

The White House released a fact sheet later the same day which reiterated many points from Youngs speech.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) is a branch of RFA established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. Our journalists publish both daily and special reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of public issues.






The new ties with officially registered parties could help it place candidates on the ballot in upcoming elections.

Cambodias Grassroots Democratic Party campaign during the general election in Phnom Penh in July 2023.

Cambodias opposition Candlelight Party announced it will join with three smaller parties in a political alliance that will aim to field candidates in the 2027 local commune elections and the 2028 general election.

The Alliance Toward the Future, which includes the Khmer Will Party, the Grassroots Democratic Party and the Cambodia Reform Party, will be announced at a public event on Wednesday, Candlelight Party spokesman Kim Sour Phirith told Radio Free Asia.

The Candlelight Party is the only party that could have mounted a serious challenge to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, or CPP, in Julys general elections.

But in May, the National Election Committee disqualified the party because it did not have the original registration form issued by the Ministry of Interior. With no real opposition, the CPP swept the parliamentary vote.

This weeks announcement comes after Candlelight officials had exhausted efforts to ask the ministry to reissue its original partys registration. Last month, ministry officials again denied the partys request to reissue a registration letter so that it could participate in future elections.

Candlelight Party Vice President Rong Chhun delivers a speech to party supporters in September 2023. Credit: Candlelight Party.





That document was lost in 2017 when the offices of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, were raided by government agents. Without the document, the Candlelight Party cannot compete in elections, leaving the country without a viable opposition party.

Political pressures have increased compared to previous years so we need national unification from democrats to be firm, Kim Sour Phirith said. This is a vital step to restore democracy and human rights.

Recognized registration status

But CPP spokesman Sok Ey San predicted that the four parties wont pose a threat.

The new alliance is from the losing parties, he said. Losers working together will just make it worse.

The Grassroots Democratic Party appeared on the July ballot but didnt win any seats in the National Assembly.

While the Khmer Will Party and the Cambodia Reform Party did not appear on the ballot, their recognized registration status makes them an attractive partner for the Candlelight Party and could increase its future bargaining power with the CPP, independent political commentator Em Sovannara said.

If all of these parties merge into one party, it will have the ability to challenge the ruling party, he said.

Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy told RFA that he wasnt involved in the alliances formation.

Sam Rainsy remains the acting president of the CNRP, which formed in 2013 as an umbrella party for several opposition parties. That party was banned by Cambodias Supreme Court just ahead of the 2018 general elections.

In recent years, many CNRP activists and supporters have joined the Candlelight Party.

Hun Sen shouldnt try to destroy former Sam Rainsy followers, he told RFA, referring to the longtime prime minister who stepped down in August and retains political influence behind the scenes.

They are growing and mature and they know what to do, he said. They know to step forward and pave over obstacles.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.
A vendor rests next to his cart of lotus seeds outside a mall in Beijing, Aug. 8, 2021.

Quit whining, the Peoples Daily chided readers last week.

"Don't say things like 'I'm bored to death, or 'dead tired' or ... complain about how poor you are," the Communist Party mouthpiece said.

"You should say instead, that it's not so bad, that you can handle it, and that everything will be fine," it said. "Remember, words are powerful!"

The exhortation  which comes amid widespread youth joblessness and disillusionment as the economy struggles to rebound after COVID-19 measures were lifted in December  sparked an outcry on social media.

"You people should be ashamed of yourselves  do you have no limits?" commented one user.

"Should it even be called the People's Daily?" said another.

"So people who are hungry have to say they're full?" commented @kantamenchangkuangdaojishi. "People who have already worked 12 hours have to say they can go on for another 12 hours?"

"People who have nothing to wear say they're not wearing clothes because it's too hot, and those who thirst have to pretend not to like water," the user wrote.

A woman sleeps amongst cardboard boxes on a street in Hong Hong, April 25, 2022. Credit: Peter Parks/AFP





The outcry comes amid the popularity of pop song about lying flat, dropping out and magically getting rich. China is seeing the growth of young refuseniks who reject the traditional fourfold path to adulthood: finding a mate, marriage, mortgages and raising a family.

Beautifying suffering

Netease blogger Tricolor said the Peoples Daily advice exudes "positive energy" of the kind frequently referenced by state media and Chinese leaders, "but in fact it is not helpful at all in solving actual problems."

"Some people just want to find the answers to their problems through talking, and take the pressure off by communicating," the blogger said, accusing the post of "beautifying suffering."

"Positive energy" has emerged as a political buzzword under President Xi Jinping that is often used to censor undesirable content from the country's internet, media reports and even from tune menus in karaoke parlors.

Regarding the power of words, the blogger said the advice was tantamount to superstition, and inappropriate for an atheist country.

"Either just be open about your belief in gods and ghosts, or stop using mysterious words like that," they wrote.

Residents line up for public transportation in Beijing, Aug. 15, 2023. Credit: Ng Han Guan/AP





Life is hard

The "advice" has emerged on wellness channels on social media in recent months, at a time when many people have reduced incomes, or are unemployed.

"Everyone is feeling the pressure," a retired civil servant from Beijing who gave only the surname Zhao for fear of reprisals told Radio Free Asia. "Life is hard  everything is affected, including the job market, and a lot of workplaces have cut salaries."

A resident of the central city of Wuhan who gave only the surname Fang for fear of reprisals said complaining about hard times is natural.

"If your life isn't going well, why wouldn't you complain?" Fang said. "How can you say you're doing great? How is that possible?"

"Life is hard right now, and I think it's good for people to vent  they just want to sew people's mouths shut so they stop talking," Fang said.

"People who say stuff like that are wealthy and powerful people who don't have to worry about their next meal," she said.

A recruiter talks with an applicant at a booth at a job fair at a shopping center in Beijing, June 9, 2023. Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/AP





A teacher from the central province of Hunan who gave only the surname Li for fear of reprisals said the "advice" was worrying.

"It confuses right and wrong, black and white ... and runs against basic common sense, which is very scary," Li said. "People are going to complain if they're poor and are having trouble getting by."

Economic woes

As the economy flags, unemployment rises and the property bubble bursts, local governments are struggling to pay the wages of government employees, who in turn have less disposable income to join the government's consumption drive.

Xi's record on the economy has prompted calls for a return to the export-driven economic policy of late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping.

Provincial authorities in the northeastern province of Liaoning, southwestern megacity of Chongqing, southwestern province of Yunnan and three other provinces have been busy issuing refinancing bonds this week to the tune of around 320 billion yuan, according to media reports.

The bonds will enable local governments to pay off debts that are coming due now, the 21st Century Business Herald website reported.

A worker rests on the pavement in Beijing, Oct. 13, 2021. Credit: Noel Celis/AFP





Financial commentator Zheng Xuguang said the bonds are being issued to prevent a fiscal crisis.

Taking out new borrowing to pay off older debts isn't a solution to the underlying problem," Zheng said. "They just want to create a breathing space and prevent anyone defaulting on their debts."

He said most of the risk would be borne by banks, who are the main purchasers of the bonds.

Financial scholar Xiang Ling said more than half of China's provinces are heavily in debt.

"Amid the economic downturn, the Chinese government's financial deficit has been seriously underestimated," Xiang said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
'Terrified' people flee the building after a man crashes a car into the visa office

People evacuate as security personnel respond to the driver of the car that crashed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, California, Oct. 9, 2023 in this screenshot obtained from social media video.

San Francisco police have shot and fatally injured the driver of a car that smashed into the visa office of the Chinese consulate, which described the incident as a violent attack" that could have killed someone.

Video footage from a bystander at the scene that was shared with Radio Free Asia showed a dark blue Honda at rest after crashing into the visa waiting area, with people fleeing the building and bloodstains on the ground.

Police shot and killed the man who crashed the car into the Chinese consulate near Japantown, the San Francisco Standard reported.

"Police and emergency vehicles swarmed the area around Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard," the paper reported. "The fire department initially said the man had been taken to a hospital with serious injuries, but San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Kathryn Winters said around 6:30 p.m. that he had died."

Bay Area resident Qiu Shi told Radio Free Asia that his friend had been in the visa office at the time.

When this man drove into the hall, there were more than 20 people there," Qiu said. "She was very close and saw everything very clearly."

"She saw the guy get out of the car after crashing it and get decisively into the back seat."

A San Francisco Police vehicle is parked on the street near the visa office of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, California, Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Nathan Frandino/Reuters

She told him that police then ran in and that gunshots were fired.

"She is in a terrified state," Qiu said of his friend.

Eyewitness Sergii Molchanov told The Standard that the man shouted "Where's the CCP?", a reference to China's ruling Communist Party, as he got out of the car and was restrained by security guards, after which police came running in and gunshots were heard.

Solemn representations

The Chinese consulate condemned the attack, and made "solemn representations" to the United States to take appropriate action.

"On the afternoon of Oct. 9, 2023, local time, an unidentified person drove a vehicle into the visa hall of our consulate, violently crashing it and posing a serious threat to the lives of staff and others on site," a consular spokesperson said in a statement.

The "violent attack" didn't kill anyone, but caused "serious damage" to property, the spokesperson said.

"The mission severely condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibilities related to the incident," the statement said.

Police officers are seen outside the visa office of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, California, on Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Laure Andrillon/AFP

A State Department spokesperson told Radio Free Asia that the agency's Diplomatic Security Service is monitoring the security situation at the Chinese consulate and investigating the incident with local and federal law enforcement authorities.

"We are committed to addressing this issue, consistent with our obligations under the Vienna Conventions -- relating to safety and security of diplomatic facilities and personnel," the spokesperson said in Washington.

"We condemn all violence perpetrated against foreign diplomatic staff working in the United States," added the spokesperson.

Police issued a notice on X telling people to avoid the area, which was still cordoned off after the incident.

San Francisco police said they were working with the U.S. State Department to investigate, the Standard reported, adding that police did not release the identity of the driver or discuss what might have motivated his actions.

The incident isn't the first to befall the consulate, which was attacked by an arsonist in 2014.

Focus of rights protests

State media pundit Hu Xijin hit out at the level of police protection offered to the diplomatic mission.

"In 2008 it was set on fire. The mayor promised 'appropriate' amount of police protection," Hu wrote. "In 2014 it was set on fire again. U.S. said local police 'is providing 24/7 'coverage'."

"And now its rammed by a car. What have U.S. police been doing?"

The consulate has been a frequent focus of protests over the Chinese Communist Party's human rights record in recent years.

In February, protesters gathered outside the consulate to protest "long-arm" law enforcement by Beijing, in the form of secret police "service stations" on U.S. soil.

Beijing says the stations were set up to provide essential services to Chinese citizens overseas, but the rights group Safeguard Defenders has reported that they are actually used to coerce emigrants into returning home to face criminal charges and to silence dissent abroad.

And in April 2021, the wife of "disappeared" human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng stood outside the consulate calling on officials to hand over her husband's remains, as she believed he must be dead.

"Gao Zhisheng suffered because he loved China too much," Geng said in a statement to mark the traditional grave-tending festival of Qing Ming. "From this day onwards, I will treat the Chinese Communist Party's consulate, the closest one to my home, as his cemetery."

In 2014, the consulate compound was damaged in an arson attack after a person came out of a van with two buckets of petrol, poured the fuel on the front door of the consulate building and set it on fire.

The consulate called that incident "sabotage of a vile nature."



Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
A Hamas member holds what appears to be a North Korean-made rocket [highlighted by white box]. The image is a screenshot posted by military blogger War Noir on X, formerly Twitter.

UPDATED October 11, 2023, 10:53 a.m. ET

Experts say that Hamas militants may be using North Korean weapons after footage emerged of a fighter from the Palestinian group carrying a rocket-launcher suspected to originate from the communist nation.

The video, recorded shortly after deadly attacks on Israel started last weekend and shared widely on social media, shows several men sitting in the back of a pickup truck brandishing weapons above a face-down, partially clothed woman.

A rocket-launcher held by one of the fighters was identified as North Korean in origin by a military and weapons blogger with the handle War Noir in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

A recent video recorded today shows members of the Al-Qassam Brigades (#HAMAS) in #Gaza Strip, War Noir wrote on Oct. 7. One of the members can be seen with an uncommon F-7 HE-Frag rocket, originally produced in #NorthKorea (#DPRK).

RFA was not able to conclusively determine if the weapon was North Korean, but its shape closely resembles the F-7 as depicted in the North Korean Small Arms and Light Weapons Recognition Guide published in May by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey research project.

Experts said that Palestinians have historically used North Korean weapons, which may have been first purchased by Iran or Syria, and then smuggled to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, circumventing an Israeli-Egyptian blockade that has been in place since 2007.

The Syrians deal with Hezbollah a lot and Hezbollah deals with Hamas a lot, said Bruce E. Bechtol Jr., a former intelligence officer for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.

A lot of the trade that North Korea does with both Hamas and Hezbollah is deals that they make through the IRGC, the Iranian Republican Guard Corps, he said.

Used in the region

In its recent attacks on Israelis, Hamas used weapons originating in a wide range of current and former states, including the United States, the Soviet Union, and North Korea, said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of the Armament Research Services intelligence consultancy, or ARES.

A preliminary analysis of images reviewed by this consultancy shows a militant armed with an RPG-7 type shoulder-fired recoilless gun, loaded with an F-7 series high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) munition, produced in North Korea, Jenzen-Jones said. These have previously been documented in the region, including in Syria, Iraq, and in the Gaza Strip."

Other images showed militants using what appeared to be a North Korean Type 58 self-loading rifle, a derivative of the well-known AK series, he said.

"North Korean arms have previously been documented amongst interdicted supplies provided by Iran to militant groups, and this is believed to be the primary way in which DPRK weapons have come into the possession of Palestinian militants, he said.

North Korean arms have previously been identified in the hands of the militant factions of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, amongst other groups, he added.

Bechtol said that a North Korean arms shipment was intercepted in Thailand in 2009. A U.N. panel of experts determined the 35 tons of conventional arms and munitions was headed to Iran, and Israeli intelligence believed it was ultimately bound for Hamas and Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

Bechtol said the shipment contained rocket propelled grenades, larger rockets, and the F-7.

The North Koreans have also sold the 'BULSAE' antitank system to Hamas. It's a very good antitank system and they could be firing that at Israeli tanks when they're entering the Gaza Strip here within the next day or two, said Bechtol. So North Korea has given them some capabilities that are interesting.

The woman whose body was seen in the video was identified by her family as 22-year old German-Israeli citizen Shani Louk, who was abducted by Hamas militants when they attacked a music festival in Israel close to the Gaza border.

She is believed to be alive, but in critical condition at a hospital in Gaza, according to Palestinian sources her mother told German outlet Bild on Tuesday.

But Israeli, German or Palestinian officials have not yet confirmed her status or whereabouts.

North Korea blames Israel

North Korean media, meanwhile, blamed the recent violence on Israels ceaseless criminal acts against the Palestinian people.

According to a report in the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Tuesday, a large-scale armed conflict broke out between Palestines Islamic resistance movement and Israel.

The international community called the conflict the result of Israels ceaseless criminal acts against the Palestinian people, and said that the fundamental way to end the bloody conflict is to create an independent Palestinian state.

That Hamas is using North Korean weapons is not surprising, Bruce Bennett, a defense researcher at the RAND Corporation think tank, told RFA.

North Korea is selling things wherever it can to make hard currency, said Bennett. Whether North Korea directly provided it to Hamas or provided it through a third party, I don't know. But the fact that there is North Korean equipment there does not surprise me at all.

Commercial relationship

Bennett said the F-7 rocket is an anti-personnel weapon and causes maximum casualties.

It's not intended to, like, penetrate a tank, he said. It's intended to cause fragmentation, like a terrorist bomb, and maximize the effect against people.

Even though Hamas appears to be using North Korean weapons, it would be inaccurate to describe them as allies, he said.

It's a commercial relationship which is fed by the politics as well by North Korea being anxious to hurt the United States and anything associated with the United States, said Bennett.

The scary part of this though is as you think about the future, does North Korea have people on the ground with Hamas watching them do what they're doing? he said.

Is North Korea thinking about doing this kind of thing to South Korea? We clearly don't know at this stage, but I don't think we can ignore that possibility.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Additional reporting by Eugene Whong. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Updated to correct the date that the blockade started.
Women who have escaped from North Korea talk at a public telephone booth at the Hanawon center, the state-run official temporary base for escapees from the North, in South Korea.

North Korea has sentenced a woman to three years in prison for talking on the phone to her daughter who had escaped the country and resettled in South Korea, sources in the North told Radio Free Asia.

Another woman, who brokered the mother-daughter phone call, got a year of forced labor and her family exiled to the remote North Korean countryside.

North Korea treats people who escape the country as traitors, and since Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011, authorities have been more intensely cracking down on people who access the Chinese cellular networks in the northern border region to contact escapees.

Recently two women who called South Korea over the phone were punished, a resident of the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

One is a mother from Paegam county who received money after talking on the phone with her daughter who settled in South Korea, he said. The other woman is the broker from Hyesan who helped this.

Brokers earn money by selling calls on their Chinese cell phones. Together with the escapees family member, they will travel into nearby mountains to an area within range of cellular towers on the Chinese side of the border.

They pull in much more by facilitating money transfers. People in the South remit funds to a Chinese account, then a broker will arrange for it to be brought into China by smugglers or Chinese residents of North Korea. After taking a hefty cut, the remainder is given to the relative in North Korea.

Caught descending mountain

The two women were caught by a social security agent when they were coming down from a phone call in the mountains, the resident said. They were  interrogated for over a month.

According to the resident, the agent was suspicious because the women were not dressed like people who typically go into the mountains to collect firewood, or tend to crops. The agent searched them and found a Chinese mobile phone, then arrested them.

The authorities made the details of the case public.

The woman in her 60s received three years in prison for receiving money from her daughter, who had rebelled against her country and fled to South Korea, the resident said. The woman who helped her call her daughter was also punished with one year of short-term disciplinary labor and deportation of her family to a rural area.

During the investigation, it was determined that the woman received money from her daughter in the amounts of 12,000 yuan (US$1,600) last year and 7,000 yuan ($960) this year, the resident said.

In years past, the brokers fee was typically around 30% of the total amount remitted, but border closures and increased surveillance of the area during and after the pandemic have made smuggling more difficult, so now brokers take around half.

The broker was able to use her wealth and connections to receive a lighter sentence than her client, even though they should receive similar punishment, another Ryanggang resident told RFA on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.

It seems that the broker, who was living in Hyesan, had power and connections and bribed a lot, the second resident said, adding that the customers sentence was too harsh.

No matter how much South Korea is an enemy country, three years in prison for taking money from your own daughter is too much, he said. Arent parents able to talk to their children who are far away?  [Cant] they make phone calls and receive money sent by their children out of concern, especially at a time when they are having a hard time making a living?

North Korea should soften its stance on remittances from abroad, he said.

There are quite a few people who escaped to other countries after the Arduous March, the second resident said, referring to the 1994-1998 famine that killed hundreds of thousands North Koreans  or more than a million by some estimates.

If North Korea were to make it legal to receive money sent from South Korea or the United States, the money would circulate domestically and help not only [escapees] families but also many other people, the second resident said. However, the authorities are focused on prevention and punishment.

A 2019 survey of 431 North Korean escapees who resettled in South Korea, conducted by the Seoul-based Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, showed that 61.3% of the respondents had sent money to their relatives in North Korea.

The average amount per remittance was 1.61 million won, which at the time was about $1,340.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. This morning, IDF aircraft struck terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, Trend reports.

IDF aircraft struck a Hamas operational command center in a mosque and an offensive tunnel entry point that was used by terrorists to invade Israel.

In conjunction, IDF aircraft struck operational infrastructure located inside an additional mosque and a building used by a Hamas. This once again shows how Hamas deliberately embeds its military infrastructure in civilian areas and holy sites in the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, a terror tunnel and military infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terror organizations, as well multiple of their weapons compounds, were struck.

In the last hour, another IDF aircraft struck a weapons compound, as well as an Islamic Jihad operational meeting point inside a house that was occupied by a large number of terrorists. Two terrorists were killed when they attempted to flee the scene.

Furthermore, IDF vessels struck a large number of terror targets belonging to the terrorist organizations.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
Some areas in the central Myanmar region remain under control of anti-junta forces.

A Myanmar junta military officer hands over a rifle to a militia member at a weapon equipping ceremony in Bago region in September 2023.

The military junta is recruiting civilians for militia training across central Myanmars Bago region, where they plan to use the trainees for security patrols and to transport injured troops from the frontline, local residents said.

Junta soldiers recently trained about 40 people from eight villages from Thayarwady district in western Bago, according to a person in charge of a local anti-junta Peoples Defense Force, or PDF.

The junta has also been recruiting from some townships in eastern Bago, local residents told Radio Free Asia.

Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told RFA in June 2022 that the military was organizing civilian militia groups and providing systematic training to protect villages in Bago, where intense fighting with anti-junta forces continues.

Nearly 100,000 residents of eastern Bago have been forced to flee their homes since the February 2021 military coup detat, according to the United Nations

The majority of the recent trainees are members of either the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia or the Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP, which is also aligned with the military, residents said.

Members of a civilian militia attend a weapon equipping ceremony in Bago region in September 2023. Credit: Myanmar military





After one month of training, the military gives them weapons and assigns them watch duty near a local PDF, according to a Kyauktaga township resident who refused to be named for security reasons.

The first batch completed the training just last month. I have heard that about 14 or 15 Pyu people left Kyauktaga for training last week, he said, referring to Pyu Saw Htee members.

Most of the villages in Kyauktaga between the Sittaung River and the old Yangon-Mandalay highway are controlled by the joint forces of a regional PDF  thats why the junta is organizing some towns into defensive positions, he said.

Training in Taungoo

Junta troops also began doing militia training in a field near the police station in Taungoo city in September, according to a local resident who refused to be named for security reasons.

Most of the trainees were members of the USDP, the resident said.

USDP spokesman Hla Thein said he was unaware of the recent training sessions.

To be honest, I dont know about this yet, he said. I think the locals are saying what they think and what it seems. But political parties like us are not legally allowed to get involved in the civilian militia.

The PDF official in Thayarwady district urged the new militia trainees to consider joining anti-junta forces.

I think it is time for them to come to their senses and join the people in the revolution, he said. Those who join the military junta or work with them are the enemies of the people. So I think they should avoid being in such a position.

RFA telephoned Tin Oo, the juntas economic minister and Bago region spokesman, regarding the militia recruitment, but he did not respond on Tuesday.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Matt Reed.
Dozens more were injured in what Kachin forces say was an airstrike near their HQ.

A man walks through the wreckage of the Munglai Hkyet Internally Displaced Persons camp, hit by a junta airstrike on the night of Oct. 9, 2023.

Updated Oct. 10, 2023, 02:39 p.m. ET.

Twenty-nine people were killed, including 11 children, when junta air forces dropped a bomb on a displaced persons camp in northern Kachin state, a Kachin Independence Army information officer told Radio Free Asia Tuesday.

Col. Naw Bu said all of the victims were internally displaced people living near Lai Zar in the mountainous border area between Kachin state and China.

Lai Zar is the headquarters of the KIA, which has fought the Burmese military for decades and controls areas of northern Myanmar. Naw Bu claimed the junta was targeting the HQ in the attack, which happened around midnight local time on Monday.

There were 11 children among the dead, who were buried on Tuesday. The 57 injured people have been taken to a nearby hospital. Officials in Lai Zar are still searching for the missing and dead and the identities of those killed is still being investigated.

Bodies lined up at the Munglai Hkyet Internally Displaced Persons camp near the Kachin Independence Army's headquarters in Lai Zar town, Kachin state after an airstrike on the night of Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Awng Ja (Simsa Kasa Multimedia)





Naw Bu told RFA that this was not the juntas usual style of attack. Although the military often fires at Lai Zar with heavy artillery from Burmese army camps at Bum Re Bum and Hka Ya Bum, he said that this bombing may have been carried out by a drone.

It was not heavy artillery. Something like a plane or a drone. If it was by a jet, its sound could have been heard, he told RFA, adding that he wasnt sure yet what type of bomb had been dropped.

He suggested that the military "is threatening us ... so that we join their peace talks" with other ethnic armies.

RFA was unable to independently verify what type of weaponry had been used in the attack.

'There is nothing left for them'

A resident of Lai Zar who was providing assistance told RFA that the injured were still being transported to the hospital as of noon on Tuesday.

I saw little children injured and breastfeeding infants left by mothers whove been killed," said the resident who, like others interviewed by RFA for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal. "We need to provide assistance for these children."

The resident said that in addition to the 57 injured, "there may be more who did not get to the hospital because the whole refugee camp was wiped out and blown away by the attack."

Another resident who witnessed the attack said that many homes had been destroyed in the attack by what he described as "highly destructive bombs."

"Those who live in the camp no longer have homes -- there is nothing left for them," the resident said. "The bomb left a lake-sized hole in the earth."

He said the attack had also damaged a local church, a preschool building, and the village school.

"All the people at home when the bomb hit died on the spot," he added.

Targeting civilians

Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun denied that the junta carried out the attack.

"Think about whether bombardment or artillery shelling near the border area at midnight is possible or not, he told state-controlled media.

We can attack any rebel headquarters but we dont do it.

The junta spokesman claimed only the KIA uses drones to drop bombs in the area, in order to attack junta troops.

The United Nations in Myanmar said it was deeply concerned by reports civilians, including women and children, were killed and injured.

IDP [Internally Displaced Persons] camps are places of refuge, and civilians, no matter where they are, should never be a target, the U.N. said on its Facebook page.

Tom Andrews, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, told RFA in an interview that the incident at the camp is "one more brutal attack on innocent civilians" and "part of the massive campaign of violence against civilians by the military junta."

He called the attack and others like it "probable war crimes."

Jacob, the head of the group Kachin Human Rights Watch, told RFA that the attack was the latest attempt by the military to "wipe out ethnic groups" and that the junta "must take full responsibility for it."

"Many civilians have been killed by these kinds of highly destructive weapons and airstrikes," he said. "The junta is fully responsible for these attacks and must be held accountable."

KIO under attack

The attack comes nearly a year after the military dropped four bombs into a crowd in Hpakant as the Kachin Independence Organization celebrated its 62nd anniversary. At least 50 were killed and 100 were wounded in the airstrike.

The Kachin Independence Organization is the political wing of the KIA, which has stepped up its resistance since the Burmese military seized power of Myanmar in a coup against an elected government in February 2021.

The village where displaced people in Kachin state are sheltering is 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) from Lai Zar.

The border area was a site of heavy fighting in late June when junta forces attempted to capture Lai Zar using heavy artillery.

According to a U.N. report, as of late September Kachin state had over 93,000 internally displaced people. Waingmaw township, where Lai Zar is located, is home to over 20,000 of them living in some two dozen camps.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Mike Firn.

Updated to raise mention that the blast hit a displaced persons' camp and to include additional comments from residents, rights groups and U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews.
The man identified by Thai media as the father of the mall shooting suspect, prays to Myanmar Khin Win, the mother of Moe Myint, one of the victims, during the Buddhist ceremony at Phasuk Maneechak temple in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

It was the evening of Oct. 3, and Moe Myint had just deposited cash from the days sales at the toy store where she worked at the bank in Bangkoks swanky Siam Paragon shopping center.

As the 31-year-old migrant worker from Myanmar walked back to the store, a 14-year-old boy opened fire with a pistol at the crowded mall, killing her and a Chinese national. Five others  including a Lao national, one Chinese and three Thais  were wounded in the shooting that sent hundreds of shoppers fleeing for safety.

At the weekend, Moe Myints mother, Khin Win, traveled from southern Myanmars Mon state to Thailands Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, to cremate her daughter at a Buddhist temple in the country she had lived in for the last decade.

Im in a daze and cant get her death out of my mind  its the only thing I can think about, said Khin Win, who relied on her daughter to support her as she deals with chronic kidney disease back home in Thaton townships Don Won village. There is nothing that compares to losing a child. You cant trade your child for anything. I am devastated.

A photo of Moe Myint is seen at her funeral this past weekend in Thailands Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok. Credit: Screenshot from Reuters video

Moe Myints employer, Aksorn Chantarojvanich, described her to Thai media as a hard worker and a good daughter whose death was a great loss.

Aksorn attended Moe Myints funeral on Sunday and has pledged to send her parents 10,000 baht (US$270) a month for the rest of their life, to make up for the money she sent home each paycheck.

Like a big sister

Moe Myints colleagues noted that she was fluent in Thai, Chinese and English and called her well-spoken and helpful to those she worked with.

She used to take care of us like a big sister, said Ma Ni, who worked with Moe Myint at the toy store in Bangkok. Our boss trusted her the most and considered her the stores manager ... I cant believe she is gone. I was about to cook her a meal of her favorite food."

Ma Ni said Moe Myint always did her best to resolve issues at work fairly and patiently, and never blamed anyone for anything.

When guests sometimes raised their voice at her, she used to handle it well, always with a smile on her face, she said.

Moe Myints employer, Aksorn Chantarojvanich, described her to Thai media as 'a hard worker and a good daughter' whose death was 'a great loss.' He spoke to the media after attending her funeral. Credit: Screenshot from Reuters video

Moe Myints alleged shooter, who Reuters cited police as saying had suffered a psychological breakdown, has been accused of premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and other charges.

The parents of the alleged shooter published an open letter on Oct. 6 saying that they are cooperating fully with authorities and asking for forgiveness, expressing a profound sense of regret, according to a report by the BBC.

Now held in Thailands juvenile observation and protection department, the boys motives for the shooting remain unclear.

Thailands government announced that 200,000 baht (US$5,500) compensation would be paid to those who died in the shooting, as well as assistance to family members for their funerals.

Ballooning migration

Aung Myo Thant, a Thailand-based lawyer who represents Myanmar workers, told RFA that several businessmen and organizations in Thailand are also planning to provide additional funds for the deceased.

The Thai government said that since [the shooting] happened in their country and the shooter was a 14-year-old Thai youth, they would pay more compensation, he said. The Thai employer also plans to compensate the family, out of mercy. There are some organizations in Thailand that will provide financial assistance for the people who have been killed as well.

A relative of Moe Myint mourns at the Central Institute of Forensic Science in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 4, 2023. Credit: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

According to the Migrant Workers Rights Network, the number of people crossing into Thailand from Myanmar increased from 100 per day in 2020 to 2,000 per day in 2022, in part spurred on by the fighting in their country after the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat. Thai authorities reported that 60,000 migrants were arrested for illegal entry last year, including up to 45,000 that fled Myanmar.

Since the coup, the Foundation for Education and Development has reported that arrests of Burmese migrants have at least doubled with deportations also on the rise. The Thai NGO recorded 1,400 migrants and 181 arrests in 2022.

A recent report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that between 2,000 to 5,000 people a month returned to Myanmar from Thailand in 2022. Most of them were deported. For those forced into exile, the risks loom large over their lives.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Omer Uyghur (2nd from R), founder of Omer Uyghur Foundation, poses with Uyghur families and children living in Pakistan in November 2015.

About 20 Uyghur families face deportation from Pakistan if they fail to leave the South Asian country by Nov. 1 after the government ordered all illegal migrants expelled following a series suicide bombings involving Afghans, said a Uyghur philanthropist who lives there.

Pakistan has been on edge since dozens of people were killed in two suicide bombings during the last week of September.

Days later, on Oct. 3, Pakistan said it would expel all migrants without documentation, including 1.73 million Afghan refugees, who do not leave the country by Nov. 1. Authorities said that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals, the Associated Press reported.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters that migrants without a valid residence permit who remained after the deadline would face deportation, Pakistani media reported.

Nearly 20 Uyghur families  or about 100 people  who had fled Afghanistan and settled in Rawalpindi in northern Pakistan face deportation because they lack Afghan or Chinese passports and Pakistani residence permits, said Omer Khan, founder of the Pakistan-based Omer Uyghur Trust.

The Uyghurs have sought help from the United Nations Office for Refugees in Pakistan for years, but without success, he said.

Time is running out, with only 20 days remaining, he said. If a solution is not found within this time frame, the Pakistani police will apprehend them. We find ourselves in an extremely dire situation."

1960s migration

Most of the Uyghurs are descendants of individuals who migrated to Afghanistan in the 1960s from places like Yarkand county and other areas of Kashgar prefecture in Xinjiang because of repression by Chinese authorities, he said. They lack any kind of documentation and have been denied it by the Pakistani government.

During the former Soviet Unions offensive against Afghanistan in the 1980s, some of the Uyghurs migrated to Pakistan alongside millions of Afghan refugees.

Afghan families board a bus to depart for their homeland, in Karachi, Pakistan, October 2023. Pakistan's government announced a major crackdown on migrants in the country illegally, saying it would expel them starting next month and raising alarm among foreigners without documentation that include about 20 Uyghur families. Credit: Fareed Khan/AP

These Uyghurs have resided in a community in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, for many years without receiving legal residence permits or government recognition.

The U.N.s refugee office in Pakistan and headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, said by email that they could not respond to individual inquiries due to the current high volume of applications and communications.

The Pakistani Embassy in Washington did not respond to RFAs phone calls or email inquiries.

A Uyghur named Abdulahed who lives in Rawalpindi said he fears being sent back to Afghanistan along with his wife and four children.

If they send us back to Afghanistan, we dont know what dangers we might face under the Taliban government, he told RFA.

Abdulahed and other Uyghurs, who have had no contact with China for decades, are also worried that if they refuse to go to Afghanistan, the Pakistani government could deport them to China.

This is a group of Uyghurs thats already quite vulnerable because their status was unclear in Afghanistan, and now its also uncertain in Pakistan, said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.

But this is happening at a time when we know that severe human rights abuses are continuing in the Uyghur region, and so this is a community that needs the kind of protections that international human rights law affords, she said.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Afghan airborne medical teams have evacuated seriously injured victims from villages where homes were destroyed in the Zindah Jan district of Herat Province during an earthquake on October 7. A doctor said most victims of the 6.3-magnitude quake were women and children, while survivors describe the sudden destruction of their homes and loss of family members. Taliban government officials say the death toll is approaching 3,000.
Pakistan issued an ultimatum to the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in the country: leave or face arrest and forcible expulsion after November 1.

One of them is Samina Hafizi, an Afghan writer and former journalist who lives with her mother and five siblings in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.



Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled to Pakistan to escape a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis and possible retribution by the militant group.

RFE/RL's Radio Azadi asked the 24-year-old Hafizi to keep a diary amid the mass exodus of undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants from the South Asian nation.



October 22



It is 6 a.m. I slept poorly. I had nightmares and anxious thoughts.



Why did we become refugees? This question haunts me.



Nobody dares to leave their homes.



Who wants to postpone their dreams?



Now that we are refugees, why should we endure such bad days?



If we leave, where can we seek refuge?



I have not written anything for a year. I suffer from pain -- the pain of homelessness, the pain of being a refugee, and the pain of helplessness.



Wherever I go, I hear that Afghans are being expelled from Pakistan -- drivers, shopkeepers, and cooks.

WATCH: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many having traveled for days, crossed into Afghanistan as a November 1 deadline to leave the country took effect. Islamabad has vowed to deport an estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan if they don't leave voluntarily.



Yesterday morning, the landlords of our apartment building came and checked everyones documents. They gave a deadline to two families to get valid residency papers or they would be evicted.



Members of these families once had good lives in Afghanistan. Some were journalists, while others were soldiers. Their daughters attended schools and universities. They now fret over what will happen to them.



While visiting the hospital yesterday, I felt that nothing was the same. Anxiety and fear were written over the faces of every Afghan I met.



In Islamabad, police were looking for Afghans at security checkpoints across the city. The Afghans they found were questioned and harassed.



While waiting for my turn to see the doctor at the hospital, an Afghan woman with her toddler was breathing heavily. I brought her a glass of water. She thanked me and asked whether I had valid documents.



She told me that she fled her oppressive husband in Afghanistan to seek a new life in a third country with the help of the United Nations. But the fear of being forced to return to her cruel husband and the Talibans harsh rule has stressed her deeply.



Tens of thousands of Afghan families across Pakistan are seeking a miracle. We dont know where fate will take us.



October 25



My sisters phone woke me up early in the morning.



When she finished talking, she told me that her Afghan friend was told by her landlord to leave her apartment by the afternoon. My sister was trembling. She said her friend and her family would stay with us until they found another place.



Later in the day, I went to a nearby market to buy supplies for our guests. The usually cheerful Afghan vegetable seller I go to was distressed. He told me that if he was deported, he would lose the business that enabled him to earn a living for the past 15 years.



Around 5 p.m., my sisters friend and her family arrived. Their voices were hoarse from crying so much. We all cried.



I felt like a caged bird unable to fly.



They were evicted because only one of the eight family members did not have a Pakistani visa. Her visa application was rejected several times.



Cruelty and fear have forced Afghans in Islamabad to stop leaving their houses.



It is heartbreaking to see dozens of Afghan families announcing the sale of their household items on Facebook daily.



October 28



Im always worried. My mental health has gradually deteriorated during the past two years.



In the morning today, Hajira, one of our Pakistani neighbors, visited us. We talked about the customs and traditions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.



Suddenly, Hajira blamed us helpless Afghans for some of the problems Pakistanis face these days.



She said Afghan refugees are bringing polio to Pakistan because our children are not vaccinated against the disease. And she said the price of everything has increased because of Afghan refugees.

When we disputed her claims, she threatened to call the police.



Thankfully, the police didnt show up. So far, we havent given anyone an excuse to evict us. But I feel nervous.



My generation will tell their children the stories of how our homeland, dreams, and hopes were snatched from us. We were defeated and destroyed just as we were ready to prosper.



We were broken into pieces and scattered to all corners of the world.



All this has broken our hearts.



October 31



If someone cannot talk, write, or cry to lessen their sorrows, what else should they do?



Die or break?



If someone asked me who are the most unfortunate people in the world, I would say refugees.



If someone asked what the worst state of existence is, I would say being a refugee.



I hate this word.



Recently, I asked fellow Afghans living in Pakistan to share their stories on Facebook.



Zuhal, 27, wrote that they left Afghanistan last year because her brother and sister worked as prosecutors for the fallen Afghan government. This prompted the Taliban to harass them and repeatedly raid their house to look for the armored car they had already returned to the government.



After constant harassment in Pakistan, most of her family members returned to Afghanistan. But she and her sister remain in Pakistan.



A 22-year-old young man told me about his ordeal.



He was stopped by the police in Islamabad a few days ago. Even though he had all the proper documents, he was detained for several hours, harassed, and threatened.



The ordeal was over when he paid a 10,000 rupee ($35) bribe to the police.



Hundreds of refugees like him are forced to pay bribes daily.

November 2



We are in a bind.



Im overwhelmed by the news of Afghans being arrested or forcibly deported.



I'm overwhelmed by the videos and photos showing their desperation, dispossession, and anguish.



Those who remain are trying to stay invisible. Everyone wants to avoid the humiliation of being forced back to a country many have not seen or, like us, fled because of the Taliban's draconian governance.



We are in limbo. We have no real choices.



Our efforts to be relocated to a third country through the UN have gone nowhere.



Returning to Taliban rule in Afghanistan is not a choice. My two younger sisters still need to go to university. But the Taliban closed that door for all Afghan women last year.



As a female-only household, we left Afghanistan because we feared that we would be forced to marry Taliban fighters. We witnessed such cases in Kabul.



We had sold everything before coming to Pakistan. We sold all our household items. Now, if we are forced to go back to Afghanistan, we will be forced to begin from zero again.

For now, we will stay in Pakistan until we are arrested or deported.



Uncertainty defines our lives. It describes the lives of all Afghans in our situation.

Diary entries have been edited for clarity; translated by Abubakar Siddique.
Thousands of Afghans continue to flood back into the country from Pakistan as they seek to avoid deportation following a deadline from Islamabad for undocumented migrants to leave, a move the United Nations warned could lead to "severe" human rights violations.

As of November 2, officials said more than 165,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan in the month since the government ordered some 1.7 million migrants -- more than 1 million of whom are Afghan nationals who fled following the August 2021 seizure of power in Kabul by Taliban militants -- to leave or face arrest and deportation.

The majority have rushed to the border in recent days as the November 1 deadline approached and police began to open dozens of centers to detain arrested Afghans before expelling them. On the other side of the border, Taliban officials have also opened temporary transit camps to assist those returning.



More than 100 people were detained in one police operation in the city of Karachi on November 2, while police rounded up 425 Afghans in Quetta, the city closest to the Chaman border crossing.

WATCH: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many having traveled for days, crossed into Afghanistan as a November 1 deadline to leave the country took effect. Islamabad has vowed to deport an estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan if they don't leave voluntarily.

Islamabad has said the deportations are to protect its "welfare and security" in Pakistan after a sharp rise in attacks, which the government blames on militants operating from Afghanistan.



Afghanistan's Taliban-run administration has dismissed Pakistans accusations against Afghan migrants and has asked all countries hosting Afghan refugees to give them more time to prepare for repatriation.



The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has said the move will further damage relations between the neighboring countries.



Pakistan has brushed off calls to reconsider its decision from the UN, rights groups, and Western governments, who have urged it to incorporate into its plan a way to identify and protect Afghans facing the risk of persecution at home from the ruling militants.

At the country's busiest border crossing at Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, officials worked into the early hours of November 1 to clear a line of 28,000 people that stretched for 7 kilometers, AFP reported.



Just over 129,000 have fled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial Interior Ministry said, while a total of 38,100 have crossed through Chaman in Balochistan Province, border officials there told AFP.



Authorities on the Afghan side of the border have set up a center several kilometers from a border crossing, as well as camps for families with nowhere to go.

WATCH: In Karachi, Afghan men and boys on November 1 were put on buses and taken to a temporary detention center.



Pakistan is home to more than 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of them undocumented, Islamabad says, although many have lived in Pakistan for their entire lives.



About 600,000 Afghans have crossed into neighboring Pakistan since the Taliban seized power and imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law, joining a large number there since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.



Some Afghans who have been ordered to leave have never been to Afghanistan and wonder how they can start a new life there.

Pakistan's move to remove undocumented foreigners is seen as part of an anti-immigrant crackdown that has been criticized by human rights groups.



The Pakistan People's Party, National Democratic Movement, and other politicians and human rights activists appealed for a stop to the forced deportation of undocumented foreigners in the Supreme Court on November 1.



On October 31, the chair of the nongovernmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Hina Jilani, wrote to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warning that Islamabad's move to expel Afghans could "trigger a humanitarian crisis."



Human Rights Watch slammed Islamabad's deadline, saying it has resulted in significant threats against and abuse of Afghans living in the country.



Since returning to power, the hard-line Islamist Taliban has banned women and teenage girls from education in Afghanistan. It has also banned them from employment in most sectors and discouraged them from leaving their homes.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
The Norwegian seismological institute (NORSAR) said it detected "a probable explosion" on October 8 in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia where a gas pipeline leak was later detected.

The statement from the independent institute on October 10 came after Finnish authorities said the subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia have both sustained damage, which appears to have been caused by external activity.

The damage to the underwater infrastructure has been taken seriously and the causes have been under investigation since October 8, President Sauli Niinisto said in a statement.

It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable is the result of external activity, he added without giving more details.

The NORSAR statement said its stations in Finland "detected a probable blast along the Finnish coast of the Baltic Sea" at 1:20 a.m. local time on October 8.

"The local magnitude of the event has been estimated at 1.0, which is much lower than the Nord Stream explosion detected in September 2022," the statement said. "Both location and magnitude estimates are associated with large uncertainties. Further analysis of the data is ongoing."

The statement referred to a series of blasts in September 2022 that ruptured three of the four pipelines that make up Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, major conduits for Russian natural gas exports to Western Europe. Denmark, Sweden, and Germany opened probes into the incident, which was deemed to be sabotage, but the case remains unsolved.

Finnish and Estonian gas system operators said on October 8 that they noticed an unusual drop in pressure in the Balticconnector pipeline, after which they shut down the gas flow.

Finnish authorities said on October 10 that they had identified the location of the outage in the 77-kilometer pipeline.

Niinisto said the cause of the damage was not yet clear and the investigation by Finland and Estonia was continuing. Estonias Navy told the Associated Press that it was conducting an investigation on the pipeline together with the Finnish military.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had spoken with Niinisto on damage to undersea infrastructure. He said NATO was sharing information and stands ready to support Allies concerned.

Both Finland and Estonia are NATO member states, and the pipeline incident is likely to be put on the agenda of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels this week.

The Balticconnector pipeline runs across the Gulf of Finland from the Finnish town of Inkoo to the Estonian port of Paldiski. It is bi-directional, transferring natural gas between Finland and Estonia depending on demand and supply.

Commissioned in 2019, the Balticconnector has been the only gas import channel to Finland apart from liquefied natural gas (LNG) since Russian imports were halted in May 2022 following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia stopped supplying gas after Finland refused to pay in rubles, a condition imposed on unfriendly countries -- including European Union member states -- as a way to sidestep Western financial sanctions against Russia's central bank.

Most of the gas that was flowing in the Balticconnector pipeline before it was closed on October 8 was going from Finland to Estonia from which it was forwarded to Latvia, Estonias gas system operator Elering said.

Estonian consumers have been receiving gas from Latvia since the shutdown of the pipeline, Elering said.

Finnish gas operator Gasgrid said the Finnish gas system is stable and the supply of gas has been secured through a floating LNG terminal at Inkoo.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. As a result of clashes between Israel and Hamas, the number of injured Israelis has increased to 2,616 people, Trend reports via the Israeli Ministry of Health.

The rocket attack killed more than 900 Israelis.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after talks in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis on October 10 that the two sides discussed military aid for Ukraine, and that "there will soon be very good news about artillery and air defense." He also confirmed that a center for training Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-made F-16 warplanes will be established in Romania.

"We agreed a future strategic partnership between Romania and Ukraine and we instructed our teams to prepare the basis of this document," Zelenskiy said at a news conference with Iohannis after signing a joint declaration with Iohannis during his first visit to Ukraine's NATO neighbor since the start of Russia's invasion.

"I thank the whole Romanian people for its backing and help for Ukraine. I will always remember how warmly our people were welcomed here. Romania gave us military and humanitarian aid," Zelenskiy said after talks with Iohannis at Cotroceni Palace.

Zelenskiy referred to "good agreements on weapons," saying that while he can't reveal everything now, "the shells are a plus, the air defense enhancement is a plus."

He said the pilot training center for the F-16 fighter jet is being created in Romania, and Ukrainian pilots will be among the first to be trained.

Zelenskiy also said more must be done to protect against Russian missile and drone that attacks that threaten the Black Sea area.

Since the collapse in July of a United Nations-brokered deal allowing the safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments from Black Sea ports, Ukraine has used its Danube ports of Reni and Izmayil on the border with NATO member Romania to ship food to the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

"We agreed to double the transit capacity for Ukrainian grain through Romanian ports to 4 million tons," Iohannis announced.

Russia has launched several drone attacks on Reni and Izmayil, damaging port facilities and grain installations, while Russian drone fragments have landed on Romanian territory, unsettling those living in border areas even though there was no damage or injuries.

"Every Russian missile or drone that attacks our ports [threatens the Black Sea area]. We must do everything possible to prevent Russia from turning the Danube and Black Sea into a dead area," Zelenskiy said.



Iohannis in turn said Romania is backing Ukraine and Moldova's opening membership negotiations with the European Union by the end of this year.

Ukraine and Moldova were invited to open accession talks with the 27-member bloc in June 2022.

"I will personally plead for this at the European Council in December. It is a decision that will confirm the two countries' progresses despite extremely difficult conditions," Iohannis said.

Iohannis also said he assured Zelenskiy of Romania's determination to continue "multidimensional and consistent support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, including military support, for as long as it takes until victory against Russian aggression."

The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said 75 combat clashes took place during the day along the front line, adding in its evening summary on October 10 that the operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine "remains difficult."

The statement cited the situation near Avdiyivka, saying Russian forces intensified their offensive there. The General Staff said the Russians sent up to three battalions supported by tanks and armored vehicles into clashes in Avdiyivka, Pervomaisky, and other areas of the Donetsk region.

"Our defenders repelled all enemy attacks and did not allow the loss of lines and positions," the General Staff said.

Avdiyivka has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance as Kyiv's forces hold on in the face of relentless Russian attacks.

"Our Avdiyivka is under massive attacks by Russian artillery and aviation," presidential aide Andriy Yermak later said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter

Overnight, Ukrainian air defense shot down 26 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia on three southern regions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its earlier report on October 10.

"The Russian Federation carried out another air strike against Ukraine, using 36 Shahed-136/131 type attack UAVs. Twenty-six drones were destroyed by air-defense forces," the message said.

The Russian drones were launched against targets in the Odesa, Mykolayiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. There were unconfirmed reports of an explosion in the city of Odesa.

Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said unspecified "logistics infrastructure" had been hit.

On the battlefield, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled five Russian counterattacks in the northeastern Kharkiv region and in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

The General Staff said Ukrainian forces are continuing offensive operations in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk and in the Melitopol direction of the southern Zaporizhzhya region.

Since the start of their counteroffensive, Ukrainian troops have been attempting to retake Bakhmut, a town captured earlier this year by Russian forces after months of some of the bloodiest fighting in the war.

Ukrainian troops have also focused on reaching the city of Melitopol in an attempt to cut off a land bridge that links Moscow-occupied territory in the east to the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.



The battlefield reports could not be independently verified.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
Russian military intelligence is using a fictitious private military company (PMC) as a front to recruit and deploy soldiers for the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, an RFE/RL investigation has found. The pseudo PMC, Redut, takes its name from the Russian word for "redoubt," a defensive military fortification or stronghold. It is widely described as a mercenary company akin to the Wagner Group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin before his death in a plane crash in August, and Washington has even imposed sanctions on an eponymous Russian legal entity. Since a short-lived mutiny by Wagner in June and Prigozhin's death two months later, analysts have pointed to Redut as Wagner's potential replacement as Russia's most prominent private fighting force. But the Russian forces operating under the Redut label in Ukraine are not part of an actual corporate network of the kind that Prigozhin used to operate Wagner with what Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed was some $1 billion in state funding. In reality, what is known as Redut is a recruitment system for combat units that is coordinated and funded by the Russian military, in particular its intelligence agency, known as the GRU, according to the investigative documentary released on October 10 by Schemes and Systema, RFE/RL's Ukrainian and Russian investigative teams, respectively. Watch The Documentaries By Schemes And Systema Ukrainian Version (now with English subtitles)

Russian Version

The combat units have been deployed in key Russian offensives in Ukraine following the full-scale invasion that Putin launched in February 2022. The joint investigation by Schemes and Systema is based on a cache of exclusive battlefield records from one of these Redut units, as well as interviews with Redut fighters and their relatives, conversations with recruiters, and an analysis of Redut contracts, social media profiles of Redut mercenaries, and images and metadata from their mobile phones. The records obtained by Schemes come from a Redut battalion called the Wolves, members of which were captured by Ukrainian forces in the eastern Kharkiv region in September 2022 and subsequently convicted of torturing Ukrainian civilians. Following their January 2023 conviction, two of these fighters told Schemes in interviews from prison that they went to fight as part of the GRU's 16th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade. The same two fighters -- Valentin Bych and Maksim Volvak -- said their battalion was directly led by a GRU officer with the call sign "Amur" who also gave the order to detain local residents for interrogations during which several were found by a Ukrainian court to have been tortured. According to the convicted fighters, they were sent to Ukraine from a training facility in the Tambov region village of Trigulyai belonging to the GRU's 16th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade. Internal records from the Wolves battalion obtained by Schemes also directly refer to the Wolves unit as part of the GRU, while two of the battalion members convicted of torture said they fought in Ukraine as part of Redut.

A handwritten note written by members of the Wolves battalion shortly before their capture by Ukrainian forces in September features the acronym GRU written in block letters. The Wolves are just one of at least 20 formations fighting in Ukraine under the Redut brand, according to an RFE/RL analysis.

Systema reporters called numbers listed in recruiter advertisements to find out what ordinary Russians could learn about the ostensibly private Redut battalions fighting in Ukraine. Five of these recruiters stated clearly that the Russian Defense Ministry and the GRU are behind the financing and operation of the Redut system. "The majority of those fighting for what journalists call private military companies' are simply soldiers fighting under the control of the Defense Ministry," one source close to the GRU told Systema when asked about Redut. The source spoke on condition of anonymity, saying he was not authorized to comment on the Russian military intelligence directorate. Neither the Russian Defense Ministry nor Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to written inquiries about Redut. The Redut Units And An Award From Putin Among the detachments fighting in Ukraine under the Redut umbrella are others associated with the the GRU's 16th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade, as well as Cossack formations and units linked to a group called the Union of Donbas Volunteers, a semiofficial Russian organization that recruits fighters for the war in Ukraine and has been sanctioned by the United States.

These units do not have a single unifying structure or ideology. Instead, what they have in common is a recruitment scheme in which fighters sign contracts with a nonexistent company, are assigned to a military unit -- often only on paper -- and receive payment from the Russian Defense Ministry. Mikhail Ivanov, one of the Wolves battalion fighters convicted of torture in Ukraine, told Schemes that the counterparty on his contract was a limited-liability company (LLC) called Redut with a director named "either Shirokov or Shirokikh." RFE/RL separately obtained copies of two Redut contracts for men signing up to fight in Ukraine. Both documents list the director of the supposed company as Igor Ivanovich Shirokov. Relatives of several other fighters told Systema that this same name featured on Redut contracts, though they declined to provide copies of the documents.

Systema found nearly 50 people in Russian public records named Igor Ivanovich Shirokov, none of whom had documented links to a registered legal entity that included the name Redut. The companies listed in the contracts -- identified as "RLSPI Redut" and "OO Redut (RCPS)" -- do not exist as legally registered entities in Russia. Reporters also obtained contracts indicating which military units the fighters in these formations are assigned to. One of these is military unit No. 35555, which is not listed in Russia's registry of legal entities. That unit, however, is referred to in multiple open sources as part of the GRU's secret 78th Intelligence Center based in Rostov-on-Don. Other military units linked to Redut fighters include GRU unit No. 54607, also known as the 16th Separate Special Mission Brigade, whose training facility outside Tambov is used by Redut fighters; and military unit No. 06512, which Ukrainian intelligence has linked to the GRU's 3rd Separate Special Forces Brigade. One of the Redut-affiliated recruiters with whom Systema spoke referred openly to Redut as a "fake company." The Russian military and senior officials have never publicly mentioned the existence of a supposed PMC called Redut. Putin himself said on October 5 that no legal private military companies exist in Russia. But exclusive documents obtained by reporters show that Putin granted a state award to a man who Russia military prosecutors stated was paid by Redut. The documents concern the fate of Aleksandr Kopyltsov, a fighter with the Wolves battalion, which left the cache of records behind in Ukraine that was later obtained by Schemes. Kopyltsov, a sniper who used the call sign "Nemo," was killed in battle in late March 2022 near Kyiv. During a subsequent Kafkaesque quest to obtain death benefits from the Russian government, Kopyltsov's relatives received at least five letters from the Russian Defense Ministry and military prosecutors saying there was no record that he had fought in Ukraine under the auspices of the Defense Ministry or "volunteer" groups. Curiously, four of these letters were dated after he was posthumously granted the Order of Courage, a state award, by Putin in November 2022. Ultimately, in July of this year, Russian military prosecutors informed Kopyltsov's family that it had already received compensation weeks after his death from "the private military company Redut." It is the only official mention by Russian authorities of a supposed private military group called Redut that RFE/RL was able to find. It's unclear precisely how the Russian government learned of a payout from Redut if it had no record of Kopyltsov as either a Russian soldier or volunteer. The investigation by Schemes and Systema also found that Redut has something akin to political handlers among influential figures in Russian military intelligence. Redut And The GRU Puppet Masters On February 4, 2023, the Union of Donbas Volunteers held a "congress" in Russian-occupied Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast. More than 450 fighters, many of whom came "straight from the front," participated in the event, according to Russian state media. During the gathering, organizers announced that all the "volunteer" militias were being concentrated into a single group called the Russian Volunteer Corps, an apparent attempt to bring order to the loosely connected formations. Multiple recruiters told Systema that the Redut network became the nucleus of this new group. Systema obtained a document issued to a Redut fighter to confirm his participation in what the Russian state calls the "special military operation" in Ukraine. That document states that the Russian Volunteer Corps was created on February 27 "by order of the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation." It bears the stamp of the Defense Ministry. The document is signed by Colonel A. Kondratyev, who is identified as the "commander of the combat unit of the Volunteer Corps." The signature belongs to Aleksei Kondratyev, a retired GRU colonel and a former mayor of Tambov, which he also represented in the Russian parliament. The signature matches Kondratyev's signatures found on publicly available parliamentary documents.

Kondratyev was one of at least three senior figures linked to the Russian Defense Ministry who were present at the February 2023 gathering of the Union of Donbas Volunteers. The other two were Colonel Sergei Drozdov, who has been involved in official recruitment for the Russian military and who worked for the military academy of the General Staff in Moscow as recently as 2021, and Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of the GRU.
SOFIA -- Amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Andrei Karpov and Irina Dmitrieva, two Russian anti-Kremlin critics who have had their asylum requests rejected by Bulgaria, stood silently outside government offices in Sofia for several days last week, holding up a placard that read: "The State Agency for Refugees is against Russian refugees."

It's a message that resonated with many Russians seeking asylum here, who, in the vast majority of cases, have failed to convince the bureaucrats at Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees (DAB) that their cases warrant it.



Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a total of 232 Russian citizens have applied for asylum in Bulgaria but only 15 have so far received refugee or humanitarian status, according to data from DAB that was shared with RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service.



The reason? The agency contends that in most cases the applicants will unlikely face any risk of persecution in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has tightened the screws even more since the start of the war, shuttering nearly all independent media, NGOs, and any other remnant of civil society, while the State Duma, the country's largely rubber-stamp lower house of parliament, has passed sweeping censorship laws.



"We can never be safe at home after leaving the country, where our hatred of Putin, his policies, his war, were well-known to the authorities there," Dmitrieva told RFE/RL. "DAB pretends that there is no repression in Russia, no persecution of opponents of the regime, while thousands of Russians are in prison for making lesser statements than we did."

The DAB wasn't convinced by Karpov and Dmitrieva's three-day vigil outside the Council of Ministers, which oversees the refugee agency. DAB accused the two of trying to pressure "the agency to grant international protection to every Russian citizen who requested it, even to those who do not meet the conditions," it said in comments to RFE/RL.

WATCH: Russian opposition activist Aleksandr Stotsky says he could be sent to war or prison if he is forced to return to Russia, but a Bulgarian court ruled Stotsky faces no serious threat.

Although many are wary of speaking on the record, some lawyers defending refugees have suggested that the attitude of some DAB bureaucrats may merely reflect the generally positive view of Russia that many in Bulgaria still have.



Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member state, has strong cultural, historical, and language ties with Russia, although the Kremlin's war against Ukraine has caused major cracks in that support.



While firm figures are elusive, hundreds of thousands of Russians are thought to have left Russia, especially after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization on September 21, 2022. Georgia and Kazakhstan -- former Soviet republics that offer Russians visa-free travel -- have been top destinations.



The European Union saw a surge in arrivals after the mobilization announcement. Some 66,000 Russian citizens entered the bloc from September 19-25.



The number fell to 53,000 in the week starting September 26, according to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The agency cited a stricter EU visa policy and Russian measures to keep military-age men from leaving as possible reasons for the drop-off. Most Russians then entering the EU already had residence permits or visas, while others had dual citizenship, Frontex said.

According to Eurostat, Russian citizens filed 18,400 applications for asylum in European countries in 2022, with Germany (3,855), France (3,350), and Poland (2,215) the top destinations.



Asylum applications aren't the only way that Russians can secure residency visas in Bulgaria. They can be granted if the applicant is opening a business or will be representing a company. Such a route, however, often requires the applicant to have significant financial resources or to own investments or real estate in Bulgaria.



For Karpov, his problems in his homeland began on March 21, 2021, when he held a solitary picket outside the Kremlin on Red Square in Moscow. (Under Russian law, a protester is allowed to hold a solitary picket without notifying the authorities in advance).



Karpov held up a placard reading "No to repression! Freedom for political prisoners." After about five minutes, police intervened, dragged him away to a police station, where Karpov said he was beaten, suffering a concussion that a medical exam reportedly later showed.



Besides his solo protest, Karpov had also run afoul of the Russian authorities by contributing to opposition activist Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, declared "extremist" by Russian authorities in June 2021. Navalny has been sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges that supporters and the West say are politically motivated.

As Russia's crackdown on dissent intensified in step with the aggression against Ukraine, Karpov again found himself in the crosshairs of the authorities. And he wasn't alone. More than 16,000 Russians were arrested for anti-war actions between February and July 2022, according to the Russian human rights monitor OVD-Info, an apparent peak of anti-war activity that has since waned.

Karpov was accused of "discrediting" the Russian Army in social media posts, a criminal offense in Russia punishable by up to five years in prison.

According to Karpov, police offered him a deal: Criminal proceedings against him would be dropped if he agreed to sign a contract for military service in Ukraine. In a bid to stall them, Karpov said he had lost his military identification and would not get a replacement card for about a week.



That worked, and Karpov fled his hometown of Trubchevsk in Russia's Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine. Like other fleeing Russians, Karpov flew first to Istanbul and then made his way by car to the border with Bulgaria. At the Malko Tarnovo border crossing with Turkey on November 9, 2022, Karpov asked for political asylum in Bulgaria. Karpov was left in limbo for several days, until his documents were accepted by DAB for consideration on November 13, 2022.



Karpov was then transferred to a refugee camp in Sofia. It was only in February this year that Karpov was interviewed by DAB and, seven months later in August, Karpov got the news he was dreading: His political asylum request had been rejected.



At first, DAB faulted him for failing to file proper documents backing his refugee claims, although Karpov said he had submitted the necessary paperwork and had copies to prove it.



Later, however, DAB offered a more definitive reason, concluding Karpov faced no "well-founded fears of persecution" if he were to return to Russia, noting the situation there "cannot be defined as an armed conflict," according to an official document seen by RFE/RL spelling out the reasons why Karpov was denied humanitarian status. If someone does not meet the criteria for refugee status but is deemed to possibly face mortal danger if repatriated, they can be offered humanitarian status.

Dmitrieva arrived in Bulgaria in March 2022 with her daughter, who was 13 years old at the time. Dmitrieva, from Moscow, said she was a veteran of anti-Putin demos back home predating Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.



Dmitrieva filed for asylum with DAB on March 31, 2022, but had her request rejected six months later on September 21, 2022.



"When my daughter turned 14, she went through a separate interview at DAB, and they issued a separate asylum-seeker document. What amazed me really was that not only was I refused but so was she. We then had to appeal the refusal in two courts. The situation is absurd," she said.



According to DAB, "Dmitrieva's personal refugee story shows that she does not have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of her race, religion, national, ethnic, political, or social origin and that there is no persecution in respect of her and the conditions for the grant of humanitarian status do not exist."



Of the 232 applicants for political asylum in Bulgaria since February 2022, 115 people have had their applications refused. Many have appealed and have the chance to appeal again before they are sent home. During this period, 58 Russian applicants have had their proceedings terminated. That usually means that the asylum seekers have given up on their claims and decided to return home.



One of Dmitrieva's appeals ended with a victory of sorts. The Supreme Administrative Court, which oversees the application of the country's law, ruled DAB "should have investigated Dmitrieva's refugee history more thoroughly." DAB has so far not begun a review of her case. Her daughter's administrative case is still ongoing.

In this legal limbo, Dmitrieva found herself without her personal documents, as they remain at the refugee agency while her case is decided. Instead, she has been issued a temporary residence card, with which she can neither find employment, open a bank account, nor receive any school benefits for her daughter. Karpov complains about the same problem.



"Temporary documents do not even have a photo and are not recognized by anyone," Dmitrieva lamented.



Despite the apparent long odds, some asylum requests filed by Russians in Bulgaria have ultimately had a happy ending.



Margarita Shurupova came to Bulgaria with her husband and two sons from Kazakhstan, where they received Czech visas in the spring of 2022. They wanted to move to Bulgaria as they have relatives here.



DAB initially refused asylum to all four. The family appealed, and the Sofia Court of Appeal ultimately ruled that the agency should reconsider its refusal and reassess the need for protection for the mother and youngest child.



For the other two family members, the Administrative Court in Varna, a resort city on the Black Sea coast, upheld DAB's rejection of refugee status and allowed the father and eldest son to be transferred to the Czech Republic, which, it argued, had issued the first visas.



Eventually, DAB allowed them to resubmit their asylum applications. On October 9, Shurupova posted on Facebook: "The Bulgarian Refugee Agency granted me and my youngest son refugee status. According to our lawyer, my husband and eldest son will get their status a little later as they had to reapply."

Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by RFE/RL Bulgarian Service's Georgi Angelov
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is fully controlling the southern areas bordering the Gaza Strip, Trend reports.

The IDF's press service noted that on October 10, there was no invasion by Hamas militants or any other forces into this territory.

Israeli combat aircraft destroyed more than 200 targets belonging to Hamas and other armed groups in the areas of the cities of Rimal and Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF fighter jets struck military facilities of the "Islamic Jihad" terrorist group and also a Hamas weapons storage site located inside a mosque in Khan Yunis, the operational headquarters of this armed group, two of their anti-tank operational centers, a multi-story building used by Hamas in Al-Forqan, a mosque where the group's headquarters were located, and two more Hamas operational centers.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The number of Israeli soldiers killed in clashes with Hamas has reached 123, press service of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, Trend reports.

Earlier it was reported about the death of 85 Israeli soldiers.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
Nushrratt Bharuccha

Indian Embassy Extends Support to Ensure Safe Repatriation of Actress Trapped During Israel-Hamas Conflict

MUMBAI: Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was trapped in Israel due to the escalating war, has safely returned to her homeland on October 8 with the timely assistance of the Indian Embassy. The news of her safe return has brought immense relief to her family, friends, and fans.

After relentless efforts and coordination with the concerned authorities, Nushrratt's team successfully established contact with the actress, who was stranded in Israel. The Indian Embassy played a pivotal role in facilitating her safe return to India, ensuring her wellbeing and safe arrival in Mumbai.

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Nushrratt Bharuccha had traveled to Israel to participate in the Haifa International Film Festival, only to find herself caught in the midst of the escalating conflict. Known for her roles in popular movies such as "Pyaar Ka Panchnaama," "Dream Girl," "Janhit Mein Jaari," and "Ram Setu," she was last seen in the film 'Akeli'.

The conflict in Israel, where Nusrat Bharucha was trapped, has witnessed significant casualties and damages, with Hamas launching attacks in the region. The Indian Embassy has been actively engaged in ensuring the safety and repatriation of Indian nationals caught in the crossfire. Presently, there are approximately 18,000 Indians in Israel facing the challenging circumstances arising from the ongoing conflict.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes against Hamas facilities located in Rimal and Khan Younis areas in the Gaza Strip, Trend reports.

The Israel Defense Forces released footage of the operation.

The targets of the Israeli army were Hamas weapon depots and command centers of Palestinian militants.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
AAP MP Sanjay Singh

The Court emphasizes potential security risks associated with media engagement

NEW-DELHI: A Delhi court, presided over by Special Judge M.K. Nagpal, instructed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday not to engage with the media during his appearance in the ongoing money laundering case related to an alleged excise scam. The judge conveyed concern that such interactions could compromise security and potentially lead to related issues.

Special Judge Nagpal, addressing reporters before Sanjay Singh's court appearance, emphasized the security implications and urged journalists not to pose any questions to the accused during their courtroom presentations.

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The judge highlighted the potential security implications of engaging with the media, underscoring the need to prioritize security in such cases. Sanjay Singh, while addressing reporters prior to his appearance, claimed the presence of honest individuals within their ranks and contrasted them with what he described as dishonest figures associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Notably, Sanjay Singh, an AAP MP, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 4 in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 case.
Delhi Police

Delhi Police Bolsters Security in Light of Escalating Tensions; Heightened Vigilance at Key Locations

NEW-DELHI: In response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Delhi Police has significantly ramped up security measures around the Israeli Embassy and Chabad House in the city. An official confirmed this development on Tuesday, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety and security of these key locations.

Local police personnel, strategically stationed around the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi and the Chabad House at Chandni Chowk in Central Delhi, have been given explicit instructions to maintain a stringent vigil. The increased security measures are intended to safeguard against potential threats and ensure the safety of all individuals associated with these establishments.

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Notably, The recent surge in violence saw a sudden and devastating attack on Israel by a Palestinian extremist group, resulting in numerous casualties among Israelis. In response, Israel undertook forceful countermeasures, resulting in casualties and injuries among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Rahul Gandhi

Former Congress President engages with students, addresses queries on marriage & caste census

NEW-DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the former president of the Indian National Congress (INC), recently engaged in a candid conversation with female students at Jaipur's Maharani College, shedding light on his focus on work and the Congress party, leaving no room for marriage contemplation.

-- Work Over Marriage

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In response to a student's question about his marital status and the apparent delay in considering marriage, Rahul Gandhi conveyed that his deep involvement in his work and commitment to the Congress party had kept him preoccupied, leaving little space for thoughts about marriage. The Former Congress National President also talked about discrimination between Men and Women in the country.

-- Advocacy for Caste Census

During the interaction, students also questioned the politician about the ongoing debate regarding a caste census. Rahul Gandhi staunchly advocated for conducting a caste census, likening it to an 'X-ray' that would reveal the true status of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Dalits, and tribal communities.

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Rahul Gandhi explained, "The truth is that OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis have not been included in the power structure. No one knows how many people belong to OBC, Dalit, Tribal, and General categories. If you get injured, the first thing you do is get an x-ray. The caste census is also an x-ray."

-- Skincare Routine

Responding to a question about the secret to his glowing complexion, the Congress leader revealed his minimalist skincare routine. He mentioned that he refrains from using soap and cream and instead only cleanses his face with water.

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Notably, Rahul Gandhi's engagement with the students provided valuable insights into his priorities and positions on social and political issues, reinforcing his dedication to public service and advocacy for marginalized communities.
Deceased Sukhchain Singh

Young Man from Tarn Taran, Pursuing Higher Education, Succumbs to Sudden Health Crisis Abroad

TARN TARAN: A Heart-wrenching incident has come to light with the unfortunate passing of the only son of a family due to a heart attack in Canada. The deceased, a young man hailing from Mamanke village in Tarn Taran district, left his grieving parents devastated.

Sukhchain Singh (21), son of Rajpal Singh, ventured to Canada on December 26, 2022, with aspirations of pursuing higher education. Residing in Brampton, he was suddenly struck by a severe heart attack recently. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention, but despite efforts, he tragically lost his life during the course of treatment. The loss has left the family and the community in deep sorrow and mourning.
Australia will on Tuesday release August numbers for building approvals, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Approvals are expected to rise 7.0 percent on month following the 8.1 percent contraction in July.

Australia also will see September results for the confidence and conditions surveys from NAB; in August, their scores were +2 and +13, respectively.

Japan will provide August data for current account, with forecasts suggesting a surplus of 2.41 trillion yen following the 2.76 trillion yen surplus in July.

Malaysia will see August numbers for unemployment; in July, the jobless rate was 3.4 percent.

Finally, the Taiwan stock market remains shuttered for the National Day holiday and will return to action on Wednesday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Global Mofy Metaverse Limited (GMM), a solutions provider engaged in virtual content production, digital marketing, and digital assets development for the metaverse industry, said that it has priced its initial public offering of 1.20 million ordinary shares at a public offering price of $5.00 per share for total gross proceeds of $6 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses.

The Ordinary Shares have been approved for listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market and are expected to commence trading on October 10, 2023, under the ticker symbol "GMM".

The company has granted the underwriters an option, within 45 days from the closing date of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 180,000 Ordinary Shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts, to cover over-allotment, if any.

The Offering is expected to close on October 12, 2023.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Post Holdings, Inc. (POST), a consumer-packaged goods holding company, announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire Perfection Pet Foods, LLC for $235 million.

The deal includes two manufacturing facilities in Visalia, California, that Post Holdings believes will provide it with extra manufacturing capacity to insource a portion of its current pet food and give it an entry point into the private label and co-manufacturing pet food category.

"Post management expects Perfection to contribute approximately $25 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the next 12 months following the close of the acquisition," Post Holdings stated.

Further, the deal will also provide a net present value of around $20 million.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of Post's fiscal 2024.

On Monday, shares of Post closed at $83.33 up 1.39% on the New York Stock Exchange.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. US State Secretary Antony Blinken has held a conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, official representative of the U.S. State Department Matthew Miller said, Trend reports.

It was noted that Blinken and Cohen discussed US's support for Israel.

Antony Blinken said that Washington will continue efforts to immediately release all of Israeli hostages, taken by Hamas.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Hamas says it is not willing to negotiate on the release of more than 100 hostages it is holding until the "end of the battle".

"We have informed all parties that contacted us regarding the enemy's prisoners held by the resistance that this file will not be opened before the end of the battle," Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.

Between 100 and 150 hostages who were kidnapped from southern Israel on Saturday are estimated to be held in Gaza, according to Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan. Hamas has claimed more than 100 captives are in their custody, which includes Israeli army officers.

Palestinian militant group made its stand clear as Israel is pounding Gaza with deadly airstrikes.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says 770 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip after Israel retaliated with air strikes for Hamas' lightning attack on Israeli cities Saturday.

Palestinian hospitals are flooded with thousands of people injured in attacks, which displaced more than 100,000 others.

Hamas threatened to kill civilian hostages and broadcast the executions if Israel continues airstrikes without warning.

Several Gaza neighbourhoods have been reportedly flattened in overnight bombing by Israeli war planes targeting 200 centers in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces are continuing to attack Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

On the other side, at least 900 people lost their lives in Israel in Hamas attacks.

UN agencies UNICEF and WHO are calling for a humanitarian corridor in and out of Gaza, as Israel cut off supplies of fuel, electricity and water as part of a "complete siege" of the thickly populated enclave.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
South Korea will on Wednesday release August figures for current account, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In July, the current account surplus was $3.58 billion.

Australia will see October results for the consumer sentiment index from Westpac Bank; in September, the index was down 1.5 percent.

Japan will provide August figures for machine tool orders; in July, orders tumbled 17.6 percent on year.

China will release September figures for its M2 money stock and for new loans. M2 is called steady at 10.6 percent, while new loans are pegged at NCY2.500 trillion - up from CNY1.360 trillion in August.

Taiwan will see September figures for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to sink 14.15 percent on year after slumping 22.90 percent in August. Exports are called lower by an annual 3.0 percent after shedding 7.3 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $7.50 billion, down from $8.59 billion a month earlier.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Rhodes University Visiting Professor, Clive Plasket

By Tanya Sylvia Mugwagwa

On 03 October 2023, Rhodes University hosted Professor Clive Plasket for his final public lecture as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law.

In her welcome address, Professor Helena van Coller, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law, emphasised the honour of having Judge Plasket speak to the students and staff about Administrative Law. She also acknowledged the presence of special guests, including the Chancellor of Rhodes University, Honourable Justice Lex Mpati, and colleagues of Judge Plasket, namely retired Justice Johan Froneman and Judge Jeremy Pickering.

Before assuming the role of Visiting Professor in July 2003, Judge Clive Plasket briefly lectured at the Rhodes University East London campus in the 1980s. He later embarked on a career in practice, joining the firm Cheadle Thompson & Haysom and, subsequently, the Legal Resources Centre. Judge Plasket returned to academia in 1998, where he lectured and earned his PhD in Administrative Law. In 2003, he was appointed as a judge in the Eastern Cape Division and joined the bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2019.

"I haven't focused too much on his work as a judge or as the 'North Star of Administrative Law' tonight, simply because you can read all about that in his excellent judgments and articles," Associate Professor Kruuse remarked. "I wanted to focus on him as a mentor, friend, and guide in his unpretentious and pragmatic way. He gives generously of his time and knowledge and gives constructive criticism. He should be proud of the work he has done and the difference he has made."

Judge Plasket has authored more than 50 pieces in peer-reviewed journals and books, predominantly on Administrative Law, and has rendered over 100 reported judgments on various matters. It is fitting that for his final public lecture, Judge Plasket addressed the issue of judicial review in Administrative Law and the need for the harmonisation of the pathways to review.

He commenced his lecture by outlining the Constitutional history behind judicial review of administrative action, primarily focusing on the inclusion of the right to just administrative action in section 24 of the Interim Constitution and its subsequent enshrinement in section 33 of the final Constitution. He then explained how, as a result of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of 2000 (PAJA), a bifurcated system of review had emerged, where judicial review of administrative decisions occurred at times under the Act and at times under the principle of legality founded in the rule of law

"What I will be doing is examining these two pathways of review to analyse the extent to which they are similar and the extent to which they differ," Judge Plasket stated. "I argue that as a matter of legal principle and policy, these two pathways of review should be harmonised."

The judge shared his profound legal insights and analysis on the disparity between the PAJA grounds of review and the grounds of review under the principle of legality, with a particular focus on procedural fairness, reasonableness, and procedural issues like the rule against delay and exhaustion of internal remedies. He posited that while significant progress had been made in harmonising some contentious areas, such as the rule against delay, certain areas still required alignment, notably the issue of procedural fairness, where the Constitutional Court had excluded it as a ground of review for executive action.

The Judge expressed that the disharmony between the grounds of review under PAJA and the principle of legality could only be rectified through judicial interpretation and intervention by the Constitutional Court when the right case presented itself under the appropriate circumstances.

"What we can say is that a great deal of impressive work has been done over the years to develop a harmonious set of principles to govern the review of administrative action out of this bifurcated system. We just need to make some adjustments here and there, and everything will be in order," the Judge concluded his lecture.

Following the lecture, Judge Plasket fielded questions from students and staff in attendance. When addressing the question of what would happen to Administrative Law if complete harmonisation were achieved, the Judge explained that harmonisation would make the judicial review of administrative action much more manageable.

"A lot of time and effort is currently spent determining the justification for review, whether under PAJA or under the principle of legality. I know that in several judgments, I've stated 'the ground of review that applies here applies either way, so it doesn't really matter,' I've been criticised for impurity in my legal thinking. However, I believe that this is one of the advantages of a properly harmonised system. We won't have to worry too much about these distinctions because the answer should be the same in either case," Judge Plasket reiterated.

Paying tribute to Judge Plasket, SCA Judge Nambitha Dambuza said in a letter that his contribution to law had been laudable:

The hundreds of young lawyers you have produced and mentored, the numerous written articles, and judgments from which we will continue to benefit-- I attest to your integrity, aversion to injustice and commitment to speaking truth to power, in court and in your other daily interactions. You should be proud of the work you have done and the difference you have made.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks from the LLB Final Year Class Representative, Bokang Mphuthi, and was followed by a reception and dinner with staff members and friends of the Faculty.
Di Hornby, Director of RUCE

By Unarine Mugogovhali

The Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Awards is an annual ceremony that honours the outstanding efforts and dedication of individual students, residences, societies and community partner organisations who have made significant contributions to community involvement initiatives. This event not only acknowledges the dedicated work of students, staff, and community partners but also serves as a platform to encourage others to engage meaningfully with local communities.

On 03 October, a vibrant atmosphere unfolded on the lawns before the iconic Rhodes University clocktower building, where a diverse audience comprising students, faculty, community partners, and esteemed guests gathered in eager anticipation.

The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome address by Professor Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Student Affairs) of Rhodes University. In her speech, she emphasised the University's steadfast dedication to community involvement and its pivotal role in effecting positive change in the local community through service learning, engaged research, and engaged citizenry. Professor Monnapula-Mapesela underscored the significance of collaboration between the institution and local organisations, emphasising that this synergy is essential to reviving the city of Makhanda, and to prevent it from fading into obscurity.

Following this address, the Director of RUCE Di Hornby, stepped onto the stage to share notable highlights and provide a comprehensive overview of RUCE's impactful endeavours in 2023. Her address transcended mere testimonials, issuing powerful calls to action, urging everyone in attendance to become catalysts for change.

At the heart of the event, naturally, was the presentation of awards to those who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to community engagement. These awards were divided into various categories, each recognising a different facet of community involvement excellence:

Community Partner of the Year: This award celebrated the invaluable partnerships that the University had cultivated with local organisations. These partnerships played a pivotal role in executing a wide array of community engagement initiatives, spanning education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. The winner of this category was River Rescue (eco-champions of Makhanda), with CM Vellem Health Promoting Primary School and Ntsika Secondary School as finalists.

Hall/Residence of the Year Award: This accolade recognised residence and halls who had seamlessly integrated community engagement into their culture of social responsibility among students. Nelson Mandela Hall emerged as the winner, with Hugh Masekela Hall and Cullen Bowles Hall as finalists.

Sports Club/Society of the Year Award: The Rhodes University Toastmasters Club emerged as the victor in this category, distinguished for pioneering a youth-focused communication and leadership programme aimed at nurturing essential soft skills among learners, exemplified by the inaugural Rhodes University Toastmasters Public Speaking Competition. Meanwhile, the Rhodes University Mountain Club and Rhodes University Ultimate Frisbee earned well-deserved recognition as finalists in this competitive category.

Gold Award for Excellence in Community Engagement: This award celebrated students who had gone above and beyond, volunteering their time and skills to support local community projects. The top 10 recipients in this category were:

Tiisetso Kwanda Nhlapho



Siyanda Mjoli



Takudzwa Makuwa



Simphiwe Malinga



Quinlan Victor Caiger



Monica Lerato Mathebula



Matimu Xihluke Shivambu



Lilitha Boco



Lihle Manene, and



Grace Naume Ndlovu

Student Volunteer of the Year: The evening's highest honour was presented to an individual deeply committed to community involvement  Chidinma Uchenna Iheanetu. Chidinma is a passionate educationist whose selflessness and enduring impact on local communities served as an example for all.

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Awards Ceremony went beyond honouring outstanding community members; it offered a blueprint for the future. The speeches and awards served as a wellspring of inspiration, reminding everyone of their ability to effect positive change in the world.

As the ceremony concluded, attendees departed with a renewed sense of purpose, recognising that community engagement is not merely a part of their university experience but a lifelong journey. The stories and accomplishments celebrated that evening will continue to motivate students, staff, and community partners to collaborate towards a brighter and more inclusive future for all.

Rhodes University's unwavering commitment to community engagement has once again been reaffirmed, and the far-reaching impact of this commitment will undoubtedly transform lives and communities for years to come.
A bigger battery along with a dual-motor layout may be on the cards for upcoming MG Yep 5-door version

Lifestyle off-road SUV genre was completely turtled in India. Since Mahindra launched new Thar, this segment has seen a new life. However, trends are quickly shifting towards 5-door lifestyle off-roaders. MG is bringing an electric mini SUV to India, sold as Baojun Yep in China. Now, SGMW Deputy General Manager has confirmed that Yep 5-door SUV will launch in early 2024.

MG Yep 5-Door Confirmed

Suzuki Jimny, which was on sale globally in just a 3-door layout, never launched in India. Instead, Maruti Suzuki launched 5-door version which is the sole option. Rivals like Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha are spawning 5-door versions of themselves too. This is a clear indication of demand and market reception for 5-door lifestyle vehicles.

So, upcoming mini electric SUV in India from MG, can follow a similar strategy as Jimny. For starters, Baojun Yep SUV is made by SAIC-GM-Wuling conglomerate that has extensive badge engineering practices. For example, Wuling Air EV is sold in India under MG brand as Comet and an electric SUV based on a similar platform is on the cards for India.

This points towards Baojun Yep SUV that is currently sold in a 3-door layout. SAIC-GM-Wuling Deputy General Manager, Zhou Jinkai, has confirmed a 5-door version of Yep is slated to launch in China in early 2024 and there is a probability of this being the sole version to make it to India, instead of 3-door version.

As of now, Baojun Yep SUV is a 3381 mm long, 1685 mm wide and 1721 mm tall EV that boasts a 2110 mm long wheelbase. It has a ground clearance of 150 mm, owing to floor-mounted batteries. It has a 28 kWh battery, coupled with a single motor that generates 67 bhp of power and 140 Nm of torque.

What to expect from 5-door model?

For starters, we dont expect Yeps pickup version to launch in India. Current 3-door model in China claims a 303 km (CLTC certified) range on a single charge and costs between CNY 79,800 and CBY 89,900 (Rs. 9 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh). We would wager that the 5-door model measures close to 4m in length and a slight increase in wheelbase. Bigger wheels for better ground clearance are likely too.

Bigger battery will definitely be on the cards for the company and there may be a dual-motor AWD layout too. In terms of interiors, we may see multiple elements shared with MG Comet like dual touchscreen infotainment screens, proper 4 seats and a decently sized boot. The boot-lid mounted display for personalization makes less sense in India and we wouldnt count on it.

The L2 LingXi ADAS suite developed by DJI might make it Indian model too. MG can be the first in India to implement a range-extending ICE generator to cut down on range anxiety or that space under its bonnet will be utilised as a mini refrigerator. Pricing will be between Rs. 16 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Israel has gathered tens of thousands of soldiers along the Lebanon border, the official representative of the Israel Defense Forces, Jonathan Conricus said, Trend reports.

According to him, the border zone with Lebanon is still calm.

"Reserve soldiers are deployed in Israel's southern border territories and are ready to carry out tasks," he said.

The National Security Council's chairman, the heads of the Shabak (Israel Security Agency) and MOSSAD (Foreign Intelligence Service), the Prime Minister's Secretary for Military Affairs, the head of the Strategic Division of the General Staff, the head of Hativat Hatsanhanim (Operations Division of the Operations Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces), and the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces all spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".

The attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 900 Israelis, and the death toll from strikes on the Gaza Strip reached 687 people.
Written By

Managing Editor

she/her | Bridget is the Messengers managing editor. She oversees the newsroom and covers the Maple Run Unified School District and education at large. She also pays attention to recreation, food and the arts and is an avid cyclist and skier.

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Protecting North Countys buried treasure of prehistoric and Native American artifacts requires tight lips and deep pockets.

Over the past several decades, workers in this region have unearthed the fossilized bones of long-extinct mammals and other ancient creatures, and the stone tools and grave sites of people who roamed the coast for thousands of years. Though such discoveries have thrilled scientists and sociologists, theyre an expensive wrinkle for cities bound by state and federal laws that require culturally and historically significant relics to be painstakingly protected and preserved.

No city knows that better than Carlsbad, where costs linked to monitoring and preserving artifacts during a massive road-widening project along El Camino Real recently spiked by more than $1.2 million.

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City officials and contractors wont comment about what was unearthed during the road-widening job, or why the costs associated with archaeological work have more than doubled from the original estimates. State and federal laws discourage the release of such information to protect culturally significant sites from thieves and vandals.

Preserving and protecting those resources is just the right thing to do, said Casey Arndt, the citys project manager.

Scientists and Native American groups have worked for years in Carlsbad on important finds.

Initial excavations in 2007 for the 600-home Robertson Ranch community, near the present El Camino widening project, unearthed bones from an ancient sloth, and the tusks, jawbone and other bones of a mastodon that lived there 200,000 years ago. Several other Ice Age fossils, including bones from a mammoth and a prehistoric bison, were discovered last year at the Quarry Creek development east of El Camino Real along state Route 78. Those fossils are now at the San Diego Natural History Museum, where some of them are on display.

A much more rare item turned up in Carlsbad in 1985, when a dig overlooking the Agua Hedionda Lagoon uncovered a small volcanic stone chipped into the shape of a bear by a Native American craftsman between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago. That relic, possibly a religious icon, is now the official California State Prehistoric Artifact and is kept by the Department of Parks and Recreation at the state archives in Sacramento.

El Camino Real has its own historic status as one of the oldest roads in California, and a major north-south route through Carlsbad. Much of the present-day road was established in the late 1700s as a trail connecting the Spanish missions along the coast.

The ongoing work there now will expand a narrow section of the thoroughfare to three lanes in each direction, with the city tackling the stretch between Chestnut and Tamarack avenues, and Toll Brothers  the developer behind Robertson Ranch  handling the part from Tamarack south to Cannon Road. Also being built are new sidewalks on each side, a new landscaped median, new storm drains, underground utilities and other features.

Carlsbad hired two separate companies to monitor cultural resources on its portion of the project.

Saving Sacred Sites, a privately held arm of the Luiseno band, signed a contract with the city originally estimated at $9,120, however, as work progressed that amount increased three times to a final total of $337,633. The city also contracted with Atkins North America for archaeological recovery and processing services on the site. That contract was originally for $588,757 and climbed to $868,228 as the work unfolded.

Cami Mojado, president of Saving Sacred Sites, did not return a phone call last week about the contract. The citys updated agreement with Atkins states that culturally significant material was found, but that specific details  such as the type and location of the finds  are exempt from disclosure.

Van Lynch, Carlsbads city planner, said he didnt know those details, but that the increased costs werent unexpected.

We hire an archaeologist to go out and survey the site, and determine the potential for finding these artifacts, said Van Lynch, Carlsbads city planner. If anything is found, there is going to be additional work.

Several state and federal laws passed in recent decades add layers of protection to ancient cultural resources. Stone tools that once might have gone to a museum or private collectors now are returned to the soil. Human remains are an especially sensitive topic. A federal law passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, requires remains to be reburied in place or nearby, sometimes with a small ceremony, according to the wishes of the tribe thats determined to be the most likely descendant. It also requires important artifacts such as stone tools or religious objects to be returned to the Native American group they came from.

Work on the El Camino Real road-widening began in late 2014 and is several months behind schedule for a number of reasons, said Arndt, the project manager. Any cultural remains found are one of the lesser factors.

Rain required work to be stopped for 27 weather days last year, he said, and the city added 40 days to install recycled water pipelines for the new landscaped medians. Other problems compounded the delays.

For example, when vehicles were diverted onto the old medians during construction, workers found the thin asphalt was insufficient to carry the weight of full-time traffic.

The minute we put traffic on that, it failed, Arndt said. We had to remove the bad areas  and put back hot-mix asphalt. We had to do two to three weeks of emergency paving just to keep the road usable.

Another problem was the geology of the site, he said. Saturated soils made it difficult to dig the new storm drains in the plan. Also, an old landfill filled with trash found in a sloped bank near Chestnut Avenue had to be dug out and filled with clean soil.

The additional expenses bring the total cost of the project to about $15.7 million project, he said, which remained within contingency funds budgeted for the project. A combination of developer fees, county TransNet sales tax proceeds, and city general fund money is paying for the work.

Construction has disrupted traffic for several blocks north and south of Tamarack for well over a year. That should end in a few weeks.

At the end of the day, its going to be a wonderful project, Arndt said. It will enhance peoples commute well into the future.

Twitter: @phildiehl
By this summer, a welcoming arch will be built across Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido at Centre City Parkway.

Members of the Escondido Charitable Foundation unveiled their plans to construct the arch at a recent meeting of the City Council. The arch, which will be 40 feet high and 180 feet wide, has already been designed. Its $1 million cost is a gift to the city.

The design has not undergone public review, something both Councilwomen Olga Diaz and Consuelo Martinez found a bit disturbing. However, they and the rest of the council said the design is beautiful and the gift is generous. They said they didnt want to do anything to delay it.

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Ken Lounsbery, one of the charitable organizations directors, said the foundations board members wanted to contribute something everlasting, something that would enhance Grand Avenue and, not incidentally, the community.

A single anonymous donor gave the foundation $1 million and it was the consensus of the board to use it for an arch, an idea that came about in 2017 as the city was preparing its Grand Avenue Enhancement Program and applying for a grant.

An arch, officials said, has been part of the vision for enhancing the downtown business area for many years.

The concept of an arch, a community giving arch, an arch to charity, was conceived to express confidence in the community and to encourage the continued history of local charitable giving, Lounsbery told the City Council.

The arch design incorporates the dome above City Hall and has the word Escondido written across its banner. It will be lit at night and will look the same from both directions.

The $15 million grant the city applied for from the regional planning agency, the San Diego Association of Governments, to begin the enhancement program was denied last year. But City Engineer Julie Procopio told the council that SANDAG recently reconsidered and will partially fund the program, which calls for major parking and sidewalk changes and the construction of roundabouts at three Grand Avenue intersections, including Broadway.

Nick Tsoulos, who was chairman of the foundation last year, told the council he believed the arch would be the only one in the county to be fully paid for with donations.

It is being designed by a firm that also created a similar arch in Carlsbad.

Lets consider the arch as representing our pride in our city, the enhancement to our community, and our beacon for philanthropy, Tsoulos said.

Following the meeting, Lousebery said the cost of the arch is about $850,000 with the rest of the $1 million donation going for design and engineering work.

He said he expects it will take about four months for the citys engineering department to approve the plan.

Once that happens, he said, the arch will likely be built in just a few days since it is being constructed in three pieces off site.

Members of the council all expressed thanks to the foundation and said they thought the design was great.

But Diaz and Martinez said they were concerned about a lack of community input on the design and suggested running the concept past the citys art commission.

Lounsbery said they would welcome input, but said the arch is a gift and the design is already finalized. Were there, he said. That train has already left the station.

Well accept as much public input as this council considers desirable and necessary, he said. But it will be a presentation of a project being gifted to the city in its as is condition.

On Tuesday, Diaz said she doubts the arch will come before the council again and said she is not going to press the matter. But she said in the future she hopes that gifted projects can go through a design review involving community input.

She said it is likely, as with all art projects, that there will be people who dont like the way the arch looks and will be upset they did not have a chance to tell the city what they thought before it was a done deal.

I dont dislike it. I think its pretty, Diaz said. I would have liked a more robust public cycle for this. But at the end of the day, am I going to turn down what I consider a nice gift to the City of Escondido?

The right way would have been to go through all the layers of public process and review, she said.

While praising the foundation, Diaz said it does sit under my skin a little bit that we arent holding that particular group to the same standards we would hold everybody else.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the launch of a large-scale attack on Hamas terrorist organization's targets in the Gaza Strip, Trend reports.

"A number of Hamas-related terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip have been struck by Israeli military aircraft. The aircraft hit a weapons storage and a military base," the IDF wrote on its page on X (Twitter).

"Besides, the aircrafts attacked the command center in Western Jabalia, which the Hamas terrorist organization uses for acts of terror against the State of Israel," the IDF added.

On the morning of October 7, Israel came under a coordinated strike. Massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip started the conflict, and then terrorists infiltrated the area by land, water, and air.

The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Today marks a momentous occasion as the Red Sea Project officially opens its doors to visitors and tourists, following years of continuous progress. Alongside this exciting development, two luxury hotels, Six Senses Southern Dunes and the St. Regis Red Sea, are now welcoming bookings, promising exceptional experiences for those exploring Saudi Arabia's rich coastal beauty.

Read More: Red Sea Global to Grow 50M Trees in Saudi Arabia

On August 23, 2023, Red Sea Global unveiled a video showcasing the final preparations at the Six Senses Southern Dunes, hinting at its impending inauguration. This remarkable hotel takes the lead as the first property within the expansive Red Sea project to begin accepting reservations. Room rates at this exquisite establishment range from SAR 5,734 for the Wadi King Room to SAR 21,628 for a spacious two-bedroom Sunset Pool Villa.

What sets the Six Senses Southern Dunes apart is its unwavering commitment to sustainability. The resort is powered entirely by solar energy and incorporates cutting-edge innovations such as intelligent filtration systems, thermal energy storage solutions, and electric buggies for environmentally conscious exploration. Guests will also appreciate the hotel's strict plastic-free policy. Furthermore, wellness and culinary enthusiasts can indulge in the extensive offerings of the Six Senses Spa and savor delectable cuisine at five dining establishments, including an informative cooking school.



Read More: Must Try Steakhouse Spots in Riyadh







In contrast, the St. Regis Red Sea presents 90 luxurious overwater and beachfront villas, with prices starting at SAR 4,900 for a one-bedroom Dune Villa and reaching SAR 87,220 for the luxurious four-bedroom Presidential Dune Villa. This five-star gem offers a unique private island experience, complete with an outdoor pool, a rejuvenating spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a children's club. What truly distinguishes the St. Regis experience is its personalized butler service, ensuring that every guest enjoys the utmost in personalized care.





These exciting openings represent a significant effort in Saudi Arabia's mission to invigorate its tourism and hospitality sectors, inviting visitors to discover the beauty of the Red Sea region in unparalleled luxury and comfort.


Elnur Enveroglu

Israel on Sunday formally declared war after two days of intensive rocket fires by Hamas on Israel as a result of which more than 700 people have been killed. So according to the latest report of the Israeli Health Ministry, at least 2,506 people have been injured so far.

And many people have left the country and some others have moved to places near the Lebanon border. However, the situation over there also is unpleasant as Lebanons Hezbollah targets Israeli positions in the Golan Heights border region.

Israeli journalist Rachel Avraham, well-known in Azerbaijan, said in an interview with AZERNEWS that the current situation in Israel is very tense and dangerous. According to her, people have been evacuated from many cities, and currently, Hamas and Hezbollah groups are shelling the country, especially from the north.

It should be noted that Rachel is currently staying in a temporary shelter in one of the areas near the Lebanese border.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. It is time for Israel to learn from Azerbaijan how to be adamant in the face of terrorism, Alex Kaplun, president and chairman of the Azerbaijan-Israel Chamber of Commerce, told Trend in an interview.

"Israel is going through hard days. Perhaps the hardest in the country's history. A real human tragedy is unfolding before our eyes. Our pain is difficult to put into words. In such moments, it is very important to feel the support of true friends. Over the past two days we have received dozens of letters, messages and calls from Azerbaijan," he said.

He noted that people bring flowers to the Embassy of Israel in Baku, light candles in memory of the fallen Israelis and words of support do not stop coming and truly warm hearts. He added that he continues to receive phone calls and messages from leaders of leading Azerbaijani companies and organizations, as well as from political and state officials at the highest levels.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Azerbaijani people for being concerned about us, thinking about us, trying to cheer us up and offering any help. Such things are not forgotten and are very dear. We are used to being strong," Kaplun said.

Kaplun noted that the whole world is used to seeing Israel as a strong country, and a high-tech, well-trained army.

"And this corresponds to reality. Israel is a small country, in which every man or woman understands from childhood that no one will protect our security and our independence but ourselves. We have a good army and it is well prepared to confront the enemy. However, our enemies are not prepared for a fair fight. They have only had the courage to attack civilians, babies sleeping in cradles, women, children and the elderly. Our enemies broke into people's homes in the early holiday morning and destroyed hundreds of families in a matter of hours. Never since the Holocaust have so many Jews been brutally murdered in just one day," he said.

According to Kaplun, Israel, over the years, has been an example of how a small country, with extremely complex geopolitics, can become so strong that neither small nor large neighbors will ever risk "dealing with it."

"Azerbaijan has achieved this and "explained" it very clearly to the whole world, and especially to its neighbors, in the last three years. I am sure that the time has come for us to learn from our Azerbaijani friends how firm and unyielding we need to be in the face of terrorism in order to protect our lands and citizens," he added.

Kaplun emphasized that terrorism does not need to be fought, it should simply be destroyed.

"Terrorism does not understand words, has no borders, and there is no concept of morality for terrorists - an armed thug from Gaza has no problem shooting a five-year-old boy at point-blank range or slitting a mother's throat in front of her three-year-old child. I have no doubt whatsoever that despite all the huge, immense pain, we will win. We are indeed strong, united people, and we realize that we have no choice. The victory will be ours, although the road to it will be difficult," Kaplun added.

According to Kaplun, it is very important that Azerbaijan receives truthful information about what is happening in Israel.

"That is why on the Chamber's page we are constantly publishing the most up-to-date and verified information on the progress of the hostilities. Once again, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you and express my hope that this war will end quickly and will be Israel's last war with the Hamas terrorist organization because at the end of this war, Hamas will simply no longer exist. And all the others who still thought it was possible to defeat the Israeli people will always remember the lesson they were taught," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. The Israeli army launches a full-scale attack on the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said, Trend reports.

"Here you will have the opportunity to change reality. Hamas wanted change in Gaza, now it will change 180 degrees from what they expected," Yoav Galant stated.

He added they will regret this moment, Gaza will never return to what it was.

Meanwhile, a combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 900 and injured 2,806 Israelis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered hundreds of 5,000-year-old wine jars  some of which are still intact and contain traces of ancient wine  in the tomb of Meret-Neith, a princess, a queen, a royal mother and a regent who was undoubtedly one of the most enigmatic and most charismatic characters of the First Dynasty of ancient Egypt.

Meret-Neith, the One for whom Neith feels merout, love, the One who is beloved by Neith, was one of the most influential women at the royal court during the First Egyptian Dynasty around 3000 BCE.

Based on the archaeological and inscriptional sources, scholars have suggested that she may have been a daughter of Djer (third pharaoh of the First Dynasty), chief wife of Wadj (fourth pharaoh of the First Dynasty), and mother of Den.

But Meret-Neith was not only a woman of royal descent  thereby simply securing the continuity of the royal blood line  but rather, her influence went even further. She was the only woman to receive her own proper tomb in the royal ancestral cemetery at Abydos.

Since her tombs discovery by British Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie in 1899-1900, the historical significance of Meret-Neith has been a matter of debate.

Opinions range in scope from her having been a regent queen in charge of government until her young son and heir to the throne had come of age to being a fully-fledged ruler in her own right.

This debate remains unsettled, which is mainly due to the scarcity of the inscriptional evidence, as well as the many questions still surrounding her precise lineage and political significance at the time.

Although the royal necropolis at Umm el-Qaab, Abydos, has been under intensive investigation by the German Archaeological Institute since 1978, Meret-Neiths tomb, her reign and her persona as one of the most important historical women during the formation of the early Pharaonic state have never received due attention.

Queen Meret-Neith was probably the most powerful woman of her time, said University of Vienna archaeologist Christiana Kohler and her colleagues from Austria and Germany.

Todays researchers speculate that she may have been the first female pharaoh in ancient Egypt and thus the predecessor of the later Queen Hatshepsut from the 18th dynasty. Her true identity remains a mystery.

We recently began archaeological excavations in the tomb of Meret-Neith at Abydos and discovered significant new information about this important historical woman.

Among the huge amount of goods unearthed by the archaeologists were hundreds of large wine jars.

Many of the jars were in a good state of preservation and contained organic residue that they interpreted as the remains of ancient wine.

Some of the jars were very well preserved and even still sealed in their original state, the researchers said.

In addition, inscriptions testify that Queen Meret-Neith was responsible for central government offices such as the treasury, which supports the idea of her special historical significance.

Meret-Neiths monumental tomb complex in the Abydos desert, which includes the tombs of 41 courtiers and servants in addition to her own burial chamber, was built of unbaked mud bricks, clay and wood, they said.

Thanks to careful excavation methods and various new archaeological technologies, we were able to show that the tombs were built in several construction phases and over a relatively long period of time.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Turkish Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Trend reports.

Flights to Tel Aviv have been suspended until further notice due to the current situation in Israel, the airline wrote on its page on X.

Turkish Airlines have also published the rules for exchanging or returning tickets for flights to Tel Aviv, which were scheduled for October 7-23.

Meanwhile, a combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 900 and injured 2,315 Israelis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have held a phone talk, Trend reports.

During the conversation, the sides discussed the measures that could be taken within the framework of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They exchanged views on measures that can be taken to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the region through the mediation efforts of Turkiye.

Stressing that disproportionate attacks will lead the situation to a further stalemate, Erdogan noted that it is very important for the parties to act with restraint and avoid impulsive steps.

Meanwhile, a combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 900 and injured 2,806 Israelis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Michigans community mental health agencies are stepping up to evolve the way they offer care to those in need  especially crisis care. Genesee Health System and Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority are two examples.

Genesee Health System Urgent Care

Lisa Bruder, Genesee Health System manager of crisis services

Brian Martinus, interim chief executive officer, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health.

NLCMHA Traverse City location.

Nancy Stevenson, NLCMHA chief operations officer for Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties.

Kelsey Sanders is a wellness professional and freelance writer and editor. She has lived in West Michigan her whole life and loves learning and writing about the many great things her area continues to do. When shes not working, shes staying home with her baby girl and enjoying the Lakeshore with her husband.

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority

photos by John Russell.

Genesee Health System photos courtesy Genesee Health System.

Nancy Stevenson and Brian Martinus photos courtesy

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority.

The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan's children, teens, and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the

Community Mental Health Association of Michigan

,

Center for Health and Research Transformation

,

Genesee Health System

,

Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan

,

North Country CMH

,

Northern Lakes CMH Authority

,

OnPoint

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Sanilac County CMH

,

St. Clair County CMH

,

Summit Pointe

, and

Washtenaw County CMH

.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have held a phone talk, Public Relations Office of the Turkish Presidential Administration says, Trend reports.

It is reported that during the conversation, the heads of state discussed the progress of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, steps that can be taken to prevent further escalation of tensions and meet humanitarian needs in the region.

Erdogan said attacks on civilian settlements are a cause for concern and such initiatives are not welcomed by Turkiye.

The Turkish President stressed that his country will try to do everything possible to ensure peace in the region.

Meanwhile, a combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

The attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 900 and injured 2,806 Israelis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
The first turbine to be completed in a project to build the worlds largest offshore windfarm, in the North Sea, has begun powering British homes and businesses. Developers confirmed on Monday that Dogger Bank, which sits 70 nautical miles off the coast of Yorkshire, started producing power over the weekend as the first of 277 turbines was connected to the electricity grid.  Guardian

The wealth management arm of Crispin Odeys investment group will be wound down months after the hedge fund tycoon was accused of sexual misconduct by junior female members of staff. The City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said it was working closely with the firm, as it prepares to shut its operations in the UK and Guernsey. It is expected to return any remaining money to investors.  Guardian

The chief executive of Metro Bank has vowed to protect the lenders branches as it launched a multi-million pound cost cutting drive. Dan Frumkin, the banks chief executive, also told analysts on Monday that the lender will stick to its branch-based approach despite pressure on costs. The London-listed challenger bank said it will slash around 30m of costs a year from 2025 as part of its restructuring, which will hand control of Metro to Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal.  Telegraph

Dylan Field has become the latest Silicon Valley boss to voice frustration with the competition watchdog, as it investigates Adobes proposed $20 billion takeover of Figma, his app design company. Field, 31, the founder and chief executive of Figma, attacked the Competition and Markets Authority, saying it had misjudged the size of the market that it was trying to assess. His comments come after Microsofts criticism of the regulators decision to block its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard.  The Times

HSBC has agreed to buy Citigroups consumer wealth business in China as it pushes ahead with its focus on Asian markets. Citi has offloaded the unit for an undisclosed sum as part of a wider retreat from consumer banking in a number of jurisdictions. HSBC will take on total deposits and investment assets under management of about $3.6 billion, including credit cards, mortgages and other loans.  The Times
Electric vehicle maker Tesla, which officially started deliveries of its Model 3 in Europe late last month, is facing some delays as several buyers were turned away from its Tilburg factory despite being invited to collect their vehicles.



Tesla Founder and CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter on Thursday to explain the delay: "Sorry, many unexpected challenges with cars coming through Zeebrugge first time. Cars will start moving out in volume tomorrow."



The EV maker is expected to push up to 3,000 Model 3 vehicles through Belgium's Zeebrugge port every week in the coming months to fulfil high demand from European buyers.



"Tesla has officially started deliveries in Europe today -- though only in low volume as they ran into some issues during their first day. As we reported earlier this week, the first massive shipment of Tesla Model 3 vehicles arrived at the Zeebrugge port in Belgium.



"Many Model 3 buyers were surprised to be quickly invited to take delivery of their vehicles in Belgium and the Netherlands," the Electrek reported.



The carmaker announced Model 3 as its mass-market offering at $35,000 with a new Mid-Range battery pack that is expected to go about 200 miles.



The Long-Range Battery version of the car is priced a bit higher at $49,000 and can go 310 miles on a single charge.



The company received almost 14,000 Model 3 orders in Europe early January.



With the launch of the new battery pack option, Tesla is making several changes to the Model 3's option structure.



In major changes the rear wheel drive option is now available only with the new Mid-Range pack and the Long-Range pack only comes with a dual motor all-wheel-drive powertrain.

Read more news:



IRCTC partners with Magzter to provide unmatched online reading experience to passengers
Zoho Corporation, a Chennai-based software company, expects that India will become its largest market in the next decade. This belief is grounded in India's rapid growth and demographic advantages. Sridhar Vembu, Zoho's founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of India as a growing market for the company. Currently, India stands as Zoho's third-largest market, following the United States and the European Union. Vembu expressed confidence in India's potential and highlighted its demographic strengths. India saw more than 20 million births last year, surpassing the combined numbers of the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea. Vembu underscored that India's rise to the top market position for global companies is inevitable.

Praval Singh, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Experience at Zoho noted that the company has been attracting business from customers seeking affordable solutions, particularly as financial resources have become scarcer. Clients are increasingly focused on optimizing both cost and value. Vembu cautioned against relying on traditional business projections in light of current global uncertainties, mentioning concerns about geopolitical and demographic factors. He suggested monitoring trends on a week to week or month-to-month basis.

Last week, Vembu had tweeted about a slowdown in Zohos growth across various countries and products in September. This deceleration in growth across diverse revenue streams led him to speculate about the global economys direction. Zoho launched additional features for its workplace collaboration platform, Cliq. These include the expansion of custom low-code app capabilities, video conferencing for Android TVs, and an e-discovery module. Zoho aims to capitalize on the workplace app market, despite competition from Microsoft Teams and Salesforce Slack. The company highlighted its products superior user interface and noted a 30% increase in user migration from Slack and MS Teams in 2022.
Louis Vuitton and Rexhep Rexhepi launch the LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie

Following the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives announced in early 2023, Louis Vuitton is embarking on a series of collaborative timepieces with renowned independent watchmakers, with the inaugural project being the LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie born from the collaboration between Atelier Akrivia and Louis Vuitton.

Embodying the essence of both Maisons, the LVRR-01 is a double-faced chronograph with a chiming complication  true statement in the watch industry  powered by a completely new tourbillon movement developed from the ground up by Atelier Akrivia and its founder Rexhep Rexhepi in a redesigned Louis Vuitton Tambour case.

The fundamental concept of the LVRR-01 is encapsulated in the emblem on the sapphire dial. At a distance it appears to be the conventional logo, but up close the emblem reveals itself to be a union of the two brand names, with LV subtly incorporated into AKRIVIA. This represents the first time in history that Louis Vuitton has combined its logo with that of another brand.

LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie  Louis Vuitton

Louis cruises with Rexhep

The LVRR-01 seamlessly unites two houses, Louis Vuitton and Atelier Akrivia, that are separated by time but likeminded in passion. Both Maisons were founded more than 150 years apart yet share core values, particularly in their approach to craftsmanship, and they have in common founders who are visionaries and artisans.

Born in 1821 in a town not far from the Swiss border, Louis Vuitton moved to Paris as a teenager, where he became an apprentice to one of the noted trunk makers of the day. He soon made a name for himself as an expert crafter of cases and trunks, gaining clients like the Empress of France. In 1854, he set up his eponymous atelier and became so successful that he eventually moved to larger premises in Asnieres, where the Louis Vuitton trunkmaking atelier remains to this day.

History, as the saying goes, never repeats, but rhymes. Rexhep Rexhepi left his native Kosovo for Geneva as a teenager and shortly after took up an apprenticeship at a High Watchmaking atelier aged just 14. In 2012, he set up his own brand, Atelier Akrivia, with the conviction of producing watches in the grand tradition of Haute Horlogerie.

The shared passion for fine watchmaking set in motion events that would lead to the creation of the LVRR-01, which emerged around the conception of the Louis Vuitton Prize for Independent Creatives.

A union of historic complications

The LVRR-01 is a comprehensive meditation on the nature of time: a precision chronometer equipped with a tourbillon regulator that indicates the current time, but also an instrument that measures elapsed time, while marking for the first time in the watch industry, the passing of time with a sonnerie mechanism.

These complications are showcased with an ingenious two-sided display that symbolises the collaborative development of the LVRR-01. The contemporary front dial in tinted sapphire crystal juxtaposed against a traditional face on the reverse in white grand feu enamel, together an allegory representing perfectly the identity of both Maisons.

The complications are a testimony to the histories of Louis Vuitton and Rexhep Rexhepi. The very first Atelier Akrivia timepiece, the AK-01, incorporated both the chronograph and tourbillon, while the first complicated Louis Vuitton watch, the Tambour LV277, was a chronograph, and the Maisons first Haute Horlogerie complication was the tourbillon.

LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie  Louis Vuitton

Pushing the boundaries of High Watchmaking

Within the LVRR-01 is a wholly-new calibre developed entirely by Rexhep Rexhepi. In his characteristic aesthetics, the movement is eminently traditional, a quality exemplified by the hand-applied decoration and gracefully-shaped chronograph levers.

The exceptional double-faced dial of the LVRR-01 called for an equally unusual approach to the movement. Compared with conventional movements, the LVRR-01 calibre is inverted, with the chronograph and chiming mechanisms visible on the front instead of being on the back. This allows the magnificent architecture and decoration to be admired on the wrist at all times.

The tinted sapphire dial reveals the fine finishing of the components, every single one of which is decorated by hand with traditional techniques like anglage, and black polishing.

Taking pride of place on the front at six oclock is the tourbillon that completes one revolution every five minutes and designed by Rexhep Rexhepi in its characteristic respect for the horological history. In contrast to the one-minute rotation of a conventional tourbillon, the five-minute rotation is in the spirit of historical chronometers. Inside the tourbillon cage is a balance wheel with twin broad arms and eight inertial regulating weights, inspired by those found in marine chronometers.

The defining and unique aspect of the movement is the Chronographe a Sonnerie, a pair of complications never before integrated in this way within a wristwatch. While the combination of elapsed time measurement with a striking mechanism has historical precedent in pocket watches, it is a true statement in contemporary watchmaking.

The chronograph functions of start, stop, and reset are controlled by the pusher at two oclock. However, the chronograph boasts the addition of an acoustic reminder of elapsed time, with a single chime struck as each minute passes. Clear and musical in tone, the chime is sounded by a black-polished steel hammer striking a tempered steel gong, developed at Atelier Akrivia that emits a single harmonious note to signify the passage of 60 seconds.

Integrating the two complications, the chronograph and the sonnerie in addition to the tourbillon, required ingenuity in both engineering and execution, as this systems should work in synergy and each need enough energy to function.

Rexhep Rexhepi devised a concise solution of twin barrels, one power source for the timekeeping portion of the movement and the chronograph and another for the chime, but with a twist. While the standard approach would have been to segregate the barrels and allow them to run independently, Rexhep Rexhepi has devised a construction in which the second barrel is linked to the gear train in a particular way.

Once the chronograph is activated and the central mobile is released by the hammer, the rotation from the second barrel is no longer blocked. Energy is thus supplied to the base gear when the chronograph and striking mechanism are running, ensuring that the complications have sufficient energy to function properly without disturbing the movement.

Visible through the sapphire dial is the mechanical ballet responsible for the chimes. The sonnerie and second barrel are linked to a secondary escapement featuring jewelled pallets. This escapement releases the energy of the second barrel cyclically, ensuring the sonnerie strikes precisely and regularly.

LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie  Louis Vuitton

A case-making legend

The seamless blending of Louis Vuitton and Atelier Akrivia continues in the platinum case, which is a perfect match of Louis Vuittons signature Tambour imbued with the stylistic touches of Rexhep Rexhepi, particularly in the thin, classical form of the case. The LVRR-01 translates the drum-shaped form of the Tambour into a reinterpreted, streamlined form distinguished by a tall, sloping bezel and elegantly sculpted lugs that draw on mid-century gentlemens wristwatches.

The crown and chronograph pusher each have a seven-sided form inspired by the Louis Vuitton watches, but they are hand-crafted in the Atelier Akrivia style. Chamfered on their edges like the parts of the movement, the crown and pusher are decorated with hand hammering, exactly the same technique applied by Rexhep Rexhepi.

The case is made by Atelier Akrivia in a process overseen by Jean-Pierre Hagmann, the Master casemaker in its case-making workshop.

Armed with decades of experience, Jean-Pierre Hagmanns expert eye ensures the case is perfect in form and detail  the discreet JHP hallmark on the lower-right lug is his personal seal of quality.

And the final understated detail alluding to the shared venture is Louis cruises with Rexhep hand-engraved on the case back, a calligraphic dedication of this unique encounter.

The many faces of time

The individual and distinctive aesthetic codes of Rexhep Rexhepi and Louis Vuitton are unmistakeable on the two dials yet coherently integrated into a perfect whole.

Cleanly styled yet lavishly decorated, the front dial is eminently modern, mirroring the contemporary aspect of Louis Vuitton. The disc of tinted sapphire crystal features a gilt-metallised minute track that brings to mind the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporain (RRCC I & II).

The dial has six gold cubes filled with translucent fired enamel, a technique akin to stained glass known as plique-a-jour. The cubic motif is a nod to the Spin Time jumping-hours display, one of Louis Vuittons patented complications. At the same time, the gold elements on the dial discreetly acknowledge the yellow thread stitching that is a subtle but crucial attribute of Louis Vuitton leather goods.

In contrast, the reverse face is resolutely classical in glossy white grand feu enamel, a tribute to traditional measuring instruments  it was designed by Rexhep Rexhepi and crafted by Nicolas Doublel, the in-house enameller at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Bringing to 19th century chronograph pocket watches, the enamel dial features twin scales for the hours and minutes respectively, both printed in enamel. But the keen-eyed will notice the design of the enamel dial carries the spirit of the first-ever wristwatch made by Louis Vuitton in 1988.

Both brand names bisect the enamel dial horizontally, reflecting the collaborative nature of the watch in style and in substance. While the white-gold disc for the dial base is produced by Atelier Akrivia, the enamelling is completed by the in-house enamel atelier led by Nicolas Doublel.

Traditional Trunk  Louis Vuitton

A singular trunk for a unique watch

The LVRR-01 is delivered in a unique Louis Vuitton traditional trunk.

Made specifically for each example of the LVRR-01, every trunk is painted by hand with a motif inspired by the chronograph scales on the enamel dial, along with the AKRILVIA logo and individual serial number of the respective watch. As a finishing touch and a tribute to the artisans responsible for the LVRR-01, the trunk reproduces the signatures of Rexhep Rexhepi, Jean-Pierre Hagmann, and Nicolas Doublel.

The LVRR-01 is accompanied by a Louis Vuitton strap of natural cowhide leather, a calfskin that acquires a delicate patina with use, and a unique platinum pin buckle made by the workshop of Jean-Pierre Hagmann that bears the JHP hallmark.
President Biden's visit to India to attend the G20 summit will ensure a smooth and successful commitment to Indias hosting of the G20 summit.

FREMONT, CA: On account of President Joe Bidens departure to New Delhi, the United States promised commitment towards holding a successful G20 summit. The annual summit will be held in New Delhi on September 9th and 10th.

The American president will travel to New Delhi to participate in a bilateral meeting with PM Modi and will attend official sessions of the G20 Summit.

The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed her fascination for PM Modi over his leadership of the G20 and recalled the US promise to India to ensure a successful G20 summit this year. Much prior to President Bidens visit, PM Modis state visit to the US indicated a determination to share priorities at the summit. Jean-Pierre also commented on President Bidens bilateral meeting with PM Modi, adding that closer ties in the future lays the ground for shared effort between the nations.

During this visit, President Biden is expected to talk with other G20 partners about the joint efforts to tackle rising global issues, clean energy transition and combating climate changes. These leaders also aim to increase the capacity of multinational development banks, including the World Bank, to fight poverty globally.

The G20 theme of India, One Earth, One Family, One Future, aims at achieving sustainable growth that promotes conservation of the environment globally. PM Modi proposed the theme based on a Sanskrit phrase, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. It poses a major affirmation of the value of all life, be they human, animal, plant, or microorganisms, discussing their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

The G20, consisting of 19 countries and the European Union, serves as an intergovernmental platform tackling pressing global economic and environmental challenges. India and the US are increasingly looking to collaborate, especially through initiatives like the G20 summit, to foster mutual growth in areas such as education, innovation, space exploration, and defense cooperation.
Raj Subramaniam, Indian-American CEO of FedEx, was awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

FREMONT, CA: Indian-American Raj Subramaniam, CEO of FedEx, has been honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of awardees in fostering a better understanding of India, supporting India's causes and concerns, and strengthening the connections between India, the overseas Indian community, and their countries of residence.

Subramaniam was born on September 14, 1967, in Trivandrum, Kerala, and attended Loyola School in Trivandrum. His academic journey was further pursued in the SIES Group of Institutions in Bombay, IIT Bombay, and Syracuse University in New York. He earned his MS in Chemical Engineering and holds a masters degree in business administration.

His wife, Uma Subramaniam, works along with him at FedEx, contributing to the companys success. His son, Arjun Rajesh, also serves under the e-commerce division of FedEx, with Subramaniams brother serving in another indispensable role in the company. His roots trace back to a family in distinguished careers, with his father serving as a DGP in the Indian Police Service and his mother as an anesthetist at a general hospital.

Subramaniam is a linguist with profound proficiency in four languages: Hindi, English, Tamil, and Malayalam. These language skills have undoubtedly contributed to his global success.

Subramaniam leads a vast conglomerate with an impressive annual revenue of 92 billion USD and a global workforce exceeding 600,000 employees. As the CEO of FedEx, his journey within the company has marked a major milestone. He began his career at FedEx in 1996 and later rose to the position of Vice President of Marketing, Asia Pacific. Following this, was appointed as the Regional President in Canada.

Raj Subramaniam was appointed Senior Vice President at FedEx Services in 2006. He then held the position of President and CEO of FedEx Express and later took up the role of President and COO of FedEx Corporation.
Expanding cooperation between the Indian and US Navies is important for deterring aggression, promoting stability, improving interoperability, and advancing technological capabilities.

FREMONT, CA: The Indian and US navies are actively engaged in various cooperative initiatives. They regularly conduct joint training and exercises, exemplified by the Malabar naval exercise, a quadrilateral endeavour that includes Japan and Australia. Furthermore, their cooperation extends to maritime security operations, encompassing counter-piracy and counter-terrorism efforts.

During a recent visit to the United States, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, the Chief of the Indian Navy, engaged in discussions with the American counterpart Admiral Mike Gilday. These talks encompassed a wide array of topics, including joint exercises, training programs, and maritime security operations. Of particular significance were deliberations on venturing into new collaborative domains, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

The potential expansion of cooperation between the Indian and US Navies holds paramount importance for several reasons. Firstly, it serves as a deterrent to aggression and contributes to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. Secondly, it enhances the interoperability of both naval forces, thus bolstering their ability to effectively operate together during crises. Lastly, this collaboration fosters advancements in technological capabilities, benefiting both nations in an increasingly complex and interconnected maritime domain.

The Strategic Significance of Indo-Pacific Collaboration

The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a focal point for global affairs due to its critical maritime routes, vast economic opportunities, and complex security environment. India and the United States recognize the strategic significance of this region and have articulated their shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Their combined efforts are aimed at ensuring that the region remains stable and prosperous for the benefit of all nations.

Expanding Naval Cooperation

Bilateral and Multilateral Exercises: One of the cornerstones of India-US naval cooperation is joint exercises. These exercises enhance interoperability, foster trust, and allow the navies to learn from each other's expertise.

Information Sharing: Information-sharing mechanisms have been established to exchange crucial Nautical intelligence, enhancing situational awareness and the ability to respond effectively to emerging threats. This includes sharing Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, which helps track vessels and ensure maritime security.

Technology and Capability Enhancement: Both countries have been actively working on technology transfer and capability building. India's acquisition of the P-8I seagoing patrol aircraft from the United States has significantly bolstered its aquatic surveillance capabilities. Additionally, discussions are ongoing for potential collaboration on aircraft carriers, a symbol of naval power projection.

HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief): The US Navy's rapid response capabilities and India's regional presence have been instrumental in providing aid and support during natural disasters, such as cyclones and tsunamis.

Counter-Piracy Operations: With the threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean, both navies have actively participated in counter-piracy operations to safeguard the coastwise commons. This cooperation has been vital in ensuring the safe passage of international shipping.

Diplomatic Initiatives: Beyond military cooperation, diplomatic efforts are underway to address regional challenges collectively. Nations have been engaging in dialogues and summits with regional partners to promote shared values and norms.

The Significance of the Indo-Pacific Region

The Indo-Pacific region is home to some of the worlds fastest-growing economies and most significant shipping lanes. It is a region with a number of security challenges, such as the increasing assertiveness of the threat of terrorism. The United States and India are two of the most important powers in the Indo-Pacific region. Both have a strategic interest in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Cooperation between the two navies is essential to achieving this goal.

The Benefits of Expanded Cooperation Between the India and US Navies

Expanded cooperation between the Indian and US navies will have numerous benefits for both countries.

Deter Aggression and Promote Stability: The increased presence and cooperation of the Indian and US navies in the Indo-Pacific region assist in deterring aggression and promoting stability.

Improve Interoperability: Expanded cooperation between the Indian and US navies improves the interoperability of the two navies. This will make them more effective in operating together in the event of a crisis.

Advance Technological Capabilities: Augmented alliance between the Indian and US navies helps advance the technological capabilities of both navies. This is especially important in new areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Future Prospects

The trajectory of India-US naval cooperation appears promising, with both nations actively exploring avenues for further collaboration:

Expanded Exercises: The navies expand joint exercises to include a broader range of scenarios, including anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, and amphibious operations.

Capacity Building: Continued technology transfer and capacity-building initiatives enhance the self-reliance of the Indian Navy and promote defense manufacturing under India's 'Make in India' initiative.

Information Sharing Networks: Strengthening information-sharing networks and developing a common operating picture enable swift responses to evolving security situations.

Coast Guard Collaboration: Collaboration between the coast guards of both nations further enhances maritime security, particularly in patrolling exclusive economic zones and addressing non-traditional security threats.

The partnership between the navies of India and the United States is crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. By focusing on joint exercises, information sharing, technology transfer, and diplomatic initiatives, both nations are well-positioned to address the complex security challenges in the region. The evolving strategic landscape and shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific will create ample opportunities for further cooperation in the years to come.
Indian-American professor Saptarshi Das and his team developed an artificial multisensory neuron integrating tactile and visual cues, mimicking human sensory fusion, offering potential for AI advancement.

A research led by an Indian-American professor Saptarshi D as applied the concept of biological inputs for application in AI to develop the first artificial and multisensory integrated neuron.

Saptarshi Das, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State University, has joint appointments in electrical engineering and materials science and engineering.

Robots make decisions by assessing their surroundings, although their sensors typically do not communicate with one another. Utilizing a sensor processing unit for collective decision-making is a potential approach. However, its efficiency scale remains unnoticed. Thus, Das concludes that the interconnectedness of senses in the human brain enables individuals to enhance their judgment of situations by allowing one sense to influence another. For instance, a car might have one sensor scanning for obstacles while another sensing darkness to modulate the intensity of headlights. On an individual note, these sensors relay information to a central unit, which instructs the car to brake or adjust the headlights.

This process consumes increased energy, allowing sensors to communicate directly with each other and can be more efficient in terms of energy and speed, especially when inputs from both are faint. Das states that biology enables small organisms to thrive in environments with limited resources, minimizing consumption in the process.

In various contexts, the requirements for different sensors are context-dependent. For instance, in a dark forest, one would tend to rely more on their sense of hearing than sight. However, individuals typically do not base their decisions solely on a single sense. Individuals have a complete understanding of their surroundings, and their decision-making is critically based on the integration of what they see, hear, touch, or smell. These senses have evolved together in biology but are separate in AI. Das assures that he, along with several other scientists, is looking to combine sensors and mimic how brains work. The team concentrated on integrating a tactile sensor and a visual sensor, enabling them to mutually influence each other's outputs through visual memory.

Muhtasim UI Karim Sadaf, a third-year doctoral student in engineering science and mechanics, states that even a short-lived flash of light can significantly enhance the chance of successful movement through a dark room. This is because visual memory can subsequently exert an influence and provide assistance to tactile responses when it comes to navigation.

However, if the visual and tactile cortex of individuals were to respond to their mere respective unimodal cues, it might lead to less or nil chances. A photo memory effort of where the light shines and its remembrance is readily available, incorporated into a device through a transistor that provides the same response.

The researchers fabricated the multisensory neuron by connecting a tactile sensor to a phototransistor based on a monolayer of molybdenum disulfide, a compound that exhibits unique electrical and optical characteristics useful for detecting light and supporting transistors. The sensor produces electrical spikes that resemble how neurons process information, enabling it to combine visual and tactile cues.

It's akin to observing an on-light indicator on a stove while simultaneously sensing heat emanating from a burner. Noticing light doesnt potentially guarantee that the burner is hot at that moment, but the human hand only requires a split-second of feeling heat before instinctively withdrawing from the potential danger.

In this instance, the input of both light and heat stimulated signals that prompted the hand's reaction. The researchers measured the artificial neuron's emulation of this process by observing the signaling outputs produced in response to visual and tactile input cues. To replicate touch input, the tactile sensor employed the triboelectric effect, where two layers slide against each other, generating electricity and encoding the touch stimuli as electrical impulses.
The United States and India are actively engaging in discussions to enhance defense cooperation, including the potential joint production of military systems.

FREMONT, CA: Indian-American Siddharth Iyer, the director for South Asia Policy, has given confirmation that the United States is in active talks with the Indian government to look at producing military systems in regions related to ISR and ground-based conventional warfare. Various initiatives are underway to establish a mutual defense procurement agreement with India.

Iyer assured that the talks between the duo would likely finalize the security of supply management, streamlining the ability of defense firms to procure their requirements. Both nations are moving at an aggressive clip to establish a reciprocal defense procurement to allow and create the conditions for the US and Indian defense industries to upscale and streamline market access. This diplomatic relationship has been one of the top priorities for the Pentagon.

Ensuring a strengthened India-US relationship is highly crucial to achieving a combined strategy in the Indo-Pacific. It involves a broad and deep commitment to one another. Iyer also remarked on Defence Secretary Lloyd Austins keen commitment to accelerating Indias military modernization by putting the department on the hook to find targeted opportunities to advance Indias indigenous defense production capabilities. The India-US defense roadmap identifies the priority military areas where industries ought to shift their focus on collaborative efforts.

The approach identifies various concrete mechanisms by which India and the US can collaborate to integrate the supply chains. It also establishes the oversight mechanism to ensure that bureaucratic logjams and regulatory barriers no longer impede progression.

Comparing the concrete initiatives, the GE engine deal has attracted increased attention in the press. This, in turn, serves as a testament, highlighting the significance of the deal. The agreement is a clear arrangement between private companies, but governments of both nations are working closely with each other on technology security concerns. It aims to advance private companies' strategic interests and balance both countries' tech and national security requirements. The deal enables access to India for jet engine technology, the most sensitive military technology available to the US.
The US and India have established a strong partnership in trade, technology, clean energy, healthcare, and maritime sectors, focusing on trust, innovation, clean energy transitions, sustainable development, vaccine development, and ensuring a secure Indo-Pacific region.

In the realm of US foreign policy, a consistent and enduring bipartisan consensus revolves around the strategic enhancement of relations with India. Over the years, this commitment has transcended political affiliations, remaining steadfast across Republican and Democratic administrations alike.

Likewise, within the Indian political landscape, there exists a bipartisan consensus that upholds the trajectory of steadily advancing relations with the US. This commitment has transcended various governments in India, with each administration consistently upholding and even furthering the momentum through high-level political engagements. Notably, the State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States in June symbolized a partnership "anchored in a new level of trust and mutual understanding and enriched by the warm bonds of family and friendship that inextricably link the countries together."

During this visit, significant announcements were made by the leaders of both nations, outlining collaborative efforts in key areas such as defense, high technology sectors, clean energy, space cooperation, and Indo-Pacific engagement. India welcomed the United States' decision to join India's Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative (IPOI) Pillar on Trade, Connectivity, and Maritime Transport. The momentum generated by this visit persisted as President Biden reciprocated with his visit to India for the G20 Summit in September.

India and the United States: Priorities for the Future

The comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the US spans an array of domains, including trade, defense, multilateralism, intelligence, cyberspace, civil nuclear energy, education, and healthcare. As this multifaceted and diverse partnership gazes into the future, it is coalescing around a novel agenda for cooperation, aligning itself with the demands of tomorrow. Several sectors will play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of this relationship, including:

Emerging Technology: The initiation of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in January symbolizes a strategic technology partnership between the two nations. In the realm of defense technology, both nations have unveiled an "Innovation Bridge" connecting Indian and American defense startups. This collaboration extends beyond the defense sector to encompass technologies enhancing the daily lives of citizens.

It encompasses critical domains such as AI, quantum technologies, advanced wireless, high-performance computing, space technologies, biotech, and next-generation telecommunications. Collaboration also extends to developing secure telecommunication systems, facilitating access to chipsets for system development, establishing joint research and development facilities, and mutual investments.

The two nations also intend to support computer and information science and engineering, with a special focus on building secure cyberspace networks. The collaboration further extends to earth and space sciences, with India's adherence to the Artemis Accords opening new avenues for cooperation. The depth of technological collaboration seeks to showcase India's technological prowess and also to cultivate a tech value chain partnership between the two countries. This reflects the US' confidence in India's pioneering advancements, such as the digital public infrastructure.

Working Together on Clean Energy Transitions: India, as a leader in climate mitigation efforts, has committed to reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources. A notable development occurred when India updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), pledging a 45 percent reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP and a target of achieving 50 percent cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

India has initiated international coalitions like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS), and the Green Grids InitiativeOne Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG). Additionally, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indian Railways are jointly developing sustainable solutions to enhance energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and work towards making India's railways net-zero carbon emitters by 2030.

The cooperation extends to expanding electric mobility in India and jointly supporting a payment security mechanism through public and private funding. This collaboration encompasses sharing climate technology and investments and broader cooperation in renewable energy funding, green infrastructure development, and exploring alternative models of economic development that mitigate carbon-intensive approaches.

Prioritizing Healthcare Security: India and the US have a history of collaboration in the healthcare sector, spanning programs for smallpox and polio eradication, HIV/AIDS control, and tuberculosis management. The pandemic underscored the importance of robust healthcare infrastructure and highlighted the need for international cooperation in vaccine development, epidemiology training, laboratory strengthening, and pandemic preparedness.

Given India's enhanced vaccine production capacity, its contribution to vaccine availability and the success of global vaccination efforts is crucial, especially for partners in the Global South who require affordable, high-quality medicines. The two nations are intensifying collaboration to secure pharmaceutical supply chains, with a specific focus on active pharmaceutical ingredients, key starting materials, and vaccine input materials.

Within their respective national visions, both India and the US are dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services at affordable prices. India has launched initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat scheme to provide healthcare insurance to its population and has fostered partnerships between the public and private sectors through its National Health Policy. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is actively working to reduce the cost of commonly used drugs, particularly those for conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. The pursuit of innovative healthcare products necessitates the utilization of extensive data reservoirs, which, in turn, calls for regulation regarding the use of medical data and privacy protection.

Digital health technologies present a significant opportunity for U.S.-India cooperation, with India benefiting from enhanced technology use in healthcare, expanded access to public health services, and reduced costs for disease prevention and treatment. Simultaneously, U.S. companies can tap into India's highly skilled technical workforce and domain knowledge in emerging market health services.

The Indo-Pacific: Sustainable Maritime Resources Development: India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) seeks to foster a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region by enhancing partner nations' capabilities and ensuring regional stability through cooperative frameworks. The United States has joined the IPOI's pillar on trade, connectivity, and maritime transport, recognizing the critical importance of safe sea lines of communication for global trade.

Collaboration in maritime transport holds the potential to strengthen shipping networks within and between Indo-Pacific countries, promoting trade and enhancing cooperation against illegal shipping activities in the region. This increased trade and container movement opens avenues for cooperation in building sustainable maritime infrastructure, improving supply chain communications, and enhancing submarine cable networks to facilitate data exchange. Enhanced cooperation among governments, private sectors, and security forces can lead to the development of regional programs that protect digital infrastructure, share information among service providers and governments, and provide training and capacity-building initiatives.

Beyond these areas, India and the United States are also actively engaged in addressing other key ocean-related issues, such as marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and the impacts of climate change on the ocean. As more states explore the utilization of marine resources, the imperative to plan for sustainable development, ecological and environmental protection of maritime spaces, and climate change mitigation becomes evident. Sharing expertise in ocean-based economic development holds the potential to foster ocean and coastal sustainability while delivering economic benefits, particularly to coastal communities.

The India-U.S. strategic partnership has evolved to encompass a diverse array of issues, transcending traditional defense and security concerns to encompass military exercises, increased trade and investments, and a focus on non-traditional areas of cooperation, including health, climate, energy, the development of resilient supply chains, and sustainable maritime resource management. Today, the relationship extends beyond addressing challenges stemming from regional geopolitical dynamics to addressing concerns related to technology misuse, natural resource exploitation, and ensuring the safety of people's movements. While divergences may exist, both nations continue to discover new areas that fortify their partnership and position it for a promising future.
The US-India defense collaboration offers economic opportunities, fosters innovation, and transcends traditional boundaries, signifying a transformative era in global defense with a substantial impact on bilateral relations.

In a time characterized by rapid shifts in global geopolitics, the significance of defense alliances among the prime allies has never been more evident. The partnership that has been drawing considerable global interest is the growing defense cooperation between the United States and India, as both countries are intensifying their engagement, particularly in the realm of manufacturing military systems.

With the global defense industry exceeding a trillion dollars in value, there exists substantial potential for mutual economic benefits. The United States and India are actively pursuing a reciprocal defense procurement agreement, recognizing the opportunities it presents. The overarching vision behind this initiative emphasizes that such an agreement brings about a truly groundbreaking transformation. It establishes a foundation for heightened collaboration and initiates an environment where the defense sectors of both countries expand their market reach in unprecedented ways.

Delving further into the structure of this agreement exposes the careful preparation and common goals that nations share in common. While the two nations steer through the complexities of formulating defense policies, their ultimate aim remains evident: guaranteeing national security while promoting economic prosperity.

International defense experts frequently highlight meticulous attention to specifics. The US-India defense roadmap, regarded as a thorough directive, delineates the future course of action for both countries. It transcends being a simple text and, instead, serves as a strategic plan, methodically pinpointing key areas within the military domain that necessitates concentrated collaborative industrial endeavours.

A roadmap is seen as crucial because global defense partnerships are frequently complicated by intricate political and operational challenges. The United States and India are seeking to avoid potential obstacles by identifying specific areas of concentration. This approach strives to facilitate the integration of supply chains between both nations, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency.

In recent years, due to the increasing prevalence of global protectionism and complex trade regulations, the significance of such collaborations has grown even further. When a collaborative supply chain is implemented effectively, it results in cost reductions, improved resource allocation, and faster response times in essential operations.

An outstanding aspect of the burgeoning partnership between the two nations is the widely publicized GE engine agreement. This deal has consistently been a subject of conversation in global defense industry gatherings. The immense scale and importance of this arrangement emphasize the extent of trust and cooperation currently present between the United States and India. From India's perspective, this isn't just a procurement. It signifies a significant advancement in their defense capabilities. From the United States' viewpoint, it demonstrates the country's readiness to divulge certain closely guarded technological innovations.

For India, obtaining access to jet engine technology represents more than enhancement; and it signifies an important shift in the military landscape. Advanced jet engines are considered the pinnacle of military technology, amplifying the significance of this collaboration.

In light of the recent geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, experts in the field of defense foresee such partnerships playing a pivotal role in maintaining regional stability. As the global power balance undergoes adjustments, alliances like the defense cooperation between the United States and India have the potential to influence the direction of future international relations.

The global defense market, which is already filled with opportunities, is poised to open up new avenues as the technological and manufacturing capabilities of the United States and India come together. From the perspective of American defense companies, India presents a substantial market with growing demands fueled by its ambitions to modernize its armed forces. On the other hand, for India, collaborating with American firms provides an opportunity to access state-of-the-art technologies, potentially giving a boost to its Make in India initiative.

This defense collaboration goes beyond mutual security considerations. It represents a substantial economic opportunity. Experts in the industry suggest that these agreements stimulate collaborative efforts that result in groundbreaking innovations. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement, offering strategic and economic advantages, including job creation and technological progress for both nations. As these two countries navigate this partnership, the international community witnesses a fresh era of defense cooperation that extends beyond conventional limits and explores new frontiers.

The trajectory of the defence partnership between the United States and India is poised to have a significant impact on their bilateral relations and on the wider global defence arena. With a well-defined plan and substantial initiatives such as the general Electric engine agreement serving as key pillars, observers from around the world are closely monitoring the collaborative course being charted by these two major powers.

The growing collaboration between the United States and India in the defense sector marks a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional security challenges. This partnership bolsters India's defense capabilities and enhances its strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region. The sharing of military technology and intelligence underscores mutual trust and common interests. As both nations navigate complex geopolitical dynamics, their joint efforts demonstrate a commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region. The US-India defense collaboration signifies a crucial alliance in an ever-evolving global security landscape, fostering security and economic growth and innovation.
The G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi, praised by the US, emphasized economic cooperation, condemned nuclear weapon use, and called for respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty among members.

The G20 Leaders Summit for 2023, that took place in New Delhi under Indias presidency, has been remarked as an absolute success by the United States.

The US State Departments official spokesperson Mathew Miller remarked that each member nation has their diverse range of views, and the organization is aiming to issue a statement that calls for respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty among the members. To tackle conflicts among nations that are pertaining in recent times, G20 nations have concluded that using nuclear weapons in war is highly objectionable.

The G20 is a well-established organization with its member nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Also, countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the UAE, Argentina, and Egypt will be joining G20 by 2024.

The Bali Declaration, a joint statement summarizing the commitments of the member countries towards the world, aiming to solve issues effectively, was recalled at the summit. It highlights that all member states ought to remain consistent with the Purpose and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety.

The New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the G20's role as the primary forum for international economic cooperation. While the G20's primary focus is on economic matters, member countries acknowledge that geopolitical and security issues may often lead to significant repercussions for the global economy. Members of G20 have called on all states to potentially uphold the principles of international law that include territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system safeguarding peace and stability.

A peaceful resolution of conflicts and efforts in addressing crises, diplomacy, and dialogue are critical. Hence, the US affirms a united effort with India in addressing the adverse impacts of political conflicts on the global economy, welcoming relevant and constructive initiatives to support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace among countries worldwide.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma celebrated the strong ties between the US and India, highlighting shared values and principles.

In a resounding testament to the enduring strength of the relationship between the United States and India, Richard R. Verma, the US Deputy Secretary of State and former ambassador to India, recently delivered a compelling speech. He emphasized that despite occasional challenges and differences, the partnership between the two nations remains steadfast, leaving a profound impact on the world.

Verma's remarks came during a reception at India House, the residence of the Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, where the "colors of friendship" were celebrated. This event served as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, a showcase of Indian diversity, an acknowledgement of the contributions of the Indian diaspora, and a celebration of the bilateral partnership.

Key dignitaries attending the event included Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden's Chief Domestic Policy Advisor; Rahul Gupta, the White House Drug Policy Czar; Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General; Nisha Biswal, Deputy CEO of the Development Finance Corporation; and S. Panchanthan from the National Science Foundation. Eminent members of the US Congress, including Shri Thanedar, Rich McCormick, and Glenn Grothman, were also present.

Verma referred to India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar as the "architect" of modern US-India relations. He emphasized how Jaishankar's leadership had played a pivotal role in strengthening the partnership. In addition, Verma highlighted the connection between Mahatma Gandhi and American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, illustrating how shared values transcend borders and cultures.

Addressing concerns about recent commentary on divergences in values between India and the US, Verma underlined that the relationship is built on a foundation of shared values, including a commitment to democracy. He acknowledged that disagreements and challenges would inevitably arise but underscored that these were natural in any close friendship.

Shri Thanedar, a first-time US Congressional representative from Detroit, shared his roots in India and emphasized his role in establishing the first caucus for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Christians in the US Congress. He emphasized a commitment to combatting hate and bigotry and applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the US Congress as a testament to India's global significance.

Neera Tanden, the highest-ranking Indian-American official in the Biden administration, highlighted the growing influence of the Indian diaspora in the US government. She noted that Indian-Americans now hold key positions across various departments, reinforcing their significant role in shaping policy.

Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, shared his connection to India, explaining how his family had retained Indian values, culture, and traditions even after leaving the country. He highlighted the potential for a strong India-US partnership in the domain of healthcare, including mental health.
one of the leading biotechnology companies wanted its business unit strategy to be implemented across different industry segments that company operated in, in order to derive actual profits earned by different segments.To achieve this goal, the company wanted an advisor who could evaluate the plan and execute it. This is where it collaborated with Pune based Bizminder Advisory Group that not only helped in evaluating the plan but also developed a comprehensive business unit strategy in an efficient way. It also did a bench marking study with industry peers on various key performance indicators, helping management derive companys business position in market place. This is one of the many success stories of Bizminder,a consulting firm that provide financial strategy & management advisory services to various sectors.Founded in 2009, Bizminder is more of a boutique debt and financial advisory firm. Focused most lyon SMEs and MSMEs, it offers services in three categories, namely fund raising, debt resolution and retainer services. As a part of its fund raising

debt resolution and retainer services. As a part of its fund raising services, the company provides structured financing where it evaluates the overall structure,cash flows & business environment to understand how repayments can be made for existing or proposed debt,there by helping businesses get terms that are practically implementable & minimal possibility of cash flow over runs and helps them raise funds from various options. Under its flagship offerings of debt resolution and retainer services, Bizminder helps clients in realignment of debt service obligations, business turn around strategies, debt restructuring with existing banks by way of renegotiating terms and re-aligning terms to current business environment, business plan preparation & execution, and consultation on specific business issues. Acting as the Virtual CFO, Bizminder also provides strategic financial advisory services on retainer basis through real time monitoring of business positions.As a financial advisor, Bizminder delivers services taking into account three important factors, popularly known as three Ace Approach: Approach of Management, Analysis

of Performance and Assessment of long term plan. We design the financial structure in a way that it is aligned to managements views, strengths in performance and long term strategy, leading to achievement of targets and company growing at defined growth rate, asserts NandanMalu, Director, Bizminder Advisory Group. The company brings onboard, deliverables that take entity,environment and entrepreneur into account and help clients implement the decided plans. It believes in getting results rather than mere reports thus, making it very successful.



Future Roadmap



This dynamic company has equally dynamic, like-minded professionals with methodological work styles and refreshingly different approach,working under its umbrella. While getting the best of industry talentand building an exceptional credit risk and assessment team being the herculean challenges for the industry, Bizminder collaborates with placement cells of management institutes to have best talent on board and train them with the best industry practices.



With the help of these excellences, Bizminder has been successfully serving clients across various sectors like education, healthcare, pharma & manufacturing. The company is no win the process to develop some great internal operational software that will enhance its productivity. It also looks forward to increase its team size to 40 in the next two years and hopes to generate revenue aroundRs.10-15 crore.




No! We are not all Israelis. And those who say so perpetrate a disgraceful outrage against humanity in general, and Morocco in particular.

We Moroccans are not Israelis, because our nation was never woven behind a myth, granting a holy land to a mob that transformed it to a battlefield where they did nothing but kill, massacre and loot.

Our history dates back to thousands of years, long before 1948. We fought the invaders, bartered with the merchants and welcomed the persecuted, among which Jews themselves. First our land harbored Jews who fled the Byzantines a long time ago. They became our kinsmen, living among us, speaking our languages and wearing our clothes. Then, centuries afterwards, we gave shelter to another group of Jewsfleeing the heinous bigotry of Isabel and Ferdinand in the XVe and XVIe century. How can we be Israelis!

Unfortunately, there came a time when we sold our Jews off like rotten merchandise. When did that happen? Well, guess what! After 1948! Our Jews were fooled to exchange their ancestral peaceful identity for a new one that thaught them how to murder innocent people or chase them away of their home. Can they have both identities? Maybe, but I cant see how, bearing in mind what both stand for. A lot of MoroccanJews not only chose not to, but campaigned and are campaigning bravely against the atrocities committed by Israel. Jacob Cohen and Sion Asidon are still alive, Edmond Amran El-Maleh and Abraham Serfati passed away.

We are not Israelis because, thank God, we are not - as Israel is - governed by a monstrous criminal who seeks content in killing children and bombing their houses. Give me a war.That is what I do. No. This is not the fictionalized dialog between Reynald de Chatillon and Guy de Lusignan, beautifully portrayed by Ridley Scotts movie Kingdom of heaven. Thats the Israeli prime minister, in front of the mirror, every time he is pushed to power by a racist electorate. This time also, he is giving his people a war and letting the major part of the western media and some of us, those who sold their soul to the devil, put the blame on the Palestinians.

What about the 248 Palestinians - among whom 40 children -killed in the West Bank this year? What about the most immoral army in the world desecrating every now and then Al-Masjid Al-Aksa and Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi? Is there any worse act of provocation not only against Palestinians but against all Muslims of the world? Anyways, Muslims did not react this time also. But Gaza did.

And lets not even go back to seventy-five years of massacres, lootings and deportations. We dont want to start counting our dead. In the same way we cant count exactly how many olive trees were uprooted in the occupied territories in this period. And human lives and olive trees are sacred. Can Israelis understand that? They cant, as they dont have roots. Moroccans and Palestinians can and have, nonetheless.

We are not Israelis, because we are Palestinians. We are not children of a lesser God. We have a long common history. Our forefathers fought to protect Jerusalem and left children bearing both identities: Maghrebi and Palestinian. How can we be Israelis when Israel destroyed a large part of the neighborhood that has borne our name up till now, Harat Al-Magharibah!

We are not Israelis, because we let any visitor in, regardless of his race, creed or religion. Does Israel do the same? Hell, no. Even the 5.7 million Palestinians, who are registered (up to December 2022) with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, cant go back to their homeland.

How can we be Israelis!
Ecoforge Advisors has worked with marquee clients such as Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Bangkok-based UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) despite being an early-stage advisory and consulting firm. UNCDF came up with a $1.5 million Challenge Fund for investing in early-stage clean energy ventures.Ecoforge Advisors was tasked with building a pipeline of potential investees for this Challenge Fund evaluating their business plans, conducting due diligence, and structuring investment contracts with the selected ones. Ecoforge built a pipeline of 18 companies, out of which three companies got the funding. This is just one of the many success stories of Ecoforge. Other success stories include providing transaction advisory services to ADB on a $ 6 million debt investment made into a solar asset finance company in India, and providing transaction advisory services to a renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) based in Manila, Philippines.Incorporated in 2011 by Sagar Gubbi & Anand Varadaraj (Co-Founders & Managing

Partners), Ecoforge Advisors aims to enable investors identify and invest in innovative projects & enterprises that have the potential to impact the triple bottom line (financial, social, and environmental impact). Starting its fulltime operations in early 2012 as a boutique investment advisory consulting firm, the company specializes in clean energy, energy efficiency and sustainability industries of India and other emerging markets of South East Asia, Central Asia, and East Africa. It covers the entire spectrum of clean energy services ranging from solar/wind/hydro power, utility scale renewable energy projects to small scale off grid installations in rural and urban areas. Through its core financial advisory service, Ecoforge advises companies structures investments in clean energy sector. It also has assisted governments, banks/financial institutions, and international development institutions on policy advisory, green finance/green credit lines, and market assessments.



The Uniqueness

There are striking similarities between the ecosystems, policies and regulatory systems in clean energy technology & infrastructure in India and other emerging markets of Asia and Africa, which provides this Bangalore-based company an upper hand compared to even its U.S. /UK competitors. "Our quality of work and the services we offer are our USPs. Whether it is the way we present our report , the language and the insights we use, the references and visualization, or the knowledge and advise that we include in our work is unique, and many of our
Contrary to popular understanding, a brand is much more than a name, logo or tagline. A brand is as much a number as it is a picture! It is hence a weapon that can power a business to profitable growth-if developed and nurtured efficiently. Brand-building in todays world is hence a complex science which needs to be mastered and practised diligently.



While scientific brand-building has been a norm for large-cap, well-established organizations in the Indian consumer/retail space, majority of players in Indias B2B market (including companies in the IT/ITES sector) have traditionally paid scant regard to this important aspect of their business.



As far as mid-cap companies are concerned, the problem has been further compounded due to lack of sufficient investments or often insufficient risk appetite for marketing spends. The last decade has seen the spawning of a whole new breed of VC-funded start-ups in the tech space. Yet, only a handful of these startups realize that lack of investment in marketing or even customer understanding is in fact counter-productive to disproportionate investments in technology development! Sporadic efforts to grow business through a knee-jerk understanding of market realities and mere focus on external visbility of the corporate brand is not a sustainable proposition for long-term business success.
A Long Island school bus driver who was allegedly drinking with students on board will not be charged by police, according to reports.

Amal Hanna, who has held the job for 15 years, claims she didnt know White Claw was an alcoholic beverage, News 12 reported.

I have been crying and crying, Hanna told the outlet. I dont even have any more tears. It was just a mistake, it was a mistake.

The school district said Wednesday that Hanna, 60, was fired from driving students for Smithtown High School West.

She reportedly told officials she took the drink from the refrigerator she shares with her roommate, and that she is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer which has affected her sense of taste.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The historic Edwards-Barton-Aquilino House got a facelift courtesy of the Historic House Trust, which was awarded a grant to secure paint through Benjamin Moore and also through the John & Patricia Klingenstein Fund.

Along with painting, the Historic Richmond Towns restoration department took this opportunity to do some minor repairs to the exterior, as well.

Corbet Walser, preservation and restoration manager, and Russ Powell, a long-time friend of Historic Richmond Town, rebuilt a portion of a window frame and replaced crown molding at the eaves. Molding profiles were hand-crafted to match existing pieces.

Why did it look bright pink during the process?

Walser explains that the first coat of paint was an oil-based tinted primer whose primary function was to act as a bonding layer. It adheres nicely to the underlying surface, in this case, wood. The final paint colors match what was there before  a more pale pink on the clapboards and a chocolate brown on the trim.

According to HRTs website, the Edwards-Barton House remains on its original site on Richmond Road at the corner of Court Place, where it was built in 1869. The house was built for Webley J. Edwards (1816-1870) and his wife, Deborah (Mercereau) Edwards (1823-1888).

The Edwards-Barton House was designated an official New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2001. The house is currently awaiting interior restoration and is not open to the public.

Here are some upcoming events at Historic Richmond Town.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  By all accounts, Friday began like any other day for Sheree Goode.

She dropped off her grand-niece at PS 44 in Mariners Harbor at 8 a.m., went to a hairdressers appointment at 10 a.m., and returned home with some time to spare before heading back to PS 44 for afternoon pickup.

But when her mother, who shares their two-family house in Elm Park, grew concerned that she hadnt heard from Sheree, a wellness check revealed the 59-year-old had suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed in her second-floor apartment.

Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive Sheree, a recent retiree from the city Department of Probation and a community champion whose generosity benefitted scores of underserved North Shore residents with food and clothing giveaways.

It was so quick, Dolores Goode said about her daughters death. I dont think she suffered.

Kyyah dances with her aunt Sheree Goode during "Smooth Sounds by the Sea," the fourth annual benefit R&B and blues concert on the lawn of Alice Austen House, Sunday, July 20, 2014.(Staten Island Advance/Bill Lyons) Staff-Shot

Still, that detail did little to ease the waves of shock and grief experienced by friends and co-workers who had recently seen or spoken with Sheree.

Belinda Dixon talked to her on Thursday about securing journal ads for an upcoming luncheon for the Staten Island branch of the NAACP, and Sheree attended a meeting about the event earlier that day.

She was my best friend; it was a blessing to know her, Dixon said tearfully. God has been picking a lot of flowers lately, she added, referring to her own sons death in June.

She was the best daughter God ever created, said Dolores Goode.

Sheree moved behind the scenes like a stealth ninja, addressing the needs of others, never for acknowledgment or accolades, said former City Councilmember Debi Rose. She led a purpose-driven life. She would give you the shirt off her back, or help you get your own shirt.

CALL TO CIVIL SERVICE

Born May 16, 1964 in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn and raised in Mariners Harbor, Sheree Lynette Goode attended PS 44 and Police Officer Rocco Laurie Intermediate School, New Springville. She won an academic scholarship to Notre Dame Academy High School, Grymes Hill, graduating in 1982.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology/psychology with an emphasis in criminal justice from Wagner College, and a masters degree in administration the following year from the former Audrey Cohen College for Human Services, graduating with a GPA of 3.987.

Sheree worked her way through both degrees, managing several residential facilities run by the New York Archdiocese, including a group home in Port Richmond. With an interest in New York City civil service, she passed exams for the NYPD and the Department of Corrections before choosing to join the Department of Probation in 1999.

Sheree and Ilean Dixon

Blending empathy and patience with a tough-love technique and a deep belief in the potential of every client assigned to her, she approached her role by breaking down walls, peeling away the anger and shame -- and rebooting a life, as she described it.

I believe in change, the probation officer said in 2016 when she was named a Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement. I believe people can change  and I ask them, How can we get you back on track?

A person should not be labeled or put in a box because of their worst possible moment, she continued in a firm voice that belied her conviction. We should look at the person as a whole and realize just one bad choice may have gotten them there.

Sometimes these people have been successful all along until an error in judgment lands them in trouble with the law. Instead of going to the right, they went to the left, she explained.

That error could be DWI, gambling, domestic violence or violation of a restraining order.

These are people in our community. They are family members, church members. It could be someone you know -- a pastor, the barber, the store owner down the street.

Woman of Achievement 2016 Sheree Goode at Sandy Ground where she is a board member. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Staff-Shot

Staten Island lost a beloved mother, daughter, aunt, friend, and pillar of our community with the tragic passing of Sheree Goode. Sheree did so much to make Staten Island a better place through her work with the NAACP, Sandy Ground, her career with Probation, and her selfless care for her family and friends. I had the honor and privilege of knowing Sheree and working with her in her many roles over the years, all of which had one thing in common: helping to make the communities and individuals who called Staten Island home happier, healthier, and safer. I extend my deepest condolences to Sherees family and loved ones as they grieve her sudden and terrible loss, and will miss her terribly, said Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon.

Tapping into an array of city services, Sheree arranged mental health counseling, drug rehabilitation, GED classes, even food and clothing for each client in her case load.

Former clients often kept in touch with Sheree, her mother said, because she gave them respect, and never looked down on them.

She served in the Department of Probation for 22 years before retiring in 2021. At the time of her death, she was working security at The Fountains apartment complex in West Brighton, where residents appreciated her friendly demeanor, and as a licensed real estate agent.

For the last several years, she served on the Women of Achievement panel of judges.

Sheree was a tireless worker for our borough and so worthy of the Woman of Achievement recognition she received in 2016, noted Advance/SILive.com Publisher Caroline Harrison.

A few years later, she became a judge for the program, responsible for naming future recipients of the award. I loved having her in the room., Harrison said. She knew so many in the community, knew if someone was genuine or not, and was not afraid to speak her mind.

Wed wrap up our work for the night, and shed head out to plan the next NAACP luncheon, or Sandy Ground project, or North Shore community event, the publisher recalled. There is a great void without her, even though her contributions are indelible and lasting. It was an honor and privilege to work with Sheree, although all too brief.

Sheree Goode lights candles at the vigil for Eric Garner at the scene of Garner's death on Bay Street, Tompkinsville. (Staten Island Advance/Vincent Barone) Staff-Shot

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

Whether it was because of the unconditional love from her parents, her calling as a probation officer or the wide circle of women mentors with whom she kept company, Sheree Goode was destined to live a life worth living.

She was first vice president and criminal justice chairperson of the Staten Island NAACP branch, supporting its contributions to the national platforms of environment, equality for women and advocacy for the LGBT community.

The NAACP is my heart and soul, she once said. It fights for justice and equality here and abroad.

She was a board member of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, serving as its financial officer since 2013. Located in Rossville, Sandy Ground is the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States.

Sheree Goode in her Wagner College graduation photo. 1995. Staff-Shot

She was also active in 49 Strong, a North Shore coalition that has sponsored anti-violence initiatives, fatherhood mentoring and mediation in at-risk neighborhoods, and in the Harriet Tubman Purple Hat Society.

In 2016, she received the Marjorie Garvin Community Service Award from then-Councilmember Rose for her work as a relentless fighter against inequality and injustice.

Everybody has more in common than out of common, Sheree wrote that same year, referring to Staten Islands diversity. Were all here in the same fish tank. What happens on Grymes Hill impacts Elm Park and Tottenville. We are one Island.

Much of her free time was devoted to community projects connected to her role with the NAACP. She recently participated in the painting of Stapleton UAME Church, helped seniors access COVID vaccinations, and regularly supplied food pantries in Mariners Harbor and other communities in need.

Sylvia Moody DAlessandro, left, executive director of Sandy Ground, and Sheree Goode, board member, stand by a figure of a dolphin at Sandy Ground. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti) Staff-Shot

Collaborating with a local carpenters union, Sheree organized classes in construction safety and skills at Shiloh AME Zion Church in New Brighton, and facilitated job placement for many North Shore residents.

Proud to be a Staten Islander, she appreciated the boroughs natural resources and found solace during regular walks along the South Beach boardwalk, which she called a Staten Island pearl.

I just want people to remember me by the work that I have done, she shared as a recipient of the Woman of Achievement award. My name or face is not so important. The outfit that I wear will soon leave your memory. Its not that important.

I just want people to know that I am only doing what I was taught to do -- to love and care for others and to be a contributing member of society.

Woman of Achievement 2016 Sheree Goode at Sandy Ground where she is a board member, along side Nathaniel Little, board member. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Staff-ShotStaff-Shot

SURVIVORS AND ARRANGEMENTS

In addition to her mother, Dolores Carter Goode, Sheree is survived by a nephew, Keith Goode; two grand-nieces, Riley and Kyyah Goode; three cousins, Donald Harris, Michael Carter and Christopher Carter, and many more cherished family members. Her brother, Mark, died in 2017, and her father, Berkeley, died in 1978.

The funeral will be Sunday, Oct. 15, at First Central Baptist Church, 117 Wright St., Stapleton, with a viewing from 4 to 6 p.m. immediately followed by a service led by the Rev. Dr. Demetrius S. Carolina Sr., pastor. Private burial will be in Silver Mount Cemetery, Silver Lake.

The Stradford Funeral Home, New Brighton, is handling arrangements.

CONDOLENCES

NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella: Sheree was a light in our community. She strategized ways to bring the police and the community together. She will leave a lasting legacy.

Former City Councilmember Debi Rose: When I learned of Sherees passing, I was overcome with an overwhelming sense of loss -- not only personal loss, but for the loss to the North Shore community that she loved and served selflessly. Her death leaves a deep void in our hearts and community. Without prompting or requests, she would bring much-needed groceries to a senior or to a mother struggling to feed her family and ensure that everyone had access to a plentiful Thanksgiving feast or toys under the tree at Christmas. Sheree provided transportation and accompanied seniors and others to doctors appointments. While doing all of that, she found time to provide leadership to several organizations working closely to improve the quality of life, civil rights, and other humanitarian efforts. She didnt like the limelight and didnt have time to deal with folks who were more talk than action. Dedicated, selfless, kind (beyond measure), tenacious, and unapologetically fierce, words cease to capture her spirit and the magnitude of the love she shared with us. I only hope that she knew that that love was reciprocal. She will forever be missed and will hold a special place in our hearts and minds.

Dr. Phyllis Cureton, retired executive director of Samaritan Daytop Village: Sheree and I worked together for a long time. All of her clients loved Sheree. She was stern but compassionate, and took the time to talk to them. She recognized them as human beings, and treated them as such.

Richmond County Public Administrator Edwina Frances Martin: Sheree was an indefatigable and fierce advocate for voting rights and issues surrounding social justice, and she was my go-to to find out what the community was planning to do whenever there was an incident of concern. At her core was God, family, community. She is irreplaceable.

Julie Moody Lewis, board president of the Sandy Ground Historical Society and 2002 Advance Woman of Achievement: Our board is shocked and saddened and still trying to come to terms with the fact that Sheree is no longer with us. Early on, we recognized that her community involvement was her strength. She was a very valuable liaison for Sandy Ground. Her sudden death creates a void in our organization. We extend our condolences to her mother and her family.

Ed Josey, president of the Staten Island NAACP branch: Sheree was sensitive to other peoples issues, and an asset to the NAACP and to the community. We send our condolences to her mother and family.

Selina Grey, treasurer of the Staten Island NAACP branch: Sheree Goode, a beloved pillar of our community and my dear friend, has passed away, leaving a profound legacy of kindness and service. Though she accomplished many things, her true calling lay in her unwavering dedication to helping others. Sherees acts of love and compassion inspired all who knew her, and her impact on our community was immeasurable. She will be truly be missed.

Hon. Ronald A. Gregg, retired administrative judge and NAACP legal redress chairman: Sheree was a lifelong fighter and champion for the people. She was the venerable equilibrium in civil rights challenges for Staten Island, and the point person in dialogue between the community and the police. She handled game-changing issues for the NAACP  civil rights, housing, charitable efforts. She was also involved in Sandy Ground, and was the linchpin to these African-American treasure troves. Her death is a loss for the entire borough.

Belinda Dixon, 1994 Advance Woman of Achievement: An excerpt from the poem, A House by the Side of the Road by Sam Walter Foss, speaks to Sherees life: There are hermit souls that live withdrawn, In the place of their self-content; There are souls like stars, that dwell apart, In a fellowless firmament; There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths, Where highways never ran -- But let me live by the side of the road, And be a friend to man. Let me live in a house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by -- The men who are good and the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I. I would not sit in the scorners seat, Nor hurl the cynics ban -- Let me live in a house by the side of the road, And be a friend to man.

Suzanne and Thomas Crimmins of Crimmins Realty, via Facebook: Sheree was an amazing woman who was so full of life and love -- a true hard-working volunteer who sincerely cared about our community and worked tirelessly to make it better. And she, without a doubt, did make it better. She was a true role model to all. It seems that every so often, God needs a good one to help him in heaven. We miss you and love you, Sheree. Prayers to your Mom and family.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  As conflict rages more than 5,000 miles away in Israel, Staten Islanders are speaking out against violence and praying for their loved ones abroad.

Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO), said his 18-year-old son, Ariel, has been at a university just outside Jerusalem, and was woken Saturday by the sound of air raid sirens.

Ariel Mirocznik is safe spending Monday cleaning up bomb shelters around the area where hes staying, his father said. But the elder Mirocznik expects violence to continue as conflict carries on between Israel and Hamas.

Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO), said his 18-year-old son, Ariel, has been at a university just outside Jerusalem, and was woken Saturday by the sound of air raid sirens. (Staten Island Advance/Rebeka Humbrecht)

its just very painful to see that [we were] moving forward to peaceful resolutions in the Middle East, and along comes a terrorist organization, he said of Hamas. Im always trying to be optimistic. Im always hopeful that from the elimination of terrible organizations, that innocent people shouldnt have to be killed. Innocent people shouldnt have to die. There shouldnt be disturbances of terror. And all the way to have peace is by unfortunately, sometimes taking up arms and eliminating those who who preach death and destruction to the world.

Relatives of an Israeli missing since a surprise attack by Hamas militants near the Gaza border, are overcome by emotion during a press conference in Ramat Gan, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Under former President Donald Trumps administration, Israel had reached a series of symbolic peace agreements with Muslim-majority countries, including Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab emirates, known as the Abraham Accords.

President Joseph Bidens administration had been pursuing a similar deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the leading power in the Arab world, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a Sunday morning appearance on ABC that a possible motivation for Hamas attacks may have been derailing those negotiations.

[Its] no surprise that those opposed to the efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and more broadly to normalize Israels relations with countries throughout the region and beyond  who opposes it? Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran, Blinken said. So to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes.

Hamas Saturday attacks killed 900 Israelis, including civilians, Palestinians have said that Israels responsive air strikes killed 704 people, and the Israeli Defense Force has said its holding the bodies of an estimated-1,500 terrorists, according to Israeli news outlet, Haaretz.

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Profs. Lori Weintrob and Laura Morowitz on behalf of the Wagner College Holocaust Center, and Fern Zagor, chairperson of the Wagner College Holocaust Center Advisory Committee, issued a joint statement calling for support of Israel and the nations right to security and safety.

Over 80 years ago, thousands of Jews fleeing antisemitism and genocide in the Second World War took refuge  alongside earlier Jewish communities  in the land of Israel. The state of Israel was authorized by a resolution of the United Nations passed on Nov. 29, 1947. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of these Holocaust survivors, as well as Russian and Ethiopian Jews fleeing persecution, and many others of all faiths, call Israel home, they wrote.

As an organization devoted to fighting hate, antisemitism and all forms of prejudice, we decry and vehemently denounce the violent terrorist attack on Israeli citizens. We condemn the unspeakable, ongoing acts of cruelty by Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization. We express our deepest sympathy to those killed and to their families. We mourn the hundreds of innocent lives lost and send wishes for those injured. We particularly abhor the kidnapping of innocent persons, including many young people the same age as our college students.

The attacks on Israel and the nations retaliation focused in Gaza have sparked protests around the five boroughs.

A Sunday protest in Manhattan, organized by the Democratic Socialists of America, featured hundreds of people on the side of Palestine, but drew condemnation from New York elected officials for its timing and the display of a swastika.

An Israeli soldier walks through a destroyed house in kibbutz Kfar Azza on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Hamas militants overran Kfar Azza on Saturday, where many Israelis were killed and taken captive. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)AP

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the planned rally abhorrent and morally repugnant ahead of its start, and Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement condemning the rally.

At a moment when innocent people are being slaughtered and children kidnapped in Israel, it is disgusting that this group of extremists would show support for terrorism. I reject this. New York City rejects this. Do not use our streets to spread your hate, the mayor said.

The New York Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the mayors comments likening them to verbal intimidation against protestors.

Mayor Adams abuses his authority by referring to New Yorkers participating in the interfaith and intersectional demonstration in solidarity for Palestinian self-determination, protection and sovereignty, the group wrote in its statement. Not only does Mayor Adams reckless rhetoric cater to a one-sided agenda, but blatantly undermines the constitutional right of all Americans to protest and engage in free speech. Mayor Adams irresponsible response and name-calling fuels Islamophobic rhetoric.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Having traveled the world as a social media content creator, former North Shore resident Michelle Checchi, 30, made her home two and a half years ago in the place she loved the best: Tel Aviv.

A wedding in Oregon of two close friends this coming weekend led Checchi to take a respite in the U.S. last week. If she was at home in the town of Florentin -- often referred to as Tel Avivs Soho -- Checchi likely would have been sitting in a trendy cafe working from her laptop when the bloody attack by Hamas militants on Saturday ignited a war in the Middle East.

Rockets were exploding into homes and destroying buildings after Hamas militants breached the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday. They invaded nearby Israeli towns, killing hundreds and kidnapping others in the surprise attack that unfolded on a major Jewish holiday.

Michelle Checchi has lived in Israel for the last two and a half years. (Courtesy of Michelle Checchi)

The conflict has led to the death of more than 1,600 people -- including at least 14 Americans -- in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The deadliest attack in Israel in decades led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to describe the conflict as a dark day for the country. In fact, an Israeli military official likened the attack to the United States 9/11.

AIRSTRIKE CLOSE TO HOME

One airstrike came very close to Checchis apartment.

A rocket hit in my neighborhood, just about three blocks from my apartment, said Checchi, who also is a freelance writer and videographer. I heard three people were injured [from that rocket]. I follow the local reporters who were in the area, and they shared a lot of videos.

Checchi fears for the safety of the many friends she has in the country as the death toll grows.

I have a lot of friends there. ...Everyone either knows people who are missing or have been kidnapped, killed, or called to the reserves themselves. For some, its a combination of all of these things, said Checchi. Everyone has been impacted in multiple ways. So Im checking to see if all my friends are OK.

Rockets are launched by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Gaza, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)AP

And the people she knows in Israel are frightened of what the coming days and weeks will bring.

People are very shocked. People are very scared, and people are very angry. Theres a lot of anger, said Checchi.

She noted that the military reserves in Israel -- a country of less than 10 million people -- include all Israelis under the age of 40 who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

A lot of my friends have been called for the reserves. These are 35-year-old lawyers. They work in restaurants. They work for tech companies. These arent people sitting around with guns... And the draft age is 18, so these kids are the troops on the ground, said Checchi.

A wedding in Oregon of two close friends this coming weekend led Michelle Checchi to take a respite in the U.S. last week. If she was at home in Israel, where she has lived for the last two and a half years, Checchi likely would have been sitting in a trendy cafe in Tel Aviv working from her laptop when the bloody attack by Hamas militants on Saturday ignited a war in the Middle East. (Courtesy of Michelle Checchi)

DEATH TOLL AT MUSIC FESTIVAL

One of the incidents since the conflict began that hits close to home for Checchi is when Hamas opened fire on about 3,500 young Israelis attending a music festival during the onset of the attack. Hamas militants shot and killed 260 unsuspecting festival attendees and abducted many others.

The one thing that keeps playing in my mind is the attack at the music festival in the south of Israel. There is a party scene and community thats actually internationally renowned for its psychedelic trance music and parties in the desert and also in the forest. Ive gone to these parties. Theyre very small festivals, but theyre internationally respected, she said.

Im seeing firsthand text messages from women [from the festival] who were hiding in a bomb shelter with 30 people. They [Hamas militants] came and killed everyone, and they [the women] hid under the dead bodies of their friends until they were eventually rescued, Checchi added.

A photo during happier times. Michelle Checchi has attended music festivals like the one where more than 260 young Israelis were killed by Hamas militants. (Courtesy of Michelle Checchi)

A DESIRE TO HELP

While she and her family are happy she is safe, Checchi said she wished she could take part in volunteer efforts to get donations and supplies to Israels military bases.

But Checchi considers herself very lucky to have left the country before the deadly attack.

Because I travel about half the year, every month or two Im away for a month or two. And so its just been that each time [violence has] escalated to the point of missiles strikes or alarms, I have not been there, she said.

Palestinians inspect the rubble Abu Helal family in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. The strike killed dozens of people.(AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Checchi said watching the war in Israel from afar is heartbreaking. And her sadness is not just for the country she loves. On Monday, Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies.

Honestly, I feel very heartbroken for people on both sides...the innocent Israeli civilians who were murdered is absolutely tragic. And the people of Palestine and Gaza have also been experiencing many hardships for a long time. Theres a lot of innocent people who are already hurt and about to be hurt. And so its really hard to sit back and watch. I plan to go back because it is the place I call my home right now, she said, noting she will be traveling to other parts of the world for work over the next few weeks.

HOW SHE ENDED UP LIVING IN ISRAEL

Formerly a television producer for Bronxs News 12 and CNN, Checchi took a break from work in 2019 to visit Israel.

I am Jewish, and Israel does a lot of outreach work to bring Jewish people to Israel. When I first went there, I did volunteer work in a hostel to spend time in Tel Aviv, she said. I thought it would maybe be three or four months -- as long as my savings would allow. I just really fell in love with the city. Id been there before on an organized group trip. But this was my first time living there. I love the people.

Michelle Checchi is a digital nomad.(Courtesy of Michelle Checchi)

And Checchi has since been able to have a career as a digital nomad.

I was traveling and working as a freelancer, and I started to post a lot about how to be a digital nomad, she said. So I was doing that and then also creating content around what I was doing. I started to build a platform. And now I have about 100,000 followers across different channels, mostly its on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, and so because of that, I now get business through that as well.

Associated Press material was used in this report.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Its best known as the White House, Staten Islands precious claim to mob fame, a significant local landmark where tough guy Paul Castellano conducted much of his business and raised his kids. Filled with eight bedrooms, 17 bathrooms and a spacious car showroom, the home is astonishing  a borough gem that is the stuff of local legend.

And now the infamous property  far removed from its mafia roots but still just as intriguing  has hit the market for an unprecedented asking price: $16.8 million.

An elaborate entryway is decorated in Italian marble. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Service)

Cossetted behind private gates, on exclusive Todt Hill, lies the World-Renowned Estate, notes the listing for 177 Benedict Rd., which popped up on Zillow on Oct. 6. Sprawled over 2 1/2 acres of pristinely manicured, elaborate grounds with [an] unobstructive [sic] view of the Verrazano Bridge. An entertainers dream home with extraordinary resort-like amenities.

56 1 / 56 Look inside: Staten Island's 'REAL' Godfather House for sale. Price $17M.

The neo-classical mansion includes a wine cellar, personal beauty parlor and state-of-the-art home theatre room. Theres a gym, sauna, solarium, library and indoor/outdoor Olympic size pools. According to public record, the address has had a total of three owners, and has been vastly renovated since Castellano had it built in 1980. But the propertys reputation as a mob house has persisted.

The property features both indoor and outdoor Olympic size pools. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Service)

Private Property Warning: This is a private property. It is not a public place. Therefore, you should be respectful and not step foot on the property without permission, notes an article about the house on oddstops.com, a website which publicly lists pictures and details of crime scenes, filming locations, famous crash sites, and serial killers houses.

A 13-car showroom is one of the property's main selling features. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Service)

Castellanos house, which last sold in August of 2000 for $3.1 million, is listed on the site as a NYC place of interest.

Referred to as Big Paul, Castellano presided over the Gambino crime family, considered to be NYCs largest and most powerful forces in organized crime, during the 1970s and 80s.

Castellanos house, which last sold in August of 2000 for $3.1 million, has been listed on somem websites as a NYC place of interest. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Service)

He met a messy end at the hands of a four-man hit crew working for John Gotti on Dec. 16, 1985. The crew waited outside Sparks Steak House, wearing Black Russian fur hats and pale trenchcoats, and when Castellano got out of his car on his way to dinner, they riddled him with bullets.

At the time of his death, the Advance referenced his reputation as a conservative, low-key businessman and mediator of mob disputes  a personality trait which may have led to his untimely death.

The Benedict Road residence, which encompasses some 33,000 square feet of living space, is spread across 2.3 acres of land. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Service)

His former residence, which encompasses some 33,000 square feet of living space and is spread across 2.3 acres of land, is currently listed by Connie Profaci Realty. Private tours for eligible buyers can be requested by calling 718-667-9100.
EDITORS NOTE: Best of Staten Island 2023 is sponsored by Empire State Bank, N.A., Staten Islands only headquartered bank, a member of the FDIC Equal Housing Lender.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  For our latest Best of Staten Island category of 2023, we asked our readers to tell us where we could find some of the best cups of coffee on Staten Island.

We were given over a dozen of coffee shops that serve up the best beans in town. Now, its time to narrow down our list of 17, and vote for our top three winners!

So whether you like em hot or iced, lattes or espressos, its time to pick your favorite place to get your coffee from our poll.

Readers have until 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16 to vote for their favorite coffee shop in the poll below.

Only the top three from our list will receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok  and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance.

In case you missed it, this year, Best of Staten Island has a brand new sponsor. Empire State Bank may even join the Advance/SILive.com along the way as it explores Staten Islanders favorite businesses. Theyll even be providing the winners with their very own swag bags.

VOTE HERE!

HOW BEST OF STATEN ISLAND WORKS

We like to keep it pretty simple for Best of Staten Island. Over the course of the year, we will feature eight different Best Of categories.

For each category, there will be one week of nominations, one week of voting and two weeks that will focus on the top winners as chosen by our readers. Only brick-and-mortar businesses are considered, unless otherwise noted.

The top three Best of Staten Island winners in each category receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance, all brought to you by Empire State Bank.

In case you missed it, we already featured the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, best dance schools, best sushi spots, best nails salons, best margaritas and best wings on the Island. Take a look at our ultimate guides for a closer look at each of these establishments.

In 2022, readers voted on their top three dance schools, their favorite al fresco dining spots, their favorite places to grab tacos, their top diners and their favorite Chinese restaurants. We also stopped by their favorite Staten Island spots for the best burgers, the best calamari and the best grandma pie.
San Mateo, CA (94402)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
In 1953, a notorious British gang was about to perform one of the most audacious kidnapping. Just like the best spy movies, they were planning to sail all the way down to Madagascar and kidnap Moroccos Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef. If the plan was delivered perfectly they were set to win 250,000 pounds. Headed by Eddie Chapman, an English wartime spy, and Billy Hill an English criminal linked to smuggling, protection rackets and extreme violence, the gang sailed to Tangier on a vessel named Flamingo to start the first step of their well-studied plot.

According to an old article published by the Sun-Herald, an Australian newspaper, on October the 10th 1954, the gang sailed to Tangier which was an international area back in the time, where they met two leading members of the Arab Nationalist movement.

The Plot

As put together by the two criminals, the plan was to sail using the fully armed Flamingo to Madagascar where the king was exiled, surround the police headquarters with the help of 12 Arab gunmen while Chapman would kidnap the Sultan.

A screen shot of the article published on the Sun-Herald./Ph. Facebook

The kidnapping plan was a collaboration between the British gang and an Arab leader to help the Moroccan Sultan join his people and chase the French. Hence, after retrieving the Sultan from his exile home, a high Egyptian leader of the Arab-league would fly to Tangier to arrange for the Flamingo to radio by secret wave-length its position in the Indian Ocean after the kidnapping, The Sun-Herald reported.

Egypt would later send a seaplane to pick up the Sultan and help him fly to the same coutry and then to Morocco where he would have been scheduled to head the Arab Nationalist movement in an attempt to defeat the French.

When the plan got uncovered

Trying to follow the plan and prepare for the kidnapping, the Flamingo did a smuggling trial making a profit of 18,000 pounds on contraband cigarettes. Later on June, French authorities managed to unveil the hidden plans of the British gang. Consequently the Flamingo crew fled to Savona, a small town in Italy where they stayed to hide. The same source indicates that their yacht was watched by the Interpol.

An artcile published by the Sunday Mail newspaper./Ph. Facebook

Through the international police, the French managed to lay a hand on the criminal record of Hill and Chapman and every other member of the Flamingos crew. The plot was revealed as the ship carriage of guns was suspected.

Sailing to Corsica, a Mediterranean island and French territory, Chapman went back to England to visit his wife who had given birth to a child. Billy Hill on his turn flew back to London before the French authorities arrested the vessel.
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The trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried took a star turn on Tuesday as his former fellow top executive, Caroline Ellison, began testifying against him, immediately blaming her former boyfriend for directing her to commit crimes before his cryptocurrency empire collapsed last November.

Ellisons highly anticipated turn on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court took place just moments before the trial broke for lunch.

Caroline Ellison, former chief executive officer of Alameda Research, arriving at court in New York, on Tuesday. Credit: Bloomberg

When she was asked to identify Bankman-Fried in the courtroom, Ellison stood at the witness stand as she scanned the courtroom for a long minute, at first unable to find him, before gesturing his way with a flip of her hand and saying he was over there wearing a suit.

Bankman-Frieds appearance has changed dramatically in recent months as he has lost weight and trimmed his well-known wild coif into a tightly cropped look more traditional in the world of finance.
The return of international students and a growing number of apartments in inner-city Melbourne is providing a much-needed shot in the arm for CBD hospitality businesses.

Each year more than 170,000 international students from more than 100 countries choose to come to Victoria to study. However, the COVID-19 pandemic saw the vast majority return home  and they have taken their time coming back. But that is quickly changing, and inner-city hospitality is reaping the rewards.

An artists impression of the three new towers in the market precinct.

To the end of June this year, the annual net international student intake across the country more than doubled over the previous year, hitting a record 253,940, according to the Institute of Public Affairs. The federal government is expected to bring in a further 187,000 new international students this financial year.

Study Australia data shows international student enrolments across Victoria numbered 182,000 in January, up 20 per cent on January 2022. RMIT, in the Melbourne CBD north precinct, is the most popular university among foreign students, with 26,590 enrolments.
WA Police has said it is open to reducing the amount of footage it wants from the ABC related to a Four Corners episode to protect the confidentiality of sources, as the agency and the public broadcaster continue talks over the issue.

The ABC received an order from WA Police several weeks ago to produce all footage collected by its flagship investigations program, Four Corners, related to climate protests, including footage targeting the home of Woodside boss Meg ONeill.

The broadcaster has come under internal and external pressure to resist complying with the order. ABC staff and sources have raised concerns any compliance would breach undertakings made by Four Corners in the production of its investigation, which followed a group of activists while documenting the battle between climate protesting, police power and the West Australian energy sector.

The episode, Escalation: Climate, protest and the fight for the future, aired on Monday night to 576,000 Australians, according to overnight figures from ratings agency VOZ. This number does not include live-streaming.
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Eating outJust open First look: Euro-summer vibes arrive in North Sydney with hot new Italian restaurant Look forward to aperitivo hour in the courtyard, fresh pasta and a zesty take on tiramisu at new restaurant Nico. Bianca Hrovat October 10, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the November hit list. See all stories .

1 / 11 Amalfi-inspired restaurant Nico opens in Cammeray on Friday. Kera Wong 2 / 11 Kera Wong 3 / 11 The dining room at Nico. Kera Wong 4 / 11 Gigli, friarielli (bitter Italian green), sausage and fermented chilli. Kera Wong 5 / 11 Therell be a selection of cocktails inspired by Euro-summer. Kera Wong 6 / 11 A selection of snacks including the pasta fritta (fried pasta) with mortadella and pistacchio. Kera Wong 7 / 11 Most of the wine will be sourced from Italy. Kera Wong 8 / 11 Spaghetti cacio e pepe with mussels. Kera Wong 9 / 11 Kera Wong 10 / 11 Sfogliatella (filled Italian pastry) with avocado and caviar. Kera Wong 11 / 11 Head chef and co-owner Nicola Ronconi with FOH manager and business partner Ewa Witkowska. Kera Wong Previous Slide Next Slide European summer is coming to Cammeray with the opening of Nico on Friday, October 13. The modern Italian restaurant is the first independent venture from Nicola Ronconi, former group executive chef of Sydney hospitality giant Urban Purveyor Group, best known for Fratelli Fresh. The group later acquired Neil Perrys restaurants, becoming Rockpool Dining Group. Ronconi says the restaurant was inspired by his time on the Amalfi Coast, where the pasta is fresh, the seafood is plentiful and the frosted glasses of house-made limoncello are savoured beneath colourful umbrellas. I told my wife [Gozde Ronconi] that I want to create a restaurant that captures this feeling, like when youre on holiday and you forget about all of your worries, and just enjoy the moment, Ronconi says.

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I want them to close their eyes and be transported to Italy. Head chef and owner Nicola Ronconi. Kera Wong It took Ronconi more than a year to find a suitable space, in a Cammeray Plaza shopfront that was subsequently gutted and built from scratch. North of the harbour is the future of hospitality, he says. I used to think crossing the bridge was too far, but its literally a five-minute drive from Wynyard.

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North of the harbour is the future of hospitality Chef and owner Nicola Ronconi The light-filled interiors are deep, sea blue and terracotta, featuring comfortable banquette seating, an open kitchen and private dining room. Ronconi hopes it will tread the line of a casual fine diner, equally suited to impromptu weeknight meals as celebratory dinners. As head chef (Ill be in the kitchen 24/7), Ronconi has created a light, mostly-Italian menu, inspired by his childhood in Vicenza (a 16th-century town outside of Venice) and his past 11 years in Australia. There are snack plates to pick over during aperitivo hour in the courtyard, limoncello spritz in hand. These include homemade focaccia, savoury ricotta frittella (fritter) with anchovies and lime, and Sicilian cannoli with salmon and flying fish roe. The Amalfi Coast-inspired dining room. Kera Wong

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And there is a lot of pasta, to be made fresh each day at the restaurant. Ronconi says the casarecce with lemon gin (and a touch of ginger) is a standout, alongside the spaghetti cacio e pepe, with the addition of plump mussels. But the signature dish is a lemon tiramisu. Its a dessert Ronconi has been finessing since he was a child, dreaming of becoming a chef, using lemons gathered from his fathers citrus grove. Tiramisu can be really rich, and I think the lemon cuts through it, making it feel much lighter, he says. Bookings are open now. Open lunch Fri-Sun, dinner Wed to Sat

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Shop 18, 450 Miller Street, Cammeray, nicorestaurant.com.au Correction: A previous edition of this story named Nicola Ronconi as the former executive chef of Rockpool Bar & Grill. The copy has been updated to reflect that Ronconi was the executive chef of the hospitality group Urban Purveyor Group, which acquired Rockpool Bar & Grill and was renamed Rockpool Dining Group after his departure.

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The world is coming together today, 10 of October, to raise awareness against death penalty. An opportunity that human rights activists seize to urge some countries to abolish capital penalty. In the Kingdom, the Moroccan Coalition against the Death Penalty has called the government and legislators for several years to abolish the penalty that has not been applied in Morocco since 1993. A penalty that was linked for years to the most scandalous case that shocked the public opinion throughout the 1990s : The curious case of Haj Tabit, a police commissioner who worked for years at the Ain Sebaa Hay Mohammadi district. Arrested for carrying pornographic tapes that featured more than 500 women and several important political figures.

He was convicted on the 15th of March, shortly after his arrest and accused of indecent assault, rape, violence, abduction and of sequestrating a married woman, in addition to other assaults. The infamous commissioner was shot to death on the 5th of September of the same year in a forest near Kenitra.

A police commissioner with a hidden agenda

Mohamed Mustapha Tabit was born in 1949 in Beni Mellal. Little information is available on his life before becoming a policemen. Some accounts claim that he already worked as an Arabic teacher before joining the Police Academy in Kenitra in 1970s. In 1989, Mohamed Mustapha Tabit became a commissioner after serving in Beni Mellal for a while. He was sent to Casablanca. He got married to two women and was a father to five children. In just a few short years, Haj Tabit became one of the most powerful officials in Casablanca, to the point that no one dared getting in his way.

He quickly became notorious in the city with a clean record, and a powerful network. Tabit did not smoke nor drink alcohol and have made it repeatedly to Mecca as a pilgrimage. He used to pray and no one doubted his good manners and almost perfect reputation which helped him hide his dark side : the brilliant policeman and father was a serial rapist who stucked his victims for days before getting them trapped.

Versions differ when it comes to the incident that revealed the criminal side of Haj Tabit. Al Massae reports in 2015 that the case broke out during the last days of Ramadan in 1990. A woman went to the judicial police in Ain Sebaa Hay Mohammadi to file a complaint. She and her girlfriend were reportedly kidnapped by someone called Hamid who allegedly raped her, reports the Arabic-language newspaper. The inspector in charge of the case doubted the version given by the woman and asked her to start from the beginning. She finally admitted that she has accompanied the man and was not kidnapped. After having a sexual intercourse with her client, she went to the bathroom and discovered that everything was filmed. She told him she had to come back to see him on the night of Eid al-Fitr to get the tape, Al Massae said. The police then asked the alleged victim to show them the place of her presumed client before discovering that he works at the same department. She was also shown pictures of several people to spot her alleged client and the woman succeeded in pointing at one of Haj Tabit.

Complains filed before the Royal Gendarmerie

Immediately after Eid al-Fitr, the inspector summoned the alleged victim to persuade her complaint. She refused, before filing another complaint with the help of a lawyer. Al Massae does not report how the case later erupted in 1993.

In an investigation conducted by Telquel in June 2007, another version was narrated. According to the magazine, a Moroccan national living in Italy who, watched a pornographic tape with his friends discovered that one of the girls featured in the clip was his sister who lives in Casablanca. The next day, he returned to Derb El Kheir, Casablanca looking for his sister, before realizing that she left home after meeting a man called Haj. It is believed, according to the account provided by Telquel, that the man went to Haj Tabit's flat to meet his sister before being forcibly boarded in a police van.

His second attempt allowed him to kidnap his sister and bring her back to a friend's house. He then, was told that his sister was arrested for prostitution and imprisoned without a proof, and that she eventually yielded to Haj's advances in order not to be imprisoned. The Moroccan national recorded his sister's confession and went the next day to the Italian Embassy in Rabat, as he had an Italian nationality as well. The case took another turn when Abdellatif Filali, Prime Minister learned about the incident and decided to inform King Hassan II about it urging the Royal Gendarmerie to open an investigation.

The men of Hosni Benslimane, after investigating the case, decided to raid the flat of Haj Tabit. They found a bachelor flat equipped with several cameras and nearly 118 videotapes that feature more than 518 women. In these videos, distinguished figures were also filmed. Telquel also evokes that a tape entitled 32 was dedicated to various Moroccan celebrities that were filmed by the commissioner.

Shot in a forest near Kenitra

Mustapha Tabit was therefore arrested in February 1993. He was tried on the 18th of February. Several sources suggested that Haj was tortured and the trial was criticized and denounced. On the 15th of March, the commissioner was sentenced to death for several counts. Around thirty people were accused of their complicity and involvement and were sentenced to various penalties.

Six months later, on September 5th, Haj Tabit awaken up at dawn to perform Al Fajr prayer. He has the ultimate conviction that it will be his last prayer. Shortly afterwards, gendarmes came to take him. He was then informed that he will be transferred to another detention center. But Mustapha Tabit knew. He was then taken to a forest in the vicinity of Kenitra. On the spot, prison director, the magistrates, in addition to Hosni Benslimane, head of the Gendarmerie, Ahmed Midaoui, newly appointed director general of the police, the doctor on duty and Mohamed Lididi, director of administration prison. Attached to a pole, he refused to be blindfolded and seized his last moments to pronounce two sentences: I am condemned for things that everyone does. Except that the people who have been condemned with me have nothing to do with this story, he said before being executed.

During the trial, several media sources reported that Haj finally claimed responsibility over the crimes, acknowledging that he had sex with hundreds of single, married, widowed women and even minor girls during the last three years. He also acknowledged that he assaulted, and blackmailed his victims. Haj Tabit also insisted that the judges view the tape number 32 whose content remains unknown until today.
Think of keeping your own name as an insurance policy. The patriarchy doesnt explain everything, but it explains some things  and when you get married, there is no official process. Its male magic; you can just wave your marriage certificate, and suddenly, you become someone else. The paperwork is enough to say you are now Mrs Someone. But unscrambling that is tough.

So here are some examples of the undoing of the done thing, from those I know and love. Hot, heavy and intense expensive wedding where the bride changed her name. Followed by hot, heavy and intense rounds of IVF, one of which was successful. Two years later, the divorce is a frosty mess of accusations and shouting. The bride hates her name, realises she changed it on a whim and now recognises it is too late to undo all the damage, of which the name change is just one example.

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Then theres Sue Fricke, who was so fed up with banks not cooperating with her reclaiming her identity, she closed her account with the bank that wanted a document signed in blood (okay, joke, but near enough). Or Sarah Woollard (mother of eight, Im jealous!). Her own mother insisted she change her name, but Woollard changed it back after divorce. Now she says: Dont cave to pressure. I wont share the name of the woman who had to have her divorce order with her every single day so that she could deal with multiple entities wanting to know who she really is. She described it as humiliating.

Im a person who should have changed their last name. Its not even the name my dad was born with, but when dad and mum got to migration, the bloke said they had far too many Cs and Zs in their last name for human (read: Anglo) consumption. And my spouses last name is Irish, romantic, several syllables long, even a bit bushrangery. Unfortunately, it also rhymes with my first name, so I stuck with Price. Sigh.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size I truly despair of the human race and its mindless obsession with obliterating our species from the face of planet Earth (Shame on those who condone Hamas butchery, October 10). Here we are, struggling to recover from a still-lethal pandemic while remaining in denial about the dangers of human-induced climate change, when a paranoid Russian despot suddenly thought it was a good idea to invade a neighbour. Now, two eternally warring tribes in the Middle East have decided to take the gloves off and go at each other, further inflaming things around the globe. Meanwhile, here in the sleepy backwater of Australia, a manufactured fear campaign based on lies and misleading distortions is dividing our normally amiable society. What the hell is wrong with humans? Even single-cell amoebae know how to co-exist and survive in an environment. Bill Young, Killcare Heights NSW police are investigating a pro-Palestine protest that was held at the Sydney Opera House last night. Credit: The Jews and Palestinians are Semites, a linguistic family that includes Hebrews, Arameans, Phoenicians, Syrians and Arabs. Hence the accusation Palestinians are antisemitic is ridiculous. The present conflict is a product of toxic religious extremism of factions within Israel and Palestine who, by violence, control the regions politics. The only likelihood for enduring peace will be when Jewish fundamentalists in Israel, and Hamas in Palestine, have been replaced by moderate voices representing the true interests of people in both communities. Philip Drew, Annandale What has happened over the past few days has been terrible, wrong and shocking. The idea of opening fire and killing music fans horrifies me to my core. If, however, we continue to use exclusively the word terrorist to describe Palestinians, then we effectively continue to give permission to the government of Israel to continue their reign of terror over Palestinians  and that will never lead Israel or Palestine to the road to peace. If we in Australia wish to be friends of all in the Middle East and advocate for peace, then we can no longer support the brutal status quo of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Colin Hesse, Marrickville Cathy Wilcox has reminded us that neither Palestinian nor Jew has a monopoly on suffering and death. Its the innocent who suffer and die from war and terrorism, whether they be Palestinian or Jew. Mark Porter, New Lambton As a Jew, I say this without qualification: if you deliberately target civilians, regardless of your ideology, religion or ethnicity, you have lost all moral authority whatsoever. There are no excuses, no mitigations and no explanations. You have become the very thing you purport to hate. Simon Tedeschi, Newtown As the tragedy that is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalates yet again, Netanyahu declares war on Hamas. Yet it is clear that this can only be a war against the citizens of Gaza, the vast majority of whom are neither armed insurgents nor terrorists but simply trying to live life under already terrible circumstances. Israel has an indisputable right to defend itself, but this does not extend to the total destruction of Gaza and its civilian population. David MacKintosh, Berkeley Vale

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Greedy supermarkets have totally checked out I went shopping, picked up a basket and attempted to find products (Supermarkets are the real checkout thieves, October 10). No aisle staff for empty shelves. Stand in queue for self-service card-only checkout, camera watching  I raise my hand and staff appear immediately. Whats the problem? Me, I cant find the staff discount button on this machine. Answer, There isnt one. Me: Why not? Ive done all the work. Clive Quick, Rous Supermarkets: why are we doing their job for them? Credit: Fairfax Im with Vivienne Pearson in refusing to use those self-checkout things in supermarkets. I know its widespread for single transactions but scanning a trolley-load of groceries using more complicated and often temperamental equipment is too much, especially when making an innocent mistake can get you falsely accused of theft. And what effrontery to want customers to do the work of trained employees while, with their profits and executives pay soaring, they pretend that the cost savings are actually passed on as lower prices. Pull the other one. Next, theyll be wanting us to restock the shelves before we leave. Adrian Connelly, Springwood Every complaint in this opinion piece is exactly the thoughts of every customer who goes through the doors of a Coles or Woolies. They are the new Qantas. On the nose and only interested in shareholder profits. Let the Senate inquiries begin. Lets see who has privileged access and parliamentary passes. Time to deep dive into why they get away with so much disloyalty to their customers. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill Vivienne Pearson, you must live near me! Mary Dunne, Ocean Shores Thanks, Vivienne, for capturing our angst against the supermarket duopoly, although I am yet to be accused of pilfering. Offering self-servicing customers a 10 per cent discount may ease some shopper frustrations, even if it doesnt stem the haemorrhage in retail jobs. Kim Crawford, Springwood

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I agree with Vivienne Pearson  there are too many self-checkout booths in a very small place. The biggest problem with those machines is the bagging area. They are not clearly marked and in the same store some machines have the bagging area on the left while others have them on their right. I even wonder why do they need two areas? If I am pushing a trolley I dont need the other area or if I used a hand carry basket, I am happy to hold it for the checkout too. Finally, very rarely have I successfully used the self-checkout without asking for the superviser to intervene. Ariyur Rangarajan, Baulkham Hills Illicit response The proposed reforms of NSW drug laws are quite modest but very worthwhile (Labor to overhaul states drug laws, October 10). They appear to have the strong support of senior politicians from the major parties. For decades NSW has relied heavily on drug law enforcement to control illicit drugs. But this approach turned out to be an expensive way of making a difficult problem much worse. Portugal has shown over more than 20 years that when possession of personal quantities of illicit drugs is no longer regarded as a criminal offence, and effective health and social support is provided to people struggling with alcohol and drug problems, there are substantial gains for drug users, their families and the community. Drug-overdose deaths, drug-related crime and serious health conditions decreased in Portugal after these reforms. The key objective has to be reducing harm rather than mainly trying to reduce drug use. Alex Wodak, Darlinghurst Alex Wodak: the proposed reforms of NSW drug laws are quite modest but very worthwhile Discussion required In the article on an autistic child emerging from sedation after open-heart surgery, there is no discussion of what the issues actually are, beyond the distress of a child and family, and a parents recall of what was said to him (ICU head asked family for advice, October 9). Staff training in management of distress in neurodiverse children can only go so far. Measures that work in most children wont necessarily work in an individual child, hence the question What do YOU do to keep him calm? Perhaps in this article there might have been a few words on pre-surgery discussion with the parents with a view to tailoring post-surgery care to the needs of the individual child, and educating the family on what will be possible and what wont be possible after surgery so that they are sufficiently informed to make a decision on whether surgery is desirable at all. There are numerous other issues that bear on this case, of which the adequacy of staff training is one, but not a major one. Robert Henning, Narooma

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Desperate measures Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower, says her evidence to Congress resulted in social media putting significant resources into stopping misinformation and hate speech (Big techs better standards temporary: whistleblower, October 10). After Musk took over Twitter and gutted it, the others followed suit to be competitive, and now any progress has to come through government action. It is not surprising that a Meta spokesperson would claim that if our platforms arent safe, people wont want to use them. Certainly promoting fear, distrust, anger and hate will turn some people off, but it is precisely what engages those vulnerable to it and therefore the medium of choice for those who would weaponise these emotions. We are at war with disinformation and, with AI on the horizon, the measures government is taking assume even more importance. Gary Barnes, Mosman Light use ahead Chris Minns should stop using the Opera House as his own political banner (Letters, October 10). Regardless of the republic debate, the structure should have been lit for the coronation in May as we are part of the Commonwealth and in any event it was a historical occasion. Roberta Roper, Woollamia While I would support the utter condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel, I dont believe lighting the Opera House in Israels flag is appropriate. Israels treatment of the encircled Palestinian people of the Gaza Strip has not been without censure and we, thousands of miles away and with a multicultural population, should rightly condemn terrorism if it occurs in any country, and also support all peoples to the right of self-determination. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle I condemn violence of any kind. However, I also condemn using the landmark Opera House sails to make political statements. The lighting of the Opera House sails should be to reflect joyous events, not to take sides in a divisive political situation. Paddy Fitzgerald, Cabarita Its well over time that we restricted lighting the Opera House sails to important Australian events (and I dont mean horse races). If we light the sails for one event, we must light them for all. Did we light up flags of Morocco and Afghanistan after their earthquakes? Or Libya after the flood? Canada after the fires? It seems a very selective decision. Maureen Partridge, Baulkham Hills

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For once, I agree with every single correspondent on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the use of the Opera House as a political billboard. Cathy Wilcoxs cartoon was also hard-hitting, fair and realistic. Thanks, Herald. Elizabeth Vickers, Maroubra A fine line. Credit: Cathy Wilcox Makes No difference Whatever the result of the referendum, it has become obvious that the requirement to answer either yes or no may not truly reflect the intention of voters (Voters worry Voice will divide, rather than conquer, October 10). A vehement no with racist overtones looks the same on the ballot paper as a reluctance to vote yes, for whatever reason. A Yes vote may be simply not wanting to be linked to the truth-bending tactics of the naysayers, but lacking confidence in the effectiveness of the proposal.

Joan Brown, Orange Yes23 spokesperson Dean Parkin speaks during a campaign event at the Redfern Community Centre Credit: Getty Images AsiaPac The Voice, it was claimed, is seen as dividing us by race. But, as Noel Pearson so eloquently explained, Australians are all humans, one race. The Voice is an act of recognition of our Indigenous peoples as its first inhabitants in the Constitution. This form of recognition will have the practical outcome of providing advice from Indigenous peoples so that outcomes for them will be more attuned with the realities in Indigenous communities. Noel went on to say the Voice will heal division between the First Australians, settler Australians and multicultural Australians by finally giving Indigenous people the recognition they deserve, and a say in matters that affect them.

Peter Lino, Lennox Head It is time for our young voters to take control of the referendum on Saturday. Dont listen to us old, white Australians, many of whom dont want anything changed, including the evidence that what we have done in the past has not closed the gap on disadvantaged Indigenous people. You young people can see the injustice, you are strong in your belief in justice, so go out there on Saturday and vote yes for a fair Australia. Ken Pares, Forster

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A surgeon who recommended the fabric deodoriser Febreze could be used to mask a foul smell emanating from an amputees leg has told a court he did not suggest the product be sprayed on the leg itself, only on clothing.

Associate Professor Kevin Tetsworth, an orthopaedic surgeon based in Queensland, told the Federal Court on Tuesday that it may seem odd, but he tells patients the supermarket fabric spray is the single most effective odour-fighting agent available.

Dr Munjed Al Muderis pictured outside court last month. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

He was giving evidence in the defamation case brought by Dr Munjed Al Muderis, an orthopaedic surgery colleague who is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes over stories published in 2022.

Al Muderis argues the stories defamed him and gravely injured his reputation by suggesting he performed surgery negligently. He specialises in osseointegration, where titanium pins are inserted into the bone of amputees to allow a prosthetic limb to be connected.
Year 12 student Maadi Prasad spent much of his early schooling learning to master handwriting. But when it comes to the HSC exams this week, the 18-year-old would prefer to use a keyboard than paper and a ballpoint pen.

If I had a choice, I would type the exam because I type faster than I handwrite, he said.

Maadi Prasad, 18, is one of 800 students who will sit the science extension final HSC exam online on October 25. Credit: Kate Geraghty

My handwriting is not particularly neat, but I havent had any problems with it being legible. I have some friends with some pretty horrendous handwriting; it is pretty much unreadable.

The Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School pupil is among more than 800 students who will complete the HSC science extension exam using a computer on October 25. In 2019, science extension was the first and only HSC exam to go digital, allowing students to use a desktop or laptop computer with pre-installed software and a locked internet connection to prevent cheating.
The president of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle club has died in custody after being arrested for breaching a firearm prohibition order.

Newly appointed boss Jamie Ginn, 50, was pronounced dead at the Perth Watchhouse on Tuesday night after WA Police said he was observed having a medical episode.

Rebels president Jamie Ginn. Credit: 6PR

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he was not aware of any pre-existing medical conditions with Ginn and that a post-mortem would determine his cause of death.

Ive watched the CCTV ... based on what Ive seen, and the early indication, its highly likely to be a medical episode only ... I dont think theres any real blame to be put on anyone, he said.
Megan Krakouers initial response to the Voice proposal was a hard No. It seemed too mediocre to tackle the trauma she sees every day.

I just went to town on it at first: its not going to do anything, theres no power attached to it, the Menang woman of the Noongar nation said.

Megan Krakouer, a proud Menang woman of the Noongar nation, changed her mind and decided to vote Yes after attending the funerals of youths who had taken their own lives. Credit: Steven Siewert

Krakouer  the younger sister of Phil and Jim Krakouer of the famous AFL dynasty  spends her time supporting thousands of Aboriginal people and their families affected by or at risk of suicide: visiting them in youth prisons, accompanying families to inquests, or providing food and social assistance through day and night.

But over the past two months, she has changed her mind. The trigger was when another two young Indigenous men she knew lost their lives to suicide.
Im captivated by cherry blossoms, their exuberant beauty and fragile transience. In springtime, when the brilliant pink and white blooms burst forth from branches in Paris, New York and beyond, its a joyful herald that warmer weather has finally arrived. I can think of nothing better than sitting quietly under an abundant pink canopy on a sunny, blue-sky day.

Osaka blooms: sakura are a national obsession. Credit: iStock

This year, I have my sights firmly set on the Land of the Rising Sun. Any flower tragic will tell you Japan is cherry blossom central, the prime destination for petal pilgrimages. The word hanami was invented to describe the act of flower viewing, specifically during cherry blossom season. Sakura, as the trees are known in Japan, are a national obsession, flowering from the southernmost tip of the country to the northern reaches of Hokkaido from March to May.

To celebrate the occasion, theres Asahi beer in pink cans, sweet treats made with shredded flowers, food festivals, blossom-inspired nail art, a limited-edition Diptyque candle that smells like a spring night in Japan. Count me in, petal.
Moscow: Russian MPs have been given 10 days to work out how best to revoke Moscows ratification of a landmark treaty banning nuclear tests, which would hand President Vladimir Putin the option to resume them.

The step is viewed by some Western security analysts as a pointed reminder from Moscow that it still possesses the worlds largest nuclear arsenal at a time when it is locked in a stand-off with the West over Ukraine.

Russia has been developing a new generation of intercontinental nuclear-powered missiles. Credit: AP

A nuclear test by Russia, designed to signal resolve and evoke fear, could encourage others such as the United States or China to follow suit, starting a new nuclear arms race between the big powers that stopped testing in the years after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the State Duma lower house of parliament, discussed the matter with parliamentary leaders on Monday and said revoking ratification would be in the countrys national interest.
An Australian woman living in Israel has spoken of her fears for her three children after they were called up by the army to join the fight against Hamas, including a daughter who only just celebrated her 19th birthday.

Lisa Segelov grew up in Rose Bay in Sydneys eastern suburbs before migrating to Israel in her 20s and working as a lawyer in Tel Aviv.

Lisa Segelov, an Australian woman living in Israel, pictured with her family. Three of her children have been called up for military service. From left: Tomer, 22, operations soldier in tank unit, husband Natie, 55, Lisa, 58, Maya, 25, Lior, 19, elite combat unit, and Avi, 27, combat tank unit.

Segelov said over her decades living in Israel she had never expected to witness such extraordinary scenes of brutality and violence unfolding in ordinary suburban neighbourhoods.

Its taking, say, Bondi, Rose Bay, all of that area  being infiltrated by terrorists going house to house and shooting people in the street, looting everything, burning all the cars, if you can imagine it, she said.
In its 50 years of existence, the Sydney Opera House has had a rare ability to amplify Australian events onto the international stage. The lavish October 1973 opening by Queen Elizabeth II went global, as did the public relations masterclass that was the filming of The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010, or the painting of NO WAR on the tallest sail ahead of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Despite our best efforts to market Sydney as a destination for the arts, food and environment, the Opera House is still the image which first springs to mind most when people think about our city.

The protests have been condemned by political leaders, but police said their best option was to control and manage the peoples movements. Credit: Louie Douvis

Sadly, distressing images of the nations most celebrated building are now being beamed around the world following a rally by pro-Palestinian protesters which coincided with lighting the Opera House in blue and white as an act of solidarity with Israel following the weekends attack by Hamas terrorists.

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About 1000 people participated in the march from Town Hall to the Opera House on Monday night. Many were there to participate in a peaceful protest and took steps to try to ensure the crowd behaved. Others, though, had different ideas. Video posted to social media showed some of the protesters chanting: F--- the Jews. Flares were also thrown onto the buildings steps, causing damage.
On October 5, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was spotted on the streets of Los Angeles. She did not refuse a group of fans a photo and surprised the network with her modesty.

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This was reported by the Daily Mail. In the photo posted on Instagram by one of the attendees, Meghan Markle stands next to three women, but it is not clear at first glance which of them is the Duchess.

The photo was shared by Jen Soo, a South African television and radio presenter.

"We landed in Los Angeles and on our way to dinner, we ran into Meghan Markle. It was a very relaxed and very friendly, pleasant conversation," she commented on her social media post.

One of the women in the photo is Melissa Leonard, a socialite from Philadelphia. Her daughter, Madison Leonard, also shared the photo and wrote: "Which one is the real duchess?"

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Meghan was wearing a striped shirt with sunglasses on it. She looked happy and friendly as she interacted with the fans. The meeting took place shortly after it was announced that Meghan and Prince Harry would be traveling to New York in mid-October for the Archerwell Mental Health Summit.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about what important royal skill Kate Middleton has mastered and what Meghan Markle failed to do.

Only verified information is available on the Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Warning: Graphic content

Kfar Aza: A babys crushed crib lying outside a burnt-out home. Corpses strewn on streets. Body bags lined up on an outdoor basketball court. The stench of death everywhere.

Just a few days ago this was the sleepy, scenic kibbutz of Kfar Aza, an Israeli farming community of about 750 people, many of them families with young children. Now its become a charnel house after Hamas gunmen burst out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and laid waste to the village.

An IDF soldier covers his nose while walking past bodies after Hamas militants deadly attack on a kibbutz near the border with Gaza. Credit: Getty

Mothers, fathers, babies, young families killed in their beds, in the protection room, in the dining room, in their garden, Israeli Major General Itai Veruv said on Tuesday. The seasoned soldier was visibly shaken as troops went door to door to collect the bodies of residents killed in their homes.
Israel once exchanged 1000 Palestinian prisoners for a single soldier seized during a cross-border raid. Another time, it swapped almost 5000 prisoners for six of its military personnel. Its commandos have infiltrated a hostile country to rescue hijacked plane passengers. A premium is put on the value of every Israeli life, says Ben Saul, a professor of international law.

But what it faces now is unprecedented. There may be more than 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza. Theyre not just soldiers; there are children, grandmothers, young people captured while dancing at a festival. One mother was on the phone to her 12- and 16-year-olds, who she hasnt heard from since. I heard terrorists speaking in Arabic, she says. The youngest saying to them Im too young to go. 

Partygoers at the Nova rave near the border with Gaza. Some of the festival-goes are believed to have been taken hostage.

The hostages are likely to be hidden all over the city, some in tunnels and burrows lying up to 30 metres beneath one of the most densely populated areas in the world. As Hamas threatens to broadcast the execution of a hostage for every surprise bombing of a civilian home in Gaza, Israel faces a diabolical choice; to abandon its past policy and sacrifice those people to hit back hard, or preserve lives by tiptoeing around Hamas demands.

Its uncharted territory, says Saul. On the one hand, there will be enormous pressure to safely return the hostages, if thats at all possible. On the other hand, will that be overshadowed by the greater public sentiment for vengeance and retaliation and finishing Hamas for good, regardless of the price even to those hostages?
Collective Metals Announces Mobilization of a Field Exploration Crew to its Whitemud Lake Lithium Project in Ear Falls, Northwestern Ontario

COLLECTIVE METALS INC. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) (the aCompanya or aCollectivea  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/collective-metals-inc/ ) is pleased to announce the mobilization of an experienced field exploration crew from Bayside Geosciences of Thunder Bay, Ontario to its Whitemud Lake Lithium property (the aPropertya or aProjecta). The Property is located in the emerging Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite field east of Ear Falls in northwestern Ontario.

The Property is hosted within the LCT-prolific English River terrane, about 40 km along the regional strike from Beyond Lithium Mineralsa? recent spodumene discovery north of Ear Falls. Grab samples with assay values up to 4.54% Li2O in a 3 km long prospective trend were reported (See News Release Dated September 17, 2023). Green Technology Metalsa? Root Lake project, located 70 km east of the Property, hosts a JORC compliant 12.6 million tonnes of inferred resource at 1.21% Li2O and 62 ppm Ta2O51 (See News Release Dated June 07, 2023).

Christopher Huggins, Chief Executive Officer of Collective, commented, aWe are thrilled to mobilize such an experienced Lithium exploration crew before the end of season. The Bayside team has participated in the discovery of numerous LCT pegmatites in northwestern Ontario. This inaugural exploration program is a direct result of the hard work we have been doing at compiling and interpreting publicly available exploration data for our lithium assets in Ontario. We anticipate an effective exploration program that will hopefully lead to discovery at Whitemud Lake. This field project and its results will be used to define our exploration and discovery mission for 2024.a

Highlights

The Property is located within 4 km of a terrane boundary between the English River and Uchi terranes in an emerging LCT pegmatite field east of Ear Falls (Figure 1). Most LCT pegmatite deposits in Ontario are hosted in proximity to terrane boundaries between geological domains within the Superior geological province.

Compilation and interpretation of historic geological mapping, elevation models, airborne magnetic, and lake geochemistry data were used to identify multiple priority target areas for the 2023 field exploration program (Figures 2 & 3).

The geology of the Property is composed of granodiorites and tonalites that are part of the Bluffy Lake Batholith and intrude into metasedimentary rocks of the English River (Figure 2). The Bluffy Lake Batholith occurs along strike to the east of the Wenasaga Lake Batholith where Beyond Lithiuma?s Ear Falls project is located.

Several similar granitic intrusive bodies such as the Sharpe Lake Batholith and Root Lake Pluton that occur between 10 to 70 km to the east of the Property are interpreted to be sources of LCT pegmatite deposits in the region, including at Green Technology Metalsa? Root Lake Project (Figure 1).

Northwest striking structural corridors characterized by magnetic lows indicate potential LCT pegmatite traps zones (Figure 3). One of these structures that occurs in the northern part of the Property is a regional structure that splays off the terrane boundary between the English River and Uchi. A historic geological map published by Ontario Geological Survey reported presence of pegmatite outcrops in the area (Figures 2 & 3).

The field exploration program (the aPrograma) is focused on prospecting, sample collection, and geological mapping of priority target areas with reported pegmatites and strong Lithium anomalies in lake geochemistry data.

Whitemud Lake Project

The Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous pegmatite-hosted Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum deposits have been delineated. The Project is located 40 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario, approximately 70 km west of Green Technology Metalsa? Root Lake Project. It covers 7,775 hectares of LCT pegmatite prospective ground within the Lithium-prolific English River terrane.

Qualified Person

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Amanuel Bein, P. Geo., who is acting as the Companya?s Qualified Person for the Project, in line with National Instrument 43-101 Standard of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The information disclosed is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Project.

References

1  Green Technology Metals, (2023, June 07). Transformational 22.5MT Mineral Resource Base Reached Across Ontario Lithium Projects. Retrieved October 06, 2023, from https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02673768-6A1153214?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

Beyond Lithium Inc. (2023, September 17). Beyond Lithium discovers new spodumene bearing pegmatite zone at Ear Falls Project in Northwest Ontario. Retrieved October 04, 2023, from https://beyondlithium.ca/beyond-lithium-discovers-new-spodumene-bearing-pegmatite-zone-at-ear-falls-project-in-northwest-ontario

Breaks, F.W., Selway, J.B., & Tindle, A.G. (2003). Fertile Peraluminous Granites and Related Rare-Element Mineralization in Pegmatites, Superior Province, Northwest and Northeast Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt. Ontario Geological Survey.

Breaks, F.W., Bond, W.D., Stone, D., Harris, N., & Desnoyers, D.W. (1976). Geological series, Operation Kenora-Ear Falls, Papaonga-Wapesi lakes sheet, District of Kenora. Ontario Geological Survey.

Breaks, F.W., Bond, W.D., Harris, N., & Westerman, C.J.(1975). Operation Kenora-Ear Falls, District of Kenora. Ontario Geological Survey.

Fenwick, K.G. (1967). Preliminary geological map no. 412, Whitemud lake area. Ontario Geological Survey.

Green Technology Metals. (2023, June 07). Root Project. Retrieved October 04, 2023, from https://www.greentm.com.au/root-project

Ontario Geological Survey. (2017). Ontario Airborne Geophysical Surveys, Magnetic Data, Grid Data (ASCII and GeosoftA Formats),A Magnetic Supergrids.

Sanborn-Barrie, M., Rogers, N., Skulski, T., Parker, J.R., McNicoll, V.J., & Devaney, J.R. (2004). Geology and Tectonostratigraphic Assemblages, East Uchi Subprovince, Red Lake and Birch-Uchi Belts, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada.

About Collective Metals:

Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) is a resource exploration company specializing in precious metals exploration in North America. The Companya?s flagship property is the Princeton Project, located in south-central British Columbia, Canada, approximately 10 km west of the currently producing Copper Mountain Mine. The Princeton Project consists of 29 mineral tenures totaling approximately 28,560 ha (70,570 acres) in a well-documented and prolific copper-gold porphyry belt and is easily accessible by road, located immediately west of Highway 3.A

The Companya?s Landings Lake Lithium Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous lithium deposits have been delineated to host significant reserves of Li2O. The Landings Lake Lithium Project is located 53 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario and covers 3,146 hectares. The Whitemud Lake Project, with several identified pegmatite outcrops, neighbours the Landings Lake Project and consists of 381 single cell mining claims totaling 7,775 hectares.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as \may\, \expect\, \estimate\, \anticipate\, \intend\, \believe\ and \continue\ or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements respecting: mineralization potential of the Project based on the results of the Program; completion of the Program. 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, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
"The time has come to utilize all opportunities for sustainable peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus", Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during his speech at the 27th Ministerial Council meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Shusha on 10 October, Azernews reports.

Turkish FM expressed satisfaction with his stay in Shusha: "Organising a meeting in ancient Shusha is a source of happiness and pride. We applaud our Azerbaijani brothers for ending 30 years of occupation and removing historical injustice".

Azerbaijan has been in cooperation with ECO since 1992. The ECO is composed of nine member states, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The ECO's mission is to promote regional economic cooperation and integration and to foster economic development and prosperity in the region.
On October 10, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Romanian capital Bucharest to meet with his counterpart Klaus Iohannis. The politicians will discuss prospects for further cooperation between the two countries, as well as support for the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing war with Russia.

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This is stated in the official Telegram channel of the president. Earlier, the Romanian Chancellery reported that this is the first official visit of the Ukrainian leader to Romania since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops.

"Bucharest, Romania. An official visit to our good neighbors, who supported us in the most difficult moment and whose support is only growing over time," Zelensky said, adding that he and his Romanian counterpart have a wide range of topics for talks.

On behalf of Ukrainians, he expressed gratitude to the Romanian people for their sincere and large-scale assistance, which significantly strengthens the country's defense. And also for the most constructive solidarity, which allows both countries "to be significant donors of security for the world, including food security".

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In addition, he emphasized that the countries have already established cooperation that supports the stability of many other nations and can expand it even further.

It is known that Iohannis received Zelensky at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest. At the meeting, they will talk about further security cooperation, the development of aviation and other defense coalitions, strengthening our air defense, the overall security architecture in the Black Sea region, and relations with partners.

"This visit will benefit both our peoples," the President of Ukraine expressed his conviction.

As OBOZREVATEL reported, the day before, Zelensky announced work on solving the problem of global terrorism. The bloody events that unfolded over the weekend in Israel have shaken the international community and may affect Ukraine.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
An investigation was launched by the SFO in 2018 into a case which saw the bakery chain, which had 200 stores, tumble into administration with a 94 million hole in its accounts in 2019.
At least 53 people died as a result of a Russian missile strike on Groza in the Kharkiv region. This is the data as of October 10, which includes people whose deaths were confirmed during examinations and identifications.

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The death toll may increase. Five people are still missing. This was announced on Tuesday morning, October 10, at a briefing by the head of the Kharkiv Police Investigation Department, Serhiy Bolvinov.

He explained that DNA examinations of the remains are ongoing. "We have identified 53 victims so far. Therefore, we can say that today we have increased the number of dead. And taking into account the unidentified body parts and reports of missing persons, the final number may increase," said the law enforcement official.

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In total, after the October 5 tragedy, when Russian troops hit a village cafe-shop with a missile, the police received 22 reports of missing persons. Four were not confirmed - the people were found alive. 13 missing civilians were identified among the victims of the enemy attack. Five more applications remain. Experts are working to quickly identify who the bodies and fragments belong to.

Bolvinov said that 135 remains have already been examined. "We are collecting the remains of civilians without a break. From the first minute, despite the extremely difficult moral conditions, we collected the remains of those killed in the village of Groza and identified these people. The mutilated bodies had to be collected in parts... We are still doing it," he said.

"DNA laboratories have been working around the clock for five days. Criminologists and investigators are also working," Bolvinov emphasized.

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As OBOZREVATEL previously reported:

- The explosion in the village of Groza occurred on October 5 at about 13:24. The occupiers carried out a targeted attack with an Iskander missile on the building of a cafe-shop, where people were gathered for a memorial dinner for a fellow villager-soldier. A UN field team will be sent to the site of the Russian Armed Forces' war crime.

- Among the victims of the enemy missile were a young couple, Denys and Nina Kozyr. On that tragic day, there was a wake for Denys' father. She was only 20, nine days shy of her 21st birthday.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
You were once never more than six feet from a BlackBerry in London. Everyone was hooked on the devices, from company execs firing off emails in the back of taxis to schoolkids who couldnt last five minutes without checking BBM. The lightning-fast speeds to exchange messages, coupled with a full, pocket-sized keyboard, ushered in a new era of being permanently online, where everyone communicated round the clock. If you didnt have a BlackBerry you were simply backward, uncool, a philistine.
Here is a shortlist of up-and-coming local authority areas for first-time buyers, according to Halifax, with the average first-time buyer purchase price, followed by the percentage difference between that and the average price in the wider location. House prices and other factors such as local amenities were taken into account when compiling the list. Halifax said it has not ranked the locations from one to 10 as there is a range of priorities that individual buyers will want to consider when choosing a location:
Thus far, Starmer has demonstrated a talent for reassurance. But he has been less persuasive when presenting himself as a change-maker. On Sunday, he insisted to the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire that he was confident of Labours capacity to generate the growth required for public service investment very quickly  a claim that sounded perilously callow. It is true that radicalism often emerges only in office, rather than in advance. The extent of Thatchers economic ambitions only became clear in Geoffrey Howes 1981 Budget.
Starmer set out the challenges facing not only his party but the nation. Economically and socially, Britain is operating far beneath its potential. Starmer noted that in 1997, Blair had to rebuild public services. In 1964, Harold Wilson sought to modernise the economy. In 1945, Clement Attlee introduced the welfare state from the ashes of war. Starmer believes that, in 2024, it will be his job to achieve all three.
Cadburys kicked off with a grocers store at Bull Street in Birmingham in 1824, and they are proud of their story of investment, care for workers and contribution to society. Last week, Rishi Sunak audaciously invited comparisons between himself and the infamous grocers daughter from Grantham, Margaret Thatcher. Theres a big choice to be made and the next few days will hopefully help clarify if Keir Starmer has an attractive offer, or is he and the vision he supposedly has, long past its sell by date.
More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing - among over 900 hundred now believed to have been killed - with Hamas threatening to kill hostages if Israeli forces continue bombarding the Gaza Strip, with more than 700 Palestinians already dead.
Smaller stories are told, too, such as that of Juda and Malka Fiszer, Polish but settled in Hackney, who ran an umbrella shop on Hanbury street in the 1920s where they are proudly photographed. But fortune was not in their favour. Their tale ends in financial ruin, with tickets from the pawn shop where Malka sold her wedding jewellery in 1933. Curator Dr Lucie Whitmore explains that it was crucial to include stories of failure and stories with challenges in them, because thats the reality of the industry. To only show those people who found name recognition wouldnt be a truthful representation of London.
His earliest series captured dioramas in the American Museum of Natural History, a project Sugimoto saw as bringing the dead back to life. His most famous, the 1990s Seascapes, focuses on the horizon, where sea meets sky. At the Hayward, we follow his experiments with this composition, via various states of radiance and haze, from a print thats almost entirely inky black, to another that is milky white. One captures Lake Superior, the other the Ligurian Sea. The point: they could be anywhere and anywhen. The horizon is the horizon. It captivated the first humans, and it will be there when were gone.
It was way back in 1998 when Cate Blanchett first starred as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth, bringing the determined leader to life on-screen in inimitable fashion. The film sees the young queen being pressured by advisers to marry into French or Spanish nobility to reduce the risk of invasion, so she is forced to balance personal passions and diplomatic responsibility. Blanchett won international acclaim with the film and earned a reputation as one of the strongest performers of her generation. She returned to the role in the sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which focused on the later period of Elizabeths reign.
Despite the repeated drunken declarations of I will love you forever the central trio cant escape the creeping feeling that their friendship hangs by a thread, as the shadow of GCSE results and different futures looms over them. This is an unsparing look at the realities of mixing puberty, alcohol and hazy ideas about sexual consent. Walker deftly deals with the complexities of teenage friendship, the desire for conformity and the ever-present fear, maybe more so than ever on a booze-soaked holiday, that everyone else is having more fun than you.
After much hesitation, US President Joe Biden decided to supply Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles. This allegedly happened back in September, on the eve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington.

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Previously, Biden rejected the idea of such supplies, fearing that the introduction of American missiles into the Ukrainian army, which could destroy targets not only in all the occupied territories of Ukraine but also in Russia and Belarus, could lead to the outbreak of World War III. Biden's fears and the decisions he made to overcome them are described in an article by The New Yorker.

The publication notes that throughout the year, Biden categorically refused to make a decision on the transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine because he was afraid of the Kremlin's reaction: according to the American president, such a step by the United States "would mean an unacceptable escalation for Putin," as these missiles are capable of reaching not only all the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia, but also targets in Russia or Belarus.

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"The other key goal is to make sure we don't end up in a situation where we're heading toward World War III," Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, explained the president's position.

At the same time, after the United Kingdom and France gave Ukraine their long-range missiles, the argument about the threat of World War III became far less convincing.

"What was holding us back was that it would deplete our stockpile at a time when we would need those missiles for a contingency, whether it was with Iran or North Korea or China," a senior Pentagon official explained to the New Yorker this summer on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, another source noted that by December 2022, Sullivan was trying to convince the US president to use the threat of sending ATACMS "as leverage over the Russians."

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"He was pressuring Biden: why don't we at least say that we will send ATACMS if you don't stop shelling cities? He's been making this argument for at least six months, and the president hasn't wanted to do it," the unnamed official said.

Now, according to The New Yorker, the decision to transfer ATACMS to Ukraine has been made: Biden approved the assistance on the eve of Zelenskyy's visit to Washington on September 19.

Depending on the modification, the US ATACMS missiles have a range of 140, 165, 270, or 300 km. Thus, it is expected that Ukraine will be able to use them to hit enemy targets in all occupied territories, including Crimea and the Kerch Bridge, and sometimes even reach targets located in Russia and Belarus.

The ATACMS is launched using a modernized M270 MLRS or HIMARS launcher.

These missiles are designed to engage enemy targets. These can be command posts, missile launchers, air defense facilities, communication centers, ammunition depots, etc.

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In addition, ATACMS can operate in any weather conditions and at any time of the day.

Earlier, the US made a new statement on ATACMS for Ukraine. The Pentagon noted that the US Army has been preparing for the transfer of ATACMS for some time now and is ready to send the missiles as soon as the president makes the decision.

It was also reported that NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov answered whether Ukraine would be able to fire ATACMS missiles at Russia.
Spaeny told the PA news agency at the London Film Festival: Having Priscilla Presley herself was an amazing resource to have, the fact she gave me that time to sit down with her was really precious in sort of putting this puzzle piece together on how I was going to portray her.
Colemans engaging portrayal of Victoria as a young royal  coming to the throne at the age of just 18  has gone a long way in shifting those associations, showing the Queen as a young woman subject to love, loss and heartbreak while ruling in a time of immense upheaval. The show is a little soapy at times, but arent all the best period dramas?
The new series will not be shying away from the drama: the first part of the show will focus on the last months of Dianas life on the run up to the horrific accident, while the second part (which is being released on December 14) will focus on the fallout of her death and its effect on her family, the Royal family and the public.
Traditional spacesuit design has been very practical with little consideration for aesthetics. Prada brings a unique design perspective, emphasising aesthetics and how the suit looks and connects with the audience, an Axiom spokesperson tells The Standard, before promising the new designs will be aesthetically pleasing. Imaginations neednt run too wild, however. The outer layer for the Moon must be white to help reflect the heat from the sun. The primary objective of the suit design is safety and survival of the astronauts, they said.
Im appealing for anyone who was in Sevenoaks Way on Monday at around 3.30pm, near to the Currys store, who may have seen anything, or recorded any dash cam or mobile phone footage to contact us immediately.
He said there was no way he would not have created a Storm incident unless he had been distracted in some way, and there was no way he would have ignored it.
Lad, who lives in Tenby Avenue, Harrow, Mistry, of Rosamund Avenue, Leicester, and Christopher Marsh, who lives with his wife inKensington Close, St Albans, are all accused of conspiracy to defraud, five charges of fraud by false representation, and making or supplying an article for use in fraud.
Every woman has the right to go about her life without the fear of being sexually assaulted. The Met is more focused than ever in targeting those who harm women and girls and other vulnerable members of society"
During the search, he attempted to take his own life in the bathroom with a pistol he had hidden in his coat but when that failed, he ran at armed officers pointing the gun at them and hoping they would finish the job.
Or on the lecturer who may face a disciplinary process following complaints from students about their inclusion of certain texts in the course reading list. Or on the trainee who is told they are unfit to practise in a particular profession because of lawful, but contentious, views that they have expressed in a class.
On Tuesday, October 10, an operation to clear the headquarters of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas continues in Israel. On the fourth day of the war, the IDF conducted air strikes on the Gaza Strip, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the response to the massacre organized by the militants last Saturday would "reverberate for generations."

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At the same time, Turkey has expressed its readiness to mediate in negotiations between the parties to the war. OBOZREVATEL online is following the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (to see photos and videos, scroll down to the bottom of the news).

08:20 - More than 100 bodies of residents have been found in the Be'eri kibbutz near the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, killed in a Hamas attack. The kibbutz, home to about a thousand people, was completely destroyed. The militants killed every tenth resident.

08:00 - French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Chancellor German Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden issue a joint statement on the situation in Israel. They expressed their united support for the country and unequivocally condemned Hamas and its horrific terrorist acts. The leaders also pledged to support Israel in its efforts to protect itself and its people from such crimes.

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07:40 - The Israeli Defense For ces is committed to depriving Hamas of its military capabilities by the end of the war, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said. According to him, "this will be achieved".

07:15 - Mass displacement in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours has reached more than 187,518 people, and is expected to increase further. The UN notes that the number of internally displaced persons in the Strip is the highest since the 50-day escalation of hostilities in 2014.

06:50 - As of Monday evening, more than 900 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed and at least 2, 616 people were wounded in Hamas' attack on Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said that 687 Palestinians died and another 3,800 injured.

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06:30 - Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said that seven Argentine citizens were killed in Hamas attacks in Israel this weekend, and 15 others are still missing.

05:50 - White House national security spokesman John Kirby says that Iran is complicit in the Hamas attack on Israel, although the United States has no intelligence or evidence that directly points to its actions. According to him, this country has long supported Palestinian militants and other terrorist networks throughout the region.

05:30 - Palestinian media reports that the Israeli army has invaded the city of Nablus, located on the West Bank. Fighting is currently taking place there.

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05:00 - In the United States, the White House has illuminated the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag as a symbol of 75 years of relations between the countries. They noted that such a gesture symbolizes "the unwavering support and solidarity of the American people with the people of Israel in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas."

04:30 - Since Saturday, October 7, Israel has struck 1,707 targets in the Gaza Strip, including 475 rocket systems, 73 terrorist command centers, 23 strategic infrastructure sites and 22 underground facilities.

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As reported by OBOZREVATEL, on October 9, the Israel Defense Forces regained control of the border areas that had been seized by Hamas militants since the beginning of the invasion on October 7 and moved to a new phase of the operation. To conduct it, 300,000 reservists were mobilized in the country.

At the end of the day, one of the top Hamas officials, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said that the terrorists were open to negotiations with Israel on a possible truce. He claimed that this was because they had already "achieved their goals."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Lord Lebedev said: The Evening Standard is proud to celebrate the incredible creatives who, in such difficult times, have continued to dazzle on stage and create magic behind the scenes. The awards are part of Londons heritage, and this years ceremony is shaping up to be one of our most special yet.
As Israel responded, more than 700 have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank, according to authorities there. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.
Labour had far fewer respondents who said they would never consider voting for the party (28%), compared with 45% who said the same about the SNP and 61% who said they would never consider voting for the Conservatives.
Given that the 3030 target is a critical milestone for improving nature, it is disappointing, to say the least, that Government is not tracking its progress and can provide no policy route for how the target will be met by the deadline.
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We were very lucky to have a car in the VIP section, and the fact that we had our backpacks and we didnt have any tents made us able to leave very quickly.
Hes done a 24-hour shift and has said medical supplies are at the lowest hes ever seen, to the point where theyre having to use bits of their own clothes to try to bandage and tourniquet wounds where they can, he said.
More than 900 people have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli military, with authorities in Gaza saying about 700 have been killed in the territory and the West Bank, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas.
We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed.
Israel is the very heart of not just the Jewish people, but the Jewish faith and we send out a strong message to our brethren and our friends in Israel this evening. You are not alone. We share your pain. We are crying with you. We share your anguish.
Either they are in hiding in the area where they ran to safety, or they were part of the massacre that Hamas carried out, which the Israeli army cannot get to all of the fields in the areas just now.
In a sign that he will resist further tax rises while peoples living standards are squeezed he will tell activists: We should never forget that politics should tread lightly on peoples lives, that our job is to shoulder the burden for working people  carry the load, not add to it.
And therefore everything we have to do now is to mobilise both within our own country, but internationally as well, to try and put pressure on the international community now to ensure that the attacks on Gaza end and that a form of dialogue is opened up to secure initially, at least some form of ceasefire, de-escalation, and then hopefully the first steps to a longer-term solution.
He said: We used to call it the dream of home ownership, didnt we? We used to say it glibly on stages like this. But look at Britain now  it has become a dream.
I am determined that the next Labour Government will do the same for our teenagers....thats why we are setting up a cross-Government tough love initiative, with new youth hubs and proper local plans to identify those most at risk and help them access the support they need.
She is deeply concerned by the planned accommodation of around 500 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge by the (Home Secretary), especially by the fact that the (Home Secretary) proceeded on the basis that she did not require planning permission and without any adequate consultation with the local community, Alex Goodman KC, who is leading Mrs Parkess legal team, told the judge in a written case outline.
With no strike days announced, there is nothing preventing the Government from meeting with us. Wed urge the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to listen to the growing number of voices calling for them to return to the table to discuss restoring lost value of doctors pay and not to waste this valuable window of opportunity.
Mr McCullough later said in written submissions: The Home Offices response to the evidence of inadequacies and failures in the system is to assert that, in light of the assurances, evidence of past problems is at best, peripherally relevant That approach has no basis in principle or in the evidence.
The Metropolitan Police has said more officers will be on the streets across London to provide reassurance and that it has an appropriate plan in place to deal with a pro-Palestine rally outside the Israeli embassy on Monday.
She is deeply concerned by the planned accommodation of around 500 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge by the (Home Secretary), especially by the fact that the (Home Secretary) proceeded on the basis that she did not require planning permission and without any adequate consultation with the local community, Alex Goodman KC, who is leading Mrs Parkes legal team, told the judge, in a written case outline, on Tuesday.
I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated Section 5 public order offence.
They went on: On behalf of families of the British nationals, we express their apologies to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country.
She presented the first algorithm designed to be executed by such a computer and was the first to realise that the machine had uses beyond simple calculation. She is frequently considered to be the first computer programmer as a result.
Speaking in front of the damaged restaurant, Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said: The local community feel they are under siege, and my job is to make sure their views are fed back into the heart of government and the PM wants to be kept fully informed.
Lady Starmer grew up in Gospel Oak, north London, where her mother was a community doctor. Like her future husband, Victoria entered a career in law, as a solicitor in her case, and took on a role as a governor at her childrens school. Now, she works in occupational health for the NHS.
In a statement on its website, the council said: Whilst the bedbug is not known to be a carrier of disease, the Council does recognise the bedbug as being an obnoxious pest with which to have to share a home and for that reason control in the domestic property is not free.
The panel heard the officer had an exchange with Mr Dos Santos about him being a sprinter in which Pc Bond told him to act like one and behave like the role model professional athletes should be.
Sir Keir Starmer has not addressed the issue head-on at the conference, the Labour leader is instead set to use his keynote speech on Tuesday to speak about rebuilding the country after 13 years of Tory rule. Another key line is set to be around his commitment to local government autonomy.
Meanwhile, the United Nations said 17 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank in other clashes with Israeli forces since Saturdays attack by Hamas, which has so far led to the death of around 900 people in Israel, including citizens of other countries including Britain, the US, France and Canada.
Its resources come from the money that member countries pay as their capital subscription. Countries pay an assigned sum based on their position in the world economy, which they can then borrow from if they fall into financial difficulty.
Yoni Asher said his wife Doron, 34, and their daughters Raz, 5, and Avivi, 3, were staying with family in Israel, close to the border with Gaza, when the Palestinian militant group carried out the deadliest attack on Israel in 50 years on Saturday.
At this stage, we do not have concrete details or any official information on what exactly happened to them both. Our community has been destroyed. My family are in contact with the embassy and Israeli officials to try to recover his body and bring him home to the UK.
"As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation," Sams said. "We would refer other questions to the Justice Department at this time."
I think by design, there is an entry point that is supposed to be positive, in creating community and something has devolved, and there is no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.
In an email to parents seen by the Times, JFS said: I think the badge of our school, which has been a safe haven for Jews for nearly 300 years, is important, but should students wish to not wear a blazer then I would understand that decision. As such, they will be optional for the next week.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said: Israel has the full right to defend itself against terror. As any other state. And its critical that the whole world responds to terror in a unified and principled manner.
The 17-year-old said: I hope to share with my photography that the beauty of the natural world is all around us, even in places where we least expect it to be  we just need to open our eyes and our minds.
Dame Judi, who won her Academy Award for her role as Elizabeth I in 1998 film Shakespeare In Love, said: His (Shakespeares) understanding of everything  of love, of anger, of jealousy, of rage, melancholy  who did it better? Who has ever done it better? I wish Id met him, oh, I wish Id met him.
We just felt something like this would really do us the benefit of not having millions of people telling us how happy they are that were not together.
She added: It isnt about money. Ive got five points, if you or Helen would return some of my attempts to make contact with you, to talk to you about it, because its not just about social care but health care and the way its interrelating. It would be wonderful if you could.
In 2018, while filming the 10th series of Rip Off Britain, she said she felt there used to be a view that people should grow old gracefully, retire from public life and sit in a rocking chair and crochet blankets for their knees, adding: I was never going to do that.
He sang: Early morning, October 7, the sun is rising in the desert sky/ Stars of David, they took your life, but they could not take your pride, before repeating: but they could not take your pride three times.
While we do not have plans to put Modern Warfare III or Diablo IV into Game Pass this year, once the deal closes, we expect to start working with Xbox to bring our titles to more players around the world, the company said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas to make sure no money was misused.

There will be no suspension of payments at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals  postponed until further notice.

No immediate explanation for the reversal was given. A full European Commission statement always trumps a statement from an EU commissioner, but the reversal on a 691 million-euro ($730 million) program capped an embarrassing day at the EUs executive at a time of extreme geopolitical sensitivities.

Since Saturday, support of the 27-nation bloc for Israel had been steadfast, including that the country had now every right within international law to defend itself in the war with Hamas.

The surprise announcement by Varhelyi on development aid came just hours after EU officials stressed that no EU money whatsoever was going to Hamas in the first place and that contacts had been frozen for 16 years. The EU considers Hamas a terror group.

After hours of uncertainty over how deep the measures would reach and whether they would possibly also affect aid to those in immediate need, the European Commission said there was no suspension for now, but said it started an urgent review of the EU's assistance for Palestine.

The objective of this review is to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organization to carry out attacks against Israel, the statement said. The EU says it already has very strict rules in place to screen and vet beneficiaries and to make sure no such funds are made available to terrorists.

The statement said that the European Commission would equally review if, in light of the changed circumstances on the ground, its support (programs) to the Palestinian population and to the Palestinian Authority need to be adjusted.

And EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also criticized Varhelyi, insisting that the suspension of the payments  punishing all the Palestinian people  would have damaged the EU interests in the region and would have only further emboldened terrorists.

The EU says it's the biggest donor to the Palestinian people and has been advocating for years for the two-state approach that has guided international diplomacy since the 1993 Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Some of its programs though have been dogged by allegations that funds could be siphoned off for unintended use.

EU foreign ministers are slated to meet in Muscat, Oman, and by videoconference on Tuesday to discuss the situation and determine what actions should be taken.

The foundations for peace, tolerance and coexistence must now be addressed. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many, Varhelyi wrote.

During an earlier briefing Monday, the European Commission sought to draw a clear line between Hamas and the Palestinian people, who are in need of humanitarian aid. The commission said that humanitarian aid wouldn't be affected by the review.

According to the bloc, it has provided humanitarian aid to help meet Palestinians basic needs since 2000 through the European Commissions humanitarian aid department (ECHO) and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since 2000, ECHO has provided 700 million euros of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The EUs most populous member, Germany, and its neighbor Austria, said they were suspending development aid for the Palestinian areas for the moment.

The Development Ministry in Berlin said there was no direct German financing of the Palestinian Authority, but a total of 250 million euros ($265 million) is currently pledged in German aid  half of that for bilateral projects via Germanys overseas aid agency and development bank and the other half for the U.N. agency for the Palestinians, UNRWA.

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Border police officers from the Cenad Border Crossing Point detected, on Tuesday, two persons against whom European arrest warrants had been issued by the Romanian and German authorities.

At the Cenad Border Crossing Point, a 39-year-old Romanian citizen presented himself at the exit from Romania. During the formalities, the border police officers found that the German authorities had issued a European arrest warrant for the crime of theft against the man in question. A three-year prison sentence was imposed on him, according to a press release issued by the Timisoara border police on Tuesday.

At the Cenad Border Crossing Point on Tuesday, a woman, a Romanian citizen, aged 46, presented herself on the way into Romania. During the control carried out by the border police, it was found that the Romanian authorities had issued a European arrest warrant for the offences of assault or other violence and theft, and that the woman had to serve a prison sentence of 1 year and 10 months.Both Romanian citizens were handed over to teams from the Timis County Police Inspectorate for legal action.
President Klaus Iohannis discussed on Tuesday with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who is on an official visit to Bucharest, about the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities in Romania and Ukraine

"We want the two minorities, which are important for both of us, to have similar rights, in particular we are referring here, obviously, to the language spoken and the education received in the mother tongue," Iohannis said at the Cotroceni Palace, agerpres reports.
Qabil Ashirov

On October 10, the Azerbaijani Prime Minister, Ali Asadov, received the Indonesian Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms Minister, Abdullah Azvar Anas, Azernews reports.

At the meeting, it was emphasized that the relations between Azerbaijan and Indonesia are based on mutual respect and friendship, and it was noted that last year marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Ali Asadov valued mutual support within the framework of international organizations, including the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as one of the important factors of this cooperation.

The Prime Minister noted that the trade turnover between the countries increased by 5 times in 2022 and emphasized the importance of continuing efforts in this direction.

The parties confirmed the existence of successful cooperation between the countries in the field of public service to citizens and exchanged views on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation signed in 2017 between the State Agency for Service to Citizens and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms of Indonesia.

It was noted that within the framework of the implementation of the memorandum, State Service Centers are operating in Indonesia based on the ASAN Service model. In addition, civil servants of the Indonesian side operating in the relevant field are regularly trained by ASAN Service experts in various directions in our country.

The meeting also discussed the prospects of investment, energy, humanitarian and many other fields of cooperation between the two countries.
Other 115 Romanian citizens returned to Romania from Israel on Monday, on a flight operated by a private airline, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs.

"Further to the information provided in the context of the deteriorating security situation in the State of Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that, following the constant efforts of the MAE task force, on October 9, 2023, other 115 Romanian citizens returned to Romania on a flight operated by a private airline," the MAE announced in a press release.

MAE points out that the mobile consular team of the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Romanian Representative Office in Ramallah and the team of the Rapid Reaction Unit of the MAE task force will remain at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to provide consular assistance to Romanian citizens at the airport.Romanian citizens who are on the territory of this state can contact the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and announce their presence in the region, communicating their identification data and contact details to the e-mail address telaviv@mae.ro and to the permanent telephone number of the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv: +972 54 5643279, as well as that of the Consulate General in Haifa: +972 543 998 038, in order to be contacted. MAE underlines the importance of using these channels by Romanian citizens for the correct centralisation of information and the streamlining of dialogue in order to provide consular assistance.At the same time, the MAE reiterates its recommendation to Romanian citizens who intend to travel to Israel to reschedule their trip and to follow the "Travel Alerts" section on the Ministry's website (https://www.mae.ro/travel-alerts/2938).MAE also recommends consulting the websites http://telaviv.mae.ro, https://consular-protection.ec.europa.eu/travel-advice_en and www.mae.ro - "Sfaturi de calatorie" and reminds that Romanian citizens travelling abroad can use the SMS alert service, related to the information campaign "An SMS can save your life!."
The president of the Senate, Nicolae Ciuca, met on Tuesday with the chairman of the European Court of Auditors (ECA), Tony Murphy, who is visiting our country

According to a post on the Facebook page of the president of the Senate, the topics discussed during the meeting concerned the reforms undertaken by Romania through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the fiscal policy of the European Union and Romania's efforts in the current context of the security crisis in the region, agerpres reports.

"I told to the European official that the Eastern states need greater flexibility from the European Commission in the discussions about NRRP. Romania is making considerable efforts to achieve the assumed objectives, but in Brussels it must be understood that these targets have been fixed in a radically different international context. From the point of view of the authorities in Bucharest, it is necessary to adapt to the problems given by the current challenges and to a more efficient European mechanism to support the member states," Nicolae Ciuca said.

The chairman of the European Court of Auditors, Tony Murphy, is in our country together with a delegation that also includes Viorel Stefan, a Romanian member of the ECA.
Romania has provided militaryand humanitarian support to Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Tuesday in Bucharest.

"Romania has given us both military and humanitarian support. We are grateful for your solidarity," Zelenskyi said, according to the official translation, agerpres reports.

The Ukrainian leader thanked the Romanians "for the support and help given to Ukraine".

Klaus Iohannis and Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed a political declaration on Tuesday, according to which the bilateral relationship is elevated to the level of strategic partnership.Zelenskyi stated that, according to the new coordinates, he discussed with his Romanian counterpart about the opening of new border crossing points, about the situation of national minorities and about accelerating the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft in the specialized center in Romania.The security situation at the Danube was also addressed."Romania knows how dangerous Russian terrorism is," Zelenskyi added.
Israel stepped up its offensive on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas, pounding neighborhoods with airstrikes and expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000.

The military said it had regained effective control over the Gaza border and areas Hamas attacked in the south of Israel.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has inflamed Israels determination to crush the groups hold in Gaza.

New exchanges of fire over Israels northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Here's what is happening on Day 4 of the latest Israel-Palestinian war:

THE FIRST PLANE CARRYING US ARMAMENTS LANDS IN ISRAEL, IDF SAYS

A plane carrying advanced armaments designed to facilitate significant military operations landed Tuesday evening at the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

We are grateful for the US backing and assistance to the IDF, and to the State of Israel in general, during this challenging period. Our common enemies know that the cooperation between our militaries is stronger than ever, and is a key part in ensuring regional security and stability, the IDF said in a statement.

2 BRAZILIANS KILLED IN ATTACKS BY HAMAS, FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS

Two Brazilian citizens were killed as the result of the Hamas attack on Israel, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry identified the deceased as Ranani Nidejelski Glazer and Bruna Valeanu.

The ministry said in a separate statement that three people with dual Brazilian-Israeli citizenship were missing after they disappeared at a music festival outside of Kibbutz Re'im.

2 FILIPINOS KILLED IN ATTACKS BY HAMAS, FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS

MANILA, Philippines  Two Filipinos have been killed as a result of the attacks by Hamas militants on Israel, where thousands of Filipinos live and work, said Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Manalo condemned the killings in a brief statement he posted Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, but did not provide other details, including the circumstances of the deaths and the identities of the victims. He added that the Philippines is ready to work with other countries toward a long-lasting resolution to the conflict, in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution.

CANADA PLANS TO AIRLIFT CANADIANS FROM ISRAEL

OTTAWA, Ontario  Canadian citizens will be flown out of the country from the Tel Aviv, Israel, airport in coming days in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel, Canada's foreign minister said Tuesday.

The government plans to conduct the evacuation using aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post did not mention those Canadians who are believed to be trapped in Gaza after Israel closed off the Hamas-controlled territory.

Canada is trying to determine how many of its citizens are among the dead or missing. Friends and family have confirmed that 22-year-old Ben Mizrachi from Vancouver and former Montreal resident Alexandre Look, who recently celebrated his 33rd birthday, were two of the hundreds killed while attending a music festival in southern Israel.

SON OF MISSING ITALIAN-ISRAELI CITIZENS THINKS THEY WERE KIDNAPPED

A son of two Italian-Israeli citizens unaccounted for after Hamas incursion into Israel believes they were kidnapped by Hamas militants.

Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, 65, who has an autoimmune disease and uses a wheelchair, and his wife, Lilach Lea Havron, 60, were holed up in their safe room on Saturday morning at their home in the Kibbutz Beeri, Nadav Kipnis told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He said that was the last time he and his brother Yotam heard from them.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani briefed parliament about the incursion on Tuesday, identifying the two Italians by name and saying they were probably taken hostage.

The family also has lost contact with Havrons sister and her extended family who lived nearby. All together, 11 people from two family households at the kibbutz are unaccounted for, including children ages 3, 8 and 12, Nadav Kipnis said.

CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ISRAEL TO SHOW SUPPORT

PRAGUE  Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky visited Israel on Tuesday to show his countrys support after the Hamas attack and brought more than 30 Czech nationals home from Israel on his plane, the Foreign Ministry said.

Lipavsky met his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, and President Isaac Herzog, the Ministry said. He also met the relatives of a woman kidnapped by Hamas.

Israel is one of us, the attacks and kidnappings unleashed by Hamas terrorists are an attack on all of us, Lipavsky said in a statement.

AUSTRALIA SAYS 1 OF ITS CITIZENS DIED IN HAMAS ATTACK

CANBERRA, Australia  A 66-year-old Sydney-born woman is the first known Australian to die in the Hamas attack on Israel, Australias government said Wednesday.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said Galit Carbone was killed Saturday at the Beeri kibbutz near Gaza.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is leading government efforts to help an estimated 10,000 Australians in Israel who want to leave.

BIDEN SAYS US CITIZENS AMONG HAMAS HOSTAGES, AGAIN CONDEMNS HAMAS ATTACK

Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, said Biden, who compared the brutality of the Hamas militants to that of the Islamic State terrorist group.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground.

Twenty or more U.S. citizens are unaccounted for, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. He said he did not know precisely how many citizens are being held hostage, or their conditions. Biden confirmed earlier Tuesday that 14 Americans have been killed in the bloody Hamas incursion.

PORTUGUESE CITIZEN AND STUDENT IN TEL AVIV FOUND DEAD

JERUSALEM  A Portuguese woman studying in Tel Aviv, Israel, who was identified as missing after the Hamas attack on Israel, was found dead Tuesday.

Rotem Neumann, 25, had been missing for at least three days by the time her body was found. Her death was confirmed by her cousin Tomer Neumann.

Rotem Neumann was at the Teva festival, a music festival near the Gaza border that was invaded by militants in the early hours of Saturday morning. She first called her parents from the festival when she heard rocket fire, Tomer Neumann said. That was the last time the family heard from her.

She then got into a car with friends and drove north, seeking shelter. The car soon encountered trucks filled with militants, shooting at them with machine guns. Panicked, they turned around and started going in the opposite direction. Militants with guns crowded the roads south, too.

They climbed out of the car and began running east, away from the border, piling into a concrete shelter they found at Kibbutz Reim. Rotem Neumann sent a message to a friend there, sharing with him her location so he could take shelter. Militants soon peppered the shelter with bullets.

ISRAEL SHELLS SYRIA AFTER ROCKETS HIT OPEN LAND IN GOLAN HEIGHTS

The Israeli military said it shelled Syria on Tuesday after rockets hit open land in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The military did not accuse any group of the rocket attack.

The Syrian government did not comment. However, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a Palestinian faction conducted the rocket attack from Syrian territory.

US INTELLIGENCE DIDN'T SEE ATTACK COMING, SECURITY ADVISER SAYS

WASHINGTON  U.S. intelligence did not pick up signs of the Hamas attack on Israel, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday.

We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold any more than the Israelis did, Sullivan told reporters.

As other White House officials have done in recent days, Sullivan also reiterated that the U.S. government has also not seen any direct linkage between Iran and the Hamas attack over the weekend.

US SECRETARY OF STATE GOING TO ISRAEL ON URGENT MISSION

WASHINGTON  U.S. President Joe Biden is dispatching his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants, the State Department said Tuesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday to deliver a message of solidarity and support, and will talk about what additional resources we can give them," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS DEATH TOLL IN HAS RISEN TO 900

GAZA CITY  Israeli airstrikes since Saturday have resulted in 900 deaths in Gaza, including 260 children and 230 women, with an additional 4,500 individuals wounded, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said Tuesday.

The airstrikes have caused the deaths of 150 members of 22 families, six health workers, and eight journalists, while 15 health workers and 20 journalists have been wounded, the ministry said.

Airstrikes on residential neighborhoods have displaced approximately 140,000 citizens to U.N. shelters and hospitals, the ministry said. The U.N. is reporting that at least 200,000 residents have been displaced.

US SAYS SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES WORKING WITH ISRAELIS

WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is now working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence in their counteroperations against Hamas.

We also have the ability to rapidly deploy other resources into the region, Austin said.

Austin released the information to reporters traveling with him to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels.

8 FRENCH CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ISRAEL, OFFICIALS SAY

PARIS  The number of French people killed in Israel has risen to eight  with 20 unaccounted for  the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Several of those are believed to be held hostage.

The ministry previously confirmed the deaths of four other French citizens killed in the Hamas militant attacks in Israel. At the time, the ministry said another 13 French citizens were missing and that some of them have very likely been kidnapped, including a 12-year-old boy.

French media identified the boy by his first name, Eitan, and reported that he lived with his family in the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel. Le Parisien newspaper quoted an aunt as saying that the boy was captured Saturday by Hamas militants who took him away on a motorbike.

ISLAMIST GROUP IN BANGLADESH RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIANS

DHAKA, Bangladesh  About 1,000 members of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, an Islamist group seeking to establish Sharia law in Bangladesh, rallied Tuesday in the South Asian nations capital, Dhaka, denouncing Israeli aggression on Gaza.

They marched through streets in front of the nations main Baitul Mokarram Mosque in downtown and chanted anti-Israeli slogans amid police guard.

All the Muslim countries including Qatar have been united for the Palestinians to protect (them) and get back their land. Everything must be done to achieve this," said Moulana Syed Mosaddek Al Madani, a leader of the group.

Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority nation of more than 160 million people.

CARRIER STRIKE GROUP ARRIVES IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, US OFFICIAL SAYS

WASHINGTON  The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence to prevent the now 4-day-old war with Hamas from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, a U.S. official told the Associated Press.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the arrival ahead of an official announcement.

6 ROCKETS WERE FIRED INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL, LEBANESE OFFICIAL SAYS

BEIRUT  A Lebanese security official said six rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel on Tuesday evening.

The officials said it was not immediately clear who fired the rockets from the area of the Lebanese southern village of Qlaileh. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. A statement from UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, also confirmed the rocket fire and urged everyone to exercise restraint at this critical time.

Officials from the Hezbollah militant group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said they had no information on the rockets.

EL-SISSI URGES A CEASE-FIRE IN LATEST WAR BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt on Tuesday urged a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, while warning of repercussions on the regions security and stability.

El-Sissi, whose government maintains ties with Israel and Hamas, said Egypt has intensified efforts to reach a cease-fire, the state-run MENA news agency reported.

The Egyptian leader affirmed his countrys position on establishing a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

RED CROSS OFFICIALS WORKING TO GAIN ACCESS TO PRISONERS, INCLUDING ISRAELI HOSTAGES

JERUSALEM  An official at the International Committee of the Red Cross says his organization has been in touch with both Hamas and Israeli officials about accessing prisoners, but so far have had no access to them.

Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that this includes the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during its unprecedented incursion into Israel from the Gaza Strip.
A motorist was shot in the hand in a road-rage incident Tuesday morning on Interstate 44 in St. Louis County.

Shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to eastbound I-44 near Bowles Avenue.

St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus said a man was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

One person was taken into custody, Panus said, but St. Louis County prosecutors refused charges.

Authorities have not released additional details about the shooting or the ages of the two people involved.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Charles County man was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in prison for killing a 23-year-old man on Halloween in the city's O'Fallon neighborhood.

Tryston Corbin, 21, was set to face trial this week on charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Oct. 31, 2021, death of Kaleeb Barnes. Instead, Corbin pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for a nine-year sentence, according to court documents.

Police said Corbin shot Barnes in the chest during an argument as Corbin left a home in the 4500 block of Alice Avenue. Police later recovered .40-caliber pistol that Corbin told police he used to shoot Barnes, according to court documents.
CLAYTON  St. Louis County Councilman Ernie Trakas has asked Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to investigate multiple allegations of misconduct, including new accusations of sexual abuse, at the countys juvenile detention center.

Parents of youths incarcerated there have told the Post-Dispatch their children have been physically and verbally abused by staff. Trakas mentioned some of those allegations in his Monday letter, such as youths not being allowed to use the restroom, plus sexual abuse reports.

Its a serious matter that needs to be looked at, said Trakas. I dont care what theyre in there for. These children deserve a chance. Treating them the way that has been alleged denies them of that chance.

The detention center is run by the 21st Judicial Court, which makes it a state-run facility mostly funded by county taxpayers. In August, parents came before the county council looking for a solution after divulging how their children were being neglected.

Council members responded, calling a meeting last month about the only matter in which they have jurisdiction  the budget. But Chair Shalonda Webb, under advisement from the county counselor, stopped parents from revealing anything to the council not related to the budget. Trakas said he sent the letter to Baileys office because it is authorized to investigate.

He also outlined his concerns about detention center staff.

I have also received information that center management has created a toxic work environment, which has led to inadequate staffing, Trakas wrote. If the foregoing allegations are true, the Center is in violation of the Missouri Supreme Courts Order and Rule129 governing the administration of Juvenile Detention Centers in Missouri.

Juvenile authorities acknowledged the center was short-staffed at a hearing last month. They said eight officers had quit working at the facility within a month, and 43 youths were housed there waiting on a resolution of their criminal cases. The facility has about 70 council-approved budgeted positions, including about 35 officers who are on the floor with the youth.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
LADUE  Five security officers were honored Tuesday for going above and beyond the call of duty during their response to a school shooting last fall in St. Louis.

The officers accepted the awards at a luncheon Thursday for being the first officers to confront a shooter on Oct. 24, 2022, on the shared campus of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience in south St. Louis.

The shooter, Orlando Harris, was shot and killed by police less than 20 minutes after storming his former high school armed with an AR-15-style rifle and about 600 rounds of ammunition and killing a student and a teacher.

It feels good to be acknowledged for something that comes natural to us, Capt. Misty Dobynes told the Post-Dispatch after the ceremony. We dont do it for the awards. We do it to make sure all of our scholars are safe.

Harris killed Alexzandria Bell, 15, and physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, 61, and shot and injured four others, but few additional details of the shooting have been released by authorities a year later.

A records request by the Post-Dispatch for investigative reports on the shooting and Harris autopsy were denied late last month. City officials said they could not release the records because the investigation remains open.

St. Louis police Sgt. Charles Wall said investigators are still working to compile a massive amount of evidence and hundreds of interviews into the final report.

The luncheon was organized by the St. Louis Chapter of ASIS International, an organization of security professionals.

Dobynes accepted the award with Sgt. Clifford Abram, Officer Coterri Dameier, Officer Darnice Lawrence and Officer Robert Findley.

Dobynes said the schools security team has focused on officers mental health since the shooting, and theyve kept up on training so that they remain prepared. She said their relationships with students and faculty were good prior to the attack, but the shooting brought them even closer.

It will always be in the back of my head, she said. I think it will always be in the back of all of our heads. But I am just thankful that we knew what to do.

In March, 22 police officers were honored at the 2nd District Police Business Associations annual awards luncheon for their quick response, which was widely praised.

ASIS also honored officers from several other jurisdictions at Tuesdays luncheon, including St. Charles, St. Charles County, St. Peters, St. Louis County, Ballwin and OFallon, Missouri. Six other area security guards also received awards.
ST. LOUIS  Airlines serving St. Louis Lambert International Airport have signed off on paying for much of $331.6 million in upgrades, including a new central utility plant and airfield maintenance complex.

The work, expected to begin next year, also includes replacing one of the airports three de-icing pads and the demolition of the long-vacant former Missouri Air National Guard complex.

Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Lamberts director, said the utility plant, maintenance complex and de-icing pad will shift to new locations to make way for the proposed consolidation of the airports two terminals into one single passenger concourse in later years.

The old National Guard complex also is in the proposed new terminals footprint, she said.

Hamm-Niebruegge said all the upgrades in the $331.6 million package are work that is needed, regardless of whether the terminal is built.

She said the new utility plant and a related new Ameren substation will cost the most, about $149 million. Another big-ticket item is the $75 million airfield maintenance complex rebuild. The demolition of the national guard buildings will cost about $5 million.

Lambert said $250 million in bonds, to be paid off by the airlines, will cover the bulk of the cost. Lambert also plans to use $65 million in federal infrastructure grants it has garnered and is seeking further grants as well.

The Federal Aviation Administration earlier this year gave initial approval to Lamberts estimated $2.8 billion plan for a new terminal and parking garage.

Final approval is contingent on an environmental review. Leases with airlines also have to be negotiated.
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ST. LOUIS  U.S. Rep. Cori Bush joined other elected officials this weekend by reacting to Hamas surprise attack on Israel. But unlike statements issued by others, Bushs drew sharp condemnation, including from fellow lawmakers.

The St. Louis Democrat went past the general decrying of the violence and seemed, at least in the view of some pro-Israel politicians and organizations, to lay the blame for the aggression on Israel.

Violations of human rights do not justify more violations of human rights, and a military response will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis alike, Bush said on social media. As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending US government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.

Bushs statement, issued Saturday night as the death toll was continuing to climb, was consistent with her past positions. She has steadfastly been among a minority of Democratic lawmakers who have strongly opposed Israeli policy in Gaza and other Palestinian areas in the Middle East.

My statement on the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel  pic.twitter.com/NIt9G7aLMI  Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 8, 2023

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, slammed Bushs statement by calling it reprehensible and offensive.

Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and we stand with them unequivocally as they protect their nation against this unprovoked act of war, Wagner said.

Locally, the Anti-Defamation Leagues St. Louis-based chapter, which covers Missouri, Southern Illinois and a portion of Kansas, also strongly condemned Bushs stance.

More than 800 Israelis have been murdered, more than 2,000 injured, and countless are being held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas, the ADL said in a statement. To take this moment to slander our ally Israel and suggest the U.S. cut off military assistance is tone-deaf, heartless, and beyond reason.

In a separate interview, Jordan Kadosh, ADL regional director, further criticized Bushs statement.

Hamas is a terrorist organization and theyre just massacring people, killing children and murdering families, Kadosh said.

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis issued a statement which said, Jewish lives should be protected, supported, and honored in St. Louis and in Israel, and condemns Hamas and their abhorrent terror attack on Israel.

Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council in St. Louis, said she was dismayed by Bushs statement, given that members of the local Jewish community are trying to find out about the well-being of family and friends in Gaza.

Rather than focus her statement exclusively on the lives lost and the need for a peaceful resolution following the horrific attacks that sent shockwaves across the world, Congresswoman Bush chose to add implicit blame upon Israel, Neiss said.

Bushs office on Monday declined to comment further on her statement.

Bushs weekend message echoed that of another member of The Squad, a group of progressive legislators that has consistently supported Palestinian interests.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., condemned the unconditional funding by the U.S. to support Israel, which she called an apartheid government.

One of the first to fire back at Bush and Tlaib was another liberal Democrat, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York. Torres called their remarks reprehensible and repulsive.

Israel is the victim of a terrorist attack. Hamas is the perpetrator. Its as simple as that. There are no both sides, Ritchie said.

Israel is the victim of a terrorist attack. Hamas is the perpetrator. Its as simple as that. There are no both sides.



Yet here you have 30+ student organizations from Harvard University, blaming the victims, Israelis, for their own murder, rape, and abduction, rather than pic.twitter.com/uePk86oAQa  Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) October 9, 2023

Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, Torres added, according to national news sources.

A local group, Progressive Jews of St. Louis, echoed Bushs statement with its own release on Monday.

While mourning the loss of life, the group said it stood in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and said that the Hamas attacks are not unprovoked and blamed them on U.S. aid to the Israeli military.

Progressive Jews of St. Louis (ProJoSTL) continues to stand in solidarity with Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation. As we witness the ongoing events, we are devastated by the brutality and mourn all loss of life. pic.twitter.com/FAurgoWZfd  Progressive Jews of St. Louis (@ProJoSTL) October 9, 2023

The Council on American-Islamic Relations also came out Monday in defense of Bushs statement, calling her remarks absolutely right.

To save lives in Israel and Palestine, we need a lasting peace, said Robert S. McCaw, CAIRs government affairs director. And theres no peace without justice, including (for) Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

This is not the first time Bush has embraced anti-Israel stances.

In April, Bush voted against a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Then in July, Bush and other members of The Squad boycotted a speech by Israel President Isaac Herzog.

In 2021, Bush twice voted against funding Israels defense.

First, she introduced a resolution seeking to block a $735 million sale of precision-guided weapons made by Boeing Co. in St. Charles. Later that year, she opposed sending $1 billion to Israel for its Iron Dome defense system.

Bush was first elected in 2020, upsetting longtime incumbent Democrat William Lacy Clay. In 2022, she was reelected by a wide margin after defeating her Democratic primary opponent, state Sen. Steve Roberts.

Unlike Bush, other St. Louis-area lawmakers have uniformly condemned Hamas attacks.

Over the weekend, Wagner, said, Make no mistake, these are innocent civilians in Israel being targeted and slaughtered by Hamas terrorists.

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said on Saturday, These brutal terrorist attacks have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded, and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas. Israel has every right to defend itself.

Americans are waking up to shocking news as Israel was attacked last night. These brutal terrorist attacks have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded, and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas. Israel has every right to defend itself.  Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) October 7, 2023

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said, Hamas terrorists are deliberately targeting innocent civilians in Israel in despicable acts of war. I stand with Israel and support Israels right of self-defense as they defend their people and their homeland.

Hamas terrorists are deliberately targeting innocent civilians in Israel in despicable acts of war. I stand with Israel and support Israels right of self-defense as they defend their people and their homeland. Now as ever, the United States must support Israel https://t.co/gQQGPS5rpJ  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 7, 2023

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, also a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, said, I strongly condemn Hamass unprovoked attack on Israel. We mourn the loss of innocent life and pray for their families.

I strongly condemn Hamas's unprovoked attack on Israel. We mourn the loss of innocent life and pray for their families.https://t.co/B550zqtJ4A  Wesley Bell (@WesleyBell4MO) October 7, 2023

Gov. Mike Parson also weighed in on the situation, saying, I stand with Israel. Missouri stands with Israel. The United States must stand with Israel.

Editors note: A sentence saying members of the progressive Democratic group known as the Squad have consistently supported Hamas and other Palestinian groups has been revised. While they have all opposed the blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza, they have not explicitly voiced support for Hamas.
ST. LOUIS  A city program paying lower-income families $500 a month for a year and a half is about to begin, kicking off a signature priority for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones aimed at lifting up the citys poor.

The money is going to hundreds of city households, Jones said Tuesday, and will also help build stronger neighborhoods and prevent the root causes of crime.

St. Louis guaranteed basic income will give hundreds of St. Louis families the resources they need to lift themselves out of poverty, giving them a strong foundation to grow and to thrive, Jones said at a press conference to lay out the application process.

Such experiments have played out across the country, with some success: The federal government temporarily expanded the child tax credit to send families up to $300 per month for each kid during the pandemic, and researchers said it cut child poverty in half. Results from an early experiment in Stockton, California, suggested monthly cash payments helped stabilize households and made people more likely to get full-time jobs by freeing up time to pursue them.

And Jones said a round of one-time $500 checks here in 2021 and 2022 that went to more than 9,000 households helped cover essentials: groceries, utilities and rent. (Residents converted more than a third of it, however, to cash at an ATM, or transferred it to another bank account, rendering those dollars untraceable.)

The programs together add St. Louis to a growing list of cities experimenting with guaranteed basic income that already includes Baltimore, Chicago and Denver, and smaller cities like Birmingham, Alabama, and Columbia, South Carolina.

The modern push for a guaranteed income is decades old. In the 1960s, the concept found advocates in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Panther Party and President Richard Nixon, who actually got a plan through the U.S. House before it stalled in the Senate. More recently, it got a high-profile boost from 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who ran on promises of a $1,000 per month payment to adult U.S. citizens. And its been catching fire with progressive Democratic mayors.

St. Louis program was approved by the Board of Aldermen late last year, albeit with some criticism from aldermen who questioned how it would be administered.

The program is now expected to send money to roughly 540 households in the city with parents or guardians of children attending city public schools, including charter schools. Eligibility is limited to those making 170% of the federal poverty line or less  about $42,000 for a family of three.

The city is putting $5 million in federal pandemic aid toward the program, including $1 million for administrative expenses.

Jack Dorsey, the St. Louis native and billionaire co-founder of tech firms Twitter and Square, is also contributing $1 million to the program.

Jones announced a website on Tuesday where those interested can find information about who is eligible. Applications will be open Oct. 23 to Nov. 1.

The city will start sending the money, on debit cards, in December.
KIRKWOOD  The Kirkwood City Council, by a vote of 4-3 on Thursday, shot down another attempt to move the citys civilian employees to a defined benefit pension plan, the latest disappointment for workers who have long complained that the citys retirement benefits lag behind the regions other municipalities.

The issue has simmered for years in Kirkwood, a full-service city with 290 employees that operates its own electric, water and refuse departments. Many of its roughly 175 civilian employees complain the citys retirement plan, a blended 401(k)-style defined contribution plan and defined benefit pension, is less generous than the plans provided by other local governments. They support joining the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) pension plan, which covers 850 employers and 70,000 workers and retirees across the state.

Mollie LeBlanc, Kirkwoods human resources manager, told the council Thursday that virtually every municipality in the region participates in LAGERS or some defined benefit pension plan, and Kirkwood is struggling to fill positions because of its benefit structure.

Those employees in other cities like the fact that they have a defined benefit pension, and they dont want to give that up to come work for the city of Kirkwood, she said. The presence of a defined benefit pension plan is why people go to work for government. They accept lower pay because they know theyll be taken care of in their retirement.

In 2018, the council put the issue on the April ballot, but residents of Kirkwood  one of the most affluent municipalities in the St. Louis area  voted it down overwhelmingly, with 75% of the citys voters opposing the switch. At the time, the plan called for moving the citys police and fire departments to LAGERS, too, but Kirkwoods firefighters opposed it, contributing to its defeat.

This proposal only covered the citys civilian employees, which would only need council approval rather than a public vote.

Kirkwood again began considering a switch to LAGERS in late 2021, but a citizen committee in early 2022 recommended against it, citing the possibility of higher pension costs for taxpayers, the Webster-Kirkwood Times reported. Kirkwood Mayor Tim Griffin then withdrew the legislation.

The city reintroduced the issue earlier this year, with Griffin promising a vote. When it came up Thursday, opponents on the council cited residents opposition in the 2018 vote and the fact that police and firefighters would be on different pension plans.

We owe it to the people of Kirkwood, who strongly voted against this, to look further, Councilwoman Maggie Duwe said at Thursdays meeting. This is a plea to not become part of something from which we can never leave.

Councilwoman Kara Wurtz, though, argued that the value of a good worker has increased greatly since COVID.

We have invested greatly in our buildings, our streets, but we have not invested highly in our own workforce, Wurtz said.

Wurtz, Griffin and Councilman Bob Sears voted in favor of moving civilian employees to LAGERS. Council members Duwe, Liz Gibbons, Nancy Luetzow and Mark Zimmer voted against it.
ST. CLAIR  The high school English teacher suspended last month after the St. Clair School District discovered that she had performed sexual acts on an adult website has resigned.

The 28-year-old teacher at St. Clair High School, Brianna Coppage, tendered her resignation, and she has decided to move forward in a different direction, Superintendent Kyle Kruse said in a statement. The resignation was "voluntary," he said.

Attempts to reach Coppage by the Post-Dispatch were not immediately successful. Her story gained global readership after being picked up by news outlets in the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Singapore and elsewhere.

Coppage, who had taught for two years at St. Clair High School, previously told the Post-Dispatch that she joined the direct-to-consumers website OnlyFans over the summer to supplement her teaching salary.

OnlyFans, a website that launched in 2016, boasts more than 210 million paid subscribers worldwide and more than 2.1 million content creators. It has garnered significant attention as teachers, judges, lawyers, police officers and other professionals have created content on the site to bolster their incomes.

Creators charge anywhere from $3 to $75 for a monthly subscription, with some users paying more for custom and pay-per-view content.

It was kind of always like this cloud hanging over my head, like I never knew when I would be discovered, Coppage said, after being suspended last month. So I knew this day was coming.

Coppage taught English to freshmen and sophomores and made about $42,000 last year, according to the Post-Dispatch public pay database. She previously said she earned an additional $8,000 to $10,000 per month performing on OnlyFans, but that was before word of her account circulated in St. Clair and beyond.

The school superintendent, Kruse, tried to clarify some misconceptions of how this story unfolded in the rural Franklin County community, about 55 miles southwest of St. Louis.

We were deeply disappointed that this negative attention was brought to our community, but we were also limited to how we could respond, Kruse said.

He said district officials did not independently discover Coppages online persona but instead learned of it from a person who is not affiliated with the district and who is not from St. Clair.

The district immediately retained legal counsel for assistance, due to the sensitivity of the matter and to protect the integrity of the investigation. The district was advised to, and did, take all possible steps to ensure confidentiality, he said.

Nevertheless, the situation became known to the media through third parties and was discussed in the community and elsewhere, Kruse said.
ST. CHARLES  County jail officials here say that changes installed in recent years have caused about a 90% decrease in the amount of drugs smuggled into the facility, and several more changes are on the way.

Were always trying to stay ahead of the curve. I believe that were there, but we always have to be vigilant, said Daniel Keen, corrections director for St. Charles County. We are ready for the next step and are looking to the future.

Early next year, the St. Charles County Jail will begin requiring inmates to wear heart rate monitor bracelets that will alert jail staff if an inmates pulse rapidly increases or decreases. The jail will also launch a substance abuse unit, which Keen said will help provide resources for those suffering from addiction.

That will be huge and I think shows that we are focusing on putting all of the right steps in place to protect staff and individuals within the jail, said Keen, who has been in his role overseeing the jail for six years.

Keen estimated that at least 86% of inmates at the jail, which reaches a capacity of 516 people, suffer from a mental health disorder or a substance abuse addiction.

Those changes come on the heels of several others in recent years.

In 2018, the department purchased a body scanner, comparable to those used by the Transportation Security Administration, that all new inmates must walk through. The scanner cost about $200,000 at the time, jail officials estimated.

Then, in 2021, the department added a drug amnesty box after first seeing one used at a Kentucky corrections facility. The box allows inmates going through the booking process to turn in narcotics without fear of new criminal charges being filed. Over the past three months, staff have retrieved 7.3 pounds of drugs and paraphernalia, including fentanyl, marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine and opioids, through the amnesty box. The contraband is taken to a county-owned incinerator for disposal, Keen said.

The addition of the scanner makes the St. Charles County Jail one of only a handful of lockups in Missouri to have this technology, and Keen said he did not know of very many facilities in the area that offer a drug amnesty box.

Were not in the position to press charges. We can do it, but thats not what we are here for. Were here to make sure that no contraband gets into our facility and to ensure the well-being of our staff and the inmate population, Keen told reporters on Tuesday after giving a tour of the jails main areas.

During the tour, Keen said the scanner is used to detect whether a person has swallowed or hidden narcotics on their body, such as underneath their armpit, in their ears, in their nostrils, between their toes or in their hair.

The scanner wont pick up everything because the way the scanner is designed it is looking for objects or something that has a little bit of mass. Fentanyl is the size of a grain of salt and unfortunately it doesnt pick up something that small. Thats another reason why we wanted to offer the drop box, because we wanted to offer inmates every opportunity to get rid of the drugs, Keen said.

Keen said he is no longer surprised by how people attempt to bring drugs into the facility, which processes some 14,000 inmates per year.

When you start putting drugs into a body cavity, then you are itching to get drugs inside, Keen said. If someone has swallowed drugs, they are referred to the medical department for consultation and, if necessary, taken to a nearby hospital where they will stay until they are deemed to be safe for confinement.

The department has also implemented policy changes for the delivery of books and inmate mail, which is now taken to an off-site facility and digitally scanned into a computer program that allows inmates to read the letter. No physical copy of the mail ever reaches the inmate, while books must now come from a third-party book vendor.

Keen said those changes were made after inmates were caught eating or smoking book pages, and letters had been soaked with various narcotics by people outside of the jail.

Keen said the department also recently installed bird-like netting to prevent any types of drugs or other items being thrown over the walls into the recreation yard at the jail. And signs are posted to discourage the use of drones in the area.

These changes were also touted as playing a key role in reducing the amount of drugs brought inside the jail.

Nick Post, a lieutenant with the corrections department, said he has seen these policy changes make a difference.

Ive been here for 20 years, and this is the least amount of drugs weve seen in the past 20 years, Post said. It is working.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY  Following months of hours-long meetings and impassioned debate, the St. Charles City-County Library Board could soon have a new member.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann has nominated William Buddy Hardin, a former candidate for the state House of Representatives, to replace a sitting member on the nine-person board that oversees the countywide library systems 11 branches and multimillion-dollar budget. Ehlmann is also reappointing Matthew Seeds, who has at times been critical of library leadership.

Ehlmann has been working on the nominations for months. The challenge, he said in August, was finding someone who would have the conservative bona fides to appease the critics of the current library board.

Never in my 16 years in office have I ever felt pressure to appoint an avowed conservative to the library board like I am right now, Ehlmann said then. Previously, we sought to appoint people who wanted to serve their community, people who wanted to support libraries and literacy. The last thing I ever asked them was their political preferences, but now I guess Ill have to ask them just how conservative they are.

The meetings of the St. Charles City-County Library Board have been a battleground for culture wars for months. St. Charles County residents have clashed over concerns regarding a library staff persons attire, childrens access to sexually explicit material and the makeup of the board itself.

Ehlmann nominated Hardin and Seeds in a letter this month to the County Council. The council has to confirm the nominations.

Hardin, 60, of St. Charles, is an Alton native and a 1989 graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. In August 2022, he finished third in the Republican Party primary in Missouri House District 106, which includes portions of St. Charles city north of Interstate 70.

If his appointment is confirmed on Tuesday, he would replace Georganne MacNab, whose term expired on July 31. Hardins term would expire in 2026.

MacNab has not attended meetings in person since before January. In the virtual meetings in which she has participated, she has often been so soft-spoken that her fellow board members either cant hear her or have to interpret what she is saying. She typically votes with the board.

Seeds was appointed to the library board in February 2023 to serve the remainder of Joann Leykams term, according to county documents.

Since his appointment, Seeds, who works as director of information systems for the county government, has at times been an outspoken critic of the librarys administration.

In June and August, he unsuccessfully urged the library to end its membership with the Urban Library Council, an organization that conservatives in St. Charles County have labeled as being too liberal.

Hardin and Seeds would add to a library board of Staci Alvarez, Nevada Smith, Renee Tillmann, Justin Collier, TJ Rains, Melissa Setser and Josiah Schmidt.

Alvarez, Smith and Tillmann represent St. Charles County; the others are appointees from the city of St. Charles.

The next appointments to the library board likely wont happen until next year when the terms of Alvarez, Smith and Setser are set to expire.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 100 North Third Street in St. Charles.
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DAKAR, Senegal  A $40 million investment will help several African manufacturers produce new messenger RNA vaccines on the continent where people were last in line to receive jabs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced Monday.

While it could still take at least three more years before any of the vaccines are approved and on the market, the foundation said that its mRNA investment marks an important step forward in improving vaccine equity.

Whether its for local diseases in Africa like Rift Valley (fever) or for global diseases like TB, mRNA looks like a very promising approach, Bill Gates told The Associated Press on Sunday after visiting one of the facilities involved, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal. And so it allows us to bring in lots of African capabilities to work on these vaccines, and then this can be scaled up.

The announcement comes as the foundation opens its annual three-day Grand Challenges event, which brings together scientists and public health researchers from around the world.

Institut Pasteur, along with the South Africa-based company Biovac, will use an mRNA research and manufacturing platform that was developed by Quantoom Biosciences in Belgium. The two Africa-based vaccine manufacturers are receiving $5 million each in funding from the foundation, while another $10 million is earmarked for other companies that have not yet been named. The remaining $20 million is going to Quantoom to further advance the technology and lower costs."

The mRNA vaccine technology came to the forefront with the production of COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. The messenger RNA approach starts with a snippet of genetic code-carrying instructions for making proteins. And by picking the right virus protein to target, the body turns into a mini vaccine factory.

Those COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were fast-tracked through the regulatory process and granted emergency use authorization. The new vaccines under development in Africa face a far longer development timeline  anywhere from three to seven years.

Dr. Amadou Sall, chief executive officer at Institut Pasteur, said the deal will help build vaccine self-reliance in Africa. The institute already has been producing yellow fever jabs since the 1930s and now hopes mRNA technology can be harnessed to produce vaccines for diseases endemic on the continent like Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

What we want is next time there is a pandemic  we hope it wont happen soon  Africa would be able to make its own vaccine, to contribute to the development, and make sure that we protect the population, Sall said. What happened with COVID should never happen again in the sense that Africans should get vaccinated as a matter of equity.

Jose Castillo, chief executive officer of Quantoom Biosciences, said the mRNA technologies allow low- and middle-income countries to become autonomous in terms of research and development. The platform needs only 3,800 square feet of space to have a manufacturing facility capable of making tens of millions of doses.

So we think that this technology will have a tremendous impact in terms of autonomy through regional manufacturing, he said.

With $8.3 billion to give away in 2023, the Gates Foundation is the largest private philanthropic donor. And with an endowment of more than $70 billion, its spending power is likely to continue for many decades. It has spent billions of dollars to vaccinate against polio, treat and prevent malaria and HIV and more recently advance vaccines for diseases like cholera.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Bidens interview with prosecutors over his handling of classified documents signals that a sprawling investigation that has included questioning of some of his closest aides and at least one cabinet member is nearing a conclusion.

The White House revealed on Monday night that Biden was interviewed on Sunday and Monday by special counsel Robert Hurs team, meaning he was fielding questions from investigators during the same hours that his administration was consumed by the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Its a familiar dynamic for a president who over the last year has had to fulfill his duties as commander in chief while dealing with scrutiny over his own classified records retention and the legal problems of his recently indicted son, Hunter.

As president, he has to do multiple things at once, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.

Agents and prosecutors typically save interviews of key players for the final days of an investigation, a sign that Hurs nine-month-old probe is likely near the end. Because Hur is a Justice Department special counsel, the conclusion of the probe will likely be accompanied by the release of a report laying out his teams findings. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Tuesday on the interview or when the investigation might end.

The investigation so far appears to present no legal jeopardy for Biden. There has been no public indication that he or anyone else in his orbit intentionally mishandled classified documents. In addition, Justice Department legal opinions have held that sitting presidents cannot be indicted.

But the political cloud surrounding the issue isnt going anywhere. The investigation is on course to wrap up in the heart of Bidens reelection campaign. And Republican front-runner Donald Trump, indicted by a different Justice Department special counsel over his own mishandling of classified documents, has repeatedly claimed Biden has received special treatment.

Since being appointed to the job last January, Hur and his team have cast a broad net, interviewing current and former Biden aides about the mechanics of how documents with classified markings were processed and stored. Among those questioned, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the probe, are former chief of staff Ron Klain, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, former White House Counsel Dana Remus and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The investigation has centered on how roughly 25 to 30 documents with classification markings, from Bidens time as vice president and as a senator, wound up stored improperly in his Delaware home and in a private office in Washington he used after his service in the Obama administration. Some of the documents were found during searches of his office and Wilmington home by Bidens lawyers and others during an FBI search that Bidens team agreed to voluntarily.

Even as Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate potential crimes in how the documents were handled, Biden and his team have sought to play down the severity of the matter. The president has said he was unaware that he had the records and insisted  theres no there there  to the investigation.

From the start, the investigation unfolded alongside a far more perilous probe of Trumps handling of classified documents. Though the existence of the investigation may have blunted Bidens ability to forcefully castigate Trump for his own mishandling of classified records, it seems to have had little bearing on the Justice Departments decision to charge Trump.

The former president was indicted in June on charges that he illegally retained top secret government documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, and obstructed government demands to give them back. While Trump claims that he was being prosecuted for political reasons by the Biden administrations Justice Department, the indictment against him lays bare significant allegations of obstruction and intentional mishandling that have been absent from the Biden investigation.

Where the Trump probe has been laden with moments that hinted at the legal jeopardy he faced, including testimony before a secret grand jury by one of Trumps lawyers, theres been no public sign in the Biden investigation that prosecutors are even using a grand jury, an essential vehicle for seeking an indictment. The absence of a grand jury could also suggest that the interviews prosecutors are doing have all been voluntary in nature and that they have not needed to rely on subpoenas to secure sit-downs with witnesses.

Biden, Trump, and Pence: how their classified documents scandals are the same (and different) Biden, Trump, and Pence: how their classified documents scandals are the same (and different) The basics How this happened What happens next?
NEW YORK  Pharmacy staff at some Walgreens stores locked their gates and walked out Monday, citing harsh working conditions that make it difficult to safely fill prescriptions.

CNN confirmed pharmacy closures at some Walgreens locations in Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts and Oregon, and pharmacy staff and customers are posting to social media that other closures are taking place throughout the country.

Heres what you need to know.

Whats happening?

Pharmacists, technicians and support staff were planning walkouts from Monday through Wednesday, an organizer who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution, confirmed to CNN.

Some stores are remaining open with a skeleton emergency crew  an organizer told CNN that Walgreens had asked regional leaders to mobilize and staff the pharmacies on Monday.

Many pharmacies that are open are severely understaffed as the majority of their employees called out Monday. Some stores said they were able to operate only their drive-thru pharmacy Monday and others said they would be closing early due to a lack of staff.

Walgreens told CNN in a statement that a small number of our pharmacies are experiencing disruptions and we apologize for any inconvenience. Walgreens said it is working to return these pharmacies to regular operations as quickly as possible, adding that the vast majority of pharmacies remain open.

Still, regional Walgreens leadership is struggling to keep some locations functioning on the West Coast. In a text message thread reviewed by CNN, managers reported a flurry of pharmacy closures and asked for extra coverage to stay open. Some managers reported receiving calls encouraging them to participate in the walkouts and others issues warnings to their staff against speaking to the media.

A Walgreens representative said on Monday that the company understands the immense pressures felt across the U.S. in retail pharmacy right now, and that they are are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members.

Unlike the WGA and United Auto Worker strikes, there is no union leader to coordinate and publicly address the movement. Instead, pharmacy employees are using platforms like Reddit and Facebook, as well as email and fliers, to plan walkouts.

Without a central organizing body, it is also difficult to confirm how many pharmacies will be closed. Organizers told CNN they had heard from well over 500 interested stores (out of approximately 9,000) across the country. Walgreens did not immediately respond to questions about the exact number of pharmacy closures.

Why theyre walking out

Pharmacy staff are burned out.

A survey conducted last year by the American Pharmacists Association and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, found that pharmacy staff are inundated with demands for prescriptions, shots and other services without sufficient  or sufficiently trained  staff to fulfill the orders. Meanwhile, they complain that they face harassment and bullying by some patients.

The survey also found that pharmacy workers say management focuses too much on profit, facing constant disruptions to their workflow that prevent them from making decisions about how appropriate a treatment might be for a particular patient.

And when pharmacy workers take their complaints to management, theyve fallen on deaf ears, the survey found.

There is no open mechanism for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel to discuss workplace issues with supervisors and management; if they try, the discussion is not welcomed or heard, the groups wrote.

Some CVS and Walgreens employees told CNN that a new focus on vaccinations added to their workload and made it more difficult to focus on filling prescriptions or customer care.

Its a hard job on a good day. Its an incredibly rewarding job, but its hard, said Amanda Applegate, the interim executive director of the Kansas Pharmacists Association. And so the idea of pharmacists essentially being turned into ATMs in these environments, encouraging volume over quality, is why this is happening.

Why it matters

Pharmacy employees are essential healthcare workers

Wolters Kluwers Pharmacy Next survey found that 58% of Americans are likely to first seek non-emergency healthcare at pharmacies. More than 80% said they trust a pharmacist, nurse, or nurse practitioner to diagnose minor illnesses and prescribe medications to treat them.

Pharmacies are becoming a front-line site for non-emergency care, particularly among younger generations, said Dr. Peter Bonis, the chief medical officer at Wolters Kluwer Health.

CVS pharmacists also walked off the job

CVS recently had a walkout and talks are not over.

In September, CVS pharmacists in the Kansas City area closed as many as 22 pharmacies in two walkouts over two weeks in a planned protest, prompting executives to meet with staff and assure them that additional support and higher overtime pay were coming.

Pharmacists are doing exactly what theyve been trained to do, which is evaluate the situation and take whatever action is necessary to ensure that theyre providing the best patient care, said Michael Hogue, CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, who traveled to Kansas City to meet with CVS executives and walkout organizers last week. We have a widespread problem in the United States of inadequate staffing in community-based pharmacies.

In an internal memo reviewed by CNN, Prem Shah, CVSs chief pharmacy officer and president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, apologized to his Kansas City-based pharmacy teams for failing to address their concerns in a more timely manner.

Another meeting with Shah is planned for late this week, but no time or location has been set, a CVS walkout organizer told CNN.

CVS representatives told CNN that no specific talks have been scheduled because executives dont see this as a one-time meeting or update  its a continuous two-way dialogue to share how were meeting the commitments we made to our teams and to continue to hear their direct feedback, said Amy Thibault, lead director of external communications for CVS Pharmacy.

A lead organizer of the CVS walkouts in Kansas City told CNN that if there is no meeting this week there could be another round of labor action.

What next?

Walgreens and CVS say theyre working with pharmacy staff to fix the situation.

In a statement to CNN, Walgreens acknowledged that pharmacy employees are overworked.

The last few years have required an unprecedented effort from our team members, and we share their pride in this work  while recognizing it has been a very challenging time, said Fraser Engerman, a spokesman for Walgreens. We also understand the immense pressures felt across the US in retail pharmacy right now. We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members.

Walgreens is committed to ensuring that our entire pharmacy team has the support and resources necessary to continue to provide the best care to our patients while taking care of their own well-being, added Engerman. We are making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract/retain talent in harder to staff locations.

Similarly, CVS told CNN that the company is committed to providing access to consistent, safe, high-quality health care to the patients and communities we serve and are working with our pharmacists to directly address any concerns they may have.

The company is focused on developing a sustainable, scalable action plan that can be put in place in markets where support may be needed so we can continue delivering the high-quality care our patients depend on, a representative said.

___

CNNs Ramishah Maruf and Sergio Padilla contributed to this report.

___

What the Hollywood strikes tell us about the state of unions in the US What the Hollywood strikes tell us about the state of unions in the US Union support reaches levels last seen when Ronald Reagan led striking Hollywood actors Union drives grow more effective Clashes between workers and employers rising Union membership still below prepandemic levels
Fewer South Korean students think South Korea should cooperate with North Korea as cross-border relations soured last year, a survey suggests.

The government polled 66,042 schoolkids nationwide from Oct. 21 to Nov. 29 last year and found that the mention of North Korea triggered increasing associations with words like "war," "militarism," "dictatorship" and "poverty."

Some 43.8 percent said South Korea should cooperate with the North, down 7.1 percentage points from the same poll a year earlier, while 35.8 percent said South Korea should be on its guard against the crackpot country, up 7.6 percentage points.

The proportion of students who think the South should help the North dropped from 12.1 percent to 8.2 percent, while 8.1 percent see the North as an enemy, up from 5.2 percent.


WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / The American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC) has joined with a coalition of other leading diaspora groups in calling for major human rights and anti-corruption reforms in Ethiopia, following a comprehensive discussion that was convened last week by the Horn of Africa Community.

American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee Logo

American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee Logo

The demands for greater press and speech freedom, sanctions against government officials linked to atrocities, and other major reforms were endorsed by representatives of at least eight groups representing different regions of Ethiopia - a long-time ally of the United States and Africa's second-most populous nation with 120 million people - and other organizations supporting the diaspora.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the U.S. State Department, who addressed the diaspora representatives. It was a follow-up to the Ethiopian Diaspora Peace Conference that had been held in July at the University of San Diego and attended by Ambassador Mike Hammer, U.S Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.

Representatives at the meeting reached an agreement on a number of key points regarding the current political situation in Ethiopia, which is experiencing ongoing conflict and atrocities despite a November 2022 peace agreement aimed at ending several years of civil war. The group's demands include:

1. Release Political Prisoners: Immediately release all political prisoners, including party leaders, former officials, activists, journalists, and artists, as a crucial step towards peace and reconciliation

2. Media Freedom: Ensure freedom of the press by allowing international and local journalists unrestricted access to all areas of the country. Enable them to report without fear of reprisal, fostering transparency and accountability.

3. Freedom of Speech and Assembly: Ensure free speech, unhindered telecommunications and internet access addressing persistent concerns throughout Ethiopia and currently in Amhara. Safeguard the right to peaceful protests without fear of arrest or violence.

4. Anti-Corruption Measures: Address mass corruption, particular focusing on the deteriorating situations in the Somali, Harar, and Afar regions. Implement stringent anti-corruption measures to hold accountable those involved in corrupt practices.

5. Equitable Aid Distribution: Promote equitable distribution of foreign aid, with a special focus on Tigray and northern Ethiopia, while ensuring transparency and accountability. Provide unhindered humanitarian assistance, with a priority on vulnerable populations in need.

6. National Dialogue: Initiate an inclusive national dialogue, facilitate a ceasefire in Amhara and Oromia regions, and diligently adhere to the full implementation of all peace agreements.

7. Sanctions: Implement sanctions on all government and military officials implicated in mass atrocities, conflict-related sexual violence, and other crimes throughout Ethiopia.

The coalition and its leaders remain dedicated to promoting peace, transitional justice, freedom, peaceful coexistence, and empowerment of all Ethiopian citizens and the people of the Horn of Africa. The unity and territorial integrity of the nation remains a non-negotiable duty for all citizens to protect.

In addition to AEPAC, the meeting was attended by the Amhara Association of America (AAA), Oromo Legacy Leadership & Advocacy Association (OLLAA), Ogden Community of USA (OGCUSA), Tigray Center for Information and Communication (TCIC), American Afar Diaspora (AAD), HRM, UHM, and others who made pivotal contributions to the discussion.

The American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC) is dedicated to promoting a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and Ethiopia. AEPAC's core mission is to strengthen and enhance the century-old relationship between the United States and Ethiopia. AEPAC strives to build a strong partnership based on the common interests and mutual benefits of the two countries.

Contact Information

Christopher Drumm

Consultant

[email protected]

2153707874

SOURCE: AEPAC

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A captain of versatility, this employee-partner is always ready to assist

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Julian E. has never squandered an opportunity to help out his fellow Cintas employee-partners at the Rental Location in Union, N.J.

"He's always the first to volunteer," said his General Manager, Doug Rader. Julian is also the first to take on additional responsibility beyond his role as a utility worker, truck loader and Stretch & Flex captain.

"He's the captain of wherever he works," Rader said. "Everybody gravitates to him. He's got a great personality, and (employee-)partners love to talk to him."

Julian has neural developmental delays with autistic tendencies and is among the employee-partners Cintas salutes year-round, including during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. His contributions are especially important at his location where he's worked for four years.

"I enjoy working with everybody who needs a helping hand," Julian said.

There was a time when he needed a helping hand - after Hurricane Ida hit the northeast part of the country in 2021. Julian was at work, and his mom was at home when the storm hit. Afterward, they tried to salvage their personal belongings and seek shelter.

Julian said he and his mother "bounced around from a hotel to another hotel" after being displaced by the storm. The Cintas Partner Assistance Fund provided aid to the duo as they regained their bearings and searched for more permanent shelter.

"I was like, Let me live in a safer environment than it was before.' And my mom was hoping that for me, too," Julian said.

Just last year, Julian moved into his own apartment. It was close enough to work that he could ride his mountain bike to and from work. Julian upgraded his mode of transportation to an electric motorbike just a couple of months ago and has relished his independence and new ride.

He appreciates the safe, supportive environment he has experienced at Cintas, especially after the chaos of Hurricane Ida. The family-like employee-partners at Cintas have helped foster his confidence, and he believes sharing his story will inspire other employee-partners with disabilities to find similar support.

Speaking of support, he's a huge fan of Cintas holiday parties. They are among his favorite reasons for working at the Rental location in Union, N.J. "You cannot miss" the holiday party, Julian said, although he admitted Halloween is pretty great, too.

Julian's can-do attitude and elite work ethic keep him busy during the workweek, whether he's processing mats, unloading trucks, loading trucks, or working hand-in-hand with Service Sales Representatives.

His contributions are greatly valued at Cintas.

"I love working with Julian," Rader said. "He's always got a smile on his face, and he's always trying to do the best that he can for all the other (employee-)partners."

Watch the full video here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cintas on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cintas

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cintas

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Cintas

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Global power technology leader Cummins Inc. has opened a new state-of-the-art solar array, the third largest company-owned solar installation within Cummins, to help power its engine plant in Daventry, United Kingdom.

The installation has the capacity to generate 1.8 megawatts of renewable energy, equivalent to powering 746 domestic properties for a year. The Daventry site has already made significant progress in cutting emissions, achieving a 30% reduction even before the solar array became operational.

"We are very excited about the opening of our new solar farm at the Cummins Daventry plant," said Roy Free, Cummins Daventry Plant Manager. "&With the new solar farm in operation, we are confident that we will make a further significant impact on reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come."

The plant aims to reduce emissions by an additional 5.5%, aligning with the Cummins Power Systems business segment's 2030 target for greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions reduction. The initiative also aligns with the 2030 goal of reducing total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities and operations by 50%, included in PLANET 2050, Cummins' environmental sustainability strategy.

Since 2021, Cummins' Daventry Engine Plant has been operating a generator set recovery system to export test voltages and frequencies back to the grid. As of August 2023, the Cummins Daventry plant had already recovered 1 million KW/h of energy through this system. The newly opened solar installation will increase the amount returned over the coming months. The two projects combined are going to reduce the electricity imported into the Daventry site by around 25%.

The Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson, and the Mayor of Daventry, Councillor Ted Nicholl, participated in a ceremony celebrating the opening of the new solar installation, joining various leaders from the plant.

The Daventry plant plays a significant role in Cummins' global operations, specializing in the production of advanced power generation sets and high-horsepower engines to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for a wide range of industries, including rail, mining and more.

In 2021, Cummins opened a new state of the art logistics hub in Daventry, supporting operations across the UK. The facility has been awarded a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Outstanding rating for building sustainability, ranking it in the top 1% of non-domestic buildings in the UK.

END

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cummins Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Cummins Inc.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Bubblr Inc., d/b/a Ethical Web AI. (OTCQB: BBLR) - a front-runner in ethical technology determined to revolutionize the digital domain, has made two significant announcements that reflect its continued commitment to advancing the boundaries of artificial intelligence research and application.

First, the organization introduced AI Seek 3.0, now available for download on both the App Store and Google Play Store. This upgraded version integrates an advanced desktop synchronization feature, utilizing a QR code mechanism comparable to established platforms such as WhatsApp. This enhancement underscores Ethical Web AI's dedication to improving user experience and system integration.

In parallel, the company is also addressing a longstanding challenge faced by foundational AI large language models: the constraint of processing queries beyond the contemporaneity of their training data. Models such as ChatGPT 4 and Claude 2 have historically been limited by the temporal scope of their training datasets. In a significant stride to mitigate this limitation, Ethical Web AI has filed and successfully had the US Patent Office accept a utility patent application, number 18376101, on October 3rd, 2023. This patent encompasses a groundbreaking methodology that allows AI models to handle queries necessitating real-time, up-to-date information, heralding a transformative shift in AI capabilities.

AI Seek 3.0: Advancements in Desktop Synchronization and Enhanced User Experience

Compared to its counterparts, such as ChatGPT 4.0, AI Seek offers a distinctive and refined user experience. To begin with, AI Seek prioritizes user anonymity. The platform does away with the need for a registration process, thereby augmenting user security and privacy. Moreover, the conversation outputs are rendered in HTML format. Each prompt-driven conversation is organized within its distinct web page, complete with dynamically generated hypertext links embedded within. This design not only elevates user interactivity but also facilitates effortless sharing across email, messaging applications, and social media platforms.

The introduction of desktop synchronization for AI Seek marks a pivotal evolution. This feature not only makes the platform conveniently accessible via a physical keyboard but also introduces a suite of export capabilities. Users can now seamlessly transition their AI-generated content to diverse formats, such as Microsoft Word, PDF, Text files, and standard HTML, through simple copy-paste mechanisms. Such advancements were, in large part, realized based on constructive feedback from our dedicated user base, pointing out a gap that platforms like ChatGPT 4.0 currently do not bridge.

For existing AI Seek users wishing to leverage this desktop integration, please visit https://desktop.aiseek.ai . Integration is as straightforward as scanning the provided QR Code with your AI Seek application.

Revolutionizing founder AI LLMs: Ethical Web AI. Files Patent to include contemporaneous data beyond training data limitations.

One of the most pronounced challenges with foundational AI models, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT 4 and Anthropic's Claude 2, lies in their temporal limitations. Specifically, these models can only respond to queries within the purview of their last training data update - for ChatGPT 4, this is September 2021, and for Claude 2, it is early 2023. Consequently, real-time data queries, such as current stock prices, often yield a standard response indicating the model's inability to provide updated information.

Addressing this very limitation, Bubblr, Inc. has been at the forefront of pioneering a unique technological solution. Our approach entails the development of an internal AI LLM (large language model), trained using data from our AI Seek app. While the system is in its testing phase, preliminary results affirm its effectiveness. This leap in AI development was further acknowledged on October 3rd, 2023, when the US Patent Office accepted a utility patent detailing this innovative solution, assigning it the application ID 18376101.

The implications of this advancement are profound. For instance, while ChatGPT 4 may provide details on Queen Elizabeth II as the current UK monarch, the updated AI Seek version 4.0 furnishes information on King Charles III. Additionally, when prompted about specific stock details, AI Seek 4.0 can provide real-time data, as exemplified by the ZIM stock query "Current price, historical performance, dividend, market capitalization and more about ZIM stock.". Traditional foundation AI LLMs will say they are unable to answer the question, whereas AI Seek version 4.0, currently being tested, gives the following result (see ZIM example ).

A beta version of AI Seek 4.0 is slated for release later this month, potentially setting a new standard in AI's data contemporaneity.

A beta version of AI Seek version 4 will be released later this month.

Steve Morris, CTO and founder of Ethical Web AI, remarked: "AI Seek has consistently upheld unparalleled standards in the AI application realm, balancing both anonymity and cost-effectiveness. The integration of the Version 3.0 desktop synchronization further enhances its capabilities. But the true milestone is our recent USPTO utility patent submission, aimed at addressing the real-time data processing limitations inherent in all foundation AI LLMs. This strategic move not only positions AI Seek distinctly ahead of other models but also protects the intellectual property safeguarding this innovative feature."

About Ethical Web AI:

Ethical Web AI is an ethical technology company that is championing a new internet that is anonymous, safe and fair. We are producing unique intellectual property and technology that is made defensible by our valuable utility software patents.

Visit the new AI Seek website at: https://www.aiseek.ai/

For more information about our company and products, please visit our website at www.ethicalweb.ai

Media Contact:

Steve Morris

Bubblr, Inc.

(646) 814 7184

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains 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. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. The company reserves the right to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Bubblr, Inc.

via PRISM Mediawire, LLC

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MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Kisses From Italy Inc. (OTCQB: KITL), a publicly listed U.S.-based company, restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in the United States, Canada, and Europe proudly announces the appointment of celebrity Chef, Scott Conant, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Conant will take on the lead role in overall brand development and marketing efforts.

Claudio Ferri, co-CEO, CIO, and co-founder of Kisses From Italy, commented, "Having Scott on our board of directors is the next natural step in our company's evolution. Scott will bring his expertise at all levels to Kisses From Italy, and we look forward to continuing to benefit from his insights and ideas as our company continues to drive toward growth and expansion. Ferri added, "As I continue to get to know Scott on a business and personal level, I could not have been happier when Scott accepted the nomination to our board. Scott is not just a partner in a new brand; he is so much more than that. He is a significant part of Kisses From Italy as a whole. We continue to progress on many facets as we move forward in searching for the right spot to launch the flagship location of our new brand, The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe & Italian Deli (SM), and the team is also already in the process of developing some exciting products and expanding current product lines. We are targeting retail markets very shortly, which we are excited to share with everyone soon."

Scott Conant, Food Network celebrity, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and Kisses From Italy's newest board member, commented, "I'm honored to accept this new position as a board member. After nearly 40 years of cooking professionally and my insatiable appetite for food culture, this opportunity will allow me to share my expertise with a broader audience. I look forward to sharing with the board of directors insights that can assist in shaping the company's culinary direction, product development, and overall strategy for success. This is a journey for personal growth and learning as well; if I can inspire other aspiring chefs and food entrepreneurs, and provide mentorships to young professionals in the industry. Those are goals I strive for to help mold the next generation of culinary talent. As a new member of the board of directors of Kisses From Italy, it's vital for me to continue the dialogue around sustainability, responsible sourcing, ethical practices, and promoting healthy eating habits. I am excited to be part of the driving force for positive change within this industry and make a bigger impact on society."

Michele Di Turi, President, co-CEO, and co-founder of Kisses From Italy, also stated, "Taking our partnership with Scott and his team to the next level is one of the best things to happen to our company since creating our newest brand with Scott, The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe & Italian Deli (SM). Overall, we have been working diligently to re-align our current strategy. The hunt for our first New York City location is ongoing, and we are honing in on the best spot to plant our flag. We also want to thank Dan Rowe, Founder and CEO of Fransmart, for taking time and a hands-on approach to helping the team, with his expertise, to find the best location available." Di Turi light-heartedly added, "We all love New York City, but the best option is to approach cautiously, especially since the New York market is not for the faint of heart. The excitement in the team keeps building, especially when considering the components, Kisses From Italy, Scott Conant, and Dan Rowe, along with all their teams and what everyone brings to the table."

Following the recent announcement of the new strategic alliance between Kisses From Italy and Scott Conant with franchise industry giant Fransmart, they have begun taking the necessary steps for a first location, full franchise rollout and product development, and expansion.

About Chef Scott Conant

Scott Conant is a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Conant brings a deft touch and unwavering passion to creating culinary experiences with thoughtful hospitality and soulful cuisine. His portfolio of acclaimed restaurants includes Mora Italian (Phoenix, AZ), The Americano (Scottsdale, AZ and Atlanta, GA), and Cellaio at Resorts World Catskills (Monticello, NY). He has also published four cookbooks: New Italian Cooking, Bold Italian, The Scarpetta Cookbook, and his newest and most personal book to date, Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen, which launched in September 2021. Conant has been a popular presence on Food Network for years, becoming a fan favorite as a recurring judge on Chopped since 2009 and frequent co-host of Beat Bobby Flay. As Chef Conant embarks on new opportunities, he looks forward to continuing to share his enduring philosophy that emphasizes the beauty of simplicity. For more information, visit ScottConant.com.

About Fransmart

Fransmart is a global leader in franchise development, selling over 5,000 franchises worldwide and turning emerging restaurant concepts into national and global brands for 20 years. Company founder Dan Rowe identified and grew brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries, QDOBA Mexican Grill, and The Halal Guys from 1-5 unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. Fransmart's current and past franchise development portfolio brands have opened thousands of restaurants globally. Fransmart and its partner brands are committed to franchise development growth. For more information, visit www.fransmart.com.

About Kisses From Italy Inc.

Kisses From Italy Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. The company offers a quick-service menu and a unique take on traditional Italian delicacies with an All-American flair. Kisses From Italy offerings include sandwiches, salads, Italian roasted coffee, coffee-related beverages, and various other products. In November 2020, Kisses From Italy launched its retail branded products for distribution stores across Canada. Currently, our products are offered in grocery stores and retail food stores.

The company operates three corporate-owned stores and two franchised locations in the U.S. and Canada. It successfully commenced operations in May 2015 with its flagship location in Ft. Lauderdale at 3146 NE 9th St. The company opened its inaugural European location in Ceglie del Campo, Bari, Italy, in October 2019. In September 2019, FINRA approved our common stock for trading, and in October 2019, it approved our common stock for up-listing to the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets Group under the ticker symbol KITL.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to several factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Reference is made to cautionary statements outlined in the company's most recent SEC filings, available at www.sec.gov and the company's website at www.kissesfromitaly.com. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, unanticipated events, or changes to future operating results.

For more information, please visit www.kissesfromitaly.com.

Contact Information:

Kisses From Italy Inc.

305-423-7129

[email protected]

SOURCE: Kisses From Italy Inc.

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PITTSBURG, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Ramar Foods, a renowned name in the Filipino-American food industry, is excited to announce the launch of its latest addition to the Dimsum line - the all-new Pork Siomai flavor. This innovative creation caters to the rising demand and needs for siomai without seafood, allowing those with shellfish allergies to savor the delectable taste of our siomai products.

Magnolia Pork Siomai

Newest Magnolia Product under Dimsum

Shellfish allergies have been a growing concern among consumers, and Ramar Foods is proud to address this issue by introducing a shrimp-free version of Pork Siomai. This development comes in response to the market's request for a siomai option that eliminates the risk of allergic reactions caused by seafood ingredients.

Shannon Cabral, Marketing Director at Ramar Foods, expressed her excitement about the new product: "In response to consumer needs, Ramar Foods introduced a shrimp-free version of Pork Siomai to accommodate those with shellfish allergies. It's important to note that this isn't merely the original product minus shrimp; our Product Innovation team has crafted a distinctive pork option with a delightful umami profile, promising an exceptional flavor sensation and culinary experience."

The new Pork Siomai flavor will be available in all major Asian chains, starting this October. Its release is perfectly timed to coincide with Filipino-American History Month, allowing the community to celebrate with a diverse array of dimsum flavors. Additionally, it provides an ideal option for holiday gatherings, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the flavors of Ramar Foods' dimsum offerings.

Ramar Foods remains committed to providing authentic and delicious Filipino flavor options that cater to the diverse needs of the Filipino community in the United States. The introduction of Pork Siomai flavor without shrimp is a testament to this commitment, offering a safe and enjoyable dining experience for those with shellfish allergies.

For more information about Ramar Foods and its latest product releases, please visit www.ramarfoods.com.

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About Magnolia Foods

Magnolia is a premium brand owned and operated by the Ramar Foods brand family. All Magnolia premium frozen food products are made to match the palate of Filipino families in the diaspora. Magnolia consists of a broad line of Filipino food favorites nostalgic to the community's palate tasted in ice cream, dim sum snacks, and a variety of meat products. Eat Magnolia prides itself on keeping the culture alive through cultivating Filipino food culture among Filipino families all over the world.

Learn more about Magnolia Ice at www.eatmagnolia.com and stay updated on Instagram and Facebook, @eatmagnolia.

Magnolia food products are manufactured by its parent company, Ramar Foods Corporation. Learn more about Ramar Foods at www.ramarfoods.com

About Ramar Foods International

Founded in 1969, Ramar's goal is to bring the flavors of the Philippines to your home. Ramar Foods is committed to manufacturing your favorite frozen Filipino food products. Ramar's success for over 50 years of experience in the industry is attributed to its people, its deep relationship with the Filipino diaspora, and a commitment to understanding what brings satisfaction to Filipino families.

During their first years, they started with a vision of being the premier Filipino food company that will bring nostalgia to Filipino households and at the same time, give a snapshot of the Filipino experience to non-Filipinos all over the world. Today, we have grown to be America's #1 Filipino Food company serving communities across North America and beyond.

Family-owned and operated, Ramar Foods is committed to nourishing its community through its legacy of family food products.

Contact Information

Lydia Querian

PR Manager, Divine Creative Studio

[email protected]

4154960210

SOURCE: Ramar Foods International

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Sacred Surrogacy will be hosting a Transformative Weekend Retreat in the Heart of Rimbey, Alberta, for West Coast Surrogate Mothers

RIMBEY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Sacred Surrogacy is thrilled to announce the return of our highly anticipated Surrogate Retreat, set to take place in the picturesque town of Rimbey, Alberta, on Oct. 21-22, 2023. This year's retreat promises a rejuvenating and enriching experience for surrogate mothers from across the province.

Surrogacy Helps Build Families

Happy family with two children.

This retreat offers surrogate mothers an opportunity to come together, forge bonds, and celebrate the beauty of their shared journey.

Sacred Surrogacy has always been dedicated to fostering a sense of community and cherishing the profound acts of surrogacy. Our retreats reflect this commitment.

In addition to our retreats, Sacred Surrogacy offers a Subscription Box Program catering to intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors. For those unable to attend in person, we provide valuable online resources and classes through our website at www.sacredsurrogacy.com.

Our retreats offer a unique opportunity for surrogate mothers to connect with others who share this beautiful and sacred experience. Many participants are either currently pregnant or navigating the early stages of postpartum. Alana Wagg, Retreat Leader at Sacred Surrogacy, and Janet Harbick from the Canadian Fertility Consultants staff are dedicated to honoring and supporting participants at every stage of their surrogacy journey.

Throughout the weekend, you'll have opportunities to connect with fellow participants, engage in self-reflection, and explore Sacred Surrogacy's foundational self-care activities.

"Our Goal is to create a space that is inclusive, and honours each participant as they move through their Surrogacy process," says Alana Wagg, Retreat Leader at Sacred Surrogacy.

Retreat Registration is currently open. At Sacred Surrogacy, we are always open to welcoming additional participants. Please reach out to us through our website or send us a direct message on Instagram if you'd like to join us on this remarkable journey.

For more information about Sacred Surrogacy, please visit www.sacredsurrogacy.com or follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/sacredsurrogacy/. To explore the world of surrogacy and related services, visit our co-host's website, www.fertilityconsultants.ca, or find them on Instagram at instagram.com/cfc.families/.

Join us for a weekend of connection, self-discovery, and celebration in the heart of Rimbey, Alberta, as we continue to honor the beauty of surrogacy and the incredible women who make it possible.

About Sacred Surrogacy:

Sacred Surrogacy is a leading organization dedicated to fostering community, support, and empowerment among surrogate mothers and participants in the surrogacy journey. Through retreats, resources, and a subscription box program, Sacred Surrogacy creates a sacred space where the beauty of surrogacy is celebrated and cherished.

Contact Information:

Leia Swanberg

Co Creator

[email protected]

9052697436

SOURCE: Sacred Surrogacy

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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / SRQ Resources Inc. ("SRQ" or the "Company") (TSXV:SRQ) is pleased to announce that the Phase 2 drilling program on its exciting new discovery, the Lac Brul Ultramafic Magmatic Intrusive Complex ("UM Intrusive"), is scheduled to start on or about October 23, 2023. The UM Intrusive hosts significant nickel and copper mineralisation.

Following the success of the July 2023 Phase 1 drilling program, SRQ is eager to further assess the potential of the UM Intrusive complex and advance the Company's understanding of its mineralisation. Drilling under the fully funded Phase 2 program will focus on the Gossan Zone.

Key highlights of the Phase 2 program include:

Follow-up Drilling: Phase 2 will involve drilling 5 holes for approximately 1,200 meters (" m ") on the Gossan Zone. These holes are designed to follow up on the strong conductors outlined by August 2023 Downhole Electromagnetic Surveys ("DHEM") ( Figure 1 ).

Phase 2 will involve drilling 5 holes for approximately 1,200 meters (" ") on the Gossan Zone. These holes are designed to follow up on the strong conductors outlined by August 2023 Downhole Electromagnetic Surveys ("DHEM") ( ). Geological and Geochemical Studies: Detailed geological and geochemical studies will be carried out on the 51 samples collected from the Phase 1 drilling program to enhance our understanding of the host and the mineralisation's characteristics and distribution.

Detailed geological and geochemical studies will be carried out on the 51 samples collected from the Phase 1 drilling program to enhance our understanding of the host and the mineralisation's characteristics and distribution. Environmental Considerations: SRQ is committed to continuing its drilling activities in an environmentally responsible manner, including adhering to all relevant environmental regulations and best practices.

Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D., P.Geo., CEO and President of SRQ, said, "Our concurrent use of drilling and downhole electromagnetic surveys has delivered promising results with the identification of strong electromagnetic conductors that are coincident with a regional large gravity high. These new targets will be drill tested during our Phase 2 drill program on the Gossan Zone, marking an important step in our journey to unlock the potential of this newly discovered Ultramafic Magmatic Intrusive Complex."

Figure 1: Phase 2 Drill Program is Targeting Conductors Defined by August 2023 DHEM Surveys of the Gossan Zone

Lac Brule Newly Discovered Ni-Cu Mineralisation

The Ni-Cu mineralisation encountered is characterized by cumulate and aggregates of iron, copper and nickel sulfides: pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite, respectively. Pyrrhotite is the dominant sulfide with visible chalcopyrite. Pentlandite can be seen mixed with pyrrhotite. The textures of the sulfide mineralisation vary from disseminated to semi-massive to massive (> 80% of sulfide material) showing net-texture or brecciated sulfides between pyroxene and amphiboles. Thin massive sulfides horizons are intercalated and sometimes associated with garnet-rich xenoliths.

Figure 2 presents a microscope photo of mineralisation from a surface sample collected at the mineralised surface outcrop (gossan) in 2022, confirming presence of the three main sulfide species (LB-40375 C. Picard - June 2022, pyrrhotite (Po), chalcopyrite (Cp), pentlandite (Pn), ilmenite (Il), magnetite (Mt). Silicates are clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, hornblende and olivine).

Figure 2: Microscope Photo of Mineralisation from Surface Sample Collected at the Mineralised Outcrop (Gossan) in 2022

Untapped Geological Potential of SRQ's Lac Brule Property

SRQ's new discovery was made on its 100%-owned Lac Brule property located 50km north-west of the former Renzy Ni-Cu mine on the unceded lands of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community. The former Renzy mine operated from 1969 to 1972 (Figure 3). UM intrusive bodies host mineralisation at both the Renzy mine and at Lac Brule. Both sites present several striking similarities, including mineralogy, petrology and timing of emplacement.

Figure 3: SRQ's Properties in Canadian Province of Quebec

The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ Resources, and a Qualified Person', as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About SRQ Resources Inc.

SRQ is a Canadian base metals company exploring for nickel, copper and platinum in the province of Quebec.

A near-surface Ni-Cu project, Lac Brule is located on a 288km virgin exploration property at a five-hour drive from Montreal. The project's prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping, the presence of a surface gossan, and geophysical surveys. The presence of the historic Renzy Ni-Cu mine located 50 kilometers to the south-east and at the heart of the large regional pattern further adds to the area's mineral exploration appeal.

For more information about SRQ, please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com

Contact Information:

Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO

Tel: (514) 726-4158

Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking Information:

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information characterized by terms such as "will", could", "expect", "estimate", "evidence", "potential", "appears", "seems", "suggest", are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; assumptions relating to the trading price of the Company's common shares; the ability of the Company to convert resources in reserves, its ability to see through the next phase of development on any project, its ability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study regarding any project, its ability to execute on its development plans in terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration or development, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made by or expressed on behalf of the Company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: SRQ Resources

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Tacora Resources Inc. ("Tacora" or the "Company") has obtained an order (the "Initial Order") from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the "Court") commencing proceedings (the "CCAA Proceedings") under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the "CCAA"). The Initial Order includes, among other things: (a) a stay of proceedings in favour of Tacora; (b) approval of the DIP Facility (as described below); and (c) appointment of FTI Consulting Canada Inc. as monitor of Tacora (in such capacity, the "Monitor").

In connection with the CCAA Proceedings, Tacora has reached agreement for a $75 million debtor-in-possession facility (the "DIP Facility") with Cargill, Incorporated ("Cargill"). The CCAA Proceedings and DIP Facility will enable Tacora to continue operating in the ordinary course and complete a strategic sales and investment solicitation process to pursue alternatives and develop a transaction that will allow Tacora to emerge as a strong and sustainable operation and continue its efforts to ramp up production at the Scully Mine.

During the CCAA Proceedings, operations of the Company will continue in the normal course. The board of directors of the Company remains in place and management remains responsible for the day-to-day operations. Greenhill & Co. Canada Ltd. is acting as financial advisor to Tacora and Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as legal advisor.

A copy of the Initial Order and more information related to the CCAA Proceedings can be obtained on the Monitor's website at http://cfcanada.fticonsulting.com/Tacora. Information regarding CCAA Proceedings can also be obtained by calling the Monitor's hotline at 1-833-420-9074 or by email at [email protected].

About Tacora Resources Inc.

Tacora is a private company that is focused on the production and sale of high-grade and quality iron ore products that improve the efficiency and environmental performance of steel making and, subject to final process verification and economic assessment, the development of a high purity manganese product for advanced battery technology. The Company owns and operates the Scully Mine, an iron ore concentrate producer located near Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada with a production capacity of six million tonnes per year. Additional information about the Company is available at www.tacoraresources.com.

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Cargill and its affiliates are existing stakeholders of Tacora and party to various existing operational agreements with Tacora. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, Cargill helps people thrive by applying our insights and 151 years of experience. Cargill has more than 150,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. Cargill is active in global ferrous markets, offering tailored physical supply and financial solutions in iron ore and steel. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature and relate to our expectations, beliefs, and intentions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking. Although Tacora believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may accordingly differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, and these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause outcomes to differ from our expectations, including risks related to the continued operations and performance during the CCAA Proceedings. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects Tacora's expectations as at the date of this press release and is subject to change after such date. Tacora disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor and Analyst Contact:

Joe Broking

President and Chief Executive Officer

T - +1 (218) 398-0079

E - [email protected]

Heng Vuong

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

T - +1 (416) 704-8377

E - [email protected]

SOURCE: Tacora Resources Inc.

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It is the carmaker's second electric model based on its own EV platform, dubbed E-GMP, after the EV6. The SUV's futuristic design is very similar to the concept version showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2021.

Kia released additional teaser images of its new large electric SUV, the EV9, on Wednesday.

It features a bold and angular exterior, with clusters of cube lamps in the front modifying the carmaker's signature "tiger nose" grille. The second-row seats can swivel 90 degrees towards the door or 180 degrees to face the third row, offering optimal use of space.

Detailed specifications will be available online later this month.

Kia plans to unveil the SUV at the Seoul Mobility Show on March 31 ahead of its launch before June.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / The Watchlist by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Copper Lake Resources, Tantalex Lithium, Ucore Rare Metals, and Marvel Discovery Corp., providing insights into their latest developments.

The Watchlist by The Market Herald offers investors a valuable glimpse into these companies' recent press releases, accompanied by exclusive interviews with company executives.

Copper Lake Resources Announces Filing of NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate

Copper Lake Resources (TSXV:CPL) has revealed its filing of the NI 43-101 Technical Report and updated Mineral Resource Estimate. This significant milestone is discussed in detail in the interview with Copper Lake Resources CEO Terry Macdonald.

For the full interview and to learn more about Copper Lake Resources' news, click here.

Tantalex Lithium Announces Impressive Manono Lithium Tailings Preliminary Economic Assessment

Tantalex Lithium (CSE:TTX) has unveiled an impressive preliminary economic assessment of its Manono Lithium Tailings project. In this interview, Tantalex Lithium's CEO, Eric Allard, shares insights into the company's achievements.

For the full interview and to learn more about Tantalex Lithium's news, click here.

Ucore Rare Metals Updates on RapidsX" REE Demo Plant and Louisiana SMC Engineering

Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU) provides a comprehensive update on its RapidsX" REE Demo Plant and Louisiana SMC Engineering. In this interview, Ucore Rare Metals' CEO, Pat Ryan, discusses the latest advancements in rare earth elements extraction technology.

For the full interview and to learn more about Ucore Rare Metals' news, click here.

Marvel Increases Land Holdings at KLR Walker Uranium Project Tied to Cameco

Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSXV:MARV) has expanded its land holdings at the KLR Walker Uranium Project, a development closely tied to Cameco. In this interview, Marvel Discovery Corp.'s CEO, Karim Rayani, discusses the strategic significance of this expansion.

For the full interview and to learn more about Marvel Discovery Corp.'s news, click here.

The Watchlist by The Market Herald releases daily interviews, ensuring investors stay informed about the latest developments in the market. To explore more interviews and learn about the featured companies, visit The Watchlist by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the go-to source for authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our dedicated team of Canadian markets reporters, editors, and technologists covers the entire spectrum of listed companies in Canada, delivering extensive coverage of over 3,985 businesses, their key figures, investors, and customers. We are the storytellers who drive the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card does not provide advisory services or offer securities for sale. We are compensated by the companies we cover to assist them in making information available to the public. Information provided on themarketherald.ca and in this press release should be regarded as commercial advertising and not as an endorsement, offer, or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in Canada, and does not provide investment advice. Market Herald, its affiliates, officers, directors, or employees may hold or trade securities and commodities in certain underlying companies mentioned on this site, which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. Efforts are made to avoid conflicts of interest and comply with conflict of interest disclosures and regulations. All information on this document and the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general informational purposes only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. Any action taken based on the information found on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages arising from the use of our website. When you leave our website, you may encounter different privacy policies and terms on external sites, which are beyond our control.

CONTACT:

The Market Herald Email: [email protected]

Website: themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

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Community Event to Be Held at Casper, Green River, Rock Springs, and Cheyenne Branch Locations

CHEYENNE, WY / ACCESSWIRE / October 10, 2023 / Residents in the Casper, Cheyenne, Green River, and Rock Springs communities will have a chance to safely destroy sensitive personal documents during WyHy Federal Credit Union's Document Destruction Days on Friday, October 20th and Saturday, October 21st.

WyHy Shred Event

WyHy Shred Event 2023

The Casper Branch event will take place on Friday, October 20th, 1:00-4:00 p.m., at 1521 Centennial Court.

The Cheyenne branch event is scheduled for October 21st, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at 1715 Stillwater Ave.

The Green River event will take place on October 20th, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at 131 E. Railroad St.

The Rock Springs event is set for October 20th, 1:00-4:00 p.m., at 110 Commerce Drive.

WyHy is hosting this free community event as part of its commitment to helping consumers protect themselves against identity theft and fraud. Residents are advised to destroy all documents containing personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, PINs, passwords, home addresses, or birthdates.

WyHy is partnering with Shred-it to shred documents on-site securely. Attendees can stay in their cars while Shred-it personnel safely dispose of their personal documents in the shred truck.

Participants may bring up to two banker boxes of personal documents to be safely shredded at the branches.

Items that are eligible to be shredded include:

Account statements

Credit reports

Cancelled checks

Pay stubs

ATM receipts

Credit card and utility bills

Materials that will not be accepted include batteries, flammables, combustibles, electronic equipment (hard drives), and media materials (DVDs, CDs, and tapes). We also recommend that you do not include binder clips and metal items, thick folders or portfolios, sharp objects, or cardboard tubes with your documents to be shredded.

Supporting the Food Bank of Wyoming:

In addition to helping community members protect their personal information, WyHy is also dedicated to supporting local causes. During the Document Destruction Days, WyHy encourages attendees to make a donation to the Food Bank of Wyoming. Food Bank of Wyoming is making a difference in the lives of those in need, providing vital resources to those in need throughout the state. Their commitment to helping families in need ensures that no one has to suffer from hunger and poverty. Their mission is to provide nutritious meals and support to those in need, and they are doing just that with their generous donations and volunteer efforts. Get involved with the Food Bank of Wyoming and help make a difference today! WyHy will match the amount for every donation made, doubling the impact to help those in need in our community.

The event is free and open to the public. Residents do not need to be a member of WyHy to participate. For more information, call (800) 442-2392 or visit WyHy.org.

Contact Information

Amy Davis

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

(307) 638-4290

Matt Ballou

Chief Retail Officer

[email protected]

(307) 638-4290

SOURCE: WyHy Federal Credit Union

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FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with a displayed AMD logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Max A. Cherney

(Reuters) - AMD said on Tuesday it plans to buy an artificial intelligence startup called Nod.ai as part of an effort to bolster its software capabilities.

In its race to catch rival chipmaker Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices plans to invest heavily in the critical software necessary for the company's advanced AI chips. Through more than a decade of work, Nvidia has built a powerful advantage in the AI chip market through the software it makes, and the software developer ecosystem.

AMD has vowed to invest in and build a unified collection of software to power the various chips the company makes.

"We are executing to that strategy," AMD president Victor Peng said in an interview with Reuters. "And doing it through internal investment as well as external acquisitions."

The acquisition of Nod.ai fits into the strategy because its technology enables companies to deploy AI models that are tuned for AMD's chips more easily. Nod.ai sells its technology to large data center operators, among other customers.

AMD did not disclose the terms of the deal. The Santa Clara, California-based Nod.ai has raised roughly $36.5 million, according to PitchBook data.

Earlier this year, AMD created the AI group that will house the Nod.ai acquisition, Peng said. The group employs about 1,500 engineers - the vast majority of software related - and AMD plans to continue to expand the team with 300 additional hires this year, and more in 2024.

"We have been growing rapidly, with plans for next year as well," Vamsi Boppana, senior vice president, Artificial Intelligence Group at AMD said.

The Nod.ai acquisition is the company's second in the past few months, Peng said. When asked if the company planned to bolster its portfolio with additional acquisitions Peng said, "We're always looking."

(Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ADM (NYSE: ADM) will release financial results for the third quarter of 2023 before the market opens on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. A slide presentation will also be available for download. The company will host a webcast at 8 a.m. Central Time to discuss the results and provide a company update.

To listen to the webcast or to download the slide presentation, go to www.adm.com/webcast. A replay of the webcast will also be available for an extended period of time at www.adm.com/webcast.

About ADM

ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. Were a premier global human and animal nutrition company, delivering solutions today with an eye to the future. Were blazing new trails in health and well-being as our scientists develop groundbreaking products to support healthier living. Were a cutting-edge innovator leading the way to a new future of plant-based consumer and industrial solutions to replace petroleum-based products. Were an unmatched agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. And were a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize our industry and safeguard our planet. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional and sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Source: Corporate Release

Source: ADM

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010020777/en/

Investor Relations:

Megan Britt

[email protected]

872-257-8378

Media Relations:

Jackie Anderson

[email protected]

312-634-8484

Source: ADM
Physicians now recommending Wysa for musculoskeletal patients suffering chronic pain, depression and anxiety thanks to clinical evidence and affordability versus traditional psychotherapy

Timely affordable patient-pay alternative for millions of people losing Medicaid cover

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wysa, the leader in AI-guided mental health support, today announced its digital intervention is being made available in multiple orthopedic hospitals to support musculoskeletal patients suffering from chronic pain and associated depression and anxiety. The announcement follows successful trials and clinical studies demonstrating Wysas clinical efficacy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010591531/en/

A patient uses Wysa to manage chronic pain (Photo: Business Wire)

Evidence demonstrates the potential for improved orthopedic recovery through holistic support, but many patients cant afford the out-of-pocket costs for psychological treatment. Wysas digital intervention for mental health is being made available to patients at these hospitals at typically one-tenth the cost of a single session with a traditional therapist. Some hospitals may subsidize the cost further for patients with demonstrated inability to pay.

Wysas orthopedic digital intervention is available at:

The Living Well Center of Washington University, St. Louis

Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco

A landmark study published in JMIR outlined the effectiveness of Wysas digital intervention for orthopedic patients, finding that patients experienced a reduction in mental health concerns, but also improved physical function and pain interference, when receiving digital mental health support.

Between the lack of cost-effective and clinically backed mental health support options available to patients, and the loss of Medicaid coverage that could impact 24 million individuals, accessible mental health support is urgently needed, said Chaitali Sinha, SVP Healthcare and Clinical Development at Wysa.

Weve recognized through our trials the incredible promise our orthopedic digital intervention holds and have been working tirelessly to create broad patient access. Our rollout with these leading hospitals helps reach that goal.

About Wysa:

Wysa is a global leader in AI-driven mental health support, available both to individuals, through employer benefits programs and healthcare services. Wysas emotionally intelligent conversational AI guides users through evidence-based cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT) and micro-actions to help build mental resilience skills. Wysa has facilitated over 550 million conversations with 6 million users in 95 countries. Clients include Swiss Re, LOreal, Bosch, Colgate-Palmolive, Aetna, NHS, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, and the Ministry of Health in Singapore.

www.wysa.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010591531/en/

Media Contact:

[email protected]

Source: Wysa
Leading Robotics Integrator Recognized for Cutting-Edge AI Applications

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RobotLAB, the premier robotics integrator that has delivered impactful business innovations and solutions for more than 15 years, proudly accepted The Innovation Award at the fifth annual Daytime Beauty Awards (DBA), founded by Michele Elyzabeth. The October 1 event, which celebrated industry leaders, scientists, doctors and celebrity beauty brands, recognized the impact of AI on the beauty, health and wellness sectors. With 10,000+ robots deployed throughout its 15-plus year history, RobotLAB was honored as a longtime trailblazer in the space.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010307484/en/

RobotLAB Honored With "The Innovation Award" at Daytime Beauty Awards (Photo: Business Wire)

As robotics and AI are central to critical business conversations across countless industries, we are proud to be recognized by Daytime Beauty Awards for our longstanding commitment to the accessibility and acceptance of life-enhancing robotic technology, said Elad Inbar, founder and CEO of RobotLAB. Awareness continues to grow for the tremendous impact robotics and AI are having on the health, wellness and beauty industries, and this sector is one of many where businesses continue to be improved in expected, and perhaps even unexpected, ways.

RobotLAB was honored with The Innovation Award for its prolific integration of robots across the medical, wellness and lifestyle sectors. Its robust robotics portfolio encompasses tech-based solutions for everything from operating room sanitation and dementia patient care to body-type-based fashion recommendations and customer service at cannabis retailers. RobotLABs robots have even starred in a high school student-run fashion show! Along with Inbar, popular hospitality robot Pepper attended the Daytime Beauty Awards, greeting fellow attendees while making its red-carpet debut. During the ceremony, Pepper helped introduce the Innovation category with 2018 Innovation Award honoree and former NASA scientist Tamim Hamid, the founder of Theradome.

Robots have always fascinated me. Thanks to Elad of RobotLAB and his team, I have had the pleasure to meet Pepper at the Daytime Beauty Awards, said Elyzabeth. Robots such as Pepper have been helping children in schools and Dementia patients in hospitals, bringing them joy, even if it is just for a moment. Robots are the future.

Fellow honorees at the fifth Daytime Beauty Awards included Molly Sims, Joanna Vargas, Chaz Dean, Anthony Katz for Hyperice, Sandro Costa for Allure Globals CBD Sleep Gummies, Marlon Coburn for THC Design, Tracy Anderson, Dr. Ben Talei, Dr. Kellyann Petrucci and BYREDO. Presenters included Jennifer Lopez, Sia, Vanessa Williams, Ryan Clady (NFL Superbowl Champion), Sam Asghari (Former Fitness honoree/actor), Ashley Tisdale, Jenna Elfman, Debbie Gibson (Platinum Recording Artist), John Salley (NBA Champion), Donnell Rawlings (Comedian/Actor), Monika Blunder (Celebrity Makeup Artist) and more.

For more than 15 years, RobotLAB has provided turnkey robotics solutions to companies of all sizes in industries including hospitals, beauty, fashion, foodservice, hospitality, banking, education, assisted living and more. The companys talented team of roboticists has effectively deployed more than 10,000 robots that have provided an impressive array of businesses with a clear path to the successful and highly specialized integration of robotics solutions. RobotLAB oversees all aspects of the robotics integration process  from sales, tailored programming, onsite integration and repairs  to ensure businesses can access and understand solutions that will dramatically improve their performance.

We salute Elad and his team, including Abby and Mitchell, for all of their efforts in teaching the importance of robots and the human connection, said Daytime Beauty Awards Senior Executive Producer, Pamela Price. In a world where there is so much negativity surrounding AI and robotics, RobotLAB sheds light on the positive aspects and how bots like Pepper can further advance our ways and quality of life. There is beauty in technological innovations.

For more information about RobotLAB, visit www.robotlab.com.

About RobotLAB

Since 2007, RobotLAB has guided businesses to dramatic bottom-line increases by helping them harness and leverage the immense power of automation. Catering to an array of economically critical industries that span education, finance, healthcare, delivery and hospitality, RobotLAB provides robotic business solutions that improve ROI and enhance the user experience. With a multitude of in-house teams and department specialists, the company remains focused on a seamless integration process that begins with an in-depth assessment of client needs. Sales and delivery experts ensure proper product immersion while implementation and installation professionals ensure peak performance. In a world replete with business uncertainties, RobotLAB ensures operational consistency through technology. In 2023, RobotLAB launched the first robotics integration franchise program to best serve growing demand for robotics across the U.S. in nearly all business sectors. To franchise with RobotLAB, visit www.robotlab.com/franchise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010307484/en/

Kristyna Otto

Powerhouse+Co.

[email protected]

949.261.2216

Source: RobotLAB
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Civitas Resources (NYSE: CIVI) (Civitas or the Company) CEO Chris Doyle today issued the following statement in conjunction with the Companys recently announced debt offering:

Todays debt offering is expected to successfully finance our accretive Vencer acquisition. There is inherent flexibility in our capital structure, and we see tremendous value in our equity at todays levels. With expectations for $300 million or more in non-core asset sales, we anticipate maintaining a strong capital structure rapidly advancing towards our 0.75x mid-cycle leverage target.

Our Vencer transaction was purposely structured with optionality, including a $550 million deferred payment due in January 2025. This flexibility allowed us to navigate recent oil price volatility and ensure we maintain low leverage.

We are transforming Civitas into a balanced, well capitalized enterprise with an enviable portfolio of oil assets in the U.S. top three oil basins.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy or an offer to purchase or sell any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Civitas Resources, Inc.

Civitas Resources, Inc. is an independent, domestic oil and gas producer focused on development of its premier assets in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) and Permian basins. The Company has a proven business model combining capital discipline, a strong balance sheet, cash flow generation, and sustainable cash returns to shareholders. The Company employs leading Environmental, Social, and Governance practices throughout the Company and was Colorados first carbon neutral oil and gas producer. The Companys common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: CIVI.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in the foregoing, including those that express belief, expectation or intention, are forward-looking statements based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts. The words anticipate, believe, ensure, expect, if, intend, estimate, probable, project, forecasts, predict, outlook, aim, will, could, should, would, potential, may, might, anticipate, likely, plan, positioned, strategy, and similar expressions or other words of similar meaning, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Companys plans and expectations with respect to the debt offering, including the anticipated use of the proceeds therefrom, and the pending transactions contemplated by that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2023, by and between the Company and Vencer Energy, LLC (the Purchase Agreement and such transactions, the Acquisition). The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Companys control, and which may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the following:

the Purchase Agreement relating to the Acquisition may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Acquisition may not be completed;

the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Acquisition in a timely manner or at all;

the Acquisition may not be accretive, and may be dilutive, to the Companys earnings per share, which may negatively affect the market price of the Companys common stock;

the Company may incur significant transaction and other costs in connection with the Acquisition in excess of those anticipated by the Company;

the Company may fail to realize anticipated synergies or other benefits expected from the Acquisition in the timeframe expected or at all;

the ultimate timing, outcome, and results of integrating the assets related to the Acquisition into the Companys business;

the risk related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Acquisition;

the effects of the Acquisition, including the Companys future financial condition, results of operations, strategy, and plans;

changes in capital markets and the ability of the Company to finance operations in the manner expected;

any litigation relating to the Acquisition; and

disruptions to our business due to other significant transactions.

Additional information concerning other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found under Item 1A. Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis sections in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings made with the SEC, each of which is on file with the SEC.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at the time they were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010520571/en/

Investor Relations:

John Wren, [email protected]

Media:

Rich Coolidge, [email protected]

Source: Civitas Resources, Inc.
JACKSON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coronis Health (Coronis), a trusted name in anesthesia billing and practice management, is pleased to announce it will be exhibiting at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 hosted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 is being held October 13 - 17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.

Per the ASA, ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 is an opportunity to immerse yourself in high-energy, high-engagement learning and network building. The ANESTHESIOLOGY annual meeting is the premier place to be if your specialty is anesthesia. Learn and interact with specialists in your field, all in one place.

As leaders in anesthesia billing and practice management, Coronis captures your claims, manages your practice, and provides the unparalleled information you need to manage your practice. Using the Anesthesia Touch AIMS system in tandem with our F1RSTAnesthesia billing platform streamlines the capture of real-time anesthesia data, enabling anesthesia providers to deliver safe, effective care to patients.

With over 40 years of experience delivering tailored revenue cycle solutions to health systems, hospitals, and physician practices across the country, Coronis has solidified its position as one of the largest healthcare BPO companies in the United States. Coronis wholly owned infrastructure, which employs nearly 15,000 associates worldwide, provides flexible and scalable BPO services that enable healthcare providers to optimize their revenue cycle operations.

Tony Mira, CEO of Coronis, states, We are thrilled to take part in ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 as an exhibitor. With our extensive experience and innovative technology, our representatives are prepared to make meaningful connections with anesthesia professionals and identify their needs so that we can help them develop tailored solutions in healthcares constantly changing landscape. You can find Coronis at Booth #1127 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

About Coronis Health

Coronis Health is a healthcare revenue cycle management solutions company leading the industry with a data-driven, proprietary experience coined The Coronis Way. By leveraging industry-leading technology, strategic partnerships, and high-touch relationships, Coronis Health allows healthcare providers and facilities to focus on maintaining exceptional patient care with the best possible financial results. For more information, visit www.coronishealth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010009950/en/

Lori Imboden

Tel: 517-787-6440

Email: [email protected]

Source: Coronis Health
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Couragene, a genetic medicines company using novel delivery platforms, announces today that its co-founders Yong-Hui Jiang and Jiangbing Zhou of Yale University, together with Elizabeth Berry-Kravis of RUSH University have been awarded a competitive UG3/UH3 grant from the NIHs Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) program. This monumental grant, totaling roughly $40 million contingent on milestones, marks a momentous step forward in leveraging genome editing to combat neurogenetic diseases.

Professor Jiang is a distinguished physician scientist, who made significant contributions to Angelman syndrome (AS) research including the discovery of the UBE3A gene and the creation of the first two AS mouse models. Professor Jiang is also a leading researcher of H1-4 syndrome.

Professor Zhou is a leading expert in delivery systems for genetic medicine. His team developed the platform technology STEP (Stimuli-responsive Traceless Engineering Platform), a first-in-class non-viral delivery technology that accomplishes the efficient intracellular delivery of gene editors throughout the central nervous system, which has been a limiting factor for gene editing applications in patients.

Leveraging the STEP technology, a team led by Professors Jiang and Zhou devised a precise genome editing approach directly addressing the disease-causing genetic defects. Couragene exclusively licensed these innovative technologies and is poised to make a profound and lasting impact on the future treatment of genetic disorders. The SCGE grant supports the clinical translation of STEP-based genome editing for AS and H1-4 syndrome.

Current approaches for delivery of biologic payloads have many limitations. This grant enables us to further establish the STEP technology, a novel delivery approach with promise to overcome these challenges, said Professor Zhou.

As a physician I specialize in the treatment of patients with genetic disorders. Today there are no effective treatments for AS or H1-4 syndrome, leaving affected families with few options, said Professor Jiang. This NIH-funded research is critical to advancing technologies that could one day lead to more effective therapeutic options, and quite possibly cures.

Couragenes leadership congratulates its co-founders on the achievement. The development of effective treatments for AS and H1-4 syndrome using STEP will revolutionize the delivery of genetic medicines, giving hope to patients awaiting an effective therapy.

STEP is a versatile platform technology with the capacity to deliver various payloads. I anticipate groundbreaking therapies beyond the diseases mentioned, and I take great pride in Couragene's role in their development, said Dr. Amy Liao, CEO of Couragene.

About Couragene

Couragene is a biotechnology company committed to building first-in-class in vivo genetic therapies using its proprietary delivery platforms. Couragene was co-founded in 2022 by biotech veteran and CEO Dr. Amy Liao, who previously co-founded and led GENEWIZ for over 20 years through its acquisition by Azenta Life Sciences.

To learn more visit www.couragene.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010551718/en/

Amy Liao, PhD

[email protected]

Source: Couragene
The newest cable landing station on the Atlantic coastline provides global access to the burgeoning Southeast region

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DC BLOX, a provider of multi-tenant data centers, dark fiber, and connectivity solutions that deliver essential infrastructure to power todays digital businesses, today announced the opening of its Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Myrtle Beach, S.C. With design capacity at full build-out of 125,000 sq. ft. and 19 MW of power, the new CLS can host up to five subsea cables and colocation space for network and cable operators, communications providers, local enterprises, and partners.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010686867/en/

DC BLOX opens Myrtle Beach Cable Landing Station in South Carolina (Photo: Business Wire)

Subsea cables, powering global communications, converge at cable landing stations like the one unveiled in Myrtle Beach, marking a transformative moment for the region. DC BLOXs new CLS positions Myrtle Beach as a vital connectivity hub globally, providing geographic diversity and resilience from existing subsea fiber routes. DC BLOX is also building a dark fiber route from their Myrtle Beach Cable Landing Station to Atlanta's communications hub, the first direct east-to-west route enabling high-capacity direct access to hundreds of communications providers and to a rapidly growing population of regional data centers. The dark fiber route also enables diversity for core fiber routes connecting Northern Virginia to Atlanta.

DC BLOXs investments in digital infrastructure in South Carolina, including the new Myrtle Beach Cable Landing Station, are providing the essential foundation to fuel significant economic advancement across our state, says Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina.

Google has announced two subsea cables that will land at the DC BLOX Cable Landing Station including the Firmina cable connecting Myrtle Beach to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, and the Nuvem cable to connect to Portugal and Bermuda. Edge Holdings (a subsidiary of Meta) has announced that it plans to land its Anjana cable connecting to Spain.

South Carolina is a growing innovation hub, bringing in new economic opportunities through digital infrastructure and other technology investments, says Lee Livingston, Director of Partnerships at Google. We look forward to the continued partnership with our neighbors in Myrtle Beach, and are committed to making sure the Firmina and Nuvem subsea cables deliver lasting benefits to the state.

South Carolina is a crucial part of the U.S. and global economy, so Meta is proud to join DC BLOX in partnering with the state of South Carolina to bring this crucial connectivity project to Myrtle Beach, notes Metas Boh DuPree, Director of Network Investments  Americas. This cable landing station serves as an important investment that Meta believes will benefit millions of people, communities and businesses in South Carolina and beyond.

As we embarked on this journey, we saw the opportunity to redefine what a cable landing station could be by creating a pivotal hub where companies could colocate and connect, and to fundamentally change the digital landscape of the Southeast, remarks Jeff Uphues, CEO of DC BLOX. The grand opening of our new facility opens up opportunities for global and regional communications providers, hyperscalers, and enterprises to more easily participate in the global economy and to leverage this infrastructure to create an AI-driven future. Together, we're not just meeting today's needs; we're pioneering the infrastructure of tomorrow.

In a groundbreaking moment for the Southeasts digital landscape, DC BLOX's CLS will enable global providers and regional businesses to expand their reach by offering reliable and efficient services to customers worldwide. With the surge in demand for connectivity and the rapidly evolving digital economy, this station is setting the stage for new economic growth and innovation.

It is an exciting day in Horry County as DC BLOX showcases their new Horry County facility, a state-of-the-art cable landing station that will house the first subsea cables in South Carolina. DC BLOX is a leader in the development of digital infrastructure across the region, and we are proud to have them in our county, says Sandy Davis, President and CEO, Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.

DC BLOX providing a cable landing station for the top names in technology is a huge win for their company and Horry County. DC BLOX is committed to investing in Horry County and has proven to be a great partner for our community. The tech hub DC BLOX is creating is preparing our county for the future. Congratulations on your new facility in Horry County, notes Johnny Gardner, Chairman, Horry County Council.

Since the DC BLOX groundbreaking last year, the City of Myrtle Beach has invested significant time and resources in building a Smart Cities strategy. We recognize that this facility and DC BLOX are critical to our ability to diversify our tech-based economy, states Brenda Bethune, Mayor, City of Myrtle Beach.

For more information about DC BLOXs Cable Landing Station in Myrtle Beach, visit: www.dcblox.com.

ABOUT DC BLOX

DC BLOX owns and operates interconnected multi-tenant data centers and dark fiber solutions that deliver the infrastructure and connectivity essential to power todays digital business. DC BLOXs private network fabric and robust connectivity ecosystem enable access to built-in carriers, Internet exchanges, public cloud providers, and DC BLOX data centers to businesses across the Southeast. DC BLOXs data centers are located in Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Huntsville, AL; Chattanooga, TN; Greenville, SC, and its cable landing station in Myrtle Beach, SC. For more information, please visit www.dcblox.com, or call +1. 877.590.1684, and connect with DC BLOX on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010686867/en/

Media Contact for DC BLOX:

iMiller Public Relations

Tel: +1.866.307.2510

Email: [email protected]

Source: DC BLOX
There is risk for Moscow, as it is running against Albania and Bulgaria for only two available seats. Since its invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly has considered six resolutions related to Russia, and Moscow has lost them all -- three by an overwhelming majority of votes.

On Tuesday, the General Assembly will vote by secret ballot to elect 15 members for three-year terms to the 47-member Geneva-based rights body.

In a vote of 93 in favor, 24 against and 58 countries abstaining, the General Assembly voted Russia off the HRC last year. At the same meeting, Russia announced it was resigning from the rights body. The Czech Republic replaced Russia on the council for the remainder of its term.

"The Human Rights Council must be protected from misuse as a tool for settling political scores and from practice of double standards," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told attendees at a reception his mission held recently to mark their candidacy, according to remarks published on the mission's website. "Those are tactics of certain states that proclaim themselves to be 'human rights champions.'"

Russia is seeking to reclaim its seat on the UN Human Rights Council after it was suspended by the General Assembly in April 2022 following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Richard Gowan, UN director for the International Crisis Group, said the vote could be close, and Moscow may be counting on countries that do not want to support it publicly to vote for it in private, since it is a secret ballot.

"I suspect Russia believes it can win or at least get enough votes to show that it is not entirely isolated at the UN," Gowan told VOA. "It could spin even a narrow defeat as proof that it is regaining friends diplomatically."

He notes that Western diplomats recently warned that Russia had a solid lead over Albania, although the gap may be closing a bit as the vote nears.

Rights advocates say in addition to atrocities carried out in Ukraine, the Kremlin has tightened its restrictions on domestic rights and freedoms since the invasion and does not deserve to return to the HRC.

"In the past year-and-a-half, it has been adopting and enforcing laws to silence and punish critics and persecute any genuine political opposition," said Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch's associate director of Europe and Central Asia.

Countries elected to the HRC are expected to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights" both at home and abroad. Rights advocates warn that countries with poor rights records use their position on the council as a cover for their abuses.

China, which is currently a member, is seeking a second term and has a strong chance of obtaining the necessary simple majority, as it is running on what is known as a "clean slate," an equal number of candidates for available seats.

In their Asian regional group, China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia are looking to fill four available seats. The lack of real competition significantly raises the odds of their achieving the simple majority of votes needed.

"UN member states do have a choice; they do not have to vote for China," said HRW's UN director, Louis Charbonneau. "They can leave that part blank. We can leave an empty seat in the Human Rights Council and have another special election in the future, come back and find a country qualified to fill it."

While he acknowledges that it is a bit of a long shot, he said, "We'd love to see it happen," as "they don't belong there."

China's human rights violations are well known. At home, Beijing arbitrarily arrests and detains government critics and human rights defenders and has detained as many as one million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in "reeducation camps" in its Xinjiang province. It has also cracked down on freedoms in Hong Kong and Tibet.

Also under the spotlight for their poor human rights records are candidates Cuba and Burundi.

In addition to the countries already mentioned, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Peru are competing with Cuba for three seats in the Latin America and Caribbean group; Burundi, Malawi, Ghana and Ivory Coast are running a clean slate in the African bloc; and France and the Netherlands are running uncontested in the Western group.

Winners will begin their three-year terms in January 2024.
COLUMBIA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Farmers and Merchants Corporation (OTC Pink: FFMH), the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, today announced that Ernest Anye, DIT, CISSP, has joined the bank as its Information Security Officer.

We are pleased to announce that Ernest Anye joined our bank in the newly created role of Information Security Officer, stated Brian K. Williams, First Farmers Chairman and CEO. His extensive experience in information technology and cybersecurity will enhance our information security strategies in conjunction with our Information Technology team, bank regulators and other industry-relevant security standards. In this new role, he is responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining information security measures to safeguard the banks corporate and customer information. In addition, he is charged with strengthening our ability to manage the ever-evolving cyber security risks that are targeted at financial institutions.

Dr. Anye holds a Doctorate in Information Technology (DIT) and is Certified in Information Systems Security (CISSP). His experience includes IT security controls, software development, IT compliance, risk assessment and telecommunications. He has a solid record of implementing robust strategies to drive enhanced process improvement, expertise in network and systems security, risk management, incident response, disaster recovery and vulnerability assessment. Prior to joining First Farmers, Dr. Anye led initiatives for information security, risk analysis, incident response and vulnerability assessment for University of Missouri Healthcare. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Information Technology at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Dr. Anye is a graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He received his Doctor of Information Technology and Master of Science in Information Technology from Walden University. He is a member of the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) and Information Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

About First Farmers and Merchants Corporation and First Farmers and Merchants Bank

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation is the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, a community bank serving the Middle Tennessee area through 22 offices in seven Middle Tennessee counties. As of June 30, 2023, First Farmers reported total assets of approximately $1.9 billion, total shareholders equity of approximately $108 million, and administered trust assets of $5.7 billion. For more information about First Farmers, visit us on the Web at www.myfirstfarmers.com under Investor Relations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010928162/en/

Robert E. Krimmel

Chief Financial Officer

(931) 380-8257

Source: First Farmers and Merchants Corporation
Learn from the experts and gain practical insights on the current state of supply chain and the transformative impact of embracing emerging technologies

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pivotree Inc. (TSXV: PVT) (Pivotree or the Company), a leading provider of frictionless commerce solutions and services, today announced that it will host a live webinar titled: The High Cost of Inaction. Embracing the New Status Quo in Supply Chain. During the session experts will share expertise with business leaders who want to be more resilient to market changes, and provide insights on how to respond to the pressing issue of declining customer experience caused by fulfillment-related challenges.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010904089/en/

Exclusive Webinar: Pivotree, Fluent Commerce and Psycho Bunny Offer Expert Advice on Responding to Disruptions in Supply Chain (Graphic: Business Wire)

Hosted by Pivotree in partnership with Fluent Commerce, the leading provider of distributed Order Management System (OMS), the webinar will include integrated systems experts, including: John Vurdelja, Global Head of Partner Success, Fluent Commerce, Keith Gorney, Enterprise Architect, Pivotree, and Monica Provenza Director, Omnichannel & Experience, at Psycho Bunny.

In todays retail supply chain landscape, businesses face relentless challenges that demand they adapt and evolve quickly, says Keith Gorney, Enterprise Architect, Pivotree. There is a high cost associated with inaction. The good news is that by incorporating new supply chain technologies, they can take advantage of transformative outcomes. Psycho Bunnys case proves that out.

Register here to attend the session and learn how to stay ahead of the curve and learn how new technologies can help retail businesses thrive in the dynamic world of supply chain management.

Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Time: 12:00pm ET, 9:00am PT

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.

About Pivotree

Pivotree, a leader in frictionless commerce, designs, builds and manages digital platforms in Commerce, Data Management, and Supply Chain for over 250 major retail and branded manufacturers globally. Pivotrees portfolio of digital solutions, managed and professional services help provide retailers with true end-to-end solutions to manage complex digital commerce platforms, along with ongoing support from strategic planning through platform selection, deployment, and hosting, to data and supply chain management. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada with offices and customers in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, Pivotree is widely recognized as a high-growth company and industry leader. For more information, visit www.pivotree.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010904089/en/

Sarah Kirk-Douglas, Vice President of Marketing, Pivotree

[email protected]

905-251-6502

Source: Pivotree Inc.
Proven treatment for critically ill patients is now available to federal organizations

MARTINEZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ExThera Medical Corporation has been awarded a 5-year U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract, which allows ExThera to pursue contracts with federal healthcare organizations including the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Federal Prison System, Indian Reservations, and the Department of Defense. The contract grants streamlined access to the companys Seraph 100 MicroBind Affinity Blood Filter. Military and VA clinicians have been enthusiastic users of Seraph 100 for the treatment of COVID-19. News articles featuring Seraph 100 have been published by the Uniformed Services University and VA News.

ExThera is proud to be contracted by the Federal Supply Schedule, working closely with federal agencies to expand access to the Seraph 100. We have a growing body of evidence demonstrating lifesaving treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients who often suffer from other superinfections caused by bacteria and fungi, said Robert Ward, Chairman, President and founder of ExThera Medical.

To date, the Seraph 100 has received both European Union CE Mark under the Medical Device Directive and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to treat COVID-19 in the United States and Canada.

ExThera is committed to pursuing wider domestic and global access to its Seraph 100, to reach more patients, and provide treatment options to those who need them most. The FSS contract is a major step in achieving that goal for the United States, said Sam Shull, Chief Commercial Officer at ExThera Medical.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the Seraph 100 quickly lowers the concentration of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and most notably in critically ill patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2. In addition, Seraph 100 has been shown to significantly reduce the bloodstream concentration of many drug-susceptible and drug-resistant pathogens, providing a long-awaited therapy that addresses the severe problem of drug-resistance along with new and future microbial threats like variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

About ExThera Medical Corporation

ExThera Medical Corporation develops and commercializes extracorporeal blood filtration devices, including the Seraph 100 MicroBind Affinity Blood Filter for removing a broad range of pathogens from the bloodstream of patients. Seraph can be used in hospitals, clinics, on battlefields and in other austere environments to address nosocomial and community-acquired infections as well as those caused by battlefield wounds, pandemics, and biological warfare agents. ExThera Medicals extracorporeal products have demonstrated life-saving capabilities in a wide range of critically ill patients suffering from sepsis, COVID-19, and many other severe bloodstream infections. With a growing body of outcome and health economic evidence from independent clinical studies, success in the DARPA Dialysis-Like Therapeutics program, and from successful clinical use in the US, the EU, and the Middle East, the company is well positioned to serve healthcare professionals and patients alike. The Seraph 100 attained CE Mark and is commercially available in the EU under a broad Indication For Use. The Seraph 100 has FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of COVID-19 in the USA.

For more information visit the companys website at www.extheramedical.com.

About Seraph 100 and the OncoBind Procedure

As a patients blood flows through the Seraph 100 filter, it passes through a bed of small beads with receptors that mimic the receptors on human cells that pathogens target when they invade the body. Harmful substances are quickly captured and adsorbed onto the surface of the beads and are thereby subtracted from the bloodstream. Seraph adds nothing to the bloodstream. It targets the pathogens that cause the infection, while it also binds and removes harmful substances generated by the pathogen and by the bodys response to the infection. Seraphs proprietary adsorption media (the beads) constitute a flexible platform that uses immobilized (chemically bonded) heparin for its well-established blood compatibility and its unique ability to bind circulating tumor cells, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and important sepsis mediators reported to contribute to organ failure during sepsis.

For more news stories on the Seraph 100 and the OncoBind Procedure click here.

Disclaimer

All information contained in this news release derives from plausible, reliable sources which, however, have not been independently examined. There is no warranty, confirmation or guarantee, and no responsibility or liability is taken concerning correctness or completeness. As far as it is allowed by the relevant law, no liability whatsoever is taken on for any direct or indirect loss caused by the deployment of this news release or its contents. This communication includes forward-looking statements regarding events, trends and business prospects that may affect our future operating results and financial position. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial position to differ materially. The investment and/or the revenues that arise from it can rise or fall. A total loss is possible. Persons who are in possession of this news release are requested to obtain information concerning possible legal limitations and to observe them accordingly. We assume no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect events, trends, or circumstances after the date of this news release. Results from case studies (reviews) may not be predictive of future results.

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Sam Shull

[email protected]

Source: ExThera Medical Corporation
Most organizations are not taking a strategic approach to workplace mental health programs and services, despite significant investment in mental health benefits and services for workers and their dependents.

Organizations are disproportionately focused on addressing

mental health problems and need to expand their focus to protecting and promoting positive mental health through upstream systems solutions.

RUTHERFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- One Mind at Work, in partnership with Columbia University Mental Health + Work Design Lab, and corporate ethical standards measurement company Ethisphere, today released the first Quarterly Brief from the Mental Health at Work Index.

The Mental Health at Work Index is the first-of-its-kind comprehensive, standardized assessment of organizational programs supporting workforce mental health. Nearly 50 leading global organizations - representing almost 2 million workers - have now completed the Index to measure their own efforts. In addition to providing a customized pathway from measurement to improvement, the data is confidentially and anonymously aggregated for benchmarking and identifying proven strategies.

Of the organizations that have completed the Index, only one-third (33%) include the full continuum

of Protection, Promotion, and Provision in their workforce mental health strategy. These findings indicate that organizations need to shift from a hyper focus on providing care to an comprehensive, upstream approach with attention on protection and promotion.

A comprehensive mental health strategy includes the full continuum of protection of worker mental health, promotion of psychological well-being, and provision of resources, benefits, and services, said Dr. Kathy Pike, President and CEO of One Mind at Work. High performing organizations depend on a healthy workforce. These organizations are leading the way in demonstrating the ability to use science-backed strategies to have a real impact on worker mental health, which fundamentally improves organizational performance across a wide range of metrics, including recruitment, retention, and reputation.

Craig Moss, Executive Vice President for Measurement at Ethisphere, added, Building an authentic corporate culture requires that workers at all levels feel aligned with the stated values and purpose of the organization. When an organization commits to protecting and promoting worker mental health and well-being, workers and organizational systems are less stressed and more resilient. Feeling seen, heard, and cared for, workers are more likely to be aligned with the culture, which in turn, increases buy-in for working towards organizational goals. The results from the Index provide leaders with insights about where they are and what to prioritize. You cant improve what you dont measure.

Other key takeaways from the Quarterly Brief include:

Attention to workplace mental health tends to be reactive, ad hoc, and focused on provision of resources and benefits, with no attention paid to evaluating the impact of their efforts (and financial investment) Only a quarter of respondents (25%) assess the effectiveness of their mental health efforts to eliminate hazards and minimize risks that negatively affect workers mental health

Most organizations arent strategic or comprehensive in their efforts Only 25% of companies have a formal strategy for workforce mental health Just 28% of respondents say senior leaders hold their direct reports accountable for advancing and supporting workforce mental health in their respective business units.

Read all of the findings and statistics here.

The Mental Health at Work Index was launched publicly in May 2023, following a period of beta testing. Built on a foundation of science and best practice, the Mental Health at Work Index is unique in its ability to support organizational leaders in the assessment of their mental health programs and practices and develop data-driven solutions. By engaging with the Index, organizations are given the tools to establish a baseline for their mental health programs and services, identify areas that will accelerate the impact of their existing efforts, and access evidence-based content and guidance to support more strategic and efficient use of resources for improved outcomes. More information on the creation of the tool can be found here.

Weve invested heavily in workforce mental health initiatives over the past several years, and had a good sense of what was working well and where we had opportunities to improve and expand, said Gordon Watson, Chair, AXA Asia, and Co-Chair, One Mind at Work. All of what we knew was reinforced in the Index results, and there were novel insights that werent uncovered in prior assessments wed completed. I think that speaks to the comprehensiveness of the Index framework, and also the need for companies to really take a mental health lens to everything that theyre doing across the business.

Addressing an Enormous Opportunity with a Data-Driven Solution

The Mental Health at Work Index was launched to help organizations worldwide provide effective resources to support their workers mental well-being in the workplace. Despite the recent proliferation of mental health offerings, independent data or globalized standards do not currently exist to provide scientifically supported decision-making for workplace mental health programs. Research from the World Health Organization shows that 15% of working adults have a mental health condition. According to a survey from 2022, 81% of global employees agree that employers have a responsibility to help them manage their mental health. One Mind at Work has determined that employers have an enormous opportunity to support the mental health and well-being of their workforce, yet leaders are at a loss for how to create sustainable impact.

The Mental Health at Work Index convened a coalition of leading global organizations, forming the Founding Corporate Council. The founding member corporations consist of both new and existing One Mind at Work members who committed to sponsoring the build of the Mental Health at Work Index and contributing their expertise and perspectives to its design. The founding members are:

AXA Asia & Africa, Founding Principal Partner

Aon

Bank of America

Business Group on Health

HCA Healthcare

Jardine Matheson, MINDSET Care Limited (Singapore) and MINDSET Limited (Hong Kong)

TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks)

Prudential

URAC

To learn more about the team and the science behind the Mental Health at Work Index, visit http://mentalhealthindex.org.

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Media:

DKC News, [email protected]

Source: One Mind
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA), one of the nations leading healthcare providers, today presented its annual HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. The HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction, which include the Frist Humanitarian Award, the HCA Healthcare Innovators Award and the HCA Healthcare Excellence in Nursing Award, celebrate the organizations positive impact on patients, colleagues and communities by recognizing extraordinary individuals who exemplify HCA Healthcares culture and values.

The Frist Humanitarian Award recognizes the highest achievements in serving others; the Innovators Award recognizes creative new ideas for enhancing quality of care and efficiency; and the Excellence in Nursing Award recognizes the highest levels of performance in the field of nursing.

Our annual Awards of Distinction celebrate the talented and compassionate individuals throughout HCA Healthcare who truly live out our mission, said Sam Hazen, chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare. We honor each of them as their selflessness continues to inspire us to raise the bar for patient care.

Frist Humanitarian Award Recipients

The Frist Humanitarian Award, created in honor of HCA Healthcare co-founder Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr. (1910-1998) in 1971, recognizes individuals whose work and lives embody the humanitarian principles upon which HCA Healthcare was founded. Those honored have demonstrated a level of commitment and care that goes beyond everyday acts of kindness and inspire others with their compassion, dedication and spirit.

Frist Humanitarian Award employee and volunteer recipients receive a $10,000 cash gift and a $10,000 gift to a charity of their choice, while the physician recipient receives a $20,000 gift to the charity of their choice.

Recipients of the annual Frist Humanitarian Award are: Faridah Nabukenya, RN, a senior staff nurse at The Harley Street Clinic in London, England, part of HCA Healthcare UK; S.M.A. Zaheed Hassan, MD, a burn surgeon at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital of Augusta; and Mark B. Holmgren, a volunteer supervisor at Medical City Heart & Spine Hospitals in Dallas, Texas.

The recipients of the Frist Humanitarian Award go above and beyond to serve others, both within and outside of our hospitals, said Hazen. Their dedication to philanthropy, volunteerism and community service epitomize the humanitarian principles established by our founders.

Faridah Nabukenya, RN, is a senior staff nurse at The Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK. Since starting as an oncology nurse in 2016, Nabukenya has made a lasting impact on her patients, peers and community. After her son was diagnosed with colon cancer, Faridah orchestrated the delivery of medical equipment to the Ugandan hospital where her son received medical care. The supplies also provided ongoing use for future patients of the facility. To honor her late son's dreams of being a teacher, Nabukenya opened a school for orphaned children in Uganda, providing dormitories, schoolbooks and uniforms to the students.

S.M.A. Zaheed Hassan, MD, a burn surgeon at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital of Augusta, has touched hundreds of thousands of lives throughout his career. In addition to his role at Doctors Hospital of Augusta, Dr. Hassan holds leadership roles at multiple burn patient advocacy and research foundations. Dr. Hassan's care for the psychosocial needs of burn patients extends across the globe, with more than 23 years of support through burn camps, burn survivor reunions, treatment of unfunded burn patients and the creation of much-needed skin banks and donor programs worldwide.

Mark B. Holmgren has given more than 5,900 hours of volunteer service over the past 14 years. From the start of his volunteering, Holmgren has excelled at providing immediate reassurance and anticipating patient needs. In his role as a volunteer supervisor, he is responsible for onboarding new volunteers and helping find opportunities to improve patient and guest experience. Outside of his role at Medical City Heart & Spine Hospitals, Holmgren serves as parliamentarian on the Medical City Dallas Auxiliary Board of Directors and volunteers alongside his family through their church and a non-profit organization that works with veterans to raise awareness of mental health issues.

HCA Healthcare Innovators Award Recipient

HCA Healthcare was founded with the goal of unlocking numerous possibilities for patients, colleagues and communities. Created in 2010, the HCA Healthcare Innovators Award recognizes innovative thinkers, like the organizations founders Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., Mr. Jack Massey and Dr. Thomas Tommy Frist, Jr., who help to improve nursing operations, engage physicians and generate growth. The Innovators Award recipient receives a $10,000 cash gift and a $10,000 donation to the charity of the recipients choice.

The 2023 Innovators Award recipient is Judy Kitchens, a perinatal quality manager at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Her unique use of technology has been critical to the success of St. Davids Womens Center of Texas, a part of St. Davids North Austin Medical Center. Using her diverse background in analytics and healthcare administration, Kitchens created the Womens Center Daily Dashboard, a customizable daily report that compiles important unit data and trends. The tool allows both clinical and non-clinical leaders to quickly assess throughput of the busy womens center, allowing for higher predictability of delivery volumes and a more informed use of clinical resources.

Like many great companies, HCA Healthcare is consistently looking for ways to evolve and improve the experiences of our patients and colleagues, said Bill Rutherford, executive vice president and chief financial officer of HCA Healthcare. Through Judys work, her hospital has benefited from quicker, data-driven decision-making that helps improve patient care.

HCA Healthcare Excellence in Nursing Award Recipients

HCA Healthcares more than 95,000 knowledgeable and compassionate nurses are on the front line of patient care, every day. Created in 2014, the Excellence in Nursing Award recognizes the intrinsic value of the nursing practice in accomplishing HCA Healthcares goal of providing high quality of care to patients and communities. With categories for professional mentoring and compassionate care, the Excellence in Nursing Award recipients each receive a $10,000 cash gift and a $10,000 donation to the charity of the recipients choice.

This years recipients are: John Lee Stroud, MSN, RN, director of clinical operations at Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro, South Carolina; and Jean Rendall, BSN, RN, an oncology nurse at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Nurses are the heart and soul of HCA Healthcare, said Sammie Mosier, DHA, MA, BSN, NE-BC, senior vice president and chief nurse executive of HCA Healthcare. It is an honor to celebrate this years recipients, who have shown extraordinary compassion and leadership to our hospitals, in addition to providing exceptional care every day.

John Lee Stroud, MSN, RN, received the Excellence in Nursing Award in the Professional Mentoring category. Stroud has been a leading advocate for nurse mentorship and development at Colleton Medical Center since 2011. Now director of clinical operations, Stroud has developed a mentorship program that provides additional support for nursing students, new nurses and patient care techs to help ensure the next generation of passionate and patient-centric nurses are more informed and better prepared to care for the specific needs of their patients. As a testament to his mentorship abilities, many of his nurse supervisors have moved to leadership positions.

Jean Rendall, BSN, RN, received the Excellence in Nursing Award in the Compassionate Care category. Often called sunshine angel by her oncology patients and peers, Rendall shows positivity and compassion to all who come in contact with her at Sky Ridge Medical Center. A winner of multiple Daisy Awards, as well as the prestigious Daisy Team Award in 2022, Rendall puts patient care and comfort at the center of everything she does. From field trips within the hospital to celebrating special occasions by hosting parties, Rendall is committed to creating memorable, positive experiences for her patients and their families.

About HCA Healthcare

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nations leading providers of healthcare services comprising 182 hospitals and approximately 2,300 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44%. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 37 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives.

All references to Company, HCA and HCA Healthcare as used throughout this document refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates.

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INVESTOR:

Frank Morgan

615-344-2688

MEDIA:

Harlow Sumerford

615-344-1851

Source: HCA Healthcare
LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jensen Investment Management (Jensen), a 100% employee-owned active equity investment management firm, today proudly commemorates its 35th anniversary. Since its inception, Jensen has exemplified a commitment to excellence, a client-first approach and the fostering of a team-oriented culture.

Founded in 1988 with a mission to help long-term investors access the durable alpha we believe is enjoyed by quality companies, Jensen now manages more than $13 billion (USD), as of August 2023, across three investment strategies  Quality Growth, Quality Value and Global Quality Growth  and is the largest independent asset manager in the state of Oregon.1

With a dedicated team of 40 employees, Jensen serves investors across institutional, intermediary and high-net-worth channels, maintaining an unwavering dedication to collaboration, independence and quality.

Were humbled and grateful to celebrate 35 years of independence at Jensen Investment Management, expressed Rob McIver, managing director and portfolio manager for Jensen Investment Management. Our journey is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our exceptional team and our relentless pursuit of quality in all aspects of our work. This commitment has been the bedrock of our success and will continue to shape our future endeavors.

Recent accolades for the long-tenured investment firm include the "Rising Star award presented to portfolio manager Tyra Pratt at this years With Intelligence Mutual Fund and ETF Awards, as well as being named one of the Best Places to Work in 2022 by Pensions & Investments.

Looking ahead, Jensen anticipates expanded access to the firms strategies through the growth of domestic and international distribution channels, while remaining committed to upholding its tradition of excellence and guiding investors towards their financial goals. The firm expresses its heartfelt gratitude to its clients, the local community and industry professionals for their support throughout 35 years of service.

For a more in-depth look at our investment strategy, please read our piece, Three Mistakes to Avoid as a Long-term Investor: Observations from 35 Years Managing Money.

About Jensen Investment Management

Jensen Investment Management is a high-conviction, active equity manager with an unwavering commitment to quality. The firm focuses on companies derived from a select universe of businesses that have produced a long-term record of persistently high returns on shareholder equity. For more information, please visit www.jenseninvestment.com.

_____________________________

1 Measured by assets under management (AUM) as of 5/31/2023. Source: Portland Business Journal.

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Media:

Alicia V. Nieva-Woodgate

MJ Hudson

[email protected]

+1 720.808.0086

Source: Jensen Investment Management
New agreement launches Knoxville Beverages online footprint on Provis marketplace to better serve licensed retailers in TN

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Knoxville Beverage Company, a premium wine and spirits wholesaler in Tennessee, and Provi, the largest online marketplace for the beverage alcohol industry, today announced a new partnership to meet the evolving digital needs of their licensed retail customers. The partnership will enable on-and-off-premise retailers throughout Tennessee to discover, search and order Knoxville Beverage Companys portfolio on Provis marketplace.

As the needs of our business and customers continue to evolve, we are excited to partner with Provi and implement a best-in-class digital solution into our operations, said Chris Moats, Vice President, Knoxville Beverage Company. This partnership provides our customers with 24/7 access to our portfolio online and generates increased communication between our sales reps and retailers.

Knoxville Beverage Company has continued to enhance and expand its capabilities by staying calibrated to its licensed retail customers. The Provi partnership is a reflection of the companys efforts to meet retailers where they are and seamlessly offer their premium brands from innovative producers and suppliers to bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout the state.

We are thrilled to partner with Knoxville Beverage Company as we have a shared ethos of a customer-first mindset, said Manali Patel, VP, Distributor Partnerships, Provi. Our mission at Provi is to bring greater efficiency to the beverage alcohol industry and the existing three tier system and our partnership with Knoxville Beverage brings us closer to that goal.

Provis online marketplace simplifies the complex beverage ordering process between retailers and distributors. Through the partnership, Provi reduces administrative work for Knoxville Beverage Company sales representatives throughout Tennessee resulting in increased revenue and sales.

To discover and shop Knoxville Beverage Company portfolio, visit their custom storefront on Provi.

###

About Knoxville Beverage Company

Founded in 1961, Knoxville Beverage Company is fortunate to represent many of the world's most recognized spirits and wine brands in the East Tennessee Marketing area. Our company experiences consistent growth which management attributes to having the best employees, selling the perfect variety of products, while providing the best possible customer service.

About Provi (www.provi.com)

Provi is the largest online marketplace that simplifies the complex process of ordering wholesale alcohol by connecting buyers, distributors, and suppliers. Active in key markets throughout the U.S., Provi's robust online marketplace improves communication and efficiency for on- and off-premise buyers, distributors, and suppliers. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Provi received Built In Chicago's Best Places to Work recognition in 2022. In 2022, Provi joined forces with SevenFifty, which included the Beverage Media properties with an industry legacy dating back to the repeal of prohibition, along with SevenFifty Daily, an award-winning industry publication discussing the beverage alcohol business and culture.

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Media Contacts:

Provi

Kelley McGann

Director of Corporate Communication

[email protected]

(845) 494 - 3784

Source: Provi
PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In 2022, per member per month Core expenses increased by 2.4%, below the 2.6% increase in 2021. Core expenses exclude the plans Sales and Marketing expense clusters. Trends are of continuously reporting plans and eliminate the effect of product mix changes. Median PMPM costs for Medicaid HMO were $30.82, and $36.41 for all products.

The results are summarized in Plan Management Navigator and are posted at sherlockco.com/navigator. Navigator excerpts from the 2023 Medicaid edition of Sherlock Benchmarks which analyzes and reports on the in-depth surveys of 15 Medicaid plans that collectively served 15.5 million members with Comprehensive products. Medicaid comprised on average 56% of their members. Medicaid membership in these plans increased by 11%. With other universes, the Sherlock Benchmarks universes analyze the administrative costs of plans serving 17% of all Medicaid beneficiaries.

The Account and Membership Cluster grew fastest among the Core clusters at 5.7%, with Claims its fastest growing function and most impactful. This clusters growth was the fastest since 2019s increase of 9.7%.

We will discuss the results via free web conference on Wednesday, October 11th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Douglas Sherlock will offer a brief presentation, followed by questions and answers. To participate in the web conference, please register at sherlockco.com/webinar. Once registered, dial-in information and a link to connect will be provided in a confirmation email.

The Sherlock Benchmarks are the health plan industrys metrics informing the management of administrative activities. They are based on surveys of health plans serving 63 million Americans and provide costs and their drivers on key administrative activities. Health plans use them to determine whether their administrative costs are optimal and to prioritize improvements among numerous specific activities.

The Sherlock Benchmarks for 2023 reflect 1,000 health plan years of experience spanning 26 consecutive years. They are the gold standard of benchmarks and used to measure and manage health plan administrative activities in health plans serving over 208 million members. Planning, budgeting and cost benefit analyses are informed by the Sherlock Benchmarks.

Besides the Medicaid universe, others include Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Independent/Provider-Sponsored plans and Medicare plans.

Sherlock Company (www.sherlockco.com), based in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, provides informed solutions for health plan financial management. Since its founding in 1987, Sherlock Company has been known for its impartiality and technical competence in service to its clients.

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Douglas B. Sherlock, CFA

215-628-2289

[email protected]

Source: Sherlock Company
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Michael Sampson Books, an imprint of Brown Books, launches its inaugural title, Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist by Violet Lemay (Michael Sampson Books; on sale: October 10, 2023), honoring the memory of Alithia Ramirez, one of the 21 victims of the school shooting that took place in Uvalde, TX, on May 24, 2022.

This heartfelt picture book is a celebration of Alithia Ramirez and the art she created (which continues to inspire at www.alithiasartangels.com). All author proceeds will go to the Alithia Haven Ramirez Memorial Summer Seminar Scholarship fund. The book includes original art from Alithia and was written with the support of her parents.

Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist captures the kind-hearted, vivacious spirit of our daughter, Alithia  With her own artwork featured throughout the book, Alithias talent will continue inspiring others to embrace the joy and healing that creation can bring. Alithias Parents, Jess Hernandez and Ryan Ramirez

When first reading the manuscript for Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist, New York Times bestselling author, Fulbright Scholar and publisher, Michael Sampson felt that it was an important story that needed to be told on behalf of the entire community affected by this Texas school tragedy: Its a beautiful book with an important message for todays society, but most of all, it honors this young 10-year-old girl and keeps her dreams alive. My hope is that this story will continue the conversation about what is happening in our schools and encourage discussions that will bring about a positive change that embraces what Alithia teaches us: to live with love.

Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist reminds us why art is so powerful  and healing. Parents Magazine

A book that embodies the light through the cracks in social injustice. Alithia Ramirez will paint the possibility of life without guns in schools in the heart of all readers. Uvalde will never be forgotten. F. Isabel Campoy, Member of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, Award-Winning Author of Maybe Something Beautiful

In this book, we can hear Alithias voice of love calling for us to be just as determined as she was at creating a world full of color, joy and peace, where children can be safe to dream the life they deserve. Viva Alithia! Yuyi Morales, Pura Belpre Medalist and Caldecott Honoree

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[email protected]

Source: Michael Sampson Books
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pacific Life announced today an update to its Sustainable Financing Framework, offering additional institutional sustainable investment options, and further expanding opportunities for environmental and social engagement.

Pacific Life is committed to making a positive impact on our environment, said Darryl Button, president and CEO of Pacific Life. We have a long history of delivering financial strength and stability to our stakeholders, underscored by our corporate social responsibility initiatives which create lasting impact for our people, our communities, our customers, and our environment.

Introduced in April 2021, Pacific Lifes Sustainable Financing Framework issues sustainability bonds and financing through the Global Institutional Investments Group of its Institutional business. The frameworks first issuance came shortly after its launch with an $800 million sustainability bond, a record sum at the time.

Establishing this Sustainable Financing Framework provides an opportunity to expand the breadth and depth of our sustainable activities by financing existing and future investments that help make a positive environmental and social difference to the world around us, said Joe Krum, senior vice president, Global Institutional Investments Group, Pacific Life.

Pacific Lifes sustainability financing is offered predominantly in the form of funding agreement-backed notes. As provided in the framework, an amount equal to the net proceeds from the sustainability financing is allocated to fund green and social investments, including conservation, renewable energy, and community-building initiatives such as affordable housing and education for target populations.

For more information about Pacific Lifes Sustainable Financing Framework, please visit our webpage.

About Pacific Life

Pacific Life provides a variety of products and services designed to help individuals and businesses in the retail, institutional, workplace benefits, and reinsurance markets achieve financial security. Whether your goal is to protect loved ones or grow your assets for retirement, Pacific Life offers innovative life insurance and annuity solutions, as well as mutual funds, that provide value and financial security for current and future generations. Supporting our policyholders for more than 150 years, Pacific Life is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com.

Pacific Life, its affiliates, their distributors, and respective representatives do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. Any taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayers particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor or attorney.

Pacific Life is a product provider. It is not a fiduciary and therefore does not give advice or make recommendations regarding insurance or investment products.

Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Insurance products can be issued in all states, except New York, by Pacific Life Insurance Company or Pacific Life & Annuity Company. In New York, insurance products are only issued by Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Product availability and features may vary by state. Each insurance company is solely responsible for the financial obligations accruing under the products it issues.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010978179/en/

Jesse Page

(949) 219-4575

[email protected]

Source: Pacific Life
The Taliban government and aid groups in western Afghanistan said Monday that rescue efforts were ongoing to find and recover survivors trapped under rubble, two days after a powerful earthquake and multiple aftershocks killed hundreds of people and injured many more.

The 6.3 magnitude quake hit the western province of Herat on Saturday, destroying more than a dozen villages in and around the hardest-hit remote Zinda Jan district.

Officials and witnesses said the disaster zone was twice shaken by fresh tremors Monday, rattling the provincial capital, also called Herat, and sending thousands of its residents into the streets. No losses were reported immediately.

While the Taliban government has reported at least 2,000 deaths since the calamity on Saturday, the United Nations confirmed more than 1,000 fatalities, saying nearly 1,700 injured were injured. More than 1,300 homes have reportedly been destroyed or partially damaged.

Siddiq Ibrahim, the UNICEF's field officer for western Afghanistan, told VOA by phone from Herat that the casualties were expected to increase, saying volunteers and residents from surrounding areas were assisting Taliban teams in the rescue efforts.

"They are using very basic tools to dig up and try to see if there are any survivors or bodies underneath the rubble," Ibrahim said after visiting some of the affected villages. "I was shocked to see that these villages have been completely wiped to the ground. There is absolutely nothing standing," Ibrahim said.

"When the first earthquake hit, people thought it was a missile or a bomb, and they ran into their homes. Unfortunately, the quake continued, and houses started collapsing," he said, explaining the reasons for the high number of casualties.

Ibrahim said UNICEF and partner agencies had set up tents to provide emergency medical aid to the area communities, and efforts were also under way to establish temporary schools to enable children to resume their education as soon as normalcy returns to the area.

The earthquake struck the country on the day renewed hostilities broke out in the Middle East, effectively diverting global attention from the crisis in Afghanistan. "We need the world to keep working with us, supporting us. There are so many issues in the world, but we also need to keep giving equal attention to the children of Afghanistan who are in desperate need of aid," Ibrahim said.
MILAN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sibylla Biotech today announces the appointment of Sonia Poli, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr. Poli brings more than two decades of international experience in pharmaceutical research and development, with broad knowledge spanning small molecule drug design, translational science, and early- to late-stage clinical development. As a seasoned pharmaceutical R&D executive, Dr. Poli has held various leadership and executive positions at both large and small pharmaceutical companies across disciplines and indications. Dr. Poli will guide the scientific direction and strategy at Sibylla as the company advances its proprietary pipeline of small molecule Folding Interfering Degraders (FIDs) to address a range of therapeutic areas.

"Sonias profound expertise in clinical development, coupled with her extensive knowledge of small molecule drug design, align seamlessly with the goal of advancing our FIDs toward the clinic, starting with our lead asset  a Cyclin D1 degrader," stated Lidia Pieri, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sibylla Biotech. "Welcoming Sonia to our leadership team as CSO not only strengthens our team but also amplifies Sibyllas capacity to unlock the promise of our PPI-FIT protein folding simulation technology to address currently undruggable targets across indications."

"Sibyllas pioneering approach to rational drug discovery is distinct, not only because of its focus on targeting proteins during their folding process but also due to the teams unique constellation of physicists and biologists. This blend of expertise has already generated and validated several compounds that act on proteins of oncological interest," said Dr. Sonia Poli, CSO of Sibylla Biotech. "Working as part of the Sibylla team presents a tremendous opportunity to contribute to the companys computational protein folding platform and create truly transformative treatment options in areas of high unmet need."

Dr. Sonia Poli is a pharmaceutical industry veteran with profound drug development knowledge. For the past three years, Dr. Poli has served as Life Cycle Leader for AC Immunes partnership with Eli Lilly on the Tau morphomer program. Prior to this, Dr. Poli was the CSO of Minoryx and Vice President of Translational Science of AC Immune and has been a Board member of Dimerix Bioscience since 2013. Her earlier tenure at Addex Therapeutics spanned over a decade, during which she ascended to various leadership positions, culminating in the role of CSO. Before her time at Addex Therapeutics, she dedicated seven years to Roche, working in roles of increasing responsibility. Dr. Polis professional journey commenced with a post-doctoral research stint at CNRS URA400, Universite Rene Descartes, Paris V, after obtaining her Ph.D. in Industrial Chemistry from Universita degli Studi di Milano.

About Sibylla Biotech

Sibylla is disrupting the protein degradation landscape by applying a novel mechanism of action that interferes with protein folding and thereby suppresses the expression of a disease-relevant protein. Through its protein folding simulation technology platform, Pharmacological Protein Inactivation by Folding Intermediate Targeting (PPI-FIT), Sibylla identifies relevant and previously inexplorable folding intermediates for protein targets that are currently considered undruggable in their native state. The company is developing a proprietary pipeline of small molecule folding interfering degraders (FIDs) that can address a range of therapeutic areas.

For further information: https://www.sibyllabiotech.it/

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Sibylla Biotech

Lidia Pieri

+39 347 6499534

[email protected]

Trophic Communications

Valeria Fisher or Dr. Alison Opalko

+49 175 80 41 816 or +49 151 54041130

[email protected]

Source: Sibylla Biotech
Swift received the gold award recognition in McKnights skilled nursing category

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Swift Medical, an advanced digital health technology company focused on improving clinical and economic outcomes in chronic and acute wound care, has been named McKnights Gold Award Technology Partner of the Year in the award programs skilled nursing category.

McKnights is a national media brand providing news, perspective and analysis for owners, operators and other leaders of seniors housing, independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement and life plan communities. Its award program is a joint production of McKnights Long-Term Care News, McKnights Senior Living and McKnights Home Care.

Each year, we are excited to see, recognize and share examples of how technology is being used in big and small ways to improve the lives of older adults and those who care for them, said John OConnor, McKnights Editorial Director.

The Swift Skin & Wound application brings AI-powered imaging and documentation capabilities to mobile devices in order to capture clinically calibrated, high-precision 3D images, measurements, and other clinical data. Swifts technology has been adopted by over 20,000 clinical users across the continuum of care to improve the prevention, treatment, and management of wounds. Proven outcomes include:

34% reduction in pressure injury prevalence and patients are 24% less likely to be hospitalized due to a wound

If hospitalized, patients are admitted for stays that are 62% shorter than they otherwise would be

Patient's wounds heal faster with a 35% reduction in average days to heal

Im so proud and honored to see Swift Skin and Wound prevail as the gold award winner in one of McKnights most competitive categories, said Brian Litten, Swift Medicals CEO. Our AI-powered digital wound management platform continues to demonstrate its ability to improve the lives of both clinicians and patients whether they are receiving care in the hospital, at home, or any setting in between. Our hope is that more organizations and clinicians start to utilize our technology to revolutionize their wound care programs.

The awards honor providers that convey how technology has improved care and operations in their organizations across three divisions: Skilled Nursing, Senior Living and Home Care. Nominations were judged by an external panel of industry experts.

To see the full list of winners, and for more information about the program, visit www.mcknightstechawards.com.

About Swift Medical

Swift Medical is the global leader in digital wound care. We are headquartered in Toronto, with operations expanding across the U.S. and Canada. Our mission is to make high quality care accessible to those who need it most through the power of AI and technology. We are the trusted wound care technology partner of more than 4,000 healthcare facilities in North America across the continuum of care with over 20,000 clinical users. More than 20 million wound images and 40 million assessments have been captured through the app, which has empowered healthcare providers to deliver standardized, accessible and equitable wound care for every patient  with advanced, high-precision imaging, compliant documentation, and clinical analytics and remote care. To learn more about Swift Medical, visit us at www.swiftmedical.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010770821/en/

Media Contact

Kristen Abel

416-949-9159

[email protected]

Source: Swift Medical
KATY, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tellus Equipment Solutions ("Tellus"), a prominent John Deere Agricultural and Turf dealer, is thrilled to announce its acquisition of Bramlett Implement, a John Deere dealership in Erath County. With this strategic move, Tellus extends its reach to 55 counties, reinforcing its steadfast commitment to serving Texas's dynamic agricultural community.

We're excited to expand into Stephenville and Erath County. Our acquisition of Bramlett will bring a wider selection of equipment and parts to the customers in the region. We are dedicated to delivering strong customer service and we look forward to carrying forward the Bramlett familys legacy of employee and community support, stated Jeff Donaldson, CEO of Tellus.

Tellus is dedicated to a strategic growth initiative aimed at expanding its footprint while strengthening the ability to serve customers through expanded equipment selection, parts inventory, and customer support. Tellus commitment involves investments in our highly valued employees and the communities where it operates.

Anthony Willis, Managing Director of Cardinal System Holdings, Tellus parent company, said, The addition of Bramlett reinforces our commitment to expanding Tellus' footprint. This strategic move reaffirms our dedication and represents another step in our journey to enhance scale within the John Deere dealership system.

As part of this acquisition, Tellus will retain Bramlett Implements employees and continue to operate the location in Stephenville. With a network of 25 locations across South and Central Texas, Tellus remains firmly committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience, with world-class service at its core.

About Tellus Equipment Solutions

Tellus Equipment Solutions, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is a family-owned authorized John Deere Agriculture and Turf dealer, operating 25 full-service dealerships across 55 exclusive counties in South and Central Texas. The company provides agriculture, turf and compact construction equipment, parts, and service support to various customers, including farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and commercial businesses. For more information, visit www.tellusequip.com and find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Cardinal System Holdings

Established in 2014, Cardinal System Holdings ("Cardinal") is a family holding company with operations in consumer goods, heavy equipment, real estate, and other business ventures. Cardinal is a strategic partner with two of the world's most recognizable brands - "Coca-Cola" through its ownership of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and "John Deere" through its ownership of Tellus Equipment Solutions. As an active owner, Cardinal combines its entrepreneurial approach and operating expertise to build multigenerational family businesses that consistently generate profitable growth and strong returns. In 2022, Cardinal-owned businesses generated more than $2 billion in revenue and employed over 5,500 people.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010268658/en/

TyMesha Marion

[email protected]

281-502-2260

Source: Tellus Equipment Solutions
WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Textron Aviation today announced that its Maintenance and Paint Apprenticeship programs have officially been recognized as state-registered apprenticeships through the Kansas Department of Commerce. The two-year programs support the companys long-term strategic workforce plan and offer prospective and current employees opportunities to try new fields, learn new skills and stretch their abilities to build a lasting career.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010751758/en/

Textron Aviation Apprenticeships (Photo: Business Wire)

Textron Aviation Inc. is a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.

Textron Aviation has long been committed to building educational and community collaborations that benefit our employees, company, region and the State of Kansas, particularly in developing a skilled workforce that maintains our advantage in a competitive, global market, said Maggie Topping, senior vice president, Human Resources and Communications. These apprenticeships are another way we provide employees a solid foundation for success and ongoing support throughout their careers. Participants not only gain valuable education and training, but also receive a salary and benefits while they learn.

As employees, program participants receive benefits and pay during on-the-job and classroom training. In a typical week, employees divide their time attending training at WSU Tech and working with assigned mentors at Textron Aviation production facilities. The company also pays for all program-related tuition and fees.

The programs are a collaboration between Textron Aviation, the State of Kansas, WSU Tech and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) to help address long-term production and workforce needs and reinforce Wichitas status as a global aerospace hub.

The company continues to grow and enhance its collaborative earn and learn opportunities, including Airframe & Powerplant (A&P), Avionics, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining and Tooling programs.

To learn more about Textron Aviation career opportunities, interested candidates can visit txtav.com/careers.

About Textron Aviation

We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.

For more information, visit www.txtav.com | www.defense.txtav.com | www.scorpionjet.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010751758/en/

Media Contact:

Rachel Douglass

+1. 316.517.5835

[email protected]

txtav.com

Source: Textron
Percentage of patients alive 18 months after start of therapy 10-fold higher than standard of care reference cohort

Median overall survival will exceed 18 months and will improve further with continued patient follow-up

Based on the mature 18-month survival data  key catalyst for TME Pharma  the company, in consultation with the board and its scientific advisors, has made the decision to request formal US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advice in October 2023  the first of several regulatory steps in the coming months

TME Pharmas target is to have an FDA approved clinical trial protocol in glioblastoma as well as access to an expedited regulatory pathway by the end of Q1 2024

BERLIN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009898725/en/

Fig. Overall Survival at 18 months: NOX-A12 Combinations Improve Survival in Chemotherapy-Resistant Incompletely Resected Glioblastoma Patients (Graphic: Business Wire)

TME Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALTME), a biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for treatment of cancer by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announces a positive update on survival at 18 months for patients receiving NOX-A12 with the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab and radiotherapy, and provides an overview on upcoming clinical development plans for NOX-A12 in the aggressive adult brain cancer, glioblastoma.

The percentage of patients who were alive 18 months after start of therapy of NOX-A12 with the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab and radiotherapy is currently 50% (with the possibility to increase to 67% with the next patient reaching 18 months) which exceeds by 10-fold the 18-month survival of 5% observed in the matched group of patients receiving standard of care1. Since neither bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) alone, nor bevacizumab plus radiotherapy have previously shown to extend survival, the strong increase in survival can be attributed to the complementary mechanism of action of NOX-A12 with bevacizumab and radiotherapy2. The survival rate of the NOX-A12 triple combination also exceeds the 18-month survival of 20% seen in the patients with high levels of the NOX-A12 predictive biomarker EG12 receiving NOX-A12 + radiotherapy alone3, which further supports NOX-A12s potential to synergize with VEGF inhibition in glioblastoma (see figure below).

The median overall survival has now reached 18 months and is expected to improve further as the remaining patients continue to receive treatment or follow-up care4. Two of the three living patients are clinically stable despite radiographic tumor progression at last report from treating clinicians, including the patient who achieved complete response, now completing 22 months therapy. As a reminder, the matched standard of care reference cohort achieved a median overall survival of 10.5 months.

The NOX-A12-based therapy has now delivered median overall survival exceeding all the relevant competitor studies conducted in the US or EU involving newly diagnosed, chemotherapy-resistant (MGMT unmethylated) glioblastoma patients despite recruiting more difficult to treat patients whose tumors could not be fully removed by surgery5. NOX-A12 in combination with bevacizumab and radiotherapy continues to show an excellent safety and tolerability profile similar to that noted in previous publications.

In the upcoming 6 months the key regulatory steps for NOX-A12 program in brain cancer will include the following:

Q4 2023  Request advice in October from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on next trial design and eligibility for expedited regulatory pathways, such as Fast-Track Designation. Feedback expected in late December.

Q1 2024  Submit IND6 application for glioblastoma with the US FDA along with expedited regulatory pathway access request. Successful IND filing and feedback targeted by end of Q1 2024.

TME Pharma plans to keep the market updated on the progress of these regulatory discussions. The goal is to have an FDA approved clinical trial protocol in glioblastoma with an expedited regulatory path by the beginning of April 2024 in order to secure the funding for the necessary clinical trial via partnership, investment or other strategic transaction types.

We believe that survival data from the NOX-A12 bevacizumab expansion arm is now sufficiently mature and have made the decision to request advice from the US regulatory authority in the coming weeks. Once we have feedback from the FDA, we plan to submit an IND and request access to an expedited pathway for approval. We believe that having a clear path to marketing approval in brain cancer, validated by FDA, will significantly increase the attractiveness of NOX-A12 to investors and potential partners. said Aram Mangasarian, CEO of TME Pharma. While we believe that the FDA will request a randomized clinical trial examining two doses of NOX-A12 combined with bevacizumab and radiotherapy and to compare these two dose regimens against standard of care as a next step, they may also request that these two doses of NOX-A12 be tested only with radiotherapy (without bevacizumab) in order to quantify precisely the benefit of the combination with NOX-A12 and bevacizumab, which would add two additional arms to the clinical trial. We anticipate that an additional trial or an expansion of the upcoming trial would be required for full approval.

About TME Pharma

TME Pharma is a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapies for treatment of the most aggressive cancers. The companys oncology-focused pipeline is designed to act on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking tumor protection barriers against the immune system and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, TME Pharmas approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses and enable greater therapeutic impact. In the GLORIA clinical trial, TME Pharma is studying its lead drug candidate NOX-A12 in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit clinically from standard chemotherapy. TME Pharma has delivered top-line data from the NOX-A12 three dose-escalation cohorts combined with radiotherapy of the GLORIA clinical trial, observing consistent tumor reductions and objective tumor responses. Additionally, GLORIA expansion arms evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in other combinations where the interim results from the triple combination of NOX-A12, radiotherapy and bevacizumab suggest even deeper and more durable responses, and improved survival. NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy has received orphan drug designation for glioblastoma in the United States and glioma in Europe. TME Pharma has delivered final top-line data with encouraging overall survival and safety profile from its NOX-A12 combination trial with Keytruda in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, which was published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer in October 2021. The company has entered in its second collaboration with MSD/Merck for its Phase 2 study, OPTIMUS, to further evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in combination with Mercks Keytruda and two different chemotherapy regimens as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The design of the trial has been approved in France, Spain and the United States. The companys second clinical-stage drug candidate, NOX-E36, is designed to target the innate immune system. TME Pharma is considering several solid tumors for further clinical development. Further information can be found at: www.tmepharma.com.

TME Pharma and the TME Pharma logo are registered trademarks.

Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Visit TME Pharma on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About the GLORIA Study

GLORIA (NCT04121455) is TME Pharmas dose-escalation, Phase 1/2 study of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in first-line partially resected or unresected glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter (resistant to standard chemotherapy). GLORIA further evaluates safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 three additional arms combining NOX-A12 with: A. radiotherapy in patients with complete tumor resection; B. radiotherapy and bevacizumab; and C. radiotherapy and pembrolizumab.

About the OPTIMUS Study

OPTIMUS (NCT04901741) is TME Pharmas planned open-label two-arm Phase 2 study of NOX-A12 combined with pembrolizumab and nanoliposomal irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in microsatellite-stable metastatic pancreatic cancer patients.

Disclaimer

Translations of any press release into languages other than English are intended solely as a convenience to the non-English-reading audience. The company has attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original text in English, but due to the nuances in translating into another language, slight differences may exist. This press release includes certain disclosures that contain "forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on TME Pharmas current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the risks inherent in oncology drug development, including clinical trials and the timing of and TME Pharmas ability to obtain regulatory approvals for NOX-A12 as well as any other drug candidates. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and TME Pharma undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

1 Matched reference cohort of 20 patients from Giordano et al (2022 SNO Poster),

2 Chinot et al (2014) New England Journal of Medicine, Gilbert et al (2014) New England Journal of Medicine, Herrlinger et al (2016) J Clin Oncology

3 NOX-A12 + radiotherapy survival data from Giordano et al (2023 ASCO Poster)

4 In a clinical study, measuring the median Overall Survival (mOS) is one way to assess how well a new treatment works. The longer the patients remain alive, the longer it takes to reach mOS. mOS can only be calculated when more than half of patients in the study have deceased.

5 See TME Pharmas Press Release dated 13 September 2023 for a competing benchmark therapies against chemotherapy resistant glioblastoma in development in the US or EU.

6 Investigational New Drug (IND), the authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational drug or biological product to patients in the US.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009898725/en/

For more information, please contact:



TME Pharma N.V.

Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D., CEO

Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0

[email protected]



Investor and Media Relations:



LifeSci Advisors

Guillaume van Renterghem

Tel. +41 (0) 76 735 01 31

[email protected]



NewCap

Arthur Rouille

Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15

[email protected]

Source: TME Pharma N.V.
NEW YORK & LONDON & HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As previously announced, Jefferies will hold a Doing Good Global Trading Day today, October 10, 2023, to fund accredited charities focused on providing humanitarian aid to those impacted by the violence and terror in Israel.

Jefferies will donate 100% of net global trading commissions on October 10 for all trading in equities and fixed income by the Firms clients. In addition, Jefferies as a firm will donate $1 million directly, and its more than 5,300 employees worldwide will be given the opportunity to personally donate to these efforts. These contributions will then be carefully allocated to qualified charities to make sure the proceeds go directly to the people most in need.

For further information, please contact your Jefferies representative.

About Jefferies

Jefferies is a leading global, full-service investment banking and capital markets firm that provides advisory, sales and trading, research and wealth and asset management services. With more than 40 offices around the world, we offer insights and expertise to investors, companies and governments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010117199/en/

For Media Inquiries:

Jonathan Freedman (212) 284-2300

[email protected]

Source: Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Double board-certified plastic surgeon Steven J. Hermiz, MD brings unique blend of education, collaboration, social responsibility to new cosmetic practice

COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virtu Cosmetic Surgery in Columbia, South Carolina is now open and accepting appointments and requests for free consultations. The plastic surgery practice will serve patients in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, and surrounding areas.

The local business will be led by Columbia-based, double Board Certified plastic surgeon Steven Hermiz, MD. Dr. Hermiz is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

With this new practice, Dr. Hermiz looks forward to helping local patients realize their inner selves through surgical transformation. When your outward appearance doesn't align with how great you feel on the inside, it can be discouraging, he said. Its not about vanity. Its about merging the happy person inside with a body that matches.

At Virtu, Dr. Hermiz and his staff have built a system that supports surgical transformations through a unique emphasis on collaborative education and social responsibility. It all starts with a free, in person or virtual, in-depth consultation.

We want to act as your guide along the journey, Dr. Hermiz explained. We want people to feel comfortable, heard, and respected as well as excited about the future.

For us, education is paramount to the entire process. We know people have a lot of questions about implants, for instance, whether theyre talking about getting them for the first time or exchanging them. Cosmetic surgery, implant technology, and aesthetics have advanced so much in the last ten years and we want to help our patients understand all the new options.

Along with an educational and collaborative approach to the Virtu client experience, Dr. Hermiz and his staff will work with the Columbia community. Plans are underway now to partner with like-minded organizations  in healthcare and business, as well as with the nonprofit sector  to play our part in contributing to this vibrant community.

Virtus commitment to community extends worldwide as well, with a unique dedication to giving back and supporting womens health, financial security, and safety at home and around the globe. As patients take steps toward their own self-care, their impact goes far beyond themselves.

I am making a pledge to you that for every surgery we do, we will sponsor a child, or make a small business loan to a female entrepreneur in a third world country, or donate to stop sex trafficking, Dr. Hermiz concluded.

I am so happy to be here in Columbia with my family, opening this very special practice. With Virtu, I want to fully embody our motto  Meaningful Change, Beautiful Results  and create something as close to a non-profit as a plastic surgery practice can get.

To launch the practice to the community, Virtu is hosting a grand opening event open to all on Thursday, November 2, 2023, 5pm-7pm, at 700 Gervais St, Ste. 150

ABOUT VIRTU COSMETIC SURGERY

Virtu Cosmetic Surgery offers modern care for women seeking surgical procedures to improve how they look and feel. Helping patients to look good, feel good, do great things, Virtu gives back to the local and global community with every surgical procedure performed. Located at 700 Gervais St, Ste. 150 in Columbia, the office is now open Monday  Friday from 8 AM  5 PM. Contact Virtu for a free consultation at (803) 220-1303 or [email protected]. Visit www.virtucosmetic.com for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010791194/en/

Stephanie McCutchen (803) 220-1303 [email protected]

Source: Virtu Cosmetic Surgery
"Phygital Preaching Fellows" will lead the church into the new physical and digital public square

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lilly Endowment Inc., a philanthropic foundation committed to supporting causes of community development, education, and religion, granted Wesleyan Impact Partners $1.25 million to fund the Phygital Preaching Fellows initiative as part of Lilly Endowments Compelling Preaching Initiative. The initiative aims to foster and support preaching that inspires, encourages, and guides people to come to know and love God and to live out their Christian faith more fully.

The Phygital Preaching Fellows emboldens 15 high-capacity preachers exploring and experimenting with new digital technologies who feel called to lead the church into the new phygital (physical + digital) public square. The grant will enable them to discover new delivery systems for the gospel and share their learnings with other preachers, resourcing them for preaching beyond the pulpit.

Wesleyan Impact Partners works to empower the church to achieve its mission through an ecosystem of congregations, clergy, and spiritual entrepreneurs. We are thrilled to participate in Lilly Endowment's Compelling Preaching Initiative as we seek to discover creative and meaningful ways to share Christ's love in the rapidly evolving phygital space, said Rev. Lisa Greenwood, President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners.

"We pray this will be a Spirit-led movement of preachers into the phygital world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that people of faith and people of no faith can receive and be moved to lead lives of love and generosity so that ultimately our world will be more loving, more just, and more generous," said Chief Learning and Innovation Officer, Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson.

Wesleyan Impact Partners is one of 81 organizations receiving grants through this competitive round of the Compelling Preaching Initiative. Reflecting the diversity of Christianity in the United States, the organizations are affiliated with mainline Protestant, evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, Anabaptist, and Pentecostal faith communities. Many of the organizations are rooted in the Black Church and in Hispanic and Asian American Christian traditions.

"Throughout history, preachers often have needed to adapt their preaching practices to engage new generations of hearers more effectively," said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment's vice president for religion. "We are pleased that the organizations receiving grants in this initiative will help pastors and others in ministry engage in the kinds of preaching needed today to ensure that the gospel message is heard and accessible for all audiences."

Lilly Endowment launched the Compelling Preaching Initiative in 2022 because of its interest in supporting projects that nurture the religious lives of individuals and families and foster the growth and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States.

"We are honored to receive this grant from Lilly Endowment and support their distinguished mission of helping individuals, families, and communities thrive and flourish, said Dr. Maggie Jackson, Wesleyan Impact Partners Board Chair. This grant represents a significant step forward in our longstanding effort to connect diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation to empower the church to achieve its purpose today and in the future."

Wesleyan Impact Partners Learning and Innovation initiative began with a Lilly Endowment grant awarded in 2003 to the Texas Methodist Foundation. Over the past 20 years, supported by subsequent grants from the Lilly Endowment, the Learning and Innovation team has launched a robust portfolio of initiatives, including Learning Communities, Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI), Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3), and Igniting Imagination Podcast, directly impacting over 1000 innovative leaders and spiritual entrepreneurs nationwide.

About Wesleyan Impact Partners

Wesleyan Impact Partners is a national nonprofit fueled by impact investors, borrowers, and donors who invest in ministries and innovative leaders courageously doing God's work in the world  partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

Throughout its 50-plus-year history, Wesleyan Impact Partners has made thousands of loans totaling over half a billion dollars, empowering churches across the United States to pursue their God-sized dreams while also lifting up the work of courageous spiritual entrepreneurs across the Wesleyan Ecosystem through the nationally recognized Locke Innovative Leader Award. Our work is made possible through partnerships nationwide with impact-focused investors, donors, and Methodist foundations. Based in Austin, Texas, the organization is led by President & CEO Rev. Lisa Greenwood, who is also President & CEO of the Texas Methodist Foundation. To learn more, visit wesleyanimpactpartners.org.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the founders' wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and its home state, Indiana.

A principal aim of the Endowment's religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of religion's role in the United States and across the globe.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010143101/en/

Janet M. Mitchell

Chief Marketing Officer

Texas Methodist Foundation

[email protected]

512.583.1942 | 800.933.5502

Source: Wesleyan Impact Partners
New employee experience research shows that while managers have a better understanding of their frontline workers' growing expectations, there is a lack of action from employers

LIVONIA, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, the first global provider of integrated employee experience and workforce management solutions, WorkForce Software, releases the findings of its third annual Global Employee Experience (EX) Study. This research comes at a time when organizations are demonstrating executive focus on staff retention, recruiting, and employee efficiency, all amid highly competitive labor markets and an urgent need to realize a return on investment for their business transformation initiatives.

Over the last three years, WorkForce Softwares Global EX Study findings have shown clear gaps in employee and employer perceptions of employers ability to deliver capabilities that create a good employee experience. In the first WorkForce Software Global EX Study in 2021, the perception gap between how well employees viewed the quality of their experience and employers views of the same categories were dramatically differentas much as 44% on the category of pay structure. Since then, the gap in perceptions has shrunk dramatically with identical views by employers and employees on the value of communications.

This increasing alignment in perception demonstrates that employers and employees now view these fundamental experience elements with similar degrees of importance. Likewise, the results indicate significant growth in the importance of these elements for employees. For instance, the overall percentage of employees who recognize the importance of flexible scheduling has increased by twenty-five points over just the past three years, with most employees (77%) agreeing this is an important element of employee experience.

While gaps between perceptions are shrinking, action is still needed.

The positive study finding that managers are more conscious of the experience of their frontline employees doesnt offset that there is considerable work to do to solve problems faced by deskless workers. The 2023 findings show that the challenges underlying the experience gap remain  with more than two in five (43%) employees not feeling valued by their employer, and more than a third (35%) believing their employer does not recognize their contributions to the business.

This, combined with the fact that many deskless or front-line employees are not given scheduling flexibility, cant easily access training, and are not offered tools to enable simple digital communications, is perpetuating significant employee dissatisfaction. In fact, more than half (54%) of employees said they are open to leaving their place of work in the next six months, and one in five (20%) are unlikely to recommend their place of work to a friend or family member.

To combat this dissatisfaction and disengagement, the key areas to focus on are:

Offer scheduling flexibility and autonomy: Employers recognize schedule flexibility as important but lack modern workforce management technology solutions that enable shift swapping, adequate planning, and adaptability for personal circumstances:

The majority (74%) of dissatisfied employees express a strong desire to work for an employer who offers scheduling flexibility, and more than half (54%) are willing to leave to find an employer who will.

More than half (52%) of employees still rely on outdated practices like paper timesheets and manual shift-swapping requests via email, text, or simply asking a manager or co-worker to swap, and 55% cant swap shifts with other employees at all.

Almost three in five (58%) employees dont receive their schedule more than a week in advance. Meanwhile, more than a third (36%) of employees still need to contact their managers via email, SMS, or messaging platforms to obtain schedule information in the first place.

Provide easy access to training: Investing in the development of your frontline staff not only enhances their capabilities, but it also nurtures their intrinsic desire to contribute, innovate, and excel:

More than two in five (44%) employees dont agree that their company provides adequate training opportunities.

The majority (74%) of dissatisfied employees would prefer to work for an employer that provides easy access to training.

Three in five (60%) employees would prefer to access training through a mobile device, but only 19% have access to this option.

Keeping employees engaged to avoid losing valuable talent is of paramount importance right now, said Mike Morini, CEO of WorkForce Software. The cost of doing nothing, including the negative impact on productivity, talent acquisition, and retention, far outweighs the investment needed to adequately support, upskill, and empower deskless employees. The technology to provide greater flexibility for disparate workforces is readily available today, so taking action to remove the barriers to better employee experiences should begin immediately. There is really no reason why any employee cant view their shift schedule and make changes, contact their manager, or complete relevant training digitally in 2023.

View the third annual WorkForce Software 2023 Global EX Study here. This global workforce survey, conducted by Pollfish on behalf of WorkForce Software, was completed by 1,684 employees and 1,701 employers from a wide range of industries across seven global regions. The survey was composed of 28 distinct questions, both open-ended and single selection.

About WorkForce Software

WorkForce Software is the #1 rated workforce management solution for large, global employers and the first to deliver integrated employee communication capabilities. The companys WorkForce Suite adapts to each organizations needsno matter how unique their pay rules, labor regulations, and scheduleswhile delivering a breakthrough employee experience at the time and place work happens. Enterprise-grade and future-ready, WorkForce Software is helping some of the worlds most innovative organizations optimize their workforce, protect against compliance risks, and increase employee engagement to unlock new potential for resiliency and optimal performance. When your employees include deskless or hourly workers, unionized, full-time, part-time, or seasonal, WorkForce Software makes managing your global workforce easy, less costly, and more rewarding for everyone. For more information, please visit www.workforcesoftware.com.

WorkForce Softwares solutions are also available through our global reseller, SAP. To learn more, please visit www.workforcesoftware.com/partner/sap/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010555229/en/

Media

Lisa Hajra

WorkForce Software

[email protected]

Source: WorkForce Software
More than five million shoes will be produced annually with a revolutionary design that combines performance function, environmental sustainability, and disease protection.

ACCRA, Ghana--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- World Shoe today announced the opening of its inaugural factory to produce the first antimicrobial, eco-friendly footwear brand manufactured in Africa. The production launch represents a collaborative effort among public, private, and civil service sectors to provide high-quality, low-cost products for retail consumers throughout African and international markets that prevent injury, promote hygiene and protect against debilitating disease.

World Shoe products will form part of an integrated bundle of healthcare services that address broader public health and environmental sustainability mandates. The versatile design of the footwear is intended to provide comfortable, breathable support in a variety of climates and conditions. Made from durable EVA foam and infused with antimicrobial and biodegradation agents, this footwear contributes to a holistic strategy for public health while reducing waste and the environmental impact of the footwear industry.

Through their social service partnerships and innovative WASH&WEAR humanitarian distribution model, World Shoe will directly support efforts by governments, charities, and health agencies to promote public hygiene and vaccine uptake, and better respond to natural disasters and other humanitarian crises.

More than half a billion people around the world do not have reliable access to quality footwear, leaving them vulnerable to injury and diseases that perpetuate a cycle of poverty, said Kojo Taylor, President and Co-owner of World Shoe Limited in Ghana. We believe the new World Shoe factory will demonstrate how African innovation can propel African development and create change on a global scale. By creating a model to provide people with affordable, high-quality, eco-friendly shoes, we can support education, health and economic outcomes while protecting the environment.

The factory launch supports the mandate of the President of Ghana and the commitment by the Ghanaian Government to promote economic investment and fulfill its global health partnership in the WHO Kigali Declaration of 2022.

The new factory offers an important blueprint for Ghana and other countries to support job creation and economic development in tandem with advancing important public health goals. The overall factory management and operation will be overseen by Ghanaians. We must do everything to make this initiative succeed as it creates employment for the local community. I'm also excited that this provides a huge import substitution that will help strengthen the local economy," said Honorable Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, Akosombo.

World Shoe is the vision of Manny Ohonme, a businessman and philanthropist raised in Nigeria who has two decades of charity experience delivering nearly 10 million pairs of shoes to people in need across 109 countries. As a child growing up in poverty, I experienced the power of a pair of shoes to transform lives, said Mr. Ohonme, who now serves as President of World Shoe. Shoes give us dignity and allow us to realize our full human potential. From aid to trade, our goal is to leverage exceptional product design and manufacturing to deliver lasting positive change to people everywhere.

An important element of World Shoes operational model includes plans to sell its products in North America, Europe and elsewhere at a price point that allows the organization to scale its social enterprise and humanitarian efforts. We are creating an African brand for the world, said Astor Chambers, VP of Marketing for World Shoe, Inc. and a veteran of Nike and Adidas. We are fusing together a unique, sustainable product design with the ambition of a brand that stands for large scale social good. This will appeal to socially conscious consumers everywhere and has the potential to revolutionize how we achieve greater health and economic equity.

World Shoe already has orders for 1.5 million pairs of shoes, vaulting the organization into the Top 20 social enterprises in the world.

About World Shoe

World Shoe is a multinational social enterprise producing innovative footwear in Africa for global retail markets and humanitarian requirements. We are dedicated to the vision that high-quality, low-cost footwear can unleash human potential, promote global health, and protect the environment. Founded by Nigerian-born entrepreneur, Manny Ohonme, our proud heritage includes delivering millions of shoes to meet humanitarian needs in more than 100 countries. Through creative design, manufacturing, and cross-sector partnerships, we are delivering market-based solutions to some of the worlds most urgent challenges.

World Shoe. Feel good, look good, do good.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010169565/en/

Ghana Media: Leroy Ankrah  [email protected]; +233 20 842 1178

International Media: Sharon Quntai  [email protected]; +254 728224952

Source: World Shoe
With most regular flights into and out of Israel's main airports canceled, governments are organizing charter flights to evacuate nationals who wish to leave the country.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of nine U.S. citizens on Monday. Thailand's government said 12 Thai nationals have been killed and another 11 taken hostage by Hamas. Argentina confirmed four of its citizens were killed, while the BBC reported "more than 10" British nationals are feared dead or missing, although only two fatalities have been confirmed.

Several foreigners were killed or taken hostage when Hamas fighters poured out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and began attacking targets in Israel, most prominently the Tribe of Nova music festival, in which an estimated 260 people lost their lives.

Governments around the world are scrambling to learn the whereabouts of their nationals in Israel, and in some cases, evacuate them amid the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Hungary evacuated 215 people from Israel on two planes overnight, and they landed safely in Budapest, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook post Monday morning.

VOA's Albanian Service reports a flight carrying 40 nationals from Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia landed in Albania's capital, Tirana, Sunday evening. The evacuees were met at the airport by Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani.

The Albanian Foreign Ministry announced that "in the coming days, there will be more special flights to Tel Aviv, while we are also coordinating with the sister ministries of the countries of the region to come to the aid of all citizens who seek to return to their countries."

North Macedonia is attempting to organize an evacuation effort for between 150 and 200 of its nationals who remain in Israel. The country's prime minister, Dimitar Kovacevski, said the embassy in Israel is "working around the clock" to contact and locate them all. "That's the thing now, to contact them, to find a way to get out of Israel and return home safely," he said.

Other large-scale evacuation efforts are in progress. The Thai Foreign Ministry said 1,000 Thai nationals have requested help to leave Israel. The Royal Thai Air Force is on standby to evacuate them, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said.

Mexico announced Monday it was sending two planes to Tel Aviv to pick up Mexican nationals. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that some 5,000 Mexican nationals are in Israel and some 300 have asked to leave.

Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona told VOA Khmer that the country was working with Israeli authorities to evacuate Cambodians. He said the government is also coordinating with Israeli officials "so that they can ensure the safety of all Cambodian citizens and students who are staying there."
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows an oil factory of Idemitsu Kosan Co. in Ichihara, east of Tokyo, Japan November 12, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON (Reuters) -Oil prices settled lower on Tuesday, but bounced off session lows as concerns eased about potential supply disruptions from the battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, though traders remained watchful.

Brent crude settled down 50 cents, or 0.57%, at $87.65 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slid 41 cents to finish at $85.97 a barrel. At the session low, both benchmarks were down by more than $1.

"Today it's more like a ping pong game of fear-on, fear-off rather than trading on fundamentals," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

Brent and WTI had surged more than $3.50 on Monday as the military clashes raised fears that the conflict could spread beyond Gaza.

"There was a little bit of profit-taking from the stark advance yesterday," said John Kilduff, partner in Again Capital LLC.

While Israel produces very little crude oil, markets worried that if the conflict escalates it could hurt Middle East supply and worsen an expected deficit for the rest of the year.

"No direct oil supplies are impacted by the conflict at the moment so it's a wait-and-see situation," Kilduff said.

U.S. officials have pointed fingers at Iran as being involved in the Hamas attack on Israel, but credible evidence of the Islamic Republic's role has yet to appear.

"Furthermore, there has been no evidence so far that Iran is complicit in the attacks, giving oil traders little reason to push prices higher for now," Cincotta said.

Vivek Dhar, an energy analyst at CBA, said revelation of evidence of the Iranian involvement would push prices higher.

"We continue to believe that Brent oil will ultimately stabilise between $90-$100/bbl in Q4 2023," said Dhar, adding that the Palestine-Israel conflict raises the risk of Brent futures tracking at $100/bbl and above.

In a more positive sign for supply, Venezuela and the U.S. have progressed in talks that could provide sanctions relief to Caracas by allowing at least one additional foreign oil firm to take Venezuelan crude oil under some conditions.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba in Houston; Additional reporting by Paul Carsten in London, Jeslyn Lerh in Singapore; editing by Susan Fenton, Jason Neely, Paul Simao, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and David Gregorio)
Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) announced that it has acquired 100% of the outstanding equity capital of Royal Truck & Equipment, Inc. ("Royal Truck"), a leading manufacturer of truck mounted highway attenuator trucks and other specialty trucks and equipment for the highway infrastructure and traffic control market. Royal Truck's annual revenue was approximately $40 million in 2022 and the company had trailing twelve-month revenue of approximately $44 million as of the end of August, 2023.

Founded by Mr. Rob Roy in 1986, Royal Truck prides itself on developing innovative products designed to improve road work zone safety. The company is based in Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania and has approximately 50 employees. Royal Truck's products include truck mounted highway crash attenuator trucks, cone safety and traffic control trucks, and a broad range of other equipment focused on highway safety. Mr. Roy currently serves as the President of Royal Truck and he will continue in this role for an agreed transition period following the closing. The company will become a part of Alamo's Industrial Equipment Division led by Michael Haberman .

Rob Roy, said, "I am immensely proud of the quality business my team and I have built over the past 37 years. I am looking forward to Royal Truck becoming stronger and continuing its mission of product innovation, customer service and road and highway safety with Alamo Group."
FILE PHOTO: The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Boeing deliveries of its best-selling 737 MAX fell in September to the lowest level since August 2021, the plane maker said on Tuesday, as it continues struggling with work needed to correct a manufacturing defect.

Boeing is inspecting and fixing thousands of holes that were drilled wrong on the 737 MAX aft pressure bulkhead. While new orders improved sharply, the largest U.S. planemaker said deliveries in September fell to 15 737 MAX planes, 10 787s and two 777s, for a total of 27 deliveries.

The monthly number of MAX 8 and MAX 9 deliveries was the fourth-lowest since deliveries resumed in December 2020 after a worldwide grounding following two MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

The planemaker booked significant new orders in September for 224 planes and reported 10 cancellations. The new orders include 50 787s for United Airlines and 18 787s for Air Canada.

Boeing shares rose 2.6% on Tuesday in mid-day trading.

Investors closely watch delivery numbers, as airplane makers receive the majority of payment for an aircraft when the customer receives it.

Overall, Boeing has handed over 371 planes to customers during the first nine months of 2023, including 286 737s and 50 787s along with 35 other planes. By comparison, European rival Airbus has delivered 488 aircraft over the first nine months, including 55 in September.

Carriers have been placing orders with urgency as Boeing and Airbus backlogs have grown and as jet deliveries have been pushed out toward the end of the decade.

Boeing's gross orders since the start of January rose to 848 in September, or 724 net orders after factoring in cancellations and conversions. Airbus has booked 1,280 gross orders or 1,241 after cancellations.

Boeing's commercial backlog increased from 4,971 to 5,172. Boeing said September was the first month since December 2019 that its official backlog surpassed 5,000.

Separately, Boeing is still awaiting certification of the smaller 737 MAX 7 from the Federal Aviation Administration that has been reviewing the plane for more than a year. The planemaker said in July the first delivery of the 737 MAX 7 had been delayed to 2024.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Tim HepherEditing by Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
WM Motor, a promising Chinese electric vehicle startup, filed for bankruptcy on Monday, effectively signaling the end of a once-promising standout in Chinas electric vehicle market.

According to the filing, the bankruptcy case is currently under the jurisdiction of a Shanghai court.

"WM Motor's planned reorganization will introduce strategic investors from across the globe to achieve its rebirth," the company posted on its official Weibo account Tuesday.

Founded 2015 by automotive expert Freeman Shen, WM Motor was regarded as one of the emerging Chinese electric vehicle startups, alongside Nio, Li Auto, and XPeng. The company garnered support from prominent entities such as the Chinese tech giant Baidu and Shanghai's state-owned asset regulator.

In recent years, WM Motor found itself entangled in operational challenges stemming from the impact of the pandemic, a sluggish capital market, significant fluctuations in raw material prices, and difficulties in securing the necessary capital for ongoing operations and development.

In September, the U.S.-listed pre-owned car retailer Kaixin Auto Holdings announced a non-binding acquisition term sheet with the struggling electric vehicle manufacturer.

This deal came as a response to WM Motor's unsuccessful attempt at a backdoor listing through a reverse takeover with Apollo Future Mobility, a Hong Kong-listed company.

The breakdown of the Apollo Future Mobility deal was viewed as a survival strategy for WM Motor, following two previous unsuccessful attempts to secure listings on Shanghai's STAR Market and in Hong Kong.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
General Motors (NYSE: GM) and the Canadian labor union Unifor have reached a preliminary agreement on Tuesday, just hours after union employees initiated a strike at three GM facilities.

The union revealed that this preliminary agreement aligns with the prior agreement Unifor had established with Ford Motor (NYSE: F) in the previous month. Notably, a salary increase of as much as 25%.

When faced with the shutdown of these key facilities General Motors had no choice but to get serious at the table and agree to the pattern," said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Management also agreed to items it had initially fought, including pensions, retiree income supports and converting full-time temporary workers into permanent employees.

The strike had posed a potential risk to the productivity of the American automaker's profitable full-size truck production had it endured.

The employee walkout on Tuesday was prompted by Unifor's declaration that GM was being stubborn in refusing to match the contract agreed upon by the labor union and Ford.

The work stoppage was primed to further complicate the challenges faced by the automaker in the United States, where it is already facing daily losses due to the UAW strike that began on September 15.

The UAW strike affected two GM assembly plants in the United States and 18 parts distribution centers, resulting in the layoff of 2,300 U.S. workers due to repercussions.

Shares of GM are up 1.60% in afternoon trading on Tuesday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE), a global medical technology company focused on delivering innovative medical solutions to drive better patient outcomes, and OpSens, Inc., a medical device cardiology-focused company delivering innovative solutions based on its proprietary optical technology, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Haemonetics will acquire all outstanding shares of OpSens for CAD $2.90 per share in an all-cash transaction representing a fully diluted equity value of approximately USD $253 million at current exchange rate.

OpSens offers commercially and clinically validated optical technology for use primarily in interventional cardiology. OpSens' core products include the SavvyWire, the world's first and only sensor-guided 3-in-1 guidewire for TAVR procedures, that acts as pacing and pressure monitoring wire advancing the workflow of the procedure and enabling potentially shorter hospital stays for patients, and the OptoWire, a pressure guidewire that aims to improve clinical outcomes by accurately and consistently measuring Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) and diastolic pressure ratio (dPR) to aid clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. OpSens also manufactures a range of fiber optic sensor solutions used in medical devices and other critical industrial applications.

Stewart Strong , President, Global Hospital at Haemonetics, said, "With the acquisition of OpSens, we expand our leadership in interventional cardiology and strengthen our foundation for additional growth and diversification. By leveraging OpSens' proprietary optical sensor technology, our global commercial infrastructure, and our relationships with the top US hospitals performing TAVR and PCI procedures, we have a powerful opportunity to improve standards of care for more physicians and patients worldwide. We are excited to welcome OpSens' talented team and look forward to advancing our shared commitment to maximizing patient benefits and value for our customers."

This transaction creates compelling financial and strategic benefits for Haemonetics:

Expands Hospital business unit portfolio with innovative fiber optic sensor technology in the attractive interventional cardiology market . OpSens' portfolio utilized in TAVR and PCI procedures offers strong competitive advantages with a total addressable market of approximately $1 billion . OpSens technology is also being used across a range of medical and industrial applications, representing additional avenues for growth and diversification.



portfolio utilized in TAVR and PCI procedures offers strong competitive advantages with a total addressable market of approximately . technology is also being used across a range of medical and industrial applications, representing additional avenues for growth and diversification. Leverages Haemonetics' commercial and geographic breadth to accelerate adoption. OpSens' product portfolio has already demonstrated commercial success and is well-positioned for long-term growth. Haemonetics' commercial success with its VASCADE  Vascular Closure portfolio, combined with extensive existing commercial and clinical infrastructure, will accelerate customer access to OpSens' products with the potential to make SavvyWire the leading guidewire for TAVR procedures in the U.S. Additionally, Haemonetics' presence in high-growth international markets will enable further penetration of OpSens products in these regions.



product portfolio has already demonstrated commercial success and is well-positioned for long-term growth. Haemonetics' commercial success with its VASCADE Vascular Closure portfolio, combined with extensive existing commercial and clinical infrastructure, will accelerate customer access to products with the potential to make SavvyWire the leading guidewire for TAVR procedures in the Additionally, Haemonetics' presence in high-growth international markets will enable further penetration of products in these regions. Augments long-term growth with additional product and market expansion opportunities. Haemonetics plans to build on the OpSens acquisition to further expand its Hospital business through internal and external R&D, clinical, and other business development efforts. Over the past several quarters, Haemonetics has made additional strategic investments, which would further complement OpSens' portfolio and strengthen Haemonetics' leadership in interventional cardiology, including in VivaSure Medical  , the company that developed PerQSeal  , an innovative percutaneous large-bore vessel closure technology.



Haemonetics plans to build on the acquisition to further expand its Hospital business through internal and external R&D, clinical, and other business development efforts. Over the past several quarters, Haemonetics has made additional strategic investments, which would further complement portfolio and strengthen Haemonetics' leadership in interventional cardiology, including in , the company that developed PerQSeal , an innovative percutaneous large-bore vessel closure technology. Delivers immediate and longer-term financial benefits. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Haemonetics' revenue growth. On a GAAP basis, Haemonetics expects this transaction to be slightly dilutive to earnings per diluted share in fiscal year 2024 due to transaction and integration costs and accretive thereafter. Haemonetics expects this transaction to be immediately accretive to adjusted earnings per diluted share.

Transaction Details and Financing

The transaction will be affected by way of an arrangement under the Business Corporations Act ( Quebec ). Completion of the acquisition is subject to the approval of OpSens shareholders, receipt of court and regulatory approval, as well as certain other closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature. The transaction is expected to close by the end of January 2024 .

Haemonetics plans to finance this acquisition through a combination of cash and a revolving credit facility. Following this acquisition, Haemonetics' net debt to EBITDA ratio, per the terms set forth in the Company's existing Credit Agreement, is expected to be approximately 2.1x.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor for Haemonetics and DLA Piper as legal advisor. Piper Sandler LLC served as OpSens' financial advisor, while Norton Rose Fulbright served as its legal advisor.

Supplemental Information

Haemonetics posted supplemental slides with additional information about this transaction to Haemonetics' investor relations website. These slides can also be accessed by following this link: https://haemonetics.gcs-web.com/static-files/7e0041fd-89d4-4f20-bbd0-947c00118c05
Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: Post) (Post), a consumer packaged goods holding company, announced today it has agreed to acquire the assets of Perfection Pet Foods, LLC (Perfection) for $235 million.

Perfection is a leading manufacturer and packager of private label and co-manufactured pet food and baked treat products. The acquisition includes two manufacturing facilities in Visalia, California, which will provide Post with additional manufacturing capacity to insource a portion of its current pet food business and an entry point into the private label and co-manufacturing pet food category. Upon closing of the acquisition, the financial results of Perfection are expected to be reported in the Post Consumer Brands segment.

Inclusive of stand-up costs, Post management expects Perfection to contribute approximately $25 million of Adjusted EBITDA* in the next 12 months following the close of the acquisition. Additionally, Post expects the acquisition to result in a tax benefit to Post with a net present value of approximately $20 million and reduce future capital expenditures previously earmarked for capacity expansion. The acquisition is expected to be completed late in the fourth calendar quarter of 2023, Posts first quarter of fiscal year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

* For additional information regarding non-GAAP measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA, see the related explanations presented under Use of Non-GAAP Measure later in this release.
The U.S. government has indefinitely suspended restrictions on exports of manufacturing equipment to Samsung and SK Hynix's semiconductor plants in China, the presidential office here said Monday.

"The U.S. government notified us recently of its decision to designate Samsung and SK Hynix's semiconductor plants in China as 'verified end users,'" presidential secretary for economic affairs Choi Sang-mok told reporters.

Under recent protectionist legislation aimed at freezing China out of the global microchip supply chain, only designated "verified end users" can take delivery of American semiconductor manufacturing technology without separate authorization procedures or limitations.

"The U.S. decision means that the biggest trade issue for our semiconductor industry has been resolved," Choi said.

The U.S. government last October announced sanctions limiting exports of American semiconductor manufacturing technology to chip plants in China. That would have meant that Samsung and SK were effectively barred from upgrading their Chinese chipmaking plants and might as well give them up, at astronomical cost.

But the two Korean companies were given a one-year grace period, and after negotiations with the Korean government that now seems to have been extended indefinitely.

The decision allows Samsung and SK Hynix to make long-term investment plans. Samsung operates chipmaking plants in Xian and Suzhou, and SK in Wuxi, Dalian and Chongqing.

Korean companies account for 60.5 percent of global memory chip supply and are big buyers of American chipmaking equipment and sources of related royalties.
Chinese electric automaker, Xpeng (XPEV) announced Tuesday, the suspension of supply chain vice president, Li Feng for an investigation relating to corruption.

Xpeng has a strict stance against corrupt activities. We remain vigilant in identifying and rectifying any instances of corruption promptly, said a company spokesperson.

We would like to clarify that our recent internal anti-corruption measures implemented by the company are a part of our continuous commitment to promoting ethical conduct and integrity and this incident has had limited impact and will not disrupt our business or production processes.

Shares of XPEV fell more than 10% Monday as investors reacted to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Xpeng's recent shipment of 750 vehicles to Israel, part of its strategy for international expansion, has been overshadowed by the unfolding conflict, dampening investor sentiment.

Shares of XPEV are up 3.78% in early trading Tuesday morning.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
FILE PHOTO: Cans of Pepsi are pictured at a grocery store in Pasadena, California, U.S., July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

By Ananya Mariam Rajesh

(Reuters) -PepsiCo Inc said on Tuesday it planned "modest" price hikes next year as demand held up despite multiple increases that prompted the snacks and beverages giant to raise its 2023 profit forecast for a third straight time.

Shares of the company, which owns brands including Mirinda, and Gatorade, rose nearly 2% in early trading after third-quarter profit beat estimates.

PepsiCo kicks off quarterly earnings from consumer goods firms against the backdrop of rising concerns that multiple price hikes could crimp demand, as well as countries like France pushing for price cuts to help rein in inflation.

"As we get into next year there will be some modest level of price increases coming," Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston told Reuters in an interview.

Average prices jumped 11% in the quarter ended Sept. 9, while organic volume slipped 2.5%.

The profit margin gives PepsiCo the room to either keep the prices the same or maybe even reduce them but clearly in the short term the company has not gotten to that point where it feels the need to reduce prices drastically, said Brian Mulberry, client portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management. Zacks has a 1% stake in PepsiCo.

PepsiCo and rival Coca-Cola have benefited from their near-domination of the global carbonated drinks market, as well as cost-conscious consumers spending on products categorized as "affordable luxuries".

Meanwhile, Johnston said the company was "not seeing any impact" yet from the popularity of weight-loss drugs that could alter consumption patterns.

The surge in demand for such drugs, which include Wegovy and Ozempic, has triggered worries about a likely hit to sales for major packaged food companies.

Adjusted profit of $2.25 per share topped expectations of $2.15, according to LSEG data.

PepsiCo forecast fiscal 2023 core earnings per share of $7.54, up from $7.47 earlier, while maintaining its annual organic revenue growth forecast at 10%.

(Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
(Reuters) - Kerrisdale Capital said on Tuesday it had taken a short position on Joby Aviation over profitability concerns, sending the electric aircraft maker's shares down nearly 5%.

"We believe (Joby) is years away from generating operating revenue," the fund said.

California-based Joby said Kerrisdale has a "vested interest" in lowering its share price.

Joby plans to operate like a rideshare app, unlike other electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) peers that intend to sell their aircraft to customers including airlines and logistics firms.

Kerrisdale warned of higher operating costs as the company's electric aircraft are likely to offer lower range and power than traditional helicopters.

The U.S. aviation regulator in June gave Joby, which is backed by investors such as Delta Air Lines, Toyota Motor and Intel Corp, the nod to flight-test its electric air taxi.

In its most recent quarter, the company posted a bigger-than-expected loss, citing expenses related to certification and early manufacturing operations.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Devika Syamnath)
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) received long-term credit ratings from global credit rating agencies:

Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) Aaa (stable) S&P Global Ratings (S&P) AAA (stable) DBRS Limited (DBRS Morningstar) AAA (stable)

BCIs credit ratings reflect the strength of BCIs diversified portfolio, our robust governance framework, and confidence in BCIs investment management and operational capabilities, said Daniel Garant, Executive Vice President & Global Head, Public Markets. We are committed to maintaining a high-quality credit profile for investors in BCIs debt program.

BCI accesses debt markets to support the investment objectives of its clients, providing broader portfolio diversification and an improved risk-adjusted investment profile.

For additional information visit BCIs Investor Relations site.

About BCI

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is amongst the largest institutional investors in Canada with $233.0 billion in gross assets under management, as of March 31, 2023. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, with offices in Vancouver, New York City, and London, U.K., BCI manages a portfolio of diversified public and private market investments on behalf of its 32 British Columbia public sector clients. With a global outlook, BCI integrates ESG factors in all investment decisions and activities that convert savings into productive capital to meet clients risk and return requirements over time. Founded in 1999, BCI is a statutory corporation created by the Public Sector Pension Plans Act.

For more information visit BCI.ca or LinkedIn.

This media release is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute a recommendation or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell a security or class of security. The views and opinions expressed in this media release are those of BCI and do not necessarily represent the views of its clients or investee companies. The information in this media release is provided as of the date hereof. Contents copyright  BCI 2023.

Olga Petrycki BCI - British Columbia Investment Management Corp +1 778 410 7100 [email protected]

Source: BCI - British Columbia Investment Management Corp
MONTREAL, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boralex inc. (Boralex or the Company) (TSX: BLX) announces that the release of the 2023 third quarter results will take place on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend a conference call during which the financial results will be presented.

Date and time Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 11 a.m. ET To attend the conference Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gkrymfsf To attend the event by phone: Click here to register for the earnings call. Once you have completed your registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link and your personal PIN to connect to the call. If you lose this link and your PIN, you will be able to register again. You must register if you wish to attend the call by phone.

Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the conference and view a presentation which will be broadcasted live and on a deferred basis on Boralexs website at www.boralex.com. A full replay will also be available on Boralexs website until November 9, 2024.

The financial information will be released through a press release and on Boralex's website on November 9, 2023, at 7 a.m.

About Boralex

At Boralex, we have been providing affordable renewable energy accessible to everyone for over 30 years. As a leader in the Canadian market and Frances largest independent producer of onshore wind power, we also have facilities in the United States and development projects in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, our installed capacity has more than doubled to 3 GW. We are developing a portfolio of over 6.2 GW in wind, solar and storage projects, guided by our values and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. Through profitable and sustainable growth, Boralex is actively participating in the fight against global warming. Thanks to our fearlessness, our discipline, our expertise and our diversity, we continue to be an industry leader. Boralexs shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX.

For more information, visit boralex.com or sedar.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

For more information

MEDIA INVESTOR RELATIONS Camille LaventureAdvisor, Public Affairs and External Communications Boralex Inc.438-883-8580 [email protected] Stephane MilotVice President, Investor RelationsBoralex Inc.514-213-1045 [email protected]

Source: Boralex inc.

Source: Boralex Inc.
Scientists Recognized for Advancing the Understanding of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Pediatric Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Cognitive Neuroscience

New York, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the worlds largest private funder of mental health research grants, today announced it is awarding the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Prizes in Mental Health to five scientists for their exceptional work in advancing psychiatric research. The prizewinners will be the featured speakers at the BBRF International Mental Health Research Symposium on October 27, 2023, in New York City, and will receive their awards later that evening at the BBRF International Awards Dinner.

We applaud the Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners for their extraordinary contributions to advancing the development of new treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness, said Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. In celebrating these excellent scientists, we acknowledge the significance of neuroscience and psychiatric research in transforming the lives of people living with mental illness.

The Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners are selected by special committees of the Foundations Scientific Council, a volunteer group of 194 mental health experts across disciplines in brain and behavior.

Because of the groundbreaking work of the Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners, we are making great progress in our understanding of the brain and how to treat and potentially cure psychiatric illnesses, said Herbert Pardes., M.D., President of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundations Scientific Council. We salute them, and we thank our philanthropic supporters whose generosity allows us to continue to support the most promising research in the field of brain and behavior.

The 2023 Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners are:

Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research

Philip D. Harvey, Ph.D., University of Miami

Presentation: Self-knowledge in Schizophrenia: Importance, Characteristics and Treatment

https://med.miami.edu/faculty/philip-harvey-phd

Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research

Amy E. Pinkham, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Dallas

Presentation: Social Cognition and Social Difficulties in Schizophrenia

https://profiles.utdallas.edu/amy.pinkham

Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research

Roger S. McIntyre, M.D., FRCPC, University of Toronto

Presentation: Does Obesity Metastasize to the Brain: Implications for Clinical Care and Identifying the Causes and Cures for Persons Living with Bipolar Disorder

https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/roger-mcintyre

Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Research

Katie McLaughlin, Ph.D., University of Oregon

Presentation: The Long Shadow of Childhood Adversity: Implications for Childrens Brain and Behavioral Development

https://childrensbehavioralhealth.uoregon.edu/katie-mclaughlin

Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience Research

Elizabeth A. Phelps, Ph.D., Harvard University

Presentation: The Human Amygdala, Threat, and Anxiety: Translational Progress and Challenges

https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/elizabeth-phelps-0

Also speaking at the BBRF Symposium will be Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., representing Special Olympics International, winner of the 2023 BBRF Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health. Hell discuss mental health and intellectual disabilities.

About Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $450 million to fund more than 5,400 leading scientists around the world. 100% of every dollar donated for research is invested in research. BBRF operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the Emmy nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope.

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Toronto, ON, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the 19th consecutive year, Canada's credit unions have earned the overall award for Customer Service Excellence at the 2023 Ipsos Financial Service Excellence Awards. Canadian credit unions were chosen as the overall winners among all financial institutions in retail banking. This sustained recognition showcases the unwavering commitment to member service and the consistent excellence that differentiates credit unions in the financial sector.

"Credit unions steadfast dedication to serving their members positions us as a sector at the pinnacle of customer satisfaction year after year. Being honored at the Ipsos Financial Service Excellence Awards is a significant acknowledgment of credit unions dedication to putting their members first and tailoring our services to help them meet their financial goals and needs, says Jeff Guthrie, Canadian Credit Union President and CEO. The awards credit unions have received highlight the sectors mission to go beyond mere transactions and truly invest in the well-being of our members and the communities we serve.

This year saw Canadas credit unions receive a total of six Ipsos awards, reflecting the continuing high levels of service provided to their members.

The categories in which Canadas Credit Unions were lauded include:

Customer Service Excellence (solo win)

Values My Business (solo win)

Financial Planning & Advice

Branch Service Excellence (solo win)

Online Banking Excellence

Live Agent Telephone Banking Excellence (solo win)

About the Ipsos Financial Service Excellence Awards

Introduced in 1987, the Customer Service Index (CSI) survey generates the winners of the annual Financial Service Excellence Awards (formerly Best Banking Awards). This years awards were based on the combined results of 47,922 completed surveys for the 2023 CSI program year ending September 2023 and are based on a demographically and regionally representative sample of Canadians. The awards are presented across 11 categories.

About the Canadian Credit Union Association:

The Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) is the national trade association for Canada's credit unions and caisses populaires outside Quebec. Canada's 197 credit unions and caisses populaires are leaders in small business lending and hold $301 billion in assets. As the united voice for Canadian credit unions to governments across Canada, CCUA champions and advocates for credit unions as they help Canadians achieve financial well-being. We provide quality research, education and raise awareness of the Canadian credit union sector. CCUA delivers value-driven services to its members, with the success of credit unions at the core of everything we do. To learn more, visit www.ccua.com.

Carla Wintersgill Canadian Credit Union Association 416-574-4632 [email protected]

Source: Canadian Credit Union Association
Coherent completes its previously announced strategic review of its silicon carbide business and plans to operate the business as an independent subsidiary

DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric will each invest $500 million for a 12.5% non-controlling interest in the silicon carbide business

Coherent to enter into long-term supply agreements with DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric to support their 150 mm and 200 mm substrate and epitaxial wafer demand



PITTSBURGH, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR), a global leader in materials, networking, and lasers, today announced that DENSO CORPORATION and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have agreed to invest an aggregate $1 billion in its silicon carbide business (the Business). The transaction results from the strategic review process announced in May 2023 for the Business.

Under the terms of the transaction, DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric will each invest $500 million in exchange for a 12.5% non-controlling ownership interest in the Business, with Coherent owning the remaining 75%. Prior to the completion of the transaction, Coherent will separate and contribute the Business to a subsidiary. Coherent will control and operate the Business, which will continue to be led by Sohail Khan, Coherents Executive Vice President, New Ventures & Wide-Bandgap Electronics Technologies.

In connection with the transaction, the Business will enter into long-term supply arrangements with DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric that support their demand for 150 mm and 200 mm silicon carbide (SiC) substrates and epitaxial wafers.

We are excited to expand our strategic relationships with DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric to capitalize on the significant demand for silicon carbide, said Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., Chair and CEO, Coherent. After a thorough review of strategic alternatives for our Silicon Carbide business, we determined that the creation of a separate subsidiary and the strategic investments from DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric, two leaders in SiC power devices and modules, is the best path forward to maximize shareholder value and position the Business for long-term growth. The investments from our strategic partners will be used to accelerate our capacity expansion plans and help sustain our leadership position, while ensuring the development of a robust and scalable supply for the rapidly growing market for SiC-based power electronics, largely driven by the explosive growth of the global electric vehicle market.

We are very pleased to establish a strategic relationship with Coherent, which has a world-class track record in SiC wafer manufacturing. Through this investment, we will secure a stable procurement of SiC wafers, which are critical for BEVs, and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society by promoting the widespread adoption of BEVs, said Shinnosuke Hayashi, President & COO, Representative Member of the Board at DENSO.

Dr. Masayoshi Takemi, Executive Officer, Group President, Semiconductor & Device of Mitsubishi Electric, said: Demand for SiC power semiconductors is expected to grow exponentially as the global market for electric vehicles increases in line with the transition to a decarbonized world. To capitalize on this trend, we have decided to expand our SiC power semiconductor production capacity, including by constructing a 200 mm wafer plant in the Shisui area of Kumamoto Prefecture. We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Coherent by investing in this new SiC company, which will provide us with a stable supply of high-quality SiC substrates essential for our increased supply capacity.

Strategic Rationale

Market estimates indicate that the SiC total addressable market will grow from $3 billion in 2022 to $21 billion in 2030, representing a 28% compound annual growth rate.

The transaction builds on Coherents more than two decades of demonstrated leadership in SiC materials. In recent years, the Company has aggressively invested to scale its manufacturing of 150 mm and 200 mm substrates to address this underserved market.

Over the past two years, Coherent has invested aggressively in capital and R&D for SiC as part of its 10-year, $1 billion commitment announced in August 2021. The closing of this $1 billion combined investment into the Business will accelerate the Companys capital plans in the coming years. Specifically, the investment will fund the manufacturing expansion of the Businesss substrates and epitaxial wafers and, in combination with the concurrent supply agreements, enhance its position in the market.

The transaction will enable Coherent to increase its available free cash flow to provide greater financial and operational flexibility to execute its capital allocation priorities, as it expects the aggregate $1 billion investment will be used to fund future capital expenditure requirements of the Business.



When incorporated into electric vehicles and industrial infrastructure, SiC-based power electronics have demonstrated the potential to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more energy efficient world. Through the rapidly growing demand for SiC power devices, Coherent, DENSO, and Mitsubishi Electric will accelerate their contribution to sustainable energy consumption and the decarbonization of society.

Additional Transaction Details

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of calendar year 2024.

BofA Securities and Allen & Company LLC served as financial advisors to Coherent, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Covington & Burling, and Sherrard, German and Kelly served as legal advisors to Coherent.

Coherent will hold a webcast for investors, equity analysts, and the public on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss this transaction. Individuals wishing to view the webcast can access the event at Coherents website by visiting coherent.com/company/investor-relations/financial-webcasts or via this link. The event will be recorded, and a replay will be available for a limited time.

Coherent Revises First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Revenue Outlook

Also today, Coherent revised its first quarter fiscal 2024 revenue guidance to $1,050M  1,055M from $1,000M  1,100M as previously provided on August 15, 2023.

About Coherent

Coherent empowers market innovators to define the future through breakthrough technologies, from materials to systems. We deliver innovations that resonate with our customers in diversified applications for the industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, Coherent has research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide. For more information, please visit us at coherent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements relating to future events and expectations that are based on certain assumptions and contingencies. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements in this communication involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results, performance or trends to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the assumptions stated above to prove to be correct; (ii) the conditions to the completion of the investments of DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric and the risks that those conditions will not be satisfied in a timely manner or at all; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to an amendment or termination of the agreements relating to the investments by DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric; (iv) litigation and any unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the separation of the Business or investments by DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric; (v) the risk that disruption from separation of the Business or the investments by DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric materially and adversely affects the respective businesses and operations of the Coherent or its subsidiaries; (vi) Coherents and its subsidiaries ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions; (vii) the risks to anticipated growth in industries and sectors in which Coherent and the Business operate; and (viii) the risks to realizing the benefits of investments in R&D and commercialization of innovations. Coherent disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, or otherwise.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Contacts

For Investors

Paul Silverstein

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

[email protected]

For Media

Ronald Low and Ben Spicehandler

FGS Global

[email protected]
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DIRTT and its Construction Partner AGILE INTERIORS (AGILE) in Houston, Texas recently secured approximately $10M USD in construction projects to build new workplaces for major energy clients Bechtel and Apache. These projects were awarded due to AGILEs proven ability to deliver class A office spaces using DIRTTs innovative interior solutions and streamlined construction methodology.

Bechtel

Global project management, construction, and engineering firm Bechtel announced in 2022 plans to change its energy headquarters, moving its Houston-based employees to facilitate its transition to hybrid working. Set to open by late 2023, the 285,500 square-foot 12-floor space designed by Kirksey and contracted by ODonnell Sneider, is located at CityWestPlace in Houston's Westchase District, boasting greater connectedness with the community and technology. AGILE previously installed 12 floors of DIRTTs full solution at Bechtels former 375,000 square-foot headquarters. The adaptable DIRTT system included solid and glass walls, along with DIRTTs modular electrical, allowing AGILE to execute dozens of space reconfigurations over the past decade as needs changed.

Apache Corporation

Apache Corporation plans to relocate its headquarters in 2024 to facilitate greater employee connectedness with the support of architecture firm Gensler and general contractor Harvey-Cleary Builders. To meet Apaches demanding acoustical needs, DIRTT is providing glass and solid walls configured into office pods. The glass walls and doors consist of acoustical laminated glass and the solid demising walls consist of double-glazed clerestories and glass returns. Other acoustical enhancements were made including double insulation in the solid walls as well as additional seals on the vertical sides of all doors. The office pods also feature magnetic writeable surfaces and fabric wrapped panels.

Bechtel has been a long-standing client, and their selection of DIRTT and AGILE for their new HQ reflects the quality of the system as well as the level of service theyve received from us over the past 10 years. We are excited to continue supporting them and to embark on this new journey with Apache, creating a long-term relationship with them as well, commented Matthew Cooley, Architectural Sales at AGILE.

"These projects demonstrate DIRTTs ability to deliver adaptable solutions that prioritize the employee experience and productivity, said Benjamin Urban, CEO of DIRTT.

About DIRTT

DIRTT is a leader in industrialized construction. DIRTTs system of physical products and digital tools empowers organizations, together with construction and design leaders, to build high-performing, adaptable, interior environments. Operating in the workplace, healthcare, education, and public sector markets, DIRTTs system provides total design freedom, and greater certainty in cost, schedule, and outcomes. DIRTT's interior construction solutions are designed to be highly flexible and adaptable, enabling organizations to easily reconfigure their spaces as their needs evolve. Headquartered in Calgary, AB Canada, DIRTT trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol DRT.

About AGILE INTERIORS

Established in 2005 with the passion to deliver an unmatched experience to clients and partners for the everchanging workplace. AGILEs comprehensive and strategic partnerships with companies like DIRTT has helped them become the leading architectural solutions provider in Houston and surrounding areas. These great partnerships along with AGILES laser like focus on continued innovation, market excellence and project execution has resulted in thousands of successful projects. AGILEs strength is its long-term relationships and ability to partner with architects and interior designers to translate their vision and needs into an inspired workspace that enhances culture, engages people, and embraces the future.

For further information, please contact DIRTT Investor Relations at [email protected].

Source: DIRTT Environmental Solutions
OTTAWA, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Export Development Canada (EDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance (IIF) to accelerate Canadas participation in infrastructure development in Indonesia.

The MoU was signed by Sven List, Senior Vice President, Corporate and International Group, George Monize, Vice-President, Indo-Pacific and Dr Reynaldi Hermansjah, President Director and Chief Executive Officer, IIF. The signing ceremony took place at IIFs office on Sept. 27, on the margins of EDCs Jakarta office representation opening. The MoU will facilitate collaborative activities including information exchanges, transaction facilitation (including co-lending), and joint outreach and knowledge sharing.

Establishing our collaboration with IIF will enable us to do more, faster for Canadian exporters and corporate investors within the sustainable infrastructure sector while supporting the needs of Indonesia, said Sven List, Senior Vice President, Corporate and International Group. IIF brings strong market knowledge and expertise in structuring and financing infrastructure projects, including renewables. With both organizations leveraging their ESG principles and ability to provide capital support, we will contribute to sustainable infrastructure development in Indonesia.

Indonesias ongoing need for infrastructure is a major area of opportunity for Canadian exporters and investors. Pre-COVID-19, Indonesia required more than $507 billion in infrastructure investment and activity continues to explode. While Canada has a long history of supporting commodity and airplane exports to Indonesia, there is a significant opportunity now for institutional investors eyeing infrastructure projects.

Similar to EDC, IIF sees opportunity on the horizon with this new partnership, for both Canada and Indonesia.

We are honored to be the pioneering financial institution in Indonesia to collaborate with EDC, particularly given their noteworthy entry into Indonesia through this MoU Signing, Reynaldi stated. The MOU demonstrates our joint commitment to address Indonesias infrastructure needs, and our respective strengths will enable us to respond swiftly with a focus on sustainable energy, telecommunications and road development.

Canadian exports to Indonesia are currently over $3 billion annually, but a recent EDC report entitled Markets of opportunity for Canadian exporters predicted average annual exports could continue to grow rapidly through 2030, and up to $11 billion by 2050, placing Indonesia among Canadas Top 10 export markets. By 2040, Indo-Pacific economies are predicted to make up 50% of global GDP and about 40% of the worlds consumption.

About EDCExport Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians.

For more information and to learn how we can help your company, call us at 1-800-229-0575 or visit www.edc.ca.

About PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance IIF is a private non-bank financial institution, which is engaged in infrastructure financing and advisory services that are professionally managed and focused on commercially viable infrastructure projects. IIF was established on 15 January 2010 at the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia  Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia together with the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other multilateral institutions.

In its operations, IIF applies best practices based on international standards in providing credit, risk management, good corporate governance, and social and environmental protection standards to ensure the sustainability of infrastructure development in Indonesia.

For more information and to learn about IIF, visit www.iif.co.id.

Media Contact: Media | Export Development Canada 1-888-222-4065 [email protected]

Source: Export Development Canada
Hyundai has dropped the price tag of its car factory in Chongqing, China by another 30 percent after failing to find a buyer in the course of its pullout, Reuters reported Monday.

The carmaker "has cut the minimum asking price for its auto plant in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing by almost 30 percent to 2.58 billion yuan... after putting it up for sale in August," it said.

Hyundai had five factories in China before an unofficial boycott on Korean products in 2017 and increasing local competition sent its sales there into a tailspin. It sold its plant in Beijing and put the Chongqing and Changzhou factories up for sale as well.

The Chongqing plant is capable of producing 300,000 vehicles a year and costs Hyundai around 6.2 billion yuan, but Hyundai is having a tough time finding buyers because China's car market has reached saturation.
Linkping, Sweden, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Epishine, a leading energy impact company, proudly announces a significant breakthrough in the sustainability aspects of its technology. Through extensive research and development efforts, Epishineas patented production process has achieved a groundbreaking low carbon footprint of 0,86 g CO2eq/cm2. Solidifying its position as a frontrunner in environmentally conscious technology, with significantly less CO2 emission than the batteries that has previously powered the same devices.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a vital tool in quantifying the environmental impact of products from beginning to end-of-life. It encompasses every stage of a product's life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, distribution, use, and disposal. The purpose of LCA is to provide a basis for describing environmental impact in a manner that supports change and identifies measures within the analyzed life cycle that can contribute to more sustainable development. By achieving such a remarkable low-carbon footprint, Epishine sets a new standard for sustainability in their field.A

Epishine's commitment to minimizing environmental impact through the development of their cutting-edge technology has paved the way for this achievement. By leveraging the latest advancements in solar cell technology and manufacturing processes, Epishine has optimized its production methods, resulting in a significant reduction in energy consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the product life cycle. The LCA report, conducted by the Swedish environmental consultancy company MiljAgiraff and third-party reviewed by Sweco, validates these improvements.

Annie Johansson, Life Cycle Analyst at MiljAgiraff said "I have really appreciated working with Epishine. They have incorporated the results of our LCA into their roadmap and immediately iterated to reduce the environmental impact of their product. We look forward to continuing to provide Epishine with environmental calculations to aid their journey towards driving sustainable change."

The low-carbon footprint achieved by Epishine's products not only benefits the environment but also offers numerous advantages to customers. The exceptional LCA performance of Epishine's products positions customers for enhanced sustainability reporting and compliance with increasingly stringent regulations, meeting the growing demands from end customers for sustainable IOT products.

"Sustainability has always been our top priority in developing our patented production method. This is reflected in our continuous choices in the development of our production process such as avoiding high temperatures and excluding certain materials." stated Jonas Bergqvist, CTO at Epishine. "This milestone demonstrates our unwavering dedication to creating sustainable energy solutions that minimize our ecological footprint. While todayas results mark a gratifying achievement, we remain committed to further improving our productsa environmental performance.



Epishine's groundbreaking carbon footprint underscores its commitment to sustainable development. As the company continues to push the boundaries of innovation, it aims to inspire industry-wide adoption of environmentally conscious practices and accelerate the global transition to renewable energy.A

ABOUT EPISHINEA A

Epishine is a Swedish energy impact company, reimagining the capture of light with market-leading printed organic solar cells. Our technology captures indoor light to make electronics self-powered, making cables, disposable batteries and unnecessary maintenance a thing of the past.A



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Washington, D. C., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Catholic University of America has appointed Father Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P., as its first Vice President of Ministry and Mission, a position that places him in the presidents cabinet alongside other University vice presidents.

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of our University chaplain as the new vice president of ministry and mission and a member of our leadership team. This makes formal what has long been our practice - to consult our head of campus ministry on matters of faith, morals, and Catholic identity, and to integrate his advice into the important decisions of the University, said Catholic University President Peter K. Kilpatrick. Every member of our community helps to carry out the University's mission, but the new title and leadership structure help us all to keep uppermost in our minds all matters relating to the University mission. Finally, we are especially blessed to have Father Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P., as the first person to hold this position. I trust his judgment and I rely on his counsel."

In his new position, Father Aquinas will assist the President in animating the Catholic character of the University. With the President, he will help to articulate and promote the Universitys Catholic mission, spirituality, ministry, ideals, principles, and charisms to all members of the community, including students, faculty, staff, administration, trustees, and alumni.

Additionally, Father Aquinas will review and offer advice regarding University policies to ensure compliance and compatibility with Catholic teaching, in order to help faculty and staff members integrate faith and charity into their service to the University. He will also advise on University hiring practices to ensure it hires individuals who best embody the spirit, mission, and ideals of the University.

I am humbled to be called to this new role, said Father Aquinas. Catholic University has a special mission as an institution of higher learning, which is to deepen faith and charity in students as it develops their knowledge and skills. Along with my colleagues, I look forward to advancing the Universitys mission of helping students, faculty, and staff to grow in love of and service to God and neighbor.

Father Aquinas will remain the University Chaplain, overseeing the Universitys Chaplaincy and Campus Ministry programs. In that role, he will continue to ensure the catechetical and sacramental life of the Catholic University community, as well as its outreach to the poor and marginalized.

A native of Louisiana, Father Aquinas entered the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in 2005. After several years of pastoral work in New York City, he began doctoral studies in theology at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), where he completed a dissertation on St. Thomas Aquinass doctrine of the common good. Before arriving at Catholic University, Father Aquinas taught moral theology at the nearby Dominican House of Studies, where he also served for a time as prior of the community.

About: The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University comprises 12 schools and more than 30 research facilities and is home to approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Daniel F Drummond The Catholic University of America 202-243-8621 [email protected]

Source: The Catholic University of America
METTAWA, Ill. , Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the worlds largest marine technology company, has been named to the 2023 Forbes Worlds Best Employers list for the fourth consecutive year. Of the thousands of companies surveyed for this honor, Brunswick ranked in the top 30 percent overall of the 700 companies that made the final list.

We are thrilled to be recognized for a fourth consecutive year on the Forbes Worlds Best Employers list, which is a reflection of our global workforce of more than 18,000 employees and a testament to our Next Never Rests culture, said Jill Wrobel, Chief Human Resources Officer, Brunswick Corporation. This award is especially meaningful as it is a direct result of employee feedback, which highlights our commitment to cultivating an authentic culture where everyone brings their diverse perspectives to innovate and drive the future of marine technology.

Forbes, together with market research company Statista, selected the Worlds Best Employers for 2023 based on globally administered, independent surveys of more than 170,000 workers from 55 countries working part-time or full-time for multinational companies and institutions. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from employees who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family.

Receiving Forbes most prestigious international employer accolade for multiple years underscores Brunswicks long-term commitment to fostering an inclusive culture and investing in rewarding careers for its exceptional employees around the globe. Brunswicks dedication to its core values, has resulted in the Company being recognized for numerous employee accolades over the past eight months, including being named by Newsweek as one of the Worlds Most Trustworthy Companies ; a Best Company to Work For by U.S. News & World Report and being recognized by Forbes in the top 10 percent of Americas Best Large Employers .

To view the full 2023 list of the Forbes Worlds Best Employers, visit forbes.com/lists/worlds-best-employers .

About Brunswick Corporation

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is the global leader in marine recreation, delivering innovation that transforms experiences on the water and beyond. Our unique, technology-driven solutions are informed and inspired by deep consumer insights and powered by our belief that Next Never Rests. Brunswick is dedicated to industry leadership, to being the best and most trusted partner to our many customers, and to building synergies and ecosystems that enable us to challenge convention and define the future. Brunswick is home to more than 60 industry-leading brands. In the category of Marine Propulsion, these brands include, Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and MerCruiser. Brunswicks comprehensive collection of parts, accessories, distribution, and technology brands includes Mercury Parts & Accessories, Land N Sea, Flite, Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Mastervolt, RELiON, Attwood and Whale. Our boat brands are some of the best known in the world, including Boston Whaler, Lund, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Harris Pontoons, Princecraft and Quicksilver. Our service, digital and shared-access businesses include Freedom Boat Club, Boateka and a range of financing, insurance, and extended warranty businesses. While focused primarily on the marine industry, Brunswick also successfully leverages its portfolio of advanced technologies to deliver an exceptional suite of solutions in mobile and industrial applications. Headquartered in Mettawa, IL, Brunswick has more than 18,000 employees operating in 27 countries. In 2022, Brunswick was named by Forbes as a Worlds Best Employer and as one of Americas Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, both for the third consecutive year. For more information, visit www.Brunswick.com .

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Covington, KY, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COVINGTON, KY  Julie Brazil, COO, and Karen Hargett, CHRO, of Gravity Diagnostics have been named as finalists for the 2023 Cincinnati Business Courier C-Suite Awards.

I put my absolute trust in the great leadership team at Gravity Diagnostics. Julie and I founded this business seven years ago with a passion for changing the healthcare industry. Her commitment to our mission has been the steady drum moving us forward each day. Karen can be credited with upholding our company culture through a global pandemic and continues to advocate on behalf of our employees. My confidence in these two powerful leaders is beyond compare and I am deeply proud to have them recognized, said Tony Remington, Co-Founder and CEO of Gravity Diagnostics and 2022 C-Suite Award winner.

Julie Brazil serves as Gravitys Co-Founder and COO. Her shared vision of empowering individuals to take charge of their own healthcare destiny has shaped the company. Under her leadership, Gravity has experienced explosive and sustainable growth, positioned well for continued positive impact on the community. Her background as a registered nurse and in the healthcare field gave her a unique perspective on the challenges patients face, and she has spearheaded both business-to business and business-to-consumer efforts with a laser focus on compliance and customer care.

Karen Hargett serves as Gravitys Chief People Officer, leading all human resources and people management. The company experienced a growth rate of 2,767% over two years and was able to retain business operations in a culture of recognition, compliance, and care thanks to her efforts. Putting people first is her passion which can be seen through her employee advocacy and policy implementation.

The Cincinnati Business Courier recognizes top executives and their performances in regional business and nonprofits. 45 finalists in 8 categories were selected by independent judges. In this ninth year, all finalists will be recognized, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on October 12th.

About Gravity Diagnostics Gravity Diagnostics is a state-of-the-art CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory licensed in all 50 states providing innovative laboratory testing in the areas of COVID-19, upper respiratory, toxicology, pharmacogenetics, sexually transmitted infections, and blood hematology. The company is an advocate for physicians, patients, and their communities, supporting them with unsurpassed integrity, regulatory compliance, and clinical expertise. Gravity currently serves over 1,000 customers from small private practices to universities to Fortune 500 companies. Learn more at gravitydiagnostics.com.

###

Attachment

Molly Wheeler Gravity Diagnostics [email protected]

Source: Gravity Diagnostics
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Shift Commodities Ltd. (TSXV: GCOM and OTCQB: GRCMF), (Green Shift, GCOM or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Whitesand First Nation (WFN) in connection with the Armstrong Lithium project (the Armstrong Project), located in the Seymour-Crescent-Falcon lithium belt, ~55 km northeast of the town of Armstrong and ~245 km from Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. As previously disclosed, the Company has an option to purchase a 100% interest in the Armstrong Project (see press release dated September 15, 2023 for information on the Transaction, and press release dated August 16, 2023 for detailed information on the Project).

The MOU provides guidelines and a communication protocol between GCOM and WFN for initial exploration work. It also prioritizes employment, training, and business opportunities between GCOM and WFN, enabling strong collaboration as the Armstrong Project is advanced toward an exploration permit. The MOU is for a three-year term.

With the MOU providing the green light to operate in the Armstrong Project area, GCOM has commenced initial groundwork with a mapping and sampling program consisting of 91 samples taken thus far.

Trumbull Fisher, CEO and Director of GCOM, commented, We are honoured to collaborate with the Whitesand First Nation to advance the Armstrong Project. Though our project is at an early stage, we understand the importance of engaging WFN on their traditional territory. This MOU demonstrates our shared commitment to fostering meaningful and open dialogue and ensuring that we are building a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship."

About Green Shift Commodities Ltd.

Green Shift Commodities Ltd. is focused on the exploration and development of commodities needed to help decarbonize and meet net-zero goals. The Company is advancing a portfolio of lithium prospects which includes the recently acquired Rio Negro Project in Argentina, a district-scale project in an area known to contain hard rock lithium pegmatite occurrences that were first discovered in the 1960s with little exploration since, and the Armstrong Project, located in the Seymour-Crescent-Falcon lithium belt in northern Ontario, known to host spodumene-bearing lithium pegmatites and significant discoveries.

The Company is developing the Berlin Deposit in Colombia. Apart from uranium, for clean nuclear energy, the Berlin Deposit contains battery commodities including nickel, phosphate, and vanadium. Phosphate is a key component of lithium-ion ferro-phosphate (LFP) batteries that are being used by a growing list of electric vehicle manufacturers. Nickel is a component of various lithium-ion batteries, while vanadium is the element used in vanadium redox flow batteries. Neodymium, one of the rare earth elements contained within the Berlin Deposit, is a key component of powerful magnets that are used to increase the efficiency of electric motors and in generators in wind turbines.

For further information, please contact:

Green Shift Commodities Ltd.

Trumbull FisherDirector and CEOEmail: [email protected]Tel: (416) 917-5847

Website: www.greenshiftcommodities.com Twitter: @greenshiftcom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenshiftcommodities/

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intensions for the future, and include, but not limited to, statements with respect to: anticipated collaboration with the WFN; planned exploration work at the Companys Armstrong Project; the future direction of the Companys strategy; and other activities, events or developments that are expected, anticipated or may occur in the future. These statements are based on assumptions, including that: (i) the ability to achieve positive outcomes from test work; (ii) actual results of exploration, resource goals, metallurgical testing, economic studies and development activities will continue to be positive and proceed as planned, (iii) requisite regulatory and governmental approvals will be received on a timely basis on terms acceptable to Green Shift (iv) economic, political and industry market conditions will be favourable, and (v) financial markets and the market for uranium, battery commodities and rare earth elements will continue to strengthen. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements, including, but not limited to: (1) changes in general economic and financial market conditions, (2) changes in demand and prices for minerals, (3) the Companys ability to source commercially viable reactivation transactions and/or establish appropriate joint venture partnerships, (4) litigation, regulatory, and legislative developments, dependence on regulatory approvals, and changes in environmental compliance requirements, community support and the political and economic climate, (5) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with exploration results, resource estimates, potential resource growth, future metallurgical test results, changes in project parameters as plans evolve, (6) competitive developments, (7) availability of future financing, (8) the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including, without limitation, effects of COVID-19 on capital markets, commodity prices, labour regulations, supply chain disruptions and domestic and international travel restrictions, (9) exploration risks, and other factors beyond the control of Green Shift including those factors set out in the Risk Factors in our Management Discussion and Analysis dated August 23, 2023 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and other public documents available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Green Shift assumes no obligation to update such information, except as may be 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 press release.

Source: Green Shift Commodities Ltd.
HIGHLIGHTS



Liatam has expanded the Quartz Hill Project area and increased the earn-in amount to A$1.7 million.

The additional tenements extend the exploration area from 615 km sq to 818 km sq.

Two main focus areas progressed during 2022 exploration reconnaissance programs extending the mapped pegmatite swarms to over 5 km strike.

Liatam is required to spend A$1.7 million over a 24-month period (from commencement date of April 2023) to earn up to an 80% interest in the battery mineral rights at Quartz Hill. Novo retains 20% in battery minerals rights, and 100% interest in all other rights.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (ASX: NVO) (TSX: NVO & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an update in relation to the earn-in agreement with Liatam Mining Pty Ltd (Liatam) relating to battery mineral rights at the Quartz Hill project (Quartz Hill).

In December 2022, Novo's wholly owned Australian subsidiary, Nullagine Gold Pty Ltd, entered into an arrangement with Liatam pursuant to which Liatam was granted the right to earn an 80% interest in battery mineral rights within certain Novo tenements at Quartz Hill by spending A$1.5 million over 24 months.i

Under the earn-in agreement, Liatam had a one-time right to add additional tenements of its choosing at Quartz Hill. Since commencing exploration activities in April 2023, Liatam has exercised that right and added additional tenements to the land package, which is the subject of the agreement, increasing the earn-in area from 615 km sq to 818 km sq and increasing the earn-in amount from A$1.5 million to A$1.7 million.

Commenting on the progression of the earn-in agreement with Liatam, Mike Spreadborough, Executive Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer, said, Novo is pleased with the early exploration work Liatam has completed at Quartz Hill and is encouraged that additional tenements have been added to the Project area.

Novo retains a 20% interest in battery mineral rights at Quartz Hill, a 100% interest in all other rights including gold/silver and is free-carried to the earlier of a Bankable Feasibility Study or A$20 million expenditure by Liatam.

Novos exposure to lithium and battery metals through our existing and proposed JVs and investments is part of our strategy to maximise value from our strong portfolio.

Quartz Hill Project

The Quartz Hill battery mineral project area now comprises 25 tenements covering approximately 818 km sq (Figure 1). Liatam's field-based exploration is targeting LCT-style pegmatite hosted lithium mineralisation.

The main project area Lepidolite Fields is located within the western section of E46/794 and is approximately 10 km from the Nullagine Gold Project processing plant and infrastructure.





Figure 1: Quartz Hill Project area showing tenure and priority exploration areas.

Forward Plans

Liatam will continue lithium exploration at Quartz Hill with geological mapping and geochemical sampling ongoing. Samples for petrographic verification have been dispatched to assist in mineral identification and mapping.

Helicopter supported reconnaissance and mapping by Liatam is to commence during October, in order to access the more remote Quartz Hill areas and prioritise which areas warrant immediate follow up sampling and mapping prior to drill testing.

Discussions with the Traditional Owners for the Quartz Hill Project area have continued, with heritage and ethnographic surveys planned for the first half of 2024, contingent on weather conditions and Traditional Owner availability.

On completion of the required clearances, drilling is scheduled in Q2 2024 to test high-priority targets identified from programs completed during 2023.

CONTACT

Investors:

Mike Spreadborough

+61 419 329 987

[email protected] North American Queries:

Leo Karabelas

+1 416 543 3120

[email protected] Media:

Cameron Gilenko

+61 466 984 953

[email protected]



ABOUT NOVO

Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,000 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders.

Authorised by Michael Spreadborough, Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking statements. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and Novo's prospectus dated 2 August 2023. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

__________________

i Refer to the Company's announcement dated 15 December 2022; and relevant summaries in the Novo prospectus dated 2 August 2023 (including at section 9.6 and paragraph 16.18 of section 8).

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc57b878-8ce8-40f1-a58f-46eb070997fc
Interview and Photo Opportunity

With 75 per cent of students finding it challenging to afford post-secondary education, the TELUS Student Bursary will support hundreds of students each year who are committed to making a difference in their communities

TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, October 11, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation will officially announce the launch of Canadas largest bursary fund, the TELUS Student Bursary, supporting students facing financial barriers impacting their ability to enroll or continue their education. Created through a $25 million endowment gift from TELUS, along with an additional $25 million commitment in fundraising from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, TELUS Student Bursaries are awarded annually to youth between the ages of 17 and 29 who are accepted into, or attending, any undergraduate degree or diploma program at any Canadian college, university or polytechnic institute, enabling youth across the country to access higher education.

To learn more visit friendlyfuture.com.

Details of the event:

What:

Funding announcement supporting students facing financial barriers impacting their ability to enroll or continue their post-secondary education.

Pursuing post-secondary education can have significant financial barriers for capable students across Canada, with nearly 1-in-3 students saying they have considered withdrawing before they complete their education due to costs.

Media interviews and photo opportunities

Who: Photo opportunities and interviews:

Ashif Mawji, Board Chair, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation can speak to the role of the TELUS Community Boards across Canada and how the bursary fund offers well-rounded long term support to youth

can speak to the role of the TELUS Community Boards across Canada and how the bursary fund offers well-rounded long term support to youth Shanan Spencer- Brown , Executive Director, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation can speak to the fund and its expected impact on students

can speak to the fund and its expected impact on students Bursary recipients Clementine and Jolie , whose incredible stories will be shared, including how they want to affect positive change in their communities through their studies and how the bursary will help them achieve their career and social impact goals

, whose incredible stories will be shared, including how they want to affect positive change in their communities through their studies and how the bursary will help them achieve their career and social impact goals Cara Piperni, Director, Scholarships & Student Aid, McGill University , McGill University who, as an official education partner, can speak to the value and impact of this bursary and supporting students in pursuing their post-secondary education goals

who, as an official education partner, can speak to the value and impact of this bursary and supporting students in pursuing their post-secondary education goals Michael DeGagne, President and CEO, Indspire can share more on how the bursary helps to close gaps and address challenges specific to Indigenous communities and students across Canada

When: Wednesday, October 11, 2023

9:45 a.m. EST - arrival & refreshments

10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. EST - speakers & funding announcement

11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST - networking, photo opportunities & media interviews

Where: TELUS Harbour

25 York Street, 3rd Floor Hosting Centre, Toronto ON, M5J 2V5

About TELUS Friendly Future Foundation

TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is a Canadian registered charity that believes all youth, regardless of circumstances, deserve an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. By funding more than 500 charities each year that provide education and health programs, many enabled by technology, along with providing educational bursaries, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is helping more than 2 million youth in communities across Canada build skills, gain confidence and feel a sense of belonging. In 2022 alone, we provided more than $10.6 million in grants to charities across the country.

For more information on TELUS Friendly Future Foundation visit friendlyfuture.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:Saara RahikkaTELUS Public Relations[email protected]

Source: TELUS Communications Inc
IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Omega Accounting Solutions is announcing two new executive appointments to support the expansion of corporate client offerings and underscore the companys commitment to providing small businesses with comprehensive support: Isaac Downing, Senior Director, Tax Credits & Incentives, and Tracy Martinez, Attorney, Tax Controversy.

Commensurate tax director and tax attorney, Issac Downing and Tracy Martinez, will support our proactive, integrated approach to tax strategy and end-to-end filing support for our clients and those who filed with other providers, said Jay Woods, President of Omega Accounting Solutions.

Isaac Downing, Senior Director, Tax Credits & Incentives, will support the expansion of Omegas Credits & Incentives offerings. The tax industry expert brings more than 15 years of experience in cost segregation studies, tax report reviews, and in-house tax management. With a Bachelor of Science (BS), Accounting & Finance from California Lutheran University, Engineering Certificate from Marine Corps. Engineer School, and extensive experience in public accounting for large publicly-traded companies, Downing honed his specialty of delivering engineering-driven tax solutions. Downings expertise aligns with Omegas commitment to informing and empowering small businesses.

Tracy Martinez is our new Tax Controversy Attorney leading the Tax Controversy Practice at Omega. Martinez will be managing this new program for Omega clients, offering an extensive array of federal and state tax controversy services, as well as IRS audit support services to clients. Martinez brings 35 years of tax legality expertise to Omega after serving as Senior Attorney within the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Attorney within the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service. She graduated with a BA degree in International Relations from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, received her JD from Albany Law School at Union University in Albany, NY, and her LLM from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT OMEGA ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONSOmega Accounting Solutions is an expert accounting, finance, and tax consulting firm that empowers small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to make better-informed decisions. Founded in 2007, the Irvine, Calif. firm utilizes business intelligence technologies to simplify complex challenges, optimize business finances and create new opportunities for growth. Omega Accounting Solutions refers to our network of firms, including Omega Funding Solutions, which is a separate legal entity. For more information about Omega Accounting Solutions, visit omega-accounting.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julia Silva, Echo Media[email protected]

Source: Omega Accounting Solutions
SEATTLE, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has certified the class in Mattson v. Milliman, Inc., a class action lawsuit alleging Milliman breached its fiduciary duties under ERISA and violated the trust of some 4,000 of its current and former employees by mismanaging the companys retirement funds.

The case has been litigated by Sanford Heisler Sharp Partners Charles Field and Kate Mueting; Chairman David Sanford; and Associates Denise Choung, David McNamee and Ari Rubin. Local counsel is Paul Taylor of Byrnes Keller Cromwell LLP.

Milliman failed to remove the in-house target risk funds that significantly underperformed meaningful benchmarks for nearly a decade, said Charles Field, Chair of Sanford Heisler Sharps Financial Services Practice Group. The inclusion of these underperforming target risk funds had negative long-term consequences for a large number of Milliman employees and is indefensible. We are pleased that the court has certified the class thereby paving the way for Plaintiff Mattson to seek and obtain relief on behalf of the thousands of individuals who were harmed by Millimans mismanagement.

Millimans decision not to remove the underperforming target risk funds has cost the Fund and Millimans current and former employees as much as $85 million in retirement savings. In finding that the Rule 23 class certification requirements were met, Judge Zilly rejected the defendants arguments that the class could not be certified because some class members signed arbitration agreements. The court concluded that Munro v. University of Southern California controls and thus employees who signed arbitration agreements did so as employees and not on behalf of the ERISA Plan.

Plaintiffs and the class seek (1) restitution for financial losses to Plan participants and beneficiaries resulting from the Plans underperforming investments; (2) divestiture of imprudent investments; and (3) the removal of the fiduciaries who have violated their duties to the Plans participants and beneficiaries under ERISA.

About Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP is a national public interest class-action litigation law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Nashville, and Baltimore. Sanford Heisler Sharp focuses on employment discrimination, wage and hour, whistleblower, criminal/sexual violence, and financial services matters. The firm has recovered over $1 billion for its clients through many verdicts and settlements.

For the latest news about Sanford Heisler Sharp, visit the firms newsroom or follow the firm on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

If you have potential legal claims and are seeking counsel, please call 619-577-4253 or email [email protected]. Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp would like to have the opportunity to help you.

For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, at 201-788-0142 or [email protected].

Source: Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Bidens Cabinet for Americas 33 million small businesses, announced four contract awards to small businesses and entrepreneur support organization (ESO) partners, expanding the SBAs Regional Innovation Clusters to 16 hubs nationwide.

SBAs Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative launched in September 2010 to promote and support clusters, which are geographically concentrated groups of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular industry or field across the United States. Clusters act as a networking hub to convene several resources to help navigate the funding, procurement, and supply-chain opportunities in a specific industry.

Regional Innovation Clusters are funded by SBA to help deepen our geographical reach and support innovative companies that are building technologies critical to our national security and economic competitiveness, said Administrator Guzman. As the Biden-Harris Administration invests in America, we are ensuring we can lead the world in emerging technologies while creating great companies and jobs in all corners of this country. Todays awardees are doing just that by clustering industry partners to spur small business growth in agriculture, defense, cybersecurity, and smart sensing. The SBA will bring to bear its entire offerings to ensure small businesses have the capital, knowledge networks, mentors, and revenue growth opportunities to continue to power Americas economy.

Regional Innovation Clusters work directly with American innovators and entrepreneurs to forge connections, provide industry or technological subject matter experience, and assist with access to capital, customers, and contracts. We are incredibly excited to expand this important national innovation network and ensure innovative, high-growth businesses thrive in industries of national importance, said Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator for the SBAs Office of Investment and Innovation.

Two contract awardees are new to the program in 2023, while two others are returning awardees, positioned with new contracts to continue and expand work in their respective regions.

2023 Regional Innovation Cluster Awards:

AgLaunch Engine and the Delta Cluster AgLaunch Engine will continue its work under the RIC program through the Delta Cluster to support the growth and development of agriculture technologies (AgTech) in the mid-south Delta region. AgLaunchs Delta Cluster will focus on providing support to the AgTech industry in 102 counties along the Mississippi River, encompassing counties in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Through the cluster, AgLaunch is focused on building a more robust and resilient food supply chain and advancing high growth opportunities in advanced robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence in Climate-Smart agriculture.

LSI Business Development and the Defense Alliance Cluster LSI Business Development will continue its work under the RIC program through the Defense Alliance to support small businesses building defense technologies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The primary mission of the Defense Alliance Cluster revolves around expediting the commercialization of technology products and services (principally in the high-technology defense sector). Simultaneously, Defense Alliance contributes to regional economic progress, including support for rural and disadvantaged communities, and bolsters the national technology base by providing support to hundreds of small businesses across the Upper Midwest region.

NTouch-BCT Strategies and the New Jersey Cybersecurity Regional Cluster NTouch-BCT Strategies is new to the RIC program and will grow the New Jersey Cybersecurity Regional Cluster. The cluster focuses on providing cybersecurity assessments and supporting the growth of small businesses building cybersecurity technologies and services across Mercer, Middlesex, Union, Essex, and Hudson counties in New Jersey. The cluster is focused on supporting minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned small businesses.

Shadow Ridge Analytics and Smart Sensing Systems Cluster Shadow Ridge Analytics is new to the RIC program and will set up a Smart Sensing Cluster in Southern Montana. The cluster will focus on building up the smart sensing cluster in the micropolitan statistical and rural areas in and around Bozeman, Butte, and Billings, Montana. The cluster anticipates smart sensing to be integral to supporting technology areas of national importance, including quantum information science and technology, artificial intelligence, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and intends to become the nationally recognized integrator of the smart sensing industry.

Regional Innovation Clusters are established through small business set-aside contracts. Eligibility is open to small businesses under the size standard of $19 million under NAICS code 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services.

For more information on how to connect with a Regional Innovation Cluster, visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance/regional-innovation-clusters.

###

About the U.S. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. Learn more at sba.gov.

About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the high-growth small business community with access to two things: financial capital and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. Learn more at sba.gov.

Tiffani Clements U.S. Small Business Administration [email protected] Christine Saah Nazer U.S. Small Business Administration [email protected]

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
Apartment prices in Korea rebounded in September for the first time in 15 months.

According to KB Kookmin Bank on Monday, nationwide apartment prices rose by 0.09 percent in September compared to the previous month, ending a continuous decline since July last year.

Regionally, Seoul apartment prices increased by 0.26 percent, surpassing the national average. Songpa district recorded the highest increase at 1.06 percent, followed by Gangnam (0.66 percent), Yangcheon (0.62 percent), Mapo (0.46 percent), and Gangdong and Seongdong (each at 0.45 percent).

But prices in seven districts still declined -- Eunpyeong 0.25 percent, Jungnang 0.23 percent, Dobong 0.19 percent, Nowon 0.15 percent, Gwanak 0.12 percent, Geumcheon 0.11 percent, and Guro 0.05 percent.
Fireside Chat with Brian Scott and CISO Panel Announced

EXTON, Pa., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Less than one week away from opening the doors at the Colorado Convention Center to welcome the industry to the 40th anniversary Cable-Tec Expo, the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), a CableLabs subsidiary, unveils its day two general session: Innovating and Safeguarding Tomorrow Today: 10G, Emerging Technologies and Cybersecurity. The program begins at 9:30am MDT on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.



New this year, Cable-Tec Expo opens day two with a fireside chat between CableLabs President and CEO Phil McKinney and NCTA President and CEO Michael Powell. The two leaders will reflect on the industrys progress toward 10G and the future to come, highlighting innovative advances, and the industrys focus on security.

Appearing next in the Mile High Ballroom will be Brian Scott, Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director for Cyber Policy and Programs, Office of the National Cyber Director, Executive Office of the President. With more than four decades of government and military leadership experience, including over a decade of service with the US Department of Homeland Security in a variety of senior cybersecurity roles prior to joining the Office of the National Cyber Director, Mr. Scott will focus on the National Cybersecurity Strategy and its implementation, the Administration's cybersecurity goals, as well as the Administration's expectations for the cable broadband industry. Mr. Scotts fireside chat will be moderated by Loretta Polk, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at NCTA, where she leads the organizations cybersecurity policy and legal work.

Following Ms. Polk and Mr. Scott will be Expos inaugural CISO panel: Safeguarding Tomorrow Today: Cybersecurity. Four esteemed panelists will explore how the industry is prioritizing and addressing key cybersecurity challenges. Dr. Rikin Thakker, NCTAs Chief Technology Officer and SVP, Technology will be joined by Kim Keever, SVP, Security & Technology Services & Chief Information Security Officer at Cox Communications; Greg Temm, Chief Information Security Officer at Charter Communications; and David White, Vice President of Security Solutions Engineering at Comcast Corporation.

With 336 speakers, 9 tracks, 102 sessions and more than 330 exhibitors, Expo will reunite thousands of professionals for more than 100 hours of learning with premier thought leaders and hundreds of innovative vendors with leading-edge technology solutions, October 16-19, in Denver, Colorado. There is still time for attendees to secure their spot to scan and go at check-in for the 40th SCTE Cable-Tec Expo by registering online at https://expo.scte.org/attendee-registration/.

About SCTE Cable-Tec Expo

Celebrating 40 years of bringing industry professionals together to connect, collaborate and innovate, SCTE Cable-Tec Expo is the preeminent venue for thought leadership, engineering innovation and dealmaking within the broadband telecommunications industry. The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), a subsidiary of CableLabs, will be hosting Expo 2023 in Denver, Colorado, October 16-19. Chaired by Chris Winfrey, president and CEO of Charter Communications, and Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers Communications, "EXPOnential" will assemble industry leaders from around the globe and showcase the most compelling technologies that are building the future of cable telecommunications. More information at expo.scte.org .

Contact: [email protected]
Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SecureSpace Self Storage is pleased to announce the opening of its newest facility, SecureSpace Downtown Los Angeles, located on Essex Street, just outside the bustling Fashion District in Los Angeles, California.

Strategically positioned with frontage along Interstate 10, where over 275,000 vehicles per day travel past the Los Angeles skyscrapers between Santa Monica and Central Los Angeles, the newly built Class A self-storage facility offers residents easy access and convenient storage solutions in one of the densest areas of LA. With a three-mile trade area population of over 480,000, SecureSpace Downtown Los Angeles is perfectly situated to serve this thriving community, and is one of just three storage facilities located within one mile of downtown. Currently, the three-mile radius supply sits at 2.3 sqft/capita, well below the national average of 7.0.

Our location within this desirable area, coupled with the visibility from the I-10 and proximity to downtown skyscrapers, allows this facility to serve a wide variety of customers in a very dense area, said Paul Brown, Partner at SecureSpace. SecureSpace Self Storage is thrilled to be a part of the Downtown LA community and provide customers with state-of-the-art, climate-controlled storage solutions.

SecureSpace Downtown Los Angeles offers four stories and 99,009 square feet of space, with climate-controlled units ranging in size from 5x5 to 10x30 and easy elevator access.

The property's leasing office features a modern lobby equipped with free WiFi, an open-concept workspace, packing supplies (including boxes, locks, and furniture covers for sale), and friendly staff to assist with all storage needs.

All SecureSpace locations feature a state-of-the-art security system monitored by in-store staff and our offsite security team to ensure maximum visibility. This location provides a smart keypad to ensure controlled visits to the facility.

Customers are invited to visit SecureSpace.com to calculate their storage size needs, see pictures and video of the facility, and rent a unit online without stepping foot inside. For additional information, they can also call (877) 399-0319 to speak with a friendly SecureSpace agent.About SecureSpace Self StorageSecureSpace Self Storage, based in Redondo Beach, CA, is one of the fastest growing Self Storage platforms in the US, with assets located primarily in high-density, urban markets. With a focus on exceptional customer service and upgraded security features, SecureSpace provides a high-quality experience that its customers can count on in any store they visit.

Relax. Its safe at SecureSpace.

Aaron Kushner SecureSpace Self Storage (866) 521-8292 [email protected]

Source: SecureSpace Self Storage
Results Include Lithium Concentrations of 663 mg/L; Company Continues to Expand and De-Risk East Texas Smackover Assets

EL DORADO, Ark., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (Standard Lithium or the Company) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI) (FRA:S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced it has drilled and sampled, to the best of its knowledge, a new highest confirmed lithium grade brine in North America, with a grade of 663 mg/L lithium. The results reflect lithium sample analyses from a newly drilled well from the Companys significant expansion work in the East Texas Smackover region.



Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium commented, We continue to be very excited by the quality and scale of the lithium brine assets were adding in East Texas. The lithium sample analysis from a newly-drilled well delivered, to the best of our knowledge, a new highest-grade lithium brine concentration in North America and confirmed that we are securing the highest-grade lithium brine resource outside of Chile and Argentina. We continue to expand our footprint in the East Texas Smackover and de-risk the opportunity with additional drilling, sampling and definition work.

East Texas is a significant addition to our two more advanced projects in Arkansas, the Phase 1A and South West Arkansas Projects, added Dr. Robinson. We expect our East Texas landholdings to form a substantially larger and higher-grade lithium brine project for future production. Standard Lithium will continue to progress its portfolio of projects to help meet U.S. demand for lithium over the next decade.

Strategic Importance

The Smackover Formation represents North America's premier lithium brine asset, with grades comparable to certain resources in South America. As detailed in the Companys Definitive Feasibility Study, results for the Phase 1A project in El Dorado, Arkansas, target production of 5,400 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery quality lithium carbonate over a 25-year operating life, with an average lithium grade of 217 mg/L. The Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Companys South West Arkansas Project outlines plans for at least 30,000 tpa of battery quality lithium hydroxide over a 20-year operating life, with an average reported lithium grade of 437 mg/L.

Lithium grades in the Companys projects indicate an increasing trend moving westward from Phase 1A to the South West Arkansas Project and finally, into East Texas. In Standard Lithiums experience, higher lithium grades in brine are directly correlated with lower capital and operating expenses per tonne of lithium produced, thereby enhancing the economic viability of potential projects.

Analysis and Testing Details

The Standard Lithium team, comprised of technically diverse Smackover specialists and a robust team of land professionals, has been working in the Smackover Formation in East Texas for over 3.5 years. The Company shared initial sample analysis from expansion work completed in the latter half of 2022 and early 2023 (see news release dated 28th March 2023).

The data provided in this news release are from a newly-drilled well completed in the East Texas Smackover (ETX New Well #2). Brine samples collected from ETX New Well #2 are provided in Table 1 below. These samples were analyzed, performed and reported by Western Environmental Testing Laboratories of Sparks, Nevada, a third-party, accredited testing facility. Additional representative lithium brine analyses from other lithium brine projects in North America are provided for context.

Table 1: ETX New Well #2 Lithium Brine Analyses in Standard Lithium East Texas Project Area

East Texas Sampling Location Name [1] Lithium

concentration

(mg/L) Average Lithium

concentration

(mg/L) [2] ETX New Well #2 - Upper Smackover Zone Sample A 663 638 ETX New Well #2 - Upper Smackover Zone Sample B 613 Reported Lithium Analyses from Other North American Brine Projects California Salton Sea Geothermal Brine [3] 204 Alberta Oilfield Brine [4] 75 Paradox Basin, Utah [5] 123 Clayton Valley, Nevada [6] 123

Notes:

[1] Smackover Formation descriptors (Upper, Middle, and Lower) are a local project area naming convention

[2] For East Texas wells, average of all samples taken from the wellbore, including duplicates where applicable to provide a representative brine sample

[3] Average brine sample from Salton Sea, Table 1, Warren 2021. Techno-Economic Analysis of Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brines. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5700-79178

[4] Average brine analysis from Table 7, E3 Lithium 43-101 Technical Report: Lithium Resource Estimate, Bashaw District Project, central Alberta, Report date: August 23, 2022, Effective date: July 11,2022

[5] Indicated Resource Concentration, Anson Resources, Paradox Lithium Project, Total JORC Mineral Resource estimation, DFS, September 2022

[6] Average Clayton Valley lithium brine composition, Table 14-3, Pure Energy Minerals, Preliminary Economic Assessment (Rev. 1) of the Clayton Valley Lithium Project Esmeralda County, Nevada, March 23, 2018



Figure 1: ETX New Well #2 in East Texas.

Quality Assurance

Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of lithium-brine bearing properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes brine projects characterized by the highest-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. The Company aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully-integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Companys flagship projects, the Phase 1A Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located on the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line, a region with a long-standing and established brine processing industry. The Company has also identified a number of highly prospective lithium brine project areas in the Smackover Formation in East Texas and began an extensive brine leasing program in the key project areas. In addition, the Company has an interest in certain mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol SLI; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol S5L. Please visit the Companys website at www.standardlithium.com.

Twitter: @standardlithium

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-lithium/

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. This news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, potential exploration expansions, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e90a55c6-946e-4815-a8a9-827915b5eb43
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More Newsfile
Reports 6.12 Million Tonnes Grading 508.5 G/T AgEq For 100.04 Million Ounces AgEq

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (the "Company" or "Blackrock") is pleased to report the results for its updated mineral resource estimate (the "Updated MRE") for its 100% controlled Tonopah West project ("Tonopah West"), located in the Walker Lane trend of Western Nevada. Tonopah West is conveniently situated directly adjacent to the town of Tonopah in Western Nevada, with highway US 95 traversing the property, and the resource area lies exclusively within patented mining claims. All amounts herein are presented in United States Dollars unless otherwise stated.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Updated MRE contains a total of 0.57 million ounces (" Moz ") of gold and 47.74Mozs of silver or 100.04Mozs of silver equivalent (" AgEq "), which is a 135% increase over the maiden resource estimate for Tonopah West (the " Maiden MRE ") included in the technical report dated effective April 28, 2022;

At a 200 g/t AgEq cut-off, the average grade of the inferred mineral resource is 508.5 g/t AgEq, which is a 14% increase over the Maiden MRE;

The Updated MRE includes 6.12 million tonnes, which is a 106% increase over the Maiden MRE;

Blackrock's discovery costs are $0.29 per ounce of AgEq;

The Updated MRE is based on a structural re-interpretation of the Victor and DPB areas and incorporation of the new drill information from the Northwest Step Out target. The Updated MRE captures approximately 3-kilometres of strike along the Tonopah West vein system;

Silver and gold mineralization remains open to the northwest and internally between Victor and DPB, and DPB and the Northwest Step Out target, and at depth; and

Blackrock Silver to host investor webinar Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Table 1: Tonopah West Updated 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate

AgEq

cutoff g/t (1) Tonnes Silver

g/t Gold

g/t AgEq

g/t (2) Ounces of Silver Ounces of Gold Ounce of Silver Equivalent(3) Classification(4) 200 6,119,000 242.6 2.90 508.5 47,738,000 570,000 100,038,000 Inferred

1 AgEq cutoff grade is based a total mining, processing and G&A cost of $119/tonne.

2 Silver Equivalent grade ratio used in this news of 84:1 is based on silver and gold prices of $22/ounce and $1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively. AgEq Factor= (Ag Price / Au Price) x (Ag Rec / Au Rec); g AgEq/t = g Ag/t + (g Au/t / AgEq Factor).

3 Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.

4 Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources estimated will be converted into mineral reserves. 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 indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated mineral resources category.

The MRE was prepared in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted May 19, 2014, and in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The effective date of the new mineral resources estimated by RESPEC (formerly Mine Development Associates, "RESPEC") is October 6, 2023.

Andrew Pollard, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "With delivery of our second mineral resource estimate at Tonopah West in just three years of our initial discovery, we are making great strides towards de-risking and reawakening one of the great American silver camps. Compared to the Maiden MRE, our mineral inventory has grown by 135% AgEq and discovery costs have plummeted to $0.29 per silver equivalent ounce. The addition of 25,000 metres of new drilling into the database, a re-interpretation of the underlying geologic model, and the modelling of the newly discovered NW Step Out target highlights the expansion potential of the project. This Updated MRE has seen the footprint of mineralization more than double from the Maiden MRE, with the vein corridor now stretching over 3 kilometers with the inclusion of the new NW Step Out target. There are no signs of the system stopping both along strike and at depth.

"Tonopah West is unparalleled within the industry as I see it, given its exceptional, safe jurisdiction, incredible infrastructure, high-grade precious metal-only resource, excellent metallurgy and district scale exploration upside. Moreover, the entire resource is on private lands (patented claims) potentially providing for a streamlined permitting process.

"Over 160 years since Nevada earned its moniker as the Silver State, and nearly a century since commercial production shut down, most had assumed the history books had long since closed on this once-renowned district. This resource marks a pivotal step toward the resurgence of this illustrious mining camp, proving that the final chapters of the 'Queen of the Silver Camps' are yet to be written."

The Updated MRE is presented with block diluted grades. The AgEq block model grades are based on $22 per ounce of silver, $1,850 per ounce of gold, and 87% and 95% recoveries for silver and gold, respectively.

The resource is reported using a cut-off grade which was calculated from estimated mining costs and metallurgical recoveries. Table 2 shows assumed mining, processing, and G&A cost for each mining method.

Table 2: Tonopah West mining, processing and G&A costs at the listed gold and silver price

Parameters Used USD Units UG Mining 83 $/t Mined Processing 22 $/t Processed G&A 14 $/t Processed Refining 0.50 $/oz Ag Produced Silver Price 22 $/ounce Gold Price 1850 $/ounce Total 119 $/t Processed Effective AgEq Cut off 200 g/t Ag

Kappes and Cassidy (KCA) completed twelve bottle-roll tests on vein composites. Silver returned recoveries from 81% to 94% with an average recovery of 87%. Gold recoveries from the twelve composites were between 90% to 98% with and average recovery of 95%. Based on the KCA data, a recovery of 87% was used in the calculation of the resource cut off grade.

Table 3: Tonopah West 2023 Updated Resource Estimate by Area

Area AgEq cutoff g/t (1) Tonnes Silver

g/t Gold

g/t AgEq

g/t (2) Ounces of Silver Ounces of Gold Ounces of Silver Equivalent(3) Classification(4) Victor 200 2,193,000 262.2 3.11 547.4 18,484,000 219,000 38,589,000 Inferred DP 200 1,592,000 194.8 2.63 435.9 9,970,000 134,000 22,305,000 Inferred Bermuda 200 1,360,000 298.8 3.53 623.4 13,063,000 154,000 27,250,000 Inferred NW Step Out 200 976,000 198.3 1.97 379.2 6,220,000 62,000 11,894,000 Inferred TOTAL 6,119,000 242.6 2.90 508.5 47,738,000 570,000 100,038,000 Inferred

1 AgEq cutoff grade is based a total mining, processing and G&A cost of $119/tonne.

2 Silver Equivalent grade ratio used in this news of 84:1 is based on silver and gold prices of $22/ounce and $1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively. AgEq Factor= (Ag Price / Au Price) x (Ag Rec / Au Rec); g AgEq/t = g Ag/t + (g Au/t / AgEq Factor).

3Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.

4 Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources estimated will be converted into mineral reserves. 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 Indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated mineral resources category.

Blackrock completed a total of 198 drillholes (125,208 metres) between June 16, 2020 and December 15, 2022 from the surface drillhole. This drilling underpins the Updated MRE. A total of $28.75 million was expended since acquiring the option on Tonopah West on April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023, exclusive of option payments, holdings costs, and corporate G&A, which equates to a discovery cost of $0.29 per ounce of AgEq.

Table 4: Drill footage from June 2020 to December 2022

Type Feet metres Precollar 81,670.0 24,893.0 Core 128,266.2 39,095.5 RC 200,850.0 61,219.1 Total Completed 410,786.2 125,207.6

During 2023, the Company focussed its efforts on reviewing all drillhole and exploration data as well as incorporating the Northwest Step Out area in to the geologic and resource model. This review concluded that the Tonopah West mineralization is closely associated with the arcuate margin of the Tonopah Caldera. As a result of this finding, the geologic model was revised to better capture the new structural understanding of the distribution and orientation of the Tonopah West vein system. This new interpretation included re-logging and re-modelling the existing drill data and incorporating historic underground information. Silver and gold mineralization and continuity have now been established over a three-kilometre strike. The vein system is open to the west-northwest and internally with undrilled areas between Victor and DPB, and DPB and Northwest Step Out.

The new model is based on drillholes which are oriented between 90 to 50-degree inclinations from the surface with up to three drillholes at different inclinations completed from the same drill pad. Drillholes are spaced approximately every 50 to 100-metres along sections with 50-metre distance between sections in the DPB area. At Victor, drillholes are spaced between approximately 25 to 50 metres apart along sections with the sections 50 to 100-metres apart. The Northwest Step Out area is one kilometre northwest of the DPB resource. Drillholes are spaced between 100 to 150 metres apart. The Northwest Step Out represents a new area not previously included in the May 2022 maiden resource.

The Updated MRE encompasses the Victor, DPB, Bermuda and the Northwest Step Out areas. The Victor area is approximately 500-metres by 250-metres while the DPB area is 800-metres by 800-metres. The Bermuda area is a high-grade vein within the DPB area, and the Northwest Step Out represents a new extension of the vein zones to west-northwest. RESPEC was supplied with 3-dimensional vein shapes. Silver and gold mineral resources were modelled and estimated as follows:

Evaluate the drill data statistically;

Create tightly constrained low-, medium- and high-grade mineral-domain polygons for both silver and gold on sets of cross sections spaced at 50-metre intervals;

Use the mineral-domain polygons as a basis to create three-dimensional solids;

Code a block model to the silver and gold domains for each of the two deposit areas using the mineral-domain solids;

Analyze the modelled mineralization geostatistically to aid in the establishment of estimation and classification parameters; and

Interpolate grades into models comprised of 1.5(east-west) x 1.5(north-south) x 1.5(vertical)-metre blocks using the silver and gold mineral domains to explicitly constrain the grade estimations.

Drillhole assay samples were composited within the mineralized domains into 1.5-metre length composites. High-grade capping was completed on composite data and established using a statistical analysis for silver and gold. Silver was capped at 1,800 g/t, and gold was capped at 20 g/t.

Specific gravity test work was completed for 92 core samples. Results indicate an average density of 2.49 grams/cm for vein material and 2.36 grams/cm for wall rock.

RESPEC utilized Inverse Distance Cubed (ID3) interpolation for the estimation to obtain a localizing effect in the mid- and high-grade domains, and an Inverse Distance Squared (ID2) in the low-grade domains where mineralization is more diffuse. All estimates are based on a block dimension of 1.5-metre by 1.5-metre by 1.5-metre blocks.

The original deposit had been depleted by historical mining in the Victor area. Approximately 200,000 tonnes of material were removed from the Victor resource estimate. In the DPB area, no historical mining records were documented.

A cut off for the reported resource of 200 g/t AgEq was selected based an assumed mining costs for underground methods along with processing and G&A costs. At a 200 g/t AgEq cut off, the average grade of the inferred resource is 508.5 g/t AgEq.

A technical report is being prepared on the Updated MRE in accordance with NI 431-101 (the "Technical Report") and will be available on the Company's website and on SEDAR+ within 45 days of the date of this news release.

The Updated MRE was prepared under the supervision of Mr. Jeffrey Bickel, CPG, an employee of RESPEC, and he has reviewed and approved the technical contents relating to the Updated MRE in this news release.

Blackrock's exploration activities at Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

All sampling is conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists, and a strict chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility is implemented and monitored. The reverse circulation samples are hauled from the project site to a secure and fenced facility in Tonopah, Nevada, where they are loaded onto American Assay Laboratory's (AAL) flat-bed truck and delivered to AAL's facility in Sparks, Nevada. A sample submittal sheet is delivered to AAL personnel who organize and process the sample intervals pursuant to the Company's instructions.

The core, reverse circulation, and QA/QC samples are crushed and pulverized, then the pulverized material is digested and analyzed for Au using fire assay fusion and an Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) finish on a 30-gram assay split. Silver is determined using five-acid digestion and ICP analysis. Over limits for gold and silver are determined using a gravimetric finish. Data verification of the assay and analytical results are completed to ensure accurate and verifiable results.

Mr. Bickel has reviewed the sampling, assaying, and security procedures used at Tonopah West and it is his opinion that they follow industry standard procedures, and are adequate for the estimation of the Updated MRE and for use in preparing the Technical Report.

Mr. Bickel completed audits of the database, performed a site visit, and reviewed quality assurance and quality control data. After performing his review, he considers the assay data to be adequate for the estimation of the Updated MRE and for use in preparing the Technical Report.

Investor Webinar

Blackrock Silver will host an investor webinar on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

To Register: https://events.6ix.com/preview/blackrock-silver-tonopah-west-mre-update

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Blackrock is a junior precious metals focused exploration company that is on a quest to make an economic discovery. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation epithermal gold & silver projects located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada. Its flagship Tonopah West project hosts an inferred mineral resource of 6.12 million tonnes grading at 508.5 g/t AgEq for 100.04 million oz AgEq.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Silver Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern, without limitation: the Company's strategic plans; estimates of mineral resource quantities and qualities; the timing of filing of the NI 43-101 technical report on the Updated MRE; timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs; estimates of mineralization from drilling; geological information projected from sampling results; and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, including the ability of the Company to make payments related to the lease option to purchase Tonopah West; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183537
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Caravan Energy Corporation (CSE: CNRG) (FSE: V69) ("Caravan" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated September 14, 2023, that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing ("Offering").

Under the Offering, the Company issued:

7,262,524 non-flow through units of the Company ("Units"), at a price of $0.42 per Unit, for gross proceeds of $3,050,251, with each Unit comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half-of of one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.60 for a period of two (2) years; and 6,000,000 flow-through units of the Company ("FT Units"), at a price of $0.50 per FT Unit, for gross proceeds of $3,000,000, with each FT Unit comprised of one common share that qualifies as a "flow-through share" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one-half of one flow-through share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.60 for a period of two years.

The Company raised gross aggregate proceeds of $6,050,251 through the Offering.

The net proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used for qualified expenditures in respect of the Company's mineral properties, and the net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for general working capital purposes.

The Company paid finder's fees and advisory fees comprised of an aggregate of 766,800 broker warrants (each, a "Broker Warrant") and $348,994 in cash to certain finders in connection with the sale of Units and FT Units to purchasers introduced to the Company by such finders. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share at a price of $0.60 for a period of two (2) years.

The Units, FT Units, and Broker Warrants, and all underlying securities, are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issue.

The Offering was approved by a majority of the Company's shareholders. The Company thanks its shareholders for their support and loyalty.

Mineral Claims Acquisitions

The Company is also pleased to announce, further to its news releases dated, September 11, 2023 and September 25, 2023, that is has closed its previously announced mineral claims acquisitions, acquiring a total of 33 rare earth claims located near Prince George, British Columbia, totalling 11,134 hectares (the "TREO Acquisition"), as detailed below.

The Company acquired 24 mineral claims in consideration for $100,000 in cash, 4,363,636 common shares (each, a "Consideration Share") of the Company, and the grant of a 2% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty (subject to the Company's right to buy back 50% of the NSR royalty for $1,000,000). The Consideration Shares are subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to applicable securities laws and are subject to a voluntary leak-out schedule whereby they will be released over a 36-month period from the date of hereof.

The Company acquired four mineral claims in consideration for $100,000 in cash, 1,045,454 Consideration Shares, and the grant of a 2% NSR royalty (subject to the Company's right to buy back 50% of the NSR royalty for $500,000). $50,000 of the cash consideration has been paid and the remaining $50,000 is to be paid on or before January 31, 2024. The Consideration Shares are subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to applicable securities laws and will also be subject to a voluntary leak out schedule whereby they will be released over a 30- month period from the date hereof.

Finally, the Company acquired an additional five mineral claims from its recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Reagan Glazier, in consideration for $50,000 in cash, 100,000 Consideration Shares, and the grant of a 2% NSR royalty (subject to the Company's right to buy back 50% of the NSR royalty for $1,000,000) (the "Glazier Acquisition"). The Consideration Shares are subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date hereof pursuant to applicable securities laws.

As result of Mr. Glazier's position as Chief Executive Officer and Director, the Glazier Acquisition is a related party transaction within the meaning of meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Glazier Acquisition is exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61- 101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's common shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, in that the fair market value of the consideration to be issued pursuant to the Glazier Acquisition will not exceed 25% percent of the Company's market capitalization.

The Company has agreed to pay, upon completion of the Acquisition, a finder's fee of 595,865 common shares (the "Finder's Fee Shares"), being equal to 10% of the total consideration value paid pursuant to the TREO Acquisition, to an arm's length party. The Finder's Fee Shares will be subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to applicable securities laws.

The TREO Acquisition was also approved by a majority of the Company's shareholders.

About Caravan Energy Corp.

The Company is a mineral exploration company based in Vancouver, BC and holds options over the EBB Nickel-Cobalt Property located in British Columbia, Canada.

Contact information

For More Information please contact:

Charn Deol - Director

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: 604 681 1194

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the use of proceeds. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183449
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Cardinal Energy Ltd. (TSX: CJ)("Cardinal" or the "Company") confirms that our October dividend of $0.06 per common share will be paid on November 15, 2023 to shareholders of record on October 31, 2023. The Board of Directors of Cardinal has declared the dividend payable in cash. This dividend has been designated as an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes.

About Cardinal Energy Ltd.

Cardinal is a Canadian oil and natural gas company with operations focused on low decline oil in Western Canada. Cardinal differentiates itself from its peers by having the lowest decline conventional asset base in Western Canada. Cardinal works to continually improve its Environmental, Social and Governance profile and operates its assets in a responsible and environmentally sensitive manner.

For further information:

M. Scott Ratushny, CEO or Shawn Van Spankeren, CFO or Laurence Broos, VP Finance

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (403) 234-8681

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183504
Comprehensive drug development and approval package data combined with predictive analytics support translational research, reduce animal testing and ensure drug safety

London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Elsevier, a global leader in information and data analytics, has launched the new PharmaPendium, sharpening the translational view of a platform that combines extensive preclinical and clinical data, including complete Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval packages, with predictive tools to accelerate drug development. PharmaPendium enables companies to make faster, more informed decisions about what drug candidates to advance. Pharma professionals and researchers can use the tool to benchmark against competitors, prioritize safety and efficacy, and develop effective strategies for regulatory submissions. The depth and reliability of the platform's data means PharmaPendium is already trusted by the FDA, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and the top 20 global pharma companies.

"Translation of preclinical research findings to humans in an efficient but safe way is one of the greatest challenges facing drug developers. We designed the new PharmaPendium to solve this. The platform leverages Elsevier's expertise in curating scientific data and presents it in an intuitive and meaningful way for pharma professionals," adds Olivier Barberan, Director of Translational Medicine Solutions at Elsevier. "This improved access to highly relevant data plus predictive tools enhances regulatory success, safeguarding the massive investments of pharma companies."

PharmaPendium's advanced predictive tools include the Drug-Drug Interaction Risk Calculator (DDIRC) and Safety Margin Tool. These solutions empower researchers to accurately predict harmful drug-drug interactions and off-target related clinical adverse events, and to optimize nonclinical studies and reduce animal testing. They were co-designed to meet industry needs and align with regulatory guidance. Elsevier collaborated with Novartis on the Safety Margin Tool, and with Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Servier and others on the DDIRC.

Today, 93% of drugs entering clinical trials fail to secure regulatory approval. Better understanding of first-in-human dose selection, optimal study endpoints and mitigating adverse events improves regulatory success. Yet translation from preclinical studies to post-market data analysis is time-consuming and expensive. The new PharmaPendium helps overcome these challenges with:

Enhanced visualization tools to more easily gain insights from vast quantities of data

Intelligent autocomplete to increase discoverability and identify important concepts

Improved search results interface to quickly access key data, such as drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), efficacy and chemistry, extracted from leading data sources, including: Complete FDA and EMA approval packages and FDA advisory committee documents 19 million reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) DESI (Drug Efficacy Study Implementation) documents, Meyler's 16th Edition, Mosby's Drug Consult" and scientific articles



PharmaPendium's high-quality datasets are machine readable and available for off-platform use, allowing companies to embed data into their workflows and employ predictive and scenario modelling. Customers can also access support from Elsevier's team of domain and data science experts for their data projects.

Learn more about PharmaPendium.

About Elsevier

As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems.

In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, academic leaders, funders, R&D-intensive corporations, doctors, and nurses.

Elsevier employs 9,000 people worldwide, including over 2,500 technologists. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on over 2,800 journals, including The Lancet and Cell; 46,000+ eBook titles; and iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world.

Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

Media contact

Terri Mueller

+1 908 323-9180

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183374
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Flying Nickel Mining Corp.(TSXV: FLYN) (OTCQB: FLYNF)("Flying Nickel" or the "Company")is pleased to announce that it has filed its independent Technical Report titled, "Gibellini Vanadium Project Eureka County, Nevada NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources," (the "Technical Report") with an effective date of September, 27, 2023. The Technical Report was prepared by Wood Group USA, Inc (Wood) and Mine Technical Services Ltd. (MTS). The Technical Report has been filed under the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.

The Gibellini Vanadium Project ("The Project") is located in Eureka County, Nevada, about 25 miles south of the town of Eureka. The Project consists of the Gibellini, Louie Hill and Bisoni-McKay vanadium deposits. The Project is 100% owned by Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. ("Nevada Vanadium") which has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated October 6, 2022 pursuant to which Flying Nickel will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Nevada Vanadium by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Transaction,"refer to Company's news release dated August 23, 2022, and October 7, 2022). Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium continue to work towards completing the Transaction.

The Project mineral resource estimate is based on Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources for the Gibellini deposit and Inferred Mineral Resources for the Louie Hill and Bisoni McKay deposits.

Table 1-1: Mineral Resource Statement, Gibellini

Confidence Category Domain Cut-off

V 2 O 5 (%) Tons

(kton) Grade

V 2 O 5 (%) Contained

V 2 O 5 (klb) Measured Oxide 0.129 3,880 0.253 19,660 Transition 0.111 3,940 0.379 29,860 Indicated Oxide 0.129 6,560 0.242 31,780 Transition 0.111 6,920 0.331 45,820 Total Measured and Indicated



21,300 0.298 127,120 Inferred Oxide 0.129 120 0.181 440 Transition 0.111 0.206 20 Reduced 0.149 3,890 0.207 16,120 Total Inferred



4,010 0.206 16,580

Note: (1) The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Todd Wakefield, RM SME, of Mine Technical Services Ltd. (MTS QP). The Mineral Resources have an effective date of 27 September 2023.

(2) For the purposes of assessing reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction (RPEEE) open pit mining method and heap leach processing methods were assumed.

(3) Mineral resources are reported at various cut-off grades for oxide, transition, and reduced material.

(4) Mineral resources are reported within a conceptual pit shell that uses the following assumptions: V 2 O 5 price of $9.85/lb; mining cost: $3.54/st mined; process cost: $12.81/st processed; general and administrative (G&A) cost: $1.21/st processed; metallurgical recovery assumptions of 60% for oxide material, 70% for transition material and 52% for reduced material; tonnage factors of 16.86 ft3/st for oxide material, 16.35 ft3/st for transition material and 14.18 ft3/st for reduced material; royalty: 2.5% net smelter return (NSR); shipping and conversion costs: $0.547/lb V 2 O 5 . An overall 40 pit slope angle assumption for the constraining pit shell was used.

(5) Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tons, grade and contained metal content. Tonnage and grade measurements are in US units. V 2 O 5 grades are reported in percentages.

Table 1-2: Mineral Resource Statement, Louie Hill

Confidence Category Cut-off

V 2 O 5 (%) Tons

(kton) Grade

V 2 O 5 (%) Contained

V 2 O 5 (klb) Inferred 0.129 6,790 0.290 39,420 Total Inferred 0.129 6,790 0.290 39,420

Note: (1) The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Todd Wakefield, RM SME, of Mine Technical Services Ltd. The mineral resources have an effective date of 27 September 2023.

(2) For the purposes of assessing RPEEE open pit mining method and heap leach processing methods were assumed.

(3) Oxidation state was not modeled.

(4) Mineral resources are reported within a conceptual pit shell that uses the following assumptions: V 2 O 5 price of $9.85/lb; mining cost: $3.54/st mined; process cost: $12.81/st processed; G&A costs: $1.21/st processed; metallurgical recovery assumptions of 60% for mineralized material; tonnage factors of 16.86 ft3/st for mineralized material; royalty: 2.5% NSR; shipping and conversion costs: $0.547/lb V 2 O 5 . An overall 40 pit slope angle assumption for the constraining pit shell was used.

(5) Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tons, grade and contained metal content. Tonnage and grade measurements are in US units. V 2 O 5 grades are reported in percentages.

Table 1-3: Mineral Resource Statement, Bisoni-McKay

Area Confidence

Category Domain Cut-off

V 2 O 5 (%) Tons

(kton) Grade

V 2 O 5 (%) Contained

V 2 O 5 (klb) North Area A Inferred Oxide 0.119 6,810 0.291 39,660 Transition 0.138 1,580 0.325 10,220 Reduced 0.155 10,270 0.371 76,200 Total North Area A Inferred All Variable 18,660 0.338 126,080 South Area B Inferred Oxide 0.119 1,320 0.292 7,740 Transition 0.138 300 0.414 2,520 Reduced 0.155 440 0.318 2,820 Total South Area B Inferred All Variable 2,060 0.316 13,080 Total Inferred All Variable 20,720 0.336 139,160

Note: (1) The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Todd Wakefield, RM SME, of Mine Technical Services Ltd. The Mineral Resources have an effective date of 27 September 2023.

(2) Mineral resources are reported at various cut-off grades for oxide, transition, and reduced material. For the purposes of assessing RPEEE open pit mining method and heap leach processing methods were assumed.

(3) Mineral resources are reported within a conceptual pit shell that uses the following assumptions: V 2 O 5 price of $9.85/lb; mining cost: $3.54/st mined; process cost: $12.81/st; general and administrative (G&A) cost: $1.21/st processed; metallurgical recovery assumptions of 65% for oxide material, 56% for transition material and 50% for reduced material; tonnage factors of 16.86 ft3/st for oxide material, 16.35 ft3/st for transition material and 14.18 ft3/st for reduced material; royalty: 2.5% net smelter return (NSR); shipping and conversion costs: $0.547/lb V 2 O 5 . An overall 40 pit slope angle assumption for the constraining pit shell was used.

(4) Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tons, grade and contained metal content. Tonnage and grade measurements are in US units. V 2 O 5 grades are reported in percentages.

The Project is located on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) through the Mount Lewis Field Office located in Battle Mountain, Nevada. On June 28, 2019, Nevada Vanadium submitted a Plan of Operations (PoO), to the BLM's Mount Lewis Field Office. In addition, a Reclamation Permit Application was submitted to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation (BMRR), collectively the NDEP-BMRR. The following steps have been completed in support of Project permitting:

Baseline studies have been completed and accepted by the BLM.

The PoO and NDEP Reclamation Permit Application was submitted to the BLM and NDEP and accepted as complete. The permit will be issued following approval of the PoO through the NEPA process.

Supplemental Environmental Reports have been completed and accepted by the BLM.

A Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2020, that formally began the Environmental Impact Statement analysis.

A Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2023. This starts a 30-day notice period prior to publication of the Record of Decision approving the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The Water Control Pollution Permit application with the Engineering Design Report was submitted to the NDEP-BMRR and is under review.

The Air Quality Permit application was submitted to NDEP-BAPC, and the final permit issued.

The final Radioactive Material License No. 07-11-13424-01 was issued by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services on October 11, 2021.

Under the assumptions in the Technical Report, the Project has reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction and represents an opportunity for future development when market conditions are favorable. Recommendations include field survey of claims, the collection of additional geological data from existing exposures on the Project, and the preparation of plans for future infill drilling to improve geological models and increase confidence in the mineral resource estimates. Planning of metallurgical test programs are recommended for the Louie Hill and Bisoni-McKay deposits to support future prefeasibility level studies.

Lastly, Flying Nickel retracts certain Gibellini Project Preliminary Economic Assessment disclosed in the Company's news release dated August 23, 2022, which is considered historical in nature and should not be relied upon.

Data Verification

Standard Reference Materials, blanks, and duplicates were inserted by the Project operator with routine drill samples during the 2007-2008 and 2010 drill programs to control assay accuracy and precision.

AMEC (now known as Wood) performed two data verification exercises, one in 2008, and a second during 2011, in support of studies on the Gibellini property. Both audits concluded that the data were generally acceptable for mineral resource estimation; however, restrictions on confidence classifications were made for some drill programs supporting mineral resource estimation at Gibellini and Louie Hill. The MTS qualified person (MTS QP) compiled all legacy drill data from the Bisoni-McKay property from original documents in January 2021. The MTS QP and Silver Elephant staff completed several data verification programs to confirm the data quality of the resource database. In the MTS QP's opinion, the Bisoni-McKay resource database is acceptable for mineral resource estimation purposes. Because of data quality issues identified in the legacy drill data, the MTS QP assigned a maximum classification of Inferred to the Bisoni-McKay mineral resource estimate.

The Wood QP reviewed the composite samples that were selected for metallurgical testing and the metallurgical test results and considers them suitable to support mineral resource estimation at the confidence category assigned.

Metallurgical Testwork

The Wood QP notes that commercial heap leaching of vanadium mineralization has not been done before. However, heap leaching with solvent extraction (SX) recovery are common technologies in the mining industry. Column and pilot plant testing on Gibellini mineralization has demonstrated that heap leach technology can be successfully applied at Gibellini, with known and tested SX and precipitation processes applied to recover the vanadium to a final product. The Gibellini process is similar to uranium heap leach, SX and precipitation processes that have historical and current commercial application. In addition, there are notable examples of copper heap leach projects that use an acid-leach solution to mobilize the metal followed by metal recovery using SX and electrowinning.

Preliminary metallurgical testwork on the Louie Hill and Bisoni-McKay deposits show a similar leach response and acid consumption to the equivalent Gibellini mineralization and are suitable to support an Inferred mineral resource classification. Further metallurgical testwork is required to support resourc confidence category upgrades and more advanced studies.

Qualified Persons

The following Qualified Persons as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") reviewed the technical information in this news release:

Mr. Todd Wakefield, RM SME, MTS

Mr. Alan Drake, P.L.Eng., Wood Canada Limited

Further information on the Company can be found at www.flynickel.com.

FLYING NICKEL MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

John Lee

Chief Executive Officer

For more information about the Company, please contact:

Phone: Phone: 1.877.664.2535 / 1.877.6NICKEL

Email: [email protected]

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Flying Nickel's future performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These estimates and assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies, many of which, with respect to future events, are subject to change and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by Flying Nickel. In making forward-looking statements as may be included in this news release, Flying Nickel has made several assumptions that it believes are appropriate, including, but not limited to assumptions that certain price assumptions for vanadium, prices for and availability of fuel, parts and equipment and other key supplies remain consistent with current levels; the accuracy of Flying Nickel's current mineral resource estimates; labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Flying Nickel's current expectations; and that any additional required financing will be available on reasonable terms. Flying Nickel cannot assure you that any of these assumptions will prove to be correct. Flying Nickel believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although Flying Nickel 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Flying Nickel undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183502
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Helium Evolution Incorporated (TSXV: HEVI) ("HEVI" or the "Company"), a Canadian-based helium exploration company focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan, is pleased to announce our participation in the upcoming Schachter Catch the Energy Conference (the "Conference"). The Conference is being held at Calgary's Mount Royal University in the Bella Concert Hall & Ross Glen Hall, from 7:30 a.m. MT to 4:00 p.m. MT and features 45 participating companies.

Greg Robb, President & CEO of HEVI, will share a 25-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute moderated Q&A session from 11:30 am to 12:05 pm. Attendees will be presented with in-depth insights into HEVI's recent activities, drilling advancements, and the Company's strategies for Q4/23 and beyond.

Members of the HEVI team will be present at the Company's exhibitor booth to engage with attendees, providing further information and answering questions throughout the day.

About the Schachter Catch the Energy Conference

The Conference stands as an esteemed platform for discerning individual investors who have a keen interest in the energy sector. The Conference is expecting a remarkable turnout in 2023, with 45 companies and over 800 investors slated to attend. This event offers investors an opportunity to connect directly with CEOs and other company executives, both at the exhibition booths and during presentations. This direct interaction facilitates not only gaining insights into the companies' stories but also posing questions to industry leaders. With the TMX Group as a principal sponsor, the Conference aims to empower attendees with pivotal insights required for making informed investment decisions in Canada's burgeoning energy landscape.

Interested parties can register for the Conference at this link.

Stay Connected to Helium Evolution

Shareholders and other parties interested in learning more about the Helium Evolution opportunity are encouraged to visit the Company's website,which includes the Company's current corporate presentation,and are invited to follow the Company on LinkedIn and Twitter for ongoing corporate updates and helium industry information. Helium Evolution also provides an extensive, commissioned 'deep-dive' research report prepared by a third party whose background includes serving as a research analyst for several bank-owned and independent investment dealers. In addition to recent media articles,HEVI maintains a profile on the Investing News Network platform, where further information, editorial pieces and industry reviews are available.

About Helium Evolution Incorporated

HEVI is a Canadian-based helium exploration company holding the largest helium land rights position in North America among publicly-traded companies, focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan. The Company has 5.6 million acres of land under permit near proven discoveries of economic helium concentrations which will support scaling the exploration and development efforts across its land base. HEVI's management and board are executing a differentiated strategy to become a leading supplier of sustainably-produced helium for the growing global helium market.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Robb, President & CEO

Kristi Kunec, CFO

Phone: 1-587-330-2459

Email:[email protected]

Web: https://www.heliumevolution.ca/

Cindy Gray, Investor Relations

[email protected]| 403-705-5076

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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.

Forward-looking statements in this document include statements under the title "About the Schachter Catch the Energy Conference", the Company's participation in the Conference, the Company's strategies for Q4/23 and beyond, the Company's beliefs regarding drilling advancements, the in-depth nature of the Company's presentation, the availability of the HEVI team throughout the conference and information provided to attendees, the Company's expectations regarding the Company becoming a leading supplier of sustainably - produced helium, the Company's beliefs regarding growth of the global helium market and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward - looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: new laws or regulations and/or unforeseen events could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; availability of the HEVI team; cancellation, amendments or delays of the Conference, including the format; stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and such volatility may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities regardless of its operating performance; risks generally associated with the exploration for and production of resources; constraint in the availability of services; commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.

When relying on forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and risks other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183507
Ruslan Nasibov has been appointed Azerbaijan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The relevant decree was signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Israel was caught off guard by an attack from Hamas militants this weekend despite boasting top-level intelligence and air-defense capabilities. That attack teaches South Korea a valuable lesson by showing how a rudimentary offensive, if executed swiftly and determinedly, could overwhelm even the most sophisticated defense systems.

When it pulled out of Gaza Strip in 2005, Israel built 6 m-high concrete walls draped in barbed wire on the border festooned with surveillance cameras and motion sensors, and remote-controlled machine gun turrets every 2 km. But Hamas easily managed to bypass that sophisticated defense system with simple explosives, paragliders and bulldozers and by digging tunnels.

South Korea military uses robots and unmanned systems in its frontline defense, but even such cutting-edge defense systems could be compromised by North Korea, which boasts far stronger firepower than Hamas, while the North's 200,000-strong special forces could invade with low-flying gliders that are impossible to detect by radar to wreak havoc behind the lines.

Seoul must analyze closely how Israel's state-of-the-art "Iron Dome" aerial defense system was breached. It is capable of engaging hundreds of rocket and missile attacks, but Hamas lobbed more than 5,000 rockets at Israel. At this moment, hundreds of North Korean long-range artillery guns are pointed at Seoul, and Pyongyang recently deployed new ballistic missiles along its frontlines. If the North uses all of those weapons at once, the South Korean and U.S. missile-defense systems may not be enough.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Li3 Lithium Corp. (TSXV:LILI) ("Li3 Lithium" or the "Company") today announces a proposed non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $250,000 comprised of up to 5,000,000 units at a price of $0.05 per unit (each such unit being comprised of one (1) common share and one (1) warrant) (the "Private Placement"). Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share for $0.10 at any time within 18 months after closing. All securities issued pursuant to this private placement will be subject to a four (4) month hold period. Completion of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all required regulatory and TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approvals.

Closing is expected to occur on or around October 31, 2023. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for general working capital and due diligence costs related to identifying and evaluating hard rock spodumene assets for potential acquisition in Zimbabwe and the Americas.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of 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.

Mutare Lithium Project, Zimbabwe

The Mutare Lithium Project is located in eastern Zimbabwe's Mutare Greenstone Belt, an emerging lithium district. The Company is evaluating the acquisition of additional prospective ground, either through staking or agreements with potential vendors. The area was deemed prospective for lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites based on prior target generation work. Management believes the lithium exploration potential of the MGB is analogous to that of the Pilbara Craton pegmatites in Western Australia.

Zimbabwe, which is estimated to hold Africa's largest lithium resources and the fifth largest globally, is rapidly emerging as an important player within the lithium supply chain. Over the past year and a half, major Chinese battery metals companies have committed approximately US$1.4 billion to acquire and develop lithium projects in Zimbabwe.

About Li3 Lithium Corp.

Li3 Lithium is focused on acquiring and developing hard rock spodumene lithium assets in Zimbabwe and Argentina, where the founders have significant experience and relationships. As evidenced by recent market growth, hard rock lithium deposits are forecast to continue to dominate the global supply of lithium given the scarcity, complexity and capex-intensive nature of alternative brine sources.

Contact Information:

Li3 Lithium Corp.

Francois Auclair, P.Geo, M.Sc., CEO and President

Tel: 514-889-5089

Email: [email protected]

www.lithium3.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

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.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-Looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183417
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the company has poured first gold at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.

Construction of the Tuvatu Mine has been completed ahead of schedule. Mill construction began in August 2022 and commissioning began in September 2023. The mill is expected to ramp up to 300 TPD by the end of October 2023, expanding further to 500 TPD in mid-2024. The first gold pour coincided with Fiji Day on October 10th, 2023. A ceremonial first gold pour was conducted on site with over 900 members of local communities, businesses, employees, and government officials in attendance, including the Honourable Maciu Nalusima, Acting Minister for Mineral Resources for Fiji, who officiated the gold pour ceremony on behalf of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji.

Figure 1. Lion One Metal's First Gold Pour at the Tuvatu Mine in Fiji.On the right of the photo are Lion One Metals' Process Operations Manager David Towle, Lion One Metals Chairman and CEO Wally Berukoff, and the Honourable Maciu Nalusima, Acting Minister for Mineral Resources for Fiji.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Lion One Chairman and CEO, Walter Berukoff, commented: "The first gold pour at Tuvatu is a landmark event in the history of our company. We have successfully transitioned from explorer to producer and have delivered on our promise to build the South Pacific's newest gold mine in the heart of Fiji.

"Congratulations to the Lion One team for achieving this significant milestone. We thank our employees, contractors, local landowners and community members for their hard work and dedication. Completing construction ahead of schedule is a testament to the strength of their efforts and to the resilience of the Fijian spirit. We also thank our loyal shareholders for their continued support. This marks the beginning of our next phase of growth as we look forward to ramping up to commercial production at Tuvatu and to advancing our many other top-quality prospects throughout the Navilawa Caldera."

The Honourable Maciu Nalusima, Acting Minister for Mineral Resources for Fiji, stated that "the future looks good for Tuvatu; the best is yet to come."

Figure 2. Photos from the Gold Pour Ceremony.Top left: Lion One Metals CEO Wally Berukoff and the Honourable Maciu Nalusima receiving traditional flower garlands. Top middle: Lion One Metals COO Patrick Hickey giving a speech. Top right: Lion One Metals employees below the Fiji flag. Bottom left and middle: members of local communities and businesses in attendance at the gold pour ceremony. Bottom right: Lion One Metals CEO Wally Berukoff and the Honourable Maciu Nalusima on site at Tuvatu.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Additional photos and videos of the gold pour ceremony will be available on the Lion One Metals website at www.liononemetals.com.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One's flagship asset is 100% owned, fully permitted high grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project, located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Lion One envisions a low-cost high-grade underground gold mining operation at Tuvatu coupled with exciting exploration upside inside its tenements covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, an underexplored yet highly prospective 7km diameter alkaline gold system. Lion One's CEO Walter Berukoff leads an experienced team of explorers and mine builders and has owned or operated over 20 mines in 7 countries. As the founder and former CEO of Miramar Mines, Northern Orion, and La Mancha Resources, Walter is credited with building over $3 billion of value for shareholders.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Lion One Metals Limited

"Walter Berukoff", Chairman and CEO

Contact Investor Relations

Toll Free (North America) Tel: 1-855-805-1250

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.liononemetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183467
Latest heat recovery order will be the sixth turn-key project with this customer since 2019

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Thermal Energy International Inc. (TSXV:TMG) (OTCQB:TMGEF) ("Thermal Energy"or the "Company"), a provider of innovative energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction solutions to major corporations around the world, has received a $1.9 million turn-key heat recovery order from a global nutrition company. All figures are shown in CAD.

"One of the reasons we target large multinational companies is their potential for significant repeat business," said William Crossland, Thermal Energy CEO. "This will be our sixth turn-key project with this customer and our third in the last 12 months. With this latest order, we have done over $8.1 million of business with this multinational company since 2019. Importantly, this customer has clear evidence that our solutions reduce carbon emissions while saving them money on their energy bills. They have many other sites that could benefit from our technologies and there are still significant opportunities for additional energy and carbon emission reduction projects at the sites we've already done business with."





Infographic 1

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Environmental Benefits, Fuel Savings and Project Payback

The turn-key heat recovery project is designed to recover waste energy from a biomass steam boiler exhaust and use the captured energy to reduce overall steam and fuel consumption onsite. The project is expected to reduce natural gas use by the site's steam boilers by 75%, CO 2 emissions by 1,587 tonnes annually, and the emission of particulate matter and acid gases such as SO 2 by 50% - 90%. The project is expected to result in a payback of approximately 1.2 years.

The project is expected to be completed and revenue earned within 12 months.

Readers are encouraged to subscribe to TEI News to receive strategic news and updates directly to their inbox.

ENDS

For media enquiries contact:

Thermal Energy International Inc.

Canada: 613-723-6776

UK: +44 (0)117 917 2179

[email protected]

For investor enquiries:

William Crossland

President and CEO

Thermal Energy International Inc.

613-723-6776

[email protected]

Notes to editors

About Thermal Energy International Inc.

Thermal Energy International Inc. provides energy efficiency and emissions reduction solutions to Fortune 500 and other large multinational companies. We save our customers money by reducing their fuel use and cutting their carbon emissions. Thermal Energy's proprietary and proven solutions can recover up to 80% of energy lost in typical boiler plant and steam system operations while delivering a high return on investment with a short, compelling payback.

Thermal Energy is a fully accredited professional engineering firm with engineering offices in Ottawa, Canada, Pittsburgh, USA, as well as Bristol, UK, with sales offices in Canada, UK, USA, Germany, Poland, and Italy. By providing a unique mix of proprietary products together with process, energy, and environmental engineering expertise, Thermal Energy can deliver unique, site-specific turnkey and custom engineered solutions with significant financial and environmental benefits for our customers.

Thermal Energy's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol TMG and on the OTCQB under the symbol TMGEF. For more information, visit our investor website at https://investors-thermalenergy.com or company website at www.thermalenergy.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoThermalEnergy.

Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, and amongst other things, based on management's expectations, estimates, and projections, the anticipated effectiveness of the Company's products and services, the timing of revenues to be received by the Company, the anticipated effects of COVID-19 on the business, backlog, and revenue, and the expectation that orders in backlog will become revenue.

Information as to the amount of heat recovered, energy savings, and payback period associated with Thermal Energy International's products are based on the Company's own testing and average customer results to date. Statements relating to the order-intake, expected installation and revenue recognition for projects, statements about the anticipated effectiveness and lifespan of the Company's products, statements about the expected environmental effects and cost savings associated with the Company's products, and statements about the Company's ability to cross-sell its products and sell to more sites are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve several risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Orders received in a fiscal year may not become revenue for the Company within such fiscal year. Many factors, some of which are outside of the Company's control, could cause events and results to differ materially from those stated. Fulfilment of orders, installation of products, and activation of products could all be delayed for several reasons, some of which are outside of the Company's control, which would result in anticipated revenues from such projects being delayed or in the most serious cases eliminated. Actions taken by the Company's customers and factors inherent in the customer's facilities but not anticipated by the Company can have a negative impact on the expected effectiveness and lifespan of the Company's products and on the expected environmental effects and cost savings expected from the Company's products. Any customer's willingness to purchase additional products from the Company and whether orders in the Company's backlog as described above will turn into revenue is dependent on many factors, some of which are outside of the Company's control, including but not limited to the customer's perceived needs and the continuing financial viability of the customer. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements except as required by law. Readers are referred to the risk factors associated with the Company's business as described in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis available at www.sedarplus.ca .

# # #

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183183
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - UGE International Ltd. (TSXV: UGE) (OTCQB: UGEIF) (the "Company" or "UGE"), a leader in commercial and community solar, announces that it has reached the 'Notice to Proceed' (NTP) milestone for its 3.5-megawatt community solar project in Polk County, Oregon. The Notice to Proceed milestone indicates that financing for the project has closed, and all necessary permits and interconnection approvals for the project are in place.

The Polk County project marks UGE's first in the state of Oregon and is the Company's largest project to reach the Notice to Proceed milestone since transitioning to an independent power producer ("IPP") model.

At 3.5-megawatts, the project will produce enough electricity to power more than 800 homes each year. Over its lifetime, the project is expected to offset, at minimum, the equivalent CO emissions produced by burning over 10 million gallons of gasoline.

Prominent national companies are subscribing to purchase energy from the project under long-term agreements and will account for approximately 40% of the energy generated. The remaining energy will be reserved for Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) households and businesses, who will realize significant savings on their electricity costs for the next 20 years. Strengthening renewable energy equity is one of UGE's guiding goals; the Company's stated target is for more than 25% of the off-take from its operational portfolio to serve LMI households by 2026. By assisting LMI households, UGE may also qualify for a larger investment tax credit.

Subscriptions for the project are being managed by Common Energy. "We are excited to continue to promote and support community solar projects across the state of Oregon," said Richard Keiser, CEO of Common Energy. "These projects will generate savings for Oregon residents and lower emissions for the entire community."

Oregon's legislature established a community solar program in 2019, making the state an early adopter of shared solar. Oregon's program includes regulations to protect the state's most productive farmland. Adhering to these rules, the Polk County project is sited almost entirely on land with designated low-quality soil, which is less likely to be productive for agricultural use. In October 2022, UGE purchased the Polk County project from Oregon solar developer Conifer Energy Partners.

With this project, UGE has reached NTP on 18.1MW of projects and commercial operation on 1.4MW of projects so far this year. The 3.5MW Polk County project is set to reach commercial operation at the end of June 2024.

About UGE

UGE develops, owns, and operates commercial and community solar and battery storage projects. Our distributed energy solutions deliver cheaper, cleaner energy to businesses and consumers with no upfront cost. With over 500MW of global experience, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com.

For more information, contact UGE:

Nick Blitterswyk - [email protected] or +1 917 720 5685.

About Common Energy

Common Energy is a leading community solar provider that services over 250MW of projects across the country. Common Energy's programs enable homeowners, renters, and businesses to support clean energy, lower emission in their communities and save money on their electricity for free, with their existing utility account. Common Energy currently serves households in Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Oregon. Residents of these states can enroll in a local community solar project for free at www.commonenergy.us Corporations interested in partnering with Common Energy can email [email protected].

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the anticipated use of proceeds, and the listing of the Green Debentures on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183546
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Ynvisible Interactive Inc.(TSXV: YNV) (FSE: 1XNA) (OTCQB: YNVYF) (the "Company" or "Ynvisible"), an industry leader in printed low-power e-paper displays, is pleased to announce major strategic partnerships with global market leaders, to develop smart and interactive label solutions. These projects are set to transform the labels market where the printed product information on the labels is static and cannot be updated.

Key Highlights:

The smart label market is witnessing an impressive CAGR of 16%, with projections of growth from US$9 billion in 2021 to US$39 billion by 2031. (Source: Allied Market Research, 2023*).

Ynvisible is collaborating with a major global retailer to develop an innovative smart label for supply chain tracking, estimated to generate between US$5m to US$10m in annual revenue.

The Company is also working with a global leader in the labelling industry to produce high-value medical labels for clinical trials, potentially yielding around US$2m to US$4m in yearly revenue.

Additionally, the Company has established a partnership with a technology leader in Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) to create a full ESL solution for retail, based on Ynvisible's cost efficient e-paper displays.

Ynvisible will hold a webinar on October 23, 2023, during which investors, customers and an interested parties can learn more about the company's significant progress in product commercialization and customer acquisition.

In partnership with a prominent global retailer, Ynvisible is developing a smart label for work-in-progress in the supply chain. By replacing traditional labels with cost-effective ultra-low power e-paper labels, Ynvisible is enabling real-time tracking and updates. This seamless integration of information will significantly enhance productivity and efficiency throughout the supply chain process. When fully developed and tested, this product solution has the potential to generate around US$12m per year for the Company.

Ynvisible is also collaborating with a top-tier global leader in the labeling industry to develop high-value medical labels for clinical trials. These innovative labels will feature dynamic e-paper displays, providing healthcare professionals with real-time information about medical products and ultimately improving patient care. Commercialization of this solution is set to generate around US$2m to US$4m in revenue for Ynvisible, per year.

Furthermore, Ynvisible has established a partnership with a technology leader in Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL), a market that is expected to grow to USD 2.8 billion by 2028, from USD 1.5 billion in 2023*. Based on a strong market interest, the partnership intends to develop a full ESL solution based on Ynvisible's e-paper displays, that is more cost effective and sustainable than current solutions. Ynvisible will showcase this new product at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail's Big Show, in New York City, in January 2024.

Ynvisible's partnerships with these global market leaders position the company as a frontrunner in this rapidly expanding industry. With each project, Ynvisible continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering innovative label solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers alike.

"We are ecstatic about these new partnerships, as they exemplify our dedication to targeting the most promising markets for our technology," said Carlos Pinheiro, CTO of Ynvisible. "At Ynvisible, we firmly believe in our ability to transform standard products into enhanced versions that meet today's market and customer requirements."

These exciting developments mark a significant milestone for Ynvisible and underline its commitment to innovation and excellence in the label industry. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as Ynvisible continues to push the boundaries of smart and interactive label solutions.

Investor Webinar Alert: Unveiling the Future of E-Paper Displays

Join Ynvisible for an update on the Company's e-paper products, which combine sustainable electronics with roll-to-roll printing. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the progress the Company is making in product commercialization and customer acquisition.

Highlights:

- Dive into Ynvisible's innovative e-paper display products.

- Discover applications from digital signage to smart labels.

- Unpack the Company's progress in product development, manufacturing and commercialization.

Date: October 23, 2023

Time: 7am PST | 10am EST | 4pm CET (Germany)

Duration: 30 minutes

Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t1A-ARpyRlS3EDcq6vUgIg

Who Should Attend?

Investors, customers, tech enthusiasts, and industry professionals.

Can't make the live session? Register for on-demand access post-event. For more, visit www.ynvisible.com.

About Ynvisible

Ynvisible is disrupting the low-cost and low-power display industry thanks to the latest advantages in sustainable electronics and roll-to-roll printing production. Ynvisible's printed e-paper displays are ideal for low-power and cost-sensitive applications, such as digital signage, smart monitoring labels, authenticity and security, and retail labels and signage. Ynvisible has the experience, know-how, and intellectual property in electrochromic materials, inks, and systems and offers a mix of services, materials, and technology to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products. Additional information on Ynvisible is available at www.ynvisible.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ramin Heydarpour

CEO and Executive Chairman

Ynvisible Interactive Inc.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

+1 778-683-4324

[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. 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 Ynvisible Interactive Inc. 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 forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Ynvisible Interactive Inc. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Ynvisible Interactive Inc. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

* https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/smart-labels-market

*https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/electronic-shelf-label.asp

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183438
New York , Oct, 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights today announced it has opened its 2024 RFK Book and Journalism Awards for submissions . Entries must have been published, aired, or broadcast in 2023 to be eligible for consideration. The deadline for book entries is January 5, 2024 and the deadline for all journalism categories is January 12, 2024 .

The annual competition highlights outstanding student and professional work across book, print, broadcast, photo, and nontraditional media categories that focuses on issues such as human rights, social justice, and the power of individual action.

Last year's winners included historian Peniel Joseph's book "The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century," which offers a powerful interpretation of recent history; the Washington Post's podcast "Broken Doors," which examines one of the most aggressive and intrusive policing tactics  no-knock raids; and Prosper High School's piece describing how one Texas high school became embroiled in the culture wars book debate.

The contest includes a separate category for work on mass incarceration and its effects on American society. This category will honor exemplary reporting on the criminal or immigration legal systems, examining how incarceration and criminalization affect both those imprisoned and those outside prison walls. The focus of winning entries might reflect issues such as human rights abuses in criminal or immigration enforcement, collateral consequences of criminalization that extend to housing, employment, and education, or non-punitive solutions to complex social issues.

Winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony held on May 21, 2024 featuring leading journalists, authors, and activists. Winners receive a bust of Robert Kennedy along with a cash prize: $2,500 for the Book Award winner, $1,000 for each of the professional journalism award categories, and $500 for student award winners.

Visit RFKHumanRights.org for more information on the awards and past honorees.

About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

We are a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issueschampioning change makers and pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice.

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SOURCE Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Renowned breast oncologist and clinical researcher to lead ongoing efforts to accelerate diagnostic discoveries and enable precision oncology through real-world evidence-based study platform

IRVINE, Calif. and AMSTERDAM , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Agendia, Inc., a global leader in innovative genomic technology and diagnostic tests, announced today that Dr. Joyce A. O'Shaughnessy , MD has been appointed as the new National Principal Investigator for the FLEX Study, a real-world, large-scale, prospective, observational breast cancer study (NCT03053193) intended to enable the discovery of novel gene expression profiles, through the capture of whole transcriptome and extensive clinical data, to expand knowledge and improve precision in the management of breast cancer.

Dr. O'Shaughnessy is board certified in both internal medicine as well as medical oncology and focuses her practice and clinical research on breast cancer treatment. She is Director of Breast Cancer Research at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Chair of the Breast Disease Committee for Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Dallas, TX , and a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In addition to her work as a clinician and educator, Dr. O'Shaughnessy also founded The School of Breast Oncology, a curriculum-based program for medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists that aims to reinforce and expand their knowledge and expertise in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management.

"I'm thrilled to sign on as the national principal investigator for FLEX as accrual continues and as we continue to analyze a myriad of in-depth questions about the transcriptional programs that underlie the natural history and response to treatment of all of the breast cancer subtypes," said Dr. O'Shaughnessy . "The study is providing a very valuable tool to prognosticate and predict response to therapy, and to interrogate the mechanisms of treatment resistance across many thousands of early-stage breast cancer patients, with long follow-up. I look forward to working with Agendia and the extended FLEX study team as we generate more impactful data that will shift the standard of care for all patients with breast cancer."

To date, more than 14,000 patients have been successfully enrolled in the FLEX Study, with representation of various ages, races, ethnicities, and health statuses. With over 1,000 Black women enrolled, it's the largest prospective cohort of Black women with whole genome and clinical data, fueling critical discoveries of their gene expression. The FLEX Study's growing, diversified patient population, as well as additional studies that have examined the impact of race on the underlying biology of HER2+ tumors, emphasize Agendia's commitment to progressing research of racial disparities in breast cancer.

"We are ushering in a new era of breast cancer genomics as our science and clinical development continue to provide insights that will help optimize treatment, and help improve outcomes for women with breast cancer," said Dr. William Audeh , MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer of Agendia. "We are honored to have Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy join our efforts as the National Principal Investigator for the landmark FLEX Study. Her leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the success of this research and foster new collaborations."

For more information about Agendia and the FLEX Study, visit www.agendia.com and follow Agendia on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Agendia

Agendia is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the field of precision oncology. With a focus on early-stage breast cancer, Agendia offers reliable biological insights that inform personalized treatment decisions for patients and their care teams. Their advanced genomic assays, MammaPrint + BluePrint, enable clinicians to quickly identify the most effective treatment plan, minimizing the risk of both under- and over-treatment.

Founded in 2003 in Amsterdam , Agendia is headquartered in Irvine, California with a state-of-the-art laboratory facility. Led by world-renowned scientists and oncologists, Agendia is committed to advancing genomic insights through ongoing research. This includes the notable FLEX Study the world's largest whole transcriptome Real-World Evidence-based Breast Cancer database which aims to revolutionize precision in breast cancer management. With cutting-edge technology, research and innovation, Agendia strives to shape the future of precision oncology and make a significant impact in the fight against breast cancer.

Media Contact:

Andie Shcolnik

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agendia-names-joyce-a-oshaughnessy-md-as-new-principal-investigator-for-flex-study-301951677.html

SOURCE Agendia
Ten Native Women Faculty and Staff Supported in Personal and Professional Advancement

DENVER , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indigenous Visionaries: Women's Leadership Program (Indigenous Visionaries) at the American Indian College Fund (College Fund) supports the empowerment and success of Native women faculty and staff at tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) through a ten-month fellowship. Participating fellows receive a $4,000 stipend and place-based and experiential professional and personal development through guided training and cultural learning from College Fund staff and a broad network of Native women leaders.

This program seeks to address and dismantle systemic barriers facing Native women by providing the tools, opportunities, and a network to support and strengthen the growth of our fellows, in turn strengthening families, TCUs, and tribal communities. This program is designed to elevate and increase the visibility of Native women by offering strategic opportunities that illuminate a path towards personal, educational, and professional advancement.

The 2023-24 ten College Fund Indigenous Visionaries Fellows include:

Mariah Wanic (Bay Mills Indian Community), a graduate of Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) and the director of its charter schools' office. She is enrolled in a doctoral program in education leadership at Central Michigan University and hopes earning her Ph.D. will allow her to become a better leader in her community and an expert in her field. Mariah recently celebrated her twenty-year anniversary working for BMCC. She also enjoys attending craft workshops offered by her tribal community and hopes to learn more of the Ojibwe language.

Orinda Goddard (Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation ) attended Northwest Indian College and now works as an instructor at the college's Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Institute. She hopes to run for office in her state, with a first step as running for a voluntary position on the school board. She is inspired by the legacy of her grandfather and wants to uplift Native voices to help her people.

Lisa Brooks (Oglala Sioux Tribe) is an associate professor in the business department at Oglala Lakota College. She hopes to make a positive impact in her community through persistent leadership in education. Her personal passion is being a Lakota language warrior who helps with language revitalization efforts through teaching, content creation, and networking.

Linette Factor (Muscogee [Creek]) is a graduate of the College of the Muscogee Nation and has worked for the college since 2013. As the Director of Business Affairs, she has served on several committees and enjoys volunteering in her community.

Ann Wadsworth (Spirit Lake Tribe) graduated from Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) and now serves as the Executive Assistant to President, Dr. Cynthia Lindquist . Ann hopes to obtain her master's degree in leadership to better help her community, possibly as a tribal leader. Her grandchildren motivate her to be their role model.

Heather Burshia (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes) is Project Director for a Native youth community project grant at Fort Peck Community College. She hopes that the grant will positively impact the lives of students on the reservation over the next five years. Professionally, Heather would like to earn a master's degree in public health and become a certified health educator.

Deborah Taffa (Quechan Nation and Laguna Pueblo ) is the Director of the Master's in Fine Arts program in Creative Writing at the Institute of the American Indian Arts. Her memoir, Whiskey Tender, won the Santa Fe Writer's Project Prize in December 2019 and will be published by Harper Collins Harper in 2024. Deborah's primary goal is to change the literary landscape of American by helping other Native writers get published.

Mechelle Crazy Thunder (Oglala Sioux/Three Affiliated Tribes) has attended both United Tribes Technical College and Oglala Lakota College and participates in a collaborative teacher education program with Sinte Gleska University. She is an academic support counselor at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute who aspires to become an Indigenous education change-maker. Her goal is to assist students in their journey and ensure their time attending a tribal college is a positive and loving experience. She is currently enrolled in the University of New Mexico's Ph.D./Native American Leadership in Education program and will be the first member of her family to obtain a doctoral degree.

Danielle Carley (Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) is an alumna and current Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Work-Based Learning Program at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU). Her work focuses on improving LCOOU career services and creating a K-16 tribal school system on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation .

Jessica Brunelle (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) graduated from United Tribes Technical College and now works there as a business instructor-advisor. She feels that to have a career as rewarding as teaching and work at an institution that values her as UTTC does is a blessing. Jessica wants to complete her master's degree in business administration and grow in her leadership at UTTC.

Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said, "Indigenous societies hold the knowledge and contributions of women in the highest regard. Our Indigenous Visionaries program recognizes that education is a path to restoring knowledge and reclaiming the role of women as culture bearers and change agents. We are honored to work with these amazing members of our tribal communities."

About the American Indian College Fund  The American Indian College Fund has been the nation's largest charity supporting Native higher education for 34 years. The College Fund believes "Education is the answer" and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2022-23. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation's 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nation's top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org .

Journalists The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.

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SOURCE American Indian College Fund
DUBLIN , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of recent news highlighting the intensifying drone conflicts on Ukrainian frontlines and NATO's urgent steps to beef up its drone-defence arsenal, the need for updated and comprehensive data on uncrewed systems has never been more critical. The "Global Uncrewed Systems & Robotics Database" the most extensive and continually updated databank that offers entrepreneurs and managers an unprecedented deep dive into the universe of uncrewed platforms, has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Discover the Power of the Global Uncrewed Systems & Robotics Database

The database provides subscribers with access to over 8,000 uncrewed vehicle platforms across air, ground, and maritime domains, featuring detailed, publicly available information for each platform. Whether you're a defence contractor, tech startup, or aerospace enterprise, USRD's exhaustive database ensures you're always equipped with the latest data, keeping you a step ahead in this rapidly evolving industry.

Why the Global Uncrewed Systems & Robotics Database is Crucial for Business Entrepreneurs and Managers:

Real-time Knowledge: Updated daily, the USRD captures the freshest data, from drone specifications to emerging industry trends. Stay informed of new product releases, competitor platforms, and up-and-coming prototypes, ensuring your business remains agile in response to market shifts.

Updated daily, the USRD captures the freshest data, from drone specifications to emerging industry trends. Stay informed of new product releases, competitor platforms, and up-and-coming prototypes, ensuring your business remains agile in response to market shifts. Decision-making Clarity: No need to send out multiple RFPs. Instantly review specs and capabilities, choose the best-fit platform for your projects, and discern future market trends for nuanced analysis.

No need to send out multiple RFPs. Instantly review specs and capabilities, choose the best-fit platform for your projects, and discern future market trends for nuanced analysis. Expand Your Network: Discover new business partners, potential customers, or even acquisition opportunities. With over 2,300 global organisations represented, your next strategic partnership could be a click away.

Discover new business partners, potential customers, or even acquisition opportunities. With over 2,300 global organisations represented, your next strategic partnership could be a click away. Efficiency and User-friendliness: Advanced SQL-based search functionality ensures you get the information you need without the fluff. Easily sift through the 450,000+ data points, with every entry organized for simple navigation and comparison.

The ongoing drone wars in regions like Ukraine underscore the rapid evolution of uncrewed technology. As Lt. Gen. Wieslaw Kukula points out, the potency of such technologies and the subsequent countermeasures have become front and centre in military strategies. The Global Uncrewed Systems & Robotics Database makes it clear: in a world where uncrewed tech is becoming central to both commercial and defensive strategies, understanding these systems is paramount.

This database is not just for defence agencies. The extensive insights provided by the database serve a diverse range of industries, from aerospace and robotics to venture capital firms focused on emerging technologies. Moreover, academic institutions with programmes in engineering, robotics, or aerospace can benefit immensely from this treasure trove of information, providing students and researchers with an invaluable resource.

How the Global Uncrewed Systems & Robotics Database Stays Ahead

What sets the database apart is its production process. Beyond its vast online research exceeding 30,000 hours, the team behind it attend live events, engaging with members, and gleaning data from news releases. The result? A truly comprehensive, real-time database that offers both metric and imperial units, ensuring global applicability.

For business entrepreneurs and managers looking to elevate their operations, understand competitors, or even identify new market opportunities, the Global Uncrewed Systems & Robotics Database is an indispensable asset. As drones continue to redefine modern battlefields and commercial sectors, having a dedicated, meticulous, and extensive database is key.

For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aflh07

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RED BANK, N.J. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Assisted Living at Hammonton , South Jersey's third affordable, assisted living community developed by New Standard Senior Living (NSSL), is now licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. The state license was the final step in the process and now, with its completion, seniors are able to call this community, home.

New Standard Senior Living has delivered three affordable, assisted living properties to serve South Jersey's seniors. The first project, the Millville campus, was completed in 2020, then followed by the second project in Egg Harbor Township and this month, the opening of the third and final NSSL's community  Assisted Living at Hammonton .

All three properties are Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Communities with direct Medicaid admissions and offer state-of-the-art accommodations where seniors do not have to share their rooms. Assisted Living at Hammonton features 174 studio apartment-style rooms with a private bath and kitchenette in a brand-new, ADA accessible, ASHRE Level 2 and Energy Star rated complex designed to accommodate solar energy.

"We are so excited to receive this news. Upon completion of construction earlier this year, seniors were able to tour the property and sign onto the wait list while remaining unsure of their move-in date. Now, that the state licensing has been completed, we are finally able to deliver good new to those awaiting Hammonton residence," says Michele McLaughlin , Director of External Case Management, New Standard Senior Living.

Assisted Living at Hammonton is located at 308 S. White Horse Pike , Hammonton, N.J. 08037. Tours of the community can be scheduled online or by calling 609-541-7718. More information about this community and the application for admissions are available on the company's website at newstandardsl.com.

About New Standard Senior Living

With corporate offices in Red Bank, N.J. , New Standard Senior Living (NSSL) is the first provider in the state purposely created to deliver dedicated, affordable, assisted living solutions, including direct Medicaid admissions, for New Jersey seniors. For more information, visit newstandardsl.com.

Contact:

Michele McLaughlin , Director of External Case Management

Phone: 609-330-6878

Efax: 856-558-9357

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SOURCE New Standard Senior Living
One of the most tragic and absurd adventures in history belongs to Maximilian I (1832-1867), the Austrian archduke and brother-in-law of Elisabeth (nicknamed Sisi), the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. The extravagantly bearded royal unexpectedly found himself enthroned as the Emperor of Mexico and met his demise before a firing squad of his former subjects. Maximilians life was full of surprises, and so was his death, as can be seen in the astonished look on his embalmed face (theres a photo). Maximilian and his Belgian wife, Empress Charlotte (sister of Leopold II), aimed to transplant the customs and etiquette of the Habsburg court to the vastly different landscape and people of Mexico. The tragicomedy of his failed endeavor can be summed up in one tombstone-worthy phrase: I shouldnt have come here. A revealing and very readable biography of the archduke  The Last Emperor of Mexico  follows an existential and political misadventure that has always fascinated British historian Edward Shawcross, who calls it a storytellers delight.

Fernando Maximiliano Jose Maria de Habsburgo-Lorena (Maxi to his family) made lots of powerful enemies during his ill-fated attempt at conquering Mexico: Mexican President Benito Juarez, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant (who remembered Maximilians support for the Confederate Army) and even Karl Marx, who regarded Maxis Mexican empire as one of the most monstrous episodes in the annals of history. Despite being the younger brother of Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria, Maximilian sought Napoleon IIIs help in his decidedly quixotic attempt to establish a monarchy in Mexico. But the European blue blood raised in luxurious palaces met his demise with his back to a humble adobe wall as a Mexican firing squad on a hill in Queretaro aimed and fired at point-blank range.

'The Execution of Emperor Maximilian' by Edouard Manet; 1867.

Shawcross tells Maximilians story within the geopolitical backdrop of European imperial adventurism confronted by young, American republics. In 1863, the new emperor arrived in Mexico, backed by Napoleon IIIs army. The French cited Mexicos failure to pay its debt obligations as justification for their intervention. Maximilian was chosen to lead the invasion, perhaps because he was the only man available. Some suggested he was pushed into it by his mother, Princess Sofia of Bavaria, who had a close relationship with the Duke of Reichstadt, the hapless son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Maria Luisa of Austria.

Shawcross acknowledges Maximilians Mexican expedition as a significant historical event, if somewhat comical. Its a story that would be deemed too implausible for publishing as a novel, said Shawcross. Anecdotes such as Maximilian, a nature lover, being captivated by butterflies during a battle, or Charlotte losing her temper with the Pope, are truly remarkable. His book shows Maximilians story was a tragedy foretold. Why didnt they realize it? Hubris, pride. The story of Maximilian and Charlotte is a classic tale of failure due to arrogance and delusions of grandeur. After serving as commander of the Austrian Navy and viceroy of Lombardy-Veneto, Maximilian was leading a rather uneventful existence at his fairytale Miramare Castle in Trieste (Italy). Naturally, he jumped at the chance to become emperor of Mexico. France and Austria had recently clashed over Italy, and Franz Josef I saw Mexico as something that would get his younger brother Maximilian out of the way and maybe even yield some financial reward. He enlisted Napoleon IIIs support who, after selling Mexico as a land of abundant resources and opportunity, eventually abandoned Maximilian to his fate. Creating a new monarchy wasnt an entirely absurd idea at that time, says Shawcross. Monarchies had been reestablished in Greece, Sweden and Belgium, and the prospects seemed promising. But Mexico was a very different place.

'Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria is appointed Emperor of Mexico' by Cesare-DellAcqua; 1867.

Shawcross admits to feeling some sympathy for Maximilian and Charlotte, despite the pain and damage they inflicted on Mexico. The two were sent off to establish a monarchy and restore order in a chaotic country, but were later abandoned. Their intentions may have been good, but the brutal French invasion to oust the democratically elected government in Mexico had a terrible impact. Maximilians chances of success were slim, as initial support dwindled and promises were broken. Furthermore, Maximilian never distanced himself from the invading army and failed to win over the Mexican people when Napoleon III prematurely declared victory and withdrew his troops.

'Arrival of Empress Elizabeth in Miramare' by Cesare Dell'Acqua; 1865.

The history of the French invasion (with help from Great Britain and Spain) and the establishment of Maximilians empire is marked by significant events like the Battle of Camaron, the heroic resistance of 65 French Foreign Legion soldiers against 2,000 Mexican soldiers. Juan Prim, a Spanish general and statesman who was briefly Prime Minister of Spain, led the Spanish forces in Mexico. Prim opposed Napoleon III and Maximilian I, leading some to speculate that he harbored his own ambitions of becoming emperor. The story is wide-ranging and filled with many subplots and fringe characters that make it difficult to explore in its entirety, said Shawcross. One of those fringe characters was Maximilians younger brother, Ludwig Viktor, a cross-dressing homosexual who dreamed of becoming king of Brazil. Then there is Felix Salm-Salm, a Prussian military officer of princely birth and a soldier of fortune who supported Maximilian. His wife, Agnes, who was born in a circus, reportedly offered herself nude to one of the Mexican colonels who were guarding Maximilian, in an attempt to secure his release from prison.

One of the authors favorite anecdotes was when Maximilian and Charlotte arrived in Veracruz and first laid eyes on their kingdom. Maximilian put on traditional charro attire for the occasion. They arrive with great fanfare, only to find empty, dusty streets. Buzzards are soaring overhead. While their reception in Mexico City was grand, this initial experience felt like an ominous premonition.

The Mexican firing squad that executed Maximilian I.

Shawcross is struck by Maximilians firing-squad execution, which was a rare occurrence in those days. Napoleon I and Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States, were not executed, although Agustin de Iturbide, the first Emperor of Mexico, also faced a firing squad. Before his execution, Charlotte had traveled to Europe to seek assistance from Napoleon III for her husband and his crumbling empire. She struggled with mental health issues for the rest of her life, though she would lament the loss of her husband in brief moments of lucidity. The couple did not have any children, although Maximilian reportedly had an Indigenous lover in Cuernavaca.

The embalmed body of Maximilian I in its coffin.

What about Maximilians strange, forked beard? This style was more prevalent in the past and seen as quite elegant. I think it gives him a hipster air. In fact, he even refused to trim it to disguise himself during a prison escape attempt. Napoleon III was also well-known for his mustache, which he meticulously styled with wax. Edouard Manets painting of Maximilians execution depicts him quite normally, but the photograph of his embalmed body is very striking. Manets painting contains inaccuracies. Maximilian was positioned on the right, not in the center, from the perspective of the firing squad. Also, he wasnt wearing a hat. Still, the painting successfully conveys a sense of stoic resignation. His body was poorly embalmed by obviously disrespectful doctors. The decomposing body remained in Mexico for six months before it was shipped back to his home country.

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Leading hotel tech provider takes transformative step towards a next generation CRM platform that empowers hoteliers to build stronger relationships with their guests whilst driving profitable revenue

BARCELONA, Spain , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cendyn, a catalyst for digital transformation in the hospitality industry, is thrilled to announce its strategic acquisition of PUSHTech, a pioneering force in hotel Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services and marketing automation technology. This milestone solidifies Cendyn's commitment to investing in the future of CRM by doubling down investment in innovation, customer-centric solutions, and the empowerment of hoteliers to optimize revenue streams through advanced CRM strategies.

PUSHTech is a cloud-based Customer Data Platform (CDP) and CRM platform that offers an integrated solution for the hospitality industry, excelling at marketing automation across channels, guest journey automation, and sales CRM. Built on a modern tech stack, the platform allows you to unify, segment, and take control of your databases to increase direct bookings, improve guest loyalty, and automate the guest journey using email, SMS, WhatsApp, social media and more.

In an era where cultivating guest loyalty presents an ever-increasing challenge, the acquisition of PUSHTech reinforces Cendyn's dedication to growth and advancement in the CRM landscape. This strategic move exemplifies Cendyn's commitment to equipping hoteliers with the tools to cultivate enduring relationships with their guests, ultimately driving loyalty and, in turn, profitable revenue streams.

"By seamlessly integrating PUSHTech's next-generation technology into Cendyn's portfolio, we are poised to elevate the industry's standard for hoteliers seeking to amplify their sales and marketing CRM capabilities," said Jack Blaha , CEO at Cendyn. "Our customers are centered around their guests, and our mission is to empower them to refine the guest experience through sophisticated technology and services. This acquisition doubles down on that mission, and we're thrilled to explore the boundless potential of PUSHTech to bring it to fruition."

"We are incredibly excited about joining forces with Cendyn," said Carlos Moncho , CEO at PUSHTech. "The combination of Cendyn's CRM heritage and our technology advancements put us in strong stead to drive CRM innovation for our industry. With a combined focus on driving loyalty and profitable revenue for our customers, we're excited about the opportunity this acquisition offers to our industry."

The acquisition represents a landmark moment in Cendyn's journey, marking a transformative step for the industry as Cendyn looks to provide a next generation CRM platform for the industry. Through this acquisition, Cendyn reaffirms its commitment to innovation and its mission to empower hoteliers, revolutionizing the way they connect with guests, foster loyalty, and drive profitability.

To read more, click here.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a catalyst for digital transformation in the hospitality industry. We help hotels around the globe drive profitability and guest loyalty through an integrated technology platform that aligns revenue, eCommerce, distribution, marketing and sales teams with centralized data, applications, and analytics, so they can capture more demand and accelerate growth. With offices located across the globe, in the United States , United Kingdom , Paris , Singapore , and India , Cendyn serves tens of thousands of customers across 143 countries. To find out more, visit www.cendyn.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Michael Bennett

President & CMO

Cendyn

[email protected]

+1 219-384-5705

Nicola Graham

VP, Marketing

Cendyn

[email protected]

+44 7341 661 504

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SOURCE Cendyn
Early Generative AI adopters see a 12% return on Generative AI investments

NEW YORK , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte Digital's new research on Generative AI in Marketing Content Production reveals that Generative Artificial Intelligence is already reshaping content production for marketing, with 26% of surveyed marketers already using Generative AI, with another 45% planning to by the end of 2024. In a rapidly evolving digital world, content marketing stands as a key element for marketing success for businesses across various industries. The research reveals content marketing has become vital to the digital marketing strategies of 8 in 10 surveyed leaders, with its importance growing between 2022 and 2023.

The demand for personalized, timely, and relevant content has presented organizations with significant challenges. The research reveals the demand for marketing content grew by 1.5x in 2023, but marketing teams were only able to meet that demand 55% of the time. Marketers leveraging Generative AI can potentially get ahead of that demand by using Generative AI to support higher quality, greater volume of content, and higher employee productivity.

"Generative AI solutions are not just about keeping up with content demands; they are about staying ahead of them," said Mike Brinker , principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and Content Studio leader at Deloitte Digital. "By working alongside artificial intelligence, businesses are empowered to create high-quality, personalized content efficiently, giving them a competitive edge in today's digital marketplace."

This study engaged 650 leaders from U.S. companies in the business-to-consumer and business-to-business sectors, each with 100 or more employees and annual revenues exceeding $50 million . These leaders represented a diverse array of industries. All respondents held senior managerial positions or higher in e-commerce, marketing, or product marketing departments, with responsibilities spanning communications, content creation/marketing, and editorial/publishing, ensuring a comprehensive and pertinent dataset for the study.

Key findings from the research include:

A 54% increase in the volume of content needed to be produced in the last year.

Sixty-five percent of companies are very or extremely concerned about intellectual property or legal risks of using Generative AI.

Generative AI users report saving an average of 11.4 hours per week, enabling them to focus on higher-value or more strategic tasks.

"In today's hyperconnected digital landscape, content marketing is the backbone of successful customer engagement. It's not just about creating content; it's about orchestrating a seamless journey from idea to delivery, ensuring that every piece of content contributes to the narrative that captures hearts and minds," said Beth Adams , managing director, Marketing & CX Transformation and Global Adobe Alliance Generative AI Leader at Deloitte Digital.

Deloitte Digital's Content Studio is leading the way in transforming content creation and supply chains. By harnessing Generative AI, the Content Studio combines the experience of content creators, data scientists, and AI engineers to efficiently produce personalized, high-quality content for clients seeking to scale their content marketing.

With its innovative approach, the Content Studio underscores Deloitte Digital's commitment to delivering top-tier content that meets the demands of a dynamic marketplace, emphasizing both quality and quantity. This studio exemplifies how Deloitte Digital is reshaping content marketing to empower clients in an era where content personalization is paramount. Deloitte Digital's experience in customer-centric solutions, demand adaptability, and synchronized planning, enables businesses to plan, create, deliver and analyze content at scale.

Deloitte Digital is proud to be a Diamond sponsor of Adobe MAX, the world's leading creative conference, from Oct. 10-12 in Los Angeles, California . At Adobe MAX, Deloitte Digital will showcase its experience in content supply chain and Generative AI, offering insights into the future of content marketing.

Attendees can learn more about Deloitte Digital's latest Generative AI research by joining Mike Brinker's session, "Separating hype from reality: The real data behind marketing & Generative AI," on Tuesday, Oct. 10 , from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. PT .

Additionally, attendees can delve into "The Next Frontier: The Future of the Content Supply Chain" a virtual session taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 10 , from 12:30 to 1 p.m. PT . Trinadha Kandi and Mike Monroe from Deloitte Digital will demonstrate how Generative AI can help streamline content creation, reduce costs, and open new revenue streams through personalized content services.

Learn more about our research on Generative AI in Marketing Content Production.

Deloitte is infusing Generative AI applications and capabilities across its organization to help its professionals become more efficient and productive. As part of this ongoing commitment, Deloitte is rolling out purpose specific Large Language Models (LLMs) and chatbots to support specialized teams across its business, including DARTbot to support Audit & Assurance professionals. These applications and productivity tools are focused on proprietary functional and industry content that is applied with Deloitte's Trustworthy AI framework, managing AI risks such as hallucinations, and improving user confidence and trust.

Additionally, Deloitte is increasing AI fluency, training more than 120,000 professionals as part of the next generation of AI talent via the AI Academy, a Deloitte Technology Academy program, as well as investing more than $2 billion in global technology learning and development initiatives to boost skills in the application of key technology areas, including AI, to key industry and functional issues.

Deloitte Digital combines consulting and creativity to solve new problems with new ideas and unlock growth across the entire customer experience. By uniting leading digital and creative capabilities with the deep industry knowledge and experience Deloitte is known for, we help clients tackle their biggest challenges. New problems are arriving faster than ever before and we're using creativity, purpose, and technology as our solution to power modern business transformation. Alongside all of Deloitte, we foster the connections necessary to shape a better future for our clients, culture, society, and the planet. Visit https://www.deloittedigital.com/us/en.html or follow Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram to learn more.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 8,500 U.S. -based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 457,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

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SOURCE Deloitte Digital
Small Business Investment Program to build investing acumen and confidence in small business owners, employees and entrepreneurs in Metro Detroit; provide $2,500 grants to participants

DETROIT , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance (MDBBA) launched a new program to promote greater financial security and wellness for Metro Detroit's small business community. The Small Business Investment program will seed $2,500 investment accounts on the Stackwell digital investment platform for up to 200 small business owners, their employees and entrepreneurs who are active members of MDBBA, which is supported through a $1 million grant from Prudential Financial.

Detroit Black small business program invests $1 Million as a key catalyst for inclusive economic growth in the region.

Investing in stocks is an important means of building wealth over time and generating the returns necessary for retirement. While more than half of White Americans own some equities, that number falls to about a third for Black families, according to data from the Federal Reserve. This program aims to improve investment confidence and participation by small business owners, their employees, and entrepreneurs in Metro Detroit as a key catalyst for inclusive economic growth in the region.

"We are proud to deepen our investment in the Metro Detroit community through this innovative program," said Trevor Rozier-Byrd , CEO of Stackwell Capital. "Black-owned businesses are a growth engine for the economy and community, yet they continue to face challenges in accessing funding and opportunities to grow. For many, the unavailability of business capital leads to a greater reliance on credit cards and personal funds. This, in turn, impacts one's credit and the ability to access business capital in the future. Through this program we hope to end this cycle and enable more members of the Metro Detroit Black small business community to achieve greater personal and business financial stability so that they can sustainably grow their businesses and their wealth over time."

"Systemic and structural racism have created an unequal racial wealth gap in our country," said Charity Dean , president and CEO of the MDBBA. "The National Bureau of Economic Research found that the racial wealth gap is the largest of the economic disparities in America. And the Federal Reserve found that White households hold on average eight times more wealth than Black households, with that figure growing to 17-times for the Millennial and Gen Z population. At MDBBA, our mission is to address the specific challenges that Black business owners face. We are committed to providing them with the tools, resources, and advocacy needed to not only survive but thrive."

"We are pleased to support this program and drive positive impact for Detroit's small business community," said Shane Harris, vice president and head of social responsibility, Prudential Financial, and president of The Prudential Foundation. "Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities, and this program aligns with our commitment to expand access to wealth-building pathways for the Metro Detroit community and for all our stakeholders."

How to Apply

Program applications are available via MDBBA's application form. Participation in MDBBA is open to all races and ethnicities, and all existing and new members are eligible to apply for the new Small Business Investment Program. The application deadline is November 17, 2023 .

About Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance

The Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance is a leading advocate for Black-owned businesses in the Detroit metropolitan area. The mission of the Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance is to help close the racial wealth gap by developing programs and advocating for policies that result in profitable and sustainable Black owned businesses that are connected to public and private economic opportunities while building trusted relationships.

About Stackwell

Stackwell Capital, Inc., is a leading fintech company that has created a digital investment platform for the Black community. With a mission to eliminate the racial wealth gap in America, Stackwell provides the financial investment tools and guidance necessary to help build lasting wealth, equity, and equal opportunity. Stackwell has developed a unique ecosystem of strategic partners in financial services, higher education, professional sports, and created an ever-growing NIL student-athlete ambassador program. Stackwell was a member of the 2022 Financial Solutions Lab and MassChallenge U.S. Early-Stage accelerator programs. For more information, visit stackwellcapital.com.

Media Contacts:

Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance

LaToya Henry

313.447.6404

[email protected]

Stackwell

[email protected]

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SOURCE Stackwell
SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer (B3: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ) and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt; DLR) today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration regarding precompetitive technology research and development activities.

The partners will evaluate the possibility of establishing a future cooperation on a wide range of activities, including Aircraft Design, Flight Systems, Flight Physics, System Architectures, Flight Tests, Windtunnel Experiments, Structures and Materials and Security.

"We are delighted to extend our collaboration with DLR and continue our team's longstanding relationship. This agreement represents another key step in our technology journey toward to the future of a sustainable aviation in partnership with global research centers", said Maurilio Albanese Novaes Junior, head of Research & Technology Development at Embraer.

"Following our long-standing cooperation, we would like to further intensify our joint activities. International cooperation is essential if we are to achieve our goal of climate-compatible aviation," emphasizes Prof. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board, in Sao Jose dos Campos , Brazil . "Together with our partner Embraer, we are addressing issues such as aerodynamics and flight physics, as well as conducting studies in the wind tunnel and flight tests."

DLR and Embraer have already been cooperating on individual projects since 2001 with relevant results in the field of ice formation on aircraft (Aircraft Dynamic Modelling with Accreted Ice), aerodynamics modelling (Online Parameter Identification for Integrated Aerodynamic Modelling) and aeroelasticity. In 2017, collaboration was intensified with focus on Sustainability matters, such as reduction of noise and minimizing the impact of aviation on the climate.

The signature took place during a visit to Embraer facilities in Sao Jose dos Campos , Brazil , of a high-level delegation from DLR, led by Professor Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, last week.

Photo: https://embraer.bynder.com/share/44A76A69-166D-4E9F-A94763082C357F40/

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil , Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.

Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil . The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas , Africa , Asia and Europe .

About DLR

DLR is the Federal Republic of Germany's research centre for aeronautics and space. We conduct research and development activities in the fields of aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security and digitalisation. The German Space Agency at DLR plans and implements the national space programme on behalf of the federal government. Two DLR project management agencies oversee funding programmes and support knowledge transfer.

Climate, mobility and technology are changing globally. DLR uses the expertise of its 55 research institutes and facilities to develop solutions to these challenges. Our 10,000 employees share a mission  to explore Earth and space and develop technologies for a sustainable future. In doing so, DLR contributes to strengthening Germany's position as a prime location for research and industry.

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SOURCE Embraer S.A.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DoveHill Capital Management announced today its investment in the dual-branded Philadelphia property.

The DoveHill team successfully negotiated a tremendous investment at an incredibly attractive basis with in-place debt financing in two institutional quality assets in one of the top cities in the United States .

"While most hospitality investors are sitting on the sidelines, DoveHill continues to source compelling off-market deals by leveraging our competitive advantages and focusing on opportunities with a strong risk-reward asymmetry," said Jake Wurzak , CEO of DoveHill Capital Management.

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida , DoveHill Capital Management is a vertically integrated hospitality investment and development organization. Unlike other investment firms, DoveHill Capital Management has continuously focusedeven during the COVID eraon expanding its hotel portfolio through preferred equity and wholly owned investments. The group has grown its portfolio to 20 properties across North America with this dual-branded property in Philadelphia Pennsylvania: the 207-key Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue (the "Hilton") and the 122-key Homewood Suites Philadelphia City Avenue (the "Homewood Suites").

Together, this is a 329-key, institutional dual-branded hotel with a highly efficient operating model. The Hilton and Homewood Suites effectively operate as one property, sharing 26,000 square feet of meeting space and 1,300 parking spaces. These synergies result in a highly efficient operating model that consistently delivers strong results, as evidenced by the hotel's historical and in-place cash flows. The properties will be managed by DoveHill's vertically integrated hospitality management company, The Wurzak Hotel Group.

The Hilton was built in 2000 and was fully renovated in 2016, while the Homewood Suites was built in 2005 and fully renovated in 2022. The properties have benefited from over $10 million in capital investment since 2015. DoveHill plans to strategically invest in guest-facing, ROI-driven capital projects and provide targeted improvements to build upon the Hotel's tremendous reputation.

Located at 4200 City Avenue , Philadelphia , the properties are well-positioned in an area burgeoning with upgrades, new developments, and improvements. The properties are just four miles from Downtown Philadelphiaat the epicenter of Bala Cynwyd's submarket and the Main Line, Philadelphia's most affluent residential neighborhood. Surrounded by both offices and upscale retailers, Philadelphia's largest green space, Fairmount Park , is also close by. Less than a half-mile from the entrance to I-76 , the properties enjoy access to downtown Philadelphia , Conshohocken , and King of Prussia in minutes.

Charles Paloux, Executive Vice President of Investments, adds, "Our company has had deep experience with the Philadelphia market, and we believe that group and corporate business has shown significant growth over the last months. Additionally, this property benefits from incredibly accretive in-place debt and an unmatched basis which we expect will produce outsized returns for our investors."

The Hilton and Homewood Suites Philadelphia City Avenue Properties

The dual-brand property benefits from its strategic affiliation with Hilton Worldwideone of the premier lodging brands in the world with 18 brands and 7,061 properties across 123 countries. Hilton has an unquestioned advantage in the lodging industry due to the strength of its reservation system and loyalty program, Hilton Honors , which boasts nearly 146 million members globally.

About DoveHill Capital Management

DoveHill Capital Management is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida , and is a vertically integrated hospitality investment and development organization with a portfolio of urban infill, lifestyle hotels, and premium branded full-service assets across North America with a heavy concentration on the East Coast .

The firm's core competency is the creation of highly differentiated, locally curated properties set in high-growth and high-culture environments with diverse demand generators and distinct barriers to entry.

DoveHill seeks out investments in full-service, lifestyle properties with a focus on value-add and other strategies to enhance properties and create differentiated advantages. As part of its strategic vision, after investing at attractive entry points, DoveHill works to reposition and transform the real estate asset to enhance the value for its partners and investors.

For more information and details on the best investment opportunities to consider, see www.dovehillcos.com/deal-reward-program.

For more background on DoveHill Capital Management, visit www.dovehillcos.com.

Media Contact: Meaghan Peeler

[email protected]

215-689-0245

Related Links

https://www.dovehillcos.com/

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SOURCE DoveHill Capital Management, LLC
BOSTON , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During this past weekend's 20th biennial International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL), Susan M. O'Brien , MD, and Catherine J. Wu , MD, were awarded the Binet- Rai Medal . Since 1999, the iwCLL has presented the Binet- Rai Medal every two years to individuals and teams who help shape and enhance scientific understanding of CLL through important research and contributions.

iwCLL presents the Binet- Rai Medal to individuals who shape scientific understanding of CLL through important research.

Kanti Rai , MD, one of the two original recipients for whom the Medal was subsequently named, had the honor of presenting this year's awards to Drs. O'Brien and Wu: "Dr. Susan O'Brien is an internationally recognized leader in the research and treatment of therapies for patients with both chronic and acute leukemias, and is a pioneer of several important therapies now regarded as the standard of care for CLL. Dr. Catherine Wu is an internationally recognized expert in the biology and treatment of lymphoid malignancies, with a primary focus on CLL. This work has culminated in ongoing clinical trials where genomic information is being used to design a personalized vaccine to test the impact on generation of an immune response and anti-tumor activity."

Dr. O'Brien stated: "I'm speechless and delighted, not just that I was presented this award, but that Dr. Wu was as well. Women are beginning to be more acknowledged in this field, and I'm proud that not just one, but two women received this year's Binet- Rai Medal ."

Dr. Wu continued: " Dr. O'Brien and I complement one another in that our careers span the entire breath of research, from basic science to clinical development, with the aligned focus of improving the lives of patients with CLL. This award is a true honor for both of us."

This year's iwCLL featured 217 research abstracts, as well as 11 unique sessions spanning different aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with CLL, including:

Preclinical and translational research on the genomics, proteomics, and metabolism of CLL

Discussions on the role of the microenvironment in CLL pathogenesis

Roundtables on how to define success in the treatment of CLL, including perspectives from physicians, patients, epidemiologists, and others

Investigations into the mechanisms of resistance to therapy

Presentations on therapies in development and future therapies, including BTK degraders, cellular therapies, and bispecific antibodies

Global perspectives on CLL management, including the war in Ukraine's effect on patient care

iwCLL also announced that its 21st biennial meeting will occur in Krakow, Poland on September 12-15, 2025 .

About Susan M. O'Brien , MD

Dr. O'Brien is a professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Department of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. The principal investigator for more than 100 funded clinical protocols, she led the initial clinical research into ibrutinib for patients with CLL and continues research into the use of BTK inhibitors and other therapies for patients with CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma. Dr O'Brien has authored more than 900 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has given more than 500 lectures at national and international conferences and academic institutions. In 2020, she received the Giants of Cancer Care Award for Leukemia. Dr O'Brien received her medical degree and completed her residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (currently known as the Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences). She completed her oncology fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and joined the faculty after completion of her fellowship.

About Catherine J. Wu , MD

Dr. Wu is the Chief of the Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her seminal research focuses on understanding the genomic landscape of CLL, and how the disease interacts with the immune system. Dr. Wu is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and an elected member of the Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Association of Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Wu received her medical degree from Stanford University, and she completed postgraduate training in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, followed by a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare.

About iwCLL

The iwCLL is an international, non-profit association, which is committed to creating progress regarding the management and outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia world-wide. The vision of iwCLL is a world where all patients with CLL can be cured. The iwCLL is committed to creating progress regarding the management and outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia world-wide. Learn more at www.iwcll.org.

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SOURCE International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
BERLIN , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is causing a greater number of global deaths than melanoma, the more serious form of skin cancer, a new study presented today at the EADV Congress 2023 has found.

Researchers also believe that NMSC is underreported and that the true impact of this disease may be even higher than estimated.

Professor Thierry Passeron, lead author of the study, explains, "Although NMSC is less likely to be fatal than melanoma skin cancer, its prevalence is strikingly higher. In 2020, NMSC accounted for 78% of all skin cancer cases, resulting in over 63,700 deaths. In contrast, melanoma caused an estimated 57,000 fatalities in the same year. The significantly higher incidence of NMSC has, therefore, led to a more substantial overall impact."

Professor Passeron adds, "As alarming as these figures are, they may, in fact, be underestimated. NMSC is often underreported in cancer registries, making it challenging to understand the true burden."

The researchers also identified specific population groups that were more at risk of this disease, including people who work outside, organ transplant recipients and those who have the skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum.

The study, which utilised data from the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, found a high incidence of skin cancer in fair-skinned and elderly populations from the USA , Germany , UK , France , Australia and Italy. However, even countries with a high proportion of dark phenotypes were not immune to the risk of death from skin cancer.

In 2020, there were nearly 1.2 million reported cases of NMSC worldwide compared with 324,635 cases of melanoma. The majority of skin cancer occurrences are non-melanoma, referring to a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin, with common types including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Professor Passeron comments, "We have to get the message out that not only melanoma can be fatal, but NMSC also. It's crucial to note that individuals with melanin rich skin are also at risk and are dying from skin cancer. There is a need to implement effective strategies to reduce the fatalities associated with all kinds of skin cancers."

"We need to do more to ensure we are stopping the progression of this disease as early as possible to save lives."

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SOURCE EADV Congress
OTTAWA, ON , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Enigmatic Group of Companies, based in Ottawa , has officially acquired Surgo Studios, a leading Video Marketing agency in North America .

Growth and Strategy

Enigmatic Groups' success is largely attributed to its subsidiary, Zap Media, a North American Digital Marketing Agency and Forbes Agency Council member. The acquisition of Surgo Studios is a strategic move that aligns with the digital transformation trends, specifically the growing importance of video content.

Leadership Perspectives

Sashien Godakandae, CEO of Enigmatic Group of Companies, states, "The acquisition of Surgo Studios is a transformative step for us. It's not just about expanding our organization's portfolio; it's about setting a new standard in the industry. This move opens up avenues for unprecedented innovation and growth, allowing us to redefine what video marketing can achieve."

Daniyal Zafar , President of Enigmatic Group of Companies, states, "Our unique business model marries profitability with innovation. Acquiring Surgo Studios validates our approach, showing that profitability and innovation can coexist in digital marketing."

Bryan Giron , CEO of Surgo Studios, states, "Joining Enigmatic Group of Companies is perfectly aligned with our future vision. It broadens our platform for growth and innovation, enabling us to scale new heights and deliver unparalleled results to our clients."

Alexei Dela Cuesta , COO of Surgo Studios, says, "This acquisition is a game-changer for us. It equips us with the resources and platform to elevate our video marketing to new levels, pushing the boundaries like never before."

About the Companies

Enigmatic Group of Companies , based in Ottawa , focuses on investments that drive revenue growth while encouraging innovation. The company is led by industry veterans Sashien Godakandae and Daniyal Zafar .

, based in , focuses on investments that drive revenue growth while encouraging innovation. The company is led by industry veterans Sashien Godakandae and . Surgo Studios , also Ottawa -based, specializes in high-quality short-form video content, helping brands across Canada and the USA in gaining social media presence.

Surgo Studios Website: https://surgostudios.com

Enigmatic Group Website: https://enigmaticgroup.ca

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SOURCE Enigmatic Group of Companies
Dawson & Other Key Hires Reflect Expansive Growth of JRA

IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE

CINCINNATI , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JRA, part of RWS Global and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio , USA, has announced the hiring of former FORREC executive Matt Dawson as its new Vice President of Business Development. Dawson's appointment comes as the experience design studio enjoys one of the most ambitious years in its 35-year history under the leadership of new Executive Vice President, Mark Amos .

"The brand reputation, growth potential and deep bench of talent at JRA are unique in this industry," said Dawson

In his previous role as Vice President of Business Development at global experience design company FORREC, Dawson served on the executive team responsible for setting corporate priorities, managing risk and monitoring the financial wellbeing and growth of the corporation. He also set the strategic direction for FORREC's client relations and led a 12-person team to pursue new business development efforts across North America , South America , Europe , the Middle East and Asia . Prior to his VP appointment, Dawson served as FORREC's Senior Director of Visitor Attractions, managing client relations with such revered cultural institutions as Science North, Mandai Singapore Zoo and the Panama Canal Authority. A sought-after thought leader, Dawson has been a featured speaker at conferences worldwide and has contributed content to dozens of industry articles.

Earlier in his career, Dawson channeled his Master of Architecture degree and his interest in museums into a variety of planning, design and creative direction roles, first at Lord Cultural Resources and then managing large capital projects at Art Gallery of Ontario , the Musical Instrument Museum and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. He looks forward to leveraging his two decades of design and business development expertise in his new role at JRA.

"I've always been passionate about storytelling and creating authentic experiences, and JRA's track record of doing both is what drew me to the studio," said Dawson. "The brand reputation, growth potential and deep bench of talent at JRA are unique in this industry, and I look forward to sharing JRA's story with clients and collaborators around the world.

"Matt could not be arriving at a more perfect time," said Amos. "With the leisure market hungry for new experiences, we at JRA set a strategic growth plan in motion to expand our reach into new verticals and regions while deepening our relationships in existing ones. With his architecture and business development background, Matt is uniquely positioned to execute this plan and position us for global success."

That success trajectory is already underway, as JRA has opened multiple cultural and attraction projects in the first three quarters of 2023 with over a dozen actively in the pipeline. Recent openings include the National Corvette Museum's McMichael Family Education Gallery, the complete renovation of Louisville Slugger Museum, ExpERIEnce Children's Museum, The Ozark Mill , Kings Island Adventure Port, View Boston, the Hasbro City FEC in Mexico City and highly acclaimed Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. JRA's ongoing collaborations with Original X Productions continued their journeys on three continents, with The FRIENDS Experience traveling to Detroit , Long Beach , Birmingham ( UK ), Melbourne ( Australia ) and Amsterdam and Harry Potter : Magic at Play! successfully completing its debut engagement in Chicago .

Projects in development include leisure, sport, cultural and brand destinations on land in the United States , Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , China and Kuwait as well as at sea with some of the world's largest cruise operators.

To support these projects, Amos has added industry veteran Sevak Petrosian and former Walt Disney Imagineering production designer Trent Taylor to JRA's creative team:

As JRA's Assistant Vice President, Environments, Sevak Petrosian brings over 30 years' experience in what he calls Production Experience Architecture, where placemaking meets experiential design. He began his professional career as an interior designer in Iran and received his master's degree in urban design and architecture in Armenia . Further educational pursuits brought Petrosian to the United States , where he has since worked with such industry leading companies as Universal Creative and Paramount Parks. Petrosian was hired by Walt Disney Imagineering to master plan Shanghai Disneyland 's Treasure Cove area as well as the Thea Award-winning ride Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Sunken Treasure. Previous work with JRA includes master planning for The Land of Legends Resort's Theme Park and Aqualand in Antalya, Turkey .

brings over 30 years' experience in what he calls Production Experience Architecture, where placemaking meets experiential design. He began his professional career as an interior designer in and received his master's degree in urban design and architecture in . Further educational pursuits brought Petrosian to , where he has since worked with such industry leading companies as Universal Creative and Paramount Parks. Petrosian was hired by Walt Disney Imagineering to master plan Shanghai 's Treasure Cove area as well as the Thea Award-winning ride Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Sunken Treasure. Previous work with JRA includes master planning for The Land of and in . Creative Director, Trent Taylor is a proven leader of multidisciplinary teams that has leant his design, show production and art direction talents to some of the most high-profile projects in the world. In his most recent role as Senior Producer/Project Manager at brand experience creative firm Advent, Taylor led a team of 20 writers, designers and producers and managed over $20 million in show budgets across multiple projects as part of over $800 million in total project scope. During his tenure at Walt Disney Imagineering as Associate Production Designer, Taylor's credits included The Making of The Hall of Presidents, Ratatouille's Adventure, the transformation of EPCOT, the Na'vi River Journey and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run.

"Matt, Sevak and Trent have proven track records not only as great creators and innovators but also as exceptional team leaders," added Amos. "I know they will inspire our existing team to push creative boundaries, explore new techniques and technologies and dream even bigger. With these three on board, plus the combined skill set of our planners, designers and project managers, I'm thrilled at the possibilities of what we can create together in the months and years ahead."

Amos, Dawson and other members of the RWS Global team will be at IAAPA Expo (Booth 1067) November 13-17 . Dawson will also be at the International Museum Construction Congress in Antwerp, Belgium November 5-7 . To make an appointment, contact [email protected].

ABOUT JRA:

Founded in 1987, and now part of RWS Global, JRA is an internationally recognized, award-winning team of next-level creators who transform imaginary worlds into real live moments for the ultimate guest experience. JRA's team prides itself on designing vividly but responsibly, creating destinations that are not only beautiful and memorable, but also operationally successful. That is why JRA is a trusted creative force that brings to life attractions, exhibits and other immersive environments, captivating visitors on land and at sea. Services include master planning, writing & content development, experience planning & design, executive media production, graphic design, art direction and project management & fabrication.

For over 35 years, JRA has been creating extraordinary destinations for an impressive roster of clients and brands including Cedar Fair, Children's Museum of Atlanta, Cincinnati's Black Music Walk of Fame, The Coca-Cola Company, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Google, Hasbro, LEGOLAND, Lionsgate, MSC Cruises, National Comedy Center, NBC Universal, Science Centre Singapore, SONY, The FRIENDS Experience by Original X Productions, Tencent, Toyota, Universal Studios Florida, View Boston, Warner Bros. and more.

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SOURCE RWS Global
Siegel+Gale launches World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition

German grocer Lidl named the world's simplest brand, after placing in the Top 10 in last five editions

Whole Foods Market overtakes Amazon as U.S. winner

Restaurants, Hotels, and Travel Booking industries have greatest post-pandemic increases

X (Twitter) named most complex brand in U.S.

64 percent of people are willing to pay more for simpler experiences

78 percent of people are more likely to recommend a brand that delivers simple experiences

Companies leave $780 billion on the table by failing to simplify versus $402 billion in 2021

NEW YORK , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Siegel+Gale, the global brand experience firmknown as The Simplicity Companyhas today announced its World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition (WSBX). WSBX ranks the leading brands on simplicity, asking more than 15,000 people across nine countries which brands and industries provide the simplest experiences. According to the research, 64% of people are willing to pay more for simpler brand experiences, and 78% of people are more likely to recommend a brand for its simpler experiences and communications.

Brand complexity results in $780 billion of total annual unrealized revenue among the global brands surveyed. Additionally, since 2009, the publicly traded simplest brands consistently outperform the average global stock index by 1,600%.

From where they shop to how they communicate, people put a premium on experiences that are easy to understand; transparent and honest; caring for and meeting their needs; innovative and fresh; and useful. In short, simple.

"The world has never been more complex, and for consumers, the number of brand interactions has skyrocketed. While brand experiences happen at every touchpoint across a consumer's journey, they're not all created equal. After measuring the value of simplicity across ten editions of World's Simplest Brands, one finding is abundantly clear: When you understand and simplify your most important experiences, it pays," said David Srere , co-CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, Siegel+Gale.

"People today are prioritizing brands that deliver on the promise of simplicity, and they are willing to pay a premium for it," said Howard Belk , co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Siegel+Gale. "From finance to technology to groceries, the findings in World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition reveal that simplicity is not a byproduct of success  it's the reason why brands thrive."

Additional key learnings:

Consumers perceive brands' DEI and ESG communications as complex: Understanding maxes out at 37% and 42%, respectively.

Understanding maxes out at 37% and 42%, respectively. Industry scores signal continued desire to shake isolation: Restaurant, hotel and travel booking industries had significant increases globally.

Restaurant, hotel and travel booking industries had significant increases globally. Post-COVID streaming takes a hit: Several streaming/video-on-demand brands (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Hulu) have fallen in rankings, given new account sharing restrictions for users and increasing provider options.

Several streaming/video-on-demand brands (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Hulu) have fallen in rankings, given new account sharing restrictions for users and increasing provider options. X (Twitter) is most complex: Social media brands have fallen in rankings both globally and domestically, and X (Twitter) now ranks as the most complex brand in the U.S.

Regarding additional unique offerings in WSBX, Brian Rafferty , Global Director of Analytics + Insights, Siegel+Gale, said, "Throughout our studies over the years, we have always seen some industries rated as simpler than others, like internet search. But with a deeper dive into consumer journeys for World's Simplest Brands Tenth Edition, we have found opportunities to simplify the consumer experience in every industry to drive business success."

To browse the full rankings by country and industry, visit worldssimplestbrands.com

About World's Simplest Brands

To determine the global state of simplicity, Siegel+Gale fielded an online survey with more than 15,000 respondents in nine countries to gather perspectives on simplicity and how industries and brands make people's lives simpler or more complex. Globally, 25 industries and more than 800 brands were rated on their perceived simplicity. The brands were selected as a representative set that respondents would be most likely to know and/or use in each country.

About Siegel+Gale

Siegel+Gale is a global brand experience firm. With unlimited imagination and a dedication to the facts, the firm builds brands that cut through the clutterand unlock success for their clients. Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organizations worldwide. A part of Omnicom Group Inc., they have offices in New York , Los Angeles , San Francisco , London , Dubai , Shanghai and Tokyo .

About Omnicom

Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries.

Contact:

Daniel Alonso , Senior Content Marketing Manager, Siegel+Gale

[email protected]

Madeline King , Senior Marketing Manager, Siegel+Gale

[email protected]

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SOURCE Siegel+Gale
Human beings have a nature that seems paradoxical. Theyre capable of large-scale cooperation or altruism with strangers, yet they can also display extreme levels of violence. This hybrid nature challenges those who believe that interpersonal violence is intrinsic to human societies, as well as those who think that there was a peaceful paradise on Earth before the arrival of agriculture.

To contribute data to this debate, Joerg Baten, Giacomo Benati and Arkadiusz Sotysiak have studied the signs of violence, by looking at broken bones and skulls in more than 3,500 human skeletons. These marks  caused by weapons  were examined carefully, after they were excavated from various sites in a wide region of the Middle East, from present-day Turkey to Iran. In total, according to an article published this past Monday in Nature Human Behavior, the researchers have covered a period that began about 14,000 years ago, when agriculture and livestock began to develop, until the year 400 BC, before the beginning of our era. This was around the time when the Greek geographer Herodotus began the practice of historiography.

The remains that have been found show that the violence fluctuated over the centuries. Starting from relatively low levels at the dawn of civilization, it increased with the complexity that accompanied the first agrarian societies. Its believed that human hunter-gatherer groups could avoid conflict more easily, because there were so few of them.

More information Why do people hurt each other?

And, during the Neolithic period  as agricultural technology spread  population density still remained low. However, something seems to have changed about 6,400 years ago, in the Copper Age. As the authors explain, an increasingly dry climate could be one of the factors that favored urbanization in the Middle East, with migration from the countryside to the main cities. This resulted in competition for resources between the elites and the masses.

It was in that same period that the first states began to appear  ones that still didnt have the strength to manage conflicts between their inhabitants. In fact, these centralized political systems actually increased conflict between groups on a large scale. This combination of factors may explain why those first steps towards state organization resulted in the highest spike in violent deaths in the more than 13,000 years covered by the study.

After those centuries of greater interpersonal violence, the archaeological record shows a decline for 1,500 years, from 4500 to 3000 BC. During this period, states perfected their organization: they obtained resources through taxes and were able to control social violence. They did this partly through military control, but also by encouraging cooperation through religious festivals and other projects, such as the construction of temples or palaces, which fostered the feeling of belonging to a society. Such a feeling among citizens contributed to the reduction of conflicts.

As violence got under control, it increased again during the transition to the Iron Age, about 1,500 years before our era. During that period, a three-centuries-long drought  which caused food shortages and population displacement  was added to the rise of warring superpowers, such as the Assyrian Empire, who targeted neighbors with ruthless military campaigns and mass deportations.

Giacomo Benati, a researcher at the University of Barcelona and the main author of the study, says that works such as these help to complete an understanding of the variations in violence during a historical period that is less known than more recent ones. Its also fundamental to understanding which factors exacerbate conflict. For instance, one of the findings of the study is that rising inequality doesnt necessarily encourage violence.

Theres evidence that inequality can trigger conflicts, but in our data, we see that, during the Bronze Age, inequality increased, yet violence decreased, Benati points out. In this period, the professionalization of war can also be observed. Burial grounds reveal large quantities of weapons, which could have meant that  although there were high levels of conflict  the wounds associated with violence were less frequent among groups who didnt belong to the warrior caste.

The researcher also emphasizes that, along with material aspects, there are ideological factors that could influence the increases or decreases in violence. Culture, human capital, religion, or morality can all have an impact. But, in the absence of written testimonies, its almost impossible to access the way of thinking in prehistory. We stick to the variables that we can measure, Benati explains.

Finally, on the question of whether humans are more inclined toward cooperation or conflict, Benati affirms that were [inclined towards] both. In the archaeological record, we see that there has always been cooperation, to build cities and live together in large groups. Yet, theres also conflict. By making these maps that show variations in conflict and trying to understand what variables fuel conflict, were better able to understand which circumstances provoke violence, or prevent it.

We now know that institutional organizations and legal systems can help manage conflict within a society and reduce violence. [We also see] that climate changes or urbanization can increase it, he concludes.
GREENSBORO, N.C. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Guilford County Schools (GCS) will host the Carnegie Foundation Learning Leadership Network (Carnegie LLN) on October 10-12 . The aim of this network of district leadership teams is to support, showcase, and study school districts that are creating engaging, equitable, and effective learning experiences for their secondary students. Network members convene over the course of the school year to imagine and learn together how school districts can be set up to enable student learning both within and outside of the school walls. For the past year, GCS Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley and key district leaders have joined Carnegie LLN educators from across the country to innovate and transform secondary schooling.

Guilford County Schools was selected as the host for this fall's site visit because of the innovative models housed in their Signature Career Academies and elementary school telehealth clinics. Carnegie LLN district teams will have the opportunity to conduct school site visits, learn from GCS district cabinet members about stakeholder engagement efforts in the development of the district's Better Together strategic direction focus areas and priorities, and engage with a panel of local industry and community leaders, including Cone Health, Action Greensboro, Toyota and others. Network members will also share reflections, offer feedback, and apply what they've learned to their own system transformation work.

"Guilford County Schools is honored to host the Carnegie Foundation Learning Leadership Network and to share our district's progress as we work toward our Better Together Strategic Direction," said Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley . "The pandemic provided us with an opportunity to reimagine what public education can and should be. My team and I are excited to learn more about what's working in partner districts and to provide insight into what's working in ours."

"We are thrilled to be visiting Guilford County Schools with the Learning Leadership Network," said Dr. Tinkhani Ushe White, lead of the Carnegie Learning Leadership Network. "We are excited to participate in this dynamic learning experience to explore Guilford's Career Academies model and learn from their thoughtful efforts to ensure their strategic plan is grounded in community voice and ambitious about preparing students for the future."

Carnegie Foundation President Dr. Tim Knowles added, "We are enormously grateful to our colleagues at Guilford County Schools for hosting the Carnegie Learning Leadership Network. Guilford is fiercely committed to ensuring all students are well-prepared for a broad range of postsecondary opportunities. We look forward to learning with Guilford and bringing lessons to bear across the nation to ensure all young people lead purposeful, fulfilling lives."

About the Carnegie Foundation

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. The Foundation was also instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Department of Education and Pell Grants, and mostly recently in the use of networked improvement science to redress systemic inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes.

About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina and among the largest of more than 14,000 in the United States , serves nearly 70,000 PK-12 students at 124 schools. With approximately 9,800 employees, GCS works in partnership with parents, businesses, colleges and the community to deliver an education that connects student interests and skills with the careers and economy of our future here and around the world. We provide educational choices to meet individual student needs in a culturally diverse citizenship and new opportunities to help our students grow. For more information, visit the district's website at www.gcsnc.com .

CONTACT:

Carnegie Foundation

Kito Cetrulo

[email protected]

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SOURCE Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
RICHMOND , Va. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group announced today that it has acquired a book of Medicare-focused business based in its New England region of operations. The new business will be serviced through the company's Medicare National Practice. The transaction became effective September 1, 2023 .

About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia . Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 150 acquisitions with over 125 offices in 29 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Peter Lobred

804.548.4629

[email protected]

M&A Contact:

Ryan Havermann

804.414.6508

[email protected]

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SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC
Eighth-Annual All-Women Off-Road Navigation Rally Covers 1,500 Miles of Challenging Desert Terrain beginning Oct. 13

Automotive journalists Jill Ciminillo and Kristin Shaw to Compete in Rebelle Rally for Second Consecutive Year

Custom Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle to Compete in X-CROSS Class

Stunning Livery Created by Matt Marble and Kellen Gustine of Hyundai Design North America

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of the eighth-annual Rebelle Rally, Hyundai Motor America is revealing the modifications and custom graphic wrap for the Brute Squad's Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle entry. For the second consecutive year, the modified Hyundai Santa Cruz will be piloted by automotive journalists Jill Ciminillo (navigator) and Kristin Shaw (driver), aka "The Brute Squad".

The Rebelle Rally is a grueling all-women, off-road navigational challenge starting and ending in the deserts of California starting Oct. 13 . Over the span of eight demanding days, Shaw and Ciminillo will bravely tackle this adventure in a specially equipped Santa Cruz they call 'Sandy.' What's more, they'll take on this challenge with little more than a compass and paper maps to guide them  GPS and Internet-enabled devices are forbidden.

The Rebelle Rally Santa Cruz

The custom graphic wrap was created in California by Matt Marble , senior graphic designer and Kellen Gustine , junior exterior designer, Hyundai Design North America.

"As an artist, I'm excited to present the new livery scheme design of the Rebelle Rally Hyundai Santa Cruz, said Marble. "We were inspired by the natural ruggedness of the desert and worked to capture its beauty along with the adventurous nature of mountain journeys in every hue and line of our design."

The Santa Cruz's dramatic appearance was inspired by renowned typography, as well as the vibrant colors, logos, and decals popular among today's outdoor enthusiasts. The net result is a modern-yet-retro aesthetic reminiscent of 1970's design. The use of thick and prominent color blocking ensures vivid and saturated hues that create a striking contrast against the desert terrain backdrop. What truly sets this design apart is the eye-catching gradient sunset and bold mountain range in the foreground. Additionally, a cleverly designed horizon line tilts dynamically, aligning with the Santa Cruz's movement as it ascends a mountain or dune, creating a subtle yet engaging connection with the surrounding landscape.

From a performance standpoint, the Rebelle Rally Santa Cruz only required minimal modifications versus the mass-production model. These improvements were developed by Hyundai Motor America model-line engineer Eric Buxton and experts at the Hyundai America Technical Center. A selection of off-road gear was sourced from Hyundai and leading aftermarket companies including Rally Innovations, Truxxx, Gear Off Road , and Falken Tires. The custom, precision-crafted bed rack has been purpose-built to securely accommodate essential equipment, including four MaxTrax recovery boards, full-size spare tire and wheel, and a pair of reliable shovels. This vehicle's thoughtful combination of genuine Hyundai accessories and aftermarket enhancements shows customers how they can create a personalized Santa Cruz that suits their unique personalities and requirements. Modifications include:

Custom front bumper and skid plate for additional protection

Larger 17-inch Falken Wildpeak A/T3W off-road tires to enhance ground clearance and conquer rugged terrain

Rally Innovations front recovery mount with auxiliary lighting

Roof-rack-mounted light bar attached to Hyundai Genuine Accessory cross bars

Rear spare-tire mount with MaxTrax and shovel mounts

Truxxx lift kit (1.5-inch front, 1-inch rear)

Terratrip rally computer

An exciting graphic wrap showcasing the design elements embodied in Santa Cruz : ready for work, home, surf and mountain sports

: ready for work, home, surf and mountain sports Per Rebelle Rally rules, the Santa Cruz's antennas have been disconnected to eliminate GPS

About Rebelle Rally

The Rebelle Rally seamlessly merges a passion for off-roading with the exhilarating challenge of precision navigation. It's not just another motorsport event; it's a thrilling adventure that beckons participants to embrace the wilderness, challenging their limits and putting their navigation skills to the test without relying on modern GPS gadgets. What sets the Rebelle Rally apart is not just the off-road prowess it demands, but also the incredible camaraderie and empowerment the event fosters among the women who take part. It's a celebration of participants' achievements in the world of off-road motorsports, a thrilling adventure and an opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded strong women.

About The Brute Squad

Jill Ciminillo is a talented automotive writer, YouTube personality, podcaster, contributing editor to Consumer Guide Automotive, and the managing editor of Pickup Truck+SUV Talk. Catch up with her engaging content on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube at @jillciminillo.

Kristin Shaw is an accomplished freelance journalist who works in both automotive and aviation reporting. Her byline can be found in notable publications including Popular Science, Edmunds, Forbes, Road & Track, A Girls Guide to Cars, Motor1, Airport Improvement Magazine, and many more. For a closer look into Kristin's world, find her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @DriveModeShow and Twitter or Instagram @KristinVShaw.

For updates on the Brute Squad, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TeamBruteSquad and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/teambrutesquad/

"Kristin and I are looking forward to our second year in the Hyundai Santa Cruz," said navigator Jill Ciminillo . "This is an amazingly capable vehicle while managing to be comfortable at the same time. With the ever-changing weather conditions during Rebelle, we have the confidence to handle mud and sand as well as rocky terrain, and if we need to get out of the vehicle, we know there are heated-and-cooled seats as well as a phenomenal climate-control system waiting for us when we get back in. As we head into the 2023 Rebelle Rally, we have a better idea of what is ahead of us. We know there are seven 10-hour days ahead of us and we're lucky to be in our Hyundai Santa Cruz, which has some of the most comfortable seats for long-distance drives. That, combined with the carefully curated modifications to our dear Sandy means we're extra prepared for what's to come this year."

"Hyundai has been an incredible supporter and cheerleader for our team," said driver Kristin Shaw . "We know that Santa Cruz is capable and rugged from our experiences at last year's rally and through multiple training sessions. We've established strong teamwork and honed our skills. And every mile we travel gives us more experience and a better connection with the vehicle."

Off-roading can be dangerous, and Hyundai Motor America encourages drivers to consult their owner's manual and take appropriate safety precautions before using their appropriately equipped vehicles in off-road conditions.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

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SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
The world-renowned business visionary will address the conference via exclusive video interview

CHICAGO , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) is proud to announce that Paul Polman , former CEO of Unilever and recognized cross-industry climate, social change, and equalities campaigner, will speak to this year's Presidents Conference attendees.

Paul Polman , former CEO of Unilever, to address attendees during IFMA Presidents Conference this November.

As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), Polman demonstrated that business can profit through purpose, marrying a long-term, multi-stakeholder model with excellent financial performance. During Paul's tenure, shareholders saw their returns increase by 290% while the company consistently ranked first in the world for sustainability and as one of best places to work.

Polman believes, above all, that humanity will only overcome our greatest shared challenges through far-reaching systems change and bold new partnerships that deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which he helped develop.

The IFMA Presidents Conference brings executives from the food-away-from-home industry together each year to address industry-wide concerns and share innovative breakthroughs on issues like food waste and maintaining a positive labor force. Polman will be addressing the global needs for responsible food management and ethical, responsible business practices with this year's conference attendees.

Polman has stated, "When business leaders swap timidity for ambition and collaborate with others  their peers, their critics, governments and civil society  we can fix broken systems and help find solutions to humanity's biggest problems."

The food-away-from-home industry is no stranger to integrating socially responsible efforts into business models across all segments of foodservice. "For some, it began simply as a desire to meet growing consumer demand for business transparency," said IFMA CEO Phil Kafarakis , "Now, it is a business imperative. We are elated to welcome Paul Polman , a global leader in corporate responsibility as it pertains to equality, climate change and sustainability, to IFMA's Presidents Conference. We hope to continue collaborating with him and his organization in the future as we help lead our industry to greater awareness and engagement in addressing these global concerns."

Due to scheduling restrictions, Kafarakis will interview Polman a few days before the Presidents Conference. The video of this exclusive interview will be shared in a general session at the conference on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 .

IFMA's Presidents Conference is open to IFMA members and foodservice operators. More at ifmaworld.com.

About International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA)

The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) is a trade association founded in 1952. IFMA empowers, nurtures, and connects an inclusive and diverse $1.5 trillion food-away-from-home ecosystem of manufacturers, distributors, operators, and others. By sharing insights, fostering best practices, and developing networking and educational opportunities through events, IFMA informs and instructs its members, and motivates change to improve both individual organizations and the foodservice industry at large. For more information, visit IFMAworld.com.

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SOURCE International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA)
IMPT-514 is the first CD19/CD20 CAR T-cell therapy in development for lupus

Designed as a one-time treatment option, IMPT-514 has potential to reset the immune system through deep autoreactive B-cell depletion

Dosing of first patient in Phase 1b/2 dose escalation trial expected in early 2024

LOS ANGELES , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmPACT Bio USA , Inc. ("ImmPACT Bio"), a clinical-stage company developing transformative logic-gate-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) for IMPT-514, a potential first-in-class CD19/CD20 CAR-T therapy for the treatment of patients with active refractory lupus nephritis (LN) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In August 2023 , ImmPACT Bio received FDA clearance to initiate clinical development of IMPT-514 in an open label Phase 1b/2 dose escalation trial in participants with active, refractory SLE.

"SLE is a systemic, chronic, multi-organ autoimmune disease associated with increased risk of mortality, progressive organ damage, and reduced health-related quality of life. Approximately half of patients with SLE have LN, the most severe manifestation of SLE. Current treatment approaches have demonstrated clinical improvements, but are limited by broad and severe immune suppression, lack of tissue penetration, and chronic administration," said Sumant Ramachandra , M.D., Ph.D., president, and chief executive officer of ImmPACT Bio. "To address these limitations, IMPT-514 was designed as a one-time treatment option with potential to reset the immune system through deep B-cell depletion. Receiving FTD from the FDA reinforces the therapeutic promise that IMPT-514 holds as the first CD19/CD20 dual targeting CAR T-cell therapy with potential to improve disease activity and renal outcomes for patients with lupus. We look forward to dosing the first patient in our Phase 1b/2 trial for the treatment of active, refractory SLE expected in early 2024."

Fast Track Designation is designed to help drugs reach patients faster by facilitating the development and expediting the review of drugs with the potential to fill an unmet medical need and treat serious or life-threatening conditions. Programs receiving FTD benefit from early and frequent interactions with the FDA during the clinical development process and, if relevant criteria are met, the FDA may consider reviewing portions of a marketing application before the sponsor submits the complete application.

About Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a chronic, often severe, systemic autoimmune disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus results from an immune attack on healthy tissues and the development of widespread inflammation that results in tissue damage throughout the body. B cells are known to play an early and central role in disease pathogenesis. Lupus afflicts more than 200,000 patients in the U.S. alone, with approximately 50 percent having lupus nephritis, the most severe manifestation of SLE which can result in end-stage renal disease and increased mortality. Despite various therapies used for the treatment of SLE, including approved biologics, there remains a significant unmet need for safe and highly effective therapies for this disease.

About IMPT-514

IMPT-514 is a CD19/CD20-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy that utilizes a potent bispecific CAR and a 4-1BB costimulatory domain. It is the same CAR construct as ImmPACT's IMPT-314, which is under development for certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. IMPT-314 and IMPT-514 are based on work by Yvonne Chen , Ph.D., associate professor, and Sarah Larson , M.D., associate professor of medicine, both of the University of California, Los Angeles. In preclinical studies, IMPT-514 was successfully and efficiently manufactured from heavily immunosuppressed patients with lupus nephritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and showed potent elimination of autologous B cells and a moderate cytokine profile.

About ImmPACT Bio

ImmPACT Bio USA, Inc., is a clinical-stage company dedicated to the discovery of transformative chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies that address key biological challenges in treating cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company's logic-gate-based CAR T-cell platforms, licensed from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Technology Development Group, are specifically designed to deplete B cells, prevent antigen escape, and overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The company's technology is based on the work of pioneering scientists Yvonne Chen , Ph.D., and Antoni Ribas , M.D., Ph.D., both from UCLA. For more information, visit http://www.immpact-bio.com.

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SOURCE ImmPACT Bio
Case of four forcibly disappeared human rights defenders litigated by RFK Human Rights, CERJ

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. CST on October 11 on the case of Perez Lucas et al. v. Guatemala , the four human rights defenders forcibly disappeared by the Guatemalan Army in 1989 whose whereabouts continue to be unknown.

During the hearing, the Court will receive the testimony of Pedro Mateo , the son of Nicolas Mateo , one of the four defenders who were forcibly disappeared. The court will also hear from expert witness Dr. Jo-Marie Burt , who will talk about the case and the broader context of impunity that persists in Guatemala for cases of serious violations of human rights during the country's internal armed conflict.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and the Consejo de Comunidades Etnicas "Runujel Junam" (CERJ) represent the victims and their families in litigating the case before the Inter-American human rights system.

Human rights defenders Agapito Perez Lucas , Nicolas Mateo , Macario Pu Chivalan and Luis Ruiz Luis were active members of CERJ who contributed to the liberation of peasants forcibly recruited by the Civil Defense Committees and Patrols during the armed conflict in Guatemala . Due to their work promoting human rights, the four defenders were subjected to threats and persecution, which culminated in their arbitrary detention and forced disappearance by members of the Guatemalan Army. Despite the public denunciations of the CERJ and international organizations, as well as the filing of numerous habeas corpus actions, the Guatemalan authorities never disclosed the defenders' whereabouts nor held any officer accountable for their actions. To date, the case remains in impunity.

The case of the four disappeared defenders is emblematic of the serious abuses committed by the Guatemalan Army during the internal armed conflict in the country, which culminated in the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996. The case also underscores the prevailing culture of impunity in Guatemala and the persistent debt of the Guatemalan State with the victims of serious human rights violations.

"34 years after the Army abducted and disappeared these brave human rights defenders, their families will finally be heard," said Kerry Kennedy , President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. " Guatemala's debt to the victims of serious human rights abuses committed by the State has not been paid, and the current attacks on democracy and the rule of law in the country make it more relevant than ever to hold the Government accountable. Justice delayed is justice denied. It's long past time."

"The pain of these four families is a reflection of the pain shared by countless families victimized by Guatemala's brutal state repression. We remain hopeful that the families will finally obtain justice before the Court," said Amilcar Mendez, founder of CERJ. "It has been impressive to see how these families have endured so many years of suffering, and honestly, I cannot understand how they have survived. We, who have remained patient and steadfast in our fight for justice, continue to support this just cause."

The hearing will be live-streamed (in Spanish only) here .

About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights:

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issues championing change-makers and pursuing strategic litigation in the United States and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter: @RFKHumanRights.

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SOURCE Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
MINNEAPOLIS , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyros, a technology-enabled services company with a mission to remove barriers to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) recovery services, is proud to introduce Miaja Cassidy as the latest and only independent member of its Board of Directors. Cassidy, possessing an established reputation in compliance, regulatory affairs, and business development, is poised to strategically help guide Kyros to expand its reach within underserved communities, reinforcing its position as an innovator in the industry.

With over 25 years of expertise across varied sectors, Cassidy brings an integrated blend of compliance knowledge, business insight, and legal acumen. Notably, her tenure at Target saw the meticulous establishment of the Healthcare Compliance organization, garnering industry-wide respect for her proficiency and accessibility.

Upon Cassidy's inclusion in the Kyros Board, Daniel Larson , Founder & CEO, remarked, "During the 2022 holiday season, I had a profound conversation with Miaja, a luminary in healthcare compliance. Her reputation and experience truly place her in a class of her own. She aptly summarized the core of compliance: aiding people. Prioritizing compliance, she emphasized, ensures peace of mind and centers our focus on this mission. 'Invest now, and countless individuals will benefit,' she conveyed. Miaja emerged as the perfect individual to lead our unwavering commitment to compliance. As our board's only independent member, she brings not only unparalleled expertise in compliance and business strategy but also emphasizes independence, integrity, and transparency. We eagerly anticipate the direction her insights will provide to Kyros," Larson concluded.

Commenting on her addition to the Board, Cassidy said, "I've had the privilege of aligning with Daniel over the past year, assisting in curating a robust compliance structure for Kyros. Daniel's confidence in granting unbridled independence in compliance initiatives is a testament to his dedication to unerring transparency and integrity. I await the opportunity to fortify the compliance foundation that Kyros presently maintains."

Cassidy's induction into the Board reaffirms Kyros' dedication to stakeholders and partners ensuring the company's unwavering commitment to the highest level of compliance, transparency, and integrity. The team at Kyros is enthused about the leadership, expertise and independence Miaja will bring to the Board.

About Miaja Cassidy :

Miaja Cassidy is Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. With over 25 years of professional experience, Cassidy has established a reputation for expertise in risk management, regulatory affairs, and compliance. Cassidy's career includes significant roles at Medtronic, Target Corp., Hennepin Healthcare Systems, Inc., and Medica. A graduate from the University of Minnesota and Drake University Law School, she possesses certifications as a Healthcare Compliance Professional and Compliance and Ethics Professional. Her additional board positions include Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Steven Rummler Hope Network, and March of Dimes Minnesota.

About Kyros:

Kyros stands as a pioneering digital platform tailored for Substance Use Disorder recovery services. Leveraging technology, it bridges clients, providers, and organizations, aiming to narrow the treatment gap for those grappling with Substance Use Disorder. By enhancing the accessibility to tailored, effective, and timely services, Kyros persistently removes the barriers hindering their access. Established in 2021 by Daniel Larson , inspired by challenges from his personal encounter with Substance Use Disorder, Kyros aspires to uplift the outcomes for countless Americans either navigating their own recovery or committed to aiding others in their pursuit of support and wellbeing.

For more information on Kyros, click here.

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SOURCE Kyros
E-moto maker sells 100th bike produced at its headquarters on West 65th Street in Cleveland

CLEVELAND , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of selling its 100th Cleveland -made electric motorcycle, LAND, an electric mobility manufacturer, announces the launch of its 'Made in Cleveland ' campaign, showcasing the company's road to success and deep connection to the Rust Belt region.

Founded in Cleveland in 2020, LAND quickly became a prominent player in the electric bike industry after being the first to release an e-Moto, The District, which combines the ease of use of an e-bike and the power of an e-motorcycle into one two-wheel EV. Most recently, LAND closed a successful Series A fundraise, which was oversubscribed, expanded its production team, and renovated its 30,000-square-foot facilitydriving the design and development of eco-friendly urban transportation solutions.

"We're committed to designing, building and making our e-motorcycles at our facility in the heart of Cleveland ," LAND Founder and CEO Scott Colosimo says. "The campaign is a tribute to the quality manufacturing and craftsmanship that comes from this region."

One of the key milestones LAND is celebrating with this campaign is the production of its 100th electric motorcycle that signifies the company's rapid growth and support of Cleveland's economy. Another is the partnerships and relationships established since opening its headquarters. In collaboration with Greater Cleveland Partnership, LAND offers an internship program with the goal to encourage young creatives to build their careers in Cleveland . The program currently employs two engineering studentsone from Cleveland State University and the other from Case Western University. Additionally, LAND has held a series of events, test rides and facility tours this year, including a visit with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and an evening with Young ACG Cleveland.

The 'Made in Cleveland ' campaign will include additional community engagement initiatives, including a partnership with Cleveland Vibes and hosting the attendees of the 2023 Forbes Under 30 Summit, which takes place on October 8-11 in Cleveland , for an electric experience at LAND.

"Our headquarters is a hub where we can connect, educate and inspire locals and people visiting Cleveland from out of town," LAND's Head of Design Evan Painter says. "After they see the design and innovation that's happening here, they start to see that the Midwest is on the rise."

To learn more, visit landmoto.io .

About LAND

Founded in 2020 by Scott Colosimo in Cleveland, Ohio , LAND is based on the principle that energy continuity and mobility are essential to modern life. LAND provides a transitional e-Moto ecosystem with a portable battery platform (CORE), a game-changing approach in the light electric vehicle industry. With products proudly manufactured in Cleveland , LAND is unwavering in its belief in American ingenuity and world-class craftsmanship. As a design-forward company, LAND is dedicated to constantly evolving to meet the needs of their customers, everyday consumers and businesses looking for energy efficiency. For more information on LAND, visit landmoto.io; like us on Facebook ( Facebook.com/LandMo.to ); follow us on Instagram ( @Land_Moto ); or watch us on YouTube ( youtube.com/c/LANDEnergy ) and TikTok ( @Land_Moto ).

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SOURCE LAND
Lawsuit Cash Advance Firm lists types of commercial litigation cases that qualify for funding ranging from $10K to $10MM and instructs clients where to apply.

LOS ANGELES , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay LLC, The Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, a leader in lawsuit funding services and legal funding with the fastest approval process in the industry, announced today that they have launched a new site for commercial litigation case funding and will be focusing on funding more commercial litigation cases for the foreseeable future. For over a decade, Legal-Bay has been dedicated to funding large and complex commercial litigation cases. However, they have now expanded to accommodate more clientele as they've seen a surge in cases where clients have been disqualified for advances from other funding companies.

Legal-Bay specializes in complex business and commercial cases and has a team of attorneys and large institutional investors ready to evaluate cases in an expedited manner in effort to grant plaintiffs their requested funding amount. Whether you are looking for $10,000 or up to $10MM, Legal-Bay can assist you with getting the capital or lawsuit cash advance you need to see your case through to final settlement payment.

Chris Janish , CEO commented on the company's new focus and target on commercial litigation pre settlement advances, "Although we have been very active in the commercial litigation funding industry for over a decade for cases ranging over $500K in funding, we have found that the lower end of the market is underserved. Plaintiffs who need smaller funding amounts in the range of $10K to $500K is something our in-house underwriting team can process quickly and fund within a week of due diligence. We believe that we are the only commercial litigation funder that is dedicated to this specific target market at this time."

To apply for funding on your commercial litigation case with Legal-Bayknown as "one of the best lawsuit loan companies"or if you're looking for a loan on lawsuit, to get started with the 24 to 48-hour approval process on your settlement or pre-settlement funding request, please call 877.571.0405 or visit: https://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com/commercial-lawsuit-funding.php

Legal-Bay states that they consider all commercial cases, however, the following cases are where they typically dedicate the most focus:

Verdict or Judgment on Appeal Cases

Quit Tam or Whistle Blower Lawsuits

Breach of Contract Cases

Security Fraud or Stock Arbitration Cases

Patent or Copy Right Infringement

Intellectual Property Disputes

Anti-Trust Lawsuits

Wrongful Termination Cases

Legal Malpractice Disputes

Accounting Malpractice Disputes

Franchise Protection Cases

Real Estate Disputes

Banking Dispute Cases

Royalty Payment Disputes

Estate or Trust Disputes

Construction Dispute

Environmental Dispute

Commercial Litigation Case Cost or Expert Witness / Trial Cost Funding

Legal-Bay remains a key player in the lawsuit pre-settlement funding industry, providing lawsuit cash advances to plaintiffs while they await payments prior to case settlements. The cash advances are sometimes referred to as lawsuit loans, loan on lawsuit, loan for settlements, loan settlement, or settlement loans, however, the lawsuit cash advances are on a non-recourse basis, which means the plaintiff is only required to repay the advance if they win their case. Legal-Bay does not buy the full claim but simply advances a small portion of the expected settlement amount. Any fees or expenses accrued on the cash advance will be repaid by the plaintiff's lawyer if and when the case if officially settled and paid. Any mention to lawsuit loans on here is merely based on how public references these type funding's, when in reality the advances are not loans from a legal footing.

Please note that all 50 states across the U.S. are eligible for Legal-Bay's commercial case settlement or commercial litigation pre-settlement lawsuit funding. The largest focus of commercial cases is in the largest cities, New York , Los Angeles , San Francisco , San Diego , Houston , Dallas , Miami , Phoenix , Philadelphia , Austin , Boston , Detroit , Cleveland , Charlotte , Providence, Tampa and Jacksonville.

To learn more, please call Legal-Bay's 24-hour hotline at 877.571.0405 or visit:

https://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com/commercial-lawsuit-funding.php

Contact: Chris Janish , CEO

Ph. 877.571.0405 Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC
WILMINGTON, Mass. and LOS ALAMOS, N.M. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. ("Liberty" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2A), a leading technology provider of AI-based next generation detection solutions for protecting secure locations against prohibited weapons and other threats, is pleased to announce that it has shipped two HEXWAVE walkthrough screening portals to Los Alamos National Laboratory as per the order received by the Company in August.

Located in northern New Mexico , Los Alamos is a multi-program, federally funded research and development center for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy. It has 900 individual facilities and over 17,000 employees who work on site.

HEXWAVE uses millimeter wave, advanced 3D imaging, and AI to detect concealed metallic and non-metallic items and weapons such as liquid, plastic, and powder explosives, 3D printed guns, and other user defined prohibited items  without having to divest common items allowed by the systems' end user.

"It is an exciting time at Liberty Defense, and we are certainly proud to be delivering our first commercial HEXWAVE systems to a customer like Los Alamos ," said Bill Frain , CEO of Liberty Defense. "We're looking forward to a long working relationship with the team at Los Alamos , and delivering high performing security detection equipment to meet their requirements."

For updates and news, please visit the Company website to subscribe to email alerts or follow Liberty Defense on social channels.

On Behalf of Liberty Defense

Bill Frain

CEO & Director

About Liberty Defense

Liberty Defense ( TSXV: SCAN , OTCQB: LDDFF , FRANKFURT : LD2A ) provides multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security such as airports, stadiums, schools, and more. Liberty's HEXWAVE product, for which the company has secured an exclusive license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a technology transfer agreement for patents related to active 3D radar imaging technology, provides discrete, modular, and scalable protection to provide layered, stand-off detection capability of metallic and non-metallic weapons. Liberty has also recently licensed the millimeter wave-based, High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) body scanner and shoe scanner technologies as part of its technology portfolio. Liberty is committed to protecting communities and preserving peace of mind through superior security detection solutions. Learn more: LibertyDefense.com

About Los Alamos National Labs



Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is managed by Triad, a public service oriented, national security science organization equally owned by its three founding members: Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), and the Regents of the University of California (UC) for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although Liberty believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Liberty. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Liberty's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The parties undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Liberty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Liberty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Liberty has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Liberty as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Liberty does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

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.

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SOURCE Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.
Boschs plant at Ceske Budejovice, one of the German companys largest research and development centers in Europe, perfectly encapsulates the changing times in the auto industry. Built three decades ago, the plant took advantage of the lower labor costs of what, at that time, was Czechoslovakia. For years, the factory has been a powerful center for the production of components for automobile companies: thousands upon thousands of brake pedals and exhaust pipes of vehicles manufactured by German automotive giants left the factory year after year. Today, with the car sector undergoing unprecedented change and with the shelving of diesel and gasoline just around the corner, the Czech plant is fighting for its own reconversion, and that of the whole group, which is the worlds largest manufacturer of automobile components.

Despite repeated attempts to extend the deadlines by the major European brands  much further behind in electrification than their Chinese competitors and, above all, than the American Tesla  there is a clear reality: the last combustion car will be registered in Europe in 2035. Or even sooner, if you look at the total paradigm shift in Norway and China, or even in the Netherlands (inside the EU): the future of cars lies in batteries  which require far fewer components than their internal combustion predecessors  while the future of trucks and buses probably relies on a mix of electric and hydrogen fuel cells, which allow a greater travel range and reduce charging times although at the cost of lower efficiency.

We are aware that cars will be mostly electric, but we believe that the fuel cell, powered by green hydrogen, can have a significant presence in long distance, high-tonnage vehicles, such as trucks, explains Alan Celic, head of the plant located in southern Bohemia, which EL PAIS was invited to visit this week. He goes a step further: The hydrogen cell is the best alternative for this type of vehicle to make the leap from diesel, because it avoids the weight of the batteries and reduces recharging time: truck drivers cant wait for a battery to be charged to 100%. Its not efficient.

These days, Boschs own global website is a declaration of intent: accessing its corporate portal, readers find a premonitory motto in five columns: Hydrogen: energy for the future. The same thing happens in Ceske Budejovice: catalytic converters and tail pipes have now made way for a chemical symbol: HO. All their efforts are now focused on the green molecule, called upon to play a key role in the energy transition: from purification systems for poor quality water and even seawater (so that they can be used in the process of generating green hydrogen) to electrolyzers or fuel cells. Although energy is the companys third branch of activity, after mobility and consumer goods, it is the sector that is growing the most.

Boschs choice of the Czech Republic is by no means arbitrary. Its presence here, a country of just over 10 million inhabitants and located at a privileged crossroads in Central Europe, dates back to the 1920s. Interrupted for a few years by the World War II, the great acceleration occurred in the eighties and nineties, when low salaries and the quality of its human capital made it a priority destination for German manufacturing investment, especially for the automotive industry. Those were the years  the decades, rather  in which multinationals had cost-cutting as their only guide. And the years, too, in which both Slovakia and the Czech Republic became what they are today: the two largest car manufacturers in Europe and two of the three largest in the world.

Wage gap

There you can also see that times have changed. The Czech Republic maintains its privileged position in the world table of producers  largely due to Skoda, now a subsidiary of Volkswagen  but the wage gap with respect to the most prosperous countries in Europe has narrowed. Workers are more expensive and the Czech labor market is practically empty, says Milan Slachta, head of Bosch in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, referring to the very low unemployment rate (just over 2%, the lowest in the EU) and the fight for the best profiles that is intensifying between companies. Both factors, together with automation and the much lower need for components for electric cars, will reduce the productive size of this plant. However, other, more technical profiles produced at the plant have continued to gain importance.

Cheap labor is no longer what is sought in Ceske Budejovice, halfway between Vienna and Prague and closer to the border with Austria than to the Czech capital itself. Among the employees of this hybrid plant  in which manufacturing and R&D coexist  white collars these days outnumber blue collars. By a landslide: seven out of ten employees have higher education degrees. In that group, the dominance of engineers is overwhelming. There is a legion of 800 people, of which one in three works on projects linked to green energy. Soon, diesel and gasoline will be left behind: the future is reserved for electricity and the hydrogen fuel cell.

An atypical company Bosch is not a typical company. With more than 420,000 employees worldwide, almost 86,000 of them dedicated to research and development, it is the only German liner that is not only not listed on the stock market, but has a very large majority of its capital (92%) in the hands of a non-profit foundation (the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH) at the express wish of its founder, who gives its name to both. Last year, Bosch won more than 1,800 million, compared to the 2,500 of the previous one, and distributed 162 and 143 million in dividends in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Of that money, a large part went to health and education projects.

If a firm embodies the values  and the cliches  of the German industry, it is this one: no concessions, fuss or redundant costs. Also in Ceske Budejovice, in southern Bohemia, where an additional point of secrecy is added to this cocktail: the few visitors who pass through its facilities each year do so with the cameras of their mobile phones covered with a striking red sticker to prevent them from photographing the prototypes their engineers are working on. The reason for such security lies in R&D (to which it dedicates more than 7,000 million a year) and in patents: the company registers almost a dozen of them every day in everyone.

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CHICAGO and MUMBAI, India , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As millions of Americans in major metropolitan areas awoke in their glassy high-rise apartments, a landmark deal was being signed in an unassuming office in the Lower Parel area of Mumbai, India between Indian producers and Reflection Window and Wall to help ensure tomorrow's generation of gleaming skyscrapers will be built using low carbon aluminum materials, which are defined as having less than 4 kilograms of carbon (kgCO2e) per one kilogram of aluminum (kgAL). This is a carbon savings of 75%-85% based on current averages from U.S. producers and other aluminum sources from around the globe.

This is a significant development because the number of buildings needed is expected to double by 2060. Forty percent of carbon emissions globally come directly from the construction industry, and the built environment. For example, aluminum extrusions typically emit 15-25 kilograms of carbon into the atmosphere for every kilogram of aluminum produced depending on the source country. Compare that to a typical 50 story high-rise building. It will use 250-thousand square feet of aluminum facade. Each square foot of facade contains approximately 4 pounds of aluminum. This equates to a million or more pounds of aluminum per building. This means 15 million to 25 million pounds of carbon released into the breathable atmosphere to make that aluminum framing now. Thanks to this landmark agreement, and per environmental product declaration provided for this new sustainable aluminum source that 15-25 million pounds of carbon would be reduced to 2.5 million pounds of carbon total for that same building facade; a potential carbon savings of 90% at no cost to the developer or the project!

U.S. based Reflection Window and Wall, LLC, (RWW) Glass Wall Systems India (GWS), and Global Aluminum Private Limited (GAP) of India have come together to create this sea change toward a zero-cost green future with international agreements from primary metals mining, all the way through the value chain to a first-of-its-kind multi-lateral, exclusive agreement combining extruding, finishing, fabrication, and customer delivery to the U.S.

Rodrigo d'Escoto, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, RWW, "If humans were inclined to sacrifice comfort or financial security to do the right thing for each other and the planet, we would have done it already. With this agreement we are achieving massive progress to make the world a cooler place while eliminating the paradox for building developers of choosing between a healthy planet and a healthy bottom line. To that end we have achieved what no one thought possible by partnering with key allies in the largest sister democracy in the world to make these low carbon building materials widely available in the U.S. at zero additional cost to their dirty counterparts on both small retail and large commercial scales. Thanks to this agreement, whether you're a small contractor replacing windows in a local school, or a major corporation manufacturing facades for a skyscraper; now the best option for your best price is also the best option for our world."

Anil Agarwal , Founder and Managing Director of GAP gives credit to Jawahar Hemrajani , Director GWS India who hosted the final negotiations and signing at their headquarters with bringing the parties together and for being the glue that binds this new alliance. "When my old friend Jawahar called me and explained Rodrigo's vision for bringing some of the lowest carbon aluminum in the world to the U.S. at this kind of scale; and at no cost premium to the consumer; I didn't know how we could possibly do it, but I knew I wanted to be a part of trying to make it happen, and I knew Global Aluminum could help," said Agarwal.

Hemrajani added, "I have been blessed to find good partners throughout my career, and I've learned that nothing meaningful is possible alone. Finding a way together to fulfill Rodrigo's vision reinforced that truth for me. Everyone knows that technology hasn't advanced yet to the point where products produced through sustainable energy are truly cost neutral. However, thanks to India's strong commitment to abundant renewable solar energy we are getting closer. Close enough, that with manageable sacrifices from my partners Anil and Rodrigo, as well as my own, we are now able to close that sustainability cost gap to zero for the U.S. consumer in architectural metals. I know I speak for Anil and Rodrigo that we could not be prouder and more honored to be the first of hopefully many new alliances, in many sectors, that make the simple choice to bridge the cost gap and reverse the global perception that sustainability is a premium luxury, to one that the sustainable option can and should be the best solution for the deal."

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SOURCE Reflection Window + Wall
The collaboration will be formally launched at EIT InnoEnergy's "The Business Booster" event Oct. 18-19 , in Amsterdam .

MILWAUKEE , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The green transition will drive demand for millions of new roles in renewable energy, electrification, battery technology, hydrogen and more. ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) and EIT InnoEnergy are committed to preparing people for these new opportunities, and today announce an ambitious partnership to train and upskill 800,000 workers in the battery value chain across Europe by the end of 2025.

The collaboration between ManpowerGroup and InnoEnergy's Skills Institute will provide accelerated virtual and in-person training for 70 in-demand roles including Battery Technicians, Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargers Maintenance Operators, Production Engineers, and more. Additionally, it helps drive progress towards the European Commission's goal of having a skilled workforce to support the European Union's Green Deal.

"This partnership is an investment in people and the planet, creating opportunities for individuals to have meaningful careers that benefit us all," Riccardo Barberis , ManpowerGroup's Regional President of Northern Europe said. "Collaborating with InnoEnergy to build a pipeline of skilled talent who will support Europe's transition to a net-zero future is not only smart business, but the right thing to do to help people level up their potential."

The InnoEnergy Skills Institute provides flexible training that includes online courses and a combination of virtual and in-person lab experiences. The wide-ranging options include 35 certifications  totaling more than 400 online learning hours. All of these resources are accessible in more than ten languages and will enable career changers to reskill and certify for green jobs as well as provide new entrants with the skills necessary to embark on green energy careers.

Additional details of the joint effort and the need to up-and re-skill the workforce of the future will be shared as part of EIT InnoEnergy's upcoming event, The Business Booster (TBB), which takes place October 18-19 in Amsterdam and showcases 150+ sustainable energy technologies under one roof. This year's theme is "The New Green Economy: Balancing Profit and Purpose." Barberis will take part in a panel discussion "Labour: Skills Shortage for the New Green Economy" alongside European Commission's Head of Unit for Skills, Services and Professions, Henning Ehrenstein , NIIT Chief Business Officer Sailesh Lalla , Frank Menchaca , President of Sustainable Mobility Solutions at SAE International, and Oana Penu , Director of the InnoEnergy Skills Institute.

"Tackling the climate change transition to a carbon neutral economy and society requires urgent collaboration and investment in upskilling and reskilling workers for the green jobs of tomorrow," said Oana Penu . "We are excited to join forces with ManpowerGroup to accelerate these efforts and equip hundreds of thousands of workers with the skills needed to support Europe's sustainability goals. At TBB, we look forward to explaining our solutions and the vital role partnerships like this play in building a skilled workforce for the future."

For more information, visit: tbb.innoenergy.com/about.

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP

ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands  Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions  creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity  as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2023 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 14th time  all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.

For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com , or follow us on LinkedIn , X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram .

ABOUT EIT INNOENERGY

EIT InnoEnergy operates at the centre of the energy transition and is the leading innovation engine in sustainable energy. It brings the technology, business model innovation and skills required to accelerate the green deal, progress towards Europe's decarbonisation and re-industrialisation goals, whilst also improving energy security.

Ranked as the most active investor in the energy sector in 2022 by Pitchbook, named in 2023 as one of Europe's top 10 most active deeptech investors by Sifted, and recognised in 2022 as Europe's leading impact investor in cleantech by Startup Genome, InnoEnergy backs innovations across a range of areas. These include energy storage, transport and mobility, renewables, energy efficiency, hard to abate industries, smart grids and sustainable buildings and cities, amongst others.

InnoEnergy is the driving force behind three strategic European initiatives which include the European Battery Alliance (EBA), the European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Centre (EGHAC) and the European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance (ESIA).

The InnoEnergy Skills Institute is an evolution of EIT InnoEnergy's highly successful European Battery Alliance (EBA) Academy, expanding to also include green hydrogen and solar photovoltaics (PV) value chains. Having trained and upskilled over 40,000 workers, the institute equips the global workforce with the expertise and skills required to create a sustainable economy.

InnoEnergy was established in 2010 and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe . Since its inception, EIT InnoEnergy has screened more than 7,000 start-ups, launched more than 300 products to market and overseen its portfolio companies filing 370+ patents. Today, EIT InnoEnergy has a 200+ strong team with offices across Europe and in Boston , US. www.innoenergy.com

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SOURCE ManpowerGroup
MEA's Santa Fe Location Opens in March 2024 With a Full Line-up of Teachers Including Luminaries Mark Nepo , Father Richard Rohr , Pico Iyer , Dr. Lyla June Johnston and More

MEA's Founder and New York Times Bestselling Author Chip Conley's New Book "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age" Based on Key Learnings of MEA is Available For Pre-Order

SANTA FE , N.M. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Live your best midlife. Unlock old hopes and discover new dreams at the world's first midlife wisdom school. Dedicated to "long life learning" and reframing the concept of aging, MEA helps guests to navigate their next chapter with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. After the success of MEA's first campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico , which opened in 2018, MEA's second campus is opening in March 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico on a 2566-acre regenerative horse ranch.

Nestled within the stunning Santa Fe landscape with lush high-desert mountain views with breathtaking sunsets, MEA provides a memorable escape with the comforts of contemporary elegance. "The Santa Fe campus is a private and secluded environment creating the space for big dreams and inspiration by offering a break to unwind from the day-to-day hustle. When you mix in the potent MEA work, you have a recipe for real impact," says Christine Sperber , Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer.

The opening Santa Fe workshop Spirituality + Health in Midlife & Beyond begins on March 25 and will be hosted by Chip Conley , MEA Founder and CEO, and Stephen Kiesling , Founder and Editor in Chief of Spirituality+Health Magazine. Kiesling and Conley will explore the rituals, practices, beliefs, and concepts that enhance the overall well-being of our bodies, minds, souls, communities, and the nurturing earth that sustains us. The following Santa Fe workshops include Navigating Transitions with Christine Sperber ( April 1 ), From Conventional to Intentional: Attune to Your Purpose with Zee Clarke ( April 8 ), Indigenous Wisdom, Global Action with Dr. Lyla June Johnston ( April 22 ), How To Live From The Wisdom Of Your Soul with Jackie Sussman ( April 29 ), and Transitions: Finding Your Rhythm in Midlife and Beyond with Michael Franti (May 13).

The MEA curriculum is designed to uncover wisdom through the three pillars of Navigating Transitions, Cultivating Purpose, and Owning Wisdom, that are core to the programming in both the Baja and Santa Fe locations. "We have developed a differentiated set of core workshops that will focus on the three key themes we have seen compadres working on at MEA over the past five years," states Jeff Hamaoui , Co-Founder and Chief Education and Innovation Officer. "Whether it's a high-tech executive or an elementary school teacher, our alumni from age 28-88 with an average age of 54 have helped us to craft our popular curriculum."

In addition to the weekly workshop schedule in Santa Fe and Baja featuring an impressive teacher line-up of renowned thought leaders, MEA offers a wellness vacation called Refresh, online courses, and an alumni membership program. In a time when longevity is increasing, MEA helps people to realize that their greatest years are ahead of them. "MEA is evolving and growing wiser," says Conley. "I'm looking forward to our future and how MEA is expanding our mission to help you live your best midlife." MEA is committed to socio-economic diversity, offering scholarships to over 30% of workshop attendees, and has built a dedicated alumni group of over 4,000 from 44 countries and 26 regional chapters globally.

Conley will also be publishing his seventh book this January, "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age," based on the key learnings of MEA. The book aims to help people understand the upside of this often-misunderstood life stage and to inspire readers to embrace midlife as a time of transformation and joy. "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age" is published by Little, Brown Spark and available for pre-order .

To learn more or sign up for one of MEA's offerings in Santa Fe, New Mexico or Baja, Mexico please visit MEA .

About Modern Elder Academy

Created as the answer to the ever-perplexing midlife stage, MEA  winner of Fast Company 2021 Brands that Matter Award  seeks to guide and support adults through transitions in their midlife years, with a particular lens on those aged 40 and above. MEA takes teachings from modern science and centuries of philosophers, writers, poets, and yogis, then melds them into lessons and insights for individuals looking for growth and guidance as they navigate midlife. Founded by best-selling author, hotelier, and entrepreneur, Chip Conley , MEA has built a dedicated alumni group of over 3,700 past participants from 44 countries. MEA hosts in-person workshops in Baja California Sur, Mexico , offers online programs year-round, and a regular lineup of free live virtual events. The new Santa Fe, New Mexico campus will be open to the public in March 2024 . For more information visit, MEA . For a daily dose of wisdom, subscribe to Wisdom Well , Chip Conley's blog and newsletter.

CONTACT:

Gemma Korus

[email protected]

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SOURCE MEA Pescadero LLC
JUNO BEACH, Fla. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that it plans to report third-quarter 2023 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 , in a news release to be posted on the company's website at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The company will issue an advisory news release over PR Newswire the morning of Oct. 24 , with a link to the financial results news release on the company's website. As previously communicated, the company will make available its financial results only on its website.

John Ketchum , chairman, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, Kirk Crews , executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, and other members of the company's senior management team will discuss the company's third-quarter 2023 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Oct. 24 . Results for NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation.

The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida . NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is America's largest electric utility that sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.8 million customer accounts, or more than 12 million people across Florida . NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida , New Hampshire and Wisconsin . A Fortune 200 company, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2023 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," recognized on Fortune's 2021 list of companies that "Change the World" and received the S&P Global Platts 2020 Energy Transition Award for leadership in environmental, social and governance. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

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SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.
JUNO BEACH, Fla. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) today announced that it plans to report third-quarter 2023 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 , in a news release to be posted on its website at www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/FinancialResults. An advisory news release will be issued over PR Newswire the morning of Oct. 24 , with a link to the financial results news release on NextEra Energy Partners' website. As previously announced, NextEra Energy Partners will make available its financial results only on its website.

John Ketchum , chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Partners, Kirk Crews, chief financial officer of NextEra Energy Partners, and other members of the senior management team will discuss the third-quarter 2023 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Oct. 24 . Results for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation.

The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy Partners' website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/FinancialResults. The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/FinancialResults, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above.

NextEra Energy Partners, LP

NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). NextEra Energy Partners acquires, manages and owns contracted clean energy projects with stable, long-term cash flows. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida , NextEra Energy Partners owns interests in geographically diverse wind, solar and energy storage projects in the U.S. as well as natural gas infrastructure assets in Texas and Pennsylvania . For more information about NextEra Energy Partners, please visit: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com.

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SOURCE NextEra Energy Partners, LP
OKX Chief Innovation Officer Jason Lau will speak on a panel titled ' Crypto Market Outlook: Insights and Forecasts from Top Crypto Exchanges' at Blockchain Life 2023 on October 24

DUBAI, UAE , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OKX, a leading global Web3 technology company and crypto exchange, today announced that it is a Sapphire Sponsor of Blockchain Life 2023, a crypto- and Web3-focused forum, held in Dubai 's Festival Arena from October 24-25 .

On the first day of the forum, OKX Chief Innovation Officer Jason Lau will speak at a panel discussion entitled 'Crypto Market Outlook: Insights and Forecasts from Top Crypto Exchanges,' alongside Bybit VP Head of Institutions Eugene Cheung , Huobi Global Head of VIP Client Services Charmaine Lim , Bitget UK Country Lead Jamie Elkaleh and Binance General Manager (MENA) Alexander Chehade . The panel, which takes place from 11:45 to 12:25 (UTC+4) at the main stage, will be moderated by Blockchain Life Forum MC Lilly Douse .

Event attendees and potential partners who visit OKX's booth (S11) will have the chance to meet and interact with representatives from OKX's global business development, marketing and event teams. Attendees who participate in OKX's photo contest at its booth and mint an NFT via OKX Wallet will also receive OKX-branded swag items, such as tote bags and t-shirts.

OKX Chief Innovation Officer Jason Lau said: "Blockchain Life 2023 provides us with a valuable platform to connect with key players and stakeholders in the Web3 industry, from innovative startups to influential thought leaders. Our sponsorship of the event highlights our commitment to the growth of the Web3 and digital ecosystem in Dubai and the wider Gulf region, as well as our dedication to fostering collaboration and connection within the community."

OKX also recently served as the Title Sponsor and Premium Partner of Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit, which took place on October 4-5 at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Center . On the first day of the conference, OKX Global Chief Commercial Officer Lennix Lai presented a keynote on 'Navigating the Bear Market.' Lennix also joined a panel discussion on 'Web3 and the Metaverse - Building Decentralized Digital Realities' on October 5 , alongside Accenture Web3 Lead Brett Hornung and Areon Network Chief Marketing Officer Deniz Percin .

Blockchain Life 2023 is expected to bring together 7,000 attendees, many of whom are representatives from crypto funds, government officials, miners, developers and startups, to discuss ways to shape the future of cryptocurrencies and Web3. To learn more about the event, click here.

For further information, please contact:

[email protected]

About OKX

OKX is a leading global crypto exchange and innovative Web3 company. Trusted by more than 50 million global users, OKX is known for being the fastest and most reliable crypto trading app for traders everywhere.

As a top partner of English Premier League champions Manchester City FC, McLaren Formula 1, Olympian Scotty James , and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo , OKX aims to supercharge the fan experience with new engagement opportunities. OKX is also the top partner of the Tribeca Festival as part of an initiative to bring more creators into web3.

The OKX Wallet is the platform's latest offering for people looking to explore the world of NFTs and the metaverse while trading GameFi and DeFi tokens. OKX is committed to transparency and security and publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com

Disclaimer

This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, hold or offer any services relating to digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition and risk tolerance. OKX does not provide investment or asset recommendations. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions, and OKX is not responsible for any potential losses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances.

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SOURCE OKX
New integration helps nonprofits tap into donor preferences and enhance the giving experience.

INDIANAPOLIS , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OneCause, a leading provider of digital fundraising technology, today announced its new integration with Virtuous CRM. The integration seamlessly exports event, auction, and total giving data from OneCause to Virtuous CRM, centralizing a wealth of data and providing deeper insight into donor preferences and behavior.

By combining donor data and fundraising activities from their auctions and events, nonprofits that adopt the integration will gain a comprehensive view of donor interactions, leading to more personalized and meaningful engagement with supporters.

"Today's donors expect personalized digital interactions, and those expectations extend to the giving experience," said Steve Johns , chief executive officer at OneCause. "With this integration, nonprofits can better meet the needs and preferences of individual donors, providing a more personalized, authentic connection to missions, enhancing fundraising efforts, and ultimately enabling greater impact."

When a supporter's giving activity flows from OneCause into Virtuous, fundraising professionals will be able to leverage real-time data to automate communications, add tasks, and easily append donor information. This provides nonprofits with insights for the next best action in the donor journey, helping to build trust and loyalty through personalized engagement. Layering the additional data elevates the understanding of a donor's capacity and motivations to help nonprofits create hyper-personal and responsive donor experiences that grow giving.

"The OneCause and Virtuous integration will empower fundraisers everywhere to grow giving with the power of Responsive Fundraising," said Gabe Cooper , chief executive officer at Virtuous. "We couldn't be more excited to join forces with OneCause to create the most holistic giving platform for today's modern fundraiser."

The integration is available to OneCause customers who utilize Virtuous as their CRM solution. To learn more, visit www.onecause.com to request a demo.

About OneCause

OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy-to-use digital fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 11,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $5.8 billion for their missions. Headquartered in Indianapolis , OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising. For more information, visit www.onecause.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Virtuous

Much more than a nonprofit CRM, Virtuous is the only responsive fundraising platform designed to help nonprofit teams build better donor relationships and increase impact with confidence. Virtuous helps unify fundraising, marketing, and donor development activities, ridding teams of redundant back-office tasks, and surfacing the insights and signals needed to deliver dynamic donor experiences at scale. Learn more at virtuous.org.

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SOURCE OneCause
Partners Provide Tailored Security Combining AI and Human Intelligence to Make Security Teams Faster and More Effective with Automation, Real-Time Collaboration and Localized Insights

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ontinue , a leading provider of AI-powered extended managed detection and response (MXDR) services and winner of the 2023 Microsoft Security Services Innovator of the Year award, and its partner Telarus, a leading technology services distributor (TSD), are strengthening the cybersecurity protections of their joint customers by maximizing their existing Microsoft 365 Defender investments with the Ontinue ION MXDR service. Together, they provide a tailored security service that combines AI and human intelligence to address customers' most urgent security issues while reducing their total cost of ownership.

The common practice of integrating a growing number of 'best of breed' security tools sourced from multiple vendors has been around for a long time. However, having more security solutions does not make organizations more secure if they lack the staff or resources to implement and operationalize these tools properly. Organizations need an MXDR service that knows their environment and their controls inside and out to provide localized insights and optimal protection. Ontinue ION is built around the unique needs of organizations and is designed to optimize Microsoft 365 Defender and leverage Microsoft security and collaboration portfolios.

"Effective SecOps demands a service provider that understands your environment, workflows, risks, objectives and tools," said Pedro Vidal , Vice President of North America Sales for Ontinue. "Ontinue ION delivers this and more through artificial and human intelligence. Our AI-powered insights help our defenders understand customers' environments and critical assets for faster and more effective responses. Together, with our partner Telarus, we are delivering this tailored, localized security to help customers get faster and smarter  at a lower total cost of ownership."

Ontinue is a top MXDR partner of Telarus and is providing its ION service to many joint customers in finance, healthcare, education and other industries.

Ontinue ION sets new standards for MXDR services. It delivers Nonstop SecOps with 24/7, always-on protection while increasing overall security program maturity, efficacy and scalability. ION overcomes the shortcomings of traditional MDR solutions in several ground-breaking ways, including the first Microsoft Teams-based collaboration model for seamless real-time communication between SecOps, IT and all other security stakeholders. Complementing these advanced capabilities of the ION service is the deep Microsoft security expertise of Ontinue's ION staff, which enables customers to maximize the capabilities of their Microsoft security investments.

"Our successful partnership with Ontinue allows our customers to fully leverage their Microsoft 365 Defender investments and tap into around-the-clock protection against today's most complex and sophisticated threat actors," said Jason Stein , Vice President of Cybersecurity at Telarus. "Together, we provide customers in Finance, Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing and more with comprehensive 24/7 protection that improves their security postures through automation, collaboration and faster Mean Time to Respond and strengthens their ongoing security maturity."

To learn more about this partnership, please visit www.telarus.com/become-a-partner .

About Telarus

Telarus is a leading global technology services distributor with a singular focus on accelerating partner success. For over 20 years, Telarus has provided comprehensive services, solutions, and tools to support our partner community as they pursue their business objectives. To learn more or become a partner, go to www.telarus.com/become-a-partner .

About Ontinue

As a leading provider of AI-powered extended managed detection and response (MXDR) services, Ontinue is on a mission to be the most trusted, 24/7, always-on security partner that empowers customers to embrace the future by using AI to operate more strategically, at scale, and with less risk. We believe that the combination of AI and human expertise is essential for delivering effective managed security that is tailored to a customer's unique environment, operational constraints, and risks. Our MXDR service combines powerful proprietary AI with the industry's first collaboration with Microsoft Teams to continuously build a deep understanding of our customers' environments, informing how we prevent, detect, and respond to threats. Our unrivaled Microsoft expertise allows customers to achieve these outcomes with the Microsoft Security tools they already own. The result is highly localized managed protection that empowers security teams to be faster, smarter, and more cost efficient than ever before.

Continuous protection. AI-powered Nonstop SecOps. That's Ontinue. Learn more about partnering at www.ontinue.com/partners or connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Ontinue PR contact:

Ontinue

John Giddings

[email protected]

US PR contact:

Lumina

Nathaniel Hawthorne

[email protected]

DACH PR contact:

PR-COM

Katrin Link

[email protected]

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SOURCE Ontinue
Health plan expands provider network, adds innovative service that reduces barriers to care

ANCHORAGE, Alaska , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska today announced improvements to members' access to behavioral healthcare, which includes care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, through new solutions that break down barriers to accessing care. This three-year initiative included developing a service to help members find an available provider and expanding the health plan's provider network.

Millions of people are affected by behavioral health conditions every year, but despite how common these issues are, people still struggle to get care. According to Mental Health America, nearly 30 percent of adults in Alaska with a mental health condition reported they could not get the treatment they needed, while 55 percent of Alaskan youths with clinical depression did not receive any treatment in the last year.

"When someone is struggling with a behavioral health condition, it's critical we meet them wherever they are in their healthcare journey," said Rami Rafeh , Vice President of Provider Strategy and Collaboration at Premera. "We focus on creating solutions that provide better access to services that fit someone's unique needs."

Premera is helping members get connected to care through its Matchmaker for Behavioral Health program. This new program, available on January 1, 2024 , is designed to make the process of finding a healthcare provider less stressful and time-consuming. Premera members who use this program receive a curated list from the Matchmaker team tailored to the member's specific needs, which includes in-network behavioral health clinicians who are accepting new patients. The Matchmaker team can source providers for adults and youth anywhere in the country. Members receive their list for free if their plan includes access to the Matchmaker service.

Premera also expanded its behavioral health provider network in Alaska by 45 percent in the last three years to meet the increased demand for care. This growth added hundreds of clinicians across various specialties and locations that provide both in-person and virtual care. To support access to behavioral healthcare in the community, Premera also invested in the expansion of University of Alaska Anchorage's Master in Social Work program and supported the integration of UW Medicine's Collaborative Care model into primary care clinics in the Kenai

Peninsula, Mat-Su, Petersburg , and Northwest Arctic boroughs, and Southeast Fairbanks area.

Members should check their benefits booklet or call the phone number on the back of their ID card to determine services and care available under their plan. For more information about how to find care and use a plan's benefits, visit the behavioral health care essentials page.

About Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska

Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, a not-for-profit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association based in Anchorage, Alaska , is a leading health plan in the Pacific Northwest , providing comprehensive health benefits and tailored services to its members.

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SOURCE Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
Join industry leaders at The KINN in Venice, California , for Insights into transformative wellness and emotionally intelligent tech

LOS ANGELES , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move set to transform the wellness and emotional health sectors, PRUVN, a leading research organization validating wellness products and services, and Love Out Loud , a transformative movement and pioneer in emotional empowerment, are joining forces to present an exclusive event poised to transform lives.

This partnership empowers consumers to make better decisions and take control of their physical and emotional health.

In a city known for its trendsetters and seekers of the extraordinary, PRUVN and Love Out Loud are unveiling their strategic partnership and game-changing products on Thursday, October 12, 2023 , 6-9 p.m. , at The KINN in Venice, California .

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the CEOs, additional partners, representatives of Beverly Hills Publishing and many thought leaders in the wellness industry. Plus, they can get their hands on a signed copy of Love Out Loud CEO Nicole Gibson's new book, "Legacy Disorder".

This partnership is not merely a business alliance. It is a collective movement to shift the paradigm of health and personal data. By joining forces, they aim to create better, more effective alternatives rooted in human principles. Their journey toward empowering consumers, protecting data and elevating human consciousness is a beacon of hope in an age dominated by surveillance capitalism.

Elias Arjan , Co-Founder and CEO of PRUVN, underscored that our civilization stands at a crossroads, demanding an alternative that champions consumer empowerment and protects personal data.

"We are at a critical juncture where the current attention-economy model is eroding our collective well-being. It's time for an ecosystem of like-minded collaborators to come together and create legitimate alternatives that prioritize human values over surveillance capitalism," Arjan said.

The commitment of Love Out Loud and PRUVN to building solutions that elevate the consciousness of humanity is at the heart of their partnership.

Nicole Gibson , CEO of Love Out Loud , affirms this, saying, "We firmly believe that the products and technologies that elevate the consciousness of humanity will ultimately dominate the market. However, it takes a unified force of forward-thinking companies coming together to make this vision a reality."

Countless wellness and emotional health products flood the market each year, often making grand claims without scientific backing. Thus, consumers are left to navigate through a sea of promises, often leading to confusion and disappointment.

PRUVN is on a mission to change this landscape by officially launching its services designed to transform the wellness industry. Arjan explained that many companies opt out of scientific validation due to cost and complexity. Hence, PRUVN has set out to offer an accessible and affordable research opportunity that even early-stage companies can count on.

Through comprehensive clinical trials, rigorous testing and thorough evaluation, PRUVN ensures that only scientifically validated products and services receive the coveted PRUVN seal of approval. This seal becomes the hallmark of trust and credibility, guiding consumers to make informed decisions while guarding against misinformation rampant online. Moreover, this shift would likely favor products rooted in genuine research, promoting innovation and reducing potential legal pitfalls for companies.

PRUVN has established partnerships with research institutions and universities across Europe the Americas , and Asia and has an extensive team of scientists, doctors and researchers who work to ensure accurate, transparent and reliable clinical outcomes.

"Scientific rigor is fundamental in the wellness industry for several reasons," Francisco Cidral , PhD., Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at PRUVN explained. "Firstly, it ensures products genuinely improve health and well-being, safeguarding against potential harm or inefficacy. Secondly, from an ethical standpoint, companies bear the responsibility to uphold the truth in their claims, especially when an individual's health is at stake. Furthermore, the industry's long-term credibility hinges on its commitment to science; without it, widespread distrust could undermine its reputation for the foreseeable future."

On a mission to help people overcome the challenge of emotional regulation, Love Out Loud is launching its inTurth app with the goal of quantifying and helping people better manage their emotional health.

"Our partnership with PRUVN as a clinical research partner will allow us to make sure that our solution is up to a clinical standard," Gibson said.

Utilizing wearable technology and a proprietary algorithm, the inTruth app has the unique capability to gauge a user's emotional state in real time and provide effective tools to help swiftly shift into a desired state. Additionally, it offers insightful daily reviews, providing a deeper understanding of how the user's day has genuinely impacted their emotional health, unlocking possibilities never before seen.

By combining PRUVN's commitment to scientific validation with Love Out Loud's innovative emotional well-being solutions, this partnership empowers consumers to make better decisions and take control of their physical and emotional health.

Launch Party Details:

When: Thursday, October 12, 2023 , 6-9 p.m.

Where: The KINN, 150 Horizon Avenue , Venice, CA 90291

Who: Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the CEO of both PRUVN and Love Out Loud along with many thought leaders in the wellness and emotional health industries.

Why: This launch event promises to be a celebration of innovation, science and empowerment. If you are passionate about shifting the future of health and data, join us!

All attendees will receive a gift bag with wellness products to take home. Complimentary beverages and appetizers will be served.

Register: For more information and tickets, go to https://pruvnlaunch.eventbrite.com

For media inquiries and interview requests with the CEOs of PRUVN and Love Out Loud , please contact [email protected]

About PRUVN

PRUVN is a pioneering company dedicated to transforming the wellness industry by providing a service for brands to validate their products through rigorous scientific evaluation. PRUVN's mission is to empower consumers to make evidence-based decisions about their health and well-being. For more information, please visit www.pruvn.io

About Love Out Loud

Love Out Loud is a visionary company focused on emotional well-being solutions. Their latest product, inTruth, utilizes cutting-edge technology to help individuals understand and improve their emotional states, ultimately leading to a happier and more fulfilling life. For more information, please visit www.loveoutloud.io and www.intruth.io

Note to Editors:

For high-resolution images, additional information, or interview requests, please contact [email protected]

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SOURCE PRUVN
Nader Baraia in front of the shop truck where he offers a huge variety of cheeses. Instagram de Nader Baraia

The great gastronomic chronicler MFK Fisher once said that wine and cheese are ageless companions, like aspirin and aches, or June and moon, or good people and noble ventures. Nader Baraia, a man of Egyptian origin from the Croix Blanche neighborhood of the Vigneux-sur-Seine commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France, has been an aeronautical technician at Air France, a boxer and now a conceiver of cheese boards, as well as the catalyst of a new market in the neighboring commune of Athis-Mons, next to Orly airport.

Nader  still under 30 years old  saw the light one day when he and his wife went on a trip to Haute-Savoie and discovered the concept of camion-magasin (shop truck). He had seen food trucks, of course, but never a shop on wheels. Driven by the desire to be his own boss and his devotion to French cheeses, he invested every last cent of the 40,000 ($42,180) he had saved, armed himself with paper, pen, and a copy of the Encyclopedie des Fromages - guide illustre de plus de 350 fromages de toutes les regions de France, by Tomoko Yamada (preface by Joel Robuchon), and designed an adventurous project that he called OBon Fromage. When his truck and merchandise were ready, he called the mayor and positioned himself one Friday afternoon, alone, in a square in the center of Athis-Mons.

Two years later, Jean-Jacques Grousseau, mayor of Athis-Mons, recalls: In these districts we have the syndrome of being bedroom communities of the Grand-Couronne in which nothing happens. Our ambition, our commitment, is to energize the environment and promote gatherings. Nader was the first and a few weeks later a fruit seller signed up, then another with fish and later a Lebanese with a delicatessen. Since then, the market has become the Friday afternoon attraction in the center of Athis-Mons.

Geographer Edward Soja coined the concept of spatial justice in his celebrated essay Seeking Spatial Justice, an invitation to think about the cities and discover how the configuration of public space can be both oppressive and liberating. Spatiality and justice are social constructs that can be modified through political action; Naders concept opens the door to recognizing and improving one of those suburbs.

When Nader is asked about the mental strength one needs to enter the cheese arena in such an expert country, he says: If I werent an aeronautical technician I would never have had this mindset, because just like the safety of the flights, we have the obligation to establish hygiene standards for the cheese. When I told my family and friends about my career change, they were scared and concerned. I had a permanent contract at Air France. But I did what I wanted. I refine certain cheeses and work with small producers so that I can always offer my customers something new and, above all, something rare. My favorites  and the three top sellers  are the famous Comte cheese, matured for 18 months and very fruity; Sakura, which in Japanese means cherry leaf, a goat cheese briquette with an edible cherry leaf in the center; and Kaltbach mountain cheese.

Nader is not a traditional shopkeeper; he is a mobile cheesemonger, specialized in suburban markets, aware that the most important thing about a nomadic shop like his is the interrelation it creates with the environment where he sets up and the social fabric that comes together in front of his truck  because, at the end of the day, there is nothing that people like more than good cheese.

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By adding Rebrandly custom short links to MessageBird-powered communications, brands can improve content deliverability, boost conversion, and increase customer retention

SAN FRANCISCO , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rebrandly, the leading provider of link management solutions, today announced a strategic partnership and integration with MessageBird, the leading omnichannel communications automation platform. Now, through the Rebrandly Connector for MessageBird, businesses can easily improve the performance of  and engagement with  their marketing campaigns and other large-scale communications by using branded and trackable shortened links.

With tens of thousands of customers and millions of active users, Rebrandly provides a platform for securely creating and managing custom short links at scale  and has generated more than 1 billion links to date for brands worldwide across industries. MessageBird powers and streamlines communications between businesses and their customers  driving powerful, personalized, and engaging experiences across SMS, email, voice, WhatsApp, and more. MessageBird has processed over 5 trillion messages, calls, and emails for 29,000+ customers, including Google, Facebook, and Uber.

Branded links have a 39% higher clickthrough rate than unbranded ones, according to Rebrandly data, and now organizations can take advantage of the integration between Rebrandly and MessageBird to drive higher-impact and "stickier" communications across SMS, email, and WhatsApp channels. Using Rebrandly and MessageBird, businesses delivering marketing campaigns or seeking to drive online and mobile app and software sign-ups can increase revenue, traffic, customer acquisition, and conversions by including branded links in their messages. Travel, financial services, healthcare, e-commerce, and logistics companies that provide time-sensitive notifications to customers via SMS and email can now use shortened, branded links to improve link deliverability and track engagement.

Through the Rebrandly Connector for MessageBird, companies can:

Grow Revenue  Leveraging mobile deep links to send customers directly to the content they care about so they can quickly reach product pages and complete purchases with fewer clicks.

 Leveraging mobile deep links to send customers directly to the content they care about so they can quickly reach product pages and complete purchases with fewer clicks. Grow Traffic  Creating unique QR codes or referral links at scale for better delivery through SMS, email, and WhatsApp  accelerating top-of-funnel (TOFU) conversion.

 Creating unique QR codes or referral links at scale for better delivery through SMS, email, and WhatsApp  accelerating top-of-funnel (TOFU) conversion. Grow Efficiency  Managing branded links easily via one tool without leaving the MessageBird interface. Users can edit destination URLs and apply traffic routing features anytime to ensure optimal deliverability and user experience (UX).

 Managing branded links easily via one tool without leaving the MessageBird interface. Users can edit destination URLs and apply traffic routing features anytime to ensure optimal deliverability and user experience (UX). Grow Intelligence  Benefitting from advanced and actionable insights, with click data from Rebrandly directly streamed into MessageBird's analytics dashboard in real-time.

 Benefitting from advanced and actionable insights, with click data from Rebrandly directly streamed into MessageBird's analytics dashboard in real-time. Grow Trust  Improving brand trust, customer acquisition, and retention with safe, secure (SOC 2 Type II) and recognizable branded short links at every step of the customer journey. Brands can also track link engagement for funnel improvement.

"MessageBird helps businesses automate their communication workflows and engage customers individually and in real-time," said Asha Thurthi, Chief Product Officer, MessageBird. "Our partnership and integration with Rebrandly augment our powerful tools, so companies can add branded short links to their communications  improving campaign results and deepening brand trust among recipients. Many companies already use our solutions together, seeing measurable results and delivering more effective communications. This partnership will allow MessageBird and Rebrandly to reach more customers and accelerate the value we bring to the market."

Carla Bourque , CEO of Rebrandly, said: "Rebrandly offers the most complete and advanced link management solutions in the market and is an essential piece of the global MarTech stack. Our AI-enabled link management technology and commitment to digital innovation empower customers to connect more effectively and securely with the content they care about  driving value, brand trust, and performance at scale. Our partnership with MessageBird is the latest manifestation of Rebrandly's mission to make every link matter with high-impact, measurable, and engaging omnichannel communications. We're proud to partner with MessageBird to help even more businesses benefit from Rebrandly's powerful link management technology."

About Rebrandly

Rebrandly is the market-leading link management platform that allows users to brand and shorten custom URLs. Making every link matter, Rebrandly helps companies grow traffic and revenue, improve conversion and retention rates, build brand trust, and track advanced analytics. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in the US, with offices in Rome and Dublin , Rebrandly serves millions of users and global brands worldwide, including Versace, Toyota, PayPal, and Zillow. For more information, please visit www.rebrandly.com.

About MessageBird

MessageBird's mission is to create a world where communicating with a business is as easy as talking with a friend. MessageBird powers communication between businesses and their customers  across any channel, always with the right context, and on every corner of the planet. Headquartered in Amsterdam , MessageBird processes over 5 trillion messages, calls, and emails for over 29k+ customers, such as Google, Facebook, and Uber, across channels like WhatsApp, email, SMS, and many more. For more information, see https://messagebird.com.

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SOURCE Rebrandly
TAIZHOU, China , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 8, 2023 , Dr. Deckster Tonny SAVADYE, CEO of Zimbabwe NBA, and Dr. Yang Yili , International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology China Regional Research Centre(ICGEB), visited Recbio. Dr. SAVADYE and his team conducted an on-the-spot investigation of the manufacturing facilities for the COVID-19/Shingles vaccine and HPV vaccine at Recbio. Witnessed by the leaders of Taizhou Pharmaceutical High-tech Industrial Park , the three parties jointly signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

According to the agreement, Recbio will cooperate with ICGEB China Regional Research Center to provide technical support related to vaccine production in Zimbabwe , including personnel training, plant designing, clinical trials, sub-packaging technology, and stock solution technology transfer, etc., with COVID-19 vaccine as the entry point, and gradually expand to other vaccine varieties, contributing to localized vaccine production in Zimbabwe and Africa .

The signing of this contract marks that Recbio vaccine D&G and production technology platform and products have been recognized by more international organizations and countries. Recbio will actively implement the national "Belt and Road Initiative" and seize the overseas market layout of vaccines.

The Zimbabwe National Biotechnology Authority is a government agency established by legislation in 2006 to promote the application of traditional and cutting-edge biotechnology in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and others.

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) is an intergovernmental international scientific and technological organization founded in 1983 with the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Up to now, it has established interactive networks with more than 65 member States and has made outstanding achievements in scientific research, training, and technology transfer to industry.

About Recbio

Founded in 2012, Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Recbio or the Company; stock code: 02179.HK) is an innovative vaccine company driven by self-developed technologies. We are dedicated to the R&D, production and commercialization of innovative vaccines, leveraging our core technology platforms (novel adjuvant, protein engineering, immunological evaluation). Staying true to the mission of "Protect human health with best-in-class vaccines", the Company has established high-value pipelines consisting of several blockbuster vaccines with proprietary rights to satisfy the huge unmet demands in the markets of high-burden diseases.

Through years of devotion to the vaccine industry, Recbio has developed three advanced innovative technology platforms, namely novel adjuvant, protein engineering and immunological evaluation platforms, and become one of the few companies in the world capable of developing novel adjuvant systems. We develop promising vaccine candidates constantly, taking advantage of the synergy between the novel adjuvant platform, optimized antigen designs, and immunological evaluation technologies. Recbio never ceases to optimize its technology platforms, and strives to achieve breakthroughs in mRNA vaccines using a joint venture model.

With robust R&D capacity, the Company has developed high-value innovative vaccine portfolios consisting of ten-odd differentiated vaccines, covering cervical cancer, shingles, COVID-19, TB and other high-burden diseases. Our core product REC603, a recombinant 9-valent HPV vaccine in Phase III clinical trial, shows great promise of becoming the first marketed domestic 9-valent HPV vaccine. Apart from that, ReCOV, a recombinant COVID-19 vaccine with its commercialization in the offing, has been recognized as one of the most competitive next-generation COVID-19 vaccines in the world. Recbio has a clear commercialization strategy aiming to penetrate the diversified global vaccine market.

Honed and refined for ten years, Recbio is going to reap the rewards as several products are approaching commercialization.

For more information, please visit https://www.recbio.cn/.

Forward-looking statements

This Press Release may contain projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, opinions, prospects, results, returns and forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, capital position, strategy and business of the Group which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "plan", "estimate", "seek", "intend", "target", "believe", "potential" and "reasonably possible" or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including the strategic priorities, research and development projects, and any financial, investment and capital targets and any other targets, commitments and ambitions described in writing or verbally herein. Any such forward-looking statements are not a reliable indicator of future performance, as they may involve significant stated or implied assumptions and subjective judgements which may or may not prove to be correct, accurate or complete. There can be no assurance that any of the matters set out in the forward-looking statements are attainable, will actually occur or will be realised or are complete or accurate. The assumptions and judgments may prove to be incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important actors, many of which are outside the control of the Group. There is also no assurance that the Group may develop or market its core products or other pipeline candidates successfully. Actual achievements, results, performance or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those stated, implied and/or reflected in any forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors (including without limitation general market conditions, regulatory changes, geopolitical tensions or data limitations and changes). Any such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of the Group at the date the statements are made, and the Group does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any obligation or duty to update, revise or supplement them if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change. For these reasons, you should not place reliance on, and are expressly cautioned about relying on, any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties, expressed or implied, are given by or on behalf of the Group as to the achievement or reasonableness of any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, commitments, prospects or returns contained herein.

Please refer to the announcements published by the Company on the websites of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (www.hkexnew.hk) or of the Company (www.recbio.cn) for further details. If there is any inconsistency between this Presentation and the announcements, the announcements shall prevail.

Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd.

Investor Inquiry:

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +86-0523-86818860

Media Inquiry:

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +86-0523-86818860

Related Links:

https://www.recbio.cn/

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SOURCE Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd.
MENLO PARK, Calif. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half (NYSE: RHI), including its subsidiary, Protiviti, has again been named by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers. This is Forbes' most prestigious global employer accolade and Robert Half remains the top-ranked staffing firm on the list.

The annual list is based on a global independent survey of nearly 170,000 employees in 55 countries. Respondents were asked whether they would recommend their company to others, and to rate their employer based on criteria such as talent development, remote working options, parental leave benefits, diversity, work-life balance and pride in the product or services the company offers.

"This recognition is particularly rewarding because it validates our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our employees across the globe," said M. Keith Waddell , president and chief executive officer of Robert Half . "We continue to act on our employees' ideas to better our workplace, expanding programs and practices including recognition and belonging, well-being and mental health, and competitive pay and benefits."

Robert Half delivers a world-class experience to its employees through flexible work options, wellness offerings and employee network groups, as well as resources to help individuals connect, thrive and grow. The company's 2022 Leading With Integrity: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report outlines some of the most impactful initiatives for employees, the community and the environment.

Robert Half has also been named to TIME's World's Best Companies, Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies, the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and Forbes' Best Employers for Women.

About Robert Half

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects opportunities at great companies with highly skilled job seekers. Offering contract and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, administrative and customer support, legal, and marketing and creative, Robert Half has more than 400 locations worldwide, including nearly 100 locations in 18 countries outside the United States. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For. Explore our comprehensive solutions, research and insights at RobertHalf.com.

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2023 STAT Summit will feature leading executives from Eli Lilly, Biogen, GSK, and more, with virtual appearances from Michael J. Fox , Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan

BOSTON , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- STAT , the leading media company reporting on health, science, and medicine, is set to host its fifth annual flagship event, the 2023 STAT Summit , later this month. The hybrid event will take place on October 18-19, 2023 , at the State Room in Boston , with programming beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET each day. The Summit will feature frank conversations on vital topics with C-suite industry leaders, and spirited discussions with leading academics and patient advocates on the biggest challenges across health care today.

Explore perspectives from those on the medical front lines, top executives, key scientists and more at #STATSummit 2023.

Interested media can email Brittany Cipriano at [email protected] to register for the event. Both in-person and virtual press access is available.

"Our healthcare system is supposed to be just that, a system, from the laboratory bench all the way to the patient's bedside," said Matthew Herper , senior writer, medicine, and editorial director of events at STAT. "Too often, it is anything but systematic. We'll delve into why, and how to fix it, by highlighting two days of interesting, challenging, and moving speakers."

The 2023 STAT Summit is presented by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and will feature a discussion with James R. Downing , M.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital president and CEO. "Despite considerable progress in the treatment of pediatric cancer, it remains the leading cause of death due to disease for children between the ages of 1 and 15 in the United States . To change this statistic, as well as advance cures for other pediatric catastrophic diseases, St. Jude is investing heavily in fundamental, clinical and translational science, as well as platforms that will facilitate the establishment of collaborations with other scientists from across the U.S. and around the globe," said Downing. "We're excited to be a sponsor of this year's STAT summit and look forward to interacting with the best minds from academia and industry to tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities for improving health, everywhere.

Summit speakers include:

Emma Walmsley , Chief Executive Officer, GSK

, Chief Executive Officer, GSK Daniel M. Skovronsky , M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, chief scientific and medical officer, and president, Lilly Research Laboratories , Eli Lilly and Company

, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, chief scientific and medical officer, and president, , Eli Lilly and Company Christopher Viehbacher , president and chief executive officer, Biogen

, president and chief executive officer, Biogen Noubar Afeyan , Ph.D., founder and CEO, Flagship Pioneering

, Ph.D., founder and CEO, Flagship Pioneering John Maraganore , Ph.D., former and founding CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

, Ph.D., former and founding CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Mark Zuckerberg , co-founder and co-CEO, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

, co-founder and co-CEO, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Priscilla Chan , M.D., co-founder and co-CEO, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

, M.D., co-founder and co-CEO, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Michael J. Fox , award-winning actor, best-selling author, and founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

, award-winning actor, best-selling author, and founder of the Deborah W. Brooks , CEO and co-founder, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

, CEO and co-founder, Meghan O'Rourke , author of The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness

, author of Lotte Bjerre Knudsen , DMSc, chief scientific advisor, Research & Early Development , Novo Nordisk

, DMSc, chief scientific advisor, Research & , Novo Nordisk Monica McLemore , Ph.D., professor and interim associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion, University of Washington

, Ph.D., professor and interim associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Monica Peek M.D ., Ellen H. Block Professor of Health Justice, section of general internal medicine, The University of Chicago

., of Health Justice, section of general internal medicine, Harlan Krumholz , M.D., cardiologist and Harold H. Hines , Jr. Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine ; founder and director of the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation

, M.D., cardiologist and , Jr. Professor of Medicine, ; founder and director of the Abdullah Hasan Pratt , M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine, faculty director of community engagement, The University of Chicago Medical Center ; Founder of MedCEEP and TRAP Violence

, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine, faculty director of community engagement, ; Founder of MedCEEP and TRAP Violence Rachel L. Levine , M.D., Admiral, U.S. Public Health Service ; Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

, M.D., Admiral, ; Assistant Secretary for Health, Vlad Coric , M.D., chairman and CEO, BioHaven

, M.D., chairman and CEO, BioHaven Athena Countouriotis , M.D., co-founder, chief executive officer, Avenzo Therapeutics

, M.D., co-founder, chief executive officer, Avenzo Therapeutics Jacob S. Van Naarden , executive vice president, Eli Lilly and Company and President, Loxo@Lilly

, executive vice president, Eli Lilly and Company and President, Loxo@Lilly Laurie Glimcher , M.D., president and CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ; Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine, HMS

, M.D., president and CEO, ; Richard and of Medicine, HMS Amy Finkelstein , Ph.D., John & Jennie S. MacDonald Professor of Economics, MIT

, Ph.D., John & of Economics, Cynthia Fisher , founder and chairman, PatientRightsAdvocate.org

, founder and chairman, PatientRightsAdvocate.org A full list of featured speakers is available at: https://www.statnews.com/2023/summit/stat-summit-2023/

The Summit will explore everything from the early funding of new ideas by venture capitalists to the experiences of patients to the invention and administration of new medicines. Sessions at the Summit will take a look at the entire health care system, incorporating the perspectives of innovators, those on the medical front lines, and people who seek care. Top executives, key scientists, economists and health outcomes researchers will take the Summit stage to explore solutions together.

ABOUT STAT:

Founded in 2015, STAT is a national digital media brand that focuses on delivering fast, deep, and tough-minded journalism about the life sciences industries to over six million monthly site visitors and an additional 20 million readers on the Apple News app. STAT takes you inside academic labs, biotech boardrooms, and political backrooms, casting a critical eye on scientific discoveries, scrutinizing corporate strategies, and chronicling the roiling battles for talent, money, and market share. With an award-winning newsroom, STAT provides indispensable insights and exclusive stories on the technologies, personalities, power brokers, and political forces driving massive changes in the life sciences industry  and a revolution in human health.

CONTACT: Brittany Cipriano | [email protected]

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SOURCE Boston Globe Media Group
Report provides commonsense recommendations to eliminate the threat to Florida's waters by antiquated septic tank technologies.

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Water Security Project, the Angler Action Foundation, and the Solar Energy Loan Fund applaud the release of Florida TaxWatch's Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida's Ground and Surface Water Report. The report outlines four commonsense recommendations to combat the threat to Florida's waters by antiquated septic tank technologies:

The Florida Legislature should task the Department of Environmental Protection to create, and comply with, a comprehensive plan to develop water and wastewater infrastructure statewide, including the development of central sewer lines and wastewater treatment facilities and the removal or enhancement of septic tanks. The approval of projects should be based upon established statewide priorities and demonstrated needs, following the model exhibited by the DOT Work Program.

should task the to create, and comply with, a comprehensive plan to develop water and wastewater infrastructure statewide, including the development of central sewer lines and wastewater treatment facilities and the removal or enhancement of septic tanks. The approval of projects should be based upon established statewide priorities and demonstrated needs, following the model exhibited by the DOT Work Program. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection should work with the Florida Legislature to pass legislation that incorporates the provisions of Executive Order 23-06 into Florida Statutes.

should work with the to pass legislation that incorporates the provisions of Executive Order 23-06 into Florida Statutes. Where central sewer is not possible, the Florida Legislature should require enhanced, nutrient-reducing technology for septic tanks within a BMAP or in an area with a high-water table.

should require enhanced, nutrient-reducing technology for septic tanks within a BMAP or in an area with a high-water table. The Florida Legislature should authorize the development and implementation of a septic tank inspection and monitoring program, as well as extend an existing financial assistance program or create a new financial assistance program to help economically challenged property owners remediate septic tank issues. The state should consider imposing a user fee on utilities that can be bonded against to sustain funding for septic conversions.

30 percent of Florida's population utilizes septic systems to treat their residential waste. That 30 percent represents 12 percent of the United States's septic tank usage. With 76 percent of Floridians living in coastal zones, septic tank effluent is too rarely mitigated, and is a completely preventable recipe for disaster. Septic tank effluent fuels harmful algal blooms; feeds really dangerous bacteria including Vibrio vulnificus, the "flesh-eating bacteria;" and contaminates ground and surface waters.

" Florida's water woes are fueled by many factorsaging, antiquated, and failing centralized wastewater systems; residential fertilizer usage; and traditional septic tanks in zones where ground water tables are rising and surface waters have direct contact with our state waters," says Dr. Brandon D. Shuler , American Water Security Project's executive director. "Septic tanks are Florida's tragedy of the commons. Most folks on septic think that theirs is not the problem, but with 30 percent of our population on septic, collectively, we have a massive problem on our hands that affects tourism, water-based economies, and real estate valuesthis leads us to an entirely preventable economic issue."

With Governor DeSantis's and the Florida Legislature's massive appropriations aimed at fixing Florida's wastewater infrastructure, it is only appropriate that Florida TaxWatch makes sure that all aspects of Florida's water infrastructure improvements are addressed efficiently, with strong fiscal discipline.

"For a state that champions itself as the Fishing Capital of the World and one whose economy is driven by water-based industries, relying upon antiquated septic tank technologies threatens the state's economic health," states Brett Fitzgerald , Executive Director of the Angler Action Foundation. "We must take heed of Florida TaxWatch's Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida's Ground and Surface Water report that outlines and encourages technologies that prevent or minimize the threats to our coastal and spring watersheds and the recreational and commercial fishing industries they support."

The American Society of Civil Engineers rates Florida's water infrastructure a lowly C-minus. We are overdue for upgrades. At the same time, we must find ways to lessen or eliminate the financial burden on residential septic tank conversions.

"Septic tank conversions are not cheap, but they also do not have to be a detrimental financial burden," says Doug Coward , Founder of the nonprofit Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF). "There are a number of financial resources available for consumers seeking to convert to centralized sewage. SELF offers unsecured micro loans for consumers seeking to convert to centralized sewage or replace outdated lateral lines. SELF has already partnered with Martin County to complete the first $1 million of septic to sewer conversion projects, and we have the capacity to do much more."

Again, we congratulate Florida TaxWatch for a job well done and the Florida executive and legislative branches for taking Florida's water quality issues seriously.

The American Water Security Project is a coalition of business leaders, scientists, engineers, policy experts, outdoor enthusiasts, conservation advocates, and thought leaders working to promote the urgent need for wastewater infrastructure upgrades to protect waters and water bodies around the country. The coalition educates on the negative effects of wastewater spills and dumps to residents, businesses, and tourism; communicates the social and ecological values of proper wastewater treatment; and advocates for remedies to correct the deficiencies. The American Water Security Project is a registered 501(c)3.

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SOURCE American Water Security Project
NEW YORK , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Door and Broome Street Academy, essential New York City organizations whose core mission is to provide education and career building support, health care and mental health care services, runaway and homeless services to NYC's most vulnerable youth, will host their annual fundraiser on Oct. 18, 2023 .

The fundraising event  to support The Door and its partnership with charter high school, Broome Street Academy  is titled "Hear Our Story."

"Since 1972, The Door has supported and empowered many young people on their journey toward success and breaking cycles of crisis by providing shelter and a comprehensive set of services," said Kelsey Louie , chief executive officer of The Door and Broome Street Academy. "This important event not only celebrates The Door's incredible work helping change the lives of many young New Yorkers, but it's also a critical moment to gain the financial support we urgently need to strengthen our programming and continue our work."

"From food insecurity to adolescent healthcare and housing, young people need community support and equal opportunity to thrive and grow," said Louie, CEO of The Door and Broome Street Academy.

"The 'Hear Our Story' fundraiser provides a crucial opportunity for us to expand the number of young people we serve, as well as strengthen our suite of programming to achieve our mission of empowering as many young people as we can to reach their potential," Louie said.

At the event, the Door's Change Maker award will be presented to Mara Brock Akil , American screenwriter and television producer. Akil is being honored for her commitment to lifting Black voices in the arts through founding the Writers' Colony (www.thewriterscolony.com).

"The Door and Broome Street Academy are doing the incredibly challenging yet powerful work of empowering young people," said Akil. "The organization's unwavering commitment to nurturing the talents, skills and dreams of the next generation is an effort I celebrate and value."

The "Hear Our Story" 2023 fundraiser offers many ways for individuals and businesses to get involved, including:

Online Donations: The Door's website at door.org/donate offers the easiest way to make a secure online donation.

The Door's website at door.org/donate offers the easiest way to make a secure online donation. Support from Individuals, Corporations & Foundations can be made through sponsorships, grantmaking and pro bono and in-kind services.

can be made through sponsorships, grantmaking and pro bono and in-kind services. Planned Giving: A planned gift to The Door helps ensure the future of the vital services we provide. There are several ways to make a planned gift. More information, can be found at https://www.door.org/donate/planned-giving/.

About The Door

The Door's mission is to empower young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment. We serve up to 11,000 youth annually across our four New York City locations, including our lower Manhattan and South Bronx youth centers and two supportive housing sites on the Lower East Side . Broome Street Academy (BSA), a charter high school embedded at The Door, enrolls up to 330 students and prioritizes applicants who are experiencing housing instability or have been involved in the child welfare system. To learn more about our work, please visit door.org.

The Door is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Chelsea Morelos

[email protected]

312-519-8331

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SOURCE The Door
SoftwareReviews' latest Data Quadrant report highlights the top-rated ECM software solutions in the current market that are successfully harnessing the technological trends.

TORONTO , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has revealed its new 2023 Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Data Quadrant Report, which highlights the top five ECM solutions in the enterprise, midmarket spaces for the year.

Enterprise content management (ECM) is a sophisticated software solution designed to empower organizations by streamlining the creation, approval, and distribution of content across diverse systems. Without ECM, organizations might grapple with issues such as disorganization, potential security vulnerabilities, and suboptimal workflow processes. By integrating ECM, organizations benefit from elevated collaboration, heightened productivity, and superior regulatory compliance.

Quote

Furthermore, ECM furnishes organizations with a centralized content repository, facilitating real-time collaboration, meticulous version control, and automation of workflows. Such capabilities not only diminish the reliance on manual operations but also augment content quality and expedite its delivery. Consequently, organizations can more adeptly adhere to regulatory mandates and industry benchmarks, ensuring that their objectives are met with greater precision and efficacy.

SoftwareReviews' survey data from 1,337 end-user reviews was used to identify the top ECM software providers for organizations seeking to streamline their content management strategies. The top providers have been recognized for their excellence in the space and received high scores on SoftwareReviews' Data Quadrant.

The 2023 Enterprise Content Management Software Gold Medalists are as follows:

DocStar an Epicor Solution, 9.2 CS, ranked high for ease of customization.

FileBound, 8.9 CS, ranked high for customer support.

Canon Therefore, 8.6 CS, ranked high for its quality of features.

Microsoft Sharepoint, 8,6 CS, ranked high for business value creation.

Dokmee ECM, 8.2 CS, ranked high for ease of implementation.

The 2023 Midmarket Content Management Software Gold Medalists are as follows:

Microsoft Sharepoint, 8.7 CS, ranked high for ease of implementation.

Dokmee ECM, 8.4 CS, ranked high for quality of features.

The full report is now accessible on the firm's website, which is updated in real time to reflect new reviews and ratings.

User assessments of software categories on SoftwareReviews provide an accurate and detailed view of the constantly changing market. SoftwareReviews' reports are informed by data from users and IT professionals who have intimate experience with the software throughout the procurement, implementation, and maintenance processes.

For more information about SoftwareReviews, the Emotional Footprint, or the Data Quadrant, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com

About SoftwareReviews

SoftwareReviews empowers organizations with the best data, insights, and advice to improve the software buying and selling experience.

For buyers, SoftwareReviews' proven software selection methodologies, customer insights, and technology advisors help maximize success with technology decisions. For providers, the firm helps build more effective marketing, product, and sales processes with expert analysts, how-to research, customer-centric marketing content, and comprehensive analysis of the buyer landscape.

SoftwareReviews is a division of Info-Tech Research Group, a world-class information technology research and advisory firm.

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SOURCE SoftwareReviews
LONDON , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurodegenerative diseases are group of ailments characterized by the progressive deterioration and destruction of nerve cells that are present in the nervous system, typically in the brain. Neuroscience research studies suggest that the prevalence of such ailments is increasing every year with elderly individuals being the most vulnerable population base. Such diseases not also impact the brain health but also leads to a cognitive decline. These ailments further affect the motor and sensory functions as the affected neurons lose their ability to function properly and ultimately die. The exact cause of neurodegenerative diseases is often complex and can involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and age-related factors.

Disease Landscape Insights has been a forefront when it comes to offering services such as neurodegenerative drug development consulting, regulatory consulting for neurodegenerative drugs, neurodegenerative disease rare disease consulting, market access consulting for neurodegenerative drugs, and neurodegenerative disease personalized medicine consulting, among others. By procuring these consulting services, players get exhaustive disease overview and drug insights. They also get deep dive understanding on healthcare economics for neurodegenerative diseases, allowing them to conduct comprehensive outcomes research for neurodegenerative diseases.

Exploring DLI's Extensive Repository

DLI possess a rich repository on valuable research documents that covers a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. These documents bridge the gap between research and clinical application, fostering a synergy that promises to redefine the treatment landscape for these devastating diseases. Some of the ailments covered here are-

Epilepsy

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Huntinton

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

Huntington's disease

Lewy body dementia (LBD)

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA)

Cortical

Subcortical

Motor neuron

Within this repository, it delves into critical facets of the field, including the burgeoning neurodegenerative market growth, driven by an increased understanding of these disorders and the pressing need for effective treatments. These documents explore the intricate realms of neuroinflammation, shedding light on the role of immune responses in disease progression. Also, they shed light into the latest advancements in neuroimaging techniques, enabling precise diagnosis and monitoring of these conditions. Furthermore, DLI's research also focuses on neuroprotection strategies, aiming to safeguard vulnerable neurons from further damage, and neuroregeneration approaches, seeking to restore lost neuronal function, providing hope for improved treatments and better quality of life for individuals affected by neurodegenerative diseases.

Price and Market Access

Characteristics and Symptoms

Neurodegenerative diseases often exhibit common characteristics and symptoms that pose significant challenges to affected individuals and the broader healthcare community. These ailments are marked by the progressive deterioration of nerve cells, resulting in a range of debilitating symptoms. Clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding and treatment options. These ailments are known to cause cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, communication difficulties, behavioural changes, and are progressive in nature.

To minimize these challenges public health initiatives for neurodegenerative diseases are being undertake across the globe. These initiatives are aimed at raising awareness, promoting early detection, and improving the lives of the patients and their care givers. Apart from that, patient advocacy for neurodegenerative diseases plays a crucial role in advocating for research funding, and providing a voice for those living with these conditions. These efforts are indeed instrumental in advancing research, developing effective treatments, and ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals facing neurodegenerative diseases.

Treatment Landscape

Early detection is crucial when it comes to the management of such devastating ailments. If diagnosed before it gets too late, there remains a chance of complete recovery or alleviation of numerous symptoms in shorter time span. The treatment of such ailments encompasses a combination of numerous drugs, therapies, and support approaches. Medical professionals curate treatment plans by considering the overall condition, age, and symptoms of the patients. Certain drugs are administered to manage the symptoms while disease modifying therapies are also suggested to slow down the disease progression. Managing behavioral and psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and agitation, is an integral part of treatment. Counseling, psychotherapy, and behavioral interventions can be beneficial for both patients and their caregivers.

DLI has been playing a crucial role in transforming the neurodegenerative disease landscape in terms of treatment and overall management. Its disease insights serve as a strong foundation for firm decision making. It offers specified disease or treatment approached based consulting including dementia drug development consulting and neurodegenerative disease biomarker development consulting. It further provides insights on payer landscape for neurodegenerative diseases ensures that promising therapies can navigate the complex reimbursement systems. This allows players to formulate effective reimbursement strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. In other words, DLI not only shed light on the current state of the field but also illuminate the evolving disease insights, fueling innovative approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and, ultimately, paving the way for improved patient outcomes.

Pharma consulting Services

Final words

Neurodegenerative disorders, a group of debilitating conditions characterized by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells, pose immense challenges to patients, caregivers, and the healthcare community at large. These disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), result in a cascade of distressing symptoms that impact cognitive, motor, and psychological function. As these conditions continue to exact a heavy toll on affected individuals, it becomes increasingly clear that a multifaceted approach is necessary to address the complex web of challenges they present. DLI's consulting services re instrumental in empowering players within the neurodegenerative disorders arena, encompassing pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, clinicians, and patient advocacy groups. It has been guiding the players through the intricate labyrinth of neurodegenerative disorders. It offers a holistic perspective that paves the way for access to cutting-edge treatments and also contributes to the sustainability of research and development efforts. As the healthcare community unites in its commitment to combat these diseases, DLI's consulting services stand as a beacon of hope, guiding healthcare professionals toward innovative solutions, improved patient care, and the possibility of one day conquering these formidable adversaries. Together, they are forging a brighter future for those living with neurodegenerative disorders, one where the power of knowledge and collaboration reign supreme.

About Disease Landscape:

Disease Landscape, a pioneering company specializing in Disease Intelligence, Pricing, and Market Access. Utilizing the power of data analytics, Disease Landscape Insights is dedicated to the healthcare sector with invaluable, finely crafted insights and recommendations regarding global pricing and market access strategies. As a specialized firm, we are committed to delivering unparalleled insights into pricing and market access, custom-tailored to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Our data-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology position us as your trustworthy partner, offering swift, adaptable, and evidence-based alternatives to traditional market access and pricing research methods.

Our core competencies encompass Market Research Services, Consulting Services, Global Pricing and Market Access, Epidemiology Studies, as well as Product Portfolio and Pipeline Services. Our expertise lies in furnishing comprehensive data intelligence throughout every phase of drug and device research.

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ISLAND SOUND STUDIOS - NEW LIFE FOR THE WATERFRONT RECORDING STUDIO BEHIND ANDERSON PAAK , DR. DRE , JAY Z , KANYE, & MORE.

HONOLULU, Hawaii , Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Island Sound Studios , the renowned music recording studio sitting on the stunning oceanscape of Hawaii Kai, is preparing to celebrate its highly-anticipated grand reopening. This marks a fresh beginning for a studio once left deteriorating that has a storied history of hosting some of the music industry's most illustrious names.

Founded amidst the rich musical tapestry of Hawaii , Island Sound Studios has played a pivotal role in shaping the world's musical landscape. Over the years, it has welcomed acclaimed artists like Beyonce , Eminem, Justin Bieber , and Eddie Vedder , solidifying its reputation as a hub for artistic innovation and creativity in the music industry .

The studio's extraordinary journey takes an exhilarating turn as it is resurrected under the visionary leadership of Bryan Spicer , the distinguished Executive Producer and Director behind Hawaii Five O and Magnum PI, alongside his brother, Kyle Spicer , a seasoned Music Producer and Engineer. Their unwavering dedication and forward-thinking vision have not only rescued the studio from potential demolition but have also injected fresh vitality into its iconic spaces through extensive renovations and equipment upgrades.

Bryan Spicer expressed his passion for this exciting venture, stating, "Not only will you find everything a musician can expect from a world-class recording facility in Los Angeles , New York , Nashville , or London ; but the island provides a special kind of magic you just can't find anywhere else in the world."

Island Sound Studios' grand reopening promises to usher in a new chapter of music history. The studio is poised to welcome local musicians and international bands, renewing its commitment to artistic excellence while staying deeply connected to the unparalleled spirit of Hawaii . In addition, the studio welcomes Voice-Over and ADR opportunities to film, television, podcast, and video game creators.

With anticipation building and the countdown to the grand re-opening underway, Island Sound Studios invites musicians and industry professionals to secure their sessions now, as the calendar is filling up rapidly.

For further information about Island Sound Studios or media inquiries, please contact:

Christian Bowman

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.islandsoundstudios.com

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FILE PHOTO: A person on a boat navigates on Puraquequara Lake, which has been affected by drought, in Manaus, Brazil, October 6, 2023. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/File Photo

By Bruno Kelly

MANAUS (Reuters) - Indigenous inhabitants in the Amazon are asking the Brazilian government to declare a climate emergency as their villages have no drinking water, food or medicine due to a severe drought that is drying up rivers vital for travel in the rainforest, their leaders said on Tuesday.

The drought and heatwave has killed masses of fish in the rivers that Indigenous people live off and the water in the muddy streams and tributaries of the Amazon river has become undrinkable, the umbrella organization APIAM that represents 63 tribes in the Amazon said.

"We ask the government to declare a climate emergency to urgently address the vulnerability Indigenous peoples are exposed to," APIAM urged in a statement released at a news conference.

The Rio Negro, Solimoes, Madeira, Jurua and Purus rivers are drying up at a record pace, and forest fires are destroying the rainforest in new areas in the lower Amazon reaches, APIAM said in a statement.

Environment Minister Marina Silva told Reuters last month the government was preparing a task force to provide emergency assistance to the Amazon region hit by the drought. It has sent tens of thousands of food parcels to communities isolated by the lack of river transport.

The region is under pressure from the El Nino weather phenomenon, with the volume of rainfall in the northern Amazon below the historical average.

The most serious problem for Indigenous communities that have no running water is sanitation now that the river water cannot be drunk, APIAM coordinator Mariazinha Bare said.

"The smaller rivers have dried up and turned to mud," Bare said in an interview. "Indigenous people have to walk long distances in the rainforest to find potable water, and the poor quality of water is making people ill," she said.

Impassable rivers have made it harder for medical assistance to reach Amazon villages, Bare said, and rain is not expected until the end of November or early December when the rivers and their fish population normally renew themselves.

The Madeira river to the southwest is no longer navigable in its upper reaches, isolating Indigenous villages and non-Indigenous communities that rely on collecting fruit in the rainforest but cannot move their produce out.

Ivaneide Bandeira, who heads the Kaninde Indigenous organization in the state of Rondonia, said isolated non-Indigenous communities were asking Indigenous villages for food.

She said the smoke from forest fires was worse than ever, aggravating the climate crisis and affecting the health of the elderly and children.

"It is not just the El Nino current. Deforestation continues with these fires," she said by telephone. "The agricultural advance does not stop. They are destroying everything, as if they do not see what is happening to nature," she said.

(Reporting by Bruno Kelly; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Asserting its political and security ties with Israel and the Palestinian militia Hamas, Egypt has stepped up its diplomatic activity in recent days in an attempt to stop the spiral of violence unleashed on Saturday in Gaza and its surroundings and to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. For the moment, however, Cairos efforts, which are taking place alongside those of other countries in the region with some influence over the parties, such as Qatar, are being frustrated by the magnitude of the crisis and by the refusal of Israeli authorities to openly enter into negotiations.

One of the most pressing issues Cairo is trying to mediate on is the release of civilians and soldiers kidnapped by Hamas during its attack, Egyptian sources told The Wall Street Journal. It is still unclear how many Israelis have been captured by Palestinian militants, in part because not only Hamas has taken hostages. But the figure is believed to be over 100.

Qatar, which maintains relations with Hamas and is trying to forge a prisoner exchange that would include women and children captured by the Palestinian group in exchange for around 30 Palestinian women and children in Israeli prisons, has also been involved in these negotiations, the Qatari Foreign Ministry told Reuters. Senior Israeli officials have limited themselves to assuring that there are no negotiations underway.

Speaking from Moscow on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, called for an immediate ceasefire and stressed that the only solution to the long conflict in the area is the formalization of the Palestinian State. The Palestinian problem cannot be postponed any longer, U.N. decisions must be implemented, said the head of Russian diplomacy. Lavrov trusts that the Arab League can promote a series of practical steps towards the creation of a Palestinian State that, as provided for in U.N. decisions, will coexist with Israel.

In the opinion of the Russian minister, this will provide mutual security and normal neighborly relations. However, Lavrov also warned about the possibility of war on a larger scale. The Gaza Strip has been declared a target of Israeli retaliation operations; there is quite serious unrest in the West Bank, and a potential conflict is brewing on the border between Lebanon and Israel, he said.

Aboul Gheit underscored that there are a series of crises now worrying the Arab world and praised Moscow for its position in this regard. There are many dual positions on the international stage, but Russia has adopted a clear position in this context, the Secretary General emphasized before citing the issues of Syria, Libya and Sudan as examples.

Meanwhile, Egypt has intensified its own efforts to try to stop the escalation. On Saturday, just hours after Hamas launched its surprise attack against Israeli cities and communities near the Gaza Strip, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was already addressing the situation with his American counterpart, State Secretary Antony Blinken. Since then, Shoukry has been in frequent contact with other senior officials from several European countries, including Spain, France and Germany, and from the Middle East region such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Jordan, as well as Russia.

On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also offered to mediate to try to stop the escalation between Hamas and Israel, and his Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, has maintained contacts with the United States, Iran, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Israeli ambassador in Ankara, Irit Lillian, stated, however, that it is too early for mediation.

Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have expressed the need for any long-term resolution that seeks to guarantee peace and stability in the region to be built on the basis of the two-state solution, the establishment of a Palestinian State and the end of unilateral acts by Israel.

Although the cyclical escalations of violence in Gaza allow the Egyptian authorities in particular to claim their relevance in the region, the seriousness of the current situation, especially after the Israeli announcement this Monday that it will impose a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, places Cairo in a difficult position due to broad social support for the Palestinian cause. Egypt is the only other country, besides Israel, that borders Gaza, which now places it in the position of having to decide between relaxing its restrictions at the border crossing with the Strip or maintaining the strict controls it has been imposing on crossings for the last 10 years.

On Sunday, the Egyptian Red Crescent reported that they had delivered a first package of emergency medical aid to the organizations Gaza branch, and the Egyptian Ministry of Health has sent ambulances to the enclave, according to a local group in northern Sinai, but aid remains scarce. In addition, an Israeli airstrike hit the Rafah border crossing on Monday afternoon, forcing it to close even for humanitarian cases, according to the independent Egyptian media Mada Masr.

Over the past two years, Egypt has been able to intervene with some success to stop several escalations between Israel and Palestinian groups active in Gaza, including in mid-2021, when Cairo managed to forge a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after 11 days of Israeli airstrikes on the strip and Hamas rockets aimed at Israel. Last May, Cairo also brokered a truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad after 10 days of fighting that broke out following the death of a well-known Palestinian activist in an Israeli jail. Then, however, Egyptian mediators were upset by Israels actions, including targeted assassinations, according to local media.

The escalation between Hamas and Israel has once again put the spotlight on the reaction of Arab countries that in recent years have normalized relations with Israel under the mediation of the United States, such as the United Arab Emirates. All eyes are also on countries trying to take the step, like Saudi Arabia. Riyadh said on Saturday that the situation in the region will remain explosive as long as there is a continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian peoples legitimate rights and the repetition of systematic provocations against their holy places, while at the same time Abu Dhabi was dismayed by the Hamas attacks, which it considered a dangerous and serious escalation.

With additional reporting by Javier G. Cuesta.
By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The spiralling conflict with the Palestinians is set to derail a fragile recovery in Israel's all-important tech sector, say investors and analysts, after a global slowdown and the government's divisive judicial reforms saw funding drop sharply this year.

Israel, one of the worlds most innovative high-tech economies, relies on the sector for 14% of its workforce and nearly a fifth of its overall economic output. It has weathered decades of turmoil and is ultimately expected to see investment return once the conflict ends and fundraising globally recovers, they added.

"Overseas investment will slow for the next couple of weeks and months, especially to the extent that there are still hostilities going on," said Jon Medved, Chief Executive of OurCrowd, one of Israel's largest venture capital firms.

"This is not a particularly easy time to get investment," he added, noting the number of flights to Israel that have been cancelled.

Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after gunmen on Saturday burst across the fence from Gaza in the deadliest incursion into Israeli territory since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago.

Israeli media said deaths from the attacks had reached 900, mostly civilians gunned down in homes, while scores of Israelis and some foreigners were taken to Gaza as hostages. Israel has responded with fierce air strikes into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Before the conflict, investment in Israel's high-tech startups had dropped as the global economy slowed, the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) removed a key funding source and a proposed judicial overhaul threatened the bedrock of corporate law and intellectual property rights.

According to the IVC Research Center and LeumiTech, Israeli high tech firms saw a 70% fall in fundraising in the first half of the year, but added that the rate had stabilised to a drop of 14% in the third quarter compared with the second.

LeumiTech CEO Maya Eisen Zafrir said the figures were "the first signs of stabilisation in the amount and scope of fundraising, data that bring us back to the levels of 2018-19."

In all, startups have raised some $5 billion so far in 2023, versus $16 billion last year and a record $26 billion in 2021. It was $10.4 billion in 2019. Investment has been broad-based but led by cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) companies.

"Certainly, while we are in the midst of the war, it's hard to imagine major deals happening," said Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central and a former venture capitalist.

CONFIDENCE EARNED

That said, Hasson and others expect Israel's tech sector to rebound in the same way it has in past conflicts with Palestinian and Hezbollah militants.

"Israeli tech has earned the confidence of investors in terms of being able to function during conflict and also recover from it," Hasson said. "So, I don't see investors losing faith in Israel so quickly."

Medved said that he believes that Israel will prevail as an tech investment destination.

"Historically, every time Israel has gone to war, long term has been a buy side," he said.

With much of the country reeling from the attacks, tech firms have been using their offices to collect supplies for soldiers since many of the 300,000 reservists Israel has called up are tech employees.

U.S. venture capital fund Insight Partners said it would match up to $1 million in donations to a pre-approved list of charitable organisations in Israel, saying it was a "critical opportunity to stand with our Israeli friends and partners."

Gem Security, a cloud security startup that just raised its Series A funding of $23 million from U.S. investors, has 30 staff split between Israel and New York. It was expanding the team when the conflict broke and some staff in Israel had to report for reserve duty.

"What's happening in Israel, in my perspective, won't change anything with our plans to stay within Israel when it comes to technology," said Arie Zilberstein, Gem's co-founder and CEO.

Ariel Efergan, vice-president of growth at startup MDI Health, estimated that about a fifth of its 40 employees in Tel Aviv, had been put on reserve duty. The rest are now working remotely.

Startup marketing adviser Hillel Fuld was ultimately optimistic about the industry, pointing to a wave of support from the global venture capital community and a shift in world opinion in Israel's favour.

"That shift may even help push those investors who might have been reluctant (to invest in Israel)," he said. "I don't see this situation affecting Israel in a negative way."

(Reporting by Steven Scheer in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Krystal Hu in New York; Editing by Louise Heavens)
FILE PHOTO: A Bank of Montreal (BMO) logo is seen outside of a branch in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo

TORONTO (Reuters) - Bank of Montreal on Tuesday named Alan Tannenbaum as the new head of the bank's capital market division, to replace outgoing CEO Dan Barclay, who is retiring in November.

Tannenbaum joined BMO in 2010 and has held multiple leadership roles, most recently leading global investment and corporate banking, where he worked with corporate, government and financial sponsor clients worldwide. Before then, he headed the global corporate finance solutions group, where he was responsible for capital raising activities.

Tannenbaum will be challenged with boosting the bank's capital market business, which accounts for roughly a fifth of its overall profit, at a time that deal and IPO activities have slowed amid market turmoil.

CEO Darryl White said Tannenbaum is "well-positioned to capture new growth opportunities" for BMO Capital Markets.

In June, BMO slashed hundred of jobs in the capital markets segment in response to a weak environment for mergers and acquisitions, and incurred costs related to severance in the third quarter.

With 25 years of experience on Wall Street, Tannenbaum has also spent over a decade at Lehman Brothers, where he led European equity capital markets in London and U.S. institutional sales based in New York.

Barclay, who is retiring following his 32-year investment banking career, will continue with the bank as a senior adviser to CEO White.

Brad Chapin will take over for Tannenbaum as global head, investment and corporate banking on an interim basis, BMO said.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
An Israeli soldier walks past a building damaged after rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

By Maayan Lubell and Emily Rose

KFAR AZA, Israel (Reuters) -A baby's crushed crib lying outside a burnt-out home. Corpses strewn on streets. Body bags lined up on an outdoor basketball court. The stench of death everywhere.

Just a few days ago this was the sleepy, scenic kibbutz of Kfar Aza, an Israeli farming community of about 750 people, many of them families with young children. Now it's become a charnel house after Hamas gunmen burst out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and laid waste to the village.

"Mothers, fathers, babies, young families killed in their beds, in the protection room, in the dining room, in their garden," Israeli Major General Itai Veruv said on Tuesday, the seasoned soldier visibly shaken as troops went door-to-door to collect the bodies of residents killed in their homes.

"It's not a war, it's not a battlefield. It's a massacre," Veruv said. Some victims were decapitated, he added. "I've never seen anything like this, and I've served for 40 years."

Kfar Aza, just 3 km from the Gaza Strip, was among the communities hit hardest by the Hamas assault on southern Israel, which Israeli officials say has killed at least 1,000 people, mostly civilians gunned down in their homes, on the streets or at a dance festival.

Retaliatory Israeli strikes have killed at least 830 Gazans and flattened whole districts, Palestinian officials say.

Kfar Aza attack survivor Avidor Schwartzman said he hid with his wife and one-year-old daughter in the safe room of their house for more than 20 hours before being rescued by Israeli soldiers and emerging to confront a scene of "pure hell".

"There were bodies everywhere. Dead bodies everywhere," the 38-year-old said. "We saw our little piece of paradise, our little piece of heaven, was totally burnt  burnt and with blood everywhere."

GUNMEN BREACH KIBBUTZ FENCE

On Tuesday, Israeli Defence Forces took foreign press through the kibbutz, where ruins of burnt-out houses oversaw streets scattered with dead residents and militants, torched cars and piles of broken furniture and other wreckage.

There was no official death toll from the Kfar Aza kibbutz as of Tuesday evening, with Israeli soldiers still searching homes they suspect may be booby-trapped with explosives.

The military spokesperson at the site said at least dozens of residents had been killed in the attack. She added that the military hadn't yet pieced together the precise chain of events, with fighting having only completely ended late on Monday.

The Hamas gunmen rammed through the kibbutz's fence, possibly using an earthmover, clearing the way for dozens of other gunmen to enter through the breach, she said.

Militants also arrived on motorcycles and a hang-glider, the spokesperson added. Veruv, the major general, put the total number of gunmen to enter the kibbutz at about 70.

Waves of the attackers, armed with Kalashnikov rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades, stormed the village, a reserve soldier told Reuters, declining to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Some of the militants' bodies could still be seen lying on streets around the kibbutz, wearing black shirts, khaki trousers and army vests. One still had his hand on a pistol.

'OUR WORST NIGHTMARES'

Schwartzman told Reuters he was woken at about 6.30 am on Saturday by the booming sounds of rockets and that he and his family moved to their safe room an hour later after receiving a kibbutz-wide text telling them it was dangerous to be outside.

"We heard shootings and we were basically barricaded in for 21 hours until the army rescued us," his wife, Keren Flash, took up the account. "We kept hearing shootings and gunfire and bombs and alarms, and we just didn't know what was happening. Our worst nightmares."

Soldiers were still securing the streets of the kibbutz, once neatly lined with palm trees, banana plants and single-storey houses with verandas.

Outside one home, the body of a resident lay covered by a purple bed sheet with a bare foot protruding, as if only sleeping. A pillow lay nearby with other accoutrements from their everyday life.

Bursts of gunfire and explosions could be heard in the distance. Jets could be heard above and smoke could be seen rising from Gaza. Sirens warned of incoming rockets intercepted overhead.

One soldier shouted: "Tell the world what you saw here."

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Additional reporting by Janis Laizans and Emily Rose; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Pravin Char)
FILE PHOTO: A Boeing logo is seen at the 54th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 18, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

By Gabriel Araujo

SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil (Reuters) - Boeing on Tuesday opened a technology and engineering center in Brazil, aiming to expand its global footprint and take advantage of expertise in a country it sees leading sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

The move comes more than three years after it pulled out of a billion-dollar deal to buy the commercial division of local planemaker Embraer. Boeing sees both firms aligned in the goal of developing Brazil's aerospace ecosystem.

"This is very much a logical place for us to invest," said Brendan Nelson, global president responsible for strategy and operations outside the U.S.

Brazil, he said, has highly trained engineers and is well placed to lead the sector's decarbonization efforts. "This investment is a long-term one," Nelson told Reuters.

The airline industry has an ambitious goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which the executive reiterated the planemaker is committed to, and Boeing says Brazil has the potential to become one of the major global players in the SAF market.

The decarbonization target largely depends on the development and increased production of SAF from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or waste. Brazil is a global leader in biofuels like ethanol.

The firm's new technology center in Sao Jose dos Campos, the town near Sao Paulo where Embraer is headquartered, employs about 500 people, according to Boeing, whose main Brazilian airline customer is Gol.

The planemaker did not say how much it plans to invest in Brazil.

Boeing's expansion in the South American nation led two domestic defense and aerospace industry groups to sue the U.S. company for hiring local talent, a move they see harming Brazil's industry. Both groups have Embraer as a member,

Boeing defended its move, saying its presence will boost Brazil's aerospace ecosystem.

"We're not competing with Embraer for their market. We compete in different markets," said Boeing's Latin America & Caribbean President, Landon Loomis, noting the firms also have shared interests including sustainability and safety.

Embraer's commercial division is focused on regional jets, while Boeing makes larger aircraft.

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: An electronic board shows Shanghai and Shenzhen stock indices at the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai, China, March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File photo

By Summer Zhen

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese funds are seeking new capital sources in the Middle East and other markets, managers say, in a shift that could reshape investment flows as diplomatic tensions and other risks drive many U.S. investors out of the country.

Seven China equity funds, including hedge funds and mutual funds, running more than $500 billion in combined assets, told Reuters they visited the Middle East this year to raise money, three of them for the first time.

Mideast investors are also keen to allocate more resources to China as they can benefit from lower valuations and the effects of government stimulus to support the recovery.

The retreat by U.S. investors and businesses out of China due to a host of risks has in turn prompted Chinese funds to look elsewhere to lessen their reliance on U.S. investment.

The search for new capital could affect Asia's hedge fund scene, where China firms account for more than half the market. Brokers and ancillary firms could change their focus to provide for Middle East-related services.

"In the past perhaps the holy grail of capital raising was the U.S.," said Effie Vasilopoulos, co-Leader of law firm Sidley Austin's Asia-Pacific investment funds group.

"But if the U.S. investor leaves, there is a real focus on replacing that with other capital that is de-risked to this U.S.-Sino tension. So that dynamic is leading many of our clients to the Middle East."

Managers of four of the seven funds visiting the Middle East spoke on condition of anonymity, as they have not yet drawn new investment.

But the warm reception has managers sensing a deeper shift.

"Sentiment (towards China) is most positive among Middle East investors relative to other investor groups," said Steven Luk, CEO of FountainCap Research & Investment, one of the seven funds who visited the Middle East this year.

"Some sovereign wealth funds are overweighting China," he said. "They talk more about how to play China instead of 'why China.'"

The long-only equity manager, which has been investing in China since 2015, nearly doubled its asset size to $2.1 billion since the end of last year, which it attributed to inflows predominantly from Europe but also from the Middle East.

As a next step, the firm wants to build relationships in Australia for capital raising.

Many advisers have followed to expand their presence in the Gulf too, said Erin Wu, head of investor relations at OP Investment Management, a Hong Kong-based hedge fund platform.

'POLITICO-INVESTMENT'

It was unclear whether military conflict in the Middle East would hasten moves among the region's investors to allocate beyond the U.S., but opinions on whether China's underperforming markets present value have been split for months.

Big U.S. investors such Texas Teachers' Pension and California State Teachers' Retirement System, for example, have cut exposure to China equities in the past year. However, sovereign funds in the Middle East have been large buyers.

MSCI's China index is down 11% this year, against a 8% gain for world stocks.

"It's a 'politico-investment' strategic decision," said Wong Kok Hoi, CIO at Singapore-based APS Asset Management "On the one hand, China is cheap and on the other hand, they believe they need to diversify away from their U.S.-centric investments."

APS attracted fresh capital from Middle Eastern and African investors this year.

Wong said it might be too early to predict how fund flows will be affected in coming months from the Middle East conflict, but the long-term strategy of Mideast investors to increase their exposure to non-dollar assets should not change much.

"If anything, the pace may even pick up in this new volatile environment as the oil-producing countries, benefitting from higher oil prices, will have more revenue to invest."

(Reporting by Summer Zhen; Editing by Tom Westbrook and Jacqueline Wong)
FILE PHOTO: Deutsche Bank logo is seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Strategists at Deutsche Bank have recommended an overweight in equities into 2024, as risks are now well reflected in the market and those are about to turn into opportunities.

"We anticipated weaker growth, disappointing beats in earnings and disappointing central bank communication into Q3," Deutsche Bank strategists, led by Maximilian Uleer, head of European Equity- and Cross Asset Strategy, said in a note.

"By now, these risks seem adequately reflected in markets."

The bank has set its 2024 forecast for the STOXX 600 at 510, for the Euro STOXX 50 at 4,850 and DAX 40 at 18,000.

Europe's STOXX 600 was last trading at 450.8 points, implying around 13% upside from current levels.

"Markets are still priced cautiously with respect to the macro environment, leaving upside potential from positive surprises," said Uleer, adding that the base case is for the euro zone to avoid a recession.

Deutsche Bank added it remained neutral U.S. equities versus Europe, while within Europe is underweight the Switzerland's SMI due to its "defensive character into a bullish market."

The German bank added it prefers to buy long-duration government bonds with high ratings over credit.

In commodities, Uleer said lower oil exports due to an escalation of the Israel and Palestine conflict pose a threat to the forecast for Brent crude to trade at $92 a barrel by year-end, from closer to $88, where it is currently.

(Reporting by Samuel Indyk; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Bernadette Baum)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday, with the Kremlin saying the focus was on an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of talks.

The Turkish presidency, in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, said the two leaders discussed measures to prevent increasing tensions and initiatives to deliver humanitarian aid.

A Kremlin statement deplored the "catastrophic rise in the deaths among civilians". It said the conflict could only be resolved on the basis of a "two-state" plan, with the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Turkish statement said Ankara would maintain its efforts to ensure calm in the region. The Kremlin said contacts between the two leaders would continue.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever and Ron Popeski; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Europe's telecoms operators pushing for Big Tech to help pay for the rollout of 5G and broadband will likely have to wait for the next European Commission to decide whether to propose rules to this end, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Telecoms companies say Alphabet's Google, Meta's Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft and Amazon should bear some of the rollout costs because they make up a huge part of internet traffic.

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia call it fair-share funding while Big Tech says it amounts to an internet tax.

There had been expectations that EU industry chief Thierry Breton would propose legislation after seeking feedback from both sides this year on what he said is an investment gap of 200 billion euros ($212.4 billion).

The French commissioner, a former chief executive at France Telecom and supporter of the operators' push, faced blowback from some of his fellow commissioners and some EU countries.

Breton will now likely set out a strategy next year on the subject, leaving it to the next Commission to decide whether to propose legislation, the people said.

The current Commission's five-year term ends in November next year.

There is no final decision, and a legislative proposal on the funding issue could still pop up on the Commission's work programme to be announced on Oct. 18 that will lay out the EU executive's long-term objectives, one of the sources said.

Breton in a blogpost on Tuesday suggested broader rules for the telecoms market.

"We have announced that Europe will do 'whatever it takes' to keep its competitive edge, and we are looking for concrete and ambitious recommendations on the future of the Single Market," he wrote.

"Here is one: work on a bold, future-oriented, game-changing Digital Networks Act to redefine the DNA of our telecoms regulation. Getting it right will require vision, boldness and time, but we should start now taking concrete steps," Breton said.

He said feedback provided by telecom providers, broadcasters, cloud service providers, business associations, consumer organisations and Europeans underscore the many regulatory barriers to a single telecoms market in Europe.

Breton will likely voice concerns about the recent acquisitions of telecoms stakes by sovereign investment funds and private equity firms to EU telecoms ministers at an Oct. 23 to 24 meeting in Leon, Spain, another person said.

Such worries have arisen after Saudi Arabian group STC recently acquired a 9.9% stake in Telefonica to become its biggest shareholder, a move which the Spanish government is now scrutinising to ensure that its strategic interests are upheld.

($1 = 0.9418 euros)

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Mark Porter and Josie Kao)
A screen capture of Twitter's official page with an "X" on the profile image is seen on July 23, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a social media website. via REUTERS/File Photo

By Foo Yun Chee and Sudip Kar-Gupta

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -EU industry chief Thierry Breton told Elon Musk on Tuesday to tackle the spread of disinformation on his X messaging platform since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' surprise attack on Israel to comply with new EU online content rules.

Breton said on Tuesday he had indications that X, formerly known as Twitter, was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the European Union.

"I therefore invite you to urgently ensure that your systems are effective and report on the crisis measures taken to my team," Breton said in a letter to Musk.

Breton did not give details on the disinformation he was referring to.

Responding to Breton's X posting, Musk said his company's policy was that everything is open source and transparent.

"Please list the violations you allude to on X, so that the public can see them," he said on X.

Breton said Musk knows there is an issue.

"You are well aware of your users'  and authorities' reports on fake content and glorification of violence. Up to you to demonstrate that you walk the talk," he responded to Musk on X.

The online content rules known as the Digital Services Act (DSA) require X and other large online platforms to remove illegal content and to take measures to tackle the risks to public security and civic discourse.

"Given the urgency, I also expect you to be in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol, and ensure that you respond promptly to their requests," Breton wrote.

He said his team would also follow up with Musk on a number of other immediate issues related to DSA compliance.

"I urge you to ensure a prompt, accurate and complete response to this request within the next 24 hours," Breton said.

Failure to comply with the DSA can result in EU fines of as much as 6% of a company's global turnover.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee and Sudip Kar-Gupta, additional reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Jonathan Oatis and Sandra Maler)
(Reuters) - The war between Israel and Hamas militants who stormed Israeli towns and kibbutzes from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, is the latest in seven decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has destabilised the wider Middle East.

In Hamas' rampage, some 1,400 Israelis, mainly civilians, were killed and 229 were taken hostage.

In response, Israel carried out airstrikes before troops and tanks poured into Gaza in a ground assault, all with the declared aim of wiping out the Islamist militant group.

Medical authorities in Hamas-run Gaza said on Nov 1 that 8,796 people - including 3,648 children - had been killed in the enclave.

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT?

The conflict pits Israeli demands for security in what it has long regarded as a hostile Middle East against Palestinians' aspirations for a state of their own. Hamas rejects the two-state solution and is sworn to Israel's destruction.

In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly agreed a plan to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish states and for international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan giving them 56 percent of Palestine land. The Arab League rejected the proposal.

Israel's founding father David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, establishing a safe haven for Jews fleeing persecution and seeking a national home on land to which they cite deep ties dating to antiquity.

Violence had been intensifying between Jews and Arabs however, and a day after Israel was created, troops from five Arab states attacked.

In the war that followed, some 700,000 Palestinians, half the Arab population of what was British-ruled Palestine, fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Palestinians lament this as the 'Nakba', or catastrophe. Israel contests the assertion that it forced the Palestinians out.

Armistice agreements halted the fighting in 1949 but there was no formal peace. Palestinians who stayed put in the war and their descendants today make up about 20% of Israel's population.

WHAT MAJOR WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT SINCE THEN?

In 1967, Israel made a pre-emptive strike against Egypt and Syria, launching the Six-Day War. Israel captured the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria and the Gaza Strip from Egypt and occupied them.

An Israeli census that year put Gaza's population at 394,000, at least 60% of them Palestinian refugees and their descendants.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli positions along the Suez Canal and Golan Heights, touching off the Yom Kippur War. Israel pushed both armies back within three weeks.

Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and thousands of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters under Yasser Arafat were evacuated by sea after a 10-week siege. Israeli troops pulled out of Lebanon in 2000.

In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew settlers and soldiers from Gaza. Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, and seized full control of Gaza in 2007. Gaza saw major flare-ups of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israel in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021.

In 2006, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers in the volatile border region and Israel launched military action, triggering a six-week war.

Besides wars, there have been two Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, from 1987 to 1993 and 2000 to 2005. During the second, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups carried out suicide bombings against Israelis, and Israel carried out tank and air strikes on Palestinian cities.

WHAT ATTEMPTS HAVE THERE BEEN TO MAKE PEACE?

In 1979, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty.

In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Arafat shook hands on the Oslo Accords establishing limited Palestinian autonomy. In 1994, Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan.

U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat took part in the Camp David summit in 2000, but failed to reach a final peace deal.

In 2002, an Arab League plan offered Israel normal relations with all Arab countries in return for a full withdrawal from the lands it took in the 1967 Middle East war, the creation of a Palestinian state and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees. The presentation of the plan was overshadowed by Hamas, which blew up an Israeli hotel full of Holocaust survivors during a Passover seder meal.

Further peace efforts have been stalled since 2014.

Palestinians stopped dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump's 2017-2019 administration after he broke with decades of U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

WHERE DO PEACE EFFORTS STAND NOW?

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has focused on trying to secure a "grand bargain" in the Middle East that includes normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines.

The latest war is diplomatically awkward for Riyadh as well as for other Arab states, including some Gulf Arab states next to Saudi Arabia, that have signed peace deals with Israel.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES?

A two-state solution, Israeli settlements on occupied land, the status of Jerusalem, agreed borders, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

Two-state solution: An agreement that would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized so as not to threaten its security.

Settlements: Most countries deem Jewish settlements built on land Israel occupied in 1967 as illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land. Continued settlement expansion is among the most contentious issues between Israel, the Palestinians and international community.

Jerusalem: Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City's sites sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, to be the capital of their state. Israel says Jerusalem should remain its "indivisible and eternal" capital.

Israel's claim to Jerusalem's eastern part is not recognised internationally. Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, without specifying the extent of its jurisdiction in the disputed city, and moved the U.S. embassy there in 2018.

Refugees: Today about 5.6 million Palestinian refugees - mainly descendants of those who fled in 1948 - live in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. About half of registered refugees remain stateless, according to the Palestinian foreign ministry, many living in crowded camps.

Palestinians have long demanded that refugees should be allowed to return, along with millions of their descendants. Israel says any resettlement of Palestinian refugees must occur outside its borders.

(Compiled by Reuters journalists; editing by Edmund Blair, Stephen Farrell, Mark Heinrich)
The land and sea blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007, when the Islamic resistance movement Hamas took power in the Palestinian strip, left its more than two million inhabitants trapped in a tiny territory declared uninhabitable by the United Nations. Now, the horror they have suffered for three days of open war between the Israeli Army and the Palestinian militias in the enclave threatens to become pure hell after the order of complete siege given on Monday by Israels defense minister, former general Yoav Gallant. The move to block the supply of food and water and, in particular, electricity and fuel, seeks to suffocate Hamas rearguard, while Israeli artillery and aircraft continue to crush its bases in retaliation for the massive surprise attack it launched on Saturday, when Hamas militants captured more than 150 hostages.

Hamas, for its part, has stated that it will begin executing an Israeli civilian hostage for every new airstrike that Israel launches without warning. The spokesman for the organizations armed wing, Abu Obaida, stated that so far they have been acting in accordance with Islamic instructions in keeping Israeli captives safe and sound. But he warned that any attack against innocent houses in Gaza without prior warning will be met with the public execution of a hostage, he said in a statement cited by Spains news agency Efe. The execution will be of civilian hostages, not military, and will be broadcast online.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, and another 2,600 have been wounded. In Gaza, there are at least 687 Palestinian fatalities and 3,726 injuries. The Israeli Army, which has launched hundreds of attacks, insists that its targets are the military centers of Hamas, which governs the Palestinian territory separately from the Palestinian National Authority, dominated in the West Bank by the secular nationalist Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas.

This is just the beginning. We have eliminated hundreds of terrorists, and we will not stop there, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech to the nation late in the day, in which he called on the opposition to immediately establish a national emergency government without preconditions, as happened in the 1967 Six-Day War.

At noon on Monday, the Israeli Army announced the end of the fighting with the small groups of Hamas militants infiltrated in the towns surrounding the strip, and which were still continuing early in the day. We thought that yesterday [Sunday] we would have full control, acknowledged military spokesman Richard Hecht, warning, however, that there may still be terrorists hiding in the area. In those fringe towns, soldiers stationed at the entrances are preventing people from crossing and residents have been evacuated amid suspicions that armed Palestinians still remain inside. This is also the area hardest hit by rockets when tension with Gaza grows.

The Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which hit a mosque and a market in the last few hours and caused dozens of victims, are heard frequently and loudly from the city of Ashkelon, eight miles (13 km) from Gaza, and where a rocket has injured four people, one of them seriously. Is it us or them? Everything has changed so much that Im not even sure anymore, Avi asks, startled by the noise as he is refueling his vehicle. Almost all businesses are closed, and gas stations only operate in self-service mode. The liveliest place in Ashkelon is the hospital.

Artillery shells line up next to an armored vehicle as Israeli soldiers take up positions near the Gaza border in southern Israel on Monday. JACK GUEZ (AFP)

On one of the roads that leads to the city, only a few cars can be seen. But on the shoulder, there are suddenly hundreds of private vehicles parked in a row. Israel has mobilized 300,000 reservists in a country of under 10 million, with a view to keeping up the offensive in Gaza and monitoring the borders with Lebanon and Syria in the north. Four military transport vehicles were loading tanks heading south on Highway 6 in the vicinity of Tel Aviv and, every few miles, there is a hot corner where volunteers distribute food and drinks to the soldiers. We are all with you, reads a sign in colorful letters that hangs from a bridge.

The Ezedin Al Qasam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement that a quarter of the Israelis captured as hostages died in Gaza in an airstrike by the Israeli Armed Forces along with the militants who were guarding them. In Beittar Illit, in the province of Jerusalem, four people were injured, two of them seriously, by the impact of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. The air raid alarms sounded again on Monday afternoon in Jerusalem, where sirens had not been heard since 2021. Since Saturday, Gaza-based militias have launched more than 4,400 rockets. Many have been intercepted by its Iron Dome air defense system, according to military sources.

In an unexpected twist in the tension in northern Israel, a member of the pro-Iran militia Hezbollah has been killed in an Israeli helicopter attack in an area bordering Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah launched at attack in northern Israel. Armed skirmishes between Hezbollah forces and the Israeli Army, who fought an open war in 2006, have occurred in recent days, raising the risk of a new front for Israel on the territorial dividing line with Lebanon. A spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed to Reuters the seriousness of the latest confrontation and called for restraint on both sides of the so-called Blue Line.
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he delivers a speech at the Centre Pompidou museum during an event for African creation in Paris, October 6, 2023. Michel Euler /Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

HAMBURG (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Iran's condoning of Hamas' attack on Israel was unacceptable and that France was looking into establishing whether it was directly involved.

"I have no comment to make about the direct involvement of Iran for which we have no formal proof, but it's clear that the public comments by Iranian authorities were unacceptable... and that it is likely that Hamas was offered help," Macron said.

"But I will remain careful on that point until we have stabilised intelligence," he added in a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Macron and Scholz both emphasised Israel's right to defend itself against attacks on its territory.

"I hope the next days will allow Israel to put an end to any attack against Israel's territory and free the hostages", Macron said.

Asked whether Europe should end all financial aid to Palestinians in response to Hamas' attack on Israel last weekend, Macron declined, saying:

"One must not confound the fight against terrorism with the most essential humanitarian rights to support the civilian population."

(Reporting by Michel Rose and Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Ingrid Melander)
FILE PHOTO: German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach makes a phone call as he arrives for a boat tour through the Port of Hamburg, during a two-day meeting of the German and French governments in Hamburg, Germany, October 9, 2023. John Macdougall/Pool via

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police conducted raids and arrested members of a far-right group that had sought to violently overthrow Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government and kidnap the health minister, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Searches took place in six states as part of measures against the Reichsbuerger group, according to prosecutors.

Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) adherents do not recognise modern-day Germany as a legitimate state. Some of them are devoted to the German empire under monarchy, while some are adherents of Nazi ideas and others believe Germany is under military occupation.

The group, called Vereinte Patrioten, had planned to install a government modelled on the constitution of the German Reich of 1871 and kidnap German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

The group, formed in mid-January 2022, had set itself the goal "of triggering civil war-like conditions in Germany by means of violence" in the hope of overthrowing the government and parliamentary democracy, according to prosecutors.

The group also had planned targeted explosive attacks with the aim of bringing about a nationwide power blackout lasting several weeks in order to cut off the population from broadcast and press coverage, according to prosecutors.

Five suspected members arrested last year have been on trial since May on high treason charges brought by prosecutors.

Among those arrested on Tuesday was a 61-year-old man in the central German state of Hesse, who offered his garage as a storage space for weapons and agreed to take part in the kidnapping, prosecutors said.

Lauterbach thanked investigators on Twitter after the raids were announced, saying he probably owed his life to them.

A 49-year-old was also arrested in the district of Mettmann, while two other German nationals, a 52-year-old and a 32-year-old, were arrested in the state of Rhineland Palatinate. In southern Germany, a 41-year-old had also been arrested.

None of the suspects were named.

As part of the raid in Hesse, police confiscated a crossbow, a BB gun and various documents among other items, they added.

(Writing by Miranda Murray; editing by Matthias Williams and Andrew Cawthorne)
By Ahmed Kingimi

MAIDUGURI (Reuters) - Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped four people from a house in the university town of Keffi, in central Nasarawa state, police said on Tuesday.

Kidnapping for ransom is rife in Nigeria, but attacks have mostly been in the northwest region where armed men have targeted university students.

Nasarawa police spokesperson Rahman Nansel said police received a distress call at about 0155 GMT on Tuesday after armed men invaded a house in Angwan Kaare community and responded with the military, but the kidnappers had already fled with their victims.

"The Commissioner of Police has ordered a manhunt for the culprits with a view to rescue the four victims unhurt," Nansel said in a statement.

Keffi is about 70 km (43 miles) east of Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Kidnapping for ransom is part of widespread insecurity in Nigeria. Islamist insurgents still carry out deadly attacks in the northeast, violent clashes between herders and farmers continue to claim lives in the central region, and separatists attack security forces in the southeast.

(Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Nick Macfie)
A sign hangs on a gate of a building at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A pro-Palestinian statement from Harvard University students that blamed Israel for violence engulfing the region does not speak for the educational institution as a whole or its leadership, Harvard University President Claudine Gay said on Tuesday.

"Let me also state .... that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership," Gay said in a statement.

Prominent Harvard University alumni on Monday denounced the pro-Palestinian statement in which a coalition of 34 Harvard student organizations said they "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence" following decades of occupation, adding that "the apartheid regime is the only one to blame."

Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel on Saturday left hundreds dead. It marked the worst breach of the country's defenses since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000.

Israel has battered Palestinians with deadly air strikes in Gaza after Hamas' attack. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 830 Palestinians have been killed and up to 4,250 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

The enclave, only 25 miles (40 km) long by 6 miles (10 km) wide, is home to 2.3 million people who have been living under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years, since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

The student organizations signing the pro-Palestinian letter included Muslim and Palestinian support groups plus others named for a variety of backgrounds including the Harvard Jews for Liberation and the African American Resistance Organization.

Gay and senior leadership including 15 deans have said they were "heartbroken by the death and destruction unleashed by the attack by Hamas that targeted citizens in Israel this weekend."

Harvard is the most influential university in U.S. politics, having produced eight former presidents and four of the nine current Supreme Court Justices.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily limited Idaho's ability to enforce its near-total abortion ban in medical emergencies while it weighs in on a legal challenge to the ban by the Biden administration.

A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month allowed the state to enforce its ban, reversing a lower court order that had partially blocked it. On Tuesday, however, the full 9th Circuit said it would rehear the case with 11 of its judges, automatically voiding the panel's order for now.

All three judges on last month's panel were appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump. Of 28 active judges on the 9th Circuit, 15 were appointed by Democratic presidents and 13 by Republicans, though the 11-judge panel will be selected randomly.

The office of Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Idaho in 2020 passed a so-called "trigger" law that would go into effect and ban abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that had established a right to abortion nationwide. The law includes a narrow exception for abortions that are necessary to prevent the mother's death

The Supreme Court overturned Roe in June 2022.

Democratic President Joe Biden's administration sued Idaho last August, saying the state ban conflicted with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law requiring hospitals to "stabilize" patients with emergency medical conditions.

The administration said that could potentially require abortions that would not be included under Idaho's narrow exception for saving the mother's life. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix agreed, blocking the law from being enforced in cases of abortions needed to avoid putting the patient's health in "serious jeopardy" or risking "serious impairment to bodily functions."

The three-judge panel last month found that there was no conflict because EMTALA "does not set standards of care or specifically mandate that certain procedures, such as abortion, be offered."

It also said that any conflict had been eliminated since Hendrix's decision because the state legislature and state Supreme Court had since clarified the law.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Jonathan Oatis)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's Constitutional Court will next week rule on a petition seeking to lower the minimum age of presidential and vice presidential candidates in elections, which could pave the way for President Joko Widodo's eldest son to run in 2024.

The world's third-biggest democracy is set to vote in simultaneous presidential and legislative elections in February next year.

The court will decide on the judicial review requests on Oct. 16, its spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The president's son and mayor of Surakarta city Gibran Rakabuming Raka has not announced any intention to run, but politicians supporting the campaign of leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto have called for Gibran to become Prabowo's running mate.

The current minimum age for a presidential and vice presidential candidate is 40. The court has received seven judicial review requests calling for the age limit to be lowered to 35. Gibran is 36.

One of the petitioners, the Indonesian Solidarity Party argued the age limit was discriminatory, according to court minutes. The party is currently chaired by the youngest son of Jokowi, as the president is popularly known.

The court should not have taken the case, arguing the changes requested should have been done by putting a bill to parliament, said Feri Amsari, a constitutional law expert from Andalas University.

"This is unhealthy for our democracy," he said, noting the election process is already underway.

While the court is likely to keep the minimum age unchanged, judges may add a clause that allows anyone with experience working as a senior government official to be nominated, Feri said, adding this will still benefit Gibran if he plans to run.

He also highlighted that the court's chief justice is Jokowi's brother in law.

Candidates are expected to formally register to the elections commission on Oct. 19 to 25.

Prabowo and former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo currently lead in a tight race, with former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan trailing behind, according to recent opinion polls.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia, Editing by Gayatri Suroyo and Sharon Singleton)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli troops fired artillery and mortar shells toward Syria on Tuesday after a number of shells launched from its northern neighbour landed in open areas on Israeli territory, Israel's military said.

A source in southern Syria said a Palestinian faction had fired three rockets toward Israel.

The development raises fears the violence could lead to a wider war, as Israel trades cross-border salvoes with Lebanon's Hezbollah and battles Hamas militants in Gaza.

The military said its soldiers had fired "toward the origin of the launching in Syria". It did not provide details.

There were no reports of damage or injuries.

(Reporting by Emily Rose and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis)
LONDON (Reuters) - Israel has frozen cryptocurrency accounts used to solicit donations for the Palestinian militant group Hamas on social media, police said on Tuesday.

Hamas launched devastating attacks from Gaza into Israel on Saturday, in one of the most serious escalations in the Israel-Palestinian conflict in years.

"According to suspicions, with the outbreak of the war, Hamas' terrorist organisation initiated a fundraising campaign on social networks, urging the public to deposit cryptocurrencies into their accounts," a police statement said.

"The Police Cyber Unit and Ministry of Defense immediately took action to locate and freeze these accounts, with the assistance of the Binance crypto exchange, in order to divert the funds to the state treasury."

The statement did not give further details of how many accounts were frozen, nor the value of crypto seized.

Reuters was unable to reach Hamas spokespeople for comment.

"Over the past few days our team has been working in real time, around the clock, to support ongoing efforts to combat terror financing," a Binance spokesperson said, adding that the exchange "actively partners" with global law enforcement agencies and regulators.

"The data we use to pinpoint individuals, addresses, and infrastructures associated with specific organisations stems from intelligence provided by law enforcement and investigative tools we, and our partners, have developed."

Hamas had endorsed crypto as a fundraising method for years, but said in April it would stop receiving fundraising via the cryptocurrency bitcoin, citing an increase in "hostile" activity against donors.

Reuters reported in May that Israel had seized around 190 crypto accounts at Binance since 2021, including two it said were linked to Islamic State and dozens it said were owned by Palestinian firms connected to Hamas.

In response to that article, Binance said that it works with law enforcement and "leverages information that is only available to them in order to identify individuals operating accounts for illicit organisations".

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem, additional reporting by Tom Wilson in London and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, writing by Elizabeth Howcroft, editing by Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023. ABIR SULTAN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Emily Rose

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition has agreed to form an emergency unity government with opposition politicians following the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israeli history, his ruling Likud Party said on Tuesday.

The main opposition leaders, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, had agreed in principle to join a unity government following the surprise attack on Saturday by the Islamist group Hamas.

A spokesperson for Gantz's National Unity party said she was optimistic there would be "good news" the party would unite with Netanyahu to form an emergency government but would not elaborate on the terms.

A meeting between Gantz and Netanyahu was scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed to Wednesday.

The agreement by political parties that are normally deeply hostile to one another underlines the scale of the crisis following the killing by Hamas gunmen of more than 1,000 Israelis at the weekend and the capture of more than 100 others.

"An emergency unity government now!" Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who represents a hard right party close to the West Bank Jewish settler movement, posted on social media.

The unprecedented scale of the Hamas assault has helped overcome bitter divisions over plans by the most far-right government in Israeli history to enact legislation that would strip the highest court of much of its power.

Israel has responded to the attack with a massive bombardment of Gaza and deployed thousands of troops around the narrow coastal enclave amid growing expectations it will launch a land invasion to destroy Hamas.

In a statement on Saturday, just hours after the attack, opposition leader Lapid said he informed the prime minister that he was willing to put political differences aside and "establish together with him a professional, limited emergency government, which will manage the difficult, complex and protracted campaign before us."

A source close to Lapid told Reuters that the offer still stood if the emergency government was "narrow and professional."

(Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Howard Goller)
FILE PHOTO: El Al Israel Airlines planes are seen on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo

By Joanna Plucinska and Steven Scheer

LONDON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia added more flights on Tuesday to bring home reservists, according to their websites and Israel's airports authority, though the prospect of more conflict also stoked sector worries about staff shortages.

Israel said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and warned residents of Palestinian enclave Gaza to evacuate in a sign it could be planning a ground assault in response to Palestinian militant group Hamas' unprecedented weekend attack.

Separately, U.S. State Department spokesman Matt Miller said the U.S. government was in conversation with various carriers to "encourage" them to consider resuming travel in and out of Israel to help a number of American citizens leave the country.

American Airlines on Tuesday temporarily suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv through Dec. 4 after Delta Air Lines said Monday it would cancel all flights to Israel through Oct. 31, while United Airlines has indefinitely halted flights.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. carriers, said on Tuesday it remains in discussions with government agencies about the issue. "The situation in Israel is rapidly evolving, and our carriers continue to make individual assessments about operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports," a spokesperson said.

While many major airlines have cancelled flights to and from Israel, domestic carriers have looked to ramp up capacity, at least in coming days. Many Israelis were travelling abroad the last week for a Jewish holiday.

On its website, Israir Airlines said it was offering flights from Larnaca in Cyprus, Corfu in Greece and Batumi in Georgia to help bring Israelis back to the country.

Arkia was offering flights from Greek capital Athens to Eilat in southern Israel and from Marrakesh in Morocco to Tel Aviv, among others.

Flag carrier El Al added a flight from Athens on Tuesday. El Al added that, while it wasn't offering free flights for reservists, it was trying to keep prices affordable. Reservists were being charged $900 for flying from the United States, $650 from Bangkok, and $300 from Europe for flights under four hours, a spokesperson said.

Fears of staff shortages at airlines have grown, however, with the prospect of reduced flights looming.

Israir said its flight schedule could be reduced in coming days as its foreign crews were asked to leave the country while some Israeli staff were also recruited to fight.

Flights evacuating foreigners were also leaving Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.

Iceland said on Monday night it had flown out 126 Icelanders, five Faroese, four Norwegians and 12 Germans who had been stranded in Israel from Amman, Jordan, on a government-sponsored plane.

The Israeli airports authority said 67,000 passengers were expected to travel through Ben Gurion on Tuesday, compared to an average of 80,000 under normal circumstances.

The authority added that it would restrict flights to Ben Gurion airport's Terminal 3 due to security concerns.

"All our clients who planned to depart (to Israel) this week have cancelled their trip," said Emilie Dumont, managing director of Digitrips, a French online travel company. The Union of Tour Operating companies (SETO), a French organization, recommended this weekend to cancel or postpone all departures to Israel until Oct. 13, she said.

Flights to Israel from Turkey were also being cancelled, including those of national carrier Turkish Airlines and budget carrier Pegasus, according to Flightradar24 - a flight tracking website. Turkish Airlines said on its website: "Our Tel Aviv (TLV) flights have been temporarily suspended until further notice."

(This story has been refiled to restore the full title and first name of Emilie Dumont in paragraph 16)

(Additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago, David Shepardson in Washington, Tim Hepher in Paris, Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Nick Macfie, Mark Potter, Nick Zieminski and Sandra Maler)
Two Palestinians, in the ruins of the Gazan neighborhood of Al Ramal, hit by an Israeli attack this Tuesday.

The Israeli army on Tuesday intensified the severity of its bombardment of the Gaza Strip and killed two members of Hamas political office, in an escalation of the conflict that began Saturday after the Palestinian militant group launched an offensive inside Israel that left at least 900 people dead. Images from the day show entire city blocks reduced to rubble. As they previously warned they would do, at 5:00 p.m. local time the military wing of Hamas launched a barrage of rockets on Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel with 170,000 inhabitants.

Israel claims to have regained control of all its territory, stopped further infiltration and found 1,500 bodies of Hamas militiamen who crossed into Israel in a surprise operation on Saturday. In Gaza, some 200,000 of the 2.2 million inhabitants have already sought refuge, either because they have lost their homes or because of the intensity of the air and naval bombardment and the expected ground incursion. Many of them are in schools run by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Gaza, where the death toll so far stands at 788, has been completely encircled since Monday, after Israel cut off food, electricity, and fuel supplies.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is reporting an increase in the last 24 hours of mass displacement and says it will continue to increase. On Tuesday, Egypt closed until further notice the only border crossing with Gaza not controlled by Israel, Rafah. It was barely functioning as of late Monday after being bombed. Under normal conditions, only a few Palestinians manage to get through this crossing (after long lines and often with bribes). On Monday, only those with an exit permit were allowed to cross into Egypt.

An Israeli emergency service official, this Monday next to a window damaged by a Hamas attack in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. RONEN ZVULUN (REUTERS)

Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht this morning advised Gazans to get out through Rafah, because a disruptive and severe offensive was coming, he said in a video conference with journalists. The army later clarified that Rafah is in fact closed and that it was not an official call for Gaza residents to flee to Egypt.

Hamas, for its part, stated Monday that it will begin executing an Israeli civilian hostage for every new airstrike that Israel launches without warning. This refers to the firing of small missiles  usually with very little explosive charge  shortly before the actual bombardment, so that civilians can run away.

According to the Israeli military, two Hamas officials were killed in an airstrike. Yoad Abu Shmala was the Minister of Economy in the Gaza government (in Hamas hands since 2007) and Zakaria Abu Maamar, the head of the internal relations department. Both belong to Hamas political office, not the military branch. An official Hamas source confirmed the deaths to Reuters.

Three journalists killed

Three Palestinian journalists have also been killed. Said al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobboh and Hisham Nawajhah were killed in a bombing that hit a residential building near the fishing port of the Gaza capital, the local journalists union reported.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday condemned the total siege of the Gaza Strip. The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law, he said in a statement.

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By Ahmed Al Kerdi and Mohamed Azakir

DHAYRA, Lebanon (Reuters) - Many residents of south Lebanon who just days ago were preparing to harvest their olives have instead fled for fear of another ruinous conflict with Israel after the deadliest day of cross-border violence since the 2006 war.

For villagers in southern Lebanon, Monday's clashes stirred memories of the devastating 2006 war between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants, 200 km (120 miles) away to the south, arrived at their doorstep.

On the Israeli side of the frontier, villages appeared deserted on Tuesday - a possible result of residents sheltering indoors rather than evacuating. The Israeli military said it had not issued them with any orders to leave. Some people, however, said they were relocating southward as a temporary precaution.

Israeli tanks were deployed in the far northern border town of Metulla as rain came down near the heavily fortified border.

Six people were killed on Monday - three Hezbollah members, an Israeli officer, and two Palestinian militants who touched off the violence by infiltrating Israel from Lebanon.

"I was here in 2006 - those were terrifying scenes. And the shelling yesterday was very heavy," Charbel Alam, a barber in the border town of Rmeish, said. Hundreds of people had left, mostly families with children or elderly relatives, he said.

"People with kids left because in 2006, there was no bread, no milk, no medicine. Lebanon is already like that now, so imagine what it would be like if things escalate," Alam said, referring to the financial crisis that has impoverished many Lebanese over the last four years.

Nazimiya Damouch, an elderly woman, said children had been taken to shelter in a nearby U.N. peacekeeper base during Monday's shelling. "I'm not afraid of shelling like this, but you get scared for the kids."

It marked the most serious escalation at the volatile frontier in rugged highlands since the summer war 17 year ago that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

Tensions have spiked since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing 900 people, abducting dozens, and setting off a war in which nearly 700 Palestinians have also been killed.

Monday's violence at the Lebanese-Israeli frontier began when militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which is fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, slipped across the frontier from Lebanon into Israel.

Israeli forces killed two of the militants in the ensuing confrontation, in which the Israeli officer also died, though Islamic Jihad said the Israeli death toll was higher than that published by Israel so far.

The Hezbollah fighters were then killed during retaliatory Israeli shelling. Hezbollah responded by firing on two Israeli army positions, with no casualties reported. Hezbollah called it an initial response, signalling more to come.

Streets were quiet in Lebanese villages and towns near the frontier on Tuesday, with schools shut. A storm put many people in Lebanon on edge as thunder was mistaken for Israeli bombardment.

People were also jittery in Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli town near Metulla. "This is not the best feeling in the world," resident Orel Sigon said. "We've experienced rockets here, we've been through a lot, but this time we feel that there will be chaos."

ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, has close ties to the Palestinian groups fighting Israel.

Hezbollah has voiced support for the Palestinians, saying its "guns and rockets" are with them. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired at three Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms along the border, declaring it an act of solidarity with the Palestinians, an attack that caused no Israeli casualties.

But the heavily armed, Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah has so far not opened a major second front against Israel.

Lebanon took years to rebuild from the 2006 war, during which Israeli bombardment pounded Hezbollah-controlled south Lebanon and destroyed wide areas of its stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Mutual threats of destruction have helped ward off a major conflagration since then, while neighbouring Syria has served as a theatre for the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanon can ill-afford another big war with Israel, four years into a financial meltdown that has spread impoverishment and paralysed state institutions.

In the south, Bassam al-Sweit's house was blown up in the 2006 war but he said tougher economic times in Lebanon meant he would not be able to do so for a second time.

"The economic situation for people today means, if you want to leave the house, where do you go? If you want to buy a loaf of bread, I mean, some people can't. People can't fill their cars with gasoline if they want to flee," he said.

"Okay, you want to start a war. The least you can do is secure the citizens you have, give them protection or food."

(Additional reporting by Dan Williams and Ayhan Uyanik in Israel; writing by Maya Gebeily and Tom Perry; editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Reuters) - Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government (NUG) on Tuesday said the ruling military was responsible for an attack on a refugee camp that it said killed at least 28 people.

"This act of military council is war crime and crime against humanity," NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said. "The international community needs to take action," Kyaw Zaw said, adding an attack so close to China showed the junta did not respect its neighbour.

The junta could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Martin Petty)
By Sharon Bernstein

(Reuters) - North Carolina Republicans on Tuesday pushed through new curbs on same-day voter registration by overriding a gubernatorial veto, prompting immediate lawsuits by Democratic and progressive groups to halt the changes.

The new law requires additional identification and throws out the ballots of same-day registrants whose mail comes back as undeliverable, making it harder to register during an early voting period. It was enacted by the state legislature's Republican supermajority after a veto by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

The longstanding fight over such measures underscores the impact of even a small number of votes in North Carolina, which despite a Republican legislative majority swings between both major parties in presidential elections. The state is expected to be a battleground in the 2024 White House race.

Democrats said the election law amounted to voter suppression that would particularly hurt certain groups including voters of color.

Republicans, echoing members of their party who have implemented voting restrictions across the country, insisted it will make elections more secure. They accused Democrats of misleading voters and engaging in hyperbolic rhetoric in their opposition.

"These are commonsense reforms that restore faith in our elections," Republican state senators Warren Daniel and Paul Newton said in a joint statement after the override.

Cooper accused Republicans of orchestrating a power grab.

"Republican efforts to change the voting laws have nothing to do with election security and everything to do with manipulating elections to entrench their power," Cooper said in a statement.

"Every single eligible voter deserves fair access to the ballot box and to have their vote count, and North Carolinians will not stand for this voter suppression."

Moments after the vote to override Cooper's veto, the Democratic National Committee and the North Carolina Democratic Party filed a lawsuit challenging the measure, the groups said.

In a statement, they called it a "wide-ranging voter suppression law that will restrict access to early voting across the state, and make it harder to vote - particularly for voters of color, older voters and young voters."

Another lawsuit, filed on behalf of the groups Voto Latino, the Watauga County Voting Rights Task Force and Down Home North Carolina, asks the court to halt the provision of the law that invalidates ballots if a single piece of undeliverable mail is returned by the post office on the day before an election.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Richard Chang)
By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepalis lit candles near the prime minister's office on Tuesday, calling for the return of loved ones from Israel where at least 10 were killed in the attack by Palestinian group Hamas, with others still in hiding in at least one bunker.

"Bring back our brothers and sisters now, one placard read. Unite in Light for Nepali lives," said another.

Officials say about 4,500 Nepalis work in Israel, mostly as caregivers, and about 300 are studying there under a "learn and earn" programme.

Narayan Bahadur Kumal said his son, Chandan, 25, who is studying agriculture in Israel, had survived Saturday's attack but had been hiding out in a bunker. He had called his father and said "You need not worry - I am safe", Narayan said.

"But seeing the condition in videos it is very painful. Up to 20-25 people have been kept in one small bunker. I want the government to rescue him as early as possible," he said.

Sewa Lamsal, spokesperson for Nepal's ministry of foreign affairs, said the government was working to bring the bodies back and evacuate those who want to return.

She said about 300 people had registered with the government for evacuation.

Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from Hamas' weekend attacks had surpassed 1,000. The victims were overwhelmingly civilians, gunned down in homes, on streets or at a dance party.

Gaza's health ministry said Israel's retaliatory strikes had killed at least 770 people and wounded more than 4,000.

(Editing by Nick Macfie)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean state media on Tuesday blamed Israel for causing bloodshed in Gaza, weighing in the military clashes between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas for the first time.

Rodong Sinmun, a ruling Workers' Party mouthpiece, published a brief article on the conflict and casualties, citing foreign media.

"The international community claims that this clash was the result of Israel's constant criminal acts against the Palestinian people, and that the fundamental way out is to build an independent Palestinian state," the newspaper said.

The violence, which has killed more than 1,500 people, prompted international declarations of support for Israel and appeals for an end to the fighting and protection of civilians after a devastating weekend attack by Hamas.

Hamas has threatened to execute an Israeli captive every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning, amid fears of a ground assault by Israel, which called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and imposed a blockade on Gaza.

North Korean state media has often argued against Western views, especially of the United States, on international issues.

On Monday, state media condemned "hostile forces inside and outside Syria" for a recent drone attack that caused many casualties in the country, calling it a terrorist attempt to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
FILE PHOTO: Survivors and siblings Viola Fletcher and Hughes Van Ellis listen as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre during a visit to the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S., J

(Reuters) -One of the last three known Black Tulsans who lived through a 1921 race massacre in the Oklahoma town has died at 102, his family said.

Hughes Van Ellis, who sued the city of Tulsa seeking reparations for one of the deadliest acts of racial violence in U.S. history, died on Monday in Denver, Colorado, his family said in a statement.

As many as 300 people, most of them Black, were killed when white residents burned Tulsa's African American neighborhood of Greenwood.

Ellis, an infant at the time, and his older sister fled with their family during the attack in which carloads of white residents staged drive-by shootings, burned homes and businesses and beat Black residents, according to historical accounts.

The Greenwood area, known as Black Wall Street because of the prosperity of its citizens, had a population of over 10,000 Black residents at the time when racial segregation was strict and the Ku Klux Klan had strong membership in Oklahoma.

Ellis, his 109-year-old sister Viola Fletcher, and another survivor, Leslie Benningfield Randle, 108, sued Tulsa for reparations including a 99-year tax holiday for residents who are descendants of victims of the massacre.

An Oklahoma judge dismissed the lawsuit in July and their lawyers have appealed to the state's supreme court.

"We will continue the legacy he left behind: one of persistence in the face of struggle, of remembering and teaching our shared history, and fighting for whats right so that all of us can be free," lawyers Schulte, Roth & Zabel, Damario Solomon-Simmons said in a statement.

The massacre began after a white woman told police a Black man had grabbed her arm in an elevator in a downtown commercial building, according to an account by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Police arrested the man, whom the Tulsa Tribune reported had tried to assault the woman.

White residents surrounded the courthouse, demanding the man be handed over. A white man tried to disarm a Black World War One veteran and a shot rang out, touching off violence in which 35 blocks of Greenwood were destroyed.

(Reporting By Andrew Hay; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Mark Porter)
FILE PHOTO: Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addresses the U.N. Security Council as the Council meets to discuss the issue of Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory at U.N. headquarters i

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday described Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip and vow to impose a complete siege on the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave as "nothing less than genocidal."

Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on Saturday, when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns, killing more than 1,000 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza. Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have razed entire districts as it prepares for a possible ground offensive.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing on Monday a "total blockade" to stop food and fuel reaching Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Gallant said Israel was battling "beastly people."

"Such blatant dehumanization and attempts to bomb a people into submission, to use starvation as a method of warfare, and to eradicate their national existence are nothing less than genocidal," Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour wrote in a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, seen by Reuters.

"These acts constitute war crimes," he wrote.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that his understanding was that "the concept of siege is not something that in fact is going to be pursued by the Israeli government," adding that Washington was speaking with the Israeli government "about their actions in this regard."

Sullivan also said U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday discussed "the difference between going full bore against Hamas terrorists and how we distinguish between terrorists and innocent civilians."

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan on Sunday accused Hamas of war crimes and said it was time to "obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure," as the 15-member U.N. Security Council met behind closed-doors on the conflict.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he was "deeply distressed" by Israel's announcement of a complete siege on Gaza.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially," Guterres said.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool)
By Lewis Jackson

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian police said on Tuesday they were investigating a pro-Palestinian protest outside Sydney Opera House, after footage emerged of a small group appearing to chant anti-Semitic slogans at the demonstration.

Around 1,000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through downtown Sydney on Monday evening to the city's iconic Opera House, which the government had illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag following Saturday's attacks by Hamas which Israel says killed over 900.

Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli retaliation air strikes on the blockaded enclave since then.

Unverified footage shared by the Australian Jewish Association and featured on Sky News appeared to show a small group outside the Opera House lighting flares and chanting "gas the Jews".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday called the reports of anti-Semitic slogans "horrific".

"We are a tolerant multicultural nation," he said. "I understand that people have deep views about issues relating to the Middle East conflict but here in Australia we have to deal with political discourse in a respectful way."

New South Wales state police told a news conference on Tuesday it was reviewing footage from the protest to determine if offences were committed.

Protest organiser Palestine Action Group Sydney defended its right to protest "apartheid" in Israel but said a small number of "vile antisemitic attendees" had no place in their movement.

"We are an anti-racist and anti-colonial movement and we refuse to fight racism with racism," the group said in a post on social media.

"If you are an antisemite, you are not welcome at our rallies and are not a part of our movement. As we did today, we will ask you to leave and we will continue to do this."

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Michael Perry)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in the Kremlin on Tuesday and praised cooperation between their countries at the OPEC+ group of top oil producers, saying it had helped to stabilise energy markets.

"We coordinate work within the framework of OPEC+ and do this very successfully with the aim of stabilizing the situation on world markets. Overall, we succeed in this, and I hope we will continue to work with you in the future," Putin told Sudani at the start of their first ever meeting.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and allied producers are known as OPEC+. Putin pays close attention to the oil and gas business, sales from which generate around a third of Russia's state budget proceeds.

Iraq is OPEC's second-largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to continue with voluntary oil supply cuts of a combined 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, or more than 1% of global demand, to the year-end.

Putin's meeting with Sudani took place against the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza that has seen hundreds killed on both sides since the weekend.

Sudani underlined Iraq's continued support for the Palestinian cause and urged Russia to use its status as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to help halt Israel's strikes against the Palestinian Territories, according to a statement released by his office.

Earlier, Putin said the explosion of violence between Israel and the Palestinians showed the failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East. The Kremlin said it was in touch with both sides.

ENERGY COOPERATION

Sudani, who is on a two-day trip to Moscow, will meet Putin again on Wednesday when the two leaders participate in an energy forum, the Kremlin said.

The Iraqi statement on Tuesday's talks in the Kremlin said Sudani and Putin had focused on enhancing bilateral relations and joint cooperation, especially in the energy sector, including the activities of Russian oil companies in Iraq.

Putin said in a televised excerpt of their talks that Russia's investments in Iraq totalled around $19 billion.

Russia's biggest oil company Rosneft has been making deals with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq since at least 2017, pumping billions of dollars there in oil producing and shipping infrastructure.

Russia's Lukoil now produces some 480,000 barrels per day of oil at Iraq's southern West Qurna 2 oilfield, while Russia's Gazprom Neft , the oil arm of the gas giant Gazprom, is involved in the Badra oil field project in eastern Iraq and two fields in Iraqi Kurdistan.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow and Timour Azhari in Baghdad; Editing by Michael Perry and Gareth Jones)
Members of Mexico's National Guard search for human remains in a grave in the state of Guerrero, in a file image. Dassaev Tellez (CUARTOSCURO)

From January 2007 to April 2023, Mexican authorities reported the discovery of 5,698 clandestine graves throughout the country. It is a dizzying number, but just part of the figures that outline the violence that the country is experiencing: more than 110,000 missing people and 30,000 murders a year, in a bloodletting that seems to have no end. The map of the unmarked graves illuminates one of the favorite tactics of criminals in these times of war against drug trafficking and organized crime: disappearing people, concealing their death and their fate. The practice completely sidesteps an already decadent justice system handling soaring numbers of crimes that go unpunished.

In an investigation published on Monday, the non-profit investigative reporting organization Quinto Elemento Lab shows the evolution of the data, which are part of the records that the National Search Commission, dependent on the Ministry of the Interior, has accumulated over the years. The Mexican government runs a website that offers a map of the graves. But Quinto Elemento Lab has obtained the raw data from state prosecutors through transparency requests, to confirm the governments statistics and organize the data according to criteria of geography and time.

The records show that the Mexican states with the most graves on their territory are Veracruz, Tamaulipas and Guerrero. In fact, between the three of them, they account for more than half of the finds in the entire country. Veracruz leads the list with 668 clandestine burials. In 2016, for example, authorities certified the location of 161 in that state alone. In 2019, there were 142. Tamaulipas follows Veracruz with 554, distributed more or less evenly between 2011 and 2022. Guerrero follows with 498. The year The worst year for Guerrero was 2014, during the search for the 43 missing student-teachers from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School.

Forensic experts analyze a grave in the State of Sonora, in a file image. Daniel Sanchez (EFE)

There isnt a huge gap between the top three states and the next on the list. The states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua surpassed the barrier of 400 graves each, while Colima and Zacatecas remain close. In total, 18 out of the 32 states in the country located 100 clandestine graves or more in their territory. At least one grave has been found in 570 municipalities, that is, in one of every four towns in Mexico.

Comparing the work of Quinto Elemento Lab with the executives own map, it is easy to see the governments attempt to separate its records from those of previous governments. Thus, Mexico found 2,835 unmarked graves from January 2007 to December 2018, a range that includes the administrations of Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) and Enrique Pena Nieto (2012-2018). In the four and a half years of Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors term in office, the figure is 2,863.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a plenary session as part of the 3rd International Olympiad on Financial Security in the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Krasnodar region, Russia October 4, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Phot

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the explosion of violence between Israel and the Palestinians showed the U.S. policy had failed in the Middle East and taken no account of the needs of the Palestinians.

Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said the Kremlin was in touch with both warring sides and would seek to play a role in resolving the conflict, but did not specify how. Peskov warned that the conflict risked spilling over into other regions.

Putin took the opportunity, during talks with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, to blame the sharp escalation on years of U.S. policy in the region.

"I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East," Putin said.

Putin said Washington had sought to "monopolise" efforts at forging peace, and accused it of failing to seek workable compromises. The United States, he said, had ignored the interests of Palestinians, including their need for their own independent Palestinian state.

He made no mention of Russia's own role in the Middle East peace process. Along with the United States, the United Nations and the European Union, it has since 2002 formed part of a "Quartet" of powers charged with helping to mediate.

Israel vowed to escalate its response to the attack by Iran-backed Hamas militants with a ground offensive, while U.S. President Joe Biden pledged support for Israel and issued a warning to anyone who might seek to take advantage of the situation.

Russia pressed on with diplomatic contacts.

A Kremlin statement said Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan deplored the "catastrophic rise in the deaths among civilians".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for a rapid cease fire in a conversation with his Iranian opposite number, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said Moscow took part in all formats for diplomatic efforts despite limited progress.

"But nevertheless we intend to keep making efforts and play our role in terms of providing assistance to seek ways to a settlement," he said.

Since the latest crisis erupted, the Kremlin has sought to appear even-handed, underscoring its relations with both sides.

Moscow allegedly uses Iran-made drones in its war in Ukraine and has longstanding ties with the Palestinians, including Hamas, which sent a delegation to Moscow in March. But it also has "a lot in common" with Israel, including the fact that many Israelis are former Russian citizens, Peskov said.

In comments later reported by Russian news agencies, Peskov said the turmoil was "more than worrying. It has the potential to be dangerous by growing and spilling over from the current zone of the Arab-Israeli conflict."

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Ron Popeski and Stephen Coates)
FILE PHOTO: Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble///File Photo

By Rishav Chatterjee and Praveen Menon

(Reuters) -Australia's Qantas Airways said on Wednesday that its chairman Richard Goyder will step down in late 2024, as the embattled airline renews its board in an effort to restore trust among investors and fix its battered reputation.

The Australian flag carrier has been beset with both legal and regulatory actions, that have led to growing calls from a number of unhappy investors for Goyder's resignation.

Goyder, who became chairman in 2018, has previously fought against pressure to resign, including from the airline's pilots, saying that he had followed high ethics throughout his career.

"As a board, we acknowledge the significant reputational and customer service issues facing the group and recognise that accountability is required to restore trust," Goyder said in a statement announcing that he will retire prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in late 2024.

The outgoing chair acknowledged the "difficult period" for the carrier since the COVID pandemic.

"The recovery has not been easy, and mistakes were made. We again apologise for those times where we got it wrong." he said.

Qantas announced in May that the non-executive director Michael LEstrange will retire at this years AGM on Nov 3. To facilitate further renewal, Jacqueline Hey and Maxine Brenner will retire at the Qantas half-year results in February 2024 after 10 years of service, the statement said on Wednesday.

Qantas has been facing challenges in recent times, with the High Court of Australia in September dismissing its appeal against a judgement which found the airline had cut jobs unlawfully. The ruling came days after Australia's competition regulator sued the carrier over selling fake seats.

Company chief Alan Joyce retired early in September after a public backlash against Qantas.

"The wave of changes we're seeing, from CEO to chairman, will always create uncertainty for shareholders, and investors hate uncertainty," said Josh Gilbert, market analyst at eToro AUS Capital.

"If the new team Qantas are forming can bring a more diplomatic approach to worker relations while also improving customer experience and beating away intensifying competitors with more competitive fares, investors will be able to breathe a sigh of relief," added Josh.

The Australian Shareholders Association said it has been calling for Goyder to step down and take accountability for the service, brand, reputational issues.

"Leadership is required by the Qantas chair and the Board and it is pleasing for retail shareholders to see that Board renewal is coming," said Australian Shareholders Association CEO Rachel Waterhouse.

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Michael Perry)
FILE PHOTO: The empty seat for the representative of Russia is pictured during the Human Rights Council special session on the human rights situation in Ukraine, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Phot

By Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

GENEVA (Reuters) -Russia failed in its bid to return to the United Nations' top human rights body on Tuesday, with rivals winning considerably more votes at the General Assembly in an election seen as a key test of Western efforts to keep Moscow isolated.

In the secret ballot, Russia won 83 votes versus 160 for Bulgaria and 123 for Albania, which had competed against it in the same eastern Europe grouping for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for a three-year term beginning on Jan. 1.

"UN member states sent a strong signal to Russia's leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesn't belong there," said Louis Charbonneau, United Nations director at Human Rights Watch.

Russia was ousted from the council 18 months ago in a U.S.-led diplomatic push following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

A U.N.-mandated investigative body said in March that Russia had committed a wide range of war crimes in Ukraine such as wilful killings, torture and the deportation of children.

The International Criminal Court has also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children. The Kremlin rejects the accusations and the court's jurisdiction.

A senior Russian official accused the United States of deploying unmatched efforts to ensure Russia remained out of the Human Rights Council.

"The United States campaigned for Albania," Maria Zabolotskaya, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, was quoted as saying by RIA news agency. "Such a campaign directly aimed against us is unprecedented."

'NOT EVEN THAT CLOSE'

Amid some signs of Ukraine war "fatigue", some diplomats earlier said Russia had a reasonable chance of getting voted back onto the council.

"It was not even that close in the end," said Richard Gowan, the U.N. Director of the International Crisis Group. "I think Western diplomats may have been overstating the risk of a Russian win to keep UN members on their toes."

China and Cuba were also among the winners of Tuesday's vote, drawing objections from human rights defenders.

"Crimes against humanity and genocide apparently (are) not disqualifying actions for UN's top human rights body," the Uyghur Human Rights Project, which advocates against what rights campaigners say are China's grave human rights abuses against the mainly Muslim ethnic minority, wrote on messaging platform X.

Juan Pappier, deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, wrote on X in the run-up to the vote that Cuba was unfit to be a member of the Council.

"Its record of systematic human rights violations speaks for itself," he wrote.

(Reporting by Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, editing by Deepa Babington)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russians who leave the country and support Ukraine should be sent to a far eastern region known for its Stalin-era Gulag prison camps if they ever return home, according to the speaker of Russia's State Duma lower house of parliament.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent mobilisation campaign prompted at least several hundred thousand Russians to leave their homeland, though it is unclear exactly how many.

More than a year and a half of war has made Russia a much shriller place: dissidents have been jailed; state television periodically discusses nuclear attacks on the West; and some politicians have suggested rather quixotic policies.

Vyachelav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, told lawmakers on Tuesday that those who had left Russia and rejoiced at Ukrainian drone and missile attacks on their country should know that they were no longer welcome in their homeland.

"Those who left the country and committed despicable acts, rejoicing at the shots fired on the territory of the Russian Federation, wishing victory to the bloody Nazi Kyiv regime, should realise that no one is waiting for them here - but if they do come back, then Magadan will be provided for them," Volodin said.

For Russians, Magadan is synonymous with the Gulag - a series of forced labour camps where Russians were used as slave labour under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

About 800,000 people are estimated to have passed through the camps of Magadan between 1932 -- seven years before the city was officially founded -- and the mid-1950s.

Overall, around 18 million people passed through the Soviet Gulag, which was immortalised by Russian novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn - himself a survivor of incarceration there - in "The Gulag Archipelago". His book was banned in the Soviet Union after its 1973 publication in the West.

The full Volodin remark was published on the Telegram messaging app by the State Duma's press service.

The post elicited a mixture of resigned sarcasm, calls for Russian politicians to actually put their words into action, and also some humour.

One anonymous reply to the post on Telegram suggested that the Magadan region, a vast and sparsely populated area, might not cope with such an influx so the new arrivals should be put to work on building a new city.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev attends a meeting of the collegium of the Prosecutor General's office in Moscow, Russia, March 15, 2023. Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS

(Reuters) - A top Russian security official, Nikolai Patrushev, met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday.

Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's Security Council and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a former director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and is seen as a main advocate of hardline, hawkish policies within the Kremlin.

"A wide range of issues of Russian-Azerbaijani co-operation in various spheres was discussed. Emphasis was placed on topics related to ensuring and strengthening regional and international security and stability," Russian news agencies quoted the Security Council's press service as saying.

Azerbaijan last month staged a lightning offensive to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh - a mountainous region run for three decades by ethnic Armenians. The territory was the main focus of two wars between Azerbaijan and neighbouring Armenia, Russia's long-time ally in the region, now falling out of Moscow's zone of influence.

Most of the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh left for Armenia after the Azerbaijani offensive.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov, Editing by Ron Popeski and Grant McCool)
Visiting U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping before their bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Andy Wong/Pool via REUTERS

By Antoni Slodkowski and Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday there had been "serious engagement" during a meeting between a visiting U.S. bipartisan congressional delegation and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The visit aims to advance U.S. economic and national security interests ahead of a potential summit between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden next month.

The United States and China are at odds over issues from Taiwan to trade, fentanyl and human rights. Biden has taken steps to restrict China's access to sensitive U.S. technology while at the same time seeking to keep communication channels open.

"There was serious engagement with President Xi and others," Schumer said during a briefing at the Beijing residence of U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns.

"We need to get results," Schumer said, adding that "there seems to be a difference" in China's current posture compared to previous engagement with U.S. officials.

The United States last week announced actions against Chinese companies and individuals as it targets the trafficking of the deadly drug fentanyl, a major sticking point in U.S.-China relations.

Schumer and other senators on the visit said they pressed Chinese officials on the issue.

Schumer said he "asked Xi to appoint a senior official on the China side" responsible for fentanyl, adding "they said they would look into that".

Republican Mike Crapo, co-leader of the visit, said the meetings had been "remarkably successful".

"We were candid and frank but respectful," he told journalists. "We want the engagement to continue."

Schumer said on Monday he urged Xi to support Israel after Saturday's deadly attacks by Hamas, adding he was "disappointed" that Beijing showed "no sympathy" for the country over the weekend.

In response, China's foreign ministry urged "relevant parties" to end hostilities and advocated "implementing the two-state solution".

During Monday's meeting, Xi said "competition and confrontation are not in line with the trend of the times", according to a Chinese state media readout.

Schumer's visit to Asia also includes stops in South Korea and Japan.

(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Writing by Laurie Chen; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Nick Macfie)
By Nivedita Balu

TORONTO (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia and Sun Life Financial's asset-management division are partnering to tap into the demand from wealthy Canadians looking to invest in private credit, the firms said on Tuesday.

As part of the agreement, Scotiabank's high-net-worth clients will be able to tap into alternative investments in private real estate, credit and infrastructure through Sun Life's asset-management division, SLC Management.

Sun Life will also invest C$100 million ($73.63 million) of seed capital for future funding opportunities.

The move comes as private credit becomes one of the fastest growing and most attractive private asset classes, forecast to grow to $2.3 trillion in assets globally by 2027, according to Preqin data.

At the same time, affluent Canadian investors are increasingly looking for alternative investments as they look to add new sources of yield and return.

"Once the domain of the most sophisticated institutional investors, private alternative investments have been increasingly sought after for their important role in enhancing portfolio diversification and risk-adjusted returns," Scotiabank's Global Wealth Management head Glen Gowland said.

More private capital providers and traditional banks are looking to offer credit to companies and consumers since the global financial crisis as heightened regulation and higher costs weigh on banks' lending and services businesses.

The private credit market is less mature in Canada than in the U.S. and Europe but is slowly gaining attention. In a recent survey taken out by Canadian firm Ninepoint Partners, nearly two-thirds of financial advisors said they expect to increase their client or model portfolios' exposure to private credit in the next 12 months.

Some Canadian banks are also looking for new avenues of growth and are doubling down on the wealth management business as some other segments face challenges in an uncertain environment.

Scotiabank Global Wealth Management is the third-largest business of its kind in Canada with C$631 billion of assets globally, while SLC Management manages $361 billion in assets.

($1 = 1.3582 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Tesla on Tuesday rejected claims by a German union and recent media reports that health and safety provisions at its gigafactory near Berlin were inadequate, stating that protecting workers' health was a top priority.

The U.S. electric vehicle maker came under scrutiny in the past fortnight after German media citing local authority documents in Brandenburg reported an unusually high number of work-related accidents requiring workers to take at least three days of sick leave were occurring at the plant, which employs around 11,000 workers.

The report detailed accidents that included serious injuries such as burns, hydrochloric acid or amputated limbs.

On Monday, German union IG Metall said its membership numbers from Tesla workers were rising steeply amid concerns over health and safety as well as overwork. Reuters was not able to independently verify the union's claims or the media report.

In a written statement, Tesla said workers received training on necessary safety measures, as well as protective clothing. The plant was subject to regular checks by local authorities that safety measures were being respected, it added.

The company did not address the specific claims of the union or media reports regarding the number of accidents or workers off sick at the plant.

Reuters spoke to twelve workers at the factory on Monday.

While four said they were satisfied with working conditions, eight said pressure for speed was too high, with some reporting high incidence of accidents and issues with receiving overtime pay.

Brandenburg's authority on occupational safety and health said to Reuters it only held records of serious accidents at work resulting in over six weeks of inpatient treatment or permanent physical damage, of which there had been six at the Tesla plant in 2021 and 2022.

The authority's staff conducted weekly safety checks at the plant during its construction phase and now visited fortnightly, with unannounced checks every 6-8 weeks, it added.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
FILE PHOTO: 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. attends the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of General Milley and an Armed Forces Hail in honor of General Brown, at Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson H

By Idrees Ali

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, on his first trip as the top U.S. general, needs to convince European allies that Washington is committed to supporting Ukraine, despite political chaos in Congress and the Middle East crisis, officials and experts said.

Brown, who took over as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff last month, arrived in Brussels on Tuesday for a monthly meeting of global support for Ukraine, known as the Ukraine Contact Group. He will be joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin later this evening.

The general faces the daunting task of assuring allies that the United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine, even though the House of Representatives, which holds the key to future aid, is without a leader.

The situation has been further complicated by the weekend's escalation of violence in the Middle East, with Hamas' attacks on Israel and its retaliation in Gaza.

President Joe Biden's administration has repeatedly stressed its support for Ukraine and will announce a new weapons package for Kyiv while military leaders are in Brussels.

"Over the next few days I'll be having meetings to reassure our partners," Brown said, while travelling to Brussels.

"I recognize that what is going on in the U.S., on the Hill. (Allies) will have questions and concerns," he said.

But Brown, and others at the Pentagon, have no control over the U.S. House of Representatives, which last week voted to oust speaker Kevin McCarthy three days after he led the passage of a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown that included no new money for Ukraine.

The next speaker of the House could quash more Ukraine aid before a proposal reaches the House floor if that person opposes the idea.

Some European officials have openly expressed concern about funds for Ukraine being held up by infighting within the U.S. Congress. But many have also said they are confident the Biden administration will find ways to keep the aid flowing.

The U.S. Army on Monday said it would need Congress to approve additional funding to ensure the Pentagon's munitions production and acquisition plans can simultaneously meet the needs of both Israel and Ukraine.

Successive presidents have tried to reduce the United States' focus on the Middle East, but are drawn in by crises that can take away from military resources in other parts of the world.

On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that it was sending an aircraft carrier strike group close to Israel and adding fighter jets to the region.

FALLING DOMESTIC SUPPORT

Brown must also convince allies that the American public is open to spending billions of dollars more in aid to help Ukraine counter Russia's invasion.

Washington has provided $44 billion to supply Kyiv with dozens of tanks, thousands of rockets and millions of rounds of ammunition since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Support is falling among Americans of both major political parties for supplying Ukraine with weapons, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week.

Kori Schake, with the American Enterprise Institute, said allies will be looking for Brown to give them a sense that the administration could make agreements with lawmakers to keep aid flowing.

"I think it is an unfair burden to put on General Brown's shoulders, that a week after becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he's supposed to reassure them about a branch of government that controls him," she said.

Schake said it should be Austin to take the lead on explaining how aid to Ukraine has been caught up in politics.

"Hide behind the suits. That's what the suits are there for," Schake added.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali. Additional reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes remarks during a pro-Israel rally at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable

By Kyaw Soe Oo and Kanishka Singh

TORONTO (Reuters) -Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other Canadian authorities on Monday condemned demonstrations across Canada by those they said were glorifying violence by supporting Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel.

"I strongly condemn the demonstrations that have taken place, and are taking place, across the country in support of Hamas' attacks on Israel," Trudeau said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.

"The glorification of violence is never acceptable in Canada," he added.

Trudeau joined a solidarity gathering for Israel late on Monday and condemned Hamas' attack in his address. Political leaders from across the spectrum in Canada have expressed support for Israel.

When asked if he made a distinction between pro-Palestinian protesters and demonstrators supporting Hamas, his office declined to comment.

There were competing demonstrations and rallies through Monday by different groups across Canada, including in Toronto, where some 1,000 protesters gathered in a demonstration organized by a group called Palestinian Youth Movement.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow denounced the demonstrations in the city and said they were unsanctioned. Chow added: "The government of Canada has rightly listed Hamas as a terrorist organization."

Toronto police Deputy Chief Lauren Pouge said police respected the right to free speech while being against hate speech or speech glorifying violence.

Canadian province Ontario's premier, Doug Ford, also said "hate rallies celebrating the kidnapping and slaughtering of innocent Israeli people by terrorists are reprehensible and disgusting."

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured.

Israel subsequently battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

Mona Ayesh, a 46-year-old Palestinian-Canadian woman, who attended the Toronto protest, condemned the Israeli occupation of West Bank and noted Gazans have lived under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years, since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

"The illegal Israeli occupation has to end in order for this violence that happened to end," she told Reuters.

(Reporting by Kyaw Soe Oo in Toronto, writing by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Michael Perry and Gerry Doyle)
Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data

The negotiation channel between the U.S. administration of Joe Biden and the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro has made progress in recent works. There is a possibility that there will be more, if Maduro agrees to make modest concessions to the Venezuelan opposition while benefiting from the easing of U.S. sanctions on the oil industry.

On October 5, the governments of both countries reported that they had reached an agreement for the direct deportation of Venezuelans who illegally enter U.S. territory.

Subsequently, it was learned that through the mediation of the United States, the Maduro government and the opposition  represented as the Unitary Platform  are preparing to resume negotiations in Mexico with an agenda focused on the 2024 presidential election. Likewise, Maduro would have committed to releasing about 100 political prisoners.

The Venezuelan opposition is arriving at this moment in a weak position. It has not yet built a unitary strategy to defeat Maduro. Whats more, the international context has also changed. Where before the international community was eager to support the reconstruction of Venezuelan democracy, now there is a climate of normalization of authoritarianism, due to the failure of the diplomatic freeze, among other reasons.

Both the European Union and the United States are seeking to rebuild relations with Venezuela, and this involves giving some legitimacy to the government of Maduro, who they have not recognized as president since his re-election in May 2018.

Hector Briceno, an academic at the University of Rostock, explains that there is consensus that elections are the ideal scenario to resolve the Venezuelan crisis. He adds that the United States and the European Union are both interested in improving relations with Maduro due to the global context of the energy market, and because the crisis in Venezuela is impacting their own countries. An example of this is the flow of migrants.

More information Venezuela agrees with the US to resume opposition talks

Although progress in this normalization has been minimal, it has been constant since March 2022, when a high-level delegation, led by Juan Gonzalez  special assistant to President Biden and senior director of the National Security Council for the Western Hemisphere  met with Maduro and his team in Caracas.

Between then and now, there have been gestures of understanding such as a prisoner exchange deal, a license that allows the oil company Chevron to operate with fewer obstacles, the lifting of sanctions against a relative of Maduros wife, a meeting this year in Qatar, and the recent agreement to the deportation flights of Venezuelans who enter illegally into the United States.

Furthermore, last July it was reported that the EU and Venezuela were exploring a $1.5 billion agreement to capture the South American countrys methane emissions and export them to EU countries, with the help of Eni Spa and Repsol. This is only possible because conditions with the United States improved.

To continue down this path, Maduro does not really have to make major concessions. What he is offering is to not move any further towards a worse scenario in which Venezuelas authoritarian government looks more like Nicaragua. In fact, at this moment, the Maduro executive and the Venezuelan business elite are living a kind of honeymoon.

The Venezuelan opposition is keeping a close eye on developments. On the one hand, the Maduro and Biden governments are talking to advance their own interests. Maduro needs to gain international recognition, resources for public spending, and to improve the living conditions of Venezuelans. And in this way, to win over voters. Biden is also heading towards his re-election campaign. In addition to the global concerns regarding the fuel market, Bidens adversaries are likely to point to Americas erratic immigration policy as one of his weaknesses. Added to this, Biden has to deal with the aftermath of accusations against Democrat Senator Bob Menendez for alleged bribery and corruption.

On the other hand, the impact of Henrique Capriles Radonskis decision to withdraw from the race remains to be seen  with less than two weeks to go before the October 22 primary election. The former candidate argues that the fact he has been disqualified makes it difficult to move towards a strategy of real change in the country. Like him, the favorite to win the primaries, Maria Corina Machado, is also disqualified.

As a result, the opposition must address two crises at the same time. Firstly, advance negotiations with the Maduro government to achieve minimum electoral guarantees and secondly, deal with Capriles Radonskis departure from the race.

However, the opportunity for change is there. Taking advantage of it requires a lot of political genius. If they are to have a real chance of winning, the political leaders in the opposition, especially the majority or most influential parties, have to find a formula to navigate until the presidential elections are held. Building that road is quite a challenge.

The last time the Venezuelan opposition achieved a major electoral victory was in 2015, when it swept the parliamentary elections and obtained a two-thirds qualified majority. That victory was quickly neutralized by the Maduro government, which stopped three opposition lawmakers from being sworn in, on the ground of an alleged fraud that was never proven, much less corrected. Afterwards, the opposition began a journey that led to the establishment of the so-called interim government, which was recognized by more than 60 countries.

Of the many lessons learned from that experience, two are key to any future efforts: first, unity is fundamental in the electoral opposition strategy; and second, the Maduro government, when under threat, will resort to anything to change the will of the people.

Hector Briceno believes there are signs that foundations are being rebuilt in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Venezuela. And in the event that Maduro agrees to the 2024 election, with minimal guarantees, like the 2018 vote, that would be enough for the international community to look the other way in order to normalize the situation.

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FILE PHOTO: Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday criticised the United States for moving a carrier strike group closer to Israel, saying that it would commit "serious massacres" in Gaza.

Following a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that the U.S. will be moving a carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel.

"What will the aircraft carrier of the U.S. do near Israel, why do they come? What will boats around and aircraft on it will do? They will hit Gaza and around, and take steps for serious massacres there," Erdogan said in a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Ankara.

Erdogan has previously said that Turkey was ready to mediate between Israeli and Palestinian forces to ensure calm.

The conflict comes as Turkey, which has backed Palestinians in the past, hosted members of Hamas, and supported a two-state solution to the conflict, works to repair ties with Israel after years of animosity.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
By Rachna Uppal

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates does not mix trade with politics, the country's trade minister said on Tuesday when asked whether the conflict between Israel and Hamas would impact economic agreements.

"We don't mix the economy and trade with politics," Thani al Zeyoudi told reporters in Dubai.

In March, a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries came into effect, Israels first free trade agreement with an Arab state.

The UAE was the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in 2020, breaking with decades of Arab policy toward the Palestinian cause.

Speaking on the sidelines of the signing of the latest trade deal, with Georgia, the minister said the UAEs priority was to have market access across all regions, globally.

Since 2021, the UAE has initiated a raft of trade, investment and cooperation deals on its own as part of a wider strategy to boost economic growth and diversify its economy.

Zeyoudi added the UAE position on recent developments in the region had been communicated by its foreign affairs ministry.

The UAE has described the attacks carried out by the Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas against Israel as a "serious and grave escalation".

(Reporting by Rachna Uppal, Writing by Maha El Dahan; Editing by Alison Williams and Christina Fincher)
LONDON (Reuters) - A British-led group of European countries will provide Ukraine with a 100 million pound ($122.70 million) package to support its armed forces including equipment to clear minefields.

Britain's defence ministry on Wednesday said Ukraine was "now the most mined country on earth," which had become an obstacle in its counter-offensive this year, and that mine clearing capabilities were essential to help it push forward.

The package will be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine - a group of countries including Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.

Defence minister Grant Shapps will announce the package alongside allies and attend his first NATO-Ukraine Council, where he is expected to discuss the Israel-Gaza crisis and reported damage to undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia.

($1 = 0.8150 pounds)

(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis in Bucharest, Romania, October 10, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PART

(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he had "good news" on artillery and air defence supplies after talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, but gave no details.

"My main accent today was air defence. And I'm glad that Ukraine was heard by the Romanian side," Zelenskiy, who has been seeking more arms to defend Ukraine against Russia's invasion, told a joint press conference in the Romanian capital.

Zelenskiy also said everything possible should be done to prevent Russia turning part of the Black Sea or the Danube region into what he described as a maritime "dead zone".

Russia has pulled out of a deal that guaranteed safe shipments of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, and has been attacking Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube River.

Zelenskiy also touched on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, reiterating that he believed it was in Russia's interests to inflame war in the Middle East.

"We believe that Russia is one of those who helped and is behind these respective steps," Zelenskiy said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Tuesday that a suggestion by Zelenskiy on Monday that it was in Russia's interests to stoke war in the Middle East to weaken global unity had "absolutely no basis".

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa and Pavel Polityuk, Writing by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Foreign Affairs Minister Bakary seydou Sangarey, gives his speech as Niger junta's supporters hold rally to demand the French army to leave near French military base in Niamey, Niger October 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou/File Photo

By Daphne Psaledakis and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday declared that the July takeover in Niger was a military coup d'etat, which results in officially suspending assistance to Niger, but there are no plans to change the U.S. troop presence in the country, senior administration officials said.

Niger has been a key partner for Washington's fight against Islamist insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

The decision, which limits what assistance Washington can provide the country, was made after it became clear the junta did not want to abide by constitutional guidelines to restore civilian and democratic rule, a senior official said.

Assistance that would be affected by the coup designation was already paused, but Tuesday's decision officially suspends it.

"We're taking this action because over the last two months, we've exhausted all available avenues to preserve constitutional order in Niger," the official said.

The United States has been pressing for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis that erupted on July 26 when Niger military officers seized power, deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and placed him under house arrest.

"Any resumption of U.S. assistance will require action by the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP) to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Despite the coup designation, the United States at this time has no plans to change its troop posture in the country, another official said.

Over the past decade, U.S. troops have trained Nigerien forces in counterterrorism and operated two military bases, including one that conducts drone missions against Islamic State and an Al Qaeda affiliate in the region.

One official said that counterterrorism operations in Niger will remain paused in the interim and activities to build the capacity of Niger's armed forces will be suspended.

"This coup assessment demonstrates that we cannot continue business as usual in Niger," the official said.

The Pentagon in September repositioned some troops and equipment within Niger and withdrew a small number of non-essential personnel.

There are now about 1,000 Department of Defense personnel in the country, one official said. Before the movement, there were 1,100 troops.

While there are no plans at this time to change posture, the Pentagon will continue to evaluate any next steps on presence in the country based on the security environment, force protection and counterterrorism interests, among other factors.

The first official said Washington had urged the junta to abide by the constitution, which in the view of the United States stipulated a "transition government dealing with a national emergency would have to restore civilian and democratic rule within 90-120 days."

"As time has passed, it's become clear that the CNSP officials that we've been dealing with did not want to abide by these constitutional guidelines and, in fact, they've told us that they've chosen to repeal that constitution," the official said.

Washington in August paused certain foreign assistance programs totaling nearly $200 million that benefit the government of Niger, but said it would continue giving humanitarian and food assistance.

The junta has been informed of Washington's need to suspend certain assistance, the official said, adding that the United States will maintain humanitarian and health assistance that benefits the people of Niger.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Phil Stewart and Jasper Ward; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Liga Obrera Sindical Mexicana (Mexican Workers Union League) talk outside the VU Manufacturing auto parts plant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, August 31, 2022. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo

By Daina Beth Solomon

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor said on Tuesday it is disappointed by the closure of VU Manufacturing's facility in the northern Mexican city of Piedras Negras, which it said failed to adhere to a labor rights remediation plan under a regional trade pact.

VU Manufacturing, a small car upholstery factory, came under scrutiny for alleged violations twice under the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has tougher rules than its predecessor, NAFTA, regarding protecting the right of workers to form unions.

The case marks the first time the U.S. has rebuked a company for failing to meet its commitments following a USMCA labor probe, in contrast to 13 other workplaces that have also come under review in Mexico.

In March, the U.S. and Mexico pledged to oversee VU Manufacturing carry out a series of commitments to remain neutral in union affairs and allow workers to freely organize.

"Unfortunately, the company undermined the majority union's ability to represent workers in collective bargaining negotiations and their right to strike," said Thea Lee, U.S. deputy undersecretary of labor for international affairs, in a statement.

"We note with disappointment VU's decision to close its facility without adhering to the agreed course of remediation."

VU Manufacturing, an unlisted company based in Michigan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lee said U.S. officials had anticipated that "employers would not choose compliance in every instance," but that other USMCA complaints have largely benefited workers.

The Department of Labor urged Mexico to prevent retaliation against former VU workers as they seek new jobs, and to ensure VU makes timely payments to dismissed workers.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Editing by Kylie Madry and Matthew Lewis)
By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy sailor pleaded guilty on Tuesday to accepting nearly$15,000 in bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer in exchange for photographs of unclassified private U.S. military information, according to court papers.

Petty Officer Wenheng Thomas Zhao, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and receiving a bribe, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court in Los Angeles.

Zhao admitted sending his Chinese handler plans for U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, operational orders and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system on a U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan, according to court documents and U.S. officials. He was arrested in August.

Zhao, who worked at Naval Base Ventura County in California, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the charges, but a judge will determine his final sentence.

A lawyer representing Zhao did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California said Zhao betrayed his country and the men and women of the U.S. Navy by accepting bribes from a foreign adversary.

The United States has accused China of an extensive campaign of espionage and cyberattacks, a charge that Beijing has rejected.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: People take part in a rally in support of Amazon workers' on strike, outside the Amazon warehouse, in Coventry, Britain, January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -More than 1,000 workers at an Amazon warehouse in Britain will strike for four days next month, including on the typically busy Black Friday shopping day, the GMB trade union said on Tuesday.

GMB said the workers would walk out of the site in Coventry, central England from Nov. 7-9, as well as on Nov. 24, Black Friday, in a long-running dispute over pay which has resulted in multiple walk-outs so far this year.

In response to a request for comment, Amazon UK Country Manager John Boumphrey said the company offered competitive wages and benefits.

(Reporting by Sarah Young, writing by Farouq Suleiman; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)
(Reuters) - Yemen's Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi said on Tuesday that if the U.S. intervenes in the Gaza conflict directly, the group will respond by firing drones and missiles, and take other military options.

"There are red lines when it comes to Gaza," he said, adding that the Houthis were ready to coordinate with other groups and intervene.

(Reporting By Moaz Abd-Alaziz; Editing by Alison Williams)
By Pavel Polityuk

(Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Tuesday for steps to ensure Russia does not turn the Black Sea into a "dead zone" for shipping after Moscow quit a deal allowing safe Ukrainian grain exports.

On his first trip to Romania since Russia's invasion, Zelenskiy said after talks with President Klaus Iohannis that he had heard "good news" on artillery and air defence supplies from the NATO and European Union member state, but gave no details.

He told a joint press conference with Iohannis that Romania would help train Ukrainian pilots how to fly F-16 jets, signed a bilateral declaration on security and economic cooperation, and hailed the importance of Ukraine's ties with its neighbour.

"(The) Ukraine-Romania partnership is a factor of stability for Europe and beyond," Zelenskiy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Romania is a friend who came to our help on our darkest day and whose support gets stronger with time."

Underlining Romania's growing importance for Ukraine, Zelenskiy said a "corridor" would be soon be established to take Ukrainian grain to Romania via Moldova.

Kyiv has relied heavily on an export route along the River Danube that takes its grain to the world via the Romanian port of Constanta since Moscow quit the Black Sea safe-passage deal in July, but Russia often attacks Ukraine's river ports.

"We must do everything possible to prevent Russia from turning any part of the Black Sea and the Danube region into a dead zone for normal navigation," Zelenskiy said.

Referring to the southern Ukrainian region that includes Ukraine's two main Danube River ports, he said: "We are working with different partners to strengthen our air defence both in the entire country and in the Odesa region."

VITAL EXPORTS

Food production and exports were vital for Ukraine's economy before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, and Kyiv began seeking alternative shipping routes after Russia enforced a de facto blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports during the war.

Iohannis said 27 million tons of Ukrainian farm goods had already exported from Romanian ports. Zelenskiy, whose country is a major global grain grower and exporter, underlined the importance of getting Ukrainian grain to the world.

"Together, Ukraine and Romania are important donors for security, in particular, food security," he said.

Romania, which shares a 650-km (400 mile) border with Ukraine, has detected several drone fragments falling on its territory as Russia attacked Ukrainian port infrastructure on the other side of the Danube.

Defence officials in Bucharest told Reuters last month that the Romanian military was moving air defences closer to Danube villages and adding more observation posts to the area.

Romania also said this summer it was considering opening a regional training hub for F-16 pilots which would ultimately be available to its NATO allies and partners, including Ukraine.

Confirming that plan would go ahead, Zelenskiy said: "We discussed with President Klaus Iohannis how to speed up this training and agreed that Ukrainian pilots will be included in the first wave of training."

(Additional reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Yulia Dysa, Writing by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Abbas Ganbay

During the 30 years of occupation of Azerbaijani lands, Armenian forces destroyed towns, villages, and all infrastructure attached to them. People of all ages were brutally killed without a drop of remorse. Over one million people were left without homes, lost relatives, friends, and families, and more than 4000 thousand went missing. Finally 30 years later, after the return of the occupied lands from the Armenians, Azerbaijan started another mission to find the truth of Armenian crimes that are hidden under the ground.

To date, the Armenians, clenching their teeth and biting sticks, do not want to give the coordinates of mass graves of civilians and soldiers killed by them during the first Garabagh war like they did with mine maps. The occupied territories were all sown with anti-infantry and anti-tank mines, which today makes it difficult to search for mass graves and remains of people killed by Armenian forces.

During the first Garabagh war, a total of 3,890 citizens went missing as a result of the Armenian occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan. There is irrefutable evidence that totally 872 missing persons were captured or remained in the previously occupied territories.

The above facts prove that Armenians committed a crime against Azerbaijan by ill-treating prisoners during the war and in non-war times. It should be noted that Armenia also tried to mislead the Azerbaijani side by providing mine maps.

According to expert Parviz Heydarov, who commented to AZERNEWS, during the period when the Armenian side occupied the territories of Azerbaijan and in the period after 30 years, a series of crimes against humanity were revealed one after another, and it will take many years to uncover more Armenian cruelty and merciless crimes.

"Now we know that the appropriate conditions for the conclusion of a peace agreement are indicated, especially since the Azerbaijani side in this matter suggests that Armenia puts the issue on the negotiating table once and for all. It seems inevitable, but even after the conclusion of the peace agreement, I am not sure that the Armenian side, whether in the matter of the exact provision of maps and afterward, will provide Azerbaijan with information about the atrocities committed by them, in mass graves, graves as well as maps with minefields. I'm not sure about that." Heydarov said.

10,815 biological samples were taken from 3,407 family members of the 3,890 people who went missing in the First Garabagh War. At least 98 corpses were found in Aghdam, Shusha, Goygol, Tartar, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrail, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts during large-scale construction works covering all districts of the liberated territory. Complex investigations are being carried out on the remains.

According to political analyst Samir Humbatov, during and after the first Garabagh war, some 3,890 Azerbaijani soldiers went missing and there is no thorough information about them. "Some of them have been found, but the remains of some others have been destroyed and there is no precise information about others," Humbatov said.

Touching on the issue of finding graves, the political analyst said that Armenia avoids giving any points about the locations of the mass graves.

"Armenia has committed grave offenses against Azerbaijanis and we can say that there are very few countries in the world that react to the fact that such large-scale decisions are made to search for the missing persons. And Armenia has given us locations that are not true in reality, they are trying to manipulate it. But the fact remains that Armenia refuses to give Azerbaijan accurate data so that mines planted there are not found, and Azerbaijanis falling in the mines died in those areas for almost three years since the search for missing persons was carried out. This shows that Armenia is violating the principles of international law." the analyst added.

In conclusion, the expert added that it is pointless to expect any help from foreign organizations, as well as from representatives of foreign countries in the consideration of crimes committed by the Armenian side against Azerbaijan, as they consider these crimes as income.

According to the latest data, at least 107 remains were found in Dashalti village of Shusha district, 12 in Farrukh village of Khojaly district, 27 in Edilli village of Khojavand district, 9 in Yukhari Seyid Ahmedli village of Fuzuli district and 31 in Shusha city prison, at least 98 corpses have been found in Aghdam, Shusha, Goygol, Tartar, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrail, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts in the course of large-scale construction works covering all districts of the liberated territory. Complex investigations are being conducted on the remains.

During the recent excavations of mass graves, among them was the National Hero of Azerbaijan Riad Ahmadov, at First Garabagh war, he was wounded in a battle with the intelligence group he led in the village of Dashalti and went missing on 26 January 1992.
At 80 years old, Shlomo Ben Ami is as indignant as a twenty-something when he underscores the arrogance of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a trigger for the cycle of revenge and violence between Israelis and Palestinians that his country is now experiencing. It had not been seen since 1948, laments this historian trained at the University of Oxford who was Israels first ambassador to Spain and the last minister of foreign affairs of a Labor government before the Second Intifada (2000-2005) ruined the hopes of the Oslo Accords.

Ben Ami, who was also vice president of the Toledo International Center for Peace in Spain, was born in the international zone of Tangier during the era of the French and Spanish protectorates over Morocco. Ben Ami speaks by phone in fluent Spanish from his current home in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Over the years, Netanyahu has ignored Mahmoud Abbass Palestinian Authority with the strategy of strengthening Hamas as the best way to eliminate the two-state solution, given the existence of a radical and fanatical group in the Gaza Strip, he argues. But the Islamic movement had given us a strategic surprise by not participating in the Islamic Jihads offensives against Israel in recent years, Ben Ami says. And also a tactical surprise, by now entering Israel through the traditional fence, instead of through tunnels under the underground barrier. The defensive system was built last decade at a cost of more than $1 billion under the Netanyahu administrations. There has not been a serious military deployment on the border (of the Palestinian enclave), he emphasizes.

Ben Ami believes that the conservative prime ministers policy in Gaza completely lacks a solid basis.

Wars have a political objective. For Hamas, it is about stopping the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, emptying Israeli prisons of Palestinian prisoners through the exchange of Jewish hostages, and seizing political hegemony in Palestine spurred by the cause of Jerusalem and the iconic Al Aqsa mosque, he says, alluding to the Islamic religious buildings located on the Temple Mount. Netanyahu is just reacting, he has no political objective, especially after having relentlessly provoked the Palestinians for years, he adds.

Ben Ami maintains that the conservative leader discarded the idea of a two-state solution for the region a long time ago, and now limits himself to managing the occupation, considering that there were no conditions to sit down and negotiate. But it has failed, since it has intensified the occupation, making it irreversible through the expansion of settlements while tolerating the violence of the settlers.

Unprecedented barbarism

The historian and politician considers that Hamas has been able to create a set of understandable and logical objectives in its strategy in Gaza, but its final tactic has been barbaric in a way that had not been seen in decades. Cold-blooded murders, kidnappings, rapes... The infamy will remain for many years like a wall between Israelis and Palestinians. It will end up taking away arguments from Israelis who believed in reconciliation, and force many others to support Netanyahu in this war, he says. It is one of the greatest crimes that Hamas has committed against what remains of the camp of peace supporters in Israel.

In his opinion, the Israeli Army has become a law enforcement agency in the West Bank that constantly protects settler groups that instigate violence. The weakness of the Palestinian Authority, caused by Israel, has brought the focus of Israels military deployments to the West Bank, he says. On the other hand, he thinks that not enough attention has been paid to security around the Gaza Strip.

He also warns that the Palestinian population in general lives under a feeling of frustration and anger at the practices of the Israeli occupation. It cannot be denied. For the occupying force and its civilians to be humiliated in such a way as has happened now, I dont think it will spark rejection in the Palestinian population.

Drawing from his own experience, Ben Ami notes that time is a healer of all wounds, no matter how deep. If there are ever leaders with vision, what has happened now in and around Gaza should not be an obstacle to a future agreement. There has been much more blood between Germany and France throughout history than between Israelis and Palestinians, he says. But we have plenty of propagandists like Netanyahu, and murderers like those in the Hamas military leadership. With them, we can hardly think of a vision of the future. We lack leaders.

For all its shortcomings, he trusts Israeli democracy to correct the flaws. Now there is a type of government with people who live on a different planet, who do not work, who do not share the effort of military service, he says, alluding to the presence of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the most right-wing Cabinet in the history of Israel.

When asked if the failure of Israels intelligence services is due to the fact that they have been concentrated more on the West Bank than on Gaza, he replies: Before the Yom Kippur War (1973) there was no lack of intelligence in the ministers meetings, but despite having information, it was viewed under the strategic concept that the Arab countries had no military option against Israel.

He continues: Something similar might have happened with Netanyahus decision to focus on the West Bank, where he perceived a very active Palestinian resistance, and relegate intelligence on Gaza. Hamas was apparently tamed, focused on economic development and receiving money from Qatar in broad daylight.
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________

FORM 6-K

__________________________________

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of October 2023

Commission File Number: 001-15102

__________________________________

Embraer S.A.

__________________________________

Avenida Dra. Ruth Cardoso, 8501,

30th floor (part), Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, SP, 05425-070, Brazil

(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): 

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): 

Embraer reimagines excellence with the all-new Phenom 100EX

 The Phenom 100EX will debut at the 2023 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) from October 17 to 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada

 New features include enhanced cabin comfort and new pilot-centric avionics features to deliver the ultimate flying experience for those in the cockpit and cabin

Melbourne, Florida, October 9, 2023  Embraer today unveiled the Phenom 100EX business jet, the companys latest evolution from the Phenom 100 series, which has served its loyal customers since 2008 with over 400 aircraft in operation. Adopted and trusted by owner-pilots, private companies, and flight academies, such as RAF, Emirates, Etihad, and the Finnish Aviation Academy, the Phenom 100 series is the most trusted entry-level platform in the industry. Now, the new Phenom 100EX delivers superior cabin comfort, operational versatility and safety enhanced pilot-centric avionics to offer the ultimate flying experience.

The Phenom 100EX is the result of continuous improvements over the years based on customer feedback. The aircraft incorporates Embraers Design DNA, which influenced the combining of cabin controls into sleek upper tech panels, as well as the seat design, increased use of more sustainable materials and flush-to-the-wall tables that maximizes workspace. The aircraft also includes interior enhancements, such as a baseline side-facing fifth seat and belted lavatory for additional passenger capacity. These detailed attributes throughout the cabin speak to the company's commitment to delivering enhanced comfort, unparalleled in-flight experiences and even more productivity capabilities, while increasing the ease of maintainability. These new interior features complement the products best-in-class OvalLite cross-section, which provides further head- and legroom, as well as the most complete airstair and roomiest baggage compartment.

Leading the way in avionics and safety innovation, the Phenom 100EX is the first in its class to feature a Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System (ROAAS), which acts during one of the most critical moments of flight to build a clear picture of the anticipated landing conditions.

"We are proud to announce the Phenom 100EXan aircraft designed to experience excellence with superior comfort and disruptive technology that enhances safety, said Michael Amalfitano, President and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. "This product reimagines the entry-level flight experience, offering enhanced comfort, empowering pilots, and enriching journeys to deliver more value to our customers.

The cockpit is equally considerate with further pilot legroom provided by extended seat tracking and an open-concept cockpit for easier communication within the cabin. In addition to the reimagined cabin, the aircraft boasts enhanced pilot-centric avionics as part of the Prodigy Touch, based on the renowned Garmin 3000.

Other avionics improvements include FlightStream 510, automatic 3D volumetric scanning with lightning and hail prediction, stabilized approach, predictive windshear, and more.

Benefiting from the familys reputation for high utilization and low maintenance costs, the entry-level jet is also one of the greenest dual-engine jets on the market, culminating in a versatile aircraft built to offer the highest level of operational flexibility. The Phenom 100EX is triple-certified by ANAC, FAA and EASA and is currently sold out in 2024 with the next available date for delivery in 2025. For more information on the Phenom 100EX, please find our brochure here:

https://embraer.bynder.com/m/19d07a7292c6dd2/original/91-Phenom100EX_Mini_brochure.pdf

Link to images:

https://eej.imagerelay.com/sb/5f39d186-3f06-4d91-8ca0-68ce6cc3898b/phenom-100ex-pr

Follow us on Twitter: @Embraer

About the Phenom 100EX

The Phenom 100EX is an entry-level jet that represents the epitome of comfort, operational versatility and single-pilot-friendly technology. The aircraft features impressive ramp appeal with the most complete airstair in its class, largest entrance door, and the roomiest and most accessible baggage compartment. Onboard, craftsmanship meets innovation in a cabin space where comfort is paramount with the tallest and widest cross section in its class combined with abundant natural light through extra-large windows. The best-in-class, high-tech interior features ergonomic seating, upper tech panels and luxurious Embraer Design DNA interiors.

The cockpit is equally considerate with further pilot legroom provided by extended seat tracking, an open-concept cockpit for easier communication with the cabin, and enhanced safety as the first in its class to offer Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System (ROAAS). Additional avionics improvements, as part of the Prodigy Touch, based on the Garmin 3000, include FlightStream 510, stabilized approach, predictive windshear, automatic 3D volumetric scanning with lightning and hail prediction, and more.

The aircraft is capable of flying at 41,000 feet (12,497 meters) and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F1-E engines with 1,730 pounds of thrust each. In addition to a high-speed cruise of 406 knots and a four-occupant range of 1,178 nautical miles (2,182 km) with NBAA IFR reserves, the Phenom 100EX jet is capable of speeds up to Mach 0.70. Benefiting from the familys reputation for high utilization and low maintenance costs, the entry-level jet is also one of the greenest dual-engine jets on the market, culminating in a versatile aircraft built to offer the highest level of operational flexibility.

About Embraer Executive Jets

Embraer is creating tomorrows world of bespoke private air travel today, utilizing industry-leading innovation, design, and technologyall the while incorporating sustainable and socially responsible practices. As a global company with more than 54 years in aerospace, Embraer delivers the ultimate experience in business aviation through aircraft that feature disruptive performance, technology and comfort. Its portfolio consists of the Phenom 100EX, which offers unmatched cabin comfort, the highest levels of operational versatility and enhanced pilot-centric avionics; the Phenom 300E, which is the best-selling light jet for the past 11 consecutive years,

and most flown business jet; and the Praetor 500 and the Praetor 600, the most disruptive and technologically advanced midsize and super-midsize business jets, respectively. Every day, Embraer business aircraft operate around the globe, supported by a strong, responsive customer support network thats top-ranked in service across the industry. For more information, visit executive.embraer.com.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 9, 2023
A Nissan X-Trail belonging to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Porter Smith-munroe is impounded at a police lot in Okinawa city, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (Mari Higa/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Japanese police held a U.S. airman from Kadena Air Base over the weekend on suspicion of drunken driving, colliding with a taxi and leaving the scene just outside an air base gate.

Tech Sgt. Porter Smith-munroe, 35, was arrested around 12:40 a.m. Saturday at Koza Music Town in Okinawa city, just outside Kadenas Gate 2, a spokesman for the Okinawa police station said by phone Tuesday. Police allege Smith-munroe struck a taxi and fled the scene an hour earlier.

No one was injured in the crash and both vehicles received only minor damage, the spokesman said. Some Japanese officials are required to speak to the media only on the condition of anonymity.

According to Okinawa police, Smith-munroe was eastbound on Koza Gate Street in a black Nissan X-Trail when he struck the taxi. He drove about 600 feet before pulling into an alley.

The taxi driver, whom police did not identify, followed the X-Trail and called police when it stopped, the spokesman said.

A Breathalyzer at the scene measured Smith-munroes blood alcohol content at 0.12%, four times the legal limit for driving in Japan, a prefectural police spokesman said by phone Tuesday. By comparison, all 50 U.S. states have set 0.08% as the legal limit for driving under the influence or while impaired.

Smith-munroe was released Monday, one day after his case was forwarded to prosecutors, the police spokesman said. No court date has been set in the case.

Kadenas 18th Wing acknowledged receipt of an email Tuesday seeking additional information on the airman but did not immediately respond.

If convicted, Smith-munroe faces a maximum five years and three months in prison or a $7,000 fine.
U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer address the audience at the Association of the U.S. Army conference in Washington, D.C., Oct. 9, 2023. (Derek Hamilton/U.S. Army)

Top U.S. Army leaders said this week that they are prepared to lean forward when it comes to delivering arms to Israel, but that lawmakers will need to step up funding to make it happen.

The U.S. already has begun sending critical munitions to Israel, which declared war over the weekend after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israels territory, killing and taking hostage hundreds of civilians in the process.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will provide ammunition and interceptors to Israel to replenish the Iron Dome and reiterated support for Israel.

He also confirmed that at least 14 Americans were killed in the violence over the weekend, and that an undisclosed number of U.S. citizens are being held by Hamas.

We stand ready to move additional assets as needed, he said.

In the days and weeks ahead, the Pentagon likely will be under intense pressure to meet the competing demands of supporting Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia and Israels war with Hamas.

We need additional support from Congress. So, I hope well see that soon, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Monday at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual meeting in Washington.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, speaking alongside Wormuth, said he was confident the service is prepared to meet Israels needs.

Still, to support two U.S. partners in different wars means an already stretched military industrial base will need to further ramp up production.

Were obviously at the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the [Israel Defense Forces] needs, Wormuth said. And just as we have with Ukraine, were going to weigh obviously the impacts of requests to our readiness.

Nonetheless, I would argue that just as we lean forward with Ukraine, I think the intent is to lean forward in support of Israel, she said.

But as the Pentagon deals with two crises overseas, political turmoil in Washington complicates matters. The House of Representatives is still without a leader and the threat of a government shutdown looms when a short-term spending bill expires next month.

Wormuth said the Armys ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously hinges on additional funding from Congress.

Meanwhile, Wormuth called on Congress to act on hundreds of senior officer nominations and promotions that have been held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville. In blocking the moves, the Alabama Republican has cited a Pentagon policy allowing troops to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they must leave the state where they are stationed to obtain an abortion.

This hold is hurting our military readiness and causing needless uncertainty for those officers and their families, she said. Its also frankly a discouraging signal for our talented junior and field grade officers as they contemplate their own futures as senior Army leaders.

During the three-day AUSA conference, Army leaders are discussing an array of challenges confronting the service, ranging from efforts to modernize the force to recruiting problems and quality of life issues for junior troops.

In recent weeks, the Army has come under fire for the condition of barracks where soldiers live. Last month, the Government Accountability Office issued a scathing report that detailed how thousands of soldiers were forced to live in squalor as they endured raw sewage overflows, dangerous gas leaks and rodent infestations.

Wormuth said the Army has been pouring resources into improving barracks conditions, spending about $1 billion annually on them. However, the service faces a $6.5 billion maintenance backlog, she said.

Theres still so much that we need to do to address the quality of our aging barracks, Wormuth said, adding that support from Congress is required to make barracks upgrades a long-term investment priority.
Security and fire watch team members patrol the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Halawa, Hawaii, Sep. 6, 2023. (Nicholas Brown/Defense Department)

(Tribune News Service)  As the military prepares to defuel the underground Red Hill fuel storage facility, the Navy is setting up air monitoring stations across Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and several housing areas affected by the 2021 contaminated water crisis.

In a letter dated Sept. 22 to residents of JBPHH, the Navy said that starting at the end of September, temporary air monitoring stations would be set up at several locations to collect and study air quality data from your community for a six month period, to ultimately gain a better understanding of our environment on the installation.

The letter included a map of the stations locations, mostly in areas on the Navy water system, which serves 93,000 people.

Although the letter makes no mention of the Red Hill defueling, a Navy spokesperson told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that alongside the state Department of Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Navy has developed and exercised comprehensive spill response plans and increased environmental monitoring efforts in advance of defueling. This air monitoring study was identified as an additional public safety measure to assess air quality if a spill were to enter a waterway during defueling operations.

Built during World War II, the Red Hill facilitys massive underground fuel tanks store 104 million gallons of fuel and sit just 100 feet above a critical aquifer most of Honolulu relies on for clean drinking water. For years state and county officials, along with local activists, warned the fuel facility posed a potential threat to Oahus water supply, particularly after a 2014 spill.

The Navy insisted the aging facility was perfectly safe and that it was critical to supporting the operations of its vast Pacific Fleet. But in November 2021, jet fuel from the facility leaked into the Navys Red Hill water shaft, tainting the entire Oahu Navy water system. The tainted water sickened service members and military families along with civilians in former military housing areas served by the Navy waterline.

Since Dec. 3, 2021, the Navy water distribution system has been sourced only by the Waiawa water shaft, which is 6.2 miles from Red Hill.

In March 2022, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the military would permanently drain the tanks and shut down the Red Hill facility. Joint Task Force Red Hill, established to oversee defueling, is set to begin draining the tanks Oct. 16 and complete most of the defueling by the end of January.

Its a high-stakes operation. The facility and the pipelines connecting it to JBPHH had over the years fallen into disrepair, and JTF-RH had to put both through extensive repairs and upgrades to ensure that defueling efforts dont risk further fuel spills or threats to the islands water supply. Military personnel have been training for the potential for spills or fires during the defueling and making preparations to respond to and contain any incident.

The Navy spokesperson said the air monitoring stations are part of a greater spill response strategy to identify, quantify and assess potential threats to public safety, should there be a spill during the defueling of Red Hill. This deliberate, proactive approach will ultimately better inform the Navy, and improve its ability to respond to future contingencies.

(c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan sails in the Philippine Sea, Oct. 4, 2023. (Caroline Lui/U.S. Navy)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  A U.S. carrier strike group began drills in maritime interdiction tactics with warships from South Korea and Japan this week, the first such exercise by the three navies in seven years, according to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, led by the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, took part in the two-day exercise starting Monday in international waters near South Koreas Jeju Island, the ministry said in a news release Tuesday.

The Ronald Reagan was joined by the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls and the guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup, according to the ministry.

The training also included ROKS Yulgok Yi I, a South Korean destroyer equipped with the Aegis missile-defense system, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Hyuga, the release said.

The warships conducted maritime interdiction drills  the first such training between the three countries since 2016  in response to sea-based threats from North Korea, according to the ministry.

Maritime interdiction means stopping, boarding and searching a vessel at sea suspected of prohibited conduct, such as breaking an embargo or supporting terrorism. It may also mean seizing the vessel or the cargo and arresting those on board or any combination of the three, according to the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center.

The three navies also conducted anti-piracy drills, the ministry added.

Strong cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan is needed to address North Koreas evolving underwater threats and nuclear and missile threats, and the three navies will continue to conduct trilateral drills in the future, South Korean navy Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo said in the release.

The U.S. 7th Fleets commander, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, said the three navies are continuing to enhance trilateral exercises.

Our continued dialogue and development of interchangeability demonstrate our shared resolve to maintain the status quo of peace and defend against aggression, he said Monday in a Navy news release.

The Ronald Reagan and its crew of roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines are scheduled to make a five-day port call at South Koreas largest port, Busan, starting Thursday, according to a separate news release from the ministry Tuesday. The carrier last visited South Korea on Sept. 23, 2022.

The Ronald Reagan will be the second U.S. aircraft carrier to visit South Korea so far this year. On March 28, the USS Nimitz docked in Busan for the Ssangyong Exercise, two-week-long naval drills by the U.S. and South Korea.

This weeks training comes nearly two months after leaders from the U.S., South Korea and Japan agreed to expand their military cooperation amid North Koreas weapons tests.

We strongly condemn [North Koreas] unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches, including multiple intercontinental ballistic missile launches and conventional military actions that pose a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a joint statement following their summit at Camp David, Md., on Aug. 18.

Following the summit, the three militaries conducted several maritime drills, including missile-defense training against a simulated North Korean ballistic missile on Aug. 29.
A CH-47D Chinook flown by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Larry Murphy rests its rear wheels on a house during Operation Mountain Resolve in Nuristan Province, Nov. 10, 2003, as they re-supply troops. The rest of the Chinook crew was Chief Warrant Officer 4 Paul Barnes, Sgt. 1st Class Jim Duggan, Sgt. Brian Kilburn and Spc. Margaret Haydeck. Many of the areas where the Chinooks fly dont have traditional helicopter landing pads. (U.S. Army)

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan  Flying is always a challenge in Afghanistan: The terrain is rugged and the weather severe. Yet the main mode of transportation for military forces is by helicopter.

It takes strong soldiers with a strong aircraft to succeed here.

The Nomads of Company G, 104th Aviation Regiment have had more than the weather and terrain to overcome since being mobilized early last year for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

One of the biggest challenges the nearly 200 Connecticut and Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers faced was a last-minute shift from the rolling deserts of Kuwait to the mountainous deserts of Afghanistan.

Now in their final few weeks before turning over their 14 CH-47D Chinook helicopters to Georgia and Alabama National Guard pilots, the Nomads can proudly look back at their 10 months of service.

Im bringing everybody home and thats the most important thing, said Maj. David Wood, Nomad company commander.

During their time in Afghanistan, the unit has flown more than 25,000 passengers, ranging from video camera-toting reporters to rocket propelled grenade-carrying Afghan National Army soldiers.

Theyve also hauled 8 3/4 million pounds of cargo  either internally or slung below the aircraft  between major bases and far-off outposts, a few of which dont technically have helicopter landing sites.

All told, their Chinooks have flown more than 4,600 hours without major mishap or personnel injury.

A CH-47D Chinook from Company G, 104th Aviation Regiment flies over an Afghan farm as it delivers a sling-loaded Humvee from Kandahar to a firebase at Deh Rawood. During their 10 months in Afghanistan in 2003-2004 the crew has flown more than 8  million pounds of cargo either in its helicopter or slung underneath. (Jason Chudy/Stars and Stripes)

These statistics have earned them recognition as the National Guard recipient of the 2003 Outstanding Army Aviation Unit of the Year Award.

It also brings them praise from operational commanders.

What they bring to Afghanistan is experience because theyre Guardsmen, said Lt. Col. Orlando Lopez, Task Force Knighthawk commander. Their experience ... allows them to fly their aircraft at maximum capabilities where a less experienced pilot may not be able to.

Nomad pilots average about 3,000 flying hours each, compared, they say, to about 750 for their active-duty counterparts. Even many of the aircraft crewmembers have more than 1,000 hours of flight time.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rich Curadi flew Apaches during the first Gulf War and two of the units pilots flew helicopters in Vietnam.

They truly are citizen-soldiers, making not just one sacrifice, Wood said. They are professionals  VPs of Fortune 500 companies, self-employed contractors, electrical engineers, school teachers, and weve got a lot of students.

The Nomads are made up about evenly between soldiers from the two states. Afghanistan is the companys first deployment as a whole unit.

We trained together during peacetime, Wood said. This made us more effective when we mobilized for war.

Over the past year, the state lines have been blurred. Our unit has grown very close, said Wood. I cant tell who is from Connecticut and who is from Pennsylvania  I cant remember anymore.

Weve done a fantastic job of meshing people ... from two different parts of the country whove got a common theme of flying, said Curadi.

Flight engineer Staff Sgt. Robert Kilcup watches as a Humvee, slung below his CH-47 helicopter, is lowered to the ground near a firebase at Deh Rawood, Afghanistan. Kilcup and the five-man crew of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Larry Murphy, Capt. Robert Dietrick, Sgt. Nick Robitaille and Staff Sgt. Joey Barnard flew the Humvee and some soldiers to the base, then flew a group of Afghan National Army back to their home base of Kandahar. (Jason Chudy/Stars and Stripes)

These fantastic people are flying what they say is a fantastic aircraft.

In my opinion the CH-47 is the most important aircraft in Afghanistan, said Lopez. It moves a lot of groceries.

Compared to other birds, its the oldest dog on the block, said Nomad mechanic Sgt. Benjamin Davis about their Chinooks. But I wouldnt fly on any other bird. Its big, its fast and its the lifeblood of Afghanistan.

With the 14 Nomad Chinooks and eight more with the Bagram-based Company C, 159th Aviation Regiments Flippers, that lifeblood keeps pumping.

[The Flippers] fly in the northern part of the country, we fly in both [northern and southern], said Wood. During most of the deployment, the Nomads based a few aircraft at Bagram.

Despite the Nomads entering their final few weeks of flying, they havent slowed down.

Right now, the operational temp is picking up, said Curadi. Were keeping the guys in the field supplied, were making the bad guys look over their shoulders and were taking our guys out there to get those bad guys.

But not all of their missions involved military units.

Weve brought some kids back that were hurt by landmines, Curadi said. We brought the whole family to stay with them.

Weve seen them at both ends, he continued, with IVs in their hands and then they come back with a teddy bear in that hand and a better look on their faces than they had a month prior.

By us being here, whether its fighting terrorists or helping the locals, its for the better, said Davis.

The Nomads expect to leave Afghanistan sometime next month.
(Jason Chudy/Stars and Stripes)

Deh Rawood, Afghanistan, March 24, 2004: Staff Sgt. Robert Kilcup watches as Afghan National Army soldiers load onto one of his units CH-47D Chinook helicopters. Two Chinooks flew out Humvees to the base, then returned with the Afghan army soldiers. Kilcups unit, the Nomads of Company G, 104th Aviation Regiment, had flown more than 25,000 passengers, ranging from video camera-toting reporters to rocket propelled, grenade-carrying Afghan National Army soldiers. The unit was comprised of nearly 200 Connecticut and Pennsylvania National Guard.

Read the full story and see additional images here.
Senior Airman Bailey Malik transports cargo at Air Base 101, Niger, in November 2022. U.S. personnel and equipment were repositioned following a coup in Niger that has brought a halt to U.S. military operations in the country. (Luna Kim/U.S. Air Force)

More than two months after military forces deposed Nigers democratically elected president, the Biden administration Tuesday designated their actions a coup, a move that will slash aid and cooperation with a country that had been a rare success story in a region battling Islamist militant insurgencies.

The State Department and top U.S. policymakers had been holding out hope they could find a way to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power, pushing for his release from the presidential residence, where he has been under military guard since late July. The coup designation  months after other countries, including Nigers former colonial ruler, France, started using that term  was a sign that the Biden administration has lost hope of winning a quick reversal.

The military junta is led by the former head of the presidential guard, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, and calls itself the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland. In August, Tchiani appointed a civilian prime minister, economist Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, who has said he will lead consultations for a transitional government.

The United States has concluded that a military coup detat has taken place in Niger, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Any resumption of U.S. assistance will require action by the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe.

More than $500 million in U.S. aid is now on hold, Miller said.

Under U.S. law, a coup designation typically suspends all non-humanitarian aid, including military cooperation. Ahead of the coup, Niger had been a major staging ground for Pentagon operations battling Islamist insurgencies in the turbulent area south of the Sahara Desert, known as the Sahel. A drone base near the desert city of Agadez has been an especially important facility, and the Defense Department has been looking for ways to preserve its capability in the region.

About 1,100 U.S. troops were in Niger before the coup, a number that Pentagon officials have said has been slightly reduced since the July upheaval. The Pentagon plans to keep forces in place for now, and the U.S. Embassy is still operating in Niamey, the capital.

The coup designation will suspend the U.S. training of Nigerien forces, but the U.S. military continues to operate force protection operations from the Agadez base, a senior administration official said Tuesday, speaking like others on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

We cannot continue business as usual, the official said.

The Pentagon is still making long-term plans about its presence in Niger after consolidating forces in the country last month, the official said, and it has suspended other forms of counterterrorism operations from Niger.

France began a full withdrawal of its military Tuesday, after also pulling its ambassador at the demand of the military junta.

Were taking this action because over the last two months, weve exhausted all available avenues to preserve the constitutional order in Niger, a second senior administration official said. As time has passed, its become clear that the [military] officials that weve been dealing with did not want to abide by these constitutional guidelines.

The Nigerien Embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The administrations hesitancy to declare the situation a coup had come under criticism from some civil society groups and other U.S. allies who said the delay muddied the waters about U.S. support for democracy. U.S. diplomats had countered that a coup designation could be counterproductive so long as any chance remained that Bazoum could be restored to power.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Monday with Bazoum, Miller said in a statement, a conversation that informed the deposed leader of the U.S. decision. Blinken reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region, Miller said.

Bazoums future remains uncertain. One of the officials said Tuesday that it was possible that he would eventually be freed on the condition he leave Niger.

The State Department plans to leave in place the U.S. ambassador to Niamey, Kathleen FitzGibbon, who arrived in the country in mid-August, weeks after the coup. Her presence in the country gives the Biden administration a senior set of eyes and ears on the ground. But she has not yet presented her credentials to Nigerien leaders, a formal but important diplomatic process that has created an awkward dilemma about whether to formally acknowledge the military junta as Nigers de facto rulers.

FitzGibbon has been holding informal discussions with junta leaders, one of the officials said, mostly focused on logistical issues and embassy operations.

Russias Wagner paramilitary contractor group had sought to capitalize on the opening provided by the coup, with senior Wagner leadership, including the groups head, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, flying to the region in the weeks afterward to meet with the coup leaders and offer their services. Prigozhin later died in a midair explosion in Russia that the United States and others blamed on the Kremlin.

U.S. officials say that the group has not made major inroads in Niger since Bazoum was deposed.
Typhoon Bolaven comes 4  months after Super Typhoon Mawar hurtled into Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, the regions worst weather event since 2002. (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Typhoon Bolaven slid past Guam on Tuesday, drifting northeast at the last minute as the island braced for another bout of heavy rains, flash floods and strong winds.

The storm, with winds of 80 mph, comes 4  months after Super Typhoon Mawar hurtled into Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, the regions worst weather event since 2002.

Guam was in Condition of Readiness 1 with a flash flood warning in effect until 4:15 p.m. Tuesday. Between 1 and 1.8 inches of rain had already fallen with another 2 to 3.6 inches expected, Guams Joint Information Center said in a Tuesday afternoon news release.

The center anticipated 1.5 feet of rainfall between sunrise Tuesday and Wednesday morning and winds of tropical storm force  39 mph or more  through Tuesday evening.

Bolaven was forecast to continue northwest and pass between the islands of Rota and Tinian about 75 miles northeast of Guam.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Sunday declared a state of emergency for Guam as Bolaven approached, and President Joe Biden the following day approved her request for a disaster declaration in response to the storm.

Joint Region Marianas, which oversees military installations on Guam, said it applied previous lessons learned and was well postured to weather the storm and begin recovery operations as soon as possible, according to a Monday post on the commands Facebook page.

I know we are still recovering from Typhoon Mawar and another storm can feel overwhelming, Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander of Joint Region Marianas, said in the post. We are fortunate to be working hand-in-hand with our federal and territory partners to provide a whole-of-government approach, if required.

At Andersen Air Force Base, airmen had prepared for the storms arrival since Sunday and took the necessary precautionary steps, according to base spokeswoman 1st Lt. Ariana Wilkinson.

We have been able to sufficiently protect our airmen, assets and facilities which will keep us mission-ready, post-storm, she told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.

Spokespeople for Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam and Marine Corps Camp Blaz did not immediately respond to calls and emails requesting comment Tuesday.

Bases on Guam as recently as September were still short of a complete recovery in the aftermath of Mawar, according to Joint Region Marianas spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Katie Koenig.

While some facilities and services are still temporarily displaced due to pending infrastructure and repairs, all of our operations have resumed, she told Stars and Stripes in a Sept. 8 email.

Andersens passenger terminal, for example, sustained significant damage from the storm, primarily from flooding, leaking and high winds, Wilkinson said in a Sept. 18 email. As a result, the terminals operations were relocated to a hangar.

The overall plan for the recovery program is to not only repair what was damaged as a result of the typhoon but to also build the installation back with resiliency in mind so that the base is better able to withstand the next typhoon and recover quickly, she said.

The terminal relocated a second time, to a series of portable buildings, due to planned renovations, Wilkinson said. The Patriot Express, a government contracted air service, departed from the new location for the first time on Sept. 2.
With a war on the other side of the eastern border and a faltering economy, the Polish election campaign has an unexpected protagonist: Germany. Or rather, an antagonist, because the governing party has turned on the countrys NATO ally and main trading partner. The parliamentary elections being held in Poland on October 15 have exacerbated anti-German sentiment in the ultra-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which is looking to renew its mandate. The attacks have taken place right under Berlins nose. The German government remains undaunted, however, as it has become accustomed over the years to conservatives stirring up anti-German sentiment whenever their base needs to be mobilized.

Berlin has always been in the sights of the team led by Jarosaw Kaczynski. But now the attacks are almost daily. Germany thus joins the list of targets, headed by Brussels and, above all, by the leader of the main opposition party. Liberal conservative Donald Tusk has been painted as a puppet that dances to Germanys tune, and Moscows before that.

In a campaign ad, Kaczynski put his acting skills to the test by answering an alleged call from the German embassy asking him to reset the retirement age at 67, where the partys main opposition Civic Platform (PO) had set it while it was in government. Tusk is no longer here and those customs are over, Kaczynski responds curtly, before hanging up and banging his cell phone against the table with a defiant look at the camera.

In these elections, where getting the vote out is going to be crucial, attacking Germany has become one of the central planks of the campaign. Basically because it pays off. The percentage of Poles who consider German-Polish relations to be good is the lowest since 2000, says Kai-Olaf Lang, researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), from the other side of the western border. A little less than half of Poles think that relations are good, although at the same time half of those surveyed thought that the fault lies mainly with the Polish government, adds the expert.

Even though eight decades have passed, World War II is still an open wound for part of Polish society. According to analyst Adam Traczyk, director of the Warsaw-based More in Common Foundation, it is not surprising, therefore, that a right-wing nationalist party is playing the anti-German card and using history as a political tool. The examples are countless. Sometimes he attacks Germanys dominant position in the EU, other times, he denounces German capital in Polish media, or he criticizes Berlin for working with Russia in the field of energy, and for not giving sufficient aid to Ukraine at the beginning of the war, the political scientist explains, adding: And of course, there is the big issue of reparations.

Poland claimed 1.3 trillion ($1.37 trillion) from Germany last September for damages resulting from World War II, approximately double the Slavic nations annual GDP. It is an issue that Berlin considers settled, because Warsaw renounced any compensation in 1953, when Poland was a Russian satellite. Although Polish society feels that there is awareness in Germany about the Holocaust, according to Piotr Buras, director of the Warsaw headquarters of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank, the Poles also consider that there is not enough knowledge about the atrocities they committed when invading their neighbor to the east.

The polls  which give a narrow victory to PiS, without a majority to govern  show that in next Sundays elections, getting voters to go to their polling places will be key. For Kaczynskis party, stirring up anti-German sentiment serves to activate its own people and try to attract those on the extreme right, away from the Confederation party. But the fact that the PiS has attacked Germany and, incidentally, Tusk is not new. In the campaign for the 2005 elections, when the political formation was beginning its journey, they sought to discredit the leader of Civic Platform, by stating that his grandfather was a soldier in the German Wehrmacht (the army of the Third Reich), and fought against Poland, when in fact he was forced to enlist and then deserted.

Germany, unperturbed

The German government has watched the constant accusations against Berlin almost unperturbed. One of the latest is that the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz intends to interfere in the campaign. Scholz limited himself to asking for explanations about the scandal involving the issuance of visas in exchange for bribes in African and Asian consulates in Poland. Such visas allow legal residence throughout the Schengen area. The opposition has questioned the legality of visas issued in a corrupt system that granted 250,000 work permits between 2021 and the beginning of this year. The government has reduced it to a few hundred cases. German criticism coincided with the announcement of greater controls on the countrys eastern border, with Poland and the Czech Republic, where irregular entries have increased exponentially. Warsaw considered Scholzs statement extremely offensive.

From Berlin, Lang asserts that those who follow Polish news are accustomed to PiS playing hard, especially in the campaign. But for many not so familiar with Polish internal affairs, the onslaught against Germany is disconcerting and surprising. In times of war, countries that are NATO allies and partners in the EU should, at least, be careful not to put up more barriers. The expert points out that Germany, for now, has responded with caution and has tried to ignore the provocations. The country has continued with offers of cooperation, such as the Weimar Triangle (an initiative created in 1991 by Germany, France, and Poland to address issues of cooperation).

This recent wave of attacks on Germany, which have been more furious than ever, gained momentum at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For years, Poland had been warning the West about Russias ambitions, which then turned out to be true. With growing moral and political capital in the international sphere, Warsaw was able to point the finger at Berlin for working with Moscow and thus endangering Ukraine, and Poland indirectly. A deeply polarized electoral campaign has done the rest. Germany has become an adversary, according to the ruling party, and Tusk, its puppet. The opposition leader is accused of being a traitor and of having sold the country to Berlin, for cooperating with Angela Merkel during his time as prime minister and at the head of the European Council. And it does not seem that the situation is going to improve, analyst Rafael Loss warns from the Berlin office of the ECFR: A series of campaigns are coming: European Parliament, local, and presidential elections that will continue to stir up anti-German sentiment and populism, he laments.

Kaczynski, the de facto leader of the Polish government, has stated during the campaign that Civic Platform is a German party; it is not a Polish party and that Germany wants to place Tusk in government to privatize Poland and sell the countrys assets, including forests, which, in his words, will prevent Poles from picking mushrooms. He also blames Germany for imposing the EU migration pact. Kaczynski has gone so far as to say, even before the murky electoral climate of recent months, that Berlin wants to turn the EU into a federal Fourth Reich.

In the executive, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who studied and worked in the neighboring country, agrees with his bosss political preferences. The leader has even used the social network X (formerly Twitter) to publicly accuse Scholz of trying to interfere in Polish internal affairs. This Monday, Morawiecki went from tweets and indirect messages at electoral events to facing Tusk and other candidates directly. In the electoral debate on Polish public television once again the specter of Germany was raised.

Before the intensification of anti-German rhetoric that has heated up the campaign, the PiS Minister of Education decided to cut the budget that pays for German classes for the German community living in Poland by two thirds last year. There were some protests against this decision, but the Poles generally receive anti-German outbursts uncritically. This campaign is so strong, that it is difficult to find a counter narrative. Nobody sees any use in defending Germany, says Buras, who considers the level of anti-German propaganda scandalous and says that the majority of Poles do not share it. Like his German colleague, Traczyk believes that moderation toward the western neighbor will not be shown in the near future. We are in a permanent campaign, he says, and points out that even if the opposition wins next Sunday, I wouldnt expect a major advance.

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An image posted on social media of an energy drink sold at an Army and Air Force Exchange Service store had its plastic outer label removed, revealing printing from one of energy drink maker Kill Cliffs CBD products. On Oct. 7, 2023, AAFES said the drink didnt contain CBD, which is illegal for service members to use, and had been relabeled by the vendor. (Facebook/U.S. Army WTF! Moments)

A relabeled energy drink sold at Army and Air Force Exchange stores did not contain the marijuana compound CBD, the exchange said in a social media statement.

A post on the popular social media site U.S. Army WTF! Moments on Saturday contained images of a Kill Cliff energy drink with the plastic outer label removed to reveal printing on the can from one of its products containing CBD, which is illegal for service members to use under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law.

The drink vendor has advised the Exchange that it relabeled aluminum cans previously printed for a discontinued item, AAFES said in a reply to U.S. Army WTF! Moments on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The relabeled cans are being removed from store shelves, AAFES added. It wasnt immediately known which stores were selling the relabeled drinks.

Kill Cliff was founded by a former Navy SEAL and has gained attention through partnerships with celebrities like Joe Rogan.

CBD, or cannabidiol, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration only as a treatment for two forms of epilepsy. However, the compound has been touted as a remedy for many maladies.

While CBD is being studied as a treatment for many conditions, including Parkinsons disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and anxiety, research supporting the drugs benefits is limited, according to the Mayo Clinic website.

The FDA announced in January that it would not regulate the chemical, leaving any further legal action up to Congress.

While CBD lacks the psychoactive marijuana compound THC, it is difficult to know what is in many products.

A 2017 study of 84 CBD products bought online found THC in 18 of them, and 31 of them contained less CBD than labeled, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Food supplements also are largely unregulated. In 2011, the military banned the sale of energy drinks and products containing the amphetamine-like chemical compound DMAA, and the FDA followed suit the following year. A DOD safety report concluded that DMAA elevated risk of death, heat injury, irregular heartbeat, seizures, muscle breakdown, brain hemorrhage and kidney failure.
Emergency workers search the victims of a Russian rocket attack that killed at least 47 people in the village of Hroza near Kharkiv, Ukraine, Oct. 5, 2023. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office)

KYIV  After an initially balmy fall, temperatures are dropping in Ukraine  and Russia already has begun pummeling Ukraines energy system in a reprise of its brutal attempt last autumn and winter to demoralize Ukrainians by plunging them into darkness and cold.

Last winter, there were a lot of difficult nights when Russian forces sent waves of missiles and drones in a bid to destroy Ukraines energy infrastructure, said Fox, one of three soldiers manning a German-made Gepard Flakpanzer mobile antiaircraft system at a position not far from Kyiv.

One time, they sent 20 drones together at a position, said Fox, who is being identified only by call sign in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol. But this winter will be a lot worse, he said.

Fox appears to know what he is talking about.

Two weeks ago, Ukraines air force said Russia launched 43 cruise missiles at targets across the country. Seven slipped through the air defenses, and some struck energy installations, Ukrenergo, the state energy supplier, said  the first strikes on energy targets in six months.

The attacks caused temporary blackouts in parts of central and western Ukraine, including the Kyiv region. Last year, Russia did not begin a concerted assault on infrastructure until Oct. 10.

We understand that the stage of energy terror in this heating season has already begun, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

For two months, Fox and two other soldiers, Bubba and Veles, have manned an air defense position 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their tally: five drones, the symbols of which are etched on the side of their Gepard  a German-made system, donated by Berlin.

Last winter, Ukraine experienced rolling blackouts and heat outages across the country.

Hospitals lost electricity or were forced to rely on their own power generators. By April, Ukraines power generation capacity had declined by 51 percent compared with just before Russias invasion, the U.N. Development Program said.

The strategy of the adversary last winter was not only to just destroy the power grid itself, but rather to create such a horrible humanitarian catastrophe that could create a difference on the battlefield, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, said.

Ukraines energy grid has mostly recovered from last years damage, officials said. But many systems are still not operating at full capacity, making them vulnerable.

Ukrainian and Western officials have been making preparations: reinforcing the energy grid, repairing damaged facilities, securing crucial equipment and spare parts, and preparing for the possible humanitarian fallout.

An Interior Ministry coordinating council appointed to ensure normal living conditions of the population during possible power outages held its first meeting Tuesday, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram the same day.

But whether Ukraine can withstand the expected Russian barrage will depend heavily on whether the country has enough air defense systems.

Ukrainian officials said they still do not have enough, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made securing more one of his top priorities in meetings with Western leaders, including Thursday at a European leaders summit in Granada, Spain.

The key for us, especially before winter, is to strengthen air defense, Zelenskyy wrote on social media. He said that there is already a basis for new agreements, but did not offer details.

Last month, while Zelenskyy was visiting the United States, the Biden administration announced a $325 million package that included air defense systems and munitions, plus .50-caliber machine guns to shoot down drones.

Forecasters say that this winter could be colder in Ukraine than last year, which could aid Moscow.

It is also unclear how many missiles Russia was able to produce. If stocks are low, Moscow could send swarms of self-destructing drones.

We do not know where they will be targeting, where they will hit, what will be the success rate of our air defense systems, Kudrytskyi said, adding there are too many unknown elements.

Others predict a major Russian onslaught.

The winter will be difficult, not a simple one, given this madman who is next to our territory, the secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said last month, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

If Ukraines critical infrastructure is disabled, Zelenskyy has vowed to do the same to Russia.

If Russians cut off our power, deprive us of electricity, deprive us of water, deprive us of gasoline, then they need to know that Ukrainians have the right to do it to them, the president said in a recent interview with U.S. news program 60 Minutes.

Some retaliation has begun. Ukrainian drones attacked Russias western Kursk region Thursday and twice last week, Russian officials said, temporarily cutting power to several villages and a hospital. Ukrainian officials said a Russian military installation was left without electricity. The claims could not be verified.

An official at the Security Service of Ukraine provided a video of one attack last week and said, If the Russian Federation continues to fire at our infrastructure facilities, it will receive even more booms in return.

Thanks to another special operation, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, the Russians are beginning to understand that blackout is not a foreign word but a reality . . . on their doorstep.

Kyivs first priority is to protect its own energy installations and other infrastructure, such as grain storage facilities, which Moscow has targeted to destroy agricultural exports, a key sector in Ukraines economy. But Ukraines air defenses, while stronger than last winter, are not strong enough.

We do not have protection of our power stations by air defense systems on the level so that I can say that this power station is 100 percent protected, said Maxim Timchenko, the CEO of DTEK, Ukraines largest private power producer.

Officials have drawn lessons from last year. Ukraine has stockpiled coal and gas, and secured guarantees from its neighbors to supply electricity if generation facilities are disabled.

Kudrytskyi said his workers are better able to reroute electrical currents when one portion of the grid is out, replace damaged equipment at a faster pace and maintain the system during an attack, to minimize the risk of a full collapse.

Ukrenergo has also stockpiled autotransformers, a crucial component.

UNDP said that Russian attacks last year damaged or destroyed 41 out of 94 crucial high voltage transforming substations, where autotransformers are housed.

Ukrainian officials scrambled to find any spare units on the world market. This year, Kudrytskyi said, Ukraine has already bought several and placed orders in advance.

However, DTEK CEO Timchenko says he still needs dozens more for this winter.

Officials once again fear that a prolonged energy crisis could set off another mass exodus of Ukrainians abroad, adding to the millions who have already fled.

Those who stay will face tough conditions. The temperatures are expected to go lower and that the major problem is that peoples coping mechanisms have been totally depleted, said Joanna Nahorska of the International Rescue Committee. People are just exhausted, and they do not necessarily have the resources and the stamina that they had last winter.

Ultimately, Ukrainian officials want to avoid a repeat of last Nov. 23, when a massive Russian assault caused a cascade of blackouts across the grid. Automatic safety systems triggered shutdowns in the countrys nuclear power plants, bringing the country to the brink of collapse.

We saw how station by station, [the system] literally switched off and stopped producing power and sending this power to the grid, Timchenko said, adding, It was something youve never seen in your life, and I hope you never will.

Kudrytskyi said that was the most terrible moment. But it was offset by a mid-February evening when he stood on a hill in Kyiv, just shining in the streetlights and the lights of residential buildings.

When I saw Kyiv full of light, I realized that, yes, last winters battle was won, even before the winter ended, he said. This was probably one of the happiest moments of my life.

Kostiantyn Khudov and Serhiy Morgunov contributed to this report.

David L. Stern has lived in Ukraine since 2009, covering the 2014 Maidan revolution, war in the countrys east and now Russias 2022 invasion.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on Saturday. The death toll, between Palestinians and Israelis, has now reached 1,300. The Palestinian militant group  which has been at war with the Jewish state since the 1990s  has never before been able to carry out an offensive of this magnitude. It was able to penetrate several points of Israels fortified border with Gaza, infiltrate hundreds of its militants into Israeli territory and return to the Gaza Strip with hundreds of Israeli hostages. So what is Hamas, and what is its stance towards Israel? Who authorized and financed the attack? And who trained them? EL PAIS reviews what is known about the answers to these questions.

What is Hamas?

Hamas is the Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, and was founded in 1987, during the early days of the Palestinian Intifada against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The fundamentalist Islamic group won the 2006 elections by an absolute majority and expelled Fatah, the organization that formed the founding core of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). And since 2007  two years after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza  it has been the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip.

The ideology of both factions of the Palestinian national movement is very different: Hamas is a radical Islamist movement, which aspires to impose Islamic law. Fatah, founded by Yasser Arafat in the late 1950s, is secular and nationalist. The main difference between the two is, however, not ideological, but political: Fatah and the PLO agreed to renounce the armed struggle after the 1993 Oslo Accords and to negotiate with Israel, while Hamas does not even recognize Israel as a state. Fatah and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) govern the West Bank, while Hamas administers Gaza. Negotiations to reconcile both factions, the most recent in 2017, have not borne fruit.

What is Hamas's stance towards Israel?

In addition to its goal to establish an Islamic society based on Sharia law, Hamass founding charter includes another objective: to destroy the state of Israel and make Jerusalem  the third-holiest place in Islam  the capital of Palestine. This Palestinian militant group and its armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, declared war on Israel in the early 1990s and have since attacked that country with rockets and suicide attacks. It has also kidnapped Israeli citizens. Israel has not only responded with several military campaigns  the 2020 offensive killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, most of them civilians  but also assassinated several militia leaders, such as its co-founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, who was killed in 2004.

Who finances Hamas now?

Although Hamas has had different sponsors since its founding, including Syria and Saudi Arabia, Israeli and U.S. intelligence services believe that its main supporter is now Iran, although Tehran has provided money, weapons and training since the late 1980s. Iran is a Shiite regime, the minority branch of Islam, while Hamas is Sunni. However, both have the motto Death to Israel among their ideological pillars. In April, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant estimated that Iran was giving Hamas $100 million a year, as well tens of millions of dollars to Gazas second-largest fundamentalist group, Islamic Jihad, which also participated in Saturdays attack. But that money is barely enough to maintain the suffocated administration of the Gaza Strip  which has been subject to a total blockade by Israel for 16 years  and several analysts have suggested the real figure is much higher.

Who authorized and financed the attack?

The Wall Street Journal on Sunday quoted Hamas officials who confirmed that Iran approved the attack last Monday in Beirut. Iran denies this, but there are indications that it at least knew the operation was going to take place. Last Wednesday  three days before the Hamas attack on Israel  Irans supreme leader Ali Khamenei posted: The Zionist regime [Israel] is dying in a pinned message on X (formerly Twitter). On June 21, Khamenei received a delegation chaired by Gaza Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which also included Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of Islamic Jihad. After the attack, the Iranian president, the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi, congratulated Haniyeh by phone. Before Hamas launched the attack, some buildings in Tehran had been covered with huge banners alluding to the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, which is what the Palestinian militants called the offensive.

Has Hamas recognized Iranian help?

Yes. On Sunday, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades thanked Iran for providing them with money, weapons, missiles and anti-tank artillery for the attack. In a statement from its mission to the U.N., Iran denied on Monday that it was involved in the Palestinian offensive, although it reiterated that it supports the operation.

Who trained Hamas militants?

Israeli and Western intelligence services maintain that Hamas militants have been trained by Iran, through another of its allies in the region: the Lebanese Shiite party Hezbollah. The Lebanese militant group, in turn, receives training from Quds Force (Jerusalem Force). This is an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guard, which is a parallel army to the regular force. The main task of the Revolutionary Guard is to protect the Islamic regime. According to the Israeli Defense Minister, Iran gives Hezbollah at least $700 million a year. Members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been trained militarily by Hezbollah in training camps in Iran. According to the intelligence services of Arab countries, the United States and Israel, the Lebanese party has also served as an intermediary to send Iranian weapons to Hamas.

Why has this attack taken place now?

Analysts believe the attack was pushed forward to dissuade Saudi Arabia from establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. The attack was surely already planned, and would have required months of preparation. Another reading is that Hamas and its allies sought to take advantage of the perceived weakness of the Israeli government, which has been hit with mass protests over its controversial judicial reform. If it is confirmed that Iran took part in the attack, there is another possible hypothesis: it may be linked to Irans internal politics. The section of the population that still supports the Islamic Republic of Iran  a shrinking social base due to the repression of the latest anti-regime protests , has been indoctrinated to reject Israel and welcomes Tehrans support for Palestinian fundamentalist movements.

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Palestinian residents survey the damage to a destroyed building following Israeli airstrikes overnight in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Oct. 9, 2023. (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg)

(Tribune News Service)  Facing one of the most sophisticated surveillance states on the planet, Hamas simply went dark.

The militant groups attack on Saturday caught Israels national security apparatus completely off guard  a shocking fact given the scope of the incursion, which included attacks by sea, air and land, and pushed deep into Israeli territory.

In theory, it shouldnt have been possible.

Israels intelligence services have a reputation as some of the worlds most sophisticated. And the Gaza Strip, a slice of land next to Egypt, is one of the most surveilled places on the planet. Phone lines are tapped. Satellites watch overhead. Informants keep tabs on the 2 million residents of an area just over twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Israel and the U.S. will need years to sift through all the failings that allowed Hamas to move with such surprise and to such deadly effect, killing hundreds of Israelis and capturing others.

But already, a picture has begun to emerge of how the groups fighters did it, according to current and former intelligence officials in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere.

While many questions remain unanswered, whats clear is that Hamas went low-tech, avoiding Israels ability to tap its communications, and even, perhaps, exploiting the Israeli Defense Forces confidence that its missile attacks could be repelled or prevented.

My suspicion is that Hamas was able to keep such a vast operation  which included many, many trainers, lots of operational training, and bringing in a vast amount of munitions  close-hold because they went very old school, said Beth Sanner, former deputy director of national intelligence.

I suspect they never talked about it electronically, Sanner said. They broke it up into cells and did individual meetings. And each group was assigned to do different things. Very few people understood how each of the components came together as the whole plan.

As dawn broke on Saturday, some 1,000 Hamas fighters burst through the technologically advanced fence designed to protect against threats from Gaza, fanning out across towns and villages. Children were shot in front of their parents. Hostages were dragged from their homes. Overhead, thousands of rockets rained down as other fighters entered the country on paragliders.

A person familiar with Israeli intelligence operations said the success of the attack likely means that the countrys military intelligence, which has primary responsibility for monitoring developments in Gaza, lacked high-quality human sources inside Hamas leadership.

Its also possible that the groups planning relied on encrypted technology, according to Andrew Borene, an executive director with Flashpoint and a former group chief at the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center. I have a feeling there is also a component of clandestine communications using devices, he said.

Alon Arvatz, a former member of Israels Unit 8200, which is responsible for the militarys signals intelligence, said its clear that Hamas has been able to sidestep Israels ability to intercept phone and email communication. That includes some of the perception techniques Israel has used in the past, which he said might be based on computers or phones or anything that can be intercepted.

They obviously learned how the intelligence is being collected, and they learn how to avoid it, Arvatz said.

Family and friends attend the funeral of Afik Rozental, an Israeli soldier killed during fighting with Gaza militants, in Kfar Menahem, Israel, on Oct. 9, 2023. (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg)

Underground  literally

If taking its communications dark helped Hamas circumvent eavesdropping, then going underground  literally  may have helped thwart Israels surveillance satellites.

Hamas has excelled for years at hiding its weapons stockpiles in tunnels or underground, according to a person familiar with U.S. intelligence on the group. As a result, Israel has hit its above-ground depots time and again from the air to no avail, the person said.

The tunnels appeared to have aided the execution of the attack. Instead of seeking to dig underneath the sensor-equipped underground wall that Israel completed in 2021, they chose the alternative of digging up to the obstacle and then popping out by surprise, said Israeli military analyst Eado Hecht. They sent a mass attack that overwhelmed the system beyond its capacity to react quickly enough.

Hamas planning was also probably helped by the growing sophistication of its own intelligence apparatus. Its capabilities have expanded dramatically since it seized control of Gaza in 2007, according to a May 2023 study in the journal Intelligence and National Security.

Tactical communications

The groups Military Intelligence Department has devoted significant resources to observing the border with Israel, running agents in the country and listening to the Israeli Defense Forces tactical communications. As a result, Hamas has amassed knowledge on Israeli weaponry, training and troop deployments, according to the study.

Hamas had very good intelligence that the Israeli border was lightly manned, that it could be overrun, that they would able to get close enough to detonate explosives and get through the fences, wires and checkpoints  thats the key, said Kenneth Katzman, the Congressional Research Services former top Middle East expert. All of this information would have allowed Hamas to map out this type of assault, he said.

The ability of Hamas to plan the attack and hide its intentions must also be set against Israels own shortcomings.

Israels government faces charges that its national security establishment was distracted by domestic infighting. Many Israelis have protested for months against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus efforts to strip power from the nations judiciary.

The Times of Israel reported Monday that Egyptian intelligence had repeatedly warned that Hamas was planning something big, but that Israeli officials chose to focus on the West Bank instead of Gaza. Bloomberg News hasnt independently verified that reporting.

The Israeli prime ministers office denied the report, saying no message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly.

Theres also the possibility that Israel grew too confident, in part because its technological sophistication lulled it into a false sense of security. Two years ago, the Israeli Air Force posted an article on its website entitled, Exclusive: The IDFs Ability to Strike Rockets Before Theyre Launched.

The article outlined a scenario that failed to repeat itself on Saturday as thousands of Hamas rockets overwhelmed Israels air defenses. Throughout the 2014 Gaza war against Hamas, the IDF struck hundreds of terrorists who were caught firing rockets at Israel. Many of them were struck right before launching, others were targeted after the act, according to the article.

Israel also appears to have misunderstood the intent, motivations and capabilities of Hamas in failing to anticipate the possibility of a cross-border raid, according to Sanner, the former deputy director of national intelligence.

They failed in the imagination of how all of these events that were happening came together as a much greater whole, Sanner said.

With assistance from Jamie Tarabay, Jenny Leonard and Tony Capaccio.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Israeli soldiers are seen in a staging ground near the Israeli Gaza border, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

The Israeli military has summoned 360,000 reservists to fight in the war with Hamas  the largest mobilization since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when 400,000 reservists were called up.

The mobilization calls for roughly 4% of Israels 9.8 million population to take up arms against the Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip, with Israelis leaving their regular jobs to join the military operation. Families were split, while Israelis abroad for the Jewish holidays were left scrambling to find flights back to Israel as many airlines suspended flights.

Of course we are scared, said Dan, a 35-year-old reservist on his way to a military base in Israel, declining to give his full name or location due to concerns for his family. We are afraid, but we are focused.

Some Israelis have volunteered for military service despite being out of the age range for reservists. I lost my father, uncle and cousin in the Yom Kippur War, Israeli entrepreneur Noam Lanir, 56, said in a phone call from Tel Aviv, where he had volunteered to fight alongside his two sons. Now it is my time.

Already, this is the largest mobilization in Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur War half a century ago, when 400,000 reservists were called up after Egypt and Syria led Arab armies in a surprise attack on Israel. Authorities said that the speed of this mobilization was even greater than in that famous war.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Monday that Israel has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly, with 300,000 reservists called up within 48 hours. The sheer speed of the mobilization would be impossible for most nations, experts said.

In terms of cold start capability the IDF remains unmatched by the rest of the world, defense analyst Franz-Stefan Gady wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Military service is compulsory for all Israelis when they turn 18, though there are some exceptions. After this, they are assigned to the reserve and can be called upon to serve periodically until the age of 40.

The mobilization comes at a crisis point. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack Saturday on Israel, firing rockets and infiltrating across the border; Israel responded with airstrikes and a declaration of war. U.S. officials expect Israel to launch a ground incursion into Gaza this week.

Families have been divided by the mobilization. Speaking from Leeds, England, Tal Kasuto said that his family WhatsApp group had been wracked with anxiety and messages of love since one of his sisters was mobilized.

Its a scary thought, Kasuto said of his 23-year-old sister, Adi, leaving her home in Tel Aviv and the relative safety of her day job in retail to join troops to fight a war. Adis twin, Ayelet, had not yet been mobilized.

They have always had each other, Kasuto said of his sisters. They are so close.

Dan, who left behind his job as a supply chain and operations consultant to fight, said that parting with his two children - one of them 3 years old and another 9 months  was very hard.

I hugged and kissed my wife, he said, before adding, My beautiful wife. As long as he has access to his phone, he said, he will use it to send her updates, to let her know he is okay.

He said he does not know what his exact mission will be. He said that while it was not compulsory for him to step up, he wanted to volunteer. You have to do whatever it takes, he said.

Ive never seen anything like this, David Citron, a 32-year-old venture capitalist now working as a combat medic, said by phone from where he is stationed near Gaza, as explosions from the Iron Dome rocket interceptor system could be heard in the background.

Thousands and thousands of soldiers, everyone just making their way onto base. A lot of anger, a lot of frustration, a lot of shock, he added. A lot of people were completely blindsided, myself included.

There have been some signs of chaos in the reservist process, with some Israelis complaining of uncertainty about their role. In WhatsApp groups used by Israelis abroad, some have also complained of sharp price increases in tickets for flights back home.

At the check-in queue for an Israir Airlines flight from Berlin to Tel Aviv on Monday, a few dozen Israelis waited in the hopes of getting on a flight home. Check-in staff announced that priority would be given to those answering Israels unprecedented call-up of reservists.

Military first, said one, as he indicated that he could only take 10 people from the ticketless line.

With a slew of carriers canceling flights to Tel Aviv as rockets target the airport, Israelis mobilized while abroad have limited options to get home. El Al, the national carrier, has announced that it will schedule extra flights to help people get home. Two Hercules transport planes have also been flown to European countries to bring home Israelis, according to the IDF.

Israeli reservists returning to the country at Miami International Airport, which has a direct El Al flight to Tel Aviv, told local news reporters that flights were full. People are connecting. They want to pray. They want to unite, Rabbi Levi Kurinsky, who serves at the Chabad of the airport, told Local 10 news.

The Israeli Embassy in Peru has helped arrange a flight to Tel Aviv from Lima, given the large number of Israelis who had been traveling in South America at the time of the attack.

It was probably the best flight I was ever on in the worst possible circumstances, said Yehuda Brownstein, a 24-year-old Israeli living in Los Angeles, who had not been called up for reserve duty but bought the first ticket he could find to Tel Aviv after hearing the news on Saturday anyway.

The emotions on the flight were mixed, he said. At one point before they landed, everyone on the plane stood up and sang the national anthem in memory of those who had died. There really was this connectedness between everyone in that cabin on that flight  everyone there for the same cause, he said.

The conflict has bridged some divides in Israel. Lanir, the entrepreneur, is also one of the leaders of Brothers and Sisters in Arms, a group of reservists who have been protesting the Israeli governments plan to limit the Supreme Courts power.

Now, he is using his private jet to fly people into Israel from Italy and Greece. Those on board his plane are seeking information about their loved ones, many of them dead or missing. Lanir said Israeli officials have been granting him permission to operate the flights on a humanitarian basis.

Im sending my private jet to whoever needs it, he said. We survived Auschwitz, we survived the Yom Kippur War. We will survive this.

Hassan reported from London and Taylor from Washington. Loveday Morris in Berlin, Bryan Pietsch in Washington and Gerrit De Vynck in San Francisco contributed to this report.
(Tribune News Service)  A former Haitian senator pleaded guilty Tuesday in Miami federal court to conspiring with others in Haiti and South Florida to kill his countrys president, including attending a key meeting with Colombian commandos on July 6, 2021  the day before authorities say they assassinated Jovenel Moise.

The former senator, Joseph Joel John, who had been detained in Jamaica before being brought to Miami last year, acknowledged to FBI agents that he had met with some co-conspirators just before they embarked on the mission to kill President Moise at his suburban home outside Port-au-Prince, according to court records.

John, 52, also admitted that he helped obtain vehicles and tried to get firearms for the co-conspirators operation targeting Haitis leader, a criminal affidavit says. Josephs goal was to become the prime minister under Moises successor following the leaders removal from office.

As part of his plea agreement, John pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to kill Haitis president, providing that support, and conspiring to kill or kidnap a person outside the United States. John is the third defendant out of 11 charged in the Haiti assassination case with either conspiring to assassinate Moise or with playing a supporting role in an FBI-led case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Florida.

The two other defendants who previously pleaded guilty to the murder conspiracy are:

Retired Colombian army officer German Alejandro Rivera Garcia, aka Colonel Mike, 45, admitted last month that he met with several co-conspirators from Haiti and South Florida before leading a group of former Colombian soldiers to the Haitian presidents home to kill him. Rivera faces up to life in prison at his sentencing later this month.

Also, Haitian business man Rodolphe Jaar, 51, admitted to providing weapons, lodging and money in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitis president. A dual Haitian and Chilean citizen, Jaar was sentenced in June to life in prison but is hoping to get his prison term decreased with cooperation. Previously, he was also convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.

John, who also goes by the name John Joel Joseph, was transferred in May 2022 to Miami from Jamaica, where he had been jailed on an immigration violation. Joseph served in the Haitian Senate from 2009-15 and worked as a political and security consultant.

According to an exhaustive Haitian police investigative report first obtained by the Miami Herald, John rented five vehicles for the deadly mission five weeks before the murder plot was carried out. He was joined by a powerful gang leader, Vitelhomme Innocent, and a former rebel leader known as the Torturer, Miradieu Faustin.

John also attended meetings in South Florida and Haiti with key suspects and tried to acquire weapons and ammunition for them, according to a criminal affidavit and other court records. Hes believed to have been an interlocutor between the various groups. On the night of the killing, he was in communication with several main suspects.

When Rivera, the retired Colombian army officer who led the commandos, pleaded guilty last month, he signed a factual statement that provided fresh details of meetings among the co-conspirators in Haiti and South Florida that led to the shocking assassination of Moise.

According to the factual statement, Rivera began meeting in person in Haiti and by video conference in South Florida with the co-conspirators in February 2021. At various meetings, the conspirators discussed proposed methods for carrying out the operation and the need to acquire weapons to facilitate the operation, the statement says.

The meetings held in South Florida were attended by several co-conspirators charged in the assassination case, including Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, an FBI informant who worked for a Miami-area security firm. He allegedly helped recruit some of the Colombian commandos and directed Rivera to follow the instructions of another co-conspirator regarding the plot to assassinate Haitis leader.

Others present at the South Florida meetings were: Antonio Intriago, the head of the security firm, Counter Terrorist Unit; Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian American physician who aspired to replace Moise as president; Walter Veintemilla, a South Florida businessman who helped finance the operation; and James Solages, a Haitian American who got a job with Intriagos security firm.

Rivera also attended operational meetings in Haiti with Intriago, Solages, Sanon, Jaar and John, the ex-senator, along with Joseph Vincent, a Haitian American who worked as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and a Colombian commando, Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios.

Rivera was present at meetings where the assassination of President Moise was discussed, according to the factual statement filed with his plea agreement. One such meeting, which was attended by Rivera, Solages, John and Vincent, among others, occurred approximately two weeks prior to the assassination.

But by then, however, Sanon was no longer seen as a viable replacement for Moise and a former Supreme Court justice, Windelle Coq Thelot, entered the picture as a stronger candidate for the presidency. Coq has not been charged in the U.S. investigation.

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A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18A in 2021. (Tyler Harmon/U.S. Marine Corps)

The pilot of a private jet took evasive action to avoid a fighter plane last month as both tried to land at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The aircraft came within 200 feet of one another, according to a preliminary FAA account seen by The Washington Post. The FAA said in a statement that it is investigating the incident, in which the fighter plane also flew near a runway that a small propeller-powered aircraft was using to take off.

The Sept. 23 incident occurred as the FAA is working toward eliminating near misses after a spate of incidents earlier this year, including another close call at the Austin airport that investigators have highlighted as particularly serious. Officials say the close calls are a troubling sign of the stress within the nations aviation system as air traffic has grown from pandemic lows.

Archived radio traffic indicates an air traffic controller in Austin was not clear about what the military jets pilot intended to do.

The private jet, a Cessna Citation registered to the company NetJets, had been cleared to land by air traffic controllers as a military F/A-18 approached the airport, according to recordings archived by LiveATC.net. The fighter, using the call sign Snake21, asked permission to perform a maneuver called a break, which involves making a sharp turn to reduce speed before landing.

Within about half a minute of the clearances being issued, the private jets pilot announced that he had received a proximity warning, and an unidentified voice can be heard complaining over the radio: That would have been nice to know.

An air traffic controller said he expected the F/A-18 to begin its descent at a different point in the maneuver.

Negative, the military pilot responded. I requested altitude, airspeed [at] my discretion for the break. Misunderstanding I suppose.

NetJets did not respond to requests for comment. It was not clear which military service was operating the fighter, nor why it was using a civilian airport. The Navy and Marine Corps, which both use F/A-18s, did not respond to a request for comment.

After he landed, the military pilot later asked for a phone number to contact the air traffic control office to discuss what had happened.

Yeah, I was going to give you the number here because I guess there was a miscommunication, a controller said. I misunderstood what was requested, I guess.

Most of the recent near misses the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating have involved planes landing or taking off. But in July, a flight attendant was injured when an Allegiant Air flight took evasive action to avoid a midair collision with a private jet.

The FAA and NTSB each held public summits to address the incidents, which investigators say frequently involve miscommunications, and to develop strategies to eliminate them. The FAA has funded upgrades at airports designed to reduce conflicts on the ground and is exploring technology that could help pilots avoid collisions.

Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
(Tribune News Service)  An Oregon judge has sided with a U.S. Army veteran who petitioned for better treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder while incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution.

Michael LaSeur, an inmate at the prison, filed his habeas corpus petition at the end of December, flagging concerns about how Snake River was handling his medical conditions, health screenings and PTSD treatment. The judges opinion, issued last Monday, is one of the first of its kind in Oregon, according to LaSeurs attorney Tara Herivel.

The judge ordered them to provide PTSD treatment and care for him individually, but also for the Department of Corrections to consult with the Veterans Administration, Herivel said. Thats never happened.

LaSeur sustained multiple injuries while deployed in Iraq, including a crushed cervical disc and traumatic brain injury, according to court records. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2014 for three armed robberies of pharmacies in Clackamas County, court records show.

In addition to PTSD, LaSeur has hypertension, pain related to his cervical injury, headaches and chronic pain, among other conditions, court records show. And he said he was not getting proper treatment for them.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LaSeur told the court he was in a prison support group with other combat veterans that helped manage his PTSD symptoms. He has not been since, Herivel said, and while he has been prescribed proper medication, the court found there was a lack of mental health support, records show.

Jenefer Grant, a senior Oregon Circuit Court judge who heard the case in Malheur County, ordered Snake River to provide monthly counseling and dialectical behavior therapy  used to manage conditions like PTSD through conversation  in a support group or individually. Grant told the prison to consult experts with Veterans Affairs on best practices for alleviating PTSD, according to court records.

Grant also ordered the prison to provide MRIs for follow-up care, new pain relief medication and a stationary bike to help manage LaSeurs blood pressure.

It is noteworthy that our society claims to value highly the lives and welfare of our nations military veterans, Grant wrote in her court opinion. It follows, then, that the suffering in prison of a 90% combat-disabled American military veteran, from injuries incurred in the course of his service, and but for the consequences of which he might never have been incarcerated after his service, must be particularly offensive to the general public.

The Oregon Department of Corrections declined to comment on the case. Herivel said the department will likely appeal the ruling.

adedios@oregonian.com

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Lets start by doing an experiment. Yes, Im talking to you, reader. Put your hands in your pockets. If you bought your clothes at a mens store, this should be no problem. If youre wearing womens clothing, however, youre likely to be in trouble. Unless youre wearing pants (and sometimes even then), your pockets will be small, fake or simply nonexistent.

Why is this the case? Why do mens clothes have so many pockets and our clothes so few? Spoiler: theres no simple answer. It has taken Hannah Carlson an entire book  Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close  to try to understand whats behind this divide.

She also tried to sum up the answer for EL PAIS, putting the pocket gap down to two reasons: a) the various evolutions of mens and womens clothing and b) beliefs about who needs pockets.

The issue is as deep as the pockets we are longing for. And its not a new issue either: it predates the pocket activism we see today on social media with hashtags like #PocketInequality, #HerPocketsSuck, #wewantpockets, and #givemepocketsorgivemedeath.

In fact, it even predates the internet. In 1880, Carlson recounts, Harpers Bazaar and The New York Times were already reporting that women had begun to mobilize for their right to enjoy pockets.

Jodie Foster stands with her hands in her jacket pockets at a Hollywood screening, January 1979. Fotos International (Getty Images)

So whos eliminating pockets from womens clothes? Dont worry, there is no global plot of powerful overlords deciding that women dont deserve pockets. It can be blamed on several issues: the division of the functional and the beautiful (we lose out when we have to choose), the market (clothes without pockets are cheaper) and the fact that history cedes privileges to men and is slow to change.

Pockets are discreet, but they hold a complex history that brings together sociology, couture, politics, economics and ...secrets. Carlson points out that while zippers and buttons have functional purpose, pockets arent needed to put on or take off clothes. In other words, we dont need them, but we want them.

The story of pockets is the story of our relationship with the objects we care about and how we keep them close to us. It is also the story of the need to hide them. Humans have always needed tools to get through their day-to-day lives. And weve always had to keep these tools close to us. Internal pockets are relatively recent.

For most of history, women carried what was necessary  which was little and often private  in belts or in small pouches that hung under dresses and were accessed through discreet openings. Women had few possessions of their own, and this was one of their few spaces of intimacy.

These pouches were common until the 18th century, when they began to be stolen. As a result, they were sewed into clothing. Each social class did it in their own way, with the fabric and ornamentation that they could afford. But they all had one thing in common: it was where they kept their most private, and in many cases, only possessions. When one of Jack the Rippers victims, Annie Chapman, was found dead, she had an envelope, pills, a small comb, and a piece of thick muslin that she hoped to pawn or sell in her pocket.

Keeping belongings close at hand has always depended on the design of clothing. The fashion for large, voluminous outfits made it easier to carry pouches sewn to the waistcoat, but as the fashion evolved towards more streamlined silhouettes, such as the Empire cut, it became more complicated.

It was at the beginning of the 20th century that the ridiculous became fashionable: tiny purses. It was the men who owned the money and who did things. They were the ones who deserved the pockets. Women had nothing to keep.

The 20th century came along and in 1916 Vogue wrote that pockets were a new decorative element in design. And along came Coco Chanel, with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her pants and jackets. Her pockets might have been small, but they were never fake.

Designer Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, wearing one of her suits in the grounds at Fauborg St Honore, Paris, 1929. Sasha (Getty Images)

World War II accelerated the adoption of garments from the mens wardrobe and military uniforms into womens clothing, which was given pockets. And there was no going back: something so seemingly simple made life easier.

Shortages during the war led to the creation of the Utility Cloth Scheme, a program that stipulated how to sew and dress without wasting material. The scheme stated that there should be no more than two pockets per dress.

The path started by Chanel had no turning back and Diors own disciple, Yves Saint Laurent, was clear: his world was another and the world was already a different place.

Nor did the fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga need to borrow anything from the mens wardrobe: he sewed pockets how and where he wanted because he knew how to do it.

And then came the democratization of jeans, cargo pants and other garments that did include pockets because they came from menswear. That was followed by the second wave of feminism, and the need to take no more than necessary. A photo of Jackie Kennedy in a white mini-dress with her hands in her pockets shows us that this gesture is not just for protestors, it belongs to everyone, even the most bourgeois.

Lets go back to the need to keep our possessions close to us. This poses another question: arent handbags helpful? After all, they allow us to carry the objects we need. The difference between pocket and purse lies in how close it is to the body. The pocket, Carlson states in that podcast, is internal and secret and the purse can be stolen.

She recalls that in 1954, Bonnie Cashin designed a skirt that had a purse sewed into it as if it were a pocket. To steal the purse, you have to steal the girl, the advertising material read.

The battle is not between handbag and pocket, but in how the industry assumes we will carry handbags, according to Carlson. In Pockets, the author recounts a well-known case in fashion historys backstory, involving Diana Vreeland. In 1934, the fashion editor of Harpers Bazaar had the idea of dedicating an entire issue to pockets, but had to abandon it because it was too dangerous: handbag advertisers might withdraw their support for the magazine.

Carlson also devotes many paragraphs in the book to the suffragettes, the standard-bearers for the fight for gender equality. These women  in addition to demanding the right to vote  also wanted to walk freely, unencumbered by handbags. The anti-suffragist propaganda used this to portray them as unattractive and manly. A book from the period. A Sketch of the Fair Sex in Politics (1898) depicts them in so-called suffragette skirts, with side pockets like those found in mens clothing.

For Carlson, the crux of the inequality lies in the fact that only one gender is expected to require functional clothing, because only one gender is expected to use it and demand it. If women are just meant to look nice and sit still, why do we need to have and keep objects in our clothes?

Designer Moises Nieto claims that the reason for the lack of pockets in womens garments is also due to a question of aesthetic tradition. He points out that historically, womens garment linked to couture and figure-hugging silhouette. Pockets on fitted garments are often not flattering as there is a significant increase in fabric and stitching, he explains. Nieto says that some clients ask him to remove the pockets from his dresses. Its not because they are less modern or less free. They feel like they look better without them, and that makes them more feel more confident. Its a paradox.

Penelope Cruz attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards, March 27, 2022, wearing a Chanel dress. David Livingston (Getty Images)

Contemporary womens clothing does have pockets, and increasingly so, but many pockets are still small or fake. This tells us that aesthetics still trump functionality. Then theres the economic reason: the clothes we wear are mass-produced, and every centimeter of fabric and every minute of sewing adds cost. The other reason is technical, pockets must be well-made, so that it does not deform the silhouette.

Mandy Fletcher is a woman who got tired of not finding womens clothing with pockets and founded Pockets for Women, an online store that brings together garments with pockets from different brands. Carlsons book mentions the results of an interesting study on pockets in mens and womens jeans from 20 major brands in the United States. It concluded that the average womens pocket was 48% shorter and 6.5 flatter than mens. Indeed, the pocket was so small, a woman couldnt fit her hand inside, and in half of the cases, it wouldnt fit a cellphone.

Its got pockets! is an expression that is often exclaimed, as if it were the source of both joy and surprise. Like finding an unexpected $20-bill. Centuries after pockets were invented, women still feel shorthanded. As Carlson explains, the fashion industry doesnt even bother to make up an excuse as to why womens clothes have no pockets.

As Spanish actress Penelope Cruz showed last year on the red carpet, haute couture and pockets are not mutually exclusive. She made headlines with her Chanel gown, but hopefully, one day, an evening dress with pocket will not be news. Nor will we gleefully cry out it has pockets!  it will be commonplace. That day has not yet arrived.

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John Patterson (45) is jointly accused, alongside Paul Armstrong (44), of murdering Liam Christie

An alleged killer gunman used his mothers Antrim home as a staging post to plan and carry out whats been described as a brutal execution, a court heard today.

John Patterson (45) is jointly accused, alongside Paul Armstrong (44), of murdering Liam Christie and possessing two handguns with intent to endanger life in Antrim on October 20 last year.

Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, heard that examinations at Pattersons mothers Whinburn Close home had uncovered forensic evidence.

Detective Sergeant Adair said particles in the utility room and on the sofa, towels and fleece throws suggested the property was used before, during and after the clean-up after the murder of Liam Christie.

Father-of-three Mr Christie (43) was shot eight times at close range as he lay asleep in bed in his home in the Craighill area of Antrim in a murder described as a brutal execution.

The court has previously heard that Mr Christie was shot with two different guns  twice in the head, twice in the chest, once in the face and one under his jaw at close range where the firearm had been pushed against his jaw.

According to the police case, Patterson and Armstrong, of Hawkswood Terrace, were captured on CCTV walking from Pattersons home, heading towards the victims house, at around 2.30am when a local resident heard loud bangs, like fireworks.

The ambulance service had contacted police around 9am, after the victim was found lying in a pool of his own blood. When police arrived, they noted a number of shell casings on the floor.

An officer said that, according to local residents, the front door of the property was routinely left unlocked and police noted there was no sign of forced entry.

He added that enquiries had uncovered CCTV of the area which police believe show the two alleged killers on their way to Mr Christies home, with Patterson carrying a glistening, cylindrical item, which police say is a gun but the defence contend is a bottle of gin.

In court today, Patterson applied for bail again, with his defence counsel Aaron Thompson saying there was a new proposed bail address in Lisburn  a private rented address which was being facilitated by his mother, who would move back from Scotland to live with him and also to act as a surety.

DS Adair said, while the police did not object to the building itself, there were other grounds for objecting to Patterson being freed, including that the proposed address has been the subject of vigilante, anti-drugs attacks.

He said he had spoken to the local neighbourhood officer in the area, who had told him the area has a UDA background and if Patterson, who is apparently subject to threats, is allowed to go and live there, it wont be long until they find out the background. they will not tolerate people on bail for serious offences in the area.

Coupled with that, the detective argued that police would have concerns as to whether a woman in her 60s who is having to relocate back to NI from Scotland and whose only discernible income is a pension and PIP benefits can afford to pay the rent on the property.

He said Pattersons address at Whinburn Close had also been owned by his mother, suggesting that, as it was allegedly used as a staging post in a murder, police would have concerns whether his mother can exercise control over the defendant.

Mr Thompson argued that whether or not the lady could afford the rent is pure speculation on the part of the police, highlighting that she had already paid the deposit, the months rent in advance and already has the keys.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said, apart from whether or not Pattersons mother could afford it, he was not satisfied that the location of the address is suitable.

District Judge Broderick said: I do not have any particular concerns about his mother in terms of her affording the rental, but I share the concerns expressed by the neighbourhood officer.

Refusing bail and remanding both Patterson and Armstrong back into custody, District Judge Broderick adjourned the case to October 17.
Ross Power (35) is accused of climbing in through a bedroom window and getting the clothes after trying to force his way in through the front door of the property.

A Dublin man broke into a house and stole clothes from the residents after they had all earlier been at a party, it is alleged.

Ross Power (35) is accused of climbing in through a bedroom window and getting the clothes after trying to force his way in through the front door of the property.

Mr Power, of St Patricks Terrace, Russell Street, Drumcondra, is charged with burglary on April 4 this year.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case at Dublin District Court for the accused to decide on a plea.

Garda Sergeant Michelle Lynch said it was alleged the accused went to a house at Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, at 5.30am, kicked the front door and attempted to force entry through it, demanding to be let in.

He allegedly then climbed in through a back bedroom window and stole clothes belonging to occupants of the house.

The court heard it was alleged the people in the house had attempted to block the accuseds entry.

One of the occupants was punched on the jaw but no assault complaint was made, Sgt Lynch said.

According to the prosecution, the accused fled the scene after taking possession of clothing and was apprehended.

The court heard the accused and occupants were all known to each other and had been at some sort of party earlier in the evening.

Judge Smyth ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence following an application by Mr Powers defence solicitor, Jenny McGeever.
The man, who can't be named to protect the anonymity of his daughter, worked for 30 years as a caretaker at his local primary school

A former school caretaker sexually abused his daughter in the family home over a seven-year period when her mother was at work, a court has heard.

The 77-year-old Dublin man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of orally raping his daughter and three counts of sexually assaulting her in the family home on dates between 1991 and 1997. She was aged between six and 13 at the time.

The man, who can't be named to protect the anonymity of his daughter, worked for 30 years as a caretaker at his local primary school, the court heard.

A local detective garda told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the abuse started when the man sexually assaulted his daughter as she was preparing for her first Holy Communion. He continued to assault her over the years in the family home when her mother was doing shift work.

In her victim impact statement, which she read out today, the woman outlined how she went to gardai in 2021 and divulged the horrible secrets I had held on to for 25 years.

It was as if the effects of the abuse are stored in a secret grave inside me, she said, adding it felt like an unexploded bomb.

I look at my own children and recognise that it is not normal for a child to be so terrified to go asleep...It is not normal for a child to want to hide in the boot of their mother's car all night so they won't be left at home with their father.

The woman said the abuse at the hands of her father made her feel unlovable, vulnerable and alone.

My father let me down.

She said when she eventually told her mother about the abuse, she was afraid her mother would leave her. Ultimately, she said, the abuse has irrevocably damaged their relationship.

Whatever bond we had is shattered by my father's actions, she said, adding there are precious few subjects they can now discuss.

I'm grateful to be here today to stand up for the six-year-old girl who was so scared and alone in her bedroom at night, she said.

The woman's mother was present in court and a letter was handed in on her behalf. Defence counsel, Gerardine Small SC, said this letter was simply to outline (her husband's) medical difficulties.

The court heard the man has no previous convictions.

Ms McGowan told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) places the offending at the more serious range of sentencing of 10 to 15 years. She said this was because of the breach of his position of trust, the young age of the complainant and the period of time over which the offending took place.

In her plea of mitigation on behalf of the man, Ms Small said her client has a number of medical conditions, including prostate cancer and poor mobility. His wife has also had medical issues.

Ms Small said the man was deeply ashamed of his actions and was aware of the profound effect on his daughter. He fully accepts the breach of trust.

She said he wanted to offer an apology to his daughter for what it's worth. She asked the court to be as lenient as possible to the man, given his personal circumstances.

Ms Justice Melanie Greally noted this was a case where a substantial sentence would be imposed. She adjourned to matter to October 24 for finalisation, noting this would give the man two weeks to get his affairs in order before going into custody.
Alex Helps (17) died from injuries he sustained when struck by a car while out walking near his home in Celbridge, Co Kildare

The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that there should be no criminal prosecution arising out of the death of a young pedestrian following a road traffic collision in Co Kildare last year.

Alex Helps (17) died from injuries he sustained when struck by a car while out walking near his home in Celbridge, Co Kildare on June 30, 2022.

The incident occurred at around noon on Aghards Road in the north Kildare town.

Alex, who was a student at Celbridge Community School and a member of St Johns Ambulance, was rushed by ambulance to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Garda Christopher Farrell told a hearing of Dublin District Coroners Court on Tuesday that the DPP had directed that no prosecution should arise from the circumstances of the students death.

Garda Farrell informed the coroner, Crona Gallagher, that Alexs family had sought reasons from the DPP why such a decision had been taken.

He informed the inquest that they had received a response back from the DPP and they were satisfied with the explanation that had been provided.

Offering her sympathies to Alexs parents, Jo and Graham and his brother, Adam who were attending the brief hearing, Dr Gallagher fixed a date for the full inquest to a date at the end of November.
A worried relative of the boy reported their suspicions in September.

A counsellor has reportedly admitted to having sex with a child (13) in her care after US cops tapped her phone and allegedly uncovered footage of abuse.

Payton Shires, (24) from Ohio, was arrested after disturbing images of the sex act with the minor were also apparently uncovered by detectives.

Columbus Police have released a mugshot of Shires, who is white with blue eyes and dyed blonde hair.

A worried relative of the boy reported their suspicions in September, which led to quick action from US detectives. Shires was found to have engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with a boy that she was counselling as part of her work.

Shires, from Mount Sterling, was previously employed by the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), a group which specialises in working with families involved in the foster care system, according to Stateside reports.

Payton Shires (Linkedin)

The boys mother contacted investigators on September 27 to report her suspicions after allegedly discovering strange communication between her son and Shires, court documents showed.

Police then searched the social workers mobile where they uncovered vile videos of the abuse, reportedly.

When investigators interviewed the boy, he is said to have admitted having sex with Shires on a number of occasions last month.

Shires was arrested last week after allegedly admitting what she had been up to, after clever cops had bugged a call with the boys mum.

Previous employment showed Shires had received her license for counselling approved earlier this year on June 12. A representative for NYAP has since released a statement confirming their awareness of the case, ABC6 reported.

Payton Shires

"Protecting children is everyone's responsibility," they stated.

"The National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) is saddened by the situation involving one of our former employees and a young person served by our organization.

"NYAP has reported the situation to Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) and is collaborating with them and the Columbus Police Department on this case."

Shires is being detained at the Franklin County Corrections Centre and met the bail request fee in excess of 500,000, reportedly.
A frightening discovery was made at Pigeon House Road this afternoon.

Dublin residents in the Sandymount / Ringsend area were shocked this evening as army bomb disposal experts and gardai rushed to the scene of a discovery which required a controlled explosion.

The terrifying incident played out in front of passers-by along the beach as authorities moved in to secure the area, in what was described as a major operation by members of the public.

The Army bomb squad. Stock image.

A statement from an Garda Siochana this evening said:

Gardai were alerted to the discovery of a device at a premises on the Pigeon House Road, in Dublin earlier this afternoon, Tuesday, 10th October.

"The services of the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were requested and a controlled explosion was carried out.

"Initial enquiries suggest the device was historical in nature.

This is at least the second call out in the space of a week for the Irish Armys bomb unit after former broadcaster Fergal Keane came across a cache of old munitions  gelignite, at his farmhouse in Cork.

The bomb squad was called to take care of the rare find, thought initially to date from around the War of Independence.

It is thought that around 100 or so sticks of gelignite were recovered from inside the building's walls.
The civil engineers extradition is being sought by police in Western Australia as part of an investigation into suspected fraud.

Stock image: Timothy Black, 53, was detained at his home in Donaghcloney on an extradition arrest warrant.

A Northern Ireland man wanted in Australia in connection with a major fraud investigation claims he is too ill to be extradited.

Timothy Black was arrested at his home in Donaghcloney, Co. Down, in 2021 on an extradition arrest warrant.

The civil engineers extradition is being sought by police in Western Australia as part of an investigation into suspected fraud.

A previous extradition hearing was told the alleged case involved 17 counts of high-value fraud.

However, Black, who is in his mid-50s, is fighting his proposed extradition on health grounds.

The latest hearing in Belfast was told on Friday that Black is to undergo an MRI scan next week.

At the hearing, a judge asked if he was right in understanding that the central ground for resisting extradition was Blacks health.

Counsel for the requesting authorities, Ben Thompson, said it looked like that.

Mr Thompson added that there was a long and chequered history of medical reports being obtained in the case.

He said it was their position the medical evidence provided so far would fall well short of the high bar required in order to prevent Blacks extradition on health grounds.

The judge said once the MRI scan is done, a consultant will have to look at it and give a view on the results.

The case was adjourned until later this month.

A previous hearing was told Black, of Gannon Lodge in Donaghcloney, is being sought by police in Western Australia as part of an investigation into suspected fraud.

When contacted by the Sunday World on Friday, a spokesperson for the Western Australia Police Force said no one was available to provide more details on the allegations faced by Black.

Officers from the Police Service of Northern Irelands extradition and international mutual assistance unit arrested him in 2021.

Black then appeared at a court sitting in Newry for the first stage in the legal process.

During the earlier hearing, he confirmed he did not consent to being extradited.

Mr Thompson told the hearing Black is alleged to have committed offences in Australia.

We do not make the case that he left with knowledge of the proceedings having been issued, Mr Thompson said.

However, opposing bail, the barrister disclosed: There are 17 counts of fraud, high values.

There is an incentive to flee, and the requested person has the means to flee given his substantial financial position as police understand it.

Ian Turkington, defending, stressed that Black has no previous convictions, with all his family ties in Northern Ireland.

Granting bail, Judge Gordon Kerr ordered Black to lodge a 25,000 cash surety, surrender all identity documents and sign in with police twice a week.

Black is also banned from leaving Northern Ireland.
His luck ran out while he was in Ireland and he was arrested in June this year for violating that countrys immigration laws

A man arrested in Mozambique and facing extradition to Zimbabwe where he is wanted for a love triangle murder had been living in Ireland under an assumed name, it has emerged.

Peter Dube went on the run in 2021 after allegedly gunning down his second wife, her suspected lover, and a female friend in Gweru, Zimbabwe on April 23.

After the shooting, Dube is believed to have fled to neighbouring South Africa before relocating to Eswatini.

Local media has reported that while in Eswatini, Dube changed his identity to Xolile Mtsali before travelling to Ireland where he sought asylum.

His luck ran out while he was in Ireland and he was arrested in June this year for violating that countrys immigration laws, Zimbabwean.com reports.

It also emerged that while in Ireland, Dube claimed to be a Mozambican national named Armando Quenete Muchanga, leading to his deportation to the neighbouring country.

However, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, together with Interpol, discovered he had faked identity, and he was later arrested.

ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that Dube is currently detained in Mozambique where all procedures will be followed before he is bought home.

The African businessman who had entered Ireland under the alias Xolile Mtsali had been housed at an asylum centre in West Dublin when arrested by gardai on June 14 of this year.

Dube, who is wanted in connection with three counts of murder, one attempted murder case and violation of immigration laws is alleged to have shot dead the suspected lover of his second wife Nyasha Nharingo in a daylight gun attack in the business district of Gweru.

Nyashas friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe was also shot and killed in the incident, and her sister Nyarazdo later died in hospital after being shot.
Friends go under the knife in Lithuania for less than half the cost of ops in Ireland

The two women are delighted with the results

A corset and bandages were used after the surgery

Meet the yummy mummies who flew abroad together to get nip and tuck ops  at less than half the price it costs here.

Best friends Michelle Clancy and Jennifer Mullen travelled to Lithuania where they underwent breast implant removals and replacements, boob lifts, liposuction on their bellies, backs and hips, and tummy tucks.

The total cost of the procedures was 8,600 each, plus a further 600 each for flights and hotel. The women reckon the same operations in Ireland would cost them each around 22,000.

Jen and Michelle with their surgeon

Its so much less expensive there than it is here, says Michelle (47). I had priced a tummy tuck here and it was the guts of 10,000, then for the breasts a simple implant is about 5,000. But we did a removal, implant and then an uplift and liposuction. It all mounts up.

Michelle and Jennifer (50) both underwent breast augmentation within days of each other 19 years ago and needed new implants due to wear and tear.

I got mine done as I was quite pear-shaped and had large hips and then would be quite small chested, so I just wanted to have a pair, laughs Michelle.

To feel a bit more feminine.

A corset and bandages were used after the surgery

We felt medically for health reasons we had to get the boobs replaced, and we thought the two of us are always giving out about our stomachs, Jen has three kids, I have four. I had my recent one when I was 42, so the body does not go back the way it would have when youre in your 20s and 30s, and I had a section.

I kind of had a bit of a pot belly, and Jen would have had a bit of a belly as well, so we just said Jesus, rather than always worry about it and having to wear the Bridget Jones knickers and the vanity of all, sure while were there.

The ladies are both from Tallaght, with Michelle now living in Kilcullen, Co Kildare with her husband Nigel and their three daughters aged 22, 17, 14, and a four-year-old boy, while Jennifer lives in Bailieborough, Co Cavan with her partner. They have three sons, aged 29, 22 and nine.

Both of us have had sections and theres no coming back from sections after having a baby, theres nothing you can do, explains Jennifer.

While were under the knife sure feck it, were getting the boobs done anyway, and I always wanted to get a tummy tuck as I have stretch marks from my first boy. I had my first child when I was 21, so Ive had stretch marks all that time, so its not really nice.

The two women are delighted with the results

The pair met through mutual friends in Tallaght and cemented their relationship after former nail technician Michelle did Jennifers nails for her brothers wedding.

Were like sisters, beams Jennifer.

The pair were followed to Lithuania by RTE cameras as part of the two-part TV series Sun, Sea and Scalpels.

I had always said Id never go to Turkey, as you hear all the stories, and theyre not EU regulated, so I got wind of a girl I know who went to Lithuania that I knew and I contacted her, says Michelle.

They reached out to a doctor based in a clinic in Lithuania and then decided to travel there together.

We got the implants removed, new implants, a lift, liposuction  360 its called, they do your back, stomach and hips  and a tummy tuck to remove excess, recalls Michelle.

Jen and Michelle with the camera man

We had to get general anaesthetic and were knocked out for about three-and-a-half hours

After it I felt like I was hit by a bus. You cant initially stand up properly because youre after getting a tummy tuck, but within a few hours of the surgery you can walk to the bathroom.

After two nights in hospital the women were transferred to their hotel, where a masseur tended to them, and they returned the next day for a change of bandages.

I was sorer for longer than expected. Even still on parts of my back Im still quite tender, and this is nearly five months after the operation, reflects Michelle.

Thats because of the liposuction, especially on the back.

Their boob operations were quite complicated.

Both of us had very hard surgeries getting the implants out, reveals Jennifer.

Our muscles are so damaged from the implants that I couldnt go a bit smaller than I already was. Michelle wanted to be the same size, but shes a lot smaller now.

My implants were ridiculously big; I was a 32D. She would have been 32DD. I got my implants when I was aged around 30, so when you gain weight its still going to go on your boobs. So they put the same size implant in but theyre a lot smaller, but theyre still big. My waist was 26 inches, I had these big boobs.

I was sick of big boobs. It was like my boobs walked into a room and I walked in five minutes later!

Jen and Michelle

But shes now thrilled with the end result. I look better, she beams. It actually makes your posture stronger, because you constantly feel a pull on your tummy, so your back is straight from the lipo behind as well.

My God the lipo is horrendous, but only in the back. On my front I would recommend it because the way they did my back it makes me look like I got a bum now, its just lovely.

Ive now got a six pack, my belly is crazily good, Im so chuffed with it.

Their partners have mixed views on cosmetic surgery.

Nigel was kind of like you didnt need to get it done, I love you the way you are, theres no need, your body is perfect to me, smiles Michelle, who works as a legal executive.

He just said, if you want to do it Ill support you in whatever way. When I came back and was moaning about being sore hed joke well, you brought it on yourself!

Jennifer, who cares full time for her autistic son Finn, says her partner is comforting.

He said I loved you before this, after this, forever. But this was for all for me.
It seems incredible that living in the West and surfing the murky waves of exclusive feminism and racism, we still have to explain notions of equality, such as the powerful reappropriation of the insult. Itziar Ziga said it in her bible Devenir perra [Becoming a whore]: You can only be a whore, bitch or slut when someone else says it, not when you say it. Because otherwise all hell breaks loose. We did not leave the spectators stand during the European feminism tournament against European feminism until we did.

A few weeks ago, in this newspaper, Tokischa, a young, Latin woman of color, called herself a whore. Tokischa demonstrated that she didnt need anyone, least of all a journalist or a Spanish fashion magazine, to say it, and flagged up the concept of being a whore as something that goes beyond the sexual. She also engaged in a critique of the prostitution system. But maternalism is characterized by not listening to its daughters. Civilized feminism sees them as naive victims of the system and of themselves.

Moroccan-Spanish writer Najat el Hachmi does with whores what white feminism  that feminism which she has internalized  does with headscarf feminists and trans women. Either we are submissive or we are men. She wrote in a column: just because I am sexually liberated, do not call me a whore because there is only one whore and that is the slave. I dont look for nuances in this political agenda. Tokischa talks in EL PAIS SModa fashion and beauty supplement about labor slavery, but prostitution abolitionists do not like to talk about economic inequality because then they would no longer be total victims. If they ever ate poorly, theyve already forgotten it. Lets look at racism not through the eyes of others, as I didnt notice anyone throwing up their hands when Paula Ribo's feminist Spanish musical act Rigoberta Bandinl sang the words: I was born to be a whore.

I would like to live in a world in which the exploited did not point the finger at others who are also exploited. But I live in this one. To proclaim an identity that was once oppressive, but today is liberating  including whore, sudaka (an insult towards South Americans) and mora (insult towards North Africans)  is disciplining. It triggers incomprehension on the part of those who continue trying to fold identities into the old conventional boxes.

When the word whore is in fashion, whorephobia spikes. Even our own people want to padlock our mouths, said feminist scholar Gloria Anzaldua, adding: Hear how the language of the frontier barks. I hear that bark every day, I cant forget that I once jumped across the border and wore the muzzle. We learned so much from the whores Tokischa talks about  the paid and unpaid ones  and from the vagabond whores in our poor and peripheral neighborhoods. The crises taught us reciprocity. The emblematic figure of the willing female on the one hand, raped and beaten on the other, has long been a mirror for radical tenderness. Seeing ourselves in the other makes us strong against the Nazi wolf packs. In her short story Bestias, Chilean author Arelis Uribe describes an encounter between a girl, alone and drunk, who wants to get home, and a female dog furtively mated by a German shepherd. We know that this pair of whores will walk away together but without a leash tethering them together.

We women can be horrible, says one of the characters in Perras de reserva, a book by Mexican author Dahlia de la Cerda that portrays several whores who remonstrate in their own way with violence. Ecuadorian Maria Fernanda Ampuero imagined a woman saving herself from being auctioned off thanks to the blood on her tongue and her brutally coordinated sphincters. Not everything that a woman is capable of doing to escape male violence has been written. But it will be.

So, this is an invitation to be whores. To show it when were horny and hopefully with the cash register ringing madly. Lets not apply supremacy to desire. And dont appropriate mine. Lets be whores in and out of bed, against the State, before the boss, in the street and on the borders. I invite you to disregard the conservative judgments of the new libertarians. And to come crawling out of the history of the sexual revolution, of philosopher Michel Foucault and freedom as privilege. Keep your theories; we already make our own stories, says the Tucuman philosopher, Carolina Meloni.

In what Najat calls villages in the middle of nowhere, seeds of revolution sprout daily. We teach our offspring to respect the older whore. Respect them too. Call us what you want, but with respect. Dont colonize us.

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Five years on from their first visit, Daragh Keany wondered if his girls would get the same level of magic and thrills from Disneyland Paris?

WHEN is the right age to bring the kids to Disneyland Paris? Its a conundrum for Irish parents and in truth, we may have gotten it wrong the first time around. Just over five years ago, we brought our then seven and four-year-old daughters to the magical kingdom just east of Paris.

While our eldest was the perfect age, it was all too much for the younger one. She loved it and has fond memories of course, but the long days took their toll on moods and the height restrictions on some rides definitely affected the overall fun factor.

So, fast forward to July 2023 and there was no such trauma. Our summer holiday this year climaxed with a cheeky surprise trip to the world-famous resort, while en route home.

Daragh with Chloe and Mia on Main Street

I could use up my entire allocated space here to list off all the superlatives that spring to mind after a few days at the theme park. But to sum it up, it is simply a magical family-friendly mecca of fun that leaves special one-of-a-kind memories with you for a long time.

If you allow yourself to leave your dignity at the gate and embrace the captivating world of Disneyland Paris, you are guaranteed to have the trip of a lifetime.

Unlike somewhere like Lapland, for example, the beauty of this location is you can return as many times as you like and youll get something more out of it each visit.

This time around, we were staying in the New York: The Art of Marvel Hotel, which is smack bang in the middle of the action.

A short 10-minute walk to the gates means you can come and go as you please with little or no effort at all  and as any parent of a young child will tell you, that luxury is priceless during long days at the park. Plus, guests of the hotels get early access to the park, an hour before the day-pass guests arrive.

Since our first visit in the spring of 2018, a lot has changed: there are more areas to visit, more rides to undertake, more characters to meet and there is even a whole new show called Together (more on this later) to get your Mickey ears pricked.

There have been changes to Team Keany also. Gone is the moody four-year-old, and in her place is a fearless adrenalin junkie who, by a country mile, is the bravest in the family. The eldest is now a teenager and, in truth, our concern was that she might be getting a bit old for this.

The Keanys brave the rain

Her life is taken up by fake tan and chatting to her pals on her new mobile phone, so we wondered if the likes of Smallworld, Thunder Mountain and the nightly fireworks display would still float her boat. How wrong we were. I can categorically announce that you simply cant be too old for Disneyland Paris.

OK, so you may grow out of wanting to queue up to meet one of the princesses (trust me, no complaints here) but if there is a fast, exhilarating ride or an exciting and entertaining show to get stuck into then kids of all ages will lap this wonderland up.

Since our last visit, the app has had a nice overhaul too, meaning you can see every rides wait time in real-time  resulting in more rides and more fun.

Whether your plan is to hightail it to Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland or our favourite, Discoveryland, every single visitor starts with an amble down Main Street where merch stores, sweet shops, restaurants, coffee shops and water stations flank a perfectly cobbled road.

It guides you towards the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, which acts as a focal point, and comes to life at night when the drone and fireworks display kicks off  but it also acts as a gateway to what will be one of the best days of your life.

Together: a Pixar Musical Adventure runs five times a day

Lets start with Discovery Land and the girls favourite ride: Hyperspace Mountain. Impressive from the outside, it is actually even more impressive inside. And the initial thrust is like nothing else in the park and got us queueing time and time again.

Right across the street is the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, the Star Wars 3D ride and a surprisingly fun Autopia ride that allows your little ones to drive around a track.

Our least favourite zone was Adventureland, which may lack thrill-a-second rides but more than makes up for it with the impressive Swiss Family Treehouse and Aladdins Enchanted Passage, where we sat and ate on a few occasions.

Frontierland is beside that, and it has Team Keanys favourite ride of the whole park, Big Thunder Mountain, which just seems to go on and on and is brilliant. The queues werent too bad either, compared to some of the marquee rollercoasters.

Fantasyland, situated directly behind Sleeping Beautys Castle, is generally the first area that newbies land into. This makes it the busiest by a long stretch but with a huge mix of fairground rides, mazes, trains and sweet stands, it is a mecca for younger kids.

There are no headline-grabbing rollercoasters but it doesnt need them  it has meet and greets with the characters, and there is the utterly adorable SmallWorld, which still stands the test of time five years after we first tried it.

Then there is the whole other theme park next door, Walt Disney Studios Park, which your Hopper tickets also get you into. And should never be considered an afterthought. RC Racer, Ratatouille, Avengers Assemble and Spiderman are all there, and worthy of a flight to Paris alone.

Plus Crushs Coaster in the Front Lot is something we missed entirely five years ago but we made up for it this time around with at least a dozen turns.

On one of our two days, the heavens opened up and we thought the fun may be curtailed. But it only added to it. All we had to do was purchase ponchos and we were set. Plus, it kept a lot of daytrippers away, so the queues were pretty good.

It did also give us a chance to take in the brand new Together: a Pixar Musical Adventure (which runs five times daily) in the gigantic Studio Theatre and gave us a much-needed hour-long break from the adrenalin-fuelled fun outside. The live orchestra and interactive fun is like nothing we have seen before.

The girls get ready for Spiderman

Restaurants inside the park need to be booked but there are so many options elsewhere to suit all wallets and palates, you dont need to stress. Five years ago we ate in the Rainforest Cafe, so for nostalgias sake, we returned. Do yourselves a favour and check it out.

Disneyland Paris is a one-of-a-kind spot and I genuinely thought we were taking it on for the final time. But based on quick familial market research, I am guessing we may well be back another time  and we might not wait another five years either.

TRAVEL FACTFILE

DISNEYLAND PARIS See disneylandparis.com  Tickets for Disneyland Paris start from 62 for one day in one park. Hopper tickets, that allow you access to both parks, can be as cheap as 67 per person per day, based on multiple days purchased. The more days you book, the cheaper each day becomes.  There are hotel/park packages available also, which include breakfast and Magic hour.
Tina vanished without trace on March 20, 2017, from her home in Youghal in east Cork.

Tina Satchwell went missing from her home in Youghal, Co Cork, six years ago

A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder a woman who disappeared over six years ago.

Tina Satchwell went missing from her home in Youghal, Co. Cork in March, 2017.

The investigation has been upgraded to murder, and the investigation is being led from Midleton Garda Station, gardai said today.

They confirmed a man in his 50s was arrested and said a home in Youghal had been sealed off as part of the probe.

A property in the east Cork town of Youghal - where Tina lived before her disappearance - has been sealed off for a full forensic and technical examination.

The property is expected to remain sealed off for several days.

This afternoon, 10th October 2023, a male (50s) has been arrested on suspicion of murder and detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in Cork County, a spokesperson said.

A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to the family of Tina Satchwell.

They appealed for information from the public.

Gardai continue to appeal for any person who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Midleton Garda Station on (021) 462 1550, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666111 or any Garda Station.

Last March, Gardai renewed their appeal for information on Tina's mysterious disappearance.

Detectives said they believed that someone in east Cork has information about what happened to Tina. Senior officers admitted they do not believe that she left Ireland for the UK, where she had lived for a period, as had been initially suspected in 2017/18.

Tina vanished without trace on March 20, 2017, from her home in Youghal in east Cork.

No trace of her has been found since then despite multiple searches and dozens of hours of CCTV security camera footage being examined.

The last major targeted search in respect of her disappearance occurred in March 2018 when 60 Gardai and support officials conducted a painstaking examination of Mitchel's Wood outside Castlemartyr in east Cork. Nothing of significance was discovered in that major 12 day search.

Tina's sister, Teresa Dingivan, has repeatedly stressed over the years that they will never stop seeking answers as to the whereabouts of her beloved sibling.

Her family have made multiple appeals for help over the years - and urged anyone with information to contact gardai.

Sources confirmed that gardai remain convinced that the answer as to what happened to Tina remains within the east Cork area.

Despite a massive garda investigation which included 400 lines of inquiry, 100 hours of CCTV footage and 170 statements, no trace of Tina has ever been found.

Searches conducted to date include the painstaking examination of Mitchel's Wood as well as offshore operations around Youghal Bay.

Tina was last seen by her husband, Richard, when she asked him to leave their Youghal, Co Cork, home to go on an errand.

She was not at their home when he returned a few hours later and he presumed she had gone to stay with her family in Fermoy in north Cork.

He reported her missing four days later.

Tina did not have a passport - and there was no indication she had purchased tickets to travel overseas by either plane or ferry.

"At this point, all the indications are that Tina never left Ireland," a source said.

Gardai searched CCTV footage from all Irish ports and airports, including those in Northern Ireland with the assistance of the PSNI, without any sighting of Tina being found.

UK police have also checked for Tina at their ports and airports - and at locations in northern England where she had previously lived or had friends.

All such searches have yielded nothing.

Mr Satchwell stressed in an interview five years ago there was nothing out of the ordinary on March 20, 2017, to indicate his wife was about to vanish.

"It was the same as any other morning - she got up and I made her a cup of tea and a slice of toast. It is something I will never forget."

"It wasn't unusual for her to turn around and ask me to go shopping. I thought nothing of it at the time. When I came back, the keys were on the ground. When she didn't come back I thought she was gone to Fermoy (to visit her family)," he said.

He raised the alarm four days later when he realised, to his shock, that Tina had not gone to visit relatives in Fermoy.

Two suitcases were missing as well as some items of Tina's clothing from the Youghal property.

However, her beloved dog, Ruby, was left alone in the house which Mr Satchwell said he found unusual.

Mr Satchwell also claimed that 26,000 in cash, saved from a property sale and the proceeds of car boot sales, was missing from the property.

He has repeatedly insisted that he believes his wife is alive and has appealed to her to make contact with him or her family.

Tina's sister, Teresa, said her family are very tightknit.

"There are four sisters and three brothers - we grew up very close. I have been in the UK for over 30 years. I seen Tina a few years ago, we went for a walk in the park and we had a heart-to-heart and she was fine then."

"She would speak to her family, Tina would. If she was down she would speak to her family - we are very close."
Nicole Doyle (14) from Portlaoise has been missing since Friday

Nicole Doyle was last seen in Drimnagh, Dublin 12, on Friday. Photo: Gardai.

Gardai have renewed their appeal for a missing teenager who has not been seen since Friday, October 6.

Nicole Doyle (14) from Portlaoise has been missing since Friday. It is understood that Ms Doyle could now be in Belfast.

Ms Doyle is described as being five foot three inches in height, of slim build with brown hair.

Last seen in the Drimnagh area of Dublin 12, Ms Doyle was wearing a navy school uniform.

Gardai said they are renewing their appeal to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 14-year-old Nicole Doyle who is missing from Portlaoise, Co. Laois, since Friday 6th October 2023.

Gardai are asking for members of the public with any information on Ms Doyles whereabouts to get in contact with Portlaoise Garda Station or the Garda confidential line.

Nicole is described as being approximately 5 foot 3 inches in height, is of slim build and has brown hair. When last seen, Nicole was wearing a navy school uniform. Nicole was last seen in the Drimnagh area of Dublin 12, but it is understood she could be in Belfast.

Anyone with information on Nicole's whereabouts are asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 8674100, the Garda Confidential, Gardai said.
The funeral details of Niamh Berkery have been announced.

Heartfelt tributes have been flowing in for a young Limerick woman described as a treasured member of the community following her death.

Niamh Berkery of Shanaclune, Cappamore passed away peacefully on Saturday surrounded by family and friends at St. Jamess Hospital, Dublin.

Ms Berkery was involved in a number of community groups and teams and was Public Relations Officer for Cappamore GAA and Camogie Club.

A note on rip.ie reads:"Cherished eldest daughter of Breda and John and adored sister of Siobhan, Con and Michelle, and boyfriend Pete McNamara (Cork).

Sadly missed by her parents, sisters and brother, their boyfriends Conor and Liam and girlfriend Jean, her boyfriend, godson Mason (Australia), aunts, uncles, cousins, grandaunts Nora and Mary, relatives, kind neighbours, a wide circle of wonderful friends and her work colleagues in Scoil Chaitriona.

Reposing at Lynch-Kelly Funeral Home, Cappamore Wednesday evening from 5 pm until 8 pm. Arriving in St. Michaels Church, Cappamore for Requiem Mass Thursday morning at 11.30 am. Niamh will be laid to rest in Towerhill Cemetery.

Limerick Community Games paid tribute to the young woman.

Niamh was a member of our county committee for several years and was a dedicated, treasured and committed volunteer at area, county, provincial and national levels.

Niamh competed with Cappamore community games as a child and had many wonderful memories as a participant.

Niamh made many wonderful friends from all corners of the country through her volunteering, such friends for whom we know this loss will be exceptionally difficult.

We send our sincere sympathies to Niamh's family, extended family, community and friends.

We think especially of her family John, Breda, Con, Siobhan and Michelle and her partner Peter.

May her beautiful soul rest in peace and may God comfort all who knew and loved her so much at this difficult time.

Cappamore GAA and Camogie Club were at a loss for words to describe the loss of their friend and colleague.

Niamh took on her role of PRO with the pride and passion she had for her club . She was a committed supporter of our club both on and off the field.

As a mark of respect to Niamh, our club field is closed and off the field activities will cease until further notice.

We send our sincere sympathies to Niamh's family, extended family and friends. We think especially of John, Breda, Con, Siobhan and Michelle and Peter.

On rip.ie, some of the condolences that appeared are: "I, on behalf of Kerry Community Games would like to extend our sincere condolences to all of the Berkery family on the sad untimely passing of Niamh. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

"Our deepest sympathy to Mary and extended Berkery Family on the passing of your lovely niece Niamh, so sorry to hear that sad news, may she rest in peace, read another.

Deepest condolences to the Berkery family on the passing of Niamh. She will be sorely missed.
Both individuals have since been charged with alleged public order offences

The protest in Dublin last night (from Anti Imperialist Action Ireland)

The red paint on the door (left)

Two men were arrested by gardai last night after red paint was thrown over the door of the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.

Several hundred people attended the demonstration outside the embassy on Shelbourne Road in Dublin 4.

According to RTE, one man who climbed over the fence outside the embassy and threw red paint over a door was subsequently arrested and led away by gardai.

The protest in Dublin last night (from Anti Imperialist Action Ireland)

Protestors had earlier gathered outside Leinster House at around 5.30pm, before marching from Kildare Street to Shelbourne Road.

Gardai said that the crowd was fully dispersed before 11pm.

It has also been reported that a few protesters had stamped on and then burned a small Israeli flag which had been left with flowers and sympathy cards outside the embassy.

Bono dedicates song to Israeli festivalgoers killed by Hamas militants

Others replaced the flowers which had been knocked over.

A tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Anti Imperialist Action Ireland showed images of the protest and the red paint on the door of the embassy.

A member of Anti Imperialist Action Ireland has covered the front door of the Zionist Embassy in Dublin with red paint during an ongoing protest in defense of Palestine, the tweet reads.

The activist has been arrested and is currently being held in the grounds of the Zionist Embassy.

Gardai said they attended a public gathering at an embassy in Dublin 4 on Monday evening.

Two males were arrested by gardai, they said.

Both individuals have since been charged with alleged public order offences.

One is due before the courts this morning while the second individual has been released from Garda custody to appear before the courts at a later date.
Bono has paid tribute to those who were attending an Israeli music festival when it was attacked by Hamas on Saturday.

At least 250 young people were killed at the Supernova festival when Palestinian militants launched their attack, shooting and firing artillery as attendees tried to flee.

More are missing, with some having been taken captive.

The U2 frontman dedicated a song to the hundreds of victims of the attack during a concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

"We sing for our brothers and sisters, who they themselves were singing at the Supernova festival in Israel. We sing for those, he said.

"Our people  our kind of people, music people, playful, experimental people. Our kind of people. We sing for them.

The frontman reportedly changed the lyrics to Early morning October 7, the sun is rising in the desert sky, stars of David, they took your life but they could not take your pride.

He later told the crowd it had been a festival of music and peace, can you imagine what these f***ers were doing, before singing the song MLK.

At a US gig in 1987, the Irish rocker famously hit out at the IRA bombing of the Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, which killed 12 people that same day, before launching into Sunday Bloody Sunday.
New Zealand Police staff in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville were called away from BAU in August to support the multi-national response to a double disaster  a volcanic eruption and floods.

The Bougainville Government declared a state of emergency in the wake of the eruption of Mt Bagana, the regions most active volcano.

Ash contaminated water sources and food crops on both west and east coasts, with the west the worst hit, says Team Leader Shawn Rutene. Thousands of villagers were evacuated to care facilities.

To add to the challenge, Bougainville also experienced heavy rainfall which caused flooding and damaged roads, dwellings and crops.

The affected areas of the west coast are only accessible by boat and reaching the coastal villages became impossible, as the unsettled weather caused large sea swells, says Shawn.

A state of emergency was declared and a combined effort began to get much-needed aid to the affected people.

The USS America brought some serious hardware to the operation - the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, left, and Sikorsky CH-53 Stallion.

The state of emergency declared after the eruption began on July 7 was extended and broadened in August. New Zealand began a relief effort in response to a joint invitation from the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and the President of Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea.

They worked with the local disaster response team and representatives of the US Agency for International Development, International Organisation for Migration and UNICEF to distribute aid from New Zealand and Australia.

A New Zealand Defence Force Hercules flew in eight diesel generators, mosquito nets, family hygiene kits, water purification tablets, shelter tool kits and lighting rigs. Police on the ground bought eight barrels of diesel to accompany the generators so they could be up and running immediately.

By coincidence, the aircraft carrier USS America and its support vessels were nearby, heading to Brisbane after conducting exercises in the area.

After a quick korero, the USS America and its 1500 personnel were diverted from their planned shore leave and moored 20km off Bougainvilles west coast. The ships MV-22 Osprey and larger CH-53K King Stallion helicopters were dispatched.

All at once Buka Airport, which usually sees one flight a day, was alive with military helicopters and C-130 Hercules filling its runways, says Shawn.

The helicopters took personnel from the disaster relief group into affected areas and ferried a Kiwi volunteer nurse and doctor to Piva.

Police staff coordinated unloading the NZDF Hercules - within 45 minutes  and the various agencies worked into the night to organise aid for distribution.

The following day two Ospreys loaded with aid were flown to Torokina with Shawn and Rhys on board to do the official handover from the New Zealand Government.

Local people poured in to greet the crew and to help unload. Everyone chipped in, says Shawn, including US Marine Corps CO Colonel Matthew Danner, and it was rewarding to see local people, Kiwis and American personnel working side by side.



The aid supplies were greatly appreciated by local people.

Shawn says the local people were extremely appreciative and presented representatives of Police, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, USAID and US military with gifts at a dinner in their honour.

They completed a celebratory dance for all parties and the New Zealand Police responded in the only the way a Kiwi knows, with a rousing haka which bought the house down.

It was such a rewarding experience for all involved to be able to support the good work of the local disaster response team. While it was away from our BAU, it completely enhanced New Zealand Polices reputation in Bougainville.

Shawn paid tribute to the other members of Polices Bougainville contingent - Sean Midgley, Matthew Prendergast, Theresa William and Andrew Bell - who kept on with BAU and maintained a reassuring presence in Arawa and Buin as he and Rhys worked on the relief operation from Buka.

He acknowledged Senior Advisor Deb Gower  who has since ended her Bougainville deployment - who began the initial planning as he was out of the country in the early stages, and the support of the New Zealand High Commission in Port Moresby. It was a real team effort.

With the worst of the crisis passed, scientists are assessing Mt Bagana and whether it is safe for people to return to their villages. The most recent reports indicated the volcano was still venting ash.

-Police Ten One Magazine.
With the Bay of Plenty becoming a more popular destination to live and visit, Coastguard units are aware of the increased costs and time requirements of their volunteers.

Theyre focused on ensuring volunteers do not burn out and encourage anyone who plans to head out on the water this summer to show support by giving a donation.

Coastguard New Zealand | Tautiaki Moana is New Zealands primary maritime search and rescue provider. The Eastern Region comprises of 14 volunteer units from Whitianga to Hawkes Bay, including Lake Taupo and Rotorua Lakes.

Local units, Waihi Beach - Bowentown, Tauranga and Maketu provide 24/7 rescue support and education to the community around water, bar awareness, and boat safety.

Maketu oversees three shallow, dangerous bars; Waihi Beach received over 5,200 radio calls in the last year, and Tauranga remains one of the busiest Coastguard units in the country, receiving nearly 25,000 radio calls, assisting over 330 people and performing over 125 search and rescue operations.

Maketu Coastguard. Photo: Supplied.

These units are operational mostly due to the commitment of their volunteers.

Each Coastguard unit has varying volunteer requirements dependent on the number of vessels they have, if they have a radio unit onsite and how busy they are year-round.

Currently, all crew and radio operators across Waihi Beach, Tauranga and Maketu are volunteers.

Tauranga Unit operations manager Dane Robertson says that there is a perception that Coastguard New Zealand is fully paid, can police and ticket people, or is part of customs or fisheries.

Were simply volunteers that will get out there, help someone and bring them back safely. We dont judge, and we dont growl. Our mission is to save lives at sea, says Dane.

All of our crew and radio operators are volunteers, so if someone calls for help, the people helping them have left their jobs or family to come and help that vessel and the people onboard get back to shore safely. They work hard, sometimes for hours, before heading back to work or their family afterwards and continuing their day.

Waihi Coastguard. Photo: Supplied.

According to research from the most recent Maritime NZ Recreational Boating Monitor Quarterly Report, 19 per cent of recreational boaters identify the Bay of Plenty as their main water-use location. This makes the workload of these three Coastguard units high, especially over the summer.

Callouts are increasing yearly, with the majority being to tow a vessel back to shore due to engines not starting, electrical issues or fuel shortages.

Luckily, serious search and rescue jobs make up less than 10 per cent of volunteers' time on the water. However, if Coastguard wasnt around to help people, then minor situations could become serious very quickly.

Many people realise when they breakdown that even if they can see the shore, theyre alone and isolated. It can become scary very fast, and seeing the relief on peoples faces when we turn up makes it all worth it, says Dane.

TECT recently funded $65,000 to the three local units, making a huge difference for these crews leading into summer.

Tauranga Coastguard. Photo: Supplied.

TECT Trustee Mark Arundel says the three local units provide an invaluable service to our community.

As a coastal region, recreational water use plays a significant role in many of our lives. We are extremely lucky to have the volunteer Coastguard crews of Waihi Beach, Tauranga and Maketu available to us, keeping us safe," says Mark.

TECT are proud to support these units to ensure they can continue aiding water users, regardless of experience. Assisting one person has a much broader effect for their wider family and community.

Once youve had the unfortunate experience of needing Coastguard, you appreciate their services and the people volunteering much more.

Many Coastguard volunteers arent familiar with boats or water safety before signing on as volunteers. They sign up because they want to help their community and make a difference, taking part in regular training to ensure theyre highly-skilled for various scenarios and procedures.

People can apply directly via the website https://volunteers.coastguard.nz/ or drop into their local unit to have a chat directly with the team and unit managers.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council will more than double its elder housing stocks in Katikati thanks to a government funding boost.

The council will build 26 modern rental homes on its Heron Crescent site with a $2.4 million injection from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Developments Affordable Housing Fund.

This funding, coupled with the $4.6 million Council has set aside from its Better Off Funding, means Council can progress with its preferred option of providing a mix of one and two bedroom units that also cater for those with mobility issues - at no cost to rate payers.

Once finished, the 26 unit development will see 15 additional units, in addition to replacing the 11 existing 40-year-old units that have been removed from the site.

We have listened to our community about their needs and sought to get funding from central government to get more housing built in the area, and look after our elderly, says Council chief executive John Holyoake.

This funding will see us build on our strategic priority of providing housing that is affordable, accessible, habitable with security of tenure, and appropriate to our life stages and differing needs.

Katikati is a growing population of close to 5000 people, and there is a demand out there for purpose-built rental homes for our elderly population who often find it hard to rent warm, dry and affordable homes.

Affordable housing for older people is a key area of concern in our District - need is increasing, and supply is very limited. At the moment Katikatis housing stock of mostly three and four bedroom homes, doesnt fit the needs of our older population who typically want to downsize, says John.

Providing affordable housing especially for older people often means they can stay in their local community, and continue to contribute to the strong social networks that makes Katikati so special.

Aerial perspective. Image: WBOPDC.

What's happening now - on the ground

The foundational site works have been completed including retaining walls and new fencing.

The new public path between Heron Crescent and Diggelmann Park is open and underneath is the new stormwater mains.

The site is build ready and allows for the 26 units, carparking and associated wastewater and stormwater connections.

Whats happening next
I have just returned from a harrowing visit to the cities affected by Storm Daniel, which swept through eastern Libya in the blink of an eye on September 10. I visited the most devastated areas: Al Bayda and Derna, the epicenter of the catastrophe. When I arrived in the Derna area, the air was charged with a mixture of hope and despair. The city affectionately known as Jasmine City had been ravaged by the relentless force of nature. Home to more than 100,000 people, nearly a third of its infrastructure had been decimated. And the statistics, while terrible, rarely reflect the human component. Its the stories from the ground that really shake you.

Libya, a nation already battered by conflict, now has to cope with the aftermath of a catastrophe on a scale unprecedented in its history. As we visited the stricken cities and met with local authorities, the enormous needs faced by those affected in order to survive were evident.

They told us of the urgent need for clean water, the reopening of primary health care centers and schools, and mental health and psychosocial support services for survivors. We also delved into the harrowing details of the internally displaced, including children who have lost everything: their parents, their relatives, their homes, their schools, and their neighbors. Their psychological well-being is at stake. In addition, many children are being affected by the lack of essential services such as healthcare, schooling, and water supplies.

The massive displacement caused by this catastrophe is heartbreaking. Thousands of people have sought refuge in public schools, while many have fled to other Libyan cities in search of safety. World Health Organization (WHO) figures paint a bleak picture, with thousands dead and missing. The migrant community has also borne the brunt and suffered considerable losses. I have witnessed the devastating effects of the floods on children and families, many of whom are bearing a heavy psychological burden.

There I also met with Heba, a 15-year-old girl staying with her family in one of the shelters where UNICEF provides psychosocial services to survivors through recreational activities and counseling, among other forms of support. She was extremely distressed, had been unable to sleep for days, and found it difficult to socialize and play. She explained how she woke up in the middle of the night with water up to her neck in her room, located on the fourth floor of a building, and how she struggled with her siblings to reach the roof and safety. She was just grateful to be alive and wanted to go back to school soon.

Mothers who found shelter in schools told me stories of how they had to choose between saving their children or the older people in their home. They chose the younger ones because they represented hope for the future. One father told me how he had lifted three of his children onto the roof, braving the waters in the dark.

Beyond the obvious need for infrastructure, emotional and psychological reconstruction is essential. The story of girls like Heba, who have lost everything  homes, schools, neighbors  is a stark reminder of the intangible damage this disaster has left behind.

Children and families are in desperate need of shelter, clean water, medicines, and temporary care. So far, UNICEF has distributed 65 metric tons of relief items such as medicines, family hygiene kits, childrens winter clothing, School-in-a-Bag supplies and water purification tablets to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. This remains a concern as cases of acute watery diarrhea have been reported among children. Restoring safe water supply chains is a priority. We are working together with health organizations to reinforce hospitals with essential drugs and supplies. Vaccination campaigns are being planned, for example, against potential cholera outbreaks.

UNICEF has also deployed mobile protection and psychosocial support teams to help children and their caregivers navigate through these harrowing experiences. Our protection team has been particularly active, reaching hundreds of children with psychosocial support and recreational activities.

As long as schools remain closed, the issue of education hangs in the balance. The focus over the next few weeks will be on working with the International Organization for Migration and UNHCR to provide temporary educational solutions, adopting a protection approach and coordinating with the World Food Program to deliver food rations. The medium-term focus is on restoring clinics, hospitals, and schools, repairing water and sanitation systems, and preventing disease.

Despite the horror, I am glad to have had the opportunity to witness the humanitarian response of the Libyan people and the international community to rescue and assist the affected population. The razed streets of Derna and Al Bayda echoed stories of mass destruction, but human resilience still prevailed.

To anyone reading this, I say that the people of Derna and the surrounding areas need your empathy, your support, and your voice. Together, lets rebuild the Jasmine City and ensure a brighter future for its children. Every bit of help, no matter how small, can make a big difference.

Marie-Consolee Mukangendo is Deputy Representative at UNICEF Libya.

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Voters may be focused on the cost of living, but climate groups say failing to look at climate policies will raise household bills as well.

Researchers say every aspect of life will be affected by a more turbulent climate, and have urged people to use the election to tell politicians to 'get on with it'.

After an emergency meeting to discuss plunging sea ice around Antarctica, which is linked to heating oceans, more than 40 scientists from a range of disciplines warned urgent emissions cuts were needed.

"I wouldn't want to tell anyone how to vote, but what I would say is that whatever you're interested in, climate change will impact it," says NIWA marine physicist Natalie Robinson to journalists after the summit.

"If we don't address climate change in the way we are calling for in our statement, we are going to see those impacts flow through to every area of our lives and the longer we leave it to act, the more impact there will be."

Last month was the hottest September New Zealand has ever recorded.

Last year was New Zealand's hottest year, and eight of the last 10 years were among the hottest 10 since records began.

Although Labour and National have committed to shrinking emissions, the Climate Change Commission says the country is not on track to stay inside its carbon budgets.

Victoria University adjunct professor Ralph Chapman says New Zealanders have taken a fairly relaxed attitude to climate impacts, but were now seeing the costs of heightened cyclones and other disasters hit farmers, households and the government.

"Climate change has risen up the agenda... but we don't place as much importance on it as we do, say, cost of living. But down the track we're going to kick ourselves and say... why didn't we get onto it," says Ralph.

"It flows through to every part of the economy.

"Given the lags in the system from taking political action to actually reducing emissions, we need to take action now to see the benefits for our children.

"An election is an opportunity to say to politicians, get on with it, take action now."

The Climate Change Commission has calculated it is cheaper to meet carbon budgets now than it is to wait until closer to 2050, then move sharply to get emissions down. Moving sooner would also help companies take advantage of the benefits of moving to cleaner ways of operating, it concluded.

Emily Mabin Sutton from lobby group Vote for Climate says climate change would push up things like grocery prices and insurance bills, as impacts from worsening flooding and drought hit living costs.

But she says many of the solutions to lowering emissions actually lower living costs. Policies like massively improving access to public transport and renewable energy would help reduce household bills, as well as lessen pollution, she said.

Laws such as the Zero Carbon Act, which cap emissions and require New Zealand to meet its targets, make a difference, she says.

The Zero Carbon Act has backing from every party except NZ First and ACT.

If re-elected, Labour planned to supplement carbon cutting efforts here in New Zealand with projects in other, likely developing countries, to help save money on meeting international pledges. Meeting climate pledges was tied to at least two foreign trade deals, with the EU and UK.

National says it is focused on domestic reductions and has baulked at committing to pay for overseas help, when asked about this in interviews. But that meant slashing the equivalent of an extra year's emissions from inside the country before 2030, to meet New Zealand's international promises.

The party has not said how it would do that.
Bursts of strong westerlies are off and on this week with the main surge coming this Saturday - NZs election day.

Heavy rain will dominate the West Coast while strong norwest winds will surge up NZ - peaking this weekend nationwide in eastern and inland areas, says WeatherWatch.co.nz

"Not everyone will have severe gales but the potential for them is there in the east of both islands, especially the South Island at this early stage.

"Meanwhile Australia has a number of cold fronts coming in to the south-eastern corner bringing rain into dry Victoria and the western half of Tasmania."

Watch a detailed forecast through to Sunday across New Zealand and Australia in the video above.
Calling all budding filmmakers and lovers of spine-chilling stories.

EPIC Te Puke, the epicentre of innovation and creativity in Te Puke, is hosting a spooky short film contest for you to showcase your talent in just one minute.

Prepare to be spellbound as you submit your very own one-minute spooky film for the upcoming Te Puke Spooky Movie Contest. This is your chance to shine in the realm of the mysterious and macabre, where the most spine-tingling tales come to life on the silver screen.

Your entry can consist of anything you believe is spooky. It can be fun and silly or scary.

There are three age categories for each one-minute chilly film. They are primary/intermediate Years 1 -8, high school Years 9-13, and adults.

All entries can win first - $200, second - $100, or third - $50 in their categories with EPIC Te Puke dollar prizes donated by Vector Group Charitable Trust.

The final showing and winner announcements will be held in the Te Puke War Memorial Hall at 5.30pm, Tuesday, October 31, after the EPIC Te Puke Spooky Movie Treat Trail. This will be invite only for the contestants and their families.

The EPIC Te Puke Spooky Movie Treat Trail is happening from 3pm - 5pm on Tuesday, October 31. Photo: John Borren.

Entry Requirements

All entries must start with eyes opening and end with a cut to black, other than that your films can be anything spooky you want.

All entries must include a kiwifruit and the word epic.

Other specifications include filming in landscape format, with any creative input such as claymation, animation, cinematography, or flip-book also possible.

Your film should be suitable viewing for all ages, have no swearing or profanities.

It can be spooky or a bit gross but remember the audience is for all the family, so use restraint or your film may not be selected, says EPIC Te Puke manager Rebecca Larsen.

Rebecca says the organisers of this event reserve the right to include or exclude films from being screened if they do not adhere to the spirit of the festival or break the rules.

Join EPIC Te Puke in bringing chills, thrills and supernatural delights to the screen  your creativity knows no bounds and the organisers cant wait to see what eerie wonders you conjure.

Dont miss out on this hauntingly good opportunity to have your work celebrated in the heart of Te Pukes innovation hub.

Film entries need to be submitted by midnight on Sunday, October 29. Click here to enter
Coastguard New Zealand is delighted to announce Amy Nattrass, from Coastguard Rotorua Lakes as its Emerging (Young) Volunteer of the Year for 2023.

Amy is a rising star in the Rotorua community, with an impressive track record of leadership and volunteer service.

Starting as a Young Mariner in Rotorua at the age of nine, she quickly progressed to become a Junior Leader and then an Assistant Leader.

Her journey continued as she transitioned to the Tauranga Young Mariners and took on the role of Assistant National Advisor, eventually becoming the National Advisor.

But Amy's contributions extend beyond the Young Mariners; she currently serves as the Secretary for two Coastguard New Zealand Units, Rotorua Lakes and Taupo in addition to her on-water volunteering.

Despite her young age, Amy has amassed an impressive list of qualifications, including a Skipper Restricted Limits (SRL) certificate, making her one of the youngest people in the country to hold one.

She is also on the cusp of completing her Senior Crew Phase, which will make her one of only two female skippers in her Unit and will see her joining a growing group of wahine leading the way in Units across the motu.

She recently organised a successful Search and Rescue Exercise, collaborating with various search and rescue organisations, showcasing her leadership skills and attention to detail.

Amy's involvement in her community goes beyond her official roles. She actively participates in organising community events, such as the Summer Lottery, local lake cleanups, Unit open days, and functions.

She also engages with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's 'Boaties BBQ,' strengthening relationships with like-minded individuals.

One noteworthy contribution Amy has made was creating a comprehensive list of names and locations across the Rotorua Lakes region, encompassing both Maori and English place names. This initiative ensures that radio operators can communicate with boaties in the water confidently, reducing confusion that may have existed in the past.

To be recognised for what I thought was a pretty standard contribution is amazing as well as motivating. I feel pride in knowing that my efforts have made a positive impact and further fuels my commitment to volunteering for Coastguard, says Amy.

The amount of learning from others' experience has been invaluable, and the support the team provides is exceptional. The Unit has become a second family and the memories attached to this experience are ones to be talked about for years to come.

Coastguard New Zealand CEO Callum Gillespie says Amy gives her all for Coastguard, both on and off the water  making a real difference to her community and fellow volunteers.

Were extremely lucky to have Amys skills and enthusiasm, paving the way for our next generation of Coastguard leaders.

Amys dedication to our mission is exemplified by the fact that shes also a key staff member in our Education and Community Education team, delivering vital bar awareness seminars to communities across Aotearoa  all in-between her volunteering time!

Coastguard New Zealand also congratulates Steven Dee (Coastguard Waihi Beach) and Nathalie Le Blanc (Coastguard Whangaruru) as finalists in this category for their achievements.
Mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, Francisco Salado (left) and Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre (right) signed the agreement on Monday 9 October

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The mayors of Rincon de la Victoria, and Malaga, Francisco Salado and Francisco de la Torre, have signed a joint tourism agreement which proposes the implementation of a complementary tourism offer that benefit both places.

"Our offer focuses on gastronomy, sport and, above all, historical heritage with the Cueva del Tesoro, Cueva de la Victoria and Villa Antiopa. So with the idea of continuing to grow, we signed this agreement which will be very beneficial," explained Salado as the agreement was signed on Monday 9 October.

De la Torre highlighted that the agreement means Malaga and Rincon de la Victoria will be able to work together in many areas, such as tourism. He went on to say, We will give our population more job opportunities and those who come, a more complete offer.

As well as Mupis, a tourism website and tourist information touch screens, the agreement includes cooperation to promote sport, cultural and gastronomic events that involve the participation of both places as well as the creation of a tourist card that includes the main tourist attractions in Malaga and Rincon de la Victoria.

The document also includes the possibility of a direct bus route between Malaga Airport and Rincon de la Victoria, with a stop at Maria Zambrano train station in Malaga city centre.

The agreement is in place for one year and may be extended if agreed by both parties.
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Since last Friday afternoon when she was last seen near her home in Torrox-Costa, the Axarquia town has turned its attention to trying to locate Virtudes Rodriguez, an 84-year-old resident who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

After some initial searches involving a canine unit from the Local Police of Malaga force, members of the Local Police in Torrox, the Guardia Civil, who are investigating the case, and Civil Protection volunteers have redoubled their efforts this Tuesday (10 October) to try to find her whereabouts.

Due to her illness, it was thought that she may have lost her bearings and may have been on a farm or in a rural area of the extensive municipality of Torrox. However, another line of investigation suggests that she may have boarded one of the buses that pass along the coastal strip of the town. For this reason, a national appeal has been made to try to find her.

According to the Mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, the police are continuing their search "all over the municipality". Special teams from the Civil Guard in Seville have joined the search using helicopters, drones and specialist dogs. Meanwhile, the state security forces, who have taken charge of the search following a request from the relatives, "are investigating in case she is outside Torrox", he explained.

In addition family members, local residents, volunteers and people who have no family ties with the missing woman are also helping in the search. Medina wanted to convey "all my support" to the people involved in the search for Virtudes Rodriguez.

Virtudes was last seen at midday last Friday, 6 October, in the Mercadona area of Torrox-Costa, on her way home. At the time, she was wearing green trousers and a blue T-shirt. She is described as 1.64 metres tall, has a slim build, with grey and brown hair and brown eyes.

However, "the problem is that we do not know if she is in Torrox, or outside the town, so I ask from here the greatest spread of the information, not only locally but in all the neighbouring villages and towns throughout the province of Malaga," said the local mayor.

In addition, he has appealed to those residents of Torrox who own rural houses and plots in the countryside, to check their properties in order to find her.

"We suspect that due to her Alzheimer's and her memories of her life in the countryside and her youth, she may have wandered into a property," explained a niece of the missing woman on her social media networks. "For us to search the entire municipality is an arduous and time-consuming task, but if everyone searches their own plot of land, we are almost certain that we will find her," said the relative.

The SOS Desaparecidos Association has made two telephone numbers available to the public to provide information about Virtudes' whereabouts: 649 952 957 and 617 126 909. They also have an email address info@sosdesaparecidos.es. Alternatively, the emergency services can be contacted on 112.
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The association of traders and business owners in Benalmadena (ACEB) has filed a complaint with Endesa asking for an urgent solution to the constant cuts in the electricity supply to businesses in Arroyo de la Miel. The association claims that the problem, which has been going on "for months", has affected numerous businesses in Avenida de la Constitucion, the main thoroughfare where the majority of the areas commercial establishments are located.

The organisations president, Rosa Gonzalez, said, The situation has reached an absolute extreme. We are talking about a totally commercial area full of cafes, hairdressers and shops that without electricity cannot work properly, and this is severely affecting their incomes".

Gonzalez added that in recent weeks there have been days when these establishments have been without electricity for several hours during the morning, and this, she said, is not a unique situation because it has been like this for months.

The president explained that the problem lies with the age of the Endesa facilities in the area, and she claimed that if the problem continued, she would prepare a joint claim for the losses caused to each business.

She pointed out that local residents in area have also been affected by the power cuts, although she said that Endesa claims it has no record of these incidents.

In August, the towns mayor, Juan Antonio Lara, contacted the general director of Endesa in Andalucia to demand a solution to the unsustainable and unfair situation. Lara explained at the time that the situation not only seriously affects the businesses of Benalmadena, but also the residents, and tourists who have decided to choose the municipality to enjoy their holidays.
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A new initiative aimed at helping people find a job in hospitality within 24 hours has launched on the Costa del Sol.

The Mahos association is behind the new campaign, 'Get a job in 24 hours', which officially kicked off this Tuesday to coincide with Hotel and Catering Day. There are currently around 200 job vacancies with businesses needing staff across all areas, from the kitchen to waiting tables and even delivery, according to the association. Those interested in working in the trade should register on the association's employment portal. There are currently more than 2,000 registered companies.

Mahos president Javier Frutos launched the initiative during the presentation of Hotel and Catering Day at Chinitas restaurant in Malaga city. "The aim of this campaign is to communicate that the hospitality industry in the province is a major sector of the economy, with a collective agreement among the five best in Spain, and where you can work and make a career today," he said.

Frutos also said the hotel and catering industry exceeded 100,000 employees on average for the first time between June and September. "This is a day of celebration and vindication because we belong to a leading sector and this makes us proud in a land of entrepreneurship". In the past four months the sector has had an average of 105,000 workers, with peaks of 107,000, Frutos added.

Training, the main challenge

Upskilling and training needs improvement, Frutos said, and pointed out that Mahos has already signed agreements with different training schools such as Cesur and Exe or companies such as Victoria. "It is important to encourage people to be able to work in our sector," he said.

Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre, who was also at Tuesday's launch, said the hospitality and catering industry "forms part of the image, the culture and the soul of the territory". "It is a great driving force for tourism, but it also offers society itself opportunities to have a good time out," he added.
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Cristina Marquez and Francisco Javier, the couple from Malaga who were stranded in Israel, are already on their way back to Spain.

The pair's flight out from Tel Aviv was cancelled last Sunday 7 October as Ben Gurion airport came under threat by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Rockets rained down as Israel was attacked on the same day it celebrated Sukkot, the festival of joy on Saturday.

The couple were among 70 people evacuated early this Tuesday morning in a military plane chartered by the Portuguese government, according to Marquez who shared a video via social media.

She made the video at Cyprus airport, where the Portuguese plane made a stopover before flying to Lisbon, from the Portuguese capital the Malaga couple are due to return to Spain in the next few hours on 10 October.

Cristina Marquez and Francisco Javier at the airport in Tel Aviv. SUR

"This morning we were evacuated thanks to the work and efforts of the Spanish embassy in Tel Aviv. The embassy team, made up of the ambassador, Ana Salomon, Nico Diaz, and the consul general, Fernando Lopez de Castro, made the arrangements for us to be evacuated in a Portuguese military plane that was chartered to repatriate 70 of their compatriots. We are at the airport in Cyprus, where we have received an exquisite welcome. We are in a rest area waiting to fly to Lisbon," Marquez said.

The Malaga native, who is a police officer in Marbella, also thanked friends, family and colleagues for their support: "We are eternally grateful for your love and support. And we wish the people who have stayed behind in Israel the best of luck".

SUR managed to speak with Cristina Marquez on Sunday afternoon when she recounted their experiences after Hamas first launched its attack on Israel.
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A drone played a vital role in the rescue of a runner who had fallen and fractured his leg while out running in Marbella's Sierra Blanca mountains on the morning of Sunday 8 October.

It took little more than two hours after a call was made to the emergency services for firefighters, Civil Guards, Civil Protection volunteers and medical staff to get the man to the town's Costa del Sol hospital where he was treated for his injury.

The device monitored and recorded the entire operation and helped with the transport of the injured man on a stretcher along a complicated route to an ambulance.

The video and photographs accompanying this article were taken by the drone, which was being controlled by Carlos Lozano, a police officer from Benahavis who is also a drone pilot and instructor and specialises in search and rescue missions in mountainous and remote areas.

The injured man who is in his 30s was able to give his location, enabling firefighters to locate him quickly. The man had to be carried down a steep, rocky section of the mountain on a stretcher. Emergency services had to carry out the rescue on difficult terrain" according to Lozano, who was supervising and recording the operation from the highest point in the area to ensure that the drone had visibility and coverage.

The drone operator was in charge of supervising the transfer of the injured person to ensure that they were following the safest route and to alert of possible problems. It also alerted the ambulance team via a loudspeaker that the rescue team was approaching the pick-up point. "As I already had the equipment prepared, I arrived on the scene very quickly", Lozano added.

Bird's eye view

The role of drones in mountain rescue operations is "very important", said Lozano. "We have a bird's eye view," he added. In this case the injured person was able to provide his location, but in situations where the location of the victim is unknown, it is the drone which combs the mountain to find them using thermal or infrared cameras.

At the end of last year Carlos Lozano participated in a search and rescue mission to locate a Ukrainian hiker lost on the peak of La Concha. However, sadly on that occasion and after two days of searching, the hikers body was found. Lozano added that drones can carry water, food and even a mobile phone to victims before the rescue team arrives, as well as relaying messages to them via a loudspeaker.

Drones have also become indispensable in controlling wildfires through surveillance and prevention missions as they can check the state of firebreaks or carry cameras that measure the temperature to quantify the risk of fire. Drones can also help pinpount the outbreaks, determine the burnt area and the predict the trajectory of the fire and warn of danger.
The quarrel did not start on social media. The quarrel, as a matter of fact, is not even a quarrel. Youve heard the old saying: it takes two to tango. And, for now, there have been no responses from Demna to Gurams (alleged) attacks. The headlines, however, claim that the Gvasalia brothers are fighting, a story inflated through todays usual channels  TikTok, Instagram, X  and one that provided some much-needed gossip in an otherwise forgettable Parisian Pret-a-Porter Week (all bedbugs aside).

But if we are going to analyze it, we would have to start by clarifying that the so-called fight did not even start in the digital realm. Before Gurams viral posts complaining about not having been invited to his mothers debut as a Balenciaga model (last October 1, spring/summer 2024 collection; Praying for my brothers soul, he remarked) or implying that Demna copies him (last Thursday, comparing a couple of dresses that seem to share an identical roll of sequin fabric in their DNA), came the statements that the current Vetements creative director gave to The New York Times at the beginning of July. He had his good run of 10 years, and I think his era is slowly going to its finish line. Now it is my time, he proclaimed, discrediting his older brother, emphasizing his own talents and taking a position similar to that of a Kylie Jenner, a phenomenal generational replacement of the Kardashian clan.

Guram shared this image of his mother, walking for Balenciaga, on Instagram. The picture was accompanied by a message for his brother: Proud to see my Mom opening the Balenciaga show. Very sad that I was not invited to witness it. Praying for my brothers soul. God bless him.

He got certain opportunities in life earlier. But if you consider where I am today, where my brother was when he was my age, I think Im far more advanced, he brags at one point. Then he goes further: honestly, I think all the brands in the world have done these kinds of dresses, he declares. They have a completely different construction, [but] if you look at them next to each other [Vetements and Balenciagas], ours are much better. Finally, he laments: Balenciaga always releases news on the day of our show. [For example] they announced Demnas appointment on my birthday. After that, it was all about consolidating the character that Guram has been working on since mid-2021, when he decided to rescue Vetements from ostracism.

A matter of alleged plagiarism: on the left, a design from Vetements spring/summer 2024 mens collection (presented last June) and, on the right, one from the latest Balenciaga collection (the other brand, as Guram referred to it in an Instagram post that has since been deleted).

Its not like weve had the duo on our radar for long enough to know their personalities that well, either. Their names began to be heard in passing in 2014 when certain fashion publications turned Vetements into the cool name to drop in articles and conversations. Conceived in the Paris underground, the brand was presented as a collective, although it soon became known that Demna was the head of the creative team. A t-shirt with the logo and corporate colors of the DHL courier company and an exorbitant price were to blame. Under his shadow, Guram had the thankless role of CEO and head of commercial operations. What happened next is already part of the history of the fashion industry: riding the wave of a growing digital virality and meme culture, the Kering Group hired the designer for the position of creative director at Balenciaga in late 2015.

One year later, the shadow that the older brother cast from his flashy new position was so long that some considered Vetements finished. At the request of the younger one, the brand moved its headquarters to Zurich. Meanwhile, thanks to his success in Balenciaga, Demna finally left Vetements for good in 2019. That could have been the definitive trigger for the fraternal fracture and the alleged feud we are witnessing today. In any case, the younger brother grew: he relaunched the brand with the fall/winter 2022-23 collection and launched a subdivision, VTMNTS.

The DHL t-shirt (with corporate colors and an exorbitant price) that Vetements made viral after its spring-summer 2016 show.

Gurams gripe with Demnas vision at Balenciaga is an old song, made to the tune of a shared story that, make no mistake, the former only began to exploit after presenting himself to the world as a creator. The story of war refugees, of displaced people who lost everything and had to build their lives from scratch, lied underneath Vetements concept, and has become increasingly evident in Balenciagas. Fashion critics and analysts buy into this narrative almost instantly, just as they do with that refreshing audacity of infusing working-class codes and marginalized youth subcultures into the luxurious playground of the rich and privileged. Do you want to show off and try to come off as an interesting fashion connoisseur by wearing the t-shirt of a precariously employed worker or the worn-out sneakers of a migrant? Okay, pay for it. Many still continue to take it as a bad joke. Tiresome. Also perverse.

The story of war refugees and displaced people who lost everything and had to build their lives from scratch, lied underneath Vetements concept, and has become increasingly evident in Balenciagas. On the left, fall-winter 2022/23; on the right, spring-summer 2023.

Subject to a policy of silence, Demna has since tried to keep a low profile, speaking only when necessary. Meanwhile, Guram, unrestrained, has cultivated the image of a cool guy who eats Pringles with caviar, is closer to his brothers famous friends and has better hair, to boot. In July, he announced with great fanfare that Madonna will wear Vetements on her next tour, Celebration, showing the photographic evidence on Instagram. Except for his brothers show, this past Paris Fashion Week he was seen practically everywhere. And while we air every single move the youngest sibling makes, we end up bringing the older one back under the spotlight. Which is also not a bad (brotherly?) strategy to recover the influence he may have lost after the controversy.

Does Guram want to present himself like a Kylie Jenner, the generational replacement of the Kardashian clan? It looks like it, in a not-so-subtle way, with this (sold out) Vetements t-shirt.

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A rental management agency is looking to triple the number of holiday homes it offers on the Costa del Sol.

Stay Unique, which has just been named the best tourist flat brand in Spain at the World Travel Awards, is consolidating its presence on the Costa after setting up its headquarters in the province just last year.

Among the Catalan company's expansion are plans to triple the number of holiday properties it manages on the Costa del Sol in the coming months. Stay Unique wants to acquire 105 properties, adding to the 35 it currently manages. The agency also wants to double its team of employees working at the headquarters opened last year where there are currently four people.

"At Stay Unique we firmly believe in Malaga's potential as an exceptional tourist destination and we are committed to contributing to its economic growth and the wellbeing of its inhabitants, generating wealth and opportunities for the local community," said Enrique Alcantara, director and founder of the company.

All homes managed by the agency are equipped with noise meters and guests are carefully selected to ensure good coexistence with neghbours. "We are part of We Respect, an initiative that promotes good practices among guests," he added.
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A major data security breach at Air Europa, Spain's third-largest airline, has exposed the bank card details of a still undetermined number of customers to hackers.

The company itself, in a mass email sent this Tuesday morning (10 October) to numerous passengers who have recently purchased tickets, urges them to immediately cancel their bank cards, since the cyber attackers have obtained the key data to be able to make purchases with those payment systems. It includes the complete number of the card, its expiration date and the CVV (three-digit security code that is requested in online purchases to certify that the user physically has the card in their possession).

Air Europa has asked its customers to immediately contact their bank to cancel the credit card they have used for payments with their company "given the risk of theft and fraud that this incident could entail."

"In order to protect your interests", Air Europa recommends to its affected customers that, after identifying "the card used to make payment(s) on the Air Europa website", they request "the cancellation/cancellation/replacement of that card." card in order to avoid possible fraudulent use of your information.

Air Europa insisted that the data extracted is "exclusively those associated with the cards themselves and not with the customers." "In no case have cybercriminals accessed other Air Europa databases or extracted other types of personal information from customers," the airline stated.

The airline also reminded its customers that "they should not provide personal information, their PIN, name or any other personal data via telephone, message or email, even when someone identifies themselves as their bank" and that they collect "any proof of possible unauthorised use of your card and report it to the police.

"Our systems team confirmed the existence of a cybersecurity problem that would have affected the payment environment with which purchases are managed through the web," explained the airline which is headed by Jesus Nuno de la Rosa.

Security breach blocked

Air Europa said that, for the moment, "there is no evidence that the data breach was used to commit any fraud." And that this was due to the "detection and rapid intervention of the team for the application of the protocol established in our response plan has made it possible to block the security breach and prevent the leak of new data.

"From the first moment we implemented all our resources to contain the incident, adopting all the necessary technical and organisational measures. Thanks to this, we have secured our systems, guaranteeing the correct functioning of the service. Additionally, we have notified the relevant authorities and entities (AEPD, INCIBE, banking entities, etc.)", stated the air operator.
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Located within a repurposed 28,000-square-foot warehouse in Miamis Allapattah neighborhood, El Espacio 23 (EE23) is a contemporary art space founded in 2019 by collector and philanthropist Jorge Perez, the real estate tycoon best known as chairman and CEO of the Related Group  although it may not mean anything to ordinary people and art lovers  and one of the visionaries behind Miamis galloping transformation into a modern city and global epicenter of the arts at the crossroads of the Americas.

Exterior view of El Espacio 23photo courtesy of Jorge M. Perez Collection and the Related Group.

In the same way that Perez saw Miami from the beginning as a great international city for traders and people who are always looking for business and possibilities in other countries  sort of like the Phoenicia of old, where everybody came together to do business and cultures merged, the developer told the Times in 2005. He also understood that, however elusive and difficult to classify, art is the essential mortar to cement any great metropolis, the glue that spontaneously holds a community together.

EE23 comes in tandem with the most visible local artistic projects to which Perez has pledged his name and fortune: The Perez Art Museum of Miami (PAMM). His idea is that his collection and EE23 eventually end up under the PAMM umbrella. Although I am convinced that Miami needed a metropolitan art museum  like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York  a hallmark of the city, a neutral public institution and not that unfortunate American trend of semi-privatizing public initiatives that have been partially subsidized with public funds, Perez has managed to fill that challenging position, going from being a discreet private art and corporate collector the Related Group also hosts a corporate collection of over 500 objects, maintains a curated selection of art within many projects and runs a regular acquisition program and a public art program, commissioning site-specific installations and artworks for its real estate projects  to a public patron of the arts, getting increasingly involved with projects, scholarships, artist residencies, and serving the general public of South Florida with a regular program of exhibitions and special projects drawn from the Perez Collection through his own public space.

Since the inaugural exhibition Time for Change: Art and Social Unrest in the Jorge M. Perez Collection (December 2019  March 2021), just in time for that years Art Basel Miami Beach fair, the EE23 has exhibited some notably well-curated shows in its four years of operation. Time for Change was curated by Jose Roca, Founder and Director of FLORA ars+natura, Bogota, in collaboration with Perez Collection stewards Patricia M. Hanna, Art Director, and Anelys Alvarez, Assistant Curator and Collection manager at the Related Group and EE23.

EE23 has become a collaborative curatorial lab using the Perez collection as a theoretical playground and inviting independent curators to team up with the staff. Witness: Afro Perspectives from the Jorge M. Perez Collection, the exhibition impacted by the lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic, extending from December 2020 to June 11, 2022, was co-curated by Zimbabwean curator Tandazani Dhlakama, Assistant Curator at Zeitz MOCAA.

Their most recent exhibition, You Know Who You Are, Recent Acquisitions of Cuban Art from the Jorge M. Perez Collection (2022), showcased works acquired after donating a significant part of the Perez collection of contemporary Cuban art to the PAMM in 2016. The artworks shown were new acquisitions from 2017 to the preparation of the exhibition as part of an ongoing investigation and interest in art from Cuba and the Cuban diaspora.

What is next in the EE23 pipeline? A suggestively-titled show, To Weave the Sky: Textile Abstractions from The Jorge M. Perez Collection, will open in time for the next Miami Art Season as usual. EE23 facility is free from 10 am to 5 pm from Thursday to Saturday.

Although Perez confessed four years ago that El Espacio 23 was accidental. I wish I could say I had the vision to do this. But no, it was like: I need warehouse space [for his mushrooming collection], he told Artnet senior writer Sarah Cascone. The fortuitous always end up being integrated into a great project when you have the kind of strategic vision that has allowed Perez to survive and succeed in the most competitive of all businesses.

Especially when one is already sure that Every time you perform an act, not only are you defining yourself, but youre defining the world around you, as Jorge Perez told the Times 20 years ago when the magazine profiled him as one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America. He became an art worlds game changer following his intuition and perhaps without intending it. Its already happening, but the better is yet to come. EE23 is just a beautiful piece of a giant puzzle.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- A 33-year-old man has been arrested after police said he fired several shots near a crowd on Syracuses South Side.

Donte Orr fired the shots from a dark handgun at an unidentified individual near Delaware and Dudley streets, police said in a criminal complaint filed in Syracuse City Court.

Police said the shooting was captured on video, and occurred near people gathered outside.

Orr was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.

He previously served two stints in state prison -- one for first-degree assault in connection to a 2007 shooting on Syracuses North Side, and more recently for disseminating indecent material to a minor, according to state records.

Orr was released from state prison in August 2021 and was on parole when he was arrested. Hes also a registered sex offender.

He was arrested Friday and is being held without bail in the Onondaga County Justice Center jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
Alexandria Bay, N.Y.  A woman was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Alexandria Bay on Sunday, troopers said.

Officers were called at 1 p.m. to the Bonnie Castle Resort at 31 Holland Street because a woman, Amy G. Koehler, 61, of Clayton had been found dead in a bathtub, troopers said on Tuesday .
By Brendan J. Lyons | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a petition asking a judge to order the State Police to disclose the names of troopers and investigators in disciplinary cases that involve misconduct complaints that the agency determined were unsubstantiated.

The petition filed recently in state Supreme Court in Albany is part of an ongoing effort by the nonprofit organization to examine police disciplinary records dating back two decades following the 2020 repeal of a statute that had prevented the release of those files for 44 years in New York.

Many police agencies across the state are continuing to block the disclosure of open or unfounded complaints against officers  and in some cases waging court battles in their efforts to keep those files secret. But other police agencies, including departments in the city of Troy and the city of Albany, have turned over or agreed to turn over the disciplinary files of officers  including records of complaints that were unsubstantiated.

In August, the civil liberties union released more than two decades of State Police disciplinary records regarding substantiated complaints  records the organization said exposed the agencys excessive use of force and lack of accountability.

The new state Supreme Court petition centers on an April 20 request the NYCLU submitted seeking an unredacted version of a spreadsheet that lists the names of troopers and other members who were investigated for misconduct but cleared of wrongdoing. State lawmakers who voted to repeal the section of state Civil Rights Law that shielded police disciplinary records from public disclosure have said their intent was for all of records to be released  except for matters involving minor infractions.

Many of those lawmakers have asserted that records of unsubstantiated complaints also are subject to release, with the names of officers who faced scrutiny, because many departments have faced allegations that they covered up or failed to thoroughly investigate police misconduct.

Our initial analysis of the State Polices misconduct records exposed a massive number of misconduct investigations and uses of force, but that analysis was hindered by the departments pervasive inappropriate redactions, said Bobby Hodgson, a supervising attorney at the NYCLU. By keeping officer names secret, the State Police is preventing New Yorkers from having a more comprehensive understanding of systemic issues and possible patterns of officer misconduct. After the repeal of 50-a, the law specifically mandates the disclosure of officer names as part of its promise to bring full transparency to law enforcement records.

The civil liberties organization has waged other court battles as it has fought for the release of disciplinary records from 12 police departments and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The NYCLUs court victories have included state appellate court decisions that found police departments must disclose open and unsubstantiated disciplinary records, as well as those records that predate the repeal of the statute that had shielded those records from disclosure.

Assemblyman Daniel J. ODonnell, a Manhattan Democrat, was a leading supporter of the legislation that repealed that section of state Civil Rights Law and previously told the Times Union that it was not my intent to have unfounded, unsubstantiated or pending disciplinary complaints against police officers withheld on privacy grounds.

The substantiation of the complaint was irrelevant to the publics right of access to it, ODonnell said earlier this year. In the year that we passed it ... the (New York) Police Department found zero allegations of racial profiling to be substantitated, which tells me rather clearly their process for getting (a case) substantiated is severely flawed.

The State Police were sued in state Supreme Court in Albany two years ago by the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, which represents thousands of uniformed troopers, over what the union said was an improper policy to disclose records of unsubstantiated complaints.

But the agency denied that was its policy. The New York State Police FOIL policy is to review each FOIL request on a case-by-case basis, and where appropriate, apply exemptions as authorized by law, Deanna Cohen, a spokeswoman for the agency, said previously.

Last year, a judge dismissed the case filed by the troopers union, which had argued that State Police were releasing all unfounded or unsubstantiated complaints against troopers under a secret directive from former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos office. The judge noted that State Police affirmed they were releasing those records only on a case-by-case basis and that there was no documentation that Cuomos office had issued that directive or that the agency was following it.

But the civil liberties union asserts in its recent court petition that the April denial by State Police constituted a blanket denial when it blacked out the names of troopers and investigators from cases that were unsubstantiated.

There is a wide discrepancy in how different police departments handle disciplinary cases or conduct internal investigations. Some small departments may assign an officer or supervisor in a part-time role of conducting an internal investigation. Larger agencies, such as the State Police, have full-time investigators and supervisors assigned to conduct the probes.

In addition, there is no legal definition of how law enforcement agencies must maintain personnel files  or what goes in them and for how long. The lack of uniformity in documenting and conducting internal investigations of misconduct has been revealed as some prosecutorial agencies have struggled to gather disciplinary records from multiple police departments, including some that may not cooperate.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Le Creuset is a renowned brand when it comes to French kitchenware goods. Crafted by hand in France, Le Creuset products are fashioned from top-notch materials like stoneware, cast iron, or stainless steel, which excel in retaining heat for extended periods and ensuring even cooking. As a result, they have garnered widespread affection from both professional chefs and amateur cooks.

This October Prime Day, Le Creuset has a bunch of its popular items on sale including the Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte, the Cast Iron Handle Skillet, and the Set of 2 Square Dishes.

Take a look at the fan-favorite Le Creuset cookware and get to shopping this Prime Day:

Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte, 8 oz., Artichaut

Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte, 8 oz., Artichaut - Now $21.95

The vibrant glaze is impermeable, unresponsive to chemical reactions, resistant to scratches, and does not readily absorb stains or flavors.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Shallow Round Oven, 2.75 Qt., Sea Salt - Now $179

Precision-engineered, snug-fitting lids are specially crafted to facilitate steam circulation and effectively reintroduce moisture into the food. The ergonomic stainless steel knob and loop handles are thoughtfully designed to make lifting easy and convenient.

Le Creuset Classic Cast Iron Handle Skillet, 9, Marseille - Now $99.95

The enamel coating is both easy to clean and highly durable, effectively preventing dullness, staining, chipping, and cracking. The black satin interior enamel gradually develops a patina with use, enhancing its cooking performance over time. This product is the lightest weight cast iron per quart available on the market.

Le Creuset Enamel On Steel Stockpot, 10 qt., White - Now $104

The tight-fitting lid effectively seals in moisture during cooking. A stainless steel rim encircling the top edge provides protection against chipping and cracking. Crafted from sturdy heavy-gauge carbon steel and finished with a durable, colorful porcelain enamel coating.

Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Set of 2 Square Dishes

Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Set of 2 Square Dishes - Now $54.95

The high-quality stoneware guarantees superb heat distribution, ensuring even browning and cooking without any uneven hot spots. Additionally, its superior heat retention capabilities allow food to stay warm or cold for serving as needed.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Saucepan - Now $179.95

Enameled cast iron excels in both heat distribution and retention, ensuring excellent cooking performance. It is ready to use straight out of the box and doesnt require any seasoning. Furthermore, the enamel coating is easy to clean and highly durable, effectively resisting dulling, staining, chipping, and cracking.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven - Now $383.67

The enamel is both easy to clean and incredibly durable, with resistance to dulling, staining, chipping, and cracking. Its light-colored smooth interior enamel makes it easy to monitor the progress of your cooking.

More Le Creuset on sale

More Prime Day Shopping
Rocco Parascandola and Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News (TNS)

NEW YORK  A man jumped into one of the reflection pools at the Sept. 11 memorial in lower Manhattan Monday, police said.

The 33-year-old man jumped 30 feet into the shallow sunken pool  which sits in the footprint of what was the north tower of the World Trade Center  around 1:30 p.m., police said.

The man laid down in the shallow water on the edge of a smaller basin inside the pool that drops down another 20 feet, video posted to social media shows.

Police arrested the man at the scene. Charges against him were pending while he was taken to Bellevue Hospital with a leg injury.

The memorial pools, each spanning nearly an acre, boast the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The names of the 2,983 individuals lost in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are etched along the perimeters of the pools.

_____

2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Large businesses in California will have to disclose a wide range of planet-warming emissions under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Saturday  the most sweeping mandate of its kind in the nation.

The law requires more than 5,300 companies that operate in California and make more than $1 billion in annual revenues to report both their direct and indirect emissions. That includes things like emissions from operating a building or store as well as those from activities like employee business travel and transporting their products.

The law, SB 253, will bring more transparency to the public about how big businesses contribute to climate change, and it could nudge them to evaluate how they can reduce their emissions, advocates say. They argue many businesses already disclose some of their emissions to the state.

But the California Chamber of Commerce, agricultural groups and oil giants that oppose the law say it will create new mandates for companies that dont have the experience or expertise to accurately report their indirect emissions. They also say it is too soon to implement the requirements at a time when the federal government is weighing emissions disclosure rules for public companies.

The measure could create duplicative work if the federal standards are adopted, the chamber and other groups wrote in an alert opposing the bill.

In a statement Saturday, Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Barrera said the law will be burdensome to businesses.

We look forward to working with the Governors office on SB 253 clean-up legislation that will address some of the major concerns of our members, particularly the impact on small business, Barrera said. The tools developed to meet the goals of SB 253 must be cost-effective and useful.

California has made major strides to set trends on climate policy in recent years. The state has set out to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, expand renewable energy and limit rail pollution. By 2030, the state plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below what they were in 1990.

This was Democratic State Sen. Scott Wieners third attempt to get the sweeping emissions disclosure rules passed in California. Last year, it passed in the Senate but came up short in the State Assembly. Wiener said the new emissions information will be useful for consumers, investors and lawmakers.

These companies are doing business in California, Wiener said. Its important for Californians to know ... what their carbon footprint is.

Major companies, including Apple and Patagonia, came out in support of the bill, saying they already disclose much of their emissions. Christiana Figueres, a key former United Nations official behind the 2015 Paris climate agreement, said in a letter that the bill would be a crucial catalyst in mobilizing the private sector to solve climate change.

Seventeen states already have inventories requiring major emitters to disclose their direct emissions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But the new California mandates will be go beyond that to make companies report a wide range of direct and indirect emissions.

Public companies are typically accustomed to collecting, verifying and reporting information about their business to the government, said Amanda Urquiza, a corporate lawyer who advises companies on climate and other issues. But the California law will mean a major shift for private companies that dont yet have the infrastructure to report information that will include a wide-range of greenhouse gas emissions, she said.

The federal rules, proposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, would require major public companies to report their emissions and how climate change poses a financial risk to their business.

Under the California law, the states Air Resources Board has to approve rules by 2025 to implement the legislation. By 2026, companies have to begin annually disclosing their direct emissions, as well as those used to power, heat and cool their facilities. By 2027, companies have to begin annually reporting other indirect emissions.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 20:06 | World, All, Japan

About half of Chinese respondents to a recent survey expressed concern about the release of treated radioactive water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, according to the results released Tuesday, amid a row between the two Asian neighbors over the issue.

According to an annual joint poll by Japanese nonprofit think tank Genron NPO and the China International Communications Group on public views in both countries on bilateral ties, 22.1 percent of 1,506 Chinese surveyed said they are "very worried" and 25.5 percent are "worried to some extent" about the water discharge.

In the poll, conducted in China in 10 cities from Aug. 18 to Sept. 1, 8.0 percent answered they are "not worried at all" about the water release and 18.7 percent said they are "not very worried," with 25.0 percent replying they "currently cannot judge."

The discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, damaged in 2011 by a massive earthquake and tsunami, began in late August, following the International Atomic Energy Agency's conclusion in July that the plan aligned with global safety standards.

The Communist-led Chinese government opposes the water release, saying it will cause adverse effects on human health and the environment, and has imposed a blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports.

As for Japan, where valid responses were collected from 1,000 people from Sept. 2 to 24, 33.2 percent of respondents voiced concerns over the water release, while 37.3 percent were not worried or not very worried.

Meanwhile, 36.7 percent of Japanese said the water discharge issue could become an obstacle to bilateral relations, compared to 5.8 percent of Chinese who foresaw the same outcome.

The figures showed that "Chinese citizens' reaction to the water release has been calm," Yasushi Kudo, head of Genron NPO, said at a press conference in Tokyo, adding the dispute has "only heightened anti-China sentiment among Japanese people."

Still, 47.2 percent of Japanese, along with 33.9 percent of Chinese, said the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida "should make even more efforts to eliminate distrust in the international community, although the IAEA's scientific inspection is reliable."

Regarding Japanese public perceptions of China, 92.2 percent said they were "unfavorable," worsening from 87.3 percent a year earlier. Among Chinese respondents, 62.9 percent had a negative impression of Japan, slightly up from the previous year's 62.6 percent.

Related coverage:

Chinese tourists in Japan eat sushi amid Beijing's seafood import ban

IAEA team to visit Japan late October to review Fukushima water release

Japan stresses safety of Fukushima water release at ASEAN-plus-3 meet
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
By Takara Sato, KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 10:04 | Feature, All, Japan

When Masashi Yamaguchi's mother threw her wedding ring into the sea, he believes it was so she could remain strong and move on without her dead husband.

Yamaguchi's father, Masakazu, was one of the 28 Japanese on Korean Air Lines flight 007 when it was shot down by a Soviet fighter jet on Sept. 1, 1983, near Sakhalin Island, Russia, killing all 269 passengers and crew members on board.

Four decades after the incident, Yamaguchi, 42, still feels the regret of not being able to fully repay the debt of gratitude to his now deceased mother, who raised him and his two sisters on her own following the tragedy.

Yamaguchi, who lives in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, was just 2 when his father Masakazu, 32, was killed on the flight following a business trip to the United States. The plane had departed from New York and was en route to Seoul.

Masakazu, who worked for a housing appliance company in Nara Prefecture, had changed to KAL 007 after experiencing trouble with his original scheduled flight. The Korean passenger jet, which had stopped in Anchorage, Alaska, to refuel, widely deviated from its original route and was downed over Sakhalin Island for violating Soviet airspace.

The International Civil Aviation Organization later concluded that the aircraft made a navigational error and was mistakenly identified as a U.S. military spy plane.

Yamaguchi says life without his father was normal, and there were few pictures of him. When he would ask his mother Makiko about his dad, it was obvious that she did not wish to speak about him much, only saying, "He died in a plane accident."

"I think it was really hard for (my mother) to think about my father," Yamaguchi said.

One day in his third year of junior high school his mother took him and his two older sisters to Hokkaido in northern Japan. They arrived at Cape Soya in Wakkanai, near the crash site off Sakhalin.

She pulled her wedding ring out and tossed it into the ocean. "I thought, 'It's her wedding ring.' I think she did it to keep her from remembering my father," Yamaguchi said.

A 20-meter tall monument called the Tower of Prayer dedicated to the victims of KAL 007 stands at Cape Soya today.

Yamaguchi's mother raised her three children while working as a cosmetics saleswoman. Although she never complained, after he left home to attend college, she had a nervous breakdown, perhaps, he believes, because she was suffering from mental illness. When he started working, his interactions with his mother declined further.

But in 2013 when Yamaguchi opened his own cram school, he had some time to spare and began spending more time with his mother. When he would tell her about how his life was going, she was happy to hear that he was doing well and would sometimes share memories of his father with him.

Later, her mental issues appeared to clear up, but she died in 2017 at the age of 66. "I think I should've been able to help her more," Yamaguchi said.

Yamaguchi currently works hard as the representative of a bereaved family association to communicate what happened at the time of the KAL 007 incident. "I think the meaning of my mother working so hard to raise me was to tell people in the future about this incident. I want to contribute to society what I was not able to give back to my mother."

On Sept. 1, the 40th-anniversary memorial ceremony was held off the coast of Sakhalin, attended by around 200 people including Yamaguchi. At night, citizens lit dozens of lanterns at Wakkanai Port and other locations to console the dead.
Signpost General Assembly

The Signpost General Assembly was held on Tuesday, 10 October at Trim Castle in Meath followed by a visit to Teagasc Grange Research Centre at Dunsany, County Meath.

The Signpost General Assembly was held today, Tuesday, 10 October at Trim Castle in Meath. Speakers pictured from (L to R): Bernard Harris, Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine; Catherine Keena, Stuart Greene, Giulia Bondi and Tom ODwyer, Teagasc.

Signpost General Assembly

The Signpost programme is a multi-annual campaign to lead climate action by all Irish farmers, and includes over 60 partner organisations and 120 demonstration farmers. The General Assembly is a meeting of Teagasc, partners to the programme and the 120 Signpost farmers, to review the progress on the programme and plan for future initiatives.

Dr Tom ODwyer, Head of the Teagasc Signpost programme, presented an update on the progress of the Signpost farms in adopting the technologies to help Ireland achieve its Greenhouse Gas reduction targets to 2030 and beyond. Considerable progress has been made with technology adoption on Signpost farms, with over half of the Nitrogen (N) applied as protected urea in 2022 on dairy farms, with 38% of the N applied as protected urea on cattle farms, compared to 14% and 3% on dairy and cattle farms nationally, respectively.

All Signpost farmers have started the transition to a lower dependence on fertiliser nitrogen. In 2022, there was a reduction in fertiliser N usage by 17%, 14%, 21% and 12% for the Signpost dairy, cattle, sheep and tillage farms, respectively. The reduction in chemical N use has been achieved through a combination of the technologies including liming, better use of slurry using low emission slurry spreading (LESS) and incorporating clover and multispecies swards into grazing swards. Tillage farmers are making better use of legumes such as peas and beans, and organic manures to reduce reliance on chemical nitrogen.

The key drivers of change in Greenhouse Gas emissions on the Signpost farms were a reduction in chemical N usage combined with increased usage of protected urea, while the increased usage of lime and a slight increase in livestock numbers counterbalanced the reductions achieved.

Speaking at the event, Dr Tom O Dwyer highlighted that these Signpost farms are well ahead of the national average in terms of their adoption of key technologies. Teagasc will continue to work with the Signpost demonstration farmers to support them in the adoption of the available technologies.

The Signpost General Assembly event also provided an update on the new MACC3 (Marginal Abatement Cost Curve) published earlier this year, along with an insight into policy in the area of GHG emissions from Bernard Harris from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM). Extensive soil sampling and biomass estimation work is being carried out on these Signpost farms to help establish carbon sequestration potential of these farms. There was an update from this work at the event.

Professor Frank OMara, Director of Teagasc, stressed that the big challenge and the purpose of the programme, is to get other farmers to follow the Signpost farmers, and move the national average towards the levels on the Signpost farms. These results show that farmers can have confidence in the technologies, as their use on the Signpost farms has not negatively affected profitability or productivity.
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Ode to the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Ode to the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21

IAF Day Flypast in October 2023, at Prayagraj, to be MiG-21s last





https://m.economictimes.com/news/def.../104136418.cms

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india...346206301.html



The IAF has announced that the venerable MiG-21 will be retired in 2025 being replaced by the Tejas. The MiG-21 will participate in a public flypast one last time on 8th October 2023 at the 120 aircraft flypast to be held over Prayagraj.



Hopefully HAL can ramp up its production of Tejas quick enough. 2025 when it finally retires will mark 60 years in IAF service for this remarkable aircraft. Kudos to not just the pilots but more so to the engineers and ground crew who kept the machines flying.



The youngest MiG-21 in our inventory is around 35 years old at least. The only aircraft in a major Air Force of similar vintage, still in active service, that I can think of are  Boeing B-52, Tupolev Tu-16 Badger, Lockheed C-130, Tupolev Tu-95/142 Bear and the flying forever Antonov An-2 biplane. But of them all the MiG-21 is the only one which is a fast combat aircraft commonly called a fighter.



The essay below is meant to be a light reading dedicated to this most classic of fighters. I have not gone into technical details, design characteristics etc which would require a significant investment of time and effort.





The MiG-21 story...



The MiG-21 entered service in 1965 on a trial basis and from 1966 more substantially. It formed the backbone of our fighter fleet from circa 1970 to the mid-2000s till the growing number of Su-30MKIs started making themselves felt. It was license built in India from 1966 toc.1988.



As a design it remains a classic being the smallest airframe wrapped around a very powerful engine and fitted to 57 degree sweep back delta wings in turn

married to tail wings. This gave rise to the classic design of the tailed delta. For speed, acceleration you need a delta wing. But in a tight turn it loses lift rapidly and needs dangerously high speeds while landing. The tail wings partially help solve for these. Most planes have tail wings so what's the big deal one may ask. But aerodynamics makes designing the right tail for a thin sharply swept back Mach 2.0 delta wing planform a challenge which the French could not solve with the Mirage III and the Americans with their Delta Dagger series, both contemporaries.



A leading Western test pilot who had flown the MiG-21 and other Western aircraft was once asked to compare the MiG-21, Dassault Mirage III and the English Electric Lightning. He dismissed the Lightning outright as pedestrian in anything but climb. The Mirage III he said was comparable and better for peacetime due to superior cockpit ergonomics that could imply fewer accidents in peace times. But in war he said he would bet on only the MiG-21 given its manoeuverability, climb rate, small cross section all of which would give a well-trained pilot the edge in combat. Given how dismissive Western media is /was of Soviet aircraft, due to ignorance and prejudice, this was a compliment to beat all compliments. {reference: Red Star Rising by Doug Richardson, Hamlyn Publications, 1988}





Mig-21FL





The MiG-21FL was the first of four major variants to serve with the IAF. Here I am not including a handful of an earlier type that came in 1965. India's insistence led to the 23mm twin gun pack being added on the centreline to provide the pilot with a back up after he had fired both his heat seeking missiles. Powered by the 6175 kgf Tumanskii R-11 after burning turbojet this machine was a hotrod. In the hands of the North Vietnamese in the mid to late 1960s and early 1970s they played havoc with American fighters thanks to their manoeuverability and climb rates.





The MiG-21FL shone in the 1971 Indo-Pak war of Bangladesh's liberation. It was primarily responsible for putting the Dhaka airfield out of action with pin point bombing. Its most important mission was the rocket attack against the Governor's mansion in Dhaka while the East Pakistan leadership was holding a meeting there. The attack spooked them enough to eventually surrender.





By the time the hostilities came to an end, the IAF MiG-21FLs had claimed four PAF F-104A Starfighters, two PAF Shenyang F-6s {Chinese built MiG-19}, one PAF North American F-86 Sabre and one PAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.





MiG-21 U





The two-seat conversion trainer. Like many Russian machines built with limited interest in ergonomics. As you can see the rear seated instructor had no forward vision! A periscope was added to aid him. Not the best way to teach a pupil pilot how to land the fastest landing fighter in service. Landing speed ~250 kmph.





MiG-21M







The MiG-21M was an upgraded fighter-bomber version of the earlier MiG-21FL described earlier. The externally mounted gunpack was integrated within the fuselage it could carry 4 air-to-air missiles instead of two and the internal fuel capacity was increased. Structure wise this was based on an entirely new airframe design. The Tumanskii R-11 engine continued which gave a slightly lower power loading due to the higher all up weight of the MiG-21M. This led this variant to move to ground attack roles in the 1980s onwards.



Pictured above is the very first MiG-21M assembled in India in February 1973.





MiG-21bis







The third variant to fly with us was the last Soviet designed MiG-21 named MiG-21bis. In Russian that roughly translates to MiG-21 Plus. It was designed to be a fighter bomber. Powered by the much more powerful 7100 kgf Tumanskii R-25. This outstanding rugged engine could in emergencies develop an astounding 9900 kgf for 120 seconds to give a pilot a decisive power edge in combat.





MiG-21 Bison









The final variant to serve with the IAF, and still flying, is the Indo-Russian upgrade, MiG-21Bison. This machine includes upgraded electronics, better navigation & and communication systems, the Russian Kopyo light weight multi-mode radar that can track 8 targets and attack 2 simultaneously, beyond visual range {BVR} air-to-air missiles, a helmet-mounted display & sights cued to the Russian R-73 heat seeking missiles, a redesigned HOTAS cockpit {Hands on Throttle and Stick} giving the pilot all key controls to fly and fight on his finger tips, a new electronic counter measures suite and a better windshield, among other improvements. Its crowning moment came when {then} Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16 in 2019.





Quote: Length: 48 feet 3 inches excluding pitot boom

Wingspan: 23 feet 6 inches Wing area: 250 sq feet

Max takeoff weight: 9,800 kg

Powerplant: 1  Tumanskii R-25-300 afterburning turbojet, 7100 kgf



Maximum speed (clean configuration): 2,175 km/h / Mach2.05 at 43,000 ft

1,300 km/h / M1.06 at sea level

Combat radius: ~350kms hi-hi-hi with two heat seeking air-to-air missiles and 800 litre drop-tank

Service ceiling: 57,400 feet

Initial climb rate at sea level: 45,000 feet per minute (225 metres per second)

Take-off run: 830 m (2,720 ft)



Guns: 1  internal 23 mm twin GSh-23L autocannon with 200 rounds

Hardpoints: 5 (4 underwing + 1 ventral, reserved for fuel drop tanks), with provisions to carry combinations of:

4  S-24 heavy air-to-ground rockets or 4 57mm rocket pods or 4 heat seeking air-to-air missiles of various makes

or 2  500kg + 2  250kg bombs



Very soon the MiG-21 will fly off into history after having served our nation like no other aircraft.



Jai Hind. The IAF has announced that the venerable MiG-21 will be retired in 2025 being replaced by the Tejas. The MiG-21 will participate in a public flypast one last time on 8th October 2023 at the 120 aircraft flypast to be held over Prayagraj.Hopefully HAL can ramp up its production of Tejas quick enough. 2025 when it finally retires will mark 60 years in IAF service for this remarkable aircraft. Kudos to not just the pilots but more so to the engineers and ground crew who kept the machines flying.The youngest MiG-21 in our inventory is around 35 years old at least. The only aircraft in a major Air Force of similar vintage, still in active service, that I can think of are  Boeing B-52, Tupolev Tu-16 Badger, Lockheed C-130, Tupolev Tu-95/142 Bear and the flying forever Antonov An-2 biplane. But of them all the MiG-21 is the only one which is a fast combat aircraft commonly called a fighter.The essay below is meant to be a light reading dedicated to this most classic of fighters. I have not gone into technical details, design characteristics etc which would require a significant investment of time and effort.The MiG-21 entered service in 1965 on a trial basis and from 1966 more substantially. It formed the backbone of our fighter fleet from circa 1970 to the mid-2000s till the growing number of Su-30MKIs started making themselves felt. It was license built in India from 1966 toc.1988.As a design it remains a classic being the smallest airframe wrapped around a very powerful engine and fitted to 57 degree sweep back delta wings in turnmarried to tail wings. This gave rise to the classic design of the tailed delta. For speed, acceleration you need a delta wing. But in a tight turn it loses lift rapidly and needs dangerously high speeds while landing. The tail wings partially help solve for these. Most planes have tail wings so what's the big deal one may ask. But aerodynamics makes designing the right tail for a thin sharply swept back Mach 2.0 delta wing planform a challenge which the French could not solve with the Mirage III and the Americans with their Delta Dagger series, both contemporaries.A leading Western test pilot who had flown the MiG-21 and other Western aircraft was once asked to compare the MiG-21, Dassault Mirage III and the English Electric Lightning. He dismissed the Lightning outright as pedestrian in anything but climb. The Mirage III he said was comparable and better for peacetime due to superior cockpit ergonomics that could imply fewer accidents in peace times. But in war he said he would bet on only the MiG-21 given its manoeuverability, climb rate, small cross section all of which would give a well-trained pilot the edge in combat. Given how dismissive Western media is /was of Soviet aircraft, due to ignorance and prejudice, this was a compliment to beat all compliments. {reference: Red Star Rising by Doug Richardson, Hamlyn Publications, 1988}The MiG-21FL was the first of four major variants to serve with the IAF. Here I am not including a handful of an earlier type that came in 1965. India's insistence led to the 23mm twin gun pack being added on the centreline to provide the pilot with a back up after he had fired both his heat seeking missiles. Powered by the 6175 kgf Tumanskii R-11 after burning turbojet this machine was a hotrod. In the hands of the North Vietnamese in the mid to late 1960s and early 1970s they played havoc with American fighters thanks to their manoeuverability and climb rates.The MiG-21FL shone in the 1971 Indo-Pak war of Bangladesh's liberation. It was primarily responsible for putting the Dhaka airfield out of action with pin point bombing. Its most important mission was the rocket attack against the Governor's mansion in Dhaka while the East Pakistan leadership was holding a meeting there. The attack spooked them enough to eventually surrender.By the time the hostilities came to an end, the IAF MiG-21FLs had claimed four PAF F-104A Starfighters, two PAF Shenyang F-6s {Chinese built MiG-19}, one PAF North American F-86 Sabre and one PAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.The two-seat conversion trainer. Like many Russian machines built with limited interest in ergonomics. As you can see the rear seated instructor had no forward vision! A periscope was added to aid him. Not the best way to teach a pupil pilot how to land the fastest landing fighter in service. Landing speed ~250 kmph.The MiG-21M was an upgraded fighter-bomber version of the earlier MiG-21FL described earlier. The externally mounted gunpack was integrated within the fuselage it could carry 4 air-to-air missiles instead of two and the internal fuel capacity was increased. Structure wise this was based on an entirely new airframe design. The Tumanskii R-11 engine continued which gave a slightly lower power loading due to the higher all up weight of the MiG-21M. This led this variant to move to ground attack roles in the 1980s onwards.Pictured above is the very first MiG-21M assembled in India in February 1973.The third variant to fly with us was the last Soviet designed MiG-21 named MiG-21bis. In Russian that roughly translates to MiG-21 Plus. It was designed to be a fighter bomber. Powered by the much more powerful 7100 kgf Tumanskii R-25. This outstanding rugged engine could in emergencies develop an astounding 9900 kgf for 120 seconds to give a pilot a decisive power edge in combat.The final variant to serve with the IAF, and still flying, is the Indo-Russian upgrade, MiG-21Bison. This machine includes upgraded electronics, better navigation & and communication systems, the Russian Kopyo light weight multi-mode radar that can track 8 targets and attack 2 simultaneously, beyond visual range {BVR} air-to-air missiles, a helmet-mounted display & sights cued to the Russian R-73 heat seeking missiles, a redesigned HOTAS cockpit {Hands on Throttle and Stick} giving the pilot all key controls to fly and fight on his finger tips, a new electronic counter measures suite and a better windshield, among other improvements. Its crowning moment came when {then} Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16 in 2019.This marvelous fighter is the most produced supersonic jet fighter ever with about 11,500 produced in USSR, China and India. It is also today the longest serving supersonic jet fighter in frontline inventory of a major Air Force - a testimony to the engineers of the IAF and our own botched decision making on selection of replacements and eternal delays with the Tejas. For about 35 years from the 1970s to the 2000s the MiG-21 remained the backbone of our Air Force. Its image in the public eye got tarnished due to the numerous crashes. The crashes IMHO were a function of inadequate training for rookie pilots given that for 30 years we did not have a proper advanced jet trainer and were using second grade spares purchased from East European countries to save costs.Very soon the MiG-21 will fly off into history after having served our nation like no other aircraft.Jai Hind. Last edited by V.Narayan : 7th October 2023 at 19:32 .
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Only 17% of internet users have access to a truly free internet, according to the Atlas VPN team based on data from Freedom House.

Generally, conditions online for human rights have deteriorated for the 13th year, with the highest declines occurring in Iran, followed by the Philippines, Belarus, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.

Internet users in China suffer the most, facing the most severe content limitation and government censorship for the ninth year in a row. In contrast, Icelandic users enjoy the most online liberty worldwide for the fifth consecutive year.

As per the findings, 36% of internet users worldwide do not have access to internet freedom, characterized by high infrastructural, economic, and political obstacles to access; limits on content, including the filtering and blocking of websites; as well as violations on the right to freedom of expression using legal and extralegal repercussions.

Elsewhere, the internet is partially free to 35% of its users. Countries such as Hungary and Colombia are good examples of this category. Both boast open internet access but also face threats, such as cyberattacks on media outlets or policies that impede the operations of opposition groups, journalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Meanwhile, only 17% of the global internet population enjoys the internet without significant restrictions. Researchers observed little-to-no critical internet controls exerted in Costa Rica, Germany, Estonia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Argentina, the United States, and Taiwan, to name a few.

Websites blocked by governments reach record-high

Researchers observed that conventional forms of censorship are becoming increasingly popular among repressive governments, especially in cases where AI-powered moderation tools fail to keep up with a sudden surge of criticism and dissent.

The most popular form of such internet control is the forced removal of content, which is employed across 45 countries. Speech that concentrates on political, social, or religious topics is especially targeted despite being protected according to international human rights standards.

Furthermore, a record-high of 41 national governments blocked websites that host similar content. For example, the Belarusian government, which has aided Moscows military aggression, has blocked more than 9,000 websites, including several independent news sites maintained by Belarusian journalists working in exile.

The report also states that 22 governments took action to regulate or outright ban content on social media platforms to silence dissent. One example of this was observed during nationwide protests across Iran in September 2022. Iran intermittently restricted internet connectivity and blocked WhatsApp and Instagram, the only international social media platforms accessible in the country. In addition, 19 countries also banned VPN tools to prevent bypassing such censorship.

During the studys coverage period, 16 countries restricted internet connectivity. One was Sudan, where authorities limited internet access in the aftermath of the 2021 military coup, cutting off communication routes for the opposition and hiding evidence of human rights violations perpetrated against them.

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/ only-17-of-the-world%E2%80% 99s-internet-users-are-free

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Nest and Chromecast users will reap almost immediate benefits from Googles recent legal win over Sonos, with Google announcing that it will roll back restrictions blocking certain Nest and Chromecast devices from joining more than one speaker group at once.

In a post on its Nest community site, Google said an update that initiates the rollback will begin immediately, and that the changes should go live in the Android version of the Google Home app within 48 hours, followed soon by the Google Home app for iOS.

Googles move comes soon after a federal judge in California tossed a $32.5 million verdict in favor of Sonos, with the U.S. District Judge WIlliam Alsup ruling that Sonoss patent claims against Google were invalid, Reuters reports.

The legal spat between Google and Sonos has been going on for years, and it led to Google making a series of changes to how its Nest speakers operate to comply with various past court rulings in the patent fight.

Early last year, for example, Google disabled the universal volume slider for speaker groups, forcing users to adjust the volume settings for each speaker in a group individually. Google also blocked the ability to use the physical buttons on a phone to change the volume of speaker groups.

More recently, Google implemented new limits on speaker groupsspecifically, it restricted a number of Nest speakers and Chromecast devices from joining more than one Google speaker group at a time.

But with last weeks federal court ruling that vacated the $32.5 million verdict against Google, the tech giant is now undoing those new Google speaker group restrictions, which applied to such devices as the second-gen Google Nest Mini, the Nest Audio, the second-gen Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, the Nest Wifi, the Pixel Tablet, and the Chromecast with Google TV (both the 4K and HD versions).

Its not clear when or if Google will also loosen restrictions on volume controls for its speaker groups.

In a statement, Google called Judge Alsups ruling good news for our users who will once again be able to seamlessly group and integrate Google smart speakers.

Google also took a swipe at Sonos and its years-long, misleading campaign against helpful features in our Google Home devices and smart speaker devices on spurious groups.

It seems this wont end the dispute between the two tech companies. In response to our emailed inquiry, a Sonos spokesperson said Judge Alsups ruling invalidating the jurys verdict is wrong on both the facts and law, and Sonos will appeal. The same is true of earlier rulings narrowing our case. While an unfortunate result, it does not change the fact that Google is a serial infringer of our patent portfolio, as the International Trade Commission has already ruled with respect to five other patents. In the end, we expect this to be a temporary setback in our efforts to hold Google financially accountable for misappropriating Sonoss patented inventions.
What just happened? Samsung's third-quarter profit is expected to disappoint the Korean giant with a predicted fall of 80% compared to a year earlier. The decline is being blamed on an excess chip inventory that has seen what is usually the company's biggest earning segment record huge losses.

Samsung will announce its third-quarter preliminary earnings on Wednesday. According to estimates from 19 analysts (via Reuters), its operating profit likely fell to 2.1 trillion won ($1.56 billion) in the July-September quarter. That marks an 80% decline compared to the 10.85 trillion won ($8.06 billion) operating profit Samsung generated during the same quarter last year.

The drop is mostly due to Samsung's chip business, usually the company's shining star when it comes to making money. The division's quarterly losses are predicted to come in between 3 trillion ($2.22 billion) and 4 trillion ($2.97 billion) won, the result of memory chip prices not recovering as quickly as expected.

Back in April, Samsung confirmed it was preparing to reduce its chip output as memory prices fell and the economic downturn resulted in a supply glut of DRAM and NAND in South Korea. The world's largest manufacturer of these chips hoped that scaling back production would keep prices from falling any further. It slashed even more production in the third quarter to help address the chip glut.

Analysts say the reduction in output has hurt economies of scale, increasing the costs of making the chips. However, we recently heard that production reductions has now led to price rises for both DRAM and NAND.

It's not just Samsung feeling the effects of the volatile market conditions. Micron said last month that it forecast losses for the quarter, though it was optimistic about a return to positive margins in the second half of FY2024.

The US smartphone market had its worst quarterly performance in over a decade recently; Google was the only manufacturer from the top five to experience year-on-year growth in North American shipments. The PC market has been in a similar state with a potential record decline this year, but analysts believe there will be a recovery in 2024. The situation has led to makers opting to use up their current inventories rather than buying new memory chips. With inventories now almost depleted, demand is expected to rebound by early next year, according to analysts.

The better news for Samsung is that the AI boom is causing high demand for chips such as HBM, though the company lags behind SK Hynix when it comes to the development of these chips. The latter also counts industry leader Nvidia as a client.

Elsewhere, despite the market slump, Samsung's smartphone business reported an operating profit of around 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion), thanks to the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer with an official ceremony at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan and Nehammer will hold one-on-one talks and inter-delegation meeting, to be followed by a joint news conference. The Turkish leader will also host a dinner in honor of his guest.

They will discuss all aspects of relations between Turkiye and Austria as well as steps to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Current regional and international issues will also be on the agenda.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 20:48 | All, Japan

Japan's payments-clearing network suffered a system problem Tuesday, affecting 11 banks including MUFG Bank and disrupting at least 1.4 million transactions, the network's operator said.

Japanese Banks' Payment Clearing Network said it was unclear what went wrong and when the problem would be fixed. It is the first time that bank customers have been impacted by a system problem since the network was launched in 1973.

The system problem had not been solved as of Tuesday night, but the network operator expects to process 1 million of the disrupted transactions by the end of Tuesday using backup measures, it said.

Resona Bank and JPMorgan Chase Bank were among those hit, the operator said.

Both Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. said they were experiencing delays in transferring money to and from some banks.

MUFG Bank said money transfers to other banks via ATMs, including those at some convenience stores, and online banking could not be processed. The Japanese megabank added it was also unable to receive funds transferred from those banks.

Resona Bank said funds could not be transferred to other banks, warning it was possible such transactions not be completed Tuesday.

Most Japanese banks are connected to the key payment network, known as the Zengin system, which processes an average 6.5 million transactions and over 12 trillion yen ($81 billion) a day.
Forward-looking: Europe is set to join the highly exclusive league of exascale computing superpowers with the introduction of Jupiter, an innovative HPC system under construction at the Forschungszentrum Julich campus in Germany. The project carries a budget of 273,000,000 and is poised to employ an intriguing CPU selection for its general-purpose processing modules.

EuroHPC JU, Europe's supercomputer consortium, recently announced the signing of the procurement contract for the Jupiter supercomputer. Jupiter will be the first European exascale supercomputer, boasting a computation capability of one exaflop  equivalent to one billion billion calculations per second.

Jupiter will be constructed by a European bidding consortium led by Eviden in partnership with the "supercomputing company" ParTec, utilizing a dynamic modular architecture. This architecture consists of a "highly-scalable Booster Module" based on Nvidia GPU accelerators and related technologies, tightly integrated with a general-purpose Cluster Module.

The Cluster Module will utilize Rhea processors developed by SiPearl, based on the Arm Neoverse V1 CPU design. However, this is not your typical smartphone SoC processor; the Neoverse V1 design was purpose-built for HPC applications and boasts 72 cores, support for both HBM2e and DDR5 memory, as well as a 160 MB cache.

The majority of the world's most powerful supercomputers currently rely on Intel or AMD x86 processors, with only one HPC system in the top 10 based on Arm CPUs. EuroHPC JU emphasizes how Rhea processors can offer "exceptionally high memory bandwidth." Additionally, they are "designed in Europe" and developed within the European Processor Initiative (EPI) framework.

Rhea's optimized design will tailor Jupiter specifically for running complex simulations, according to the consortium. This exascale supercomputer will be utilized for creating "high-precision" models of complex systems and AI applications, serving both scientific research and private industry. The Arm-based supercomputer will be used to train large language AI models, simulate materials, generate digital twins of the human heart and brain, simulate planet-wide climate systems, and more.

Jupiter's installation will commence in early 2024, and users will soon have the opportunity to prepare for and test the system through the Jupiter Early Access Program. The EuroHPC JU consortium, the legal owner of the system, is committed to close cooperation among the various stakeholders to create and configure the best possible version of the project.

Frontier, the world's first exascale computer, was announced by the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility in 2022. This US-based system is currently the most powerful supercomputer globally and utilizes AMD 3rd-generation EPYC CPUs paired with AMD Instinct MI250X GPU cores.
In a nutshell: Lenovo, the world's largest PC manufacturer, appears to have a fondness for a custom Android edition designed specifically for enterprise applications. The company has already introduced a new Android-ready AIO device and plans to launch three more systems by the end of the year.

Lenovo has entered into a reseller agreement with Esper, an "industry-leading" Android corporation, to offer all-in-one PCs compatible with Google's ubiquitous mobile operating system. The Chinese PC giant can now offer a portfolio of devices under the ThinkCentre brand, providing clients with the option of running a traditional Windows operating system, an x86-compatible Android custom OS, or perhaps both in a multi-boot configuration.

Esper Foundation for Android provides a "flexible, robust, and secure" Android OS designed to run on ARM or x86 hardware, as stated by the company. This custom OS combines Android's power and versatility with customizations and optimizations tailored for clients' purpose-built devices. Esper Foundation is built upon the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) but offers enterprise-grade capabilities for customized management, updates, and security options.

Lenovo currently offers the ThinkCentre M70a 3rd Gen AIO desktop with a choice of either Windows/Linux or Esper's Android 11-based OS. This PC comes with customizable branding, quarterly security patches, and long-term support (three years or more). Esper's dedicated management platform allows for remote deployment, management, monitoring, and updates of the device "from a single pane of glass."

Furthermore, Esper's platform can automate IT operations workflows, reducing unplanned downtime and the costs associated with in-field support. Lenovo has stated that the new Android option will benefit customers in various industries, including retail, hospitality, and healthcare. These industries can utilize Lenovo's reliable hardware while gaining the capability to deploy and monitor devices instantly.

Lenovo suggests that hospitals, retail, and other industries are eager to adopt an Android OS for managing operations, clients, and employees. The company is prepared to meet changing customer demands across the entire enterprise market. Esper's COO and co-founder, Shiv Sundar, emphasized the significant value of running mission-critical operations on Android tablets.

ThinkCentre M70a Gen 3 AIO prices start at $900 (with a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 CPU, 21.5" Full HD display, and 8 GB DDR4 RAM) and go up to $1,250 (with a Core i7-12700, 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD). Lenovo will soon offer Esper Foundation for Android on three additional systems: ThinkCentre M70q, ThinkCentre M90n-1 IoT, and ThinkEdge SE30 v2.
(Photo: gorodenkoff / iStock)

In today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, new vulnerabilities emerge, and the attack surface for businesses keeps expanding. It's essential to enlist the expertise of penetration testing companies to pinpoint weaknesses in your IT infrastructure before cybercriminals exploit them.

What is the importance of penetration testing?

Penetration testing is the key to uncovering system vulnerabilities through simulated attacks, providing valuable insights into how threat actors could exploit them and access your company's resources. By identifying the most at-risk networks, systems, or applications, it equips your IT security team to respond effectively to potential breaches.

In this dynamic digital threat environment, conducting annual penetration tests is a smart move to ensure your defenses remain strong. Below, you'll find the top 5 best penetration testing companies in 2023:

1 BreachLock

(Photo: Screenshot from BeachLock website)

Overview

BreachLock is an award-winning, analyst-recognized penetration testing services provider. It leverages advanced technology, AI, and a proven methodology to deliver comprehensive, audit-ready reports on time and within budget of the customer.

Each service is delivered through the BreachLock Cloud Platform, where the client can run automated scans, request manual penetration testing, or retest vulnerabilities with one click. The security experts are focused on discovering complex security vulnerabilities overlooked by the technology.

Services

BreachLock follows a 4-step process for its penetration testing services: onboarding, execution, remediation, and retesting. It combines human expertise, AI, and automation technology to maximize the efficacy and efficiency of the pen testing engagement.

Onboarding: In collaboration with the client, BreachLock determines the scope of the service delivery, confirming the essential details to be included and excluded. Once everything is documented, a project manager sets the exact duration of the execution.

Execution: The penetration test is executed through a simulated attack, aiming to expose the vulnerabilities and weak points of the system. The pen testers of BreachLock use manual and automated techniques while exercising extreme caution to protect client systems and data.

Remediation: Based on the findings, BreachLock offers an initial report detailing the actionable remediation guidance to manage the critical risks detected.

Retest: The pen testers conduct a retest after the client has completed the recommended remediation activities to validate if the remediation has been successful.

The penetration testing services of BreachLock are conducted fully by in-house, certified ethical hackers enabled with automation, AI, and a cloud platform. Clients can leverage the quick turnaround and customized and tailored guidance at half the cost of traditional pen testing.

2 Aardwolf Security

Overview

Aardwolf Security is a cybersecurity firm based in the UK that specializes in penetration testing. They are a top choice for businesses seeking to identify and mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities. Their services, to name a few, include web application assessments, vulnerability scanning, and code reviews, which are designed to safeguard critical digital assets from potential cyber threats.

Established in 2015, Aardwolf Security has carved out a distinct niche in the cybersecurity landscape by dedicating itself exclusively to penetration testing. Their unwavering commitment helps shield clients from cyberattacks and empowers them with advanced cyber defense mechanisms. What sets them apart is their ability to tailor services to suit each client's unique needs, coupled with comprehensive aftercare support should a client have any queries in the future.

The company boasts a team of certified consultants, all holding various CREST and Cyber Scheme certifications. These certifications attest to their expertise, skill, and competence in the cybersecurity domain. With over a decade of experience as a penetration testing consultancy, clients can expect nothing less than top-tier service. They prioritize manual techniques to unearth vulnerabilities that automated scanners often miss, all at a competitive price point.

Aardwolf Security takes pride in offering boutique penetration testing services. They can offer cost-effective solutions without compromising service quality. Their proactive approach to cybersecurity ensures robust protection for an organization's IT infrastructure, digital assets, financial resources, and mobile ecosystem. Choosing Aardwolf Security means choosing a partner committed to safeguarding your organization against cyber threats while providing exceptional value for your investment.

Services

Aardwolf Security offers a wide array of services. Each is tailored to meet a client's unique requirements. Outlined below is their execution of web applications and API penetration testing, which is only a small part of what they offer.

Web Application Penetration Testing

Web application penetration testing identifies and rectifies potential vulnerabilities in web applications. It is designed to surface issues such as software and data integrity failures or vulnerable and outdated components due to poor coding practices and configuration.

Aardwolf Security blends the techniques of automated and manual testing. Combining both techniques helps ensure zero false positives in web application penetration tests. The company follows an effective 6-step system to detect and resolve vulnerabilities.

Reconnaissance: This involves conducting a thorough analysis of the organization's security level and assessing the potential requirements using Open-Source Intelligence.

Scanning: The consultants use automated scanners to delve deeper into the IT infrastructure of the server to identify any surface-level weaknesses.

Manual assessment: This step takes the most time as it involves specific manual penetration testing on many areas, including authentication, authorization, session management, etc.

Exploitation: With permission from the client, the consultants exploit the issues detected from the scanning and manual assessment.

Reporting: After exploitation attempts, Aardwolf Security produces a comprehensive report detailing the impact of all system defects and the recommended solutions to address them.

Retesting: The firm provides free retesting of web applications after the client has taken action on the software system solution to ensure the weaknesses and issues have been properly and completely resolved.

The company provides ongoing support for aftercare, assisting businesses in implementing top-notch security measures for robust protection.

API Penetration Testing

API penetration testing evaluates the security of an API (application programming interface). It is an ethical hacking process that involves exploiting identified vulnerabilities and advising on the best ways to secure them to prevent unauthorized access or data breaches.

Aardwolf Security conducts a comprehensive security assessment of APIs, using the same tactics, tools, and techniques employed by real-world attackers to uncover vulnerabilities that negatively impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. It follows a rigorous methodology for API penetration testing:

Planning: This involves defining the scope of the test and gathering the necessary information within the scope.

Reconnaissance: The pen tester gathers as much information about the target API from its functionality to data structures and authentication mechanisms.

Testing: A vulnerability analysis is conducted by the pen tester to look for vulnerabilities in the API using a combination of automated tools and manual testing techniques.

Reporting: The pen tester produces a report detailing the findings, the identified vulnerabilities, their impact, and the recommended solution.

Remediation: After the vulnerabilities are addressed, the pen tester retests the API in case there are still issues left unresolved.

Aardwolf Security provides advice on the best ways to fix the vulnerabilities detected in the sections above through comprehensive reporting that includes a description of each vulnerability, specific examples of each issue, and a recommendation for the best way to fix the issue.

The UK-based cybersecurity company has a team of certified pen testers who can deliver a thorough, meticulous, and tailored approach to address the unique challenges and requirements of a customer's application, systems, and infrastructure.

Combining the use of automated tools and manual techniques, Aardwolf Security is well-equipped to identify and address vulnerabilities, strengthening the security posture of organizations through their protection against cyber-attacks.

3 CrowdStrike

(Photo: Screenshot from CrowdStrike website)

Overview

CrowdStrike uses the most advanced threat intel to understand the behavior and methods used by adversaries to penetrate an IT environment and disrupt business operations. The penetration tests of the company pierce deeply into the attack surface, exploiting vulnerabilities to identify where security gaps exist and provide solutions to close them.

With real-world expertise and skills in incident response, forensics, and red team engagements, its experts can configure and operate a solution that protects the assets of a modern enterprise that drives its business.

Services

The penetration testing services of CrowdStrike cover the internal and external systems, mobile and web applications, insider threats, and wireless networks. They reduce the attack surface by identifying and mitigating the vulnerabilities.

They also provide visibility to the security gaps threat actors can exploit. Clients gain an objective perspective through the services of CrowdStrike as it exposes the blind spots the internal IT missed due to a lack of expertise or unfamiliarity with complex threats.

The penetration testing services of CrowdStrike can also determine if any vulnerabilities or gaps exist in the security tools of the client to determine their efficacy and efficiency in stopping sophisticated attacks. Equipped with the knowledge of the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by threat actors, the company guarantees to protect the people, processes, and technologies and prevent security breaches.

4 FRSecure

(Photo: Screenshot from FRSecure website)

Overview

FRSecure provides security solutions that make a measurable difference. It has an award-winning penetration testing team that leverages modern hacking techniques to identify weaknesses before they get exploited by a true adversary. From training to resources and threat intelligence, its team works hard to equip organizations with tools to protect their data.

Services

The penetration testing services of FRSecure cover the internal and external systems, web applications, physical bypass, red team, and wireless network security. They are delivered by a world-class team equipped with experience, certifications, and unwavering commitment to improving cyber security. The services are also tailored to meet the client's business objectives, as the pen testers gather relevant documentation before they perform a vulnerability analysis.

FRSecures uses Open Source Intelligence techniques to gather information its experts can leverage to enhance the penetration test. It also provides a post-exploitation analysis and reporting, detailing the weaknesses of the security posture and the best way to resolve them to mitigate the risks of cyber threats.

FRSecure exclusively specializes in information security. It guarantees to provide an unbiased recommendation that makes a positive impact on the security posture of organizations. Clients can leverage its other services under attack simulation, such as purple teaming, social engineering, and vulnerability scanning, to improve the protection of their critical assets.

5 UnderDefense

(Photo: Screenshot from UnderDefense website)

Overview

UnderDefense is a global cybersecurity company recognized by industry experts and users worldwide. It has the expertise and the sophisticated technologies to predict, detect, and respond to the challenges of the digital threat landscape. It specializes in threat protection, incident response, penetration testing, and other services that mitigate the risks of cyber-attacks.

Services

The penetration testing services of UnderDefense are focused on discovering weaknesses and preventing risks of potential intrusion. The company offers a wide range of services for identifying vulnerabilities, from internal and external pen testing to red teaming attack simulation and IoT security assessments.

It also has three methods of conducting attack simulations: black box for penetration tests for outsider threats with limited knowledge, gray box for insider threats with minimum knowledge, and white box for identifying potential threats using admin rights and full access to systems, applications, and architecture documentation.

UnderDefense follows the top penetration testing methodologies to identify existing security vulnerabilities like PTES, OWASP Top 10 Application Security risks, and the Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual. Once the analysis is done, it provides a comprehensive report containing the findings and the recommended solutions to address the security issues.

Award-winning and certified, the pen testers of UnderDefense are also proficient in incident response, managed detection & response, and vCISO. They can provide a sophisticated overview and proper recommendations on how to remediate each security issue, regardless of its complexity.

Conclusion

Companies must understand the broader implications of vulnerabilities when left exposed or undetected. As business continues to expand, the defenses must also evolve to match the complexity of cyber threats. Choose from the top 5 penetration testing companies in 2023 and address vulnerabilities early on before they cost the financial health of the business.
A new short ad arrived for Apple to see, and it is Samsung giving the message regarding the communication divide of not adopting the RCS technology to their smartphones. In the ad, it shows "Romeo" and "Juliet" talking to each other through text, as the lady is using an iPhone that limits their conversation to text messages only, while the gentleman uses Samsung's Messages that support RCS.

The debate on Apple adopting the RCS is still massive, with the company still holding out against the technology, favoring its iMessage experience that is exclusive to Cupertino's tech.

Samsung Brings a New Ad About RCS

(Photo : JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Samsung released a new video that talks about "green bubble and blue bubble," and this ad shows two lovers debating about Juliet's parents wanting to keep them apart. Romeo then goes on to say "What did green ever do to them? We're bubbles too," which somewhat took a turn in their conversation, as it seemed like it was a relationship problem.

What Samsung is referring to is the rich communication services (RCS), a technology that companies like Samsung, Google, and more feature support, centering on the universal messaging experience.

This is also what Apple lacks, something that it is not adopting for the iPhones in the present, with the company still sticking out for iMessage.

Read Also: Tim Cook Says Green Bubbles Issue's Solution is Buying iPhone! Will Apple Really Disregard RCS?

Apple Shade: Google and Samsung

Earlier this September, Google released a video of the "iPager," as part of its GetTheMessage campaign, talking about how outdated Apple's technology is when it comes to messaging. Apple indeed holds out for text messages, and for its instant messaging technology, it has the iMessage that is exclusive to its tech.

Samsung and Google's pressure against Apple also shades Cupertino for its choice of technology, with a divide among the public.

The RCS Campaign for Apple

Among those pushing for the universality of technology in the world is the European Union (EU), and the government body has passed its previous law for a universal messaging system for all. This centers on the RCS, with Apple also a part of this, but the company is unfazed by the changes and still sticks with its iMessage experience for the smartphone.

Google has campaigned for RCS for a long time now, and it is the instant messaging system that is widely available on its Pixel devices, also offering Android's support for the tech. It was also one to pressure Apple into adopting RCS, with many materials posted online that plead to Apple regarding making the change, with Cupertino having no responses.

Tim Cook has once addressed the green bubble, blue bubble debacle, and he said that the solution to this appearing is for the other end of the conversation to switch to iPhones. Now, Samsung has launched a new ad that talks about the communication divide between lovers where one uses the iPhone, and the other a Galaxy with RCS, throwing shade at Apple's tech.

Related Article: RCS vs. iMessage: Google Shades Apple in New Video About iPager that Sticks to SMS/MMS

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Maximizing your workspace is one thing, but having a massive tablet that is an "All-in-One PC" that is portable and completely mobile is something that HP brought with its new Envy Move. While it is not exactly a tablet, it sure feels like one because of its built-in battery that can bring as much as four hours of productivity while on-the-go before it runs out of juice.

Moreover, it is powered by a Windows 11 home, also featuring a notable Intel Core I3 chipset, the latest there is from the tech company.

HP Envy Move is a 24-Inch Massive Windows Workspace

(Photo : HP)

HP unveiled the Envy Move last week, previewing its monstrosity of a tablet that features a 24-inch screen, packaged with its integrated stand and a keyboard and touchpad package. This device is marketed as a "movable all-in-one PC," and this is because it does not need to be connected to power at all times thanks to its built-in battery.

Moreover, the HP Envy Move packs in the 13th gen Intel chip, the Core i3-1315U, as well as Intel UHD Graphics with 8GB onboard. The Envy Move also features a 2K resolution at 2560x1440 QHD at a 23.8-inches diagonal IPS screen, touch capabilities, 300 nits of brightness, three-sided micro-edge, and more.

It weighs a massive 9.04 pounds, but that is acceptable as it is still a PC, complete with its components.

Envy Move also features portability accessories including a kickstand base, integrated handle, and a keyboard pocket to take it anywhere at home, with as much as four hours of battery life.

Read Also: U.S. Companies Shift Supply Chains Away from Chinese Suppliers Amid Trade Relations

HP Envy Move: Is it a Windows Tablet or a PC?

(Photo : HP)

HP markets it as an "All-in-One" PC, and this is because this is a computer that resembles a tablet because of its portability, touch screen, and batteries.

It may look like a monitor, but it is a system of its own, featuring a Windows 11 Home operating system and its components listed above. The Envy Move is available starting at $899.99 for the entire package.

HP's Envy PCs and MORE

HP, a.k.a. Hewlett-Packard, remains one of the most notable American computer manufacturers and consumer technology providers in the world, with its notable PCs, screens, laptops, and more widely available. It is a notable company that delivers renowned models including the OMEN lineup for heavy gaming, as well as the ENVY series for all.

Gaming is still something that the HP ENVY prioritizes, focusing on adding significant parts to its build, particularly with the gaming PC CPU package that brings the Intel Core i9 processor, as well as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 to pair.

While not exactly the OMEN, HP's ENVY can pack a punch, and the good thing is, it usually comes with Intel's Core i series chips which make it one notable option for a superb experience. HP takes it to the next level with the ENVY Move, as this portable All-in-One PC resembles a tablet, powered by Windows 11 Home, an Intel Core i3, and enough battery life for when you are on-the-go.

Related Article: HP Chromebook 15 Drops by $100 Down to Just $249 on Best Buy

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In a decisive move, Governor Newsom signed a new bill into law on Sunday. This legislation establishes accountability for major social media platforms, including Instagram under Facebook's ownership and TikTok, in addressing the issue of child sexual abuse material distribution.

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California on May 2, 2023.

Signing AB 1394

Governor Gavin Newsom of California has officially signed AB 1394 into law. This legislation takes aim at web services that knowingly facilitate, aid, or abet in the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Approved by California's legislature in late September, this law is slated to come into force on January 1, 2025.



It introduces a set of new rules and responsibilities, compelling social media platforms to take more rigorous measures against the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Moreover, it imposes penalties on platforms that fail to promptly remove reported content that breaches these guidelines.

In a broader context, the law broadens the definition of "aiding or abetting" to encompass actions such as deploying features or designs that significantly contribute to minors becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation. To mitigate their potential liabilities, web services are encouraged to conduct regular system audits.

Contained within AB 1394 is a critical provision that obliges social media platforms to provide California users with a mechanism for reporting instances where they appear in child sexual exploitation material. These platforms are bound by a stringent requirement to address these reports within a precise window of 36 hours.

Failure to adhere to specific criteria, including the permanent removal of access to such content, may also render them liable to legal consequences. The approval of this bill marks a substantial victory for advocates dedicated to child safety, who had steadfastly championed its adoption.

Receiving Gratitude from Supporters

The LA Times reported that assembly member Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), along with supporters of child safety, conveyed their gratitude for Governor Newsom's choice to endorse this legislation.

Wicks hailed the signing of the bill as a testament to California's commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and delivering a clear message to both other states and tech platforms. This message underscores that the exploitation of children through internet channels will face consequences.

Nonprofit organization Common Sense Media devoted to advocating for the online safety of children, highlighted the detrimental impact of social media companies' limited self-regulation in handling child sexual abuse materials. They emphasized the resulting harm inflicted on young people and their families.

Jim Steyer, the founder and chief executive of Common Sense Media and a co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized that while more work remains to hold social media platforms accountable for the harm they cause to children, teenagers, and their families, the signing of AB 1394 represents a significant step in the right direction.

Also Read: California's Right to Repair Bill Inches Closer to Becoming Law; Apple Supports It



The bill draws its inspiration from a range of sources, including whistleblower complaints that Facebook had inadequately addressed child abuse incidents on its platform and a 2022 Forbes article that alleged TikTok Live had transformed into a problematic space where adults could potentially target teenage users.

However, The Verge reported that similar to various other online regulations, it raises pertinent questions about unintended consequences.

These concerns encompass scenarios where platforms might choose to under-enforce rules to avoid knowingly encountering illegal material or conversely, opt to over-enforce them, potentially resulting in the removal of harmless content.

Related Article: California Takes Initiative to Examine Risks, Benefits of Generative AI

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The Disney Research team has introduced a novel robotic character that captivated an audience. Despite its petite stature, this endearing robot exudes an incredible range of expressions.

(Photo : Walt Disney Imagineering Official Youtube Channel)

Designing a bipedal robotic character with impeccable balance is impressive, but simply isnt enough when you consider Disney characters strut, prance, sneak, tromp, shuffle, hustle, saunter or meander.

Disney Introduces an Emotional Expressive Robot

In their evening keynote presentation during the 2023 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) held in Detroit, the Disney Research team introduced a revolutionary robotic character representing a remarkable fusion of cutting-edge technology and artistic ingenuity.

Moritz Bacher and his team at Disney Research in Zurich created this robot, which is a testament to Disney's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of robotic capabilities. Interesting Engineering reported that this charming, child-sized creation was crafted primarily through advanced 3D printing techniques.

Distinguished by its modular hardware and rapid design refinement, it features a four-degree-of-freedom head and agile five-degree-of-freedom legs equipped with hip joints, ensuring remarkable balance during its expressive movements. The robot's standout feature lies in its exceptional ability to express emotions through dynamic movements.

Disney's research scientist, Morgan Pope, eloquently outlined the challenge, emphasizing that mere motion is not sufficient at Disney. Pope said their robots may have "to strut, prance, sneak, trot, or meander to convey the emotion that we need them to."

Disney's overarching objective is to craft robots that flawlessly harmonize artistic finesse with technological prowess, allowing them to utilize their intricate actions to convey nuanced and complex emotions.

According to IEEE Spectrum, creating a captivating robotic character of this caliber requires a seamless blend of artistic vision and technical mastery.

Michael Hopkins, an animator at Disney, sheds light on this collaborative endeavor, explaining that they have a dedicated animator working closely with their team.

This collaboration enables them to leverage the animator's artistic insights with their own technical expertise to craft the most enthralling performance achievable.

While this approach may be demanding and time-consuming, it acts as the crucial bridge connecting the realm of imaginative creativity with the precision of technical execution.

Read Also: Disney's Turn to AI for New Marvel TV Series Sparks Anger in Hollywood

Artistry & Technology

Disney Research has introduced an advanced reinforcement learning-based pipeline that acts as a crucial link between artistry and technology. This pipeline empowers animators to seamlessly integrate their creative vision with the robot's movements while accommodating real-world constraints.

New Atlas reported that Moritz Bacher emphasized the profound impact of this innovation, significantly expediting the development of robotic characters and reducing the timeline from years to only months. Reinforcement learning offers notable advantages in this context, primarily due to its robustness.

Disney's system undergoes repetitive training of the robot, fine-tuning parameters such as motor performance, mass distribution, and friction with the ground.

This meticulous process ensures that the robot can gracefully navigate real-world scenarios while preserving its dynamic character, which is a challenging achievement with traditional programming methods.

A Legacy of Emotion-Driven Robotics

Disney's legacy in the field of animatronics and robotics dates back to 1971, during the introduction of the animatronic figures to Disney World's Hall of Presidents attraction.

Over the years, Disney has been on a continuous journey to infuse its robots with emotions and expressions, creating immersive and emotional experiences for visitors.

However, as robotic technology has advanced, it has presented new challenges, particularly in designing robots that can evoke emotions and seamlessly integrate with real-world constraints.

Related Article: Disney to Bring a New Robotic Baby Groot to Disneyland Parks - What to Expect?

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Scientists have pinpointed a colossal surge in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago, uncovering evidence of a large solar storm, the most powerful on record.

A comparable event today would have devastating consequences for modern technology, potentially incapacitating satellite telecommunications systems and causing widespread electricity grid failures. The collaborative research provides fresh insights into the sun's extreme behavior and threats to Earth.

Ancient Trees in Eroded Banks

Researchers from the College de France, CEREGE, IMBE, Aix-Marseille University, and the University of Leeds conducted the study, analyzing radiocarbon levels in ancient trees preserved in the eroded banks of the Drouzet River in the Southern French Alps.

The subfossilized tree trunks were dissected into individual tree rings, revealing an unprecedented spike in radiocarbon levels precisely 14,300 years ago.

By correlating this spike with beryllium measurements from Greenland ice cores, the team postulates that it resulted from a massive solar storm ejecting substantial volumes of energetic particles into Earth's atmosphere.

Edouard Bard, Professor of Climate and Ocean Evolution at the College de France and CEREGE and the study's lead author, explained that radiocarbon is continuously produced in the upper atmosphere through reactions initiated by cosmic rays.

"Recently, scientists have found that extreme solar events, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections, can also create short-term bursts of energetic particles which are preserved as huge spikes in radiocarbon production occurring over the course of just a single year," Bard said in a press statement.

Severe solar storms can cause substantial havoc on Earth, with the potential for permanent damage to transformers in our electrical grids, resulting in prolonged and extensive blackouts.

Read Also: NASA Launches Mission to Prevent 'Internet Apocalypse'

Miyake Events

Over the past 15,000 years, nine of these extreme solar storms, referred to as Miyake Events, have been documented. The most recent confirmed instances took place in 993 AD and 774 AD.

Remarkably, the newly discovered storm from 14,300 years ago dwarfs its predecessors, measuring roughly twice their magnitude. The precise mechanisms governing these Miyake Events remain enigmatic, as they have never been directly observed.

This underscores significant gaps in our comprehension of the sun's behavior and its potential perils to Earth. Questions persist about what triggers such extreme solar storms, their frequency of occurrence, and the feasibility of predicting them.

The Carrington Event in 1859, the largest solar storm observed directly, wrought havoc on Earth. It obliterated telegraph machines and illuminated the night sky with a brilliant aurora.

Nonetheless, the Miyake Events, encompassing the recently unearthed 14,300-year-old storm, would have wielded a magnitude of power orders of magnitude greater. Radiocarbon analysis stands as an invaluable method for delving into Earth's history and piecing together critical events it has weathered.

Cecile Miramont, Associate Professor of Paleoenvironments and Paleoclimates at IMBE, Aix-en-Provence University, underscored the extraordinary nature of discovering such an assembly of preserved trees.

"By comparing the widths of the individual tree rings in the multiple tree trunks, we then carefully pieced together the separate trees to create a longer timeline using a method called dendrochronology," Miramont said.

"This allowed us to discover invaluable information on past environmental changes and measure radiocarbon over an uncharted period of solar activity," she added.

The team's findings were published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A.

Related Article: Tree Rings Predict the Biggest Solar Storm to Hit Earth, Scientists Claim

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law Senate Bill 54, marking a significant step towards increasing diversity within the venture capital (VC) sector.

This legislation, effective from March 1, 2025, mandates that venture capital firms operating in the state to report annually on the diversity metrics of the founders they support, TechCrunch reported.

Investments' Diversity Information

Under this law, any venture capital firm functioning in California, whether headquartered there, having operations in the state, investing in local companies, or receiving investments from California residents, will be obliged to disclose various diversity factors.

That includes information on the racial background, disability status, and sexual orientation of the founders they back. Additionally, firms are required to compile and release their diversity data to the public. Newsom emphasized this bill's significance in advancing equity and empowering historically marginalized communities.

He pointed to initiatives like the California Equal Pay Pledge, which has made strides in narrowing pay gaps, particularly for women, especially women of color. The state has also strengthened pay data reporting requirements to address gender and race-based wealth disparities.

"This bill requires venture capital companies to report to the Civil Rights Department (CRD) on the diversity of the founding members of businesses in which they invested during the prior year," the governor wrote in a letter.

However, Newsom also acknowledged certain challenges in the bill's current provisions, citing potential barriers to successful implementation and enforcement due to so-called unrealistic timelines and complex investigations required by the Civil Rights Department (CRD).

In response, his administration plans to introduce cleanup language as part of the 2024-25 Governor's Budget to ensure the policy's effective execution without undue strain on resources.

This legislation may signify a critical move towards greater transparency and accountability within the venture capital landscape. By mandating diversity reporting, California is setting a precedent for other states to follow suit.

Read Also: Tech Times Weekly Wrap: iPhone 15 Pro, No More Bidirectional EV Charging in Cali, NASA-Inspired Airless Tires

What This California Law Could Signify in the VC Sector

The venture capital sector has long grappled with issues of diversity and representation. The signing of Senate Bill 54 may reflect a concerted effort to address these concerns and foster an environment supporting a broader range of founders.

By requiring firms to collect and disclose diversity data, California aims to create a more level playing field for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

However, Newsom also recognized potential challenges in its current form. The intricate nature of venture capital operations, coupled with the demanding timelines set forth in the legislation, may pose difficulties in implementation.

The Civil Rights Department's capacity to conduct thorough investigations within the stipulated timeframe is a concern. The governor's administration plans to introduce refinements in the 2024-25 Governor's Budget to address these potential hurdles.

Related Article: California State Regulators to Review Car Manufacturers' Data Protection Policies Amid Privacy Concerns

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Artificial intelligence (AI) predictive models, a cornerstone of modern healthcare, might face unforeseen challenges, suggests a study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine and the University of Michigan.

According to MedicalXpress, the research delves into the implications of implementing predictive models on their subsequent performance. It reveals that their utilization in adjusting healthcare delivery could alter underlying assumptions, potentially to the detriment of patient care.

130,000 Critical Care Admissions

The study simulated critical care scenarios at major healthcare institutions, analyzing 130,000 critical care admissions. The researchers explored three key scenarios.

First, the practice of retraining models to combat performance degradation over time was assessed. While retraining initially improved performance by adapting to changing conditions, the study indicated that it could paradoxically lead to degradation by disrupting learned relationships between presentation and outcome.

Second, following a model's predictions to prevent adverse outcomes, such as sepsis, was considered. However, the study noted that this approach could inadvertently lead to death after sepsis.

Additionally, it highlighted that using machine-learning-influenced care data might be unsuitable for training future models due to the unpredictability of outcomes.

Lastly, the study examined the impact of simultaneous predictions from two models. It was found that using one set of predictions rendered the other obsolete, underscoring the need for fresh data, which can be resource-intensive.

Read Also: MIT Takes Strides Towards Greener AI: Addressing the Environmental Impact of Energy-Intensive Models

Complexities of AI Predictive Models

"Our findings reinforce the complexities and challenges of maintaining predictive model performance in active clinical use," said co-senior author Karandeep Singh, MD, Associate Professor of Learning Health Sciences, Internal Medicine, Urology, and Information at the University of Michigan.

"Model performance can fall dramatically if patient populations change in their makeup. However, agreed-upon corrective measures may fall apart completely if we do not pay attention to what the models are doing-or more properly, what they are learning from," Singh added.

The research emphasizes the intricate challenges of maintaining predictive model performance in active clinical use. It points out that shifts in patient populations could lead to a dramatic drop in model performance.

The study urges healthcare systems to establish systems to track individuals affected by machine learning predictions and calls for governmental agencies to issue relevant guidelines. The authors caution against such models' indiscriminate use and updates, as they may lead to false alarms, unnecessary testing, and increased costs.

The findings underscore the need for a thoughtful, nuanced approach to deploying predictive models in healthcare. The study asserts that while predictive models are valuable tools, they require regular maintenance, contextualization, and understanding to ensure their effectiveness.

The findings of the team were published in the ACP Journals.

Related Article: New Study Delves Into World of Artificial Neural Networks, Unraveling How AI Brains Learn

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KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 14:14 | All, Japan

Japan will make every effort to ensure the safety of its nationals, the government said Tuesday, as the death toll continues to rise from large-scale attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas and retaliatory strikes from the Israel Defense Forces.

The government has not received any reports of casualties or injuries to Japanese people since Saturday's flare-up in the long-running conflict, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular press conference.

There are still "a small number of Japanese" remaining in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the top government spokesman said, while adding it has been in contact with all of them.

Matsuno's remarks come as more than 100 people, including foreign nationals, have been taken hostage by Hamas fighters.

Japan "strongly condemns" the attacks by Hamas and the abductions of innocent citizens, Matsuno said, emphasizing that such actions "cannot be justified" regardless of the purpose.

As this year's chair of the Group of Seven major developed economies, Japan will continue to collaborate with the international community and call on both sides to stabilize the situation, he added.

The number of combined casualties from the conflict topped 1,500 by Tuesday, according to local media and authorities.

Related coverage:

1,200 dead as Hamas attack, Israel retaliation continues

Over 970 dead after Hamas attack from Gaza, Israel retaliation
Australia is grappling with a concerning surge in cases of flesh-eating bacterial skin infections, with health authorities issuing a stark warning that these infections are spreading beyond their previously known hotspots, the DailyMail reports.

Victoria, in particular, has witnessed a worrying increase in Buruli ulcer cases, prompting Australian Chief Health Officer Clare Looker to sound the alarm.

Flesh-Eating Bacterial Skin Infections in Australia

As of October 2, 2023, Victoria has reported a total of 238 cases of Buruli ulcer this year, a significant rise compared to the same period in the previous year when there were 207 cases, Herald Sun reports.

The situation becomes even more alarming when compared to the 197 cases in 2021 and 135 in 2020, signifying a substantial jump of over 70% in just three years.

The most distressing aspect of this surge is that the infection has breached its historical confines along the coastal regions.

Health Experts Sound the Alarm

Dr. Looker's health alert has revealed a recent spike in cases across multiple suburbs. Furthermore, infections have surfaced in Melbourne's inner north and west.

These developments have turned once-peaceful communities into potential hotspots, raising concerns among residents.

A Harrowing Experience

One resident, Fiona Wordie, residing in Coburg, a mere 14 kilometers north of Melbourne's CBD, shared her harrowing experience with the Sydney Morning Herald.

What began as a slight itch on her foot spiraled into a two-and-a-half-centimeter-long weeping sore, causing excruciating pain. "I'm glad I didn't lose my leg because that's what went through my mind," she recounted.

After spending two weeks in the hospital and ongoing treatments, Ms. Wordie's ulcer has shrunk but still poses the possibility of future surgeries.

The question arises: how is this infection spreading? A recent study has provided answers, indicating the involvement of mosquitoes and possums in transmitting the bacteria causing Buruli ulcers in Victoria.

Remarkably, researchers found the bacteria in possum excrement, shedding light on the ecological aspects of this crisis.

Additionally, the study uncovered that individuals with diabetes, which weakens the immune system, are at a higher risk of developing severe Buruli ulcers.

Read Also: COVID Survivors Share How Virus Evolves in 5+ Attacks, Shedding Light on Mental Strain

A Look at Symptoms

Recognizing the symptoms is crucial. Typically, individuals initially develop a painless lump or wound, often mistaken for an insect bite.

Over four weeks, this seemingly harmless lump transforms into a destructive skin ulcer. According to Dr. Looker, early diagnosis is paramount.

To mitigate the risk, people are advised to avoid mosquito bites, secure their homes against mosquitoes, and reduce breeding sites. When outdoors, covering up is essential, as is protecting cuts and abrasions and practicing good hygiene after exposure to soil or water.

In this critical situation, Dr. Looker urges doctors to swiftly test patients with unhealing ulcers in hotspot areas. The importance of early detection cannot be overstated in containing this worrisome outbreak.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Arkansas Toddler's Death Linked to Brain-Eating Amoeba After Splash Pad Fun

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Israel's flourishing tech ecosystem, ranked second globally outside of Silicon Valley, faces mounting security challenges as the nation grapples with an escalating conflict with Hamas, Euronews reports.

The Israeli military's shift to a war footing, potentially involving a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip, has sent shockwaves through the high-tech industry, which contributes a fifth of the country's GDP.

With rocket attacks reaching Tel Aviv and a surge in violence, the sector that accounts for 14% of jobs and almost a fifth of GDP is bracing for disruption.

Israeli Tech Stocks Plunge as Conflict Flares

High-tech industries in Israel have been the fastest-growing sector for decades, but the latest surge in violence has sent shockwaves through the sector.

The impact of the conflict reverberated in the stock market, with U.S. tech shares, including those of companies with substantial operations in Israel, seeing declines.

Reuters reports that chipmaker Intel, Israel's largest private employer and exporter, is closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to safeguard its workers.

However, it remains uncertain if chip production has been affected, as Intel's shares experienced a 0.5% drop on Monday.

Read Also: Naval Maritime Startup Saronic Raises $55 Million to Build Autonomous Ships for Defense

Jack Ablin, Chief Investment Officer and Founding Partner at Cresset Wealth Advisors summed up the situation, saying, "It is a huge disruption to business as usual."

He emphasized the potential diversion of resources if the conflict escalates further, including tech company staff being called up as military reservists.

Israel's response to the crisis has been unprecedented, with plans to call up 300,000 reservists, many of whom could be sourced from U.S.-based tech operations.

Effects on Tech Companies

Nvidia, the world's leading maker of chips for artificial intelligence and computer graphics, had to cancel an AI summit scheduled for Tel Aviv, where CEO Jensen Huang was slated to speak.

Israel-based Tower Semiconductor, known for providing analog and mixed-signal semiconductors mainly for the automotive and consumer industries, continued its operations, albeit with a 4.9% drop in its New York-listed shares.

Despite the disruptions caused by the conflict, tech giants such as Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft have remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the situation.

Israel's technology sector had already faced headwinds in 2023 due to internal political conflict and protests. A growing number of Israeli tech startups have flocked to the United States, seeking stability amid domestic unrest.

Currently, 500 multinationals operate in Israel, mainly focusing on research and development centers after acquiring Israeli startups. These include industry giants like Intel, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook.

What's Next?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced Intel's ambitious plan to invest $25 billion in a new factory in Kiryat Gat, roughly 26 miles from Gaza.

Looking ahead, the tech and AI sector in Israel, known for its innovation and excellence, could experience increased investment due to its strategic connection to military spending.

Quincy Krosby, Chief Global Strategist at LPL Financial in Charlotte, North Carolina, suggested that investments in AI could see growth as countries prioritize reinforcing their security systems.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Hamas' Use of Explosive Al-Zawari Drones in Israel Attack Sparks International Concern

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Over 1,000 Amazon workers at a warehouse in Coventry, central England, have announced a four-day strike that includes the crucial Black Friday shopping day, marking the latest escalation in a contentious dispute over pay.

Amazon UK Workers Strike on Black Friday

The GMB trade union disclosed this move on Tuesday, underscoring the growing tension between the e-commerce giant and its workforce.

Reuters reports that the strike, scheduled to take place from November 7th to 9th, will coincide with Black Friday, a day when online retailers typically witness a surge in orders.

This announcement comes amid an ongoing dispute between Amazon and its employees in the UK over wages, which has already led to several walkouts earlier this year.

Amazon Responds

In response to the strike announcement, Amazon reiterated its stance of offering competitive wages and benefits. The company is also taking steps to boost its workforce before the holiday season.

CNBC reports that it plans to increase the base pay for its operations workers in the UK to a range between 11.80 ($14.39) and 12.50 per hour, dependent on location.

This pay increase will be effective from October 15th. Additionally, Amazon has committed to further wage increases, with rates set to rise to 12.30 to 13 per hour by April 2024.

The pay hike is not limited to full-time positions but extends to part-time, temporary, and seasonal roles, emphasizing Amazon's efforts to address worker concerns about pay disparities.

The company has also announced the recruitment of over 15,000 seasonal workers across various UK locations, representing a substantial 170 million investment in pay.

Read Also: Amazon Prime Day Sale: This 4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD That Only Cost $158 Has Been Tested-Should You Buy It?

Union Sentiments

However, the GMB Union remains unsatisfied with Amazon's response. The union criticized the pay increase as insufficient, asserting that it provides little relief to workers grappling with what they perceive as poverty wages, unsafe working conditions, and intrusive workplace surveillance.

"Amazon has spent millions fighting their own workers over union rights and fair pay," Rachel Fagan, a GMB organizer, stated on Monday. "GMB members have forced a pay rise from one of the world's most powerful corporations - but Amazon can and must do better."

In January, workers at Amazon's Coventry fulfillment centers orchestrated the first legally mandated walkout by Amazon employees in the UK.

Working with the GMB Union, they also submitted an application for legal recognition as a union, a milestone that would have marked a first for the company in the UK.

The push for unionization is not limited to the UK. In the US, a group of workers at a Staten Island facility became the first to vote in favor of unionizing.

Amazon, however, has resisted these efforts, and the global wave of unionization anticipated by many has not yet materialized.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: France Enforces 3 Minimum Fee on Amazon for Book Deliveries, Protecting Indie Bookstores

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In a world starting to become AI-driven, where chatbots, digital assistants, and smart programs are everywhere, we want more AI services. But there is a big problem: AI uses a lot of energy.

A recent report by Alex de Vries says AI could use more power than whole countries.

The Energy Hungry AI Training Phase

The heart of AI development lies in the training phase. For AI models like ChatGPT and others, this process is incredibly energy-intensive.

Hugging Face, a prominent AI company reported that its multilingual text-generating AI tool devoured a staggering 433 megawatt-hours (MWh) during training.

To put that into perspective, it is enough electricity to power 40 average American homes for an entire year, reports highlight.

Hugging Face's tool is not alone in its voracious energy appetite; other large language models have reported even higher energy consumption during their training phases.

This critical phase forms the backbone of AI's energy footprint.

The Power-Hungry Inference Phase

While the training phase indeed demands immense energy, AI's energy appetite does not stop there. The subsequent inference phase, where AI models generate real-time outputs based on user interactions, also comes at a significant energy cost.

A prime example is Google, which processes up to a staggering 9 billion searches a day. Vries tells us that if every Google search were to utilize AI, it could gulp down a jaw-dropping 29.2 terawatt-hours (TWh) of power annually - equivalent to the electricity consumption of a country like Ireland.

Challenges and Unlikely Scenarios

While these statistics might raise alarm bells, it's crucial to consider the practical challenges in implementing such extreme scenarios.

Alex de Vries points out that the costs associated with additional AI servers and bottlenecks in the AI server supply chain make full-scale AI adoption in Google searches unlikely in the short term.

This implies that we are not on the verge of witnessing AI devouring as much electricity as an entire country anytime soon.

Projected Global AI Electricity Consumption

The future, however, paints a different picture. The demand for AI chips has skyrocketed, with NVIDIA, a leading chip manufacturer, reporting record-breaking AI-driven revenue.

They are expected to deliver 100,000 AI servers in 2023 alone. These servers could potentially consume up to 8.9 TWh of electricity annually, although that's still a fraction of global data center consumption.

Nevertheless, Alex de Vries forecasts that by 2027, worldwide AI-related electricity consumption could surge by 85 to 134 TWh annually, equivalent to the power needs of countries like the Netherlands, Argentina, or Sweden.

Efficiency vs. Increased Demand

AI enthusiasts might argue that improving AI hardware and software efficiency answers the growing energy problem.

However, de Vries cautions that this can lead to a paradox. As AI becomes more efficient, it opens the door to more applications and users, ultimately driving up the demand and, consequently, energy consumption.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: OpenAI Plans Developing Its Own AI Chips Amid Global Shortages

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Amid escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, Mor Bayder, an Israeli woman, discovered her grandmother's tragic murder via a disturbing video uploaded on Facebook, TMZ reports.

The shocking news has sent shockwaves, underlining the atrocious conditions experienced by civilians on all sides of the conflict.

Discovering the Gruesome Video on Facebook

Mor Bayder logged onto her Facebook account, expecting to connect with friends and family, only to be confronted with a nightmarish scene.

On Facebook, Mor stumbled upon a graphic video showing her grandmother lying lifeless on the floor, her Nir Oz home drenched in blood.

In a heart-wrenching account, Mor Bayder shared her anguish: "I saw that worst thing you could possibly imagine - my grandmother, in her house, being murdered in a video."

The Insider tells us that the video uploaded on her grandmother's Facebook page points to the possibility that the Hamas terrorists likely filmed the gruesome scene using her personal phone.

Relatives Recount Traumatizing Ordeal

The tragedy is part of the broader conflict that erupted when Hamas first attacked Israel over the weekend, leading to an all-out war that has left a trail of devastation and loss.

Since Saturday's initial attack, over 900 Israelis have lost their lives, while nearly 700 Palestinians have also perished in the ensuing violence.

Mor's cousin, Yoav Shimoni, confirmed the nightmarish account with CNN, recounting how the family discovered the gruesome video. "My sister commented on our group chat that there is a weird video on my grandma's Facebook," he said.

"Then, that is when we all discovered it." Shimoni also provided insight into the family's belief that Hamas militants had breached the Gaza border fence, ultimately leading to their grandmother's tragic end.

Read Also: Israel's Iron Dome: How the Defense System Safeguards Against Rocket Threats





Dire Hostage Situation

Hamas targeted Kibbutz Nir Oz, a peaceful community near the Gaza border, in a series of surprise attacks on Saturday. Several residents, including a 74-year-old grandmother, remain missing, leaving families uneasy.

Israeli officials have further stated that Hamas fighters have captured over 100 hostages, adding a disturbing layer of concern to the already dire situation. The fate of these hostages remains uncertain, adding to the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Mor Bayder took to Facebook to describe the "brutal murder" as her worst nightmare, emphasizing her deep connection with her grandmother.

In Other News

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas organization, announced a massive strike against Israeli sites employing explosive-laden drones.

Al-Qassam Brigades said they used 35 Al-Zawari attack drones against numerous Israeli fronts. Mohamed Al-Zawari, a Tunisian engineer, developed these assault drones. Hamas claims Israeli intelligence assassinated Al-Zawari in Tunisia in 2016.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Hamas' Use of Explosive Al-Zawari Drones in Israel Attack Sparks International Concern

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
X, formerly Twitter, is deluged with graphic images, violent rhetoric, and vile behavior relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The social media platform, now controlled by billionaire Elon Musk, is taking action to address the situation as false information keeps flooding it.



X has declared a top-level crisis and launched its highest response as its safety team has noticed a significant rise in the number of daily active users discussing the Israel-Hamas war in the impacted regions. The latest Hamas strikes on Israel have generated almost 50 million postings worldwide, according to The Independent. A cross-company leadership committee inside X has determined that, in response, this crucial time requires their most extensive actions

X Gets Aggressive in Fighting Misinformation

Users are permitted to participate in grading postings that could include false information as part of one of the rules that X upholds. With this method, the postings are given contextual remarks while remaining on the site.



Furthermore, X has changed its policy so that consumers can quickly decide whether or not to access sensitive stuff. Although difficult, the platform feels that giving the public real-time updates on the issue is in the interest of the general public.



To stop the propagation of "terrorist content" online, X is aggressively working to delete recently formed Hamas-affiliated accounts and partnering with other digital businesses. As part of its efforts, X also conducts proactive monitoring for antisemitic remarks. Additionally, hundreds of accounts that were trying to influence hot topics have been deleted.



Linda Yaccarino, whom Elon Musk hired as X's chief executive in May, has canceled her attendance at a three-day tech conference. She made the decision to focus on the platform's real-time disaster response.

Read Also: Israel's Iron Dome: How the Defense System Safeguards Against Rocket Threats

How Users Can Prevent Being Misinformed about the Israel-Hamas War?

Wired reported that analysts point out that the changes implemented by Elon Musk over the past year are mostly to blame for the rise of misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war on X. These adjustments include the dismissal of a large number of people in charge of combating the spread of false information on the popular social media platform.



Experts advise adopting critical thinking techniques to stop the spread of false information, such as challenging the origins of the information, examining the supporting data, and cross-checking assertions with various reliable sources. This strategy is crucial for effectively navigating the complicated informational environment during times of crisis.



To avoid Israel-Hamas war misinformation, Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise at the Poynter, recommends the technique called "click restraint."



"There are a lot of self-proclaimed experts in Middle Eastern geopolitics on social media right now. To sift through the noise, search for their name, the organization with which they're affiliated, the university on their LinkedIn page, and their username, and scan the results to gauge their expertise. Don't click the first result you see; look for a link from a familiar source or fact-checking outlet," he wrote on Poynter.



Throughout the war, there have been several instances of misinformation being spread via outdated films or pictures with false captions. Mahadevan said that reverse image search tools may be quite useful in confirming the veracity of images and the stories that go with them to counteract fake news.

Related Article: Fake White House Press Release Falsely Claiming Biden's $8 Billion Aid to Israel Tops Online Searches

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
COVID-19 can cause autoimmune disorders in rare situations, according to a Korean study that identifies the potential long-term side effects connected to the respiratory disease.



According to the study, COVID-19 can cause alopecia (hair loss), psoriasis, vitiligo, vasculitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, adult-onset Still's disease (painful skin rash), Sjogren's syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and sarcoidosis.



COVID-19 increases the risk of autoimmune disorders, researchers found. In particular, patients had shown a 68% higher risk of Crohn's disease, 59% of sarcoidosis, 12% to 74% of various kinds of alopecia, and a doubled risk of vasculitis, as reported by US News & World Report.



Leading researcher Dr. Sung Ha Lim from Yonsei University's Wonju College of Medicine in South Korea underlined the importance of a comprehensive COVID-19 treatment plan that addresses acute and long-term negative effects. Given the sizable worldwide community of COVID-19 survivors, Dr. Lim also emphasized the necessity for attentive surveillance of emerging autoimmune illnesses.

Unvaccinated Individuals Face Greater Risk

Over 6 million people who had not been exposed to COVID-19 were also included in the study, which gathered data from roughly 355,000 people who had been exposed to the virus. According to Dr. Lim, variables that raised the risk of acquiring these autoimmune disorders were the severity of the COVID-19 infection and not having received a vaccination. Notably, those who were not immunized showed a greater risk of developing autoimmune disorders such as Crohn's disease and alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia areata.

Read Also: Elon Musk's X to Take Crisis Response as Misinformation Surges Amid Israel-Hamas War



The recent study emphasizes the possible long-term health effects of COVID-19 and stresses the significance of ongoing surveillance and medical assistance for those who have recovered from the virus.



In a separate study, reported by CNA, health experts in Singapore discovered that unvaccinated people who had recovered from COVID-19 were more likely to experience heart issues a year later. In a highly immunized, multiethnic Southeast Asian community, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) study looked at the risk of protracted COVID-19. Out of 106,012 unvaccinated COVID-19 survivors, 912 developed heart issues.

Novovax Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Soon to Be Available in the US

In a related update, the modified COVID-19 vaccine produced by vaccine maker Novavax Inc. has been given the go-ahead for emergency use in people 12 years of age and older by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to Reuters, the new COVID-19 vaccine has already been handed over to distributors in millions of doses, and it will soon be accessible at US pharmacies. Novavax wants to increase commercial sales of the upgraded injection to remain financially stable after the pandemic.



Due to manufacturing issues that prolonged their clearance process while COVID-19 was booming, Novavax, which uses a protein-based vaccination technology with a long history in disease prevention, lost out on the pandemic bonanza enjoyed by mRNA vaccine competitors.

Related Article: Teen Depression in the US Soared During COVID-19 Pandemic, with Alarming Treatment Gaps: Study

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 17:36 | World, All

An airstrike by Myanmar's military on a refugee camp in the northernmost Kachin State on Monday night killed at least 29 people including children, injuring more than 50, local media reported, citing a spokesman from an ethnic minority militia in the state.

Around 10 out of those killed at the camp for internally displaced people were children, said the spokesman of the Kachin Independence Army, which controls the area where the camp is located, according to Radio Free Asia Burmese's report on Tuesday.

A drone or aircraft of the Myanmar military dropped a bomb on the refugee camp, situated some 3 kilometers from the KIA headquarters, the report said, citing the spokesman.

Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun on Tuesday denied a bomb was dropped, saying the explosion was likely caused by the KIA.

Fighting between the ruling military and ethnic minority militias as well as pro-democracy forces since the 2021 coup have driven 1.6 million people from their homes, leaving them internally displaced, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Monday attack was the deadliest on the area controlled by the KIA since the junta's bombing of a community event in October last year killed over 60 people, according to local media Myanmar Now.

In April, the military conducted an airstrike on the Sagaing region of central Myanmar, killing over 160 people.

Related coverage:

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Myanmar envoy to U.N. calls for more pressure on homeland's junta

Japan, eight ASEAN nations to bolster cybersecurity collaboration
According to the study, sperm are proficient in different swimming styles

As a result of a violent collision, the Earth's mantle could still contain remnants of the primordial planet

YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers  and making its subscription more expensive

As a result of a violent collision, remnants of the primordial planet could still be found in the Earth's mantle

"The story behind it is stronger than the song"

Biting attack on child in Bremen: Dog owners to take an exam in the future

Pet abandonment often happens What to do with a large number of stray dogs in the city

High incidence of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter Experts: Treat the cause to reduce the risk of co-infection

More than 70% of the surveyed college students agree that shopping festival consumption should "act according to the plan"

Why did they seek medical attention and be diagnosed with ADHD as adults?

Tennis in Paris: Zverev out in the round of 13 - 15th bankruptcy in the <>th duel against top players

Looking for someone to blame: why Manchester United and Bayern can sack ten Hag and Tuchel

Granada, the only Primera team with one foot out of the Copa del Rey due to improper alignment of the goalkeeper

Thanks to the efforts of the forwards: Dynamo and Rostov won tickets to the playoffs of the RPL Path of the Russian Cup, CSKA won the group

The Chinese women's football team faces three choices Whether Shui Qingxia's team will be retained is to be determined

Shohei Ohtani voted best fielder in the league in player vote, missing out on Player of the Year

Is the former president and former president of "Tamron" diverting more than 1 million yen for personal use?

The express "insured service" is not how much you insure

The tax department has created a brand of "Tax Road" and opened up its services to the outside world at a high level

How far are we from "replacing plastic with bamboo"?

Heating in many places in the north has been started one after another, and the supply of coal is guaranteed

Discipline inspection and supervision organs strictly review and check to improve the quality and efficiency of responses to opinions on party style and clean government

Military expert: Israel is encircling Gaza by fire, not land, and the situation on the ground has not changed

From Barcelona to dying under a tree on Almagro Street: the misfortune of Julia, the biomedical scientist and Novartis intern

Gaza patients: Those who did not die of kidney died in shelling

Death penalty in the USA: Inmate may be executed by nitrogen in Alabama

For the 31st consecutive time, the General Assembly has adopted a resolution urging the United States to end the embargo against Cuba

In Search of a Political Solution: Why the Serbian President Called the Situation in Kosovo and Metohija Difficult

Israeli forces say they have besieged Gaza City, and the United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire

What is the curse of the "eighth decade" that Ehud Barak feared and Abu Obeida waved?

Matthew Perry's Estate: His Parents and Five Siblings, the Possible Heirs to His Million-Dollar Fortune

Habeck stands up to German anti-Semitism  from both the right and the left

Equatorial Guinea has offered itself as a platform for the next Russia-Africa summit

Habeck stands up to German anti-Semitism  from both the right and the left

What would happen if we combined Israel's explosives into Gaza and detonated them?

The most prominent developments of the 27th day of the Israeli war on Gaza

The Autonomous Communities cry out against the debt reduction agreed by the PSOE and ERC: "What Catalonia does not pay, we all pay"

Belarus banned the import of socks and bricks from Latvia to the republic

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 12:40 | All, Japan

Official campaigning for a House of Representatives by-election in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, began Tuesday with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida struggling to restore public support amid dissatisfaction over rising prices.

With campaigning for a separate contest to fill a vacant seat in the House of Councillors, or upper house, already under way, the two by-elections scheduled for Oct. 22 have become battles between the ruling and opposition forces.

The national polls are the first since Kishida revamped his Cabinet last month in an attempt to refresh the image of his government, whose approval ratings have plunged to the lowest level since he took office in October 2021.

The results could influence Kishida's decision on when to dissolve the lower house, political experts said.

Despite earlier speculation that Kishida would call a snap election in the near future, he is unlikely to do so by the end of the year due to the parliamentary and diplomatic schedules, government sources said.

One of the key issues in the by-elections is whether the public will approve of a new economic stimulus package that Kishida has pledged to map out by the end of this month to alleviate the impact of higher prices and spur wage growth in the private sector.

The focus is also on whether candidates endorsed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Kishida, can attract voters in their districts amid public criticism over the government's handling of failings in the "My Number" national identification card system.

In Sasebo, a major city within the constituency, Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the LDP, expressed the ruling bloc's readiness to put together the stimulus package to address various challenges, saying, "We will swiftly put it into action."

Also in the city, Kenta Izumi, chief of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, criticized the Kishida administration's measures to curb gasoline price hikes as "insufficient," promising to "change" LDP-dominated politics.

The Nagasaki No. 4 lower house seat was left empty after Seigo Kitamura, an LDP lawmaker who served as the minister in charge of regional revitalization, died in May. The party fielded Yozo Kaneko, the son of a former farm minister and Nagasaki governor.

Meanwhile, Seiichi Suetsugu, who was a lower house lawmaker until he filed his candidacy in the race, is aiming to win for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

Campaigning for the upper house by-election in the Tokushima-Kochi district kicked off last week, after LDP lawmaker Kojiro Takano resigned in June in the wake of revelations he had assaulted his secretary.

Related coverage:

Japan PM says aiming to pass extra budget in upcoming Diet session

Japan PM Kishida unlikely to call snap election within 2023: sources
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 21:55 | All, Japan

A Japanese lawmaker who recently visited Russia and told local media he is "100 percent" confident that Moscow will win the war on Ukraine left an opposition party Tuesday after the party decided to remove him.

Muneo Suzuki, a 75-year-old House of Councillors member, who has long championed close ties with Russia, visited the country this month without prior notice to the Japan Innovation Party.

"I made the decision (to leave the party) because it was revealed that the party and I have different values about diplomacy with Russia" Suzuki told reporters after submitting his letter of intention to quit.

He said he will stay on as an upper house member and continue his political activities as an independent.

Earlier in the day, the party decided on Suzuki's removal at a meeting of its senior members amid calls for strict disciplinary action against him.

All party members are obliged to inform it about any official overseas trip. Suzuki visited Russia from Oct. 1, but the party only received his notice the following day.

During the trip, the veteran lawmaker, who hails Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido and used to belong to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, met with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

It was the first known visit by a Japanese lawmaker to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began in February last year.

Suzuki made the visit despite a Japanese government advisory urging its nationals, including legislators, to avoid traveling to Russia "regardless of" the purpose of their visit.

Related coverage:

Pro-Moscow Japan lawmaker visits Russia in defiance of government advice

Ukraine evacuees eligible for Japan long-term residency from Dec. 1
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White House spokesperson John Kirby choked up on CNN as he was asked about the horrifying images of the attack on Israel.

Mr Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, became emotional as he was asked by host Jake Tapper about children abducted by Hamas and young women who had been raped.

I err.sorry.excuse me, said Mr Kirby, who is a retired rear admiral in the US Navy.

It is very difficult to look at these images Jake, the human cost, and these are human beings, they are family members, loved ones, cousins, brothers, sisters yeah its difficult, and I apologise.

Tapper told Mr Kirby that he had Nothing to say sorry for as the pair ended their interview on Monday.

At least 900 people, most of whom are civilians, have reportedly been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Saturday. Hundreds more have been killed in Gaza, with thousands wounded.

Earlier on Monday, Israel ordered a complete siege on Gaza in retaliation to Hamass unprecedented attack.

White House spokesperson John Kirby chokes up on CNN about Israel attack (CNN)

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant officially announced the blockade of the besieged enclave on Monday, saying authorities will cut electricity and prevent the entry of food and fuel.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said Israel has only started striking Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu delivered the pronouncement in a nationally televised address as Israel pressed ahead with a third day of heavy airstrikes in Gaza.

We have only started striking Hamas, he said. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

And he added: We voice our solidarity with all the families of hostages. We have mobilised all the police forces to work on this issue.

What is happening is reality and this is what links us to each other. Only together, we will win.

As the prime minister, I have to tell you we have hard days coming. What has happened is very sad. But we will win.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 20:36 | All, Japan

Japan's central government and Kumamoto Prefecture said Tuesday they have appealed a lower court ruling that ordered them and a chemical company to compensate 128 unrecognized victims of the Minamata mercury-poisoning disease.

The Environment Ministry, which is in charge of the issue, said the appeal has been filed in part due to some points in the ruling differing from internationally recognized scientific knowledge of the disease and a finalized court decision.

The plaintiffs, who are aging, expressed their disappointment, saying they had hoped for immediate relief. The defense team said that six of the 128 plaintiffs will now appeal on the deadline, which is Wednesday.

Chisso Corp. already filed an appeal last week.

The Osaka District Court in late September ordered that the government, Kumamoto's prefectural authorities and Chisso pay a total of 350 million yen ($2.3 million) in damages to the victims, the first such ruling among similar lawsuits filed nationwide over the country's redress measure.

The court had recognized that all of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who were not eligible for relief payments under a special law that went into force in 2009, were victims of Minamata disease.

The court also said it is possible to develop the disease even in areas and among age groups not covered under the 2009 special measures law, if individuals ingest methylmercury by consuming large quantities of polluted seafood products.

Similar lawsuits are under way in Tokyo, Niigata, and Kumamoto district courts, with the number of plaintiffs at more than 1,700.

The disease, formally acknowledged by local health authorities in 1956, has been traced to mercury-contaminated water dumped into the sea by a Chisso chemical plant in Minamata in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan.

It was only in 1968 that the Japanese government recognized that the disease was being caused by industrial pollution and stopped the water discharge.

Related coverage:

Japan stresses safety of Fukushima water release at ASEAN-plus-3 meet

Amazon Japan delivery driver found eligible for workers' compensation

Japan court orders compensation to 128 unrecognized Minamata victims
U.S. Capitol Police Keith Atkins scans the area as President Joe Biden and members of Congress mark the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. Lawmakers are holding events to reflect on the violent attack by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The ceremonies will be widely attended by Democrats, but almost every Republican on Capitol Hill will be absent. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) ORG XMIT: DCJL108
I haven't talked to all the Black people in New Orleans, but I'm here to tell you that people are disappointed, shocked and stunned that New Orleans Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork didn't get the nod to be the city's next permanent police chief.
Her husband and musical soulmate, Willy Zygier, opts for fierce in his foreword, ahead of unafraid, incautious, loyal, loving and at times disagreeable. None of which jars with the uncompromising performer fans love, nor the story as recalled by a reckless lawyers daughter who worked out early she wasnt cut out to be an employee.

He was in a filthy mood that day, full of sneer and snarl, she writes of her father, Carl, a bit player until chapter 37 then suddenly, as if held at bay to deny him agency as long as possible, a dark shadow unfurled. I was nine, but f--- me, I realised I was in charge. Reasons to be traumatised  or tough. I picked tough.

Its never one thing that shapes a life, but in the distillation of memoir its tempting to spot the symbol of destiny, the moment of realisation or definition from which all else follows. If you squint into the hazy sunshine of one late 1960s Toorak afternoon, you can see a small girl shaking in her swimsuit who is about to become Deborah Conway.

Though not as lucky, lucky, lucky as some, this suburban Melbourne girls resolute rise to her own self-made empire is no hardscrabble tale. In one telling press grab, just before her band Do Re Mi jets off to London to make a debut album, local journalist - and musician - Paulie Stewart accuses Conway of hubris in the light of her good fortune. The fact that she remembers suggests a concession to possibility.

With a few more decades hindsight, she surveys her formative years almost shocked at her own privilege. Shes modelling just for the cash at 18; cast as a dyed-blonde clothes horse in a racing car B-movie at a sexually voracious 22, then caught shoplifting from Grace Bros  like I was going for an Olympic Gold Medal for the Sheer Brazenness event.

There was a real shock to the system, she tells another journalist a few years on, when I realised there was going to be some incredibly hard work involved in this rock and roll lark. The injustice!

The reckoning arrives in the form of a gilded cage spun by Virgin Records UK. In a scenario that screams 1980s, Do Re Mi are cruelly dumped and the solo frontwoman bounced from London to Los Angeles for years, all expenses paid and barely any music released, until she hits the corner of self-doubt and corporate indifference that grinds her first act to a halt.

Here Conway is brutal enough in self-reflection to include a contemptuous review from one of the London music weeklies that damns her as a pretty pop puppet. Deborah, you poor hip bitch, the critic concludes, youre gonna be one bitter old woman. Reasons to be traumatised? She picked tough. Within three years, shed own the insult with a multi-award-winning second album titled, as startlingly then as now, Bitch Epic.
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Eating outComing soon Popular rocknroll burger joint is opening new Enmore Road branch (and a TV presenter is on board) Owner Tony Gosden teams up with Nine personality Stevie Jacobs to take some of Bondis best burgers to the inner west. Bianca Hrovat October 10, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Popular rocknroll burger joint Bonditonys is set to open a second location on Enmore Road in November. The new space, on the corner of Metropolitan Road, will take the 90s rock concept of its original Bondi location and dial it up to 11, with live music, later opening hours, and a long, hand-carved bar for sinking schooners of Young Henrys and Curly Lewis beers. Bonditonys Trippin Zeahorse burger, with bacon. Supplied Its a natural progression for owner Tony Gosden, a music industry veteran who plastered the walls of his Bondi restaurant with vintage tour posters and named his burgers after the Australian acts he represented or booked (The Jezabels, Dune Rats and Lime Cordiale, to name a few). For this venture, Gosden has teamed up with his friend, Nine Radio presenter Steven (Stevie) Jacobs, who is best known for his time as a weather presenter on the breakfast television program Today.

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Bonditonys Tony Gosden and business partner Stevie Jacobs have picked up keys to BondiTonys Enmore. Supplied The pair picked up the keys last Friday, signalling the end of Gosdens three-year search for the perfect site. Hed previously considered opening in Coogee and Byron Bay, before happening on the former home of Ole Chicken. We just had a gut feeling about it when we walked in, says Gosden. Its almost a complete replica of the restaurant at Bondi  on the corner, northwest facing, with plenty of sun coming in. For Gosden, hosting live music is a long-time dream. The Johny Collide burger at Bonditonys. Supplied

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Im so stoked... Theres going to be a little stage in the corner, and well have solo and duo acoustic acts performing only original music. We might even do a spoken word poetry night. I really want to tap into the creativity of the local community. With live music comes the possibility of opening later on Enmore Road, which became a permanent designated special entertainment precinct in March. Gosden says initially, the 40-50 seater will close at 11pm, but ultimately he hopes to call final orders in the early hours. Fans of the original will appreciate the similarities: the same menu, featuring gourmet burgers made using house-made sauces and relishes; the comfortable fit-out, with band posters and an eclectic collection of almost entirely second-hand furniture; and a thoughtful selection of local beers and natural wines. But therell also be a lush (dog-friendly) courtyard out the back, a larger selection of cocktails, and an American diner vibe. Gosden is building an eight-seat bar using timber recovered from a 20s Bondi home to cater to walk-ins who want to pull up a stool and chow down on a burger.

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Given the state of Massachusetts has an area, and the asteroid Psyche (C8) has a volume, its a completely meaningless comparison from NASA (which once crashed a spacecraft into Mars when confusing metric and imperial units). As your correspondent suggests, the number of Sydney Harbours (Sydharbs) is better, thinks John Burman of Port Macquarie. But most denizens of Massachusetts wouldnt know where Sydney is, let alone the size of its harbour.

Time to give notice on the great sign hunt (C8), but not before these items, starting with Michael Morton-Evans of Mosman: My father had a friend who used to travel the world with a small screwdriver in his pocket. He would unscrew signs that caught his eye and bring them home to display in his downstairs dunny. A favourite came from a Swiss train and read: It Is Forbidden to Jump Up and Down While the Train Is in Motion. However, my favourite of all time was a sign I saw hanging over the Ginza, in Tokyo, which declared in English: Here Is Very Good Place to Have Accidents.

In a parking station, two signs, one hanging below the other: Wayout, Parking. I imagine spectacular vehicle movements! We thank Joe Moore of Blaxland.

Daniel Flesch of Bellingen recalls that in London, many moons past, I saw a sign that had originally read Private Mews. No Parking Allowed altered to read Private Mews. No Barking Aloud.

We could hear a pin drop when Izzy Perko of Gundagai described tackling the What3words app, an apparently easy proprietary geocode system for identifying any location on Earth with a resolution of about three metres: I put in voice.truth.treaty and got a remote 3x3m location in western Alaska. But putting in truths.voices.treaty reveals a 3x3m spot near Dingee in western Victoria. By contrast, barn.full.hello is the square inside the Members Hall of Parliament House, Canberra! The names given are meant to be randomly generated, but the computer may have a sly sense of humour.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 20:43 | World, All, Japan

The Japanese and Vietnamese foreign ministers affirmed Tuesday that their countries are important partners in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision advocated by Tokyo to counter China's growing clout in the region.

At a meeting in Hanoi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son agreed to work together to bring the bilateral relationship "to new heights," according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The talks came as Sino-Japanese ties have frayed over the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Vietnam, meanwhile, has become increasingly wary of Beijing's expanding military activities and territorial claims in the South China Sea.

With this year marking the 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam relations, Kamikawa and Son also pledged to ramp up their cooperation in the economic field, the ministry said.

On Monday, Kamikawa visited Brunei and met with her counterpart Erywan Yusof. They confirmed that collaboration between the two governments has been deepening in areas such as energy, climate change and security, the Japanese ministry said.

Japan is the largest importer of liquefied natural gas produced in Brunei, the ministry said.

Kamikawa, who assumed the position of foreign minister in mid-September in a Cabinet reshuffle, is on a six-day trip to four Southeast Asian nations from Sunday, which will also take her to Laos and Thailand.

Related coverage:

Japan's top diplomat to visit, promote ties with 4 ASEAN states

Japan foreign minister to visit 4 Southeast Asian nations from Oct. 8

Pro-Moscow Japan lawmaker visits Russia in defiance of government advice
The annual parade of Melbourne Cup-winning horses and jockeys through the city has been cancelled for this year.

The City of Melbourne is not funding the parade, which traditionally takes place on the eve of the Cup after the Victoria Racing Club did not apply for funding.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson with the Melbourne Cup parade crowd at Federation Square last year. Credit: Eddie Jim

However, the VRC has applied to council for funding for a parade in 2024, so it is likely it will return then.

VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said the club looked forward to soon unveiling its plans for Melbourne Cup eve celebrations.
Doctors are urging Victorians not to write off springtime wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing as hay fever, saying these symptoms could be signs of seasonal asthma, which can turn deadly if untreated.

It can be tricky to tell the difference between asthma and hay fever. The lung disease and the allergic response can occur at the same time and have some similar triggers and symptoms, such as coughing.

Rye grass pollen was the key allergen in Melbournes 2016 thunderstorm asthma event. Credit: Alamy

But experts say the catastrophic thunderstorm asthma event in 2016 that claimed 10 lives and led to Melbourne running out of ambulances underlines the danger of confusing asthma symptoms as hay fever. Hay fever is also an important risk factor for developing thunderstorm asthma.

Hundreds of the people who rushed into Melbourne emergency departments coughing and struggling to breathe during the 2016 event said they had not experienced asthma symptoms before.
A clear majority of First Australians are backing the Indigenous Voice in the final phase of the referendum despite a big fall in their support this year.

An exclusive survey shows 59 per cent of Indigenous voters are in favour of the Voice, down from Yes campaign estimates of 80 per cent in January, but still far higher than the broader community.

Indigenous voters back the Voice by much stronger margins, than other Australians but have cut their support from about 80 per cent in January. Credit: AAP

The findings shed more light on strongly contested claims about the scale of Indigenous approval for the proposal, when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese often relies on the 80 per cent figure even though it appears to be out of date.

The new survey, conducted for this masthead by Resolve Strategic, put questions to Indigenous voters as part of a broader poll that found 44 per cent of Australians supported the Voice, while 56 per cent were opposed.
We should all change the paradigm here. This is not tit for tat. The IDF said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, a sign it could be preparing for a ground assault on the densely populated region of 2 million people. More than 200 targets were struck in Gaza on Tuesday (Australian time), the IDF said, with dozens of fighter jets attacking high-rise buildings in the Gaza City neighbourhood of Rimal. The bodies of about 1500 Hamas militants had been found in Israeli territory, the Israeli military said on Tuesday after announcing it had largely gained control in the south and restored full control over the border on the fourth day of fighting.

Hecht said no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since Monday night (Tuesday morning AEDT), although infiltrations could still be possible. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he remained concerned about the fate of Australians in Israel because there were so many of them visiting or living in the country, flagging the possible evacuation of Australian citizens in Israel if required. We are working on a range of contingency arrangements that I wont detail publicly for obvious reasons, but we do work on these contingencies, he told the ABC. Defence Minister Richard Marles said there were no reports of Australians having been killed or hospitalised as a result of the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address: What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

Speaking to local officials near Israels border with Gaza, Netanyahu said: What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible; we are already in the campaign and we are just getting started. Loading Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership in Beirut, warned that the militants had an arsenal of rockets that would last a long time. We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war, Barakeh told Associated Press.

He added that Hamas would use hostages to secure the release of people detained in Israeli jails and even some Palestinians imprisoned in the United States. Barakeh said that he believed Hamas allies, including Iran and Hezbollah, will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation. In his first comments since being appointed to the role of chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown issued a warning to Iran by saying his advice was not to get involved in the conflict. We want to send a pretty strong message, Brown, the top US military leader, told a small group of reporters travelling with him to Brussels. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear.

The White House said that while Iran was complicit in Hamas attacks, the US does not have intelligence or evidence that points to its direct participation in the shock weekend assaults. A senior US Defence official said that the US militarys increased presence in the Middle East  including the deployment of the massive Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier with approximately 5000 sailors and a deck of warplanes on board  was intended to serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Hezbollah and other actors in the region not to join in the hostilities. The official said the US was making it very clear to adversaries or those that might be entering this conflict to escalate it that they should think twice and not take advantage of the instability. The leaders of the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and Italy on Tuesday released a joint statement affirming steadfast and united support for the state of Israel and expressing unequivocal condemnation of Hamas.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned, the leaders said. There is never any justification for terrorism. Loading Israeli authorities said the death toll in Israel had surpassed 1000 people, mostly civilians, including more than 250 people killed while attending a music festival near the border with Gaza. At least 687 Palestinians had been killed and at least 3726 injured, authorities in Gaza said.

A spokesperson for Hamas armed wing said it would begin killing civilian hostages and broadcasting the act if Israel targets people in Gaza without giving notice. We declare that we will respond to any targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, with the execution of our civilian hostages, and we will broadcast it with audio and video, Abu Obaida said in a statement posted on the Al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel. Graphic videos, reviewed and reported by The Washington Post, showed at least four Israeli hostages being killed soon after being taken captive in a street in Beeri, a kibbutz in southern Israel. Foreign Minister Penny Wong backed Israels right to defend itself, saying: The taking of hostages, the attacks on civilians, the sorts of images, awful images that we are seeing, reminds us of the security situation that Israel confronts. This is really a dreadful situation, a devastating loss of life.

Albanese said it was time for all Australians to behave in a responsible way. We need to lower the temperature, he told Sky News on Tuesday afternoon. I dont want to see conflict here in Australia and I dont want to see the sort of scenes that I saw last night. Loading As Israels ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon flew back to Canberra from Israel, where he was visiting for a holiday, Israels deputy ambassador Chris Cantor said he did not believe most Australians understood the enormity of suffering Israel had experienced.
Sydney woman Galit Carbone is the first known Australian casualty from the attacks by terrorist group Hamas near the Gaza Strip in Israel.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed the death of Carbone, 66, saying the government unequivocally condemned the attacks.

Sydney woman Galit Carbone has died near the Gaza Strip border following attacks from terrorist group Hamas.

The Australian government has received confirmation of the tragic death of Galit Carbone, an Australian citizen murdered in the attacks on Israel by terrorist group Hamas, she said.

I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms Carbone. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to her family in Israel and in Australia.
Eighth-Annual All-Women Off-Road Navigation Rally Covers 1,500 Miles of Challenging Desert Terrain beginning Oct. 13

Automotive Journalists Jill Ciminillo and Kristin Shaw to Compete in Rebelle Rally for Second Consecutive Year

Custom Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle to Compete in X-CROSS Class

Stunning Livery Created by Matt Marble and Kellen Gustine of Hyundai Design North America



FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023  Ahead of the eighth-annual Rebelle Rally, Hyundai Motor America is revealing the modifications and custom graphic wrap for the Brute Squads Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle entry. For the second consecutive year, the modified Hyundai Santa Cruz will be piloted by automotive journalists Jill Ciminillo (navigator) and Kristin Shaw (driver), aka The Brute Squad.

The Rebelle Rally is a grueling all-women, off-road navigational challenge starting and ending in the deserts of California starting Oct. 13. Over the span of eight demanding days, Shaw and Ciminillo will bravely tackle this adventure in a specially equipped Santa Cruz they call Sandy. Whats more, theyll take on this challenge with little more than a compass and paper maps to guide them  GPS and Internet-enabled devices are forbidden.



The Brute Squads Hyundai Santa Cruz is photographed in Phelan, Calif., on Sep. 28, 2023.

The Rebelle Rally Santa Cruz

The custom graphic wrap was created in California by Matt Marble, senior graphic designer and Kellen Gustine, junior exterior designer, Hyundai Design North America.

As an artist, Im excited to present the new livery scheme design of the Rebelle Rally Hyundai Santa Cruz, said Marble. We were inspired by the natural ruggedness of the desert and worked to capture its beauty along with the adventurous nature of mountain journeys in every hue and line of our design.

The Santa Cruzs dramatic appearance was inspired by renowned typography, as well as the vibrant colors, logos, and decals popular among todays outdoor enthusiasts. The net result is a modern-yet-retro aesthetic reminiscent of 1970s design. The use of thick and prominent color blocking ensures vivid and saturated hues that create a striking contrast against the desert terrain backdrop. What truly sets this design apart is the eye-catching gradient sunset and bold mountain range in the foreground. Additionally, a cleverly designed horizon line tilts dynamically, aligning with the Santa Cruzs movement as it ascends a mountain or dune, creating a subtle yet engaging connection with the surrounding landscape.

From a performance standpoint, the Rebelle Rally Santa Cruz only required minimal modifications versus the mass-production model. These improvements were developed by Hyundai Motor America model-line engineer Eric Buxton and experts at the Hyundai America Technical Center. A selection of off-road gear was sourced from Hyundai and leading aftermarket companies including Rally Innovations, Truxxx, Gear Off Road, and Falken Tires. The custom, precision-crafted bed rack has been purpose-built to securely accommodate essential equipment, including four MaxTrax recovery boards, full-size spare tire and wheel, and a pair of reliable shovels. This vehicles thoughtful combination of genuine Hyundai accessories and aftermarket enhancements shows customers how they can create a personalized Santa Cruz that suits their unique personalities and requirements. Modifications include:

Custom front bumper and skid plate for additional protection

Larger 17-inch Falken Wildpeak A/T3W off-road tires to enhance ground clearance and conquer rugged terrain

Rally Innovations front recovery mount with auxiliary lighting

Roof-rack-mounted light bar attached to Hyundai Genuine Accessory cross bars

Rear spare-tire mount with MaxTrax and shovel mounts

Truxxx lift kit (1.5-inch front, 1-inch rear)

Terratrip rally computer

An exciting graphic wrap showcasing the design elements embodied in Santa Cruz: ready for work, home, surf and mountain sports

Per Rebelle Rally rules, the Santa Cruzs antennas have been disconnected to eliminate GPS







The Brute Squads Hyundai Santa Cruz is photographed in Phelan, Calif., on Sep. 28, 2023.

About Rebelle Rally

The Rebelle Rally seamlessly merges a passion for off-roading with the exhilarating challenge of precision navigation. Its not just another motorsport event; it's a thrilling adventure that beckons participants to embrace the wilderness, challenging their limits and putting their navigation skills to the test without relying on modern GPS gadgets. What sets the Rebelle Rally apart is not just the off-road prowess it demands, but also the incredible camaraderie and empowerment the event fosters among the women who take part. It's a celebration of participants achievements in the world of off-road motorsports, a thrilling adventure and an opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded strong women.

About The Brute Squad

Jill Ciminillo is a talented automotive writer, YouTube personality, podcaster, contributing editor to Consumer Guide Automotive, and the managing editor of Pickup Truck+SUV Talk. Catch up with her engaging content on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube at @jillciminillo.

Kristin Shaw is an accomplished freelance journalist who works in both automotive and aviation reporting. Her byline can be found in notable publications including Popular Science, Edmunds, Forbes, Road & Track, A Girls Guide to Cars, Motor1, Airport Improvement Magazine, and many more. For a closer look into Kristins world, find her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @DriveModeShow and Twitter or Instagram @KristinVShaw.

For updates on the Brute Squad, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TeamBruteSquad and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/teambrutesquad/

Kristin and I are looking forward to our second year in the Hyundai Santa Cruz, said navigator Jill Ciminillo. This is an amazingly capable vehicle while managing to be comfortable at the same time. With the ever-changing weather conditions during Rebelle, we have the confidence to handle mud and sand as well as rocky terrain, and if we need to get out of the vehicle, we know there are heated-and-cooled seats as well as a phenomenal climate-control system waiting for us when we get back in. As we head into the 2023 Rebelle Rally, we have a better idea of what is ahead of us. We know there are seven 10-hour days ahead of us and were lucky to be in our Hyundai Santa Cruz, which has some of the most comfortable seats for long-distance drives. That, combined with the carefully curated modifications to our dear Sandy means were extra prepared for whats to come this year.

Hyundai has been an incredible supporter and cheerleader for our team, said driver Kristin Shaw. We know that Santa Cruz is capable and rugged from our experiences at last years rally and through multiple training sessions. Weve established strong teamwork and honed our skills. And every mile we travel gives us more experience and a better connection with the vehicle.

Off-roading can be dangerous, and Hyundai Motor America encourages drivers to consult their owners manual and take appropriate safety precautions before using their appropriately equipped vehicles in off-road conditions.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America focuses on Progress for Humanity and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 10, 2023 - 15:25 | World, All

The death toll from a series of earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan on Saturday has topped 2,400 with more than 2,000 others injured, local media outlets have reported.

Local TV station Tolo News reported Monday that locals from the village of Naib Rafi relayed that some 80 percent of residents died in the earthquakes, some reaching a magnitude of 6.3. The population of Naib Rafi, in the worst-hit province of Herat, is unknown.

A Taliban government spokesman told reporters Monday that 35 aid teams made up of 1,000 personnel have been dispatched to assist in the rescue of people who remain buried under rubble in affected villages of the province, according to Tolo's reports.

The disaster management ministry spokesman, Janan Saiq, was quoted as saying aftershocks are expected to occur in some western provinces, especially Badghis and Herat, in the coming days.

The earthquakes destroyed some 15 villages in the province and survivors have spent their nights in tents and sleeping in open areas, the reports said.

The International Rescue Committee has said lack of heavy machinery in the country has delayed rescue operations.
Israeli police officers stand guard in Sderot, southern Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

GAZA/JERUSALEM/TEHRAN/UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

During the attack, Hamas militants broke through the security fence that separate the Gaza Strip from Israel and stormed nearby communities, killing and capturing Israelis.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that the death toll from Hamas' attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900.

- - - -

Israel's army said Tuesday that it holds about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found in Israel on the fourth day of unprecedented battles with Hamas.

"Approximately 1,500 bodies of Hamas (militants) were found in Israel around the Gaza Strip," Richard Hecht, Israeli Defence Forces's international spokesperson said in a briefing to reporters.

Hecht said security forces had "more or less restored control" over the area of the security fence around Gaza, which was breached on Saturday by Hamas militants. He added that 35 battalions were deployed in the area around the coastal Palestinian enclave.

The evacuation of residents of communities adjacent to the border had been "nearly completed," he added.

At least 900 people have been killed in Israel, while about 130 civilians and soldiers are being held hostage in Gaza, according to Israeli state media and armed groups in the enclave.

- - - -

Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said on Monday the country is not involved in the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) military operation against Israel, according to the official news agency IRNA.

The Iranian mission said in a statement, however, the country "unflinchingly stands in solidarity with the Palestinian nation."

Hamas' recent decisions and measures have "strong roots in the cardinal principle of people's right to self-determination, which is indicative of a completely legitimate response to seven decades of Israel's cruel occupation," said the statement.

- - - -

More than 123,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza as a result of ongoing Israeli attacks, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday.

Israeli airstrikes and shelling have hit houses and apartment buildings, with four large residential towers in Gaza City destroyed. Six healthcare workers have been killed and four others injured, with seven healthcare facilities and nine ambulances damaged, said the office.

Damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has undermined services to more than 400,000 people in Gaza. The Gaza Power Plant is now the only source of electricity and could run out of fuel within days, it warned. 

This photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows an Israeli tank at the Israel-Gaza border. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Israeli police officers stand guard in Sderot, southern Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows Israeli tanks at the Israel-Gaza border. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People walk past destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two political bureau members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip, an official source from Hamas told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Zakaria Abu Muammar and Jawad Abu Shamala were killed in an airstrike on Khan Younis in the southern part of the besieged Palestinian enclave, the source said.

Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, said in a press statement that Israeli aircraft killed Abu Shamala, minister of economy of Hamas, overnight on Monday.

Abu Shamala took care of Hamas's financial affairs and allocated funds to finance and direct operations inside and outside Gaza, according to Adraee.

Israeli military profiled Abu Muammar as head of the office for internal relations and "a senior Hamas decision-maker" and coordinator between armed groups in Gaza.

At least 1,008 people have been killed in Israel after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 788 and 4,100, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Tuesday. 
Meeting in Brussels with Paolo Gentiloni, the European commissioner for the economy, the Turkish trade minister called for developing the Customs Union to respond to current global necessities and cover all areas of bilateral trade between the EU and Turkiye, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

"Thanks to the economic integration achieved through the Customs Union, our bilateral trade volume with the EU reached an all-time high of approximately 200 billion dollars in 2022," Omer Bolat wrote on X.

Turkiye will continue its efforts to further enhance trade and economic cooperation with the EU, the countrys largest trading partner, through mutual steps, he added.

Also taking part in an event called Bruegel Dialogues, Bolate shared Turkiye's perspective on the present and future of its economic integration journey with the EU, which began over half a century ago.

Turkiye has long pressed for an update to its Customs Union with the EU, which began in 1995, arguing that it misses crucial areas such as the trade in services and that an update would clearly benefit both sides.
MONROVIA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Voting commenced on Tuesday morning in most parts of Liberia as citizens of the West African country cast ballots to elect the president and members of the National Assembly. 
Not only was it one of Taylor Swift's hit songs, but it was also the title of her 2008 album which features a number of songs about - you guessed it - Joe Jonas . Of course, T-Swift and Jonas dated way back in 2008, when she revealed he broke up with her during a 27-second-long phone call.
State GMCs need complete revamp





Staff Reporter

Making clear that Shiv Sena has no intention to politicise the issue of deaths in States Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMCHs), Yuva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray, on Monday, said that the States healthcare system, however, needs a total revamp. While interacting with mediapersons at GMCH, Nagpur, Thackeray said, Ambadas Danve and I visited three major GMCHs in Maharashtra to understand the issues in the healthcare system. We feel that the system in GMCHs needs a complete revamp. Aditya Thackeray was accompanied by Leader of Opposition in State Council Ambadas Danve. If everyone appreciated the healthcare system during coronavirus pandemic, how can it be suddenly inefficient now? We dont want to stretch the issue of deaths. But we observed that GMCHs are facing staff crunch as well as shortage of drugs. This year, GMCH received only three of the required 258 drugs. This is something that is not good for our healthcare system. I had taken up this issue on July 29 when even the IV fluid was not available. This is serious.

Danve and Thackeray had toured Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital, Nanded, and Government Medical College and Hospital (Ghati), Sambhaji Nagar before visiting GMCH, Nagpur. Funds given by District Planning Committee are adequate, but non-DPC funds are upto 70%. Here in Nagpur GMCH, 1,030 posts are vacant. In a situation, the system can collapse. Haffkine Pharmaceutical Private Limited was brought in and that caused all the havoc. It failed to provide medicines to GMCHs, he said, suggesting that Deans should be given full administrative powers.

We were asked by Uddhavji to visit the hospitals and review the system. The Deans have to manage on their own. Government should provide a back up. Cleanliness is important, but whatever stunt that MP did in Nanded is not acceptable, Thackeray replied to a querry. Those who accompanied Danve and Thackeray were MP Vinayak Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) Contact Head and MLC Dushyant Chaturvedi, Pramod Manmode, Vishal Barbate, Kishor Kumeria and others. Earlier, Thackeray and others interacted with in-charge Dean Dr Devendra Mahore, and other faculties regarding the situation in GMCH.
Cong takes a jibe at BJP over 2nd list of candidates





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

State Congress Media Chief Sushil Anand Shukla has taken a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the BJP had released its second list of candidates for the Assembly elections in the State. Talking to mediapersons at state Congress party office Rajiv Bhawan in the State Capital on Monday, State Congress Media Chief Shukla said that the BJP workers had opposed the names of the party candidates when the list of the candidate went viral on social media. Clothes of senior BJP leaders were torn and posters of BJP State President and BJP national leaders were even blackened. Even BJPs election in-charge Mansukh Mandaviya was abused and slogans were raised. Posters were torn, demonstrations took place in the BJP office, all those names have been made candidates by BJP. After the release of BJPs list, it became clear that BJP had bet on stereotyped faces. The BJP leaders, who had exploited the people of the State for 15 years because of which the public had rejected the BJP, have been made candidates again in the assembly elections, claimed Shukla.

Various scams had taken place during the previous BJP Government and the leaders, who were involved in the scams, have been made the party candidates in the election. Democracy has ended within the BJP. Workers were not consulted for selection of the party candidates. Outside candidates have been field in the assemblies. The central leadership of the BJP is also behaving feudally with the local BJP leadership, due to which senior leaders are also feeling neglected. The BJP national leaders are insulting the big leaders and workers of Chhattisgarh due to which there is a rebellion in the BJP after the declaration of the candidate, he added. The Congress is ready to go to the elections and it has completed its poll preparations. The Congress will once again form the government with full majority in the assembly elections. People know that voting for BJP means stopping the welfare schemes running in the State. The public has suffered 15 years of BJPs misrule. After 15 years, people have seen 5 years of public welfare Government of Congress.

In the 5 years of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel Government, the schemes made for every section have been effectively implemented at the grassroots level. The public is again committed to form the Congress Government with 75 seats, claimed Shukla. In-charge State Congress General Secretary Malkit Singh Gaidu, General Secretary Chandrashekhar Shukla, Senior State Congress Spokespersons Dhananjay Singh Thakur, Surendra Verma, Ajay Sahu, Spokespersons Nitin Bhansali, Prakash Mani Vaishnav, Vikas Bajaj and Parvez Ahmad were present in the press conference.
Congress will form government again with 75 seats: Baij





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Chhattisgarh Congress has welcomed the announcement of election schedule in State. In his statement, State Congress President and Bastar Lok Sabha Member Deepak Baij said that the Congress party is ready to go to the elections with full confidence. The Congress party will form its government again with 75 seats. The Congress party will seek votes on the basis of the achievements of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress Government in the assembly election. This time the BJP will not even reach double digits.

The work of the Congress Government has brought about a massive change in the standard of living of the people of the State. There is an atmosphere of enthusiasm among Congress workers due to the work of their government, said Baij. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel Government has launched various welfare schemes. People from all sections of the society are happy in the Congress rule, he added.
Israel declares siege of Gaza





By Harinder Mishra

Jerusalem,

ISRAELS Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a complete siege of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, two days after shock attacks by the militant group killed more than 700 Israelis including soldiers. Later in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a strongly worded statement, affirmed that the Israeli retaliation has just begun, and Hamas will go through much tough and terrible things. Prime Minister Netanyahu also told local politicians from southern Israel that Israel will transform the region as it retaliates for a devastating Hamas attack and works to restore and support traumatised communities. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant is currently conducting an operational assessment at IDF (Israel Defence Forces) Southern Command, together with the Head of Southern Command Major-General Yaron Finkelman. I have given an order - Gaza will be under complete siege. There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza]. We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly, Gallant was quoted in a statement as saying.

Gaza depends on Israel largely for its basic supplies and such a decision will have far-reaching consequences for 2.3 million people living in the densely populated area. Israeli media are reporting on Monday that more than 900 people were killed in Hamas multi-pronged attack on the countrys south. The rising death toll comes as Israel has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, from which Hamas launched the onslaught. Israeli rescue service Zaka says, more than 100 bodies have been recovered from a small farming community that was the scene of a hostage stand-off during Hamas attack against Israel. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Israels vaunted military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard by Hamas, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades.

Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 3,00,000 reservists  a massive mobilisation in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. Already, civilians on both sides have suffered a terrible toll: around 700 people, including 73 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, and 493 people have been killed in Gaza, according to authorities on each side. Israel says, hundreds of Hamas fighters have been killed. Thousands have been wounded
ISRAEL HITS BACK





ISRAELs hit-back following the terrible attack by the militant outfit Hamas came on expected line -- fierce and accurate. Palestine will have to pay for its sin of an unprovoked attack on Israels key cities and installations using more than 5,000 rockets, a number that is used only in a full scale war stretching over some time. But the Hamas used all that weaponry and ammunition in just a few minutes to begin with -- in the process stunning not just Israel but also the world. When such an attack took place and claimed about 200 lives of civilians and soldiers, then a nation as proud as Israel was certainly going to retaliate -- which happened. Hamas and thereby Palestine will have to bear a debilitating brunt of the Israeli counter-offensive -- with many countries, including India, expressing their full support to the hit-back. No one knows how long these hostilities will continue. Yet, it is obvious that the Hamas action and Israels counter-attack have caused a wide global divide among countries -- offering some trigger-happy elements to start expecting sort of a mini world war. But if Israel has some friends in support, Palestine and Hamas, too, have their own support coming from several Muslim countries. These details apart, it is obvious that Hamas indulged in a totally unprovoked attack all of a sudden.

That offensive dared Israels famed air-defence system like else in the past some years. Though that system warded off countless hundreds of rockets fired by the Hamas militants from different locations in Palestine, the attack took place from three directions and domains -- air, land as well as the sea. It was not without reason that Israel saw it as a war and countered the Hamas offensive most ferociously, killing hundreds of people in Palestine and destroying countless installations. By any standard, thus, the situation is really serious. Indias geopolitical interests as well as philosophical position led its leadership to declare an instant support to Israel. The Government also announced its plans to ensure a safe return of every Indian trapped in the war zone. Now will begin a repeat of the previous similar actions of organising sorties in conflicts around the world, including the one between Russia and Ukraine. There is little doubt that those campaigns will also lend help to people of other nationalities and earn for India good reputation. It must be stated without any confusion that the current Hamas attack was totally unprovoked -- though Hamas said that it was avenging an Israeli action in a mosque sometime ago.

Enough evidence has emerged that it was Iran that actually instigated Hamas to launch the current conflict. Unfortunately, some or the other Islamic country keeps harbouring some or the other grudge against the rest of the world and launches some action. On most occasions, that action is based on a made-up narrative without much actual support of facts. Nevertheless, each of such offensives takes the world to wonder if the Islamic politics will push the world to a brink of war, and in the process prove correct the theory of clash of civilisations put forth by political theorist Professor Samuel Huntington. Enough historical evidence is available to suggest that such a thoughtless aggressiveness is embedded in Islamic politics which thrives on conflict and domination by force. The latest Hamas action also points to this sad realisation. Seen against this backdrop, the Israeli action appears logically and morally correct since no one can deprive any country from the sacred right of self-defence. Even the Russian aggression of Ukraine also should get counted in that category -- of uncalled for aggression. Even in modern times, the world has to suffer from such tendencies.
Mode Code of Conduct effective in Chhattisgarh





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

The Model Code of Conduct has come into effect across the State. The elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Speaking to the media on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Chhattisgarh, Reena Babasaheb Kangale said that the Model Code of Conduct has come in the State following the announcement of the Assembly elections. In the first phase of elections, which will take place on November 7, a total of 5,303 polling stations across 20 Assembly seats (assembly numbers 71 to 90) will be operational. The notification for the first phase assembly election is set to be issued on October 13, with the nomination deadline on October 20. The scrutiny of nominations will occur on October 21, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is October 23. The first phase will see elections in constituencies including Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Jagdalpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta.

Moving on to the second phase, slated for November 17, elections will be conducted at a staggering 18,806 polling stations spanning 70 Assembly seats (assembly numbers 1 to 70). The second phase will encompass areas such as Bharatpur-Donhat, Manendragarh, Baikunthpur, Premnagar, Bhatgaon, Pratappur, Ramanujganj, Samri, Lundra, Ambikapur, and many more. The gazette notification for the second phase will be issued on October 21, with the nomination deadline set for October 30. Scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for October 31, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 2. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Chhattisgarh boasts a total of 2,03,60,240 voters, including 1,01,20,830 men, 102,39,410 women, and 790 individuals identified as third gender. To ensure a transparent electoral process, there will be 10 Sangwari polling stations in every Legislative Assembly, along with 5 Adarsh polling stations in every assembly constituency. In total, 900 Sangwari polling stations and 450 Adarsh polling stations will be established throughout the State. Candidates with criminal backgrounds are required to publish information about their antecedents in newspapers and through television channels on three occasions during the campaign period. Additionally, political parties fielding candidates with criminal histories must disclose this information on their websites and in newspapers and television channels on three occasions, as mandated by the CEO. Over 1,600 Flying Squads and Static Surveillance teams have been constituted for free and fair elections. Live webcasting will be conducted at 50 per cent of polling stations on the polling day to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
XI'AN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Shaanxi Province has seized the historic opportunity provided by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to push the western region towards the forefront of the country's opening up, steadily expanded institutional opening up, and achieved new development, said a senior official of the province.

Shaanxi is not only the starting point of the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road, but also a major stop on the Belt and Road. With such unique advantages in terms of location, the province has been advancing opening up during the past 10 years.

"With high-end platforms as a 'booster,' we have steadily expanded institutional opening up in areas such as rules, regulations, management and standards, and carried out a series of innovative practices in fields such as economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges with countries jointly building the Belt and Road," Xu Mingfei, vice governor of Shaanxi, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

According to the official, 17 projects involving Shaanxi stemming from the China-Central Asia Summit, which was held in May in Shaanxi's capital city Xi'an, are presently progressing smoothly. Meanwhile, 36 measures resulting from practical experiences gained via the China (Shaanxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone have been replicated and promoted nationwide.

The influence of exhibitions and forums held in Shaanxi, such as the Silk Road International Exposition and the Euro-Asia Economic Forum, has been expanding over the past decade. The province boasts a total of five state-level economic development zones, seven national high-tech zones, and seven comprehensive bonded zones, which have provided strong impetus for Shaanxi's further opening up to the outside world.

A China-Europe freight train loaded with 165 vehicles departed from the Xi'an international port station on Sept. 28, and headed for Russia's capital Moscow. This train took the number of China-Europe freight trains handled by this port station to a total of 20,000 since the China-Europe freight train (Xi'an) service was launched in 2013.

"The service has regularly operated 17 international routes, linking with 45 countries and regions," said Xu, noting that Shaanxi is accelerating export-oriented industrial agglomeration, improving the layout of overseas warehouses and overseas import and export commodity storage, processing and distribution centers, and promoting the construction of national import trade innovation demonstration zones and processing trade industrial parks.

From 2013 to 2022, the import and export volume between Shaanxi and BRI countries had increased by 18.4 percent annually, and exceeded 100 billion yuan (about 13.93 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time last year. The world's top 500 enterprises established 157 foreign-funded companies in the province during this period.

By the end of 2022, 306 firms registered in Shaanxi Province had made a total overseas investment of 6.88 billion U.S. dollars, of which 1.82 billion U.S. dollars was invested in countries and regions jointly building the Belt and Road, accounting for 26.5 percent of the total.

"In the near future, we will continue to guide leading enterprises to go global, form overseas industrial clusters, and deeply participate in international industrial chain and supply chain cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience," Xu said.

In addition, Shaanxi has continuously strengthened people-to-people exchanges with BRI participating countries during the past decade, holding activities such as the Silk Road International Arts Festival and the World Culture and Tourism Forum, and organizing various cultural exchange programs like the Shaanxi culture week and the intangible cultural heritage exhibition, which have been warmly welcomed overseas.

Xu said Shaanxi is striving to cultivate local and international compound talents. The proportion of international students from BRI countries in universities in the province has increased year by year, accounting for 71 percent of the total number of international students in Shaanxi in 2022.

"Shaanxi has become one of the top destinations for students from Central Asian countries," Xu said.

The province will further its involvement in the development of the Belt and Road, build a "highland" of reform and opening up in the inland area, and make new contributions to achieving high-level opening up, Xu added. 
Nobel Economics Prize goes to professor Claudia Goldin





STOCKHOLM,

THE Nobel Economics Prize was awarded Monday to Harvard University professor Claudia Goldin for research that has advanced the understanding of the gender gap in the labour market. The announcement went a tiny step to closing the Nobel committees own gender gap: Goldin is just the third woman to win the prize out of 93 economics laureates.

She has studied 200 years of womens participation in the workplace, showing that despite continued economic growth, womens pay did not continuously catch up to mens and a divide still exists despite women gaining higher levels of education than men.

Ive always been an optimist. But when I look at the numbers, I think something has happened in America, that we, in the 1990s, our labour force participation rate for women was the highest in the world, and now it isnt the highest in the world, Goldin told The Associated Press.
Poll Bugle: Voting on Nov 17, counting on Dec 3





Senior Special

Correspondent

The State is ready to witness high-stakes battle on November 17, as the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared that polling in State will be held on November 17. Most important is it is a single-phase election. Counting will take place on December 3. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly is currently led by the BJP, which has been in power for the last 15 years in the State. In 2018 elections Congress formed the government but it collapsed just after 15 months. This time it is expected that the State will witness neck and neck fight. Both the parties are leaving no stone unturned. In 2018, the Congress won the elections but with a wafer thin victory with the support of independent candidates it came to power. But in by-poll elections, BJP had improved the performance. This time, BJP has showered sops of welfare schemes like Ladli Bahana etc. while Congress is enthused with Karnataka poll results and incumbency factor. After winning Mayor post at Singrauli, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also hopes to make its mark in this elections.

Before announcing the schedule, the ECI on Friday had told poll observers to be visible, accessible, neutral and ethical in their functioning. CEC Kumar directed them to ensure a level-playing field by working in a co-ordinated manner to ensure free, fair and inducement-free polls. He added that the ECI was increasingly concentrating on having a humane face, by facilitating and including persons with disabilities, senior citizens who are 80 years or above and particularly vulnerable tribal groups with the help of special provisions such as home voting and accessible polling stations. EC Goel also reminded observers that they are the eyes and ears of the ECI and should deal with complaints promptly. EC Pandey said the polls should not only be fair but also seen to be fair. He instructed the observers to keep an eye on social media and ensure corrective actions.

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh Election Commission released the final electoral roll for the upcoming state assembly elections. The State has 56,136,229 eligible voters, including 75,304 service voters. Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan announced that the state has 56,060,925 general voters that includes 28,825,607 male and 27,233,945 female voters. Officers in the districts will honour the voters above 80 years of age in their respective areas at their place of residence. political parties will have to publish reason behind fielding candidates with criminal backgrounds in News papers. Candidates with criminal background will have to give their information in three newspapers. It will be needed to mention about- what crimes are registered against them. Political parties will also have to explain why they have given ticket to such a person ? Congress is all set to fight the BJP while both the parties will attempt to get a foothold in the 230 assembly seats, currently led by the BJP.
NEW DELHI,

CHHATTISGARH, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will go to the Assembly polls between November 7 and 30, and the counting of votes will be on December 3, the Election Commission said on Monday, setting the stage for what is being seen as the semi-final between the BJP and Opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Announcing the election schedule at a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said single-phase Assembly polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30 and Mizoram on November 7 while Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats). The high-stakes polls will be a litmus test for the Congress, the biggest party in the fledgling I.N.D.I.A. bloc which is in power in two of the four big States, while a lot is riding for the BJP as well, as the results are bound to have a major bearing on the discourse in the run-up to the Prime Minister Narendra Modis re-election bid next year. The BJP and the Congress will be engaged in a direct fight in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while the two parties are also in contention for power in Telangana, where Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi is eyeing a third straight term. In Mizoram, regional parties and the Congress will challenge the incumbent Mizo National Front amid the Opposition partys hope that political polarisation on ethnic lines following violence in Manipur may boost its chances. However, it is the Assembly polls in three Hindi-speaking States, a BJP stronghold in two consecutive Lok Sabha polls, besides Telangana, which are likely to have an outsize influence on national politics.

Despite losing to the Congress in the Assembly contests, the BJP had swept the 2019 national elections in the three Central and Western States, which together account for 65 Lok Sabha constituencies, but knows that no two polls are alike and has been making big moves to regain power there. In an unusual move, the BJP has already named 79 candidates, including three Union Ministers and four other Lok Sabha MPs, for elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, and 21 candidates for the 90-member Chhattisgarh polls, underlining its determined intent to get the better of the Congress which is fancying its chances after handing its rival a big defeat in Karnataka. The BJP is also hoping to emerge as a big force in Telangana where, observers believe, the Congress has seen a rebound in its fortunes since the Karnataka polls in May. Nearly 16 crore voters would be eligible to cast their votes in these elections, CEC Rajiv Kumar said while asserting that strong measures are being put in place to make these polls inducement-free. Kumar said these five States will have 1.77 lakh polling stations, of which 1.01 lakh will have webcasting facilities. Welcoming the announcement of Assembly polls by the EC, BJP President J P Nadda claimed that his party will form Government in all the States with a big majority under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership.

The BJP will form Government in all States with a big majority under respected Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and will work with commitment to fulfil peoples aspirations in the next five years, he said on X. Reacting to the announcement of the polls, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the party will go to the people with strength and outlined public welfare, social justice and progressive development as its guarantees. Addressing party leaders at a crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Kharge called for unity and discipline ahead of polls. As we approach the upcoming Assembly elections and general elections, it is important that the party works with meticulous coordination and complete discipline and unity, he said at the meeting. Kharge also underlined the need for an effective strategy for Assembly polls in the five States. He said there is renewed enthusiasm among cadre after decisive victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka while stressing the need to put in all our might to win in the five States. During the election commission briefing, Kumar said more than 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women. We have gathered here after a gap of six months. These elections are significant for the country and after this, we will meet for the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, Kumar said. We have met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, while preparing for the Assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, he said.

The CEC said the Election Commission (EC) has given a special emphasis on making electoral rolls inclusive and the focus will also be on roll-to-poll, or ensuring that all voters come to vote. Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Mizoram will have 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters, while there will be 60.2 lakh first-time voters, he said. For the first time a new Election Seizure Management System is being introduced for the Assembly polls to enhance oversight to ensure inducement-free elections, Kumar said. A total of 940 checkposts have been put in place for a strict vigil along interstate borders and to dry up the inflow of illicit liquor, cash, freebies and drugs, he said. There will be zero tolerance for the use of money power and there will be a strict vigil over suspicious online cash transfers through wallets as well, the CEC said. Polls in J&K will be held at right time keeping security situation in mind: EC: THE Election Commission on Monday said polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held at the right time keeping in mind the security situation there.
This is our 9/11 and Pearl Harbour wrapped into one: Israeli military





JERUSALEM,

AS ISRAELI forces are still fighting Hamas gunmen, the Jewish states military on Monday termed the unprecedented attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group from Gaza as this is our 9/11, they got us. This was in reference to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks carried out by the Al-Qaeda against the US. In a statement on Monday, military spokeperson Major Nir Dinar said: This is our 9/11... They got us, the BBC reported. The spokespersons comment echoed Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricuss remark in which he not only compared the Hamas attacks to 9/11 but also to Pearl Harbour -- the surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the American naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. This could be a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbour wrapped into one, he said. It is, by far, the worst day in Israeli history. Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing let alone enemy activity on one day.

As airstrikes continued on the Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) claimed that more than 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the coastal enclave were hit overnight, the BBC reported. The Air Force said that fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck the targets, adding that seven Hamas command centres and an Islamic Jihad command centre were hit. In its latest update on Monday morning, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said they were still fighting Hamas gunmen at seven to eight sites in southern Israel close to the Gaza Strip. These sites include Beeri, an agrarian community, which was infiltrated by Hamas fighters overnight.

Many of the militants have been killed, but others are still hiding in homes in the kibbutz, the BBC quoted the IDF as saying. The scope of this operation is something completely different... Its taking more time than we expected to get things back to a defensive, security posture, Lt Col Richard Hecht told reporters. 10 Nepali students killed, one missing: TEN Nepali students have been killed, one missing and four others injured in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks in the countrys southern region, Nepals Foreign Ministry said on Monday. In a press statement, the Foreign Ministry said 17 Nepali nationals were working on a farm at Kibbutz Alumim.
HOUSTON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday the second largest U.S. state is allocating 4 million U.S. dollars to secure 31 Jewish schools, synagogues and other institutions amid raging Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"Working with local partners across Texas, we are actively increasing security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools," Abbott said in a statement.

The governor's office said Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to "work with local partners and federal intelligence agencies on heightened public safety measures, with an intensified focus by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Texas Fusion Center to elevate awareness about potential threats by Hamas or Hezbollah organizations against the Jewish community in Texas."

Meanwhile, the governor issued an executive order directing all state agencies to refrain from purchasing goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced enhanced security at synagogues and "other potential venues" in the fourth largest U.S. city.

From this week, police in New Orleans, the largest city in U.S. southern coastal state of Louisiana, have deployed officers and added patrols to synagogues, Jewish communities and other Jewish institutions.

"The New Orleans Police Department is aware of the situation in the Middle East," said New Orleans police Superintendent Anne E. Kirkpatrick in a statement on Sunday.

The city's Jewish community has about 12,000 members, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department told local media that the decision was precautionary.

From New York to California and Florida, multiple U.S. states are enhancing security to Jewish mosques and synagogues following the attacks by militants from Gaza on Israel on Saturday, according to local media reports.

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City which hosts the largest Jewish population in the world outside Israel, said on Monday he had directed the police "to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe."

As a precaution, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also "directed the New York State Police to work with local law enforcement to ensure Jewish community spaces are safe."

In California's Los Angeles area, which has the second-largest Jewish population outside Israel, police have also deployed extra patrols in Jewish and Muslim communities from this week.

A rabbi in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was forced to stop services on Sunday and evacuate the synagogue after the congregation received a bomb threat. Salt Lake City police officers searched three local Jewish institutions but did not find anything suspicious, CNN reported.

Jewish Insider reported on Monday that holiday festivities will continue as usual but that they are increasing security measures as hate crimes targeting diaspora Jews tend to spike when there is conflict in Israel.

According to the Jewish Insider report, the Community Security Service (CSS), an organization that has trained more than 3,000 volunteers around the United States to protect synagogues and other Jewish institutions, has sent detailed guidance for the coming days and weeks as they are anticipating a heightened threat level on American Jews.

"In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday.

The Israeli government formally declared war and greenlighted "significant military steps" to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military labored into Monday to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

More than 1,000 people have been killed, with thousands wounded on both sides, according to media reports. 
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Considering the devastating impacts of climate change, Pakistan's interim minister for planning, development and special initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed urged the international community to make concerted efforts to counter the climate change crisis.

"The governments, civil society and international partners must join hands to tackle climate crisis through collective and coordinated efforts to combat the crisis," the minister said on Monday while addressing a seminar on climate change.

Saeed said Pakistan has been witnessing challenging impacts of climate change ranging from devastating floods to prolonged droughts, from heat waves to melting glaciers.

"These changes pose immense threats to our environment, economy, and the well-being of our people," he said while urging the stakeholders to play their constructive role in combatting the crisis.

Talking about the recent floods in Pakistan, the minister said that the country faced unprecedented devastation due to torrential rains and flooding last year, which affected 33 million people and resulted in economic losses worth 30 billion U.S. dollars.

Pakistan's carbon emission is less than 1 percent, but it is among the countries that are most vulnerable to climatic disasters, Saeed said, adding that by fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge, progress towards climate resilience and sustainable development can be expedited.

Recognizing the role of nature in climate adaptation and mitigation, the minister said that Pakistan launched robust natural capital restoration efforts, including tree plantation programs to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, restore ecosystems, and enhance livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities. 
Ameritas Advisory Services LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 47.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,764 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 8,794 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $418,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. OLD National Bancorp IN lifted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 549,215 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $23,440,000 after acquiring an additional 11,930 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $335,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 14.9% during the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 352,380 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $15,040,000 after acquiring an additional 45,585 shares during the last quarter. O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $214,000. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 14.7% in the 2nd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 1,280,525 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $54,264,000 after buying an additional 164,418 shares during the last quarter. 72.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $39.69 on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1 year low of $35.25 and a 1 year high of $48.84. The business has a 50-day moving average of $42.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.40. The company has a market capitalization of $145.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.83.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 11.15% and a net margin of 16.18%. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue for the quarter was up 20.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.84 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 4th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.53%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 35.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on WFC shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $44.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Odeon Capital Group downgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $43.75 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday, July 17th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $51.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.02.

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Wells Fargo & Company Profile

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Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Institute for Wealth Management LLC. acquired a new position in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 2,380 shares of the medical technology companys stock, valued at approximately $210,000.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of MDT. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its stake in shares of Medtronic by 109.0% in the 1st quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 802,643 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $64,674,000 after purchasing an additional 418,648 shares during the last quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH grew its stake in shares of Medtronic by 20.6% in the 2nd quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH now owns 17,220 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $1,517,000 after purchasing an additional 2,940 shares during the last quarter. Viawealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Medtronic by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Viawealth LLC now owns 12,085 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $974,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. Argent Trust Co grew its stake in shares of Medtronic by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 40,743 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $3,285,000 after purchasing an additional 1,948 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lincoln National Corp grew its stake in shares of Medtronic by 16.1% in the 1st quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 11,669 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $941,000 after purchasing an additional 1,617 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.75% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MDT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Medtronic in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. They issued a neutral rating and a $90.00 target price for the company. Oppenheimer reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $89.00 target price on shares of Medtronic in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Medtronic in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $89.00 price target on shares of Medtronic in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Medtronic from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $91.67.

Medtronic Price Performance

NYSE MDT opened at $75.13 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $99.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.72, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.79 and a current ratio of 2.42. Medtronic plc has a 52-week low of $74.35 and a 52-week high of $92.02. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $81.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $84.28.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 22nd. The medical technology company reported $1.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.09. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.81% and a net margin of 11.47%. The business had revenue of $7.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.57 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.13 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Medtronic plc will post 5.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Medtronic Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 21st. Medtronics payout ratio is 101.85%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Michael Marinaro sold 1,352 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.11, for a total value of $113,716.72. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 28,930 shares in the company, valued at $2,433,302.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Brett A. Wall sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.38, for a total value of $83,380.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 33,573 shares in the company, valued at $2,799,316.74. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael Marinaro sold 1,352 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.11, for a total value of $113,716.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 28,930 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,433,302.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 14,352 shares of company stock worth $1,211,437 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock.

Medtronic Profile

(Free Report)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software.

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Alera Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 472 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $210,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 117,228.0% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 195,582,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,144,659,000 after purchasing an additional 195,415,560 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 212,409.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 53,346,337 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,776,996,000 after buying an additional 53,321,234 shares in the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 38,525.9% during the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 11,421,288 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,783,000 after buying an additional 11,391,719 shares in the last quarter. IMC Chicago LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 122.2% during the 2nd quarter. IMC Chicago LLC now owns 534,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,242,000 after buying an additional 2,941,401 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2,989.6% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 2,619,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,076,968,000 after buying an additional 2,535,055 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of IVV stock opened at $434.19 on Tuesday. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 12 month low of $349.53 and a 12 month high of $461.88. The stock has a market cap of $335.91 billion, a PE ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. The companys fifty day moving average price is $443.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $432.87.

About iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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CareView Communications (OTCMKTS:CRVW  Get Free Report) is one of 48 public companies in the Radio & t.v. communications equipment industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare CareView Communications to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for CareView Communications and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CareView Communications 0 0 0 0 N/A CareView Communications Competitors 366 1608 2602 116 2.53

As a group, Radio & t.v. communications equipment companies have a potential upside of 29.25%. Given CareView Communications competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe CareView Communications has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CareView Communications -27.60% N/A -60.61% CareView Communications Competitors -180.47% 23.52% -9.02%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares CareView Communications and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares CareView Communications and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio CareView Communications $7.90 million -$6.04 million -3.48 CareView Communications Competitors $4.49 billion $670.14 million 4.40

CareView Communications competitors have higher revenue and earnings than CareView Communications. CareView Communications is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Volatility and Risk

CareView Communications has a beta of 0.28, suggesting that its share price is 72% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CareView Communications competitors have a beta of 0.98, suggesting that their average share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

68.3% of CareView Communications shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.6% of shares of all Radio & t.v. communications equipment companies are owned by institutional investors. 63.9% of CareView Communications shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 20.3% of shares of all Radio & t.v. communications equipment companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

CareView Communications competitors beat CareView Communications on 7 of the 10 factors compared.

CareView Communications Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CareView Communications, Inc. provides video monitoring solutions in the United States. Its products include CareView Patient Safety System, a video monitoring tool to improve the practice of nursing, create a better work environment, and make the patient's hospital stay more satisfying, which is used in hospitals, nursing homes, adult living centers, and outpatient care facilities; CareView Connect, which provides resident monitoring products and services for the long- term care industry; an array of wearable and stationary buttons that allow a resident to summon help either for an emergency or assistance; a mobile app capable of delivering an alert to the caregiver and allows them document information around that alert; and alert management and monitoring system, a suite of hardware and software that facilitate a data-driven solution for alert management and monitoring. The company also offers Caregiver Platform that offers caregiver connect mobile application to provide a convenient and intuitive interface to capture critical workflows, such as acknowledging and documenting alert presses by the resident. In addition, it provides SitterView and TeleMedView that allows hospital staff to use CareView's video cameras to observe and communicate with patients remotely. CareView Communications, Inc. is based in Lewisville, Texas.

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Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC increased its position in DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Free Report) by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 118,620 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 6,032 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned 0.06% of DTE Energy worth $13,051,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of DTE Energy by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 14,962 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,639,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in DTE Energy by 0.3% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 32,844 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,598,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its holdings in DTE Energy by 0.8% in the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 12,600 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,380,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Avitas Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of DTE Energy by 0.4% during the second quarter. Avitas Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,773 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,505,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 60.6% during the second quarter. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. now owns 265 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.72% of the companys stock.

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DTE Energy Price Performance

NYSE DTE opened at $96.59 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.02, a PEG ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.61. DTE Energy has a 1-year low of $90.14 and a 1-year high of $122.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $104.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $108.85.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DTE Energy ( NYSE:DTE Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.10. DTE Energy had a return on equity of 10.44% and a net margin of 8.02%. The business had revenue of $2.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.04 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.88 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that DTE Energy will post 6.21 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on DTE. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on DTE Energy from $125.00 to $106.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Barclays initiated coverage on DTE Energy in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $117.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of DTE Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. 58.com restated a maintains rating on shares of DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Guggenheim dropped their target price on shares of DTE Energy from $124.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Monday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $85.63.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on DTE

Insider Buying and Selling at DTE Energy

In related news, SVP Joann Chavez sold 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.53, for a total value of $283,825.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,107 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,374,507.71. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About DTE Energy

(Free Report)

DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through fossil-fuel, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and solar assets.

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DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its holdings in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Free Report) by 1.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 154,227 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 2,448 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrales holdings in Equity Residential were worth $10,096,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of EQR. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Equity Residential during the 4th quarter valued at $1,822,309,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 99,398.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 6,783,786 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $447,526,000 after acquiring an additional 6,776,968 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 8.5% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 18,062,840 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,083,773,000 after acquiring an additional 1,415,255 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,983,779 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,515,182,000 after acquiring an additional 1,269,082 shares during the period. Finally, Long Pond Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of Equity Residential during the 4th quarter valued at $63,361,000. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock.

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Equity Residential Stock Up 1.2 %

EQR opened at $60.03 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $62.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $63.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The company has a market capitalization of $23.57 billion, a PE ratio of 27.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.84. Equity Residential has a 52 week low of $54.60 and a 52 week high of $69.45.

Equity Residential Announces Dividend

Insider Activity

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 26th will be given a dividend of $0.6625 per share. This represents a $2.65 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 25th. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio is 119.91%.

In other news, COO Michael L. Manelis sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.04, for a total transaction of $165,100.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 22,844 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,508,617.76. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.69% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Wedbush assumed coverage on shares of Equity Residential in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $71.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 21st. Finally, Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $68.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Equity Residential presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $68.00.

Get Our Latest Research Report on EQR

About Equity Residential

(Free Report)

Equity Residential 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 304 properties consisting of 80,212 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft.

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DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Free Report) by 5.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 74,894 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 4,078 shares during the quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrales holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities were worth $8,486,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ARE. Dfpg Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. Dfpg Investments LLC now owns 2,976 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $355,000 after purchasing an additional 596 shares during the period. Achmea Investment Management B.V. boosted its stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 7,086.8% during the 2nd quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 7,618 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $864,000 after acquiring an additional 7,512 shares during the last quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 2nd quarter valued at $227,000. Creative Planning raised its holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 6.8% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 7,992 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $907,000 after purchasing an additional 511 shares during the period. Finally, Crumly & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the second quarter valued at $242,000. 86.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $137.00 to $135.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. JMP Securities decreased their target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $180.00 to $160.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Wedbush assumed coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $142.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $156.11.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Price Performance

NYSE:ARE opened at $100.45 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $112.35 and its 200 day moving average is $116.93. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.21 and a 12 month high of $172.65. The company has a market capitalization of $17.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.20 by ($1.69). Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a return on equity of 2.54% and a net margin of 20.65%. The firm had revenue of $713.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $700.22 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.10 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 8.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.24 per share. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio is 147.18%.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile

(Free Report)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since its founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.

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O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc lessened its holdings in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 5.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,349 shares of the companys stock after selling 301 shares during the period. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $812,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of PG. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 18.3% during the second quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 4,033,128 shares of the companys stock worth $606,983,000 after buying an additional 622,562 shares during the last quarter. AMI Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. AMI Asset Management Corp now owns 9,229 shares of the companys stock worth $1,400,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. Dohj LLC lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 4.1% in the second quarter. Dohj LLC now owns 7,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,087,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 0.8% during the second quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 240,627 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,513,000 after purchasing an additional 2,010 shares during the period. Finally, Center For Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 59.2% in the second quarter. Center For Asset Management LLC now owns 14,170 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,150,000 after buying an additional 5,271 shares during the period. 63.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on PG shares. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $174.00 target price on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. William Blair began coverage on Procter & Gamble in a report on Friday, September 8th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Procter & Gamble currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.94.

Insider Activity at Procter & Gamble

In other news, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 12,629 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.19, for a total value of $1,985,152.51. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,051,486.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Moses Victor Javier Aguilar sold 789 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.85, for a total value of $120,598.65. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,683 shares in the company, valued at $1,938,596.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 12,629 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.19, for a total transaction of $1,985,152.51. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 13,051 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,051,486.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 108,760 shares of company stock valued at $16,835,914 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of Procter & Gamble stock opened at $143.36 on Tuesday. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52-week low of $122.18 and a 52-week high of $158.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $337.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a fifty day moving average of $152.34 and a 200-day moving average of $151.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.63.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $20.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.01 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.88% and a net margin of 17.87%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.21 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS  Free Report)  Analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for AXIS Capital in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, October 5th. Zacks Research analyst T. De now expects that the insurance provider will earn $1.61 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.51. The consensus estimate for AXIS Capitals current full-year earnings is $8.60 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AXIS Capitals Q4 2023 earnings at $1.99 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $8.16 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $2.35 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $2.35 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.21 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $2.53 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $8.44 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $2.92 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.64 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $10.21 EPS.

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AXIS Capital (NYSE:AXS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.46. AXIS Capital had a net margin of 6.85% and a return on equity of 14.09%. The firm had revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.39 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.74 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis.

AXS has been the topic of several other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of AXIS Capital in a report on Friday, September 8th. They set a sell rating and a $51.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of AXIS Capital from $70.00 to $68.00 in a report on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of AXIS Capital from $59.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Bank of America upgraded shares of AXIS Capital from an underperform rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $53.00 to $68.00 in a report on Friday, September 15th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of AXIS Capital in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.20.

Read Our Latest Analysis on AXIS Capital

AXIS Capital Stock Performance

AXS opened at $56.69 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The companys fifty day moving average price is $55.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.89. AXIS Capital has a 1-year low of $48.32 and a 1-year high of $63.99. The company has a market cap of $4.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.32, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.81.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AXIS Capital

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 160.6% in the first quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 27,100 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,477,000 after acquiring an additional 16,700 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 1.0% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 900,334 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $49,086,000 after acquiring an additional 9,032 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 0.7% in the first quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 34,018 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,855,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 34.4% in the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 48,821 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,662,000 after acquiring an additional 12,484 shares during the period. Finally, Ziegler Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 57.6% in the first quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 18,861 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,028,000 after acquiring an additional 6,893 shares during the period. 89.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at AXIS Capital

In other news, Director Henry B. Smith sold 6,000 shares of AXIS Capital stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.50, for a total value of $333,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 49,710 shares in the company, valued at $2,758,905. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

AXIS Capital Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 18th. Investors of record on Monday, October 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 29th. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.10%. AXIS Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.44%.

AXIS Capital Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products worldwide. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, and onshore energy installations; marine classes covering offshore energy, cargo, liability, kidnap and ransom, fine art, specie, and hull war; and terrorism, aviation, credit and political risk, and liability insurance products.

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Summit Trail Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,356 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $295,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of LEN. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Lennar by 10.7% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 12,184 shares of the construction companys stock worth $989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,173 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its holdings in Lennar by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,499 shares of the construction companys stock worth $771,000 after acquiring an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its position in Lennar by 172.1% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 14,925 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,256,000 after acquiring an additional 9,440 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Lennar during the first quarter worth approximately $1,711,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Lennar during the first quarter valued at approximately $200,000. 79.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Lennar Stock Performance

Shares of Lennar stock opened at $111.27 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 6.66 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The firm has a market cap of $31.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.48. The stocks 50-day moving average is $117.49 and its 200-day moving average is $116.02. Lennar Co. has a one year low of $69.90 and a one year high of $133.24.

Lennar Dividend Announcement

Lennar ( NYSE:LEN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, September 15th. The construction company reported $3.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.52 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $8.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.49 billion. Lennar had a net margin of 11.66% and a return on equity of 16.22%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $5.18 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Lennar Co. will post 13.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. Lennars dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.12%.

Insider Transactions at Lennar

In other news, Director Amy Banse bought 790 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $126.42 per share, with a total value of $99,871.80. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 7,293 shares of the companys stock, valued at $921,981.06. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, Director Amy Banse bought 790 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $126.42 per share, for a total transaction of $99,871.80. Following the purchase, the director now owns 7,293 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $921,981.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey Joseph Mccall sold 10,000 shares of Lennar stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.48, for a total value of $1,264,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 141,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,882,501.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 2,469 shares of company stock worth $301,842 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 9.53% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LEN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Seaport Res Ptn restated a buy rating on shares of Lennar in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Lennar from $150.00 to $159.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Lennar from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on shares of Lennar from $130.00 to $145.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Lennar from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $134.25.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on LEN

Lennar Profile

(Free Report)

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

Further Reading

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Ready to step back in time and explore the prehistoric Shijiahe ruins? Join us for a tour in central China as we discover the pinnacle of cultural development in the region. Plus, for all the pottery lovers out there, this video is sure to have you on the edge of your seats.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:ZTO  Free Report)  Equities researchers at Zacks Research lifted their FY2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) in a report released on Thursday, October 5th. Zacks Research analyst S. Goswami now forecasts that the transportation company will post earnings of $1.48 per share for the year, up from their previous forecast of $1.46. The consensus estimate for ZTO Express (Cayman)s current full-year earnings is $1.50 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for ZTO Express (Cayman)s FY2024 earnings at $1.70 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $0.44 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $2.17 EPS.

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ZTO Express (Cayman) (NYSE:ZTO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 29th. The transportation company reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $1.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. ZTO Express (Cayman) had a return on equity of 15.21% and a net margin of 22.08%.

ZTO has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup lowered their price target on ZTO Express (Cayman) from $36.50 to $30.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price objective on ZTO Express (Cayman) from $36.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. StockNews.com downgraded ZTO Express (Cayman) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. TheStreet downgraded ZTO Express (Cayman) from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price objective on ZTO Express (Cayman) from $39.00 to $34.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $34.60.

View Our Latest Analysis on ZTO

ZTO Express (Cayman) Price Performance

ZTO opened at $24.44 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $24.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The firm has a market cap of $14.88 billion, a PE ratio of 17.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.07. ZTO Express has a 1 year low of $16.27 and a 1 year high of $30.05.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ZTO Express (Cayman)

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ZTO. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) during the 2nd quarter valued at about $49,000. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 22.4% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,134 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 391 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 26.2% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,248 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the period. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) during the 2nd quarter valued at about $132,000. 41.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About ZTO Express (Cayman)

(Get Free Report)

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc provides express delivery and other value-added logistics services in the People's Republic of China. It offers freight forwarding services; and delivery services for e-commerce and traditional merchants, and other express service users. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China.

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That release could not be found.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked for the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in order for him to lead negotiations with the federal government on the groups self-determination agitation.

This is even as the spokesman of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emmanuel Powerful, said that the agitation will be shelved if the people vote against self-determination in a referendum.

Powerful insisted that the United Nations charter has given them the right to chart their own political future if their political and economic survival is threatened.

Powerful, who a few days ago issued a statement indicating the readiness of IPOB to dialogue with the Nigerian government on the issue of referendum, however, stated that the group was not begging for it.

He argued that it is up to the federal government to decide if they want to dialogue with them.

He said, We never begged for dialogue or discussion with Nigeria, the options are left for them to decide. IPOB worldwide is ready anytime they are ready; we dont want people to see that statement as if we are begging for dialogue or discussion, the Biafra referendum is sacrosanct and nothing will stop it to usher in Biafra restoration and independence.

We saw so many wrong comments from mostly those enemies from other tribes who think they can bring IPOB down. Some people think IPOB is hard to believe in peaceful dialogue and discussion.

Speaking further, IPOB declared that any negotiation must have its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, present when he would have regained his freedom.

Powerful noted that the Republic of Biafra was in existence before the British invasion and colonisation of the territories of the indigenous peoples and called it Nigeria.

For IPOB to engage Nigeria in any negotiations and dialogue for the Biafra referendum, first Kanu must be released unconditionally. He will lead the negotiation. Secondly, the international community represented in the UN, AU, EU, the USA government, the Russian government, and Israel must be represented at the negotiation table.

Should the Nigeria government remain adamant and refuse to obey extant laws on self-determination, IPOB and Biafrans will continue with civil disobedience within the boundaries of international laws until our demands are met.

For us in IPOB, every card is on the table. As freedom fighters, we adequately harness every available opportunity for Biafra independence. As long as Biafrans are forced to remain in a deadly union that threatens our survival called Nigeria, we shall ensure the economic and political survival of Nigeria is under threat as well.

We can assure Nigeria that IPOB members and Biafrans will never capitulate on our self-determination struggle. On the other hand, if Biafrans are allowed to have a referendum and majority vote yes for us to exit, Biafra and Nigeria shall remain friendly nations. But if the majority voted no for us to remain in Nigeria, the IPOBs job would have been done and the movement would be disbanded, he added.
It is no more news that since the ongoing political tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commenced on May 29, 2023 that the issue of politicians parading doctored university degrees has once again been brought to spotlight so much so that not a few Nigerians are at the moment wagging their tongues, and pondering over why some politicians submitted questionable certificates and other documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the last general and presidential elections, and thereby enmeshed themselves in the quagmire of debates and litigations.

In fact, not a few Nigerians are by each passing day been speaking in hush-hush tone, and asking What is the propriety of parading questionable certificates, despite the fact that the suspects literarily swim in opulence? Again, what moral values are they bequeathing to humanity as legacy for the younger generations who see them as idols? Without a doubt, there are myriads of moral questions that aim at ascertaining why top political leaders are caught up in the quicksand of academic certificate and credential forgeries that threaten their professional and political careers.

Given the foregoing backdrop, not a few Nigerians are finding it difficult to come to grip with the untoward trend of political leaders resorting to doctoring their certificates and credentials. However, as a self-acclaimed student of late Chinua Achebes School of literary thought, permit me to recall an African figurative expression that says The words of the elders will become sweet someday. Against the foregoing backdrop, permit me to say that this is the day the words of the elders have become sweet as this writer is poised to gawp into the physiognomies of monkey, and metaphorically bring them to bear in this context.

Against the foregoing backdrop, consider the following English expressions that speak to the traits of a monkey, and they would no doubt persuade any reader of this piece that forging academic certificates and other similar credentials in the bid to qualify for any given political position is no doubt a Monkey Business. Period! After all, it is idiomatically correct to say, To Monkey Around which simply means To behave in a silly or careless way. Come to think of it, for a politician to resort to doctoring his or her result or out rightly procuring a fake certificate, is it not out of place to say that such politician is behaving in a silly and careless way.

Still in a similar vein, it is not incongruous to say "No more monkeying around which simply means to say, Lets get serious about the project." In fact, politicians who have resorted to forging their certificates and credentials should get serious about the project called Nigeria. The project cannot be successfully executed if we allowed those that parade fake certificates and credentials to be at the helms of affair. The reason for the forgoing view cannot be farfetched as they would be Monkeying Around, and would not get the job done.

Still in the same vein, politicians who have doctored or faked certificates are unarguably making a monkey out of registered voters that numbered 93, 469, 00 as at February 9, 2023, and who invariably reside across 1,491 Electoral Constituencies located in 774 Local Government Areas that made up Nigeria. For the sake of clarity, To make a monkey out of someone means to make someone look silly.

For instance, "He thought he could make a monkey out of his friend but he was not prepared for what was coming." Again, "Why do you want to make a monkey out of me? I am just trying to help!"

Explanatorily put, Monkey business means doing something mischievous, just as demonstrated in the following sentence, "The Company fired its accountant because there was some monkey business going on with the accounts." Just like the foregoing, it is also exemplary to in this context say, "The children will get up to monkey business if we do not keep our eyes on them."

Still in the same nexus, it can also be said, Monkey see, monkey do, which refers to copying someones actions without putting much thought into it. Bringing the foregoing to bear on the issue that is been discussed in this context, it is pragmatic to say that politicians that have the predilection to forge documents or credentials do things without thinking about the repercussion. Like monkey, they see, and they do what other people do without thinking about what may likely happen tomorrow.

To further clarify the forgoing idiom, it is germane to say, "He started an exercise routine and his wife copied it. It was a monkey see, monkey do sort of situation, "Wheres the originality? We live in a monkey see, monkey do world."

Another idiomatic expression that relates to one of the characteristics of monkey is, Cheeky Monkey, which is an expression we use when someone is being mischievous and playful. Bringing the interpretation of the foregoing idiom to bear in this context, it is expedient to say "My friend was trying to get free copies of her favorite newspaper by queuing up in different locations. She is such a cheeky monkey." Without resorting to campaign of calumny in this context, not a few of Nigerian politicians that have been found to be parading questionable credentials can be said to be cheeky. The foregoing can be understood from the statement, "You know John is not telling the truth about the price of his car. It cannot cost a million dollars. He is just being a cheeky monkey." Analyzed from the foregoing perspective, many politicians are being cheeky as they are not telling Nigerians the truth about their certificates.

In fact, there are several idiomatic expressions that throw insight to the characteristic of monkey, and which some dubious politicians are no doubt replicating in the prevailing Nigerias political milieu. Such idioms cut across A group of monkeys huddled together, More fun than a barrel of monkeys and More fun than a barrel of monkeys which means to have a lot of fun.

Analyzed from the foregoing backdrop, it is explanatory to say that certificate-forging politicians always huddle together to fight anyone that challenges their masters credentials or certificates just the way Monkeys huddle together in a group to protect themselves against the cold weather at a zoo.

At this juncture, it is not unexpected that not a few politicians would be averse to this contrast been made. But it need to be done as it has to do with certificate crisis on Nigerias political landscape. Frankly speaking, I need to be pardoned because it is painful to see people reaping from what they did not struggle for, and even at that be subjecting the state of affairs of Nigeria to a detrimental situation, and at the same time putting Nigeria to ridicule. Imagine being admitted to a university where hundreds of thousands of Naira was spent, and even logging countless hours with the hope of one day securing a certificate that will earn one opportunity in any sector of the economy. Now, imagine getting the same certificate without having to spend all that money and any time in school. Which one would you prefer? It seems like an easy choice, right? From the foregoing perspective, it is germane to recall that the government has, for many years, been faulted for allowing dubious politicians with fake academic certificates to flood the electoral market, sidelining qualified persons, most of whom are forced to contend with odd jobs to earn a living.

In fact, it is not an overstatement to say that since Nigeria returned to democracy that the Nigerian government has been put on the spot for giving a large number of politicians with no certificate, or with fake academic certificates the opportunity to serve. Moreover, there has been concern about the fact that so many top politicians could be involved in such scandals that can spark huge debates that has eventually trickled down to other categories of human endeavor so much so that the academic and professional qualifications possess by some doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and bankers are problematic.
* BRI cooperation has created a new paradigm for international cooperation, rising above the outdated mentality of geopolitical games.

* China released a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" on Tuesday, underlining the initiative as "a Chinese solution to global development issues."

* China is working to foster new drivers of economic growth, while advancing large key projects as well as some "small yet smart" projects to help BRI participating countries lay a solid foundation for development.

BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has created new engines for global economic growth and a new paradigm for international cooperation, giving a boost to the development of China and other BRI countries.



China released a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" on Tuesday, underlining the initiative as "a Chinese solution to global development issues," which aims to advance modernization in participating countries in tandem, make economic globalization more dynamic, inclusive and sustainable, and ensure that more of the fruits will be shared more equitably by people across the world.

At a press conference held Tuesday on the white paper, several Chinese officials fielded questions ranging from the initiative's current status and cooperation mechanisms to its potential for future development.

NEW PARADIGM

"BRI cooperation has created a new paradigm for international cooperation, rising above the outdated mentality of geopolitical games," said Li Kexin, director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, at the press conference.

Over the past decade, China has signed BRI cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations.

People take selfies in front of the Peljesac Bridge in Komarna, Croatia, Aug. 29, 2023. The bridge, a project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was opened for traffic on July 26 last year. (Xinhua/Li Xuejun)

"The circle of friends has grown larger and larger, which fully proves that the initiative does not seek to form any closed and narrow circles," said Li.

"Trade and investment have expanded steadily between China and other BRI countries in the past decade," Vice Commerce Minister Guo Tingting said at the press conference.

From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and other BRI countries reached 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, said the white paper.

The cumulative two-way investment between China and other BRI countries reached 380 billion U.S. dollars, including 240 billion U.S. dollars from China.

This aerial photo taken on May 20, 2023 shows a ceremony for the temporary diversion of the Cuanza River at the site of the Chinese-built Caculo-Cabaca Hydropower Station in Cuanza Norte province, Angola. (China Gezhouba Group Company Limited/Handout via Xinhua)

The BRI has connected the vibrant East Asia economic circle at one end with the developed European economic circle at the other, and includes the countries in between with huge potential for economic development, and also fostered closer economic cooperation with African and Latin American countries, according to the white paper.

FROM VISION TO REALITY

Since its launch 10 years ago, the BRI has evolved from ideas into actions, from a vision into reality, and from a general framework into concrete projects. It has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and a cooperation platform, said the white paper.

BRI cooperation has delivered real gains to participating countries. It has contributed to the sound development of economic globalization and helped to resolve global development challenges and improve the global governance system, according to the white paper.

It has also opened up a new path for all humanity to realize modernization, and ensured that the efforts of building a global community of shared future are delivering real results, the white paper said.

Kelvin Josephat Kituruka (front), a native of Mwanza who joined the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as a quality engineer, helps local villagers with access to drinking water in Misungwi of Mwanza Region, Tanzania, June 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Guo said in taking the next step China is working to foster new drivers of economic growth, while advancing large key projects as well as some "small yet smart" projects to help BRI participating countries lay a solid foundation for development.

China will create a pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation and host the global expo on digital trade to share development dividends with other BRI countries, Guo added.

A train drives on the China-Laos Railway's Luang Prabang cross-Mekong River super major bridge in Laos, May 28, 2023. (Photo by Chen Chang/Xinhua)

To facilitate two-way trade, Guo said China will work actively towards joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

Guo said China will also support companies from Hong Kong and Macao to participate in the construction of the Belt and Road and deepen cooperation in the green economy, digital economy and other fields, to achieve sustainable development in BRI countries.

(Video reporters: Wang Zhongfang; Video editors: Zhang Yucheng, Li Qin, Luo Hui, Zheng Xin) 
Israel battles Hamas, masses near Gaza after attack like 9/11

JERUSALEM: Israel battled Hamas fighters still holed up in southern towns yesterday (Oct 9) and massed tens of thousands of troops near the Gaza Strip after vowing to defeat the Palestinian militant group whose surprise attack the shocked nation has likened to 9/11.

violencemilitarypolitics

By AFP

Tuesday 10 October 2023 09:06 AM

Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City yesterday (Oct 9). Photo: AFP

Stunned by the unprecedented assault on its territory, a grieving Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have raised the death toll there above 430.

Were still fighting, said military spokesman Richard Hecht as army forces battled holdout Hamas fighters for a third day in at least seven locations in southern communities near the coastal enclave.

We thought by yesterday we would have full control, he said as Israeli army reservists joined the fight to clear and evacuate southern towns and kibbutz communities. I hope we will by the end of the day.

Sirens blared and rockets and anti-missiles munitions streaked through the sky to the roar of fighter jets as plumes of black smoke rose above Gaza.

Palestinians in the crowded coastal territory of 2.3 million people braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate at least 100 hostages.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Gaza civilians to get away from all Hamas sites which he has vowed to turn to rubble.

Middle East tensions have spiked as Israels arch enemy Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran yesterday rejected any role in the military operation.

Hamas has called on resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join its Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched half a century after the 1973 Arab-Israel war.

The United States has pledged rock solid support for Israel and said it would send munitions and military hardware to its key ally and divert an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean.

Alarm and revulsion

Israel, which has long enjoyed a high-tech military edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamass unprecedented ground, air and sea attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

It now faces the threat of a multi-front war after Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells from the north Sunday in solidarity with Hamas, in what some observers considered a warning shot.

Israel has voiced alarm and revulsion after more than 1,000 militants broke through the border fence Israel had deemed impregnable and swarmed through into nearby Jewish communities.

There gunmen went house to house, gunning down citizens or abducting them back into Gaza, as panicked residents cowered in their homes or died fighting back.

Among the hostages taken back into Gaza were children and a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israeli officials have said.

About 250 bodies were found strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, mostly young people, while other revellers were among the more than 100 hostages abducted into Gaza.

Israelis have voiced anger at the intelligence failure that blindsided the nation, but have attempted to put aside for now the deep political divisions of recent years as they braced for what Netanyahu has warned would be a long and difficult war.

Worst in Israeli history

Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day, said Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus.

The multi-pronged attack had brought by far the worst day in Israeli history, he said, likening it to a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbour wrapped into one.

Retaliatory air and drone strikes continued on Gaza early yesterday, AFP correspondents reported.

Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, said a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces.

The situation was dire inside Gaza, which has been blockaded by Israel since Hamas assumed control there 15 years ago, a period that has seen multiple wars with Israel.

Air strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, mosques and the central bank. The power supply has been cut and shortages loomed of essentials with all border crossing closed.

More than 120,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, said the United Nations.

The situation is unbearable psychologically and economically, said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, as she took shelter in a schools classroom with her terrified children.

Global shock waves

Many Gaza residents voiced defiance. We will not give up, and we are here to stay, said Mohammed Saq Allah, 23. This is our land, and we will not abandon our land.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces in violence that has killed 15 Palestinians since Saturday.

Pro-Palestinian groups also rallied in Iraq, Pakistan, the United States and other countries, while Germany and France were among nations stepping up security around Jewish temples and schools.

The spiralling conflict has sent shock waves around the world amid fears of a wider escalation. Oil prices soared more than 4% yesterday, amid concerns about possible supply shocks from the energy-rich region.

Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group.

Foreign nationals have been reported killed, abducted or missing in the war by countries including Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States.

In the Egyptian city of Alexandria a police officer opened fire at random on Israeli tourists Sunday, killing two of them and their Egyptian guide before he was arrested.

Israel, which has struck a series of US-brokered normalisation deals with several Arab nations in recent years, has issued a travel warning for its citizens, especially in the Middle East.
Navy seizes Indonesian trawlers off Phuket

PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has seized three Indonesian fishing boats and arrested the 40 people on board for operating in Thailands exclusive economic zone west of Phuket.

military

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 10 October 2023 12:04 PM

The RTN Third Area Command (3AC), based at Cape Panwa, reported that the 3AC Naval Operations Center was informed at 8:30am on Saturday (Oct 7) that three Indonesian fishing boats were seen operating about 46 nautical miles west of Promthep Cape, Phukets southernmost point.

Air reconnaissance at 10:50am confirmed the sighting of one Indonesian fishing vessel about 55 nautical miles west of Phuket, prompting the Navy to dispatch the HTMS Klaeng to inspect.

On Sunday (Oct 8), between 6am and 8:30am, the HTMS Klaeng found, searched and seized three Indonesian fishing boats located 70-80 nautical miles west Promthep Cape, the Navy reported yesterday.

The boats seized were named as the KM Rahmatjaya with a crew of 12 people, the KM Ikhlasbaru with a crew of 16 people; and the Kambiastar with a crew of 12 people.

All three boats and 40 people on board were brought back to Rassada Port and then taken to Chalong Police Station to be charged, the Navy confirmed

The Navy noted that people may report any illegal activities related to national security to the at 3AC Operations Center at 076-391598 or the Navy hotline 1696, or by calling the THAI-MECC 3 (Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3) Operations Center stationed at the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command base at Cape Panwa at 09-2979 8405 or the THAI-MECC 3 hotline 1465 (24 hours).
Thai death toll in Israel rises

BANGKOK: At least 1,400 Thais working in Israel have so far expressed a wish to be evacuated home to Thailand while unconfirmed accounts from Israeli employers suggest that as many as 12 Thais could have been killed in Hamas attacks, according to the Foreign Ministry.

violenceSafetymilitarypoliticsdeath

By AFP

Tuesday 10 October 2023 09:16 AM

The attack has left 700 people dead in Israel with 12 Thais reportedly among the number. Photo: AFP

The first group of 15 Thais is expected to leave Israel tomorrow (Oct 11), and a total of 1,437 have voiced an intention to return home, reports the Bangkok Post.

In an update in the late afternoon after a meeting with Thai Ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee said the first group of evacuees would be the injured who were extracted from high-risk zones.

Citing the Thai embassy in Israel, he said this group of evacuees has been cleared to travel and is expected to leave tomorrow and arrive in Thailand on Thursday.

He said the number of injured Thais rose from eight to nine while the number of those captured by Hamas remained at 11.

He said Thai authorities have been in contact with several countries trying to secure the safety and release of those captured, and the signs are positive. He added that 80 Thai students in Israel had been confirmed safe.

In the ministrys early report, where the number of deaths rose from two to 12, Mr Jakkapong said the death toll had not been confirmed by the embassy in Israel.

In the morning, Kanchana Patarachoke, the ministrys spokeswoman, said 12 Thais were killed in the violence in Israel, where a reported 700 people have so far been confirmed as dead, and the number was gathered from their employers.

However, she said the ministry would have to verify the casualties, which was a difficult process given the situation. She noted that Israeli authorities had yet to confirm the numbers.

Regarding attempts to secure the release of those captured, Ms Kanchana said the ministry is working multiple channels to negotiate their release, adding that it is waiting for an update from the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur, which will contact the Palestinian embassy there.

Thai embassies around the world are making their best efforts in securing the safety and release of the captured Thai workers, Ms Kanchana said.

Besides Israelis, Thais are among 100 or more civilian hostages taken by the Hamas attackers. Others include French, German and Georgian nationals.

The Israeli military has evacuated Thais from the conflict zone to safe areas, and Israeli authorities say they are ready to facilitate the evacuation, she said, adding Thai air force aircraft are on standby for evacuation missions.

The number of evacuees will be updated as there are about 30,000 Thais in Israel, with some 5,000 in Gaza.

Citing the Israeli Defence Ministry, Israel intended to evacuate all civilians from towns near Gaza within 24 hours. The airport remains open, and all evacuation missions are allowed.

Ms Kanchana said the evacuations would proceed as soon as it is safe to do so, and preparations are being coordinated with nearby countries for them to serve as transit points.

Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang said the air force has put on standby five C-130 planes and one Airbus 340 for the evacuation mission, which will proceed as soon as Israel gives the green light.
CANBERRA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers have tagged and tracked sawfish for the first time, revealing the vast distances covered by the endangered rays.

In a study published on Tuesday, a team from the Canberra-based national science agency, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and Charles Darwin University (CDU) in the Northern Territory successfully tracked the movements of more than 40 sawfish.

Sawfish, also known as carpenter sharks, are a family of rays characterized by a long and narrow snout known as a rostrum. They are extinct in many places worldwide and four of the five known species are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

They still survive off the coast of northern Australia, but scientific data on population sizes in the area is limited.

Of those tagged by CSIRO and CDU researchers, the largest was 5.7 meters long.

"Amazingly, this giant sawfish swam 1,000 km over a two-month period from the west side of Cape York, to near Croker Island, off the coast of the Northern Territory," Richard Pillars, co-author of the study from the CSIRO, said in a media release on Tuesday.

"I was completely astonished by the distance and speed this adult sawfish travelled ... By recovering the tag, we also got data on swimming depth and temperature throughout the track."

The researchers are working with commercial fishers from the state of Queensland and Northern Territory to record the sawfish they accidentally catch and tag them to help gather data on post-release survival rates.

"What we don't know is how many sawfish there are and what impact bycatch is having on their population status," Pillars said.

"Given they can grow up to 7 m with around 2 m of that being rostrum, releasing them can be an extremely hazardous undertaking. We are working with the fishing industry to assist them and us understand the species better."

The researcher also noted that this collaboration is crucial in helping conserve Australia's remaining sawfish population. 
Heard made his first leap off Aucklands Harbour Bridge yesterday (October 10) at 7am, and wrapped it all up at 7am this morning (October 11), after live streaming the whole thing. Whats even more epic is he managed to raise $7,679 for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand at the same time.
Do we live in a Stateless society ?

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Ningthoujam Bigyachandra Meitei

Before we discuss anything, first of all, we have to understand what a State is. According to the Constitution of India, in Part III of the Fundamental Rights Article 12, the State includes the Government and Parliament of India, the Government and the legislature of each of the State and all local authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India. Apart from that, in a State, governance is one of the key aspects that we have to deal with.

Governance has been defined to refer to political governance, structures, and processes that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad base participation. But the question is, does it apply in the State of Manipur?

In this befallen, wreaking havoc scenario of Manipur, do we really feel or consider that we have a State ? In this preplanned and engineered May 3rd, 2023 mayhem and since then more than 181 people have died, 4700+ houses were vandalised and burned down, and more than 60,000 people were displaced.Who is going to take whole responsibility for these irreplaceable losses ? The State and the Central Governments are responsible for protecting the lives of the people, property, and maintaining law and order situation but in the context of Manipur, this is very much quite contradictory.

Instead of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order, the State let the people come out on the street, arming, fighting, and killing each other to defend themselves. Is it a sign of an existing State ? Due to the malfunction of the State let by the irresponsible elected MLAs and Ministers, the people pay the price for that. This is very unfortunate, especially in the largest democratic country in the world like India.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh himself stated that the ongoing Manipur mayhem since May 3rd, 2023, is between the State Government and a group of people who want to bifurcate the integrity of Manipur. If it is so, why does the State Government let the Meitei/Meetei community become a victim who wants to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur ?

On the other side, why did Union Home Minister Amit Shah say Control the Ema Meira Paibis (women torchbearers); dont let them hinder the movement of troops; I will end the crisis within 10 days? Instead of appreciating the Meira Paibis, the Union Home Minister doubted the prime role played by the Meira Paibis in protecting the territorial integrity of the Union and Manipur. This is very unfortunate. At least he must acknowledge the role played by the Meira Paibis in the history of Manipur.

Moreover, more than 40,000 Central forces personnel have been deployed in Manipur to control the ongoing violence. But the question is, did they control the wreak mayhem of Manipur ? In lieu of controlling the mayhem situation and protecting the lives and property of the people, they use excessive power towards civilians and unarmed student protesters in the name of controlling the mob.

On May 22, 2023, the JAT Regiment and other Central forces assaulted three journalists who were covering the violent incident at New Checkon. And on May 26, 2023, night, a group of individuals, including 3 (three) RAF personnel, attacked a beef shop in the New Checkon area and attempted to set fire to it.

And on 13th June, 2023, RAF personnel were caught on camera vandalising private vehicles and the windows of residential houses in Imphal. And on June 16th, RAF personnel arrested and assaulted numerous unarmed and layman civilians. One Ningombam Sunil, a resident of Brahmapur Lalji Lakpa Leikai was reportedly assaulted at his residence without any provocation or inquiry by RAF personnel.

An ambulance of the Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur Branch, was prevented from reaching Yaingangpokpi in Imphal East by the Indian Army, violating international humanitarian law and its protocols on 24th June 2023. Many such incidents have been happening in Manipur. Even the Government has already acknowledged such unprecedented violent incidents, but they have not responded till now.

In the name of controlling the mob, the paramilitary forces, RAF, and State forces used tear gas, smoke bombs, and even live rounds and pellet guns towards the unarmed and democratic protesters. Is this truly a sign of an existing State ?

Furthermore, I would like to urge the people here that the State Government, along with the Central Government, compromised more than 181 lives of people with 10 lakhs each. Is it fear ? Where is the profound value of life ? Is life worthless and to be bargained ? Is this some kind of joke ? Do we need to think State Government exists ?

Moreover, the Solicitor General of India himself expressed that the unclaimed bodies lying in the mortuaries are Myanmar Nationals. This indicates that there is some external influence or aggression from other countries, like Myanmar, that instigate the present Manipur havoc in such an assailable way. Even the State and Central Governments have already acknowledged: why do they let the violence continue for more than 5 months and let the people die to defend themselves ? Isn't it the duty of the State and Central Government to protect the lives and properties of their citizens ?

If it is not so, what is the necessary to become a part of India ? Still, the State and Central Government let the Chin-Kuki Narco terrorist groups attack the people of Manipur, targeting the Meetei/Meitei community. Is it a sign of an existing State ? Even the Supreme Court of India stated that there was an absolute breakdown of Constitutional machinery in Manipur.

If it is so, where is the Central Government ? Why do they let the violence last for more than 5 months ? If they are genuinely concerned about Manipur, they could have controlled the violence from the beginning.

Maintaining law and order is the prime responsibility of the State. They are however maintaining law and order only in the valley areas and not in other parts of Manipur, especially in hill areas and go to the extent of using pellet guns and live round towards the unarmed students and civilian protesters in the valley.

The question is: what about in the hills ? Did they even use smoke bombs and tear gas against protesters who were carrying arms in the so-called peace rally in Churachanpur ? In the hill areas like Churachandpur, Moreh, Kangpokpi etc, Central forces and State police personnel become ZERO but in the valley areas, they just become HERO. Is this a sign of the same law being applied both in the hills and valley ? Even the Central and State forces trespassed on the fundamental rights of Article 19, Right to freedom of speech and expression, right to freedom of assembly are given in the Constitution of India.

(To be contd)


JERUSALEM, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas militants crossed into the country in a surprise attack on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday.

A total of 2,741 injured people were treated in Israeli hospitals since Saturday, including 25 who were in critical condition. Most of them have been discharged, with 544 injured people still in hospitals, it said.

A total of 4,949 rockets have been launched at Israel since Saturday, it added.

According to Israeli Defence Forces, about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in southern Israel.

The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 788 and 4,100, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Tuesday.

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza. 
What is the status of the CBI probe ? Recover the bodies

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What is the status of the probe being launched into the kidnapping and later murder of the two young students, Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit ? This question should be understood and viewed in the backdrop of the massive protest launched by young students, the prompt handing over of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the arrest of four suspects and the failure of the Government to locate the mortal remains or bodies of the two young students. Hijam Linthoi-ngambi and Phijam Hemanjit went missing on July 6 and the picture of the two, ostensibly in captivity as well as their lifeless bodies lying side by side, went viral on the social media on September 25. The protest was spontaneous with thousands of young students taking to the street and the security personnel cracking down hard on them; the Government too responded rather swiftly with the Special Director of the CBI landing at Imphal on September 27; four suspects in connection with the case picked up on October 1 and clearly the Government and its agencies appear to have responded promptly to the unfolding scenario. But it is now 10 days since the four suspects were picked up and taken to Guwahati for further investigation, but till date no one seems to know where the mortal remains of the two young students are. Or were the four persons zeroed in as suspects just to quell the initial outburst of shock and anger and bring a semblance of normalcy at Imphal and the valley districts ? Or has any progress been made in the course of the investigation and interrogation of the four suspects ? These questions are important for recovering the bodies of the two young students is central to further investigation of the case. The CBI may have their own official reason in not spelling out the stage of investigation, but this should not stop the family members of the two young students from approaching the Court of law and filing a Habeas Corpus pleading with the Court that the bodies of the two young students be produced. This could be one way of taking the case forward. Recovering the two bodies is the first step towards nailing the killers and all avenue towards this end should be explored. Good counsel is obviously needed and this can come about with the more knowledgeable persons exchanging ideas and opinions. Missing-this is established. Kept in captivity and then murdered in cold blood-the photos that went viral on the social media on September 25 underline this point. To take it forward and build a strong case of kidnapping and murder, the bodies will need to be recovered. The CBI must be working on this, but important for the people to acknowledge that the case is far from over.

As pointed out in earlier commentaries in this column, Manipur may expect more upheavals when the fate of the over 20 still missing persons come to light. Over 5 months, hundreds killed, many still missing, numerous houses destroyed and levelled to the ground, thousands living in relief centres and not a single word from the Prime Minister, save for the strong exception expressed when the nude videoshot of two girls went viral. More than clear that Imphal and New Delhi just do not have it in them to address and see how best to deal with the situation. What would be the best step forward is the question that must be plaguing the minds of everyone, but the reality is, no one seems to have any idea, much less any suggestion to move forward. The shooting and killing may have come down in the last few days, but to equate this with walking the road to normalcy would be missing the trees for the woods. The past few months should more than underline the fact that it will take just a stray incident to set the ball of violence and hatred rolling again in all its might. It should be more than clear that it will take more than Imphal to set things right and walk the road to normalcy and for this to happen, Delhi has to act. Mere words that foreign elements are involved in fomenting violence here would not be enough, for the situation calls for the country to act. As pointed out in an earlier commentary, Imphal would need to act on this and give the foreign element stand of the NIA a political push. This is one way of letting Delhi act.
Police vehicles gather around the synagogue where a shooting took place in Poway, California, the United States, April 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

From New York to California and Florida, multiple U.S. states are enhancing security to Jewish mosques and synagogues following the attacks by militants from Gaza on Israel on Saturday.

HOUSTON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday the second largest U.S. state is allocating 4 million U.S. dollars to secure 31 Jewish schools, synagogues and other institutions amid raging Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"Working with local partners across Texas, we are actively increasing security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools," Abbott said in a statement.

The governor's office said Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to "work with local partners and federal intelligence agencies on heightened public safety measures, with an intensified focus by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Texas Fusion Center to elevate awareness about potential threats by Hamas or Hezbollah organizations against the Jewish community in Texas."

Meanwhile, the governor issued an executive order directing all state agencies to refrain from purchasing goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced enhanced security at synagogues and "other potential venues" in the fourth largest U.S. city.

From this week, police in New Orleans, the largest city in U.S. southern coastal state of Louisiana, have deployed officers and added patrols to synagogues, Jewish communities and other Jewish institutions.

"The New Orleans Police Department is aware of the situation in the Middle East," said New Orleans police Superintendent Anne E. Kirkpatrick in a statement on Sunday.

The city's Jewish community has about 12,000 members, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department told local media that the decision was precautionary.

A woman runs past Young Israel, a synagogue at the center of a one-mile-radius containment area in New Rochelle, New York State, the United States, March 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

From New York to California and Florida, multiple U.S. states are enhancing security to Jewish mosques and synagogues following the attacks by militants from Gaza on Israel on Saturday, according to local media reports.

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City which hosts the largest Jewish population in the world outside Israel, said on Monday he had directed the police "to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe."

As a precaution, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also "directed the New York State Police to work with local law enforcement to ensure Jewish community spaces are safe."

In California's Los Angeles area, which has the second-largest Jewish population outside Israel, police have also deployed extra patrols in Jewish and Muslim communities from this week.

A rabbi in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was forced to stop services on Sunday and evacuate the synagogue after the congregation received a bomb threat. Salt Lake City police officers searched three local Jewish institutions but did not find anything suspicious, CNN reported.

Jewish Insider reported on Monday that holiday festivities will continue as usual but that they are increasing security measures as hate crimes targeting diaspora Jews tend to spike when there is conflict in Israel.

According to the Jewish Insider report, the Community Security Service (CSS), an organization that has trained more than 3,000 volunteers around the United States to protect synagogues and other Jewish institutions, has sent detailed guidance for the coming days and weeks as they are anticipating a heightened threat level on American Jews.

"In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday.

The Israeli government formally declared war and greenlighted "significant military steps" to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military labored into Monday to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

More than 1,000 people have been killed, with thousands wounded on both sides, according to media reports. 
In a significant display of political mobilisation, Matua community representatives gathered in front of the Raj Bhavan on Sunday in the presence of several community members carrying their community flags in the backdrop of political tension.

There has been a tussle betweentherulingTrinamul Congress ( TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the amended citizenship law (CAA).

While both parties claimed to work towards addressing the concerns of the Matua community, the amended citizenship law remains inef- fective, leaving many Matua community members dissatisfied.

This dissatisfaction has created an atmosphere of discontent that the BJP seeks to capitalise on. On Monday, Sukanta Majumdar, the state president of the BJP, is set to visit Thakunagar.

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While he downplayed the significance of his visit, referring to it as a courtesy call, sources within the BJP have revealed that Sukanta Majumdar is expected to arrive in Thakurnagar at 5pm, hinting at political discussions to follow.

Local BJP leader Subrata Thakur will also be present at the meeting, and the partic- ipation of Shantanu Thakur, the Member of Parliament from Bongaon and central minister, remains unconfirmed.

The Matua community holds a significant electoral influence, as seen in previous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

However, their impact on the local panchayat elections has been less pronounced, and internal conflicts among Matua groups have posed challenges for the BJP in these areas.

Despite repeated assurances from the central government, the amended citi- zenship law has yet to be implemented effectively.

The BJPs efforts to win over Matua votes have faced resist- ance in the face of this unful- filled promise.

Recently, Mamatabala Thakur, former TMC MP and daughter-in-law of Binapani Devi, known as Barama at Thakurnagar, led a gathering in Kolkata on 3 October. Although the event did not make significant headlines, it hinted at the Matua com- munitys growing political engagement.

As the state BJP leadership continues to lobby for Matua community support, the effec- tiveness of these efforts remains to be seen.

The Matua communitys votes are a crucial factor in Bengal politics and Sukanta Majumdars visit to Thakurnagar on Monday may provide further insights into the BJPs strategy in courting this influential community.
Calcutta High Court today in a strong observation to the Centres counsel asked why the Centre had withheld the wages of a section of the people, who had done their work under the 100 days MGNREGA scheme.

The Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam of Calcutta High Court observed that the court does not favour any illegal act but why a fraction of the people, who worked under the MGNREGA scheme, are denied wages?

In reply, the counsel for the Centre contended that the funds allotted for the 2021-22 financial year had already been exhausted but the state did not send compliance reports but instead fake job cards were procured. Due to lack of transparency, the funds had been put on hold.

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To this, the court also asked the state to take steps to fund the wages being put on hold by the Centre till such date the Centre finishes its examina- tion of the compliance report by the state.

The Chief Justice also observed that it was the duty of both the state and the dis- trict administrations to lend cooperation to help facilitate the sending of compliance report to get the process done till then it was the duty of the state to protect the interest of the workers by way of funding.
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has renewed and restructured the Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). This MoU is for academic collaboration between the two esteemed Institutions.

The signing ceremony for the MoU took place in the presence of Prof Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, CA Aniket Sunil Talati, President, ICAI, the dignitaries of ICAI and the faculty members of SOMS, IGNOU. The MoU was signed by CA Jai Kumar Batra, Secretary, ICAI, and Dr. Alok Chaube, Registrar of IGNOU.

CA Dayaniwas Sharma, Chairman, BoS, ICAI appreciated that so far 48522 BCOMAF and 8650 students of MCOMFT have benefitted from the previous MoU and expressed his satisfaction with the continuance of this academic collaboration.

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Prof MS Senam Raju, Director of School of Management Studies, expressed his satisfaction with the restructuring of the MoU and explained that the need arises for this MOU in the light of NEP 2020 and the curriculum and credit framework of the UGC.

He also informed that the School of Management Studies has already signed similar revised MoUs with ICSI and ICAI (CMA) and thanked the Vice Chancellor for his instinctive support and encouragement for such institutions and industrial collaborations.

CA Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice President, ICAI said education is the only means for survival of the fittest. This MOU will provide an opportunity for ICAI students to acquire education in multidisciplinary and diverse areas.

CA Aniket Sunil Talati, President, ICAI, this MoU will provide a unique opportunity for ICAI students to acquire academic qualifications without any effect on the practical knowledge during article-ship.

He expressed that ICAI and IGNOU will jointly play a pivotal role in providing academic and practical exposure to the students. The large scale of educational operations of both institutions will further strengthen and reach the expectations of the nation.

Prof Nageshwar Rao, the Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, informed that the IGNOU is the largest university in the world in terms of its enrollment. At present, 35 lakh students are on roles and 38 lakh have been passed out.

The IGNOU has a presence in 58 countries with an enrolment of 5,000 students. He also highlighted the commonalities between both institutions like academic operations/activities, international presence, large enrolments, etc. He expressed that this MoU will give the mutual benefit with affordable flexible learning processes to the students.
As artificial intelligence (AI)-propelled use cases emerge across industries, India which is playing a leading role in helping other countries improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase financial inclusion and create new opportunities, has the true potential to emerge as global leader in digital AI economy, says Raghu Raghuram, Indian-origin CEO of enterprise cloud services major VMware.

Raghuram told IANS that VMware is committed to supporting India in achieving its digital transformation goals.

In fact, VMware works closely with the government, BFSI, IT/ITES and other segments. The scale and versatility of the customers we interact with help us to learn and then to build those key learnings into our product strategy, he noted.

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Since joining VMware in 2003, Raghuram has helped steer the companys strategic direction and its technology evolution throughout VMwares rich history.

He is fascinated by Indias Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that has the potential to revolutionise the way that governments and businesses deliver services to citizens.

Indias DPI is open, interoperable, and inclusive, which makes it attractive to countries around the world and creates the potential to play a significant role at a global level. In addition to the above, India is also working to promote its DPI solutions at a global level, Raghuram emphasised.

For example, the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), provides a virtual repository of DPI solutions that can be used by other countries and international organisations such as the World Bank.

The global recognition of Indias DPI  like the unified payments interface (UPI) and Aadhaar  has demolished the old normals.

The G20 leaders recently committed to adopt, build and maintain Global Digital Public Infrastructure and also agreed to foster a wholesome and safe digital ecosystem, and a resilient global digital economy.

According to Raghuram, many of Indias largest banks, both public sector and private, run their UPI workloads on VMware infrastructure.

UPI is a challenging use case as the number of transactions per month crossed 10 billion in August as well as in September, growing over 50 per cent over last year.

At the individual bank level, the workload can be tough to predict with spikes driven by market events, like festivals or e-commerce sales. Banks rely on VMwares robust and scalable infrastructure to ensure that their customers have a consistent, high-quality experience, the top VMware executive told IANS.

On the growing buzz around AI, he said that Private AI is VMwares architectural approach to generative AI.

VMware Private AI unlocks the business gains from generative AI with the practical privacy and compliance needs of an organisation by prioritising data gravity, data privacy and control, and access control and auditability.

Private AI is about the platform and infrastructure architecture built in support of generative AI, which can be deployed in public clouds, virtual private clouds, data centres, and at the edge, he informed.

Private clouds can be architected to satisfy the requirements of Private AI but are not a requirement. The importance lies in ensuring that the privacy and control requirements are satisfied, regardless of where AI models and data are deployed.

Raghuram said that with a focus on enterprise use cases, VMware Private AI can help boost an enterprises productivity through improved performance, faster time-to-value, and increased efficiency.

The performance of our Private AI offerings is equal to, and even exceeds, bare metal in some machine learning inference use cases as proven in recent industry benchmarks, he noted.

Additionally, he said, because AI environments need to be elastic and highly responsive to users, the offering enables available resources to be provisioned within seconds, thus speeding up time-to-value.
In a move towards enhancing the global penetration of Indian culture, Patanjali Institute signed an agreement with Daegu Hanny University, a renowned institution in South Korea.

This is a step forward towards spreading Indian culture and the best Indian medical systems of Yoga-Ayurveda in the entire world.

On the partnership, President of Daegu Haany University, Byun Chang-hoon, felt honored to have got the opportunity to enter into an agreement with Patanjali, the largest university of Indias Ayurveda and Yoga tradition.

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Now we will be able to make our students and researchers more knowledgeable with this ancient wisdom of India, he said.

Byun Chang-hoon greatly praised the research and service work being done by Patanjali, and seemed confident of enriching Koreas medical tradition in the future with the cooperation of Patanjali.

Speaking on the partnership, Acharya Balkrishna Ji Maharaj, General Secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth, said, Joint collaboration of two institutions will prove to be a milestone in the establishment of traditional knowledge in the world.

Meeting of the largest institute of Korea with the largest institute of Indian traditional Yoga-Ayurveda working in India will prove to be a milestone in the establishment of traditional knowledge in the entire world in the future, he believed.

Through this agreement, both the institutions will together play a big role in building a happy, peaceful, healthy and prosperous world. We are happy and confident that we will be able to complete this work at a fast pace, he said.

Daegu Haany University is the largest and oldest university amongst the 12 universities of Traditional Medicine System and Research of Korea. With this partnership, a big work of research on Ayurveda will be done.

In order to establish the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga in Korea, Korean students will come to India to study in Patanjali University and Patanjali teachers and students will exchange their knowledge to acquire knowledge of Korean Medicine System.

In future we will also work together in the field of manufacturing and research of herbal products, Acharya Balkrishna Ji Maharaj told.

Daegu Haany University President Byun Chang-hoon, Vice President Moon Seop Kim, Professor Soon A. Park and Deputy Dean and Public Relations Officer Ch. Chang Tsang were present in the program.

Under the leadership of Acharya Balkrishna ji, Dr. Anurag Varshney, Vice President and Chief Scientist of Patanjali Research Institute, Dr. Heero Hitto, senior advisor of the University Research Committee of Subharti University, Meerut, and others were present on behalf of Patanjali.
Ravi Mehra assumed the charge as Executive Director of Punjab & Sind Bank on Monday.

Prior to his elevation as executive director of the Punjab & Sind Bank, Mehra was general manager in the same bank since April 01, 2020.

A postgraduate in Commerce, Mehra started his career in banking with the Punjab & Sind Bank in the year 1988. He is a Certified Associate member of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB). In a career spanning over three decades, he gained vast experience and expertise in retail lending, priority sector, HRD, financial inclusion, planning, development, and Cenmarg.

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While working as general manager in the Punjab & Sind Bank, he made a significant contribution to retail, agriculture & MSME(RAM) credit and Cenmarg.
The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday directed the Bank of Baroda to suspend, with immediate effect, any further onboarding of their customers onto the bob World mobile application.

The central bank said in its notification that the action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the manner of onboarding of their customers onto this mobile application.

In its direction, the RBI said: Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the bob World application will be subject to rectification of the deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI.

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The RBI has exercised its power under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Bank of Baroda has been further directed to ensure that already onboarded bob World customers do not face any disruption on account of this suspension.

In July, a report by Al Jazeera accused the bank of tampering with the accounts to boost registrations on its mobile app. The bank denied reports of tampering and said consent-based process was being followed.

In a statement, the Bank of Baroda said: The bank reiterates that a full system authenticated, and customer consent-based process is currently being followed for undertaking any mobile banking app registrations in the bank. The bank has a current mobile banking activated user base of three crore customers, all of whom are linked to a unique mobile number seeded with their bank account.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Okhla Amanatullah Khan said here on Tuesday that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken away his mobile phone after questioning him and searching his house for 12 hours.

Stating that the search operation was conducted in connection with a CBI case of 2016, the AAP MLA said finding nothing incriminating against him during the 12 hours of search, the probe agency took away his phone.

Speaking to the media after ED sleuths left, he said the CBI had already filed a chargesheet in the case and a hearing of the same was due this month.

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The ED conducted raids at AAP MLA Amanatullah Khans premises here over alleged irregularities in the functioning of Waqf board, sources said.

Khan (49), who represents the Okhla constituency, is being probed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on FIRs registered against him by the anti corruption bureau and the CBI.

The development came close on the heels of the arrest of AAP leader Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case.

The ruling party condemned the raids in the strongest terms. Party MP Raghav Chadha asked why the Central agencies are silent in BJP-ruled states and are violent in the states ruled by Opposition parties.

Addressing a press conference, he said during the UPA regime, from 2004 to 2014, the ED conducted raids at 112 places, while the number of such raids went up to 3,100 locations between 2014 and 2023 under the BJP rule.

Chadha further said that 95 per cent of the cases registered by the ED and the CBI are against the Opposition leaders. The Central government has jailed several of the AAP leaders under false cases and this could only be done by forces scared of the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Shortly after a fake account impersonating Nobel Laureate Claudia Goldin spread a false rumor about the demise of renowned economist Amartya Sen, heartfelt condolences began to flow in. However, Sens family has swiftly clarified that he is, in fact, alive and well.

Taking to Twitter to address the concerned well-wishers, Amartya Sens daughter, Nandana, posted a reassuring message. She wrote, Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever!

Friends, thanks for your concern but its fake news: Baba is totally fine. We just spent a wonderful week together w/ family in Cambridgehis hug as strong as always last night when we said bye! He is teaching 2 courses a week at Harvard, working on his gender bookbusy as ever! pic.twitter.com/Fd84KVj1AT Advertisement  Nandana Sen (@nandanadevsen) October 10, 2023

Amartya Sen currently holds the prestigious position of Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, concurrently serving as a Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University. Notably, he previously held the role of Master at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

In recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to the field of welfare economics, Sen was honored with the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998. The following year, he received Indias highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, for his remarkable contributions to the nation.

These clarifications from Sens family have put to rest the unfounded rumors of his passing, assuring his well-wishers and the academic community that the esteemed economist continues to thrive and contribute actively to the realms of academia and economics.
GAZA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has warned Gazans of imminent Israeli attacks on the only crossing point between the north African country and the Palestinian enclave and urged them to evacuate from the area, the Gaza-based Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesperson Iyad al-Bozzom said in a press statement that Israeli warplanes had attacked the Rafah crossing early on Tuesday for the second time in the past 48 hours to obstruct the entry and exit of passengers via the crossing.

The Egyptian authorities managing the crossing have warned of the risks of Israeli bombings and asked the Palestinians to leave the area, according to al-Bozzom.

At least two Palestinian government employees were injured in the Israeli attacks, a Palestinian medical worker told Xinhua.

A Palestinian eyewitness who requests anonymity said many Gazans had to return to their homes after failing to travel to Egypt, while dozens of Palestinians are now stranded on the Egyptian side of the crossing. 
With the Election Commission of India announcing dates for the assembly polls in five states, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that the Congress will form the government again in Rajasthan.

Today, the election schedule of five states was announced. We welcome this. The public is eager to announce their mandate. Rajasthan will go to polls on November 23. The entire party is ready, Sachin Pilot said.

He further exuded confidence that Congress will form government once again in Rajasthan.

I am confident that what didnt happen in the last 25-30 years will happen this year and Congress will form Government once again in the stateAs per the feedback we are receiving, Congress is strong in all of the statesI believe that in the 2023 elections, Congress will form government in all states, he added.

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Earlier today, the Election Commission announced the schedule for assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.

Elections will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3 for all five states.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar made the announcement of poll dates at a press conference in New Delhi. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates in these states.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates.

The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year.

Congress and BJP are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

In the 2018 elections, the Congress party secured 100 seats, in Rajasthan which was short of majority by one seat (as 101 seats are required to form the government). Later, it formed the government with Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BJP had secured 73 seats, much fewer than those in the previous election in which it had won a majority of 163 seats.
The Karnataka government has announced its decision to include Urdu Kavi Goosti, also known as Mushaira, as part of the Dasara festival in the state. This cultural celebration will feature renowned Urdu poets from across the country.

Esteemed poets like Latha Haya from Jaipur, Rahi Fidahi from Kadapa, Raju Riyaz from Delhi, Jagtiyal, and Shahid Adil from Hyderabad, Shabana Shabnam from Bhopal, Rahat Hazarat from Tamil Nadu, and Firoz Sholapuri from Maharashtra will participate in this grand Mushaira event.

Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka, is all set to be observed from October 15th to 24th in the city of Mysuru. The inclusion of Urdu Kavi Goosti in the festivities aims to pay tribute to the cultural heritage associated with Tipu Sultan.

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Former Minister and BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar, however, expressed his reservations about the decision to feature Urdu prominently in Dasara. He questioned why Urdu was receiving such prominence in a festival that serves as a platform to celebrate Kannada culture. Kumar went on to suggest that this move might be an attempt to appease certain voter demographics.

The language demographics in Mysore, as per the 2011 census, reveal that 21.2% of the population speaks Urdu. However, the majority converses in Kannada, accounting for 60.51%. Telugu and Tamil also have a significant portion of the speakers, at 4.82% and 4.58%, respectively.

The inclusion of Urdu Kavi Goosti has sparked a debate over the emphasis on linguistic diversity within the festival. Some argue that it celebrates the multicultural fabric of the state. Others are concerned about preserving the traditional focus on Dasara culture in this cherished annual event.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for October 31 a batch of petitions including one by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) challenging the Electoral Bond Scheme that allows anonymous funding to political parties, as the court was told that such funding promoted corruption.

The Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, heading a bench also comprising Justice J B Paridwala and Justice Manoj Misra, said it would hear the arguments in the case on October 31 and if they remain inconclusive on that day, it will continue on November 1 as well.

Petitioners counsel and Attorney General have made preliminary submissions. Compilations have been filed. If further submissions to be made, it is to be filed by October 27. Soft copies to be compiled by nodal counsel. Matter to be listed for final hearing on October 31 and should there be a spill over it shall continue till November 1, the bench said in its order.

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However, upon clarification that the issue regarding certain laws that were brought as money bill is yet to be adjudicated by the seven-judge bench, the petitioners told the bench that, for now, they would not argue on their challenge to the introduction and passage of the electoral bond scheme as a money bill.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO ADR, told the bench that the anonymous nature of the funding also promoted corruption as it allowed companies, who had received certain benefits from the government of certain parties, to anonymously donate to those political parties.

This was in continuation of his arguments made in the past hearings that amendments made through the Finance Acts of 2016 and 2017, both passed as Money Bills, have opened the floodgates to unlimited political donations.

Electoral bond is an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond which can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person is a citizen of India or body is incorporated or established in India. The bonds are issued specifically for the purpose of funding political parties.

The government has all through defended the electoral bond scheme, describing it as completely transparent, that takes care of unaccounted funding of the political parties. The Centre has urged the top court to hear it before deciding whether the matter needs to be referred to the constitution bench.

The Association for Democratic Reforms, which monitors the criminal antecedents of the candidates of various parties, has alleged that the ruling party had received more than 60% of total electoral bonds in the audit of the parties in two years of 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The NGO has noted that even the Election Commission and the Reserve Bank of India had in 2017 objected to the electoral bonds, advising against their issuance as a mode of donation to the political parties.

Various petitions are pending before the top court challenging amendments made to different statutes through Finance Act 2017 and Finance Act 2016 on the ground that they have opened doors to unlimited, unchecked funding of political parties.
A fire broke out in a flat in the Estonian Royal Society at Ambegaon Budruk in Pune city on Monday evening.

Three fire tenders reached the site and managed to put the fire under control, an official said.

No injuries or casualties were reported at the time of filing this report.

Further details are awaited.

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India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to promote investments in each other in the new and renewable energy sector.

On the second day of his visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday, Union Power Minister R K Singh held bilateral discussions with Saudi Minister of Investment H.E. Khalid Al-Falih. Later, Mr Singh addressed a gathering of Saudi business personalities and investors and invited them to invest in India in the new and renewable energy sectors like solar energy, wind power, green hydrogen, etc.

All major business houses in Saudi Arabia including ACWA Power, Alfanar, AWJ Energy, Almajdouie, Abdulkarim, Aljomaih Energy and Water Company, Kanoo Industrial & Energy, L&T, Nesma Renewable Energy, Petromin, NextGen Infra participated in the meet.

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Mr Singh along with the delegation also visited the Sudair Solar Power Plant in Riyadh. The plant is the largest Solar plant in the Kingdom and the work is executed by an Indian company. Saudi-India Business Council also hosted a dinner in honour of the Indian minister.

On the first day of his visit on 8 October, Mr Singh led the Indian delegation in the high-level segment of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023, which is being held in Riyadh. He also participated in the high-level ministerial panel on, Advancing the Energy Transition in the MENA region: Advancing inclusivity and circularity for just and Equitable Energy Transitions, as part of the MENA Climate Week.

An MoU between India and Saudi Arabia in the fields of Electrical Interconnections, Green/Clean Hydrogen, and Supply Chains was signed between the Indian minister and the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week in Riyadh.
Days after the Supreme Court asked the Union government to conduct a survey of the land allotted for the construction of a part of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the apex court has affirmed Haryanas rights over the SYL canal.

Addressing farmers at an agricultural fair in Hisar on Tuesday, the chief minister said the canal would unquestionably be constructed in compliance with the Supreme Courts directives.

In this context, Khattar drew attention to the doublespeak of the Aam Aadmi Party. He said the farmers of Haryana understand those indulging in double-faced politics and that their duplicity wont work in Haryana.

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Justifying Haryanas rightful claim over the SYL Canal, he said its implementation is indispensable for the compliance of the Supreme Courts decision.

Reiterating his governments commitment to the welfare of farmers of Haryana, he praised them for their exceptional contribution to the states economy, not only in the realm of agriculture but also across various fields.

The emotive issue of the SYL has political parties in both Punjab and Haryana competing with each other in championing the causes of their respective states in the matter.

In Punjab, both the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress held protests in Chandigarh over the SYL issue. The Punjab Congress held a sit-in demonstration to raise voice for the rights of Punjab on the issue of SYL.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring asserted, The Congress party wont let a single drop of Punjabs water go anywhere and will continue the struggle in the same way.

On the other hand, Mr. Badal, stating that water is a natural resource for Punjab just like coal is for Chhattisgarh and marble for Rajasthan, alleged that this resource has been unilaterally taken away from us by successive Congress governments from 1955 when half of the river waters were given to Rajasthan and then in 1976 when another half of the remaining water was given to Haryana.

He said former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal tried to correct this injustice by filing a case in the apex court challenging Article 78 of the Reorganization Act which bestowed power to the central government to allocate water resources to the new States. However, in 1981 former prime minister Indira Gandhi prevailed upon Darbara Singh to withdraw this case from the Supreme Court and agree to the construction of the SYL canal which was subsequently ceremoniously inaugurated by Indira Gandhi in 1982.

Leading the SAD protest march towards the Punjab CMs residence in Chandigarh, party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged the Aam Aadmi Party is readying to give more of the states river waters to Haryana and Rajasthan to derive political advantage in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

He said the Punjab government expressed its willingness to give water to Haryana but for protests from the opposition and the issue of acquisition of land for SYL whose land was returned back to farmers by former CM Parkash Singh Badal in 2016.
The authorities of Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata have rejected the plea of former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee for a full-time assistant in his cell.

Chatterjee, who is in judicial custody at this correctional home because of his alleged involvement in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal, made the application on health grounds.

State correctional services department sources said that following Chatterjees plea, the prison authorities got him medically examined at the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital. Finally, based on the medical report from SSKM the correction home authorities turned down Chatterjees plea.

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However, the home authorities have maintained that in case the former minister wishes to do some physical exercises, he can be provided with an assistant for the same.

State correctional service department insiders said that the home authorities have been advised to adopt an extremely cautious approach regarding such special appeals from Chatterjee, considering that the prison authorities had earlier been censured by the court for allowing the former minister to wear his ring while in judicial custody.

The court described that development as a blatant violation of prison manuals.

Incidentally, Chatterjee and his close associate Arpita Mukherjee, a co-accused in the case will be presented at PMLA special court in Kolkata on Tuesday. Another accused Trinamool Congress legislator Jiban Krishna Saha, who is also serving his judicial custody in the same case, will also be produced there on Tuesday.
Troops of Trishakti Corps Indian Army have undertaken operations at a massive efforts to reconnect isolated villages in North Sikkim. Army has established link up with Rabom village and rescue of over 150 civilians is underway, a senior officer said today.

The focus of the operations are towards restoring connectivity to North Sikkim through Chungthang, which was the worst affected during the devastating flood.

According to him, Troops of Indian Army undertook a challenging operation through difficult terrain and have reached the isolated village of Rabom, North West of Chungthang and rescue of 150-200 civilians are underway today.

Series of meetings with the Sikkim Government and all agencies have been held and ground reconnaissance has been carried out by the team, in some of which, even the Chief Minister of Sikkim, PS Tamang was present.

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The CM has assured of all assistance in terms of availability of land, forest clearance for the reconstruction work, an Army officer said. In the immediate, account has been taken of all tourists and locals in the areas of Chaten, Lachen, Lachung and Thangu in North Sikkim. A list of 2000 tourists including 63 foreign nationals has been compiled and assistance is being provided in terms of food, medical aid, accommodation and telephone connectivity, he added.

According to him, over the last five days multipronged efforts have been launched ensuring sustenance of all places cut off by troops present there, reaching out to places cut off and where troops are not present, restoration of communication and connectivity to the cut off places for immediate use, damage assessment and planning for long term reconstruction work.

Another action being undertaken by the Indian Army is to reconnect the villages that have been cut off. A log bridge over Lachen Chu connecting Chungthang to Pegong has been completed by troops of Indian Army along with ITBP & locals.

Meanwhile Indian Army and BRO with assistance of ITBP troops is launching a foot bridge from Chungthang side.

Assessment of the damages and plans for restoring road communication in the entire state has been completed by DG BRO and Senior Engineers of the Indian Army.

Notably, special teams were launched on 7 October for opening route to Chaten via Rabom. The teams, launched from Chaten and Chungthang side moved over difficult terrain under inclement weather and reached Rabom village on night of 8 October.

A foot link up has thus been established and assistance is being provided to the 150-200 civilians stranded in the area. A helpline was established through which, relatives of all the tourists are being informed about the wellbeing of the tourists. This effort will continue till they are evacuated. With the improvement in weather, air evacuation of tourists have started today, an Army said.

Signalers of Trishakti Corps continue their efforts to restore communication link to North Sikkim by working round the clock, he added. As part of these efforts, Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) has been crossed over Teesta River at a new location and OFC Based communication has been restored from Rangrang till Chungthang.

Efforts are underway to restore OFC based communication till Lachung and Lachen after which, the BTS of BSNL can start working and mobile communication will be restored in North Sikkim.

To ensure sustenance of the people at Chungthang, rations have been provided to the Gurudwara at Chungthang. Medical aid is being provided at all locations and so far more than 1500 patients have been treated by the Trishakti Healers.
In an important decision, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to extend the retirement age for doctors in the government sector by three years with a rider. Now, doctors who are working in hospitals as physicians can avail the benefit, while those doctors who are in administrative posts will retire at the age of 62 years.

The decision was taken in the UP cabinet meeting held here on Tuesday.

The move, while welcomed by hospital-based doctors, has annoyed doctors holding administrative posts within the medical field. Under the new policy, doctors classified as Level I, Level II, Level III, and Level IV in the Public Health and Medical Services (PHMS) system will have their retirement age increased from 62 to 65.

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This extension aims to ensure that experienced physicians continue to serve the healthcare sector, Suresh Khanna, UPs finance minister, said while briefing reporters.

However, doctors holding administrative positions from Level V to Level VII will still be subject to the previous retirement age of 62. Those desiring to continue their service beyond this age will be required to relinquish their administrative roles and return to hospital-based positions, Khanna said.

Khanna explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, This move has been made to ensure that our healthcare system benefits from the expertise of seasoned physicians for a longer period. Doctors in administrative positions who wish to continue their service beyond the age of 62 will have the option to do so but only by transitioning back to hospital roles.

The decision aims to strike a balance between retaining experienced medical professionals in the hospital setting and ensuring administrative roles are open to new talent and fresh perspectives. It also aligns with the governments efforts to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in the state.

The extension of the retirement age for hospital physicians is expected to be met with mixed reactions, with some doctors applauding the opportunity to continue their contributions to patient care, while others may find themselves adjusting to new roles as they approach the age of 62.

Presently there are around 19,500 posts of doctors in the state, in which there are only 11,500 doctors currently working.

Meanwhile, in a bid to accelerate industrial development across the state, the UP government has unveiled a ground-breaking plan to establish an industrial belt along its expressways. A generous sum of Rs 3,000 crore in interest-free loans has been allocated to the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to facilitate this ambitious project.

Additionally, the government has given the green light to the creation of a Pharma Park in Lalitpur.
The Congress on Tuesday called the Rs 44-crore aid extended by the BJP-led government at the Centre to Sikkim too small an amount to mitigate the scale of devastation the state has faced.

The grand old party urged the Centre to step up aid to the northeastern state affected by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) so that it could compensate for the losses it incurred on account of the natural disaster.

It may be mentioned that the government approved the release of Rs 44.80 crore to Sikkim from its share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) last week.

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Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Congress MP and Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said, The Central government should focus on the state of Sikkim in its hour of need. What we are facing in Sikkim is unprecedented. The damage, and loss in connectivity is unprecedented.

Recounting the misery of the people of Sikkim, he said thousands have been displaced. Many died while many of those who survived the calamity are living in relief camps.

He pointed out that connectivity to the border areas has been lost which, he said, raises the concerns of strategic and border security. The areas are inaccessible to the Indian Armed Forces. We cannot afford to remain immune from the vulnerability of any of our areas, he added.

The Congress urged the Central government to send a senior Cabinet minister to review the situation. Gogoi said in such a situation, it would be better if the Union home minister could visit the state. Even the prime minister can take time off his busy poll campaign schedule to visit Sikkim for a firsthand account of the situation on the ground.

The Union home minister doesnt seem to have time to visit Sikkim. The prime minister, who is engaged in the election campaign, is content with a tweet. With this one post, he seems to have finished his duty. Both the prime minister and the home minister are conspicuously missing from the scene, said the Congress leader.

Referring to the Manipur situation, he said, Another northeastern state is facing a manmade disaster with ethnic violence going on unabated. The devastated people of the state are awaiting succour from the Centre, but the prime minister has yet to respond to their SoS.

Hundreds have lost their lives while thousands have been forced to take refuge in relief camps ever since ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3. With no effort from the Centre to assuage frayed tempers the cauldron of violence is left to simmer to date.

Opposition parties blame the BJP-led Central Government for the situation in the state. Time and again they demanded the dismissal of incumbent Chief Minister N Biren Singh, but the government paid no heed to their demand.
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has welcomed the secondary listing of a $750 million Green Bond by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), the global clean energy powerhouse based in Abu Dhabi.

The 10-year bond, which was 5.6 times oversubscribed, carries a 4.875 per cent coupon rate and will mature in July 2033. It aims to fund new clean energy projects. The issuance was assigned an A2 rating by Moodys and A+ by Fitch.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate and Chairman of Masdar, said: Masdar is proud to be listing our first Green Bond on ADX in the UAEs capital city of Abu Dhabi where Masdar was first established in 2006. With the proceeds of this bond issuance being used predominantly to finance new greenfield renewable projects in developing countries, this initiative is advancing our global investment in developing and emerging economies where it is needed most. Ahead of COP28, Masdars Green Bond bridges the financing gap between the Global North and the Global South, meeting a critical need for an equitable and inclusive energy transition.

Hisham Khalid Malak, Chairman of ADX, said: We are excited to support Masdar in their first green bond listing and expand our platform to provide investors with a wider range of asset classes. As the demand for diversified income streams continues to grow, this addition strengthens our role as a catalyst for growth and a driver of sustainable investment.

He added: By offering access to companies with strong green strategies, we are proud to contribute to the UAE's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This national drive aligns with our commitment to supporting sustainable projects and helping investors find opportunities that align with their sustainability goals

In the lead-up to COP 28 in the UAE, ADX has seen an increase in the number of green bonds listed this year. This comes as part of issuers efforts to deploy capital towards sustainable and clean energy projects.

Last month, ADX welcomed the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) secondary listing of dual-tranche bonds valued at $1.5 billion on ADX, and earlier in 2023, Sweihan PV Power Company made a secondary bond listing of $700 million green bonds. - TradeArabia News Service
People carry bodies of Palestinians who died in an Israeli airstrike, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire even before the sudden escalation of violence over the weekend. Now it would only deteriorate exponentially.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- More than 123,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza as a result of ongoing Israeli attacks, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday.

Israeli airstrikes and shelling have hit houses and apartment buildings, with four large residential towers in Gaza City destroyed. Six healthcare workers have been killed and four others injured, with seven healthcare facilities and nine ambulances damaged, said the office.

Damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has undermined services to more than 400,000 people in Gaza. The Gaza Power Plant is now the only source of electricity and could run out of fuel within days, it warned.

The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) estimates that more than half of those displaced are sheltering in dozens of schools. UNRWA has designated emergency shelters to host them and provide critical aid, said the office.

Cash assistance is also urgently needed for both displaced people and host communities in Gaza. Humanitarian partners are working to provide dignity kits and psychosocial support for affected families, it added.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food for up to 100,000 internally displaced people in Gaza, who are seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters, with fresh bread and canned food, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In the next few days, the WFP plans on starting to roll out assistance to up to 800,000 people with food and cash assistance as the situation develops, provided the necessary funding is made available. The WFP needs 16.8 million U.S. dollars to reach 805,000 people in the next month, he told a daily press briefing.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

The aid was from pre-positioned supplies, which are not endless. At some point in the not-too-distant future, the world body will run out of supplies unless more can come in, warned the spokesman.

Guterres on Monday said he was deeply distressed by Israel's announcement that it would initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, with nothing allowed in - no electricity, food, or fuel.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire even before the sudden escalation of violence over the weekend. Now it would only deteriorate exponentially, he warned at a press conference.

Medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel. Relief and entry of essential supplies into Gaza must be facilitated, he said. "I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip. I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort."

An UNRWA school sheltering displaced families was directly hit over the weekend. The school was severely damaged and was housing about 225 people, though no casualties were recorded among the displaced, said Dujarric, the spokesman.

All UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip are closed. More than 300,000 students are impacted, he said.

Dujarric said UNRWA has 13,000 staff members in Gaza, the vast majority of them are national staff.

The UNRWA staff are not able to leave Gaza. They are focused on trying to do whatever they can to help the population within their mandate, said the spokesman. 
Two terrorists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday.

Officials said one of the militants was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma in February this year.

Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter in Alshipora village of Shopian. The killed terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq @Abrar of terror outfit LeT, Additional DGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said.

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Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma, he said.

Sharma was killed outside his residence in Achan region of Pulwama. He was employed as an ATM guard at J&K Bank.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) last month carried out search operations at seven locations across three districts in south Kashmir in connection with Sharmas homicide.

A joint team of the army, CRPF and police is searching the area, they added.
The election of pro-China Progressive Alliance candidate, Mohamed Muizzu, as President in Maldives led to a buzz that China is in and India is out of the island nation. This is a replay of what transpired five years ago when Ibrahim Solih, who was pro-India defeated his pro-China rival and sitting president, Abdullah Yameen.

When Solih stood for elections in 2014, his promise to the people of Maldives was to repair ties with neighbours and adopt an India First foreign policy. Muizzu fought his election on an India out campaign.

Muizzu is an associate of former president Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who is currently undergoing a prison term of 11 years for corruption. The people of Maldives, a group of islands barely 70 nautical miles from Minicoy in Lakshadweep and around 300 nautical miles from Indias west coast, located alongside major shipping routes, were made to believe that India is establishing a military base which could result in Maldives becoming an Indian colony.

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This dominated the campaign rather than other pressing issues including the economy, climate change etc., which were more important. The reality is that there are a few dozen Indian unarmed troops locat- ed in Maldives to assist in operations of a Dornier aircraft and a few heli- copters gifted by the Indian government. What was, in addition, exploited was the agreement to develop, support, and maintain a Coast Guard harbour for Maldivian forces at Uthuru Thila Falhu. This was sold to Maldivians as a permanent military base for India.

Another issue of contention was the construction of the National College of Policing and Enforcement. Rumours circulated that the construction was larger than required as it was meant to house Indians involved with the institute, thereby opening doors for pushing in immigrants.

In any small nation having a powerful neighbour, rumours on loss of sovereignty are always taken seriously. Yameen and his political associates also exploited religion, Maldives being a Muslim majority country, to push their anti-India agenda. The disrup- tion of the Yoga-day event last year is a case in point.

Maldives has to balance IndiaChina ties to gain the maximum from both nations. Yameen as the president promised to adopt an India first policy but implemented the reverse. His actions were reversed by Solih. Muizzu may have promised to evict Indian troops but their withdrawal could block the utilization of Indian air assets, which play a major role in disaster relief and casualty evacuation operations, in addition to monitoring the Maldives EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone).

Their withdrawal will also impact the ongoing trilateral security cooperation of Male with Sri Lanka and India to protect its EEZ as also prevent piracy and illicit trafficking in its vicinity.

No matter who is the President, India has always been the first to support Maldives, whenever it faced a crisis. It came to its aid in the coup attempt in 1988, was the first to respond during the tsunami of 2004 and provided 30,000 measles vaccines to prevent a national outbreak in 2020. In 2014, under Yameens presidency, Maldives faced its worst water crisis when fire erupted in its only water plant.

It was Indian aircraft and naval ships which provided over 2,000 tonnes of water to Male. The Chinese response took several weeks. Indian supply of Covid vaccines enabled Maldives to vaccinate its tourism industry personnel enabling tourism to resume, safeguarding its economy. Indian tourists to Maldives are higher in numbers than from any other country.

When Yameen removed the Indi- an company GMR from constructing the Maldivian airport, his government was compelled to pay a sizeable compensation as per directions of a Singaporean arbitration court. Hence, Muizzu is unlikely to cancel any ongo-ing Indian projects. Maldivians are aware of the reality but politico-religious exploitation for power would continue to impact the India-China- Maldives relationship.

Maldivians rush to India for med- ical treatment as also for higher edu- cation. Hence, no matter what is the leaning of the president, India cannot be ignored. PM Modi was the first to congratulate Muizzu on his election. He tweeted, India remains commit- ted to strengthening the time-tested bilateral relationship and enhancing our overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. The message was clear. India is willing to work with any- one in Maldives. Other messages, including those from Pakistan and China, followed.

The presence of Indian military personnel in Maldives is also a bar- gaining chip against China, hence despite all threats, removing them will have to be carefully considered. It would also antagonize other players in the region including France and the US. The US opened its embassy in the country in early September this year, based on Indian suggestions.

India will definitely find an increased Chinese presence in the country. It will have its work cut out to contain the Chinese influence on the island. It cannot afford a second Ham- bantota port in its vicinity. Any Chinese strategic gains will be exploited politically as was done in the last elections. Maldives elections are yet not over. Parliament elections are scheduled for April 2024 and city council elections thereafter. These will need to be observed.

Muizzu has not specifically men- tioned being pro-China in any form however knowing the tilt of Yameen he is believed to be so, while claiming to be pro-Maldives. His campaign only mentioned wanting Indian armed forces out of Maldives, intending to exploit the fear of the big brother. These are early days yet. Which way would the tilt go is to be seen. China can never replace India in terms of proximity, commonness of culture or language. In case there is violence against Indians or Indian assets, support flowing from India could be stalled. Ties with India can never be replaced by China.

Historically, India managed to contain growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh during the premiership of Khalida Zia from 1991-96 and again from 2001-2006. It also managed to overcome multiple tenures of pro-China KP Sharma Oli in Nepal. It also endured the pro-China tilt of Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka. Every time such a situation arises, India bides its time, continuing to provide support, employing its soft power and finally bouncing back, all the while keeping a close eye on developments, ensuring the situation does not cross a threshold. The same will be the case with Maldives.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
In the face of growing immigration challenges and a border crisis that has strained American cities such as New York, President Joe Bidens decision to reverse his stance on the border wall and embrace measures previously championed by his predecessor, Donald Trump, is a step in the right direction. While it is important to acknowledge the complexities of the issue, it is equally important to recognise when a change in policy aligns with the realities on the ground. President Bidens initial campaign promise was a clear rejection of the border wall, a symbol of Mr Trumps divisive immigration policies. This pledge struck a chord with many Americans who yearned for a more compassionate approach.

However, as the surge in illegal border crossings reached alarming levels, the Biden administration was forced to confront the practical challenges of governing. The Rio Grande Valley, in particular, has seen over 2,45,000 illegal border crossings so far this year, a record high. These numbers cannot be ignored and the strain on cities like New York, where housing costs for new arrivals are projected to reach $12 billion over the next three years, is undeniable. It is in this context that President Bidens reversal on the border wall should be viewed. Utilising funds allocated during the Trump administration for border wall construction may be seen as a practical move to address a pressing issue without adding additional financial burden.

This approach acknowledges that governing involves making tough decisions based on the situation at hand rather than adhering rigidly to campaign promises. The decision to waive federal laws and environmental regulations to expedite construction is undoubtedly controversial. However, it reflects the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to prevent unlawful entries into the United States. Striking a balance between environmental concerns and border security is a challenge, and in this case, the priority seems to be on addressing the immediate crisis.

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Mr Trumps swift criticism of President Bidens reversal, attributing the crisis to the repeal of his strict border policies, underscores the political theatre surrounding the immigration issue. While Mr Trumps policies were indeed aimed at deterring illegal immigration, they often faced criticism for their harshness. It is essential to recognise that the immigration challenge cannot be reduced to a single administrations policies. It is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. President Bidens border wall reversal should be viewed in the context of the emerging crisis and the weight being felt by cities that have seen an influx.

While campaign promises are important, they must sometimes yield to the realities of governance. Mr Biden would like to believe acknowledging the need for border security measures in response to a surge in illegal crossings is not an abandonment of principles but a recognition of the changing landscape. Ultimately, a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of migration and fosters cooperation with neighbouring countries is needed to effectively address this complex issue.
In the volatile landscape of the Israel-Palestine conflict, where tensions have persisted for decades, the weekend pre-dawn assault by Hamas took many by surprise. It was a meticulously planned operation, a stark reminder that the dynamics of this protracted conflict are far from predictable. For years, the conflict has followed a grim and repetitive pattern. Rocket attacks, retaliatory airstrikes and a cycle of violence that seemed unending. However, the audacity of Saturdays assault shook Israel to its core.

This was not merely another flare-up but a well-orchestrated military operation that blindsided Israel. Hamas, the Palestinian group controlling Gaza which has been declared a terrorist organisation by many countries, gave in the recent past an impression of being focused on economic stability. Israel was led to believe that Hamas was war-weary.

So much so that it even provided economic incentives to Gazan workers. This strategic misdirection allowed Hamas to prepare for a massive operation while maintaining an image of reluctance to engage in another confrontation. This deception is reminiscent of the surprise attacks in 1973 when Egypt and Syria caught Israel off guard. In many ways, it was Israels 9/11, a reference made by Major Nir Dinar, spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces. What makes this assault noteworthy is that Hamas did not merely rely on conventional weaponry.

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They employed a range of tactics, from rocket barrages to hang glider infiltrations, bulldozers, and motorbikes. Their audacity extended to abducting hostages from within Israeli territory. The Israeli intelligence failure reflects a complacency that had crept in as a result of a relatively quiet period and an erroneous belief that Hamas had shifted its focus away from confrontation.

This lapse allowed Hamas to exploit vulnerabilities, resulting in a catastrophic breach. The question now is what lessons can be drawn from this incident? First, it underscores Israels need for vigilance in intelligence gathering, regardless of apparent lulls in hostilities.

The regions history has shown that periods of calm can quickly transform into crises. Secondly, it emphasises the importance of adapting to evolving tactics. Hamas has demonstrated that it is a resilient and adaptable adversary, willing to employ unconventional methods to achieve its goals. This adaptability requires a corresponding flexibility in counter-terrorism strategies.

Lastly, the incident challenges regional and international stakeholders to re-evaluate their approach to the Israel- Palestine conflict. Efforts to promote peace and stability in the region should not be derailed by such attacks. Instead, they should be redoubled, with a focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict and fostering dialogue between the parties involved. But in the maelstrom of reactions to the unprecedented attacks, certain facts must not be overlooked.

First, Hamas military capabilities can no longer be overlooked. Second, the killings and abductions of civilians speak of brutality that has no place in military engagements. And finally, Israel must not seek only military solutions; in conjunction with its allies it must engage all those arraigned against it both militarily and diplomatically.
The victory of Mohamed Muizza in the presidential election in Maldives aroused considerable interest as well as concern in India because of his avowed pro-China policy. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Muizza who defeated incumbent Ibrahim Solih and expressed Indias commitment to strengthen the time-tested India-Maldives relationship and enhance overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, the whispers of discomfort could not be overlooked.

Muizzus Progressive Allince coalition was backed by China, signalling that Beijing now shall feel emboldened to spread its wings further in Indias South Asian neighbourhood.

It seems to be like a revolving door as five years ago pro- India Ibrahim Solih had defeat- ed Abdullah Yameen, whom Solih had put in jail on corruption charges.

Solih championed an India First policy during his tenure and shall remain as President until Muizzus inauguration on 17 November.

Why does India attach so much interest on the developments in Maldives? In the geopolitical contestation, both India and China have vital interests for influence in this strategically located country.

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While China sees Maldives as an important outpost to spread its sphere of influence, for India strengthening ties with Maldives by all means is because Maldives is literally located in its backyard and barely 70 nautical miles from Minicoy, an island in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical from Indias west coast. It is also near the busy sea lanes through which commercial vessels ply the Indian Ocean.

Because of this, Maldives has attracted international attention as the importance of the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region is realised now more than ever before.

Over the years, India has invested heavily to strengthen ties with Maldives to put it in a win-win situation. India has contributed to the economic development of Maldives through various developmental projects. Its $500 million agreement for the Great Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) not only would boost Maldiveseconomic profile but would eclipse Chinas landmark Freedom Bridge an transform the local economy.

However, bilateral ties have to weather the storm of twin challenges:

the major presence of Islamic radicalisation and Chinas increasing economic clout in the

country. Muizzus victory now puts India on notice as Maldives policies

are likely to see a major overhaul, many of which could be detrimental to Indias interests.

India is now more appre- hensive of Chinas growing influence in the traditionally India- aligned Maldives. Muizzu ran his campaign on the India Out slogan and accused his rival Solih of having sacrificed the island nations sovereignty to New Delhi.

It is seen thus as a setback to India and a gain for China. Even Indias significant financial support to another neighbouring nation, Sri Lanka, has not helped to stem Chinas spread of influence there. This needs review now, both in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

It is a fact that both India and China are jockeying for influence in the Indian Ocean. Political changes in these two neighbouring countries have therefore a strong bearing on how India chooses its policies.

It was expected that local issues of sustainable develo ment, a rising ocean bed and the economy would be the deter- mining factors in choosing a president in Maldives.

But all such considerations took the backseat during Solihs presidency as the opposition focused mainly on Indias growing footprint. The India Out campaign gained currency quickly, leading to Solihs defeat. The India hate campaign gathered momentum when India at the request of Male had sent a Dornier aircraft to the government.

Under the agreement, India was to station 25 unarmed personnel to operate the aircraft and train Maldivian pilots and engineers to operate and maintain it.

The defence personnel were to be under the command of the Maldives defence force. The opposition projected this as compromising the island states sovereignty.

The Solih government entered into another deal with India in the interest of the island nations security. This too was opposed by the opposition. Under the Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF) agreement, India was committed to help and maintain a coast guard harbour and dockyard in Maldives and provide professional, logistic and technical help for 15 years to Maldives to build and run it.

The opposition interpreted the agreement in a manner that Solih-led Maldivian Democratic Party government had agreed Indian military would be sta- tioned and Indian vessels and aircraft would have unrestricted access to the UTF. Solih was accused of selling the island nation to Big Brother India. Even before assuming office on 17 November, Muizzu secured Yemeens transfer from jail to house arrest, thereby fulfilling his campaign promise.

The Solih government sen- tenced Yameen to a prison term for bribery and money laundering during his presidency from 2013 to 2018. The election result was virtually a referendum on which regional power ~ India or China ~ would have preponderant influence in the island nation.

Muizzu has promised to eject Indian troops from the Maldives and balance the countrys trade relations, which, according to him, are heavily in Indias favour. Muizzu argues that the citizens of the country are against any foreign military staying in Maldives.

This is a serious blow to India in the geopolitical rivalry with China in the Indian Ocean region.

After Muizzu announced that he would ask Indian military to leave once he takes office, India issued a clarification that its focus on Maldives was always been on capacity building and working together to address the shared challenges and priorities in the region.

This includes issues such as combating transnational crimes and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

During Solihs five-year term, many Chinese projects under the BRI were scrapped. The Free Trade Agreement between Maldives and China signed just before the 2018 elections was also scrapped. Muizzu is likely to revisit many of these. The India First policy of Solih is likely to be put to sleep or just remain on paper.

But international relations need not be seen always in terms of zero-sum games. Despite the fact that Muizzu is likely to lean more towards China, India is unlikely to be out from engaging with Maldives since it has invested heavily in the island nation.

(The writer is former Senior Fellow at PMML and MP-IDSA, New Delhi, and former ICCR Chair Professor at Reitaku University, Japan)
On Tuesday the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they have found 1,500 dead bodies of Hamas militants inside Israeli territory as fighting rages between the two sides since the October 7 unparalleled attack.

According to IDF dozens of Israeli fighter jets attacked more than 200 targets in Gazas densely populated Rimal and Khan Yunis neighbourhoods overnight. IDF said it knocked an Islamic Jihad terror infrastructure in Khan Yunis, a weapons storage site of Hamas militants located inside a mosque, and operational terror infrastructure used by Hamas terror operatives, among other targets, CNN reported.

The situation (on the Lebanon border) is volatile. We are vigilant. We have added tens of thousands of additional troops along the border reservists as well as regular units  in anticipation of a Hezbollah attack.

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We have strongly urged them to think twice before they embark on any such attack against Israel, he said. So far in the last few hours, the situation has been quiet. Lets hope it remains like that, Conricus told CNN.

The jets also struck a number of operational residences belonging to Hamas operatives, as well as a Hamas operational command center located inside a mosque, it added.

Addressing a briefing on Tuesday morning, IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said: Looking towards the south, we have more or less restored full control over the border fence (in Gaza). Hopefully in the next few hours it will be final.

We are focusing our offensive in the Gaza Strip and our airstrikes, CNN quoted the spokesperson as saying.

On Monday, the IDF said that the military had regained control over all the communities in southern Israel.

In a separate statement to CNN on Tuesday, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the military has also amplified its presence along the border with Lebanon, adding that tens of thousands of additional troops have been deployed.

An Israeli deputy commander was killed on Monday in a clash with inflitrating militants near the countrys northern border with Lebanon.

Deputy Commander of the 300th Brigade, LTC Alim Abdallah and other troops fought several militants who crossed from Lebanon into northern Israel, killing at least two of them, according to the military.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group claimed responsibility for the infiltration.

In response to the infiltration, Israel Air Force helicopters launched airstrikes on Hezbollah posts in Lebanon, the IDF said.

At least three Hezbollah fighters were killed in the strikes, the Iran-backed militant group said. In retaliation to the unprecedented attack launched on southern Israel by the Hamas on October 7, the Jewish nation has formally declared war and greenlighted significant military steps.

As a result, the Gaza Strip is still being bombarded by Israeli airstrikes. Since the conflict erupted, more than 1,600 people have been killed on both the sides, while tens of thousands have been displaced and injured. According to Israeli authorities, the Hamas is currently holding upto 150 people, inluding senior army officers and foreign nationals, as hostages in Gaza.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, has criticized Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for his support of the Hamas terrorist groups attack on Israel. Khamenei had tweeted a video showing people fleeing rocket strikes and gunmen near the Gaza Strip, along with a message expressing hope for the eradication of Israel.

Musk condemned Khameneis position, stating that it is not just about supporting Palestinians but also about the complete eradication of Israel. The tweet from Khamenei, though accessible, has faced censorship on the social media platform for violating its rules.

In the tweet, Khamenei wrote, God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region. #AlAqsaStorm. Despite the violation, X decided to keep the post accessible, citing that it might be in the publics interest.

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Khameneis top military adviser affirmed Tehrans support for Hamas attacks against Israel on Saturday. He pledged continued backing for the Islamist fighters until Palestine and Jerusalem achieve liberation.

Irans leadership has been vocally critical of a proposed deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, supported by the United States. Khamenei, on October 3, warned that countries seeking to normalize relations with Israel were taking a significant risk. He asserted, The position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalization with Israel will lose. They are betting on a losing horse.

The situation reflects growing tensions in the region, with differing perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts to normalize relations between Israel and its neighbors. Elon Musk and his comments highlight the controversy surrounding Khameneis stance on Hamas.
In response to the recent devastating attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, several global firms have taken precautionary measures in Israel. They have temporarily closed some operations and requested employees to work from home. Additionally, a number of airlines have suspended direct flights to Tel Aviv.

Delta Air Lines is closely monitoring the situation and, as a precaution, has decided to cancel all Delta-operated Tel Aviv flights until October 31. El Al, Israels national airline, is stepping up efforts to transport reservists back to Israel to support the countrys largest mobilization in history.

Royal Caribbean, the cruise operator, is making adjustments to several itineraries in the affected region and is directly notifying guests who are impacted by these changes.

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Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil and gas producer, has shut down the Tamar natural gas field off the countrys northern coast, according to a company spokesperson.

In the banking sector, JPMorgan Chase has asked more than 200 employees in Israel to work from home, as reported by a source familiar with the matter. Goldman Sachs, another prominent financial institution, has also instructed its employees at its office in Tel Aviv to work from home, as confirmed by a spokesperson.

Adani Ports, owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and operator of the Haifa Port in northern Israel, has stated that the port remains operational. They are closely monitoring the situation and have a prepared business continuity plan in place.

FedEx, the global delivery firm, has suspended its services in the country due to the current circumstances. H&M, the clothing company, has reported that its local franchise partner has temporarily closed all stores in Israel as a safety measure in response to the recent events.

These collective actions by global companies reflect the caution and response to the challenging situation in Israel, aiming to ensure the safety and well-being of employees and customers while closely monitoring developments in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas on Tuesday, asserting that while Israel did not initiate the current conflict, it is determined to bring it to a conclusion. As a decisive response to Hamas actions, Israel has assembled a massive force of 3 lakh troops, marking the most extensive mobilization since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when 4 lakh reservists were called into service.

The Yom Kippur War, alternatively known as the October War or Ramadan War, unfolded between Israel, Egypt, and Syria from October 6 to 25, 1973. This conflict is often referred to as the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, following earlier confrontations in 1949, 1956, and 1967.

Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Chief Military Spokesperson, has reported the successful re-establishment of control in various communities that were targeted. However, sporadic confrontations persist as some armed individuals remain active in certain areas. The mobilization of 3 lakh reservists, which commenced on Saturday, suggests readiness for potential military actions, though official confirmation of such plans is yet to be provided.

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Additionally, Hagari disclosed that since the commencement of hostilities on Saturday morning, approximately 4,400 rockets have been launched towards Israel. The security forces have been actively engaged in addressing these threats.

Regarding specific incidents, Hagari stated that in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, three terrorists were neutralized by Israeli troops. In Beeri, one terrorist was eliminated, while in Holit and Sufa, five were taken down. Four terrorists met a similar fate in Alumim, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

Hagari on deploying 3 lakh troops:

Hagari acknowledged the possibility of remaining terrorists in the area. In addition, he clarified that there were no ongoing confrontations in any of the towns. Some of these hostile elements are present in Israel since the initial attack on Saturday. Others infiltrated the border over the past two days.

The Chief Military Spokesperson emphasized that tanks, supported by combat helicopters and drones, would physically secure breaches of the Gaza border barrier. This action is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of Israeli territory.

In summary, Israels Prime Minister has delivered a resolute message to Hamas, emphasizing Israels commitment to concluding the ongoing conflict. In response, Israel has mobilized a substantial force of 3 lakh troops.
On Monday evening Groups of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters clashed at High Street Kensington Tube Station in London, Amid protest rallies over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Police officers were sent to control the tensed situation between sympathisers on opposing sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their emphasis was keeping the peace and avoiding violence between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters as events overseas triggered heated demonstrations in London.

Videos on various social media platforms showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube Station as a pro-Palestine rally taking place outside the Israeli embassy started to escalate.

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Meanwhile, UK PM Rishi Sunak has branded the people supporting Hamas for the appalling attack as terrorists.

The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists, posted Sunak on X.

Thousands gathered for the pro-Palestinian protest in front of the Israeli Embassy on Monday evening at around 6 pm (GMT). Some protestors were seen climbing lampposts with flags and flares. Protesters chanted Israel is a terrorist state and Allahu Akhbar. Stalls were set up selling Free Palestine merchandise. Some launched fireworks towards the embassy building.

Events in central London this evening  following the attack in Israel and the escalation of conflict along the border with Gaza in recent days  have now concluded, with three arrests and further live arrest enquiries underway, said Metropolitan Police in a statement.

In contrast, weeping Israelis held a vigil outside Downing Street in the evening to honour victims and hostages taken by Hamas during an assault over the Gaza border on Saturday. UK PM Rishi Sunak also visited a London synagogue in a show of support for Israel.

On the other hand, Suella Braverman, Member of Parliament of the UK called for zero tolerance of terrorism on the streets of Britain.

There must be zero tolerance for anti-semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews, Braverman posted on X.

The protests reflected growing overseas tensions over the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine.

Earlier on Monday, a Kosher restaurant in the Golders Green area in London was vandalised, and a nearby bridge was graffitied with Free Palestine. The UKs Chief Rabbi said hardly any Jewish family is unaffected by the Hamas attack, calling it a time of grief and worry.

More protests are scheduled in London by both sides through the week. A huge pro-Palestinian rally is to take place in front of the BBC building on Oxford Street.

In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country, killing over 700 people.
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and Saudi Arabia held an opening ceremony for the "Blue Sword-2023" joint naval special operations training in Zhanjiang, southern China's Guangdong Province, on Monday.

Team commanders and trainees from both militaries took part in the ceremony, with the two countries' national anthems playing and the team commanders delivering speeches.

The elementary training and professional training stages of the "Blue Sword-2023" feature a total of 24 subjects, including fast-roping, boat driving and multi-weapon shooting, while the comprehensive drill stage features maritime rescue skill training and joint rescue drills.

Team commanders from both militaries expressed their hope that the training will improve the trainees' combat capacity and further deepen the two countries' military exchanges and cooperation. 
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

On and off snow showers this morning. Peeks of sunshine later. High 46F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 38F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
This pumpkin, a replica of the character Groot from the Marvel movie franchise, was entered into the Plainville Public Librarys annual Book Character Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Library patrons are encouraged to enter their designs before the deadline on Friday.
Elizabeth Shackelford is a senior fellow on U.S. foreign policy with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age.
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The world body and its humanitarian partners are ramping up response to the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the western Afghan province of Herat on Saturday.

The United Nations has deployed assessment teams and is providing emergency shelter supplies, blankets, warm clothes, food, hygiene kits, water buckets, chlorine and dignity kits, among others, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday.

Humanitarian partners have also deployed health teams and are providing trauma and emergency surgery kits, it said.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, Daniel Endres, has approved an emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund of 5 million U.S. dollars to support immediate relief efforts in the earthquake-affected areas, said the office.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in Zindajan district where reports indicate that 100 percent of homes have been destroyed. According to community-level assessments, nearly 1,300 people died and 1,700 others were injured in Zindajan, said OCHA.

In total, it is estimated that more than 12,000 people have been affected across five districts of Herat. Several hundred households have also been displaced to Herat City, it said.

The figures are likely to rise in the coming days as search-and-rescue efforts and assessments continue, it said. 
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is probing Google and Apple for alleged unfair business practices, the regulator's Chairperson Ravneet Kaur said on Tuesday.

The watchdog had ordered detailed investigations against Google with respect to its alleged abuse of dominance in the smart television segment and in the news content space.

Speaking to reporters, Kaur said the matter related to Google and smart television is under the commission's inquiry.

Currently, the investigation is on in the matter of the news publishers' complaint against Google, she said.

To another query, Kaur said that Apple is also under investigation.

"Once we receive the report from the DG, (and) CCI, we will take action," she added.

The regulator had ordered an investigation against Apple for alleged anti-competitive practices with respect to its App Store.

The Director General (DG) is the investigation arm of the CCI. Cases where the regulator finds prima facie evidence of anti-competitive practices are referred for detailed probes by the DG.

Earlier, the regulator had passed orders against Google in cases related to the Android system and PlayStore.

"In the Android systems case, the CCI had passed a cease and desist order for abuse of dominant position in that segment. Besides, ten behavioural remedies were also directed by the regulator and thirdly, a penalty of Rs 1,337 crore was imposed.

"Google has deposited the penalty along with interest. On the behavioural remedies, the company had taken up the matter with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The NCLAT had upheld the cease and desist order and six of the CCI's directions. Now, the matter is pending before the Supreme Court where both the CCI and Google have filed petitions," she said.
The future of the much-celebrated India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is uncertain with fresh conflicts erupting between Israel and Hamas. Championed by India, the US and the European Commission as an alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative during the G20 Summit in New Delhi last month, the economic corridor is expected to be hit a hurdle along with the I2U2 grouping.

Adani Ports' acquisition of the Haifa Port was a fillip to India's efforts to ease trade with Europe through the proposed IMEC, which is expected to cut shipping times by 40 per cent. Earlier this month, The Week reported that New Delhi is looking at shipping goods from ports in Mumbai and Gujarat to Dubai from where a rail link would connect to Saudi Arabia, onward to Jordan and finally to Haifa, without having to go around the Arabian peninsula. Here, goods can take the sea route to Bahrain and Oman or to European ports.

However, the corridor requires a seamless connectivity between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the reliability of which has now come under question amid the escalating conflict between Tel Aviv and Gaza.

With popular sentiment in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries leaning towards Palestine, Reuters columnist Afiq Fitri Alias suggest that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is unlikely to normalise diplomatic ties with Israel anytime soon.

The Crown Prince, popularly called MBS, told Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas that he was working to prevent any escalation in the conflict between Hamas and Israel, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday. He reportedly told Abbas that his kingdom will stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace.

Established in October 2021 by India, Israel, the US and the UAE, I2U2 was the outcome of the 2020 Abraham Accords signed between Israel and Arab states like the UAE and Egypt.

Both 12U2 and IMEC are expected to be impacted, a senior Indian official was quoted as saying by The Hindu on Tuesday. The official confirmed that India is concerned about the ongoing developments in Israel.

The UAE foreign ministry on Sunday condemned the Hamas attacks a "serious and grave escalation," saying it was "appalled" by reports of Israeli civilians taken hostages.

"Civilians on both sides must always have full protection under international humanitarian law and must never be a target of conflict," Reuters cited the ministry's statement.

Abu Dhabi, according to a report by Axios, asked Syria's Assad regime not to get involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas nor allow attacks on Tel Aviv from its soil.
On a recent trip to Sikkim, Sunil David noticed something strange. His data connection fluctuated wildly as he drove from Bagdogra airport, the entry point in West Bengal towards the rest of the North East towards Sikkim.

I observed 5G coverage only in certain pockets, recalled David, who is the co-chair, Digital Communications working group, IET Future Tech Panel. "It is true that 5G speeds are not consistent across the country and there is patchy coverage, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities, he added.

As nextgen 5G connectivity completes one year in India this month, the woes of consumers who bought into the promise of lightning fast videos and downloads are far from finding a solution.

Going by numbers, Indias 5G roll-out has been quite a success  it is already estimated to be among the top ten 5G markets in the world, owing mostly to the sheer number of mobile users in the country. According to a recent report, India has 1.12 crore 5G subscribers across the two operators who provide 5G services  Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. As per last weeks Speedtest Global Index, India has surpassed developed countries like Japan and the UK to hit No.47 in the list of nations with top internet speeds. According to Ookla, Indias 5G median download speed is 316.25 Mbps.

But beyond the supposedly impressive numbers, the issue of 5G speed is a real worry, particularly when one moves from a major urban area, say Delhi or Bengaluru, towards a semi-rural area, for example.

The reason is the expensive nature of the network, which has made the operators prioritise high-density areas, like metro cities instead of smaller towns. Once more base stations are added and the existing operators get more spectrum that is likely to be auctioned next year, we are likely to see coverage improve and speeds being higher and also more consistent, said David.

We still havent covered large swathe of users, said Jasmeet Sethi, head of Ericsson ConsumerLab in India.

While the two operators are focussing on population-dense areas for putting up 5G first, the matter is also compounded by the fact that two other operators, the cash-strapped Vi (previously Vodafone-Idea) and govt-run BSNL is yet to even launch the service.

Initial months after the service was rolled out was clouded over by individual mobile users complaining of anything from data drain (data limits being reached faster) to phone battery drain to plain simple speeds often actually being lower than that of 4G. Some users complained that their 5G-ready phones were not working on the 5G network rolled out by Jio and Airtel, something the operators then had to format devices and work out.

The two 5G-functional operators have also not realised much revenue from this premium service, with a who will bell the cat? hesitancy on charging a premium for the 5G option. They had hoped that business enterprises will take to 5G use cases in a big way, like using it massively for anything from logistics to healthcare, but India Inc has been lukewarm so far.

Very few Indian enterprises are experimenting with 5G and are having 5G pilots underway, said David. This is still work in progress. For those Enterprises wanting to deploy private 5G, the overall cost of 5G hardware is still on the higher side and the capital expenditure spend initially is high.

Mahindra uses 5G for software flashing of vehicles and for quality control at its plant in Chakan, Pune, but the company is more an exception than the rule. Operators, as well as network equipment providers like Ericsson are now pinning their hopes on newly rolled out options like fixed wireless access (FWA) for a change in attitudes.
Pornstar Mia Khalifa has reportedly been cut loose from a contract with Playboy following her social media posts supporting Palestine and Hamas attacks against Israel.

The adult magazine put out a statement clarifying its stance, adding that "over the past few days, Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamass attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women, and children."



The move follows the pornstar's post on X extending support to Palestine. "If you can look at the situation and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong of apartheid and history will that in time."



Minutes later, she put up a post that read: "Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal," she said in another post on X.



"I just wanna make sure theres 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open-air prison theyve been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how they freed themselves from apartheid," she wrote in response to criticism.



I just wanna make sure theres 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison theyve been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid. Please worry about https://t.co/sgx8kzAHnL  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 8, 2023

Her tweets drew a huge backlash with Canada-based podcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro firing her. "This is such a horrendous tweet, Mia Khalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage-taking is truly gross. No words can explain your ignorance," Shapiro said in his post.



Khalifa was business partners with Shapiro and the duo had collaborated on Red Light Holland Corp and was responsible for helming the company's corporate social responsibility initiatives.



She also criticized reality star Kylie Jenner for posting a since-deleted message in support of Israel to her Instagram account, writing, "If true journalism exists, the next person to talk to Kylie Jenner will ask for her opinion on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and not break eye contact until she can string one coherent sentence together since she wants to take a stance to her 400M followers so badly."


Israeli actor Lior Raz, best known for essaying undercover agent Doron in television series Fauda, has joined Israel's fight against Hamas. The actor, who joined hands with a group of volunteers called 'Brothers in Arms', took to social media to share a video of him witnessing a rocket attack by Hamas.

... I headed down south to join hundreds of brave 'brothers in arms' volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families, Raz posted on social media platform X. Raz was accompanied by president of the Israel Democracy Institute, Yohanan Plesner, and journalist Avi Yissascharov.

Fauda, an Israeli television series streaming on Netflix, is loosely based on the experiences of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Developed by Raz and Yissascharov, the series draws on their experiences with the IDF. The show was also officially adapted into HindiTanaav, streaming on SonyLiv.

Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families pic.twitter.com/WpM9JLeOZM  Lior Raz (@lioraz) October 9, 2023

Condemning the offensive in an earlier post, Raz urged the world to remember that Israelis go into this war with a heavy heart, with no desire to kill innocents.

The total death toll in the deadly attack has neared 1,600, according to reports on Tuesday morning. In a surprise attack on Saturday, Hamas militants breached Israeli security and launched a deadly attack from the Gaza strip. Over 200 people were gunned down at a desert music festival, and over 100 people, including foreign nationals, are being held hostage by Hamas militants. Israel, which has officially declared war, retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza.

According to latest reports, the Israeli Army claimed that around 1,500 dead bodies of Hamas operatives have been recovered from around the Gaza strip.
In a first in Gujarat, a team of doctors at the Apollo Hospitals in Ahmedabad performed a liver transplant surgery on a seven-month-old baby boy weighing just 5.5 kilogram.

The surgery was performed on September 25 and the baby is doing fine now. The doctors said on Tuesday that it is the first liver transplant on a child under the age of one year in Gujarat.

The baby of young parents from Bet Dwarka was suffering from rare Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC)a genetic disorder that leads to irreversible liver damage. The childs medical challenges had already begun during the first few months of his birth when he suffered jaundice.

Dr Pathik Parikh, liver transplant physician, told THE WEEK that once the condition was diagnosed in the child there was no other treatment except for the liver transplant. Since chances of getting a liver for such a young child is very low, the mother donated a portion of her liver.

The surgery was performed by a team of doctors under the leadership of Prof. Darius Mirza, who has led the Birmingham team in performing over 6,000 liver transplants across the globe. The other doctors included Dr Chirag Desai, Dr Parikh and Dr Pushkar Shrivastava.

Had the surgery not been performed, other vital organs of the child would have been damaged.

The surgery, with extra precision considering the childs age and small body, lasted for nearly 10 hours. The pre-operative planning included measures to nutritionally optimize the child so that he can withstand such a surgery.

An estimated expense of Rs 16 lakh was met with from different sources, including the PM and CM Relief Funds and NGOs.

Postoperative care was equally important and the baby was in the hospital for two weeks. For one week various pipes were attached to his body and that required extra care.
Students attend a class at a primary school in Changxing County, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 1, 2023. (Photo by Tan Yunfeng/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China in recent years has seen concerted efforts from government departments and social sectors in promoting mental health among children and adolescents, the country's top health authority has said.

Tuesday marks the 32nd World Mental Health Day, which is celebrated in China with the theme of promoting child and adolescent mental health.

"The key to work related to adolescent mental health is putting prevention first and conducting society-wide prevention and control," said Li Dachuan, an official with the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference held on Monday with focus on this theme.

Li underlined the importance of including such work in the social service, public health service and social security systems.

According to a mental health survey involving more than 30,000 adolescents conducted by the Institute of Psychology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022, 14.8 percent of the respondents showed risks of depression to various degrees. Effective and timely interventions and adjustments were needed.

"Children and adolescents are in a period of rapid development in terms of mental health. Their psychology is prone to impacts brought by biological, psychological, social and environmental factors, among others," said Zheng Yi, chief expert on child psychiatry at Beijing Anding Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University.

Ye Haisen, a clinical psychologist at a hospital in central China's Hunan Province, said mental health conditions have shown a growing trend among youngsters in recent years. Mental disorders such as anxiety and depression have become prominent among children and adolescents.

In order to address the issue, authorities have put in place a raft of measures. These include a set of guidelines on boosting mental health services.

The NHC and 16 other departments, including the Ministry of Education, in April this year issued a three-year action plan for improving work related to students' mental health.

It defines the responsibilities of government at various levels in promoting child and adolescent mental health, and underlines inter-agency coordination and joint efforts among medical institutions, schools and families.

The central government has earmarked a special fund to bolster the prevention and treatment of common mental disorders and support pilot programs related to mental health.

Under the auspices of the NHC, trials have been run across the country to advance public psychological services, Li told the press conference.

Currently, 96 percent of villages and communities, 95 percent of primary and middle schools, and all colleges and universities in these pilot areas have access to public psychological services, Li said.

Efforts have continued nationwide to enhance resource allocation, financial input and personnel cultivation in a bid to provide stronger guarantees for promoting child and adolescent mental health. 




DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said on Tuesday that he lost approximately Rs 1 lakh from his bank account to online fraudsters and questioned the safety of private data under Digital India.

Narrating the incident on X, Maran said, On Sunday, 99,999 was stolen from my

@AxisBank personal savings account through a net banking transfer via @IDFCFIRSTBank-@BillDesk, bypassing all normal safety protocols. Maran alleged that neither an OTP was generated nor received in the mobile number linked to his bank account to fulfil the transaction.

Instead, a call was made to the account's joint holder - my wife's number and the fraudsters had the gall to ask if the transaction had taken place. They pretended to be from the bank but had @cbic_india on their display picture. This confirmed my suspicions and I immediately proceeded to block all activities on my account, Maran said.

The DMK MP said, What puzzles me is how they accessed personal information and breached security protocols with such ease. This wasn't a phishing attack nor were any sensitive details divulged. @AxisBank was clueless as to how the attack had happened nor could they give any solid explanation for why the OTP was not required from my number for the transaction to take place.

Questioning whether any persons personal data is safe under Digital India, Maran said while he has sought help from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and finance ministry before for cybercrime victims, Today, as a victim, I demand accountability and justice, he said. Maran demanded finance minister to release a white paper on security measures taken to protect private data.
India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday following a call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

Modi was briefed by Netanyahu on the ongoing situation as Israel carries out retaliatory strikes against Hamas and lays seige on Gaza.



"I thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," he said in a post on X platform.



Hours after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, PM took to X, saying, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour".

In response to PM Modis statement on X, Israels Ambassador to India Naor Gilon stated, Thank you @PMOIndia. Indias moral support is much appreciated. Israel will prevail.

The same day, Israel thanked the people of India after 'India is with Israel' started trending on X. Thank you India, Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs Digital Diplomacy team posted on the social media platform.

-- with inputs from agencies
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received applications from both the Shiv Sena factions for holding the annual Dussehra rally at the iconic Shivaji Park in Mumbai, a civic official said.

Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had started the tradition of holding the Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park in Dadar area of Mumbai.

The BMC received an application on October 1 from MLA Sada Sarvankar, belonging to the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde, and another application from the Shiv Sena (UBT) central office on October 7, the official said.

"We have received two applications for the Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park," the official said.

Dussehra festival will be celebrated on October 24 this year.

Last year also, the rival Sena camps led by Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray had filed applications seeking permission to hold the annual Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park ground.

The civic body had denied permission to both the factions citing law and order concerns.

Thereafter, the Bombay High Court in September 2022 granted permission to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction to hold its annual Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park on October 5 last year.

The Shinde camp last year held its rally at the MMRDA ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex.

When Bal Thackeray died in 2012, he was cremated at the Shivaji Park. Sena workers call Shivaji Park 'Shiva-tirtha,' or a holy place, that now houses his memorial.
The Delhi Police has tightened the security at the Israeli embassy and Chabad House in the national capital amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, according to reports.

The police deployed around the Israeli embassy in New Delhi and Chabad House in Chandni Chowk were ordered to maintain a tight vigil, PTI quoted an official as saying on Tuesday.

According to latest reports, the death toll in the conflict has neared 1,600, as of Tuesday morning.

The security measures were implemented in order to avoid any untoward incidents similar to the one that happened more than two years ago. In January 2021, a very low IED device was detonated near the Israeli embassy in Delhi, damaging nearby cars. But no injuries were reported in the blast.

In July, two Islamic terror suspects were arrested by the Maharashtra state Anti-Terrorism Squad for allegedly carrying out surveillance of the Nariman Chabad House in Mumbai and plotting a series of 26/11-like bombings.

The duo  identified as Mohammed Imran, 23, and Mohammed Yunus Saki, 24  were reportedly found to be possessing explosives, drone equipment, laptops, and incriminating books written in Arabic. The ATS also recovered photos of the Chabad House in Mumbai and its GPS coordinates, the reports said.

Seven people were killed by gunmen at Nariman Chabad House in the 26/11 attacks in 2008.

With the conflict escalating, India's diplomatic missions in Israel's Tel Aviv and Gaza's Ramallah stated that efforts are on to ensure safety of stranded Indians and shared emergency contact numbers. About 18,000 Indian nationals are living and working in Israel and majority of them are caregivers. There are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders in the country, according to PTI.

On Saturday, reports said that a caregiver named Sheeja Anand, 40, from Kerala's Kannur, was injured after a rocket struck the house in Israel's Ashkelon where she was working. The woman has undergone multiple surgeries and is reportedly out of danger.

Air India has suspended Tel Aviv flights till October 14 in view of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.
As Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) continues its air strikes in the Gaza Strip for the fourth day, militant group Hamas has warned that it would kill an Israeli captive every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning. The warning comes as Israel raises fears of a ground assault in Gaza, calling up its 300,000 reservists and imposing a total blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida said on Monday that Hamas would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, and broadcast the execution. The Israeli ministry has not responded to the threat yet.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said more than 100 people had been taken captive by Hamas during the deadly cross-border incursion over the weekend.



As the war entered day four, the IDF fighter jets continued to rain havoc on Gaza. According to its Health Ministry, at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded since Saturday. Local media reports claimed apartment blocks, a mosque and hospitals were among the sites attacked. Israel also bombed the headquarters of the private Palestinian Telecommunication Co., which could affect landline telephone, internet and mobile phone services.



Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said Qatar was holding mediation talks about the hostage situation. Its mediators held urgent calls to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by Hamas in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.



"With US support, Qatar is seeking to accomplish an urgent agreement that would lead to the release of Israeli women captured by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli prisons," the anonymous source told Xinhua on Sunday. However, The Times Of Israel quoted an official who said "there is no negotiation" over the release of hostages.



Netanyahu's warning

In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it". "Israel is at war. We didnt want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it, said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.



He said Israel has only just begun to hit Hamas and that the pictures of destruction in Gaza "are only the start. We have wiped out hundreds of terrorists and we wont stop there." Wherever Hamas operates, we will turn into a city of ruins.


Just after he raised the diplomatic row between India and Canada with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did it again, this time with Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein.

In a statement released by the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, Trudeau spoke with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan on Sunday. "Prime Minister Trudeau provided an update on the situation between Canada and India, underscoring the importance of respecting the rule of law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the statement read.



However, King Abdullah II's office did not make any specific mention of the Canada-India diplomatic row in its official statement.



Trudeau's move comes after he raised the issue over Sikh separatist leader Nijjar's killing with UAE president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed."We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding - and respecting - the rule of law," Trudeau tweeted.



Interestingly, despite his provocative statement against India, Canada was conspicuously absent from the joint statement issued by the US condemning the Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend. The statement, which includes signatures from five of the leaders of the G7 nations, did not mention Canada or Japan.



The statement, signed by Emmanuel Macron of France, Olaf Scholz of Germany, Joe Biden of the United States, Giorgia Meloni of Italy and Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom, said "the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy and must be universally condemned."



According to the Canadian English-language National Post, the Prime Minister's office was asked whether Canada was consulted or asked to sign the statement. However, the reasons for its absence is yet to be explained.



James Moore, a former secretary of state for foreign affairs under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, took on X that Canada had been "sidelined." "Remember the self-righteous and empty slogan that Canada is back?" he asked. "Time for change."



Just after the Hamas attack, Canada had unequivocally condemned "these terrible attacks in the strongest possible terms and reaffirmed its support for Israels right to defend itself, in accordance with international law."


Right after the over 1,000 Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel's borders on Saturday, the geo-political equations in the Middle East changed, probably forever. While it threw cold water on America's hope to bring peace in the Middle East so it could divert its attention elsewhere, it also slowed down or killed forever the Israeli-Saudi deal, which was on the horizon. The much-anticipated peace deal is unlikely to materialise anytime soon, considering the widespread deaths Gaza witnessed over the last three days.

Nobody benefits from the situation, neither Israel nor Hamas. But, many regional analysts like Thomas Friedman believe the only beneficiary of the disastrous event could be Iran. Reason: The Israeli-Saudi deal could have isolated Iran, Hamass patron, and slowly shifted the power balance in favour of the Palestinian Authority, a more moderate group than Hamas.



With fingers pointing at Iran, questions arise about what role Iran could have played in the daring attack carried out by Hamas. Was Iran's leadership aware of the impending attack?



Many in the power circles of Israel believe Iran had a role. Maj. Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, told POLITICO that they are 100 per cent sure that the Iranians were not surprised. "Just because you dont have that evidence doesnt necessarily mean Iran isnt behind it," he added.



A report by The Wall Street Journal said officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had partnered with Hamas since August to prepare for the breach of Israel's borders. The outlet cited unnamed senior members of Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah as saying the IRGC during a meeting last Monday in Beirut "gave the green light" for the attack.



The report added that the IRGCs broader plan is to create a multi-front threat that can strangle Israel from all sidesHezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the north and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank.



But, so far there is no evidence of the Iranian role. "In this specific instance, we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on CNN.



Not just the US, even Israel has no evidence to back up claims that Iran was involved. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said there was no evidence yet of Irans role. "Iran is a major player but we cant yet say if it was involved in the planning or training," said IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.



Iran rubbished suggestions that it was involved in the attacks. "We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine; however, we are not involved in Palestine's response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself," Iran's UN mission said, according to Reuters' translation.



Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka too asserted that Iran was not given a heads up before the Friday morning attack was launched. "It was a surprise to everyone, including Iran," Baraka told reporters.



Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with commanders and a group of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran | Reuters

However, analysts believe things are playing out just like how Iran would have wanted. One of the Iran regime's main principles is anti-American imperialism and anti-Israeli Zionism. According to Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington, Hamas may have lashed out due to a sense that it was facing irrelevance as efforts advanced toward broader Israeli-Arab relations. "As Hamas watched the Israelis and Saudis move close to an agreement, they decided: no seat at the table? Poison the meal," she told Reuters.



The Israeli-Saudi normalisation would represent a victory for the U.S. diplomatic efforts, which Iran hated and was vocal about. Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei had hit out at Arab states for signing the Abraham Accords, accusing them of "treason against the global Islamic community."



All possible outcomes of the current escalation will be in favour of Iran, according to a report by The Conversation. Israel unleashing havoc on Gaza could push away Saudi Arabia and other Arab states from normalising relations. Israel's ruthless quelling of the Palestinian uprising could incite further uprising in East Jerusalem or the West Bank, leading to a more widespread Israeli response and greater instability, the report added.


Israeli Army on Tuesday claimed it found bodies of 1,500 militants around Gaza Strip and it has gained full control of the border. Preparing for a long war, Israel has mobilised about three lakh reservists.

The military said 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in Israeli territory, around the Gaza Strip. Israel Defence Force Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas militants have crossed the border into Israel since Monday night. However, the defence force said infiltrations were still possible.

Israel has previously reported 900 soldiers and civilians killed, and Palestinian authorities have reported about 700 deaths in Gaza and the West Bank. The defence forces said it had struck down more than 200 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, IDF Spokesperson said, The IDF attacked many targets in the Hafar Rimal neighbourhood, which is a symbol of the Strip. After that, another wave of attacks hit hundreds of targets in Khan Yunis, including intelligence infrastructure, operational apartments, Active houses of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and meeting points of terrorists.

Quoting Hagari, Times of Israel said, In the last day, not a single terrorist entered via the fence. Hagari added military has regained control of the Gaza border, and the military is mining areas where the fence was blown up by Hamas terrorists. Defence forces said they still believe small number of terrorists are still hiding in Israeli territory. The IDF is setting up a barrier of tanks, aircraft and vessels in order to prevent any entry or exit from the Strip, Hagari added.

Hagari said, The IDF recruited 300,000 reservists in 48 hours. The IDF provides combat equipment according to priorities. He added a WhatsApp centre has also been formed where commanders and soldiers can report logistical deficiencies.
The surprise attack of Hamas against Israel has put South Korea on alert against possible threats from North Korea. South Korean defence minister is now considering suspending a military agreement which led to the creation of buffer zones along land and sea borders.



Reportedly, South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik has called for strong readiness against North. Shin Won-sik he would push to suspend a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement in order to resume frontline surveillance on rival North Korea.

The agreement, reached during a brief period of diplomacy between South Korea's former liberal President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, created buffer zones along land and sea boundaries and no-fly zones above the border to prevent clashes.

Talking with reporters in Seoul, Shin Won-shik cited the violence in Israel and Gaza to stress the need to strengthen monitoring on the North. Shin was appointed by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday.

Shin visited a front-line military unit on Tuesday and said, We should make North Korea feel that they stand to lose more than they gain in order to deter provocations. If North Korea provokes, first, retaliate immediately. Second, retaliate strongly. Third, retaliate until the end," Yonhap agency reported.

Shin was particularly critical of the inter-Korean agreement's no-fly zones, which he said prevents South Korea from fully utilising its air surveillance assets at a time when North Korean nuclear threats are growing.

Relations between the Koreas have decayed following the collapse of larger talks between Washington and Pyongyang in 2019 over the North's nuclear weapons programme. North Korea has threatened to abandon the 2018 agreement while dialling up missile tests to a record pace, prompting the conservative Yoon to take a harder line on Pyongyang than his dovish predecessor.

While it would take a complicated legal process for South Korea to fully abandon the agreement, pausing the agreement would only require a decision from a Cabinet meeting, Shin said. Hamas has attacked Israel, and the Republic of Korea is under a much stronger threat, Shin said, invoking South Korea's formal name.

To counter (that threat), we need to be observing (North Korean military movements) with our surveillance assets, to gain prior knowledge of whether they are preparing provocations or not. If Israel had flown aircraft and drones to maintain continuous monitoring, I think they might have not been hit like that," he said.

There haven't been major skirmishes between the Koreas since the agreement was reached in September 2018. But South Korea last November accused the North of violating the agreement's tensions-reducing requirements when it fired a missile near a populated South Korean island near their sea border, triggering air raid sirens and forcing residents to evacuate.

South Korea's Defence Ministry said the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group will arrive in the South Korean mainland port of Busan on Thursday in the allies' latest show of force against North Korea.

(With PTI inputs.)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Hamas group operating in Gaza to cease attacks and release hostages. Guterres said only a negotiated peace deal could ensure long-term stability in the region.



In a statement, Guterres said he condemns abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the Gaza periphery. Expressing his concern over the death toll, Guterres said it is expected to rise further as the fighting continues. Sadly, these numbers are expected to rise as the attacks are ongoing and many remain unaccounted for, Guterres said.

I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages, the Secretary-General said.

Guterres reminded Israel that while he recognises their legitimate security concerns, military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law. Civilians must be respected and protected at all times. Civilian infrastructure must never be a target. We already have reports of Israeli missiles striking health facilities inside Gaza as well as multi-storied residential towers and a mosque. Two UNRWA schools sheltering displaced families in Gaza were also hit, he said.

The UN Special Coordinator and I are engaging with leaders in the region to express our concern, our outrage, and to advance efforts to avoid any spillover to the wider Middle East, Guterres said. He added, This most recent violence does not come in a vacuum. The reality is that it grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year-long occupation and no political end in sight.

Guterres urged all parties to let access to UNs humanitarian aid for helpless Palestinian civilians. Only a negotiated peace that fulfils the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis, together with their security alike  the long-held vision of a two-state solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements  can bring long-term stability to the people of this land and the wider Middle East region, Guterres said.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday. The death toll from Hamas' weekend surprise attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday. The number of injured people received by hospitals climbed to 2,616, including 25 in critical condition, the Israeli Health Ministry updated. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israel intensified its air strikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) Saturday surprise attack on Israel.

"I've ordered to move (from defense) to a massive offensive on a scale never seen before," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live address to the nation on Monday.

This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli military vehicles in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon.(Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

In the morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters in a briefing that the military has regained control over all the communities in southern Israel, which were stormed by Hamas militants on Saturday after they broke out through the security fence between Israel and Gaza.

Later, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, said that Israel's raids on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of 4 Israeli prisoners and their captive members.

A man looks at destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

At night, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz announced that "all the water supply pipes from Israel to the Gaza Strip have been disconnected." Israel also halted the passage of goods, electricity and food to the Strip.

"Israeli air strikes hit 86 towers in the Gaza Strip and this led to various damages," told an official in Palestine Telecommunications (Paltel) Company.

In response to the Israeli threats, Hamas' military wing's spokesman Abu Obeida warned in an audio statement that "any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding."

Gaza's militant groups said about 130 hostages were in Gaza, including dozens with dual citizenship. Thailand confirmed that 11 Thai nationals are held captive by Hamas.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a briefing that the hostages include toddlers, women and elderly, adding that his country was committed to bringing the hostages back home.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

Children injured in an Israeli airstrike are treated at a hospital in Gaza City, on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Monday that "more than 17,500 families, including more than 123,538 people, were displaced."

In this regard, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed during a phone call with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the importance of delivering relief and medical aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Guterres said that the United Nations is making efforts to provide urgent humanitarian relief aid to the residents there, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).

On Monday, Netanyahu also said the Israeli military was enhancing security along the northern border, where militants in southern Lebanon had fired mortar shells toward northern Israel on Monday afternoon.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Palestine's Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed "its responsibility" for the operation carried out on the border with occupied Palestine, injuring seven Israeli soldiers.

Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, said it attacked on Monday evening the Israeli Pranit and Avivim barracks in northern Israel with guided missiles and mortar shells, in response to the killing of three of its members by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier in the day. 
With the Israeli government promising to hunt down Hamas fighters after imposing a total seige on the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack, the total death toll has neared 1,600.

Israeli TV news channels reported that the Hamas attack claimed the lives of over 900 Israelis, with at least 2,600 wounded. According to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, more than 100 Israelis were also taken captive. Hamas militants breached a fortified fence and shooting dead civilians and soldiers along the Gaza border. The deceased include at least 260 people killed at a crowded music festival.

Israel, which has officially declared war, retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, where at least 687 people were killed and 3,726 injured, reported Reuters, citing a Gaza's Health Ministry statement. The destroyed buildings include houses, apartments, a mosque and a 14-storey tower housing Hamas offices.

Further escalating the situation, Lebanon-based Hezbollah armed group fired rockets into northern Israel's disputed territory and Israel also fought back. Israel said one of its deputy commanders was killed in a cross-border raid from Lebanon while Hezbollah lost at least three of its members in the shelling.



With the war declaration, the Israeli army called up around 3,00,000 reservists and imposed a seige by cutting food, fuel and power supplies, sparking worries about a possible ground assault into Gaza.

"We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale. We are going on the offensive," Reuters quoted Israel's Chief Military Spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari as saying.

Bombarding more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes reportedly leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun, which is used as a staging ground for attacks, AP cited the military as saying.
The European Union had backpedaled on its earlier announcement of suspending all payments to Palestinians after the Hamas attack on Israel. A diplomatic row had emerged after several nations including Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland and Spain voiced their dissent.

After questions were raised, European Union took a U-turn and announced that there will be no suspension of payments.

EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on Monday announced that all payments to Palestinians were immediately suspended and all projects were put under review.

As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of 691m," Varhelyi added.

Soon after Varhelyis post on X (formerly Twitter), several nations criticised EUs hasty decision. Nations including Belgium, Netherlands announced that their humanitarian aid will continue to Palestinians.

EUs chief diplomat Josep Borrell said The suspension of the payments  punishing all the Palestinian people  would have damaged the EU interests in the region and would have only further emboldened terrorists.

Borrell had also invited Israel's Foreign Affairs minister Eli Cohen and his Palestinian Authority counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki to an emergency meeting of European Foreign Affairs ministers later on Tuesday. Discussions on the tense situation prevailing in Israel and the region will be held.

EU had issued a statement confirming that it was launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine. The objective of this review is to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel, it said.

Over 1,600 people have died from both sides since the Hamas launched its attack against Israel on Saturday.
As Israel continues to rain down missiles on Gaza Strip, Hamas has targetted the port of Ashkelon. Hamas had warned the residents of Ashkelon to leave the city by 5 pm (local time). Hamas's armed wing spokesperson, Abu Ubaida told residents to leave the Israel's port of Ashkelon. Meanwhile, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are continuing the Gaza attacks targetting Hamas centers and government buildings.

Ashkelon is nine miles north of Gaza.

Israel on Tuesday said that it has restored full control of its border with the Gaza Strip after severe airstrikes was launched overnight. According to Israeli officials, bodies of nearly 1,500 Hamas militants were recovered from their territory.

Reportedly, IDF has planted mines in the borders to avoid militants from entering.

A statement was released by IDF after an overnight bombing that targetted Hamas centres and government buildings in Gaza city.

The Hamas attack has killed over 1,000 people, while the Israel counterattack has claimed over 800 lives in Gaza. "Last four days were very tough days for us ...Unfortunately they have succeeded this time to kill over 1,000 people...Its just ... you cant imagine," IDF Brig Gen Dan Goldfuss told reporters.

IDF said that women, children and elderly were 'brutally butchered' in southern Israel.

Rockets fired from Lebanon

Meanwhile, rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel as well as violence continued along the Lebanese-Israeli border. While the Israel claimed that they have intercepted four of the 15 rockets fired from Lebanon. Lebanon said that it is verifying reports of rockets being fired.

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Israeli strikes have displaced over 1,87,518 Palestinians in Gaza. With shortage of food and water supply, the agency was struggling to handle the situation in crowded shelters and camps.

Earlier, Hamas had threatened to kill the hostages. Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, said the group will not negotiate with Israel about the hostages it has captured until the fighting is over.

"We have informed all parties that contacted us regarding the enemys prisoners held by the resistance that this file will not be opened before the end of the battle," he said. "And it will only be at a price that the resistance will accept," he added.

Reportedly, Hamas is hold 100-150 hostages from Israel.

Amid the attacks, Nobel laurete Malala Yousafzai called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Taking it to X, Yousafzai said "peace became something only we could dream about".

Rafah crossing closed

Meanwhile, the airstrikes nearby Rafah crossing has forced Egypt to close the crossing making it difficult for those trying to escape from Gaza. Since Israel had secured its borders and Egypt border, the only way out through land blocked, people are struggling to escape the war-hit Gaza.

Though the crossing was open, people had to get their names on the list. The Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, has been operating only for those who had their names listed before the recent fighting. Reportedly, Palestinians had to cross into Egypt from Gaza, Palestinians have to go to their interior minister at least two days before to get their name on a list.
Myanmars military was accused of launching airstrike on a camp in the northern state of Kachin on late Monday that claimed lives of 29 people.

Col. Naw Bu, a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army, said 29 people including 11 children were killed in the incident. Also, 57 others got injured in the attacks carried out by air and artillery, he added.

The casualties occurred at the Mung Lai Hkyet displacement camp in the northern part of Laiza, where the headquarters of the rebel KIA is based.

Laiza is about 324 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city.

According to Myanmar's National Unity Government, opposition, a kindergarten, school, church and many civilian houses were destroyed at the camp.

This deliberate and targeted attack by the terrorist military council on civilians fleeing conflict constitutes a blatant crime against humanity and war crime, it said.

The recent developments of the Israel-Hamas conflict was taken advantage and the Myanmars military government has launched the airstrike to commit yet another crime against humanity and war crime, it added.

Meanwhile, Naw Bu said that it is unclear how the attack occurred.

In a statement over the phone to state television MRTV, military government spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun denied responsibility for the attack but said the military is capable of attacking the headquarters of all of Myanmar's insurgent groups.

Zaw Min Tun said the area where the explosions occurred may have been used to store bombs for drones and unmanned aircraft for the Kachin fighting forces, reported Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Myanmar Witness, an NGO that collects and analyses evidence related to human rights incidents, said they are still investigating the cause.

Since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, Myanmar has been in turmoil. Earlier, the military government had used airstrikes in combat against the armed pro- democracy Peoples Defense Forces and ethnic minority guerrilla groups such as the Kachin.

The military claims that it targets only armed guerrilla forces and facilities.

The Kachin are one of the stronger ethnic rebel groups and are capable of manufacturing some of their own armaments. They also have a loose alliance with the armed militias of the pro-democracy forces that were formed to fight army rule.

Last year, the military had carried out airstrikes that hit an anniversary celebration of the Kachin Independence Organization, political wing of the Kachin Independence Army, in Hpakant. It had left around 80 casualties.

Naw Bu had called for the UN organisations to involve in the incident and take action against the culprits.

(With agency inputs)
A Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained on espionage charges lost his appeal against his arrest Tuesday, meaning he will stay in jail until November 30.



Evan Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia in late March.

The 31-year-old US citizen and his employer deny the allegations, and the US government declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges.

Gershkovich is the first American reporter to to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for US News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.
Former Union minister M. Veerappa Moily, the loudest voice in the Manmohan Singh government demanding caste census in 2011, says the Modi government's refusal to conduct caste enumeration has exposed its claims about working for the benefit of the OBCs. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, he says the reasons given by the government for not conducting a caste census are unconvincing. He also criticised the Modi government for not releasing the findings of the socio-economic caste census (SECC) carried out by the UPA government. Excerpts:

Why does India need a caste census?

There are several guarantees and schemes that are extended by the Central and state governments that are meant for the uplift of the marginalised. While the figures of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the religious minorities are known and updated every ten years because these communities are counted in the census, when it comes to OBCs, their exact figures are not known. The last time a caste census was carried out was in 1931. If we have the data with regard to the numbers and the socio-economic development of OBCs, reservation and other benefits that empower them and improve their condition can be provided in a targeted manner. When the figures are known, the percentage of reservation can be decided in a more scientific manner, and it can also be decided whether certain categories whose development indices are good can be removed from the ambit of reservation.

It is often asked why the UPA government did not make public the results of its socio-economic caste census.

The UPA government had in 2011 taken a decision on undertaking an enumeration of castes. The work on the 2011 census was already in progress. So our government decided that a separate socio-economic caste census would be conducted. There were some discrepancies in the findings which had to be cleaned up before the report could be finalised. The UPA went out of power before the report could be finalised. The process was completed in 2016, when the NDA government was in power. However, the Modi government has so far chosen not to make the report public. The government told the Supreme Court that there were errors in the data. But the registrar general had stated that the data was 98.87 per cent error-free. There is no plausible reason for the failure of the present government to make the caste census figures public. The failure to conduct caste census or make the SECC figures public exposes the claims of the Modi government about working for the welfare of OBCs.

Critics of the Congress question its espousal of OBC interests, saying it has made a U-turn with regard to caste census and reservation for OBCs.

The Congress has always given top priority to the uplift of the poor and the marginalised. This includes the welfare of the backward classes. The Mandal Commission got extensions when the Congress was in power. The UPA government implemented the Mandal Commission's recommendations with regard to reservation in educational institutions.

The Centre says there are technical issues involved in carrying out a caste census at the Central level.

They have spelt out many reasons why they cannot carry out a caste census from the requirement of a constitutional amendment to allow OBC count along with census to differences in castes among states. But these are all excuses. The census already includes a count of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, so why can't the same be done for OBCs? By the way, the present government can use the SECC figures. That exercise is already completed.

The women's reservation legislation does not include a quota for OBCs. The UPA government's version of the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 also did not have the sub-quota.

There must be quota for women belonging to the backward classes as part of women's reservation. The UPA government was not against it, but there were technical problems because of which the OBC quota was kept out of the legislation. A first step towards ensuring adequate representation for the OBCs in all spheres, including as part of reservation for women in the legislatures, is caste census.

Why is the Congress government in Karnataka not implementing the caste survey it had conducted in its previous term?

A comprehensive, door-to-door caste-based survey was carried out in Karnataka. There is a technical problem involved in its implementation. The secretary of the State Commission for Backward Classes did not sign the report. This was cited as a reason by the previous BJP government for not making the survey findings public. I am confident the issue will be resolved and the state government will release the findings.
NEW DELHI, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloom, one of India's most innovative brands, has won 'Best Hotel Chain For Customer Satisfaction' at Today's Traveller Awards 2023 at a ceremony hosted in New Delhi. This latest accolade is testament to the fact Bloom has gone head-to-head with renowned international brands and come out on top consistently.



Bloom a new generation of hotels built for intelligent travelers and has become a big hit among young India. The brand, which currently boasts an industry leading Net Promoter Score of over 70+% has turned heads with the success of its revolutionary product. The platform is well on track to onboard 5000 rooms across India.



Sanjeev Sethi, COO of Bloom commented - "India's next-gen travelers are adopting Bloom as their #1 choice as we expand across the country and this award speaks highly of their affection for the brand. We will continue to be selective with our platform partners so we don't compromise on the quality of our offering as we scale up. Even though we have to reject up to 20 hotel applications for each unit that we sign this discipline has helped maintain our uncompromising standards."



The Bloom platform is built on proprietary cloud-based tech that has empowered hotels to significantly enhance performance with customer satisfaction often leading all segments in some markets. Today the platform and product have been widely recognized winning praise from international journals. This has made Bloom a compelling choice for new and existing hotel owners looking for a next generation brand away from the stuffy international chains.



One can find Bloom hotels in most leading locations across India including: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Noida, Goa, Kochi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Amritsar and Ahmedabad to name a few.



Visit staybloom.com to learn more.



Photo:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243122/BloomHotelCustomerSatisfactionAward.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
 The program designed by the Department of Electrical Engineering will train professionals in next generation wireless technologies that will aid in delivering metaverse experiences and digital twins



 The program does not require a GATE score for application



KANPUR, India, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has invited applications for the eMasters degree in Next Generation Wireless Technologies. This comprehensive program, designed by the Department of Electrical Engineering at IITK, will train professionals in equipment and device technology that aids in delivering expertise in voice, data, and multimedia information. Professionals will also receive training in designing, operating, installing, and practicing Next Generation Wireless Technologies to meet various industry needs.



This executive-friendly program, which provides an in-depth understanding of technology disruption, does not require a GATE score for application. Furthermore, it offers participants the flexibility to complete the program in 1-3 years. The program is taught by world-class faculty and researchers from IIT Kanpur through weekend-only live interactive classes coupled with self-paced learning.



The program has been designed in response to the advent of modern digital Next Generation Wireless Technologies, which has created a dire need for a highly skilled workforce. While many countries are successfully using 5G and preparing for 6G - the next big telecom wave, India lags behind due to the lack of industry talent, capital crunch, and advancement roadmaps. Today, India requires skilled professionals well-equipped in communication and allied technologies. Professionals who can design, build, and deploy modern digital Next Generation Wireless Technologies are the ones who will remain relevant and future-proof. However, the lack of practical knowledge and conceptual understanding has held back the sector from evolving. The course is structured with core modules such as Wireless Communication, Probability and Random Processes, Applied Linear Algebra for Wireless Communication, and Digital Communication Systems that addresses the requirements of a present-day professional.



The program features a 60-credit, 12-module industry-focused curriculum. It also provides access to the placement cell at IITK, the incubation cell, and the alumni network, leading to successful career advancement and networking experiences. The immersive learning format allows professionals to visit the IIT Kanpur campus to meet eminent faculty and network with experienced professionals. Additionally, professionals enrolling in the eMasters degree program will gain multidimensional expertise to shape and build the communication future of the country.



After completing four successful cycles of enrollment, the program is seeing a large number of applications pouring in for the new batch. Over 600 professionals have already completed the academic requirements for eMasters degree programs from IIT Kanpur. The first batch to graduate received their degrees during the 56th Convocation of IIT Kanpur. Applications are open until October 31, 2023, for fresh cohorts to start from January 2024. To learn more about the program and apply, click here:



https://emasters.iitk.ac.in/course/masters-in-wireless-technologies



About IIT Kanpur:



Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur was established on 2nd November 1959 by an Act of Parliament. The institute has a sprawling campus spread over 1055 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 22 centres, and 3 Interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 550 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students. In addition to formal undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the institute has been active in research and development in areas of value to both industry and government.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Mumbai, Oct 10 (PTI) The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday barred state-owned Bank of Baroda from onboarding fresh customers on its mobile application 'bob World' with immediate effect, citing material supervisory concerns.

"The Reserve Bank of India has, in exercise of its power, under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, directed Bank of Baroda to suspend, with immediate effect, any further onboarding of their customers onto the 'bob World' mobile application," it said in a statement.

The action, the RBI added, is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the manner of onboarding customers onto the application.

"Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the 'bob World' application will be subject to rectification of the deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI," it added.

The RBI further said the bank has been directed to ensure that existing 'bob World' customers do not face any disruption on account of this suspension.
London, Oct 10 (PTI) A trial involving six Indian banks pursuing unpaid loans amounting to an estimated USD 2 billion, including interest accrued, from GVK Coal Developers (Singapore) Pte Ltd and associated companies opened in the High Court here on Tuesday.

Judge Dame Clare Moulder presided over the hearing at the Commercial Court division to hear the case brought by Bank of Baroda (acting by its Ras Al Khaimah branch), Bank of India (London branch), Canara Bank (London branch), ICICI Bank Ltd (acting by its Bahrain, Dubai and Off-Shore Banking branches), Indian Overseas Bank (Corporate Branch, India) and Axis Bank Ltd.

The case dates back to 2011 and 2014, when loan facilities were made available to the company, which the banks say are long overdue other than USD 83 million from the proceeds of the sale of a Bengaluru airport and certain amounts not in dispute.

According to court documents, the banks have been pursuing the case at the High Court in London since 2020.

GVKs legal representatives had successfully applied for an adjournment in June last year to prepare Indian law expert reports for the trial.

The case is now slated for a two-week trial starting Tuesday, even as GVK was only represented by an Indian advocate having reportedly disengaged their UK legal firm in the weeks leading up to the trial.

The banks are represented by international law firm Reed Smith, who have instructed Indian-origin barrister Karishma Vora of 39 Essex Chambers London to argue the matter before the Commercial Court in London.

The other GVK group companies named as defendants in the case include Black Gold Ventures Pte Ltd, Cool Water Ventures Pte Ltd, Harmony Waters Pte Ltd, GVK Natural Resources Pvt Ltd, GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd, GVK Resources (Singapore) Pte Ltd, GVK Coal Resources (Singapore) Pte Ltd, GVK Coal Infrastructure (Singapore) Pte Ltd and GVK Coal Exploration & Production Pte Ltd  mostly Singapore companies with a couple from Telangana.

The banks are seeking repayment of the two loans borrowed in 2011 and 2014, with England as the jurisdiction applying in the case.

The GVK Group has been approached for a comment.
Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

YAOUNDE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Cameroon's capital of Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said.

National Fire Fighting Brigade in charge of the rescue efforts said that rescue operations were still underway at the disaster site where dozens more are feared trapped under the rubble.

The landslides occurred at 8 p.m., local time, Sunday in the hilly neighborhood of Mbankolo in Yaounde after a persistent downpour.

It is estimated that 25 houses were swept away by the floods.

The country's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji visited the disaster site earlier Monday and said some of those rescued in the tragedy were receiving treatment in the hospital.

"The government extends condolences to the bereaved families," Nji told reporters.

Yaounde is one of the wettest cities in Africa, with dozens of steep hills. Heavy rains have triggered several devastating floods throughout the country this year. In November last year, 14 people attending a funeral in Yaounde were killed in a landslide. 

Survivors are seen among their belongings at the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Oct. 9, 2023. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

People search for survivors at the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Oct. 9, 2023. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

A man operates an excavator at the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Oct. 9, 2023. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

Red Cross and civil protection personnel work at the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Oct. 9, 2023. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

A man stands where his house was built at the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Oct. 9, 2023. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the site of landslides in Yaounde, Cameroon. Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Yaounde buried homes and buildings Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)
Mumbai, Oct 10 (PTI) Filmmaker Mira Nair will head the jury for South Asia Competition of the 2023 Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, the organisers announced on Tuesday.

The South Asia Competition will lead the awards categories screening 14 films from debut and second-time filmmakers from different parts of South Asia, a press release said.

"If we don't tell our own stories, no one else will. My mantra for a long time, which is why I am honoured to preside over the MAMI jury for the South Asia competition this year. I look forward to being inspired and excited by new voices in cinema from

close to home.

"It is so important that MAMI recognises the best first or early films because nothing can be more encouraging than one's peers and gurus of cinema putting the wind in our sails! Winning the Camera d'Or for my first film, 'Salaam Bombay!', opened horizons everywhere. Our MAMI jury looks forward to doing the same for young filmmakers today," Nair said in a statement.

Anupama Chopra, Festival Director at Jio MAMI, said Nair has created an indelible mark on global cinema with her outstanding filmography which includes titles like "Monsoon Wedding", "Salaam Bombay", The Namesake" and "The Reluctant Fundamentalist".

Deepti DCunha, Artistic Director, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, hailed Nair as one of the most celebrated filmmakers.

"The South Asia competition is an integral part of our vision to serve as a hub for South Asian and South Asian Diaspora filmmakers and to provide emerging film talent with an opportunity to meet and collaborate with some of the best minds in global cinema. Mira Nair is one of our finest; there couldn't be a better name than her to interact with and guide these young filmmakers," she added.

The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will take place from October 27 to November 5.
Lahore, Oct 10 (PTI) Pakistan's Punjab government may impose coronavirus-like restrictions here in the provincial capital to control the worsening smog situation, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Quoting the sources, Geo News reported that the authorities are likely to announce a complete shutdown on Wednesdays when all schools, markets, and factories will be closed.

The city's Commissioner said the authorities will also announce a work-from-home policy for two months to combat smog in the Lahore Division.

The decision came after a meeting with traders to discuss the proposal to keep markets closed on Wednesdays.

Traders can open markets on Sundays if they want," Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa said.

Under the new policy, the government departments will operate with 50 per cent strength on Wednesday, the report said, adding that it has also been advised to carry out snap-checking on weekends - Saturday and Sunday.

The report also said that the administration has been advised to impose heavy fines on factories violating the law and shut them in case of continuous ignorance of the directives.

The highest level of smog was recorded on the first three days of the week - Monday to Wednesday, the report said.

Meanwhile, a Swiss air quality technology company, IQAir, said that Lahore ranked number one among 109 cities in the world to have the worst air quality.

The provincial capital on Monday recorded 175 AQI US. Simultaneous construction of various mega infrastructure development projects, traffic issues, industries operation and other factors are said to be causing massive pollution in Lahore.

The IQAir measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a maximum PM2.5 concentration of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
Toronto, Oct 10 (PTI) A prominent Indo-Canadian community member has voiced deep concern over the "ecosystem" in Canada that has enabled Khalistan extremists to use violence, threaten and bully those opposing their "nefarious agendas''.

Amidst the diplomatic standoff between Canada and India over the killing of a pro-Khalistan separatist in Surrey in British Columbia province in June, he cautioned that political appeasement for short-term gains is not in the interest of Canada's future.

"It is very concerning for us as a country, as Canadians the direction which we as a country are taking in the sense of giving freedom of expression, which is our charter right, to people who don't believe in that same freedom of expression for others. Peace-loving Canadians do not believe in (a) certain ideology which is very extreme, which does not belong to Canada," National Convener, Canada India Foundation, Ritesh Malik, told PTI in an exclusive interview here.

Referring to Khalistan extremists in Canada, Malik said these people "create differences in society and disturb communal harmony. They work with a nefarious agenda and are derailing relationships between the two countries," he said.

"Freedom of expression should be for everyone. We have unfortunately created that kind of ecosystem in Canada where these people are very vocal, very violent, very aggressive, and they don't let anybody.... come out against them. They will bully, they will threaten, they will use every possible illegal means... to counter any sanity," he said, adding that Sikhs across the US, Canada and the UK have come out and said that they don't believe or endorse the Khalistan ideology.

"These (are big issues) that worry us as Canadians, in the long-term interest of Canada. We feel worried about the future of our children, about the rifts between communities," he said, adding that leaders in government and officials in policy and advocacy should take up those issues for the larger interest of Canada.

India and Canada are embroiled in a diplomatic standoff following allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament last month that "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing" of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia, a charge angrily rejected by New Delhi as "absurd" and "motivated".

Malik referred to the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985 and said people and families of victims to date feel they have not got justice.

The Montreal-Delhi Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was to have landed at London's Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.

The bombing was blamed on Sikh militants in retaliation to the 'Operation Blue Star' to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1984.

"As a Canadian, I have no hesitation in admitting that we haven't been able to call out the ideology and people who were responsible for that. We've seen them flourish. We've seen them grow, that ideology has grown, got beyond control. People have suffered. Within (the) Sikh community also, there are people who've suffered because of this ideology. They have not got justice for over 40 years now," he said.

"This ideology has been flourishing and growing, with whatever patronage or whatever support. That is not Sikh ideology. That is not what Sikh people believe in," he said.

He questioned what prompted Prime Minister Trudeau to conclude within four months in Nijjar's case and noted that there are diplomatic ways for countries to deal with issues behind closed doors.

"It looks to us, as Canadians, it's more like appeasement politics or a political move than anything else," he said, adding that the issue should have been dealt with in a different way to ensure the already strained relationship between the two countries due to the matters left unresolved for decades now, is not further spoilt.

Malik added that Canada has been facing challenges, including economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living. "We need countries like India, partners like India," whose economies are growing, he said. "It is in our interest as Canada, and as Canadians, to work closely with countries like India, and if there are issues, they need to be resolved in a way that it does not hamper Canadians' chances to get economic benefit from opportunities which India presents today," he added.

Malik underscored the importance of resolving issues between the two countries sincerely, "leaving aside short-term gains for votes, appeasement."

"Both these countries have a great future. People on both sides are very progressive. They want the relationship to flourish, they want exchanges to take place, students to come here, people come here to set up businesses, people to go (to India) to explore opportunities," he said.

He added that it is important to resolve the issues, not let them escalate and to "nip them in the bud".
Beijing, Oct 10 (AP) China's coast guard claimed Tuesday to have chased a Philippine navy ship from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea as tensions between the two countries over rich fishing areas escalate.

Coast guard spokesman Gan Yu said the Philippine ship had sailed into waters next to the Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island, and ignored multiple calls to turn back.

The Chinese coast guard took necessary measures to expel the Philippine ship in accordance with the law, such as following it and forcing it out and controlling its route," Gan said.

In Manila, the Philippines' military chief of staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., said authorities were still looking into the alleged incident but think it was more likely propaganda from the Chinese than an actual confrontation.

If we ever have a ship there, we will not agree to be driven away (from our) exclusive economic zone, Brawner told reporters. "It's our right to make sure that our fishermen can fish in our economic zone.

The Scarborough Shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, just west of the country's main Luzon Island. It has been occupied by China since 2012 as part of an Beijing's push to lay claim to almost the entire South China Sea, which has also sparked disputes with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The conflicts have long been regarded as a potential Asian flash point and a delicate fault line in the United States-China rivalry in the region.

Washington has no claims of its own, but US Navy ships and fighter jets have carried out patrols for decades to challenge China's expansive claims and promote freedom of navigation in the important waterway.

Last month, China's coast guard laid down a 300-metre-long floating barrier to block the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal lagoon to prevent Filipino boats from entering.

A few days later, the Philippine coast guard, acting on orders directly from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., covertly removed the barrier, infuriating China.

Gan, the spokesman for China's coast guard, insisted that China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters, and that chasing away the Philippine ship on Tuesday was legitimate and legal.

The Philippines' actions infringe on China's sovereignty and seriously violate international law and basic norms of international relations, he said. We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement.

Under Marcos, who took office last year, the Philippines has intensified efforts to push back against China's increasingly assertive actions.

Following the incident with the barrier, Philippine military authorities said there was a concern that the Chinese coast guard may attempt to install a similar floating blockade at the entrance to the Second Thomas Shoal. It is several hundred kilometers southwest of the Scarborough Shoal and is occupied by a small Philippine navy contingent on a long-grounded warship but has been surrounded by Chinese coast guard ships.

Last week a Chinese coast guard ship came within a metre of colliding with a Philippine patrol ship off the Second Thomas Shoal, prompting strong condemnation from Manila.

On Tuesday, the Philippines said a senior diplomat had witnessed the incident from aboard a coast guard ship and that his firsthand information will allow him to effectively convey our concerns to China. (AP)





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Moscow, Oct 10 (AP) A Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained on espionage charges lost his appeal against his arrest Tuesday, meaning he will stay in jail until November 30.

Evan Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia in late March.

The 31-year-old US citizen and his employer deny the allegations, and the US government declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges.

Gershkovich is the first American reporter to to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for US News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. (AP)



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Jerusalem, Oct 10 (PTI) Fearing for their life amid continuous bombardments by Israel, an Indian woman living in Gaza with her family on Tuesday sought an immediate evacuation from the war-torn Hamas-ruled enclave.

We are facing a brutal war here and everything is being destroyed in bombarded in a matter of seconds. We are paying the price of this conflict as civilians are being targeted, Lubna Nazir Shaboo, an Indian from Jammu & Kashmir living in Gaza, told PTI over the phone.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has entered the fourth day and it has already claimed at least 1,600 lives on both sides. This includes 788 killed and 4,100 others injured on the Gaza side.

Following the brutal attacks by Hamas militants on Saturday morning in the southern areas of the Jewish state, backed by a barrage of rockets that hit even the central parts of the country, Israeli warplanes have pounded downtown Gaza City, home to Hamas' centres of government.

The sounds of bombardment are too scary and the whole house shakes. It is a very, very scary situation, Shaboo said.

Shaboo, who is living with her husband, Nedal Toman, and youngest daughter, Karima, in Gaza, said the water supply was officially cut off in addition to electricity. Her two elder children live and study in Cairo, Egypt.

Internet connection in Gaza is also poor and only those with their limited net packs are able to establish contact with people outside. Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a complete siege of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. I have given an order - Gaza will be under complete siege. There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza]. We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly, Gallant said.

The Kashmiri woman said that she hadn't seen anything like this before and has currently two families living with them who had to run away after bombardment in the bordering areas of Gaza.

We are not able to go anywhere because there is no safe place for us anywhere and the Gaza Strip is too small and it is closed from every side. There are no exit points over here, Lubna said.

I have already asked for help from the Representative office of India in Ramallah to help me get to a safer place along with my husband and my daughter, she said in a video message sent to PTI. The only exit route from Gaza, the Rafah crossing with Egypt, was shut down on Monday practically closing all possibilities of escape for Gaza residents.

The Representative Office of India in Ramallah said they are in touch and are trying to help all Indians but the situation on the ground constrains our options.

In addition, the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv is also actively looking for ways to assist all the Indians in the affected areas.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address: We have only started striking Hamas. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.
Washington, Oct 10 (AP) Less than three weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat beside President Joe Biden and marvelled that a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia seemed within reach  a diplomatic advance that he predicted could lead to lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Biden was equally optimistic, telling Netanyahu during their meeting in New York, If you and I  10 years ago  were talking about normalisation with Saudi Arabia, I think we'd look at each other like, Who's been drinking what?'

Now, the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinians after a devastating Hamas attack on Israeli soil is threatening to delay or derail the yearslong, country-by-country diplomatic push by the United States to improve relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

The so-called normalisation push, which began under former President Donald Trump's administration and was branded as the Abraham Accords, is an ambitious effort to reshape the region and boost Israel's standing in historic ways.

But critics have warned that it skips past Palestinian demands for statehood.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Hamas attacks may have been driven in part by a desire to scuttle the United States' most ambitious part of the initiative: the sealing of diplomatic relations between rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East's two greatest powers share a common enemy in Iran, a generous military and financial sponsor of Hamas.

Such a pact between Jerusalem and Riyadh would be a legacy-defining achievement for Biden, Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It's one that could pave the way for even more Arab and Muslim-majority nations to abandon their rejection of Israel since its 1948 founding in lands long inhabited by Palestinians.

Under Trump, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco all signed on to normalisation agreements with Israel.

But the startling attack by Hamas  and much of the Arab world's response to it  has also raised new questions about whether Palestinian ambitions for sovereignty can be put aside while the US tries to help Israel move ahead with improving relations with the rest of its Middle East neighbours.

With Netanyahu vowing to turn all Hamas hideouts in Gaza into rubble, the region is now bracing for even more death and destruction and an expansive military operation by Israel.

Biden is set to address the attacks on Israel in a White House speech on Tuesday afternoon.

We're going to see a rather significant operation from air, land and sea that costs many, many, many lives," said Steven Cook, a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"I think this dynamic of normalisation will likely slow down or come to a halt, at least for a period of time.

The attacks were a shock to American, Israeli and Saudis officials, who all were riding high on the prospect that an Israeli-Saudi agreement was starting to come into focus.

Netanyahu, in a CNN interview last month, called the potential pact a quantum leap for the region.

The Saudi crown prince also noted the steady progress, telling Fox News Channel, every day we get closer."

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan noted at a recent event hosted by The Atlantic that challenges in the Mideast remained, but the amount of time he was spending on crisis and conflict in the region compared with his recent predecessors was "significantly reduced.

The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades," Sullivan said.

In a matter of days, that optimism has vanished.

Social media showed crowds take to the streets with Palestinian flags in Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait and elsewhere in the hours after the Hamas attack.

A policeman in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria opened fire on Israeli tourists, killing two Israelis and one Egyptian.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry in a statement soon after the attacks did not condemn Hamas. Instead, the ministry noted that it had repeatedly warned that Israel's occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations led to this moment.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the Saudi response.

We still believe that normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only good for the people of those two nations but for the American people and for everybody else in the region, and we have every intention to continue to encourage a process where normalisation can occur, Kirby said.

Yousef Munayyer, who heads the Palestine-Israel program at the Arab Centre, a Washington think tank, said the Saudis in their statement were reminding the administration that we've been telling you guys over and over again that if you ignore the Palestine issue the region's going to explode.

And I think there's just been a tremendous amount of hubris on the part of the Biden administration thinking they could do that."

To be certain, Biden and US officials have privately made clear to Netanyahu that any deal needed to include significant concessions for Palestinians, although members of Netanyahu's far-right coalition have made clear that an independent Palestinian state is not something they'd abide.

The Saudis had said they, too, expected Israel to make concessions. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said there is no other way to solve the conflict than by establishing a Palestinian state.

Other allies in the region had also underscored that Palestinian concerns could not be overlooked.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, whose country in the early 1990s became the second Arab nation after Egypt to sign a peace deal with Israel, told a global summit last month that the prospect of a normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel offered promise for the Middle East but no guarantee of stability in itself.

This belief, by some in the region, that you can parachute over Palestine, deal with the Arabs and work your way back  that does not work, the Jordanian king said then.

And even those countries that have Abraham Accords with Israel have difficulty moving publicly on those issues when Israelis and Palestinians are dying. So unless we solve this problem, there will never be a true peace.

US officials say they intend to press ahead, but they also acknowledge efforts are unlikely to bear fruit while there is an active conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Blinken had been planning a trip to the Middle East, with stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, later this month, but those plans are now on hold, according to three US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations.

While Blinken may still visit Israel and several neighbouring countries to look for ways to ease tensions, he is no longer expected to go to Saudi Arabia, and the Morocco stop for a meeting of foreign ministers in the so-called Negev Forum will almost certainly be postponed, according to these officials.

The Negev Forum brings together the top diplomats from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States to look at ways to advance Arab-Israeli cooperation with an eye also on improving conditions for the Palestinians.

Analysts note that the Saudis have reason not to walk away from efforts at forging a normalisation deal.

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said that in the long term bin Salman is looking to diversify the oil-rich kingdom's economy and strengthen its security.

As part of any pact, Saudi Arabia is pushing Biden for a nuclear cooperation deal and defence guarantees from the US.

He needs normalisation and will continue to move forward, Dubowitz predicted. Of the crown prince, Dubowitz added, "the Saudis had better be careful because they are playing with fire in Washington." (AP) FZH
Islamabad, Oct 10 (PTI) Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would leave London for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to perform Umrah pilgrimage before returning to Pakistan next week, ending a four-year "self-imposed exile", a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said on Tuesday.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui told journalists that the PML-N supremo would perform Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca) and spend time with his son Hussain Sharif during his stay in the Gulf Kingdom.

"I dont have any reports of his meeting with the Royal familyBut he will perform Umrah, spend time with his son  most of his stay would be in Medina," Siddiqui said.

He added that Sharif, 73, would leave for the UAE two days before his expected arrival in Pakistan on October 21. He will rest there and is also expected to meet some party leaders.

When asked about the media reports that Sharif would visit China and Qatar, Siddiqui said no such trips were scheduled before October 21.

The PML-N senator rejected the impression that the party was changing its narrative vote ko izzat do (honour the vote) by saying that Sharif never can never reject the narrative as it enjoys the support of the people.

But let me tell you one thing, his speech would not be that of a conventional political leader. He will show the nation the path forward like a political visionary  and his speech will determine a new way for us, Siddiqui said while talking about Sharif's planned speech after landing in Lahore.

Sharif recently said that he is excited to return to Pakistan to lead his party in the election likely to be held in January 2024.

Earlier this month, Samaa TV reported that Sharif had booked a business class ticket on flight EY243 of Etihad Airways in advance. The Etihad Airways flight will land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 6:25 p.m. on October 21.

Sharif stepped down as the country's prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary. He has been living in London since 2019 after the LHC granted him four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment.

He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on "medical grounds".

In 2020, an accountability court declared him a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles case. He is also accused of obtaining luxury cars from the treasury house by paying just 15 per cent of the price of these vehicles.

He was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018.

There are question marks on his fate as he had already been declared as an absconder and could be arrested after coming to Pakistan.

However, the PML-N has planned to secure a protective bail so that he can address the rally before going to jail.
Moscow, Oct 10 (AP) Russia will move to revoke the ratification of a global nuclear test ban to put itself on par with the United States but will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does it first, a senior Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that Moscow will rescind the ratification of the nuclear test ban treaty to mirror the action by the US. He added that if the US conducts a nuclear test, we will be forced to mirror that as well.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, adopted in 1996 and known as the CTBT, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. It was signed by both the Russian and US presidents but was never ratified by the US.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could consider rescinding its 2000 decision to ratify the bill. Putin noted that while some experts have talked about the need to conduct nuclear tests, he hasn't yet formed an opinion on the issue.

There are widespread concerns that Russia could move to resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Many Russian hawks have spoken in favor of resumption.

The speaker of the Russian parliament's lower house, the State Duma, has said that lawmakers will move to rescind ratification of the nuclear test ban. The chamber's agenda-setting council on Monday gave the foreign affairs committee 10 days to prepare the issue for the house to consider.

Ryabkov charged that the US believed that we will keep turning a blind eye to its failure to ratify the pact, adding that we hope that Washington will get the signal.

He pointed out at Putin's earlier order to make the country's nuclear testing range ready for resuming tests, emphasizing that the resumption of tests is possible if the US conducts a test. (AP) RUP

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New York, Oct 10 (AP) Humanitarian groups are scrambling to assist civilians caught in the war between Israel and Hamas and determine what aid operations are still safe to continue  efforts that are being complicated by an intensified blockade of Gaza and ongoing fighting.

Two days after Hamas militants went on a rampage that took the world by surprise, Israel increased airstrikes on Gaza and blocked off food, fuel and other supplies from going into the territory, a move that raised concerns at the United Nations and among aid groups operating in the area home to 2.3 million people.

Hamas, in turn, pledged to kill Israelis it abducted if the country's military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, and aid groups operating in the region say there are needs both in Gaza and Israel.

More than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are underway to organise food and other deliveries, according to an Egyptian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the press.

But the United Nations and other aid groups are pleading for more access to help Palestinians who find themselves in the middle of intense fighting.

The UN and other aid agencies were talking with Egypt to send humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza through a crossing point between the strip and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, an Egyptian official and aid worker said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday medical supplies it has in seven hospitals in Gaza had already been used up and it was reprogramming funds to purchase more from local markets.

Doctors Without Borders, which is still operating in Gaza, has to rely on supplies it already has inside the territory because it can't bring any more in, said Emmanuel Massart, a deputy desk coordinator with the organisation in Brussels.

The group  which says it only runs programs in Palestinian areas since Israel has strong emergency and health services  reported Monday that it provided treatments to more than 50 people following airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp located north of Gaza City.

In addition to helping patients in Gaza, it said it was donating medical supplies to other clinics and hospitals, which have become overcrowded with patients and are experiencing shortages of drugs and fuel that can be used for generators.

If Doctors Without Borders is not able to resupply fairly quickly, Massart said, it will run out of supplies it can use to operate on patients who might be wounded.

He also said since the facilities the organisation uses are running on generators due to the low supply of electricity, cutting off fuel will present a huge problem.

If there is no fuel anymore, there is no medical facilities anymore because we cannot run our medical facility without the energy, Massart said.

The war has also been deeply disruptive to work Mercy Corps has been doing to provide people in Gaza with necessities like food and water, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East regional director for the organisation.

Right now, he said the team on the ground is trying to find a scenario that would enable them to get back to work. The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major worry.

We are very concerned with the way things are going at this point because it looks like it's going to get worse  very soon, Quemin said. The sealing of Gaza, he said, will create humanitarian needs very quickly.

Governments have also been weighing how to respond.

As the fighting intensified, the European Union on late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities.

Instead, the 27-nation group said it would urgently review the assistance it provides in the wake of Hamas' attacks on Israel.

Two European countries  Germany and Austria  said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian areas.

Meanwhile, some organizations are stepping up aid efforts in Israel, which has seen displacement because of the violence.

Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organisation of America, said a trauma center in Jerusalem that's owned by the organization is treating wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians.

About 90 per cent of the patients in the centre right now are soldiers, who are typically the first to be brought in for traumatic injuries, Adler said. But the centre also accepts anyone who's wounded or injured in the country.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Jewish humanitarian organisation, said on Sunday that it was activating its emergency response team in Israel, where it runs programs to support people with disabilities, the elderly and children and families who've been impacted by the war and prior conflicts.

The organization said it was working with its partners, including in the Israeli government, to address what it called an unprecedented emergency.

JDC's CEO Ariel Zwang said among other things the nonprofit is helping teachers, social workers and other caregivers provide support to those who've suffered trauma and tragedies from the events of the past few days.

She said it will help nursey teachers, for example, explain to children why some of their classmates are suddenly missing.

If you're a teacher now, if you know the children are traumatised, you need special skills and special training in order to manage what you're experiencing and provide for the emotional needs, which are extraordinary at this time, of your youngest charges, Zwang said.

One organisation that helps Palestinian children is shifting its focus, too. Steve Sosebee, the president of Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a US-based charity that helps children in need travel to the US for medical treatment, said given the war, the fund is now looking away from long-term programs and toward more urgent needs for food, medication, clothing and other types of basic humanitarian aid. But like others, he noted the blockade and security risks to its Gaza staff makes it more challenging to do that.

There are no areas of security, there are no safe havens, Sosebee said.

And therefore, it's very difficult for us to be out in the field providing humanitarian aid when there are no safe places from the constant bombing and attacks that are taking place over the last 72 hours. (AP) FZH
MANILA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- A light truck transporting hogs collided with another truck along a highway at dawn Tuesday in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, killing four and injuring three others, police said.

Police Captain John Agustin of the Zamboanga City police said more than a dozen hogs were also killed in the accident at around 5:30 a.m. local time.

With six passengers, the delivery truck was heading south from Zamboanga Sibugay province to deliver hogs to Zamboanga City when it hit the other truck, which was making a backing maneuver on the highway, before ramming into an electric post.

According to Agustin, the four dead were all passengers of the hog-delivery truck.

The hogs were strewn haphazardly on the ground due to the collision's impact, Agustin added. 
Kathmandu, Oct 10 (PTI) The Nepal government on Tuesday said all Nepali students who are in Israel have been shifted to a secured location, a day after it confirmed the death of 10 students when Hamas militants from Gaza launched an unprecedented attack against the Jewish nation.

Israel has formally declared war on the Islamist militant group Hamas after its fighters launched a brazen attack on Saturday that has so far killed more than 1,000 people in Israel.

Ten Nepalese students in Israel were killed by Hamas militants in the country's southern region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement confirmed that all Nepali students in Israel "have been shifted to secured location.

With the assistance of the Israeli army, we have successfully moved nearly all the students to safe areas. As per the information available to me, over 50 students were safely transferred by nightfall, MFA spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said.

The ministry is maintaining continuous contact with the Nepal embassy team in Israel and is actively preparing to charter a flight to bring these students back home to Nepal once Israel grants permission for air travel, she said.

"Tragically, last Saturday, 10 Nepali students lost their lives during an indiscriminate attack by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on Israel, Lamsal recalled.

The spokesperson said of the total 17 students who were attacked by Hamas, one remains out of contact, and four others who sustained injuries are receiving treatment with the assistance of the Israeli army. The remaining two have already been evacuated from the incident site and are under the security of the Israeli government.

These 17 were among the 49 students pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture at Sudur Paschim University who had gone to Israel last month under an 11-month learn and earn programme. Of them, the remaining 32 students have been shifted to safe places, the ministry said.

Similarly, 23 students from the Agriculture and Forestry University of Nepal, who are working as interns in different farmhouses in Israel, have also been relocated to safe locations, it said in the statement.

There are a total of 265 Nepali students settled in Israel under the "learn and earn" programme. Besides, 450 Nepalis are working as caregivers in different parts of Israel.

The Nepal government has been arranging special aircraft to bring back citizens working in Israel. To date, 324 individuals have registered their names in the database provided by the foreign affairs ministry for rescue and repatriation. While 288 citizens have expressed their intent to return, 36 want to be relocated.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs N P Saud has made a phone call to his Israeli counterpart Ali Cohen and asked for necessary coordination to bring back the dead bodies of the 10 students killed in the Hamas attack, according to the Foreign Ministers secretariat.

Saud also asked Cohen to provide necessary support to bring home Nepali students studying in Israel.

Cohen expressed sorrow over the killing of 10 Nepali students and wished speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. He also assured of providing necessary help and support for the repatriation of Nepalese students and to bring back the dead bodies to Nepal, the secretariat said.
Dhaka, Oct 10 (PTI) Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson and former premier Khaleda Zia was at "high risk of death" and she was shifted to the coronary care unit of one of the country's top private hospitals on Tuesday, according to doctors.

The medical board formed for the treatment of 78-year-old Zia at Evercare Hospital has said that the former prime minister cannot receive the necessary treatment in Bangladesh and needs to be sent abroad for a liver transplant.

"Doctors shifted her to the CCU this evening as some complexities emerged afresh relating to her health," Zias personal physician Zahid Hossain told reporters here.

He said that Zia's liver cirrhosis disease complicated her heart and kidney conditions requiring her shift to the CCU for constant medical surveillance.

Zia has been under treatment at the expensive hospital since August 9. She was kept at the CCI as she developed infections and breathing problems.

A 17-member panel of doctors is overseeing her treatment at the hospital.

On Monday, the panel recommended better medical intervention for her abroad with one hepatologist familiar with her condition saying "she is at high risk of death".

The medical panel led by Professor FM Siddiqui said all options in Bangladesh "have come to an end, we cannot do anything more".

Information Minister Hassan Mahmud has said that the medical panel was composed of doctors aligned to BNP and "they are talking like BNP (activists).

He said the government was very sincere so that Zia could get the highest treatment and advised BNP to call in doctors from abroad if needed.

Zia is under house arrest since her conditional release from a 17-year prison sentence in 2020 on two graft charges involving misappropriation of funds of an orphanage named after her slain husband, president Zia-ur Rahman, a military ruler turned politician who founded the BNP.

BNP earlier demanded her to be allowed to undergo treatment abroad.

The government rejected the demand, saying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina used her discretionary authority to get her released from jail on humanitarian grounds under a special legal provision but the law did not give her the power to send Zia abroad.

Zias family last month submitted an application, seeking permission for her treatment in Germany. The government, however, said the existing law required her to return to the jail and then obtain a court order for visiting abroad.

Political scenario in Bangladesh is heating up ahead of scheduled late December 2023 or early January 2024 elections with BNP and most opposition groups saying no election under the incumbent government could be free and fair.

They are demanding restoration of an election time non-party caretaker government, while the ruling Awami League said the polls would go ahead as planned.
Bhopal, Oct 10 (PTI) The Congress will announce its candidates for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh after the `Pitru-Paksha' period, the party's state unit chief Kamal Nath said here on Tuesday.

Pitru Paksha, the period during which Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, started on September 29 and will end on October 14 this year.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already announced candidates for 136 out of 230 assembly constituencies in the state.

The Congress's list will be released after "Shraadh" (another term for Pitru Paksha), Nath told reporters.

The people of Madhya Pradesh have decided to oust the BJP government, he said.

The state will go to polls on November 17 while counting of votes will take place on December 3.
Rewa (MP), Oct 10 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday alleged that the BJP-led Union government uses the Enforcement Directorate (ED) wherever "the public doesn't support them".

He was responding to a question about fellow Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh's arrest by the ED in an alleged money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy.

It is their nature to use the ED where the public does not support them, Mann, here to campaign for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, told reporters.

Singh used to say Modi- Adani Bhai-Bhai which the Union government did not like, he claimed.

Manish Sisodia, who (as Delhi education minister) developed schools, and Satyendra Jain who (as Delhi health minister) developed hospitals were also sent to jail, Mann said.

"They feel that AAP is a party of leaders but it is a party of common people," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Punjab chief minister spoke at a public rally in Churhat town of Sidhi district. Later in the evening, he held a road show in Rewa.
Raipur, Oct 10 (PTI) A BJP leader accused in a rioting case and a villager whose son was killed in a communal clash have been given tickets by the saffron party for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls scheduled next month.

While the opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh has justified its decision to field these two candidates, a political observer said communalism may feature in the state poll campaign this time.

Asked whether the BJP was trying to raise the issue of communal violence by giving these tickets, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, "No matter how hard they try, it will not be an issue."

Ishwar Sahu, whose son was killed in a communal clash in Biranpur village of Bemetara district in April this year, has been fielded from Saja assembly constituency, while Vijay Sharma, the BJP leader who was named as accused in an incident of rioting in adjoining Kabirdham district in 2021, will contest from Kawardha seat.

The two names featured in the BJP's second list of 64 candidates released on Monday.

The BJP has so far declared candidates for 85 out of the total 90 assembly seats in the state, which will see voting in two phases on November 7 and 17.

Talking to reporters, Ishwar Sahu said, I would like to thank the BJP which has given a chance to a poor man to become its member. They have given me such a big responsibility and I will fulfil it with complete dedication."

"When my son was murdered, all the Hindu brothers supported me and came to my house and stood by me in my sorrow and pain. I will visit every Hindu brother's house and beg for justice for my son, he added.

Ishwar Sahu's son Bhuneshwar Sahu (22) was killed in the violence which erupted in Biranpur, located 100 km from state capital Raipur, in Saja assembly constituency (Bemetara district) on April 8 after an altercation between some school children from two communities.

On April 11, a man, Rahim Mohammad (55), and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of Biranpur, were found murdered a few kilometers away from the village with multiple injuries on their bodies.

The district administration then imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of four or more people, for nearly 20 days in the village.

The Chhattisgarh government later announced to give a government job and financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of Sahu, but the family did not accept the money.

According to district officials, Ishwar Sahu had said he will think over the government job after his younger son attains the age of 18 years.

However, Sahu accepted a cheque of Rs 11 lakh handed over to him by the BJP.

Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao, former chief minister Raman Singh and other senior party leaders had visited Sahu's house.

On Monday, the state BJP in a post on X said, Congratulations to Shri Ishwar Sahu, who is father of Sanatani youth late Bhuneshwar Sahu killed in Biranpur, for being nominated as the BJP candidate.

Saja seat is currently held by senior Congress leader and state Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, an influential Brahmin leader and a seven-term MLA.

The BJP has also fielded Vijay Sharma, a rioting case accused who is a member of Kabirdham Zila panchayat and general secretary of the state party unit, from Kawardha seat (Kabirdham district).

On October 3, 2021, a clash broke out between people belonging to two communities over removal of religious flags from a thoroughfare in Kawardha town. Two days later, right wing outfits took out a rally in the town in protest against the incident during which violence took place.

BJP MP Santosh Pandey, former parliamentarian Abhishek Singh and Vijay Sharma were among those named in the FIR registered on charges of rioting, abetting the riot and others provisions in connection with the violence.

Sharma was arrested and later released on bail.

The Kawardha seat is currently represented by Mohammad Akbar, a prominent Muslim leader from the Congress and state forest minister.

A four-time MLA, Akbar contested from this seat for the first time in 2018 and won by a big margin of 59,284 votes against BJP's Ashok Sahu, a former MLA, despite the seat having a sizeable population of Sahus.

Asked about the BJP's strategy to field Ishwar Sahu and Vijay Sharma, senior BJP MLA Dharamlal Kaushik told PTI, We want justice for the victim's family in the Biranpur incident and for the victim's side in the Kawardha incident. We have tried to ensure justice to them by nominating the two candidates for the polls.

Kaushik further hit out at the Congress and said the grand old party and its INDIA bloc allies have been abusing Sanatan Dharma and talking about destroying it.

People will give them (Congress and its allies) a befitting reply in every election, he added.

Queried whether the BJP was trying to raise the issue of communal violence by giving tickets to Sahu and Sharma, CM Baghel on Monday said, "No matter how hard they try, it will not be an issue. There were other BJP workers in Saja (from where Sahu has been fielded). He (Sahu) is a purely non-political person."

The Congress had earlier accused the BJP of doing communal politics for want of real issues.

Political expert R Krishna Das said communalism had never been an issue in the state politics, but this time it is likely to feature during the campaign.

He said the BJP has been aggressively targeting the Congress government, accusing it of practising appeasement politics and claiming it to be the government of 'Bhupesh-Akbar-Dhebar' (referring to state minister Mohammad Akbar and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar).

The selection of candidates in Saja and Kawardha indicates the party may raise the the issue of communal violence during the upcoming elections to woo voters in the state's central region, largely inhabited by the OBC population, he added.
Aizawl, Oct 10 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who is also the president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), on Tuesday exuded confidence that his party, which he said has been "baptised with martyrs' blood", will retain power in the upcoming assembly elections.

The veteran politician was referring to the bloody 20-year-long insurgency period when the MNF was an armed outfit, before finally returning to the mainstream in 1986 with the signing of the Mizo Peace Accord and becoming a political party.

Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7 and votes polled will be counted on December 3.

Taking to his official Instagram handle, Zoramthanga said the "MNF is preparing to govern and serve the people in the next term".

"We are confident that we will retain power with the help of the Almighty. We will continue to stand for our God and our state. We are preparing to continue the task of serving the people of our state," he said.

The MNF president asserted that the party belongs to the Mizos and it has been "baptised with the martyrs' blood".

"We are the torchbearers of Mizo nationalism, which is crucial for the safeguard of Mizoram. We have stood firm for more than 62 years now...," he said, adding that the Almighty has continued to lead the party amid several adversities.

Battle-lines have been drawn for a triangular fight in the assembly polls between MNF, Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress.

All the three political parties have decided to contest all the 40 seats.

While the MNF has already announced the names of its 40 candidates, of whom 25 are sitting MLAs, the ZPM has released the list of 39 candidates and is yet to field a nominee in Chakma-dominated Tuichawng seat.

The Congress and the BJP will also contest all the seats but they are yet to announce the names of the candidates.

The emergence of the ZPM, which was formed in 2017, has changed the political landscape of the state, which for the last three decades has seen electoral contest between the MNF and the Congress after Mizoram attained statehood in 1987.

The ZPM, under the leadership of its chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma, a former IPS officer, is advocating for change, and is now the main rival of the ruling MNF as the Congress is struggling with internal squabbles.

The ruling MNF is banking on Mizo sub-nationalism, calling for unity among Zo ethnic tribes, and raising the issue of displacement of Zo refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh and internally displaced people (IDPs) from neighbouring Manipur, where they are identified as Kukis.

In the last assembly polls held in November 2018, the MNF had secured 26 seats, while the ZPM had bagged eight with Lalduhoma winning two seats. The Congress had won five seats and the BJP one.

Later, the MNF won two assembly by-elections, snatching the seats from the ZPM.
Kolkata, Oct 10 (PTI) Nobel prize winner Amartya Sens family on Tuesday denied news circulated on social media that the economist has died.

Earlier, several posts on X claiming that Sen had died went viral.

It is fake news. I have just spent a week with him in our family home in Cambridge. He is absolutely fine, teaching two courses a week, as healthy as always, the economists daughter Nandana Dev Sen told PTI.

She also posted the denial on the micro-blogging site.

The fake news about the death of the philosopher-economist who will turn 90 this November, began spreading after it was posted on a fake account of Claudia Goldin, another Nobel prize winner in economics.

Several prominent people offered their condolences and re-tweeted the fake news, giving it currency.




Kolkata, Oct 10 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5 pm.



10CAL14 MZ-ZORAMTHANGA-MNF

'MNF baptised with martyrs' blood': Zoramthanga confident of retaining power

Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who is also the president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), on Tuesday exuded confidence that his party, which he said has been "baptised with martyrs' blood", will retain power in the upcoming assembly elections.



10CAL13 MN-GOVT-ENCROACHMENT

Manipur govt cites SC order to ask people not to usurp properties of displaced persons

Imphal: The Manipur government on Tuesday asked people not to encroach upon the properties of those who had fled because of the five-month-long ethnic strife in the northeastern state, as this could aggravate the law and order situation.



10CAL12 DEF-SK-PREPAREDNESS

Despite flash flood, no dilution in operational preparedness in Sikkim: Army commander

Guwahati: The operational preparedness of the Indian Army along the international border in Sikkim remains "undiluted" despite the loss of human lives and infrastructure in the recent flash flood in the Himalayan state, Eastern Command chief Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita said here on Tuesday.



10CAL11 WB-GUV-ABHISHEK

Bengal guv meets Amit Shah in New Delhi; raises issue on unpaid dues, flood situation

Kolkata: A day after assuring a Trinamool Congress delegation of taking up the issue of MGNREGA dues to West Bengal, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his New Delhi residence and held an hour-long discussion with him, an official of Raj Bhavan here said.



10CAL10 WB-DURGA PUJA-MANIPUR

Rattled by Manipur happenings, artist depicts common womens resilience in Durga idol

Kolkata: Outraged by an incident in Manipur in which two women were paraded naked soon after ethnic strife began there in May, a Kolkata artist has depicted the resilience of common women in a Durga idol to be worshipped in a Kolkata community puja.



10CAL9 JH-CASTE CENSUS-MARANDI

Oppn demand for caste census won't impact BJP prospects in Lok Sabha, J'khand polls: Babulal Marandi

Jamshedpur: Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi on Tuesday asserted that the opposition's demand for a countrywide caste census will not have any impact on the saffron party's prospects in the Lok Sabha polls and state assembly elections, both due next year.



10CAL7 SK-FLOOD-EVACUATION

Choppers evacuate stranded tourists from North Sikkim for second day

Gangtok: The evacuation of stranded tourists from Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim was resumed by the armed forces on Tuesday with the weather remaining clear for the second day, officials said.



10CAL6 WB-SUNDARBANS-DROWNING

Sundarbans records highest drowning mortality rate among children across globe: Report

Kolkata: West Bengal's Sundarbans region has recorded the world's highest drowning mortality rate of 243 per lakh population among children in the age group of one to four in three years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study.



10CES3 WB-FILM-BUSAN

After Busan film festival, Suman Ghosh's film to be screened at MAMI

Kolkata: Director Suman Ghosh's film 'The Scavenger of Dreams', which had a world premiere at the ongoing Busan International Film Festival, has been selected for its South Asia premiere at MAMI (Mumbai Film Festival) later this month.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) India's solidarity with the Palestinian cause dates back to Mahatma Gandhi's time and its rising global stature and influence over all key players in West Asia make it well-placed to play a crucial role in defusing the crisis arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Palestine Ambassador Adnan Abu Alhaija said on Tuesday.

In an interview to PTI, Alhaija particularly noted that India is a "friend" for both Israel and Palestine and it is "qualified" to work towards bringing down the tensions and contribute towards a solution to the Palestine issue.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 1,600 people dead in the last four days, triggering mounting global concerns and confabulations among key players.

Alhaija said India can get in touch with the European countries, the US, countries in West Asia and build "pressure" on the Israelis to work towards peace, which, he said, is refusing so far.

"India knows what is the Palestinian cause from the beginning; since the time of Mahatma Gandhi. So, they are qualified to play that role, especially as India is a friend of both (Palestine and Israel)," he said.

The ambassador noted that India has been supportive of the Palestinian cause.

"India is a very important country. I think, (India) can lead in this matter....India can play a good role," he said.

To a question on whether he was pitching for India playing the role of a mediator, he responded :"(I) hope so."

Asked if he had conveyed this to the people concerned in the Indian government or to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Alhaija said he asked for it around two years ago.

Describing the attacks by Hamas militants as totally unprovoked and unacceptable, Israel has already announced that it will deal with the challenge and punish the perpetrators.

Over the years, India has been maintaining that its position on the Palestine question has been clear and consistent and that it is committed to supporting all efforts to resume direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a two-state solution.

On the attacks against Israel by Hamas, the ambassador said what it has done is a "reaction" to what Israel has been doing to the Palestinian people for a "long, long time".

Asked if he was not condemning the attacks by Hamas that killed innocent civilians, the envoy said: "I condemn the killing of the civilian people -- whether they are Palestinians or Israelis."

"Gaza is an open prison for 2.2 million people. They can't move, they can't go outside for medical treatment unless someone from Israel allows them to come to the West Bank," he said.

The ambassador described the situation in the conflict zone as "very bad".

"The situation is very bad. For years we were warning the world of what's going on (the actions of Israelis) every day without any accountability. We were always calling for accountability. The failure of accountability leads to what is going on now," he said.

"Now, the situation is very bad on both sides," he said.

Calling for a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, Alhaija said the current cycle of hostilities may end after some time, but it may recur in absence of the resolution of the long-pending issue.

"This war may end. But if there is no solution, if there is no peace process to the Palestinian cause, it (the hostilities) will come again," he said.

"The Palestinian people, like any people in the world, should get their rights. They have the right to live like any other people. We can't live under the pressure of the occupation," he said.

The ambassador said Palestine is looking for peace.

"We are looking for peace. We want to live like any other people in the world. We want our children to play freely in their homes and homeland," he noted.

The Palestinian ambassador also held that the US-led initiative of Abraham Accords could not bring peace to West Asia.

The Abraham Accords were aimed at normalising Israel's relations with a number of Arab countries.

The envoy said initiatives like Abraham Accords will not pay any dividend if the main issue is not resolved.

Alhaija also trashed Israel's allegations that Iran has been providing support to Hamas.

Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon on Sunday alleged that Iran has a hand in the attacks and suggested that the country supplied weapons to Hamas.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in Delhi as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and some others, official sources said.

The 49-year-old legislator represents the Okhla constituency in the Delhi Assembly.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches are being undertaken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The federal agency has taken cognisance of a Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR and a Central Bureau of Investigation FIR against the legislator, related to alleged corruption linked to illegal appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board.

Khan is the Delhi Waqf Board chairman.
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 19 million children in Sudan are out of school as the military conflict approaches the six-month mark next week, said the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children on Monday.

Out of this total, some 6.5 million children lost access to school due to increased violence and insecurity in their region, with at least 10,400 schools shuttered in conflict-affected areas, said the two children's organizations in a joint press release.

Meanwhile, over 5.5 million children who reside in areas less impacted by war are waiting for local authorities to confirm whether classrooms can be reopened, they added.

Sudan has 23 million children, accounting for nearly half of the country's total population.

Even before the conflict erupted on April 15, nearly 7 million children were already out of school. If the war continues, no child in Sudan will be able to go back to school in the coming months, leaving them exposed to immediate and long-term dangers, including displacement, recruitment by armed groups and sexual violence, the two agencies warned.

Spending on social services has been on a steep decline, with teachers in almost all states missing their salaries since the armed conflict started. Education supplies are lacking, and facilities have not been maintained. While efforts are under way in a few regions to ensure education systems in Sudan remain functional, there are significant constraints, and the needs are quickly outpacing the resources, they said.

UNICEF and Save the Children called on the Sudanese authorities to reopen schools in safe areas, while supporting alternative learning modalities in communities where schools can no longer be open due to safety and security concerns.

They called on the international community to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese children and to provide the necessary resources and support to ensure millions of Sudanese children can go back to school and ensure conflict-affected children have the opportunity to access learning and psychosocial support in safe spaces. 
Jaipur, Oct 10 (PTI) Alwar MP Baba Balak Nath, who will be contesting the Rajasthan assembly elections as a BJP candidate from Tijara seat, on Tuesday said his priority is to transform the constituency on the lines of Gurugram.

Exuding confidence that the BJP will form the state government with a thumping majority, the MP said the works done by the Modi government will be crucial in the election.

My priority will be on developing Tijara on the lines of Gurgaon. It is an industrial region but due to the policies of the Congress government, it lacked development, he said.

He said connectivity to Tijara, which falls in Alwar district, was enhanced under a project pushed by him.

The BJP candidate also lashed out at the Congress government, accusing it of only working to loot the state.

Law and order in the region is alarming due to the appeasement policy of the Congress government. People are troubled as criminals roam scot-free. Incidents like bank loot, murders, crime against women are too common. Crime against Dalits also took place during the Congress rule. All these will be among the poll issues in the constituency, he told PTI.

When asked about the role he is expecting in the state, he said, I am a public servant and will do whatever responsibility the party gives me.

Balak Nath, the head of the Rohtak-based Baba Mastnath Math, has been championing the cause of Hindutva and attacking the Congress on the issue of minority appeasement.

His guru Chand Nath, who passed away in September 2017, was also the Alwar MP.

Tijara assembly constituency is currently held by Sandeep Kumar, who won as a BSP candidate and later defected to the Congress with all other BSP MLAs.

In the 2018 assembly elections, BJP candidate Sandeep Dayma had secured the third position.

Balak Nath is among 41 candidates who were declared by the party in the first list of candidates on Monday.

Elections for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly will take place on November 23 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Tuesday said the arrest of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and its HR head Amit Chakravarty under the UAPA was an "illegal act", as Left parties held a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding their release.

At a protest called by the Delhi unit of CPI(M), Karat alleged that the news portal was being attacked because they reported on the farmers' protest that took place in Delhi in 2020-21.

"This news portal supported the farmers' protest and made it reach lakhs of people. The probe started after that. Probe by ED, CBI, IT has been on for the last three years, nothing could be found," she said.

"If you look at the FIR, there are no new charges against them. They imposed Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act just four days before the court hearing was scheduled... Is this not a conspiracy?" she said.

Karat said Purkayastha was also arrested from the JNU when the Emergency was imposed in 1975.

On the upcoming assembly polls, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said the Left parties will work towards defeating the "BJP-RSS" combine.

"We will work towards removing the BJP-RSS joint venture government. We are also working on building unity and strengthening the Left parties in the upcoming polls," she said.

Leaders of Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Forward Bloc, and Communist Ghadar Party of India also joined the protest.

The protesters also demanded that the electronic equipment seized from those questioned by police should be returned.

A raid was conducted on October 3 at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states, and 46 journalists and contributors to NewsClick were questioned. The Delhi Police arrested portal's editor-in-chief Purkayastha and its human resources department head Chakravarty and seized more than 300 electronic gadgets from the office of NewsClick and residences of its journalists.

The Delhi Police had registered an FIR under section sections 13, 16,17, 18 and 22C of the UAPA, and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. The Delhi Police has alleged that a large sum of funds came from China to disrupt India's sovereignty.

On Monday, Delhi Police Special Cell questioned about 25 journalists and contributors of the NewsClick for a second time.
Jammu, Oct 10 (PTI) Sunita Sharma, wife of ATM guard Sanjay Sharma who was gunned down by terrorists in February, on Tuesday thanked security forces for eliminating the killer of her husband and said justice has been done with her.

Sanjay Sharma (40), a Kashmiri Pandit, was shot dead by terrorists in the Achan area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 26.

Two terrorists, including the killer of Sanjay Sharma, of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday, police said.

Expressing satisfaction, Sunita Sharma said that no innocent person should be killed the way her husband was gunned down in the valley.

"I thank the security forces for eliminating the terrorist involved in the killing of my husband. My husband was innocent. I was waiting for the elimination of the terrorist who killed my husband. They gave me justice today," Sunita Sharma told PTI.

Earlier, Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vijay Kumar said the killed terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar of terror outfit LeT. "Terrorist Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma," the additional DGP said in a post on X.

Sunita Sharma said that her trauma has ended today.

"We have got respite from this pain that my husband's killer was alive. We still don't know why my husband was killed. He was ill. I had been waiting for the past seven-eight months to hear the news of the killing of that terrorist," she said.

Sunita Sharma said they (terrorists) snatched these minor children's father from them. "I lost my husband, and also my house in Kashmir. Government gave me a job and compensation, but the pain of losing my husband will never end," she said.
Pithoragarh, Oct 10 (PTI) Union minister Ajay Bhatt on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Jolingkong and Gunji along the India-China border in the district will boost the morale of border villagers and the security forces.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit the area on October 12. Jolingkong is the endpoint for the Adi Kailash peak.

"Wherever the prime minister has gone, it has led to manifold development of that region," Bhatt, the Union Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, told PTI.

"We in Uttarakhand have till date received development projects worth over Rs 1 lakh crore by the grace of Modiji. He readily gave whatever we asked for as he feels a special attachment to the Himalayan state," he said.

The BJP MP from Nainital said the village of Gunji will be developed as Shiv Nagri under the Centre's vibrant village programme with 24-hour drinking water supply, residential facilities, wellness centres and round-the-year road connectivity.

"I visited Jolingkong yesterday. The BRO has done excellent work in connecting Adi Kailash and Parwati Tal with smooth roads," the minister said.

Accusing the previous Congress governments of pursuing a policy of not connecting the borders with roads due to the fear of the enemy, Bhatt said the BJP government under Modi has the policy of linking the border villages with roads so that the benefits of development could reach them.

"A strong India is emerging with strong borders under the strong leadership of Modi," Bhatt said.
Chandigarh, Oct 10 (PTI) The Punjab government has called a two-day session of the state assembly on October 20 and 21, amid a political row over a Supreme Court directive on the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal.

The decision comes days after the state Cabinet had said that there was no question of building the SYL canal in Punjab as the state has no water to spare for Haryana.

The top court on October 4 had asked the Centre to survey the portion of land in Punjab which was allocated for the construction of part of the SYL canal and make an estimate of the extent of construction carried out there.

Under second proviso to Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly), the speaker has been pleased to call the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which was adjourned sine die on 20th June, 2023 to meet at 11 am on Friday, 20th October, 2023 in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, said a notice of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretariat.

Officials argue that the October 20-21 session will be an extension of the fourth session -- the budget session in March -- of the assembly, and there is no need to take an approval of the governor to call a sitting of the assembly.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) The Delhi University has announced that the last round of admissions to its undergraduate courses will commence from Wednesday.

Applications for admissions to selected colleges and programmes will begin from October 11 and continue till October 15.

The "mop-up" round has been announced considering the suggestions by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in a letter dated October 4, the DU said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Considering recommendations from the UGC and on request of a few candidates and colleges, the university has decided to hold a mop-up round for admitting candidates in shortlisted colleges and programmes only," the statement read.

The university will display a list of selected colleges and programmes for the mop-up round admissions on its official admissions website.

Interested candidates can apply to the respective college according to the schedule and procedure shared by college concerned on its website.

The last date for admissions under the mop-up round is October 20. No admissions will be done on supernumerary seats, the statement added.

To fill the seats, colleges may consider CUET-2023 normalised scores based on programme-specific eligibility. The colleges may also fill the remaining vacant seats on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying exams.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) With the Lok Sabha polls inching close, the district magistrates have started looking for locations to set up polling booths, officials said on Tuesday.

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer has instructed the DMs, who also serve as election officers, to undertake a "rationalisation exercise," they said.

In past elections, it was witnessed that some polling stations had long queues of voters while others had too few lining up outside them.

The rationalisation exercise is meant to correct this lopsidedness, said a senior government official.

The DMs have been asked to explore the possibilities of setting up polling booths at community centres of big housing societies by talking to the resident welfare societies.

Polling stations are traditionally set up at government schools with large campuses.

There are over 13,800 polling booths in Delhi at 2,700 locations, with each booth having up to 1,500 votes.

In the Lok Sabha polls, around 1.5 crore voters are expected to cast votes in the national capital, according to official data.

The process for preparation of a fresh voter list has begun and a summary revision exercise will start on October 27 with the publication of the draft electoral roll.

In a recent meeting, the CEO asked the DMs, as also some young IAS officers, to prepare themselves for the polling process by going through rules and regulations.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court's decision to vacate an interim order which stopped the Rajya Sabha secretariat from dispossessing him from the government bungalow allotted to him.

The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula which agreed to list it on Wednesday.

Chadha's counsel submitted that the Member of Parliament has been served with a notice and eviction proceedings are going on. She said earlier there was a stay from the trial court but now it has been removed.

The trial court in an October 5 order has said that Chadha cannot claim that he has an absolute right to continue to occupy the government bungalow during his entire tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP even after the cancellation of allotment.

The trial court had made the observation while vacating an interim order passed on April 18 that had directed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat not to dispossess Chadha from the government bungalow.

It had noted that the interim relief was granted to Chadha that he would not be dispossessed from the accommodation without due process of law.
Kota (Rajasthan), Oct 10 (PTI) Close to 300 people in the Mandaliya village of Rajasthan's Kota district have signed up for the Skill India Mission under its Kaushal Rath initiative.

The Kaushal Rath -- a customised bus featuring a computer literacy laboratory aimed at upskilling people under the Skill India Mission in remote villages -- arrived in the village on Monday. Under the initiative, the Skill India Mission aims to empower 60,000 youngsters over a period of five years.

Under the supervision of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan, the Kaushal Rath was launched in September to enable youngsters take up industry-relevant skills training.

The first day's training offered the aspirants an opportunity to become acquainted with 3D animation and immersive experiences, providing insight into how minerals are extracted and refined.

Extending his best wishes to the aspirants and acknowledging their contribution in making India the world's skill capital, Birla said in a statement, "The youth of Rajasthan have immense potential  through the Kaushal Rath, we will further create a pathway to harness the potential of the youth."

National Skill Development Corporation CEO Ved Mani Tiwari said, "The response of the students reaffirms our conviction that we are progressing towards making India a global hub for skills."
China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday released a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future."

The white paper will give the international community a better understanding of the value of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), facilitate high-quality cooperation under it, and ultimately deliver benefits to more countries and peoples.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from jail on espionage charges, meaning he will remain behind bars at least through Nov. 30.

Gershkovich, 31, had a mostly blank expression as he appeared in the defendants glass cage in Moscow City Court in blue shirt, T-shirt and jeans. He marked six months in custody on Sept. 29.

It was the second time in less than a month he had appeared before a judge to appeal an August decision to extend his pre-trial detention through November. On Sept. 19, the court declined to hear the appeal, citing unspecified procedural violations.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in a statement that it was deeply disappointed that Gershkovichs appeal was rejected, adding: Evan should be released.

The journalist was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow.

The court proceedings are closed because prosecutors say details of the criminal case are classified.

Russias Federal Security Service alleged Gershkovich, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Gershkovich and the Journal deny the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities havent detailed any evidence to support the espionage charges.

He is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years  including WNBA star Brittney Griner  have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial. In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year.

(AP)




Former Republican Texas congressman Will Hurd suspended his presidential bid on Monday and endorsed fellow GOP primary candidate Nikki Haley, officially abandoning a brief campaign built on criticizing Donald Trump at a time when his party seems even more determined to embrace the former president.

While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden, Hurd wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

He added that Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Trump and governor of South Carolina, has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy.

Hurd was the last major candidate to join the already crowded Republican primary field when he announced his run in late June. He leaves the race barely three months later, after failing to gain traction as pragmatic moderate who pledged to lead the party away from Trumps Make America Great Again movement. Hurd failed to qualify for both the first GOP debate in Milwaukee in August and the second debate the following month in Simi Valley, California.

America is at a crossroads and its time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president, Haley wrote on X in response to Hurds endorsement. Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!

Hurd ending his campaign follows another Republican candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who became the first presidential hopeful to suspend his campaign shortly after failing to make the first debate stage.

Hurd wasnt invited to the Milwaukee event after falling short of Republican National Committee minimums on support in the polls and sufficient numbers of donors to his campaign.

Hurd was initially defiant about missing the first debate, arguing that the Republican Party blocked him for refusing to sign a pledge for its presidential candidates to support the eventual primary winner, even if it was Trump. The RNC standards are arbitrary, unclear, and lack consistency. This is an unacceptable process for a presidential election, he said in a statement.

When he didnt make the second debate, Hurd stuck a different tone, writing on X that we narrowly missed the cut for the second debate and our campaign is at an inflection point.

A clandestine CIA officer who worked in Pakistan, Hurd served three terms in the House through January 2021 and was the chambers only Black Republican during his final two years in office. He represented Texas then-most competitive district, which was heavily Hispanic and stretched from the outskirts of San Antonio to El Paso, encompassing more than 800 miles of Texas-Mexico border.

Hurd opted not to seek reelection in 2020, saying he was pursuing opportunities outside Congress to solve problems at the nexus between technology and national security. Last year, he traveled the country promoting his book American Reboot: An Idealists Guide to Getting Big Things Done.

The 46-year-old has long been a fierce Trump antagonist, even encouraging the then-Republican presidential nominee to leave the 2016 race when the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump brags about sexually assaulting women was made public in the final weeks before Election Day.

Hurd was hoping to resonate with voters seeking a pro-business Republican with a strong national security background who was also unafraid to seek bipartisan consensus. He announced his candidacy criticizing both Biden and Trump, saying the president wasnt up to securing the U.S.-Mexico border, combating fentanyl smuggling that has led to epidemic of American overdoses and violent crime and homelessness in the countrys cities.

President Biden cant solve these problems  or wont, Hurd said in his announcement video. And, if we nominate a lawless, selfish, failed politician like Donald Trump  who lost the House, the Senate, and the White House  we all know Joe Biden will win again.

Hurd stepped up his public criticism of Trump as the former president was repeatedly indicted and now faces four separate criminal cases and 91 total charges. Trump still holds a fundraising advantage and commanding lead in early primary polls.

As a result, Hurds few memorable moments as a White House candidate came when he was heckled by Republican crowds after repeating assertions that Trump, should he clinch the GOP nomination, would lose the general election to Biden.

Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison, Hurd declared at a July GOP dinner in Iowa. When sustained booing followed, he responded, Listen, I know the truth is hard.

(AP)




As previously reported, Chaim VChessed continues to be inundated with calls from tourists who came to Israel for Sukkos and now find themselves stranded, as their flights home have been canceled. Most airlines have ceased operations to and from Israel. With the exception of El Al, no direct flights are operating to or from the USA. Some larger airlines like Turkish Air and British Air continue to operate.

There has been considerable talk of charter flights set to leave Israel. As of now, these flights have largely not materialized. The handful which do seem poised to operate are long sold out. Some travelers have succeeded in purchasing tickets to random destinations such as Athens, Cyprus and Dubai, and making their way home from there.

Chaim VChessed has dialogued with State Department officials, seeking an avenue for these US citizens to return home. However, we have not seen much practical movement or definitive plans on their part. The officials have averred that there is no emergency; the airport is open. While it is technically true that Ben Gurion Airport remains open, this is disingenuous, as there are scarcely any flights available.

We have been in contact with numerous elected officials who are attempting to alleviate the situation. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) sent a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urging his involvement in this troubling situation. It would certainly be beneficial if other Congressmen and Senators get involved in this effort, as well.

Lastly, a report circulating on the Internet claims that the US is considering using US Navy boats to extract its citizens. To the best of our understanding, there is no basis or official corroboration for this report.




Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on increased security measures in the wake of the brutal Hamas attacks on Israel, following a briefing from New York State Police at the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) in the Capital Region. Governor Hochul also reiterated calls on social media companies to focus on these threats and to increase platform moderation in order to prevent the proliferation of hateful content.

As New Yorkers grieve loved ones impacted by the abhorrent Hamas terror attacks, its critical we provide the security necessary for Jewish communities here in New York, Governor Hochul said. Immediately following the Hamas attacks, I deployed the New York State Police to increase security measures to protect synagogues, yeshivas, cultural centers and other at-risk sites. Now, its time for social media companies to do the same: monitor the speech on your platform and crack down on incitements to violence  before its too late.

Immediately following the first reports of attacks in Israel on Saturday morning, Governor Hochul directed the New York State Police to increase patrols and outreach. Working with law enforcement, State Police are monitoring potential targets and vulnerable locations around the state, including synagogues, yeshivas, and Jewish museums and cultural centers. To ensure the confidentiality and efficacy of these protective measures, the New York State Police does not release further information about security measures or personnel deployments.

At Governor Hochuls direction, State Police are also working with local law enforcement and other security partners to track threats posted on social media and to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers. Utilizing new resources secured by Governor Hochul in the FY24 Budget, the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) has been closely monitoring content on social media and other online channels. While there are no credible threats at this time, online monitoring has shown increased chatter from Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and pro-Hamas extremists.

New Yorkers who see suspicious activity should report it immediately.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




President Joe Biden on Tuesday condemned the Hamas terrorist organization for sheer evil for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed more than a thousand civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden spoke out of the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about sickening reports of torture inflicted by terrorists on innocent civilians.

Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, Biden said. He added, Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israels back. Well make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.

Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault  a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.

Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the U.S. believes that Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.

As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, Biden said.

The White House on Monday confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.

The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the arrival ahead of an announcement.

The Pentagon has said that the U.S. warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes.

Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him Tuesday to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence.

Biden on Monday in a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underscored the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and their decades-long push for sovereignty. But the leaders also sought to separate the Palestinians aspirations from the appalling acts of terrorism by Hamas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC / AP)




Ten young residents of Netanya who survived the massacre at the music festival in the Negev recited HaGomel on Monday morning at a Chabad house in the city.

Chabad shliach HaRav Shneur Brod, who runs the Chabad house, directed the survivors in thanking Hashem for their yeshuah.

Thousands of young Israelis were caught outside at the festival by Hamas terrorists armed with automatic weapons. Hundreds were killed and some of the participants were abducted and taken into Gaza.

According to a Channel 12 report on Sunday evening, Hamas was aware that thousands of young Israelis would be attending a nature rave in the Negev and sent hundreds of terrorists to that area to target them.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The video below shows just one of the dramatic scenes of the intense battles between Israeli security forces and armed Hamas terrorists near the Gaza border.

At one point, undercover Border Police officers received a report of wounded IDF soldiers who were under heavy fire from Hamas terrorists at the Nir Am Kibbutz, located near Sderot. The officers rushed to the area, where they were immediately forced into a gun battle with the vicious terrorists while searching for the wounded soldiers.

The officers located the wounded soldiers inside a tank while eliminating numerous terrorists  and still under heavy fire, evacuated the soldiers for medical treatment.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 9, 2023. Israel intensified its airstrikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's Saturday surprise attack on Israel. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israel intensified its air strikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) Saturday surprise attack on Israel.

"I've ordered to move (from defense) to a massive offensive on a scale never seen before," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live address to the nation on Monday.

In the morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters in a briefing that the military has regained control over all the communities in southern Israel, which were stormed by Hamas militants on Saturday after they broke out through the security fence between Israel and Gaza.

Later, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, said that Israel's raids on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of 4 Israeli prisoners and their captive members.

At night, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz announced that "all the water supply pipes from Israel to the Gaza Strip have been disconnected." Israel also halted the passage of goods, electricity and food to the Strip.

"Israeli air strikes hit 86 towers in the Gaza Strip and this led to various damages," told an official in Palestine Telecommunications (Paltel) Company.

In response to the Israeli threats, Hamas' military wing's spokesman Abu Obeida warned in an audio statement that "any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding."

Gaza's militant groups said about 130 hostages were in Gaza, including dozens with dual citizenship. Thailand confirmed that 11 Thai nationals are held captive by Hamas.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a briefing that the hostages include toddlers, women and elderly, adding that his country was committed to bringing the hostages back home.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Monday that "more than 17,500 families, including more than 123,538 people, were displaced."

In this regard, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed during a phone call with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the importance of delivering relief and medical aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Guterres said that the United Nations is making efforts to provide urgent humanitarian relief aid to the residents there, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).

On Monday, Netanyahu also said the Israeli military was enhancing security along the northern border, where militants in southern Lebanon had fired mortar shells toward northern Israel on Monday afternoon.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Palestine's Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed "its responsibility" for the operation carried out on the border with occupied Palestine, injuring seven Israeli soldiers.

Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, said it attacked on Monday evening the Israeli Pranit and Avivim barracks in northern Israel with guided missiles and mortar shells, in response to the killing of three of its members by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier in the day. 

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 9, 2023. Israel intensified its airstrikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's Saturday surprise attack on Israel. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 9, 2023. Israel intensified its airstrikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's Saturday surprise attack on Israel. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 9, 2023. Israel intensified its airstrikes in Gaza on Monday and imposed a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave on the third day of conflict following the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's Saturday surprise attack on Israel. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A road is seen damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A road is seen damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A building is damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A car is damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A car is damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A road is seen damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A car is damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, south Israel, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that at least 900 were killed by Hamas militants in Israel, while the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to 687, including 140 children and 105 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)




Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a shift in Israels strategy, moving towards a full offensive against the Gaza Strip, as clashes with Hamas terrorist in southern Israel persist for a fourth consecutive day.

Addressing troops stationed at the Gaza border, Gallant announced, I have removed all constraints, we have regained control of the area, and we are transitioning to a full-scale offensive.

He emphasized the potential for these forces to reshape the current situation, stating, You will have the ability to change the reality here. You have seen the prices [being paid], and you will get to see the change. Hamas wanted a change in Gaza, it will change 180 degrees from what it thought.

Gallant conveyed a stern message, asserting, They will come to regret this moment, as Gaza will undergo a profound transformation unlike anything they anticipated.

Whoever comes to decapitate, murder women, Holocaust survivors  we will eliminate him with all our might, and without compromise, Gallant adds.

This statement reflects a clear commitment to taking decisive action against those who threaten the safety and well-being of the Israeli population.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




In the midst of ongoing war against Hamas, Turkish Airlines has joined the growing list of airlines suspending flights to and from Israel. This move marks a significant change, as it was one of the last carriers still operating in and out of Israel since the war with Hamas began.

Tens of thousands of Americans find themselves facing difficulties in departing Israel, as the number of available flights dwindles, with El Al being one of the few exceptions.

Notably, the State Department has yet to respond to calls for assistance, while the Polish Air Force has been observed evacuating their citizens from the area. The situation remains fluid, with many seeking safe passage out of the region.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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Please take the time to read this entire message.

Yad LAchim joins Klal Yisrael in mourning the terrible calamities that took place the past few days in Eretz Yisrael. We are working together with agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel. We ask that you include Yad LAchim in your prayers. We will daven for you as well.

Yad LAchim specialized rescue personnel are currently on the front lines, using their rescue expertise to help protect our fellow Jews. Additionally, Yad LAchim is on the frontlines providing much needed aid  including food, toiletries and many other important essentials.



In time of pain, Klal Yisrael come together to daven for one another, and now is no different,

We ask you to join us now as we help our brethren in Eretz Yisrael, Please daven for all our brothers & sisters in Eretz Yisrael. Click HERE

Yad LAchim has arranged for a special tefilla for Eretz Yisrael and for you and all your loved ones as well! IT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE TO PARTICIPATE.

A tefillah and a kvittel will be placed at the resting place of the Ribnitzer Rebbes Kever, the Chasam Sofer in Pressburg, at Reb Levi Yitzchak in Berdichev (Yahrtzeits today), Amuka & Meron  for ALL NAMES SUBMITTED FOR TEFILLAH!

We hope you had a wonderful Yom Tov and wish you success in the upcoming year. Today, Isru Chag, is the yahrtzeit of the holy Ribnitzer Rebbe ztl  he supported our work at Yad LAchim and there is a great story with him and a rescued child  CLICK HERE

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Please take the time to read this entire message.

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(CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NAMES FOR FREE) or visit www.YADLACHIM.org

or call our us at 1-718-690-2944 and we will be happy to take your names over the phone

Incredible Story!

The Ribnitzer Rebbe ztl, was very close to Yad LAchim. He personally supported Yad LAchim, was involved in our work and gave his bracha (blessing) for all who support Yad LAchim in their work of Pidyon Shvuyim.

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Currys has received offers for its Greek business from 'several' potential buyers, but noted it remained unclear whether any deal would go ahead.

The retailer said its strategic review 'remains ongoing', adding that it would provide a further update 'when appropriate.'

The London-listed retailer said its board was evaluating the offers with the help of its advisers.

But, it added: 'At this stage there can be no certainty as to the outcome of the review.'

Currys has received offers for its Greek business from 'several' potential buyers, it claimed

Currys shares were up 3.4 per cent or 1.6p to 48.6p this morning, having fallen by around 18 per cent in the past year.

In June, Currys announced that it was launching a strategic review to evaluate all options in relation to its business in Greece and Cyprus, Kotsovolos.

The Kotsovolos chain operates around 90 stores across Greece and Cyprus and is, according to Currys, 'performing and profitable.'

Last month Currys revealed its sales fell slightly in the first quarter and noted a continuing 'challenging' trading environment, especially within its Nordics arm.

The group, which operates 823 stores across eight countries, reported a 4 per cent drop in like-for-like sales for the first 17 weeks of the financial year.

That compared with the 7 per cent decline registered during the last financial year as a whole.

In the UK & Ireland, which accounts for 53 per cent of group revenue, like-for-like sales fell by 2 per cent, but revenue ticked up in July and August.

The group said robust sales in domestic appliances and mobile phones were offset by weakness in other categories like computing.

In the Nordics, where it trades as Elkjp and generates 40 per cent of group revenue, like-for-like sales slipped by 8 per cent and the company said it was taking action to hit cost-savings targets, which included job cuts, offshoring and contractor removal.

Boss Alex Baldock said last month: 'Our priorities this year are simple: to keep the UK&I's encouraging momentum going, and to get the Nordics back on track.'

He added: 'We're making good progress on both, in what continues to be a challenging economic environment.

'We remain confident that we're building a stronger business that's resilient today and fit to prosper in the longer term.'
Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 25.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,004 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,611 shares during the period. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Accenture were worth $2,542,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Accenture in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Barrett & Company Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Sageworth Trust Co grew its position in shares of Accenture by 872.7% in the first quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 107 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Accenture during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, First Command Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in Accenture by 131.6% during the first quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 132 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. 70.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total value of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,264,064.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Accenture news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total transaction of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,264,064.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,930 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $316.23, for a total transaction of $926,553.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 21,982 shares in the company, valued at $6,951,367.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 24,430 shares of company stock valued at $7,735,251. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ACN has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 11th. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $330.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $340.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Friday, September 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Accenture from $314.00 to $341.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $358.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $333.24.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Accenture

Accenture Trading Down 0.8 %

ACN stock traded down $2.46 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $309.73. 310,177 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,300,928. The company has a market capitalization of $205.86 billion, a PE ratio of 28.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.22. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $330.43. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $315.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $302.10.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $15.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.07 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 29.74%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.60 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 12.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Accenture announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, September 28th that authorizes the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to repurchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Accenture Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a $1.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This is a positive change from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. Accentures payout ratio is 41.60%.

Accenture Company Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report).

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Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 11.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 13,626 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,772 shares during the quarter. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $391,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of BAC. FNY Investment Advisers LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 75.9% during the second quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 920 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of America during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Bank of America by 45.7% during the 2nd quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,036 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 325 shares during the period. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in Bank of America in the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Bank of America in the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on BAC. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Bank of America from $41.00 to $40.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $35.00 price target on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Bank of America from $35.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Bank of America from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $35.75.

Bank of America Price Performance

BAC stock traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $25.94. 9,981,194 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 48,565,109. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.90. The company has a market cap of $206.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America Co. has a one year low of $25.47 and a one year high of $38.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.04. Bank of America had a net margin of 19.97% and a return on equity of 12.01%. The company had revenue of $25.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.98 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.73 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were given a $0.24 dividend. This is a positive change from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.70%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.59%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the sale, the insider now owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at $11,143,007.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 353,971 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,143,007.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 185,108 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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Metso Oyj (OTCMKTS:OUKPY  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $10.00.

Several brokerages recently commented on OUKPY. Barclays started coverage on shares of Metso Oyj in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. They set an overweight rating on the stock. Bank of America upgraded Metso Oyj from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Metso Oyj

Metso Oyj Trading Down 3.7 %

About Metso Oyj

Shares of OTCMKTS:OUKPY opened at $4.84 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $5.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $5.61. Metso Oyj has a 12 month low of $3.26 and a 12 month high of $6.48.

(Get Free Report

Metso Oyj provides technologies, end-to-end solutions, and services for aggregates, minerals processing, and metals refining industries in Europe, North and Central America, South America, the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and India. The company operates in three segments: Aggregates, Minerals, and Metals.

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Shares of Apartment Income REIT Corp. (NYSE:AIRC  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the nine analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $39.78.

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on AIRC. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Apartment Income REIT from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $39.00 to $42.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Truist Financial upgraded Apartment Income REIT from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $44.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Mizuho dropped their price target on Apartment Income REIT from $40.00 to $33.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Apartment Income REIT from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 21st. Finally, 92 Resources reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Apartment Income REIT in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Apartment Income REIT

Apartment Income REIT Price Performance

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 872.2% during the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 700 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 628 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Apartment Income REIT during the first quarter worth $27,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 356.7% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 813 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 635 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 776.2% in the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,139 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 1,009 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Apartment Income REIT in the first quarter worth $121,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.13% of the companys stock.

Shares of NYSE AIRC opened at $31.19 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $32.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.60. The company has a market cap of $4.65 billion, a PE ratio of 14.92 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. Apartment Income REIT has a twelve month low of $29.64 and a twelve month high of $40.28.

Apartment Income REIT Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.77%. Apartment Income REITs dividend payout ratio is presently 86.12%.

Apartment Income REIT Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Apartment Income REIT Corp (NYSE: AIRC) is a publicly traded, self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). AIR's portfolio comprises 73 communities totaling 25,739 apartment homes located in 10 states and the District of Columbia. AIR offers a simple, predictable business model with focus on what we call the AIR Edge, the cumulative result of our focus on resident selection, satisfaction, and retention, as well as relentless innovation in delivering best-in-class property management.

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Emirates Stallions Group (ESG), a global investment, engineering, and construction services company launched its hospitality business arm, ESG Hospitality, on Sunday.

ESG is a prominent business unit of the International Holding Company (IHC), the global diversified Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate.

This strategic expansion underscores ESGs commitment to business growth, positive investor impact, and its ambition to further cement its position in the hospitality sector, the company said.

With the vision to emerge as a frontrunner and influential player in both the regional and global hospitality arena, ESG is poised to leverage the UAE, its home base, as the launchpad for its most luxurious and prestigious projects.

The companys ambitious plans include unveiling a significant hospitality project in the UAE before the close of the year, further showcasing its commitment to innovation and excellence in the sector, it said.

Matar Suhail Ali Al Yabhouni Aldhaheri, Chairman of ESG, stated: The introduction of ESG Hospitality is a strategic move aligned with our broader vision to tap into the burgeoning global hospitality market. the Middle East contributes a significant 5% to the global GDP from tourism, showcasing the regions potential, particularly in the UAE where the hospitality market is among the richest in the world.

The UAEs hospitality market, recognised as one of the most affluent globally, is poised for a 25% growth by 2030, with an anticipation of welcoming 40 million hotel guests by 2031. Amid this dynamic growth, ESGs decision to expand its hospitality wing comes at an opportune time. The company has consistently been approached to augment its market presence, given its successful track record in delivering projects in Mexico, Morocco, Greece, Serbia, Belarus, Mauritius, Kazakhstan and the UAE with a total value exceeding AED3.67 billion ($1 billion).

Kayed Khorma, CEO of ESG, commented: "We are continuing to expand our capabilities and influence across various business verticals, both regionally and globally. This expansion enables the company to achieve more growth and deliver added value to our shareholders. We are also maintaining a strong position of interest among external investors, thanks to our outstanding results in the first half of this year.

With its diversified portfolio in Investment, Construction, and Real Estate sectors, ESG has consistently delivered exceptional products and services across more than 20 countries. - TradeArabia News Service
KABUL, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan caretaker government will build houses for families who lost their homes in the powerful quakes that struck west Afghanistan's Herat and neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday, acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has said.

Baradar made the remarks while visiting the quake-affected region in Herat on Monday.

Two deadly earthquakes, according to China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks, rocked west Afghanistan with an epicenter in Zanda Jan district of Herat province on Saturday, leaving at least 2,053 dead and thousands more injured.

Between 1,200 to 1,500 residential houses, according to Baradar, were destroyed in Saturday's quakes in Herat.

"The Islamic Emirate will build standard houses for families whose houses have been destroyed in the earthquakes," state-run Bakhtar news agency quoted Baradar as saying. 
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) has been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the twelve analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$62.99.

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on CM shares. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$67.00 to C$66.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$66.00 to C$62.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 21st. CSFB decreased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$57.00 to C$56.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 1st. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$65.00 to C$69.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. Finally, National Bankshares decreased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$64.00 to C$62.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 1st.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trading Down 0.1 %

TSE:CM opened at C$51.09 on Tuesday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a twelve month low of C$50.03 and a twelve month high of C$65.24. The company has a 50-day moving average of C$54.16 and a 200-day moving average of C$55.87. The firm has a market cap of C$47.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 31.58 and a beta of 1.03.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 31st. The company reported C$1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$1.69 by C($0.17). Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a net margin of 22.51% and a return on equity of 9.45%. The business had revenue of C$5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$5.80 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.8393574 earnings per share for the current year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Investors of record on Friday, October 27th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 27th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces payout ratio is presently 71.17%.

About Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

(Get Free Report

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the seventeen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $101.41.

A number of analysts have weighed in on FND shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Floor & Decor from $100.00 to $95.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Floor & Decor from $125.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 4th. Wedbush decreased their target price on Floor & Decor from $115.00 to $110.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Floor & Decor from $120.00 to $115.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a $95.00 target price on shares of Floor & Decor in a report on Friday, August 4th.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Floor & Decor

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Floor & Decor

In other Floor & Decor news, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $2,145,440.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 177,891 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,457,465. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In other news, EVP Steven Alan Denny sold 6,381 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.59, for a total transaction of $661,007.79. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,419 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,286,484.21. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $2,145,440.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,891 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,457,465. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 30,841 shares of company stock valued at $3,444,888. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its position in Floor & Decor by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 45,123 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,432,000 after buying an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Floor & Decor in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $512,000. Amalgamated Bank raised its position in Floor & Decor by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 23,837 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,660,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Bennett Selby Investments LP raised its position in Floor & Decor by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bennett Selby Investments LP now owns 107,042 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,128,000 after buying an additional 1,846 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Alliance acquired a new stake in Floor & Decor in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $227,000.

Floor & Decor Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:FND opened at $87.42 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $96.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $98.02. Floor & Decor has a fifty-two week low of $63.51 and a fifty-two week high of $116.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.15.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.66. Floor & Decor had a return on equity of 16.94% and a net margin of 6.55%. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.76 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Floor & Decor will post 2.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Floor & Decor

(Get Free Report

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eight ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $75.44.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on HXL. Wolfe Research raised shares of Hexcel from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $83.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 17th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on shares of Hexcel from $74.00 to $73.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Hexcel in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a hold rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Hexcel from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the company from $75.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Hexcel from $73.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on HXL

Hexcel Stock Down 0.4 %

HXL stock opened at $67.19 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 2.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Hexcel has a fifty-two week low of $50.00 and a fifty-two week high of $79.08. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $69.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $70.87. The stock has a market cap of $5.68 billion, a PE ratio of 38.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.24.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.02. Hexcel had a net margin of 8.73% and a return on equity of 9.40%. The business had revenue of $454.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $450.15 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.33 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Hexcel will post 1.92 EPS for the current year.

Hexcel Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 4th were paid a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.74%. Hexcels dividend payout ratio is currently 28.74%.

Insider Transactions at Hexcel

In other Hexcel news, insider Gail E. Lehman sold 1,571 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.15, for a total value of $110,205.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,942 shares in the company, valued at $486,981.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 10.5% in the first quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC now owns 5,260 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $359,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 1,177.3% in the first quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 273,297 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $18,653,000 after buying an additional 251,900 shares during the period. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Hexcel in the first quarter worth about $284,000. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 2.8% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 24,389 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,665,000 after buying an additional 658 shares during the period. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hexcel during the second quarter worth approximately $1,322,000. 94.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Hexcel

(Get Free Report

Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products.

Further Reading

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Suzano (NYSE:SUZ  Get Free Report) is one of 17 publicly-traded companies in the Paper mills industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Suzano to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Risk & Volatility

Suzano has a beta of 1.11, suggesting that its stock price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Suzanos competitors have a beta of 1.31, suggesting that their average stock price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Institutional & Insider Ownership

2.6% of Suzano shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.7% of shares of all Paper mills companies are held by institutional investors. 5.5% of shares of all Paper mills companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Profitability

Suzano pays an annual dividend of $0.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Suzano pays out 9.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Paper mills companies pay a dividend yield of 3.8% and pay out 58.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Suzano has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

This table compares Suzano and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Suzano 47.44% 64.65% 17.21% Suzano Competitors 7.59% 18.89% 6.66%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Suzano and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Suzano $9.65 billion $4.53 billion 3.22 Suzano Competitors $5.57 billion $686.61 million 29.26

Suzano has higher revenue and earnings than its competitors. Suzano is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Suzano and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Suzano 0 0 1 0 3.00 Suzano Competitors 113 718 474 49 2.34

As a group, Paper mills companies have a potential upside of 29.30%. Given Suzanos competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Suzano has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Summary

Suzano beats its competitors on 8 of the 15 factors compared.

About Suzano

(Get Free Report)

Suzano S.A. produces and sells eucalyptus pulp and paper products in Brazil and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paper segments. The company offers coated and uncoated printing and writing papers, paperboards, tissue papers, and market and fluff pulps; and lignin. It also engages in the research, development, and production of biofuel; operation of port terminals; power generation and distribution business; commercialization of equipment and parts; industrialization, commercialization, and exporting of pulp and standing wood; road freight transport; biotechnology research and development; and commercialization of paper and computer materials. In addition, the company is involved in the business office, production packaging, and financial fundraising activities; research, development, production, commercialization, and distribution of wood-based textile fibers, yarns, and filaments produced from cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose; and research and development of wood raw materials for the textile industry. Suzano S.A. was formerly known as Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A. and changed its name to Suzano S.A. in April 2019. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Salvador, Brazil.

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SevenBridge Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO  Free Report) by 11.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,520 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 580 shares during the period. SevenBridge Financial Group LLCs holdings in Southern Copper were worth $396,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 468.6% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 978 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 806 shares during the last quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 59.2% in the 2nd quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 19,030 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,365,000 after purchasing an additional 7,075 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in shares of Southern Copper in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 17.2% in the 2nd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 77,920 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,501,000 after purchasing an additional 11,423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 9,137 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $655,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 7.40% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on SCCO shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Southern Copper in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Southern Copper in a research note on Monday, September 18th. They set a hold rating and a $91.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Southern Copper from $52.50 to $55.50 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Southern Copper from $67.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $65.17.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of Southern Copper stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.11, for a total transaction of $43,555.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,414 shares in the company, valued at $471,613.54. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Sanchez Mejorada Enri Castillo sold 2,400 shares of Southern Copper stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.56, for a total transaction of $195,744.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,200 shares of the companys stock, valued at $260,992. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of Southern Copper stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.11, for a total value of $43,555.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,414 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $471,613.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Southern Copper Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SCCO opened at $74.18 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.57, a current ratio of 4.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.61, a PEG ratio of 13.37 and a beta of 1.29. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $78.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $75.96. Southern Copper Co. has a 52-week low of $45.17 and a 52-week high of $87.59.

Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $2.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.37 billion. Southern Copper had a return on equity of 34.86% and a net margin of 27.62%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Southern Copper Co. will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Southern Copper Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 23rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 9th were issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. This is an increase from Southern Coppers previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 8th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.39%. Southern Coppers payout ratio is currently 111.11%.

Southern Copper Profile

(Free Report)

Southern Copper Corporation engages in mining, exploring, smelting, and refining copper and other minerals in Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile. The company is involved in the mining, milling, and flotation of copper ore to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates; smelting of copper concentrates to produce blister and anode copper; refining of anode copper to produce copper cathodes; production of molybdenum concentrate and sulfuric acid; production of refined silver, gold, and other materials; and mining and processing of zinc, copper, molybdenum, silver, gold, and lead.

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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 6.8% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,126 shares of the companys stock after selling 228 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $305,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Green Square Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Philip Morris International during the second quarter worth about $232,000. Herold Advisors Inc. grew its position in Philip Morris International by 8.6% in the second quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. now owns 5,484 shares of the companys stock valued at $535,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares in the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the first quarter valued at $98,000. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 59.0% in the 1st quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC now owns 4,214 shares of the companys stock valued at $410,000 after acquiring an additional 1,563 shares during the period. Finally, Cypress Wealth Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 4,514 shares of the companys stock worth $439,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a buy rating and set a $114.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Citigroup raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $109.00 to $117.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $109.92.

Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE PM opened at $92.31 on Tuesday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $84.00 and a 52 week high of $105.62. The firms fifty day moving average is $94.78 and its 200 day moving average is $95.65. The company has a market cap of $143.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.85, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.76 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.63% and a negative return on equity of 127.84%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.48 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This is a boost from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 26th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.63%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 100.58%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 14.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,262 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 405 shares during the quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $308,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in EW. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 98,836.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 759,315,387 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $71,626,220,000 after acquiring an additional 758,547,908 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 27.5% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 21,874,280 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,632,040,000 after purchasing an additional 4,712,819 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 15,850,055 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,311,275,000 after purchasing an additional 578,319 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 104,971.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,399,249 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,148,938,000 after buying an additional 15,384,593 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,214,619 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,008,114,000 after purchasing an additional 78,376 shares in the last quarter. 79.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance

Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $72.89 on Tuesday. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 12-month low of $67.13 and a 12-month high of $94.87. The company has a quick ratio of 2.30, a current ratio of 3.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $75.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $83.06. The stock has a market cap of $44.31 billion, a PE ratio of 32.25, a P/E/G ratio of 3.98 and a beta of 1.05.

Insider Buying and Selling at Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.01. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 25.43% and a net margin of 24.56%. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.63 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.35, for a total transaction of $611,959.25. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,623,568.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 8,500 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total value of $595,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 23,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,676,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.35, for a total value of $611,959.25. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 19,248 shares in the company, valued at $1,623,568.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 177,859 shares of company stock worth $13,627,822 in the last quarter. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $96.00 price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. 58.com reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $88.00 to $83.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 8th. TheStreet lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $90.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $91.50.

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Edwards Lifesciences Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM  Free Report) by 6.7% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 6,918 shares of the semiconductor producers stock after acquiring an additional 437 shares during the quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in STMicroelectronics were worth $346,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new position in STMicroelectronics in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in STMicroelectronics by 63.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 779 shares of the semiconductor producers stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC bought a new position in STMicroelectronics in the 1st quarter worth about $42,000. PSI Advisors LLC boosted its stake in STMicroelectronics by 60.0% in the 1st quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 800 shares of the semiconductor producers stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel bought a new position in STMicroelectronics during the 1st quarter valued at about $66,000. Institutional investors own 5.62% of the companys stock.

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STMicroelectronics Trading Down 1.2 %

STMicroelectronics stock opened at $44.29 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $45.81 and a 200 day moving average of $47.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.63. STMicroelectronics has a 12-month low of $29.09 and a 12-month high of $55.85. The company has a current ratio of 2.67, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

STMicroelectronics ( NYSE:STM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The semiconductor producer reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.04). STMicroelectronics had a net margin of 25.36% and a return on equity of 33.67%. The company had revenue of $4.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.37 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.92 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that STMicroelectronics will post 4.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Several research firms have issued reports on STM. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of STMicroelectronics in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of STMicroelectronics from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of STMicroelectronics from $56.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, STMicroelectronics presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $56.38.

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STMicroelectronics Company Profile

(Free Report)

STMicroelectronics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Automotive and Discrete Group; Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group; and Microcontrollers and Digital ICs Group segments.

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State of Michigan Retirement System decreased its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 2.4% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 408,666 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 10,200 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $23,163,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,847,000 after purchasing an additional 1,452 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 4.3% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $528,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 25.4% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,101,000 after purchasing an additional 2,648 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $321,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 16.6% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $104,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on SCHW shares. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $71.03.

Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $51.75 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1 year low of $45.00 and a 1 year high of $86.63. The firms 50-day moving average is $58.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $56.08. The stock has a market cap of $91.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.09, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.15% and a return on equity of 27.54%. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 29.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 72,047 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.66, for a total value of $4,802,653.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,748,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,982,837,543.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,563,189.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Bell Bank purchased a new position in Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:FND  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 5,878 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $611,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in Floor & Decor in the first quarter worth $29,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Floor & Decor by 1,063.3% during the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 349 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Floor & Decor during the first quarter worth $39,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its position in shares of Floor & Decor by 54.2% during the first quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 464 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Inc. AR lifted its position in shares of Floor & Decor by 72.5% during the first quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 545 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the last quarter.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FND has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Citigroup downgraded Floor & Decor from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $122.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $95.00 target price on shares of Floor & Decor in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Wedbush decreased their target price on Floor & Decor from $115.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Floor & Decor from $125.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and set a $105.00 price target on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Monday, August 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $101.41.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $2,145,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,891 shares in the company, valued at $20,457,465. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Steven Alan Denny sold 6,381 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.59, for a total value of $661,007.79. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,419 shares in the company, valued at $1,286,484.21. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $2,145,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 177,891 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,457,465. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 30,841 shares of company stock worth $3,444,888 over the last three months. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Floor & Decor Price Performance

Shares of NYSE FND opened at $87.42 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.15 and a current ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of $9.30 billion, a PE ratio of 32.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.96. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $98.02. Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $63.51 and a fifty-two week high of $116.03.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.66. Floor & Decor had a return on equity of 16.94% and a net margin of 6.55%. The business had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.76 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. will post 2.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Floor & Decor

(Free Report)

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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BEIRUT, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces on Tuesday bombed with artillery shells the outskirts of Blida and Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon after a suspected attempt to infiltrate the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had received a report regarding a suspected aerial infiltration in the area of the Golan Heights and northern Israel and ordered Israelis to remain in bomb shelters until further notice, the Times of Israel quoted an IDF statement as saying.

The tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group, fired dozens of missiles toward Israel on Sunday morning in support of the "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday morning, prompting heavy artillery from Israel in retaliation.

The situation escalated again on Monday after members of Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ), infiltrated northern Israel from Lebanon and clashed with Israeli forces, prompting the Israelis to hit several areas in southern Lebanon, killing three Hezbollah members.

In return, Hezbollah attacked on Monday evening the Israeli Pranit and Avivim barracks in northern Israel with guided missiles and mortar shells. 
LGT Group Foundation raised its position in shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF  Free Report) (TSE:SLF) by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 355,826 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 1,418 shares during the quarter. LGT Group Foundation owned about 0.06% of Sun Life Financial worth $18,544,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SLF. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in Sun Life Financial by 2.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 31,331 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,749,000 after buying an additional 614 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Sun Life Financial by 1.1% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 24,648 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,376,000 after buying an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Sun Life Financial by 3.5% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 34,234 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,911,000 after buying an additional 1,144 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its stake in Sun Life Financial by 9.4% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 14,075 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $786,000 after buying an additional 1,207 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sun Life Financial during the 1st quarter worth approximately $67,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 44.96% of the companys stock.

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Sun Life Financial Price Performance

Shares of SLF stock opened at $48.67 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $49.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.01. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a 12-month low of $37.96 and a 12-month high of $53.21.

Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend

Sun Life Financial ( NYSE:SLF Get Free Report ) (TSE:SLF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The financial services provider reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.17. The firm had revenue of $5.71 billion during the quarter. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 15.10% and a net margin of 7.28%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 4.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $0.566 per share. This is a positive change from Sun Life Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.65%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 29th. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Sun Life Financial from $79.00 to $77.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sun Life Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock.

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Sun Life Financial Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. It offers term and permanent life, as well as personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance products. The company provides financial advice, asset management, and investments related products.

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State of Michigan Retirement System decreased its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 5.3% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 84,636 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 4,700 shares during the quarter. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $21,173,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aspire Private Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 1st quarter worth about $16,798,050,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 145.2% during the 1st quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 103 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Sturgeon Ventures LLP acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 52.7% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 142 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on ITW. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $256.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Barclays cut their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $281.00 to $292.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $236.73.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $234.48 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $239.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.77. The stock has a market cap of $70.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a twelve month low of $180.46 and a twelve month high of $264.19.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.39 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.14 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 94.14%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.37 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $1.40 dividend. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This is a positive change from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is 55.39%.

About Illinois Tool Works

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Latitude Group Holdings Limited (ASX:LFSPA  Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Monday, October 9th, MarketIndexAU reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 26th will be given a dividend of 1.593 per share on Thursday, October 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 17th. This is a positive change from Latitude Groups previous interim dividend of $1.47.

Latitude Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 444.04, a current ratio of 4.56 and a quick ratio of 4.20.

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Latitude Group Company Profile

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Further Reading

Latitude Group Holdings Limited operates in instalments and lending business in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It provides various installment products to support customers and partners. The company also offers lending products comprising credit cards, personal loans, and motor loans through commercial partners, as well as various channels, such as direct and online.

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Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC grew its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 23.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,652 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,473 shares during the period. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $747,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of PM. Fairfield Bush & CO. boosted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 26,141 shares of the companys stock worth $2,456,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 35.6% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,939 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 24.7% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 3,065 shares of the companys stock valued at $288,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 54.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 525 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 14.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 8,987 shares of the companys stock worth $844,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group reduced their price target on Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $109.92.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

Shares of PM opened at $92.48 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $143.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $84.00 and a 1 year high of $105.62. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $94.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $95.65.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.76 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.63% and a negative return on equity of 127.84%. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be given a $1.30 dividend. This is an increase from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 26th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 100.58%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 71,849 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 564 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Prologis were worth $8,811,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Sageworth Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. bought a new stake in shares of Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 90.90% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho reiterated a buy rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of Prologis in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. BTIG Research boosted their price target on shares of Prologis from $152.00 to $154.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Prologis in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Prologis in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Prologis from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $141.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $140.16.

Prologis Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PLD opened at $109.46 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $101.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.99. Prologis, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $98.03 and a fifty-two week high of $136.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.34. The companys 50-day moving average is $119.71 and its 200 day moving average is $121.99.

Prologis (NYSE:PLD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.15. Prologis had a net margin of 42.52% and a return on equity of 6.17%. The business had revenue of $2.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.72 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.11 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 95.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Prologis Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 18th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 15th. Prologiss dividend payout ratio is presently 91.58%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director George L. Fotiades sold 10,711 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.98, for a total value of $1,327,949.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock.

Prologis Company Profile

(Free Report)

Prologis, Inc is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. At June 30, 2023, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.2 billion square feet (114 million square meters) in 19 countries.

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LGT Group Foundation raised its position in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 2.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 84,618 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,241 shares during the quarter. LGT Group Foundations holdings in EOG Resources were worth $9,684,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of EOG. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of EOG Resources by 18.2% during the 1st quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 65,998 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $7,565,000 after purchasing an additional 10,154 shares during the last quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC raised its holdings in EOG Resources by 41.9% in the 2nd quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 4,659 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $533,000 after acquiring an additional 1,376 shares in the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its holdings in EOG Resources by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 7,112 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $815,000 after acquiring an additional 438 shares in the last quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. now owns 46,478 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $5,319,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 56.2% in the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 351,270 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $45,496,000 after purchasing an additional 126,454 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.21% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on EOG shares. TD Securities upped their price objective on EOG Resources from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Citigroup upped their price objective on EOG Resources from $138.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. UBS Group upped their price objective on EOG Resources from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. lowered EOG Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 24th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on EOG Resources from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $150.04.

EOG Resources Stock Performance

EOG stock opened at $127.24 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $128.73 and its 200-day moving average is $120.30. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The company has a market cap of $74.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.55. EOG Resources, Inc. has a twelve month low of $98.52 and a twelve month high of $150.88.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $5.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.74 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 28.52% and a net margin of 33.58%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.34 EPS for the current year.

EOG Resources Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.59%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, October 16th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is presently 22.24%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other EOG Resources news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.76, for a total transaction of $595,088.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 145,259 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,994,066.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About EOG Resources

(Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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LGT Group Foundation boosted its stake in Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW  Free Report) by 10.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 224,957 shares of the electronics makers stock after buying an additional 21,523 shares during the period. LGT Group Foundations holdings in Corning were worth $7,882,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Hartford Financial Management Inc. grew its position in Corning by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Hartford Financial Management Inc. now owns 27,909 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $978,000 after buying an additional 1,111 shares in the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System grew its position in Corning by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 260,659 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $9,133,000 after buying an additional 6,400 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its position in Corning by 222.4% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 972 shares in the last quarter. Keene & Associates Inc. grew its position in Corning by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Keene & Associates Inc. now owns 90,861 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $3,184,000 after buying an additional 540 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in Corning by 12.1% in the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 344,473 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $12,070,000 after buying an additional 37,168 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.74% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Lewis A. Steverson sold 16,710 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.25, for a total value of $572,317.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 29,378 shares in the company, valued at $1,006,196.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Corning news, CEO Wendell P. Weeks sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.78, for a total transaction of $3,378,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 847,474 shares in the company, valued at $28,627,671.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Lewis A. Steverson sold 16,710 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.25, for a total value of $572,317.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 29,378 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,006,196.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Corning Price Performance

Shares of GLW opened at $29.44 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $25.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.06. Corning Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $29.16 and a fifty-two week high of $37.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The businesss 50-day moving average is $31.74 and its 200-day moving average is $32.75.

Corning (NYSE:GLW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The electronics maker reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.45. Corning had a return on equity of 13.22% and a net margin of 4.72%. The company had revenue of $3.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.57 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Corning Incorporated will post 1.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Corning Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th will be issued a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.80%. Cornings dividend payout ratio is currently 153.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on GLW. UBS Group downgraded shares of Corning from a buy rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the company from $38.00 to $39.00 in a report on Friday, July 14th. Citigroup raised shares of Corning from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $36.00 to $40.00 in a report on Thursday, June 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of Corning from $38.00 to $37.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $42.00 price objective on shares of Corning in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Corning from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $43.00 to $36.00 in a research note on Monday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Corning presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $38.40.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on GLW

About Corning

(Free Report)

Corning Incorporated engages in the display technologies, optical communications, environmental technologies, specialty materials, and life sciences businesses worldwide. The company's Display Technologies segment offers glass substrates for flat panel displays, including liquid crystal displays and organic light-emitting diodes that are used in televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors, tablets, and handheld devices.

Further Reading

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Factory Mutual Insurance Co. lessened its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) by 10.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 318,100 shares of the casino operators stock after selling 36,000 shares during the period. Factory Mutual Insurance Co.s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $18,450,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. ZRC Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 434.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 524 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares during the period. Retirement Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 123.7% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 671 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 371 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.16% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $70.00 to $69.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $70.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Argus decreased their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $72.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $70.12.

Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of LVS stock traded up $0.63 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $46.35. The company had a trading volume of 425,560 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,564,826. The company has a 50 day moving average of $51.37 and a 200 day moving average of $56.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.57, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 2.75. The firm has a market cap of $35.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 653.14, a P/E/G ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 1.22. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 1-year low of $33.38 and a 1-year high of $65.58.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The casino operator reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 5.73% and a net margin of 0.75%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 143.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($0.34) EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.87 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 8th were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 7th. Las Vegas Sandss payout ratio is presently 1,142.86%.

Las Vegas Sands Profile

(Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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Western Financial Corp CA decreased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 15.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,125 shares of the companys stock after selling 592 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up approximately 1.0% of Western Financial Corp CAs holdings, making the stock its 13th largest holding. Western Financial Corp CAs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,465,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,324,267 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,979,760,000 after buying an additional 314,349 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,938,609,000 after buying an additional 19,056,108 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,867,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,094,159,000 after buying an additional 159,964 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after buying an additional 3,691,436 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $3,416,206,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total transaction of $275,772.42. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,219 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,141,787,549.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,219 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,141,787,549.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.51, for a total transaction of $327,906.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,378 shares in the company, valued at $2,939,130.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Eli Lilly and Company stock traded up $4.06 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $575.82. The company had a trading volume of 319,333 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,001,217. The firm has a market cap of $546.62 billion, a PE ratio of 79.56, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.87. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $601.84. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $544.35 and a 200 day moving average of $464.97.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 65.00%. The businesss revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.25 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on LLY shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $630.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $617.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $385.00 to $470.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Argus increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $538.65.

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Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 6,807 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $206,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Boston Partners raised its stake in shares of Honda Motor by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 10,927 shares of the companys stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 1,012 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC purchased a new position in shares of Honda Motor in the 1st quarter valued at $2,243,000. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Honda Motor by 16.7% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 224,211 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,939,000 after acquiring an additional 32,117 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of Honda Motor by 11.9% in the 2nd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 121,536 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,684,000 after acquiring an additional 12,936 shares during the period. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Honda Motor by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 8,860,605 shares of the companys stock valued at $234,717,000 after acquiring an additional 140,951 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.32% of the companys stock.

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Honda Motor Price Performance

HMC opened at $32.90 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $32.77 and a 200-day moving average of $30.12. The company has a market capitalization of $56.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.37, a PEG ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 0.74. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has a 1-year low of $21.43 and a 1-year high of $36.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.44.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Honda Motor ( NYSE:HMC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.61. The company had revenue of $33.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $33.57 billion. Honda Motor had a net margin of 5.11% and a return on equity of 7.73%. Equities analysts expect that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will post 3.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

HMC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Macquarie raised shares of Honda Motor from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 11th. Nomura downgraded shares of Honda Motor from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Honda Motor in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Honda Motor from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of Honda Motor from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Honda Motor presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

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Honda Motor Profile

(Free Report)

Honda Motor Co, Ltd. develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, automobiles, power, and other products in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Motorcycle Business, Automobile Business, Financial Services Business, and Power Product and Other Businesses.

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TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has discussed the latest developments of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in two separate phone calls.

Speaking to Borrell on Monday night, the Iranian top diplomat blamed Israeli government's policies against the Palestinians for causing the surprise attack launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israelis, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website on Tuesday.

While slamming the West for its indifference toward Israel's policies and practices against Palestinians, Amir-Abdollahian highlighted the necessity for the international community to support the Palestinians' rights.

Borrell, for his part, said the priority now is that everyone should think of restoring peace.

According to another statement posted on the Iranian Foreign Ministry website on Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian said in a telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart on Monday that upholding and protecting the rights of the Palestinians is a responsibility shared by all Muslim countries.

The Qatari foreign minister said his country had always supported the rights of Palestinians.

The two foreign ministers also highlighted the need for resuming consultations among Muslim states to support Palestine.

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

During the attack, Hamas militants broke through the security fence that separate the Gaza Strip from Israel and stormed nearby communities, killing and capturing Israelis.

The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 788 and 4,100, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that the death toll from Hamas' attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900. 
Leeward Investments LLC MA lowered its position in Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI  Free Report) by 2.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 125,405 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,364 shares during the quarter. Primerica accounts for approximately 1.2% of Leeward Investments LLC MAs holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Leeward Investments LLC MA owned 0.35% of Primerica worth $24,800,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Primerica by 0.6% in the first quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 3,907,117 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $672,962,000 after buying an additional 24,125 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Primerica by 0.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,277,573 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $564,529,000 after buying an additional 12,990 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Primerica during the 4th quarter worth about $210,472,000. State Street Corp increased its position in Primerica by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,112,658 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $133,174,000 after purchasing an additional 6,390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Primerica by 27.4% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 811,888 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $115,142,000 after purchasing an additional 174,822 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.56% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Primerica news, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.47, for a total value of $853,880.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 51,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,011,423.01. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Alison S. Rand sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.26, for a total value of $606,780.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 9,444 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,910,143.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.47, for a total value of $853,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 51,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,011,423.01. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 10,500 shares of company stock valued at $2,165,665 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on PRI shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Primerica from $171.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. StockNews.com started coverage on Primerica in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Primerica from $198.00 to $197.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on Primerica from $240.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $216.20.

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Primerica Price Performance

Shares of PRI stock traded up $1.17 on Tuesday, hitting $201.53. 12,003 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 146,661. The company has a market capitalization of $7.21 billion, a PE ratio of 16.35 and a beta of 1.17. Primerica, Inc. has a 1-year low of $126.75 and a 1-year high of $220.00. The companys fifty day moving average is $202.99 and its 200 day moving average is $192.92.

Primerica (NYSE:PRI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The financial services provider reported $3.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.81 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $688.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $704.91 million. Primerica had a return on equity of 28.48% and a net margin of 16.55%. The businesss revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.86 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Primerica, Inc. will post 15.63 EPS for the current year.

Primerica Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 21st were given a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 18th. Primericas dividend payout ratio is presently 21.21%.

About Primerica

(Free Report)

Primerica, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; Senior Health; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Term Life Insurance segment underwrites individual term life insurance products.

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Leeward Investments LLC MA reduced its holdings in Standex International Co. (NYSE:SXI  Free Report) by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 141,426 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 3,472 shares during the quarter. Standex International makes up approximately 0.9% of Leeward Investments LLC MAs holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Leeward Investments LLC MAs holdings in Standex International were worth $20,008,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Inspire Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Standex International by 14.2% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 2,621 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 326 shares in the last quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC lifted its holdings in Standex International by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 266,677 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,652,000 after buying an additional 3,558 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Standex International by 176.3% during the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 24,632 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,016,000 after buying an additional 15,718 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Standex International by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 3,473 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $425,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York Life Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Standex International during the 1st quarter worth $485,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.80% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SXI has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $205.00 price target on shares of Standex International in a research note on Monday, August 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Standex International in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Standex International in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th.

Standex International Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of SXI stock traded up $1.03 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $153.65. The company had a trading volume of 4,576 shares, compared to its average volume of 62,255. The company has a 50 day moving average of $152.18 and a 200 day moving average of $139.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 3.43 and a quick ratio of 2.73. The firm has a market cap of $1.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.17. Standex International Co. has a 1-year low of $80.97 and a 1-year high of $168.81.

Standex International (NYSE:SXI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The industrial products company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.09. Standex International had a net margin of 18.76% and a return on equity of 14.44%. The business had revenue of $188.33 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $184.81 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.54 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Standex International Co. will post 7.72 EPS for the current year.

Standex International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 9th were given a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 8th. Standex Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 9.60%.

Insider Activity at Standex International

In related news, CFO Ademir Sarcevic sold 3,100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.51, for a total value of $463,481.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 16,499 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,466,765.49. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Standex International news, Director Barbara Joanne Edwards sold 970 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.77, for a total transaction of $151,096.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,564 shares in the company, valued at approximately $866,704.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Ademir Sarcevic sold 3,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.51, for a total value of $463,481.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 16,499 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,466,765.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 6,425 shares of company stock worth $983,567 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 2.63% of the companys stock.

Standex International Profile

(Free Report)

Standex International Corporation, together with subsidiaries, manufactures and sells various products and services for commercial and industrial markets in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Electronics, Engraving, Scientific, Engineering Technologies, and Specialty Solutions.

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CENTRAL TRUST Co cut its stake in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 21.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,345 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 4,141 shares during the period. CENTRAL TRUST Cos holdings in Danaher were worth $3,683,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. CenterStar Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 192.3% in the second quarter. CenterStar Asset Management LLC now owns 3,785 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $909,000 after buying an additional 7,885 shares during the period. Canal Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Danaher by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter. Canal Capital Management LLC now owns 9,903 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $2,377,000 after acquiring an additional 1,075 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in Danaher by 91.4% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,652 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $396,000 after purchasing an additional 789 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in Danaher by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 51,674 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $12,402,000 after purchasing an additional 1,019 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WealthBridge Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 15.0% in the second quarter. WealthBridge Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 14,210 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $3,410,000 after purchasing an additional 1,850 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.71% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Danaher

In other news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 11,213 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.65, for a total transaction of $2,922,668.45. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 38,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,979,767.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Joakim Weidemanis sold 22,439 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.42, for a total transaction of $5,910,881.38. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 88,689 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,362,456.38. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 11,213 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.65, for a total transaction of $2,922,668.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,288 shares in the company, valued at $9,979,767.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 47,922 shares of company stock worth $12,552,233 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 11.10% of the companys stock.

Danaher Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of DHR opened at $218.37 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $161.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 2.08. Danaher Co. has a 52 week low of $208.96 and a 52 week high of $281.54. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $250.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $244.15.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.04. Danaher had a return on equity of 15.03% and a net margin of 20.95%. The firm had revenue of $7.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.76 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Danaher Co. will post 8.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.49%. Danahers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on DHR. KeyCorp lowered their price target on Danaher from $325.00 to $300.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Raymond James upped their target price on Danaher from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $292.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $280.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Danaher has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $287.93.

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Danaher Company Profile

(Free Report)

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

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Peak Financial Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Free Report) by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 105,636 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,788 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF comprises approximately 2.5% of Peak Financial Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Peak Financial Management Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $7,130,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Dravo Bay LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 3.8% during the first quarter. Dravo Bay LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the companys stock worth $271,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.7% during the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 23,492 shares of the companys stock worth $1,589,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,740 shares of the companys stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the period. Dohj LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.0% in the second quarter. Dohj LLC now owns 16,917 shares of the companys stock worth $1,142,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the period. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.9% in the first quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 5,951 shares of the companys stock valued at $429,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF stock traded up $0.03 on Tuesday, reaching $64.99. The company had a trading volume of 283,367 shares. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $64.68 and a 52-week high of $76.51. The firms 50 day moving average price is $66.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $67.86. The firm has a market cap of $7.29 billion, a PE ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.60.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure.

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Leeward Investments LLC MA cut its stake in Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV  Free Report) by 28.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 708,348 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 276,804 shares during the quarter. Valvoline makes up 1.2% of Leeward Investments LLC MAs portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Leeward Investments LLC MA owned 0.43% of Valvoline worth $26,570,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in shares of Valvoline by 18.6% in the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,872 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $65,000 after buying an additional 294 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valvoline by 54.9% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 931 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Valvoline by 0.9% during the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 55,185 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,928,000 after purchasing an additional 483 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management lifted its stake in Valvoline by 8.1% during the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 8,593 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 646 shares during the period. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Valvoline by 1.3% during the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 50,597 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,768,000 after buying an additional 646 shares in the last quarter. 92.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Valvoline Stock Performance

VVV traded up $0.33 on Tuesday, reaching $32.47. The company had a trading volume of 91,854 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,831,480. Valvoline Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.40 and a fifty-two week high of $39.67. The stock has a market cap of $4.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 1.35. The companys fifty day moving average is $33.52 and its 200 day moving average is $35.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.49, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a current ratio of 2.68.

Insider Transactions at Valvoline

Valvoline ( NYSE:VVV Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.06. Valvoline had a net margin of 110.05% and a return on equity of 42.99%. The firm had revenue of $376.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $367.53 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.58 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 18.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Valvoline Inc. will post 1.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, insider Julie Marie Odaniel sold 3,087 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.67, for a total transaction of $107,026.29. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 16,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $562,694.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Julie Marie Odaniel sold 3,087 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.67, for a total transaction of $107,026.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 16,230 shares in the company, valued at approximately $562,694.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Lori Ann Flees acquired 8,879 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were bought at an average price of $33.76 per share, with a total value of $299,755.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 12,613 shares in the company, valued at $425,814.88. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders bought 17,839 shares of company stock valued at $601,606 and sold 15,438 shares valued at $522,502. 0.99% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on VVV. TheStreet lowered shares of Valvoline from a b rating to a c rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Valvoline from $41.00 to $38.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of Valvoline from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Valvoline from $39.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $37.00 price target on shares of Valvoline in a research note on Monday, September 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.57.

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Valvoline Profile

(Free Report)

Valvoline Inc provides automotive services through retail stores in the United States and Canada. It offers cabin air filter, battery replacement, and tire rotation services for various vehicles. As of September 30, 2022, it operated 1,700 system-wide service center stores. The company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Mackay Shields LLC cut its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHN  Free Report) by 13.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,111,764 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 174,190 shares during the period. Mackay Shields LLC owned approximately 3.62% of BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund worth $11,651,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new position in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $72,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund during the 1st quarter worth approximately $113,000. Summit Trail Advisors LLC bought a new stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $115,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its position in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 29.7% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 13,685 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $146,000 after acquiring an additional 3,130 shares during the period. 23.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Price Performance

Shares of MHN stock traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $9.05. 21,193 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 50,888. BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc. has a 12 month low of $8.92 and a 12 month high of $11.19. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $9.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.15.

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Dividend Announcement

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Company Profile

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a $0.0335 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.44%.

(Free Report)

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in investment grade New York municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes.

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Seed Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Franklin Senior Loan ETF (BATS:FLBL  Free Report) by 19.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 128,532 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 20,944 shares during the quarter. Franklin Senior Loan ETF comprises approximately 3.3% of Seed Wealth Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest position. Seed Wealth Management Inc. owned about 1.50% of Franklin Senior Loan ETF worth $3,096,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Franklin Senior Loan ETF by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 58,930 shares of the companys stock worth $1,405,000 after acquiring an additional 2,650 shares in the last quarter. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora raised its position in shares of Franklin Senior Loan ETF by 435.0% in the first quarter. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora now owns 9,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $219,000 after purchasing an additional 7,473 shares during the period. Adams Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Franklin Senior Loan ETF by 159.7% in the first quarter. Adams Wealth Management now owns 22,617 shares of the companys stock worth $539,000 after buying an additional 13,909 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Franklin Senior Loan ETF by 10.9% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 48,725 shares of the companys stock worth $1,174,000 after buying an additional 4,772 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trilogy Capital Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Franklin Senior Loan ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $16,083,000.

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Franklin Senior Loan ETF Price Performance

FLBL traded up $0.05 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $23.83. The stock had a trading volume of 115,198 shares. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $24.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $23.81.

Franklin Senior Loan ETF Increases Dividend

Franklin Senior Loan ETF Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 3rd were issued a $0.1691 dividend. This is a positive change from Franklin Senior Loan ETFs previous dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 2nd.

(Free Report)

The Franklin Senior Loan ETF (FLBL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the SP\u002FLSTA US Leveraged Loan 100 index. The fund is an actively managed fund investing in USD-denominated senior loans. FLBL was launched on May 30, 2018 and is managed by Franklin Templeton.

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Blodgett Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 7.3% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 3,584 shares of the companys stock after selling 283 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for about 1.7% of Blodgett Wealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Blodgett Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,681,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LGT Fund Management Co Ltd. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 117.0% in the second quarter. LGT Fund Management Co Ltd. now owns 11,500 shares of the companys stock worth $5,393,000 after purchasing an additional 6,200 shares in the last quarter. LGT Group Foundation lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 221,622 shares of the companys stock valued at $103,936,000 after purchasing an additional 3,921 shares during the period. Bell Bank lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 20.0% in the 2nd quarter. Bell Bank now owns 2,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,132,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Close Asset Management Ltd increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 56.9% in the 2nd quarter. Close Asset Management Ltd now owns 4,403 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,062,000 after acquiring an additional 1,597 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Heartland Consultants Inc. increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. now owns 3,891 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,825,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

LLY has been the subject of a number of research reports. Bank of America increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Friday. Argus increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $510.00 to $600.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $538.65.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 0.2 %

LLY stock opened at $573.02 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $543.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 79.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $544.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $464.97. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $309.20 and a fifty-two week high of $601.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 65.00% and a net margin of 22.01%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.25 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at $47,141,787,549.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Bell Bank trimmed its holdings in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Free Report) by 21.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,142 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 305 shares during the quarter. Bell Banks holdings in Deere & Company were worth $463,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in DE. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Managment Co. boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 1,475.0% in the 1st quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Managment Co. now owns 63 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Lansing Street Advisors raised its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 1,725.0% during the 1st quarter. Lansing Street Advisors now owns 73 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. 66.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Deere & Company

In related news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 4,680 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $449.75, for a total transaction of $2,104,830.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 36,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,444,209.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Deere & Company news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 4,680 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $449.75, for a total value of $2,104,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 36,563 shares in the company, valued at $16,444,209.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Ryan D. Campbell sold 6,073 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $379.19, for a total value of $2,302,820.87. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 18,519 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,022,219.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Deere & Company from $390.00 to $380.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 21st. Citigroup increased their price target on Deere & Company from $460.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on Deere & Company from $560.00 to $551.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group restated a hold rating and set a $400.00 price target (down previously from $530.00) on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered Deere & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price target for the company from $530.00 to $400.00 in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $450.86.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on DE

Deere & Company Price Performance

DE opened at $382.90 on Tuesday. Deere & Company has a 12-month low of $345.55 and a 12-month high of $450.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $404.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is $396.50. The company has a market capitalization of $110.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.32, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.09.

Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 18th. The industrial products company reported $10.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.22 by $1.98. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 46.15% and a net margin of 16.36%. The company had revenue of $14.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.16 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Deere & Company will post 33.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Deere & Company Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 8th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.41%. This is an increase from Deere & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 15.96%.

Deere & Company Profile

(Free Report)

Deere & Company manufactures and distributes various equipment worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Production and Precision Agriculture segment provides mid-size tractors, combines, cotton pickers and strippers, sugarcane harvesters, harvesting front-end equipment, sugarcane loaders, pull-behind scrapers, and tillage and seeding equipment, as well as application equipment, including sprayers and nutrient management, and soil preparation machinery for grain growers.

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Lineweaver Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 95 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $203,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 2,910 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $13,299,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.9% during the first quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,311 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $5,656,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the period. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. lifted its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.8% in the first quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 439 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $750,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the period. Czech National Bank boosted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.3% during the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 3,254 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $5,559,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simplicity Solutions LLC boosted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 55.3% during the first quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 733 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,252,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.19% of the companys stock.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of CMG opened at $1,833.01 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1,889.44 and a 200 day moving average of $1,946.14. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,344.05 and a 12 month high of $2,175.01. The company has a market capitalization of $50.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.78, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.30.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $12.25 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $2.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.85% and a net margin of 12.00%. The businesss revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $9.30 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.16 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on CMG shares. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,025.00 to $2,010.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Bank of America increased their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,200.00 to $2,570.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 21st. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,885.00 to $1,950.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,200.00 to $2,400.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,200.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $2,151.00.

Read Our Latest Report on CMG

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total value of $2,072,679.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,522,914.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,063 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,949.84, for a total transaction of $2,072,679.92. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,522,914.48. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,044 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,830.95, for a total value of $1,911,511.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,747,189.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 3,165 shares of company stock worth $6,024,185. Insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The number of U.S. citizens killed amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has risen to 14, according to U.S. President Joe Biden, who in a speech Tuesday also said Americans were believed to be among those held hostage by Hamas militants.

Speaking from the White House State Dining Room, Biden urged Congress to "take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners," saying the funding "is not about party or politics. It's about the security of our world, the security of the United States of America."

Flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the president said his administration is "surging" additional military assistance to Israel, including ammunitions and interceptors, so as to "make sure Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens."

Biden noted that he just spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the third call between the pair since the drastic escalation of the conflict on Saturday. "I told him, 'If the United States experienced what you're experiencing, our response would be swift decisive and overwhelming,'" Biden said.

Shortly after Biden wrapped up his speech, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters during a daily press briefing at the White House that there were "20 or more Americans" who remained unaccounted for in Israel. "We do not know about their condition, and we cannot confirm a precise number of American citizens," he said.

Sullivan declined to weigh in on whether the United States would send ground troops to the region to help Israel fight what it had declared to be a war on Hamas. "I'm not going to get into the operational discussions that the president and the prime minister had," he said in reference to the Biden-Netanyahu phone call, adding it's "important for them to be able to keep this discreet channel between them."

The national security advisor said the United States is engaged in contingency planning "for any and all escalation scenarios" should they happen, and "we're consulting with allies and partners as well about all of the potential scenarios that might unfold in the days ahead."

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean - which was ordered by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday - was not meant "for Hamas," Sullivan said, but "to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war."

In a separate press briefing at the State Department, Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, announced that Blinken will soon travel to Israel for talks with "senior leaders in the Israeli government." The secretary will leave the United States on Wednesday and arrive in Israel on Thursday.

While in Israel, Blinken is expected "to engage our Israeli partners directly about the situation on the ground" and discuss ways the United States can continue to offer its support, Miller said. 
Mackay Shields LLC reduced its position in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MYN  Free Report) by 14.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 814,624 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 132,809 shares during the quarter. Mackay Shields LLCs holdings in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund were worth $8,252,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC purchased a new position in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund in the 2nd quarter worth $118,000. Mathes Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $172,000. Breakwater Capital Group purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund during the second quarter valued at approximately $105,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund by 15.5% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 16,120 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $164,000 after purchasing an additional 2,165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund in the 1st quarter worth $332,000. 24.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Price Performance

NYSE MYN traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $8.73. The companys stock had a trading volume of 37,587 shares, compared to its average volume of 73,492. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $9.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $9.81. BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. has a 12 month low of $8.56 and a 12 month high of $10.80.

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Announces Dividend

About BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be paid a $0.0315 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.33%.

(Free Report)

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in a portfolio of long-term investment grade municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes.

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Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW  Get Free Report) insider Chris Carney purchased 132 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 9th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 114 ($1.40) per share, with a total value of 150.48 ($184.19).

Chris Carney also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, September 8th, Chris Carney purchased 133 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 113 ($1.38) per share, for a total transaction of 150.29 ($183.95).

Taylor Wimpey Stock Performance

Shares of TW stock traded down GBX 0.80 ($0.01) during trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 113.70 ($1.39). The company had a trading volume of 12,289,718 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,409,451. The firms 50 day simple moving average is GBX 115.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 115.55. Taylor Wimpey plc has a one year low of GBX 80.64 ($0.99) and a one year high of GBX 132.07 ($1.62). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51, a current ratio of 5.04 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The company has a market capitalization of 4.01 billion, a PE ratio of 710.63, a PEG ratio of -0.99 and a beta of 1.78.

Taylor Wimpey Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a dividend of GBX 4.79 ($0.06) per share. This is an increase from Taylor Wimpeys previous dividend of $4.78. This represents a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. Taylor Wimpeys dividend payout ratio is currently 6,250.00%.

TW has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 130 ($1.59) to GBX 94 ($1.15) and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 154 ($1.88) to GBX 141 ($1.73) and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 121.33 ($1.49).

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Taylor Wimpey Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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Shares of Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:SUI  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 377,662 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 41% from the previous sessions volume of 636,085 shares.The stock last traded at $114.60 and had previously closed at $117.23.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on SUI. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Sun Communities in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. JMP Securities lowered their price target on Sun Communities from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Sun Communities from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $155.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Compass Point began coverage on shares of Sun Communities in a research report on Tuesday. They set a neutral rating and a $125.00 target price for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Sun Communities from $148.00 to $143.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $146.36.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Sun Communities

Sun Communities Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a current ratio of 2.58. The company has a market cap of $14.37 billion, a PE ratio of 63.71, a PEG ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.71. The businesss 50-day moving average is $122.44 and its 200 day moving average is $129.99.

Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by ($1.23). Sun Communities had a return on equity of 2.80% and a net margin of 7.27%. The company had revenue of $863.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $834.99 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.02 earnings per share. Sun Communitiess revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Sun Communities, Inc. will post 7.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sun Communities Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a $0.93 dividend. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. Sun Communitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 202.17%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Marc Farrugia sold 4,962 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.90, for a total value of $614,791.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,093 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $631,022.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Sun Communities news, EVP Marc Farrugia sold 4,962 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.90, for a total value of $614,791.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,093 shares in the company, valued at $631,022.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Baxter Underwood acquired 400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $119.93 per share, for a total transaction of $47,972.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 73,633 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,830,805.69. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 2.06% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sun Communities

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cohen & Steers Inc. lifted its position in Sun Communities by 40.8% during the second quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 12,664,321 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,652,024,000 after purchasing an additional 3,668,076 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Sun Communities by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,025,713 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,438,415,000 after acquiring an additional 89,404 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Sun Communities by 17.5% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,317,268 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $889,975,000 after purchasing an additional 939,057 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Sun Communities by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,879,907 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $833,364,000 after purchasing an additional 85,103 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in Sun Communities by 45.6% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 2,456,346 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $320,455,000 after purchasing an additional 769,749 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.79% of the companys stock.

About Sun Communities

(Get Free Report)

Established in 1975, Sun Communities, Inc became a publicly owned corporation in December 1993. The Company is a fully integrated REIT listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: SUI. As of June 30, 2023, the Company owned, operated, or had an interest in a portfolio of 671 developed MH, RV and Marina properties comprising approximately 180,060 developed sites and approximately 48,180 wet slips and dry storage spaces in the U.S., the UK and Canada.

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Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM  Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 4.3% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $55.50 and last traded at $55.31. 138,765 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 91% from the average session volume of 1,591,576 shares. The stock had previously closed at $53.04.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $93.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $73.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 18th. HSBC reduced their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $134.00 to $90.50 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $86.00 to $85.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $80.61.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SQM

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average price is $62.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $69.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.67, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.50, a PEG ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.02.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 16th. The basic materials company reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.62 by ($0.59). Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile had a return on equity of 71.64% and a net margin of 34.41%. The company had revenue of $2.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.24 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.01 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. will post 11.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 1st were issued a dividend of $0.5119 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $2.05 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.63%. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chiles dividend payout ratio is presently 16.03%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. D.A. Davidson & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile during the 1st quarter worth approximately $626,000. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 54.8% during the first quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG now owns 26,202 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,124,000 after acquiring an additional 9,280 shares during the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile in the first quarter valued at $48,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 9.2% in the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 9,342 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $678,000 after purchasing an additional 790 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Accel Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 14.94% of the companys stock.

About Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile

(Get Free Report)

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, industrial chemicals, and other products and services. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers.

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Shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWT  Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 853,928 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 69% from the previous sessions volume of 2,721,857 shares.The stock last traded at $45.40 and had previously closed at $45.43.

iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Trading Up 0.8 %

The company has a market cap of $3.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02 and a beta of 0.86. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $45.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.92.

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Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 6.3% during the second quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 5,829 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise grew its position in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 0.7% in the first quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 63,498 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,876,000 after buying an additional 452 shares during the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 22,384 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,052,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. Kabouter Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Finally, Pictet North America Advisors SA lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 1.7% during the second quarter. Pictet North America Advisors SA now owns 41,784 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,965,000 after purchasing an additional 716 shares during the last quarter.

iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Company Profile

Ishares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Taiwan IndexSM (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

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Bank OZK reduced its stake in Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report) by 33.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,061 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 1,054 shares during the period. Bank OZKs holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $497,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. WealthPLAN Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Clear Street Markets LLC lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 93.3% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 174 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 38.7% in the 1st quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 215 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. 89.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Laboratory Co. of America

In other Laboratory Co. of America news, Director Kerrii B. Anderson sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $211.57, for a total value of $1,057,850.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,275 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,231,731.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on LH shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $290.00 to $270.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 14th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. They set a hold rating and a $210.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Mizuho reissued a buy rating and set a $257.00 target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $255.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $244.55.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LH

Laboratory Co. of America Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:LH traded up $1.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $203.44. The stock had a trading volume of 127,244 shares, compared to its average volume of 746,178. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 2.12 and a current ratio of 2.35. The company has a market cap of $18.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.83 and a beta of 1.07. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a 12-month low of $166.93 and a 12-month high of $222.33. The companys 50 day moving average is $208.41 and its 200-day moving average is $217.80.

Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The medical research company reported $3.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.47 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.77 billion. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 5.89% and a return on equity of 14.62%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.96 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 13.68 EPS for the current year.

Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th were paid a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 7th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.42%. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 31.07%.

About Laboratory Co. of America

(Free Report)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development.

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Carmel Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Brookfield Co. (NYSE:BN  Free Report) by 15.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 49,723 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,652 shares during the quarter. Brookfield makes up about 0.9% of Carmel Capital Partners LLCs holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Carmel Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Brookfield were worth $1,673,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ritholtz Wealth Management boosted its position in Brookfield by 4.4% during the second quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 7,821 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,000 after purchasing an additional 331 shares during the last quarter. RMB Capital Management LLC raised its position in Brookfield by 2.1% during the first quarter. RMB Capital Management LLC now owns 16,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $544,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in Brookfield by 15.4% in the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,672 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 356 shares during the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Brookfield by 3.2% in the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,313 shares of the companys stock worth $499,000 after purchasing an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ClariVest Asset Management LLC increased its position in Brookfield by 0.3% during the first quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 189,070 shares of the companys stock worth $6,152,000 after buying an additional 490 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.22% of the companys stock.

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Brookfield Price Performance

Shares of BN stock traded up $1.33 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $31.95. The companys stock had a trading volume of 968,176 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,425,242. The firms 50-day moving average is $33.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.61. The company has a market cap of $52.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 353.48 and a beta of 1.43. Brookfield Co. has a 1-year low of $28.25 and a 1-year high of $47.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.19.

Brookfield Announces Dividend

Brookfield ( NYSE:BN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter. Brookfield had a return on equity of 1.80% and a net margin of 0.33%. The business had revenue of $23.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.10 billion.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were paid a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.88%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. Brookfields dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 311.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. CSFB lowered their price target on Brookfield from $42.00 to $41.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Brookfield from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded shares of Brookfield from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 11th. TD Securities boosted their target price on shares of Brookfield from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 14th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on shares of Brookfield from $42.00 to $41.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $47.60.

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Brookfield Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Corporation is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients.

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Carmel Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Brookfield Renewable Co. (NYSE:BEPC  Free Report) by 24.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,605 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 8,243 shares during the quarter. Brookfield Renewable makes up approximately 0.7% of Carmel Capital Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Carmel Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Brookfield Renewable were worth $1,343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BEPC. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 30.7% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 90,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,975,000 after buying an additional 21,313 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 417,541 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,288,000 after purchasing an additional 5,254 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Brookfield Renewable in the 1st quarter worth $261,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp boosted its position in Brookfield Renewable by 154.7% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 3,601 shares of the companys stock valued at $158,000 after buying an additional 2,187 shares during the period. Finally, Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 33.4% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 33,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,464,000 after buying an additional 8,391 shares during the last quarter. 66.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Brookfield Renewable Trading Up 5.9 %

NYSE:BEPC traded up $1.32 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $23.84. 487,223 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 645,416. Brookfield Renewable Co. has a 12-month low of $21.77 and a 12-month high of $36.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $27.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $31.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -39.75 and a beta of 1.08.

Brookfield Renewable Dividend Announcement

Brookfield Renewable ( NYSE:BEPC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.07) by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $719.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.39 billion. Brookfield Renewable had a net margin of 6.43% and a return on equity of 1.98%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Brookfield Renewable Co. will post -0.39 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were issued a $0.338 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $1.35 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.67%. Brookfield Renewables dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -225.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Brookfield Renewable from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 22nd.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Brookfield Renewable

About Brookfield Renewable

(Free Report)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation owns and operates a portfolio of renewable power and sustainable solution assets primarily in the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Brazil. It operates hydroelectric, wind, and solar power plants with an installed capacity of approximately 12,857 megawatts. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 117 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $250,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMG. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 79.5% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 948 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,500,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 171 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,032 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $4,796,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 777 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,229,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 38.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 218 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $345,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. 91.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 0.1 %

CMG traded up $2.59 on Tuesday, reaching $1,835.60. The company had a trading volume of 92,250 shares, compared to its average volume of 278,926. The company has a fifty day moving average of $1,889.44 and a 200-day moving average of $1,946.14. The company has a market capitalization of $50.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.78, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.30. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a one year low of $1,344.05 and a one year high of $2,175.01.

Insider Buying and Selling at Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $12.25 by $0.40. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.00% and a return on equity of 45.85%. The company had revenue of $2.51 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $9.30 EPS. Chipotle Mexican Grills revenue was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.16 EPS for the current year.

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,058 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,928.16, for a total value of $2,039,993.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,016,751.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,058 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,928.16, for a total transaction of $2,039,993.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,016,751.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,044 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,830.95, for a total transaction of $1,911,511.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,747,189.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 3,165 shares of company stock valued at $6,024,185. 0.96% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,230.00 to $2,280.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,200.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,100.00 to $2,300.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,250.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $2,400.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $2,151.00.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

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C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 7% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $26.86 and last traded at $26.44. Approximately 4,123,491 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 21,011,814 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.71.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AI has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Northland Securities assumed coverage on C3.ai in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. They issued a market perform rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. JMP Securities lifted their target price on shares of C3.ai from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Piper Jaffray Companies decreased their price objective on shares of C3.ai from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of C3.ai from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Finally, Wedbush reduced their target price on C3.ai from $50.00 to $42.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $26.36.

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View Our Latest Research Report on AI

C3.ai Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $29.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.47. The company has a market capitalization of $3.13 billion, a PE ratio of -11.29 and a beta of 1.55.

C3.ai (NYSE:AI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 6th. The company reported ($0.09) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.17) by $0.08. C3.ai had a negative return on equity of 27.78% and a negative net margin of 99.42%. The company had revenue of $72.36 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $71.56 million. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.67) EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that C3.ai, Inc. will post -2.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at C3.ai

In other news, Director Richard C. Levin sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.00, for a total transaction of $504,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 161,664 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,789,888. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 34.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AI. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in C3.ai by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 8,305 shares of the companys stock valued at $303,000 after buying an additional 395 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its holdings in C3.ai by 20.0% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,636 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in C3.ai by 150.0% in the 2nd quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its holdings in C3.ai by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 22,814 shares of the companys stock valued at $766,000 after buying an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in C3.ai by 26.3% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,341 shares of the companys stock valued at $112,000 after buying an additional 696 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.96% of the companys stock.

About C3.ai

(Get Free Report)

C3.ai, Inc operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software company in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides C3 AI platform, an application development and runtime environment that enables customers to design, develop, and deploy enterprise AI applications; C3 AI Ex Machina for analysis-ready data; C3 AI CRM, an industry specific customer relationship management solution; and C3 Generative AI Product Suite that enables to locate, retrieve, and present information.

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A barrage of rockets are fired from Gaza toward Israel over Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israel intensified on Tuesday its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and bolstered its forces along the border, the fourth day of one of the most intense clashes between Israel and Hamas militants in decades.

In retaliation, Hamas has launched barrages of rockets targeting central Israel, including Tel Aviv. Many recreational sites and shops in Tel Aviv have remained closed since the conflict began. As night fell, rockets were fired at Ashkelon, prompting residents to seek shelter.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, reported that the IDF has regained control over most of the southern region that was infiltrated by Hamas militants on Saturday during a surprise attack.

However, clashes are still ongoing. Armed Palestinian militants continue infiltrating Israel. The IDF confirmed that two Palestinian militants, who apparently crossed into Israel during Saturday's attack and were in hiding, were killed in a firefight. Four armed militants also infiltrated Israel's southern shore at Zikim and were killed in an exchange of fire.

Israel's Education Ministry has announced that schools across the country, which have been shut down since the beginning of the conflict, will remain closed on Wednesday.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on both sides. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 900, with 4,500 injuries. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Saturday, as reported by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news.

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed to exact "mighty revenge" and approved a call-up of an additional 60,000 reservists, bringing the total number mobilized to a record 360,000, setting the stage for a possible ground offensive.

Israel's military also targeted Hamas officials, killing Hamas' Economy Minister Jawad Abu Shamala, and another senior official, Zakaria Abu Muammar.

In Gaza, Israel continues its massive airstrikes and has halted the supply of water, electricity, and food. The United Nations reports that at least 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced, with more than 120,000 taking shelter in U.N. schools under challenging conditions with limited access to essential resources.

The Israel-Lebanon border has also seen an escalation, with the Israeli military responding to rocket barrages from Lebanon with retaliatory artillery fire. Schools near the volatile border in southern Lebanon remained closed.

Earlier in the day, Israeli airstrikes hit the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid. Negotiations between the United Nations and Egyptian officials are ongoing to ensure aid can flow through the crossing, with Egypt seeking assurances from Israel and the United States.

As a crucial negotiator between Israel and Palestine, Egypt has been ramping up efforts to de-escalate the conflict.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi warned Tuesday that the ongoing military escalation is "very dangerous" and could have repercussions for regional security and stability.

He emphasized Egypt's commitment to a two-state solution and urged negotiations for a just peace and an independent Palestinian state.

Also on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud pledged ongoing support for the Palestinian people and efforts to prevent further escalation, in a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Meanwhile, the Arab League has announced an emergency meeting for Wednesday. Foreign ministers from Arab League member countries will convene to discuss strategies aimed at de-escalating the conflict and preventing additional harm to civilians.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss measures to ease tensions and voiced concerns over targeting civilian settlements.

Both Erdogan and Putin expressed deep concern over civilian casualties on both sides of the conflict and reiterated the need for "an immediate ceasefire" and for "the resumption of the negotiation process"

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed on Tuesday allegations of his country's involvement in the attacks conducted by Palestinian resistance groups against Israel, stating that such accusations are "nonsensical." 

A barrage of rockets are fired from Gaza toward Israel over Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A barrage of rockets are fired from Gaza toward Israel over Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows after a strike by Israel on the port of Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows after a strike by Israel on the port of Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Shulman DeMeo Asset Management LLC cut its stake in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Free Report) by 5.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,390 shares of the companys stock after selling 401 shares during the period. Shulman DeMeo Asset Management LLCs holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $569,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CL. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,842 shares of the companys stock worth $364,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC lifted its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 4.7% during the first quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 2,824 shares of the companys stock valued at $212,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Rowland & Co. Investment Counsel ADV increased its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Rowland & Co. Investment Counsel ADV now owns 3,695 shares of the companys stock worth $278,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 6,329 shares of the companys stock worth $476,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zullo Investment Group Inc. grew its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 4.6% during the second quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 3,088 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.36% of the companys stock.

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Colgate-Palmolive Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of CL stock traded up $0.47 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $69.78. The companys stock had a trading volume of 916,673 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,587,126. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.43, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.17. Colgate-Palmolive has a 52-week low of $67.62 and a 52-week high of $82.09. The stock has a market cap of $57.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.51, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.50. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $73.48 and a 200 day moving average price of $75.75.

Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend

Colgate-Palmolive ( NYSE:CL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.02. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 8.02% and a return on equity of 386.76%. The firm had revenue of $4.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.72 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Monday, October 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 20th. Colgate-Palmolives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.67%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Colgate-Palmolive

In other news, insider John W. Kooyman sold 21,677 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.69, for a total transaction of $1,684,086.13. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 6,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $495,972.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider John W. Kooyman sold 21,677 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.69, for a total transaction of $1,684,086.13. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 6,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $495,972.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Gregory Malcolm sold 10,493 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.90, for a total value of $775,432.70. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 7,852 shares in the company, valued at $580,262.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 105,501 shares of company stock valued at $7,838,332. 0.34% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on CL. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. HSBC assumed coverage on Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Friday, September 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $84.00 price objective on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $88.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $83.00 price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $85.23.

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About Colgate-Palmolive

(Free Report)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other related items.

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Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (NYSE:AESI  Get Free Report)s share price traded down 2% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $21.06 and last traded at $21.06. 70,979 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 445,399 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.48.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on AESI shares. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $23.00 target price on shares of Atlas Energy Solutions in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Atlas Energy Solutions from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Raymond James raised their price target on Atlas Energy Solutions from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Citigroup upped their price objective on Atlas Energy Solutions from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $25.00 target price on shares of Atlas Energy Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $25.00.

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Atlas Energy Solutions Trading Down 2.6 %

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $22.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.14. The company has a current ratio of 3.22, a quick ratio of 3.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32.

Atlas Energy Solutions (NYSE:AESI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $161.79 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $144.51 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. will post 2.75 EPS for the current year.

Atlas Energy Solutions Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 10th were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.82%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atlas Energy Solutions

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Atlas Energy Solutions in the first quarter valued at $21,980,000. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Atlas Energy Solutions in the 1st quarter valued at about $444,000. Barclays PLC acquired a new stake in Atlas Energy Solutions in the 1st quarter valued at about $208,000. Monashee Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Atlas Energy Solutions during the 1st quarter valued at about $3,406,000. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Atlas Energy Solutions in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,277,000. 17.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Atlas Energy Solutions

(Get Free Report)

Atlas Energy Solutions Inc provides proppant and logistics services to the oil and natural gas industry within the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Austin, Texas.

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Fabrinet (NYSE:FN  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $182.81 and last traded at $182.42, with a volume of 140263 shares. The stock had previously closed at $175.55.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on FN. Rosenblatt Securities assumed coverage on Fabrinet in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating and a $230.00 target price for the company. Northland Securities lifted their price objective on Fabrinet from $150.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Fabrinet in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Lake Street Capital increased their target price on shares of Fabrinet from $130.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on shares of Fabrinet from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Fabrinet currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $136.78.

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Fabrinet Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $6.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.13 and a beta of 1.04. The companys 50 day moving average price is $147.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.74.

Fabrinet (NYSE:FN  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 21st. The technology company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.06. Fabrinet had a net margin of 9.37% and a return on equity of 18.23%. The company had revenue of $655.87 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $641.42 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.51 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Fabrinet will post 7.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Fabrinet

In related news, CEO Seamus Grady sold 27,000 shares of Fabrinet stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.92, for a total transaction of $4,317,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 45,471 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,271,722.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Seamus Grady sold 27,000 shares of Fabrinet stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.92, for a total transaction of $4,317,840.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 45,471 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,271,722.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Edward T. Archer sold 10,358 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.33, for a total transaction of $1,629,624.14. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,776,098.37. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 57,358 shares of company stock valued at $9,165,464. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in shares of Fabrinet by 108.1% in the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 1,529,864 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $160,835,000 after purchasing an additional 794,833 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Fabrinet by 1,165.6% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 625,576 shares of the technology companys stock worth $6,388,000 after buying an additional 576,147 shares in the last quarter. Polar Capital Holdings Plc bought a new position in shares of Fabrinet in the 2nd quarter valued at about $73,479,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new position in shares of Fabrinet in the 1st quarter valued at about $33,032,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Fabrinet by 90.6% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 413,227 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $43,443,000 after acquiring an additional 196,477 shares during the last quarter. 97.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Fabrinet Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Fabrinet provides optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical, and electronic manufacturing services in North America, the Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The company offers a range of advanced optical and electro-mechanical capabilities in the manufacturing process, including process design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, printed circuit board assembly, advanced packaging, integration, final assembly, and testing.

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Wilsey Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in General Motors (NYSE:GM  Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) by 0.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 675,785 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after acquiring an additional 457 shares during the period. General Motors makes up about 5.8% of Wilsey Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Wilsey Asset Management Inc.s holdings in General Motors were worth $26,058,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in General Motors by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 126,529,253 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $4,641,093,000 after acquiring an additional 819,371 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of General Motors by 0.7% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 56,981,032 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $2,090,060,000 after purchasing an additional 383,957 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of General Motors by 51.4% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 22,349,234 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $819,770,000 after purchasing an additional 7,585,746 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in General Motors by 94,113.4% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 16,754,917 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $646,070,000 after purchasing an additional 16,737,133 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in General Motors by 60.5% during the first quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 15,784,315 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $578,969,000 after purchasing an additional 5,948,464 shares during the last quarter. 79.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on GM. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of General Motors from $38.00 to $41.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. TheStreet cut General Motors from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on General Motors from $37.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Barclays increased their target price on General Motors from $42.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $48.00 price objective on shares of General Motors in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, General Motors has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $50.40.

Insider Buying and Selling at General Motors

In other General Motors news, President Mark L. Reuss sold 9,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.00, for a total transaction of $381,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 282,973 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,601,893. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

General Motors Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of General Motors stock traded up $0.30 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $31.29. 5,520,667 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,022,009. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The stocks fifty day moving average is $33.51 and its 200 day moving average is $34.92. The firm has a market cap of $43.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.37. General Motors has a 1 year low of $29.72 and a 1 year high of $43.63.

General Motors (NYSE:GM  Get Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The auto manufacturer reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $44.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $42.13 billion. General Motors had a net margin of 6.05% and a return on equity of 16.70%. General Motorss revenue for the quarter was up 25.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that General Motors will post 7.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Motors Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 14th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.15%. General Motorss dividend payout ratio is presently 5.03%.

General Motors Profile

(Free Report)

General Motors Company designs, builds, and sells trucks, crossovers, cars, and automobile parts; and provide software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. The company operates through GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial segments. It markets its vehicles primarily under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Baojun, and Wuling brand names.

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Exeter Financial LLC lifted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 1.1% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 22,238 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the period. Exeter Financial LLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $1,789,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 88.1% during the first quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 476 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 41.9% during the second quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 491 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Almanack Investment Partners LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. 77.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Archer-Daniels-Midland Price Performance

Shares of ADM stock traded up $0.37 on Tuesday, reaching $74.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 802,797 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,935,900. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $80.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $78.12. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 1 year low of $69.92 and a 1 year high of $98.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a market capitalization of $39.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.83.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Announces Dividend

Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.30. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.14% and a return on equity of 17.52%. The firm had revenue of $25.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.82 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.15 earnings per share. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.42%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total transaction of $126,294.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,809 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on ADM. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com started coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Argus raised their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Roth Mkm began coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $92.00 price objective for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Archer-Daniels-Midland currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $97.50.

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About Archer-Daniels-Midland

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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Unigestion Holding SA lifted its position in shares of International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM  Free Report) by 72.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 204,873 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 86,295 shares during the period. International Business Machines makes up approximately 1.6% of Unigestion Holding SAs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Unigestion Holding SAs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $27,463,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in IBM. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. GW&K Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. acquired a new stake in International Business Machines in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in International Business Machines in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.16% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $140.00 to $144.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Thursday, July 20th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Monday, July 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on shares of International Business Machines in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. They issued an outperform rating and a $188.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, International Business Machines presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $146.67.

International Business Machines Price Performance

International Business Machines stock opened at $142.18 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $129.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 65.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $144.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $135.68. International Business Machines Co. has a 12-month low of $115.54 and a 12-month high of $153.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.28.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The technology company reported $2.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.00 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $15.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.58 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 3.35% and a return on equity of 38.10%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.31 EPS. Equities analysts expect that International Business Machines Co. will post 9.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, September 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th were given a $1.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $6.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.67%. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 307.41%.

International Business Machines Company Profile

(Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through four business segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing. The Software segment offers hybrid cloud platform and software solutions; software for business automation, AIOps and management, integration, and application servers; data and artificial intelligence solutions; and security software and services for threat, data, and identity.

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Midwest Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 2,937 shares of the energy producers stock, valued at approximately $304,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of COP. Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. now owns 5,400 shares of the energy producers stock worth $559,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Bank OZK increased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 1.6% during the second quarter. Bank OZK now owns 7,498 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $777,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 29.8% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 89,377 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $9,260,000 after purchasing an additional 20,542 shares in the last quarter. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips in the second quarter worth about $346,000. Finally, State of Michigan Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 16.7% during the second quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 392,291 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $40,645,000 after buying an additional 56,200 shares during the last quarter. 80.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at ConocoPhillips

In related news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total transaction of $231,476.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other ConocoPhillips news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total transaction of $231,476.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total value of $69,546,516.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,221,360.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 602,049 shares of company stock valued at $73,591,956. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

ConocoPhillips stock traded up $0.17 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $121.99. The stock had a trading volume of 2,070,156 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,727,483. ConocoPhillips has a one year low of $91.53 and a one year high of $138.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.28. The firms 50 day moving average is $118.76 and its 200 day moving average is $109.24.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $12.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.64 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 27.27% and a net margin of 18.66%. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.91 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 9.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 27th. ConocoPhillipss payout ratio is currently 19.65%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on COP. Raymond James lowered their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $142.00 to $138.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, August 14th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $149.00 to $125.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on ConocoPhillips from $145.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $135.63.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

(Free Report)

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects.

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Lincoln Capital Corp boosted its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 95,433 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 646 shares during the period. Charles Schwab makes up approximately 2.8% of Lincoln Capital Corps holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Lincoln Capital Corps holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $5,409,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cloverfields Capital Group LP raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 11.5% in the first quarter. Cloverfields Capital Group LP now owns 50,785 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,660,000 after purchasing an additional 5,246 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 39.4% in the first quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 25,007 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,328,000 after acquiring an additional 7,073 shares during the period. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 2.0% in the second quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,729 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $665,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 372.9% in the second quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. now owns 24,475 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,387,000 after purchasing an additional 19,300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 46.0% in the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 14,668 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $768,000 after purchasing an additional 4,618 shares in the last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total value of $476,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 8,014 shares of the companys stock, valued at $477,714.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SCHW has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Charles Schwab from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Raymond James lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $77.00 to $72.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $70.78.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.9 %

SCHW stock traded up $0.44 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $52.19. The company had a trading volume of 910,023 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,081,160. The stock has a market cap of $92.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.09, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $86.63. The business has a 50-day moving average of $58.75 and a 200-day moving average of $56.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. Research analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 29.15%.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Washington Trust Advisors Inc. decreased its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 7.0% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 10,598 shares of the companys stock after selling 800 shares during the period. Washington Trust Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,035,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 60,396 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,896,000 after acquiring an additional 4,932 shares during the period. Everett Harris & Co. CA increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA now owns 12,826 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,252,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 23.8% during the 2nd quarter. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC now owns 7,652 shares of the companys stock valued at $747,000 after purchasing an additional 1,473 shares in the last quarter. Norwood Financial Corp increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 43.7% during the 2nd quarter. Norwood Financial Corp now owns 1,043 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Close Asset Management Ltd increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Close Asset Management Ltd now owns 401,994 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,241,000 after purchasing an additional 5,720 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on PM shares. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a research note on Friday, September 29th. 22nd Century Group reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.92.

Philip Morris International Stock Up 3.0 %

NYSE:PM traded up $2.80 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $95.11. 3,085,205 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,236,777. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $84.00 and a 1 year high of $105.62. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $94.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.65. The company has a market cap of $147.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.63% and a negative return on equity of 127.84%. The firm had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.48 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be given a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.47%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 26th. This is a boost from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 100.58%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Birds fly as smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 10, 2023. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on both sides. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 900, with 4,500 injuries. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Saturday, as reported by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a press statement that the total number of deaths due to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip reached 900, including 260 children and 230 women, noting that 4,500 others were injured.

The statement added that six health personnel were killed and 15 others were wounded with various injuries.

The Israeli airstrikes also caused displacement of more than 140,000 people, the ministry said.

The statement added that the health system in the Gaza Strip suffers from a severe shortage of 44 percent of medicines, 32 percent of medical consumables, and 60 percent of laboratory and blood bank supplies, in addition to the collapse of electrical generators and the lack of fuel.

The ministry called on humanitarian institutions to provide medicines, medical consumables, fuel, and emergency needs to hospitals, open a safe corridor for the entry of health aid and medical delegations, and facilitate the movement of the wounded and sick who do not have access to treatment in Gaza. 

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 10, 2023. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on both sides. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 900, with 4,500 injuries. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Saturday, as reported by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers carry the bodies of people killed in the conflict in Kfar Aza, near the Israel-Gaza border, in southern Israel, Oct. 10, 2023. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 900, with 4,500 injuries. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Saturday, as reported by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news. (Roni Ofer/JINI via Xinhua)
NAIVASHA, Kenya, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, on Tuesday adopted a communique to boost peace and security in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The endorsement of the Regional Plan of Action (RPA) and Common Position by the eight member countries of the IGAD will help combat security threats like piracy, kidnapping and resurgence of radical groups in a region that provides a passageway to more than 10 percent of global maritime trade.

In a joint communique released after a three-day meeting in Kenya's resort town of Naivasha, located about 90 km northwest of the capital, Nairobi, the IGAD termed the implementation of the pact as key to achieving durable stability.

Mohamed Ali Guyo, IGAD special envoy for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Somalia, said the initiative will help address the security threats around the Gulf of Eden and the Red Sea.

"IGAD leadership has recognized the importance of convening all stakeholders to transform this region into a hub of peace and economic prosperity," Guyo said.

He said that over the past decade, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden had witnessed a surge in regional and international competition while the interests of IGAD member states had been overlooked by international players due to a lack of dialogue, shared norms, common goals and coordination.

"The IGAD Council of Ministers directed the establishment of a special task force to develop a common position and regional plan of action and this has been achieved," Guyo remarked.

Moi Lemoshira, the director-general in the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the insecurity in the region had affected development, stressing that collaboration was key to rooting out terrorism in the Gulf of Aden.

"The Gulf of Aden and Red Sea have very high potential but insecurity, political transition and instability in some member countries have hampered efforts to reap from the region," Lemoshira observed.

He lauded the task force appointed to look at the opportunities and challenges of the IGAD region, adding that their report would help in coming up with a road map for addressing civil strife and climate emergencies that had taken a toll on livelihoods. 
Liberian President George Weah casts his vote at a polling station in Monrovia, Liberia, Oct. 10, 2023. Liberia's presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off on Tuesday as voters went to the polls to elect the president and members of the National Assembly. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

MONROVIA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Liberia's presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off on Tuesday as voters went to the polls to elect the president and members of the National Assembly.

More than 2.4 million Liberians will vote during the election process. Twenty presidential candidates, including incumbent President George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai, are contesting the election.

The National Elections Commission oversees the conduct of the elections in all 15 counties of the country.

"I am happy to be part of this process. This particular election is historic because it is the first to be conducted in our country without the presence of international security," Robert Jallah, a voter, told Xinhua in the national capital of Monrovia. 
AT PRESENT, Irish troops serving in Israel, Lebanon and Syria are "all safe and well", according to a spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces.

Amidst escalating tensions in the region, the Irish troops, remain vigilant and committed to their peacekeeping duties while adhering to UN security protocols.

Thirteen Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently serving as UN Observers with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.

They have been tasked with maintaining a high level of vigilance and continuously monitoring the situation in the region, and are diligently following UN security precautions, including minimising unnecessary travel.

The 68th Infantry Group, comprising 116 Irish troops, is part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission in Syria.

Despite the heightened tensions in the area, these Irish soldiers continue to maintain a vigilant presence and closely monitor the evolving situation. Non-essential activities have been suspended, and they are focused on conducting operations in alignment with the mandate of the mission.

The 122nd Infantry Battalion from the Irish Defence Forces is currently deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). However, recent developments have necessitated a cautious approach. Earlier this Monday, at 1:25pm, Irish troops took shelter in protected positions, known as "Groundhog," due to exchanges of fire across the Blue Line  a border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel.

All 342 Irish and Maltese soldiers have been accounted for and are safe.

Despite the temporary sheltering, reports suggest that the firing in the region is diminishing. Once it is deemed safe to do so, the Irish troops in UNIFIL will resume their planned framework operations, continuing their peacekeeping efforts in the area.
[October 10, 2023] Allen Matkins Further Expands Distinguished Land Use Group with New Senior Counsel Jennifer R. Jeffers Tweet

Allen Matkins announced today that Jennifer R. Jeffers has joined the firm as senior counsel in its Land Use, Environmental, and Natural Resources Group and will be based in the firm's San Francisco office. Jennifer brings more than 13 years of land use and natural resources regulatory experience to the firm and works throughout California across all asset types on land use, zoning, permitting, and compliance issues. Jennifer counsels public, private and non-profit clients on all phases of project development, acquisition, due diligence, design, environmental review, entitlement approvals, and project construction. Over the course of her legal career, Jennifer has played a key role in successfully guiding some of the largest and most complex projects through California's notoriously onerous entitlement process, including Apple Inc.'s state-of-the-art headquarters campus in Cupertino, Kaiser Permanente's hospitals and medical office facilities across the state, the Vallco Town Center in Cupertino, and Brooklyn Basin in Oakland. She counsels a wide array of residential, mixed-use, industrial, commercial, and renewable energy developers throughout California. Jennifer's science and policy background affords her a unique ability to strategically counsel clients on a broad range of land use and natural resources legal issues. She spearheads client entitlement strategies, oversees environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and navigates local government and regulatory agency requirements. In addition, Jennifer advises clients regarding wetland and water quality issues under the federal Clean Water Act and California state law, matters arising under state and federal Endangered Species Acts, and in permitting procedures and negotiations with state and federal agencies.



Before joining Allen Matkins, Jennifer was a partner and led the land use practice at Stice & Block LLP, an environmental, land use, and real estate firm in Oakland, CA. Prior to that, she was a senior attorney in the Environment & Energy Practice Group in Morrison & Foerster LLP's San Francisco office. "Jennifer's deep experience supporting clients in real estate, land use, natural resources, and related issues as well as her understanding of the regulatory landscape are a strong complement to our quickly growing practice," said Allen Matkins partner Emily Murray, co-chair of the firm's Land Use, Environmental and Natural Resources group. "We're proud to have such a broad and deep bench of nationally renowned lawyers like Jennifer that continue to increase our capabilities and provide the best possible service to clients."

Jennifer is an active member of the Bay Planning Coalition, the Commercial Real Estate Women's Network (CREW), the Commercial Real Estate Professionals Network, the Oakland Jobs and Housing Coalition, and the Environmental Law and Real Property Law sections of the California Lawyers Association. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Directors Emeritus Circle for the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment at Berkeley Law and formerly served on the Board of Directors for TransForm. Jennifer obtained a J.D. from the University of California Berkeley, School of Law, with a certification in environmental law. Additionally, she earned an M.S. in Environmental Science, Policy and Management from the same university. During law school, she served as an executive director of the Ecology Law Quarterly and as a research assistant for the Law of the Sea Institute. She earned a B.A. in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, with honors, from the University of Colorado Boulder. Jennifer's hire follows the addition of Stuart I. Block to Allen Matkins' Land Use, Environmental, and Natural Resources Group in September as the firm continues to focus on growth and expanding its already robust team. ABOUT ALLEN MATKINS

Allen Matkins, a law firm with over 240 attorneys, was founded with deep roots in real estate that has leveraged that foundation to grow and build prominent litigation, corporate, tax, labor and employment, land use, and environmental practices allowing us to partner with clients across myriad industries and markets. For more than 45 years, Allen Matkins has worked with clients drawn to us by our reputation for market leading solutions, pragmatism, exemplary quality, approachability, and our unparalleled network of contacts and connections in business and government. For more information about Allen Matkins please visit www.allenmatkins.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010691965/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Teledyne FLIR Defense Unveils New Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System at AUSA Conference Tweet

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), is introducing its new Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System at this week's Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) conference in Washington D.C. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010099494/en/ Teledyne FLIR Defense has introduced its new Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System. Building on the battle-proven legacy of its predecessor, Black Hornet 4 represents the next generation of lightweight nano-drones delivering covert situational awareness to small military units. At just 70 grams, Black Hornet 4 has a flying time of more than 30 minutes, range greater than two kilometers, and can fly in 25-knot winds. Flight performance has been augmented by new obstacle avoidance capabilities and an advanced battery. A new 12MP daytime camera with superior low-light performance, plus new high-resolution thermal imager, deliver crisp video and still images to the operator. (Photo: Business Wire) Black Hornet 4 represents the next generation of lightweight nano-drones, building on itspredecessor to deliver enhanced covert situational awareness to small units. A new 12-megapixel daytime camera with superior low-light performance, plus new high-resolution thermal imager, deliver crisp video and still images to the operator. At just 70 grams, Black Hornet 4 has a flying time of more than 30 minutes, range greater than two kilometers, and can fly in 25-knot winds. Flight performance has been augmented by new obstacle avoidance capabilities and an advanced battery.



Compared to small quad-rotor drones, the single rotor Black Hornet 4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has an extremely low visual and audible signature, enabling it to identify threats day or night without being detected. Able to launch in less than 20 seconds and well suited for missions in GPS-denied environments, the Black Hornet 4 UAV can be used to rapidly identify targets beyond visual line-of-sight and assess weapon effects in real-time. "Black Hornet 4 takes the features and capabilities that made Black Hornet 3 world renowned to the next level," said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. "We've worked closely with customers and end users to make this system even more valuable for dismounted soldiers in need of situational understanding or engaged in covert operations, where precise and immediate intel is crucial.

"Black Hornet 4 is future-proof nano-drone technology," Lei added. FLIR Defense has delivered more than 20,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces in over 40 countries. Black Hornet drones are currently being used in Ukraine through donations made by the British and Norwegian governments, where they have performed successfully in numerous missions under the harshest of environments. The U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornets five years ago as part of its Soldier Borne Sensor program and since then has placed orders totaling more than $125 million. In July, the Army awarded Teledyne FLIR a five-year contract worth up to $94 million for additional Black Hornet systems. Visit Teledyne FLIR Defense at AUSA in Hall A, Booth 1003, to see the new Black Hornet 4, or learn more online. Black Hornet 4 is designed and built by FLIR Defense in Norway. About Teledyne FLIR Teledyne FLIR, a Teledyne Technologies company, is a world leader in intelligent sensing, unmanned systems, and integrated solutions for defense and industrial markets, with roughly 4,000 employees worldwide. Founded in 1978, the company develops a wide range of advanced technologies to help professionals make better, faster decisions that save lives and livelihoods. To learn more, visit teledyneflir.com or follow @flir. #AnyThreatAnywhere About Teledyne Technologies Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at www.teledyne.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010099494/en/

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[October 10, 2023] USC Launches Innovative Online Certificate Programs: Law and Government, Technology and Entrepreneurship Law Tweet

The University of Southern California Gould School of Law announces the launch of two online graduate certificate programs: Law and Government, and Technology and Entrepreneurship Law. These cutting-edge graduate certificates are designed to equip professionals with the essential knowledge and skills needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of law, technology and governance. As industries continue to undergo rapid transformation in the digital age, the intersection of law and government, as well as technology and entrepreneurship, has become increasingly complex. USC Gould, known for its excellence and innovation in legal education, is at the forefront of addressing emerging areas of law through its new online certificates. The Law and Government certificate is tailored for professionals seeking to understand the intricacies of legislation, regulation, policy and law within the realm of government operations. Students will gain insights into constitutional law, administrative law, legislative processes and more. This program will enable individuals to make informed decisions in the public sector while effectively navigating legal complexities.



Both certificate programs are offered entirely online, providing professionals with the flexibility to advance their education while maintaining their current commitments. The programs feature engaging virtual classrooms, interactive discussions and collaborative projects, fostering a dynamic learning environment that mirrors real-world legal and business scenarios.

"These new online certificate programs exemplify USC Gould's commitment to interdisciplinary education and preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities of today's legal landscape," said Franita Tolson, Interim Dean of the USC Gould School of Law. "We are excited to offer these transformative programs that will empower professionals to excel in their careers and make meaningful contributions in their respective fields." The online Law and Government and Technology, and Entrepreneurship Law certificates may be earned as standalone certificates in as few as three semesters or concurrently with USC Gould's online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degree or online Master of Laws (LLM) degree at no additional cost. Students also benefit from dedicated academic advising, professional development and career services support, and networking opportunities available from the University of Southern California. Interested individuals can visit the USC Gould School of Law website to learn more about admission requirements, curriculum details, and application deadlines. About the USC Gould School of Law The USC Gould School of Law is a top private law school with a reputation for academic excellence and a world-class faculty. USC Gould is known for its diverse and collegial student body, its leadership in clinical education, and its supportive and global alumni network. Located in Los Angeles, one of the nation's top legal markets and a hub for major law and entertainment firms, the Gould School offers a dynamic laboratory for legal training. For more information, visit gould.usc.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010857976/en/

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[October 09, 2023] Cloud Professional Services Market to grow by USD 23.15 billion from 2022 to 2027, Growth driven by digital transformation of end-user industries- Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "cloud professional services market by deployment (public cloud and private cloud), end-user (large enterprises, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America) - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027" report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the cloud professional services market from 2022 to 2027 is USD 23.15 billion. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here The digital transformation of end-user industries is a key factor driving market growth. Organizations are undergoing significant digital transformation to modernize their operations, processes, and customer experiences. Enterprises are increasingly adopting professional cloud services as they play a vital role in helping businesses adopt cloud technology as part of their transformation initiatives. Additionally, the key benefit of adopting professional cloud services is that they provide the flexibility and infrastructure needed to rapidly develop and deploy innovative solutions. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read FREE Sample PDF Report Now Market Challenge The security concerns regarding cloud services are significant challenges restricting market growth. There are growing concerns about the security provided by cloud professional services as it can have a significant impact on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and applications in the cloud environment. Some of the biggest concerns for professional cloud services in the enterprise include data breahes, compliance issues, and security vulnerabilities. In addition, it is increasingly necessary to provide specialized expertise to ensure robust safety measures and conformity with industry standards. Due to the fact that public cloud environments are often multitenant, there is a high risk of data and security vulnerabilities between tenants when multiple customers share the same infrastructure. Hence, these factors are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period.



The cloud professional services market has been segmented by deployment (public cloud and private cloud), end-user (large enterprises, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The public cloud segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The professional public cloud services segment includes services from third-party cloud service providers or consulting firms to help businesses get the most out of using public cloud platforms. The demand for the public cloud segment is increasing due to the many advantages and benefits it offers to organizations. Additionally, this segment includes expanded solutions and support designed to help organizations adopt, deploy, manage, and optimize the use of public cloud resources. The primary goal of public cloud experts is to assist in the configuration and deployment of resources on a specific cloud platform. Hence, these factors are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period. North America is estimated to contribute 37% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View the FREE Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report.

Key Companies in the Cloud Professional Services Market: Accenture Plc, AT and T Inc., Capgemini Service SAS, Cisco Systems Inc., Cloud Software Group Inc., Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Dell Technologies Inc., Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., Deutsche Telekom AG, Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd., Informatica Inc., Infosys Ltd., Microsoft Corp., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Oracle Corp., SAP SE, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Unisys Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., and Wipro Ltd. Related Reports: The managed network services (MNS) market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.32% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 15.77 billion. The cloud security market in the retail sector is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.57% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 4,582.14 million. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Deployment Market Segmentation by End-User Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 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]

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MONROVIA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Liberia's election body said Tuesday it is extending the voting for president and members of the national legislature in some counties in the southern part of the country where electoral materials and personnel had a delay in reaching.

Davidetta Lansanah, head of the National Elections Commission (NEC), said while addressing a daily press briefing in the nation's capital Monrovia that at least 11 precincts in the southeastern county of Sinoe and the south-central county of Rivercess were affected by the voting extension caused by overflowing of rivers due to heavy rainfall in those parts of the country.

According to Lansanah, the Planson River in Sinoe County, which is located on the outskirts of Greenville city, overflowed its banks and crossed the main road leading to most of the centers in at least two districts. This development affected the conveying of electoral materials and personnel to the affected areas, as well as the conduct of polls, on Tuesday.

"All efforts by the NEC staff to cross the river from both sides have been futile so far," the electoral chief said. "Also, the truck carrying election materials to District One in Sinoe County got stuck in the mud in the Butlaw area due to heavy rain and bad road."

Lansanah said the election magistrate arranged a fleet of motorcycles to convey the materials late Monday, but this also hit a brick wall due to a bad road, thereby leading to a late start of polls in that area.

"Due to the situation, the commission will extend the voting time in those areas," she said but declined to give the exact number of hours the voting will be extended.

In Rivercess County, the Timbo River overflowed its banks and the NEC vehicles with election materials were unable to cross, and there was a late start of voting in some areas as the vehicles arrived at their destinations late after the water had receded, the official said.

More than 2.4 million Liberians were expected to vote during the general election on Tuesday, according to NEC, which oversees the conduct of elections in all 15 counties of the country. Incumbent President George Weah is seeking reelection while former Vice President Joseph Boakai leading the opposition is challenging him.

Lansanah said despite the challenges recorded, the polls had "generally progressed well throughout the day across the country." 
[October 09, 2023] Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) enters the European Market Partnering with Europe's Leading Gaming Systems Distributor, Modulus Tweet

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Modulus, a leading International supplier of gaming management systems to over 300 Casino Resorts. This significant collaboration will enable QCI to expand its global footprint and leverage Modulus's comprehensive solution and well-established relationships to deploy advanced Artificial General Intelligence enabled technology solutions throughout the gaming and hospitality industry. Marc Attal, the Chief Operating Officer of Modulus, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "This alliance with QCI is a significant milestone for Modulus. It empowers us to enhance our offerings and deliver cutting-edge technology including smart algorithms that unlock customer devotion. We are excited to join forces with QCI, a renowned leader in AI innovative technology, and look forward to a successful and fruitful collaboration." The partnership aligns with QCI's commitment to providing sophisticated technological solutions that drive efficiency, innovation, and growth within the gaming and hospitality industry. By joining forces with Modulus, QCI will strengthen its international presence and enhance its ability to deliver exceptional value and unparalleled service to a wider audience. In reflection of this partnership, Andrew Cardno, Chief Technology Officer for QCI stated, "QCI is dedicated to forging global relationships that bolster our mission to advance AGI driven technology within the gaming and hospitality sector. Partnering with Modulus, a respected leader in the International market, aligns seamlessly with our goals and values. This collaboration promises to deliver robust technology solutions and comprehensive support to our expanded clientele, solidifying our position as a global leader in the industry." With a shared vision for technological excellence and innovation, QCI and Modulus are poised to make substantial advancements in the International gaming and hospitality industry, delivering superior solutions and support to clients and contributing positively to the industry's growth and development.



ABOUT Modulus

Modulus is one of the largest independent gaming management systems companies. Our cutting  edge technologies are installed in hundreds of casinos with thousands of machines and tables connected in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Modulus delivers systems solutions that create seamless experience for players and boost revenues while being a radically customer-centric company with decades of experience in the gaming industry. Modulus was founded by a casino industry veteran and entrepreneur,?Willy de Bruyn who is the President of Modulus and heads the leadership team. Visit us at www.modulusgroup.eu ABOUT QCI

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI AGI Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 150 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com. About Andrew Cardno

Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master's level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew's innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today's mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industriesbe it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSDAndrew's impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew's work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quick-custom-intelligence-qci-enters-the-european-market-partnering-with-europes-leading-gaming-systems-distributor-modulus-301951497.html SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence

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[October 09, 2023] HHB is the proposer all about having a good life. Tweet

KAOHSIUNG, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wherever there are Chinese people, there are group buying. In the Asia-Pacific region, the group buying culture is based on gathering people to bargain by quantity, buying good things at low prices, and saving shipping costs. It is one of the favorite shopping methods of many budget-conscious consumers. Consumers enjoy low discounts, and suppliers can not only save on advertising costs but also expand their customer base. "HHB cross-border business model of good shopping has built a mutually beneficial bridge for stores and consumers." In 2019, Youuxi Digital developed "HHB Cross-Border" for suppliers and group-buying owners. For pre-sales, on-sales, and after-sales functions required for cross-border group buying, HHB designs a complete set of group buying services from the perspective of buyers and sellers based on user experience. Observing the changes in the trend of cross-border group buying over the years, many group-buying champions have been born under the wave of group buying boom. According to the statistics of HHB, local dishes, healthy food, and body care products are the top three best-selling items. Especially in Chinese group buying, hometown food has become the most indispensable vitamin to heal homesickness. Biscuits and candies, noodles and instant noodles, prepared foods, health food, and other delicacies have emerged in large numbers, and the iteration speed is getting faster and faster. "Chinese peopl are good at socializing and group gatherings, and cross-border group buying can happen anytime, anywhere." HHB will strengthen its geographical and multilingual functions in the next stage. For example, in the anniversary sale and vacation festival, the shopping scene can be based on the group buying owner according to the needs of the location, customized adjustments to recommendations and promotions, if there is a need, just become a member of HHB, and you can start a group at any time and cross-border group order at low prices. The group buying culture that has been prevalent in Chinese society for many years is a blue ocean market that can be cultivated, and there are business opportunities everywhere by grasping the needs of consumers.



There is nothing else in cross-border brand management, that is, continuous content marketing and community management, and this point Youuxi Digital's customized AI business matching can accompany suppliers to go the farthest and earn a lot of profit, especially cross-border Marketing are more about planning and "Time to Marketing". Opportunities are for people who are usually ready, right? Funnpen AI advertorial: www.funnpen.com

HHB group buying: www.howhowbuy.com Suppliers capable of manufacturing products are welcome, as well as large and small group buying owners from all over the world to join. HHB is the proposer all about having a good life. About Youuxi Digital Youuxi Digital is a startup company specializing in AIoT, Web 3.0, and Martech. We provide platform-as-a-service tools for target users to quickly produce influential business models to get profit. Using AI to create a web3 content ecosystem. help generate smart content makes the user of UGC a creator, which also applies to AI Advertorial. Our business verifies in the Funnpen platform that allows suppliers to create high-performing AI-powered content for your brand, business, or product and automate all the boring repetitive work of writing targeted ad copy. Youuxi,howhowbuy,HHB,cross-border group buying,Taiwanese food,group buyers,hometown flavors,cross-border brands,content marketing,AI advertorial View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hhb-is-the-proposer-all-about-having-a-good-life-301913473.html SOURCE Youuxi Digital Co., Ltd.

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[October 10, 2023] Adenia Announces First Investment for Fifth Flagship Fund Tweet

Adenia Partners ("Adenia"), a private markets investment firm committed to responsible investing and a sustainable Africa, has completed a majority investment in Enfin, a solar financing solutions provider serving commercial and industrial clients across South Africa, as the first investment from its fifth flagship fund ("Adenia V" or "the Fund"). The investment comes at a time when South Africa's long-running energy crisis has significantly escalated, impacting economic growth and the quality of life for millions of people. This year, South Africans have experienced record incidences of load shedding - power blackouts of between six to 12 hours a day - threatening to plunge the most industrialized economy on the continent into recession. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has predicted 250 days of power blackout in 2023, equating to an economic loss of more than $13 billion. Enfin aims to improve affordability of and access to electricity for South Africans by backing smart businesses, farms, sectional titles, and schools who are seeking cheaper, cleaner and more sustainable energy sources that are less reliant on unreliable power from the grid. The firm funds, maintains and insures solar solutions, enabling clients to achieve their sustainability goals with no risk and no need for capital expenditure. It aims to own, build, and operate more than 100MW of solar assets over the next five years, with potential to avoid more than 200,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. Adenia is partnering once again with Heine Herholdt on this transaction, following the landmark success in their collaboration on Herholdt's, a leading importer and distributor of solar equipment in South Africa. Heine will bring his unparalleled knowledge of the commercial and industrial solar sector. Florent de Boissieu, Partner at Adenia, said, "Enfin's vision to fund a better future, based on the triple bottom line paradigm of people, planet and profit, aligns perfectly with our long-proven strategy to create sustainable impact while deliveing financial returns. We look forward to working with Werner and the rest of the Enfin team to provide more South African businesses with energy savings and preserved capital - and as a result greater freedom to achieve their growth potential at this critical economic and environmental juncture."



Werner Loftus, CEO of Enfin, commented, "We are thrilled to join forces with Adenia Partners, whose track record in sustainable investing speaks for itself. With Adenia's support and guidance, we will be able to accelerate the reach of our funding solutions that support full independence from unreliable grid energy. Specifically, we will look to better support the commercial and industrial sectors that are most impacted by the current energy crisis, reducing their coal dependance and enhancing their long-term sustainability." Adenia V, which will exceed its $400 million target fundraise, continues the firm's long-term investment strategy of making control investments in medium-sized companies across Africa with proven business models that demonstrate ample room for operational and ESG improvements, coupled with the intentionality to generate measurable Social and Environmental Impact. A key priority for the new Fund is to drive urgent climate action across the African continent with deliberate mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change. In particular, the Fund will elaborate carbon reduction targets for all investees, steering toward a reduction in CO2 intensity over the life of the investment based on annual greenhouse gas monitoring and a bespoke action plan. At the firm level, Adenia is committed to be carbon neutral by 2027.

About Adenia Partners

Adenia Partners is a private markets investment firm with over $800M assets under management, committed to responsible investing and a sustainable Africa. Founded in 2002, Adenia has a proven track record with 32 platform investments executed and 17 realized exits. Based on-the-ground across Africa, Adenia has one of the most highly qualified African private markets investment teams in terms of educational pedigree, longstanding experience as entrepreneurs and investors, and local in-depth knowledge. By creating stronger companies with quality jobs, fostering economic improvement, and elevating companies to meet ESG standards, Adenia is increasing the enterprise value for investors, whilst benefiting workers, communities, and companies in Africa. As a firm, Adenia has set ambitious goals with regards to promoting gender lens investing and minimizing the environmental impact of its investment program. For more information, please visit: www.adenia.com About Enfin

Enfin is a leading rooftop solar financing company based in South Africa. Focused on commercial and industrial clients, Enfin is committed to providing sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. By owning, building, and operating solar assets, Enfin aims to address the growing energy crisis in South Africa while contributing to a greener future. For more information, please visit: www.enfin.dev View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009323491/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Bekaert and Toshiba sign Memorandum of Understanding to develop global partnership around MEA for PEM electrolysis Tweet

TOKYO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by the opportunities arising from the energy transition and decarbonization trends, Bekaert and Toshiba Corporation's energy arm, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS), are accelerating their growth strategies in renewable energy markets, particularly in green hydrogen production utilizing Hydrogen Production Technology with Reduced Iridium[1] developed by Toshiba. Recently Yves Kerstens, CEO of Bekaert, welcomed Taro Shimada, President and CEO of Toshiba to the Bekaert Headquarters in Zwevegem, Belgium, and they discussed cooperation opportunities in green hydrogen electrolysis technologies. Bekaert and Toshiba ESS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their commitment in developing a partnership by the end of this year. Bekaert has a leading market position in Porous Transport Layers (PTL), a key component in the MEA of water electrolyzers, and has established a global commercial and manufacturing network. Toshiba ESS is developing MEAs (Membrane Electrode Assembly) for high-performance, large-capacity PEM water electrolyzers. Toshiba ESS is proud of its iridium-saving technology, which reduces the amount of iridium, an expensive and rare precious metal, essential for MEA devices to one-tenth, while achieving high water electrolysis performance and durability. Bekaert and Toshiba ESS and have agreed to study the possibility of a global partnership to jointly develop the production and sales of MEAs by leveraging their technological, manufacturing and commercial network strengths. Yves Kerstens, CEO of Bekaert commented: "Bekaert has been successfully bringing new technologies to the green hydrogen market in the last few years and has a clear growth strategy for the coming years to meet global demand. We are delighted to be partnering with Toshiba, a prestigious name in many industries, including in renewable energy, and together to accelerate the use of green hydrogen to decarbonize industries globally." Taro Shimada, President and CEO of Toshiba commented: "Toshiba has been a leader in hydrogen production technologies for many years. The rapidly-growing, global need for green hydrogen is evident and we are therefore excited to be partnering with Bekaert, a tehnology leader in PTL, to accelerate our talks towards joint development and sales of electrolyzer components."



About Bekaert Bekaert's ambition is to be the leading partner for shaping the way we live and move, and to always do this in a way that is safe, smart, and sustainable. As a global market and technology leader in material science of steel wire transformation and coating technologies, Bekaert also applies its expertise beyond steel to create new solutions with innovative materials and services for markets including new mobility, low-carbon construction, and green energy. Founded in 1880, with its headquarters in Belgium, Bekaert (Euronext Brussels, BEKB) is a global company whose 27 000 employees worldwide together generated almost  7 billion in combined revenue in 2022.

About Bekaert Hydrogen Bekaert's ultrathin metal fiber porous media are used as porous transport layers enhancing the durability and performance of electrochemical devices such as water electrolyzers for the production of green hydrogen. Bekaert has established a technology and market leadership position in Porous Transport Layers (PTL) for both PEM and AEM electrolyzers with the brandname Currento . The company invests in the development of next generations of innovative solutions for green hydrogen production as well as in expanding its production footprint to multiple GW capacity over the coming years. About Toshiba ESS Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, handles Toshiba Group's energy businesses. With its long experience and expertise in a wide range of power generation and transmission systems, and in energy management technologies, the company delivers innovative, reliable, and efficient energy solutions across the globe. Toshiba ESS was separated from Toshiba in October 2017. Find out more about Toshiba ESS at https://www.global.toshiba/ww/company/energy.html About Toshiba Toshiba Corporation leads a global group of companies that combines knowledge and capabilities from almost 150 years of experience in a wide range of businessesfrom energy and social infrastructure to electronic deviceswith world-class capabilities in information processing, digital and AI technologies. These distinctive strengths support Toshiba in building infrastructure that everyone can enjoy, and a connected data society, and in achieving the Company's ultimate goal, a future that realizes carbon neutrality and a circular economy. Guided by the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future," Toshiba contributes to society's positive development with services and solutions that lead to a better world. The Group and its 110,000 employees worldwide secured annual sales of 3.4 trillion yen (US$25.1 billion) in fiscal year 2022. Find out more about Toshiba at https://www.global.toshiba/ww/top.html [1] Toshiba's New Large-scale Production Technology for Electrolysis Electrodes for Hydrogen Production from Renewables Cuts Iridium Use to 1/10-Promoting PEM water electrolyzers for power to gas technology that will contribute to realization of a hydrogen economy View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bekaert-and-toshiba-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-develop-global-partnership-around-mea-for-pem-electrolysis-301951533.html SOURCE Toshiba Corporation; Toshiba Energy Systems Solutions Corporation

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[October 10, 2023] Sosei Heptares and PharmEnable Therapeutics Expand Drug Discovery Collaboration Tweet

The collaboration combines Sosei Heptares leading structure-based drug design platform with PharmEnables advanced artificial intelligence-enabled platform for designing high quality novel chemistry leads on a second neurological disease target Tokyo, Japan and Cambridge, UK, 10 October 2023  Sosei Group Corporation (Sosei Heptares or the Company; TSE: 4565) and PharmEnable Therapeutics, a UK drug discovery company, announce they have expanded their collaboration to apply their respective technologies to drive novel drug discovery for a second neurological disease target. Sosei Heptares is known for its expertise in receptor protein structure determination, Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD) and translational development. PharmEnable will apply its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled medicinal chemistry platform (chemUNIVERSE) to design highly specific drug leads for further development. Expanding their 2021 agreement, the companies will jointly conduct and share the costs of the discovery and the development programme and will co-own any resulting products equally. The companies are already exploiting their complementary capabilities in an ongoing collaboration focused on an initial target receptor, where they have identified promising small molecules with a new binding mode and novel chemotype. Dr. Matt Barnes, President of Heptares Therapeutics and Head of UK R&D, commented: Based on our experience working on our initial collaboration target, PharmEnables proprietary AI platform has demonstrated a level of success that supports us extending our collaboration. We look forward to applying our SBDD expertise along with PharmEnables novel chemistry to further identify high quality molecules. Dr. Hannah Sore, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PharmEnable, commented: We are excited to be expanding our partnership with Sosei Heptares to include an additional target. We have demonstrated the complementarity of our platform and Sosei Heptares structural insights while working on our first target and we look forward to continuing to work together and applying our technologies to develop life-changing medicines for neurological disease. -ENDS- About PharmEnable Therapeutics

PharmEnable Therapeutics is a Cambridge (UK) based drug discovery company specialising in designing high quality novel chemistry to develop highly potent, selective and orally bioavailable new medicines. The companys proprietary drug discovery platform integrates advanced medicinal chemistry expertise and cutting-edge AI/computational methods to unlock challenging biological targets and deliver highly effective therapies for diseases with significant unmet clinical need. On a mission to deliver life-changing medicines, PharmEnables world-class team works across a range of disease areas where drug potency, selectivity and balance of properties poses a significant challenge. It has a pipeline of wholly owned oncology programms, as well as ongoing co-discovery projects.



The company is backed by MP Healthcare Venture Management (the venture arm of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Group) and a syndicate of experienced life science investors. For more information, please visit www.pharmenable.com

Follow PharmEnable Therapeutics on LinkedIn and Twitter

About Sosei Heptares

Sosei Heptares is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing life-changing medicines based on world-class science to patients globally. Our vision is to become one of Japans global biopharmaceutical champions. Our global business combines our world-leading GPCR-targeted StaR technology, structure-based drug design and early development capabilities in the UK with a highly experienced clinical development capability and a commercial operation in Japan. We are leveraging these capabilities to generate and advance a broad and deep pipeline of novel medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including neurology, immunology, gastroenterology and inflammatory diseases. We intend to develop these opportunities for patients in Japan and globally both internally and through our partnerships with global biopharmaceutical companies and emerging technology companies. Sosei Heptares operates from key locations in Tokyo and Osaka (Japan), London and Cambridge (UK) and Seoul (South Korea). Sosei Heptares is the corporate brand and trademark of Sosei Group Corporation, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565). Sosei, Heptares, the logo and StaR are trademarks of Sosei Group companies. For more information, please visit https://soseiheptares.com/

LinkedIn: @soseiheptaresco | Twitter: @soseiheptaresco | YouTube: @soseiheptaresco Enquiries: Sosei Heptares  Media and Investor Relations

Kentaro Tahara, VP Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy

Shinichiro Nishishita, VP Investor Relations, Head of Regulatory Disclosures

Maya Bennison, Communications Manager

+81 (0)3 5210 3399 | +44 (0)1223 949390 | [email protected] MEDiSTRAVA Consulting (for International Media)

Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, Erica Hollingsworth

+44 (0)203 928 6900 | [email protected] PharmaEnable Therapeutics

Dr Jelena Aleksic, CBO, PharmEnable,

[email protected] , +44 (0)7793534121 Media enquiries (for PharmEnable Therapeutics)

Gemma Moses, Communications Consultant

[email protected] Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development, and commercialization of products. Various risks may cause Sosei Group Corporations actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programs; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialize products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



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[October 10, 2023] India Preschool Market size to grow by USD 34.65 million from 2022 to 2027 | Rising disposable income and positive economic growth boosts the market -Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The India preschool market size is estimated to grow by USD 34.65 million from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 8.49%. The preschool market is fragmented owing to the presence of many global and regional companies. A few prominent companies that offer preschool market are Brainbees Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Footprints Child Care Pvt. Ltd., Founding Years Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd., Globetrotters Kids, Hello Kids, KRS Educreations Pvt. Ltd., Learning Curve Edutech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Learning Edge India Pvt. Ltd., Lighthouse Learning Pvt. Ltd., Little Millennium Education Pvt. Ltd, MOTHERS PRIDE EDUCATION PVT. LTD., Pebbles Pre School, Podar Education Network, SK Educations Pvt. Ltd., Sebille Educations Pvt. Ltd., SHEMROCK Group of Preschools, Smartkidz Educare Global Pvt. Ltd., Sunshine Preschool And Daycare, Tree House Education And Accessories Ltd., and Zee Learn Ltd. The report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Download Free Sample before buying Company Offering: Footprints Child Care Pvt. Ltd: The company offers preschool such as Footprints Pre School program for children to explore and learn through a carefully designed methodology of the HighScope Curriculum called active participatory learning.

The company offers preschool such as Footprints Pre School program for children to explore and learn through a carefully designed methodology of the HighScope Curriculum called active participatory learning. For details on companies and their offerings  Buy report! Download free sample report to get more insights on the market share of various regions and the contribution of the segments. Impactful driver- Rising disposable income and positive economic growth

Rising disposable income and positive economic growth Key Trend - Adoption of online preschool services

- Adoption of online preschool services Major Challenges - Increased cost of raising children Market Segmentation The market share growth by the urban segment is significant during the forecast period. There is an increasing demand for preschools in urban areas which is fuelled by the increased penetration of branded preschool places in Tier 1 and 2 cities, together with rising disposable income. In addition, there is a strong presence of international childcare brands in India that offer supplementary services to parents. Furthermore, there is a significant upgrade of curricula by current distributors to comply with the standards laid down by international brands. In urban areas of India, particularly in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, preschools that use Montessori and Playway methods to teach children are expected to see a rise in enrollment compared to other regular preschools. While the Montessori method of teaching in preschools relies on independent activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play, on the other hand, the Playway methodology depends on activity-based learning, where children are exposed to familiar learning environments. Hence, such factors are fuelling the growth of this segment which in turn will drive the market growth during the forecast period. Technavio Research experts have provided more insights on the market share of segments - View Free Sample Report Related Reports:

The coding bootcamp market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.77% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 1,484.87 million. The corporate training market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.69% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 56,928.67 million.







Preschool Market Scope Report Coverage Details Historic period 2017-2021 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.49% YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.61

TOC: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation by Area 7 Market Segmentation by Age Group 8 Customer Landscape 9 Geographic Landscape 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 11 Company Landscape 12 Company Analysis 13 Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact US:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/india-preschool-market-size-to-grow-by-usd-34-65-million-from-2022-to-2027--rising-disposable-income-and-positive-economic-growth-boosts-the-market--technavio-301951173.html SOURCE Technavio

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[October 10, 2023] GPCR Therapeutics Expands Pipeline into Fibrosis with a Combination Approach Targeting LPA1 Tweet

SEOUL, Korea and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GPCR Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage, international biopharmaceutical company, announced today the expansion of its pipeline into fibrosis with the publication of a paper in Cell Communication and Signaling. The paper, authored in collaboration with Seoul National Universitys School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Microbiology, supports the need to fully inhibit two signaling receptors, lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA 1 ) and CXCR4, for the effective treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

IPF is a progressive chronic lung condition that causes scarring (fibrosis) of a patients lungs which makes breathing increasingly difficult as the lungs become stiffer and lose their elasticity. The lungs become less efficient at transferring oxygen so that when someone with IPF breathes in, the transfer of oxygen through air sacs in their lungs and into their blood stream is impaired. Lung damage from IPF is irreversible, and there is currently no treatment that stops or reverses the scarring. In the US there are around 495 cases per 100,000 people, with median survival estimated at 25 years from the time of diagnosis. (1) (2) LPA 1 and CXCR4 are among the few targets for which IPF therapeutics are being clinically developed respectively. However, this research shows that an IPF therapeutic approach based on inhibiting only LPA 1 is likely to be insufficient, as CXCR4, which has been repressed by LPA 1 , will be activated and induce aberrant cell signaling. The paper LPA 1 -mediated inhibition of CXCR4 attenuates CXCL12-induced signaling and cell migration reports that complete inhibition of cell migration was only achieved in the presence of both CXCR4 and LPA 1 antagonists. (3) GPCR Therapeutics, Inc. is developing a diverse pipeline targeting both CXCR4, one of the most prevalent chemokine GPCRs overexpressed in more than 23 cancers, and other GPCRs that promote or inhibit CXCR4. The companys lead pipeline targets CXCR4 and B2AR (beta-2 adrenergic receptor) in cancer and is currently undergoing a phase 2 clinical trial. Based in part on the research announced today, the company has expanded its portfolio and begun developing a pipeline targeting CXCR4 and LPA 1 in fibrosis. Dr. Pina Cardarelli, GPCRs CSO and President of US operaions, commented, This paper showcases the high quality of the research into understanding the pathological role of GPCRs in cancer and inflammatory diseases. It is another example of the potential of our CXCR4-GPCR pairs approach, where several novel valuable mechanisms can be discovered. We are very eager to leverage our combination approach and explore the field of fibrosis.



GPCR recently launched a US phase 2 trial of GPC-100 in combination with Propranolol for stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma. References

(1) https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis

(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27126689/

(3) https://biosignaling.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12964-023-01261-7 About GPCR Therapeutics GPCR Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage international biopharmaceutical company with an innovative approach to developing therapeutics built on its proprietary G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) data. The companys proprietary data-driven approach has identified over 1,000 GPCR pairs upon which drug screening campaigns can be pursued. Identifying the best GPCR pair to target for specific disease indications and patient subpopulations creates a precision approach to combination therapy. By targeting the unique pharmacology of GPCR pairs, the company aims to develop life-changing treatments for cancer and other diseases. GPCR Therapeutics is developing multiple programs with the aim of advancing therapies for hematological malignancies as well as solid tumors. The companys lead small molecule asset, GPC-100/Burixafor, targets CXCR4, one of the most prevalent chemokine GPCRs overexpressed in various cancers. The company has identified that CXCR4 interacts with the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (B2AR), and this GPCR pair presents an alternate signaling pathway that is synergistically dependent on CXCR4 and B2AR activation. Furthermore, the company has identified LPA 1 as a CXCR4 interactor that represses CXCR4 activity. The company has recently initiated a US Phase 2 clinical trial assessing the efficacy of the combination of GPC-100 and Propranolol in autologous stem cell transplant in patients with multiple myeloma. In addition, the company is engaged in active collaborations with domestic and international biotechnology companies, including Australias AdAlta. GPCR Therapeutics is headquartered in Seoul, Korea, with additional R&D facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA. For more information, visit gpcr.co.kr and follow us on LinkedIn . For more information, please contact: GPCR Therapeutics (in Seoul)

DaYoon Kim - Business Development Manager

Tel: +82-2-878-2848

[email protected] Scius Communications (in London)

Katja Stout - Founder & Managing Partner

+44 778 943 5990

[email protected]

Daniel Gooch - Partner

+44 774 787 5479

[email protected]



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[October 10, 2023] Valo Therapeutics Announces Acquisition of Bruker Corporation's Latest Mass Spectrometer Platform for Tumor Antigen Identification with ValoTx's PeptiCHIP Technology Tweet

HELSINKI, Finland, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valo Therapeutics Oy (ValoTx), the developer of novel, adaptable immunotherapies for cancer, announces it is the first biotech company in Europe to install and use the Bruker Corporations new timsTOF Ultra mass spectrometer and liquid chromatography platform, which provides transformative speed and sensitivity for antigen identification in connection with ValoTxs PeptiCHIP technology.

Tumor neoantigens are expressed uniquely by cancer cells and their presence can trigger an efficient immune response against the tumor. Currently the methods available to identify these antigens have significant limitations by being long, complicated and resource demanding. Using the timsTOF Ultra in conjunction with ValoTxs innovative microfluidic PeptiCHIP immunopurification device and prioritization algorithm increases the chance of success of neoantigen identification and allows their detection from ultra-low sample amounts, such as tumor tissue biopsies. Brukers timsTOF Ultra platform, launched in June 2023, employs trapped ion mobility spectrometry in combination with quadrupole time-of-flight technology and other performance improvements to offer unparalleled sensitivity. It has been specifically designed for the needs of immunopeptidomics and unbiased single-cell proteomics, where the ability to detect low-abundance peptides is crucial. Dr Otto Kari, VP & Head of ValoTxs Antigen Business Unit, and EIC projects lead, said, This amazing piece of top-of-the line kit from Bruker, which has now been running in our R&D laboratory since August, allows us to identify thousands of antigens from each PeptiCHIP processed tiny tumor sample with unparalleled speed, sensitivity, and robustness. The timsTOF Ultra will be instrumental in the further development and maturation of our PeptiCHIP microfluidic chip technology, supported by the EIC Transition PeptiCHIP grant. We will also be exploiting its single-cell analysis capabilities to push the boundaries of research through our collaborations with leading researchers at the University of Helsinki and elsewhere.



Paul Higham, CEO of ValoTx, commented, As one of Brukers strategic collaborators in the field of immunopeptidomics, were delighted to be the first biotech company in Europe to receive this top-of-the-line mass spectrometer, the timsTOF Ultra, which will be no doubt become a cornerstone in our work towards developing personalized immunotherapies in combination with PeptiCHIP and our lead delivery platform, PeptiCRAd. As a spin-out of the University of Helsinki, were also delighted to support high-level research by installing the instrument in the state-of-the-art mass spectrometry laboratory at the Faculty of Pharmacy. Prof. Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma, Dean of the University of Helsinkis Faculty of Pharmacy, said, Our Faculty has a rich heritage of top-level research and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences, where access to the latest transformational technologies can make a fundamental difference to global human health. We are delighted that, through research collaborations with ValoTx, we can gain access to Brukers timsTOF Ultra mass spectrometer. Who knows what breakthroughs we will be able to achieve using this impressive instrument.

For more details of the Bruker Corporations timsTOF Ultra platform, see the companys 6 June 2023 press release, here. About ValoTx Valo Therapeutics Oy (Helsinki) is an immunotherapy company developing antigen-coated oncolytic viruses as therapeutic vaccines against cancer. The ValoTx lead platform, PeptiCRAd (Peptide-coated Conditionally Replicating Adenovirus), was developed out of the laboratory of Professor Vincenzo Cerullo at the University of Helsinki. It turns oncolytic adenoviruses into powerful activators of systemic anti-tumor cytotoxic T-cell immunity without the need to generate and manufacture multiple genetically modified viruses. PeptiCRAd-1 is the companys lead product made up of its virus VALO-D102 coated with MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1 peptides. The company is also developing other neoantigen strategies. Watch our film explaining the PeptiCRAd technology . For more information see our website and follow us on LinkedIn . Contacts Valo Therapeutics Oy Matthew Vaughan

Email: [email protected] Scius Communications (for ValoTx) Katja Stout

+44 778 943 5990

[email protected] Daniel Gooch

+44 774 787 5479

[email protected]



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[October 10, 2023]

Nippon Express Canada Holds 40th Anniversary Event

TOKYO, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ -- Nippon Express Canada Ltd. (hereafter "NX Canada"), a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., held an event on September 15 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its establishment.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202310040618-O1-hYBm7Q4F

Image: 40th anniversary event

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202310040618/_prw_PI2fl_70UtbY56.jpg

NX Canada was established on September 15, 1983, in Toronto, Ontario, as a subsidiary of Nippon Express U.S.A., Inc. to expand Nippon Express' international presence in North America. The annversary event was held to thank the company's customers for their patronage and its partners for their support over the past 40 years, and to boost the morale of its employees who will be driving the company's future growth.







The "NX Canada Gazette," an electronic newspaper featuring photos of NX Canada at its founding as well as information on current events at that time, was distributed on the day of the event, and NX Canada President Michael Shum delivered a speech. The company's various branch offices celebrated the 40th anniversary in their own ways, including decorating their offices and distributing commemorative goods.

NX Canada will continue contributing to society through logistics as a global logistics company and expanding its business to realize a better future for its customers and Canada.

Nippon Express website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/

Nippon Express Group's official LinkedIn account:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nippon-express-canada-holds-40th-anniversary-event-301951654.html

SOURCE NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
[October 10, 2023] Oncotech AI-powered diagnostic mobile cancer and diabetes screening app Ophtascan gains distribution with Medical Express Romania Tweet

LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical technology innovator Oncotech Nordic AB, awarded CE marking in 2022 for its mobile cancer and diabetes type 2 health screening app, Ophtascan, is being launched in Romania for the first time this autumn through a new partnership with Medical Express Romania. The mobile screening app is already being trialled and launched by doctors and patients in Central Africa, where there is huge demand for cancer and diabetes type 2 screening and diagnostics. The Ophtascan app is currently being used by Sigma Africa clinicians in the Central African region and product launch activities are activated in the Asian markets. Using the app, physicians can use their own smartphone devices to photograph the iris of their patients and upload images to the Oncotech server. The Oncotech AI diagnostic and machine learning system then sends the results back to the clinician within just 45 seconds. The test is non-invasive, quick and requires minimal equipment, meaning that if required, testing can take place in remote locations away from hospitals. In development by Oncotech Nordic AB since 2014, Ophtascan is a mobile in-real-time detection system for pre-cancerous plus all four stages of lung, cervical, breast, uterine and prostate cancers. Ophtascan can als be used for detecting Diabetes Type 2.



Romanian partnership Andre Rafnsson, CEO of Oncotech, was the Export Manager for the global medical business Coloplast when he first met CEO Laurentiu Chideanu 25 year ago. Soon after, Medical Express Romania was established in Bucharest. The Romanian distributor specialises in medical equipment, ranging from ostomy and continence care to walking aids.

CEO of Medical Express Romania, Laurentiu Chideanu, who is leading the distribution drive said, "Ophtascan ushers in a new era of hope, where medical technology aligns with the collective determination to alleviate the impact of cancer and diabetes on our society. Through the unwavering commitment to early detection, shown by the Ophtascan team and the product's transformative potential, we can pursue a healthier, cancer-resilient Romania." In February 2023, final validation of Ophtascan was completed, following tests on more than 1,500 oncology patients over a three-year period. The scanning precision success rate was over 95 per cent, and last year reached a 97 per cent precision scanning rate, as additional patients were tested and data was validated on a daily basis. Oncotech Nordic AB CEO Andre Rafnsson concluded, "Romania is the first of what will be several new telemedicine and remote health diagnostic business partners in Europe, Asia and BRICS countries, with the ultimate aim being to license the Ophtascan technology globally. "Ophtascan has been validated for diabetes type 2 screening. In addition, new research is underway for tests that will examine the early warning signs for colon, bladder, kidney, pancreas and stomach cancer." Ophtascan is the registered trademark of Oncotech Nordic AB. About Oncotech Nordic AB Oncotech works with internationally acclaimed oncologists and clinical researchers in the EMEA and BRICS countries. The Therapeutic R&D and focus is on diagnostics (mobile in-time cancer screening technology) and cancer treatment therapies. The fully funded business was set up in London, UK in 2020 with a Nordic operational subsidiary in 2021, headed by CEO Andre Rafnsson. Oncotech now has registered offices in UAE and Qatar, expanding rapidly in the Middle East markets. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2242311/Medical_Express_Romania_Senior_Management_Team.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2242312/Oncotech_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/oncotech-ai-powered-diagnostic-mobile-cancer-and-diabetes-screening-app-ophtascan-gains-distribution-with-medical-express-romania-301951223.html

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Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at the inaugural ceremony of a section of Chinese-built railway in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua)

by Sun Nan, Naim-Ul-Karim

DHAKA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- As the first train of Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), carrying Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, departed from a new station on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka at 12:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the first section of the biggest railway in Bangladesh formally opened.

The PBRLP, one of significant projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Bangladesh, was built by the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) and funded by the Export-Import Bank of China.

The first section of the railway link is about 80 km long from Dhaka to Bhanga. Thousands of people from Munshiganj and adjacent districts witnessed the landmark inaugural ceremony in the Mawa station at the Munshiganj district.

"I am very happy because we never thought that our generation would see this," Munshiganj resident Sheikh Azhar Hossain told Xinhua.

At the inaugural ceremony held before the train running, Hasina said, "It is the day of fulfilling the dream to cross the Padma river by train."

Noting that they have a target to link Bangladesh's railway with the trans Asian railway, Hasina said, "We're working to this end."

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said, "this is a landmark project under the BRI."

Once the rail link becomes fully operational, he said, this project will help make a major boost to the country's railway connectivity and economic development.

Loud cheers and applauses were heard, as Hasina unveiled a plaque to inaugurate the rail link.

After attending the rally, Hasina boarded on the special train by purchasing ticket to reach Bhanga in Faridpur.

The train which was decorated with colorful balloons and ribbons also carried the Chinese ambassador, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, senior officials, lawmakers, among others.

Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, known locally as Nixon Chowdhury, a parliamentary member from Faridpur, told Xinhua that the PBRLP has been launched to improve southern Bangladeshi districts both economically and socially.

"This is not only the bridge of our dreams but also our economic emancipation," said the parliamentarian.

This is a "historic moment", said Bangladeshi lawmaker Saifuzzaman Shikhar when taking a commissioning passenger train, adding, "I'm crossing the Padma Bridge by train. It was a matter of our past dreams. But it is a reality today."

Sujan, who almost attended every important event of the project, earlier told Xinhua, "I would like to thank the CREC on behalf of the government and the country's residents. Hopefully they will work more with us in the future."

The entire 172-km project, which will lead to Jashore eventually in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, is scheduled for completion in 2024.

It will serve as a vital channel that connects Dhaka and more than 20 districts in the southern area of Bangladesh, and will also be an important part of the trans-Asian railway network to promote regional connectivity and economic development of Bangladesh. 

Bangladeshi Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan speaks at the inaugural ceremony of a section of Chinese-built railway in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua)

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen speaks at the inaugural ceremony of a section of Chinese-built railway in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua)

Staff members take selfies in front of a decorated train awaiting inaugural run at the Chinese-built Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua)

Staff members take selfies in front of a decorated train awaiting inaugural run at the Chinese-built Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows a decorated train at the Chinese-built Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows a decorated train at the Chinese-built Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows a decorated train at the Chinese-built Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)
[October 10, 2023] LABASIA RETURNS TO KLCC FOR ANOTHER EPIC EDITION OF SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION Tweet

A Confluence of Expertise, Innovation, and Opportunity KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LabAsia, the region's premier laboratory equipment and scientific instrumentation exhibition, is back for an epic encore at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia, from October 10th to 12th, 2023. Organised by Informa Markets Malaysia Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM), the 8th edition of the Malaysia International Scientific Instrument and Laboratory Equipment Exhibition and Conference promises to be a scientific revelation, a treasure trove of networking, and a thriving hub of business opportunities. The grand inauguration of LabAsia at KLCC was marked by a prestigious Opening Ceremony, officiated by our special guests, YBhg Datuk ChM Dr Soon Ting Kueh, President of Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM) and ChM Halimah binti Abdul Rahim, Director General, Department of Chemistry Malaysia, alongside our esteemed exhibitors, sponsors, industry leaders, and visitors. Datuk ChM Dr Soon, in his Opening Address, will trace the development of LabAsia since its inception in 2007 and how LabAsia has emerged as the laboratory and scientific instrumentation exhibition in this part of the world, highlighting the latest advances in scientific equipment and laboratory technology and innovation. "LabAsia is our commitment to accelerating growth and innovation in the scientific community. It's a one-stop powerhouse for networking, collaboration, showcasing the latest trends, and providing educational opportunities. These elements are pivotal for advancing the scientific instruments and the laboratory industry, enriching both industry professionals and the global scientific community," said Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Country General Manager of Informa Markets Malaysia. This year, LabAsia brings a lineup of programs set to electrify your senses! Join us for an enriching experience, featuring three full days of complimentary technical seminars, led by industry leaders who are at the forefront of scientific advancements. With a focus on innovation, research, and application, they'll delve into the latest trends, breakthroughs, and challenges shaping the landscape of scientific technologies. The technical seminars span a diverse range of captivating topics, ensuring that there's something for everyone, regardless of your specialisation. Frm cutting-edge technologies to revolutionary practices, LabAsia promises to equip you with everything you need to propel your business forward. Don't miss this golden opportunity to elevate your skills and forge meaningful connections with fellow professionals.



Get set for a collision of brilliant minds and groundbreaking ideas at LabAsia. In conjunction with LabAsia 2023, IKM is organising the 16th Asian Conference on Analytical Sciences, or AISANALYSIS XVI, from 10  12th October 2023 at the same venue. ASIANALYSIS XVI will assemble top thought leaders, esteemed researchers, and industry trailblazers for intellectual discussions on the latest advances & breakthroughs in scientific instrumentation and laboratory technology. Be prepared to engage in stimulating dialogues with global analytical chemists and researchers from more than 20 countries and broaden your understanding of the latest trends in analytical sciences. Explore the realm of microscale separations and analysis at the 19th Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Microscale Separations and Analysis (APCE), where you can glean valuable insights from experts in chromatography, mass spectrometry, electrophoresis, microfluidic chips, biosensors, and sample pre-treatment, revolutionising your approach to work.

Embark on a journey into the forefront of forensic science through workshops, presentations, and sessions at the Symposium on Forensic Science (SFS) 2023, enhancing your grasp and communication within this interdisciplinary field. Additionally, uncover the significance of halal testing and authenticity at the Symposium on Halal Testing and Authenticity, where you can acquire invaluable insights into halal certification processes, standards, and innovative testing methods crucial for ensuring product integrity and compliance. With participation spanning nine distinguished international countries, including China, India, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Korea, Portugal, and the UAE, LabAsia offers a rare opportunity to engage in targeted and meaningful interactions with exhibitors from around the world. Each exhibiting nation brings forth a spectrum of cutting-edge technologies, innovative products, and expertise that resonate with the nuances of their respective markets. LabAsia is poised to attract 7,000 scientific and analytical professionals from around the world, connecting them with an impressive lineup of more than 450 participating brands and companies showcasing the latest trends and innovations in the industry. This synergy will catalyse transformative advancements, fuel innovation, and leave an indelible mark on the future of scientific and analytical exploration. Undoubtedly, LabAsia garners robust industry support, and we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Agilent Technologies Sales (M) Sdn Bhd, our esteemed Gold Sponsor, and Mr. Lee Hock Chin, Executive Director of QS Instruments Sdn Bhd, our Silver Sponsor, for their indispensable contributions to the event. Don't miss out on this golden opportunity to experience the future of laboratory science firsthand. And here's the best part  admission to LabAsia is absolutely free! Get ready to catapult yourself into the future of laboratory science at LabAsia! For more information, visit LabAsia's official website at https://www.lab-asia.com/. NOTES TO EDITOR ABOUT LABASIA The global scientific instruments and laboratory equipment market is poised to sustain its growth trajectory in the coming years, providing numerous opportunities for manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in the industry. LabAsia emerges as a pivotal platform for industry players to remain at the forefront of this evolving landscape. As the leading laboratory exhibition in the region, LabAsia is dedicated to showcasing the latest innovations and technologies in laboratory equipment, analysis, diagnostics, and research. With a commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, LabAsia brings together industry professionals, researchers, and experts from around the world to explore the forefront of scientific advancements. Since its inaugural edition in 2007, LabAsia has seamlessly connected thousands of laboratory professionals, fostering invaluable networking opportunities over the past decade. The most recent edition marked a significant milestone as visitors from 54 countries converged at a single event, reinforcing LabAsia's role as a global hub for knowledge exchange and collaboration. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/labasia-returns-to-klcc-for-another-epic-edition-of-scientific-innovation-301951900.html SOURCE LabAsia 2023

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[October 10, 2023] Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. to Make History by Transmitting US Declaration to the Moon for Pioneering Disaster Recovery Test Tweet

Groundbreaking start-up working to create a new data center service from the Moon, Lonestar takes the next small step as it prepares to transmit the US Declaration of Independence to be the first document to be digitally stored on the Moon. This is a key test of Lonestar's lunar data centers concept for Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS). ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. (Lonestar), a trailblazer in data storage and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), is set to embark on an unprecedented journey to the Moon with Intuitive Machines, marking an historic milestone in data preservation. As a commercial customer of Intuitive Machines and their NOVA C lunar lander, Lonestar will transmit the US Declaration of Independence to the lunar surface as the first document in history to be digitally stored there. The groundbreaking test, a testament to Lonestar's innovative approach to data management, aims to showcase the capabilities of its Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) and data centers on the Moon. The company has commercially contracted with Intuitive Machines, leveraging their NOVA C lander, as part of the ongoing efforts to bring America back to the Moon. The test will involve transmitting the US Declaration of Independence during the transit to the Moon, in orbit around the Moon, and to the lunar surface. In return, Lonestar will receive a copy of the US Constitution andthe Bill of Rights back from the Moon. This bold experiment will demonstrate the efficiency of Lonestar's data refresh and restore capabilities, showcasing the robustness of the technology in extreme environments. The Magna Carta is also already stored on board.



Lonestar's commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation is evident in this ambitious project. "We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this historic moment in data storage and recovery. Transmitting the US Declaration of Independence to the Moon is a testament to the reliability and resilience of our Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) solutions," said Chris Stott, Founder and CEO of Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. Lonestar is also storing digital data on board with Intuitive Machines for its customer, the State of Florida.

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander is prepared for shipping to Cape Canaveral, Florida for launch. If successful, these tests will lay the foundation for the ultimate in refresh and restore on a planetary scale and open up an entire new industry in space by combining the best of Silicon Valley and the Space Program. This unprecedented experiment reinforces Lonestar's commitment to advancing data management technologies for the benefit of humanity. "Intuitive Machines have been a superb partner in our test program as we seek to build peaceful civil and commercial digital infrastructure on and around the Moon. We could not do this without them." said Mark Matossian, COO of Lonestar. "We believe that expanding the world's economy to encompass the Moon, Earth's largest satellite, is the next whitespace in the New Space Economy", says Scout Ventures' Founder and Managing Partner, Brad Harrison. "Data security and storage will be a necessary part of leading the new generation of lunar exploration." The VC funded startup is working to revolutionize data services and communications from the Moon. Lonestar is funded by Scout Ventures, Seldor Capital, 2 Future Holdings, IronGate Capital, The Veteran Fund, Atypical Ventures, Kittyhawk Ventures, and Backswing Ventures. Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. invites the public and media to join them on this remarkable journey as they transmit the US Declaration of Independence to the Moon, marking a historic milestone in the realm of data storage and disaster recovery. About Lonestar - Saving Earth's Data One Byte at a Time

Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. (Lonestar), headquartered in St Petersburg's Maritime and Defense Technology Hub in Florida, has been founded by a proven team of experts from the Cloud and Space verticals to pioneer a future for data at the edge for all of us as. www.lonestarlunar.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lonestar-data-holdings-inc-to-make-history-by-transmitting-us-declaration-to-the-moon-for-pioneering-disaster-recovery-test-301951991.html SOURCE Lonestar Data Holdings Inc.

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[October 10, 2023] Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants Announces Partnership with Cardiovascular Logistics Tweet

Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants (CCC) announced today that it is partnering with national cardiology platform, Cardiovascular Logistics (CVL), to enhance and expand its cardiovascular care and services throughout the region. Founded in 1975, CCC is the greater Tampa Bay area's leading independent cardiology practice with 32 providers delivering state-of-the-art care to patients in its communities. CCC is the fourth independent cardiology practice to partner with CVL this year and the second in Florida. By partnering with CVL, the most comprehensive cardiovascular platform in the country, CCC will join a network of the leading cardiology practices in the U.S. With the addition of CCC, CVL is partnered with over 240 providers across 6 states. The partnership between CCC and CVL represents a significant milestone in the mission to enhance and expand access to high-quality cardiovascular care in the region. By leveraging CVL's expertise and innovative solutions, CCC will greatly enhance its capabilities, ensuring that patients receive cutting-edge and compassionate care. "We chose to partner with CVL because we believe CVL is the cardiovascular medicine platform with the greatest commitment to being physician led and owned in the market today," said Frederic R. Simmons, Jr., CEO of CCC. "We also chose CVL because of the integrity, deep experience partnering with physicians, and commitment to improving access to high quality care of its equity partner, Lee Equity Partners." "The physicians at CCC are excited and honored to partner with CVL," said Jorge Navas, President and Managing Physician. "We look forward to transforming cardiovascular care and continuing to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and compassionate patient-centric care." "Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants have been the leaders and innvators of cardiovascular care in the greater Tampa Bay area for over 48 years. Their focus on high quality compassionate care makes them an ideal partner for our platform," said David Konur, CEO of CVL. "We are excited to have Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants on board so that together, we can fundamentally change how cardiovascular care is delivered in the United States."



With a shared dedication to excellence, CCC and CVL are poised to make a significant impact on the delivery of cardiovascular care and the improvement of patient outcomes. About Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants

Founded in 1975, Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants ("CCC") has been providing the highest level of cardiovascular care to patients in the Tampa Bay region for over 48 years. CCC physicians and advanced practitioners represent some of the finest and most respected independent practitioners in the area. CCC provides a broad spectrum of interventional, diagnostic and preventive cardiovascular services, and offers patients comprehensive care backed by experience, expertise and technology. For more information on CCC, visit www.cccheart.com. About Cardiovascular Logistics Cardiovascular Logistics (CVL) is the most comprehensive cardiovascular platform in the country. Formed in 2013, CVL is integrating the nation's best cardiology practices into one robust cardiovascular solution. CVL is fundamentally changing how cardiovascular care is delivered in the United States. The CVL platform is grounded in the mission of providing patients the highest quality of cardiovascular care available. CVL partners with Lee Equity Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. For more information, visit www.cardiovascularlogistics.com. About Lee Equity Partners Lee Equity Partners, LLC is a New York-based private equity firm that partners with successful management teams to build companies with strong growth potential. Lee Equity targets equity investments in middle-market control buyouts and growth capital financings in companies with enterprise values of $100 million to $500 million that are located primarily in the United States. The firm invests within three distinct sectors, healthcare services, financial services, and business services, where the team has developed deep relationships over decades. Additional information is available at www.leeequity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010366564/en/

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[October 10, 2023] TDRU Grand Release: Unveiling the Uncertainty Data Revolution Tweet

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the digital age, the impact of data is becoming increasingly profound. By the end of 2022, a myriad of big data artificial intelligence models had emerged with varying degrees of quality. The effectiveness of these models highly depends on the quality of the input data, thereby imposing higher standards for data quality. However, people's understanding of the essence of data is still at a relatively primitive stage. This has led to three major issues in existing data processing techniques: The first issue is the ignorance of the inherent uncertainty present in data; the second is a lack of effective methods for predictions; and the third is overlooking the bias introduced by the human-data relationship. To address these issues, on October 9, 2023, Mongoose Think Tank officially launched TDRU (Tools of Data Reconstruction on Uncertainty) - a tool based on the principle of uncertainty that aims to solve the aforementioned problems through data reconstruction. Theoretical Background of TDRU

Over time, Mongoose Think Tank has researched the sources of uncertainty extensively. In the field of data science, in his 2023 article "Uncertainty and Data Reconstruction" published in the Chinese Banking Industry magazine, Mongoose Think Tank's Academic Committee Chairman Zhu Xiaohuang deeply discussed the issue of uncertainty in data. Zhu believes the essence of the world is uncertainty, causing randomness in human society and behavior. As data reflects the objective world and human behavior, it also carries uncertainty. In his article "A Human-Centric Perspective on Data", Mongoose Think Tank's expert Hu Benli argues that all data subjectively reflects humans' perspective on the objective world. He describes an ongoing cycle where humans generate large amounts of data while simultaneously being influenced by it. This inherent bias in data, Hu states, provides the fundamental rationale for needing data governance. To address these issues of uncertainty and human-data relationships, Mongoose Think Tank have designed and proposed a method for reconstructing data based on these principles. Our approach categorizes data into types including historical daa and marginal data, natural data and behavioral data, as well as deterministic data and random data. Building upon the elimination of random data, it assigns different adjustment parameters and weights to different types of data. Subsequently, Mongoose Think Tank applied and refined this methodology in real-world scenarios, culminating in the development of TDRU (Tools for Data Reconstruction on Uncertainty) version 1.0.



Introduction to TDRU

TDRU operates through six core processes, two sets of parameters, and seven collaborative tools. It can address both types of problems arising from uncertainty and adjust biases between humans and data. TDRU is not just a methodology but also practical as a tool. Its uniqueness lies in being the first tool specifically designed to tackle issues of data uncertainty, marking a significant advance over existing data processing methods. TDRU can be widely applied to various scenarios for predicting and measuring the likelihood of future events, making it suitable for major financial institutions, commercial enterprises, and global economic forecasts by world organizations. Additionally, Mongoose Think Tank are in the process of developing a data reconstruction intelligent assistant software that integrates TDRU with large language models. TDRU is a foundational data tool based on the principle of uncertainty, primarily aimed at the pre-analytical stage of data analysis, namely data cleansing. Due to its foundational nature, the range of its applications is extensive, covering sectors such as economics, finance, and energy, among many others that require heavy use of data for modeling, analysis, and future prediction. Consequently, its client base is diverse, encompassing enterprises, financial institutions, and international organizations across the globe that need to employ data for forecasting. Additionally, due to the high correlation between uncertainty and risk management, TDRU offers unique value in the field of risk management. Overall, TDRU is not only a multi-functional and cross-sectoral methodology with international applicability but also a potent tool capable of solving a myriad of data quality issues, thereby enhancing the accuracy of future predictions.

TDRU Application Cases

Mongoose Think Tank applied TDRU to a personal credit scorecard of a listed bank. From the perspective of model evaluation parameters, before using TDRU, the model's AUC (Area Under Curve, which measures the authenticity of the detection method; the closer AUC is to 1.0, the higher the authenticity; at 0.5, it has the lowest authenticity and no application value) was approximately 0.84, and KS (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, which evaluates the model's risk differentiation ability; the greater the cumulative difference between good and bad samples, the greater the KS value and the stronger the risk differentiation ability of the model) was about 0.57. After using TDRU, the AUC increased to 0.88, and KS increased to 0.59. Importantly, these effects have been corroborated across multiple product lines. Future

Currently, TDRU Version 1.0 has matured into a valuable tool for applications in macroeconomic forecasting, risk profiling and more. It has already obtained a software copyright and submitted an application for a patent. Today, Mongoose Think Tank sincerely present this practical tool to the community at large, hoping to collaborate with various parties to expand the boundaries and possibilities of TDRU. Currently, Mongoose Think Tank can provide corresponding services related to TDRU, including consultation, training, and data processing. Mongoose Think Tank welcome inquiries from data enterprises, financial institutions, consulting firms, or any interested organizations. Please stay tuned for the future launch of TDRU Intelligent Assistant. Company:Shenzhen Mongoose Consulting Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Sun Wei

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mongoose-report.com

Telephone: 0755-82713326

City: Shenzhen View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/tdru-grand-release-unveiling-the-uncertainty-data-revolution-301952044.html SOURCE Shenzhen Mongoose Consulting Co., Ltd.

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[October 10, 2023] Gates Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of "Grand Challenges" With New Investments and a Call to Make R&D Breakthroughs Available More Quickly and Equitably Tweet

Commitments focus on advancing equitable access to artificial intelligence (AI) and vaccines, and catalyzing innovations that address women's health SEATTLE and DAKAR, Senegal, Oct. 10, 2023 /CNW/ -- A slate of new initiatives to support locally led innovation was announced today in Dakar by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its partners at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting. The investments come with an urgent call for countries to step up funding to make the research and development (R&D) of health and development innovations easier and faster, and to make the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs relevant and accessible to all. Data shows that while overall health R&D funding is increasing, only about 2% is directed toward diseases that affect the world's poorest people. In 2020, the annual funding gap for product development targeting poverty-related and neglected diseases was estimated at US$2.6 billion. "Over the past two decades, global investments in a pipeline of innovative solutions helped reduce childhood deaths under 5 by half," said Moussa Balde, Senegal's minister for higher education, research and innovation. "But lifesaving innovations still take too long to reach those who need them and are not always designed with equity from the start. Grand Challenges Senegal continues to invest in the country's brightest scientists and innovators, and we are pleased to be part of this global network of Grand Challenges partners investing in locally led solutions to ensure innovations, including in health, education, and agriculture, benefit everyone equally." Launched in 2003, Grand Challenges, the foundation's flagship innovation program, focuses attention and funding on pressing global health and development problems that affect the world's poorest people, using open calls for proposals to crowdsource potential solutions. In an address to the more than 1,400 scientists, policymakers, and donors attending the annual meeting, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, called for the world to spend at least US$3 billion more every year on global health and development R&D in order to close the critical gaps in funding for neglected diseases. "New health technologies have the potential to save millions of lives, but R&D funding is going in the wrong direction," said Gates. "Donors need to step up their commitments to ensure health innovations reach those who need them more quickly, so more lives can be saved." Today, Gates announced that the foundation is investing US$30 million to support a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform in Africa. The platform will provide African scientists and innovators with the technical and operational support they need to turn promising ideas into scalable health and development solutions. It is a step towards ensuring the benefits of AI are relevant, affordable, and accessible to everyoneparticularly those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)and that these critical tools are developed safely, ethically, and equitably. The foundation will continue to work closely with technical partners and governments to further advance the platform and identify opportunities to jointly advance the use of AI for health and development. Yesterday, the foundation also announced new investments aimed at expanding access to a novel mRNA vaccine manufacturing platform that gives countries, including Senegal and South Africa, the technology to develop and manufacture their own vaccines. mRNA technology is considered a potential game-changer for a range of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria, and Lassa fever, which disproportionately affect people in LMICs. This additional local vaccine manufacturing capacity will support LMICs to develop low-cost, high-quality vaccines that address their most urgent health priorities.



"What started as a single program funded by the Gates Foundation and its partners has grown into a family of initiatives and partnerships across national borders, fields of study, and sectors that catalyze research, products, and partnerships to save and improve the lives of the world's most vulnerable people," said Kedest Tesfagiorgis, deputy director, global partnerships and Grand Challenges at the foundation. "Our community of brilliant innovators is proof that a great idea can come from anywhere and be supported by the funders, policymakers, and advocates needed to move ideas into the laboratory and, ultimately, to the people who can most benefit from them." Grand Challenges is supported by the governments of India, China, Brazil, the United States, and Canada, as well as a growing number of countries in Africa, including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. Since 2003, partners have invested US$1.6 billion to support more than 3,800 projects in 118 countriesfrom new strategies to improve gut health in moms and children to reinventing the toilet for improved sanitation to reimagining drug discovery research for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases.

To further support scientists developing cutting-edge innovations in LMICs, the foundation and its partners also issued new calls for proposals in the following areas: Equitable AI for health in LMICs. Building on a recent Grand Challenge (GC) to develop global health and development solutions in LMICs using AI-enabled large language models (LLMs), GC partners issued a request for proposals of up to US$5.5 million to help advance the development of robust, locally relevant, AI-empowered tools to expedite decision-making, policy pathways, and implementation by frontline health workers and policymakers. The call is led by GC Brazil, GC India, GC Ethiopia, GC Senegal, GC South Africa, and GC Africa, with support from GC Canada, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the Pasteur Network, and the Gates Foundation.

Building on a recent Grand Challenge (GC) to develop global health and development solutions in LMICs using AI-enabled large language models (LLMs), GC partners issued a request for proposals of up to to help advance the development of robust, locally relevant, AI-empowered tools to expedite decision-making, policy pathways, and implementation by frontline health workers and policymakers. The call is led by GC Brazil, GC India, GC Ethiopia, GC Senegal, GC South Africa, and GC Africa, with support from GC Canada, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the Pasteur Network, and the Gates Foundation. Women's health R&D to unlock the potential of half the world's population and unleash a powerful engine for progress . The Women's Health Innovation Opportunity Map 2023 is a new report outlining 50 equitable, high-return opportunities across the R&D continuum to maximize research and innovation, investments, and global action in women's health. To encourage innovations and ideas laid out in the Opportunity Map, the foundation announced a new request for proposals that will provide up to US$3.6 million in funding.

The is a new report outlining 50 equitable, high-return opportunities across the R&D continuum to maximize research and innovation, investments, and global action in women's health. To encourage innovations and ideas laid out in the Opportunity Map, the foundation announced a new request for proposals that will provide up to in funding. Innovations in global health and development across other critical areas of need. The full list of new requests for proposals can be found here. The 2023 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Dakar is hosted by the Global Grand Challenges network of partners and the government of Senegal, and sponsored by Grand Challenges Canada, the United States Agency for International Development, Wellcome, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. About Grand Challenges The Grand Challenges family of programs stems from a century-old idea that crowdsourcing solutions to a defined set of unsolved problems can spark innovation and accelerate progress. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its Grand Challenges funding partners first used Challengesopen requests for grant proposalsin 2003 to focus attention and effort on pressing global health and development problems for those most in need. Together, Grand Challenges partners have awarded US$1.6 billion across 3,800 grants to a diverse pool of problem solvers in 118 countries, while at the same time fostering a global innovation ecosystem in places where it will have the most impact. The foundation and its Grand Challenges partners will continue to launch RFPs to support innovators from around the world in tackling the hardest, most urgent Grand Challenges. To learn more, visit grandchallenges.org. About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all peopleespecially those with the fewest resourceshave access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, and the board of trustees. Media contact: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gates-foundation-celebrates-20-years-of-grand-challenges-with-new-investments-and-a-call-to-make-rd-breakthroughs-available-more-quickly-and-equitably-301951506.html SOURCE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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[October 10, 2023] ConcertAI's TeraRecon Expands its Clinical AI Offering in Cardiac Care with FEops' HEARTguide Digital Twin Solution Tweet

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concert AI's TeraRecon, the advanced visualization and clinical AI SaaS company, announces the addition of FEops as the latest Clinical AI solution to support structural heart planning procedures for Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) occlusion. This collaboration sees the integration of FEops' state-of-the-art FEops HEARTguide solution, underscoring both companies' commitment to improving patient outcomes through leading clinical AI technologies. "The addition of FEops HEARTguide enhances TeraRecon's comprehensive offerings, particularly in cardiology and cardiovascular care," said Dan McSweeney, President of TeraRecon. "With the addition of FEops' advanced Digital Twin Clinical AI solution into TeraRecon solutions, we are poised to provide clinicians with an unparalleled tool streamlining CT-based pre-treatment planning for structural heart interventions, leading to more informed decision-making." FEops HEARTguide is a unique cloud-based procedure planning solution in the structural heart, based on Digital Twin technologies. With the U.S. introduction for the LAA occlusion workflow, FEops HEARTguide enables U.S. physicians to virtually model different implant positions and sizes of FDA approved LAA devices, aiding physicians in the selection of the optimal size and position for a specific patient. Established clinical evidence from the randomized controlled PREDICT-LAA trial has shown that FEops' digital twin-based planning for LAA closure results in improved procedure efficiency and outcomes as compared to standard CT based planning. "We are thrilled to join forces with TeraRecon to integrate our FEops HEARTguide solution into TeraRecon's software," said Matthieu De Beule, CEO of FEops. "This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of leveraging technology to transform healthcare. By briging FEops HEARTguide's advanced capabilities to TeraRecon's platform, we aim to equip clinicians with a tool that empowers them to provide optimized care to patients with cardiovascular conditions."



The TeraRecon FEops collaboration represents a significant stride towards personalized and data-driven cardiac care. The fusion of TeraRecon's solutions and FEops' HEARTguide solution exemplifies the potential of both Digital Twin technologies and Clinical AI to reshape the future of medical diagnosis and treatment planning. About TeraRecon: Serving approximately 1,900 clinical sites globally, TeraRecon, a ConcertAI company, is a Best in KLAS solution provider for AI-empowered radiology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, and vascular surgery. Awarded the 2020, 2021, and 2022 KLAS Category Leader for Advanced Visualization, TeraRecon solutions are independent of any one manufacturer's imaging equipment or PACS system, allowing a single, unified, and simplified clinical workflow that can improve efficiencies and deliver actionable physician-guided insights. For more information, visit us at www.terarecon.com

About ConcertAI: ConcertAI is the leader in Real-World Evidence (RWE) and AI technology solutions for life sciences and health care. Our mission is to accelerate insights and outcomes for patients through leading real-world data, AI technologies, and scientific expertise in partnership with the leading biomedical innovators, health care providers, and medical societies. For more information, visit us at http://www.concertai.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About FEops: Privately held FEops, headquartered in Gent, Belgium, is a digital health scale-up altering the course of heart disease by providing physicians with unique digital tools to treat the right patients with the right technology at the right time. FEops is supported by Valiance Advisors, Capricorn partners, PMV and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Connect with FEops at www.feops.com or on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/feops, or contact us via [email protected] Media Contact: Megan Duero, [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/concertais-terarecon-expands-its-clinical-ai-offering-in-cardiac-care-with-feops-heartguide-digital-twin-solution-301951188.html SOURCE ConcertAI

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[October 10, 2023] eMerge Americas Celebrates 10 Years of Cultivating Innovation and Transformation Tweet

eMerge Americas 2024 premier tech event promises to deliver an even bigger and better experience than ever before MIAMI, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMerge Americas , the premier global tech event held annually in Miami, proudly celebrates a decade of transformational work shaping the future of tech and innovation. eMerge Americas 2024 is gearing up to be the biggest and best conference + expo in the company's history. The event will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 18 - 19, 2024. "I am thrilled to celebrate such a momentous milestone with the South Florida tech ecosystem," said Melissa Medina, co-founder, chief executive officer and president of eMerge Americas. "eMerge is a true reflection of the amazing growth our region's tech ecosystem has experienced over the last decade. I'm excited to celebrate past achievements, hold steadfast in the present, and see what the next ten years brings us!" eMerge Americas 2024 will highlight a range of new and expanded features on the expo floor, including: eMerge Healthtech Innovation Hub : Powered by Jackson Health System and the University of Miami Health System, this expansive hub will serve as a connection point for healthcare providers seeking the latest tech solutions, ultimately advancing the future of health technology - a rapidly growing industry. The hub will include the most innovative health tech startups from across the globe and a dedicated stage providing expert insights and revolutionary ideas in the health tech space.

: Powered by Jackson Health System and the Health System, this expansive hub will serve as a connection point for healthcare providers seeking the latest tech solutions, ultimately advancing the future of health technology - a rapidly growing industry. The hub will include the most innovative health tech startups from across the globe and a dedicated stage providing expert insights and revolutionary ideas in the health tech space. AI Village: A new addition to the event, the AI Village will showcase dozens of AI solutions providers, ranging from startups to cutting-edge global organizations. Additionally, there will be a dedicated AI Theater featuring round-the-clock programming.

A new addition to the event, the AI Village will showcase dozens of AI solutions providers, ranging from startups to cutting-edge global organizations. Additionally, there will be a dedicated AI Theater featuring round-the-clock programming. Startup Alley : Positioned at the heart of the expo floor, Startup Alley will feature 110 startups across various sectors, suchas fintech, healthtech, edtech, climate tech, cybersecurity and more.

: Positioned at the heart of the expo floor, Startup Alley will feature 110 startups across various sectors, suchas fintech, healthtech, edtech, climate tech, cybersecurity and more. eMerge International Pavilion : The expansion of the eMerge International Pavilion will represent a diverse range of countries spanning North America , Latin America , Europe , and Asia . It will provide a platform for over 100 startups and tech companies to showcase their innovations.

: The expansion of the eMerge International Pavilion will represent a diverse range of countries spanning , , , and . It will provide a platform for over 100 startups and tech companies to showcase their innovations. Co-located Events: Returning to the conference is VC Latam Summit, attracting more than 500 venture capitalists from Latin America , and REACT Miami, gathering more than 500 developers and engineers. Both promise to enrich eMerge 2024 with diverse and dynamic audiences.



South Florida ecosystem," said Manuel D. Medina , founder and chairman of eMerge Americas. "The path to becoming a leading global tech hub takes a lot of passion, time, support, as well as a drive in a community that is unmatched. Experiencing the growth of the South Florida tech community alongside eMerge over the past ten years has been like watching a dream actualized." Over the course of two days, thought leaders from around the world will take the stage. Among them, keynote speaker and futurist Peter Diamandis, founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, executive founder of Singularity University, and four-time New York Times bestselling author. Diamandis holds a special place in eMerge Americas' history, as he served as the inaugural keynote speaker for the conference in 2014. Diamandis will share his insights on how powerful technologies such as synthetic biology, cloud computing, AI and robotics, and biotechnology are transforming the innovation landscape. Further distinguished speakers for the 2024 conference will be unveiled at a later date.

Several prominent companies are set to make their return for eMerge 2024, reaffirming their commitment to this premier tech event. Among those returning are industry giants such as Delta, Silicon Valley Bank, BIP Ventures, Dell, and Google. Additionally, eMerge is on pace to reach new heights beyond the 2023 event which hosted over 250 sponsors and exhibitors, a testament to the conference's growing influence in the tech and innovation ecosystem. eMerge Americas' founding partners, including Florida Funders, Miami-Dade County, Greenberg Traurig, and Miami Herald, continue to play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the success of the conference. eMerge Americas launched its inaugural tech event in 2014 and was founded by Melissa Medina and Manuel D. Medina. Over the past ten years, it has grown to 20,000 attendees traveling from more than 50 countries and over 4,000 unique participating organizations. To learn more about eMerge Americas, please visit emergeamericas.com . About eMerge Americas eMerge Americas is a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. The eMerge signature event, launched in 2014, is a global tech conference held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center, attracting more than 20,000 attendees from 50 countries and over 4,000 unique participating organizations. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes and hosts year-round executive summits, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, masterclasses, webinars, as well as publishes venture activity and investment insights reports. For the last decade, eMerge has served as a catalyst for innovation and investment across the Americas, working at the forefront of building the South Florida entrepreneurial and tech ecosystem. Visit www.emergeamericas.com for more information. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emerge-americas-celebrates-10-years-of-cultivating-innovation-and-transformation-301951617.html SOURCE eMerge Americas

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[October 10, 2023] ExaGrid's Q3 2023 Momentum Press Release Tweet

The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.ExaGrid, the industry's only Tiered Backup Storage solution, today announced that it had its strongest Q3 in the company's history, for the quarter ending September 30, 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010679742/en/ ExaGrid had a record third quarter and had just under 20% growth as compared to Q3 of 2022. ExaGrid continues to grow at about 20% per year. The company was Free Cash Flow (FCF) positive, P&L positive, and EBITDA positive for its 11th consecutive quarter. ExaGrid added 130 new customers in Q3 2023, including 2 large seven-figure new customer deals. ExaGrid has more than 4,000 active upper mid-market to large enterprise customers that use ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage to protect their data. ExaGrid's growth is accelerating, and the company is hiring to expand its sales teams worldwide. "ExaGrid is continuing to expand its reach and now has sales teams in more than 30 countries worldwide and customer installations in over 80 countries. We hit 4,000 active customer installations in Q3. ExaGrid was Cash, P&L, and EBITDA positive for the 11th quarter in a row. Outside of the United States, our business in Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific is rapidly growing and is now 45% of the business and we are adding more sales teams around the globe," said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. "Years ago, ExaGrid realized that no vendor was building storage specifically for backup, as they were all selling primary storage roducts as backup storage targets, which is expensive, or they were selling inline deduplication appliances, which are slow for backups and restores and result in costly forklift upgrades. Backup storage has unique needs, due to large backup jobs, incrementals, synthetic fulls, backup rotation, long-term retention, and many other aspects that make backup storage different than primary storage. ExaGrid's unique Tiered Backup Storage was built specifically to improve backup performance, restore performance, scalability as data grows, security, ransomware recovery, disaster recovery, and improve the economics of backup, with low costs up front and over time," said Andrews. "Primary storage is not as fast for large backup jobs, is typically not scalable, is very expensive for longer-term retention, and it is network-facing, making it vulnerable to security attacks. Inline deduplication appliances are slow for backups, slow for restores, are not scalable, and are also network-facing making them vulnerable to security attacks.



"ExaGrid prides itself on having a highly differentiated product that just works, does what we say it does, is sized properly, is well supported, and just gets the job done. We can back up these claims with our 95% net customer retention, NPS score of +81, and the fact that 94% of our customers have our Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery feature turned on, and 99.1% of our customers are on our yearly maintenance and support plan," said Andrews. Highlights of Q3 2023:

Two large seven-figure new customer deals in the quarter

11th consecutive quarter of Cash, EBITDA, and P&L positive operations About ExaGrid ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrid's Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid's scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier, delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks. ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions. Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score! ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010679742/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Kymeta Launches First Multi-Orbit, On-the-Move Flat-Panel Antenna for Military Users Tweet

World-leading flat-panel satellite antenna company, Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), announced today at AUSA 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition the launch of the Osprey u8 HGL, a hybrid geostationary/low Earth orbit (GEO/LEO) terminal purpose-built for military users. Leveraging Eutelsat Group's (formally known as OneWeb) LEO satellite network, the Osprey u8 HGL is a complete, customizable solution that can be easily mounted on a wide array of military vehicles and vessels, providing connectivity on-the-move. This marks the first commercially available multi-orbit terminal and the first multi-orbit terminal on Eutelsat Group's LEO network. Kymeta is taking orders now, with the first shipments set to go out in early Q1 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010282273/en/ The Osprey u8 HGL terminal (Graphic: Business Wire) This new hybrid solution builds upon Kymeta's existing portfolio of products and expertise. Kymeta's military-focused Osprey u8 GEO terminal was launched in March 2022 and is currently in use by multiple branches of the United States Department of Defense in ongoing conflicts. In January 2023, Kymeta launched the Hawk u8 LEO, followed closely by the Peregrine u8 LEO for maritime customers in March, which have both been type approved on the LEO network, wit shipments going out daily to global customers. With the Osprey u8 HGL, Kymeta will deliver truly resilient, auto-PACE ready communications for the armed forces to meet the demands of challenging and rugged military environments. The multi-orbit capabilities of the Osprey u8 HGL will offer even greater availability, while being durable, highly customizable, low power, low visibility, and easy to use, requiring no satcom expertise.



"In today's modern military environments, connectivity on the move has cemented itself as one of the critical keys to success," said Walter Berger, President and Co-CEO, Kymeta. "More than any sector, the military demands truly reliable, flexible, and durable on-the-move communications to enable its operational and training requirements. Our new terminal delivers military customers the resilient communications they need by allowing them to easily switch between LEO and GEO multi-orbit networks, always ensuring availability and redundancy. With the collaboration of both Eutelsat and OneWeb, now Eutelsat Group, we're proud to continue our proven track record with the military to provide innovative, market-leading solutions." Chris Moore, retired 2* RAF Officer and VP Defence & Security at Eutelsat OneWeb added, "Each orbit has its unique strengths, so if you combine LEO and GEO together, you get the benefits of both, especially if you create a multi-layered architecture to make them work together. It's this that will prove invaluable to armed forces, with users being able to route their data via the most optimal means.

"By partnering with Kymeta and its innovative terminal solutions like the Osprey u8 HGL, we can provide militaries with fast, high bandwidth and low latency connectivity - wherever they are in the world." "The Kymeta Osprey u8 HGL multi-orbit on-the-move antenna is a leap forward in innovation, offering warfighters in military environments a lifeline when no other communications source might be available," said Kevin Steen, CEO of OneWeb Technologies, the U.S. proxy of Eutelsat OneWeb. "We are proud to put this innovative new LEO-GEO multi-orbit solution in the hands of our U.S. military customers, empowering them with unmatched, truly reliable and resilient global connectivity capabilities." Attendees of the upcoming AUSA 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, DC on October 9-11 are encouraged to visit booth #4256 to see the Osprey u8 HGL in person and to speak with a member of the Kymeta team. About Kymeta Kymeta is the industry leader in flat panel satellite antennas, providing purpose-built solutions across a variety of enterprise and military applications and unlocking the commercial value of space to address the vast, unmet demand for ubiquitous broadband and truly mobile connectivity for customers around the world. Its innovative metasurface technology, coupled with a software-first approach, delivers the first commercially available, metamaterial-based and electronically steered flat panel satellite antenna. Kymeta's low-cost, low power and high throughput solutions make it easy to connect on the move or while stationary - for any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or fixed platform - enabling industries on earth to transform their operations by harnessing capacity in space. Kymeta is a privately held company based in Redmond, Washington. For more information, visit kymetacorp.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010282273/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Medical Liability Specialist Patti Posta Joins Alliant Insurance Services in New Jersey Tweet

Patti Posta has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Vice President within its Alliant Americas division. Based in Red Bank, New Jersey, Posta has extensive experience in the medical liability space, working with physicians throughout the greater New York/New Jersey area. Posta joins Alliant with a diverse background spanning the fields of insurance, employee benefits, business development, consulting and Medicare. As part of Alliant's growing Northeast team, Posta will leverage her experience to further expand Alliant's presence in this key market. "Over more than 14 years in the industry, Patti has developed an intimate understanding of the changing risk dynamics facing today's physicians and their practices," said Bob Bennetsen, Executive Vice President and Senior Managing Director with Alliant. "Her depth of relatioships and keen market intelligence will provide a powerful asset to our team as we continue to grow our presence in the medical liability vertical."



Prior to joining Alliant, Posta was Vice President of Business Development with a professional liability insurer in New Jersey. She also has experience as an independent life and health insurance professional and sales representative within the payroll industry. Posta holds a degree in communications from Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, New Jersey, and is licensed in health, life, and casualty from the American School of Business.

Posta can be reached at (908) 304-4522 or [email protected]. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nation's leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com. #TheMoreRewardingWay View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010358932/en/

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Trimble, a leader in construction technology, brought together companies and industry leaders to discuss the latest insights and trends in construction software technology solutions at its recent Tekla Users Day 2023 Middle East event.

Technical experts, engineers, and developers from several companies learnt about the newest Tekla innovations and tools, networked with other Tekla users in the Middle East, and exchanged disruptive ideas.

The event was a success and another milestone in the companys mission of encouraging businesses to adopt cutting-edge technology and facilitating strategic discussions on the industry's future.

Ground-breaking trends

Tekla User Day (TUD) is an annual premier event that honours the community of Trimble's Tekla users, professionals, and innovators, providing an excellent setting for exploring advanced structural design and Building Information Modelling (BIM) solutions in greater detail. With numerous categories and sessions that included talks, live Q&As, chats, polls, and other brainstorming sessions, the two-day conference highlighted a range of ground-breaking trends and ideas.

Paul Wallett, the Regional Director of Trimble Solutions Middle East and India, said: Technology adoption is crucial, but it may not be relatively easy as it requires users to learn and comprehend how those technologies work to address specific problems and utilise them accurately for major projects in the region. We believe technology makes it possible for construction teams to make effective changes in the project and assess the effects of those changes in real-time to make economic decisions. They also allow for the early detection of potential errors that may affect the project, making it critical for businesses to learn about these new and developing technologies through forums or events, such as our Tekla Users Day.

The adoption of advanced technology in the construction industry necessitates the development of skills, knowledge, training, as well as a dedicated R&D budget to explore potential solutions. These technologies empower construction teams to simulate project changes in real-time, enabling cost-effective decision-making and early error detection. Staying informed about emerging technologies is thus crucial for businesses, and Trimble, as a solutions provider, hopes to play an important role in driving this awareness.

"In 2022, technology adoption in the construction industry surpassed 50% for the first time, according to reports in the PwC Middle East CP&I survey. Our Tekla Users Day underscores the industry's commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and innovation and stands out as one of the key events in the region as companies continue to learn new aspects about the technology, Wallett added.

Tekla BIM Awards 2023

Trimble also took upon the opportunity to announce the winners of its Tekla BIM Awards 2023 which focused on honouring construction industry players and mega projects in the Middle East. The winners included Oman Botanic Garden- AIC Steel for the Public Vote, The King Abdullah International Gardens  KAIGAIC Steel for Public Projects, The Coastal Village Residential - Red Sea Global  Group Amana for Commercial projects, Assuit Turbine Pedestal Foundation PGESCO for Industrial projects, The Move - North Beach Crescent - Steel Bridge - Zamil Steel - Cairo Office for Infrastructure Projects and Masdar HQ Building  Ramboll Engineers Co for Small Projects, respectively.

By promoting active dialogue with regard to the latest and emerging trends in the industry, Trimble paves the way for a connected, better-informed market that can take advantage of advanced technologies to fuel growth. With a strong focus on delivering efficient construction technology solutions, Trimble hopes to educate and attract new businesses that are prepared to take advantage of new technologies.--TradeArabia News Service
WELLINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Changing the way of management of New Zealand's oceans could save its biodiverse-rich, critically endangered deep-water coral, said a study published on Tuesday.

New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot for deepwater coral as about one-sixth of the known deep-water coral species of the world have been recorded in the country's waters, said the study published in the Journal of Environmental Management.

Deep-water corals are under threat due to ocean warming and acidification due to climate change, as well as from the physical impacts of bottom trawling, it said, adding deep-water corals are ecologically important because they provide critical benthic structure for other species.

Fish live inside their reefs and some of these reefs can extend large distances, covering hundreds of square kilometers, the study said, adding these reefs are also significant sites of carbon and nitrogen mineralization.

The findings show that bottom trawling impacts all coral taxa, particularly reef-forming corals, according to lead researcher Fabrice Stephenson from the University of Waikato.

Habitats will also decline in the future due to a changing climate, Stephenson said, adding spatial marine protection is unlikely to provide enough conservation for deep-water corals in the future, due to shifts associated with climate change and fishing.

The research identifies new areas for spatial marine protection that can provide protection for corals against a changing climate while still giving refuge to current populations, Stephenson said.

It takes decades, if not centuries, for some species of deep-water coral to recover, he added.

The study was jointly conducted by the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, the University of Waikato, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, the Victoria University of Wellington, and the Department of Conservation. 
[October 10, 2023] Eden Green Accelerates Growth to Meet Rising Market Demand Tweet

Dallas, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eden Green Technology (Eden Green), a next-generation indoor vertical farming company, today announced plans to scale commercial production to meet rising market demand. As part of this initiative, Eden Green broke ground on their $40 million Phase 2 expansion of their Cleburne campus, and welcomed Will Parkey as Chief Financial Officer to accelerate the companys strategic growth.

Extreme weather events, an unstable market and an ever-rising demand for fresh, affordable produce year round has created a perfect storm in our food supply chain. Eden Green was founded to solve these challenges and this next phase of growth is a critical stepping stone, said Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green. Bringing on an executive with such deep experience in strategic growth, while simultaneously expanding our capacity, will dramatically accelerate our ability to deliver accessible, delicious produce to the average consumer.

Eden Green is pioneering a hybrid approach to controlled environment agriculture (CEA), combining vertical farming within a greenhouse to increase yield and improve efficiency. Leveraging patented hydroponic technology, the company uses 95% less electricity than indoor farms, and is able to price lettuce at up to $2 less per head compared to its greenhouse and vertical farm competitors. Eden Green plans to build a network of 20 greenhouses across the United States over the next five years. This month, the company broke ground on two additional greenhouses in Cleburne, TX. Both facilities are expected to open in early 2025 and create 100 new jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Together, the two greenhouses are expected to triple the companys growing capacity and enable the further development of innovative technologies that improve efficiency, reduce impact and extend freshness. Once operational, Eden Green will be able to produce just under six million pounds of lettuce per year on ts Cleburne campus.



Shepherding Eden Green into its next phase of growth, Will Parkey joins the company as Chief Financial Officer, where he is responsible for leading financial operations and driving the companys strategic expansion. He brings over ten years of experience in financial management and strategic growth, having held CFO roles at Amtel, one of the largest operators of T-Mobile retail stores, and Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company, the producers of TX Whiskey and TX Bourbon. Prior to holding executive roles, Parkey worked in private equity and investment banking. Parkeys proven track record of positioning companies for growth includes executing five add-on acquisitions while at Amtel, growing the companys store base from 150 to over 300 before guiding the company through a merger with the largest legacy Sprint operating partner in 2023. At Firestone & Robertson, Parkey played a critical role in growing the company until it was successfully acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2019. At Eden Green, Parkey will focus on optimizing the unit economics of the companys existing greenhouse operations while posturing the company for expansion throughout the country.

This is an exciting time to join Eden Green. Controlled environment agriculture is beginning to find its footing, and the market demand for sustainable, safe and affordable produce year round is only continuing to grow, said Parkey. Eden Green has combined proprietary technology with a unique distribution model to create a strong foundation for rapid growth within this emerging space. As the company enters this new phase, I look forward to driving strategic development and helping advance Eden Greens incredible mission. Eden Green facilities are located within one mile of major retail distribution centers, enabling 48-hour delivery from greenhouse to store and a 95% reduction in transportation miles. Today, the company supplies ?two million pounds of produce a year to multiple retailers across the United States, including to over 400 Walmarts in Texas and Oklahoma through white-label and private-label offerings. For more information on Eden Green Technology, visit edengreen.com. About Eden Green Technology

Eden Green Technology, a Dallas-Fort Worth-based privately held company, is on a mission to provide hyperfresh and locally-grown produce for all. Eden Green Technology offers producers, retailers and suppliers an alternative to traditional agriculture; a decentralized network of greenhouses that provides access to safe, always-available, locally-grown produce year-round for retail, white-label and private-label solutions. The companys proprietary microclimate environments, hydroponic vine systems and cutting-edge lighting solutions allow for rapid construction and expansion, increasing access and production profitably. With local and national distribution channels, everyone can benefit from fresher, safer and healthier food. Eden Green reserves up to 10% of each harvest for philanthropic donation. Learn more at www.edengreen.com Contact:

Eden Green Technology

[email protected]



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[October 10, 2023] Media Alert: Socure's CEO Johnny Ayers to Speak at Money20/20 with "Trafficked" Host Mariana Van Zeller on Unmasking the Multi-Billion Dollar Scam Industry Tweet

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Socure , the leading provider of digital identity verification and fraud solutions, has announced that CEO Johnny Ayers will join Mariana Van Zeller, host of National Geographic's Trafficked, for a talk at Money20/20. The two will dive into the real-world inner workings of scams while offering guidance for the financial industry on how to identify and root out bad actors. Session Title: Trafficked: Unmasking the Multi-Billion Dollar Scam Industry with Mariana Van Zeller and Johnny Ayers

Date: Monday, October 23

Time: 3:25pmPT

Location: The Exchange Stage (main stage)

Media Contact: Alina Tichacek Ip (email: socure@methodcommunications.com) From romance swindles to crypto heists, scams are increasingly sophisticated, organized, and more ifficult to solve as they often lie just beyond typical financial system controls. But banks and fintechs may be about to feel mounting pain. Last year, Americans lost more than $10 billion to online scams. Now the CFPB is looking to crack down on P2P fraud, often linked to these scams, by shifting liability to receiving banks.



Johnny and Mariana will cover the following topics In this session: How do the various scams work?

What is driving the increase in attacks?

Can we unearth these patterns in the fraud and identity data that flows through the digital economy? Money20/20 was founded in 2012 by payments and fintech veterans from Google, TSYS, and Citi. Since then, the event has solidified its position as the leading global stage where stories unfold and the future is shaped. It's where the payments, banking, fintech, and financial services communities unite to create new and disruptive ways to move, manage, spend, and borrow money.

To learn how to leverage trusted identity to unlock digital interactions at onboarding and throughout the customer journey, or to book an on-site meeting at Money20/20 with a product expert, visit www.socure.com/money2020 . About Socure

Socure is the leading platform for digital identity verification and trust. Its predictive analytics platform applies artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques with trusted online/offline data intelligence from physical government-issued documents as well as email, phone, address, IP, device, velocity, date of birth, SSN, and the broader internet to verify identities in real-time. The company has more than 1,800 customers across the financial services, government, gaming, healthcare, telecom, and e-commerce industries, including four of the top five banks, 13 of the top 15 card issuers, the top three MSBs, the top payroll provider, the top credit bureau, the top online gaming operator, the top Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) providers, and over 400 of the largest fintechs. Marquee customers include Chime, SoFi, Robinhood, Gusto, Public, Poshmark, Stash, DraftKings, the State of California, and Florida's Homeowner Assistance Fund. Socure customers have become investors in the company, including Citi Ventures, Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, Capital One Ventures, and MVB Bank. Additional investors include Accel, T. Rowe Price, Commerce Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Sorenson, Flint Capital, Two Sigma Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and others. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/media-alert-socures-ceo-johnny-ayers-to-speak-at-money2020-with-trafficked-host-mariana-van-zeller-on-unmasking-the-multi-billion-dollar-scam-industry-301951825.html SOURCE Socure

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[October 10, 2023] Veering Toward an Electric Future: San Francisco-Based Company Veer Set to Transform The Light Electric Vehicle Industry With Its Innovative Next-Gen Drivetrains Tweet

Seeking to make Light Electric Vehicles more efficient, affordable, and reliable drives Veer's forward-thinking vision and mission as the company gears up for a groundbreaking StartEngine Campaign SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veer, ( https://www.veercycle.com/ ), a pioneering San Francisco-based company, is driven to revolutionize the eBike and Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) industry with its next-gen drivetrains. Harnessing the strength of carbon fiber drivetrains and innovative drive systems, Veer is striving to replace age-old chain drives and gearbox transmissions, aiming to modernize LEVs as cities race towards electrified transportation. Fueled by its mission to combat climate change, Veer seeks to accelerate the adoption of LEV usage for local transportation. The company has identified existing challenges with LEVs; they need to have more range, more power, and be more affordable. Veer offers innovative solutions, especially its Shift Drive system, which makes LEVs significantly more affordable and efficient. Veer's recent partnership with Phatfour, (https://www.phatfour.com/en-GB ), a Dutch-based eBike brand, and the unveiling of its Super Belt and Xpert Drive product lines at Eurobike emphasize the company's progressive trajectory. Veer is also in the process of developing its patented Shift system, a 2-speed shifting mechanism set to redefine LEV efficiency. Veer also recently launched a StartEngine campaign, ( https://www.startengine.com/offering/veer ), to accelerate the launch of the company's Shift Drive.



"The technology used in LEVs today is antiquated, rooted in designs over 140 years old," said Sean Hacking, founder and chief technical officer of Veer. "Our Shift Drive System eliminates the need for traditional chain systems and gearboxes, which not only have higher costs but also demand regular maintenance. Our system allows for seamless and efficient shifting on traditionally single-speed drives, ensuring optimal motor performance across various speeds." Many LEVs, like eScooters and eMotorcycles, do not have a method to change gears, causing the electric drive system to have trouble operating at the most efficient speed, limiting range and performance. Development and integration of new technologies into different vehicle designs is difficult and expensive, holding back the entire industry. Veer's technologies are innovated specifically for LEVs and ease of integration into the vehicles. Their initial innovation, Split Belt, was the first spliced belt drive that allowed eBikes to adopt the benefits of low maintenance and durability of belt drives with the installation ease of a chain.

Highlighting the company's market advances, Hacking noted, "The LEV industry is experiencing rapid growth and is prime for fresh innovation. Every LEV using a chain drive is part of our target. We are focused on delivering a more reliable, cost-effective, and safer drivetrain system that aligns with our vision of a sustainable future." Statistics reveal a promising opportunity for Veer in the LEV market. By 2027, the worldwide bicycle market is projected to surge to $147.24 billion, according to a recent Fortune Business Insights report. Additionally, the electric bike market, valued at $28.87 billion in 2023, is expected to hit $52.59 billion by 2028 as highlighted in a recent Mordor Intelligence report. For users, the benefits of Veer's Shift Belt Drive system are many-fold, ranging from increased efficiency, reduced maintenance, increased durability, cleaner usage, smoother performance, and lighter weight. Above all, the Shift system allows LEVs to use smaller motors and batteries, decreasing the overall cost of vehicles so they are more accessible to the public. ABOUT VEER Veer, rooted in innovation, seeks to democratize access to belt drives and electric mobility. For more information, please visit www.veercycle.com . Media Contact:

George Pappas

Conservaco/The Ignite Agency

562 857-5680

366708@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veering-toward-an-electric-future-san-francisco-based-company-veer-set-to-transform-the-light-electric-vehicle-industry-with-its-innovative-next-gen-drivetrains-301952299.html SOURCE Veer

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[October 10, 2023] Fastr to Offer Adaptive AI for Ecommerce Optimization Tweet

Zmags, a leader in digital experience transformation, is rebranding as Fastr. The name change coincides with the launch of FastrAI, Fastr Frontend's new adaptive AI. FastrAI streamlines ecommerce experience creation in support of multivariate experimentation and fast iteration. It learns from tests, ensuring ongoing optimization for brands. "Whether you're aiming to improve conversion rates, increase average order value, or drive engagement, we can get you there disruptively faster," says Ryan Breen, CTO, Fastr. "The traditional process for experimenting on ecommerce sites is either too limited or too slow. Brands can't hit their aggressive targets with incremental improvements to copy or button colors. And they can't wait for long prototyping and development handoff cycles to create experience variants to test. With Fastr Frontend, brands can test intelligent ecommerce-enabled experiences like upsell carousels or dynamic bundle offers without tapping into their developer resources. And FastrAI adapts with each test to generate optimized experiences in minutes, meaning new tests are in-market faster than ever before." FastrAI is built in to Fastr Frontend's powerful new user interface - the Experience Canvas. With Penpot's open-source design collaboration platform at its foundation - a tool loved by both designers and developers, the Canvas provides robust design tools, asset and component libraries for easy brand management and creative speed, the ability t work together in real-time, and integrations to orchestrate your ecommerce technology ecosystem. Non-developers can easily set conditions for dynamic experiences without writing code. For teams with development resources, the platform also offers easy access to create and manage the underlying integrations for complete control of your composable ecosystem.



"After getting our hands on the new Experience Canvas for our Dolfin Swimwear site, our content creation velocity and output really soared," says J.R. Vanko, Marketing & Ecommerce Manager at Elite Sportswear. "We quickly knew we had to leverage the platform's power for our GK Elite site, too, and are already realizing the same efficiency gains. We're beyond excited by the enhanced capability and speed we now have to create and deploy content, as well as the ability to experiment more consistently on both sites." The newly updated Fastr Frontend platform enables ecommerce leaders to deploy with enterprise-grade confidence. It ensures all AI-generated content is optimized for accessibility and SEO; is restricted to leverage brand guidelines (like typographies, colors, and logo marks) and owned content; supports Core Web Vitals (ensuring optimized design and API calls for fastest rendering) and delivers multi-language support, providing the ability to scale to as many locales as needed.

Join the waitlist for Fastr Frontend with AI capabilities by signing up at https://getfastr.com/FastrAI-Waitlist. About Fastr Fastr Frontend is the first AI-enhanced Digital Experience Composition platform built for ecommerce leaders, empowering them to rapidly create, deploy, and optimize dynamic shopping journeys that engage customers and grow revenue. Combining best-in-class design tools with powerful integration and orchestration capabilities, Fastr Frontend allows non-developers to control every aspect of their ecommerce site without dependence on developers. The AI-fueled acceleration in speed-to-market for new ideas fosters business-critical experimentation and ongoing adaptive experience optimization. In 2023, the makers of Fastr Frontend established Fastr as the corporate identity for two newly unified businesses: Zmags, founded in 2006 and known for its Publicator digital catalog solution and Creator Studio software, and Be A Part Of, the award-winning agency that Zmags acquired the prior year. Headquartered in Boston with a distributed worldwide team, Fastr powers innovative ecommerce experiences for brands and retailers of all sizes through its business-empowering technology platforms and custom design and development services packages. Fastr is backed by Akmazo Capital. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010016850/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Lear Capital Releases George Washington Coins, First In 'Shrine of Democracy' Series Tweet

An exciting and unique "Shrine of Democracy" gold and silver coin series issued by Lear Capital kicks off with the release of George Washington coins that celebrate the birth of the United States. The four coins in the new series each feature one of the four presidents sculpted on Mount Rushmore. They are designed to honor the accomplishments of the acclaimed presidents and the storied history of the U.S. while offering buyers the opportunity to invest in the lasting value of precious metal coins. Lear Capital is issuing the coin series as the country approaches its 250th birthday in 2026. The coins are based on America's "Shrine of Democracy," as creator and sculptor Gutzon Borglum called his colossal sculpture at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot-tall busts of four presidents carved into granite: Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The George Washington coins feature the face of Washington and the scripted word "Birth," which reflects the original intention of Borglum. The native of Idaho and son of Danish immigrants wanted each presidential face to represent diferent aspects of American history and tradition: birth (Washington), growth (Jefferson), development (Roosevelt), and preservation (Lincoln).



"These George Washington coins, the first in our 'Shrine of Democracy' series, are something we have dreamed of doing and planned to accomplish for a long time. They represent our passionate belief in the principles and values of the United States, as well as our reverence for the accomplishments of these distinguished presidents," said John Ohanesian, the CEO of Lear Capital. "We wanted to create something of inherent value with the gold and silver coins, but also something that reflects the nation's rich history and great leaders." The George Washington coins include a 1.5-ounce silver coin and a 0.25-ounce gold coin. The coins are officially from the state of Niue, a self-governing territory of New Zealand where the official head of state is King Charles III. The monarch's face is on the obverse of the coin.

The .9999 gold coin has a half-ounce denomination, while the .999 silver coin has a one and a half ounce denomination. The mintage is 300,000 for the silver coin and 30,000 for the gold coin. The George Washington coins will become available to the public mid October. The other coins in the series, which will have the same mintage and denomination, are expected to become available at a rate of one every six months. About Lear Capital Founded in 1997 by Kevin DeMeritt, a precious metals expert and analyst, and the author of The Bulls, the Bears, and the Bust, Lear Capital offers investors the chance to diversify their portfolios with unique approaches to purchasing precious metals, including its Gold and Silver IRAs. Employing a team dedicated to providing investors with real-time information and pricing on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, Lear Capital is uniquely positioned to offer investors the convenience of online capabilities with the expertise and support of a brick-and-mortar institution. To date, the team has handled more than $3 billion in trusted transactions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010687256/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Knoxville Beverage Company and Provi Announce Partnership to Simplify Ordering for Licensed Retailers Throughout Tennessee Tweet

Knoxville Beverage Company, a premium wine and spirits wholesaler in Tennessee, and Provi, the largest online marketplace for the beverage alcohol industry, today announced a new partnership to meet the evolving digital needs of their licensed retail customers. The partnership will enable on-and-off-premise retailers throughout Tennessee to discover, search and order Knoxville Beverage Company's portfolio on Provi's marketplace. "As the needs of our business and customers continue to evolve, we are excited to partner with Provi and implement a best-in-class digital solution into our operations," said Chris Moats, Vice President, Knoxville Beverage Company. "This partnership provides our customers with 24/7 access to our portfolio online and generates increased communication between our sales reps and retailers." Knoxville Beverage Company has continued to enhance and expand its capabilities by staying calibrated to its licensed retail customers. The Provi partnership is a reflection of the company's efforts to meet retailers where they are and seamlessly offer their premium brands from innovative producers and suppliers to bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout the state. "We are thrilled to partner with Knoxville Beverage Company as we have a shared ethos of a customer-first indset," said Manali Patel, VP, Distributor Partnerships, Provi. "Our mission at Provi is to bring greater efficiency to the beverage alcohol industry and the existing three tier system and our partnership with Knoxville Beverage brings us closer to that goal."



Provi's online marketplace simplifies the complex beverage ordering process between retailers and distributors. Through the partnership, Provi reduces administrative work for Knoxville Beverage Company sales representatives throughout Tennessee resulting in increased revenue and sales. To discover and shop Knoxville Beverage Company portfolio, visit their custom storefront on Provi.

### About Knoxville Beverage Company

Founded in 1961, Knoxville Beverage Company is fortunate to represent many of the world's most recognized spirits and wine brands in the East Tennessee Marketing area. Our company experiences consistent growth which management attributes to having the best employees, selling the perfect variety of products, while providing the best possible customer service. About Provi (www.provi.com)

Provi is the largest online marketplace that simplifies the complex process of ordering wholesale alcohol by connecting buyers, distributors, and suppliers. Active in key markets throughout the U.S., Provi's robust online marketplace improves communication and efficiency for on- and off-premise buyers, distributors, and suppliers. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Provi received Built In Chicago's Best Places to Work recognition in 2022. In 2022, Provi joined forces with SevenFifty, which included the Beverage Media properties with an industry legacy dating back to the repeal of prohibition, along with SevenFifty Daily, an award-winning industry publication discussing the beverage alcohol business and culture. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010195326/en/

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[October 10, 2023] Infinicept Partners with Payments Consulting Firm Payment Visor Tweet

DENVER, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Infinicept, a leading provider of embedded payments, and Payment Visor, a payment management consulting firm, today announced a partnership that brings together critical payments expertise with Infinicepts Payfac-as-Service and embedded payments platform.

Infinicepts payments solutions, and Payment Visors advisory services, meet customers where they are on their embedded payments journey. With the necessary support, guidance, and technology, software companies are empowered to accelerate growth. Payment Visor is a trusted partner in the industry, and we are thrilled to be working with their team, said Deana Rich, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Infinicept. By aligning with Payment Visor, we can provide even more value to our customers when they need added expertise to navigate the payments landscape. Regardless of whether organizations are just beginning or moving further along their embedded payments journey, working with Infinicept and Payment Visor creates a roadmap for success that accelerates speed to market, creates efficiency, and provides the freedom to grow. Infinicept is a visionary organization that is committed to doing everything it can to help its customers, said Suzie Bookout, CEO Payment Visor. Working together and taking a collaborative approach means that we can create even better outcomes for our clients as they advance in payments. We look forward to developing many new opportunities for both our organizations. Embedded payments innovator Infinicept empowers software companies to improve customer experience and drive revenue. The companys solution for monetizing payments, Launchpay, enables customers to add payments to their business quickly without any upfront costs or deveopment work. With Launchpay, Infinicept customers maintain control over merchant data, paving the way to becoming a full payment facilitator. The Payment Operations (PayOps) Platform allows companies to achieve the benefits of embedded payments without any trade-offs to maintain ownership of the payments product.



Weve had tremendous success with our embedded payments platform over the years, said Todd Ablowitz, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Infinicept. To support our clients even further, we recently added a flexible Payfac as a Service model for vertical software companies. These solutions and services dovetail with Payment Visors expertise and approach to working with customers. Software businesses will greatly benefit from the power of this partnership. Payment Visors team of experts leverages advanced technologies, such as Infinicept, to empower small and medium-sized businesses with simplified, modernized business solutions that enhance scalability and elevate business growth. Its team of payments industry veterans brings an extensive and deep understanding of the industry landscape and the challenges businesses face in creating payments programs and strategies. Payment Visor transforms legacy IT systems into integrated environments that drive payments optimization, innovation, and risk management through streamlined solutions that optimize infrastructure and maximize revenue. Its wide range of advisory services includes creating proof of concept, go-to-market strategy, tech stack recommendations, inside and outside sales team support, and more.

For more information, visit: https://www.infinicept.com and/or https://www.paymentvisor.com/. About Infinicept

Infinicept is a provider of embedded payment solutions and services that help software companies gain the advantages of embedded payments, including increased revenue and more control of the merchant experience. More than 300 leading software companies, payment processors, sponsor banks, and others rely on Infinicept to help them transform to the new era of software-led payments. Winner of the Electronic Transaction Association Fintech Innovation in Payments Award, Infinicept is also a founding member of the Embedded Payments Bill of Rights (EPBOR). About Payment Visor

Payment Visor is a management consulting and advisory firm for Integrated Software Vendors (ISVs) and merchants seeking support for their payments strategies. By delivering simplified modernized business solutions that are designed to enhance scalability and elevate business growth, Payment Visor solves critical payments needs for small and medium-sized business owners and software partners. The team of experts delivers exceptional experiences and impactful results, making Payment Visor a trusted advisor to its clients.

Media Contact Tracie Poland Infinicept, Inc. [email protected]

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[October 10, 2023] Veza Introduces Next-Gen IGA Solution to Deliver Identity Security for the Enterprise Tweet

Today Veza, the identity security company, announced the launch of its Next-Gen IGA (Identity Governance and Administration) solution. The solution comprises the Veza Access Control Platform and new products for provisioning and deprovisioning, access reviews, access visibility, and access intelligence. By approaching governance with a focus on permissions and automation, Next-Gen IGA reduces identity risks, decreases the costs of governance, and accelerates access to apps and data anywhere. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010535539/en/ Veza Access Control Platform (Photo: Business Wire) Identity security is a top priority because research shows that 80% of cyberattacks leverage identity-based techniques. Organizations need processes to reduce the permissions sprawl that allows attacks to succeed. Reflecting that need, NIST has proposed the addition of "govern" to its widely-used Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)--the first update in a decade. According to Gartner Market Guide for Identity Governance and Administration, "IGA tools have not kept up with demand for machine (device and workload) identity management capabilities, forcing companies to pursue separate solutions in many cases." Traditional IGA products have blind spots with access because they were built for an era with dramatically fewer permissions. Next-Gen IGA is the new standard for governance, managing access with authorization entities of roles and permissions instead of users and groups. It enables organizations to visualize and right-size access permissions with automation of traditional access reviews and identity lifecycle provisioning. By adopting Next-Gen IGA, companies are able to: Unify the fragmented access lifecycle with one solution that brings forward access visibility and access intelligence, and handles access provisioning with ad hoc access requests. Visualize who can take what action on what data by understanding the user/group relationships via roles and policies, and effective permissions to resources. Find and fix policy violations automatically, including privilege access, dormant accounts, and segregation of duty policies. Integrate quickly with any enterprise system, whether on-premise or in the cloud. Monitor all human identities, machine identities, and service accounts. Veza powers Next-Gen IGA with the Veza Access Control Platform, which ingests and analyzes authorization permission metadata from enterprise systems and organizes it into the Veza Authorization Graph. Veza's platform understands the unique access mechanisms (RBAC, ABAC, ACLs) of over 150 enterprise systems, including SaaS apps, data systems, and cloud infrastructure and transforms that into a canonical data model. Security and IAM teams use Veza for use cases like privileged access monitoring, SaaS access security, cloud entitlement management, access review automation, and lifecycle management. "Identity is the cornerstone of every business initiative. Security teams want enterprise access governance, but they are struggling with the sprawl of identities and the complexity of achieving least privilege access in today's modern IT landscape that s full of point products," said Tarun Thakur, Co-Founder and CEO of Veza. "It's time for a paradigm shift for the entire identity lifecycle. Veza's Access Control Platform brings the power of our Authorization Graph to all identity access use cases - access visibility, access intelligence, and access reviews - in a single unified platform solution. With our new products, we are adding lifecycle management for provisioning and deprovisioning with native support from HRIS systems (Workday) to any identity provider (AD, Azure AD, Okta, etc.) and to any enterprise system."



The Veza platform includes the following products and features: Access Visibility Visualize the effective permissions resulting from the mix of identities, roles, groups, permissions, and resources across the organization. Search permissions by identity or resource, in near real-time, through an intuitive interface with advanced query operators. New capabilities include: AND/OR operators for advanced search, identity access to multiple resources, risk visualization on the Authorization Graph, support for advanced IAM properties, and hierarchical role visualization.

Access Intelligence Leverage 500+ out-of-the-box analyses that provide comprehensive and actionable insights into risky permissions and compliance violations across all apps and systems. Create custom queries based on organization priorities. Recommendations for access to be removed. Access Monitoring to detect over-permissioned access in Snowflake. New capabilities include: segregation of duty (SOD) policies, Access Monitoring for over-permissioned access in AWS IAM, Veza Query Builder to show authorization relationships, ability to compare users, User/Role/Group analysis for joiner-mover-leaver reports, SaaS misconfigurations, risk levels, and ability to designate reports as public or private for different teams across the enterprise.

Lifecycle Management Automate the identity birthright provisioning process and manage the joiner/mover/leaver lifecycle of user accounts. Trigger actions when a user account is changed in an HRIS system, such as Workday. Provision fine-grained permissions to follow the principle of least privilege, and deprovision access completely for departing employees. New capabilities include: access profiles, native rules engine, canonical roles, and integrations to Workday, Active Directory, and Okta.

Access Reviews Quickly generate audit-ready reports that summarize access review campaigns at the most granular level, including permissions data to specific resources. Demonstrate compliance with regulations such as SOX, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR. Run campaigns to verify user access and certify and recertify entitlements. Visualize and understand the impact of remediation steps before taking action. New capabilities include: Smart Actions and Bulk Actions for automating access reviews, access review delegation, mobile readiness for certifications, certification analytics, and access review intelligence with auto approve and reject.

Integrations 25 new integrations to secure access to critical HR / ERP / CRM applications and infrastructure services, such as Veza for Workday, Veza for ServiceNow, Veza for Kubernetes, Veza for AWS Secrets Manager, Veza for Open.AI, Veza for ElasticSearch, and more. Get the complete view of access with 150+ out-of-the-box integrations to providers like Salesforce, Box.com, ServiceNow, NetSuite, Coupa, Oracle Cloud Fusion, Jira Server, Workday, AWS Cognito, GCP CloudRun, MongoDB Atlas, Workato, Windows Server Accounts, ADP Workforce Now, and more.

"Identity security is one of the core pillars of our cybersecurity program, and Veza has been an instrumental partner in our journey," said Kumar Dasani, Chief Information Security Officer, Digital River. "With Next-Gen IGA, Veza gives us clear visibility into the access of all users across our environment. Moreover, the Veza platform allows us to manage the entire lifecycle of an identity, meeting both security and compliance needs. With its ability to continuously monitor permissions and maintain least privilege across all data stores and assets, Veza is empowering our teams to move as quickly as the business."

"Existing IGA products automate workflows without understanding request intent such as needed permissions, leading to undesired or unknown outcomes," said Tom Baltis, VP, CISO at Delta Dental Insurance. "Next generation IGA platforms must support and automate effective decision-making to deliver on-demand least privilege access. A data-driven approach applying AI/ML analytics to human and machine identities at scale will enable, for example, autonomous provisioning/deprovisioning, detection and remediation of over-privileged access, and machine-assisted access reviews." Learn More: Veza Access Control Platform: https://www.veza.com/platform

Next-Gen IGA Webinar: https://www.veza.com/company/events/next-gen-iga

Subscribe to Veza's Identity Radicals Podcast: https://www.veza.com/blog/welcome-to-identity-radicals-conversations-with-cybersecurity-experts

Veza Free Trial: https://www.veza.com/free-trial-sign-up

Veza Customers: https://www.veza.com/customers Gartner, Market Guide for Identity Governance and Administration, By Rebecca Archambault, Henrique Teixeira, Brian Guthrie, David Collinson, Nathan Harris, Published 14 July 2023 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. About Veza Veza is the identity security company. Identity and security teams use Veza to secure access to data across SaaS apps, on-prem apps, data systems, and cloud infrastructure. Veza overcomes the blind spots of traditional identity tools with its unique ability to ingest and analyze permissions metadata and organize that into the Veza Authorization Graph. Global enterprises like Wynn Resorts, Digital River, and Expedia trust Veza Access Control Platform for access visibility, access intelligence, access reviews, and access lifecycle management. Founded in 2020, Veza is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, and is funded by Accel, Bain Capital, Ballistic Ventures, Google Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, and True Ventures. Visit us at veza.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010535539/en/

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Jensen Investment Management Celebrates 35 Years

Jensen Investment Management ("Jensen"), a 100% employee-owned active equity investment management firm, today proudly commemorates its 35th anniversary. Since its inception, Jensen has exemplified a commitment to excellence, a client-first approach and the fostering of a team-oriented culture.

Founded in 1988 with a mission to help long-term investors access the durable alpha we believe is enjoyed by quality companies, Jensen now manages more than $13 billion (USD), as of August 2023, across three investment strategies - Quality Growth, Quality Value and Global Quality Growth - and is the largest independent asset manager in the state of Oregon.1

With a dedicated team of 40 employees, Jensen serves investors across institutional, intermediary and high-net-worth channels, maintaining an unwavering dedication to collaboration, independence and quality.







"We're humbled and grateful to celebrate 35 years of independence at Jensen Investment Management," expressed Rob McIver, managing director and portfolio manager for Jensen Investment Management. "Our journey is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our exceptional team and our relentless pursuit of 'quality' in all aspects of our work. This commitment has been the bedrock of our success and will continue to shape our future endeavors."

Recent accolades for the long-tenured investment firm include the "Rising Star" award presented to portfolio manager Tyra Pratt at this year's With Intelligence Mutual Fund and ETF Awards, as well as being named one of the "Best Places to Work" in 2022 by Pensions & Investments.

Looking ahead, Jensen anticipates expanded access to the firm's strategies through the growth of domestic and international distribution channels, while remaining committed to upholding its tradition of excellence and guiding investors towards their financial goals. The firm expresses its heartfelt gratitude to its clients, the local community and industry professionals for their support throughout 35 years of service.

For a more in-depth look at our investment strategy, please read our piece, Three Mistakes to Avoid as a Long-term Investor: Observations from 35 Years Managing Money.

About Jensen Investment Management

Jensen Investment Management is a high-conviction, active equity manager with an unwavering commitment to quality. The firm focuses on companies derived from a select universe of businesses that have produced a long-term record of persistently high returns on shareholder equity. For more information, please visit www.jenseninvestment.com.

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1 Measured by assets under management (AUM) as of 5/31/2023. Source: Portland Business Journal.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010349198/en/
[October 10, 2023] Prime Healthcare Announces Preliminary Agreement with UC San Diego Health for the Sale of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center Tweet

Prime Healthcare announced today that it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with UC San Diego Health for the sale of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego, California, marking a new chapter of service excellence and award-winning healthcare for this 50-year-old community institution. The acquisition is expected to be completed December 2023. Prime Healthcare, one of the nation's premier health systems with 45 hospitals in 14 states, acquired Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in 2010 when the facility was failing financially and at risk of closure. Since then, Prime has invested more than $90 million into the hospital, transforming it into the thriving and award-winning community asset that it is today. The facility has since been recognized by Healthgrades for the last nine years with its Patient Safety Excellence Award and ranks among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the country for Critical Care for the last two years. It was also recently recognized by the Lown Institute for outstanding social responsibility, receiving an "A" grade on the 2023-24 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. "With significant investments and dedicated service to our patients over the past 13 years, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center has now reached the point where divestiture to a world-class academic institution like UC San Diego Health, will lead to a new era for this award-winning community hospital," said Kavitha Bhatia, MD, chief medical officer of strategy for Prime Healthcare. "We are proud of the care that has been provided and the legacy that will continue as UC San Diego Health expands access to specialized care, while preserving and building on Alvarado's 50-year history." "UC San Diego Health continues to grow its network of clinics and hospitals to better care for the community within new neighborhoods across the region," said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. "We are grateful for Prime Healthcare's commitment to successfully completing this transaction to allow us to care for this important part of our community. UC San Diego Health looks forward to collaborating with the extraordinary physicians, nurses and staff of Alvarado Hospital and inviting them to be part of our team." UC San Diego Health has pledged to maintain existing services at Alvarado Hospital and hire substantially all employees. Employees transferring from Alvarado Hospital to UC San Diego Health will have the option to join unions currently representing their respective positions in the health system. Among the investments that Prime Healthcare has made into Alvarado Hospital Medical Center during its 13-year tenure include a new emergency department, expansion of critical mental health services and facilities including gero-psych, remodeling of the ICU department, and new equipment including electronic medical record systems, state-of-the-art imaging technology, and much more. Prime Healthcare has also preserved and invested in the nationally recognized Advanced Spine an Joint Institute.



"Thanks to Prime Healthcare and its physician led model of clinical excellence, Alvarado and the community it serves can be confident in a bright future," said Kenn McFarland, Alvarado Hospital CEO. "UC San Diego Health's interest in acquiring Alvarado Hospital is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees, physicians and leadership throughout Prime's tenure." Prime Healthcare has been a leader in expanding critical behavioral health services to its communities across the country. UC San Diego Health has also committed to continuing the work begun with Prime Healthcare leadership to address the behavioral health needs of San Diego County. In addition, Prime Healthcare is working with the County to further expand behavioral health services at Paradise Valley Hospital.

Established in 1972, Alvarado Hospital is a 302-bed acute care hospital with a vision to provide outstanding medical care and leading-edge technology with highly personalized service to the San Diego community and beyond. Services include a new emergency department accredited for geriatric care, cardiac services, neuroscience, general surgical services, and vascular services, among others. The hospital's current staff includes more than 600 registered nurses, technicians, and support staff, and 300 affiliated physicians. This strategic divestiture also supports Prime's acquisition development activities that furthers its mission of rescuing and transforming community hospitals across the country. Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for its success in saving financially distressed hospitals and is one of the nation's premier health systems recognized for quality and patient safety initiatives and performance. In July 2023, Prime Healthcare and its hospitals earned the distinction of "most socially responsible" by the Lown Institute. Prime Healthcare was recognized as a Top 10 Health System in the Nation for Social Responsibility and 25 Prime hospitals, including Alvarado Hospital, were recognized for outstanding social responsibility, receiving an "A" grade on the 2023-24 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Prime's hospitals have also been recognized among the "100 Top Hospitals" in the nation 66 times by Fortune/Merative, and named among US News and World Report's Best Hospitals in many disease specific areas. Under state law, the sale transaction will require pre-closing approval from the California Department of Public Health. The sale is expected to be finalized in December of 2023. About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation As an award-winning health system headquartered in Ontario, California, operating 45 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, Prime Healthcare provides more than 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems, with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a Top 10 and Top 15 Health System. To learn more, please visit https://www.primehealthcare.com/. Find Prime Healthcare on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/prime-healthcare

Facebook: facebook.com/primehealthcare

Instagram: instagram.com/prime_healthcare/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010532993/en/

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1.13 million visitors arrived in Singapore in September, up nearly 45 percent year-on-year, according to the latest statistics released by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Indonesia was the top visitor source to Singapore last month, followed by the Chinese mainland, Australia, Malaysia and India, the data showed.

In the first nine months, Singapore received over 10 million visitors, according to the STB. 
[October 10, 2023] Biometric Vehicle Access Systems Market to Surge to $3.3 Billion by 2030, Driven by 10% CAGR in Fingerprint Scan Segment Tweet

DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biometric Vehicle Access Systems - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Biometric Vehicle Access Systems market is set for substantial growth, with a projected value of US$3.3 billion by 2030, experiencing a noteworthy CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period of 2022-2030. The Fingerprint Scan segment is expected to lead this growth, recording a robust CAGR of 10% and reaching US$1.9 billion by the end of the analysis period. Meanwhile, the Voice Recognition segment is estimated to experience a 9.4% CAGR for the next 8-year period. Key Highlights: Market Expansion: The Biometric Vehicle Access Systems market, valued at US$1.6 billion in 2022, is on track for exponential growth. The rising demand for advanced vehicle access solutions, coupled with the integration of biometric technologies, is driving this expansion. Regional Trends: China is forecasted to lead the market with a projected value of US$642.4 million by 2030, experiencing an impressive CAGR of 12.9%. Other significant markets include Japan and Canada , each projected to grow at 8.4% and 9.8% CAGR, respectively, from 2022 to 2030. In Europe , Germany is expected to grow at approximately 8.3% CAGR. Key Competitors: The report provides insights into the competitive landscape with 75 featured competitors, including Fujitsu Ltd., Denso Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Continental AG, Bioenable Technologies Pvt., Ltd., EyeLock LLC, BioSec Group Ltd., Aware, Inc., Biocom Control & Attendance, Asura Technologies Ltd., Gatekeeper Security, Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints), BY Techdesign S.L., and Allion Labs , among others. As the automotive industry continues to advance, biometric vehicle access systems are poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing security and convenience for vehicle owners. What`s New? Special discussions on the global economic climate and market sentiment

Coverage on global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence analysis across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to digital archives and trademarked research platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Access to curated YouTube video transcripts of market sentiments shared by CEOs, domain experts and market influencers via interviews, podcasts, press statements and event keynotes Key Topics Covered:

br />I. METHODOLOGY







II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

The Race Between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies. Amidst this Chaotic Battle, Where is the World Economy Headed?

Progress on Vaccinations: Why Should Businesses Care?

With IMF's Upward Revision of Global GDP Forecasts, Most Companies are Bullish about an Economic Comeback Despite a Continuing Pandemic

A Strong Yet Exceedingly Patchy & Uncertain Recovery Shaped by New Variants Comes Into Play: World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2020 through 2023

Competitive Scenario

Automakers Join Hands with Wearable Providers to Tap Biometrics

Biometric Vehicle Access Systems - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2022 (E)

Global Market Prospects & Outlook

World Market for Biometric Vehicle Access Systems by End-Use (2021 & 2027): Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for Passenger Cars, and Commercial Vehicles

Automotive Applications to Get Remarkable Facelift with Biometrics

Analysis by Technology

World Market for Biometric Vehicle Access Systems by Technology (2021 & 2027): Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for Fingerprint Scan, Voice Recognition, Other Technologies

Regional Analysis

World Biometric Vehicle Access Systems Market (2021 & 2027): Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for Developed and Developing Regions

World Biometric Vehicle Access Systems Market - Geographic Regions Ranked by CAGR (Revenues) for 2020-2027: China , Asia-Pacific , Middle East , Africa , Canada , Latin America , USA , Europe , and Japan

, , , , , , , , and Biometrics Technology and Types: A Prelude

Comparative Analysis of Various Biometric Technology Traits

Fingerprint Recognition: Reliable Technology with Varied Applications

Voice Recognition Technology: Continues to Gain Popularity

Iris Biometrics: Uniqueness of Human Iris Holds Tremendous Potential as an Identification Technology

Hand Geometry: Another Promising Biometric Authentication Technology

An Introduction to Biometric Vehicle Access Systems

Advantages of Vehicle Biometrics

Standard Vehicle Access Systems

Automotive Biometrics Poised to Inevitably Gain More Relevance for Better Experience

Recent Market Activity 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Pandemic Impact on the Automotive Industry

Several Downsides Marr Outlook for 2022

Semiconductor Chip Shortages & Its Induced Production Woes Add to Market Nervousness

Global Light Vehicle Production (In Million Units) for Years 2019 Through 2025F

Car Production YoY % Growth Across Major Regional Markets in 2020

Global Electric Car Fleet Size (In Thousand Units) for the Years 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2021E

Russia-Ukraine War Has the Automotive Industry on Edge

Automotive Industry Exhibits Inclination towards Use of Biometrics Systems

Biometrics Emerges to be the Future of Vehicle Access Control Systems

Global Connected Vehicle Shipments (In Million Units) for the Years 2019, 2021 and 2023

Vehicle Access Control Systems Grow in Significance as the Number of Cars Stolen Each Year Increases: Vehicle Thefts (In 000 Vehicles) in the United States for the Years 2019 through 2022

for the Years 2019 through 2022 Motor Vehicle Theft in the United States by Area Type as of the Year 2022

by Area Type as of the Year 2022 Technology Trends Influencing the Market Dynamics

Contactless Fingerprint Systems to Drive Opportunities

Fingerprint Reader-based Vehicle Access: Makes Perfect Sense over Others for High-Risk Security Areas

3D Fingerprint Scanners Evolve as a More Accurate Technology

Voice Recognition Technology to Drive Gains

Growing Role of Voice Recognition Technology in Cars

Key features of Voice Assistance Systems for Automobiles

With Autonomous Cars Concept Gaining Strength, Role of Voice Recognition to Find Increased Acceptance

Global Autonomous Vehicle Sales (In Million) for Years 2020, 2025 & 2030

Iris Recognition Gains Marked Adoption across Diverse Verticals

Select Innovations in Iris Biometrics Technology

Select Innovations & Advancements

Biometrics Appears to Bid Adieu to Traditional Vehicle Access Approaches

Biometrics to Uplift Security & In-Car Experience

Data Security Concerns

Automotive Security & Access Control Technology Gets Turbo-Charged with Biometrics

Biometrics for Automotive Applications 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE III. MARKET ANALYSIS IV. COMPETITION For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8u9340 About ResearchAndMarkets.com

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[October 10, 2023] Renowned Gartner Analyst Ankush Jain joins DQLabs Tweet

PASADENA Calif., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DQLabs , the Modern Data Quality company, today announced that Ankush Jain , a highly respected former Gartner Analyst, Augmented Data Quality, Data Observability and Data Management at Gartner, has joined DQLabs as Head of Marketing and Product Strategy. Ankush Jain , a former Gartner Analyst, joins forces with Modern Data Quality company DQLabs. Ankush's accomplished career at Gartner included serving as the Lead Author for the Data Quality Magic Quadrant and leading the evolution of the market towards Augmented Data Quality. He also played pivotal role as the first individual at Gartner to introduce and define the Data Observability space, which subsequently led to the creation of the Market for Data Observability, expanding the horizons of data management. He has authored the Magic Quadrant and Market Guides for Metadata Management Solutions, Data and Analytics Service Providers, Data Virtualization, and many more research publications around Data Governance, Data Catalogs, Data Fabric/Mesh, Pricing and Cost Optimization.



Ankush has spent 15 years in the data industry and around 8.5 years at Gartner, previously offering critical advice to thousands of Global CxOs in Data and Analytics roles like CDOs. He has worked closely with most technology companies, ranging from small startups to industry giants and 100s of service providers in the Data & analytics industry, offering strategic guidance. "Ankush's thorough understanding of Data management and Data Quality, thought leadership and vision around observability markets makes him a uniquely valuable addition to DQLabs. With DQLabs' continued focus towards providing a Modern data Quality platform that converges Augmented Data Quality & Data Observability powered by Semantic Layer and GenAI capabilities, this addition comes timely and quite valuable as we continue to scale," said Raj Joseph, Founder & CEO of DQLabs.

Ankush can be reached on LinkedIn for any inquiries or collaborations or to stay updated on the latest developments in the Data Quality or Data Observability industry. About DQLabs DQLabs is an automated Modern Data Quality platform that delivers reliable and accurate data for better business outcomes. DQLabs automates quality and observability checks and resolution by harnessing the combined power of Data Observability and Data Quality powered by Semantics and GenAI to deliver "fit-for-purpose" data for consumption across reporting and analytics. Find out more at www.dqlabs.ai Contact:

Raj Joseph

Founder & CEO, DQLabs, Inc

[email protected]

720-256-7540 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/renowned-gartner-analyst-ankush-jain-joins-dqlabs-301952470.html SOURCE DQLabs, Inc.

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[October 10, 2023] asTech Rules Engine Case Study #3 Tweet

Using the 2016 Honda Civic to Demonstrate the Importance of Verifying the Accuracy of Aftermarket Scan Tools PLANO, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- asTech, a Repairify company and the global leader in remote diagnostics, calibrations, programming, and automotive intelligence for the collision and mechanical repair industries, has released its third Rules Engine case study from the asTech insights Institute. This case study demonstrates the data-driven verification process of the patented and proprietary asTech Rules Engine. It shows why it's the only verified way to properly determine if an aftermarket scan can be trusted on a specific vehicle. What Repairify's Technicians Did

To develop its patented Rules Engine, Repairify performed tens of thousands of vehicle scans against the active car parc and engaged in extensive research to identify which of the top aftermarket scan tools yield the same results as the authentic OEM tools. During their research, Repairify technicians post-scanned a repaired 2016 Honda Civic using the authentic OEM scan tool and discovered two diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). They then immediately post-scanned the same vehicle with a leading aftermarket tool, designated in this case study as "Brand B." What the Aftermarket Tool Found

Conventional wisdom is that any aftermarket tool should be able to thoroughly scan a common seven-year-old vehicle, such as this Honda Civic, without issue. However, the aftermarket diagnostic scan performed using Brand B's tool only returned one of the two DTCs established by the authentic OEM tool. As with asTech's previous case study regarding a 2021 Jeep Gladiator, this shows that conventional wisdom regarding aftermarket scan tools can be unreliable. It can lead to using inaccurate scans and returning a vehicle that is not properly repaired to OEM standards. What This Means for Shops and How the Rules Engine Helps

The Rules Engine recommends a choice of asTech certified scan tools to repairers for each specific (down to the trim level) vehicle they're working on: An autentic remote OEM diagnostic scan through asTech's patented technology. A certified OEM-Compatible aftermarket scan. This is a scan that has been verified and warrantied to provide results that are equivalent to the authentic OEM tool scan.



In addition, shops that are part of the Honda collision repair network are required to exclusively use authentic OEM tool scans for Honda vehicles. For situations like this, the asTech Rules Engine is customizable. It allows shops to set special rules such as only allowing an authentic remote OEM tool scan to be used when any Honda vehicle is connected to an asTech device.

The Rules Engine's data-driven verification process and flexibility gives shops the confidence to know they are selecting the best scan for the vehicle they're repairing. About the Rules Engine

With tens of thousands of vehicle scans and extensive research, asTech, driven by Repairify, is continuously developing its patented and proprietary database of authentic OEM and high-performing OEM-Compatible aftermarket scan tools to recommend the most accurate and cost-effective scan tool option, every time. When an OEM-Compatible scan isn't available, the Rules Engine recommends the same remote OEM diagnostic services that customers have come to know and trust. Repairify continues to augment, edit, and update the Rules Engine database via ongoing research being conducted by its engineers globally. This database represents the most comprehensive dataset for comparison analysis on a global scale. Select individual vehicle testing results can be made available to customers for review. To learn more about the Rules Engine, visit the asTech, Driven by Repairify, at SEMA 2023, Booth #34193. Or visit the Rules Engine page. asTech customers who wish to enable the new Rules Engine feature can do so by contacting our Customer Service Team at 1.888.486.1166 or [email protected]. * To build the asTech Rules Engine, Repairify's Research and Development Team scanned tens of thousands of vehicles from different years, makes, models, and trim levels with nine of the top aftermarket tools available, then compared the results to the relevant OEM tool. Researchers used like-for-like tools on the same cars in the same day to ensure accuracy. About asTech, Driven by Repairify

asTech is the leading provider of remote diagnostic solutions and services to the collision industry. asTech provides cutting-edge, expert diagnostics using authentic OEM tools to provide safe and accurate repairs. asTech provides remote diagnostics using its patented devices and access to ASE- and I-CAR-certified technicians who service many trouble codes remotely and provide real-time assistance to shop technicians at the vehicle when needed. asTech also offers mobile repair, key replacement, and calibration services. asTech is based in Plano, Texas. For more information, please visit asTech.com . About Repairify Inc.

Repairify, Inc. and its family of brands empower the automotive repair industry to master today's modern, data-intensive vehicles. By providing revolutionary OEM tool and validated OEM-Compatible technology, services, and intelligence, Repairify helps automotive professionals run better businesses through improved diagnostics, calibrations, programming, and workflows. Repairify's brands are committed to vehicle and driver safety by providing repairers with excellent service, supported by the highest quality and precision tools, technology, and data. Repairify, Inc. is a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC. The Repairify family includes asTech, adasThink, AutoMobile Technologies (AMT), Automotive Training Group (ATG), BlueDriver, FleetGenix, MobileTechRX, and One Guard Inspections. For more information, please visit repairify.com. About Kinderhook Industries

Kinderhook Industries, LLC is a private investment firm that manages more than $5.4 billion of committed capital. It has made in excess of 400 investments and follow-on acquisitions since its inception. Kinderhook's investment philosophy is predicated on matching unique, growth-oriented investment opportunities with exceptional financial expertise and its proprietary network of operating partners. Its focus is on middle market businesses with defensible niche market positioning in the healthcare services, environmental/business services, and automotive/light manufacturing sectors. It has a track record of successfully and consistently building industry leaders. For more information, please visit kinderhook.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/astech-rules-engine-case-study-3-301952504.html SOURCE Repairify, Inc.

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[October 10, 2023] World Shoe Launches New Factory in Ghana to Manufacture Innovative Footwear Products that Support Global Health Goals Tweet

World Shoe today announced the opening of its inaugural factory to produce the first antimicrobial, eco-friendly footwear brand manufactured in Africa. The production launch represents a collaborative effort among public, private, and civil service sectors to provide high-quality, low-cost products for retail consumers throughout African and international markets that prevent injury, promote hygiene and protect against debilitating disease. World Shoe products will form part of an integrated bundle of healthcare services that address broader public health and environmental sustainability mandates. The versatile design of the footwear is intended to provide comfortable, breathable support in a variety of climates and conditions. Made from durable EVA foam and infused with antimicrobial and biodegradation agents, this footwear contributes to a holistic strategy for public health while reducing waste and the environmental impact of the footwear industry. Through their social service partnerships and innovative WASH&WEAR humanitarian distribution model, World Shoe will directly support efforts by governments, charities, and health agencies to promote public hygiene and vaccine uptake, and better respond to natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. "More than half a billion people around the world do not have reliable access to quality footwear, leaving them vulnerable to injury and diseases that perpetuate a cycle of poverty," said Kojo Taylor, President and Co-owner of World Shoe Limited in Ghana. "We believe the new World Shoe factory will demonstrate how African innovation can propel African development and create change on a global scale. By creating a model to provide people with affordable, high-quality, eco-friendly shoes, we can support education, health and economic outcomes while protecting the environment"



The factory launch supports the mandate of the President of Ghana and the commitment by the Ghanaian Government to promote economic investment and fulfill its global health partnership in the WHO Kigali Declaration of 2022. The new factory offers an important blueprint for Ghana and other countries to support job creation and economic development in tandem with advancing important public health goals. The overall factory management and operation will be overseen by Ghanaians. "We must do everything to make this initiative succeed as it creates employment for the local community. I'm also excited that this provides a huge import substitution that will help strengthen the local economy," said Honorable Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, Akosombo.

World Shoe is the vision of Manny Ohonme, a businessman and philanthropist raised in Nigeria who has two decades of charity experience delivering nearly 10 million pairs of shoes to people in need across 109 countries. "As a child growing up in poverty, I experienced the power of a pair of shoes to transform lives," said Mr. Ohonme, who now serves as President of World Shoe. "Shoes give us dignity and allow us to realize our full human potential. From aid to trade, our goal is to leverage exceptional product design and manufacturing to deliver lasting positive change to people everywhere." An important element of World Shoe's operational model includes plans to sell its products in North America, Europe and elsewhere at a price point that allows the organization to scale its social enterprise and humanitarian efforts. "We are creating an African brand for the world," said Astor Chambers, VP of Marketing for World Shoe, Inc. and a veteran of Nike and Adidas. "We are fusing together a unique, sustainable product design with the ambition of a brand that stands for large scale social good. This will appeal to socially conscious consumers everywhere and has the potential to revolutionize how we achieve greater health and economic equity." World Shoe already has orders for 1.5 million pairs of shoes, vaulting the organization into the Top 20 social enterprises in the world. About World Shoe World Shoe is a multinational social enterprise producing innovative footwear in Africa for global retail markets and humanitarian requirements. We are dedicated to the vision that high-quality, low-cost footwear can unleash human potential, promote global health, and protect the environment. Founded by Nigerian-born entrepreneur, Manny Ohonme, our proud heritage includes delivering millions of shoes to meet humanitarian needs in more than 100 countries. Through creative design, manufacturing, and cross-sector partnerships, we are delivering market-based solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges. World Shoe. Feel good, look good, do good. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010169565/en/

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[October 10, 2023] NearForm Acquires Formidable To Expand Global Software Offering Tweet

The strategic acquisition is another significant leap for NearForm, following investment from Columbia Capital. DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NearForm, an Irish-founded team of engineers, designers and strategists who build digital capability and software solutions for enterprises, has acquired Formidable, a global design and engineering consultancy founded in Seattle, Washington. Formidable has established itself as a global leader in product design and engineering. Their collaborative, innovative approach has made them the go-to services business for top-tier enterprises and with a deep thought leadership and expertise in the retail space. Formidable clients include Puma, Lululemon, Starbucks, and Walmart. Alongside Formidable, NearForm will continue to define, design and build platforms and future-ready products that modernise organisations and connect communities, whilst upholding its unwavering commitment to championing and nurturing exceptional engineering talent. Ciaran Cosgrave will remain as Chief Executive Officer of NearForm, and welcome Ryan Roemer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Formidable, to the NearForm Executive Leadership team. The announcement of Formidable's acquisition is a strategic leap forward for NearForm, who have gained significant momentum over the past three years, following the December 2020 investment from Columbia Capital, the 2022 appointment of Satty Bhens (ex-McKinsey & Company Dgital Partner) to the NearForm Executive Board, and most recently in May, the appointment of Koby Avital (former EVP of Technology Platforms at Walmart) as Strategic Advisor.



Commenting on the transformative partnership, Ciaran Cosgrave, Chief Executive Officer at NearForm said, "Bringing NearForm and Formidable together felt like a natural fit from the start; we share a common heritage in the craft of design and engineering and a firm belief in the power of code to be a force for good and deliver enduring positive outcomes for our people, our clients and our communities. Our collaboration combines the artistry of expertly-crafted code with a relentless commitment to innovation that will empower a broader spectrum of enterprises. Together, we're in a strong position to become one of the leading premium independent creators of software solutions." "NearForm joining forces with Formidable brings two pioneers of the open source web platform together to make a professional services powerhouse - we're so excited for what happens next," added NearForm founder Cian O'Maidin. NearForm serves clients including Conde Nast, Uber, Virgin Media O2, and Aer Lingus.

"Partnering with NearForm will allow us to elevate our existing strengths in providing top-notch engineering and product/design expertise with an amazing, unified team with extensive capabilities. By harnessing our collective technical acumen, industry insights and service partnerships, we're set to deliver elevated product integrations. Together, our open-source synergy reinforces our unwavering commitment to nurturing and advancing the technical community. This is a thrilling opportunity to elevate our people while providing clients with new innovative solutions," commented Ryan Roemer, Chief Executive Officer at Formidable. Clients and partners of NearForm and Formidable can expect the same high standards of service, deep expertise, and dedication to excellence that they have come to rely on, now with an expanded geographic footprint and broader industry offering set. The acquisition represents a commitment to delivering even more value and innovation in the digital solutions arena. About NearForm

NearForm is an independent team of engineers, designers and strategists who build digital capability and software solutions for ambitious enterprises and organisations seeking sustained business impact. We define, design and build platforms and future-ready products that bring together people, process and technology to modernise organisations and connect communities. Through a combination of expertly crafted code, enhanced capability and collaboration, we empower our partners to deliver great user experiences and create enduring value. About Formidable

Formidable is a global design and engineering consultancy, and open-source software organisation, specialising in digital products and transformation. Since 2013, Formidable's growing team has worked with companies ranging in size from startups to Fortune 100s to build quality digital products and level-up engineering and design teams. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2243239/NearForm_Formidable.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nearform-acquires-formidable-to-expand-global-software-offering-301952630.html

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[October 10, 2023] BGL Announces the Sale of Resolvit to Aditi Consulting Tweet

Resolvit's suite of technology solutions expands Aditi's offerings in cyber security, DevOps, cloud/IoT and application modernization NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Resolvit Resources, LLC (Resolvit), a technology and management solutions provider, to Aditi Consulting (Aditi). BGL's Professional Services investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Resolvit in the transaction. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition of Resolvit will expand Aditi's portfolio of services and reach for exceptional talent. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Resolvit is a technology and management solutions partner to world-class companies and government agencies in the United States, Latin America, and Asia. Resolvit's suite of technology solutions includes cyber security, DevOps, cloud/IoT and application modernization, among other capabilities, with an international presence spanning the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and India. The company's comprehensive suite of services, established brand in niche markets and client-focused service delivery model have enabled the company to entrench itself within a blue-chip customer base across a iversified mix of end-markets, including telecommunications, technology services, retail, education, manufacturing & distribution, financial services, and healthcare & life sciences.



Based in Bellevue, Washington, Aditi is a leading consulting company providing technology solutions across a wide spectrum of industries. The company delivers talent on demand, managed teams, project-based engagement, and full outsourcing strategies to a variety of brand-name clients including more than 75 of the top Fortune 500 companies. The acquisition of Resolvit will expand Aditi's portfolio of services and reach for exceptional talent. Aditi will now be able to service its clients from Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay in addition to, the United States, Mexico, and India. Resolvit's suite of technology solutions expands Aditi's offerings in areas such cyber security, DevOps, cloud/IoT and application modernization.

BGL's Services investment banking professionals have extensive M&A and capital markets experience, with deep knowledge in Professional Services, Commercial & Residential Services, Industrial & Infrastructure Services, Environmental Services, and Supply Chain & Logistics Services. Our Services team is deeply connected across the industries we serve, maintaining strong relationships with strategic and financial buyers around the globe. About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 35 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bgl-announces-the-sale-of-resolvit-to-aditi-consulting-301952657.html SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

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[October 10, 2023] Quick Custom Intelligence Wins the Transformation Award in the Gaming & Hospitality Annual Industry Awards for 2023 Tweet

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) acknowledges the esteemed honor of being awarded the prestigious Transformation Award in the 2023 Gaming & Hospitality Annual Industry Awards. This distinguished accolade is presented to a visionary organization that has made groundbreaking advancements in interoperability within the gaming and hospitality sector. Jeannie Caruso, CEO of Gaming & Leisure, expressed her high regards for QCI, stating, "Congratulations to QCI! It is no surprise that Andrew Cardno and team at Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) once again took home one of the annual industry awards for QCI's outstanding performance in the category of transformation, praising QCI's efforts to dramatically change the gaming and hospitality industry's technology landscape. This award is one of the most coveted awards in our industry as honored by the G&L Board and Roundtable Colleagues. This collective group represents a vast majority of gaming and hospitality technology and services domestic spend, giving great depth and weight in the well-deserved honoring of QCI this year." In response to this honor, Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, expressed his heartfelt appreciation: "This award is a testament to the relentless ddication, innovation, and hard work of the entire QCI team. It's an honor to be recognized for our commitment to pioneering advancements within the gaming and hospitality industries. Our ongoing mission is to continue elevating technology landscapes and delivering exceptional value to our partners and clients. Thank you to the G&L Board and Roundtable Colleagues for this esteemed acknowledgment."



The award reinforces QCI's position at the forefront of technological innovation and emphasizes their continuous contribution to enhancing the gaming and hospitality industry's technological infrastructure. The dedicated team at Quick Custom Intelligence is excited to continue their work, fostering advancements and ensuring exceptional service delivery in the industry. QCI extends sincere thanks to the G&L Board and Roundtable Colleagues for this incredible honor and to all who have supported their journey thus far.

ABOUT QCI

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 150 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quick-custom-intelligence-wins-the-transformation-award-in-the-gaming--hospitality-annual-industry-awards-for-2023-301952694.html SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence

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[October 10, 2023] INVESTIGATION ALERT: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Investigates General Motors Company's Directors and Officers for Breach of Fiduciary Duties - GM Tweet

Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international securities and consumer rights litigation firm, is investigating certain directors and officers of General Motors Company ("General Motors") (NYSE: GM) for breaching their fiduciary duties to General Motors and its shareholders. If you are a General Motors shareholder, you may contact attorney Joe Pettigrew for additional information toll-free at 844-818-6982, or [email protected]. Scott+Scott is investigating whether members of General Motors's board of directors or senior manageent failed to manage General Motors in an acceptable manner, in breach of their fiduciary duties, and whether General Motors and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result.



On October 5, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held a public meeting on its determination that 52 million airbag inflators designed by ARC Automotive ("ARC") should be recalled, due to a potentially fatal defect resulting from excess force during airbag deployment. General Motors is among the most exposed to this potential recall, with at least 20 million vehicles built with the ARC airbag inflator in question. At least one airbag explosion in a General Motors vehicle has resulted in death, with others in injuries. What You Can Do

If you are a General Motors shareholder, you may have legal claims against General Motors's directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at 844-818-6982, or [email protected]. About Scott+Scott Scott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and consumer rights actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, California, and Ohio. Attorney Advertising View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010640990/en/

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[October 10, 2023]

The Construction Media Alliance Announces Winners of 2023 Editorial and Marketing Awards

KENOSHA, Wis., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Construction Media Alliance has recognized the winners of the 2023 Editorial and Marketing Awards  a peer-voted awards platform meant to highlight excellence in construction industry journalism, communications, content and storytelling. Categories range from traditional editorial platforms such as columns and series, to more new media platforms such as social media and video production.

The Construction Media Alliance has recognized the winners of the 2023 Editorial and Marketing Awards

The awards program is sponsored by Hyundai Construction Equipment, and a special ceremony announcing the recipients was sponsored by Hyundai and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers at Utility Expo 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.

"The entrants for the 2023 awards program were notable for a desire to embrace serious and weighty topics related to the construction industry  all able to deliver these topics in a compelling way within the world of heavy industry in North America," says Bill Elverman, executive director of the Construction Media Alliance and co-owner of PKA | True North. "Each winner was judged for excellence by a panel of peers who have worked in various disciplines of marketing and journalism in the construction industry  weighing each for an understanding of the industry and its people, as well as overall skill in communications."

The 2023 winners are:

Editorial:







The Construction Media Alliance will be hosting additional networking events at construction industry trade shows in Q1 2024, and will conduct another awards program in 2024. Any publishers, journalists, marketing professionals or social media experts in the construction industry looking to volunteer or participate in future events can email Elverman at [email protected].

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-construction-media-alliance-announces-winners-of-2023-editorial-and-marketing-awards-301952909.html

SOURCE Construction Media Alliance
An important consideration of the court's authority . . . Check-it:



Kobach asks 10th Circuit to cease pronoun police practice

TOPEKA  (Oct. 10, 2023) - Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is asking the Chief Justice of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to cease the practice of requiring those appearing before the court to use the preferred pronouns of counsel, litigants, and counsel during hearings.



The government compelling specific speech is unconstitutional. But its particularly troubling in a courtroom, where the scales of justice should be balanced, Kobach said. The requirement gives the appearance that a judge has staked out a position on a controversial issue that is not yet settled in law.



In the letter, Kobach writes that a handful of 10th Circuit Justices require the use of preferred pronouns in their courtrooms. The letter argues that the practice may violate religious freedom of individuals who appear before the court. The letter notes that no courts required the practice prior to 2022.



The courtroom is no place to dismantle science, butcher the English language, and deny constitutional rights in order to spare an individuals feelings, Kobach said.



According to the letter, enlisting the power of the state to force others to affirm a persons selected pronouns crosses a line and raises major questions regarding compelled speech and the First Amendment. Specifically, the letter argues that compelling some Christians to use preferred pronouns in court violates their religious beliefs.



The spread of this novel requirement is both problematic and potentially unconstitutional. It has moved us to ask you to act, the letter concludes.



###



Developing . . .
COLOMBO, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has decided to compensate 53,965 farmers whose crops were damaged due to dry weather conditions in the 2023 Yala harvest season, a minister said on Tuesday.

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera told media that the cabinet agreed to provide compensation using funds from crop insurance scheme.

The minister said around 58,770 acres of paddy and other crops were damaged due to the drought.

The southwest monsoon that farmers rely on for the Yala harvest season was less than expected due to the El Nino weather pattern, he said.

The southwest monsoon was only activated in recent weeks, and there is minor flooding in some parts of the country now. 
Right now, Kansas City, Missouri Northland councilman Nathan Willett hopes that Mayor Q will distance himself and city hall from radicalized progressive online ranting.

First and foremost, here's a link and screencap to X/Twitter statement that has started a ruckus:

And that has sparked the Northland council dude into action.

Here's the first part of his message . . .



"Below is my message to the Mayor last night requesting his immediate withdraw of his appointment of Emerson Jaz Hays to the Board of Zoning Adjustment as an Alternate Member due to his comments mischaracterizing one of our nations strongest allies, Israel & the hate it spews up towards the Jewish Community."

And now a note that's going far & wide this morning sent to TKC by AWESOME INSIDERS . . .



Dear Mr. Mayor -



I am writing to request that you immediately withdraw the appointment of Emerson Jaz Hays to the Board of Zoning Adjustment as an Alternate Member.



This week, Emerson Jaz Hays suggested in a tweet that Israel is a regime with genocidal intentions.



He stated that Biden is sending weapons to a regime with genocidal intentions.



This statement is deeply offensive to our Jewish Community and doesnt represent the values of the people in the First District or the people across our great city.



Our city, earlier this year, passed a resolution unanimously recognizing the growing problem of antisemitism in America and adopted a working definition of antisemitism as an important educational tool to address it. The comment made by Emerson Jaz Hays mischaracterizes one of our nations strongest allies and spews up more hatred towards the Jewish Community and Israel.



Serving on one of our citys boards or commissions comes with great standards. I believe this anti-Semitic comment disqualifies Emerson Jaz Hays from serving our city in that capacity.



Best,

Nathan Willett

Kansas City Councilman  District One

###############

Addendum:

"This issue is time sensitive due to the appointment being heard in the legal review committee today 1PM at City Hall.



"I have also sent this message to the other committee members, Councilwoman Melissa Robinson & Councilwoman Andrea Bough.



"*Please note this comment was made after the Mayor made the appointment and there is time to reverse course."

Developing . . .


Again, it's worth noting that Kansas City has connection to Israel that span generations.

Accordingly, locals are getting world back from this war front on the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas invaders.



Here's an exceptionally terrifying first person story and links to more info from local stations and some of the news we've been reading . . .



Born in Kansas City, was awakened in the middle of the night Saturday by sirens. He and his family rushed to their bomb shelter with less than a minute and a half to get there.



"Seeing what it's doing to our young people. To grow up with that kind of fear, that kind of terror," he said.



The war has lead to a constant state of fear for him, his children, his community and the many Israelis who call the land home.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

People in Kansas City area gather in support for Israel following attacks As Tuesday dawns in Israel, we're hearing firsthand accounts from Kansas city metro residents, including one rabbi caught in the crossfire.

'A nightmare we live': The Jewish community in Kansas City weighs emotional toll of war in Israel Local groups are reacting to war breaking out in Israel.

Kansas City woman from Israel thinking of her other home Just after 7 Monday morning, Steve Keuny started his journey across the Kansas and Missouri River inside a 1,299 pound pumpkin. He is trying to set the Guiness World record for longest paddle in a pumpkin.

European leaders condemn Hamas, pledge support for Israel and halt Palestinian aid Governments in Europe pledge support for Israel and European Union freezes aid to Palestinians after days of escalating violence in Israel and Gaza.

Israel-Hamas conflict leaves 1,500 dead, including 11 U.S. citizens: Full coverage Israel's defense minister has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas's attacks over the weekend.

Hamas threatens to kill captives if Israel strikes civilians The Islamist militant Hamas movement threatened to execute an Israeli captive every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning, as Israel called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, raising fears it planned a ground assault.

Fresh rocket attacks and ground battles as Israel and Hamas conflict intensifies | CNN Fighting between Hamas and Israel raged into a third day Monday with militants launching a fresh barrage of rocket attacks and Israeli forces still battling to expel Hamas gunmen from its soil as jets continued to bombard the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

Hamas attack delivers major blow to Biden's push for Saudi-Israel normalization The escalating violence will make Saudi mega-deal harder to achieve.

Developing . . .
Tonight we take a peek at worsening crime around the metro in the last quarter of the year and just a few bright spots as neighborhoods cope with violence.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Robberies on Independence Avenue leave one man dead and businesses shaken up It was a violent weekend in Northeast Kansas City- two businesses on Independence Avenue were victims of robberies and one resulted in the shooting death of a suspect.

Man shot, taken to hospital following shooting in Raytown At 4:58 PM, officers responded to a report of a male subject shot on the 7800 block of 86th Street.

Louisburg police investigating murder-suicide involving 8-year-old Police believe 41-year-old Susan Stanford took her own life after shooting her eight-year-old son on Friday in Louisburg, Kansas.

Missouri's retail theft is gouging over $1B from stores - Missourinet Retailers in Missouri lose an estimated $1.44 billion in annual revenue to theft. It's an ongoing problem that Dave Overfelt, president of the Missouri Retailers Association, said prosecutors and judges need to hand down stiffer penalties. "When there's no consequences, then you're going to have more of this type of activity," Overfelt said.

Marion vice mayor says she's glad former police chief is gone: 'He scared the heck out of me' Marion Vice Mayor Ruth Herbel, whose home was raided on Aug.11, told KSHB 41's Jessica McMaster the former police chief's resignation is a welcomed advancement in the pursuit of accountability.

Independence police: 31-year-old man has been missing for weeks Curtis Jewett was last seen on Sept. 24 in the area of the 300 block of Nettleton, police said.

Olathe man killed following hit-and-run in Overland Park Around 1:00 Monday morning, the Overland Park Police Department responded to an injury crash involving two vehicles.

Fairway grocery store supports police department following line of duty death of Ofc. Jonah Oswald Its been weeks since the Fairway Police Department lost one of their own, but an outpouring of community support continues.

Developing . . .
The Senator has sparked support and clap back for his recent message on X/Twitter.

Here is the basics of his thinking.

In fairness . . .

Fighting/funding two wars is a lot different than walking & chewing gum at the same time.

Check-it:



Israel is facing existential threat. Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately, wrote Hawley on X, formerly known as Twitter.



While Hawleys post received more than 12,000 likes, it also received criticism from across the political spectrum.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Josh Hawley Calls for Ukraine Funding To Be 'Redirected to Israel Immediately' Sen. Josh Hawley called for all U.S. funding for Ukraine to be "redirected to Israel immediately" on Monday following Hamas' attack against Israeli civilians.

White House slammed for hosting BBQ with live band as war rages in Israel The White House is coming under fire after a pool report noted President Biden and the first lady are hosting a BBQ with live music while the war in Israel rages.

Developing . . .
Those who dine at some of Canada's more well-known restaurant chains will have some more choices.

Tim Hortons customers will have the flavour of Baileys in select non-alcoholic beverages and baked goods across Canada, the coffee shop giant announced.

Can you think of a better pairing? We're excited to team up to give Canadians the unmistakable flavour of Tim Hortons classics and Baileys that Canadians know and love, said Hope Bagozzi, chief marketing officer for Tim Hortons. Since the lineup is non-alcoholic, Tims guests will be able to enjoy these delicious flavour combinations any time.

Tim Hortons said in a release to stay tuned for more information about when the items will be available.

A&W, meanwhile, has just introduced its first new permanent menu items in more than five years and they too are available across Canada: the Chicken Crunchers.

The choices include the Nashville Hot Chicken Cruncher (breaded chicken with a spicy Nashville glaze, mayonnaise on sweet bread), the Chubby Chicken Cruncher (breaded chicken with Chubby mayo and lettuce in a toasted brioche-style bun) and the BLT Chicken Cruncher (crunchy chicken with bacon, layers of lettuce, sliced tomato and Chubby mayo in a toasted brioche-style bun).

The last time a permanent menu item was added at A&W in Canada was in 2018 with the introduction of the Beyond Meat Burger, the restaurant chain said.

McDonald's will be selling what it calls a scary good treat this fall with the new Trick N Treat McFlurry, made with vanilla soft serve, crushed orange Smarties, and hot fudge sauce.

Arby's is introducing its Canadian customers to Frickles, which has officially launched in Canada, the company said. It's a side dish of deep-fried pickles available at all participating Arbys Canada locations because every sandwich deserves a crispy companion, Arby's said.
Police are warning the public not to turn in guns, ammunition and explosives at police stations after a grenade was brought to the 41 Division station in Scarborough during the lunch hour Tuesday.

Toronto police said the grenade was brought to the station, at 2222 Eglinton Ave. E., at 12:28 p.m. The explosives disposal unit was called to the scene and later deemed the grenade safe.

Anyone finding guns, ammunition or explosives should call 911. Anyone wanting to turn in those items, should make arrangements with police via Toronto police's non-emergency number at 416-808-2222. "We will come to you. Do not bring it to us," police said.
Here is your morning roundup on transit, weather and road closures in Toronto.

Weather: Expect cloudy conditions with a 30 per cent chance of showers and a high of 13 C. More information is available here.

School bus delays and cancellations: Numerous delays reported this morning. Click here for information on school bus cancellations and delays.

TTC: Minor delays reported this morning on Line 2 westbound from Jane to Kipling stations due to an operational problem. Line 3 is permanently closed in Scarborough. Express buses are running between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations. Visit the TTC webpage for latest updates on subway, streetcar and bus service delays.

GO Transit: Delays reported this morning on the Lakeshore West, Kitchener, Barrie and Milton train lines. Click here to get information on GO service delays.

Road closures and traffic: Highway 427 northbound ramp at Campus Road/Fasken Drive is closed due to long-term construction. Highway 401 eastbound ramp at Dixon Road/Martin Grove Road is also closed due to construction. Visit the City of Toronto's webpage for traffic updates. For live highway traffic updates, click here.

Here's what the MTO is reporting for planned road closures this morning:

 Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Kennedy Road -Scarborough, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 22 at 6 a.m.

 Highway 427 northbound express off-ramp at Campus Road / Fasken Drive, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 5 at 12:59 a.m.

 Highway 401 eastbound off-ramp at Dixon Road / Martin Grove Rd, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 4 at 7 a.m.

 Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Allen Road, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 15 at 6 a.m.

 Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Dixon Road / Martin Grove Rd, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 4 at 7 a.m.

 Highway 401 westbound on-ramp at Kennedy Road -Scarborough, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 22 at 6 a.m.

 Highway 427 northbound express off-ramp at Campus Road / Fasken Drive, Toronto: all lanes closed until Dec. 5 at 12:59 a.m.

Gas prices: Click here to see the lowest gas prices across the Toronto area from gasbuddy.com.

Top stories from our newsroom

Canadian Language Museum launches exhibit on national anthem

Toronto Zoo gets sensory inclusive facility certification

Immediately stop using: Major recall of nearly 8,000 Honda lawn mowers sold across Canada over 2022 and 2023 triggers warning to users with injuries already reported
Everest Base Camp Trek offers 25% Off



(TRAVPR.COM) NEPAL - October 9th, 2023 - Kathmandu, 09 Oct 2023  Discover Altitude Treks, a leading adventure travel company specializing in trekking and mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas of Nepal, is thrilled to announce a special 25% discount offer for its Everest Base Camp Trek to celebrate the festive season of Christmas and New Year.

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday launched a national strategy for the development of the informal economy for 2023-2028, aiming at bolstering protection, enhancing productivity and fortifying the resilience of the informal economy.

Speaking at the launching ceremony in Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Manet said the strategy was designed to ensure that "no Cambodian is left behind."

"The government sees the informal sector as a catalyst for the country's sustainable economic development," he said. "This strategy will importantly contribute to reducing poverty, enhancing social equity, and strengthening the resilience of the economy."

He said the strategy focuses on five priorities including easier access into the formal system, reducing the burdens of registration compliance, providing social support to those who have entered the system, developing and strengthening skills and expanding outreach, and awareness on participating in the formal economy.

The informal economy is defined as businesses that are neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government.

Some 6.2 million out of the 7.9 million employed people in the Southeast Asian country work in the informal sector, according to a labor force survey.

The prime minister said informal businesses are encouraged to register in the formal system for 2023-2028, during which all tax debts and fines before their registration will be waived. Moreover, they will also get other tax incentives. 
Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov discussed Ukraine's needs for air defense systems, long-range missiles and artillery during a telephone conversation with Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren.

"Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov had a telephone conversation with Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren. The ministers discussed Ukraines urgent needs, in particular for air defense systems, long-range missiles and artillery," the Ministrys press service posted on Telegram.

During the phone conversation, Umerov focused on the experience of the Netherlands in procurement and provision of the armed forces which will be useful for Ukraine.

In addition, the defense minister thanked the Netherlands for its leadership in the F-16 coalition.

"Grateful to the Netherlands for their leadership in the F-16 coalition, pilot training, willingness to provide aircraft and plans to establish F-16 pilot training center. Im looking forward to meeting Ollongren during 16th Ramstein format meeting and we invite [minister Ollongren] to visit Ukraine," the press service quotes the minister as saying.
The military instructors of the Canadian Armed Forces are teaching Ukrainian recruits the basic principles of first aid as part of the Operation UNIFIER military training and capacity building mission in Great Britain.

The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The training module is studied by the Ukrainian military under the expert guidance of Canadian instructors, both theoretically and in practice.

In particular, Ukrainian recruits are taught the methods of providing first aid on the battlefield, evacuating the wounded during hostilities in populated areas, while preparing, seizing, mopping up and holding a building, as well as comprehensive actions while seizing premises as a unit.

This and other training modules make the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine professionally trained and prepared for combat conditions when defending Ukraine against the Russian aggressor, the General Staff noted.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Canada and the United Kingdom for their support and assistance.

A reminder that, since the Operation UNIFIER was launched in 2015, the Canadian Armed Forces have trained over 39,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel in battlefield tactics and advanced military skills. As the Russian invasion started, Canadian instructors left the territory of Ukraine but, in a few months, resumed training in the United Kingdom, Poland and Latvia.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The U.S. Army will need Congress to approve additional funding to ensure the Pentagon's munitions production and acquisition plans can simultaneously meet the needs of both Israel and Ukraine.

U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth made the comments on Monday, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters.

"One thing that is really important in terms of the munitions in particular and our ability to support both potentially the Israelis and the Ukrainians simultaneously is additional funding from Congress to be able to increase our capacity, in terms of our capacity to expand production and then to also pay for the munitions themselves," Wormuth said.

She expressed hope that Congress would approve the provision of additional aid.

Wormuth said the Army was still in "early stages" of reviewing Israel's requests for support, including whether providing such assistance would affect U.S. military readiness. The U.S. has carried out similar reviews weighing Ukrainian requests for assistance.

"But I would argue, that just as we lean forward with Ukraine, I think the intent is to lean forward in support of Israel," she said.
Russian and Belarusian intelligence agencies of are reportedly planning a false-flag operation to accuse Ukraine of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure in Belarus.

This was reported by the Center of National Resistance, Ukrinform saw.

"An agreement has been reached between Russias FSB and Belarusian KGB to run a false-flag operation targeting one of the facilities on Belarusian territory, to further accuse the Ukrainian side," the report reads.

At the moment, the BRESTOBLNEFTPRODUKT oil depot outside the settlement of Pryluki in Brest region, which is just 2 km away from the Belarusian-Polish border, is being considered as a target for the terrorist attack.

The Center for National Resistance noted that a drone carrying an explosive payload may be involved in the act of provocation. According to information from the Belarusian underground, back in August, Wagner Group fighters conducted aerial reconnaissance of potential objects for the attack.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Russian-Belarusian joint military exercises, taking place on Belarusian training grounds, were extended until October 15.
Ukrainian pilots will be included in the first wave of training at the F-16 Pilot Training Center in Romania.

"There is an extremely important decision on the training of F-16 pilots in Romania. The Pilot Training Center is being created. I and Mr. President discussed how to speed up such training and agreed that Ukrainian pilots will be included in the first wave of training," President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a joint press conference with President of Romania Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As reported, at the end of August, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder said that the United States would begin training Ukrainian pilots and technicians on F-16 aircraft at the Morris Air National Guard Base in October.

F-16 pilot training center for the EU will be created in Romania, and the Netherlands will provide the fighter jets.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the preparation of a joint meeting of government officials of Ukraine and Romania in the coming weeks.

In the coming weeks, we are preparing a joint meeting of Ukrainian and Romanian government officials, he said in his evening video address.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to President of Romania Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian government and society.

Our strategic relations are a new force for the entire Black Sea region. If we succeed in implementing everything we have planned now and which our teams will be working on, this part of Europe will get a new source of economic and security development. Thank you to everyone who supports us! It is good that today we managed to bolster our defense! Zelensky said.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid an official visit to Romania on October 10.

Photo: Presidents Office
MOSCOW, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized expansionism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its attempt to extend footprints to the entire Eastern Hemisphere.

In an article published on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, Lavrov warned that NATO is undermining the existing regional architecture around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and creating a new hotspot of geopolitical tension in the Asia-Pacific region.

Washington is forming military-political mini-alliances under its control, such as AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States), the trio of the United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as the quartet of Tokyo, Seoul, Canberra and Wellington, and involving them in practical cooperation with NATO, which is deploying its infrastructure in the Pacific arena, Lavrov said.

These efforts pose a threat to the inclusive, consensus-based regional architecture around ASEAN, Lavrov said in the article titled "Observance of the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelation -- a guarantee of international peace and stability." 
Finland is contributing EUR 92 million to the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA) to scale up support to Ukraine, Moldova and other countries affected by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

That's according to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ukrinform reports.

"This additional funding shows Finland's unwavering support for Ukraine in line with the Government Program. We will also support improving food security in countries affected by Russia's invasion," said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

Finland will allocate EUR 62 million to the Support Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery, with EUR 12 million of the amount to be allocated as a grant and EUR 50 million as a loan. In addition, Finland will provide EUR 30 million in loans to countries affected by Russia's aggression to help them prevent the spread of infectious diseases, among other efforts.

Read also: Finland preparing new military aid package for Ukraine

In Ukraine, the Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery will address needs in the health, transport, energy, agriculture, housing and social security sectors. It will help improve access to healthcare services, modernize medical care, promote the availability of services addressing acute energy deficits, repair vital road and railway networks and residential buildings and sustain agricultural activities. It will also accelerate long-term efforts to support Ukraines recovery and the reconstruction of critical sectors. Particular attention will be paid to the rights of women, girls and persons with disabilities.

In Moldova, the IDA Crisis Facility will primarily help cover the costs of receiving people fleeing Ukraine and finance development programs and crisis preparedness supporting Moldova's economic and social recovery.
Pro-Ukraine supporters from both parties in the U.S. Senate want to pass a much bigger yearlong aid package for Ukraine in the coming weeks, with a price tag between $50 billion and $100 billion.

That's according to The Wall Street Journal, Ukrinform reports.

Senators from both parties told the media outlet that they see more sense in one large package than in several smaller ones. Such a package could be passed between October 16, when the Senate returns from recess, and November 17, when the current temporary spending law expires.

On October 7, The Telegraph reported that U.S. President Joe Biden was going to ask Congress for a $100 billion aid package for Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine and the world economy will be discussed at a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven (G7) countries under the chairmanship of Japan in Marrakech on October 12.

Japans Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday, Ukrinform reports with reference to Reuters.

"At the G7 financial leaders' meeting that Japan chairs, we want to focus on issues such as support for Ukraine as well as global financial institutions, so that these debates will bear fruit," Suzuki said.

According to him, the G7 meeting will be part of a broader Group of 20 gathering that will be held on the sidelines of the annual International Monetary Fund conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

Read also: NBU governor to participate in World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Morocco

The G7 meeting will also include roundtable talks with African nations to facilitate flows of private-sector funds to the continent, Suzuki said.

As reported by Ukrinform, the impact of the Russian war on the global economy, the continuation of financial support for Ukraine, challenges to food security will be among the important topics of the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, which began on Monday in Marrakech.

On Wednesday, October 11, a roundtable meeting on the topic of supporting Ukraine is planned. It is expected that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga and others will join the discussion. On Friday, the plenary session of the Annual Meeting of the IMF and the World Bank will be held, with the participation of Ukraines official delegation and the management of the IMF and the World Bank.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a new "grain corridor" for the export of Ukrainian grain through Moldova to Romania will be launched soon.

"In the Ukraine-Romania-Moldova triangle, we are able to create a very powerful basis for the development of not only our countries and peoples but also the whole of Europe. First of all, this is economic development. We have already achieved good results in the development of logistics in this triangle, the grain corridor from Ukraine through Moldova to Romania will be launched soon," President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a joint press conference with President of Romania Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He also emphasized that the cooperation between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova provides a significant stimulus for the development of business, infrastructure, jobs, and together the states become stronger.

In particular, the President noted that Ukraine and Romania together are already important donors of food security.

"We must do everything possible to prevent Russia from turning any part of the Black Sea and the Danube region into a dead zone for normal navigation. The key thing in this case is air defense. We are working with various partners to strengthen our air defense both in the country in general and in Odesa region," the Head of State said.

Zelensky thanked for all the assistance packages provided by Romania and expressed his confidence that everyone in Romania knows what a terrible threat to life is posed by Russian terror, missiles and combat drones, in particular Iranian-made Shahed drones with which Russia attacks Ukraine, including the cities and villages of Odesa region located near the Romanian border.

"This is a threat not only to our state," the President added.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky is on an official visit to Romania on October 10.
Former Vice President Mike Pence believes GOPs potential picks for the presidents post Donald Trump, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswami, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would lead the country to retreat from leadership positions in the democratic world.

Pence addressed the issue in an interview with CNN.

Pence commented on the attack Sunday morning on CNNs "State of the Union" when co-host Dana Bash noted that he has criticized "leaders in the Republican Party" for signaling "American retreat as Leader of the Free World" as an influence.

"I also believe this is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis signaling retreat from Americas role as leader of the free world. What happened in Ukraine was an unprovoked invasion by Russia. What happened this weekend was an unprovoked invasion by Hamas into Israel and I believe now more than ever, both the debate within the Republican Party and the debate within America is whether or not were going to once again stand without apology as the leader of the free world, as the arsenal of democracy," Pence told CNN.

"The heartbreaking images coming out of both of these theaters of operations remind us that America is the indispensable leader of the free world and if Im President of the United States, well lead from American strength," Pence noted.

According to Pence, recent events show that America must be the indispensable leader of the free world.

He vowed to have his country lead the world based on its might if he becomes president.

At the same time, Pence sharply criticized the policies pursued by President Joe Biden, as he believes they contributed to the outbreak of current wars.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has emboldened the enemies of freedom around the world, and now war is raging in Eastern Europe.

President Joe Bidens kowtowing for the last two and a half years to the mullahs in Iran, lifting sanctions, begging them to get back in the Iran nuclear deal, and then paying $6 billion in a ransom for hostages, I think, set the conditions for this unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, Pence said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, in August, the long-term negotiations for the release of American citizens saw progress, and the prisoners were released from behind bars and transferred to house arrest. Last week, the United States announced that, as part of the agreement with Tehran, it would unfreeze $6 billion from seized Iranian accounts, which would be used exclusively for humanitarian needs.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Romania Klaus Iohannis have signed a joint statement following the meeting in Bucharest.

The full text of the document was published by the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

The Presidents of Ukraine and Romania had talks, following which they:

- underlined that they share the vision of relations between Ukraine and Romania as a Strategic Partnership based on the principles of good neighbourliness, shared democratic values and respect for international law. They decided to build a Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and Romania and asked their teams to begin working on this, without delay;

- agreed to further intensify their efforts aimed at developing a solid and comprehensive relationship between Romania and Ukraine, based on mutual trust, respect, and solidarity; reaffirmed in this context their commitment for a positive, predictable, forward-looking, project-based agenda of cooperation between Romania and Ukraine, to be pursued in a constructive spirit;

- confirmed unconditional support and commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters. Ukraine is grateful to Romania for its meaningful defence assistance package provided since the beginning of the large scale invasion;

- resolutely condemned the ongoing war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and agreed on the imperative to continue practical assistance to the Ukrainian state for as long as necessary to achieve victory over the aggressor state and establish a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace;

- expressed full support for the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Presidents positively noted Romania's particular interest for and involvement in the "Food security" and "Radiation and nuclear security" points of the Peace Formula and called on all states that respect norms of international law and principles of the UN Charter to support the implementation process of this initiative;

- confirmed the joint intention to use all available international formats to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including the International Crimea Platform;

- noted the readiness to continue and deepen cooperation on issues of strengthening the security in the Black Sea region, response to the challenges and of the consequences of the Russian armed aggression as well as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. In this context they welcomed the successful First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform, jointly organized by Ukraine and Romania in Bucharest in April 2023, and expressed their desire that the conference will become an annual event;

- emphasized that today Ukraine and Romania jointly make a critical contribution to ensuring global food security by virtue of the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through the territory of Romania. The Presidents supported ongoing, coordinated efforts to double the transit volumes through Romania from the current 2 million tons to 4 million tons per month;

- welcomed the fact that a new railway route for transit of grain from Ukraine will be opened soon connecting it with Romanian ports. They commended Romanias readiness to step up the export potential for products originating in Ukraine;

- agreed to keep a close, transparent, predictable and principled coordination regarding the transit of Ukrainian grain through Romania, to continue finding common solutions in good faith and swiftly and fully implement the already agreed ones;

- underlined the importance of improving the connectivity between Romania and Ukraine, including through the development of existing transport infrastructure, facilitation of border crossings and the removal of bottlenecks, and the establishment of new border crossing points;

- highly valued Romanias multidimensional assistance to meet the needs of Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens since the first days of the full-scale military invasion of the Russian Federation and noted the importance of continuing such support;

- agreed on the importance of starting training of the Ukrainian pilots within the dedicated F16 training centre in Romania and agreed that Ukrainian pilots will be included in the first wave of such training. The Presidents noted that this, along with the participation of Ukrainian soldiers at other training facilities in Romania, is an important contribution of Romania to the strengthening of Ukraine's defence capabilities;

- strongly condemned the grave crimes and atrocities committed by the Russian military and officials, including deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, other war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Presidents confirmed their commitment for full accountability for all crimes committed in Ukraine, including for the crime of aggression. They saluted in this respect the ongoing investigations carried out by the International Criminal Court, the activity of the Joint Investigation Team and the establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine as well as the activity of the Core Group of States aiming at identifying the most adequate legal solutions for the establishment of Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression in Ukraine;

- strongly condemned the deliberate and systematic Russian attacks against the civilian infrastructure, including of the Ukrainian ports on the Danube, which affected both banks of the Danube, pose serious threats to the safety of citizens and are war crimes that further undermine the Ukrainian economy, food security, including at the global level, and violate free navigation on the Danube and in the Black Sea;

- emphasized that the sanctions introduced by the EU and the wider international community against the Russian Federation should be maintained and strengthened until the full restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

- agreed on the importance of implementing an effective policy of isolation of the Russian Federation, as an aggressor state, in the framework of international organizations;

- noted the importance of Romania joining the group of founding countries of the International Register of Damages caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (under the auspices of the Council of Europe);

- stated the importance of Romania's participation in the implementation of projects for the reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine, as well as the use of the Romanian logistics and transport infrastructure as a hub for partner countries participating in the implementation of projects in Ukraine;

- noted Romania's firm support for Ukraine's progress towards the strategic goal of full membership in the European Union. The Presidents positively assessed the results of Ukraine's implementation of seven recommendations of the European Commission. They took note of Ukraines commitment to carry out and fully implement in a sustainable manner all the reforms required in the process of European integration, notably those aimed at strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the respect of human rights, including those of persons belonging to national minorities. The Presidents emphasized the need for a political decision to be taken by the end of 2023 on opening the EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova;

- noted the consistency of joint efforts to support Ukraine's integration into NATO and implementation of relevant standards, including in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Statement of the Presidents of Ukraine and Romania on the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine dated June 1, 2023;

- welcomed the fact that Romania became a signatory of the Joint Declaration of the G7 on support for Ukraine and Romanias willingness to start negotiations for a bilateral framework with Ukraine in this respect;

- emphasized the importance of using existing cooperation mechanisms within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, UNESCO, IAEA, etc., as well as of regional formats  including the trilateral Ukraine-Romania-Republic of Moldova, the Three Seas Initiative, the Bucharest 9  to strengthen practical assistance to Ukraine and foster cooperation between respective countries on security, energy, infrastructure and other projects;

- reaffirmed mutual determination to strengthen practical cooperation between Ukraine and Romania in all spheres of mutual interest. The Presidents emphasized that the first Joint session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Romania in October 2023 in Kyiv should make a new impetus in fostering such cooperation;

- noted the importance of effective cooperation aimed at ensuring the rights of the persons belonging to the Ukrainian national minority in Romania, and of the persons belonging to the Romanian national minority in Ukraine, including by developing the bilateral legal framework, based on the principle of equivalent level of protection of the rights of persons belonging to the Romanian minority in Ukraine and the persons belonging to the Ukrainian minority in Romania, taking into account international obligations and standards;

- tasked the Governments to resolve, without delay, the issue of the artificial distinction between the Romanian and Moldovan languages, with due regard to all legal aspects.

- highlighted the importance of joint efforts, both bilaterally and in multilateral formats, to counter foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), in particular Russian disinformation and propaganda;

- stated that Ukraine and Romania demonstrate resolve to further strengthen interstate relations on the basis of mutual trust and respect, openness and comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of both states.

Signed on 10 October 2023, in Bucharest, Romania, in two copies, both in English.
150 Ukrainian citizens have declared their desire to leave the Gaza Strip, where hostilities are ongoing, and about 300 more Ukrainians cannot leave the territory of Israel due to canceled flights.

"For three days, the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was created to help Ukrainians in Israel, processed more than 700 appeals from our citizens. Over the past day, Ukrainian diplomats found seven Ukrainians in the south of the country who were previously considered missing. They are safe now. Also, our embassy helped six families find temporary housing in Israel," Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko said during the United News telethon.

Nikolenko added that diplomats also take care of a Ukrainian boy who was rescued yesterday in the war zone  he is given medical treatment, psychological support and his return to relatives in Ukraine is being prepared.

As for the killed or injured Ukrainians, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the situation has not changed after the confirmation of the death of two Ukrainian women. Diplomats have information about a possible death of three more Ukrainians  two in Israel, one in the Gaza Strip  but this information has not yet been confirmed.

"As for the Ukrainians who contacted the operational headquarters due to the impossibility of leaving Israel because of canceled flights, here we have a figure of about 300 citizens in the territory of Israel and 150 Ukrainians in the Gaza Strip, who declared their desire to leave the enclave," Nikolenko said.

He advises citizens to check the possibilities of leaving the country with commercial airlines because, despite the cancellation of flights, some companies continue to fly from Israel. At the same time, the operational headquarters and other involved agencies are working out alternative ways to help our citizens leave the country, but the situation in the Gaza Strip is more complicated because active hostilities are ongoing there.

The diplomat underscored that the Israeli side provides the utmost possible assistance to the embassy in the conditions of its operation, and the embassy and the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintain contact with the police, main hospitals and other departments to obtain information about citizens and help them.
Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

"At this time, we can confirm the death of nine U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery," a spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a statement.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the casualties, telling CNN that the government was "in close contact with the government of Israel as they continue to conduct security operations to locate missing U.S. citizens." 

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
China is extending a warm invitation to the global space community for collaboration on its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Li Guoping, the Chief Engineer at the China National Space Administration (CNSA), unveiled comprehensive insights into China's ambitious space exploration endeavors during the International Astronautical Congress held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

One of China's imminent missions, the Chang'e 6, is poised to make history as it strives to become the first lunar far side sample return mission. This remarkable undertaking, slated for a 2026 launch, is building upon the success of the Chang'e 5 mission. International collaboration is a key element of this mission, with contributions from France, Italy, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Supporting this mission is the Queqiao 2, also known as 'Magpie Bridge 2,' a lunar orbiter designed to serve as a vital data relay, facilitating seamless communication between the lunar lander and mission control.

Chang'e 6 is anticipated to retrieve two kilograms of lunar material, mirroring the achievements of its predecessor, Chang'e 5. Meanwhile, the Chang'e 7 mission, scheduled for a 2026 liftoff, is charting a course for the Moon's south pole. China has received proposals from more than eight countries seeking to contribute international payloads to this mission, and these proposals are currently under evaluation. In tandem, the Chang'e 8 mission, set to launch in 2028, will also target the Moon's south pole and serve as the pioneering mission for the establishment of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which China envisions as a research hub at the Moon's southern extremity.

Chang'e 8 is allocating approximately 200 kilograms of payload capacity on one side of its lander for international payloads, and the CNSA is actively soliciting proposals from potential collaborators. In a significant development, China has initiated a crewed lunar program with the ambitious goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030. To support this endeavor, CNSA is developing a robust, heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying astronauts to Earth orbit and beyond. Complementing these lunar missions, Tianwen-2 is planned as an asteroid sample return program, Tianwen-3 aims to bring back samples from Mars, and Tianwen-4, envisioned for the end of the decade, will embark on planetary exploration, targeting Jupiter. Li Guoping emphasized that the data and samples collected from these missions will be made available to the global scientific community for research purposes.

China is actively engaged in collaborative efforts with numerous countries, with a notable partnership being established with Roscosmos. The spirit of cooperation extends to the sharing of lunar samples obtained from the Chang'e 5 mission with international collaborators. Regarding the international partnership for the ILRS, Guoping emphasized, "The ILRS program was initiated several years ago by Chinese scientists. As I mentioned, the Chang'e 6, Chang'e 7, and Chang'e 8 missions will lay the foundations for the future construction of ILRS. The goal of this mission is to establish long-term, stable operations of payloads and spacecraft in lunar orbit and on the lunar surface. In the future, when astronauts journey to the Moon, they will have the opportunity to conduct scientific research using ILRS facilities. This program is fully open, and we are currently engaged in negotiations with various countries and international organizations on both bilateral and multilateral levels."

The CNSA is actively seeking various forms of cooperation with other space agencies in the development of ILRS, offering flexibility for partners to contribute to the project in alignment with their capabilities and circumstances. Guoping explained, "Different partners, depending on their own capabilities and circumstances, can provide payloads or instruments. All contributions are welcome. Another avenue of collaboration is in scientific research, involving the analysis of data and samples returned from ILRS missions." The ILRS, a visionary endeavor, is a long-term project encompassing the years from 2025 to 2040. China's commitment to international collaboration in space exploration promises a brighter future for lunar research and beyond.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses in October 2023: Dates, Timing, and Viewing Tips

Axiom Space, Prada Join Forces to Redefine Lunar Spacesuits for NASA's Artemis III Mission


Photo : Ahmed Galal on Unsplash

As the festive season approaches, many travelers are looking for unique and exciting destinations to celebrate Christmas and New Year's.

If you're in search of a memorable holiday experience, consider booking a Christmas trip to Kenya. With its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and diverse wildlife, Kenya is a fantastic destination for a holiday getaway.

Below, is everything you need to know about planning your Christmas trip to Kenya, from the weather in December to the safety concerns and the incredible safaris you can embark on.

Kenya in December Weather

One of the first things you should consider when planning a Christmas trip to Kenya is the weather in December. December is summer in Kenya, making it the perfect time to escape the cold weather in many parts of the world and bask in the warmth of the African sun.

During December, temperatures in Kenya are generally warm and pleasant, with daytime highs ranging from 25C to 30C (77F to 86F) in most regions. While coastal areas like Mombasa tend to be hotter and more humid, the interior highlands, including Nairobi, offer a milder climate. The weather is ideal for outdoor activities and wildlife viewing, which makes it an excellent time to explore Kenya's national parks and reserves.

Is It Safe to Travel to Kenya Right Now?

Safety is a top priority for any traveler, and it's natural to have concerns about visiting a foreign country. However, Kenya has made significant strides in improving its security situation in recent years, making it a safer destination for tourists.

In general, popular tourist areas and wildlife reserves in Kenya, such as Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo, are considered safe for visitors. The Kenyan government has implemented various security measures to protect tourists, and the presence of park rangers and trained guides ensures your safety during safari adventures.

That said, it's crucial to stay informed about the current situation and any travel advisories issued by your country's government. It's also advisable to follow standard safety precautions, such as avoiding poorly lit areas at night, keeping an eye on your belongings, and using reputable tour operators.

Kenya in December Safaris

One of the highlights of a Christmas trip to Kenya is undoubtedly the opportunity to go on safaris and witness the breathtaking wildlife in its natural habitat. December is an excellent time for safaris in Kenya due to the dry weather, which concentrates wildlife around water sources, making it easier to spot animals.

Here are some popular safari destinations to consider:

Maasai Mara National Reserve: This world-renowned reserve offers incredible opportunities to witness the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeests and zebras cross the Mara River. The migrant herds are often stalked by ferocious predators such as lions and leopards during this epic journey.

December is an excellent time to visit as you can catch the tail end of this spectacular event. Ideally, opt to use 4x4 off-road vehicles such as the BMW X7, BMW X5, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and others for a better game viewing experience in Masai Mara.

Amboseli National Park: Known for its iconic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is home to large herds of elephants and a variety of other wildlife. December is a great time to visit, as you'll have clear views of the mountain and its snow-capped peak.

Tsavo National Park: Divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West, this vast park is famous for its diverse landscapes, including volcanic cones, savannahs, and the Yatta Plateau. It's an excellent destination for both wildlife enthusiasts and adventurers.

Samburu National Reserve: Located in northern Kenya, Samburu offers a unique safari experience with its distinct wildlife species, including Grevy's zebras, reticulated giraffes, and Somali ostriches.

Booking Your Christmas Trip to Kenya - What You Need to Know

Now that you're excited about the prospect of a Christmas trip to Kenya, let's discuss what you need to know when booking your adventure.

Visa Requirements: Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to enter Kenya. Make sure to check the visa requirements well in advance and apply for one if necessary.

Accommodation: Kenya offers a wide range of accommodation options, from luxurious lodges to budget-friendly campsites. It's essential to book your accommodations in advance, especially during the holiday season, to secure your stay.

Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is a must for any international trip. Ensure your insurance covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen events.

Vaccinations and Health Precautions: Consult your healthcare provider to determine which vaccinations and health precautions you should take before traveling to Kenya. Malaria prophylaxis is often recommended.

Pack Appropriately: Pack lightweight, breathable clothing for the warm weather, but also bring layers for cooler evenings and early mornings. Don't forget essentials like sunscreen, insect repellent, a wide-brimmed hat, and comfortable walking shoes.

Currency and Payment: The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). While major credit cards are accepted in many places, it's a good idea to carry some cash for smaller purchases and in case you visit remote areas with limited card facilities.

Cultural Sensitivity: Respect local customs and traditions, especially when visiting Maasai communities or interacting with indigenous people. Always ask for permission before taking photographs of individuals.

Wildlife Etiquette: When on safari, follow your guide's instructions and maintain a safe distance from wildlife. Avoid making loud noises that could disturb animals or disrupt their natural behavior.

Conclusion

Booking your Christmas trip to Kenya can be a rewarding and unforgettable experience. With favorable weather in December, improved safety measures, and incredible safari opportunities, Kenya has much to offer the adventurous traveler. Remember to plan ahead, stay informed, and embrace the beauty of Kenya's landscapes and wildlife as you celebrate the holiday season in this remarkable destination.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) The Intelligence Bureau Employees Cooperative Housing Society and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) have agreed for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Expo Centre in the federal capital with joint efforts.

In this regard, the IBECHS hosted a reception in the honor of delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here Tuesday.

Both sides held fruitful discussions to move forward

Speaking on the occasion, Tariq Mehmood, President, Intelligence Bureau Employees Cooperative Housing Society said expo centers play an important role in promoting exports and attracting investment. He said that the Expo Center as a joint venture of Gulberg Green and ICCI in the Federal Capital would provide permanent exhibition facilities to encourage buyer-seller interaction and promoting trade and exports.

He asserted that this project of national importance would go a long way in improving the economy.

Tariq Mehmood said that the Expo Centre would make the federal capital a hub of business and investment activities and stressed the value addition of products to boost exports and revive the economy. He said that Gulberg Green was situated at an ideal location and many new development projects would be completed here.

He was optimistic that the Expo Center would open up many new avenues for promotion of business, investment and exports.

Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the partnership between ICCI and Gulberg Green for the Expo Centre was a step in the right direction to improve the economy as this permanent facility would showcase the exportable products of Pakistan and boost exports.

He said that many countries including China and Turkey have increased their exports and tourism by organizing expos and hoped that this Expo Center would also help enhance exports and tourism in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has great potential to boost exports and expressed hope that the expo center would contribute positively towards achieving this goal.

The President ICCI said that the Chamber has been making efforts since long for the establishment of a new industrial estate in the region and it is ready to work with Gulberg Green for materialization of this important project.

He said that ICCI would also like to set up JVs with Gulberg Green for many other projects including industrial estate, hospital, university and college.
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Oct, 2023) The 'Cordoba Nights' concert, held at the Emirates Palace Theatre in Abu Dhabi as part of the Andalusia: History and Civilisation Initiative, showcased the rich artistic legacy of Arab culture in Spain.

The concert, the first of many artistic activities planned by the initiative, was attended by Mohamed Al Murr, Head of the Andalusia: History and Civilisation Initiative Committee, and other notable guests and concluded at the Emirates Palace tonight.

The concert featured diverse musical performances that reflected the rich and diverse heritage of Andalusia, blending symphonic masterpieces with an Andalusian touch. It involved members of the Spanish Royal Orchestra led by the renowned conductor, Inma Shara, alongside an Arab music ensemble under the direction of Arab composer Jafar Sadiq.

The concert fused art and heritage and highlighted the deep cultural ties between the UAE and Spain. Al Murr explained how the concert enabled the audience to closely explore the fusion of Arab and Spanish cultures within the Andalusian artistic heritage.

The event marked the start of the initiative's artistic programme, which aims to celebrate the role of art in encouraging communication and cultural exchange between the East and the West, emphasising its significance as a universal language that unites peoples and cultures.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed on Tuesday advised the young individuals to invest their prime to learn Islamic knowledge.

Addressing the Seerat Conference and Mehfil-e-Milad-un-Nabi Peace Be Upon Him, organized by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in collaboration with Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Punjab College of Commerce, and Islamabad Model College for Boys F-7/3 as a chief guest, he encouraged the youth to read three verses of the Holy Quran daily, along with translation and interpretation, to strengthen their connection with the divine scripture and its Messenger Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him.

Minister Aneeq said, "If you want to become beloved to Allah Almighty, then follow the footsteps of His Beloved Prophet Muhammad(SAW)."

He highlighted that the character and ethics of Prophet Muhammad(SAW) were a living embodiment of the Quran stressing that we should strive to be warriors of character, not just in words but in actions.

Minister Aneeq urged students to acquire knowledge for the betterment of Pakistan and to serve humanity. He said the sending of Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him was not only for the completion of noble character but also for the betterment of humanity. Trials come in the life of nations, the believer does not despair. He maintained.
Deputy Commissioner Duki Fayyaz Ali on Tuesday said that the forest fire in Marjanzai Tambil Mountain was brought under control after three days

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Deputy Commissioner Duki Fayyaz Ali on Tuesday said that the forest fire in Marjanzai Tambil Mountain was brought under control after three days.

District administration including the Levies Force, and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Forest Department teams have taken part in the operation and extinguished the forest fire to save and protect the valuable forests.

Fayyaz Ali expressed these views while visiting affected areas of the forest in Loni Marjanzai Tambil Mountain of Duki area which was brought under control for three days.

He said that forests were our valuable assets, the protection of which was the responsibility of all of us.

He also appreciated the Forest Department Officials and other teams for the successful operation and for saving the forest in the area.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) President Global Development Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Christopher J. Elias called on Caretaker Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr. Nadeem Jan on the sidelines of 70th Session of the WHO's Regional Committee in Cairo.

Deputy Director BMGF Michael Galway, and Director Pak-Afghan hub Hamid Jaffery were also present in the meeting.

Dr. Nadeem Jan reiterated that Pakistan has applied whole of governance' approach towards polio eradication.

He informed that the Prime Minister in a recent Task Force meeting has issued stern directives on ensuring a safe environment for the polio workers in high-risk zones.

He mentioned that the communication strategy is being revamped to address the chronic issue of persistent refusal and fake finger marking.

He also informed about the establishment of localised operational hub for stopping the wild polio virus circulation in high risk zones, particularly South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He informed that the Prime Minister and the entire government's civil machinery have shown utmost dedication and commitment for making Pakistan polio free.

Christopher J. Elias said that Pakistan has made considerable performance towards eradication of polio.

Discussing about the work of National Task Force on polio eradication, the Federal Minister said that the authorities are taking strategic direction with strong decisions in dealing with poliovirus.

Renewed outreach has started in the wake of YB3A strain from Afghanistan, and the scope of health camps will be expanded in high risk zones, the Federal Minister added.

It was stressed to enhance access of polio workers, improve performance management and accountability, and implementing a robust communication strategy.

Christopher J. Elias requested for reconvening the meeting of National Task Force on Polio Eradication in October to streamline strategy implementation.

Federal Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan informed that Pakistan is gearing up for HPV anti-cancer vaccine in March 2024.

Chris Elias extended his appreciation for spade work on the vaccine and congratulated the Federal Minister for taking this initiative. The minister informed that Pakistan will be launching Hepatitis C elimination Program soon.

He said that Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation leadership has been invited for participation in Global Health Security Summit in Islamabad. Both sides agreed on joint efforts for eradication of polio from Pakistan.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Tuesday lauded the remarkable services rendered by Pakistan Sweet Home and its Patron in Chief Zamarud Khan for the welfare of orphans and needy children.

The minister, in a meeting with Zamarud Khan, acknowledged Pakistan Sweet Home's role in providing protection, quality education, and effective grooming to marginalized segments of society.

Solangi said the children who received education from the organization had excelled in every aspect of life.

Zamarud Khan, while expressing his gratitude, said Pakistan Sweet Home had successfully achieved its objectives by imparting modern education to the children under its care.

He hoped that the children would play vital role in the country's important sectors in the future.

During the meeting, both the dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interests.
UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Pakistani and Indian delegates Monday engaged in a fresh verbal duel at the United Nations Monday that resulted from last week's speech by Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram in which he highlighted that Kashmiris and Palestinians were among the peoples still denied the right to self-determination.

Ambassador Akram had also called India's occupation of Jammu and Kashmir the "worst manifestation of modern-day colonialism."

Reacting to the Pakistani envoy's comments, Indian delegate Nitish Birdi argued that the U.N. had established the right of self-determination principle as a vehicle for the decolonization of the remaining 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories and not as a justification for undermining the territorial integrity of any member state.

In this regard, the Indian delegate claimed that the territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will always remain an integral part of India. he went to accuse Pakistan of involvement in terrorism.

Pakistani delegate Naeem Sabir Khan hit back immediately.

The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, he said, reaffirmed the right to self-determination of all people, not just some people.

"The right is also enshrined in the first article of the United Nations Charter, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the Pakistani delegate told the General Assembly's Fourth Committee, which deals with Special Political and Decolonization issues.

He also said that Jammu and Kashmir is defined as a disputed territory on United Nations maps and it is not an integral part of India.

"Multiple resolutions of the United Nations Security Council define it as a 'disputed territory'," Sabir Khan, a counsellor in the Pakistan Mission to the UN, added.

Spotlighting the Indian State-sponsored terrorism, he said it is a franchise that has gone from regional to global, with Pakistan, along with other countries, facing its menace.

Citing an Amnesty International report titled Weaponizing counter-terrorism, he said that India is using financial and money-laundering laws to target human rights defenders and civil society.

"Today," the Pakistani delegate said, "more than 200 million Muslim, Christian and other minorities face blatant discrimination in India.

"The terrifying rise in Islamophobia within India is a distressing consequence of the blind pursuit by the BJP-RSS government of the majoritarian Hindutva agenda and its explicit support for anti-Islam and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

"Today, no minority is safe in India," Sabir Khan added.

APP/ift
AFP

El gobierno y la oposicion de Venezuela, normalmente con posturas antagonicas en todo, coincidieron este jueves en condenar la postura del secretario general de la OEA, Luis Almagro, sobre la centenaria disputa con Guyana por el territorio Esequibo, zona rica en petroleo.Almagro, un ferreo critico del gobierno del presidente Nicolas Maduro y aliado natural de la oposicion, senalo el miercoles a Venezuela de "provocar" a Guyana con un "lenguaje preocupante" y la convocatoria de un referendo sobre
(@FahadShabbir)

Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, its only one not controlled by Israel, was hit by an Israeli air strike Tuesday for the third time in 24 hours, an AFP photographer and an NGO said

Rafah, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, its only one not controlled by Israel, was hit by an Israeli air strike Tuesday for the third time in 24 hours, an AFP photographer and an NGO said.

The third strike consisted of "four missiles" which targeted the Palestinian side of the crossing, local Egyptian group Sinai for Human Rights reported.

Witnesses had said the second strike hit the no-man's land between the Egyptian and Palestinian gates, damaging the hall on the Palestinian side.

Contacted by AFP, the Israel military said it could "neither confirm or deny" any strike on the crossing "at this point".

Sinai for Human Rights said Tuesday's strikes had prompted the closure of the crossing, but there was no immediate confirmation from either side.
(@FahadShabbir)

Tehran, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday denied any Iranian involvement in Hamas's shock weekend attack on Israel despite its strong support for the Palestinian militant group.

"The supporters of the Zionist regime (Israel) and some people in the usurping regime have been spreading rumours over the past two or three days, including that Islamic Iran was behind this action. They are wrong," Khamenei said in a speech at a military academy.

"Of course, we defend Palestine, we defend the struggles," he added, urging "the whole Islamic world" to "support the Palestinians."

Khamenei said Israel has suffered an "irreparable failure" on both "military and intelligence" fronts.

"Everyone has spoken of the failure, I put the emphasise on its irreparability," he said.

Iran took the lead on Saturday in celebrating the Hamas assault in which at least 1,500 gunmen stormed the border before carrying out a bloody rampage through Israeli communities that left more than 900 dead.

The Israeli army said it was the single deadliest event in the nation's history, and has responded with a ferocious bombardment of Gaza where officials say at least 687 people have been killed.
Shanghai, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) The shocks kept coming at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday as the 91st-ranked Fabian Marozsan gave himself a belated birthday present by beating eighth-seeded Casper Ruud to reach the quarter-finals.

The unseeded Marozsan won 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-4 and will face Poland's 16th-seeded Hubert Hurkacz or home player Zhang Zhizhen in the last eight.

Marozsan was joined in the quarter-finals by the 26th seed Sebastian Korda, who fended off a late fightback from the 20th seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina to go through 7-5, 7-6 (8/6).

Marozsan sealed the deal against the more fancied Ruud in two hours and 38 minutes with a stinging forehand down the line on his second match point.

He called his maiden Masters quarter-final the perfect present, having turned 24 on Sunday.

"This is just only my second Masters tournament, so it's kind of a new tournament series for me," said the Hungarian, who beat Carlos Alcaraz at the Italian Open in May.

"I'm really enjoying this, I'm very proud for this one," added Marozsan, who is playing in Asia for the first time.

The Shanghai event, which is back on the ATP Calendar for the first time since the Covid pandemic, has witnessed several shocks.

Korda, who faces fellow American Ben Shelton or in-form Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals, dumped out second-seeded Daniil Medvedev on Sunday.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the fourth seed from Greece, lost on Monday to France's 32nd seed Ugo Humbert in a three-set battle that stretched beyond midnight.

The upsets have paved the way for top seed Alcaraz, who faces 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16.

World number one Novak Djokovic is not in China.
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Robert F. Kennedy Jr said Monday he was quitting the race for the Democratic US presidential nomination to run as an independent -- a move that could shake up a tight election by siphoning votes from the main candidates.

A rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump is by far the most likely scenario in 2024, and a third-party hopeful taking even a few votes from Biden in swing states could spell disaster for the Democrat.

Many analysts however believe that Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and a darling of the right-wing US media, would harm Trump more than Biden.

"I've come here today to declare our independence from the tyranny of corruption which robs us of affordable lives, our belief in the future and our respect for each other," the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy told supporters in Philadelphia.

"But to do that, I must first declare my own independence: Independence from the Democratic Party, from all other political parties."

The 69-year-old former environmental lawyer has long identified as a Democrat, and invoked his assassinated father in an anecdote about the 1968 campaign trail.

"I haven't made this decision lightly. It's very painful for me to let go of the party of my uncles, my father, my grandfather and both of my great-grandfathers," he added.

Kennedy was introduced by his wife of nine years, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines, who said her husband was ready to make the country better for all Americans and "bring them together.

"

But he has proved more popular among Republicans than Democrats in opinion polling -- he is languishing on an average of less than 15 percent in major Primary polls, 47 points behind Biden.

Embraced by conspiracy theorists on the far right such as Alex Jones and Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Kennedy has claimed that AIDS might not be caused by HIV and that wifi causes cancer and "leaky brain."

He has blamed antidepressants for school shootings and said chemicals in tap water could make children become transgender.

He ignited a firestorm of criticism in July over claims that Covid-19 was "ethnically targeted" at Caucasians and Black people, while Ashkenazi Jews and the Chinese were spared.

Last week, liberal academic Cornel West ended his Green Party candidacy in favor of an independent run. Many Biden allies see the 70-year-old African American philosopher as a bigger threat than Kennedy.

Four of Kennedy's siblings nevertheless released a statement calling his announcement "dangerous" and "deeply saddening."

"Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment," they said.

Republicans called Kennedy a "Democrat in Independent's clothing."

"He is your typical elitist liberal and voters won't be fooled," Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.
The Hague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Oct, 2023) Syria has tortured tens of thousands of its people and maintains a "widespread and pervasive" system of "abhorrent treatment", world court judges heard on Tuesday at the first international case over the civil war.

Canada and the Netherlands have dragged Syria before the International Court of Justice, asking the court to demand urgent measures to stop the ongoing mistreatment of thousands still detained.

"Every day counts," Rene Lefeber, top representative for the Netherlands, told the court.

"Persons in Syria who are currently detained or at risk of being detained cannot afford to wait any longer," added Lefeber.

Damascus snubbed the first day of hearings but has previously dismissed the case as "disinformation and lies" and said the allegations "lack the slightest degree of credibility".

Lefeber cited wrenching testimony from detainees, describing gang rapes, mutilation and a "standardised" punishment method involving contorting people into a car tyre and administering a "severe beating".

Canada and the Netherlands have asked the ICJ to "urgently" demand that Syria stop all torture and arbitrary detention, open prisons to outside inspectors and provide information to families about the fate of their loved ones.

The ICJ can take years to rule on a case but urgent so-called "provisional measures" can be ordered in a matter of weeks and are legally binding.

"It is our sincere belief that the lives and well-being of Syrians are at stake and require the court's immediate attention," said Lefeber.

- 'Nightmarish conditions' -

Former prisoner-turned-activist Ahmad Helmi told AFP: "I was in prison in Syria for three years and I know for sure that torture is happening around the clock. It's happening around the hour."

"It doesn't happen only for interrogation. Sometimes it happens for fun. Just because they feel they enjoy impunity, they can do whatever they want.

"

"Hundreds of people are dying under torture every month," said Helmi in an interview before the hearings.

Balkees Jarrah, from Human Rights Watch, said the ICJ needed to act "to prevent further abuses against Syrians, who continue to suffer under nightmarish conditions and whose lives are in serious jeopardy".

While there have been individual war crimes cases linked to the Syrian war in some countries, there has long been frustration in Western capitals at the lack of any wider plan for international justice.

The Dutch first launched a bid in September 2020 to hold Syria responsible for alleged breaches of the United Nations Convention against Torture, to which Damascus is a signatory.

Canada joined the case the following March.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) -- a war crimes court which, like the ICJ, is based in The Hague -- has been unable to deal with Syria as Damascus never ratified the Rome Statute, the tribunal's founding treaty.

Russia and China blocked a draft UN Security Council resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014.

The situation has gained renewed attention after the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the international fold in May, when he attended an Arab League summit.

Describing the hearings as a "watershed" case, Human Rights Watch hoped the ICJ proceedings would shine a spotlight on Assad's return from isolation.

Activist Helmi said there was no chance of "rogue state" Syria accepting any decisions by the ICJ but insisted that any ruling was still important for victims and families.

"We are not talking about a local court somewhere. It's not me saying torture is happening. This will be the ICJ saying that torture is happening," he told AFP.

"And whoever wants to re-normalise the Syrian regime, they will have this tag on their forehead that you are normalising with a state that is torturing people around the clock."
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur believes Fernando Alonso was guilty of dangerous driving in the Qatar Grand Prix following a move that put Charles Leclerc at risk.

On lap 33 of the race, Alonso was running ahead of Leclerc when he ran wide at Lusails fast sweeping Turn 2.

Alonso was nevertheless able to join a portion of tarmac that leads back onto the track after Turn 3.

But he rejoined right in the path of the Ferrari, which led to dodgy situation for Leclerc who darted left to avoid the Aston Martin before passing the latter on the outside of Turn 4.

Vasseur reckoned that had the roles been reversed, and Leclerc rejoined the track in such an aggressive manner, Alonso would have surely berated the Monegasque over the radio.

If it was in the opposite I think that Fernando would have been more than vocal on the radio, that his life was really on the edge and so and so, commented Vasseur.

I think it was far too much coming from nowhere and crossing the track at 90 degrees, but its not my decision.

Leclerc was less critical than his team boss of Alonsos move, but conceded that it was nevertheless on the limit.

But on the other hand, he was so far off that I dont think he saw me at any point, added the Ferrari charger.

Then coming back, its not the best way to rejoin the track, but at the same time I dont think he was aware that I was there.

At the end of the day, the stewards issued a mere reprimand for Alonsos unsafe maneuver.

I lost the car, it was my mistake, commented the two-time world champion. I was struggling a little bit with on-off grip in the car at the moment.

So yeah it was my mistake, a costly mistake, maybe one or two places. So hopefully next time better.

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The Hamas terrorist attacks and kidnappings in Israel that began Saturday appear to have at least temporarily put on hold a months-long U.S. public effort to mediate an Israeli-Saudi normalization agreement that would transform longstanding Mideast rivalries and alliances.

Asked about the U.S. mediation effort, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a series of appearances on U.S. Sunday talk shows that Biden administration is not currently focused on it.

Where does normalization process stand?

Right now, in the immediate, the focus is on helping Israel deal with this attack from Hamas. Thats what were focused on, Blinken told NBCs Meet the Press program.

White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby echoed that view in remarks to reporters Monday but added that it was too soon to say [that] we hit the brakes on mediation.

Kirby had told reporters in a Sept. 29 phone call that progress toward an Israeli-Saudi normalization had been achieved.

All sides have hammered out, I think, a basic framework for what we might be able to drive at, Kirby said at the time. But, as in any complex arrangement, as this will inevitably be, everybody is going to have to do something. And everybody is going to have to compromise on some things, he added.

The Biden administration modified its language on that progress in an Oct. 4 State Department press briefing.

Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said: many of the key elements of a pathway towards normalization are now on the table, and there is broad understanding of those elements. Were certainly not going to get into the specifics of these diplomatic engagements publicly.

The U.S. statements coincided with some of the most visible examples of that progress so far, namely Riyadh hosting visits by two Israeli government ministers in late September and early October to participate in international conferences. They were the first public visits of Israeli Cabinet-level officials to Saudi Arabia.

How Iran is responding to normalization progress

Irans Islamist rulers, who frequently call for the destruction of Israel, long have opposed Arab and Muslim nations establishing relations with the Jewish state.

In a report published Oct. 3, Irans state-run Press TV agency quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as telling an Islamic conference in Tehran that governments seeking normalization with Israel are making a mistake and ... betting on a losing horse.

Khameneis senior advisor Ali Akbar Velayati issued a starker warning in remarks published by Press TV Monday. He said Hamas assault on Israel, which he praised as a success, should teach a lesson to certain governments in the region about what happens to those who follow Israels path.

Notably, Velayati and Khamenei did not cite Saudi Arabia by name. Tehran normalized its relations with Riyadh earlier this year, with both sides re-opening embassies in their respective capitals after a seven-year break in ties.

What US hopes normalization will achieve

In his Sunday talk show comments, Blinken acknowledged that the U.S. faces many challenging and difficult issues to resolve in its mediation effort, without elaborating.

If successful, Blinken told NBC an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal could have two main benefits.

One, he said, would be a much different path for the region and for the future  a path of greater stability, of greater integration, of people working together to better their lives.

Blinken said the other would be advancing and supporting the prospect of Israelis and Palestinians resolving their differences. Its imperative that [normalization] not be a substitute [for that resolution], he said.

Why Saudi Arabia is pursuing normalization

Riyadh has emphasized that a normalization deal with Israel should include measures to improve the lives of Palestinians living under Hamas control in Gaza and in the West Bank under a decades-long Israeli occupation and an authority led by Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas, Hamas rival.

For us, the Palestinian issue is very important, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told U.S. network Fox News in an interview published Sept. 20.

Referring to talks on a normalization deal, he said, every day, we get closer and expressed hope that negotiations will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians [and] get Israel [to be] a player in the Middle East.

Asked by Fox News what would happen if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon as Western nations fear it seeks despite Iranian denials, Prince Mohammad told Fox News that we will have to get one as well. He did not specify whether that issue is part of the normalization talks with the U.S. and Israel.

There has been no public comment from Riyadh on whether the Israel-Hamas war will affect its approach to the negotiations.

How Israel views normalization effort

Israel indicated Sunday that it does not want any pause in efforts to reach a normalization deal.

"We don't see any reason that it should be off the table," said Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan in comments to reporters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an optimistic assessment of the normalization effort in a Sept. 22 address to the U.N. General Assembly. He said his nation was on the cusp of a peace with Saudi Arabia that would create a new Middle East.

Such a peace will go a long way to ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. It will encourage other Arab states to normalize their relations with Israel. It will enhance the prospects of peace with the Palestinians. It will encourage a broader reconciliation between Judaism and Islam, Netanyahu said.

But he also acknowledged the risk that, as he put it, the fanatics ruling Iran will do everything they can to thwart this historic peace.

Noting Irans longtime arming of Palestinian proxies such as Hamas, he urged the international community to stop the curse of a nuclear Iran and roll back its fanaticism and aggression.

Israel has not indicated what steps it might take to improve living conditions for Palestinians as part of a normalization deal. With Israel focused on a war to defeat Hamas, neither its government nor its main opposition parties have publicly discussed any such concessions.
When Congress passed temporary funding for the U.S. government at the end of September, it left out economic assistance for two small Pacific nations that U.S. defense officials say are critical to Washingtons Indo-Pacific strategy and are targets of Chinas aggressive influence campaign.

Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands control a large swath of the Pacific Ocean. Under a special agreement known as the Compacts of Free Association, or COFA, these three nations give Washington the right to deny access to other nations  including China  in exchange for American economic assistance.

But when funding for the compact expired on September 30, Palau and the Marshall Islands received no new economic assistance under the continuing resolution that kept the U.S. government open for 45 days.

We have to draw a line somewhere, argued Dave Stilwell, former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in an interview. If the spirit of the compact[s] is to continue, it has to start with some limits on how the funds are spent, particularly on technology for data transfer.

Cleo Paskal, a nonresident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, disagreed.

Effectively, the [continuing resolution] leaves the Marshalls high and dry, she told VOA.

Paskal said the funding shortfall is most acute in the case of Palau, which stands to receive $90 million if and when Congress approves an extension of its compact for 2024, documents show. The country ran a deficit of at least $37 million on a total budget of less than $150 million in fiscal year 2021, according to Palau government documents.

Now, because the CR [doesnt advance temporary funding to Palau], Palaus debt continues, and its going to have to get into more debt, said Paskal.

By contrast, Micronesia received more than $16 million in the continuing resolution, according to a U.S. official who spoke on background because he was not authorized to speak for the administration.

Paskal says the uneven treatment is a mistake for U.S. national security.

We need that corridor of freedom that stretches from Hawaii to Philippines, she said, Its how you get to the treaty allies, how you get to Taiwan.

Under the compacts, the Biden administration has proposed spending $7.1 billion over the next 20 years to provide education, health care and environmental assistance to these island nations.

But while negotiations with Micronesia and Palau have been completed, the Marshall Islands is still in talks. Lawmakers expect to vote on the long-term funding once all agreements are signed.

For a relatively low investment, [this] can have high impact, said Jim Loi, chief operating officer at the Asia Group.

This, by U.S. government budget standards, is nothing. It is literally a half days worth of Medicare fraud, said Grant Newsham, a former diplomat and U.S. marine intelligence officer, in an interview.

Newsham calculates that Washington is actually saving money over the long term by signing compacts with these Pacific nations.

He said it would cost the U.S. at least $100 billion to purchase the ships, aircraft, submarines, missiles and troops needed to secure the 5.6 million square kilometers of Pacific Ocean controlled by these tiny island nations.

Loi warned that Beijing is actively seeking to exploit any doubts about U.S. commitment to the region. I think we would expect that the Chinese are going to push and so now would not be the time for us to turn a blind eye, he said.

Newsham is particularly concerned about Palau, which is in not only in debt but under constant economic pressure from Beijing, which shut down Chinese tourism to Palau in retaliation for its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

Theyre counting on the United States. They want to be a good ally, a good friend, he said, and we arent coming through with what they need.
Utah on Tuesday became the latest U.S. state to sue TikTok, alleging the company is "baiting" children into addictive and unhealthy social media habits.

TikTok lures children into hours of social media use, misrepresents the app's safety and deceptively portrays itself as independent of its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, Utah claims in the lawsuit.

"We will not stand by while these companies fail to take adequate, meaningful action to protect our children. We will prevail in holding social media companies accountable by any means necessary," Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Salt Lake City.

Arkansas and Indiana have filed similar lawsuits, while the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether state attempts to regulate social media platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok violate the U.S. Constitution.

Public health concerns are cited in the Utah lawsuit. Research has shown that children who spend more than three hours a day on social media double their risk of poor mental health, including anxiety and depression, the lawsuit alleges.

"TikTok designed and employs algorithm features that spoon-feed kids endless, highly curated content from which our children struggle to disengage. TikTok designed these features to mimic a cruel slot machine that hooks kids' attention and does not let them go," Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said at the news conference.

The lawsuit seeks to force TikTok to change its "destructive behavior" while imposing fines and penalties to fund education efforts and otherwise address damage done to Utah children, Reyes said.

TikTok spokesperson Hilary McQuaide did not immediately return an email message seeking comment on the lawsuit.

Utah earlier this year became the first state to pass laws that aim to limit the use of social media apps such as TikTok by children and teens. The laws are set to take effect next year.

They will impose a digital curfew on people under 18, which will require minors to get parental consent to sign up for social media apps and force companies to verify the ages of all their Utah users.

They also require tech companies to give parents access to their kids' accounts and private messages, raising concern among some child advocates about further harming children's mental health. Depriving children of privacy, they say, could be detrimental for LGBTQ+ kids whose parents are not accepting of their identity.
Australia is urging restraint and is expressing support for Israel and its right to defend itself after the attack by Hamas militants.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators Monday marched through Sydney, where they gathered at the steps of the Opera House.

Its famous sails have been lit up in the blue and white of the Israeli flag as a show of solidarity with Jewish communities in Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had called for the pro-Palestinian march in Sydney to be abandoned.

The conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton condemned the protest as "despicable" and "unimaginable in modern Australia".

One pro-Palestinian activist told local media that it was heartbreaking seeing civilians being killed in the Gaza strip by Israeli airstrikes.

The Canberra government has expressed its support for Israel following the violence in the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that attacks by Hamas militants on Israel were "abhorrent."

"Israel has a right to defend itself and this was an abhorrent attack," Wong said. "And the taking of hostages, the attacks on civilians, the sort of images, awful images, that we are seeing reminds us of the security situation that Israel confronts."

Australia has updated its travel advice since the violence started and is urging its citizens to "reconsider your need to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories overall due to the volatile security situation, including the threat of terrorism, armed conflict and civil unrest."

Australia has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1949. In Canberra, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said "Australia has a warm and close relationship with Israel."

Politically, Canberra is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist within internationally recognized borders.

Elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, the Malaysian government said that the country stands in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. In Indonesia, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, officials said they were deeply concerned about the escalation of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and called for the violence to end.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry has condemned the "indiscriminate attacks on Israel."
U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that we have Israels back, as Washington attempts to defuse tensions in the Middle East after a stunning terrorist attack by Hamas militants.

He also pledged Washingtons continued support for Israels counteroffensive against what he called an atrocity that has killed more than 1,000 people, including at least 14 Americans.



In this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel, he said, repeating: We stand with Israel. We will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who both stared stonily ahead, gave details from the weekends events, which he said were an act of sheer evil.

More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered  not just killed, slaughtered  in Israel, he said. Among them, at least 14 American citizens killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach-churning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain.

He said he would ask Congress to take urgent action but did not specify. For now, there is no speaker in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, preventing Congress from passing new spending.



National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the White House will encourage Congress to keep a supply of military support going to Israel. Sullivan added that the White House believes there are 20 Americans not accounted for but clarified that not all of those may be held hostage.



Biden said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday  their third call since the crisis began  and said he was not surprised by Israels swift, decisive and overwhelming response.

But he added, We also discussed how democracies like Israel and the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law.

Four days into the start of hostilities, Biden is taking steps to lower the temperature in a part of the world whose long-simmering problems could explode beyond its borders. The conflict leaves Biden with a number of serious problems. But above all, says political analyst Daniel Byman, are Washingtons concerns for the Americans killed or taken hostage.

There may be Americans captured by a terrorist group, he told VOA on Zoom. And thats got to be a priority of any American president. And the second issue is coming to terms with the deaths of Americans in a terrorist attack in Israel. Add to that all the complexities of a very difficult regional situation, and it involves not only Israel and Hamas, but the possibility of Hezbollah and Iranian involvement.

So, President Biden is trying to wrestle with all these, with the first step being dont make the situation worse, but also needing to assure Israel of American support at an incredibly difficult time and prevent further loss of life and protect the safety of Americans.

And the conflict has attracted sharp words from American adversaries.

Unfortunately, we can see a sharp deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, said Russian President Vladimir Putin. I think that many will agree with me that this is a clear example of the failure of the policy of the United States in the Middle East, which tried to monopolize the resolution [of the conflict], but, unfortunately, was not concerned with finding compromises acceptable to both sides."

From the White House, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told VOA that conflict in Israel wont take Washingtons eye off other threats, wherever they are.

Any nation who might think that somehow the United States is going to get distracted should think again, he said. We are a large enough, big enough, powerful enough country, economically viable enough  in fact, the economys incredibly strong right now  that we can look after our national security interests and those of our allies and partners anywhere around the world.

And when asked if Biden asked Netanyahu to show restraint in his military response, Kirby pointed to the two nations shared values.

Nobody wants to see innocent life taken, Kirby said. And as I said, theres been too much of it. One of the great things about our relationship with Israel is that were two vibrant democracies, and we mutually believe in things like the respect for innocent life and the rule of law. And were always stronger together, our two countries, when we show that to the world, that we do respect innocent life, and that we do respect not only the rule of law but the law of war.

But these words play alongside the images of Israels swift and harsh response, which are likely to upset many in the Global South, who see the Israeli-Palestinian saga as a potent wedge issue. Pro-Palestinian protests have erupted around the world  including in the U.S., at state capitols, federal buildings and Israeli diplomatic outposts  but also as far away as Johannesburg, South Africa, where on Wednesday, protesters plan to mass outside the U.S. consulate.
Some 150 countries - many of them in Africa - have signed on to Chinas 10-year-old Belt and Road Initiative also known as the BRI. And while the multibillion-dollar global infrastructure project helped bring roads, rails, infrastructure, it also left some countries saddled with debt. VOA Nairobi Bureau Chief Mariama Diallo takes a look at the impact the BRI has had in Africa and the benefits and critiques of the Chinese initiative. Camera: Amos Wangua
A Chinese dissident who was stranded in the transit area of a Taiwanese airport has arrived in Canada after Ottawa granted him asylum  but some observers say his path to safety, including stops in Laos, Thailand, and Taiwan, reflects the growing hardship that Chinese activists face when they try to leave China.

This case shows how difficult it is for Chinese human rights defenders to escape the country, William Nee, research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a U.S.-based activist network, told VOA by phone.

[Since] most activists either face exit bans or have no valid passports, they often have to make amazing escapes similar to the Underground Railroad in the U.S. era of slavery, where people have to escape in clandestine means, he added.

Chen Siming, a Chinese activist known for commemorating the Tiananmen Square Massacre in China and who has been repeatedly detained around the Tiananmen anniversary, fled China for Laos in late July. But days after he arrived in Laos, he saw video of Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei being arrested by Laotian authorities. To avoid the same fate as Lu, Chen decided to cross into Thailand.

After arriving in Thailand, some Chinese refugees advised me to apply for an interim asylum status with the UNHCR, he told VOA by phone. But after UNHCR granted me asylum status, I started hearing rumors that they vowed to bring me back to China, which made me feel that Thailand is no longer a safe place to be.

In the end, Chen bought a ticket from Thailand to Guangzhou that included a transit in Taipei. I know Taiwan is a democracy and I know the government wont send me back to Thailand or China based on one officials decision since they are subject to public scrutiny, he told VOA. I feel relatively safe about staying in the Taiwanese airports transit area.

After spending almost two weeks at the Taiwanese airport, where he said authorities took very good care of him, Chen was given political asylum by Canada and boarded a flight heading to Vancouver on October 5.

Despite initial concern that he might be stranded at the Taiwanese airport for months, Chen credited his swift resettlement to the global attention on his case, support from local human rights organizations, and the coordination between authorities from Taiwan, Canada, and the U.S.

I feel extremely lucky to be able to arrive in Canada within such a short time and Im grateful for all the help and support from government officials in Taiwan, the U.S., and Canada as well as from many friends who I havent met in person, Chen told VOA.

The Chinese embassy in Canada didnt respond to VOAs request for comment.

Chinese asylum seekers face growing challenges

Chen had better luck than Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei and Chinese activist Yang Zewei.

Laotian authorities arrested Lu on July 28 as he tried to travel to the U.S. to reunite with his daughter and wife. Despite the efforts to advocate for his release and intervention from foreign governments, authorities in Laos still deported him to China.

According to his wife Zhang Chunxiao, Lus family members only learned about his deportation after the Xindu Detention Center in Sichuan Province asked them to send clothes, medicine, and money. However, the detention center didnt specify when Lu was deported to China.

In another case, Chinese free speech activist Yang Zewei, better known as Qiao Xinxin, went missing in the Laotian capital Vientiane on May 31 after he launched an online campaign against Chinas internet censorship. Following months of silence on his whereabouts, authorities in Chinas Hunan province informed Yangs family that he was held at a juvenile detention center in Hengyang City in August, according to Radio Free Asia.

Activists say these cases reflect the growing risks that Chinese dissidents face when they try to flee China.

Overall, its becoming increasingly difficult for overseas activists and human rights organizations to rescue Chinese dissidents trying to leave the country, as Lus case has shown, Zhou Fengsuo, the executive director of Human Rights in China, a New York-based advocacy group, told VOA by phone.

In Lus case, various actors put in resources to try to rescue him, but in the end, the result was not good, he added.

In his view, the biggest challenge that Chinese dissidents face now is the Chinese governments growing attempt to prevent them from leaving China or the continuous attempts to threaten or arrest them even after they have left the country. This is a very worrying trend, Zhou said.

The growing need to protect Chinese activists

Nee from Chinese Human Rights Defenders says Southeast Asia has become a danger zone for Chinese dissidents attempts to reach safety.

If you are a Chinese dissident, you end up putting yourself in very sketchy situations [by going through] countries that are completely beholden to Beijing and that creates a high degree of risk, he told VOA.

Nee hopes democratic countries like Canada, the U.S., and European countries will recognize the growing need to protect Chinese dissidents on the run and provide them with refugee status.

The case of Lu shows that he defended political dissidents in China, but now he is at risk of ill-treatment and torture, he said. Lus situation now proves why people were trying to prevent him from being sent back to China.

As for Chen, who views his own experience as one of the luckier cases, he hopes to contribute to the pro-democracy movement abroad because he thinks there is no room for similar activities in China. I come to Canada because it offers a safer environment, and I hope to contribute to the efforts to promote democratic transition in China, he told VOA.
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This October, savvy Costco shoppers will find more than a few great bargains at their favorite warehouse club. Whether youre shopping for kitchen supplies or stocking up on vitamins ahead of cold and flu season, Costco has many must-haves for you for well under $50.

More: Dont Shop at Dollar Tree on This Day of the Week

Read: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases

GOBankingRates rounded up some of the best deals available at Costco this month across a wide variety of departments. Check out these 10 deals for $50 or less available at Costco in October.

Berkshire Collection Faux Fur Throw

Price: $17.99

The arrival of cooler weather means its time to stock up on cozy throw blankets and replace any threadbare ones from past seasons.

Now through October 22, Costco members will receive $4 off in manufacturers savings on Berkshire Collections faux fur throw. These throws are available in purple, white, brown and gray shades and made from a plush, faux fur.

Find Out: Are These 8 Costco Items With Cult Followings Worth the Hype (and Money)?

Emergen-C Vitamin C Variety Pack Drink Mix

Price: $27.99

Emergen-Cs Vitamin C drink mix variety pack is now on sale at Costco for $5 off in manufacturers savings through October 22. Each pack includes 60 super orange, 30 raspberry and 30 tangerine flavors.

Originally listed at $32.99, the $5 discount means Costco members only pay $27.99 per box. With 120 packets inside, this breaks down to paying roughly 23 cents per packet.

Orgain Collagen Peptides + Probiotics, Unflavored

Price: $27.99

Feel your best, and score big savings, when you purchase Orgain Collagen Peptides + Probiotics, Unflavored this month at Costco.

Originally priced at $36.99, Costco members receive $9 off in manufacturers savings and pay just $27.99 for each 1.6 pound container. According to the Costco website, this means the price per ounce is $1.09.

Tramontina 5-Quart All-In-One Ceramic Non-Stick Pan

Price: $44.99

Did you know when you purchase the Tramontina non-stick pan youre buying a versatile five-piece set? Whether youre planning to fry or steam meals in the kitchen, the set includes the five-quart all-in-one plus pan, a lid that doubles as a spoon rest, two multi-purpose wood utensils and a steamer insert.

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Now through October 22, Costco members receive $10 in manufacturers savings off the online price of $54.99.

Gourmia 7-Quart Digital Air Fryer

Price: $47.99

Costco members that have been waiting for an air fryer sale are in luck this month. Now through October 22, theyll save $10 off the online price of $57.99 using manufacturers savings.

The Gourmia 7-quart digital air fryer includes a dishwasher safe basket, crisper tray and multi-purpose rack. Some of its features include optional preheat and turn food reminders, 10 one-touch pre-set cooking functions and auto-shut-off.

Natural Elements 6-Piece All Purpose Bowl Set

Price: $24.99

Prepping more meals and food for the upcoming holiday season? Add the Natural Elements six piece all-purpose bowl set to your Costco shopping cart.

These six bowls are dishwasher and microwave safe as well as oven safe when set to 400F temperatures. Originally priced online for $30.99, Costco members will receive $6 off in manufacturers savings.

Anchor Hocking Hammered Drinkware Set

Price: $22.99

Now through October 22, Costco members receive $4 in manufacturers savings off the online price of $26.99 for the Anchor Hocking hammered drinkware set. Each set includes 16 glasses. This means Costco members pay roughly $1.43 per glass.

Stolzle Lausitz All Purpose 21.7oz Wine Glass

Price: $26.99

Entertaining guests this holiday season? Stock up on Stolzle Lausitzs set of eight wine glasses.

Each wine glass is made from European crystal glass. Theyre dishwasher safe and built to last for daily basis use. Costco members receive $8 off in manufacturers savings from the online price of $34.99 now through October 22.

Bounty Advanced Paper Towels

Price: $24.49

Skip the more expensive paper towels sold at a grocery store chain and stock up on Bounty paper towels at Costco.

Originally priced at $29.99, Costco members receive $5.50 off in manufacturers savings. This sale lasts through October 22 with a limit of two purchases per member.

Hersheys Variety Pack

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Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Tuesday a leak leading to the shutdown of a natural gas pipeline from Estonia to Finland this weekend was probably caused by "external" activity.

Last year, a series of underwater blasts ruptured three pipelines that carried natural gas from Russia to Western Europe at a time of high geopolitical tensions as Moscow cut gas supplies to Europe.

While the government cautioned against leaping to any conclusions, saying it seemed unlikely that explosives were the cause, the Norwegian seismological institute NORSAR said Monday it detected a "probable explosion" in the area of the leak.

Niinisto said that he had been in touch with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and that the military alliance was ready to assist in the investigation.

He said that the cause of the damage was not yet clear, and that Finland and Estonia were cooperating in an ongoing investigation.

Estonian officials confirmed Monday that underwater telecommunications lines linking to Finland were also damaged.

The two damaged elements "are in very different locations, although the timing [of the incidents] is quite close," Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said at a press briefing.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters later that a preliminary assessment suggested that "the discovered damage could not have been caused by normal use of the pipeline or pressure fluctuations."

He said the leak was located in the Finnish exclusive economic zone.

When asked about the likelihood of Russian involvement, Orpo said it was important to "gather all the information that is available and not to jump to conclusions at this stage."

Timo Kilpelainen, head of the investigation department at the National Bureau of Investigation, said at the same press conference that there were "no indications that explosives were used in the act."

Stoltenberg posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the military alliance was "sharing information and stands ready to support Allies concerned."

European Council President Charles Michel also offered his "full support and solidarity" to the affected countries and called for "a full investigation" in a message on X, formerly Twitter.

Finland's gas network operator, state-owned Gasgrid, said Sunday that the Balticconnector pipeline had been shut down over a suspected leak.

The operator said "an unusual drop in pressure" had been noticed in the pipeline running along the seabed of the Gulf of Finland.

Gasgrid said the Finnish gas system was stable, with supply secured through a floating liquefied natural gas terminal in Inkoo.

In late September 2022, a series of underwater blasts ruptured three of the four pipelines that make up Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, a major conduit for Russian natural gas exports to Western Europe, spewing gas into the Baltic Sea.

The pipelines had been at the center of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation to Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Because the leaks occurred in their exclusive economic zones, Denmark and Sweden opened probes into the attack, as did Germany.

All three countries have kept a tight lid on their investigations, which analysts say is unsurprising given the potential diplomatic fallout of what they might uncover.
Ukrainians who fled one war only to be caught in another. Aid for Israel, and Congress in turmoil further complicate U.S. funding for Ukraine. What this weekends Polish election could mean for Ukraine. The work to reopen school in Ukraine, many which have been destroyed by Russian missile strikes.
While the hostilities between Israel and Hamas have raised doubts about the future of Israel's efforts to develop ties with Saudi Arabia and the wider Muslim world, critics say the hostilities will also significantly restrict public debate in Pakistan about whether to recognize the Jewish state.

Islamabad does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and refuses to recognize it as a sovereign country until the state of Palestine is established  a long-running policy of many Muslim-majority countries. Pakistanis cannot visit the Jewish state because their passport states it is "valid for all countries of the world except Israel."

A debate, however, has intermittently flared up in national mainstream television channels, newspapers and social media platforms on whether the South Asian nation should reconsider its stance on Israel. The two countries have held secret meetings on security-related issues since their foreign ministers met publicly in 2005.

The latest public debate stemmed from efforts to forge ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel in line with the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, which enabled the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with the Jewish state in 2020.

The discourse gained momentum in March when Fishel Benkhald, a Pakistani Jew in the southern port city of Karachi, revealed via his social media platform that he had successfully exported his first kosher food shipment to Jerusalem and Haifa.

Officials in Islamabad at the time said the export activity had taken place through a third country and was Benkhald's initiative, saying it did not signal in any way the establishment of direct trade ties with Israel.

The hostilities that began Saturday appear to have shut down any further discussion of potential Israeli-Pakistani ties, at least for the time being.

"The first lesson of the Gaza war is that the so-called recognition of Israel debate or discussion in Pakistan has been buried, and rightly so," Senator Mushahid Hussain, the defense committee chair of the upper house of the Pakistani parliament, told VOA.

"It was a nonissue, and just because some Arab countries are doing it, there was no need, no requirement for Pakistan to do so, because we have our own perspective on that, which is more long-standing and older than the Arab one," said the influential senator.

Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, said the time is not ripe to explore normalization.

"In Pakistan, like other Muslim countries, public sentiments are very strong in support for the people of Palestine," Lodhi told VOA. "Pakistan has been a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause. It would want to see de-escalation in the conflict."

Pakistani Islamic groups and right-wing parties vehemently oppose forging ties with Israel over the Palestinian issue. Dozens of people staged a demonstration in Karachi this week to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza and to express solidarity with Palestinians.

The Pakistani foreign ministry took a fairly neutral stance on the war when Hamas pulled off its surprise attack against Israel Saturday, saying, We are closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East.  We are concerned about the human cost of the escalating situation.

The statement urged the international community "to come together for cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and for a lasting peace in the Middle East."

Pakistan Says No Change on Israel Policy

Last month, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told a national media outlet on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session that "six or seven" Muslim countries could "make peace" with Israel if it signed a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. He said, "Peace with Saudi Arabia means peace with the greater Muslim world."

Cohen's reported comments prompted Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani to dismiss suggestions his country was among those considering regular ties with Israel.

"There is no change, nor are we contemplating a change in our policy regarding Israel. We keep our national interests supreme when we decide on any matter in Pakistan," Jilani said at a recent news conference in Islamabad.

Pakistan has a traditionally close partnership with Saudi Arabia and received crucial Saudi financial assistance and oil supplies on deferred payments to overcome economic problems.

Ahmed Quraishi, a Pakistani political commentator and peace activist, said that the Gaza conflict could slow down progress in Arab and Muslim normalization with Israel because governments need to take into account public opinion while revisiting policies.

"There's no question that the escalation by the Hamas militant group hits at the heart of efforts for peace and will complicate the work of peacemakers in the region," Quraishi told VOA.

"However, so far, it doesn't look like normalization will stop. If anything, Hamas has shown the urgency of integration and normalization to stop militant groups hijacking regional conflicts for terrorism and proxy agendas," he argued. "Everyone supports Palestinian rights and rightly so, but there's a debate in the media across the region on whether groups like Hamas are rogue militants or representatives of a cause."

Senator Hussain criticized U.S.-led Western nations for backing Ukraines resistance to Russian occupation of its territory but failing to support Palestinians demanding Israel vacate their land.

The Western countries, the Western apologists of Israel, have double standards, they have hypocritical attitudes, and their stance has nothing to do with principles, he said. They only use human rights and democracy when they want to weaponize it for geopolitics but not as a principled position.

Quraishi and Benkhald were among a 15-member group of primarily Pakistani-American peace activists who undertook a rare trip to Israel last year in collaboration with an Israeli organization promoting ties with Muslim countries.

Im a proud Pakistani living in Pakistan And I Stand With Israel, Benkhald said on X (formerly Twitter) after hostilities broke out on Saturday. Hope friends of Israel and Palestinian mediate immediate stop to human suffering on both sides. There should be no provocation again to escalate and undermine peace process.
As Israel steps up its siege of Gaza and the likelihood of a prolonged conflict grows, Greece is bracing for a new influx of illegal migrants. The countrys top migration official warns the latest violence will add to a surge of migrants that U.N. data say is already led by Palestinians.

Greek migration minister Dimitris Keridis warned that even before the outbreak of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, Greece had already been facing the biggest surge in illegal migrant inflows in recent years.

Keridis said, as if the multitude of flashpoints in northern Africa and Syria were not pushing thousands of migrants and refugees to Europe already, now this.

The minister warned that escalating violence in the Middle East is likely add to migration pressure to Greece and the European Union as a whole, especially, he said, if Iran gets involved in the crisis and tensions boil over in Lebanon, Egypt, and Libya.

Like Italy and Spain, Greece has faced rising migrant inflows.

This year it has already counted more than double the 18,780 illegal entries authorities recorded for all of 2022.

United Nations data show Palestinians dominate the surge, seeking illegal corridors of entry to Europe, through Turkey, Egypt or Libya. The massive departure of Palestinians from their homeland has largely been driven by a spate of violence in the West Bank over the last several months.

The data also show that Palestinians account for 22 percent of illegal entries to Greece, followed by Afghans, Somalis and Syrians.

Speaking to a local broadcaster, Keridis said Greece remains vigilant, but didnt specify what added measures his government is considering to further protect its borders.

Keridis warned that migration pressures would increase significantly if growing violence after Hamas attack in Gaza leads to a protracted conflict, as many are predicting.

He said that even if Israel succeeds in its bid to regain control of Gaza, reseal its borders from Hamas intruders and wipe out the terrorist organization entirely, migration flows will not ease.

There is no doubt, he said, that the imminent goal is for Israel to counter Hamas and arrest those responsible for the recent attacks. But that, the minister said, will not ease illegal migration. He said a military option must be coupled with a deal to resolve the Palestinian crisis because left unsolved, or without some framework of a settlement, crises of this type will continue erupting.

This week, Greece joined forces with Cyprus, Italy, Malta and Spain in demanding more funding from the European Union to deal with rising illegal migration. The five countries also urged Brussels to adopt sanctions on states that do not take back illegal migrants.

EU leaders who met in Granada, Spain, on October 6 were fiercely divided in their efforts to draft a common position.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that "we have Israel's back," as Washington attempts to defuse tensions in the Middle East after a stunning terrorist attack by Hamas militants. More than 1,000 people, including at least 14 Americans, have been killed by Hamas militants who stormed over the border Saturday, killing and kidnapping civilians and security forces.

VOA Ukrainian Service's Iuliia Iarmolenko spoke Tuesday to John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, shortly before Biden addressed the nation in a televised address.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: Can you lay out a roadmap of how the United States is planning to address the situation in Israel? Are you preparing for a long haul or possible regional war?

John Kirby: Well, how long this conflict goes on is really something for the Israelis to speak to, not the United States. What I think you'll hear from the president today is that we stand solidly and strongly behind Israel, their right to defend themselves, to live in peace and security, to go after these Hamas terrorists that perpetrated this barbaric violence on Israeli citizens, just innocent people going about their lives, and that we're going to, we're going to continue to support their needs. There's already one tranche of military aid on its way to Israel, it should be there soon. I suspect there'll be others. The president will talk about that in his remarks. We also are mindful that there's a hostage situation going on. And this is not like any typical hostage situation; it's also a war zone. So, that's going to complicate recovery efforts, and the president will talk about how we are offering our support, our advice and counsel. We have terrific hostage recovery experts here in the United States, and we're willing to chip in that expertise should the Israelis find that required.

VOA: The administration has been pretty cautious in describing Iran's role in the Hamas attack on Israel. Why? And any signs of possible Russia's involvement?

Kirby: Make no mistake, Iran has a degree of complicity here. They've been supporting Hamas for many years: training, tools, weapons, capabilities. So, nobody's walking away from the fact that Hamas wouldn't be able to function if it wasn't for the support that they get from Iran. What we have said and our Israeli counterparts have said as well is we just haven't seen any direct evidence that they were involved specifically in these attacks. But we're going to keep looking at this. We'll keep monitoring the intelligence picture and the evidence, and we'll see where it takes us.

VOA: How about Russia's involvement?

Kirby: We see no indication that Russia was at all directly involved in these attacks either.

VOA: There are reports that President Biden did not urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to exercise restraint in Gaza in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack. Will the administration communicate any concerns or guidance before Israel's anticipated ground operation in Gaza?

Kirby: Well, again, without talking to Israeli military operations  that's for them to speak to  I think we all recognize given the threats that they faced and the violence that they've been dealing with in the last few hours, that they have to respond aggressively against Hamas, and you're seeing that play out. They are doing that. Nobody wants to see innocent civilians killed or hurt. Sadly, there's been too much of that already. Almost 1,000 Israelis now butchered and slaughtered, raped and tortured in front of their family members, and nobody wants to see innocent life taken. And there, as I said, there's been too much of it.

One of the great things about our relationship with Israel is that we're two vibrant democracies and we mutually believe in things like the respect for innocent life and the rule of law. And we're always stronger together, our two countries, when we show that to the world, that we do respect innocent life and that we do respect not only the rule of law, but the law of war. So, you know, we'll obviously, we'll again provide the kind of support that we need to provide to Israel, and we will always stand up for the opposite example of what Hamas is doing, which is not only no respect for life, but the wanton, indiscriminate, murder, butchery of human life.

VOA: But is it going to be communicated to Prime Minister Netanyahu?

Kirby: We, again, this is something that we obviously share with Israel, and you know, these are, these are two countries, two partners that certainly have very open lines of communication, and this is one of the great things about our relationship.

VOA: On Ukraine, you said yesterday the administration wants to make sure that there is no gap in assistance to Ukraine, not even a day. Are you confident that that's going to be the case? Given all the situation that transpired in Israel? Is the administration considering pairing Ukraine and Israel aid requests for faster approval in Congress?

Kirby: It is important that Ukraine continue to get the aid that it needs. They are involved in still a counteroffensive in facing Russian aggression on their own soil. And you're right, we don't want to see a single lapse. That's why we're going to continue to work with Congress to see if we can get supplemental funding. We've got enough right now to get us through some time. But as I said the other day, it's not indefinite, and that's the reason we made a supplemental request. How those conversations with Congress play out, what that looks like, I can't say at this point. Both Ukraine and Israel are important. Both need American military assistance, and it's important to our national security interest, let alone theirs, but ours too, that they get that assistance. So, we're going to continue to work with Congress.

VOA: But is there communication to put these two funding requests together for their faster approval?

Kirby: Yeah, I'm not going to talk about the process here of the conversations that we're having with Congress. Both countries need U.S. military assistance in terms of weapons and capabilities. Both are under assault. Both have every right to defend themselves and their citizens. And in that defense, our national security interests are actually benefited. We're going to continue to have these conversations with Congress. How that's going to play out I just can't say, and I wouldn't talk about the specifics of the conversations that we're having.

VOA: One more question on that. Does the administration consider requesting bigger funding for Ukraine, so-called "one and done" aid package till the next election in the United States?

Kirby: Again, I don't want to get into the conversations that we're having with members of Congress. We already submitted a supplemental for the first quarter of the fiscal year here this fall. We believe that that supplemental request was adequate to the task. We urge Congress to pass that supplemental funding, but as for what other conversations might be happening, I'd really rather not get into that.

VOA: OK. And you said yesterday also that Ukraine has some weeks of good weather to be productive and efficient with their counteroffensive. Isn't this a good time to provide ATACMS [missiles] for Ukraine?

Kirby: Again, ATACMS are not off the table. We are having continued reviews of the additional capabilities that Ukraine needs. I'm not in a position to announce anything with respect to ATACMS. I would just tell you that as the war has evolved and changed, the capabilities that we have provided Ukraine has evolved and changed, and I would expect that that change will continue.

VOA: Including ATACMS?

Kirby: I'm just going to leave it there.

VOA: OK. And just let me ask this: You said yesterday that all energy right now is on helping Israel to defend itself. Do you think that there is a possibility that actors like Russia and China might use this opportunity when all eyes are on Israel to their advantage, and how to prevent that?

Kirby: It is certainly possible that other nations, other actors that are hostile to Israel could try to take advantage of the situation. And that is one of the reasons that the president, as commander-in-chief, ordered a carrier strike group into the eastern Mediterranean to send a strong signal to anybody who might be thinking that this is a good opportunity to get involved and try to broaden this conflict beyond just Hamas, and that they are to rethink that plan. They ought to rethink those considerations. So I can't speak to anything specific with respect to Russia or China's involvement one way or the other, but we have made it clear, and we'll continue to make it clear that we take our national security interests in the region very, very seriously.
Israel said Tuesday it has regained control of its border with Gaza and could be poised to launch a punishing ground assault into the Hamas-controlled, densely populated strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, even as Israeli and militant forces bombarded each other with hours of missile attacks.

Four days after the Islamist Hamas group shocked Israel with a massive barrage of missile fire and broke through border barriers, Israeli Brigadier General Dan Goldfuss of the 98th Paratroopers Division said the military is now moving into the offensive  to change the reality within Gaza to prevent such a thing from happening again.

Although a ground invasion was not a certainty, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have strongly signaled it is in the offing. Israel called up another 60,000 reservists, adding to the 300,000 already summoned to fight in the Jewish states biggest conflict since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

As night fell in Israel, rocket warning sirens blared in the coastal city of Ashkelon just north of the Gaza border as Hamas targeted it with numerous rockets. Earlier, Hamas aimed missiles at Tel Aviv and nearby Ben-Gurion International Airport, which the Palestinian militant group said on the Telegram social media site was in response to the targeting of civilians by Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces launched dozens of missiles at Gaza, turning buildings into rubble in an instant, forcing surviving civilians to scramble for their lives.

The death toll from the fighting mounted steadily, with Israel saying that more than 1,000 of its citizens and people from other countries, including 14 Americans, have been killed inside Israel. Another 2,700 have been wounded.

In addition, Israel said the bodies of 1,500 Hamas fighters have been found inside Israel, giving a sense of the scope of Hamass Saturdays invasion.

Palestinian authorities said at least 830 people have been killed and 4,250 injured in Gaza.

Hamas confirmed that Israel had killed two of its senior officials in the attacks. Hamas has taken about 150 Israelis as hostages and threatened to kill one of them each time Israel strikes Gaza without warning.

Authorities in Gaza said one Israeli strike hit the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the only passageway out of the enclave.

The Israeli military said it carried out hundreds of airstrikes overnight into Tuesday and that the attacks targeted a Hamas military compound, a weapons warehouse and a command center in Gaza.

Many of the attacks hit Gaza Citys upscale Rimal neighborhood, an area that is home to Hamas operational centers as well as residential buildings and offices of nongovernmental organizations.

Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said that no militants had crossed into Israel since Monday.

The Israeli military said Hamas had also fired 4,500 rockets from Gaza since beginning its attack on Saturday.

Netanyahu said in an address late Monday that his countrys forces were just beginning their response.

What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, Netanyahu said.

Lynn Hastings, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, said in a statement Tuesday that at least 200,000 of the 2.2 million residents of the Gaza Strip have been displaced by the conflict. She said the intensity of the fighting is making it difficult for humanitarian workers to deliver aid.

Hastings called on all parties to comply with their obligations under humanitarian law.

Civilians, especially children, medical facilities, humanitarian personnel health workers, and journalists must be protected, Hastings said. Captured civilians must be released immediately and unconditionally. Anyone captured or detained, including combatants, must be treated humanely and with dignity.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that while he recognizes Israels legitimate security concerns, military operations must be done within humanitarian law. He said civilians must be protected, and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.

I am deeply distressed by todays announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in  no electricity, food, or fuel, Guterres said. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now it will only deteriorate exponentially.

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the United States issued a joint statement expressing united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.

All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed, the statement said.

Ari Harow, former chief of staff to Netanyahu, told VOAs Deewa Service that Israel did not have a choice when entering the conflict, with Hamas militants attacking on one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar.

This is not something that Israel had planned for or had wanted, Harow said. But once we have been dragged into this, and once war was declared, the goal is one and very

clear, and that is to destroy forever the terror infrastructure in Gaza, to make sure that the people of Israel, the citizens of Israel, don't have to face this type of brutality ever again.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A Kenyan court on Monday temporarily suspended a government plan to send police to Haiti on a U.N.-backed mission aiming to restore calm to the gang-infested Caribbean nation.

The U.N. Security Council last week approved a Kenyan-led multinational security force for the troubled country, with Nairobi promising 1,000 police officers.

But a Nairobi court granted an interim injunction on Monday in a case brought by opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, who argued the deployment was unconstitutional as it was not backed by any law or treaty.

Aukot, a lawyer who helped draft Kenya's revised 2010 constitution, charged that Kenya was deploying its police abroad at a time it had failed to quell insecurity within its own borders.

"I am satisfied that the application and petition raise substantial issues of national importance and public interest that require urgent consideration," High Court judge Enock Mwita ruled.

"A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from deploying police officers to Haiti or any other country until 24th October 2023," the ruling seen by AFP said.

Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, has been in turmoil for years, with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence, and the economy and public health system also in tatters.

Details of Kenya's deployment are still not finalized, with parliament yet to approve the move as required by law.

No 'shortcuts'

The U.N.-backed mission  initially approved for one year  envisions Kenyan police on the offensive with their Haitian counterparts, who are outnumbered and outgunned by gang members.

The force aims to provide "operational support to the Haitian National Police, including building its capacity through the planning and conduct of joint security support operations," according to the U.N. resolution passed last week.

The mission will also aim to create conditions to hold elections, which have not taken place in Haiti since 2016.

Kenya's involvement has been criticized at home, with many questioning the wisdom of such a risky mission.

Rights watchdogs also say Kenyan police have a history of using sometimes lethal force against civilians, and that they pose an unacceptable risk in Haiti where foreign troops have committed abuses in past interventions.

President William Ruto has defended the deployment as a "mission for humanity."

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said on Sunday the state will ensure it seeks the requisite parliamentary approvals and will not employ "any shortcuts."

"Kenyans should not worry. We still have insecurity issues, but we will ensure that the deployment does not compromise the safety of our nation," Kindiki said.

Kenya is seen as a democratic anchor in East Africa and has participated in peacekeeping operations in its immediate region including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia as well as other parts of the world.
As Israel fires back against the Hamas attack on its civilians, journalists and news websites have been caught in the crossfire.

International media watchdogs have reported that several journalists have been killed in Gaza since Saturday, when Hamas launched its assault on Israel. Other reporters are injured or listed as missing.

The militant group Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, invaded southern Israel on Saturday as part of an ambush that included the killings and kidnappings of civilians. Israel's military said the death toll has surpassed 1,000.

Israel responded to the killings and kidnappings, declaring war and placing Gaza and its population of 2.3 million people under siege. Authorities in the Palestinian territories said at least 560 people in Gaza have been killed.

Journalists killed while working

Among the media casualties is freelance photojournalist Mohammad Al-Salhi. News organizations say he was shot dead while covering military operations at the border east of the Palestinian refugee camp Bureij.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also reported that journalists Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi of the Palestinian news agency Ain Media and Mohammad Jarghoun were killed while reporting in Gaza.

"We call on all sides to remember that journalists are civilians and should not be targeted. Accurate reporting is critical during times of crisis and the media has a vital role to play in bringing news from Gaza and Israel to the world," CPJ's Middle East program coordinator Sherif Mansour said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Journalists has reported that journalists Said al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobboh and Hisham Nawajhah were killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit a residential building in Gaza City.

"Media workers in areas of armed conflict must be treated and protected as civilians and allowed to perform their work without interference," IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said in a statement. "There is intense and deeply concerned interest in this conflict all round the world, but people will only be able to understand what is really going on if journalists are allowed to do their work."

Media organizations targeted

Buildings housing media organizations based in the Palestinian territories have also been damaged in airstrikes, and in Israel, the English-language Jerusalem Post has been hit with cyberattacks.

"We've been targeted by a succession of devastating cyberattacks since the warfare started yesterday morning," the newspaper's editor-in-chief Avi Mayer told the Daily Beast. "We've been trying to deal with them, but they've taken us down several times."

Meanwhile, the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has been criticized for a surge in disinformation spread on it, according to the news website Wired.

Wired identified video game footage passed off as Hamas attacks, a 3-year-old video from the Syrian civil war made to look like it was taken this weekend, and images of fireworks in Algeria being shared as Israeli strikes on Hamas.

Experts have said they believe the disinformation is a result of changes that X owner Elon Musk has made to the platform, including firing trust and safety staffers and an algorithm that promotes users who pay $8 per month for a premium subscription.

Musk had directed followers to two sites that analysts say are known for sharing disinformation. The X owner later deleted those posts and tweeted to users that they should "try to stay as close to the truth as possible."
At least 29 people are dead after an artillery strike on a camp housing internally displaced persons in northern Myanmar near the Chinese border, according to sources in the region.

News outlets say the attack occurred late Monday night in the town of Laiza, which is controlled by the Kachin Independence Army, the military arm of an ethnic group that has been fighting the Myanmar army for greater autonomy for decades. Local media outlets reportedly showed images of several bodies laid out along the ground, as well as rescuers digging through rubble to recover more bodies.

The sources blamed the attack on the ruling military junta, which overthrew the elected civilian government of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. A spokesman for the regime told a Myanmar news outlet that the military was not responsible for the attack, according to a report by Reuters news agency.

The United Nations office in Myanmar says it is deeply concerned about the initial reports of civilians killed in the attack in Kachin state, including women and children. IDP camps are places of refuge, and civilians, no matter where they are, should never be a target, the statement said.

The military did claim responsibility for an airstrike on a village in northwest Myanmar back in April that killed 50 people during a ceremony by the Peoples Defense Force, the military arm of the National Unity Government, a shadow government made up of members of the ousted civilian government. Another 50 people were killed in a similar attack last October in northern Kachin state during a concert put on by the KIA.

Myanmar has been in chaos since the 2021 coup. A recent report by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights says more than 4,000 civilians have been killed at the hands of the military and its affiliates, while nearly 25,000 more have been arrested.

The unrest has also evolved into a deadly rural conflict between the military and several ethnic rebel groups who have been fighting for decades for greater autonomy.

Some information for this report came from Reuters, Agence France-Presse.
Doctors attending to opposition leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia in Bangladesh say that her life is in danger as the government will not allow her to leave the country for urgent medical intervention abroad.

Suffering from advanced cirrhosis of the liver, Khaleda Zia is at a high risk of dying and she urgently needs a liver transplant at a multidisciplinary advanced medical facility abroad, Dr. Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqui  a member of a medical board taking care of Zia, 78  said in a news conference in Dhaka Monday.

A liver transplant cannot be carried out in any hospital in Bangladesh. We have exhausted all available treatment options available in Bangladesh. With her complicated medical conditions, lying in a hospital in Dhaka, she is swinging between life and death.

The chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladeshs largest opposition party, two-time former prime minister Zia, who was sentenced to a 17-year jail term on convictions in two corruption cases and has been living under house arrest since 2020, is barred from leaving the country.

Last week, citing legal provisions, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina turned down an appeal from Zias family to allow her to travel to Germany for a liver transplant.

For decades, Zia and Hasina, chief of the ruling Awami League party, would alternate in government with metronomic regularity. They have long been each others archrival and were called the Battling Begums of Bangladesh politics.

Since 2009, when Hasina became prime minister for a second time, her party has won all national elections and she has remained in power for the past 14 years.

BNP leaders allege that the charges of corruption for which Zia was convicted and sent to jail in 2018 were false and politically motivated.

Zia's jail term was suspended by the government in March 2020 and she was released from jail on parole, in view of the risk of her being infected with COVID-19. The sentence was suspended on the condition that in no situation she would be allowed to travel outside the country.

After Zia was released from jail in 2020, her doctors reported that her diabetic conditions had worsened further and she was suffering from ailments of the kidneys, heart and other organs. Her doctors suspected that she had not received proper medical treatment while she was in jail for over two years.

In the past two years, the family of Zia sent at least six official requests, including the one sent on September 30 (2023), seeking permission to let her travel abroad for medical treatment. All requests were rejected by Hasina.

After Zia fell very ill recently, in August she was sent to a private hospital in Dhaka for treatment.

Dr. A. Z. M. Zahid, Zias personal physician told VOA that the BNP chiefs health has worsened critically in recent months mostly because she could not receive the crucial medical treatment in an advanced medical facility abroad.

High dosages of antibiotics are not working. The liver infection is causing fluid to accumulate in lungs, stomach and heart repeatedly. Dr. Zahid said Monday.

The latest view of the medical board is that she should be taken to a multidisciplinary advanced medical facility abroad for her life-saving treatment as soon as possible, before her medical problems take a fatal turn.

Last week Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said: According to the countrys law, there is no scope for granting permission to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia travel abroad.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that Zia has been a victim of political vengeance.

It appears, the government has been denying the BNP chairperson the badly needed medical treatment abroad in a conspiracy to gradually push her to death and keep her away from politics in the future, Rizvi told VOA.
Dubai Chamber of Commerces CEO Sustainability Dialogue gathered CEOs and top management teams from diverse business sectors to discuss ways to accelerate the economic shift to net-zero emissions.

Organised by the Chambers Centre for Responsible Business under the theme Accelerating the Net-Zero Transition: CEO Perspective, the event addressed the business communitys key role in achieving climate change mitigation targets, with a focus on emerging opportunities created by the transition towards clean energy.

The road to net zero emissions is set to reshape Dubai's economy, support the growth of new industries, and create sustainable paths to value creation. The event provided an ideal platform for participants to engage in important conversations, share innovative ideas, and explore potential business opportunities.

Special panel

The dialogue featured a series of presentations from guest speakers Yousif Bin Saeed Al Lootah, CEO of Lootah Biofuels; Dr Jasmina Locke, CEO of the SEE Institute; and Monaem Ben Lellahom, Group CEO and founding Partner of Sustainable Square. The three CEOs also took part in a special panel discussion, which was followed by an interactive Q&A session.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: Todays timely gathering represents another important step in uniting and supporting the private sector in our shared journey towards a sustainable future. Harnessing the momentum created by the UAEs Year of Sustainability, our Centre for Responsible Business has been working tirelessly to help members achieve their ESG goals through initiatives including our annual Sustainability Week, the ESG Label scheme, and our new Circular Economy Incubation Centre. We remain committed to strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors, which will play a key role in advancing the wise leaderships sustainability agenda.

The event featured a special presentation announcing the launch of the Dubai Circular Economy Incubation Centre, a new initiative designed to assist local businesses in developing and sharing their circular economy ideas for policy consideration.

Support and guidance

A committee of circular economy experts from government entities, business associations, and academia will oversee the review process and provide support and guidance in developing selected projects for submission to the Executive Council to obtain government endorsement.

As the UAE gears up to host the prestigious COP28 climate summit, Dubai is emerging as a global pioneer in the clean and renewable energy sector. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy has set an ambitious target to generate 100% of Dubais energy production capacity from clean sources by 2050. The emirates plans are closely aligned with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.

The Centre for Responsible Business Sustainability Week takes place from October 9 to 13 and is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at advancing the UAEs sustainability agenda. In addition to the CEO Sustainability Dialogue, highlights of this years annual programme include a Green Exhibition, a Roundtable Discussion, and the launch of a premium online training platform designed to elevate capabilities in the fields of sustainability, ESG, and CSR.--TradeArabia News Service
In this article, we take a look at the 25 most gender and income-equal countries in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the impact of gender and income equality on the national economy, you can directly look at the 5 Most Gender and Income-Equal Countries in the World.

According to various studies, the participation of women in the job market can significantly improve the economy. A study by CFR showed that closing the gender gap could lead to an additional $28 trillion in the global GDP. However, this can only happen if policymakers and those in authority are aware of what steps to take. Multiple international indices are utilized to compare the living standards between various countries, each focusing on an equally important parameter. Gender and income equality are both essential metrics to determine when it comes to countries because they each give us a different set of information regarding the living standards in that particular state.

Gender equality is usually measured through the Gender Inequality Index or the Gender Development Index, both of which are calculated by the United Nations Development Programme or UNDP. The GII focuses on any disparities between the genders in terms of the labor market, health, or empowerment. Each dimension is further measured by sub-factors that determine these differences. This index aims to determine how hurdles related to gender impact human achievements across various countries. Based on GII values, countries can further develop policy recommendations that may aid in alleviating gender disparities or at least accounting for them.

The GDI also works in a similar format, informing policymakers of the social areas that need more work to create equality across genders. While there is no one standard for measuring income equality across households, various international methodologies are deployed by different sources, one of which is the Gini Coefficient. The purpose behind each of these is to understand how income is spread across different economic classes and how this impacts other standards of living within a society.

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Determining income equality is essential because it helps policymakers understand the wealth distribution in society, enabling them to determine points of contention across the economy. In order to curate a more egalitarian society for all population segments, both income, as well as gender equality are critical factors to be determined. Economic standing and gender are both elements that may disadvantage particular groups from advancing forward in life. Hence, policymakers need to be aware of where their country stands in both these regards.

In addition to the impacts of gender equality on the economy, income equality has also shown a direct relation with economic growth. An OECD research has shown that economic growth tends to fall when income inequality arises. This happens because many of the poorer members of society find themselves unable to invest in their education, as a result of which, many potentially productive members fail to enter the workforce.

Working to achieve income equality across various classes can significantly improve how our local and international economies are structured. Even as we rank some of the most income-equal countries in the world, its important to note that research has shown that income inequality has risen worldwide in the past few decades amongst advanced economies and the developing world. Research has also shown that a higher number of women in managerial roles can bring in better profits for a company.

As much as gender and income equality are essential for national economies, they also play a significant role in business decisions across big corporations. A meta-analysis by the Stern School of Business involving a 1000 studies on ESG showcased that ESG and corporate financial performance showcased a positive correlation for 58% of the studies, with corporate investments in sustainability also being advantageous in the long term. Companies are now much more adamant about complying with ESG standards as these make them look much better off in the eyes of socially and environmentally concerned investors.

One of these companies is Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C), which increased the gender diversity on its board from 50% to 58% in 2022. The corporation has six different board committees, each with at least one female member. This diversity is not limited just to the board members; Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) has also achieved a broader goal of having 40% of their global leadership roles belong to female employees. Numbers like these were achieved because Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) prioritized ESG compliance, with a specific committee that focused on improving ESG performance headed by a woman. The corporation is also ranked top in the banking industry for its treatment of workers as stakeholders.

Another multinational corporation that has performed well in terms of gender equality is the industry leader, Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG). With 50% of its board members being women, this corporation also has an ESG-specific committee chaired by a female board member. Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) also ranks second in its industry for customer privacy. 71% of the employees at Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) have mentioned that the company is a great place to work, which is a significant number as compared to the national US average of 57%. The corporation has also recently launched multiple initiatives that focus on improving the mental well-being of its employees.

Recent trends in the labor market have also pushed corporations to treat blue-collar employees with better standards. Studies have shown that almost 80% of employees would perform better if they felt more appreciated in their workplaces, with this appreciation also including monetary benefits. Once gender and income equality is achieved at the level of private businesses, it can have a ripple effect on the rest of the economy at a national scale. For this reason, it is important to look into the most gender and income-equal countries in the world so one may take lessons from the policies they have implemented.

25 Most Gender and Income Equal Countries in the World

dean bertoncelj/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

In order to generate the list of the most gender and income-equal countries in the world, we have taken three indices into consideration. The countries have been ranked based on the average of their performance in the Gender Inequality Index (GII), the Human Development Index (HDI), and the income equality list as determined by US News. Only the countries that have reached the top 25 rankings in at least two of these lists have been included in this article. For companies with equal averages across these lists, their GII values have been used as a tiebreaker since they contain elements of both employment and income equality. The ranking is in descending order, with 1 being assigned to the country with the most income and gender equality.

Based on this methodology, here are the 25 most gender and income-equal countries in the world:

25. Slovenia

Average Ranking: 21

The literacy rate for both men and women touches almost 100% in Slovenia, with the female literacy rate being slightly higher. The percentage of women subjected to intimate-partner violence is 3.4%, which is significantly low compared to many other nations worldwide. 91% of the legal frameworks promoting gender equality compared to SDG indicators are in place in the country. While there are data gaps in certain areas, the overall performance of Slovenia makes it one of the most gender-equal countries in 2023.

24. France

Average Ranking: 20.5

While income equality in France has increased a bit in the past few years, the country still showcases a significant position compared to others in the world. Currently, France ranks 19th in the list of the most income-equal countries in the world. The country also has a noteworthy record of gender-related legislation, with 67% of French individuals believing that investment in gender equality is worthwhile.

23. Japan

Average Ranking: 19.3

Income equality can be a complicated topic to sift through because there are a plethora of factors to look at. Despite that, the UN considers Japan to be one of the most income-equal countries in the world, with a high level of equal wealth distribution. While Japan still makes it to the list of the most gender-equal countries in the world, it has one of the lowest rankings amongst the G7 countries, with experts mentioning that the country still has significant gender-related issues to tackle.

22. Italy

Average Ranking: 18

Italy managed to achieve a much higher gender balance in domains of economic decision-making after a legislative quota of 33% women on company boards was introduced in 2011. Similarly, a legislative quota of 40% was introduced for the parliament in 2017. Despite such policies in theory, experts still consider Italy to be amongst the European countries that are least committed to gender equality policies.

21. South Korea

Average Ranking: 17.5

GII Ranking: 15th

South Korea has come a long way in terms of gender equality in the past few decades, achieving its place as one of the most gender-equal countries in Asia. The country has also earned a good position in the list of growing global economies, which is considered a success story due to its history of war and conflict. The size of the Korean economy has grown 800 times in the past six decades.

20. UAE

Average Ranking: 17.5

GII Ranking: 11th

Amongst Arab nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council, UAE is ranked the highest in terms of gender parity, especially across the labor force and higher education domain. The country performs significantly well on the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap report as well.

19. United Kingdom

Average Ranking: 17

While the UK is not the best in the developed world regarding income equality, it has taken significant measures over the years that rank it as one of the most income-equal countries globally. Initiatives like raising the minimum wage, decreasing taxes, and increasing the minimum taxable income have somewhat improved inequality in the country.

18. Spain

Average Ranking: 16

GII Ranking: 14th

Spain has showcased 100% achievement in terms of putting in place legal frameworks that prevent violence against women, which makes it one of the most gender-equal countries in the world. The country has also showcased significant progress in terms of living conditions and benefits for all population segments by expanding many social welfare provisions.

17. Austria

Average Ranking: 16

GII Ranking: 12th

The Austrian labor market is known to have a high female employment rate, much of which was achieved after the National Action Plan (NAP) on Gender Equality in the Labor Market came out in 2010. The capital city of Vienna has especially deployed gender mainstreaming policies to create public spaces and infrastructure that are much more conducive to gender equality.

16. New Zealand

Average Ranking: 15

GII Ranking: 25th

According to US News, New Zealand ranks sixth in terms of the most income-equal countries in the world. The export industry, tourism, and manufacturing are the most significant contributors to the national economy in New Zealand. The country showcases a high per capita income and has some of the highest educational expenditures when seen as a percentage of the national GDP.

15. Portugal

Average Ranking: 15

GII Ranking: 15th

Portugal has showcased a rapid progress of women in the domain of formal education, with the number of female PhD holders surpassing the average of other EU countries. Compared with the past few decades, the country has also achieved an increasing proportion of women as part of the economically active population. A report by the European Commission praised Portugal for its extraordinary success in incorporating women into the field of science.

14. Ireland

Average Ranking: 14.3

Ireland has managed to achieve net income equality close to the EU average due to policies of social transfers and low taxation. These initiatives show that the country is aware of where it falls short in income distribution and is actively fighting those disparities.

13. Canada

Average Ranking: 14

Canadian provinces perform very well in terms of intergenerational income mobility, with eight of them scoring A grades. A high income mobility is a good measure of equal opportunities. In Canada, the relationship between a familys background and the adult income of its children is much lower when compared with many of the countrys peers. The intergenerational income elasticity in Canada is only 0.19, which is highly appreciable compared to countries like the US, where it goes up to 0.47.

12. Luxembourg

Average Ranking: 13

GII Ranking: 9th

Women in Luxembourg tend to have higher education levels than men, meaning the country's highly specialized service sector favors women. On average, the gender pay gap in Luxembourg is pretty low, with women earning more than men in certain domains as well. Women have a significant presence in many high-earning branches of the economy, such as health, finance, legal, etc.

11. Singapore

Average Ranking: 13

GII Ranking: 7th

Singapore has achieved significant milestones in terms of gender equality, so much so that the focus is now shifting towards gender equity, which is the next step. More women are taking up roles in leadership positions, with a higher number of fathers acquiring paternity leave as well. All in all, currently, 6 in every 10 Singaporean women are part of the economic workforce, which makes Singapore one of the most gender and income-equal countries in the world.

10. Germany

Average Ranking: 12.3

Even when we take a look at the gender ranking by WEF, Germany has improved its place in terms of gender equality over the years. Most of Germanys gender empowerment comes through political measures, with the number of women in politically influential roles increasing significantly.

9. Belgium

Average Ranking: 11.6

One of the biggest ways that Belgium has implemented better gender equality is through the strict administration of legal quotas that favor women, especially in political roles. These steps have enabled female participation in political forums to rise significantly. The government has also extended these quotas to listed companies in the private domain.

8. Australia

Average Ranking: 10.6

The Australian government committed a whopping $65 million for gender equality initiatives for the year 2022-2023. The country has 100% of legal frameworks in place that promote gender equality in the domains of violence against women and economic benefits. This is why Australia is 8th on the list of the most gender and income-equal countries in the world.

7. Finland

Average Ranking: 6.6

GII Ranking: 6th

Finland is considered one of the top examples in the world regarding income and gender equality. Men and women have almost equal representation in the Finnish workforce, a statistic that can be seen due to policies like affordable and good-quality child care. Female decision-makers are also seen abundantly in positions of power in politics and business.

6. The Netherlands

Average Ranking: 6.6

GII Ranking: 5th

The Netherlands has one of the worlds most considerable funds to fight inequality across the genders, with a value of more than $500 million from 2021-2025. This is another country that deploys the policy of gender mainstreaming to improve gender parity. The Netherlands also recently announced a feminist foreign policy that strengthens its position as one of the most gender-equal countries in the world.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Gender and Income-Equal Countries in the World. Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 25 Most Gender and Income-Equal Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
On October 15, Polish voters will choose their next parliament which will form Polands new government. One of two main political forces  the Law and Justice Party or the Civic Coalition  will likely have to form a coalition to govern Poland, the largest post-communist EU and NATO member, and a critical supporter of Ukraine in its defense against Russias invasion. Myroslava Gongadze in Warsaw explains why these elections are important. Camera and video editing by Daniil Batushchak.
The gate outside the Israeli Embassy compound in Azerbaijan on Sunday was festooned with flowers and teddy bears in a show of sympathy to those who died the day before in a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, the Israeli ambassador expressed his gratitude in this dark hour of history.

"Thank you to the Azerbaijani people for this heartfelt gesture of friendship, George Deek wrote.

For a country where more than 90% of the population identifies as Muslim, expressions of solidarity with Israel are surprisingly common.

We strongly condemn the attacks that have resulted in the deaths and injuries of a large number of civilians, Rasim Musabeyli, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, told VOA on the day of the attacks that left hundreds dead. In these difficult times, we stand with Israel."

Since regaining its independence from Moscow in 1991, Azerbaijans relationship with Israel has steadily expanded, having solidified into a strategic alliance over the course of the past three decades.

In recent months, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have visited Azerbaijan amid what many observers see as a steady partnership built on security and economic interests.

The volume of the sale of advanced military hardware to Azerbaijan, estimated at billions of dollars, has turned Israel into Azerbaijans primary supplier of weapons.

Observers say the military support, consisting of Harop kamikaze strike drones, the Hermes 450, Orbiter reconnaissance drones and a potent air defense system, played an important role in Azerbaijans military victory over Armenian forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 2020 and beyond.

Azerbaijan, in turn, is Israels largest supplier of oil, meeting more than 60% of the Jewish states demand for petroleum.

Azerbaijani government officials have walked a fine line in official statements, in a likely attempt not to alienate another powerful ally, Turkey, which has traditionally backed Palestinians and other majority-Muslim countries.

We condemn violence against civilians in the Israel-Palestine conflict zone, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in an official statement that came hours after the attacks. We express condolences for tragic loss of lives among many civilians both in Israel and Gaza Strip. We call for an urgent de-escalation of the situation.

Such statements have done little to soothe Iran, Israels archnemesis, which has eyed the growing ties between Baku and Tel-Aviv with suspicion and hostility.

In March, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani characterized the engagement between Israeli and Azerbaijani top diplomats as an attempt to turn the territory of Azerbaijan into a threat to national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In January, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran was the target of an armed attack that Azerbaijans leadership blamed on the Iranian establishment. The attack left the embassy security chief dead and led to the evacuation of the rest of the staff from Iran, bringing Baku-Tehran relations to their lowest point.

Characterizing ties between Azerbaijan and Israel as simply transactional in nature would be inaccurate. Azerbaijans cosmopolitan capital of Baku was once home to tens of thousands of Jews who left for a better life in Israel after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as many retained ties to their native country.

Meanwhile, a thriving community of about 30,000 Jews lives in various parts of Azerbaijan, including Baku and, notably, Red Town in northern Guba province. Azerbaijan's government has touted its treatment of the countrys Jewish minority and generously allocated funds for the restoration of synagogues and sites of Jewish cultural heritage.

It would also be inaccurate to describe all Azerbaijani sentiments as pro-Israeli. A substantial portion of its inhabitants sympathizes with the plight of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, just as frequently expressing solidarity with their co-religionists.

Human rights activists, wary of Israeli-produced Pegasus spyware that enabled Azerbaijans authoritarian government to spy on hundreds of local activists and journalists, have expressed reservations about Israels security policy, which they say at times disregards democratic norms and human rights.

The fact that today this conflict has escalated to a confrontation between the radical fundamentalist Hamas and the far-right government of Israel is the result of the processes of the past 30 years, activist Rustam Ismayilbeyli told VOA.

Even as the situation escalates in Gaza, Azerbaijan and Israel appear determined to develop the strategic partnership that continues to benefit both.

This story originated in VOAs Azerbaijani Service.
Russia failed Tuesday in its bid to reclaim its seat on the controversial U.N. Human Rights Council after it was suspended by the General Assembly in April 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

U.N. member states sent a strong signal to Russias leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesnt belong on the Human Rights Council, said Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watchs U.N. Director.

In a secret ballot vote, Albania, Bulgaria and Russia competed for two available seats designated for their Eastern Europe regional group. A majority of 97 votes was needed, Moscow achieved 83, while Bulgaria received 160 and Albania 123.

Ahead of the vote, rights advocates had warned that in addition to atrocities carried out in Ukraine, the Kremlin has tightened its restrictions on domestic rights and freedoms since the invasion and did not deserve to return to the Human Rights Council.

The General Assembly had 15 seats in total to fill for three-year terms on the 47-member Geneva-based rights body.

China, which is currently a member, won a second term running on what is known as a clean slate  an equal number of candidates for available seats.

In their Asian regional group, China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia sought to fill four available seats. The lack of real competition significantly raised the odds of their achieving the simple majority of votes needed. However, China, came last in the field, with 154 votes. Indonesia achieved 186, Kuwait 183 and Japan 175.

China came in last place in the Asia group. That suggests that if there had been competition in the Asian slate, China would have lost, Charbonneau said. And thats what should have happened. It highlights the vital importance of competitive slates in U.N. elections.

Countries elected to the HRC are expected to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights both at home and abroad. Rights advocates warn that countries with poor rights records use their position on the council as a cover for their abuses.

Chinas human rights violations are well known. At home, Beijing arbitrarily arrests and detains government critics and human rights defenders and has detained as many as one million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in reeducation camps in its Xinjiang province. It has also cracked down on freedoms in Hong Kong and Tibet.

In the Latin America and Caribbean group, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru competed for three available seats. Rights abuser Cuba won the largest majority, with 146 votes. Brazil received 144 and Dominican Republic 137. Peru failed in its bid, achieving the lowest majority, 108.

In the African group, another clean slate saw four candidates for four seats, with Burundi, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Malawi all succeeding in their bids. France and The Netherlands also achieved the majorities needed to fill two available seats in the Western Europe and Others group.

HRWs Charbonneau said because of the lack of competition on several slates, China, Burundi and Cuba would now be on the council.

Their abysmal rights records should have disqualified them, he said. Other Human Rights Council members should work to counter the anti-human rights agenda of this trio of abusers and their allies as member countries have done successfully in the past.

Winners will begin their three-year terms in January 2024.
A Moscow court on Tuesday rejected U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich's appeal of his detention on spy charges and ordered him held until November 30.

Gershkovich was arrested during a reporting trip at the end of March in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, becoming the first Western reporter to be jailed on spy charges in Russia since the Soviet era.

The 31-year-old Wall Street Journal Moscow correspondent, his employer and the U.S. government have rejected the spying allegations.

Judge Yuri Pasyunin at Moscow City Court ruled to "keep (the detention) without changes" until November 30, an AFP reporter at the court said.

Gershkovich wore a checkered shirt and jeans, smiling to journalists that he knew from behind the glass cage where he was held in court.

U.S. diplomats were present at the hearing.

Gershkovich had appealed an August decision to prolong his detention by three months.

Russia has not provided public evidence of the allegations it has made against Gershkovich.

The American, who previously worked for AFP, continued to report from Russia after the Kremlin launched its Ukraine offensive, despite many Western journalists leaving the country.

He has been held at Moscow's notorious Lefortovo prison.
South Korea is under a heightened alert, assessing how the widening crisis in the Middle East could impact its national security after the unprecedented attack that Palestinian militant group Hamas launched against Israel.

South Korean National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong is examining possible impacts that the Hamas-Israel conflict could have on South Korean security as he is being briefed on the situation, said the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday.

The Hamas attack against Israel on Saturday, the deadliest assault it experienced in 50 years, appeared to be expanding into a full-scale war on the third day of the conflict.

The Israeli military has mobilized 300,000 reservists Monday as it moves on a full offensive in response to the surprise attack by ground, air, and sea by Hamas. Israel is also imposing a complete blockade of the Palestinian controlled Gaza Strip.

South Korea condemned Hamas for its attack on Israel and expressed deep concern about civilian casualties.

The rapidly growing conflict elevated South Korea's concern over a possible U.S. shift in priority to the Middle East and as a result, diminished support for deterring North Korea, according to analysts.

Cho Han-Bum, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank in Seoul, said if the Palestinian-Israel conflict prolongs to the point that it requires the U.S. to deploy significant military capacity to the region, deterring North Korea could lower priority for the U.S.

Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center's Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy project, said U.S. extended deterrence could potentially be affected if "a military contingency" arose in the Middle East that demands significant U.S. military support.

"As the U.S. carrier group and emergency military aid to Israel highlight  events in the Middle East and in Europe, where the Ukraine war resulted in increased U.S. commitments in Europe indefinitely  are pulling the U.S. in directions that create tensions with the idea of Asia/China as the top priority and challenge, as spelled out in the White House national security strategy," said Manning.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he ordered the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which includes an aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyers, to move to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, who took office Saturday, called for the military's full readiness against North Korea as he visited the Army's 1st Infantry Division near the inter-Korean border Monday.

Evans Revere, who served as the U.S. State Department's acting assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs during the George W. Bush administration, said, that he does not foresee any negative impact on ROK [Republic of Korea] security from the attacks.

"The U.S. remains vigilant and firmly committed to [South] Korea's security, the U.S. deterrent remains viable and strong, and the attacks by Hamas will only serve as a reminder to the U.S. and the ROK of the need to prepare for a wide range of contingencies," said Revere.

According to Cho, North Korea could also forge solidarity with Hamas and countries that support the group in countering the U.S.

"North Korea needs to form solidarity [with other countries] as it is isolated internationally from sanctions and its talks with the U.S. are at a standstill," said Cho.

"It seems to have found an exit [to its isolation] through [its warming ties with] Russia" that stands against the U.S.

"If North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could form an anti-American front line" with the Middle Eastern countries and groups that oppose the U.S., his foreign policy "could pick up momentum," Cho said.

North Korea's relations with Russia have been growing into close military cooperation as rail traffic across the borders of the two countries surged, indicative of possible arms transfers from Pyongyang to Moscow, after Kim's meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Russia in September.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday blamed the Palestinian-Israel conflict on the failed Middle Eastern policy of the U.S. as he called for a return to peace.

North Korea has yet to release an official statement on the conflict.

North Korea is probably seeing that the conflict serves its advantage, said Jang Ji-Hyang, the director of Middle East and North Africa Center at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.

Jang said an opportunity to sell weapons and make foreign income increases for North Korea if anti-Israel militant groups like Hamas launch armed attacks.

Since the 1980s, North Korea has been providing illicit arms to Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, as well as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has also launched attacks on Israel.

The U.S. has designated both Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist groups.

Christy Lee contributed to this report.
Relatives of Thai workers kidnapped or killed by Hamas militants have spent the days since the attack on Israel patching together details from social media of what happened to their loved ones. Thailand is emerging as one of the nations most affected by a conflict thousands of kilometers away.

Eighteen Thais are feared dead in the violence, the Thai foreign ministry said on Tuesday, with 11 more believed held hostage by Hamas, nearly all from the poor northeastern region known as Isaan.

But the ministry said the numbers were unconfirmed in the bloody chaos of recent days with the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok saying a complete count is not immediately possible, given the ongoing military operations.

Israel has launched a counteroffensive to the attack, which killed hundreds of Israelis. Hamas has warned it will start executing its hostages if there are Israeli strikes without warning on Gaza, where hundreds have died, including civilians.

An estimated 30,000 Thais work in Israel, many at kibbutz farms near the border with Gaza, where they can earn upwards of $1,000 a month, several times higher than the wages in northeastern Thailand.

"I want to assure the Thai people that Israel is committed to doing everything in its power to protect the Thai workers in our country," Orna Sagiv, the ambassador of Israel to Thailand, said in a Facebook post on Monday. "Rest assured, they will receive the same treatment and protection as every person in Israel, whether Israeli or foreign national."

Devastated relatives of those feared to have been taken hostage have struggled to find information on the whereabouts of their family members, instead relying on videos shared on Facebook and TikTok by fellow Thai workers  or the militants who attacked them.

"I can't breathe, I can't sleep," said Piyanus Phujuttu, 27, whose family members believe they saw her cousin, Khomkrit Chombua, being taken into the Gaza Strip by militants on Saturday on a video shared over social media.

"Thai officials told me that they would talk to the Israeli government for me and the Israeli embassy in Thailand told me that they have to clear the area first before beginning the search  they've been following the situation, but they haven't confirmed my cousin's whereabouts, nor his fate," she told VOA.

Speaking to Thai television, Suda Thepgaew said she believes her husband was one of six Thais gunned down as dozens of militants attacked the workers' dormitory near Gaza.

"I just talked to him on Saturday and everything was fine, we were laughing and then suddenly there was gunfire, missile strikes and the connection was lost  his friend at the farm told me later, 'Ball has gone,'" she said, using her husband's nickname.

Separately, the visibly distraught mother of a banana farm worker from Kalasin, northern Thailand, spoke about her son, Somkuan Pansa-ard, who was shot dead at Nahal Oz kibbutz in Israel. Noopa Pansa-ard held a portrait of her son as she told reporters she had tried to persuade him to remain in Thailand. She said her son had been on a five-year contract in Israel, sending home nearly $2,000 each month to his family.

"I told him I didn't want the money, I just wanted him to be safe. I was just telling him how much I missed him," said Noopa Pansa-ard of her last call with her son.

Thailand is among the largest sources of migrant workers for Israel, with the Thai labor ministry saying the majority are employed as farm workers who send home monthly remittances. Around 7,000 Thais may also be working illegally in Israel, the ministry added, raising fears for their safety as they may not have been recorded as missing by employers. Only Taiwan and South Korea have more Thai workers, the ministry says.

The Thai government promises to evacuate all of its citizens.

Nearly 4,000 Thais have registered to leave as the situation becomes increasingly volatile, with the first flight due back to Thailand on Thursday, Kanchana Patarachok, a ministry spokesperson, told a press conference Tuesday.

But some Thais still in Israel say they want to stay, putting the relatively high wages of overseas work above their safety as they try to help families back home in the rice bowl northeast, where the daily minimum wage is around $8.

"I'm the eldest son so I've got to take care of my parents and my wife and two kids (aged 3 and 5)," Jakkapol Wipracha, 35, told VOA from Talmei Yosef, a settlement close to the Israel's southern border with Gaza. Each month working on a tomato farm he says he earns 5,300 shekels ($1,340).

"Over nine months, I've sent most of it home."

"I haven't been contacted by the Thai government yet but I'm weighing my options up right now. If I go back, I'd still need to go work overseas somewhere else. With all the debt I have, I just can't find work in Thailand that pays enough," he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Bucharest on Tuesday to meet with his Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, where they discussed bilateral relations amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This meeting marks the first time Zelenskyy has officially visited Romania since Russia's invasion in February of last year.

Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, has been a supporter of the Ukrainian war effort, with President Iohannis stating his country is "focused on helping Ukraine win the war."

Zelenskyy reiterated the two nations' steadfast relations and thanked Romania for continued military and humanitarian support. Zelenskyy stated on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the two countries' relations are crucial to "stability for Europe and beyond."

Romania and Ukraine share a border along the Danube River, where Russia has been attacking Ukrainian ports in an effort to disrupt the nation's export of grain.

Ukraine is a major world supplier of grain, and its economy relies heavily on that export. The nation has looked for alternate trade routes, and turned to Romania, which has stressed the importance of getting Ukrainian grain to the world. Twenty-seven million tons of Ukrainian farm goods have been exported from Romanian ports, according to Iohannis.

Amid the backdrop of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of the Black Sea and Danube region, and emphasized the need for security in the area, stating that they cannot let the region turn into a "dead zone" for shipping.

Among the announcements made Tuesday in a joint news conference, Zelenskyy stated that plans have been confirmed for training Ukrainian pilots in Romania to fly F-16 jets. Such plans were first considered by Romanian officials earlier this year.

Following the invasion, millions of Ukrainian civilians fled to Romania with many moving on to third countries. Around 85,000 Ukrainian refugees are registered in Romania, under the EU's temporary protection directive.

Ukraine-Middle East

Addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Monday, Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the atrocities committed on civilian populations in Ukraine and those on the people of Israel.

"The only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine," he said, and called for unity amid the crisis.

In a separate video address, Zelenskyy warned that Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, "so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe."

"We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives," he added.

In an exclusive interview with VOA's Ukrainian Service, Ukraine Main Directorate of Intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov said the Russian special services are using the terrorist attacks on Israel in an anti-Ukrainian propaganda campaign.

Yusov claimed that Ukrainian intelligence received information that Russia has funneled to Hamas "trophy" weapons captured by Russia in Ukraine. This move, Yusov alleged, is meant to implicate Ukraine as a supplier of Western weaponry to Hamas terrorists and subsequently discredit it "in the eyes of the free world, its partners and allies." Yusov added such a propaganda campaign aims "to disrupt or complicate the provision of further Western military assistance" to Ukraine.

"These are fakes and provocations, of course," Yusov said.

"All aid to Ukraine and all armaments are under strict control by our partners, the United States and the countries of the European Union, NATO. The results of this control and the results of inspections have been reported on several times. Ukraine is being as transparent and open as possible," he said.

A warning that the Kremlin "is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks on Israel"  to hype its rhetoric against Western interference in Ukraine, demoralize Ukrainians and reassure Russians the focus of the West on the Israeli crisis will deflect its attention from the war in Ukraine  was reiterated Sunday by the Institute for the Study of War.

Following Hamas' attacks in Israel on October 7, the Kremlin primarily blamed the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine. The Kremlin claimed that the international community will turn its attention to the Middle East crisis and cease to focus on Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that the United States and its allies should be "busy" with work on a "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" and not "interfere" in Russia's affairs and provide military aid to Ukraine, the ISW reports.

VOA Ukrainian service reporter Mariia Ulianovska contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse, Reuters and The Associated Press.
U.N. agencies are calling on Israel to lift its siege of Gaza, warning that the denial of lifesaving assistance is prohibited under international humanitarian law.

"Goods that are vital for the survival of a civilian population must not be restricted," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, at a news briefing for reporters Tuesday in Geneva.

"Civilians must be allowed to leave besieged areas if they wish to do so. Any restriction must be justified by a military necessity or may amount to collective punishment," she added. "This is clearly prohibited under international humanitarian law, and it could amount to a war crime."

In its latest update of the ongoing conflict, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, reported that Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Gaza on Tuesday morning, while rockets were being launched from Gaza into Israel adding to the deadly toll on both sides of the border.

As of Monday night, Israel reports indicated that more than 900 Israelis, including foreign nationals, have been killed and the Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed.

OCHA reports that nearly 200,000 in the Gaza Strip have been displaced from their homes, with most people taking shelter in UNRWA schools.

OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke noted that Israeli authorities have ceased supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip and that the Gaza Power Plant, now the only source of power in the territory, "could run out of fuel within days."

Laerke also noted that Israel has cut off the water supply, affecting more than 610,000 people in Gaza.

"This is a crisis still developing," he said. "Every hour without electricity, without power, every hour without access to clean water raises any number of concerns for people's health and for the ability of those responding."

The World Health Organization has confirmed 13 attacks on health care facilities or workers in the Gaza Strip since Saturday, resulting in six health care workers being killed and four wounded.

"The pre-positioned supplies, which were in seven major hospitals in the Gaza Strip, have now been used up," said Tarik Jasarevic, WHO spokesperson. "WHO is reprogramming $1 million to procure more urgently needed medical supplies from the local market to support the treatment of up to 500 severely injured people."

"A humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with critical supplies," he said, adding that "WHO is working on this with partner agencies."

Tamara Alrifai, director of communications for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, said the Israeli airstrikes have caused significant damage.

Speaking from the Jordanian capital, Amman, she said since the airstrikes began "18 of our facilities, including a school for the visually impaired, have been damaged as well as our headquarters in Gaza city."

She said some 80 UNRWA schools are housing "more than 137,000 residents of Gaza who left their homes in fear of their homes being attacked or destroyed. This huge displacement outweighs our ability to absorb them adequately." Some 2.2 million people live in the Gaza Strip; 1.7 million of them are Palestinian refugees who receive UNRWA services, such as health care, education, and food.

UNICEF has called for an immediate end to hostilities, noting that hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian children have been killed and many more injured in the last 72 hours.

"Hundreds of thousands of children are affected by the escalation of hostilities in Gaza and are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and protection," said James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson.

"In addition, there are reports of the abduction of Israeli children to the Gaza Strip," he said. "The abduction of children by any party to the conflict constitutes a grave violation and hostage-taking is prohibited by international humanitarian law in all circumstances. UNICEF calls for the immediate and safe release of all hostages."

In the meantime, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk issued an urgent plea Tuesday to all states with influence to take steps to defuse the "powder keg" situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

He said he was "deeply shocked and appalled by allegations of summary executions of civilians and, in some instances, horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups."

He expressed horror at images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill-treated, as well as reports of killings and the desecration of their bodies.

"Civilians must never be used as bargaining chips," he said. "I call on Palestinian armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who were captured and are still being held.

"The taking of hostages is prohibited by international law," Turk added.
The United Nations General Assembly will hold a vote Tuesday on whether to allow Russia to rejoin the world bodys Human Rights Council, nearly two years after it ejected Moscow from the council following its invasion of Ukraine.

The Geneva-based council is made up of 47 nations with each nation taken from five regional groups. Russia, one of several nations seeking a three-year term on the Human Rights Council, is competing against Albania and Bulgaria for the two seats allotted to the East European region.

The General Assembly voted 93-24 to kick Russia off the Human Rights Council in April 2022, nearly two months after launching its war on Ukraine.

In remarks before the U.N. Security Council Monday, Albanian U.N. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha denounced Russia as aggressors of their neighbors, killers of innocent people, deliberate destroyers of civilian infrastructure, and that it takes pride in deporting children from their homes.

Deputy U.S. ambassador Robert Wood told the Security Council that Moscows potential re-election to the Human Rights Council would be an ugly stain on that body while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities.

Tuesdays vote comes just days after 52 people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the northeastern Ukrainian village of Hroza, one of the deadliest of the war. Ukrainian officials say the attack happened as people gathered in a cafe to mourn a fallen Ukrainian soldier.

United Nations investigators are in Hroza. The lead investigator said in a statement, My initial conversations with local residents and survivors indicate that virtually all those killed were civilians and that the target itself, a busy village cafe and store, was also clearly civilian.

Among the dead were the village leader, a couple who left behind four children and the dead soldiers wife and son.

Ukraine-Middle East

Addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the atrocities on civilian populations in Ukraine and those on the people of Israel.

The only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine, he said and called for unity amid the crisis.

In a separate video address, Zelenskyy warned Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe.

We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives, he added.

In an exclusive interview with the Ukrainian service of VOA, Ukraine Main Directorate of Intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov claimed that the Russian special services are using the terrorist attacks on Israel in an anti-Ukrainian propaganda campaign.

Yusov claimed that Ukrainian intelligence received information that Russia has funneled to Hamas trophy weapons captured by Russia in Ukraine. This move, Yusov alleged, is meant to implicate Ukraine as a supplier of western weaponry to Hamas terrorists and subsequently discredit it in the eyes of the free world, its partners and allies. Yusov added such a propaganda campaign aims to disrupt or complicate the provision of further Western military assistance to Ukraine.

These are fakes and provocations, of course, Yusov said, All aid to Ukraine and all armaments are under strict control by our partners, the United States and the countries of the European Union, NATO. The results of this control and the results of inspections have been reported on several times. Ukraine is being as transparent and open as possible, he said.

A warning that the Kremlin is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks on Israel  to hype its rhetoric against Western interference in Ukraine, demoralize Ukrainians and reassure Russians the focus of the West on the Israeli crisis will deflect its attention from the war in Ukraine  was reiterated Sunday by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Following Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, the Kremlin primarily blamed the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine and claimed that the international community will turn its attention to the Middle East crisis and will cease to focus on Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that the United States and its allies should be "busy" with work on a "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" and not "interfere" in Russia's affairs and provide military aid to Ukraine, the ISW reports.

World economy outlook

The chief economist for the International Monetary Fund said the worlds economy is limping along in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine along with other global factors.

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told reporters in Marrakech, Morocco Tuesday that the IMF is forecasting the global economy to rise just 2.9% in 2024, just a fraction below the 3% growth expected this year.

Europes economy has been particularly hit hard by the war in Ukraine, with oil prices rising dramatically after the invasion, which made European governments especially vulnerable due to their reliance on imports of Russian natural gas.

Russia to Withdraw from Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?

In a sign that President Vladimir Putin may resume nuclear testing, Russian lawmakers were given until October 18 to examine ways to rescind Moscow's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a global nuclear test ban.

The possible step was announced Friday by Russia's envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

In a statement Monday, the head of the CTBTO, Robert Floyd expressed concern about the developments. Banning nuclear testing remains essential to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and to safeguarding current and future generations from the harmful effects of explosive nuclear testing," he said

Washington has denounced Russias move as endangering "the global norm" against nuclear test blasts.

However, Putin said Russias possible action to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would bring it into line with the United States, which has signed but not ratified the pact.

The U.S. did not ratify the treaty, but it has observed a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions since 1992.

The 1996 treaty prohibiting any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion anywhere in the world has been signed by 187 nations but not ratified by eight of them, including the United States.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) urged Moscow to think before acting.

"Russia must drop its reckless threat to leave," ICAN said in a statement.

"International treaties... are critical to making sure nuclear testing, which has harmed peoples health and spread lasting radioactive contamination, is not resumed."

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, has said the move could "take Russia and the world backward to a dangerous era of tit-for-tat nuclear threats."

VOA Ukrainian service reporter Mariia Ulianovska contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from Agence France Presse, Reuters and The Associated Press.
The United States has officially designated the July military takeover in Niger as a coup, a decision that limits U.S. military aid and coordination with a country the Pentagon has called a critical counter-terrorism partner in the region.

Were taking this action because over the last two months, weve exhausted all available avenues to preserve constitutional order in Niger, a senior Biden administration official told reporters Tuesday.

The official said that the U.S. urged the military leaders who forcefully removed the president from power to restore a civilian and democratic government within 90-120 days as Nigers constitution calls for, but the military officials did not abide by those constitutional guidelines.

In fact, they've told us that they've chosen to repeal that constitution and are now in the process of creating a new draft with an uncertain timeline, the official added.

At this point, the U.S. has no indication on when the president might be released by the military coup leaders.

The U.S. embassy can continue to operate, and the U.S. military has so far decided to keep forces in Niger, the administration officials said. However, the U.S. is not conducting any partner missions or training with Nigerien forces, as has been the case since the coup occurred in late July.

About 1,000 U.S. personnel remain stationed in the country as of Wednesday, but it is unclear if or for how long they will remain.

Thats something that we have not made any decisions about right now, a second administration official said.

Intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance operations via U.S. drones are continuing, with the official saying that those operations are focused on monitoring for threats to our forces, including threats from violent extremist organizations.

Violent extremist organizations can thrive in areas of instability, and coups like the one in Niger just provide more space, the official added.

Current and former U.S. officials have raised concerns that the limited intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance will hurt international efforts to help local security forces fight terrorist organizations. Officials have long considered Niger a hub for counter-terror operations in West Africa, and the U.S. spent millions on a new drone base in Agadez, Niger, which began operations in 2019.

The United States "is barely keeping a lid on this problem, and when you remove that, when you remove all of those enablers that help keep these jihadists from overrunning countries or overrunning regions, then you are giving them an advantage," said Bill Roggio, a former soldier and editor of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Long War Journal, which publishes reporting and analysis of global counterterrorism efforts.

France began withdrawing its 1,500 troops from Niger last week and ended its cooperation with Nigers military in response to the coup, according to the French armed forces ministry. The French ambassador left the country last month.

Niger military officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and placed him under house arrest.
NEW YORK (AP)  Humanitarian groups are scrambling to assist civilians caught in the war between Israel and Hamas and determine what aid operations are still safe to continue  efforts that are being complicated by an intensified blockade of Gaza and ongoing fighting.

Two days after Hamas militants went on a rampage that took the world by surprise, Israel increased airstrikes on Gaza and blocked off food, fuel and other supplies from going into the territory, a move that raised concerns at the United Nations and among aid groups operating in the area home to 2.3 million people. Hamas, in turn, pledged to kill Israelis it abducted if the countrys military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, and aid groups operating in the region say there are needs both in Gaza and Israel.

More than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are underway to organize food and other deliveries, according to an Egyptian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. But the United Nations and other aid groups are pleading for more access to help Palestinians who find themselves in the middle of intense fighting.

The UN and other aid agencies were talking with Egypt to send humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza through a crossing point between the strip and Egypts Sinai Peninsula, an Egyptian official and aid worker said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said Tuesday medical supplies it has in seven hospitals in Gaza had already been used up and it was reprogramming funds to purchase more from local markets.

Doctors Without Borders, which is still operating in Gaza, has to rely on supplies it already has inside the territory because it cant bring any more in, said Emmanuel Massart, a deputy desk coordinator with the organization in Brussels.

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The group  which says it only runs programs in Palestinian areas since Israel has strong emergency and health services  reported Monday that it provided treatments to more than 50 people following airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp located north of Gaza City. In addition to helping patients in Gaza, it said it was donating medical supplies to other clinics and hospitals, which have become overcrowded with patients and are experiencing shortages of drugs and fuel that can be used for generators.

If Doctors Without Borders is not able to resupply fairly quickly, Massart said, it will run out of supplies it can use to operate on patients who might be wounded. He also said since the facilities the organization uses are running on generators due to the low supply of electricity, cutting off fuel will present a huge problem.

If there is no fuel anymore, there is no medical facilities anymore because we cannot run our medical facility without the energy, Massart said.

The war has also been deeply disruptive to work Mercy Corps has been doing to provide people in Gaza with necessities like food and water, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East regional director for the organization. Right now, he said the team on the ground is trying to find a scenario that would enable them to get back to work. The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major worry.

We are very concerned with the way things are going at this point because it looks like its going to get worse  very soon, Quemin said. The sealing of Gaza, he said, will create humanitarian needs very quickly.

Governments have also been weighing how to respond.

As the fighting intensified, the European Union on late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities. Instead, the 27-nation group said it would urgently review the assistance it provides in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel. Two European countries  Germany and Austria  said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian areas.

Meanwhile, some organizations are stepping up aid efforts in Israel, which has seen displacement because of the violence.

Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, The Womens Zionist Organization of America, said a trauma center in Jerusalem thats owned by the organization is treating wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians. About 90% of the patients in the center right now are soldiers, who are typically the first to be brought in for traumatic injuries, Adler said. But the center also accepts anyone whos wounded or injured in the country.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Jewish humanitarian organization, said on Sunday that it was activating its emergency response team in Israel, where it runs programs to support people with disabilities, the elderly and children and families whove been impacted by the war and prior conflicts. The organization said it was working with its partners, including in the Israeli government, to address what it called an unprecedented emergency.

JDCs CEO Ariel Zwang said among other things the nonprofit is helping teachers, social workers and other caregivers provide support to those whove suffered trauma and tragedies from the events of the past few days. She said it will help nursey teachers, for example, explain to children why some of their classmates are suddenly missing.

If youre a teacher now, if you know the children are traumatized, you need special skills and special training in order to manage what youre experiencing and provide for the emotional needs, which are extraordinary at this time, of your youngest charges, Zwang said.

One organization that helps Palestinian children is shifting its focus, too. Steve Sosebee, the president of Palestine Childrens Relief Fund, a U.S.-based charity that helps children in need travel to the U.S. for medical treatment, said given the war, the fund is now looking away from long-term programs and toward more urgent needs for food, medication, clothing and other types of basic humanitarian aid. But like others, he noted the blockade and security risks to its Gaza staff makes it more challenging to do that.

There are no areas of security, there are no safe havens, Sosebee said. And therefore, its very difficult for us to be out in the field providing humanitarian aid when there are no safe places from the constant bombing and attacks that are taking place over the last 72 hours.

___

AP reporters Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Sam Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that he made clear during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bejing that the United States wants equitable business relations with China, along with help in combating the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Schumer was part of a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation that met with Xi on Monday ahead of a potential meeting between Xi and President Joe Biden next month in San Francisco. An Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, summit takes place during the week of Nov. 12-18. Beijing has not said who will represent it at the talks.

The congressional delegations meeting came at a time when U.S. officials have boosted engagement with Chinese officials, including visits to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

In a statement, Schumer said the lawmakers told Chinese officials, At the foundation of our relationship must be a level playing field for American businesses and workers as well as responsible competition. We need reciprocity.

The Senate Democratic leader also said, That means allowing American companies to compete as freely in China as Chinese companies are able to compete in America. I made clear to President Xi that we do not believe there is a level playing field or reciprocity now.

Schumer gave no assessment of Xis reaction to the comments. But the worlds two biggest economies  the U.S. first, China second -- have sparred over trade issues for several years now.

Schumer said he called on China to take more aggressive action to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

Right now, the scourge of fentanyl is costing tens of thousands of lives and destroying American families, the lawmaker said. I called on President Xi to work with the United States to stem the flow of precursor chemicals that are fueling Americas fentanyl crisis. China taking meaningful actions on this critical issue will go a long way to improving relations between our two counties, which is a good deal for both of us.
The United States is providing up to $200 million in additional military aid for Ukraine , according to U.S. officials, as the Pentagon continues to dip into its aid arsenal despite Congress excluding new aid for Ukraine in a stopgap spending bill passed last month to prevent a government shutdown.

The package announced Wednesday includes weapons for air defense such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, artillery munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), TOW anti-tank missiles, and 155mm and 105mm rounds, according to a U.S. official.

It also includes small arms ammunition, demolition munitions to push through Russian obstacles, counter-drone equipment and electronic warfare equipment.

This marks the 48th time the U.S. has used the presidential drawdown authority to provide Ukraines miliary with equipment from U.S. stockpiles.

The U.S. has provided about $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russias unprovoked invasion in February 2022.

The Pentagon still has about $5 billion of congressionally approved funding for Ukrainian military aid, after the Pentagon discovered in June that it had overestimated the value of weapons shipped to Ukraine by about $6 billion.

When calculating its aid package estimates, the Defense Department was counting the cost incurred to replace the weapons given to Ukraine, while it should have been totaling the cost of the systems actually sent, officials told VOA at the time the error was found.

The aid package comes as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted another meeting Wednesday in Brussels of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a group of allies that support Ukraine.

Last month, Congress did not include aid to Ukraine as part of a bill passed to keep the government from shutting down due to opposition from a faction in the Republican Party. Soon after the bill passed, the House ousted Kevin McCarthy from his position as speaker.

The House has yet to vote on a new speaker, and new aid for Ukraine could hinge on who is selected. One of the top candidates supports continued aid for Ukraine. The other does not.
The World Food Program called Tuesday for the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the Gaza Strip and appealed for the safe passage of its staff and essential assistance.

In a statement, the WFP said it has launched an emergency operation to provide food assistance to more than 800,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank who lack access to food, water and essential supplies.

The food agency said it already has distributed ready-to-eat items to 73,000 people who are in displaced-persons shelters in Gaza. The WFP said it is concerned about the availability of food in local shops as supplies begin to run out after Israel declared a complete siege on the Palestinian territory on Monday. Israel said it was acting in response to Saturdays deadly Hamas attacks.

All borders and checkpoints between Gaza and Israel are closed, which the WFP said further exacerbates the crisis by preventing aid from entering.

The agency said that if it can replenish its stocks via humanitarian corridors, it will distribute food to 300,000 people.

Lynn Hastings, the humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, said most Gazans have electricity for only three to four hours a day, which affects health facilities. Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed with casualties and are running low on medical supplies. Ambulances are also running out of fuel.

Hastings said at least 200,000 of Gazas 2.2 million residents have been displaced in the fighting.

The World Health Organization has offered assistance to health officials in both Israel and Gaza.

WHO said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met Monday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who agreed to facilitate the delivery of health and other humanitarian supplies from WHO to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths called for an end to the violence Tuesday and said humanitarian assistance and vital services and supplies to Gaza must not be blocked.

My message to all sides is unequivocal: The laws of war must be upheld, Griffiths said in a statement.

He also called for the humane treatment of captives and the immediate release of all hostages.

Earlier, Volker Turk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, appealed to all parties to respect international humanitarian law.

They must immediately cease attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects, he said in a statement.

Of Israels siege on Gaza, he said, Any restrictions on the movement of people and goods to implement a siege must be justified by military necessity or may otherwise amount to collective punishment.

He also called on Israel to respect the principle of distinction and the prohibition of indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks in hitting structures in Gaza, noting that large residential buildings and schools had been struck.

Israels U.N. ambassador issued a scathing response, saying he would not accept a hypocritical, immoral and illusory comparison between Israel and Hamas.

We will obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure! Gilad Erdan added.

Meanwhile, UNRWA, the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees, said its Gaza City headquarters was hit Monday night in airstrikes. There were no injuries, but there was damage.

United Nations buildings and facilities must be protected at all times, including in times of conflict, UNRWA said.

Since hostilities began on Saturday, UNRWA said, it has sustained both direct and indirect damage to at least 18 of its facilities, including schools that are being used as civilian shelters. Two of its staff members have been killed, as have five UNRWA students.

UNRWA has 13,000 national and international staff based in Gaza.
Israeli warplanes hit the Gaza Strip with repeated airstrikes Monday, while the military said it mobilized an unprecedented number of reservists ahead of going on the offensive in response to a surprise attack Saturday by Hamas militants.

We are fighting animals, and we will act accordingly, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told army commanders. At one point Monday, Israel said it had attacked 130 Hamas targets in a three-hour time frame.

In response, a Hamas military spokesman said its fighters would kill one of about 150 civilian hostages Hamas is holding any time Israel targets Gaza civilians without warning.

Gallant said in a video statement that Israel would implement a complete siege on Gaza, cutting the Palestinian territory off from access to electricity, food, water and gas.

Israeli chief military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israel had reestablished control of areas near Gaza that Hamas militants stormed in the incursion that began Saturday.

There were some areas of fighting early Monday, Hagari said, and that while the areas were under Israeli control there were ongoing searches for Palestinian militants.

But another spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, said that the IDF cannot deny that Hamas militants might still be crossing into Israel. He added it was taking Israeli forces more time than we thought to stop the Hamas incursion, which was hindered by the presence of civilians in the area.

The death toll stood at 700 people in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza around midday Monday, and the death toll is expected to climb. Thousands of people on both sides have been injured. The U.S. State Department said that nine Americans were among those killed and that other U.S. citizens were unaccounted for.

The dead in Israel also included people from Britain, France, Nepal, Thailand and Ukraine, officials from those nations said.

The United Nations said more than 123,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been internally displaced. The hostages held by Hamas include women, children and elderly people.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it was holding more than 100 hostages, many of them women, children and elderly people.

In addition to carrying out hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza, the Israeli military said it mobilized 300,000 reservists as part of its response.

Our job is to make sure that at the end of this war, Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israeli civilians with, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. In addition to that, we are also to make sure that Hamas will not be able to govern the Gaza Strip.

Gaza has faced various levels of blockades from Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power there from a rival Palestinian party in 2007.

The leader of the military wing of Hamas cited the Gaza blockade as well as raids in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and tensions around a holy site in Jerusalem among the factors that sparked the Hamas attack.

U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders condemned the Hamas attack, with Biden promising Israel further military assistance to defend itself.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a parallel between Russia's invasion of his country and the Hamas attack on Israel.

"The same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a video address Monday to a NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was convening an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers Tuesday to discuss the situation. The U.N. Security Council held closed-door talks Sunday.

Poland and Hungary were among countries that carried out evacuation flights from Israel on Monday.

Austria said it would freeze development aid for Palestinian areas in response to the Hamas attack.

Israel formally declared war against Hamas on Sunday.

This war will take time. It will be difficult, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged the United States will continue to work to ensure Israel has what it needs to protect its citizens and to secure the release of hostages.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his support in a phone call Sunday with Gallant. The Pentagon is sending equipment and munitions to aid Israel and has directed a Navy aircraft carrier to move to the eastern Mediterranean.

Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.

During past conflicts between Israel and Palestinian militants, Egypt has often played a key role in mediating an end to the fighting.

Other countries have influence in the region as well, but Chang Teng-chi, chairperson of Political Science Department at Taiwan University, specializing in Chinese diplomacy, told VOA that while China has strong relations with Israel, its lack of connection with the other side of the conflict means it may be difficult for China to play a mediating role.

China's main dealings are limited to the Palestinian Authority, and it has no deep relationship with Hamas, Chang said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army exchanged gunfire Sunday with Hezbollah militants on the Lebanese border, in northern Israel, opening the possibility of a broader conflict, although Blinken said fighting there had quieted.

Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a 2006 truce between them has held, for the most part with occasional small rocket attacks from Lebanon which Israel has addressed with retaliatory attacks.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Zimbabwes Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, has written letters to 13 opposition Members of Parliament informing them that they ceased to be lawmakers after being recalled by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in what is seen as a repeat of what befell the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance in the previous august house.

Confirming the recalls, CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi described the recalls as unacceptable and disturbing as they demonstrate a sense of disdain for the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe.

He said, Its an attempt to subvert and undermine the will of the people, to disrespect the right to vote, to disregard the right of choice of the people of Zimbabwe. It has become meaningless to vote in Zimbabwe because when you vote, your vote is undermined. We voted for president Nelson Chamisa and that vote was stolen. Barely a month after that while we are still enmeshed in the struggle to ensure that that victory is restored Zanu PF has moved a gear up to steal once again the votes that were cast by CCC.

He dismissed as hogwash suggestions that the recalls being done by Sengezo Tshabangu, who is claiming to be the CCC interim secretary general, have been due to lack of party structures and prudent leadership.

This is not new even when they were still structures in the MDC-T, this thing happened and continues to happen. It has nothing to do with structures. It has everything to do with a group of people who are disdainful of the laws of our country, who are disdainful of the institutions of our country, who are disdainful of the will and the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe.

He said CCC may, among many things, take the matter to court. An urgent chamber application made by the 13 CCC lawmakers was filed Monday at the High Court in Bulawayo. The respondents are Mudenda and Tshabangu and the applicants include Binga North lawmaker Prince Dubeko Sibanda, Pashor Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Eric Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe) and others.

In response to the latest developments, Tshabangu said, We are bringing order to our party to make sure that our internal democracy is strong and to make sure that everyone follows our rules and regulations. We are happy about this.

Mudenda has also written letters to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) informing them about the recalls. Mudenda could neither deny nor confirm about the recalls as he told VOA Zimbabwe Service that CCC should be in a position to say something about that. He declined to comment further. He is expected to announce the recalls in parliament tomorrow.

According to an online publication, Zim Live, CCC interim leader Nelson Chamisa wrote to Mudenda on the 6th of October saying Mudenda should not be misled by those people attempting to recall his MPs. He was quoted by the publication as saying, 'As at present, none of the Members of Parliament who were elected under the CCC have been expelled from the party I lead.

The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora in the last parliamentary session recalled Members of Parliament, who aligned themselves with Chamisa, who briefly led MDC Alliance, until the Supreme Court ruled that the party should hold an extraordinary congress to replace the late Morgan Tsvangirai.
Alert Phase removed from area Update Mon 12 Sep 2022 08:01 3 weeks after the official end of the 2022 eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the National Police Commissioner, in consultation with the Suurnes Police, has decided to revoke the Alert Phase that had been in effect,

3 weeks after the official end of the 2022 eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the National Police Commissioner, in consultation with the Suurnes Police, has decided to revoke the Alert Phase that had been in effect, Iceland Review reported

Calm continues at eruption site Update Fri 26 Aug 2022 12:21 Degassing at the eruption site continues (image: RUV)

The lava flow has stopped or at least decreased its advance as it has disappeared to ooze out from the main spatter cone observed in live webcams.

"There is a continuing small activity within the crater, but without any lava jets or streams visible in the last weeks. In addition, the seismic unrest started to drop rapidly late yesterday", says Sigriur Magnea Oskarsdottir, a natural expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

"It is impossible to say which direction it will develop, but my feelings tell me that it has reached a certain equilibrium. It may take few days, weeks or even months", says volcanologist orvaldur orarson.

The aviation color code decreased from orange to yellow.

The eruption hasn't been showing any signs of reawakening for almost one week. Nevertheless, the end has not been officially declared yet.The lava flow has stopped or at least decreased its advance as it has disappeared to ooze out from the main spatter cone observed in live webcams., says Sigriur Magnea Oskarsdottir, a natural expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office., says volcanologist orvaldur orarson.The aviation color code decreased from orange to yellow.

Only degassing dominates eruption site, it might come to end soon Update Sun 21 Aug 2022 06:25 Gas emissions emit from the eruption site (image: visir.is)

The volcanic tremor has rapidly dropped and shows almost no amplitudes, as well. From available online webcams, only degassing is being observed from the eruption site.

The research team from the University of Iceland considers that the end of the eruption is likely coming soon.

This trend in the eruptive behavior is a way different compared to the ending episodes of the 2021 eruption. Whereas the recent eruption ceased rapidly, the ongoing event continues to show signs of gradually slowing down the eruption.

During the past three days, the activity decreased enough to disappear the lava fountains in the crater.The volcanic tremor has rapidly dropped and shows almost no amplitudes, as well. From available online webcams, only degassing is being observed from the eruption site.The research team from the University of Iceland considers that the end of the eruption is likely coming soon.This trend in the eruptive behavior is a way different compared to the ending episodes of the 2021 eruption. Whereas the recent eruption ceased rapidly, the ongoing event continues to show signs of gradually slowing down the eruption.

Lava flow map update, eruption site is open again Update Thu 18 Aug 2022 13:57 Updated lava flow map (image: Benjamin Hennig)

The lava at the easternmost point is close to overflowing the pass to the adjacent valley, but over the past days-to-week has flowed to the north.

The Civil Defense decided to reopen the eruption site in Meradalir to the public today as weather conditions went better.

Tourists are recommended to use proper hiking equipment.

An updated lava flow map (on 15 August) has been revealed to depict ooze outs through Meradalir valley escaping northward and eastward.The lava at the easternmost point is close to overflowing the pass to the adjacent valley, but over the past days-to-week has flowed to the north.The Civil Defense decided to reopen the eruption site in Meradalir to the public today as weather conditions went better.Tourists are recommended to use proper hiking equipment.

Partial crater rim collapse captured in video Update Wed 17 Aug 2022 13:41 Location of collapsed lava material in the black frame (image: @ar_etsch/twitter)

#Meradalir eruption, #IcelandImpressive wall collapse in the night of 2022.08.16Look at it to the end!Seen on https://t.co/OPPBYx834I live stream via YT https://t.co/pWzdOc5C11Thanks to Visir for this cool live h/t @kosmi64833127 https://t.co/i680zTxGMy pic.twitter.com/NeKA5Q9Ify  Ar-etsch (@ar_etsch) August 16, 2022

A spectacular partial crater rim collapse has been captured via visir.is live stream (see attached video) in the late night of 16 Aug.

Eruption site is closed today, weather alert status raised to yellow Update Wed 17 Aug 2022 13:15 Very bad conditions as seen from Langihryggur webcam today (image: RUV)

A yellow weather alert status is in effect for the SW part of Iceland as a storm may reached up to 13-20 m/s accompanied by rain. Strong wing gusts are expected to occur near Kjalarnes and Hafnarfjall mountains which likely exceed 25 m/s.

Very poor conditions for outdoor activities such as hiking.

Given bad weather conditions in the eruption area, the site will be closed for tourists today.A yellow weather alert status is in effect for the SW part of Iceland as a storm may reached up to 13-20 m/s accompanied by rain. Strong wing gusts are expected to occur near Kjalarnes and Hafnarfjall mountains which likely exceed 25 m/s.Very poor conditions for outdoor activities such as hiking.

Activity continues at significantly reduced levels Update Tue 16 Aug 2022 16:35 Graph of lava area, lava volume, lava discharge and gas release data (image: Institute of Earth Science)

This indicates results of aerial measurements from 13 and 15 August.

An average discharge flow rate seems lower during 13-15 August (4,1 m3/s) compared to 4-13 August period (11 m3/s). The fact also confirms data from the Pleiades satellite map published a few days ago.

However, it is impossible to say the end of the eruption is near or it is just a temporary decrease in the eruption.

About the gas pollution, as the wind direction turned out to the southwest this morning, there is a possibility to pass through the capital area of Reykjavik.

The effusive eruption at the site rapidly slowed down.This indicates results of aerial measurements from 13 and 15 August.An average discharge flow rate seems lower during 13-15 August (4,1 m3/s) compared to 4-13 August period (11 m3/s). The fact also confirms data from the Pleiades satellite map published a few days ago.However, it is impossible to say the end of the eruption is near or it is just a temporary decrease in the eruption.About the gas pollution, as the wind direction turned out to the southwest this morning, there is a possibility to pass through the capital area of Reykjavik.

New aerial images Update Tue 16 Aug 2022 05:47 Main spatter cone and escaping lava flow towards the north (image: loftmyndir.is) Main spatter cone and escaping lava flow towards the north (image: loftmyndir.is) Full-cone shaped spatter cone in early this morning (image: RUV webcam)



The main spatter cone seems to have already enclosed into a sizeable full-cone shaped edifice, producing constant small lava fountains feeding the lava flow running through the main lava channel towards the north.

On 14 August, the Loftmyndir, a company specializing in aerial photography, creation of maps and land models, took a flight over the eruption site to take new aerial images.The main spatter cone seems to have already enclosed into a sizeable full-cone shaped edifice, producing constant small lava fountains feeding the lava flow running through the main lava channel towards the north.

New lava flow thickness map Update Mon 15 Aug 2022 14:59 The lava thickness map (image: Joaquin Belart)

The current lava flow field area is about 1.2 km2 with a maximum thickness of 20 meters and volume ranging between 0.7-10.7 m3.

The map is created via Pleiades, an emergency tasking platform for monitoring of volcanic eruptions.

In short, the Pleiades was collecting data via the CIEST2 in emergency mode during the first 10 days of the eruption which came to conclusion that the eruption continues at a similar rate as the previous eruption in April 2021.

A new map measuring a thickness of the lava at Meradalir valley has been published.The current lava flow field area is about 1.2 km2 with a maximum thickness of 20 meters and volume ranging between 0.7-10.7 m3.The map is created via Pleiades, an emergency tasking platform for monitoring of volcanic eruptions.In short, the Pleiades was collecting data via the CIEST2 in emergency mode during the first 10 days of the eruption which came to conclusion that the eruption continues at a similar rate as the previous eruption in April 2021.

Tourists nearly got themselves into serious danger when walked on fresh lava field yesterday Update Sun 14 Aug 2022 17:34 Location of tourists walking on a new fresh lava field (image: Isak Finnbogason - ICELAND FPV)

Yesterday (13 August 2022) around 17:55 local time, two persons could be seen on a



Dangers of the fresh lava flow field

Going onto the fresh lava surface is venturing onto very treacherous ground, and putting oneself into serious danger: even if the lava is already cool enough on the surface in many places and at first glance seems easy and safe to walked on, it is highly unstable ground essentially composed of glassy slabs and blocks of unstable lava.

Falling through the thin crusts into cavities underneath, stumbling and hurting oneself badly at the at lava slabs with knife-sharp edges is just one of the various risks involved. Others include getting into hotter-than anticipated areas, gas-becoming trapped in gas and steam pockets, or being surprised by new flows that can break out from tubes underneath, or fast-moving new surface flows. Accidents related to these hazards have frequently occurred on the lava flow fields of Kilauea on Hawai'i, but the presence of an active cone and the relatively small size of the area, the extreme dynamics of the Reykjanes eruption, only increase the risks.

People who ignore warning signs are calling for trouble, and unfortunately, the so-far generous attitude of authorities allowing and even facilitating access to the site, relying on common sense and easy-to-read warning signs, are due to change - thanks to the recklessness of a few ignorant people.

Two visitors to the main eruption site narrowly avoided a self-provoked catastrophe and cruel death by lava flow.Yesterday (13 August 2022) around 17:55 local time, two persons could be seen on a viral drone video approaching a small red-hot lava flow close to the main spatter cone. They were likely unaware of walking on a new fresh crusted lava field, prone to collapse and sudden fall through it into molten rock. This was extremely risky to happen an accident immediately.Going onto the fresh lava surface is venturing onto very treacherous ground, and putting oneself into serious danger: even if the lava is already cool enough on the surface in many places and at first glance seems easy and safe to walked on, it is highly unstable ground essentially composed of glassy slabs and blocks of unstable lava.Falling through the thin crusts into cavities underneath, stumbling and hurting oneself badly at the at lava slabs with knife-sharp edges is just one of the various risks involved. Others include getting into hotter-than anticipated areas, gas-becoming trapped in gas and steam pockets, or being surprised by new flows that can break out from tubes underneath, or fast-moving new surface flows. Accidents related to these hazards have frequently occurred on the lava flow fields of Kilauea on Hawai'i, but the presence of an active cone and the relatively small size of the area, the extreme dynamics of the Reykjanes eruption, only increase the risks.People who ignore warning signs are calling for trouble, and unfortunately, the so-far generous attitude of authorities allowing and even facilitating access to the site, relying on common sense and easy-to-read warning signs, are due to change - thanks to the recklessness of a few ignorant people.

Activity declined for a while this morning, but restarted again Update Sat 13 Aug 2022 18:45 The main cone continues to acquire a full-cone shape soon (image: Eva P. S. Eibl)

Volcanologists and geophysics from the Icelandic Meteorological Office are about to research if this may lead to form new fissures. The same situation happened in the 2021 eruption as sharply dropped activity preceded the opening of new eruptive vents.

The lava flow hasn't escaped out of the Meradalir valley yet, but is expected to happen soon. Instead of that, it continues to travel towards the north.

About the main cone, it looks to form into a typical cone-shaped soon with a lava pond inside reminding a small cauldron of boiling lava.

The weather at the eruption site has been favorable today, but from a volcanic hazard point of view, gas emissions may accumulate in valleys.

The activity decreased between 06:30 and 07:30 this morning, but only to restart about a while later.Volcanologists and geophysics from the Icelandic Meteorological Office are about to research if this may lead to form new fissures. The same situation happened in the 2021 eruption as sharply dropped activity preceded the opening of new eruptive vents.The lava flow hasn't escaped out of the Meradalir valley yet, but is expected to happen soon. Instead of that, it continues to travel towards the north.About the main cone, it looks to form into a typical cone-shaped soon with a lava pond inside reminding a small cauldron of boiling lava.The weather at the eruption site has been favorable today, but from a volcanic hazard point of view, gas emissions may accumulate in valleys.

Lava illuminates eruption site, spectacular fountaining Update Fri 12 Aug 2022 22:48 Lava illuminates the eruption site (image: mbl.is) Escape of the small lava flow (red frame) (image: mbl.is) Glowing field of lava with small oozed lava on the left (image: mbl.is) Main half-cone-shaped spatter cone (image: Brian Emfinger)

Small and intermittent above-average intense lava fountains are seen building the main half-cone-shaped spatter cone where hot, juvenile and plastic lava fragments form piles of coherent rock.

A small lava spill-out has been observed starting at about 21:33 local time that poured out into a small field of lava.

A beautiful view of the glowing lava flow field has been provided to watchers at the time of this update (approx. 22:00 GMT time) via mbl.is live stream Small and intermittent above-average intense lava fountains are seen building the main half-cone-shaped spatter cone where hot, juvenile and plastic lava fragments form piles of coherent rock.A small lava spill-out has been observed starting at about 21:33 local time that poured out into a small field of lava.

Scientists consider to built artificial dams Update Fri 12 Aug 2022 19:11 One of several artificial dams built last year (image: @mblfrettir/twitter)

Artificial dams are supposed to divert the lava flow expected in Suurstrandavegi valley within a week or months. Barriers work only temporarily, but given the experiences from the last eruption in 2021, the idea is well worth it.

Engineers are expected to design the same dams in advance in case of the lava overflows into the Suurstrandavegi valley.

Authorities and geophysicists consider to built artificial dams in order to avoid damaging fiber optic cables and other important infrastructure.Artificial dams are supposed to divert the lava flow expected in Suurstrandavegi valley within a week or months. Barriers work only temporarily, but given the experiences from the last eruption in 2021, the idea is well worth it.Engineers are expected to design the same dams in advance in case of the lava overflows into the Suurstrandavegi valley.

Lava flow direction switched to north Update Fri 12 Aug 2022 18:02 Main spatter cone dominates the current site (image: Brian Emfinger) Lava flow field is continuously fed by spattering (image: Brian Emfinger)

The IMO institute reported that the main lava flow direction has transited from eastward to northward, but not into Suurstrandavegi valley yet. According to the University of Iceland, it seems the flow continues to travel through narrow and steep chutes which makes the effusion rate higher and more abundant. A rising volume of slowly spreading field of lava on the east has been reduced due to direction change.

The activity at the eruption site continues with little changes since yesterday, but has been stable for now.The IMO institute reported that the main lava flow direction has transited from eastward to northward, but not into Suurstrandavegi valley yet. According to the University of Iceland, it seems the flow continues to travel through narrow and steep chutes which makes the effusion rate higher and more abundant. A rising volume of slowly spreading field of lava on the east has been reduced due to direction change.

Lava continues to keep flow active, it might soon overflows into another valley Update Thu 11 Aug 2022 15:05 Lava flow map (image: Benjamin Hennig) Satellite image of the site showing the easternmost part of the lava close to overflow to Suurstrandavegi valley (arrow) (image: map.is) The lava flow front is travelling to the pass (image: RUV)

Observations indicate that the lava at the easternmost point in the Meradalir has risen by 4-to-5 meters in comparison to the last Sunday.

The advancing lava flow breaks the 2021 lava flow field into big slabs pushing ahead of it, even up the hill. The lava flow is currently approx. 150 meters from the pass (the lowest point) to overflow.

The lava effusion continues to fill up the Meradalir valley on the east and might soon start overflowing into the adjacent Suurstrandavegi valley. It may takes about one week to happen, but a more likely scenario is estimated to take weeks or months, says Magnus Tumi Gumundsson, a professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland.Observations indicate that the lava at the easternmost point in the Meradalir has risen by 4-to-5 meters in comparison to the last Sunday.The advancing lava flow breaks the 2021 lava flow field into big slabs pushing ahead of it, even up the hill. The lava flow is currently approx. 150 meters from the pass (the lowest point) to overflow.

Stunning video of spattering and new photos Update Thu 11 Aug 2022 10:50 Flowing lava with the erupting spatter cone in the background (image: almannavarnir) New lava meets the old one (image: almannavarnir) The current eruption site (image: almannavarnir)



Eruption site will reopen at 10 today Update Wed 10 Aug 2022 09:56 Tourists on the way to watch lava fountains (image: RUV)

Tourists are recommended to use proper hiking equipment.

The Civil Defense decided to reopen the eruption site in Meradalir to the public by 10:00 local time today.Tourists are recommended to use proper hiking equipment.

Elevated activity this morning Update Wed 10 Aug 2022 09:45 Spattering activity continues to feed the main lava outlet (image: mbl.is)

The height of fountains continues to reach by some lava jets over 100 meters.

It looks that the most of lava is going directly into a main outlet channel towards the Meradalir valley, where continues to overlap 2021 lava flow field. The remaining sheet-like lava is spreading on both sides of the fissure.

The activity at the eruption site increased this morning.The height of fountains continues to reach by some lava jets over 100 meters.It looks that the most of lava is going directly into a main outlet channel towards the Meradalir valley, where continues to overlap 2021 lava flow field. The remaining sheet-like lava is spreading on both sides of the fissure.

Eruption goes on as expected, it may take months Update Wed 10 Aug 2022 04:54 Radar interferogram (InSAR) of the Reykjanes Peninsula with the significant ground deformation close to Grindavik (image: IMO)

This is a statement of scientists believing that the progress of the eruption is as expected.

An available satellite image of the Reykjanes Peninsula confirms a deformation of the surface since late July located NE of Grindavik (black frame). The ground deformation is a result of the M 5.5 earthquake on 31 July.

The latest GPS and seismic measurements don't indicate a presence of magma moving beneath this area.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 10 August 2022

The ongoing eruption at Reykjanes Peninsula is indicated to take quite some time.This is a statement of scientists believing that the progress of the eruption is as expected.An available satellite image of the Reykjanes Peninsula confirms a deformation of the surface since late July located NE of Grindavik (black frame). The ground deformation is a result of the M 5.5 earthquake on 31 July.The latest GPS and seismic measurements don't indicate a presence of magma moving beneath this area.

UPDATE: eruption site remains closed today Update Tue 09 Aug 2022 11:27 Visibility at the site is currently poor due to sustaining dense fog as seen in the live webcam (image: RUV webcam)

Therefore, the Civil Defense and other emergency units in Suurnes will make another appointment at 08:30 tomorrow morning to reassess the situation if the eruption will be allowed to watch again or not.

A visibility at the site is currently poor due to sustaining dense fog as seen in the

UPDATE: A decision has been made to keep the area closed for tourists until further notice due to ongoing bad weather conditions.Therefore, the Civil Defense and other emergency units in Suurnes will make another appointment at 08:30 tomorrow morning to reassess the situation if the eruption will be allowed to watch again or not.A visibility at the site is currently poor due to sustaining dense fog as seen in the live stream

Eruption site will reopen at 10 today Update Tue 09 Aug 2022 04:51 The current eruption site (image: RUV)

The site was closed for tourists over the past two days (7th-8th August), in order to avoid the storm passing through the tourist attraction and keep the public safe.

Source: Almannavarnir 9 August 2022

The Civil Defense and Public Safety decided to reopen the eruption site in Meradalir to the public by 10:00 local time today.The site was closed for tourists over the past two days (7th-8th August), in order to avoid the storm passing through the tourist attraction and keep the public safe.

Eruption site is closed for now Update Mon 08 Aug 2022 06:06 The eruption site is currently closed for tourists since yesterday due to a storm, which is common in these latitudes.

The Civil Defense and other emergency units make an appointment at 09:30 local time today to reassess the situation if the eruption will be allowed to watch again or not.

The eruption site is currently closed for tourists since yesterday due to a storm, which is common in these latitudes.The Civil Defense and other emergency units make an appointment at 09:30 local time today to reassess the situation if the eruption will be allowed to watch again or not.

Some lava jets surpass 100 meters in height Update Sun 07 Aug 2022 15:39 Vigorous basaltic gas-rich lava spattering (image: Eldfjalla-og natturuvarhopur Suurlands)

Several fissure vents have been reduced to three vents since the eruption began, but continue at a higher intensity in each vent.

Pulsating lava fountains shoot a glowing plastic material up to 100 meters height that continues to feed the lava into a 1 km long stream toward the east of the crater (watch a video below).

A volcano-tectonic earthquake with magnitude M 4.1 occurred at 11:52 local time today on the Reykjanes Peninsula, west of Lake Kleifarvatn (5.6 km north-northeast of Krysuvik, at 5.2 km depth).







The effusive activity continues with little changes over the past 24 hours.Several fissure vents have been reduced to three vents since the eruption began, but continue at a higher intensity in each vent.Pulsating lava fountains shoot a glowing plastic material up to 100 meters height that continues to feed the lava into a 1 km long stream toward the east of the crater (watch a video below).A volcano-tectonic earthquake with magnitude M 4.1 occurred at 11:52 local time today on the Reykjanes Peninsula, west of Lake Kleifarvatn (5.6 km north-northeast of Krysuvik, at 5.2 km depth).

Lava samples reveal similar composition to last year eruption Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 13:38 K2O/TiO2 ratio is nearly the same as in the samples from the last year (image: Institute of Earth Sciences)

Magnesium oxide (MgO) concentrations in rapidly cooled glass were measured approx. 7.5% with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and potassium oxide (KO) ratio of 0.25. The 2022 lava has a similar composition to the 2021 lava.

A current lava temperature of the new eruption is 1190-1200 C.

Magma likely comes from the upper part of the earth's crust where has remained over the past months.

Source: Institute of Earth Sciences volcano activity update 6 August 2022

The Icelandic Institute of Earth Sciences took lava samples on the first day of the new eruption in Meradolum.Magnesium oxide (MgO) concentrations in rapidly cooled glass were measured approx. 7.5% with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and potassium oxide (KO) ratio of 0.25. The 2022 lava has a similar composition to the 2021 lava.A current lava temperature of the new eruption is 1190-1200 C.Magma likely comes from the upper part of the earth's crust where has remained over the past months.

Eruption seen from Reykjavik Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 12:25 Glowing SO2 emissions as seen from Reykjavik (image: Kristin Jonsdottir)

The eruption is already seen from the capital Reykjavik as glowing steam rises up to the sky.

New lava flow map Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 12:16 New lava flow map (image: Benjamin Hennig)

The map contains 2021 lava flows as well.

A new lava flow map of the new eruption has been published.The map contains 2021 lava flows as well.

Hiking map to eruption site Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 11:19 Green trail is recommended to get to the site (image: Bjorgunarsveitin orbjorn)

The hike may take about 5-6 hours (7 km one way) minimum with an elevation gain of about 300 meters.

Tourists are recommended to get proper hiking equipment including food, headlamp and fully charged phone.

In addition, they are advised not to walk on the old lava as it is still hot and prone to fall through.

The rescue team orbjorn from Grindavik published a new hiking map to get to the eruption site.The hike may take about 5-6 hours (7 km one way) minimum with an elevation gain of about 300 meters.Tourists are recommended to get proper hiking equipment including food, headlamp and fully charged phone.In addition, they are advised not to walk on the old lava as it is still hot and prone to fall through.

Interactive 3D aerial panorama of eruption site Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 10:53 Screenshot from the website (image: Visit Reykjanes)

The 3D image is interactive and you can scroll in and out and look in all directions.

Here is the link: https://kuula.co/share/N8XJm?logo=1&info=1&logosize=180&fs=1&vr=1&zoom=1&autorotate=0.02&thumbs=1&margin=5&alpha=0.65

On the website of Reykjanesskaga's tourism office, Visit Reykjanes, you can now access a 3D image of the volcanic eruption in Meradolum. There you can see the ongoing "curtain of fire" accompanied by the forming lava flow field from the current eruption.The 3D image is interactive and you can scroll in and out and look in all directions.Here is the link: https://kuula.co/share/N8XJm?logo=1&info=1&logosize=180&fs=1&vr=1&zoom=1&autorotate=0.02&thumbs=1&margin=5&alpha=0.65

Magnificent drone video footage Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 10:38 Bird eye view on the lava and lava fountains (image: Planet/twitter)

We had our first dance in a long time last night...she was as mesmerising as always. Just announced something very exciting on my IG account. #SharingIsCaring #DJIMavic3 #DJI pic.twitter.com/9UAonnygGX  Bjorn Steinbekk (@BSteinbekk) August 5, 2022

A beautiful aerial view of the current eruption site from a drone has been recorded - watch the video from Bjorn Steinbekk below.

Gas pollution forecast is available Update Sat 06 Aug 2022 10:28 Gas emissions forecast for Sunday (7 Aug) afternoon (image: IMO) SO2 emissions detected on 4 August (image: ADAM Platform)

The forecast contains the presence of SO2 and SO4 emissions emitting from the eruption site and prevailing wind direction within the next 48 hours.

It is important to keep in mind that the vicinity of the area is dangerous to health and conditions may change rapidly.

The Norwegian Public Safety Council warns people to stay away from the site due to gas pollution with increased risk when the wind calms down. New fissures may immediately open without any notice.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 6 August 2022

The IMO reported that a new gas forecast model has been launched ( link here ).The forecast contains the presence of SO2 and SO4 emissions emitting from the eruption site and prevailing wind direction within the next 48 hours.It is important to keep in mind that the vicinity of the area is dangerous to health and conditions may change rapidly.The Norwegian Public Safety Council warns people to stay away from the site due to gas pollution with increased risk when the wind calms down. New fissures may immediately open without any notice.

Gas emissions threat tourists Update Thu 04 Aug 2022 15:17 Gas plumes continue to emit at the site (image: IMO)

People should be aware of gas pollution near the site and are strongly advised not to approach the eruption that can be harmful to health.

A new network for near real-time gas measuring will be set up tomorrow.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 4 August 2022

A gas dispersion forecast has been activated for the current eruption site in Meradalir.People should be aware of gas pollution near the site and are strongly advised not to approach the eruption that can be harmful to health.A new network for near real-time gas measuring will be set up tomorrow.

Spatter ramparts and spatter cone along fissure Update Thu 04 Aug 2022 05:06 Spatter ramparts and the spatter cone at the current eruption site (image: Gisli Olafsson/twitter) Spatter cone forming around the vent (image: Ben Edwards/twitter)

The continuous "curtain of fire" has been already building elongated steep-sided ridges due to piling up hot, juvenile and plastic lava fragments around the fissure, so-called spatter ramparts.

The RUV launched another a new spatter cone is being observed that has formed above the vent.

The first estimated lava flow rate is about 20-50 m3/second.



The helicopter is flying over the eruptive fissure (source: @salvor/twitter) It is beautiful. Real time here: https://t.co/qYH5EVBoOZ #eruption #fagradalsfjall #reykjanes #iceland pic.twitter.com/Vgx3fdjs7P  Salvor Kristjana (@salvor) August 3, 2022

The effusive eruption has continued throughout the last night.The continuous "curtain of fire" has been already building elongated steep-sided ridges due to piling up hot, juvenile and plastic lava fragments around the fissure, so-calledThe RUV launched another live streaming showing the better, full-size fissure view whereis being observed that has formed above the vent.The first estimated lava flow rate is about 20-50 m3/second.The helicopter is flying over the eruptive fissure (source: @salvor/twitter)

New eruption is estimated bigger than previous one Update Wed 03 Aug 2022 19:28 Halldor Bjornsson from the IMO flies over the current eruption site (image: IMO)

The new eruption poses no imminent threat to inhabitants and infrastructure as the site is far enough from the closest infrastructure. From the nearby morphology, it seems the lava flow will flow likely into Meradalir valley on the east-southeast or towards the north.

He warns about a gas accumulation as the fissure is in a depression and advises people to be careful.

A larger amount of gas emissions escape from the current site in comparison with the last eruption, says Elin Bjork Jonasdottir from the Icelandic Meteorological Office. A new network for near real-time gas measuring will be installed in the area in the next few days. She adds that the prevailing wind is supposed to change over the weekend.

Source: RUV volcano activity update 3 August 2022

Magnus Tumi Gumundsson, a professor of geophysics, says that the new eruption is likely five-to-ten bigger than the previous eruption, but not the big one.The new eruption poses no imminent threat to inhabitants and infrastructure as the site is far enough from the closest infrastructure. From the nearby morphology, it seems the lava flow will flow likely into Meradalir valley on the east-southeast or towards the north.He warns about a gas accumulation as the fissure is in a depression and advises people to be careful.A larger amount of gas emissions escape from the current site in comparison with the last eruption, says Elin Bjork Jonasdottir from the Icelandic Meteorological Office. A new network for near real-time gas measuring will be installed in the area in the next few days. She adds that the prevailing wind is supposed to change over the weekend.

Location confirmed + new aerial images Update Wed 03 Aug 2022 18:49 The current eruption site seen from the sky (image: Kristin Jonsdottir/twitter) The new eruptive fissure, a helicopter as a scale (image: Evgenia Ilyinskaya/twitter) The current eruption site seen from the sky (image: Kristin Jonsdottir/twitter) The exact location of the eruption (image: Volcanologia Chile/twitter)

The eruptive fissure is located approx. 3 km north of Langihryggur with an approx. length of 360 meters.

Fountaining continues along the full-length fissure, feeding a new lava flow field that sometimes overlaps (in the south part of the fissure) the lava flow field from the previous eruption.

Scientists already published the exact location of the new eruption site.The eruptive fissure is located approx. 3 km north of Langihryggur with an approx. length of 360 meters.Fountaining continues along the full-length fissure, feeding a new lava flow field that sometimes overlaps (in the south part of the fissure) the lava flow field from the previous eruption.

Eruption continues - watch it live Update Wed 03 Aug 2022 17:02 The eruption continues at modest intensity (although it is likely to gradually increase), as a typical fissure eruption with lava fountains forming a "curtain of fire" along an approx. 100 m long fissure that opened today at around 1.36 p.m. A sheet-like lava flow is slowly spreading on both sides of the fissure.



You can watch it live via the webcam of mbl.is on Youtube:



The eruption continues at modest intensity (although it is likely to gradually increase), as a typical fissure eruption with lava fountains forming a "curtain of fire" along an approx. 100 m long fissure that opened today at around 1.36 p.m. A sheet-like lava flow is slowly spreading on both sides of the fissure.You can watch it live via the webcam of mbl.is on Youtube:

New eruption started Update Wed 03 Aug 2022 14:15 New eruptive fissure accompanied by small lava fountains (image: mbl.is)

From available live webcams (

It seems the fissure is about a few hundred meters long, judging from the webcam imagery.

The eruptive fissure is located within the lava flow field at the same eruption site as the latest eruption in 2021, but the exact location is unknown for now and was not reported yet, however the IMO is ready to send a helicopter to detect a location.

A new eruption started.From available live webcams ( link here ), a new eruptive fissure opened at about 13:26 local time today. Pulsating small lava fountains are seen from the fissure.It seems the fissure is about a few hundred meters long, judging from the webcam imagery.The eruptive fissure is located within the lava flow field at the same eruption site as the latest eruption in 2021, but the exact location is unknown for now and was not reported yet, however the IMO is ready to send a helicopter to detect a location.

Likelihood of new eruption has increased, magma at 1 km depth Update Tue 02 Aug 2022 20:48 Earthquakes at Reykjanes Peninsula in the last 48 hours (updated 2 Aug 20:30) (image: IMO) Depth vs. magnitude vs. time during 25 Jul - 2 Aug (image: Volcano Discovery)

According to the IMO, magma injections already reached very shallow level at 1 km depth, supported also by continued deformation of the surface. This suggests that the flux of magma rising within the dike is significant.

A potential eruption is estimated to occur within the upcoming days or weeks.

A risk of an impending eruption has rapidly increased in the late afternoon today.According to the IMO, magma injections already reached very shallow level at 1 km depth, supported also by continued deformation of the surface. This suggests that the flux of magma rising within the dike is significant.A potential eruption is estimated to occur within the upcoming days or weeks.

New InSAR shows estimated location of dike intrusion Update Tue 02 Aug 2022 14:54 Sentinel-1 interferogram during 20 Jul-1 Aug depicts a new dike intrusion (image: IMO)

A new radar interferogram revealed by the Icelandic Meteorological Office involves a current dike magma intrusion on Reykjanes peninsula between Keilir and Fagradalsfjall with the strongest earthquake so far with magnitude M 5.4 on 31 July.

The intense seismic activity continues.A new radar interferogram revealed by the Icelandic Meteorological Office involves a current dike magma intrusion on Reykjanes peninsula between Keilir and Fagradalsfjall with the strongest earthquake so far with magnitude M 5.4 on 31 July.

Strong seismic activity continues with no signs of tremor so far Update Tue 02 Aug 2022 08:54 Earthquakes at Reykjanes Peninsula in the last 48 hours (image: IMO) Depth vs. magnitude during 25 Jul - 2 Aug (image: Volcano Discovery)

The IMO network registered another strong earthquake at 02:27 early morning today with magnitude M 5.0 at about 4 km depth located west of the Kleifarvatn lake. It seems that the activity is situated right here.

The quake has been felt widely in southwestern Iceland.

No tremor has been detected yet.

The reported hazard remains in place and poses the increased risk of rockfalls in the area caused by stronger earthquakes. People are advised to avoid steep slopes, cliffs and areas prone to collapse.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 2 August 2022

The ongoing intense earthquake swarm increased at 23:00 local time last night.The IMO network registered another strong earthquake at 02:27 early morning today with magnitude M 5.0 at about 4 km depth located west of the Kleifarvatn lake. It seems that the activity is situated right here.The quake has been felt widely in southwestern Iceland.No tremor has been detected yet.The reported hazard remains in place and poses the increased risk of rockfalls in the area caused by stronger earthquakes. People are advised to avoid steep slopes, cliffs and areas prone to collapse.

Fagradalsfjall volcano (Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland): volcanic-seismic crisis continues to evolve, earthquake M 5.4 yesterday Mon, 1 Aug 2022, 07:43 07:43 AM | BY: MARTIN Earthquakes at Reykjanes Peninsula in the last 48 hours (image: IMO) The seismic record of the area (image: IMO) Depth vs. magnitude during 25 Jul - 2 Aug (image: Volcano Discovery)

Nearly 3000 earthquakes in total have been detected since the phase began by the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, of which four were recorded with magnitude of 4 and more.

The first earthquakes depths measurements were located at approx. 5-8 km depth, but since 18:00 local time on 30 July have become shallower at depth of about 2-5 km.

At 17:47 local time yesterday, seismic instruments registered the strongest event so far with magnitude M 5.4 located northeast of Grindavik. Shakes were even visible in the

Magma continues to intrude under the surface and causes voltage changes NE of Grindavik and west of Kleifarvatn lake.

A similar scenario occurred in December last year, but doesn't seem to be powerful enough to trigger an eruption yet.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 1 August 2022

#Iceland #Earthquake 31.7.2022, 17:48:505.2 km SW of #FagradalsfjallMagnitude: 5.2source: https://t.co/V9xD6stMug : https://t.co/FruDD2P9Pd pic.twitter.com/2isw9NNuaz  Rita Bauer (@wischweg) July 31, 2022 All news about: Fagradalsfjall volcano

Information about: Fagradalsfjall volcano Fagradalsfjall volcano (Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland): intense seismic activity, alert level raised to Yellow Sat, 30 Jul 2022, 20:46 20:46 PM | BY: MARTIN Distribution of quakes in Fagradalsfjall volcano area this afternoon (image: IMO)

A series of earthquakes have been located northeast of Fagradalsfjall, of which the strongest one was measured with magnitude M 4.0 at 14:03 local time.

Earthquakes were located at depths between 5 and 7 km and are arranged in a northeast-southwest trending linear area. Quakes likely reflect magma intrusion shifting under the surface at shallow level.

Therefore, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) and authorities raised the alert status to "yellow".

The current hazard poses an increased risk of rockfalls in the area caused by stronger earthquakes. People are advised to avoid steep slopes, cliffs and areas prone collapse.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 30 July 2022 All news about: Fagradalsfjall volcano

Information about: Fagradalsfjall volcano The seismic activity remains elevated and had been more frequent.Nearly 3000 earthquakes in total have been detected since the phase began by the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, of which four were recorded with magnitude of 4 and more.The first earthquakes depths measurements were located at approx. 5-8 km depth, but since 18:00 local time on 30 July have become shallower at depth of about 2-5 km.At 17:47 local time yesterday, seismic instruments registered the strongest event so far with magnitudelocated northeast of Grindavik. Shakes were even visible in the live stream (see the attached M 5.4 quake video below). The earthquake was widely felt by inhabitants, some minor damages reported.Magma continues to intrude under the surface and causes voltage changes NE of Grindavik and west of Kleifarvatn lake.A similar scenario occurred in December last year, but doesn't seem to be powerful enough to trigger an eruption yet.An intense swarm of earthquakes has been occurring at Reykjanes peninsula, starting at noon today.A series of earthquakes have been located northeast of Fagradalsfjall, of which the strongest one was measured with magnitude M 4.0 at 14:03 local time.Earthquakes were located at depths between 5 and 7 km and are arranged in a northeast-southwest trending linear area. Quakes likely reflect magma intrusion shifting under the surface at shallow level.Therefore, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) and authorities raised the alert status to "yellow".The current hazard poses an increased risk of rockfalls in the area caused by stronger earthquakes. People are advised to avoid steep slopes, cliffs and areas prone collapse.
Hezbollah displayed its support for the Palestinian Resistance by bombing the disputed area of the Shebaa Farms. This tiny uninhabited territory is claimed by both Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah refrained from intervening alongside individuals that until just recently it had considered terrorists.

Israel responded by bombing the Hezbollah tent on the Shebaa Farms, which had been erected to symbolize Lebanons claim. Israel was careful not to consider Hezbollahs action as a provocation.

Hezbollah put up a new tent, not far from the first, and replaced the guards defending it.

Both sides took great care not to ignite new hostilities. Hezbollah and Israel can thus claim to have only bombed their own territory and not to have attacked that of their neighbor.
Over the past few months, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have held several coordination meetings in Beirut, in which Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Jihad participated. They were chaired by Ismail Qaani, the commander of the al-Quds brigades.

The one in May 2023 was made public (photo). It brought together Hassan Nasrallah (general secretary of the Lebanese Hezbollah), Saleh al-Arouri (high-ranking leader of Hamas) and Ziad al-Nakala (commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad).

The aim of the meetings was to share experiences of the attacks carried out on Israeli territory. It was probably during these meetings that the Palestinian participants changed their conception of the war.

However, it is absurd to believe that the groups claiming to belong respectively to Imam Rouhollah Khomeini and to Hassan el-Banna (founder of the Muslim Brotherhood) have agreed to form a common military staff. Khomeini and el-Banna developed competing ideologies both of which use religion in politics. They met and divided up the world among themselves: the Shiites represent the zone of influence of the Khomeinists, the Sunnis that of the Brotherhood. This agreement is respected to the letter by the current Guide of the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Hezbollah fought against Hamas in the Syrian war, then mended fences with it when it admitted it had made a mistake and sent an envoy to apologize to Damascus. Both groups share the same goal of liberating Palestine, but a fundamental ethical difference separates them. Hezbollah has not joined Hamas operation against Israel, but is expected to do so when Tel Aviv starts applying the principles of counterinsurgency warfare.
Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Global Citizen

With Reeve Carney out of Hadestown, someone had to fill those well-worn shoes. Turns out the man for the job is Jordan Fisher  dancing boy and Teen Beach Movie heartthrob. Carney has starred in the show for its entire Broadway run thus far  beginning in 2019  but his final performance comes on November 19. The very next day, Fisher heads into the underworld for his first visit. First, I must thank Reeve for the magic he made in Orpheus, Fisher said in a statement. An absolutely historic run and performance. His unrelenting heart and soul is deeply embedded in this role and in this story. Im beyond honored and grateful for the opportunity to step in and steward such a beautifully crafted character. My wife, son and I have been jamming to the cast album for a long time. Its been a dream to be able to join the party! Specifically in this role. This tale is one that truly must be told again and again. Fisher was most recently seen on Broadway as Anthony in the Sweeney Todd revival alongside Josh Groban. Its an old song; its an old tale from way back when. Its an old song, but Jordan Fisher is gonna sing it again.
Photo: Matthew Murphy

Heres a thing about the so-called classics: We may have all sorts of feelings, valid ones, about how often they come back around, what was wrong with them in the first place, whats wrong with them now, and what may or may not be worthier of a current airing; but the fact that they come back around forces us to pause and do that most imperative and unsettling of things  reconsider. To look at something again really means looking at ourselves again: approaching the same mirror ready to see a different reflection, perhaps even ready to admit that we no longer agree with our past selves. In the Russian director Anatoly Efross rehearsal diaries, he returns to Three Sisters several times over the course of many years. One later entry begins, Perhaps the beginning of Three Sisters should not be exactly as I thought before. Another, still later: Obviously, our production of Three Sisters was not clear enough. The old plays that keep coming back make us confront the possibility  frightening, vital  of change.

Four years ago, in a different world, I reviewed a production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furths Merrily We Roll Along, and in large part I blamed the book (by Furth, based on the 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart) for the shows limited effectiveness. I was hardly the first: When Merrily premiered in 1981, my colleague Frank Rich, then writing for the New York Times, famously called it a shambles, holding Furths book responsible for its major dramatic failure, anticlimactic plot exposition, and unearned nastiness. A rewrite came along later, and the show has been back through New York a few times, but never at Broadway scale. Now a starry new version of this hot-take-magnet of a musical rolls along, and I find myself facing the mirror, reconsidering. Perhaps Merrily is not exactly as I thought before.

The hype around Maria Friedmans production (which ran at NYTW last December and began its life ten years ago at Londons Menier Chocolate Factory in what was, remarkably, her directorial debut) has involved a lot of excited language about solving or saving the play. I dont know about that  the chatter feels a bit flat and final to me  but I do know this: Friedman and her ensemble render the show exquisite. The nastiness Rich spoke of is nowhere to be found. The cynicism and jadedness that have tended to hang in a sour cloud around the backwards-told story of the gradual selling out of three big-dreaming artistic friends  theyve mellowed into honest heartache. Something has shifted, a key has subtly but significantly changed, and the shows bitterness has been lovingly infused with sweet.

Friedman understands something crucial about Merrily, one of those elusive things that seems so simple when we actually, at last, see it happen: We need to love the three aspiring hearts who begin the play middle-age  suffering, compromised, hating each other  and end it as 20-year-old music-makers and dreamers of dreams. I mean, really love them  enough that, as we watch their story reassemble itself, like a rewound film of a shattered vase, our hearts cant help cracking, in an inverse relationship to the thing were seeing be repaired, the thing we know, in real time, is still broken. Love them enough that our knowing  the structural inevitability of the play  is neither a flaw nor, in fact, the point. And we need to see that they really love each other. Furths book  with its quippishness and its lack of deep character background  cant be solely depended on for this, nor, even, can Sondheims inimitable lyrics and often ravishing music. You need actors, and not just anyone. Enter, as a gloriously playful and supportive trio, Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Daniel Radcliffe.

This crack teams commitment to each other, and to getting at the storys innards, starts immediately  that is, immediately after the shows fantastic overture and its eerily bright-eyed title number. (The wonderful band, conducted by Joel Fram, plays with precision and gusto from the second story of Soutra Gilmours slick and evocative David Hockneyesque set.) Its 1976, and were at a swanky party in Bel Air. Franklin Shepard (Groff) has just produced a hit film. Everyone whos anyone is at his L.A. mansion, toasting to the future. He has taste, he has talent / Is he the best? sings the simpering ensemble. Plus a fine head for business / The man is blessed. Merrily takes a risk by introducing its protagonists at their most unlikeable point. Frank, we learn, is a brilliant composer who has largely put his art aside to make money producing popular schlock. (The movie, apparently, is terrible.) Hes also cheating on his actress wife, Gussie Carnegie (Krystal Joy Brown), with the younger actress (Talia Simone Robinson) whos starring in his new film. (A similar affair with Gussie, years earlier, destroyed his marriage to his first wife, Beth, played by a bright, sympathetic Katie Rose Clarke.) Meanwhile, his deepest, closest, best friend in all the world  his words  the theater critic Mary Flynn (Mendez), is sitting in a corner drinking herself into a dull, contemptuous fury, getting ready to poop the party in spectacular fashion. Frank and Marys former kindred spirit, the Pulitzer-winning playwright Charley Kringas (Radcliffe), is absent; at this point, his name is anathema.

Its possible for Frank to swing and schmooze his way through this scene as the worst version of himself: Who says, Lonely at the top? / I say, Let it never stop! he sings to his crowd of sycophants. But Groff is an actor whos able to communicate hurt and humanity even through a carapace of ego and moral deficiency. (In this way he reminds me of Matthew Macfadyen: Who among us has any business feeling empathy for Tom Wambsgans? And yet ) All through Merrilys opening scene, Groffs eyes are dead hollows  deep, dark wells with reservoirs of tears way down at the bottom, threatening to make their way up. He smiles, he sings, his body propels itself around the room, and hes not there. His Frank is the worst version of himself, but he knows it, and hes terribly alone and afraid. Watching Groff  who, as the show moves forward and backward, becomes visibly younger: driven, yes, but also sweet and earnest, almost puppyish  I thought of Chekhovs successful, unprincipled writer Trigorin, who tells his lover: I havent got any willpower. I never have had  Go on, take me, take me away with you. But please, dont ever let me out of your sight. Groff makes clear that Franks is a tragedy of weakness, not simply of greed.

Which is why poor Mary, who loves him and has tried to serve as his backbone, has been dragged down, too. Mendez is marvelous as Mary, the shows toughest role and a part that can be all angles and jabs  a mess of sloshed vodka and bitter zingers a la Elaine Stritch. But Mendez isnt hardened or ironic: Shes still, after all these years and despite all her sharps, faithful, open, and vulnerable. I tell everything, then go home and suffer, she says to the boys in the plays last scene  the long-ago, youthful meeting of the characters, up on a roof in their pajamas, trying to get a glimpse of Sputnik. Mendez takes young Mary at her word, beginning the play with that core truth still true. She keeps the characters heart exposed, and though it takes beating after beating, it never closes up. Her rendition of the beautiful Like It Was is simple and wrenching. She sits with her shoulders a little hunched, looking suddenly childlike, and her clear, flexible voice pours out imploringly but without shaking. You and me, she sings to Charley, we were nicer then.

And Charley! As the twitching, high-integrity, high-anxiety writer, Radcliffe is a complete delight. Next to Groffs Frank, whos tall, square-shouldered, and  at least outwardly  self-possessed, Radcliffe is a vibrating sprite, the kind of person whose big brain you can practically see smoking as it spins. Not long after the show begins, Charley has to launch into one of its fastest, most relentless songs  certainly its most enraged. Franklin Shepard, Inc. is a public breakdown set to music, a frantic, brutally funny screed in which Charley excoriates his estranged best friend and collaborator on live TV. Its an acrobatic number, and Radcliffe full-on sticks the landing. In the applause that follows (and indeed, throughout the show), theres something very special radiating from him, even through all Charleys angst: Its the undiluted, joyful rush of performing onstage.

The enlivening pulse created by Radcliffe, Mendez, and Groff gains strength and drive through the productions rock-solid ensemble. Gilmour (also the costume designer) dresses them in softly period, unified swaths of color as the play moves back in time  blues, then beiges, then, in the lavish, La Dolce Vitaish early 60s, in hard black and white. Theres something smart happening here: Groff, as Frank, wears varyingly sophisticated versions of the same white shirt and black trousers throughout the show, but at the top of Act Two, as Gussie (not yet his wife) seductively introduces him to The Blob  a pulsating swarm of influentials, the ones who know everyone that everyone knows  Franks clothes match the companys for the first time. He is, whether consciously or not, getting sucked into something. No  it already has him.

Some shows can withstand miscasting  turns out, Merrily cant. (Its often said that the casting of very young actors was a large part of the original productions failure.) Even the big producer, Joe Josephson, who can come off as a Hollywood hack with dollar signs for pupils, is brought a sense of hangdog appeal by Reg Rogers. You get the feeling that Josephson is affable at heart, tired in soul, and that even he might have had ideals once. Friedmans great insight  perhaps owing to her own long career onstage  is to have sought out actors she, and we, can entirely trust, and to trust them. (It sounds simple. Its not.) She locates the plays potential to be caring rather than callous not on the page but in the specific human beings who are here, doing this thing, right now. A central trio as sensitive and superb as this one doesnt just make Merrily more moving; it makes it much more fun. It even adds a faint glimmer of something resembling hope. If Frank can reconsider, then he may yet change. Or he may not. But either way, an actor must show us, as Groff does, a true encounter with the mirror. With their irresistible energy and chemistry, Mendez, Groff, and Radcliffe lift Merrily up, yet keep it grounded with real, apparent affection and emotional heft. They are the ones reviving the play, by revealing and jump-starting its heart.

Merrily We Roll Along is at the Hudson Theatre.
SINGAPORE, October 10, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Bests Insurance Market Briefing - Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC) will explore the state of the global and Asia-Pacific reinsurance markets on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 as part of the 19th annual SIRC event.

The market briefing will take place at 2:00 p.m. (SGT) in the Heliconia Ballroom at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the same location as the overall conference. During the briefing, senior analytical leaders from AM Bests international offices will provide (re)insurance market insight. Discussion topics will include a global market update of reinsurance developments and reviews of Northeast and Southeast Asia reinsurance markets. In addition, National Scale Ratings, which AM Best recently introduced to Egypt, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, will be discussed. The National Scale Rating is a relative measure of the financial strength of insurers and reinsurers that are domiciled in the same country, and over time allow for greater differentiation among them. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.ambest.com/conference/SIRC2023/index.html.

The panel will be chaired by Rob Curtis, chief executive officer of AM Bests Singapore operations. Panelists for the market briefing include:

Greg Carter, managing director, analytics  EMEA & Asia Pacific;

Stefan Holzberger, chief rating officer;

Christie Lee, senior director, analytics  Northeast Asia; and

Chris Lim, associate director, analytics  Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

AM Bests market development team for Asia Pacific will be attending SIRC. To arrange a meeting at the conference to learn more about AM Best, its role in the insurance industry and the resources it offers to insurance professionals, including Bests Credit Ratings, please contact Curtis, who also is head of market development for the Asia-Pacific region, at robert.curtis@ambest.com, or KaiJun Chan, market development associate, at kaijun.chan@ambest.com.

Story continues

SIRC, which is organised by the Singapore Reinsurers Association, is one of the leading annual global reinsurance industry events. This years event runs from 30 October to 2 November and is themed as "(Re)Insurance Reset." For more information about the conference, please visit the event page and agenda.

AM Best is a contributing broadcast partner to the event, and AM BestTV will provide coverage of the conference. For daily reports and interviews, look for the SIRC-related playlist under the "Event Coverage 2023" tab at www.ambest.tv or visit www.ambest.tv/sirc23.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009788150/en/

Contacts

Rob Curtis

CEO, AM Best Asia-Pacific (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.,

Managing Director, Market Development

+65 6303 5007

robert.curtis@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

KaiJun Chan

Market Development Associate

+65 9824 2401

kaijun.chan@ambest.com
Photo: Victor Boyko/Getty Images For Kenzo

Julia Foxs memoir takes readers Down the Drain with her through her early work as a dominatrix and her 2019 breakout role in Uncut Gems. The book, out now, concludes with a chapter of her life many are familiar with, at least as spectators: her relationship with Ye. While Ye is never named in the memoir and is referred to only as the artist, Fox provides ample details that leave no doubt she is referring to her time with the controversial pop-culture figure, and they are  illuminating.

While Foxs short relationship with Ye dominated both tabloids and the internet discourse, its mystery was part of the intrigue. Paparazzi snaps and photo shoots like the one that appeared in Interview magazine depicted the pair as a fashion-forward power couple. By her own account, however, Foxs relationship with Ye was awkward, frustrating, and, she now suspects, a one-sided publicity stunt involving Birkins, unsolicited boob-job offers, and, like seemingly everyone else in Hollywood, playing Uno. Below, some notable moments Fox shared about their relationship:

Ye initiated the relationship

I get a text from an old friend asking if he can pass my number along to a famous artist whos been asking about me, Fox writes. I dont think much of it at first. Ive hooked up with celebrities before and I already know theyre only after one thing.

However, this introduction resulted in texts and hourslong phone calls between the pair, culminating in a New Years Eve meetup in Miami that turned into a dayslong visit capped by dinner at Carbone.

He very bluntly asks me, Would you want to be my girlfriend? Fox writes. I instantly burst out laughing. He cant be serious. A photographer circles the table, snapping candid photos of us midsentence. He follows up with: How would you feel about taking our relationship public?

A different version of this story appeared in Interview magazine. While Fox says she submitted a detailed paragraph recounting step by step how we met, Ye sent back a completely new version that sounds nothing like me and is completely fabricated. On a three-way call with one of his assistants, they eventually landed on a version in the middle that later appeared in the magazine. But the seed of doubt had been planted in my mind, and I cant shake the feeling, Fox writes.

One of their first dates was playing Uno

After their New Years Eve meeting, Fox says she woke up to dozens of missed calls and texts from Ye. He invites her to his room, where they spend the day playing Uno and a game that involves highlighting positive words in the dictionary and coming to the realization that there arent many. Steamy!

Ye is very particular about his restaurant tables

During their first dinner date at Carbone, Ye reportedly asked for more candles for the table, rearranging them, creating a half-moon around the perimeter of the table. He then, Fox writes, after removing the extra glasses and silverware, moved the entire table three feet to the right so we can get a better view of the slab of concrete on the side of the building. Here is what appears to be the slab of concrete on the side of the building.

Ye loves Zola

After dinner at Carbone with concrete, they head back to Yes hotel and Fox puts on A24s Zola, starring Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, and Colman Domingo. Ye apparently falls in love with it, which prompts him to book himself and Fox tickets to Slave Play (in New York City), also written by Jeremy O. Harris, whom Fox then introduces to Ye via text.

Ye dictated Foxs wardrobe

This isnt surprising to Kardashian fans, who saw Yes influence on ex-wife Kims fashion over the years. With Fox, he was particularly aggressive, going so far as to covertly call in one of her stylists in the middle of a date to give her new outfit options because he didnt like what Fox was wearing (if you can believe it, this anecdote also takes place at Carbone).

Foxs stylists were her two friends, Tammy and Liana, whom Ye hired after she showed him their work. When the pair split, Tammy and Liana continued working for Ye, going on to style his next girlfriend. Eventually, this created a rift in their friendships. While Liana quit working for Ye after a discussion with Fox, Tammy continued.

I block her number, Fox writes. I cant accept that my friend of ten years would choose him over me  for clout.

Ye offered to get Fox a boob job

During the photo shoot that would go on to appear in Interview magazine, Fox says she remarked that she couldnt wear one of the the outfits because its not quite right. In response, Fox says Ye offered to get her a boob job.

The artists words cut through the air, sharp and unexpected, she writes. I look at myself in the mirror, taking in my post-baby body. Theyre not so bad, I think to myself.

Fox refused the boob job but says Yes offer sticks to me like a piece of lint on my clothes, and I cant shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

It was Foxs dinner with Madonna  not Yes

While Ye and Foxs January 2022 dinner with Madonna was portrayed in the media as Ye introducing Fox to his friends, Fox writes that it was she who had plans with Madonna  and Ye tagged along.

He accompanies me to a dinner I had previously planned with Madonna, she writes. He introduces me to everyone as his new girlfriend.

Ye showed affection only when the camera was on

As their relationship progressed, Fox began to suspect that she was more prop than partner. The only time he engages is when the camera is on us, she writes, when he will grab me and kiss me passionately. Many of her significant moments with Ye were documented by his personal photographers, and in at least one instance, Ye had Fox and her friends re-create their reaction to his gifting them Birkin bags multiple times so the cameras could get the best shot.

As we post like puppets, I question his true intentions, feeling that this grand gesture is nothing more than a publicity stunt, she writes. Im disconnected from the moment. I try to find gratitude for the lavish gifts, but the feeling of insincerity lingers.

Their breakup cost her a million-dollar deal

Early on in their relationship, Ye promised Fox a million-dollar deal with an Italian denim company and negotiated it on her behalf. However, following their split  which happened over the phone, reportedly initiated by Fox but intensified by Ye saying he spoke with his ex-wife, who shared information about Fox being a former drug addict  the deal was dropped.

Its contingent on you being his girlfriend, Im informed, she writes. Previously, Fox says she lost a commercial job with the production company citing ties with the artists estranged wife. Luckily for Fox, however, she refused to sign Yes NDA, giving her clearance to cash out on all these stories in a book.
Photo: Apple TV

Its Joaquin Phoenixs turn to be a short king. The Beau Is Afraid actor stars in Ridley Scotts upcoming historical war epic from a script written by David Scarpa, set in Napoleonic France during the emperor in questions series of brutal, ego-driven wars. While Napoleon found himself at the center of a whole mess of drama (historic terms), the film will only feature six battles that he fought inapologies in advance for the history geeks hoping to see more action. There is some good news for the nerds: Scott shared to Total Film that a four-hour directors cut of the film will arrive on Apple TV+ later, specifically after the reg ol theatrical version has hit the cinemas. But what will the four-hour movie entail?

What does the movie look like?

In the films first trailer, we see Phoenix use the instability of revolutionary France for his benefit, attacking rebels to gain a foothold in the countrys power vacuum after the beheading of Sofia Coppola muse Marie Antoinette (Catherine Walker). We must make an example or France will fall, a general says. What would he do if the assignment of defense was transferred to him? I promise you brilliant successes, Phoenix guarantees. Cue opening cannon fire on civilians protesting in the streets. Soon enough, he meets his lover and chief strategist Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), and together they take the throne, plot to bulldoze Europe, blow up Egyptian antiquities, and invade Russia in the winter. You think youre great, she tells her ambitiously deranged husband in between scenes of absolute carnage. Youre just a tiny little brute.

In the second trailer, Napoleon is called a warrior emperor general genius rebel tyrant, in the title cards, which is honestly a lot to take on. But we might add one more title to his long list: sassy old queen. Seriously, this man gets more bitchy lines out than most competitors on Drag Race. I must warn you, I will not lead as second-in-command, he boasts. Slay. I found the crown of France in the gutter, and place it atop my own head. Slay x2. And then the tour de force: Shhh. [insert sassy little finger here] Whose country are we in? There is an epidemic of sassy men, and Napoleon himself is on the front lines.

Who else is in the movie?

Besides Phoenix as Napoleon and Kirby as Josephine, the cast includes Tahar Rahim as Directory politician Paul Barras, Ben Miles as chief advisor Caulaincourt, and Matthew Needham as brother Lucien Bonaparte.

When does it come out?

Napoleon invades theaters November 22. A four-hour directors cut will arrive on Apple TV+ at a later date.
This story was reported in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism and The Guardian.

Momtaj Mansur flew to Saudi Arabia in September 2021, excited to work at one of the worlds biggest companies, Amazon. He was promised a well-paying job and planned to use the money to help his family back in Nepal.

Less than a year later, he said he was living in a crowded room with seven other men, jammed with bunk beds infested with bed bugs. The water was often salty and undrinkable. His hopes were shattered, and he was deep in debt.

Momtaj Mansur is one of more than 50 current and former workers who said they were misled and exploited by firms that supply labor to Amazon in Saudi Arabia and by their network of recruiting agencies in Nepal.

All the workers said they had to pay fees to recruiters to get hired, ranging from the equivalent of $830 to $2,040, even though fees that large are illegal, according to the Nepali government. To pay those fees, many workers needed to take out loans at high interest rates. They also all said they were duped by recruiters into working for labor supply companies rather than directly for Amazon.

The workers were interviewed as part of an international reporting collaboration with NBC News, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism and The Guardian.

Click here to read the ICIJ's version of this story.

About a dozen workers like Mansur agreed to speak on the record. Others, fearful that speaking out would hurt their chances for other employment, were interviewed with the agreement that their names would not be published. To substantiate their accounts, the journalists reviewed photographs, emails, receipts, messages and other documentation from their time working at Amazon.

After being presented with the findings, Amazon told NBC News it had conducted its own investigation and found labor violations. The company promised measures to fix the problems, including compensating workers who paid recruiting fees to the companies supplying labor.

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We are deeply concerned that some of our contract workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  were not treated with the standards we set forth, and the dignity and respect they deserve, John Felton, Amazons senior vice president of worldwide operations, said in a written statement.

We appreciate their willingness to come forward and report their experience, Felton wrote. Our supply chain audit process and our own investigation surfaced violations of our standards.

In particular, the company cited recruiting fees and squalid housing among the violations it found, but declined to offer more details or discuss other labor violations.

A kitchen where Momtaj Mansur and other workers shared housing in Saudi Arabia. (Courtesy of Momtaj Mansur)

A key player for Amazon is a labor supply company that gets workers from other countries  the Saudi-based Abdullah Fahad Al-Mutairi Co. Amazon is among several large corporations that has contracted Al-Mutairi, which has billed itself as a leading provider of human resource solutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Forty-nine of the 54 workers interviewed were hired through Al-Mutairi.

Amazon said it considered suspending the company when these allegations came to light. Instead, it decided to work with Al-Mutairi to make significant changes to their operations.

Al-Mutairi did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

To get workers, Al-Mutairi has worked with recruiting companies in Nepal and elsewhere to attract laborers.

Momtaj Mansur in Nepal was one of them.

When he came to Saudi Arabia, he worked at Amazons vast two-story warehouse called RUH 6, in the capital city, Riyadh. He spent his nights as a picker, hustling up and down aisles grabbing iPhones, packs of Red Bull and other items ordered by Amazons customers across the Arabian Peninsula. He recalled that Amazon managers berated him for being slow, even as he exceeded company targets to pick 70 to 80 items an hour from shelves and boxes.

Then things got worse. In May 2022, Mansur said, he was among a group of workers who were let go without warning or explanation  without work, wages or enough food.

Mansur said he pleaded with Al-Mutairi: If there was no more work at Amazon, let them return to Nepal.

I told them: Either kill us or send us home, but dont give us so much pain.

He said the labor supply firm told him that the only way he could return home was to pay the company an exit fee of more than $1,300 as a penalty for leaving before the end of his two-year contract. It was an enormous sum for his family, which subsisted on about $300 a month, along with rice, wheat and peas grown on a fifth of an acre shared with relatives.

The labor firm was heartless, Mansur said. How could I pay that amount? By selling our house or my kidney?

In the end, his family sunk itself even deeper in debt by taking out a loan  at 36% interest  to pay the exit fee.

Momtaj Mansur by his home in Dhanusha, in southeast Nepal. (Pramod Acharya)

Twenty workers interviewed for this story said labor supply firms told workers they could not go home to Nepal unless they paid exit fees that often equaled several months wages.

Mansur is back home in Nepal, cultivating crops on his familys small plot of land. But hes still angry at the firms he blames for his agony in the Arabian Peninsula. He asks himself: What sin did I commit to end up in Saudi?

Amazon told NBC News that Mansur had a good work record, and would be welcome to return to employment with the company.

The interviews with workers describe practices that are considered by experts to be markers for potential labor trafficking under U.S. law and U.N. standards. These include subjecting workers to abusive working and living conditions; restricting their movement; and making false statements about the identity of the employer. U.N. standards say any recruitment fees should be paid by the employer, not the worker.

Several workers said they complained to Amazon warehouse managers or human resources officials about low or missing wages, poor housing conditions and the strains of warehouse work.

Amazon said it is working to improve oversight of its labor suppliers and prevent future violations of its standards.

Were implementing stronger controls for all our vendors to ensure similar incidents do not occur and to raise overall standards for workers in the region, including providing enhanced trainings for our third-party vendors on labor rights standards with a specific focus on recruitment, wages and deception, said Felton in his written statement to NBC News.

Amazon does not tolerate violations of our long-established supply chain standards or global human rights principles, and we take any allegation of violation extremely seriously, Felton stated.

Read the full Amazon response here.

Amazon in the Middle East

Amazon entered the Saudi Arabian market in 2017, when it purchased the Middle Eastern online retail giant Souq.com, which had started in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It rebranded Souq under the Amazon name and boosted its labor force by bringing in workers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. In 2023, Amazon reported employing nearly 1,500 permanent and seasonal workers in Saudi Arabia.

As one of Asias poorest countries, Nepal has long been a major source of foreign workers employed overseas by companies large and small. These workers send money to families back home. The World Bank reported that in 2022, overseas remittances back home accounted for 23 percent of Nepals gross domestic product.

Many Nepali workers have heard horror stories from family and friends facing bad working and living conditions overseas.

In a survey published in 2017 in the prestigious British medical journal BMJ, most Nepali men who have worked outside the country indicated that they had experienced exploitation at all stages of the migration process. Half reported being targets of deceptive recruiting practices.

Like many Nepali workers, Mansur knew it is better to seek direct employment rather than working for a labor supply company.

When an agent with Rove International, a recruiting firm based in Kathmandu, offered him work at Amazon, Mansur did research. He decided a big American corporation like Amazon might differ from other companies that had abused fellow Nepali workers.

Knowing that agents tell lies, he said, he asked repeatedly whether he would be an employee of Amazon or a labor supply company. The agent confirmed to me that it was direct employment from Amazon, Mansur said, and it would change my life.

He was surprised, he said, when Rove International told him that he must pay a recruiting fee of over $2,300  especially since he knew Nepals government caps the fees that employment firms can charge workers heading to Saudi Arabia at less than $85. Six other Nepalis confirm that Rove International charged them recruiting fees of more than $1,000 each.

Momtaj Mansur cuts leaves to feed buffalo at his home in Dhanusha, in southeast Nepal. (Pramod Acharya)

Like other Nepali workers, Mansur said he paid the fee. He saw it as the cost for an opportunity to work for Amazon.

Nepali workers heading to Saudi Arabia are especially vulnerable because Nepals government has failed to enforce its policies forbidding recruiting agencies from charging high fees, according to Nepals parliament, its Supreme Court and the U.S. State Department.

Workers seeking jobs in the Middle East are also at risk because of the kafala system  a matrix of labor and immigration laws in some Gulf states that gives employers control over migrant workers employment and immigration status. In Saudi Arabia and other countries where forms of the kafala system still exist, many foreign workers are fearful they can be punished if they leave an employer.

Arriving in the Kingdom

In September 2021, Mansur traveled from his home in southern Nepal to Kathmandu and got on a Jazeera Airways flight  the first time hed ever flown and his first time outside Nepal.

When he arrived in Riyadh, Mansur and other new workers from Nepal were met by Amazon officials  or so Mansur thought.

A few days into his job at an Amazon warehouse, Mansur noticed that his green ID badge differed from the blue badges worn by many other workers. The workers with blue badges were employed directly by Amazon, a co-worker explained. Those wearing green badges werent direct Amazon employees  they were temporary workers from a labor supply provider.

He learned he was working for Al-Mutairi, not directly for Amazon.

Records show Nepals Department of Foreign Employment issued work permits in September 2021 to Mansur and 36 other Nepalis whose labor contracts were being channeled to Al-Mutairi by Rove International, the Nepali recruiting firm.

Heera Lal Shah, managing director of Rove International, said the company followed all legal procedures set by the government, and these workers knew where and how they were going to work. He did not respond further to questions detailing worker allegations.

Forty-eight of the 54 Nepali workers interviewed for this story said recruiters misled them about the terms of their employment, falsely promising they would work directly for Amazon.

During their time in Saudi Arabia, the workers said, they were paid less than those who work directly for Amazon.

We worked more and harder, but the salary we received was much less, Mansur said.

Workers are afraid

Inside Amazons distribution centers, the pace is fierce. Pickers roam the floors, grabbing items and handing them off to packers, who stand for hours at a time. Workers said managers watch pickers through closed-circuit cameras and monitor their movements. Nepali workers report that Amazon supervisors stalked them up and down the aisles of the warehouse, yelling, Yalla! Yalla!  Arabic for hurry.

During a normal shift, Mansur covered as many as 9 miles across warehouse floors. I would feel extremely weak. My legs would hurt, he said. When I returned home, I would feel like I was being pierced with needles or walking barefoot on stones. My whole body would ache.

More than 20 workers were interviewed this summer while they were still employed at Amazon warehouses in Saudi Arabia. They agreed to talk only if their names were not published because they feared retaliation for speaking out. They echoed many of the concerns that Mansur and former workers raised.

Amazon makes people work like cattle, said one current worker who said he had to pay a substantial recruiting fee and now lives in squalid housing. Amazon is a big company. I had a dream of earning money. I wanted to do something after earning money. But it didnt happen. What I expected didnt come true.

During rush periods  such as sales or holidays  supervisors monitored restroom activity, sometimes admonishing them, workers said, for taking too much time away from the warehouse floor.

They wanted us not to take breaks when there was a high work demand, said Surendra Kumar Lama, who worked at an Amazon warehouse in Saudi Arabia from 2021 until the end of 2022, and who Amazon said was, like Mansur, a good employee who would be welcome to return to the company. They would stand near restrooms and water stations because workers are afraid of them. Many times, I waited half an hour or an hour to go to the restroom because they were there.

Surendra Lama (Pramod Acharya)

I lost many things

After a long day at Amazons warehouses, workers come home to living accommodations provided by Al-Mutairi. Many said the housing units are cramped and squalid, with cockroaches scuttling across the floor and a briny water supply that caused rashes. Often, workers said, sleeping mattresses were infested with bed bugs and at times air conditioners  much needed for living in the hot desert country  were not functioning.

How can eight people stay together in a small room? Mansur said. There was no space to put personal belongings. We would keep those on our beds.

In some cases, workers successfully lobbied Amazon officials to prod Al-Mutairi to address the housing problems, but improvements often did not last, according to workers. When they reported the water issue to Amazon, said one former worker, Al-Mutairi threatened us: Who complained about this? We will make him jobless! Other workers reported similar threats.

Al-Mutairi was strict about requests for time off for family emergencies back home in Nepal, according to 23 current and former workers.

The labor supply firm, they said, will give a worker two choices: He can pay a large fine upfront. Or he can persuade co-workers to sign a guarantor contract agreeing that they will pay a fine on his behalf if he doesnt return to Saudi Arabia to complete his labor contract.

One former worker said he missed the birth of his son and his fathers funeral because Al-Mutairi wouldnt let him go home. Even after he showed the firm his fathers death certificate, he said, the company said he could go only if he paid a penalty of $1,600  more than four months salary. He couldnt afford it, and he couldnt find a co-worker willing to sign as his guarantor, he said.

I couldnt be with my dad when he died. I couldnt hold and look at my son when he came into this world, the former worker said. During his time in Saudi Arabia, he said, I didnt achieve anything, but I lost many things.

The last stage

One afternoon in May 2022, a few hours before his next shift began, a message popped up on Mansurs mobile phone: Dont go to duty, it said, and listed dozens of names as people stopped from Amazon. He found his own name on the list. Hed been laid off.

The laborers from Nepal had come to the Arabian Peninsula expecting they would be working difficult but steady jobs. Instead, they found that job security is almost nonexistent.

Every day, we fear that we could be terminated the next day. We work every day as the last day of our work, said a Nepali still working in an Amazon warehouse in Riyadh.

Once laid off, workers said, a new ordeal begins. They lose housing reserved for those working at Amazon, they said, and are shunted to worse housing set aside for those without jobs. They get no wages or money for food. Many languish for weeks or months waiting for Al-Mutairi to place them back with Amazon or some other business.

During Mansurs stay, he survived by eating kuboos  Arab flatbread  once a day and borrowing money from former co-workers. Some days, he said, he didnt eat at all. When his friends could no longer support him and Al-Mutairi did not find him another job, he decided to pay the exit penalty and go back to Nepal. It was better going home than dying of hunger, he said.

Other jobless workers have slipped away from the accommodations and worked illegally in construction and restaurants without proper work papers, despite the risk that they could be detained.

Loneliness, hunger and stress pushed some jobless workers toward dark turns of thought.

Manish Kumar Sodari, an Amazon worker who said he was laid off for making too many errors gathering items in the warehouse, said he spent days caring for another laid-off worker who was talking about hanging himself.

Soon, Sodari said, he began having suicidal thoughts himself.

How can one stay helpless for three to four months? he told a reporter in January. I have already suffered a lot. I am at the last stage. He said he returned home to Nepal several months later, and is now working in India.

Saudi Arabia announced reforms of its labor regulations in 2021 that authorities claim make it easier for workers to change jobs and leave the country. But human rights advocates said migrant workers in the region remain vulnerable because these limited protections have yet to be widely implemented or enforced.

Migrant workers are still facing severe abuses despite these highly touted reforms, said Michael Page, a Human Rights Watch official. Workers are still unable to change jobs easily without the permission of their old employer.

Mansur feels guilty about the unpaid loans that he and his family took to get him to the Arabian Peninsula, and to bring him back to Nepal. Interest charges are piling up. He fears the village moneylenders will seize the familys land.

I lost time and money working at Amazon. I lost everything, he said. I lost my body and my strength. ... My familys financial situation is devastated now.

But like many migrant workers around the globe, Mansur isnt going to let that harrowing experience stop him from trying to find an employer that pays a fair wage and treats him decently. Hes begun to look again for an overseas job. Hes open to working most anywhere  except Saudi Arabia.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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The temperatures around metro Phoenix are still hovering in the 90s, but the holiday shopping season has arrived. The best evidence of that: Amazon's two-day Prime shopping event has arrived.

Prime Big Deal Days kicked off just after midnight Arizona time on Tuesday and feature some of the retailers best savings of the holiday season, exclusively for Prime members but with free trials for others.

The two-day promotion includes millions of deals worldwide, with new bargains coming as often as every five minutes, with personalized recommendations based on prior purchases.

The sale lasts for 48 hours. Deals range from those on home items and kitchen appliances to the latest tech gadgets, toys and wellness products. Amazon said many of the products highlighted are from small businesses including independent artisans and those from women- and minority-owned companies. See amazon.com/smallbusinessdeals.

What if I am not a Prime member?

Customers who are not yet Prime members can participate by joining or starting a free 30-day trial at amazon.com/primebigdealdays.

When does Prime Day end?

Prime Big Deal Days ends at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time Wednesday.

Buy with Prime, other special programs, holiday shopping tips

Under a new program called Buy with Prime, customers can shop directly from other merchants online stores and receive Amazon benefits such as fast, free delivery and free returns on eligible orders. Various deals and more information about this program can be seen at buywithprime.amazon.com/shoppers.

Holiday shopping ideas and toy suggestions can be viewed at amazon.com/holiday.

Prime members can save in other ways, such as on gift cards, by accessing promotional credit offers and by qualifying for instant savings with up to 20% off select products from specialty brands including DoorDash, Panera Bread and Old Navy.

Amazon promises same-day or one-day delivery on tens of millions of items for Prime customers. The company counts more than 200 million paid Prime members across 25 countries.

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Various membership categories

U.S. membership for Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually, free 30-day trials are available.

College students can try Prime Student with a six-month trial at amazon.com/joinstudent, then pay $7.49 per month or $69 annually. Qualifying individuals who receive government assistance can obtain Prime Access memberships for $6.99 per month at amazon.com/getprimeaccess.

For more information about Amazon's Prime program, including discounted memberships, visit aboutamazon.com/prime.

How many employees does Amazon have in Arizona?

Amazon is Arizonas third-largest nongovernmental employer, accounting for roughly 33,000 jobs in the state, trailing only Banner Health and Walmart Stores.

The company, which counts more than 1.5 million workers globally, won't celebrate its 30th birthday until next year. Amazon logged $514 billion in global sales in 2022, up 9% over the prior year.

Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days in Arizona
There are few words that can convey the feelings that are running through my body right now.

There is horror and anger and confusion and disbelief and revulsion, but none can adequately describe or do justice to what has happened and is currently happening to my Jewish homeland, Israel. An unprecedented national apocalypse has descended upon her, bringing with it all the darkness and evil that we thought and prayed were just echoes of history, when the world was more brutal and less civilised.

Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon. Credit: AP

It seems unreal, like mere figments of our imaginations. But the scenes of horror are all too real and being paraded before our very eyes, in the media and online.

More than 700 Israelis have been murdered and more than 2000 injured so far, with a depravity and brutality that defy the comprehension of ordinary people like myself. Thats 700 lives that have been stolen from their families and their friends. Thats 700 souls than have been vanquished from this earth.
From luxury hotels to basic B&Bs, accommodation providers around the world have entered a new era of prioritising sleep for their guests.

Sleep programs with lengthy pillow menus, handmade mattresses and medical consultations organised by a sleep butler are among the offerings  welcome to sleep tourism.

Sleep tourism is booming. Credit: iStock

With more than 48 per cent of Australians reporting at least two sleeping disorders (associated with chronic health problems), getting some much-needed shut-eye may be just what Aussies need on holiday. But just what sleep program would you fall for?

Many shades of sleep
In televised remarks in English, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the world to support his country. Loading Hamas are savages, he said. And just as the forces of civilisations united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilisation must support Israel in defeating Hamas. Earlier on Tuesday, Israel said its military had regained control over towns near the Gaza Strip that were overrun by Hamas gunmen who showered Israeli civilians with bullets, while kidnapping others. At least 150 hostages are believed to be held in Gaza. Fears for their welfare heightened after Hamas vowed to broadcast the executions of hostages if Israel attacked Gaza without prior warning.

Despite the rhetoric, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said dozens of fighter jets had targeted high-rise buildings in the Gaza City neighbourhood of Rima and that the military had largely gained control in the south and had restored full control over the Gaza border. Tensions continued to mount in the border region near Lebanon as reports emerged of a number of rockets being fired towards Israel. Israeli forces responded with artillery fire. The aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City. Credit: Getty Images IDF spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht told reporters the scope of the entire Israeli operation would only get bigger than before and more severe. The military has conducted the largest mobilisation effort in its history, including flying reservists home from overseas, while construction has begun for a new defence base to accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers near the Gaza Strip.

Its not going to be clean, Hecht said, adding that many more deaths should be expected. We are going to go very, very aggressively against Hamas. We should all change the paradigm. Loading Israel also commenced a total blockade of Gaza by sealing off the densely populated enclave from food, fuel and other essential supplies, imperilling more than 2.3 million Palestinians who live there. The move triggered calls from the United Nations for access to administer an urgent humanitarian response. It is estimated more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless in the fighting so far, with many forced to huddle on streets or in schools. Persistent bombardment has shut roads to emergency crews. Independent Palestinian journalist Akram Al-Satarri, who has covered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for 15 years, said the intensity of the bombing was unusual and has never been witnessed before.

More than 1000 Israelis had been killed since Saturday and more than 3400 Israelis injured. Retaliatory strikes on Gaza had killed at least 770 Palestinians and wounded more than 4000 by Tuesday. Loading US President Joe Biden said in an address on Tuesday that Hamas attack on Israel was an act of sheer evil. He added that at least 14 Americans were killed in the attack. He and Netanyahu held a third phone call after the US cautioned Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against turning the dispute into a wider regional crisis.

The two leaders were expected to discuss whether some Americans were being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, Reuters reported. Netanyahu vowed that the offensive in the Gaza Strip has only started and that authorities were taking every step to find the hostages. However, the families of four Americans  thought to be captured or missing  said they had not been contacted by anyone in the Israeli government about the search for their loved ones. The families held a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, criticising a lack of communication from authorities and appealing directly to the US administration for information.

Loading Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose 35-year-old son Sagui has been missing since Saturday, spoke of the violence that descended on the Nir Oz kibbutz, where he and his son lived. Kibbutz Nir Or is no more. It was destroyed in a barbaric, inhumane attack ... We are a community of 400. At the moment, we know of 160 survivors, he said. What happened to us, its not a war. Its not a fair fight. Its a pogrom.
Andrew Karolyi has been reappointed as dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Karolyi, who was elevated to vice president the PRME Board of Directors at the 2023 Global Forum this June, was appointed as dean in April 2021, after serving as dean in an interim role. Courtesy photo

Late last year, sharing his 2023 New Years resolution with Poets&Quants, Cornells Andrew Karolyi said he hoped the coming year would bring opportunities to continue to develop responsible, principled leaders equipped to effect change essential to achieving sustainable, shared prosperity.

Karolyi, the Charles Field Knight dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business which includes the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, will have the chance to keep personally shaping those leaders, not only this year but for years to come. Cornell announced October 2 that he has been reappointed dean of the Johnson College for a five-year term beginning in July 2024.

I am delighted, honored and fully aware of the expectations and the responsibilities that come with an opportunity like this, Karolyi says in a news release marking the appointment.

THE TIME IS NOW

2023 new year's resolutions

Andrew Karolyi: We still have much work to do to build a sense of college. It is better and continues to get better

In his 2023 New Years resolution, Karolyi outlined Cornells mission in helping to develop the next generation of business leaders

As a result of our colleges shared principles with organizations like Responsible Research for Business and Management (RRBM) and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), their mission and values will provide a well-developed framework. The guiding principles of these organizations focus on a commitment to the core concept of corporate sustainability in our curricula, the importance of driving management research to align with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and all in a way that is highly attuned to the needs of companies worldwide today.

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My resolution is to not only push our own college to strengthen our alignment with PRME and RRBMs core principles, but also to exhort other business school leaders to do the same in their own colleges and schools. The time is now, the need is acute, and we in the world of business education and research have a tremendous opportunity to make this kind of positive change.

Karolyi will be in a prime position to make this happen  at Cornell as well as PRME. In June of the year, at PRMEs 2023 Global Forum, he was appointed vice president of the groups Board of Directors.

Im really proud to work with PRME because it is an opportunity to work with incredible people  to mobilize change on another level, which is really about changing the face of business education around the world, Karolyi said in June. Its a wonderful opportunity, a wonderful platform, but its an awesome responsibility as well. We have to do it right.

GUT-CHECK TIME

Karolyi was appointed dean of the SC Johnson College of Business in April 2021 after serving in an interim role. Within a year, he had presided over an incredible jump in applications to the schools full-time MBA program, counter to the trend suffered at many of Cornells peers. Overall across the colleges three schools in the professional masters programs, he oversaw a 20% increase in enrollment, including the launch of three new masters programs, two in partnership with eCornell and one with Peking University. Cornell has hired more than 30 new faculty members affiliated with each of the three schools and across all eight of the colleges disciplinary areas since Karolyi took the top job.

But his partial term in office hasnt been all smooth sailing. The disruptions of coronavirus were a major part of Cornells (and everyone elses) reality when Karolyi was named acting dean following the departure of former Dean Kevin Hallock. By the time he officially took the reins in spring 2021, Covid-19 restrictions were already beginning to subside; but their reverberations continued to be felt. In October 2022, the Johnson Graduate School of Management announced the end of its Accelerated MBA program, a move the B-school made to dedicate more resources to another one-year MBA, the Tech MBA based on Cornells Roosevelt Island campus in New York City. The final class of Cornells Accelerated MBA  which like its Tech MBA had shared a place on P&Qs list of the top one-year MBA programs  graduated in spring 2023.

Cornells closure of a major program was gut-check time, Karolyi told Poets&Quants last October. Weve had some wonderful students come through the Accelerated program and have gone on to be able to leverage it for very successful careers. Its wonderful meeting them along the way. But weve never felt that we were able to drive hard enough with that given its mission as it was crafted. We never felt we were able to meet our ambitious goals for it.

COLLABORATIVE, RESPECTFUL & VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

Karolyi received his bachelors in economics from McGill University in 1983, and a masters in economics from the University of Ottawa in 1985. He worked at the Bank of Canada from 1983-85 in its research department, then over the next four years earned his MBA and Ph.D. in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Before he was named acting dean in 2021, Karolyi served as deputy dean and dean of academic affairs of the college. He took the reins of the SC Johnson College just five years after its 2016 launch, which brought together the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration. Bringing three schools together clearly was a situation where we needed to listen, Karolyi says. Those in leadership roles at each school and in the college needed to listen to their own constituencies, our alumni, faculty, staff and students, and to the broader community about the concerns and the opportunities. We needed to hear from our distinguished colleagues in all three schools about what made them tick, what made them successful in their own ways. We have done that, and we are on the move.

Building a sense of community in the college has been one of Karolyis main objectives, and he said hes looking forward to continuing that process.

Thats what energizes me more than anything else about the reappointment, he said. We still have much work to do to build a sense of college. It is better and continues to get better; I sense that, I hear that from my faculty and staff colleagues, from our alumni leaders, and its gratifying to see it come alive.

Andrews leadership has been collaborative, respectful, and visionary, Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff says. He has stepped into the deanship at a pivotal moment in the history of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, fostered excellence in the Cornell Dyson, Nolan and Johnson schools, and has established a clear strategy to support collegewide initiatives. Andrew has the vision and support of the college to continue to enhance its position of one of the worlds leading colleges of business.

DONT MISS PRME, NETWORK OF SUSTAINABILITY-FOCUSED BUSINESS SCHOOLS, PRIMED FOR NEXT CHAPTER and

The post Dean Andrew Karolyi Signs On For Another 5 Years At Cornells SC Johnson College appeared first on Poets&Quants.
On 3 and 4 October 2023, within the framework of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), the Customs Administration of the Netherlands hosted a delegation from the Customs Administration of Serbia (CAS) for a study visit in the area of Risk Management.

This study visit allowed the CAS to learn from the good practices of the Customs Administration of the Netherlands in the implementation and application of risk management in Customs control, best practices in targeting operations, and the use of technology and analytical capabilities.

During the study visit, the CAS delegation visited the National Targeting Center in Rotterdam and the Customs Schiphol Cargo in Amsterdam and gained comprehensive knowledge both in theory and practice on the working method of central risk management at the Dutch Customs, the uniform policy implementation and effective coordination with the regional offices.

The participants observed the practice of risk weighting, assessing and processing risk signals, and progress monitoring of the developments resulting from the signals. The Dutch Customs shared their valuable experience in developing artificial intelligence, auto-detection, and data-driven enforcement.

The WCO and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) wish to convey their deep gratitude to the Customs Administration of the Netherlands for their steadfast support and invaluable collaboration, which played a pivotal role in the remarkable success of this knowledge-sharing initiative.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
From 3 to 6 October 2023, the WCO actively participated in the 2023 FIATA World Congress. The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), a Member of the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), bridges Customs authorities and the freight forwarding industry. The event provided a platform for the WCO to reaffirm its longstanding partnership with FIATA and share valuable insights into Customs, logistics, and international trade practices.

The WCO-FIATA Special Session

The Congress kicked off with a Special Session on 2 October, where the WCO and FIATA highlighted their enduring collaboration.

During the session, FIATA members had the opportunity to delve into the WCO's significant influence on business practices and national policies. The Agenda of the Special Session covered the five following areas within the WCO's purview: i) SAFE Framework of Standards (FoS); ii) Integrity and Anti-Corruption Measures; iii) Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC); iv) Harmonized System (HS); and v) Customs Digitalization.

The WCO speakers addressed a wide spectrum of topics, delivering valuable insights to an engaged audience. Some of the key discussions included the importance of benefits for the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, key factors of the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration, an overview of the RKC and latest updates of the review process of this Convention, the structure of the HS and its amendment process, and a detailed exploration of WCO's digitalization initiatives, including the mapping between the FIATA Bill of Lading (FBL) and the WCO Data Model.

FIATA delegates expressed their appreciation for this enlightening session and conveyed their hopes for sustained collaboration between FIATA and the WCO.

Keynote Address by WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya

On 4 October, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO, delivered a keynote address. Dr. Mikuriya not only acknowledged FIATA's active and constructive role within the WCO PSCG, but also commended their exceptional contributions to the WCO, including their paper titled "What does facilitation mean to the PSCG?".

Dr. Mikuriya addressed the rapidly evolving landscape of logistics, acknowledging the profound impact of technological advancements, the growth of e-commerce, and disruptions within the supply chain. He underscored the pivotal role of logistics in mitigating emissions, reducing energy consumption, and promoting sustainability across the industry.

The Secretary General also discussed how technology can enhance transparency, accelerate processes, and improve accuracy in Customs procedures, ultimately leading to more efficient trade flows. He emphasized the criticality of international standards, such as the HS, RKC and Data Model, in achieving global interoperability and seamless cross-border trade.

The 2023 FIATA World Congress served as a platform for the WCO to strengthen its partnership with FIATA and share valuable insights into the Customs and logistics sectors. These collaborative efforts are expected to drive positive changes in international trade, fostering efficiency, sustainability, and innovation across the industry. The WCO remains committed to its mission of facilitating legitimate trade while ensuring the security and safety of global supply chains.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2023) - Aranjin Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARJN) (the "Company" or "Aranjin Resources") is very pleased to announce an update on the Victory Nickel Project in Mongolia and that it has also entered into agreements to acquire an extensive package of highly prospective copper projects in Australia.

HIGHLIGHTS

Formalize 80% ownership by Aranjin Resources of the Victory Nickel Project in Mongolia.





Additional electromagnetic geophysical surveys being planned to target massive nickel copper sulphides at Victory.





Auger drilling recommencing with the aim of completing geochemical coverage across the Victory intrusive.





Up to 20 additional nickel and copper targets followed up with rock chipping and mapping. Additional Auger drilling programs planned and to shortly commence.





Independent consulting group NEWEXCO appointed to review Victory Nickel and assist with drill targeting.





Agreement reached to acquire an extensive package of highly prospective copper projects in Australia.





Review and drill target planning of Australian Projects ready to start.

Victory Nickel Project - Mongolia

The Company has now formalized its 80% ownership interest in the Victory Nickel Project further to the announcement on February 1, 2022, whereby the Company which sets out the terms for an exploration joint venture (the "Joint Venture") with Lithium ION Energy Ltd ("Lithium ION"). The Joint Venture arrangement consisted of the Company and Lithium ION granting one another reciprocal exploration rights on their respective exploration licenses within Mongolia. Lithium ION and Aranjin granted each other a reciprocal right to explore one another's properties, with Aranjin earning an 80% interest and Lithium ION earning a 20% interest in all base metal projects discovered on ION's properties, and Lithium ION earning an 80% interest and Aranjin earning a 20% interest in all lithium projects discovered on Aranjin's properties, subject to existing royalties.

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Following exploration work by both parties in 2022 and 2023, the parties agreed to formally separate their ownership of the Baavhai Uul project previously wholly owned by Lithium ION to largely mirror the business arrangement set out in the Joint Venture Agreement. The split of the Baavhai Uul license is pending approval by the Mineral Resource and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia. Under the Joint Venture, Aranjin will own 80% of the Victory Nickel project and relinquish rights to the remainder of the license comprising the Baavhai Uul project. Lithium ION will retain a 20% free carried interest in the Victory Nickel Project until commercial production as well as retain all lithium rights to the Victory Nickel Project.

The Company has appointed a leading nickel specialist consulting firm in Australia, NEWEXCO, to assist in reviewing the work completed to date on the Victory nickel project and to plan ongoing work programs including additional electromagnetic geophysical programs and targeting of drill holes. An auger drilling will shortly commence with the intention of completing geochemical coverage across the Victory intrusive which hosts the known nickel copper geochemical anomaly.

Additional follow up of over 20 additional nickel and copper targets has also been completed across the Victory license. Rock chip samples have been collected and sent for analysis. Additional auger geochemical drilling across these anomalies is currently being planned and will commence on completion of the drilling program at the main Victory discovery anomaly.

Australian Copper Project Transaction

The Company has entered into three separate Tenements Interests Purchase and Joint Venture Agreements (the "Tenement Agreements"), dated October 5, 2023, with Metals of Australia Pty Ltd. ("MoA") and also with Western Wood Capital Pty Ltd. ("WWC"), whereby the Corporation will acquire an 80% interest in twelve exploration licences (the "Australian Projects") and enter into unincorporated joint ventures with MoA and WWC to explore the Australian Projects, subject to the terms and conditions of the Tenement Agreements (the "Australian Transaction").

Upon transfer of the tenements interest to the Corporation under the Tenement Agreements, the Corporation will issue an aggregate of 40,000,000 common shares of the Company to MoA and 15,000,000 common shares to WWC, or to a nominee as directed by MoA and WWC, at a deemed issue price of C$0.02 per common share (the "Consideration Shares"), and grant to MoA a 4% net smelter returns royalty in the Bangemall and Gawler projects and to WWC a 3% net smelter returns royalty in the Western Wood project.

A full review of existing technical data has commenced with drilling and geophysical programs currently being planned with the intention of commencing exploration programs in early 2024.

Summary of Australian Assets

Bangemall Project - Western Australia

The Bangemall Project is located 800km north of Perth in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia and consists of five granted exploration licenses. The Bangemall Project covers Proterozoic rocks of the Capricorn Orogen, a belt of Archean to Proterozoic rocks, 1,000km wide and 500km long, between the Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons. The tenements are underlain by sedimentary rocks of the Edmund and Collier Basins, the youngest sediments of the Capricorn Orogen, which host the Abra lead-silver deposit, Western Australia's largest sediment hosted base metal deposit.

MoA is targeting VMS style mineralisation within its tenements, each of which contains targets defined by previous exploration by BHP Group Limited ("BHP"), which held most of the basin in the 1990s. The Bangemall tenements are in a prospective geological and mineralisation setting. Each individual tenement encompasses a target defined by historical exploration work by BHP in the 1990s, which targets remain untested by BHP following a sudden withdrawal from the region and surrender of all tenure and these targets remain to be drill tested.

Work programs to evaluate these targets would include drill testing with at least one drill hole on each target, with some anomalies requiring further refinement prior to drilling by applying a mixture of ground magnetics and fixed loop electromagnetics.

Gawler Project - South Australia

The Gawler Project consists of three exploration licences in South Australia, within the Precambrian Gawler Craton which hosts major base metal deposits at Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill, and Carrapateena.

Two exploration licences are located in the Campoona area of the Eyre Peninsula, approximately 250km NW of Adelaide, within a sequence of sedimentary and meta-igneous rocks. Geological mapping of the Gawler Project area has been undertaken by the SA Geological Survey which provides a useful base map. Basement formations which outcrop in the tenement area include the Mesoproterozoic Blue Range Beds, the Palaeoproterozoic Peter Pan Supersuite, Yadnarie Schist, Warrow Quartzite, Cook Gap Schist, Lower Middleback Jaspilite and Upper Middleback Jaspilite. Approximately 70% of the tenement area has a thin cover of Holocene sands and Pleistocene sands, silts, clays and gravels. Historic geochemistry and drilling completed by Rio Tinto Group and BHP identified numerous base metal anomalisms across the Gawler Project that are interpreted to be highly significant for the Gawler Craton. A high priority gravity target located on a NNE trending structure has been identified and remains to be tested by drilling. Nearby drill holes show significant base metal anomalism. It appears subsequent explorers have not tested this anomaly, and a detailed compilation study is in progress to confirm.

The third Exploration Licence is located in the Mabel Creek area approximately 80km NW of Coober Pedy and 850km NNW of Adelaide. Basement geology comprises the Palaeoproterozoic Coober Pedy Ridge, an ENE trending magnetic block of variable magnetic intensity separating the Mount Woods Inlier to the south-east from the Mabel Creek Inlier to the north. Previous exploration has shown that the area is covered by sedimentary sequences ranging from 40 to 100m deep. The Gawler Project area has only experienced modest levels of prior exploration, yet is ideally situated in the northern extent of the Olympic Dam Cu-Au province, with untested geophysical anomalies already defined and ripe for drilling. The broader area in which EL6764 is located was recently identified by the winner and runner-up of the SA Government "Gawler Challenge" as one of the key prospective areas underexplored for iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) mineralisation. It was also identified as prospective for gold mineralisation of the Challenger Gold deposit style.

In 2012 AngloGold Ashanti Limited covered the area with detailed aeromagnetics identifying four high priority targets. They undertook significant ground exploration on one of the defined targets, the Coronation Bore Prospect, including ground gravity, ground magnetics, and 1,740m of diamond drilling. Three remaining untested gravity/magnetic anomalies on Mable Creek remain prospective for IOCG mineralisation.

Western Wood Project - New South Wales

The Western Wood Project includes four granted exploration licences in the state of New South Wales with two being located in the Broken Hill area and two being located in the Cobar area, both prolific mineral fields.

Exploration license 8551 covers a magnetic anomaly which is hosted in a basement of Early Palaeozoic rocks of the Thompson Orogen, which are covered by Cretaceous sediments of the Eromanga Basin. Regional water bore and stratigraphic drilling indicate depths to basement of 70m to 200m. The shape and intensity of the anomaly suggests a moderately magnetic intrusive body as the source. Cobar style base metal mineralisation is the target.

Exploration license 8552 covers a 5km long oval, NNE trending magnetic anomaly in an area of unconsolidated sand, silt and clay cover up to 100m thick. Basement geology is interpreted to be part of the Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Delamerian Orogen. The shape and intensity of the anomaly suggests a moderately magnetic intrusive body as the source.

Exploration licenses 8553 is located 15km W of the Cobar Goldfield and the CSA Copper Mine within the Devonian Cobar Basin. Rock types are dominated by sandstones and siltstones of the Amphitheatre Group. A gravity anomaly in the NW quadrant of the Licence forms the main target. A gravity survey and geophysical modelling has resulted in the definition of a 1.5 x 1.5km target zone of anomalous density occurring at a depth of 130 - 400m. Rock chip geochemistry (26 samples) over the gravity anomaly, returned weakly anomalous lead and sulphur results in 6 samples. The gravity anomaly is considered a target for Cobar style, structurally controlled base metal  gold mineralisation.

Exploration license 9236 is considered prospective for metasediment hosted Ag-Pb-Zn deposits being located 40km E of the world-class Broken Hill orebodies. Bedrock consists of metamorphic rocks, mostly gneisses, of the Early Proterozoic Willyama Supergroup, with a ferruginous and saprolitic cover about 80m thick. The area has received only modest levels of prior exploration with most explorers focusing their efforts further west near Broken Hill and where mineralised bedrock outcrops or is close to surface. A large area of base metal anomalism associated with a N-S structure has been recorded in RAB drilling by previous explorers.

The Company looks forward to finalizing the Australian Transaction as it continues to build a portfolio of prospective exploration projects across jurisdictions that we know well - Mongolia and Australia are two such jurisdictions where the management team has deep experience. Together with its existing Mongolian projects, the Australian Transaction will mean we now have a broad range of projects under ownership. The Company continues to work towards a dual listing on the ASX in early 2024.

Bayan Under Copper Project- Mongolia

The Company has planned a single drill hole on an interpreted porphyry copper target in the southeast of the licence that has never been drilled. The target is in the centre of a large area of alteration classical to the porphyry copper style and the drill hole is testing an induced polarisation geophysical anomaly. This drill hole was planned to be completed in late 2023 and will now be delayed until early 2024 with the exploration teams efforts and funding focused on the Victory Nickel Project.

Mr. Matthew Wood, Executive Chairman of Aranjin Resources stated, "We are extremely pleased with the company's progress at the Victory Nickel Project and to be able to secure a significant portfolio of exploration licenses in Australia with ready defined drill targets. We are also very pleased to formalize our ownership of the Victory Nickel Project which will be a major focus for the Company in the next 12 months."

Matthew Wood, Executive Chairman of the Company, is a director of both MoA and WWC. As such, MoA and WWC are considered "Non-Arm's Length Parties" of the Company pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). As the vendors of the Australian Projects are Non-Arm's Length Parties of the Company, disinterested shareholder approval is required for the issuance of the Consideration Shares under the Australian Transaction pursuant to subsections 5.14(b) and 5.16(a) of TSXV Policy 5.3 - Acquisitions and Disposition of Non-cash Assets ("Policy 5.3"). In addition to seeking shareholder approval for the issuance of the Consideration Shares, the Company also intends to seek disinterested shareholder approval to ratify the Australian Transaction for evidence of value purposes under section 5.15 of Policy 5.3 at its next annual general and special meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on November 6, 2023. Common shares of the Company held by Mr. Wood or any associates will not be counted for the purposes of the foregoing resolutions.

The Australian Transaction is not a "Fundamental Acquisition" under Policy 5.3 as the Company does not intend to devote 50% of its assets, resources, planned expenditures or management time to the Australian properties over the next 12 month period.

The completion of the Australian Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, receipt of shareholder approvals and TSXV approval.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Enkhtuvshin Khishigsuren, a non-independent Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Disclosure Standards for Mineral Projects.

On behalf of the Board

Matthew Wood

Executive Chairman

Aranjin Resources Ltd.

+976 7732 1914

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Cautionary Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information or statements under applicable securities legislation and rules. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Australian Transaction, any approval thereof by the TSXV or by shareholders of the Company, and any intended exploratory work or exploration targets of the Company on the Australian Projects. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aranjin to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: (i) any inability of Aranjin to satisfy conditions imposed by the TSXV on the Australian Transaction or to obtain TSXV approval of the Australian Transaction for any other reason; (ii) any inability of Aranjin to obtain shareholder approval for the Australian Transaction or issuance of the Consideration Shares; and (iii) any change in the circumstances of the Company, whether internal or external, whether affecting the Company particularly, the Australian Projects particularly, or the general mineral and/or general global markets, which could cause the Company to reconsider and adjust or abandon any exploration work it currently intends for the Australian Projects. Although management of Aranjin has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither party will update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. The parties caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and it does not undertake any obligation to revise and disseminate forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any events.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183460
(Bloomberg) -- Three years after an unprecedented wave of support saw Jacinda Arderns Labour Party re-elected in a landslide, her party is on the brink of losing power.

Most Read from Bloomberg

New Zealanders head to the polls on Oct. 14 to choose between her replacement as prime minister, center-left Labour leader Chris Hipkins, or the center-right opposition leader, former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon.

Theres a lot at stake: the nations five million people are struggling after a year of rapid interest-rate increases while cost-of-living pressures have sparked reports of a rise in crime. About 63% of New Zealanders think their country is on the wrong track, according to a September poll by Freshwater Strategy.

Hipkins has promised to remove the goods and services tax on fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables to ease pressure on household budgets and provide free dental care for people aged under 30. Luxons National Party is promising to tackle crime and deliver tax cuts funded by a levy on foreigners buying property.

Yet campaigning from both sides has struggled to spur anything like the energy of the Jacinda-mania elections of 2017 and 2020. Polls show neither Hipkins or Luxon have cut through with voters like Ardern did, leaving almost a third undecided.

Retiree David Gillespie says the mood is far more subdued than back in 2017, when Ardern first won power.

People were cheering her in the streets, Gillespie said on a recent afternoon in the center of Wellington. Amazing excitement, you could feel it, nationwide. She just had something.

With a population slightly larger than the US state of Alabama, New Zealand has rarely registered in international politics. But during Arderns five years as prime minister, the young leader regularly made headlines around the world.

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Ardern was one of the first world leaders to govern a country while pregnant, taking maternity leave to give birth to her daughter Neve. She was featured on the front pages of Time and Vogue magazines, which referred to her as the anti-Trump. Her resignation at the start of the year made global news  CNN wrote that Ardern like George Washington, knew when to quit.

Other countries and other media from overseas were really looking for Ardern as this bastion of hope for left-wing politics, or this kind of quite cool young woman leader, said Lara Greaves, a political scientist at Victoria University of Wellington. But here, people were getting sick of her.

Her popularity plunged rapidly in the wake of Covid-19, as economic problems began to hit home and political division grew over her governments pandemic response. Before her resignation in January 2023, her party was consistently polling below the National opposition, with a drop in support of more than 20 percentage points from its peak.

Even Arderns successor Hipkins appears to be distancing himself from his former leader. When asked in the first election debate in September which of his predecessors he respected the most, Hipkins mentioned Ardern but also former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark, saying he respected many leaders.

Retail worker Donna Forsman said while she was a supporter of Ardern and her government, there had been some in the country who loathed the former prime minister.

It was shocking actually, Forsman said on her lunch break in Wellington, adding some people thought Ardern was too soft while others begrudged her shutting the country down during the pandemic. The hate that some people had for her was just amazing.

Forsman said without Ardern, she was struggling to get excited about the upcoming election, or either candidate. Its very difficult to choose, she said, adding she was likely to vote for Labour again.

Campaign Trail

At a shopping center in northwest Auckland on Sept. 26, Luxon was greeted warmly if not overly enthusiastically by voters. One mother explained to her son that Luxon is hopefully our next prime minister, while 18-year-old trainee paramedic Kaitlyn Hunt said after meeting him in person she was impressed.

Hunt said she was considering casting her first vote ever for Luxons National Party, saying crime was out of control.

But some voters said that while Labour might still have lost government if Ardern had remained, she likely would have been more persuasive in arguing for another term than Hipkins. Some even said Arderns resignation had changed their vote.

Uber driver Ramadeep Singh said he was leaning toward voting for the National Party due to his concerns over rising crime.

Singh said two businesses owned by his friends and family had been robbed in the past year, one in a ram raid. But as he spoke about his six years living in New Zealand, Singh said he owed a lot to the former prime minister.

I had a great loyalty to Jacinda, he said. If she was still prime minister I would have voted for Labour.

--With assistance from Matthew Brockett, Ainsley Thomson, Tracy Withers and Michael Heath.

(Updates with additional comments on Ardern.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Avemio fair value estimate is 96.98

Avemio's 64.50 share price signals that it might be 33% undervalued

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Avemio AG (DUSE:3D6) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Avemio

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. 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.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 2.16m 4.53m 8.35m 10.8m 12.5m 13.9m 15.1m 16.0m 16.6m 17.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 16.30% Est @ 11.51% Est @ 8.16% Est @ 5.82% Est @ 4.18% Est @ 3.03% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 4.7% 2.1 4.1 7.3 8.9 9.9 10.6 10.9 11.0 11.0 10.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 87m

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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 0.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 4.7%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 17m (1 + 0.4%)  (4.7% 0.4%) = 391m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 391m ( 1 + 4.7%)10= 246m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 333m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 64.5, the company appears quite undervalued at a 33% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

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. 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 Avemio 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 4.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.879. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Avemio

Strength

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Expected to breakeven next year.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for 3D6.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it 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. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Avemio, there are three additional elements you should further examine:

Risks: You should be aware of the 3 warning signs for Avemio we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does 3D6's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German 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.
Today

Mostly sunny and continued chilly; below freezing temps to start the day.

Tonight

Mostly clear and cold; another night of below freezing temperatures.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny skies; a cold start, but a little milder in the afternoon compared to the last few days.
ZINDA JAN, Afghanistan (AP)  Clinging to hope that finding survivors was still possible, Afghan rescuers and villagers kept digging through rubble in western Herat province on Tuesday, three days after one of the deadliest earthquakes in the region left more than 2,000 dead.

Elsewhere in Herat, people were digging graves for loved ones killed in Saturdays 6.3 magnitude quake. On a barren field in the district of Zinda Jan, a bulldozer removed mounds of earth to clear space for a long row of graves.

It is very difficult to find a family member from a destroyed house and a few minutes to later bury him or her in a nearby grave, again under the ground, said Mir Agha, from the city of Herat, who had joined hundreds of volunteers to help the locals.

Across kilometers (miles) of dusty hills, there was little left of villages besides rubble and funerals.

In Naib Rafi, a village that previously had about 2,500 residents, people said that almost no one was still alive besides men who were working outside when the quake struck. Survivors worked all day with excavators to dig long trenches for mass burials.

Janan Sayiq, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban government's national disaster authority, said the quake killed and injured thousands but couldnt provide a breakdown for the casualties. Earlier, Taliban officials said more than 2,000 had died across Herat.

The epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Several of the aftershocks have been strong, including one on Monday that caused residents of the city to rush out of their homes once again.

The United Nations said the Zinda Jan district was the worst-affected area, with 1,294 deaths and 1,688 injuries. In addition, 485 people  191 men and 294 women  are missing. Six schools are also reported to have been destroyed, said the U.N.

Nearly 2,000 houses in 20 villages were destroyed, the Taliban have said. The area hit by the quake has just one government-run hospital.

As winter approaches, the new disaster is likely to make it even harder for people to meet basic needs, such as shelter, food and medicine, aid groups have warned.

It is not clear how much foreign aid has reached Herat since Saturday. The global response has been slow. Much of the world is wary of dealing directly with the Taliban-led government and focused on the deadly escalation between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday.

Pakistan has pledged to send blankets, tents, and medicines, and China is reported to have offered cash and other forms of emergency humanitarian assistance.

Other foreign governments said they will work with aid agencies on the ground to help with rescue and recovery, and Afghans have launched fundraising campaigns.

Authorities in Kabul did not respond to questions about how much aid has arrived from overseas.

In a statement, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies urged the media not to turn away from Afghanistan. Your reporting can bring back attention to Afghanistan and the Afghan peoples untold stories of resilience and need, an IFRC statement said.

Afghanistan needs you  now, more than ever. Please, lets not add forgotten to the long list of tragedies that this resilient nation has already endured, IFRC spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa said in the statement.

The Talibans justice ministry has urged national and international charity foundations, businesses and Afghans to gather aid for the province.

Due to the extent of damages and casualties caused by this incident, a large number of our compatriots in Herat province need urgent humanitarian aid, the ministry said in a statement.

The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team visited the quake-affected region on Monday to deliver immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable and accurate distribution of aid, authorities said.

During his trip, Baradar assured a gathering of officials and elders that the government has mobilized all available resources.

Various ministries and departments are working tirelessly to provide urgent assistance and build shelters for those who have lost their homes, said Baradar. He highlighted their commitment to transparently distributing the collected aid to deserving individuals, including the establishment of a dedicated commission.

Baradar also appealed to international aid institutions and agencies to provide all possible assistance, emphasizing the urgency of their support during this profound tragedy.

The Talibans supreme leader has made no public comments about the quake.

Top U.N officials in Afghanistan also went to Zinda Jan to assess the extent of the damage. In neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food, medicine, tents and blankets.

Vital infrastructure, including bridges, was destroyed and emergency response teams have been deployed to provide humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee said.

More than 35 teams from the military and nonprofit groups are involved in rescue efforts, said Sayiq, from the disaster authority.

Afghans are still reeling from other recent disasters, including the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March that struck much of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, and an earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, flattening stone and mud-brick homes and killing at least 1,000 people.

AP writer Rahim Faiez contributed to this report from Islamabad.
NEW YORK (AP)  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Tuesday called for social media platforms to adopt better content-moderation policies and other fixes, saying modifications need to be made to addictive apps that can harm young people's mental health.

The couple spoke at a panel discussion coordinated by their Archewell Foundation in New York City as part of a second annual mental health awareness festival hosted by a nonprofit called Project Healthy Minds.

Harry and Meghans comments came after hearing from panels featuring a handful of parents who lost children due to mental health challenges tied to social media use. The parents spoke about their loss and how a community that the foundation has created to talk about these issues is helping them find support.

Harry said the foundation has been bringing parents together through Zoom during the past year because many of them didnt have the opportunity to connect with others whove gone through a similar tragedy.

For us, the priority here is to turn pain into purpose, Harry said at the panel, which also featured Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and was moderated by NBC host Carson Daly.

Harry said he and Meghan also want to provide as much support, spotlight and platform for these parents to come together, to heal together, to grieve together and collectively focus on solutions so that no other family anywhere has to go through what theyve been through.

Meghan, who has talked about her own mental health challenges in the past, said the couple is focusing on what they can do behind the scenes to make social media use safer, better and more positive. Without naming names, she said theyve had conversations with tech executives whove said theyve created guardrails around their platforms. But she added parents arent always comfortable navigating these platforms and need better solutions.

People are getting hurt  and people, specifically children, are dying, she said.

In the United Kingdom on Tuesday, Harrys brother, Prince William and his wife Kate also participated in a separate forum to draw awareness to young peoples challenges with mental health. The two launched the next phase of their campaign to support the nations mental health with a call for concrete action to help the next generation.

At the event, Kate gave a speech to young people gathered in the city of Birmingham for a day of workshops and discussions around the issue to mark World Mental Health Day, and told them their goal is to shape fairer, safer, kinder, more equal societies. William joined a public discussion after Kates speech and told the young audience that talking about mental health helps chip away at the stigma related to the issue, but theres a lot more to do.

In New York, Murthy said the burden on parents  and their kids - to figure out rapidly evolving technology can be too much. He said data that shows most young people are struggling with loneliness and 1 in 3 high school girls have seriously considered taking their own lives indicates were in a mental health crisis.

Weve taken too long to act on social media, said Murthy, who earlier this year called for tech companies and lawmakers to take immediate action to protect kids and teens mental health.

Meanwhile, Harry issued a call for social companies: Please stop sending children content you wouldnt want your own children to see, he said. I think it's a very simple request and its an easy fix.

The event comes as the couple is stepping up their philanthropic efforts to draw attention to issues they want to highlight. Earlier in the day, the two stopped by The Marcy Lab School in Brookyln, which runs a fellowship program geared toward students who want to pursue a purpose-driven career in technology.

During their last public appearance in New York City, the couple set off alarms when they claimed they had been dangerously pursued by paparazzi in a near catastrophic car chase in Manhattan. That led New York City Mayor Eric Adams to condemn the paparazzi chasing them as reckless and irresponsible.
BERKS COUNTY, Pa.  The impact is being felt in Berks County as fighting between Israel and Hamas wages on.

"We have been working really hard to support our friends and family in Israel, support our Jewish community," said Amanda Hornberger with the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks.

She said the Federation has a lot of strong ties to Israel. Its former executive director and other former colleagues are there.

"I think this was an act of war, and it was terrorist, and we have to do everything we can to support the stage of Israel at this time," said Hornberger.

On Facebook, Republican Congressman Dan Meuser said, in part, "This attack on Israel must be met with strong retaliation, with the goal of destroying Hamas and bringing peace to Gaza and the region."

Democratic Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan said, in part, "I stand with the United States and President Biden in supporting our ally, Israel, who was attacked by land, air, and sea without provocation."

Democratic Congresswoman Madeleine Dean wrote she is deeply concerned about the attack, saying, in part ,"This provocation will hurt Israelis and Palestinians alike  worsening an already tense conflict. I condemn the violence and pray for the entire region."

The Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus, which is co-chaired by Democratic state Sen. Judy Schwank said, in part, "Israel has a right to defend itself, and our hearts go out to the people of Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces as they fight to secure their homeland."

The Jewish Federation of Reading Berks will hold a vigil on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Reform Congregation Oheb Shalom in Wyomissing.

"We're going to gather together, show our support, say some prayers, sing some songs, so we're hoping our community partners of any faith will join us and really pray for an end to the war, peace for the region and peace for the war," said Hornberger.

The Islamic Center of Reading's president, Elsayed Elmarzouky, said in a statement that he is deeply concerned about the escalations in violence between Israel and Palestine.

Elmarzouky's statement said, in part, "It is my sincere hope that the international community will come together to support efforts for peace in the region and to ensure the protection and rights of all those affected by the conflict."
WYOMISSING, Pa. - Caught off guard, but with some significant historical context.

"I think part of the surprise factor on Saturday was not only was it Shabbat, but it was also Simchat Torah, which is also a pretty important holiday on the Jewish calendar. It was 50 years to the date on the English calendar of the Yom Kippur war, explained Amanda Hornberger with the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks.

Now, another act of violence is added to the history books, and a horrific record is broken.

There's a lot of fear, there's a lot of stress around Israel being attacked again. We found out yesterday that it was the highest day of death for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and I think that really says something about the impact, Hornberger added.

As those at the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks monitor the situation and safety of those with Berks ties still in Israel, they want to remind people that the feelings behind these actions are not novel.

"Anti-Semitism isn't new. Terrorists in this region isn't new. We just support Israel's right to defend itself as a state. And I think that whatever the American people can do during this time is really important, said Hornberger.

The federation is working with a number of groups, including the Islamic Center and the Hispanic Center, to organize a vigil in solidarity on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom and Kesher Zion Synagogue, located at Address is 555 Warwick Dr., Wyomissing.

"We're gonna gather together, show our support, say some prayers, sing some songs. So we're hoping our community partners of any faith will join us and really pray for an end to the war, peace for the region and peace for the war, Hornberger said.
MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP, Pa.- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Transportation secretaries met with local legislators Tuesday to tour parts of Muhlenberg, Alsace and Lower Alsace Townships affected by significant flooding.

"We have so much water coming from up on the mountain and coming down, we've got to find a way that it stays in the creek beds or a way that the flow stays away from the owners' houses here," said PA Rep. Mark Rozzi, (D) 126th District.

Officials visited several areas affected by floods to look at possible solutions to prevent continued significant flooding and its devastating aftermath.

"Once the creek crested, we had water all the way down here like a river," said Luigi Candelori, owner of Monte Lauro restaurant on Mt. Laurel Road in Muhlenberg Township.

Candelori, along with many of his neighbors, dealt with major losses due to flooding. He says something needs to be done about the issues with the waterways in the area.

"It's not just one thing that's causing this problem," said Candelori. "It's the development up the road. It's also the antiquated sewer systems that probably aren't used to taking this amount of water. It's the increase in storms that we're dealing with and it's the decay of the creeks due to just neglect."

Rozzi says the information gathering session is important and will help answer a lot of questions, hopefully leading to a path forward.

"I think having part of the history was important for us about where these rivers were coming from and how actually some of them have changed over time and how some of them may have been shut off and merged into other creeks," said Rozzi.

"In Mt. Laurel, we're dealing with the residents and businesses. Over in Antietam we've got to figure out a way to protect that area if we're going to end up rebuilding a school, and if we don't, the roads in that area and the residents."
Many of us grew up observing the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. We learned in school how Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. As time has gone on, though, we've learned that was not the full story.

In recent years, more states have adapted the term, "Indigenous Peoples' Day" to honor the Native Americans who already called America home before Columbus set foot on the land. In 2021, President Joseph Biden made it an official holiday.

"It's a really important change to make a shift that we need to make in our narrative because we need to understand a different story of America's people and who's been here and who settled here," said Amanda Funk , the executive director for the Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge in Reading.

She says it's important people are open to learning more about Native Americans, and Indigenous Peoples' Day is a start.

She says there are many indigenous people living in the Berks area.

"According to our 2020 census, we have over 9,000 indigenous people in Berks County," said Funk.

She knows changing the holiday's name and focus will be difficult for some, but it means a lot to others.

"As a community, if we can all just learn to see indigenous people, value Indigenous Peoples' Day as an alternative to Columbus Day," Funk said, "it really will do a lot in terms of healing our community."
(Bloomberg) -- Birkenstock Holding Plc and its private equity owner priced shares in the footwear makers initial public offering toward the middle of a marketed range to raise $1.48 billion.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a fourth big test of the US IPO market in a month, the German company and L Catterton sold about 32 million shares on Tuesday for $46 each after marketing them for $44 to $49, according to a statement.

At the IPO price, Birkenstock has a market value of $8.64 billion based on its filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Including shares reserved for executives, directors and employees, the company has a diluted value of about $9.33 billion.

Birkenstock was selling 10.8 million of the shares in the IPO, while L Catterton was offering 21.5 million and will continue to own about 83% of the stock and control the company, according to the filings.

Billionaire LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnaults family holding company, which has already invested in Birkenstock, may buy as much as $325 million of shares. The Norwegian sovereign fund and T. Rowe Price Group Inc. veteran Henry Ellenbogens Durable Capital Partners LP have expressed interest in buying as much as $300 million of stock in aggregate, according to the filing.

As much as 8% of the shares in the listing have been set aside for employees at the IPO price, according to the filings.

The offering is being led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley. Birkenstock shares are expected to begin trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BIRK.

Arm, Instacart

The IPO comes after the best month for US listings since January 2022, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. UK chip designer Arm Holdings Plc, backed by SoftBank Group Corp., raised $5.23 billion including so-called greenshoe shares in September, followed by and grocery delivery startup Instacart at $660 million and marketing and data automation provider Klaviyo Inc. with a $576 million IPO.

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Arms shares have gained a modest 9.2% from their IPO price, while Instacart is trading 10% below it offer price. Klaviyo has fared the best of the cadre but even after a 22.5% jump in its trading debut, its IPO investors have seen a return of 16%.

The mixed performance by those three have sharpened the focus on Birkenstock as dozens of startups that have been eying the public market decide whether to move next or keep waiting. Those companies include an array of diverse businesses including activewear brand Vuori Inc., weight-loss drugmaker Carmot Therapeutics and GameChange Solar, whose backers include a Koch Industries affiliate, among other candidates, Bloomberg News has reported.

Unlike many of those IPO candidates, Birkenstock is profitable, according to its filings. The successor company had net profit of 103 million ($109 million) on revenue of 1.12 billion for the nine months ended June 30, compared with 129 million on revenue of 925 million for the same period a year earlier.

Birkenstock plans to use proceeds from the offering to repay debt.

Fashion Collaborations

Founded nearly 250 years ago, Birkenstocks sandals have been sold in the US since 1966 and are today worn by preppies and hippies alike. The company has become a high-fashion brand, launching collaborations with luxury names such as Dior, Manolo Blahnik and Valentino, and spawning variants from labels including Celine and Givenchy.

Birkenstocks sales have been boosted of late by the blockbuster Barbie movie, which stars Margot Robbie in the title role donning a pair of pink Birkenstocks in one scene.

Birkenstocks IPO comes more than two years after L Catterton and Arnaults family investment company acquired a majority stake in the business at a valuation of about 4 billion. Since then, Birkenstock has been investing heavily in building out its production sites in Germany, including a new 120 million factory in Pasewalk, a town north of Berlin.

--With assistance from Swetha Gopinath and Gillian Tan.

(Updates with statement in second paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - More is expected to be heard Tuesday night on plans to beef up security at public schools in Allentown.

District and city officials are holding a forum to hear from parents and the community about what safety measures they'd like in place.

It comes after two students were arrested in the past two years for bringing a gun into William Allen High School.

The most recent incident happened late last month.

Tuesday night's meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at William Allen.
Weather Alert

Bulletin: ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM EDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, northern and southern Delaware, northeast Maryland, central, northern, northwest and southern New Jersey and east central and southeast Pennsylvania. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing. &&

Info:

Type: Freeze Warning

start_time_local: 2023-11-02T00:00:00-04:00

end_time_local: 2023-11-02T10:00:00-04:00

county_name:

state: NJ

headline: Freeze Warning from THU 12:00 AM EDT until THU 10:00 AM EDT

county_fips:

category: Met

url:

urgency: Expected

severity: Moderate

certainty: Likely

geographicname: Warren County

state_name: New Jersey
L. SAUCON TWP., Pa.  A Northampton County judge has issued an order restricting potential deforestation near the Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township, attorney Gary Asteak told 69 News on Tuesday.

According to Asteak, the judge's order prevents the landfill's developers from cutting any live trees or conducting construction activity until permits have been issued. This "could be years down the road," Asteak noted.

The order was in response to a lawsuit filed by objectors to the landfill's expansion  which the Lower Saucon Township Board of Supervisors paved the way for by passing a controversial rezoning plan in August.

The order was issued at a hearing on a preliminary injunction request, according to Asteak.

Asteak says the objectors were afraid the developers would clearcut the hill and deforest the land. The order requires them to give 30 days notice before they cut down any live trees, which Asteak says will prevent that.
Bethlehem Township's proposed 2024 budget will go before the public and the Board of Commissioners on Monday, Oct. 16.



Last year, Township Manager Doug Bruce presented a 2023 spending plan that kept the real estate tax millage at 7.59, with an extra fire tax of 0.15 mill for a total of 7.74 mills. Each mill equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed property value.



Projected revenue for the year was $20.2 million.



In his 2023 budget memo, Bruce noted volatility in recent budgets related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bethlehem Township received $1.25 million in federal pandemic-relief payments in 2021 and 2022.



Those American Rescue Plan payments are done. Bruce's 2023 memo also notes what he warned of years earlier: "This is the stark financial picture of Bethlehem Township ... a mature, nearly built-out municipality where annual revenues have not quite been keeping up with annual expenses for the better part of a decade."



The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16, at the township municipal building, 4225 Easton Ave. The agenda and a link to the meeting via Zoom will be available on the township website.



The first budget hearing will be held the next evening, at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the township building. It will also be available on Zoom. The second budget hearing will be Oct. 26, and the third and last will be held Nov. 2.
EMMAUS, Pa.  The East Penn School District Board of Directors received a presentation on proposed new and revised curriculum changes Monday night.

Michael Mihalik, supervisor of secondary STEM curriculum, told directors there will be nine total changes involving four different academic departments.

Two of those changes involve the business department. One of those two revisions calls for reducing the Personal Financial Management class from one credit to a .5 credit.

The change will allow more students to take the class, Mihalik said.

The personal financial management class is one of the more popular electives at Emmaus High School, and provides students an opportunity to obtain dual credits at Lehigh Carbon Community College. The course, which is centered around creating and operating a personal budget, is open to students in grades 10 through 12.

"We do feel the pros outweigh the cons in this one," Mihalik said of the credit reduction. "...To be honest, if this is something we realize there is more out there we should be teaching our kids, then that could be a new course."

A new course in the art department, called Foundations of Art, will offer a half-credit elective for students in grades 9 through 12.

Another change involved a new course on stage design in the technical education department, while the other five changes involved mathematics.

Four mathematics classes  Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Precalculus College Preparatory, Calculus College Preparatory and Advanced Topics  will all come with the added dual credit designation with LCCC.

The district's Math Analysis class will be replaced by Intermediate Algebra, thus allowing students to enter community college without having to pay to take remedial math courses.

Employment contract

In other news, directors approved a renewal employment contract for an assistant superintendent.

The five-year pact, with Douglas Povilaitis, begins Nov. 12 and runs through Nov. 11, 2028. In year one of the deal pro-rated to July 1, 2023, Povilaitis will receive a $168,550 annual salary. Thereafter, compensation will be based on performance evaluation with an imposed 5% adjustment cap. Povilaitis has served in this capacity with the district since Nov. 2018.

District facilities

Finally, the board granted permission for three organizations to use district facilities.

Science Explorers will be permitted to use the art room at Willow Lane Elementary School through Jan. 31, 2024 for its after-school science club. The Fields at Indian Creek Community Association will utilize the cafeteria Nov. 15 at Emmaus High School for its association meeting, and the Child Evangelism Fellowship's will rent the multipurpose room at Shoemaker Elementary School on Thursdays to hold its Good News Club through Feb. 22, 2024.
We're hearing from a Lehigh Valley journalist who is in Israel right now.

Harry Fisher worked for years at the Morning Call. He was visiting his daughter in the Israeli town of Bet Shemesh last Saturday when the Hamas attack began.

"I looked up ahead and I was like wait a minute, those sonic booms I was hearing were the Iron Dome being fired off. So that's indeed what it was, and I saw a total of about five of those rockets being intercepted by the Iron Dome in the course of a few hours," said Fisher.

Bet Shemesh is not right next to Gaza, but it's close enough to be in the range of rockets.

"Where I am, which is around 30 aeronautical miles from Gaza, you have a total of about 90 seconds to get into shelter," said Fisher.

So Fisher said his family members are stocking their shelter to be ready in case there's another attack.

"My daughter has a built-in bomb shelter in her house, her apartment, and we are preparing that, all the kind of necessities that should be in there, God forbid we would be stuck there for a few days," Fisher said.

Fisher said the airline he bought tickets on to fly home is not operating in Israel, so right now he's stuck trying to find another option to eventually get back to the states.

"My wife and I are right now actually in the middle of discussing and processing what the best possible action would be in terms of if we would leave, when we would leave, how we would leave, if we should leave. All those questions," said Fisher.

In the meantime, he's worried about what could happen in the coming days.

"The reality is, if the war escalates, all bets are off about what is possible and what's not possible," said Fisher.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - There was a packed house at Lehigh University Monday night - a large crowd of people who are supporting Israel as the country wages war with Hamas.

More than 100 students - members of the Jewish community - gathered to pray and to share the grief and anger they feel because of the attack by the terrorist group.

Roughly 1,000 Jewish students attend Lehigh University currently.

They say they're hurting, and they're angry. Many have relatives, friends over in Israel, who they fear for. Members of the Lehigh University Jewish community say it's a tremendously dark time for who they call their brothers and sisters who live in Israel.

"I have lots of family, we have friends, and we have colleagues, so yeah, it's been a very tough 72 hours," said Rabbi Zalman Greenberg, cofounder of Chabad at Lehigh University.

It's why Chabad at Lehigh University held a gathering for the Jewish community.

"I was talking to my son last night, and he was like, 'you know, I have some friends who are probably going to die in this conflict.' And that's just like, you know, hits me right here, because he's 24," said Director of Jewish Student Life, Steve Nathan.

"It's horrible. It's inhumane, that people would be taking children or elderly people, and just taking them, abducting them from their homes and bringing them and beating them and torturing them," said Dit Greenberg, cofounder of Chabad at Lehigh University.

It's an unprecedented attack on the country, that many students visited just over this past summer, by the militant group, Hamas.

"I walked there as a free woman and a free proud Jewish woman. I felt safe. It felt like a dream there. This dream of peaceful coexistence for Jews is a battle we've been fighting for years. What you're seeing on the news is a nightmare," explained Rebecca Weissman, who spoke on behalf of Tamid at Lehigh.

"It really just kind of gives you a whole other perspective of what life is over there for kids of similar age of us, because they have mandatory service in the IDF, which we don't have in the United States," explained Isaac Curley, a junior and president of Chabad at Lehigh University. "They face conflicts unlike anything that we could ever even imagine as reality."

But, amid the dark reality, students say there's light, unity and community.

"That community runs strong. As long as that's not killed, we continue to win wars," added Weissman.

How can people help?

People say the best ways are to send positive thoughts, to condemn the attack and to donate to legitimate groups providing food or supporting Israel's military.

That includes the American Red Cross of Israel. There's also the Israel Emergency Relief Fund.

Chabad at Lehigh University also shared seven things that can be done to help.
L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa - Members of Congress are standing in solidarity with Mack Trucks workers.

Union workers walked off the job Monday morning, after rejecting a tentative agreement with the truck maker. Just two days into the strike, several lawmakers from Pennsylvania are joining the picket line, including Sen. John Fetterman.

"This makes my third, my third UAW line, where I've showed up right here in the product of UAW workmanship, said Fetterman.

Nearly 4,000 Mack Trucks workers throughout Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland are on strike. It comes after 73% of UAW workers voted against the company's tentative agreement. That number includes 2,300 workers throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Fetterman visited the local UAW Union Hall, then walked the picket line on Tuesday.

Joining him was Rep. Susan Wild,

"I do feel that it's important for the workers to feel they've been heard and that their concerns are addressed, she explained.

Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie also made an appearance.

"Advocating for yourselves, advocating for a collective bargaining agreement that you feel is fair and just for the work that you're putting in, said Mackenzie. [I] Just wanted to stop by and show my support, give you guys some snacks today."

Appreciate it, said the UAW workers outside of the Mack Truck Plant in Lower Macungie Township. Thank you.

"I will leave this to you, said Mackenzie handing a worker a bag of goods. The UAW workers thanked him over and over for the support.

"I am inspired by all of you being able to stand up to these gigantic corporate interests like that, said Fetterman.

Back in 2019, Mack Trucks workers were on strike around two weeks. Congresswoman Wild said that she hopes it won't last that long this time around.

The workers told 69 News they would be on the picket line until roughly 6 p.m. Tuesday before calling it a day.

The timeframe of how long the strike will continue remains unknown at this point.

"I want to make sure that these people are able to stay here in our community where they, you know, born and raised and lived, and that they're able to, to work at Mack, said Wild.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Allentown Police and the District Attorney's Office say an arrest has been made in shooting death of an 18-year-old. Officials say the man called 911 himself, but told authorities the victim shot herself.

A media release writes that Ethan Bastien, 21, of Allentown, is charged with criminal homicide, a felony of the first degree.

The shooting happened just before 5:40 a.m. at a home in the 2000 block of W. Green St. in Allentown on Oct. 2.

Bastien is accused of shooting and killing 18-year-old Sian Cartagena.

Police say on Oct. 2 Allentown Police responded to W. Green St. for a report of an 18-year-old woman who, according to a caller, took a gun and shot herself in the head.

The 911 caller was identified as Bastien.

Cartagena was found unconscious on a mattress in a bedroom on the second floor. She was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead on Oct. 4.

An autopsy was conducted on Oct. 9 and found the cause of death to be a gunshot wound. The Lehigh County Coroner ruled the manner of death a homicide.

The investigation revealed that Cartagena suffered one gunshot wound to the head and one shell casing was found at the scene.

At the time of the shooting, Bastien was the only other person present in the house, police say.

Bastien has been behind bars since Oct. 2 when he was charged with attempted homicide. The attempted homicide charge has been upgraded to criminal homicide.

Bastien is being held without bail in Lehigh County Jail.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Many people in the Lehigh Valley are directly impacted by the violence in the Middle East.

That includes a rabbi with family members in Israel. Rabbi Yaacov Halperin at Chabad Lubavitch of the Lehigh Valley tells us he was abstaining from using technology during the holiday of Simchat Torah, so he was blindsided by the news of an attack in Israel.

"I received the news about this at 5:30 in the morning on Sunday morning when a neighbor from the Jewish community knocked on my door," said Rabbi Halperin.

Rabbi Halperin said, in the past 24 hours, he's spoken to people all over the country and the globe who are worried about their family.

"This was not an attack on the State of Israel. This was an attack of Jews all over the world," said Rabbi Halperin.

Rabbi Halperin himself is worried for the safety of his own family members.

"My daughter is actually calling me every half hour, if not less, and video, WhatsApp, Facetime every time there is a missile, sirens sent to Jerusalem," said Rabbi Halperin.

Some of his relatives are even involved in Israel's military response.

"My nephew that serves in the IDF that was called to the front lines was and is fighting right now fighting in Gaza for the safety of the people," said Rabbi Halperin.

Since the attack, many have pledged their support for the Jewish community, including Congresswoman Susan Wild, who said in a statement "The United States must do everything possible to stand firm with our ally Israel and its right to defend itself and its people."

A professor at Lehigh University tells us responses like that are almost unanimous, because he believes the actions of Hamas are uniquely barbaric.

"This is not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, like between Israel and the Palestinian Authority who behave in a much, typically behave in a much more responsible manner. This was a slaughter," said International Relations Professor Norrin Ripsman.

Rabbi Halperin said his synagogue is doing what it can to help bring that slaughter to an end.

"We launched an emergency fund to help the IDF in Israel, the soldiers in Israel, the families that lost their loved ones, and also in support of helping the families of those that were abducted," said Rabbi Halperin.

Rabbi Halperin tells us there will be a prayer vigil at the Jewish Community Center in Allentown Tuesday at 7 p.m. He said all are welcome to attend.
Amazon Saudi Arabia recently hosted its annual Seller Summit in Riyadh, showcasing a suite of cutting-edge tools and services designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Saudi Arabia.

These innovations are tailored to help SMBs reach millions of online customers and drive accelerated business growth, just in time for the busy end-of-year shopping season, with the White Friday sale, the biggest sale of the year on Amazon.sa, around the corner.

The event brought together hundreds of Saudi sellers for immersive master classes to test and explore Amazons diverse solutions that simplify the selling partner journey from product listing, advertising and brand building, to shipping and fulfillment.

Arabic mobile seller app

To further accelerate the growth of local sellers, Amazon showcased its enhanced Arabic mobile seller app, making it more accessible and convenient for local businesses to manage their online stores from anywhere, in their language of choice.

Participants at the Saudi Seller Summit heard directly from senior leaders and subject matter experts about leveraging Amazons latest capabilities to reach more customers, meet growth goals and drive success.

Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President of Amazon Middle East and North Africa, said: At Amazon, our selling partners are a fundamental part of our customer-centric model, helping us offer what customers want  vast selection of millions of products across over 30 categories, at great prices.

We also recognise the contribution of local businesses and SMBs to a countrys economic growth, diversification and job creation. Our annual Saudi Seller Summit delivers tailored solutions that address the needs of Saudi sellers, who are eager to be a part of the kingdoms Vision towards a digital economy.

Award winners

The Saudi Seller Summit celebrated the growth and success of sixteen independent selling partners who excelled over the past year. Award winners were recognized for their performance related to customer satisfaction, delivery speed, and use of Amazon seller tools, among other categories.

Karim Ghandour, Head of Marketplace for Amazon Saudi Arabia, said: We continue to work closely with our local selling partners to empower them for success through operational and strategic recommendations leveraging our local market expertise. The Saudi Seller Summit is organized every year ahead of the White Friday sale to ensure our selling partners are equipped to maximise their success such as boosting sales and acquiring new customers, during Saudi Arabias busiest shopping season. Our end-to-end advertising, brand-building and account management tools, supported by our shipping and fulfillment capabilities make it easier for our selling partners to reach millions of customers on Amazon.sa.

In addition to learning from Amazon experts, Saudi Arabias SMBs also had the opportunity to network among peers, exchange knowledge and share success stories.

Collective success

Nabegh Alzaiter, an independent selling partner on Amazon.sa, said: "I look forward to Amazons Seller Summit every year not only to hear from Amazon, but also to connect with the Saudi seller community and celebrate our collective success. Moreover, the solutions that are showcased each year demonstrate just how closely Amazon is listening to its selling partners and how committed the company is to solving for our unique challenges."

Since the launch of Amazon.sa in 2020, the company has continued to invest in Saudi Arabias growing SMB sector, providing logistics support, tools, services, programmes, and teams to help sellers get started, build their brands, and leverage Amazons scale to reach more customers.

This year, the company launched Global Registration, a service that opens doors for Saudi sellers, connecting them with hundreds of millions of customers worldwide through a single registration, expanding horizons and boosting revenue potential. Globally, Amazon continues to work with millions of sellers as they continue to be an integral part of the customer offering.--TradeArabia News Service
If you buy and hold a stock for many years, you'd hope to be making a profit. Furthermore, you'd generally like to see the share price rise faster than the market. Unfortunately for shareholders, while the BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) share price is up 51% in the last five years, that's less than the market return. However, if you include the dividends then the return is market beating. Zooming in, the stock is up a respectable 18% in the last year.

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 BlackRock

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During five years of share price growth, BlackRock achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 0.7% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 9% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for BlackRock the TSR over the last 5 years was 72%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

BlackRock shareholders have received returns of 21% over twelve months (even including dividends), which isn't far from the general market return. Most would be happy with a gain, and it helps that the year's return is actually better than the average return over five years, which was 11%. It is possible that management foresight will bring growth well into the future, even if the share price slows down. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with BlackRock .

We will like BlackRock better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American 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.
LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. - U.S. Senator John Fetterman and Rep. Susan Wild are joining a strike in Lower Macungie on Tuesday.

Workers walked off the job at 7 a.m. on Monday.

Thousands of Mack Trucks workers are on strike in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland, after 73% of UAW workers voted to reject a tentative agreement with the company, including 2,300 workers in the Lehigh Valley.

Fetterman is expected to walk the picket line on Tuesday to speaking with workers after visiting the local UAW Union Hall.

This is the third time Fetterman has joined striking workers.

Rep. Susan Wild, covering Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, spoke with 69 News on Tuesday. The 7th congressional district covers Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Bangor.

Wild says she is joining the strike to support both the workers and Mack Trucks.

"I think Mack understands that their workers are the backbone of this fabulous American made product that they produce, and I do really believe that they are all going to negotiate in good faith," said Wild. "I hope this resolution comes together quickly. In 2019 it took a couple of weeks, I hope it is ever faster than that."

The last time Mack Trucks workers went on strike was 2019. That strike lasted around two weeks.
HARRISBURG, Pa. - State leaders are reminder Pennsylvanian's that the deadline to register to vote is approaching.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt is reminding eligible Pennsylvanians that the Oct. 23 deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 7 municipal election is only two weeks away.

Voting is the most fundamental way to participate in our democracy, Schmidt said. But you cant vote if youre not registered. I urge every eligible Pennsylvanian who isnt yet registered to get registered by Oct. 23.

To be eligible to vote, an individual must be:

A U.S. citizen for at least 30 days before the election

A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which the individual plans to register and vote for at least 30 days before the election

At least 18 years old on the day of the election

Schmidt encouraged Pennsylvanians to use the Online Voter Registration (OVR) system, which is a fast and convenient way to register to vote.

In addition to registering through the OVR system, eligible voters can register to vote by mail or apply in person at:

A county voter registration office

County assistance offices

Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program offices

Armed Forces recruitment centers

County clerk of orphans courts or marriage license offices

Area agencies on aging

County mental health and intellectual disabilities offices

Student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education

Offices of special education in high schools

Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers

Department of Transportation (PennDOT) driver and photo license centers

New this fall at all PennDOT driver and photo license centers is a form of automatic voter registration, which provides eligible Pennsylvanians with a convenient way to apply to register to vote when they obtain a new driver's license or ID card or renew their existing identification.

The Shapiro Administration launched the automatic registration initiative as part of its continued commitment to ensuring free, fair, and secure elections.

Regardless of which way eligible Pennsylvanians choose to register, county elections offices must receive their voter registration application by 5 p.m. on Oct. 23.

Registered voters also can request a mail-in or, if applicable, an absentee ballot and vote from home.

Voters who wish to vote by mail-in or absentee ballot must apply by 5 p.m. Oct. 31.

The deadline for county boards of elections to receive mail-in and absentee ballots is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. Voted mail ballots received after that time do not count, even if they are postmarked before the deadline.

Voters who prefer to vote in person on Election Day can find their polling place on vote.pa.gov.

Eligible voters will have the opportunity to choose candidates in the following races:
L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa.  Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) walked the picket line Tuesday with striking Mack Trucks workers in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.

Fetterman's appearance comes one day after Mack Trucks workers represented by the United Auto Workers union rejected a tentative agreement with the company and went on strike.

This is the third time Fetterman has joined striking UAW members as nationwide auto industry strikes continue. He walked the picket line with striking Ford workers in Michigan last month, as well as with General Motors workers in Langhorne, Pa., last week.

"I proudly stand in solidarity with the striking UAW workers with MACK Trucks across Pennsylvania and this country, said Fetterman.

"The union way of life is sacred, it built Pennsylvania and this country. As long as these workers walk the picket line, I will have their backs," Fetterman added.

Fetterman was joined on the picket line by Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), who spoke with 69 News on Tuesday.

In a statement, Mack President Stephen Roy said he was "surprised and disappointed" by the strike, which he called "unnecessary," adding that the tentative agreement "was endorsed by both the International UAW and the UAW Mack Truck Council."

Meantime, UAW President Shawn Fain said he was "inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal."
HARRISBURG, Pa.  Officials and agencies in Pennsylvania are urging motorists to drive safely and responsibly for "Put the Brakes on Fatalities" Day on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The announcement comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC).

According to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Pennsylvania is one of 21 states projected to have more traffic fatalities in 2023 than 2022.

The data projects a 6% increase in fatalities this year, a 4% decrease from 2021 to 2022.

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll noted that, while Pennsylvania is not alone in seeing fatality increases this year, that shouldn't make it acceptable.

"We are asking all motorists to help us put the brakes on fatalities," Caroll said. "Pay attention when behind the wheel, slow down, buckle up, and never drive impaired."

Echoing this sentiment, PSP Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris called on the public to make highway safety a top priority.

"We urge drivers to limit distractions and slow down," Paris said. "The motoring public must make highway safety a priority to reduce the number of crashes on Pennsylvanias roadways."
POTTSVILLE, Pa.  The folks at D.G. Yuengling & Son know all about operating fast-moving production lines.

On Tuesday, the Pottsville brewery's employees joined Debbie Yuengling, the company's employee engagement and culture manager, in assembling care kits for U.S. troops deployed overseas.

The initiative was part of Yuengling's Lagers for Heroes program and the company's ongoing support of the military community through Operation Gratitude.

Each package contains a number of essentials, including Chapstick, toothpaste and mouthwash, as well as some Yuengling swag.

Operation Gratitude is a nationwide nonprofit that supports military members, veterans, and first responders. It has distributed more than 3.8 million packages since its founding 20 years ago.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - A Philadelphia man is under arrest after authorities say he used his position as a correctional officer to smuggle drugs and other contraband into Chester County Prison.

The Chester County District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday the arrest of 27-year-old Antoine Williams of Philadelphia.

Williams is charged with eight felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, eight counts of dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity and related offenses.

The defendant was hired as correctional officer to uphold the law and keep order in the prison, but he completely violated his position of authority. No one is above the law," said Chester County District Attorney Deborah Ryan. "My office will hold him accountable for his unlawful actions. We thank the Chester County Prison and the Chester County Detectives for their investigation into this egregious violation.

Authorities say in June, an inmate at Chester County Prison informed a correctional officer that Williams had been bringing drugs into the prison by hiding them in small trash bag rolls. He said that his former cell mate received the drug Suboxone from Williams and in return, the defendant was paid via a cash app by another person.

Another inmate advised authorities that Willaims allegedly distributed Suboxone, tobacco and K-2 to inmates on the prison's L-block by placing the drugs in a glove or small dark trash bags.

Prison procedures led to the discovery of the distribution of illegal substances and as soon as it was confirmed, staff gathered information on how it could have entered the prison," stated acting warden Howard Holland. "That information was immediately turned over to the Chester County Detectives for investigation. I am proud of the team here at the prison for acting quickly on this matter.

On June 30, detectives reviewing prison security videos allege that Williams was observed in the office area with what appeared to be a roll of toilet paper and trash bags.

Later in the video, authorities say the suspect was seen placing the roll of trash bags on cell bars on L-block.

Investigators say from June 5 to June 23, there were numerous cash app payments made between the inmate's relative and associates of Williams, who would then send the payments, ranging from $50.00 to $400.00, to the suspect.

Williams is free on $150,000 unsecured bail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 18.
LOWER MAKEFIELD TWP., Pa - Police in Bucks Co. are asking for help identifying the suspect in a reported vehicle theft.

The Lower Makefield Police Detective Division is attempting to identify the pictured male who is accused of taking a vehicle from a driveway in the 200 block of Aspen Road in Yardley.

The vehicle is described as a 2009 Honda Pilot with PA Reg. HPF5323. It was taken on Oct. 5 around 2 a.m.

The depicted is also thought to be involved in several theft from vehicles/credit fraud around the same time frame and area.

Police provided footage taken from a 7-11 store located at 1517 Pennington Road in Ewing, NJ. The suspect is captured on surveillance video using credit cards stolen from a vehicle in 200 block of Yellow Springs Court in Yardley.

Any who can identify the male suspect is asked to contact assigned Detective Rich Meehl at 267-274-1163 or email: richm@lmt.org.
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. - Police in Hackettstown say a 67-year-old man from Florida has died from injuries sustained during a pedestrian accident in September.

Police say the accident happened on Sept. 21 near the 200 block of Mountain Avenue.

A media release reports that Michael Russo, 67 of Wildwood, FL, was struck by a motor vehicle.

He was flown to Morristown Medical Center and died from his injuries October 7.

Investigators say a Chevy pickup, operated by a 59-year-old man from Oxford Township, NJ, was making a left turn onto the access road when the pickup struck Russo.

No summonses will be issued in this crash.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Bidens second attempt at student loan cancellation is moving forward with a round of hearings beginning Tuesday to negotiate the details of a new plan.

In a process known as negotiated rulemaking, 14 people chosen by the Biden administration will meet for the first of three hearings on student loan relief. Their goal is to guide the Education Department toward a proposal after the Supreme Court rejected Bidens first plan in June.

The negotiators all come from outside the federal government and represent a range of viewpoints on student loans. The panel includes students and officials from a range of colleges, along with loan servicers, state officials and advocates including the NAACP.

Biden directed the Education Department to find another path to loan relief after the conservative court ruled that he couldnt cancel loans using a 2003 law called the HEROES Act.

The latest attempt will rest on a sweeping law known as the Higher Education Act, which gives the education secretary authority to waive student loans  although how far that power extends is the subject of legal debate. The department is going through the negotiated rulemaking process to change or add federal rules clarifying how the secretary can cancel debt.

Its unclear who will be eligible for forgiveness under the new plan and how much relief they would get. Those details will be decided after the administration takes input from the negotiators, who meet in a series of sessions scheduled to continue into December.

At the end of the process, negotiators will vote on a proposed rule drafted with input from their discussions. If they reach consensus on a proposal, the department will move forward with it. If they dont, the agency will propose its own plan, which can be finalized after a public comment period.

The Education Department routinely uses negotiated rulemaking to enact federal regulation, and its required for any regulation related to student financial aid. It can be a long and painstaking process, and it often finishes without consensus among negotiators.

Biden has called for a new plan to help as many borrowers as possible, but its unclear whether it will be as expansive as his first proposal. That plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for borrowers with incomes below $125,000 or couples below $250,000.

Republicans rallied against the cancellation, saying it would add an unfair benefit for college graduates at the expense of taxpayers who didn't attend college.

The administration plans to finalize the new rule sometime next year, but Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has declined to say if it will be in place before next falls presidential election. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, he said hes working as quickly as possible.

He also noted that the courts ruling will have to factor in to the steps we take moving forward.

Some legal analysts see the court's decision as a rejection of any mass cancellation without action from Congress. The court concluded that the education secretary has power to make modest adjustments and additions to existing provisions, not transform them.

As a starting point for negotiators, the Education Department published an issue paper outlining some of the primary questions that will be up for debate. It offers few clues on the departments vision for loan cancellation, but it identifies five groups of borrowers who may be in need of relief.

Negotiators are being asked how the agency should help:

 Borrowers whose interest grows so much that their balances exceed what they initially owed;

 Those who are eligible for loan cancellation under existing income-driven repayment plans but have not applied for those programs;

 Those who borrowed loans to attend college programs that didnt lead to jobs with enough earnings to repay their loans;

 Borrowers with older loans taken out before Congress created benefits meant to ease the burden of student debt;

 Those who face hardships that the current student loan system does not adequately address."

It also asks negotiators to discuss the types of factors that would merit loan cancellation. The paper notes that, when deciding whether to collect on debt, some other federal agencies consider whether it would be against equity and good conscience, or if it would impose financial hardship.

At a White House briefing last week, Biden drew attention to the problem of ballooning interest. Many college graduates have been making payments for years, he said, but because of interest, they still owe more than they originally borrowed.

My administration is doing everything it can to deliver student debt relief to as many as we can, as fast as we can, Biden said.

The negotiators meet virtually for two-day sessions starting Oct. 10, Nov. 6 and Dec. 11.

The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Nearly 4,300 autoworkers in Canada went on strike against General Motors early Tuesday.

GM and Unifor, the union that represents autoworkers in Canada, failed to reach a tentative agreement by the time Unifor's contract with GM expired at 11:59 p.m. Monday, prompting Unifor to order a strike at midnight for 4,280 members, it said.

It is the first strike of an automaker in Canada since 1996 and comes after the union reached a tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co., which the workforce ratified on Sept. 24.

Unifor members stand on strike at General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant, where the automaker builds the Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The Unifor members went on strike at midnight Oct. 10, 2023 after Unifor and GM failed to reach a tentative agreement by the time their contract expired at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 9, 2023.

The affected facilities are GM's Oshawa Assembly Complex and CCA Stamped Products, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and GM's Woodstock Distribution Center, all in Ontario. Unifor Local 88 members at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, are covered by a separate collective agreement and continue operations.

This strike is about General Motors stubbornly refusing to meet the pattern agreement" the union got with Ford, said Unifor National President Lana Payne. She said the Unifor members at the GM facilities will stay on strike until a pattern agreement is met.

In a statement, GM Canada Communications Executive Director Jennifer Wright said, While we have made very positive progress on several key priorities over the past weeks, we are disappointed that we were not able to achieve a new collective agreement with Unifor at this time. GM Canada remains at the bargaining table and is committed to keep working with Unifor to reach an agreement that is fair and flexible."

Unifor's Payne said in a media briefing that the remaining key issues are the union's pension demands, income that supports retired workers and meaningful steps to transition temporary workers into permanent, full-time jobs.

When youre looking at an agreement we reached with Ford Motor Co.  it was economically significant, a lot of improvements. It was the first pension improvement in 15 years with our Ford members. We bargained the highest wage increases that weve seen bargained here in Canada," Payne said, noting the union achieved job security too around the transition to electric vehicles.

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Unifor members on strike at General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant, where the automaker builds the Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The Unifor members went on strike at midnight Oct. 10, 2023 after Unifor and GM failed to reach a tentative agreement by the time their contract expired at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 9, 2023.

The Ford agreement includes a 15% increase in wages over the contract term and employees in a defined contribution retirement plan hired on or after Nov. 7, 2016, would be enrolled in a new pension plan in 2025 that would include monthly pensions for workers and surviving spouses. Other improvements include an increase in the monthly benefit for those workers in a pension plan.

Payne said Unifor made some progress with GM throughout Monday, but not enough for a tentative agreement.

"Were negotiating and will stick with it until we get a deal our members will support," Payne said. "Weve been very clear from the beginning that we expect GM to live up to this agreement with Ford  were showing GM that we mean business here and we want to get the pattern deal we got with Ford."

Unifor's U.S. counterpart, the UAW, has been on strike since Sept. 15 when it launched a targeted Stand Up Strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis, the company that makes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat vehicles. It's expanded the strike twice since that time to include all 38 of GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers and then to Ford's Chicago Assembly and GM's Lansing Delta Township Assembly plants on Sept 29. About 25,000 UAW autoworker members are on strike of the 150,000 in the United States.

More: Unifor's Payne talks about the deal the union won and how close it came to striking Ford

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canada's autoworkers strike General Motors
WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Nigers deposed President Mohamed Bazoum ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup detat.

The State Department said Blinken called Bazoum on Monday to stress that a restoration of a freely elected government remains the best way for Niger to not only succeed for its people but also to remain a key partner of the U.S. and others in countering extremism.

In the call, Blinken reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region," the State Department said in a brief statement.

The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover, the department said.

Blinken's call came as the Democratic administration is preparing to make a formal determination that Julys military takeover in the central African nation meets the legal standard for a coup, according to officials familiar with the matter. That determination could come as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because an announcement had not yet been made.

Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup  the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government  typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned. Some U.S. aid to Niger has been suspended since Bazoum's ouster, but it was unclear if the determination would halt American military activity in the country.

The Biden administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africa's Sahel region. Niger has been hosting some 1,100 American troops in regional outposts for wide-ranging patrols by armed drones and other counterterrorism operations against Islamic extremist movements.

The officials could not say if the expected coup determination would result in the withdrawal of any U.S. personnel from Niger. The officials said the Pentagon had resisted such a move and hinted that the administration may have found a legal rationale to continue counterterrorism cooperation with the military junta.

Pentagon officials have been reviewing options for the U.S. troop presence in Niger. Defense and military leaders are reluctant to abandon Agadez, one of Nigers biggest cities, which is deemed a critical base for counterterrorism missions and oversight.

Niger has battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group for years. And the juntas capacity to improve Nigers security has increasingly been questioned recently as attacks have increased since mutinous soldiers toppled the government.

Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel that Western nations could partner with to beat back the jihadi insurgency in the vast expanse below the Sahara Desert.

The U.S., France and other European countries had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up the Nigerien military.

But late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to withdraw Frances ambassador and troops from Niger after demands from the junta and amid widespread anti-French sentiment in the former colony.

Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday urged the judge overseeing Donald Trump's election interference case in Washington to take steps to protect the identity of prospective jurors, citing the former president's continued use of social media as a weapon of intimidation in court proceedings.

Special counsel Jack Smith's team wants U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a written questionnaire to help the two sides choose potential jurors in the case accusing the former Republican president of illegally plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But it also would give lawyers early access to the identities of possible jurors.

Prosecutors said in court papers they are concerned about what Trump might do with research on possible jurors, pointing to his recent disparagement of the clerk of the New York judge overseeing Trump's civil business fraud trial that caused the judge to issue a limited gag order.

Trump in that case posted a photo of Judge Arthur Engoron's principal law clerk posing with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., at a public event, writing that it was disgraceful the clerk was working with the judge. Engoron ordered Trump to delete the post and barred all parties from smearing court personnel.

Given that the defendant  after apparently reviewing opposition research on court staff  chose to use social media to publicly attack a court staffer, there is cause for concern about what he may do with social media research on potential jurors in this case, prosecutors in the election interference case wrote.

Smith's team is asking the court to bar those involved in the case from following or friending prospective jurors on social media in order to gain access to private pages, and prohibit any investigation of jurors that could reasonably be perceived as vexatious or harassing. Prosecutors also want the judge to prohibit both sides from using information gained through juror research for any purpose other than jury selection, and require that lawyers make sure that anyone who has access to sensitive jury materials understands they cannot publicly disclose the information.

The governments motion indicates that defense attorneys oppose it. John Lauro, an attorney for Trump, declined to comment on Tuesday. Judge Chutkan ordered the defense to file any opposition brief by Oct. 20.

In their filing, prosecutors noted that the judge overseeing another civil case against Trump in New York  writer E. Jean Carrolls rape lawsuit  ordered that chosen jurors names be kept secret  even from the lawyers  citing a very strong risk they otherwise would face harassment from supporters of the former president. Prosecutors noted those measures were far more restrictive than the ones they are seeking, but urged Chutkan to likewise protect prospective and selected jurors in this case from intimidation and fear.

In Trumps election interference case in Georgia, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee recently ruled that jurors or prospective jurors can only be identified by number in court filings or in open court and that, during the trial, no one can disclose any information that would reveal their identity or any lists of jurors or prospective jurors or other specific paperwork related to the process.

Prosecutors' motion is the latest flashpoint in the case over Trump's repeated social media attacks on prosecutors, the judge and others. Chutkan is scheduled to hold arguments on Monday over another request from prosecutors to issue a narrow gag order that would bar Trump from making inflammatory and intimidating comments about lawyers, witnesses and other people involved in the case.

Prosecutors on Tuesday also urged the judge to require that Trump notify the court by mid-December if he plans to mount a defense asserting that he was relying on the advice of attorneys around him in 2020, as his lawyers have suggested in media interviews they will do.

Prosecutors said that at least 25 witnesses during the investigation withheld documents and other information from investigators. citing attorney-client privilege, including former campaign employees and a Trump family member. Trump would have to waive that privilege over certain communications if he invokes such a defense, providing prosecutors access to more evidence.

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this story.
GOMA, Congo (AP)  Congos government spokesperson has said that the East African regional force would have to leave the country by Dec. 8 because of a lack of satisfactory results on the ground as agreed on during a regional meeting.

Partick Muyaya told journalists on Monday night that the East African Community, or EAC, force must leave the country because it has not been able to resolve the problem, notably that of the M23.

The government says the M23 rebel group has, under the watch of the regional force, refused to withdraw from the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru and Nyiragongo, in violation of the Luanda agreement.

Violent clashes between armed groups have intensified in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories, located in North Kivu province since Oct. 1.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, has quoted humanitarian agencies as saying that at least 20 civilians have been killed and more than 30 others wounded.

There will surely be a meeting of heads of state afterwards, which will have to rule on the inability of the regional force to resolve this issue, and measures will be taken, Muyaya said.

Congolese President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi had in September said he wanted the U.N. peacekeeping mission to move up the start of the peacekeeping missions accelerated retreat by a year for failing to rein in conflicts in the countrys east.

He said its time for our country to take its destiny fully in hand.

Eastern Congo, far from the capital, has long been overrun by dozens of armed groups seeking a share of the regions gold and other resources. Some have been quietly backed by Congos neighbors.

U.N. experts have noted substantial evidence that Rwanda is supporting the resurgent M23 rebel group, which Rwanda has denied.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A car rammed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday, coming to a stop in the lobby and creating a chaotic scene that ended with police shooting the driver, who later died at the hospital, officials said.

San Francisco police said they didnt know why the unidentified driver smashed through the front of the consulate, located on a major street across from the citys Japantown neighborhood. In a statement, the Chinese Consulate general described it as a violent attack.

Police descended on the consulate shortly after 3 p.m. on a report of a vehicle crashing into the building and urged people to avoid the area. Video from the scene showed a blue Honda sedan inside the lobby of the consulates visa office.

Officers entered the building, made contact with the suspect and opened fire, San Francisco police Sgt. Kathryn Winters said during a brief news conference. Despite life-saving efforts the suspect died at a hospital.

Police did not describe how the shooting unfolded, how many officers fired or if the driver had a weapon. There were no reports of any injured people inside the building.

Police are working and coordinating with investigators from the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Consulate.

I wish I could give you more but this is a very complex investigation, Winters said.

The statement from the Chinese Consulate general demanded more details about what happened and asked that it be dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.

Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack, the statement said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin repeated that statement at a daily briefing Tuesday without giving any details about damage to the consulate or injuries to staff and visitors.

We strongly urge the U.S. to launch a swift investigation and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement governing relations between countries.

The San Francisco consulate has been targeted a number of times before. Among the most serious was a fire set by a Chinese man on New Years Day 2014 at the main entrance. It charred a section of the outside of the building.

The man, who was living in the San Francisco Bay Area, told authorities he was driven by voices he was hearing. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

San Francisco is preparing to host next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim nations. President Joe Biden plans to attend but its not clear if Chinese President Xi Jinping will come.
Native Americans are celebrating their histories and cultures with events across the country marking Indigenous Peoples Day. The ceremonies, dances and speeches come two years after President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day. In Minnesota, the governor was among 150 people who attended a sunrise prayer and ceremony at a lake in Minneapolis. In Augusta, Maine, hundreds of people rallied outside the statehouse in support of a Nov. 7 statewide vote that would restore language to their constitution about the state's obligations to Native American tribes. One of the participants at a celebration in Phoenix said they've been fighting for recognition since the first ships arrived
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip neighborhood by neighborhood Tuesday, reducing buildings to rubble and sending people scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory now suffering severe retaliation for the deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants.

Humanitarian groups pleaded for the creation of corridors to get aid into Gaza and warned that hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people were running out of supplies. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has inflamed Israel's determination to crush the group's hold in Gaza. New exchanges of fire over Israel's northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday morning, slaying hundreds of residents in homes and streets near the Gaza border and bringing gunbattles to Israeli towns for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza hold about 150 soldiers and civilians hostage, according to Israel.

Israel stepped up its offensive on Tuesday, expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000. Israels military said it had regained effective control over areas Hamas attacked in its south and of the Gaza border.

A looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza  a 40-kilometer-long (25-mile) strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

Rescue officials in Gaza said large numbers of people were still trapped under the remnants of leveled buildings, with rescue equipment and ambulances unable to reach the area.

On Tuesday, a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood was reduced to rubble after hours of airstrikes the night before. Residents found buildings torn in half or demolished to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out on residential streets transformed into moonscapes.

Palestinian Civil Defense forces pulled Abdullah Musleh out of his basement together with 30 others after their apartment building was flattened.

I sell toys, not missiles, the 46-year-old said, weeping. I want to leave Gaza. Why do I have to stay here? I lost my home and my job."

The Israeli military said it struck hundreds of targets in Rimal, an upscale district home to ministries of the Hamas-run government, universities, media organizations and the aid agency offices.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate neighborhood after neighborhood, and then inflicting devastation, in what could be a prelude to a ground offensive. On Tuesday, the military told residents of the nearby al-Daraj neighborhood to evacuate. New explosions soon rocked it and other areas, continuing into the night.

Fighter jets returned multiple times to another neighborhood, al-Furqan, striking 450 targets in 24 hours, the Israeli military said.

One blast hit Gaza City's seaport, setting fishing boats aflame.

There is no safe place in Gaza right now. You see decent people being killed every day, Gaza journalist Hasan Jabar said after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the Rimal bombardment. I am genuinely afraid for my life.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hamas fired barrages of rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Tuesday night, a group of militants entered an industrial zone in Ashkelon, sparking a gunbattle with Israeli troops, the military said. Three militants were killed, and troops were searching the area for others.

Israel's new tactics could point to its new objective.

Four previous rounds of Israel-Hamas fighting between 2008 and 2021 all ended inconclusively, with Hamas battered but still in control. This time, Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, a goal considered unachievable in the past because it would require a reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, at least temporarily.

The objective is for this war to end very differently from all of the previous rounds. There has to be a clear victory, said Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel. "Whatever has to be done to fundamentally change the situation will have to be done, he said.

The devastation also sharpened questions about Hamas' strategy and objectives. Hamas officials have said they planned for all possibilities, including a punishing Israeli escalation. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

Hamas may have been counting on the fight to spread to the West Bank and possibly for Lebanons Hezbollah to open a front in the north. Days of clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the West Bank have left 15 Palestinians dead, but Israel has clamped down heavily on the territory, preventing movement between communities. The violence also spread into east Jerusalem, where Israeli police said they killed two Palestinians who hurled stones at police late Tuesday.

Brief exchanges of fire across Israel's northern border have taken place nearly daily. Palestinian militants fired rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon and from Syria on Tuesday, each bringing Israeli artillery and mortar fire in return. But so far they have not escalated.

In hopes of blunting the bombardment in Gaza, Hamas has threatened to kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning.

The militants attack stunned Israel with a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria  and those deaths happened over a longer period of time. It brought horrific scenes of Hamas militants gunning down civilians in their homes, on streets and at a mass outdoor music festival, while dragging men, women and children into captivity.

The Israeli military said more than 1,000 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, 900 people have been killed, including 260 children and 230 women, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday at least 14 U.S. citizens were killed in Hamas attack and that Americans are among those being held hostage in Gaza. Biden, who spoke earlier in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said there is no justification for terrorism.

Biden added an apparent warning to Hezbollah, saying, To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Dont."

The State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to Israel to deliver a message of solidarity and support.

Hamas responded to Biden, saying his administration should review its biased position" and "move away from the policy of double standards over Palestinian rights to defend themselves against Israeli occupation.

The bodies of roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were found on Israeli territory, the military said. It wasnt clear whether those numbers overlapped with deaths reported by Palestinian authorities. Tens of thousands of people in southern Israel have been evacuated since Sunday.

In Gaza, more than 200,000 people have fled their homes, the U.N. said, the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. The vast majority are sheltering in schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000 people, the U.N. said.

The U.N.s World Health Organization said that supplies it had pre-positioned for seven hospitals in Gaza have already run out amid the flood of wounded. The head of the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.

Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre, Amy Teibel and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
DENVER (AP)  Prosecutors seeking a conviction of two Colorado police officers in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain implored a jury during closing arguments Tuesday to remember that 23-year-old Black man was just trying to walk home the night he was put in a neck hold and and pinned down by the officers before paramedics injected him with a powerful sedative.

Defense attorneys countered that the two officers from a Denver suburb had no choice but to forcefully subdue McClain after he resisted them.

The case now rests in the hands of twelve jurors who will decide whether Aurora officers Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt are guilty of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault  all felonies. An assault conviction carries the most serious penalty, up to 16 years in prison.

His name was Elijah McClain. He was going home, prosecutor Duane Lyons told the jury, echoing McClains words that were captured on police body camera video. He was someone who mattered, Lyons added, as a photo of a smiling McClain was shown in court.

Roedema defense attorney Donald Sisson urged jurors to reject the prosecutions emotional appeals and focus on the potential dangers faced by the officers.

If they dont act, they may not go home to their family that night, Sisson said. He added that the officers repeatedly told McClain to stop fighting and they had to react quickly after Roedema shouted out during the confrontation that McClain had reached for another officers gun.

McClain was stopped while walking home from a convenience store Aug 24, 2019, listening to music and wearing a mask that covered most of his face. A 911 caller reported him as suspicious and the police stop quickly became physical with McClain, a massage therapist seemingly caught off guard, asking to be left alone. He was not armed and had not been accused of any crime.

Prosecution witnesses testified that the sedative ketamine killed McClain. But they also said the restraint of McClain triggered a series of health problems that made it hard for McClain to breathe and more vulnerable to a fatal overdose.

Defense attorneys described McClain's death as a tragedy. They did not call any witnesses during the weekslong trial, instead using questions for prosecution witnesses to make their case that the officers were innocent.

Rosenblatt's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said his client was a scapegoat who had nothing to do with McClain's death. It was caused by the ketamine, Steinberg said.

It was the paramedics, Steinberg said. And by the way, Rosenblatt wasn't even nearby when all that takes place.

But prosecutor Lyons said the officers failed to de-escalate the situation, ignored McClains obvious distress and turned off some of the body worn cameras during portions of the encounter.

To say this was just a tragedy would trivialize what happened that evening. The defendants are guilty of crimes, Lyons said.

McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain sat in the front row of the packed courtroom during the prosecution's arguments.

Officer Nathan Woodyard  whose trial starts Friday was the first to stop McClain. Within 10 seconds, Woodyard put his hands on McClain and turned him around. As McClain tried to escape his grip, Woodyard said, Relax, or Im going to have to change this situation.

The encounter escalated, with Woodyard, Roedema and Rosenblatt taking McClain to the ground and Woodyard putting him in a neck hold and pressing against his carotid artery, temporarily rendering him unconscious. The officers later told investigators they took McClain down after hearing Roedema say, He grabbed your gun dude.

The statement can be heard on body camera footage, but it was difficult to see exactly what happened. The extensive video of the moments leading to his death were shown repeatedly to jurors.

Two paramedics, Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, were also charged in McClain's death and are scheduled to go on trial in November.

The local district attorney did not pursue criminal charges in 2019, but the case was re-examined in 2020 after Gov. Jared Polis asked state Attorney General Philip Weiser to investigate amid protests over police brutality against Black people following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Roedema and Woodyard are currently suspended without pay. Rosenblatt is the only officer involved in the incident who was fired  not for the fatal encounter itself, but for making light of other officers reenactment of the neck hold.

Brown reported from Billings, Montana.
Israel stepped up its offensive on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas, pounding neighborhoods with airstrikes and expanding the mobilization of reservists to 360,000.

The military said it had regained effective control over the Gaza border and areas Hamas attacked in the south of Israel.

The war, which has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has inflamed Israels determination to crush the groups hold in Gaza.

New exchanges of fire over Israels northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.

Here's what is happening on Day 4 of the latest Israel-Palestinian war:

THE FIRST PLANE CARRYING US ARMAMENTS LANDS IN ISRAEL, IDF SAYS

A plane carrying advanced armaments designed to facilitate significant military operations landed Tuesday evening at the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

We are grateful for the US backing and assistance to the IDF, and to the State of Israel in general, during this challenging period. Our common enemies know that the cooperation between our militaries is stronger than ever, and is a key part in ensuring regional security and stability, the IDF said in a statement.

2 BRAZILIANS KILLED IN ATTACKS BY HAMAS, FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS

Two Brazilian citizens were killed as the result of the Hamas attack on Israel, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry identified the deceased as Ranani Nidejelski Glazer and Bruna Valeanu.

The ministry said in a separate statement that three people with dual Brazilian-Israeli citizenship were missing after they disappeared at a music festival outside of Kibbutz Re'im.

2 FILIPINOS KILLED IN ATTACKS BY HAMAS, FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS

MANILA, Philippines  Two Filipinos have been killed as a result of the attacks by Hamas militants on Israel, where thousands of Filipinos live and work, said Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Manalo condemned the killings in a brief statement he posted Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, but did not provide other details, including the circumstances of the deaths and the identities of the victims. He added that the Philippines is ready to work with other countries toward a long-lasting resolution to the conflict, in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution.

CANADA PLANS TO AIRLIFT CANADIANS FROM ISRAEL

OTTAWA, Ontario  Canadian citizens will be flown out of the country from the Tel Aviv, Israel, airport in coming days in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel, Canada's foreign minister said Tuesday.

The government plans to conduct the evacuation using aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post did not mention those Canadians who are believed to be trapped in Gaza after Israel closed off the Hamas-controlled territory.

Canada is trying to determine how many of its citizens are among the dead or missing. Friends and family have confirmed that 22-year-old Ben Mizrachi from Vancouver and former Montreal resident Alexandre Look, who recently celebrated his 33rd birthday, were two of the hundreds killed while attending a music festival in southern Israel.

SON OF MISSING ITALIAN-ISRAELI CITIZENS THINKS THEY WERE KIDNAPPED

A son of two Italian-Israeli citizens unaccounted for after Hamas incursion into Israel believes they were kidnapped by Hamas militants.

Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, 65, who has an autoimmune disease and uses a wheelchair, and his wife, Lilach Lea Havron, 60, were holed up in their safe room on Saturday morning at their home in the Kibbutz Beeri, Nadav Kipnis told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He said that was the last time he and his brother Yotam heard from them.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani briefed parliament about the incursion on Tuesday, identifying the two Italians by name and saying they were probably taken hostage.

The family also has lost contact with Havrons sister and her extended family who lived nearby. All together, 11 people from two family households at the kibbutz are unaccounted for, including children ages 3, 8 and 12, Nadav Kipnis said.

CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ISRAEL TO SHOW SUPPORT

PRAGUE  Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky visited Israel on Tuesday to show his countrys support after the Hamas attack and brought more than 30 Czech nationals home from Israel on his plane, the Foreign Ministry said.

Lipavsky met his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, and President Isaac Herzog, the Ministry said. He also met the relatives of a woman kidnapped by Hamas.

Israel is one of us, the attacks and kidnappings unleashed by Hamas terrorists are an attack on all of us, Lipavsky said in a statement.

AUSTRALIA SAYS 1 OF ITS CITIZENS DIED IN HAMAS ATTACK

CANBERRA, Australia  A 66-year-old Sydney-born woman is the first known Australian to die in the Hamas attack on Israel, Australias government said Wednesday.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said Galit Carbone was killed Saturday at the Beeri kibbutz near Gaza.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is leading government efforts to help an estimated 10,000 Australians in Israel who want to leave.

BIDEN SAYS US CITIZENS AMONG HAMAS HOSTAGES, AGAIN CONDEMNS HAMAS ATTACK

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas as he condemned the militant group for the sheer evil of its shocking weekend assault on Israel.

Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear, said Biden, who compared the brutality of the Hamas militants to that of the Islamic State terrorist group.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground.

Twenty or more U.S. citizens are unaccounted for, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. He said he did not know precisely how many citizens are being held hostage, or their conditions. Biden confirmed earlier Tuesday that 14 Americans have been killed in the bloody Hamas incursion.

PORTUGUESE CITIZEN AND STUDENT IN TEL AVIV FOUND DEAD

JERUSALEM  A Portuguese woman studying in Tel Aviv, Israel, who was identified as missing after the Hamas attack on Israel, was found dead Tuesday.

Rotem Neumann, 25, had been missing for at least three days by the time her body was found. Her death was confirmed by her cousin Tomer Neumann.

Rotem Neumann was at the Teva festival, a music festival near the Gaza border that was invaded by militants in the early hours of Saturday morning. She first called her parents from the festival when she heard rocket fire, Tomer Neumann said. That was the last time the family heard from her.

She then got into a car with friends and drove north, seeking shelter. The car soon encountered trucks filled with militants, shooting at them with machine guns. Panicked, they turned around and started going in the opposite direction. Militants with guns crowded the roads south, too.

They climbed out of the car and began running east, away from the border, piling into a concrete shelter they found at Kibbutz Reim. Rotem Neumann sent a message to a friend there, sharing with him her location so he could take shelter. Militants soon peppered the shelter with bullets.

ISRAEL SHELLS SYRIA AFTER ROCKETS HIT OPEN LAND IN GOLAN HEIGHTS

The Israeli military said it shelled Syria on Tuesday after rockets hit open land in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The military did not accuse any group of the rocket attack.

The Syrian government did not comment. However, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a Palestinian faction conducted the rocket attack from Syrian territory.

US INTELLIGENCE DIDN'T SEE ATTACK COMING, SECURITY ADVISER SAYS

WASHINGTON  U.S. intelligence did not pick up signs of the Hamas attack on Israel, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday.

We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold any more than the Israelis did, Sullivan told reporters.

As other White House officials have done in recent days, Sullivan also reiterated that the U.S. government has also not seen any direct linkage between Iran and the Hamas attack over the weekend.

US SECRETARY OF STATE GOING TO ISRAEL ON URGENT MISSION

WASHINGTON  U.S. President Joe Biden is dispatching his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants, the State Department said Tuesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday to deliver a message of solidarity and support, and will talk about what additional resources we can give them," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS DEATH TOLL IN HAS RISEN TO 900

GAZA CITY  Israeli airstrikes since Saturday have resulted in 900 deaths in Gaza, including 260 children and 230 women, with an additional 4,500 individuals wounded, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said Tuesday.

The airstrikes have caused the deaths of 150 members of 22 families, six health workers, and eight journalists, while 15 health workers and 20 journalists have been wounded, the ministry said.

Airstrikes on residential neighborhoods have displaced approximately 140,000 citizens to U.N. shelters and hospitals, the ministry said. The U.N. is reporting that at least 200,000 residents have been displaced.

US SAYS SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES WORKING WITH ISRAELIS

WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is now working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence in their counteroperations against Hamas.

We also have the ability to rapidly deploy other resources into the region, Austin said.

Austin released the information to reporters traveling with him to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels.

8 FRENCH CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ISRAEL, OFFICIALS SAY

PARIS  The number of French people killed in Israel has risen to eight  with 20 unaccounted for  the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Several of those are believed to be held hostage.

The ministry previously confirmed the deaths of four other French citizens killed in the Hamas militant attacks in Israel. At the time, the ministry said another 13 French citizens were missing and that some of them have very likely been kidnapped, including a 12-year-old boy.

French media identified the boy by his first name, Eitan, and reported that he lived with his family in the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel. Le Parisien newspaper quoted an aunt as saying that the boy was captured Saturday by Hamas militants who took him away on a motorbike.

ISLAMIST GROUP IN BANGLADESH RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIANS

DHAKA, Bangladesh  About 1,000 members of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, an Islamist group seeking to establish Sharia law in Bangladesh, rallied Tuesday in the South Asian nations capital, Dhaka, denouncing Israeli aggression on Gaza.

They marched through streets in front of the nations main Baitul Mokarram Mosque in downtown and chanted anti-Israeli slogans amid police guard.

All the Muslim countries including Qatar have been united for the Palestinians to protect (them) and get back their land. Everything must be done to achieve this," said Moulana Syed Mosaddek Al Madani, a leader of the group.

Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority nation of more than 160 million people.

CARRIER STRIKE GROUP ARRIVES IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, US OFFICIAL SAYS

WASHINGTON  The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence to prevent the now 4-day-old war with Hamas from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, a U.S. official told the Associated Press.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the arrival ahead of an official announcement.

6 ROCKETS WERE FIRED INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL, LEBANESE OFFICIAL SAYS

BEIRUT  A Lebanese security official said six rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel on Tuesday evening.

The officials said it was not immediately clear who fired the rockets from the area of the Lebanese southern village of Qlaileh. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. A statement from UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, also confirmed the rocket fire and urged everyone to exercise restraint at this critical time.

Officials from the Hezbollah militant group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said they had no information on the rockets.

EL-SISSI URGES A CEASE-FIRE IN LATEST WAR BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt on Tuesday urged a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, while warning of repercussions on the regions security and stability.

El-Sissi, whose government maintains ties with Israel and Hamas, said Egypt has intensified efforts to reach a cease-fire, the state-run MENA news agency reported.

The Egyptian leader affirmed his countrys position on establishing a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

RED CROSS OFFICIALS WORKING TO GAIN ACCESS TO PRISONERS, INCLUDING ISRAELI HOSTAGES

JERUSALEM  An official at the International Committee of the Red Cross says his organization has been in touch with both Hamas and Israeli officials about accessing prisoners, but so far have had no access to them.

Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that this includes the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during its unprecedented incursion into Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Nearly 4,300 autoworkers in Canada went on strike against General Motors early Tuesday.

GM and Unifor, the union that represents autoworkers in Canada, failed to reach a tentative agreement by the time Unifor's contract with GM expired at 11:59 p.m. Monday, prompting Unifor to order a strike at midnight for 4,280 members, it said.

It is the first strike of an automaker in Canada since 1996 and comes after the union reached a tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co., which the workforce ratified on Sept. 24.

Unifor members stand on strike at General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant, where the automaker builds the Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The Unifor members went on strike at midnight Oct. 10, 2023 after Unifor and GM failed to reach a tentative agreement by the time their contract expired at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 9, 2023.

The affected facilities are GM's Oshawa Assembly Complex and CCA Stamped Products, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and GM's Woodstock Distribution Center, all in Ontario. Unifor Local 88 members at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, are covered by a separate collective agreement and continue operations.

This strike is about General Motors stubbornly refusing to meet the pattern agreement" the union got with Ford, said Unifor National President Lana Payne. She said the Unifor members at the GM facilities will stay on strike until a pattern agreement is met.

See UAW strike: See the picket lines as UAW strike launched, targeting big three Detroit automakers

In a statement, GM Canada Communications Executive Director Jennifer Wright said, While we have made very positive progress on several key priorities over the past weeks, we are disappointed that we were not able to achieve a new collective agreement with Unifor at this time. GM Canada remains at the bargaining table and is committed to keep working with Unifor to reach an agreement that is fair and flexible."

Unifor's Payne said in a media briefing that the remaining key issues are the union's pension demands, income that supports retired workers and meaningful steps to transition temporary workers into permanent, full-time jobs.

When youre looking at an agreement we reached with Ford Motor Co.  it was economically significant, a lot of improvements. It was the first pension improvement in 15 years with our Ford members. We bargained the highest wage increases that weve seen bargained here in Canada," Payne said, noting the union achieved job security too around the transition to electric vehicles.

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Unifor members on strike at General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant, where the automaker builds the Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The Unifor members went on strike at midnight Oct. 10, 2023 after Unifor and GM failed to reach a tentative agreement by the time their contract expired at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 9, 2023.

The Ford agreement includes a 15% increase in wages over the contract term and employees in a defined contribution retirement plan hired on or after Nov. 7, 2016, would be enrolled in a new pension plan in 2025 that would include monthly pensions for workers and surviving spouses. Other improvements include an increase in the monthly benefit for those workers in a pension plan.

Payne said Unifor made some progress with GM throughout Monday, but not enough for a tentative agreement.

"Were negotiating and will stick with it until we get a deal our members will support," Payne said. "Weve been very clear from the beginning that we expect GM to live up to this agreement with Ford  were showing GM that we mean business here and we want to get the pattern deal we got with Ford."

Unifor's U.S. counterpart, the UAW, has been on strike since Sept. 15 when it launched a targeted Stand Up Strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis, the company that makes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat vehicles. It's expanded the strike twice since that time to include all 38 of GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers and then to Ford's Chicago Assembly and GM's Lansing Delta Township Assembly plants on Sept 29. About 25,000 UAW autoworker members are on strike of the 150,000 in the United States.

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canada's autoworkers strike General Motors and join UAW workers in US
GENEVA (AP)  The United Nations, aid groups and public health experts expressed growing concerns Monday about humanitarian needs in Palestinian areas as Israel ratchets up a muscular military riposte and a lockdown of Gaza, after the weekend attack by Hamas militants who killed and kidnapped hundreds of civilians in Israel.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres led the clarion call, endeavoring to put the focus on civilians in both Israel and Gaza and renewing his condemnation of the fatalities and hostage-takings by Hamas. He also warned of the prospect of more innocent lives lost.

In a statement to reporters in New York, Guterres said that more than 137,000 people in Gaza  or about 6% of its population  were now sheltering in sites run by UNRWA, the aid agency for Palestinians. He cited reports of Israeli missile strikes on places like schools, health facilities and high-rise apartment buildings.

I am deeply distressed by todays announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in  no electricity, food, or fuel, he said.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially, Guterres said.

The U.N. chief was careful not to underplay the devastation and intense suffering among Israelis since Saturday, decrying the launching of thousands of indiscriminate rockets that have reached central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and how hundreds of Israelis were killed and many more wounded.

I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians, Guterres said.

He also noted how Israeli airstrikes had pounded Gaza and cited reports of hundreds of Palestinians killed and thousands injured.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, or OCHA, said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has hindered services for more than 400,000 people  or about one-sixth of the total population.

Israel controls most water resources in the Palestinian territories, in one of the world's most water-stressed regions. Experts say the bombing and destruction of Gazas already weak water infrastructure will only make matters worse in an area where gastrointestinal, liver and skin problems exist already due to a severe lack of clean water.

Every drop of water counts, said Amira Aker, a postdoctoral fellow of environmental health at the University of Laval in Quebec City, Canada, who has researched water issues in the Palestinian territories. She noted health issues such as rising rates of infectious disease and gastrointestinal, liver and skin problems due to a severe lack of clean water.

With Israeli air strikes cutting off power in Gaza, taps running dry are an immediate problem, Aker said. There is literally no way for them to clean their water.

Dr. Wael Al-Delaimy, a professor of public health at the University of California, San Diego, said that as Gazans are forced to consume water of lower quality, more disease will follow.

Its the common people who suffer, Al-Delaimy said.

As of late Sunday, OCHA said that Israeli authorities had halted supplies of electricity to Gaza, cutting power to no more than four hours per day.

The Gaza Power Plant was the only source of electricity in the area, and it could run out of fuel within days, OCHA said in a brief statement on Monday, adding that cash assistance was urgently needed for Palestinians.

Humanitarian relief and essential supplies must be allowed to reach people in need, rapidly and without impediment, OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said in a text message. All parties must ensure freedom of movement for humanitarian workers.

The agency also noted displacement in Israel because of the violence and damage to civilian homes and infrastructure.

Separately, the World Health Organization said that a 16-year-blockade of Gaza had already left its medical system under-resourced, and the increased hostilities are compounding an already dire situation."

The U.N. health agency reported Monday a total of 11 attacks on health care  which included medical facilities, ambulances and care providers  in the first 36 hours of the new conflict in Gaza.

There is an urgent need to establish a humanitarian corridor for unimpeded, life-saving patient referrals and movement of humanitarian personnel and essential health supplies, WHO said.

Many humanitarians voiced a simple hope: An end to the violence.

These unprecedented hostilities  and rapidly mounting death toll  underscore the urgency for all parties to stop the violence and ensure civilians are protected, says Ana Povrzenic, country director in Palestine at the Norwegian Refugee Council.

In a statement, the Norwegian organization said the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in Gaza and Israel's announcement of a siege of the area represents a grave violation of international law.

Access for humanitarians to Gaza is on many U.N. minds.

I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip, Guterres said. I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort.

Suman Naishadham in Washington and Melina Walling in Chicago contributed to this report.
JERUSALEM (AP)  More than a million people in the northern Gaza Strip have been ordered to evacuate to the south as the latest Israel-Hamas war entered its seventh day Friday and Israel appeared to be preparing a ground offensive. Hamas urged residents to stay put.

The orders sent panic through civilians and aid workers already struggling under Israeli airstrikes and a blockade of the Hamas-ruled area. International aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis after Israel prevented the entry of supplies from Egypt to Gazas 2.3 million people.

The latest Israel-Hamas war has claimed more than 3,000 lives on both sides in the week since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Oct. 7.

Some key takeaways from the war:

WHATS HAPPENED IN THE WEEK SINCE THE LATEST ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR STARTED?

An Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in southern Lebanon on Friday, killing a Reuters videographer and leaving six other journalists injured.

Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes. Internet connectivity in Gaza City has been below 20% since Tuesday.

With Israel having sealed Gazas borders, the only direction to flee is south, toward Egypt. But Israel is still carrying out airstrikes across the Gaza, and Egypt has rushed to secure its border against any mass influx of Palestinians.

Governments around the world have spent the week trying to evacuate their nationals and dual citizens caught in the conflict after a spate of commercial flight cancellations.

Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. Israel has called up 360,000 army reservists and threatened an unprecedented response to Hamas wide-ranging incursion.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that roughly 1,800 people have been killed in the territory. The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel  a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks. Roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed during the fighting, the Israeli government said.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION IN GAZA?

As airstrikes hammered the territory throughout the day Friday, families in cars, trucks and donkey carts packed with blankets and possessions streamed down a main road out of Gaza City.

Hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians across the territory wrangled over the agonizing choice of whether to stay or go following the Israeli order to evacuate.

Before the evacuation directives, 423,000 Gaza Strip residents had already fled their homes, according to the United Nations. Gaza is only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

Many Palestinians fear a repeat of the most traumatic event in their tortured history: their mass exodus from what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding its creation.

Hamas media office said warplanes struck cars fleeing south, killing more than 70 people, while Israels military said that its troops had conducted temporary raids in Gaza to battle militants. Israel said its soldiers also hunted for traces of some 150 people abducted in Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD?

United States President Joe Biden said Friday that its a priority of his administration to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Israel that we have your back as he and Americas top diplomat met Friday with Israeli and Arab leaders.

The United Nations Security Council hadn't found a collective voice on the latest Israel-Hamas war after meeting behind closed doors Friday for the second time in five days.

Russia is proposing a humanitarian cease-fire, which could be a tough sell as Israel is expected to undertake a ground offensive against the Hamas militants who rule Gaza.

European Union leader Charles Michel on Friday warned that the Israel-Hamas war could create a surge in refugees heading for Europe, raising the risk of spurring on anti-migrant forces, deepening divisions and inflaming tensions between supporters of Israel and supporters of Palestinians.

Irans foreign minister warned on Friday that if Israels attacks on the Gaza Strip dont stop immediately, the violence could spread to other parts of the Middle East.

Syrias president on Friday called on countries of the world to stand together to stop the crimes that Israel is committing against the Palestinian people.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the Israeli armys decision to order the evacuation, which could cause a spike in refugees in Egypt.

The deadly attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians and the devastating Israeli airstrikes and blockade of Gaza have raised accusations among international legal experts that both sides were violating international law.

WHAT PROMPTED HAMAS' ATTACK ON ISRAEL?

Hamas, which seeks Israels destruction, says it is defending Palestinians right to freedom and self-determination. But the devastation following Hamas' surprise attack on Oct. 7 has sharpened questions about its strategy and objectives.

Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza, and what they see as the worlds apathy.

In addition to citing long-simmering tensions, Hamas officials cite a long-running dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque that is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Competing claims over the site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, have spilled into violence before, including a bloody 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021.

Associated Press Writers Matthew Lee in Washington, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Jennifer Peltz at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Chevron's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 25 shareholders own 47% of the company

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

If you want to know who really controls Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 64% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Chevron.

View our latest analysis for Chevron

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Chevron?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Chevron. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Chevron, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Chevron. Our data shows that The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 8.6% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 6.7% and 6.6% of the stock.

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On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Chevron

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Chevron Corporation in their own names. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own US$51m of stock. In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 30% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 6.6% of Chevron stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Chevron .

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Student on the Go Programme to end Period Poverty

The launch of the Student on the Go Programme marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight against period poverty.

The Dean of Students Office at Wits University, in collaboration with Chancellor Doctor Judy Dlamini, celebrated the official launch of the "Student on the Go Programme" in partnership with the Clicks Group. The event was not only a milestone but a moment of gratitude towards the partners who have joined the mission to eradicate period poverty.

Initially originated by the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC), Ending Period Poverty has grown to become a beacon of hope for countless female students facing period poverty. This initiative is founded on the belief that access to menstrual products is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

Last year, the SRC initiated the Wits100 Centenary Period Poverty Pilot Project, providing 10 000 sanitary towels to Wits students on campus. This marked the first significant step in combating the harsh reality of period poverty that plagues low-income women and girls.

Speaking at the launch on 28 September, Chancellor Doctor Judy Dlamini expressed her admiration for the SRC and the Dean of Students Office, saying, "I'm filled with gratitude at different levels. You never dropped the baton; you passed it on like true servant leaders who are driven by purpose rather than position."

Kamogelo Mabe, Wits SRC Acting President, praised the university's management and sponsors for their unwavering support. This project has indeed breathed life beyond a Pilot Project and is now a legacy project as it exists outside of the previous term's SRC, and we envision it to launch beyond Wits University and become a nationwide project.

I am super proud of this project because it's a great collaboration between us as the number one health and beauty company and, secondly, Wits University, which has such a phenomenal legacy. If you can keep girls in school for longer and if you can make sure that you are trying to remove some of the obstacles for them, then we are building a phenomenal society for the future, and that's really at the heart of it, said Group CEO of Clicks, Bertina Engelbrecht.

The Student on the Go Programme is designed to provide convenience and dignity to female students. Benefits will be loaded onto the Clicks club card, allowing students to access sanitary towels at selected Clicks stores at their convenience.

Jerome September, the Dean of Students, expressed his appreciation for the SRC's initiative and thanked the sponsors for their invaluable support. He emphasised the significance of corporate support in projects that seek to bring dignity to young people, change the face of the country, and make a real difference in society.

With the unwavering dedication of Wits University, Dlamini, the SRC, the Clicks Group, AFI, Motsepe Foundation, and Eyerus, this initiative is poised to make a lasting impact not only within the university but also throughout South Africa, ensuring that no student has to compromise their education and dignity due to period poverty.
Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA  Free Report) by 43.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,761 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,131 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Copa were worth $416,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Copa by 2.9% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,925 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $362,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Gardner Lewis Asset Management L P increased its stake in shares of Copa by 0.6% during the first quarter. Gardner Lewis Asset Management L P now owns 19,542 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,805,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of Copa by 16.2% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,083 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $92,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in Copa by 0.5% during the first quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 29,735 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,746,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. Finally, Legend Financial Advisors Inc. grew its position in Copa by 2.9% during the first quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 6,898 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $637,000 after buying an additional 194 shares during the period. 81.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Copa alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on CPA shares. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Copa from $138.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Monday, July 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Copa in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Copa from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 11th. HSBC lowered their target price on shares of Copa from $143.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Copa from $160.00 to $170.00 in a report on Monday, September 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $134.30.

Copa Stock Performance

Copa stock opened at $83.90 on Tuesday. Copa Holdings, S.A. has a 12-month low of $69.67 and a 12-month high of $121.20. The company has a market capitalization of $3.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The firms fifty day moving average price is $96.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $100.88.

Copa (NYSE:CPA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The transportation company reported $3.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.25 by $0.67. Copa had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 40.02%. The firm had revenue of $809.19 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $798.96 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.32 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Copa Holdings, S.A. will post 14.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Copa Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.91%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. Copas payout ratio is currently 37.83%.

Copa Company Profile

(Free Report)

Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 327 daily scheduled flights to 78 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of 97 aircraft comprising 67 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, 9 Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft, 1 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter, and 20 737-MAX aircraft.

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(Bloomberg) -- Citigroup Inc. has been buying large volumes of physical aluminum and zinc on the London Metal Exchange, in a bold metal-financing trade thats made it one of the biggest players in the market in recent months.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The purchases mark a return of a major driver in metals from the post-financial-crisis years: too much supply in the market drives spot prices much lower than contracts for later delivery, creating opportunities for companies that can buy up metal cheaply and hold it while selling forward at a profit.

In the last few months, Citi requested delivery of about 100,000 tons of aluminum and 40,000 tons of zinc  worth over $300 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The purchases are for Citis own trading book and are part of a metal financing play, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

The trade has made Citi and other financial players something of a buyer of last resort for Russian aluminum  which now makes up the bulk of LME inventories  keeping it flowing through the LME system at a time when some feared it might become unsellable.

Read: Citi Buys $160 Million of Russian Aluminum Others Wont Touch

While other banks and traders have also put on financing trades, the scale of Citis move has captured the attention of metals markets  for a comparison, its aluminum purchases are equal to more than half of the readily available metal left registered on the LME, and nearly all of the remaining zinc inventories. While the US lender has a large commodities business, it has traditionally been overshadowed by the likes of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

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As the era of cheap money comes to an end, Citi, as one of the largest US banks, has a competitive advantage as its cost of dollar financing is significantly lower than most rival banks and trading companies.

Citi has struck a rent agreement with at least one warehousing company to store metal in Taiwans coastal city of Kaohsiung, and intends to ship metal there from LME warehouses in Korea and Singapore, the people said, although they cautioned that its plans could still change. Citi may ultimately decide to deliver the metal back on to the LME, one of the people said.

Citi declined to comment.

The size of Citis metal play provides the latest evidence that markets are shifting into a period of glut, where spot prices trade at a big enough discount to futures  known as a contango  to make metal-financing trades profitable.

Aluminum prices in August traded at the widest contango in 15 years, copper has in recent days slid to the widest contango in over two decades, while the zinc market is close to its widest contango in a decade.

LME inventories of the exchanges six main metals fell to the lowest in more than three decades at the start of this year, but since then they have risen 65% to a 16-month high, as Chinas slow economic recovery from Covid lockdowns and a downturn in manufacturing elsewhere weighed on demand.

Warehouse executives are anticipating further inflows, registering 14 new facilities on the LME system in the past three months. Most of those are in South Korea, which has become a key delivery hub for Russian aluminum that is being shunned by some buyers in the US and Europe.

The dynamic around Russian material has created an element of jeopardy for the aluminum market since the invasion of Ukraine. There are no blanket sanctions on Russian aluminum, but western producers including Alcoa Corp. and Norsk Hydro ASA have warned that the exchanges refusal to ban supplies from the country will lead to unwanted metal piling up on the LME and causing the worlds benchmark price to trade out of step with the rest of the market.

Read: London Metal Exchange Decides Against Ban on Russian Metal

However, the fact that Citi is willing to buy large quantities of aluminum out of LME warehouses  much of it of Russian origin  suggests that the worst-case scenario for the LME has been averted.

Financing plays were a dominant theme of the LMEs market in the years after the global financial crisis, when banks and traders bought up warehousing companies and engaged in battles to control and profit from a critical mass of inventory in a period known as the warehouse wars.

Citis current team includes some people who worked at that time at Deutsche Bank AG, which was one of the largest players in metals financing back then.

The trade has thrust Citi into the spotlight at a time of upheaval for some of its biggest rivals in metals trading. JPMorgan has pulled back from parts of its metals business after playing a central role in the nickel crisis on the LME last year, Bloomberg has reported, while Goldmans top base metals trader recently left to join trading house Javelin Commodities.

Meanwhile, Citi has also seen changes the top of its metals team, with longtime head Rick McIntire retiring this year, while Lorcan Cleary, who worked in the old Deutsche Bank team and is now at Citi, was promoted to a managing director role.

--With assistance from Mark Burton.

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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 6,807 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $206,000.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in Honda Motor by 46.3% in the 2nd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,065 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares in the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Honda Motor by 1,148.3% during the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,111 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 1,022 shares during the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG increased its holdings in shares of Honda Motor by 3,638.7% during the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 1,159 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,128 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Honda Motor during the 1st quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Vigilant Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Honda Motor during the 1st quarter worth approximately $45,000. 5.32% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on HMC shares. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Honda Motor from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Macquarie upgraded shares of Honda Motor from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 11th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Honda Motor from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Nomura downgraded shares of Honda Motor from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Honda Motor in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Honda Motor presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

Honda Motor Stock Up 0.4 %

Honda Motor stock opened at $32.90 on Tuesday. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $21.43 and a fifty-two week high of $36.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.44. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $32.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $30.12. The company has a market capitalization of $56.28 billion, a PE ratio of 8.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 0.74.

Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.61. The firm had revenue of $33.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $33.57 billion. Honda Motor had a net margin of 5.11% and a return on equity of 7.73%. Research analysts expect that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will post 3.88 earnings per share for the current year.

About Honda Motor

(Free Report)

Honda Motor Co, Ltd. develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, automobiles, power, and other products in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Motorcycle Business, Automobile Business, Financial Services Business, and Power Product and Other Businesses.

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Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 11.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 13,626 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,772 shares during the period. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $391,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FNY Investment Advisers LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bank of America by 75.9% in the 2nd quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 920 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC acquired a new position in Bank of America in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Bank of America by 45.7% in the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,036 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of America during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. 68.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BAC. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Bank of America from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Bank of America in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Oppenheimer lowered their target price on shares of Bank of America from $49.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Bank of America from $41.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.75.

Bank of America Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE BAC traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $25.94. The company had a trading volume of 9,981,194 shares, compared to its average volume of 48,565,109. The stock has a market capitalization of $206.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America Co. has a 1-year low of $25.47 and a 1-year high of $38.60. The firms 50 day moving average is $28.93 and its 200-day moving average is $28.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.04. Bank of America had a net margin of 19.97% and a return on equity of 12.01%. The company had revenue of $25.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.73 EPS. Bank of Americas revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is an increase from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. Bank of Americas payout ratio is currently 27.59%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Bank of America news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares in the company, valued at $5,836,455.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 353,971 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,143,007.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total transaction of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,836,455.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Bank of America Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) shot up 4.2% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $17.96 and last traded at $17.81. 646,239 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average session volume of 2,823,721 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.10.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on AU. BMO Capital Markets upgraded AngloGold Ashanti from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $19.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Scotiabank lowered their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $18.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a hold rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $23.25.

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AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 2.17 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The stocks 50-day moving average is $17.32 and its 200-day moving average is $21.82.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The mining company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by ($0.38). The company had revenue of $1.16 billion for the quarter. Equities research analysts expect that AngloGold Ashanti Limited will post 1.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 25th were paid a $0.029 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 24th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 32.4% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 147,596 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $3,570,000 after buying an additional 36,150 shares in the last quarter. Profund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 10.3% during the first quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 41,770 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,010,000 after purchasing an additional 3,884 shares during the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the 1st quarter valued at $2,391,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its stake in AngloGold Ashanti by 27.9% in the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 259,053 shares of the mining companys stock worth $6,266,000 after purchasing an additional 56,554 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lesa Sroufe & Co raised its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Lesa Sroufe & Co now owns 107,996 shares of the mining companys stock worth $2,612,000 after buying an additional 1,666 shares during the period. 22.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited operates as a gold mining company in Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The company explores for gold. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita project located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania. The company also owns 100% interest in the Iduapriem mine which covers 137 square kilometers located in the western region of Ghana; Obuasi project located in Ghana; AGA Mineracao in Brazil; Serra Grande located in central Brazil in the state of Goias; Greenfield Projects in the Beatty district in Nevada; and Sunrise Dam in Australia.

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Azul S.A. (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report) shot up 4.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $7.64 and last traded at $7.55. 379,703 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 2,519,114 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.20.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Azul in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $12.30 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Azul from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Monday, September 18th. Barclays raised shares of Azul from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $8.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Raymond James upped their price objective on Azul from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Azul from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $14.90 to $18.30 in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Azul has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $13.20.

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Azul Trading Up 5.3 %

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.35. The stock has a market cap of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.55 and a beta of 1.46.

Azul (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.81) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.70) by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $862.66 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $908.32 million. On average, equities analysts predict that Azul S.A. will post -1.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Azul

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Azul by 83.9% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,630 shares of the companys stock worth $151,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new stake in shares of Azul during the first quarter worth $3,449,000. Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Azul by 10.9% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 58,836 shares of the companys stock worth $885,000 after acquiring an additional 5,761 shares during the period. Penserra Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Azul by 74.0% during the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 8,827 shares of the companys stock worth $132,000 after purchasing an additional 3,753 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of Azul by 52.9% during the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 52,989 shares of the companys stock worth $798,000 after buying an additional 18,329 shares during the period. 1.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Azul Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Azul SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides scheduled air transportation services in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated approximately 1,000 daily departures to 158 destinations through a network of 300 non-stop routes with an operating fleet of 177 aircraft and a passenger contractual fleet of 194 aircraft.

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Azul S.A. (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the eight brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $13.20.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on AZUL. Barclays upgraded shares of Azul from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $8.00 to $14.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Azul from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $14.90 to $18.30 in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Azul from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Azul in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $12.30 target price for the company. Finally, Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Azul from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, August 14th.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Azul Price Performance

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AZUL. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Azul by 83.9% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,630 shares of the companys stock valued at $151,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA grew its position in shares of Azul by 18.0% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 9,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $69,000 after acquiring an additional 1,487 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its position in shares of Azul by 721.4% during the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,922 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,688 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Azul by 9.0% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $323,000 after acquiring an additional 1,941 shares during the period. Finally, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Azul during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 1.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Shares of Azul stock opened at $7.19 on Tuesday. Azul has a fifty-two week low of $3.82 and a fifty-two week high of $13.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.03 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.33 and a beta of 1.46. The companys 50 day moving average price is $9.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.35.

Azul (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.81) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.70) by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $862.66 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $908.32 million. On average, analysts expect that Azul will post -1.91 earnings per share for the current year.

About Azul

(Get Free Report

Azul SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides scheduled air transportation services in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated approximately 1,000 daily departures to 158 destinations through a network of 300 non-stop routes with an operating fleet of 177 aircraft and a passenger contractual fleet of 194 aircraft.

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Bank OZK reduced its position in Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report) by 33.8% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 2,061 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 1,054 shares during the quarter. Bank OZKs holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $497,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. bought a new position in Laboratory Co. of America during the 2nd quarter valued at $223,000. Boyar Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Boyar Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,756 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $906,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System increased its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 27,187 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $6,561,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 8.7% during the 2nd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,685 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $407,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 25.9% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 22,957 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,540,000 after purchasing an additional 4,721 shares during the last quarter. 89.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LH has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on Laboratory Co. of America from $247.41 to $231.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $270.00 target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Laboratory Co. of America from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Laboratory Co. of America from $290.00 to $270.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 14th. Finally, HSBC assumed coverage on Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $210.00 price objective for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $244.55.

Laboratory Co. of America Price Performance

LH stock traded up $1.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $203.44. 127,244 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 746,178. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 2.12. The company has a market capitalization of $18.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.83 and a beta of 1.07. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a 52-week low of $166.93 and a 52-week high of $222.33. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $208.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $217.80.

Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical research company reported $3.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.47 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.77 billion. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 5.89% and a return on equity of 14.62%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $4.96 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 13.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Laboratory Co. of America Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th were given a dividend of $0.72 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 7th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.42%. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.07%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Kerrii B. Anderson sold 5,000 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $211.57, for a total transaction of $1,057,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 15,275 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,231,731.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock.

Laboratory Co. of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development.

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Boyar Asset Management Inc. decreased its position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC  Free Report) by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 166,052 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,328 shares during the quarter. Bank of America makes up about 3.5% of Boyar Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 5th largest position. Boyar Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $4,764,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FNY Investment Advisers LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 75.9% during the second quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 920 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 45.7% during the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,036 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America during the first quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America during the first quarter worth about $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock.

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Bank of America Stock Up 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE:BAC traded up $0.75 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $27.06. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,925,912 shares, compared to its average volume of 48,499,793. Bank of America Co. has a fifty-two week low of $25.47 and a fifty-two week high of $38.60. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $28.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83. The company has a market capitalization of $215.03 billion, a PE ratio of 7.69, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.36.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.84 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $25.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.98 billion. Bank of America had a net margin of 19.97% and a return on equity of 12.01%. The businesss revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.73 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.4 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This is a boost from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.55%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 27.59%.

Insider Activity at Bank of America

In other Bank of America news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total transaction of $2,364,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,836,455.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Bank of America news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total transaction of $2,364,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,836,455.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,143,007.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BAC shares. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Bank of America from $41.00 to $40.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. HSBC began coverage on shares of Bank of America in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They set a buy rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Oppenheimer cut their price objective on Bank of America from $49.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Bank of America from $31.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Bank of America from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of America currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $35.32.

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About Bank of America

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its stake in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 46.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 897 shares of the aircraft producers stock after acquiring an additional 286 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $189,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arcataur Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Boeing during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $339,000. Aspire Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Aspire Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,499 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $1,372,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Oak Thistle LLC bought a new position in shares of Boeing during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $761,000. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of Boeing by 163.3% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 114,951 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $24,273,000 after acquiring an additional 71,298 shares during the period. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 80.0% during the 2nd quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 450 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $95,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. 61.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Theodore Colbert III sold 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $238.37, for a total transaction of $2,026,145.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 59,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,124,614.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Steven M. Mollenkopf acquired 850 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $237.00 per share, with a total value of $201,450.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 3,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $892,779. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Theodore Colbert III sold 8,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $238.37, for a total transaction of $2,026,145.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 59,255 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,124,614.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Boeing Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE BA opened at $188.49 on Tuesday. The Boeing Company has a 52-week low of $124.17 and a 52-week high of $243.10. The company has a fifty day moving average of $215.48 and a 200-day moving average of $211.92.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($0.82) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.99) by $0.17. The company had revenue of $19.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.59 billion. The businesss revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.37) earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that The Boeing Company will post -3.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BA has been the subject of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Boeing in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $204.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Boeing from $220.00 to $235.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Boeing from $270.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. TheStreet raised shares of Boeing from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Boeing in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $240.06.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BA

About Boeing

(Free Report)

The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital.

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Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW  Get Free Report) insider Chris Carney bought 132 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 9th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 114 ($1.40) per share, with a total value of 150.48 ($184.19).

Chris Carney also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, September 8th, Chris Carney acquired 133 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 113 ($1.38) per share, with a total value of 150.29 ($183.95).

Taylor Wimpey Stock Performance

TW stock traded down GBX 0.80 ($0.01) during trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 113.70 ($1.39). 12,289,718 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,409,451. The stock has a market capitalization of 4.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 710.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.99 and a beta of 1.78. Taylor Wimpey plc has a 52 week low of GBX 80.64 ($0.99) and a 52 week high of GBX 132.07 ($1.62). The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 115.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 115.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 5.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51.

Taylor Wimpey Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of GBX 4.79 ($0.06) per share. This is a positive change from Taylor Wimpeys previous dividend of $4.78. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a yield of 4.2%. Taylor Wimpeys dividend payout ratio is 6,250.00%.

A number of brokerages recently commented on TW. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 130 ($1.59) to GBX 94 ($1.15) and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 4th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 154 ($1.88) to GBX 141 ($1.73) and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 121.33 ($1.49).

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Taylor Wimpey

About Taylor Wimpey

(Get Free Report)

Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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Colton Groome Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:GBF  Free Report) by 34.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,794 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,771 shares during the quarter. iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF makes up approximately 0.9% of Colton Groome Financial Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Colton Groome Financial Advisors LLC owned 1.30% of iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF worth $1,955,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Allworth Financial LP purchased a new stake in iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF during the first quarter valued at about $11,657,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF by 20,429.0% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 106,956 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,314,000 after buying an additional 106,435 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF by 144.5% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 175,686 shares of the companys stock worth $18,025,000 after buying an additional 103,839 shares during the period. German American Bancorp Inc. bought a new position in iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,658,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF by 134.5% in the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 117,855 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,673,000 after buying an additional 67,596 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF Stock Up 0.0 %

NYSEARCA GBF traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $99.64. The company had a trading volume of 869 shares, compared to its average volume of 27,871. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $101.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $103.45. iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $98.32 and a 52 week high of $107.08.

About iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF

iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of the United States dollar-denominated government, government-related and investment-grade the United States corporate bonds. The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Barclays U.S.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hacking groups, including some tied to Russia, are attacking Israeli government and media websites, allying themselves with the Palestinian military group Hamas that launched a series of deadly strikes on the country over the weekend.

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Killnet, a group that purports to be made of up patriotic Russian volunteer hackers, announced on Sunday that it would target all Israeli government systems with distributed denial-of-service attacks, a type of cyberattack known as DDoS that floods websites with traffic and forces them offline. The group said it blamed Israel for the bloodshed and accused the country of supporting Ukraine and NATO. Killnet then claimed it brought down an Israeli government website and the website of security agency Shin Bet for a period of time on Sunday.

The groups claim couldnt immediately be substantiated. Both websites were down for a period on Sunday, according to the website monitoring site check-host.net.

Meanwhile, Anonymous Sudan  a hacking group that cybersecurity experts suspect as being a Russian front group  declared its support for the Palestinian resistance and took credit for attacks on the Jerusalem Posts website, taking it offline briefly on Monday morning. The newspaper wrote in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had been targeted by multiple cyberattacks. Its website has since been restored.

It is clear that other Russian hacktivists are also choosing sides and actively support Hamas in their war against Israel, said Mattias Wahlen, threat intelligence expert at the cybersecurity firm Truesec AB. Their actions look more like opportunistic strikes. The conflict creates headlines which attracts groups like Killnet that try to monetize DDoS attacks. It still sends the message that Russia is on the side of Hamas and against Israel.

Story continues

Scores of other self-styled hacktivist gangs claimed they were launching hacks against Israeli infrastructure, targeting websites associated with power plants and missile alert systems. Many of the attacks couldnt be independently verified.

Cybersecurity firm Group-IB said a hacker group calling itself AnonGhost had compromised a mobile phone application that is used to issue missile alerts to Israelis during periods of conflict. The hackers exploited a vulnerability in the app to insert fake notifications, with phrases such as death to Israel and the nuclear bomb is coming, alongside a swastika, according to Group-IB and screenshots posted by the hackers. Group-IB said the app since appeared to have been removed from Googles Play Store, where it had been downloaded 1 million times. The developers didnt respond to a request for comment.

AnonGhost said in a statement posted on Telegram on Tuesday that it was targeting several other Israeli apps that issue missile alerts and posted what it claimed was a phone number for an Israeli cyber official, whom it encouraged its supporters to spam.

Israel is often a target of cyberattacks, and Iranian hackers have been persistently blamed for some of them. However, it wasnt yet clear if Irans hacking forces were engaged in the current conflict.

Read More: Israel Blames Iran-Backed Hackers for Recent University Breach

Pro-Israel groups have waged their own attacks, targeting Palestinian organizations with cyberattacks. One group, calling itself Indian Cyber Force, said it had downed the Palestinian National Banks website and Hamass website on Sunday. Both were still inaccessible on Monday. The bank couldnt be located for comment.

Gil Messing, chief of staff for the Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. said the cyberattacks had little impact so far. The last few days werent very prominent in terms of cyber. Some of the groups were carrying out DDoS attacks on some news websites and government websites but none of this was serious or long, Messing said. So all in all so far this front is not significant. This of course can change.

Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, said there hasnt been a major cyber component to the conflict yet. Instead, the agency has seen small denial-of-service attacks and minor web defacements, along with the expectation that outside parties would join in amplifying messaging on Hamass behalf.

There may be significant events coming, more hacktivists, more people taking up cyber arms in defense of their cause, he said, speaking at a security conference on Sea Island in Georgia. It wont be sophisticated in the early days. Some times you dont need to be sophisticated to have an impact.

--With assistance from Jamie Tarabay.

(Updates with AnonGhost statement in eighth paragraph.)

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Convergence Investment Partners LLC cut its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Free Report) by 1.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 10,146 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 112 shares during the period. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,819,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 216.0% in the 2nd quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 158 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the period. Carderock Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 205.0% during the 1st quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 183 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.45% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UPS shares. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $185.00 to $179.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $204.00 to $194.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $181.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have assigned a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $188.26.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Nando Cesarone sold 22,825 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.70, for a total transaction of $3,919,052.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $171.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of United Parcel Service stock traded down $1.55 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $152.72. The company had a trading volume of 319,784 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,321,564. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $166.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $175.11. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $150.54 and a 1-year high of $197.80. The company has a market capitalization of $130.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.09.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The transportation company reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.05. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 51.28% and a net margin of 10.41%. The company had revenue of $22.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.04 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.29 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 9.37 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Investors of record on Monday, August 14th were paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.24%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 11th. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.20%.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

(Free Report)

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.

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Everett Harris & Co. CA purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP  Free Report) (TSE:CP) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 78,055 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $6,305,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in CP. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 31,281,327 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,526,593,000 after purchasing an additional 1,845,478 shares during the period. FIL Ltd boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 30,263,794 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,330,353,000 after purchasing an additional 698,587 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,249,662 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,496,807,000 after purchasing an additional 695,215 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 15,258,466 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,174,866,000 after purchasing an additional 1,102,823 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,136,503,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.93% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $100.00 price target for the company. Bank of America dropped their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $91.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com upgraded Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $89.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.93.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Trading Up 0.5 %

CP stock traded up $0.35 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $73.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 248,071 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,963,098. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.67. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $78.73. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 1 year low of $65.17 and a 1 year high of $85.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $68.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.29, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.01.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP  Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.07). Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 8.92% and a net margin of 41.92%. The business had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.47 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $0.1437 dividend. This is a positive change from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.28%.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products.

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Factory Mutual Insurance Co. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 136.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 880,976 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 509,076 shares during the quarter. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF makes up 1.3% of Factory Mutual Insurance Co.s portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. owned 0.09% of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF worth $86,292,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Key Financial Inc increased its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 1,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $137,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Gries Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Gries Financial LLC now owns 10,703 shares of the companys stock worth $1,066,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Benin Management CORP increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Benin Management CORP now owns 2,611 shares of the companys stock worth $260,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. VAUGHAN & Co SECURITIES INC. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. VAUGHAN & Co SECURITIES INC. now owns 4,277 shares of the companys stock worth $419,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pathstone Family Office LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 6,033 shares of the companys stock worth $581,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.21% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF stock opened at $93.35 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $95.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $97.47. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $92.37 and a twelve month high of $101.15.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Company Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Goelzer Investment Management Inc. decreased its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 0.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 144,181 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,270 shares during the quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $9,220,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BMY. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 86,002.1% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 659,143,253 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $42,152,211,000 after buying an additional 658,377,716 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter valued at $1,873,696,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,544,751,000 after purchasing an additional 21,451,006 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 193.4% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,214,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $186,351,000 after purchasing an additional 4,755,058 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 31.1% in the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 18,080,568 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,252,480,000 after buying an additional 4,286,479 shares in the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BMY has been the subject of several research reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $87.00 to $79.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $75.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday. Atlantic Securities lowered their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.50.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

BMY remained flat at $56.61 during mid-day trading on Tuesday. 2,422,619 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,996,491. The stocks 50-day moving average is $60.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $64.06. The firm has a market cap of $118.26 billion, a PE ratio of 15.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $55.69 and a 1-year high of $81.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The firm had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.93 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 60.64%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total value of $1,101,642.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Goelzer Investment Management Inc. cut its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 0.2% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 86,958 shares of the companys stock after selling 133 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up 3.5% of Goelzer Investment Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $40,782,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in LLY. Towerpoint Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% during the second quarter. Towerpoint Wealth LLC now owns 4,239 shares of the companys stock worth $1,988,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,591 shares of the companys stock worth $746,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,050 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,078,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Missouri Trust & Investment Co grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 774 shares of the companys stock worth $266,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the period. Finally, IFG Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 3.8% during the second quarter. IFG Advisors LLC now owns 654 shares of the companys stock worth $307,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on LLY. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $617.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Argus raised their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $408.00 to $615.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $385.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and twenty have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $538.65.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock traded up $9.77 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $581.53. The stock had a trading volume of 1,003,399 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,005,027. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. The company has a market capitalization of $552.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 79.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $544.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $464.97. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $309.20 and a 52 week high of $601.84.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.13. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 65.00% and a net margin of 22.01%. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.25 EPS. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 101,028,219 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,141,787,549.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total transaction of $275,772.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,219 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,141,787,549.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977 over the last 90 days. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Shares of Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $18.56.

Several brokerages have issued reports on INFY. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Infosys in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. They issued a buy rating for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Infosys in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Nomura raised shares of Infosys from a reduce rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $22.00 price objective on shares of Infosys in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Infosys from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $14.00 to $16.80 in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th.

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Infosys Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:INFY opened at $17.76 on Tuesday. Infosys has a 12 month low of $14.71 and a 12 month high of $20.57. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $17.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $16.43. The company has a market cap of $73.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.67, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.96.

Infosys (NYSE:INFY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The technology company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $4.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.55 billion. Infosys had a net margin of 16.41% and a return on equity of 32.39%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Infosys will post 0.71 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Infosys

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Infosys by 28.2% during the third quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC now owns 22,185 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $380,000 after buying an additional 4,875 shares during the period. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD increased its holdings in Infosys by 73.6% during the second quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 5,312,153 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $85,366,000 after buying an additional 2,252,695 shares during the period. Veritas Asset Management LLP increased its holdings in Infosys by 55.6% during the second quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 420,000 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,749,000 after buying an additional 150,000 shares during the period. Wambolt & Associates LLC increased its holdings in Infosys by 26.6% during the second quarter. Wambolt & Associates LLC now owns 27,854 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $448,000 after buying an additional 5,854 shares during the period. Finally, GTS Securities LLC purchased a new position in Infosys during the second quarter valued at approximately $355,000. Institutional investors own 11.39% of the companys stock.

Infosys Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Infosys Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, technology, outsourcing, and next-generation digital services in North America, Europe, India, and internationally. It provides application management and application development services, independent validation solutions, product engineering and management, infrastructure management services, traditional enterprise application implementation, support, and integration services.

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Murray International (LON:MYI  Get Free Report) insider Gregory Eckersley bought 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 229 ($2.80) per share, with a total value of 11,450 ($14,014.69).

Gregory Eckersley also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, August 31st, Gregory Eckersley purchased 5,000 shares of Murray International stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 244 ($2.99) per share, for a total transaction of 12,200 ($14,932.68).

Murray International Stock Up 2.0 %

MYI stock traded up GBX 4.61 ($0.06) during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 231.61 ($2.83). The companys stock had a trading volume of 766,915 shares, compared to its average volume of 810,039. The company has a market cap of 1.45 billion, a PE ratio of 1,283.33 and a beta of 0.74. The firms 50-day moving average is GBX 240.79 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 253.71. Murray International has a 12 month low of GBX 225.60 ($2.76) and a 12 month high of GBX 275.84 ($3.38). The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.66.

Murray International Cuts Dividend

About Murray International

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 5th will be given a GBX 2.40 ($0.03) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Murray Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5,555.56%.

(Get Free Report)

Murray International Trust PLC is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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TimeScale Financial Inc. grew its position in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (NYSEARCA:PCY  Free Report) by 97.0% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 9,813 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,833 shares during the period. TimeScale Financial Inc.s holdings in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF were worth $191,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial & Tax Architects LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 39.5% during the second quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC now owns 703,572 shares of the companys stock worth $13,713,000 after buying an additional 199,161 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 52.5% in the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 105,858 shares of the companys stock worth $2,063,000 after purchasing an additional 36,448 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 4.2% during the second quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 407,743 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,947,000 after purchasing an additional 16,337 shares during the period. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 36.8% during the second quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 34,216 shares of the companys stock valued at $667,000 after purchasing an additional 9,206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 127.6% during the second quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 110,566 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,155,000 after purchasing an additional 61,981 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Stock Performance

PCY traded up $0.17 on Tuesday, reaching $18.02. The company had a trading volume of 262,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 876,534. The company has a fifty day moving average of $18.88 and a 200-day moving average of $19.08. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF has a one year low of $16.20 and a one year high of $20.31.

Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Profile

The Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks a tier-weighted index of US-dollar-denominated sovereign debt in emerging markets with at least 3 years to maturity. PCY was launched on Oct 11, 2007 and is managed by Invesco.

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Olstein Capital Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ  Free Report) by 12.0% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 634,000 shares of the asset managers stock after acquiring an additional 68,000 shares during the period. Invesco makes up approximately 1.7% of Olstein Capital Management L.P.s holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Olstein Capital Management L.P.s holdings in Invesco were worth $10,658,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank OZK bought a new stake in Invesco during the 2nd quarter worth about $688,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of Invesco by 34.0% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 265,506 shares of the asset managers stock worth $4,520,000 after buying an additional 67,379 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Invesco by 8.2% in the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 63,071 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,060,000 after buying an additional 4,776 shares during the period. Finally, Dupont Capital Management Corp bought a new position in Invesco in the second quarter valued at approximately $399,000. 66.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Invesco Stock Up 2.3 %

Shares of IVZ traded up $0.32 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $13.95. The stock had a trading volume of 1,181,669 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,550,510. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 5.15 and a quick ratio of 5.15. The firm has a market cap of $6.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.40. Invesco Ltd. has a twelve month low of $13.20 and a twelve month high of $20.56. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.98.

Invesco Announces Dividend

Invesco ( NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The asset manager reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by ($0.09). Invesco had a return on equity of 7.54% and a net margin of 15.29%. The firm had revenue of $1.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.39 EPS. The companys revenue was down 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Invesco Ltd. will post 1.53 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. Invescos payout ratio is 56.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on IVZ. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Invesco from $17.00 to $19.00 in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Invesco from $17.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Invesco in a research report on Monday, July 10th. They set a market perform rating and a $21.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Invesco in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Invesco from $19.00 to $15.75 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $17.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on IVZ

Insider Activity at Invesco

In other news, major shareholder Invesco Realty, Inc. bought 796,323 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $25.12 per share, for a total transaction of $20,003,633.76. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 1,052,487 shares in the company, valued at $26,438,473.44. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 2.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Invesco

(Free Report)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds.

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Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. grew its holdings in L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX  Free Report) by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,155 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the quarter. Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc.s holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $1,988,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of LHX. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new position in L3Harris Technologies in the second quarter worth $30,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management bought a new position in L3Harris Technologies in the first quarter worth $25,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC lifted its position in L3Harris Technologies by 179.6% in the second quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 137 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in L3Harris Technologies in the first quarter worth $27,000. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC lifted its position in L3Harris Technologies by 58.0% in the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 158 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. 81.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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L3Harris Technologies Trading Down 1.7 %

L3Harris Technologies stock traded down $3.11 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $177.10. The stock had a trading volume of 599,361 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,154,759. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $176.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $187.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.49 billion, a PE ratio of 42.90, a P/E/G ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.71. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $160.25 and a 12 month high of $255.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

L3Harris Technologies Announces Dividend

L3Harris Technologies ( NYSE:LHX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $2.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.94 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $4.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.37 billion. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 12.82% and a net margin of 4.46%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.23 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. will post 12.3 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 5th were issued a $1.14 dividend. This represents a $4.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 1st. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 108.57%.

Insider Activity at L3Harris Technologies

In other L3Harris Technologies news, President Edward J. Zoiss sold 30,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.84, for a total transaction of $2,725,200.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 31,923 shares in the company, valued at $2,899,885.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.82% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on LHX. Citigroup started coverage on L3Harris Technologies in a research report on Monday, September 11th. They issued a buy rating and a $193.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on L3Harris Technologies from $162.00 to $164.00 in a research note on Friday, August 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on L3Harris Technologies in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered L3Harris Technologies from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $239.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $240.00 price objective on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a research note on Friday, August 18th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $226.87.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on L3Harris Technologies

About L3Harris Technologies

(Free Report)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc, an aerospace and defense technology company, provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems; and communication systems, as well as fleet management support, sensor development, modification, and periodic depot maintenance services for ISR and airborne missions.

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Key Insights

The considerable ownership by retail investors in Deutsche Bank indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

37% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Institutional ownership in Deutsche Bank is 34%

A look at the shareholders of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:DBK) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that retail investors own the lion's share in the company with 56% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

And institutions on the other hand have a 34% ownership in the company. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Deutsche Bank, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Deutsche Bank

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Deutsche Bank?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Deutsche Bank already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Deutsche Bank's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Story continues

Deutsche Bank is not owned by hedge funds. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 5.4% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.6% and 3.8%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Deutsche Bank

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. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft. The insiders have a meaningful stake worth 2.0b. Most would say this shows a good alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 56% stake in Deutsche Bank, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. With this amount of ownership, retail investors can collectively play a role in decisions that affect shareholder returns, such as dividend policies and the appointment of directors. They can also exercise the power to vote on acquisitions or mergers that may not improve profitability.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Deutsche Bank better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Deutsche Bank has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 16,978 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 380 shares during the period. Illinois Tool Works comprises 1.1% of Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $4,247,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ITW. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC raised its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 145.2% during the first quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 103 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter worth $25,000. Sturgeon Ventures LLP acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the first quarter valued at about $26,000. Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 52.7% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 142 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 43.5% during the first quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 165 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ITW traded up $2.34 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $236.82. The companys stock had a trading volume of 377,131 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,060,651. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $239.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.19, a P/E/G ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a one year low of $180.46 and a one year high of $264.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25.

Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.14 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 94.14%. Illinois Tool Workss revenue for the quarter was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.37 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.36%. This is a boost from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is currently 55.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ITW. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $281.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $235.00 in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $236.73.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ITW

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWT  Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 853,928 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the previous sessions volume of 2,721,857 shares.The stock last traded at $45.40 and had previously closed at $45.43.

iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Trading Up 0.8 %

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $45.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $45.92. The stock has a market cap of $3.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02 and a beta of 0.86.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EWT. OLD Mission Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $79,170,000. Sun Life Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $72,705,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 16,315.1% during the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 847,512 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $38,418,000 after purchasing an additional 842,349 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 203.5% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,177,172 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $55,351,000 after purchasing an additional 789,254 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 97,643.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 586,460 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $27,575,000 after buying an additional 585,860 shares during the last quarter.

About iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF

Ishares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Taiwan IndexSM (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

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Seed Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NYSEARCA:JMBS  Free Report) by 12.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 40,735 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,430 shares during the quarter. Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF makes up approximately 2.0% of Seed Wealth Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Seed Wealth Management Inc. owned about 0.16% of Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF worth $1,864,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atria Investments Inc bought a new stake in Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $1,081,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF by 879.9% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 165,449 shares of the companys stock worth $7,571,000 after purchasing an additional 148,564 shares during the period. Madison Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Madison Asset Management LLC now owns 771,684 shares of the companys stock worth $36,030,000 after purchasing an additional 22,745 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Capital Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $268,000. Finally, Divergent Planning LLC grew its holdings in Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Divergent Planning LLC now owns 535,638 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,009,000 after buying an additional 43,743 shares during the last quarter.

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Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of JMBS stock traded down $0.08 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $43.03. 52,077 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 260,882. Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF has a fifty-two week low of $42.32 and a fifty-two week high of $47.47. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $44.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.39.

Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF Profile

The Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (JMBS) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg U.S. MBS index. The fund is an actively managed fund of mortgage-backed securities. The fund seeks a high level of total return. JMBS was launched on Sep 12, 2018 and is managed by Janus Henderson.

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JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS  Get Free Report)s stock price was up 7.1% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $30.69 and last traded at $30.59. Approximately 190,185 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 819,974 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.55.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on JKS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of JinkoSolar from $38.00 to $33.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of JinkoSolar in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

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View Our Latest Analysis on JKS

JinkoSolar Trading Up 8.2 %

The companys fifty day moving average price is $32.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $40.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a market cap of $1.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 0.88.

JinkoSolar (NYSE:JKS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 14th. The semiconductor company reported $3.36 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.08 by $1.28. JinkoSolar had a net margin of 3.21% and a return on equity of 11.84%. The firm had revenue of $4.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.18 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. will post 10.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

JinkoSolar Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a  dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 24th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 22nd.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of JKS. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of JinkoSolar by 97.3% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 187,100 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $9,546,000 after acquiring an additional 92,250 shares during the period. Causeway Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of JinkoSolar in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $11,403,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of JinkoSolar by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,208 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $929,000 after acquiring an additional 1,093 shares during the period. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of JinkoSolar in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,908,000. Finally, Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. acquired a new stake in shares of JinkoSolar in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $241,000. Institutional investors own 35.82% of the companys stock.

JinkoSolar Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

JinkoSolar Holding Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, production, and marketing of photovoltaic products. The company offers solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells, recovered silicon materials, and silicon ingots. It also provides solar system integration services; and develops commercial solar power projects.

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KMD Brands Limited (ASX:KMD  Get Free Report) insider David Kirk acquired 206,664 shares of KMD Brands stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was acquired at an average price of A$0.87 ($0.56) per share, with a total value of A$180,004.34 ($115,387.40).

KMD Brands Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.40.

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KMD Brands Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a Final dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 19th will be paid a $0.023 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 3rd. This represents a yield of 2.99%. KMD Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.00%.

About KMD Brands

KMD Brands Limited, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, wholesales, and retails apparel, footwear, and equipment for surfing and the outdoors under the Kathmandu, Rip Curl, and Oboz brands in New Zealand, Australia, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Brazil. The company was formerly known as Kathmandu Holdings Limited and changed its name to KMD Brands Limited in March 2022.

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L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the sixteen research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $226.87.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on LHX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $162.00 to $164.00 in a report on Friday, August 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on L3Harris Technologies in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a hold rating and a $192.00 price target for the company. Bank of America reduced their price target on L3Harris Technologies from $230.00 to $210.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $240.00 price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a report on Friday, August 18th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on L3Harris Technologies in a report on Monday, September 11th. They set a buy rating and a $193.00 price target for the company.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on L3Harris Technologies

Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, President Edward J. Zoiss sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.84, for a total transaction of $2,725,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 31,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,899,885.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of LHX. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in L3Harris Technologies by 283.0% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,103 shares of the companys stock worth $272,000 after acquiring an additional 815 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC acquired a new stake in L3Harris Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $8,013,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in L3Harris Technologies by 14.2% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 62,374 shares of the companys stock worth $15,643,000 after buying an additional 7,773 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in L3Harris Technologies by 18.9% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,372 shares of the companys stock worth $838,000 after buying an additional 537 shares during the period. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in L3Harris Technologies by 16.7% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,230 shares of the companys stock worth $306,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. 81.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

L3Harris Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of LHX opened at $180.25 on Tuesday. L3Harris Technologies has a 12 month low of $160.25 and a 12 month high of $255.10. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $176.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $187.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.92, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $2.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.94 by $0.03. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 12.82% and a net margin of 4.46%. The business had revenue of $4.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.37 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.23 earnings per share. L3Harris Technologiess revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that L3Harris Technologies will post 12.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

L3Harris Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 5th were paid a dividend of $1.14 per share. This represents a $4.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 1st. L3Harris Technologiess payout ratio is 108.57%.

About L3Harris Technologies

(Get Free Report

L3Harris Technologies, Inc, an aerospace and defense technology company, provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems; and communication systems, as well as fleet management support, sensor development, modification, and periodic depot maintenance services for ISR and airborne missions.

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Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $349.38.

Several brokerages have recently commented on MOH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $348.00 to $341.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $340.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $359.00 price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Stephens reissued an equal weight rating and set a $350.00 price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd.

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Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Molina Healthcare

In other news, insider Jeff D. Barlow sold 12,500 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.77, for a total value of $3,784,625.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 64,973 shares in the company, valued at $19,671,875.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other news, insider Jeff D. Barlow sold 12,500 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.77, for a total value of $3,784,625.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 64,973 shares in the company, valued at $19,671,875.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, Director Steven J. Orlando sold 723 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.25, for a total transaction of $217,803.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 20,265 shares in the company, valued at $6,104,831.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 17,938 shares of company stock worth $5,474,336 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 18.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,449,375 shares of the companys stock worth $2,151,448,000 after buying an additional 1,001,372 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 2.4% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,865,464 shares of the companys stock worth $1,465,672,000 after buying an additional 113,511 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 1.2% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,352,122 shares of the companys stock worth $1,311,033,000 after buying an additional 53,139 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 59.5% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,787,368 shares of the companys stock worth $1,013,084,000 after buying an additional 1,413,257 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 40.4% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,603,321 shares of the companys stock valued at $696,362,000 after purchasing an additional 749,696 shares during the last quarter. 98.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Molina Healthcare Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MOH opened at $338.15 on Tuesday. Molina Healthcare has a one year low of $256.19 and a one year high of $374.00. The company has a 50 day moving average of $320.15 and a 200-day moving average of $300.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.52. The stock has a market cap of $19.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.63.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $5.65 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.05 by $0.60. Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 2.81% and a return on equity of 35.87%. The company had revenue of $8.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.32 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $4.55 EPS. Molina Healthcares revenue was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Molina Healthcare will post 20.79 earnings per share for the current year.

Molina Healthcare Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments, Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.

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Atalaya Mining Plc (LON:ATYM  Get Free Report) insider Neil Gregson purchased 4,312 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 311 ($3.81) per share, for a total transaction of 13,410.32 ($16,414.10).

Atalaya Mining Price Performance

ATYM traded up GBX 4 ($0.05) during trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 308 ($3.77). 300,340 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 216,130. Atalaya Mining Plc has a twelve month low of GBX 216 ($2.64) and a twelve month high of GBX 385 ($4.71). The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 330.19 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 331.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.06, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The company has a market cap of 430.83 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,171.43, a PEG ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 1.67.

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Atalaya Mining Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 24th were given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This is an increase from Atalaya Minings previous dividend of $0.04. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 24th. Atalaya Minings dividend payout ratio is currently 5,000.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on ATYM. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Atalaya Mining from GBX 590 ($7.22) to GBX 600 ($7.34) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 420 ($5.14) target price on shares of Atalaya Mining in a research report on Friday, July 21st.

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About Atalaya Mining

(Get Free Report)

Atalaya Mining Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration and development in Spain. The company's flagship property is its 100% owned Proyecto Riotinto mine, an open-pit copper mine located in the Andalusia region of Spain. It produces copper concentrates, including silver by-products.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of New Concept Energy (NYSE:GBR  Free Report) in a research note published on Friday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

Separately, TheStreet downgraded shares of New Concept Energy from a c rating to a d rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on GBR

New Concept Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:GBR opened at $1.23 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $1.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1.11. New Concept Energy has a 1-year low of $0.91 and a 1-year high of $1.77.

New Concept Energy (NYSE:GBR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 7th. The company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter. New Concept Energy had a net margin of 24.50% and a return on equity of 1.07%. The company had revenue of $0.04 million for the quarter.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On New Concept Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of New Concept Energy by 129.4% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 24,068 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 13,576 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in New Concept Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in New Concept Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $95,000.

New Concept Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

New Concept Energy, Inc engages in real estate rental business. The company owns approximately 190 acres of land located in Parkersburg West Virginia. It also provides advisory and management services for an independent oil and gas company. The company was formerly known as CabelTel International Corporation and changed its name to New Concept Energy, Inc in May 2008.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Hold from the fourteen analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have given a hold recommendation, four have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $19.43.

Several research firms have issued reports on NCLH. Barclays cut their price objective on Norwegian Cruise Line from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Norwegian Cruise Line from $17.00 to $19.00 in a report on Monday, June 12th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Norwegian Cruise Line from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $25.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating and issued a $14.50 target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Susquehanna downgraded Norwegian Cruise Line from a positive rating to a neutral rating and set a $17.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NCLH opened at $16.64 on Tuesday. Norwegian Cruise Line has a twelve month low of $11.19 and a twelve month high of $22.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 788.03, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.29. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $16.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.01.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $0.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.03. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative net margin of 11.88% and a negative return on equity of 863.25%. The company had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.17 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($1.22) EPS. Norwegian Cruise Lines revenue was up 85.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Norwegian Cruise Line will post 0.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norwegian Cruise Line

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Boulder Hill Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Norwegian Cruise Line during the first quarter worth approximately $765,000. Pictet Asset Management SA boosted its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 2.7% during the first quarter. Pictet Asset Management SA now owns 74,893 shares of the companys stock worth $1,007,000 after purchasing an additional 1,945 shares during the period. Friedenthal Financial bought a new stake in Norwegian Cruise Line during the second quarter worth approximately $771,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 4,080.0% during the first quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 802,273 shares of the companys stock worth $10,791,000 after purchasing an additional 783,080 shares during the period. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 12.0% during the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 588,273 shares of the companys stock worth $7,912,000 after purchasing an additional 62,882 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.49% of the companys stock.

Norwegian Cruise Line Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. It offers itineraries ranging from three days to a 180-days calling on various locations, including destinations in Scandinavia, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, India, South America, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.

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These days it's easy to simply buy an index fund, and your returns should (roughly) match the market. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, the Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (ETR:DBAN) share price is up 38% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market return of around 13% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. On the other hand, longer term shareholders have had a tougher run, with the stock falling 6.1% in three years.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

Check out our latest analysis for Deutsche Beteiligungs

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Deutsche Beteiligungs went from making a loss to reporting a profit, in the last year.

When a company is just on the edge of profitability it can be well worth considering other metrics in order to more precisely gauge growth (and therefore understand share price movements).

However the year on year revenue growth of 800% would help. We do see some companies suppress earnings in order to accelerate revenue growth.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

It is of course excellent to see how Deutsche Beteiligungs has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. Take a more thorough look at Deutsche Beteiligungs' financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Deutsche Beteiligungs, it has a TSR of 42% for the last 1 year. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Deutsche Beteiligungs shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 42% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 3%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Deutsche Beteiligungs , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German 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.
Norwood Financial Corp trimmed its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Free Report) by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,590 shares of the retailers stock after selling 350 shares during the period. Walmart accounts for 1.1% of Norwood Financial Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Norwood Financial Corps holdings in Walmart were worth $721,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in Walmart by 93,272.8% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 821,003,685 shares of the retailers stock valued at $129,045,359,000 after buying an additional 820,124,410 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Walmart by 112,181.6% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,854,919 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,240,599,000 after acquiring an additional 22,834,564 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,598,736,000. Providence Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1,164,937.0% during the first quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,718,400 shares of the retailers stock worth $32,000,000 after purchasing an additional 4,717,995 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners increased its position in shares of Walmart by 7,546.2% in the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,166,995 shares of the retailers stock worth $467,747,000 after purchasing an additional 3,125,576 shares during the last quarter. 33.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on WMT shares. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Walmart from $175.00 to $190.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Raymond James raised their price target on Walmart from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Walmart from $166.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Walmart from $167.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Walmart in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $177.22.

Walmart Price Performance

NYSE WMT opened at $155.76 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.26. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $128.28 and a 1-year high of $165.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $419.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.95, a PEG ratio of 3.69 and a beta of 0.49. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $160.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $155.15.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 17th. The retailer reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.69 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $161.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $160.22 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.47% and a net margin of 2.23%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.77 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 6.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In other news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.40, for a total transaction of $1,576,579.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,461,509 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $237,349,061.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP John D. Rainey sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.48, for a total transaction of $159,480.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 170,735 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,228,817.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.40, for a total value of $1,576,579.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,461,509 shares of the companys stock, valued at $237,349,061.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 31,166 shares of company stock worth $5,011,557. Corporate insiders own 46.51% of the companys stock.

About Walmart

(Free Report)

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications.

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its stake in Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 71,849 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 564 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Prologis were worth $8,811,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Prologis in the 4th quarter worth about $980,759,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Prologis by 69,785.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 7,903,391 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $969,193,000 after buying an additional 7,892,082 shares during the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Prologis by 12,581.9% in the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,760,504 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $46,168,000 after buying an additional 5,715,081 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in Prologis by 48.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 14,577,827 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,643,359,000 after buying an additional 4,729,040 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Prologis in the 4th quarter worth about $232,205,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.90% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Prologis

In other news, Director George L. Fotiades sold 10,711 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.98, for a total transaction of $1,327,949.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Prologis in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. BTIG Research boosted their price target on Prologis from $152.00 to $154.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Mizuho restated a buy rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of Prologis in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. BNP Paribas upgraded Prologis from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $141.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price target on Prologis from $140.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $140.16.

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Prologis Trading Up 0.5 %

PLD stock opened at $109.46 on Tuesday. Prologis, Inc. has a 1-year low of $98.03 and a 1-year high of $136.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.34 and a quick ratio of 0.34. The company has a market capitalization of $101.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.81, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.99. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $119.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $121.99.

Prologis (NYSE:PLD  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $2.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.72 billion. Prologis had a return on equity of 6.17% and a net margin of 42.52%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 95.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.11 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prologis Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 18th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 15th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.18%. Prologiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.58%.

About Prologis

(Free Report)

Prologis, Inc is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. At June 30, 2023, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.2 billion square feet (114 million square meters) in 19 countries.

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU  Free Report) by 9.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 92,504 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 8,292 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $8,161,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new position in shares of Prudential Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. bought a new position in Prudential Financial during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in Prudential Financial in the first quarter worth $27,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the first quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Prudential Financial in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. 54.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Prudential Financial Stock Up 0.6 %

PRU opened at $93.41 on Tuesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $94.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $88.86. The company has a market capitalization of $33.91 billion, a PE ratio of 31.14, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.38. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 1-year low of $75.37 and a 1-year high of $110.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Prudential Financial Announces Dividend

Prudential Financial ( NYSE:PRU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.04 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $12.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.68 billion. Prudential Financial had a net margin of 1.82% and a return on equity of 15.73%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.74 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 11.83 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 22nd were paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.35%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 21st. Prudential Financials payout ratio is 166.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PRU has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Prudential Financial from an underperform rating to a hold rating and increased their target price for the company from $70.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. Barclays boosted their price target on Prudential Financial from $91.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Prudential Financial from $89.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $102.91.

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About Prudential Financial

(Free Report)

Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Annuities, Individual Life, Assurance IQ, and International Businesses segments.

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Pinnacle Associates Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) by 30.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 97,001 shares of the shipping service providers stock after purchasing an additional 22,451 shares during the period. Pinnacle Associates Ltd.s holdings in FedEx were worth $24,047,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in FDX. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in FedEx by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 6,904 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,712,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. lifted its position in FedEx by 0.8% during the second quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 5,497 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,363,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in FedEx by 0.9% during the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 5,236 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,196,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in FedEx by 1.1% during the first quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,098 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $936,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in shares of FedEx by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 1,105 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $252,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. 73.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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FedEx Stock Performance

FDX traded up $2.92 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $258.64. The company had a trading volume of 391,201 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,987,761. FedEx Co. has a 12-month low of $148.93 and a 12-month high of $270.95. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $260.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $244.07. The stock has a market cap of $65.03 billion, a PE ratio of 15.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.37.

FedEx Announces Dividend

FedEx ( NYSE:FDX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.84. FedEx had a return on equity of 16.14% and a net margin of 4.71%. The business had revenue of $21.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.74 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.44 earnings per share. FedExs revenue for the quarter was down 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that FedEx Co. will post 18.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, September 11th were paid a dividend of $1.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.95%. FedExs dividend payout ratio is currently 30.73%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FDX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on FedEx from $228.00 to $251.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of FedEx from $255.00 to $295.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Argus increased their price objective on shares of FedEx from $240.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Robert W. Baird reissued an outperform rating and issued a $300.00 price target on shares of FedEx in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on FedEx from $270.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, FedEx presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $277.84.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 13,348 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.25, for a total value of $3,447,121.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at $885,281. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other FedEx news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total value of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,886,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 13,348 shares of FedEx stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.25, for a total transaction of $3,447,121.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 3,428 shares in the company, valued at $885,281. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 8.73% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About FedEx

(Free Report)

FedEx Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of transportation, e-commerce, business services, and business solutions. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment offers transportation and delivery services.

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Carmel Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of RPM International Inc. (NYSE:RPM  Free Report) by 26.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,276 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 2,167 shares during the period. Carmel Capital Partners LLCs holdings in RPM International were worth $922,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of RPM International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $104,000. Cozad Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of RPM International by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 32,959 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,957,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp boosted its stake in shares of RPM International by 6.6% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 473,850 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $42,519,000 after acquiring an additional 29,371 shares in the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board increased its position in shares of RPM International by 12.8% in the second quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 26,400 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,369,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FDx Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in RPM International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $440,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.86% of the companys stock.

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RPM International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE RPM traded up $1.67 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $99.52. 161,161 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 639,161. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $98.92 and its 200-day simple moving average is $89.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 2.45. RPM International Inc. has a 12 month low of $78.52 and a 12 month high of $107.40. The firm has a market cap of $12.82 billion, a PE ratio of 24.65, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.98.

RPM International Increases Dividend

RPM International ( NYSE:RPM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.09. RPM International had a net margin of 6.96% and a return on equity of 26.83%. The firm had revenue of $2.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.47 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that RPM International Inc. will post 5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 18th will be given a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 17th. This is a boost from RPM Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. RPM Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.32%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of RPM International from $88.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of RPM International from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com raised RPM International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised RPM International from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $90.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of RPM International from $97.00 to $99.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $103.80.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Edward W. Moore sold 3,966 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.02, for a total value of $408,577.32. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 56,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,817,848.46. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Frank C. Sullivan sold 20,433 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.54, for a total value of $2,115,632.82. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,117,072 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $115,661,634.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Edward W. Moore sold 3,966 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.02, for a total transaction of $408,577.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,817,848.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 30,536 shares of company stock valued at $3,158,101. Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

RPM International Profile

(Free Report)

RPM International Inc manufactures and sells specialty chemicals for the industrial, specialty, and consumer markets worldwide. It offers waterproofing, coating, and traditional roofing systems; sealants, air barriers, tapes, and foams; residential home weatherization systems; roofing and building maintenance services; sealing and bonding, subfloor preparation, flooring, and glazing solutions; resin flooring systems, polyurethane, MMA waterproof, epoxy floor paint and coatings, concrete repair, and protection products; fire stopping and intumescent steel coating, and manufacturing industry solutions; rolled asphalt roofing materials and chemical admixtures; concrete and masonry admixtures, concrete fibers, curing and sealing compounds, structural grouts and mortars, epoxy adhesives, injection resins, polyurethane foams, floor hardeners and toppings, joint fillers, industrial and architectural coatings, decorative color/stains/stamps, and restoration materials; insulated building cladding materials; and concrete form wall systems.

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Sage Financial Group Inc. lowered its holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN  Free Report) by 55.7% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 45,518 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 57,336 shares during the quarter. Sage Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF were worth $958,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of BKLN. Cambridge Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 85.5% in the first quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 1,206 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 556 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd grew its stake in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 186.1% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 752 shares in the last quarter. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 180.1% during the 1st quarter. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH now owns 1,605 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,032 shares during the last quarter.

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Invesco Senior Loan ETF Stock Up 0.3 %

NYSEARCA:BKLN traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $21.00. The company had a trading volume of 4,013,871 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,583,300. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a 52-week low of $20.28 and a 52-week high of $21.27. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $21.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.93.

Invesco Senior Loan ETF Profile

The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Seed Wealth Management Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 10.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,875 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,556 shares during the quarter. Seed Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $751,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in DELL. New York Life Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Dell Technologies by 2.8% during the first quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 7,986 shares of the technology companys stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 2,842 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC increased its stake in Dell Technologies by 0.9% in the first quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 34,094 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,370,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its position in Dell Technologies by 5.2% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 6,090 shares of the technology companys stock worth $306,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, M&T Bank Corp boosted its holdings in Dell Technologies by 1.4% during the first quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 22,279 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $896,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.10% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on DELL shares. Barclays cut Dell Technologies from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $53.00 target price for the company. in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 11th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $75.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $57.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.00.

Dell Technologies Stock Performance

DELL traded up $1.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $68.19. The stock had a trading volume of 2,556,635 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,457,913. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.95. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 52 week low of $32.90 and a 52 week high of $72.82. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $62.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.83.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 31st. The technology company reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.56. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 149.91% and a net margin of 2.03%. The firm had revenue of $22.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.78 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 5.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 24th will be paid a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 23rd. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is currently 57.14%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CMO Allison Dew sold 329,038 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total transaction of $18,176,059.12. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 98,354 shares in the company, valued at $5,433,074.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, CMO Allison Dew sold 329,038 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total value of $18,176,059.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 98,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,433,074.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, COO Anthony Charles Whitten sold 107,803 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.14, for a total transaction of $5,944,257.42. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 650,198 shares in the company, valued at $35,851,917.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 466,850 shares of company stock valued at $26,160,929 in the last three months. 48.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Seed Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 3,281 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $216,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 2,192.0% in the first quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 573 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 85.7% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 650 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 96.4% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 760 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 373 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.95% of the companys stock.

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Molson Coors Beverage Trading Up 1.4 %

NYSE TAP traded up $0.85 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $59.98. 292,233 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,912,059. Molson Coors Beverage has a fifty-two week low of $46.82 and a fifty-two week high of $70.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $12.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 369.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.86. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $63.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.77.

Molson Coors Beverage Announces Dividend

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $3.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.31 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a net margin of 0.31% and a return on equity of 8.17%. Analysts predict that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.07 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.73%. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 1,025.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently issued reports on TAP. Citigroup reaffirmed a positive rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $61.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $63.00 price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Roth Mkm reissued a buy rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $64.69.

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Molson Coors Beverage Company Profile

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, and ready to drink beverages. It provides its products under Aspall Cider, Blue Moon, Coors Original, Hop Valley brands, Leinenkugel's, Miller Genuine Draft, Molson Ultra, Sharp's, Staropramen, and Vizzy Hard Seltzer above premier brands; Bergenbier, Borsodi, Carling, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Jelen, Kamenitza, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian Lager, Molson Dry, Molson Export, and Niksicko, Ozujsko under the premium brands; and Branik, Icehouse, Keystone, Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, and Steel Reserve under the economy brands.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:NBY  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock.

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

NBY stock opened at $0.41 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.75 million, a PE ratio of -0.04 and a beta of 2.84. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a 12 month low of $0.40 and a 12 month high of $4.20.

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NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:NBY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported ($1.27) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $4.61 million during the quarter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 146.20% and a negative net margin of 79.70%. As a group, analysts anticipate that NovaBay Pharmaceuticals will post -2.54 EPS for the current year.

About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and sells eyecare, skincare, and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; and wound care products, which are used for cleansing and irrigation as part of surgical procedures, as well as treating certain wounds, burns, ulcers, and other injuries under the NeutroPhase and PhaseOne brands.

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Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 8.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,925 shares of the aircraft producers stock after buying an additional 157 shares during the quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc.s holdings in Boeing were worth $406,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Boeing by 8.1% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 35,950,526 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $7,636,970,000 after purchasing an additional 2,682,272 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 109,667.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 16,055,730 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $3,058,456,000 after buying an additional 16,041,103 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,908,984 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $2,099,342,000 after buying an additional 224,280 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Boeing by 11.7% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 8,321,871 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $1,585,234,000 after buying an additional 872,795 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 734.7% in the 1st quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,359,740 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $926,140,000 after buying an additional 3,837,422 shares during the last quarter. 61.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Boeing Price Performance

BA traded up $5.74 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $194.23. The company had a trading volume of 5,539,652 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,593,764. The company has a market cap of $116.85 billion, a PE ratio of -25.17 and a beta of 1.45. The business has a 50-day moving average of $215.48 and a 200-day moving average of $211.92. The Boeing Company has a 1-year low of $124.17 and a 1-year high of $243.10.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Boeing ( NYSE:BA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($0.82) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.99) by $0.17. The company had revenue of $19.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.59 billion. The companys revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($0.37) earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -3.69 earnings per share for the current year.

In other Boeing news, Director Steven M. Mollenkopf bought 850 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $237.00 per share, with a total value of $201,450.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,767 shares of the companys stock, valued at $892,779. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Theodore Colbert III sold 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $238.37, for a total value of $2,026,145.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 59,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,124,614.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven M. Mollenkopf acquired 850 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $237.00 per share, for a total transaction of $201,450.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 3,767 shares in the company, valued at $892,779. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.15% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Boeing in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Citigroup restated a buy rating and set a $285.00 target price on shares of Boeing in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Boeing from $220.00 to $235.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. SpectralCast restated a reiterates rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Boeing from $270.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $240.06.

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About Boeing

(Free Report)

The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital.

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Fortune Business Insights

Major Key Companies Covered in Drone-In-A-Box Market are Ondas Holdings (U.S.), Airobotics Ltd. (Israel), American Robotics, Inc. (U.S.), ECA GROUP (France), Asylon (U.S.), AZUR DRONES (France), Delta Drones (France), Fotokite AG (Switzerland), H3 Dynamics Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), HEISHA Technology Co., Ltd. (China) and more players profiled.

Pune, India, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global drone-in-a-box market size was valued at USD 936.1 million in 2022. The market is projected to grow from USD 1,097.3 million in 2023 to USD 3,483.2 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.9% during the forecast period. The emerging drone-in-a-box technology represents an autonomous form of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that deploy and return to self-contained landing boxes, eliminating the need for human operators. Comprising ground stations, drones, and a computerized management system, these solutions offer portability and convenience and find applications in various sectors, including military and defense, driving market growth over the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled "Drone-In-A-Box Market, 20232030."

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/drone-in-a-box-market-108470

List of Key Players Profiled in the Drone-In-A-Box Market Report:

Ondas Holdings (U.S.)

Airobotics Ltd. (Israel)

American Robotics, Inc. (U.S.)

ECA GROUP (France)

Asylon (U.S.)

AZUR DRONES (France)

Delta Drones (France)

Fotokite AG (Switzerland)

H3 Dynamics Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)

HEISHA Technology Co., Ltd. (China)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 17.9% 2030 Value Projection USD 3,483.2 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 1,097.3 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 180 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Solution Analysis

By Type Analysis

By Application Analysis

By End-Use Industry Analysis Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

South America

Middle East and Africa Drone-In-A-Box Market Growth Drivers Operational Flexibility and Fully Autonomous Drone-Based Solutions for Various Operations Creates Lucrative Opportunities in the Market Growing Benefits of Drone-In-A-Box Solutions Propel Market Growth

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/drone-in-a-box-market-108470

Story continues

Segments:

Hardware Segment Leads with Growing Demand and Technological Advancements

By solution, the market is split into hardware and software. The hardware segment dominates with components such as securing systems, power sources, and management systems, and it's expected to grow due to increasing hardware demand and drone technology advancements.

Multi Rotor Drones Expansion across Applications Due to Enhanced Flying Capabilities

By type, the market is bifurcated into single rotor and multi rotor. The multi rotor segment leads the market, set for rapid growth due to the expanding range of drone solutions utilizing multi rotor technology for enhanced flying capabilities across various applications.

Surveying & Mapping Dominates with Increasing Surveillance Applications

By application, the market is segmented into surveying & mapping, inspection, LiDAR, monitoring, thermal imaging, security & emergency response, and others. The surveying & mapping segment dominated the market in 2022 due to increasing demand for surveillance applications, exemplified by the partnership between Parrot and Hoverseen to provide automated surveillance solutions using Parrot ANAFI drones.

Construction & Mining Segment Propels owing to Increasing Use of DiaB for Energy Mapping

By end-use industry, the market is classified into defense, construction & mining, oil & gas, homeland security, medical services, transportation & logistics, event management, and others. The construction & mining segment, driven by increased applications of DiaB for resource management and energy mapping, commands the largest market share and is expected to grow steadily.

From the regional ground, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and the rest of the world.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact:

Surge in Drone-in-a-Box Usage Spurs Global Demand and Regulatory Concerns

The global drone-in-a-box market experienced significant growth due to the extensive use of these systems by both sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict for various military purposes. However, this heightened usage has also prompted calls for stricter regulations on the sale and use of such systems, while their success in the conflict has driven increased demand among other military forces worldwide.

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Report Coverage:



The research report presents a comprehensive market examination, emphasizing crucial elements, including the competitive environment, distribution channels, and prominent product categories. Furthermore, the report provides valuable observations on market trends and significant industry advancements. Apart from the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses numerous variables that have bolstered market expansion in recent times.

Drivers and Restraints:

Drones Find Versatile Applications in Construction and AEC Sectors with 24/7 Data Collection

Drones are increasingly being deployed from lightweight and portable ground stations, either on a scheduled or triggered basis, using edge devices or autonomous launches. This adoption, driven by advanced features catering to various industries, presents lucrative growth opportunities, such as Colena Ltd.'s drone-in-a-box solution for the construction and AEC sectors, which enables continuous 24-hour data collection and real-time progress monitoring, reducing the necessity for physical site visits through remote data monitoring.

However, the scarcity of skilled labor and the high initial cost of autonomous systems may curtail the drone-in-a-box market growth

Regional Insights:

North America Leads with Innovation and Strategic Acquisitions

North America dominated the drone-in-a-box market share in 2022, driven by major service providers and manufacturers. Additionally, local manufacturers are pursuing mergers and acquisitions for potential growth. For example, in March 2022, Ondas Holdings Inc. acquired Ardenna Inc., enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving safety in rail monitoring.

Europe is expected to experience moderate growth due to well-established industries and a focus on automated drone solutions. The region's strong regulatory frameworks, standardized protocols, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and efficient drone networks contribute to the regions drone-in-a-box market growth.

Competitive Landscape:

Strategic Acquisitions and Product Development Drive Market Leadership and Growth

The global market is consolidated, with a few key players leading the industry. These prominent players strongly emphasize emerging markets, technological advancements, and product innovations as strategies to augment their market share. Additionally, key players concentrate on acquisitions and product development efforts, particularly in enhancing security features and supporting operations in sensitive areas.

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Market Trends

Key Insights Key Industry Developments - Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest Technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Qualitative Insights - Impact of Russia-Ukraine War on Global Drone-In-A-Box Market

Global Drone-In-A-Box Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Definition Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Solution Hardware Software Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Type Single Rotor Multi Rotor Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Application Surveying & Mapping Inspection LiDAR Monitoring Thermal Imaging Security & Emergency Response Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By End Use Industry Defense Construction & Mining Oil & Gas Homeland Security Medical Services Transportation & Logistics Event Management Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East Rest of World

North America Drone-In-A-Box Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Solution Hardware Software Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Type Single Rotor Multi Rotor Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Application Surveying & Mapping Inspection LiDAR Monitoring



TOC Continued...!

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/drone-in-a-box-market-108470

Key Industry Development:

June 2022: BASF and Azur Drones completed the deployment of the Skeyetech drone-in-a-box solution at a major BASF chemical site, enhancing security and supporting operations on sensitive sites.

Read Related Insights:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market to Worth USD 25.13 Billion by 2027 | UAV Industry to Grow at 12.23% CAGR

Commercial Drone Market Worth USD 47.38 Billion by 2029 | Increasing Demand for Small

Drone Services Market to Hit USD 189.4 Billion by 2030 | With a CAGR 38.9%

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Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Washington Trust Advisors Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,598 shares of the companys stock after selling 800 shares during the quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,035,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 43,512,330 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,403,883,000 after buying an additional 411,358 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 34,959,139 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,399,777,000 after purchasing an additional 1,106,408 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 21,448,722 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,085,888,000 after purchasing an additional 1,099,430 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 16,211,020 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,576,522,000 after purchasing an additional 1,315,656 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 16,050,540 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,332,355,000 after purchasing an additional 260,832 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on PM. 22nd Century Group reissued a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Barclays reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $109.92.

Philip Morris International Trading Up 3.0 %

Philip Morris International stock traded up $2.80 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $95.11. The stock had a trading volume of 3,085,205 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,236,777. The stock has a market cap of $147.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $94.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.65. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12 month low of $84.00 and a 12 month high of $105.62.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.10. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.84% and a net margin of 11.63%. The business had revenue of $8.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.76 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.48 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 26th. This is a positive change from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.47%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 100.58%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the five brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $361.00.

WST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Stephens upped their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $400.00 to $420.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. KeyCorp upped their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $415.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Bank of America raised West Pharmaceutical Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $390.00 to $405.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WST

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Up 1.4 %

WST opened at $382.91 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 3.66 and a quick ratio of 2.78. West Pharmaceutical Services has a 12 month low of $206.19 and a 12 month high of $415.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.82, a P/E/G ratio of 8.14 and a beta of 1.09. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $389.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $370.63.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.16. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 22.36% and a net margin of 18.10%. The company had revenue of $753.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $755.71 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. West Pharmaceutical Servicess quarterly revenue was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services will post 7.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 1,680 shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $396.54, for a total transaction of $666,187.20. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,829 shares in the company, valued at approximately $725,271.66. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 1,680 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $396.54, for a total transaction of $666,187.20. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,829 shares in the company, valued at $725,271.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Annette F. Favorite sold 2,000 shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $414.64, for a total transaction of $829,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 14,877 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,168,599.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 58,752 shares of company stock worth $22,713,817 over the last three months. 1.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of West Pharmaceutical Services

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WST. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Clear Street Markets LLC grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 93.3% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 145 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, WealthPLAN Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter valued at $51,000. 91.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products.

Further Reading

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Wilsey Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW  Free Report) by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,393,687 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 57,144 shares during the period. Medical Properties Trust accounts for 2.9% of Wilsey Asset Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Wilsey Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.23% of Medical Properties Trust worth $12,906,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 158.9% in the 2nd quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 2,933 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,800 shares in the last quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Medical Properties Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 64.0% in the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 3,289 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,284 shares in the last quarter. Nvwm LLC bought a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 94.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 4,505 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $95,000 after acquiring an additional 2,192 shares in the last quarter. 76.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Medical Properties Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MPW traded up $0.21 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $5.34. 4,817,293 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,928,829. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has a 52 week low of $4.92 and a 52 week high of $14.00. The company has a market cap of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.91, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.08. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $6.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $8.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 2.88 and a quick ratio of 2.88.

Medical Properties Trust Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 14th will be given a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 13th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.24%. Medical Properties Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 545.45%.

MPW has been the subject of a number of research reports. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $10.00 to $6.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $10.00 price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Barclays dropped their price target on Medical Properties Trust from $12.00 to $10.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Raymond James lowered Medical Properties Trust from a strong-buy rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Medical Properties Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Medical Properties Trust currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.27.

View Our Latest Research Report on MPW

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

(Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 444 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds in ten countries and across four continents.

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Nitzan Mekel-Bobrov, left, is eBay's chief AI officer. Miqdad Jaffer is a director of product at Shopify eBay/Shopify

The e-commerce companies eBay and Shopify are building tools that enable online sellers to use AI.

The chief AI officer of eBay said he saw AI bringing a "paradigm shift" to e-commerce.

He added that he expected AI to "completely transform e-commerce" in three phases.

Nitzan Mekel-Bobrov joined eBay in 2021 as the company's first chief AI officer. The role was an evolution of the chief-scientist position and a signal of how seriously the e-commerce marketplace company took artificial intelligence.

The company is bringing AI to both sides of the e-commerce equation, innovating for both buyers and sellers on its platform. Its initiatives have included generative-AI tools to make it easier to list products, a 3D-imaging tool, natural-language search to improve search results for buyers, and AI-powered expert content for product categories such as electronics and motor parts.

Internally, eBay is also developing AI tools that are aimed at improving productivity and creativity for its engineers, analysts, and content creators.

Mekel-Bobrov told Insider he viewed the arrival of AI as a "paradigm shift" that "will completely transform e-commerce" and outlined how he saw that transformation taking place over the next three to five years.

In the first phase, he said, natural-language search capabilities will become available on more platforms, and shopping assistants will become more common.

"In the second phase, as LLM-powered agents become increasingly popular and their operating cost continues to go down, I expect the trend towards distributed commerce will only accelerate, as e-commerce platforms expand from being a destination consumers go to, i.e., a site or an app, to an experience that shows up wherever the customer is," he said.

Mekel-Bobrov, a member of Insider's AI 100 list, said the third phase would be marked by AI agents being able to plan and complete a series of tasks to achieve a specific outcome.

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"This could mean acting on behalf of sellers to reach their financial goals, or on behalf of buyers to complete certain shopping missions, like purchasing everything they need for a trip within a certain time frame and budget," Mekel-Bobrov said.

He said his work had focused on "smaller sellers who wouldn't otherwise have access to this technology."

'We've witnessed the massive upsides of putting AI in the hands of business owners'

Shopify's AI efforts have similarly focused on the technology's ability to empower entrepreneurs.

Miqdad Jaffer, a director of product at Shopify, runs a team working to incorporate AI across the e-commerce platform run by the Canadian company. He's also a member of the Insider AI 100.

Business owners, Jaffer told Insider, often have specific needs that aren't easily solved by the AI tools that are widely accessible. So the company built a suite of AI capabilities called Shopify Magic, which uses a combination of anonymized Shopify data and OpenAI's ChatGPT application programming interface to generate responses to merchants' business needs.

Jaffer's team also recently announced Sidekick, an AI tool powered by Shopify Magic. It's an AI assistant that can perform tasks for merchants interacting with it using their everyday language.

"We've witnessed the massive upsides of putting AI in the hands of business owners and want every business owner to have access to it  from managing administrative tasks to supporting business operations," Jaffer said. "By deploying AI across Shopify's platform, we're keeping businesses competitive and helping them achieve greater success in today's market."

Shopify has been working on some consumer-facing uses of AI, too. Jaffer oversaw the launch of Shop.AI, a shopping assistant designed to help consumers easily find specific products within the Shop app using natural-conversation prompts.

Ensuring AI is used responsibly

While Shopify and eBay want to empower merchants to use AI, their leaders also want to make sure that the technology doesn't cause harm. Jaffer said his team worked to prevent the models' hallucinations and avoid their inherent biases by providing plenty of context and direction. They've also designed the systems to make suggestions, not decisions.

"AI can help solve cold-start problems and provide optionality, but the decision-making should sit with the merchant," he said.

Mekel-Bobrov launched eBay's Office of Responsible AI, which defines best practices for AI across the company. The office has collaborated with Harvard Business School and other academic institutions and companies on researching how to use generative AI responsibly.

"The recent explosion in generative AI poses new challenges to how we evaluate AI systems, new ways in which bias can show up and fairness needs to be established, and ultimately more uncertainty about the potential outputs a model may generate," Mekel-Bobrov said.

This means that the old ways of measuring risk won't be enough, he said.

"We also need to perform more fundamental research on new forms of risk posed by the rapidly evolving AI technologies and how to best mitigate them," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Prominent pipa virtuoso Wu Man (R, Front) performs with members of the Bard East/West Ensemble during the opening concert of the sixth annual China Now Music Festival at Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, on Oct. 4, 2023. [Xinhua/Li Rui]

Since its inception in 2018, it has been dedicated to building a cultural bridge between the United States and China through music. Each year, it hosts a series of thematic concerts and lectures, presenting exhilarating contemporary Chinese musical works.

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua)  The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China.

Titled "The Orchestra Now Celebrates the Music of Chen Yi and Zhou Long," the concert featured major symphonic works by this legendary couple, two of the most influential Chinese-American composers and their renowned teacher at Columbia University, Chou Wen-chung, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2019.

With the addition of two pieces by their young students -- Zhou Juan, a student of musical arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City and Li Shaosheng, a composer in residence at the China National Symphony Orchestra and Guangxi Symphony Orchestra, the program linked three generations of composers to highlight the generational musical bridge that Chen and Zhou have built between the United States and China.

Chen Yi and Zhou Long, both born in 1953, embarked on their musical odysseus during the 1980s at Columbia University under the tutelage of composer Chou Wen-chung, whose compositions, characterized by their deep connections to both Eastern and Western traditions, left an indelible mark on Chen and Zhou.

Inspired by their mentor's fascination with exploring the intersection of diverse musical cultures, Chen and Zhou have, over the decades, seamlessly blended their cultural heritage with contemporary compositional techniques, spawning a unique and captivating musical language that resonates across borders.

The concert was presented by The Orchestra Now, a graduate-level training orchestra based at Bard College, conducted by Jindong Cai, artistic director of the festival, and Chen Bing, a professor in the Conducting Department at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM).

Jindong Cai (C), director of the U.S.-China Music Institute, conducts at the concert "Tales from Beijing" of China Now Music Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, on Oct. 9, 2022. [Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua]

Before the performance, Cai, also director of the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, observed: "Music is a reflection of society. We want our own stories and music to be heard. We want our own culture and history to be shared with the rest of the world through music."

This sentiment eloquently encapsulated the spirit of the event, as the audience thronging the theater embarked on a transcendent musical journey.

The celebration also extended beyond the realm of music, marking a pivotal moment in the history of cultural exchange between the United States and China.

"Today, we also celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China in 1973 as the first American orchestra to perform in China under the conduct of Eugene Ormandy," said Cai.

Since that historic visit, The Philadelphia Orchestra has made 11 visits to China, with its latest in 2019. The orchestra's unwavering commitment to connecting people through the universal language of music has fostered profound and lasting connections with the Chinese people, transcending concert halls, educational institutions, and municipal settings.

In between the performances, the audience was treated to the announcement by Yu HongMei, CCOM's professor and director of the Chinese Music Department, of Chen Yi's prestigious recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the world of music.

The concert concluded on a heartwarming note, as The Orchestra Now band serenaded the audience with a rendition of "Happy Birthday," celebrating Chen and Zhou's 70th birthday, a fitting tribute to the artists whose music has struck a chord with people around the world.

The China Now Music Festival is a joint endeavor by Bard College's U.S.-China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music in China.

Since its inception in 2018, it has been dedicated to building a cultural bridge between the United States and China through music. Each year, it hosts a series of thematic concerts and lectures, presenting exhilarating contemporary Chinese musical works.

Previous editions of the festival have attracted over 10,000 live attendees, with nearly 80,000 participating in online events.

(Source: Xinhua)
Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society, Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, Chen Yi, professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and founder of the innovative pre-professional orchestra The Orchestra Now, and Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and conductor of the Bard's East/West Ensemble (From L to R), participate in the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. [Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua]

Academic exchange is an important way to promote academic development and cultural exchange between the two countries. Its implications are abroad and far-reaching.

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua)  Experts from China and the United States called for enhancing music education cooperation and exchanges between the two nations to energize bilateral ties.

The "U.S.-China Music Forum  Confronting Challenges and Looking to the Future" took place at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at The Asia Society on Saturday afternoon in New York.

The panelists said classical music exchanges between the two nations over the past five decades demonstrate the harmonious interplay between art and diplomacy.

They noted that, in an ever-changing world, music remains a timeless bridge that connects hearts and minds, fostering understanding and empathy between cultures.

Citing the successful cooperation between the Bard College and China's Central Conservatory of Music in the past five years, Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and conductor of the Bard's East/West Ensemble, opened the event by demonstrating his hope to strengthen the connections between China and the United States through music.

"The West and the East have been communicating through music historically," Cai pointed out, "as the Chinese traditional instrument Pipa was initially from Persia, traveled its way by the Silk Road, and reached Western China in the 4th century AD."

Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music, performs during the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. [Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua]

Yu Hongmei, professor and director of the Chinese Music Department at the Central Conservatory of Music, shared her perspective on advancing the friendship between China and the United States by employing music-cultural exchange.

"Academic exchange is an important way to promote academic development and cultural exchange between the two countries. Its implications are abroad and far-reaching," said Yu. "Civilization is more colorful through communication, and culture is enriched through mutual understanding and learning."

Yu concluded her speech by stating her firm belief that "educational and cultural exchange between China and the United States, especially through music, will continue to develop, and it will add a positive energy to bilateral relations."

Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and founder of the innovative pre-professional orchestra The Orchestra Now, highlighted the universality of music. "Collaboration and exchange is a long-term game to share what we have in common as human beings, regardless of one's nationality and background."

Botstein illustrated that such communication through music could foster bonding among people from different countries, as it encourages people to put down their guards and induces more friendly interactions.

Another prominent panel speaker, a distinguished professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Chen Yi, signaled that the harmonious resonance of music can transcend political barriers and pave the way for a brighter future of collaboration, friendship and mutual respect.

Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music, performs during the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. [Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua]

She noted that "not only the instrumental music but also the power of theater and musical storytelling, all these components will become the new language in which you will be shaped and influenced. I thought that it brought us back to our traditional roots."

"I adore classical music, and I do think it is one of the last areas where we can all sort of comfortably enjoy something together," said Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society, expressing his hope Washington and Beijing "can use it constructively" to help stabilize the bilateral relationship.

Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, spoke of his recent trip to China.

"I can't wait to go back with the full orchestra," said Ginstling, referring to his trip to Shanghai with a small group of the orchestra's musicians.

The discussion was followed by music performances by pipa virtuoso Liu Xiaojing from the Central Conservatory of Music and Anita Balazs, a cellist of the Bard East/West Ensemble.

The U.S.-China Music Forum is a novel addition to the China Now Music Festival, now in its sixth year following its launch in 2018 by the U.S.-China Music Institute and China's Central Conservatory of Music.

Themed "The Bridge of Music," this year's festival is expected to conclude on Sunday.

(Source: Xinhua)
Dubai will unleash a new era of global AI dominance next week, as the UAE hosts the worlds largest tech and start-up show, converging the best minds, future-focused governments, and most advanced companies. They will redraw the boundaries of the AI economy and shape the future of the globes next big technology shift.

For the first time, Gitex Global  independently rated globally as the best tech show in the world  shall take place in two mega venues as its 43rd edition prepares to welcome 6,000 exhibitors and 180,000 tech executives from 180 countries from October 16 to 20, 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Its powerhouse start-up show, Expand North Star hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy runs from October 15 to 18, 2023 at the stunning new Dubai Harbour venue. More than 1,800 start-ups across the events will explore rising opportunities in one of the worlds most agile, diversified, and technology-enabled digital economies.

Blockbuster duo

The blockbuster duo, organised by DWTC, comprise a combined 2.7 million sq ft of exhibition space, a 40% increase over the previous year, inviting the world to the years most anticipated dialogue and deep scrutiny into a new tech paradigm experimenting in AI, the cloud, Web 3.0, and a sustainable digital economy.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, spoke at the official Gitex Global and Expand North Star 2023 press conference.

We are working with AI policymakers to ensure that the world is better for everyone everywhere, said Al Olama, who was named by TIME Magazine as one of the worlds top 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence in 2023.

Gitex Global is where the best and brightest minds come together to shape the future of technology. Dubai is a global market and through Gitex Global, we are pushing the envelope by showcasing new technologies including the transformational power of AI to inspire everyone and shape a better future.

We've seen a huge increase in the number of participants at Gitex Global and this growth really is a testament to the UAEs status as a global leader in technology.

Global VC investment revival

The influx of global interest in the UAE will see Expand North Star host the largest line-up of 1,000 investors from 70 countries with $1 trillion under management, as they look to ramp up the global VC start-up investment revival.

It arrives as the UAE companies clinched the lions share of $4 billion in start-up funding across the Middle East and North Africa in 2022, fetching investments to the tune of $1.85 billion across 250 deals, a 5% increase in value over the previous year.

Expand North Star reflects Dubais strong commitment to enabling ambitious start-ups to thrive in the emirate, said Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (DCDE), host of Expand North Star.

We look forward to introducing several initiatives at the event including India Central, the biggest showcase of Indian start-ups ever assembled outside India; Asia Fast 100 and Africa Fast 100, the events largest showcases bringing together more than 100 leading start-ups from each continent for an intensive programme of conferences, networking events, and dedicated pitch competitions; and Launchpad Dubai, a first-of-its-kind initiative providing local and international tech businesses including start-ups, scaleups, and unicorns opportunities to accelerate their business and kickstart their operations in Dubai through a one-stop experience at DCDEs booth at Expand North Star.

Hosting this event enables us to harness the full potential of the digital economy by connecting stakeholders from the government sector, investors, and accelerators with the worlds leading industry experts, innovators, and tech start-ups, added Al Gergawi.

By bringing the global start-up ecosystem together in the emirate, Expand North Star supports our drive to transform Dubai into one of the worlds leading digital economies in line with the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

New tech agendas, government participation rises

Gitex Global 2023 will see the highest involvement of public private partnerships yet as more than 250 government entities intensify their futuristic digital city visions and strategic collaborations amplified by bold commitments toward digital excellence.

The annual five-day event will deep dive into the biggest reflections of the AI era with the return of AI Everything  the years largest showcase of AI solutions and concepts  and the Global DevSlam coder and developer meet-up, while the hyper popular Gitex Cyber Valley will take the fight directly to the dark cyber-criminal underworld.

We have not seen this hyper level of fervour and anticipation of Gitex Global in recent years, said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events Management at Dubai World Trade Centre. Gitex is synonymous with AI this year, especially when excitement over the emergence of generative AI is shadowed by a sense of trepidation and cautiousness.

We are aggregating the years largest AI in Everything showcase and the most powerful AI architects across businesses. Gitex Global has not merely expanded in scale. It has totally upsized the big AI ethical conversation and commercial exploration to new dimensions.

The dilemma to encourage innovation whilst balancing regulation and controls have perplexed policy makers. AIs meteoric development has triggered debates on the vulnerability of systems to cyber-attacks which has prompted the genesis of Gitex Cyber Valley to corral the AI security agenda.

The expansion of the global digital economy towards the deep tech revolution and green tech world missions has also propelled the genesis of Gitex CTO World Congress, the years largest gathering of tech architects and disruptors; Gitex Impact on advancing a net zero carbon future through green technologies; and Future Urbanism Expo moulding the future smart cities of the world.

Democratising AI, empowering the planet

Tech titans spearheading the AI charge at Gitex Global 2023 include regular exhibitors Huawei and Microsoft, while cloud-based software giant Salesforce debuts. Theyll be among more than 1,000 AI-infused companies at the years largest AI showcase and summit revealing how the new force of supercharged tech stacks are advancing economies and transforming lives, governments, businesses, and society.

Microsoft, which in 2023 injected $10 billion of fresh capital into OpenAI, the creator of the ubiquitous large language model-based chatbot ChatGPT, will deliver a powerhouse showcase of the companys commitment to democratising AI and empowering everyone on the planet to achieve more.

The American tech giant has been working with governments, businesses, developers, students, and start-ups so that they can build their own AI applications to drive sustainable economic growth and improve the lives of citizens across the region.

We envision a future where AI is enhancing the capabilities of people across all professions to find innovative ways of solving pressing challenges and creating a positive impact in their communities, said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE.

Were proud to highlight this vision at Gitex Global, where we are showcasing our latest AI solutions that not only improve productivity and streamline business processes across the public sector and all industries, but also unleash creativity and drive innovation.

Huawei will reaffirm its commitment at Gitex Global to help all industries make the most of intelligence, digitalisation, and the strategic opportunities presented by AI, supported by cloud, advanced network capabilities, and digital power technologies.

Creating new value

Dr Alaa Elshimy, Managing Director & Senior Vice President, Huawei Enterprise Business Group, Middle East & Central Asia Region, said: AI is the key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation and creating new value for our customers and partners. At Huawei, we are committed to providing innovative and intelligent ICT solutions that advance industry transformation, enhance cybersecurity, and support sustainability goals.

Salesforce, the global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), will meanwhile fuel the AI mania with its new Einstein 1 AI assistant for all CRM enterprise applications. Thierry Nicault, Area Vice President and General Manager of Salesforce Middle East, said attendees will see first-hand how the new AI platform enables organisations to safely connect any data and build AI-powered apps with low-code no-code capability.

Its important for organisations in the UAE and the wider Mena region to recognise the importance of Generative AI and its role in digital transformation, enabling them to develop digital strategies that promote efficiency, innovation, and resilience, said Nicault.

Organisations must build a single source of truth, and integrate every consumer encounter to deliver tailored experiences, and make their entire business smarter, faster, and more productive. This will open new opportunities and help them to achieve growth.

Influential UAE challengers

UAE entities have also entered the epic AI innovation race, accelerating government economic diversification strategies centred around bold digital transformation agendas. G42, Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and Masdar City are among the UAE-based research and tech innovation hubs at Gitex Global 2023 shaping the future of AI and its transformative application across all spheres of life.

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied-research arm of ATRC last month released Falcon 180B, the worlds most powerful open source AI model impressing technologists across the globe. Its sister company Aspire is now stepping into the future mobility landscape, as it prepares to unveil for the first time at Gitex Global 2023 its autonomous racing car that clocks speeds in excess of 300km/h.

The Dallara Super Formula car is a flagship racing car of Aspires Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), launching in April 2024 as a series of high-profile autonomous races including racing cars, drones and dune buggies. The A2RL, according to Dr Tom McCarthy, Executive Director at Aspire, will bring together the exciting impact of AI on humanity and its incredible potential for autonomy.

A2RL, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, is a ground-breaking initiative that has captured the interest of industry experts and university researchers, said Dr McCarthy. Were thrilled to unveil the autonomous racing car model at Gitex Global, which is built on the renowned Italian manufacturer Dallaras Super Formula car.

It has been adapted with an autonomy stack, allowing the vehicle to perceive its environment and race autonomously at the Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit. The introduction of A2RL marks a significant milestone for Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE, setting the stage for disruptive innovations in mobility through the medium of extreme sports.

Dynamic dialogue

Elsewhere, G42, a champion of AI and cloud technologies, is returning to Gitex Global 2023 to contribute to the dynamic dialogue on AI under the theme Imagination in Action. Imagination in Action isnt just a slogan but a reflection of the active steps weve taken to transforming theoretical AI concepts into tangible solutions, commented Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat, a G42 company.

Visitors to our stand will have an opportunity to explore our portfolio companies cutting-edge innovations across multiple domains, from data centres, supercomputing and government services, to healthcare, BFSI and smart mobility.

Together, we look forward to forging meaningful connections, igniting collaborative efforts, and driving societal advancement through the combination of imagination and technology. Im personally very excited to welcome visitors and introduce them to Bayanats latest advancements in the Geospatial AI domain.

Masdar City, another debut exhibitor at Gitex Global 2023, will meanwhile elevate its mission to realise greener, more sustainable urban living in the UAE, highlighted through several innovations at its stand, including three leading-edge net-zero energy buildings currently under construction.

Masdar City is, at its heart, a place of innovation, said Mohamed Al Breiki, Executive Director of Sustainable Real Estate at Masdar City. Weve been pioneering sustainable urban development for more than 15 years, and sustainable development depends heavily on innovation and technology.

This is the foundation of our free zone, where more than 1,000 companies, from start-ups to multi-nationals, are ushering us into the future. Well be highlighting several innovations at our stand, including the three leading-edge net-zero energy buildings we currently have under construction, and some of the climate-change solutions that Masdar City start-ups have created.

Power-packed conference line-up

Gitex Global and Expand North Star will also feature 21 conference tracks with more than 1,500 expert speakers from 80-plus countries delivering 900 hours of immersive mind-stretching content, as they unpack and demystify 2023s pressing tech challenges and controversies, from delivering the worlds fasters AI supercomputer, or driving the green energy revolution, to scaling autonomous driving tech, and the assessing the impact of AI tools on cybersecurity.--TradeArabia News Service
Davis College's Key Strides in Recruitment and Programming Expected to Result in Increased Revenue Generation

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EpicQuest Education Group International Limited (NASDAQ: EEIQ), ("EpicQuest Education", "EEIQ" or the "Company"), a provider of comprehensive education solutions for domestic and international students seeking college and university degrees in the US, Canada and the UK, today announced an operations update for Davis College that encompass the school's progress in its international recruitment, collaborative programming and regulatory approvals.

EpicQuest Education Group International Limited (PRNewsfoto/EpicQuest Education Group International Limited)

Diane Brunner, President of Davis College, commented, "We are pleased to see strong progress in our recruiting at Davis College with nearly a three-fold increase in international student enrollment for the current academic quarter as compared to the year-ago period. This is consistent with our mission of internationalization which offers students an enriched intercultural educational experience while increasing our enrollment. Also, our agreement with a premier recruitment agent in China diversifies our own recruiting efforts which we believe will deepen Davis College's recognition in all of Southeast Asia."

"We are committed to offer our students a wide range of educational programing which is exemplified by our collaboration with Peking University, a preeminent educational institutional in China. We are also pleased to have received notice from the Higher Learning Commission that enables us to offer a wide range of online courses that provides optimal flexibility for our students to experience our elite career-oriented professional training. Our core mission of internationalization helps Davis College students reach their full potential and better prepare them for careers in the global economy."

International Enrollment: A Big Surge for the First Academic Quarter of 2023

As of September 30, 2023, Davis has enrolled 102 international students for the first academic quarter of 2023 (from August 21 to November 3). This compares with 35 international students that were enrolled at Davis in this same academic quarter in 2022, which represents a 191% increase, and 18 international students that were enrolled in this same academic quarter in 2021. The substantial increase in international enrollment for the first academic quarter of 2023 includes 50 international students through the agreement with Chongqing Technology and Business Institute and 42 international students through EEIQ's foundational programs in China.

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International Recruitment: Agreement with the Leading Recruiter in China

On July 1, 2023, Davis entered into an agreement with Beijing New Oriental Vision Overseas Consulting Co., Ltd. ("New Oriental Consulting") whereby New Oriental Consulting will act as a non-exclusive recruiting agent for Davis for a period of three years. New Oriental Consulting is the largest recruitment agent for students in China and recruits for top colleges and universities in the US and around the world.

Collaborative Programming: Training Program at Peking University

On August 10, 2023, Davis entered into an agreement with Peking University School of Education for a two-year continuing education and training program. During the first two years of the program, Davis College students take course work on the main campus of Peking University; the remainder of the course work is to be taken on Davis; campus in Toledo, Ohio, leading to the attainment of degrees. The education program with Peking University, a preeminent university in China, began on September 1, 2023, with an enrollment to be capped at 50 Davis College students. Peking University is regarded as one of the largest and highest ranked universities in China.

Regulatory Approval: Higher Learning Commission Accredits Online Education

On September 12, 2023, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) approved Davis College for all of its education courses and programs that are offered online. HLC indicated that since Davis has met the threshold requirement for online education, it does not need to seek further online education approvals from HLC. The HLC is an independent corporation is one of seven regional accreditors in the US that accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions.

About Davis College

Davis College was founded in 1858 and is a private career-training college located in Toledo, Ohio. Davis College offers a specialized professional career training curriculum in numerous fields, and its mission is to provide marketable skills that enhance the employability of its graduates. Davis College offers coursework flexibility to ensure program success as well as externship opportunities that provide its student population with real-world skill sets prior to graduation. In addition to its offering a four-year Bachelor of Science in Business degree which began in the Fall of 2023, Davis College has agreements with several four-year US universities for 'transfer pathways' that pave the way for its associate degree students to gain admission with the ability to transfer earned course credits. Davis College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools with programs authorized by the Ohio Board of Higher Education. For more information, please visit www.daviscollege.edu/ .

About EpicQuest Education Group International Limited

EpicQuest Education Group International Limited ("EpicQuest Education" or the "Company") provides comprehensive education solutions for domestic and international students seeking university and college degrees in the US, Canada and the UK. The Company owns and operates EduGlobal College, based in British Columbia, Canada, which focuses on English proficiency educational programming for students pursuing academic degrees. The Company operates and is a 70% owner of Davis College, a career training college located in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, the Company has a recruiting relationship with the Miami University Regional campuses, where it maintains residential facilities, a full-service cafeteria, recreational facilities, shuttle buses and an office for the regional campuses that provides study abroad and post-study services for its students; these facilities are not owned, maintained, operated or are a part of Miami University. The Company is also a recruiting agent for the University of the West of Scotland (through The Education Group (London) Ltd) and Coventry University, both of which are located in the UK. For more information, please visit www.epicquesteducation.com/ .

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain of the statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning and protections of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance, capital, ownership or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "assume," "should," "indicate," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "plan," "point to," "project," "could," "intend," "target" and other similar words and expressions of the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company's ability to generate increased revenues from its recent collaborations.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Form 20-F and otherwise in our SEC reports and filings. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof, or after the respective dates on which any such statements otherwise are made.

Contacts:

EpicQuest Education Group International Limited

+1 513-649-8350

info@epicquesteducation.com

Investor Relations:

Precept Investor Relations LLC

David Rudnick

+1 646-694-8538

david.rudnick@preceptir.com

Source: EpicQuest Education Group International Limited

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US begins delivering munitions to Israel as the American death toll rises to 11 in Hamas attacks
(Bloomberg) -- Israels gas shipments to Egypt fell by 20% as safety concerns prompted the shutdown of a key offshore field, threatening onward deliveries to Europe.

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Halting the Tamar field in the Mediterranean Sea reduced Egypts imports of Israeli gas to about 650 million cubic feet per day, according to officials who asked not to be identified as theyre not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. The North African nation is weighing the impact on its plans for liquefied natural gas exports, after a cargo was shipped to Europe on Friday.

Israel ordered the shutdown of the Tamar gas field run by Chevron Corp., citing safety concerns as fighting between its military forces and Hamas escalates. The Israeli government hasnt informed Egypt of any halt to the larger Leviathan gas field, one of the officials said.

Benchmark natural gas in Europe has jumped by about a fifth in the past two days. One LNG vessel appears to have delayed docking at Egypts Idku plant, according to ship-tracking data, while another set sail for Europe just before the Hamas attack.

Read More: Israel Orders Shutdown of Key Gas Field as War Rages

Tamar and Leviathan are the biggest discoveries off Israel over the past two decades. The two fields help meet the nations domestic needs and also allow exports to neighboring countries, Jordan and Egypt. The exact breakdown of the mix that ends up at Egypts two LNG export plants is unknown because the North African nation also exports its own gas, including from the giant Zohr field.

In the short term, the shutdown of the Tamar field  about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Haifa  threatens Israels plans to become a major regional supplier. Tamar accounted for almost half of Israeli gas production last year, according to IEA gas analyst Gergely Molnar. In August, Israel said it would export more gas to Egypt from the project amid strengthening ties with its neighbor.

Story continues

For Chevron, which acquired the resources through the takeover of Noble Energy in 2020, proximity to Europe was a key advantage. That was underscored by Moscows invasion of Ukraine last year, which triggered a pivot away from Russian pipeline gas flows toward LNG.

Israel is working on expansion of the Tamar project, as well as on further opportunities at Leviathan, which could include a floating LNG export plant. A pipeline from the East Mediterranean region to Europe was also considered but was ultimately deemed economically unviable. The European Union has been involved in plans to bring more fuel to its shores from the gas-rich area, which besides Israel and Egypt, also includes Cyprus.

The Karish field near the maritime border with Lebanon, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, also received a boost last year after a historic US-brokered deal was signed to end a dispute in the previously contested waters. Output from Energean Plc-operated Karish goes exclusively to the domestic market.

By law, producers in Israel must first satisfy domestic consumption before exporting any oil or gas.

Should Leviathan keep operating at normal rates and output is ramped up at the Karish field, Israeli gas should continue to flow to Egypt, according to Leo Kabouche, an analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd.

Key unknown is the duration of the outage, said Kabouche. Israeli gas is critical to feedgas availability in Egypt given the slide in domestic production there.

Egypts oil minister said last week the country will resume exports of LNG this month, following a break over the summer. The stoppage at Tamar could result in lower shipments to buyers in Europe, who are increasingly reliant on alternatives to Russian pipeline flows, especially during the winter heating season.

Waiting Vessels

One LNG vessel, Dapeng Princess, was expected to dock at Egypts Idku plant on Oct. 7 and is still waiting outside the terminal, while another one, the Seapeak Catalunya, is due to arrive on Wednesday, according to ship-tracking data on Bloomberg. The SK Resolute managed to load a cargo at the plant late last week and is scheduled to land in Belgium on Oct. 13.

A sustained cut in Israels gas production by 10 billion cubic meters a year will likely lead to a reduction in exports to Egypt and Jordan, which is a potential LNG importer, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts led by Samantha Dart. This in turn can limit the recently announced rebound in Egypts LNG exports, as well as potentially trigger higher LNG imports into Jordan, they said.

Benchmark European gas futures rose as much as 13% to the highest since mid-June, after gaining 15% on Monday.

The Israeli government informed Egypt about the temporary suspension at Tamar on Saturday. Egypt has ambitions to become a regional gas hub, but flows from its two liquefaction plants slumped over the summer with no exports in June, August and September.

--With assistance from Elena Mazneva and Paul Wallace.

(Updates prices in penultimate paragraph, adds chart on Israeli gas fields)

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Get in touch with the Ford Action Committee! All contacts will be kept absolutely confidential. Write a Whatsapp message to +491633378340 or click here to fill out the form below.

Fords plant in the German city of Saarlouis resembles a slave market. For years, the company, the works council, the union IG Metall and the state government have been haggling behind closed doors over the fate of 6,000 workers and their families as if they were a commodity up for sale. First they played off the workforce in Saarlouis against their colleagues in Valencia, Spain, then they tried to palm off the workforce with a possible investor, kept so secret his or its name has remained undisclosed. Now this bubble has also burst.

Ford workers demonstrate after the announcement of the closure of the Saarlouis plant, June 22, 2022

On Thursday, the company and its works council announced that the secretive investor had backed out. According to Ford Germany boss Martin Sander, after an in-depth feasibility study and intensive negotiations, also involving the Saarland state government, the investor had decided not to continue negotiations, adding. He did not tell us his motives and we have to respect that.

Some 6,000 jobs4,500 at the Ford plant and 1,500 in the adjacent supplier parkare now on the line. Ford has indicated it will retain just 1,000 workers in a new technology park, although the type of jobs, how much workers will be paid or whether the jobs will ever exist is completely unclear.

The works council has already agreed to the job massacre. We will now do what we are there for, said works council chair Markus Thal. We will negotiate conditions for workers losing their jobs.

A works council information sheet distributed on Thursday last week during the factory meeting stated: Its all about conditions for the loss of the jobs of 2,850 workers. We now have to face the possible new reality.

Negotiations on a social agreement are to start as early as October 9. On the agenda is not the preservation of jobs, but rather the amount of severance pay. So this step is now about negotiating the conditions for the possible job loss, the works council info-sheet reads.

The works council drones on that: Ford still has a social responsibility and we will hold them accountable! In the first place, its up to: Ford, to pay up! The works council even threatens possible warning strikes and indefinite, legal industrial actionnot to defend jobs however, but rather over levels of severance pay.

Anyone who has followed the activities of the Ford works council and IG Metall over the past few years knows what to make of such threats. The union and its work council are quite prepared to stab the workforce in the back as long as their own privileges and salaries are preserved. The works council and IG Metall are doing everything to prevent a real struggle to defend the jobs.

This was also the purpose of the proposal that workers could stay home for two days (with pay) after the works meeting. What was presented by the works council as a concession by the company, in reality served to ensure that angry workers stay out of the factory. They were denied any opportunity to meet together and discuss plans for real industrial action. The works council has so far relied on secret negotiations with the company and will continue to do so.

The works council was closely involved in the negotiations with the mysterious investor behind the backs of the workforce. At the express request of the investor, Ford negotiated future working conditions with the investor and the works council, according to its own info-sheet. In 15 rounds of negotiations over the plant holiday, we negotiated in the past weeks a good concept for future working conditions. The refusal of the investor then hit the works council completely unprepared and absolutely surprised.

Its not hard to imagine what this means. In the bidding competition with Valencia, the works council had already promised the company wage cuts of 18 percent and unpaid overtime amounting to 20 days a year in all German Ford plants. Now it has apparently offered the investor such lucrative working conditions that it was totally surprised when the investor turned down the offer. Even after the deal fell through, the company and the works council are still hiding the identity of the investor.

It is suspected, however, it could be a major Chinese car company. The F.A.Z. newspaper, which is usually well-informed on economic issues, wrote that according to its sources it is one of the two leading Chinese electronics manufacturers, either BYD or Chery.

This raises further questions about the deal falling through. Did the German government veto a deal in order to prevent Chinese investment in Germany as part of its preparations for war against China? Or did Fords headquarters in Detroit intervene, bearing in mind the company has little interest in strengthening the hand of its Chinese competitors in the highly competitive global market for EVs?

The Saarbrucker Zeitung, which has close ties to the state government and IG Metall, suggests the latter. The investor is closely linked to the car industry and wants to conquer the German and European market using the Saarlouis site if possible, it reported. The problem was above all the relationship between Ford and the new investor. There was still no concrete offer about conditions with which Ford is willing to participate in a transfer of the Ford factory into the hands of the investor. The paper wrote that the works council, IG Metall and Economics Minister Jurgen Barke (SPD) were furious about this development.

The state government had in the meantime made an attractive offer to the investor in an attempt to keep it on board. According to media reports, Barke and Ford representatives flew to China at the weekend for further talks with the investor.

The financial offer of the state government goes far beyond our limits, the Saarbrucken newspaper quotes Economics Minister Barke. There is talk of a financial participation in the order of a medium three-digit million amount. This would correspond to about one tenth of the annual budget of the highly indebted state of Saarland and would entail further cuts in social spending.

The Ford workforce would also have to make further sacrifices. The construction of a new production site by an Asian car manufacturer would devour huge sums of money, writes the Saarbrucker Zeitung. No doubt the works council and IG Metall agree and will offer further concessions.

The independent Ford Action Committee has long since warned that there is no red line the works council and IG Metall would not cross. They do not represent the interests of the workforce, but rather they defend the profit margins of the corporation, working closely with top management and the government to achieve this end.

The action committee has rejected the bidding competition with Valencia and proposed joint action with the colleagues in Almussafes. It has called for the withdrawal of the mandate of the works council and insisted that jobs must not be sacrificed to the greed of the group and its shareholders. It advocates industrial action to defend every job and demands the disclosure of the identity of the investor and all secret agreements made. It fights for the international unity of the working class to defend jobs, wages and social gains. The interests of workers must take precedence over the interests of the capitalists.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials announced in Colombo late last month that they have been unable to reach a staff-level agreement with the Sri Lankan government and will not be releasing a scheduled second installment of its $US3 billion bailout loan.

The decision followed a review of the governments implementation of the IMFs austerity measures. The first installment of the bailout was paid in March.

International Monetary Fund's Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer at media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. [AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena]

Senior IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer told a September 27 press conference that the Wickremesinghe government had not fulfilled the six-monthly targets set in March, and that further discussion would be held with the banks Executive Board.

Revenue mobilisation, Breuer said, is expected to fall short of initial projections by nearly 15 percent by year end. Government expenditures were around 19 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), he reported, but that revenue was only 9 percent. That gap needs to be filled, he added, saying revenue mobilisation needed to be hiked to 12 percent of GDP next yeari.e., a 3 percent increase in current revenue.

[F]rom the IMFs perspective what matters to us is that debt targets are achieved, he said. Sri Lanka must build up its foreign reserves stock and prove debt sustainability, he stated, and called for a continuation of the economic reform momentum.

In plain language, President Wickremesinghes regime is being ordered to further squeeze the working class and poor to repay the outstanding foreign debts after the former government of President Gotabhaya Rajapakse defaulted on loans in April last year. This means even more brutal increases in taxes and the cost of essentials and basic services, like water and electricity, and a speed up in public sector job destruction through the privatisation and commercialisation of state-owned corporations.

Breuer patronisingly declared that the people of Sri Lanka have shown remarkable resilience in the face of enormous challenges. Now further unbearable attacks on living conditions, jobs and pension cuts will increase the burdens. Last year 25 percent of the population was deemed to be living in poverty. This year the figure has climbed to 28 percent.

Sri Lankan workers and the poor are not passively accepting the governments attacks. Rising popular anger has compelled the trade unions to call limited protests and strikes. Opposed to united working-class action against the government, the union bureaucracies have isolated and betrayed these actions, allowing Colombo to implement austerity measures.

The past months have revealed the determination of international creditors to extract full repayment of Sri Lankan debts. European imperialist powers and other countries organised in the Paris Club, have previously said they were ready to provide concessions to Sri Lanka and reduce its repayment burden. While India is not a member of the Paris Club, it has observer status.

No concessions have been announced, however. Instead, Paris Club members are urging China to line up and assist with the Sri Lanka debt even as they publicly accuse Beijing of creating debt traps to politically influence Sri Lanka and other indebted countries. Beijing, however, has refused to join the Paris Club and rejected the debt trap allegations, insisting that it will have separate discussions with Colombo.

The Wickremesinghe government and the Sri Lankan ruling class, now faced with the IMFs delayed loan installment, are in a desperate situation. Addressing the October 3, Berlin Global Dialogue meeting, President Wickremesinghe said he was walking on a tightrope. Theres a point beyond which you cant burden these people. Now we are going beyond that point, he declared.

Wickremesinghes concerns about burdening the people, are bogus. Government officials are intensifying their social onslaught but are fearful that there will be a social explosion.

Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena told Reuters on October 4: It is imperative that historically high budget deficits be reduced through better tax collection and improvement in tax administration [in order] to recover from the financial crisis. This requires the privatisation or commercialisation of loss-making state-run enterprises to reduce the financial burden on the Treasury, he said.

On October 5, Director General of the State Enterprise Restructuring Unit Suresh Shah, said there were 80 state commercial entities that should not be state owned, making clear that they will be privatised. He also indicated that 15 non-operational entities will be shut down.

Last week, the government liquidated the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) destroying nearly 300 jobs. Authorities have also announced closure of the State Engineering Corporation, with the retrenchment of 1,400 employees while paying only meagre compensation.

CWE workers involved in sit-down protest at CWE's Waksole Street branch in Colombo on 27 September 2023.

At the same time, Wickremesinghe is preparing dictatorial measures to take on the working class. His regime has already presented its draconian Online Safety and Anti-Terrorism bills which will give him unprecedented repressive powers. Wickremesinghe is also continuously expanding the Essential Public Service Act to ban strikes in the health, petroleum, electricity sectors, as well as in ports and transport services, including bus, rail and air travel.

Parliamentary opposition leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) chief Sajith Premadasa and several other MPs met with IMF officials in Colombo on September 25. Premadasa later told the media that the IMF agreement would be reviewed, and a more people-friendly agreement reached under a future SJB government.

These claims are false. Even before former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse announced that he would seek IMF assistance in April last year, Premadasa was furiously denouncing him for not turning to the IMF earlier.

Janatha Vimukthi Permuna (JVP) spokesman and former MP Nalinda Jayatissa told the media on September 26, while IMF officials were in Sri Lanka, that his party would deal with the IMF while respecting the peoples mandate if it became part of a future government.

Phrases such as people-friendly and respecting peoples mandate from the SJB and the JVP, are empty phrases designed to deceive the masses. The SJB, formed in a split from Wickremesinghes United National Party, and the JVP, will implement IMF austerity no less ruthlessly than the current regime.

Leaders of the Professionals Trade Union Alliance, a combine of 47 professional associations, also met with IMF officials in Colombo on September 25. It was the fourth meeting of these bureaucrats with the IMF since it concluded an agreement with the Wickremesinghe government in March.

The union alliance includes the Government Medical Officers Association and Federation of University Teachers Associations. They have called on the government to reduce the massive income tax now imposed on their members and many other employees. The IMF officials bluntly told the union officials that they should seek a solution from the government.

Other sections of the union apparatus are still promoting illusions that more protests will compel the government to modify its severe austerity measures. On September 6, over 30 port trade unions, including the JVP-controlled All Ceylon Port General Workers Union and a Sri Lanka Freedom Party-affiliated trade union, presented a petition signed by 5,000 port employees calling on Wickremesinghe not to tax pension funds. Predictably their appeal fell on deaf ears.

Workers need to reject the hypocritical and impotent union appeals to the government and take matters into their hands. For that workers need to independently organise action committees in all factories, plantations, neighborhoods, and also among rural peasants, to fight the governments deepening social assault.

A campaign must be developed through these action committees around demands directly related to the basic social and democratic rights of workers and rural poor. This should include the abolition of the executive presidency, the repeal of all repressive laws, the rejection of all IMF demands and the defence of all jobs with a living wage for all.

All foreign debts must be repudiated, and the major banks, big corporations and other economic nerve centres should be nationalised and placed under workers control. Free health and education must be ensured for all, and all debts of poor peasants cancelled.

An independent political movement of the working class, rallying rural poor, on those demands must be developed to overthrow the Wickremesinghe government and establishment of a government of workers and peasants committed to socialist policies. This will be a part of broader struggle for socialism in South Asia and internationally.
Shift change at Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack

Many temporary workers at the Detroit Three are facing layoff or the severe reduction in hours as the auto companies impose production cuts as UAW President Shawn Fains bogus stand up strike continues into its fourth week.

The reported decision by General Motors to discharge all temp workers at the Lake Orion Assembly Plant north of Detroit last Friday highlights the direct attacks management is carrying out against the workforce with the evident aims of creating divisions and undermining solidarity. Workers at many other facilities have reported the sharp cutback in hours and last-minute schedule changes impacting mostly temp workers.

At the Detroit Assembly Complex-Jefferson Plant, many temp workers, now called supplementals, were reportedly laid off as of last week. Jefferson had been one of several large Detroit area assembly plants that had been on critical status since July with mandatory 7-day work schedules. The brutal work schedule, implemented with the tacit agreement of the UAW, allowed Stellantis to build up inventory of many of its more profitable vehicles ahead of a potential strike.

According to a full-time Lake Orion worker who contacted the WSWS, GM let go of 52 temps, all the temps we had on Friday. Today was the first day without them. We ran terrible, he added. The plant currently builds electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Bolt.

World Socialist Web Site reporters at Jefferson Assembly encountered anger among temp workers. Some said they had been scheduled, unscheduled, rescheduled, and got only one day of work that Saturday. A worker said she showed up to work and her badge was deactivated because she had been taken off the schedule.

A similar situation was reported by supplementals at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant. One supplemental said this was the second week she had not been scheduled in.

Another supplemental at Warren Truck Assembly Plant said she had only been scheduled for one day. I am extremely disappointed that the company would intentionally treat their employees this way. No matter what their status is, supplemental or full-time, we are all employees to this company. This negotiation has really shown the world a lot about the kind of character these people hold.

I believe the UAW is being paid off by the company and that they arent in solidarity with us the way that they would like us to believe they are, she concluded.

A supplemental at the Stellantis Sterling Height Assembly Plant, another of the Detroit-area plants that has been on critical status, told the WSWS, We dont even really know if we have a job or not. I know that it varies from plant to plant and some places always have work.

Its not right that people are available to work and the companies arent even offering job security or proper benefits to us like what used to be the standard.'

Asked about the stand up strike policy by the UAW, the worker said that everything the union was doing so far seemed to be in consideration of the companies bottom line.

Expressing the fear and divisions being sown by the UAW bureaucracy, which treats temp workers with utter contempt and disregard, another supplemental said she wondered if she would even have a job if workers went on strike. Even if our plant goes on strike, couldnt they just hire other people at this point? Im not a lawyer or anything, but I was under the impression that a part-time worker going on strike is the same as quitting. So I dont know whats worse: waiting or striking.

In response to the enormous anger building up among Detroit-area Stellantis workers over the mistreatment of temp workers, the United Auto Workers officials and local Detroit Democratic Party office holders hastily convened a rally Sunday in a park near the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack and Jefferson plants. The rally, ostensibly called to support temp workers, was aimed at defusing anger at the refusal of the UAW to expand the strike.

In any event, the rally only drew a few dozen full-time and part-time autoworkers, outside of union officials. Among those present was UAW Vice President for Stellantis Rick Boyer and Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield.

A number of workers attending the rally expressed eagerness to see the strike expanded to all auto plants. A supplemental worker at Jefferson said he had been working steadily for three years at Stellantis and was still waiting to be made full-time. We dont get the profit sharing, the bonus, and only minimum healthcare.

I have been doing the same job every day for three years. Sixty hours a week, and I am not full-time? That doesnt make sense. The guy right next to me is making double my money, profit sharing, bonuses. Am I not equal?

I say shut them all down, he said, when told that the Autoworker Rank-and-File Committees Network was calling for an all-out strike against the Big Three automakers. Have them all come out. Right now, I feel like a scab. We are still working, making money for the company, and my other peers are striking right now.

Another supplemental said, 'Its madness how differently we are treated. We have bills to pay too. You dont know from week to week if they are going to schedule you.' A third added, Youre not scheduled and youre afraid to file for unemployment because they might fire you for job abandonment. I was off all last week. Then they told me to come in Friday and when I got to the gate my badge didnt work. They took me off the schedule without telling me in advance.'

During the Sunday event, one UAW rep in effect blamed temp workers for part of their current plight. When we survey you for the contract demands next time, dont just say we need more roll overs. Say you want improvements in the S1 agreement that involves work schedules.'

Supplementals pointed out that, due to the reduction in hours, many supplementals would earn more on the weekly UAW strike benefit of $500 a week than their wages or state unemployment benefits.

It should be recalled that the Canadian auto union, Unifor, cynically used the plight of temporary workers to obtain a dubious ratification of the sellout deal at Ford by a razor thin 54 percent last month. The underhanded scheming by the Unifor apparatus included sending last minute e-mails to temp workers urging them to vote yes, using as an enticement for these low-paid, superexploited workers, a one-time signing bonus.

The attacks on supplemental workers must be opposed by every UAW member and the demand raised for an all-out strike and the increasing of strike pay to $750 a week. All temps who have been laid off or had hours cut should get full strike pay! To fight for these demands, workers should build and expand the network of rank-and-file committees. These committees, democratically run by workers themselves, aim to transfer power from the UAW apparatus to workers on the shop floor.

To join this rank-and-file movement, fill out the form below. Text AUTO to (866) 847-1086 to get text updates.
Several thousand people attended an emergency protest outside the Israeli embassy in London Monday evening to show their solidarity with the Palestinians and oppose the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. A high proportion of young people and families, many with links to Palestine or the wider Middle East, took part.

They were met by a heavy police presence including ranks of police vans and armed officers.

Police watching the protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London

The night before, Home Secretary Suella Braverman had threatened, I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews.

The day after the protest, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in relation to the London and other protests, Id just remind everyone that Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation. People should not be supporting Hamas and we will make sure that we hold people to account if they are.

A national demonstration is due to march past Sunaks official residence in Downing Street, London on Saturday.

A section of the protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London

World Socialist Web Site reporters and members of the Socialist Equality Party attended Mondays protest, distributing copies of the International Committee of the Fourth International statement, Down with Netanyahus government! Stop the imperialist-backed Zionist onslaught against Gaza! and speaking to those in attendance.

Karin, who works in London as a chef, explained, From a young age, when I was 8 years old, I have been demonstrating, including in Palestine. It all goes back to 75 years ago when Israel occupied Palestine.

Netanyahu does not own that land. The Palestinians have the right to go back home.

Israel have killed huge numbers of kids, of Palestinians, elders. They even bombed hospitals. And it is all funded by America.

I dont care what Hamas does to Israel now. I really care about the Israeli people, the normal people, the working class people. Because its not their fault, its the government. They were just born there, they do not know what is happening, it is the government.

Ghada Al Camelia, whose stepfather is from Jerusalem and mother from Lebanon, said, They consider an Israeli life more important than a Palestinian life because Israel was born out of a racist ideology. If they really want peace, you cannot steal someones land or their house and claim you want peace without returning that theft.

I saw the video of the Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu saying the Palestinians can flee as he threatened to reduce Gaza to ash. He knows they cannot flee because of the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers and the borders, because of all of these things.

There is no grey areas in this conflict: it is black and white. You can see the footage against the Israeli propaganda and what is the truth. When you see Palestinian kids being massacred, throwing rocks against tanks.

You can see the difference in the narrative when it comes to Hamas as a terrorist organisation and the Ukraine-Russia war. The Ukrainian soldiers are referred to as heroes, but why are Arabs in Palestine referred to as terrorists when they are defending and fighting for the freedom of their people to bring down the borders.

This narrative of Muslim against Jews, we have always lived and co-existed with each other in a peaceful manner. That was a narrative created by the West. So they could perpetrate war crimes and say it is the peoples religions which are creating these problems instead of them.

I dont want to come at it from an emotional standpoint, but it is emotional for me because it is my people who are dying. My father was stopped from returning to Jerusalem but any Jew born anywhere has the right to take a property, take a land and have a whole life there.

Asked about the campaign to portray criticism of Israel and its murderous policies as anti-Semitism, Ghada replied, There is nothing more anti-Semitic than Zionism. We have met multiple Jewish people who are anti-Zionist and they are open about it. A girl at my work, she is Ukrainian-Jewish, she was born in Israel. She is the biggest pro-Palestinian person I have met. Her family left Israel because they saw the corruption of their government and the oppression with their own eyes.

People are afraid to say the wrong thing sometimes on the conflict when they are not too heavily aware of the situation. If you dont know too much about it, they see the headlines Attacks on Israelis, and they say, I dont want violence on both sides.

But offer another solution. How long has this gone on for, what are we supposed to do? Offer the solutions here in the West and maybe we can take them.

Zatara, an electrician, told our reporter, I have come to support the innocent people who are dying in Palestine. The fighters are not terrorists they are defending their country. Now Israel has the excuse to kill all Palestinians and take over all of Gaza.

Zatara

Israel has been taking over Palestine for a very, very long time but the news coverage does not show that. They keep calling the Palestinians terrorists and saying that Israel has a right to defend itself, and now Palestine is almost taken over. They are fighting back.

As Muslims, we do not condone killing or war, but we do have a right to defend ourselves.

The media keep making the Muslims look bad and not portraying Israel for what they are and what they are doing. If they keep pushing and pushing for war the world will end up having a World War Three. Russia will not have it and the Middle East will not have it and the Europeans are getting involved and it will be chaos. They need to back off.

Tariq, a driver, warned, There is worse to come. Netanyahu is saying terrible things, calling Palestinians animals, threatening violence like weve never seen. He has been threatening like this for a long time but now it is even more.

Told about the United States sending a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, Tariq said, I did not know that. That concerns me even more. Its like I am saying, were just at the beginning. And we need more people to protest, now, immediately, to stop this. To stop Israel.

There is no equivalence between the Israel and the Palestinian side. We are fighting against years and years of suffering, of dispossession. They want to destroy us. We are saying to the world, and to the Israeli people, you cannot support this, you cannot ignore this. We are here and we are fighting for our lives. We want their support.

Speaking about the slandering of supporters of the Palestinians as anti-Semites and terrorist supporters he said, Its a lie. They use it to scare people, to make them the bad guys. But it is not a crime to oppose Israel, it is a crime to support it.
The WSWS spoke with a Communication Workers Union (CWU) rep who has been victimised by Royal Mail on trumped up charges relating to the year-long dispute.

The rep spoke about the Zoom call held on October 4 at 6pm with CWU General Secretary Dave Ward and Andy Furey, Assistant Deputy General Secretary (Postal). This was billed in a letter to branches (LTB) on September 26 as a meeting with all members and Reps who had submitted consent forms to the Lord Falconer Independent Review.

Left, Lord Falconer of Thoroton. Right, CWU General Secretary Dave Ward. [Photo by Official portrait photo, UK Parliament / CC BY 3.0

Feigning concern it stated, Obviously this continues to be an unsettling time for Reps and members who have submitted consent to be included in the Independent Review.

The claim that the first 26 priority cases submitted to Falconer is a momentum was a desperate attempt to fob off members over the fate of those victimised in the biggest frame-up of workers engaged in an industrial dispute since the 1984-5 miners strike. A total of 400 CWU reps and members have been reported sacked or suspended and just over half213 have been submitted to review. Thirteen of the priority cases are those brought by Royal Mail to dismiss them from the review on the grounds that the company has no case to answer.

********

Ward and Furey delivered opening reports followed with questions or points directly from the floor or via comments in the chat column. The whole thing lasted for around an hour and a half.

There were 186 on the call at the start but this declined as the meeting progressed. It dropped down to 144 and then 124. This was a result of the BS coming from Ward and Furey and the feeling they were deliberately swerving awkward questions. There was also anger over some of their answers, which were a total sellout.

The basic line from Ward and Furey was that everything hinged around the first 26 priority cases Lord Falconer is to announce a decision on when he meets with Royal Mail and the CWU on October 16. Of these only 13 have been submitted by the CWU. The other 13 are from Royal Mail, to have the cases thrown out. We were never told that this was the format of the Falconer Reviewthat Royal Mail could determine the cases going to review.

There was no explanation from Ward and Furey as to why only 13 of the 213 cases they had submitted to the Falconer Review had been prioritised. They cited General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to deflect answering this on the grounds of confidentiality, but what was being asked about was not the details but the criteria. I believe the 13 CWU cases involve dismissals. It was reported by Ward and Furey that Royal Mail was refusing to accept 46 other cases, claiming these are entirely unrelated to the dispute or victimisation but straightforward misconduct cases.

At one point Ward stated that some cases would need to fall by the wayside! A victimised rep raised that the CWU was going back on everything. At the rally in London on December 9 Ward had said no one will be left behind and the CWU would not accept any agreement without everyone back at work. This is a complete 360-degree turn.

I am of the strong belief that the CWU and Royal Mail are in cahoots. The Falconer Review ensured militant reps were out of the way during the vote on the rotten agreement, we had no contact with the units which had elected us to call for a rejection. They were worried we would have scuppered the Yes vote.

Ward and Furey were asked why the CWU were not going to the media to highlight the abuses and mistreatment of postal workers by Royal Mail. They were told this was in line with the confidentiality clause agreed at ACAS with Lord Falconer.

The main criticism was about how the CWU has dragged out the entire process over the victimisations and the fact there are still no clear time scales. There were questions over whether the CWU would back Employment Tribunals and compensation cases for those who had left Royal Mail, but all Ward said on compensation was it is still a discussion.

It was asked why the stay on ETs had been pushed back from October 31 to December 31 and whether the CWU would back cases if they were not successful with Falconer. All Furey said was it is a case by case scenario.

There were questions about whether the CWU would provide strike pay not solely over action to reinstate the victimised reps and workers but over Royal Mail implementing further attacks not spelt out in the agreement. There was no answer.

I know for a fact that in my region applications have been made for Rule 13 (local industrial action). They have been submitted by Area reps, but these have been blocked by CWU headquarters on the pretext of waiting until we hear back from Falconer. They are not allowing gate meetings to be held, this has been vetoed centrally.

The way the CWU spun the Falconer Review was based on a web of lies. I dont think the majority know who Falconer is, his history, and its important they do. They would realise this is not an independent review or anything to do with justice. He is a well-known union buster from the miners strike. He supported the Iraq War which we all know was about oil, there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction.

We need to get together--all delivery workers at Royal Mail, Amazon and DPD, they need unionising but not by the CWU or other official unions. This is something the rank-and-file could take up. The Organising and Recruitment campaign by the CWU at Royal Mail is a farce. They said it was not a two-tier system they agreed but it isnew entrants on 20 percent less pay and no payment for D2D (door to door flyers). What are they going to offer them, a pint and a packet of crisps?

We are going back to Victorian times before the days when workers had any rightssick pay, bank holidays, no employment rights. This is happening all over the world. I support anything that increases the power of workers internationally against government and corporate attacks. We should be more like the French.

Ward and Furey dont give a damn about the victimised. All they care about is their six figure salaries, but as youve said, An injury to one is an injury to all.
The Australian political and media establishment is on an increasingly frenzied rampage, vilifying the Palestinian people and signaling full support for the Israeli regimes bombardment of Gaza.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong prior to a bilateral meeting in Brisbane, Australia Friday, July 28, 2023. [AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher]

Over the past 24 hours, the campaign has taken a particularly sinister turn, with senior political figures and media commentators branding protests in support of the Palestinians as illegitimate and suggesting they be banned. While basic civil liberties have been under attack for decades, in line with the growth of social inequality and escalating militarism, it is difficult to recall a recent precedent for such open advocacy of dictatorial and police-state measures.

The federal Labor government has led the charge. Its leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, vociferously denounced the heroic Palestinian uprising over the weekend as an unprovoked attack, as though the 75 years of Israeli occupation and oppression has never occurred. They have since given carte blanche endorsement to whatever crimes the Israeli government will commit, as its fascistic Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatens the destruction of the entire Gaza strip.

Labor has consistently backed Israel, beginning with its formation in 1948 by imperialist-backed Zionist groups, which waged a campaign of terrorism and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians. Support for Israel has been a touchstone in Australian and Labor Party politics, signalling full alignment with American imperialism.

But even given that record, Labors response has been extraordinarily bellicose. Hypocritical calls for de-escalation and respect for human rights have largely been dispensed with.

The line was summed up by an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview with Wong this morning.

The interviewer noted: The Israeli defence minister has ordered a complete siege of Gaza, the cutting off of goods, fuel and electricity. Do you think that level of response is justified? Wong responded: Well, Israel has a right to defend itself, and this was an abhorrent attack.

When the interviewer pressed the point, stating that the siege looked like collective punishment, Wong blithely replied: Well, I think its always very difficult from over here to make judgements about what security approach other countries take. Weve said Israel has a right to defend itself.

It is not difficult to judge the consequences of Israels blockade or its indiscriminate bombing of densely-populated civilian areas. The outcome will be massive levels of death and destruction, far exceeding anything associated with the Hamas military operation over the weekend.

That underscores the utter hypocrisy of the Australian establishments newfound concern for civilian casualties in a conflict. So, too does the entire record of Australian imperialism, from its involvement in the predatory US-led onslaughts against Korea and Vietnam to its participation in the criminal invasion of Iraq, a war for oil that claimed up to a million lives.

The last Labor government joined the Obama administrations 2010 troop surge in Afghanistan, which directly led to war crimes by Australian special forces, including documented murders of Afghan civilians. Representatives of the current Labor administration have declared that it is time to move on from those atrocities because they occurred over a decade ago and are impacting troop morale amid Australias integration into US plans for a catastrophic war against China.

A component of the countrys militarisation to further the preparations for conflict with China has been a crackdown on anti-war opposition. That included the bipartisan passage in 2018 of draconian foreign interference laws that could be used to criminalise much anti-war activity.

While Australian governments have not yet invoked that legislation, an atmosphere is being whipped up in which any support for the Palestinians and opposition to Israel is condemned as anti-Semitic and beyond the pale.

In an extraordinary intervention on 2GB radio, Albanese yesterday called for a Sydney protest that evening to be cancelled.

Protesters at the Sydney Town Hall rally, October 9, 2023.

Albanese instructed prospective demonstrators to step back. Asked by the right-wing host if the protest should proceed, Albanese replied: I absolutely believe it should not. Albanese cynically added that Australia is a democratic nation, and that he supports peoples right to demonstrate their views. But such rights are meaningless if they can be unilaterally threatened by the prime minister, acting outside of any legal framework.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton backed Albaneses statements, but condemned the prime minister for not taking any actions to prevent the march from occurring. Other political figures have made similar comments, including federal Teal independent Allegra Spender, falsely presented as a progressive. She declared: I am seeking an urgent explanation of how this was allowed to happen.

Senior Labor and Liberal-National leaders have since branded the protest as abhorrent and un-Australian.

An emergency rally in the Sydney suburb of Lakemba last Sunday night has also been subjected to hysterical denunciations. The protest had been called by the Islamist Hizb-ut-Tahrir group. But it was attended by a broader layer of around 700 people, including Palestinians, workers and young people voicing their hostility to the Israeli crackdown on Gaza.

The rally was denounced by Wong, other national politicians and the media.

An editorial in the Murdoch-owned Australian this morning declared: The grotesque spectacle of Palestinian supporters in Lakemba and Greenacre in southwestern Sydney celebrating the Hamas attacks on Sunday showed Australia is not immune from jihad fanaticism. It is deeply disturbing that some in our nation are so comfortable with terror that they let off fireworks to applaud the murder and maiming of civilians.

An accompanying comment declared: Australians welcome freedom of speech and mature, constructive debate. But these scenes in Sydney are an ugly stain that the majority of Australians, who abhor terrorism, will not tolerate. It added: The opportunism of activists and some political groups will come under the spotlight in coming days.

Such statements are clearly aimed at creating an atmosphere for state attacks, including raids, arrests and the banning of demonstrations.

There is more than an element of racist dogwhistling to the frenzied attacks on residents of southwestern Sydney. For years, the far-right has denounced Lakemba, for instance, which has the largest Muslim population in the country, as an Islamic enclave.

The racist bent of the official campaign, clearly targeting Middle Eastern people and Muslims, underscores the cynicism and fraud of any claim that the governments are combatting anti-Semitism. Instead, they are inciting anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hatred, itself a staple of the fascist right.

Supporters of Palestine are not seeking to demonstrate because they are hostile to the Jewish people, but because they oppose the policies of the Israeli state. What occurred over the weekend was not terrorism, but a popular uprising of a people who have been oppressed for three quarters of a century.

The continuous conflation of Zionism and Judaism is itself anti-Semitic, falsely identifying the entire Jewish people with a right-wing and oppressive regime that many of them oppose.

The statements about anti-Semitism have an added hypocrisy, given that Australia has given hundreds of millions of dollars to Ukraine, as part of its support for the US-NATO proxy war against Russia. That has included weapons shipments for irregular and volunteer militias, many of which openly present themselves as the continuators of Ukraines Nazi collaborators in World War II.

A struggle against genuine anti-Semitism, wherever and whenever it emerges, will not be conducted by capitalist governments funding and arming Nazi militias. History has demonstrated that defeating all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, requires the development of a unified, socialist movement of the entire working class.

Workers and young people must oppose the official onslaught against protests and demonstrations. The campaign, directed in the first instance against supporters of Palestine, is intended to create a far broader precedent for attacks on the entire working class. Amid an unprecedented cost of living crisis and growing social opposition, capitalist governments everywhere are turning to the same authoritarianism so nakedly displayed by the Israeli regime.
The Socialist Equality Group (SEG) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in New Zealand held a public meeting at Victoria University of Wellington on October 4, titled A socialist perspective against war and austerity in New Zealands crisis election.

An audience of students and workers took part in a discussion about the socialist and internationalist alternative to Labour, the opposition National Party, and the minor partiesthe Greens, Te Pati Maori, New Zealand First and ACT.

SEG member Chris Ross, who chaired the event, pointed to the collapse in support for the Labour government and noted that whatever the outcome of the October 14 election, the next government will accelerate the assault on living standards and the integration of New Zealand into US imperialist wars.

The SEG, he said, fights in solidarity with the International Committee of the Fourth International for the mobilisation of the international working class to bring about a socialist revolution. This is the only way to end the pandemic and oppose the threats of world war and the endless attacks on the living standards and working conditions of workers.

Ross explained the measures taken at the meeting to reduce the risk posed by COVID-19, including the use of masks, HEPA air filters and Far-UVC technology. The necessity of these measures was highlighted by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins recent infection with COVID, which broke through the political establishments conspiracy of silence surrounding the ongoing pandemic. Since Labour abandoned its COVID elimination strategy in 2021, over 3,300 people have died from the virus, 31,000 people have been hospitalised, including 4,000 children, and tens of thousands are suffering from Long COVID.

Max Boddy, assistant national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Australia, delivered a report on the referendum for the Labor governments proposed indigenous Voice to Parliament, which takes place on the same day as the New Zealand election.

Boddy explained why the SEP is campaigning for an active boycott of the referendum, which he described as anti-democratic and a political sham. The Voicewhich would be an unelected advisory body to the Australian parliamentis falsely presented by Labor and its supporters as the means to end the extreme poverty and oppression of Aboriginal people.

Labor is using the Voice to provide a progressive veneer for its thoroughly pro-business right-wing agenda, as it has carried out massive attacks on social conditions, while funnelling billions into the war budget, Boddy explained.

Meanwhile, the official No campaign was using racist dog-whistling to advocate for the status quo, covering over the horrors of the history of Australian capitalism.

Boddy outlined how, behind the backs of the population, the Albanese government had transformed Australia into a staging ground for US war against China, including through the AUKUS military pact and arrangements to house six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers, as well as the establishment of an American military command centre in Darwin.

The main speaker, leading SEG member Tom Peters, began by pointing to the international context of war and capitalist breakdown in which the NZ election was taking place.

What we are witnessing in Ukraine is not a local conflict but the opening stages of a Third World War for the redivision of the worlds resources. That requires the rewriting of history, including the relativisation of the crimes committed in World War II, in order to prepare for new crimes on an even greater scale, Peters said. Preparing a society for war always entails the promotion of toxic, far-right political forces at home.

Peters highlighted the recent standing ovation by the entire Canadian parliament for a member of the Nazi Waffen SS for fighting against Russia in World War II. The message being sent here by Canada and all the imperialist powers is that they will stop at nothing in the war to defeat Russia, he said.

In New Zealand, the two main parties are promising severe austerity measures and increased funding for the military. New Zealand soldiers are already in Britain training Ukrainian conscripts for the escalating war against Russia, but the political establishment, conscious of widespread anti-war sentiment, was determined not to discuss the war during the election campaign.

Both Hipkins and National Party leader Christopher Luxon have said they want to avoid a war between the US and China, but Peters pointed out that in August Labours Defence Minister Andrew Little stated that New Zealands armed forces had to be prepared in case they were called on to join such a war.

Having presided over six years of widening social inequality, a healthcare crisis and soaring homelessness, Labour is deeply discredited in the working class. As the election date approaches, Labour is desperately attacking National for being prepared to form a coalition government with the far-right New Zealand First Party.

Peters explained that NZ First was running a particularly bigoted Trump-style campaign, with dog whistles against Maori, demonisation of transgender people, denial of climate change, and anti-vax demagogy. Labours campaign, however, was based on sheer hypocrisy. Labour, under Jacinda Arderns leadership, and the Greens, formed a coalition government with this right-wing, racist party from 20172020.

Labour gave NZ First extraordinary power, making the partys leader Winston Peters both deputy prime minister and foreign minister. NZ Firsts Ron Mark was the defence minister. The pro-Labour Party Daily Blog and the pseudo-left International Socialist Organisation applauded the Labour-NZ First coalition deal and falsely portrayed the Ardern government as progressiveeven as it strengthened ties with US imperialism and attacked immigrants.

The reports were followed by about an hour of discussion. One attendee asked the SEG to comment on claims that Russia was an imperialist power seeking to revive the Soviet Union. Peters explained that Russia could not seriously be considered an imperialist power. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism had left Russia in a weakened position, ultimately subordinate to the US and other imperialist powers.

He added that the Putin regime was viciously hostile to the Soviet Union and had repeatedly denounced the 1917 Russian Revolution, which had liberated Ukraine and the other Soviet republics from Tsarist oppression, and provided self-determination within the context of the Soviet system. The rights of the nationalities were later suppressed by the Stalinist bureaucracy, as part of its nationalist betrayal of the revolution.

A supporter of Te Pati Maori (TPM)a Maori nationalist party that aims to support a Labour-led coalition governmentobjected to the SEGs characterisation of the party as right-wing and racist.

In his report, Peters explained that TPM was part of a National-led coalition government from 2008 to 2017, which sent troops to the imperialist wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and carried out major attacks on the working class. He also noted that TPM co-leader Rawiri Waititi recently claimed that Maori are a genetically superior race.

SEG member John Braddock explained that TPM falsely claims to speak on behalf of all Maori, on the basis of racial identity politics. The fundamental question here is: Whats the basic division in society? It was not race, as TPM insists, but class. Maori businesses now own $70 billion worth of assets in this country built on the exploitation of workers of all races. Braddock said it was not whites that colonised NZ, it was capitalism, the private profit system.

The TPM supporter became incensed by this class analysis. Unable to respond, she stormed out of the meeting, shouting obscenities.

Following this provocative outburst, the discussion continued. Boddy explained that neither Maori nor indigenous Australians were homogenous groups and that there was a vast gulf between working-class Aboriginal people and the elites who profit from corporate and government ties.

Peters referred those in attendance to the SEGs analysis of the Treaty of Waitangi, which has served to divide the working class while providing the basis for the creation of a bourgeois layer, represented in parliament by TPM.

A part-Maori member of the IYSSE underscored the essential point that workers had to understand: I have more in common with the white working class, the Asian working class, the Arab working class than I have with the Maori elites, who were part of the bourgeoisie.
The popular uprising in Gaza against the brutal Israeli occupation has quickly exposed the hypocrisy of the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the bourgeois opposition parties, who are all complicit in the oppression of the Palestinian people.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on September. 6, 2022. [AP Photo/Armin Durgut]

After the uprising, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus government declared war on the Palestinian people, killing hundreds and deploying 100,000 troops to the border of Gaza, to prepare a major ground invasion.

The Turkish ruling elite has reacted to this declaration of war and to indiscriminate attacks of the Israeli state on civilians by calling for restraint and compliance with international law. This is diametrically opposed to the attitude of the broad masses in Turkey, who sympathize with the Palestinians.

In his first statement on Saturday, Erdogan said: In light of events in Israel this morning, Turkey calls on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from impulsive steps that could escalate tensions.

In his remarks on Sunday, Erdogan claimed that the region will attain tranquility, lasting peace and stability based on UN resolutions and international law. However, Israel has never abided by these laws, and the imperialist powers that back Israel routinely ignore it. Nevertheless, Erdogan called for a two-state solution.

Far from condemning Israel, Erdogan made clear that his government was disturbed by and hostile to the uprising. Erdogan said, While we have always stood in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we have also underscored that steps which could escalate the tension, cause further bloodshed and aggravate the problems in the region should be avoided.

Erdogan reiterated this position last night on X/Twitter, arguing somewhat more bluntly that the Palestinians should simply peacefully adapt themselves to the Israeli regimes persecution and theft of their lands.

He wrote: We call on the Israeli government to stop its bombardment of the Palestinian territories, especially Gaza, and on the Palestinians to stop their harassment of Israeli civilian settlements. This restrained step will also open the door to peace. In the past, Erdogan and his government vocally condemned Israeli attacks and expressed support for the Palestinians. But now, apart from Erdogans calls for restraint and for talks overseen by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, there is complete silence from the government.

When it comes to killing, you know how to kill very well! he shouted to then-Israeli President Shimon Peres at a panel of the World Economic Forum in Davos, in 2009, declaring that Israel was persecuting Palestine. After that, there was a crisis in diplomatic relations with Israel, and Erdogan posed for a time as a defender of the Palestinians.

Just two years ago, in 2021, Erdogan went so far as to call Israel a terrorist state, urging the whole world, especially Islamic countries to take effective action against Israeli attacks.

Despite all these tensions, Turkey, the first country in the Muslim world to recognise Israel in 1949, has always maintained trade and military ties with Tel Aviv as part of its comprehensive military-strategic alliance with US imperialism. More recently, the Turkish bourgeoisie re-normalized relations with the Netanyahu government, in line with its interests in exploiting oil and gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Kemal Klcdaroglu, the head of Turkeys bourgeois opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), also declined to condemn Israel. Klcdaroglu, who campaigned on a more pro-NATO stance than Erdogan in last Mays presidential election, was forced to make a statement on Saturday when journalists asked him about the issue, stating: Palestine is a country that has been seeking its rights for a long time. We are always with the Palestinian people. We never want war. Within the framework of democratic measures, international society must intervene and ensure peace and the rights of Palestine.

There is another, even more important reason why the Erdogan government and other bourgeois parties have been unable to give even token support to the Palestinian popular uprising. As the statement by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) explained, At a time of mounting social unrest and strike activity throughout the world, the ruling class everywhere is terrified of the example that any manifestation of popular opposition will set.

Anger among Turkish workers, who have suffered a massive decline in living standards amid rising living costs, has reached a boiling point. In recent months, opposition in different layers of the working class to these conditions has manifested itself in a new wave of wildcat strikes and a growing, international strike movement.

In previous years, after Israeli massacres, the Turkish government declared national mourning for the Palestinians and promoted anti-Israeli mass protests. It aimed to manipulate and exploit the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of the Turkish population against the Zionist regime and imperialism.

In the current explosive circumstances, the Turkish ruling elites are aware of the dangers of statements of support for the oppressed masses, even if only in a token manner. The demonstrations in support of the Palestinians in the main cities of Turkey after the recent uprising were mainly carried out on the call of organizations close to the Islamist Felicity Party, which was part of the CHP-led bourgeois alliance against Erdogan in the last elections.

The events have exposed the hypocritical approach of the Erdogan government on Palestine, which is based on the close ties of the Turkish ruling class with Israel and imperialist powers. The official line of Ankara and of the reactionary Arab regimes in the Middle East, who have worked for decades to improve relations with Israel at the expense of Palestinian lives and rights, is now indistinguishable.

However, Tehran, itself a target of Israel and US imperialism, did not join the chorus and made a statement of support for the uprising. This led the Israeli regime and the imperialist powers to make open threats against Iran.

The Wall Street Journal, which called on the Biden administration to fully support Israels planned ground invasion into Gaza, claimed in another article that Hamas coordinated its military offensive with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran. Both US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli army spokesperson Brigaider General Danny Hagari said there was no evidence to substantiate this claim, however.

Irans foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, denied the allegation and warned: The continuation of the Israeli regimes attacks on Gaza under the current circumstances will complicate the situation and increase the possibility of the spread of war.

As the US-led NATO powers escalate the war against Russia in Ukraine and give full support to Israel, the risk of war inflaming the entire Middle East is extremely serious.

The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group) in Turkey, in line with the ICFI, strongly opposes the Israeli states declaration of war on Palestine following the popular uprising. It calls on workers in Turkey, the Middle East and internationally to come to the defence of the Palestinians.
(Bloomberg) -- AustralianSuper Pty, the countrys largest pension fund, is facing further losses on US property assets as a lender prepares to take back a vacant Washington, DC office tower it owns with Brookfield Corp.

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The 12-story building in the US capital is now controlled by Starwood Property Trust Inc., which provided a $120 million loan to the property, said two people familiar with the matter. Starwood has been in talks to either find a new tenant for the early 1990s-built tower, which has been unoccupied for some time, or convert it into apartments, the people said.

The building at 1200 K Street is part of a package of eight Washington, DC offices 49%-owned by AustralianSuper, snapped up in a showpiece deal with Brookfield eight years ago as pension funds piled into private markets. But as borrowing costs soared and hybrid work made offices harder to fill, Brookfield and other landlords have this year defaulted on some office mortgages as property values fell.

Its the latest setback for AustralianSupers US property investments, which also include the worlds largest open-air shopping mall in Honolulu, half-owned by Brookfield. Broker estimates suggest the Washington offices have suffered heavy valuation losses, while Brookfield reports show the malls value has fallen by about $800 million in the past two years.

A spokesman for AustralianSuper declined to comment on specific properties, while spokespeople for Brookfield and Starwood declined to comment. The pending foreclosure of 1200 K Street was previously reported by the Washington Business Journal.

Property is a tale of two halves. Theres always something that is not doing well, and we have some legacy assets that fall into that bucket and are working to respond to these challenges, AustralianSuper Head of Mid Risk Portfolios Jason Peasley said in an emailed response to questions. In the US office sector in particular, we are holding assets at far less than what we bought them for several years earlier.

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While the properties are a sliver of the funds A$300 billion ($193 billion) of assets, they show the increasing pitfalls for pension funds in unlisted markets. The countrys A$3.5 trillion industry has plowed into overseas private assets as surging inflows force funds to invest beyond their own backyard. But regulators globally are becoming increasingly wary of the risks posed by the often opaque holdings, where valuations can be less frequent and rarely made public.

In 2015, real estate was a relatively safe bet. AustralianSuper bought into the Brookfield office portfolio that year, in a deal that valued the Washington buildings at $1.3 billion. But values in the downtown DC area have now tumbled by between 25% and 60% from their peak, according to real estate broker Cushman & Wakefield Plc, which thinks that market is still to hit a bottom.

It looks like were approaching it, but most people dont think were quite there yet, Nathan Edwards, senior director in the firms Washington, DC metro research team, said in an interview.

AustralianSuper also paid $1.1 billion for 25% of the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu in 2015. Three years later, Brookfield gained control of the mall when it took over General Growth Properties. By then, retail property was already suffering from the shift to online shopping, but the pandemic accelerated that trend and also crippled tourism that the mall heavily relied on.

Brookfield valuations show that Ala Moanas value dropped to $4.9 billion in June this year from $5.7 billion at the end of 2021. The mall also borrowed $2.4 billion in April 2022, mainly to refinance existing debt, according to loan data compiled by Bloomberg. Monthly interest payments have more than tripled to $16.4 million on the loan, though there is currently an interest-rate cap facility in place, the data show.

While Ala Moana is still classed as a prime shopping center thats home to many luxury brands, it faced an additional Covid fallout of declining tourism to Hawaii, which has also recently been hit by catastrophic fires on the island of Maui.

The population in Hawaii cannot sustain Ala Moana, Rick Latella, New York-based Retail Practice Group Leader for Cushman & Wakefields Valuation & Advisory group, said in an interview. This mall benefits exclusively from the amount of tourism. So if that wanes in particular years, theyre going to suffer.

Latella said he thought the outlook for well-managed malls like Ala Moana with good tenants was still positive.

AustralianSupers Peasley said the pension fund was having a far more positive experience with its key UK real estate assets, which include massive London investments in the redevelopment of the Kings Cross and Canada Water districts. Unlisted property assets made up about 8% of its main default option for members as at mid-year.

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Members of Congress in the United States are discussing a bill funding the Ukraine war to the tune of up to $100 billion at one go, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

With the failure of Ukraines counteroffensive, the achievement of the United States sweeping goals of weakening Russia through the war in Ukraine by reconquering Crimea and the Donbas will require a massive expansion of direct U.S. involvement in the war, up to and including the deployment of U.S. troops.

In August, the Biden administration requested $24 billion in additional spending on the war with Russia. But the price tag of the proposed bill has grown two, three, or even four times in proposals made by members of Congress.

Now, supporters of Ukraine in the Senate are aiming to offer a much bigger and longer-term packagewith a price tag between $50 billion and $100 billion, the Journal reported.

The Journal wrote, Many pro-Ukraine senators say that passing a large package sufficient to carry Ukraine through the next U.S. election would send a strong message abroad that the chaos in the House wont affect Americas long-term commitment to Ukraine.

The largest package was proposed by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. The Journal reported Blumenthal said if it were up to him, the number would be closer to $100 billion.

The newspaper quoted Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as supporting a single aid package in the order of $70 billion. I want to be one and done, Graham said. I want to get them through the next fighting season, through next year, so the Russians would realize this gets worse for them, not better.

To date, the United States has spent approximately $150 billion on the Ukraine war. As the Biden administration has erased all existing limits on U.S. involvement in the war, the cost of the conflict has soared.

Last week, all Democratic members of the House of Representatives supported a group of fascist Republican members of Congress, led by Trump acolyte Matt Gaetz, in removing Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

As the World Socialist Web Site explained last week, the central focus of the Democrats is securing funding for the Ukraine war. The Democrats are pledging to collaborate with the domestic agenda of the Republicans in exchange for guarantees that funding for Ukraine is untouchable, the WSWS wrote.

The contours of this deal are now taking shape. Last week, Biden announced that he is resuming construction of a wall along the United States southern border, the cornerstone of former President Donald Trumps anti-immigrant policy.

Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat, told the Washington Post, Border security is a goal that I have and other Democrats share. So I think there is a potential sweet spot for compromise if border security is something that Republicans require.

Graham stated his support for tying a crackdown on the border to the passage of funding for the Ukraine war. To those who say we need to fix our border, youre right, Graham told CBS on Sunday. To those who say we need to help Ukraine, youre right. To those who say we need to do the border, not Ukraine, youre wrong.

He continued, We got to fix asylum, we need border security agent increases, we need more detention beds, Graham said. I think theres Democratic support for major border security reform, but we have to attach it to Ukraine for those who say we need to fix our border.

The House of Representatives will reconvene Wednesday to hold elections for speaker. Whatever the outcome, it is clear that the escalation of the Ukraine war has shifted the framework of American politics far to the right.

To date, the United States has provided Ukraine with 38 long-range HIMARS missile launchers, thousands of armored vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 31 Abrams tanks, and more than 300 million rounds of small arms ammunition.

In the latest escalation, U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States would send the ATACMS long-range missile to Ukraine. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly endorsed Ukraine using NATO long-range missiles to strike inside Russia, declaring that it is up to them to make decisions about what can be most effective when it comes to restoring their territorial integrity.
On Sunday, three days after Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip launched an offensive against Israeli occupation forces blockading the region, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahus regime announced a siege of the Gaza Strip. After Netanyahu pledged to extract an unprecedented price in lives from Palestinians in Gaza, the Zionist regime is preparing bloody mass repression.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. [Photo: Adel Hana/WSWS]

The fascistic outlook of top Israeli officials was bluntly expressed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. After of a meeting Monday morning of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command in Beersheba, which is currently carrying out large-scale bombings of Gaza, Gallant declared: I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed.

To justify his decision to target Gazas entire population of 2 million, Gallant compared them to animals, saying: We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.

In a nationally televised speech yesterday, Netanyahu stressed that Israels current bombings of Gaza are just the beginning of the planned onslaught against Gaza. He declared, I said that every place from which Hamas operates will turn into ruins. It is already happening today, it will happen even more in the future. He echoed Gallants langauge, calling the Palestinians animals.

Netanyahu added in a post on Twitter, We will extract a price that will be remembered by them and Israels other enemies for decades to come.  They are savages.

The degraded threats of Netanyahu and Gallant must be taken a a warning by workers, youth and socialist-minded intellectuals in Israel, across the Middle East and internationally. Netanyahu intends to carry out the most ruthless measures, killing or displacing a substantial portion of Gazas population, in order to crush resistance to the Israeli occupation. Halting the massive escalation of the bloodshed requires building a movement in the working class, in Israel and internationally, to stop this onslaught and Israels oppression of the Palestinians.

Netanyahus far-right regime plans to wage a politically criminal war on Gaza. Yesterday, Human Rights Watchs Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir said: Defense Minister Gallants statements are abhorrent. Depriving the population in an occupied territory of food and electricity is collective punishment, which is a war crime, as is using starvation as a weapon of war. The International Criminal Court should take note of this call to commit a war crime.

Officials in neighboring Egypt are warning that the IDF may murder or expel Gazas entire Palestinian population. The state-owned Ahram Online wrote: High-level Egyptian sources warned on Monday against pushing Palestinian civilians towards the Egyptian borders and fueling calls for mass displacement  Egypt intensified its communications with all relevant parties in the international community to halt the escalation and preserve the lives of the Palestinian people.

In reality, the central forces that are supporting and enabling the Netanyahu governments onslaught on Gaza are the leading NATO imperialist powers. Yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden held a joint discussion on the Gaza conflict. They then issued a cynical statement endorsing Netanyahu and denouncing the Hamas authorities in Gaza.

Stressing our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism, it pledged: Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself ...

This slander on the oppressed population of Gaza as terrorists, claiming that the heavily armed Netanyahu government is simply defending itself, is a repugnant political lie. Masses of people around the world sympathize with an uprising by the Palestinians who have been subjected for decades to bloody violence by the Zionist regime, which was armed to the tune of billions of dollars by the major NATO powers.

Yesterday, the IDF boasted that its air force had hit 2,400 targets in Gaza since the beginning of the fighting on the night of Friday to Saturday. Israeli warships in the Mediterranean are also conducting missile strikes on Gaza, and there are reports that Israeli forces are using white phosphorus bombsa banned chemical weapon that delivers agonizing burns to its victims. Over 123,000 people have already been displaced by the bombings, Gaza authorities reported yesterday.

Mohammed Saidam told Le Monde about life under Israeli bombing, as IDF forces regularly target apartment complexes and even hospitals. He said, Initially it was like any other escalation. But afterwards it became terrifying. We hear explosions that are very close, walls vibrate like during an earthquake, we cannot sleep, and our nerves are on edge at the slightest sound.

Adnan Abu Hasna, the spokesman of the UN Relief and Works Association (UNRWA) that cares for displaced people in Gaza, said his agency is overwhelmed. We still have not managed to get over the wars in 2014 or 2021. All this is well beyond the UNRWAs capabilities, he said.

Since Israels blockade of Gaza began in 2007, the Zionist regime has repeatedly waged war on the people of Gaza. In 2014, 2,251 people were killed in repeated Israeli bombings of Gaza. In 2018, at least 270 Palestinians were killed and 7,000 injured, many of them permanently maimed, when Israeli troops opened fire on a peaceful march by Gazans demanding the right to return to the land of their ancestors inside the current boundaries of Israel.

The current uprising in Gaza is not an act of terrorism, but rather is legitimately seen by masses of people in Gaza as a heroic act of defiance against these crimes.

The Palestinian resistance has managed to impose a new relationship of forces with the Israeli army, though it has weaponry and technology that is one thousand times superior, filmmaker Iyad Alasttal told Le Monde from inside Gaza. This has given Gaza back some of its dignitysomething that the Arab countries, like the United Nations, have denied to us.

Hamaswhich has stated that its offensive aims to end Israels occupation and the blockade of the Gaza Strip that it has imposed since 2007is continuing to attack Israeli targets. Its rockets fell on cities across Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Rishon Lezion, and Beersheba. Large numbers of Israelis are in bomb shelters, and Israeli schools and universities remained closed yesterday and today.

Videos online showed Palestinians destroying security cameras on the infamous border wall separating Gaza from Israel, and hitting Israeli tanks with drone strikes. Fighting also broke out along Israels northern border with Lebanon, as Israeli troops shot and killed three Hezbollah fighters, and Hezbollah units returned fire on Israeli military positions.

The IDF are clearly preparing a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. They are calling up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists, preparing artillery emplacements along the Israel-Gaza border, and massing tanks and armored personnel carriers. Such an offensivein a tiny area of 2 million people, which if it were a country would be the worlds third-most densely populatedwould inevitably lead to horrific civilian casualties.

The escalation of Israeli state violence against Gaza is provoking mounting opposition and anger around the globe.

Protests in support of the Palestinians are taking place across the Middle East and internationally. Tens of thousands marched in the capital of Yemen, Sanaa, and thousands marched in Baghdad, Istanbul, and Tehran to oppose the crackdown on Gaza. There were smaller protests in New York, London, Sydney, and other cities, with protests in defense of Gaza called in Paris on Thursday. Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has called for a million-man march on Friday in Baghdad.

The decisive question is arming the growing movement in the working class, including in Israel where the antidemocratic policies of Netanyahus far-right government provoked mass protests earlier this year, with a socialist and internationalist perspective to defend the Palestinian people.
Last Tuesday, October 3, workers of five Sao Paulos Metropolitan Train Company (CPTM) railway lines, five Metro lines, and the water and sanitation company (Sabesp) held a one-day strike against the wide-ranging privatization plan of Sao Paulos far-right governor, Tarcisio de Freitas.

Assembly that approved the student strike at USP on September 18 [Photo: Adusp]

This strike occurred amid a series of strikes that have broken out in recent weeks in Sao Paulo, Brazils largest and richest state. In the main one, students at the University of Sao Paulo (USP), the largest university in Latin America with almost 100,000 students, have been on strike since September 18 against the lack of teachers and for policies to keep students at the university.

On September 27, USP professors also went on strike, while university employees took part in the walkout on October 3.

At the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), staff have been on strike since the end of August for a pay rise and against installing electronic timecards. UNICAMP students walked out in solidarity with both the universitys staff and the strike at USP last Tuesday, when they decided to go on strike against the deterioration of education, and lack of teachers and infrastructure.

While the pseudo-left leaderships of the trade unions and student organizations seek to concentrate opposition against the current governor of Sao Paulo, the attacks now faced by workers and students have been systematically promoted for years by all political factions of the ruling class.

In recent, the policies of privatization and destruction of social services have been presided over in the state of Sao Paulo by the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), especially by former governor Geraldo Alckmin, who remained in office for 12 years.

For years, the Workers Party (PT), and its pseudo-left backers such as the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), have diverted the working class from openly fighting capitalism by blaming all social grievances on the PSDBs neoliberal project. But in Brazils recent elections, the PT tapped Alckmin as the best suited as vice-president for current President Lula da Silva, and political ally in the struggle against Bolsonarismo.

Today, Tarcisios administration is deepening the capitalist adjustments against the working class amid an acute economic and social crisis in Brazil and internationally, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. A former minister of Jair Bolsonaro and a loyal ally of the fascistic former president, he was elected governor last year and is implementing a combination of law-and-order policies, giving the green light to the Sao Paulo Military Police to kill without restraint, and harsh attacks on Sao Paulos workers and youth.

Tarcisio denounced Tuesdays strikes, saying the movement was political, illegal and abusive. The Sao Paulo labor court, working in close contact with the governor, had ordered before the strike that 100 percent of train and subway services be operated at peak times and 80 percent at other times, with a fine of 500,000 reais (US$97,000) if the court order was not complied with. However, the subway and railway workers defied this decision.

The Tarcisio government intends to carry out a wide-ranging privatization program, which, in addition to subway and railway lines and Sabesp, includes the privatization of 100 units of the youth detention center CASA Foundation. Of these public companies, the most advanced privatization project is that of Sabesp, one of the largest water and sewage companies in the world, which serves more than 28 million people in Sao Paulo. Sabesp is a mixed-capital company with shares on the Sao Paulo and New York stock markets, and in 2022 it made a profit of 3.21 billion reais (US$620 million).

The disastrous results of the privatization of public services in Sao Paulo are already being felt on the subway and railway lines run by private companies, which record most of the breakdowns on the states train system. The prospect of worse and more expensive services, as has happened all over the world, has led to the privatization of Sabesp being rejected by the majority of the population of Sao Paulo.

Public higher education in Sao Paulo is going through a similar process, which combines budget cuts, the acceleration of pro-market measures in state universities, and the outsourcing of services. Since 2014, USP has lost more than 1,000 teachers, leading to many subjects not being offered and students in some disciplines having to postpone graduation. This unsustainable situation has led to all 28 faculties and institutes on USP campuses in Sao Paulo, the state capital, joining one of the biggest strikes in USPs history.

The subway, railway, water and sanitation workers of Sao Paulo, as well as the students of USP and UNICAMP on strike, face a two-front struggle, both against the capitalist parties and the workers and student union bureaucracies. Each in their own way, the pseudo-left organizations are working to isolate their struggles and divert them into a sterile pressure movement directed toward the Lula administration and Tarcisios government itself.

Camila Lisboa, president of the Sao Paulo Subway Workers Union and member of the Morenoite Resistencia tendency in the pseudo-left Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), wrote on X/Twitter that the fight against privatization can be advanced by pressuring the Tarcisio government to hold an official plebiscite so that the population can democratically decide. The fraudulent nature of this demand was exposed during the October 3 strike, when the government doubled down on its intentions to privatize public companies.

Resistencia is one of the pseudo-left organizations that has most often argued that the fight against the extreme right in Sao Paulo and Brazil must be carried out through a broad front involving social movements and bourgeois parties like the PT. To this end, it has ignored the Lula governments attacks on education and its recently-launched wide-ranging Public-Private Partnership project. In an interview with Carta Capital right before the strike, Lisboa announced: We would love to welcome President Lula to our picket lines ... to defeat Governor Tarcisios project to privatize Sao Paulos public companies.

The Morenoite Workers Revolutionary Movement (MRT) and its youth movement, Faisca Revolucionaria, which publishes the Esquerda Diario website, is advancing more radical rhetoric that includes formal proposals such as assemblies and unified strike commands, without any defined political content and totally subordinate to the union bureaucracy. It hailed the October 3 strikes as an example of the worker-student alliance, arguing that The [union] federations, such as CUT and CTB [controlled respectively by the PT and the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil], and unions must build this unified struggle in all sectors now!

Meanwhile, the Lambertite Workers Cause Party (PCO) lamented the fact that the leadership of the strike movement [at USP] ... is in the hands of sectors of the petty-bourgeois left, such as the PSOL, MRT and Maoist and Stalinist parties, while the PT is remaining on the margins of what is happening at the countrys largest university.

Trying to give a left-sounding cover for the subordination of the student movement to the capitalist state, the PCO advocated that the strike at USP evolve into a political strike that goes beyond the demands of student unionism, in which the big national issues are debated. In other words, that it evolves into a movement to pressure the PT government to implement a bankrupt bourgeois nationalist program.

The workers of Sao Paulo fighting against privatizations and the students at the state universities must reject these nationalist perspectives for subordination to the Lula government and the unions controlled by the PT and its pseudo-left satellites.

They must orient themselves to the growing movement of the international working class and must adopt a socialist and internationalist strategy, advocating the expropriation of the wealth of the ruling elite to guarantee broad public investment in education, transportation and the water supply and sewage treatment system.
One of the most striking features of the Australian Labor governments referendum to entrench an indigenous Voice advisory body in the countrys 1901 Constitution is that the official Yes campaign is bankrolled by major corporate interests.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressing Business Council of Australia annual dinner in late 2022. [Photo: Business Council of Australia]

The Voice would do nothing to help the vast majority of indigenous people, who are among the most oppressed layers of the working class. On the contrary, it would insert an unelected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assembly into the heart of the capitalist state apparatus of executive governments and parliament that has been responsible for continuing the crimes committed by British colonialism and Australian capitalism over the past two and a half centuries.

The referendum offers only a false choice between two ruling capitalist class camps, both of which are committed to the underlying program of preparing to join a US-led war against China and inflicting the deepest cuts to workers real wages and living conditions since World War II.

This is most visible for the official Yes23 campaign, which reportedly has a $50 million budget, overwhelmingly derived from the largest mining companies, the four big banks and three major supermarket and retail chains.

Of the top 20 businesses listed on the Australian share market, representing almost half the value of the stock exchange, 13 have publicly expressed support. None of the top 20 has opposed the Voice, with the rest staying silent.

Significantly, the corporate giants endorsing the Yes campaign include some of the most aggressive in attacking the jobs, wages and conditions of all workers, including indigenous workers. Airline company Qantas has a decade-long record of spearheading the offensive, most recently by illegally sacking its ground staff. It has painted Yes slogans on its aircraft and provided Yes campaign leaders with free travel.

Also on the list are the banksWestpac, ANZ, NAB and the Commonwealthwhich are intensifying their job cuts (2,000 this year so far) and branch closures, and have extensive records of profit-gouging from customers.

Prominent too are the retail and mining empire Wesfarmers (Bunnings, Kmart, Target, and Officeworks to name only a few), supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths, and mining companies BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside, South 32 and Newcrest. Others include road toll operator Transurban, property developer Lendlease, software giant Xero and the Paul Ramsay Foundation, built on a private health empire.

Among the known donations, Wesfarmers, Rio Tinto and BHP have funded the Yes campaign to the tune of $2 million each. Visy Industries boss Anthony Pratt, the countrys third richest billionaire, reportedly donated $1 million. His companies have engaged in numerous strike-breaking operations over the years.

Bunnings, which is owned by Wesfarmers. [Photo: Inside Retail Facebook]

The Business Council of Australia (BCA), whose members comprise the top stock exchange-listed firms, as well as others such as Boeing, Cisco and the big four accounting firms, has strongly endorsed the Voice, as has the Minerals Council of Australia, the mining industry peak body.

The Directors for the Voice group ran full-page ads in national newspapers in September declaring support for the Voice. Conexus Financial, publisher of Investment Magazine, officially announced its backing in August after co-hosting an event at which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with finance industry leaders, urging them to join the Yes campaign.

The Yes23 campaign is being run by figures drawn from the brains trusts of both the Labor and Liberal-National parties, and CT Group, a political consultancy firm, previously known as Crosby Textor, that has long worked on Liberal Party election campaigns. Operatives inside the campaign HQ in North Sydney are led by chief operating officer, ex-Victorian Liberal Party director Simon Frost. The Yes23 board features ex-Prime Minister John Howards former chief of staff Tony Nutt and Kevin Rudds chief media adviser as prime minister, Lachlan Harris.

What lies behind this line-up?

First and foremost, the high-level corporate backing for the Voice is bound up with the ideological, political and geo-strategic agenda behind the proposal. That is to put a false progressive face on Australian capitalism, both for foreign policy and domestic purposes.

Revamping Australias image is regarded as essential for war purposes, especially to claim to be backing the US aggression against Russia and China in the name of human rights and to help bully Asia-Pacific states, whose largely indigenous populations have bitter experiences with British-Australian colonialism and neo-colonialism, into lining up behind Washington.

The Albanese governments equally fraudulent appeal to unify the nation is a precondition for creating a war economy and imposing the inevitable sacrifices of lives and livelihoods, as occurred in both previous world wars. Far from united, Australia, like the rest of the world, is more sharply divided than ever by yawning social inequality and class tensions, producing rising strike struggles.

For the corporate boardrooms, the Voice is a means of further incorporating into the capitalist class and the state apparatus a layer of indigenous business owners who are profiting off government and corporate contracts, in the name of economic empowerment, at the expense of indigenous workers and youth.

In its August statement backing the Voice, the BCA committed itself to support Indigenous Australians to own and grow their own businesses. BCA members spent over $1 billion a year with indigenous businesses, BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.

Direct profit interests are at stake also. This is most evident with the mining industry, which accounts for two-thirds of Australian capitalisms export revenue and whose interests are closely tied to those of the banks and finance houses that underwrite its projects. They regard the Voice as a more institutional and centralised vehicle for pursuing mining and other corporate projects on land that is subject to indigenous title claims.

Multi-billion dollar mining projects depend on deals struck with Aboriginal land councils and native title bodies. These usually involve royalty payments of just 0.5 to 0.8 percent of annual production, or minor shares in ownership, typically around 10 percent, that are dwarfed by the massive revenues generated.

In its statement of support for the Voice, BHP said its long-term agreements with traditional owners were central to our business success, and the creation of long-term value for BHPs shareholders.

For the mining giants, a major problem is that their operations have often become embroiled in legal disputes with rival clan or family groups. Frequent court challenges have been made by indigenous groups to deals struck with other land claimants. The BCA said the Voice would provide a formal and authoritative avenue for corporate Australia to work with indigenous communities on business programs and initiatives.

Very little benefit flows to most indigenous people from any of these arrangements. East Arnhem Land remains one of the poorest local government areas of the country according to census data, even though hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties since 1971 have come from Rio Tintos Gove bauxite project near Nhulunbuy, as just one example.

Open business support for the Voice is not universal. Other big companies like CSL, Fortescue Metals Group, Goodman, Santos, Medibank and Macquarie bank have opted to stay silent. So have the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, two groups representing medium-sized companies. At the same time they defend the right of those advocating Yes to do so, and endorse the underlying program of reconciliation between indigenous people and Australian capitalism.

According to the Australian Financial Review, some chief executives have kept quiet to avoid the perception that the Voice referendum is an elites-led push.

The only prominent business figure to back the No camp is mining billionaire Clive Palmer, the founder of the right-wing United Australia Party. He is spending $2 million on ads promoting the No vote.

A few large No donors have been identified. They include Sam Kennard, chief executive at Kennards Self Storage, who is also a director of the right-wing think tank the Centre for Independent Studies, and Marcus Blackmore, the son of the founder of the Blackmores health supplements company. Simon Fenwick, a former fund manager, is thought to have put in $500,000, on top of a $1 million donation to Advance, a right-wing body behind the campaign. Two other anonymous donations of more than $1 million have been reported.

These individuals no doubt reflect concerns expressed by the official No campaign that the operations of the Voice, despite having its functions defined by parliament, could complicate legal or constitutional conflicts, especially under conditions of rising working-class discontent with the entire political and corporate establishment.

In other cases, the silence may be to avoid public attention being drawn to their profiteering operations. Some mining companies, such as the Fortescue Metals Group, have paid royalties to indigenous groups as low as 0.1 percent of production. Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest opposes paying any more on the basis that it constitutes mining welfare that discourages Aboriginal people from seeking jobs or setting up businesses.

The fact that the major companies are pouring millions of dollars into the Yes campaign underscores the reality that the Voice plan has never been a grassroots movement coming from oppressed indigenous people. Whatever the tactical differences in ruling corporate circles, both the Yes and No camps are preoccupied with furthering the interests of the capitalist class and its reactionary agenda of war and austerity.

The Socialist Equality Party is urging workers and youth to reject both the Yes and No cases and join an active boycott of the referendum itself in order to fight for the development of an independent road for the working class, indigenous and non-indigenous alike, based on an internationalist and socialist program, against the capitalist profit system itself.

Note: Under conditions of compulsory voting, which makes it a crime to urge a boycott of the vote itself, the SEP calls on workers and youth to register their opposition by casting informal ballots and join our active boycott campaign in the lead-up to October 14, that goes well beyond the individual act of voting.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Suite 906, 185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
The Socialist Equality Party (SGP) and the World Socialist Web Site strongly condemn the support of the German government, opposition parties and media for the Israeli governments onslaught against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Annalena Baerbock in Luxemburg on April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

Germanys ruling class, responsible for the worst crimes in human history, is enthusiastically supporting the genocidal crackdown by the far-right Netanyahu regime and the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, it is massively attacking basic democratic rights by criminalising peaceful protests in solidarity with the Palestinianson the slanderous basis that the participants are terrorists and anti-Semites.

The campaign was initiated by the leadership of the German government and is promoted by all parliamentary parties and the bourgeois media. In an official statement, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats, SPD) described the Palestinian uprising which began this weekend, in which Israeli civilians were killed and taken hostage, as barbaric. The acts were outrageous, and they can be justified by nothing, absolutely nothing.

In a phone call on Sunday, he assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Germany was firmly and inviolably on Israels side ... The security of Israel is a German raison dtat. This is especially true in difficult times like these. We will act accordingly.

Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement from the Federal Foreign Office: Hamass heinous violence against civilians in Israel is unprecedented and unjustifiable for any reason. This terror must be stopped immediately. Israel has our full solidarity.

The opposition partiesfrom the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the Left Partyare expressing similar views. The left vice president of the Bundestag (federal parliament), Petra Pau, together with opposition leader Friedrich Merz and the right-wing mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegener (both Christian Democratic Union), took part in an official solidarity rally at the Brandenburg Gate, which fully supported Israels actions.

A resolution passed on Sunday at the state congress of the Bremen Left Party also explicitly expressed solidarity with the Israeli war offensive. It remains to be hoped that Israel will soon succeed in defeating Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), freeing the kidnapped and restoring security without other hostile terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah also launching further coordinated attacks on Israel.

Such de facto calls for retaliation are in line with the calls of the extreme right. For its part, the AfD parliamentary group condemned the terrorist attacks by the Palestinians in a statement and assured Israel of our full solidarity. This applies to all measures that help end the attack quickly and can hold the attackers accountable.

Hardly anything could make the reactionary character of the war campaign clearer than the fact that it is supported by the AfDa party whose leaders openly glorify the Nazi Wehrmacht and whip up opposition to the Holocaust memorial in Berlin. All the denunciations of the Palestinians as terrorists cannot hide the fact that this is an uprising of the oppressed and that the actions of the oppressorsthe Zionist state and its imperialist backershave a decidedly fascist character.

Amid massive airstrikes that left hundreds dead, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete sealing off of Gaza on Monday: There will be no electricity, food or fuel. We are fighting against human animals, and we will act accordingly.

This is reminiscent of the rhetoric and methods used by the Nazis in occupied Poland in World War II to crush the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 and the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, razing entire districts to the ground and murdering tens of thousands.

To put it bluntly, when the entire ruling class in Germany stands behind Netanyahus scorched earth policy and even supports the blockade of the Gaza Strip by ending all financial and economic support for the Palestinians, it is reviving its own criminal traditions.

With regard to the brutal suppression of uprisings and the commission of terrible war crimes, including genocide, no one can beat the German imperialists. Even before the Nazi mass murder, they organized the genocide of the Herero and Nama in present-day Namibia. And during World War I, German troops committed war crimes such as the destruction of Louvain and the massacre of Dinant, in which 674 civilians were killed and about 1,300 of the 1,800 houses of the Belgian city were destroyed.

In order to intimidate any criticism of the brutal actions of Israel and the imperialist powers, the media, as always, raise the accusation of antisemitism. This is cynical and mendacious in several ways. First, the claim that the Zionist regimes terror against Palestinian civilians is in the name of Judaism itself comes from the arsenal of antisemitism, as it collectively associates all Jews with the criminal policies of the Israeli government.

In addition, it is not the oppressed Palestinians and the hundreds of millions worldwide who stand in solidarity with them who promote anti-Semitism, but the imperialist governments and, above all, the ruling class in Germany. It is not only building a fascist party in Germany with the AfD, but is also allying with fascist and anti-Semitic forces throughout Europe in order to pursue its political goals.

The NATO war against Russia in Ukraine in particular shows how far this process has progressed. Already during the anti-Russian coup in Kiev in 2014, the then German Foreign Minister and current Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) received the chairman of the fascist Svoboda party and notorious antisemite Oleh Tyahnybok in the German embassy in Kiev. Since then, Berlin and NATO have been arming a regime that celebrates Nazi collaborators like Stepan Bandera and openly mobilizes fascist army units like the Azov Battalion.

None of this is an oversight78 years after the end of the Third Reich, the ruling class is systematically working to rehabilitate the Nazis. As recently as the end of September, the German ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, participated in the standing ovation for the Waffen-SS veteran and Nazi war criminal Yaroslav Hunka in the Canadian Parliament. The far-right Humboldt University Professor Jorg Baberowski, who already described Hitler as not vicious in 2014 in Der Spiegel, still teaches in the heart of Berlin and is defended by all parties in the Bundestag.

The inflammatory articles in the media denouncing any opposition to Israel as antisemitic were themselves dripping with racism and fascism. For example, the Handelsblatt demanded in a commentary that the German government must react harshly to antisemitism and relentlessly put the enemies of Israel in Germany in their place. This includes expulsions of foreigners who spread hate, i.e., criticize Israel, and a ban on antisemitic and anti-Israel celebrations, meaning demonstrations against Israels war policy.

The reaction by the politicians and the media is a serious political warning. In order to assert its reactionary interests at home and abroad, the ruling class in Germany is once again relying on war, dictatorship and fascism. At the same time, behind the aggressive campaign and the hysterical shouting lies the fear of the explosion of the international class struggle.

The uprising in Palestine is itself part of a developing eruption of anger and opposition in the form of mass strikes and protests throughout the world, the International Committee of the Fourth International explains in its statement on the Netanyahus governments declaration of war on the Palestinian people. It is this social movement, guided by a consciously socialist and revolutionary program and perspective, that must be mobilized to put an end to imperialist war, inequality and all forms of oppression.
Nearly six months after announcing he would challenge Joe Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket, on Monday in Philadelphia, right-wing environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he would seek the 2024 presidency as an independent candidate, renouncing the party synonymous with his famous last name.



I am here today, to declare myself an independent candidate, Kennedy Jr. declared to a crowd of a few hundred supporters. I havent made this decision lightly, he added. It is very painful for me to let go of the party of my uncles, my father, my grandfather and both of my great grandfathers.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Philadelphia on October 9, 2023. [Photo: TeamKennedy24]

Since announcing in April, Kennedy Jr. has never broken above 30 percent support among Democratic Party voters while consistently polling better among independent, Republican and right-wing voters due to his overt opposition to any COVID-19 mitigation measures and pledges to enact free market solutions to climate change.



In multiple appearances on Fox News and on right-wing podcasts over the last six months, Kennedy has attacked ex-President Donald Trump from the right for enacting limited lockdowns at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, while refusing to condemn Trump and his Republican co-conspirators for launching the failed coup.



In an interview with Vanity Fair last month, Kennedy expressed his belief that censorship over his and Trumps social media accounts was a greater threat to the republic compared to the growth of fascistic elements in the ruling class and Republican Party.



You could blow up the Capitol and wed be okay if we have a First Amendment, Kennedy said. Why are we hearing about the Capitol day after day after day after day, and nobodys talking about the First Amendment?



Leading up to Mondays announcement there had been some speculation that Kennedy would announce he would seek the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party. Last month, the New York Times reported that in July, Kennedy spoke privately for over an hour with antisemite Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian Party, while both were attending a conference in Memphis, Tennessee.



He emphasized that he was committed to running as a Democrat but said that he considered himself very libertarian, McArdle said in an interview with the Times on the summer meeting. They agreed on several positions, including the threat of the deep state and the need for populist messaging, the Times added, with McArdle claiming that she and Kennedy were aligned on a lot of issues.



My perspective is that we are going to stay in touch in case he does decide to run, McArdle said. And he can contact me at any time if thats the case.



Further cementing his ties with the far right ahead of his independent launch, on October 6, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) announced that Kennedy and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy would headline the CPAC Investor Summit to Save America in Las Vegas, Nevada, from October 18-21.



CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp praised Kennedy Jr. for ensuring the constitutional right of medical freedom, a reference to his anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Schlapp said that Kennedy joining the event was a reflection of the splintering of the left-wing coalition that has gone full woke Marxist to the point that traditional liberals dont feel welcome anymore.



A whos who of Trump co-conspirators will be joining Kennedy at the CPAC later this month, including Steven Bannon, fascist War Room host and former special adviser in the Trump White House; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton; and Kash Patel, an intelligence operative who was chief of staff to acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller during the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.



Like Trump, Kennedy Jr. is able to exploit the broad antiwar sentiment in the working class by professing opposition to Biden and the Democrats escalating war in Ukraine. However, Kennedys antiwar facade suffered a serious blow this weekend following his latest pledge for unstinting military support for Israels war against the Palestinians.



As was the case with virtually every Democratic and Republican politician, Kennedy Jr. released a statement on October 7 in support of the genocidal campaign being carried out against the Palestinian people. In a press release, he condemned Hamas and [t]his ignominious, unprovoked, and barbaric attack on Israel. Putting no limits on the lethal weaponry to be shipped to the neo-fascist Netanyahu regime, Kennedy Jr. wrote, We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itselfnow.



Attacking Biden from the right, Kennedy added, I applaud the strong statement of support from the Biden White House for Israel in her hour of need. However, the scale of these attacks means it is likely that Israel will need to wage a sustained military campaign to protect its citizens.



Statements of support are fine, Kennedy wrote, but, we must follow through with unwavering, resolute, and practical action. America must stand by our ally throughout this operation and beyond as it exercises its sovereign right to self-defense. (Emphasis added.)



At Mondays event, Kennedys overt support for the near-genocide of residents of Gaza was demonstrated by the presence of Zionist Jacob Shmuel Boteach, an American Orthodox Jewish rabbi, a Republican, and one of the people who introduced Kennedy at the rally.



Im here speaking at the major announcement of Bobby Kennedy, Boteach posted on Twitter/X Monday morning. We are going to speak about Israel, we are going to speak about war in the Middle East, we are going to speak about the prospects of peace which can only come about through the destruction of Hamas. Following Kennedys speech Boteach posted a photograph of himself with the candidate and his wife Cheryl Hines captioned, Thank you, my dear friend @robertfkennedyjr ... for your incredible support of Israel and the Jewish community in this most darkest of times.

Rabbi Jacob Boteach, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines. [Photo: @RabbiShmuley]

After Boteach, Kennedys campaign manager and former Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich characterized the pending announcement as an evolution of the campaign and the dawn of a new unity of nationhood.



Kennedys roughly 40-minute speech was filled with right-wing pablum and attacks on a corrupt elite, without any condemnation of the capitalist or free market system. Im proud to say that my supporters include both pro-lifers and pro-choicers, Kennedy boasted. They include climate activists and climate skeptics. They include vaccinated and un-vaccinated.



He declared that in the six months since launching his presidential campaign, he has surrendered my attachment to taking sides and is now able to see some solutions that otherwise would have been invisible.



As an example of a previously invisible solution, Kennedy cited his support for sealing the US-Mexico border, something he has publicly advocated since early June. Six months ago, Kennedy said, I thought an open border was a humanitarian policy and ... if you were for sealing the border, it meant that you were probably a xenophobe and maybe a racist. I was wrong.



Kennedy added that his views changed after I spoke to Border Patrol officers, local officials, sheriffs



Assuring his capitalist benefactors and the leadership of both parties that Kennedys independence meant he was independent to work with both parties in enacting their shared right-wing agenda, Kennedy explained that being independent of the two political parties does not mean making them my enemy.



As president I am going to work with officials in both parties who will join me in serving our nation. I am going to build coalitions from both sides of the aisle, like we have not seen in a generation.



There are good and honest people in both parties Kennedy added, even in their leadership.
Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. [AP Photo/Rahmez Mahmoud]

The governments and media of all the imperialist countries have been mobilized for a massive propaganda operation to poison public opinion about the ongoing popular uprising against the Israeli occupation in Gaza and to justify the retaliatory decimation of Palestinians being prepared by Israels far-right regime.

The tone was set by US President Joe Biden, who declared Saturday following a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering, condemning the appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza. This was followed by what amounted to a roll call of the entire cast of characters that constitute the American political establishment, who lined up over the weekend to make appearances and issue statements denouncing terrorists and the attack on Israel, while expressing their horror and outrage at reports of deaths among Israeli civilians.

Similar scenes played out in all the imperialist capitals, with Israels national flag being projected onto public monuments. Any equivocation or wavering from this line was swiftly labeled as antisemitism or tantamount to supporting terrorism.

There is no denying that, particularly in the opening hours of the breakout from Gaza, there have been significant casualties among Israeli civilians, many of whom doubtless bore no individual responsibility for the oppression of Palestinians. There is an element of tragedy in the fates of many such people, who simply found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fighters from Gaza, hardened by a lifetime of atrocities under Israeli occupation and accepting that they would not return to Gaza alive, exacted their revenge on the first Israelis they found, including those who had staged a dance party on the outskirts of what amounts to a concentration camp.

But the question must be posed: Who bears ultimate responsibility for their deaths? Blame for these tragedies must be assigned where it belongs: In the first instance to the criminal Israeli apartheid regime and its US backers, together with the whole reactionary Zionist project of establishing an exclusivist Jewish state by expelling Palestinians and confining them to a constantly shrinking set of open-air prisons and ghettos.

The unanimous denunciations of the terrorism and violence of the uprising by the imperialist powers are hypocritical in the extreme. No official expressions of horror and outrage on a remotely similar scale have ever been made on behalf of the far more numerous victims of violence and terror among the Palestinians.

While Bidens speechwriters offered his prayers Saturday for all of the families who have been hurt by this violence, Biden is a war criminal himself and no stranger to violence. In 2003, he voted in the Senate for the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, which resulted in over a million deaths.

Contrary to the upside-down official picture of events, according to which the Palestinians are the aggressors and the state of Israel is the victim, the oppression of the Palestinian masses by imperialism is an entirely one-sided conflict, in which for three-quarters of a century the Israeli governmentarmed to the teeth by the imperialist powershas brutally put down all resistance. In the three-week 200809 aerial bombardment of Gaza, for example, which killed hundreds of people, Palestinian casualties exceeded Israeli casualties by a ratio of 100 to 1.

Palestinians in the West Bank have been reduced to living in hundreds of separate ghettos surrounded by hundreds more Israeli military checkpoints, while Gaza itself has been transformed into one giant open-air prison: the Gaza Strip, only a handful of miles wide and 25 miles long. At the mercy of the Israeli government for every necessity, more than 2 million Palestinians are confined in this open-air prison in some of the most densely populated and desperate conditions on earth. In this context, the uprising in Gaza that broke out over the weekend is more akin to a prison break than an attack and only the latest chapter in a long saga.

As the imperialist capitals resound with hypocritical denunciations of violence and terrorism, a retaliatory onslaught to terrorize the population of Gaza is already unfolding.

Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a complete siege on Gaza, using language that fully exposes the character of his regime and its underlying ideology. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel, everything will be closed, Gallant said. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.

Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, a candidate for the Republican presidential primary nomination, declared that the uprising was not just an attack on Israel but an attack on America, directly demanding that Netanyahu finish them. Netanyahu, for his part, declared ominously yesterday, What we will do to our enemies in the next few days will echo for generations.

Behind all this ferocious imperialist hypocrisy is the fundamental class attitude of the oppressors to any resistance by the oppressed, whether it is in Gaza or anywhere else. We, the oppressors, are free to use force whenever we decide that it serves our interests, they say. We can bomb you indiscriminately, we can blockade and starve you, we can rob you and imprison you and kneel on your necks. But force is our monopoly and our sole prerogative. You, the oppressed, are not under any circumstances permitted to use force in response. It is this class attitude that animates the repeated use of the word terrorist to describe anyone who takes up arms against the occupation.

Underscoring the degree of hypocrisy involved, it is worth pointing out that in a New York Times article in August of last year, Behind Enemy Lines, Ukrainians Tell Russians You Are Never Safe, correspondent Andrew Kramer celebrated the work of Ukrainian terror squads carrying out assassinations with car bombs behind Russian lines: They sneak down darkened alleys to set explosives. They identify Russian targets for Ukrainian artillery and long-range rockets provided by the United States. They blow up rail lines and assassinate officials they consider collaborators with the Russians. Such methods are permissible to proxies of American imperialism, just not to those resisting its proxies.

In 1831, a slave uprising led by Nat Turner took place in Southampton County, Virginia. The escaped slaves used knives, hatchets and clubs to massacre dozens of white men, women and children. The rebellion was put down with even more extreme savagery, with roving militias and mobs murdering black people on sight regardless of whether they were involved in the rebellion. Turners body was flayed and his skin was turned into souvenir purses.

Any objective historian, with the benefit of hindsight, would place the blame for the terrific violence of such uprisings not on the slaves, but on the slave system itself, with all its colossal inhumanity. To denounce the Turner uprising on the grounds that it was violent would be hypocritical and ahistorical and would amount to an indirect apology for slavery.

A slave-owner who through cunning and violence shackles a slave in chains, and a slave who through cunning or violence breaks the chains, Leon Trotsky wrote in 1938, are not equals before a court of morality!

For his part, in his second inaugural address in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln expressed the idea that the tremendous violence with which the country was afflicted was the inevitable historical reckoning for the institution of slavery, which required that every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword.

By the same token, the repression now being carried out by the Israeli government against the population of Gaza is not fundamentally different from that used by Britain against the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, by France in the Algerian War of Independence, against South Africans struggling against the apartheid regime, or for that matter by the US military against the popular resistance to its occupation of Iraq. As always, the political elites among the oppressors denounce armed resistance as terrorism and then proceed to carry out merciless retribution a thousand times more destructive.

In one rare deviation from the propaganda deluge, Palestinian National Initiative leader Mustafa Barghouti was interviewed by Fareed Zakaria on CNN yesterday, in which he was permitted to make the point that armed resistance is the inevitable result of the refusal of the government of Israel to recognize any other form of opposition by Palestinians as legitimate: If we struggle in a military form, we are terrorists. If we struggle in a non-violent way, we are described as violent. If we even resist with words, we are described as provocateurs.

Indeed, in 20182019, there were mass protests in Gaza under the banner of the Great March of Return, demanding the right to return to the homes from which Palestinians were driven during the 194849 and 1967 wars. The Israeli military responded to these protests by gunning down Palestinian protesters as they approached the walls and fences that enclose them within the Gaza Strip. At least 223 Palestinians were killed, over 9,200 were injured, and hardly any of those personalities now preaching morality to the Palestinians batted an eyelash.

There is, in fact, deep opposition in the working class within Israel itself to the criminal Netanyahu regime, which will be seen as the principal instigator of this new bloody eruption of violence. This opposition has already been expressed in mass protests and a general strike earlier this year in opposition to the regimes efforts to grant itself unchallengeable and legally unreviewable powers.

But the violent form taken by the uprising in Gaza is not unrelated to the absence of a genuine and principled left-wing and socialist leadership within Israel itself. In the mass protests earlier this year, the self-proclaimed leaders remained defenders of the Zionist state and scrupulously avoided any turn towards the struggles of the Palestinian masses, who would have been natural allies.

The massive propaganda campaign now underway to browbeat the population into accepting the official line reflects a fear that hundreds of millions of people around the world will not be inclined to accept that line, including within the US and Israel itself. Spontaneous demonstrations in support of the Palestinian uprising have already taken place around the world.

However great may be the challenges and obstacles to implementing this strategy, the only path to a peaceful future and the only way to settle accounts with the Zionist regime is through the unity of Israeli and Palestinian workers, who together must oppose the bloody onslaught against Gaza, bring down Netanyahus regime and join together in the struggle for a unified socialist society.
lithium

Engineers are being lined up to study the feasibility of a lithium mine in Cornwall as exploration firms attempt to extract the metal to supply electric vehicle battery plants.

Start-up Cornish Lithium is pressing ahead with efforts to unearth the metal from British soil, fuelled by 53.6m of funding recently received from the state-backed UK Infrastructure Bank and other investors.

Lithium is a crucial component in producing batteries for electric vehicles, and there is hope that generating local supply will reduce Britains reliance on costly imports from countries such as Australia, China and South America.

Cornish Lithium hopes to produce around 8,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide per year by 2026.

This would represent around 10pc of Britains expected lithium demand.

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The company is aiming to build a demonstration plant to produce lithium hydroxide which can be then used to make car batteries.

Chief executive Jeremy Wrathall said his focus is on constructing the demonstration plant as well as the project feasibility study, which will ultimately inform the projects construction decision.

The company hopes its recent funding round will unlock a further 168m of investment to kickstart full-scale production.

An update from the company on Tuesday revealed hopes to update investors on its progress by early 2024.

There has been a flurry of green investment across Britains manufacturing plants in recent months, including state subsidies for both Tata Steel and Jaguar Land Rover.

Back in 2021, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed Cornwall as the Klondike of lithium and hinted at the prospect of a Cornish gigafactory.

Investment firms Energy & Minerals Group and TechMet are also both shareholders in Cornish Lithium having taken part in the last funding round.

The company also raised 5.1m from crowdfunding, it said.

The UKs other lithium hope is British Lithium, which plans to extract the metal near the Cornish town of St Austell.

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FILE PHOTO: Worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is planning anti-subsidy investigations into steelmakers producing to excess in countries such as China as part of an agreement with the United States to end Trump-era tariffs, two EU officials said on Tuesday.

The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the European Union planned to announce probes against Chinese steelmakers when U.S. President Joe Biden hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel on Oct. 20.

EU officials said it was not limited to China.

A joint statement due at the end of the summit is expected to say the European Union will use its trade defence instruments to assess the market situation for steel, but not mention China. This would lead to investigations by the European Commission, an EU diplomat said.

The process would not pre-judge the existence of subsidies or the need for extra duties to offset them. It would also not be country-specific.

"This is far broader than China," an EU official said.

Washington has asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in particular in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, with an end-October deadline to reach an agreement.

The aim is to agree measures to counter steel overcapacity and promote "green" steel. Washington has said it wants to prevent "leakage" of Chinese steel and aluminium into the U.S. market.

The European Commission declined to comment on possible investigations, but said it was committed to reaching an agreement that removed the threat of tariffs, drove decarbonisation of steel-making and addressed excess capacity in "non-market economies." The EU considers China such an economy.

The agreement would be done in compliance with World Trade Organization rules and domestic climate policies.

This means the EU cannot impose tariffs without an investigation into alleged subsidies and remains committed to its carbon border tariff system.

Story continues

China's Ministry of Commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

The EU already has punitive tariffs in place on 20 grades of Chinese steel and stainless steel products and has set import quotas as part of measures to safeguard its market until mid-2024.

China's shipments have steadily fallen since 2015, when they made up 25% of EU steel imports in volume terms, to below 10% since 2018, according to EU steelmakers federation Eurofer.

Eurofer Director General Axel Eggert said traditional trade measures would not solve the problem, adding that 150 million tonnes of new global capacity was planned for the next three years. The extra annual emissions would by 2026 be more than the CO2 emissions of the entire EU steel sector, he said.

He said excess capacity was an issue in China, other Asian countries, the Middle East and North Africa.

New investigations would be among a number the EU is considering, such as for wind turbines, or has already begun.

Brussels formally launched an investigation last week to counter what von der Leyen said was a flood of cheaper Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports benefiting from state subsidies.

(Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels; Additional reporting by Amy Lv in Beijing; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Mark Potter and Matthew Lewis)
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Europe's telecoms operators pushing for Big Tech to help pay for the rollout of 5G and broadband will likely have to wait for the next European Commission to decide whether to propose rules to this end, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Telecoms companies say Alphabet's Google, Meta's Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft and Amazon should bear some of the rollout costs because they make up a huge part of internet traffic.

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia call it fair-share funding while Big Tech says it amounts to an internet tax.

There had been expectations that EU industry chief Thierry Breton would propose legislation after seeking feedback from both sides this year on what he said is an investment gap of 200 billion euros ($212.4 billion).

The French commissioner, a former chief executive at France Telecom and supporter of the operators' push, faced blowback from some of his fellow commissioners and some EU countries.

Breton will now likely set out a strategy next year on the subject, leaving it to the next Commission to decide whether to propose legislation, the people said.

The current Commission's five-year term ends in November next year.

There is no final decision, and a legislative proposal on the funding issue could still pop up on the Commission's work programme to be announced on Oct. 18 that will lay out the EU executive's long-term objectives, one of the sources said.

Breton in a blogpost on Tuesday suggested broader rules for the telecoms market.

"We have announced that Europe will do 'whatever it takes' to keep its competitive edge, and we are looking for concrete and ambitious recommendations on the future of the Single Market," he wrote.

"Here is one: work on a bold, future-oriented, game-changing Digital Networks Act to redefine the DNA of our telecoms regulation. Getting it right will require vision, boldness and time, but we should start now taking concrete steps," Breton said.

Story continues

He said feedback provided by telecom providers, broadcasters, cloud service providers, business associations, consumer organisations and Europeans underscore the many regulatory barriers to a single telecoms market in Europe.

Breton will likely voice concerns about the recent acquisitions of telecoms stakes by sovereign investment funds and private equity firms to EU telecoms ministers at an Oct. 23 to 24 meeting in Leon, Spain, another person said.

Such worries have arisen after Saudi Arabian group STC recently acquired a 9.9% stake in Telefonica to become its biggest shareholder, a move which the Spanish government is now scrutinising to ensure that its strategic interests are upheld.

($1 = 0.9418 euros)

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Mark Porter and Josie Kao)
(Bloomberg) -- Finland is on alert as it suspects a gas pipeline leak in the Baltic Sea was caused by a deliberate act of destruction, fueling concerns about the safety of Europes energy infrastructure.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The gas pipeline connecting NATO members Finland and Estonia started leaking at the weekend, and people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday the investigation is proceeding on the basis that it was sabotage. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said it was caused by an external source as he declined to speculate who may be responsible.

It makes sense to increase our security of supply, secure critical infrastructure, Orpo told reporters in Helsinki. The wise prepare. If something like this, so far inexplicable, happens, then it can also happen again.

European gas prices jumped, as the leak revived concerns about the vulnerability of energy infrastructure particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine. Following the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines from Russia to Germany last year  for which responsibility has yet to be determined  European countries have stepped up defense of their key assets.

While the rupture of the pipeline is not significant for the wider European gas market, it raises questions about security of supply just as Europe goes into winter. Russia halted gas flows to Finland in May 2022, about a week after the Nordic country said it would apply for NATO membership in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The Most Vulnerable Sites

Finlands President Sauli Niinisto spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, and the group said its sharing information and stands ready to support its allies. The Estonian and Finnish ambassadors to NATO briefed allies. An undersea telecoms cable between the two countries has also been damaged.

Story continues

NATO members have increased monitoring of energy assets using satellites, aircraft, ships and submarines, with sites in the North Sea and Baltic Sea seen as among the most sensitive. NATO also created an undersea infrastructure coordination cell earlier this year to deepen ties between governments, military and industry.

Read More: NATO Turns to Underwater Drones and AI in Bid to Deter Russia

Finlands National Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal case into the pipeline incident, and said the size of the damage points to it being intentional.

The pipeline lies about 60 meters (197 feet) deep, according to Estonian officials, and the leak was detected in the Gulf of Finland. Its in Finlands so-called exclusive economic zone that spans 200 nautical miles from the coast but outside its territorial waters  a distinction that may prove important as countries weigh their response.

The Balticconnector was put into use just over three years ago to link a new liquefied natural gas import terminal in Finland with Estonia. The region now increasingly brings liquefied natural gas from the US, even as gas accounts for just 3.5% of Finlands energy mix.

Gasgrid Finland estimates that it will take months to repair.

--With assistance from Elena Mazneva, Leo Laikola and Anna Shiryaevskaya.

(Updates with further comments from Finlands government from fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Arnold Schwarzenegger bit a 'real, dead' vulture on the set of 'Conan the Barbarian': 'PETA would have a field day with that one'

Arnold Schwarzenegger said he bit a "real, dead" vulture while shooting "Conan the Barbarian."

The actor also said he was dragged into a thorn bush by wild dogs.

The former governor of California recalled having to bite the bird in his new book, "Be Useful."

Arnold Schwarzenegger says he bit a dead vulture while shooting the 1982 action movie "Conan the Barbarian."

The actor and former governor of California makes the surprising admission in his new self-help book, "Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life," published Tuesday.

In the book, Schwarzenegger offers readers life lessons through the lens of his lengthy career from bodybuilding to the big screen, as well as what he learned from his time as governor.

Schwarzenegger recalls the grueling experience of filming "Conan the Barbarian" in one section of the book, explaining that the film's director, John Milius, required a very physical performance from him throughout production.

"I learned to ride horses and camels and elephants. I learned how to jump from large rocks, how to climb and swing from long ropes, how to fall from a height," writes "The Terminator" star. "I basically went to another vocational school, this one for aspiring action heroes."

"Then on top of that, Milius had me doing all kinds of terrible shit. I crawled through rocks, take after take, until my forearms bled. I ran from wild dogs that managed to catch me and pull me into a thorn bush," Schwarzenegger continues.

The 76-year-old star goes on to recall having to bite a dead vulture several times for the scene in which Conan is tied to a tree.

"I bit a real, dead vulture that required I wash my mouth out with alcohol after each take. (PETA would have a field day with that one.)," he writes. "On one of the first days of filming, I tore a gash on my back that required forty stitches."

The physical exertion clearly didn't put Schwarzenegger off too much, though, as he returned to film a sequel, "Conan the Destroyer," which was released in 1984.

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The actress rang in 26 this past weekend, and celebrated with a trip to the beach

Bella Thorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne celebrated 26 with sand, saltwater, and sun.

The Midnight Sun actress took to Instagram on Monday, Oct. 9, with a video of herself from what appears to be a glamorous beach getaway. With swaying palm trees and a gorgeous shoreline in the backdrop, Thorne modeled a two-piece lavender knit set, which included a long skirt and strappy top, over a purple bikini  along with big black sunglasses, silver wedge sandals, and dangly white earrings. At the end of the video, she blows a kiss to the camera, showing off bright pink lipstick.

Related: Bella Thorne Says She Refused to Autograph 'Inappropriate' Photos of Herself: 'I Was Under 18'

Turned 26 surrounded by the ocean, fresh air, and all the friends a girl could ask for. Im feeling very lucky , the caption of her video reads.

Thorne did not tag a location, or reveal where she went to celebrate her tropical birthday getaway. Its also unclear who she took the trip with  whether she went solo, took a few friends, or if she was accompanied by her fiance of five months, TV and film producer Mark Emms.

Even if she didnt take Emms on her birthday getaway, though, they took a magical trip together earlier this summer. The two were spotted in Taormina, Italy, in July, right before they attended an after-party for the premiere of The Absence of Eden. Thorne was photographed wearing an LBD and sneakers, and Emms wore a black T-shirt, sneakers, and jeans. The trip came just two months after they announced their engagement in May.

Felipe Ramales / SplashNews.com

Related: Bella Thorne Shares Makeup-Free Selfies After Weeks of 'Long Night Shoots': 'Skin Is Poppin'

At the time, she revealed in an interview with Vogue that Emms popped the question at her California home, presenting her with an emerald-cut diamond ring. Afterward, they celebrated with their families.

The two met in August 2022, Vogue also reported, at Cara Delevingne's Ibiza birthday party.

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The child found conscious and breathing, was transported to a local hospital, authorities said

Dover Township Fire Dept. The boy was rescued from the Pennsylvania grain bin on Monday, authorities said.

A boy was rescued from a grain bin in rural Pennsylvania on Monday after being buried up to his head in corn, authorities said.

First responders from the Dover Township Fire Department assisted the York Springs Fire Company No. 1 with the special rescue at around 5:45 p.m. local time in Adams County, according to a Facebook post by the Dover Township Fire Department.

An alert first went out to emergency personnel regarding a person trapped on Hoffman Road in Latimore Township shortly after 4:30 p.m, reported CBS affiliate WHP-TV.

Authorities were able to free the boy, who was found conscious and breathing, "in just over 30 minutes, the fire department said. It wasn't immediately clear how the boy ended up in the grain bin.

He was transported via ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation, per NBC affiliate WGAL-TV.

Related: Man Has Both Legs Amputated After Getting Caught in Grain Bin: 'So Much Shock,' Says Wife

Grain bins and silos are not without hazards  for kids and adults, authorities said.

One hour after their rescue, the Dover Township Fire Department shared on its Facebook page that employees attended a pre-scheduled grain rescue class courtesy of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

Dover Township is one of just a few departments in York County and the South Central Regional to have a Great Wall of Rescue Rescue Kit, the department wrote. While not used often, this training and equipment is imperative for a chance at a successful and safe rescue.

Related: Two Teens Created 3D-Printed Limbs for Amputees  Including a Girl Who Lost Arm in Bus Accident

However, the outcome was deadly for a 30-year-old man who had both of his legs amputated after an accident involving a grain bin auger in rural Minnesota last month.



Travis Muller, 30, was working in a grain bin in Windom when the accident occurred.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

First responders from a number of agencies arrived shortly after 3 p.m. local time, including the sheriff's office, the Windom Fire Department, and the North Memorial Air Ambulance and Muller was flown to the Twin Cities metro area, about 150 miles away.

Related: Illinois Man, 61, Dies After Being Buried in Corn Inside Farm Grain Bin

Muller lost both of his legs  his right leg below the knee and his left leg above the knee.

In addition, due to a significant amount of dirt and corn in his legs, doctors were monitoring the areas for infection, Muller's wife Jasmine wrote in a message on a GoFundMe page.



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Read the original article on People.
On Saturday, Bruno Mars was set to become the third American artist ever to perform two sold out concerts at the 70,000-capacity HaYarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel  following Madonna in 2009 and Michael Jackson in 1993.

He played his first show there last Wednesday with two Tel Aviv acts opening, running nearly four hours in total. Both shows were promoted by Bluestone Group, which is owned by Live Nation Israel.

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I say Tel Aviv! Mars shouted to the audience. The Hooligans made it to Israel  thank you so guys so much for coming out, Mars told fans after opening his show with his hit 2016 song 24k Magic.

Mars Saturday show was supposed to be the second-to-last date on a brief world tour that previously stopped in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Oct. 1 and was headed to Doha, Qatar, for an Oct. 8 show to follow the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.

Early Saturday, though, reports began to circulate of a coordinated Hamas-led terrorist attack that would escalate the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. Later that day, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on television and declared that his country was now at war with Hamas. By afternoon, Live Nation Israel issued a statement that the concert was canceled. (The following day, Mars also cancelled his planned Doha concert.)

All ticket purchases to the show will receive an automatic refund to the credit card through which the purchase was made, said a statement that Bluestone Group shared online.

Securing the venue, located inside Tel Avivs one-and-a-half-square mile Yarkon Park, along the banks of the Yarkon River, during active fighting would present unnecessary risks to concertgoers, a source tells Billboard, noting that the decision to cancel was made a few hours after the attacks began that morning. By 2 p.m., Bruno Mars and his 60-person crew were at Ben Gurion Airport, where they boarded a flight to Athens.

From Athens, Mars was supposed to travel to Doha for his performance, but he was reportedly unable to pack up and transport his production gear out of Israel in time for that performance. On Sunday, hours before he was scheduled to take the stage in Doha, Lusail International Circuit racetrack announced on Instagram that Mars would not perform, and that French producer and artist DJ Snake would take his place.

Mars concert cancellation represents a symbolic setback for Israels touring business. For more than a decade, artists announcing plans to perform in the country faced harsh public criticism from activists and artists like Roger Waters and Brian Eno, who urged musicians to boycott the country over what they describe as its unjust treatment of the Palestinians.

In 2018, Lana Del Rey was booked to headline the Meteor Music Festival when Waters urged her to reconsider. (Her trip fell apart due to scheduling issues.) Waters, a proponent of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a Palestinian-led campaign to isolate Israel, has also targeted Radiohead, Bon Jovi and Jennifer Lopez, albeit unsuccessfully.

New generation promoters like Tel Aviv-based Bluestone Group  which Live Nation bought in 2017 as a joint venture of several investors, including Mavericks Guy Oseary  has worked to increase the potential gross artists can make playing Israel, while also helping them to navigate anti-Israel backlash. In 2023, the country hosted a number of top tier Western acts including Imagine Dragons, Tiesto, Ozuna, Christina Aguilera, the Black Keys and Guns N Roses.

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True-crime series "Dateline NBC" takes a dive into the 1998 death of Julie Jensen in Pleasant Prairie, for which her husband Mark Jensen was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide  twice.

The installment, titled "Secrets in Pleasant Prairie," will air on NBC at 9 p.m. Oct. 12.

The log line for the episode, which NBC sent out Tuesday, reads: "The investigation into the poisoning death of Wisconsin mother-of-two Julie Jensen takes a surprising turn when detectives learn that Julie wrote a letter just days before her death pointing to a possible suspect."

Julie Jensen was 40 when she was found dead in the couple's garage in December 1998; she had been poisoned with antifreeze and sleeping pills, then suffocated with a pillow. Attention turned quickly to her husband; in his first trial, the evidence against him included a letter his wife had left with a neighbor as well as voicemails left for a police officer all suggesting that if she was found dead, her husband likely was responsible.

Julie and Mark D. Jensen

After he was convicted in 2008 and sentenced to life in prison, Mark Jensen filed a barrage of appeals, challenging the evidence shown to the jury, especially the letter and voicemails, saying allowing it in the trial violated his Sixth Amendment rights to confront his accuser.

In March 2020, following several other rulings in Jensen's favor, a Wisconsin Court of Appeals ordered a new trial in the case and barred use of the "voice from the grave" evidence. The state Supreme Court reaffirmed the decision.

In February 2023, a second jury again found Mark Jensen guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, and again he was sentenced to life in prison.

Mark Jensen, center, talks with his attorneys Mackenzie Renner, left, and Bridget Krause during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Jan. 11, 2023, in Kenosha. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that Jensen deserved a new trial in the 1998 death of his wife Julie Jensen.

Among the people interviewed for the "Dateline" report on the case by Andrea Canning are, according to NBC, Pleasant Prairie Police Department Captain Barry Ollila, former Kenosha County District Attorney Bob Jambois and private investigator Dave Ellis.

The granddaddy of true-crime series, "Dateline NBC" is in its 32nd season, NBC's longest-running prime-time show ever.

RELATED: 'Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein' features jailhouse recordings with Wisconsin serial killer

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Dateline NBC' takes on 1998 Julie Jensen murder in Pleasant Prairie
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Barefoot Dreams robes, Cozy Earth sheets, and GreenPan cookware are all up for grabs

Getty Images / People / Madison Woiten

Amazons October Prime Day kicks off tomorrow, but we already found so many of Oprahs Favorite Things on sale.

Prime Big Deal Days, a brand new shopping event, is on October 10 and 11, but as is always the case ahead of major sales at Amazon, thousands of deals are already up for grabs  including deep discounts on Oprah-approved products from brands like Ugg, Barefoot Dreams, and Cozy Earth. Everything we found has landed on the coveted list of Oprahs Favorite Things over the years, earning the moguls golden seal of approval, a standard we take seriously.

Oprahs Favorite Things on Sale at Amazon

Related: Yankee Candle Is Up to 46% Off at Amazon Ahead of October Prime Day, Including So Many Fall Scents

Every year, Oprahs Favorite Things list includes a wide variety of top-of-the-line products in terms of practicality, convenience, and comfort, including home, kitchen, fashion, and beauty buys. This selection of Oprah-approved picks at Amazon is no different: Find high quality cookware, space-saving baking sets, soft slippers, spacious duffel bags, and more smart purchases marked down for Fall Prime Day.

Benevolence LA Plush Velvet Travel Jewelry Organizer

Amazon

$25

$15

Buy on Amazon

Jewelry is one of the most annoying things to pack when heading out on a vacation. A travel jewelry organizer is key to keeping your precious pieces tangle-free and tidy when youre throwing them in your suitcase. This velvet option, on sale for just $15 at Amazon, earned a spot on Oprahs list just last year, but it was an Amazon best-seller long before then.

More than 9,000 shoppers have given the little box a five-star rating, and over 1,000 have added it to their carts so far this month. It has plenty of space for multiple necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets  more than youd need for a quick weekend getaway  and a mirror inside. Reviewers note how it would make a great stocking stuffer or bridesmaid gift. Choose between nine pretty colors like emerald green, navy blue, and baby pink.

Mali + Lili Triple Zip Crossbody Bag

Amazon

$35

$30

Buy on Amazon

Countless celebrities have been wearing crossbody bags recently, including Taylor Swift, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jennifer Lawrence. The appeal is obvious: Without the fuss of carrying a purse, your hands are free to use your phone, apply lip balm, grocery shop, or hold on to your dogs leash while on the go.

This crossbody bag, which is going for just $30 at Amazon today, is the ideal size for quick errands, since it can fit your phone, keys, wallet, earbuds, and other essentials without weighing you down. Three separate compartments will keep your necessities organized and the shoulder strap can be adjusted to your liking.

Nearly 2,000 buyers have given the hands-free bag a five-star rating, and reviewers describe it as so lightweight and easy to wear and a staple of [their] wardrobe. One customer even used theirs for three years before it showed wear and tear, which they pointed out is a great deal for such an affordable bag. Its available in 14 colors, so you might want to scoop one up for yourself and a friend.

Dearfoams Jessica Faux Fur Cross Band Slipper

Amazon

$36

$18

Buy on Amazon

Everyone needs a cozy pair of slippers in the fall and winter, and Dearfoams has made a name for itself as one of the best picks out there. The brand has landed on Oprahs Favorite Things list multiple times over the years, thanks to its super soft materials, cushiony design, and affordable prices.

These open-toed slippers, in particular, are a smart choice, because they will keep your feet warm without making them overheat, since your toes have room to breathe. Right now, theyre going for as little as $15, which is a steal for the indoor slippers youre bound to wear daily this time of year. Theyre available in black, white, gray, pink, beige, leopard, and even tie-dye.

Happy buyers deem the comfort level out of this world, claiming they cannot take them off. Even those with plantar fasciitis and severe foot pain sing these slippers praises and call them priceless.

Elbee Home 8-Piece Nonstick Aluminized Steel Baking Set

Amazon

$70

$60

Buy on Amazon

When youre in the thick of whipping up something yummy, digging through your cupboards for the right cookie sheet or baking pan is a hassle. Thats why this eight-piece baking set is so clever: Every item fits together like a puzzle, so you know where everything is and youre saving space at the same time. It comes with a roasting pan, baking pan, mini baking pan, square cake pan, two round cake pans, and two muffin pans.

This stackable baking set is perfect for small kitchens where space is limited, like in studio apartments. Over 2,700 Amazon customers have given it two thumbs up, and reviewers call all the baking pieces very solid, easy to clean, and hands-down the best set of bakeware [theyve] ever owned.

GreenPan Ceramic Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Pots and Pans

Amazon

$400

$345

Buy on Amazon

If youre less of a baker and more of a chef, consider this 10-piece pot and pan set thats going for less right now. For under $350, you can get two frying pans, two stockpots with lids, one sautee pan with a lid, and a saucepan with a lid  thats some serious bang for your buck.

Theres nothing you cant whip up with this all-in-one cookware set, which is available in 10 colors, all of which come in non-toxic nonstick ceramic coating. Hundreds of shoppers are happy with their decision to invest in this durable set, with one reviewer claiming that nothing sticks to these pans, and they havent received a scratch or ding in their many times of use. Sign us up!

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Ribbed Hooded Robe

Amazon

$158

$129

Buy on Amazon

Oprah isnt the only celebrity who has made her approval of Barefoot Dreams known: Chrissy Teigen, Jennifer Garner, and Kate Hudson have all sung the home and fashion brands praises over the years, too. Even Hailey Bieber recommended one of the brands blankets on her holiday gift guide last year  and this robe is basically a wearable version of that.

This unisex Barefoot Dreams robe is made with a cozy ribbed knit yarn that will feel like the brands best-selling blankets, just wrapped around you. The hood provides an added layer of snuggly appeal and deep pockets are perfect for your phone. Wear it pre- and post-shower, in the mornings with your coffee, or before you slide under the covers at night. Choose between cream, gray, or black in this unisex robe anyone on your holiday list will love.

Cozy Earth Lounge Socks

Cozy Earth

$55

$44

Buy on Amazon

Cozy Earth is one of Oprahs favorite brands for bedding, comfy bamboo pajamas, and socks, all of which have earned a spot on her famous list in recent years. Right now, several Cozy Earth items are going for less during Fall Prime Day, like this set of three socks, available in various color combinations. Nab 20 percent off the soft lounge socks youll love slipping on while relaxing at home. (This bamboo sheet set from the brand is 20 percent off, too!)

Amazons October Prime Day is just as good  and maybe even better  than the stores July sale event, so dont miss this opportunity to save on droves of Oprah-approved products and much, much more now.

Cozy Earth Oat Queen Sheet Set

Amazon

$389

$310

Buy on Amazon

Vionic Walking Lace-Up Sneakers

Amazon

$120

$83

Buy on Amazon

Tovala Smart Oven Pro

Amazon

$300

$175

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Little People, Big Dreams, 3 Books

Amazon

$40

$20

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Samsonite & Sarah Jessica Parker Shoeful Convertible Duffel Bag

Amazon

$240

$97

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HonestBaby Cotton Holiday Family Pajamas

Amazon

$40

$29

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Ugg Gertrude Long Teddy Coat

Amazon

$248

$151

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Grace Eleyae Adjustable Satin Knot Turban

Amazon

$40

$32

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Read the original article on People.
Lets kick off this Irrational recap, Jeopardy! style. Answer: Crash and burn. Question: What is an apt description of Alecs prospects when it comes to a second chance at love with his ex-wife? Dont worry if you got it wrong: The judges also would have accepted What is this episodes Case of the Week?

A plane accident with murky underpinnings is the central focus of The Barnum Effect, but Im most into the way that Marisa is firmly yet lovingly setting boundaries for her ex-husband. Yes, she and Alec can work together, and yes, its clear they still care for each other. But the FBI queen has made it clear that shes moving on, and what better way to do that than to start dating a co-worker? Or, anyone, really?

More from TVLine

Read on for the highlights of Episode 3.

A STEP FORWARD, FINALLY | Alec is heading to the FBI to meet Marisa so they can look into the logo he recalled from the van the night of the bombing. Kylie is skeptical  didnt they talk just last episode about how he should give his ex-wife some space? But he claims the meeting is nothing more than investigational. Still, he is taking heart in the fact that she wants to see him in person about something that could be handled via phone.

When he gets there, shes got good news: They found a company that matches the logo. After 19 years, the FBI is officially reopening the case, she says. The place in question is JoJos Dry Cleaners, which is no longer in business. The owner is dead, but Marisa has located his daughter in Sioux City; with Alecs positive ID of the logo, shell have an FBI agent in Iowa question her.

THE IRRATIONAL  The Barnum Effect Episode 103  Pictured: Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan  (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC) Courtesy of NBC

WHAT DID THE PILOT DO? | Alecs assistant Rizwan just happens to witness the plane crash while working his rideshare job. Marisa calls Alec from the scene: The National Transportation Safety Board suspects the flight was downed deliberately, because they think the pilot wanted to kill himself. The highly experienced pilot, who died in the crash, didnt follow any established protocol ahead of the crash, and the FBI didnt find any drugs in his system. The law-enforcement agencies are wondering about his state of mind just before the incident, so Marisa brings Alec into the investigation to do what he does best.

Alec thinks both the pilots pattern of behavior and his work history dont support the thesis that he wanted to end his life. So he, Phoebe and Rizwan (with Marisas help) search the pilots house for clues. They find fresh seafood and produce, which seems to indicate that he thought hed be coming home that evening. Upstairs, Alec runs into Rory, the pilots brother whos naked in bed with his friend, Daisy.

Downstairs, Rory vows that Lucas, the pilot, was not suicidal. We learn that Rory also is a pilot. And later, at the FBI, we learn that Lucas might have been a member of an incel group who crashed the plane because 34 members of a global womens leadership conference were on board. This does not sound like the guy whose home we visited, Alec says, but theres more. Lucas deleted his emails right before the flight. And, seemingly more damning? The incel groups rallying cry is I took the black pill. And that phrase is clearly heard on recovered voice recordings from the planes black box.

THE BARNUM EFFECT | Still, Alec isnt convinced. And, on a totally different note, hes bummed when Marisa breaks it to him that shes seeing Jace, an FBI colleague (played by Brian King, The Chi, Somebody Somewhere). Alec takes his hurt feelings home to find that Kylie has recovered Lucas emails, and a little digging reveals that he thought the group he allegedly endorsed were a bunch of impotent losers. When they doxxed and spammed him, he deleted his emails.

Meanwhile, realizing that the pilots comments on the cockpit recording are susceptible to listener interpretation, Alec susses out that it COULD be that Lucas was saying Atmos failure, prepare to ditch  which would indicate that the planes guidance system had malfunctioned. The way that one of the plane bigwigs immediately shuts that theory down around the 24-minute mark means thats exactly what happened, right? And when one of the plane bigwigs underlings tries to slip Alec some intel, her home is ransacked and she goes missing.

Back at the university, Rizwan arranges it so that the black box information is fed into a flight simulator that Rory operates while Phoebe sits in the co-pilots seat. They do it several times, seeking answers, until a traumatized Rizwan shuts the laptop closed and runs from the room. A concerned Phoebe follows him out into the hallway, where he downplays his reaction. She gently suggests that he talk to someone, because hes clearly affected by what he saw. And when he refuses, she says maybe Alec is the best person to hear what he has to say.

A BRIBE GONE VERY WRONG | Its true: The guys got skills. Because he finds plane bigwig at a bar and, in just a few minutes, gets him to confess that the Atmos software had a bug that caused a cargo plane crash before Lucas, but that Dale at the NTSB said hed let things slide for a payoff and a promise that the company would patch the problem. Marisa and Jace then arrest plane bigwig as Alec rushes off to save Rory, who noticed some weirdness during the simulation and wants to bring it to the NTSBs attention.

Alec and the FBI manage to intercept the meeting before anything bad can happen. Oh, and Marisa finds plane bigwigs underling, whos safe but was laying low after seeing someone break into her house.

The episode ends with Rizwan and Alec meeting up at a restaurant to process what Rizwans gone through. What youre feeling is completely normal. All you have to do is let yourself feel it, the professor counsels. They talk a bit about how Alec reframed his experience in the bombing as a way to investigate why people do the things they do; he cautions against getting so wrapped up in the work that Rizwan loses touch with his ability to process his trauma. Then, Rory, Alec, Phoebe, Rizwan and a lot more people attend a candlelight vigil for Lucas.

Now its your turn. What did you think of the episode? Hit the comments, and let us know!

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line.

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Julia Fox's new book 'Down the Drain' is out now

Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Julia Fox

Sex, drugs and, yes, dating Kanye West  there's not a lot Julia Fox hasn't experienced over the past 33 years. And she has no problem sharing all of it in her new memoir Down the Drain.

In the book, from Simon & Schuster, the actress talks about everything from her childhood in New York City (where she learned to shoplift and got a tattoo when she was 12) to forming a heroin habit in her teens.

She also opens up about her brief time working as a dominatrix, landing her role in the Adam Sandler film Uncut Gems , and later dating an individual she only describes in the book as "the artist" but is clearly rapper West, 46.

Fox also writes about losing her best friend to an overdose, and how becoming a mother to Valentino, 2, changed her.

Read on for some of the shocking revelations from Down the Drain, out now.

Richie Khan / Simon & Shuster

By Age 6, She Stole Money from Her Dad and Shoplifted at Stores

Fox opens the book with her early childhood, and how she moved from Italy to New York City with her dad when she was just 5 years old, leaving her mother and younger brother back in Italy.

As she adjusted to her new life in the U.S., she wrote that she and her father were broke, so she started stealing from stores. "The only way to get what I wanted was to take it," she said.

Soon, it wasn't just bubblegum from the deli, but she also started sneaking dollar bills out of her dad's wallet until she had stacks of cash pilfered away  enough for him to later buy her an iMac computer with.

She Tried Marijuana for First Time at Age 11

Fox admitted her life got very wild very quickly. She wrote about how in middle school she spent most of her days with her new best friend "Ella," who lived with a mom who was often drunk. Fox told the story of how one day, the two of them came home to find Ella's mom having sex with her drug dealer on the couch. The dealer gave the girls a jar of "s----y pot," and Fox got high for the first time.

She wrote that she loved the feeling. "I feel warm and fuzzy and everything is so funny. My thoughts are more linear and I can finally hear myself think," she said.

She Taught Her Best Friend How to Steal Clothes to 'Appear Richer,' and They Got Their First Tattoos

Fox said she understood from a young age that the "private school girls" are different from her. They look clean and wear $1500 Moncler jackets instead of the Baby Phat ones she and he friends sport. So by 12, she turned to shoplifting larger items so she could appear richer.

She found herself addicted to the rush of stealing, but got busted after an outing at Bloomingdale's. (She's permanently banned from the store.) She also got her first tattoo (a cartoon cat dangling from a rose) for free from a tattoo artist on St. Mark's. Her father told her she and her friends are worse than the girls from the movie 13  even though they are only 12.



Related: Julia Fox Says She Didn't Write About Sex with Kanye West in New Memoir Because There 'Wasn't Any'

Frazer Harrison/Getty Julia Fox

She Ran Away from Home at 15 to Be with a Boyfriend

After moving back to Italy for high school, Fox wrote about visiting New York on vacation, where she tried ecstasy for the first time. She loved it  but more importantly she fell in love with the guy who gave it to her, who told her she should be his wife.

They had a torrid affair, but Fox had to go back to Italy. She missed her boyfriend so much that she bought a ticket back to New York and ran away from Italy to be with him. Three weeks later, she saw "missing" posters with her face plastered on them around the city  her father did his best to get her to come home.

She Tried Heroin for First Time at 16

Fox is no stranger to drugs as a teen. But one night at a house party, she met a drug dealer who handed her two small bags of heroin. She sprinkled some of it onto a joint, not knowing what it was. She felt warm and fuzzy, but then passed out and nearly burned down the house with her lit joint.

"This is the feeling that Lou Reed sang about in the Velvet Underground. Its what William Burroughs wrote about in my favorite book, Junky. Its what Sublime warned about in 'Wrong Way.' I know Im flirting with fire, but its just too damn good to resist," she wrote of heroin.

It was the beginning of an on-again, off-again addiction that stayed with her throughout her 20s. Later, while using heroin, she overdosed but was saved by paramedics.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

At 18, She Took a Job as a Dominatrix

At 18, Fox saw an ad for a dominatrix on Craigslist that promised "no sex, no nudity." Intrigued, she answered it and got hired by a man who told her she has the "face of an angel."

She started the job the very next day. (Her first client wanted her to blow cigarette smoke into his mouth.) For six months, at age 18, she worked as a dominatrix at night while going to high school during the day. She made enough money to get her own apartment in the Meatpacking district with a friend.

A24 Julia Fox with Adam Sandler in "Uncut Gems"

She Got 'Uncut Gems' Role Despite Studio Wanting a Famous Actress

Fox wrote about landing the role of a lifetime as Adam Sandler's lover in 2019's Uncut Gems. She said the screenwriter Josh Safdie had been telling her for five years she'd be perfect for the role, and she aced her screen test with Sandler.

The problem? Safdie told her the studios want "someone with a big name, like Lady Gaga or Jennifer Lawrence." She said she knew she was a nobody in Hollywood, so didn't expect to actually get the role. When she did, she said it felt like she hit the lottery.



Kanye West Asked If She Could Be His Girlfriend Nearly Immediately After Meeting

Fox took care when writing about her relationship with the rapper, whom she only describes in the book as "the artist." She wrote about how they met after he asked a friend of a friend for her number, and soon they were having hours-long phone calls, before they met in in person in Miami over New Year's Eve.

The day after they met, he invited her to dinner where he bluntly asked her, "Would you want to be my girlfriend?" He added, "How would you feel about taking the relationship public?" Fox wrote that she shot down the idea at first, but she said he told her, "If you're worried about me embarrassing you, I wouldn't do that. You have a son, and my mom was a single mom."



Related: Julia Fox Says Kanye West 'Weaponized' Her Against Ex Kim Kardashian: I 'Felt Like His Little Puppet'

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Kanye West and Julia Fox on during Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 23, 2022.

Kanye West Tried to Control What She Wore  and Offered Her a 'Boob Job'

Fox wrote when she first met "the artist," he sent a selection of clothes to her hotel room, all of which were variations on the same skintight, black jumpsuit.

By their second date, he told her he wanted to appoint a team to work on her wardrobe. By their third date, her new stylist told her to meet her in the restaurant bathroom where she was on a dinner date. In the bathroom, the stylist offered Fox different outfits to try on.

The move made Fox wonder why "the artists" didn't just tell her he didn't like her original outfit. She said she felt like "a show monkey." Later, as she tried on various designer pieces for him, he told her, "I could get you a boob job if you want."

The words stung; she refused. "His words stick to me like a piece of lint on my clothes. I can't shake off the uncomfortable feeling," Fox wrote.

A rep for West, who changed his name to Ye, did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment



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A judge ruled Friday that the man accused of killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket in a 2021 rampage is mentally competent to stand trial, allowing the stalled prosecution to move forward.

Judge Ingrid Bakke ruled that Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who has schizophrenia, is able to understand court proceedings and contribute to his own defense. Bakke presided over a hearing last week to consider an August determination by experts at a state mental hospital that Alissa was competent after previous evaluations found otherwise. Alissas attorney had asked for the hearing to debate the finding.

RELATED: Accused Colorado Grocery Store Mass Shooter Found Incompetent To Stand Trial

In her ruling, Bakke said she was convinced that, following forced medication, Alissa had a far improved capacity to elucidate his reasoning and decision-making. Thats a critical component of competency, which partly hinges on Alissa being able to make informed decisions in his own case, such as whether to testify himself.

Alissa, 24, is charged with murder and multiple attempted murder counts in connection with the shooting spree on March 22, 2021, in a crowded King Soopers Store in Boulder, about 30 miles northwest of Denver. Alissa has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, wearing a mask and a prison uniform, listens during a hearing

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, accused of killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket in March, listens during a hearing Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. A judge has ordered a state mental health evaluation for Alissa to determine if he is competent to stand trial. Photo: AP Photo/David Zalubowski/Pool

Alissa allegedly began firing outside the grocery store, shooting at least one person in the parking lot before moving inside, employees told investigators. Employees and customers scrambled to escape the violence, some leaving through loading docks in the back and others sheltering in nearby stores.

A SWAT team took Alissa into custody. Authorities havent yet disclosed a motive for the shooting.

RELATED: Survivors From Previous Mass Shootings Ready To Help Victims' Families In Boulder, Colorado

Alissas mental condition improved this spring after he was forced under a court order to take medication to treat his schizophrenia, said a psychologist who testified for the prosecution last week. He was admitted to the state hospital in December 2021.

Bakke noted that in the August evaluation, Alissa answered questions about the day of the shooting and the offenses alleged against him.

Colorado Shooting G

Police respond at a King Sooper's grocery store where a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. Photo: Getty Images

Loandra Torres, a forensic psychologist who evaluated Alissa, testified that Alissa said that he bought firearms to commit a mass shooting. Torres said he also indicated that there was some intention to commit suicide by cop.

Initial evaluations throughout 2021 and 2022 found Alissa incompetent for trial largely due to his inability to communicate clearly and at times his outright refusal to discuss the allegations against him, Torres said.

Schizophrenia can shake someones grasp on reality, potentially interfering in a legal defense in court. Mental competency does not mean hes been cured.

Mental competency is also separate from pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, which is a claim that someones mental health prevented them from understanding right from wrong when a crime was committed.

RELATED: Colorado Shooting Suspect Needs Mental Health Review, Lawyer Says

This decision provides some hope for the victim families that this case will move forward and that justice will be done, District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. We will never stop fighting for the right outcome in this case.

Robert Olds, whose 25-year-old niece Rikki Olds was killed in the shooting, said the last week was an anxious one as he awaited the judges decision. He heard about the ruling from a friend by text late Friday afternoon.

Finally, finally a step in the right direction, he said of Bakkes decision.

Alissa is represented by public defenders, who do not comment to the media on their cases.

Now that Alissa has been deemed legally competent to participate in proceedings, Bakke is set to hold a Nov. 14 hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to a trial.

RELATED: Teens Reportedly Hid In Coat Closet During Mass Shooting At Boulder Grocery Store

Bakke acknowledged that she could not order the state hospital to keep Alissa now that he has been deemed competent, but she urged officials to keep him there anyway since it has the ability to forcibly medicate him, unlike the jail.

She said Alissa has vowed to refuse to take his medicine if he is returned to the jail, noting that that happened when he was temporarily moved there for last weeks hearing.

Citing one expert who said Alissa could regress if he bounced back and forth between the jail and the hospital, which has struggled to keep up with demand for its services for years, Bakke said that outcome would be an injustice to everyone who has been impacted by this case. The hospital is about 140 miles (225 kilometers) from Boulder.

The remodeled King Soopers reopened last year. About half of those who worked there previously chose to return.
By Anne Kauranen and Terje Solsvik

HELSINKI (Reuters) -A subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia under the Baltic Sea have been damaged in what may have been a deliberate act, the Finnish government said on Tuesday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO was sharing its information over the damage and stands ready to support the allies concerned. Finland joined the military alliance in April, while Estonia has been a member since 2004.

The Balticconnector gas pipeline was shut early on Sunday on concerns that gas was leaking from a hole in the 77-km (48-mile) pipeline. Finnish operator Gasgrid said it could take months or more to repair.

"It is likely that damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable is the result of outside activity. The cause of the damage is not yet clear, the investigation continues in cooperation between Finland and Estonia," Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in a statement on Tuesday.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the damage to the pipeline was "worrying", but that Finland's energy supply remained stable and that the damage to the telecommunications cable did not affect Finland's overall connectivity.

"It is too early to draw conclusions on who or what caused the damage," Orpo told a press conference.

Gas accounts for 5% of Finland's energy supply, he added.

Finnish telecommunications operator Elisa, which operates the damaged cable, told Reuters the distance from the cable to the Balticconnector pipeline was "significant", but declined to comment on the exact length between them.

The damage to the gas pipeline was believed to have taken place in Finnish waters, while the telecoms cable breach was in Estonian waters, Finnish authorities said.

Prior to the war in Ukraine, some of the gas transported by the Balticconnector came via pipeline from neighbouring Russia, but Finland has since year stopped importing Russian pipeline gas.

Story continues

Norwegian seismology institute Norsar said on Tuesday it had identified "a probable explosion" close to the location of the pipeline in the Baltic Sea at around the time of the outage early on Sunday, but said there was significant uncertainty in the data and that more analysis was required.

The indication of an explosion came from data collected at seismic stations along the Finnish coast, Norsar said.

DELIBERATE OR ACCIDENTAL?

A spokesperson for the Finnish defence forces said it did currently not see any military threat against Finland.

The Finnish bureau of investigation has initiated an investigation into the external damage to the pipeline.

"We are still verifying if the damage is caused deliberately or accidentally," the bureau said, though it added that the size of the damage was such that it indicated deliberate action.

Causing this kind of damage to the pipeline requires "special knowledge", the Finnish national bureau of investigation said.

"This act could not have been done by an ordinary person," Detective Inspector Timo Kilpelainen told reporters.

The Balticconnector runs to a depth of 100 metres (328 feet) at its deepest point, according to operator Gasgrid.

European gas prices rose on Tuesday afternoon following the news, with the benchmark front-month Dutch contract touching 49.75 euros ($52.72) a megawatt hour (MWh) according to LSEG data, its highest level for six months.

Prices were already up on Tuesday due to fears over tensions in the Middle East but expectations that outside activity caused the pipeline damage pushed prices in the nervous market higher.

The Finnish government said repairs would take months, and that the cost of gas in Finland could slightly increase over the winter as a result of the leak but that electricity prices would likely not be affected significantly.

"The fall in pipeline pressure was quite fast, which would indicate it's not a minor breach. But the cause of it remains unclear," said a Baltic energy official with knowledge of the situation, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The pipeline between Inkoo in Finland and Paldiski in Estonia crosses the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea that stretches eastwards into Russian waters and ends at the port of St Petersburg.

NORD STREAM

In 2022, the larger Nord Stream gas pipelines which cross the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany were damaged by explosions that authorities have said were deliberate acts of sabotage.

The Nord Stream blasts were of a much greater magnitude than the signals from Sunday's data indicated, Norsar said.

The Balticconnector pipeline opened in December 2019 to help integrate gas markets in the region, giving Finland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania more flexibility of supply.

Elering and Gasgrid have both said they did not anticipate shortages of gas even if the pipeline were to remain inoperable during winter.

Lithuanian gas system operator Amber Grid said Latvia's Incukalns gas storage has switched from storing gas to pumping it out immediately after the Balticconnector damage, in order to supply Estonia.

Finland last year leased a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG), replacing supplies from Russia which were cut in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Much of Finland's LNG imports come from the United States, LSEG data shows.

Situated at Inkoo, the Exemplar FSRU vessel has supplied gas to Estonia via the Balticconnector.

"(It's) not a big deal for Estonia and Latvia because a lot of their gas is stored in Latvian storage, but Finns will not be able to get their gas from Latvian storage," said a source with direct knowledge of Baltic gas supplies.

Finland has a second LNG import terminal in Hamina, and "the continuity of gas supply is secured in the coming winter season," national operator Gasgrid said in a statement.

($1 = 0.9437 euros)

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Nerijus Adomaitis in Oslo, Anne Kauranen in Helsinki, Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, Marta Frackowiak in Gdansk, Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Susanna Twidale in London; Julia Payne and Bart Meijer in Brussels; editing by Gwladys Fouche, Susan Fenton, Jonathan Oatis and Sharon Singleton)
Troubled musicals, like troubled friendships, can often seem like defeats lying in wait, sponging up every last second of loving care, effort and good intention. So Maria Friedmans smartly tended production of that most troubled of stage properties, the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth backwards musical Merrily We Roll Along deserves all the applause  and ticket-buying business  its getting at Broadways Hudson Theatre.

Opening tonight, the musical is drawing rapturous audience responses, no doubt in large part because of the splendid performances by three very appealing stars  Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez .

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But even if we could, for the sake of argument, put the talents of this delightful trio singing some of Sondheims loveliest songs, aside for a moment, the undeniable charm of this production has to be credited to a sort of relief  the relief of knowing that, for the most part, Friedman and her excellent creative team have ensured that we onlookers neednt spend our Merrily time picking over the faults and fumbles that Furth and Sondheim could never quite eradicate.

Not that this new production of Merrily completely fills in and smoothes out the musicals legendary potholes, but it certainly helps us step around them without too much effort or frustration. Youd be hard-pressed to imagine a better Merrily We Roll Along.

At least without being given some imaginary legal go-ahead to take a hatchet to Furths notoriously troublesome book. But more about that later.

Based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, Merrily is the story of three longtime New York City friends  composer Franklin Shepard (Groff), lyricist Charley Kringas (Radcliffe) and one-time author, mostly drama critic Mary Flynn (Lindsay Mendez), a trio who began their ties that bind as college-age up-and-comers ready to take on their world.

It is, of course, the conceit of the musical that we dont see those plucky, cocky go-getters, bound by youthful dreams, faith and confidence, until the final scene of Merrily We Roll Along. The musical is told in reverse, so that our first encounter with the friendship reveals it frayed beyond (seeming) repair. The scenes and the songs move from post-friendship 1976 to budding friendship 1957. Unlike the characters, we carry the sad ending with us even during the earlier good times, lending the entire musical an at-times unbearably sad tenor.

Fortunately, knowing that the happy ending (happy beginning? sad ending?) lies in wait for us is made tolerable by some of Sondheims most beloved musical numbers (and a few clunkers, but, hey, nothings perfect except Into The Woods, Company and Sweeney Todd). As for stand-alone songs  the ones that are often performed in revues and tributes, theres Old Friends, Growing Up, Good Thing Going, Our Time, Opening Doors and two versions of that most heartrending of heartrending songs, Not A Day Goes By.

In this production, theyre all performed to a fare-thee-well (the sad break-up version of Not A Day Goes By, performed by Katie Rose Clarke as Franks first wife Beth, has been improved since this production debuted Off Broadway last year, with Clarke toning down the distracting sobs that marred her performance the first time around).

Elsewhere, the Broadway production maintains the high quality of the Off Broadway staging, with Tim Jacksons pleasantly unobtrusive in-story choreography, Soutra Gilmours period-delineating costume design as appealing as her lovely scenic design, Amith Chandrashakers nostalgic, warm-glow lighting design and a sound design (by Kai Harada) that makes terrific use of the Hudsons excellent acoustics and gives Jonathan Tunicks fantastic orchestrations all the room needed to enchant. Cookie Jordans hair and wig design deserves a mention, too, as it takes us on a pleasing (and accurate) walk through the decades.

Krystal Joy Brown & Jonathan Groff

The action begins in 1976, at a ritzy Los Angeles poolside party being thrown by the industrys hottest producer of profitable schlock, Franklin Shepard. Played out on Gilmours gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Cali-chic house set  all boxy shapes and windows, with Chandrashakers luscious lighting design making every minute of a setting sun more seductive than the last  the party is little more than an excuse for back-patting (Franks back) and infidelity (again, Franks). Whatever dreamy, youthful longings for artistic credibility and significance may once have existed for Frank are long gone, as are the shards of personal integrity we can only imagine, at this point in the production, might have existed.

Whatever hints of what was that we can glean come from Mary, Franks old New York friend and a real fish out of water here at his Hollywood mansion party. Shes now a mean drunk, sloppy, disgusted by Franks moral failures and artistic betrayals. If Frank has turned himself into an unlikeable phony to anyone not on his payroll, well, Mary doesnt have a payroll to protect her. Shes cruel and insufferable and pathetic, judging everyone she encounters, most of all Frank, the man shes secretly loved for decades.

Actually, not so secret, and, yes, Frank notices her disdain, and its stings. Groff lets us know, without saying a word, that he still cares what Mary thinks. Just as he cares what Charley thinks  and Charley isnt anywhere near. He and Frank havent spoken since a notorious NBC interview back in 73, when Charley, fed up with Franks preference for easy Hollywood money over his more artistically significant collaborations with his old lyricist, vents, cruelly, during a joint interview on an NBC morning show.

But oh what a glorious vent. The lickety-split verbal avalanche that makes up Franklin Shepard Inc. is an early high point of the musical, and perhaps this production in particular, so well is it performed by Radcliffe. A jewel of both comedy and vitriol, the rapid-fire list of sing-song grievances [And the telephones blink/and the stocks get sold/and the rest of us he keeps on hold] is delivered by Radcliffe so (seemingly) effortless and with such gusto that he got a partial standing ovation mid-song at the reviewed performance. It is, almost certainly, the stuff of Tony nominations.

From here, we go backwards even further to see how this three-way friendship fractured, and this production, perhaps more clearly than most, puts the blame squarely on the shoulders of the cheating, avaricious, star-struck Frank. We watch as, in 1968, Mary and Charley, along with Franks very young son, welcome Frank home from a lengthy yacht cruise, hoping that the time away has helped the composer clear his head following a nasty divorce. Perhaps Frank will finally be ready to collaborate on the long-postponed Important Musical that he and Charley have been talking about for years.

Nah. Theres a sexy and very famous Broadway star (Krystal Joy Brown) turning Franks head. Working and friendship can wait.

One of the few great but flawed stage musicals in which the flaws are front-loaded in the first act, Merrily We Roll Along gets better  not perfect, but better  in Act II. We open with a fine bit of razzle-dazzle in which that sexy, famous Broadway star delivers the crowd pleasing show-within-the-show number thats meant to introduce us to the big 1964 Broadway success that catapulted Frank and Charley to success. And Gussies Opening Number works, both in convincing us of Frank and Charleys talent and in Browns ability to razzle-dazzle us in the here and now.

Reg Rogers, Katie Rose Clarke, Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe & Lindsay Mendez

The same cant be said of 1960s silly, dated gently satirical revue  about the pre-assassination Kennedys  that comes during the duos Off Broadway dues-paying era; its neither funny, catchy nor convincing. (Its one of two misfires baked into the musicals second act, the other being the mean-spirited The Blob, the title referencing a nickname given by the Broadway star to New Yorks know-it-all single-minded cultural elite who consume and critique all the hottest and latest artistic offerings. (The Blob, as usual, is represented here by the fey, trendily dressed snark-makers who move en masse and blob-like from gathering to gathering; I couldnt help recalling Fran Lebowitzs recent lament for the all those knowing audiences lost to AIDS, the cultivated, opinionated scene makers who would only be appreciated in their blob-like absence.)

Furths book also betrays a datedness in other ways, like Charleys late-1960s knee-jerk antipathy to Hollywood (the big-screen Cabaret and Fiddler are right around the corner, making Charley seem at least as lacking in vision as he is filled with integrity), but set against Sondheims magnificent music any gripes about the book can seem churlish. Well, almost any: The biggest flaw in Merrily has nothing to do with structure, but rather in characterization, specifically the depictions of the women. Gussie, Franks Broadway star second wife, is manipulative, duplicitous and nasty enough to toss iodine into the eyes of a romantic rival. Beth, Franks first wife, is a drag on her husbands artistic endeavors almost from the start, pleading with him to sell out in order to feather the family nest.

And then theres Mary, ostensibly the third and equal piece of this friendship trio, and third she is, equal she isnt. While the men are filled with talent and ambition (either artistically or financially), Mary, despite a few thin references to a best-selling book to her credit, is defined almost entirely by her vicinity to Charley and, especially, Frank, for whom she carries a decades-long torch. Shes a satellite, as surely as the Sputnik that soars overhead while the youthful trio dream of future glory.

Even the relatively minor character of the sweet-natured, sad-sack Broadway producer Joe Josephson gets a more rounded characterization than Mary, Beth or Gussie  not to mention the better of the shows biggest laughs  and its not just because Joes portrayer Reg Rogers is so very, very good (which he really, really is). How interesting it would be to see a Company-style gender-reversed production of Merrily We Roll Along.

In most productions of Merrily, the musical ends with that Sputnik sighting, leaving Frank, Charley and Mary drunk on hope, and leaving the audience deflated in its knowledge of the hangover to come.

But Friedman, in what might be the productions single greatest contribution to the legacy of this musical, gives Frank a silent moment alone after the trios Sputnik-watching rooftop scene. But this isnt just Frank straggling behind as his friends wander off  this Frank seems to be the middle-age self-loathing version we last saw at the Hollywood party that opened the show. Here, pensive and surrounded by stars in the sky (and throughout the theater), the friendless Frank seems to have a look of realization in his eyes. Could it be that the trip down memory lane, the entire show in other words, was not a stage gimmick at all, but Franks Scrooge-like revisiting of his past?

I believe so, though Friedman and Groff leave enough wiggle room to leave enough room for debate. If my interpretation is correct, Merrily We Roll Along, Sondheims greatest troubled musical, has finally gotten the ending it deserves, with just the barest chance and hope of escaping fate.

Title: Merrily We Roll Along

Venue: Broadways Hudson Theatre

Director: Maria Friedman

Book: George Furth

Music: Stephen Sondheim

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, Reg Rogers, and Max Rackenberg, Brady Wagner, Sherz Aletaha, Maya Boyd, Leana Rae Concepcion, Morgan Kirner, Corey Mach, Talia Robinson, Amanda Rose, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Brian Sears, Evan Alexander Smith, Christian Strange, Koray Tarhan, Vishal Vaidya, Natalie Wachen, and Jacob Keith Watson.

Running time: 2 hr 45 min (with intermission)

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The 2016 family animated film The Secret Life of Pets (streaming now on Peacock) follows a group of New York City pets and, as the title suggests, the secret lives they lead when their human companions are away. We cant confirm (or deny) that animals get up to all sorts of hijinks when were not looking, but they do have some secrets that were only just unlocking.

Those secrets apparently include the ability to glow in the dark, a process more officially known as fluorescence, according to a recent study published in The Royal Society Open Science.

What is fluorescence and how does it work?

Arizona bark scorpion

Arizona bark scorpion seen under a UV black light. Photo: Douglas Sacha/ Getty Images

If youre already thinking about fluorescent lights, your head is in the right place. Understanding how they work can help us grok how our housecats glow. A fluorescent bulb relies on a couple of physical interactions working in concert to transform electricity into visible light.

RELATED: Meet Dogxim, the Worlds First Confirmed Dog-Fox Hybrid

First, the bulb is filled with low pressure mercury vapor. When the bulb is unpowered, the vapor just sits there inside the tube, but when electricity is introduced, the mercury becomes excited and emits ultraviolet (UV) light. We cant see UV, but we can transform it, which is where the second interaction comes in.

Fluorescent bulbs are covered in a phosphor coating which absorbs UV light and re-emits in a lower frequency which we can see. That process of absorbing high-frequency light and re-emitting it in a lower frequency is what we call fluorescence. Fluorescence in animals works on the same principle; compounds on their bodies take in UV light and spit it back out, allowing them to glow.

Almost all mammals glow in the dark, some better than others

Close-up portrait of cat against black background

Photo: Lyudmila Lucienne / 500px/Getty Images

If youve ever shone a UV light on a scorpion (or a mushroom themed black light poster) then youve seen fluorescence in action. Scientists have known that certain animals glow in the dark when exposed to UV light but the idea that mammals do it is relatively new, sparked in large part by a 2020 study which demonstrated fluorescence in the platypus.

Researchers in the new study started by testing the platypus themselves to replicate the 2020 results. After confirming that they do, in fact, glow in the dark, the team got to work testing more than 100 other species. Scientists exposed preserved and unpreserved animal specimens to UV light and documented any visible glowing which occurred. They found evidence of fluorescence in fur, spines, skin, and nails from nearly every species they checked.

RELATED: Decoding the mutant dogs of Chernobyls exclusion zone

In general, light colored or unpigmented skin and fur exhibited more fluorescent qualities than darker pigments. That creates some interesting effects on patterned animals like zebras. The study looked at a wide selection of mammals including the short-beaked echidna, wombats, and the common house cat. All in all, they confirmed fluorescence in 125 species representing 27 mammalian orders and 79 families. While researchers found evidence of fluorescence almost across the board, it was more common and more intense in nocturnal animals.

It's unclear what benefit, if any, fluorescence provides to night-dwelling mammals, but scientists speculate it may facilitate signaling to other animals at night. That said, our cats have never used a glow in the dark cat signal to wake us in the night; usually they just slap us.

See The Secret Life of Pets for yourself, streaming now on Peacock!
Late night hit pause on the jokes Monday to address the horror of the deadly attack in Israel over the weekend, as well as the retaliatory conflict sparked after the attack orchestrated by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

Amid a rising death toll that has surpassed 1,800 victims on both sides since Saturday, according to the Associated Press, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers , Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel largely shared messages of solidarity with victims.

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On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host called the Middle East a complex region, but added that the complexity of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is immaterial to the horror of this attack.

The world is still in shock over the horrific surprise attack that Hamas launched this weekend against Israel. As of this taping, over 900 people in Israel have been killed, including 11 Americans and an unknown number of civilians and soldiers have been kidnapped, including U.S. citizens. As the conflict continues, nearly 700 people have been killed in Gaza, he stated. It is heartbreaking to see violence escalate, and we hope and pray that someday peace is possible.

Colbert continued his monologue by addressing why he felt it was not just difficult but humanly impossible to try and deliver jokes in a moment like this. We always try our best to talk about what everybodys talking about today, but we didnt even attempt to write jokes about this, he said. The human mind simply refuses to do it  even AI refused to do it.

While Colbert declined to joke about the attack itself, he used the ChatGPT platform to emphasize the seriousness and tragedy of the ongoing loss of life.

We went on to ChatGPT, and this is true, it responded: The Middle East conflict is a serious and ongoing situation that affects many lives, and making jokes about such matters can easily be seen as insensitive, disrespectful or offensive to those who are suffering as a result,' Colbert read to the audience. I, for one, want to commend our future robot overlords. That is a rare show of humanity from something that cant identify which photos contain a traffic light.

Kimmel used his monologue to take a swipe at former President Donald Trump after sharing his own statement of solidarity with Americas friends and allies in Israel amid the nightmarish situation.

Leaders from all around the world condemned the attack, as did millions of Americans including our super-duper pro-Israel, former President Donald Trump, who immediately found a way to make it about himself, Kimmel said. He wrote, The horrible attack on Israel, much like the attack on Ukraine, would never have happened if I were president. Zero chance.'

The host quickly followed, telling his Jimmy Kimmel Live! audience, Thats right. If he was president, wed all be blissfully downing jiggers of bleach. Thered be no war anywhere.

Both NBC hosts, Fallon and Meyers, opted out of jokes of any kind while discussing the attack, instead offering statements acknowledging the violence and wishing for the safety of those caught in the conflict.

On the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the host shared a brief statement, telling viewers, I just want to send our love to everyone affected by the attacks in Israel over the weekend. By now weve all seen the terrible images coming out of there, and our hearts go out to everyone whos been impacted.

Meyers offered a more lengthy response, urging his in-studio and at-home viewers to remember not just their own but others humanity when it is challenged by the rage and sadness of tragedies like this.

Im sure you all are aware of the atrocities that were committed against Israel this weekend. They were monstrous and horrific acts of violence, the Late Night With Seth Meyers host said towards the end of his monologue. I will not pretend to have any answers as to how to respond to a crisis like this. I will only say that in the moments when we are confronted with such evil, inhumane acts: We are most at risk of losing our own humanity when we are justifiably blind with rage and sadness.

Meyers added that in moments like this, people can make choices that will have massive, irrevocable impacts on the lives of our fellow man, but that he hopes the better parts of humanity emerge at this difficult moment. It requires the absolute best of us to think clearly in times like this, he continued, and I hope with all my heart, the best of us can emerge in this time of unthinkable loss.

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With the writers strike over, more politicians are returning to Los Angeles to collect donations from the infamous Hollywood ATM.

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio will be on the Westside, raising money at the Brentwood home of actress Nancy Stephens and her husband, TV and film director Rick Rosenthal , TheWrap has learned.

Event organizer Cookie Parker told supporters in an email that the upcoming election is vital to prevent Republicans from taking the Senate.

We are at pivotal moment in our nations history. We have a binary choice between democracy and autocracy, Parker said in the email, adding that voters should support her party if they want to protect reproductive rights, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, education, and the environment.

Co-hosts for Thursdays fundraiser include Matt Crowley, Jennifer Miner, Dori and Charles Mostov, Sara Nichols, Cookie Parker, Joyce Rey, Susan Sheu and Brian Colker, Heather Thomas and Skip Brittenham, Julie Waxman and Seth Freeman.

Democrats hope to hold their slight majority in the Senate, while Republicans hope to tilt the numbers their way in the next election. The Senate currently has 51 Democrats (including three independents who usually vote with the Democrats) and 49 Republicans. There are 34 seats up in 2024, including a special election in Nebraska. Of those seats, 23 are held by Democrats or Independents.

Republicans could take control by gaining two seats or by winning the 2024 presidential election and gaining just one seat.

With actors and writers both on strike, fundraising in Hollywood had been on hold. When the Writers Guild of America settled its strike Sept. 27, fundraising plans started up again.

On Oct. 27, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen will host a private concert in Beverly Hills to benefit the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Sara Bareilles and Jennifer Hudson are scheduled to perform alongside Legend at the event. Ticket prices for the fundraisers attendees are between $5,000 and $50,000.

The post Rick Rosenthal and Nancy Stephens to Host Democratic Fundraiser for Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (Exclusive) appeared first on TheWrap.
After three days on Special Forces: Worlds Toughest Test, Savannah Chrisley decided to voluntarily withdraw from Fox reality series after the Chrisley Knows Best star hit her breaking point.

When I got there I was under the impression that it [was] gonna be super tough physically  thats gonna be the only thing thats hard on me, Chrisley told TheWrap. But then after being there for a few days, I was like, OK, this is getting really difficult  emotionally. It was really tough being away from Chloe and Grayson because obviously theres been a ton of change in our life.

Earlier this year, Todd and Julie Chrisley reported to their respective federal prisons to serve a combined 19 years after being found guilty of several financial crimes last year. Once her parents began serving their sentences, guardianship for Savannahs 17-year-old brother Grayson and 10-year-old niece Chloe fell to her.

For the first time in my life, I actually love two people more than I love myself [and] I [was] ready to get home to them, Chrisley said. I was worried about them because obviously we had no phone service  there was nothing like that. I wasnt allowed to have a phone. So it was just really tough with all the transition that weve had in life to just leave them. Thats what it came down to.

While Chrisley admitted in the episode that her head wasnt fully in the vehicle protection challenge during the start of Day 3, she stayed strong until later that day, when the recruits were brought to the icy waters of New Zealand and were instructed to partake in a backwards dive on a steep platform.

I was just like, Alright, this is too much. You have to be on wet clothes  sure, they gave you something to change into, but you still had soaking wet boots and I was at my breaking point, Chrisley said. I was like I barely had any food. Im tired. Im cold. I miss the kids. I showed up. I proved to myself that I can do it and now its my time to go.'

Despite quitting the show three days into the 10-day experience, Chrisley noted going on the show gave her a sense of accomplishment, as well as a little bit of a break from what [she] deal[s] with on a day-to-day basis.

It just made me realize that it doesnt matter how tough life gets, I still have the capabilities of showing up and its okay to not show up perfectly, Chrisley said. I think thats what this whole situation has taught me  just showing up is enough sometimes because life is so difficult.

Below, Chrisley explains why she was initially interested in joining the unscripted series, if her first day there was anything like what she expected and how she is coping with her parents incarceration.

TheWrap: Why did you first decide you wanted to go through this experience on Special Forces?

Chrisley: Special Forces was actually one of the last shows that I watched my parents before they left and my mom was watching and she was like, Oh my gosh, if anyone could do this, you could do it. You need to do it.

I was like, Alright, I have been at home nonstop with kids and I feel like, in a way, that was a little break for me. I knew that my parents were going to be able to watch it so why would I not want to go on the show and just show up as best I can?

How did you feel when you first entered the experience? Was it what you expected?

I was actually really relieved with the cast and the group of people that they had on because we all connected so well and just had it was an immediate connection and humor. We just had the best time.

Now, the lack of food  If anyone knows me, I love to eat so that was a challenge for me. You dont realize that things you do on a day-to-day basis until you dont have them to do and then youre like, Holy cow, I dont know how Ive ever lived without X, Y and Z.

In Episode 2, there was a particularly brutal episode during which you vomited while rappelling down a 330-foot wall. Did that experience contribute to your voluntarily withdrawing?

I was the first to go but they aired it as if I was the last, so throughout all the challenges you learn more through watching people because you really didnt get great instructions. I was just completely thrown off guard, and I think that definitely started the downward slope of things. I already wasnt feeling good  You get the bare minimum. Youre not really showering. Youre not really eating youre doing nothing of that nature. This started the whole downfall for sure.

In the first episode, you spoke about how your parents going to prison has hardened you. How have you made peace with this situation and how did this experience help with that?

The whole experience has been just an impossible situation. Its not easy. You go through moments of anger and hurt and sadness. There was a lot of anger at first, but now Ive been able to channel that in a more effective and healthy manner and say, You know what, that sucks. Life sucks. Its not always perfect.

Our situation sucks but if I can take this and create a platform to help other people that are going through exactly what were going through, then I will do it in a heartbeat. Thats been my main focus is just doing more with what Ive been given. A lot of people dont speak up about it and over 2 million families are impacted by the federal prison system. I want people to know that theyre not alone, and if something I can say or do can help that then Im all for it.

Special Forces: Worlds Toughest Test airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Fox and streams next-day on Hulu.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The post Savannah Chrisley Explains Why She Quit Special Forces: Worlds Toughest Test: I Was at My Breaking Point appeared first on TheWrap.
"Somebody most likely took that deer out of the wild as a fawn and tried to keep it as a pet and put a collar on it," the Missouri Dept. of Conservation shared

The Missouri Dept. of Conservation (MDC) responded to an odd report  a deer with a collar around its neck and the word "pet" painted on its body.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office shared a photo of the creature on Facebook. It said that officers went down to De Soto, a rural city in Missouri, to investigate the image of the deer, which had gone viral online.

In the photo, the deer looks back at the camera as it grazes on grass. A multi-colored collar can be seen around the animal's neck, and the word "pet" appears in all capital letters on the deer's body.

"Somebody most likely took that deer out of the wild as a fawn and tried to keep it as a pet and put a collar on it," MDC Conservation Captain Scott Corley told McClatchy News, per the Bellville News-Democrat.

Related: Texas Woman Asks For Public's Help Identifying Mysterious Animal Caught on Camera Near Her Home

He told the media outlet that MDC investigated the incident on Sept. 27 after receiving a call from a concerned landowner. The deer  which officials believe is around 2 years old  was gone by the time authorities arrived.

"We're concerned with the health of the deer," Corley said on why MDC does not support trying to domesticate a wild deer. "And nowadays, since we have issues with chronic wasting disease and other disease issues, [interaction] is not safe for humans, and it's not in the best interest of the animal's welfare."

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office echoed this warning in its Facebook post about the animal: "Wild animals should not be considered pets, and particularly deer should not be moved from their habitat as the (MDC) works on Chronic Wasting Disease."

Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease  a rare progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Related: Surfer Saves Drowning Deer from Rough Water Off Jersey Shore Coast: It Was Gasping for Air (Exclusive)

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office added that "orphan wildlife" should be reported to a local MDC office or a conservation agent.

Chronic wasting disease is not the only potential risk of close deer contact. Corley said the photo of the deer also worried officials because docile deer can turn aggressive during mating season.

"When they took him out of the wild his first year  he didn't have all those hormones running through him," he said.

"Now he can be aggressive, and it can cause problems," Corley added, noting that if MDC agents capture the deer, they would remove the collar and try to return the animal to the wild.

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Overall, Corley stressed that wild deer should be left alone.

"They have a lot better chance if you leave them where they're at and don't touch them," he said.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh is in Ethiopia to help support two key issues

UNICEF Ethiopia 2023 Demissew Bizuwerk Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh in Ethiopia

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is giving voice to two of her key causes.

The royal, 58, visited Tigray, Ethiopia on Sunday to highlight work that supports women who've been victims of sexual violence during conflict and war.

Alongside a team from UNICEF, it is Sophie's latest trip to see, firsthand, the far-reaching impact of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and gender-based violence.

"The Duchess has championed the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), and survivors of CRSV, for a number of years, and has travelled widely to bear witness to their testimonies," Buckingham Palace said in a press release.

Related: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Makes 'Heartfelt' Statement After Royal Police Escort Hits Woman

UNICEF Ethiopia 2023 Demissew Bizuwerk Sophie The Duchess of Edinburgh at Sabacare Camp 5, Tigray, Ethiopia

Earlier this week, Sophie, 58, also visited Sabacare IDP Camp in northern Ethiopia, which cares for more than 16,000 Internally Displaced Persons  many of them women and girls. At Ayder Hospitals One Stop Centre (OSC) for survivors of gender-based violence, the Duchess was shown the range of medical and counseling treatments that have aided hundreds of women in the midst of the country's humanitarian crisis.

She also visited the Womens Development Centre, a charity that equips vulnerable women, many of them survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, with skills to lead an independent life with secure employment, the palace said in its release.



Sophie, who shares daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and son James, Viscount Severn, 14, with her husband Prince Edward, 59, also joined some of the women for skilled sewing activities and "visited a child-friendly space in the camp, where kids have a safe place to play, learn and thrive," the palace release added.

It is a key cause for the Duchess  who received her title when King Charles gave his youngest brother Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday in March  and one of two main reasons for being in Africa.

Related: Why Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Wore Headphones at the Funeral of Italy's Former President

UNICEF Ethiopia 2023 Demissew Bizuwerk Sophie The Duchess of Edinburgh at Sabacare Camp 5, Tigray, Ethiopia

The second is eyesight health. As Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Sophie is in Ethiopia to celebrate the work of international eye care charity Orbis to tackle the infectious and blinding eye disease trachoma.

During her visit, she is expected to see eye health in action by meeting specialists, case workers and government representatives, and spend time with patients whose sight has been restored. Sophie will also visit a school where children are learning how to protect themselves from trachoma through face washing and good hygiene practices. The visit comes as World Sight Day is marked on Oct. 12.

Sophie will also attend a conference where delegates from government, and the health and charitable sectors will have the opportunity to exchange insights and chart the way forward to eliminate the blinding disease for good.



UNICEF Ethiopia 2023 Demissew Bizuwerk Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh joins the women and kids at the camp in Tigray, Ethiopia

Much of Sophie's recent work on the world stage has been to help lead campaigns on avoidable sight issues.

RELATED: Queens Daughter-in-Law Sophie, Countess of Wessex Shares Sweet Video Taken by Daughter Louise

In November 2017, she visited Bangladesh, where women were being taught about the importance of nutrition and diabetes awareness, including the fact that diabetes can sometimes cause loss of sight. Sophie sat among a group of about 200 people to listen.

UNICEF Ethiopia 2023 Demissew Bizuwerk Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at the camp in Tigray, Ethiopia

A source shared at the time that an 8-year-old boy showed interest in Sophie during her visit "and she took him on her knee."

Sophie noticed immediately that he "had a pronounced squint," the source added. There was a senior eye doctor among the entourage and Sophie pointed out the patient and the doctor "jumped in and said he would treat the child for free. And he did.

UNICEF Ethiopia 2023 Nahom Tesfaye Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh visits Ayder Hospital in Tigray, Ethiopia

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On another trip to the African country of Malawi, "she saw that there was a blind boy in the class and she went and sat with him for a few minutes," said a former staffer. "She was sitting tenderly with him and talking to him. It was a wonderful moment of compassion and understanding.

She is able to find a connection with people across cultures and languages and background," the source told PEOPLE. "I think of it as scattering magic dust."



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Best friends Yariselle Andujar and Daniela Moreno began their journey when they decided to sign up for their schools robotics team their freshman year

Ken Blaze

Best friends Yariselle Andujar, 17, and Daniela Moreno, 15, decided to sign up for their schools robotics team their freshman year, and without realizing it, began their journey towards changing lives for the better.

The now-juniors at Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School in Cleveland, Ohio began working with 3D printers to create parts for their robots, but knew they wanted their impact to be greater.

It started off with a team idea, Andujar tells PEOPLE for the Girls Changing the World package in this week's issue. We were trying to figure out how we could impact our community as a first year robotics team. What do we have to provide to our community? We later thought of the idea to use 3D printers to make prosthetic parts, like hands. We figured out that its lightweight, but very strong, so we used 3D printers to make the prosthetics.



Related: Teen Works to Save Lives with Org After Cousin, 18, Died from Accidental Fentanyl Overdose: 'Talk Openly'

The team worked with IMAHelps, a humanitarian nonprofit organization, and received assistance from The Great Lakes Science Robotics Initiative, and shortly after, began working with their first youth in need of a prosthetic.

We started off with making a prototype for Samantha, a 12-year-old little girl in Ecuador who lost her arm in a bus accident, Andujar explains. We got her measurements and made prototypes, then originals. IMAHelps brought the prosthetic back to Ecuador and it fit her perfectly and worked well.

Samantha had a dream to write, and we wanted to help with that," adds Moreno.

Ken Blaze

The team displayed the prototype at a high school fair, and a young amputee named Ernest Priester, 13, asked to try it on. Later, the team offered to make him a prosthetic for free. He started tearing up, it brought so much joy to his eyes. His mom was tearing up too, Andujar says.

It didnt take long for other Ecuadorian kids missing limbs to see the Samanthas prosthetic and want one of their own. This July, the team traveled to Ecuador to deliver four more prosthetics to those in need. We were so happy to help, Andujar shares.



Related: Man Who Lost Legs to Boat Propeller Dedicates Life to Helping Kids Get Expensive Prosthetics

With not much time left, both Andujar and Moreno are looking towards their futures. We hope to be roommates at Kent State, says Andujar, and become pilots, adds Moreno.

For more Girls Changing the World, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.

The duo also plans on continuing to distribute their 3D creations. You can do whatever you want to do when it comes to helping people and changing the world, Andujar says. There are no limits or age restrictions.

By offering a little bit, adds Moreno, we can change a lot.



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Read the original article on People.
Red Bull Racing is famous for a few things beyond being one of the most dominant teams in F1 history. One of those things is taking their drivers and cars, and doing insane, record-breaking, or comedic stunts with them. Theres been some classics like the F1 car on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco , or the F1 car versus a race-spec airplane. Add this video of all four of the current Red Bull F1 drivers doing gameshow challenges in Kei trucks to that list of classics.

Max Verstappen , Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda , and impressive AlphaTauri stand-in Liam Lawson took part in a series of skill challenges that didnt test outright speed, but patience and precision. Of course, when Kei trucks are involved, speed is never a factor. But what does result is total comedy. Some of the biggest, baddest drivers in the world were stuffed into modern Honda Acty Kei trucks and told to maneuver them blindfolded and backward in a Japanese game show format.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsNyag6JGv4

The drivers certainly seemed like they had a blast, with plenty of ribbing amongst themselves and some light pranking. Sure, its probably pretty well scripted, but these dudes come off as having real fun. I had no idea Verstappen had decent comedic timing, nor did I know Tsunoda was so great at driving a car backward. The run-and-gun shaky camera work also sold the video to me as genuinely funny, making it feel like these guys were in a mockumentary.

This is a regular thing for Red Bull at marquee races, with special videos for the Singapore GP, Monaco GP, and Australian GP this year. Either way, seeing F1 drivers in non-racing situations is always highly entertaining. It makes them more human than they ever seem to be during a race weekend, but also shows how deeply competitive they all are.

But seriously, more F1 teams must make their drivers do silly things. Yuki Tsunoda skydiving, anyone?

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WESTSIDE GUNN INTERVIEW WESTSIDE GUNN INTERVIEW.jpg - Credit: ProlificKid*

Westside Gunns critically acclaimed album Pray For Paris came out of a creative stream that took hold of the Griselda co-founder during Paris Fashion Week 2020. He tells Rolling Stone that his new album And Then You Pray For Me, the sequel to Pray For Paris coming on October 13th, came from a similar artistic rush he felt this year.

I didnt feel [inspiration] like that since Virgil invited me out there, he says over the phone. I wanted to record again. I got the studio and I started making the album. Last time, I went back [to America] and it was Grammy Week [and] Roc Nation Brunch [going on]. This time, I actually stayed overseas. I didnt even come back.

More from Rolling Stone

The Buffalo artist spent several months overseas doing what he calls super Flygod shit. Living the luxury life, visiting landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza, and sharpening his craft as a musician and fashion designer. The musical results are a 21-track project that he feels is a masterpiece.

Its my best work. Its something for everybody. It is enough to be a double album. Westside Gunn says And Then You Pray For Me is the last project hell release with such meticulousness; everything else he works on will be created and dropped guerilla style. Im not saying I wont come with a five-song EP with Madlib or I wont do a seven-song EP with Alchemist or I wont rap, he clarifies. Ill do all of that, but making a studio album, Im done with all that. Its back to dumping until I dont want to dump no more. Im going to have fun now. Its no more pressure.

And Then You Pray For Me was created during a pressurized creative process that took place in hotel rooms and foreign studios such as Paris IBO Studio. The project showcases Westside Gunns most versatile sonic palette yet, as he notes exploring raw Memphis 1998 Three 6 Mafia-sounding tracks, a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, and songs with trap favorites like EST Gee, Peezy, Jeezy, and Rick Ross. You got the new ill dope boys that are talking their shit, but then you also have the legendary trappers in Ross and Jeezy, he says.

But even with that bevy of trunk rattlers on the project, Westside Gunn isnt abandoning the Griselda base who helped popularize the label as a wellspring of traditionalist rap. I got Daringer, Conductor, the traditional sound, the raw shit, he says. And I got a RZA thats a classic RZA. Exactly what you would think RZA should still sound likeIm giving everybody something. It dont matter where youre from.

He says its a result of him exploring the full breadth of his musical interests and wanting Griselda to be considered more than just a boom-bap label. This is when everything changes, he says. I dont want people to put Griselda into a box. Of course, I cater to a certain fan and I love my fans, but as we grow, even in life, you want to experiment, you want to do more.

Westside Gunn talked to Rolling Stone about And Then You Pray For Me, his relationship with late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, and his feelings on social media. The interview, lightly edited for clarity, is below.

What made you want to make this final album the sequel to Pray for Paris?

I made the first one because I was inspired by Fashion Week 2020. My song was played at the Off-White show. I got the first 327 New Balances ever made at Casablanca. I didnt even go there to make an album, I [got] so inspired. I wanted to do something fly. I did the whole EP in two days in Paris.

This year, 2023, January Fashion Week, I had the same energy as 2020. I didnt feel it like that since Virgil invited me out there. I wanted to record again. So I got the studio and I started making the album. Last time, I went back [to America] and it was Grammy Week, it was Roc Nation Brunch [going on]. This time, I actually stayed overseas. I didnt even come back.

I wanted to travel the world. I went to Greece, Germany, London and different parts of France. I was getting inspired and I had the studio with me. This album is different because this is the first time I made the album with that feeling of traveling the world. It was making it the sequel because its the same feeling from Pray for Paris.

What was the most interesting place you went to for the first time?

Egypt. Im a little older, so I havent been in school in a while, man. [Laughs] I remember growing up, you hear [about] the Nile River and the pyramids and the Sphinx and all of that. I didnt think Egypt was It looked grimy, like ancient, raw. I thought it was going to be more luxurious for some reason. But when I went there, I was like this is crazy. People cant live in these buildings, its impossible. Im watching kids going up the streets on donkeys and holding groceries at the same time. And horses everywhere.

The people be swarming you [at the pyramids]. I didnt know how poor it was. So Im over there with a fuckin $250,000 bracelet on and my chain and my watch and my earrings, and Im super fly thinking Im going over here on some fly shit, not knowing that I was about to go in an area full of [poverty]. I showed love to as many as I could. [I gave way] whatever money I had on me but once you start giving it away, one person sees that, then they start going crazy. I did what I could. I felt bad. I never thought Egypt would be like that.

Were you recording at the hotel or were you hitting the studio everywhere you went?

I have a mobile studio. I take my engineer with me wherever I go and we get busy. But if Im in London, Giggs studio is the spot, thats my brother. [And I go to] IBO Studio in Paris because thats a super vibe. At first, I wasnt going to go to [IBO]. My people was like, no, this is the spot you need to go there. Im like, man, let me go see what its like. And I promise you, thats my favorite studio in the world. When Im in Paris, I book it to book it. Even if I dont have nothing going on, I like to be there and vibe even listening to production.

How many songs do you think you recorded over that period?

Its 21 tracks on this album and I recorded 22. When Im making an album, I put every last song on the album. This is the first time I actually made an album and [took] one song off in my whole career. Its because [after] I had did it the first time, I couldnt find the session for some reason. When I redid it, I didnt have the same energy as I did the first time. Then I switched up because it was featuring Doe Boy.

And I switched the lyrics and didnt like [them]. So I was like, damn, I dont want to hold this against Doe Boy. He did his part. [but] instead of me rhyming, I started talking super Flygod shit. And then the last day of doing mixing, I was like, yo, I dont feel comfortable with me talking this shit right now. Because I was talking cash shit. It is one of those shits where motherfuckin Tupac came back to life. I was like, Im going to fall back on that, man. Im not even going to put that energy out there like that. I think it was my gut telling me.

How often do you have moments like that where you record something and regret it afterward?

That was the first time ever. I wanted to get a lot of shit off my chest. I felt like, Let me say this shit right now while I know the world is going to be paying attention, theyre going to listen to this album. And when they listen to this album, man, I want to tell you how I feel over the craziest beat. I said, fuck it, man. Because Im at a different point in my life, for real, for real, and I see where Im going and I see where its heading, and I think this is my biggest album ever, I think the hype right now is real. Im working hard towards it. Im a one-man army. These other guys got 20, 30 people. This guys specializing in marketing, this guys specializing in social media, this guy specializing in merchwhen I walk in the room, its just me. I am the team.

Can you speak to how being an executive producer and a label owner isnt just about picking beats for artists, but developing artists from a more holistic standpoint?

Its a couple of artists that I work with that I have to be a little more hands-on with. But for the most part, a lot of people, I loved their music before we even started [working together]. Its not like I had to develop them in any kind of way. I just felt like Im the missing piece to what they need to take it to another level. And if I can help, I want to help. I dont look at this shit as more like Im the boss. Its more like, no, these are people I feel that with the right looks, with the right backing, they can get the proper looks and the proper respect that they deserve. We become like family. And at Griselda, I always treated everybody like family because it started with Conway, it started with Benny, which is real blood. So thats all Im about is loyalty.

And with [Griselda artists], I want to enhance people whats already dope. I go into it with production in mind. Whats the best production I could get for these people? Then I start going to the best art people and getting things commissioned and introducing Basically link the music with art. I go from there and then I start thinking about the merch, [like] Okay, what can we do? Can we do a collab with another company or am I going to design it or whatever the case may be? Its a whole formula Im introducing that certain artist arent used to.

You referenced that And Then You Pray for Me is your final album. To clarify, is it your final solo album?

[This is] going to be the last album where I take the time to say this is an album. When I was doing the Hitler Wears Hermes series, I was doing all them projects like mixtapes. I was recording the whole shit in two, three days. Im not saying I wont come with a five-song EP with Madlib or I wont do a seven-song EP with Alchemist or I wont rap. Ill do all of that, but making a studio album, Im done with all that. Its back to dumping until I dont want to dump no more. Im going to have fun now. Its no more pressure. This album was pressure to me. Im testing the waters on a few different things, but its all me. Its not like Im going out of the box with it or Im not being me. Im still me, its just kind of a different sound. But at the same time, I dont know how long I want to ride for. I got so much other things I got going on now in my life thats different. And I have new artists that I also want to break that are super dope. And I know they need my attention because [they] the ones that need the development.

What are some of the sounds and approaches that you are exploring on this album that you havent before?

On 10, I did Flygod Jr. I started the whole album off with a DJ Drama and Doe Boy joint [produced by my son]. It was trap. I wanted to test the waters because I already knew what direction I wanted to start going in. This was already thought of two years ago. Even though the whole rest of the album was a traditional Griselda sound, I wanted to throw that curveball in first, which takes a lot of guts. When your fans only know you for the raw boom-bap traditional sound and praise you for bringing that sound back, and the first thing they hear after theyve been waiting to hear this album is trap, you got to be confident in that.

How intentional are you about wanting Griselda to be known for good music across the board and not a particular sound?

Thats everything. Thats the only thing Im trying to push right now. Thats going to be my message and narrative, starting with this album in particular. This is when everything changes. I dont want people to put Griselda into a box. I cater to a certain fan and I love my fans, we got the best fans in the world, but as we grow, even in life, you want to experiment, you want to do more. Not only that, a lot of times thatll be [your interest], but you already got a good thing going. I learned just do you, man. If that [fan] respects you and got love for you, they understand what youre doing.

How and when did Virgils piece come together for the new album cover?

When we were doing the Pray for Paris artwork, we was cooking up. We had our own kind of personal relationship. When I asked him to do the cover he was like, hell yeah, bro. So he [cooked] up multiple things for me. In the beginning, I was thinking, yo, I should make it a trilogy. Because he made me four pieces that I loved.

And Im like, okay, Im going to use these four [and] use the Mona Lisa one to represent the whole series. So even when its done, I have the Mona Lisa cover, [and] all three of the albums to be in that cover. But unfortunately, V passed, so things changed. And I didnt want to do [a sequel] at first. I didnt want to feel like I was disrespecting him. We was already in the middle of talking about doing Pray for Paris 2 but once [he passed], I fell back from it. But again, once Fashion Week happened in January, It was like V is here again, it was like he came back like, nigga, you got to make this album and make it now. It was that vibe.

I dont want to make it a trilogy. I want to give everybody the art now. I dont want to be trying to do a part three and bring out more artwork. Its like its doing too much. This is Westside Gunn and Virgil, man. This is it right here. This is the finale.

There are other projects youve referenced working on that fans are anticipating, Flygod is an Awesome God 3, Michelle Records, Gunnlib. Could you speak to the status of those?

Gunnlib can be five, six records. Putting seven beats [up], bodying shit in one or two days and dropping it could be Awesome God 3. Im not sitting down no more trying to be an architect. Its just like now, if anything, Ill let shit fly, go back to my traditional ways until I dont want to do it no more. Im not saying Im going to retire. If I hear a crazy ass beat, one day Primo, will be like, nigga here, this is the craziest beat I ever made, and [its] moving my whole soul Im not about to not rap and give it to the world. But I dont think Ill make another album thats over like 10 tracks again.

What do you think you learned the most in the fashion realm during that period in Europe?

Im big on learning quality. Its been coming off on some of my own recent pieces Ive been making. Because even with my brand [Fashion Rebels], last years shirts now were picking out the fabrics, were building out the silhouettes, and measurements. Were cooking everything from scratch now. Before, I was getting Champion tees, which was inspired by Virgils Pyrex. I gave him his flowers for that. But it was like I took the easy way out. I dont want to do that no more. Thats what I learned the most. I dont want to skip steps. I want to learn, I want to build, I want to grow.

How much does feeling overlooked fuel your creativity?

[Its] everything. When I cook, Im making my point that cant nobody fuck with me. I get overlooked, I get copied so much. Because the other person is more popular, people think it comes from them first, but they dont even understand, it comes from me. Its not like Im going to hate. Im not going to put nobody on blast, Im not going to burn no bridges, Im not going to be a sucker because Im not a sucker. But it shows that I have to work harder. Thats all.

I probably got the craziest hip-hop resume of all time, bro, in the shortest amount of time. I got songs with everybody you could think of. Ive been on Donda, Utopia, Mary J. Blige, which was nominated for a Grammy. I did songs with Sean Price, rest in peace, Prodigy, rest in peace, MF DOOM, rest in peace.

Then performed that DMX tribute, [at the] BET Awards. Was nominated for a Grammy on the Free Nationals album with Anderson Paak, did songs with everybody from 50 to Marshall to A$AP [Rocky] to Slick Rick to Kool G Rap to anybody, bro. The illest lyricists of all time: Black Star, Run the Jewels, Black Thought, Elzhi. All my producers have always been [the biggest names]: Alchemist. Statik Selektah, DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz, RZA. There is nobody I havent worked with. And I did all this in five years. And like I said, I still only got 750,000 followers. I dont do no TikTok shit. Id rather be me any day because Im super blessed.

How did Lost Forever come together with Travis Scott?

Travis was like, we gotta cook. I said, shit, shit, say less. I came to Atlanta, I went to the studio. We cooked that shit together. I remember when I first made it was like I was in a zone. I was rocking Dior  thats why Im talking about Dior in the joint. And you see, they even put it in a Dior fashion show at Fashion Week. Now you see how shit work. Its like me putting your references in the record end up making that song be the fucking song for Fashion Week on a Dior show. So thats what I mean by the impact. Its the same way when I say tell Virgil write brick on my brick. The lines I come up with is so crazy that the shit be legendary.

What are the pros and cons of social media for you?

The pros is getting my art out there. Me being the curator, an artist, being able to put my art out there and show the world me. I dont do nothing that isnt me. What you see on my shit is a zillion percent me.

The cons is liketheres too many bums that got internet. Its too negative. You could do the illest shit in the world and somebody want to troll all day. Im a real person. Ive been through a lot. I dont really take disrespect too kindly. Thats why you cant reallyYou got to know thats a fake world. Its sad because even though its a fake world, you want the love from the fake world. But you dont want the hate from the fake world.

[Ill do] something that you cant even think a motherfucker like me should be able do with flying colors and its an achievement, [but then] here you go, somebody sitting there in his mother house, broke, dont got no job, hating and wanting to pop shit. And now, instead of them looking at positive feedback in the comments thats supposed to be uplifting, you got to read what this motherfucker wrote because hes bored. I come from that if you dont got nothing good to say, dont say it at all. Whats the point of you typing something negative? Im confused. If you dont like it, keep scrolling.

Do you feel like youd be on social media if you werent a public figure or involved in music?

Nope. I hate social media. If it wasnt for business, I would not be on social media. I hate it. I really do. I dont even read the comments as much as I used to. I used to read them all. Now, I let the posts fly because people are going to say what theyre going to want to say anyway. Its unfortunate because, of course you want to see the love. And like I said, occasionally, I still look. And the love is there. The love is actually getting stronger by the day. As of late, the love been way more than the hate.

I do music, but Id rather you fuck with me as a man. Id rather you be like thats a good nigga, he take care of his family. He makes sure his crew good. He gives back to the community. Talk about that.

What can fans expect from Griselda in the coming months?

More visual content. Right now Griselda is about to give you more visual content because the music is there. Were about to drop And Then You Pray For Me episode three soon. And I actually got a documentary, Tell Virgil Write Brick On My Brick. The whole first Paris Fashion Week 2020 when I was there for both shows, when I did the EP part of the album and everything, all of that was documented. Me talking to Virgil, everything. Nobody has ever seen this.

Im thinking [about] the right time to release that real soon because this is history. This footage has Pop Smoke on, it has Takeoff on it, it [also] has so many people that was in my life personally thats passed on it. Brothers of mine thats no longer here or locked up. Its deep, its real special. I dont want to hold on to none of this. This is a chapter right here. 10 years from now, theyre going to be talking about all of this.

Was there anything else about the album or anything you have going on that you want to have in the piece?

I want people to be tuned in while I still have the energy. I didnt say I was going to be in this shit forever. I want to do different things in life. Im getting a little older. I got kids, man. My four-year-old and my two-year-old, Ive been going so hard. They was born during that time [that Griselda was rising].

So I want to fall back a little more. [But] for right now, Im about to flood the fucking culture with the illest art, the illest music, [and] the illest curations that everybodys seeing. I at least got another year and a half of me steamrolling shit. Youre going to get the most Griselda music, probably ever, in the next year and a half because Im about to go crazy.

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Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). We'll use ROE to examine General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS), by way of a worked example.

ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

See our latest analysis for General Mills

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for General Mills is:

23% = US$2.5b  US$11b (Based on the trailing twelve months to August 2023).

The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. One way to conceptualize this is that for each $1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made $0.23 in profit.

Does General Mills Have A Good Return On Equity?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, General Mills has a superior ROE than the average (12%) in the Food industry.

roe

That's clearly a positive. Bear in mind, a high ROE doesn't always mean superior financial performance. Aside from changes in net income, a high ROE can also be the outcome of high debt relative to equity, which indicates risk.

Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Story continues

General Mills' Debt And Its 23% ROE

General Mills clearly uses a high amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.17. While no doubt that its ROE is impressive, we would have been even more impressed had the company achieved this with lower debt. Debt does bring extra risk, so it's only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it.

Summary

Return on equity is one way we can compare its business quality of different companies. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt.

But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

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.
Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou has been set as the recipient of this years Lifetime Achievement award at the forthcoming Tokyo Film Festival (TIFF), running October 23  November 1.

He will receive the award at the TIFF opening ceremony on October 23. After graduating from the Beijing Film Academy in 1982, he made his directorial debut with Red Sorghum (1987). Since then, he has tackled a wide range of film genres in work like The Story of Qiu Ju (1992), To Live (1994), The Road Home (1999), House of Flying Daggers (2004), The Great Wall (2016) and Cliff Walkers (2021).

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Yimous latest work, Full River Red, was released during the Chinese New Year this year and is currently the highest-ranking 2023 Chinese film in the country. The film has also been selected as part of the Gala Selection section at this years TIFF. As part of his time in Tokyo, Yimou will take part in a keynote session co-hosted by the Japan Foundation.

I am very honored to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award. Cinema can serve as a bridge connecting people from around the world and promote exchange and mutual understanding that transcends ethnicity and culture, Yimou said.

There is one thing I still remember: When Kurosawa Akira received an Academy Honorary Award in 1990, I was in the audience still as a fledgling filmmaker. His words in his speech, I have not yet grasped the essence of cinema, are still fresh in my mind. I would like to express my gratitude to the Tokyo International Film Festival for presenting me with this award. I would also like to thank everyone for their encouragement and support. Considering this as one starting point, I will continue my efforts to understand the essence of cinema and make great films.

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Michelle Gonzales-Reed's son Dajon was in high school when she said she began noticing signs of mental health struggles in her teen son, signs that included a lack of interest in friendships and activities, to staying in bed all day.

Over the next few years, as Gonzales-Reed tried to care for Dajon as his mental health declined further, she said she, too, began to suffer from mental health issues, for the first time in her life.

"Some of the stuff I dealt with was impaired concentration or difficulty sleeping, irritability and fatigue, which are all symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder," Gonzales-Reed, who lives near Fresno, California, told "Good Morning America." "I don't think I really realized that was what was happening to me because I was too focused on him."

Gonzales-Reed said that even though she works in the mental health field as a licensed marriage and family therapist, she ignored her own mental health struggles because it was too much to handle on top of working full-time, being a single mom of two and caring for Dajon's mental health.

When Dajon passed away in 2019, Gonzales-Reed said she believes his mental health struggles were a factor. Following his death, Gonzales-Reed said she began suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and prolonged grief.

She said it took her as long as one year after Dajon's death to seek mental health assistance for herself.

"I knew I had to get myself okay again," Gonzales-Reed said of finding professional help. "I had to pull it together. but it is still really hard every day. There is not a day that I don't think about my son, and that I don't miss him very much."

PHOTO: Michelle Gonzales-Reed is pictured with her son Dajon, who later died in 2019 at the age of 24. (Michelle Gonzales-Reed)

Gonzales-Reed's story is one that is not always told, but which data shows is very common.

Over the past three years, headlines have proclaimed the news of a growing youth mental health crisis in the United States. But the lesser-told flipside of that youth mental health crisis, experts say, is the parents who are also struggling with their own mental health.

'Sounding the alarm' about a parents' mental health crisis

Research released earlier this year shows that parents and teenagers are suffering from anxiety and depression at nearly the same rate.

"In our data, if you're a depressed teen, you're about five times more likely to have a depressed parent. If you're an anxious teen, you're about three times more likely to have an anxious parent," Dr. Richard Weissbourd, a psychotherapist on the faculty of Harvard's Graduate School of Education and director of the university's Making Caring Common Project, which conducted the research, told "GMA."

MORE: As new data shows kids in a mental health crisis, parents ask, where is the help?

In 2021, a report from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy warned of a growing mental health crisis among young people. The report, issued during the coronavirus pandemic, cited statistics including a 51% increase in emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts among girls and a doubling of anxiety and depression symptoms reported across genders.

PHOTO: Amid a growing youth mental health crisis, many parents say they are struggling too. (ABC News Photo Illustration)

According to data collected last year by the Making Caring Common Project, nearly 40% of teens surveyed reported being at least "somewhat worried" about the mental health of at least one of their parents, and more than one-third of teens had at least one parent who reported anxiety or depression. Additional data shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that one in 14 kids in the U.S. has a caregiver with poor mental health.

"We would just be as right to sound the alarm about a parent mental health crisis as a teen mental health crisis," Weissbourd said. "I don't think we're going to get very far with teens unless we also support the parents."

Part of the explanation behind the data showing parents struggling with their mental health alongside their kids has to do with biology, Weissbourd said. Having a close relative, like a parent, with a mental disorder puts one at a higher risk for mental health struggles, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

But equally important, Weissbourd and other experts say, are environmental factors, which for parents can be anything from the stresses of daily life, to the stress of watching their child struggle with a mental health disorder.

Jay Crosby, a father of three in Connecticut, said he struggled mentally and emotionally with the loneliness that comes with being a parent of a child with mental health issues. In his case, he said his two oldest sons, now 21 and 19, struggled early on with their mental health.

"I cannot express how lonely this journey is," Crosby told "GMA." "People don't send food deliveries and packages and flowers and there's no calls of condolences. Their understanding is judgment. It's judgment of you as a parent and it's judgment of your ability to 'control your kid,' and it just makes it very lonely. I can't say that enough."

PHOTO: Jay Crosby, of Connecticut, is pictured with his three sons in this family photo. (Jay Crosby)

Crosby said that when his kids were younger, he struggled to find time to take care of himself as he devoted his energy to helping them with their mental health struggles. When he did find time for himself, he said he turned to "escapism," which for him meant drinking alcohol.

Crosby said that for years he didn't seek help for his self-described alcoholism because it "wasn't a pressing need."

"We say you've always got to put yourself first, but you still can't. It's really hard to do that," Crosby said, comparing it to being told on an airline flight in an emergency to put the oxygen mask on yourself, the parent, first, before helping your child.

"You know you need to put the oxygen mask on first but your hands are kind of caught in the chair and the only thing you can do is assist your child," said Crosby. "Even though you know you can get [the oxygen mask]. Even though you know it's there for you, you still reach for your child's [oxygen mask] first."

Dr. Christine Crawford, a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist at Boston Medical Center, said that parents like Crosby and Gonzales-Reed are by no means alone. In her practice, she said she's seeing a rise not only in the number of kids with mental health struggles, but also in the number of parents and caregivers who are trying to help them.

"Parents almost find themselves in this position in which they feel overwhelmed and hopeless," Crawford, also associate medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), told "GMA." "They continue to see their kid struggling, and they're like, 'I'm putting in all this time and I'm not seeing the change,' and therefore they feel that it reflects poorly on them as a parent but then also on them as a person ... all these negative thoughts start to afflict them."

How parents can find help

Crawford said that given the crisis she sees amongst both kids and parents, she uses the beginning of each therapy appointment to simply ask the parent or caregiver how they are doing.

"For many parents, there often times aren't a lot of spaces and opportunities for them to reflect on themselves and what it's been like to be in this caregiver role because everyone is so focused on the well-being of the kid, which is totally appropriate," Crawford explained. "If you are routinely interacting with teachers, pediatricians, people don't spend a lot of time checking in on you."

Crawford said the effort is meant to first help the parent be able to help themselves, but also to help the parent be capable of supporting their child's mental health.

"The reality is that kids are spending the majority of their time with their caregiver, not with us as practitioners," she said. "So the work that we are doing as providers is not going to be 100% successful if we know that we're sending our kids home to an environment in which their caregivers are struggling each and every day."

Similarly, Weissbourd said that parents seeking help for and talking about their mental health can be a good model for kids, and vice versa.

"Parents often have a lot of wisdom, as they know a lot about anxiety and depression and they know a lot about how to cope with anxiety and depression," he said. "And this may be the most psychologically aware and articulate group of teenagers in our history who have a very wide vocabulary for talking about mental health challenges. And in general, teens don't feel the same stigma that their parents do, so there are many cases where teens can also be helpful to their parents."

MORE: Mom whose daughter died by suicide says parents need to talk with their kids

Crosby said he finally engaged professional help to address his mental health, but also found support by connecting with other parents. When his eldest son was 16, Crosby said he began to participate in parent support meetings through what is now known as Mental Health America, a nonprofit organization.

"It really is remarkable how many people say they're grateful for this group because they just didn't know that there were other people like us out there, because you don't talk about it," Crosby said, adding he has seen there remains a stigma especially for fathers like himself struggling with mental health. "Still, mental health isn't spoken about enough."

Crosby continues to attend parent support meetings and now serves as a facilitator. He said he has learned over the years that there will be good days and bad days on one's mental health journey, and when times are good, parents especially have to focus on themselves so they can be prepared emotionally for the darker days.

Gonzales-Reed said if she could do something differently in her journey, she would have reached out to groups like NAMI and The Jed Foundation, a a youth mental health-focused nonprofit organization, for resources on parenting a child with a severe mental illness.

PHOTO: Michelle Gonzales-Reed is pictured with her son Dajon, who later died in 2019 at the age of 24. (Michelle Gonzales-Reed)

"You have to reach out to groups that are there and use them," Gonzales-Reed said. "And if you go to groups, you're going to hear other people talk about their loved ones and what they're dealing with and it's going to help you."

Crawford encourages parents and caregivers to schedule time with each other, away from their kids, so that they can have real conversations about topics like mental health that may be difficult to broach on a playground or in a school pickup line. She also said all adults, but particularly parents and caregivers, need to make an annual appointment for themselves with their primary care provider, just as they would schedule an annual wellness visit for their child.

"[Primary care providers] are accustomed to talking about routine mental health-related issues and they can point you in the right direction to where you can receive support," Crawford said. "It is also normal to call your PCP to schedule an appointment for a mental health concern ... you can call and be seen within a week, the same way that you would for a physical concern."

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises, please call or text 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org.

Editors note: This report has been updated to clarify Gonzales-Reeds work in mental health advocacy.

Parents say they're struggling with their own mental health amid a growing youth mental health crisis originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Whether you call it a snack, "Girl Dinner," mezze, or "picky bits," charcuterie board-like meals -- the ones we've all been eating and entertaining with for ages -- have finally become embraced, verified, and legitimized thanks to TikTok and other forms of social media. This style of eating has always been popular in many cuisines across the world, adding variety to stimulate the palate alongside balance.

Charcuterie boards and charcuterie board styles of eating are a fantastic way to enjoy a wide variety of foods through a selection of meats, cheeses, crackers, and produce. Though it's often thought that fresh is best, we're here to champion the canned and tinned as viable, economical, and delicious options for your next charcuterie board. Canned ingredients are also brilliant time-savers, giving hosts the luxury of ease and a bit of extra time for selecting music, drinks, or just a bit of pre-entertaining pampering. Drawing from a number of cuisines, here are 16 canned ingredients to consider stocking up on for your next charcuterie board, snack, "Girl Dinner," or whatever you prefer to call it.

Read more: The Best Meat For Your Charcuterie Board Isn't One You'd Expect

Canned Tuna

tins of tuna - Ilia Nesolenyi/Shutterstock

Tinned fish of all kinds have been on the rise for the last few years. Chefs like Alison Roman have helped to popularize what has been a staple of European countries like Spain and Portugal: beautifully designed tins containing well-sourced seafood products. Brands like Fishwife have become fashionable to eat straight from the container or as part of a snack board. Tinned fish, including tuna, now have an unshakable presence, made even more popular thanks to TikTok and other social media platforms.

When adding this item to your charcuterie board, go for a higher-end, gourmet tinned tuna brand with a beautiful design if you plan to keep the fish in the tin. Choose one to have a fish section of the board, or skip the meat entirely and a few different cans to serve as a foundation, building your board from there with cheeses, pickles, crackers, or whatever else you fancy.

Canned Salmon

oval can of pink salmon - Orestegaspari/Getty Images

When using a can of salmon on your next charcuterie board, there are equal opportunities for high or low presentations. Versatile, healthy, and wonderfully economical, it pays to keep a tin of salmon on hand for satisfying snacks, lunches, or fish-based additions to your next charcuterie board. The next time you feel the urge to reach for a can of tuna, try salmon instead. According to WebMD, this can also help to up your omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D intake.

To make your canned salmon sing, mash it and add it to sour cream, lemon, and chives for a tasty dip. You can leave this dip chunky or throw it into the food processor or blender to create a smooth dip -- similar in taste to a lox schmear. Change out the dairy for bread and add a squeeze of lemon to create a taramasalata-like dip -- which is made from fish roe or fish eggs. Switch out the sour cream for cream cheese for an even more decadent, spreadable dip that would slot perfectly into an Ashkenazi-themed board with bagel chips, sliced red onions, and cucumbers.

Canned Mussels

canned mussels - Carlos Sanchez/Getty Images

Don't let all the other tinned fish varieties hog the spotlight. There is plenty of room and appeal for a humble tin of mussels -- smoked or unsmoked -- on your next charcuterie board. In particular, Spanish mussels -- gathered from the northwest region of Galicia -- are known for their quality. "Conservas," a Spanish and Portuguese term referring to tinned fish and seafood such as mussels, is a pillar of both cuisines but can equally be embraced on American shores.

Tinned mussels can come in various forms, from wood-smoked to chili-marinated to varieties that come prepared escabeche-style -- pickled or marinated in an acid-forward vinaigrette. There are plenty of mussel varieties, including fresh and salt water. Pick a few kinds. Then, toast and generously butter a loaf of good crusty bread, put out a seasoning salt or two, pour the wine, and tuck in -- no need to overthink it.

Canned Sardines Or Anchovies

tin of sardines - Gmvozd/Getty Images

Though we're not entirely sold on the nickname "seacuterie," the tinned fish trend -- which initially took off in the United States during the pandemic -- feels like it's here to stay. However, sardines, anchovies, and other types of small, oily tinned fishes have been celebrated in many Mediterranean cuisines and other food cultures long before this.

Whether you have a pretty-looking tin of oily fish or some smoked or marinated tinned fish products, you can simply open these tins up and place them directly on the charcuterie board. If that's not quite your style, try mashing a few sardines up and adding them to room-temperature butter for a savory cracker spread. You could also combine them with diced, crunchy vegetables for a texture-rich dip.

To take inspiration from the French, turn a tin of anchovies into a dip with garlic, olive oil, and salt, then spread it generously onto crusty bread. Or, skip the fuss and lay the anchovies whole alongside some aged cheese for a masterclass in umami flavors and rich textures. Chase with a side of vinegary-packed pickles for balance.

Canned Black Olives

can of black olives - Pioneer111/Getty Images

Charcuterie boards of all kinds are an exercise in flavor balancing. Rich foods like cheeses and cured meats are balanced with acid. Soft foods are made all the more enjoyable when followed with something crunchy. Bright, citrusy, or vinegary foods pair beautifully with those ingredients that are dark, earthy, and rich, like black olives.

Add a bowl of onyx-coloured jewels to your next charcuterie board, served with toothpicks for plucking. You could also thinly slice or dice up half of a tin to mix with something briny like pickles or gherkins. Add a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt or a smattering of red chili flakes, and you now have the perfect topping, bursting with flavor, to spoon on top of crackers with saucisson or salami.

Thanks to an outbreak of botulism, black olives  their color signifying their ripeness  are always tinned for health and safety reasons. This makes them an excellent budget-friendly choice to pick up on your next trip to the grocery store for any impromptu entertaining that might involve a cheese or charcuterie board.

Canned Artichokes

marinated artichokes on a board - Mironov Vladimir/Shutterstock

Fresh Globe artichokes are great, but for those looking for artichoke hearts without the work of having to peel through each layer and thistle, a can of artichoke hearts is calling you. Meaty, earthy, and super satisfying, we think canned artichokes might be the hero ingredient of your next charcuterie board.

You can do a million things with a tin of the stuff. Throw them onto or under a grill with some butter, then serve like you would sliced meats. Soak them in a punchy, herbaceous marinade -- such as the juices from a jar of sun-dried tomatoes -- to add balance to a charcuterie board filled with rich cheeses and meats. You can also blend canned artichokes with a hunk of cream cheese and a hint of acidity to turn them into a tasty dip for crudites. Are you looking to add a bit more crunch to your charcuterie board? Throw a tin of drained and well-seasoned artichokes into the air fryer for a crispy, almost caramelized treat guaranteed to please a crowd, especially when dunked into a creamy dipping sauce.

Canned Chickpeas

canned chickpeas - Mikhailov Studio/Shutterstock

Much like a good meal, the secret to a great charcuterie board is ensuring all satisfying textures and tastes are present and accounted for. Think sweet, savory, sour, creamy, and spicy. Then, combine those tastes with textures, including soft, chewy, and crunchy. A tin of chickpeas is so versatile it doesn't take long to come up with a great way to achieve any of these aesthetics, so you should keep a can on hand to help fill in any gaps necessary. These fiber and protein-rich legumes are also an excellent alternative for plant-based eaters.

Blend a tin with a heavy heaping of garlic, salt, lemon, and tahini to add a smooth and rich hummus to your board. Add in as many warming spices, like cumin, as you like, or serve with a jar of your favorite hot sauce and briny pickled vegetables for optimum flavor balancing. To add crunch and a satisfying snack appeal, try frying the chickpeas instead with plenty of garlic, spices, and salt.

Canned Hearts Of Palm

hearts of palm - Fcafotodigital/Getty Images

For those looking to branch out and add new ingredients to their next charcuterie board, hearts of palm might be just the thing. Soft, supple yet firm, and mild, hearts of palm are ready to eat straight from the can. Hearts of palm are wonderful when sliced in rounds or lengthwise. You can season them with salt and pepper, lemon, or a drizzle of oil and vinegar. More recently, they've also been used as a meat-like alternative, thanks to their fibrous, almost meat-like texture when shredded or diced.

Though delicious, hearts of palm are not to be consumed in mass. Their production does require the harvesting from trees, which, if done too young  a last-ditch effort that's becoming more of a regular practice to compete with high demand  prevents the tree's re-growth, meaning this food is not the most sustainable. Therefore, moderation is vital, as is applying pressure to companies that advertise hearts of palm as low-carb substitutes in their products so that these companies don't drastically damage the environment.

Canned Stuffed Grape Leaves

green stuffed grape leaves - Aleksey Khoruzhenko/Shutterstock

If it were up to us, we'd change Henry Ford's famous quote: "A Ford in every garage and a chicken in every pot" -- as reported by TheClassicCars.com Journal -- to include dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) instead of chicken. They are invaluable to pulling together a meal, snack, mezze, or charcuterie board in minutes.

Dolmas or dolmades, depending on the country of origin, are made from tender, fermented grape leaves. They are a traditional dish across many countries, including Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans. The grape leaves are folded to encase rice, vegetables, meats, and spices fillings. They are preserved with olive oil and often flavored with salt and lemon. Some versions will also contain legumes like chickpeas or pine nuts, so it's best to check the label to select the filling you prefer.

To add a can of dolmas to your next charcuterie board, consider deseeding a fresh pomegranate or drizzling with pomegranate molasses to garnish. Include a yogurt and lemon dipping sauce to make your grape leaves taste even better.

Canned Roasted Red Peppers

bread with roasted red peppers - Aleaimage/Getty Images

A jar or can of roasted red peppers is magical; it can transform just about anything it touches in seconds, including the next charcuterie board you make. Once you have a few ways of using them in your back pocket, they will undoubtedly be a regular mainstay in your cupboard.

When adding some punch and pizzaz to a meat or cheese board, thinly sliced strips of roasted red peppers add much-needed acidity to mature hard cheeses, soft cheeses, and cured meats. Whiz a jar of roasted red pepper with walnuts, pomegranate molasses, and bread crumbs. You've got yourself muhammara dip  a fantastic Syrian dish for dipping breads, crackers, or crudites. Turn the chickpeas mentioned above into creamy hummus, add your roasted red pepper dip and a bowlful of meaty black olives, and just like that, a flavorful board (that also happens to be vegan) awaits you.

Canned Beets

white bowl with sliced beets - Alex Bogatyrev/Shutterstock

No matter what you're eating, adding visually striking pops of color -- be it in salads, dips, or brightly colored vegetables -- always adds appeal. It's no wonder the going advice regarding health is to eat the rainbow! Beetroot, whether the deep purple variety, golden-hued, or pink and white candy striped, is a simple and nutritious way to add rich flavor alongside a joyous pool of color to any charcuterie board. There is no need to stain your fingers purple or make your kitchen counter look like a murder scene by peeling the raw versions. There are various ways to incorporate canned beetroot into your next snacking board.

Try making bright and bold beetroot hummus by blending a can of drained beetroot with tahini, garlic, salt, and lemon until smooth. The zingy flavor is the perfect compliment to more decadent foods like cheeses and meats. You could also treat guests to diced beetroot-topped bruschettas, the earthiness of the beetroot playing against the sweet tomatoes (if not replacing them altogether). You can also use canned beetroot to create a show-stopping beet-pickled egg, whose hot pink outside and white and yellow centers feel as unique and precious as a Faberge egg.

Canned Pickled Jalapenos

bowl with green jalapenos - Jiri Hera/Shutterstock

Heat or spice is one area of the flavor spectrum that can often be neglected in a charcuterie board. There's nothing like a little kick from smoked paprika or chili pepper to help enhance the creamy texture of a well-aged brie or make our palates appreciate other fatty foods.

Eating foods with capsaicin triggers the brain into thinking the mouth is hotter than it is. While most of us reach for a glass of water after adding too much hot sauce, this only spreads the capsaicin around. On the other hand, creamy, rich foods can help to cool it back down. One could argue garnishes like pickled jalapenos help our palates appreciate the richer foods found on charcuterie boards, as they work hand-in-hand to enhance each other's flavor profiles.

Add a can of pickled jalapenos or any heat-packed pepper to your next charcuterie board in several ways. Dice the peppers and add an equal amount of diced gherkins for a mouth-puckering, tastebud a-lighting garnish to top a thick slice of salami or aged cheddar. Alternatively, finely chop the jalapenos mix with cream cheese and shredded cheddar to create your own pimento cheese adjacent spread. You could also create a classic pimento cheese recipe, or even potato salad spread, and add the pickled jalapenos to give it extra oomph.

Canned Tomatoes

tomatoes and canned tomatoes - Etiennevoss/Getty Images

Outside the confines of tomato sauce, stew, or a good ragu, canned tomatoes are some of the most overlooked non-perishable items on the shelf, especially when creating fresh-tasting dishes. Adding a tin of tomatoes, rather than fresh, in various ways onto your next charcuterie board is no exception; they're packed full of flavor and possibility! Tinned tomatoes, rather than fresh, are an economical, yet still delicious, substitute. They're also an earth-friendly substitution, working to reduce the carbon footprint made by purchasing imported tomatoes when the locally-grown varieties are out of season.

So, the next time you're craving bruschetta outside of tomato season, try replacing a would-be fresh tomato with a whole Roma tomato. We suggest roasting the tinned tomatoes first in the oven to intensify their flavor before dicing. Looking to add balance to richer foods with a fresh and bright homemade salsa? Reach for a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, and you'll find all the flavor you're looking for there, too.

Canned Beans

white canned beans in bowl - Nataliya Arzamasova/Shutterstock

Chef Michael Symon says beans are a secret weapon to level up your entertaining without breaking a sweat -- or the bank. And if it's good enough for Michael Symon, it's good enough for us. Whether it takes the form of hummus, earthy black bean dip, or a lemony white bean spread, a can of beans, or several, are a must-have pantry ingredient for impromptu entertaining.

Canned beans were not made for just purees alone, however. They also soak up dressings and marinades incredibly well, so they are a valuable vehicle for adding acidity and balance to a rich charcuterie board. Add a few fresh vegetables and dressing alongside three varieties of canned beans to create a jalapeno-lime three-bean salad in no time. Or bulk out your favorite tin of tuna with a can of white beans, olive oil, and red wine vinegar for an Italian-inspired salad full of flavor and acidity to compliment any richer components to your next charcuterie board.

Canned Pate

pate on toast with pate - Fabian Montano/Getty Images

Are you looking to have all the work done for you while still adding a bit of style to your next charcuterie board? The answer lies beneath the lid of a can of pate. While many other ingredients on this list require a bit of finessing, this secret weapon of a charcuterie board component, the name of which is derived from the French word paste, has had all of the work done before it even hits your shopping cart. All you have to do is open, tip, or spoon it into a beautiful serving dish and serve.

Often made from pork, pate pairs well with condiments that bring some acidity and a bit of sweetness. Chutneys, red onion jams, or tinned gooseberries make for a brilliant pairing that helps to simultaneously enhance and cut through the rich flavor and texture of the spread. You can, alternatively, make your own vegetarian version of the meaty spread at home.

Canned Gooseberries

jammy cooked red gooseberries - RUM-photo/Shutterstock

Throughout half of the 20th century, gooseberries were a no-go zone, not to be found stateside due to a federal banning. At the time, many gooseberry bushes were found to carry a tree-killing disease known as "white pine blister rust," but their temporary prohibition (lifted in 1966) did leave its impact. Unlike across the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, gooseberries are harder to come by in many areas of the U.S.

That said, consider this your call to action to seek them out, particularly in the canned section of the grocery store. According to Healthline, gooseberries are bursting with vitamin C and antioxidants. They also make lovely jams and chutneys. Like quince paste, this sweet-meets-sour combination is perfect for spreading onto soft cheeses like Brie, or harder cheeses like sharp cheddar cheese, manchego, or Comte. It even pairs well with hard salami when served with crackers. The balance of salty, rich flavors cut with the acidity and sweet-tart flavors make for a satisfying mouthful.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Illinois police recovered nearly $5 million worth of high-end sneakers from a warehouse in Chicagos Austin neighborhood where a theft ring targeted freight trains nationwide.

The suspects stole footwear including Nikes, Yeezys, Supremes and Ugg boots from rail cars across the country and sold them to unsuspecting retailers.

More from Sourcing Journal

The investigation was initiated by the Lyons Police Department after a cargo theft was reported in the village about a week ago, according to a local CBS news affiliate. Police charged two individuals so far, and several others are under investigation.

Police will hold a press conference later this week to provide more details on the case, including information on the suspects and what additional charges they may face.

Sourcing Journal reached out to the Lyons Police Department for comment.

According to the report, the site was already on the radar of multiple railroad companies and the Illinois Attorney Generals Office as rail cargo thefts have surged nationwide.

The cargo bust comes two months after police arrested two men in Memphis, itself a hotbed for cargo theft, who burglarized a box car at a CSX railyard and stole $400,000 worth of Nike products. Eighteen boxes of Nike shoes and multiple other unknown boxes were found at the scene.

And in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Police Department is investigating a cargo theft ring that has been active in the area, turning to truckers for information regarding the potential thefts. Between Oct. 1, 2022 and Aug. 31, 2023, carriers at three locations were victims of cargo theft.

Beyond the big cities, cargo theft has become a larger problem in North America, with total incidents across the U.S. and Canada jumping 57 percent year over year to 582 in the second quarter of 2023, according to cargo theft security network CargoNet. These shipments were valued at a combined $44.8 million altogether. Notably, the average shipment value per theft increased nearly $100,000 to $260,703 as criminals focused increasingly on high-value shipments.

The topic even got the attention of Ryan Petersen, the outspoken returning CEO of digital freight forwarder Flexport, who said last month that rail cargo theft in New Mexico has risen since August.

Armed gangs have been stealing huge quantities of high value goods inside containers shipped by rail during stopovers in New Mexico. Flexport's criminal investigations department was able to partner with the railroad police to conduct raids and recover 96% of our client's  Ryan Petersen (@typesfast) September 15, 2023

While Petersen addressed the concerns affecting his company, CargoNet suggests that much of 2023s growing cargo theft problem stems from ongoing shipment misdirection attacks. This is when criminals use stolen motor carrier and logistics broker identities to obtain freight and reroute it away from the intended receiver.

Scott Cornell, national practice transportation lead, Travelers, identified this strategic theft as the category that encompasses identity theft, fictitious pickups and double brokering scamswhere a bad actor poses as a legitimate freight broker or carrier who then offers to arrange shipping services for a customer at a discounted rate.

Theyre using things like online load boards [which match shippers with carriers] to hide behind the internet, be that anonymous person and pretend to be somebody that theyre not in order to get booked on the load so that they can steal that load, Cornell told Sourcing Journal. A pickpocket preys on the fact that your attention is elsewhere. They want you to be focused on something else so that they can take from you without you noticing it.

According to a second-quarter report from supply chain risk management platform Overhaul, full truckload theft is the most prevalent theft method in 35 percent of cases, while pilferagestealing smaller amounts of cargo and individual items from truckswas second at 31 percent.

But deceptive pickup has had the biggest increase, aligning with CargoNets data. This represents 24 percent of cargo theft incidents, up from just 8 percent in the first quarter.

In the U.S. post-Covid world, things have changed from the cargo theft perspective, said Ron Greene, vice president of business development at Overhaul. Criminals have set up their own trucking companies with the primary intent intended to ship cargo. Its more difficult to prevent when you have a criminal actor being contracted to move freight.

Many of these actors cover their tracks by legitimately moving freight most days until they get a high-value load that could be resold, Greene said. From there, they may steal a percentage of the load, and then alter the bill of lading to reflect the amount left in the truck.

A lot of these thefts dont even get noticed for days, weeks or months down the road, because the recipient thinks they got what was delivered to them intact, because the documents reflect that, Greene said.

Cornell noted that trucking companies usually deal with issues like full truckload theft and pilferage, while transportation intermediaries like freight brokerages, freight forwarders and 3PLs more commonly have to navigate strategic theft alternatives due to the virtual nature of their business.

Travelers cargo theft investigation team leverages a three-layered approach to cargo theft prevention, Cornell said. The first step involves establishing process and procedures that are typically low cost, such as opening lines of communication and educating stakeholders about current cargo theft concerns.

Second, Cornell looks to align shippers with trucking companies and freight brokers on the type of security locks necessary to fortify their operation, such as preventative seal locks, high-security rear door locks, landing gear and air cuff locks.

The third recommendation is to use technology like covert tracking devices or remotely operated locks installed on trailers that can be operated from company headquarters.

With todays technology, if the driver has to stop in a high-theft area, you can geofence the load when its stopped, said Cornell. You can route fence the load to make sure that it doesnt go off route, or it doesnt go through vulnerable areas. So you dovetail those three layers together, I think you have much better chances of preventing cargo theft than anybody whos not using that approach.

U.S. reps call for national cargo theft task force

Regardless of the method used, the issue has gotten big enough that some lawmakers want to create a permanent national task force to address supply chain thefts.

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportations Office of Inspector General on May 22, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Rep. Mike Bost, (R-Ill.) and six other lawmakers highlighted the severity of the problem.

Of note, the victims of this type and magnitude of supply-chain fraud are not merely truckers, motor carriers, and brokers, the letter said. The harm from such crimes also falls upon shippers, financial services, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. The harmful economic ripples cause the cost of doing business to increase, as well as the price retailers and consumers pay for replacement products and other uncompensated costs.

In an Aug. 22 letter to the other lawmakers, DOT Inspector General Eric Soskin said the office would continue to collaborate with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to investigate double brokering and other fraud schemes, but has not committed to a national task force.

Task forces fighting cargo theft are active in cities such as Memphis and Miami, while the California Highway Patrol (CHP) operates its own Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) dedicated to retail and cargo theft.

In May, the ORCTF scored its biggest bust yet when investigators assigned to the states Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP) arrested 40 suspects as part of a $150 million cargo theft ring responsible for stealing more than 200 cargo loads. Major retailers were among the victims of the investigated thefts.

A change has occurred in the level of cooperation from the victim retailers, Jaime Coffee, director of communications for the California Highway Patrol, told Sourcing Journal. Over time, CHP investigators have proactively engaged with, and educated, key contacts and stakeholders within the retail industry, which has made it easier to identify and recover stolen cargo/merchandise.

Operation Overloaded led to the recovery of over $50 million of the $150 million in stolen merchandise and 20 stolen cargo trailers. Stolen products recovered during this investigation included fashion garments, textiles, electronics and food products. Over 200 CHP personnel were involved in the statewide investigation, Coffee said.

Such successes may have led Governor Gavin Newsom to triple CHPs resources in aiding local Los Angeles law enforcement to create a citywide organized retail crime task force.

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Stolen shoes from brands including Nike, Yeezy, Supreme and Ugg were reportedly found in a Chicago warehouse. Local authorities said the haul is worth close to $5 million.

According to a report last night from CBS News Chicago, millions of dollars shoes  some of which were described as limited-edition or difficult to find  were found at a West Side warehouse in the Austin neighborhood, the site of a theft ring that targeted freight trains. The report stated the stolen shoes were taken from rail cars from across the country and shipped to the warehouse, and then they were sold to retailers.

More from Footwear News

Whether it be Nike products or UGG products or Adidas or Supreme, a lot of massive amounts of property, its probably close to $5 million in merchandise, minimum, Tom Heroin, chief of the Lyons Police Department, told CBS News Chicago.

According to the report, the Lyons Police Department launched an investigation after a cargo theft was reported roughly a week prior. That led investigators to the warehouse, the report stated, where a search warrant was issued and the shoes were discovered.

The report also stated the warehouse was on the radar of multiple railroad companies and the Illinois Attorney Generals Office with rail cargo thefts increasing throughout the country.

Specifically with this warehouse, the report stated retailers would go to the warehouse to purchase goods, not knowing they were stolen, after they were advertised on social media or via word of mouth.

What they would do is theyd commit these cargo thefts, like from Memphis, Tennessee. Theyd re-label it, and they would ship it here. They would unpackage it, repackage it, and its a 100% markup, because they got it all for nothing, Heroin Heroin told CBS News Chicago.

The report stated two people were charged and several others are being investigated.

These are individuals who are working together for a common cause, which is money, Heroin told CBS News Chicago.

FN has reached out to the Lyons Police Department for comment.

Although this is the latest shoe theft news, its not the lone headline this year where millions of dollars in stolen sneakers were discovered. In June, for instance, Los Angeles police uncovered $7 million worth of Nike sneakers from a warehouse in Torrance, Calif., according to a report from CBS news affiliate KCAL Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to FN that detectives were alerted to a theft of several cargo containers Near the Port of Los Angeles. From there, officials followed the goods to the Torrance warehouse, where they executed a search warrant.

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As we come to the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, we're reminded that it should be a year-round celebration and there is no better way to honor the vibrant cultures within the community by supporting Latinx-owned brands.

Delivering everything from fine jewelry to clean beauty products and no-waste clothing, these brands embody the rich diversity within the Latinx community, which is all too often misrepresented as a monolith. Not only do these brands represent so many different countries within the community, hailing from Peru to Bolivia, they also champion inclusivity, sustainability and expert craftsmanship, demonstrating a greater care and attention to both the environment and consumer.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we've rounded up a curated collection brands to support now and throughout the year.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Created by mother-daughter duo Liliana de Francisco and Camila Montoya, d'Francisco is a sustainable fine jewelry brand that uses 3D printing and recycled metals to craft its one-of-a-kind pieces. Based in the U.S. with production in Columbia, the family-owned brand utilizes technology to reduce waste.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Mexican-American designer Jeanette Reza transformed her pastime of pillow-making while watching films into JIU JIE Decor, welcoming handmade sculptural knot pillows that immediately add a sense of whimsy and playfulness to any space.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Handmade in Peru, Muna is a luxury, no-waste clothing brand that employs a vast array of artisans to knit bespoke, high-quality clothing from local materials.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Founded by Isabella Montoya, Paz Lifestyle brings brands together from all industries, the majority of which are BIPOC and female-owned. Paz focuses on labels that are environmentally-minded, inclusive and utilize responsible business practices. The e-commerce platform ensures a circular model that elevates these emerging brands, infusing the retail landscape with care and compassion.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Designed for all shapes and sizes, Poplinen makes sustainable and inclusive fashion more accessible, carrying sizes XS -- 3X. As a member of the 1% for the Planet, Poplinen donates one percent of all sales to to Step Up, a non-profit that supports teen girls living or going to school in underserved communities, helping them gain the confidence to for college and their careers.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Founded by Grisel Paula, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic to Harlem at the age of 10, Rebdolls reclaims sexy and stylish clothing for all sizes. Disappointed with the drab selection of clothing geared towards larger bodies, Paula is breaking boundaries, offering high-quality, fashionable pieces.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Valde Beauty recognizes the power vibrant and richly colored lipstick holds for Latina women, encasing its uber-saturated hues in cases that rival works of art. Founded by Margarita Arriagada, Valde doesn't sacrifice ethics for aesthetics, delivering a rainbow of highly pigmented shades that are clean, cruelty free and vegan.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Designed in New York and handcrafted in Bolivia, Yanawara is an alpaca knitwear brand that honors founder Pamela Burgos' indigenous history. Translating to "star from afar" in Ayamara, an indigenous community in Bolivia, the majority of the label's artisans are Ayamara, amplifying their expert craftsmanship and intimate knowledge of textiles.

hispanic heritage month latinx brands rebdolls poplinen knitwear 3d printed jewelry sustainability d'francisco

Los Angeles-based brand PALOMA MARIA turns luxury wear into everyday staples through quality garments and materials. Founded by Paloma Martinez, a Christian Louboutin alum, the brand beautifully blends femininity with seductive power featuring a range of bralettes, bodysuits and elevated suit jackets.
They may look like just a dirty, tattered pair of pants, but jeans purported to be the oldest surviving Levisdated to as old as 1873sold at auction on Saturday for $100,000 to an anonymous bidder.

The pants were sold by vintage clothing collector Brit Eaton, who auctioned them at the Durango Vintage Festivus, an event he founded last year held in Aztec, New Mexico.

More from Sourcing Journal

This wasnt Eatons first big denim sale. Last year at the first iteration of his Festivus, he auctioned a pair of Levis from 1890 for $76,000. That pair made headlines due to a racist statement printed on the inside pocket, declaring the jeans the only kind made by White Labor, a reference to the xenophobic Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States.

The historic Levis jeans were dated as far back as 1873.

This years event also included a bulk sale with a 10,000-pound pile of vintage jeans that attendees paid to sift through and buy as many pairs as they wanted in a 10-minute period.

Eaton began collecting denim 25 years ago, scouring yard sales, basements and even mine shafts for old jeans.

Ive driven an average of 60,000 miles a year for 25 years, just going around knocking on doors all across the West, basically, and asking people if I can go look in their barn or their attic or whatever, Eaton told The Journal of Durango, Colorado.

Eaton bought the 1873 Levis last year from Akira Tswuchida, a Japanese collector. Though they came with a hefty price tag, the jeans looked pretty rough, with part of the lower left leg missing and a patch covering a hole on the front right leg. The jeans have a single back pocket and a buckle back, a common design for Levis jeans produced before 1900. They were originally found 20 years ago in a Nevada mine by denim collector Michael Allen Harris.

The winning bidder explained why the more than century-old Levis jeans were worth the money, according to a video shared on Instagram.

In 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis obtained a patent on the process of putting rivets in mens work pants for the first time. Strauss, a dry goods merchant, and Davis, a tailor, partnered after the latter purchased cloth from the former to make his riveted pants, which were designed to last longer for laborers.

In recent years, vintage denim has grown in popularity, particularly among Gen Z consumers looking for pieces that satisfy their desires for nostalgia, sustainability and one-of-a-kind style. In 2020 in a bid to up its circularity cred, Levis launched its own buy-back program, Levis SecondHand, which allows consumers to receive a credit for vintage denim that can be resold.

Though Eaton set the auction reserve for the jeans at $150,000, the pants went for $50,000 less than he expected, although a far cry from the $3 they cost in 1873.

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Its not even Halloween yet, but you might want to start thinking about Thanksgiving.

Planning ahead for Thanksgiving can help you make a more affordable meal and get the bird you need to feed the whole family.

So, in that spirit, heres a guide to when to order your turkey and how to save money when Thanksgiving rolls around.

Related

When is Thanksgiving 2023?

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth November each year. That means Thanksgiving is on Nov. 23.

Whens the best time to order a Thanksgiving turkey?

The best time to order your Thanksgiving turkey is two to four weeks before the holiday, according to Today. This is especially true if you are cooking for a big crowd and need plenty of turkey to go around.

Since Thanksgiving is on Nov. 23, a good time to order a Thanksgiving turkey is around the last week of October.

Whether you are looking for raw turkey or an already cooked Thanksgiving spread, ordering in advance can spare you the rush of looking for a turkey in the grocery store when there are slim pickings and not a lot of time.

How long does it take to defrost a turkey?

If you order your turkey ahead of time, you could be getting a frozen turkey or its possible you might need to freeze your turkey ahead of the big day. Unlike a package of ground beef or chicken breads, a whole turkey takes a long time to thaw.

The best way to thaw your turkey is to place it in the refrigerator and allow for one day per 4-5 pounds, according to USDA. So if your turkey weighs 20 pounds, then you can expect it to take 4 days to thaw ahead of time.

Thanksgiving turkey cooking tips

After your turkey is thawed and you want to make a perfectly moist dish, youll need to take some extra care to do so.

Brine your turkey. It takes some extra time, but budgeting for that time will give you a more flavorful dish and will help make the turkey more moist. Use an herb butter all over the bird  under and over the skin. Covering the turkey in an herb butter and cooking covered for most of the time, uncovering at the end will result in moist meat and crisp skin If you make sure to baste your turkey and not overcook it, youll better the chances of tender meat. Use a thermometer. You dont want dry turkey, so the best way to achieve that is a slower roast (i.e., high temperature to start, lower temperature for most of the cooking time) and then, to use a thermometer to test for doneness.

5 tips to make Thanksgiving more affordable

Thanksgiving can be an expensive meal, since there are plenty of sides and desserts along with a big bird.

When families are feeling their wallets being pinched, Thanksgiving is another opportunity to save some extra cash while also having a good meal.

Here are some tips to make Thanksgiving more affordable.

1. Serve lots of (mashed) potatoes.

Mashed potatoes are a fan favorite. And they just happen to be a relatively inexpensive dish, since they are composed of potatoes, some dairy and some seasonings. You have a couple options here. You could make a lot of mashed potatoes and use the leftovers for potato pancakes or fried potatoes.

You could also make a couple different potato dishes as your side dishes: roasted potatoes are an affordable side dish that has a different taste than mashed potatoes.

2. Limit side dishes.

Speaking of mashed potatoes and side dishes, limiting the number of side dishes you cook could help you save big on Thanksgiving. You dont need to give up all side dishes: you could pick your favorites. Say your family loves mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, cornbread, glazed carrots and rolls, but you also like green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, creamed corn, salad and other sides, you limit what you make to your favorites plus one or two other side dishes you typically use.

Limiting side dishes can also give you more time to make the side dishes you do make more special. You can roast garlic for mashed potatoes and you can use your old family recipe for rolls instead of buying store bought rolls. Youll save a little money and have some great sides.

3. Use frozen vegetables.

With the exception of crudites and salad, most Thanksgiving vegetables tend to be cooked in some form, so you can use frozen vegetables without it being noticed. Frozen vegetables are sometimes cheaper than fresh vegetables, so compare the prices if youre making dishes like creamed corn or green bean casserole.

4. Stick to one or two pies.

Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, chocolate cream pie are all examples of yummy desserts people enjoy eating around the holidays. While it can be tempting to want to make all the pies and cakes for desserts, pick one or two for your Thanksgiving dinner.

5. Make Thanksgiving a potluck.

Making Thanksgiving a potluck can save you time and money, and give everyone an opportunity to contribute a dish they love. If youre hosting Thanksgiving, consider taking on the task of making a turkey and some sides, and ask your guests if they can contribute a side, dessert or drink to share. By the end, your table will be full, you can channel the spirit of the holiday, everyone will be full and you can send your guests home with leftovers.
Better Cotton has suspended the license of one of its Uzbek partners until it delivers appropriate remediation for the human rights violations it stands accused of.

The worlds largest sustainable cotton initiative told Sourcing Journal on Tuesday that it made its decision following a February investigation by Uzbekistans labor inspectorate, which recommended a course of action to remediate the issues it identified.

More from Sourcing Journal

Better Cotton said that it will assess the Singapore-headquartered companys compliance before the end of the year to determine the next steps, as well as ensure that measures are in place to prevent the alleged violations from reoccurring.

Sourcing Journal reported yesterday that the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights has filed a complaint against Indorama Agro through the independent project accountability mechanism of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which provided the cotton enterprise with $70 million in financing from the bank to modernize the countrys agricultural techniques and provide enhanced opportunities to the local population.

The Uzbek Forum has accused Indorama Agro of land grabbing, union busting and other human rights violations, which the company denounced as flawed, misleading and biased.

Indorama Agro was one of six participants in the inaugural season of Better Cottons Uzbek program, which the London- and Geneva-based organization announced in January after the International Labour Organization declared the worlds sixth-largest cotton producer free of forced and child labor and the global coalition known as the Cotton Campaign ended its decade-long boycott of the fiberalbeit with caveats about the need for worker-led, ongoing monitoring.

Better Cotton told Sourcing Journal in February that it was recently made aware of the allegations and that it was in regular dialogue with campaigners and other partners in the country, along with Indorama Agro itself, as it responds to relevant complaints.

It is important to note that because there have been historic issues of systemic forced labor in Uzbekistan, our approach there includes enhanced assurance activities that are geared to the local context, a spokesperson said at the time. All farms receive additional decent work monitoring visits that focus on extensive worker and community interviews, along with management interviews and documentation reviews.

The representative said that cotton, as a fiber that is vital to the global economy, is not immune to environmental and social challenges and that Better Cotton engages in challenging contexts with diverse stakeholders on a long-term basis to promote continuous improvement in accordance with its standard.

While Better Cotton didnt respond to a request for comment about the EBRD complaint when Sourcing Journal reached out last month, it said that it suspended Indorama Agros license in April.

Indorama Agro didnt volunteer the information, either, when approached about the Uzbek Forums filing. The EBRD told Sourcing Journal that it isnt able to comment until the dispute process has concluded, which could take a year at the earliest.

Indorama Agro works closely with international lenders and institutions and diligently follows processes mandated by them in accordance to their required performance standards, a spokesperson for the company said. We are co-operating with [the] EBRD wholeheartedly on this issue.

Umida Niyazova, the Uzbek Forums founder and director, said that her nonprofit has gathered extensive evidence over the years about Indorama Agros alleged harm to local communities in the Syr Darya and Kashkadarya regions, where it received 49,000 hectares of land via government decree in 2018 with neither the farmers prior, informed consent nor their compensation.

This transfer of agricultural land turned out to be a huge loss of income for the local population, she said. Instead of creating good jobs, we saw that Indorama Agro hired field workers on short-term civil law agreements without any social guarantees.

She said that she has spoken to farmers who have complained of delayed payments and exploitative contracts with no minimum prices for their crops. Some told her that they were being forced to use expired fertilizers.

Things came to a head, she said, when workers rallied to create Uzbekistans first democratically elected union. Last December, Indorama Agro announced mass layoffs, reclassifying nearly 400 of its 2,000-plus farmers from employees to service providers who were no longer eligible for union membership. When 40 active union members submitted a complaint to the Uzbek civil court the following month, they ultimately withdrew their filing following unprecedented pressure from local police and security forces, Niyazova said.

While the labor inspectorates report wasnt made public, a translated copy that Sourcing Journal viewed listed more than 20 recommendations, including offering permanent employment contracts to workers performing permanent jobs, such as the farmworkers whose contracts had been reclassified; strictly monitoring compliance with labor protection guidelines; redrawing contracts according to the model forms approved of by the Uzbek government; and ensuring sufficient provision of special clothing, milk, preventive treatment, food, personal protection and hygiene products

The agency found that the workers hadnt received training about their labor rights. Nor were they provided with periodic medical examinations after an initial physical when they started work.

In the case of nearly 170 workers in the Akaltyn and Sardoba districts, their contracts did not state working hours, including the start and finish times, or lunch times. Wages and vacation periods of the employees were also specified in an annex of the contract, rather than within the contract itself.

Niyazova said on Tuesday that she wasnt aware of Indorama Agros suspension by Better Cotton but that she welcomed it.

Certification schemes need to offer buyers reliable assurances and they have a responsibility to ensure that their licensees are upholding basic labor standards and fair business practices with the farmers who supply them. In the case of Indorama Agro, this is clearly not the case, she said. [Better Cotton] made the right decision.

Click here to read the full article.
Nearly three months after a small Minnesota outdoor outfitter filed a lawsuit against Hollywood giant Lucasfilm over the use of one of its backpacks in the recent Indiana Jones movie, the production company has requested a judge dismiss the complaint.

In July, Duluth-based Frost River filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for Californias Northern District claiming that its bag was displayed prominently in a marketing campaign for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny produced in partnership with Filson, one of the bag makers competitors.

More from Sourcing Journal

Frost River also claimed the bag appears in several scenes in the movie, but Lucasfilm never asked permission and also removed the brands insignia from the bag. The lawsuit accused Lucasfilm of trademark infringement for violating the Lanham Act, and sought $75,000 in damages.

Lucasfilm and Filson filed a motion to dismiss the case, saying the Frost River bag was only shown in the marketing campaign ad for a fraction of a second. The document also argued that Frost River distorted the commercial to overemphasize the presence of its bag.

The Frost River Geologist Daypack.

In response, Frost River filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss, re-emphasizing its stance that Filson was passing off Frost Rivers bag as its own in the promotional video while also re-iterating the complaint that Lucasfilm never sought permission to use the bag.

Frost River claimed its Geologist Pack appears in multiple scenes in the film, including a 12-minute sequence set in Sicily. The knapsack, which retails for $250, is made from leather, waxed canvas and brass hardware.

A judge is expected to weigh in on the lawsuits during a hearing to be held on October 26.

Click here to read the full article.
Transparency Market Research

Increased urbanization and rising living standards are likely to drive growth in the glass tableware market over the forecast duration.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global glass tableware market is anticipated to develop at a 3.5% CAGR from 2023 to 2031 , reaching US$ 17.0 billion by the end of 2031. The glass tableware market is a dynamic and thriving sector within the consumer goods industry.



Glass tableware encompasses a wide range of products, including drinking glasses, plates, bowls, and serving dishes, made from high-quality glass materials. These items are popular for both everyday use and special occasions due to their aesthetic appeal, durability, and ease of maintenance.

Request Sample of the Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=763

One of the key drivers behind the growth of the glass tableware market is the increasing consumer preference for elegant and sophisticated tableware products. As dining experiences become diverse and culturally influenced, consumers are seeking aesthetically pleasing and functional glassware to enhance their meals and social gatherings.

The market is witnessing innovations in terms of design, shapes, and patterns, catering to various tastes and preferences. Eco-friendly and sustainable practices are also becoming essential, with manufacturers focusing on recyclable materials and production processes.

The growing trend of online shopping has significantly contributed to the market's expansion, providing consumers with convenient access to a wide range of glass tableware products. The glass tableware market continues to evolve, driven by consumer demand for quality, style, and sustainability.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

The global glass tableware market was valued at US$ 12.5 billion in 2022.

In 2022, the drinkware segment held a market share of 40%.

The market in North America is poised to expand at a CAGR of 4% until 2031.

The market in Asia Pacific is likely to expand at a CAGR of 4.5% until 2031.

The United States held a market share of 46% of North America in 2022.



Story continues

Global Glass Tableware Market- Key Drivers and Trends

Environmental concerns are pushing the industry toward sustainable practices. Consumers are conscious of eco-friendly products.

The rise of online shopping platforms has transformed the glass tableware market. E-commerce allows manufacturers to reach a broad audience and enables consumers to explore a wide range of products conveniently.

Evolving dining habits, influenced by global culinary trends, are impacting the glass tableware market.

The durability of glass serves as an excellent choice for environmentally aware consumers. Key companies are focused on establishing developments including the development of environment-friendly glass dinnerware.

Leading manufacturers to produce glass tableware from recyclable materials and adopt eco-conscious production methods, aligning with the global green movement.



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Regional Landscape of the Glass Tableware Market

According to the most recent glass tableware industry statistics, Asia Pacific is projected to make up the majority of the world's market from 2023 to 2031. Rapid urban development and flourishing economies are predicted to add to the region's sector's growth.

An increasing percentage of individuals are migrating to cities and implementing luxurious lifestyles with an increase in financial resources. The luxurious lifestyle is creating attractive chances for the glass tableware market to expand in the Asia Pacific.

The market in North America is anticipated to expand at a significant pace in the near future due to the increase in drinking alcohol. Glass drinkware is offered in a range of alternatives for serving various beverages, resulting in the choice of alcoholic beverage drinkers.



Competitive Landscape

The glass tableware market boasts a competitive landscape with several key players vying for market dominance. Established companies such as Anchor Hocking LLC, ARC International S.A., Bormioli Rocco SpA, Cristar, Duralex USA, Glass & Glass, glassia (Hidalglass S.A. de C.V.), Lenox Corporation, Libbey Inc., Nadir Figueiredo, Rigolleau S.A., Santos Decor, and Sisecam Group (Pasabahce) lead the industry with their diverse product portfolios and global presence.

Some key market developments in the market are as follows:

Libbey Glass LLC, is one of the leading global glass tableware producers. They disclosed the sale of its European procedures, as well as the Royal Leerdam and Crisal Glass brands, to Ander Invest Co-Invest Fund 3 Cooperatief U.A on May 18, 2022.

Duralex, a well-known French dinnerware producer, was purchased by Worldwide Cookware, a proprietor of the Pyrex brand, on January 29, 2021. This acquisition is likely to assist Global Cookware in becoming an innovator in glass tableware. The business intends to invest roughly US$ 18.6806 million by 2024 to guarantee adherence to requirements and increase manufacturing capacity.

Key Segments Covered

By Type Dinnerware Plates Bowls Trays Drinkware Non-alcoholic Beverages Water Glasses Juice Glasses Tumblers Others (All-purpose Beverage Glasses, etc.) Alcoholic Beverages Beer Glasses Martini Glasses Highball & Collins Glasses Shot Glasses Margarita Glasses Champagne Glasses Rock Glasses Wine Glasses Others (Specialty Cocktail Glasses, Lowball Glasses, etc.) Cups & Saucer Pitchers Bottles Others (Mugs, Jugs, etc.) Serveware Roasters Casseroles Bakeware Others (Food Warmer, etc.) Others (Coffee Brewers, Storage Jars, etc.)

By End-use Residential Commercial Hotels and Restaurants Bars Cafes Others (Bistro, Resorts, etc.)

By Price Low Medium High

By Distribution Channel Online E-commerce Websites Company-owned Websites Offline Hypermarkets / Supermarkets Specialty Stores Other Retail Stores Departmental Stores Discount Stores Direct Sales Promotional Sales & Corporate Gifts HoReCa Other Stores and Offices

By Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

Place an Order Copy of Glass Tableware Market Report at: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=763<ype=S

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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Need help finding the hotel within Dohas airport? Look for the 23-foot-tall teddy bear made out of bronze and hang a right at the Hermes store.

Passengers transiting through Hamad International Airport in Qatars capital can choose to leave the airport and join a free tour of some of the capitals most famous attractions, including Souq Waqif and the Golden Masjid.

But others can opt to book a room at the Oryx, a Qatar Airlines-owned hotel conveniently located near the C,D, and E gates.

As a swanky hotel in a swanky airport that regularly ranks at the top of the annual Skytrax list of the worlds best, its no stretch to say this could be one of the planets most luxurious transit hotels.

If you can locate it.

Because the oryx  a kind of antelope native to the Middle East  is the logo of Qatar Airways, the name is in use all over the airport, sometimes to confusing effect.

Case in point: The Oryx lounge is just one floor (second) below the Oryx hotel (third), which means that a staff member is employed to hang out in the hotel lobby to run interference for lost travelers.

To check in, passengers will need to show their passport and boarding pass. Doha is a quiet airport, which means that there are no oral announcements about boarding gates and passengers are expected to use screens or phone apps to figure out where to go. Theyll also have to part with upwards of about US$450 per stay  significantly more expensive than a typical nights accommodation in Doha.

Front desk staff at the hotel are efficient and helpful. As only transit passengers are staying there, reception will double and triple-check passengers itineraries and offer a wake-up call to make sure theyre awake in time to make their next flight.

Hamad International Airport operates as a 24-hours, seven-days-a-week facility and therefore all the different passenger touchpoints follow the same timeline, says Badr Mohammed Al Meer, chief operating officer for the airport.

We are constantly striving to offer the best and bespoke experiences for travelers, including our airport hotel offering. We want to provide them with an unmatched experience with a luxurious appeal, which is synonymous across the airport as a whole.

Pooling wisdom

The Oryx is the most conveniently located hotel within the airport itself, making it a logical choice for those with shorter layovers (by law, transit stays in the airport must be less than 24 hours). And there are also ways to experience the hotel without booking a room.

Travelers may access the Oryxs Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre at a cost of 175 riyals ($48) per person for up to four hours (prices correct as of May 2023).

This wellness-centric area, one floor above the rooms, has a squash court, golf simulator, spa and hydrotherapy pools and hot tubs in addition to a swimming pool.

The narrow 25-meter (82-feet) long pool looks like it is encased in a glass jewel box.

Lounge chairs line the side of the Oryx Hotel's lap pool. - Amer Sweidan

Silver geometric designs are a major motif around the airport, and that continues to the pool, whose blue water shimmers against the light coming in from the lattice shape of the metal walls and ceiling.

Although there are some dress codes around public beaches in Qatar, the hotel is privately owned  meaning that guests can wear western swimwear.

Unlike the hotel, which is open 24 hours a day, the vitality center closes from 2-6 a.m. Access to these areas is gratis for hotel guests, although you still have to pay for spa treatments.

The treatments are designed specifically for travelers, like a massage for weary feet and a facial that addresses the dryness caused by recycled airplane air.

Thanks to Dohas role as a major global transit hub, some guests find themselves returning to the Oryx on repeat visits.

One of those is Jane Jones, a Canadian travel agent who recently spent a 12-hour layover sleeping and swimming at the Oryx. It was her second time there  the first time, she had a shorter layover and opted for a pool and gym pass.

Jones, who was en route to a holiday in Thailand this January, says the hotels amenities are top notch.

One thing I particularly appreciated was the convenience, she said. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the room.

Her personal highlights were the speedy free Wi-Fi, which enabled her to get some work done before her flight and the wide variety of options  namely weight training and cardio  in the gym.

I would definitely do it again, she adds.

In the room

There are 100 rooms at the hotel, all spread out along one floor.

Considering that an average of 40 million people pass through Hamad International Airport per year, there is high demand for rooms at the Oryx.

Booking in advance is highly recommended. People whose plans have changed or are dealing with last-minute cancellations can come to the reception area and stand in a long line to try and get a room, but those who have pre-booked can skip ahead and check in with ease.

Some rooms at the Oryx look into the airport. - Amer Sweidan

The rooms themselves at the Oryx are light and airy. The walls are simple and cream-colored with the occasional burst of red or gold, while bed linens and towels are crisp, clean white. Overall, the design scheme creates a feeling of lightness.

There are four main room types  superior (with one king bed), deluxe (one king bed and one twin), family (three beds), and executive suites (one king bed, but more floor space), as well as a posh presidential suite complete with a private lounge and powder room.

Amenities make the rooms comfortable for a rest and recharge.

Each room has a kettle for coffee and tea making purposes, two complimentary bottles of water, and a large rainforest shower  just the thing for a rejuvenation between flights.

The other usual hotel amenities are there too: clothes hangers, an iron, a hair dryer, bathrobes, and slippers. In the bathroom, built-in shampoo dispensers and disposable toothbrushes mean you may not even need to take anything out of your own suitcase in order to freshen up.

In-room power points are international, and there are also USB ports.

And despite the airy, open feeling in the rooms and common spaces, theres one critical area where things feel heavy: window coverings.

For people in desperate need of shuteye, the Oryxs bedrooms can be made extremely dark despite the presence of Dohas brilliant sunshine outside. And a good nights  or afternoons  sleep may be the ultimate luxury of all.

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A lot has changed in the industry over the yearsa global pandemic, generative AI, ramped up compliance legislation, to name a few. What hasnt changed? Sourcing issues. Looking back at some of SJs previous Fall Summits, panels included headlines like Alternatives to China, Political Dysfunction in the Supply Chain and Lowering Your Landed Costs.

Also unchanged is the industrys need for in-person meetings of the minds to exchange best practices and brainstorm solutions.

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Sourcing Journals Fall Summitaka The Superbowl of Sourcingcontinues to get the smartest C-Suite and key execs in the room to address short-term holiday logistics and map out long-term strategies.

Titled All the Right Moves, this years Fall Summit, taking place November 2 at Cipriani 42nd Street, will help companies formulate their respective sourcing, logistics and retail plans, ones that are strong-yet-agile, address the entire supply chain, and dont sweep sustainability under the rug at the first sign of uncertainty. The Summit also dives into denim this year, with more denim industry experts than ever addressing this important category.

Our annual summit has evolved into a must-attend event for anyone involved in the industry, said Sourcing Journals editor in chief Peter Sadera. Its holistic nature, from dirt to shirt as we say, offers an invaluable opportunity to stay up to date and informed on all the key issues and technologies that will shape our landscape in the months and years to come.

Get tickets and:

Learn need-to-know trade policy from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Felds Josh Tietelbaum and AAFAs Stephen Lamar

Get expert sourcing insights from Li & Fungs Jason Kra, Synergies Worldwides Guido Schlossmann and Duncan Scott from New Balance

Learn how automation can unlock efficiencies and sharpen inventory management with Clothing Techs William Wilcox and K3s Kimberly Morgan

Hear AG Jeans new CEO Glenn McMahon discuss the denim industry

Acquire supply chain agility tips from Sheins Peter Pernot-Day

Prepare for the future amid an uncertain present with an executive from Soorty

Learn how to source denim more sustainably with Katie Tague from denim mill Artistic

Get the results of a Cotton Incorporated and Sourcing Journal survey when Melissa Bastos and Andrea Samber from Cotton Incorporated discuss circularity

Learn how to prove your compliance with Buxton Midyette of Supima, Marissa Brock of Sourcemap and an executive from Oritain

And many more!

Meet future partners, connect with existing

Networking is always a huge part of our Fall Summits all-day event, with breaks strategically stationed between panel blocks, so you can mingle with speakers and attendees.

Past speakers have hailed from: American Eagle Outfitters, Asos, Bonobos, Fruit of the Loom, Li & Fung, Macys, Sparc Group, Vera Bradley, Zappos, while attendees have been executives from Eileen Fisher, Foot Locker, JCPenney, Madewell, PVH, Ross Stores, Spanx, Sweaty Betty, Target, Theory, Under Armour, Untuckit, Victorias Secret, Zumiez and more.

We hope to see you there!

For more information, tickets or sponsorship inquiries, click here.

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A shake-up in the upper ranks of the government of Kenya may be a good thing for the countrys textile sector, which various officials had been promising to revive but in which there had been few perceivable improvements since President William Ruto took office a year ago.

Ruto has named Rebecca Miano , a lawyer, as Kenyas new minister of trade and investments, replacing Moses Kuria, who is now minister of public service performance and industry.

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While in his former cabinet post, Kuria had made a number of pronouncements about the textile industry which had been on the decline since its heyday in the 1980s. Both Kenya and Uganda, with which it shares a border, suffer from stalled growth in the cotton business and lagging garment production. Factories are idle yet consumer demand goes unmet. The government has appeared unfocused on textiles, despite the promise of aid and an abundance of goodwill coming from governments and NGOs.

Many promises of investment both foreign and domestic have been made over the past year, but few were realized. One of those was by the Kenyan government, claiming a renaissance in the cotton sector, which said in January and again in August that it would invest $1.6 million in new ginneries and reopening derelict garment factories.

Through Norfund, the Norwegian government announced in March that it was investing $14 million in a seven-year-old factory operated in Kenya by Hela Apparel Holdings, PLC, one of the firms largest and responsible for 20 percent of the countrys total export volume. In September, India-based Golkadas announced the purchase of Dubai-based Atraco, a producer of mens, womens and childrens private label apparel which has factories in Kenya.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in September banned the import of used clothing which he claims is stifling growth in the countrys garment industry. There are dozens of factories in the works at the Mbale Industrial Park, including some devoted to textiles and apparel.

It will take more than platitudes to get the textile sector in either country up and running to where it should be, producing jobs and incomes for their impoverished populations.

Kenya is perhaps in the worse situation of the two. It has 52 textile spinning mills, but only 15 of them are operational. According to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research (KIPPR), weak labor productivity and low technology mean the mills that are operating are only doing so at 45 percent of capacity.

To meet domestic needs, Kenya imports some 93 percent of its textiles from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and Pakistan. To curb that and perhaps pump some life into the sector locally, the government has proposed a 25 percent tariff on clothing imports, which Kuria said are luxuries Kenya cannot afford. Few think this will encourage consumers to buy locally, even at a steep 25 percent.

Some fear this will adversely affect the used clothing market, which thrives in Kenya as it did in Uganda before the ban, and which provides employment for some 3.4 million in the east African region.

Uganda, meanwhile, has a surfeit of cotton lint and exports 93 percent of it. Only about 10 percent of locally produced cotton is consumed within the country and a large chunk of that goes to the more than one million uniforms produced each year for school children.

Mali has the largest cotton yield of any African nation, producing some 760,000 tons annually. Uganda pales by comparison, with an annual production that hovers around 9,400 tons for 2022, a 36 percent increase from 2021 yet down from about 16,000 tons in the 1980s, a decade marked by political strife. That total had already declined by 5,000 tons in the decade previous, reports said.

According to Richard D. Mubiru, the chairman of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, part of the problem is the fact that production depends on 250,000 smallholder farmers which the government does little to support. As a result, he said, the industry has been left to ginners and cotton merchants who do little to improve it. In about 2001, Uganda had a plan to improve yield to about 185,000 tons by 2006, but it was never realized.

Last year, Kenyas cotton crop produced 7,000 tons, down from 13,000 tons since the 1980s. According to Dr. Rose Ngugi of KIPPR, there are only 40,000 smallholder farmers operating in Kenya, down from 200,000 in the mid-1980s when Kenyas textile industry was at its peak.

Despite its small size, which puts it on par with France as about equal to the U.S. state of Texas, Kenya has 170 large and medium apparel manufacturers that produce garments for export. About 70 percent of that goes to the U.S. where, like Uganda, they profit from duty free status offered by the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), which expires in 2025. So far, textile exports to the U.S. from Kenya under AGOA have totaled $403 million.

The textile sector in east Africa has a great deal of promise, and might just turn the corner with the right influence behind it, said Prof. Patrick Diamond of Queen Mary University, London. He noted that the global transition from low cost fast fashion to a circular production model is imperative and east Africa has the potential to take the lead.

Click here to read the full article.
What does the worlds biggest luxury group have to do with independent watchmaking?

If a surprising new collaborative timepiece from Louis Vuittonunveiled on Monday at a private villa in Montecito, Calif.is any indication, quite a bit, actually.

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The flagship brand of the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) luxury goods group has teamed with the Kosovo-born, Geneva-based watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi, whose Atelier Akrivia has been at the vanguard of independent watchmaking since its founding in 2012, to create the new LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie, a limited edition wristwatch that unites Rexhepis technical talent with Louis Vuittons aesthetic signatures.

Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie

The model comes in a 39.5 mm platinum Tambour case, whose roots go back to 2002 when Louis Vuitton first announced its ambitions in the watch category. Limited to 10 pieces, each priced at CHF 450,000 (about $497,000), the model is a double-faced chronograph with a chiming complication.

The goal was to do something a little different but still remind you its a Tambour, Rexhepi said during the LVRR-01s unveiling.

The wristwatch is powered by a new tourbillon movement developed from scratch by Atelier Akrivia, whose signature avant-garde styleevident on the tinted sapphire dial on the frontsits in sharp contrast with the more traditional look and feel associated with Rexhepis eponymous collection (as seen on the white grand feu enamel dial on the back).

Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie

What I really love about the watch is it blends the three aesthetics together, Jean Arnault, director of watches at Louis Vuitton, said at the unveiling. Three meaning: Akrivia on one side, Rexhep Rexhepi on the other side, and Louis Vuitton with the case.

And the bracelet, obviously, Arnault added, referring to the watchs calfskin strap. We had to put our savoir faire to work as well.

The collaboration is so central to the watch that Louis Vuitton did something unprecedented: The brand incorporated its signature LV logo into the Akrivia name, the first time it has combined its logo with that of another brand in any product category.

In addition to the watchs impressive technical C.V.its a precision chronometer equipped with a 5-minute tourbillon regulator, a chronograph function to measure elapsed time as well as a sonnerie mechanism to mark time passingis the unique packaging that accompanies it.

Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie

Delivered in a handpainted trunk made specifically for each example of the LVRR-01, the box features the signatures of Rexhep Rexhepi, Akrivia casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann, and Nicolas Doublel, the master enamellist at La Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuittons watch manufacture in Geneva.

Even more impressive, however, is the magnanimous visionary behind the timepiece.

At 24 years old, Arnaut, the youngest of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnaults five children, is leading the high watchmaking charge at Louis Vuitton. Nearly a year ago, shortly after being named director of the brands watch division, Arnault announced a key initiative: the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives.

Designed to shine a light on independent watchmakers, the competition just announced its first round of 20 semifinalists, who are in the running for a 150,000 prize (about $159,000) and a yearlong mentorship, similar to the LVMH Prize for fashion design.

A watchmaker works on the case of the Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe a Sonnerie

Two years in the making, the Akrivia and Louis Vuitton co-creation is the first in a series of five collaborative timepieces Louis Vuitton has planned for the next five years, said Arnault. Together with the prize, whose inaugural recipient is due to be named in 2024, the partnerships are part of a broader effort to ensure that the interest in independent watchmaking, a category Arnault discovered about six years ago, doesnt fade over the next few decades.

LV is not a brand thats going to disappear and hopefully we can use the huge brand name we have to shed a light on that part of the industry, which in my opinion, will move the needle more than the traditional part of the industry, which has very similar product and very little soul, he said.

He pointed to the Akrivia model displayed behind him. These products have soul, he said. Its always a human story behind it. Were not looking at a chart and saying, Oh my God, Im missing a product between $150,000 and $200,000 so let me do something, and many brands work that way, unfortunately.

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We all know the abysmal state of childcare in the U.S. If you can even find a suitable place for your kid, you can expect it to cost thousands of dollars per monthand thats for basic, no-frills care. Many American families actually grapple with an impossible choice: Does one parent give up years of career advancement and just stay home, because the cost of childcare is more than they can earn? And it doesnt even need to be this way, as evidenced by one American mom living in Norway.

Krysta Alexa, a mom of two, shared her now-viral video where she described childcare as an expat in Norway, and American moms are trying not to cry right now.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

So after youre done with your one-year, paid parental leave in Norway, what does childcare look like and how much does it cost? she says in her video. Kindergarten in Norway is very different than it is in the states. It starts from when youre one year old up until you go to elementary school, which starts when youre six.

Alexa explains that Kindergarten is run through the city where you live, where its also subsidized, so you pay a maximum of $275 USD per month, for only 11 months of the year, plus the cost of food, which comes out to about $30 per month, which includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day.

Sometimes they even grill by bonfire and eat outside. Its super cute, she says.

Alexa continues, Childcare in Norway is very affordable. You can also get a sibling discount where if you have multiple children, your second would get a 30% discount. Your third or subsequent children would get 100% discounts after that. Theres also discounted tuition for low-income families. If, for some reason, you dont get a spot in a kindergarten, you can also get a stipend to help you cover the cost of arranging your own form of childcare or taking off from work.

And then theres the care itself. She explains that the kids spend time learning and playing, and theres a huge emphasis on being outside and connecting with nature. The kids even nap outside so they get plenty of fresh air.

The comments are, predictably, upset.

*cries in American* one person wrote.

Another added, This country is so far behind its insane. We can only assume they were referring to the U.S.

Its enough to make anyone want to move. Hey Siri, how do you immigrate to Norway?
An American mountaineer hoping to become the first US woman to scale all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters has been killed in an avalanche, along with two Nepalese guides. Anna Gutu, 32, was killed in the slide on Saturday on the Tibetan mountain Shishapangma, with her guide Mingmar Sherpa. Another US climber, Gina Marie Rzucidlo, 45, is still missing, while her guide Tenjen Sherpa has been confirmed dead.

Tenjen recently completed the 14 peaks in just 92 days with Norwegian mountaineer Kristin Harila, outdoing Nirmal Purja 's previous record of 189 days. Gutu and Rzucidlo were in a race to complete the 14 peaks and had completed 13 summits in their mission. Gutu most recently climbed Tibet's Cho Oyu on October 2, after which she wrote on her Instagram page she hoped there would be time to complete, and tell, her tale.

"One step, one peak closer to accomplish all 14 highest mountains on earth.

I dont think I fully comprehend what has happened for the past 6 months, but I am sure there will be a lot of material to wright (sic) a book or entire sequel."

Shishapangma was to be the final summit for both climbers, but they were caught in a series of two avalanches which hit the slopes at elevations of 7,600 metres and 8,000 metres. There were a total of 52 climbers pushing for the summit when the slides hit, according to Reuters.

Shishapangma is the world's 14th tallest peak, and to date there have been 300 successful summits, with a less than 10 percent fatality rate. In comparison, Annapurna has a 30 percent fatality rate amongst those who attempt it, making it the world's deadliest mountain.

October is a popular time for climbing in the Himalayas because the conditions typically grow more stable as monsoon rain eases, however scientists have warned that global warming is raising avalanche risk in high-altitude regions like the Himalayas.

Gutu is reportedly Ukrainian born, but according to her Instagram profile she left home at 16 to travel to Moldova and moved to the US aged 21. Crews are reportedly still searching for Rzucidlo.
Even with the widespread availability of pepper flakes in grocery stores, you might still want to try your hand at making your own. Like any other homemade product, crafting your own pepper flakes allows you to control the exact flavor and texture of the end result.

Several important factors need to be considered when making homemade pepper flakes. The first is fairly obvious: How spicy do you want your flakes to be? The heat levels of chilies can vary greatly depending on the species, ranging from virtually no heat, as with bell peppers, to extreme spiciness, like the bhut jolokia, which made headlines in 2016 for causing one man enough discomfort to necessitate a trip to the hospital. This spiciness is measured using the Scoville scale, which assesses the concentration of capsaicin  the chemical responsible for the heat  in the pepper.

Beyond spiciness, it's also important to consider the flavor profile of the pepper itself. Botanically classified as fruits, some peppers are sweeter than others and may have a more vegetal taste. For example, habanero peppers are incredibly spicy but also offer a distinctively fragrant and fruity flavor, making them a popular choice in Mexican and Caribbean dishes.

Read more: 5 Rice Brands To Buy, And 5 To Avoid

Pepper Flake Textures

Variety of chile peppers - Djr-photography/Getty Images

Apart from the type of chile pepper used, the preparation method also affects the final product. While removing the seeds can be a meticulous task, leaving them in may add a mild bitterness to the flakes. The seeds can also be texturally off-putting for some people, especially when using chile varieties that are particularly seedy.

If you're drying the chiles at home, you might consider incorporating smoke into the process. For example, smoked paprika is made by gently drying peppers over oak wood  a technique you can adapt for your own use. Set up a home smoker with the wood and chile pepper varieties you'd like to experiment with to achieve a truly personalized flavor.

The last consideration is the grind size. Place the dried chiles in a specialized spice grinder or a basic coffee grinder and process them until they reach your preferred size. Larger flakes are ideal for sprinkling on top of pizza slices and pastas, whereas a finer grind is better suited for mixing with other powdered ingredients to create spice blends.

Spicy Flavor Combinations

Chile peppers and spices - Roman_studio/Shutterstock

One of the advantages of grinding your own spices at home is the guarantee of freshness, and making your own chile flakes is no exception. Freshly crushed peppers are undeniably more aromatic and flavorful than the mass-produced commercial brands found in grocery stores.

Store-bought pepper flakes often consist of a blend of different chiles, and you can adopt this approach for your own blend. Use milder varieties like California chiles as the base of your mix, and elevate the spice levels by including hotter varieties such as Pequin or Thai chile peppers like bird's eye.

You can also blend the crushed chile flakes or ground chile powder with other spices to create your own spice rubs and masalas. For instance, if you enjoy adding both heat and a savory touch to your dishes, consider mixing the processed chiles with onion and garlic powder. You can even take this concept a step further by crafting your own curry powders, grinding each ingredient according to your specific preferences.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
This took a village.

Dickinson FFA

Thats a whole lot of mum!

More than 50 floral design students at Dickinson High School in Dickinson, Texas, joined forces to create a colossal 28-foot mum for homecoming last week.

They say Go Big or Go Home Dickinson High School FFA wrote on Facebook ahead of the big game Friday. The Gator Blooms Advanced Floral Design students went BIG. And then they went BIGGER! And now we'll go to HOMEcoming!

Photos shared to social media show students and faculty bringing the herculean mum to life with tissue paper, particle board, ribbon, aluminum foil, and a whole lot of teamwork.

This took a village and we're very grateful for everyone who contributed,the post continued. 52 advanced students, additional student volunteers, 3 Floral teachers, 1 Soil Science teacher, 2 Ag Mech teachers, and even our very own Principal, her Secretary and Assistant Principals had a hand in making this!

"This is probably the biggest thing that Dickinson has done so far based off of homecoming," floral design teacher Jordan Cook told Houston Chronicle. "This is very big for my kids to do and to get recognition for; they get to walk through the halls and say that they made that."

Size-wise, Dickinsons creation puts last years 15-foot Mega Mum, created by students at Stony Point High School in Round Rock, to shame.

Homecoming Mums are a beloved high school tradition in Texas. They started out decades ago as a simple corsage made up of one or two chrysanthemumsthe classic flower of falland maybe a few ribbons to show school pride at homecoming events. These days, however, mums have little to do with the actual flower. Instead, these elaborate floral arrangements have become a rite of passage for Texas teens, and the bigger the better.

Today's mums are usually made up of some combination of oversized silk flowers, ribbons, bows, feathers, sequins, charms, stuffed animals, photographs, and glittery letters all attached to a backing and hung around the neck. Frequently, they're made in school colors and will display the wearer's interests and personality. Boys wear smaller versions called garters on elastic bands on their arms.



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Human rights activists have filed a complaint against one of Uzbekistans largest cotton producers, accusing it of land grabbing, union busting and other human rights violations.

The Uzbek Forum for Human Rights told the independent project accountability mechanism of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) last month that Indorama Agro has violated Uzbekistans labor code and other legal norms through its destructive activities, as Umida Niyazova, the nonprofits founder and director, described it.

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Indorama has been operating with complete impunitydespite the fact that a state labor inspection conducted in February found many violations, she said of the Singapore-headquartered firm, which has been the recipient of $70 million in financing from the EBRD with the goal of introducing advanced cotton farming techniques to the Central Asian nation.

Niyazova said that her organization has amassed copious evidence over the years about Indorama Agros alleged harm to local communities in the Syrdarya and Kashkadarya regions, where it received 49,000 hectares of land via government decree in 2018 with neither the farmers prior, informed consent nor their compensation.

The idea behind the move was a well-intentioned one: privatize Uzbekistans cotton sector, create so-called cotton textile clusters that co-mingle production, processing and manufacturing, and generate at least 1,500 jobs to produce cotton according to Better Cottons tenets of sustainability and decent work.

What followed, however, fell short of that promise, said Niyazova, who spoke to farmers who complained of delayed payments and exploitative contracts with no minimum prices for their crops. Some said they were being forced to use expired fertilizers.

This transfer of agricultural land turned out to be a huge loss of income for the local population, she said. Instead of creating good jobs, we saw that Indorama Agro hired field workers on short-term civil law agreements without any social guarantees.

In March 2021, the workers rallied together to form a trade union, the countrys first democratically created organization of its kind. Last December, Indorama Agro announced mass layoffs, reclassifying nearly 400 of its 2,000-plus farmers from employees to service providers and rendering them no longer eligible for union membership. The following month, 40 active union members submitted a complaint to the Uzbek civil court, only to face unprecedented pressure by local police and security forces to withdraw their filing, which they did, Niyazova said.

Nina Lesikhina, policy officer at Bankwatch, a non-governmental organization that monitors international institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, helped the Uzbek Forum file its complaint. She said that the EBRD not only failed to do its due diligence but also ignored all the red flags when they emerged. Bankwatchs own efforts to engage with the bank also proved less than successful.

Its a last resort because we tried all the other advocacy opportunities, she said.

Indorama Agro has called the allegations flawed, misleading and biased.

Indorama Agro works closely with international lenders and institutions and diligently follows processes mandated by them in accordance to their required performance standards, a spokesperson said. We are co-operating with [the] EBRD wholeheartedly on this issue.

The EBRD said that it isnt able to comment until the dispute process is concluded. Even at an expedited rate, this could take a year, Lesikhina noted.

Better Cotton, which included Indorama Agro in its burgeoning Uzbek growers program early this year, is fully aware of the companys reported issues, Niyazova said. While the organization did not respond to a request for comment, it previously said that its in regular dialogue with various stakeholders as it responds to relevant complaints.

It is important to note that because there have been historic issues of systemic forced labor in Uzbekistan, our approach there includes enhanced assurance activities that are geared to the local context, a spokesperson told Sourcing Journal in February. All farms receive additional decent work monitoring visits that focus on extensive worker and community interviews, along with management interviews and documentation reviews.

Uzbekistan, once synonymous with state-sponsored forced labor, is itself in a state of flux. It was only last February that the International Labour Organization declared that government-led reforms were working and that the nations cotton fields were broadly free of systematic child and forced labor. Shortly after, the Cotton Campaign, a coalition whose members include Anti-Slavery International, Human Rights Watch and the Responsible Sourcing Network, ended its decade-long boycott of Uzbek cotton.

But the Indorama complaint underscores the fact that serious labor rights risks still persist in the Uzbek cotton sector and that further reforms are still necessary to create an enabling environment for labor rights and responsible sourcing, said Raluca Dumitrescu, coordinator for the Cotton Campaign, which coaxed more than 330 brands and retailers, including Adidas, Gap, H&M and Zara owner Inditex to sign its Uzbek Cotton Pledge Against Forced Labor.

Development banks, donor agencies and multi-stakeholder initiatives play a critical role in working with the Uzbek government and industry to expand the space for labor rights in the cotton industry, she told Sourcing Journal. The banks must ensure that their investments in Uzbekistans cotton sector help increase compliance with international supply chain standards for labor rights.

Niyazova said that it isnt just the Uzbek Forum that has been sounding the alarm on Indorama Agro. Farmers have also been speaking to local media or grousing on social networks.

This is not something [that is] very difficult to find out, she said. But I dont know the reason why they just ignored all these problems, which, for us, are very obvious.

Click here to read the full article.
Formula 1 and private jets have had a long, cozy history. In the mid-1970s, World Drivers Champion Niki Lauda came to understand the convenience and cost efficiency of traveling by private jetwhich he did frequently. More recently, Lewis Hamilton owned a red Bombardier Challenger 605 that became a fixture at private airports near race venues. Hamilton sold the Challenger, but other leading F1 drivers, including Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso , reportedly own business jets.

Private jet firm VistaJet has had a five-year partnership with Ferrari Scuderia (opening image) to fly drivers and principals to races around the world. VistaJet Chairman Thomas Flohr raced competitively with Ferrari for many years and was an official driver in the WEC. We have experienced immense growth throughout this key market, Flohr said in a statement.

Attendance by private jets at F1 events has exploded in the U.S.to the point where many owners had to land their jets in Phoenix for last years Las Vegas Grand Prix because there were no hangar spaces in Vegas. Hundreds of jets are being also chartered for F1 events, including this months event in Austin, Texas. At the same time, a number of private-aviation firms and commercial airlines have created special F1 packages that offer insider access to the races, from meet-and-greets with the drivers to the best trackside views from luxury suites.

Here are our five favorites.

Best of Robb Report

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Cityscape Qatar 2023, the annual real estate flagship event to be held from October 24-26 at the Doha exhibition and Convention Centre, has announced the participation of a Government Pavilion, featuring the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) and the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).

The pavilion comes as part of the strategic partnership forged between Cityscape Qatar and Invest Qatar.

Cityscape Qatar 2023 will bring together more than 5,000 attendees and feature 50 plus exhibitors presenting diverse real estate projects and services. Co-located with INDEX Design Qatar and The Big 5 Construct Qatar, the event will provide comprehensive access to all three exhibitions, enriching networking and insights for professionals in real estate, design and construction, said a statement.

Through this strategic partnership, Invest Qatar will highlight the supportive environment for foreign real estate investors in Qatar, and the nation's commitment to promoting a conducive atmosphere for investments.

This partnership emphasises Invest Qatar's dedication to supporting the national real estate strategy by promoting opportunities to potential investors within local, regional, and international levels.

Additionally, Invest Qatar will participate in the popular Cityscape Talks, a series of talk panels covering Qatars thriving real estate sector. Hamad Rashid Al-Naimi, Strategy Manager at Invest Qatar, will share valuable insights into the sectors growth prospects and numerous investment benefits during the session entitled "Invest in Qatar: Real Estate  A Safe Long-Term Investment".

Captain Mubarak Awaida Al-Hajri, Head of the Government Services Centre at The Pearl, said: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) will be actively participating in Cityscape with the objective of offering, both investors and visitors, a comprehensive insight into the services and facilities provided by the General Directorate of Passports. The Ministry offers a comprehensive range of services aimed at streamlining the process of obtaining real estate residency permits for investors.

Amer Saeed Al-Ghafri, Director of the Real Estate Registration Department, Ministry of Justice, said: The Ministrys participation in the Cityscape Qatar 2023 aims to highlight the investment potential and the advanced legislative system that leverages the growing role of the real estate sector and its contribution to the countrys economic development.

The Ministry of Justices participation will offer attendees insights into the latest regulations, notably Law No 1 of 2023 on the documentation. It will also emphasise the newly introduced electronic services, with a special focus on purchase transactions. These services are integral to our ambitious automation strategy aimed at enhancing efficiency in real estate transactions.

Hamad Rashid Al Naimi, Strategy Manager, Invest Qatar, said: Our participation as a strategic partner and featured speaker aims to highlight the substantial growth prospects and lucrative investment opportunities within the sector. From offering permanent residency, free healthcare and education to facilitating investments in commercial activities, the multitude of benefits has strengthened the attractiveness of the real estate sector for investors.

Nasser Al-Taweel, Deputy CEO and Chief Legal Officer, QFC, said: Qatar's real estate market is blooming, with Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) poised to play a pivotal role in bolstering the country's investment economy. The Qatar Financial Centre is dedicated to nurturing the real estate sector by catering to the evolving requirements of its stakeholders through sound regulations and legal frameworks.

Alex Edwards, Exhibition Director, Cityscape, said: This partnership marks a significant milestone for us, as we align ourselves with the powerhouses of the region that have demonstrated unparalleled expertise and success in their respective fields. Their vision and plans perfectly align with our mission and strategy for Cityscape Qatar, especially when it comes to driving foreign direct investments in the country. TradeArabia News Service
GXO Logistics

GXO operates multiple warehouses for the online fashion destination and is a strategic partner for ASOS across Europe

LONDON, U.K., Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: GXO), the worlds largest pure-play contract logistics provider, announced today that it is celebrating its 10th year as a strategic supply chain partner for leading online fashion destination ASOS.



Were proud to have served ASOS for the past decade, providing an array of services at multiple sites in the UK and Europe, said Gavin Williams, Managing Director, U.K. & Ireland, GXO. Over the last ten years we have handled nearly 400 million customer orders and over 270 million returns at our UK sites alone. ASOS is a true partner, sharing our commitment to supply chain excellence as well as corporate social responsibility, in particular the fantastic engagement programmes we deliver together for our on-site colleagues. We look forward to continuing our shared success, leveraging our leading teams, expertise and technologies to help ASOS excel.

GXO manages inbound and outbound warehouse operations as well as returns, repairs and salvage for ASOS. The partnership began at a single facility in Barnsley, U.K., in 2013, and together the companies have since expanded their footprint in the U.K. and Europe. GXO also handles transport operations with a fleet of approximately 30 trailers. Through its expert use of technology, both large-scale and modular  including the deployment of scaled automation projects and modular technologies  GXO has helped ASOS to transform its logistics. Together, GXO and ASOS have leveraged Lean principles and GXOs best-in-class continuous improvement (CI) programme to deliver multi-million-pound savings for ASOS over the duration of the partnership.

Chris Smith, Director of Logistics, ASOS said, Throughout our 10-year partnership with GXO, they have supported our business with world-class logistics and excellent on-site relationships. We trust their operations teams to do the right thing at the right time for our business and for all the people we employ at our sites.

Story continues

As an employer of choice, GXO fosters a culture of inclusion at its facilities and its team members represent over 60 nationalities. This commitment to inclusion is evident in GXOs partnerships in which it provides meaningful employment opportunities to ex-offenders with Tempus Novo and to adults with Downs Syndrome with WorkFit. Over the years, the partnership has won numerous awards for its employee learning and development programmes, while also supporting communities where its employees live and work through volunteering and fundraising. Safety is GXOs top priority, and its Barnsley site, for example, is RoSPA gold accredited.

About GXO Logistics

GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: GXO) is the worlds largest pure-play contract logistics provider and is benefiting from the rapid growth of ecommerce, automation and outsourcing. GXO is committed to providing a diverse, world-class workplace for more than 130,000 team members across more than 970 facilities totaling approximately 200 million square feet. The company partners with the worlds leading blue-chip companies to solve complex logistics challenges with technologically advanced supply chain and ecommerce solutions, at scale and with speed. GXO corporate headquarters is in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. Visit GXO.com for more information and connect with GXO on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube .

About ASOS

ASOS is a destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings around the world, with a purpose to give its customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be. Through its app and mobile/desktop web experience, available in nine languages and in over 200 markets, ASOS customers can shop a curated edit of nearly 50,000 products, sourced from nearly 900 global and local third-party brands alongside a mix of fashion-led own-brand labels  ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT. ASOS aims to give all of its customers a truly frictionless experience, with an ever-greater number of different payment methods and hundreds of local deliveries and return options, including Next-Day Delivery and Same-Day Delivery, dispatched from state-of-the-art fulfilment centres in the UK, US and Germany.

Media contacts

Nicky Hughes

+44 (0) 7977 757314

nicky.hughes@gxo.com

Matthew Schmidt

+1 203-307-2809

matt.schmidt@gxo.com




A family came across a pile of pythons while walking the beach in Royal National Park in Australia over the weekend. Mother Karin Byrne recorded a series of videos that are either mesmerizing or terrifying, depending on how you feel about snakes. The clips she posted on Facebook show more than a dozen snakes writhing and slithering on top of one another in what biologists refer to as a large mating ball.

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Get your hands away, Byrne tells the kids during one of the videos. In another clip thats since been deleted, the young boy reaches out to pet one of the snakes, according to Yahoo News Australia . (This would have been illegal because they snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act , the news outlet points out.)

In another clip, Byrne zooms in on the cluster of snakes wriggling on the dark rocks. She and her husband correctly identify them as diamond pythons, which are nonvenomous and native to southeastern Australia. These snakes average around 6 feet in length and theyre popular as pets.

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As some of the commenters on Byrnes post have pointed out, mating balls are a normal means of reproduction for many snake species. The balls usually consist of one female and multiple malessometimes a hundred or morethat are all trying to breed the female at the same time. These mass-mating events take place in the spring when snakes are emerging from their winter dens, which is whats currently happening in Australia and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere.

Read Next: Watch: Snake Hunters Catch the Longest Python Ever Recorded in Florida

You get a bunch of males that are really keen to mate and they all sort of hone in on a female that just happens to be close by, professional snake catcher Troy Hovenden told Yahoo. Theyre not so much taking turns, its just theyre all basically trying to get a go.

Hovenden added that more of these mating balls will be observed as snakes across Australia emerge from hibernation. He also warned people from getting too close to them. Although diamond pythons are nonvenomous, they can still bite people, Hovenden explained. Like other constrictor species, diamond pythons have sharp teeth that curve backwards and help them hold onto their prey while they strangle it to death.
I never thought I would have something in common with a fictional billionaire family, but like Successions Shiv, I also hid my pregnancy at work.

As someone in my thirties, I hoped that I was at a point in my life where I didnt have to hide anything. Unfortunately, the professional world penalizes those who are pregnant and I felt like I had to. While I was very happy to be expecting, I was painfully aware of the financial implications and they played on my mind right from the beginning.

I worked as a contractor in the media industry, so I had back-to-back roles at the same broadcaster for 9 years. I constantly had work, but my employment rights were very blurred, unlike the very clear rules laid out for permanent staff. This worked fine when I was younger, but it was a major red flag when it came to making the decision to start a family.

Since my contracts were only a few months long, I had to make sure that I would be put forward for at least four projects in the nine months before having my baby. This is what forced me to make the decision to hide my pregnancyeven losing one job would cost me. Maternity pay wouldnt be anywhere near the same as my usual wage and I had to save every penny that I could before giving birth.

Another reason I was so worried was that I knew of other peers who had lost contracts and missed promotions due to pregnancy. Certain things, like lifting cameras, arent possible due to health and safety regulations and all pregnant workers have to be declared on a risk assessment form. Thankfully for me, at the end 2020 and beginning of 2021 there was much less filming due to COVID.

Historically there hasnt been much support for working parents either. The long hours and high-pressure work environment of media jobs are two things that are hard to juggle, as trying to get childcare when your shifts change so frequently is a nightmare.

In an ideal world moms wouldnt have to deal with all of this.

Luckily for me, it was fairly easy to hide my pregnancy as it was at the end of the COVID lockdowns and I rarely had to go into the office. If I did, I would wear loose clothing to disguise my bump.

When I had Zoom meetings, I made sure to only show my head and shoulders and not get up during a call. I couldnt even post on social media as I am friends with so many people from work. It wasnt until I was eight months pregnant and Id finished my last contract that I publicly posted about it.

Naturally, I told a few people who I trusted before then, but only those who wouldnt tell any of the hiring bosses or someone from HR. I even worked harder just to prove that I was capable and worth keeping in case someone did find out. In the end, nobody did and I got the contracts I needed. I was relieved to be finished so that I didnt have to skirt around the truth any more.

My son is now two, but I still feel sad that I had to be so secretive during what should have been an exciting period in my life. It is such a vulnerable time to be pregnant, with so much to plan for and worry about, but the threat of losing the livelihood Id worked for due to maternity discrimination put a dark cloud over impending motherhood for me.

Since having my child and becoming a working mother, I have had to completely freelance, so I dont have anyone to answer to as long as I deliver my work on time.

Having a child, especially when its your first, is an anxious enough time as it is without having the added worry that you could lose your job because of it. In an ideal world moms wouldnt have to deal with all of this. The workplace would be more welcoming to pregnant women and recognize them for the asset that they are but, unfortunately, were not there yet.
A solitary door is all that remains of a building in Herat after the Saturday's quake

Rescuers are digging for survivors of a powerful earthquake that flattened whole villages in Afghanistan, killing more than 1,000 people.

The 6.3-magnitude quake struck Saturday morning in Herat province, a barren landscape dotted with mud brick homes.

Villagers are still using shovels and bare hands to search for more than 500 people missing, the UN says.

Aid, delayed by blocked routes and communication lines being down, only started to trickle in on Monday.

There are fears the death toll could be much higher.

The quake hit Zindajan, a rural district some 40km (25 miles) from Herat city, where "100% of homes are estimated to have been completely destroyed," according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

A map of quake affected area

Images from the villages show entire houses, which were too fragile to withstand such a quake, reduced to rubble.

"We came home and saw there was nothing left. Everything had turned to mud," one resident Nek Mohammad told AFP news agency. "We started to dig with shovels and whatever we had to rescue women and children from the rubble."

The Taliban government and aid agencies initially struggled to estimate the death toll, or how many remained missing. It's unlikely officials had population records for such remote villages.

The area is also home to communities displaced by war and drought, making it difficult for the local administration to know exactly how many people have been living there.

Cracked walls and a gaping hole in the ceiling of a house in Herat province

"From what the colleagues in the field tell us, survivors were terrified, hungry, and desperate for help," said Philippe Kropf, the head of communications for the World Food Programme (WFP). He stressed that a "complete picture" of the situation on the ground is still being formed.

Warning that winter is only a month away, Mr Kropf told the BBC that the latest crisis comes at a time when 15 million people - a third of the population - already do not know where their next meal will come from. The WFP needs some $400m (327m) in funding to deliver food to remote locations and help millions of the most vulnerable people, including widows and the disabled, to survive winter.

Ill-equipped hospitals have also been struggling to accommodate the injured, who now number more than 1,600. Many of them were sent to the Herat Regional Hospital, where teams from the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) have been since Saturday.

"Fortunately, most of the patients arriving are non-emergency cases," says Prue Coakley, the acting country representative for MSF in Afghanistan. "However, many of them do not have homes to return to, that is why many of them are remaining in the hospital while authorities look for alternative places for them to stay."

She added that a team focused on paediatric patients had been sent to the hospital in Herat. The UN says a majority of the quake survivors who are being treated are women and children, while doctors tell the BBC women and children also account for many of the dead.

The Taliban government has said quake survivors are in urgent need of food, drinking water, medicine, clothes and tents for shelter. Several aid agencies have dispatched help, including the Afghan Red Cross Society, MSF, WFP and Unicef. But the agencies say the cash-strapped country needs more aid.

Afghanistan has been reeling from an economic crisis since the Taliban takeover in 2021, when aid given directly to the government was stopped.

Few countries have pledged money since Saturday's quake. China's Red Cross Society has offered $200,000 (164,220) in emergency cash aid, Chinese media reported.

Neighbouring Pakistan has said it is in contact with Afghan officials and will "extend all possible support to the recovery effort".

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes - especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range as it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

In June last year, the province of Paktika was hit by a 5.9 magnitude quake which killed more than 1,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
WASHINGTON  In the hours after Hamas surprise attack on Israel, President Joe Biden offered full-throated support for Israels pledge to wipe out its enemy. In what looks to be a prolonged war, though, Biden, a Democrat, is sure to face competing pressures that will make it harder to keep his commitment.

Biden has given no hint that hell second-guess the Israeli governments plans to defend the country. He quickly ordered an aircraft carrier group closer to Israel and moved to supply Israel with needed munitions. Eleven Americans were killed in the attacks  one more reason the two old allies stand shoulder-to-shoulder, Biden said in a statement Monday.

We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, he said, invoking the attacks on U.S. soil on Sept. 11, 2001.

Inside Bidens party, progressives have already signaled that if the civilian Palestinian death toll rises, theyll insist that he press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back the lethality of the counterattack.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said in a statement Monday, I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. She then called on Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza and dismantle what she called Israels apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.

While Tlaib was the first to issue such a pronouncement, others are likely to follow suit. She is part of a vocal wing of the Democratic Party that has become increasingly critical of Israel and U.S. aid to it. She and several other progressive lawmakers boycotted a speech to Congress in July by Israels president, Isaac Herzog.

Centrist voices within the Democratic Party are sending a message more aligned with Bidens. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York pledged to do all I can to deliver everything Israel requires in this time of urgent need.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., wrote on social media: Radical Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists have brutally murdered and kidnapped Israeli children, women, men, and grandparents, including Americans. We must continue our work to provide Israel with the resources she needs to defend herself from terror.

Across the aisle, Republicans accuse Biden of not doing enough to bolster Israels security  even if they are mired in an intraparty fight that has paralyzed the House and left members unable to quickly provide aid. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who was recently ousted as House speaker, suggested at a news conference Monday morning that the Biden administration has coddled Iran, which has historically funded Hamas.

Republicans joined calls for Israel to devastate the part of Gaza where the attacks originated. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, wrote Monday on social media: They are blood-thirsty murderers who chant death to Israel, death to America. Finish them.

Whether Bidens unflinching resolve lasts may hinge on the wars civilian toll. Reeling from the worst attack on its soil in a half-century, Israel has ordered a siege of Gaza and cut off electricity and food to a coastal enclave that is home to 2 million people.

I think the gloves are off, Michael Herzog, Israels ambassador to the U.S., said Monday on MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell Reports. We will wage war until we destroy the war machine. And they should be clear about it.

Images of civilian bombing victims in Gaza may trigger demands from the left wing of the Democratic Party that Biden use his influence in Jerusalem to moderate the attacks. That sort of backlash has happened before. As Israel bombed Gaza in 2014 in response to Hamas rocket attacks, President Barack Obama called on both sides of the conflict to act with reasonableness and restraint.

The earlier skirmish is nothing like the attack Israel suffered over the weekend. With more than 900 dead in Israel and others taken hostage, an Israeli military spokesman said the stunning, coordinated assault from Hamas was our 9/11.

As with 9/11, many countries are rallying to Israels side and urging it to wipe out the perpetrators. The Star of David was projected onto No. 10 Downing St. in London, home of the U.K. prime minister. At home, the White House was lit up at dusk Monday in blue and white  the colors of the Israeli flag.

The president has been particularly clear that Israel has every right to defend itself from what is the worst terrorist attack, probably, in the history of the state of Israel, Tom Nides, the Biden administrations former ambassador to Israel, said in an interview. It would be the equivalent of 40,000 or 50,000 Americans dying.

Hamas is a terrorist organization that has one objective, which is to destroy the state of Israel, he continued. And given that they have taken more than 100 hostages, including some Americans, Israel has every right to do what they need to do to get those bodies back.

Even the most disciplined of armies would be hard-pressed to avoid civilian casualties, given the battlefield. The Gaza Strip is densely populated, and Israeli forces are expected to open a ground offensive in which more residential buildings could become targets.

I know how Israel approaches these issues, David Friedman, who was the U.S. ambassador to Israel in the Trump administration, said in an interview. They have every incentive not to kill civilians. They dont want to kill civilians. But Hamas is without any morals, and theyll deploy and hide within civilian populations.

One thing is certain: The flare-up in the Middle East is another in a series of foreign policy crises that have been piling up on Bidens watch, testing his foreign policy bona fides ahead of the 2024 election. In Europe, Ukraine is locked in a prolonged war with Russia; in Asia, Chinas aggressive military moves have stoked fears that it might invade Taiwan.

Trying to capitalize on the moment, former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, argues that the Hamas attack wouldnt have happened on his watch. He has made the same argument about Russias invasion of Ukraine. Neither contention can be proved or disproved. But Trumps critics worry that the claim will make an impression on voters, nonetheless.

This is an evidence-free claim, said John Bolton, the national security adviser in the Trump administration and one of Trumps most vocal critics. But Im worried for myself  and Bidens people have got to be very worried  that a lot of voters will look at it that way.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington on Saturday following the eruption of violence in the Middle East. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI

Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Leaders of the West's major superpowers united in condemning the attacks by Hamas militants that killed hundreds of Israelis over the weekend and ignited a new Middle East war that entered its third day Monday.

President Joe Biden issued a statement from the White House, saying he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the onslaught erupted Saturday morning and offered his immediate support.

"The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza," Biden said. "I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel."

Biden joined a chorus of voices in the international community who took to social media in recent days to call for immediate diplomatic talks to defuse the crisis. But they also agree that Israel had every right to defend itself after being blindsided in the attack, with its military launching retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip that have killed hundreds of Palestinians while wounding thousands more.

"Israel has a right to defend itself and its people," Biden wrote. "The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation."

World leaders said they had been in contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the war between Israel and Hamas. File Photo by Chaim Goldberg/UPI

Monday afternoon, ABC News said that Biden will address the attacks from the White House at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, citing a White House official.

Later Monday, joining Biden in issuing a joint statement in support of Israel were the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

The unified message was made, they said, to "express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism."

"All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike," the statement read. "But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed."

Earlier, world leaders had issued their own individual comments, too.

French President Emmanuel Macron was among the leaders who blasted the attacks on Twitter, saying he called Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog after the first rockets were fired Saturday.

"France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves," he said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also weighed in, saying "the scenes we have seen in Israel over the last 36 hours are truly horrifying."

In the same post, Sunak said he also spoke with Netanyahu "to assure him of the U.K.'s steadfast support as Israel defends itself against these attacks," he said, adding that "terrorism will not prevail."

Previously, British foreign minister James Cleverly said Britain backed "Israel's right to defend itself," while Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for restraint on both sides.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country condemned the "terrorist attacks against Israel."

"These acts of violence are completely unacceptable," he wrote. "We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a short video in which he condemned the violence and compared the attacks on Israel by Hamas to the attacks on Ukraine by Russia.

"In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity," he said, while suggesting that rogue nations were involved in the planning of such a massive and coordinated surprise attack on Israel.

"Our position is crystal clear," he said. "Anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decried the ongoing violence in the region while blaming "Hamas and other Palestinian militants" for sparking the crisis.

In another social media post, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the conflict as "terrifying," saying "Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands by Israel."

Previously, the Council of the European Union issued a statement saying it stands with Israel while denouncing "in the strongest possible terms the indiscriminate attacks across Israel by Hamas and deeply deplores the loss of lives."

Other voices continued to decry the massive loss of life among civilians as 1,100 have been killed on both sides -- including several Americans -- as the death toll was expected to rise.

The attacks occurred as Israel was seeking to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia after establishing diplomacy with the United Arab Emirates two years ago, which sparked anger throughout the Arab world.

On the morning of the attack, Qatar's foreign ministry issued a statement saying it holds Israel "solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people."

Back in Washington, Biden expressed his "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israel's security, while adding he and Netanyahu would remain in close contact throughout the conflict.

On Sunday, Biden ordered Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to deploy several warships to the Eastern Mediterranean to beef up the U.S. military presence around Israel in an effort to deter further bloodshed.

Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the dead and wounded and their families.

Meanwhile, Egyptian officials said previously they were consulting with regional partners, including Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, in a continuing effort to de-escalate the crisis.

However, there was little sign the violence would subside anytime soon.

The latest eruption in the Middle East comes after decades of enduring hostilities between Israel and Palestine, which is recognized as a sovereign nation by most countries worldwide and has observer status in the United Nations.

Tensions in the region have surged in recent months as the Israeli military launched thousands of anti-terror raids in the Palestinian territory, which led to numerous deadly reprisals against Jewish soldiers and settlers on Palestinian lands.

During the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month, Biden put pressure on Netanyahu to embrace a long-sought two-state peace plan, which envisions the creation of two separate and independent states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians, living side by side in peace and security.

But hardliners in the ruling Israeli government are deeply opposed to any concessions or perceived steps toward Palestinian statehood.

Israel and Palestine established distinct borders in 1968, just 20 years after the war that established Israel's independence.

However, a comprehensive peace agreement remains elusive, leaving conflicts to continue in the region with no end in sight.
Burkina Faso's junta says it thwarted military coup attempt

Burkina Faso's military government announced Wednesday that Burkinabe intelligence and security services foiled a coup attempt.

Burkina Faso's transitional government announced in a statement, read out on state television late Wednesday by junta spokesman Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, that a "proven coup attempt" was foiled on Tuesday.

"The transitional government informs public opinion that a proven coup attempt was foiled on September 26, 2023 by the Burkinabe intelligence and security services," Ouedraogo said. "At present, officers and other alleged actors involved in this attempt at destabilization have been arrested and others actively sought."

The announcement comes just a year shy of the West African nation's transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traore  the world's youngest serving president - seizing power last September in a military coup himself.

PHOTO: Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore, front, is escorted by soldiers, Oct. 2, 2022, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. (Vincent Bado/Reuters)

MORE: Biden impeachment inquiry live updates: Legal experts testify evidence doesn't meet threshold

Ouedraogo announced that the alleged perpetrators "harboured the dark intention of attacking the institutions of the Republic and precipitating our country in chaos."

Four plotters have been detained for questioning following the failed coup plot, and others are being "actively sought."

Burkina Faso's transitional government did not elaborate on any further details and said they are awaiting to receive "more details" on the plot from the military prosecutor.

The announcement comes following rumors of an impending mutiny over brewing discontentment within the military. On Tuesday, the rumors coup d'etat led to hundreds taking to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, in a show of support for Traore's government.

On Monday, French-language news publication Jeune Afrique was suspended by Burkina Faso's junta following the publication of an article titled 'Tensions persist in Burkina Faso army' detailing alleged discontent brewing in Burkina Faso's barracks.

The junta accused the publication of attempts to "spread chaos" by disseminating "untruthful" information.

PHOTO: Burkina Faso coup leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore participates in a ceremony in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on Oct. 15, 2022. (Kilaye Bationo/AP)

MORE: American soldier Travis King back in US months after crossing into North Korea

In a statement, Jeune Afrique said the suspension was a "new attack on press freedom", that deprives Burkinabe readers of their right to "pluralistic, verified and balanced information."

Traore thanked the Burkinabe people in a Facebook post, saying he is committed to the 'liberation' of the West African nation: "I am reassured of my determination to lead the Transition successfully despite adversity and the various manoeuvres to stop our inexorable march towards assumed sovereignty."

In February, Burkina Faso cut military ties with France following a one-month deadline for France to withdraw its troops.

Burkina Faso has suffered a series of military coups as the West African nation battles political instability throughout its history, a worsening humanitarian crisis and the growing threat posed by militant Islamist groups in West Africa's Sahel region.

Since 2020, there have been six coup d'etat's in West Africa.

Humanitarian sources reported that nearly one-quarter of the country's population needed humanitarian aid, of which 1.7 million persons were IDP's with many of those in isolated or difficult-to-reach locations, given continued insecurity," said the State Department.

"The state of emergency, which stems from 2018, remained in effect in 14 provinces within seven of the country's 13 administrative regions in response to growing insecurity from extremist attacks."

Earlier this month, the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signed a mutual defense pact  The Alliance of Sahel States  in a bid to assist each other, including militarily, in the event of external aggression or armed rebellion.

Following the announcement, the situation remains calm in Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso's junta says it thwarted military coup attempt originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
It's been two years since Google first debuted Project Green Light, a novel means of addressing the street-level pollution caused by vehicles idling at stop lights. At its Sustainability 23 event on Tuesday, the company discussed some of the early findings from that program and announced another wave of expansions for it.

Green Light uses machine learning systems to comb through Maps data to calculate the amount of traffic congestion present at a given light, as well as the average wait times of vehicles stopped there. That information is then used to train AI models that can autonomously optimize the traffic timing at that intersection, reducing idle times as well as the amount of braking and accelerating vehicles have to do there. It's all part of Google's goal to help its partners collectively reduce their carbon emissions by a gigaton by 2030.

a stylized world map denoting the dozen cities that green light is operating in. (Google)

When the program was first announced in 2021, it had only been pilot tested in four intersections in Israel in partnership with the Israel National Roads Company but Google had reportedly observed a "10 to 20 percent reduction in fuel and intersection delay time" during those tests. The pilot program has grown since then, spreading to a dozen partner cities around the world, including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Manchester, England and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Today we're happy to share that we plan to scale to more cities in 2024, Yael Maguire, Google VP of Geo Sustainability, told reporters during a pre-brief event last week. Early numbers indicate a potential for us to see a 30 percent reduction in stops. We believe green light is unique because it is more scalable and cost effective for cities than alternative options. Ideally, cities would deploy the models across grids of neighborhood blocks to create waves of propagating green lights.

a chunk of city with traffic congestion lines overhead (Google)

Our AI recommendations work with existing infrastructure and traffic systems, Maguire continued. City engineers are able to monitor the impact and see results within weeks. Maguire also noted that the Manchester test reportedly saw improvements to emission levels and air quality rise by as much as 18 percent. The company also touted the efficacy of its Maps routing in reducing emissions, with Maguire pointing out at it had "helped prevent more than 2.4 million metric tons of carbon emissions  the equivalent of taking about 500,000 fuel-based cars off the road for an entire year."
BARNSTABLE  A 19-year-old Medfield man pleaded not guilty to all charges regarding a Dennis boat crash that left a 17-year-old girl dead in July.

David K. Sullivan allegedly drove the boat that crashed in Sesuit Harbor on July 21, killing Sadie Mauro, a lacrosse player and rising senior at Dover-Sherborn High School in Dover.

Sullivan was arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court on Tuesday morning on charges of death of a person caused by operating vessel/boat under the influence of intoxicating liquor; possession of false RMV documents; minor in possession of alcohol; two counts of operation of a vessel while under the influence causing serious bodily injury; and reckless or negligent operation of a vessel causing death.

David Sullivan, right, walks out of Barnstable Superior Court with his attorney David Meier, second from left, and others who attended his arraignment Tuesday morning. Sullivan was indicted in connection with the Sesuit Harbor boat crash that killed 17-year-old Sadie Mauro July 21, 2023.

David Meier, a partner with the Boston law firm Todd & Weld, declined comment as he and Sullivan exited the courthouse. But in a previous statement to the Times, he called the crash an accident.

"What occurred that night was an unimaginable tragedy. But what occurred was an accident -- in every sense of the word. These criminal charges only compound that tragedy for everyone involved," said Meier.

Assistant District Attorney Colleen Duarte also declined comment.

Sullivan was ordered released on $5,000 bail with the condition that he surrender his passport. His next court date is Dec. 14.

A police report was not available at Barnstable Superior Court.

In the July 21 crash, a boat struck a jetty around 9 p.m. Two other people on the boat were also injured, according to the district attorney's office.

The boat bore an Alabama registration and had six people on board at the time of the crash, according to a state police statement at the time. The staff at the Northside Marina, a marina at Sesuit Harbor, confirmed on July 24 that the boat, a Regulator 26, had been docked there.

Mauros body was recovered from the harbor around 11:30 p.m. by Dennis fire and regional dive team personnel, state police said at the time.

What happened the night of the Dennis boat crash?

Mauro was "Mr. Sullivan's girlfriend  and best friend," according to a memo on bail conditions filed by Meier. According to Sullivan's account outlined in the memo, Sullivan was thrown from the boat after the crash.

"In the darkness, he managed to swim back to the still-running boat, maneuver his way on board, and shut off the engines," reads the memo. "Within seconds, he dove back into the water in search of his girlfriend and the other individuals who had been on the boat."

Sullivan found a male, who he pulled through the water and lifted onto the boat, according to the memo. He then called the Coast Guard "9-1-1" channel, identified the boat's location, and described its condition. As the Dennis Fire Rescue boat and other emergency personnel arrived, Sullivan repeatedly yelled "into the darkness of the harbor the names of his girlfriend and the other young men who had been on the boat."

The memo says Sullivan remained on the dock area for about an hour after the incident to interact with various rescue personnel and responding police officers. He gave police and rescue personnel the names of each person on the boat.

With his attorney David Meier, David Sullivan of Medfield, right, stands during his arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court's second session Tuesday morning. Sullivan was indicted in connection with the Sesuit Harbor boat crash that killed 17-year-old Sadie Mauro on July 21, 2023.

Within an hour of the incident, Sullivan interacted a second time with police investigators who came to his family home in Dennis to meet with him. After midnight, Sullivan saw police investigators a third time at the Dennis police station.

The memo asserts that Sullivan was never asked to perform field sobriety tests, submit to a portable breathalyzer test or take a blood test "whether on the harbor dock, outside of his family home, or at the Dennis Police Station."

The judge also allowed a motion by Meier to preserve evidence regarding the crash, including all notes, body-worn camera audio and video recordings, and typed or written communications made by any law enforcement member involved in the investigation or prosecution.

Sullivan graduated from high school in June, according to court documents. Six weeks ago, he moved into his college dormitory to begin his freshman year in college.

Barnstable Superior Court Judge Thomas Perrino speaks during Tuesday's arraignment.

Criminal investigation

In August, Galibois announced authorities had launched a criminal investigation into the crash, in which a boat struck a jetty around 9 p.m. leading to the death of Mauro and injuring a teenage boy. His office was joined in the investigation by Dennis police, state police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and regional and state police dive teams.

Mauro, of Sherborn, was committed to Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to play college lacrosse. When Principal John Smith announced her death in an email to the school community, he remembered her as having "a heart of gold and the sweetest spirit."

"She had such a strong sense of self and had a love for adventure and anything outdoors. A hardworking student and great athlete, Sadie was genuine and effortlessly kind," said Smith.

Sullivan was indicted by a Barnstable County grand jury for his alleged role in the crash in late September, according to a written statement released by Galibois earlier this month.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Dennis boat crash: Court memo tells story of night Sadie Mauro died
(Bloomberg) -- About 1,200 Israelis were killed so far in the Hamas attack on the country and US President Joe Biden vowed to provide Israel full support that includes shipments of munitions and intelligence assistance.

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Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Washingtons aid and sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region to hear directly on what more Israel needs. Some 14 Americans were killed and others are being held hostage, Biden said, calling the attack an act of sheer evil.

For more on the Israel-Hamas war, click here.

The combined death toll from the war was over 2,000 and Israels military said its building a base for thousands of soldiers in preparation for the next phase of its retaliation. Hamas, which the US and Europe have declared a terrorist group, said it was prepared to kill hostages if Israel attacks.

All time stamps are Israeli time.

Israeli Death Toll Rises (5:58 a.m.)

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Lieutenant Jonathan Conricus said the overwhelming majority of the 1,200 Israeli fatalities were civilians. The count has risen as more bodies are found and not from new fighting, he said on the X social media platform.

Sadly, something tells me that these numbers are not the final numbers, he said in a video posted online. There were more than 2,700 wounded so far, he added.

Israels military deployed 300,000 reservists in different brigades and divisions close to the Gaza Strip, he said. They are getting ready to execute the mission that has been given by the Israeli government to make sure that Hamas at the end of this war wont have any military capabilities by which they can threaten or kill Israeli civilians.

Story continues

Israel Conducts New Counterstrike (5:11 a.m.)

Israeli jet fighters struck over 200 targets in the Al-Furqan neighborhood, Israel Defense Forces said in a social media post, calling the area a hotspot from which Hamas devises and executes their attacks.

It was the third counterstrike in the area during the last 24 hours, in which 450 targets were struck, the post said.

Biden, Netanyahu Discussed US Support (4:30 a.m.)

Biden spoke with Netanyahu on a call, according to a readout from the White House, and said support that arrived or would soon be on its way includes ammunition, Iron Dome interceptors and the worlds largest aircraft carrier. The two leaders agreed to speak again in the next few days.

Read more: Biden Says US Rushing Military Aid to Israel Following Attack

Blinken Heads to Israel and Jordan (3:17 a.m.)

Blinken will travel to Israel and Jordan from Wednesday to Friday, the State Department said in a statement.

Blinken wants to hear from Israel about what it needs and how to support the country, department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news briefing. The first tranche of security assistance is on its way and will arrive in the coming days, and more will follow, he said.

Iran likely knew Hamas was planning the attacks, but the US has no confirmation Tehran was involved in the preparations, Miller said.

Read more: Whats Hamas, the Militant Group That Attacked Israel: QuickTake

US Wants Qatar to Help With Hamas Hostage Talks (12:43 a.m.)

The US will encourage Qatar to help facilitate conversations with Hamas about the return of American hostages seized during the weekend incursion into Israel, the White House said.

Qatar has access to Hamas that we certainly dont have and the Israelis dont have, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an interview on Bloomberg Televisions Balance of Power. At least 20 Americans remain unaccounted for, but the US has not yet determined how many are being held captive. Determining their location and condition of the Americans will likely prove difficult in the immediate future, Kirby said, because the US expects militants to move them around to avoid detection.

Israel Responds to Fire From Syria With Artillery (11:30 p.m.)

Israels military said it was responding with artillery and mortar shells in response to weapons fire from Syria. Part of the launches crossed into Israeli territory and presumably fell in open areas, the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X, the former Twitter.

Israel army radio said there were no reports of anyone wounded.

US Believes At Least 20 Americans Missing After Attack (10:02 p.m.)

The US believes at least 20 American citizens are missing after the Hamas attack over the weekend but still doesnt know the number of US hostages being held, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

US Says No Confirmation Iran Planned Hamas Attack (10:00 p.m.)

The US has no confirmation that Iran planned or directed the Hamas attack on Saturday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

While Iran plays this broad role  a sustained deep and dark role  in providing all of this support and capabilities to Hamas, Sullivan told reporters. In terms of this particular gruesome attack on Oct. 7, we dont currently have that information, we will continue to look for it.

We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold any more than the Israelis, he said.

We Stand With Israel, Biden Says, Promising Full Support (9:30 p.m.)

Biden said his administration will push for congressional approval of a new aid package soon.

In this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel, he said in a White House address. This was an act of sheer evil, he said of the weekend attack by Hamas.

Israel has the right to respond, indeed has the duty to respond, Biden said, adding that hed told Netanyahu that if the US had been attacked in a similar way, our response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming.

Israel-Hamas Conflict Adds to Dangers for Ukraines War Effort (8:51 p.m.)

Russia is set to benefit from the Gaza conflict, as Israels requests for US military aid risk diverting weapons and focus from Ukraine while the rising price of oil bolsters Moscows economy.

Theres a clear understanding in the Kremlin that the war between Israel and Hamas will work to Russias favor, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. The conflict may, at the very least, work to distract US and European attention from the war in Ukraine, the people said, even while Russia has concerns about its escalation.

Publicly, US and European leaders have rebuffed concerns about their ability to continue supporting Ukraine militarily.

Bipartisan US House Bill Seeks $2 billion for Israels Iron Dome System (8:32 p.m.)

US House lawmakers introduced bipartisan bill to appropriate $2 billion for Israels Iron Dome air-defense system, a measure thats likely to draw wide support.

The initiative will make sure that Israel has the resources it needs to defeat Hamas, rescue hostages, and protect innocent civilians, Democratic Representative Brad Schneider said. The House could take up the measure even before a new speaker is selected if lawmakers authorize the current interim one, Patrick McHenry, to move legislation.

Most EU States Want to Keep Up Aid to Palestinian Authority, Borrell Says (8:15 p.m.)

An overwhelming majority of EU member states are against cutting any funding or cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, the blocs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after an emergency gathering of foreign ministers to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The comments come after initial confusion about the blocs aid plans following a social media post by a senior European Commission official saying funding to Palestine would be cut. The commission later walked back the remarks, saying it was launching a review to ensure no EU support is used to fund Hamas.

Israeli Military Distributes Weapons to Volunteer Defense Teams in Towns (8:10 pm)

The Israel Defense Forces is distributing thousands of weapons to strengthen volunteer defense teams all over the country, according to a military spokesman.

Switzerland Moves to Label Hamas Terrorist Organization (7:45 p.m.)

A Swiss parliamentary committee has called on the government to label Hamas a terrorist organization  something traditionally neutral Switzerland has so far refrained from doing.

This would oblige Swiss banks to report transactions related to Hamas. Yet, a final decision on the issue usually requires a vote by the full parliament, that will only meet again in December. The US and EU already have categorized Hamas as a terrorist group.

Boeing Sped 1,000 Smart Bombs to Israel After the Hamas Attacks (7:00 p.m.)

Boeing accelerated delivery of 1,000 smart bombs to Israel after the devastating weekend attack by Hamas, industry and defense officials said.

The 250-pound Small Diameter Bombs, part of a 2021 contract, were flown from an Air Force base in the US by Israeli Air Force transport, according to an industry official who asked not to be identified discussing the arrangements. A Boeing spokesperson declined to comment.

Turkeys Erdogan Criticizes US Military Support for Israel (6:58 p.m.)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted the US for dispatching naval ships to support Israel, his first public criticism of his NATO ally over its handling of the crisis.

What is a US aircraft carrier doing in Israel? Erdogan asked at a press conference with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Ankara. It is going to shoot around Gaza and cause a very serious massacre.

Erdogan later held a phone call with Russias Vladimir Putin, the latest of a series of calls hes already held with leaders across the region

Yemens Houthis Threaten Israel if US Supports Gaza Strikes (6:30 p.m.)

Yemens Houthi rebels, backed and financed by Iran, said they would send drones and missiles against Israel if the US joined in the attack on Hamas in Gaza.

The Houthis have claimed damaging drones and missile strikes far beyond the territory they hold  including in Saudi Arabia in 2019, when they briefly knocked out half the kingdoms oil production. Still, theyve never struck targets as far away as Israel.

Israel Uses Tanks, Artillery after Rocket Barrage from Southern Lebanon (5:13 p.m.)

Israeli soldiers responded with tanks and artillery fire against Hezbollah observation posts in Southern Lebanon after rocket launches were detected there, the Israel Defense Forces said.

In response to anti-tank missile launched form Lebanese territory, an Israeli military helicopter struck a Hezbollah observation post.

State-run Lebanon news agency says rockets were fired from Sahl Al-Qlayleh toward western Galilee.

Hamas Says 830 Killed, 4,250 Wounded in Israeli Strikes (4:45 p.m.)

A third day of Israeli strikes on targets in Gaza killed 830 people and left 4,250 wounded, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

Israel Says Two Members of Gaza Politburo Killed (3:59 p.m.)

An Israeli airstrike killed two members of the Gaza politburo, Hamass decision-making body, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday. It named them as Zakarya Abu Muamar, who was in charge of coordination between the different Palestinian factions, and Jawad Abu Shamalla, who held the economic portfolio.

The 20-member politburo was formed following internal Hamas elections in 2021.

Putin Says Israel-Palestine Vivid Example of US Policy Failure (3:51 p.m.)

The Israel-Hamas conflict is a vivid example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East, Putin said.

Hamas Got Around Israels Surveillance Prowess by Going Dark

Putin, speaking a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in Moscow, accused the US of trying to monopolize efforts toward a resolution, putting pressure on both sides without taking into account the fundamental interests of the Palestinians. He said an independent, sovereign Palestinian state was a necessity.

Israeli Death Toll Rises to More Than 1,000 (3:02 p.m.)

More than 1,008 Israelis have been killed in the attacks, the Israeli Embassy in the US said on X. Over 3,418 others have been injured and some 4,969 rockets launched, it said.

USs Kirby: $6 Billion Iran Funds Can Be Refrozen (2:41 p.m.)

Access the US gave Iran to $6 billion in suspended funds as part of a prisoner-swap deal can be refrozen at any time, Kirby told MSNBC.

Bidens Republican rivals have harshly criticized his decision to grant Iran access to the funds for humanitarian purposes, saying it emboldened Iran and its proxies such as Hamas.

None of it has been allocated; none of it has been spent. So its all still sitting in a Qatari bank and that is an option thats available to us, Kirby said.

Ruling Coalition Wants to Form Emergency Government (2:20 p.m.)

Israels ruling coalition said it wants to form a rare emergency government with the opposition following Saturdays attacks by Hamas that killed more than 900 Israelis.

All the heads of the coalition, without exception, supported the establishment of a national emergency government and authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act for its establishment, Likud, the premiers party, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Some opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and ex-Defense Minister Benny Gantz, said over the weekend that theyd favor such a move.

France Says Plausible Iran Helped Hamas (1 p.m.)

French President Emmanuel Macron said there wasnt any definite trace of Irans direct involvement in Saturdays attacks at this stage, but added it was plausible the country cooperated with Hamas and provided help.

He told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Hamburg that public statements made by Iran were unacceptable. We very clearly condemn all the countries who cheered the horrors committed by Hamas, which is the case of Iran, he said.

Hamas Leader Says Hostages Wont Be Discussed Till After War (12:57 p.m.)

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the group informed all parties that contacted us regarding hostages that this file will not be discussed before the end of the battle, according to a statement. It will only be at a price that the resistance will accept, he said.

He urged other resistance groups to join Hamass fight.

Number of Palestinians Displaced in Gaza Rises to 180,000 (11:59 a.m.)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency said 180,000 people had now been internally displaced in Gaza due to the violence. Some 137,500 are sheltering in 83 UNRWA schools.

Israel Expects Gaza to Lose Electricity Within Days (11:47 a.m.)

Energy Minister Israel Katz says he expected electricity in Gaza to completely cut within days, with local suppliers disabled. Electricity supply coming from Israel has already been shut down. Water is likely to cut within a week, once pumping wells are emptied, he said.

Khamenei Warns Against Attacks on Gaza (11:23 a.m.)

The massacre and mass killing of the people of Gaza will bring a greater calamity on Israel, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said at a military graduation ceremony. They should know that the reaction to these atrocities will be a heavier slap

Khamenei repeated his countrys denial of involvement in the attacks, and said the Hamas operation was a response to Israeli crimes.

Israel Builds Up Forces Near Gaza (10:01 a.m.)

The Israeli military is building a base next to the Gaza Strip to accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers.

Israel is going to respond very severely and aggressively and there will be more loss of life, Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military and lieutenant-colonel, told journalists in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. We should all change the paradigm here. This is not tit for tat.

The mass and rapid mobilization means the military is stretched for equipment, leaving some troops with older items, Hecht said. He warned there could be errors when it comes to hitting targets in Gaza.

--With assistance from Gwen Ackerman, Alisa Odenheimer, Galit Altstein, Marissa Newman, Gregory L. White, Janine Phakdeetham and Nurin Sofia.

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Highly endangered Raffles Banded Langur population in Singapore to rise to 244 by 2071 (Photos: Dr Andie Ang)

SINGAPORE - The critically endangered Raffles Banded Langur, once thought to be on the brink of extinction in Singapore, is now projected to have a population of around 244 by 2071.

This contradicts earlier research conducted in the 1990s, which had indicated a high likelihood of extinction for the species within 40 years due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

The new projections, based on model calculations by researchers from Singapore and the Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom, show the population of the endangered monkeys is projected to double, from 75 to over 150, in the next 15 years.

The findings emerged in a recent paper published in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology in September, a joint media release on Tuesday (10 October) by Mandai Nature and Oxford Brookes University said.

Loss of unprotected habitat is greatest threat presently

Based on results from an ecological software, the research team found that the "greatest current threat" to the Raffles Banded Langur population in Singapore is the "loss of unprotected habitat".

To effectively manage its population size, forest fragments, in which the langurs live in, must be better connected, the team said.

Despite positive study results, the researchers also warned that a slight increase in deaths could lead to a reduction in population size within the next 50 years.

Langurs vulnerable to road accidents, diseases and extreme weather

While the research paper projects that the Raffles Banded Langur population is likely to continue growing in the next 50 years, the species remains vulnerable to deaths from roadkill and unpredictable events, such as diseases and extreme weather, said Amy Woolloff, the papers lead author.

Road accidents occur when the langurs attempt to cross busy roads between forested areas, Woolloff said.

From 2017 and 2023, four Raffles Banded Langurs  roughly five per cent of the total population in Singapore  died from road vehicle collisions.

For the species to survive in Singapore, Woolloff said, more suitable habitats for the langurs must be identified, with improved habitat connectivity to prevent road crossing deaths.

Increasing the genetic diversity within the population, via conservation translocation, also has to be conducted, Woolloff added.

According to the National Parks Board of Singapore's (NParks) conservation group director, Lim Liang Jim, the Raffles Banded Langur population hit a low of 10 individuals in the 1980s.

Lim said NParks implemented a range of enhancement measures to safeguard and improve key habitats of the Raffles Banded Langur in Singapore, such as reforestation and enrichment plantings.

For example, Nparks has planted certain food plant species in Thomson Nature Park, as well as trees with spreading canopies that enhance canopy linkages.

It has also installed rope bridges along Old Upper Thomson Road, which help separate the nature park from the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, and further help the langurs move safely.

According to Lim, NParks had worked closely with the Raffles Banded Langur Working Group to locate where the langurs habitually cross, and place the rope bridges appropriately.

The Raffles Banded Langur Working Group was formed in 2016 to help conserve the species. It involves NParks, academics from local universities, and nature groups from various organisations and agencies in Singapore and Malaysia.

"We will continue to work with the community to come up with strategies to strengthen the survival of our native langurs and other wildlife," said Lim.

One of the most threatened primate species globally

Named after Sir Stamford Raffles, who had first recorded the species in 1822, the Raffles' Banded Langur is characterised by its black fur and white bands on the chest and inner legs. It lives in trees, and feeds primarily on leaves and other plant parts.

Besides Singapore, it can also be found in the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and is one of the rarest and most threatened primate species globally. However, the recovery in the Singapore population is a positive sign.

With the right protection and management measures in place, we can bring a species back from the brink of extinction," said primatologist Dr Andie Ang, chairperson of the Raffles Banded Langur Working Group.

While the progress on protecting the species is "inspiring", Ang said that there is still "much to be accomplished" in preserving the Raffles' Banded Langur and Singapores natural heritage, such as the protection of remaining habitats.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

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A school in Indiana says that itll continue to use the N-word as part of its 6th and 7th grade history lessons solely for educational purposes after parents complained. A teacher at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Hobart emailed parents that she was going to explain to students about the importance of slavery to plantation owners. The lesson happened to include the use of the N-word to indicate the difference between Bob Smith the plantation owner verses [sic] Bob Smith the slave, but parents said the word didnt have to be used at all. The school administration emphasizes that such language is and will continue to be strictly confined to historical teachings and does not endorse or tolerate its use in any other context, Principal Molly Arroyo sent in an emailed statement to The Daily Beast. The incident underscores the importance of sensitive and responsible handling of historical materials in an educational setting, with a commitment to fostering an insightful and respectful learning environment.

Read it at NBC 5 Chicago

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Israeli military forces on Friday ordered 1.1 million people in Gaza to evacuate  a sign that Israel is setting up a ground operation against Hamas.

But a United Nations spokesperson said it's impossible to evacuate civilians without devastating humanitarian consequences, and said the U.N. strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation.

A Reuters journalist was killed on Friday when his crew was struck by Israeli shelling near the Lebanon border. More than 3,000 people in Israel and Gaza have been killed in the conflict, with thousands of others injured.

According to U.S. officials, at least 27 Americans are among those killed in Israel since Hamas launched its assault last weekend, and another 14 U.S. citizens remain missing. "Less than a handful" of Americans are believed to be held hostage by Hamas.

Our live coverage has ended for today.

Map of Israel and Palestinian terrorities.

Cover thumbnail photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images
As Israel and Palestinian militants continued battling into a fourth day after Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack Saturday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday he had ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip, with "no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel" allowed into the Palestinian territory. As of early Tuesday, Israel's death toll stood at more than 900 while Gaza authorities said nearly 700 Palestinians have been killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday, said in a televised speech Monday that Israel has "only started striking Hamas," adding, "What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations." A spokesman for the military wing of Hamas, which also rules Gaza, said the Palestinian militants would execute some of their estimated 150 Israeli hostages every time Israel struck Gazans "in their homes without warning."

President Biden and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement last Monday condemning "Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism."

Israel has been blockading Gaza's two shared land borders and its Mediterranean coast for 16 years. A siege would spell "utter disaster" for Palestinian civilians, Jan Egeland , secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told The Associated Press. "There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law." Egypt, which shares Gaza's fourth border, will allow medical and food aid to pass through the small Rafah border crossing, AP reported, citing an Egyptian military official.

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists, and its forces amassed near the Gaza Strip border suggest a ground invasion could be in the works. Its fighter jets have already destroyed housing blocks and water and communications infrastructure, struck a market where Gazans were stocking up on food, and razed four mosques in the Shati refugee camp, The New York Times reported. Israel said the mosques were hiding Hamas fighters or infrastructure.
(L) Jaidynn Diore Fierce and (R) John Oliver

John Oliver is standing up for drag queens!

On Sundays episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver stood up for Drag Races Jaidynn Diore Fierce against a ridiculous attack from a MAGA Republican hailing from Fierces home state of Tennessee.

Before getting to the main subject of the nights episode, Oliver lambasted Gabrielle Hanson, a right-wing extremist who tried to block a Pride event earlier this year by holding up a picture of a Fierce dressed in an Elmo bodysuit and said that drag queens like that are a confusing threat to children.

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Oliver introduced Hanson, who is running against the incumbent Republican mayor in Franklin, Tennessee, by saying she has branded herself as a hard-core MAGA candidate and by showing a photo of the mayoral hopeful hanging out at Donalds Trumps Mar-a-Lago. Look how happy she is there, Oliver quipped. Thats the face of someone whos just dined out on a well-done steak and read some classified documents on the toilet.

Oliver quickly used his sharp wit to take down Hansons argument that drag queens like Fierce, who frequently dresses up in cartoon character-inspired drag, are damaging to children. But by that logic, we should ban children from walking around Times Square too, Oliver pointed out as reported by Vanity Fair. Because seeing Olaf from Frozen with his head popped off, smoking a Black & Mild, is way more confusing than someone wearing eye shadow in an Elmo-themed bodysuit.

The late-night host also properly identified the drag queen as Jaidynn Diore FierceHanson had pronounced her name incorrectlywho competed on RuPauls Drag Race season seven and who he said is constantly serving cartoon looks.

Oliver added, Have you ever seen a Minion serve body? Because you have now.



Not only has Hanson previously been embroiled in a number of controversies, including allegedly lying about dining with a diverse group of supporters, criticizing a Juneteenth celebration, and being supported by a white nationalist group , but Oliver pointed out that she is also a hypocrite.

Oliver showed a photo of her husband wearing an American flag Speedo a dare from his wifewhile at 2008s Chicago Pride Parade. So to recap, Oliver said in his most hilarious line of the episode. Snatched Elmo: irreparably harmful to children. Star-spangled ball bag: Thats apparently completely fine with her.
State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey launched her campaign for reelection Oct. 8. The Republican from Knoxville seeks to hold onto the seat she's been in since 2011.

In three previous elections, Massey hasn't had a primary challenger and has won the general by a large margin. In 2016, she was unopposed in the general.

"We all have different skill sets to help people," she told supporters. "I'm trying to use mine to make a difference for people in Tennessee."

In the state Senate, Massey serves on the Health and Welfare Committee and chairs the Transportation and Safety Committee. She's received legislative awards from the Rural Health Association, TN Primary Care Association, Tennessee Disability Coalition, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and more.

David Morgan came out to support Massey after working with her through his think tank, the Reason Foundation.

"I feel really fortunate because she's a pragmatist, she's solutions-oriented," he said. "Any time you're able to work with public policy makers who ... look at issues from a standpoint of 'what's possible, what's practical,' (that's what I) see in Sen. Massey."

David Morgan in attendance at Sen. Becky Duncan's Massey announcement to run for reelection on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Lakeshore Park.

There was no shortage of elected officials attending her announcement event in support of Massey. State Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, Municipal Judge John Rosson, Knox County Clerk Sherry Witt, state Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, Knox County District 5 Commissioner John Schoonmaker and more made the trip out to West Knoxville.

"I've known Becky for a long time and she's always been supportive of county officials," Schoonmaker said. "You can sit down with her and explain whatever (the problem) is, and she'll listen to you."

Massey reaffirmed that commitment to listen to constituents.

"I promise (you that) you're not always going to agree with me ... but I promise you respect," she said. "You can always come and visit with me."

Sen. Becky Duncan Massey on stage with granddaughter Bailey after announcing her run for reelection during an event on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Lakeshore Park.

Before she was elected to the Senate, Massey was the director of the Sertoma Center, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve their fullest potential through residential experiences, interactions, employment and job skills training, according to its website.

Massey has a legacy of family involvement in politics. Her father, John Duncan, served as the mayor of Knoxville from 1959-1964, and was a U.S. congressman from 1964-1988. Her brother, John J. "Jimmy" Duncan, was a U.S. congressman from 1988-2019.

For voters attending her announcement, that family legacy and familiarity made her an attractive candidate.

"She's done a great job in the state senate, and we want to keep her there," voter Bob Griffitts said.

Candidates have until noon April 4 to file qualifying documents ahead of the Aug. 1 primary election.

Allie Feinberg covers politics for Knox News. She can be reached at allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com or on X: @alliefeinberg.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey seeks to keep representing Knoxville
Two men sentenced for helping to launder $23 million in drug money through Lexington are among many suspects facing prosecution for helping cartels operate in Kentucky.

In that specific investigation, six men were found to be part of the operation which imported drugs and needed profits laundered and returned to drug suppliers in Mexico, according to court documents. A total of 26 kilograms of cocaine was seized in that investigation.

Cocaine is readily available throughout Kentucky and cartels presence is a major issue, according to Kevin McWilliams, public information officer for the Louisville Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

McWilliams said the DEA seized $6.1 million in cash in Kentucky from October 2021 to September 2022, the 2022 fiscal year. In the 2023 fiscal year, the DEA has seized $3.6 million dollars in cash related to drug trafficking, McWilliams said.

The Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) have established a presence in Lexington, McWilliams said in an emailed statement to the Herald-Leader.

Both the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG are drug cartels based in Mexico that the United States claims are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl and methamphetamine killing Americans, according to the DEA.

McWilliams described Lexington as a regional distribution location for such drugs in large part because of its location and access to I-75 (north/south) and I-64 (east/west). Major cities which serve as hubs for drug trafficking are within a days drive of Lexington, including Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta.

There is a great deal of traffic on these interstates, and they easily connect a lot of places, U.S. Attorney Carlton Shier IV said in an email. Shier is the top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Kentucky. ...That means easier access and distribution. As a result, a lot of large drug and money seizures intercepted here, are intended for distributors (and, ultimately, consumers) in other areas nearby.

Drug traffickers typically smuggle wholesale quantities of drugs into the area from California and the southwest border through commercial trucks or passenger vehicles, McWilliams said.

He said these two cartels are the only ones with an established presence in the state, but did confirm it is a major issue because they supply drug trafficking organizations and street gangs with the drugs they sell.

Business competition among these groups often leads to violence as well, McWilliams said.

Special Agent Todd Tremaine with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the Herald-Leader previously that a rise in violent crimes he has investigated over the past five years in Eastern Kentucky is due to higher-quality drugs being shipped into the state.

The organizations that are dealing the meth, it is not the resident in Clay County, Whitley or Laurel County who is getting his buddies to go to the pharmacy to get their Sudafed. It is the cartels, Tremaine said. These are bigger networks that are operating and if you dont pay the drug debt, the consequences are more severe now than they were when your neighbor down the street was cooking meth.

Shier said drug trafficking is a source of enormous amounts of crime not directly related to the transfer of illegal drugs  trafficking causes a significant increase in violence.

Violence is often used to support the operation; it is often accompanied by illegal firearm use; it increases homicides, shootings, robberies, burglaries, and thefts, often related to the operation or to enable users to acquire more drugs; it strains the community resources  in countless ways, including available community services, medical care, law enforcement needs, and public health; and it injures communities, dramatically affecting many who are not involved in the sale or use of drugs, Shier said.

McWilliams confirmed illicit fentanyl (typically in the form of pressed pills) and meth continue to be the most significant drug threats to Kentucky residents in 2023.

Overdose data from the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy confirms 90% of 2,135 overdose deaths were related to fentanyl and opioids in 2022.

Broken down regionally, Northern Kentucky sees lots of heroin, fentanyl, and opiate pharmaceutical use, McWilliams said. Western Kentucky is riddled with methamphetamine abuse, he said.

Shier said while his court still sees marijuana, cocaine and other drugs, methamphetamine and opioids make up most of the drug cases  approximately two-thirds.

Across the commonwealth, reports indicate an increase in the availability of fake fentanyl pills, McWilliams said. I cannot stress enough, the danger associated with pills purchased online, through social media, or out on the street. Unless youre getting pills from your doctor or a pharmacist, dont take them. There is a very high likelihood that they may contain enough fentanyl to kill you.

DEA laboratory analysis shows that seven out of every 10 fake pills seized contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl  up from six out 10 last year.
A McDonalds worker shot and killed a 30-year-old woman at a North Carolina restaurant, officials said.

The employee is accused of firing a gun at Jacklyn Marie Reed as a disturbance broke out at the fast-food restaurant. The bullet struck the woman in her chest, and she died on the scene Monday, Oct. 9, the Hendersonville Police Department told WLOS and wrote in a news release.

This was a senseless cold-blooded crime, Police Chief Blair Myhand told WYFF.

The worker was taken into custody outside his childs school and charged with second-degree murder. Police in their news release didnt list attorney information for the man, identified as 35-year-old Sam Antwan Ivey of Hendersonville.

The shooting was reported at the McDonalds on Four Seasons Boulevard in Hendersonville. Teresa Edwards, owner and operator of the restaurant, said the location is cooperating with law enforcement.

My entire restaurant team remains in shock after todays tragic events, and our hearts go out to the victims family during this difficult time, Edwards told McClatchy News Oct. 9 in an emailed statement. We are concentrating on ensuring our people receive the support they need, and are making crisis counselors available to all employees.

Edwards also said guns are banned on the property, which expects to bolster its conflict-management training after the incident.

Police said the shooting happened after Reed  who is from Johnson City, Tennessee  argued with another woman at a nearby bus stop. They came into the McDonalds, where a manager separated them.

Reed left the restaurant only to return shortly after where she was met by the manager and a male employee, officers wrote. During the disturbance, the victim reached out and touched the male restaurant employee, who shot the victim with a concealed handgun.

Based on what we see in surveillance video, this was a far over-reaction to the situation that was happening, Myhand told WYFF.

Ivey left the scene before officials tracked him to his childs elementary school. Police dont believe he planned to harm people there.

In addition to second-degree murder, Ivey faces a firearm charge. As of Oct. 9, he reportedly was being held without bond at the Henderson County jail, with a court appearance scheduled for the following day.

Police in Hendersonville, a mountain town roughly 25 miles south of Asheville, didnt immediately share additional information about their investigation with McClatchy News on Oct. 9.

McDonalds worker lures manager to door, then shoots and kills her, Georgia cops say

72-year-old shot and killed outside Hardees as he waved at cars, Georgia cops say
Drinking water is much in the news these days, as PFAS contaminations continue to spread across the state and private well owners clash with big agriculture over phosphorous and nitrates that can get into drinking water.

But day to day, water systems take steps to ensure water flowing into homes, businesses and the environment is clean and safe from every-day contaminants.

Like water systems across the country and the world, Milwaukee Water Works disinfects its water to ensure that residents have a safe, clean source of water to rely on for cooking, drinking, bathing and whatever else they may need it for.

Here's a look at how public water is protected.

How do Wisconsin water systems disinfect their water?

Wisconsin water systems aren't actually requited to disinfect their water, but they do need to make sure that the microbial content is safe for human consumption, said Steve Elmore, the drinking and groundwater director for the Department of Natural Resources.

Water systems are required to test for things like E. coli and total coliform, and if those bacteria are over a certain threshold, the system has to take action to ensure customers don't get sick.

What about Milwaukee Water Works?

Milwaukee Water Works uses chlorine to disinfect water as it enters the treatment plant, but at the end of the process, before it's pumped out to customers, ammonia is added, and the reaction between the two chemicals creates chloramine, said Michelle Natarajan, the water quality manager.

"The purpose of that is it's a longer lasting disinfectant, so it's not quite as strong as the chlorine is, but now that the water has already been cleaned through various steps," she said.

"We just want to make sure that there is something in it so that when it reaches homeowners at the far edges of the city, that it's still safe and it will still help to fight any bacteria that could be accumulating in their internal plumbing."

Why is disinfection necessary?

Especially when water is pulled from surface sources, such as Lake Michigan, bacteria and other harmful elements have to be killed before the water can be sent out.

"It's very important that we use disinfectants to kill waterborne illnesses at the beginning of the process, and to keep somewhat of a residual of those products in the water to help kill anything that could be lurking in internal plumbing downstream," Natarajan said.

"So it's basically a very necessary public health measure. If we drank water straight from Lake Michigan, the population would not be as large as it is today. A lot of people would have died untimely deaths of giardia and cryptosporidium and all the other fun critters that are lurking in the lake."

More: Wisconsin schools still have water fixtures with lead. Here's what that means

Is Lake Michigan water safe?

Yes.

Though no one should be drinking the water directly out of the lake, the water in Lake Michigan is relatively clean, Natarajan said.

"It does change over time, so we keep a close eye on it. But right now with all of the mussels in the bottom of the lake, they helped to filter out a lot of contaminants ahead of time so that we're starting with a relatively clean source of surface water," she said. "We still go through all the same treatment steps but we don't have to worry as much about a lot of the other issues that other communities do."

Are the disinfectants used in Wisconsin different from other states?

"It's pretty standard," Elmore said.

Chlorine and chloramine have been used since the early 1900s to ensure safe drinking water, he said, and it hasn't been detrimental.

Ozone is also used regularly to disinfect water typically when it enters the treatment plant, but it's not a long-acting disinfectant.

"At the the drinking water treatment plant, they can have ozone there that can kill the bacteria in the surface water coming in," Elmore said. "Some systems use Lake Michigan water, and as they pull in that lake Michigan water they can add ozone and that can kill bacteria."

More: Pre-K school in northern Wisconsin relying on bottled water with discovery of elevated PFAS

Are the chemicals monitored for safety in the water sent to homes?

Yes.

Elmore said that regular testing is required sometimes as often as two times a day, to ensure chlorine or chloramine levels aren't too high or too low.

"In a city the size of Madison or Milwaukee, they're taking bacteria tests every day, and when they do that, they also have to measure the chlorine level at that location where they're they're taking the bacteria sample," Elmore said. "And so we would know pretty soon after if there was too much chlorine in the in the system."

If a measurement came back with more than 4 parts per million of chlorine, the water system would have to take immediate action to bring levels down and notify customers.

Water systems also have to monitor for disinfection byproducts, which are created when certain compounds interact with chlorine. Byproducts can be harmful to human health, so systems must monitor water going out to residents to ensure its safe. Some systems opt to use only chloramine because it causes less byproduct creation, Elmore said.

Should I be concerned about chlorine or disinfection byproducts?

At the levels chlorine is used in Wisconsin water systems, residents shouldn't be worried.

"Chlorine is a is an effective disinfectant. It's something we've known for over 100 years can reduce disease. Before we added chlorine to drinking water there there was widespread occurrence of cholera in drinking water, and people would get sick from the cholera," Elmore said.

"And since then, we've been a much more healthy society because we disinfect our water with chlorine. It's one of those sort of necessary things. And we manage it appropriately, so it doesn't cause other problems."

More: Waukesha's lake water is coming. What to know about potential problems and solutions.

How did the cryptosporidium outbreak happen in the 1990s?

In 1993, a change in the recipe of additives in Milwaukee's drinking water led to an outbreak of gastrointestinal issues and deaths due to cryptosporidium, a type of bacteria capable of making humans very sick. Tens of thousands in the Milwaukee area suffered with chronic intestinal problems that disrupted schools and workplaces.

Excess cryptosporidium in the water was pulled into the treatment plant from Lake Michigan and wasn't killed off effectively before it was sent out into the homes of residents.

"They had changed some of their chemical processes in the treatment plant in Milwaukee, that caused that cryptosporidium not to be removed through the filtering treatment that they had there," Elmore said.

"It's an interesting piece of history because a whole line of regulations was (created) because of the outbreak in Milwaukee in 1993. That event really triggered a whole new set of regulations in our industry that have been used nation, you know are now in place nationwide and it really changed things in in other countries as well."

The city spent hundreds of millions of dollars implementing new processes  like treating the water entering the plant with ozone to kill off any lingering bacteria or viruses  as well as adding new monitoring systems, an auto-shutdown feature and extending the length of the intake pipe in Lake Michigan.

Now, the city rarely gets complaints about the taste or color of the water, marking a vast improvement in treatment.

More: Study suggests 'forever chemicals' could be in 45% of American homes, a figure that tracks Wisconsin findings

What about private wells?

Private wells don't have the same level of regulation as public water systems, and the majority of wells don't have treatment systems unless homeowners buy and install them.

Homeowners who struggle with bacteria like E. coli may sometimes use chlorine to disinfect their own wells, but it's not a practice that's recommended. Elmore said that if they're having reoccurring issues, well owners should consider digging a new well, especially if their existing well is old or has failing infrastructure, such as a rusted or broken well casing.

"The regular chlorination of drinking water should really be left to professionals that know what they're doing and the operators of the public water system," he said. "It's not really something that that a private homeowner should be doing regularly."

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's what you should know about the disinfection of drinking water
The logo of Kokusai Electric is pictured in Tokyo

By Sam Nussey, Makiko Yamazaki and Miho Uranaka

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese chip equipment maker Kokusai Electric on Tuesday trimmed the indicative pricing for its $730 million initial public offering by about 3%, which a source said partly reflected chip designer Arm's lacklustre performance.

The indicative price range was set at 1,830-1,840 yen per share, KKR-backed Kokusai said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, compared with 1,890 yen previously.

Kokusai said the lower range reflected the view of institutional investors and the state of the stock market.

The dull share price performance of SoftBank Group's Arm since its listing last month was one of the factors behind the move, said a source familiar with the matter, who declined to be named because the information was not public.

If its IPO prices at the top of the range, Kokusai, which manufactures machines that deposit thin films on silicon wafers, will offer 108.3 billion yen ($729 million) worth of shares and have a market valuation of 423.9 billion yen, excluding an overallotment.

Capital Research and Management and Lazard Asset Management have committed to purchase shares at the offer price, Kokusai said in a separate filing.

Kokusai's largest customers are Samsung Electronics, TSMC and Micron Technology, collectively accounting for more than 40% of its revenue.

Investors are assessing the outlook for chip demand amid a slump in the market for smartphones and personal computers, even as capital is flowing to companies seen as benefiting from investment in artificial intelligence.

Samsung's profit is expected to slump 80% when it reports quarterly earnings on Wednesday, as rock-bottom memory chip prices recover more slowly than expected. Micron last month forecast a quarterly loss.

($1 = 148.5200 yen)

(Reporting by Sam Nussey, Makiko Yamazaki and Miho Uranaka; Additional reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Sonali Paul and Edmund Klamann)
Dozens of airlines canceled flights to and from Israel after Hamas militants invaded from Gaza.

North American carriers have suspended flights to Tel Aviv until further notice.

Some European, Asian, and African airlines were still flying to Israel as of Monday.

After decades of conflict, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday.

Dozens of international airlines have since canceled flights to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv  the nation's only international hub  amid the deadly invasion.

According to data from the aviation-analytics firm Cirium and shared with Insider, more than 40 carriers canceled hundreds of flights to and from Israel on Saturday and Sunday.

At the time of writing, 131 flights  or 44% of all scheduled service to and from Tel Aviv  had been canceled on Tuesday, according to data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Among those that have halted service to Tel Aviv until further notice are the US carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration told Insider on Monday that it had "urged airlines and pilots to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace."

Airlines like Air France, Lufthansa, easyJet, and Royal Jordanian Airlines have also paused flying to Israel, according to Cirium.

The British carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, however, confirmed to Insider on Monday that they were continuing to operate some frequencies to Tel Aviv  the latter saying its "flights are currently planned to operate over the coming days with adjusted departure times."

Each told Insider it was offering a flexible booking policy and was closely monitoring the situation in Israel but warned customers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport.

The Israeli flag carrier El Al said on its website that it was also continuing to serve its home nation. About half of its scheduled flights to Tel Aviv on Monday have been delayed, with none canceled.

Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia are actually upping service to Tel Aviv to help mobilize a record 300,000 reservists who were called back in response to the Hamas attack.

Other carriers such as Air Seychelles, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, India's IndiGo, and Turkish Airlines were also still flying passenger planes to Tel Aviv as of Monday, according to FlightAware data.

While some airlines continue to serve Israel, international carriers are expected to continue to alter flight schedules during the fighting.

Here's the list of airlines that have canceled flights to or from Tel Aviv since Saturday as of the time of writing, but most of this information is subject to change.

Africa

Egyptair: canceled flights from Cairo Sunday and Monday, scheduled for Tuesday

Royal Air Maroc: canceled flights Saturday and Sunday, flight from Casablanca scheduled for Monday night

Asia

Cathay Pacific: flights from Hong Kong Tuesday and Thursday are canceled so far

Hainan Airlines: flights from Hong Kong were canceled Monday, and service is resuming as scheduled, per its website

Korean Air: flights from Seoul canceled Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with its Tuesday flight listed as delayed on FlightAware

Royal Jordanian: flights canceled from Amman through Tuesday

SunExpress: flights canceled between Turkey and Tel Aviv through Wednesday morning

Europe

Aegean Airlines: flights canceled from Greece through Thursday

Air Europe: flights from Madrid were canceled over the weekend, and operations have since resumed

Air France: flights suspended until further notice

Air Malta: flights canceled Monday and Wednesday

Blue Bird Airways: canceled one flight from Athens on Sunday, but is now flying daily

Bulgaria Air: one roundtrip flight canceled, scheduled to operate again Thursday

easyJet: flights suspended through Tuesday

Finnair: flights canceled through Saturday

Iberia: some flights canceled from Madrid on Sunday and Monday, still serving Tel Aviv

ITA Airways: flight suspended through Thursday

KLM: flights canceled from Saturday and up to Sunday

LOT Polish Airlines: flights canceled through Tuesday, the airline said more scheduled service could be delayed or canceled

Lufthansa Group: flights suspended through Saturday (includes its subsidiaries Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, and Brussels Airlines)

Norwegian Air: flights canceled from Copenhagen and Stockholm through Sunday

Ryanair: flights suspended through Wednesday

TAP Air Portugal: flights suspended until further notice

Transavia: flights from Amsterdam canceled through Wednesday

Turkish Airlines: canceled about 35% of flights between Turkey and Tel Aviv over the weekend, and about 25% were canceled Monday

Vueling: canceled flights over the weekend, resuming flights Monday

Wizz Air: flights canceled until further notice

Middle East

Gulf Air: flights from Bahrain canceled through Wednesday

Etihad Airways: flights from Abu Dhabi canceled through Tuesday, scheduled for Wednesday

North America

American Airlines: flights suspended

Delta Air Lines: flights suspended until at least the end of this month

United Airlines: flights suspended until at least Saturday

Air Canada: flights suspended

Read the original article on Insider
A man whose body was found outside of Kingman in September 1982 has been identified as Virgil R. Renner.

Renner's remains were found in a rural desert area around Hackberry Road outside of Kingman on Sept. 9, 1982. When police were called to the scene, they recovered the remains alongside a scattering of belongings, according to the Mohave County Sheriffs Office.

The body was later taken to the medical examiners office in Tucson where an autopsy was performed, and it was determined that the victim was a white male around 55 years old, but they were unable to identify him at the time. The cause of death could not be determined but officials estimated that he died between 1979 and 1981.

Several attempts to identify Renner were unsuccessful and his identity remained unknown and unclaimed in the Tucson medical examiner's office until 2020, according to a news release.

Investigators from the special investigations unit brought the remains back to the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office. In February 2023, they sent a sample from the victim to Othram Inc., a genetic laboratory in Texas.

Othram was able to identify Renner using advanced DNA testing, forensic-grade genome sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy, according to the release.

Not much is known about Renner at this time, officials said. He was from Humboldt County, California, but left in the early 1970s to search for gold in Nevada. Officials do not know how he made his way to Arizona. Renner had a brother and sister, who are long since deceased, and never married. However, distant relatives helped identify Renner.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Virgil R. Renner's body identified 41 years after it was found near Kingman
Tom O'Grady, executive director of the Southeast Ohio History Center in Athens, talks Saturday morning in Zoar about Ohio's historic barns and how more needs to be done at the local level to preserve the structures.

ZOAR  Longstanding Ohio barns are disappearing fast, and more needs to be done to preserve the history of the structures, says an expert on the subject.

Ohio was once home to around 10,000 historic barns dating back to the early and mid-1800s, according to Tom O'Grady, executive director of the Southeast Ohio History Center in Athens.

But today, he said, there may be less than 1,000 of the hand-built buildings  mainly used in the farming industry  throughout the Buckeye State. Ohio became a U.S. state in 1803.

"Barns are demolished (for shopping centers) or moved, and they're too hard to save because of the high price to fix them," said O'Grady, noting that too much responsibility regarding preservation falls on the Ohio farmer.

An older barn rests along Fifth Street and Park Street in the northern section of Zoar. Many of the historic structures were built in the early 1800s, around the time Ohio became a U.S. state.

"What are we doing to save a barn? It takes a community, a village," he added.

O'Grady, a self-described Ohio barn buff, was the guest speaker Saturday for this month's Zoar Speaker Series presentation, which focused on the heritage and history of barns. The 90-minute session was held at the village's historic church in downtown.

Old House Handyman: Old House Handyman: Meet the group helping to preserve Ohio's historic barns

Many Ohio barns are also deconstructed and shipped to other states to become summer houses, explained O'Grady.

"They are a resource being harvested for profit, and we (Ohioans) lose much of our cultural wealth when this happens," he said.

The bulk of Ohio barns were built in rectangular shapes and later added onto, said O'Grady, adding that no two are exactly alike.

"You see they can be similar. All were built to last 1,000 years," he said.

Drought to floods: Ohio farmers bracing for uncertainties ahead of fall harvest

Ohio's historic barns have had multiple farming uses

Barns built in the 1800s or early 1900s traditionally were used for threshing of grain or other crops, housing horses or livestock, storing hay and straw, as well as farming equipment and machinery.

"Sometimes they were used for marketing products (with painted signage) like tobacco," O'Grady said.

Native Ohio wood, such as beech tree, as well as bedrock and slate, were main supplies to build the state's early barns, said O'Grady who's a founding board member of Friends of Ohio Barns volunteer group and serves on the board of Ohio's Hill Country Heritage Area.

Steve Shonk, a Bethlehem Township resident who lives on a 30-acre farm, said he has an older, under-utilized barn on his property and is deciding what to do with it. He said Saturday's presentation was informative.

"I got some good out of it," said Shonk. "I need to get with my mom and think more on what we want to do (with the barn)."

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Ohio barn expert Tom O'Grady brings history session to Zoar residents
The need for more higher-costing placement providers and a lack of foster home availability is compounding the costs for Lebanon County Children and Youth Services.

CYS officials reported that the final department costs for the 2022-23 fiscal year were at $12.9 million, which increased by almost $1.8 million. CYS was certified at $11.1 million for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Children and Youth Services is funded 80% by state, and 20% by county funds. The county share for 2022-23 fiscal year was certified at $2.27 million. But CYS officials reported that the county share would be $2.8 million, a $572,544 increase.

The increased costs to CYS are coming from sending children to higher level placement facilities to cover special needs along with a lack of foster home availability, according to Erin Moyer, Lebanon County Children & Youth Services administrator.

The system is taxed

"Our mental health system is pretty much taxed right now," she said in a phone call to the Lebanon Daily News. "They have huge wait lists, they have a shortage of staff in their services as well. So those kind of things are making our cases more complex. We're not just dealing with your typical child abuse and neglect cases, we are dealing with that on top of mental health issues. So we've having to open more cases for those issues and provide some of our services to assist."

The agency investigated 2,926 children in the 2022-23 fiscal year, which Moyer said was an increase of 366 from last year. CYS investigated 2,560 children in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

While officials are not getting involved in every child that has mental health concerns, Moyer said CYS is getting involved because those concerns couldn't be addressed and they are rising to a level of child abuse now.

"Typically, these mental health cases are rising to the level of abuse and neglect," Moyer said. "So whether it's parent mental health concerns that are rising to the level of abusing children or whether it's children's mental health concerns that are rising to a level where it's leading to parent child conflict ... It eventually becomes an issue for Children and Youth."

CYS has 52 placement provider contracts, 36 of which have requested an average increase of 7% and all of them within the commonwealth's approved rate. The agency also has 35 service provider contracts, 17 of which requested an average 3% increase.

The average rate of providers can range between $400 and $600 per day per placement.

The increases are due to increased wages to attract employees and an increased need for more specialized and trauma informed care services, Moyer said.

"Our providers are also seeing huge increases in reference to liability insurance," she said. "It is becoming more difficult for them get, and definitely more costly, so those costs in care are coming on to our agency as well."

Officials said that they are also seeing fewer adults willing to foster children, which could save the county hundreds of dollars a day. Moyer said she's not sure why the decline is occurring.

"We as an agency do recruiting for our own foster homes, and we contact with a lot of private agency foster homes," she said. "I know they do pretty extensive recruiting, so I'm not sure why people don't seem to be as interested in that as they have in the past."

At a Lebanon County Commissioners meeting Aug. 5, CYS officials proposed a $15.3 million needs based budget, with the county budgeting for $3.574 million of those funds.

CYS officials also reported an increase in $12.57 million Implementation budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which was approved last year. An implementation budget is done to ensure required resources are available to in order to facilitate the completion of proposed actions and accomplish planned objectives.

The projected budget for 2023-24 was raised to $13.8 million. The county's share, originally set at $2.7 million, was increased on the projected budget at $2.85 million.

Officials said the increase in both budgets were due to increased placement and in-home costs, CYS salary increases and more in-home service increases.

The county will be facing a large deficit as it begins to plan for the 2024 proposed budget, according to county administrator Jamie Wolgemuth. But just like 911 service and the Lebanon County Correctional facility, CYS provides services to which the county needs to pay for out of their general funds.

'It's not cheap'

"This is what society is bringing to the agency, and what has to be dealt with, and it's not cheap," he said at the commissioner's meeting.

If CYS does not budget these increases with the county, Moyer said there is no guarantee that the state will make up the difference.

"If we go into 2024 without this money budgeted, and we end up spending more money than we had projected, there's no guarantee that the state is going to come back and give their portion of our over expenditure," she said at the commissioners meeting. "Whereas if we go in with this budget, and we come under, then that's wonderful."

Commissioners unanimously approved the needs based and implementation budgets at their Thursday, Oct. 5, meeting, along with the provider contracts.

Moyer said she's seen cost increases for Children and Youth since see started as administrator in 2019, and that is a trend that is likely to continue even after the county's 2024 budget has been finalized.

"Since the pandemic, we've seen steady increases, and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon," she said.

911 funding: Pa. county officials urge lawmakers to renew 911 call system fee before it expires

Lebanon housing problems: Lebanon County is in dire need of housing. New study paints a stark picture

How to become a foster parent

Those residents wishing to learn more about becoming a foster parent can contact Lebanon Children and Youth Services at 717-224-4430 and ask for Michelle Curry.

The Department of Human Services operates a 24/7 hotline about the welfare of a child and to report suspected child abuse. ChildLine can be reached at 800-932-0313.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: CYS expenses on the rise in Lebanon County, Pa.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is cutting short his trip to Asia so that he can return to the United States Thursday to focus on the crisis in Israel.

Schumers congressional delegation trip is cancelling a visit to Japan and returning early to allow the Democratic leader to be back in New York Thursday evening and to receive a classified briefing and updates on the Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians.

Schumer will also meet with community leaders and groups in Brooklyn, go to Shabbat services, and spend time reflecting with his family on the unfolding tragedy that has left more than 1,000 people dead.

Following very productive meetings in Chinaincluding with President Xi  and in light of the tragic events unfolding in Israel, the bipartisan members of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers congressional delegation are moving up their meeting with South Korean President Yoon to Wednesday and will return to the US on Thursday. Leader Schumer will be back in New York Thursday evening, said a spokeswoman for Schumer.

Schumer on Monday expressed his disappointment during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping over what he saw as Chinas timid response to the brutal attacks against Israeli civilians, who were gunned down or taken hostage by Hamas militants.

China later updated its statement through a foreign ministry spokesperson to condemn all violence and attacks on civilians.

Schumer said he raised with Xi his concern about the unfolding atrocities carried out against Israel and the need for the world community to stand together against terrorism.

Members of Schumers bipartisan delegation, including Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Kennedy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) spoke by phone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to get an update on the situation in Israel.

The delegation also met Tuesday evening with a group of ambassadors from allied nations at the U.S. ambassadors residence in Beijing to urge allies to do everything they can to stand in solidarity with Israel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Singapore police collaborate with Meta in an effort to combat scams by targeting suspicious online usernames, advertisements, and WhatsApp lines linked to fraudulent activities. (PHOTO: Osmancan Gurdogan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Singapore police are working with social media giant Meta to crack down on scams, aiming to terminate WhatsApp lines believed to be linked to fraudulent activities, as well as removing suspicious online usernames and advertisements.

In recent months, there has been a surge in scams involving Android malware, with many of these schemes involving advertisements on popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, enticing victims with various product and service offers.

In response to inquiries from CNA on Tuesday (10 October), the police highlighted the evolving tactics of scammers, saying, "They often attempt to lure users with attractive offers and promotions, through eye-catching advertisements on food items, services and sale of travel packages on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram."

Rising cases, evolving tactics, and young adults most vulnerable

Last month, the police revealed that victims lost $334.5 million to scams in the first half of the year. While this marked a 2.2 per cent decrease compared to the same period the previous year, the number of scam cases increased by 64.5 per cent.

According to the police, more than half of these cases (55 percent) resulted in losses of S$2,000 or less.

The majority of victims falling prey to scams were young adults aged 20 to 39, who were primarily targeted through e-commerce, job and phishing scams.

During the first six months of the year, more than 750 cases of Android device users falling victim to malware scams were reported, resulting in losses of at least $10 million.

The police also shared insights into the methods employed by scammers to approach victims, stating that they primarily utilised messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, social media, phone calls, online shopping platforms and SMSes.

Police's efforts to combat malware phishing

According to CNA, the police said they have been taking "timely enforcement action", collaborating with banks to trace and recover funds, and working with overseas law enforcement agencies to take down cross-border scam syndicates.

"Police have arrested more than 130 individuals involved in malware phishing scams locally since early June," said the police.

Furthermore, in cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Police, the Anti-Scam Command successfully "busted two transnational malware phishing syndicates in Malaysia", leading to the arrest of nine syndicate members in July and August.

The police also work closely with the Association of Banks in Singapore and relevant government agencies to raise awareness among customers about malware scams.

In addition to these actions, the police work closely with the Association of Banks in Singapore and relevant government agencies to raise awareness among customers about malware scams.

The police also emphasise the importance of downloading apps exclusively from official app stores and highlight how the Anti-Scam Centre has collaborated with banks to enhance their fraud detection and blocking mechanisms.

Police stress the significance of downloading apps from official stores and the Anti-Scam Centre's partnership with banks to bolster fraud detection and prevention. (PHOTO: Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.

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Many Tennessee families were shocked this spring when they found out their children werent progressing in reading as quickly as expected.

As a former teacher who has had to deliver difficult academic news to families, I understand no parent wants to learn their child is falling behind and may need additional support  including possibly repeating a grade. In 2021, our legislature established robust early literacy policies to ensure students are set up for long-term success.

Frustrated parents should take comfort in knowing two things: Retention policies are not in place because schools want to hold students back. They are part of a much more significant strategy to better prepare our youngest learners and ensure they dont face a lifetime of struggles.

More: Tennessee third grade reading law: Some win appeals, others left frustrated

We must teach reading and measure performance

The skills that lead students to become competent, lifelong readers must be explicitly and systematically taught early in life, with opportunities for practice and improvement. Thats why the science of reading  a vast body of research that details how our brains learn to readis so important.

Tyranny Green reads a children's book to the toddlers during circle time at Saint Mary Villa, Child Development Center in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Sept. 25, 2023.

In education systems, we know that early literacy success stems not only from how we teach reading, but also how we measure outcomes and provide additional support to students who are falling behind. Its a package deal, and thanks to swift and decisive action by the legislature, Tennessee has the whole package in place.

In the wake of the pandemic in 2021, we knew academic declines were imminent. My colleagues and I passed legislation with the support of Gov. Bill Lee to help students recover from learning loss and improve the states stagnant third-grade literacy rates.

These new laws required districts to align curriculum and instruction to the science of reading and to provide academic interventions and additional resources, such as summer camps and tutoring.

By early 2022, we began to see encouraging results: Tennessees third graders had virtually eliminated learning loss gaps in English Language Arts (ELA). This June, ELA proficiency rates for Tennessees third graders climbed to 40%  the highest since the state revised its English academic standards in 2017. While these initial numbers are encouraging, we are staying the course to ensure all students are reading on grade level.

Last summer, a final piece of the 2021 law was implemented, requiring that third graders who are not proficient in reading receive academic help or receive an extra year of learning. That specific policy has been incredibly effective in states like Florida and Mississippi and research has shown no harm to students social development.

Point: Third-grade competency is the foundation for future success

Counterpoint: Retaining third-graders further disadvantages the most vulnerable students

Literacy-based retention is better than promoting a child who cannot read

Of the roughly 45,000 Tennessee third graders identified as at risk for retention, the vast majority were promoted  precisely as the law intended  by getting additional support in academic summer camps and/or tutoring. Only a small percentage of students needed more time and were required to repeat third grade.

Finding out your child needs additional learning support can be incredibly emotional for some parents, and retention can be a difficult pill to swallow. But the research is clear that the benefits of literacy-based retention far outweigh the detriments of advancing students who cannot read on grade level.

Students who lack essential literacy skills by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out of high school or end up in the criminal justice system.

No parent wants that for their child. Instead, we want to see them grow into successful students and accomplished adults.

Mark White

Im thankful that Tennessee continues to implement its student-focused literacy law, and give students support to help them reach their greatest potential. Were do that by ensuring they have the reading skills they need in third grade and beyond.

State Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, is chairman of the education committee in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee will not and should not promote students who can't read
Nearly 90 years have passed since a member of Congress representing Tennessee served as Speaker of the House.

John Bell and James K. Polk held the position in the 1830s and Joseph Byrns served from 1935-1936. Polk eventually became the 11th U.S. president while Bell ran for president unsuccessfully in 1860.

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is reeling without leader in place at a critical time with the new war in Israel and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Government could shut down by mid-November without congressional action.

Business is not happening as it should and while representatives from Ohio and Louisiana entered the Speaker's race, could it be time for a Volunteer State member of Congress to take the reins again?

On Oct. 11, Republicans selected Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, over Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as their candidate for Speaker. However, the next day, Scalise dropped out of the race due to not securing enough support from his own caucus. On Oct. 13, Jordan was picked as Republican's new nominee; he still must gain a majority of the votes in the House. He failed to do so in two rounds of voting on Oct. 17 and 18.

Whoever the next Speaker is ought to be someone who cares about governing and who can create bipartisan cooperation in a bitterly divided House. As Republicans are in the majority, the person would presumably need to be from their caucus to pick up enough support.

Remember, it took just eight Republicans who joined all the voting Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post due to the rules he accepted to get the job that required 15 rounds of voting. The new speaker will need broad support and also show a history of supporting stability.

The ideal candidate in my mind should have voted for the continuing resolution on Sept 30 to keep the federal government running and also to keep McCarthy in place on Oct. 3.

Another view: Most Tennessee Congress members vote for a shutdown, showing a disinterest in governing

How Tennessee's House delegation voted on the government shutdown and Kevin McCarthy's ouster

Let's re-examine how the Tennessee House delegation voted on these two fronts: McCarthy's post and avoiding a government shutdown.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 05: U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (R) talks to Rep.-elect Andy Ogles (R-TN) in the House Chamber during the third day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 05, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives is meeting to vote for the next Speaker after House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) failed to earn more than 218 votes on several ballots; the first time in 100 years that the Speaker was not elected on the first ballot. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775921641 ORIG FILE ID: 1454439205

Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-District 1

She voted for McCarthy and against the continuing resolution (CR).

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-District 2

He voted against McCarthy and against the CR.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann , R-District 3

He voted for McCarthy and for the CR.

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-District 4

He voted for McCarthy and against the CR.

Where do they stand? Heres who Tennessee's House Republicans are backing in the race for House Speaker

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-District 5

He voted for McCarthy and against the CR.

Rep. John Rose, R-District 6

He voted for McCarthy and against the CR.

Rep. Mark Green, R-District 7

He voted for McCarthy and against the CR.

Rep. David Kustoff, R-District 8

He voted for McCarthy and for the CR.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-District 9

He voted against McCarthy and for the CR.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Based on their votes, here are the ideal candidates for U.S. Speaker of the House

Consider these notes before we get to the ideal candidates on paper.

Burchett supported McCarthy in his original bid for Speaker but turned on him over the continuing resolution compromise.

Ogles joined the group of insurgents who made it extremely hard for McCarthy to win the job, but he decided to support the former Speaker in the Oct. 3 ouster vote. Would he make it just as hard for the next Speaker to get elected?

Congressman Chuck Fleischmann speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility (TF3) at the Horizon Center Industrial Park located off the Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.

Meanwhile, Green is the only member of the Tennessee delegation to hold a leadership position. He is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and he has aspirations for higher office, but could his vote against the continuing resolution could be a hindrance? He sided with Congressman Jim Jordan.

Jordan of Ohio voted against the continuing resolution while still backing McCarthy's reign. Meanwhile, Congressman Scalise voted both to support the CR and McCarthy.

The ideal candidates from Tennessee, if this Speaker race is not resolved soon, would be Reps. Chuck Fleischmann and David Kustoff. Both are Republican and approved keeping both the government open and McCarthy in power.

Fleischmann is a lawyer from the Chattanooga area. He was first elected to Congress in 2010.

Kustoff is a lawyer from Memphis who was appointed as U.S. attorney for Western Tennessee during the George W. Bush presidential administration. He was elected to Congress in 2016.

Incidentally, they both told the USA TODAY Network Tennessee that they backed Scalise. However, they threw their support to Jordan along with the other Tennessee Republicans. Then, Jordan lost three votes for Speaker and on Friday dropped out as the Republican nominee. It's back to the drawing board.

Rep. David Kustoff answers questions from the media after a meeting for the Rotary Club of Humboldt at the Humboldt Medical Center on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Neither Fleischmann nor Kustoff have publicly indicated a desire to run for the top leadership post in the House, but they should, especially if a compromise candidate is needed. And it looks like one is needed now. This unprecedented leadership vacuum in the House requires elected officials to step up.

The time for games and political one-upmanship needs to be a relic of the past. We need serious leaders who want to govern.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters.. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: House Speaker race: Two Tennessee members of Congress should jump in
A Confluence of Expertise, Innovation, and Opportunity

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LabAsia, the region's premier laboratory equipment and scientific instrumentation exhibition, is back for an epic encore at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia, from October 10th to 12th, 2023.

LabAsia 2023 and IKM Conference Opening Ceremony

Organised by Informa Markets Malaysia Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM), the 8th edition of the Malaysia International Scientific Instrument and Laboratory Equipment Exhibition and Conference promises to be a scientific revelation, a treasure trove of networking, and a thriving hub of business opportunities.

The grand inauguration of LabAsia at KLCC was marked by a prestigious Opening Ceremony, officiated by our special guests, YBhg Datuk ChM Dr Soon Ting Kueh, President of Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM) and ChM Halimah binti Abdul Rahim, Director General, Department of Chemistry Malaysia, alongside our esteemed exhibitors, sponsors, industry leaders, and visitors. Datuk ChM Dr Soon, in his Opening Address, will trace the development of LabAsia since its inception in 2007 and how LabAsia has emerged as the laboratory and scientific instrumentation exhibition in this part of the world, highlighting the latest advances in scientific equipment and laboratory technology and innovation.

"LabAsia is our commitment to accelerating growth and innovation in the scientific community. It's a one-stop powerhouse for networking, collaboration, showcasing the latest trends, and providing educational opportunities. These elements are pivotal for advancing the scientific instruments and the laboratory industry, enriching both industry professionals and the global scientific community," said Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Country General Manager of Informa Markets Malaysia.

This year, LabAsia brings a lineup of programs set to electrify your senses! Join us for an enriching experience, featuring three full days of complimentary technical seminars, led by industry leaders who are at the forefront of scientific advancements. With a focus on innovation, research, and application, they'll delve into the latest trends, breakthroughs, and challenges shaping the landscape of scientific technologies.

Story continues

The technical seminars span a diverse range of captivating topics, ensuring that there's something for everyone, regardless of your specialisation. From cutting-edge technologies to revolutionary practices, LabAsia promises to equip you with everything you need to propel your business forward. Don't miss this golden opportunity to elevate your skills and forge meaningful connections with fellow professionals.

Get set for a collision of brilliant minds and groundbreaking ideas at LabAsia. In conjunction with LabAsia 2023, IKM is organising the 16th Asian Conference on Analytical Sciences, or AISANALYSIS XVI, from 10  12th October 2023 at the same venue. ASIANALYSIS XVI will assemble top thought leaders, esteemed researchers, and industry trailblazers for intellectual discussions on the latest advances & breakthroughs in scientific instrumentation and laboratory technology. Be prepared to engage in stimulating dialogues with global analytical chemists and researchers from more than 20 countries and broaden your understanding of the latest trends in analytical sciences.

Explore the realm of microscale separations and analysis at the 19th Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Microscale Separations and Analysis (APCE), where you can glean valuable insights from experts in chromatography, mass spectrometry, electrophoresis, microfluidic chips, biosensors, and sample pre-treatment, revolutionising your approach to work.

Embark on a journey into the forefront of forensic science through workshops, presentations, and sessions at the Symposium on Forensic Science (SFS) 2023, enhancing your grasp and communication within this interdisciplinary field.

Additionally, uncover the significance of halal testing and authenticity at the Symposium on Halal Testing and Authenticity, where you can acquire invaluable insights into halal certification processes, standards, and innovative testing methods crucial for ensuring product integrity and compliance.

With participation spanning nine distinguished international countries, including China, India, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Korea, Portugal, and the UAE, LabAsia offers a rare opportunity to engage in targeted and meaningful interactions with exhibitors from around the world. Each exhibiting nation brings forth a spectrum of cutting-edge technologies, innovative products, and expertise that resonate with the nuances of their respective markets.

LabAsia is poised to attract 7,000 scientific and analytical professionals from around the world, connecting them with an impressive lineup of more than 450 participating brands and companies showcasing the latest trends and innovations in the industry. This synergy will catalyse transformative advancements, fuel innovation, and leave an indelible mark on the future of scientific and analytical exploration.

Undoubtedly, LabAsia garners robust industry support, and we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Agilent Technologies Sales (M) Sdn Bhd, our esteemed Gold Sponsor, and Mr. Lee Hock Chin, Executive Director of QS Instruments Sdn Bhd, our Silver Sponsor, for their indispensable contributions to the event.

Don't miss out on this golden opportunity to experience the future of laboratory science firsthand. And here's the best part  admission to LabAsia is absolutely free!

Get ready to catapult yourself into the future of laboratory science at LabAsia! For more information, visit LabAsia's official website at https://www.lab-asia.com/.

NOTES TO EDITOR

ABOUT LABASIA

The global scientific instruments and laboratory equipment market is poised to sustain its growth trajectory in the coming years, providing numerous opportunities for manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in the industry. LabAsia emerges as a pivotal platform for industry players to remain at the forefront of this evolving landscape. As the leading laboratory exhibition in the region, LabAsia is dedicated to showcasing the latest innovations and technologies in laboratory equipment, analysis, diagnostics, and research. With a commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, LabAsia brings together industry professionals, researchers, and experts from around the world to explore the forefront of scientific advancements. Since its inaugural edition in 2007, LabAsia has seamlessly connected thousands of laboratory professionals, fostering invaluable networking opportunities over the past decade. The most recent edition marked a significant milestone as visitors from 54 countries converged at a single event, reinforcing LabAsia's role as a global hub for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

LabAsia 2023 (PRNewsfoto/LabAsia 2023)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/labasia-returns-to-klcc-for-another-epic-edition-of-scientific-innovation-301951900.html

SOURCE LabAsia 2023
Former President Trump predicted Tuesday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , who has long been considered his closest GOP challenger in the 2024 primary, will drop out of the race.

Ron DeSanctimonious has the Poll numbers of a wounded bird falling from the sky, Trump said on Truth Social. I am up on him by 57 points, and going higher.

He has proven to be a terrible and inept candidate who even fought Social Security and MediCare, he continued. He will SOON be out of money and dropping out of the race for President. After having single handidly gotten him elected Governor, with no thanks or glory, it has been a beautiful thing to watch. Good luck Ron!

DeSantiss team pushed back against a similar claim from Trump in August, when the former president said hed heard rumors DeSantis would drop out of the White House race to run for Senate.

This is nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of Donald Trump because he is feeling the heat, DeSantiss campaign press secretary, Bryan Griffin, told The Hill in response to Trumps latest post, citing endorsements for the governor in key early states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

DeSantis is setting the pace in the early states and building the largest grass-roots infrastructure of any candidate this cycle. Donald Trump simply cant keep up, Griffin added.

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Trump remains the front-runner of the Republican primary race, while DeSantis has long appeared in polling as the runner-up. But in recent weeks, the Florida governors poll numbers have appeared to slip, as Trump maintains his commanding lead.

Some polling in August showed DeSantis tied for second with conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Last month, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley bumped ahead of DeSantis into second place behind Trump in New Hampshire.

The former presidents reference to a 57-point lead appears to come from a poll from the left-leaning Clarity Campaign Labs, showing Trump at 67 percent  and DeSantis tied with Ramaswamy at 10 percent each among the GOP field.

An Emerson College poll last month found Trumps lead at 47 points over his GOP rivals.

Updated at 2:31 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A group has been impersonating government officials, harassing New York residents at their homes and falsely accusing them of breaking the law, state officials have warned.

But what sounds like a scam aimed at peoples pocketbooks is actually part of a shakedown with a much different target: voters.

State prosecutors have sent a cease-and-desist order to a group called New York Citizens Audit demanding that it halt any unlawful voter deception and intimidation efforts.

Its the type of tactic that concerns many state election officials across the country as conservative groups, some with ties to allies of former President Donald Trump and motivated by false claims of widespread fraud in 2020, push to access and sometimes publish state voter registration rolls, which list names, home addresses and in some cases party registration. One goal is to create free online databases for groups and individuals who want to take it upon themselves to try to find potential fraud.

The lists could find their way into the hands of malicious actors and individual efforts to inspect the rolls could disenfranchise voters through intimidation or canceled registrations, state election officials and privacy advocates warned. They worry that local election offices may be flooded with challenges to voter registration listings as those agencies prepare for the 2024 elections.

John Davisson, director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said the concern reflects the competing interests over voter data  a need to protect voter rolls from cybersecurity attacks against the desire to make them accessible so elections are transparent.

Its not surprising that this is a battleground right now, he said.

Baseless claims of widespread voter fraud are part of whats driving the efforts to obtain the rolls, leading to lawsuits over whether to hand over the data in several states, including Maine, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

In New York, a warning from the state elections board preceded the cease-and-desist letter from the state attorney generals office. Voters in 13 counties had been approached at their homes in recent weeks in an apparently coordinated effort by people impersonating election officials, in some cases wielding phony IDs, the board said. Residents were confronted about their voter registration status and accused of misconduct.

In one instance, people wearing identification badges accused a woman at her Glens Falls home of committing a crime by apparently being registered to vote in two counties, said Warren County spokesman Don Lehman. But the woman had already filed to change her registration and canvassers were apparently using out-of-date information, he said.

She was quite shaken by the whole thing, Lehman said. She did nothing nefarious at all. Either these people dont understand that or understand how the process works, but it seems like they were quite accusatory.

State prosecutors found no evidence that any of the those contacted had committed voter fraud or any other type of crime, they said in their warning letter.

NY Citizens Audit emailed a statement that dismissed as absurd concerns that its canvassers might have impersonated an official or harassed anyone. Instead, the group urged election officials to investigate each of these millions of suspected illegal registrations.

We train our people to do legal canvassing, and if ever verified, voter intimidation would be completely unacceptable and against our policy, NY Citizens Audit Director Kim Hermance said in the statement.

One of the most ambitious groups, the Voter Reference Foundation, was founded after the 2020 presidential election by Republican Doug Truax of Illinois with a goal of posting online lists from every state. The VoteRef.com database so far includes information from 32 states and the District of Columbia and is run by Gina Swoboda, a former organizer of Trumps 2020 campaign in Arizona.

A federal trial is scheduled to start later this month over the groups fight to access and use New Mexicos voter registration list.

The group also sued Pennsylvania, which refused to hand over the information and said that publishing it would put every registered voter at greater risk of identity theft or misuse of their information, said the states Office of Open Records.

Truax declined to speak to The Associated Press, but has said in a statement on the Pennsylvania case that, We have a crisis of confidence in America when it comes to election results, and the answer is more transparency, not less.

The head of elections in New Mexico, Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, fears many voters might withdraw from registration lists as personal data is posted online. Her office cites email inquiries about how to cancel voter registrations during a short-lived canvassing effort by election activists last year in southern New Mexico.

Voters can and should expect a reasonable amount of privacy, said Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat. What Voter Reference is doing is saying, If you have doubts about the election and who is registered to vote and who is voting, here is every voters information. Go out and figure it out for yourself whether these people are real.

The Voter Reference Foundation argues that federal law is on its side, citing public disclosure provisions of the National Voter Registration Act that require states to make a reasonable effort to keep the registration lists free of people who died or moved away. The foundation also invokes free speech and due-process rights.

Nearly every state prohibits the use or transfer of the lists for commercial purposes, while several confine access to political candidates, parties for campaign purposes and some government activities.

In March, New Mexico banned the transfer or publication of voter data online, with felony penalties and possible fines of $100 per voter.

Virginia data was removed from VoteRef.com after Republicans and Democrats united last year to ban online publication of registrations.

In Maine, an ongoing legal dispute over privacy and the use of voter lists is pitting state election regulators against a conservative-backed group that has been highlighting and litigating what it says are shortcomings in election systems for a decade. It has assembled voter rolls from multiple states.

The state historically provided voter registration lists to candidates and political parties before being sued in 2019 for failing to provide its voter list to the Public Interest Legal Foundation. In 2021, Maines governor signed a bill allowing the voter registration lists to be turned over to additional organizations, but with a stipulation that no voter names could be published in a way that compromises privacy.

The restrictions interfere with comparing lists across states, said the groups president, J. Christian Adams, whose case against the state is scheduled for legal arguments Thursday at a Boston federal appeals court. Adams, a Republican, served on a commission Trump convened after his 2016 win to investigate voter fraud. The commission was disbanded without any finding of widespread fraud.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said residents sharing details about voters, including addresses, is a bad idea.

In an era of conspiracies and lies about our elections, integrity of voter information is hugely important, she said. We want to make sure that no voters are targeted or harassed or threatened because of their decision to register and cast a ballot.

Associated Press writers David Sharp in Portland, Maine, and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Voter rolls the new battleground over secure elections
The countdown is on for the release of Leonardo DiCaprio's next highly anticipated next movie Killers of the Flower Moon. Directed by Martin Scorsese and also starring Lily Gladstone , the film is based on the book of the same name about the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma.

With less than two weeks to go until the film's cinematic release, here's everything you need to know about it, including where you can watch it online in the UK.

What is Killers of the Flower Moon about?

Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by David Grann, Killers of the Flowers Moon tells the true story of the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma. Told through the romance of Ernest Buckhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), Killers of the Flower Moon is a western crime saga that explores what happened when white interlopers discovered oil was present in Native American tribal land. What follows is a story of betrayal, love and murder.

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Who stars in Killers of the Flower Moon?

Starring as the lead role in Killers of Flowers Moon is Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Buckhart, a white man who is married to a Native American woman named Mollie Kyle, who is played by Lilly Gladstone.

Also joining the cast is Robert De Niro, who stars as Ernest's uncle William King Hale. Jesse Plemmons takes on the role of a BOI officer investigating the murders in Osage. Tantoo Cardinal is playing the role of Mollie's mother, Lizzie Q. John Lithgow is playing the role of the prosecutor and Brendan Fraser joins the cast as W. S. Hamilton, Hale's attorney.

How long is Killers of the Flower Moon?

Ok, so get prepared to have all the cinema snacks, as Killers of the Flower Moon is a whopping three hours and 26 minutes long.

Martin Scorsese, the film's director, has defended the film's length, explaining people will often sit and watch TV for hours at a time so why not with a film? And in fairness he does have a point.

He told the Hindustan Times: "People say it's three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours. Also, there are many people who watch theatre for 3.5 hours. There are real actors on stage, you can't get up and walk around. You give it that respect, give cinema some respect."

Apple

Where can you watch Killers of the Flower Moon in the UK?

Killers of the Flower Moon is currently set for a UK cinematic release date of 20th October, so we don't have long to wait before we can see the film on the big screen.

Head to your local cinema for more information about timings and screenings.

When will Killers of The Flower Moon be available on Apple TV+?

Killers of the Flower Moon was made in association with Apple Studios, and so after its cinematic release, the film will be heading to Apple TV+ for a streaming release. However, the official release date for the film on Apple TV+ has not been confirmed yet.

An Apple TV+ subscription is 6.99 per month and not only will you be able to watch Killers of the Flower Moon soon, but also the highly anticipated Lessons In Chemistry adaptation, and new documentary The Supermodels.

SIGN UP FOR APPLE TV+ MEMBERSHIP HERE

Killers of the Flower Moon will be available on Apple TV+, sign up for an Apple TV+ account here





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A woman is accused of stealing cash from a wedding ceremony on September 30. NazariyKarkhut/Getty Images

Authorities arrested Sandra Lynn Henson on September 30 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, NBC News reports.

Henson is accused of crashing a wedding, stealing $200, and eating a piece of cake.

Authorities said she's been arrested in three states and accused of crashing weddings.

Mississippi authorities arrested a woman who a newlywed couple said arrived at their wedding unannounced, NBC News reports.

The Pontotoc County Sheriff's Department said in an October 2 Facebook post that Sandra Lynn Henson, 57, was arrested by authorities on September 30 at the wedding of Lexi Bolden and Brady Butler.

"Apparently Miss Henson has been arrested in Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi for crashing weddings and stealing money and cards from purses," the post reads.

According to the department, Henson was charged with petit larceny, trespassing, and disturbing the peace. NBC News reported that Henson is out on bond.

Newlyweds Lexi and Brady told NBC News they discovered the uninvited guest at their ceremony when Lexi's sister Sandra spotted Henson in the bridal room.

"When Sandra turned around in the bridal room, she was eating a piece of my cake," Lexi told the outlet.

Lexi told NBC News that Henson initially said she knew the bride.

The wedding coordinator reportedly said $200 was also missing from her purse. Henson initially denied that she stole the money, but later handed over the cash when family members threatened to call the police, according to the outlet.

"From what we understand, she's been charged with [wedding crashing] several times," Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask told NBC News.

One such incident occurred in August 2019 when Henson was arrested in connection to related crimes in Alabama, according to AL.com. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of theft and one felony theft charge after police in Florence, Alabama, asked the public to help identify Henson because she was accused of stealing wedding gifts.

NBC News reported that Henson was also accused of stealing wedding gifts, cash, and gift cards totaling more than $1,000 in Mississippi in 2021. Court records viewed by NBC showed that Henson pleaded guilty to a grand larceny charge and was sentenced to five years probation.

The bride said the uninvited guest ate some of her wedding cake. BassittART/Getty Images

Online records on the Mississippi Department of Corrections website show Henson is on parole until January 2025 for grand larceny and a burglary charge.

The Pontotoc Sheriff's Department, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and the Florence Police Department did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Insider was unable to locate contact information for the Butlers before publication.

Lexi's other sister, Kristian Joshlin, told NBC News the family is surprised Henson arrived at the ceremony.

"We were in complete shock to find out that she was a serial wedding crasher and had even been dubbed the Mid-South Wedding Crasher," Joshlin said. "We are all still in a state of disbelief that this happened to us."

Read the original article on Insider
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Fans of Zippys can now get a taste of the much-loved Hawaiian restaurant without going to Hawaii.

After more than four years of waiting, Zippys opened its first location outside of Hawaii Tuesday morning and its located in southwest Las Vegas. Cars with customers began lining up hours before the 10:10 a.m. opening at 7095 Badura Ave, near Rainbow Boulevard and the 215 Beltway.

People line up at Zippys for its grand opening in Las Vegas on Oct. 10, 2023. (KLAS)

We first announced in 2018. Things happened; we all know what went on. Were finally here today but I got to tell you its been absolutely crazy. Everyone has just been so excited here in Las Vegas and we are happy to serve them, said Kevin Yim, vice president of marketing and communications for Zippys.

The Las Vegas valley, or the 9th island as it is referred to, was chosen because of the large number of Hawaiians who visit and who call the valley home.

Zippys is a fast-food restaurant and bakery known for its comfort food that blends Japanese, American, Chinese, and Hawaiian flavors that reflect Hawaiis history. Menu items include Korean fried chicken, teriyaki beef, chili, hamburger steak, chicken katsu, SPAM or Portuguese sausage breakfast, Saimin, and dozens of other items.

The restaurant is creating around 200 new jobs in the valley.

The restaurant will initially operate from 6 a.m. to midnight but eventually plans to be a 24-hour operation.





For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Damage to gas pipeline, telecom cable connecting Finland and Estonia caused by 'external activity'

Finlands president says damage to an undersea gas pipeline and telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia appears to have been caused by external activity.
Technician David Sandstrom of Vanguard Renewables works with Frank Lopez of Chase/Harris Septic Corp. to pump waste into the biodigester at Jordan Dairy Farms. Vanguard designs, develops and operates the biodigesters that farmers host. MUST CREDIT: Photo by Adam Glanzman for The Washington Post
By every measure, U.S. students are missing huge amounts of school. During the 2021-22 academic year, 28% of schoolchildren were chronically absent  defined as missing at least 10% of the 180-day school year, or three and a half weeks.
(Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Bank AG squared off against the US parent company of Lehman Brothers in a London court this week, hoping to squeeze more money from obscure notes issued by the long-dead banks UK arm.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The German lender argued that it should be paid money recovered from the UK estate ahead of the companys US parent. Deutsche Bank is leading the case as a holder of a certain type of junior security issued from Lehmans European unit.

Its the second trial over the ranking of those subordinated notes, after the first handed Deutsche Bank and other holders a big win at the UK Court of Appeal. While some investors discarded the Enhanced Capital Advantaged Preferred Securities (ECAPS) for nothing in the years following the US lenders collapse, so much has been generated by the insolvency of Lehmans UK arm that there is now a fight over the interest on the ECAPS claim.

Maybe interest was a golden possibility that no one had thought of at the time, Judge Robert Hildyard said while questioning the barrister representing Deutsche Bank.

Obscure Case

Even among the arcane litigation that has characterized the years of grappling over the money gathered in Lehmans UK estate, the case is an obscure one. The vast majority of legal cases over Lehman in recent years have revolved around deciding the order in which people should be paid out. So much money has been recovered by Lehmans UK arm that questions over the issue remain highly contentious.

The Lehman administrations have gone on rather a long time, and we never seem to get to the end, Hildyard said on Tuesday, the second and final day of the latest trial.

Story continues

Essentially the case revolves around whether statutory interest  a form of interest added to debts paid late  accrued on ECAPS notes should rank ahead of the claim from Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, the US parent.

Statutory interest adds up at 8% a year, so the order of seniority could boost the return for holders substantially. But the US arm wants the principal of its debt to be paid ahead of any statutory interest to ECAPS holders like Deutsche Bank.

The case matters because a large surplus is very likely to be available for subordinated creditors like ECAPS holders and the Lehman Brothers US parent. An estimate of the surplus produced by administrators at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 2021 suggested that a surplus could range from 280 million ($343 million) to 500 million.

Lehmans European arm lost a case over a long standing litigation relating to crisis-era credit default swaps last year, but a report from administrators at PwC in April said that it was likely that decision would be appealed. Success in that case could increase payouts for creditors like Deutsche Bank and LBHI.

READ MORE: Lehman Looks to Cash In on Subprime Bonds That Fueled Demise

It isnt just Lehmans holding company that is hoping the court would decide against Deutsche Bank. King Street Capital Management and Elliott Management Corp teamed up with Lehmans UK arm to form a joint venture called the Wentworth Group that would share claims based on loans that Lehmans US parent made to its European subsidiary. That means that the investment funds could benefit if the court decides that Lehman Brothers Holding Incs claim on its principal debt ranks higher than interest on the ECAPS claim.

A number of other issues were supposed to be decided in the trial this week, but those were settled shortly before the hearing began, leaving only one question for the court to answer. That will see subordinated lenders, like ECAPS holders, receive money from Lehmans UK estate more quickly than they would have otherwise.

--With assistance from Jeremy Hill.

(Adds details of settlement over issues initially scheduled to come to trial in final paragraph)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Groundbreaking start-up working to create a new data center service from the Moon, Lonestar takes the next small step as it prepares to transmit the US Declaration of Independence to be the first document to be digitally stored on the Moon. This is a key test of Lonestar's lunar data centers concept for Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS).

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. (Lonestar), a trailblazer in data storage and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), is set to embark on an unprecedented journey to the Moon with Intuitive Machines, marking an historic milestone in data preservation. As a commercial customer of Intuitive Machines and their NOVA C lunar lander, Lonestar will transmit the US Declaration of Independence to the lunar surface as the first document in history to be digitally stored there.

Midjourney imagining of the US Declaration of Independence on the surface of the Moon

The groundbreaking test, a testament to Lonestar's innovative approach to data management, aims to showcase the capabilities of its Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) and data centers on the Moon. The company has commercially contracted with Intuitive Machines, leveraging their NOVA C lander, as part of the ongoing efforts to bring America back to the Moon.

The test will involve transmitting the US Declaration of Independence during the transit to the Moon, in orbit around the Moon, and to the lunar surface. In return, Lonestar will receive a copy of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights back from the Moon. This bold experiment will demonstrate the efficiency of Lonestar's data refresh and restore capabilities, showcasing the robustness of the technology in extreme environments. The Magna Carta is also already stored on board.

Lonestar's commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation is evident in this ambitious project. "We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this historic moment in data storage and recovery. Transmitting the US Declaration of Independence to the Moon is a testament to the reliability and resilience of our Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) solutions," said Chris Stott, Founder and CEO of Lonestar Data Holdings Inc.

Story continues

Lonestar is also storing digital data on board with Intuitive Machines for its customer, the State of Florida.

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander is prepared for shipping to Cape Canaveral, Florida for launch.

If successful, these tests will lay the foundation for the ultimate in refresh and restore on a planetary scale and open up an entire new industry in space by combining the best of Silicon Valley and the Space Program. This unprecedented experiment reinforces Lonestar's commitment to advancing data management technologies for the benefit of humanity.

"Intuitive Machines have been a superb partner in our test program as we seek to build peaceful civil and commercial digital infrastructure on and around the Moon. We could not do this without them." said Mark Matossian, COO of Lonestar.

"We believe that expanding the world's economy to encompass the Moon, Earth's largest satellite, is the next whitespace in the New Space Economy", says Scout Ventures' Founder and Managing Partner, Brad Harrison. "Data security and storage will be a necessary part of leading the new generation of lunar exploration."

The VC funded startup is working to revolutionize data services and communications from the Moon. Lonestar is funded by Scout Ventures, Seldor Capital, 2 Future Holdings, IronGate Capital, The Veteran Fund, Atypical Ventures, Kittyhawk Ventures, and Backswing Ventures.

Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. invites the public and media to join them on this remarkable journey as they transmit the US Declaration of Independence to the Moon, marking a historic milestone in the realm of data storage and disaster recovery.

About Lonestar - Saving Earth's Data One Byte at a Time

Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. (Lonestar), headquartered in St Petersburg's Maritime and Defense Technology Hub in Florida, has been founded by a proven team of experts from the Cloud and Space verticals to pioneer a future for data at the edge for all of us as. www.lonestarlunar.com

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SOURCE Lonestar Data Holdings Inc.
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At Yuma High Schools Snider building, the Yuma Union High School Districts Mastery of the Arts Program (MAP) has taken off to a fun start. The offerings each semester vary by the availability of professional community artists who can come and share their craft, but Fall 2023s classes are already in the middle of projects.

At Paint the Town  a MAP class led by muralist/Kofa High ceramics teacher and managed by certified teacher Lauren Spurlock  students meet twice weekly to learn how to paint murals. By the end of the course, their completed work will be featured at a local business, the Arizona SkinCare Institute at 318 S. Main Street.

Theyve been doing this project for a couple weeks now, MAP Executive Director Ginny Legros said. They were able to get somebody right away that was interested and wanted to have some sort of murals within their business so it worked out perfectly

They've been asked to create a bunch of stuff, actually. First, it was just going to be one huge mural and then it ended up turning out (Founder/CEO) Nohemi liked their stuff so much that it ended up, Okay, we've got a mural, a blank wall. Plus, now these canvases that they're going to do for each of the facial beds.

To help pay for the next project, Arizona SkinCare will also be putting some student art up for sale to put some money back into the class.

Rangel described that a lot of the class is about the process of making a mural happen.

A lot of what this was, was getting them familiar with the types of paint, the canvas, the idea of creating a concept, right? he said. The idea of being able to work together, having their work kind of reflect near each other's in certain ways but show their own stories. And ultimately, it's how to paint a mural, how to create all those artistic elements.

Lastly, its about having those sort of conversations with the person giving you the permission; so asking them questions that are relevant to what's being expected, looking at photos of the space as well as what the expectations are.

Once the class had a place to paint a mural, they had various sessions coming up with concepts, drawings and paintings to present as a proposal to the Arizona SkinCare Institute. The students had a variety of ideas all presented in a slideshow, from which Nohemi and her team decided what kind of style and work they wanted.

The team ended up asking for a style in the flavor of one students painting along with some specific color tones to be used. Since the class wont be able to have unlimited time to paint the mural with the shop closed, the plan will be to a paint a backdrop on site and paint canvases in class to bring in.

We decided we're gonna do a mural for the backgrounds but something very simple  just kind of a pink ombre with, like, a linear Saguaro, Rangel explained. That's just kind of the backdrop; what we're going to do is we're gonna have five 3 foot by 3.5 foot paintings that are gonna go over each station because [Nohemi] has five stations on both sides.

Nearing the end of September, the class was ready to begin its work in earnest. Students measured and cut their canvases, then drew circles to indicate anywhere they plan to paint a succulent; each student had a go.

Some students have had some formal art education while others havent but bring their enthusiasm for art into class every Monday and Wednesday. All of them are excited to be making a mural.

Im excited to expand my art to the rest of the world; to showcase, let others see my work, Alejandra Avina said. Having loved art for years, she added: I take this seriously; that's why I've taken multiple classes to better it and also have these chances like this class to paint murals.

Another student, Daisy Romero, hopes the mural will encourage more students to get into fine arts.

With our current mural that we're working on, I'm excited to bring awareness to the MAP program since this is our first year doing it, she said. And I want to get more students involved, more students to know and bring attention to the fine arts in high school. That matters because I feel that fine arts is overseen by so many things. This is finally a moment for us to shine and let the community know that it was us.

MAP is open to all YUHSD students and functions in the style of a college class, where students commute to Snider at Yuma High once or twice a week. Each semester-long class is half a credit and is taught by a community artist that otherwise might not have been able to impart their knowledge.

We have so many gifted, talented people here in our community with regards to the arts but they are hesitant to become teachers, full-time art teachers; you know, drama, Legros remarked. They don't want to have to deal with all the other stuff; they just want to teach their craft, their art. They don't want to have to do all the other stuff, which is understandable. So this has just been great.

Folks in the community who are interested in becoming involved or providing support to the program can do so by contacting Legros at 928-502-5195 or vlegros@yumaunion.org. To learn more about MAP, scan the QR code accompanying this article.

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DataHorizzon Research

Comprehensive analysis of M3P battery market. Growing research and development on electric batteries in vehicles supplements the market demand.

Fort Collins, Colorado, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to DataHorizzon Research, The global M3P battery market is expected to value at a positive CAGR by 2032.

Consumer demand for range in EV is a major factor driving the market expansion. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for 2021 EV models, the average range was 234 miles, and for 2022 EV models, the maximum range was around 500 miles. The currently used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have an energy density of around 160 - 190 Wh/kg and offer a range of around 330 mi. The M3P battery is expected to have a higher energy density than the LFP batteries of around 15% up to 210 Wh/kg. The iron in the LFP battery can be replaced by a magnesium, zinc, and aluminum mixture to increase the range by more than 10%.

Furthermore, the lower cost of M3P batteries than the other batteries is another factor expected to propel the market growth. For batteries with high energy density, such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese (NCM) or nickel, cobalt, and aluminum (NCA) batteries, the cost of manufacturing is high due to the usage of cobalt and nickel, which are expensive. Additionally, NMC and NCA batteries are more susceptible to thermal runaway than the M3P battery based on LFP battery chemistry. NCA and NCM batteries hit thermal runaway at a lower temperature, increasing the risk of a battery explosion.

Also, compared to lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) batteries, M3P batteries are expected to have lower internal resistance. This allows a high discharge current for faster charging and better performance in EVs. Therefore, the aforementioned factors are expected to boost the market growth.

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Segmentation Overview:

The global M3P battery market has been segmented into application, vehicle type, and region. Based on vehicle type, the passenger car segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. Cars makers such as Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW, and Ford already use LFP batteries in their EVs. Based on application, the portable segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Portable M3P batteries are expected to be increasingly used in automotive applications. Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. This is due to the presence of the market player in this region. China is the economy with the highest number of EVs running worldwide.

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M3P Battery Market Report Highlights:

The global M3P Battery market growth is anticipated at a positive CAGR by 2032.

The significant demand for electric vehicles largely drives the M3P battery market growth.

Portable batteries are a fast-growing segment in the application category.

The passenger car segment registered a significant share in 2022 and is projected to dominate in the forthcoming years.

Asia Pacific is a leading region for the M3P battery market owing to Chinas dominance with the highest number of electric vehicles.

CATL is the only known player to have expanded its presence in the M3P battery market.

Industry Trends and Insights:

In March 2023, CATL announced its plans for mass production of M3P batteries.

In 2023, CATL successfully launched a new battery type with increased energy density (210kWh/kg) for Teslas electric vehicles.

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M3P Battery Market Segmentation:

By Application: Portable, stationery

By Vehicle Type: Passenger, Commercial

By Region: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

About DataHorizzon Research:

DataHorizzon is a market research and advisory company that assists organizations across the globe in formulating growth strategies for changing business dynamics. Its offerings include consulting services across enterprises and business insights to make actionable decisions. DHRs comprehensive research methodology for predicting long-term and sustainable trends in the market facilitates complex decisions for organizations.

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Gaza va fi un blestem pentru Israel: cine face aceasta promisiune

Brigazile Ezzedin Al-Qassam, aripa militara a miscarii palestiniene Hamas a declarat vineri ca Gaza va fi un blestem pentru Israel, informeaza AFP, citat de Agerpres.Acestea au avertizat ca soldatii sai vor pleca "in pungi negre". "Gaza va fi un blestem pentru Israel", [citeste mai departe]
The government will repeal legislation due to take effect on November 1 on easing regulations on guest workers because its anti-migrant campaign has been too successful in stirring up suspicion of foreigners, a government source told news website 24.

The source said the anti-migrant campaign was too successful in the last eight years, from here it is difficult to change the public mood, people see a potential threat in every guest worker with a different skin colour.



In other words, 24 writes, the law may have been put on the back burner because the government encountered too much social resistance in the matter that it had itself generated.



Asked whether the change of plan was due to the results of opinion polls conducted by the communication office led by Antal Rogan, the government source said They measure everything.



The announcement of the cancellation of the law was partly a surprise, partly not, said Ferenc Rolek, vice-president of the employers association Mgyosz.



His organisation was aware that the cabinet would reconsider the regulations governing foreign workers but not that it would scrap the already adopted law.



Iron Workers Union vice-president Zoltan Laszlo commented Just as we did not know that the guest worker law was being drafted, we also did not know that it would not be allowed to come into force.
Another 65 Hungarian nationals including 18 children have been rescued from Israel, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

The group are aboard a ship on its way to Cyprus, the foreign ministry quoted Szijjarto as saying.



The rescued Hungarians will be met by members of the Hungarian embassy at the port, and will be provided a special flight to return to Budapest on Friday afternoon, the minister said.



He added that the next group of Hungarians still in Israel would soon be notified about the next evacuation operation.



The goal continues to be to help all Hungarians in trouble return home, Szijjarto said.



Hungarian Air Force Rescues 325 People from Israel



Fully 325 people, including 46 children, have been evacuated from Israel aboard three aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday.



The situation in Israel remains extremely worrying, with some areas practically in a state of war, according to a foreign ministry statement. The Hungarian governments top priority in such a situation is to ensure the safety of Hungarians, he said.



The government has established contact with hundreds of people, 215 of whom were evacuated on two aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force last night, he said. One plane then returned to Tel Aviv to rescue 110 more people, he added.



All Hungarians who have asked for assistance in returning home have landed in Hungary or are en route home, with the third flight having recently left Israels airspace, Szijjarto said.



Altogether 310 of those evacuated are Hungarians and 15 of them foreign nationals, among them Israeli, Swedish, German, British, Austrian and Portuguese citizens, he said. Fully 46 of those rescued are children, he added.



Staff at the Hungarian embassy in Tel Aviv remain on 24-hour call and the consular emergency centre in Budapest is also working with increased staff, the minister said.



Flights between Budapest and Tel Aviv continue to operate as scheduled, Szijjarto said, but he urged Hungarians to cancel their trips to Israel unless they were absolutely essential. He urged those travelling to the Middle Eastern country to register for consular protection.



We continue to stand by Israel; we condemn the terrorist attack against the country and call on international political players to demonstrate responsibility in this situation so that an escalation of this wartime situation can be avoided, he said.



Gulyas: Hungary Fully Supports Israel



Hungary fully supports Israel in its fight for sovereignty, security and right to self-defence, the head of the Prime Ministers Office has said.



Gergely Gulyas told the International Pro-Israel Summit organised by the Center for Fundamental Rights that true friends show up in times of trouble.



The first thing we can wish for Israel in the current situation is that it should regain control over the entire territory of the state of Israel and establish the security guarantees needed to prevent similar bestial attacks from happening in the future, Gulyas said.



The events also serve as a message to Europe that border protection should stand above debate. It must be a task for all countries that protect the external border zone of Schengen, he added. If we fail to do that, the current conflict may have tragic consequences also for Europe, Gulyas said.



Joining forces is most important in the current situation, meaning that the coalition behind Israel must be strong, he said. Meanwhile, Gulyas called Saturdays attacks on Israel brutal and incompatible with human existence and expressed maximum solidarity with Israel.





Gulyas: Danger of Terrorism Leaking into Europe



Terrorists may come to Europe from Gaza unless the EUs borders are protected, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the prime ministers office, told a pro-Israel conference. He also warned that migrants in several countries of western Europe had welcomed the developments in Israel.



If Europe fails to consider its own security it could find itself on the losing side of this conflict, too. He said supporting terrorism was impermissible. He also suggested that US diplomacy should assess who is a friend and who is an enemy, adding that the US government had deviated from the earlier directions set under President Trump.



As a result they might have made deals under which they might have also supported countries promoting terrorism, he said.



Hungary, which has the largest Jewish community in central Europe, is proud to maintain special relations with Israel, Gulyas said. Israel faces continuous threats and is making great sacrifices to preserve the most fundamental human values, Gulyas said. He also expressed concern about Israels community of some 300,000 people of Hungarian origin.



Fundamental Rights chief Miklos Szantho said Hungary and Israel were not only political but natural allies  champions of sovereignty. He said both countries will oppose even international trends if it comes to their sovereignty, their people, or protecting their borders. We are connected through a love of God, our homelands, and families  things that have come under fire by woke terrorists, he insisted.



Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, Israels ambassador to Hungary, said Saturdays attacks had come unexpected and he compared the developments to a combination of 11.09 and the Bucha massacre.



He said the perpetrators must pay a similar price. Israel must win the war, he said, but added that the conflict would not be short.



The ambassador advocated caution because this murderous ideology cannot be changed. When we see that murdering children, women, and civilians is hailed in Toronto and Berlin and nobody stops the celebration, it indicates a problem not only for Israel but for the whole of the international community, he said.



Hadas-Handelsman thanked the Hungarian government for its efforts to fight discrimination against Israel at international forums and its zero tolerance for anti-Semitism.



According to the ambassador, the Hungarian Jewish community was safe, enjoyed freedom of expression and culture, and would not face such attacks as seen in other large cities of Europe.



He also commended the Hungarian government for investing large amounts of money in efforts to reinvigorate Jewish culture and preserve cemeteries.

Szijjarto: Clear Distinction Must Be Drawn Between Refugees, Migrants



The international community must finally draw a clear distinction between refugees and migrants as this would go far in solving the migration crisis, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Geneva.



The dual pressure Hungary is under from the east and south illustrates the need to distinguish clearly between refugees and migrants, Szijjarto told a meeting of the executive committee of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), according to a ministry statement.



The distinction is based on international law, which grants everyone the right to stay in the first safe country if forced to flee their country. However, they do not have the right to cross a dozen safe countries until they arrive in the location of their choosing, he said.



Hungary has seen over one million refugees arrive from Ukraine since the war started, and has ensured equal access to health care and education to all, and is helping them to find jobs, he said.



At the same time, the situation on the countrys southern border is outrageous, because those arriving there crossed several safe countries while violating international law, he said.



They also want to enter Hungary illegally, which is a crime, he added. Last year, Hungary recorded 275,000 illegal attempts to cross the border, and 150,000 so far this year, he said.



Further, some people smugglers and migrants, he said, were now armed with automatic weapons and had fired at border guards several times.



This cannot be tolerated; just like the statements of certain politicians that we should put up with it, he said.



Migration waves are fuelled in Europe by measures that encourage people to leave their countries, boost the business model of people smugglers and force sovereign countries to give up their right to decide who they want to allow into the country, Szijjarto said.



Instead, the focus should be on handling the root causes of migration and on creating the circumstances for people to stay in their homelands, he said.



Mandatory redistribution quotas would turn the European Union into a magnet for migrants, he warned.



And we all know the consequences. Parallel societies emerge, the terror threat rises, and modern anti-Semitism is growing in the western half of Europe, he said.



Szijjarto said that whereas all refugees deserved help  just as Hungary does as a first safe country  migrants must be stopped.





Nemeth: Hungary Condemns Hamas's 'Barbaric Attack'

Hungary condemns Hamass barbaric attack against Israel, Zsolt Nemeth, the head of parliaments foreign affairs committee, said on Monday.



Not since the 1973 Yom Kippur War has Israel suffered on such a scale, Nemeth told MTI by phone whilst attending a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.



Hungary stands in solidarity with Israel and recognises its right to self-defence. He said the Abraham Accords had helped to forge peace in the Middle East and had been the only viable path.



Lets ask in whose interest it was to quash it, he said.



Nemeth said on Monday evening he was attending a demonstration organised by French Jewish organisations in Strasbourg in front of the Council of Europe building, alongside members of the Hungarian delegation.



The spiral of violence can be felt increasingly keenly, and this puts a vital onus on the international community to restore and strengthen the world order, he said.





Parlt's Hungarian-Israeli Friendship Group Condemns Attack on Israel

The Hungarian-Israeli Friendship Group of Parliament has condemned in the strongest possible terms Saturdays terrorist attack against Israel.



In a statement on Monday, the friendship group said it was shocked by Saturdays events, adding that they recognised Israels right to defend itself.



The group expressed its sincere sympathies to the Israeli government and people over their losses.



The group assured Israel of its support in these difficult days, expressing hope that further escalation could be avoided, because a wave of violence in the Middle East could have dramatic consequences for global security.





President Novak Condemns Hamas Attack Against Israel



President Katalin Novak condemned an attack carried out against Israel early Saturday by militants of Palestinian Islamic organisation Hamas.



I strongly condemn the attacks against Israel that claim human lives. Hungary affirms its unwavering support for Israel. My thoughts and prayers with [Israeli President] Isaac Herzog and the Jewish people in these difficult times, Novak said in a post on the social media platform X.
Hungarys trade surplus reached 708 million euros in August, widening from 559 million euros in the previous month, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said in a first reading of data.

Exports slipped by 1.5% year-on-year to 11.314 billion euros, falling for the first time in close to two years. Imports dropped by 18.9% to 10.606 billion euros, declining for the fifth month in a row.



Trade with other European Union member states accounted for 77% of Hungarys exports and 70% of its imports during the month.



In January-August, Hungarys exports increased by 8.9% year-on-year to 100.020 billion euros, while imports fell by 3.2% to 94.390 billion euros.



The trade surplus reached 5.630 billion euros.



Full report available here



Budget Deficit Narrows to HUF 3,264.9 Billion in September



Hungarys cash flow-based budget deficit narrowed to 3,264.9 billion forints (EUR 8.4bn) at the end of September on a surplus of 33.7 billion forints for the month, the finance ministry said in a first release of data.



The central budget deficit reached 3,266.0 billion forints at the end of September and the social security funds were 135.7 billion forints in the red. Separate state funds had a 136.7 billion forint surplus.
2023 was a year for soybean diseases. Ive been thinking about the soybean disease problems weve had and am planning a series of columns to talk through thoughts on management. I will focus on soybean cyst nematode for this week.

After soybean harvest is a prime time to sample for soybean cyst nematode as theyll be at their highest levels in the soil. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is considered the #1 soybean disease in the U.S. as it can rob yield (up to 40%) with or without the presence of symptoms on soybean plants. When symptoms are present, they can include patchy areas of fields that may contain chlorotic and/or stunted plants. Digging up plants and carefully looking around the roots, one may observe tiny white specks that look like sand grains. With closer observation, if it is SCN, the specks will appear lemon-shaped as the female soybean cyst nematode. Technically, when the female body turns brown and dies is when it is called a cyst. Each cyst protects and contains up to 400 eggs each. When soybean is planted, juvenile nematodes hatch from eggs within the cysts during the right moisture and temperature conditions. The nematodes migrate to soybean roots where they infect, feed, breed, and then females produce new cysts full of eggs. This lifecycle occurs 3-4 times during the summer, thus, SCN populations can rapidly increase in a field in one year.

I saw that this year, a handful of times. Most field situations didnt only have SCN as the problem, but I saw SCN populations rapidly increase from the first time fields were sampled to the next time. As you or agronomists are taking soil fertility samples this fall, split part of the 0-8 (or 0-6) sample for testing for SCN. Or, take the soil sample in areas where the yield monitor showed yields were very low, patches where you saw disease, or field entryways. Its also wise to take a sample from a good portion of the field for comparison. In soybean fields, take the sample a few inches off the old soybean row. However, SCN samples can also be taken from corn or other crop fields to help inform decisions if rotating to soybean next year. Place the sample cores (12-20 in total) in a plastic bucket, mix, then place in your sampling bag. I use quart-sized ziplock type bags, but theres also SCN sampling bags available at local Extension Offices or directly from the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic clinic (402-472-2559). Label the bag with your contact info., field name, and that you want SCN analysis. Also be sure to fill out a completed sample submission form requesting SCN analysis and mail the samples to the UNL Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic (1875 North 38th Street, 448 Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0722). Theres no charge for the sample analysis thanks to the Nebraska Soybean Board and your checkoff dollars. Knowing if you have SCN is the first step in management. Will share more on management in future columns.

Caring for drought-stressed trees/shrubsWith the continuing dry conditions, this is a critical time to prepare woody plants for winter and prevent winter injury, especially to evergreens. Dry fall conditions can reduce the number of leaves, blooms and fruits trees produce the next season. Trees often delay the appearance of drought-stress-sometimes months or years after the stress occurs. Drought-stressed trees are more susceptible to secondary attack by insect pests and disease problems, such as borers and canker diseases, which can cause tree death. When watering, moisten the soil around trees and shrubs, up to just beyond the dripline (outside edge of tree leaf/needle canopy), to a depth of 8 to 12. Avoid overwatering; but continue to water until the ground freezes as long as dry conditions persist. Use a screwdriver pushed into the soil to gauge the depth of watering.

Cedar beetles (Cicada parasite beetles)Have gotten a few calls about numerous beetles on ash and other trees that were crawling on them and flying around. The ones Ive received samples of are cedar beetles, also known as cicada parasite beetles, which were new for me to learn about. They are about one inch long, and dark brown or black. The males have short, comb-like antennae. The beetles are harmless to trees and are laying eggs in the bark cracks. Larvae hatch, travel down tree cracks and burrow through soil looking for cicada nymphs to feed on their blood. So, theyre considered a parasite of cicadas, not of trees, and no control is needed.
Flights to and from Hamburg Airport were suspended for about 1 1/2 hours on Monday after authorities received a threat to a plane from Iran, officials said. Takeoffs and landings at the airport in northern Germany were stopped at 12:40 pm (1040 GMT) and some arriving flights were diverted to Hannover among other places, German news agency dpa reported. Operations resumed later, though the airport warned on its website that delays were still possible.

Federal police said they received an emailed threat on Monday morning of an attack on the Tehran-Hamburg flight and were taking it seriously, though they didn't give details.

Also read: Israel-Hamas War: Multiple International Airlines Suspend Flights To Tel Aviv Amid Gaza War

The Iran Air plane landed in Hamburg at about 12:20 pm. The 198 passengers and 16 crew members underwent a security check, and the aircraft and luggage on board were searched.

There was no immediate update on the outcome of those checks. The German air force said its planes were scrambled to accompany the aircraft from where it entered German airspace, east of Berlin, to Hamburg.
traffic lights

Traffic lights in Manchester are using Google artificial intelligence in an attempt to cut down on tailbacks caused by unnecessary red lights.

Transport for Greater Manchester said it was changing its traffic light patterns based on AI simulations run by the tech giant.

The authority said early tests of the technology had improved traffic flows by as much as 18pc at some junctions.

Google said the system, which has the power to model thousands of traffic lights, meant cars were 30pc less likely to have to stop at junctions.

It has so far used the technology at 70 junctions across 12 cities, with Manchester the first in the UK to trial the system. Google said it plans to offer it to other transport authorities in Britain.

The system, called Project Green Light, uses data from millions of Google Maps drivers to monitor real-life traffic flow and spot junctions where lights are either green for either too long or not long enough.

It then makes recommendations that Google believes would cut down on time spent at red lights, which can be implemented by engineers at the transport authority.

Transport for Greater Manchesters David Atkin said that small changes of a few seconds at junctions had made a substantial difference, with traffic flow at one location improved by 18pc in the evening rush hour and 9pc in the morning.

The authority said it did not always follow Googles recommendations because traffic light systems are often designed to prioritise buses or pedestrians, or to prevent motorists cutting through back streets for faster journeys.

Google said it has been testing the technology with Manchester authority for around a year, focusing on the junctions where its simulations made the most difference. It is now increasing testing and plans to expand into more cities next year.

Greater Manchesters road network has around 2,400 sets of traffic lights and collecting the data needed to optimise journeys is seen as expensive and time consuming compared to the wealth of traffic data collected through Google Maps.

Story continues

As well as cutting down time spent idling at red lights, Google said its technology could also help to reduce air pollution.

The company said air pollution at junctions is up to 29 times higher than it is on an open road. Early tests of its Maps-enabled technology found a 10 per cent decrease in emissions at junctions using the technology.

Google said it was not charging cities to use the technology. It has also tested the system in cities including Seattle, Rio de Janeiro and Hamburg.

Debbie Weinstein, Googles UK managing director, said: AI is the most profound technology that were working on today, with the potential to boost the UKs productivity and support net zero ambitions.

Google is also applying its technology to skies as well as roads. It is working with Eurocontrol, the organisation that manages airspace over the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and north-west Germany to reroute planes away from areas where they are likely to form polluting contrails.

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New Delhi: Revathi Advaithi is a name you should know. She's a successful leader in the business world. Currently, she's the CEO of Flex, a company that used to be called Flextronics. Her journey from a regular job to becoming a top CEO shows how dedicated and good at leading she is.

Early Life and Education:

Revathi Advaithi's journey in the corporate world began with a strong educational foundation. She holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science. Further enhancing her skills, she earned an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2005.

Career at Eaton and Honeywell:

Advaithi started her professional career at Eaton in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where she worked as a shop floor supervisor. In 2002, she joined Honeywell, where she spent six years in various production and logistics roles. Her experiences at these companies equipped her with a deep understanding of manufacturing and supply chain management.

Return to Eaton and Rise to COO:

In 2008, Revathi Advaithi returned to Eaton and spent a decade contributing to the management of several departments within the electrical business unit. Her dedication and expertise led to her appointment as Eaton's Chief Operating Officer (COO). This role marked a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her ability to lead and manage complex operations.

Leading Flex into the Future:

In February 2019, Advaithi assumed the position of CEO at Flex, a global contract manufacturing company. Under her leadership, Flex has shifted its focus towards end-to-end client value chain ownership. Her approach to management is characterized by empathy and swift action. Advaithi is known for her strong commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability in corporate strategy.

Family and Background:

Revathi Advaithi's background is rooted in a diverse cultural upbringing. Her mother, Visalam Swamy, is a housewife, while her father, A.N.N. Swamy, is a chemical engineer. Before settling in Chennai, her family had lived in various parts of India, including Bihar, Gujarat, and Assam.

Net Worth and Salary:

According to the Flex Annual Report for 2022, Revathi Advaithi received a total pay of $15,979,041, which is over Rs 131 crore in Indian currency. This impressive salary translates to more than Rs 10.9 crore per month. Media estimates suggest that her net worth falls between $36 million and $54.5 million.

Revathi Advaithi's remarkable journey from a shop floor supervisor to the CEO of a global manufacturing company is a testament to her dedication and leadership. Her commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability in the corporate world sets an inspiring example. Advaithi's story serves as an inspiration to aspiring professionals, emphasizing the importance of education, hard work, and a vision for the future.
New Delhi: The conflict between Israel and Hamas sparked violent confrontations between their supporters at a London tube station on Monday night. Police officers arrived to calm down the situation and prevent clashes between the pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters as the events abroad ignited passionate protests in London. Social media videos showed the police trying to keep the protesters apart at High Street Kensington Tube Station, where a large pro-Palestine demonstration was happening near the Israeli embassy.

The protest was provoked by a sudden rocket attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 700 people and was denounced by UK PM Rishi Sunak as a terrorist act. The pro-Palestine protesters held flags, lit flares, shouted slogans against Israel, and hurled fireworks at the embassy. The police said they arrested three people and were conducting more investigations.

On the other hand, Israeli supporters gathered outside Downing Street to pay respect to the victims and hostages of the Hamas attack over the Gaza border on Saturday. Sunak also visited a synagogue to express solidarity with the Jewish community. Suella Braverman, a UK MP, called for a crackdown on any anti-semitism or support for Hamas on British streets.

The protests mirrored the rising tensions over the ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine. Earlier on Monday, a Kosher restaurant and a bridge in London were defaced with pro-Palestine graffiti. The Chief Rabbi of the UK said the Hamas attack had impacted almost every Jewish family and caused them grief and worry.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would not tolerate any hate in the city and stood with Jewish Londoners. The pro-Palestine protesters criticized Israels actions in Gaza as occupation, while the pro-Israel protesters blamed Hamas for starting the unrest.

The police are on high alert as emotions run high. The police said they would continue to patrol the streets and communities of London to reassure and protect them. More protests are planned in London by both sides in the coming days. A massive pro-Palestine rally is expected to take place outside the BBC building on Oxford Street.
SRINAGAR: In a major breakthrough, the security forces on Tuesday killed two local terrorists associated with the banned terror outfit Lashkar-E-Taiba during an encounter in Shopian. According to the Kashmir Police, one of the two slain terrorists, who has been identified as Abrar, was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma.

Calling the encounter a big success against the Pakistan-backed terrorists, the J&K Police said, "Two local terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in the night-long anti-terror operation at Ashipora village of Shopian district in South Kashmir."

#WATCH | Shopian Encounter Update: Two terrorists killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow: Kashmir Zone Police



(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) https://t.co/ULxqMsR7ba pic.twitter.com/zhzmGsSJ7l  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed the identities of the two slain terrorists as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq @ Abrar of LeT. He added that Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay Sharma. Sanjay was killed earlier this year on February 23 outside his home in Achan village of Pulwama where he was working as an ATM security guard at Jammu And Kashmir Bank in its village branch.

#ShopianEncounterUpdate: Killed #terrorists have been identified as Morifat Maqbool & Jazim Farooq @ Abrar of #terror outfit LeT. #Terrorist Abrar was involved in killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay Sharma: ADGP Kashmir@JmuKmrPolice https://t.co/Jj0Bxb49dG  Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) October 10, 2023

This is the third anti-terror operation held in South Kashmir in the past month with 6 terrorists being eliminated in those operations. Security forces have so far killed 54 terrorists this year, mostly foreigners. Last week on October 4, two terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen were neutralised by security forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district. Both the terrorists were identified as Basit Amin Bhat of Frisal and Saqib Ahmad Lone of Hawoora, Kulgam and had a documented history of involvement in various terror-related activities.
New Delhi: Popular TV actress Madhura Naik recently revealed that her cousin sister and her husband were brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorists amid the Hamas attack.

Madhura took to her Instagram handle to share the heartbreaking insides of the attack, and it sent shockwaves across the internet. The actress shared the news about her cousin sister and brother-in-law. She stated that the two were killed right in front of the eyes of their kids in Israel.

She also stated that women, children, and the elderly were being targeted in Israel and murdered in broad daylight.

The actress also shared a picture of her cousin Odaya and her husband, along with their kids. "Odaya, my sister and her husband were brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorists in front of their children, was found dead today (Sunday)," she wrote.

Further, she added, "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our beloved cousin in the terror attack. Her warmth, kindness, and love will always be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and all the victims. May they rest in peace. Please stand with us and the people of Israel in this time of difficulty It's time people see the reality of these terrorists and how inhumane they can be."

After sharing her cousin's story, Madhura also stated how she was shocked to see the barrage of hate that came her way after she put out the post about her sister. "I was shamed, humiliated, and targeted for being Jewish. I would like to tell everyone that

this pro-Palestinian Arab propaganda, which makes Israelites look like cold-blooded killers, is not true" she said.

A full-scale war broke out between the militant group Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, leaving at least 200 people dead. Apart from this, more than 1000 people were injured. According to the Israeli army, Hamas terrorists fired more than 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip and also captured several Israeli soldiers near the border.
Tel Aviv: In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Mia Khalifa has faced flak and consequently removed from a podcast deal with Canadian podcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro for expressing her support for Palestine on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas erupted after a surprise terror attack by the latter on Saturday, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Following the attacks, Mia Khalifa openly stood in solidarity with Palestine. Khalifa's social media posts drew widespread criticism, including Canadian broadcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro, who promptly terminated their business arrangement.

Mia shared several posts, one of which stated, If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid and history will show that in time. She added, Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal. It was this post that led to the termination of her deal with Todd.

If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid and history will show that in time  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 7, 2023

Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 7, 2023

In response to the post, the radio host fired her from her job, condemning her tweet as "horrendous" and "disgusting." This is such a horrendous tweet @miakhalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage-taking is truly gross. No words can explain your ignorance. We need humans to come together, especially in the face of tragedy. I pray for you to become a better person. However, it clearly seems like its too late for you, he wrote.

This is such a horrendous tweet @miakhalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately. Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage taking is truly gross. No words can https://t.co/ez4BEtNzj4  Todd Shapiro (@iamToddyTickles) October 8, 2023

Mia retorted by expressing regret for not investigating the affiliations before entering into business deals. Id say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but Im more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad, she tweeted.

Id say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but Im more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad. https://t.co/sgx8kzAHnL  Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 8, 2023

Following the traction gained by Khalifa's post on X, social media users were outraged by what they saw as ''insensitivity'' in her perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. They criticized her stance, questioning the characterization of certain actions as those of freedom fighters.

After facing severe backlash for her views on the Israel-Hamas crisis, Khalifa clarified that her statement was not intended to incite violence. She reiterated her perspective, referring to Palestinian citizens as freedom fighters, emphasizing their struggle for freedom. Mia Khalifa stated, I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is enticing spread of violence. I specifically said freedom fighters because thats what the Palestinian citizens are fighting for freedom every day.
Tel Aviv: Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the top spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, emphasized on Tuesday that the military has successfully reclaimed full control of the Gaza border after Hamas militants detonated sections of the border fence during their attack on Saturday. Israeli forces also claimed to have found nearly 1,500 Hamas militants' bodies within Israeli territory. Hagari confirmed that no terrorists had managed to infiltrate through the fence in the past day, and ongoing scans are being conducted to locate and neutralize any terrorists in hiding.

However, the IDF stated that a small number of terrorists are still concealed within Israeli territory, as reported by The Times of Israel. Sharing updates on the social media platform 'X', the Israel Air Force announced that the IDF had completed the evacuation of settlements near the Gaza Strip fence, excluding those with essential positions and exceptional cases.

Gaza-Egypt Border Closed: IDF

The Israeli military spokesperson confirmed the closure of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, contradicting earlier reports of its temporary opening.

In response to heightened tensions in the disputed region, the Israel Defense Force has bolstered its presence along the Lebanon border with tens of thousands of additional troops, according to IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.

The IDF's report revealed that they had conducted extensive operations, involving 35 battalions, four lieutenant generals overseeing different sectors, and the commander of the Gaza Division, to clear the surrounding area.

Over 1600 Killed In Israel-Hamas War So Far

A recent report highlighted the toll of the ongoing conflict, with over 1,600 casualties on both sides and thousands injured since Hamas initiated its attack on Israel.

In a war update by the IDF, it was revealed that Gaza had fired approximately 4,500 rockets at Israel, prompting the Israeli Defense Forces to strike 1,290 Hamas targets in Gaza. As Hamas' attacks persist, at least 900 Israelis have lost their lives, with over 2,616 people sustaining injuries, according to The Times of Israel.

War with Hamas67 hours in.



We are actively operating to put a stop to the horrors the Hamas terrorist organization is inflicting on Israel. pic.twitter.com/TA4TLorKb4  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 9, 2023

To enhance support, the Israel Air Force announced the establishment of a 24/7 WhatsApp centre to address logistical deficiencies, ensuring prompt delivery of food, equipment, and logistics.

The Israeli Air Force reported that their fighter jets have been targeting numerous terror sites belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, conducting extensive strikes on terror hubs like Rimal and Khan Yunis, critical areas for Hamas's terror activities.

Over the last few hours, IAF fighter jets have been striking numerous terror targets belonging to terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.



Overnight, dozens of fighter jets struck over 200 targets in Rimal and Khan Yunis. pic.twitter.com/ZxLY4xnmn0  Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 10, 2023

Qatar In Talks With Hamas, Israel To Swap Hostages For Prisoners

In a significant development, Qatar has engaged in urgent talks, attempting to negotiate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons. The talks, conducted in coordination with the United States, are seen as a positive step towards de-escalation and peace.

The ongoing negotiations aim to end the bloodshed, secure the release of prisoners, and contain the conflict with no regional spillover, stated Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, underscoring their commitment to mediate in the pursuit of peace.

The violence has resulted in over 1,600 casualties and has garnered international support for Israel while urging an end to the conflict and the protection of civilians.
TEL AVIV: A spokesperson for Hamas' military wing has issued a warning that militants will execute civilian hostages in response to Israeli attacks on civilian homes in Gaza. In an audio statement released on Monday, Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, denounced intense Israeli strikes in Gaza's densely populated civilian areas. Hamas has also reportedly threatened to kill the US citizens captured by its fighters during their surprise raids on Israel on Saturday if it continues to support Tel Aviv.

However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a statement on Tuesday assuring the American public that while there is no specific and credible intelligence indicating a direct threat to the United States, the agency is closely monitoring unfolding events and stands ready to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. "We are closely monitoring unfolding events and will share relevant information with our state, local, federal, and international law enforcement, intelligence, and homeland security partners to ensure they are prepared for any impacts to public safety. We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people," the US federal law enforcement agency said.

Abu Obeida, representing Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, emphasized their response to the heavy bombardment of Gaza's residential areas, resulting in collapsing homes and casualties. We have decided to put an end to this, and henceforth, any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will sadly result in the execution of one of the civilian hostages we hold, he stated.

IDF Takes Full Control Of Gaza Border

In parallel developments, the Israeli Defence Forces have achieved "full control of the Gaza border." Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF's top spokesman, confirmed the regaining of control over the previously breached Gaza border, following Hamas's attack that saw sections of the border fence destroyed.

In the last day, not a single terrorist entered via the fence, Hagari informed reporters, also mentioning ongoing extensive strikes on multiple Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu's Big Warning To Hamas

In response to these events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the images of devastation seen from militant strongholds were just the beginning. Furthermore, the Israeli authorities ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza as the Hamas militant group threatened to execute civilian hostages. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized plans to cut off supplies of electricity, food, and fuel to the Palestinian enclave, describing the conflict as a battle against ruthless adversaries.

Prime Minister Netanyahu underscored that the airstrikes in Gaza were just the start, pledging to do "everything for Israelis held captive" and promising an unprecedented forceful response to Hamas. Hamas initiated an unprecedented assault early Saturday, launching thousands of rockets and sending armed fighters into Israel. The death toll in Israel has reached at least 900, with thousands injured.

The situation prompted Israel to officially declare war on Hamas, with Israeli jets continuing deadly airstrikes on Gaza into the third day. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported at least 687 people killed, including many children and women, and thousands injured.

The conflict has also impacted US citizens, with at least 11 confirmed killed in Israel. US President Joe Biden condemned the Hamas attack, expressing concern for those affected, both Israelis and Palestinians and affirming support for Israel's defence against such acts of terror.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that emergency shelters in Gaza are at 90 per cent capacity, providing refuge for over 137,000 people seeking safety from Israeli strikes. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations to act against the ongoing "Israeli aggression" towards Palestinians, advocating for immediate international intervention.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that approximately 30 hostages are being held by Hamas in Gaza. The conflict has seen about 4,500 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, prompting retaliatory actions by the Israeli Defence Forces, targeting Hamas facilities in Gaza.

Qatar In Talks With Hamas, Israel To Swap Hostages For Prisoners

Qatari mediators have held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source told Reuters.

Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed to Reuters its involvement in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials, including over a possible prisoner swap. The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are "moving positively" said the source, who has been briefed on them.

"We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover," foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told Reuters, without elaborating further.

The violence has claimed over 1,600 lives and led to international expressions of support for Israel and calls for an end to the conflict while ensuring the protection of civilians.
Tel Aviv: In a joint statement, the United States, Germany, France, and Italy have strongly denounced the "appalling acts of terrorism" committed by Hamas and have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Israel in dealing with these acts. "We stand in solidarity with Israel as it defends itself and its people against these acts of terror. It is crucial that no party hostile to Israel seeks to exploit these attacks for their own advantage," the statement, jointly issued by US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stated.

The leaders emphasized their recognition of the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, advocating for justice and freedom on equal measures. However, they made it clear that Hamas does not represent these aspirations and only brings terror and suffering to the Palestinian people.

"In the days ahead, we will remain united and coordinated, standing together as allies and friends of Israel, to ensure its ability to defend itself and work towards a peaceful and integrated Middle East region," they declared.

Today, we  President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States  express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal pic.twitter.com/mUP4I1MGw0  ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

The leaders unequivocally stated that Hamas' terrorist actions are unjustifiable and illegitimate, deserving universal condemnation. Additionally, a senior US Defense Department official likened Hamas' actions to "ISIS-level savagery" against Israeli civilians during a press briefing, as reported by the Times of Israel.

Netanyahu's Big Warning To Hamas

Addressing the situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, asserting that Israel, although not initiating the conflict, is determined to bring it to an end. This followed Hamas's threat to execute an Israeli captive for each civilian house bombed without warning.

The Israeli military has enforced a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip, taking strong measures to counteract Hamas' attacks.

Biden Express Concerns Over Hamas Attacks In Israel

US President Joe Biden expressed deep concern over the Hamas attacks in Israel, highlighting the loss of innocent lives and condemning the acts of terror. He reassured that the US and its allied nations would stand by Israel to counter these injustices.

Moreover, Biden emphasized the need to support justice and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians while making it clear that Hamas does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that emergency shelters in Gaza are nearing 90 per cent capacity, providing refuge for over 137,000 people seeking shelter from Israeli strikes. The death toll and injuries in Gaza have risen significantly, with more than 680 Palestinians killed and over 3,700 injured, as reported by Gaza's health ministry and cited by CNN.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the United Nations to take immediate action against ongoing "Israeli aggression" towards Palestinians during a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres acknowledged the UN's efforts to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza residents and stated that the UN is actively engaging with relevant international stakeholders to address the escalating situation.

In response to Hamas' attack on Israel, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) shared a war update, revealing that around 30 hostages were being held by Hamas in Gaza. The IDF reported approximately 4,500 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, prompting Israeli Defence forces to retaliate and target 1,290 Hamas sites in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in at least 900 Israelis killed and over 2,616 people injured.
The war between Israel and Hamas has intensified with the Israeli Defence Forces and Israeli Air Force placing the Gaza Strip under complete seizure. So far, over 900 Israeli people have died so far while over 2,700 are said to be injured. On the other hand, there have been over 700 deaths including Hamas militants have been reported from Palestine. As the battle continues, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has been keeping a close watch on borders while decimating Hamas targets in Gaza.

In one such incident, the IAF shared a video where Hamas militants were moving towards Israel and were destroyed to pieces by the IAF in seconds. "WATCH: This armed terrorist squad from Gaza was identified on their way to kill Israeli civilians inside of Israeli territory. We made sure to stop them before they could attack our civilians," said the IAF.

WATCH: This armed terrorist squad from Gaza was identified on their way to kill Israeli civilians inside of Israeli territory.



We made sure to stop them before they could attack our civilians. pic.twitter.com/8GpQOAji7z  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 10, 2023

The IAF also issued a brief statement saying that there is no official call by Israel for residents of the Gaza Strip to exit into Egypt. "In recent days, the IDF has been instructing the population inside of the Gaza Strip to distance themselves from designated areas. We emphasize that there is no official call by Israel for residents of the Gaza Strip to exit into Egypt," said the IAF.

On the other hand, Israel has also responded to Hamas's threat of killing hostages. Israel has said that even if Hamas kills Israeli hostages, the situation in Gaza is not going to change. This means Israel will continue its military operations against Hamas. Earlier, Hamas had warned that it would kill hostages one by one in the ISIS style and post the video on social media if Israel continued to hit civilian areas without warning.
As the conflict with Hamas continued for a fourth day on Tuesday, Israel has announced an emergency plan, which will be activated if foreign airlines completely stop flights to the country. Israel's Transport Minister Miri Regev announced the plan in a statement, noting it aims to help Israelis return to the country if their flights on foreign airlines are canceled, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the emergency plan, Israeli airlines will launch an increased number of flights to Israel at four airports in New York, Frankfurt, Athens, and Dubai, which were chosen to serve as departure hubs for their connectivity with global airports.

Also read: Germany's Hamburg Airport Halts Flights After Plane With 198 Passengers Receives Threat

Israeli airlines have added more than 20 flights to transfer Israelis, and more than 100,000 have so far returned to the country since the conflict broke out on October 7, according to the statement.

Regev has instructed to prepare Ramon Airport near the southernmost city of Eilat for inbound international flights. The Ministry also called on Israelis who plan to depart the country to reconsider their plans due to the difficulties that may arise in returning home.

Since Israel declared a war on Hamas as retaliation against the militant group's unprecedented attack, multiple airlines have cancelled or suspended flights to the Jewish nation.

In a statement to CNN on Monday, American Airlines said it was suspending flights until Friday as it closely monitors the situation on the ground. The cancellations follow on the heels of a do not fly order from the president of the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing 15,000 American Airlines pilots.

Delta Air Lines is also canceling all flights to and from Tel Aviv for the rest of the month, but said in a statement that it will work with the US government as needed to assist with the repatriation of American citizens who want to return home.

While Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific canceled its Tuesday flight to and from Tel Aviv, Air Canada announced the suspension of all its flights for now.

Ireland's Ryanair said it was canceling flights in and out of Tel Aviv until October 11, citing operational restrictions. Air India and Lufthansa announced that they were canceling flights until October 14, and Norwegian Air said it is canceling flights until October 15.

Korean Air canceled one of its three regularly scheduled weekly flights into Tel Aviv on Monday, but the South Korean flag carrier said it is planning on flying a 218-seat plane from Tel Aviv and to Incheon on Tuesday in order to bring Korean nationals back home. Ben Gurion International Airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, is located less than 40 miles from Gaza.
Medicare Advantage Plans Available in 55 Counties Across the Three States

MINNETONKA, Minn., October 10, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medica today announced it is expanding from eight to 55 the number of counties (nearly a 600 percent increase) its Medicare Advantage plans are available throughout Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The expansion will provide 53% of Medicare-eligible residents in those states with more options for affordable health care coverage effective January 1, 2024. The plans, known as Medica Advantagesm and Medica Advantage Solution sm, will now be available in 48 counties in Nebraska (plus three border counties in Iowa), four counties in North Dakota and three counties in South Dakota.

These plans provide Medicare beneficiaries health coverage benefits through a private insurer, which is reimbursed by the federal government for those benefits. The plans also require no medical underwriting, offers a network of providers and often has nationwide coverage (for providers who participate in Medicare). Medicare Part D drug coverage is often included, although beneficiaries continue to pay for Medicare Part B in some plans. Members with the plans will have access to high-quality, affordable health care through a comprehensive network of local doctors, clinics and outpatient settings.

"We have listened to people eligible for Medicare who struggle with the cost of health care and have created affordable health plan options that provide innovative benefits that help them meet their needs," said Ann Kinsella, Medica Vice President of Medicare. "Were committed to our members and our mission of being a trusted health plan by providing more affordable options and better access to high-quality health care services in their communities."

Medica Advantage and Medica Advantage Solution are designed to help Medicare beneficiaries manage their health with features that provide benefits at no additional cost or reduce the cost of everyday health needs. Plans start at $0 premiums that include Medicare Part D drug coverage, and $0 premium medical plans (no Part D benefits included) with a $60 per month Part B premium reduction benefit. Some of the benefits are a One Pass fitness membership, which provides free access to participating health clubs, low-copay hearing aids, and $0 copay routine eye and hearing exams. The plans also include allowances for dental services, eyewear and over-the-counter medications as well as low copays on Medicare-covered services with no referrals and no deductibles on prescriptions on all plans with Part D coverage.

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Medica continues to offer Medicare Cost plan coverage in most of the other counties in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

About Medica

Medica (www.medica.com) is a health plan headquartered in Minnesota. The company serves communities by providing health care coverage and related services in the employer, individual, Medicaid and Medicare markets. It operates in Minnesota, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Medicas vision is to be trusted in the community for our unwavering commitment to high quality, affordable health care.

Medica is a Cost, HMO-POS, and PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Medica depends on contract renewal.

Y0088_1011348_M

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231010121656/en/

Contacts

Greg Bury

Greg.bury@medica.com

612-810-4556
Major airlines have suspended flights in and out of Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas. Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport.

Scores of arriving and departing flights at Ben Gurion were cancelled or delayed, according to the airport's online flight board, which also showed a steady trickle of flights. Most were operated by Israel's national airline El Al along with others by regional carriers like Turkey's Pegasus Airlines and Greece's Blue Bird Airways.

Also read: Mumbai Airport Becomes First In Asia To Have 'Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit'

American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for the region citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest.

American suspended service to Tel Aviv through Friday. The airline said that it has issued a travel alert providing additional flexibility for customers whose travel plans are impacted.

We continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed, American said.

United said it allowed two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday and accommodated its customers, crews and employee travellers who were at the airport. The airline said that its Tel Aviv flights will remain suspended until conditions improve.

Delta said its Tel Aviv flights have been cancelled through Oct. 31. The airline said it's monitoring the situation and making schedule adjustments accordingly. The company said customers with cancelled flights or who want to change their Tel Aviv ticket should check the Delta app, website or call Delta reservations to make adjustments.

Airlines in Europe and Asia also put flights on hold amid the hostilities, offering refunds and waiving rebooking fees for passengers. Air France said that it has suspended services to Tel Aviv until further notice after coordinating with French and Israeli authorities.

The airline is constantly monitoring the geopolitical situation in the areas served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety, Air France said in on its website.

Germany's Lufthansa, which suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday, said Monday that the decision regarding its planes and those of its subsidiaries was made due to the still unclear developing security situation in Israel and after an intensive analysis of the situation. The Lufthansa Group includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines as well as Lufthansa itself.

Hong Kong's main carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, said that in view of the latest situation in Israel, it was cancelling its Tel Aviv flights scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

The safety of our passengers and crew are our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely, the airline said on its website, adding it would provide another update on Friday ahead of its third weekly flight on Sunday to the Israeli city.

Virgin Atlantic cancelled its service between London's Heathrow Airport to Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday as well as part of that route on Wednesday.

Budget airline Wizz Air, which flies to Israel from Abu Dhabi and more than two dozen airports in Europe, said it was cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. The U.K. Discount carrier easyJet said that due to the evolving situation in Israel, it has decided to temporarily pause operations," by cancelling its Monday flights from London Luton and Manchester airports to Tel Aviv.

Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority, easyJet said in a statement.

British Airways said it's planning to continue operating flights to Israel over the coming days with adjusted departure times. Dutch carrier KLM said it's scrubbing flights to Tel Aviv until and including Wednesday.
New Delhi: Well-studded with action and thrill, the immensely action-packed trailer of Tejas was released recently. While the trailer is well-studded with many elements that have left the audience impressed, the way it presented the leading lady Kangana Ranaut in the character of Air Force Pilot Tejas Gill has truly left everyone raving about it. While the trailer elevated the feeling of the nation's pride, Kangana happened to receive a golden opportunity to meet Lt. Shivangi Singh, first and only woman Rafale fighter pilot.

Kangana Ranaut who will be seen playing the character of an Air Force fighter pilot in Tejas got to meet the real-life Air Force Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, the first and only female pilot to fly the Rafale fighter aircraft. Both renowned personalities were seen having a deep conversation. This is indeed a very proud moment for Kangana that she got to meet the real life Air Force pilot.

During the interaction , Kangana also spoke about the producer Ronnie Screwvala. She said, "Ronnie is a very patriotic human being. He is a producer who takes immense interest in making a film that celebrates patriotism. After URI he is now back with Tejas."

Produced by RSVP, Tejas stars Kangana Ranaut in the titular Role. Written and Directed By Sarvesh Mewara and Produced By Ronnie Screwvala, the film is scheduled to release in Theatres on October 27th, 2023.
Witnessing your child grapple with anxiety in the school environment can be a challenging experience for any parent. Anxiety can take a toll on their overall well-being, affecting their eating habits, sleep patterns, and behavior.

Recognizing the signs of anxiety and implementing effective strategies can make a significant difference in your child's academic success and emotional well-being.

What is Academic anxiety?

Academic anxiety, also known as school-related anxiety, refers to the stress and apprehension that school-going children experience in response to academic pressures, expectations, and the challenges of the educational environment. It encompasses a range of anxieties, including fear of failure, performance anxiety, test anxiety, and worry about meeting academic standards. Academic anxiety can manifest as nervousness before exams, avoidance of academic tasks, procrastination, or a constant feeling of being overwhelmed by academic demands.

In an exclusive interview with Zee News English, Chetan Jaiswal, founder, CEO, MyPeegu shares all about helping school going children to navigate and manage anxiety at school and keep up their mental health.

Strategies to Help Your Child Manage Anxiety in School to Thrive Academically and Mentally

Mr. Chetan comments, "Children who are worried typically eat badly and sleep poorly; some may overeat and oversleep in an effort to cope with the elevated stress level. Children that are stressed frequently make up

tales and tell lies to get out of having to take responsibility. Additionally, they are more likely to have emotional breakdowns, have temper tantrums, and exhibit behaviors like fidgeting and nail-biting."

Here are 10 ways you can help your kids manage anxiety in school:

1. Starting early will help children overcome their anxiety or fear. Your child will feel more comfortable sharing their worries and concerns if you have an open talk about the forthcoming school year.

2. Inspire your kid to interact with their pals. This can allay their worries and increase their enthusiasm for returning to school.

3. Foster a positive mood in your family by hyping about the school and all the wonderful things that will come with it.

4 . Assist your youngster in organizing their routine. For instance, setting the wake-up time, preparing the school bags and clothes the night before to avoid feeling swamped with responsibilities in the morning.

5. Have a discussion. Use their concerns as an opportunity to have an open discussion about what's causing them to feel anxious. Provide a supportive, safe place for your child to talk about school and what they're struggling with.

6. Practice relaxation techniques. Talk to your child about strategies that help them feel calm. Deep breathing, guided imagery, and mindfulness are essential relaxation strategies that kids can practice at home and utilize it in school.

7. Role-play different scenarios. Once youre aware of which situations at school cause your child to feel overwhelmed or anxious, rehearse potential responses and actions they could take. If your child is nervous about meeting new classmates, for example, you can ask your child questions and give them examples of how they can say hello and introduce themselves.

8. Stay mindful of your emotions. As a parent, it's hard to see your child having a hard time. You want to help, alleviate their stress, and reassure them. Kids look to your moods and reactions for clues on how they should handle stress.

9. Encourage good sleep hygiene. Develop good sleep habits, such as sleeping in a quiet, dark room and keep a regular bedtime schedule, including weekends.

10. Talk to the school guidance counselor: Meeting with the school counselor not only helps your child but can reassure you as well. They may present different options to you, like checking up on your child throughout the day or share other suggestions and strategies.
NEW DELHI: Amid Israel's decisive war against the Hamas militants, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed that India stands firmly with Tel Aviv and assured all possible support to the West Asian nation. Indicating that the Hamas attack was nothing short of terrorism, PM Modi said India ''strongly and unequivocally'' condemns terrorism in all its forms. PM Narendra Modi expressed his support to Israel after receiving a call from his Israeli counterpart who informed him about the current situation in the Jewish country following the deadly attacks by the terrorist group Hamas.



I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the Prime Minister posted on social media platform X.

I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday denounced in strongest terms after Hamas militants attacked the West Asian country killing several Israeli citizens and injuring hundreds of others. Expressing shock over the brutal attack, PM Modi took to social media platform X and said, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour".

In view of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Indian embassy in Israel issued an advisory that called on Indian citizens to exercise caution and avoid movement in the wake of the attacks. There have been no immediate reports of any Indian casualties in the fighting so far.

Israel Declares War Against Hamas

It may be noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a 'war after hundreds of Hamas operatives breached the border fence amidst a rocket onslaught on Saturday morning, resulting in the loss of over 900 lives within Israel. In retaliation, Israel has launched a comprehensive campaign of airstrikes and artillery bombardment targeting Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip, resulting in a death toll of at least 687 people within the coastal enclave.

Conversely, Hamas has issued a harrowing threat to execute civilian hostages they have taken from Israeli territories, vowing to act if Israel persists in its airstrikes.

The Israeli military on Tuesday claimed to have found nearly 1,500 Hamas militants' bodies within Israeli territory. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the top spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, emphasized that the military has successfully reclaimed full control of the Gaza border after Hamas militants detonated sections of the border fence during their attack on Saturday. Hagari confirmed that no terrorists had managed to infiltrate through the fence in the past day, and ongoing scans are being conducted to locate and neutralize any terrorists in hiding.

However, the IDF stated that a small number of terrorists are still concealed within Israeli territory, as reported by The Times of Israel. Sharing updates on the social media platform 'X', the Israel Air Force announced that the IDF had completed the evacuation of settlements near the Gaza Strip fence, excluding those with essential positions and exceptional cases. The Israeli military spokesperson confirmed the closure of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, contradicting earlier reports of its temporary opening.

In response to heightened tensions in the disputed region, the Israel Defense Force bolstered its presence along the Lebanon border with tens of thousands of additional troops, according to IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. The IDF's report revealed that they had conducted extensive operations, involving 35 battalions, four lieutenant generals overseeing different sectors, and the commander of the Gaza Division, to clear the surrounding area.

The violence has resulted in over 1,600 casualties and has garnered international support for Israel while urging an end to the conflict and the protection of civilians.
The fourth day of the war between Israel and Hamas was marked by Israel's retaliatory action. Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will end the war started by Hamas. Israel's Defense Forces have turned Gaza, the stronghold of Hamas, into a revenge territory. On Monday, Israel's Defense Minister had ordered the army to capture the entire Gaza Strip. After which Israeli fighter planes rained bombs on Gaza throughout the night. According to the Israeli army, it bombed 200 places in Gaza overnight due to which the sky of Gaza kept trembling the whole night.

Amid this all, one thing that cannot be ignored is the emergence of a new world order. The centre of power is changing in the world, a new world order seems to be forming. India is also included in this. There is a wave of nationalism in India. The citizens of the country are ready to do anything for the country. Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Canada in June this year.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September blamed India for the death of this Khalistani terrorist. Justin Trudeau felt that by accusing India, he would bring India under pressure. Canada felt that India would bow down due to this pressure. But this pressure backfired on Canada. India's counterattack on this issue showed the world the hidden face of Canada. India told the world through its evidence that Canada is a country that protects terrorists and foreign criminals. Canada had to bow down after India's counterattack.

Israel is also an example of the changing world order, which has given a befitting reply to Hamas's attacks. Only devastation is visible in the Gaza Strip, the stronghold of Islamic terrorist organization Hamas. Israel also did not turn towards America to deal with Hamas, rather he told all the countries including America that Hamas would have to face huge punishment for its mistake.

In the G-20 conference held in India, it was announced to create India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor. India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and European countries will greatly benefit from the creation of this corridor. Not only this, this corridor will also help Europe besides promoting friendly relations between Israel and India can be strengthened with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Iran is also a power in the areas through which this corridor is to pass. Iran is not going to benefit from this corridor much. Experts believe that for this reason, Iran attacked Israel through Hamas to create tension in the region.

Last month, in a UNGA meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said many things against Iran and Palestine regarding the Corridor. It is believed that due to this, Iran got Israel attacked through the Hamas, so that disputes could start with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Through this attack by the terrorist organization Hamas, Iran has given the message of its presence and power in the region.
New Delhi: As part of a probe into money-laundering charges against him and some others, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooped down on the Delhi residence of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan on Tuesday, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying. The Okhla constituency in the Delhi Assembly is represented by the 49-year-old lawmaker. The ED conducted the searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The federal agency acted on the basis of a Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR and a Central Bureau of Investigation FIR against the MLA, accusing him of corruption in connection with unlawful appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan holds the position of the Delhi Waqf Board chairman.
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Bishweswar Tudu today slammed the Odisha government for not taking development work in the state seriously. The minister claimed that the long pending demand for developing Amarda Airstrip was once again withheld due to the denial and non-cooperative behaviour of the Odisha Government. He said that the Central government and the Ministry of Defence went to Odisha to provide the land for the Airport but state Government representatives didn't come to receive it despite of the letter given by DRDO to the collector to receive it.

He said that from the very beginning of his social life, he worked day and night for a commercial airport in Mayurbhanj, Odisha to benefit the people of Mayubhanj along with the people of the Northern part of Odisha, Southern part of Jharkhand and South West part of West Bengal.

After a number of meetings with the Defence Minister & Civil Aviation Minister, the Ministry of Defence were to hand over land measuring 160.35 Acreas valued at Rs 26,03,10.438 on 10th October 2023 to the State Government of Odisha for the working permission to develop an Airport in Mayurbhanj. 5 Officers from Ministry of Defence came to Mayurbhanj for handing over the land to State Government, he said.

"A proper coordination was also made with the concerned officers of State Government. About 2,000 local people witnessed this great moment but not a single representative of the Government of Odisha became ready to take over the land from the Ministry of Defence," said the MoS.

Bishweswar Tudu said that the Government of Odisha is quite negligent in the development of the State of Odisha. In any developmental project initiated by the Central Government, the attitude of the State Government has remained reluctant and non-cooperative, he added.
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant today claimed to have killed Hamas' Minister Of Economy Jawad Abu Shamala in a precision strike by the Israeli Air Force. This is being seen as a setback for Hamas. The IAF also claimed to have killed Hamas leader Zakaria Abu Maamar. On the other hand, while around 900 Israeli people lost their lives so far, over one thousand people including Hamas militants have been killed in Israel's counter-attack.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Force said that sirens were sounding across the country including in the Southern city of Beersheba and Tel Aviv. Israel sounds sirens to alert its citizens to take shelter in bunkers to remain safe from incoming rockets fired by Hamas terrorists.

Earlier today, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the top spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, emphasized that the military has successfully reestablished complete control over the Gaza border. This follows the act of Hamas terrorists detonating sections of the border fence during the attack that occurred on Saturday.

He emphasized that no terrorists managed to breach the border via the damaged fence, stating, "In the past day, there have been no instances of terrorists entering through the fence." Additionally, he highlighted the ongoing efforts of the forces in conducting thorough scans to locate and neutralize terrorists who may be hiding in the vicinity.

On the other hand, India has extended its full support to Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received a telephone call from the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. "Prime Minister expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel and conveyed that people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour. He reiterated that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. PM highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu assured of full cooperation and support. The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch," said the PMO in a statement.
m,etro bank branch

Metro Banks reliance on high street branches means it has a very limited future, the lenders co-founder has warned.

Anthony Thomson, who served as chairman of the beleaguered bank from 2010 to 2012, said Metros focus on bricks and mortar branches will backfire as customers increasingly switch to online banking.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I do think it is a flawed strategy. In short, I think the combination of a branch based strategy for an under capitalised bank gives it a very limited future. I would not like to be the chairman or chief executive of Metro Bank today.

It comes after Metro, which has 2.7m customers and 76 branches across the UK, doubled down on its strategy of relying on bank branches after securing a last ditch funding deal over the weekend.

Dan Frumkin, Metros chief executive, vowed to protect the lenders branches as it launched a 30m a year cost-cutting drive.

The bank said it would honour its previous commitment to open a further 11 branches in the coming years.

Since its launch in 2010, Metro has focused on building an extensive network of branches with quirky features such as coin counting machines, water bowls for dogs and safety deposit boxes.

Metro's branches offer some unique features like water bowls for dogs - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg Finance LP

The expansion puts it at odds with rival lenders, which have drastically cut their number of branches in recent years owing to a sharp drop in visits.

Around three in five bank branches have shut in Britain over the past nine years, according to consumer group Which?.

This weeks renewed commitment to physical branches came after Metro secured a 325m capital raise and 600m debt refinancing late on Sunday after a frantic weekend of negotiations to secure its future.

The deal came after it emerged that the Bank of England was sounding out potential buyers for Metro, amid concerns about the strength of its balance sheet.

The emergency funding package will hand control of Metro to Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal. The deal was devised from a private-island enclave near Miami known as Billionaire Bunker where the 65-year-old investor was holed up, Bloomberg reported.

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Mr Gilinski told the Financial Times that although Metros branch network has been high cost, he believed it was a model that works and helps to build customer loyalty.

Mr Thomson, who launched digital-only lender Atom Bank after leaving Metro, said: It is terrible to see what has happened to such a great bank.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern message to Hamas on Tuesday, asserting that while Israel did not initiate the conflict, it is determined to conclude it with decisive action. Netanyahu strongly condemned Hamas, vowing that they would face the consequences of their actions and would remember them for a significant duration. He emphasized that Hamas will come to realize the gravity of their mistake in attacking Israel, and the reprisal will leave a lasting mark on them and Israel's adversaries.

"Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come," said Netanyahu. The Israeli leader told visiting officials from southern Israel that "what Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible". Netanyahu went on to say, "This is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force". "Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

Netanyahu underscored that this was just the outset, affirming unwavering support and a commitment to defeating Hamas with considerable force. He reiterated that Israel had been compelled into this conflict, emphasizing their determination to see it through to the end.

He drew attention to the horrifying atrocities committed by Hamas against innocent Israelis, condemning their acts of terror and brutality. Netanyahu likened Hamas to ISIS, urging the international community to stand together against this menace and support Israel in combating Hamas.

Expressing gratitude to US President Joe Biden and other global leaders for their support, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel's fight against Hamas transcended national borders and represented a stand against barbarism. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that when Israel triumphs, it would be a victory for the entire civilized world.

Biggest mobilisation of Israeli troops since 1973 War

In response to the escalating conflict, the Israeli military initiated a forceful offensive against Hamas, mobilizing a significant number of troops. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari revealed the unprecedented mobilization of 300,000 troops within a span of 48 hours, marking the largest deployment since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

The mobilization followed a devastating Hamas attack, prompting a retaliatory response from Israel. The conflict has seen a substantial number of rocket launches and casualties on both sides.

Israel Orders 'Complete Siege' Of The Gaza Strip

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, intensifying the military action against Hamas. The IDF continues to strike Hamas-linked targets in Gaza, aiming to undermine the group's capabilities.

The IDF said that it is carrying out a fresh wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it is hitting targets that belong to Hamas terror group. According to the military, further details will be provided soon, according to The Times of Israel report.

Will Execute Civilian Hostages, Warns Hamas

Meanwhile, Hamas has warned civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN. The situation remains tense and volatile as both sides engage in a protracted conflict with far-reaching implications for the region.
Tel Aviv: Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli Police has shared a video which shows how its brave officials killed two armed Palestinian terrorists trying to flee in a deadly chase near the Gaza border. The video shows how an Israeli police officer swiftly manoeuvres his bike closer to a vehicle suspected of carrying Palestinian operatives, gun at the ready. He opens fire on the suspects as fellow officers overtake the car. This gripping scene unfolds on an isolated road amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, vividly portraying the relentless pursuit of Hamas operatives by Israeli law enforcement in southern Israel.

The encounter resulted in the death of two armed terrorists inside the targeted vehicle near Netviot, a city close to Gaza, as confirmed by the Israel Police.

Police and Border Police officers heroically neutralized two armed terrorists outside of Netivot on Saturday. We will continue working on the front lines to defend our civilians from terror pic.twitter.com/PQk9KiiKoT October 9, 2023

Amidst the ongoing hostilities, the Israeli army reported on Tuesday the discovery of approximately 1,500 bodies of Hamas operatives within Israeli territories surrounding the Gaza Strip. These findings have come to light amidst a sustained barrage of Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave.

"Approximately 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were discovered within Israeli territories bordering the Gaza Strip," stated military spokesperson Richard Hecht during a press briefing. He emphasized that security forces had effectively regained control over the border with Gaza. He added, "Since last night, no unauthorized entries have been reported, although we remain vigilant for potential infiltrations." He further mentioned that the army was in the final stages of evacuating communities near the border.

Israel is grappling with a severe attack by Hamas operatives who breached the border fence amidst a rocket onslaught on Saturday morning, resulting in the loss of over 900 lives within Israel.

In retaliation, Israel has launched a comprehensive campaign of airstrikes and artillery bombardment targeting Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip, resulting in a death toll of at least 687 people within the coastal enclave.

Conversely, Hamas has issued a harrowing threat to execute civilian hostages they have taken from Israeli territories, vowing to act if Israel persists in its airstrikes.
Jewellery Arabia, one of the largest and most prestigious consumer jewellery and watch exhibitions in the Middle East, will introduce exciting new features and programmes in its 2023 show, which will be held at Exhibition World Bahrain, Sakhir, from November 14 to 18.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the 31st edition of Jewellery Arabia, which will be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Organised by Informa Markets, this year's event reimagines the world of modern luxury as new ranges of ultra-high-end jewellery and watches are being introduced for the first time, said a statement. The 2023 edition is a true blend of contemporary and bold design, drawing inspiration from the Art Deco movement, a unique vision combining avant-garde styles with fine craftsmanship marks a new direction for Jewellery Arabia, it said.

Mohammed Ebrahim, Exhibitions Director at Informa Markets, said: This exhibition is a celebration of the beauty and craftsmanship of jewellery. We hope our visitors get to express their individuality, creativity and sense of style through jewellery pieces.

This year the exhibition will be held in five halls with brand new features which include a VIP room to network and relax. On top of that, a dedicated wristwatch area will be set up for watch enthusiasts and collectors. The returning Jewellery Arabia Rising Stars pavilion will grant young jewellery designers the opportunity to showcase their designs. Gold Souk another successful feature for Jewellery Arabia will be returning this year.

Dubai Design Academy, which provides accredited professional jewellery making and design courses in the UAE, is offering workshops throughout Jewellery Arabia.

Some of the available workshops include:

Illustrating Elegance: Gemstone Rendering

Illustrating Elegance: Jewellery Design Composition

Crafting Workshop: Link Bracelet

Crafting Workshop: Pearl Drop Earring

These workshops are open to all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced students. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced jewellery makers and designers, and to create their own unique pieces of jewellery.

Dubai Design Academy is also offering a 20% discount code for students attending these workshops at Jewellery Arabia.

Finally, a comprehensive Talks programme exclusively for jewellery enthusiasts will run this year at Jewellery Arabia on the Diamond Dialogues Stage.  TradeArabia News Service
(Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley sold and paid out the $20 million option that federal prosecutors allege motivated Glen Point Capital co-founder Neil Phillips to manipulate the foreign exchange market, a case that goes to trial next week in New York.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The bank wasnt identified in the indictment or earlier court filings, but its name emerged late last month in a fight over which expert witnesses will be allowed to take the stand at Phillipss trial. The former hedge fund chief is seeking to have an ex-JPMorgan Chase & Co. trader testify for the defense that Morgan Stanley would have been expected to hedge against the option.

Manhattan federal prosecutors claim Phillips committed commodities fraud by directing $725 million in trades aimed at increasing the value of the South African rand on Dec. 26, 2017. According to the indictment, he was seeking to trigger the option at a barrier rate of 12.50 rand against the US dollar before it expired in a few days.

The trial, in which jury selection begins Oct. 16, could emerge as a test of the legality of so-called barrier chasing in foreign exchange markets. Phillips, who faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of commodities fraud, has argued that US prosecutors are seeking to criminalize normal trading behavior.

Most Direct Victim

As the option seller, Morgan Stanley would be the most direct victim of Phillipss alleged scheme. A spokesman for the bank declined to comment on Monday. According to court filings, Glen Point bought the option through an intermediary and didnt know it was sold by Morgan Stanley.

A hearing on expert testimony in the case is scheduled for Tuesday before US District Judge Lewis Liman. Prosecutors are seeking to block Phillips from arguing that barrier chasing is a common practice among foreign exchange traders. The government is also seeking to block the testimony of two defense experts, including the former JPMorgan trader, Andrew Newman, who plans to testify based on his analysis of Morgan Stanleys own trading activity that day.

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Read More: Glen Points Phillips Says US Wants to Criminalize FX Trades

Phillipss lawyers said in a court filing that Newman would testify that Glen Points trades didnt create artificial demand for the rand, as there was substantially more interest on the opposite side from other market participants, including Morgan Stanley. Newman would also testify that it would have been consistent with industry practice for Morgan Stanley to hedge its exposure by entering into trades that profited from a decrease in USD/ZAR, the defense said.

The government said Newmans testimony about trading practices would go beyond what experts are normally allowed to tell jurors and risked confusing them about what is permitted under the law. Prosecutors said Newmans testimony about Morgan Stanleys own trading activities on that day would be speculative and prejudicial.

Trial Within a Trial

It would create a trial within a trial, would confuse and distract the jurors, and would raise the risk of the jurors deciding the case based on their views of how Morgan Stanleys conduct compared to the defendants, rather than the law, prosecutors said in a Sept. 29 filing.

Prosecutors are also seeking to block Harvard Business School Professor Kenneth Froot from taking the stand as an expert for the defense. According to Phillipss lawyers, Froot would explain to jurors how macroeconomic conditions in a country like South Africa could influence trading strategy at a firm like Glen Point. The government argues that Froots opinion is irrelevant because other investors may have had different views on those conditions.

Only the defendants views matter, prosecutors said.

Phillips, who was a Morgan Stanley trader earlier in his career, was arrested while on vacation in Spain in 2022 and agreed to be extradited to the US earlier this year. Prosecutors on Sept. 25 said they were withdrawing the most serious wire fraud charges against him. The government didnt say why it was paring down its case, but the dropped counts carried a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Bloomberg has previously reported that Nomura Holdings Inc. handled the December 2017 trades for Phillips, and Glen Point has identified JPMorgan as its prime broker in SEC filings.

The case is US v. Phillips, 22-cr-138, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

(Adds US effort to block Froots testimony in third section.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
If Buc-ees opens a travel center and fuel station in Fort Pierce, it could employ about 275 workers making at least $17 an hour, above Floridas $12 minimum wage and more than most people make at gas stations or retail stores.

The Texas-based company is also known for its benefits, which include:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Full 401(k) matches up to 6%

3 weeks of paid time off.

Buc-ee's jobs

Buc-ee's hires workers for an array of jobs in the store, car wash, food service, merchandise and maintenance.

Examples of open jobs and hourly pay listed for the Daytona Beach and St. Augustine centers in Florida include:

$18: cashiers, janitors, grocery stockers and merchandise associates

$21: Deli/food service

$33: Assistant car wash manager

$100,000 per year: Assistant general manager

Is Buc-ee's coming to Fort Pierce?

Buc-ees is more than your typical gas station or retail store. It's a phenomenon.

Travelers have an almost cult-like love for the large retail center, featuring over 100 fueling stations, cheaper gas, award-winningly clean bathrooms, car wash, beaver merch, snacks and hot foods, including Texas barbecue.

Buc-ees may be considering opening a Treasure Coast store, according to drawings submitted to St. Lucie County showing a 73,000-square-foot retail store with 120 fueling stations, 733 vehicle-parking stalls, 11 bus-parking stalls and 20 EV charging stations on 33 acres at Indrio Road and Interstate 95.

"We have definitely not confirmed a location in Fort Pierce," a Buc-ee's spokesperson told TCPalm Sept. 5.

The nearest Buc-ees is in Daytona Beach.

Ananya Tiwari is TCPalm's business reporter. You can contact her at ananya.tiwari@tcpalm.com or follow her on Twitter at @Ananyati.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: How much do Buc-ee's employees get paid?
Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) introduced legislation to expand protections for workers after layoffs swept the tech industry last year. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Sunday that would have extended the notice period of impending layoffs that companies are required to give employees and expanded these rules to contract workers.

Including contract labor under the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act, "risks imposing liability" on employers who "cannot reasonably be expected to know whether their actions will cause job loss for employees of their subcontractors," Newsom said in his veto statement.

The legislation was created by Assembly member Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) in response to the wave of layoffs that swept the tech industry last year, particularly Twitter, now known as X.

The Elon Musk-acquired social media company reportedly laid off about 4,400 of its 5,500 contract workers without notice or severance, after already laying off about 3,700 of its full-time employees. The company is locked in a legal tussle over not cooperating in arbitration cases with former employees who say the company hasn't paid them severance.

The large number of contract workers in the tech industry is expected to grow in the next few years, especially those working with artificial intelligence programs capable of creating images and other content.

Read more: In the wake of massive layoffs, tech workers reconsider their future

If we want to keep our work force here in California then we have to make sure that all workers  from the software engineers to the janitors and cafeteria workers  get sufficient notice when a company is downsizing instead of kicking them out overnight," Haney said in a news release.

Samantha Gordon, chief program officer at TechEquity Collaborative, which sponsored the bill, called expanding protections to contract workers a "straightforward change that addresses the way that work happens today."

Employers enter into contracts with agencies with a "rough idea," of the work they're paying for, Gordon said, and if contract workers are being laid off, it generally means the employer has told the agency that it can no longer afford to pay those workers.

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"Its reasonable that anyone employed  by that company has the right to be informed of a potential job loss as a result of a mass layoff," Gordon said.

The bill would have extended the WARN-required notice period of impending layoffs, closure or relocation  which applies to companies of a certain size  to 75 days from 60 days. For the rules to apply to employees of labor contractors, they would have been required to work at least six of the 12 months and at least 60 hours preceding the date on which a mass layoff notice is required. Employees of a labor contractor completing a temporary project with a defined end date would have been exempt.

Newsom also questioned the bill's expansion of the kinds of companies that would be subject to the WARN Act to include chain businesses, even when such layoffs might be geographically far apart and unrelated.

Read more: California housekeepers won't get work safety protections after another Newsom veto

"It is not clear that this change is consistent with the purpose of [the WARN Act] to protect local communities and enable a rapid response to a potential shock to a local economy and workforce," Newsom said.

Haney said he plans to reintroduce the bill next year and work with Newsom to address his concerns. The bill was sponsored by several union and labor groups in the state such as the California Labor Federation, National Employment Law Project, and Alphabet Workers Union, which represents Google employees.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Chicago became the largest U.S. city to independently phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers on Friday, a step celebrity chef Rick Bayless said the city needed to take for the greater good.

Bayless supported the legislation, which passed by vote of 36-10, but not without reservations.

He worries it could deepen the pay disparity between well-paid front-of-house workers who will be getting raises and their counterparts in the kitchen, who have always taken home less money because they dont collect tips.

And alarm raised by restaurant owners about the impact higher labor costs will have on their bottom lines and on menu prices is not just noise, said Bayless, whose Chicago restaurants include Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. A lot of people look at (the) restaurant world and say, Well just pay them more, Bayless said. But it is a zero sum game.

Still, the chef, who implemented a service fee in his full-service Chicago restaurants during summer 2020 and now pays servers at Frontera and Topolobampo at least $25 an hour, said the phaseout is necessary. While servers at high-end downtown restaurants can make a lucrative living off of tips, he said, many waitstaff at smaller neighborhood restaurants are just getting by.

We have to ensure that everybody whos waiting tables in all the restaurants, no matter whether theyre high-profile or your local diner, he said, that theyre being taken care of.

Under existing law, Chicago bars and restaurants can pay tipped workers, such as servers and bartenders, $9.48 an hour, 60% of the full minimum wage of $15.80. If workers gratuities do not float their hourly wages above the full minimum wage, restaurants are required to make up the difference, although advocates argue that doesnt always happen.

Under the new law, the gap between the tipped and full minimum wages will shrink 8% each year until the tipped and full minimum wages reach parity in 2028.

Supporters of the legislation say that working for tips keeps restaurant workers wages unpredictable and leaves them vulnerable to customer harassment and racial biases. Opponents, including the Illinois Restaurant Association, say the measure will cause restaurants skating by on already notoriously thin margins to cut staff, raise menu prices and close down.

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An earlier version of the proposal would have phased out the subminimum wage over two years instead of five; in a statement, the restaurant association referred to the final deal as a compromise we can accept.

One Fair Wage, a nonprofit organization advocating to eliminate the subminimum wage around the country, estimates about 100,000 tipped workers in Chicago will be impacted. The restaurant association estimates there are more than 7,000 food service providers, including bars and restaurants, across the city. The question moving forward will be what impact the new measure has on their bottom lines.

I just dont want to be the guinea pig, said Alexis Pavlatos, an attorney who moonlights as a bartender on busy Friday and Saturday nights at Good Night John Boy in the West Loop and Benchmark Chicago in Old Town. Pavlatos said she often makes around $60 an hour, the vast majority of which is made up of tips, and hopes patrons wont tip less as a result of the legislation. If her tips go down significantly, Pavlatos said, she may stop bartending. Im just a little bit nervous, she said.

Were talking about a portion of the population that generally works for lower wages in an industry that generally does not provide things like health insurance, paid vacation, sick days, lots of other perks that almost every other industry does provide for their employees, said Will Stahl, a veteran bartender who supported the legislation.

Eliminating the subminimum wage, Stahl said, was the ethically correct thing to do.

Some restaurant owners, reeling from years of pandemic pain, say its not so simple.

The legislation purports to help tipped workers, but its not, because its putting the restaurants they work at at risk, said Michelle Durpetti, managing partner of Gene & Georgetti in River North. Durpetti estimated that paying the full minimum wage could cost the steakhouse upward of $250,000 a year, and said everything is on the table: raising menu prices, implementing a service fee and even closing.

This is going to force restaurants to dramatically cut costs or raise prices. Everything is going to have drama to it, she said.

Restaurants have been falsely inexpensive for a really long time, said Zoe Schor, chef and owner at Split-Rail in Ukrainian Village, who supports removing the subminimum wage. Diners at Split-Rail pay a 20% service fee that goes to hourly wages for staff, which start at $18 an hour, as well as benefits such as health care for full-time employees. Split-Rail also offers paid vacation time and a 401(k) match for staff whove worked there more than a year.

As a very small, very scrappy independent restaurant owner I will say simply if you cant figure out how to pay people a living wage and stay open, then maybe you cant stay open, Schor said.

Los Angeles already bans the practice of paying tipped staff less than the regular minimum wage, but does so under California state law. Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also require servers to be paid a full minimum wage. Washington, D.C., residents voted to phase out the subminimum wage last year. A legal battle over a phaseout of the subminimum wage is ongoing in Michigan courts.

With the eyes of the hospitality industry on Chicago, One Fair Wage is eyeing new targets. President Saru Jayaraman said the organization has spoken with several Cook County commissioners on the issue, and said legislation would be moving in Puerto Rico and nine states, including Illinois, come January. At a news conference last Tuesday, Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, described the Chicago vote as one giant step toward the goal of eliminating the subminimum wage across the U.S.

The Illinois Restaurant Association and One Fair Wage cite dueling data about how workers and restaurants have fared in states that have eliminated the subminimum wage.

There is a lot of uncertainty, said Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornells School of Hotel Administration, who studies tipping. You have to let it play out and see.

Lynn said research shows that in states with no subminimum wage for tipped workers, consumers do tip less  but not a whole lot less.

The impact on diner demand is also not clear-cut, though Lynn said demand in Chicago will likely go down in the short term, before customers adjust to higher prices and demand eventually builds back up.

If restaurants raise menu prices 15% in an effort to pay the higher wages now required by law, people who typically tip less than 15% would experience a price hike, Lynn said. Customers who usually tip more than 15% would experience a price drop, although they are the diners who tend to be less sensitive to price in the first place.

At the same time, people tend to focus on the biggest most salient price and tend to ignore all the surcharges, unless you start surcharging them to death, which many restaurants have started to do, Lynn said.

Demand will go down because diners are going to feel like prices went up, agreed Jean-Pierre Dube, a professor of marketing at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business. That demand will not necessarily bounce back, he said.

Dube speculated diners wouldnt be discouraged from going to restaurants in the first place, but that theyd order fewer dishes and less expensive ones when they do.

Michael Roper, owner of Uptown brewpub Hopleaf, estimates that increasing hourly wages to $15.80 per hour will cost the restaurant between $78,000 and $104,000 a year. Fewer than a third of his tipped employees make the subminimum wage as their hourly base rate, he said; the rest make in between the subminimum and general minimum wage.

Hopleaf will need to make up that difference by cutting staff and raising prices, he said.

You dont want to cut so many people that service suffers, Roper said. But you also, you know, cant afford to have somebody making $15 to $16 an hour who isnt busy.

The reality is, he said, we arent as busy as we were a few years ago.

In a restaurant association survey of a few hundred Chicago restaurant operators, 80% said they would likely raise menu prices in response to the elimination of the subminimum wage, while two-thirds said theyd reduce staff or consolidate positions. A quarter said they would change their service model to include more quick service or counter service.

One Fair Wage and its allies argue that the subminimum wage leaves tipped workers vulnerable to exploitation.

A city-commissioned report of tipped workers done by researchers at the University of Illinois and at the University of Chicagos Booth School, which recommends the end of the subminimum wage, found close to 80% of workers had been required to work off the clock in the month prior to the survey, while more than half reported being illegally required to share tips with their managers during the week prior to the survey.

Tina Hines works as a bartender and shift lead at Reno, a restaurant and wine bar in Logan Square. Tips at the restaurant are pooled, and Hines hourly wage and share of the tip pool depend upon what role shes filling on a given shift. On a slow day, she might make around $27 an hour. On a busy shift, she can earn closer to $50 an hour. She made about $50,000 last year.

Shes grateful management at Reno is transparent with its staff, she said. But she knows plenty of people who have worked for bars or restaurants that arent as transparent about tips, meaning theyre never quite sure if theyre taking home what theyre entitled to.

Its for that reason, she said, that she supports the legislation, even though she thinks its possible some people may tip less. The new paradigm will ease some of the sort of opaque, weird, shady stuff that can go on behind managements closed doors in the restaurant industry, she said.

On Thursday afternoon in restaurant mecca Fulton Market, many Chicagoans who spoke with the Tribune said they werent familiar with the tip legislation, or were only vaguely aware of it.

Emily Patton, a 26-year-old Wicker Park resident, waited to lunch outside Beatrix with her mother, who was visiting from out of town.

To me it makes sense to get them up to the same level, said Patton, who said she typically tips 20% at restaurants.

Would she tip less if she knew restaurant workers were earning more per hour?

I dont think so, Patton said. Just behaviorally, its so set.
Novotech

BOSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO with global execution capabilities, has been selected as the CRO Company of the Year 2023 by growth advisory and opportunity analytics firm Frost & Sullivan. Novotech has been a recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards since 2006.

Novotechs Vice President, Clinical Services Dr. Yooni Kim will accept the award on behalf of Novotech at the award ceremony on November 8, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

David Frigstad, Chairman, Frost & Sullivan said Novotech is at the forefront of innovation and growth and has consolidated their leadership position by innovating and creating new solutions and services that meet ever-evolving customer needs.

Dr. John Moller, CEO of Novotech, expressed his gratitude for this recognition, attributing the company's success to its dedicated global team of clinical trial experts. To be consistently recognised for CRO excellence by leading industry analyst organization Frost & Sullivan further demonstrates our position in the sector as a trusted partner for biopharma, said Dr. Moller.

Dr. Moller further stated, The Frost & Sullivan research underscores the pivotal role of Novotech's client engagement strategy, which involves identifying unique challenges and delivering innovative solutions that propel drug development programs forward."

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Research Analyst Azza Fazar commended Novotech's visionary approach to growth strategies, noting its adeptness in addressing emerging challenges and opportunities. She emphasized that Novotech's comprehensive, value chain-centric approach to clinical development support, covering all phases of trials and offering customized services across diverse therapeutic areas, has garnered the trust of numerous biotechnology clients worldwide.

Against this backdrop, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Novotech as CRO Company of the Year 2023, she said.

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Fazar added, "The company streamlines its processes and procedures to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, reporting standard operating procedure reductions of 40%. Novotechs dedication to customer satisfaction is evident in its client interactions, as indicated by an average engagement rating of 4.7 out of 5 in recent surveys.

The companys comprehensive 360-degree approach to clinical development support, covering all phases of trials and offering tailored services across therapeutic areas, has earned the trust of hundreds of biotechnology clients globally, she stated.

Novotech has more than 3,000 employees operating across 25 geographies with 34 office locations, including Greater China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Europe.

The CRO offers biotechs a unique and unparalleled suite of early to late-phase services across the US and Europe, with a foundation in Asia Pacific where the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality expedited clinical trials.

Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023 and the Best Cell & Gene Therapy CRO 2022 and 2023 awards. Additionally, the company was honored with the Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023. Its commitment to collaboration is evident in the 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements it has signed over the past three years.

Media Contact

David James

communications@novotech-cro.com

AU: +61 2 8218 2144

USA: +1 415 951 3228

Asia: +65 3159 3427

About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com

Founded in 1997, Novotech is internationally recognized as the leading Asia Pacific centred Contract Research Organization (CRO) with global execution capabilities. The Company has established itself as a clinical CRO with labs, phase I facilities, drug development consulting services and regulatory expertise. It has experience in over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. Novotech employs over 3,000 staff globally across 34 office locations. Novotech is positioned to serve as a partner and ally to small and medium-sized biotech, biopharma and pharma sponsors seeking to conduct clinical trials in Asia Pacific, the US and Europe.

For more information visit Novotech CRO








Travel Lemming signals plans to expand its library of free travel guides, announcing contracts with 3 editors and 12 new local creators in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France.

DENVER, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The online travel guide Travel Lemming today announced a major expansion of its team of content creators, continuing with its aims of building the world's best library of human-crafted travel guides.

Chelsea Booker, one of Travel Lemming's new editors, is based in Seattle.

The new appointments will allow Travel Lemming, which is read annually by more than 10 million, to expand its library of free travel guides in the United States, Canada, and England. They also mark the expansion of Travel Lemming's library into content about travel to France, Wales, and Scotland.

With the expansion, Travel Lemming announced the promotion of three of its creators to freelance editor roles:

Lea Rose Allbaugh - an editor and creator from North Carolina currently based in Chicago, Illinois. Allbaugh earned her B.A. in Communications Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2020.

Chelsea Booker - an editor and creator from Seattle, Washington. Booker earned her B.A. in English from Seattle University in 2014.

Elizabeth Demolat - an editor and creator from Nashville, Tennessee. Demolat earned her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Mississippi in 2012, and her Masters in Education from William Carey University in 2018.

Travel Lemming further announced contracts with 12 new local travel creators:

Alex Brotherton (Manchester, England, United Kingdom)

Alexandria Taylor (Washington, D.C.)

Catherine Driver (Vancouver, Canada)

Claudicet Pena (Boston, Massachusetts)

Ethan James Thoren (Jacksonville, Florida)

Laura McFarland (San Francisco, California)

Lindsay Wenndt (Atlanta, Georgia)

Louise Wylie (Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom)

Niamh Hayes (New York City, New York)

Rachel Kapelke-Dale (Paris, France)

Ruthie Elizabeth Walters (Wales, United Kingdom)

Sarah Heath (Dallas, Texas)

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In total, the new hires bring Travel Lemming's masthead to over 35 local and expert travel creators.

Reflecting on her promotion to editor, Lea Rose Allbaugh commented: "I recently became an editor after freelance writing for Travel Lemming for about a year. My entire experience with Travel Lemming has been wonderful  the culture is so friendly and supportive, which is amazing considering the fact that our team works totally asynchronously and online. I've grown a lot as a travel writer and I love being part of a publication that shares travel knowledge written by people who have a real passion for travel and the places they call home."

Nate Hake, CEO & Founder of Travel Lemming, commented: "It is my goal to build Travel Lemming into a one-stop-shop for all your travel information needs. I want Travel Lemming to be the first place travelers go when they want honest and helpful perspectives from other knowledgeable humans. This expansion will allow us to offer guides to some of the places most requested by our readers, like Paris, Boston, New York City, and the United Kingdom."

Mr. Hake added: "The next step in our expansion will be selling products and services under the Travel Lemming brand name. We are currently working on our first digital products, as well as a premium membership subscription, which we hope to launch before the end of 2023."

About Travel Lemming

Travel Lemming is an online travel guide founded by Nate Hake in 2017. Travel Lemming publishes helpful travel guides written by local and expert travelers who have first-hand experience in destinations across the United States and the world.

Media assets can be found here .

Press Contact: Taylor Herperger, 366663@email4pr.com, (306) 745-7501

Travel Lemming editor Elizabeth Demolat, who is based in Nashville.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/online-guide-travel-lemming-expands-editorial-team-301951608.html

SOURCE Travel Lemming
Key Insights

Using the Dividend Discount Model, Polaris Renewable Energy fair value estimate is CA$23.00

Polaris Renewable Energy's CA$13.29 share price signals that it might be 42% undervalued

Our fair value estimate is 7.4% lower than Polaris Renewable Energy's analyst price target of US$24.83

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. (TSE:PIF) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

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 Polaris Renewable Energy

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We have to calculate the value of Polaris Renewable Energy slightly differently to other stocks because it is a renewable energy company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. 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 6.0%. Compared to the current share price of CA$13.3, the company appears quite good value at a 42% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

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Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= US$0.7 / (6.0%  1.9%)

= CA$23.0

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Polaris Renewable Energy as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.824. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Polaris Renewable Energy

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Weakness

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Renewable Energy market.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Canadian market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Canadian market.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Polaris Renewable Energy, we've compiled three pertinent elements you should further examine:

Risks: Take risks, for example - Polaris Renewable Energy has 4 warning signs (and 1 which is concerning) we think you should know about. Future Earnings: How does PIF's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other 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.
According to a recent Organic Valley/Harris Poll, fewer than 2 in 5 Americans have ever visited a dairy farm and fewer than 1 in 6 know a dairy farmer

LA FARGE, Wis., Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate National Farmers Day, Oct. 12, 2023, Organic Valley will be opening its barn doors to consumers and broadcasting an all-day livestream so that anyone can visit an Organic Valley farm  virtually. The livestream starts at 7 a.m. CDT and will feature close to a dozen small organic family farms and farmers coast to coast. It will be featured on YouTube and on one of the largest screens in Times Square during the morning rush.

Organic Valley Hosts the Worlds Biggest Small Organic Farm Livestream to Celebrate National Farmers Day on October 12.

Viewers will get virtual mud on their boots and walk in the boots of a real organic farmer, (virtually) boop a cow on the nose, frolic among free range chickens, drink in the natural beauty of organic pastureland and learn from Organic Valley farmers how these small organic family farms are protecting where food comes from. Those watching will get an amazing view of the landscape and biodiversity on Organic Valley farms in Ohio, Oregon, Wisconsin and Vermont. This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to see the day-to-day happenings on real organic dairy farms in real time.

Part of the inspiration for this came from consumers themselves. According to a recent survey, commissioned by Organic Valley and conducted online by The Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults, 81% of Americans say it is important to them to know where their food comes from, yet fewer than 2 in 5 (39%) have ever visited a dairy farm and fewer than 1 in 6 (15%) say they personally know a dairy farmer.

"National Farmers Day is more than a celebration  it's a commitment to honoring the people who work from sunup to sundown to grow the nation's food. Organic Valley farmers showcase the heart of agriculture  small family farms," said Jaclyn Cardin, Organic Valley chief brand officer. "We're not just feeding communities; we're championing the sustainability and resilience of organic family farms. On National Farmers Day, as you see how Organic Valley farmers are protecting where your food comes from, remember that supporting local organic farmers is an investment in both our future and the preservation of family farming traditions."

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More than 100,000 family farms have been lost in the last decade. And once they're gone, they're gone forever  a very sad reality of today's food landscape. On National Farmers Day, Organic Valley encourages consumers to virtually explore some of the small organic family farms protecting where their food comes from. Spending money locally and supporting local organic producers has a big impact on the community and ecosystem.

Organic Valley has a unique ability to show behind the scenes on farms and remind consumers how important it is to produce dairy that people can feel good about eating. Farming organically means not using toxic pesticides, GMOs, or synthetic fertilizers. The result is organic farmland teeming with life, from earthworms and pollinators to large mammals like bear and elk. The small organic family farms of Organic Valley host more biodiversity than conventional farms. Supporting small organic family farms and buying organic food is an easy way consumers can help protect small family farms and communities across the country.

Survey Method

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Organic Valley from Sept. 7-11, 2023, among 2,049 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

About Organic Valley

Organic Valley is the leading organic farmer-owned cooperative on a mission to save, serve and safeguard small organic family farms. The brand's products are ethically sourced, which we define as food raised on organic farms where families manage the daily care for the animals and the earth while living up to the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program as well as our cooperative's own high standards and practices designed to promote the principles of organic agriculture, including respect for the dignity and interdependence of human, animal, plant, soil and global life. Founded in 1988, today the cooperative is owned by over 1,600 organic family farms. Visit ov.coop for more information. Organic Valley is also @OrganicValley on Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn , Pinterest and Twitter and @therealorganicvalley on TikTok .

Media Contact:

Heather Johnson

Heather.johnson@organicvalley.coop

Organic Valley Logo hero, Organic Valley Logo shield

Cision

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SOURCE Organic Valley
The main gate at The Walt Disney Studios the day after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced it reached a preliminary labor agreement with major studios in Burbank

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management returned nearly 3% in the first nine months of the year, investors said on Tuesday, as his bet on Walt Disney Co contributed to the activist hedge fund lagging its peers' returns.

Disney's stock price has tumbled roughly 30% since February, when Peltz ended a battle for a board seat but kept Trian invested in the stock.

Since the end of June, Peltz increased his ownership at Disney five-fold to a nearly 2% stake, worth $2.5 billion, people familiar with his portfolio said. Now he wants "multiple" seats, including one for himself, on the 11-member board, Reuters reported on Monday.

Beyond Disney, Trian's biggest investments at the end of June included asset manager Janus Henderson Group Plc, plumbing and heating products distributor Ferguson Plc, and fast food chain Wendy's Co.

Trian's returns have historically been strong, with the firm returning an average 12% a year, an investor said.

Trian declined to comment.

Some blue-chip activist investors, including Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management and Jeff Smith's Starboard Value, are posting better numbers.

Pershing Square was up 11.7% through the end of September while Starboard was up nearly 10% through the middle of September, investors said. The average activist investor gained nearly 7% through the end of September, according to Hedge Fund Research data.

Pershing Square declined to comment and Starboard did not respond to a request for comment.

At the end of June, the average activist investor was up 11.5% while Trian was up roughly 6%, HFR data and investors said.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda Indonesia, a dominant player in the Japanese premium automotive market, has recently introduced its latest gem, the All-New Mazda CX-60 in Indonesia. Spearheading this remarkable marketing achievement is none other than Pramita Sari, the esteemed Marketing and Communications General Manager of Eurokars Motor Indonesia. With her leadership, Pramita Sari has orchestrated a resounding success in ensuring the All-New Mazda CX-60's stellar debut, as well as increasing 30% Mazda brand's PR (Public Relations) Value in Indonesia's premium car segment.

Pramita Sari, the mastermind behind Mazda Indonesia's triumphant marketing strategy rooted in a value-centric approach, setting a fresh benchmark for innovation and premium car design excellence in Indonesia.

For the latest updates, follow Mazda Indonesia's official Instagram account www.instagram.com/mazdaid/ and visit www.mazda.co.id

Mazda's premium brand awareness in the country is the result of a meticulously crafted marketing strategy that Pramita Sari and her adept team have ingeniously engineered. The Mazda CX-5 series achieved an impressive 31% of 1,002 car booking orders (SPK) during the GIIAS 2023 event, reaffirming Mazda's prowess, and allure.

Pramita Sari embarked on her automotive journey in November 2021 as the Head of PR & Communications, harnessing her prior experience in deftly managing diverse hospitality and lifestyle brands across Indonesia. Her passion for marketing and curiosity led her to Mazda Indonesia, where she focused on elevating the brand's presence. Her strategic acumen has increased Mazda's brand awareness as a premium automotive brand in Indonesia by 10%.

Under her leadership, Eurokars Motor Indonesia has strengthened its premium positioning through the following multifaceted approach:

Product Differentiation : Spotlighting unique and innovative models/designs,

Emphasizing Mazda's Values : Seamlessly and consistently communicate Mazda's meaning and values to foster lasting relationships with customers.

Excellence in Customer Experience : Eurokars Motor Indonesia's commitment to end-to-end customer satisfaction, highlighted by a meticulous customer experience investment, ensures a steadfast customer base.

Leveraging Digital Transformation : By embracing the digital age and proactively reaching out to customers via online platforms, Eurokars Motor Indonesia authentically educates, engages, and broadens its audience.

Innovative Marketing : The implementation of imaginative campaigns, synergistic collaborations with influencers and brands eyeing for the same positioning, and captivating event activations have unequivocally piqued public interest. This success culminated in Eurokars Motor Indonesia's booth being lauded as the Favourite Booth in GIIAS 2022 for the Passenger Category <800-square meters.

Agile Adaptation: The understanding of the fast-changing and dynamic nature of Indonesia's automotive industry underlines the importance of agility, flexibility, and adaptability.

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Additionally, Pramita Sari advocates for a value-driven marketing approach that builds stronger relationships with customers. "When we grasp our customers' needs and values, we start to cultivate customer loyalty that transcends generations. By delivering satisfying experiences, high-quality products, and exceptional service, we can establish a brand reputation that continues to grow," said Sari.

The new Mazda Simprug Headquarters represents a groundbreaking milestone for Mazda. It is the first-ever service hub that epitomizes responsiveness, personalization, and attentive consumer engagement. More than a mere service center, the headquarters immerses consumers in Mazda's values, fostering emotional connections that transcend transactions. Mazda's marketing and communication initiatives are a joint effort between Japan and Indonesia, with both teams working collaboratively to create compelling strategies that resonate with customers.

As Mazda Indonesia strides confidently in 2023, the national automotive sector's promising 10.64% growth fuels a renewed sense of optimism and opportunity for the brand to flourish under Pramita Sari's astute guidance. With unwavering optimism, she commented, "We perceive these positive industry trends not as challenges, but as avenues for innovation, expansion, and transformation. Armed with 25 official dealers across the nation, Mazda Indonesia is ready to win over Indonesian automotive aficionados by collaborating with others, empowering communities, and participating in events."

Pramita Sari's focus remains unwavering: to continue shaping Mazda as a brand that resonates strongly with its customers. With over 15 years of experience in the B2B and B2C sectors, her strategic communication prowess has propelled the brands she has worked with to greater heights, leading her to be recognized as one of the Top 100 Corporate Communication Practitioners in Indonesia in 2019 by MIX Marketing & Communication Magazine. Her expertise in PR and Communications has also made her elected as part of the Board of Council of the Indonesia Hotel Public Relations Association (H31), which she previously served as Chairperson of H31 for the 2019-2021 period.

About PT Eurokars Motor Indonesia

PT Eurokars Motor Indonesia (EMI), part of Eurokars Group founded by Karsono Kwee, is the sole agent and exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in Indonesia under PT EMI's ownership since 2017, Mazda has recorded significant sales growth in the domestic premium cars market through its models and features. After the acquisition, Karsono Kwee, the founder of Eurokars Group, decided to employ all the employees and integrate them into the Eurokars Group.

Media contact:

Pramita Sari

Marketing & Communications General Manager

E-mail: pramita.sari@mazda.co.id





Fachruzi

Mazda & Communications Assistant Manager

E-mail: fachruzi@mazda.co.id

Cision

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SOURCE PT Eurokars Motor Indonesia (EMI)
The 2023 Opec World Oil Outlook (Opec WOO) predicts a strong medium-term growth in oil demand, with long-term demand expected to reach 116 mb/d by 2045.

Opec WOO was launched on October 10 at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Saudi Arabia.

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 to 2045.

The 17th edition of the flagship publication discusses recent energy and economic developments, net zero policies, population questions, policymakers reevaluating transition pathways, and the need to bring modern energy services to billions.

Opec WOO report key predictions:

OIL DEMAND

Global oil demand is predicted to reach 110.2 million barrels a day (mb/d) in 2028, a 10.6 mb/d increase from 2022.

Non-OECD oil demand is expected to increase by 10.1 mb/d, reaching 63.7 mb/d by 2028. OECD demand will also increase by 0.5 mb/d over the medium-term.

In the long term, global oil demand is expected to increase by over 16 mb/d between 2022 and 2045, rising from 99.6 mb/d in 2022 to 116 mb/d in 2045.

Non-OECD oil demand is expected to increase by almost 26 mb/d between 2022 and 2045, while OECD oil demand is set to contract by around 9.3 mb/d.

The largest contributions to non-OECD oil demand are expected to come from India, Other Asia, China, Africa, and the Middle East.

Further, the largest incremental demand is projected for road transportation, petrochemical, and aviation sectors.

Major long-term demand growth is expected for jet/kerosene, ethane/liquefied petroleum gas, diesel/gas oil, naphtha, and gasoline.

OIL MOVEMENTS

Driven by strong demand growth, Global crude and condensate trade is expected to reach levels above 39.3 mb/d in 2025, up by over 3 mb/d from 2022 levels.

By 2045, total flows are expected to increase to 45.3 mb/d due to rising oil demand and declining supply in importing regions.Major export contributors include the Middle East, Latin America, and the US and Canada.

Asia-Pacific remains the main destination for exports, with total imports increasing from 23 mb/d in 2022 to 32.6 mb/d in 2045, increasing its share of global interregional trade.

ENERGY DEMAND

Global primary energy demand is set to increase from around 291 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mboe/d) in 2022 to close to 359 mboe/d in 2045, an increase of 68.3 mboe/d, or 23 per cent over the outlook period.

Growth is expected to slow gradually from the relatively high short-term rates to more modest long-term increments, in line with moderating population and economic growth.

Energy demand growth will be driven by the non-OECD region, which is set to increase by 69 mboe/d over the outlook period.

Around 28 per cent of non- OECD growth is expected to come from India alone. At the same time, energy demand in OECD countries is set to marginally decline in the outlook period.

Futher, Demand for all primary fuels is set to increase in the long-term, with the exception of coal due to energy policy and climate commitments.

The strongest growth is expected for other renewables (notably wind and solar), which will increase by34.3 mboe/d, based on strong policy support in many regions.

The share of other renewables in the energy mix is set to rise from around 2.7 per cent in 2022 to 11.7 per centin 2045. Oil demand will grow strongly too, and even though its share in the energy mix declines modestly, oil will remain the fuel with the largest share by 2045 at 29.5 per cent.

Natural gas demand is set to increase by 20 mboe/d over the outlook period, reaching 87 mboe/d in 2045.

The share of fossil fuels in the energy mix will drop from above 80 per cent in 2022 to about 69 per cent in 2045, due to the decline of coal.

In the same period, the combined share of oil and gas in the energy mix still represents 54 per cent in 2045.

Haitham Al Ghais, Opec Secretary General, said it was a great privilege to launch the publication in the presence of Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia , Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman and thanked Fahad Alajlan, President of KAPSARC, and his dedicated staff, for supporting with preparations for such an important Opec event.

Al Ghais highlighted that the WOO 2023 provides a data-driven, fact-based outlook that emphasizes the realities we see before us. The upshot is there is no credible way to address all the challenges before us without utilising all available energy sources, all relevant technologies, and with energy market stability as a cornerstone for the huge investments required. --OGN/ TradeArabia News Service
File photo of Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development. The DWD has a unique office, called the Office of Skills Development, to manage the Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program.

Seeing the effects of understaffing, the Wisconsin Health Care Association took a leap: It started training people as certified nursing aides, for free, through the WisCaregiver Careers program.

More than 2,000 people have become CNAs and worked in Wisconsin nursing homes since the program began in 2018. A big reason why WisCaregivers grew into an ongoing public private partnership is because in 2020, it received nearly $400,000 through Wisconsin Fast Forward, a decade-old state grant program.

The Legislature cut Fast Forwards 2023-25 budget by 16% this spring, suggesting the Department of Workforce Development had failed to spend all of the money it could on the program. The funding now caps at $10.5 million, or $2 million less than the previous funding cycle.

It's true that DWD spends some Fast Forward money on workforce programs other than grants to employers, as its allowed under state law. However, issues getting money out the door in grants appear tied up in the programs structure and requirements  nuances that are largely set by the state Legislature.

Even when grants run smoothly, Fast Forwards data-heavy, reimbursement-based structure means money is slow to trickle from the state to employers. If grant recipients run into hiccups leading new worker training programs, they could risk losing out on funding they expected to receive.

On average, 51% of grants end up receiving full funding or within $100 of it, according to DWD.

Employers cite issues with the programs red tape and insidious paperwork, according to comments submitted by grant recipients to the DWD and obtained by the Journal Sentinel through a public records request. Many employers also had trouble finding enough workers to complete the training programs, citing labor shortages.

The 2023-25 funding cut leaves less money available for a state program that has spread $45 million across Wisconsin in the past decade, paying to train special education teachers, childcare workers, tool and die makers, medical assistants and registered behavioral technicians, among others.

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We are so grateful for this opportunity, wrote a public school district grant administrator to the DWD in 2021. The district used Fast Forward money to train paraprofessionals to become teachers. I have one administrator who tells me how this program has been life changing for several of his staff.

Need to gather, input data can be confusing

Fast Forward has been in place since 2013 as the result of a bipartisan vote in the Legislature. As a workforce development program, it is designed to award grants between $5,000 and $400,000 to public and private employees for new, customized worker training programs.

To receive Fast Forward funding, an employer must first execute the training, pay for it, then submit data to the state on things like workers employment status, wages, demographics and Social Security numbers. Employers must also write progress reports and keep strict financial records, such as proof of payment for all transactions.

In comments submitted to the DWD, grant recipients often cited issues gathering the necessary data.

It has been exceptionally difficult for us to submit invoices and request reimbursement. The owner group is now concerned that we may not actually receive payment for services provided, wrote the grant administrator for a locally owned restaurant in Ozaukee County in 2022.

Cut the red tape and endless paperwork, reads a different comment from a small northern Wisconsin business in 2021.

Kate Battiato administered the CNA training grant for the Wisconsin Health Care Association in 2020. In an interview, Battiato said she collected 47 unique data points for each of the 547 workers whose training the grant funded.

DWD staff recognized the data burden for such a large training program, she said, and updated the computer system to help.

The grant's reporting requirements can be onerous, especially for people without grant experience, Battiato said. But she understands why: Its public money, which requires accountability. The program itself incentivizes new ideas for filling workers shortages, she said.

"I feel like, despite the challenges involved with it, they're willing to work with you," Battiato said.

Audit: Fast Forward grants trained 53% of the workers they were intended to

As a performance grant, Fast Forward also has baked-in accountability measures designed to ensure funding is used only on programs that hit certain metrics. For example, 85% of workers must complete the training, and 75% of incumbent workers must see wage increases.

If certain program requirements arent met, an employer wont receive full funding. Several employers comments to the DWD in the 2021-22 year outlined challenges finding workers due to issues in the labor market.

However, data show issues finding workers are not just related to the pandemic. A 2019 state audit found 9,451 people successfully completed a Fast Forward training program between 2012-13 and 2018-19. Thats just over half  53%  of the 17,881 people who those grants were contractually required to train.

The audit also found DWD "did not attempt to verify" information submitted by grant recipients about the results of their training programs and reported inaccurate information to the public. It also failed to "consistently follow statutes and administrative rules" when awarding grants, among other findings.

"We are working on a variety of solutions to provide additional technology and staff support, recognizing the concerns raised in the 2019 state audit," reads a statement from John Dipko, the DWD's communications director, in response to questions from the Journal Sentinel.

Steven Deller studies public finance and economic development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although he doesnt have direct knowledge of Fast Forward, he said there are hundreds if not thousands of federal and state-level grants that are not fully taken advantage of.

There are two main reasons, he said: a lack of awareness and cumbersome application materials. The need to ensure government money is being spent properly creates a lot of paperwork.

If the agency is perceived as being sloppy handing the grants out, there is a huge political price to pay, Deller wrote via email.

Some employers get help applying for grants. Others, like schools and small businesses, might not have the option

Administering grants is time consuming and often complicated. Across Wisconsin, some grant recipients get help with the process, such as from private companies, freelancers or workforce development boards.

The Journal Sentinel spoke with two people who have experience writing Fast Forward grants for clients, both of whom said the program is run-of-the-mill for government grants. Jan Sotnikoff with ManageAssist, a New Jersey-based company, gives Wisconsins program an A-. Reimbursements come on time when paperwork is done correctly, and program staff are easy to reach, he said.

Not everyone has the option to pay for professional grant writers' services, or the background knowledge about grants to know they might need it.

The grant process is difficult and discouraging, reads a comment to the DWD from a small business employee in 2022. Without the help of a workforce development board, the employee wrote, I couldnt have done it. Frankly, I could have discontinued the process.

Career and Technical Education coordinator for the Delavan-Darien School District, Michel Rick, said the six Fast Forward grants the district has received have helped "transform" its workforce-based learning programs. The southern Wisconsin district of about 1,800 students has used the money to pay for agriculture and manufacturing equipment and fund teacher training.

Rick said he was asked to provide feedback to the state about the grant application process. He said schools don't often have grant writers or full-time CTE coordinators. That means if a district wants to apply for a Fast Forward grant, the legwork often falls on teachers who are already busy with students and classes.

Those teachers, he said, "don't necessarily have time to write a grant that big."

So how is the Fast Forward budget being spent?

Lawmakers who cut Fast Forward's funding this spring suggested money was going unspent.

That's true  to some extent.

Across five fiscal years ending in 2021-22, DWD has spent an average of $4.2 million annually on grants. That's less than the total budgeted amount.But the state isn't leaving money unspent; instead, it spends Fast Forward funds on other programs.

In some cases, that's because it's required to by the Legislature. In other cases, the DWD takes advantage of state law allowing for the use of Fast Forward money on other workforce training programs. Thats a helpful spending flexibility, given that leftover money in the budget doesnt carry over.

The DWD is getting enough applications: It approves only about 62%. The rest are either denied, withdrawn or deemed ineligible. The state has time to hold only a handful of grant application windows annually, as the process requires staff  who manage 50 to 75 projects each, at any time  to evaluate applications and decide how to spread out grant funding among them.

Take 2021-22 as an example. That year, DWD had a $6.25 million budget to work with. The state set aside:

$4.86 million on standard Fast Forward grants to employers, which will go through a two-year reimbursement process;

$250,000 on Project SEARCH, a jobs program for people with disabilities, which DWD was required to fund using Fast Forward money;

$1.13 million on internship programs for University of Wisconsin System students, which DWD is allowed to fund using Fast Forward money, but wasn't required to.

What did lawmakers say about the reduction in funding?

Republican lawmakers who made the cut during the open meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance in May offered little explanation for the decision.

Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green and committee co-chair, said during the meeting that lawmakers were "right-sizing the appropriation, based on past history.

Our motion funds proven programs that have been successful, and were delighted to put more money into them, he said before approving the Fast Forward reduction and several other agenda items. Marklein did not respond to request for comment.

All four Democrats on the 16-person committee voted against the funding reduction. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had suggested giving Fast Forward more money.

During the meeting, Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, said the reduction came as a surprise, given that Fast Forward is one of the most successful training programs that we have.

Its a real missed opportunity, she said.

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. Support her work with a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/RFADonation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lawmakers cut the budget for Wisconsin Fast Forward by 16%. Why?
Major payment delays and high costs of cross-border transactions were listed as the main drivers for local companies to seek improved fintech solutions

Among those surveyed, 38% have listed payment digitization as a top priority, with another 29% listing it as one of the top priorities

SINGAPORE, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study on B2B cross-border payments by global fintech leader Rapyd has revealed that nearly 1 in 2 businesses in Singapore expressed a strong need for innovative fintech solutions to tackle business concerns.

Despite the accelerated adoption of digital payments across businesses and consumers in recent years, there is a consensus among local businesses that fintech solutions can be further improved to better serve their specific needs. While innovations have been made within consumer payments, they have not been carried over to B2B transactions. Many Singapore businesses making B2B payments still rely on expensive wire transfers and slow bank transfers to make and receive payments overseas, hindering the efficiency of cross-border transactions.

In the latest report by Rapyd, titled " 2023 State of B2B Cross-Border Payments in Singapore ", Rapyd dove into the payment preferences and obstacles of 100 B2B businesses in Singapore. The Singapore report is part of a larger global research study by Rapyd , which gathered insights from 715 business proprietors and payment decision-makers across key markets, including Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, the UK, and the US. The overarching objective of this research study was to assess the prevailing sentiments regarding market conditions, the cross-border payment complexities confronting B2B enterprises, and the potential role of fintech solutions in addressing these challenges.

Singapore businesses maintain confidence on global outlook

Singapore businesses have emerged as cautious optimists when it comes to their perceptions of market conditions. Approximately 60% of respondents from Singapore expressed confidence in prevailing market conditions, indicating a measured level of trust in their business environment.

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Moreover, while the majority of the markets surveyed have listed inflation, increasing interest rates, and market volatility as top concerns, Singapore businesses have taken a different stance. They have rated market volatility and economic stability as the least troublesome, highlighting their confidence in Singapore's position as a robust global business hub. Conversely, local enterprises have identified increasing interest rates (53%) and a reduction in incoming work (43%) as their primary concerns. This indicates that Singapore businesses are closely tracking financial developments and their potential impact on the demand for their products and services.

Figure 1: Rapyd: Business Concerns

Payments take a toll: Singapore businesses reported biggest delays and costlier transactions

One of the ways for companies to increase their profits and tackle financial anxieties is by improving business efficiency and cutting down on operational expenses. Notably, payment delays have surfaced as a substantial operational hurdle experienced by businesses throughout the markets surveyed. Among the seven markets, Germany and Singapore reported the greatest payment delay. Singapore businesses reported a 2 to 10 days delay, and in many cases, even more than 10 days delay in sending or receiving payments (refer to Figure 2 below).

Figure 2: Rapyd - Delay in Cross-border payments

The delays could be attributed to the fact that a significant portion of Singapore enterprises still lean on traditional wire and bank transfers for making and receiving payments. Many businesses have deep-rooted relationships with traditional banking methods and, as a result, gravitate toward these long-standing practices. The resulting delays add complexities to cross-border business operations, impacting cash flow, supplier relationships, and overall business efficiency. Such delays underscore the critical need for efficient and reliable payment solutions to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions.

Further, the Rapyd research also highlighted that 43% of B2B companies in Singapore incur cross-border fees ranging from US$10 to US$25 per transaction. This rate is above the average observed across the surveyed markets, where approximately 36% of businesses face cross-border transaction fees within the same US$10 to US$25 range.

These elevated costs can hinder growth, limit expansion opportunities, and strain resources, posing a direct challenge to firms striving to capitalize on cross-border commerce and highlighting larger inefficiencies in the system.

Figure 3: Rapyd - Cross-border transaction fees

48% of Singapore businesses hope innovative payment technology can solve their challenges

A growing number of businesses in Singapore today realize the imperative for change. Digitization is no longer a luxury but an absolute necessity. Nearly half  48%  of respondents from Singapore identified 'Better Fintech Solutions' as the paramount factor in addressing their most pressing business concerns. This percentage surpasses any other category in Singapore and demonstrates that B2B businesses in the country prioritize fintech as a way to solve business problems more than their counterparts in any other country surveyed.

Despite Singapore being one of the world's most advanced payment markets, many B2B businesses have yet to adopt digital payments. This presents a valuable opportunity for these enterprises to collaborate with innovative fintech firms and embrace modern payment solutions to harness the full benefits of Real-Time Payment networks and streamline payment processes to enhance their operational efficiency.

Figure 4: Rapyd - Easing payment concerns

Moreover, Singaporean businesses themselves are displaying a strong commitment to digitization, particularly for expediting payment processes. Approximately 38% of these businesses consider it a top priority, with an additional 29% identifying it as one of their primary objectives. This approach aligns with local government initiatives, which have introduced numerous schemes to encourage businesses to digitize and integrate financial technology into their operations.

Arik Shtilman, CEO, and co-founder of Rapyd, shared the company's commitment to addressing evolving business needs through innovative fintech solutions. He mentioned, "Our latest B2B cross-border payment report highlights Singapore's strong confidence in its business environment, while also showing a widespread desire for efficient and cost-effective fintech solutions. We understand how important it is to be efficient and adaptable in today's ever-changing business world. With our recent addition of card acquiring services to our Fintech as a Service platform in Singapore, we're doubling down on our promise to provide the innovative fintech solutions Singapore businesses are looking for that will empower them on their payment journey and help them handle payment complexities with confidence and ease."

In September 2023, Rapyd expanded its offerings in Singapore by introducing a card acquiring solution, enhancing its comprehensive Fintech as a Service platform. This addition equips businesses with a unified and efficient platform for accepting a wide array of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, popular e-wallets such as ApplePay, GooglePay, and GrabPay, bank transfers through PayNow, and the ability to conduct international money transfers to over 190 countries via the extensive Rapyd Global Payment Network. Rapyd's swift onboarding process and strong payment capabilities enable businesses to quickly access the market, enhance cost-effectiveness, and efficiently navigate complex business models.

About the Study (THE STATE OF B2B CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS)

In 2023, Rapyd conducted a research study to understand the payment preferences and challenges faced by business-to-business cross-border companies in seven markets. The study includes responses from 715 business owners worldwide. The Singapore report focuses on insights from 100 B2B cross-border businesses located in Singapore. The survey, which was administered online, was targeted at individuals responsible for payment-related decisions within medium (50 to 499 employees) and large-scale enterprises (500 employees and over) spanning diverse verticals and industries.

For the Singapore report, please visit here .

For the full global report, please visit here .

About Rapyd

Rapyd lets you build bold. Liberate global commerce with all the tools your business needs to create payment, payout and fintech experiences everywhere. From Fortune 500s to ambitious business and technology upstarts, our payments network and powerful fintech platform make it easy to pay suppliers and get paid by customers - locally or internationally. With offices worldwide, including Tel Aviv, Dubai, London, Iceland, San Francisco, Miami, Hong Kong and Singapore, we know what it takes to make cross-border commerce as easy as being next door. Rapyd simplifies payments so you can focus on building your business. Get the tools to grow globally at www.rapyd.net. Follow: Blog, Insta, LinkedIn, Twitter.

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SOURCE Rapyd
TAIZHOU, China, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 8, 2023, Dr. Deckster Tonny SAVADYE, CEO of Zimbabwe NBA, and Dr. Yang Yili, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology China Regional Research Centre(ICGEB), visited Recbio. Dr. SAVADYE and his team conducted an on-the-spot investigation of the manufacturing facilities for the COVID-19/Shingles vaccine and HPV vaccine at Recbio. Witnessed by the leaders of Taizhou Pharmaceutical High-tech Industrial Park, the three parties jointly signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

According to the agreement, Recbio will cooperate with ICGEB China Regional Research Center to provide technical support related to vaccine production in Zimbabwe, including personnel training, plant designing, clinical trials, sub-packaging technology, and stock solution technology transfer, etc., with COVID-19 vaccine as the entry point, and gradually expand to other vaccine varieties, contributing to localized vaccine production in Zimbabwe and Africa.

The signing of this contract marks that Recbio vaccine D&G and production technology platform and products have been recognized by more international organizations and countries. Recbio will actively implement the national "Belt and Road Initiative" and seize the overseas market layout of vaccines.

The Zimbabwe National Biotechnology Authority is a government agency established by legislation in 2006 to promote the application of traditional and cutting-edge biotechnology in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and others.

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) is an intergovernmental international scientific and technological organization founded in 1983 with the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Up to now, it has established interactive networks with more than 65 member States and has made outstanding achievements in scientific research, training, and technology transfer to industry.

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About Recbio

Founded in 2012, Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Recbio or the Company; stock code: 02179.HK) is an innovative vaccine company driven by self-developed technologies. We are dedicated to the R&D, production and commercialization of innovative vaccines, leveraging our core technology platforms (novel adjuvant, protein engineering, immunological evaluation). Staying true to the mission of "Protect human health with best-in-class vaccines", the Company has established high-value pipelines consisting of several blockbuster vaccines with proprietary rights to satisfy the huge unmet demands in the markets of high-burden diseases.

Through years of devotion to the vaccine industry, Recbio has developed three advanced innovative technology platforms, namely novel adjuvant, protein engineering and immunological evaluation platforms, and become one of the few companies in the world capable of developing novel adjuvant systems. We develop promising vaccine candidates constantly, taking advantage of the synergy between the novel adjuvant platform, optimized antigen designs, and immunological evaluation technologies. Recbio never ceases to optimize its technology platforms, and strives to achieve breakthroughs in mRNA vaccines using a joint venture model.

With robust R&D capacity, the Company has developed high-value innovative vaccine portfolios consisting of ten-odd differentiated vaccines, covering cervical cancer, shingles, COVID-19, TB and other high-burden diseases. Our core product REC603, a recombinant 9-valent HPV vaccine in Phase III clinical trial, shows great promise of becoming the first marketed domestic 9-valent HPV vaccine. Apart from that, ReCOV, a recombinant COVID-19 vaccine with its commercialization in the offing, has been recognized as one of the most competitive next-generation COVID-19 vaccines in the world. Recbio has a clear commercialization strategy aiming to penetrate the diversified global vaccine market.

Honed and refined for ten years, Recbio is going to reap the rewards as several products are approaching commercialization.

For more information, please visit https://www.recbio.cn/.

Forward-looking statements

This Press Release may contain projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, opinions, prospects, results, returns and forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, capital position, strategy and business of the Group which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "plan", "estimate", "seek", "intend", "target", "believe", "potential" and "reasonably possible" or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including the strategic priorities, research and development projects, and any financial, investment and capital targets and any other targets, commitments and ambitions described in writing or verbally herein. Any such forward-looking statements are not a reliable indicator of future performance, as they may involve significant stated or implied assumptions and subjective judgements which may or may not prove to be correct, accurate or complete. There can be no assurance that any of the matters set out in the forward-looking statements are attainable, will actually occur or will be realised or are complete or accurate. The assumptions and judgments may prove to be incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important actors, many of which are outside the control of the Group. There is also no assurance that the Group may develop or market its core products or other pipeline candidates successfully. Actual achievements, results, performance or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those stated, implied and/or reflected in any forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors (including without limitation general market conditions, regulatory changes, geopolitical tensions or data limitations and changes). Any such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of the Group at the date the statements are made, and the Group does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any obligation or duty to update, revise or supplement them if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change. For these reasons, you should not place reliance on, and are expressly cautioned about relying on, any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties, expressed or implied, are given by or on behalf of the Group as to the achievement or reasonableness of any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, commitments, prospects or returns contained herein.

Please refer to the announcements published by the Company on the websites of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (www.hkexnew.hk) or of the Company (www.recbio.cn) for further details. If there is any inconsistency between this Presentation and the announcements, the announcements shall prevail.

Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd.

Investor Inquiry:

Email: ir@recbio.cn

Tel: +86-0523-86818860

Media Inquiry:

Email: media@recbio.cn

Tel: +86-0523-86818860

Related Links:

https://www.recbio.cn/

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SOURCE Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd.
Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Lindsay Australia (ASX:LAU) so let's look a bit deeper.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Lindsay Australia:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.16 = AU$56m  (AU$488m - AU$134m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023).

Therefore, Lindsay Australia has an ROCE of 16%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 7.6% generated by the Transportation industry.

View our latest analysis for Lindsay Australia

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Lindsay Australia compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Can We Tell From Lindsay Australia's ROCE Trend?

The trends we've noticed at Lindsay Australia are quite reassuring. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 16%. The amount of capital employed has increased too, by 98%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Lindsay Australia thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.

What We Can Learn From Lindsay Australia's ROCE

To sum it up, Lindsay Australia has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

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Lindsay Australia does have some risks though, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Lindsay Australia that you might be interested in.

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.
Long Island City is the latest neighborhood primed for rezoning, the city announced Tuesday, kickstarting the early stages of a process thats expected to result in new housing and infrastructure upgrades for a swath of Western Queens.

The proposal, dubbed One Long Island City, includes LICs Industrial Business Zone and an area extending from the East River to Court Square and 23rd Street; and from Gantry Plaza State Park in the southwest to include Queensbridge Houses in the north.

While the proposal it still in its infancy, the rezoning shares the same goals of as other plans across the city, including the creation of new affordable housing and greenspace, enhanced transit, improved infrastructure, and greater economic development. The city also seeks to make these areas more climate resilient.

The rezoning effort seeks to create a more unified vision for an area that has been rapidly developing  and gentrifying  in recent years. Local Councilmember Julie Won described it as a more holistic approach than the individual site rezonings that have been hurtful and divisive for so long in our community.

The proliferation of such neighborhood-wide rezonings under Mayor Adams reflects the larger shift away from a project by project approach in favor of bigger-picture planning.

Tuesdays announcement by Won and members of the Adams administration jumpstarts the preliminary community planning process. The months-long study period will include proposed land use changes to guide new development across Long Island City and solicit public input on issues such as transit, infrastructure, capital investments and open spaces.

This comprehensive community plan invites the whole community to participate in identifying, defining and protecting important existing resources, while also developing a blueprint for future growth that ensures equity and resilience for all, Won said at a press conference in Queensbridge Park. Under our current developer-led process, weve seen-record high rents and have said goodbye to too many of our longtime neighbors who could no longer afford to live here. If we continue this route, we will continue to be exhausted, remain on the defense and battle this affordability crisis one luxury tower at a time.

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The process is being spearheaded by the Department of City Planning and will culminate in a final neighborhood plan, including zoning changes, to be voted on by the City Council by the end of 2025.

Its the fifth neighborhood-wide rezoning under Mayor Adams and the second in Queens, after one was announced for Jamaica in May. The Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan each have their own local rezoning plans at various stages of the public review process.

A separate neighborhood study was also announced Tuesday that will encompass parts of Astoria, Sunnyside and Woodside. The Heart of District 26 plan stretches from Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue, respectively, to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Unlike the One Long Island City plan, the Astoria plan will not lead directly to a rezoning. Instead, its findings can be considered at a later time and will serve as guidance for future development, Won said. It will be funded by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and led by the urban planning nonprofit Hester Street, which is expected to complete its plan by next June.

Long Island Citys population has grown by 78% in the past 30 years, per Won, and rents have soared with it: last year, one-bedroom apartments in the neighborhood went for an average of $4,114 a month, according to Zumper.

At one time it was poised to become home to a new Amazon headquarters, though that plan famously imploded following community pushback.

The 2001 rezoning of 34 blocks of the neighborhood kicked off the ongoing development boom that has transformed its skyline. But more recent attempts to rezone Long Island City have fallen through, including a proposal by the de Blasio administration.

The city admitted at the time that the 2001 plan had fallen short.

Won said the plan announced Tuesday included areas such as Queensbridge that were left out of the initial rezoning 22 years ago.

Corinne Hayes, president of the Resident Association for Queensbridge Houses, told the Daily News she was optimistic about the plan.

To be a part of the planning [process] is not the tradition, she said. Usually, were given what was planned and we live with it.

Public town halls for both proposals and planned for next month.
By Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - The chief executive of RISC-V International said on Monday that possible government restrictions on the open-source technology will slow down the development of new and better chips, holding back the global technology industry.

The comments come after Reuters last week reported that a growing group of U.S. lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to impose export control restrictions around RISC-V, the open-source technology overseen by the RISC-V International nonprofit foundation. RISC-V technology can be used as an ingredient to create chips for smartphones or artificial intelligence.

Major U.S. firms such as Qualcomm and Alphabet's Google have embraced RISC-V, but so too have Chinese firms such as Huawei Technologies Co, which the U.S. lawmakers argue constitutes a national security concern.

In a blog post, Calista Redmond, chief of RISC-V International, which coordinates work among companies on the technology, said RISC-V is no different than other open technology standards like Ethernet, which helps computers on the internet talk with each other.

"Contemplated actions by governments for an unprecedented restriction in open standards will have the consequence of diminished access to the global marketplace of products, solutions, and talent," Redmond wrote. "Bifurcating on the standards level would lead to a world of incompatible solutions that duplicate effort and close off markets."

Redmond wrote that RISC-V has drawn contributions in equal measure from North America, Europe and Asia. The standards published by the foundation are not a full blueprint for a chip and do not give any party more information about how to make a chip than what is available from proprietary chip technology firms such as Arm Holdings.

"The only difference is that the marketplace is allowed to use these standards without proprietary licenses from a controlling company," Redmond wrote. "Having access to open standards allows companies to innovate faster and spend their time creating differentiated products, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel."

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
By Andrea Shalal

MARRAKECH, Morocco (Reuters) - Rising debt levels among "seemingly healthy" countries in Asia could drag growth in the region below currently forecast levels, World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

Gill said he remained critical of the slow pace of debt restructurings under the Group of 20 Common Framework for restructuring the debt of the poorest countries, and said it was critical to speed up those processes.

But he said surprisingly high debt levels in Asia were also a concern, noting that increased government borrowing from domestic markets would limit the level of credit available to private firms, resulting in faltering investment.

"We have a simultaneous problems: too much debt and too little investment," he said. "There's a lot of government consumption and private consumption being financed through debt. There is not a lot of investment being financed through credit, and that's not great."

The result could be "much lower growth" than we were forecasting, he said, without providing any specific numbers. "So it won't be a situation of debt distress, it will just be slumping growth. But it's an equally serious issue. Now we're talking about very, very large countries."

Gill declined to give specific examples, but a recent World Bank report showed government debt ran around 85% of GDP in the average South Asian country, higher than in other emerging market, developing economy regions.

Debt is rising in the region due to growing government spending, low domestic revenue and increasing debt service costs, the report found. It noted a number of factors, including losses at a major state-owned bank, could drive borrowing costs to an unsustainable level.

Debt levels were also up in East Asia, Gill said. "If you look at the debt numbers (in East Asia), all of them are up. The one which is relatively low is China, but we know that in China, it's not the central government debt that's the problem, it's the subnational and corporate and the household debt."

Gill said he worried that the world's focus on the poorest countries that were covered by the Common Framework could lead to surprises in other countries that were seemingly healthy.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Jamie Freed)
With the prospect of a decades-long prison sentence hanging over his head, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has a critical decision to make: Should he testify in his own defense at his fraud trial that is currently underway in a Manhattan courtroom?

Former prosecutors who spoke to Fortune said that testifying could help Bankman-Fried explain his intentions to the jury. But he also would be subject to cross-examination by prosecutors, which could, ultimately, prove more harmful.

Putting the defendant on the stand is always a gamble, said Rachel Maimin, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Despite the possible downsides, testifying could give Bankman-Fried the opportunity to present a version of himself that's different from the one presented by prosecutors.

It's incredibly powerful when defendants testifyeven if they make admissions that are not so helpfulbecause it truly humanizes them before the jury, and there is nothing that can replace that, said Maimin, now a partner in the white-collar criminal defense practice of Lowenstein Sandler.

For an outspoken former media darling like Bankman-Fried, the decision may be simple, said Renatto Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor in the Securities and Commodities Fraud section in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Despite whatever logic backs staying quiet in the face of possible criminal charges, SBF chose to give multiple interviews following the collapse of FTX, including one that was live at the New York Times DealBook Summit last November.

It would be out of character for Bankman-Fried not to testify, even as a last-ditch effort if things arent going his way, said Mariotti, now a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Given SBFs desire to try to talk his way out of this problem, and his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room, I think he's going to want to take the stand regardless of the advice he receives, said Mariotti.

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If he chooses to testify, prosecutors could use their cross-examination to lure him into contradicting himself or admitting to something he shouldnt. If he is found guilty, the judge could conclude that he lied on the stand and could impose a harsher sentence under federal sentencing guidelines. If he's found not guilty, he could theoretically still face a perjury charge, but it's highly unlikely prosecutors would go after him for that, Mariotti explained.

To start, prosecutors may try to get him to admit to something that he couldnt possibly deny because of the strength of documentary evidence, Maimin said. After he admits to some smaller things, prosecutors could then push him into admitting to things that arent as obvious, such as details from conversations he had with others.

The goal is to essentially get him into a pattern of agreeing with you, such that you ultimately get him to agree with you that he had the state of mind required for him to be found guilty, she said.

In the first week of his trial, Bankman-Fried has watched several former allies testify against him, including cofounder and former FTX CTO Gary Wang, and former FTX employee and MIT classmate Adam Yedidia. His ex-girlfriend and the former CEO of Alameda Research, Caroline Ellison, is expected to take the stand on Tuesday.

Whether Bankman-Fried chooses to testify or not, the decision likely won't be made until closer to the end of the trial, which is expected to take about six weeks.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Caroline Ellison was one of Sam Bankman-Frieds top deputies and his onetime romantic partner. On Tuesday she testified that Bankman-Fried "directed me" to steal billions from customers of his cryptocurrency exchange.

Ellison ran day-to-day operations for Alameda Research, a crypto trading firm also controlled by Bankman-Fried. She said Alameda took "around $14 billion" from FTX customers to repay debts Alameda had accumulated.

She said she also sent information to Alameda's lenders "from Sam" that made Alameda's balance look better than it was.

The crimes she said she committed at Alameda weren't done on her own. "They were committed with Sam. ... He directed me to commit these crimes."

Caroline Ellison arrives to testify during the trial of former FTX Chief Executive Sam Bankman-Fried. (Reuters TV via REUTERS) (Reuters TV / reuters)

The testimony from the 29-year-old Ellison marked her first public comments about what transpired as the FTX cryptocurrency exchange imploded last November, an unraveling that led to the arrest and indictment of the 31-year-old Bankman-Fried.

Prosecutors are arguing that Bankman-Fried embezzled billions in FTX customer funds while also defrauding investors and lenders.

Ellison, their star witness, corroborated earlier testimony from FTX and Alameda co-founder Gary Wang, who said Alameda had essentially unlimited access to FTX customer funds.

Bankman-Fried "was the one who set up these systems," Ellison said of Alameda's ability to tap into FTX customer deposits.

Ellison is one of several members of Bankman Fried's inner circle who pleaded guilty to criminal charges and agreed to testify against Bankman-Fried, including Wang and chief engineer Nishad Singh.

She appeared in court Tuesday wearing glasses, a reddish-orange dress with black tights, and a black blazer. When asked to identify Bankman-Fried, she stood up and struggled to find him in the sea of people filling the courtroom.

Sam Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, walks through security at Manhattan federal court on Tuesday. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) (BRYAN R. SMITH via Getty Images)

Bankman-Frieds team could try to pin some blame on Ellison too. His defense attorney argued last week that when Bankman-Fried became concerned about crypto prices going down, he urged Ellison to put on a hedge. Yet she didnt do it, according to the attorney.

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Bankman-Fried made a similar claim in a series of his unsent Twitter posts and writings that Bankman-Fried shared with crypto blogger Tiffany Fong while on house arrest.

"She continually avoided talking about risk management  dodging my suggestions  until it was too late," Bankman-Fried wrote, according to the New York Times.

The US district court judge overseeing his case, Lewis Kaplan, concluded Bankman-Fried engaged in witness tampering by leaking those diary-like writings to the New York Times. In August, he ordered Bankman-Fried to await trial at a Brooklyn administrative prison known for grueling conditions.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his defense attorney has said he didn't steal money from FTX because he believed in "good faith" that Alameda could use funds on deposit with his cryptocurrency exchange.

'The auditors arent going to look at that'

Ellison and Bankman-Fried first met at a New York trading firm called Jane Street Capital, where she worked as a quantitative trader.

After Bankman-Fried co-founded Alameda, a hedge fund firm that specialized in quantitative crypto trading, he eventually hired Ellison in 2018. He named her as co-CEO in 2021 and sole CEO in 2022. She was paid $200,000 in salary per year and received two bonuses of $20 million and $100,000.

She said she didnt feel particularly equipped for the CEO position but Bankman-Fried said it made sense and there wasnt anyone better for the job.

Ellison testified that she and Bankman-Fried would have regular conversations about Alameda and FTX. It was a "big priority" for Bankman-Fried to increase Alamedas borrowing capabilities so that the company could make more trades, investments, and acquisitions.

Sam was directing us to borrow as much money as we could, Ellison said.

A courtroom sketch showing Assistant US Attorney Danielle Sassoon, center, questioning Caroline Ellison, right, at Bankman-Fried's fraud trial. (Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS) (JANE ROSENBERG / reuters)

Early on in her time at Alameda, Ellison said, the company would take loans from third-party lenders, and by 2021 the amount was $10 billion-15 billion. Those loans, however, were open-term loans that if recalled would need to be paid back immediately.

For that reason, she said, she was asked by Bankman-Fried to create spreadsheets showing various scenarios that would impact Alamedas ability to continue taking out loans, as well as repay them. Ellison said Bankman-Fried told her at one point that FTX funds would be a "good source of capital" for Alameda.

FTX cryptocurrency assets were the first types of assets Alameda used from the cryptocurrency exchange, she said. Later on, she said, Alameda began to tap FTXs fiat currency deposits. The reason to use the funds, she said, was so that Alameda could make investments and execute arbitrage trades in various cryptocurrencies.

Ellison testified she first raised concerns about using FTX customer funds during an audit of FTX.

"No dont worry. The auditors arent going to look at that, she said Bankman-Fried told her.

'I didn't feel good about it'

Ellison said she also learned that FTX had made multimillion-dollar loans to FTX executives, including Bankman-Fried, some of which she signed on behalf of Alameda. The purpose of the loans, she said, was so Alameda could invest in a gambling startup and so political donations could be made.

Ellison said the illiquid nature of Alamedas long-term investments and debt made her concerned about Alamedas ability to pay the open-term loans if they were called.

I didnt feel good about it, Ellison said.

Caroline Ellison exits a Manhattan federal court after testifying on Tuesday. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

In the fall of 2021 Ellison began sharing analyses for worst-case and bad-case scenarios in the event that Alamedas loans needed to be repaid  selling cryptocurrencies, raising more capital, adding more loans  all of which showed significant risk for Alameda.

She was asked Tuesday while testifying how she would repay the loans if they were called.

"I assumed we would use customer funds."

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on Twitter @alexiskweed.

Click here for the latest crypto news, updates, values, prices, and more related to bitcoin, ethereum, dogecoin, DeFi, and NFTs

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San Diego, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- San Diego, California -

Ship Vehicles, a leading auto transport company serving the USA and Canada, has announced the opening of a new office in San Diego, signaling the expansion of its services in California. For more information, visit www.shipvehicles.com.

The company has been providing top-notch cross-country shipping services to businesses and consumers across North America for over 30 years. The companys services include open car transport, enclosed car transport, snowbird car shipping, door-to-door car shipping to Hawaii, car shipping for military families, and door-to-door vehicle shipping. Now, with the opening of its new office in San Diego, Ship Vehicles is ready to better serve thousands of new customers across California.

Ship Vehicles

We always put the customer experience first, says the spokesperson for Ship Vehicles. It is the reason that we have a nearly 100% customer satisfaction rate. With an eye on expanding our services within California, our new San Diego office now allows us to offer the same high quality, speedy, and reliable services that we are known for, to more vehicle owners in the Golden State. So, if you are looking for the best partner for shipping vehicles in California, give us a call today or visit this link to find out more about Ship Vehicles.

Ship Vehicles offers customers the choice of multiple vehicle shipping methods to transport vehicles of all sizes. Customers can choose between open-air or enclosed transport based on the kind of vehicle and the level of care it needs. The company also allows customers to select drop-off and pick-up services if they prefer.

The cost of the car shipping services depends on several factors such as the starting location and destination, size and weight of the vehicle, shipping seasons, vehicle modifications, expected delivery times, whether personal items are to be shipped with the vehicle, and the mode of car shipping. The auto shipping experts at Ship Vehicles can assist customers in understanding these factors and help them choose the right shipping method.

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We use the Roll-On/Roll-Off strategy for shipping as it will most likely be the preferred transport method for a majority of our customers, says the spokesperson. It is like parking your vehicle in a mobile garage. We can ship all kinds of cars, trucks, trailers, recreational vehicles, and heavy equipment with this strategy. If you want to ship classic and exotic cars, we can also ship your car by a container to guarantee safety.

The company also offers to ship cars internationally for customers who are moving overseas. Ship Vehicles will handle all the paperwork, car transport, low ground clearance, and delivery with the transporter to ensure the vehicles arrive safely at their destination. The company offers full insurance and a damage-free guarantee with its services along with additional insurance plans to provide customers with double protection.

Ship Vehicles has received tons of support from its customers for helping them transport their vehicles safely and on time, locally and across state lines. The testimonials the company has received over the years praise its affordable and secure vehicle moving services as well as the customer service provided by its helpful and attentive staff.

A recent review says, Big shoutout, to Ship Vehicles, for their service! They truly impressed me with their timeliness and professionalism. I really appreciated how they kept me informed every step of the way during the transportation process. It gave me peace of mind knowing that my car was well taken care of.

Another client writes, We wanted to drive to our new place, but the distance was too much for our old truck. I was alarmed when I realized I needed to move the automobile, too- another added cost. Thankfully, my mom got us a perfect quote from this business that shipped the truck within one week. She said her colleague recommended them and I think their services are excellent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJoE9I1V_wY

Readers can contact the Ship Vehicles team at (888) 231-0113 to inquire about its auto transport services or to get a free personalized quote.

###

For more information about Ship Vehicles, contact the company here:



Ship Vehicles

Michael Thomas

(619) 768-7191

info@shipvehicles.com

Ship Vehicles

San Diego, CA 92108

CONTACT: Michael Thomas




More than 200 brands from 20 leading destinations around the world are expected to shwocase their stunning jewellery creations at the upcoming 30th edition of the Jewellery & Watch Show (JWS) in Abu Dhabi.

The show will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence of the UAE, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from November 1 to 5.

The annual exhibition serves as a unique platform for regional and international jewellery brands to showcase the latest industry designs and collections in front of thousands of prospective buyers. This year, JWS is expected to bring together approximately 7,000 jewellery enthusiasts to browse the collections.

Well-known and emerging jewellery and watch manufacturers expected to participate in this years exhibition include Indiaa Amarkosh Jewels, Italys FerriFirenze, Lebanons Armanor, and Bahrains Devji Jewellers, among others.

To accompany its exhibition, JWS 2023 will also be hosting five signature event features throughout its five days: the International Design Gallery, the Emirati Design Gallery, the Bejewelled Weekend Offer, a Daily Raffle Draw, and the Ebdaa Awards.

The International Design Gallery will be a unique showcase of top global jewellery artistry  with many of the pieces being displayed for the first time in the UAE, giving visitors exclusive access to the worlds finest jewellery creations. The Emirati Gallery will provide an unmissable opportunity for guests to explore the evolving story of Emirati jewellery design, with the platform often putting local talent on the map and driving the countrys presence in the global jewellery industry.

The Bejewelled Weekend Offer will see the 200-plus brands present their finest collections with a treasure trove of discounts, promotions, and more on days three and four of the event (November 3 and 4). A Daily Raffle Draw will also give attendees the opportunity to claim prizes, including designer watches and diamond rings provided by sponsors of the event.

The 2023 shows programme will also include the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Ebdaa Awards. The award celebrates its 11th anniversary since its collaborative launch by the Jewellery & Watch Show and Emirati designer, Azza Al Qubaisi. All up-and-coming local jewellery designers can submit their innovative designs for the chance to be named winner.

May Ismail, Senior Event Manager, RX Middle East, said: The Jewellery & Watch Show is a unique platform that gives local, regional, and international jewellery designers and watch manufacturers the opportunity to share their latest and greatest works with a sizeable audience from around the world. It also serves as a hub for jewellery enthusiasts to learn more about industry trends, as well as traditional and modern gold and diamond exhibits, and the most innovative global watch manufacturers. We aim to bring the best of new and distinctive jewellery design to the UAE, selecting stand-out brands that continue to deliver sophisticated products that suit a variety of tastes.

Known for its consistent display of luxury and elegance, JWS continues to showcase the diversity of the global jewellery market and remains committed to the empowerment of local Emirati talent, Ismail added. - TradeArabia News Service
(Bloomberg) -- Three Arrows Capital co-founder Su Zhu ended up in jail in Singapore after liquidators decided to apply maximum pressure following months of sparring over locating the failed crypto hedge funds assets.

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Days after securing a Singapore court order carrying a four-month prison term for failing to cooperate with the task of winding up the fund, liquidators tipped police off on Sept. 29 that Zhu was headed to Changi Airport, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing private information.

The liquidators had been monitoring Zhu in Singapore, where hes known to host gatherings for crypto executives at his luxury mansion in the upscale Yarwood neighborhood, one of the people said. They then tracked a car traveling to the airport from the mansion, the person said.

Police were alerted that Zhu could be in the car and detained him when he emerged at the terminal, the people said. Singapore authorities on Oct. 5 confirmed the arrest of an unnamed 36-year-old man at 2:50 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the airport when asked whether Zhu had been detained.

Committal Order

The directive that landed Zhu in jail is a committal order. The liquidator, Teneo, said on Sept. 29 that it had obtained such orders for Zhu and Three Arrows other founder, Kyle Davies. The orders are civil matters and neither man has faced any criminal charges in Singapore. As a result, police werent actively looking for Zhu and only acted when tipped off by the liquidators.

Three Arrows imploded in 2022 as leveraged bets blew up, stoking a $2 trillion digital-asset rout that contributed to a spate of other collapses in the sector. Liquidators have accused Zhu and Davies of failing to cooperate meaningfully with their probe and are seeking to recover $1.3 billion from the two.

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Zhu and Davies are among the onetime darlings of cryptos pandemic-era bull run whose reputations subsequently suffered as boom turned to bust, exposing risky practices. Chief among the fallen moguls is Sam Bankman-Fried, who is on trial in the US for allegedly overseeing a multibillion-dollar fraud at the now defunct FTX exchange. Bankman-Fried has denied the charges against him.

Zhu and his legal representative didnt respond to requests for comment. Teneo declined to comment. Singapores police force said it had nothing further to say beyond its Oct. 5 statement.

Locating Davies

A committal order puts a person on a no-fly list, so Zhu would have likely been detained by immigration had he reached the checkpoint, the people said.

Liquidators are in touch with authorities around the world in their effort to locate Davies and are putting the word out in the crypto community that they are determined to find him, one of the people said.

Davies didnt respond to a request for comment.

The liquidators will seek permission from authorities to visit Zhu in Changi Prison to get the information they need about Three Arrows assets and may take further steps to force compliance if he refuses to meet, the people said.

Jail Conditions

Typical conditions in Changi Prison include four inmates to a cell sleeping on straw mats on the floor rather than on beds. In contrast, Zhus mansion in Yarwood is a two-story, six-bedroom home he and his wife purchased in 2021 for S$48.8 million ($36 million) under a trust, public records show.

Zhu has previously said that his and Davies good-faith efforts to cooperate with liquidators was met with baiting. In email correspondence submitted to a New York bankruptcy court by the liquidators, counsel to Davies and Zhu have said that court orders the liquidators have obtained are baseless.

Singapores central bank in mid-September imposed nine-year prohibition orders on both men for transgressions at Three Arrows, faulting the fund for risk management failings and providing false information.

Dubai Reprimand

Dubai authorities in April reprimanded Zhu and Davies, along with others, for operating and promoting the OPNX crypto exchange without the required local license. Zhu has previously said he and Davies contributed initial ideas for OPNX but arent involved in daily management.

Three Arrows was viewed as among the largest and most successful crypto hedge funds before it collapsed. It shifted registration to the British Virgin Islands after having previously operated out of Singapore. A British Virgin Islands court appointed Teneo in June last year to liquidate the funds assets.

Steps to strengthen standards in crypto will spur a greater emphasis on governance and risk management, resulting in a more robust and trustworthy ecosystem in the long run, said Angela Ang, a senior policy adviser at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs.

(Updates with a comment from a policy adviser in the last paragraph.)

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Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, also known as Prime Day, kicks off on Oct. 10 at 3 a.m. ET and runs through Oct. 11. Only Amazon Prime members will have access to these deep discounts, but customers can still become Prime members to get the most out of Prime Day.

See: 8 Essentials Youll Be Shocked You Can Buy at Dollar Tree

Find: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases

You can sign up for a 30-day free trial if you havent already. Afterward, the company charges $14.99 per month or $139 per year for an Amazon Prime subscription. However, different plans are available for students and people on government assistance, The Delaware News Journal reported.

Students can sign up for a six-month free trial using a .edu email address and get the subscription 50% off after the end of the trial. Those on government assistance, including SNAP and Medicaid, can sign up for Prime Access, a modified version of Amazon Prime, according to The Delaware News Journal, for 50% off the normal price after the 30-day free trial. This includes access to fast and free shipping, Prime video, music streaming and photo storage.

Also: 10 Best Costco Items To Buy for Less Than $10

The company mentioned that Prime members will have access to deals from independent sellers like Ruggable x Jonathan Adler, Urban Decay Cosmetics and PicassoTiles. New deals drop every five minutes during select periods throughout the event. Amazon is also making it easier for Prime members to find deals theyre interested in by showing personalized recommendations based on past purchases, browsing history and items saved to lists.

Prime members can save even more by signing up for invite-only deals on select products expected to sell out quickly. Customers who get selected for these deals will be notified with instructions on how to purchase the item, according to Amazon.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How SNAP Recipients, Students and More Can Sign Up for Discounted Amazon Prime Just in Time for Big Deal Day Event
When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. Buying under-rated businesses is one path to excess returns. For example, long term Spark New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPK) shareholders have enjoyed a 25% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market decline of around 0.3% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 1.7% , including dividends .

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Spark New Zealand

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During five years of share price growth, Spark New Zealand achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 25% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 5% average annual increase in the share price. So one could conclude that the broader market has become more cautious towards the stock. The reasonably low P/E ratio of 7.91 also suggests market apprehension.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

It is of course excellent to see how Spark New Zealand has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Spark New Zealand's TSR for the last 5 years was 73%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

Spark New Zealand shareholders are up 1.7% for the year (even including dividends). But that was short of the market average. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 12% a year, over half a decade) look better. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Spark New Zealand (including 2 which are potentially serious) .

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on New Zealander 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.
Starbucks wants you to bring pumpkin spice with you before the fall season ends.

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte varsity jacket is just one way the company is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall drink on Tuesday.

The drink is more than a latte but rather the start of a cultural movement that started a love for the fall season and wave for pumpkin spice flavor products, according to the company. "Pumpkin spice" even became permanently cemented in the Merriam-Webster dictionary last year.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte turns 20: The famous fall beverage that almost wasn't

"Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), a beverage that ignited a cultural movement, inspired fall fandom, and cues the unofficial start of fall for many each year," the coffee chain said in a press release.

Here are the ways stores will honor the item kicking off its 20s on Tuesday.

Starbucks has collaborated with KidSuper Studios to release a Pumpkin Spice Latte Varsity Jacket in honor of the drink's 20th anniversary.

How to buy Pumpkin Spice Latte varsity jacket

PSL fans can order the limited-edition PSL Varsity Jacket on Tuesday Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET by clicking here.

The jacket is part of a collaboration with designer Colm Dillane's fashion brand KidSuper. The clothing is defined by fall colors and features the Starbucks logo, PSL acronym and leaves decor to convey autumn at its core.

"Alongside bright and bold graphics, the varsity jacket makes uplifting and unexpected nods to PSL fandom, including expressions of over 20 years of fan love woven into the lining with KidSupers signature use of handwritten design," the company said in the announcement.

And the back of the jacket reads "A little spice is always right."

Starbucks has collaborated with KidSuper Studios to release a Pumpkin Spice Latte Varsity Jacket in honor of the drink's 20th anniversary.

How to get Pumpkin Spice Latte temporary tattoos

The chain will release "HBD PSL" temporary tattoos on Tuesday Oct. 10 to customers visiting a Starbucks store or Starbucks reserve location in the U.S. and Canada. To receive one sheet of temporary tattoos, customers must order a pumpkin spice latte of any form: hot, iced or blended.

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Starbucks is also releasing temporary tattoo stickers to celebrate the Pumpkin Spice Latte during 20.

Starbucks to play 2003's music at stores on Oct. 10

Beyond PSL merchandise, Starbucks wants to bring people back to when the fall drink debuted. Stores will play a curated playlist full of 2003's biggest hits. Customers can access the playlist on Spotify and stream classics from Beyonce and Jay Z's "Crazy in Love" to Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River."

Curate the perfect fall vibe: Make a pumpkin chai latte at home with this easy recipe!

When did pumpkin spice lattes come out?

The Pumpkin Spice latte joined Starbucks menus on Oct. 10, 2003, and has become a seasonal favorite item every year since, according to the coffee chain.

What is in Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte?

A traditional PSL combines espresso and steamed milk with real pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. The drink can be ordered hot, cold or blended and be topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices, according to Starbucks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to buy limited-time Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte varsity jacket
Long-established in the Utilities - Regulated industry, Suburban Propane Partners LP (NYSE:SPH) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. However, it has recently witnessed a daily loss of 2.13%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of 11.35%. Fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Suburban Propane Partners LP.

Suburban Propane Partners LP (SPH): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential

Understanding the GF Score

The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank.

Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Suburban Propane Partners LP the GF Score of 67 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential.

Suburban Propane Partners LP: A Snapshot

Suburban Propane Partners LP, with a market cap of $1.02 billion, is a key player in the Utilities - Regulated industry. The company, which primarily operates in the East Coast and West Coast regions of the United States, distributes propane, fuel oil, and other refined fuels. It also engages in natural gas and electricity marketing in the deregulated New York and Pennsylvania markets. With sales of $1.44 billion and an operating margin of 11.47%, the company has a significant presence in its industry.

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Suburban Propane Partners LP (SPH): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential

Financial Strength Analysis

Suburban Propane Partners LP's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's interest coverage ratio of 2.37 positions it worse than 73.02% of 430 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry. This ratio highlights potential challenges the company might face when handling its interest expenses on outstanding debt. It's worth noting that the esteemed investor Benjamin Graham typically favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least five.

The company's Altman Z-Score is just 1.19, which is below the distress zone of 1.81. This suggests that the company may face financial distress over the next few years. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.01 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels.

The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 2.31, which is worse than 89.6% of 452 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry. A high debt-to-equity ratio suggests over-reliance on borrowing and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's debt-to-Ebitda ratio is 6.11, which is above Joel Tillinghast's warning level of 4 and is worse than 73.02% of 441 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry. Tillinghast said in his book Big Money Think's Small: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing that a high debt-to-Ebitda ratio can be a red flag unless tangible assets cover the debt.

Growth Prospects

A lack of significant growth is another area where Suburban Propane Partners LP seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. Lastly, Suburban Propane Partners LP predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency.

Suburban Propane Partners LP (SPH): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential

Conclusion

Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While Suburban Propane Partners LP has a strong presence in its industry, its financial health and growth prospects raise concerns about its ability to outperform in the future. Investors should consider these factors when making investment decisions.

GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen, Oct. 5, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Tuesday from former coal executive Don Blankenship, who argued that major news outlets defamed him by calling him a felon.

The justices left in place an appellate ruling against Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy. He served a year in prison on a misdemeanor charge after he was found guilty of conspiring to violate safety standards at a West Virginia mine before an explosion in 2010 that killed 29 men.

Justice Clarence Thomas, while agreeing with the court's action Tuesday, repeated his call for the court to overturn its landmark 1964 libel ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district courts determination that CNN, Fox News and 14 other outlets sued by Blankenship did not act with actual malice amid coverage of his unsuccessful 2018 U.S. Senate campaign, even if they failed to meet journalistic standards.

The high court had previously turned away Blankenship's appeal of his conviction.
A subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia under the Baltic Sea have suffered damage in what appears to be a deliberate act, according to the Finnish government.

The Balticconnector gas pipeline was shut down due to concerns about gas leakage from a hole in the 77-kilometer pipeline, and it may take months to repair. Additionally, the damaged telecommunications cable raised concerns about connectivity in the region.

While Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described the damage as "worrying," he assured Finland's energy supply remained stable. He also highlighted that it was premature to conclude the cause of the damage, and an investigation is underway.

European gas prices surged in response to the news, reaching a six-month high, Reuters noted, fueled by concerns over tensions in the Middle East and the belief that external activity may have caused the pipeline damage.

Despite the damage, the Balticconnector pipeline gas system operators do not foresee shortages, and Finland's alternative gas supply arrangements are expected to cover demand.

While the exact cause of the damage remains unclear, authorities are not ruling out the possibility of sabotage, drawing parallels with deliberate acts of sabotage on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022. Finland has diversified its gas imports, primarily relying on liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.

Finnish telecommunications operator Elisa confirmed that the damaged cable, primarily used for backup purposes, did not disrupt its services, providing a measure of continuity.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better.

This article Suspected Deliberate Act Damages Subsea Gas Pipeline and Telecom Cable Linking Finland And Estonia originally appeared on Benzinga.com

.

 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Albert H. Teich / Shutterstock.com

Suze Orman is a bestselling author and one of the worlds most well-known financial personalities, thanks to her website, podcast and television appearances. Her advice is typically direct and easy-to-understand, and she tailors her recommendations based on the needs of specific audiences.

Im a Self-Made Millionaire: Here Are 5 Stocks Im Never Selling

More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Orman particularly spends a lot of time offering advice for young people, as they are generally the least-informed about finances and stand the most to gain by beginning to save and invest early. If youre young and just starting out, Orman recommends owning just a single mutual fund or ETF to get started  and heres why.

What Is the One Fund Orman Recommends?

Particularly for young people who are just starting out, Orman recommends buying a low-cost index fund or ETF that tracks a broad-based U.S. benchmark, like the S&P 500.

One of the reasons for this is that instead of hitching your fortunes to an individual stock, youll instantly be diversified  at least among U.S. large-cap names  by owning 500 of them in one investment. As your portfolio builds, Orman suggests that at that point you can consider buying specific stocks. But for starters, its best to get immediately diversified with a single, easy-to-track investment.

Grant Cardone Says Passive Income Is the Key To Building Wealth: Heres His No. 1 Way To Get It

Why Is It a Solid Investment?

The S&P 500 might seem like a basic investment to some, as all it does is track the general U.S. stock market. But the truth is that the return of the S&P 500 over the long run approximates 10% annually, enough to double your money every seven years. For an investment that has never lost money over any 20-year rolling period, thats a pretty high return.

If you were to invest as little as $200 per month over 40 years at that return, youd end up with a nest egg of over $1.2 million. With full retirement age at 67, that means even starting as late as age 27, just a modest investment could set you up with a sizable retirement account balance. If you could kick in more or start earlier, your savings could grow even more.

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Can One Fund Really Be Enough?

Owning just one index fund or ETF might seem to go against the age-old advice that you should diversify your investments, especially when you are just starting out. However, the reality is that the S&P 500 index can be an appropriate investment in and of itself because its 500 different investments all at once. While the fund isnt completely diversified  as there are no bonds, international stocks or alternative investments  it does cover all 11 basic industries in America, making it something of an all-in-one investment.

The idea of simply owning the S&P 500 index has been supported by numerous financial pundits, who correctly point out that its difficult to impossible to outperform the S&P 500 index over the long run, even for professional money managers. No less than Warren Buffett himself, the billionaire CEO of Berkshire Hathaway dubbed the Oracle of Omaha for his investing record, has said that for the average investor, owning the S&P 500 index through thick and thin  and especially through thin is a sound strategy.

What Other Advice Does Orman Have for Young People?

Suze Ormans entire professional life is dedicated to dispensing financial advice, so shes offered plenty of tips throughout her career to those looking for help. For young adults specifically, here are some of Ormans most important tips.

Automate Your Emergency Fund Savings

Automation ensures that the first dollars of each paycheck go to your investments, without you having to remember doing it or talking yourself out of setting it aside.

Stay on Top of Your Student Loan Payments

A sure way to financial ruin is to fall behind on your debt payments. For younger people, this typically means student loan payments.

Spend Wisely on Your Needs

Everyone knows that you should prioritize needs over wants. But even when buying your needs, like a car for transportation or a home to live in, be judicious with how much you spend. Just because youre approved for a $50,000 car loan, for example, doesnt mean you should use all of it. Spend as little as possible to get what you need.

Only Use Stocks if Youre Saving for 10 or More Years in the Future

Stocks are one of the greatest wealth-builders in the world, but only if you have a long-term perspective. If you have a short-term need, use high-yield savings accounts or other more conservative options to avoid the risk that you invest right before a bear market strikes.

Open a Roth Account

Roth accounts are a great option for young people in particular because they cant get the most benefit out of making tax-deductible contributions. As youre not usually in a high tax bracket when you just start working, take advantage of the tax-free distributions youll enjoy in retirement from a Roth IRA instead.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Suze Ormans Top Investing Tip for Young People: Theres One Fund That Could Really Pay Off
(Bloomberg) -- The highest bid for Teck Resources Ltd.s lucrative coal assets wont necessarily be the winning bid, according to Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Price.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The company will consider a range of factors beyond valuation, including execution risk and the environmental track record of prospective buyers for its four coal mines in British Columbia, Price said in an interview at Bloombergs London office on Tuesday.

Teck is weighing multiple potential deals for its steelmaking coal unit, as it seeks to rebrand as a standalone metals producer. The sales process caps a dramatic year for the Canadian miner, after it publicly rejected a takeover attempt by Glencore Plc, and then was forced back to the drawing board on its coal strategy when an earlier split proposal didnt muster enough shareholder support.

Glencore has since offered about $8.2 billion to buy only the coal business, which has also drawn interest from JSW Steel Ltd. and Canadian mining financier Pierre Lassonde, Bloomberg has previously reported. Nippon Steel Corp. had earlier agreed to buy up to 10% in the previous, abandoned coal spinoff plan.

Read: Tycoon Jindals JSW Seeks Significant Stake in Tecks Coal Unit

Teck could either sell the entire coal unit entirely or offload a stake before spinning out the remainder to its own shareholders, Price said.

He declined to comment on specific bids or the potential outcome of the process, which he hopes to conclude by year end.

Any deal will need to be approved by the Canadian government, which has been adamant that the operator of the coal mines must have a strong environmental track record and a commitment to maintaining the local workforce.

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Yes, shareholder value has primacy here, but a function of that is going to be execution risk and responsible separation, Price said. We need to make sure that the coal mines in the Elk Valley continue to be run in a very responsible and sustainable manner, as they have been under Tecks stewardship.

Tecks coal mines are under heightened scrutiny in Canada as pollution crossing the border with Idaho and Montana has become a sore spot in regional relations with the US, enough so that President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement this year committing to reduce and mitigate the impacts of local water contamination.

Teck attacked Glencores track record earlier this year as it sought to fend off the other companys takeover bid, which also caught the attention of federal and regional government officials over the potential impact to the local and national economies.

Teck shares rose 1% by 3:44 p.m. in Toronto on Tuesday.

--With assistance from Jack Farchy, Will Kennedy and Dinesh Nair.

(Updates share price.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Rationalstat LLC

Thailand ICT market is expected to reach US$ 30.1 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of more than 7.0% says RationalStat

Wilmington, Delaware, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thailand ICT Market value is estimated at US$ 18.7 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of over 7.0% over the forecast period of 2023-2030, according to the latest market report by RationalStat

Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview

Thai government has actively promoted ICT infrastructure and digital transformation. Thailand 4.0, the government's digital economic policy, focuses on expanding digital infrastructure, supporting R&D, and encouraging digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

The proliferation of e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces has resulted in an increase in digital transactions. Thai customers are increasingly purchasing online, resulting in increased demand for digital payment solutions, logistics services, and secure online platforms.

According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, Thailand ICT market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including type, enterprise size, industry vertical and geography/regions (including North Thailand, Eastern Thailand, Central Thailand, South Thailand) . The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030.

Market intelligence for Thailand ICT market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Units/Subscription) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc.

In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on Thailand ICT market. It also includes the industry's current state  Production Levels, Capacity Utilization, Tech quotient, etc. Key information will be manufacturing capacity by country, installed base, import volumes, market size, key players, market size, dynamics, market data, insights, etc.

Story continues

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Thailand ICT Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis

Based on type, IT services is anticipated to dominate ICT market as it is responsible for development of custom software solutions for businesses.

Based on industry vertical, the BFSI segment is dominating the Thailand ICT market owing to the growing adoption of cloud-based services for secured payment gateways.





Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 18.7 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 30.1 billion Growth Rate 7.0% Key Market Drivers Increasing initiatives and investments

Increasing internet penetration

High mobile phone penetration rate Companies Profiled Cisco Systems

IBM

Huawei Technologies

Dell Technologies

Amazon

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Competition Analysis and Market Structure

The Thai ICT market is fragmented, with numerous firms present. Mergers & and acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, and product launches are some of the strategies followed by industry players. Some of the key developments in the Thailand ICT market include,

In February 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS) signed an agreement with Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) to bring digital transformation to the country.

Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to Thailand ICT market growth include Cisco Systems, IBM, Huawei Technologies, Dell Technologies, and Amazon, among others.

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RationalStat has segmented Thailand ICT market based on type, enterprise size, industry vertical, and region

Thailand ICT Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Type Hardware Software IT Services Telecommunication Services

Thailand ICT Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Enterprise Size Small Medium Large

Thailand ICT Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Industry Vertical BFSI IT & Telecom Government Retail E-commerce Manufacturing Others (Energy & Utilities)

Thailand ICT Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region Thailand ICT Market North Thailand Eastern Thailand Central Thailand South Thailand



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Key Questions Answered in the ICT Report:

What will be the market value of Thailand ICT market by 2030?

What is the market size of Thailand ICT market?

What are the market drivers of Thailand ICT market?

What are the key trends in Thailand ICT market?

Which is the leading region in Thailand ICT market?

What are the major companies operating in Thailand ICT market?

What are the market shares by key segments in Thailand ICT market?

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Research Methodology

RationalStat has developed a state-of-the-art research methodology to crunch numbers and provide the best possible real-time insights to clients. We combine a varied range of industry experience, data analytics, and experts viewpoint to create a research methodology for market sizing and forecasting.

RationalStat combines a mix of secondary sources as well as primary research to assess the market size and develop a forecast. Key steps involved in accurately deriving the market numbers are:

Defining the problem by understanding the type of market and data required by the client.

Data gathering and collection through relevant paid databases, publicly available sources, company reports, annual reports, surveys, and interviews.

Formulating a hypothesis to create market numbers, forecasts, influencing factors, and their relevance.

Evaluating and analyzing the data by referring to data sources utilized and leveraged.

Validating, interpreting, and finalizing the data by combining the details gathered from primary and secondary sources with the help of experienced analysts.

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RationalStat has strategic partnerships with leading data analytics and consumer research companies to cater to the clients needs. Additional services offered by the company include consumer research, country reports, risk reports, valuations and advisory, financial research, due diligence, procurement and supply chain research, data analytics, and analytical dashboards.

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Rayna Tours, a leading UAE-based destination management company, has launched QR Trips, an innovative platform set to redefine the travel experience for Chinese tourists in the UAE.

This strategic initiative by Rayna Tours reflects a commitment to providing tailored services and seamless travel solutions to the growing community of Free Independent Travellers (FIT) from China.

By crafting a platform specifically tailored to the needs and preferences of Chinese-speaking travellers, QR Trips aims to empower agents and tourists alike with a seamless, immersive experience exploring the captivating offerings of Dubai, said a statement.

I am thrilled to announce our latest venture  QR trips, designed to welcome Chinese tourists to Dubai. This is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to enhance the travel experience for visitors to the UAE. QR Trips reflects our dedication to offering unique experiences, bilingual support, and seamless services," says Senthil Velan, CEO at Rayna Tours.

Key highlights of QR Trips:

1. Tailored Travel Planning

Our user-friendly platform simplifies travel planning, enabling travellers to effortlessly compare prices, compile and manage bookings (including amendments and cancellations) all within a single, intuitive interface.

2. Seamless Booking Process

At QR Trips, efficiency and convenience are paramount. We have streamlined the booking process from start to finish, ensuring that travellers enjoy a hassle-free journey from the moment they decide to explore Dubai.

3. Enhanced Customer Support

We understand that travel can be fraught with uncertainties. That's why QR Trips prioritises customer support for Chinese travellers, offering multilingual assistance in Mandarin. Our dedicated support team is well-versed in both Chinese culture and Dubai's attractions, ensuring travellers receive timely, personalised help that enhances their overall travel experience.

QR Trips is set to transform Chinese tourism in the UAE, making Dubai more accessible, enjoyable, and memorable than ever before, said a statement form the company. TradeArabia News Network
LONDON, October 10, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Theramex, a leading global speciality pharmaceutical company dedicated to womens health, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the European rights to Duphaston and Femoston from Viatris Inc. Viatris retains the rights for Australia and Japan. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and anti-trust approvals.

"As we continue to strengthen our commitment to womens health and improve our patients access to high quality treatments, we are excited to acquire new products to expand our Menopause portfolio." - Rob Stewart, CEO of Theramex.

Duphaston (dydrogesterone) and Femoston (estradiol/dydrogesterone) may be prescribed in indications related to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

About Theramex

Theramex is a leading, global specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to women and their health. With a broad portfolio of innovative and established brands covering contraception, fertility, menopause and osteoporosis, Theramex supports women at different stages of their lives. Our vision is to be a lifetime partner for women and the healthcare professionals who treat them by providing innovative, effective solutions that care for and support women as they advance through each stage of their lives. To learn more about Theramex, please visit www.theramex.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231002698068/en/

Contacts

For further information about Theramex, please contact:

Katja Lundell, Senior Director, Global Head of Policy, Pricing and Communications.

Email: Katja.Lundell@theramex.com

Phone : +44 203 962 5555

www.theramex.com

THX_HQ_PRESSR_011393
In this insightful article, we will discuss the top most resource-rich countries and how they're capitalizing on their natural wealth. If you want to skip our overview of the mining and extractive sectors, head straight to the Top 8 Countries With Most Natural Resources.

Natural resources, primarily oil, gas, and coal, are indispensable for driving industrial machinery. Countries with massive reserves of these non-renewable resources often boast a robust national income; for example, Qatar has a gross national income of $70,500. Notably, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a consortium of 13 nations, controls approximately 80.4% of the world's proven oil reserves. The revenue generated from exporting these resources is a principal source of wealth in countries with the most natural resources in the world.

The mining and drilling industry, which extracts these resources in affluent countries, significantly contributes to GDP growth. For instance, Guyana made headlines when Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) discovered vast oil reserves off its coast in 2015. Since this discovery by Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), there have been multiple significant finds in the region, which has transformed the small South American nation into one of the most promising new oil producers. The Stabroek Block, the most prolific of these discoveries, is estimated to hold over 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil equivalent resources. Due to these abundant reserves, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has approved a $12.7 billion oil project in Guyana.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Guyana's GDP growth has been substantial, reaching a record high of 47.8% in 2022, up from 5.35% in 2019. Such significant growth rates in the Top Mining Countries in the World, like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, largely result from their extractive industries.

Developments In The Natural Resources Horizon

Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX), the second-largest oil company in the US, is at the forefront of major developments in the oil & gas sector. Operating in 180 countries, the company plays a role in every aspect of the oil industry. For three decades, Chevron has collaborated with Kazakhstan to develop its energy resources, aiding its emergence as a significant energy producer and exporter globally. Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) has significantly invested in Tengizchevroil (TCO), Kazakhstan's largest crude oil-producing field and one of the largest oil fields in the world. This investment has resulted in a fifteen-fold increase in the annual gross production of oil from the 1990s to the 2020s.

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According to Chevron's Q2 earnings call, TCO is anticipated to deliver production exceeding 1 million barrels of oil equivalent daily and generate approximately $5 billion of free cash flow by 2025. Additionally, Chevron has initiated production at 10 wells in New Mexico and expects to introduce 30 more wells with higher production rates by the year's end to meet the demands of countries with the highest oil consumption.

Reuters reports that Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) plans to introduce 65,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Venezuelan oil to the global market by the end of 2024. This initiative marks Chevron's first major drilling campaign in Venezuela since Washington imposed sanctions on the country in 2019. Chevron's joint ventures with Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA currently yield 135,000 bpd, and with the addition, production is expected to reach 200,000 bpd by the end of 2024. You can further expand your investment portfolio by reading 10 Best Oil Stocks Under $20.

Another sector gaining traction within natural resources is lithium-ion technology, essential for various electronic devices, including EVs and E-bikes. In this domain, Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM), listed among the top 10 lithium mining companies in the world, announced an all-stock merger with Allkem. The merger between Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM) and Alkem is poised to establish the third-largest lithium producer globally, with the deal expected to conclude by this year's end. The merged entity is projected to be valued at $10.6 billion and have a supply chain spanning the Americas, Europe, and Australia, according to Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM).

Let's now talk about the world's biggest natural resource holders!

Top 20 Countries With Most Natural Resources in the World

Top 20 Countries With Most Natural Resources in the World

Our Methodology

We have listed the top resource-rich countries based on their total natural resources rents, expressed as a percentage of their GDP as of 2021. Natural resources rents refer to the economic gain a country derives from the extraction and production of resources like oil, natural gas, coal, minerals, and forests. Essentially, it's the difference between the total revenue generated from these resources and the production costs borne by the country. These rents are often represented as a percentage of the country's GDP. To identify countries abundant in natural wealth, we consulted the World Bank's database and ranked the world's biggest natural resource holders in ascending order of the GDP percentage derived from natural resources.

Based on our findings, here are the countries with the most natural resources:

20. Norway

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 10%

Recently, Norway has become Europe's largest exporter of natural gas and oil following a buyer boycott against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Bloomberg reports that to maintain production levels and increase exports, Norway has approved new oil and gas projects worth $18.5 billion. The Johan Sverdrup oil field, a significant project, produces 31,500 barrels of oil equivalent of gas per day, substantially contributing to the economy.

Located 150 km off the coast of Stavanger, this field reached its maximum production capacity of 755,000 barrels of oil per day during a test phase. Jointly owned by Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR), TotalEnergies, Lundin Norway, Petoro, and Aker, the field recently increased its capacity to 755,000 barrels per day, as reported in Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR)'s Q2 earnings call transcript.

Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) continues investing in the Norwegian continental shelf's oil sector, developing Irpa and Verdande (subsea oil fields in the Norwegian Sea) in the upcoming years, which are expected to yield valuable, low-carbon barrels.

19. Venezuela

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 10.1%

Venezuela is among the top oil producing countries in the world, possessing one of the world's largest proven oil reserves, primarily located in the Orinoco Oil Belt. However, US sanctions imposed in 2019 have significantly hindered its oil production and export capacities.

Targeting the oil sector and government officials, these sanctions have limited Venezuela's access to global financial markets and deterred foreign investment, causing a decline in oil production levels and prompting the search for alternative trading partners.

18. Peru

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 12.7%

Peru, rich in natural resources, is a leading global producer of silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The significant Antamina mine extracts copper and zinc, eventually supporting its GDP. Additionally, with portions of the Amazon Rainforest within its territory, Peru offers considerable timber and biodiversity resources. However, the exploitation of these resources is controversial due to environmental and indigenous peoples' rights concerns.

17. Australia

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 13.4%

Australia's wealth in natural resources encompasses coal, iron ore, gold, and natural gas. The Pilbara region is renowned for extensive iron ore extraction, with projects like Roy Hill making significant contributions. Furthermore, the North West Shelf and the Prelude FLNG project play a crucial role in the country's natural gas production.

16. Chile

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 16.9%

Topping the list of countries with the largest copper reserves, Chile has reserves amounting to 190 million metric tons. The Escondida mine, the world's largest of its kind, is pivotal in this regard. In addition to copper, Chile possesses substantial reserves of lithium, molybdenum, and precious metals, with significant lithium extraction occurring in the unique geography of the Atacama Desert.

15. United Arab Emirates

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 17.6%

The UAE derives its wealth predominantly from oil and gas found mainly in Abu Dhabi. The flagship Zakum field, one of the world's largest oil fields, significantly boosts the nation's production capacity. Besides oil, the UAE is heavily investing in developing a smart renewable energy sector to diversify its energy portfolio.

14. Russia

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 18.5%

With extensive natural resources, Russia has considerable reserves of oil, gas, coal, and metals. The Yamal LNG project exemplifies Russia's robust gas production capabilities, providing access to massive reserves in the Russian Arctic.

13. Algeria

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 22.6%

Algeria's wealth in resources is chiefly in oil and gas, with the Hassi Messaoud and Hassi R'Mel fields being integral to its petroleum industry. Fundamental for both domestic consumption and exports, these fields also support Algeria's prominent role in the fertilizer industry due to its substantial phosphate reserves.

12. Saudi Arabia

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 25.6%

Primarily known for oil, Saudi Arabia is home to Ghawar Field, the world's largest crude oil production facility. This field enhances Saudi Aramco's production capabilities and cements the nation's status in the global oil market. Additionally, with significant gold and phosphate deposits, Saudi Arabia is also exploring opportunities in the mining sector.

11. Kazakhstan

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 26.8%

Kazakhstan is rich in minerals, including uranium, copper, and zinc. As a leading uranium producer with 969,200 tons of uranium reserves, the country's Inkai and South Inkai mines are vital to its uranium extraction efforts. Kazakhstan also boasts substantial oil reserves, with the Tengiz Field being a significant contributor to its oil production.

10. Qatar

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 27.3%

With substantial natural gas reserves located primarily in the North Field, Qatar garners global attention. This field is crucial to the nation's status as one of the leading LNG exporters worldwide. Additionally, the country possesses significant crude oil reserves, bolstering its energy-centric economy.

9. Oman

Total Natural Resources Rents As % Of GDP: 29.2%

Like other Middle Eastern countries on the list, Oman derives the majority of its wealth from oil and gas. The nation has also invested in its emerging mining sector, focusing on the exploitation of copper, gold, and phosphate reserves.

Click to continue reading Top 8 Countries with Most Natural Resources in the World.

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Disclosure: None. Top 20 Countries with Most Natural Resources in the World was originally published at Insider Monkey.
The Scoop

Regional bank Truist is in talks to sell its giant insurance brokerage to private-equity firm Stone Point for about $10 billion, an early consequence of new, tighter regulations meant to avoid another run of bank failures.

Stone Point earlier this year bought 20% of the business and is now negotiating to acquire the rest, people familiar with the matter said.

Truist Insurance Holdings says its the seventh-largest insurance broker in the world. The stake sale in February, which included money from Emirati sovereign fund Mubadala, valued it at $14.5 billion. Its not clear whether the current deal would include other investors.

Talks are ongoing, the people said, and a deal may hinge on Stone Points ability to scrounge up enough debt in a market thats been skittish on buyout loans.

A spokesman for Truist declined to comment. Stone Point did not respond to requests for comment.

Know More

Stone Point specializes in financial-services deals and managed $45 billion at the end of 2022. It owns Kroll, a business intelligence and advisory firm; real-estate data provider CoreLogic; and dozens of money managers, mortgage servicers, and insurers.

It has carved out a niche taking unwanted divisions off of financial firms hands. It bought TIAAs bank last year and recently partnered with insurers AIG and Axis Capital in separate deals to free up capital.

Lizs view

Regulators didnt put this deal together over a weekend, but their fingerprints are all over it. In February, Truist sounded keen to hold onto its 80% stake. Then four regional banks failed and now new rules are coming for Truist and its peers.

Regulators are likely to raise banks required ratio of loss-absorbing capital to assets, and Truist was cutting it close in its latest Fed stress test. Were in a build-capital mode, CEO Bill Rogers said at an industry conference in May. Were going to be in build mode until we have more information, more certainty about regulators plans.

Story continues

The insurance operation is an obvious place to get it. Rogers said last month that Truists stake was tying up 2 percentage points of capital and hinted at a sale. As of June 30, Truists all-important ratio was 9.6%, versus a minimum that rose to 7.4% this month and may rise further yet.

Room for Disagreement

Truist might regret parting with a business that churns out 25% margins and never gets anyone hauled in front of Congress. Banks prize steady, fee-based businesses, and so do regulators and investors. Truists living will, its plan for an orderly wind-down in a crisis, involves selling its insurance arm for cash.

Offloading it now will leave Truist with just two business lines  consumer banking and commercial banking  where scale has favored giants like JPMorgan and Bank of America.

Notable
NEW YORK  Donald Trumps first week on trial in New York Attorney General Tish James case against his family real estate empire saw the former president sulking inside the courtroom and screaming witch hunt! outside it, a gag order from the judge on the second day, and his legal team in overdrive by Friday.

The Republican presidential front-runner, facing four criminal cases and a slew of lawsuits, on Friday failed to pause the trial while he appeals the greatest legal setback hes yet faced. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engorons ruling the week before the trial began found him and his top executives  including sons Don Jr. and Eric  liable on James top fraud claim for exaggerating Trump Organization assets by up to $2.2 billion from 2014 to the final year of his presidency.

Engoron also stripped him of his New York business licenses, setting him up to lose the prized jewels in his real estate portfolio like his self-named Fifth Avenue tower.

In his opening, AG lawyer Kevin Wallace said Engorons determination that Trump and his execs submitted fake numbers in business deals left the government to show why they lied about the value of Trump-owned assets  and the amount to be paid as punishment. James is seeking at least $250 million.

We will show the defendants made these false entries with the intent to defraud, Wallace said.

In his blistering pretrial ruling, Engoron found that the defense offered by the former president  that the value of buildings is in the beholders eye  was absurd and wholly without basis in law or fact. But Trump lawyers hammered on with the argument.

Real estate is malleable, your Honor. Real estate changes, Trump lawyer Alina Habba said. The values change, but there was absolutely no fraud, no intent to defraud, no conspiracy.

Trumps lawyers sought to pin the blame for any inaccuracies in the financial statements on the first witness, Donald Bender, from the firm Mazars. The former accountant, who prepared the yearly statements central to the AGs case, maintained during three days on the stand that his job was to compile information Trump gave him  not to audit it. Bender said he tried to be thorough, but they were not getting us all the documents.

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After Benders testimony, Trump Org controller and defendant Jeff McConney took the stand, admitting to regularly committing tax fraud, including submitting fake numbers that bloated the value of Trumps Seven Springs estate in Westchester by more than $100 million because of seven phantom mansions son Eric Trump planned but never built.

McConney answered yes when asked whether he broke the law at work because he was afraid Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg would fire him.

Weisselberg, a co-defendant in the fraud trial who served 99 days on Rikers Island earlier this year after his conviction for keeping two sets of books, is expected to take the stand Tuesday.

Despite his incendiary words outside court  calling Engoron a pawn run by the Democrats and James a political animal  Trump barely interacted with either of them. Engoron did not react to Trumps constant jabs, but he drew the line at Trumps Truth Social attack on his principal law clerk, alleging she was dating Sen. Chuck Schumer and dictating the case against him.

After learning of the online post, the judge issued a limited gag order prohibiting everyone in the case from publicly commenting on his court staff.

By the end of the week, Trumps lawyers appeared to be working overtime to shave down their legal work. On Friday, he voluntarily dropped an appeals court petition challenging Engoron and James authority.

The night before, he dropped his $500 million lawsuit against his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen. Trump was scheduled to be at a deposition with Cohen and his lawyer on the first day of the fraud trial. The sit-down would have marked their first face-to-face in five years since Cohen told the world about what he witnessed working as Trumps fixer and went to prison for doing his dirty work.

Its not clear whether Trump will return to the trial unless hes called to testify. But Cohen, slated to be one of the next witnesses in the AG case, said he hopes a reunion with his old boss might still happen.

I want him to look me in the face as he faces accountability for his actions for the very first time in his life.

_____
(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he expects a grain corridor to Romania via Moldova to become operational soon, as he called for action to prevent Russia from turning the Black Sea and Danube region into a dead zone for navigation.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Meeting President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, Zelenskiy also said Ukraine is bolstering air-defense systems in Odesa, while Romania had agreed to speed up training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The Romanian leader pledged to elevate diplomatic ties with Kyiv to the level of strategic partnership.

In Ukraine, police said at least two people were wounded when Russian troops shelled the city of Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region. Russian forces have stepped up their activity on the southern frontline, Ukraines southern commander, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said on Telegram.

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Markets

European gas prices jumped after Bloomberg News reported that a probe into a leak from an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia is proceeding on the premise that it was a deliberate act of destruction, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Ukraines commodities are again heading directly to traditional buyers across Europe and Asia via its new shipping corridor in the Black Sea.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Three vessels are en route to Spain and one each to the Netherlands, Egypt and Singapore, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. Ships that left Ukraines Black Sea ports have already arrived in Romania, Israel, Italy and Bulgaria with cargoes such as grain and metals.

The trips show how Ukraines risky bet to go it alone in the Black Sea appears to be paying off. It may allow shipments to ramp up, securing much-needed revenue since grain exports are running 28% below last year so far this season. Kyiv set up its own temporary route from ports in Greater Odesa after Russia exited a safe-corridor deal backed by the United Nations and Turkey.

Read more: Russian Attacks Are Edging Closer and Closer to NATO Territory

Still, volumes so far are much smaller than under the grain export agreement, when China was the top destination for Kyivs exports, followed by Spain, Turkey and Italy. Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry declined to comment on the developments.

Mainstream shipowners remain wary. Risks  and insurance premiums  are very high. Russia previously threatened to treat any ships sailing to Ukraine as potentially carrying weapons and, in August, opened fire on one to force it to stop for checks.

At least eight more vessels are in or near ports in Greater Odesa and may depart with cargoes during the next few days, data show.

--With assistance from Olesia Safronova.

(Updates with Ukraine grain export statistic in third paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Thunder Trend Token

Singapore, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What is TTT and what does it solve?

Thunder Trend Token (T.T.T.) is a TRC20 token on the TRON blockchain that is part of the Smart United Network Ecosystem (S.U.N.). It aims to address various problems that have plagued the cryptocurrency industry since its inception. Here's a breakdown of what T.T.T. is and the issues it aims to solve:

Problems in the Cryptocurrency Industry:

Scams and Get-Rich-Quick Schemes: Fraudulent projects that steal people's hard-earned money.

High Yield Investment Plans (HYIP): Mostly Ponzi schemes that lure new investors with promises of high returns.

Fake Cryptocurrency Mining Farms: Projects that claim to mine tokens that are actually Proof of Stake and cannot be mined.

Pump and Dump Schemes: Manipulative tactics by large holders ("Whales") to artificially inflate and then crash token prices.

Market Manipulation by Whales: Whales have the power to influence markets negatively, often at the expense of smaller investors.

H.O.D.L. Mentality: The practice of holding onto tokens for a long time, hoping for future profits but often leading to losses.

The Solution: T.T.T. and the S.U.N. Ecosystem

T.T.T. aims to provide a more secure, transparent, and equitable environment for cryptocurrency investors. While specific details about how T.T.T. plans to achieve these goals would be in its whitepaper, the overarching aim is to create an ecosystem that minimizes the risks associated with the problems listed above.

Possible Features and Solutions:

Transparency and Trust: By being part of a reputable ecosystem like S.U.N., T.T.T. could offer more transparency and trustworthiness than standalone tokens. Regulated Investment Plans: T.T.T. might offer investment plans that are regulated and audited, reducing the risk of Ponzi schemes. Authentic Mining Operations: If T.T.T. involves mining, it would likely be transparent about its operations, distinguishing itself from fake mining farms. Anti-Manipulation Measures: Features could be in place to prevent large holders from manipulating the token's price. Community Governance: Token holders might have a say in the project's direction, reducing the influence of whales. Sustainable Growth: T.T.T. could focus on long-term, sustainable growth rather than quick profits, encouraging a more stable investment.

Story continues

In summary, Thunder Trend Token (T.T.T.) aims to be a solution to the various challenges and risks that have long plagued the cryptocurrency industry. By being part of the Smart United Network Ecosystem (S.U.N.), it seeks to offer a safer, more transparent, and more equitable investment environment.

Token Overview

Token name: Thunder Trend Token Token symbol: $TTT Total supply: 210,000,000 Total circulation Supply: 915,887.4414127

Coinstore Listing

Trading pair: TTT / USDT Trade time: 15 March 2023, 13:00 (UTC+8) Withdrawal time: 16 March 2023, 13:00 (UTC+8)

What are the utilities of TTT?

The THUNDER TREND TOKEN (T.T.T.) serves as the central utility token within the Smart United Network (S.U.N.) ecosystem. Here are its key utilities:

Access to Products and Services:

T.T.T. is the primary payment method for accessing all the products and services offered by S.U.N., which includes technical education, crypto trading, metaverse NFT gaming, business advertising, and sustainable development projects.

Transactional Utility:

T.T.T. will be used to perform transactions across various fields within the S.U.N. platform. This includes buying courses, purchasing in-game assets, and paying for advertising slots, among other things.

Passive Income Generation:

T.T.T. holders have the opportunity to generate a passive income through staking, farming, and yielding features. This allows members to earn additional T.T.T. tokens or other rewards over time.

Exclusive Transactional Rights:

T.T.T. will be listed on several exchanges compatible with the TRON Blockchain, including S.U.N.'s own THUNDER DEX. It will have exclusive transactional rights for the futuristic implementation of all products and services within the S.U.N. ecosystem.

Community Membership:

Holding T.T.T. could potentially grant members special privileges or voting rights within the community, allowing them to have a say in the direction of the platform.

Charitable and Sustainable Goals:

T.T.T. may also be used in community-driven initiatives aimed at poverty eradication and sustainable development, aligning with S.U.N.'s mission to make a positive impact.

Global Partnerships:

T.T.T. will be used in collaborations with global partners, providing members with new and exciting opportunities to earn rewards and enhance their financial freedom.

Empowering Innovators:

T.T.T. could serve as a financial tool for the next generation of influencers, innovators, and creators, helping them grow their ideas, businesses, and brands.

In summary, T.T.T. is designed to be a multi-functional utility token that not only facilitates transactions within the S.U.N. ecosystem but also offers a range of benefits from passive income generation to community participation and beyond.

What does the project ecosystem include?

The Smart United Network (S.U.N.) Ecosystem is a comprehensive platform that aims to provide a range of products and services in the blockchain space. It is registered in South Africa and founded by Mr. Jean-Pierre Rademeyer. The ecosystem uses its utility TRON Blockchain Token, T.T.T., as the primary method of payment for all its offerings. Here's a detailed look at what the project ecosystem includes:

Core Components:

Thunder Trend Token (T.T.T.): A TRC20 token based on the TRON protocol, serving as the main payment method within the ecosystem.

Thunder Trend Membership: Provides access to all current and future products and services developed by S.U.N.

Product Categories:

Tech Education: Courses in content creation, social media marketing, website development, and cryptocurrency.

Decentralized Exchange (Thunder DEX): Allows members to purchase Net-worth Points packages with T.T.T., exchange points for airdrop tokens, and earn points by completing tasks.

Metaverse NFT Gaming: Members can buy Game Points Packages with T.T.T. to play games, invest in Game NFT items, and earn more points.

Business Advertising Platform (Ad World): Members can purchase Ad Points Packages with T.T.T. to advertise their businesses and earn points by viewing ads.

TRON Thunder Affiliates: Likely an affiliate program to encourage community growth.

ECO Trading & Mining: A focus on eco-friendly trading and mining solutions.

Educational Platform:

Lightning Academy: Aims to guide members to become entrepreneurs and financially independent through various tech courses.

Sustainable Goals:

Crypto Mining Farms: Plans to allow community members to earn daily rewards for participating in crypto mining.

Self-Sustainability Villages: An initiative to teach community members how to build and live in self-sustainable villages.

Reward System:

Net-worth Points: Earned through participation in various products and services, and can be exchanged for airdrop tokens or other points within the ecosystem.

Game Points: Used in Metaverse NFT Gaming, can be earned or purchased with T.T.T.

Ad Points: Used in the Business Advertising Platform, can be earned by viewing ads or purchased with T.T.T.

Timeline:

Product Development: Scheduled completion by 2025 for most product categories.

Sustainable Development: Planning to start by 2024 and aim for 100% self-sustainability by 2030.

In summary, the S.U.N. Ecosystem is a multi-faceted platform aiming to provide a safe, trusted, and clean environment for its members. It focuses on techno education, cryptocurrency trading, metaverse gaming, NFTs, advertising, and sustainable development, all while using T.T.T. as its primary utility token.

TTT Official Media

Website | Twitter | Telegram

About Coinstore.com



Accessibility. Security. Equity.

As a leading global platform for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, Coinstore.com seeks to build an ecosystem that grants everyone access to digital assets and blockchain technology. With over 3.2 million users worldwide, Coinstore.com aims to become the preferred cryptocurrency trading platform and digital service provider worldwide.

Coinstore.com Social Media

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Telegram Discussion | Telegram Announcement



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Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

CONTACT: Coinstore Media Contact Pei Shan, Marketing Executive | peishan-at-coinstore.com Jennifer Lu, Co-Founder | Jennifer.lu-at-coinstore.com




Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV (NYSE:ASR) has recently been in the spotlight, drawing interest from investors and financial analysts due to its robust financial stance. With shares currently priced at $212.49, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV has witnessed a daily gain of 2.87%, marked against a three-month change of -24.72%. A thorough analysis, underlined by the GF Score, suggests that Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV is well-positioned for substantial growth in the near future.

Unveiling the Investment Potential of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV (ASR): A Deep Dive into Financial Strength, Profitability, and Growth

Decoding the GF Score

The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV has been assigned the following ranks:

Each one of these components is ranked and the ranks also have positive correlation with the long term performances of stocks. The GF score is calculated using the five key aspects of analysis. Through backtesting, we know that each of these key aspects has a different impact on the stock price performance. Thus, they are weighted differently when calculating the total score. With high ranks in financial strength, profitability, and growth, and slightly lower ranks in GF value and momentum, GuruFocus assigned Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV the GF Score of 97 out of 100, which signals the highest outperformance potential.

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Understanding Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's Business

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV operates airports in southeast Mexico. With a market cap of $6.37 billion and sales of $1.39 billion, the company's operating margin stands at 59.25%. The company's segments include Cancun; Aerostar; Airplan; Merida; Villahermosa; Holding and Services and other. It generates maximum revenue from the Cancun segment.

Unveiling the Investment Potential of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV (ASR): A Deep Dive into Financial Strength, Profitability, and Growth

Financial Strength Breakdown

According to the Financial Strength rating, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's robust balance sheet exhibits resilience against financial volatility, reflecting prudent management of capital structure.

The Interest Coverage ratio for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV stands impressively at 12.96, underscoring its strong capability to cover its interest obligations. This robust financial position resonates with the wisdom of legendary investor Benjamin Graham, who favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least 5.

With an Altman Z-Score of 5.01, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV exhibits a strong defense against financial distress, highlighting its robust financial stability.

With a favorable Debt-to-Revenue ratio of 0.5, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's strategic handling of debt solidifies its financial health.

Profitability Rank Breakdown

The Profitability Rank shows Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's impressive standing among its peers in generating profit.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV Operating Margin has increased (15.02%) over the past five years, as shown by the following data: 2018: 50.48; 2019: 50.42; 2020: 25.95; 2021: 46.09; 2022: 58.06; .

Furthermore, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's Gross Margin has seen a consistent rise over the past five years, as evidenced by the data: 2018: 51.13; 2019: 50.69; 2020: 26.54; 2021: 47.49; 2022: 57.83; . This trend underscores the company's growing proficiency in transforming revenue into profit.

The Piotroski F-Score confirms Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's solid financial situation based on Joseph Piotroski's nine-point scale, which measures a company's profitability, funding and operating efficiency.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's strong Predictability Rank of 3.0 stars out of five underscores its consistent operational performance, providing investors with increased confidence.

Growth Rank Breakdown

Ranked highly in Growth, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding its business.

The company's 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate is 14.6%, which outperforms better than 71.88% of 914 companies in the Transportation industry

Moreover, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV has seen a robust increase in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the past few years. Specifically, the three-year growth rate stands at 17.1, and the rate over the past five years is 6.7. This trend accentuates the company's continued capability to drive growth.

Unveiling the Investment Potential of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV (ASR): A Deep Dive into Financial Strength, Profitability, and Growth

Conclusion

With its strong financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB de CV's unparalleled position for potential outperformance. This analysis underscores the company's robust financial health and growth potential, making it a compelling investment opportunity for value investors.

GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


(Bloomberg) -- Leadership of the venture capital firm Insight Partners pledged Monday to donate $1 million to humanitarian aid work in the wake of attacks on Israel, adding to a chorus of relief efforts from the US startup world.

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New York-based Insight Partners, which also has overseas offices in Tel Aviv and other cities, is one of a handful of venture capital firms and investors that plan to donate money for humanitarian work. In a series of social media posts, the firm said it has been a steadfast supporter of the Israeli high-tech ecosystem since 2004, and we are deeply saddened by the attacks that have affected our colleagues, friends, and innocent civilians.

Another firm, General Catalyst, said in a statement that it was working with its portfolio companies based in Israel, and that it had dedicated $250,000 to humanitarian work on the ground. Individual VCs have also pledged donations  including Matthew Ocko, a co-founder at DCVC, and Erica Brescia, a managing director at Redpoint Ventures  who said publicly that they would give money to first responders in the region.

Silicon Valley has long had a close relationship with Israeli tech startups, which include many companies worth more than $1 billion. However, funding for startups in the country has slumped this year. Israeli tech startups raised $1.7 billion in the third quarter, 40% less than the year-earlier period, according to a report by the Israel-based Startup Nation Policy Institute.

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Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) shareholders have seen the share price descend 11% over the month. But in three years the returns have been great. In fact, the share price is up a full 195% compared to three years ago. So the recent fall in the share price should be viewed in that context. If the business can perform well for years to come, then the recent drop could be an opportunity.

In light of the stock dropping 8.1% in the past week, we want to investigate the longer term story, and see if fundamentals have been the driver of the company's positive three-year return.

See our latest analysis for Valero Energy

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During three years of share price growth, Valero Energy achieved compound earnings per share growth of 128% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 43% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 4.11 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

We know that Valero Energy has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling Valero Energy stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Valero Energy, it has a TSR of 236% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

Valero Energy shareholders have received returns of 18% over twelve months (even including dividends), which isn't far from the general market return. That gain looks pretty satisfying, and it is even better than the five-year TSR of 9% per year. It is possible that management foresight will bring growth well into the future, even if the share price slows down. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Valero Energy that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American 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.
Top delegates and ministers from more than 150 countries are expected in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the 25th session of the General Assembly (18-19 October).

Held every two years, the supreme governing body of UNWTO will once again bring Member States from every global region together to debate and advance the organisation's Programme of Work and address the biggest challenges facing tourism right now.

Ahead of the event, key figures from leading international organisations, including from across the United Nations, have expressed their recognition of UNWTO's role and affirmed their interest in the upcoming General Assembly.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, says: "Tourism brings progress. As one of the biggest sectors in the global economy, it has great power to bridge cultures, generate new opportunities and promote sustainable development. But tourism is also impacted by interlinked global challenges. I know that we can count on the UN World Tourism Organisation to carry this vision forward and together, build a better future, for people and planet."

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said: "The significance of tourism as a tool for economic development cannot be overstated The Member States of UNWTO are admirably working to transform tourism and build a more resilient and sustainable sector. (UNCTAD) will continue to work closely with UNWTO around our shared goals and vision."

Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) says: "Thanks to new technologies and our shared commitments to innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship, UNWTO and ICAO will continue to leverage the full potential of global tourism growth to empower young people with high-value jobs and to lead other industry sectors by example, focused on people, planet and prosperity."

European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, says: "Tourism in Europe and around the world has rebounded strongly from the devastating effects of COVID-19. However, amidst this discovery we must not forget the lessons of the pandemic nor ignore the global challenges our economies and societies continue to face there is no better place to do so than the uniquely diverse gathering of global tourism leaders across the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors, that personify the UNWTO General Assembly."

Advancing UNWTO Programme of Work

The General Assembly will see Member States discuss debate and approve the UNWTO Programme of Work. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili will also present his report to all members, highlighting how core priorities have been advanced over the past two years, with a special focus on tourism investments, education and innovation.

Within the framework of the General Assembly, UNWTO will also convene several of its key statutory bodies and bring together sector leaders for thematic events focused on its main priorities for the sector right now:

The UNWTO Executive Council will meet for its 119th (October 17) and 120th (October 20) sessions. The council's task is to take all necessary measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of its own decisions and recommendations of the Assembly and report thereon to the Assembly.

The UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe (October 16) will welcome Member States from the world's top regional destination by international arrival numbers, placing the focus on innovation, jobs and youth empowerment.

The Plenary of Affiliate Members (October 16) will bring together representatives from the private sector, civil society and academia.

The Investment Forum (October 17) and Education Forum (October 19) will feature high-level dialogue around key UNWTO priorities, strengthening public-private partnerships around shared goals.

UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages 2023 will be named in Samarkand, highlighting the best examples of tourism for rural development.  TradeArabia News Service
Walgreens staff and pharmacists have reported understaffed teams having to meet increased demands, such as dealing with backlogged prescriptions and administering vaccines. (Leonardo Munoz / VIEWpress / Corbis / Getty Images)

Employees at Walgreens pharmacies across the United States walked out Monday, protesting what they call unsafe working conditions at the stores.

Closures were confirmed by CNN at Walgreens stores in Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts and Arizona.

Walgreens staff and pharmacists have reported understaffed teams having to meet increased demands, such as dealing with backlogged prescriptions and administering vaccines.

Employees are asking that the company hire more staff, be transparent about how payroll hours are assigned, create mandatory training hours and give advance notice when a position opens at a store or when staff will be reduced.

Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman confirmed in a statement to The Times that "a small number of our pharmacies" have experienced disruptions, but "nearly all of our 9,000 locations continue to serve our patients and customers."

We also understand the immense pressures felt across the U.S. in retail pharmacy right now, he said. We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members. We are committed to ensuring that our entire pharmacy team has the support and resources necessary to continue to provide the best care to our patients while taking care of their own well-being.

Read more: Where Southern Californians can find the new COVID-19 vaccine

Monday's action follows walkouts a few weeks ago by CVS pharmacy employees at locations in Kansas City.

The Times detailed last month how Californians were being harmed by errors at chain pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS because pharmacists were overworked, having to fill hundreds of prescriptions during each shift while vaccinating patients, working at the cash register and calling doctors to confirm prescriptions.

Pharmacies in California will now have to report prescription errors under legislation recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The bill, written by Assemblymember Matt Haney, a San Francisco Democrat, allows pharmacists to increase staffing when they believe the workload is too much to handle.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Trina Solar Co Ltd (NYSE:TSL), a leading player in the semiconductors industry, has seen a significant surge in its stock price over the past three months. As of October 10, 2023, the company's market cap stands at $1.81 billion, with its stock price at $19.53. Over the past week, the stock price has seen a gain of 6.16%, and over the past three months, it has risen by an impressive 19.46%. The GF Value, defined by GuruFocus.com, calculates a stock's intrinsic value using historical multiples, past performance adjustments, and future business estimates. Currently, the GF Value of Trina Solar is $23.24, indicating that the stock is modestly undervalued. This is consistent with the GF Valuation three months ago, which also suggested that the stock was modestly undervalued.

Company Overview

Trina Solar Co Ltd is a renowned manufacturer of photovoltaic products, photovoltaic systems, and smart energy solutions. The company's photovoltaic products business includes the research and development, manufacture, and sales of monocrystalline silicon-based photovoltaic modules. Its photovoltaic systems business encompasses power station business and the construction and management of photovoltaic power station projects. The smart energy business includes photovoltaic power generation, operation, and management of the photovoltaic power station, research and sales of the smart microgrid and multi-energy systems, and operation of the energy cloud platform, among others.

What's Driving Trina Solar Co Ltd's Surprising 19% Stock Rally?

Profitability Analysis

Trina Solar's Profitability Rank stands at 7 out of 10, indicating a strong profitability performance compared to other companies in the industry. The company's operating margin, calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue, is 7.93%, better than 53.88% of the companies in the industry. The ROE, ROA, and ROIC, which measure the company's profitability in relation to its equity, assets, and invested capital respectively, are also impressive. The company's ROE is 22.47%, ROA is 6.20%, and ROIC is 13.85%, each outperforming a significant percentage of companies in the industry. Over the past decade, Trina Solar has demonstrated profitability for seven years, better than 50.73% of the companies in the industry.

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What's Driving Trina Solar Co Ltd's Surprising 19% Stock Rally?

Growth Prospects

Trina Solar's Growth Rank is 9 out of 10, indicating robust growth prospects. The company's 3-year and 5-year revenue growth rate per share are 44.50% and 16.50% respectively, outperforming a significant percentage of companies in the industry. The 3-year and 5-year EPS without NRI growth rate, which measure the growth of the company's earnings per share excluding non-recurring items, are 68.10% and 37.90% respectively, also outperforming a significant percentage of companies in the industry.

What's Driving Trina Solar Co Ltd's Surprising 19% Stock Rally?

Competitive Landscape

Trina Solar operates in a competitive industry, with key competitors including JA Solar Technology Co Ltd (SZSE:002459) with a market cap of $11.44 billion, CSI Solar Co Ltd (SHSE:688472) with a market cap of $7 billion, and Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co Ltd (SHSE:600732) with a market cap of $5.49 billion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Trina Solar Co Ltd has demonstrated strong stock performance, profitability, and growth prospects. The company's stock price has seen a significant surge over the past three months, and its GF Value indicates that it is modestly undervalued. Trina Solar's profitability and growth ranks are impressive, and its operating margin, ROE, ROA, and ROIC outperform a significant percentage of companies in the industry. Despite operating in a competitive industry, Trina Solar's strong performance and growth prospects make it a compelling consideration for investors.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


LONDON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World's 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, has revealed the extended 51-100 list. Decided by a voting panel comprising 680 independent drinks experts, from renowned bartenders, educators and consultants to drinks writers and cocktail specialists, the extended list is a forerunner to the live unveiling of The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 on 17 October in Singapore.

The World's 50 Best Bars announces the extended 51-100 list for 2023, one week before the reveal of the full list at a live awards ceremony on 17 October in Singapore.

The 51-100 List in Numbers

The 51-100 list includes bars spanning 34 different cities across the world

There are 14 new entries , with 3 cities featuring for the first time: Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana

USA leads with six bars across New York, Chicago and Los Angeles

UK leads in Europe with five bars out of a total 17 across the continent

The list includes 14 bars in Asia across Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo

The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 will see the prestigious event leave Europe for the first time, heading to Singapore as it continues its mission to spotlight the world's great cocktail cities. The extended 51-100 list continues to showcase a wider selection of the most excellent bars and destinations around the world.

New entries for 2023 include Lima's Lady Bee (No.52), Tulum's Arca (No.60), Guadalajara's El Gallo Altanero (No.65), New York's Martiny's (No.68), Dubai's Ergo (No.69), Mexico City's Rayo (No.72), Toronto's Civil Liberties (No.73), Seoul's Bar Cham (No.75), Berlin's Velvet (No.77), Mexico City's Kaito del Valle (No.81), Oslo's Svanen (No.84), Tirana's Nouvelle Vague (No.86), Bratislava's Mirror Bar (No.90) and Athens' The Bar in Front of the Bar (No.98). The full list can be viewed here.

William Drew, Director of Content, 50 Best, says: "When we launched the extended list of The World's 50 Best Bars our intention was to shine a light on an even greater cross-section of the most exceptional destinations for cocktail lovers. Now, in its seventh year, we are delighted to recognise the remarkable hospitality experiences offered by these establishments across 34 incredible cities. As we once again take to the road, leaving Europe for the first time in our history to celebrate the greatest cocktail bars in the world in the iconic city of Singapore, we extend our warmest congratulations."

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SOURCE 50 Best
(Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen showed little willingness to embrace reforms at the International Monetary Fund that would give China and other developing countries significantly more say in how the worlds go-to emergency lender is run.

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The Biden administration would support a quota formula that better reflects the global economy, but change on this can only happen within an agreed-on framework based on shared principles, Yellen said in the text of remarks she delivered Tuesday as global finance officials gathered in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The outdated distribution of IMF quotas  which represent a countrys share of the institutions resources and align closely with voting rights  is expected to be a source of major debate here this week at the annual gathering of the World Bank and IMF.

Global South

Countries like China, Brazil and India  whose economies have grown significantly faster than those of developed nations - have long clamored for a re-division of quotas to reflect their growing heft. China, for example, accounts for about 18% of global economic output, but holds just a 6% share at the IMF.

Tatiana Rosito, a senior official in Brazils Finance Ministry told Bloomberg News last week the lack of reform was pushing the so-called BRICS nations to fund development through institutions like the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The IMFs Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, appeared to signal her support for reforms in an interview published in the Financial Times earlier this month.

There is a need to constantly change to reflect how the world economy is changing, she said.

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Pro-Rata

In her remarks, Yellen reiterated US calls for an equiproportional increase of IMF quotas, highlighting Washingtons unwillingness to consider a reallocation of voting shares at this moment. In other words, the US proposes that all members should contribute more, but retaining the division of power thats existed in the IMF since 2016.

Yellens remark on quota reform being dependent on shared principles among IMF members could be interpreted as a reference to China, which the US has criticized for, among other things, not participating readily in debt restructuring for low-income countries and for being non-transparent in foreign-exchange management.

In order to improve representation at the Fund by emerging and low-income economies, Yellen reiterated the US proposal to add another deputy managing director to represent these nations. She said the US was also engaging with peers on the potential of adding another Executive Board chair representing sub-Saharan Africa.

Development Finance

Yellen also spoke of US ambitions for the World Bank, where she has pushed for big changes and partly succeeded. At her urging in the last year the development lender has taken steps to stretch its balance sheet.

In her speech Yellen tried to rally support for further increasing resources for concessional loans those with terms more favorable than markets would provide  to confront global threats like climate change and pandemics.

She noted the Biden administration has pledged an additional $2.25 billion that could unlock up to $27 billion in fresh lending. The US has been hoping other advanced economies will make similar pledges to increase the World Banks firepower, though few have so far made concrete promises.

The G20 has committed to mobilizing more resources, and other countries are making announcements on how they will boost capacity as well, Yellen told an audience at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, north of Marrakech.

Other countries, however, will also be watching the US Congress closely to see if lawmakers will approve the funding promised by President Joe Biden and Yellen. Ongoing partisan squabbles in the US capital are threatening not only support for the World Bank but aid for Ukraine.

Yellen also called on all the regional development banks to get moving on incorporating some callable capital  money that members have pledged to produce in an emergency, but which has never been tapped  in their capital adequacy frameworks, a step that could boost their lending power.

--With assistance from Eric Martin.

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They came by truck and trailer, by leash and harness, by stroller and carrier.

And in the case of the pets brought by 2-year-old Lila Ruchka, they came in a plastic container of dirt.

The little girl is always kissing worms she finds in the yard, said her mother, Kathleen Ruchka. When a friend invited them to the St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church in Spotsylvania County, Lila snatched a few worms her brother and father had planned to fish with and brought them to the event.

Father Daniel Johnson didnt mind. Hed never blessed worms before  dogs, cats and birds, sure, as well as the occasional horse and hamster. He knelt next to Lila as one of the worms squiggled on her finger and said:

May God bless you, hold you and keep you and may Gods grace shine upon you, he said.

For years, the church has held the annual blessing in honor of the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. But Sundays event went a step beyond and included a community pet fair with food and booths, photos of pets and owners in front of the historic church and displays by the Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office.

About 60 people and 30 pets  not counting the worms in the plastic container  attended the service which consisted of reading selected verses, including a prayer attributed to St. Francis. Then, Father Daniel walked among the metal chairs that had been set up on the lawn of the church, on the main drag of Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Most often, he held his hands out to the animals and cupped their faces in them. If the beagles and Labs, cocker spaniels and Chihuahuas were agreeable, he touched his nose to their nuzzle, looking for a moment into their eyes. His pit bull Kylo, named after the Star Wars character, always likes that, he said.

The priest scratched jowls and petted heads, calling each animal by name. Some dogs licked his cheeks in return. A few shivered, maybe afraid that the white and black vestments marked him as a veterinarian instead of someone answering to a higher authority.

If the pets allowed, he made the sign of the cross close to their foreheads. For those who were skittish, or for owners who brought photos of pets, either printed on pages or shown on phones, he did a blessing in the air.

It was fabulous and Im so glad we came, said Dawn Witter who brought with her the only cat in attendance, a brown Bengal with dark spots. The cat, Lazlo, wore a harness and sat in Witters lap but wanted to get down and meet the animals around him, she said.

Aside from some overzealous sniffing, the four-legged creatures got along, despite some pretty significant size differences. The contrast was most pronounced between two pets in the back row.

Oreo, an aging Chihuahua whos blind and deaf, is usually wheeled around in a red stroller, but sat in the lap of owner Linda Smith, whos also the church treasurer. On the ground between Smith and Douglas Reeve, a fellow parishioner, sat Erik the Red, a hulking German shepherd with so much auburn and black long hair, it resembled a mane.

Erik also looked like he could devour any toy breed that came near him, but he was friendly to all. When Father Daniel reached him, the priest cupped the dogs big head in his hands and said: Youre a magnificent creature, arent you?

Blessings also were given to creatures that slithered, those that work for a living and one that helped himself to the green grass on the church lawn. Representatives from the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office brought three snakes from their exotic animal display. Deputy D. Sutton kept them in aquariums inside because the autumn air was too cool for them.

Grace the bloodhound welcomed anyone to pet her soft, silky and gigantic ears. Kobalt, the other K-9 in the group, also was brought out for a blessing, but Father Daniel gave that one from a few steps away because the dog isnt touched by anyone but its handler.

Mingling among the dogs and owners, and the tables and booths set up on the lawn, was Andy, a Tennessee Walker-mix. Jan Massey shares ownership of the horse with her granddaughter, Abby Donohoe, a 12-year-old who wanted to bring Andy to the blessing to be unique. She figured, rightly so, that no one else there would have a horse.

Andy is getting up in age and Massey thought the blessing would be good for him. Like other pet owners, she and Abby stood in front of the church door and had their picture taken, smiling all the while.

Thats why Father Daniel enjoys the event so much.

People are so happy when theyre with their animals, the priest said. Im a pet lover myself, even of the snakes. You cant be in a bad mood when youre with them.
Spotsylvania schools superintendent Mark Taylor has removed 23 more books from county high school libraries, the division announced late Monday night, bringing the total number of titles he has removed to 37.

"The decision, based on State Code and SCPS Policy IIA, defines criteria for removing materials that contain sexually explicit content," a news release from the division states.

The books that have now been banned from high school libraries include "Song of Solomon" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison; "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi, which traces a Ghanaian family through enslavement and racial prejudice in the U.S.; and "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher, a novel about a teen's suicide.

PEN America, a nonprofit that protects free expression, defines a school book ban as "any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished."

The state code referenced in the school division's news release, section 22.1-16.8, requires school boards to adopt policies that ensure parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content.

This language was added to state code by a 2022 law that also states "That the provisions of this act shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools."

The School Board in December adopted the model policies developed by the Virginia Department of Education, which "establish clear procedures for schools to identify all instructional materials with sexually explicit content (and) ensure parental notification of any instructional materials with sexually explicit content."

The policy, IIA, states that library materials are considered instructional materials "when used for completion of an assignment, or as part of an academic or extracurricular educational program."

However, Taylor, in a March memo announcing the removal of 14 other books from high school libraries, wrote that because the library books had been initially challenged last year under the existing process for challenging instructional materials, he intended to continue treating library books as instructional materials.

The ACLU of Virginia in April said Taylor's interpretation of Virginia code as requiring the automatic removal of challenged library books is "misguided" and "neither required by nor consistent with the stated intent of Virginia Code section 22.1-16.8."

Monday's news release states that the decision to remove the 23 books comes "upon the completion of the book challenge process."

Part of the existing book challenge process includes review by an ad hoc committee of community members assembled by school principals.

According to information received from the school division earlier this year, these ad hoc school-based committees overwhelmingly recommended that the books stay in high school libraries, though they did recommend that two of the titles  "Fade" by Lisa McMann and "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews  be removed from middle school libraries.

The school division in Monday's news release also said "the decision to remove these books aligns with the recently conducted survey in which parents were asked if they wanted their children to have access to sexually explicit literature.

"Approximately 70% of parents expressed their preference against such access."

The survey referenced in the news release was a question that parents and guardians initially had to answer before being able to continue completing registration paperwork over ParentVue for the 2023-24 school year.

Parents were required to answer "yes" or "no" to the question, In accordance with SCPS Policy IIA and IIA-R, do you want your student to have access to books with sexually explicit content in school libraries?

The question was accompanied by the Virginia Code definitions of sexually explicit content as outlined in sections 22.1-16.8, 2.2-2827 and 18.2-390.

In a message posted to the division's website, Taylor wrote, "Your yes-or-no answer will be stored in Destiny, our online library catalog, to assist librarians with carrying out the wishes of parents/guardians."

An unidentified spokesperson for the division said Tuesday that there were "approximately 18,500" responses to the question.

The school division spokesperson said the plan is for all the pulled books to be donated to the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, although the copies of the 14 titles removed this spring are still "at SCPS."

In addition to the titles listed above, the books removed Monday are:

"The Nowhere Girls" by Amy Reed

"Crank" by Ellen Hopkins

"All the Things We Do in the Dark" by Saundra Mitchell

"Chosen: A House of Night Novel" by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

"Damsel" by Elana Arnold

"Shine" by Lauren Myracle

"Deogratias  A Tale of Rwanda" by J. P. Stassen

"Breathless" by Jennifer Niven

"Real Live Boyfriends" by E. Lockhart

"The Duff" by Kody Keplinger

"Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein

"Little and Lion" by Brandy Colbert

"Speak  The Graphic Novel" by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Mondays Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson

"You Too?" by Janet Gurtler (Editor)

"Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok

"Twisted" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Republican General Assembly candidates dont always stress their abortion stands when wooing swing voters, but Gov. Glenn Youngkins political action committee is spending big money to do just that.

In its bid to flip the Democratic-led state Senate and widen the GOP majority in the House of Delegates, Youngkins Spirit of Virginia PAC is launching a $1.4 million statewide ad campaign to lean into an issue that Democrats have been campaigning fiercely on.

Its an effort to directly counter a central campaign message from Democratic candidates, the PAC says.

The ad accuses Democrats of falsely claiming GOP control of both House and Senate would clear the way for an outright ban on abortions. It also asserts that Democrats dont want any limits on abortion, although Democrats say that misrepresents their position that Virginias current law should stand.

On the campaign trail, Republican candidates at times downplay the abortion issue, saying voters arent telling them that abortion is a major issue in the campaign.

Democrats say it is the top issue they hear about, with fears that Youngkins proposal to bar most abortions after 15 weeks is stalking horse for an outright ban or the still tighter limits some other states have enacted.

I have been really clear  I am supportive of a bill to protect life at 15 weeks when a baby can feel pain, with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. Fifteen weeks. Thats where we are, Youngkin said.

Thats what were going to work for  to protect life at 15 weeks.

A number of Southern states have enacted abortion restrictions or bans since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, sending the issue back to the states.

Abortion looms as a key issue in the fight for control of the legislature. During this years session, Democrats had a four-seat edge in the state Senate and Republicans had a four-seat edge in the House of Delegates. The PACs ads are focused on what it sees as 17 battleground races.

Virginia law allows abortions for the first 26 weeks without limit; in the small number of cases when an abortion is later, it is allowed only when a womans doctor and two other physicians say it is necessary.

State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said, I think most Virginians are offended by the idea of politicians and law enforcement injecting themselves between a woman and her doctor.

Speaking of the new GOP ad, he said: I think it will blow up in their faces. Every poll Ive seen says Virginians dont think the law should be changed.

Youngkin says he thinks the 15-week limit is reasonable because it is the point at which a fetus can feel pain.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says a human fetus does not have the capacity to experience pain until after at least 2425 weeks.

Most Republicans running for the legislature, including some of the most ardent abortion opponents such as Del. Karen Greenhalgh, R-Virginia Beach, generally say 15 weeks is a reasonable compromise.

House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said in an interview: Look, I know everyone in our caucus understands Virginians as a whole do not want a ban. Weve been full-throated and clear that 15 weeks is where we are as public policy.

What were hearing is that Virginians want reasonable limits; were not hearing that the other side has any number for limits.

Surovell said Democrats believe the limits in current law ought to remain.

Whether they admit its a ban or claim theyre just changing the law to take away abortion rights, it means women wont have the rights they have now, said House Minority Leader Don Scott, D-Portsmouth.

We are living in a world where my daughter has less rights than my mother. ... Theyre trying to buy a ban, theyre trying to buy an election, and theyre trying to buy control of Virginia, he said.

The PACs ads will run on broadcast media, cable, streaming services and digital media beginning this week and through Election Day.

The campaign dwarfs what the PAC has spent so far on messaging: $268,000 for placing TV and radio ads and $225,000 for ad production, as well as about $610,900 for digital ads.

Some of the hottest state Senate races have seen bigger ad spending, though. In Loudoun county-anchored 31st district, Republican Juan Pablo Segura has so far booked $1.8 million of broadcast ads, according to Federal Communications Commission and social media data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project. Democrat Russet Perrys spending is $1.35 million.

In Henrico County, state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, has so far spent $1.49 million while her opponent, in District 16, Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, has spent $929,000.

The 17 battleground races that the PAC is targeting with the ads include the Segura-Perry and Dunnavant-VanValkenburg contests.

The others include two state Senate races on the fringes of the Northern Virginia suburbs, a Fredericksburg-area Senate district and three Senate races in Hampton Roads.

House battlegrounds include three Richmond area races: Democrat Susannah Gibson versus Republican David Owen in House District 57; Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico versus Republican Riley Shaia in House District 58 and Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie, versus Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams in House District 82.

(While many GOP candidates back the governors stance, Shaia says she believes the state should allow abortion through the second trimester.)

In addition, the PACs House battlegrounds include two Prince William county districts in Northern Virginia and three in Hampton Roads.
The father of a boy injured on an amusement ride at the State Fair of Virginia in Caroline County says his son has returned to school this week, but still has a long road to a full recovery.

Its a lot for an 8-year-old to go through, said Matt Nungent, 37, of Shenandoah County, whose son received a broken foot, a gash on his left leg that required surgical repair, abrasions and friction burns on his legs and back.

Nungent told the Richmond TimesDispatch that his son boarded the ride, called The Storm, on Sept. 29 after meeting the height requirements listed for the attraction. The boy was by himself, Nungent said, and the father was watching him from the other side of the fence.

When it started up and (his cart) came around for the second time, his seat was empty, Nungent said. The little girl who was sitting across from him had a look on her face and her hand over her mouth. I knew something wasnt right.

Nungent said he sprinted through the gate and up to the operator, yelling at him to stop the ride. He then went over the fence to find his son.

I was expecting the worst, Nungent said.

Nungent said his son had been ejected from his seat, struck by another cart and flung into a fence. He found the boy on the ground, bleeding from a deep laceration near his left knee.

I have been in fire and rescue for the last 18 years, so Ive seen a lot of things. That was probably the most horrific thing Ive ever had to see, Nungent said.

Your own son getting tossed around by a piece of equipment that large ... its hard to get that picture out of your mind.

Nungent said he rode with his son in an ambulance to VCU Medical Center, where the boy underwent surgery to irrigate and close the wound on his leg.

You just want to take (the pain) away, and you cant, he said.

Probe of ride

The Storm was one of more than 40 rides operated by Stuart, Florida-based Deggeller Attractions at the State Fair, which ran from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1 at The Meadow Event Park. The Virginia Farm Bureau in a 2022 story said Deggeller had provided attractions for over 50 years at the event, which draws about 250,000 people annually.

David Silek, an attorney for the boys family, says the enforced height limits and the safety restraints on The Storm were insufficient to prevent the mishap.

We ... believe ... the harness did not come down securely enough to keep him in the chair, and he was pulled out of the bottom of (the ride), Silek said. The piece that locks across the legs did not keep him in, and he was pulled down and out. ... Hes extremely lucky to be alive.

Silek said the boy tried to pull himself back into the cart, but the momentum of the ride overwhelmed him.

The attorney also said the height limits for boarding the ride changed a day after the incident.

Deggeller Attractions operator Andy Deggeller cited the incident report compiled by Caroline County Building Inspector Kevin Wightman, which concluded that there were no mechanical and/or operator errors that did not comply with the manufacturers specifications or the governing code.

Deggeller said the height limits in place on the day of the incident met the requirements established by the ride manufacturer.

After the incident, Deggeller said he heard from eyewitnesses and consulted with inspectors, prompting him to make the voluntary decision to increase the height limit from 48 inches to 54 inches for unaccompanied minors. That step was above and beyond the requirements, Deggeller said.

Were a family business, Deggeller said. I have three young children of my own. Anything like this, we take absolutely seriously.

The manufacturer of the ride, identified as Wisdom Rides by Deggeller, could not be reached for comment.

The Sept. 29 incident was not the only one involving a Deggeller Attractions ride at the State Fair this year. Two days later, on Oct. 1, multiple passengers were stranded after a miniature roller coaster malfunctioned while in operation.

No one was injured in that incident, which representatives for the fair said lasted about 20 minutes.

The emergency braking system (on the roller coaster) worked exactly as designed and intended, said Deggeller, adding that operators acted in accordance with their training to resolve the issue safely.

Deggeller said his emphasis on safety is evident in the way he runs his company. He said county building inspectors and third-party private companies conducted independent inspections of his rides before the fair started. Then, Deggeller said, company employees inspected the rides every morning before the fair opened.

He referred to this approach as doubl(ing) up.

Deggeller said he would not speculate on what led to a passenger being injured on one of his rides, but said the incident report seems to indicate that his company was operating in compliance with regulations.

That report refers to eyewitness accounts that the boy attempted to escape the ride as it was in motion.

But Silek said the idea the boy would try to get off an active ride is not in the realm of possibility.

He loves rides, Silek said. He did not maneuver out of his seat.

Safety at issue

Silek said it is possible that eyewitnesses saw the boy struggling to remain in the cart and interpreted that struggle as an effort to exit the cart. He added that two little girls and a mother witnessed the boy fighting to stay onboard the ride.

The fair, the ride manufacturer (and) the operator are responsible ... to make sure all rides, ages and heights are appropriate and to make sure a little boy cant be sucked out of a seat, Silek said.

The Nungent family and their doctors are uncertain as to how long it will be until the boy is fully recovered as they continue to work out the extent of his injuries.

Right now, Silek said, the top priority is getting him well. Follow-up medical appointments are scheduled for next week, Silek said, at which point it will be easier to determine liability and loss.

Nungent said the family is focused on getting through the difficult healing process, which includes brutal dressing changes and learning to walk in a medical boot.

In addition to helping his son recover, Nungent said he wants to get his story out there ... (to) keep other families from going through something like this.

It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault, he said.
The Nautilus Maldives, a five-star ultra-luxury private island hideaway in the Maldives, is hosting a wellness retreat in partnership with Ananda in the Himalayas, one of the worlds most renowned holistic wellness retreat, and Healing Hotel of the World, this winter.

Based in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Nautilus is showcasing its new, six-night retreat as an ultimate restorative wellness experience for GCC travellers, with the paradise Indian Ocean islands of the Maldives located at an approximate, convenient four-hour flight time from the region.

The Energy Harmony Retreat, taking place between December 1 and 7, 2023, will combine Anandas specialist knowledge from the birthplace of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation with therapy and oriental medicine, based amongst the award-winning hospitality offering at The Nautilus. The private island resort is known for its anytime, anywhere approach to 24/7 guest services, for an unscripted experience without time restrictions on dining, and other activities, a statement said.

An expert team from Ananda will take residence at The Nautilus during the retreat to support guests with a daily programme of therapeutic Ayurvedic and Tibetan massages, yogic asanas, ancient meditation techniques, visualisation, and breathwork. A curated gourmet menu from Anandas Executive Chef, Arun Kala, will also be on offer, incorporating anti-inflammatory Ayurvedic philosophy and carefully combined macronutrients for a well-rounded wellness experience.

Geetika Sharma, Director of Wellness Strategy, Ananda in the Himalayas, commented: This December we are set to bring transformational wellness to the Maldives, providing a specially designed, integrated holistic experience for guests looking to rebalance body, mind, and soul. Infusing the vastness of The Nautilus with the knowledge of the wellness experts from Ananda will facilitate healing with an all-encompassing, inside-out process.

Places on this exclusive retreat are limited with just 26 beach and oceanside houses and residences available for stays at The Nautilus, for an ultra-private wellness journey.

Pietro Addis, General Manager at The Nautilus Maldives, commented: The private island location of The Nautilus, surrounded by the natural beauty of Hanifaru Bay, offers white sandy beaches, pristine waters and colourful coral reefs. This tranquil location combined with an unmatched ultra-luxury five-star experience make

The Nautilus a perfect private island hideaway to relax, reset and recharge. Our extensive spa facilities, including the overwater Solasta Spas glass-floored private treatment pavilions, are set to feature throughout this new wellness retreat, offering an attractive and convenient offering for GCC travellers.

Bookings for the Energy Harmony Retreat, are now available through The Nautilus. A six-night package inclusive of accommodation for two guests in an Ocean or Beach House, both options with private infinity pool, with 20% discount on Full Board basis (daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner), the full Energy Harmony Retreat programme, and return shared seaplane transfers, starts from $33,260.  TradeArabia News Service
Leaders around Colorado are decrying the actions of Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip and attacked Israel over the weekend, resulting in retaliation and a declaration of war.

Rabbi Jay Sherwood, who leads Temple Shalom, the largest synagogue in Colorado Springs with about 230 families as members, said he was shocked and horrified when he heard the news.

No one expects terrorists to come across the border and shoot people in their homes, kill innocent young people at a music festival, take hostages back to Gaza  among them a 3-month-old baby, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israelis, Americans, Mexicans, Germans, Nepalese  and use them as human shields, Sherwood said.

A community candlelight vigil Pray for Peace in Israel is being held Monday night at Temple Emanuel in Denver, where Colorado Attorney Gen. Phil Weiser and other elected officials are joining clergy in urging solidarity with the people of Israel.

It will be livestreamed beginning at 7 p.m. Monday on the synagogues website at https://www.emanueldenver.org/.

For the Jewish community, Israel is central, not only as a place where some of us have family and friends, but its the homeland of the Jewish people, where Judaism was created and where Jewish people, Muslins, and Bahai have holy places, Sherwood said. Its supposed to be a place of peace, but this terrorist organization has decided to make it a place of war.

The violence began Saturday, following the holiest day in Judaism, Yom Kippur, when Hamas militia broke through the blockaded Gaza Strip and into more than 20 nearby Israeli towns with rockets and ground attacks, according to the Associated Press.

Israel launched airstrikes and declared war on Sunday, the AP said. By Monday, more than 1,200 had died, news sources reported, 700 from Israel and nearly 500 from Gaza.

Hamas took over occupation of the Gaza Strip in 2007, two years after Israel pulled out, and Israel, backed by Egypt, enacted air, sea and land blockades preventing goods from being imported and people from leaving.

Tension has been building for months, although the attack was a surprise, according to Israeli leaders.

This war will take time. It will be difficult, Israeli Prime Miniter Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address Saturday night, according to the Associated Press.

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The conflict is not a religious war, Sherwood said, or a war between Jews and Palestinians.

This was a coordinated, pre-planned act of war, he said. This is between the terrorist group called Hamas  that declared war on the sovereign state of Israel  and Israel. This is much bigger than a terrorist attack.

While Colorado Springs does not have a large population of Jewish people, many members of Temple Shalom have family and friends in Israel, Sherwood said. Some already have lost loved ones, others are being called up among the 300,000 Israeli Reservists to active military service, he said.

A large number of our members have friends and family in bomb shelters and safe rooms, trying to protect their families, he said.

While Israel is about 7,000 miles away, for many Colorado Springs residents it's not that far, Sherwood said.

This is personal, this is our families, our friends, a collection of places that are near and dear to the hearts of our people, he said.

In marking its support for Israel, Colorado Springs City Council issued a statement Monday saying members unequivocally condemn Hamas for its cowardly terrorist attack against Israel and the innocent men, women and children.

The council added a formal resolution to the effect to the agenda of Tuesdays regular meeting.

As missiles fall near Jerusalem and Israel's West Bank, Sherwood said he asks Colorado Springs residents to join him in praying for peace and safety in Israel and that Hamas will be removed from the nation, as fears that a full-scale ground war will begin soon.

I believe its important that every person should care about others who are being openly attacked by terrorists, he said. Its not only our responsibility as Americans to care, its also our responsibility as humans. Theres no place for terrorism in our world.
Just how tall will a new 5 million-gallon concrete water tank being built in Colorado Springs' Mountain Shadows neighborhood be when it's complete?

The Planning Commission on Wednesday is scheduled to recommend to the City Council whether or not to allow Colorado Springs Utilities to build the new tank 60 feet tall or 45 feet tall. The nine-member City Council acts as the utilities board.

Mountain Shadows neighbors identified in mid-June that the new Wilson water tank at the intersection of Wilson Road and Alabaster Way in northwest Colorado Springs was nearly 20 feet taller than the utility was permitted to build it, and pushed for a pause in construction. A development plan city planners administratively approved in June 2022 limits the new tank's height to no more than 45 feet.

The utility is now formally proposing a major modification to the approved development plan with city planners to reconcile the height difference. The utility proposes allowing the tank's maximum height to be 60 feet.

If the Planning Commission denies the proposed modification, it will then recommend whether or not to overturn a stop work order on construction at the site, senior planner Bill Gray said.

City planners have said they learned of the height discrepancy after concerned neighbors contacted them in June, and the city issued the stop work order Aug. 30. A week later, Colorado Springs Utilities filed a formal appeal of the order, saying in appeal documents that when the development plan was originally submitted the tank's true overall height was uncertain because the utility hadn't yet contracted a vendor to build it.

A note on page 12 of the plan states, "All measurements above are estimates. Final elevations will be designed by tank manufacturer during structural design phase."

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The subcontractor building the tank developed it based on certain structural design specifications, the utility said in its appeal documents, making its final height about 60 feet.

On May 5, city planners approved an application for a building permit from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department; that application included the development plan and construction drawings showing the overall tank height at about 60 feet, Utilities said in its appeal.

Utilities said its land use consultant informed the agency the city had "erroneously issued the building permit" and Utilities wasn't required to take remedial action.

Mountain Shadows neighbors have said this summer they are upset Colorado Springs Utilities didn't "properly" follow the city's process for land use applications and felt "deceived."

Residents will have a chance to offer public comment in-person and virtually on the items at Wednesday's Planning Commission meeting.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle.

The agenda and meeting documents are available online at coloradosprings.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
The man accused of causing the death of Colorado Springs parole officer Christine Guerin Sandoval claimed to police after his arrest that he thought he was being robbed at the time of the incident, according to an affidavit obtained by The Gazette.

The affidavit for Justin Kula, who was arrested for causing the death of Sandoval last month, states that parole officers were first notified to Kula's location by his ex-wife earlier in the day. Kula's ex-wife told law enforcement that she was concerned about Kula's drug usage, and provided officers the location she believed Kula was at that day.

An arrest warrant for Kula was active at the time of the incident because he had failed to check in with his parole officer after being released from the Department of Corrections on parole only three weeks earlier, according to the affidavit.

When parole officers confronted Kula at a convenience store near downtown Colorado Springs on the afternoon of Sept. 29, Kula ignored requests from the officers to exit his vehicle and instead sharply reversed his car out of the parking lot, injuring one parole officer and killing Sandoval.

Kula was arrested in the hours after the incident and attempted to explain to officers that he believed the women who approached his car were there to rob him, and that he did not know they were parole officers, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit states Kula told law enforcement that he had been using meth and heroin in the car right before being approached, and that when parole officers opened the door, he thought his ex-wife had set him up to be robbed.

"He believed he was being robbed and could only focus on the gun," the affidavit states. "Mr. Kula stated he was concerned for his safety and believed he was going to be shot."

The affidavit goes on to state that when Kula was informed he had run over and killed a parole officer, he became "emotional," said that he never meant to hurt anyone and that if he knew he was being confronted by parole officers, he wouldn't have tried to flee.

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Law enforcement make clear in the affidavit that they don't believe Kula's story, stating that Sandoval could be seen in body-worn camera footage clearly wearing a ballistic vest indicating she was a parole officer and that the commands she was giving were clearly those of a law enforcement official.

The affidavit also makes note of a point in the interview where officers believe Kula began to say the word uniform to describe the appearance of Sandoval, but stopped before completing the word.

However, the affidavit does add that neither parole officer who confronted Kula could be heard in the body-worn camera footage of the incident identifying themselves as parole officers or law enforcement.

Kula was arrested on suspicion of accidents causing death or personal injuries, manslaughter and third-degree assault. Charges could be added or amended prior to Kula's first appearance in Colorado's 4th Judicial District Court on Wednesday.

Kula remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $250,000 bond.

A memorial service for Sandoval was held Monday morning in Pueblo.
The owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, the southern Colorado funeral home raided by law enforcement due to improperly storing more than 115 bodies at their Penrose location, had significant financial and legal problems predating his move to Colorado Springs.

The Gazette reported last week that Jon Michael Hallford, 43, had recently suffered serious legal and financial problems in Colorado connected to his business, including a lawsuit filed in Colorado's 4th Judicial District Court that resulted in a default judgment of over $18,000 against Hallford and Hallfordhomes LLC.

Hallford's problems with money and the law, however, long predate his move to Colorado from Oklahoma around 2016.

According to a 2006 story from The Tulsa World, Hallford  who was running for Muskogee City Council at the time  was charged with one count of misdemeanor for pointing a deadly weapon after an incident that he described as a prank gone wrong.

The Tulsa World reported that Hallford and two others staged a fake robbery as a prank on a group of young women at a slumber party in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, entering the home wearing masks and holding unloaded firearms.

Hallford told The Tulsa World at the time that he used "very bad judgment" in taking part in the prank, but that he also felt the timing of the charges may have been politically motivated.

"This (happened) last August, and here it is moments before the election and charges are filed, and now it's an issue," Hallford said to The Tulsa World at the time.

Further reporting from The Tulsa World confirmed that Hallford would later plead guilty to the firearm charge, and that he suffered an "overwhelming" loss in the Muskogee City Council election.

Legal issues did not end there for Hallford while living in Oklahoma. Court records obtained by The Gazette from the state of Oklahoma show that Hallford had numerous civil disputes spanning several years and was ordered to pay thousands of dollars to various entities before moving to Colorado.

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Tulsa County Court records show that, in 2006, Hallford was ordered to pay over $8,000 to Creditors Recovery Corporation.

In 2009, court records from Tulsa County show Hallford was ordered to pay over $1,000 in a default judgment to an apartment complex after being served a forcible entry and detainer and failing to appear for his court date.

In 2011, court records from Tulsa County show that Hallford and Hallford Cremation & Funeral Options LLC were sued by Shannon Square LLC. Records show that the court issued a default judgment against Hallford in the amount of more than $5,000 after he failed to appear at court for a hearing.

Further court records from the 2011 civil case show that in 2013 Shannon Square still had yet to be paid and that it believed "that Defendant J. Michael Hallford is possessed of property which Defendant conceals and refuses to apply to the payment of said judgment."

Records from the Oklahoma Secretary of State website show that Hallford Cremation & Funeral Options entered its article of organization in 2010 but was terminated only a year later in 2011.

No records exist with the Oklahoma Funeral Board for the business Hallford Cremation & Funeral Options.

Civil court records from Tulsa County indicate that Hallford had worked at Foster-Petering Funeral home in 2006 and Moore Funeral Home in 2010.

Court records also show that Hallford had been married and divorced to three different women prior to marrying his current wife and co-owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, Carie Hallford.

In addition to the 2006 gun charge, Hallford had also previously pleaded guilty to two minor criminal charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license and driving without a seatbelt. A 2005 criminal case against Hallford in Wagoner County alleging reckless conduct was dismissed only two weeks after its filing.

Several law enforcement agencies remained active at the Return to Nature Funeral home site in Penrose on Monday. The Fremont County Sheriffs Office stated during its Friday news conference that it had yet to make arrests in connection to the raid of the business.
The funeral home industry might see new regulations after at least 115 improperly stored bodies were discovered in a building in Penrose last week.

Six days after a horrific smell led to the discovery of the bodies at the Return to Nature Funeral Home, numerous officials were working on the investigation around the building Monday, including the FBI, Fremont County Office of Emergency Management and the Fremont County Coroner. A new barbed-wire fence, lined with dark-colored opaque plastic, was also going up around the site as military personnel and ambulance crews assisted at the scene, a Gazette reporter observed. The officials did not provide an official update on Monday.

Before the raid, the Colorado Springs-based Return to Nature advertised natural burials, without embalming and cremation services.

As work to identify remains gets underway, the horrific discovery has already prompted discussion about new regulation, said Joe Walsh, president of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association, who said he has already received calls from legislators.

I do foresee regulations and changes in the future, he said.

While interest in some reforms was simmering before, its a roiling boil now, he said.

He did not want to speculate on what reforms could be coming.

But there is a clear difference in regulation between Colorado and the rest of the nation when it comes to industry rules.

Every state except the state of Colorado does require some minimal level of education and training in order to be licensed, said Jessica Koth, spokeswoman for the National Funeral Directors Association.

Many states require education between an associates and a bachelors degree to hold a license and it can help prepare future directors for dealing with grieving families and also the technical portion of embalming, she said. Sometimes, funeral directors and embalmers can go through separate processes, she said.

Texas requires those interested in the field to submit an FBI background check, pass the Texas Mortuary Law exam and then work under supervision before receiving a license, according to the state website.

Colorado has mortuary science programs that those interested in the field can complete voluntarily, Koth said.

Return to Nature Funeral Home owner Jon Hallford came to Colorado with some experience in funeral services, before opening his green mortuary business in Colorado Springs during 2017. The Oklahoma Funeral Board shows he held an apprentice license that expired in 2004.

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He also brought a complicated legal history with him, including a handful of civil cases resulting in Hallford having to pay nearly $20,000 in total to various entities.

In 2006, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge while running for a local city council position after an incident that he described to The Tulsa World as a prank gone wrong.

The paper reported that Hallford and two others staged a fake robbery on a group of young women at a slumber party in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, entering the home wearing masks and holding unloaded firearms.

Hallford and his wife, Carie, do not yet face additional legal problems from the discovery from bodies in their business. Last week officials said they were cooperating with the investigation and no arrests were announced in the case Monday.

It is the second high-profile funeral home case Colorado has seen in recent years.

In January, the former owner of Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in Montrose, Megan Hess was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Hess pleaded guilty to stealing the bodies or body parts of hundreds of people and selling them to body broker services from 2010 to 2018, according to a statement from the Colorado Attorney Generals Office.

Last year, Colorado tightened up its oversight on funeral homes, allowing state regulators to inspect facilities after they receive complaints or if they suspect a violation of state law.

Walsh expects to work with legislators in the coming months to craft further legislation that can work with an industry that was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered numerous people to leave.

Walsh advised nervous consumers to work with businesses who are members of the state association who agree to uphold the high standards and ethics of the industry.

Those having a family member cremated can also ask to be present at the beginning of the service to feel confident it is taking place, he said, although such a request may require an additional fee.

Those who worked with Return to Nature and have questions about their own loved ones are expected to wait months for answers as officials use DNA analysis, dental records and forensic fingerprint technology to identify the dead, officials said last week.

Officials are encouraging Return to Nature clients to fill out a questionnaire about their experiences, how much they spent with the company, whether they have documents from the company, among other details.

The questionnaire can be found at https://forms.fbi.gov/penrose-funeral-home.

Gazette reporters O'Dell Isaac and Zachary Dupont contributed to this report.
The El Paso County Coroner's Office confirmed its involvement as officials continue to work the scene of the Return to Nature Funeral Home, where at least 115 bodies were discovered improperly stored Oct. 4, according to Tuesday morning news release.

El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly released a statement confirming remains from the scene in Penrose were transferred to the Colorado Springs office.

"Over the next few weeks, our office will be receiving and examining the remains with the goal of identifying the individuals and releasing them to their families as efficiently and expeditiously as possible," Kelly said, adding that the office is one of many Colorado counties assisting on the scene, including Fremont County.

According to reports by Gazette news partner KKTV, large refrigerated trucks were seen parked at the El Paso County Coroner's Office on Tuesday morning that contained remains tied to the massive investigation in Penrose.

Additionally, Douglas County Coroner Keenan Heyde confirmed his office's involvement with the investigation early Tuesday afternoon, saying that the office plans to work closely with the Fremont County Coroner's Office to assist in identifying descendants discovered inside the funeral home's Penrose location.

"Our commitment is to handle this delicate situation with the utmost dignity and respect, ensuring that each individual is treated with the care and compassion they deserve," Heyde said in Tuesday's written statement.

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Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller said the extrication process will be "lengthy," with the surrounding investigation expected to last "several months."

"Unfortunately, the large number and condition of those remains will make this challenging and this process will take some time," Kelly added, saying that through operating under mass fatality protocols, the office's involvement in the Penrose case should cause no disruption to normal services provided by the Coroner's Office.

Vigil planned

The Penrose Park & Rec department is hosting a candlelight vigil to show support for the families affected by the discovery of the bodies.

The vigil is scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday Oct. 14, at the Penrose Park and Recreation District, 401 Park Place, in Penrose.

The vigil, for the people of Penrose and surrounding communities "to give people a chance to come together in support of the families affected by the funeral home tragedy," according to the department's Facebook post.

If any individuals, or groups, would like to help with this event, they are invited to message the park via Facebook.
18th National Congress of ACFTU opens

Xinhua) 08:09, October 10, 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the event.

The meeting was also attended by other leaders of the CPC and the state, including Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, all of whom are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

During a speech delivered on behalf of the CPC Central Committee by Cai Qi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Cai offered warm congratulations to the meeting and extended sincere greetings to all workers and trade union cadres across the country.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the country's working class has closely united around the CPC Central Committee, bravely shouldered heavy responsibilities, worked hard, and made important contributions to the Party and the country's cause that has realized historic achievements and witnessed historic changes, Cai said.

Over the past five years, by adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, trade unions at all levels have strengthened Party building, deepened reform and innovation, performed their duties in the protection of workers' rights, promoted harmonious labor relations, and mobilized workers in embarking on China's new journey of building a modern socialist country, Cai said.

Noting that the 20th National Congress of the CPC established the central tasks of building a strong nation and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, Cai called on the nation's working class to remain loyal and reliable, and to continue adhering to the noble principles of unity and hard work.

Trade unions at all levels must also remain loyal to the Party's cause, serve the country's workers wholeheartedly, build broad unity, and effectively improve the quality of rights protection services, Cai said.

Nearly 2,000 delegates from all walks of life attended the meeting, as well as more than 50 specially invited delegates.

Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state, including Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, attend the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Delegates walk to the Great Hall of the People to attend the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest international luxury hotel brand, is embarking on a new chapter with the launch of an extensive global brand evolution announced on Monday.

As part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, InterContinental, is set to yet again reimagine the luxury travel experience, striking a harmonious balance between freedom and familiarity. This transformative journey is driven by the brands long held belief that travel can expand minds and connect cultures, enhanced by cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and the exceptional talents of InterContinentals diverse team members, the brand said.

Focus on modern luxury travellers

InterContinental aims to captivate the imaginations of modern luxury travellers by satisfying their desire for knowledge and culturally rich experiences. This holistic evolution includes new offerings and experiences, a fresh brand culture, unique brand differentiators, and a game-changing food and beverage and hotel design strategy tailored to the traveller of tomorrow.

With InterContinental hotels in the worlds finest cities from Rome to Shanghai, and 93 new hotels and resorts in the pipeline, these concepts will shape the future of InterContinental.

Tom Rowntree, Vice President of Luxury Brands at IHG Hotels and Resorts, said: This isn't a rebrand or repositioning; rather, it's a comprehensive transformation from start to finish of InterContinental, ensuring we stay at the forefront of crafting a luxury experience for the modern luxury traveller. Collaborating with our 215 hotels worldwide, we are committed to delivering precisely what todays and tomorrows guests, owners and colleagues require.

"At its core, this brand evolution revolves around our exceptional team members globally. Alongside a new brand service platform, we're introducing a fresh brand culture and a range of programmes aimed at attracting and retaining the finest talent in the industry. Our colleague brand culture is grounded in InterContinental's core belief that travel expands the mind. We unite in diversity and wherever you are in the world, you belong at InterContinental.

Intentional flexibility

Modern travellers lead diverse lives, and InterContinental acknowledges the need for seamless transitions throughout their day. To address this, the brand is committed to helping guests "shape shift" through their day, it said.

New initiatives include scientifically backed food and beverage programmes aimed at helping guests reduce travel fatigue while ensuring dining options reflect differing guest needs throughout the day. All guests will also receive access to the Timeshifter, a jet lag app which enables travellers to use the latest circadian science to adjust quickly to new time zones. InterContinental is collaborating with neuroscience-based designer Isabelle Sjovall to revolutionize guestroom spaces to enhance the restorative process needed for travel fatigue and reimagine other versatile physical spaces so they can seamlessly adapt to evolving needs at different times of the day.

Insider expertise

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, with properties in 60 countries, leverages its rich history as a pioneer in hospitality. The brand's colleagues serve as cultural connectors, helping guests embrace and explore cities and local neighbourhoods. The concierge, at the heart of cultural exploration, will play an even more significant role.

InterContinental will develop innovative Concierge Galleries in hotel lobbies, transforming them into epicenters of unrivalled local, cultural knowledge. Going far beyond the standard concierge desk, these new outposts will more closely resemble a luxury boutique, bringing together interactive displays, library spaces and informative features, in some cases even art installations or designer pop-ups.

From a design perspective, these social spaces will eschew the traditional desk in favour of a more interactive worktable allowing for more natural and engaging interactions between the guest and concierge

Best moments in life

Modern luxury travellers place great value on special moments and celebrations but finding time to plan for them can be challenging as life gets busier. Long considered the setting of countless celebrations and special moments, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will further elevate micro-occasions for guests who wish to enjoy any number of lifes milestones, from birthdays to baby showers, through its brand-new Incredible Occasions programme.

The Incredible Occasions programme will help signpost bookable spaces around the hotel, where groups of guests can enjoy privacy while celebrating memorable moments. Unlike grand settings or spacious ballrooms, each intimate space will include programming and packages, consisting of amenities and experiences, such as beautiful tablescapes, thoughtful gestures or private masterclasses which can be offered.

Bringing together expertise, infrastructure and imagination, InterContinental will also unveil Celebration Suites across its global portfolio. These are reimagined spaces designed specifically to help guests elevate lifes most special moments, from lavish dinner parties to landmark birthdays.

A portfolio of fascination

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts boasts a diverse portfolio of remarkable properties catering to various travel needs and purposes. The brand evolution focuses on further elevating quality design and timeless style under the umbrella of "Cultivated Elegance."

Melissa Messmer, Global Head of Design for Luxury Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: Each InterContinental hotel or resort is an experience-driven bespoke concept, tied together by our new Design Pillars that form the strength of our brand design style, Cultivated Elegance.

InterContinental's diverse style domains cater to different traveller preferences, from idyllic escapes such as InterContinental Maldives to romantic getaways at InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace to unique stays at properties such as Bill Bensley-designed InterContinental Khao Yai.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts' global brand evolution embraces modernity, diversity and the desire for meaningful experiences, ensuring that guests can continue to explore the world while feeling right at home.

With acquisitions and new brand launches, IHG Hotels & Resorts has become a significant player in the luxury & lifestyle segment, offering a unique portfolio that spans over 479 properties in more than 70 countries. - TradeArabia News Service
A Colorado legislator condemned Hamas for its violent attacks on Israel and apologized for the "harm I have caused to many in the Jewish community and the Israeli community this week."
According to the Cherry Creek School District, it fired experienced teacher Leslie Shannon after she continued to underperform, was unlikely to improve, and had taken extensive absences that created major burdens for her colleagues.
Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated on Monday, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the wars third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy the militants military and governing capabilities.
A 76-year-old Harrisburg man was sentenced to 12 years for sexually abusing two young people.

Enrique Aguilar-Romero was accused of four felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse in Linn County Circuit Court in December 2021.

A Place to Sleep - episode 2: Albany, part II Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty.

Court documents state Aguilar-Romero groped two victims under the age of 14 in the back yard and inside at his residence in the 600 block of Erica Place sometime between March 2011 and March 2013.

A jury found Aguilar-Romero guilty of the charges Sept. 28. On Friday, Oct. 6, a judge sentenced him to the minimum of 75 months in prison on each count. The sentences for three counts involving the same victim at different times are concurrent; the sentence on the fourth count is consecutive.

Speaking through a Spanish-English interpreter, Aguilar-Romero proclaimed his innocence during his sentencing hearing, calling the charges against him lies.

One of the victims gave a statement via telephone, saying the crime left an impact that led to trust issues and mental health struggles as well as treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress and anxiety. The victim reported self-harming behavior and attempted suicide multiple times.

I ended up dropping out of school my freshman year, the victim said. And I would have nightmares and flashbacks that would send me back to the hospital. I still feel anxious and depressed most of the time.

In addition to the prison sentence, Aguilar-Romero was ordered to pay $270 in restitution to a victims parent for work wages lost during time spent attending legal proceedings.

He was also sentenced to 10 years of post-prison supervision minus time served.
Editor's note: This report is part of 'A Place to Sleep,' a series that explores how cities throughout Oregon have chosen to designate safe spaces for homeless individuals to sleep and rest.

People without shelter are dying in Sweet Home. Their bodies are found behind supermarkets and grocery stores by the only people who really knew them  other people experiencing homelessness.

Joshua Leslie counted dead friends on his right hand: In September he found the body of 43-year-old John Taylor. In July, Dennis Walker died at the shelter.

And in August, Leslie found his friend Cameron Wark behind Bi-Mart, a stone's throw away from where the city says people without shelter can sleep overnight in Sweet Home.

Close Sweet Home Overnight Stirman 04 Shelter manager Kandyce Stirman unlocks a microshelter in September in Sweet Home. Sweet Home Overnight Stars 02 Microshelters, called "huts," are visible under stars late Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at Family Assistance and Resource Center in Sweet Home. FAC is the only shelter in East Linn County, and it's the only shelter in the county that accepts people using substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. Sweet Home Overnight Kapicka 05 Barbara Kapicka scrolls through photos in her phone at the designated sleeping spot in Sweet Home, where her son stays. Sweet Home Overnight Police 06 A Sweet Home police officer stops a pickup in a parking lot near the station after Cliff Bartlett, a Sweet Home man without permanent housing, drove the vehicle into a pole. Sweet Home Overnight Welfare 01 A Sweet Home police officer peers into a tent near the department's headquarters Thursday evening, Sept. 14, 2023. The officer checked on Josh Leslie Jr. Friends know him as "Shotty" because, they said, he survived two gunshots to his head when he was a child. Sweet Home Overnight Signage 11 A sign posted on a fence at the Sweet Home Police Department provides rules for people who sleep on a gravel lot when they can't get into Family Assistance and Resource Center. Sweet Home Overnight Tower 12 A water tower is visible over the site of a former sawmill in Sweet Home where Family Assistance and Resource Center runs a low-barrier shelter. Sweet Home Overnight Shotty 07 Josh Leslie, known to his friends as Shotty, takes a drag from a cigarette on the gravel lot next to Sweet Home Police Department. Without a home, the gravel lot is where he sleeps each night. Sweet Home Overnight Bergstrom 09 Larry Bergstrom talks about his strategy for finding shelter and staying warm at night in Sweet Home during an interview Sept. 15, 2023, near the Sweet Home Police Department. Sweet Home Overnight Tent 08 Josh Leslie Jr.'s tent on the gravel lot outside Sweet Home Police Department. Sweet Home Overnight Bicycle 10 Sweet Home Police Department Capt. Ryan Cummings wheels a bicycle off the gravel lot outside the police department building Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Sweet Home Overnight Doors 03 The motto of the Family Assistance and Resource Center is visible on the wall of a common area at the nonprofit, low-barrier shelter in Sweet Home. Photos: A night in Sweet Home's designated homeless sleeping spot Sweet Home Overnight Stirman 04 Shelter manager Kandyce Stirman unlocks a microshelter in September in Sweet Home. Sweet Home Overnight Stars 02 Microshelters, called "huts," are visible under stars late Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at Family Assistance and Resource Center in Sweet Home. FAC is the only shelter in East Linn County, and it's the only shelter in the county that accepts people using substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. Sweet Home Overnight Kapicka 05 Barbara Kapicka scrolls through photos in her phone at the designated sleeping spot in Sweet Home, where her son stays. Sweet Home Overnight Police 06 A Sweet Home police officer stops a pickup in a parking lot near the station after Cliff Bartlett, a Sweet Home man without permanent housing, drove the vehicle into a pole. Sweet Home Overnight Welfare 01 A Sweet Home police officer peers into a tent near the department's headquarters Thursday evening, Sept. 14, 2023. The officer checked on Josh Leslie Jr. Friends know him as "Shotty" because, they said, he survived two gunshots to his head when he was a child. Sweet Home Overnight Signage 11 A sign posted on a fence at the Sweet Home Police Department provides rules for people who sleep on a gravel lot when they can't get into Family Assistance and Resource Center. Sweet Home Overnight Tower 12 A water tower is visible over the site of a former sawmill in Sweet Home where Family Assistance and Resource Center runs a low-barrier shelter. Sweet Home Overnight Shotty 07 Josh Leslie, known to his friends as Shotty, takes a drag from a cigarette on the gravel lot next to Sweet Home Police Department. Without a home, the gravel lot is where he sleeps each night. Sweet Home Overnight Bergstrom 09 Larry Bergstrom talks about his strategy for finding shelter and staying warm at night in Sweet Home during an interview Sept. 15, 2023, near the Sweet Home Police Department. Sweet Home Overnight Tent 08 Josh Leslie Jr.'s tent on the gravel lot outside Sweet Home Police Department. Sweet Home Overnight Bicycle 10 Sweet Home Police Department Capt. Ryan Cummings wheels a bicycle off the gravel lot outside the police department building Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Sweet Home Overnight Doors 03 The motto of the Family Assistance and Resource Center is visible on the wall of a common area at the nonprofit, low-barrier shelter in Sweet Home.

Its the same place his son pitches his tent every night to fall asleep. And its the only place to legally sleep if you are experiencing homelessness and arent in the nearby shelter. Its a stretch of space between the red brick building of the police station and the railroad tracks.

The homeless here are dropping like flies, shelter resident Barbara Kapicka said.

During the day there is little indication that anyone stays overnight at the Sweet Home police station. A cart with a small triangular flag with blankets is tucked away in the corner, wedged between dirt planters and a chain-linked fence.

And there's a port-a-potty and a sign that reads, Sleeping Allowed here from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when FAC shelter is full.

Thats the shelter where Kapicka stays. Its run by a nonprofit known as Family Assistance and Resource Center, or FAC, as everyone refers to it. I covered it when it opened in January. Its the only shelter in East Linn County and is run in partnership with the city and Police Department.

Its also the only low-barrier shelter in Linn County, meaning people who use substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine and those with criminal records arent barred from the space.

At 7 p.m. on this September day, my colleague Alex Powers and I were the first to pitch a tent at the police station lot. Interlocking the poles and hoisting the fly over the nylon is a familiar practice. Ive camped before. With family, out in the forest, camping feels like fun.

But this is a gravel lot on law enforcement property. The people who stay here cant just get out of the elements. For Kapicka, it feels like life or death. And if you can get one of the few coveted spaces, a room with a lock and a door makes all the difference.

Are you safe?

At around 10 p.m., parking lot lights and signs at a nearby McDonalds were casting a warm glow on the police station. There was a low but constant roar from traffic on Highway 20, and a shape in the dark patted out a beat on a makeshift drum. Besides our own, there was one other tent pitched.

Kapicka has smoky eyeliner, deep-hooded eyes and Kool-Aid red hair. A life of violence contoured her face with lasting marks of worry. She escaped from someone who beat her and is constantly worried her abuser will find her, she told me.

As she spoke, she fiddled with a stone necklace on a piece of cord. It was dark outside, and the light of her phone screen settled on the contours of her face as she scrolled through images. There were pictures of people sitting at a picnic bench, smiling over plates of food.

The photos were reminiscent of my own family photos when Id go camping. However, everyone in these photos is without housing, she said.

These are what she has left of the people who have passed. Memories.

As she spoke, she was standing on the gravel beside her ex-husband, Joshua Leslie  a man she says was always good to her and unlike the man from whom she fled. He had put down the kickstand of his bike after helping another unhoused neighbor look for a dog.

Thats what Leslie does, he helps people. He makes rounds at night, checking to see if other people without housing need basic items. And hes the one who found Warks body after he went searching for the 33-year-old Sweet Home man. The death is under investigation for drug overdose.

All three of the deaths between July and September are.

Kapicka doesnt know exactly why people without housing are dying. She just knows she doesnt want her son to be next.

Thats why Kapicka was at the police station that night. While she has one of the 30 coveted huts at FAC shelter, she and her ex visit the police stations lot often to see their son, Joshua Leslie Jr., a 36-year-old man with a disability after being shot in the head as a teenager.

Hes been on the brink of death before. More than once. Someone laced something he consumed and he overdosed, she alleged.

Shes scared something like that could happen again.

I pray to God, please watch over my son, she said.

Every morning Kapicka comes to check on him, and sometimes she will watch over him while he sleeps, like this particular night.

Family

I had met Kapicas son before. Two days before I spent the night in Sweet Homes designated space, I saw him outside the police station, his skin blistering in the sun as he carried his belongings, a tent and blankets in a black trash bag.

Hes tall and on this day donned a flannel shirt. He wears his hair buzzed close to his skull, showing off smooth skin with a curving scar around his temple.

He has many names. Most know him as Joshua, but his Hawaiian name is Kealohanui, he told me. The people closest to him call him Shotty. Theyre talking about the time he survived a gunshot to his head.

It was his babysitter who shot him, Kapicka said. At 13 years old, Leslie Jr. survived a single bullet to the head from a .22 caliber revolver, according to a 2001 Democrat-Herald article. His babysitter was charged in the accidental shooting.

Because the father and son share the same name, well call them Leslie Sr. and Leslie Jr. to differentiate them.

Leslie Jr.s mother and father arent a couple anymore. But both were there, together that night and many nights, as Kapicka slept in a gray tent with a red stripe atop the gravel floor and parallel to an aluminum table on the Police Department lawn. A small Chihuahua lay beside him.

Politics 'A Place to Sleep' podcast: Catch the latest episodes here Our podcast, A Place to Sleep, explores how Oregon cities are responding to a new law that is meant to provide homeless individuals a place to rest.

In Sweet Home there are an estimated 200 people without shelter. And lately more people without housing have died there, people without shelter are saying.

Its a problem that isnt unique to Sweet Home or Linn County. More people are experiencing homelessness everywhere. And more people without shelter are dying.

With a population that just crossed 10,000 residents, Sweet Home, in deep-red, rural East Linn County, somehow mustered a coordinated effort to get people off the street and into housing.

It seems like an unexpected place for such a thing to start. There aren't even any low barrier beds in Albany, a city of 56,000 people. Why was Sweet Home doing what no other city was?

Shelter

At 9 p.m. it was completely dark in Sweet Home, the kind of dark where you can see the endless sky and stars. Across town, the shelter was quiet. After pitching our tent, we traveled there.

The 30 tiny homes  or huts, as staff calls them  are simple, domed structures with orange and green paint, and opaque latticed roofs to insulate heat. They have a window, a bed, and a bin to keep belongings outside. A shower and bathroom are across the property.

The shelter had a lot of proponents and opponents, and quickly pulled volunteers to its ranks when it opened in January.

Shirley Byrd seemed determined to open FAC regardless.

Kapicka clutched Byrd in an embrace the last time she saw the shelter's executive director. Byrd had parked her van at the police station the day earlier. Its an ambulance-turned-outreach vehicle with bold green lettering on the outside and food, water, blankets and other supplies on the inside.

I love you. Youre the best. I was so broken, Kapicka said.

The only shelter in East Linn County is still in its infancy. Before that, there was nothing.

This is the shelters origin story:

There once was a woman without housing, who would routinely visit Sweet Home residences to collect cans for money. During a snowy day in winter she showed up to Byrd's house, drenched and shivering. Byrd offered to call a shelter. The woman said there was none to call.

Byrd began to ask around and learned the local warming shelter opened only when it was 27 degrees or colder. She needed to help.

Byrd set out on foot with a backpack, socks and water. In 2020 the Sweet Home Police Department donated the ambulance. But even with her outreach efforts, she was surprised by the number of people seeking refuge when the FAC shelter opened earlier this year.

There were a lot more homeless in the Sweet Home than we ever expected. People came to the shelter to get their name on a list, and that list grew so big, we had to just work on a first-come, first-served basis, Byrd said.

Byrd estimates there are between 200 and 250 people who are unhoused in Sweet Home and another 100 to 150 in Lebanon. Its a difficult number to track because not everyone is out in the open to count. People crowd houses or apartments, couch surf or are hidden in the rural landscape.

The shelter so far has transitioned 12 people into permanent housing, Byrd said.

While its easy to conclude 30 beds is not enough, ending homelessness isnt just a numbers game, she said.

I think that there are multiple kinds of people without shelter. I think that there's families without shelter; there are people who are sober without shelter. There are people who are criminals without shelter. There are people who are elderly and senior citizens without shelter.

So there's not gonna be one solution for everybody, Byrd said.

A citys response

Sweet Home is a city with a city councilor who attended the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection. Another councilor, Josh Thorstad, became interested in local politics primarily to oppose the shelter.

Despite this, the city may have the most proactive approach in the county for getting people off the streets and into housing.

Thorstad has since changed his mind. He runs a business in Albany manufacturing firearm targets and owns the Lebanon indoor gun range. He told his colleagues in May that FAC has been a force for good.

When I found out about this, I was irate. I went down to the city and not threatened but promised all the councilors and the mayor I was going to do something about it if they voted yes, Thorstad said in May.

Now he goes with the flow here because I back law enforcement, and they need to be able to do their jobs," Thorstad said. "And without this, they cannot.

Since the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals declared punishing people for being homeless violated the Eighth Amendment in 2018, courts in the circuits nine Western states have interpreted that to mean if a city doesnt have enough shelter beds, and if it doesnt have a designated place to allow for night camping, then it cant enforce anti-camping laws anywhere within its boundaries.

When speaking to Sweet Home City Manager Kelcey Young, she acknowledged not everyone was on board to help unsheltered people. There was this notion of if you build it they will come. Its been a refrain uttered in other cities as well. But that hasnt been the case.

From either point of the spectrum, being upset because you have compassion for people or because you were bothered by seeing people on the street, the answer was to do something about it, she said.

The first step was the shelter. Then Sweet Home declared a state of emergency because of homelessness in hopes it would garner more funding from the governors Day 1 emergency declaration package.

The city is a lot more open than other cities about how many people experience homelessness. Young said shes going to keep being loud to get the city the resources it needs.

She is concerned about people without shelter dying, she said. And they aren't necessarily isolated incidents; poverty and homelessness are part of the generational trauma of Sweet Home.

In 2022, there were 36 drug-related deaths in Linn County, and so far this year there have been 33, Linn County Medical Examiner Gary Goby said. Sweet Home and Lebanon have higher numbers, a trend seen in more impoverished areas everywhere, he said.

The city designated the police station as a resting spot under House Bill 3115 because it was one of the few locales that offered ample space, and Sweet Home officers are compassionate and personally know many of the people without shelter, she said.

The idea was to get people connected to resources, she said. Most of those resources are funneled through a liaison.

His name is Sean Morgan, and he used to be a reporter for Sweet Homes weekly newspaper before he came to the Sweet Home Police Department as a community service officer.

Morgan likes to identify problems, he said. And while being a reporter for The New Era, he spoke to a lot of business owners upset by people sleeping on the sidewalks in front of their businesses.

Whether you're upset over your property or upset about people experiencing homelessness, the common solution is to help them, he said, echoing Young.

We have a tremendous amount of folks who are involved in our community now that we did not have three years ago, he said. He was referencing people like Byrd but also the various partners and agencies that have joined with the city and Police Department to help.

Byrd agrees the relationship between people experiencing homelessness and the police is different in Sweet Home than other cities. She credited the departments positive relationship with the shelter and the PDs efforts to help garner resources.

That surprised me, and I was skeptical.

Through extensive conversations with people who don't have housing, its no secret that there is tension between people without shelter and law enforcement. When you live outside you are more likely to be seen and stopped by police who strike fear or, at the very least, annoyance.

So who would stay on the lawn of the Police Department? I guess you would if you had nowhere else to go.

Or you were Josh Leslie Jr.

Police presence

Leslie Jr. used to be at the shelter, just like his mother. But he wasnt able to follow the rules. So he stays in Sweet Homes second, less coveted legal place to sleep.

He has been through a lot, and people judge him. No one gives my son a second chance, Kapicka said.

At the shelter, Leslie Jr. had a hard time following the rules. His mother called him a flirt.

Byrd said his disability makes it difficult for Leslie Jr. to follow the rules and that people who dont follow the rules will always have the chance to come back.

Thats a philosophy I heard from both the city and the shelter. Byrd said Kapickas son can get that opportunity if he demonstrates that he can follow the rules on the outside.

But I wondered, will a man with developmental disabilities ever be able to follow the rules of a shelter? Wasnt there a place he could stay that could better tend to his needs?

I dont think he or his mom knew the answers. So for now, home was the stretch of lawn at the police station, overlooking the train tracks. And every morning he takes down his tent only to pitch it again at night.

At around 11:30 p.m., I took my first break for the night. Mid-sandwich, I heard a crash from outside the tent, and shortly after, someone called my name. I scrambled to put on my shoes and exit the tent to find a truck had crashed into a pole, one of the light structures in the parking lot.

Blue and red lights flooded the space and cast long shadows on the fence as a police officer arrived by car to assess the incident. Alex told me just moments before, he was told to move his car to the other end of the lot, closer to the station, because the other businesses take issue with people parking overnight.

Then an officer came to the tents with a flashlight and pulled aside the crowd. He said they got a call about a fentanyl overdose, and he needed to check on whoever was in the tent. Leslie Jr.s tent. Kapicka told him her son was sleeping.

The officer shined his flashlight through the nylon doors as he called for a response. No answer. Hes just sleeping, his mother told the officer again.

Undeterred, the officer unzipped the tent and shined light inside the tent, waking Leslie Jr., who was responsive with no signs of fentanyl use. So the officer moved on.

When I asked how the group felt after the interaction, they told me they were used to negative interactions with police.

I thought they were going to harass us again, said a woman named Anisha Alexander. They automatically assume because you're homeless, you're high on drugs of some kind.

She obviously didn't share Young's appreciation for the department's compassion.

On the outskirts

With only one shelter in Sweet Home, where do you go if you arent able to get a spot and don't want to share space with cops? After speaking to a few people, the answer was clear: You hide.

Because not many people make use of the police headquarters space, our large orange tent looked a little out of place. A man on a bike stopped by and said, "Youre not from around here, are you?

We arent, and it was obvious. The tent, our clothes. One man said we camped in style.

It was true. We prepared for this: thermal sleeping bags, food, a car to leave if we needed to. We can try to simulate what a night will be like for someone in these designated spaces, but there are limitations to our experience. I think the only way to get the best picture is to talk to the people themselves.

While Leslie Jr. was fast asleep again in his tent for the night, two bundled figures in leather jackets held trash bags filled with cans slung over their shoulders and large walking sticks.

It was Alexander and Eric Reinhart. They like to refer to themselves as Harriet Tubman and Robin Hood because they let other people without housing stay with them in their nondescript camp in the woods, boobytrapped with snares that make sounds to discourage people from looting.

If you arent in the huts, you hide until you're caught, Alexander said.

Before that, they lived in the shelter too. But rules are also a problem for them. Under a new shelter manager, enforcement of the rules has become more strict, Byrd acknowledged.

The pair are critical of the shelter and how it is run. For them, the rules are too limiting, such as the number of days you are allowed to be gone from the premises.

With so few spots and such a high need, Byrd said, shelter residents are only allowed to leave for three days (longer if individuals prearrange notice with the shelter). Otherwise, shelter staff assume folks have abandoned the space, she said.

Thats why Reinhard and Alexander lost their space, Alexander said. The two went to a funeral and had trouble returning in time.

When they came back all their belongings inside the shelter were gone, Alexander said. Their camper was outside the lot and was towed by the city.

That was our home. Now everything is gone, she said.

The night we met them, the two were on the way to cash in their cans. It had been a long day of walking. From one end of town to the other is about 6 miles. Then there are some things they can only get at the next town over, in Lebanon, such as drivers licenses at the DMV and other resources.

Alexander is enrolled in online school and is trying to get her degree in criminal justice law, she said. She lost her laptop when her camper was towed, so she does her work at the library.

It's exhausting. It's exhausting, tiring. And you can't sleep at night because you got to worry about what's gonna go on and who's gonna come and get you, she said.

Alexander's story is not unlike Kapicka's. She lost housing escaping domestic violence, she said.

We are humans too. Its not our fault we are out here, Alexander said.

Throughout the night, the aluminum table at the police station accumulated a small feast: loaves of bread, a jumbo-sized jar of peanut butter, bottled water and canned drinks spread across it, a lantern illuminating it all in the dark.

Reinhart rolled cigarettes while Alexander smoked them. He stuffed the paper with tobacco and offered them to everyone before making one for himself. Kapicka ate a spoonful of peanut butter as they talked.

Reinhart served in Afghanistan, where he saw "a lot of things," painful things now buried deep inside him, he said.

I should have been dead in 2007. I was in Iraq, he said.

Reinhart has been haunted his entire life since. He and Alexander met during a particularly difficult time in their lives. Both were suicidal, they said.

Reinhart has had a complicated relationship with a higher power. With all the things hes been through, you question things, he said. But at the same time, having Alexander in his life has felt like divine intervention.

One thing I can say is I talked to God and told him if he's going to bring me somebody, this is what I want, and I went down a list. She's hit every single thing on that list. Kind of opened my eyes up a little bit. So I've accepted him back again, he said.

Alexander said she felt pulled by some sort of purpose.

I figured I had to be here for a reason. There's something I had to learn, something I had to see, something I had to do. That's the only reason I can think that I'm here, she said.

Alexander and Reinhart dont want to interact with the police, and they definitely dont want to stay on the lawn. But they still come by to visit the other people who are there before they hide away in the brush for the night.

That's how a lot of us homeless survive: They come together as a family, Kapicka said

Up with the sun

We set our alarm before 7 a.m., knowing we needed time to disassemble our tent. It was in the mid-40s, and my muscles felt a little tense from trying to conserve warmth.

I felt sluggish as we took down the poles and folded the nylon. I wouldnt want to do this every day.

Kapicka was first to rise, as sluggish as I. But she had somewhere to be. The shelter had rules, she said, and she had to be back early in the morning. She told her son she would be back later that day to check on him. Then she began the half-mile walk back.

At around 7:30, a police officer came to check on those who had spent the night. He asked Alex and me if we were getting ready to leave. We said yes and let him know we are both reporters.

The officer asked Leslie Jr. what the yellow liquid was in the drink on the table, and when he replied beer, the officer dumped it out on the gravel. He inquired who left a bike by the trash can, and when Leslie Jr. told him he didn't know, the officer took the bike into the station, directing him to let the owner know where the bike was.

After speaking with folks without housing in Sweet Home, its clear theyd prefer not be so close to police and they dont want to pitch a tent every night only to take it down every morning.

It seems like there are a lot of people who would avoid using the space even if they need a place to stay, like Reinhart and Alexander.

For a small town in rural Linn County there are certainly some growing pains as the city tries to address the complicated issue of homelessness over a vast rural landscape with few resources set in place. There certainly are efforts being made. Still, people are falling through the cracks.

Even with all that said, the little sleepy mountain town with a low barrier shelter gave me some hope that a city cared for its residents. Even the ones without addresses.

Other stories in this series:

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Thousands of fish are dead downstream of Green Peter Reservoir, and its a direct result of an action that was supposed to encourage the survival of another fish species, officials say.

Sweet Home resident William Kenyon goes fishing at Sunnyside Park every weekend. But he didnt get beyond the banks on Saturday, Oct. 7.

A Place to Sleep - episode 2: Albany, part II Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty.

The first thing I noticed was the water was muddy, and I didnt think anything of it, Kenyon said. When he got closer, though, what he thought may have been debris became more apparent.

Hundreds of dead fish.

They looked to be the very species he had come to catch that morning: kokanee. Its a species of landlocked, sockeye salmon that looks similar to a trout, he said.

Some of them were still twitching, he said. Kenyon felt a rush of anger.

It felt like something could have been done to prevent whatever happened, he said.

Kenyon isnt sure what exactly happened that caused thousands of fish to die. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the entity responsible for maintaining the site, has figured it out.

Back in June, the Green Peter and Lookout Point reservoirs were drawn down to historically low levels. The action was done with the intent to aid the survival of passing endangered salmon species. But now another species of salmon, the kokanee, is dying in the process.

In 2021, a federal court required Army Corps officials to improve the fish passage and water quality for chinook and steelhead salmon, both of which are designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The two fish species hatch in river freshwaters and then migrate to the ocean. After several years they return to the river from which they hatched to spawn and continue the life cycle.

Changing the operations of Green Peter Reservoir was done to grant the fish a safer passage to move downstream through the Santiam River and eventually back to the ocean.

To abide by the ruling, the Army Corps of Engineers has gotten away from encouraging migration via a turbine system, opting instead for what's called regulating outfits which involve a hole with a gate.

After moving through the regulating outlets, the kokanee become injured by the dramatic change in water pressure. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife determined they had died from barotrauma, Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Kerry Solan said.

Its essentially what human divers experience when they change water depths too quickly, referred to as the bends.

We havent seen this historically, Solan said. The entity became aware of the fish mortality Friday morning, Oct. 6.

Its true that there are always some fish that get barotrauma, which affects fishs swim bladders, an organ used to regulate water pressure. But the amount of fish is unprecedented, said Greg Taylor, supervisor fisheries biologist for the Army Corps of Engineers. He oversees fish operations in the Willamette Valley.

Weve never seen this many fish pass, Taylor said. The reason we are seeing the fish pass is related to the drawdown.

The drawdown was meant to help the two endangered species move more safely downstream. The regulating outlet is essentially a hole with a gate on it in the depths of the reservoir. The water levels were lowered, so that the chinook and steelhead salmon could access this point of entry, which is normally too deep for them.

Taylor called the kokanee a victim of circumstance. The casualties were not linked to the species of fish but had more to do with timing. It could have happened to another species if they were in those depths at the time of year, he said.

The kokanee just werent able to handle the rapid change in pressure.

Some Linn County officials are condemning the U.S. District Court's order.

We are disappointed and devastated, said Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist. This is the result of the judge's order.

Sweet Home residents have expressed concerns about their drinking water. In response, the city wrote a Facebook post.

We are constantly testing the water and our treatment facility for quality. Sweet Homes drinking water is still safe to drink and use as normal, the post reads.

Since Friday morning, Linn County Parks & Recreation Director Stacey Whaley has received numerous calls about the thousands of dead fish downstream of Green Peter reservoir.

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We are concerned for many reasons, Whaley said, We are concerned about public health, and we are concerned about recreation and people being able to use the space.

Some of the thousands of dead fish are beginning to show up downstream of Green Peter, at Foster Reservoir and Sunnyside, she said.

Whaley said dogs visiting the area should not eat the dead fish. She cautioned owners to keep their pets on a leash.

As for cleanup, it seems like the strategy is to let nature take its course and allow the nutrients to return to the water, she said. Whaley has been in close contact with the Army Corps of Engineers, she said.

The Army Corps of Engineers is taking data and monitoring the incident and may set forth changes to improve the operation, Taylor said.
Contrary to the oil companiesshares in the mining It is steel industry experienced a weak day on the Brazilian stock exchange with the resumption of negotiations on futures contracts for the iron ore at China.

On the return of the Golden Week holiday, iron ore prices traded in Dalian, on the Chinese market, fell to their lowest level in almost six weeks, amid fears about the recovery of the worlds second largest economy.

Even after the improvement in Chinas economic indicators and the governments efforts to stimulate activity in the country, mainly the real estate sector, sentiment weighed, with uncertainties about the Chinese economic recovery still persisting and concerns surrounding the production of steel mills in the country playing to low market optimism.

The ore in iron most traded for January on the Stock Exchange in Dalian retreated 2.8%, at 828 yuan ($113.50) per ton. The commodity previously reached 822.5 yuan, its lowest level insin 30 in August.

In Singapore, iron ore had its fifth consecutive session of decline, this time losing 2.3%, to US$112.25 per ton.

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In the Brazilian stock market, the OK (VALE3) saw a devaluation of 0.72%, trading at R$65.77. CSN (CSNA3) It is CSN Mineracao (CMIN3) also operated poorly, with the first falling 0.96% and the second remaining stable.

Usiminas (USIM5) showed losses of 1.11% and Gerdau (GGBR4) fell 0.62%.

THE 10 BEST SHARES TO INVEST IN OCTOBER: Chief analyst Joao Piccioni reveals the opportunities in the Empiricus Research portfolio, which said goodbye to B3 (B3SA3) and included a new stock with great potential. Just click here and watch the Market Giro!

VALE3: little by little, perception improves

Despite the external factors that cause volatility in iron ore prices  and, consequently, in the shares exposed to the steel ingredient -, analysts seem more constructive with Vales thesis.

O UBS, in a report released last week, updated the mining companys recommendation to neutral. In the institutions assessment, the downward macro scenario for the sector is balanced with Chinas efforts to support the economy. Furthermore, the weakness of the Chinese property market is covered by the strength of other sectors such as infrastructure.

Vales update is mainly due to the prospect that iron ore prices should remain in the current range, between US$100-130/tonne over the next six months.

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This will allow Vale to pay attractive dividends over the next 12 months (~US$4.6 billion, or yield of ~8%) and carry out share buyback programs, assesses UBS.

In addition to the new recommendation, the bank has a new target price for the companys ADR (American Depositary Receipt), of US$14 (vs. US$13 previously).

O BTG Pactual has a purchase recommendation and target price of R$96 for shares traded on B3. The analysis team, which recently spoke with Vale in New York during a conference call, says the company is quite constructive with iron ore fundamentals.

The company reinforced its 2023 production target of 310-320 million tonnes and its C1 cash cost guidance of around US$22/tonne, which we believe will help to somewhat de-risk the micro story.  among investors, comments the bank.

For BTG, there is a reasonable path for Vale to achieve iron ore production of approximately 340 million tons by 2026.

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Considering the improvement in profit dynamics, a valuation discounted and a dividend yield high for 2024, above 10%, analysts are optimistic about the thesis.

A Genial Investimentos He also has a buy recommendation for Vale, as he believes it should benefit from triggers in both the short and long term.

*With information from Reuters.
An FAB aircraft took off for Italy this Sunday, the 8th, and another five aircraft will be used in the mission; Itamaraty counts three Brazilians missing in the region so far

Reproduction/Twitter @DefesaGovBr FAB planes will be used to repatriate Brazilians in Israel



The government of Israel authorized, this Monday, the 9th, that the Brazil carry out the rescue operation for Brazilians who are in the country. The information was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first flight should arrive in Brazil this Wednesday, 10th. According to the ministry, 1,700 Brazilians expressed interest in their repatriation, most of them tourists, staying in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. O Itamaraty confirmed that a plane from FAB (Brazilian Air Force) took off for Rome, Italy, this Sunday, the 8th, from where it will depart for Israel. Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Itamaraty has recorded three Brazilians missing in the region to date. A third person was injured, but was discharged and is doing well. Interested parties filled out an online form available at embassy website. According to the agency, filling out the form does not guarantee the right to repatriation and inclusion on the passenger list will be informed later. O Itamaraty says he continues to monitor the situation of tourists and Brazilian communities in the region. The estimate is that 14 thousand Brazilians live in Israel and 6 thousand in Palestine, the vast majority outside the area affected by the attacks. The Brazilian government reserved six FAB aircraft for repatriation.

The conflict began on Saturday morning, the 7th, when Hamas, the political group that commands the territory of the Gaza Strip, fired thousands of missiles and attacked Israeli cities. The offensive took Israel by surprise and left several victims in the country, with hundreds of deaths and a wave of destruction. The offensive provoked a response from Israel, which launched Operation Iron Sword, in which planes bombed the groups structures in Gaza. According to Israeli authorities, the targets were military installations and command centers. In total, at least 370 Palestinians died in the Israeli counterattack.
GREENSBORO  Zev Harel, a Holocaust survivor and former member of the Israeli Army, shook his head as people began to gather at Temple Emanuel Monday evening in anguish over the surprise weekend attack on Israel.

Its not understandable how they can do such things, said the 93-year old retired professor of social work. Not babies. Not children. Not old people. These are the innocent.

Harel was among the grieving  those with family, friends or people they consider extended family in Israel.

Unlike with most events at the synagogue, participants on Monday had to walk through metal detectors, and other enhanced security measures also were visible.

As is now standard in many Jewish houses of worship, the vigil started with Koren giving directions to all the exits in case of an emergency.

They came, from grade-school children with their parents, to older couples sitting at rapt attention. From across the Triad, they wanted to come together as a group in mourning and solidarity, giving prayers for the dead, the missing and the injured.

Rabbi Yosef Plotkin of the Chabad Center of Greensboro, his voice trembling at times before the gathering, spoke of cousins who had been called up to fight with the Israeli Army and said their good byes, knowing of the possibility they might not make it back home.

So many people looked shocked as a video played showing some of the social media footage posted by Hamas fighters and others of the brutal attacks. And a range between stoic and shocked when US Rep. Kathy Manning, D-6th and a high-ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, gave a briefing saying this is expected to be a long and painful battle.

It was a scene playing out in synagogues and other Jewish gatherings across the country as Israel ramped up its response to the attack with bombardments of Gaza City in the occupied Palestinian territory. At least 1,600 lives have been claimed on the two sides and thousands more are injured as a result of the attacks by land, sea and air, according to the latest numbers.

Rabbi Andy Koren mentioned the more than 200 funerals taking place that day in Israel, as the tears flowed in the sanctuary of Temple Emanuel.

Saturday was the largest spilling of innocent Jewish civilian blood since the end of the Holocaust, Koren said.

At one point, group members grasped hands and prayed for the hostages, some of whose photos were on a big-screen monitor above the podium.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem then led a prayer for the people of Israel.

"Our hearts are torn," Cytron-Walker began.

The fighting and images of bloody civilians are, sadly, nothing new in the Middle East. The history of tension between Jews and Arabs dates back more than a century, and competing claims to the land have sparked multiple wars since the birth of the modern state of Israel in 1948.

But this feels different, say those who have lived through many of the previous conflicts.

Here, thousands of miles away, they have gathered over tears and talk with friends and family and neighbors since the weekend, when social media erupted in images of bombings and other violence in southern Israel, along with stories of people in wheelchairs, children and others led away by gunmen to unknown fates.

"We may be asking ourselves in this moment how could God be merciful with all the horrors that God's love connected," said Rabbi Grace Gleason of Beth David Synagogue in Greensboro. "I believe the answer is that we are the ones who must bring this quality of mercy into the world, and we are the ones who must bring God's righteousness into the world, and in moments like this when our humanity is brutally stripped from us, we respond by behaving with the utmost decency and with the utmost mercy and compassion, and that's how our humanity is restored."

Earlier Monday, Rabbi Fred Guttman, rabbi emeritus at Temple Emanuel who travels frequently to Israel where he has children and grandchildren, said he has spoken to them several times a day since the attacks by Hamas, an Islamic militant group. They were not injured, he said of the family, but he is horrified and heartbroken over what has taken place.

I do my best to understand the Palestinian narrative, and as far as the Israeli government is concerned, I tend to be on the left, Guttman said. But not this. This is absolutely horrific, evil. There is a video of a 6-year-old child who was taken as a hostage standing in the street in Gaza with no shoes on, and other children, Arab children, are beating him with a stick and hurling insults.

What sort of parents would allow that? What sort of person would take a video of that and put it online?

Max Carter and his wife Jane lead annual work trips to the Quaker schools and Friends meeting in Ramallah, a Palestinian city in the central West Bank, and work with Israeli and Palestinian peace communities. They were to leave later this month for another working trip to help the olive farmers there.

Carter said that the Palestinian families want peace as well. While such violence taking place last weekend is never justified, there is a boiling-point frustration over not having basic rights and the violence Palestinians encounter on a regular basis, Carter said.

We have got to figure out a way to stop this cycle of violence, Carter said in an interview Monday.

This past weekend, they had three students from Ramallah now attending Guilford College at their home for dinner. The students have been keeping up with whats taking place back home through social media.

They just live in dread for what their families are going to encounter, Carter said of Israels retaliation in the search for Hamas.
A question Ive been contemplating lately is whether Mark Robinson will ever become so drenched in unadulterated strangeness that it begins to tarnish his allure to Republican primary voters. Hate, manifestly, is not disqualifying for North Carolina Republicans.

After all, the party still defines itself in reference to the legacy of one Jesse Helms, who referred to African American neighborhoods as Mudville. But Robinsons extremism goes quite a bit further than his sordid appeals to bigotry. If stories about his full membership in the Kooky Community continue to arise, Republican leaders may have to reconsider their enthusiasm for this radical insurgent.

Robinson is no stranger to news-making. Indeed, the full basis of his political appeal rests upon a Trumpian ability to command attention from media outlets and the Republican base. And his ever-present profile seems poised to rise just a bit further with speculation  serious or not  from Fox News and the hack-i-fied Carolina Journal that Donald Trump should consider ol Mark for the running-mates spot on the presidential ticket. It didnt take long for Robinson to reach the B-list rung on the political status hierarchy, and some leading Republicans seem inexplicably eager to promote him to the elite.

Meanwhile, somewhat surprisingly, the North Carolina Republican establishment has congealed in unity around the Robinsons candidacy. Faint whispers of concern may be detected on the more moderate fringes of the donor class, but most Berger-Moore Republicans are delighted with Robinson and eager to go forward with his candidacy. One particularly cynical political consultant derided Robinsons critics as desperately irrelevant. Even the less flamboyant members of the party seem to be putting up minimal resistance against the advance of the Robinson juggernaut.

But one must question whether this is a trend that can continue forever. Robinson is, inarguably, the most extreme candidate to run for North Carolina governor since the bloody dawn of the modern era in 1900. While radicalism has never prevented a GOP candidate from winning the nomination, it does not compare to the 9/11-Truther, lizard-person imagination of Lt. Gov. Robinson.

Did I say lizard person? You did not misread it. The Huffington Post reported recently that Robinson has often toyed with the idea that a consortium of super-smart reptile-people secretly controls the world from a headquarters  God only knows where. This is a surprisingly common trope among conspiracy theorists, and Robinsons interest in the notion demonstrates his deep immersion in the realm of alternative realities. Republicans seem poised to nominate someone who could easily be spotted at a meeting of the Flat Earth Society (a real group). As governor, he might even give them tax incentives to relocate to North Carolina.

Pragmatic leaders must have some deeply buried anxiety about this large and strange gentleman leading their partys ticket. And the Republicans have two eminently mainstream candidates running for governor, either of whom could be tabbed as the establishment horse and endowed with the financial support to compete with Robinson. The trouble is that establishment Republicans despise Mark Walker (God knows why) and everyone in North Carolina seems entirely indifferent to Dale Folwell.

Or perhaps its something else. Perhaps the Republican Party has become so dependent upon a base of ferociously conservative white people that any resistance to Mark Robinson seems futile. Robinsons approval ratings among Republican voters are imposing and formidable. He commands, in the context of a GOP primary election, a degree of loyalty from core Republicans that even Donald Trump no longer enjoys. Rendering a sober review of the party landscape, GOP leaders seem to have concluded that Robinsons nomination is unpreventable.

What the hell, theyre saying, lets see how this goes.
A deeper understanding of how the time of infection and vaccination affects our immune response means we're better equipped to handle future threats and ensure more effective protection for all Peter Garred

A crucial discovery in the study is the relationship between the original Wuhan variant and reinfection with the Omicron variant. If a person was initially infected with the original Wuhan variant and then with Omicron, the immune response was weaker than if infection was only with Omicron. This phenomenon is known as immune imprinting" and it has previously been observed in flue epidemics.

Think of your immune system as a kind of camera with a memory. When it sees" a virus, it takes a photograph" and saves it. The next time you meet the same virus or a variant of the virus, your immune system looks in its photo album" to decide how to react. The challenge with immune imprinting is that the immune system can be so taken up by the first "photograph that it is difficult to recognise and react effectively to a new version. This knowledge is important to understand why we can become infected and ill again when new variants of coronavirus appear. It also underlines the need to consider very carefully what versions of the virus we include in future vaccines to ensure optimal protection," said Peter Garred.

Data from Statens Serum Institut (SSI) shows a significant increase in infection rates in Denmark at the moment, and according to Peter Garred it is very likely that we are looking at an autumn and winter with a high infection rate. The new Sars-CoV-2-variants give lower risk of severe illness than previously, but they are more contagious.

"We have a population with relatively good immunity due to vaccination and previous infection, which is currently overshadowing the phenomenon of "immune imprinting". Unfortunately, some citizens are more exposed to severe illness requiring hospitalisation, particularly the elderly and immunocompromised. These individuals will have great benefit from a booster shot balanced between the original Wuhan variant and the new Omicron variants. The research underlines the importance of regularly examining and adjusting vaccination strategies, particularly in light of new variants. A deeper understanding of how the time of infection and vaccination affects our immune response means we're better equipped to handle future threats and ensure more effective protection for all," said Peter Garred.





Source: Copenhagen University Hospital  Rigshospitalet
Two victims from a botched investigation in Montana more than 30 years ago recently sat down for an interview to be preserved in the Library of Congress.

Jimmy Ray Bromgard was wrongly convicted of a 1987 rape that sent him to prison for 15 years until newly examined DNA evidence proved him innocent.

Linda Glantz was 8 years old when a man crept into her Billings home and raped her; a composite sketch Glantz completed for law enforcement's investigation helped convict Bromgard.

The Innocence Project secured Bromgard's exoneration in 2002 and Glantz was forced to reckon with the reality that her attacker was still out there, and she had aided in an innocent man's incarceration.

The Innocence Project and StoryCorps, a nonprofit that collects and preserves remarkable stories from everyday Americans, published the interview that was a collaboration between the two organizations.

Bromgard and Glantz spoke about connecting in 2015 over their tragic experience.

"I was a little bit nervous," Glantz says with a chuckle of finally deciding to reach out.

"Yeah, me too," Bromgard responds quietly, but warmly.

"But you answered the same day. We started texting," Glantz said.

"And we decided, why not have lunch?" Bromgard recalls.

"Were you shocked when you got my message or was it something you thought would inevitably happen?" Glantz asks.

"I was glad," Bromgard responds. "I hoped it would happen eventually, but I wasn't going to push. I learned patience in prison. We got a link. We really don't know each other that well, but we need to get to know each other."

"That's something I feel like I needed," Glantz says. "That's part of why I reached out. I had a  I have a lot of guilt and it's hard to shake it."

Bromgard affirms to Glantz his incarceration was not her fault.

The three-minute video brings warmth to a case that was cold for so long. In 2017, Lee Montana Newspapers published a three-part series that was Glantz's first public telling of her aspect of the case and how she had overcome it.

In 2021, independent radio producer and University of Montana School of Journalism Professor Jule Banville produced and hosted An Absurd Result, a podcast about the legal quagmire that resulted in charges being dismissed against the man whose DNA matched that from Glantz's case in 2018.

The Innocence Project said the collaborative video series aims to educate future generations about the causes and impact of wrongful convictions.
The two candidates for Montana's U.S. Senate race on Tuesday released results from the latest fundraising quarter.

Republican challenger Tim Sheehy's campaign announced $2.8 million raised in his first quarter. Sheehy, a veteran and CEO of Bridger Aerospace, officially launched his campaign in late June, just before the third quarter of the year, from July through September, began.

Incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Tester's campaign on Tuesday announced it raised more than $5 million in the same stretch. Tester is after his fourth term in the Senate in a race that's forecast to draw big money as Republicans try to topple Democrats in red states and reclaim the upper chamber in Congress.

Tester's camp said in a press release it's got $13 million cash-on-hand at the end of the quarter. In July, the campaign said Tester had raised $5 million that quarter, and had $10 million cash-on-hand.

Sheehy wraps the third quarter of 2023 with $1.1 million cash-on-hand.

Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale has been endorsed by 37 state GOP lawmakers over Sheehy and polled well ahead of Belgrade's political newcomer in August, but has not yet declared a bid to rematch Tester.
As Melinda Kaye drove from the Flathead Reservation to Missoula on Monday morning with her son and niece in tow, she got a call from Polson High School asking why the children weren't in school.

"I said, 'This is Indigenous Day!'" Kaye recounted. "I told them, 'It's a celebration. And people at the school should be celebrating with us.'"

Administrators at the school excused the absences as a "cultural day" and told Kaye they had received several similar calls that morning.

Kaye and her family were among hundreds of community members who gathered in Caras Park on Monday for the second annual Beartracks Celebration Powwow, an event filled with song, dance, food and crafts.

Kaye's niece, Abigail Lei, is a 16-year-old student at Polson High School. She's also Miss Kootenai, meaning she was considered royalty at the powwow and had the opportunity to introduce herself to the crowd. Like many of the powwow participants, she missed school to attend Monday's event.

"I didn't learn about Indigenous Peoples' Day until last year," Lei said. "No one talked about it or celebrated it. So I really hope this celebration will bring it to light."

Kaye agreed.

"Missoula is aboriginal territory," she said. "Having this event here is a big deal. This is a college town and lots of people come here from all over. It's a good thing; this is a way to raise awareness and educate."

Hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the event commemorates last years renaming and dedication of the Beartracks Bridge. Martin Charlo, CSKT councilman, said this years event was a little different from the year before, which acknowledged and honored Selis ancestors who were ordered by the U.S. government to leave their homelands in the Bitterroot Valley and relocate to the Flathead Reservation in 1891.

This is more of a celebration of resiliency and the fact that were doing pretty well under the circumstances, Charlo said. Last year was a bit more somber. This showcases our success. We want to educate the community of our history here and our connection with the land. Practicing our culture here in downtown Missoula means a lot.

Charlo admitted Montana has a long way to go in recognizing Indigenous people.

There needs to be support and acknowledgment of who we are, he said. If people were more educated on the history of homesteading, of allotment, the termination era or assimilation era, they might truly understand  our resiliency is something we can really showcase and celebrate.

While at least 20 states  and several cities in Montana  recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, Montana, as a whole, does not.

There are 12 tribal nations and seven reservations in Montana, and Native Americans comprise at least 6.7% of the states population. Indigenous lawmakers and community members have long urged the Legislature to establish Indigenous Peoples Day  to no avail.

Sen. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula and a citizen of the CSKT, introduced a bill replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day last winter. In his introduction, Morigeau listed atrocities that Columbus had committed against Native people, including amputation, rape and beheading. Sen. Dan Salomon, R-Ronan, later blamed Morigeau for the bills failure, citing his introductory remarks.

(Morigeau) starts off with accusing Columbus of rape, beheading, amputations  I have never in my experience been so mad, Salomon said.

Morigeau later defended his introduction, saying, I shared factual information.

At the event, Morigeau spoke of resiliency, unity and the great contributions of tribal leaders, past and present.

"We are here, and we've always been here," he said, adding he couldn't think of a better way to spend the day.
Its revealing of his character, intellect and respect for the law that, after losing the most important case this century, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen called climate change absurd.

He then proceeded with ad hominem attacks on the judge and dredged up decades old conspiracy theories against Planned Parenthood.

Knudsen didnt mention any specifics contained in Judge Kathy Seeleys 103-page decision. Hes out to distract from Seeleys 70-some pages of facts drawn from the experts in the trial. The judge called the testimony of Knudsens lone witness in the case not well-supported, contained errors, and was not given weight by the Court. This, after Knudsen spent $100,000 of taxpayers money on witnesses he never called to the stand.

Hes throwing red meat to the gullible after his humiliating defeat, the preferred tactic of the MAGA adherents. Turn up the temperature of the rhetoric to the edge of violence against enemies. Divide the voters. Distract from your own failures.

The idea of learning from this case, serving the people and acknowledging the hazards of fossil fuel projects apparently doesnt sink in.

Waves of experts documented the 166 million tons of CO2 disgorged each year by digging, processing and burning fossil fuels in Montana. They used science to link this pollution to its consequences: megafires, dying streams and rivers, drought, floods and extreme weather. These hazards will only get more costly if we dont turn off the fossil fuel spigot, they testified.

Rarely are findings of fact about the climate crisis laid out so elegantly in one place as they are in Judge Seeleys decision. Someone in a position of authority for the law should make this ruling recommended reading for every Montanan.

But, at trial, Knudsen knew he was beat. He conceded his teams defense because he realized what climate experts have known for decades: there is no defense. Climate science, climate change projections, the effects on Montanas natural environment, and the effects, now and in the future, on our children and grandchildren are clear. It is also now indisputable in a court of law that the state of Montanas policies are unconstitutional because they contribute to climate change and harm Montanans.

We need to get to work. Reliable alternatives are ready to replace fossil fuel infrastructure. Stanford Universitys Mark Jacobson, Ph.D., testified, without rebuttal by Knudsens team, that it is technically and economically feasible for Montana to replace 80% of existing fossil fuel energy by 2030 and 100% no later than 2050, but as early as 2035. Doing so is not only cleaner. Its $21 billion cheaper for ratepayers!

Montanas attorney general and, indeed, all our elected officials and bureaucrats need to heed Judge Seeleys finding of fact: The current barriers to implementing renewable energy systems are not technical or economic, but social and political. Such barriers primarily result from government policies that slow down and inhibit the transition to renewables, and laws that allow the utilization of fossil fuel development and preclude a faster transition to a clean, renewable energy system.
There have been dozens of news articles celebrating the historic pro-housing reforms passed in the 2023 Legislature. Many of those national stories call the package of legislation the Montana Miracle.

While miracle may be a bit generous at this early stage of implementation, as the sponsors of two of the biggest zoning reforms, were happy to see Montanas transformative approach to housing being recognized.

Housing is one of our states most urgent and pressing needs. Home prices have escalated beyond the reach of average Montanans in many communities and the prohibitive cost of owning a home is threatening the long-term financial viability of young Montanans and their families.

One of the biggest reasons for skyrocketing home prices is that our housing supply has fallen way behind our population growth. Especially in bigger towns like Missoula and Bozeman, or mid-sized popular hotspots like Whitefish, there simply are not enough homes to go around. When supply is short, prices increase, and only the wealthy can afford to live here.

Since we cant prevent people from moving to Montana, the only solution to the housing supply problem is to build more houses. There are two main approaches to doing so: massive new developments that eat up agricultural land and forever transform the rural character of Montana, or encouraging more houses to be built within already-developed cities.

As millennials who dont want to see our children grow up in an unrecognizable Montana made up of concrete jungles, we favor the latter approach. Three of the Legislatures biggest housing bills were written to build more housing without causing urban sprawl. All three bills were targeted at Montanas larger towns, where the housing crisis is most acute.

Senate Bill 382 completely rewrites Montanas land use laws. It gives communities more input into their long-term development plans up front, requires cities to choose from a menu of zoning strategies to allow more affordable housing, and makes it easier to build housing within city limits.

Senate Bill 323 requires cities to allow duplexes in all city zones that allow single-family residences. We dont have a shortage of mansions in Montana; we have a shortage of affordable starter homes. Duplexes are a mild increase in density with a much lower cost barrier for young families or retirees on fixed incomes.

Senate Bill 245 allows multifamily and mixed-used development in city zones that allow commercial development. If a big-box store and huge parking lot can be built, it only makes sense that apartments or a mix of small business storefronts with apartments above can be built in the same area.

These reforms are only now starting to go into effect, but were already seeing positive impacts. Places like Whitefish and Bozeman are completely rewriting their zoning codes to be more friendly to affordable houses. Missoula recently approved housing for 162 more families thanks to a bill passed by the Legislature.

It took decades for Montanas housing problems to reach our current crisis point. Our housing needs cannot be fixed overnight, but these pro-housing bills passed by the Legislature are a transformative starting point toward creating a future for our state in which its still possible for the average Montanan to own a home.
GRANITE FALLS  The Town of Granite Falls is one of 15 public power communities across North Carolina to receive a 2022 Public Power Award of Excellence.

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., presented 15 North Carolina communities with Public Power Awards of Excellence at ElectriCities 2023 Annual Conference held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The Town of Granite Falls received a public power award in the category of Strengthen Public Power, which celebrates communities that build public and political support for public power. Town representatives build public support for public power by providing reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly power to town electric customers.

The town also builds public support for public power by recognizing Public Power Week in October each year which includes the annual Customer Appreciation Day. Town representatives also build political support for public power through in-person meetings with, and phone calls, emails, and letters to, local, state and federal elected officials.

Im proud of our local electric employees commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable power to our community. The unwavering support from the town council allows our local electric employees to keep this commitment to our customers. This recognition is a testament to their unwavering dedication and the pride they take in doing exceptional work, said Town Manager Jerry Church. Being powered by a municipally owned electric system is a tremendous benefit to our town and to our customers. It enables us to deliver more reliable service than other providers, as well as local jobs and unmatched customer service.

There is tremendous value in public power, and this years Public Power Awards of Excellence recipients are going above and beyond to demonstrate that value and move public powers future forward, said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. This award demonstrates the connection Granite Falls has in prioritizing local needs. Im honored to recognize Granite Falls and the public power employees who put in the hard work each day to power their neighborhoods.

Nearly 1.3 million people in more than 70 cities and towns across North Carolina get their electricity from public power providers. Since these public power communities own their electric system, they maintain local control and decision making over their operations.
The woman charged in a shooting on White Eagle Ranch Road appeared in Catawba County District Court on Monday.

Brandi Lee Floyd, 39, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury, according to court records.

On Friday, the Catawba County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 hang-up call at 1495 White Eagle Ranch Road around 11:30 p.m. The call came from Floyds phone, Maj. Aaron Turk said on Friday.

When deputies arrived, a woman informed the deputies that someone had been shot at the home. The deputies found a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds behind the house near a swimming pool, Turk said.

The sheriffs office has not released the victims name as of Monday. Turk said the victim has been released from the hospital.

Floyds case was continued to Oct. 30 for a probable cause hearing, Assistant District Attorney Taylor Rockett said during court.

A probable cause hearing is when the prosecution presents evidence to show that there is probable cause to believe that a defendant committed a crime, according to N.C. General Statute 15A-611.

Long View 2008 shooting

One of four men charged in the 2008 killing of a 26-year-old masonry business owner appeared in Catawba County District Court on Monday.

Jamar Quarmaine Propst, 33, Pierre Demond Ramseur, 33, Emandalae Diontae Tolbert, 31, and Anthony Maurice Tucker, 37 are each charged with murder in the death of Eddie Greene Jr.

The four men also face charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to court documents.

Greene was found shot to death in his white work van on Oct. 3, 2008, at 1937 First Ave., SW, in Long View.

Tolbert appeared in court on Monday. District Court Judge Mark Killian explained Tolberts right to an attorney. Killian also explained that Tolbert could face a maximum sentence of death or life without parole if convicted.

Defense attorney Cynthia Goelling was assigned to represent Tolbert. Tolberts next court appearance is set for Nov. 6.

The charges against the four men were announced by the Long View Police Department on Sept. 22.

At the time, Ramseur and Propst were in custody at the Catawba County Detention Center. Tolbert was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in Detroit, Michigan. Tucker is incarcerated on unrelated charges in Virginia, according to a previous Hickory Daily Record article.

Tolbert was transferred to Catawba County on Friday, according to the Catawba County Whos in Jail website.

In a news conference on Sept. 22, Long View Police Chief T.J. Bates said the motive for the killing was robbery. He said Greene knew at least one of the four men charged in the murder.
The Catawba County Sheriffs office charged two Georgia residents with drug trafficking and seized nine kilos of methamphetamine on Saturday, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

Garry Michael Turpin, 47, and Kristy Lee Ashley, 41, both of Norcross, Georgia, are charged with trafficking methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of manufacturing, selling or delivering a controlled substance, according to the release.

Turpin and Ashley were each issued $150,000 secured bonds. The arrests and seizure of drugs took place in the parking lot of the Loves Travel Stop on N.C. 10 West in Newton, according to the release.

The sheriffs office credited the Hickory Police Department and Cleveland County Sheriffs Office for assisting with the investigation.
This October 16 and 17, filmmaker and director/producer Ken Burns will release THE AMERICAN BUFFALO.

This film will be the biography of the continents most magnificent species, an improbable, shaggy beast that nonetheless has found itself at the center of many of our nations most thrilling, mythic, and sometimes heartbreaking tales. It is a quintessentially American story, filled with a diverse cast of fascinating characters. But it is also a morality tale encompassing two important and historically significant lessons that resonate today.

The American Buffalo PREMIERES OCTOBER 16-17 ON PBS

Directed and executive produced by Ken Burns, written by Dayton Duncan, and produced by Julie Dunfey and Burns

But for those who love history, let's take a step back in time when not so long ago, this amazing beast roamed Hansford County and beyond, actually having a hand in the settlement of Hansford County. Prior to white settlers entering Texas there were an estimated 20 million American Bison, commonly called buffalo, roaming the Great Plains. These animals were hunted by native peoples and used for food, clothing, housing, and many other essential items. Some of the plains tribes followed buffalo herds throughout the year.

James Hamilton Cator (18521927) By: H. Allen Anderson



"The brothers, however, found farming to be different from what it was in England and were scorned by most Kansas frontiersmen. Soon they became enthusiastic over the buffalo-hide trade. Having had previous experience in hunting game, the Cators joined in this profitable business and killed 300 buffalo soon after purchasing new Sharps buffalo rifles . With their earnings they bought a wagon, mules, horses, and food. Between July 1 and September 1, 1873, the Cators killed nearly 7,000 buffalo and had in their employ seven skinners."

James, Bob, Bert and Leslie Cator, brothers, and sister Clara McRea traveled to America aboard a steam ship named Wisconsin that left from England March 22, 1871

J.L. and B.O. served as Hansford County Judges

Olive K. Dixon, wife of William (Billy) Dixon, described an incident as she had often heard her husband tell. "The story begins when the area of Hutchinson County and Hansford Counties were a part of Young and Bextar Territories and open to buffalo hunters.



The counties were the home of the buffalo for thousands of the animals roamed over the prairies in the summer. In the winter they would stay in the river and creek bottoms for protection. The multitudes of buffalo brought from all around, hunters who sought to find and hunt this mighty animal. The hunters would kill the buffalo for their meat, but the most important part of the kill was for the hides."

Cator Buffalo Camp Marker Latitude & Longitude: 36 8' 18.09200000004", -101 26' 27.9201500016" Established by James H. and Bob Cator in the spring of 1872 while hunting buffalo in the fall of 1875

At one time, 30 to 60 million bison roamed the North American plains. Early Spanish explorers in Texas, including the Coronado expedition, said they were as numerous as fish in the sea. Thus began the great slaughter. From 1874 to 1878, hunters decimated the great southern bison herd. Estimates from 1888 were that less than 1,000 head of bison remained in North America.





Mary Ann Dyer "Molly" Goodnight

"Buffalo were still numerous in the area and Molly who was a crack shot had no trouble supplying the family with fresh meat. The buffalo were a menace however and Bugbee was compelled to hire extra men to keep them away from his cattle and their grazing areas."

Mary Ann Dyer " Molly " Goodnight (September 12, 1839  April 11, 1926) was an American cattlewoman and rancher married to prominent Texas rancher and cattleman Charles Goodnight.

Goodnight established her proper place as wife and helper with Charles, the most famous rancher on the High Plains. Beyond her regular chores, Goodnight took it upon herself to rescue baby bison left behind by hunters, soon establishing the Goodnight buffalo herd i n 1887.

Molly urged her husband Charles to capture some orphan bison calves from the southern herd where they were raised on the JA Ranch and became the "nucleus" of the Goodnight Herd which now roams freely at Caprock Canyons State Park.

But, let's even go further back than this!

In the summer of 2002 Paddock Enterprises was building an aquatic facility on a construction management contract in Stinnett, TX. It was about 9:15 a.m. on July 24, 2002, when Paul Lane was operating a backhoe to dig up the ground for the new Stinnett swimming pool. He had dug about 13 feet when he saw the bones. Needless to say, this "accidental dig" became the news of the summer in Hutchinson County! The bones Lane uncovered were soon to be deemed a very significant find and were estimated to be those of a 5700-year-old bison and believed to be from an early archaic period on the Texas High Plains. Over 3,000 people are estimated to have visited the site during the following week to get a glimpse of the ancient bones and watch as an archaeological dig got underway. These people were watching history in the making. Meanwhile back in the neighboring county of Hansford.... Bifacial hafted knife origin Kay, Oklahoma

.....this projectile point was discovered while digging a flower bed at The Bishop Cottage on Kenneth Hwy. in Spearman in 2002 Brett Cruse, Plains Region Archaeologist, suggested local steward Doug Wilkens examine the find. Cruse dated the knife to the Late Archaic Period 2,000-5,000 years ago. Wilkens dated the knife to the Late Archaic to Late Prehistoric Period 1480 A.D. The Archaic people that called the Texas Panhandle home lived in an environment that was rich in various plants and animals. These people were active gatherers of various types of plant materials: seeds, roots, berries, and anything else that was edible. The Archaic period in the Southwest begins with the Paleoindian Period and ends with the adoption of agriculture and pottery. Dates are variable from 8500 BC and ending in the first few centuries AD.

This spear point coincides with nomadic wild game hunters, life and culture around the playa lakes in our area. This discovery can reasonably be connected to the bones of the Stinnett bison which were found only 30 miles apart, to the people who hunted them. read more about this incredible Stinnett Swimming Pool story HERE

The following pictures are from the archaeological dig

Modern Buffalo

small herd of bison just outside Spearman

Luckily today the bison is making a comeback on the great plains thanks to a concerted effort by those who love history, nature, conservation and these majestic creatures.

Thanks to Molly Goodnight who rescued a few baby bison that became the bloodline to one of the largest domestic herds in the country and beyond. (The Goodnight herd has been placed in Canada, Germany--Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Montana, Kansas, New York and New Hampshire)

We are fortunate to have a few small herds grazing area ranches and to be able to see them at Caprock Canyons.

If you love this kind of historical tale, you will enjoy a visit to the Texas Panhandle and the area museums that include this great story of the American Bison!
Maryland Global Campus awards degrees

ADELPHI, Md.  University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) graduated nearly 3,400 students in the 2023 spring semester. Students from all 50 states, four U.S. territories and 22 countries earned UMGC degrees. More than 2,000 graduates attended Grad Walk in Adelphi, Maryland, an in-person experience designed to place the spotlight directly on graduates and their achievements.

The following local students earned degrees:

Keith LaMarr Hicks of Concord: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management

Tieshanna Patricia Owens of Huntersville: Bachelor of Science in Software Development and Security

Mississippi State presidents, deans lists

STARKVILLE, Miss.  Mississippi State University congratulates more than 4,000 students who were named to the spring 2023 presidents list. Students on the presidents list achieved a 3.80 or better grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of course work with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Area students are Zachary DeWeese of Concord, Nathaniel McGowan of Matthews and Rebecca Webb of Salisbury.

Mississippi State also announced more than 2,300 students who were named to the spring 2023 deans list. Deans list students achieved a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.79, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of course work with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Students are Bethany Sigmon of Kannapolis and William Beaver of Concord.

Local students on The Citadel deans list

CHARLESTON, S.C.  The deans list is a recognition given to cadets and students who are registered for 12 or more semester hours and whose grade point average is 3.20 or higher, with no grade of I (Incomplete) and no grade below C for work in a semester.

The following local students were named to The Citadels spring 2023 deans list: Trevor Mayes of Mooresville, Harrison Bishop of Davidson, Varney Layman of Concord and Collin Cook of Rockwell.
Building on the countys experience using drones as first responders, the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office and Duke University are partnering to see if drones can help save the lives of people experiencing a heart attack.

The sheriffs office said the program would be the first of its kind in the country and would involve using a drone to deliver a device called an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the scene of a cardiac arrest.

The drone can get to the patient faster than an ambulance, the sheriffs office said. Where it might take 10 to 12 minutes for the EMS to get to the scene, a drone can cover the territory in two to five minutes.

The sheriffs office started using drones for some first responder duties in 2022. That year, authorities shared that they had used a drone to identify a man who was forbidden to contact a woman by a restraining order, and on another occasion had used a drone to check up on a deputy who was not responding to his radio after making a traffic stop.

The sheriffs office is partnering with the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Hovecon, a local consulting firm working on unmanned aircraft systems, on the AED project. The effort is funded from a $3.5 million grant working here and in James City, Va. The grant was received by Dr. Monique Starks, a cardiologist at Duke, and is paid for by the American Heart Association.

The sheriffs office said the program to deliver AEDs by drone is already in use in Sweden and has had significant success.

The concept is for the AED drones to be strategically placed around the county. AEDs are already located in many office buildings and public buildings, according to the American Red Cross. The device can analyze the hearts rhythm and if needed deliver an electric shock to help the heart re-establish its proper rhythm.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported that an AED drone program in Sweden worked by having a volunteer trained in using the AED dispatched to the place where someone had experienced a cardiac arrest. The volunteer used the AED brought to the scene by the drone to revive the patient.

The sheriffs office said that here, Hovecon will make sure the drones comply with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

The test program will be carried out during a four-year period, but officials said that before any drones actually fly with AEDs on board, there will be a chance for government and community leaders to give input, have their questions answered and get their concerns and recommendations dealt with.

Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said the drone program will allow his office, Duke University and Starks to create and do the unimaginable.
GREENSBORO  Zev Harel, a former member of the Israeli Army, shook his head as people began to gather at Temple Emanuel Monday evening in anguish over the surprise weekend attack on Israel.

Its not understandable how they can do such things, said the 93-year old retired professor of social work. Not babies. Not children. Not old people. These are the innocent.

Harel was among the grieving  those with family, friends or people they consider extended family in Israel.

Unlike most events at the synagogue, participants on Monday had to walk through metal detectors, and other enhanced security measures also were visible.

So many people looked shocked as a video played showing some of the social media footage posted by Hamas soldiers and others of the brutal attacks. And shocked when US Rep. Kathy Manning, D-6th, gave a briefing saying this is expected to be a long and painful battle.

Rabbi Andy Koren mentioned the more than 200 funerals taking place that day as the tears flowed in the sanctuary of Temple Emanuel.

Saturday was the largest spilling of innocent Jewish blood since the Holocaust, Koren said.

At one point, group members grasped hands and prayed for the hostages, some of whose photos were on a big-screen monitor above the podium.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem then led a prayer for Israel.

The fighting and images of bloody civilians are, sadly, nothing new in the Middle East. The history of tension between Jews and Arabs dates back more than a century, and competing claims to the land have sparked multiple wars since the birth of the modern state of Israel in 1948.

But this feels different, say those who have lived through many of the previous conflicts.

Here, thousands of miles away, they have gathered over tears and talk with friends and family and neighbors since the weekend, when social media erupted in images of bombings and other violence in southern Israel, along with stories of people in wheelchairs, children and others led away by gunmen to unknown fates.

Earlier Monday, Rabbi Fred Guttman, rabbi emeritus at Temple Emanuel who travels frequently to Israel where he has children and grandchildren, said he has spoken to them several times a day since the attacks by Hamas, an Islamic militant group. They are fine, he said of the family, but he is horrified and heartbroken over what has taken place.

I do my best to understand the Palestinian narrative, and as far as the Israeli government is concerned, I tend to be on the left, Guttman said. But not this. This is absolutely horrific, evil. There is a video of a 6-year-old child who was taken as a hostage standing in the street in Gaza with no shoes on, and other children, Arab children, are beating him with a stick and hurling insults.

What sort of parents would allow that? What sort of person would take a video of that and put it online?

Max Carter and his wife Jane lead annual work trips to the Quaker schools and Friends meeting in Ramallah, a Palestinian city in the central West Bank, and work with Israeli and Palestinian peace communities. They were to leave later this month for another working trip to help the olive farmers there.

We have got to figure out a way to stop this cycle of violence, Carter said in an interview Monday.

This past weekend, they had three students from Ramallah now attending Guilford College at their home for dinner. The students have been keeping up with whats taking place back home through social media.

They just live in dread for what their families are going to encounter, Carter said of Israels retaliation in the search for Hamas.
How did The Lost Colony fit in the founding of the English colonies in North America?

Virginia Dare was born at the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, the first child of English parents in America was born, and that gives North Carolinians a strong claim to be a critical part of the English colonization effort.

But since that colony disappeared without a trace, can we claim that this unsuccessful colonization effort was part of later permanent colonization efforts in Virginia and New England?

The answer: Absolutely, says John May, author of an upcoming book to be titled English America: An Introduction to The Lost Colony and Jamestown. It is scheduled for publication next year by McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books.

May argues that the founding of the first enduring English American colony was one continuous effort interrupted by war with Spain. The Roanoke Island and Jamestown colonies constitute the selfsame history in all meaningful respects. Think of Jamestown as the second act of the two-act play but under new direction and with it all new cast of characters.

In October 1584, at the request of Sir Walter Raleighs supporters, a young scholar, Richard Hakluyt, prepared a prospectus outlining the potential political advantages of a colony in the part of North America that had been named Virginia. Hakluyt delivered a copy to Queen Elizabeth.

The queen offered only minimal support for Raleighs venture.

But May argues that the objectives outlined in the prospectus remained unchanged for the next twenty-five years. But in all those years of trial and error  of one heartbreaking failure after another  the one constant and central presence in the effort was Richard Hakluyt.

Raleigh, the most prominent supporter of the first colonization effort on Roanoke, had the most to gain.

With a successful permanent settlement within seven years of his grant in 1584, Raleigh would be granted title to most of the eastern part of North America. But Raleigh had stepped aside and become involved in other adventures.

Efforts to establish a colony on Roanoke Island continued, and May tells the stories of that colony in engaging detail, beginning with their biggest problem, the unsuitability of our coast to support a colonization effort.

The coast of North Carolina was an inauspicious choice for a first colony. From the seashore island for up to 50 miles, the land is swampy or so low-lying it often floods and much of it in the 16th century was thick forested wetlands that were all but impenetrable.

English galleons had an average draft of twelve feet, but inlets into the Pamlico Sound  through which Roanoke Island is accessed  or blocked to such ships by shallow sandbars that shift with every major storm.

Dangerous offshore shallows  Wimble, Diamond, and Frying Pan Shoals  extend miles out into the Atlantic, and seas off the Outer Banks are subject to riptides and cross currents caused by the conflicts of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current. These hazards have caused countless shipwrecks and given to this region of the North American coast the baleful epitaph Graveyard of the Atlantic.

In Mays detailed account of the Virginia Colony, his hero is John Smith, the rough-and-ready Daniel Boone character who also fought against the Native Americans and still gained their respect.

The story about the Native American emperor Powhatans daughter rescuing Smith from execution is based on Smiths later written account. May says that, although this account is probably not completely accurate, Pocahontas had a real expectation that Smith would become a part of the Powhatan family. Smiths failure to meet this expectation was a great disappointment to her.

Mays copious research combined with his great storytelling gifts make his story of the Lost Colony and Jamestown histories a reading pleasure.

The Lost Colony itself had disappeared without a trace.

But there were others who were eager to take up the baton and see what profits could be squeezed from the great unknown of North America about which Hakluyt promised so much.
Finnish telco vendor Nokia has opened a 6G lab at its global R&D facility in Bangalore, India to drive cases underpinned by 6G technology.

The cases to boost the development of 6G are aligned with PM Narendra Modis ambition to give India a key global role in the implementation of technology.

The 6G lab is poised to contribute to the nations Bharat 6G alliance that will explore the adoption of the next-generation network.

Industry Indian giants Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Tech Mahindra will contribute their expertise to the alliance.

The facility is expected to have similarities with Europes flagship 6G research projects including Hexa-X and Hexa X-II.

Nokia noted the lab includes setup to research network as a sensor technology that enables the network to sense objects without on-board sensors.

The site will be designated as an experimental platform to study algorithms, privacy, and sustainable system design.

We look forward to collaborating with key stakeholders to help India become a major player in 6G technology development and adoption; and take its place in the global arena as a leading developer and supplier of advanced telecom technologies and solutions, said Nokia chief strategy and technology officer Nishant Batra.
Digital marketing platform Constant Contact has hired Renee Chaplin as its vice president of Asia Pacific to expand the companys presence in the APAC region based in Brisbane.

Chaplin brings over 20 years of experience growing B2B brands. She will help drive broader awareness and adoption of Constant Contacts digital marketing platform in APAC and deliver value to customers in that region.

The appointment is a reflection of Constant Contacts investment into growing its presence in Australia following its acquisition of Vision6 in 2022.

Prior to joining Constant Contact, Chaplin worked for a variety of technology companies, from Australian start-ups to multinational SaaS organisations specialising in AI, automation, customer experience and billing technology.

Constant Contact is well known globally for being a pioneer of digital marketing innovation in the small business space, and the companys recent advancements in AI and marketing automation make this an exciting time to join the organisation, said Chaplin. Our Vision6 product is already Australias most reliable email marketing and SMS platform with sovereign onshore data storage and local customer support. I look forward to growing Constant Contacts APAC business and helping our customers and agency partners develop stronger relationships with their customers.

Weve invested in APAC through our acquisition of Vision6, and we see an opportunity to build on that momentum to deliver even more value to our global customers and partners. I am confident that Renees experience and local presence will help accelerate our efforts in APAC and make an immediate impact on our business and our customers businesses within the region, said Constant Contact CEO Frank Vella.
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Can a public employee be fired for penning a memoir about her days as a phone sex operator? That's no law classroom hypothetical. It's a serious question, answered in Harnishfeger v. United States, a decision handed down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The court supported the employee, but the panel's struggle to reach that outcome helps elucidate the difficulty of government workers' free speech rights.

The case involved one Amy Harnishfeger, author of a pseudonymous volume entitled "Conversations with Monsters: 5 Chilling, Depraved and Deviant Phone Sex Conversations," self-published in 2016 as an e-book on Amazon. The monsters of the title, the court tells us, are the men (and one woman) who were her clients. The book is evidently a sharp critique of the phone-sex industry. Writes the court: "Harnishfeger was horrified to hear what some of the callers would fantasize to her about, including sexual abuse of children."

A month after "Conversations with Monsters" debuted, the author reported for duty with the Indiana National Guard. Her supervisor, Lt. Col. Lisa Kopczynski, soon became aware of the tome, and apparently was sufficiently disturbed to demand that Harnishfeger be removed from her National Guard posting by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that had arranged the stint. The agency complied, and shortly thereafter dropped her from its roster.

Harnishfeger sued, claiming among other things a violation of her First Amendment rights. The trial court threw out the lawsuit, but the 7th Circuit partially reinstated it. (The court of appeals upheld the dismissal of the suit against most of the federal defendants.)

The dispute between the courts wasn't over whether "Conversations with Monsters" was an exercise of free speech - plainly it was. The disagreement was over how to strike the balance between Harnishfeger's rights and the National Guard's interest in avoiding disruption and maintaining a positive public image. The path to victory might seem easy, but there are tricky barriers to circumvent.

One of these is the U.S. Supreme Court's 2004 decision in City of San Diego v. Roe. That case involved ... well, let's be a little shy and let the 7th Circuit summarize Roe's facts for us: "The plaintiff in Roe was a San Diego police officer who sold videos of himself on an online marketplace, stripping and masturbating in a police uniform and pantomiming police work."

He was fired, and, like Harnishfeger, claimed that his First Amendment rights had been violated. The justices unanimously rejected his claim: "Far from confining his activities to speech unrelated to his employment, Roe took deliberate steps to link his videos and other wares to his police work, all in a way injurious to his employer."

Sometimes, we free speech absolutists have to defend what might be called Addams Family behavior - expression that's creepy and kooky. So it should come as no surprise that even in the case of Roe, I'm not entirely persuaded that the justices were right. Scholars who have called for strong First Amendment rights for public employees have tended to focus on such issues as exposing official corruption or disclosing that the government is lying. But sometimes the ground for defending the employee must surely be simply that her speech is none of the government's business.

Yes, a public employee must give up some rights in exchange for the job, and the Supreme Court is surely correct that as the distance between job and speech narrows, so must the protection. Thus the DMV should have no power to fire an employee because he turns out to be a white supremacist, but can surely discipline him if he shouts the n-word at black drivers waiting in line.

Where does "Conversations with Monsters" fall on the spectrum? The trial court concluded that the book does not address matters of public concern but instead "simply recites (in graphic, explicit and profane language) phone sex conversations in which Harnishfeger participated involving fantasies of sexual assault, incest, pedophilia, sexual abuse, and violence directed toward children." According to the trial court, mere "descriptions of sexual exploits alone" are not "serious" or "portentous" enough to outweigh the National Guard's interest "in preventing potential disruption in the workplace."

The court of appeals did not so much dispute this argument as circumvent it. The panel pointed out that the principal harm to which the defendants pointed was to the image or reputation of the National Guard. Given the difficulty of even discovering the book's existence, however, the judges concluded that it was "highly unlikely" that it "could have reflected anything at all about the Guard, positive or negative."

Thus the interest of the National Guard was easily outweighed by Harnishfeger's.

But let's not rush out to celebrate a First Amendment victory just yet. A plausible implication of the panel's reasoning - whether intended or not - is that had "Conversations with Monsters" become a big bestseller, the National Guard would have had a stronger case. Thus the decision is hardly a grand triumph for the robust view of public employee rights. As I have argued elsewhere, we should be wary of supporting free speech with arguments that turn on the smallness of the likely audience.

I am not suggesting that the National Guard doesn't have a point, or that there aren't cases in which the employee ought to lose because of the harm done to the Guard or its mission. But that's the point.

In our speak-your-mind era, controversial online speech by government employees is only going to increase. By tiptoeing around the central First Amendment question, the 7th Circuit missed a chance to offer real guidance on where to draw the line.
 Early one morning, 20-year-old Lantz Kurtz broke into a gas station in Palm Coast, Florida, and stole multiple items.

He exited via the front door, apparently unaware that he'd left a big clue behind: his debit card, Fox35-TV reported.

Officers responding to the alarm found the card and tracked down Kurtz, who told them he had intended to come back to the store and pay for the items.

But Sheriff Rick Staly wasn't having it: "Leaving a debit card behind does not absolve you from theft or committing a burglary," he said. [Fox35, 2/8/2023]
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One special advantage of living in America was that it was possible to be weird and successful. The U.S. economy offered a lot of second chances and a high tolerance for unusual career arcs. There weren't exams (as there are in other countries) that tracked you from an early age, herding you into a career path or limiting your education opportunities.

There were plenty of good colleges and universities, and they all would take some unconventional students. There were a range of companies with different cultures and a general acceptance - even a celebration - of quirkiness. You could start a business, fail, and still succeed the next time, or just try something else. Some of the most successful Americans had nontraditional career histories, or declined to follow a linear, well-worn, rule-following path. Some - egad - didn't even go to elite schools.

U.S. meritocracy is not and never has been perfect, but traditionally it rewarded the unique and tenacious. Being born into the right family that shepherded you into the right schools certainty made life easier, but it was not a requirement like it was in other countries.

It doesn't feel like this is as true today. There are reasons to believe the economy no longer tolerates a wrong step, or even a step out of line. Getting a slot at a top university or program has become nearly impossible, even with perfect grades and test scores. It feels like you have to be in enrichment programs since birth and working on nuclear fusion in high school to get in. That may be because there is a bigger population wanting to go to these schools for the status and the real wage premium and access to top jobs they tend to offer.

The labor market also feels ruthlessly competitive. It's dominated by a few "superstar" firms, like Alphabet's Google or McKinsey that pay more than other employers, confirming a prestige that can be monetized. Success is no longer a factor of risks well taken. Getting on the track to success requires taking no risks at all, going to the right schools, acquiring the right network, living in a big city, and establishing an impeccable work history before you even start your career. There is less room for following your passion or taking a timeout for adventure, or for eccentric detours like working on a fishing boat in Alaska.

Every successive generation is told that success is harder than it used to be, and that there will be fewer opportunities without doing absolutely everything by the book. I was told that many times - when I went to college, applied to graduate school and got my first job. And it was never true for me. But I'm not sure I could have the same career if I was starting today.

I am a weird economist; always have been. I was not a traditional candidate for an economics Ph.D. because I was not remotely qualified or experienced when I started graduate school. But I was quirky. I'd been an indifferent and mediocre high school student and took some time off to travel in Eastern Europe. I stayed abroad and did my undergraduate degree in the U.K., which was unusual at the time. My travels and U.K. experience caught the eye of a professor at the University of Chicago who took me on as a summer research assistant after I sent him an email out of the blue. He was impressed with my diligence and curiosity that summer, and offered to help me get into graduate school in a good program. That started my career.

I wasn't typical for my time either, but being given a chance like that would be even rarer today. Now nearly all the economics Ph.D. candidates in top programs must have two years of pre-doctoral research before they even consider applying. Graduate programs are even harder to get into than doctoral programs, requiring students to have specific empirical skills to be productive. Why take a chance on someone untraditional? These "pre-doc" positions are incredibly competitive and require extensive quantitative skills, as well as a degree from an elite school in many cases. Perhaps some professors are taking a chance on students like me for a pre-doc. But it's a bigger gamble because a two-year full-time program is a much bigger commitment than my summer job based on a cold email.

As a graduate student I was interested in things like interviewing sex workers in a brothel about risk-taking - not normal for a retirement economist. I believe I can add something unique to the profession by exploring strange areas of the economy and communicating ideas to a wider audience than I would have done with a traditional research career.

And if you look at the CVs of many top economists, they were weird, too. They didn't necessarily study economics as undergraduates and they had unconventional work experiences. No doubt they are better economists because of their weirdness. Success in research isn't just about technical skills, it takes creativity and seeing the world a little differently than everyone else. It also takes initiative and the ability to ask some out-there questions.

What I see happening to the economics profession now reflects changes to the wider economy. Getting top degrees or jobs requires a near-perfect resume. This may only get worse now that some elite universities are dropping the SAT requirement. The entrance exam in the past was a way for quirky students to signal intelligence and potential, even if they lacked the wherewithal or desire to have a perfectly curated academic life.

It's a sad trend for the American economy and for a generation of students who feel like they can't afford to take the time to have the experiences that could help them figure out who they are. No wonder many young people are overwhelmed with anxiety.

But the marginalization of weirdness may not be sustainable. The economy still rewards creativity, self-sufficiency and ingenuity. The biggest rewards still go to innovators and people who see how to do things differently. This will only be more true as artificial intelligence becomes more pervasive in the economy. It does a great job finding solutions based on existing rules and information. It's less well suited for novel solutions to new problems.

Maybe it's true there is no room for weirdness if you want to go to Harvard University and get a job at McKinsey after you graduate. If top institutions take only people who do everything right, they'll be full of conscientious, hard-working people. But they will lack people who are creative and know how to take risks. And everyone will be keen to enforce the existing rules and norms that they are very good at following. These institutions won't be so successful at producing successful leaders - and they won't be much fun to work for, either.

If that persists, we could see a new cycle begin. All the weird people will go to less-elite schools and still get a great education and take an alternative career path. Employers will begin to see that as a signal of creativity and openness to new ideas and experiences. And in that case, maybe elite institutions will no longer provide the same rewards they used to, or be so important to a definition of success.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Allison Schrager, a Bloomberg columnist, is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.
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In 1997 I wrote a column for Columbus Day weekend that opened on a smart-alecky note: "Say," I asked, "is it OK to admire Christopher Columbus again?"

Ever since the quincentennial of Columbus's first voyage to the New World in 1492, denunciations of the Italian navigator as a brutal conqueror and bloody enslaver had been growing louder and more vehement. I didn't think much of the denouncers  "commissars of political correctness," I called them  and wanted to remind readers that there were good reasons why Columbus had been regarded by generations of Americans as a great man. To be sure, by present-day standards he was no sensitive, enlightened role model. Columbus was "a zealot, greedy and ambitious," I acknowledged, "capable of cruelty and deception." He and the Spaniards he led to the New World were vicious in their treatment of the indigenous people they encountered. But there was no denying his astonishing feats of seamanship or the world-changing impact of his discoveries. "For all his flaws," I concluded, "he was magnificent."

I wouldn't write that today. My view has changed.

In the past quarter-century, progressive attacks on Columbus's reputation have grown even more fervent. Statues of the explorer have been repeatedly vandalized or toppled. In at least 14 states and more than 130 cities, Columbus Day has been refashioned as Indigenous Peoples Day. Even Columbus, Ohio, no longer honors its namesake with a holiday. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Harvard historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote of Columbus in 1954 that "his fame and reputation may be considered secure for all time." But under the relentless pressure of revisionists, Native American activists, and woke iconoclasts, Columbus's prestige has been shredded and stomped on.

In general, I consider it dishonest and arrogant to measure individuals who lived centuries ago by standards that didn't exist in their day or to judge them pitilessly for behavior that we find detestable but that they and their world would have regarded as normal.

But what changed my mind about Columbus wasn't anything written or said by his modern detractors. It was the testimony of his contemporaries. I didn't realize in 1997 that Columbus's behavior toward the native peoples of the New World had indeed violated the principles of his own age. In fact, they violated the specific orders he had been given by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, the Spanish rulers who authorized and financed his journeys.

Columbus returned from his first voyage to what he mistakenly called the Indies with a dozen abducted natives, as well as plans to capture and exploit many more. His first trip had been rushed, he told the monarchs, but on his next he was sure he could amass "slaves in any number they may order."

The king and queen ordered him to do no such thing. In written instructions dated May 12, 1493, they directed Columbus to "endeavor to win over the inhabitants" to Christianity and not harm or coerce them. He was to ensure that everyone under his command "shall treat the Indians very well and affectionately without causing them any annoyance whatever." In fact, they told Columbus, he should present gifts to the natives "in a gracious manner and hold them in great honor."

But the Admiral of the Ocean Sea had other ideas.

During his second journey to the Caribbean, historian Edward T. Stone wrote in a 1975 essay for American Heritage, Columbus captured a large number of indigenous men, women, and children, sending them back as cargo in 12 ships to be sold in the slave market at Seville. Anticipating that the royal couple might be outraged by his failure to comply with their orders, Columbus advised the captain transporting the native people to explain that they were cannibals lacking any language with which they could be taught the elements of Christianity. Surely it would be a kindness, Columbus contended, for such heathens to be "placed in the possession of persons from whom they can best learn the language."

Perhaps that ploy worked at first. But reports of the savagery, slaughter, and enslavement committed by Columbus could not be ignored indefinitely. In 1500, the Spanish sovereigns finally lowered the boom. They commissioned Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate and report on the admiral's conduct. After gathering information from Columbus's supporters and detractors, Bobadilla filed a no-holds-barred indictment detailing the cruelties committed by Columbus and his lieutenants.

"Punishments included cutting off people's ears and noses, parading women naked through the streets, and selling them into slavery," reported The Guardian when a copy of Bobadilla's statement was discovered in 2006 in a state archive in the Spanish city of Valladolid.

The charges were taken seriously. Very seriously: Bobadilla had Columbus arrested and shipped back to Spain  in chains  to stand trial. It was, in Stone's words, a "harsh and humiliating" downfall. Columbus eventually received a royal pardon, but Ferdinand and Isabella refused to restore his position as governor of the Indies.

It wasn't woke 21st-century progressives who first found fault with Columbus's actions. It was his contemporaries. Accusations of abuse by Columbus were taken so seriously that he was arrested in 1500 and sent back to Spain in chains to answer the charges against him.

Another of Columbus's contemporaries to excoriate his deeds was Bartolome de las Casas. He accompanied Columbus on his third voyage and participated in the violent suppression of indigenous people on the island of Hispaniola. Later he underwent a profound change of heart. Las Casas took holy orders, freed the people he had enslaved in 1514, and spent the rest of his long life passionately denouncing the "robbery, evil, and injustice" done by Columbus and the Spaniards who followed in his wake.

Five years ago I read Las Casas's most famous work, "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies," which he published in 1542. It is ferocious in its wrath and graphic in its descriptions of the horrors inflicted on the native people. He raged against the sadism, greed, and treachery of the Spaniards. No one who reads his book can cling to the belief that condemnations of Columbus are nothing but 20/20 hindsight, or that they are based on moral standards by which no one in the 1500s would have judged him. His contemporaries did judge him by the standards of their age, and found him grievously wanting.

None of this is to deny Columbus's brilliance and courage as a mariner. His name will forever be linked to what Morison called "the most spectacular and most far-reaching geographical discovery in recorded human history." In 1997, I thought that was what mattered most about Columbus. I know better now.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission."
Lexington police have announced the arrest of a 14-year-old student who attends Lexington Senior High School as they investigate a spate of threats against the school made on social media.

Police said the 14-year-old was charged with felony communication of a threat of mass violence on educational property, after a threat made on Oct. 4 resulted in a delay in the opening of school on Oct. 5.

Last week, four threats of violence at the school were posted on social media. The first was made Oct. 3, and resulted in the early dismissal of school. The second one on Oct. 4 was dealt with in a way that kept students safe without having to dismiss school, police said. But another threat made the same day resulted in a school delay on Oct. 5.

A fourth threat was made against the school on Monday, resulting in the early dismissal of school.

Police said their investigation of all the threats is ongoing and not just limited to students attending that school.

Authorities are asking everyone to monitor their childrens use of social media and report anything that is concerning. People may call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 336-243-2400.
Surprise! Its Election Day. For some of us.

Its not difficult to make fun of the honorables populating the corridors of power in Washington  and Raleigh for that matter  because they tend to bring it on themselves.

The obscene amounts of cash changing hands through fundraising, insider trading/pandemic profiteering by a U.S. senator, the cartoonish kneecapping of the speaker of the U.S. House, a sex scandal involving the speaker of the state House and a threatened alienation of affection lawsuit, it adds up.

Its no wonder that voters left, right and center tend to operate between mildly annoyed and completely cheesed off or that voter turnout, other than in presidential election years, trends toward abysmal.

And with primary municipal elections today in a handful of area towns and cities  High Point, Burlington, Jamestown and Bermuda Run to name four  expect another round of laughable turnout as an overwhelming majority of residents thumb their noses at a bedrock of democracy.

How bad, you say?

Weve mentioned this before but it bears repeating. In the last three municipal primaries there (High Point Precinct 12) we had zero voters show up, said Tim Tsuji, the elections director in Forsyth County.

Not one soul out of 131 registered voters  47 Democrats, 29 Republicans, 54 unaffiliateds and 1 Libertarian  could be bothered to cast a ballot.

We dont mention this to pick on High Point; that one precinct is an outlier as its High Point city limits but within Forsyth County.

Besides, theres plenty of apathy to go around. Rocks and glass houses. The pot and kettle calling each other out.

In the 2021 municipal primaries, a whopping 11.89 percent (6,198) of 52,141 eligible and registered voters in Clemmons, Kernersville, King, Rural Hall etc. bothered to cast ballots for mayor and council.

That same year, in Guilford County, 5,657 voters out of 33,816 eligible (16.7 percent) managed to vote in such places as Jamestown, Gibsonville, Stokesdale and Summerfield.

Sad but not surprising.

But heres the thing, an open secret in (barely) functional democracies.

In Congress, it takes 218 votes in the House and 51 in the Senate to get in your wallet. In Raleigh, it requires 26 senators and 61 representatives to, say, expand legalized gambling or park a casino on top of a camp for kids struggling with chronic health conditions.

But in local cities, villages and towns, it only takes a literal handful  four or in some cases, three  to tinker with zoning or change garbage pickup. The stuff that really affects daily life.

And if you happen to reside in a place where growth and development are viewed as existential threats  were looking at you Bermuda Run with an uproar over apartments and you in Summerfield where the Legislature decided to bigfoot through zoning change  every vote matters.

Polls opened this morning at 6:30 a.m. and will close tonight at 7:30 p.m.

May the number of voters outnumber poll workers. And maybe one lonely soul in High Point Precinct 12 breaks an ignoble streak.

A hat in the ring

HIGH POINT  At first blush, the timing of an announcement by High Point Mayor Jay Wagner that hed decided to run for Congress seemed odd.

A random Monday in early October doesnt seem ideal. The primary is six months out and the bickering over the drawing of congressional districts has only just begun.

But Wagner, a Republican, put the word out Monday that he plans to run in the 6th District  a seat currently held by Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from Greensboro.

It makes sense, too, because High Point voters  some of them anyway  might be thinking about politics as the city is holding a municipal primary today. (See above.)

And by getting in now, Wagner gets a head start on other Republicans who might be considering the race.

Delays likely for busy road

WINSTON-SALEM - The trip to Lowes  or Home Depot  can wait. Trust us.

City workers are scheduled to close one lane on Stratford Road near Hanes Mall Boulevard today through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the most maddening, heavily traveled  and for our money, poorly planned  stretches of local roadway will become that much more frustrating.

Its temporary and necessary, however. Crews will be cleaning and inspecting the local wastewater system  routine, scheduled maintenance.

Personally, we much prefer an additional 10 minutes in traffic for a Costco run to, say, underperforming sewers.
A phantom menace

In the Monday pro-con forum, "Battle of the Books," Bethany Mandel, in advocating for the parental-rights group Moms for Liberty, pushes back hard against progressives who believe their job, if not duty, is to expose American public school students as young as kindergarten to 'diverse' content on sexuality, gender and race. A line has been drawn: On one side are minority religious parents and conservative activists. On the other side are LGBTQ+ activists in power in the state and county.

I have never seen a group of elementary school children massacred beyond recognition by the teaching of evolution, gender diversity, critical race theory, sex education or the genocidal history of the founding of this country.

When Ms. Mandel and Moms for Liberty address the very real and current danger of mass killings in schools by advocating for real gun control, I will start listening to (your words, Ms. Mandel) minority religious parents and conservative activists.

Gary Bolick

Clemmons

Putin's Congress?

What better way for President Putin to stop the United States from funding the Ukraine War than to have his congressional friends do it for him?

You know who they are. The best way to ensure that is to have Donald Trump become the next speaker of the House. That would ensure no Ukraine funding.

Of course, the Donald instead could promote an acolyte congressman to do it. Care to guess who he is?

Robert L Mayville

Winston-Salem

Hopeful opinions

Reading Thursdays Opinion page in the Journal (Oct. 6) gave me hope  hope to see Cal Thomas, a conservative writer, speak truth in his column Why Donald J. Trump is not a great man."

Dana Milbank and S.E. Cupp also had articles addressing the dysfunction of the GOP, which we all witnessed if you watched the news last week.

Then came Fridays Opinion page (Oct. 6), reiterating the chaos and dysfunction of the GOP. But I believe the best articles were written by two locals in their letters to the editor.

Thank you to the author of excellent letter Woke vs. broke." I turned my back on the Republican Party long before Trump, as I saw many of the things that this letter addressed already happening.

Thank you as well to the author of the excellent letter "Our kids are dying," as you continue to address our gun-violence epidemic. The GOP's worship of guns over childrens lives blows my mind. As a nurse I have seen what guns can do to bodies.

Thank God I, too, am "woke," and have hope that enough woke, reasonable, thinking people will vote to save our country from the insanity of todays GOP. If the cult of the god Trump continues, democracy is in danger and with it, any chance to be the country we had been until Republicans lost their minds.

Glenda Wilkinson

Winston-Salem

Yup, Joe is old

I got a real kick out of the letter in last Fridays paper, "Biden is old" (Oct. 6).

The one thing the writer got right was that Joe Biden is old.

Now, there is nothing wrong in being old because I am 87 myself. And my wife reminds me that I am an old man. The problem with Joe is that he is acting years beyond his actual age, and here he is, president of the United States.

To have him removed from office is no answer because the next person in line would be just as bad or maybe worse. The way I see it is we have to hold things together until the next election, get Donald Trump back in office and hopefully things will straighten it out.

Jim Sprague

Gibsonville
Good news for Nebraska customers of Black Hills Energy: Natural gas prices are forecast to be much lower this winter.

The company said in a news release Monday that national spot prices in September averaged $2.55 per million British thermal units, nearly four times lower than at the same time last year.

Historic production and above-average storage have provided a stable market to power this winters heating and electric generation needs, Quintin Gaddis, Black Hills Energy's general manager of Nebraska operations, said in a news release.

Gaddis said natural gas production is up 2.5% from this time last year, while gas in storage is 16% higher than last year and 7% higher than the five-year average.

He said natural gas prices are forecast to be in a range of $3-$6 per million btu over the winter months, which means bills will likely be much lower than they were last winter, although that is dependent to some degree on what the weather does.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's three-month forecast for November, December and January has Nebraska in an area with an equal chance of below-normal or above-normal temperatures.

Black Hills has seen strong demand for its annual price option, although not as strong as last year.

Black Hills spokeswoman Brandy Johnson said that as of Monday morning, slightly more than 12,000 people had signed up for the program that locks in a predetermined price starting Nov. 1. That's about 86% of the 14,000-customer capacity. Monday at the end of the day was the deadline to sign up. Last year, more than 13,500 people signed up.

The lock-in price this year is 64 cents per therm, down from 88 cents last year. A therm is about 100,000 btus.

Photos: Record cold in Lincoln Frost Frigid Temperatures, 2.16 Frigid Temperatures, 2.16 Cold weather Frigid Temperatures, 2.16 Frigid Temperatures, 2.16 Frigid Temperatures, 2.16 Frigid Temperatures, 2.16 Top Journal Star photos for February Holmes Lake Feature, 2.9
A 40-year-old Nigerian national has been extradited to face a federal indictment in Nebraska in an elaborate scheme targeting business executives' email addresses to get wire transfers and preying on others by masquerading as love interests.

Alex Ogunshakin, who was on the FBI Cybers Most Wanted List, was arrested in Nigeria and ultimately surrendered to the United States.

At an initial appearance in federal court in Omaha on Sept. 29. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered him to remain detained pending trial.

In 2020, the U.S. Attorney's Office alleged that Ogunshakin and five other Nigerians (Richard Uzuh, Adewale Aniyeloye, Felix Okpoh, Abiola Kayode and Nnamdi Benson) defrauded Nebraska businesses and businesses elsewhere in the country of more than $6 million.

Ogunshakin is the first to be caught and go to court in the case.

According to indictments, between 2015 and Sept. 26, 2016, Uzuh and Aniyeloye allegedly spoofed email addresses, posing as real CEOs or other business executives, to direct employees to make wire transfers from business accounts.

Two unnamed companies in Nebraska together lost more than $530,000 before realizing it was a scam, prosecutors say.

In the documents, prosecutors allege Uzuh often would target more than 100 businesses in a day and got at least $6.3 million from American businesses that way.

In another scam, Michael Olorunyomi and his co-conspirators are alleged to have made off with more than $1 million by creating fictitious profiles on dating websites and posing as someone looking for love.

Prosecutors say Olorunyomi developed online relationships with victims to either get money directly from them or use their bank accounts to funnel money that he'd gotten fraudulently.

Between just two Nebraska victims, Olorunyomi allegedly got $480,000 by pretending to be a love interest who needed help with a legitimate financial transaction.

Along with the six still sought, three others charged in the plot  Aniyeloye, Pelumi Fawehinmi and Onome Ijomone  already have entered guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Omaha and have been sentenced. Aniyeloye received eight years in federal prison for wire fraud; Fawehinmi got six years for conspiracy; and Ijomone got five years for conspiracy.

Each of the Nigerian men also was ordered to pay restitution ranging from $508,934 to $1.57 million.

The scammers are accused of impersonating business executives to request wire transfers from legitimate business accounts and stealing money from innocent Americans by masquerading as affectionate partners to gain trust from their victims.

Officials say the six manipulated their victims in order to gain access to usernames, passwords and bank accounts and used social media and email to carry out the scams.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said Ogunshakin's indictment, arrest, and extradition should send a message to his co-conspirators and other cyber criminals.

"The FBI will remain vigilant in their pursuit of criminals both domestic and abroad. Disrupting these cyber criminal groups and their victimization of U.S. persons and businesses is a priority for the FBI, DOJ and our international law enforcement partners," Kowel said.

Photos: FBI posters of suspects in Nigeria scam PosterBenson.jpg PosterKayode.jpg PosterOgunshakin.jpg PosterOkpoh.jpg PosterOlorunyomi.jpg PosterUzuh.jpg
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird on Tuesday outlined 13 priorities of her administration in the next four years, including addressing homelessness, mental health issues and youth substance abuse, and improving the well-being of senior citizens.

My administration will pursue these 13 priority pillars in partnership with the community to make Lincoln the safest and healthiest capital city in America, to grow the great life and to create an even more dynamic downtown, she said during her annual State of the City address.

She announced a $550,000 grant that will be used to accelerate the launch of a co-responder program that will allow Centerpointe outreach workers to respond with police to 911 calls involving mental health issues.

She advanced plans for a permanent supportive housing project announced in her last State of the City speech, saying it will be located on the southwest corner of Eighth and J streets, across the street from the County-City Building, with construction beginning within the next year.

The city has yet to decide who will run the housing project, which will combine 24 apartments with wraparound services to help unsheltered people get off the street and back on their feet.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department will develop a youth substance use prevention project, a collaborative effort to support youth mental health and reduce the risk of youth substance abuse, she said.

She said the city also will work to become an AARP Age Friendly Community, a designation designed to make the city a better place for seniors to live.

The annual address was part of a Leadership Lincoln event at the Graduate Hotel, 141 N. Ninth St.

Gaylor Baird, who was re-elected to a second term in May, touted the accomplishments during her first term and accolades her staff has received from professional organizations.

Many of those accomplishments  including creating an advisory committee that chose a location for a second water source and several affordable housing projects supported by the city  are priorities she plans to build on during her second term.

She mentioned the citys plan to build an all-inclusive playground  an initiative spearheaded by moms who have children with special needs, as well as the city's and countys new paid parental leave policy and a universal home visitation program for new parents.

To sum it up, we have a lot going on at the moment, she said and based on all we have accomplished together we are well-positioned to shape an even more luminous future for our community.

Among the other priorities for the coming years the mayor announced were a plan to build a new multimodal transit center where a County-City parking lot now sits with a $23 million grant the city received; and a new biogas facility to capture and turn methane gas from the landfill into a renewable energy source used for vehicle fuel.

Among her other priorities:

* Spending more than $98 million to rehab or build 80 lane miles of streets;

* Continuing work on the Water 2.0 project to build a second water source along the Missouri River;

* Creating or rehabilitating 2,000 affordable housing units;

* Reallocating some American Rescue Plan Act money to credential 40 community members with commercial drivers licenses.

She also said the city will continue work on a downtown music district, enhancing downtown corridors including O Street, and build the South Haymarket Park downtown. She announced a steering committee that will lead a $10 million fundraising campaign for the park, in conjunction with the Lincoln Parks Foundation.

My administration will pursue these priority pillars in partnership with our community to create Lincolns new golden era, she said. We likewise remain dedicated to delivering the fundamental city services that make Lincoln a great place to live, work and play.

Top Journal Star photos for October 2023
Eclipse glasses come back in style Saturday.

An annular solar eclipse known as the ring of fire will be visible in several western states Saturday.

Although Nebraskans wont be able to see the ring, they will be treated to a partial solar eclipse during the event, weather permitting.

The partial eclipse wont be as showy as the 2017 Great American Eclipse that plunged much of the state into darkness and brought the stars out at midday.

During the partial eclipse, the moon will take a bite out of the sun, a fairly big bite.

For Lincoln residents, the moon will cover about 60% of the sun.

Such coverage wont produce a noticeable difference in brightness, said Todd Young, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Fred G. Dale Planetarium at Wayne State College.

Thats just a testament to how bright the sun really is, Young said. But if someone is wearing proper solar glasses or looking at the sun with a proper solar filter, it will be dramatic.

Folks along the path through other states, however, will see the ring of fire effect.

During an annular eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth. Because the moon is far from Earth in its elliptical orbit, the moon appears too small to completely block the sun. So instead of total darkness, the moon appears as a dark disk surrounded by a bright ring.

The ring will be visible in the western United States on a path from Oregon to Texas.

In Lincoln, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:23 a.m. and end at 1:15 p.m.  a duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes.

The maximum eclipse will occur at 11:46 a.m.

Down around Haigler, in the far southwestern corner of the state, the sun will be about 73% obscured.

Nebraskans who want to see the ring will have to travel. The closest place to Nebraska would be in the vicinity of Santa Fe, Albuquerque or Roswell, New Mexico, about 700 miles away.

So you could go see the solar eclipse and then check out the aliens, Young said.

During an annular eclipse, the faint streams of light known as the suns corona are not visible. Those only appear during totality.

At no time is it safe to directly view this eclipse without certified eclipse glasses or a solar filter to protect your eyes.

Thats because there is no period of totality when the suns bright light is completely blocked.

Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, wont work.

Safe eclipse glasses should indicate they meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. However, during the last eclipse some knock-off glasses that didnt meet the standard were being sold.

The Prevent Blindness organization recommends purchasing glasses from a trusted source and checking the fit on children.

According to the organization, exposing your eyes to the sun without proper eye protection during a solar eclipse can cause eclipse blindness or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy.

This exposure to the light can cause damage or even destroy cells in the retina that transmit what you see to the brain, it says. This damage can be temporary or permanent and occurs with no pain. It can take a few hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse to realize the damage that has occurred.

NASA says if youre using eclipse glasses from 2017, make sure to check them for scratches and punctures. But dont check them by looking at the sun. Look at a bright light, instead, and discard damaged glasses.

If you dont have eclipse glasses, you can view the sun indirectly using a pinhole projector. Just poke a hole in an index card and hold it so that the image of the sun projects on a nearby surface. Do not look at the sun through the pinhole.

Overlapping tree leaves can also create natural pinholes that project the image of the eclipsed sun onto sidewalks and walls.

The annular eclipse is just a warm-up act for a big show next spring.

The headliner takes the stage April 8, when another total solar eclipse occurs over the United States.

The path of totality will run from Texas northeast through Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Maine.

Everything that happened to us in 2017 will happen for other people in the United States next year, April 8, he said.

During that eclipse, Nebraska will again see a partial eclipse. The maximum coverage will be about 80%.

Nebraskans will have to travel to see totality. The closest location to view totality would be anywhere on a line from running northeast from Little Rock, Arkansas, up through Carbondale, Illinois, and on to Indianapolis, Indiana.

People should consider traveling to see that one, because after 2024, Americans will have to catch an airplane or boat to see one, he said.

According to NASA, after the total solar eclipse on April 8, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

Young said that hotel reservations in the bigger cities for next springs eclipse are already hard to come by, and people may want to aim for smaller cities along the path of totality.

Eclipses, he said, are a window to the universe.

We get so used to the moon and sun being in the sky, but when they actually interact, it kind of brings it home that there is a universe out there doing its own thing. Every once in a while, they let us see it, and we need to take advantage of that.

Here are the 2023 full moons, including super moons and lunar eclipses August 1 - Full Sturgeon Supermoon 2:31 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time This moon honors when this large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, like Lake Champlain, where they are most readily caught. This is the second of four consecutive full moons of the year. Look for a slightly brighter and larger full moon in the sky. August 30 - The Blue Supermoon 9:35 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time The saying "once in a blue moon" means a rare occurrence in folklore. However, it predates the current use of the term, which indicates two full moons within a month. "The term Blue Moon is believed to have originated in 1883 after the eruption of Krakatoa. The volcano put so much dust in the atmosphere that the Moon actually looked blue in color. This was so unusual that the term 'once in a Blue Moon' was coined," according to David Williams of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. A blue moon occurs once every 2.5 years, on average. This will also be the third consecutive supermoon of four, and the biggest of them all. The moon will be 222,043 miles away from the Earth, besting the other supermoon from up to 4,000 miles. Still, there won't be a noticeable difference between the Blue Supermoon and the others September 29 - Full Harvest Supermoon 5:57 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time Traditionally, this name goes to the full moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox, which falls this year on Sept. 22. This year's Harvest Moon comes unusually early. At the peak of the harvest, farmers can work into the night by the light of this moon. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice  indigenous staples in North America  are now ready for gathering. This will be the last of the four consecutive supermoons of the year. October 28 - Full Hunter Blood Moon 5:57 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, this is the time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox and other animals. This will be the only full moon with a partial lunar eclipse visible to at least part of the United States. Those in New England, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C. eastern Virginia and eastern North Carolina will see part of the moon shaded brownish red that evening. You can find start and end times for the eclipse at your location using this link. November 27 - Full Beaver Moon 4:16 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time At this point of the year, it was time to set beaver traps before the swamps freeze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter. December 26 - Full Cold Moon 10:33 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time December is when the winter cold fastens its grip on the Northern Hemisphere. Sometimes this moon is referred to as the Long Nights Moon, and the nights are their longest. The moon is above the horizon a long time. On occasion, this moon was also called the Moon before Yule. This particular full moon makes its highest arc across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun. And on this very same night, another celestial object will also be opposite to the sun: Mars , which arrives at opposition 87 minutes after the moon turns full. Depending on your location, you will see Mars shining like a brilliant yellow-orange star, either hovering very close below the moon, or you will see the moon actually pass in front of Mars, producing an occultation. 2023 FULL MOONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED Jan. 6 - Full Wolf Moon 6:08 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time Amid the zero-degree cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside villages. It was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes this was the Full Snow Moon; most applied that name to the next moon. February 5 - Full Snow Moon 1:29 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time Depending on location, the heaviest snows fall in this month. Much of the Mid-Atlantic falls into this category, as well as the Mid-South. Hunting becomes very difficult during February. Hence, to some tribes, this was the Full Hunger Moon. March 7 - Full Worm Moon 7:40 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time In this month the ground softens and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of the robins. Some more northern tribes knew this as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter. It's also known as the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. April 6 - Full Pink Moon 12:34 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time The grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. In 2022, this is also the Paschal Full Moon; the first full moon after the spring equinox on March 20. The first Sunday following the Paschal Moon is Easter Sunday, which indeed will be observed the very next day on Sunday, April 17. May 5 - Full Flower Moon 1:34 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time The term full flower moon is derived from how Flowers are abundant everywhere by this time of year. This moon was also known as the Full Corn Planting Moon. June 3 - Full Strawberry Moon 11:42 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time Strawberry picking season peaks during this month; Europeans called this the Rose Moon. July 3 - Full Buck Supermoon 7:39 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time Named for when the new antlers of buck deer push out from their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, thunderstorms being now most frequent. This will be the first of four consecutive supermoons of the year. Expect a slightly larger and brighter full moon in the sky. Joe's 7-Day Forecast
A product made in Columbus  with a Lincoln connection  has been named the "Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska."

The All-Terrain Tracked Wheelchair by Rocket Mobility, which is based in Columbus, beat out the Ignis Firefighting System, made by Lincoln-based Drone Amplified.

The winner was announced Tuesday during the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce's Manufacturing Summit in La Vista.

While Rocket Mobility is now located in Columbus, the company was founded several years ago in Lincoln.

The All-Terrain Tracked Wheelchair beat out 15 other products from across the state in the second annual version of the "Coolest Thing" contest.

In total, the four rounds of voting to whittle down the initial 16 competitors to two finalists drew 50,000 votes.

This contest really puts the creativity, ingenuity, inventions, and entrepreneurship of Nebraska manufacturers on display, Mike Johnson, chief operating officer and executive vice president of manufacturing for the Nebraska Chamber, said in a news release.

In addition to recognizing the skilled Nebraskans driving the manufacturing industry today, our goal is to illuminate these high-tech, problem-solving careers to the next generation. We hope the products and manufacturers in this contest inspire the youth of Nebraska to check out careers in this field.

Last year, New York City Transit Authority's R211 Rail Car, built at Kawasaki's rail car plant in Lincoln, won the inaugural "Coolest Thing" contest.

Top Journal Star photos for October 2023
The fate of Nebraska's controversial law providing tax incentives for donors to scholarship funds for private and faith-based schools will be in the hands of voters next November.

The Secretary of State's Office announced Tuesday that county officials verified 91,861 signatures collected across a 90-day petition drive this summer  enough to place the "Opportunity Scholarships Act" on the November 2024 ballot.

A coalition of repeal advocates known as "Support Our Schools Nebraska" in August submitted 117,145 petition signatures to Secretary of State Bob Evnen's office. The group needed 61,308 signatures  including 5% of voters in 38 of Nebraskas 93 counties  to put the act (LB753) before voters next year.

The overwhelming success of this petition sends a clear message to the governor and state lawmakers: Nebraskans want to vote on the issue of diverting public tax dollars to pay for private schools, Jenni Benson, a sponsor of the coalition and the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said in a news release celebrating Tuesday's certification.

This was a decisive victory and the first step to ensure public funds are used to support public schools, not private schools," Benson said in the release.

Introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen, LB753 would allow individuals and entities to reduce their tax liability by making donations to scholarship funds that help students attend private schools across the state.

The total amount of tax credits available in each of the first two years will be $25 million, according to the provisions of the bill, with the cap set to increase to $100 million after  or about one-tenth the amount of money appropriated by the state for public school education annually.

Lawmakers passed the bill in a 33-11 vote in May.

Opponents of the law, which include teachers unions, school board leaders, education policy organizations, advocates of individuals with disabilities and others say the policy harms students, families and schools by diverting would-be public school funding to private and parochial schools that dont have to accept every student.

Linehan, who did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday, said in an August statement that the petition drive against her bill amounted to "efforts to take opportunity away from vulnerable kids, including kids from low-income families and kids trying to escape bullying."

Pillen said Tuesday that the law allows families a choice in identifying the best educational environment for their kids, adding "this is not about which one is better  public or private schools."

Polling conducted on behalf of OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based left-leaning think tank that poured more than $100,000 into the petition effort, indicates a majority of Nebraska voters oppose the law.

The phone survey shows 55% of Nebraska voters oppose LB753 and 47% strongly support repealing the law.

In his own statement in August, Pillen promised "the fight will not be over" even if the initiative were to make it onto the ballot, which has now happened.

The bout ahead figures to be a costly one.

Support Our Schools Nebraska had raised $1,743,633 as of Sept. 24, according to the coalition's latest campaign finance filing.

Meanwhile, Keep Kids First  the group of state senators, community leaders and business owners who led a campaign urging Nebraskans not to sign the petition to repeal LB753  had raised $1,448,037.

In a statement Tuesday, the group reprised claims that Support Our Schools organizers had mislead petition signees in their effort to see the law repealed.

"The teachers union was willing to say and do anything to take educational freedom away from Nebraska families, so it is no surprise they gathered enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot," the statement reads in part.

"Support Our Schools made a mockery of the signature petition process by consistently misleading and misinforming Nebraskans about the Opportunity Scholarships Act and the intent of their petition drive."

When signature gatherers submitted the petitions in late August, the Secretary of State's Office had recieved one complaint about Support Our Schools circulators, a spokeswoman for Evnen's office said.

Even as it heads to voters for a referendum, the law will take effect in January. The law's opponents, led by the State Education Association, needed about 122,000 signatures  approximately 10% of registered voters in the state  to suspend the law from going into effect until after the issue appears on the ballot.

But the law will head to the ballot next year after officials certified about 30,000 more signatures than Support Our Schools needed, including more than 5% of registered voters in 64 counties.

Officials could have certified more of the signatures submitted by the coalition, but the Secretary of State's Office instructs election commissioners and county clerks to stop verifying signatures once the statewide number of verified signatures reaches 110% of the number necessary to place an issue on the ballot.

With the signatures verified, Nebraska's Attorney General will now create the ballot language for the measure.

And state election staff will schedule three public hearings about the measure in the fall of 2024 and create informational pamphlets that will be available to voters at county election offices.

Photos: Last day of the 108th Nebraska Legislature
City computer records wiped clean, a data backup system disabled and 21 years of documents removed.

Those actions were taken by Denise Peterson, the city of Ponca clerk/treasurer/administrator, just prior to her dismissal on Feb. 1 by a new mayor, according to a State Auditors report released last week.

The auditors nine-page report suggested that Peterson, who worked for the northeast Nebraska community for 21 years, may have violated state laws prohibiting the destruction and misuse of city records.

In addition, the auditor raised questions about two instances in which Peterson was issued two paychecks for the same work periods, and the possible misuse of a city credit card.

Ponca city officials, in response to the audit, said that Peterson's actions were deliberate and premeditated to leave all the city cupboards bare and the city non-operational.

The city incurred excessive costs in an attempt to recreate and retrieve documents removed or destroyed by the clerk, city officials told the auditor.

State Auditor Mike Foley said that the erasure of important financial records by the departing clerk was very disturbing and beyond anything I have ever seen.

That act combined with what we do know about the obvious abuse of the citys credit cards begs for harsh penalties, Foley said.

According to the audit, Peterson:

* Disabled and wiped clean a data backup system, installed by the city, just before her dismissal.

* Deleted and erased all city administrator/clerk/treasurer email accounts, passwords and attachment documents that were generated over the past two decades, along with sanitizing her cellphone activity.

* Erased the contents of her municipal laptop computer, which held 18 to 20 gigabytes of city-related data, including public records and financial information. Attempts by the Dixon County Sheriffs Office and a computer forensics firm to recover the data were largely unsuccessful, the audit stated, adding that 579,000 artifacts (in the data) had been accessed, changed, or otherwise altered.

The city issued a letter to Peterson and her attorney demanding the return of city records, the audit stated, but a bag of items retrieved was of no value and mostly contained personal files concerning scrapbooking and quilting.

The audit indicated that Peterson was issued two paychecks, of about $1,400 each, for the same, two-week work period in both February 2021 and February 2022. One of the duplicate checks had vacation payout written on it.

The auditor doubted whether the check was really vacation related because the amount matched her paycheck, but said that records could not be located to determine why the duplicate checks were issued.

The audit also raised questions about 68 charges totaling nearly $3,800 made by Peterson using a city credit card for iced tea and other non-alcoholic beverages, and hiking boots and sneakers, between December 2020 and her dismissal.

The audit cited state law that says that unless such beverages are purchased for volunteers, first responders or a recognition dinner, the purchases were improper. Auditors also questioned whether the clothing and shoe purchases were for city purposes.

In addition, there were 144 other credit card transactions, totaling $10,674, that lacked proper supporting documents.

City of Ponca officials, in their official response to the audit, said that new rules have been passed concerning use of the city credit cards, and steps have been taken to back up city records.

A new clerk, city officials said, has been exceptional in helping adopt and administer new internal control policies.

Top Journal Star photos for October 2023
Bosley was a giant of a dog  a cross between a mastiff and a Rottweiler.

But he had a playful spirit, so it wasnt unusual that on a spring day in 2004 hed dash headlong into the sandpit lake near the Kappas family home, gulping water and chasing fish.

The only remarkable detail of the otherwise routine trip to Buccaneer Bay, recalled owner Tom Kappas, was the bright green color of the water.

Algae, he and his wife figured.

Within an hour, Bosley was dead.

And within days, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a scientist on an airplane, headed to Nebraska to investigate Bosleys death and that of another dog.

The scientist looked at the green yuck in the Cass County lake, Kappas recalled, and said, Oh, thats not supposed to be here.

Toxic cyanobacteria. One of natures most powerful poisons.

Commonly referred to as toxic algae or blue-green algae, the soupy mess was actually a bloom of aquatic bacteria.

Normally benign, cyanobacteria are common across the planet.

But under the right conditions  as was the case in Buccaneer Bay that summer and dozens of Nebraska lakes since  cyanobacteria can release potentially lethal poisons. It is a growing concern in water bodies worldwide.

Toxic cyanobacteria can sicken and kill animals and in rare cases be fatal to people. It can make drinking water more costly to purify and the safety of eating fish uncertain. Exposure can come from contact with the water or breathing airborne particles.

The 2004 incidents in Nebraska, along with similar ones in Iowa, Vermont and New York, were so jarring that the scientific community launched a new era of expanded testing and research in the United States, said Jennifer Graham, the research hydrologist who represents the U.S. Geological Survey on a federal task force focused on the issue.

Now 20 years later, scientists have some answers.

More information How do I find Nebraska test results? Testing occurs weekly from May through September. To see a list of lakes that are tested, the results and to sign up for an alert, visit NDEE Beach Watch https://deq-iis.ne.gov/zs/bw/. What should I do if a lake tests high? Avoid contact with the water, but especially keep pets and children out of the water. Be aware that skiing or tubing could expose you to airborne particles. If your pet goes into the water, wash them off as soon as possible so that they dont lick the toxins on their coats. What does an outbreak look like? Toxic cyanobacteria can be present without being obvious. However, a major outbreak is visually unappealing and can be smelly. A bloom of toxic algae usually forms a thick green scum on the surface of the water, similar to John Deere green paint in color and consistency. As the bloom ages and cells begin to die, the bloom can turn a light blue or even whitish in color. Because many public and private lakes arent monitored and because toxic cyanobacteria can be in one part of a lake, but not another, people are encouraged to learn the signs of an outbreak. Sources: Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and U.S. Geological Survey

They know that agricultural, urban and residential runoff is feeding the problem. They worry that human-caused climate change is supercharging it. But they have too few years of data to answer a basic question: Are outbreaks becoming more frequent?

That's really the question scientists are asking now: Is the increase real, or do we just have a heightened awareness of the problem? Graham said.

For some Nebraskans, especially those on the more intensely farmed eastern side of the state, the answer seems obvious: their lakes are changing and not for the better.

Neil Harrison, a 71-year-old lifelong Nebraska fisherman, no longer takes his dogs to lakes in the Norfolk area and fishes there far less often.

When I was younger, none of this was going on, he said. Its obvious that somethings changed.

Case in point: Willow Creek Lake, located northwest of Norfolk. For years it has been one of the states most affected lakes. Since 2005, some summers have seen 10-14 weeks of unhealthy levels  based on current health standards.

So far this year alerts have been issued for seven weeks.

We can't fish in our own neighborhood, Harrison said.

Determining whether outbreaks are on the rise is no small question, given the potential harm if waterways become routinely fouled by toxic cyanobacteria, said Jessica Corman, an associate professor and head of the aquatic ecology lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

On the one hand, we dont know enough to make strong statements about what is going to happen, Corman said. But on the other, we worry that once we do know enough, it will be too late. So the question is, What do you do?

Despite the political and economic hurdles, she said, the problem is easier to prevent than it is to clean up.

Toxic cyanobacteria thrive on warm, nutrient-rich water, especially the type of nutrients  phosphorus and nitrogen  that find their way from farm fields and urbanized areas into waterways.

Global warming may be playing a role, scientists say, not just through rising temperatures, but through heavier rains that amplify runoff, erosion and flooding.

There are a lot of things we do know, Corman said. We know how to modify flooding, we know how to modify how much fertilizer we put on our lawns and fields.  It's just whether we have the political, social or economic will to do it.

In addition to the two dog deaths in 2004, toxic cyanobacteria made dozens of Nebraskans sick that summer at Pawnee Lake. According to a report by state regulators and University of Nebraska researchers, swimmers and skiers reported skin rashes, blisters, vomiting, headaches and diarrhea after a weekend at the lake.

With toxic outbreaks occurring routinely in Nebraska lakes, the state continues to receive reports of suspected, though unconfirmed, illnesses.

The Nebraska Regional Poison Center typically receives between four and 15 calls a year from people who suspect they've been affected by toxic algae, according to spokeswoman Angie Pasho. The symptoms generally are upset stomach, diarrhea, flu-like illness, skin rashes and mouth blisters, she said. The center also receives calls about pets that have become sick.

The extent to which toxic cyanobacteria are making people ill is unknown because there is no mandatory reporting.

Allan Urlis of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the agency has initiated plans to better investigate potential illnesses. He encouraged people and medical providers to report suspected cases.

According to a recent federal study in which 16 states volunteered data, the CDC found that 117 people reported health effects from toxic cyanobacteria in 2021. Forty-eight dogs became ill and 18 died, according to the CDC. (Nebraska was not among the states providing data.)

Most Nebraska water bodies, including private lakes such as Buccaneer Bay and popular public reservoirs such as Omahas Zorinsky Lake, arent routinely tested.

In lakes that are tested, sampling may miss a problem. Blooms can move, appear and disappear quickly, or occur in one part of the lake but not another.

The state advises people to learn the signs of an outbreak.

Back in 2004, Nebraskas then Department of Environmental Quality acted quickly. Within two weeks, the state started testing lakes across Nebraska, issuing alerts when it detected harmful levels.

Even today, Nebraskas monitoring efforts remain ahead of a number of states. Some states dont proactively test, while others proactively test far fewer lakes.

Together with federal and local partners, NDEE tests about 50 public recreational lakes every week from May through September. (The state has more than 450 public lakes and ponds.) Over the years, it has tested more than 70 lakes and, at one point or another, at least 44 have tested above the level that is considered unhealthy. Water samples are tested for microcystin, the toxin released by cyanobacteria.

The outbreaks dont appear to follow a pattern; some lakes that tested high years ago have improved, while others have recently developed harmful levels. About a dozen appear to be chronically impacted, including Iron Horse Trail, Kirkmans Cove, Pawnee, Rockford, Swan Creek 5A and Willow Creek.

Renovations can help, as was the case years ago at Carter Lake in Omaha and at Fremont State Recreation Area, according to NDEE. But because lake ecologies vary, theres no one-size-fits-all solution.

Instead, legislative action tackling ag and urban runoff is critical to reducing outbreaks, experts say.

Most of Nebraskas affected lakes are in agricultural areas. And for now, voluntary measures, largely funded through taxpayer-subsidized incentives, are the main tool for reducing ag runoff.

And that can prove a long slog.

At Norfolks Willow Creek, local, state and federal researchers concluded about 10 years ago that upstream runoff was the likely source of pollutants feeding the bacteria. The majority of the watershed that feeds Willow Creek is agricultural.

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District pushed toward a solution, but grant funding only became available in the last couple of years, said Curt Becker, projects manager. That money allowed the NRD to assign a staff member to work with farmers and fund practices that lessen nutrient runoff.

Weve had some luck and were hoping to build on that, Becker said. Building those relationships is probably the key to getting the practices implemented. This is probably a long-term solution  its not something that is going to happen overnight.

Farmers welcome the financial help provided by incentives but generally oppose mandates.

I dont think the hammer works as well as the carrot, said State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, a farmer who serves on the Natural Resources Committee. Farming is expensive, he said, so the financial help is needed, and mandates would be difficult to enforce.

Many farmers are great stewards of the land, Brandt said. When they take care of the land, the land takes care of them.

Some in the farming community believe more needs to be done.

Fifth-generation farmer Graham Christensen in northeast Nebraska said legislative safeguards are needed to protect public health and hold industrial agriculture operations to higher standards.

Those safeguards need to be accompanied by resources  information and incentives  that enable farmers to adopt proven solutions, he said.

In places like Nebraska, the first step is acknowledging you have a problem, and our government hasnt even gotten to that yet, he said.

Anthony Schutz, a professor of agricultural law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said that while the issue is politically difficult, there are actions Nebraska could take.

Iowa, for example, has real-time, in-stream monitoring. Minnesota requires grassy strips along streams to protect them from runoff.

Lincoln resident and boater David Peters is among those who want Nebraska lawmakers to get tougher on runoff.

Millions of tax dollars have been invested in building reservoirs across Nebraska, he points out, and its become increasingly difficult to enjoy them.

We need to  demand that our leaders at the state and local level put the quality of life interests of 2 million Nebraskans above the property rights of a handful of landowners.

Nebraska is lucky when it comes to drinking water. Most of the state draws its drinking water from aquifers, which so far have proven immune to toxic cyanobacteria.

Only 60 miles east of the states border, the town of Maryville, Missouri, has proposed spending millions of dollars on a new water treatment plant because toxic cyanobacteria has contaminated the reservoir it relies on.

Its not all about ag.

Problems at sandpit lakes are most often related to lakeshore conditions  homeowners who use fertilizer on lawns, outdated septic tanks or an abundance of waterfowl waste, according to the state.

Thats not news to Kappas. Outbreaks have become an annual occurrence at Buccaneer Bay, he said. Kappas said he has tried in vain to persuade his neighbors to forgo their sandy beaches and green lawns.

Nobody listens to me  they must think Im some kind of a quack, he said. Everyone wants to have a green yard. Well, OK fine, then you are going to suffer the consequences.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Top Journal Star photos for September 2023
UNION GROVE  A battle over $1 million in funding for flood control has landed in court, with the Village of Union Grove challenging whether it must pay for Root River improvements.

The village has filed a civil lawsuit in Racine County Circuit Court disputing an independent agencys authority to assess Union Grove for a share of the cost to maintain the river channel.

The Racine County Board of Drainage Commissioners is firing back that state law authorizes the assessment, adding that Union Grove benefits from the Root Rivers flood-prevention capacity.

The dispute pending before Racine County Circuit Judge Mark Nielsen could affect how flood-control projects are funded elsewhere in Wisconsin.

No hearing date been set yet.

Union Grove sits outside the county drainage district, but the village discharges its wastewater into the Root River and contributes to the need for maintenance work on the channel.

At stake is an assessment of $1.16 million that Union Grove says would force the village to either increase property taxes or cut services elsewhere in its $11.7 million annual budget.

Three taxpayers are named as co-plaintiffs alongside the village, telling the court that they are harmed by the county drainage districts assessment. The taxpayers are Scott Katterhagen, Christopher Poeschel and Elizabeth Wentworth.

They will be subject to higher property taxes or a reduced level of services from Union Grove, or both, the suit states.

The suit seeks an injunction blocking the assessment, as well as a ruling that the state law authorizing the assessment is unconstitutional, a finding that the assessment process was invalid, and attorney fees.

Union Grove requests a decision before the end of 2023, when village officials must pass a new budget for 2024. Unless the assessment is blocked, the village must budget $232,960 as the first of five annual installments on the $1.16 million.

The Racine County Board of Drainage Commissioners, a self-governing agency that is not part of the county government, collects funding from municipalities to maintain waterways and prevent flooding, under state laws dating back to the early 1900s.

The west branch of the Root River flows north from Union Grove into Yorkville and Raymond, including Union Grove wastewater discharge and storm water runoff. The drainage district covers 4,800 acres that includes Yorkville and Raymond, but not Union Grove.

Union Grove has contributed $10,000 to $20,000 a year to the drainage district. But now the agency wants $3.2 million for a significant dredging effort. Union Grove and Yorkville each must pay $1.16 million, and Raymond must pay about $800,000.

Union Grove appealed to the Wisconsin State Drainage Engineer to block the funding request, but state officials found that the county drainage district was within its rights.

In its lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 30, Union Grove challenges the constitutionality of a state law allowing the drainage district to assess fees outside its own geographic boundaries. The suit also says Union Grove has not contributed to the drainage districts need for funding, and that the village would not benefit from the Root River dredging project.

Property taxes raised in Union Grove should be used in Union Grove to provide services for Union Grove residents and property owners, the suit states.

In its response, the drainage district says Union Grove has contributed to the Root Rivers current condition, and should be expected to pay its share of the dredging and maintenance costs.

Denying that its $1 million assessment would harm Union Grove or its taxpayers, the district also says its funding formula must be afforded a presumption of correctness and validity.

Union Grove, it concludes, failed to introduce at the assessment hearing evidence that tends to establish a different allocation of costs.

10 states where river flooding will cost US homeowners the most 10 states where river flooding will cost US homeowners the most States Where Riverine Flooding Costs Homeowners the Most Flooding Risks and Homeowners Insurance Protecting Your Home and Belongings from Flooding
1. Yes. If KHA cant continue to run it, the city should step in. Its a necessary asset to the area.

2. Yes. The city already uses it as a warming and cooling center. It would be a smart move.

3. No. It may be in the citys interest to help subsidize insurance for the center, but nothing more.

4. No. The city doesnt need the added burden of staffing and insuring the center. Its a bad idea.

5. Unsure. It may be seem like a good idea, but other options should be explored as well.

Vote

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, North Americas premier outdoor retail and conservation company, is looking to hire thousands of seasonal, part-time and full-time outfitters to serve customers during the holidays.

During a national hiring event on Thursday and Friday, Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops retail locations across the U.S. and Canada will conduct on-site interviews for local retail, distribution, contact center and hospitality positions from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friendly individuals who want to share their passion of the outdoors are strongly encouraged to apply in advance by visiting basspro.com/careers. Walk-ins are also welcome. Applicants for most available positions must be at least 18 years old. Some food service industry positions may be open to those 16 years of age or older.

Team benefits for outfitters include:

 Merchandise discounts up to 50% off;

 Competitive wages, holiday and vacation pay;

 Health, dental and life insurance programs for eligible team members.

Bass Pro Shops has been named by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for three consecutive years (2021, 2022 and 2023). And, for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023), Newsweek named Bass Pro Shops as one of America's Best Retailers, ranking No. 1 in the camping and outdoor gear category. Bass Pro Shops is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.
By Mark Boesch

Restaurateurs Kim Tae Eung and Darrell Mahoney are on a mission to make Thai food for everyone.

In 2005, the duo opened Buddhas Belly, a boutique Thai takeout restaurant located just outside an underpass in Itaewons Gyeongnidan neighborhood. They offered a limited but enticing lineup of Thai classics at their cozy little restaurant. The food was fast, affordable and always tasty. It was an instant success with expats and Koreans alike, and the first in Itaewon to offer Thai takeout.

A few years later, and in need of more space, Buddhas Belly relocated to the Itaewon Station area, just behind the Hamilton Hotel where they operated for several years en route to their forever home on the hill overlooking Noksapyeong Station. Following a series of renovations, they now boast a stunning two-story restaurant complete with an adjoining patio area offering picturesque views of Itaewon's western end. The restaurant has appeared in several Korean dramas, including 2021's "Melancholia" and 2020's "Itaewon Class."

Buddhas Belly serves whats known as "Bangkok-style" Thai food  that is, the dishes and flavors most commonly associated with the cuisine of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Bangkok-style Thai cuisine is meant to appeal to most palettes and is known for its vibrant and diverse flavors, which reflect the mingling of influences and ingredients from around the country. Their take on Bangkok-style food emphasizes the balance of the sweet, salty, spicy and sour flavors that are the hallmarks of Thai cuisine.

The menu is replete with appetizers, soups, salads, Thai curries and mains with your choice of meat or seafood, along with an assortment of rice and noodle dishes, and a lineup of tasty vegetable and tofu dishes for vegetarians. There are so many tasty options, but here are a few recommendations to get you started.

From the salad menu, Som Tam is a spicy green papaya salad, and the quintessential representation of Isan-style cuisine, hailing from the northeastern region of Thailand. Its one of numerous Isan-style dishes on the menu. It is a perfect harmony of flavors  the crisp and crunchy papaya offers a refreshing foundation, while the robust seasoning blend imparts a burst of zesty and savory flavors.

One of their signature dishes, a best seller and the overwhelming favorite of their Korean customers, is the Poo Nim Pad Pong Garee, a crispy stir-fried soft shell crab with yellow curry and egg served with steamed rice. It has an irresistible blend of crispy and creamy textures, which is simply irresistible when coupled with the bold flavors of Thai curry. Its a favorite for seafood lovers.

True to their takeout roots, the Pad Thai, a beloved Thai street food classic, is still a house specialty and best seller. The secret is in their homemade sauce with a unique combination of irresistible flavors and textures. Their take on Pad Thai is a delectable fusion of tastes with a delightful mix of tender noodles, crunchy peanuts, fresh sprouts and your choice of protein. It never fails to please.

Buddhas Belly is growing! They opened a location south of the river at Sinsegae Department Store Gangnam in Banpo-dong. They also operate Bangkok Trading Company, a takeout and delivery-focused Thai food concept near Samgakji Station. It sounds like plans are also in the works for a new restaurant in a central Seoul business district coming soon.

Buddhas Belly is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with a break time from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you're in the Yongsan area, you can skip the queue, pay online and place a delivery or pickup orders using the Shuttle app or at shuttledelivery.co.kr.

Mark Boesch is co-founder and chief marketing officer of Shuttle Delivery.
The Coon Valley Village Board will dedicate the Sandy Rundahl Memorial Walking Path, Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m.

The dedication will be held off Park Street by the walking path.

Rundahl, who died Nov. 25, 2019 at age 66, was employed by the village from 1995 to 2011.

Renita Williamson, village clerk-treasurer, said Rundahl performed many tasks while employed by the village from cleaning the village hall to plowing snow to freshening up flowerbeds in the park.

Williamson said Rundahl was instrumental in securing grant funding by working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the walking path, bridges and gazebo in Veterans Memorial Park.

The walking path wouldnt be if not for her, she said.

Williamson said Rundahl was really good with plantings in the park. She had plantings destroyed by the flood. She added her house on the ridge above the village also had beautiful plantings.

A plaque recognizing Rundahl will be attached to a granite boulder at the start of the walking path.
The trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul. Created in 1944 by business and community leader Otto Bremer, it is committed to supporting a better quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Since its founding, the trust has invested more than $1 billion in people, places and opportunities in the region.
Jared Ripp had been bracing himself for the worst.

Only the worst may not rear its head once he starts harvesting his 1,800 acres of corn in northern Dane County.

A prolonged drought this past summer had plants and farmers hoping for more rain. And while the storms were few and far between, there may have been just enough moisture, combined with hardier strains of grain and his rich soil, to salvage a crop that in early July looked bleak at best.

Were pretty happy for what it was looking like, said Ripp, a third-generation dairy farmer. The stalk was shorter than normal, but the grain really filled out. I dont think we lost a lot of yield. But well know more when we get out there.

While some farmers around the state have just begun to harvest their corn crops, most, including Ripp, will likely ramp up their corn harvest next week.

State farmers in 2022 planted about 3.9 million acres of corn. Most was harvested for grain, but 880,000 acres was chopped into silage. The silage number is likely to increase somewhat this year due to the drought, but Joe Lauer, who studies corn and silage production at UW-Madisons College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, says the average corn yield likely will vary greatly depending on region.

Some soils that are real light, like sandy soils, they were hammered pretty hard and there will probably be no yield at all on those kinds of fields, Lauer said. But in fields that have soils that are deeper, were picking up actually fairly good yields. Theres potential out there, but its going to be quite variable. I think growers might be surprised somewhat given how bad the drought was in certain areas. I think in a week or two well know a lot more.

According to Tuesdays report from the Wisconsin Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 11% of fields were very short on topsoil moisture, 31% were short, 57% adequate while 1% had a moisture surplus. Nearly 76% of the corn crop was mature, but only 9% had been harvested compared with the silage, which was 83% harvested.

Two percent of the corn crop was rated very poor, 14% was poor, 33% fair, 38% good and 13% excellent.

Statewide, the average yield in 2022 was 180 bushels per acre, but the drought will likely negatively alter that number, Lauer said.

Whenever you have stress, it goes out the window in how the plants are going to respond, he said. These plants can handle that stress pretty well, but we really dont know yet.

Ripp, who had the top corn yield in the state last year at 322 bushels per acre, expects yields for most farmers in his area to be down 20 to 30 bushels per acre to 220 to 230 bushels per acre. Technology also is helping farmers better deal with drought. It can include systems that analyze soil and can help determine how much seed to plant per acre and how much and what type of fertilizer to use on specific pieces of farmland.

Ripp knows well his farm in the town of Dane, north of Waunakee. He grew up on the property, which was established as a farm by his grandfather.

Weve got pretty darn good black dirt, he said. Weve got a lot of good corn out there.

Soybean harvest

Meanwhile, the soybean harvest is well underway across the state, with 49% of the crop rated good to excellent, according to the USDA report.

In 2022, farmers in Wisconsin planted 2.2 million acres of soybeans and harvested 116 million bushels, for an average yield of 54 bushels per acre.

Shawn Conley, who studies soybeans at UW-Madison, said three weeks ago he thought this years harvest per acre would be lower than that of 2022, but he now believes it could come in at or even higher than that of a year ago, based on early reports. High moisture contents early in the spring provided a good start for the crop and helped sustain soybeans through a summer stretch during which some areas only received an inch of rain or less over a five-week period.

Everyone Ive spoken to is pretty darn happy, Conley said. We got established and basically that soybean tap root just followed that water down as it either evaporated or was used. We were able to keep tapping into water the entire season even though we werent able to get much rainfall. It was crazy.

This story has been updated to include the most recent data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Photos: Sweet corn harvest at Stoneman Family Farms
There should be no effort to impeach a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice based on what is known now, a former justice advised the Republican legislative leader who asked him to review the issue.

Some Republicans had raised the prospect of impeaching newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she did not recuse from a redistricting lawsuit seeking to toss GOP-drawn legislative district boundary maps. On Friday, she declined to recuse herself, and the court voted 4-3 along partisan lines to hear the redistricting challenge.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos had asked three former justices to review the possibility of impeachment. One of those three, David Prosser, sent Vos an email on Friday, seemingly just before Protasiewicz declined to recuse, advising against moving forward with impeachment. That was after a state judiciary disciplinary panel rejected several complaints lodged against Protasiewicz that alleged she violated the judicial code of ethics with comments she made during the campaign.

Prosser turned the email over to the liberal watchdog group American Oversight as part of an open records request.

To sum up my views, there should be no effort to impeach Justice Protasiewicz on anything we know now, Prosser wrote to Vos. Impeachment is so serious, severe, and rare that it should not be considered unless the subject has committed a crime, or the subject has committed indisputable corrupt conduct while in office.

Vos on Monday made his first comments about Protasiewicz since she declined to recuse from the case and Vos got the email from Prosser. In his statement, Vos did not mention impeachment. He did not return text messages Monday or early Tuesday seeking further comment.

Vos raised the threat of impeachment because he argued that Protasiewicz had prejudged the redistricting case when during her campaign she called the current maps rigged and unfair. Vos also said that her acceptance of nearly $10 million from the Wisconsin Democratic Party would unduly influence her ruling.

Protasiewicz on Friday rejected those arguments, noting that other justices have accepted campaign cash and not recused from cases. She also noted that she never promised or pledged to rule on the redistricting lawsuit in any way.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday filed a motion to intervene in the redistricting case.

Other justices, both conservative and liberal, have spoken out in the past on issues that could come before the court, although not always during their runs for office like Protasiewicz did. Current justices have also accepted campaign cash from political parties and others with an interest in court cases and havent recused themselves. But none of them have faced threats of impeachment.

In my view, corrupt conduct is not a term that is open to a mere political grievance, Prosser wrote. If that were the case, legislative bodies could be trading questionable impeachments with considerable frequency.

Prosser cautioned that using impeachment to delay or affect the outcome of any single case will be viewed as unreasonable partisan politics.

Prosser, a former Republican Assembly speaker, was the only one of the former justices who came forward to say they were on the panel created by Vos. But the records he turned over to American Oversight show that he was also apparently working with former Chief Justice Patience Roggensack on looking at impeachment.

The group has filed a lawsuit alleging that the panel Vos created is breaking the state open meetings law.

Justice Prossers opinion letter demonstrates why Speaker Vos secret panel needs to operate in public, said Heather Sawyer, American Oversights executive director, in a statement.

We still dont know everyone involved or what other work has been done, and will keep pressing to ensure that the people of Wisconsin have full transparency and accountability regarding the Speakers impeachment plans.

Text messages from Roggensack to Prosser on Sept. 14 show her asking if Prosser is free for a meeting. Prosser also released a voicemail from Roggensack left that same day referring to the text and asking to speak with him on a matter that I thought we were going to look at together.

Prosser, speaking during a Sept. 29 hearing on American Oversights lawsuit, denied the panel was a governmental body subject to the states open meetings law.

In a voicemail he released from Roggensack from Oct. 2, Roggensack says she wants to talk with him about why we, whatever we are, are not a governmental body.

The seven other living former state Supreme Court justices have all been ruled out as members of the panel, which makes the identity of the third panelist a mystery.

Vos has said former Justice Michael Gableman isnt on the panel. Former justices Dan Kelly, Janine Geske, Jon Wilcox, Louis Ceci, Louis Butler and Diane Sykes have either said they are not on the panel or were not asked by Vos to participate.

Vos has refused to name the members of the panel, which he created on Sept. 13. Speaking at the Sept. 29 hearing on American Oversights lawsuit, Prosser refused to name the panels other members.

State Journal reporter Mitchell Schmidt contributed to this report.

Election advantages due to district mapping
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The University of Wisconsin System plans to change its name to The Universities of Wisconsin by early next year, system President Jay Rothman announced Tuesday.

Rothman made the announcement at UW-Eau Claire. He said in a statement that the change is designed to draw attention to the system's 13 four-year universities as they struggle with declining enrollment.

Our new identity aims to broaden awareness of our universities across the state, Rothman said. We believe the Universities of Wisconsin identity is more relatable for students, families and employers.

The system will transition to the new name over the next few months with a new logo, new letterhead and new websites, Rothman said. The change will be finalized in early 2024.

The universities' collective legal name will, however, remain the University of Wisconsin System, Rothman said. System spokesperson Mark Pitsch explained via email that the legal name will remain unchanged because the universities are collectively referred to as the UW System in state law, which can only be changed by legislators.

Overall enrollment dipped for eight straight years in the UW System, before growing slightly overall this year. Enrollment still dropped at eight campuses in 2023, though.

The shortage of tuition dollars coupled with a lack of state aid from Republican legislators has created financial stress across the system. GOP lawmakers cut the system by $32 million in the latest state budget, the amount the party believes the system spends on diversity efforts.

Ten of the 13 campuses expect to face a combined $60 million deficit by next summer. UW-Oshkosh officials in August announced layoffs and furloughs to help shrink their $18 million shortfall.

Last week the system announced that 10 campuses are launching a direct admissions program. Campuses will review the grades of high school students who opt into the program and send acceptance letters to qualified students, eliminating the need to apply.
No More Funding Two NATO Wars! Biden and Neo-Cons Add Another

Oct. 9, 2023, (EIRNS)With the outbreak of Israel-Palestinian war which could spread farther in Southwest Asia, the Biden Administration and neo-cons in both Congressional parties have gone from mere consternation over Congressional inaction, to near hysteria to throw more tens of billions of dollars in U.S. weapons and financial aid into NATO wars against Russia, and implicitly against China and Iran.

Immediate requests for new weapons transfers to and funds for Israels military forces, are being added to the $24 billion weapons and aid for Ukraine which was denied in the Sept. 30 45-day continuing budget resolution in Congress. The USS Gerald R. Fords carrier task force and a considerable number of supporting warships have already, instantly, been sent to the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition, the Washington Post reported Sunday night, Oct. 8, that

Beyond the Iron Dome missiles, Israeli officials have made several specific requests to Washington in response to the military offensive by Hamas, including small diameter bombs, ammunition for machine guns and heightened cooperation on intelligence-sharing, according to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations. Some of Israels military requests, including those for small diameter bombs, were being processed and expedited, said one official.

House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Sunday talk shows demanded the House immediately produce a new Speaker to avoid being shamed as cowards before the ayatollahs of Iran. McCaul is one of those concocting a resolution supposedly to undo the Oct. 2 removal of Kevin McCarthy and make him Speaker again immediately. McCarthy, in a Sunday morning interview on the Hugh Hewitt program, completely reversed his statements of last week and said he was ready to reassume the Speakers chair (whatever the caucus wants); and that if he were Speaker now, he would be rallying aid to defend Israel by giving aid from the United States and its allies. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Fox News Sunday insisted on giving Israel what it needs to win; Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) had expressed the same view via social media on Oct. 7.

These statements posed an unanswered question: How can the United States defend Israel when the government of Israel does not defend it?

At the same time, according to Antiwar.com, Senators including Lindsey Graham (R-NC) propose upping the Ukraine demand to $70 billion in new spending for 2024 alone. The Biden Administration is reported (by Londons Telegraph to be considering going beyond that, demanding $100 billion in new Ukraine aid, to take the funding of NATO war operations against Russia right through the 2024 elections.

All these new war funds would be borrowed through the currently extremely volatile U.S. Treasury securities market.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2023

Stand Up for Humanity: No World War with Russia/China; No Money for Arms to Ukraine

Oct. 9, 2023, (EIRNS)There are two reactions internationally to the terrible events of last weekend in Israel/Gaza, now worsening by the minute. There are those trying to exploit it out of geopolitical, evil intent, and there are those calling for ceasefire, calm, and for addressing and solving the factors that led to such a horror. Out of respect for the terrible personal anguish immediately involved, there is no other vantage point from which to view the crisis, except from the highest level, in order to take action to end it.

On the geopolitical side are many fateful moves. The U.S. has sent into the Eastern Mediterranean, as a show of force and readiness for attack, a battle group led by the worlds largest aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered munitions and supplies to Israel to support maximum revenge action. The European Union today suspended all life-maintaining humanitarian aid for Gaza. The European Commission acted without even consulting its 27 member nations. They will meet in emergency session Tuesday, Oct. 10. The EU suspended its aid, at the same time that Israel has imposed a complete siege to cut off all electricity, water, food and other supplies to the 2.3 million people of Gaza.

Altogether, the death toll among Palestinians and Israelis, and other nationalities from Thailand to the U.S., is more than 2,000, with thousands injured, and no stopping in sight.

On the side of reason and compassion, there are calls for a ceasefire, for starting talks, and for dealing with the impacted misery in Gaza and Palestinian territories, and for establishing the two states of the peoples of Israel and Palestine. This was jointly reiterated today by the Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit and by Russian Foreign Secretary Sergey Lavrov, meeting in Moscow, who committed to stop the bloodshed. Lavrov spoke of working with those countries that are interested in establishing lasting peace in the Middle East. Gheit, a former Egyptian Foreign Minister, said, We demand the creation of political prospects and a fair resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

This same view has been stated as the policy by China, and repeated today in Beijing by President Xi Jinping when he met with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), leading a Congressional visit to China, who chastised China for not supporting Israel strongly enough.

Meantime, there is the ominous push to build the case that Iran is responsible for the Hamas attack, so therefore Iran deserves Western (NATO) assaulta trigger to global holocaust. The media info-warfare networks of NATO are working overtime to repeat the phrase, unprovoked attack by Hamas on Israel, in the same way that they charge Russia with an unprovoked attack on Ukraine in February 2022. In the U.S., from Fox News to CNN, supposedly opposite ends of the political spectrum, unprovoked is the word.

Today the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in Copenhagen, was addressed (by video) by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who likened Russia and Hamas as both terrorists, for their unprovoked attacks. He demanded that the U.S. overcome its internal political bickering, and come up with the money for arms and support for Ukraine.

These few updates underscore the critical call to action that the International Peace Coalition, the Schiller Institute, and collaborating networks and figures worldwide are sounding: Stop the warfare! Cut off the funding.

Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche said today:

I think that our approach, no matter what is the situation on the ground, you cannot look at any one of these situations individually alone. You have to look at Ukraine, NATO expansion since 1990; the Ukraine war, the danger of that leading to World War III in the short term. Now, we have, in addition to that, the situation in Southwest Asia. Other conflicts are looming, like the Taiwan issue with China, Global NATO. And then you have a lot of smaller conflicts which nevertheless are very severe for the people it attacked, like Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. And not even to start to talk about Haiti and Afghanistan, and all of these other terrible situations. So our approach must be, we absolutely have to catalyze this whole thing into a new paradigm, because only if you establish a new security and development architecture which takes into account the security interests and development interests of every country, can there be a peaceful resolution. And that has been our policy since the beginning of the Ukraine war, and I think that that just goes for the Southwest Asia situation as well.

By the time of the transmission of this Alert, the Schiller Institute will be posting an international statement, as a call to action. In Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, October 11, midday outside Congress, the LaRouche Organization will hold a rally, on the theme of, No Money to Ukraine, No World War III with Russia, China.

A Schiller Institute spokesman reported tonight, In the next hours and days, the Congress of the United States, the parliaments of Canada and Europe, the presidencies of Central and South America, and the governments of Asia and Africa must hear and see the people of the world stand up for humanity against world war with Russia/China, and the theater population wars that are part of that world war. We need to get on the phones and into the offices of public officials, we need to go into the streets and in front of governmental institutions, to say that war is not the answer; that imposing war upon the dispossessed and poor is a crime against humanity; that not one more dollar should be spent on weapons for Ukraine....
Many Americans joke about how bad they are at math. But, labor experts and others in the United States are not laughing. They say the nations ever-decreasing math skill threatens U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

Jim Stigler is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. He studies the process of teaching and learning subjects, including math. He said, The advances in technology that are going to drive where the world goes in the next 50 years are going to come from other countries, because they have the intellectual capital and we dont.

The Education Reporting Collaborative, a coalition of eight news agencies, is documenting the math crisis facing schools. Members of the Collaborative are AL.com, The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor, The Dallas Morning News, The Hechinger Report, Idaho Education News, The Post and Courier in South Carolina, and The Seattle Times.

The U.S. military has called for a major program to support education in science, technology, education, and math (STEM). It argues that the U.S. is dangerously behind other nations. The Defense Department says China produces eight times as many college graduates in these study fields as the United States. It says Russia produces four times as many engineers as the U.S.

Government labor experts say the number of jobs in areas requiring math skill will increase by more than 30,000 each year through the end of 2030. That is much faster than most other kinds of jobs.

Mathematics is becoming more and more a part of almost every career, said Michael Allen. He chairs the math department at Tennessee Technological University.

But most American students are not prepared for those jobs. In the most recent Program for International Student Assessment tests in math (PISA), U.S. students tested lower than students from 36 other education systems around the world. Students in China tested the highest.

Only one in five American high school students planning to attend college is prepared for college-level study in STEM, say experts at the National Science and Technology Council, a government group.

However, students from other countries are preparing to lead in these areas, reports the National Foundation for American Policy, a non-profit organization. It says only one in five graduate students in math-heavy fields at U.S. universities are American. The rest come from other countries. Most will leave the U.S. when they finish their programs.

In Massachusetts, employers are expecting a shortage over the next five years of 11,000 workers in the life sciences alone.

Its not a small problem, said Edward Lambert Jr. He is director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education. Were just not starting students, particularly students of color and from lower-resourced families, on career paths related to math and computer science and those things in which we need to stay competitive, or starting them early enough, he said.

This is not an educational question alone, said Josh Wyner, a vice president of the Aspen Institute, a think tank. In July, it warned that other nations are gaining near to Americas technological power.

It urged decision makers to make education an important national security goal. We are no longer keeping pace with other countries, particularly China, the Aspen report says, calling this a dangerous failure.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Jon Marcus reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted the story for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Americas Poor Math Skills Raise Concerns Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

advances  n. progress in the development or improvement of something

intellectual  adj. of or relating to the ability to think in a logical way

graduate  v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university

particularly  adv. more than usually

think tank  n. an organization that consists of a group of people who think of new ideas on a particular subject or who give advice about what should be done

pace  n. the speed at which something happens
Officials in France are worried about the spread of an insect called the bedbug as Paris prepares to hold the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne called a meeting of ministers to deal with the bedbug crisis. The countrys transportation minister, Cle ment Beaune, recently met with transportation companies to make a plan for monitoring and disinfecting.

Beaune also spoke about reducing worry caused by reports on social media. He told reporters there is no increase in bedbug cases. He added that 37 cases reported in the bus and Metro train system and many other reports from trains have proved false.

The National Agency for Health and Food Safety reported that 11 percent of households had a bedbug problem between 2017 and 2022. Because many people might not want to say in public that they have a bedbug problem, the agency used a poll by the company Ipsos to collect the information.

The insects are about the size of an apple seed. They neither jump nor fly. However, they have become more resistant to chemicals used to kill insects. And they can stay alive for up to a year with no food.

The carbon dioxide humans give off makes the insects become active and try to bite, explained Jean-Michel Berenger. He is a scientist who studies insects. He raises bedbugs in his laboratory in the infectious diseases division of the Mediterranee University Hospital in the city of Marseille.

For now, Berenger said, this much is clear: Bedbugs have infested the media.

Experts say it makes no difference if a home is clean or dirty. The insects simply want to bite people to get blood, explained Berenger.

Whether you live in a dump or a palace, its the same thing to them, he said.

Worry about bedbugs has increased business for insect control companies in France. They use dogs to smell the special odor that bedbugs make. Then, they use hot steam to kill the bugs.

Kevin Le Mestre is director of Lutte Antinuisible, a company that removes unwanted insects and animals such as rats. He said that in the past, people would not call his company even if they had been bitten by a bedbug. But now he said his company is getting many calls from people worried about the insects.

The increase in public worry began about a month ago after reports of bedbugs at a Paris movie theater. Videos began popping up on social media, showing the little insects on trains and buses.

Some government officials want to create new rules to fight against bedbugs.

Lawmaker Mathilde Panot recently brought a glass container of bedbugs to the Parliament to criticize the government, claiming it had let the insects spread quickly.

Because bedbugs travel easily on clothing or in luggage, they are a cause of worry for officials ahead of the 2024 Olympic games.

All human population movements are profitable for bedbugs because they go with us, to hotels, in transport, said Berenger.

Beaune, the transport minister, is hopeful that steps can be taken to reduce the publics fear. But, he added, Its hell, these bedbugs.

Im Andrew Smith.

Elaine Ganley wrote this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

monitor v. to observe something for a special purpose over time

disinfect v. to destroy germs or unwanted plants or animals from an area

poll n. seeking the publics opinion on issues by asking a large number of people questions

infested adj. overrun by large numbers of animals or plants that are not wanted.

dump n. a dirty, disordered place

palace n. a very large and impressive house; the home of a king or queen

luggage n. containers used to store clothes in for travel

hell n. a very bad place; a place where, in many religions, evil people are sent
Mining companies produce important metals needed to build electric car batteries and solar panels.

Devices called smelters process the rock and minerals so the metal can be purified and sold to manufacturers. The work requires a lot of energy.

The advisory business McKinsey & Company says mining operations produce between four and seven percent of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. Those are gases released into the atmosphere that some scientists say are warming the planet.

Some of the companies that use mined materials include Apple, Hyundai and Mercedes. Those companies are now putting pressure on mining companies to use less energy. Many of those companies have environmental, social and governance, or ESG, commitments. The ESG commitments require companies such as Apple and carmaker Volvo to choose materials that are made in a less harmful way when possible.

Some mining companies are thinking about how they can change their business methods to use less energy and create less pollution.

The pressure is changing the way mines in Indonesia, Chile and Canada operate.

On the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, the Brazilian mining company Vale runs its smelters using hydroelectric power instead of diesel fuel. The hydroelectric power comes from three dams the company built years ago. Vale now says it can reduce its carbon dioxide by over 1 million tons per year. The company says its greenhouse gas emissions are down by one-fifth since 2017.

The smelter in Sulawesi produces 75,000 tons of nickel each year. The metal is used for batteries, electric cars and many machines used around the home. While the company runs the smelter on hydroelectric power, other machines still require coal power.

The demand for metals such as nickel and cobalt is rising as more people drive electric cars and use solar panels to power their homes. But as new mines open and active mines increase operations, environmental activists wonder if the mining companies can continue to reduce pollution.

Activists say pressure is important to get industries to create less pollution. In Chile, mines that produce copper, lithium and other materials use some energy from solar farms. In Canada, the Raglan mine in the far northern part of Quebec produces nickel with the help of wind power.

Michael Goodsite teaches civil and environmental engineering at the University of Adelaide in Australia. He said the mines that are moving away from diesel fuel are setting a good example.

How they move from fossil fuel operations to other energy sources can and should be learned from by others, he said.

In Indonesia, President Joko Widodo has pushed for his country to develop its own industries. One of those industries is mining. Indonesia is the worlds largest producer of nickel and Vale recently signed a deal for a $4.5 billion processing center. Some of the investment came from Ford, the U.S.-based automaker.

Ford is concerned about how its materials are produced. Ford official Christopher Smith said the company can help ensure that the nickel we use in electric vehicle batteries is mined  produced within the same ESG standards asour business around the world.

But mining companies may not be able to change fast enough for people worried about climate change.

Coal is used to power some of Vales metal processing in Indonesia. Febriany Eddy is chief of Vale Indonesia. She said the company plans to change from coal to liquefied natural gas. Experts say the gas is not as bad as coal.

Eddy said it is the best current choice. The company believes better options may not be available for 15 to 20 years.

She said she could wait for the perfect solution, or she can work with natural gas saying, it is a transition, only. Eddy said natural gas will reduce emissions by 40 percent.

Some climate activists say natural gas still produces methane and carbon dioxide, which, they say, hurt the environment.

But Eddy said Vale can save money in the long run by producing its own energy in Indonesia. She said hydroelectric power reduces the companys carbon emissions and also permits the company to save money. We are no longer that (vulnerable) to fuel and coal costs  because we have hydropower, she said.

Some products will still be made by businesses that are not making energy changes Goodsite, the university professor in Australia, said when asked about China.

He added that some of the changes will come because businesses want to reduce their energy use. However, he said change will happen if people, who he called end users, who buy cars and mobile phones and other products choose to buy things made from different materials.

And he said people have to be ready to pay a lot more for these new products. We all need to be prepared to pay a significant premium for that, Goodsite said.

Im Gena Bennet. And Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

battery n. a device that stores electricity and provide direct electrical current

solar panel n. a device that turns strong sunlight into direct electrical current

smelter n. a machine that melts rock that contains minerals to purify the mineral or metal

greenhouse gas n. a gas believed to trap heat in the Earths atmosphere

commitment n. a promise to do something

ensure v. to make something likely to happen

vulnerable adj. easily hurt, harmed or weakened

premium n. something with an added cost compared to a regular cost

We want to hear from you. Do you think more companies working in developing nations will work to change their energy sources?
JERUSALEM  The capture of dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians  elderly women, children, entire families  by Hamas militants has stirred Israeli emotions more viscerally than any crisis in the countrys recent memory and presented an impossible dilemma for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government.

The Islamist militant groups 2006 seizure of a sole young conscript, Gilad Shalit, consumed Israeli society for years  a national obsession that prompted Israel to heavily bombard the Gaza Strip and ultimately release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom had been convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis, in exchange for Shalits freedom.

This time, Gazas Hamas rulers have abducted dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers as part of a multipronged, shock attack on Saturday. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group smaller and more brazen than Hamas, said Sunday that it alone had seized 30 hostages.

Their captivity raises the heat on Netanyahu and his hawkish, far-right allies, who are already under intense pressure to respond to the killing of hundreds of Israelis in the Hamas attack so far. Netanyahus vow to unleash the full force of the Israeli military on Hamas has raised fears for the safety of Israeli civilians spread in undisclosed locations across the densely populated Gaza Strip.

It will limit the directions and areas that the IDF can be active, Michael Milstein, a former head of the Palestinian department in Israeli military intelligence, said of the hostage situation. It will make things much more complicated.

Locating Israeli hostages in Gaza  something Israeli intelligence agencies failed to do in the case of Shalit  poses further challenges. Although Gaza is tiny, subject to constant aerial surveillance and surrounded by Israeli ground and naval forces, the territory just over an hour from Tel Aviv remains somewhat opaque to Israeli intelligence agencies, experts say.

We dont know where Israelis are sheltered, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu. But this whole issue of captured Israelis will not stop Israel from bombing Gaza until Hamas is destroyed."

Hamas already has said it seeks the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails  some 4,500 detainees, according to Israeli rights group BTselem  in exchange for the Israeli captives.

The fate of prisoners for Palestinians is perhaps just as emotional as it is for Israelis. With an estimated 750,000 Palestinians having passed through Israel prisons since Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, most Palestinians have either spent time in Israeli jail or know someone who has. Israel sees them as terrorists, but Palestinians view detainees as heroes. The Palestinian Authority self-rule government, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, devotes some 8% of its budget to supporting them and their families.

The release of any prisoners would be a huge deal for Hamas, said Khalil Shikaki, the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. It would cement Hamas position in the Palestinian street and further diminish the strength and legitimacy" of the Palestinian Authority.

But Netanyahus government  with its powerful far-right religious ministers, including West Bank settlers  have fiercely opposed any gestures they view as capitulating to the Palestinians. There is absolutely no chance that the current government would agree to the release of Palestinian prisoners, said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The radicals and extremists in this government want to flatten Gaza, she said. Netanyahu on Saturday dismissed an offer by Yair Lapid, head of the opposition, to form an emergency national unity government.

It was a clear sign that Netanyahu has not given up on his extremist nationalist government," she said.

To win last years election while standing trial for corruption, Netanyahu relied on the surging popularity of his far-right allies who seized on perceived threats to Israels Jewish identity.

Israel's powerful finance minister, settler leader Bezalel Smotrich, demanded at the Cabinet meeting late Saturday that the Israeli army hit Hamas brutally and not take the matter of the captives into significant consideration.

"In war you have to be brutal, he was quoted as saying. We need to deal a blow that hasnt been seen in 50 years and take down Gaza."

But the risk of Israeli civilians falling victim to relentless Israeli bombardment or languishing for years in Hamas captivity while Israel gets dragged into an open-ended campaign could also be politically ruinous for Netanyahu.

This is a serious dilemma, said veteran Israeli political commentator Ehud Yaari. The fear is that if and when a ground operation kicks off, Hamas will threaten to execute hostages every hour, every two hours, and that will become a really heated debate."

Israel's tumultuous history has revealed the extreme sensitivity of public opinion when it comes to hostages  and therefore what a potent weapon abduction can be in a country where 18-year-olds are conscripted for military service, and the army prides itself on never abandoning its own.

If we allow our people to be taken like this, we have no country, no government and no army, said 58-year-old Tali Levy in the southern city of Ashdod near the Gaza border, who has several friends missing.

Families of Israelis missing after Saturday's Hamas attack held a news conference Sunday evening that was televised live during prime time. Shaken relatives, some of them holding back tears or weeping, called on the government to bring home the captives.
The Israeli government promised yesterday to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack killed more than 700 people in Israel, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the countrys worst civilian massacres.

A day after formally declaring war, Israels military worked to crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza, where more than 400 people have died since Saturdays unprecedented incursion.

The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices.

Here are some key takeaways from the conflict:

WHAT DOES THE WAR DECLARATION MEAN?

The declaration gives the green light for Israel to take significant military steps against Hamas. But a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that he has ordered a complete siege on Gaza and that authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

The announcement came after the Israeli military said it had regained control of border communities taken by Hamas. Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said there were some isolated incidents but no fighting going yesterday morning.

He cautioned, however, that there could still be militants in the area and that forces were conducting searches.

Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.

Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza by Sunday, its military said. That included airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. Hamas had been using the town as a staging ground for attacks, Hagari said.

The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which participated in Saturdays attack, said it was holding more than 30 Israelis among dozens of captives in Gaza. He said they would not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed.

WHAT HAS BEEN WORLDiS RESPONSE?

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. The deployment  which also includes a host of ships and warplanes  underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to keep the conflict from growing.

Preliminary reports indicated at least four U.S. citizens were killed in the attacks, and seven more were missing, a U.S. official said.

The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting about the situation and took no immediate action on a U.S. demand that its 15 members condemn the Hamas attack.

Russias U.N. ambassador told The Associated Press that long-stalled negotiations between the two sides need to resume. Chinas ambassador said it was important to come back to a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side-by-side.

But U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said the ongoing violence needed to be dealt with first.

Germanys development minister said her country would review its aid for Palestinian areas.

In Iran  a longtime supporter of Hamas and other militant groups  senior officials praised the incursion. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday.

Egypt spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but an Egyptian official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage.

IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO PROTECT CIVILIANS?

The number of displaced Gazans staying at schools converted into shelters jumped by tens of thousands, to some 123,000, the U.N. said. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit but there were no casualties amid heavy shelling and airstrikes in different parts of the crowded territory of 2 million people.

Associated Press video Sunday showed a large crater in the middle of the school.

Schools and other civilian infrastructure, including those sheltering displaced families, must never come under attack, UNRWA said in a statement.

Cease-fires have stopped major fighting in past rounds of conflict but have always proven shaky. Each agreement in the past has offered a period of calm, but the deeper, underlying issues are rarely addressed, setting the stage for the next round of airstrikes and rockets.

WHAT PROMPTED THE ATTACK?

Hamas officials cited long-

simmering tensions including a dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Competing claims over the site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, have spilled into violence before, including a bloody 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021.

In recent years, Israeli religious nationalists  such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister  have increased their visits to the compound. Last week, during the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli activists visited the site, prompting condemnation from Hamas and accusations that Jews were praying there in violation of the status quo agreement.

Hamas also has cited the expansion of Jewish settlements on lands Palestinians claim for a future state and Ben-Gvirs efforts to toughen restrictions on Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Tensions escalated with recent violent Palestinian protests. In negotiations with Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations, Hamas has pushed for Israeli concessions that could loosen the 17-year blockade on the enclave and help halt a worsening financial crisis. MDT/AP
Manx TT rider Michael Evans is set to make his debut at the local Grand Prix (GP) next month, the rider told news media Isle of Man (IOM) Today.

A couple of months ago I was invited to ride at the 70th anniversary Macau GP, and Im really excited to be going to China in November for all the activities there and to race around the iconic street circuit. Especially [to have] the honor of representing the Isle of Man, he was quoted saying by IOM Today.

The 30-year-old rider from Santon, made only his third TT appearance this year after having secured two top-ten in both the TT and the Supertwin race.

The former winner of the Manx Grand Prix (different competition) in Junior and Senior categories in 2017, recorded in 2022 his personal best lap of the Mountain Course at 125.536mph.

Evans is set to be the first IOM rider to make his appearance in Macaus Guia Circuit since Dan Kneen and Conor Cummins.

IOM riders have been historically involved with the Macau GP event since Danny Shimmin in the 1980s.
A senior Taliban delegation was visiting western Afghanistans Herat province yesterday in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that killed at least 2,000 people over the weekend and flattened entire villages, a statement said.

Saturdays magnitude 6.3 quake hit a densely populated area in Herat and was followed by strong aftershocks in what was one of the deadliest temblors to strike the country in two decades.

The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team will visit the quake-affected region yesterday to deliver immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable and accurate distribution of aid, according to a statement from the capital, Kabul.

The quake also trapped hundreds and people have been digging with their bare hands and shovels to pull victims  both dead and alive  from under the rubble. Authorities said Monday they were still waiting for an update on the latest casualties from Herat.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quakes epicenter was about 40 kilometers northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks.

A global response to the Afghanistan quake has been slow, with much of the world wary of dealing directly with the Taliban government and focused on the deadly escalation between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday that has left more than 1,100 dead in fighting so far and thousands wounded on both sides.

Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for the international community to come forward but only a handful of countries have publicly offered support, including neighboring China and Pakistan.

Aid group CARE USA  a member of CARE International umbrella  said in a statement that the quake struck at a time when Afghanistan was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis that was significantly under-funded while needs are increasing rapidly.

The fast-approaching winter, combined with this new disaster, is likely to exacerbate the existing challenges and make it even more difficult for people to meet their basic needs, like adequate shelter, food, and medicine, it said.

CARE is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the western province of Herat, said Reshma Azmi, the groups deputy director for Afghanistan. This comes less than seven months after another powerful earthquake hit the country, leaving thousands homeless and displaced.

Azimi was referring to the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March that struck much of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Also, an earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, striking a rugged, mountainous region, wiped out stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people.

The situation is worse than we imagined with people in devastated villages still desperately trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble with their bare hands, said World Vision, a global charity.

Reinforcements from Kabul arrived on Sunday but the area of the quake has only one government-run hospital.

Our colleagues and their families are processing this devastation in their hometowns, and yet we are responding with everything we have, said Thamindri de Silva, the head of the Afghanistan office of the charity. People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe. Please stand with us as we respond.

Dozens of teams have scrambled to help with rescue efforts, including from the military and nonprofit groups. Irfanullah Sharafzai, a spokesman for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said more than 20 teams were on the ground yesterday and have set up a temporary camp for the displaced.

In neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food items and medicines, as well as tents and blankets. RAHIM FAIEZ, ISLAMABAD, MDT/AP
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Chinese President Xi Jinping in a rare meeting yesterday that he was very disappointed by Chinas failure to strongly condemn the recent Hamas attack on Israel and show sympathy for the country and its people.

Schumer is leading a delegation of six senators to China this week. The delegation, which includes three Democrats and three Republicans, is the first visit by U.S. lawmakers since 2019 and comes at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijings rise as a global power.

I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks, said Schumer.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday called on both sides to exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities  but made no mention of the unprecedented Hamas surprise attack early Saturday that has left more than 1,100 dead in fighting so far and thousands wounded on both sides.

Yesterday, Israeli soldiers were still fighting the militants to secure the border with Gaza.

In the ministry statement, China also said that establishing an independent state of Palestine is the fundamental way to resolve the issue.

The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on, the statement said, adding that the international community needs to act with greater urgency and facilitate the resumption of peace talks.

Schumer met earlier with the head of Chinas parliament and the countrys highest-ranking diplomat, Wang Yi, to whom he delivered the same statement about the recent violence. Wang did not respond before journalists were escorted out of the room.

The two governments are trying to arrange a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping during a regional summit in San Francisco next month in a bid to manage the increasingly fraught relationship.

China has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. In recent years, it has stepped up its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming Syrian President Bashar Assad on a visit to China.

I was very disappointed to be honest by the Foreign Ministry statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these troubled times, Schumer said near the end of his remark to Xi.

He said that the top priority for the Senate delegation is seeking fair trade between the two countries.

We want the Chinese people to have economic opportunity. That would be good for America, he said. But China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now.

Wang urged the United States to respect Chinas core interests and development rights. The Chinese government views American restrictions on trade and technology exports to China as attempts to hold back the countrys economic growth. KEN MORITSUGU, BEIJING, MDT/AP
ZINDA JAN, Afghanistan  People dug through the rubble of the quake in western Afghanistan for their few possessions but the material losses seemed unimportant.

Saturday's 6.3 magnitude quake killed and injured thousands when it leveled an untold number of homes in Herat province.

The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team visited the quake-affected region Monday to deliver "immediate relief assistance" and ensure "equitable and accurate distribution of aid," authorities said.

Top U.N. officials also went to Zinda Jan to assess the extent of the damage. In neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food, medicine, tents and blankets.

Afghanistan has few reliable statistics but a spokesman for Afghanistan's national disaster authority, Janan Sayiq, told reporters in Kabul about 4,000 people were killed or injured by the disaster. He did not provide a breakdown, but the United Nations estimates that 1,023 people were killed and 1,663 people injured in 11 villages in Zinda Jan alone.
GERMANY

As Germany's city of Munich taps the kegs for this year's Oktoberfest, Bavaria state residents and foreign regulars of the world's most conspicuous beer party are getting ready to drink and celebrate while showing off their traditional lederhosen and dirndl dresses. Bavarians have worn lederhosen  knee-long leather pants with suspenders and embroidery  for hundreds of years. They own everyday lederhosen and special pairs for weddings, harvest festivals and hunting season.

These days, lederhosen-style garments made in China are available online for about 100 euros. Revelers preferring a more classic look book an appointment with leather tailor Klaus Bensmann for customized, handmade britches fashioned from deer or cow leather.

Bensmann, 64, who wears metal-rimmed glasses and a Santa-Clauslike beard, has made leather pants for almost four decades in his workshop in Bad Hindelang, a small Bavarian village in the foothills of the Alps close to the Austrian border.

"If you want a pair of lederhosen in time for Oktoberfest, you have to come to me at least half a year in advance, in the winter, so I can measure everything, get to work and finish it in time," the tailor said.

Bensmann does things the old-school way. He collects deer skins from hunters in his region and personally takes them to a tanner in eastern Germany's Saxony state, where they are treated with blubber from codfish and herring, milled and dyed in the colors he requests.

Bensmann offers different cuts of Bavarian lederhosen, traditional knee-longs, short ones that end mid-thigh and longer, looser knickerbockers.

He grew up on a farm in North Rhine Westphalia state's Muensterland region, hundreds of kilometers northwest of Bavaria, so he did not grow up wearing the leather pants like some country boys in southern Germany still do.

Bensmann found his future calling after finishing high school, when he and his wife spent a year in Canada. He says an old trapper there taught him the Indigenous method of making buckskin leather by soaking hides in animal brains and tanning them using wood smoke.

"This year in Canada was a crucial experience for me," he said, adding it was when he realized that working with leather was what he wanted to do in life.

When he returned to Germany, he searched all over the country for a traditional tanner who could teach him the craft and found one in Bad Hindelang, where Bensmann still lives today.

But instead of working as a tanner, he decided to become a leather tailor, and in 1985 he opened his store and workshop, Leder Bensmann.

"It took the Bavarians a while to accept an outsider from a far-away place like the Muensterland as one of their own," he said with a laugh. By now, the locals trust him enough to make their lederhosen.

His shop is a one-man operation, but Bensmann's wife helps out and he employs two women to artfully stitch flowers and deer with antlers on the pants in mulberry silk yarn.

Bensmann won't reveal how many leather pants he produces every year, but he gladly shares how much one pair would cost: simple lederhosen for everyday use start at around 1,000 euros. The elaborately embroidered ones for occasions like Oktoberfest run 1,500-1,800 euros.

"Lederhosen have seen a revival in the last 10 years or so," Bensmann said. "But at the same time, they never really went out of fashion, at least not in Bavaria."
GREEN BAY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

Eff orts by state leaders to fund repairs to the 125-year-old Green Bay Correctional Institution or replace it remain stalled. A dated 2019 estimate found replacing the prison would cost up to $500 million.

Meanwhile, the prison remains outdated and deteriorated. Ten guards and a nurse have been investigated by authorities in the last five years for allegations ranging from bringing drugs into the prison to neglecting an inmate who later died. Assaults prompted a prison lockdown in June, which means the roughly 970 inmates have been largely confined to their cells for nearly four months.

Conditions have left the more than 350 staff members at the prison unable to deliver the standards and safety expected of a modern prison, according to interviews with about two dozen current and former inmates and guards, their family members, current and former government officials and activists.

"These men are being forced to live in foul conditions that are not compatible with communal living, period," said Jerome Dillard, the executive director of EXPO, a nonprofit that organizes former jail and prison inmates. "They get one shower a week. What are we doing? We're making people worse."

When the Department of Corrections had consultants look into the prison's aging infrastructure in 2020, they determined it should be prioritized for replacement over the Waupun Correctional Institution, an older facility that has gotten better funding for improvements. A bicycle factory converted into a boys reformatory in the 1890s then a maximum security prison in the 1970s, the Green Bay prison's antiquated layout makes it difficult to move inmates throughout the facility and for guards to monitor the prison's two main, four-tier housing units.

"The newer prisons are built with better sight lines, better security, better everything," said Ed Wall, who served as Wisconsin's Secretary of Corrections from 2012 to 2016. "With Green Bay, you're basically dumping money into it every year to keep it runnable."

The 2020 DOC report found that no other maximum security facility for men in Wisconsin had more infrastructure and systems either failing or close to failing than Green Bay. The prison's small and dated housing and health care services received the lowest ranking possible under the report's scoring system.

Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr declined two requests by the Wisconsin State Journal this summer to discuss conditions at Green Bay, and the department did not respond to a series of written questions.

State Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, said Wisconsin's time and money needs to be put toward closing the prison and moving inmates into a modern facility with proper housing, medical treatment and programming space.

"There's going to have to be a decision," Steffen said. "Are we going to make the decision to close GBCI when a catastrophic event occurs? Or are we going to do it in a time frame that is under our control?"

Guards investigated

Antonio Whatley couldn't walk. The 37-year-old Green Bay inmate was sick, and asked guards to get him a wheelchair so he could go to the prison's health unit.

But Whatley didn't have a documented wheelchair need so he wasn't going to get one, two guards told him on May 11, 2021. A corrections officer told Whatley "he doesn't need a wheelchair and that he has been walking every day," according to a Brown County Sheriff 's documents.

Guards considered Whatley's unwillingness to walk a refusal of medical treatment.

Staff visited the cell seven times over more than seven hours to hand out food or mail, but got no response. During Brown County's investigation , guards said protocol requires that a supervisor be notified when an inmate is unresponsive, which did not happen when Whatley stopped responding to guards.

Just after 7 a.m. on May 13, guards found Whatley dead on the floor of his cell. His cause of death and other health information was redacted in the records provided to the State Journal.

A Brown County investigator referred charges of inmate abuse to prosecutors against the officer and a nurse who was there when they denied Whatley a wheelchair. Neither returned calls from investigators or faced charges.

Whatley's case was one in a series of investigations of guards at the Green Bay prison in recent years.

In February 2022, a sergeant at the prison did not follow protocol when she did not check on an inmate with a history of suicide attempts who had announced he was going to kill himself, another investigation found. A little over an hour later after being left alone, inmate Andre Nash was found hanging from a bedsheet in his cell. He survived.

When a Brown County detective questioned the sergeant about her response to Nash's suicide attempt, she said she did not remember being told about the inmate's threats to hurt himself. In an interview with investigators, she blamed it on being busy with a different suicide attempt and complained about the facility having "no consistency, communications and documentation."

"The DOC academy is six weeks in length. It was a joke," the sergeant told investigators, according to records. "I am concerned that there are not going to be any changes here, so I am looking for employment somewhere else. There is very low staff morale and I want more out of life than that."

Charges of inmate abuse were referred against the sergeant. The same charge was referred against a guard who breached protocol when he left Nash alone right after the prisoner threatened to kill himself. Neither was charged.

A lieutenant at the prison faced allegations of excessive force because she used pepper spray on Nash before guards cut him down during the suicide attempt. Brown County Detective Roman Aronstein asked the county District Attorney's Office to review the case. The detective also concluded that using pepper spray on inmates during suicide attempts happens at the Green Bay prison on a "routine basis" and that it might violate use of force standards.

Other guards at the prison have faced prosecution for bringing contraband, including marijuana, into the facility.

In December 2021, guard Justin Maher was caught delivering drugs and cellphones into the prison for two inmates, according to a criminal complaint. Investigators recovered about $19,000 to $35,000 worth of marijuana and cellphones on inmates, who said Maher had brought it in along with harder drugs like cocaine and ecstasy.

Maher had told his inmate accomplices that he needed money immediately because he was in debt to an organized crime outfit, the complaint said.

Beyond Maher, two other female guards were caught in 2019 bringing marijuana, erotic photos and other contraband to prisoners with whom they were romantically involved. When questioned by investigators, guard Rachelle Ritchie said, "bringing contraband into GBCI was super easy" and claimed that guards often smuggle cellphones to inmates.

Ritchie pleaded no contest to a felony charge of bringing contraband to an inmate. Another guard, Sharon Pierce, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of bringing contraband to inmates and a misdemeanor charge of attempting to do so. Both received probation. The criminal case against Maher, who faces felony charges for drug trafficking, bringing contraband to inmates and abusing official authority, remains ongoing.

The Brown County District Attorney's Office did not return requests for comment for this story.

Extended lockdown

In interviews, two former guards at the prison said staff are unprepared and undertrained to handle what it takes to run the aging facility.

"What I saw toward the end of my career, though, it was a lot more mental illness, and I didn't think a lot of us staff at that time were honestly prepared for how to treat that or deal with it," said Joe Verdegan, a guard from 1993 to 2020.

Jeff Hoff man, a Green Bay prison guard for 22 years who retired this year, said training for correctional officers grew less rigorous as the prison system struggled to fill jobs.

"You have staff with little experience teaching brand new people how to be experienced," Hoff man said.

Bad behavior by inmates, including physical attacks on staff , has grown more flagrant over the years, the two guards said.

Many of those assaults have been investigated by Brown County authorities, too. Since 2019, county detectives responded to prisoners pelting guards with urine and feces, a guard getting hit over the head with a radio, guards getting sucker-punched and more.

The Department of Corrections has said attacks on staff and between inmates prompted the current lockdown at the prison, which started on June 16. That day, two inmates had arson charges referred to prosecutors for setting fire to bedsheets and other materials in their cell, said David Poteat, a captain with the Brown County Sheriff 's Office

Activists have claimed that staffing levels at the prison led the DOC to put it under a lockdown. Green Bay has a staff vacancy rate of 46%, the lowest of Wisconsin's five maximum security prisons for men.

Jennifer Clemmensen has heard about the prison's failing infrastructure from her son Tony Sheppard, who is incarcerated there for armed robbery and kidnapping. The ceiling in Sheppard's cell appears to be caving in and there are cracks in the floor and Sheppard has told Clemmensen that there are rodents.

"There's nothing I can do as a parent out here in the free world," Clemmensen said. "They're criminals. They're there to be rehabilitated, that's the original intent of the criminal justice system, but they're not because they can't get out of their boxes."

In letters to the State Journal, Sheppard said inmates are limited to one shower a week while their release for recreation and programming has been eliminated entirely.

"We are treated like wild animals so most start acting like one," he wrote. "It is no less than a hostile environment created by design. I'm surrounded by careless individuals who have nothing to lose, which triggers them to lash out when treated how we are now being treated."

Political fight

Any solution for the prison situation lies with state politicians. In 2019, Republicans in the state

Legislature passed a budget provision that would have spent $5 million to find a location for a new prison in Wisconsin so that the Green Bay facility could be closed. Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the money, saying the state needs to pass comprehensive criminal justice reform first instead of building more prisons.

Since then, Republicans have blocked some of Evers and the DOC's attempts to fix the aging infrastructure at Green Bay.

The prison is located in the Village of Allouez and, in response to the initial online publication of this State Journal report Friday morning, Village President Jim Rafter said in a statement, "Today's disturbing revelations by the Wisconsin State Journal are damning and further proof that Green Bay Correctional Institution needs to be closed. The facility is a danger to the guards, inmates, and the community where it is located. State leaders must step up and take action before it is too late."

"Despite the well-documented dysfunction at Green Bay Correctional Institution, our state government has no long-term plan for this 125-year-old facility," Rafter said. "We are ready and eager to work with Gov. Evers and the Legislature so they can come together on a solution that benefits the facility residents, staff , and the community in which the prison resides."

In a May letter to state legislators, DOC Secretary Kevin Carr warned that not updating things like the prison's health care services or roof puts the state at risk of getting sued over conditions at GBCI.

"Even if this administration and the Legislature were to engage in a meaningful dialogue about a new facility to replace one or more of our aging facilities, the final construction of a new facility would be five to seven years down the road and roofing repairs are routine maintenance," Carr said.

Funding for the roof passed in this year's budget talks, though whether it will be spent faces other approvals. Funding for a new health unit did not get passed.

Beyond building a new prison, activists argue that Wisconsin could reduce its prison population to a point where inmates could be housed in existing facilities.

During his first campaign in 2018, Evers vowed to cut the state's prison population in half. That has not happened, in part due to the state's strict sentencing laws, decisions by the Parole Commission and rising crime. When Evers took office, the state's prison population stood at about 23,000. Today it's at about 21,700.

"The reality is that our current population and existing capacity are not conducive to closing any facility at this time," Carr said in his May letter to state legislators.

Wall, who led the Department of Corrections during the Walker administration, said he had proposed building a corrections campus near a major population center, such as Madison, that could absorb the closure of Green Bay and Waupun's prisons. That never got any interest from the Walker administration, Wall said.

A leading advocate in the state Legislature for closing Green Bay's prison and building a new one, Rep. Steffen said calls for criminal justice reform demanded by Evers should not be linked to a "brick and mortar, space and safety issue."

"We have to stop looking beyond the next election and be thoughtful on behalf of the generations of men who are incarcerated there," Steffen said. "What type of facility do you want to provide them? What type of facility do you want for the staff working there?"
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

ANCHORAGE, Alaska  Native Americans celebrated their history Monday with events across the country marking Indigenous Peoples Day, from a sunrise gathering in Minneapolis to a rally at the Maine Statehouse and traditional dancing, music and food in Arizona and Alaska.

The ceremonies, costumed performers and speeches came two years after President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day. At the time, he said the day is meant to "honor America's first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today."

At a gathering in Phoenix where dancers performed in traditional Aztec costumes, Sifa Matafahi said it was an opportunity to "pay respect to indigenous cultures  to reflect on our past and history while also acknowledging our cultural presence."

In Minnesota, about 150 people, including the governor and lieutenant governor, attended a sunrise prayer and ceremony at Bde Maka Ska, a lake surrounded by parkland in Minneapolis.

"Today, we recognize our ancestors and predecessors who really laid the foundation for us to stand," said Thorne LaPointe, a Native American organizer. "And we will always recognize our elders who are here and those who have gone on before us, who really kicked open the doors in their time, nationally and internationally."

Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., have holidays honoring Native Americans, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of them celebrate it on the second Monday of October, pivoting from a day long rooted in the celebration of explorer Christopher Columbus to one focused on the people whose lives and culture were forever changed by colonialism. Dozens of cities and school systems also observe Indigenous Peoples Day.

New Mexico, which is home to 23 federally recognized tribes, replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day through legislation in 2019.

In Augusta, Maine, several hundred people celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day by rallying outside the Statehouse in support of a Nov. 7 statewide vote on an amendment that would require the restoration of tribal treaties that were omitted from printed versions of the state constitution.
Student enrollment is increasing in the Madison School District, despite initial predictions that a yearslong downward trend would continue.

District enrollment is 25,581 students this year, up 34 students from last year, according to data shared with the School Board Monday night. That figure is 568 more students than administrators projected in June while drafting the districts preliminary 2023-24 budget.

Board members shared cautious enthusiasm about the increase, along with a desire to understand whether this is a one-time change or the beginning of a trend.

Its encouraging to acknowledge that were a growing district and a growing community and to see a significant increase in students means theres an increase in folks trusting us with their young people, board member Ali Muldrow said.

Bob Soldner, assistant superintendent for financial services, told the board that 17 more students are enrolled in 3-year-old kindergarten than last September, along with 14 more students in full-day kindergarten. Nearly 50 more students are enrolled in first through 12th grades.

On the other hand, 58 fewer students enrolled in 4-year-old kindergarten, Soldner said.

Less than a month ago, administrators were anticipating a loss of 500 students, as school officials warned of serious consequences for district finances. Enrollment is one of the factors used to calculate a districts revenue limit, a per-pupil amount that determines how much state aid and property taxes each school district can collect.

Not only did we increase from last year, but we did much better than our predictions, Soldner said.

The state Department of Public Instruction is slated to release statewide enrollment counts Friday that will provide a more complete picture of enrollment at school districts around the state. The final enrollment count will be used in the Madison School Districts final 2023-24 budget, which will come before the board later this month. Student enrollment will likely fluctuate throughout the year as students transfer in and out of the district.

With the increase of 34 students, Soldner said the district can expect to see an additional $1.5 million in revenue.

Declining enrollment has become somewhat of the norm for the district. Data presented to the School Board in December 2022 showed the decline was expected to continue for at least another five years.

The downward trend has been attributed to a declining birth rate nationwide and the sudden shift of Wisconsin students into private and home-schooling options during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a Wisconsin Policy Forum report, 32,000 students left the states public school system between fall 2019 and fall 2022.

Open enrollment, which allows parents to apply to send their children to school in another district, has also contributed to declines in Madison School District enrollment as increasing numbers of families look to suburban districts.

Drivers still needed

Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad also updated the board on transportation issues that have led to consistent bus delays since the start of the school year. First Student, the districts bus provider, has cited the national shortage of bus drivers as the main cause of delays.

Jason Kierna, region vice president at First Student, said around 35 drivers are still needed to fully staff all bus routes and have drivers on standby in case of absences  almost the exact number of drivers needed last month.

The district is bringing aboard 28 drivers, Kierna said, but the lengthy training process means that only around 10% of applicants are eventually hired as bus drivers.

Kvistad said the district is exploring combining some school bus routes with existing Metro Transit routes for middle school students and providing discounted Metro passes. Kvistad said 20 bus routes have already been consolidated to minimize the number of drivers needed.

Several board members said they felt First Student has not offered its own solutions to combat the bus delays, like increasing hourly wages for their employees. The board unanimously agreed to an $81 million, five-year contract with the company this spring.

Theres a level of frustration ... because I had reservations with moving to First Student, board member Maia Pearson said. It makes me actually really angry and frustrated that were here.
Student test scores in Wisconsin are at their highest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data published Tuesday by the Department of Public Instruction.

Madison School District scores were up as well, but still lagged behind the statewide average and continue to reveal large achievement gaps between white and minority students.

The statewide test scores from the 2022-23 school year show about 40% of students are proficient in math and English language arts. Although proficiency rates have not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, scores improved overall from the previous two school years.

For more To see your school district's test results, visit the WISEdash Public Portal at: wisedash.dpi.wi.gov/Dashboard/dashboard/19861

School districts closed classrooms and switched to online learning for much of the pandemic, which saw increases in chronic absenteeism and student mental health concerns. State Superintendent Jill Underly praised the test score improvements in a statement Tuesday, while also calling attention to other measures of student success.

I am also tired of politicians claiming that our children arent learning because they arent reaching a proficiency score, Underly said in a statement.

The Wisconsin Student Assessment System, or WSAS, consists of the Forward Exam given in grades 3-8 and 10, the PreACT Secure given in grades 9 and 10, and the ACT with a writing assessment in grade 11.

Statewide, about 39% of students performed at proficient or advanced levels on the Forward Exam in English language arts, a 2% increase from 2021-22. Forty-one percent of students scored at those same levels on the Forward math test, another 2% increase.

For the ACT, 37.7% of students scored at advanced or proficient levels for English language arts. Thats higher than in 2018-19, when it was 36.8%

However, ACT math proficiency has not recovered at the same pace as language arts. Proficiency rates stayed almost the same between the 2022-23 and 2021-22 school years.

On the PreACT Secure exam, almost 40% of students scored in the proficient or advanced categories for language arts. One-third of students were proficient or advanced in math.

The PreACT Secure replaced the ACT Aspire exam during the 2022-23 school year, but the two tests are very similar, according to Duane Dorn, an education consultant for DPI.

Students performed worse on both tests than in 2018-19, when 40.4% of students hit the top marks in English and language arts and 40% in math.

Were not where we want to be yet, said Abigail Swetz, DPI communications director. We wouldnt be where we want to be, even if we had gotten to exactly the same point as weve been before.

About 95% of eligible Wisconsin students participated in WSAS tests, an increase of about one percentage point from the 2021-22 school year.

Madison schools

Locally, the Madison School District is continuing to lag behind the rest of the state, most notably on the Forward math exam for third- through eighth-graders.

Only 36% of Madison students scored in advanced or proficient categories, less than the 41% score statewide.

The English language arts proficiency rate for Madison students was closer to the state average, coming in at around 37.5% in comparison to Wisconsins 39%.

But despite remaining slightly behind Wisconsin as a whole, Madison test scores generally improved in the 2022-23 school year. Scores remain below where they were during the 2018-19 school year.

Results from both parts of the Forward Exam and the language arts portion of the ACT saw increases, but proficiency on the math portion of the ACT slightly declined in the 2022-23 school year.

Student success on these standardized exams fell largely along racial lines.

On the Forward Exam, around 62% of Black students scored at the below basic level in English language arts, while only 10% of white students fell into this category.

Similarly, more than 70% of Black students scored in this category for mathematics, in comparison to about 13% of white students.

Racial gaps were almost as pronounced for high school juniors who took the ACT.

Dane County

Student test scores varied in school districts across Dane County for the 2022-23 school year.

One City Schools, a Madison charter school that opened its elementary school in the fall of 2018, continues to show the lowest scores in the county. Data released last year showed that only 7% and 5.4% of One Citys students scored proficient or higher in English language arts and math, respectively.

One Citys founder, Kaleem Caire, previously told the State Journal that the 2021-22 school year was its first time administering the Forward Exam, and that led to problems with staffing and testing protocols.

Student scores in the 2022-23 school year did see some improvements. Proficiency rates jumped to 8.3% on both portions of the Forward Exam.

The Wisconsin Heights, Waunakee and Middleton-Cross Plains school districts all saw some of highest proficiency rates in the county during the 2022-23 school year.

Editor's note: The table accompanying this story has been corrected. An earlier version had swapped the mathematics scores for Deerfield and DeForest.

Dane County Forward Exam results English/Language arts 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Belleville 39% 68% 53% 54% 60% 44% Cambridge 48% 31% 38% 43% 28% 25% Deerfield 38% 43% 31% 52% 45% 36% DeForest 53% 50% 46% 54% 40% 36% Isthmus Montessori 22% 35% 33% 32% 33% 64% Madison 34% 43% 37% 41% 35% 36% Marshall 28% 35% 32% 31% 18% 34% McFarland 33% 40% 35% 29% 28% 26% Middleton-Cross Plains 58% 62% 54% 59% 59% 57% Monona Grove 43% 61% 44% 44% 30% 28% Mount Horeb 47% 56% 47% 58% 60% 49% One City Schools 8% 12% 10% Oregon 49% 57% 42% 45% 48% 43% Stoughton 38% 58% 44% 45% 41% 28% Sun Prairie 41% 50% 40% 35% 40% 33% Verona 50% 62% 57% 48% 43% 38% Waunakee 57% 62% 59% 65% 57% 51% Wisconsin Heights 65% 75% 71% 66% 47% 30% Statewide 37% 45% 38% 40% 40% 36% Mathematics 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Belleville 54% 71% 81% 62% 40% 53% Cambridge 74% 40% 28% 43% 32% 32% Deerfield 52% 48% 56% 58% 42% 5% DeForest 63% 51% 60% 54% 40% 41% Isthmus Montessori 17% 18% 20% 26% 13% 45% Madison 39% 41% 41% 36% 28% 30% Marshall 55% 48% 54% 29% 21% 19% McFarland 43% 45% 39% 32% 25% 23% Middleton-Cross Plains 68% 67% 65% 59% 56% 53% Monona Grove 55% 57% 51% 46% 26% 24% Mount Horeb 68% 62% 64% 55% 54% 29% One City Schools 11% 12% 3% Oregon 70% 68% 59% 49% 36% 32% Stoughton 56% 64% 65% 41% 33% 23% Sun Prairie 53% 51% 45% 42% 32% 25% Verona 61% 58% 60% 43% 34% 28% Waunakee 66% 68% 71% 66% 58% 49% Wisconsin Heights 65% 75% 71% 66% 47% 30% Statewide 48% 46% 47% 42% 35% 30% Science 4th 8th Belleville 75% 67% Cambridge 48% 58% Deerfield 60% 46% DeForest 63% 52% Isthmus Montessori 65% 82% Madison 49% 41% Marshall 39% 45% McFarland 44% 42% Middleton-Cross Plains 70% 72% Monona Grove 67% 41% Mount Horeb 71% 59% One City Schools 24% Oregon 69% 51% Stoughton 59% 42% Sun Prairie 53% 40% Verona 64% 50% Waunakee 66% 65% Wisconsin Heights 64% 55% Statewide 51% 47% Social studies 4th 8th 10th Belleville 75% 73% 71% Cambridge 57% 62% 75% Deerfield 68% 55% 58% DeForest 61% 60% 47% Isthmus Montessori 94% 91% Madison 55% 52% 36% Marshall 52% 52% 23% McFarland 54% 49% 35% Middleton-Cross Plains 78% 77% 57% Monona Grove 72% 43% 46% Mount Horeb 74% 63% 59% One City Schools 28% Oregon 78% 60% 50% Stoughton 68% 59% 57% Sun Prairie 60% 52% 30% Verona 71% 64% 44% Waunakee 78% 68% 61% Wisconsin Heights 67% 62% 55% Statewide 59% 57% 43%
The Madison City Council will have a last chance to save the endangered Madison Public Market this month after the Finance Committee voted 5-1 to move forward with fully funding a $24.2 million market by borrowing another $2.3 million.

That vote followed consideration of an alternative plan aimed at making the market construction slightly cheaper by removing some elements of the projects design.

The committee tied on whether to back the cheaper plan, which would have cut from the market about $640,000 and nixed south hall windows and garage doors, and some furnishings, fixtures and equipment. It was proposed by Alds. Marsha Rummel and Amani Latimer Burris.

The City Council is mulling how, if at all, to proceed with the public market after construction bids came in over budget last month.

A backer of the fully funded market, Ald. Regina Vidaver, 5th District, urged colleagues to support the new borrowing to avoid having to come back in the future to pay for elements that would have been cut in the alternative plan.

Theres that old phrase being penny wise and pound foolish, Vidaver said. I would really not want to see things coming back to council in two years, five years, 10 years to redo things we should have done now.

In September, the lowest construction bid for the market came in $1.64 million above budget, which sent the already long-debated project into a budgetary tailspin once again.

In response, Vidaver and Ald. Sabrina Madison, 17th District, put together a resolution to approve the new $2.3 million in borrowing, which anticipates another $1 million from Dane County to convert the former Fleet Services building at 200 N. First St. into the market.

Vidaver noted the city could have already had more money on hand for the market after a similar budget shortfall last year. Anticipating rising construction costs at that time, officials originally wanted to use $6 million in tax incremental financing for the market, but that was trimmed to $4.5 million during budget talks in the name of fiscal responsibility, Vidaver said.

We had put forward that $6 million because we understood that construction overruns were likely, Vidaver said.

A final vote on new borrowing for the market will be taken by the City Council at its Oct. 17 meeting, when a lack of consensus could kill the project altogether.

All told, the market would be funded with $11.5 million in TIF funds, $849,000 in city funds, up to $3 million in private donations, $4.25 million from state programs, and $1.5 million from Dane County. Funding yet to be approved also includes the $2.3 million in new borrowing and an additional $1 million from the county.
Saturdays onslaught of Hamas terror from its stronghold in Gaza into Israel, murdering hundreds, was a sneak attack. So was the sneak attack by Egypt and Syria on Israel on Yom Kippur 50 years ago. 9/11 was a sneak attack, as was Pearl Harbor and Hitlers surprise invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

The targets, be it Israel, the United States or the Russians, are caught off guard by their enemies. They are stunned and suffer major psychological damage and loss of human life. But then comes the response and the counteroffensive.

Those earlier sneak attacks failed. Hopefully, this one will, also.

Hamas claims that its fighters are soldiers, but soldiers dont kidnap civilians from their homes to seize them as hostages, as Hamas did in launching raids into Israel in addition to their barrage of thousands of rockets fired at civilian population centers, including Tel Aviv.

Both of those are acts of terrorism, which makes perfect sense, as Hamas is a terror group, fittingly on terror lists of the U.S. and European Union.

Also on the terror lists is Hezbollah controlling southern Lebanon to Israels north. The common factor between the Shiite Hezbollah and the Sunni Hamas is the lead sponsor of terror in the region, Iran, which funnels them weapons and joins them in celebrating the atrocities and calling for Israels destruction and the liberation of Jerusalem from the Jews.

Hamas has started this new war, or new chapter in an old war, to disrupt the growing movement for a grand U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and the richest and most powerful Arab state, Saudi Arabia, following other U.S.-brokered peace deals between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Hamas cannot succeed and the Arab-Israeli strides for the larger peace must continue.

Hamas shows that it can make war, but it refuses to make peace. On the West Bank, the head of the Palestinian National Authority, Abu Mazen, also refuses to make peace. It has been years since he has sat down for talks with the Israelis. Peace will come for the Palestinians, in Gaza and the West Bank, when they decide to join the negotiating table.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, leading a jittery right-wing coalition that is wrongly trying to undermine the independence of the Israeli courts, will get a reprieve for his many domestic troubles due to this Hamas war. Even President Joe Biden, who has been very cool to Netanyahu, has rallied to his side, pledging full support. Of course, Donald Trump is blaming the Hamas attack on Biden.

Hamas and Iran want Israel to strike back hard, thinking that a massive response will entrap Israel in the Gaza quicksand, sapping her political and military strength. Israel has the might to level Gaza, but Hamas hides among civilians, using them as human shields, which is a war crime. And Hamas now holds captured Israeli soldiers and civilians, complicating everything.

Netanyahu and his commanders have a tremendous challenge before them to destroy Hamas military assets while sparing Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Hamas struck first, but its wave of terror will not and cannot prevail. Israel has been hurt hard, but Israel will prevail.
Quote Healing is most effective when we can all lend assistance with honesty, compassion, and integrity.

Natural disasters remind us how one event can impact lives, homes, and local economies.

As an organization that supports trust and integrity in our business communities, Better Business Bureau recognizes how we can all play a critical role in the recovery process. Times of crisis are opportunities to embrace and embody the values that make our communities strong, values like trust, honesty, integrity, and responsiveness.

Healing is most effective when we can all lend assistance with honesty, compassion, and integrity. Here are some ideas on how you can support a community in need.

Support the local economy

Patronizing local businesses, whether online or in person, brings revenue to the impacted area.

Tell a friend

Use your social media platforms to encourage people to support the local community. Sharing your experiences via photos and stories can inspire others to visit and contribute to the recovery.

Volunteer

During a disaster, many organizations need volunteers. By signing up, you can directly impact the affected area. Many different skill sets are required, so find an organization that would benefit from your talents.

Donations

Monetary donations are needed during a crisis. When donating to an organization, consider the following:

The organizations purpose in the recovery. Will your donation have a direct impact on the community?

Do you want to support an organization dealing with the immediate crisis versus an organization that comes in during the rebuilding phase? Both types of support are needed.

Is it a legitimate organization? Crises bring out the best and worst in people, so make sure your money will help those in distress and not criminals. Verify the charity at BBBs Wise Giving Alliance website, give.org.

To receive the tax deduction for a donation, the organization must be a 501c3 charity.

Supplies and resources

Supplies and resources are required in the hours, days and weeks after the initial crisis. Work with an experienced organization to organize and get supplies to impacted areas.

Fundraising efforts

Organize a fundraiser to support an organization or individual. However, check with your local laws about fundraising. If you collect funds for a specific person, ensure you have the family's permission.

Housing support

Offer temporary shelter to an individual or family left without a home. Whether using a spare room or other properties, it will impact those who have lost their home.

Emotional support

A natural disaster takes an emotional toll on those impacted. Be there to listen, help organize a support group or connect survivors to counselors.

For those impacted by a disaster, the support they receive will help them in the days, weeks, and months after the initial event. However, the recovery process will continue after the headlines subside and those impacted will still need financial, economic and emotional support.






Gov. Little orders flags at half-staff

for Israel

Gov. Brad Little has ordered U.S. and State of Idaho flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday to honor the people who have lost their lives  including American citizens  in the Hamas attack against Israel.

Idaho stands firmly with our ally, Israel. We wholly support Israels defensive actions against the terrorist actions of Hamas, Little said in a news release. Idahoans, join me in praying for peace.

Idaho U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, immediately condemned the Hamas attack over the weekend and called for Americans to rally around our friend and partner Israel in the aftermath of an unprovoked attack.

These attacks are a stark reminder that Israel faces enduring threats posed by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah, and are one reason why Israel continues to deserve the United States unwavering support, Risch said in a statement.

The Idaho senator also criticized what he described as the Biden Administrations weak-kneed approach to Iran, which supports Hamas, PIJ and Hezbollah.

These attacks reinforce the need for a more aggressive U.S.-Iran policy that more effectively deprives the regime and its proxies of resources, Risch said.

Also:

The U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration announced a $445 million allocation to Idaho

last week as part of the third year of funding for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes the single largest investment in the countrys transportation infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s and 60s. A total of $61 billion in funding for the 2024 fiscal year was provided across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

 Times-News
TWIN FALLS  Recently, spigots were turned on and, gradually, thousands of gallons of molluscicide were intentionally released into the Snake River from the hydropower plant at the Twin Falls downstream to Centennial Waterfront Park in an effort to kill quagga mussels.

It shows that sometimes you have to harm something for it to survive.

It was an aggressive move, but state officials said they had no choice after quagga mussel larvae and an adult mussel were found in that section of the river last month. It was either that or let the small invasive pests slowly take over the waterway, clogging pipes and choking out wildlife.

It is hard, said Chanel Tewalt, director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and as hard as it is, it would be harder to have this river changed forever.

Even though officials say the water will still be considered safe for humans to drink during the treatment, no one knows exactly how the river will be affected in the attempt to kill the larvae and mussels.

Fish and plant life will  and have  died. Within days, 20 hatchery-raised sturgeon ranging from 6 feet to under 2 feet, along with several hundred other fish, including largescale suckers, common carp, northern pike minnow and yellow perch, have been pulled from the river, although officials say mammals and waterfowl living near the river are not expected to be affected. The treatment is expected to be wrapped up on Friday, after which there will be an evaluation conducted to determine its success. Everyone is holding their breath for a positive outcome.

It would be a huge step for ISDA to get life back to normal, including for recreation enthusiasts  boaters, kayakers, fishermen and hunters  whove been banned from the stretch of the river out of fear their activities could spread the mussel.

We are very cognizant of the closures and people who want to get back to the river they love, Tewalt said.

Natrix, a copper-based molluscicide, which in May 2020 became an approved pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, is the chosen treatment and the first 96-hour phase of the procedure concluded last week.

A second treatment is now being applied from Shoshone Falls to Pillar Falls, the area where a plume of larvae was detected and adult mussels are suspected of hiding under the water, latched onto rocks or other surfaces.

Depending on the results of the initial 10-day effort, more treatment might be needed.

No sitting around

Once mussels mature, they quickly start reproducing. Each year, a female mussel can produce up to 1 million microscopic free-swimming larvae, called veligers. After a few weeks, the larvae begin to form shells and attach to firm, underwater surfaces.

The urgency is there to kill both adults and larvae and do it quickly.

Tewalt told a crowd at a briefing Oct. 1 at Twin Falls City Hall that under normal circumstances, the department would reach out to people to give them a chance to comment on a plan of action, but there was no time for that. The window of opportunity to have the best chance at killing the mussels is small, she said.

Idaho Code allows the state to make quick decisions when something is deemed an environmental emergency.

There is no sitting around ..., Tewalt said. We get to work as quickly as possible.

The stretch of the river near Twin Falls has become a battleground. It is not just a local issue; the future of the Columbia River Basin, the only major river system in the U.S. that had been free of the invasive pests, could be at stake.

Gov. Brad Little said if the mussels got firmly established in Idahos waterways, it could cost the state $100 million each year in direct and indirect costs.

Mussel larvae were confirmed Sept. 18 after a routine sampling of water at Centennial Waterfront Park. Ten days later, a scuba diver found a single adult mussel at Shoshone Falls.

The discovery of the adult mussel was incredibly fortunate, officials said, equating it to locating a needle in a two-mile-long haystack.

But its not the only one down there.

As soon as you find one, you know they cant exist by themselves; there needs to be more, Tewalt said.

When the adult was discovered, it added more urgency to the situation. There was no such luck as what Montana faced five years ago when veligers were found in a river in the central portion of the state, but no adults were ever discovered and the state officially remains mussel-free.

While coming up with the final plan, although officials were working quickly, corners werent cut, Tewalt said, and agencies were given a chance to comment.

Numerous state and federal agencies, offices and utilities  a total of 16 listed in a recent news release  were kept in the loop and officials gave advice and helped with the plans formulation.

Tewalt said the ISDA took a number of groups on the river to explain the situation and to discuss the scale and magnitude of the plan. The agency faced plenty of questions and plenty of different options were discussed.

As an announcement grew near, Tewalt recalled that the ISDA told them, We need you all to tell us now if there is a problem with the treatment plan as we have constructed it collaboratively.

No one objected, Tewalt said.

Twin Falls Commissioner Don Hall said he has been happy with the accessibility to ISDA officials.

I have been impressed with the team and their communication, he said, likening it to having Tewalt on speed dial.

In addition, property owners were notified of the release of Natrix.

Releasing the chemical

Natrix began to be released into the river on the evening of Oct. 3. A few issues, including doing some last-minute calibrations and fixing a broken hose, caused a later start than anticipated.

It was normal stuff, Tewalt said, but we obviously wanted to make sure everything was right.

As the initial wave of treatment was released, the water at Shoshone Falls began to take on a bluish color, but that was an anticipated, temporary byproduct of the release.

It didnt run blue for very long, she said.

And in the first place, getting the amount of product to the river was not an easy task.

Hats off to the manufacturing company for being able to work with us, Tewalt said. They didnt just have this amount sitting on a shelf somewhere.

The manufacturer, SePRO Corporation, ramped up manufacturing and rushed it from the East Coast to Idaho.

The trucks were tracked hour by hour, Tewalt said.

Workers set up empty 250-gallon totes along strategic parts of the river, and transported the product to the totes by boat. The chemical is also being dispensed on boats by the hired applicator, who has worked with ISDA in the past.

In addition, SePRO Corporation has chemists on-site to ensure it is applied appropriately.

They know their product better than anyone, Tewalt said.

The target rate of one part per mission was reached a day or more after the applications began.

From its initial release, every piece of that is very carefully calibrated to get us to 1 ppm in a way that is measured and in a way that is appropriate and fits with the plan that is laid out, Tewalt said.

ISDA employees are camped out on the river, monitoring and finetuning the treatment.

Releases were reduced once monitoring sites hit 1 ppm. The treatment was to last 96 hours to help ensure quagga mussels receive a lethal dose.

Varley explained at a briefing that mussels have a tendency to hold their breath, or close up, if there is something in the water that they dont like, much like what children might do when offered broccoli.

Treating all the river at that 1 ppm can be tricky, Tewalt said, as the river is not all the same depth. There are also deep pools, including one near Pillar Falls that is 90 feet deep, which are being treated as a separate body of water, said Varley.

The total amount of pesticide used per treatment is about 11,000 gallons in each of the two sections from Centennial Waterfront Park to Pillar Falls, and from Pillar Falls to Shoshone Falls. An additional amount is needed to treat the deep pools. The area near Twin Falls hydroplant took a lesser amount.

Safety and wildlife

Downstream from Centennial Park, on a dirt road leading to Auger Falls, are signs posted at nearly every potential point of river access, alerting people to stay off the river. They warn of danger and pesticides, along with mentioning the quagga mussel treatment.

F&G surveys fish populations in the Snake River prior to quagga mussel treatment Idaho Fish and Game fisheries biologists from across southern Idaho on Sunday and Monday used non-lethal electrofishing techniques in the Snake River to mark fish in three short reaches of the river.

Regardless of what kind of danger it may or may not pose, people have been told to stay off the river from the Twin Falls to Niagara Springs for weeks, so they shouldnt be in the river, Tewalt said.

The amount of Natrix being added to the river will keep it safe to drink, officials say, as the drinking water standard is 1.3 ppm, Tewalt said. The product starts killing fish, however, at a rate of 0.4 ppm.

This copper product is toxic to fish and aquatic organisms. Unlike most organic pesticides, copper is an element and will not break down in the environment and will therefore accumulate with repeated applications. Copper is a micronutrient, but its pesticidal application rate exceeds the amount of copper needed as a nutrient, warnings on the Natrix label reads.

Fish kills have been documented so far, and Tewalt said organic matter in the river is showing signs of breaking down.

We love the sturgeon, Terry Thompson of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said. Hes never caught one of the huge sturgeon in the river but knows people who have.

For people who catch them, it is quite the memory, he said.

He said he wasnt sure if larger sturgeon stand a better chance of surviving the treatment, and that very few of the sturgeon on the stretch of river are native.

The best chance of fish survival could depend on them finding water sources coming into the river, so they could escape the toxic levels, Thompson said, noting that has been happening. But the river is more than fish and plant life. Native mussels such as the Western pearlshell are in the river and expected to take a hit.

Thompson said Fish & Game is running two boats on the river 12 hours a day, documenting fish mortality. He expects the department will be monitoring fish kill two weeks after the treatment.

Mary Anne Nelson, with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, said the department doesnt know how long it will take for the river to heal.

Fish & Game will look at restocking options after the treatment is over.

I dont like the killing of fish in that stretch of the river, Commissioner Hall said. But I like it better than to let the mussels infiltrate the river. What those mussels will do is 1,000-fold worse.

Fish and Game closes all fishing in a portion of the Snake River in response to quagga mussel detection near Twin Falls Due to the presence of quagga mussels at larval life stages in the Centennial Waterfront Park area of the Snake River, the Idaho Fish and Game director has declared an emergency and has closed fishing of any kind on the Snake River from Twin Falls Hydroelectric Dam to the bridge crossing the Snake River at Idaho Highway 46.

If the river wasnt treated, a quagga mussel infestation would end up fouling the ecosystem, leading to fish kill, officials said.

The molluscicide doesnt settle into the flesh of the fish, but travels over the gills so they cannot breathe, preventing the fish from being able to take oxygen out of the water and into their bloodstream, officials said.

The two 96-hour treatments, with a short period of time in between, are done to keep within the label directions, Varley said.

The pesticide wont suddenly disappear from the environment, but officials say it will dissipate as springs pour into the river downstream, as well as bubble up from under the river.

In addition, plant life is expected to die as it absorbs the copper and suspended sediment also absorbs copper.

The product is expected to dissipate by 70% within a 16-mile stretch downriver of Centennial Waterfront Park, as springs flowing into the river will aid in the dilution process.

The rate at Centennial Park is about 380 cubic feet per second and increases to about 2,000 cfs at the Highway 46 Bridge north of Buhl, Varley said.

Having to do the treatment is heartbreaking, Tewalt said.

But one thing is certain, Tewalt said.

The alternative is worse.

Treatment plan to kill quagga mussels underway The plan calls for using a copper-based treatment in an effort to eradicate the mussels, which could cost Idaho hundreds of millions of dollars if they establish themselves in waterways.

F&G closes access to waters on lands along the Snake River in the Magic Valley Region In response to the recent detection of invasive larval quagga mussels in the Snake River at the Centennial Water Park in Twin Falls, Idaho Fish and Game is temporarily closing water access to the public on lands owned and managed by Fish and Game along the Snake River effective Sept. 21.

Quagga mussel discovery leads to temporary closing of local lakes "An invasion of the quagga mussel is potentially disastrous," Twin Falls Canal Co. Manager Jay Barlogi told the Times-News on Wednesday.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are once again seeking comments on a repeatedly stalled and revived draft plan to reintroduce grizzly bears to the Northern Cascades Ecosystem in Washington.

In response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the agencies resurrected the plan last fall. Late last month, they released a draft environmental impact statement  the most rigorous level of environmental analysis of a proposed federal action  for transplanting grizzlies to the ecosystem. The plan seeks to build a population of 200 bears over 60100 years, starting with a base of 25 bears in the first five to 10 years.

Grizzlies were once prevalent in the region, according to NPS research. The species, which has been protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1975, was extirpated from the area in the 1900s through a combination of habitat destruction and killing by humans. As many as six bears from neighboring British Columbia may occasionally venture into the Cascades, but none are known to permanently reside in the ecosystem.

The plan to return grizzlies to the 95,000-square-mile ecosystem surrounding Northern Cascades National Park has been mired in disagreement from local ranchers to Cabinet secretaries and the halls of Congress. An independent poll in 2016 found that 80% of Washington voters supported grizzly recovery in the state. Since then, two previous rounds of public comment brought in more than 127,000 comments.

In 2017, President Trump's then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ordered a halt just as the planning process was finishing its third year of review. Zinke restarted the process four months later, and left the Cabinet position at the end of that year. He was elected a second time as a Montana congressman in 2022.

Zinke's replacement at Interior, David Bernhardt, halted the reintroduction plan again in 2020. That stoppage led to the ultimately successful lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, which argued the agency was required by the ESA to pursue reintroduction.

The agencies are accepting comments on the 303-page plan until 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on Nov. 13. Comments can be submitted online at parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=112008 or mailed to Superintendent, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 810 State Route 20, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284.

Washington agriculture groups have vehemently opposed grizzly reintroduction. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, has also been a vocal opponent in Congress.

Newhouse, who has a background in agriculture, blasted the draft plan in a statement Thursday, calling it "ill-conceived" and a threat to humans and agriculture. He also criticized comments coming from outside the area of north-central Washington around the northern Cascades.

"The Biden administration should prioritize listening to local voices rather than being swayed by unelected bureaucrats from D.C. or radical environmentalists from out-of-state who will not be affected by these dangerous creatures," Newhouse said. "Its easy for urban-dwellers hundreds of miles away to be excited by the prospect of grizzly bear restoration, but they won't have to grapple with the consequences of an 800-pound killing machine being introduced into their own neighborhoods."

The congressman also knocked the comment period as nothing more than a performative gesture.

"This is incredibly reckless and underscores a larger concern," Newhouse said. "The Biden administration seems to have a preconceived conclusion in mind, rendering this public comment period a mere facade."

Andrea Zaccardi, the Center for Biological Diversity carnivore conservation legal director, lauded the draft plan in a statement upon the document's release late last month.

"Im delighted to see that a plan to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades is moving forward," she said. "Grizzly bears once thrived in the North Cascades, and this is a good step toward bringing grizzlies back to this vast, wild area where they clearly belong."

The Northern Cascades Ecosystem is one of six grizzly bear recovery zones identified by FWS in the 1990s as part of the agency's recovery plan for the species.

The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem around Montana's Glacier National Park and Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is home to just over 1,100 grizzlies. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks at the Wyoming-Idaho-Montana interface is home to more than 1,000 grizzlies. The Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem in far northwest Montana and Selkirk Ecosystem in far northern Idaho and northeast Washington are each home to fledgling populations.

The Bitterroot Ecosystem in southwest Montana, like the Northern Cascades Ecosystem, has no known resident grizzlies. But grizzlies do occasionally roam into and out of the areas in small numbers. Earlier this year, in response to a separate lawsuit from Alliance for the Wild Rockies, a federal judge ordered FWS to follow through with a long-stalled plan to reintroduce the species to the Bitterroot.

Before Lewis and Clark's 1805 expedition, grizzlies number about 50,000 in the Lower 48 across habitat spanning from Canada to Mexico. When the species received federal protection in 1975, they numbered fewer than 600 and occupied 2% of their original range in the Lower 48.
GCash, the mobile wallet of Globe Telecom, said Tuesday its services are now back to normal after a downtime yesterday.

As of Oct. 9, 7 p.m., the intermittent issues have been addressed and all affected services are accessible. We assure our customers that their accounts and funds remain secure, GCash said in a statement.

GCash said it has been continuously rolling out safety and security measures to prevent unsecured devices from accessing the app.

While implementing this, the app remained operational but some customers may have experienced intermittent access to selected services, it said.

The latest security deployment is part of ongoing enhancements to ensure the safest and most secure experience for our customers, GCash said.

The company said its official channels remain open and accessible for any concerns.

We advise our users to never share their MPIN and One-time PIN [OTP] with anyone. GCash will never send emails or messages with links nor reach out to customers via calls and other messaging platforms, it said.
Siah Ab, AfghanistanRescue workers scrabbled through rubble Tuesday for villagers buried in their homes by a series of earthquakes that killed more than 2,000 people in rural western Afghanistan, but hope of finding survivors was fading fast.

Volunteers have worked non-stop with spades and pickaxes in Herat province since Saturdays deadly magnitude 6.3 quake struck  followed by a series of powerful aftershocks  but some were turning to digging graves instead.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by deadly earthquakes, but the weekend disaster is the worst to strike the impoverished country in more than 25 years.

Strong tremors were still shaking the area on Monday.

There are families who dont have anyone left alive, said 50-year-old Ali Mohammad in Nayeb Rafi village, once home to 2,000 people.

No one is left, not a woman nor a child no one.

In nearby Siah Ab, a mass funeral ceremony was held Monday for more than 300 victims collected from nearby communities.

White-shrouded bodies were unloaded from a fleet of vehicles and laid in ranks as a crowd of men solemnly crossed their arms in Islamic prayer.

I thought I must have been dreaming; all the places were razed, said 30-year-old Ismail, who goes by only one name.

No one is left.

The United Nations says 100 percent of homes were destroyed in 11 villages of rural Zenda Jan, a hard-to-reach district just 30 kilometres (19 miles) northwest of Herat city, the provincial capital.

Disaster management ministry spokesman Mullah Janan Sayeq said late Monday that desperate villagers were still searching to get their family out of debris.

But reports from the field described a very bad situation he told a news conference in the capital.

Local and national officials gave conflicting counts of the number of dead and injured, but the disaster ministry said Sunday that 2,053 people had died.

We cant give exact numbers for dead and wounded as it is in flux, Sayeq said.

More than 11,000 people had been affected from 1,655 families, the World Health Organization says.

Trucks packed with food and blankets have arrived in the area, with blue tents popping up among the ruins of villages.

As winter draws in, providing shelter for residents will be a major challenge for Afghanistans Taliban government, which seized power in August 2021 and has fractious relations with international aid organizations.

Taliban authorities have banned women from working for UN and non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan, making it difficult to assess family needs in deeply conservative parts of the country.

Amnesty International said the Taliban government should ensure that rescue and relief efforts are carried out without discrimination and guarantee unrestricted access to the affected regions to humanitarian agencies.

It is critical that all assistance meets the needs of the most at-risk groups who often face compounded challenges in crisis situations, including women, said South Asia regional researcher Zaman Sultani.

Most rural homes in Afghanistan are made of mud, built around wooden support poles, with little in the way of modern steel reinforcement.

Multi-generational extended families generally live under the same roof, meaning disasters such as Saturdays quake can devastate local communities.

Afghanistan is already suffering a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Talibans return to power.

Save the Children called the quake a crisis on top of a crisis.

The scale of the damage is horrific. The numbers affected by this tragedy are truly disturbing, said the groups country director Arshad Malik.

Herat province  home to around 1.9 million people on the border with Iran  has also been hit by a years-long drought that has crippled many hardscrabble farm communities.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless last June after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the impoverished province of Paktika.

More than 4,000 people died in a magnitude 6.5 quake that struck Takhar province in 1998. AFP
China on Monday warned the Philippines to take its words seriously and declared that it will do what is necessary to protect its interest in the South China Sea, which it claims is in violation of a UN tribunal ruling.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued the warning Monday night as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) labeled Beijings recent actions in the South China Sea, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, as irresponsible and said they could lead to its global isolation.

China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously Chinas concerns, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, in a statement.

Beijing also called on Manila to stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears.

China had repeatedly ignored the Philippines sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, despite the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, and insists it has indisputable ownership over it and the rest of the South China Sea.

The Philippines recently strengthened its efforts to protect its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea by conducting patrol and resupply missions as China took more aggressive actions, such as installing floating obstacles and firing water cannons at Filipino ships.

China said the Philippines must do everything to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region.

But Chinas recent actions in the West Philippine Sea have been denounced by other countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

In the face of widespread criticism, however, China said it will continue to, in accordance with our domestic laws and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Beijings statement came after it noted a series of steps that the Philippines took in the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal that seriously violate Chinas territorial sovereignty.

Beijing said that the Ayungin Shoal has been Chinas territory since ancient times, and not of the Philippines on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory.

It also called the arbitration ruling as illegal, null and void because territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS, the law that served as the basis for the ruling.

Beijing claimed that the Philippines grounding of BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea gravely violated Chinas sovereignty and passed the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely to the Philippines.

China cannot accept the Philippines acts of going back on its words again and again and violating Chinas territorial sovereignty, it said, referring to the supposed but unproven promise made by Manila to remove the vessel.

The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the grounded military vessel, it added.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., meanwhile, dismissed as propaganda Chinas claim that its coast guard has driven a Filipino naval vessel away from the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Although we are still verifying the incident, it seems nothing of the sort took place. So, it seems to be propaganda coming from China, he said, speaking in Filipino.

Earlier, the China Coast Guard announced that it had driven away a Philippine Navy (PN) gunboat after they spotted it intruding into the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal.

Scarborough Shoal is known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal.

Brawner said the PN has no presence in the Scarborough Shoal, and that only the Coast Guard is there.

He also said if there were a Navy ship in the area, they would never allow it to be driven away.

Brawner recently bared plans to create more brigade combat teams as it shifts its focus to territorial defense.

These teams are highly mobile units and combined arms in composition, which means that they would have their own artillery, armor, transport, and other attached units to make them more effective in the field.

The combat team will also be bigger than a brigade, which traditionally consists of around 1,500 to 2,500 personnel.

He added these brigade combat teams are envisioned as the quick response units of territorial forces based in these islands.

Also on Tuesday, Australias Foreign Minister Penny Wong said a joint sail by the Philippines and Australia would proceed as planned.

Were not making an announcement on when but the intention remains as the leaders announced a joint sail in the West Philippine [Sea] in an appropriate maritime location (that) is yet to be announced, Wong said in a press conference.

The future joint sail will come as Manila and Canberra seek increased engagements as strategic partners in the region.

Naval ships of the Philippines and the United States, meanwhile, held anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills during the ongoing Exercise Samasama in the waters of Southern Luzon.

To enhance the ASW capabilities of the participating Navy ships, an expendable mobile anti-submarine warfare training target (EMATT) was used to mimic the acoustic signature of submarines, enabling the naval forces to practice and refine their ASW tactics, Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NFSL) public affairs office chief Lt. Kim Paulo Lopez said in a statement late Monday.
By Frankie Taggart

Washington, United States  The race to replace the ousted Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives intensifies this week amid questions over whether anyone can unify the chaotic partys warring factions.

Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a stunning mutiny last week orchestrated by the far right, leaving efforts to avert a looming government funding shutdown in a tailspin.

It also raised serious questions over the future of US military aid to Ukraine and, more immediately, over Congress ability to respond quickly to a crisis like the weekend attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

Bracing for more of the disarray that marked McCarthys eviction, House Republicans are due to host a candidate forum Tuesday to pick their new standard-bearer, followed by a vote behind closed doors Wednesday.

The speaker must be approved by a majority of the 433-member full House, however  with both Democrats and Republicans voting  and there is no timeline for a floor vote, leaving the lower chamber in limbo.

Two declared candidates  McCarthys longtime deputy Steve Scalise and firebrand Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan  have been furiously working to lock in support, but a clear frontrunner is yet to emerge.

And the attack by Hamas that left at least 700 Israelis dead has prompted speculation about whether a leaderless Congress is able to react to a crisis.

If neither Jordan nor Scalise can get the support of 217 Republicans, the lower chamber could temporarily approve full speaker powers for Patrick McHenry, who has the job on a caretaker basis but is so far restricted to ceremonial duties.

Some lawmakers want to reelect McCarthy, who did not rule out returning to the post during a lengthy news conference on Monday.

Thats a decision by the conference, Ill allow the conference to make whatever decision. Whether Im speaker or not, Im a member of this body, he said, deflecting further questions about whom he would support if it wasnt him.

However, none of the eight conservative lawmakers who joined Democrats to oust McCarthy last week has indicated that they would reconsider their objections to his leadership.

Trump endorses Jordan

Jordans quest to secure the gavel won the coveted endorsement of former president and 2024 election candidate Donald Trump, who added to the sense of chaos accompanying proceedings by saying hed be open to a short-term role as caretaker speaker as the race plays out.

According to House rules, the speaker does not have to be a member of the chamber, and Trump has said he would consider taking the gavel for a 30, 60 or 90-day period.

His offer is not seen as a serious possibility, however, and there has been no broad show of support from Republicans for the ex-reality TV star  who is facing multiple criminal prosecutions  to take the helm, even temporarily.

There would have to be a change in the Republican-drafted rules in any case, as anyone indicted for a felony is barred from leadership positions.

Jordan, a far-right populist, told Fox News his priority would be codifying language that says no money can be used to process or release into this country any new migrants.

But his reticence over sending Ukraine more aid could hurt him with centrists, analysts say.

With the House paralyzed by the leadership drama and the Senate in recess for another week, the November 17 deadline for passing a 2024 budget to avoid the government shutting down is beginning to worry lawmakers.
By Jay Deshmukh with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza City

Jerusalem  Palestinian militant group Hamas, which dragged off about 150 hostages in its surprise weekend assault on southern Israel, threatened on Monday to kill them if Israeli air strikes continue targeting Gaza residents without warning.

The threat came after Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the water supply which sparked UN fears of an increasingly dire humanitarian situation.

Israel continued bombing targets in response to the surprise Hamas assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks.

Reeling from the Palestinian Islamist groups unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted 800 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have raised the death toll there to 560.

Fireballs repeatedly lit up the darkness of Gaza City Monday night as explosions sounded and sirens wailed.

Hamas  whose militants surged into Israeli towns on Saturday, spraying gunfire at civilians and dragging off captives  claimed on Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of the hostages.

It later said it could start killing them itself.

Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier threatened that what Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible  We are going to change the Middle East.

This is only the beginning, he vowed. We will defeat them with force, enormous force.

Hamas launched more rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared.

Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists for its Swords of Iron campaign, and truck convoys were moving tanks to the south, where its forces were working to dislodge holdout Hamas fighters from embattled towns.

Libby Weiss, an Israeli military spokeswoman, said some Hamas militants are still there right now, after about 1,000 militants had penetrated the region on the Jewish Sabbath.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a complete siege on the long-blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: No electricity, no food, no water, no gas  its all closed.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned this will compound Gazas already dire humanitarian situation.

Now it will only deteriorate exponentially, he said.

Palestinians in the coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages.

Lebanon border clash

Middle East tensions have spiked as Israels arch enemy Iran and their Lebanese ally Hezbollah praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran rejected any direct role in the military operation.

Hamas has called on resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join its Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched half a century after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

The military operation is still continuing, Hossam Badran, a Hamas official, told AFP from Doha, adding that there is currently no chance for negotiation on the issue of prisoners or anything else.

The United States has pledged rock solid support for Israel and said it would send munitions and military hardware to its key ally and divert an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean, amid fears of a wider conflagration.

Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamass unprecedented attack.

It now faces the threat of a multi-front war after Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells from the north on Sunday in solidarity.

On Monday, the Israeli army said its soldiers had killed a number of armed suspects who had crossed the border from Lebanon and that Israeli helicopters were striking targets in the area.

The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad later claimed responsibility for the thwarted infiltration from Lebanon to Israel.

Hezbollah said an Israeli strike on a south Lebanon watchtower killed three of its members.

They butchered people

Israel has expressed alarm and revulsion at the Hamas attack across the Gaza border fence  long deemed impregnable and guarded by surveillance cameras, drones, patrols and watchtowers.

Among the hostages they took back into Gaza were children and a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israeli officials have said.

More than 270 bodies, mostly young people, were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, while other revellers were feared to be among the hostages.

They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way, said Moti Bukjin of the Zaka religious volunteer group which helped collect the human remains.

Israelis have voiced anger at the intelligence failure.

But for now its people appear to have put aside divisions that this year split the country, and even its military, and braced for what the right-wing veteran premier Netanyahu warned will be a long and difficult war.

In constant fear

Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day, said army spokesman Jonathan Conricus.

The multi-pronged attack had brought by far the worst day in Israeli history, he said, likening it to a combination of the 9/11 and Pearl Harbour attacks.

Inside Gaza, air strikes wrought widespread destruction in the Jabalia refugee camp, where charred bodies were pulled from the rubble and relatives wailed in grief.

Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas assumed control there in 2007, leading to four wars with Israel before the latest escalation.

Israeli strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, a large mosque and the territorys major bank building.

More than 120,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, said the United Nations.

The situation is unbearable, said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, sheltering in a school classroom with her terrified children.

Global shock waves

Palestinians in the West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces, leaving 15 Palestinians dead since Saturday.

Mourners in Hebron waved green Hamas flags during the funeral procession for one of them, Muhammed Jawad Zughayer, 21.

In Rafah, Gaza, mourners buried six members of a family killed when an air strike hit their home.

Anti-Israel activists have demonstrated in many countries while security was stepped up around Jewish temples and schools worldwide.

The spiralling conflict has sent shock waves around the globe, sparking a surge in oil prices on fears of tightening supplies.

US energy firm Chevron said it suspended operations at a natural gas platform off Israels coast, at the request of authorities there.

Western capitals condemned the attack by Hamas, which the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group.

The EU has halted development aid payments to the Palestinians and said it was placing 691 million euros of support under review.

Foreign or dual nationals have been reported killed, abducted or missing by countries including Brazil, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States.

The Arab League said its foreign ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Israeli aggression.

The leaders of Britain, the US, France and Germany were also to hold talks later Monday. This must not be allowed to become a conflagration in the region, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
TaipeiTaiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday democracy had thrived on the island despite increased Chinese pressure, and vowed that its people would remain free for generations.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, and has in recent years stepped up military and political pressure against Tsais administration.

Taiwan sees near-daily Chinese warplanes incursions around the island, while on the international stage, Beijing has poached its diplomatic allies in a bid to isolate it.

In a National Day speech, Tsai said it was her duty to safeguard our national sovereignty and the democratic and free way of life of Taiwans 23 million people.

In the midst of tremendous internal and external pressures, Taiwans democracy has grown and thrived and we have emerged with even greater resilience, she said.

To protect Taiwans democracy is to protect the universal value of democracy.

The Taiwanese people, she added, will be a democratic and free people for generations to come.

Tsai also appeared to strike a conciliatory tone with Beijing, saying that Taiwan seeks peaceful co-existence, with free, unrestricted, and unburdened interactions between people across the strait.

We are willing to take the Taiwan public consensus as a basis with a process of democratic dialogue and focusing on maintaining the status quo to develop with the Beijing authorities a mutually acceptable foundation for interaction and a path to peaceful co-existence, she said.

She also reiterated that peace is the only option across the strait.

Maintaining the status quo, as the largest common denominator for all sides, is the critical key to ensuring peace, she said.

Since Tsai was elected in 2016, relations with Beijing have deteriorated, due to her and her administrations refusal to accept that Taiwan belongs to China.

In the past year, Beijing has run massive war games around the island, carrying out simulations of a blockade that have raised the worries of Taipei  as well as key allies such as the United States.

Tsai is in her final year of office, unable to run for president again due to the islands two-term limit.

Taiwan will hold national elections in January, with Tsais deputy Lai Ching-te the current front runner for the poll. Lai has previously described himself as a pragmatic Taiwan independence worker.

His opponents  Hou Yu-ih from the China-friendly Kuomintang party and Ko Wen-je from the smaller Taiwan Peoples Party  seek to promote closer ties with Beijing. AFP
Eight years after forming an unexpected love team on the noontime show Eat Bulaga!, actor Alden Richards finally answered the question of whether he fell in love with fellow host Maine Mendoza.

In an interview with Boy Abunda on Fast Talk with Boy Abundas Monday episode, the 31-year-old actor bravely faced the question of Asias King of Talk.

Did you fall for Maine? asked Boy.

Yes, hypocrite po ako kung hindi. Ayoko pong sabihing alam niya but I did confess, Alden confessed.

Alden didnt state any further details on when, how, or what happened after he confessed to the phenomenal star.

However, the Five Breakups and A Romance star shared how he considered his tandem with Maine as his biggest romance and biggest breakup.

He also expressed how grateful he was to Eat Bulaga! and Maine for giving him the opportunities he had experienced during the AlDub days.

Romance, yes, Tito Boy. Ang daming opportunities na dumating po sa buhay ko because of it. Im very grateful to Maine. Im very grateful to Eat Bulaga, by all means. Sincerely, the multi-hyphenated actor said.

Kasi parang dun ko po naramdaman na talagang when you work hard for something, si Lord, pag may hinihingi ka, hindi niya yan ibibigay sa panahong gusto mong makuha. He always has this magic of giving it at the right timing. But break up, Tito Boy, yes, he added.

He then explained that breaking up with AlDub means growing and moving forward as individuals.

A breakup. But lets remove the negative context of break up in this conversation with AlDub. It doesnt necessarily mean that when youre going through a breakup, laging masama, laging masakit, laging malungkot, Alden continued.

It was a breakup because both of us, Maine and I, we needed growth. We needed to venture into our individual life, you know to learn [to] move, he said.

AlDub became popular in 2015 when Alden and Maine were accidentally paired during the noontime shows segment Kalyeserye. That time, Maine was introduced as Yaya Dub, the nanny of Wally Bayolas character, Lola Nidora.

Since then, AlDub made waves online landing on the trending spot every day as the audience witnessed their onscreen romance hindered by Lola Nidora.

In 2018, the two had both decided to go on separate ways with Alden pursuing leading roles on teleseryes while Maine starred in the comedy show, Daddys Gurl with Vic Sotto.

On the other hand, Alden and Maine remained as good friends and as hosts of Eat Bulaga! back then.

In July this year, Maine married actor and Quezon City 1st district representative Arjo Atayde in a private ceremony attended by their relatives and close friends.
Japanese cinema has been known for bringing international-acclaimed horror and thriller films. From the terrifying ghosts and demons of classic Japanese horror films Ju-On: The Grudge and The Ring series to the Japanese monster characters of the iconic Godzilla, these films have captured the attention and imagination of audiences around the world.

Therefore, whenever Japan released a film, moviegoers would quickly think of horror genres. One example of this is Hirokazu Kore-Edas newest film, Monster. When we hear the word monster, we immediately think of something scary, horror, or terrifying.

However, we are telling you, that this Japanese film may become your go-to film or even one of your favorite movies. Well tell you why without giving any spoilers.

It is an award-winning film

The first thing you should know about Monster is that it won international awards during the 76th Cannes Film Festival where it also had its world premiere on May 17, 2023. The award-giving body honored the Japanese film with the Best Screenplay award emphasizing its exceptional storytelling. Monster or Kaibutsu is penned by Yuji Sakamoto.

It also bagged the Queer Palm Award for being the best LGBT-related film.

It is directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda

During its special screening last October 3 at SM Megamall Cinema 2, the countrys highly-acclaimed film directors such as Irene Villamor, Petersen Vargas, and JP Habac showed their support for the film. When asked what they were looking forward to in the film, most of them said that they had been wanting to watch a Hirokazu Kore-Eda-directed movie.

Kore-Eda was an award-winning Japanese director who had won prestigious film awards. He won the Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for his film, Like Father, Like Son, and bagged the Palme dOr award during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for Shoplifters.

Now, hes back at the Cannes and even nominated for Palme dOr.

It is the last project of Ryuichi Sakamoto

More than the film was directed by the critically acclaimed Kore-Eda, what made Monster even more special was that it was the last scoring project of Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto. It featured a haunting score by Sakamoto.

Kore-Eda described his collaboration with Sakamoto as a longtime wish that finally came true. Sakamoto used songs from his new album 12 and old songs to compose the whole scoring. In the end, he submitted two piano pieces, as per the request of Kore-Eda.

Sakamoto was known for winning international awards including Academy Award for Best Original Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

It can also be remembered that Suga of BTS also tapped Sakamoto for his debut studio album, D-Day.

Two months before the release of Monster, Sakamoto died on March 28, 2023, after a long battle with cancer.

It has a lot of plot twists

The only thing we could tell you is that the audience could expect a lot of plot twists throughout the film.

The film tells the story of a single mother, Saori (played by Sakura Ando), who stormed into the school learning that her son, Minato (Soya Kurokawa) was bullied and told her that the person behind it was his teacher, Mr. Hori (Eita Nagayama).

The story unfolded throughout the film showing different perspectives of Saori, Mr. Hori, and Minato.

It will be shown in the Philippine cinema

Well, Filipino movie enthusiasts now have the chance to watch the award-winning film in the Philippines as Nathan Studios is bringing the Monster to local cinemas.

Nathan Studios CEO and actress Ria Atayde shared that she, her mom, Sylvia Sanchez, and Lorna Tolentino were deeply moved and touched upon watching the film.

Its a poignant narrative about love, anti-bullying, family, and mental health, said Ria.

She also assured moviegoers to be touched after seeing Monster.

The local movie outfit teamed up with seasoned actress Lorna and 888 Films International in securing the rights to the critically acclaimed Japanese drama film.

Monster unspools in cinemas today.

It is a film that will give you lessons

Well, its nothing new that films would teach their audience lessons but we must say, Ria was right. Monster hit differently as it would make its audience fully understand how important the role of adults is in childrens lives.

Empathizing (with the film) is important, but I feel that theres something more important beyond that. Not just empathizing with the main characters, two boys, but I wanted this film to also make people question what adults can do (for the children), and what one should think about, said Kore-Eda during a press conference.

It would also touch on the issues of bullying, mental health, and the importance of acceptance in the community.

Before we end this article, theres one thing that we wanted to leave with you that we got from the film: Happiness is something anyone can have.
A federal court jury found a Martinsville man guilty of drug charges after authorities seized methamphetmine and cocaine valued at more than $35,000 from his home.

Octavius Myron Johnson, 39, was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, in addition to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, a news release stated.

According to evidence presented at the late September trial, in early 2023, law enforcement initiated an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Glade Spring area of Washington County. The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Johnsons Martinsville residence, where police recovered more than a half pound of crystal ice methamphetamine  totaling 9.7 ounces  and 83.5 grams of cocaine. Cash totaling $3,800 and other items related to drug trafficking were also seized.

Johnson is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 17, when he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment of five years and a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million, a release stated.

The investigation of this case was conducted by local, state and federal agencies.

Collinsville man pleads guilty in firearms case

James Anthony Nolan, 28, of Collinsville, pleaded guilty Oct. 2 in U.S. District Court to one count of knowingly possessing an unregistered firearm.

In March, a park ranger saw a black Toyota Scion parked across two parking spaces at the Roanoke River Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. During a welfare check on the occupant of the vehicle, the ranger smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the car. Nolan admitted he had marijuana with him and the ranger proceeded to search the vehicle, court documents state.

During the search, a backpack was discovered containing more than 50 rounds of assorted ammunition and a sawed-off shotgun in operating condition. Seven expended 12-gauge shotgun shells were also discovered. The firearm, which was not registered as is required by federal law, was a Derya Arms, Tradition 12-gauge shotgun with black electrical tape wrapped around the buttstock and measuring approximately 21 inches in length with a 10-inch barrel. Nolan admitted to purchasing the shotgun and sawing down the barrel but claimed it was for a project he was working on, a release stated.

Nolan is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, when he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
On Thursday, the Rotary Club of Marions recently formed nonprofit foundation received a donation of $15,000 from Julian Austin, a longtime Marion business owner, Rotarian and World War II veteran.

This donation will be used to assist students at McDowell High School as they seek competitive scholarships to prestigious colleges and universities. These students get the opportunity for a scholarship interview but often dont have the financial resources to travel for these interviews or visits to the colleges of their dreams.

A couple of weeks ago, the Rotary Club of Marion heard the presentation from Pat Gross, college and career specialist at McDowell High School. She helps students fulfill their dreams for education. My passion is for helping kids plan for their future, she said at that meeting on Sept. 21.

Gross said at that time that many of the high schools students she assists come from homes where no one has attended college. They dont know how to apply or seek scholarships. She tries to help them fulfill their dreams but she can only do so much.

I wish there were several of me helping these students, she said at the Rotary meeting on Sept. 21.

Gross asked Rotarians to consider helping these students who are competing for major scholarships to places like N.C. State University or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They often need assistance with transportation or lodging when they travel to Raleigh or Chapel Hill for an interview.

The 98-year-old Austin was moved by her appeal for help and he wanted to do something that would make a difference. At Thursdays meeting, Austin presented a $15,000 check to the Rotary Club of Marion Foundation to help the high schools college-bound students. Gross and McDowell High Principal Melora Bennett were there to accept it along with Foundation Chairman Richard Berlick. Assistant Superintendent Brian Oliver spoke on behalf of Superintendent Tracy Grit who was unable to attend. He told the Rotarians how grateful the school system is for this generous donation from Austin.

Pat Gross gave a wonderful presentation to our Rotary Club regarding the students she is assisting with college applications, visits, and scholarship interviews, said Club President Chip Cross. Pat is very passionate about helping these students. That came through in her presentation and it resonated with the members of our club. She outlined a number of miscellaneous needs for these students. We were thrilled with Julians desire to help our students. Thank you Julian for your generosity and for your inspiration to our community.

This donation represents the most significant contribution to the new Rotary Club of Marion Foundation.

Established July 1, the foundation is a steadfast source of support for non-profits and service organizations in McDowell County. The foundation empowers us to foster the growth of high-impact programs that will resonate across our community, driving positive change.

For decades, the Rotary Club has woven itself into the fabric of McDowell County, playing a vital role in our community. Through dedicated volunteerism and financial contributions, this organization has consistently provided essential support to non-profit and service groups doing good in our community.

As an incorporated North Carolina nonprofit, the Rotary Club of Marion Foundation operates under the guidance of a board of directors to support and foster the clubs charitable endeavors. The foundation has a 5013 tax-exempt status from the IRS. This structure supports Rotarians in championing global understanding, goodwill and peace. Its pursuits encompass enhancing health care, fostering education, and tackling povertyencompassing efforts spanning from the international sphere to our local community, according to a news release.

The Rotary Club of Marion Foundation curates distinct funds tailored to the clubs initiatives:

Scholarship funds. The Marshall Dark Sr. Scholarship is presented annually by the Rotary Club of Marion to one or more deserving young scholars from McDowell.

Community grants: Designated to fund distinct projects that propel the mission of worthy nonprofit or service organizations within McDowell County.

Service Above Self emergency response fund: Supports organizations serving the basic needs of individuals or animals affected by sudden, unexpected events. Examples might include fire, flood, storm damage and financial crises.

Endowment Fund: Permanent funds, a portion of which are used annually to promote charitable projects of the Rotary Club of Marion. The assets in this fund are generously provided through donations, gifts, and bequests.

Contributions to the Foundation can be designated to a specific initiative. Any funds given that arent specified by the donor will go into the General Fund, which will be used in their entirety for local community projects, according to the news release.

Throughout the years, the clubs accomplishments have been largely due to the fundraising efforts and generous donations from our members, said Richard Berlick, foundation chairperson. Previously, these contributions werent tax-deductible due to the specific incorporation structure of the Rotary Club. Now our foundation has tax-exempt status from the IRS so we can provide businesses and donors with the same tax advantages as other foundations. We are confident this change will encourage increased community investment and further bolster our program.

Leaving a charitable bequest to the Rotary Club of Marion Foundation is more than a financial decision; its a testament to our enduring commitment to the communitys growth and well-being, said Sharon Parker, foundation board member. Such gifts ensure that the legacy of generosity and service continues, echoing our values for future generations. With our foundation having its tax-exempt determination from the IRS, certain contributions such as gifts of stock or from an IRA could have added tax benefits, making your support even more impactful.

If you would like to donate to the Rotary Club of Marion Foundation, contact the group via one of the following ways: Email Foundation President Richard Berlick at rberlick@gmail.com; give online at https://form.jotform.com/232157252982156; or send a check by mail. Make checks payable to Rotary Club of Marion Foundation: Rotary Club of Marion Foundation, P.O. Box 1213, Marion, N.C. 28752-1213.
The World Bank announced this Monday the issuance of two Sustainable Development Bonds purchased by Bank Al-Maghrib (Moroccos Central Bank) for its reserves management.

The  100 million 3-year and  100 million 5-year Sustainable Development Bond transactions will support the financing of the World Banks sustainable development activities and pay annual fixed rate coupons to Bank Al-Maghrib. The bonds mature on October 6, 2026, and October 6, 2028.

The World Bank issues Sustainable Development Bonds in the international capital markets to support the financing of sustainable development activities designed to achieve positive social and environmental impacts in developing countries, while raising awareness of specific development themes across a range of sectors.

These bonds were issued under the World Banks Sustainable Development Bond Framework. The World Bank integrates climate action into its development financing efforts including resilient food systems, clean and renewable energy, and environmental and water security throughout its global portfolio, including African countries.

The announcement of these bonds coincides with the start of the WB-IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech, focusing on driving action for more sustainable outcomes for people and the planet.

The World Bank has partnered with Morocco in Noor Solar plant, Africas largest solar plant; the rehabilitation of the Fez Medina, the World Banks first cultural heritage program; the National Human Development Initiative; Moroccos first green bond; its first private equity fund, and much more.
At least 23 people perished in a landslide triggered by torrential rains on Sunday October 8 evening in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, according to a provisional report from a fire department official who is continuing the search.

Landslides during the rainy season are a frequent occurrence in Yaounde, a city dotted with hills on whose slopes precarious dwellings are sometimes built.

This time, the tragedy occurred early Sunday evening in the Mbankolo district on Yaoundes north-western outskirts, and was caused by the breach of a dike holding back the waters of an artificial lake located high up, according to public television station CRTV.

Yesterday we extracted 15 dead people and this morning we extracted eight. Were still searching, David Petatoa Poufong, second-in-command of the national fire department, told journalists at the scene on Monday morning.

At mid-morning, the bodies of the eight victims found on Monday were loaded into a fire department pick-up, covered in sheets, in front of a packed crowd of onlookers and mourners.

There was a landslide following heavy rain. The water swept away everything in its path, Daouda Ousmanou, sub-prefect of Yaoundes Sector II, where Mbankolo is located, told public radio.

According to CRTV, the torrential rains caused a dike breach in the neighborhood, which triggered a mudslide and some 30 houses were destroyed. The channel also broadcast images, obviously taken at night, showing torrents of water and mud continuing to flow in places, as well as at least three lifeless bodies covered in loincloths or sheets.

On November 27, 2022, at least 15 people died when a hillside collapsed in the Damas district, south of Mbankolo. In this working-class district, torrential rains had caused a hillside wasteland to collapse, where a crowd was attending a funeral tribute.
The trial of two former Rwandan officials on charges of war crimes and genocide committed in 1994 opened in Brussels on Monday October 9 without one of the defendants, who has been hospitalized for three days.

The health of 76-year-old Pierre Basabose, one of the alleged financiers of the Interahamwe militia (Hutu extremists) in Kigali, was at the heart of the debates at the opening of the hearing. For several months now, his lawyer Jean Flamme has been arguing that Basaboses dementia syndrome prevents him from taking part in the trial.

He had already been dismissed on this point in June, but on Monday demanded a new psychiatric examination of his client. However, the lawyer agreed to represent Mr. Basabose, allowing the proceedings to continue without him. The first day of the hearing was devoted to the reading of the indictment.

This is the sixth assize trial in Belgium relating to the Tutsi genocide perpetrated in Rwanda nearly thirty years ago. The hearing, scheduled to last two months, concerns two personalities close to the former Habyarimana presidential couple: Pierre Basabose and 65-year-old Seraphin Twahirwa.

Both had sought refuge in Belgium, Rwandas former colonial power and home to a large Rwandan community. They were arrested there in September 2020. Targeted by arrest warrants issued in Rwanda, they were also on the radar of the Belgian public prosecutors office, alerted by immigration services to their suspicious profile.
Filipe Nyusi inaugurated the airfield and port of Mocimboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado, following reconstruction after terrorist attacks. Vital infrastructure has been restored in the midst of the crisis in the region. Millions of euros have been invested.

The Mozambican Head of State, Filipe Nyusi, on Monday October 9 inaugurated the airfield and port of Mocimboa da Praia, in Cabo Delgado province, infrastructures destroyed in the terrorist attacks and which have been rehabilitated in recent months.

On the night of August 4, 2020, the armed groups that have been carrying out attacks in Cabo Delgado since 2017 invaded Mocimboa da Praia, taking over the airfield and port infrastructures, and the clashes with the Defense and Security Forces left an unknown number of dead, including members of the maritime force, in addition to several destroyed infrastructures.

Work began on rehabilitating the infrastructure after the security situation stabilized, with the arrival of foreign forces in July 2021, namely from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community.

For the port of Mocimboa da Praia, at least 7 million dollars (6.6 million euros) have been invested in the new mooring quay and the completion of the channel signaling system, but the rehabilitation, which will continue, has a total budget of 30 million dollars (28.4 million euros), the administrator of the infrastructure, Helenio Turzao, declared.

The rehabilitation work at the airfield is budgeted at around 15 million meticais (222.1 thousand euros), according to data from the Mozambique Airports administration.

After months in the hands of rebels, Mocimboa da Praia was looted and almost all public and private infrastructure was destroyed, as well as the power, water, communications and hospital systems.
On Monday October 9, a Kenyan Court hearing an opposition case temporarily suspended a government plan to send police officers to Haiti as part of a UN security mission to this Caribbean country plagued by gang violence.

Last week, the UN Security Council gave the go-ahead for a multinational mission led by Kenya to be sent to Haiti, for which Nairobi said it was ready to provide 1,000 police officers. In recent days, this decision has raised many questions in Kenya, where detractors, notably in the opposition to President William Ruto, consider the mission dangerous and unconstitutional.

Referred to by lawyer and opponent Ekuru Aukot, the Nairobi High Court ruled on Monday that the oppositions application raised important issues for the country and the public interest which require urgent consideration. Judge Enock Mwita therefore issued a conservatory order suspending the deployment of police officers to Haiti or any other country until October 24,

Mr. Aukot denounces the desire to deploy Kenyan police abroad at a time when the country is struggling to combat insecurity within its borders. Opponents of the mission also point out that the troubled history of foreign intervention in Haiti shows that Kenyan police officers could be perceived there as an interfering force.

The Haitian government, confronted for years with the growing violence of gangs that control certain parts of the country, has been calling for a mission to restore order for the past year. But its call for help has long gone unanswered by the international community, scalded by past experiences in the country.
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Adolescent girls have worse mental health and well-being across the board compared to boys, finds a new survey report by the WHO Regional Office for Europe released today, World Mental Health Day.

Dr. Jo Inchley from the University of Glasgow is the International Coordinator of the Health Behavioiur in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. The survey monitors the health behaviors and social environments of nearly 280,000 boys and girls aged 11, 13 and 15 years from 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Canada.

The report, "Focus on adolescent mental health and well-being in Europe, Central Asia and Canada," is based on data from the HBSC survey 2021/2022.

It found girls scored consistently lower on life satisfaction, mental well-being and self-rated health, and higher on loneliness, than boys. About a quarter of 15-year-old girls reported feeling lonely most of the time or always in the past year, compared with about one in seven boys.

A long-running pattern

Although the COVID-19 pandemic and its containment measures are believed to have played a role, they are not the sole explanation. In fact, life satisfaction and self-rated health among adolescents, particularly girls, has been in decline since 2018, even before the pandemic, while there has been a rise in multiple health complaintssuch as difficulty sleeping, backaches or headaches, or feeling lowsince 2014.

"I think there's a lot of girls who put themselves down because they're like 'Am I good enough? Am I strong enough? Am I capable of doing things?'" said one girl from a secondary school in Scotland, when asked about the results. "They put themselves down and beat themselves up for nothing. They don't appreciate themselves for who they are."

The survey also found that one-third of adolescents experienced feeling nervous or irritable more than once a week in the last six months. One in four reported sleep difficulties (29%) and/or feeling low (25%). One in five (20%) reported frequent headaches more than once a week.

The report also reiterates longstanding findings that socioeconomic status is an indicator of mental health, with overall health being worse among adolescents from less affluent families.

A foundation for holistic health and well-being

Being able to monitor child and adolescent mental health, such as through the HBSC surveys, can help determine the impact of national or regional activities to improve mental health and well-being.

"With its long-term trends, HBSC enables us to monitor the impact of wider societal change and individual lifestyles on health outcomes for adolescents," said Jo Inchley. "Importantly, it lets us hear from young people themselves about the issues that matter to them and the factors that affect their health and well-being. While there are many challenges to address, the data also highlight the importance of providing caring and supportive environments in which adolescents can thrive."

"The challenges faced by young people today are diverse and demanding, ranging from the climate crisis to academic pressures and social expectations to the pervasive influence of social media," said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

"It is our collective responsibility to ensure they have the support and resources they need to navigate these challenges successfully. Just last month, WHO/Europe launched the Youth4Health Network, which will give young people a seat at the table in the decisions about their health and well-being. Todayon World Mental Health Daywe stand together to emphasize the crucial importance of youth mental health."
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An example of our information extraction algorithm. (A) Initial dependency tree. (B) Final information chunks. Credit: JCO Global Oncology (2023). DOI: 10.1200/GO.23.00191

Recently published in JCO Global Oncology, a new article presents the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for the accurate detection of potentially cancerous nodules described in computed tomography (CT) reports, conducted outside of the cancer screening context.

The technology is a natural language processing (NLP) tool, trained to analyze chest CT reports. The study was conducted by the D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), in partnership with the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), and the Universities of Florida and Stanford in the United States.

Natural language processing advancements in artificial intelligence have frequently made headlines in recent years, and while it may still be a topic of futuristic narratives, the truth is that the use of this technology is already well-established and surrounds us daily. If you've ever used online banking chatbots, enabled automatic video captions, or issued commands to virtual assistants on your devices, you may have wondered how machines can understand human communication so well.

Understanding and responding to human language is the primary goal of natural language processing (NLP), one of several fields within artificial intelligence. NLP is used for several functions in many well-known tools, including chatbots and digital assistants like Siri and Alexa. However, its potential is also being explored in the medical field.

With this in mind, the current study sought to invest in the technology to develop a tool capable of detecting the possibility of lung cancer through CT reports that had been performed for reasons other than cancer screening.

"When we perform a chest CT, in the context of lung cancer, there are two main indications. One is for cancer screening in a patient at risk, usually over 50 years old with a smoking history. The other context is a patient who has, for example, a suspicion of a pulmonary embolism and undergoes a CT scan to investigate that, and an incidental nodule appears in that exam."

"This is called an incidental finding. Our NLP tool operates in this latter situation because sometimes these patients may lose the opportunity to receive an early diagnosis. The incidental finding is easier to overlook because the doctor is focused on another hypothesis and may not suspect those details in the initial interpretation," explains Dr. Rosana Rodrigues, a radiologist researcher at IDOR and one of the study's authors.

Lung nodules

When analyzing chest images, the presence of lung nodules is a relatively common finding, and the majority of them are benign. However, serious risks can hide in 1 to 3% of these cases. Due to their high prevalence, lung nodules are often overlooked in emergency hospital exams.

A prime example of this occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, where CT scans were frequently performed in clinics and hospitals to identify lung involvement in the disease. In this scenario, many of these nodules were described in medical reports but were not adequately investigated for their cancer potential. Identifying the issue in its early stages provides an opportunity to apply more effective therapies, with a greater chance of curing patients.

"We had the idea for the tool during the pandemic because we were performing 30 to 40 CT scans per day on patients suspected of COVID-19. The doctors who were requesting the CT had a complete focus on the disease because they needed to know if the patient required hospitalization. When we were writing the reports, in addition to the presence or absence of COVID-19 lung impairment, we also saw many lung nodules, some of which were suspicious for lung cancer," says Dr. Rodrigues.

"That raised a huge concern for us, because during the pandemic, no one would retrieve these reports, so this cancer diagnosis could be lost. That's when we started thinking about how we would recover all these suspicious exams. That's when we've planned the NLP tool," recalls the radiologist, who also works at 3 hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, including the public hospital of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

The possibility of identifying lung cancer in patients who are not suspected of having the problem encouraged the article researchers to consider solutions for this diagnostic window. That's when they had the idea of developing an automated NLP tool capable of searching for suspicious nodules identified incidentally in chest CT medical reports.

Teaching the machine

Like us, artificial intelligence isn't born knowing. To train the NLP tool developed for the study, the radiologists on the team conducted a retrospective analysis of over 21,500 chest CT reports performed at a research-affiliated hospital between 2020 and 2021. Of these thousands of exams, 484 presented incidentally detected lung nodules with potential carcinogenicity, whose descriptions were used to train the NLP tool in identifying these lesions.

After training, the NLP underwent internal validation involving the assessment of over 300 chest CT reports, with 157 of them containing incidentally detected nodules suspected of malignancy and 148 serving as control group to calculate the tool's accuracy potential.

The NLP was taught to understand the text written in the reports, without access to images. Researchers programmed it to report as suspicious any incidentally detected nodules not previously known in the patient's history, with a diameter greater than 4 mm and without clinical context associated with cancer, pneumonia, or small airway disease. The tool was also capable of categorizing higher-risk nodules, such as those larger than 8 mm or those with a solid component greater than 6 mm.

In the internal evaluation, the NLP tool achieved an accuracy of 98% in detecting the nodules of interest. The positive results led the researchers to conduct a second test in May 2022, this time analyzing over 900 chest CT reports, which were randomly selected from 57 different hospitals.

In this second test, the NLP demonstrated an even more impressive accuracy of 98.6%, which was further validated by a final check by radiologist doctors, establishing a gold standard for the tool's testing. These results reaffirmed the accuracy and competence of artificial intelligence for assistance in clinical applications.

Of the 484 incidental findings used for NPL training, 8 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer and were able to undergo early treatments. According to the study, 2 of these diagnoses could have been missed without the assistance of the NLP tool.

Considering that 70% of lung cancer cases are curable when treated in precocious stages, early detection of the disease significantly improves these chances for patients. The artificial intelligence was developed in a widely used programming language, Python, and its use is compatible with several institutions and hospitals where Portuguese is the official language. The tool may contribute significantly to the early recognition of lung cancer, especially in patients treated in emergency services and outside specialized oncology centers.

More information: Rodrigo Basilio et al, Natural Language Processing for the Identification of Incidental Lung Nodules in Computed Tomography Reports: A Quality Control Tool, JCO Global Oncology (2023). DOI: 10.1200/GO.23.00191

Provided by D'Or Institute for Research and Education
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A California bill would have made free condoms available for high schoolers, but it was vetoed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom because of cost.

California has a budget deficit of $30 billion, Newsom noted in his veto of Senate Bill 541. This bill, plus several other measures lawmakers passed, would have increased state budget costs by $19 billion.

"This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process," the Democratic governor wrote.

If the bill had been allowed to go through, it would have required public schools with grades 9 through 12 to make condoms available and free for all students. Those with grades 7 through 12 would have been required to allow condoms to be available as part of educational or public health programs.

The state has 1.9 million high school students in more than 4,000 schools, the Associated Press reported. Under the bill, retailers would also have not been allowed to refuse to sell condoms to youth.

The bill would have helped "youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from [sexually transmitted infections], while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex," said the bill's author, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat from Los Angeles, the AP reported.

Newsom said programs that increase access to condoms are "important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health."

Still, "with our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure," Newsom added.

The California state Legislature, which has a Democratic majority, passed hundreds of bills before adjourning last month, the AP reported.

Other health bills Newsom vetoed were those that limited the price of insulin, banned caste-based discrimination and decriminalized possession and use of some hallucinogens, the AP reported.

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on adolescents and sexually transmitted infections.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Representative immunolabeling of IL-12R2+ (gal+) NeuN+ neuronal cells in the inflamed murine hippocampus (left) and cerebellum (right) of Il12rb2LacZ/LacZ reporter mice. Scale bars, 50 m and 100 m. Credit: Dr. Myrto Andreadou

Cytokines are proteins that help the human body to control and support the work of the immune system. Over the past few decades, a growing number of studies have been exploring the role of specific cytokines, including IL-12, in inflammation and the development of specific diseases, such as psoriasiform skin inflammation and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Researchers at the University of Zurich in collaboration with other research institutes recently set out to map the IL-12 receptor expression on different type of cells, including natural killer (NK) and T cells but also, surprisingly, neurons and oligodendrocytes. Their paper, published in Nature Neuroscience, gathered interesting new insights about the mechanisms underlying the impact of these proteins on inflammation and the development of MS.

"The two cytokines IL-12 and IL-23 share a common subunit: the protein p40," Prof. Burkhard Becher, co-senior author of the paper, told Medical Xpress. "For a long time, researchers interpreted findings with p40 neutralization as an effect of both IL-12 and IL-23. Already in the early 2000s, during my postdoc in the U.S., I serendipitously discovered that IL-23, rather than IL-12, had proinflammatory, pathogenic properties in CNS neuroinflammation Specifically, my colleagues and I noticed that IL-12 has a regulatory function and that it limits inflammation."

In the studies he conducted as a post-graduate, Prof. Becher gathered initial evidence suggesting that that IL-12 played a key role in attenuating inflammation. At the time, however, due to a lack of suitable genetic tools, he was unable to uncover the specific mechanisms through which IL-12 protected the body from inflammation.

"In 2016, Dr. Sarah Mundt joined my lab as a postdoc to generate this missing tool," Prof. Becher said. "The most pressing question was now which cell type could be responsible for the observed effect. While I was convinced that the IL-12 sensing cell population must lie within the hematopoietic compartment, Dr. Mundt and Dr. Myrto Andreadou, who started as a Ph.D. around the same time, were curious to see whether also other cell types, possibly within the central nervous system (CNS) itself, could be the mediators of the protective effect of IL-12."

The primary objective of this research team's recent study was to shed further light on the role that the IL-12 cytokine plays in inflammation. To do this, they conducted a series of experiments in adult mice, using a genetic tool developed by Drs. Mundt and Andreadou.

"Cytokines are a way of immune cells to communicate with each other and with other cells of the body," Dr. Mundt, co-senior author of the paper, explained. "To deliver their 'message,' cytokines must engage with their corresponding receptor on the surface of cells. In our study, we used a newly developed genetically modified mouse model that allowed us to identify IL-12 receptor expressing cells and to specifically ablate the IL-12 receptor from individual cell types."

In their experiments, Drs. Becher, Mundt, Andreadou and their colleagues targeted the IL-12 receptor in neurons within the adult mice's brains, removing it using a technique known as conditional gene ablation. Subsequently, they observed the effects of its removal on the clinical disease course in a mouse model of MS.

"We found that neurons expressed high levels of the IL-12 receptor and potentially represented the long missing mechanistic link," Dr. Andreadou said. "By specifically ablating the receptor in neurons we could recapitulate Prof. Becher's old finding that IL-12 ameliorated the clinical outcome in a murine model of MS. Thereby, we identified neurons as the responsible cell type that mediated the protective effect of IL-12."

Finally, the researchers tried to decode the "message" that IL-12 had delivered to neurons, using an advanced genetic technique known as single nucleus RNA sequencing. Interestingly, they found that the cytokine had instructed the neurons to protect themselves and their surrounding environment, via their immune responses.

"Our findings explain why previous attempts in targeting IL-12 in MS therapy has not been successful," Prof. Becher said. "We can now say with confidence that such a therapeutic approach would even be counterproductive, and, conversely, delivering IL-12 induced 'messages' (such as trophic factors) might be beneficial in MS."

The recent work by this research team gathered valuable insight that could guide the development of future development of treatments for MS and potentially also other diseases linked to inflammation. Their findings are aligned with other recent works in this area, as some clinical trials have already been assessing the potential of increasing neurotrophins, such as BNDF (which the team found to be induced by IL-12) as a part of treatment for MS.

"Beyond that, this discovery sheds further light on the multifaceted properties of cytokines," Drs. Becher, Mundt and Andreadou said. "We now find that all cytokines may have simultaneously both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects depending on their cellular targets. This makes a lot of sense in order to balance immune responses, which should be effective, albeit self-limiting to avoid immune-mediated pathology and chronic inflammation."

This recent study could soon pave the way for further research efforts aimed at exploring the impact of cytokines in neuroinflammation and associated diseases using genetics tools. Meanwhile, the researchers will continue their work investigating IL-12 in mouse models of MS and other debilitating diseases of the CNS, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).

"We are currently collaborating with the team of Prof. Frank Heppner in Germany to study the role of IL-12 in a model of AD, a neurodegenerative disorder of the CNS," Prof. Becher added. "In this instance, the cells that deliver IL-12 to the CNS differ from those in neuroinflammatory conditions like MS. Hence, the induced message could also be different."

More information: Myrto Andreadou et al, IL-12 sensing in neurons induces neuroprotective CNS tissue adaptation and attenuates neuroinflammation in mice, Nature Neuroscience (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01435-z Journal information: Nature Neuroscience

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Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is causing a greater number of global deaths than melanoma, the more serious form of skin cancer, a new study presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) Congress 2023 has found.

Researchers also believe that NMSC is underreported and that the true impact of this disease may be even higher than estimated.

Professor Thierry Passeron, lead author of the study, explains, "Although NMSC is less likely to be fatal than melanoma skin cancer, its prevalence is strikingly higher. In 2020, NMSC accounted for 78% of all skin cancer cases, resulting in over 63,700 deaths. In contrast, melanoma caused an estimated 57,000 fatalities in the same year. The significantly higher incidence of NMSC has, therefore, led to a more substantial overall impact."

Professor Passeron adds, "As alarming as these figures are, they may, in fact, be underestimated. NMSC is often underreported in cancer registries, making it challenging to understand the true burden."

In addition to examining the overall burden of skin cancers, the researchers identified specific population groups that were more at risk of this disease, including people who work outside, organ transplant recipients and those who have the skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum (an inherited extreme sun sensitivity condition).

The study, which utilized data from the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, found a high incidence of skin cancer in fair-skinned and elderly populations from the U.S., Germany, UK, France, Australia and Italy. However, even countries with a high proportion of dark phenotypes were not immune to the risk of death from skin cancer, as demonstrated by the registered 11,281 deaths in Africa.

In 2020, there were nearly 1.2 million reported cases of NMSC worldwide compared with 324,635 cases of melanoma. The majority of skin cancer occurrences are non-melanoma, referring to a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin, with common types including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. In comparison with melanoma, a type of skin cancer that develops in the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin), NMSC is less likely to spread to other parts of the body and can be treated more easily.

Professor Passeron comments, "We have to get the message out that not only melanoma can be fatal, but NMSC also. It's crucial to note that individuals with melanin rich skin are also at risk and are dying from skin cancer. There is a need to implement effective strategies to reduce the fatalities associated with all kinds of skin cancers."

"Our study did not find consistent evidence to suggest that having more dermatologists per capita could reduce mortality rates. Surprisingly, countries like Australia, the UK and Canada, with fewer dermatologists, exhibited low mortality-to-incidence ratios. We therefore need to explore what strategies these countries are employing to reduce the impact of skin cancer in further depth."

"The involvement of other health care practitioners, such as GPs, in the identification and management of this disease may partly explain their success. There remains huge opportunity worldwide to elevate the role of GPs and other health care professionals in this process and train them to recognize suspicious lesions early."

"In alignment with this, there is an ongoing need to develop awareness campaigns that educate the general public about the risks of sun exposure and other relevant risk factors. These campaigns should be tailored to at-risk populations, including those with fair skin, outdoor workers, the elderly and individuals who are immunosuppressed. Importantly, these efforts should also extend to populations that may not typically be considered at high risk, such as darker-skinned populations."

Professor Passeron concludes, "Skin cancers are preventable and treatable, so we need to do more to ensure we are stopping the progression of this disease as early as possible to save lives."

Provided by European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology
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Credit: JCI Insight (2023). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.172216

Immune cells play a key role during pregnancy, adjusting immune system response in a way that enables the fetus to develop while also protecting the parent and fetus from outside assaults like viruses. In a new study, Yale researchers have found that a particular protein found throughout the body plays a major role in this important immune system modulation, affecting placental health early in pregnancy.

The findings, they say, could lead to new treatments for reproductive conditions in the future.

The study, led by Yale School of Medicine's Reshef Tal, was published Oct. 10 in the journal JCI Insight. A human fetus contains genetic material from both parents, which makes it partly foreign to the pregnant person's body. The immune system, therefore, needs to make adjustments that balance a tolerance for the developing fetus with protection against harmful foreign insults like viruses.

Many of these adaptations happen within the deciduatissue that surrounds and interfaces with the placenta. Prior studies by the same research team showed that early in pregnancy, bone marrow cells, including immune cells, migrate to the uterus and the decidua. The researchers were interested in the mechanisms that recruit these cells to the pregnant uterus.

Previous research has shown that a protein called C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4, or CXCR4, and the protein that binds to it are critical for trafficking bone marrow cells in organs and tissues around the body. CXCR4 is also expressed in higher amounts in the uterus at the beginning of pregnancy.

"Previous findings imply there is an important function for CXCR4 in pregnancy," said Tal, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the study. "We wanted to understand its overall role in pregnancy maintenance and immune function in the decidua."

First, the researchers deleted the gene that codes for CXCR4 in adult female mice, effectively removing the protein from the body. Compared with normal mice, those without CXCR4 lost more fetuses during pregnancy and had smaller litter sizes. However, when CXCR4 was removed only in the uterus, there were no negative pregnancy effects.

"That finding suggested that it's not the CXCR4 expression within the uterine cells themselves, but rather it's the CXCR4 expression from outside of the uterus that plays an important role in pregnancy maintenance," said Tal.

Since immune cells are recruited to the uterus from outside the organ, the researchers then looked at how CXCR4 deletion affected immune cell populations in the decidua. Early in pregnancy, the majority of immune cells in the decidua are what are known as "natural killer" cells.

Around the body, these white blood cells destroy diseased cells, but in early pregnancy these natural killer cells in the decidua play a key role in the vast tissue and blood vessel remodeling required for the placenta to properly develop and for the fetus to begin receiving nutrients and oxygen from the parent.

In mice without CXCR4, fewer natural killer cells were trafficked to the uterus, and those that were trafficked there clustered abnormally. These natural killer cells also expressed a particular enzyme (granzyme B) at lower levels than usual, leading to an abnormal inflammatory response in the uterus. Additionally, the mice had irregular blood vessel arrangement in the placenta and decidua, which could affect the exchange of nutrients between parent and fetus.

To see if these changes were caused by immune cell dysfunction, the researchers transplanted healthy bone marrow from normal mice into mice without CXCR4. "We found that this rescued much of the effects," said Tal.

Mice with transplanted bone marrow had fewer pregnancy losses than those without. They also had normal levels of natural killer cells, cell distribution, expression of enzymes, and blood vessel arrangement in the placenta, the researchers found.

"One of the main takeaways of the study is that you can harness the bone marrow cells' ability to home to the uterus and affect both the immune status of the decidua and the vascular remodeling of the placenta," said Tal.

This, he said, could inform new treatments for reproductive conditions like recurrent pregnancy loss and preeclampsia.

"In these conditions, there is thought to be an imbalance in the immune factors and the factors involved in blood vessel formation," said Tal. "Our findings could potentially lead to a cell therapy approach to treat those types of conditions."

More information: Fang Lyu et al, Maternal CXCR4 deletion results in placental defects and pregnancy loss mediated by immune dysregulation, JCI Insight (2023). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.172216 Journal information: JCI Insight
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Three out of four American adults say prescription drug prices are unaffordable, and nearly a third admit to not taking prescribed medications due to cost, according to a recent poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The foundation's data confirmed that Americans have a higher out-of-pocket cost for drugs than comparable nations.

A law signed a year ago, but being held up by legal challenges, is an attempt to lower drug prices. The law gave Medicarethe federal insurance provider for those over 65 and those under 65 with certain disabilitiesthe power to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical drug manufacturers on certain costly drugs.

While the law focuses on a segment of the branded pharmaceutical market, the generic drug market faces serious shortages and quality problems. More than 100 pharmaceutical drugs are in short supply, among them critical cancer drugs, medication for treating attention deficit disorder and certain commonly used antibiotics.

Kevin Schulman, MD, professor of medicine at Stanford and director of the Clinical Excellence Research Center, has published often on the topic. He recently spoke about why U.S. drug prices are so high, why there is a shortage of some medications and how to fix problems within the Medicare system.

Why does the US have such high drug prices?

It starts with the fact that pharmaceutical companies set their own prices. We don't have a centralized purchaser like in other markets, such as the U.K. and other countries in Europe, and we have a tremendous lack of transparency across the entirety of the payment model. Rather than a market where pharmaceutical companies compete on the basis of list prices, our market sets high list prices for drugs at the pharmacy, but then funnels back enormous amounts of money from pharmaceutical companies to intermediaries in the form of rebates and other payments. As these payments have grown, list prices have seen double-digit increases for consumers. Shockingly, none of us are told about these payments when we go to the pharmacy.

Why do other countries have lower drug prices?

In Europe, patients have access to most of the drugs we do at a fraction of the cost because they have nationalized pricing mechanisms and negotiate directly with drug manufacturers. American pharmaceutical companies argue that price negotiation discourages innovation, even though there's little evidence to support that argument. Most importantly, other countries also don't rely on intermediariesotherwise known as pharmacy benefit managersthat control access and drive up drug prices in the U.S.

What are pharmacy benefit managers and how do they affect the pricing system?

Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are companies that work for health insurers to administer the prescription drug portion of employee health insurance plans. As intermediaries, PBMs negotiate drug prices and placement on the lists of drugs insurers agree to cover. PBMs then receive rebates and fees from the drug manufacturers for each unit of product sold, which results in higher drug prices for consumers. While PBMs work for employers, they also work for themselves, profiting in many ways from higher drug prices. All of these payment mechanisms are constructed under a veil of secrecy, and it's distorting drug pricing in the U.S. market.

What were the factors that led to the recent drug shortages, and how does the generic market figure into the equation?

Today, generics make up 90% of all medications used in the U.S. and provide enormous savings to consumers. Generics are drugs that are chemically equivalent to brand-name drugsthey enter the market when the branded product loses intellectual property protection, typically after 20 years. The generic drug program was intended to provide a tremendous savings to consumers. But we have a generic market that's totally focused on price and not on product quality or supply chain quality.

Every time a manufacturer brings a new generic drug to the market it offers even lower prices, and that drives down prices for all manufacturerssometimes even below the prices agreed to in signed contracts. Eventually, prices become so low that firms leave altogether, causing shortages. The problem of drug quality was compounded by the pandemic because it caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fall behind on inspections of foreign factories, which provide 80% of the active ingredients in generics.

We often get low-price drugs from low-quality manufacturers. In the case of Intas Pharmaceuticals, a major manufacturer of the cancer drug cisplatin, FDA inspectors found enormous and systematic quality problems, and the product was removed from the U.S. market. In that way, a product-quality problem turned into a supply problem, because we didn't have enough alternative manufacturers for that drug.

How can we bring prices down and ensure shortages of essential drugs don't occur?

The simple answer is we have to reverse the economics behind drug shortages. We need to ensure a market price above the cost of producing it with good quality manufacturing. Consumers don't buy the lowest price products on Amazon irrespective of the quality ratingsbut, essentially, this is how the generic drug market works. We need to identify and reward quality, even if quality results in marginally higher prices for generic drugs. We want drug manufacturers to invest in quality products, and we want distributors to have robust supply chains. We also want purchasers like hospitals to recognize how a single focus on short-term price results in critical drug shortages over the long term.

CivicaRX, the not-for-profit drug maker, is an example of a good model of this solution. It addresses the instability of generic drug supplies by offering hospitals long-term contracts for medications at a price tied to manufacturer stability and quality. New data show that this strategy actually reduced costs over the long term.

When the Alzheimer's drug aducanumab led to one of the largest-ever price increases in Medicare Part B, you published a paper in JAMA with CERC colleague Barak Richman proposing a unique approach to reducing Plan B drug costs.

With Medicare Part B, federal officials act on behalf of beneficiaries in making decisions about which drugs and treatments get covered under the program and which don't, all without direct communication with or input from the population that is directly impacted.

We proposed that the 66 million Medicare beneficiaries should be allowed to vote each year to set a target for Part B premium increases. Many seniors struggle with premium increases, so it makes sense they should have a say. Once a budget is set, Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services will have a clear mandate in making difficult coverage decisions for expensive new treatments.

One of the factors behind the turmoil in the House of Representative is the growth of the federal debt. Underlying the projected growth debt is an increase in spending for entitlement programs such as Medicare. Medicare will have a deficit of $440 billion this year, growing to $823 billion in 2030. Our proposal would essentially have seniors set a budget for Medicare. This step would dramatically change the discussions in Washington about Medicare growth and put real pressure on drug prices.
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Transgender women and Black gay and bisexual men in Chicago are nearly twice as likely to contract syphilis at some point in their lives as white gay men, according to a new study conducted by scientists at Northwestern University.

The study, "Syphilis prevalence, incidence, and demographic differences in a longitudinal study of young sexual and gender minority adults assigned male at birth," is the first to examine syphilis over time among young sexual and gender minoritiesa category that encompasses gay and bisexual men, trans women and non-binary individuals. They found meaningful demographic differences in prevalence, across participants' lifetimes and during the six-month period of the study, leading to a more nuanced understanding of risk factors for the under researched group.

The research comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plan to recommend doxy-PEP, a one-time dose of the antibiotic doxycycline, for use after an unprotected sexual encounter, to gay and bisexual men and trans women. The treatment could help curb cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

The study was published today (Oct. 10) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Syphilis cases in the U.S. and in Chicago have increased over the past several years, with most new cases occurring among gay and bisexual men. In addition to causing serious health consequences when it is not detected or treated, syphilis is linked to an increased risk of HIV transmission.

Rather than studying only gay men, as with many HIV/STI studies in the past, the study also included gender-diverse individuals from groups often overlooked by prospective research.

"In our sample, transgender populations were the most likely to have a lifetime syphilis diagnosis, but they are rarely included in public health surveillance in a way that allows us to compare to other groups," said Brian Mustanski, the study's lead author and director of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing and the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "Our findings suggest that preventing and treating syphilis requires outreach to this key population."

A quarter of participants had syphilis at some point in their lifetime and the authors estimate every year 6.7% of them will get a new infection. Forty-five percent of transgender participants had lifetime incidences of syphilis in addition to 42% of Black participants.

Mustanski explained, "My prior research on racial disparities in HIV has shown that they are not attributable to group differences in risk behaviors, but instead are due to social and structural factors such as denser sexual networks and less access to testing and treatment of STIs. Future research should examine if these are the same drivers of disparities in syphilis, and if so, how we can create structural changes that promote greater health equity."

Prospective studies, which track study participants over time, allow scientists to estimate incidence of syphilis. This was among the first U.S.-based prospective study cohort of racially diverse young sexual and gender minorities to observe cases over time and examine risk factors. The study used data from part of a larger study, the Institute's RADAR study, that incorporated social media and social networks to recruit a range of participants.

"Chicago and the U.S. need to buckle down and scale up syphilis testing and treatment among young gay men and trans women, particularly in communities of color," Mustanski said. "Innovative approaches like doxy-PEP deserve further implementation research on how to reach these key populations with this new solution.

"Nationally about half of all syphilis infections are among gay and bisexual men," Mustanski said. "Beyond this worrying statistic, half of syphilis cases among these men occur in men living with HIV. Men who test HIV-negative who are diagnosed with syphilis then have an increased risk of getting HIV because syphilis facilitates HIV transmission. Chicago needs more syphilis prevention efforts to address current transmission rates and curb a potential syphilis epidemic."

More information: Brian Mustanski, Syphilis prevalence, incidence, and demographic differences in a longitudinal study of young sexual and gender minority adults assigned male at birth., The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad256 Journal information: Journal of Infectious Diseases
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Jeffrey Stringer, MD. Credit: UNC-Chapel Hill

A study presented Oct. 9 by University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine researchers at the XXIV FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics could revolutionize pregnancy care, especially in areas with limited resources. The study (FIGO Oral Abstract #FC01) establishes the diagnostic accuracy of an innovative new ultrasound AI algorithm for determining gestational agea fundamental measurement essential to good pregnancy care.

This new research demonstrates that providers with no prior training in sonography can accurately estimate a baby's gestational age using a handheld device powered by AI. The study employed machine learning algorithms developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that were incorporated into the software of Butterfly Network's handheld ultrasound system, Butterfly iQ+. The combination of AI tools with portable and affordable devices promises to make ultrasound widely available in any global health context and at every access point to health care for pregnant women around the world.

Led by Jeffrey Stringer, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine, an interdisciplinary team from the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and the University of Zambia School of Medicine conducted a study involving 400 pregnant women in Chapel Hill and Lusaka.

"Ultrasound is like a stethoscope to the obstetrician. We use it all day, every day," explained Stringer, who conceived the project when he and his wife worked as obstetricians in Lusaka, Zambia. "This new tool allows anyone to perform an ultrasound. Just sweep the probe across the woman's belly a few times and the AI does the rest."

The study and findings

Investigators recruited pregnant women (200 from each country) in early pregnancy and definitively established their gestational age. They were then assigned return visits at random dates within defined evaluation windows, during which users with no prior ultrasound training obtained blind sweeps with the Butterfly iQ+, equipped with the AI tool created by the UNC team. Expert sonographers also performed standard of care fetal biometry with high-specification ultrasound machines. The previously established gestational age was masked to both sonographer groups.

During the primary evaluation window of 14 to 27 weeks, untrained providers using the Butterfly device and AI tool produced gestational age estimates that were equivalent to an expert sonographer using a high specification machine, with a mean absolute error of 3.19  0.13 days for the AI tool versus 3.040.12 days for expert biometry (difference: 0.2 days; 95% CI: -0.1 to 0.4 days). During the secondary evaluation window of 28 to 36 weeks, the AI gestational age tool met criteria for superiority, beating the expert estimate by approximately one day.

The two evaluation windows represent the range of gestational age where some 80% of women living in resource-limited settings first present for pregnancy care. The results indicate that the simple AI tool coupled with the ButterflyiQ+ device is just as accurate in estimating the baby's gestational age as an expert sonographer using a machine. More information about the study can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05433519).

What this means for maternal health equity

"This technology suggests a future where high-quality pregnancy care, including the crucial first scan, could be accessible to all women, regardless of their location or the resources available to them," said Myron Cohen, MD, Director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. "It also demonstrates the mutually beneficial nature of global health research that can improve the delivery of health care services both abroad and close to home."

The World Health Organization recommends an ultrasound scan before 24 weeks' gestation for all pregnancies. More than 12 million scans are performed each year in the U.S., with the average pregnant woman receiving three to four ultrasounds during pregnancy, or more, for complicated pregnancies. But in low-resource settings like Zambia, which is typical of care systems across sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, the high cost for equipment and the need for trained sonographers to perform scans means that very few women have access to ultrasound.

In rural parts of the U.S., including areas of North Carolina, women may face lengthy travel to access obstetric care with trauma centers and obstetric units closing. For pregnant women, this could mean more births outside of hospitals, births in hospitals without OB care, and preterm birthsall of which carry greater risks for a mom and baby.

In a future where this AI-enabled Gestational Age Tool is broadly available, not only could gestational age evaluation become significantly faster, but clinical care choices could be made immediately at the point-of-careavoiding further delays and costs in an already overburdened system.
Authorities released the name of a Cut Bank man shot and killed by local police on Oct. 6, along with the name of the officer who fired the fatal shot.

Officers were dispatched to the house of Jeffrey Severn, 54, on the afternoon of Oct. 6 for a report that Severn violated a protection order, according to the Montana Attorney General's Office.

"Severn was reported by witnesses to be violently entering the home which the order prohibited him from entering," a Tuesday news release from the AG's Office stated.

When they got to the house at Fifth Avenue Southwest in Cut Bank, they found Severn driving away. Severn reportedly exited his car and confronted authorities with a rifle. The news release didn't specify whether Severn fired shots, and a spokesperson for the AG's office said they're still conducting ballistic analysis to determine whether or not Severn discharged the firearm.

Severn was subsequently shot and killed by Senior Patrolman Judd Milender, a 16-year veteran of the Cut Bank Police Department, the news release stated. Milender is on administrative leave while the Cut Bank Police Department does an internal investigation.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident, and its findings will be submitted for a coroner's inquest, a public proceeding where a jury decides whether use of force was justified.
Early on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7, the state of Israel came under attack from land, sea, and air by the terrorist organization Hamas. As Hamas fighters crossed into Israel to murder and kidnap Israeli citizens, the leader of the organization, Ismail Haniyeh, watched the events unfold on a television set from the safety of his luxurious apartment in the Persian Gulf country of Qatar. As of Monday, Oct. 9, some 700 Israelis were reported dead, and numerous Israeli citizens participating in a music festival had been kidnapped by Hamas fighters and taken to the Gaza Strip. In military strikes carried out by Israel in retaliation for the attacks waged by Hamas, over 400 Palestinians have been killed thus far.

Why did Hamas attack now? And who gains from a war between the Palestinians and Israel? It is very clear that in the violent confrontation between Hamas and Israel, the first casualty is the peace negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. After decades of hostilities between Israel and its Arab neighbors, a new chapter in the Arab-Israeli relationship was ushered in by the Abraham Accords, a peace process that initiated a normalization of relationships between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on Sept. 15, 2020. As part of this agreement, both the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recognized Israels sovereignty and established full diplomatic relationships with the Jewish state. Building on these agreements, Israel and Morocco also signed a normalization agreement (December 2020), followed by Israel and Sudan (Jan. 6, 2021). In each case, the Arab countries recognized the sovereignty of the Jewish state. These agreements paved the road for the most powerful Arab state, namely, Saudi Arabia, to initiate a normalization process with Israel, a process, that was to be completed in the next several weeks.

The attack by Hamas followed by military retaliation from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will undoubtedly disrupt the unfolding peace process and will delay the signing of a normalization agreement between the Saudis and the Israelis. Hamas is viewed by most countries in the Middle East, as well as by the United States, as a proxy of the Islamic regime in Iran, the only government to vocally denounce the normalization of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The attack on Israel was clearly intended to disrupt the peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia, and once again create an atmosphere of violence and distrust between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors.

Since the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, and especially after the U.S. government allowed Iran to sell its petroleum in international markets, the Islamic regime has become increasingly more brazen in pursuing its disruptive and expansionist policies in the Middle East. Concessions to the regime in Tehran by Washington were interpreted by Irans Islamist government as a manifestation of American weakness. Viewing U.S. diplomacy as one of retreat and concluding that the new emerging powers in the region will be China and Russia, the Iranian regime increased its assistance to its proxies, namely Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The growing fear in the region is that after Hamas, the Iranian regime will activate its other proxy, Hezbollah, and unleash it against Israel.

It is important to note that the two countries that have so far refused to denounce Hamas terrorist attack are Russia and China. Russia, which receives military support from Iran in its war against Ukraine, sees the war in Gaza as a convenient distraction from its own activities in Ukraine, diverting the worlds attention from its ongoing atrocities against the Ukrainian people. China on the other hand will not risk its growing influence in the Arab world by denouncing Hamas. It is incumbent upon the United States to lend Israel its maximum support in its fight against a terror network, which has not accomplished anything for the Palestinian people. It is also essential for the U.S to lend its full support for the continuation of peace negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Tom Partin, the Montana representative for the trade association, American Forest Resource Council, attempted to resurrect that old, worn-out, dishonest claim that environmentalists get rich by taking the Forest Service to court.

He continues his ad hominem attack (i.e., criticize the organization rather than addressing its argument) by stating that environmentalists claims of Forest Service wrongdoing are nothing but camouflage for pursuing a payday in court.

He conveniently neglects to reveal that what he calls a payday is the recovery of legal fees expended by the environmentalists during litigation. Those fees are only recoverable if the Forest Service has been found to have acted illegally. When the Forest Service has performed as directed by laws and regulations, no fees are recoverable.

Interestingly, when environmentalists take the agency to court in Region 1, the Forest Service wins about 20% of the time. To increase that percentage, the obvious solution is for the agency to follow the law.

Courts determine what is legal. If Forest Service projects follow laws and regulations, courts decide in their favor. It is only when the agency ignores the law that environmentalists win in court and recover their already expended legal fees. Partins claim that recovered money makes an organization rich or allows them to hit the jackpot is a lie.

Partin asserts that public land managers (i.e., the Forest Service) have years of training like medical doctors and they prescribe treatments for unhealthy forests, based upon the best available science, that are beneficial for clean water, wildlife, and sawlogs. He carefully avoids indicating that, in its determination to provide tax-subsidized sawlogs to the timber industry (Partins employers), the agency typically relies on old, disproven research that long ago may have been considered the best available science.

The definition of science is the never-ending, self-correcting, rigorous pursuit of knowledge. However, much of the Forest Services ill-chosen best available science is contradicted by the latest scientific research. The fact that scrupulously conducted scientific research often invalidates old assumptions is how science works, a reality the agency refuses to acknowledge.

It is a sad fact that because the Forest Service is understaffed and continuously underfunded by Congress, the agency outsources much of its workload. The result is that organizations and consultants, funded (often secretly) by members of the American Forest Resource Council and other timber industry organizations, prepare much of the documentation for the same Forest Service projects that end up being rejected by courts.

Partins October 7th Missoulian Guest View failed to include that information, possibly because it is those same non-governmental organizations who produce documentation for Forest Service projects that are frequently to blame for Region 1s poor win-loss record in court.

That $1.5 million that Partin says has been paid by the Forest Service for environmentalists legal fees are your tax dollars. The Forest Service has frittered away that money because courts regularly find the agency acts illegally and does not follow the best available science. Even when courts find against the Forest Service, projects are only delayed until the agency follows the law, not shut down as Partin claims.

If there is a plague in our forests, as Partin suggests, it is not environmentalists. It is the Forest Service attempting to satisfy the timber industry that demolished the once-forested land they own and manage. Now the timber barons so desperately want tax-subsidized sawlogs, they are reduced to using propaganda and fear to convince the public that only logging will save public forests.

Missing from their arguments are (1) the reality that standard timber-industry practices are what destroyed the private sectors commercial forests or (2) any proof that public forests are not healthy and resilient. They must take us for ignorant, ill-informed fools to expect the public to trust them while our publicly owned forests are sacrificed for timber industry profit.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling of a historical marker honoring the "West Concord Mothers" on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. at Slades Chapel AME Church, located at 307 E. Union St.

Morganton recently was awarded a marker on the North Carolina Civil Rights Trail, sponsored by The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. The historical marker commemorates and honors the West Concord Mothers, a group of mothers who issued the first formal challenge to the segregated school systems in Burke County in 1961.

The Seven Mothers, as they also were known  Willette Chambers, Mildred Largent, Annie J. Hicks, Ruth Forney, Rosa Johnson, Laura Thomas and Lucille Rutherford  often met at Slades Chapel to make plans to advocate for equal opportunities for Black students.

The Mothers story begins in September 1961, when they petitioned the school board and city council to provide transportation for their children to attend Mountain View School, the elementary school for African American students in Morganton at the time. The school was more than a mile from many of the students homes, according to documentation compiled by Laurie Johnston, curator of the North Carolina Room at the Burke County Public Library, and her committee, for the marker application.

Local womens activism during Civil Rights Movement leaves legacy The legacy of the West Concord Mothers' role in the civil rights movement in Burke County is being recognized statewide:

There were no buses in the city school system, and public transportation was expensive, the documentation reads. Many Black women at the time worked domestic jobs due to the limitations of the kinds of jobs available to them. For one of the women, it would cost $9 of her $20 weekly salary to pay for lunch and transportation for four of her children to attend school.

They petitioned the Morganton City School Board and the Morganton Town Council for transportation assistance for their children to attend school. In 1963, these mothers petitioned for their own children to be among the first to integrate local schools, two years prior to mandated desegregation. These mothers were part of a local movement to speak for change, but they did not act alone.

While the prevailing narrative in our community has often portrayed the school integration process as smooth and conflict-free, the unveiling of this marker sheds light on a hidden history of secret meetings and strategic planning. The mothers participated in meetings to plan and strategize courses of action, often in secret, in order to provide a measure of protection, but it is assured that they did not act alone. There were pastors, teachers and other leaders present in these meetings, and it was determined that the mothers would likely pose less of a threat and would be received more peacefully.

The pastor of Slades Chapel AME Church, where five of the mothers attended, was the Rev. James L. Hunt. He was also president of the local chapter of the NAACP and played a critical role in the leadership of civil rights activities during this time, providing advice and direction for the mothers and others. He helped advise the West Concord Mothers to work diligently within the system and employ nonviolent means to drive progress.

The West Concord Mothers: Coming into the light The West Concord Mothers championed school desegregation efforts in Morganton in the 1960s:

They discussed things like who would go to meetings to protest something, or what kind of behavior would be appropriate when they were going to the white schools once integration happened, Johnston said in a previous News Herald article. I think they wanted to approach things nonviolently.

As civil rights issues grew stronger in the community, the church became a hub of civil rights activity. Meetings and nonviolent demonstrations were held, both in secret and eventually in public. The large expanse of church steps at the front of the building became a meeting place for walk-outs, demonstrations and songs of unity and protest. Mildred Largent, one of the West Concord Mothers, was a member of Slades Chapel AME Church, and she became the first female president of the local NAACP chapter after serving as its secretary for 13 years.

Even after integration came to Burke County schools, the fight for equal rights and treatment continued, with Slades Chapel serving as host to civil rights demonstrations and protests, according to a previous News Herald article. Johnston said the church once had wide front steps that facilitated large gatherings.

Document chronicles congregations perseverance, dedication to equality Slades Chapel AME Zion Church in Morganton has a history in the community dating back to the 19th century:

There were demonstrations done on those steps, Johnston said in the article. They would gather there to sing. I was told of an event where students left Morganton High School one day after integration (to protest at the church). The students were protesting unfair treatment, especially in extra-curricular activities.

The marker commemorates both the courageous actions of the West Concord Mothers and the significance of Slades Chapel AME Church as the site of meetings and demonstrations during the Civil Rights era.

The public is invited to attend on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m., at Slades Chapel AME Church to celebrate and remember a piece of local civil rights history.
Early on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7, the state of Israel came under attack from land, sea, and air by the terrorist organization Hamas. As Hamas fighters crossed into Israel to murder and kidnap Israeli citizens, the leader of the organization, Ismail Haniyeh, watched the events unfold on a television set from the safety of his luxurious apartment in the Persian Gulf country of Qatar. As of Monday, Oct. 9, some 700 Israelis were reported dead, and numerous Israeli citizens participating in a music festival had been kidnapped by Hamas fighters and taken to the Gaza Strip. In military strikes carried out by Israel in retaliation for the attacks waged by Hamas, over 400 Palestinians have been killed thus far.

Why did Hamas attack now? And who gains from a war between the Palestinians and Israel? It is very clear that in the violent confrontation between Hamas and Israel, the first casualty is the peace negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. After decades of hostilities between Israel and its Arab neighbors, a new chapter in the Arab-Israeli relationship was ushered in by the Abraham Accords, a peace process that initiated a normalization of relationships between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on Sept. 15, 2020. As part of this agreement, both the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recognized Israels sovereignty and established full diplomatic relationships with the Jewish state. Building on these agreements, Israel and Morocco also signed a normalization agreement (December 2020), followed by Israel and Sudan (Jan. 6, 2021). In each case, the Arab countries recognized the sovereignty of the Jewish state. These agreements paved the road for the most powerful Arab state, namely, Saudi Arabia, to initiate a normalization process with Israel, a process that was to be completed in the next several weeks.

The attack by Hamas followed by military retaliation from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will undoubtedly disrupt the unfolding peace process and will delay the signing of a normalization agreement between the Saudis and the Israelis. Hamas is viewed by most countries in the Middle East, as well as by the United States, as a proxy of the Islamic regime in Iran, the only government to vocally denounce the normalization of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The attack on Israel was clearly intended to disrupt the peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia, and once again create an atmosphere of violence and distrust between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors.

Since the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, and especially after the U.S. government allowed Iran to sell its petroleum in international markets, the Islamic regime has become increasingly more brazen in pursuing its disruptive and expansionist policies in the Middle East. Concessions to the regime in Tehran by Washington was interpreted by Irans Islamist government as a manifestation of American weakness. Viewing U.S. diplomacy as one of retreat and concluding that the new emerging powers in the region will be China and Russia, the Iranian regime increased its assistance to its proxies, namely Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The growing fear in the region is that after Hamas, the Iranian regime will activate its other proxy, Hezbollah, and unleash it against Israel.

It is important to note that the two countries that have so far refused to denounce Hamas terrorist attack are Russia and China. Russia, which receives military support from Iran in its war against Ukraine, sees the war in Gaza as a convenient distraction from its own activities in Ukraine, diverting the worlds attention from its ongoing atrocities against the Ukrainian people. China, on the other hand, will not risk its growing influence in the Arab world by denouncing Hamas. It is incumbent upon the United States to lend Israel its maximum support in its fight against a terror network, which has not accomplished anything for the Palestinian people. It is also essential for the United States to lend its full support for the continuation of peace negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Reading Daniel Hamanns negative opinion on Sen, Jon Testers support for veterans (Standard, Oct. 3), made me livid and I need to respond.

Im a Vietnam, two-tour Marine combat veteran with a Bronze Star with a Combat v and a Purple Heart, among other unit citations, ribbons, etc. I served in Vietnam and the Marine Corps from 1965-1969. Im a life member of the Marine Corps League, the DAV, the American Legion and the VFW, being an officer in all of them. I am a veteran advocate and anything to help veterans with medical/mental issues/etc. I strongly support.

When I read Mr. Hamanns letter, I was stunned and wondered where he was coming from, because his statements about Jon Tester were totally off-base and untrue. In 2022 alone, as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Jon delivered key wins for veterans in the passing of 19 bipartisan veteran bills. The key one was the PACT ACT. He works with both Republicans and Democrats and has had more bipartisan bills passed than any other member of Congress. He fought to get the Southwest Montana Veterans' Home in Butte become a reality. Without his bulldog tenacity, it wouldnt have been built.

He supports Montana veterans and the veterans across the U.S. and is appreciated by not only Montana veterans, but veterans throughout our country. He has received a number of awards from his efforts on behalf of veterans and their families, in the 117th Congress. The following are some of them: the Student Veterans of Americas Sonny Montgomery Student Veteran Champion Award, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans 2021 Policy Award, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors TAPS Congressional Award, the Retired Enlisted Associations Legislator of the Year Award, the Fleet Reserve Associations Pinnacle Award, the Jefferson Islands Club Citizen of the Year Award, and the Wounded Warrior Projects Legislator of the Year Award. Does this sound like the man that Mr. Hamann is trying to portray?

Jon has been a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since 2007, and is the only member of the Montana delegation who sits on the committee. During all of Jons time in the Senate, he has continuously been a champion for veterans and his accomplishments on their behalf are second to none. As a veteran, I know firsthand that he has our best interests at heart, and we dont want to lose him. Time after time, the old saying that actions speak louder than words has been Jons trademark. He deserves and has earned and continues to earn the veterans' support.
A group of students from China visited Muscatine last week, building on existing connections with the country.

Throughout the years, Muscatine has been able to make several connections with China, including hosting Xi Jinping, who would become Chinas president, and establishing a sister state and a friendship center with the country.

Last week, from Oct. 5-7, 10 students aged 12 to 13 from the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School had the chance to further these connections through a two day visit to Muscatine. The students came from the city of Shi Jia Zhuang in the Hebei province, Muscatines sister state.

The students, plus two administrators, were received by Janet Clark and Tony Joseph, who both served as members of the Muscatine-China Initiatives Committee, with the group being housed by Muscatine residents. Clark said that she and her husband had made a campfire and invited their students to make smores in their yard, which the students enjoyed.

During the trip, the Shijiazhuang students had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Brad Bark at City Hall. Later on, the students went to Muscatine High School (MHS) to meet with language teacher Heidi Kuo and her two Chinese Language classes. During this visit, the Shijiazhuang students demonstrated and performed traditional Chinese kung fu, fan dances and Han Dynasty dances for the MHS students, with Kuo referring to these moments as a lasting memory for her and her students.

Our students can communicate culturally and linguistically with Chinese students, Kuo said. Usually they don't have much chance to contact Chinese people other than me. (This visit) was a very good opportunity. They also left contact information with each other, which I believe will plant the seeds of friendship between the two countries for our new generation.

Afterwards, the students stopped by the Ag Learning Center, where they were able to meet with the centers horses and baby pigs under the guidance of student Eladiee Gaucin. Other stops on the trip included the Friendship House, the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, the National Pearl Button Museum, the Discovery Center, the Muscatine Arboretum and the Muscatine Riverfront.

The students then met with local diplomat and friend of President Xi Jinping, Sarah Lande, during which many students highlighted their moments at MHS and the Ag Center as their favorite moments of the trip. Others said they had enjoyed seeing the stars at night, not being able to normally do so due to Shi Jia Zhuangs large amount of city lights.

After their two-day visit in Muscatine, the students of Shijiazhuang then headed to Chicago for another two-day tour before finally returning to their home in China. Kuo shared that she hoped visits such as these become an annual event, noting the principal of Shijiazhuang, Principal Liu, has already welcomed Muscatine students to visit his school.

I am very grateful that Muscatine has many China-related activities and people who silently support the friendly relations between the two countries, Kuo said. I feel lucky for myself and my students because we have so many opportunities to interact with them.
Annette Cahill has requested post-conviction relief, claiming she did not receive a fair and impartial trial.

Cahill was convicted in September, 2019, for second-degree murder in the death of Corey Wieneke.

Court records show that Cahill and the Iowa State Public Defender, Wrongful Conviction Division, are asking the 50-year sentence be overturned. Cahill is currently incarcerated with the Iowa Department of Corrections. A trial has been set for April 22, 2024, in the Muscatine County Courthouse. Hearings on several of the motions will be held Nov. 1.

According to the defense, Cahill did not receive a fair trial because the state withheld evidence that impeached the credibility of law enforcement witnesses. The filing also alleges jurors did independent research during the trial and that an improper Allen charge was given to the jury. It is also alleged that evidence of other suspects was suppressed. The effectiveness of Cahills counsel has also been brought into question.

There is newly discovered evidence that Cahill did not receive a constitutionally fair trial, newly found credible alternate suspects with motive, opportunity and means to murder Corey Wieneke, and advanced forensic scientific evidence that shows by clear and convincing evidence that Annette Cahill is actually, factually innocent, the court document said.

Cahill was prosecuted and convicted after new evidence surfaced in what had been a cold case. Weineke was killed in October, 1992. Cahill, then 29, and Wieneke, 22, had been involved in a relationship. The prosecution argued that Cahill and Wieneke had an argument about him seeing another woman the night before his body was discovered.

The Wieneke homicide case went cold until 2017, when Jessie Becker approached investigators about a confession she overheard when she was a child. Becker said she overheard Cahill say, "I'm sorry I killed you, Corey," in a darkened room of the house where Cahill was living and Becker, then 9 years old, was sleeping over with friends.

The first first-degree murder trial of Cahill took place in March, 2019 and ended in a hung jury. The second trial began the week of Sept. 9, and the state presented the jury with new testimony. In the second trial, Cahill was convicted of second-degree murder.

Since the conviction, Cahill has appealed to the Iowa State Court of Appeals and to the Iowa Supreme Court, both of which have upheld the conviction.

Close Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday in Algona. Cram Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday in Algona. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt speaks during a press conference at the Kossuth County Election Center on Thursday in Algona. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens speaks during a press conference at the Kossuth County Election Center on Thursday in Algona. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens speaks during a press conference at the Kossuth County Election Center on Thursday in Algona. Kossuth County EMS vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Algona, Iowa. A northern Iowa police officer was shot Wednesday night, prompting a manhunt that ended with an arrest in Minnesota. (Lily Smith/The Des Moines Register via AP) Kossuth County EMS vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday in Algona. PHOTOS: Officer shot in Algona Wednesday night A press conference was held Thursday morning to address the shooting and killing of Algona officer Kevin Cram, 33. Cram was killed Wednesday night while in the line of duty. Suspect, 43-year-old Kyle Ricke, is in custody and is being held on charges of first-degree murder. Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday in Algona. Cram Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday in Algona. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt speaks during a press conference at the Kossuth County Election Center on Thursday in Algona. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens speaks during a press conference at the Kossuth County Election Center on Thursday in Algona. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens speaks during a press conference at the Kossuth County Election Center on Thursday in Algona. Kossuth County EMS vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Algona, Iowa. A northern Iowa police officer was shot Wednesday night, prompting a manhunt that ended with an arrest in Minnesota. (Lily Smith/The Des Moines Register via AP) Kossuth County EMS vehicles are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting north of the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on South Minnesota Street on Thursday in Algona.
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Secret of Alexis Ohanian's success: Surfer mindset

EU will ban targeted advertising on Facebook and Instagram on its territory

Armenia National Security Service exposes terrorism preparation

Zakharova: Armenia leadership is purposefully destroying allied relations with Russia

Azerbaijan announces capture of elderly Armenian man

Russia MFA spox accuses some Armenia media of Russophobia and nationalism

Maria Zakharova: Moscow stands ready to host Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in near future

Armenia health minister on measles: We have outbreak but its dying down

Introduction of the .ing top-level domain by Google: Pricing and pre-booking details

Bidens new possible nominee for US Deputy Secretary of State was educated in Soviet Armenia

Turkey presidential lawyer joins Hrant Dink murder trial

PM: Unit within National Security Service is set up that will ensure security of communications via Armenia

EU monitoring mission in Armenia announces full activity by opening headquarters in Yeghegnadzor city

Pope Francis says he loves the sea but hasn't been there in almost 50 years

Will AI destroy us all? What was discussed during first international summit on safe use of AI?

Pashinyan: Quite a large flow of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh are applying for Armenia citizenship

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Armenia delegate: Russian natural gas being sold to Europe via Azerbaijan pipeline should not prevail over democracy

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Newspaper: Karabakh MPs holding closed discussions in Armenia

US State Department: Any violation of Armenia sovereignty, territorial integrity will bring serious consequences

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DFB-Pokal: Bayern suffer unexpected defeat

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Azerbaijan, Pakistan are developing military cooperation

Armenia official: Our goal is to get license to operate the nuclear plant until 2036

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Economy minister proposes China companies to be engaged in Armenia industrial parks, dry port projects

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Proposals being submitted to EU delegation regarding support for forcibly displaced Armenians from Karabakh discussed

Armenia ombudsperson sends petitions to relevant agencies regarding Karabakh ex-defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan

Innovative methods revolutionizing energy efficiency in building design

Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem cancels controversial deal related to Cows' Garden estate

Germany FM to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan

Vahan Kerobyan, Alkis Vryenios Drakinos discuss projects being implemented by EBRD in Armenia (PHOTOS)

Head of EU civilian mission in Armenia briefs President on details about their monitoring

Dollar, euro fall in Armenia

Armenia Anti-Corruption Committee chief: We have solved March 1, 2008 case

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Armenia deputy PM, Japan envoy discuss opportunities for development of bilateral trade, economic relations

Travis Barker announces Kourtney Kardashian's due date revealing the name of their baby boy

Karabakh parliament speaker imprisoned by Azerbaijan contacts relatives twice from Baku

Samkharadze: Georgia wants to become regional leader by contributing to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization

Yerevan received, responded to Russia proposals on process of Armenia ratification of Rome Statute, MFA says

Experts: Azerbaijan uses Pegasus as cyber weapon against Armenia - with Israel's permission

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Border with Azerbaijan is calm, there is no tension, head of EU monitoring mission in Armenia says in Yeghegnadzor

Karabakh president negotiated with Azerbaijan special services?

EU monitoring mission in Armenia opens headquarters in Yeghegnadzor

Holding Snoop Dogg concert in Armenia is vital, PMs office says

Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issues Red Flag Alert for Azerbaijan in Armenia

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Armenia, Romania MFAs hold political consultations in Bucharest

World Bank: Economic activity growth increases, insignificant inflation recorded, exports drop in Armenia

Armenia, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation, workforce exchange

Alexander Spendiaryan 152nd birth anniversary events kicking off in Yerevan

Blinken mentions Armenia during US Senate hearing

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Newspaper: Armenia PM announces cancellation of point 9 of November 2020 trilateral statement

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Karabakh president receives French, Italian members of European Parliament

Russian peacekeepers continue to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia MoD says

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Red Cross helps elderly people left in Karabakh to relocate to Armenia (VIDEO)

Central Bank chief: Armenia residents deposits increased by about 25%

EBRD regional director to Armenia finance minister: We are ready to assist those displaced from Karabakh

Armenia labor, social affairs minister attends Armenian-Iranian forum in Tehran

European Union increases humanitarian funding to Armenia by about 1.7M

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Armenia PM, Poland envoy address humanitarian situation of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh

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Turkey border bridge renovation, furnishing underway, Armenia official says

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Armenia economy minister: Trade relations with Russia are very important to us

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Tirgan Avinyan, the only candidate for mayor of Yerevan, was elected mayor at Tuesdays inaugural session of the new Yerevan Council of Elders. He has become the 14th mayor of Yerevan in the history of independent Armenia.

Armine Vardanyan, head of the organizational department of the Yerevan Municipality, presented the respective voting results, noted that 37 out of the 65 council members participated in the voting, there were no invalid ballots, 32 council members voted for Tigran Avinyan, whereas 5 othersagainst.

Subsequently, Vardanyan declared Avinyan the new mayor of Yerevan, and this was followed by applause.

A total of 33 votes are needed to be elected mayor of Yerevan. But since Tigran Avinyan was the only nominated candidate for the mayor, he needed only 27 votes to be elected.

After the announcing of the voting results, Avinyan approached the podium and thanked the residents of Yerevan and the members of the Council of Elders.

"I want to express special thanks to the members of the Council of Elders who elected the mayor. I promise to serve Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia, based on all the principles we announced in 2018," said Tigran Avinyan.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that according to the results of the Yerevan Council of Elders elections held on September 17, the seats at the newly elected council were distributed as follows:

Civil Contract Party - 24 seats

National Progress Party - 14 seats

Mother Armenia bloc of parties - 12 seats

Republic Party - 8 seats

Public Voice Party - 7 seats

The Mother Armenia bloc, led by opposition ex-MP Andranik Tevanyan, and National Progress Party, led by former mayor Hayk Marutyan, had announced that they will not participate in the first session of the new Council of Elders so that there will be no quorum, and therefore the Council of Elders is dissolved and new elections are held. But the Public Voice Party, led by well-known blogger Vardan Ghukasyan, participated in the session, as a result of which there was quorum, and the session was held.

The ruling Civil Contract Party and the Republic Party had stated that they will participate in the first session.
More than 30,000 children from Nagorno-Karabakh have fled their homes since the escalation of hostilities in their communities two weeks ago, and UNICEF warns all are at risk of deteriorating mental health without immediate support, UNICEF stated in a press release Tuesday. It reads as follows:

Refugee children arriving in Armenia are showing signs of severe psychological distress, according to reports from UNICEF-supported social workers providing specialised care to children and families who have fled their homes in recent weeks.

Social workers operating in two safe spaces that UNICEF established with partners in Goris, which can serve up to 300 children daily have reported that children are dealing with intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear and anger, manifesting in nightmares, bedwetting, and inconsolable crying. Others have shut down and become detached, leaving them unable to express emotions or connect with the situation around them.

More than 30,000 ethnic Armenian children have arrived in Armenia since the escalation of hostilities in their home communities two weeks ago. In addition to displacement, children arriving in Armenia have not been able to access quality education continuously and have lived in an unsafe or insecure environment with families reporting the fear of attacks.

We are now seeing the extent to which these children have suffered. Displacement and hostilities, compounded by deprivation have wreaked havoc on their physical and mental health and psychological well-being. Without sustained support, children are at risk of bearing the effects of these deeply distressing events for years to come, said Christine Weigand, UNICEF Armenia Representative.

As we come together to mark World Mental Health Day, UNICEF calls for adequate investment in mental health and psychosocial support for children through the health, child protection and education systems. This is equally important not only in terms of early identification and immediate support but also in the long run as families will continue to deal with loss and post-traumatic stress.

UNICEF is on the ground, working with the Government of Armenia and other partners to help refugee children access the care and support they need to overcome the challenges they have faced. UNICEF is training and supporting front-line professionals to provide psychological first aid and psycho-social support. Together with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF has formed mobile pediatric teams to enable wider outreach across the country to ensure screenings to identify and respond to mental health needs.

UNICEF is appealing for US$12.6 million to provide critical services including education, health, child protection, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene in the first six months.
The drone's maker, Istanbul-based company Baykar, is run by brothers Haluk and Selcuk Bayraktar. The latter is married to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's daughter.

Turkey has escalated its use of airstrikes in its fight against the PKK and allies in Iraq and Syria in recent years, Reuters reported.

Many of the strikes are carried out by armed drones, including the Bayraktar TB2, according to local officials in Iraq and weapons experts.

The drone's maker, Istanbul-based company Baykar, is run by brothers Haluk and Selcuk Bayraktar. The latter is married to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's daughter.

At least two Western companies have supplied critical components for the drones. Among them are optical sensors. Weapons experts say these sensors enable unmanned aerial vehicles to surveil and identify targets on the ground and execute airstrikes.

German defense electronics manufacturer Hensoldt told Reuters it has been equipping the Bayraktar TB2 with its ARGOS II optical sensor since 2020. It said it had also supplied the sensor to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Lentatek, two other Turkish manufacturers of drones.

"Without these types of sensors drones as we know them wouldn't work," said Kelsey Gallagher, a researcher with Project Ploughshares, a Canadian peace research institute.

Hensoldt added that the ARGOS II is developed and manufactured by its subsidiary in South Africa and is free of any components governed by German export law or the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which control the export of a wide range of military equipment and technologies that can be used in weapons.

L3Harris Wescam, a Canadian subsidiary of U.S. defense contractor L3 Harris Technologies, has also supplied drone technology to Turkey in the past. In October 2020, the Canadian government suspended export permits for military goods and technology to Turkey while it reviewed allegations that Azeri forces were deploying drones equipped with Wescam's imaging and targeting systems against Armenia in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Canada cancelled the permits in April 2021 after finding credible evidence that Bayraktar TB2 drones, equipped with Wescam sensors, had been used in the conflict.

"This use was not consistent with Canadian foreign policy, nor end-use assurances given by Turkey," Marc Garneau, who was Canadian foreign minister at the time, said in a statement.

The Canadian government said at the time Wescam had reviewed images shared by Armenia and confirmed delivering a system with the same serial number to Turkey in 2020.

Sales of the TB2 drone have grown rapidly in the past few years. Baykar has said it has signed export agreements with 30 countries for the drone. Since 2018, customers have included Ukraine, Ethiopia, Libya and Azerbaijan, according to arms trade data through 2022 collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a think tank.

In July, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy the Bayraktar Akinci, another Baykar drone, in what Baykar described as the biggest defense contract in Turkey's history.

In Ukraine, the TB2 drone has helped destroy Russian armored vehicles and artillery systems.

Elsewhere, Western officials have expressed concerns about the use of Turkish drones.

In December 2021, a senior Western official told Reuters Washington had "profound humanitarian concerns" over the sales of the drones to Ethiopia, which could contravene U.S. restrictions on exports to the country. In May 2021, the U.S. Department of State said it had imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Ethiopia accused the U.S. of meddling in its affairs.
PACE co-rapporteurs to make monitoring visit to Armenia

Yerevan hosting international conference on 100th anniversary of Armenian Cinema

Armenia legislature vice-speaker: Azerbaijan president not a peacemaker at all

Embassy in Baku: Germany supports Azerbaijan-Armenia talks, with European Council Presidents mediation

Hakob Arshakyan: There is one original military map but Armenia, Azerbaijan have access to it

Noubar Afeyan: Arresting, charging Ruben Vardanyan is psychological pressure on worlds 10 million Armenians

Greece sends humanitarian aid for Armenians displaced from Karabakh

Armenia National Security Service exposes terrorism preparation

Zakharova: Armenia leadership is purposefully destroying allied relations with Russia

Azerbaijan announces capture of elderly Armenian man

Russia MFA spox accuses some Armenia media of Russophobia and nationalism

Maria Zakharova: Moscow stands ready to host Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in near future

Bidens new possible nominee for US Deputy Secretary of State was educated in Soviet Armenia

Turkey presidential lawyer joins Hrant Dink murder trial

PM: Unit within National Security Service is set up that will ensure security of communications via Armenia

EU monitoring mission in Armenia announces full activity by opening headquarters in Yeghegnadzor city

Pope Francis says he loves the sea but hasn't been there in almost 50 years

Pashinyan: Quite a large flow of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh are applying for Armenia citizenship

Leapmotor to become Stellantis' 15th brand

Armenia delegate: Russian natural gas being sold to Europe via Azerbaijan pipeline should not prevail over democracy

Newspaper: Karabakh MPs holding closed discussions in Armenia

US State Department: Any violation of Armenia sovereignty, territorial integrity will bring serious consequences

James Webb telescope manages to measure exoplanet temperature

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Azerbaijan, Pakistan are developing military cooperation

Armenia official: Our goal is to get license to operate the nuclear plant until 2036

Economy minister proposes China companies to be engaged in Armenia industrial parks, dry port projects

Proposals being submitted to EU delegation regarding support for forcibly displaced Armenians from Karabakh discussed

Armenia ombudsperson sends petitions to relevant agencies regarding Karabakh ex-defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan

Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem cancels controversial deal related to Cows' Garden estate

Germany FM to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan

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Head of EU civilian mission in Armenia briefs President on details about their monitoring

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Armenia Anti-Corruption Committee chief: We have solved March 1, 2008 case

Armenia deputy PM, Japan envoy discuss opportunities for development of bilateral trade, economic relations

Karabakh parliament speaker imprisoned by Azerbaijan contacts relatives twice from Baku

Samkharadze: Georgia wants to become regional leader by contributing to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization

Yerevan received, responded to Russia proposals on process of Armenia ratification of Rome Statute, MFA says

Border with Azerbaijan is calm, there is no tension, head of EU monitoring mission in Armenia says in Yeghegnadzor

Karabakh president negotiated with Azerbaijan special services?

EU monitoring mission in Armenia opens headquarters in Yeghegnadzor

Holding Snoop Dogg concert in Armenia is vital, PMs office says

Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issues Red Flag Alert for Azerbaijan in Armenia

Armenia, Romania MFAs hold political consultations in Bucharest

World Bank: Economic activity growth increases, insignificant inflation recorded, exports drop in Armenia

Armenia, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation, workforce exchange

Alexander Spendiaryan 152nd birth anniversary events kicking off in Yerevan

Blinken mentions Armenia during US Senate hearing

Newspaper: Armenia PM announces cancellation of point 9 of November 2020 trilateral statement

Karabakh president receives French, Italian members of European Parliament

Russian peacekeepers continue to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia MoD says

Red Cross helps elderly people left in Karabakh to relocate to Armenia (VIDEO)

Central Bank chief: Armenia residents deposits increased by about 25%

EBRD regional director to Armenia finance minister: We are ready to assist those displaced from Karabakh

Armenia labor, social affairs minister attends Armenian-Iranian forum in Tehran

European Union increases humanitarian funding to Armenia by about 1.7M

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Armenia PM, Poland envoy address humanitarian situation of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh

Ardshinbank has been recognized as the "Best Corporate" and "Best ESG Bank" in Armenia by Euromoney magazine

Turkey border bridge renovation, furnishing underway, Armenia official says

Armenia official: Enclaves issue will be clarified when peace treaty with Azerbaijan is signed

Armenia official: Positive thing about North-South project is that we entered construction phase in some sections

Ethnic cleansing in Karabakh received pin-drop silence by American media, US presidential nominee says

Armenia economy minister: Trade relations with Russia are very important to us

Armenia official: We have certain idea about construction of railway in Meghri sector, we are waiting

74 films to be screened in Armenia during 19th Rolan International Film Festival for Children and Youth

Yeraskh steel plant project being implemented, it is being moved, it will be nearby, Armenia economy minister says

Azerbaijan pledges guarantees to Karabakh Armenians after its blockade, genocide

Karabakh ombudsman: Who needs forums, lengthy speeches if international community fails to prevent genocides?

Maestro Sergey Smbatyan: Process that could have had only one outcome is resolved

Legislature vice-speaker complains about reduction of programs in Armenia IT sector

UNICEF Armenia: Next batch of humanitarian aid sent to Syunik Province

Central Bank of Armenia reduces refinancing rate by 0.25 points, sets it at 9.5%

Martin Schuepp: Red Cross is helping people left in Karabakh

Finance minister: Armenia economic growth potential currently estimated at 5.5%

Armenia official: The money we were allocating to Karabakh should be enough to fund all programs

Parliament deputy speaker: Armenia has no contender in high tech

Newspaper: Karabakh army handed over ammunition not to Azerbaijan, but to Russian side

Canada ambassador about sanctions on Azerbaijan: There is also dispute within Armenia regarding them

Audi Q6 e-tron launch delayed until at least Spring 2024

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14 individuals were tortured, and 64 died on the move from Nagorno Karabakh. Foreign Ministry spokesperson

Council of Europe to prepare package of measures in response to refugee influx in Armenia

Mher Grigoryan and EU Ambassador exchanged ideas on regional developments

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Since the end of July of this year, there have been no new ideas from the Russian side, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in response to a question by RFE/RL, without elaborating on what proposals the Russian side had conveyed to Armenia and Baku at that time.

Earlier on July 21, the Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Igor Khovaev, was in Yerevan. Four days later, the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan held tripartite talks in Moscow. After that meeting, Sergey Lavrov announced the plan to hold a summit of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan during this year, which has not been held until now.

And during the bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Lavrov announced that a number of documents are being prepared for discussion by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, in addition to the statements signed so far. But the contents of those documents have not been published until now.

In an interview with RBC about the new proposals, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that Moscow has offered ideas and views to Yerevan and Baku regarding the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Russian foreign minister's deputy for CIS issues did not specify the content of the Russian proposals. He focused on only two issues: that Moscow considers it necessary to clearly record the rights and security of the Armenian population of Karabakh in the peace agreement, and that mechanisms that do not harm the sovereignty and independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan are needed to facilitate the further implementation of the peace agreement.
Special representative of the Council of Europe is visiting Armenia, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic-Buric said during her speech at the PACE.

According to her, the CoE special representative will draw up a map of the needs of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh.

And when we return, we will develop a plan to immediately provide assistance to these people. But, of course, there is also the question of when and how these people should return home, because I think no one wants to be a refugee, no one wants to leave the place where they were born or where their ancestors were born, the CoE Secretary General emphasized.

According to her, within the framework of the Council of Europe it is necessary to pay attention to this and do everything possible to allow the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their homeland.

And, of course, as for Azerbaijan, I hope that in the near future we will be able to send a mission from the Secretariat, which will talk with the Azerbaijani authorities and see how they assess the situation in Azerbaijan. But at the same time, I call on Azerbaijan ... to truly fully implement the European Convention on Human Rights, she noted, expressing hope that thanks to the efforts made on these fronts, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh will be able to return home.
In 2019, Pellom McDaniels III, then curator of African American collections at the Emorys Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, invited Atlanta artist and activist Charmaine Minniefield to spend a year as artist-in-residence at the Rose.

During her residency, Minniefield found inspiration in the Robert Langmuir African American Photograph Collection and set out to tell a more complete Atlanta history through her work. Her collaboration with Emory continued after McDaniels passed away in 2020.

Over these years, I have drawn from the very archives that Pellom helped to increase, says Minniefield, the Langmuir collection, which frames African American history as far back as when the camera was invented in 1853; and more recently, the collection of my dear friend and elder mentor, now ancestor, Dr. Doris Derby, whose life of service as an artist-activist griot continues to inspire me today.

Following her time at the Rose, Minniefield collaborated with the Michael C. Carlos Museum for her 2022 exhibition Indigo Prayers: A Creation Story. Featuring a series of paintings inspired by her time in The Gambia, West Africa, searching for her grandmothers ancestral lines, the resulting work built on her ongoing exploration of the Ring Shout, an African American practice of resistance whose West African origins predate enslavement.

On Oct. 19, Minniefield returns to campus for an evening celebration of the Praise House Project at Emory, the culmination of her multi-year engagement with the Emory community. Opening the following day, the Praise House Project public art installation will remain on campus through Dec. 15.

The installation, located on the grounds of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, is a small, wooden structure modeled after historical praise houses where enslaved peoples across the American Southeast gathered for worship.

The interior features archival images from Oxford, Georgia, the original location of Emory University and now home to Emorys Oxford College, within a fully immersive, digital rendition of a Ring Shout, in which congregants would gather in a circle to shout and stomp upon the wooden floors, creating a communal drum, secretly preserving their cultural identity and African indigenous traditions.

The Praise House Project at Emory honors this tradition of remembrance as resistance while igniting scholarly and artistic inquiry on campus and beyond.

These collaborations between Charmaine and Emory show what can be accomplished when our various schools and divisions join with community members and municipal partners to explore and celebrate creative work that is firmly rooted in our city, says Kevin Karnes, associate dean for the arts. Through the Praise House Project, our students will experience artistic scholarship that is at once both local and globally significant. Charmaines work is deeply personal, but the story she tells has universal implications.

This residency has given me the chance to have guidance, as I explore my own genealogy and research utilizing the Slave Voyages database, to finally understand my own more complete history while inviting others to do the same, says Minniefield. The work is holding space for place and belonging for Black narratives, past and present, to imagine a just and inclusive future while uplifting truth and storytelling as historic preservation, placemaking and place-keeping.

Engaging with the Praise House Project at Emory

Recalling freedom, the Praise House Project invites the Emory community to examine history while encouraging historic and cultural preservation as acts of repair within the context of race, diversity, equity and inclusion.

During its time on campus, the Praise House will be open Fridays through Sundays, from 12-5 p.m. Visitors may also come on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the same times, but reservations are required.

Throughout the installation period, Emory community members are invited to attend a variety of public programming and events, including:

The Praise House Project at Emory is a partnership between Minniefield, Emory Arts and the Emory University Office of the Provost with support from the Michael C. Carlos Museum and the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library.

The Praise House Project is made possible with funding from the National Endowment of the Arts with municipal partnership from the city of Atlanta. Minniefields work is supported by the Center for Cultural Powers Constellations Fellowship. The Atlanta Global Research & Education Collaborative provides funding for international artist collaborators of the Praise House Project.

Additional support is provided by Emory College of Arts & Sciences, Candler School of Theology, Emory University School of Medicine, Goizueta Business School, Laney Graduate School, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Rollins School of Public Health.
ATLANTA  Emory Healthcare has announced the creation of two new leadership roles to better align the continuum of care for patients across its 11 hospitals and enhance operational excellence for the health system. The new structure aims to provide patients with an aligned, seamless experience when visiting Emory Healthcare.

Heather Dexter, CEO of Emory Saint Josephs Hospital, has been appointed president of the Emory Healthcare Regional Hospital Division. Hospitals in the new regional division include: Emory Saint Josephs Hospital, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital and Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital.

Matt Wain, CEO of Emory University Hospital, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods and Emory University Hospital at Smyrna, has been appointed president of the Emory Healthcare University Hospital Division. Hospitals in the newly named university division include the four hospitals for which Wain already has oversight, as well as Emory University Hospital Midtown.

In these new roles, which Dexter and Wain will transition into immediately, the new division presidents will provide strategic, coordinated oversight of their respective hospital divisions, focusing on aligning services and care, while sharing best practices across facilities. They will work with current leaders at the various Emory hospitals, who will continue to oversee day-to-day operations at each facility.

Dexter and Wain will report to Joon S. Lee, MD, CEO of Emory Healthcare.

As an academic health system, we offer leading-edge care for patients they cannot find elsewhere, says Lee. The care we deliver has become increasingly more complex, and our patients often need services that require them to cross our campuses. We are fortunate to have leaders like Heather and Matt, who will guide us in their expanded leadership roles, to enhance coordination of care and services for our valued patients.

Dexter began her career at Saint Josephs Hospital in 1998 as an administrative resident and steadily progressed in responsibilities and leadership roles. She held several division director and vice president positions within the hospital before being named chief operating officer (COO) in 2011. In 2015, she was named CEO of Emory Saint Josephs Hospital.

Wain joined Emory Healthcare in 2019 as CEO of Emory University Hospital, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital and Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods. He came to Emory from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health in Charleston, where he served as COO. Prior to his role at MUSC, he served in various leadership roles at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Wain began his professional career as an active-duty military officer and Blackhawk helicopter pilot. He retired from the reserve component of military service in 2008.
The National Academy of Medicine announced Monday that three individuals from Emory University have been elected to the Academy, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.

Daniele Fallin, PhD, Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD, and Ighovwerha Ofotokun, MD, MSc, were among the 90 regular members and 10 internal members elected during the National Academy of Medicines annual meeting on Monday for having demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

In any year, we would be proud to see one of our faculty members elected to the National Academy of Medicine, but the fact that three extraordinary individuals have been elected in 2023 is a testament to the eminence of Emory faculty, says President Gregory L. Fenves. Dr. Fallin, Dr. Ofotokun, and Dr. Lam all share a profound commitment to serving humanity through their research, leadership, and patient-focused breakthroughs. They are innovative and dedicated to improving health for people across the nation and around the world.

Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine addresses critical issues in health, science, medicine, and related policy and inspires positive actions across sectors. It works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions.

New members are elected by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

It is my honor to welcome this truly exceptional class of new members to the National Academy of Medicine, says Victor J. Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine. Their contributions to health and medicine are unparalleled, and their leadership and expertise will be essential to helping the NAM tackle todays urgent health challenges, inform the future of health care, and ensure health equity for the benefit of all around the globe.

The Academy also announced last week the selection of Judy Wawira Gichoya, MBChB, as one of the Academys 2023 Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholars. The honor is awarded to early- to mid-career professionals from a wide range of health-related fields and provides them a platform to collaborate with the Academy and its members to advance science, combat persistent challenges in health and medicine, and spark transformative change to improve health for all.

Learn more about each of the Emory honorees below:

Daniele Fallin, PhD

Serves as the James W. Curran Dean of Public Health at the Rollins School of Public Health. With more than 250 scientific publications that have been cited more than 22,000 times, Fallins globally-recognized research focuses on applying genetic epidemiology methods to studies of neuropsychiatric disorders including autism, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder and to developing applications and methods for genetic and epigenetic epidemiology, as applied to mental health and development. Fallin has led multiple CDC- and NIH-funded projects researching how environments, behaviors, genetic variation, and epigenetic variation contribute to risk for psychiatric disease, particularly autism.

Prior to joining Rollins, Fallin worked at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she served as chair of the Department of Mental Health, Sylvia and Harold Halpert Professor, Bloomberg Centennial Professor, and held joint appointments in the schools departments of epidemiology and biostatistics and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicines departments of medicine and psychiatry. During that time, she also directed the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. For more than a decade, Fallin led the Maryland site of the Study to Explore Early Development and of the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation. She was also the inaugural principal investigator of the Bmore Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study, one of 25 sites of the NIHs HBCD study, for which she continues to serve as an associate director of the administrative core to guide epidemiologic design. Fallin earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of FloridaGainesville and a PhD in genetic epidemiology from Case Western Reserve University.

Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD

The W. Paul Bowers Research Chair and Professor of Pediatrics and Biomedical Engineering at Emory University and Georgia Tech and clinical pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. He also serves as associate dean of innovation for Emory University School of Medicine and as chief innovation officer for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center. Lam is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Emorys Winship Cancer Institute, a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and an inductee of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. Lam is also principal investigator of the NIH-funded Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, which is part of the NIHs Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network and serves as the Test Verification Core of the NIH RADx initiative for COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Lams multidisciplinary research interests involve developing and applying novel technologies using micro/nanotechnology, microfluidics, and cell mechanics to research, diagnose, and treat hematologic and oncologic processes. His laboratory is dedicated to translating their technologies as cheap tech solutions to enable and empower pediatric patients globally to more easily monitor their own conditions at home. This research led to several key discoveries, such as a smart phone app that uses photos of the fingernails of anemia patients to determine the level of hemoglobin in their blood, replacing the need to draw blood. Lam earned his PhD in Bioengineering from the University of California, Berkley, his MD from Baylor College of Medicine, and completed his fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and residency in Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

Ighovwerha Ofotokun, MD, MSc

Serves as the Grady Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and professor of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences at the Rollins School of Public Health. Ofotokun is a staff physician at Grady Memorial Health System, the associate dean for research development at Emory School of Medicine, the associate division director for research of Emory Universitys Infectious Diseases Division, and the co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research Clinical Core.

Ofotokun is a clinician-scientist who has devoted his career to caring for individuals living with HIV and combating the long-term consequences of HIV among vulnerable populations. His research has focused on the threat that age-related comorbidities pose to healthy aging in persons with HIV and the disproportionate burden in women. Ofotokun was a leading member of the seminal ACTG 5257 trial that contributed to the 2015 revision of the US HIV treatment guidelines to prioritize a drug class that is better tolerated by women.

Ofotokun is the author of over 240 peer-reviewed publications, has contributed substantially to the expanded representation of women and minorities in biomedical research, he leads several large NIH-funded domestic and international studies, and was recently appointed to lead the adult cohort of NIHs Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative, which is one of the largest studies  with over 80 U.S. sites and 14,000 participants  aimed at understanding the long-term post-acute impacts of SARS-COV-2 infection. Ofotokun earned a medical degree from the University of Benin, a Master of Sciences from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Ibadan.

Judy Wawira Gichoya, MBChB, MS

A multidisciplinary researcher  trained as both an informatician and an interventional radiologist  who serves as an associate professor in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. Gichoya is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Emorys Winship Cancer Institute and holds professional memberships with Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine and American Medical Informatics Association.

Drawing upon extensive experience with open-source communities and contextual knowledge in Africa, Dr. Gichoya hopes to leverage her skills to build capacity for data science in Africa.

Dr. Gichoyas research interests include studying clinical disparities for minimally invasive procedures, validating machine learning models for health in real clinical settings, exploring explainability, fairness, and a specific focus on how algorithms fail. She has worked on the curation of datasets for the SIIM (Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine) hackathon and ML committee. She volunteers on the ACR and RSNA machine learning committees to support the AI ecosystem to advance development and use of AI in medicine. Gichoya earned an MD from Moi University in Kenya, a Master of Science in Health Informatics from Indiana University Purdue University and completed a medical internship at Kiambu District Hospital. Gichoya also completed post-doctoral training in informatics at Regenstrief Institute, a residency in diagnostic radiology at Indiana University, and a fellowship in interventional radiology at Oregon Health Sciences University.
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], October 10: British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, is inviting applications for the 10th edition of its prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards programme. It is dedicated to honouring the remarkable accomplishments of UK alumni worldwide. The Study UK Alumni Awards feature four categories to spotlight exceptional achievements and impact in various fields: Science and Sustainability, Culture and Creativity, Social Action and Business and Innovation. Eligible applicants will have the opportunity to compete on both the Global and National stages of the Alumni Awards. Global Alumni Award recipients will gain a chance to boost their international profiles, expand their professional networks, and enrich their careers with a professional networking visit to the UK. Additionally, a select number of countries, including India, will host national ceremonies to honour their finalists. The last date to submit applications is 22nd October 2023. Winners of the prestigious Alumni Awards will be able to raise their international profile and build professional networks and business connections. Additionally, they will win a professional networking visit to the UK. All eligible applicants will be put forward for the global Alumni Awards. The finalists and winners of the global Alumni Awards will be announced in 2024 and celebrated in a digital campaign that will raise the profile of their story and success. For many years the UK has been one of the most popular study destinations for Indian students and the number of students from India to the UK has witnessed a significant jump. In fact, a total of 142,848 sponsored study visas were granted to Indians in the year ending June 2023, which highlighted an increase of about 54% compared to the previous year, as per the UK Home Office data. This mobility is powered by the achievements of Indian alumni who have made substantial contributions to their communities, industries, and nations. The International Alumni Awards programme, recognises such alumni and honours them and their work that inspires others around them. Last year, the award received over 1,200 applications from UK alumni residing in nearly 100 countries. These applicants represented more than 120 higher education institutions located throughout the UK. After in-depth interviews with a judging panel, the following winners were selected for the National Awards in India: - Abhinav Sinha, Winner of Science and Sustainability Award (University of Glasgow) - Puja Changoiwala, Winner of Culture and Creativity Award (University of Westminster) - Sugandha Yadav, Winner of Social Action Award (Durham University) - Saumya Singh, Winner of Business and Innovation Award (University of Manchester) Talking about the awards, Rittika Chanda Parruck, Director Education, British Council India, said, "Through the Study UK Alumni Awards, we recognise the exceptional achievements of UK alumni from around the world. These individuals have harnessed the knowledge and experiences gained during their time at UK universities to bring about positive change in their communities and beyond. The awards not only celebrate their outstanding contributions but also underscore the enduring value of a UK higher education. We invite all eligible alumni to apply and share their inspiring stories with us." Abhinav Sinha, Winner of Science and Sustainability Award 2023, "Participating and being recognised at the Study UK Alumni Awards has been a real honour. The awards present a wonderful opportunity for alumni to connect with people, build networks and present their achievements building their profile further. I am delighted to have been recognized for the application of the knowledge and skills I gained in the UK, to my work in India. I am glad that the Alumni Awards led me to showcase the impact I have been able to make because of my education in the UK, which has enabled me to reach my full potential and expand my career." For comprehensive details on how to apply, categories, application process and eligibility criteria, please visit https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/alumni-awards. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], October 10: TECNO, the globally renowned smartphone brand, has announced a slew of exciting deals this festive season. Adding to the celebratory mood, TECNO is rolling out incredible discounts on its smartphone lineup, making it the perfect time for customers for their next upgrade. Among all the remarkable deals, the spotlight is on the groundbreaking TECNO PHANTOM V FOLD, V FLIP, and the feature-packed TECNO POVA 5 Pro and POVA 5. Customers can avail of attractive prices on the purchase of TECNO smartphones on Amazon. With offers on the latest TECNO smartphones, customers can upgrade their smartphone experience with a range of feature-rich and budget-friendly devices. TECNO PHANTOM V FOLD - Experience the future at an unbeatable price TECNO PHANTOM V FOLD is the best choice for consumers with a 7.8-inch 2K LTPO AMOLED primary display and a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset. For customers looking for a futuristic smartphone experience, this foldable device is a technological marvel. The PHANTOM V FOLD runs on the latest Android 13 operating system with HiOS 13 Fold UI, ensuring a seamless and innovative user experience. Presenting the largest display in a made-in-India fold phone, PHANTOM V FOLD allows several functionalities like split screens, picture-in-pictures, and drag-and-drop, catering to all multitasking needs. During the sale period, the TECNO PHANTOM V FOLD will be available at a never-before price of INR 78,499 for customers buying with an SBI credit or debit card. Additionally, buyers can avail of an exclusive exchange discount of INR 1000 along with an option of a no-cost EMI for the 6-month period, making it a perfect in pocket smartphone for users at this price range. TECNO PHANTOM V FLIP - Flip in Style with Exclusive Offers The latest foldable smartphone by TECNO, the PHANTOM V FLIP is a must-have featuring a 1.32-inch AMOLED cover display and a high-strength ultra-thin glass internal display. With the perfect-in-pocket design it caters to fashion-forward users, this smartphone is for those who appreciate style and innovation. The PHANTOM V FLIP boasts a versatile camera system with a 64MP + 13MP rear camera and a 32MP front camera with a front flash, perfect for capturing stunning photos in any situation. Additionally, it is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 8050 and comes with 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. This Android 13 smartphone is based on the new HiOS 13.5 operating system ensuring seamless user experience. Further, with 2 Android OS upgrades and 3 years of security patches, the smartphone holds the promise of reliability to its user as well. During this sale period, the TECNO PHANTOM V FLIP will be available at a price of INR 54,999 and can avail INR 1500 discount when buying with an SBI credit or debit card. They can avail of an additional exchange discount of INR 4500 as well on their purchase. Making it even easier to own a TECNO PHANTOM V FLIP, there will also be an option of a no-cost EMI for the 12-month period. Unbeatable Offers on TECNO POVA 5 Series Are you looking for a powerful, premium design and budget-friendly smartphone? Look no further! TECNO is delighted to offer exceptional discounts on the POVA 5 series, making it the perfect time to own one of these feature-packed devices. With its octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 chipset and a substantial segment-first 6000mAh battery with 45W fast charging support, the POVA 5 is a powerhouse designed to keep up with all daily tasks and gaming needs. During the sale period, the TECNO POVA 5 will be available at a special price of INR 11,399. Customers can avail of an additional INR 1000 discount when buying with an SBI credit or debit card, along with options of a no-cost EMI for the 3-month period as well. On the other, The POVA 5 Pro with a beautiful arc interface, supported by RGB light, will be available at a never-before price of INR 13,899 and INR 15,399 for 8GB+128GB & 8GB+256GB respectively. Customers can avail an additional INR 1000 discount when buying with an SBI credit or debit card. Moreover, there is an option of a no-cost EMI for the 3-month period, making it easier than ever to own a TECNO POVA 5 Pro. The phone offers a smooth experience with its octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and a choice between 128GB and 256GB storage capacities, along with segment-first 68W charging speed. It boasts a 50MP primary camera, and a 16MP selfie camera with an LED flash, and runs on the latest Android 13 operating system. Don't miss out on this opportunity to own a cutting-edge and stylish device at an unbeatable price! These offers are available for a limited time, so hurry and make your purchase today to enjoy the best discounts on TECNO smartphones. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], October 10: Moneycontrol, a leading financial website of the Network 18 group, is bringing the second edition of the Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit, which will be held in Mumbai on October 11. The marquee event will see Ananth Narayan G, Whole-Time Member of SEBI, as its chief guest. The summit will see panel discussions with industry leaders, CEOs, and fund managers, who will deliberate on the challenges and opportunities before the Indian mutual fund industry as it aspires to go from roughly 4 crore investors at present to 20 Crore in 5-10 years. With inflows into mutual funds through systematic investment plans (SIP) crossing Rs 15,000 crore a month for the first time this year in July, the Indian MF industry is set for a quantum leap in the years ahead. Will the growth in assets under management (AUM) lead to a healthy growth of retail investors in the MF industry? That's the question we'll be asking at the second edition of the summit. Moneycontrol's annual mutual fund conclave brings together experts to debate the ways in which the industry can move forward, become the chosen savings and investment vehicle, and increase the number of investors. The summit will also try to address how should mutual funds spread beyond the larger cities. Amid tightening regulations, reduced expenses over the years and stiff competition, the Indian MF industry faces the daunting task of spreading beyond the larger cities. Only four states - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and West Bengal - constitute 61 per cent of the industry's assets. What will it take for the geographical spread to get wider? How can mutual funds become a household name like bank fixed deposits or postal deposits? The Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit - Path to 20 Crore Investors is Powered by Axis Mutual Fund, Strategic Partner Reliance Industries Limited, and the Associate Partners are HSBC Mutual Fund, Motilal Oswal Asset Management, 360 ONE Asset, IBM, Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund Meanwhile, new fund houses have entered the industry and still more are expected. To know more about the investment ascent in India with the nation's leading financial pioneers, tune in to the Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit, on 11th October 2023 in Mumbai, 3.50 pm onwards. Log onto www.moneycontrol.com/msitemutual-fund-summit-2023 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The central bank in a statement Tuesday said the action was based on "certain material supervisory concerns" observed in the manner of onboarding of their customers onto the bank's mobile application.

"Any further onboarding of customers of the bank on the 'bob World' application will be subject to rectification of the deficiencies observed and strengthening of the related processes by the bank to the satisfaction of RBI," RBI said.

RBI directed Bank of Baroda to ensure that already onboarded 'bob World' customers do not face any disruption on account of this suspension. (ANI)
SRV Media New Delhi [India], October 10: With the vision to make upskilling easy & accessible, chaabi launches their WhatsApp Learning Platform--a first-of-its-kind solution set to revolutionize blue-collar workforce training in India. Engineered with AI-Powered Vernacular Content offered in 10+ Indian native languages, the platform elevates training accessibility and completion rates through a dynamic gamification approach. To drive business impact, chaabi's platform distinguishes itself by offering limitless customization options for training creation, real-time data analytics, and intelligent user enrollment. Recent market analysis has underscored an impressive 73% surge in job openings targeting blue and grey collar workers. This surge serves as a clear indicator of the escalating demand for skilled labour across various sectors. Upon conducting a survey, we found that 92% workers don't receive any vocational training and 87% of the workers were struggling with learning in English and some in Hindi as well which made chaabi build AI-Powered Vernacular Content that trains people in their preferred languages. The incorporation of advanced AI technology facilitates personalized learning journeys, enabling individuals to progress at their own pace while honing skills that align with their career aspirations. Speaking on the launch, Puneet Dhiman, Founder and CEO of chaabi.ai said, "India's 500 million plus blue-collar workforce is poised for transformation. With WhatsApp, India's most widely used app, as the primary platform we ensure efficient delivery of job-specific training tailored to blue-collar workers. This approach helps in enhancing productivity and employability among this vital segment of our workforce." With its innovative approach, chaabi aims to reshape the landscape of skill development and employment prospects for millions of blue-collar workers across the nation. By seamlessly integrating the convenience of WhatsApp with the power of AI, chaabi is at the forefront of this transformative journey. chaabi is a disruptive B2B SaaS platform upskilling India's blue-collar industry. It merges WhatsApp learning with AI-powered Vernacular Content, improving the learning, grasping & retaining capabilities of blue-collar workers. This transformative approach narrows the skill gap and empowers employers, recruiters, or government institutions to deliver targeted training to help build a new Bharat. With an unwavering commitment, chaabi aims to upskill one million individuals by 2026, revolutionizing employability and reshaping the future of the blue-collar workforce in India. Website: www.chaabi.ai Social Media: [Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram] (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Warning the Eknath Shinde government, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray on Monday said, "Our people will stand at toll booths and will not allow tolls to be paid." "Our people will stand at toll booths and will not allow tolls to be paid. If this is opposed, we will burn down the toll plaza. Let the government do whatever it wants to do next. If the state government is saying that for four-wheelers, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers there is no toll, then these toll people are looting," he added. MNS chief Thackeray said this while briefing the media on toll issues on Monday at his residence. "Our leaders are fasting and protesting against the toll issues, as there has been a hike in some toll prices. Everyone's government came and went, but Maharashtra didn't become toll-free," Thackeray said. Further, talking about the issues, Thackeray said, "Where does this money from the toll go? Where have four-wheelers and small vehicles been made toll-free, as Devendra Fadnavis said yesterday? Toll is Maharashtra's biggest scam. We will meet with the CM regarding the toll issues in the coming days." Thackeray asked the Shinde government, "You had filed a petition in court, so why did you withdraw it? Is there any pressure on the government to keep the toll point operational?" MNS Chief further questioned the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government on the toll issue, saying, "Why is Maharashtra not getting good roads ? Why should we keep paying the toll? This is a matter of toll, not Kashmir." (ANI)
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has initiated its membership campaign in various Delhi University colleges, according to a press release from the ABVP. The BJP-backed ABVP registered a one-sided victory in the recent Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections, winning three out of the four central panel seats, including the presidential post. "On the first day of the campaign, ABVP activists set up membership desks at various colleges in Delhi, including Kirori Mal College, Ramjas College, and Aurobindo College, to enroll students as members in both online and offline modes. During this, a large number of students joined ABVP enthusiastically," the release stated on Monday. "This campaign by ABVP, which is known as the world's largest student organization and is always at the forefront of student welfare, will run from October 9th to October 13th. During this time, ABVP activists will visit colleges and educational institutions in Delhi to inform students about ABVP's work and encourage them to join the student organization. The goal of this campaign is to enroll 50,000 students in the organization," as per the release. ABVP Delhi State Secretary, Harsh Attri, mentioned that "the campaign has begun with the aim of working for the welfare of students and the nation. Under this campaign, we will visit all educational institutions in Delhi and invite students to join the ABVP. The enthusiasm of students joining the membership campaign on the first day has motivated the activists greatly. They appealed to the entire student community to step forward in the interest of students and the nation and contribute to the nation's service." In the DUSU polls, ABVP's Tushar Dedha was elected president while Abhi Dahiya of the Congress-backed National Students of India (NSUI) was chosen vice president. Aprajita from ABVP won the secretary post and Sachin Basla won the Joint Secretary post. (ANI)
"No one was present, and their (TMC's) Biriyani and alcohol budgets have exceeded," West Bengal BJP Secretary Priyanka Tibrewal alleged after Trinamool Congress lifted its protest outside Raj Bhavan here. "It is not like he (Abhishek Banerjee) withdrew the protest, he could not hold on to the people there, no one was present, and their (TMC's) Biriyani and alcohol budgets have exceeded," Tibrewal told ANI on Monday evening. Tibrewal further attacked Abhishek Banerjee, saying, "Abhishek Banerjee wants to do selective protest, now he is exhausted in just 5 days but the job seekers in West Bengal have been sitting on Red Road for 2 years," she said. "Abhishek Banerjee is asking the central government to pay the money that has already been paid by the central government once. If he goes through the MGNREGA Act, it is mentioned that if the accounts are not given to the central government, then the central government can stop the funds until those accounts are given," she said. Earlier on Monday, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said, "West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has promised to answer our questions in 24 hours. As per the advice of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders, we are withdrawing the protest against the Central Government over the allocation of funds for MGNREGA and other social security schemes for West Bengal." The Trinamool Congress (TMC) had been staging a protest at the Raj Bhavan against the Central government, alleging a delay in fund allocation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other social security schemes for West Bengal. The TMC leaders during the protest said that the march to the Raj Bhavan had been organized to draw Governor's attention to the plight of the poor people of the state who have been deprived of their rights by the BJP-led central government. (ANI)
Congress leader and Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of acquiring power by playing with the sentiments of people. "They (BJP) have come to power mostly by playing with sentiments and getting dependent on them, while performance and talent are lagging," he said while reacting to the BJP's decision to give a ticket to Ishwar Sahu (father of Bhuneshwar Sahu, who was killed in Bemetara's Biranpur village allegedly in a clash between two communities) from the Saja assembly constituency. The Deputy CM said this while speaking exclusively with ANI in Raipur on Monday. He also took a dig at the BJP for releasing a second list of its candidates during the ongoing 'Pitru Paksha' (the time when people avoid starting new work). He further said that the list of Congress's candidates will be released after 'Pitru Paksha'. Singh Deo further said, "In my political career of 40-50 years, I have never seen the saffron party field MPs and central ministers in the state's elections. This practice is being seen for the first time, and the move is an indication that the BJP in these states (going for elections) does not have confidence in the talent pool of the state unit. The first thing that came to mind when looking at this move was that they are weak at the state level." Commenting on the BJP giving tickets to those who faced defeat in the last elections, the Deputy CM said that "lack of talent could be a probable reason for this, otherwise, the BJP is known for introducing new faces, be it in Delhi or somewhere else." The Election Commission of India on Monday announced the elections for the five states. The Elections will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. (ANI)
According to Vijayanagar SP Srihari Babu, the deceased have been identified as Uma, Kenchavva, Bhagya, Anila, Goni Basappa, Bhimalingappa and Balaka Yuvaraja, residents of Hospet City.

The police said that the accident took place when the SUV was returning from Koolahalli Goni Basaveshwara Temple in Harapanahalli taluk of Vijayanagara district.

"There were 13 people in the cruiser and the condition of the injured is critical. The injured have been admitted to a government hospital", added the police.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
The workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest on Tuesday against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, demanding his resignation. The BJP workers are seen holding placards and raising slogans against Delhi CM Kejriwal. Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party leaders, BJP Delhi president Virendraa Sachdeva said that the party is filled with criminals and corrupt people adding that the people of Delhi are fed up with their corruption. "Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is filled with criminals and corrupt people. The people of Delhi are fed with their corruption. So BJP's leaders and Delhi workers are doing 'Jan Jagran Abhiyaan' in Delhi at several locations against Arvind Kejriwal," Sachdeva told ANI. When asked about the raids being conducted at the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, the Delhi BJP president said that he is involved in corruption, investigation agencies will do their work. "Jaise jaise kadiya mil rahi hai, waise waise zanjeer ban rahi hai'. If you did the corruption, then the investigation agencies will do their work. If you were honest then it won't happen," he said. This comes after the searches conducted at the premises of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering case. The searches are being undertaken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The cases are related to alleged corruption involving illegal appointments to the Delhi Waqf Board, where Khan serves as the chairman. Khan was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in September last year in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board corruption case on the basis of the recovery of alleged incriminating material and evidence. But he was later granted bail. The raids at the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan come close on the heels of the arrest of fellow AAP leader Sanjay Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy 'scam'. The AAP Rajya Sabha MP was arrested from his residence in the national capital by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He was the second prominent AAP leader to be arrested in the liquor policy case after former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Earlier, another AAP leader and former Delhi Health minister Satyendar Jain had been arrested in a separate case of alleged corruption. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday took a dig at the Trinamool Congress' "dhanda" (business) after the latter withdrew its sit-in protest outside Raj Bhavan in Kolkata. "It was a 'Dhanda' (business) not a 'Dharna' (protest). Now since the protest has been lifted, the business will also be stopped. The protest was just a distraction from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The people of Bengal know this," Majumdar told ANI. The Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee on Monday withdrew their protest against the Central Government over the allocation of funds for MGNREGA and other social security schemes for West Bengal. Banerjee said, "West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has promised to answer our questions in 24 hours. As per the advice of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders, we are withdrawing the protest." Dismissing allegations made by Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim saying that the central agencies were being misused by the Centre, Majumdar said that people in West Bengal have seen the minister taking bribes infront of the camera. "Ask Firhad Hakim, what demands BJP had from him. The people of West Bengal have seen him taking bribes in front of the camera. He has also been to jail," he said. CBI conducted searches at the residence of Hakim in Kolkata in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitments made by the civic bodies in the state. The central agency conducted searches at around 12 places in the State in a case related to alleged irregularities in municipal bodies' recruitment, officials said. The multiple raids carried out by the CBI in places including Kolkata, Kanchrapara, Barrackpore, Halisahar, Dumdum, North Dum Dum, Krishnanagar, Taki and Kamarhati. The raids were conducted at the premises of certain individuals including public servants in the ongoing municipal bodies recruitment investigation. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing counter-offensive by Israeli forces following the multi-pronged terror attacks by Hamas, tourists from Israel in the Kangra''s Dharamkot village, said they were worried about the events unfolding back home. Dharamkot is also known as ''Mini Israel'' as it is the only village in Himachal to have a Jewish centre. Several tourists shared their willingess to head back and serve their homeland in whatever way they can. The toll from the terror attacks by Hamas, meanwhile, soared past 900 on Tuesday while the count of the injured was pegged at 2,600. The retaliatory air strikes and ground assualt by the Israeli forces, on the other hand, left over 700 dead in Gaza Strip. Noa Levy, an Israeli tourist in the picturesque Himachal village, said the situation back home was ''shocking'', adding that her family members, while living in the shadow of Hamas terror, were happy she was ''safe'' in India. "The events that have unfolded in my homeland over the last fews days have left me in shock. I desperately want to go back to my family but they are happy that I am safe here in India. It''s hard to put what I am feeling in words. Earlier today, I received word that I have lost five members of my family. I have benumbed with shock and sadness. Even women and children being abducted with impunity back home," Noa told ANI, fighting back tears. Another Israeli tourist, Roee, said he has been making desperate efforts to head back home but has not been able to book a flight. "The situation back home has left me devastated. We are scared for our fanilies and friends there and also can''t help feeling outraged against the Hamas terrorists. We are trying to take a flight back home so that we could join the forces, who are battling Hamas out there. We are desperately trying to book the first flight home," he told ANI. In the country to take in the scenic beauty of Dharamkot village, Rotem Golpur, another tourist from Israel, said the attacks and the aftermath have left him shaken. "Many of us want to serve the military and help out our forces, as the situation is grim back home. Most flights have been cancelled. Our friends and families are already involved (in the fight against Hamas). We want to go back but can''t." Anoher visitor from Israel, Sahar Kleinfeld, said she and her compatriots have been counting anxious minutes and spending sleepless nights ever since the fresh wave of violence and terror broke out in West Asia. "We can''t sleep. We feel helpless for our families and friends back home. Many Israelis have received calls from the Army to join them. There is an urgent need for more countrymen to join this fight against Hamas," she said. The horrific Hamas terror attacks have, so far, claimed more than 900 Israeli lives left and 2,600 injured, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli fighter jets have hit 1707 targets in Gaza since Saturday, including 475 rocket systems, 73 command centres, 23 strategic infrastructure sites and 22 underground targets. In retaliation to the Hamas attacks, Israeli forces claimed to have killed over 400 people in the besieged Gaza Strip. Further, as part of the ongoing counter-offensive against the Palestinian terror group, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops in the last 48 hours. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed of the troop mobilisation, saying that the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly". This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for hearing on October 31 a batch of pleas challenging the central government's Electoral Bond Scheme which provides for funding to political parties. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Paridwala and Manoj Misra said it will hear the arguments in the case on October 31 and if the hearing does not conclude on that day, it will continue on November 1 as well. "Petitioner's counsel and Attorney General have made preliminary submissions. Compilations have been filed. If further submissions are to be made, it is to be filed by October 27. Soft copies are to be compiled by nodal counsel. Matter to be listed for final hearing on October 31 and should there be a spill over it shall continue till November 1," the bench said in its order. As the issue regarding the money bill is yet to be decided by the seven-judge bench, the petitioners told the apex court that they would not argue on the Electoral Bond Scheme having been passed as a money bill as of now. An Electoral Bond is an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond which can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. The bonds are issued specifically for the purpose of contributing funds to political parties. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, told the bench that "the anonymous nature of the funding" also promoted corruption as it allowed companies, who had received certain benefits from the government of certain parties, to anonymously donate to those political parties. He argued that amendments made via Finance Acts of 2016 and 2017, both passed as Money Bills, have through the Electoral Bonds Scheme, "opened the floodgates to unlimited political donations". In October last year, the Centre in an affidavit had said that the methodology of the Electoral Bonds Scheme is "completely transparent" mode of political funding and it is impossible to get black money or unaccounted money. Various petitions are pending before the top court challenging amendments made to different statutes through Finance Act 2017 and Finance Act 2016 on the ground that they have opened doors to "unlimited, unchecked funding" of political parties. NGOs - Association of Democratic Reforms and Common Cause - have said that the Finance Bill, 2017, which paved the way for the introduction of the Electoral Bond Scheme, was passed as a money bill even though it did not qualify to be so. (ANI)
The inauguration of this event took place today, with dignitaries, including Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Deputy National Security Advisor Rajinder Khanna, and National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt Gen MU Nair, gracing the occasion, read the press release issued by the National Security Council Secretariat.

Running as a hybrid exercise from October 9 to October 20, Bharat NCX 2023 seeks to provide comprehensive training to senior management and technical personnel from government and critical sector organizations, as well as public and private agencies.

The primary objective is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to address contemporary cyber threats, effectively manage cyber incidents, and formulate robust response strategies.

This initiative is being conducted in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), symbolizing a strategic partnership aimed at fortifying India's cybersecurity landscape, read the press release.

Bharat NCX 2023 serves as a unifying platform for over 300 participants, representing a diverse cross-section of government agencies, public organizations, and the private sector.

These stakeholders share a common commitment to safeguarding critical information infrastructure. The event encompasses various training sessions, live fire exercises, and strategic exercises, offering participants insights into key cybersecurity areas such as Intrusion Detection Techniques, Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), Vulnerability Handling and Penetration Testing, Network Protocols and Data Flows, and Digital Forensics, among others, read the press release.

Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the imperative of upskilling the cyber workforce.

He underscored the significance of continuous learning and expertise cultivation as the bedrock for reinforcing India's cybersecurity defenses. Dr. Sood also highlighted the importance of protecting Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), addressing hardware security requirements, and delving into Post Quantum Cryptography in the context of becoming "Quantum Safe", read the press release.

Lt. Gen. M U Nair, National Cyber Security Coordinator, provided strategic insights into India's evolving cyber domain, shedding light on the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

His address emphasized the collective vigilance required to safeguard the nation's digital assets.

Colonel Nidhish Bhatnagar, Director of Rashtriya Raksha University, lauded the Government of India's unwavering commitment to cybersecurity.

He highlighted the pivotal role of initiatives like Bharat NCX 2023 in ensuring India's cyber-safety, particularly in an era characterized by extensive digitalization and an expanded threat surface.

These efforts represent a significant step towards workforce development in cybersecurity.

In addition to its training and strategic components, Bharat NCX 2023 will showcase an exclusive exhibition spotlighting the innovation and resilience of Indian cybersecurity startups and Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), read the press release.

This exhibition aims to underscore the critical role played by these dynamic entities in fortifying India's cybersecurity ecosystem.

The event will also host a prestigious conclave, convening over 200 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from government agencies, public organizations, and the private sector.

This gathering of industry leaders will provide a unique platform for in-depth discussions and deliberations on the evolving cyber threat landscape, fostering collaboration and innovation in the cybersecurity domain. (ANI)
Amidst the war between Palestine terror outfit Hamas and Israel, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking intervention to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in Israel. "A good number of people around 7000 are from the state of Kerala. The continuing hostilities are putting these civilians to extreme hardship and their family members are in a state of extreme anxiety," Vijayan said in the October 9 dated letter to the Union Minister Jaishankar. "I request your good self to intervene in every possible manner to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel," the Kerala chief minister wrote. A woman from Kerala working as a caregiver in Israel was injured in the conflict on Saturday. On Monday, the CPI-M Kerala Secretariat in a statement had urged the central government to take steps to ensure the safety of the Keralites stuck in Israel. "Such a situation is based on the widespread occupation of Israeli and Palestinian territories and the killing of Palestinian citizens. It is necessary to understand and solve such problems in a democratic manner. There should be an intervention to create the conditions for that," further stated the statement. The CPI-M statement also stated that the UN Security Council resolution on a bilateral solution must be urgently implemented and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be protected. There should be efforts to ensure peace by ending the clashes that claim innocent lives, demanded the statement. The Israel-Hamas war has meanwhile entered Day 4 with at least 900 Israelis reportedly been killed, and 700 deaths being recorded on the Palestine side. Israel has been at "war" with Hamas terrorists since October 7. On Sunday, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi had said the Prime Minister's Office was monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel adding "we are on the job" to bring back stranded Indian students. "Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," Lekhi told reporters. "Even in the past, many students including people from Andhra Pradesh were stuck across. So whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I am sure the government of India and the Prime Minister's Office is directly in touch with those people and is working and monitoring the situation," added the union minister Lekhi. Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X. (ANI)